Chapter 1
The Debt of a Fox
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or anything to do with it.
I own the story. wilkins75 owns the Idea for the Demons and the other ideas I got from him. I got permission from wilkins75 to use some of his ideas.
It was a cold, dark, rainy night. They had been tracking their target for a few days. He was very dangerous and on his way out of the Fire Country. It had begun raining earlier that day with a light sprinkle. As the day went on so did the rain and it slowly got heavier and heavier until it was a straight down pour.
They had lost the trail in the afternoon rain, and had to slow their pace down a lot to continue on. As darkness fell on the forest the group of ninja came to a stop. No one talked. No one moved for the longest time. Off in the distance a light sprang to life. Buy the way the light flickered and dimmed spontaneously it was a fire to do one of two things; draw them in for a trap or to simple have the life and warmth of the fire. Not only was the fire something that could save the person's life at a cold time like this, it was a great way to cook, and dry yourself off from a long day in the rain.
The group of ninja move slowly towards the light. Like a moth to a candle, they went. Never turning or losing site of the fire light. They stopped at the edge of the clearing at the foot of the mound of rocks. The fire was built on a large dry area of rock, which just happened to be under a large out crop of rock.
They could see their target sitting with his back ageist the rock, his eyes closed as he rested. The group of ninja move forward slowly. They split up into two groups. One of them was going to the top of the rock out crop, and the other two going left and right strait to the target.
As he sat there basking in the warmth of the fire he couldn't help think about his new goals. It brought a small smile to his handsome face.
He had been on the run ever since the end of the war. No one could really fight ageist him, but there was Naruto. The Toad Sage, Hero of the Leaf Village, and Hero to the Five Great Nations; Naruto Uzumaki was the only man alive today that could stand toe to toe with him. HIM! Sasuke Uchiha last of the Uchiha. He was tied with dead last of the Rookie 9. It was an insult to his name back then.
Now it was more like an honor to him. Standing up to the strongest man in the land, fight, and walk away with little to no injuries, were as Naruto had broken a few ribs, an arm, and several minor injuries. The only reason Naruto had lived that day was because he had run out of chakra. Had he tried anything else he would have fainted from chakra exhaustion. He had walked away from the unconscious form of Naruto, and fainted two hours later in one of the few hide outs he had made.
As he sat there think about his goals, there was the sound of a foot splashing in the puddle ring around his encampment. He opened his eyes and saw two figures standing just outside of the encampment. Steams of rain fell between them. He extended a hand to them slowly and gestured for them to come in and join him.
The two did so. As they entered the remained standing after he motioned for them to sit and be comfortable.
As they moved into the dry area of their targets encampment they felt the warmth of the fire wash over them.
"I was wander were you guys had disappeared to. I thought I had lost you almost two days ago, Naruto." Sasuke said to them, the smile they had seen from outside still sitting on his face.
"We did lose you, but we have been very fortunate to be in the line of sight to see your campfire." Sakura cold voice said from one of the hoods. She reached up and removed her hood to let the warmth of the fire warm her checks.
"Sasuke you know why we are here don't you?" asked Naruto. Sasuke didn't respond he just sat up a little more and made himself a little more comfortable.
"Go ahead and get Sai down from the rock. I bet he is soaked through straight down to the bone. I don't want him to catch a cold or anything." He said with an even bigger smile. Neither of the two moved to get him. He had been listening, and had come down to get out of the rain just after Sasuke had said that.
"Sasuke you are under arrest by order of the fifth Hokage, of the Leaf Village. You also wanted in all five of the element countries, and we are here to take you in." Sai said as he removed his hood. Sasuke had been right, Sai was completely soaked through.
"Okay, I believe it is about time to head home and face things like a man." He said. Now Naruto's hood had been removed and a look of shock sat on his face. "You see, I have grown tired of running, and I don't want to fight anymore. I don't even want to be a ninja. I have thought long and hard about this choice and I'm done. I want a quiet life. After the war I was declared a traitor to the leaf and an enemy of almost every nation there is. I was on my way now to the land of Earth to start a new life. I had an old connection there that said he could hook me up with a place for a short time until I could get some money. I was then going to go to a different country and start off a new life, and turn over a new leaf there.
I was going to get married and really settle down. Start a family and the whole works. Rebuild my clan and so forth. But you caught up to me, and I told myself a long time ago that if you two found me and could catch me before I started the new life in the earth country I would go back willingly." He finished with a small smile on his face. A tear leaked out of the corner of his eye.
The three of them stared in open shock. They couldn't believe that Sasuke had come out and told them that he was willing to go back to the village so peacefully. They had been expecting a fight, or to give chase to him as he made a mad dash for the boarder that was no more than two miles away. Kakashi was about an hour behind them with a backup team and a retrieval team. They were to stop him at all cost, or to keep him busy until they got there.
"I don't see any lie to what he just said…" Sai told the other two. The disbelief could be heard in his voice. "I believe that he is trying to trick us and catch us with his guard down." He finished as he took out his short sword he carried with him.
"No, I promise it is the truth. I will go with you peacefully, right now if you want." He said. Slowly he reached behind him and took out his weapon pouch. Holding it between two figure like it was a snake that he loved so much, but was about to strike at him. He extended his arm out and gave it a small toss towards Sai.
Sai slowly without taking his eyes off of Sasuke, reached down and picked up the pack. Standing, Sasuke slowly put both of his hands behind his head. He extended his legs so he was spread eagle standing there in the small area. "Go ahead and pat me down. Look there are no more weapons on me that I carry, and I am not con-sealing any weapon in my clothing."
Sakura looked over at Naruto who gave a small nod of the head. He stepped forward and began to pat Sasuke down. Sasuke flinched as Naruto touched the inside of his leg. Sai was there in a second holding the short sword ageist the skin of his neck. "Don't move or I will kill you were you stand." Sai hissed to him.
They placed Sasuke in the middle of them, and they began to walk with him. Sakura was about six feet ahead of him with Naruto and Sai to either side on him one step back. Sasuke noticed that Naruto had dropped his guard and was mildly guarded. Same with Sakura only she had completely dropped hers. Sai on the other hand had put on an act of dropping his guard, but really he was on edge and watching very carefully.
As they walked Sasuke had again but his hand slowly on the back of his head. He had been walking for ten minutes before Susuke tripped and fell to the right toward Sai. In the blind of an eye, he had thrown down right hand as if to catch himself. Then brought his left hand from his head and he twisted around to swing it at Sai.
Sai wasn't ready for the faint attack. And the whistle of the weapon was heard as it came to a stop right behind Sai. Sai's head on the other hand had flown off his shoulder fallowed by a fountain of blood. Using a small movement, Sasuke sent a small Chidori kick into Narutos stomach. The sound of the weapon, the thud of Sai's head, and the sound a Screaming Naruto filled Sakura's ears. She spun around to see the carnage.
Sai was headless on the ground and Naruto was also on the ground with a large wound to his stomach. There was a pool of blood spreading over the ground. Naruto was bleeding to death. And if the bleeding wasn't stopped soon, he would die.
She sank to her knees at the sight of the team mate and friend, who was dead, and her new found crush that was lying in his own blood dying. She started to get up when she was kicked in the back of the knee, and she went back down onto the ground. A hand grabbed a fist full of her hair. Angry and fear flooded throat her and she thought about what had just happened.
"Sorry about that Sakura…" he whispered into her ear. " I would so much like to have married you, but you found a new love, and I think… no I hope I just killed him.'' He began to laugh at her. He dragged her over to Naruto and held her close to him as he made her look at him.
''You know I was so proud to call him my equal earlier today, and now he is dead last again. No he is just, dead.'' He laughed as he stabbed Naruto in the chest. "I really was planning on turning over a new leaf. You know. I just wanted to get to earth country. It wasn't a lie I told you a few minutes ago." He said a sick look coming on to his face.
Lightning flashed in the sky as he laughed at her. She tried to free herself, but it was useless. As quick as the lightning had come and gone. Sasuke Stabbed her in her legs and arms, making them useless as the blade cut through to the other side. She cried out in pain again, music to his ears. "It's a shame you caught up to me and found me. I didn't want to hurt you. But I can't go back to the village, because if I go back, I will die, and then my clan will never be rebuilt.
Well, I just want you to know that you are no better than dead last, well DEAD here, because you just fell in love with him, and you had to be a good selfish girl and get the hero of the five nations. You are a slut, and a whore.' He stabbed Naruto two more time. Naruto was struggling to breath, and wasn't moving. 'for you Sakura, I will give you mercy and kill you fast!" he then stabbed her thought the back of her chest. She screamed in pain. Then the swords blade was removed and again plugged into her back. This time she felt it go through her right lung and out her breast, again she screamed. Again the sword was removed and then stuck back into a different spot, she screamed again. This repeated until she stopped screaming.
She went limp in his hand. Tears rolling down her face. Naruto please don't die. Mother, I am so sorry, I won't be coming home this time for your special dinner you always make for me and Naruto when we finish a Mission.
Start Flashback
She was packing her stuff she would need for the mission. She was just finishing when there was a knock at her door. Her mother stepped in and asked. "Are you and Naruto going out on another missing?"
"We were assigned a track and capture mission. It shouldn't be that hard. The file said the target had just been in a big fight and was injured. It shouldn't take that long." She said to her.
"Oh okay sweetie… whatever you say. Tell you what once you are on your way home send me a message, and I will make you and Naruto that Special meal I cook for after long or hard missions." Her mother suggested.
Yeah that sound great mom. Thanks, I have to go now I am going to be late." She said as she picked up her park and started to leave. She gave her mother a kiss on the check before she when out the door, yelling back, "I love you mom. Take care while I'm gone, and I will see you in a couple of days."
End Flashback
It looks like this time we failed the mission. I love you Naruto-kun.
"Mother", she tried to call out, only to have no sound come. Everything went dark.
Sauske let Sakura fall to the ground. She was lying next to Naruto who was trying to get up, but his body wouldn't respond. He finally blacked out as Sasuke turned and Laughed as he walked away and disappeared in to the rain.
Kakashi lead the two teams through the forest jumping from Branch to branch. The ANBU had been sent out not shortly after team seven had left. They had receive information from an old contact that Sasuke Uchiha was heading right past the Leaf village and would be heading to the Land of Earth. It had been given to his team as it was Sasuke that had been on team seven , and had left. He who had hurt his friends and students. If anything was going to happen then he was going to be there to stop it. As night fell, they pressed on, fallowing the marks Sakura and Sai had left for the two teams to fallow.
'Smart girl the Sakura' he thought to himself. As they were jumping, one of the ANBU member's slipped on a tree branch and fell to the ground. He gave a loud grunt and he landed with a loud thud and in the mud.
The rest of the team landed on the ground gracefully. Kakashi called for a ten minute break. As the ten minutes were coming to an end. A scram tore through the night! It was a scream of blood curdling pain. It cut Kakashi to the heart. He knew that voice, that scream. It was Sakura…
All the ANBU were on their feet and running as fast as they could toward the scream. None were faster than Kakashi. 'oh, Kami no, please hold on Sakura... I 'm coming.' The screaming continued, and continued until it finally died. Kakashi quicken his pace even faster. He had completely lost the other AMBU. It was a good five minutes of running full out, pumping Chakra into his legs.
He came to a clearing and stopped dead. There in the clearing was Team Seven, all… DEAD…
He fell to his knees. Shock, and disbelief filling him.
'M… m… my… team' he thought. His one visible eye wide. Something snapped inside of him. It was like when his team mate had died. When his mother had died. When his father had killed himself. He couldn't move, he couldn't breathe. He had shut down.
'Sai… Sakura… … Naruto…' he thought. 'gone…' it was a few minutes later that the rest of the ANBU arrived one or two fell to their knees. Two ran over the Sakura and Naruto. They were checking to see if they might be alive. Kakashi already knew they were gone. No one could survive stabbings like that. The two ANBU looked at each other. One shook his head.
Hand came down on Kakashi's shoulder, and the man looked up. It was Choji, one of the three, Rookie 9, which was a member of the ANBU. He had been on duty, and had been sent out with them. Tears were freely flowing down his face. "Kakashi please you need to get up, we have work to do." Kakashi made no move to stand, and no response came from him. Choji tried again. Nothing.
Choji turned to the other ANBU and began giving orders. It was then that a kunai came flying out of the trees. It was deflected, then Sasuke dropped down. He had an evil look on his face. He was smiling and he was chuckling. It was the sound of Sasuke's landing that got Kakashi's attention. He stood, and walked toward the evil man that had killed his team, his friends, HIS FAMILY!
Anger and Rage burned in his eyes. Sasuka was about to start talking when he was hit by Kakakshi in the mouth. As fast a lightning, he mad hand sign after hand sign. His Chakra levels dropped super-fast, but Sasuke felt every jutsu thrown at him, every pain that came with the jutsu. Finally the stopped and he was on his knees panting.
He went to speak again, to mess with Kakashi for his pathetic attacks. But he was stopped and the man launched himself and started beating the living day lights out of Sasuke.
Sasuke never stood a chance against his former Sensei. He finally passed out as the hits continued to come. Kakashi didn't stop until the other members other members of the two teams pulled him of the almost unrecognizable killer. Kakashi had gone berserk and was now attacking the rest of the members. They were hard pressed, but the attacks were easily dodged.
The Kyuubi was sitting there watching the events that were taking place. He was laughing at his host who had no clue as to what was about to happen. The Kyuubi tried to warn Naruto, but the boy just ignored him, telling him to shut up.
As the Kyuubi watched he saw the plan, of the Uchiha acted out his little plan. He didn't know what or when the boy would attack, but it would be fun to watch.
It was when he tripped that the Kyuubi saw the blade coming from the back of his neck. He knew what was about to happen, and thought the young friend of his host "Sai" would see it coming and stop the blade. The Kyuubi was wrong. For the first time in 20 million years he had failed to see something coming. It was also the first time he had been wrong. From there thing went downhill really fast. Naruto took a huge hit to the stomach right were the seal was. It broke part of the seal and the connection the Kyuubi had to his host.
Panic filled the Demon Fox, and he began to work as fast as he could to repair the seal and heal Naruto. As must a Naruto thought the Kyuubi hated him. It was all an act. He really did like his host, and was rather happy with his choice to have chosen the boy to be his temporary host.
It was when the screaming started that the Kyuubi realized that the annoying girl, that his host had fallen in love with was being killed. He redoubled his efforts. When the screaming stopped looked again to see the Uchiha standing above him. Felt the blade enter the body, as he had attached himself to Naruto to try and save him. He was slipping into the void and if he didn't do something soon, his host would die and take him with him.
He had one choice to make. He went to the seal and destroyed the remainder of the seal. He quickly exited the body, and froze time with a time/space jutsu. Leaning down over the two broke and bloody bodies. He placed a paw on each, and touched four of his tails to each of their foreheads. His last tail touched his own head.
Sakura felt no more pain. She was whole and well. She looked down at herself, and gasped. She was wearing a beautiful pure white gown. She had pure white slippers on, and a white pearl necklace on. she was confused as to why she was wearing these clothes and where she was. There was a loud gasp, and she spun to see Naruto, in a white plan pure white uniform. It had a vest with the sleeves cut off, and there were pale wooden dowels that held his vest together. He was in loose pants and he was wearing slippers as well. His clothing was pure white as well.
"Sakura, is this a dream?" he called out to her. She shrugged her shoulders.
"I don't know. On minute I was being stabbed, with pain all over and the next I am here wearing this, and no more pain." She said to him, Confusion plan in his voice.
Narutos eyes widened. "Oh Kami… we died…" he yelled his face going as white at the clothing he was wearing.
IN ALL REALITY. YOU ARE NOT DEAD! A voice called out to them. It was warm, friendly, and Naruto thought he reconized the voice, but he couldn't place it. YOU ARE FROZEN IN TIME BETWEEN DEATH AND LIFE. I HAVE STOPPED YOUR DEATH FOR NOW, BUT I WON'T BE ABLE TO STOP IT FOREVER.
There was a person walking towards them. She was tall and well built. She was wearing an organ-red fur coat. As she got closer, they could make out nine fur shawls blowing in the wind. As the person came into more focus. Naruto and Sakura could see that it wasn't a fur coat. It was real fur on the body, and the shawls where tails. Then it hit then both as the fox face came into focus. It was the Kyuubi!
What are you doing here, and how did you get out of the seal Naruto yelled. The Kyuubi smiled, if you could call it a smile.
WELL I MADE THE SEAL SO I CAN UNDO THE SEAL AND LEAVE WHEN EVER I WANTED. AND PLEASE DON'T TALK RIGHT NOW. THIS IS TAKING A LOT OF CONSINTRATION, AND WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME.
They both looked dumb founded, as they listened to the fox. It was the Kyuubi in the flesh (so to speak), there was no way that this was happening.
NARUTO I DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME, NEATHER DO YOU TWO! THE ONE THAT IS CALLED SASUKE UCHIHA, HAS ATTACKED YOU AND, WELL, KILLED YOU. YOU ARE SLIPPING INTO THE VOID, AND IF WE DON'T HURRY I WON'T BE ABLE TO HELP YOU.
NO I CAN'T JUST HEAL YOU. THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO SURVIVE THIS. AND I WILL NOT FORCE IT UPON YOU. I WILL GIVE YOU TWO THE CHOICE TO MAKE FOR YOUR SELF.
YOU CAN DIE HERE AND NOW, AND ENTER INTO THE VOID TO THE GREAT BEYOND! OR…. YOU CAN HAVE LIFE.
THERE IS A CATCH TO THE LIFE I WILL GIVE YOU. YOU WILL BE GIVEN NEAR INMORTALINTY, YOU WILL STOP AGGING, AND YOU WILL EVENTUALY DIE AFTER 80 MILLION YEARS OR MORE. YOU WILL BE GIVE A NEW FORM, AND A NEW LIFE. HOWEVER, YOU WILL NOT HAVE THE BODIES YOU SEE AND HAVE NOW.
The Kyuubi finally stopped talking, and they both looked like they had just seen a horse's tail end talking to them. Naruto was soaking up all that the Kyuubi had just said, even though he wore a dumb look on his face. Sakura had absorbed the information, and was working out what to do.
Finally she looked at the Fox demon and asked, "What will happen to us, what will happen to my family, and why are you offering us this?"
The Kyuubi thought for a moment then he looked at her. I HAVE BEEN IN NARUTOS BODY FOR 20 YEARS NOW. AND HE HAS BEEN A GREAT HOST. TRETING ME AS AN EQUAL AND NOT A MONSTER. EVEN THOUGH HE IS HUMAN. NOT TO MENTION HE HAS SAVED MY LIFE MANY TIMES OVER. I OWE IT TO HIM TO DO THIS FOR HIM. I JUST WANT HIM TO CHOOSE BEFORE I DO ANY THING. IT IS NOT A LIFE THAT EVERY ONE MIGHT WANT.
SHOULD YOU CHOOSE LIFE YOU WILL BECOME A DEMON FOX. NO, WE AREN'T EVIL, AND YOU WOULD LOVE THE LIFE OF THE DEMON FOXES. IT IS SLIGHTLY PAINFUL TO BEGIN WITH, BUT IT PASSES VERY QUICKLY. YOU WOULD ALSO GO TO LIVE IN THE DEMON WORLD WITH YOUR OWN KIND.
AS FOR YOU FAMILY YOU CAN GO VISIT THEM, BUT THEY MUST BE UNDER A POWERFUL BOND NOT TO TELL ANYONE ABOUT US. SO YOU CAN SEE THEM, AND THEY MAYBE EVEN ALOUD TO BE COME A DEMON FOX THEMSELVES.
PLEASE YOU MUST MAKE A CHOICE. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER I CAN KEEP YOU BOTH FROM DEATH IN MY MIND.
Sakura thought for a minute. She hated the idea of becoming a demon, but a demon fox, that was worst. But she was dying and there were so many things that she wanted to do, she needed to do. One of those was standing right next to her.
Naruto was thinking about what had been said. He was dying, he was starting to feel a tugging on him. He didn't know why but he felt like he needed to sleep and pass on. But he wanted to live, he still needed to do some important things.
"Naruto, I don't know what to do, what about you?" She asked hoping that she could either go with him the great beyond to the demon world.
"I don't know, I think I need to move on…" he was stopped as the Kyuubi sank to one knee.
NARUTO, PLEASE I ASK THAT YOU CHOOSE LIFE. LET ME REPAY YOU FOR THE TIME YOU HAVE SAVE MY LIFE. I PROMISE THAT YOU WILL BE HAPPY.
Naruto looked at Sakura, then to the Kyuubi. "I have saved many lives, and many have repaid me. I have never turned down an offer. Because I promised myself that I would treat others as equals. I repay my life debts, so I will let you pay your life debt to me that you think you owe me. I want you to know that I owe you the many and most life debts. Without you I would have died long ago." He finished. Sakura also voiced her choice.
Pleased, the Kyuubi stood and looked at them with a smile. She began to fade, and then she was completely gone. Naruto looked at Sakura, with a questionable look, asking what next. She wore the same lost look that he had. Then without warning two large foxes made out of what looked like red Chakra came running into view. They ran right up to them and jumped. Naruto was hit first and it was like the Fox was diving inside of Naruto. Sakura turned just in time to see the other fox fly right into her. When the two foxes had disappeared into them, they both fell to the ground panting.
She looked over to Naruto, and see him fading from her site. She called out to him, but no words came. Suddenly it was like someone had grabbed her by the hand and was pulling on her. Slowly the pain returned. It was horrible. She tried to speak, but nothing came. She tried to move, but still nothing happened. She felt a warm furry hand on her neck, and then the hand brushed her check.
It was such a pleasing, and comforting hand. It relaxed her, and the pain washed away. She couldn't move or do anything. But it was okay. She was happy and relaxed. Then a soft voice filled with love and warmth filled her ears, and her mind. "SLEEP SAKURA, SLEEP. WHEN YOU WAKE YOU WILL BE HAPPY AND IN YOUR NEW LIFE. I WILL COME FOR YOU WHEN YOU ARE READY… NOOOOWWWW SSSLLEEEEP!"A sweet and Musical voice said. She drifted off to sleep.
Sakura never felt the cold hands of the ANBU as they checked for life. They found none. She didn't heard the fight between Kakashi and Sasuke. She never heard her name called or the crying for her.
Naruto looked at Sakura, with a questionable look, asking what next. She wore the same lost look that he had. Then without warning two large foxes made out of what looked like red Chakra came running into view. They ran right up to them and jumped. He was hit first and it was like the fox was diving in side of him. He could tell that Sakura turned just in time to see the other fox fly right into her. When the two fox's had disappeared into them. They both fell to the ground panting.
Naruto turned his head to look over a Sakura, but she was gone. There was a great tugging on his arm, and he felt himself be pulled by something strong he tried to fight, but the power was overwhelming. The pain he had felt before he had gone to speak with the Kyuubi, returned in tenfold.
He tried to scream from the pain. But nothing came out of him. He tried to open his eyes but they wouldn't respond. He reached out with his senses to find out what was happening, and he could sense the Kyuubi standing above them. Then he was gone.
He tried everything, but his body wouldn't respond. Then the pain washed away and a deep relaxing joy filled up the empty space that had been left by the pain. It was blissful. Then a sweet and loving voice spoke to him. "NAUTO, GO AHEAD AND SLEEP HONEY. JUST SLEEP. YOU WILL WAKE TO REALL HAPPYNESS THAT YOU HAVE NEVER KNOW IN THE COMPANY OR THE ONE YOU LOVE, AND THOSE WHO WISH FOR YOU LOVE. NOW SLEEP… SLEEP… SLEEP…. Mmmmmmmmmmm, HMmmmmmmm, Hm, Hmmmmmm…"the sweet musical voice said.Then the musical voice he had heard filled his head and ears with a strange song that were hummed to him. He was fast asleep shortly after.
He too like Sakura never heard his named called. He never heard Kakashi or Tsunade crying over him. He was in so deep a sleep he heard nor felt nothing.