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The Number of the Beast
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1. Prisoner of My Mind
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A loud roar of frustration escaped the blonde as he threw the water balloon across the field. He didn't get it; he did everything he was told to do by that perverted sage, Jiraiya, but the rubber ball that lay in front of him wouldn't give in and pop. It wiggled in the wind, mocking him, daring him to try again, and again, and again. But his arms protested, sore from the extensive channeling of his chakra.
Summoning all of his strength, Naruto picked the balloon back up for approximately his six hundred and fifty-seventh try. He'd been at it for several days now, and the fact that he couldn't get the knack of the trick irked him beyond imagination. If he couldn't get this done, how was he ever to become Hokage? He gritted his teeth.
No.
He wouldn't allow himself to think that way.
Conjuring yet another chunk of chakra from his large reserves, he guided it to his right hand using a seal and started rotating it inside the water balloon. The rubber started to bulge in several places, confirming the movement of his chakra inside the balloon. The thing he lacked was power, though, as he was soon forced to give in to exhaustion without damaging the object he held. He cursed.
He decided to take a break from practicing this technique (his exhaustion had even made him forget what it was called) and find something to get rid of the burning sensation that strained his muscles even further. His attempts were to no avail; there was nothing he could do but rest.
From somewhere, Naruto heard a cruel, mocking laugh. It echoed throughout the field, both angering and terrifying the blonde. Who dared make fun of his misery? Who had the guts to laugh at his failure, humiliating him like that?
"I do," a voice in his mind said. "In fact, I think you're a pathetic excuse for a jinchuuriki."
Flames of sorrow, terror and evil intent erupted in front of Naruto's eyes, clouding his vision and engulfing him into a state of unconsciousness. When he opened his eyes, he was no longer in the field or even on the planet.
"Welcome to my lair," the voice growled as Naruto was still trying to wrap his head around everything that happened. "Allow me to introduce myself: I am the Nine-tailed Demon Fox, often referred to as the Kyuubi."
Mortified, Naruto staggered back. "S-show yourself!" He demanded while pointing his finger into the barren nether. With his voice shaky and his whole body trembling, he didn't make much of an impression. The demon laughed again, filling the blonde to the brim with utter desperation.
Then it appeared. Vast, terrifying and malicious, the Kyuubi rattled the cage that bound him to the soul of his host. It was Naruto's turn to snicker at the other's misery, building his courage. The demon roared.
"Insolent fool! I allow you to defile my lair with your puny existence, and you repay me by mocking my situation!"
"In fact, I think it's time we strike a bit of a bargain," Naruto mused out loud. "Maybe we can help each other."
The Kyuubi bared its fangs in a wicked smirk. "You are smarter than I gave you credit for, human. What do you propose?"
"Teach me how to control my chakra," the blonde stated, his cerulean eyes sparking with the Will of Fire his village was renowned for. "Teach me the secrets of chakra manipulation, and I will no longer bother you with my presence."
"That is an insult! You call that a bargain? I demand my freedom in exchange!" The demon tried to claw at the young shinobi through the sports of the metal barricade, enraging him further when he was unable to touch the blonde.
Naruto turned away from the Kyuubi and walked off. "Suit yourself."
Returning to the present, Naruto picked up the water balloon again and popped it without effort. He smirked.
Mission accomplished.
[Author's Note]
The idea behind it is Naruto getting a better grip on his chakra by simply being in the presence of the Kyuubi. I hope you like the concept and enjoyed the first installment.
Signed,
VictimofYourOwnCreation