Chapter 1

Sobs from a child filled the night air. A blonde-hair boy, about seven, hid behind a trash can, trying to stop his tears. Why are they doing this? I never did anything to them. Why me? he asked himself as the clamor of the mob grew louder.

"The demon went this way!" someone shouted nearby.

"It's close, come on!"

He hugged his knees closer to his chest as angry voice filled the alley he was in. He closed his eyes when he saw the glow from the touches they carried. Please don't find me, he prayed to kami as the voice drew nearer.

With a howler, the trashcan he hid behind was lifted up. "There you are, demon brat," the man sneered with malice.

The boy cringed away from him and tried to scrambled away. The man threw the trashcan and it hit the boy squarely on the back. He scraped his hands on the ground as he caught himself. He tried feebly to crawl away, but the man grabbed the back of his tattered shirt.

"No, I didn't do anything! Let me go!" the boy shouted, fear unbridled and uncensored in his voice. "Please, I'll be a good boy," he pleaded with tears running down his face as the man easily lifted him off the ground.

"You think acting like a child will save you?!" the man demanded venomously. He cocked back his free arm and slammed his fist into the boy's gut. "You've got some nerve."

The boy left out a soundless cry as the air was expelled forcefully from his lungs.

"You make me sick." The man threw him straight into the ground. "You deserve everything that is coming to you." He punctuated his words with a blow to the head.

The boy's head snapped back from the force. Disoriented, he barely heard the cheers and encouragements from the other villagers as they surrounded him. Why me?. . . he wondered as a numbness spread throughout his body. He welcomed it, knowing exactly what was coming next.

"This is for our love ones!" a middle-age woman screamed as she ruthless kicked him in the stomach, causing him to cough up blood. "You should have died that night!"

What did I do to deserve this? he asked that question over and over as the villagers closed in and began to beat him. He did his best to protect his vital areas and rolled up into a ball. That did not make it hurt any less. A pain like fire gripped his stomach. He knew that he had a couple broken ribs. I don't deserve this. . . I'm just a kid. I never did anything wrong. . .

"Take that you demon!"

"We will end what should have been ended all those years ago!"

This was worst than normal. He knew for sure that one of his arms was broken, so were a couple of his ribs. Where are they? Usually, the ANBU assigned to protect him would have showed up by now. Are they going to let me be killed?! Fear made him panic as the beating slowly exacerbated.

XXX

One the roof of a building across the street, two ANBU watched impassively. They were in charged of the boy's safety, but they were told that they shouldn't allow the boy to be killed. It didn't mean they had to prevent the beatings.

One sighed and stood up. He wore a white mask shaped like a rat. "We should stop it before it gets out of control," he said with reluctance. "Kakashi-senpai will do much worst to us if we allow him to die."

Before the ANBU could act, the other placed a hand on his arm. "Why?" he hissed. "Why should we protect that demon?"

"Because we have our orders," he snapped and jerked his hand off. "Even though I hate the idea of saving a demon, my pride won't let me fail even a mission as simple as this."

The other ANBU stood up and glared at him from behind his mask. "You're just a demon lover," he spat.

He was not prepared for the fist that smashed into his face, breaking his mask and sending him flying. "You dare-?!" He was shaking with the effort of restraining himself from killing him. "My wife and baby girl were killed that night! You have no idea how it feels to lose those precious to you! And you dare act like you know so much about me?!"

With his mask destroyed, you could see his face. He was about twenty with a horrid scare that marred his face. He rubbed his jaw and sat up, grinning triumphantly. "Then why do you want to save the demon?" he asked with a sickening innocent tone.

The other appeared in front of him and reared him up by the front of his vest. "I will do no such thing," he enunciated.

The man grinned grew broader. He loathed that demon fox for the death of his parents, he knew very well how his partner felt. "Good, the demon fox will die tonight."

Little did they know of the consequences of their decision.

XXX

I'm going to die! They're going to kill me! The boy frantically awaited for his saviors as the beating worsen. They're coming, they're going to be here soon, he tried to convince himself. A foot broke through his defenses and hit him in the chest with crushing force.

The numbness wore off and the boy let out a pain filled scream. Something important was damage. Oblivious to his scream, the villagers continued to kick and hit him.

I'm going to die. . . he thought with resignation as he jerked with each blow, no longer having the strength to try to shield himself. Already, he could feel his body began to shut down.

"You don't have to die," a dark, evil voice whispered into his ear. "You have to power to end this. . ."

Suddenly, the villagers and the alley disappeared, replaced by a sewer. The boy stood in front of giant jail bars that stretched from ceiling to floor. Two blood red orbs opened. "You have the power to end everything. . .," it added with a malicious grin.

The boy backed away from the pure, unadulterated evil that radiated from whatever was in the cage. "W-What are you?"

The thing let out a barking laughter. "Gaki, how can you not know me?" It stopped laughing and fixed a murderous glare on him. "I am the Kyubi no kitsune, lord of all foxes, and the most powerful demon alive."

The boy stepped back, but stumbled and fell into the ankle-deep water. "Y-You're the d-demon that the Yondaime killed seven years ago!" he exclaimed fearfully. "H-How are you s-still alive?"

The fox let out another cacophony of barking. "No mere human can kill a demon lord. We are immortal in ever sense of the word." It narrowed its eyes to dangerous slits. "We can only be trapped."

The boy stood up, staring with curiosity. "How-" He was interrupted by pain searing through his body. He crumpled to his knees and let out a scream.

The fox look thoughtful as he watch the boy scream in pain. "It does not matter how I got here. . . All you need to know is that I am you and you are me. . ."

The boy shook his head violently despite being paralyzed my pain. "N-No, I w-won't believe t-that!" he shouted through gritted teeth.

"You have a strong sense of will for a child," the fox noted. "But the fact is undeniable. You are me and I am you; didn't you hear them call you a demon? Didn't they say they wanted to finish what should have been finished all those years ago?"

He couldn't answer as another bolt of pain wracked his small body.

Red tendrils flowed out of the cage and gathered in front of him. They built up until something began to take shape. A man with blonde hair and blue eyes towered over him. He had a concern and worried expression in his blue eyes. He held out his hand. With the fox's voice, he spoke, "You are in pain. . . I can help take away that pain. . . All you need to do is allow me."

He could not believe his eyes. The Yondaime stood before him. He stared at the offering, gritting his teeth against the unbearable pain. The old man said he would protect me.

"Where is this man then?" he asked as if reading his thoughts. "Is he here, giving you the offer to end your suffering? No, he is not. Only I can do that."

The fox was growing impatient with his container. The boy's life was ending, and consequently, so was his. I need him to give himself up to me. . . If I don't, I will die along with this pathetic human.

The Yondaime knelt down. "Naruto," he spoke with a different voice. It was more human, more trusting. "You have to take the offer." He frowned and placed a hand on his shoulder. "How much longer can you hold on? Can you really break through the hatred that covers their eyes and hardens their hearts?"

Naruto shook his head. "I vowed to become Hokage!" he replied determinedly. "I will change this village!"

The Yondaim sighed and removed his hand. He closed his eyes. "You are a fool. . . That is only a mask you made to hide the hate and scorn you hold for the village. . ."

"That is not true!" Naruto argued vehemently.

"You don't believe that they will ever accept you. You never did," he continued, ignoring Naruto's outburst. He opened his eyes and looked directly into Naruto's eyes. "Why hide what you truly feel? . . . Let that hate out. Let it become your strength. Let that rage become your resolve." The Yondaime stood up and held out his hand again. "Let it become who you really are! Give in to it!"

Naruto stared at the hand, feeling ashamed that the Yondaime knew him that well. I do hate them. . . he agreed bitterly. He clenched his hands into tight fists. I never did anything to them! Yet they beat me. Hatred's ugly head revealed itself, becoming a monster. No longer being restrained, it blackened his heart.

The fox watched with glee as rage and disdain spread across Naruto's face. All you need is a reason.

Naruto reached his decision and took the Yondaime's hand. I have the power to end . . . Everything!

XXX

The two ANBU laughed as Naruto stopped moving. They were sure he was dead. They both stood up and stretched. "Shall we go play our part?" the one with the rat mask asked.

"Let's," the other replied and they both vanished in a swirl of wind and leaves.

XXX

"Alright, break it up!" they ordered half-heartedly. "Get back to your lives, the thing's dead."

The villagers immediately complied. Jovial, they disperse and went on with their lives. The demon was now dead and would not threaten them when it grew up.

"What should we tell the Hokage? He was quite fond of the little demon." the one with the rat mask asked as he made to pick up the body.

Before his partner could answer, a sheer amount of murderous intent washed over them. Foul chakra filled air, so thick you could see it. Sweat trickled down their faces and they fell to their knees.

"How is this possible?!"

The boy rose to his feet without using his hands, with were now had claws. A fox-shaped aura encased him with one tail swinging happily behind him. He rotated his head, cracking his neck. He opened his eyes slowly. They were red slits that did not belong to a boy of seven, but to an animal. A sadistic grin spread across his face. "You can tell the old man," his voice was huskier than it should be, "that he needs two new recruits."

XXX

The villagers left the area, so no one heard the screams that emanated from the two ANBU.