Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
October tenth. On this day, all of Konoha's citizens gather to celebrate the death of the nine tailed beast that brought destruction and chaos to the hidden village in the leaves. The festival that takes place every year runs through nearly all the streets in Konoha and the only ones who do not make an appearance are the shinobi on missions, and one 8 year old girl named Naruko. While most little girls are enjoying the sights and activities in the festival, Naruko can be seen running for her life from a group of civilians.
"Get back here you demon!"
"Don't let it get away!"
Exhaustion can be seen on her face as she runs from the angry villagers. Looking back to see how far they are, she trips on a tree stump and tumbles to the ground. The group quickly catches up to the girl and sneer at her fearful look.
A man speaks up, "Don't look so innocent monster, we finally have you and no one is coming to save you this time". The girl looks around and takes notice of where she is. There is nothing but trees and bush. She snorts; her luck has finally run out.
She is slapped by a middle aged woman. "Don't laugh! You will not be getting out of this one."
The rest of the group takes this as their cue to start beating the girl. Each one spouts out hateful words with every punch and kick. After a while of watching the child get thrashed around by the group, a man in the back walks up to the girl and the rest of them stop their onslaught. The girl looks up from the ground and notices that he differs slightly from the rest of them. She sees a shinobi headband tied to his arm and realizes she's not just getting a beating this time. He stops in front of her and pulls out a kunai.
"I hope that you know the pain you've brought this village".
"W-what have I done? Please, I didn't mean it. Whatever it is I'm sorry!"
This seemed to be the wrong thing to say as the calm look on his face quickly turned to disgust. "You think you can just apologize demon?"
The group begins to cry out for her blood and he bends down just close enough for her to hear his next words, "I'll give them blood, but know this, you will die slowly and painfully by my hand. Understand me?"
Dread. That is all that can be seen on the girls face. She quickly tries to get away when two men hold her down by her limbs and the shinobi begins to cut her slowly.
After what feels like an eternity of pain, she suddenly feels nothing.
In her mindscape
Hesitantly, the girl opens her eyes.
"A sewer?"
A commanding tone bursts through the tunnels "Come here child".
Still with a bit of fear in her eyes, she gets up off the cold ground and begins walking in the direction of the voice. She stops when she enters a large room with cage like bars separating her from… Well she doesn't know.
"Yes child, be wary, but never walk up to the unknown with that look of worry".
With as much confidence as she can muster up she walks closer to the bars while still keeping her distance and speaks,
"Show yourself".
"Tsk-tsk such little respect you have girl".
She crosses her arms feeling irritated by the teasing, "Well how can I give respect to someone I haven't even seen yet?"
A laugh is heard, "fair enough".
In the darkness, two giant yellow eyes open that seem to glow with authority, rise up and get closer as the rest of the being comes into her view.
"Y-you…" She takes a step back as a huge red fox enters her view. She notes the nine tails swaying behind it and is filled with awe at the beauty of the creature.
"Who are you?"
The fox seems to expect the question, "I am the nine tailed demon fox the villagers are celebrating the death of".
Confused, she questions, "If you are dead then why are you here? Actually, where is here?"
The fox sits down and shakes his head, "You don't even recognize your own mind? Well I guess you are still young. As to why I am here, I did not die on this day eight years ago. I was sealed into you when you were born and have been waiting for the chance to speak with you. It is unfortunate that the circumstances to get you here are… Unfavorable".
Remembering the situation she was in before coming here her face becomes distressed. "So I'm holding you in my mind, which is where we are right now, and the villagers don't like you…" The fox snorts "…So that's why everyone wants me dead? Cause I have you?"
Making an odd face at her last comment, the fox answers, "Yes, that is basically the case".
Her face darkens and her eyes become distant, "… Kyuubi-san, am I really going to die?"
The Kyuubi, surprised by the honorific, quickly sobers. "No. You will not be dying today. Look child, we have much more to discuss and very little time to do so right now. I cannot help you with my own power yet, but you can briefly access another power within you so you may get to safety. You need to trust me though and do exactly as I say".
After a moment of thinking, a determined look crosses her face, "Alright, what do I gotta do?"
The fox smirks, "Turn around and go through the tunnel to your left. After that…"
Outside world
"Enough! Just kill her already! She isn't even awake anymore to feel the pain."
The shinobi faced the civilian and directed killer intent on them, but followed the demand anyway. He lifts up his bloody kunai to pierce the child in the heart when movement catches his eye. He looks in the child's eyes and sees only red.
He chuckles, "so the demon makes an appearance for me? How fantastic!" The shinobi quickly stabs the kunai into the girl, but at the last second she moves so that she takes it in the stomach. Suddenly, the men holding her down jump away like they've been burned and the group surrounds her.
"This is over." The voice coming out of her was not of a child anymore. Not completely demonic either, but like a dangerous animal being set free.
Suddenly, a chain shot out of her and impaled the shinobi above her. He fell onto her and she quickly threw him off and chains pierced through each person that tried to subdue her. Anyone left began to run and more chains followed them until they were skewered. When only Naru was left, her chains disappeared and she began to run. Going deeper and deeper into the forest, she stopped as the forest became darker and too dense to pass through safely. She found an area that looked much like an entrance and continued fleeing until her adrenaline wore off. Not ever noticing the "Do not enter" sign.