Righteous Howl
k-chan
A Naruto FF
Disclaimer: Naruto and all related titles and such are the sole property of Masashi kishimoto. The weres however are my sole creation.
Summary: In the shadows of lies and deceit a young warrior will rise out of the dark to take his rightful place in this world.
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Prologue
Darkness, pain, and the sound of a burning building. Uzumaki Naruto lay watching the only home he knew go up in flames, while he couldn't move, sharp nin wire held his hands in place, and from his position on the ground he could see the feet and legs of the people, ninja and civilian alike, who had brought this torture on him. They laughed cruelly as the possessions he had gathered over the few years of his life went up in smoke. Silently the young boy cried to himself, his tears mixing with the dry dusty ground. He lay there, the unbearable sadness making his heart ache. He knew the night wasn't over yet, it never was, once the last bit of ash floated to the ground, his fate would be in the hands of the cruel and unmerciful masses. The fire built in intensity as the cheering civilians laughed, then as one they turned to face their bound captive, he cringed when the circle moved closer. Whimpering pitifully, he waited for the blows to come.
Monster!
Demon!
Disgrace!
He knew pleading for his life would only make the beating worse, so the boy lay taking every blow with hardly a cry, for that would spur them to greater acts of cruelty. Then, when his body could take no more, he blacked out, leaving his last waking seconds bruised and bleeding. But still, the villagers continued on until finally, the barely breathing child was tossed over the gates into the barren darkness of the woodland surrounding the hidden village.
XOXOX
Naruto groaned, the impact bringing him back to consciousness. The wire had been removed; a waste to lose such expensive things. His bruised and beat up form slowly stood, a low yelp escaped him as he used a nearby tree to help. A snapping branch brought him quickly to attention no matter the pain. Slow footsteps approached him, his small heat beating faster with every step. Suddenly the footsteps stopped, and in their place a menacing growl.
"W..Who's there?" he whispered tentatively, staring into the darkness where he last heard the steps. A growl was his answer. The 6 year olds heart stopped, out of the gloom, glowing silver eyes were the first thing he saw, followed by huge black paws. The wolf stepped fully into the clearing, its massive body eclipsing the low moon. Blue eyes met silver as the huge beast made its way slowly to the young boy who had fallen back to the ground. He winced in pain, eyes watering with pain. The wolf stopped its advance to stare at the prey it had come upon. If he weren't in such a dangerous position Naruto would have been awed by the majestic beast in front of him, its lithe yet muscled body, the beautiful black fur and ghostly silver eyes, all in all a beautiful, yet dangerous creature. It growled at him, mouth open to expose rows of gleaming white teeth.
"Ookami-sama" Naruto whispered giving the beast what could pass for a bow. The wolf stared at him curiously as if appraising the battered form in front of it. Whether from fear or exhaustion Naruto slumped over, trying to keep himself conscious. "If I am to be your meal, Ookami-sama make it quick, I can't take any more tonight." Naruto mumbled, his voice low, breathing labored. The giant wolf cocked its head to the side, considering the boys request. It growl-barked at him, Naruto not understanding what it said only resigned himself to a quick death, or more pain. It took a few more steps towards him, sniffing the air, it smelled blood, and pain. Not sure what to do it nudged the boy with its nose causing him to flinch and moan. The wolf lay down in front of him regarding the boy with intelligent eyes. Naruto lifted a weak arm, and laid it on the wolf's head and slowly scratched behind its ears. It growled in pleasure. With a weak smile, Naruto pet the creature until he couldn't move his arm dropped to his side weakly. Darkness claimed him then.
XOXOXO
The wolf looked at the boy, its head tilted to the side. In a flash the wolf was replaced by a young woman no more than 16. Her name was Brighteyes. She turned quickly, sensing something moving in the woods behind her. A growl announced the arrival of one of her pack mates. She smiled as her companion Swiftflight came to stand beside her in his wolf form.
"Hello dear one." She whispered, rubbing his neck and ears. He bumped against her almost knocking her to the ground. She looked back at the pathetic figure on the ground. Swiftflight looked down and gave a bark of surprise. A second later the male wolf was replaced by a tall teen. He gave her a quick peck on the cheek.
"So this is what took you so long." He said, staring the still form on the ground. "What happened?" he held her to him, the couple watched as the boy moaned, shifting painfully in his sleep.
"I don't know." She whispered, her eyes watering at the horrible sight. Bruises covered him, cuts and burns littered his body, and the clothes he was wearing were torn to shreds. "I was hunting. I found him like this." She turned into his chest tears wetting the front of his shirt. "How could anyone do this to a child?" he rubbed her back in soothing circles, whispering in her ear softly.
"Shh. He'll be fine." He mumbled in her hair. Taking in her scent, moss and the scent of pine, mixed with lilies.
"We can't leave him here. But Dimi won't like it…" she whispered, turning out of the embrace to look at the young kid.
"Dimi will understand, and he'll accept your decision. He's not a wolf, but that can change." Swift whispered, hugging her tightly. The two wolves looked at the unconscious child again.
"We'll take him with us; I don't like leaving him here." She finally decided. With an understanding nod, Swift took a step forward; he picked the child up slowly trying to keep the already painful wounds from paining him more. With the child cradled in his arms the two wolves slowly headed towards the place they call home.
XOXO
The sound of water dripping brought Naruto around. Getting up slowly he took in his surroundings, he was in a sewer, a sewer lit by an eerie red glow. Looking around he sighed, turning in a circle he looked at his options. The tunnel directly ahead of him was glowing brightly. He started heading towards the tunnel.
'Kit…'
"Who's there?" he said fearfully. He walked on, until he finally hit a huge anti chamber, its domed ceiling was obscured by what looked like a red haze.
'Kit…'
"Who's there?" he yelled into the chamber, listening to the echo his small voice made. He walked into the room, his eyes adjusting to the hazy red glow.
'Welcome to my prison young one. It's about time my jailor visits. As for whom I am, why not come closer?" The voice said mockingly, accented by a sardonic laugh. Taking the voices invitation Naruto stepped further into the room. On one wall, a large mirror hang, on the other however, large iron bars lay, sealed with a small piece of paper. He walked closer to the cage, apprehension eating away at him until he stood directly in front of the cage. 'Hello Kit. Welcome, as you can see, the accommodations are lacking, but I have no choice in the matter. As to who I am on the other hand, I'm sure you can figure it out.' A shadow moved in the cage, a large form becoming visible. Naruto gasped his head spinning.
"Kyuubi." He mumbled startled. The large kitsune nodded once, fangs overlapping its huge maw.
'Aye. Kyuubi no Kitsune at your service. And to what do I owe the pleasure of you company this evening?' Asked the great fox, its tails swishing behind itself. Large crimson eyes looked into the bright cerulean eyes of its jailor.
"Why are you here, the fourth killed you 6 years ago… I don't understand." Naruto mumbled, his stomach churning in fear and wonder. The great fox yipped in amusement, its eyes glowing.
'You see. Do you really think a mere mortal could kill me? A demon kitsune, the King of Hell? No, not even your father had strength enough for that.' The fox laughed its eyes boring into the figure before him.
"My… Father?" he whispered, eyes widening. "I have no father. And if I did, he abandoned me, along with my mother." He said sadly. The kitsune laughed again, tails swishing; it lowered its head staring the boy in the eyes.
'No foolish boy. Your father died. He died to seal me within your very body. You see, I am immortal. An unstoppable force of nature, a demon king. Your father knew this; he knew I wouldn't be taken down by any normal mean. So on the day of your birth he took you. He sacrificed his life and soul to save a pathetic bunch of vermin.' It laughed again, Naruto stared wide eyed, head spinning as the story unfolded. 'At the battle, he stood astride a giant toad, I in my ignorance, my power hungry mind, saw him as no threat to me, just another shinobi trying to vanquish me. For so many millennia people have tried and failed. I the unstoppable Kyuubi had nothing to fear from a human. How wrong I was. How foolish I had been… 'It paused, head lowered. Naruto stood entranced. 'I allowed him close, I thought he would do nothing, be another wash out like the rest of the pathetic shinobi throwing themselves at my feet. I stared at him and he at me. I roared and tried to lunge, but I was frozen in place. Hovering behind your father was the shinigami himself his ghastly figure staring into my soul. I growled angry and feeling the fool. I knew what would come next. The shinigami lifted a pale hand and reached toward me. I howled, I felt my life energy leaving the body I had inhabited for a hundred millennia I clawed the ground, felt myself being pulled away from the world. I stared at the fourth hokage. My essence being pushed into the seal on your very stomach. I howled no growled and thrashed against the hold the god had on me, but I could do nothing. "Hokage, I underestimated you, and for that my life is forfeit." I howled one last time in defiance to the gods before I was sealed into you completely.' It smiled a toothy grin. 'For the past 6 years I have been in a deep slumber, waking only in flashes to heal you. Until now.' Naruto shuddered. 'Someone approaches, until we meet again.'
End
Hello readers. K-chan here. Trying a new take on things, trying to find my inspiration to write again. This is new territory for me. Please R&R. I always appreciate the feedback. Positive and negative, anything helps. Hope to hear from you all. Good luck
Happy Hunting My Friends =)
The illustrious and never aging K.