Summary - In order to survive Naruto must trust in Aimi, watch as they grow closer together as time passes on.
Demon Country
Insight
Here lay four year old Naruto Uzumaki, beaten, battered, and not far from broken. A child aged far beyond his years, something was wrong; for whatever reason he was 'Public Enemy Number One' and he had to know why. Desperate Naruto begins to relive the past events of his short life, it was nothing new; it was a blessing and curse part of the reason he had survived all this time. Naruto's photographic memory made it possible for him to learn quickly; the nightmares would never end he would never forget the terrors he suffered.
Sorting through his memories he found the theme was always the same, murderous glares and blatant discrimination, many times he came within millimeters of death. Among those of Konoha he was Demon and Demon Brat, so few knew what his actual name and fewer still called him by it. There were only so many people that ever treated Naruto decently the Hokage, Old man Ichiraku and Ayame, and the few times he ever met her Anko Mitarashi. As Naruto processed all this he realized there was no life for him, where just about all but three would sooner see him die the most excruciatingly painful and degrading death possible than content.
Growing up as Naruto did left no room for naivety, so he picked whatever he could whenever he could. During his visits with Old man Sarutobi he learned of different ways to deal with the anxieties and pressures of his life, he found meditation worked best. Naruto also learned the history of his village, as delved deeper into his mind it dawned on him 'The Fourth died four years ago in the attack, ON MY BIRTHDAY! But he defeated it didn't he? At least that's what the books say, no this is a shinobi village there all sorts of secrets and skeletons hidden within our history. So what's the truth? The villagers curse my very existence call me Demon, does that mean I'm somehow related to the Kyuubi No Yoko? If that's the case then there are only so many possibilities… JINCHUURIKI! All the pieces fit together.
"Well, I'll be damned, if living the way I do has taught me anything, it's that there's two sides to every story. Let's see what I can learn about this Kyuubi and who better to ask than the being itself." Naruto sat up in a meditative pose, as his breathing slowed he dove into the farthest reaches of his mind. His eyes fluttering open he found himself before a grand cage apparently held together by a single paper seal. Smiling Naruto peered beyond the bars of the cage and called out "Kyuubi! Kyuubi would you speak to me?" Kyuubi rumbled "So you are my vessel, why have you come before me?" "I have some questions are you willing to talk to me?" There was a pause as Kyuubi thought it over, here was its vessel asking to talking to it, not demanding actually asking and quite politely. "Speak boy, and choose your words carefully." "I'm sorry my name is Naruto Uzumaki, and I want to ask about your attack on my 'village'; to put things simply, why did you attack Konoha?"
"I'm a demon isn't that answer enough" "I guess so, do you know anything about me; if you don't I'd like to tell you if you don't mind." "…" "I'll take that as a yes; from the very beginning I've had a target on my back. My earliest memory is of being introduced to my own personal purgatory, a few ninja and a group of civilians managed to get their hands on me. They built a huge fire pit in the surrounding woods and had themselves a nice bonfire, with me at the center, satisfied smirks on their faces as I cried in pain. It didn't last very long as my throat grew hoarse, and my cries were drowned out by the night. The flames roasting me down to the bone, my eyes bubbling ready to burst; I was about three months old then. It's hard to believe but it only gets worse from there. I imagine I've only survived up to this point because of you, so thanks." "… You're thanking me, in spite of all your suffering? If not for me your life would have been much happier, why?" "You never chose to be sealed within me; that was the Fourth's doing, in order to save this village." Wise words… Naruto, it's true I had my reasons, but I'd rather not share them now, is that all?" "I'm afraid I may not live to see my next birthday; I've had to grow up fast to avoid getting hurt any more than I already. The village's attacks on me keep getting worse crueler, more brutal; I need to get stronger if I want to survive. Is there anything you can do to help me? I'd ask the Old Man, but his position doesn't allow him to favor one others and I rarely see Anko around." "My survival depends on yours, I will help you" "Whatever your reasons you've earned my trust, I think I'll start with Fuuinjutsu. It's not a very common art and maybe I can find a way to free you from this cage, but first I have to get into the library." "Rest for now, while you sleep I will teach you a few jutsu that can help; then we'll work on your chakra control until you've mastered them." "Thank you… should I just call you Kyuubi or do you have a name, and sorry for asking… but are you male or female?" "What makes you think I'm a female?" "The only thing to suggest otherwise is your voice, and I don't know much about foxes so I can't be certain. Just assuming you were a boy would be stupid, like how the villagers assume I'm you in human form." "… I'm a woman and the name's Aimi kit" she said in a more feminine tone of voice "Thanks for telling me, guess I'll see you later." Naruto said, as he faded away from his mindscape. "He's a curious one; I think I'll trust the kit." Aimi said as she set about her new task. Naruto finally made it to his apartment and collapsed into bed hoping he'd be safe though the night.