Naruto: The Orange Knight
Prologue: A Gift
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Summary: The most extraordinarily powerful relics have almost all been lost to the ages. Only an ancient entity would remember the arts to create new ones and Naruto is bound to a demon that could, however, nothing is free.
Kurama (Kyuubi) x Naruto yaoi. {Slow Build}
The previous night a heavy thunderstorm covered Konoha for hours. But now, only the dripping of rainwater from the leaves remained. At this early hour, a young blond carefully picked his way down from one of the massive trees. As he reached the ground, he clutched a small piece of metal to his chest.
Several weeks before, he'd found the metal in a cave littered with snake carvings. When he showed it to Hokage and answered the man's questions about where he found it, he'd been ordered to never return to that cave.
The aged Hokage had identified the orange-gold fragment of metal as orichalcum, which meant mountain copper. It was a rare metal that was very rarely seen. Naruto had quickly decided that it was now his most prized possession. Sadly, a civilian had caught sight of it, and claimed that Naruto had stolen it from him.
This led to Naruto being chased from his home by the ensuing angry mob of civilians. Still, he'd held onto his treasure, so hiding in a forest and sleeping in a tree was totally worth it.
However, the main problem with the blond being chased into this forest during a rainstorm was that Naruto had no idea how to get out. His intention had been to leave the forest, but instead, he ended up heading deeper in.
The trees were large and as he moved, the leaves got closer together, blocking out more and more light. The bark on the trees darkened in color and the birds were no longer chirping. He had no idea that he had walked into a den of wolves. It made the blond shiver.
Before he even knew what had happened, Naruto felt a sharp pain in his back. The blond was launched forward several feet as blood spurted from the deep gashes that a large wolf had created on his back with its sharp claws. "GAAHHH!" The boy shouted in pain as he landed face first on the ground. After sliding a few feet he was able to look up only to see the five large wolves that were now surrounding him.
The large black wolves were snarling as drool dripped steadily from their maws, and Naruto's eyes went wide when he realized he couldn't even move. "No" he whispered, not seeing any way out of this deadly situation. The wolves got closer as Naruto felt blood running from the wounds on his back, down his side before pooling around his stomach. His right hand was still gripped tight around the small piece of orichalcum as tears started to fill his eyes. "I don't want to die here." He sobbed
You wish to survive?
A voice sounded out, but Naruto couldn't tell from where. "Yes," The blond answered as the wolves crept closer.
What would you be willing to give up in order to survive?
Time seemed to slow for Naruto as the wolves drew even closer, the blond now able to smell their foul breath. "What would I have to give up?" Naruto honestly wasn't sure where the voice was coming from and thought he was hearing things.
Yourself… and your treasure. If you give both your treasure and yourself to me then I will make sure that you survive this.
Naruto was confused on what that meant as the largest of the wolves went to bite down on his neck. "Alright," The blond said as the metal in his fist started to dissolve and his body suddenly became engulfed in orange light for several seconds. The wolves were sent skidding back as a large amount of energy burst from the blond's body. Kicking up a large amount of dust that completely surrounded Naruto.
"Well isn't this interesting. My chakra reacted quite well to your treasure." The voice spoke as the cloud of dust dissipated. Standing in place of Naruto was an armored figure. The figure was roughly Naruto's height, although he seemed to be a hair or two taller due to the armor that covered him from head to toe. A fiery orange armor.
What is going on? Whispered Naruto.
It was an oddity for the young shinobi-in-training, speaking but not being able to speak at the same time. "Relax and I can explain later. For now, know this. You are mine now and these pathetic mongrels thought to take you from me." With that, the armored figure dashed forward and slammed its right fist down onto the alpha wolf's head. This caused the beast's skull to fracture, bone and metal to tear through flesh, and blood to squirt out of the newly-created wound into the air and across the helmet-covered face of the armored figure. With the alpha dead, the armored figure turned towards the other wolves.
Do you have to kill them?
Hearing the question from the blond made the armored figure chuckled. "I told you didn't I? You belong to me and they tried to hurt you. For that, the only punishment is death." The figure was at the next wolf's side in a moment. His hands wrapped around the wolf's head before, in a wrenching motion, he broke the animal's neck.
Naruto whimpered at the sight, and the figure sighed. "If you want I can block out your access to your senses so you don't have to watch, but if you really want to be a ninja you need to get used to death."
Naruto said nothing as the last three wolves lunged at the figure, who was quick to spin around and intercept the attack. The wolf in the lead was struck with the figure's armored covered heel and was sent crashing into a tree. A loud crack was heard both from the blow, and the wolf's connection with the tree. As the wolf's spine broke on the impact with the tree, The beast twitched a few times before it stopped moving permanently.
The other two remaining giant wolves bit down on the figure's shoulders, only for their teeth to shatter on the near indestructible armor. "Foolish creatures, no-one touches what is mine." The figure said before opening his fists which showed his gauntlets were tipped with deadly claws. He grabbed the wolves by their throats and in a jerking motion ripped them out. Blood coated the already stained armor as it ran from the wolves' torn open throats. With a scoff, the figure let out some chakra that burned the blood covering him away.
Again, another whimper sounded from Naruto. "It is over now at least." The figure said in an attempt to be soothing. "We will return to your home where we can talk. I will lead you from this forest before returning complete control of your body to you." The voice was true to his word, as it walked their shared body to the fence that surrounded the forest and in a flash of orange Naruto stood there in his normal clothing once more.
Looking down at his hands the blond clenched his fists a few times. "That was really weird." He muttered to himself before getting the urge to feel his back. His wounds were gone however the back of his shirt had a large gash through it.
'You may want to think your replies to me now that others will be around to hear you. Otherwise, they will think you are going mad, or maybe even talking to me.' The voice echoed in his head.
Naruto sort of nodded, although he was confused. 'Like this?'
Yes, now, head to your apartment and we can discuss things there.
Naruto started walking home looking around at the many civilians that were glaring at him. One of the civilians approached him and Naruto recognized him as the man who had chased the him into the forest. "Where is my item, brat?"
Naruto shook his head. "I don't have anything." He replied before swallowing around a lump in his throat.
'If he touches you, I will kill him.' The voice growled out.
Naruto flinched at the voice's tone before running around the ugly man and back to his apartment. He might not have liked the civilian, but that didn't mean he wanted him to die. Getting to his apartment the blond quickly slammed the door behind him.
'Go lay down on your bed and we will talk.' The voice said.
Naruto walked to his bed slowly and laid down. He was extremely nervous now that he was actually going to talk about what happened in the forest. After all, he had been so scared, about to die, and bleeding from a now nonexistent wound. With that being the case he had given himself over and he didn't know to what. The last part is what scared him the most. Taking a deep breath he closed his eyes, and when he opened them, he was in a sewer.
"Follow the red pipes." The disembodied voice told him.
With a nod and another deep breath, Naruto followed the red pipes and eventually found himself in a large room. In the center of that room, wrapped in chains attached to the wall, was the orange suit of armor. Beyond it a large cage. Inside the cage, was a boy with fiery orange hair and slitted crimson eyes. He was wearing a black kimono on that had the kanji for nine on the sleeves. Naruto found himself staring into the red eyes, thinking that the color was beautiful.
The boy chuckled. "Well at least your first impression of me isn't that bad." Naruto took a step back surprised that this boy was what had saved him. A hundred questions ran through his mind, but before he could ask any of them the boy spoke again. "Before we talk, and I know you have questions, could you do me a favor? Just close your eyes and imagine a couch behind me."
Naruto shifted a little but did as he asked. When a blue couch actually appeared behind the other boy, Naruto took a step back in surprise. The red-eyed boy sat down and motioned for Naruto to join him. The blond did, but couldn't help but ask. "How?"
The other boy chuckled. "You will have to be more specific, but let me get some of the basics out of the way. You created the couch because we are in your mindscape. A physical representation of your subconscious. You can control things to an extent here. How you got here is also simple. You were pulled into the seal because I wanted you to come in here with me and you were willing to come. Anything else before we start with the important stuff?"
Naruto nodded. "Who are you?"
The orange-haired boy shifted around to face Naruto a little more. "My name is Kurama and I am the Kyuubi no Kitsune."
Naruto looked at the boy in shock before trying to crawl away, only to fall off the couch. "Wh-what?"
Kurama looked directly into Naruto's wide, scared eyes. "I am the Nine-Tailed Fox that attacked your village on the day of your birth. Although that is far from the whole story. There is no reason, however, for you to fear me. You are mine after all, and as such, no harm will befall you."
Naruto honestly wasn't sure how to feel about that. If what Kurama… If what the Kyuubi had said was true than Naruto had become a demon's possession instead of dying. The blond wasn't sure how he felt about that. He stood up to move away, but before taking a step away he tried to ask a question. "I-I… I mean w-why… I mean"
A finger was placed on top of the blond's lips as he started stuttering. "I will tell you the whole story later, but know that I did not choose to attack your village. Just like I didn't choose to be sealed away within you. Just as I didn't choose to have you sleeping in the forest, although the civilians treat you like that because of me. I did, however, choose to save your life."
Naruto was then pulled back onto the couch by the demon. "Why? Why did you save me?"
The demon smiled at the blond. "Because I could, because I wanted to, because doing it was easy, because it allowed me a little freedom from this seal, or maybe because your death would sadden me. There are several reasons so you can pick your favorite."
Naruto couldn't help but blush at those words. Looking away from the demon he saw the fiery orange armor. The armor was simple looking in appearance, although the metal was the same tint as Kurama's hair. "How did you save me?"
Kurama also looked at the armor. "I took the metal fragment that you held so dear and using my chakra to create more of it, I fashioned you a suit of armor. A long time ago smiths could create masterful works that couldn't be matched by today's crafters. I used my knowledge of those smiths' works to make your armor. As most of the metal for the armor was created from my chakra, the metal changed color from the orange-tinted gold of the fragment you found in the cave to the fiery orange you see now."
Naruto looked at the armor a little more closely. "Y-you made the armor for me?" He said before looking back at the demon.
His response was a nod from the red-eyed boy. "I did… I can of course fight for you if I need to while I am sealed inside you, but I would prefer you know how to defend yourself. This armor will help keep you safe. You are mine, after all, I would hate to see you damaged."
Naruto blushed at that. "When you say I am yours-"A clawed hand was suddenly cupping Naruto's whisker-scarred cheek as crimson eyes met sapphire.
Naruto instantly snapped his mouth shut as he saw the demon grin, exposing sharp fangs. "You are mine. I will help keep you safe and ensure you are taken care of. In return, you will…" The demon stopped talking to chuckle before covering the blond's mouth with his own. A few seconds later the red-eyed demon pulled away. "Does that answer your question?"
Naruto was blushing a deep red, from his neck all the way up to his hairline. Then he suddenly pushed the demon. "P-pervert!" He shouted before covering his face.
Another chuckle from the demon. "I won't deny that." He said before Naruto moved away from the demon even more. "But you have nothing to worry about. Even if you belong to me I won't force you to do anything. You will in time, willing give yourself to me after all." Kurama said with a confident smirk.
That got Naruto to relax a little, although his cheeks still maintained their colorful hue. He once more looked over the armor, reflecting on just how much had changed that morning. Still, he wouldn't try to take back his promise. He had promised to give himself to Kurama, and he never went back on his word. "You might have lost your precious metal fragment, but I hope you like my gift."
Turning from the armor and back to the demon, Naruto smiled. "I like it. I just… well…"
Kurama nodded understanding that this would take some getting used to for the human. "I understand it will take some adjusting to. You will need to adjust to a few new things in your life."
Naruto cocked his head to the side in confusion. "Like what?"
The demon once again placed his hand on Naruto's cheek to make sure the blond was looking him in the eyes. "Well for one, you will need to stop asking out that annoying pink-haired flea." Naruto tried to look down at that but was unable to look away. "She is abusive, weak, and loud and I will no longer allow her to hit you. Next time she strikes you for merely being kind to her, I will make her regret she was ever born."
Naruto glared at that, forgetting for a moment who was looking into his eyes. "You can't just go around hurting people for no reason!"
The demon pinned Naruto by his throat at that. "I will not go around hurting anyone without cause, but I will not allow them to hurt you!" Naruto whimpered a little but didn't say anything else. "We can talk more about what changes need to be made later, for now though… rest some." The demon said, his eyes softening before releasing the boy.
Naruto hadn't realized how tired he was until the word rest was mentioned. "Alright, sleep sounds good." He muttered before going to stand, only to be dragged back down to the couch.
"Sleep here, in my arms," Kurama whispered into the blond's ear as he curled against him. Under any other circumstances Naruto would have been freaking out, but honestly, the ten-year-old just settled into the embrace, having never been held like this before. He had made a promise anyway.