Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Final Fantasy VII, if I did, I would be rich enough to find a place away from all world strife and annoyance and enjoy life to the fullest!

A/N: This idea was inspired to me by a specific author who has a knack of blending other things into the Naruto world. So I thought I'd try my hand at it and see what would happen and here is the result. Please enjoy and let me know what you think…

*******

Chapter 1

A poor blonde boy was running down an empty street from what looked to be an enraged mob. The blonde was panting heavily as he clutched his side where a kunai had found itself lodged in him. He would have pulled it out if he had the time, but he knew he hadn't a moment to spare with the mob right on his tail. It didn't help much that there were a few Chunin hiding in the mob to keep their identity a secret from most onlookers. They threw their kunai and shurikens whenever possible between the gaps and openings the mob gave way for them at the boy. Were it not for a few lucky turns and dodges, the blonde would have been a pin-cushion for their weapons.

He made it to an alley he believed to have a small hole into a basement, thinking that if he could get there fast enough, he could slip into the hole and hide out in the basement until the mob cooled down, or until the guys with funny animal masks appeared. And again, were he not worried about the mob chasing him, he might have had a moment to wonder why there weren't around to save him. All he knew was that he had to get to his hiding spot and quickly!

Upon entering the alley, he found his frantic mind had betrayed him and led him to one that actually was just a dead end. Desperate, he began trying to find whatever cover he could get to before the mob saw him trapped at the dead end.

His search was quickly put to an end however when he felt something stab his left arm…

"I got you that time, demon!" shouted an angry Chunin, stalking into the alley with the rest of the mob and a few other Chunin. "You won't get away this time!"

Naruto whimpered on the ground, trying to crawl away from the angry mob swarming down on him.

The Chunin who had thrown the kunai drew a katana and smirked down at the boy cruelly. "Don't think we're gonna let you have a quick death, damn fox…oh no, you're gonna suffer like I did when you ripped my beloved piece by piece." He stabbed the blonde in the leg, hearing a cheer from everyone around him when a ripple of agony came out of the little boy's throat, also pinning him to the dirty alley floor. "Get ready for a world of pain before we send you to meet the Shinigami!" With gleeful rage, he raised his katana again and brought it down on the crying boy…

*******

"Come on, Vincent!!" whined a high-pitched, annoyed teenage voice. "We're supposed to meet the Hokage in like…OH MY GOSH!" she screamed when she looked at her wristwatch. "…Fifteen minutes ago! We're already late! OHMYGOSH! OHMYGOSH!!!" She waved one arm frantically as she tried dragging her companion to where she believed the Hokage's Tower was at.

Although, he stood a good two feet in height over her, that didn't slow the short teenager down any. Little did anyone know, except for her friends, that she was an accomplished ninja and a very strong one at that. Many wouldn't believe that though from her looks. Her short brunette hair and pale complexion and dark-brown eyes would leave someone to think she was a normal, typical teenage girl.

Her companion on the other hand looked as strong as he was. The tall man had long, spiky hair that was darker than hers and skin deathly paler and eyes as red as blood which had a soft, eerie glow to them. And unlike his young companion, who was dressed in normal clothing that consisted of shorts, a blue blouse with flower designs all over it, and a black sports-bra underneath it, and black combat boots. His attire was far more intimidating. To start, he wore black baggy pants that connected to a leather battle shirt. Over the shirt, he had a red cape with a cowl that hid the bottom half of his face from view, with a crimson bandanna covering more of his face and keeping his wild, spiky hair out of his eyes. Strangely though, he had two different kinds of gloves on. On his right arm, he wore a glove with buckled straps wrapped around his forearm. For his left arm…he wore what looked like a gold plated gauntlet that ended in gold talons over his long fingers. His boots were also covered by gold plates and both boots ended with a long gold spike. Riding on his right hip rested a holster with a unique weapon never before seen in the Elemental Nations.

He smiled somewhat at his panicked companion, but no one could see it because of his cowl. "Relax, Yuffie…We're not even supposed to be here until tomorrow, remember?"

"Huh?" uttered the ninja girl. "Really?! I thought today was the day we were supposed to be here?"

"You know how Cid takes pride in his ships…he got us here as quick as possible," murmured Vincent, thinking of the chain-smoking, loud pilot.

"Ugh! Don't talk about airships! I'm still feeling motion sickness from that baka's reckless flying!" screamed Yuffie, before she halted and wrapped her arms around her queasy stomach. "…That loud baka doesn't even pack tranquilizers for my condition…"

Vincent remained silent as he had already tuned her out when his sensitive ears picked up a faint scream. Something in him stirred and urged him to go quickly to that source of the scream. Not even bothering to warn his companion, the caped man darted down the street with a speed and grace any ninja of Konoha would be envy to have.

Yuffie would have noted her friend's sudden departure had she not been too focused on complaining about her poor, sick stomach and mouthing off curses at the pilot that brought them here. It wasn't until she actually asked for his opinion that she looked up and found him gone. "Vincent? Vincent!! Where the hell did you go?!"

*******

Vincent was running as fast as he could down the street, keeping his senses on alert for the scream. He heard it soon again and grimaced as it was more painful than the last, which drove him to leap up the side of a building, an easy fit for someone like him, and run about on the rooftops with the same ease. He soon heard more noises as he approached the source, and frowned as he heard the many voices of angry people gathered together. Normally, he would have just left something like this alone…or he would have a few years ago. He was different now thanks to the aid of his companions and some recent events. Now he was more self-conscious of others than ever and he believed it was that reason that drove him to seek out the person in trouble.

His soft glowing eyes gazed down at the angry mob and they flared briefly when he spotted the source of their anger, more importantly, the bloody katana that was being use. Feeling a rage he hadn't felt in a long time, he moved in closer to the scene to get a better look at who they were attacking. His crimson eyes boiled with rage when he spotted a beat up, bloodied six-year-old boy lying on the ground clutching the stump that used to be his left arm.

Vincent's eyes narrowed as a silent coldness freeze the hot rage that was in them. Quicker than any eye could see, Vincent drew the unique weapon from his holster, aiming a three-barreled gun at the Chunin with the katana and took half a second to aim at his head. He quickly squeezed the trigger of his gun and fired three bullets simultaneously, resulting in instant death to the unsuspecting Chunin. The mob cried out in shock and the Chunin mixed in the group looked up to see the dark gunman and were about to avenge their fellow ninja when they were shot down by Vincent when they reached or readied their weapons.

Vincent fired a few more rounds to scare the mob away from the boy and leapt down to the injured blonde. He kneeled down by the boy's side and pulled out an odd bottle and uncorked it with his clawed thumb. "…Drink this, it'll help you."

Seeing the boy was too far in shock from the loss of his limb, Vincent careful pried the boy's mouth open to allow the X-Potion he brought along for an emergency to pour down his throat. Immediately, the potion healed his severe injuries in a soft, green glow…but sadly, it could not regenerate his missing arm, instead, it sealed the stump with soft pink flesh. The boy blinked in confusion at his sudden recovery and stared in awe at the gunman that just saved him.

Before he could thank the stranger for helping him, Vincent whipped his gun up and aimed it at a civilian who had tried to sneak up on him with a small scythe in his hands.

"…Back away or you will die," said Vincent in a deadly calm tone.

The civilian wasn't going to let this stranger intimidate him so easily. "You don't know what you're doing, stranger, or what you're saving! That thing is a demon! A plague in our village that should have been purged the moment it was conceived!"

Vincent didn't reply with words. Instead, he chose to cock the barrels of his gun and aim it right at the man's head.

"You don't understand!" screamed the civilian loudly. "He murdered many people of our village! He must be made to pay for his sins!" He went over to the boy's severed arm and crushed it under his boot until it was bloody mess, ruining any chases of it being re-attached to the boy.

'Pay for his sins…' thought Vincent stoically, glaring at civilian's bloody foot.

Vincent began to lower his gun. The civilian believing he had talked sensed into the stranger smiled and began walking toward the blonde boy, readying to use his scythe, when his weapon was shot out of hand instantly and a gold claw found itself around his throat.

"You know nothing of sins…" growled Vincent softly as he began choking the man, then with a flick of his wrist, he tossed the man on his back. "He's a boy to my eyes not a demon…If there is a monster here, it sure isn't him."

"The demon tries to trick everyone by possessing that boy!" a woman with pink hair shrieked, who had gathered enough courage to return. "It has to die before it can kill more of us!"

Vincent leveled his red eyes on the pink-haired woman. The force of his stare made her whimper back in fright. He sneered at all of them and reached down and picked up the boy by the back of his shirt with his clawed hand. He gently placed the boy on his shoulder and held him there. "Don't panic, we're going to leave now…"

Holstering his gun, he used his gloved hand to grab his cape and swing it around the two of them, as he did, the cape covered them both and seem to come alive and began jerking like a red ghost into the air and vanished from their sight. The red cape floated over the city, bouncing over rooftops and poles until it came to the Hokage's Tower. The cape began to settle down and unfold, returning to sight Vincent and the boy as it settled down behind him. The two guards at the front door didn't know what to make of this stranger's sudden appearance, until they spotted the blonde on his shoulder.

"Hey! What are you doing with that brat?!" growled one of the guards.

Vincent calmly ignored them and started walking toward the door.

The guards reached for their weapons and took defensive stances right in front of the door.

"Stop stranger or we will kill you!" barked the other guard.

Vincent once more ignored them and continued approaching. Right as he came upon them, his eyes glowed a brighter red. "You will let me see your Hokage…I'm one of the representatives from Midgar." He reached into a pocket and showed the guards his credentials. "If you impede my arrival, it will be made known to your superior. Now stand aside."

Reluctantly, the two guards looked at his credentials and gave them back to him and let him enter. Vincent didn't miss the scornful glare they both shot up at the blonde, who cringed in fear from their accusing gaze. The dark gunman snarled behind his cowl and quickly made his way to the Hokage's office after he asked for directions from the receptionist. Were he in his normal state of mind, he'd have just let Yuffie or someone else handle this matter, not wishing to get involved, but after seeing what the villagers did to the boy…and accusing him of being a demon rubbed him the wrong way. He marched to the Hokage's office and told the secretary to get him, glaring at her dangerously when she looked ready to protest. As soon as she informed the Hokage, she bowed to him and told him he could enter.

Vincent charged into the office and locked eyes with an old wrinkled man who sat behind the desk, with his hands folded over his lap as he smoked from a wooden pipe. His calm exterior changed to worry when he saw exactly who Vincent had resting on his shoulder.

"Naruto! W-What happened to you?!" cried the old man, sitting up from his desk faster than someone his age should have and stormed over to Vincent.

"I'm okay, Jiji-san!" replied the blonde, trying his best to hide his healed stump.

"No, you're not! What happened to you…and…oh, Kami, what happened to your arm!?" worried the Hokage.

Vincent gently put Naruto down on the floor. "He was attacked by your people, Lord Hokage…and by your own ninja…if the headbands and weapons were anything to go by." He then told how the villagers were all over Naruto, and the one that ruined his severed arm. At the end of his story, he studied the old man's reactions and started frowning when he saw the look on the Hokage's face.

The Hokage lowered his gaze and pulled the boy into his arms and patted his shoulders.

"…This wasn't the first time, was it?" deduced Vincent, narrowing his eyes at the old man.

"…Sadly, no," replied the Sandaime. "There's been quite a few and I'm sure many more in the future…but I-I never thought they'd go so far as this!"

"You don't really sound that surprised," commented Vincent coldly.

"You don't know our story, sir," retorted the Hokage sharply.

"Seeing people attacking an innocent boy is enough for me to know that this village may not be the best alliance for Wutai," countered Vincent, folding his arms over his chest.

The old Hokage grimaced and looked back down at Naruto in defeat. "…Yes, you're right…Mr.?"

"Just Vincent will do," replied the gunman blankly.

"Ah, Vincent then. My name is Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Sandaime Hokage," replied the Hokage with a nod.

Vincent returned the nod, but said nothing more.

"…I will see that this matter is resolved and the attackers arrested," stated Sarutobi as he returned to his desk and rested Naruto on one knee. "…I'm so sorry, my boy…I don't know how I will make this up to you."

Naruto reached over and rubbed his stump, grinning in failed attempt at the old man. "Nothing that I can't work around! I'll still become a ninja and then become the greatest Hokage ever!"

The Hokage looked at the young boy with sad, teary eyes. "No Naruto…I'm afraid that dream won't happen now…not with a missing arm."

Naruto widened his eyes at the old man. "B-But that can't be true…is it?!"

"It is…you can't perform as a proper ninja with just one arm…you need two in order to use jutsus, Naruto…and Konoha has no one that can re-attach your lost arm since it was destroyed," sighed Sarutobi. "You will never become a ninja…I'm so sorry."

It was hearing those words that finally broke the boy's will. He burst out in painful sobs and hugged the Hokage desperately as he realized his dreams were really beyond hope.

Vincent couldn't stand to see the boy in such pain. A child shouldn't have to bare the pain and sorrow like he was forced to. No, this wouldn't stand by for him; he wouldn't let this boy's dreams die because of fools that couldn't see past their fears.

"I can have his arm replaced," replied Vincent suddenly, making a quick decision right there and then. "If you allow me to take him to Midgar, I know someone who can make him an artificial arm to replace the one he lost. It won't be like his old one…but I can promise you, it will be effective."

The Hokage smiled in relief. "…I would be in your eternal gratitude if you do this for the boy."

Vincent just stared at him impassively. "There are a few things I want to clear up before I agree to any aid…"

"Oh?" quirked the old man. "What is there to clear up?"

Vincent just stared at the old man with cold indifference.

"Hmm, I imagine you might have heard something about the boy," murmured the old man, rubbing his chin.

"That he's a demon," remarked Vincent bluntly.

Naruto flinched at his words and clung to the old man for some security. "…They kept calling me that…" he looked at the man he considered his only precious person. "…Jiji-san…is it true. Am I a demon?"

"No, it's not true!" reassured Sarutobi, patting the boy's back. "…But it's complicated and you're not ready for the truth just yet."

Vincent walked up to the pair and tapped one golden claw on Naruto's stump. "I think that says differently…"

The old man glared at the dark gunman, but he found he couldn't keep the cold stare with Vincent. "…You have to understand, it's a SS-ranked secret of the village, and I cannot reveal it to anyone. There are too many people that would come and kill the boy if they knew."

"Your villagers don't seem to agree. After what I saw, they were willing to kill him anyway," retorted Vincent. "What would stop someone from your village from telling someone outside Konoha about him, or for that matter, trying to kill him again themselves?"

"…The penalty is death," replied Sarutobi coldly.

Vincent grunted at his show. "But they were just moments away from doing just that…had I not stopped them. I don't think it will be long before they try again."

Just then, an ANBU with a Weasel mask shushined into the Office. "Lord Hokage! We found Naruto's apartment empty! We…" He stopped when he spotted the missing boy sitting on the Hokage's lap; he bowed his head low to the ground in shame when he saw the missing limb from the boy. "Forgive me, Hokage! I…I should have stayed at my post as you ordered me!"

"Oh? And why didn't you stay at your post?" wondered Sarutobi, eyeing the ANBU questionably.

"There was a recent attempt of kidnapping of the Hyuuga Heiress, Hyuuga Hinata!" answered the ANBU. "I was given orders from another ANBU who said the Council demanded all ANBU to join and search for any intruders. At the time, I was worried for the young heiress and believed the Uzumaki child would be safe in his apartment until I returned…I made a grave mistake."

Sarutobi nodded his head at the ANBU. "I believe you. Now stand at ease. The problem was resolved thanks to our guest here." He gestured with a hand toward Vincent.

The ANBU bowed his head respectively toward Vincent. "You have my gratitude…"

Vincent gave him a brief nod.

"Is the heiress safe?" asked Sarutobi with deep concern.

"Yes," replied the ANBU. "With the help of an unsuspected person, the kidnapper was stopped and is currently being interrogated by Ibiki as we speak."

"Unsuspected person?" repeated the Hokage, looking curious and looking at Vincent to see the gunman lowering his head slightly and sighing.

"…Yuffie," muttered Vincent.

Sarutobi laughed. "Well, it looks like this village is more indebted to you, Vincent!"

Vincent shrugged and then turned to the ANBU. "Do you know where Yuffie is right now?"

The ANBU nodded. "The young lady is currently at the Hyuuga compound. She seemed to be very spirited in making sure there were no more attempted kidnappings of the girl."

If it weren't for the cowl, everyone would see the smirk appear on Vincent's face. "She has a problem with anyone who kidnaps young girls…" He left it at that and didn't feel he needed to mention the time she was kidnapped by a Don planning on marrying her, or the fact that at the time she stole all their Materia for her country to use. Thankfully, her need to steal her companion's Materia was cured...but sometimes, he would see her eyeing his own Materia and wondered about her. "Don't worry about her. She's an excellent ninja even if she may not act like it sometimes…"

Sarutobi chuckled at that and patted Naruto on the back once more. "Well, if anything, the alliance between Konoha and Wutai will definitely be assured."

"…There's still the boy we need to discuss," reminded Vincent, nodding his head slightly at the ANBU.

Sarutobi frowned. He had hoped that the gunman would forget and not bring up the sensitive topic again, but he realized he was fooling himself. He nodded slightly at the ANBU. "You're dismissed from your duties for tonight. You needn't worry about looking after Naruto."

"I must refuse, my lord," replied the ANBU. "I failed my duties by leaving Naruto alone…I will continue my duty and keep an eye on him. Do you wish for me to return him to his apartment?"

"Apartment?" uttered Vincent, his sharp mind figuring out a few pieces of the puzzle about how the boy wasn't being protected. "Does he live in this apartment by himself?"

"Yes, unfortunately…" admitted the Hokage, confirming his suspicion. "He was kicked out of the orphanage when he turned five. I had to arrange a place for him, but my hands are limited to how much I can help the boy as he's a civilian and not a ninja of Konoha yet."

Vincent mused over the information for some time and once more felt something inside him stir…right before his world turned black and he found himself in a place he thought he'd never return to. ..In the Crystal Cavern where his true love now rested within a pillar of crystallized Lifestream.

'The boy isn't safe, Vincent…' said an ethereal voice in his mind.

'Lucreisa?' uttered Vincent in shock, feeling her presence from within the crystal.

'He's important to The Planet and needs to be protected…You must see to his safety, Vincent…Take him away from that village…it'll be his doom if he stays…'

Vincent felt her presence leave and he almost reached out to try and pull her back to him, but caught himself as he found himself back in the Hokage's office. He hadn't heard Lucreisa since he stopped an organization called Deepground, and if The Planet was letting her speak to him from her resting place, then it was of great importance that he heed her words.

"Lord Hokage…I want to speak to you, privately," said Vincent.

"Hmm, oh, yes, yes!" uttered Sarutobi, motioning for the ANBU to take Naruto from his lap. "Keep an eye on Naruto in the other room. I need to finish my business between this gentlemen and I."

"Yes, Hokage," said the ANBU with respect and took Naruto out of the office.

When they were out of the room, the Hokage repacked his pipe and lit it with a minor fire jutsu. "So? What is it you wish to speak about, Vincent?"

"I want to take the boy to Midgar with me, but not just to replace his arm. I want to raise and train him," said Vincent plainly.

Sarutobi nearly dropped his pipe. "What?! Now see here! I am grateful for your aid, but you cannot take the boy from his home village!"

"What good is a home when everyone around him wants him dead?" retorted Vincent coldly. "As a representative of the World Regenesis Organization and aiding in the alliance with Wutai, I can end this alliance right now and see no more deals are ever made."

Sarutobi glared at the dark gunman. "You have no right…"

"I have as much right as a man who has power can't keep his own people from murdering an innocent boy," snarled Vincent coldly.

Sarutobi sighed heavily and took a long draw from his pipe. "…Were he any other child, I'd agree…"

"Were he any other child? It should not matter. He is just a boy and by no means deserves this kind of life," snipped Vincent, feeling his irritation with this old man grow.

"You aren't going to change your mind, are you?" groaned the old man.

Vincent's silent response was his only answer.

"Fine, you win…and I can't say it's a bad idea," replied Sarutobi warily. "Since he was born, he has been the target of this village's entire ire…"

"Why exactly? How can a small boy have this village's wrath aimed at him?" wondered Vincent.

"It isn't really the boy they're angry about, although most of them think he isn't a boy…it's what the boy holds inside him," replied Sarutobi, taking another long draw from his pipe, and then slowly exhaling the smoke through his nose. "Before I go on, I need you to remember that this is a village secret and I cannot allow anyone else to know."

"Once I hear the secret, then I'll decide," stated Vincent, narrowing his eyes once more at the old man.

"Fine…" growled Sarutobi, leaning back into his chair and holding his pipe tightly. "Six years ago…Our village was attacked by a demon, and not just any demon, but the strongest of the Bijuu, the Nine-Tailed Fox, Kyuubi No Yoko…We aren't sure what angered the demon and why it attacked us, but we did our best to try and stop it, but the demon was too powerful for even the entire strength of Konoha to hold back. It wasn't until the Yondaime Hokage…" he pointed at a portrait of the Yondaime that hung on the wall in his office. "…Created a jutsu that would stop the Kyuubi, but at the cost of performing the jutsu was the user's life. But the jutsu didn't kill the Kyuubi as our history books will tell. No, the Kyuubi was in fact sealed inside an infant. It couldn't be anything else as the Kyuubi's Chakra was too strong to hold in an inanimate object, or an adult. It had to be an infant with an undeveloped Chakra system…only then could it be contained and not have a chance to escape."

"He must have grieved so much when he used his own son to hold back such a demon," remarked Vincent.

The Hokage gawked at the gunman. "…How did you know he used his own son?!"

"I didn't. I just guessed but thank you for confirming it for me," replied Vincent with a nod.

Sarutobi growled at his own stupidity for letting himself be fooled so easily. "…You're an interesting person Vincent."

"Hm…" grunted Vincent uncaringly.

Sarutobi sighed at the strange man and started chewing on the tip of his pipe. "…Before I even consider letting you take the boy to raise, I want you to promise me a few things."

Vincent merely stared at him in patience.

"I want him to return here to take the Genin exams. I want him to become a proud ninja of Konoha and continue his father's legacy," stated Sarutobi seriously. "And you will not tell him of his origins. The Yondaime had too many enemies in his life, so many that he had to keep his marriage to his wife a secret to keep her safe. If Naruto is to have any chances of living outside the village, he cannot know."

"I was able to make you tell me who his father was. Although I assumed he was just from the shocking resemblance he has of him. It would not be very hard for any of his true enemies to figure out," growled Vincent, pointing at the portrait. "I will agree to his return to partake your exam, but I will tell him who his father is when I see fit…" He pointed his golden claw at the Sandaime. "…You've lost that right the moment you couldn't keep your own people from seeing who and what he really is."

"…I'll let that go without any hostility as you are right and I know I failed the Yondaime," said Sarutobi lowly, glaring at the gunman. "But you must understand…"

Vincent cut him off with waving his clawed hand. "I don't care about your reasons…And as for his demon. You can say I'm an expert on demons in my own way."

This made the old man raise his eyebrows. "Oh? Somehow that makes me want to keep Naruto here all the more now."

Vincent shook his head in irritation. "Have you heard of the demon, Chaos?"

"Chaos?" uttered Sarutobi, looking deep in thought. "…Yes, I believe I've heard a tale where he would bring the end of life to all upon the day the world died…why are you mentioning that old child's tale."

Vincent smirked softly and tapped his chest with a gold claw. "I held Chaos for a time inside my body…"

Sarutobi now stared at the gunman with awe and a bit of fear now. "…H-How?"

"That is a long story and I don't feel like telling it right now," grunted Vincent. "But I can help the boy with his demon…as it sounds like the same case that was forced on me." He looked out the window behind the Sandaime and folded his arms over his chest in contemplation. "If I take him to Midgar, he won't be seen as a demon, no one will know him, and the WRO will see that all information on him is kept safe. Reeve is an expert at keeping secrets and guarding them. If anything, he'll have a better life away from those that know what's within him."

The old man turned his chair around so he too could stare out the window to gaze at his village. "I just wanted the boy to have a normal childhood…"

"That was impossible the moment his father placed that demon in him. He never had a chance and pretending to believe the village will one day understand is just reckless," replied Vincent bluntly.

Sarutobi had the courtesy to flinch at his remark. "Yes...just an old man's foolishness."

Vincent didn't feel he needed to reply as he truthfully believed the old man was at fault here. He stood with the Hokage for a few moments as the two shared that time in silence. It probably would have continued had Vincent remembered the boy waiting outside the office.

"I will take him with me when my companion and I leave…I want all his belongings packed and readied for the departure," declared Vincent.

"I will see everything is taken care of, but first I still need to conclude the alliance treaty with your representative from Wutai," replied Sarutobi, hoping that he could stall for some time to keep Naruto in the village for a bit longer.

"That would be Yuffie," stated Vincent. "As soon as she stops fooling around, she'll come here…and I expect the negotiations to go quickly…" He ended with a cold stare at the old man. "As once all business matters are done, we will leave immediately."

The Sandaime laughed nervously and waved a hand to show he conceded. "All right, I see you're a man that likes to get things resolved quickly."

Vincent turned away from the old man, swiping his cape out of his way with his clawed hand, and stalked out of the office in silence.

"…What an odd man," remarked Sarutobi.

*******

At the Hyuuga Compound, the clan was amazed by the speed and energy of this teenage girl that kept vanishing from their sight, even when they activated their Kekkei Genkai to try and track her, and reappear completely somewhere else, and what was more impressive to the stoic clan was that none of them could see her making any hand-signs as she shushined everywhere and didn't look the least bit tired.

Hiashi sat on a porch with his wife, who was holding a sleeping Hinata in her arms protectively. She cradled her sleeping daughter and whispered words of love in her ear, in hopes her dreams would wash away the ordeal she was just put through.

The clan leader gazed lovingly at his wife and his daughter, which was rare for the man ever since he became clan heir. But after nearly seeing his only child be stolen from him, and then to see the devastated look in his beloved's eyes, and relief when their daughter came back to them, would make even his cold, stoic mask crack. He had his arms wrapped around his wife and stroked her arms tenderly.

"…We almost lost her," said his wife.

"It will never happen again, Nina," promised Hiashi softly so as to not wake their daughter.

There was a sudden commotion at the Compound Entrance. Hiashi whispered he'd return in a moment to his wife and made his way to the entrance. He was greeted with an odd sight as he approached. Standing at the entrance was the foreign ninja yelling at the top of her lungs at a tall, red-clad stranger, who just stood there and took her abusive words.

"Is there a problem?" Hiashi asked stoically, folding his arms into his sleeves of his robe.

The stranger gazed at him and placed his gloved hand over the young girl's mouth, who continued to yell at him despite the hand.

"I've just come to see if my companion was all right and to ask her to report the Hokage as she was supposed to," the red-clad stranger replied, looking at his young companion with a stern look.

The young ninja batted his hand off her mouth. "If you hadn't have run off like you did, I wouldn't have had to look all over this huge village for your emo-ass!! GOSH!"

Vincent rolled his eyes, ignoring what she called him. "What happened here?"

She instantly stopped snapping at him and became very serious. "…As I was looking around, I spotted his man running through an empty street. Just from the way he was dressed, I knew he wasn't a local, so I followed him here. When I figured what he was here for, I ambushed him in the courtyard." She beat her fist into the air. "And I showed him a thing or two!"

Vincent once more smirked behind his cowl. "Good work, Yuffie."

The ninja gawked at her companion as a faint blush crossed over her cheeks. "….The Vincent Valentine, the cold, scary-emo gunslinger of the group just gave a compliment….OH MY GOSH!!"

Vincent sighed. "…never mind, I take it back."

If she heard him she acted otherwise as she was jumping around in joy and shock.

Hiashi merely watched the odd spectacle with calm indifference, but soon he walked over to Vincent and bowed his head low. "You and your companion have the thanks of the entire Hyuuga clan, and we are indebted to you."

Vincent waved his gratitude aside with his gloved hand. "Nothing is needed. We did what could be done to save two lives."

"Two? I wasn't aware that there was another attempt on someone else?" said Hiashi with outward mild concern, inside his heart was beating wildly at the news. "Was another clan attacked this night?"

"No, but a boy was," replied Vincent. "But that matter was resolved quickly. Now, if there isn't anything more, I need Yuffie to report to your Hokage."

Hiashi bowed to him respectfully. "Then I won't hold you here any longer. But understand that you two will always be welcomed here among the clan."

Vincent nodded silently to him and turned away, using his golden-clad arm to sweep his cape behind him. "Come on, Yuffie. We need to go."

"Huh? Oh, uh, okay! Bye everyone!" said Yuffie cheerfully, then quickly ran to catch up with her fast departing companion.

Nina came over to stand by her husband's side. "What a strange pair..."

"Quite, Nina...but they saved our daughter and a boy of our village," said Hiashi, taking his wife once more into his arms. "No matter how strange, I will keep my word...despite the elders...we will repay them however we can."

Nina smiled up at him and leaned her head on his chest. "I feel one day you will, my husband...you will."

********

A/N: There we are. My first attempt at a Naruto/FFVII crossover. Let me know what you all think and I'll do my best to hurry up with the next installation! Till then...