Hi all, it's been a while but I'm back with a new fic and pen name. This is the first thing I have written for a while so be gentle. Also it is unbeta'd so be twice as gentle.

Ja,

Fox

Disclaimer: I do not own anything to do with Naruto

Warnings: This is a story about a malexmale relationship. Things may get hot and heavy. You have been warned.


Chapter One

"Kyuubi… kyuubi are you there?"

"I'm here kit, don't worry."

"K-kyu, it hurts."

"I know kid, just hold on. Everything is going to be okay."

"Kyuubi, my legs… Kyuubi I can't feel my legs!"

"Kit! Don't panic! I'm fixing it, it's okay, you're okay."

"I'm so scared…"


Naruto awoke with a start, sitting bolt upright and heaving in great gasps of air. Slowly, his pounding heart returned to its normal rate and he laid back down, one hand across his face. He breathed in deeply and let it all out in one long whoosh of air. A scowl flitted across his face and his free hand bunched the bed sheets beneath him until his knuckles turned white.

Flashbacks.

He slept a maximum of 4 hours a night. This, however, was a rarity. He tended not to sleep until he passed out from exhaustion. But of course, the flashbacks woke him up shortly after. And yes that's right not nightmares, flashbacks.

"We're losing him!"

"I blood NOW, he's lost too much!"

"Hold on gaki! Please!"

Naruto sat up again and roughly shook his head, trying to get rid of unwanted memories. He turned to his window and looked outside. Judging by the dim light and pinkish sky it was somewhere close to five in the morning. Rubbing the heels of his hands into his eyes, Naruto stretched lightly and got up. As he stood a sudden attack of dizziness hit him and he lurched to the side, one hand going to his already pounding head and the one snapping out to hold him up against the wall.

It's getting worse.

He shook his head again and walked towards his tiny bathroom to get himself ready for the day. After showering he returned to his room to dress. Picking up his orange jumpsuit, he gave a sneer to rival that of any Uchiha.

Uchiha.

The name was like a punch to the gut and for a moment Naruto actually felt winded. Ignoring the feelings of loss he got dressed and tied his headband around his forehead.

Ready for another day.

He left his apartment, ignoring the kitchen completely, and made his way down to the bridge to meet with the shattered remains of team seven. Kakashi had asked them to meet early but he doubted that the bastard would be there for a few more hours. Giving him time to think. And how he loved thinking.

He sighed and crouched on the rails of the bridge, recounting yet again the source of his constant flashbacks.

"Uchiha."

The low growl was full of hatred. Naruto chuckled darkly and without humour, Kyuubi really hated him.

-Flashback-

The valley of the end. How horrifically cliché.

"Sasuke! Don't do this!"

Dodge, drop, roll, dodge.

"I will kill him! I will have power that no-one else has ever even dreamed of! And you will not get in my way!"

Duck, parry, counter, roll

"I won't let you!"

"Then die!"

"CHIDORI!"

"RASENGAN!"

Light, pain, noise, pain, falling, pain.

Silence.

Darkness.

Death.

-End flashback-

Naruto rubbed his chest sub-consciously. He had died that day. Even with Kyuubi working on him from the inside and Tsunade working on him from the outside, he had still died. To this day he doesn't know why he is alive and neither does Kyuubi. Something about him being to stubborn to quit. He chuckled again. Ever since then he'd been, for lack of a better word, different. Not on the outside of course. If the council knew the dark murderous thoughts that he'd been having then they would have him executed for sure. No, defiantly not on the outside. But his inner self? Definitely different. Naruto knew that he was slowly merging with the fox and that he would take on some of his personality traits and physical features, but it was more than just that. Almost as if, when Naruto died, the Naruto that everyone knew and loved died with him.

When Sasuke killed him, he really did kill him. He began to hate everything that made him Naruto, convinced that was the reason why Sasuke left and why he couldn't stop him. Sasuke hated Naruto and Naruto hated himself. So he died. And a new Naruto was born. Orange became a sin, Ramen was merely acceptable, Sakura made him feel ill, smiling was painful, stupidity was not tolerated, strength was everything.

Tsunade, the clever bitch, knew, she just knew somehow. And Naruto was okay with that, out of everyone only her and Jiraiya knew what he could accomplish and respected him for that. He respected them back. But he barely felt a twinge when he saw the look on Tsunade's face when she looked at his big, fake smile. She knew. And she hated it. She wanted her gaki back, but all she had was this emotionless fake. He wasn't Naruto, but he was all that was left.

He began to quickly rise within the ranks. Through the years he reached the highest rank bar Hokage herself. Special ANBU. He didn't lead a team because Tsunade feared that he would kill them all in a blink of an eye if they pissed him off. She had a right to be worried. He earned the title 'The Lone Fox' due to his mask and his obvious contempt for everything that moved. The other ANBU learned quickly on to stay away from him. Tsunade agreed to keep it from the council as long as Naruto stayed in team seven.

He sighed again bit quickly jumped to his feet when he felt a familiar chakra presence.

"Ohayo Sakura-chan!"

He waved madly and forced a huge grin on his face.

"Oh shut up Naruto! Why are you so loud so early?"

Naruto scratched the back of his head nervously.

"Ahhh gomen Sakura-chan."

She snorted and quickly fell silent.

"Ne Sakura-chan, do you want to get some ramen with me later?"

Naruto let his eyes grow big and trusted and cocked his head to the side in a show of innocence.

Sakura looked as though she'd just been asked to eat shit.

"Like I'd ever go anywhere with you."

She turned away and Naruto spent a few minutes whining about how unfair she was to him. The relief was over-whelming.

"Morning dickless."

Naruto made a show of being surprised, even though he had sensed Sai coming a mile off.

"I HAVE A DICK YOU BASTARD!"

"Prove it."

Silence.

"NO WAY YOU PERVERT! SAKURA-CHAN MAKE HIM STO-"

He was silenced by Sakura's fist embedding itself into his skull.

"KILL KILL KILL KILL."

"Not now Kyu."

Instead of ripping the bitch apart, Naruto settled for pouting and rubbing his head.

"Sakura-chan is mean…"

A small pop made them all turn around. Kakashi was crouched on the rails of the bridge, his one visible in a happy 'u' shape and that damn orange book in his hand.

"Yo."

"YOU'RE LATE." Naruto and Sakura screamed in unison.

"Gomen, gomen. There was this cute little kitty stuck in a tree and-"

"LIAR. You don't even like cats!"

Kakashi blinked, surprised.

"Oh yeah."

Sakura snorted and crossed her arms.

"What are we doing today then Kakashi-sensei?"

Kakashi visibly sobered and stepped down from the railings.

"Sasuke has come back to Konoha. For good."


There you have it! I hope it was okay, if you like it review and I'll write some more. This was just a chapter to test the water. Ja, Fox.