A/N: Hello and welcome to Swallowed in the Sea! I've been bouncing this idea around for a couple of days and finally decided to outline the plot and everything so I could write it. This is the first chapter, and if I have it in mind to be a good authoress I'll keep this updated regularly.

Disclaimer: Naruto and all of it's characters are property of Masashi Kishimoto.

The Uzumaki clan made quite a spectacle when gathered for their 10th annual family reunion.

It was always a lively affair. Set under a groove of Momo trees during the last days of spring, a sea of red heads (and an occasional brown one) milled about enjoying the festivities. There were booths of games, each run by different branches of the clan, and many tiny feet to pitter about between them. One of these sets of feet belonged to a little boy by the name of Kyuubi Namikaze – Uzumaki. He hurriedly stumbled along the tiny dirt path to the benches in the center of the Momo grooves where he knew his mother would be resting. She would have her hand hovering protectively over her belly because Kushina Namikaze – Uzumaki was heavily pregnant with her second child. Kyuubi sped up at the thought of his little brother sitting inside of his mother.

'He's making himself look pretty, musuko, just for you.' She would whisper softly when he asked her how much longer until he could hold his baby brother.

'Tell him he's pretty enough now Kaasan! I can't wait anymore!'

And finally the time was near, Kyuubi concluded; his mother looked as if she was going to explode. His baby brother couldn't possibly get any bigger now, so he would just have to come out, regardless of how pretty he was.

'I'll love him anyway, my silly otouto.' He swore fervently.

Similar thoughts swamped the young boy as he trekked further into the wilderness surrounding. He wasn't intimidated by it in the least however, because the land was so familiar. He didn't bother to pay attention to his surroundings while striding dutifully onward, a paper crane he'd folded with his obaachan cradled in his tiny fists. At long last, he broke through the tree line and came upon a figure standing in the thick shadows, a flowing kimono draped gracefully across the lean back. He approached the still figure, though he couldn't remember his mother ever owning a black and purple obi.

It would be the last mistake of the boy's life.


Meanwhile, Kushina Namikaze – Uzumaki went into labor in their family's festival tent.

"Minato! Oh god, I hope you die you miserable bastard I swear you'll never touch me aga-!" Minato Namikaze – Uzumaki quickly shut the flap of the tent and backed into a tree trunk. He ran a shaky hand through his golden blonde locks and sighed, trembling from the anxiety overload. Grandmother Chiyo approached him with a calm smile and a glass of sake.

"Calm down child, everything is going well. The birth is almost over; Kaito swears he has a grip on a little blond head already."

"I know. I just can't help but be on edge. Speaking of, have you seen Kyuu? He'll be off the wall when he hears." Chiyo gave a puzzled frown.

"You haven't seen him? I sent him to find his mother nearly an hour ago."

"No, Kushina has been in labor here for quite a while now. I found her at the benches toward the start of the festival complaining about some really bad cramps and brought her back this way." Chiyo nodded and then turned; ready to track down the tiny ball of mischief known as Kyuubi.

"I'm sure he's fi-"

An explosion cut her off.

"THE NINE TAILS IS FREE. KYUUBI IS FREE!"

Panic spread swiftly.

And there it stood, a ghastly orange specter towering over the forest. It gnashed its enormous jaws, foamed angrily from the mouth and tossed its head about in absolute rage, tendrils of sizzling orange chakra dripping free. The Momo blossoms caught fire in seconds, burned away from the branches and raining down like tiny meteorites around the great beast. Demonic eyes narrowed until the pupil was nothing more than a catlike slit surrounded by a blood red iris and it let loose a roar that shook the trees down to their roots. Everyone stood paralyzed in terror.

Then the great creature moved.

"MINATOO!" Kushina's scream was pitched to break an eardrum. It echoed all the way to the Kyuubi, causing the livid animal to turn about and growl threateningly. Minato had to assume that she knew, even in the midst of labor.

"YOU DIE TODAY PITIFUL HUMAN." The demon's voice was almost as threatening as its appearance.

"I'm handling it dear!" Minato turned to the Kyuubi and started running through the process for the resealing within his mind, factoring in the distance and the speed at which the demon could cover that distance.

Not to mention the amount of time it would take Kushina to finish birthing the next container – their last son.

He had to assume Kyuu was dead by now, no one had ever been known to release the demon and live. It was the curse of the Uzumaki containers, one handed down through the family since the beginning of time itself. Just as his family had been the sealers sent from Kami and protectors of the container, Minato vowed that he would control the beast and send it back to imprisonment.

It was what he was born to do.

He would tame the beast for his fallen son.


Then the battle began. Slowly the enormity known as the Uzumaki clan was cut down in bloody chunks, misshapen bodies bleeding out on the forest floor. Blood ran in thick rivulets everywhere, collecting in puddles which the demon stormed through, laughing manically. However, Minato remained standing and with the help of Grandmother Chiyo and a few medics of the clan Naruto Namikaze – Uzumaki was brought into the world.

Kushina held her son gently while he wailed for the first time.

"Naruto. Naruto Uzumaki. My beautiful musuko."

She whispered every possible word of love and courage she could think to give him. She told him all of the family secrets, and how much his brother loved him, and how no matter what happened she would always be with him.

"...You must always remember to love, Naruto. Love when the Kyuubi's hatred surrounds you, and you will always be safe."

Then Kushina Namikaze – Uzumaki stood and carried her baby out of the tent into the waiting battlefield where her husband was quickly tiring. She placed little Naruto in his father's arms and then nodded at Minato, expelling chains of chakra from her frail body.

"Hurry love." Kushina's voice was barely a whisper, the strain chipping away at bits of her skin and blood dripping from the corners of her mouth, but the beast was held fast.

Minato stepped forward until he stood right in front of the raging demon, placing Naruto down on the ground in front of him. The baby looked up, blinked, and cooed in confusion. Minato turned away fighting tears.

He wouldn't make it out of this alive.

The hand signs came fast, familiar; he had been trained since he was young to do this. It was his destiny. It was Kushina's, and most importantly it was Naruto's.

When he finished forming the dragon hand sign he ripped a tiny scroll free from his pocket, placed it on Naruto's stomach, and watched it absorb as he bit his thumb.

'Daddy loves you Naruto, I swear. You're our hero...'

With a whispered "Seal" it was all over.