1.
Title: Crime
Character(s): Naruto, Kyuubi, Minato
Word Count: 789
Summary: Konohagakure's view on its fourth Hokage and what demon was birthed in his stead to lead.
A/N: First attempt at Naruto-verse drabbles. (Though I barely consider them drabbles due to the fact that they haven't developed into fleshed out fics.) These are out of order, few of fifty and the prompt was originally for icons, but I ran with them nonetheless.
The crime of the century had not come to be known when the village of Konohagakure sacrificed its fourth Hokage and his heir in the name of blood, duty and a conditional destiny, but when the child came out looking pure.
Despite the marring, most complicated seal impacted and adamantly needed, gracing the infant's abdomen, and the marked cheeks, the wails of a "healthy" pre-destined ninja would have been welcomed into the gracefully contrite arms of faithful artisans. Naruto might have passed as an average kunoichi with exceptionally resourceful chakra. Yet many were held at bay from spitting at him or were silenced in remembrance and honor; his blond hair reminding them whose life was traded for his to bear the weighed burden of encompassing the strongest demon known to walk across their empires.
When asked, Kyuubi was said to have commanded eight overlords itself, each ranked in power and most easily recognized by the numbers of tails each held. Thousands of lesser demons flanked under each and these overloads were revered and their areas untouched. This was before the practices of seals created for human cages. This was the time that was revered for ages stretching on and estimated to have been, ironically, the most peaceful era for demons. Not many dared to attempt to overthrow the great powers that would oppose and surely silence ambitious ones and the lands were left free for many to roam the borders and lithely amble on towards plans to conquer another.
Later, through bloodlines, the tales were passed on. Elders were prone to lack their recollecting skills eventually and were then free to consult the scrolls, where ancient languages were passed down and translated for the newer generations to carry on the task of simply memorizing the horrors of malignant beasts.
So soon crossed factions pitied his fate. A confused audience bearing witness to a normal child birthed, which couldn't possibly fathom how the Yondaime's heir could be the immoral human retaining vault who might someday be overcome because he was just too weak. Who would harbor the power of the Nine-Tailed fox's wrath once more.
Young were spilt into a fraction where they couldn't fathom the thought of It walking amongst them and they having to converse with It as a trusted ally, well aware and easily taken in by the elder's words weaved into a spell, foretelling them of an damnation upon them.
His existance was a crime. He deserved to pay for being what was he was and had damn well better not swelter under the boisterous pressure because he was chosen and they had lost their leader because of him. Their precious future. The supposed man that was to lead them into the next era. The man that could crush their future because of who he was and how his endless stamina would never deplete against even their forces alone.
And if it weren't for the gracious markings on his fresh, velvety, baby-soft skin that could easily be skinned with flicks of metallic tools sliding down chilled wrists, and the precious seal on his flush stomach, he'd blend right in.
For looking so human, he was still a demon in disguise under his costume of flesh waiting to strike the moment all felt secure.
He'd destroyed a village when he sucked in a gasp of air in his lungs and proclaimed himself alive; had cursed Konohagakure's honor and birth line.
It was seen to that he was never informed he was once their awaited prince so It would not awaken and rule them. It would not be informed that It was their rightful king as It had and was fated to be again.
So Konohagakure pretended they could not hear the confused child's pleas for someone to just tell him what the fuck was going on as he got older, and eventually he stopped asking. He learned that whatever he had done, he deserved it and Konohagakure could never be happier.
Faintly it was wondered, when It was broken and struggling out from under the weight of their stares and Its duty dragged out from under the pile age of honor and blood, maybe It would be of some use under their command after all.
Such a lovely gift their hero had left them.