First Naruto fanfiction, be gentle.
People were flocking towards the center of the village, congesting the streets and making obnoxious sounds. All except one boy were celebrating the defeat of the nine tailed fox. The civilians were lavishing the so called savior with gifts on her birthday in thanks to getting rid of he demon.
"If they only knew kit." said a small red fox sitting on the boy's shoulders.
"If they did, I can only see one of three outcomes coming to pass. Most likely I would be killed. They never expected you to be able to leave your prison, even less as a summon. Less likely, but still plausible would be them turning me into an emotionless weapon while Naruko still believes you're sealed inside of her." The boy said with an amused smirk. As if those incompetent council members could break him.
"And the third?" The fox asked interested.
"Is never going to happen. I will never be proclaimed a hero while Naruko is around, regardless of whether they know or not. Let's go Kyuubi, training ground forty-four isn't going to be guarded today and I need practice." The boy stood up from his crouched position in the tree and traveled to the South using the shadow to obscure his form.
The rooftops were devoid of any life as everyone was either drunk off their asses, or partying. The sun was setting to the west, making the boy's already bright blonde hair seem to glow as he moved. Kyuubi looked across the scenery with more than a little scorn for the people. Those despicable humans ignored his kit to the point where the blonde was stunted emotionally. Kyuubi was just grateful the boy could still feel the emotions, even if he didn't act on them often. Those humans harmed his kit too many time for comfort. They lost his precious kit long ago, and when the time comes they would regret pushing him to the side.
"You OK Kyuu? You're scowling pretty strongly."
"I'm fine Naruto, just get to the forest. I have an idea on what to teach you next." The fox said gently. No matter how frustrated he would become he would become, he would never raise his voice when angry.
Naruto sped up weaving through the trees on his way to the secluded forest. He didn't want to be seen by any straying ninja.
The gated forest was the most dangerous place in Konoha. Even most Anbu feared to train. The main reason the animals and plants grew so out of control and strong, was the fact it was sitting on a pure chakra vein. Those veins were in essence the world's life force. Training near such a strong chakra enhances how much chakra one may contain. It also put one closer to Nature in a way that lets one be able to manipulate all elements. That, coupled with the Kyuubi left Naruto one of the most powerful ninja, even if he wasn't able to harness any of it yet.
Problem being that he had to constantly work on control, taking away time for most anything else. Neither Naruto nor Kyuubi wanted the village to find out about what Naruto was capable of doing. Keeping his strength a secret was nigh on impossible unless he had exact control. Muting his level to that of an average academy student was a strenuous exercise. Doing so twenty-four seven unless completely alone was putting a strain on how well he kept up with his studies.
"Go to the western edge of the otter encampment." Kyuubi ordered.
Naruto complied easily enough, only altering his course slightly, landing in a clearing he used often enough.
"Now what Kyuubi?" Naruto asked with barely concealed excitement. It was not everyday that Kyuubi taught him something new.
"Having you train by running up trees and walking across water takes too damn long. The jutsu I'm about to teach you is not healthy for those who's brains aren't developed to a certain degree, the influx of information could leave a child brain dead for the rest of their miserably short lives. Lucky for you, I'm here to monitor when you're ready."
"Thanks Kyuu."
"Welcome kit. Being the impatient person that I am, I nearly tore my eyes out waiting for the day when you would finally grow some brains in this skull. The thing you're fixing to learn is forbidden by the village, so don't fuck it up and show someone unless you deem it absolutely necessary. I don't want people wondering why a kid who hasn't even been outside the village was able to accomplish it."
"Understood."
"It's called a shadow clone, and is quite useful when it comes to learning anything new. The clone can use chakra to a degree, and can give a certain amount of blows before being dispelled, but everything they saw, heard, or felt will transfer to you when they dispel."
Kyuubi paused for that information to sink in.
"But wouldn't that end up with me being mentally older than I am physically?" A confused boy asked.
"Yes, and that's the main drawback. You'll age on the inside while your body stays the same age, leaving you supposedly more mature than anyone your age should be. However considering its you, I'd say that you'll only be a little bit subdued. Though, you'd still have to act like a child."
"I don't think I've ever really been a child Kyuu."
"You were at one point, even if you can't remember. You were forced to grow up much too quickly. Foxes are supposed to be the prankster demons. Having a summoner who's just now learning how to show his emotions is practically unheard of. We'll be working on that soon."
Naruto simply nodded in agreement. Only a mad man would try and argue with the person who invented the expression "Sly as a fox."
"The hand seal is a basic ram(I'm completely bullshitting when it comes to hand seals people. Sorry but I never paid that much attention to the series.) Put about half you power into it, we'll need a lot of them if we want to do this."
Close to a thousand clones appeared in the clearing, nearly overflowing the land.
"Half of you go practice control. The other half is to engage the otter tribe in combat. Naruto, you'll start learning how to use my chakra."
"I thought it was sealed inside Naruko." stated a lost boy.
Kyuubi grinned.
"Not exactly. Your father put both of you in the sealing circle in hopes I would go into the stronger baby. I did, but you body was too young to hold both me and my immense power. So I sent it into your sister, but the power can not be renewed without my soul there. She's already half way through using up my precious gift. Once its gone its gone."
"But I have your chakra?"
"You have me, and I'm made of chakra. Ever since the sealing I've been regenerating it, giving your body time to adjust to how it changes humans."
"Changes? Kyuu, what did you do?" Naruto asked apprehensively.
"I started the process of turning you into a Hanyou."
"WHAT?!"
"My chakra will make you body stronger and faster while retaining your human appearance. Contrary to popular belief, Hanyou do not have animal appendages. At most your eyes are gonna slit. Besides, I've already began the process, so you might as well deal with it."
"Kyuu! You didn't even ask!" Naruto yelled outraged. It was his life and his body. What did that damn fox think he was doing?"
"You are my kit! The humans don't deserve you, and don't you deny it. You're eight years old and not once have they even tried to see you. You are my kit! When I travel back to the demon realm you need to be part demon to survive. The atmosphere will kill you if you aren't. I had to start you young so it'll be easier for you to grown your own demon Chakra. Relying on me in the other realm will get you killed."
"You're gonna bring me with you?" Naruto asked insecurely.
"Your sire should be torn apart with how he treats you. Eight years old and you already have trust issues. Yes kit, until you at least his Chunin I'm not letting you out of my sight. When I go somewhere so will you."Now enough with all this sentimental crap. Traveling realms won't even be an option until you form your own demon cols. Sit down and go to your mindscape, I have to show the exact inner working of my Chakra, but be warned, I will not stand for you telling others of my system That stays between us."
For the next three-and-a-half years this continued. Naruto was constantly suppressing his power and staying completely average in front of others. Kyuubi taught him how to harness the demon Chakra and instructed him in anything he would need to survive on his own. Unknown to Naruto, the fox was acting like a doting parent. He never left Naruto alone and healed the boy each time his parents turned away from him.
Naruko graduated a year earlier than she should have because her father pushed the council in t accepting her on an accelerated learning program. But because of her being a odd number out, she was put on team Gai until another spot could be found, causing Naruto immense amusement when she was seen running around like crazy screaming about men in green spandex.
Kushina began her own clothes line for female ninjas, perusing a career of her own. Though, she still went on a few C-class missions to keep her life interesting.
Naruto kept to the shadows in his parents' lives, only coming home to sleep in a bed every other night or so. They ceased to be seen as "family" in Naruto's eyes after a while. Their rejections hurt less and less each time it happened. It got to the point where they were just strangers living under the same roof. The only thing he loved was the fox that's soul was housed in his body.
Naruto developed his own sense of style as well, though his was much more pleasing to the eye. He was dark greens, browns, and grays to help him blend into the background. He even went so far as to have a hood attached to his shirt to hide his wild mop of hair. The only thing he didn't wear outside were shoes. He discovered long ago that he could sense things much better if nothing blocked his feet's way to the ground. Feeling earth techniques coming at you much longer than others should is very handy when up against a person with the earth element. Instead, he wrapped the arch of his foot with bandages.
The only two people who could see he was hiding something long before anyone else could tell, were the type of people who didn't want to pressure him and new slightly of his living conditions. Son no one ever outwardly expressed that they knew long before he was comfortable with people knowing.
Once a week, he would travel to the memorial stone and pay his respects to all the shinobi who had died protecting the village, regardless if he knew them or not. Things continued like that for many years until the night before the genin exams arrived.
Being one step closer to out of the house, permanently. Soon he'll be with Kyuu in the demon realm. His Chakra coils were starting to form, but they take forever to get completely integrated into his own Chakra system. This signified that it wouldn't be much longer until they were able to leave, a few years at most.
Question is, will he want to return?
End of chapter.