AN: This just might be the shortest chapter in any of my stories to date but this wasn't meant to be a long chapter as I just wanted to have Naruto and Asuna build their relationship a bit more, share a moment. The next chapter will hopefully be longer and better but it probably won't be posted until I find the time to read the light novels so that they might hopefully inspire a few more ideas to lengthen the fic.

Next posts are undetermined though I'll probably get started on the next chapters of my Justice League and Shaman King crossover fics while still focusing on Crimson Knightmare.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto, Sword Art Online, or anything else that may or may not appear in this fic.

Chapter 4: Those Who Break the Rules

"Talking"
'Thinking'
(Author's Note)

Naruto side stepped from a charging Trembling Cow before bringing down his sword in three quick slashes. Looking around the shinobi ignored the defeated monster in favor of the ones that surrounded him. The monsters were a mixture of Trembling Cows and Wind Wasps with more appearing every few seconds because of the clones he had at his side. The clones were wilting away at the monsters HP leaving them with as little as possible before moving on to the next opponent. Naruto discovered earlier that should a clone be the one to defeat a monster he would not receive any of the experience nor any of the col or items that the monster might have dropped once they were destroyed.

The shinobi jumped over a Wind Wasp that had dived at him from behind, spinning around the blonde player used his sword to bisect the wasp while in mid-air landing in a crouch the fragments of the destroyed monster fell over him before he shot forward gathering chakra into the palm of his hand.

"Rasengan!" The newly created ball of chakra slammed into a Trembling Cow destroying it almost instantly and allowing Naruto to continue charging, taking two more out before finally coming to a stop.

Reacting on instinct Naruto spun around his sword ready to cut through a charging Trembling Cow that had managed to get close only for it to be completely unnecessary. With a distinctively female shout a figure fell from above impaling the monster and destroying it at the same time, the monster shattering to pieces by the time the person landed on the ground. Naruto would have questioned who the individual was if he hadn't recognized the long orange-brown hair, which had captivated Naruto since the first time he saw it, that had flown behind the girl as she landed.

"Hey Asu-whoa!" Naruto shouted initially walking towards the female player only to almost immediately retreat as Asuna rushed at him, the few pixels of the destroyed monster acting as a backdrop for her, her rapier poised to strike.

Asuna fixed the shinobi with a glare, unwavering even as she held her rapier to the side of Naruto's throat, and just stared into his eyes for a moment before finally saying something. "Those who break the rules are trash." The hazel eye girl uttered lowly. "But those who abandon their friends and comrades are worse then trash." She finished the phrase Naruto knew by heart. "You were the one who said that to me and Kirito." Asuna stated her voice breaking slightly near the end. "But this is the second time that you left on your own." She finished almost accusingly the strong hold she had on her rapier causing it to shake slightly, as she slowly removed it from Naruto's throat and let her arm fall to her side.

Naruto stared at Asuna regretfully. The young woman who without the smallest traces of hesitation rushed a monster that intended to end her life, who fought with the grace and speed of a seasoned fighter, making it look like she was almost dancing around her opponent at times. Yet at that moment he watched her falter, watched her waver because of him. When Asuna thought she lost her rapier the hazel eyed girl nearly broke down and Naruto found himself hating Nezha faster than nearly anyone else he had met in his life. Which is why Naruto was so happy with what he had planned for the blacksmith. Pranksters, after all, could be very vindictive. But being the cause of Asuna's anguish, regardless of how major or minor it might be, was a thousand times worse and was tearing at the shinobi.

"It doesn't matter to you if you don't know someone if there's a chance you can help them or keep them from getting hurt you'll do whatever you can." Asuna started again stating a fact that she was completely sure about despite knowing Naruto for only a short amount of time. "So why won't you let others do the same for you?" She asked, though even as she was asking her question Asuna got a faint idea of the reason why.

The Fourth Great Shinobi War.

Naruto had only mentioned it briefly as he revealed his past to her and Kirito. But even with the little that Naruto talked about it Asuna understood how horrible it must have been for him. To have friends and comrades die in front of him and for his sake. It stood to reason no matter how the war ended that it would have left Naruto with a sense of guilt and a desire to never have anyone else die for his sake.

"Jinchuuriki," Asuna began softly capturing Naruto's attention completely at the mention of the word "The Power of the Human Sacrifice." She muttered. "The one who bares the hatred of the world." The chestnut haired girl continued repeating his words from when they had defeated the 1st Floor Boss as she looked at him straight in the eyes, her hazel ones meeting his cerulean blue. Naruto almost looked away after a second, he had come to terms with being a Jinchuuriki and was now proud of it, but there were some scars from his childhood that still hadn't healed and new ones made with the Fourth Great Shinobi War, Asuna kept that from happening by placing her hand against one of his cheeks to make sure he didn't break eye contact with her. "But that's not all you are." Asuna said definitely.

"Wha-" Naruto swallowed about to voice his confusion only to be silenced by Asuna before he could fully form the question.

"You are Naruto Uzumaki." Asuna stated confidently. "I'm sure that's who your friends fought for. Who they believed in. Your status aa Jinchuuriki comes second to who you are. You inspire people, you inspired me and Kirito and gave everyone else a goal to focus on. I believe in you Naruto and want to fight beside you no matter what anyone says because you are my friend." The hazel eyes girl told him earnestly.

"But," Naruto tried to protest but Asuna stopped him.

"If you are strong enough to face this on your own then I want to become strong enough to help you shoulder that burden. So whether you like it or not I will support you no matter what anyone else might say." Asuna claimed strongly. Naruto stared at the girl once more in awe of her, of the compassion she possessed, touched by her concern for him and willingness to stand by his side. But staring into Asuna's eyes Naruto could see something else in them as well.

After a few seconds of simply staring at her Naruto suddenly found himself laughing, something that not only confused Asuna but also managed to anger her believing that Naruto was laughing at her and her declaration. Seeing Asuna's rising temper Naruto held up his hands in order to placate her before she could lash out at him, while he also getting his laughter under control. "Thank you, Asuna." Naruto said warmly.

"Huh?" Asuna murmured in slight confusion and with a light blush on her cheeks because of the smile that Naruto was giving her.

"Thank you." Naruto repeated himself, still smiling warmly at the chestnut haired girl. "You're right I don't have to take everything on by myself. With everything that's happened, being taken from my home and friends and being trapped inside SAO, different from everyone else, I forgot something important. 'No matter how powerful you become, never try to shoulder everything alone. Otherwise you will undoubtedly fail.' Someone told me those important words and I forgot them because I thought I could save everyone on my own just because I was stronger than anyone else here. I convinced myself that I could do anything even if I was alone. But that was wrong." Naruto told her with a shake of her head. "I wasn't alone and there were already two people I could depend on, two people that were already my friends and comrades. Kirito and you, Asuna. So thank you I won't forget that again." Naruto all but promised.

In Asuna's eyes Naruto had seen determination and a resolve, not to mention stubbornness, that he had only ever seen in his own eyes. It was at that moment that Naruto knew that no matter what he did Asuna would never let him act on his own. Would never abandon him.

"Good," Asuna said, letting out a relieved sigh, finally regaining the composure that she had lost since first arriving. "Then would you like to party with me for a little while longer?" She asked with a smile now on her face. Naruto nodded in response but could not voice his agreement before one of his clones cut into their conversation.

"Hey boss." A clone called out to the blonde shinobi. "Are you two done talking now?" It asked.

Since they first started talking with one another the two players tore their attention away from one another to focus on their surroundings and the reason the Shadow clone intruded into their conversation. Encircling them was a small horde of monsters that the clones that Naruto had made earlier were keeping at bay in order for Naruto and Asuna to have their heart to heart.

Asuna looked around in slight concern. She knew that Naruto was strong, if his clones kept this many monsters from bothering them while they had been talking then Naruto could obviously take them all on as well, but she was still a little worried. Before Asuna's concerns could grow any bigger a screen popped up in front of her.

"Naruto invites you to join his party."

It was a party invitation from Naruto.

"Do you trust me Asuna?" Naruto asked standing up and holding his hand out to the hazel eyed girl.

Asuna stared at Naruto's hand for only a second before a small smile appeared on her face. "Mm," Asuna whispered in confirmation, accepting the invitation before taking Naruto's hand and letting him pull her up.

"Then let's go." Naruto said a confident grin spreading across his face. The confidence that Naruto was excluding seemed to be infectious as Asuna could feel her own confidence being bolstered as she stood next to Naruto crushing any doubt that she had been feeling.

"Right," Asuna replied her rapier at the ready.

Naruto dismissed his clones before the pair burst forward, Naruto naturally the faster of the pair took the lead. A few quick strikes from Naruto stunned the closets monsters, a few Trembling Cows and Trembling Oxen, before letting Asuna finish them off with a few quick strikes of her rapier. Naruto rushed at another Trembling Ox before using its head as a stepping stone to jump high into the air, causing the airborne monsters to suddenly start to swarm the blonde. Sheathing his sword Naruto drew a few shuriken and threw them at the monsters striking a number of Wind Wasps. A large insect charged at Naruto, dodging the shuriken that the shinobi had thrown, it was larger than the average Wind Wasp Naruto being able to identify it as a Storm Hornet a slightly stronger monster compared to the average Wind Wasp. Redrawing his sword, the shinobi blocked the Storm Hornet's stinger before using one of his practiced Martial Arts skills to land a devastating blow the Storm Hornet's middle.

Asuna quickly did away with the monsters that Naruto had left at her mercy before moving on. A Trembling Ox tried to blindside her but the orange-brown haired girl sidestepped the charge striking it a few times before finishing it with a single Linear. Spinning around Asuna let a Trembling Cow approach her as she charged up another sword skill and releasing it the moment the monster was close enough. Movement from her left drew Asuna's attention before a brief look of disgust crossed her face as a monster baring the name Jagged Worm slowly made its way towards her. But much to Asuna's small relief she didn't have to destroy the monster herself as Naruto fell from above bisecting the Jagged Worm in half before it shattered to pieces.

For a brief moment Naruto and Asuna stood back to back, smiles on each other's faces as they looked at the other out of the corner of their eyes, a silent exchange being shared between the two, and then shot off to reengage the encircling monsters. The two worked almost flawlessly together more than a match for any normal monster on their own but completely invincible when they worked alongside one another destroying a number of monsters in a matter of seconds. In the end the small horde of monsters was all destroyed in a matter of a couple of minutes. The final monster being struck down by both Naruto and Asuna as they ran at the final Trembling Ox their respective weapon piercing the monster's skull and proceeding to tear down its side.

Turning to Asuna, as the Trembling Ox shattered behind them, Naruto once more gazed the hazel eyed girl with another sincere smile. "Thanks Asuna." Naruto thanked the female player once more. "For setting me straight and knocking some sense into me."

Asuna looked bashful for a second with a smile on her face, cheeks red, and briefly unable to make eye contact with Naruto because of the heartfelt sense of gratitude Naruto was expressing towards her. "Your welcome." Asuna replied gently before a playful look appeared in her eyes as she stared into Naruto's cerulean blue. "But next time you do something stupid like leaving I'll really will have to knock some sense into you." She teased him cheerfully, though Naruto wondered if she was teasing him at all or really meant it.

"Got it." Naruto said with a light chuckle, happy that the chestnut haired girl was in a far better mood than the one she was in when she first arrived. No matter what happened Naruto wanted to make sure that Asuna was always happy, it was the least she deserved.

'Thank you Asuna.' Naruto thought silently gazing fondly at the girl. 'Thank you for becoming someone precious to me. For being my friend.'

AN: I think this is far from being my best work. Naruto is far from perfect and I wanted to take a small advantage of that in order to draw Asuna and him closer together, though some might not agree with his portrayal. Though considering everything that Naruto's been through with the war and suddenly being finding himself trapped in SAO for about a month before the game even officially began I hope that it at least seems feasible.

The next few chapters of this fic could probably be considered filler before getting back to the actual storyline, but it might prove necessary for the sake of character development.

Till next time please review.