Howdy! Welcome to Naruto Retold: Lost Child. First story on here and, admittedly, first time writing in a long while, so please be gentle senpai! ^.^;;
This story begins right in the middle of filler, although I don't typically like following filler normally so it'll also be one of the only times filler comes in to play. If there's any particular filler you absolutely positively MUST have added in, just let me know and I'll see if I can't squeeze that particular filler and its associated characters into the plot somehow. I love adapting so it's literally no problem. ALSO! I doubt I'll be writing 10,000 word chapters for the whole thing. It may happen from time to time, but only if I've got so much I wanna' cram in there like with this one.
Without further ado! Enjoy~!
Chapter I
Lost And Found
"Help! I need help!" A boy with dirty, blond hair cried, his words falling on deaf ears. Kunai, small knife sized blades designed for throwing as much as cutting, whizzed passed his ears, embedded in thick trees, and crashed in green shrubs as he ran. He didn't dare look back, and he wasn't skilled enough to attempt to dodge, so it was an immeasurable amount of luck that he hadn't been hit at all. 'What the hell... It's just a stupid knife!' He thought of the blade he clutched in his hand, 'What's so important they'd kill me for it?!'
He briskly ran, curving around a tree with the hope it would provide some cover from the death raining down on him. It was his own misfortune that his orange and blue jacket would catch on a branch jutting out from the trunk and slowing his path. It caused him to trip and stumble, but he had just enough sense to scramble back to his feet and continue on. He had to. The three women chasing him had every intention of murdering him where he stood if they so much as caught him for an instant. He was exceptionally good at running, years of pulling pranks and fleeing the wrath of whoever he'd wronged, including his teacher, had ingrained the skill into him. But that was from people who, while angry, weren't going to actually harm him. These people... They wanted to end him.
How had it come to this? All he wanted was to make some friends. Those boys back in the village promised him they'd let him into their clique so long as he recovered something from this forest. You see, it had been the site of a battle recently, and corpses of the slain littered it. Or so it was made out to be. When he'd arrived he'd found plenty signs of battle, scorched and muddied earth to pieces of torn clothes and even spots of blood, but he'd yet to find any actual bodies. Even the kunai he now held he'd only found by luck, while scavenging a bird's nest for a quick bite to eat. Once he'd found it, he'd only had a scant few moments to celebrate when three strangers dressed in armor he didn't recognize appeared and demanded he hand the weapon over. He was stupid enough to refuse and, well...
Where even was the village? He'd long been disoriented, and could no longer tell if he was running towards his home or away from it. His only concern was getting away, and he was not succeeding. The ninja chasing him did not seem to be gaining, although it'd been some time since he'd had the courage to look back at them, but the endless barrage of kunai and shuriken being thrown his way told him they weren't losing him either. No matter how many twists and turns he took, they kept on his tail. No matter how much he called for help, no one answered. No matter how long he ran, there was no sign of respite. 'Am I really gonna' die here?!'
"Naruto!" A voice called, and he whipped his head around towards the direction. He recognized that voice, but it came from so far away! Naruto skipped a step and skidded to a halt, shifting his direction and momentum entirely towards his one chance of safety.
"Iruka-sensei! I'm HERE!" He called back as loudly as he could. If he could just link up with his teacher then everything would be okay! They'd both be able to get out of there and back to the village, and the hostile kunoichi wouldn't be able to follow. ...Right? Iruka was a shinobi as well... But could he really take on three others on his own? Could he get away from them? What if he couldn't? What if they'd both end up getting killed? Naruto faltered in his step, furrowed his brow and grit his teeth. This was a mistake. He didn't want to get Iruka killed too, as much as he wanted himself to be saved. 'What should I do... What should I do...?!'
A sharp blade passing right before his eyes made the decision for him. Naruto recoiled back, his feet flipped out in front of him, and his head smashed against the ground. He gasped in pain but rolled back to his feet, choosing then and there to flee not towards Iruka's voice, but away from the dangerous weapons being sent his way. He hoped Iruka would notice and either meet up with him ahead, or ambush the other kunoichi while they weren't expecting it. In either case, he needed to get away and put some distance between him and them. It was a miracle they hadn't caught him already. The trees offered enough cover for a moment, but the instant he stopped moving it would be all over.
So he ran, as fast as his legs would take him. 'Just keep going!' He urged, praying his legs wouldn't give out on him. The whistle as his pursuers blades pierced the wind breezed passed his ears time after time, and on each occasion Naruto winced. He felt as if he'd be pegged in the back any moment. He was extremely thankful he hadn't stumbled across any open areas and there had been plenty of cover up until now. He'd been able to dance in and out of the trees, using their thick trunks to his advantage, but if for even a moment he ran into a clearing, it would be all over. The fear was made worse because he wasn't at all familiar with the surrounding area. He'd never been to this area of the forest before. Ideally he'd notice a field before he ever stepped foot in it, but he'd had worse luck...
"Whoa!" He shouted as he barely avoided tripping over a rope stretched across the ground. "What the-?" His eyes traced the rope for a moment. It led up into the treetop canopy, and he just barely could see a massive log hidden in the leaves. 'Perfect!' He grinned, and dived head first into a nearby thick shrub. Now he just needed a way to distract them enough that they wouldn't notice the trap. He could have created a decoy with the shrubbery that surrounded him, but there was no time. Maybe he could find something to throw? They may be shinobi but they weren't so good that they could hit a moving target... Would they fall for that? The three appeared through the shadow of the trees, walking now instead of running. He'd lost them momentarily, but they knew he was here.
He held his breath, fearful that if he so much as exhaled they would notice him and he'd be completely out of time. They were so close to the rope too... If they weren't distracted soon they'd notice the trap. He had to do something, but what? Wait, wait - no, he knew what he could do. His blue eyes narrowed from fear to determination, and he grit his teeth. They were after him. They were after the knife, for some stupid reason he didn't even know. So, if they saw him running, they would continue to give chase. They would have to. With any luck, and his luck had been pretty back and forth all day, they would become so focused on running after him they would completely look over the trap and trip it.
'Okay... Three, two, one, and... GO!' He dashed free of his hiding spot, taking care to sprint out in front of them and break directly away from them.
"There you are!" The lead of the three said, her voice laced with anger, and they gave chase just as he hoped. One step, he felt a kunai graze his shoulder. Second step, he ducked down and shielded his head as shuriken passed right over him. Third step, a kunai embedded in a nearby tree just as he ran by. Fourth step... "Watch out!"
Naruto glanced over his shoulder just in time to see the three kunoichi dive for the ground as a massive log swung over them. Then, a large net popped up from the ground and held them high in the air, struggling and flailing. Naruto skidded to a stop for a moment and stared up in awe. He'd actually failed to notice the second trap right under the first, and it was sheer luck he'd failed to trigger it on himself. He laughed, and continued running. He had to meet back up with Iruka. Speaking of, he hadn't heard from him in a while. "Sensei!" He called, and listened, but there was nothing. Still he ran, knowing that it was only a matter of time before the kunoichi freed themselves. This wasn't the village. He could afford to be caught after a prank there. He had to keep moving.
He skipped over a stream he hadn't seen before, but paid it no mind. "Iruka-sensei!" He called again, and still there was nothing. He wondered if Iruka forgot about him, or had lost the trail. What if he had? Naruto shook his head, he couldn't think about that. At some point, he realized he was hearing running water in the distance. That was very odd, since as far as he knew there weren't many fast flowing rivers near Konoha, and he shouldn't have been anywhere close to one. Had he gone that far away from the village? His feet came to a stop just outside a tree line. Sure enough, a wide and strong river cut a path right through the forest, trees and bushes flanking the very edge of the water on both sides. It was a deep and clear blue, without any sign of life swimming underneath. Looking back and forth, Naruto saw that the river twisted towards him on both ends. "Guess I need to go back..." He thought aloud, and turned on a heel before-
"Got you, brat." Naruto gasped as he came face to face with one of the shinobi he'd desperately tried to evade. How'd they catch up to him so soon? How did they even track him here?! The shaken blond took a step back, his heel slipping off the edge and touching the rushing, cold water. He was flanked on both sides by the other two, and one stood right in front of him. There was no escape. "No more running. It's the end." The one in front glared at him, weapon at the ready. She was going to kill him, then and there. Was it really going to end like this? There had to be a way out! Panicked, he glanced behind him at the river. Was that the only way? The woman took a step towards him, kunai held menacingly at her side. It was the water or a one way trip to heaven or hell. He wasn't ready for the latter.
He gripped the kunai in his hand. "You want the stupid thing so bad?! Fine! TAKE IT!" Naruto shouted, and threw it directly at the woman. She was surprised and took a moment to catch it - an all too brief moment Naruto took to fall backwards into the water. He would never know what would become of the kunoichi after. The river was much stronger than he thought, as he barreled and twisted and turned and spun all around, unable to control himself as he was carried forcefully downstream. "Ah!" He gasped for breath whenever he could, often for merely a second before his head would be pulled back under. He couldn't see, the world spun around him, and his stomach lurched with every knock of force.
When would it end? Naruto collided with the rocky edge and bottom several times, more than once almost losing consciousness altogether. He couldn't tell that the river was getting wider, and stronger, as more streams intersected with and joined it as it went. He collided with a large stone hugging the river's edge, which sent him spiraling ever harsher, and then out of the blue he felt himself torn from the water. It took him several moments to realize he was falling. The river collapsed into a waterfall, and he'd been thrown right into it. It was the first of many. Naruto landed in another pool of water, beat and buffered as he was thrown, only to fall off the side of yet another. The impact stunned him, his consciousness fading to black only to come back just as he was thrown off another edge. A sharp pain wracked his side as he careened and smashed into a larger lake at the bottom.
At another time, a dip in the cool and calm waters of the lake would be wonderful, but at present Naruto's body ached far too much to enjoy it. He had just enough sense to break for the surface before he drowned. He coughed and sputtered, and took several deep breaths of air he'd been so desperate for prior. It was time for a rest. He couldn't decide if he was lucky or unlucky. On the one hand, he couldn't believe he'd survived as long as he had. On the other, every last thing that had happened in the last twenty-four hours would never have happened to anyone else. Of course, even that was his own fault. But how could he have known the forest those kids had sent him to would still have enemies in it? How could he have known the kunai he'd found was apparently so valuable? Sure, Iruka-sensei had tried to bring him back to the village before he'd ever gone too far, but...
Naruto sighed, as he floated on the lake's surface. Where was he now? He lifted his eyes up towards the tip of the waterfall, watching the bright blue,foamy waves cascading over the mountain ridge high above. It was quite the drop. He'd never realized there was anything like this outside the village. The thick forest stood like a wall over the rocky outcrop which hugged the mountain's edge. The lake itself was wrapped around by a thinner woodland than what was above, the leaves bearing a lighter shade of green. There were fish below the water, they swam here and there but generally stayed farther away than he could reach. A growl rumbled in his stomach, reminding Naruto that he never did have lunch. At least it was peaceful here.
Deciding he'd had enough time to rest, Naruto swam for the shore. It wasn't until he climbed out of the water that he noticed several spots on his skin that stung harshly, and that blood dripped from open wounds torn by the many, many times he'd been struck. He wasn't worried, though. He'd gotten himself hurt worse than this on many occasions and always turned out fine. He was far more occupied with how hungry he was. Unfortunately he never had to fish before, so while there was an abundant amount of food swimming literally right in front of him, he had to figure out how to actually catch them. So, what now? He figured he could try to catch them by hand if they swam close enough to the lakeside, or he could try to make a longer stick and spear them. 'Or', he thought, as he watched larger cormorant dive under the water and emerge moments later with its beak tight around its prey, 'I could just let the birds catch them for me.'
There were many smaller stones wedged in the dirt, both by the water's edge and further into the woodland. Naruto collected a handful of those stones into a pile, and then he waited. There were many of the charcoal birds perched on a rock jutting out from the ground by the water's border, their wings spread as if they were watchful guardians, and many more still swimming on the lake itself. It would only be a matter of time before one spotted its dinner. So he sat, cross-legged, watching. It was a short while before anything changed. The wind was calm, a mere rustle through the forest trees. The water was still as a mirror of glass. Between the serene calmness and Naruto's own injuries and exhaustion, it was almost enough to lull him to sleep. He had just closed his eyes when there was a splash, and he opened them just in time to see one of the birds dive down below.
"Alright!" He cheered, as he stood and grabbed one of the stones off the ground. His hope was he could peg the bird as it flew over dry land, and he could rush over and grab the fish while the cormorant was stunned. That was his hope, but as he remained there, pebble in hand, waiting for the bird to emerge back to the air, he gradually grew impatient. The minutes went by, and still nothing. "Oh, come on..." He groaned, letting his guard drop. He was hungry, tired, hurting, and overall cranky. The last thing he wanted to deal with was a bird that could apparently breathe underwater. He was about to give up altogether and look for another means of finding food when, with the speed of a firework, the cormorant shot out of the water. A fish squirmed and wiggled in its sharp beak.
Excitedly and hurriedly Naruto prepared to throw his stone. He had plenty of ammunition, he only needed to hit his target at just the right moment; and then the goods were his for the taking. Or so he thought, before he saw the damn bird swallow its fish whole.
"WHA-?!" He shouted, dropping the stone. It landed on his toe. "Ouch!" The blond hobbled on one foot, catering to the other. And then he lost his balance and stumbled back into the water. "Gah!" At this point, he'd almost all but given up. Naruto was still hungry, still tired, now hurting even more, and his crankiness had evolved into downright frustration. "All because of that stupid kunai and those stupid jerks and that stupid village..." He grumbled as he dragged himself back out of the water. He'd just begun to ring out his shirt, for the second time, when an unfamiliar laughter reached his ears. He turned, to see a girl roughly his age relaxing up on a tree branch very near him. She was fair skinned with a black hat over long, flowing red hair. She wore a strange tunic Naruto had never seen before, with an equally mysterious emblem emblazoned on it. And, she was laughing at him.
"I've never seen anyone so clumsy." She stated flatly, after her chuckling subsided. For Naruto's part, he was equal parts frustrated and confused, at being what he felt as looked down on and where she'd ever came from in the first place, respectively. "The hell you've survived so long is beyond me."
"Who are you?" Naruto demanded with a pointed finger and a protruded lower lip, and a glare he felt could kill a man. Judging by the red-headed girl's smirk she didn't get that impression.
"Maybe you'll find out. Maybe you won't. Either way, you'll be coming with us, shorty." Her reply didn't exactly help with Naruto's confusion or frustration, and now, growing worry. He wasn't too keen to go with somebody he'd never seen before, let alone while being lost as he was. Besides, what gave her the right to tell him what to do? Naruto stomped a foot to the ground and folded his arms.
"Nuh-uh, I ain't going anywhere!" He shook his head for emphasis. It was either back to the village, or nowhere at all, and since he had no idea where the village was it seemed it was going to be the latter option for the moment. At least, that was his intent. But the girl didn't seem inclined to take that as an answer.
She sighed, a quirk in her brow. "The hard way, then? Fantastic. Oi, fatso! You're up." At her call, a man stepped out from the treeline. Or, well, Naruto thought he was a man. As for his face, he seemed young as well, but for the rest of him... He was huge. Standing several heads taller than Naruto, being much bulkier, and almost entirely bald except for a ginger mohawk at the top. He likewise was dressed in a very similar garb to the girl, with the same strange symbol emblazoned on his tunic.
"Rude as always, Tayuya." He sighed as he approached Naruto, who took several steps back defensively. There was no jumping into the river this time to escape. "This is gonna' hurt a bit." He 'kindly' informed, before clenching his fist, rearing back, and smashing a hard punch straight across Naruto's forehead. Naruto didn't even feel the blow, everything just faded to black.
When Naruto awoke, his first thought was to complain about his splitting headache. Once his eyes began to somewhat clear, his second was, 'Where the hell am I?' The room was dimly lit by torchlight, not from within the room, but from the hallway adjacent to it. There was nothing in the room, entirely made of stone, save for the thin, animal-skin mattress he laid on. The door was made of wood, with a window blocked by iron bars allowing for a look to the corridor just beyond; and that was where the only source of light came from. Naruto stumbled to his feet and made for the door. He tried the handle once, only to find it was locked.
"Hello?" He called, "Anybody there? What's going on?!" Panic started to encroach and destroy whatever semblance of logic remained. What was even going on? He struggled to remember; and recalled the girl in the tree, and the larger, bulkier one who attacked him. Had they brought him here? Where was here? Why was it so cold? Naruto shivered, his body still ached, and he was still very hungry. He looked back around the room, but a second inspection revealed nothing different. Then, he looked back to the door and - a face greeted him at the window. "Gah!" Naruto fell back, landing roughly on his bum.
The one who opened the door was a tall man, with pale skin and ghostly white hair falling down to his shoulders. He was taller than the other two he'd seen, and the uniform he wore was, while similar, also different - his having a zipper, for one. Yet there was that same, strange emblem... Naruto stared at him for several long moments, unsure if he should say something, slink back to a corner and hide, or try to escape while the door was open. Before he could decide on anything, the man held up a picture. Within the picture was another being, with even paler skin, a creepy, slithery sort of smile, and slit-like eyes. "Do you know who this is?" He asked, his voice deep and strong.
"How should I know?" Naruto replied, more than a little frustrated. The man closed his eyes, and thought for a moment, before opening them once more.
"This is Orochimaru. As of today forward, he is your God." For some reason, his statement really riled Naruto. He glared, hard, at the man in front of him and clenched his fist.
"Like hell he is!" Naruto yelled, "If he's your boss then I want nothing to do with him!"
The mysterious individual was unfazed, put the picture away, and turned to leave. "You will remain here. Food will be delivered shortly. If you need to relieve yourself, any corner will suffice."
Then he left. Naruto was lost in disbelief. What had even happened? Any corner will suffice? What did that even mean? Naruto realized shortly what he meant, and resolved to hold it in as long as he could. He was left alone for what felt like hours, stomach grumbling, mind racing. How was he supposed to get out of this one? As if things weren't already bad enough as it was, now he was trapped in some prison under the watchful eyes of some nutty cult that wanted to indoctrinate him. It wouldn't work, of course. Naruto wasn't about to believe for an instant that whoever that creep was in the photograph was his 'god'. That said, he couldn't stay like this forever, and he also couldn't think of a way to get out.
Time went on even longer, before finally the door opened again. It was the same girl he'd saw, in the tree. She had a clay bowl of what looked like green stew in her hands. Silently, Tayuya put the bowl down in front of him, and turned to leave. "What do you freaks want with me?"
Tayuya paused, and glanced back over at him. "You that stupid? Kimimaro already told you what we want. It's easy for anybody who isn't a dipshit." Then, without another word, she left. So it was exactly as he'd thought. This group, whatever it was, wanted him to believe in their religion. He was actually captured by a cult and everybody at the village wouldn't even care. Naruto plopped down in defeat, uncaring of how hard the ground was. He glanced at the bowl but found his appetite had left him for the moment; and not even because the dish smelt like an angry skunk. Today had been nonstop downhill and it showed no sign of slowing down.
The day carried onward. There were no windows for Naruto to tell if it was still daylight or evening or late at night, but at some point he decided to attempt sleep. There was no padding, or even a pillow, so it was difficult to say the least. It felt like he'd just managed to fall asleep when he was awoken again by the door opening. He rubbed his groggy eyes and looked up to see Kimimaro again standing in the doorway. 'Oh great, here we go again.'
Sure enough, he held up the same photograph, and asked the same question. "Do you know who this is?"
This time, Naruto had at least part of the answer. "Orochiburu. King of all that's ugly." The pale one didn't even grace him with a reply, he turned on a heel and closed to the door behind him. Naruto sighed and rested his chin on a hand. He had half a mind to go back to sleep, but his stomach growled and reminded him he'd failed to actually eat. He glanced at the bowl, still full of greenish stew but not smelling quite as bad. He had no spoon to eat it with, so he cautiously brought the dish to his lips. Sure enough, it tasted even worse than it smelled. He could barely take one gulp before having to fight the urge to throw it all back up again. Yet he needed to eat, so he resolved to finish it. It was only through sheer force of will he didn't vomit.
The second day came and went, this time without a visit from anyone bringing food or water. Naruto passed out from exhaustion, in spite of the discomfort and the smell of urine permeating the room.
He woke again to the same creaky noise of the door being forced open. His body ached from head to toe and he felt miserable. Still Kimimaro asked him the same question. Naruto didn't particularly have the energy to reply with snark, so he merely stated the obvious. "That's Orochimaru." The pale man stood there and stared, as if he was waiting for something. A minute later, Naruto finally broke, "What?" And as soon as he'd said that, Kimimaro turned and left just as he had before. It left Naruto utterly confused. He'd answered the question, what more did they want? Was there something else? The hours went by and still no one came with food or water. Were they going to starve him to death? He wracked his head for the answer, there had to be something he was missing. Oh, right! They wanted him to believe that this Orochimaru guy was his god, right?
Day three, Naruto was hungry, thirsty, and knew he wasn't going to get a good night's rest; but still he tried, confident he had the answer.
The next morning started the exact same as all the others, with Kimimaro standing in the doorway. He asked his question. This time, Naruto was ready. "Orochimaru. He's my god." The statement felt so wrong, and left a sour taste in his mouth. But there! He'd said it! Now, surely, they'd-
Kimimaro left without a word. 'What's wrong?! What am I supposed to say?!' He grasped his head. It pounded angrily, begging him for the proper food and care he needed. What more did they want? He acknowledged what was said, in the beginning. Did they expect him to prove it? How could he while being locked up in here? He felt tears well up in the back of his throat. He was starving, famished from lack of water, exhausted. It couldn't possibly get any worse than this, he thought, but knowing his luck he took back the statement almost immediately. If it could, it would, even if Naruto didn't know how. He lay on his skin padding and waited to inevitably black out.
Day four, he was losing hope. But as he slept, his dreams were haunted by a deep, inhuman growl.
Naruto was forced awake by a shove. His eyes stung and lips cracked. He rolled over to see the girl again, with a dish of clear water. He glanced up at her, uncertain for a moment if it was real or some delusion. "Hurry up and drink." She stated, an annoyed scowl directed towards him. He was quick to do so, downing the water in several quick gulps. The water burned his parched throat, yet was oh, so refreshing all the same. The dish was emptied all too quickly. He started to ask for more, but Tayuya interrupted him. "Drag your scrawny ass up, and follow me." His first attempt to do so met with failure. His legs were weak and trembled at the effort. All his energy had left him. Still, he took a steady breath and pushed himself up onto his feet.
She led him down the hallway. It was slightly more well lit than his prison, yet still only illuminated by the flickering light of torches on the walls. Eventually she came to a larger door, which she opened, and it revealed a larger room filled with tables and all the food Naruto could ever want. It reminded him of the cafeteria back at the academy. Men and women young and old ate and drank without a care. Four large statues in the image of large snakes flanked the corners of the room, like watchful sentinels - or hunting predators. Tayuya closed the door in front of him just as he was tempted to enter. "It's not that hard. All you gotta' do is make the right choice and this is all yours."
"I already said what you wanted, didn't I?" Naruto replied, his voice rising.
She scowled hard at him, stepping between him and the large, wooden double doors. "You said it. That's all."
"What more do you want?!" His strength was coming back. They were taunting him with what he could have, throwing it towards him only to pull it just beyond his reach. They were telling him he couldn't get it unless he did something, and that something was entirely unknown to him. He was getting angry. "How long do I have to sit in my own piss for you guys to be happy?!"
"Fucking hell, you're slow." She snapped back, as she bopped a finger against his forehead. "You'll sit as long as it takes for your ugly mug to tune in. Be thankful that's all you're getting. Most are beaten, experimented on, forced to kill. All you gotta' put up with is answering a stupid question. So count your blessings, shut up, and answer the god damn question so I don't have to put up with this bullshit anymore!"
"I don't know what you want me to do!" He took a step forward, and grit his teeth. He was getting more and more frustrated, confused. He knew full well what they wanted, but what he couldn't understand was how he was supposed to prove it. They wanted him to believe in someone he'd never met, someone he had no reason to treat as anything more than a stranger. But how could he prove that when he was given no way of doing so?
"Not my problem blondie." She gave him a shove back towards where his cell was. Tayuya was considerably stronger than she appeared. "You'll know when you find the answer. Until then, you get to stay in your cage." Naruto wasn't normally one to take something lying down, but the last several days had left him feeling weak and tired. Even what energy he'd gained from getting frustrated had quickly diminished. Still, now that he was free, he did what he could to resist being thrown back in his prison. He tried to run, but Tayuya grabbed him and put him back in line. He even tried to attack her at one point. He turned on a heel and aimed a punch for her chin. But she was gone. Then, Naruto felt something hard smash against the back of his head, sending him careening into the wall.
It would be the last time he attempted fighting his way out before being tossed back into his room. What was worse, Tayuya didn't even bother scolding him. She just dragged him, nearly unconscious, threw him in, and left. Initially he remained where he lay, staring up at the empty, stone ceiling above him. He would know? How would he know? The more he thought about it the more confused he became. Was there some sort of secret code he was supposed to know, like the scrolls in grandfather Hokage's study he was forbidden from reading? Should he pray? There wasn't a shrine to worship...
Naruto's stomach hurt. He needed food, badly; and what little water he'd drank only subsided his thirst for sparingly few moments. While the wounds he'd sustained from his unwitting swim had healed, still his bones and muscles screamed in pain. His ability to think straight worsened by the day. Still time passed, day after day he'd receive so little food and water, and time after time they'd ask him the same question. Over and over and over and over. Who is this? His reply began to be ingrained in his skull to the point he'd say it without thinking. It came to a point where it was the only thing he truly thought about.
His dreams offered him no comfort. On some nights he would return to the village, overlooking the high walls and busy streets from on top of the Hokage Monument. Inevitably, he was torn away, fleeing from the horrible, cold stares of Konoha's citizens. On other nights, he would be flying high in the sky, free of all worries or care. Those would end with a massive snake catching him in its poisoned fangs and dragging him, thrashing, to the ground. Still other nights he would find himself locked in a room, surrounded by nothing but portraits of Orochimaru. Then, there was the dream that changed everything.
The reverberating sound of dripping water touched his ears, dragging him from his restless slumber. When he at last came to his senses, it dawned on him that he was not where he was supposed to be. Bland, lifeless stone walls were replaced by cold metallic ones. On one side there was a river of mucky, brown water, another platform flanked the opposite side. Silent pipes adorned the walls, cutting in and out, some flowing into the ceiling, others dropping down through the floor. The drip originated from those. There must have been water inside. Naruto weakly rose to his feet, dizzy and weak as he was. There were no torches, but the corridor was filled with an eerie, pale light.
"Hello?" Naruto called, his voice echoing down the path, "Anybody there?" Silence followed, and left a chill down his spine. But, he did notice one thing: The light seemed to be originating from a turn in the tunnel up ahead. So he walked towards it, each footstep drawing a flinch as it reverberated again and again. One path led to another, and another still, as he continued to follow the light. After a time, he found himself in a much larger chamber, with a huge gate locked before him. The water had risen, coming up just above his ankles. The cage, he assumed it was a cage, was locked not by a key, but by what appeared to be some sort of paper with strange kanji written with ink. The other side of the gate was entirely black, as if a shroud covered whatever was within.
"What the hell is this place...?" He was in awe. Had he been sleep walking? How had he gotten out of his cell?
"Took you long enough." A deep voice rumbled, from the other side. Naruto stood back, eyes wide as he gaped up towards the gate. Two large, red, eyes with slit pupils stared down on him. Hot steam blew out from between a large, gaping mouth of fanged teeth. "Well, boy? You have questions, ask them."
"Wha-" He started, finding it difficult to form the words. A combination of exhaustion and fear made it far more difficult to think than he'd ever experienced. "What are you?" The creature answered first with a menacing growl that shook Naruto to his core.
"Hmph. Right. They kept that from you for all those years, the old fools." It stared, unblinking, as it spoke. It's voice was that of a human's... Yet clearly held more power than any normal person could ever have. A guttural rumble followed each word, destroying any doubt Naruto had that he spoke to anything but a beast. "I am the Nine-Tailed Fox. The Kyuubi. I alone brought your precious village to heel, years ago. But I was defeated, and sealed inside a child."
"A... Child?" Naruto asked, still frightened and trembling. "Wait..."
"You're it." The Kyuubi told him, answering what he'd already come to guess. "Years ago, I was sealed inside puny, little you, to keep Konohagakure, and the world, safe. I was content to sleep for the next year or so, but your stupidity and bad luck has forced me to wake prematurely."
"Wait, wait, wait... Slow down a sec." The blond interrupted, "You mean you, this monster that had the power to destroy a village, was sealed in... me? How? W-Why?"
The beast paused for a moment. It seemed as if it considered something, before replying. "The how, is thanks only to the power of your Fourth Hokage. His ability was... Commendable. I wasted so much chakra trying to pin him down, and he still had enough strength to seal me away. Albeit at a heavy cost..." It took another pause, and to Naruto it almost seemed pleased with itself. "The why, will come later. It is not for you to know. Not yet. In time, that answer will become clear. But first, there is another matter we must attend to."
"What's that?" Naruto questioned, all too confused by literally everything that was going on.
"You're dying, boy." The beast stated flatly. Naruto gulped, and went cold. He certainly felt like he was dying, but to have it stated so plainly was an eye opener. "Now, normally I wouldn't care. But I am sealed within you. Understand that should you perish I, too, shall be destroyed. This is an unacceptable fate and must be avoided. You are too weak to sustain the full force of my power, but a small fraction should suffice without causing too much damage. With my strength at your back, you will have the power to break free of your confinement."
"You can help me escape?" the boy asked, "Is that possible?"
"I will help you escape." The reply came as a roar, as if the Kyuubi was insulted Naruto questioned the possibility. "But know this, the use of my power does not come freely. I will allow you this favor, but you owe me one in return..."
A favor? He'd learned well enough that anyone asking for a favor in return of one probably didn't have the best of intentions. In what was likely the wisest choice he'd made all month, he asked, "What do you want from me?"
But then, the beast laughed. A harsh howl that blasted the chamber with heated air. "What do I want? That is quite simple, boy, and will become apparent very, very soon." Before he could react, the water rose up around him like a swirling maelstrom. It was warmed by a bright orange glow, and Naruto could feel a tremendous power emanating from it. The vice-like grip pulled him towards the cage, and a truly giant claw stuck through the breaks in the metal. The boy snapped his eyes shut and braced for pain, but only felt a gentle tap on his forehead. He felt a power explode within him, as if a sun had been set ablaze.
His eyes flashed open, and he was back in his cell.
"How long do you think it'll take him to break?" Asked one man to another. They were both dressed in black undershirts and pants, with dark grey vests armed with kunai, shuriken, and other tools of the shinobi trade. Headbands adorned their heads, with a musical note emblazoned in the middle.
"Soon. Overhead Kimimaro talking with lord Orochimaru, said he expects the kid to be a loyal servant of Otogakure within the week." Replied the other, whose face was hidden by a dark grey cloak. He threw a thumb towards the door of the prison. "He's a stubborn one, but he'll bend just like all the other indoctrinates." They continued passed the door, but stopped when they both heard a loud slam.
"What the hell-?" They turned towards the door, in time to both hear another impact and see the door jar ever so slightly. A moment later, and it was blown open, flying off its hinges entirely, and an orange blur blasted into the opposite wall. The two were caught up in the plume of dust that filled the hall for the brief moment that it did. When it cleared, Naruto stood in front of them. But, something was wrong, so horribly wrong. The boy's features were contorted, his teeth like fangs, eyes blood red with slits for pupils. His whiskers protruded and vibrated. He stood with a slouch, arms hanging in front of him, fingers formed into sharpened claws. What was more, a clearly visible aura of orange chakra whipped and stirred around him, radiating a vibrant heat that filled the hall.
A single step. That was the only warning they received, before Naruto charged. His speed drew him passed them in an instant, and in that same period he cut through their sides with his bare hands. They collapsed to the ground without ever being allowed to defend themselves, blood pooling around them. Naruto let loose a violent, ear shattering roar that resonated throughout the entire tunnel facility.
"Oh hell." Tayuya grumbled, getting roused from her slumber by both the monstrous sound as well as the tremble that shook the room. She threw the thick grey blankets off, threw on her Otogakure garb, and grabbed a small silver flute from her dresser as quick as one could drink a glass of water. She raced out her room just as a handful of Otogakure shinobi ran by. "One of the freaks break out again?" It wouldn't have been the first time. Tayuya wished it happened more often during the day and not so early in the morning. 'I was sleeping dammit!'
"No. It's Naruto." Jirobo emerged beside her from the corridor to her left. "He's gone into a rage. Kidomaru is already fighting him."
"That shrimp?" There was no way. He was so weak and pathetic, he was causing this much of a stir? Kidomaru should be enough. Hell, just about any of the shinobi in the base should be enough. "Where are they?"
"Kidomaru's being pushed back towards Orochimaru's chamber." Another man rushed up towards them from one of the adjacent halls. He wasn't as tall as Jirobo, but taller than Tayuya, with paler skin and dark grey hair. A red bead necklace wrapped loosely around his neck, over a very similar tunic to hers and Jirobo's. He was Sakon, and he liked to think he was their leader. But he would always be under Kimimaro, and as far as Tayuya was concerned, the only reason she had to obey his orders were that he was stronger than she was. "We need to go. Now."
It didn't make any sense, he took minimal effort to overpower, was stupid as hell... Yet now he was pushing Kidomaru, of all people?
A clash of blades resonated down the hall. On the one side was Naruto, still wrapped in a blazing red cloak of chakra, face contorted in a fierce snarl. On the other, a tan skinned teen with six arms. They were surrounded by bodies, each and every one slain with gaping injuries, and stringy webbing hung from the ceiling. Kidomaru grunted, his body covered in a twisting tattoo. This was all wrong. The kid was way too strong. Naruto growled and pushed forward, launching Kidomaru off his feet. They both held golden bone-like blades. Both had been created by Kidomaru, but Naruto was quick to utilize one for himself. The six-armed Oto nin flipped backwards and landed on his heel, and he back-peddled further, wishing to get distance between himself and the beast he now fought.
As he fled, he spit a thick, brown liquid from his mouth, which he molded into the shape of a bow. He also prepared a thin, white string to complete the weapon. Then he started making arrows. Kidomaru prided himself on a versatile fighting style, being able to attack close and at range equally. Yet Naruto wasn't making it easy. His push was rapid, violent, and fast. Arrows were hastily made, just small golden, solidified spears. His first shot fired, blasting speedily down the hall. Naruto kicked off the wall out of the way, but his momentum was not slowed. Before Kidomaru could fire a second shot, the blond was already within melee range. He had to act quickly. An open clawed hand swiped for his head, which he ducked under, bent backwards, and aimed a close shot towards Naruto's chin. This was similarly avoided, and it flew high, digging deep into the stone ceiling. Naruto fell backwards, as if he played limbo all to dodge the silk bullet, and in doing so his foot swung upwards towards the six-armed man's side. Kidomaru only survived thanks to his extra limbs.
The impact sent him flying back. He was able to recover and land on his feet, and had just enough time to steady his aim for another arrow shot before he was forced to retreat again. Naruto bounced off the walls, every jump bringing him ever closer. "Shit, shit, shit!" Kidomaru launched several more projectiles, each speedily dodged one after the other. The blond was like a bullet himself, a blindingly fast object that ricocheted off everything he touched so long as it brought him closer. He roared and wailed against Kidomaru, a beastly hand smashing his skull and dragging him to the ground. The force shook the hall, and a sound like thunder resounded all around. Kidomaru winced and gasped in pain, and opened his eyes just as Naruto reared back a fist to bash his head in again. The boy's face was contorted in some twisted combination of rage and... "What?"
There was something else, buried deep in his crimson eyes.
There wasn't any time to reflect. He couldn't move, the curse mark which gave him power was being overwhelmed by the heavy chakra that blasted forth from Naruto's body. Instinctively Kidomaru shifted his head to the right as the fist barreled down on him. Luckily, Naruto was thrown off him just before the impact rang true. "About damn time! Player two's entered the game!"
His celebration wasn't answered. Jirobo charged towards Naruto, his bulky form like an elephant rushing forward. He aimed to clothesline the blond. But Naruto's speed was greater, as he threw himself upward at the ceiling and, in the same motion, pushed himself back down with every intention of landing a solid blow at Jirobo's back. But instead of connecting with the larger man, it instead was intercepted by a hand. Sakon emerged from Jirobo's back with a wicked grin, his body covered by black markings, like leeches on his skin. Naruto growled, a mix of frustration and anger, and brought his other hand down to attack the new arrival. He didn't recognize this one. It didn't matter. Instead of delivering his punch as he wanted however, a seemingly invisible kick to his side sent him careening back to the floor.
Naruto cartwheeled and landed on his feet, yet even with the beastly strength at his command, he failed to react to Jirobo's assault. A large fist forced him to the ground, and likely broke his nose in the process. The hit was enough to make him involuntarily bounce, pain wracking his face and back in equal measure. Then, Kidomaru appeared over him, another one of his arrows notched. He released, and the powerful and sharp dart penetrated his chest and pinned him to the ground. A howl of pain broke from Naruto's lips. But it didn't stop him. Instead, he grasped the arrow, broke it in half, and pushed himself back to his feet. It was as if he completely ignored the gaping hole, even with the blood that poured from it. No, worse than that, as they each saw the wound begin to stitch itself together before their eyes.
He readied himself to charge again. A melody came to his ears before he could. It was a sweet song, played by a flute, and it gave Naruto pause. Something about the tune calmed him. He turned and fixed his gaze at the musician. Tayuya stood back, expertly playing her instrument even as Naruto's demonic eyes stared back at her. The chakra that surrounded him waned, and some semblance of the boy before returned to him. It relaxed him. It helped take the burning away. He turned around to face her. As she continued to play, a tiredness overtook Naruto. His eyes grew heavy. But he didn't mind. The pain was going away. He was regaining control.
Then, a hand grabbed his head from behind, and he was pummeled into the ground.
Tayuya stopped playing, her eyes wide with rage. "Sakon! You fucking idiot!" She had him! It was almost so simple. While originally her intent was to use genjutsu to restrain him, she was the first to notice the change in Naruto when she started playing. The sound itself had almost been enough. But now - now it may have been ruined by a single moment of stupidity. Maybe they'd get lucky. Naruto seemed as if he was relaxing, so perhaps he'd been caught off guard enough that the attack incapacitated him? But then he shifted under Sakon's weight, and Tayuya knew it was far from over.
"Oh, shut up." Sakon grumbled, tightening his grip on Naruto's head. "It's already over." Kunai in hand, he reached to slice the back of Naruto's neck. But it wasn't over, was it? She could tell by the way he shifted. His fingers pressed against the metal plated ground, clawed nails screeching as if scratched against slate. The kunai drew closer, yet before Sakon could finish his path, the glowing orange energy radiating from Naruto sprung to life. A single blast of raw power sent Sakon back, and he slammed against the adjacent wall. Tayuya grimaced, her eyes shielded by a hand from the rising dust.
"Kidomaru! Web!" She shouted into the dust. If there was any chance of containing Naruto, it was when he couldn't see them.
"Got it!" He called back from the other side. Jirobo stood in front of him at guard. While Kidomaru didn't necessarily need protection in the typical setting, his brief pounding from the demon boy was all he'd needed. Even the power from Orochimaru's seal only helped him keep up. It was astounding how someone so weak on the surface could be hiding something so powerful. But that must have been why Orochimaru had his eye on him. Whatever it was, keeping the kid calm became mission number one from this day on.
The dust shifted - Jirobo braced instinctively for the attack he knew would come. Naruto's eyes were wide with a savage rage as he pounced. But Jirobo hesitated. There was something else there, in his eyes. A second too late, he swung, his fist passing just over the blond's head as he dipped low. Naruto pushed forward and delivered a powerful strike to Jirobo's chin, lifting the larger man off his feet if only slightly. Then, he leaped, spun, and shoved his foot deep into Jirobo's stomach. The hit sent Jirobo flying over Kidomaru's head. But it was all the time he needed. Exhaling like a dragon ready to spew fire, he shot a wide net of white webbing that covered the hallway entirely.
Naruto was caught midair, flailing and clawing as he fell backwards, unable to break free of the bindings. At least, not at first. Tayuya and Kidomaru watched on as the webbing literally melted off of him. "No way..." Kidomaru muttered. Nothing should have been able to melt his web. Orochimaru had put him through every test, every possible scenario. No amount of heat had ever done that. No amount of force had ever broken it. There had to have been something else. Naruto wasted no time in charging towards Kidomaru as soon as he was free. It had slowed him only momentarily. The three armed boy had just enough time to drop to the ground as Naruto flew over him, and as he did so he could feel a scorching energy radiate off of him. 'It wasn't like that before.' he thought, remembering an aura but no tangible feeling. Remembering a power but - nothing quite so visible.
He continued on a short ways, greatly overstepping his attack, before he skidded to a halt. His body slouched over, hands low to the ground. A thick, red cloak of bubbling chakra surrounded him, his body still visible within yet changing before their eyes. It formed a shape, two ears over his head and and large, swinging tail. Jirobo stood, groaning, as arrow-like symbols stretched over his body. "He's getting stronger."
"What the hell is he?!" Sakon snarled, a stream of blood flowing from his hairline. A twin of him stood at his side, otherwise unharmed, scowling at the beast across from them. Tayuya wasn't too surprised Ukon came out, despite him normally sleeping through just about everything. "That strength rivals Kimimaro's."
'No shit.' The redhead thought bitterly, eyeing Naruto cautiously. They could feel the heat from where they stood, despite being several paces away. A low growl rumbled from the blond's chest, white steam passing through his lips with every breath. He snarled, showing his inhuman fangs which they knew hadn't existed until he'd gone wild. Even from there, she could see the surging rage in his eyes and yet - was he trembling? Was it just an illusion of the fierce cloak that surrounded him, or were his eyes wide not with entire anger, but...
"Are you... Afraid?" She whispered, making note when his eyes flicked to her. He fell on all fours and tensed.
"Stand back." Jirobo instructed them, clasping his hands and preparing to utilize his jutsu. Would that even work? Jirobo had the strongest earth style among them, but would that hold Naruto back? She closed her eyes and took a steadying breath. Her genjutsu should still work. Regardless of an individual's raw strength, they were nothing compared to her if their minds weren't up to task. She only worried his mindless savagery would somehow interfere with it, but there was no knowing unless she tried. She brought her flute to her lips. But the melody never played. It never needed to.
"Bracken Dance!"
All at once, giant spikes of bone jutted out from the floor, ceiling, and walls, encapsulating around Naruto. The boy was quick to react, yet was not fast enough to fully evade the trap, and soon he was held aloft with no room to move. Still he struggled and strained, thrashing as best he could to break the bones. Kimimaro approached behind them, a disappointed scowl over his brow. Likely he would have scolded them for being unable to deal with Naruto sooner, but he held his tongue if only because of the man who walked beside him. He was a head taller than Kimimaro, his skin pale like a corpse and with long black hair. He held a smile even as he walked towards the enraged Naruto, and even still as the bones began to crack and break, in spite of them being harder than steel.
Naruto struggled all the more as the stranger approached him, but he couldn't break free. He roared ferociously, as if warning the man to stay away, but it was unheeded. A hand was placed on his shoulder, forcing its way through the heavy aura around him, and -
He found himself back in the sewer. No longer was he held by solid bone, but now by a torrent of red, demonic chakra that held him up in front of that same horrible cage. His eyes were back to their innocent blue, and he cried in pain and agony. He was hungry, he was tired. And he was burning. It was a sensation he'd never felt before, but his entire body felt as if it was scorched under an unholy fire. He could see, but he could not control. For a brief moment, the girl's song had lulled the fox's domination of his mind, and that was a brief moment of peace, but before and after there was only pain and suffering. He looked down, and there was the man. What was he doing here?
"Hm. I can't say I expected this. Fascinating." He said, his voice calm and curious despite the situation. He seemed so recognizable to Naruto, but the familiarity alluded him.
"It burns..." He managed to mutter, every breath a struggle, "Help me. Please."
The stranger glanced up at him, his smile never dropping, before he looked deep within the cage. Naruto couldn't see the two giant crimson eyes that looked over him. "There is no help. This body is mine."
"There is no denying that, Kyuubi." The man replied, arms crossed loosely across his stomach. "I do not wish to take him from you."
The beast in the cage laughed, a harsh wind rushing through the chamber. "You, who do not even possess dojutsu, could not even if you did. What brings you here, then, if not to bargain for this boy's life?"
"Precisely." The man answered again. "I have no intent of harming your host, or you. I merely desire that this child be allowed to live freely, as he should." The chakra veil felt tight around Naruto's chest, as he helplessly watched the two barter for his soul. "If you would only give us the chance, you'll find us not terrible partners. Your jinchuriki will grow in strength and become a capable vessel as you like."
"Ha!" The Kyuubi barked, barring his teeth. "Polished and careful words, yet I am no fool. What does a snake gain from not nipping a fox in the heel? No, you seek a bigger prize. You intend to tame me and use me against your enemies, as many have tried before."
"I will not lie, having the Jinchuriki of the most powerful tailed beast at my disposal is part of my plan." The words confused Naruto. Jinchuriki, Kyuubi, tailed beasts - his previous discussion with the monster behind the cage had alluded to similar terms, but it still was not entirely clear. "But I am different from those who came before. I do not seek to subjugate you, Kyuubi. Only to guide your host into attaining his true power."
"You mean mine." The fox growled, his voice shaking Naruto to his core.
"You underestimate him, I think. But no matter." The man continued, shrugging off the monster's threatening tone. "Still, you cannot deny you have much to lose, yet much to gain. The boy is too weak at present to contain your full power without use of the seal, preventing your escape. But in time, he will gain that strength. Surely you see the potential." Naruto was still very much confused. Yet, there was one thing he did know. Back at the village, those who acknowledged him were few and far between. The other kids refused to play with him, sometimes they even ran away. The adults refused to guide him, often glaring at him with those horrible, horrible eyes. They hated him, for reasons he never understood. Was this beast the reason? Did they all know some sick, twisted thing about him that he didn't know until now? This thing, this monster dwelt inside of him, waiting to be unleashed. Did they fear him because of that?
Yet, this man, who he'd never met before, was arguing on his behalf. He spoke about a strength that could be... Or, at least, Naruto thought he was talking about him?
"Oh, you have every reason to distrust me, Kyuubi. I certainly would. But even you must admit you have very little option in your... Predicament." The stranger's smile broadened as he glared into the cage. He was met with silence for some time, although Naruto could still feel the monster's deep, heavy breaths behind him. But then, the energy holding him in the air lightened, and he lowered back to the ground.
"Fine. I accept your reasoning. But know this, forked-tongue. If you so much as touch this body, alter it, change it in any way that does not go towards removing this seal, I will not answer kindly. Although I rest, I am always watching."
As soon as Naruto's feet hit the ground, he stumbled forward, stopped only by the bones jutting out from the wall. A wave of exhaustion crashed over him. The last thing he saw before the darkness consumed him was the face of his savior. Who was it? He'd seen him before, for certain. 'Oh, that's right.' Naruto thought as his consciousness faded. The photograph. Kimimaro showed it to him. Come to think of it, they tried telling him from the beginning, hadn't they? He was his savior. The one who would come to his aid when he needed it. How could he have been so stupid? Tayuya was right, it really was obvious. The one who would see him for who he really was. The one who would give him purpose. The one who made the burning go away.
'Orochimaru.'
Yay! You made it! Hopefully! .
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