Chapter 1: Dying isn't the only sacrifice shinobi must make.
"Crap...huff huff huff...crap crap DAMMIT!" Naruto cried out as he tripped on a branch due to chakra exhaustion. His body screaming out in pain against him as all the unhealed minor cuts and bruises accumulate against him. Just earlier that morning he had from the Akatsuki while he and his team were returning from a mission earlier that week. They held him down whilst attempting to remove the kyuubi from him in their hidden lair. Thankfully Kakashis most reliable nin dog Pakkun had been able to follow him to their temporary hideout which allowed Tsunade and Jiraiya the chance to lead a strike force to recapture Naruto. The team Consisted of, aside from the Sannin, 4 strike forces of Anbu, Kakashi, Gai, Sakura and the 2 Sannin along with any allied hunternin from other natios who would be stationed outside to stop their respective criminals from fleeing once Naruto had been secured.
Unbeknownst to them Sasuke was leading his own little strike force of Kabuto and the newly formed sound four to try and take out Itachi. The sound 4 were to erect a barrier enclosing the 2 Uchiha while Kabuto was to make sure that Sasuke did not die before Orochimaru could take his body. Unsurprisingly Orochimaru was following the group secretly himself to insure that Sasuke did not do anything stupid and to jump in should it seem Sasuke should lose.
As fate would have it these 2 groups came upon eachother outside of the entrance to the Akatsukis hideout. Before a fight could breakout, Tsunade noticed Sasuke's presence and informed him that they would not get in the way of his mission should they not get in the way of theirs. They agreed and, still not noticing Orochimaru, they ventured into the cave.
The plan for the Konoha forces were simple. The 2 Sannin and 3 of the 4 forces of ANBU were to engage the enemy while leaving Itachi to the sound forces. The last group of ANBU were to cover the rear and their escape. Gai and Kakashi, being their fastest and best fighters were told to engage the Akatsuki until they could get ahold of Naruto. Once he had been secured Tsunade, Gai and Pakkun would leave and tend to Naruto leaving Kakashi in charge of their forces. Sakura was meant to stay with the last group of Anbu at the rear and to heal any allies who needed it and not to engage the enemy.
Needless to say the plan did not exactly go off without a hitch. It took 3 hours of fighting lackies being lead by Zetsu just to get to the chamber whereupon the true battle commenced. The chamber was 100 meters high and about a mile wide on both sides with 1/3 of it being taken up by the seal holding Naruto. The battle was quite surreal with black clad ANBU members battling the S class criminal around a large seal holding onto a non stop screaming Naruto while off near the entrance stood a large purple box containing Sasukes and Itachi's fight. All the while Jiraiya and Tsunade were slowly making progress towards Naruto and the seal. The plan came to a fault when Gai became too injured to carry Naruto when he was caught in the backlash of one of Deidara's explosions. With half of the ANBU killed off Tsunade realised that she can't afford to run off with Naruto to make sure he was all right so she called up the last group of ANBU to join the fray, patched up Gai, and handed Naruto off with pakkun to Sakura and told to make a run for it.
Before Sakura could make it to the entrance the barrier was lifted revealing 4 chakra exhausted sound nins and Itachi standing over an exhausted and nearly dead Sasuke. Before he could land the final blow Orochimarus tongue shot out of the ground, wrapped around Itachis feet and pulled him under. Taking advantage of the fact that Kabuto was currently occupied with Kisame, Sakura ran in and with her monstrous strength flung Sasuke over her other shoulder and ran out the entrance.
Once realising that Sakura had enough time to get sufficiently far enough away, Tsunade called for a retreat of her remaining forces and to leave the remaining members to the hunternin. What she did not know is that shortly after leaving the hideout Sakura went to ground no less that 300 meters away due to needing to treat Sasukes injuries. Thus Konohas forces ran past them hoping to catch up to them. When The last of Konohas forces left the hideout the hunternin then began to engage the 6 remaining members of Akatsuki who were fleeing the scene. Meanwhile Naruto regained consciousness and with the help of Sakura left their hiding place to catch up to the rest of Konohas forces. Sadly this was not to be for the moment they came out of hiding Orochimaru confronted them demanding Sasuke back.
Naturally Naruto screamed and declared to never forgive him for what he did to Sasuke. Then he told Sakura to take Sasuke back to Tsunade and to get help while he holds him off. Under normal circumstances this would have been a good idea except for one minor detail, Kyuubi would have none of it. The reason why Kyuubi suddenly wanted Naruto dead was simple, while trying to extract Kyuubi, Akatsuki had damaged the part of the seal that would bind his essence to Naruto upon death. Thus at that moment he was gonna do anything it took to get him killed. So during their fight, when Naruto took a few too many wounds and began to get tired from chakra exhaustion sooner than usual he ran for it. That's why no one can blame him if he's a little cranky due to today not exactly going his way.
"ku ku ku, why Naruto-kun I thought you promised to kill me, wasn't that your ninja way?" Mocked Orochimaru as he watched Naruto stumble through the forest. Naruto was too busy trying to catch his breath to give him a reply as he came to a stop.
"If I didn't know any better someone could think that you didn't enjoy my company ku ku ku." Stated Orochimaru sarcastically. 'I gotta keep him talking, need to buy time for Sakura to get some help. Dammit, the fur ball isn't giving me any chakra and I can't talk to him either, what is wrong with him.'
"I have no clue what could give you that idea. You know I always wondered why you ran away from Konoha. Was it because Jiraiya rejected you? I know he is a man whore but it's not you he just doesn't swing that way." Naruto replied.
"... enough Naruto-kun. I think you may have realised something interesting. I notice that you have yet to use any of the kyuubis vast stores of chakra, that and none of your minor cuts or wounds have healed yet. I wonder, why is that?" asked Orochimaru.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Stated Naruto quickly. 'Crap, does he know something I don't?' thought Naruto.
"I think I know why. Thanks to my rather unique perspective I believe I know exactly why and I find it rather delicious to contemplate all the possibilities." Chuckled Orochimaru evilly. "All of which you would most definetly whole hearted disagree with."
'Oh no this is not sounding too good...' thought Naruto. "Stop screwing with me and just come out and say it already! Dammit you're worse than Ero-Sennin when he's describing how great he is!" Yelled Naruto fiercely.
"Oh my what a temper you have there Naruto-kun. Alright I'll tell you. From where I am standing I can see that something has happened to that seal on your stomach. See how the inner most portion has faded away? Well I think since Akatsuki could never finish the unsealing, what happened is that the portion of the seal that would bind the Kyuubis soul to you upon death has been destroyed." Said Orochimaru.
"So?" Asked Naruto simply, not caring for the direction that the conversation has taken.
"My you're even denser than Sasuke-kun described you, and trust me he had some very choice words for you ku ku ku. What I mean is that once you die the Kyuubi will be released instead of dying with you." Orochimaru smirked after saying this as he watched realization dawn upon the energetic blond.
"Shit." Was all Naruto could say. His thoughts, however, were in turmoil as he looked down to check out his seal as he channeled some chakra. 'It just can't be true. But it all makes so much sense, why my wounds still haven't healed, why I can't summon demon chakra or even talk to that flea bitten mutt, I bet that sadistic fox is even slowing down my healing, is a cut supposed to bleed for that long?'
The silence was so thick it was stifling, Naruto could barely breathe. Naturally Orochimaru broke the forced silence first.
"Usually I am all for the destruction of Konoha and wouldn't mind releasing Kyuubi one bit, but I have a better idea for you. Swear loyalty to me and I will fix the damage that Akatsuki has foolishly wrought upon your body. Refuse and..." Even before finishing the sentence Naruto felt a blade rest lightly against his throat and saw that Kurasanag,i the tongue held sword of Orochimarus, was pointed directly at his chest eager to impale him. If he hadn't been so distracted and disoriented from chakra depletion and what Orochimaru was saying he might have noticed the sword coming his way. If what Orochimaru was saying was true it would not have mattered either way. "I will not hesitate kill you and seal Konoha's fate with you."
"You bastard!" Chocked out Naruto as he felt the kunai press ever deeper into the flesh of his neck. 'This can't be happening. no no no no SHIT no no no. Dammit why! WHY!' Thought Naruto desperately.
"Well Naruto? What will it be? Oh and I know what you are thinking and no, once I apply my seals to complete the binding of your souls, I can have it removed at will or upon my death my chakra will no longer be able to support it. So there will be no turning back from this point. Your choice. Oh and might I mention your time is running out? you have two minutes to think it over."
"Oh kami what is it up with my day? First akatsuki capture me and Kyuubi and now you wanna release it. Know what I want? I just wanted some FUCKING RAMEN! And then this shit happens. Dammit stop it with the sword I need time to think!." Screamed out Naruto.
'Well at least we know he is no mind reader because I was not thinking anything near to what he said. Well Naruto looks like you're gonna have everyone hate you for another reason now. This sucks so bad, why is it always me? Why did I have to get the kyuubi sealed into me? Where's my legions of fangirls? Man I am still so jealous of Sasuke. Still can't believe he ran off to this creep though, if I was him I would have just announced to marry the first girl who brought me back Itachi's head, heck I would even marry the girls who helped! He never was a bright one that Sasuke. Jeez I am running out of time and I still haven't figured a way out of this yet. Well I guess I'll make him the deal then. Let's see if I can get some breathing room in this deal though.' Thought Naruto resignedly.
"Okay but I refuse to attack my friends for any reason!" declared Naruto.
"Ku ku ku you aren't in any condition to make demands of me Naruto-kun. Since I am feeling a little playful now after having my vessel stolen I'll allow one concession on my part. You may choose 1 nation that you need never attack it or it's inhabitants. Naturally should they ever interfere with your missions or invade or attack my person you are to deal with them, harshly." Said Orochimaru.
'Well that's better than I hoped for.' thought Naruto dryly. 'Well this is it. All that hard work, all of my friends, and it's gonna be all gone because of that damn fox isn't it? I'm not like Sasuke, I don't have some cherished bloodline that'll let me just waltz back in to Konoha cus they want it, no I have Kyuubi and it's something they don't want. At least the villagers will be satisfied with my betrayal, but I am gonna let down all my precious people; Obaa-chan, Ero-Sennin, Iruka, and... Oh crap Sakura-chan is gonna kill me! Wait a second, that would be a good thing wouldn't it? I wasn't strong enough to not get caught by Akatsuki and now I can't even stop myself from becoming Orochimaru's bitch!'
"Deal. I swear allegiance to the sound until the day I die because that is my ninja way!" Declared Naruto sadly.
"Well Naruto-kun, follow me because your new life starts today." And with that he began to walk away while his earth clone turned back into dirt.
Naruto stood there for a few moments absorbing what had just happened. Then his once bright blue eyes looked downcast and clouded over slightly with pain once realisation dawned upon him. Knowing he was still being watched from the shadows Naruto whispered a silent "I'm sorry." Then ran to catch up with his new master.
Author's note: Okay I fixed up this chapter with grammar and spelling. I do not have spellcheck but luckily the only spelling errors I make are typos usually. Still if you could help revise it or add in your review a paragraph I should look at that would be grand. I do plan on doing perhaps one more chapter from Narutos point of view but it will probably be to further the story or to keep up to date on his emotions.