Author's Notes: And here it is denizens of the fanfiction world. The new, improved, and completely reworked (at least I hope so on all three accounts) version of Second Go.

As many of you are aware, in my last update of this story I have told of my plans of giving this story a major overhaul, and by overhaul I mean writing it all over again so that I can make this damn story make sense. Have no fear, I still plan on keeping certain aspects of the past version of this story carry on into this version, such as the Anima idea along with Naruko's and Hitoshi's friendship with the members of Team 8, I'll just rework that a bit. Others ideas like how Joseph's death, his initial meeting with Kyuubi and other ideas will either be reworked or dropped all together.

Originally when I wrote this story, it was merely a hobby and out of curiosity. But as time when on, I started thinking, really thinking. Thinking of all the concepts and ideas I can toy, dissect, and rearrange in sort of hodgepodge macabre of horror of what makes the series Naruto great. I want to take what I know about the series not because of its characters, I want to study everything. More specifically chakra, jutsus, summoning contracts and the creatures that can be called forth. It's like getting that one build it yourself kit, when after getting all the pieces that instead of following the instructions in the booklet to build a boat or plane, you want to build more complex things than that. That's what I intend to do with this story and the Naruto world in general. I want to break it down to its base parts, analyze each part carefully, and mix it up "my" way.

I still have much more to talk about, but how about we just proceed on to what you came here originally and just read the prologue. More stuff is at the bottom of this chapter so please read on.

Also, before I forget to mention this story will incorporate moments where the perspective will change between first and third person. Just giving you a little heads up.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

XXXXX

From the day one is born, he is destined to die at a later date. It does not matter who one is, rich or poor, young or old, good or evil, death comes to all regardless. There is no escaping that fact.

It is absolute.

However, not everything is always so clean cut. One's end may mean another beginning. For life has many twists and turns from the beginning to the end, there's always a surprise or two along the way.

For one, a twist of luck will transform his end into a beginning.

His 'second go' at life…

Well…shit…didn't see that coming.

I know that life is supposed to have its ups and downs, life was meant to be unfair and all. It's just that…

I reach a hand to the multiple bullet wounds on my chest; I can feel my life blood pour out of it, staining my clothes and my hand with red.

Damn, didn't know that my life will end just that after 18 years, geez that sucks. Oh, and right after completing high school as well, that's a bonus. All that hard work for nothing.

I feel myself getting roll onto my back, someone in white is attending to me. At least I hope it's someone, I can barely see him, and his frantic shouting is blurred into unrecognizable murmurs. My eyelids are growing heavy.

*Ba-bump*

I feel tired, so tired, like I want to fall asleep. So this is what dying is huh?

*Ba-bump*

My vision is growing dark too…shit; guess there's no hope for me…

*Ba-bump*

Everything…is turning dark…my mind is becoming a complete blank…damn why do I have to die so soon…

*Ba-*

…just…freakin'…great…

*-bump*

Kinda wish…

…I could say goodbye to everyone at least…

…before I go.

*…*

X Prologue: Contract X

I…sense nothing. No sights, no sounds, nothing. I can't feel my limbs or body, I can't feel if I'm breathing or not, and I can't feel the searing pain from the bullet from earlier.

Just nothing.

Nothingness…so this…is the afterlife? Or oblivion? I don't know. I don't know where I am or what am I suppose to do now.

All I can do is thin…

Wait.

If I'm dead, than how am I still thinking all this? I know I'm not crazy; I've only been dead for a few moments; at least I hope I was dead for a few minutes. Still, does that mean that I'm still alive somehow?

A small light, a little ways off, appears before me. It feels inviting with its warm glow. I reach out to it with whatever I can, I want this light, I NEED this light.

The glow intensifies to almost blinding when I approach close enough, its light envelops, and I bask it its radiance. Yes, this feels nice.

*Drip*

Hm?

*Drip*

What's that sound?

*Drip*

Water, and why do I feel…wait…FEEL?

I awake to find myself submerge in some sort of dark liquid, and my lungs filling up with water. I break to the surface, gasping for air and coughing out whatever was trying to choke me. The first breaths were painful, but thankfully I was able to get the liquid out of my system, but barely. "Cripes I nearly drown back there." I gag out.

I look down to see my reflection in the rippling surface of water that reaches up to my knees; at least I hope that's water since I have no idea where I am right now. Looking around, I find myself what could be best described as a sewer, only thankfully without the whole sewer smell and volumes of crap involved. Lighting is scarce, shrouding the entire scene in near pitch black with the few torches on the walls not providing much light beyond a few feet. Looking behind me, all I can find is nothing but a huge dark void, devoid of anything. I rather not take my chances of checking out what I can't see; of course I have no idea where I am in the first place so the way with the lights could lead to a bad end as well. I groan, is this how the afterlife is supposed to work?

"Would defiantly like to know what is going on right now." I think out loud before leaning my back against the sewer's concrete walls and looking up at the ceiling, "It would help to have some sort of guide or something through this."

*Poof*

I yelp at the sudden appearance of what could only be described as a floating ball of bright red fire appearing before me. I press myself against the wall behind me, "WOAH! WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?" I eye the paranormal sight with fear as it shifts its form to…become hiragana and kanji?

Okay, now this is getting really messed up. I don't know what I should be more concern about, the fact the there's a floating fireball in front of me, or the fact that it can change into a legible sentence in a foreign language. At least it's a foreign language that I can understand. Mom, I now thank you for all those hours you and Uncle Junpei spent teaching me and my siblings Japanese.

I approach the message carefully and begin to translate, "Do you desire answers?" I look around to see if anyone is watching before retuning back to the message. I nod at it, feeling a little silly by doing so. I back away when the flaming message changes again into another sentence. "Follow me please." It soon speeds off ahead into the sewage corridor.

I take a deep breath. Screwy afterlife, clean sewers, and now messages in fire. Maybe this is some sort of bad dream that the next second I'm going to wake up alive and well in bed. I take my right cheek in hand and give it a twist; it hurts so that means this is not a dream, damn.

I sigh as I resign myself that this is now real as it will ever be and decide to wade my way through the water, right behind my specter guide.

Following my guide, I decide to look around a bit as I notice the area that I am in start to change the further I made my way in. The main change is the increasing number of steel pipes on the walls, normally that wouldn't be a big deal in a sewer system, but the number of them and that there's some form of swirling mist coursing within them is defiantly not natural. Another is the rising water level, at first the surface only reached to the top of my knees, ten minutes later I'm already up to my stomach in this gunk, any more and I'll have to swim in the stuff. The final thing that worries me is the foreboding feeling I'm getting the deeper I make myself in. I don't know if this is the light at the end of the tunnel or the gates to hell but whatever it is, it's big, it's powerful…

…and entirely not human.

I can't even explain it myself how I can tell, it's just that I can. That alone is a bad sign that I might be way over my head on this, but it's not like I have much choice in the matter. All I can do is wading my way through the water to the end.

I think five minutes have passed when I came to where I believe to be my destination; a decent size platform in front of a steel gate that reaches up to as high to the ceiling. Now I know I have to be cautious, seems like that unpleasant feeling I'm getting is right behind that huge gate. Yeah I am way over my head on this.

Yet despite my common sense screaming of "RUN AWAY FROM THE CREEPY GATE!" I make my way to the platform's edge and pull myself out of the water and onto the surface, and then wringing my clothes dry. Afterwards I turn my attention to my guide; the floating flame just hovers several feet in the air at the center of the platform.

"Okay you win," I address my guide, "I've come as you wanted, so can you please tell me what's going on?"

The fires flicker and shift once again into words, "Shortly, 'til then, would you like to take a seat?" the flame ascends by a few feet, raising my concerns.

"Seat? Sit whe-?" I jump a bit when beneath the flame a wireframe of what could be two stools and a table came into being, the outlines soon gain color, and then form. There before me are two wooden stools with red cushions and a small wooden table standing between them. "Uh, sure." I decide to take the chair farthest away from the gate.

The burning sentence changes into a new one, "Thank you. I can understand your concern, no doubt still shaken over your recent death. And at such a young age too, how tragic."

My eyes widen, "Wait how did you-?" I reach my hand out to the flame, but it soon puts itself out into nothing. I gulp at the growing level of dread, something tells me I'm about to meet my host.

*Thump!*

The chair I am on nearly went off balance when a small tremor went under my feet. Oh yeah, this is bad.

*Thump!*

I can make a giant creature coming out of the darkness; red eyes glowing in power can be seen clearly. The scent of fur mixed with smoke and ash invades my nostrils. A burning sensation is building up in my chest.

*Thump!*

Right behind the gate stands a fox; at least it looks like a fox, if it is possible for a fox to be the size of several buildings, having multiple tails, and whose very presence is more than enough to make me feel like I'm on the same level as an ant in comparison. That is not normal, that is not normal at all. I see the beast level its gaze at me with crimson eyes, as if judging me or something.

I see the beast's lips curl into a grin, "Hmm, it's a pleasure to meet you face to face."

I only nod, even if I can understand a creature that can somehow read and write Japanese, this is way too much for me.

The fox gives a small sigh, "Be at ease, boy. I have no intention to harm you; I am merely giving you an…opportunity."

That got my attention, "An opportunity, what do you mean?"

"In a moment, but first allow me to join you at the table so we can talk about the details." The kitsune says as its body emits a red glow. The glow pour down the beast's body and slithers is way through the bars and pool itself to where the chair across me is. The mass soon take shape and form into some sort of silhouette of a human…female? Features than appear, making my eyes widen even more so than they already am.

I remember about stories my Mom told me when I was kid about how kitsune (which I believe the creature before me is) taking on a human form to trick people. I can now honestly say that she wasn't lying.

A woman who could appear to be in the prime of her youth is sitting right across me. She an elegant crimson kimono on, tied by an orange obi that gave a sense of emphasis on her…figure. She was tall, not like her fox-form kind of tall, more like above the norm of the average adult female. Her hair was fiery red, and reached all the way to about mid-back. Her skin was pale, not ghostly, but just enough to be noticeable. Though what really got me was her face. Her face was quite beautiful (even with the weird whisker marks on her skin), but when I saw that her iris were read with the pupils similar to a cat, I force myself to remember who she was before changing. Especially since she still kept her fox ears and tails in her current form, probably to make her seem more attractive. Though I can't help but blush a bit.

The fox woman covers her mouth with one hand and giggles, "Surprise at my beauty, most boys your age would welcome the opportunity to have a beautiful woman talk to him. You're more innocent than you appear."

I struggle to keep a straight face and the urge to blush, "Considering that you're a giant fox behind an illusion just to trick me."

The woman merely shrugs, "Please forgive me, it's been quite a while since I've had contact with anyone else." Her eyes than turn serious, "And you strike me as one takes things seriously, am I right…um, what is your name?"

I nod, "Joseph, Joseph Conners."

The red head takes a deep breath, "Very well Conners-san, so what do you wish to know?"

"Who, or excuse me for sounding rude, what are you?" I ask.

The woman scowls a bit before relaxing her shoulders, "Well I suppose your question is to be expected. Very well, from my world I am referred to as the Kyuubi no Kitsune. A…creature of mass power and abilities." The tone is bitter, even hateful at herself.

So a nine tail fox with powers beyond my mortal comprehension, wheeee. This is going to be one mystery after another. "Okay then, you said 'from my world' does that mean you come from a parallel world or something?"

She nods her head, "That is correct; I know that this would be hard to believe but yes, we both come from separate worlds."

Okay now I'm curious, "If we're from separate worlds, then how can we be talking like this, heck how come you know about kind of stuff anyway?"

The fox woman looks away, "I…just do."

I narrow my eyes a bit, "That's suspicious in my book."

"Believe what you wish but I'm standing behind my statement." My host says in a huff, "Look, what you're experiencing is all too much for you to take at the moment, but I really need you to trust me on this."

Despite my hesitation I nod, "Okay."

The Kyuubi smiles a bit before sitting up straight, "Thank you, like I've said before I come from a world different of yours; a world where a special power known as "chakra" and people capable of harnessing it, though the majority of those are called 'ninja' I have seen a few 'samurai' and even animals also with the ability to utilize it."

Ninjas and Samurais, Mama Conners what has your baby boy gotten himself into. "Okay continue."

"Well, even though there are some capable of using chakra, there nine beings, known as the biju that are capable of feats far beyond even the most experienced of warriors. I myself am one of them."

I think I know where this is going, "So I take it that even you get visitors asking for your power?"

The Kyuubi nods, "Yes, because of that more than once have I been requested to perform some tacks, sometimes I've been given tribute. Other times, a few dimwitted individuals thought they force me for their own purposes, I quickly made sure that they don't bother me again." The look on her face soon turns sour, "Until one day…"

A chill runs down my spine as the atmosphere suddenly went tense.

"…a despicable man that I thought long dead…" Kyuubi grits her teeth, revealing a jagged edge, "…came up to me and demanded that I be his tool for some petty revenge plan of his. He thought himself superior to me, that kind of arrogant attitude infuriated me so I force him away." Soon her face display a new emotion…despair, "I don't know how or why, but that bastard did something to me!" That despair soon turns into rage, and her hair and tails started whipping around, "The moment I laid my eyes on his, I lost control of myself. No matter how much I struggle, my body was somehow under his will!" Her voice growing more and more deeper, more beast like, "No matter how much I struggle there was nothing I could do, and then he made me…attack a village known as Konohagakure." She holds her hands together as her body shakes a bit, "It was maddening. To see me cause so much damage, and take so many lives in such a grisly matter, and to be powerless to stop me." Her anger flares up again, "All for the damn sake for revenge and wounded pride! Should the rare chance I ever get to see that bastard again…I'll…I'LL…" she slams both hands on the table, "I'LL REGRET HIM EVER USING THE KYUUBI NO KITSUNE AS A DAMN PUPPET!"

Something hard hits in square in the chest, knocking the wind out of me and rocketing both me and the chair across the platform. I look behind the chair to see the surface of the water.

*SPLASH!*

My vision is coated with water before I make a break to surface. "HEY KYUUBI!" I yell at the kitsune as soon as I reach air, "IF YOU'RE GONNA BLAST SOMEONE, AIM FOR THE GUY YOU WANT NOT ME!" I huff as I make my way back to the platform, dragging my chair with me.

I see the woman's face turn to shock before going back to the neutral, her hair and tails fail limp, and the atmosphere lost its oppressive air. "Forgive me," the red hair apologizes in a soft voice, "It's just that every time I think back to that day…"

I lift my chair back onto the platform, set it up straight, and put it back to where it was, "I can understand you're pissed off," I sit back down, ignoring that both me and my chair are soak in water, "Just please continue your story."

Kyuubi straightens up her posture, "Very well. Continuing on, though my attack on Konoha was sudden, opposition was quickly assembled in defense. Still, I am a biju, my power is vast and destructive, ninjas both young and old, male and female alike, fell before my might. I was simply…too strong. I felt there was going to be no end to the madness. Until he came…" She looks up behind her at the giant metal gate, I follow her gave to see a small paper stuck in the middle, "a man known throughout the village as the Yondaime arrive. He knew that I couldn't be defeated through conventional means, so he thought of an alternative."

I decide to take a shot in the dark, "He sealed you, judging from the gate and the paper attach."

The Kyuubi nods, "Yes, through the means of a forbidden jutsu a deal was made, I was sealed at the expense of his life." She looks away from the fate, "A noble sacrifice, considering the nature of that man."

I see a tinge of sadness in her eyes, like she's remembering something unpleasant, "Um Kyuubi-san?"

The red head starts a bit before turning her attention to me, "Excuse me, just lost track for a second. Anyway, even though I was sealed away to prevent any further damage and bloodshed, there was still the means of the type of vessel that must serve as my prison. Do you know what the vessel was for someone like me?"

I shake my head no.

"An infant child."

Her words made my head spin for a bit over what I've just learn. "My…god…"

"It was the only way. Only a living human sacrifice can be able to handle the influx of chakra that I possess, and only an infant child can adapt to the growing amount of chakra and live."

"That still doesn't explain where I play a part in this."

"Patience, your part will come soon. It was after my sealing that bastard's control over me cease and I regain my senses, I was quick to learn over what happen to me and the consequences of my actions. Though instead of despairing, I adapt. Even though I was sealed within a new born, I still had ways to know what was going on outside my seal. I establish a link with my new vessel through her sense, I was able to hear what she hears, see what she sees, etc."

"She?"

"Please let me finish. As I said, through the link I have a limited I could see what is going on around her. I could only watch through as a spectator as my host was immediately taken away after the sealing to the council of Konohagakure to…" she gulps, "Determine her fate."

I gulp a bit as well.

"The Yondaime's last wish before his passing was that the village to see my prison as a hero, the majority of the council had the opposite however. They only saw the infant as a threat and to be quickly exterminated, they believe that she was actually me in the guise of a human child, even when the nature of the seal has been explained. Those for the girl's execution argue that letting her leave is too much of a risk. Another saw the girl as an opportunity to raise a weapon due to her connection to me, given the right 'training.'" She looks down a bit, "Have I struck a bad memory?"

"Huh?" I follow her look to find that I am clutching one of the arms chairs with a tight grip; I turn back towards her, "Let's just say the world I come from also has its share of assholes. Plenty of assholes. Please continue."

"I see. Then I will continue, as I continued to listen to growing agreement of my container's fate I fear the worse, but there was a silver lining, the Yondaime's predecessor the Sandaime. He was one of the few that actually honor his successor's wish, and despite his advance age he stilled have enough influence and power to ward off the girl's death sentence and pass a law. That the child's origins and connection to me should be kept silent. It was the only means to give the infant a chance for an ordinary life."

I think I know where this is coming, "But I take it that it feel on deaf ears and people found other ways."

"You are right, how did you come to that so soon?"

"Well, my world also has its share of conflicts over various reasons, and even when it's over the results are never pretty. There are always lingering feelings of resentment or such in the time after that some people just do something stupid or insane."

"And it those feelings that our paths have cross. You see, even with the law to keep my container's origins present, she had lived a harsh life. Everywhere she went she was face with looks of scorn and disgust. The orphanage she was place in tried ways to poison her and later kick her out. Food given to her was either spoiled or tainted. Adults have told their children shun and despise her, leaving her with no one." Her looks down a bit, "People who actually liked her were scarce." She looks back to me with a neutral expression, "This is where you come in if you choose. Years have passed since the sealing, I have watched in silence as the girl continued to endure her torment, with only the thoughts of her precious people keeping her sane. But now she's on the verge of death."

I got up a bit from my chair in shock, "What, I mean how did…?"

Kyuubi takes a deep breath, "Recently a mob has been assembled with the goal to kill the girl and in the most brutal matter as means of retribution for my own acts. The nature seal keeps me and she connected, so if she dies, I will die alongside her. They caught her off guard and attacked, the wounds she had received are severe but thankfully she was quick to recover and was able to escape. Due to the nature of the seal, I can heal her any injuries she receives if given the time, but the mob have numbers and makeshift weapons, there is so much I can do by myself."

"So you're asking me to help in some way to save her, and by extension you as well?" I ask, my temper cooling a bit.

"I don't care what happens to me, but I do want you to save the girl."

"How?" I got up closer to Kyuubi, "I can't do much since I'm dead, the bullets that went through my chest can account to that."

"Such is the nature of the deal I'm about to present to you." The redhead looks at me straight in the eye, "I can make you a shikigami, a spirit given a physical body that will act as the girl's guardian. You see, with my host in a near-death state I was able to briefly get a glimpse of one thing that is common between our worlds, the afterlife. Though my host wasn't dead, she was on a verge of it, and that made a small crack that gave me the opportunity to a suitable soul to become a shikigami, you."

You're scrapping the bottom of the barrel to pick a guy like me. Still something is bothering me, "I take it this is not a simple deal."

Kyuubi shakes her head, "It isn't, should agree to this, I will give you a physical body for your soul to reside within my world. This is where the deal gets tricky already."

Figures as much.

"One matter is that in order to become a shikigami I must give a portion of my own chakra to you as a means to establish the contract. My chakra is significantly different from human chakra, so giving you even a bit could change you entirely. I will try to control the process as much as I can, but I make no promises."

I cringe a bit at the images of possible outcomes, "Any other issues?"

"Another matter is your new body; you do need a body in order to have a physical presence in my world. The problem is that I can't make a body out of thin air, however I can use your old body to recreate a new one."

I flinch, "You're…going to use my own corpse…to make my new body, can't you just revive my old body or something?"

Kyuubi shakes her head no, "I can't do that for a few reasons, one is that there's no telling what might happen to it when I take it over to my world, two is that my chakra might erode a good part of it away since it might not withstand it, three is that it's not in my powers to revive the dead entirely, the best I can do is break down your corpse and reconstruct it the best I can. Thankfully, it does comes with the added bonus of making your new body stronger and more durable than the norm if that helps you."

I take a calming breath as I rest my head in my hands, "Okay, anything else concerning this shikigami deal besides my body."

"Indeed there is, as an effect of being the girl's shikigami a part of your instincts will always focus on her well-being, you might be her protector sometimes. Meaning that you would also experience the same hatred that she also faces. I also fear that there may be times where you life would be put on stake as well."

I take another calming breath, this is big, really big, the biggest decision I have ever faced in my short life. On one hand I getting a second go at life, on the other hand I'm going to go through some serious crap. I look up from my hands at Kyuubi, "And should I refuse?"

The woman puts up a sad smile, "Then I will respect your wish and you would be sent back to the realm of death to be judge, though in truth the only reason you're here is because I pleaded with the one responsible for your passage to the afterlife to this little meeting of ours. It took me some time but I was able to at least get a chance to talk to you about this. I will not hold it against you if you deny my request; I know that what I'm asking of you is too much on my part. However, I will be eternally grateful if you do."

I straighten up in my chair a bit, "This deal is not going to damn my soul or anything similar."

She shakes her head, "No, it won't. But I will warn you though. Should you accept, you will be transported to a different world with different rules than your own. You may be force into dangerous situations in the future. I really want you to think about this carefully."

I rest my hands on the table, look down at the table's surface, and contemplate the deal. This is not like some sort of job opportunity; No, this is a full blown revived from death with a catch kind of deal. I'm already thinking of a number of scenarios how this is going to bite me back in the ass hard. Sure this is a deal involving helping someone, but this is insane beyond all reason. Plus I don't know if Kyuubi is being straight up honest with me on this. Well crap and a half this is hard. Still there is one thing I need to know.

I look back up to my host, "This is asking much for someone like me."

The woman across me nods, "I know, so I will ask this just once, will you make a contract with me and become a shikigami?"

I take a deep breath, chances are I'm going to regret what I'm about to say in the future, "Yes I will. Plus," I give a small smile, "After hearing all that crap the girl must have gone through I'll feel bad if I don't do something about it, also I'm not ready to bid life farewell."

A small smile also graces Kyuubi's face, "Thank you Joseph-san, I am in your debt." She reaches out to me with her right hand, "All that there is left is for me to give you some of my chakra."

I reach out to her hand with my own, "Well, let's get this started with." I grasp the inviting appendage and seal our deal.

My mind soon lurch, a wave of nausea overwhelms me. Pain…burning pain is erupting all over my very being. I can't seem to let go of Kyuubi's hand. "Stop…damn it this hurts, make it stop!"

"Please bear with it a bit more, I'm almost done."

My vision is going blurry, the pain is subsiding, and all feeling is being lost. I feel the Kyuubi let go of my hand and I collapse on my chair as my eyelids start getting heavy. I muster up the will power to look at Kyuubi one more time…to see her giving me a sad smile. I can make out her saying something, but I can't seem to hear it.

And then everything goes black.

*…*

Hm?

*Ba-…*

I feel like I'm lying on something soft.

*…-bump*

I can actually hear the rustling of leaves in the wind.

*Ba-bump*

I can even feel my own heart beating within my chest.

*Ba-bump*

Does that mean that I'm alive now?

I crack both my eyes open as I pick myself off the ground. A few seconds later I can see my vision gaining focus so I start looking around to check my surroundings, I can already make a few observations. One, I appear to be in some forest or something similar; two, it's nighttime judging how I can barely see with nothing but the full moon's light providing the only means of illumination; three, everything is big, really big, the closest tree to me is practically enormous.

"Where the-?" My eyes widen at the tone of my voice, it was much lighter in comparison to my own voice. I look down and yelp at what I see. My body was one that belongs to an 8 or 9 year old instead of one 18 years of age. Even the clothes on me different to the ones I have on just a while ago, consisting of a slightly worn white long sleeve shirt, dirty brown pants, crude brown sandals, and a gray cloak drape over me. I wince, I've just remember that Kyuubi did say that the chakra she gave me might change my body in some way, I just didn't realize the changes to be like this, and if my body is like this than what about my face?

I look around and find a pond with a crystal clear reflection of the full moon on its surface. I walk over to the pond's edge and look straight down to check my reflection. I only got a dark outline with vague features, no doubt since it's too dark right now. "I could really use a light right now."

"Perhaps I can be of assistance."

My heart skips a beat; I swing my head to my left to find a small flame flickering just hovering a few feet above me. "K-kyuubi? How did, I mean-?" I blurt out before taking a calming breath, "Actually, I should be more worried about why I look like this." I point at my chest, "You expect me to be a shikigami like this, I have a body of a kid here."

"I'm sorry." Kyuubi returns, "This is actually the first time I've ever done something like this. I honestly didn't expect you to turn out like this."

I grimace a bit as I look back to my reflection in the lake, "Can you at least help me see if my face is normal?"

"Of course." The flame replies before floating down a bit, lighting up the area a bit enough to let me see my reflection clear enough.

My face thankfully matches my body, also belonging to a kid about 8-9 years of age. Innocent-looking and with my own brown eyes and slightly messy brown hair. It's like looking into the past a bit, and honestly it's a bit surreal to be a kid again. Well shit does that mean I have to go through puberty again? And I had such an awesome goatee too, this bites!

"Are you well, you seem down." Kyuubi calls out.

"Just lamenting my lost looks." I mumble before getting up and facing the flame, "So how come you're here like this, I thought you were sealed up or something?"

"I am." She returns, "Right now I'm expending a large amount of chakra even to maintain this flame and communicating through it, and that's not including the chakra needed to deconstruct and reconstruct your body into my world and maintain healing of my container while doing so. This is the best I can do."

"That makes sense somewhat." I add in.

"Very well, than we must hurry. I can lead you to where the girl is, and I can tell from where I am that's she's fading fast." I can tell from the worry tone of voice that now's not the time for dawdling.

I nod my head, "All right, lead the way." The fireball soon speeds off ahead without a moment's notice and I follow it, deeper into the forest. The fact that it's dark didn't help me much in searching; the fire that Kyuubi summon doesn't illuminate much beyond a few feet. Still, she's the only aid I have so far in this whole fiasco, and I'm going to need all the help I can get.

"Kyuubi-san." I address the flame ad I pass through a low hanging branch.

"Yes?"

"Is it okay if I ask you more questions when the time is right? I didn't get much of an opportunity to share my thoughts on this shikigami business since you said that your container is in trouble."

"I see, I'll answer them as soon we find Naruko-chan and find a safe location."

I raise an eyebrow, "Naruko-chan?" Is that supposed to be the name of the girl Kyuubi is sealed within?

"No time to explain," Kyuubi responds, "We're close to where she is now."

The sound of motion and maybe breathing coming from some bushes to my right catches my attention, it's faint, yet somehow I can hear it. "I hear something that's for sure." I turn to the flame, "Should I check it out?"

"Yes," she replies, "However I should warn you, what you may see will disturb you."

"I know." I return as proceed to the source of the sound, clearing my way from the shrubbery while doing so. I remember that Kyuubi told me that "Naruko's" life so far has been anything but easy; I pray that it's not severe. I part the last of the branches away and see what's on the other side.

Bile rises in my throat as see the sight before me. A little girl, no older than what I am right now, lying face down on the grass, and she look like she was mauled by something or someone. She wore an oversize orange shirt that was punctured and stained with her blood. Her blond hair was disheveled and also stained with red. The scent of iron fills the air, nearly making me gag.

I swallow the urge to throw up before getting down on both knees and flipping the girl over on her back. I fight back another urge to vomit. Whoever this mob is didn't pull back any punches. Stab wounds, slash marks, I can make the singe marks of fire, mother of mercy this is just plain inhuman. Miraculously the girl's face suffered the less, having only three thin marks around her cheeks that look like whiskers. Still considering what's sealed up inside her I think that may be a given.

I reach out to her neck and check for a pulse, no surprise; it's weak, "Just…shit. Well I can honestly say that I am way over my head on this shikigami business."

"I'm sorry you have to see this."

"Don't bother, I've seen worse. Believe me." I grab the shoulder of my shirt and rip the entire right sleeve off. "Kyuubi-san can you give more light please?" I tear the sleeve into smaller strips.

"Sure, but what are you doing?" The flame lowers itself, giving me a better view of the blonde's injuries.

I take one of the strips and soon start wrapping it on one of the girl's arms. "Patching her up as best as I can. Though the only thing I can use as bandages is the clothes on my back, and some alcohol to disinfect the wounds would really help her."

"It seems you are well verse in First-Aid, though if you're worried about germs don't be, I am more than skilled in boosting her immunity systems to protect against foreign bacteria."

"Glad to hear that." I can only offer a grim smile, "Never thought I had to apply those skills in a life or death situation with limited supplies."

I work quickly. I feel sweat poring on my head as I continue bandaging various wounds and tearing a part of my cloak to wipe away excess blood. A poor way to treat wounds yes but it's not like I have many tools at my disposal.

"There, I think that's the last of it." I say to myself upon wrapping up the last abdomen puncture with my last strip.

"With this I'm sure I can get to fully recover in a few moments." Kyuubi's voice is jovial at the girl's aid.

I nod, "At least she has a chance at healing." I check my own shirt to see both sleeves gone and the bottom of my shirt reaching enough to barely cover my stomach, a good number of the material used up as makeshift gauze. I check her pulse again; it's stronger, but still pretty weak. I turn to face Kyuubi, "I've given her all I can do right now, but she needs real medical attention." The flame remain silent, "Kyuubi?"

"I'm sorry." My eyes widen upon seeing the apparition starting to flicker out. "But it seems like I overstayed my welcome out here."

I reach out to her, "Wait, you're going?"

"Yes I'm afraid. I can no longer keep on expending chakra to maintain this, I fear the seal could be damaged in some way if I take my chances."

I remain quiet, gaze still focus on Kyuubi.

"I know that you may be still lost and confuse on what has transpired, but I have faith that you can pull through fine from here on your own."

"Kyuubi-san, is it possible for us to meet again."

"I'm afraid not to my knowledge."

I lower my head, "I see."

"I'm sorry for having to leave you with so much responsibility on your shoulders." The flame approaches me a bit and I can feel the warmth coming from it. "I really am."

I chuckle, "It's no problem, life's just funny like that. Still I've been meaning to ask, why go all the way for your container instead of yourself."

"Let's just say, I deserve to be punish for my own actions that had lead up that horrid moment, and that Naruko doesn't deserve to be take the blame."

A small part of me is tempted to ask more, but I think I'll let it go. "I see."

"Goodbye shikigami."

"Goodbye."

The flame's size soon decreases at an alarming rate 'til going out in a plume of smoke, leaving me alone in the dark with the moon as my only light and an injured girl with me. In hindsight, this is actually a bad way to start being a proper guardian to this girl. Well, bad start aside I need to find some shelter for the night, I have no intention to just standing around and wait for something nasty to pop out and surprise me.

"Hmmm…wha?" A small voice catches my attention.

Speaking of surprises seems like my little mistress is awake. Wow, didn't think I'll refer to someone like that. I kneel down on both knees before giving the blonde a small smile, "Hello."

The reaction is instant, I can make her eyes widening before she crab walks away from against a tree and going into a quivering fetal position.

"Please…please don't hurt me!" She begs, "I didn't do anything wrong! Honest!" I can hear sniffling as I just stand there close to her.

Shit, these people really did a number on her mind; no wonder the Kyuubi wanted me to be her guardian. I'm surprise that she hasn't snapped already or something, she's going to need a lot of help that's for sure. But first things first I need to get her to trust me.

I hold up my hands in front of me, "Look, I'm not here to hurt you. I've just found you lying on the ground badly hurt so I've bandaged up your wounds that's all." I point to one of the wrappings on her right arm, "You see?" The blonde looks at her arm and emits a small gasp. "Of course," I continue lifting up my cloak a bit to reveal my remaining shirt, "I didn't have any bandages on me so I used parts of my shirt instead. I hope that helps."

The girl stares at me speechless; I think this is one of the few times where someone actually helps her. Kyuubi did say that people that like are few and far between but this is really insane.

"I think I hear someone." I hear a voice in the distance.

"It's probably it, that thing is still alive." Another adds in.

"Let's finish what the Yondaime started!"

"YEAH!"

That doesn't sound friendly. I look back to find Naruko struggling to get up only to fall down on the ground after a few steps. I can see tears pouring out her eyes and can hear her sniffling. I need to ask fast, now.

I dash forward, scoop up the girl into my arms, and position her so that I'm carrying her on my back. Wow, either she's light or I'm just as strong as my old self. Could be this be a benefit of being a shikigami?

"I think the voices are in this direction!"

Well no time to think about that now.

"H-h-h-hey what are you doing?" The girl on my back squeaks.

"Doing something stupid, now hang on." I answer before sprinting away as fast as my new legs allow, and judging from the number of lanterns and voices of a definite mob, I'm gonna need it.

The boy soon runs with as much adrenaline-fueled strength as he could manage with his smaller frame can provide. A part of him marvels at how he is capable of running at such a pace…

"I think I see something over here!"

…another part is praying to make out of the mess alive. With only the moonlight shining down in cracks and holes of the foliage of a densely packed forest, the burden of having to carry a girl that weighs close to his current size and mass, and that even though his body is still stronger Joseph's body is still that of a child so there's no telling when his stamina is going to wear out. He hopes that he can last long enough to find a safe place.

The blonde girl on the brunet's back could only look in shock at the recent turn of events. There she was, on the back of someone who went out of his way to help her. One who somehow found her injured and tended to her wounds. Nobody has ever done that to her, or at least done so willingly if the neutral to reluctant looks of the doctors and nurses that the Hokage assigns to her care. 'Please,' she mentally prays, 'Please don't let this be a dream.'

Unknown of his passenger's thoughts, the boy continues running. Running as fast as legs can take him with the growing sounds of people closing in behind him.

"The monster is this way I can see it!"

"Is that some kid helping it?"

"Get both of them!"

'Oh COME ON!' Joseph thinks to himself, wincing as the burning feeling in his chest grows and his body getting weaker by the passing second, 'Ah crap and a half, come on new body don't go out on me now." Hearing the mob's cries for blood growing louder, the boy picks up the pace with renew vigor and makes his way through some bushes and into a clearing with a mountain side blocking the way. The blood drains from the brunet's face at the sight, the blonde girl's reaction borderline horrified. The boy grimaces at the sight, 'Damn a dead end, I got to keep moving.' He starts to around…

"LOOK OUT!"

…to see the sight of someone's foot coming at him for a second before striking him hard at his side. The blow strong enough to launch the duo into the air for a second before crashing down back to earth, the impact causing the boy to lose grip of the girl and two skid across the ground a few feet.

'SHIT! That hurts!' Joseph thinks to himself as he quickly gets up on his feet, to find himself block off from escape by a crowd consisting of adults of various ages holding torches, pitchforks, clubs, and the rare case of an actual weapon such as a nicked katana and a worn-out naginata. The light of the torches casts the crowd in an ominous shadow looming over the girl and boy with ill intent visible on their faces. The boy grimaces at the turn of events, 'Damn it! Need something to protect myself with.' He looks at the ground near to find and pick up a decent size stick to use as a club. Holding up the improvise weapon he sets himself between the girl and the mob, "Back off!" He shouts at the crowd, standing firm despite how bad in a position he got himself into.

Reaction among the crowd is mixed at the brunet's behavior; some were actually reluctant to bring the boy into their blood feud, others prefer to get rid him quick, coming too far just to stop because of a brat with a stick.

"Enough!" A loud voice comes from the back of the mob. A voice commanding attention and order amongst the crowd. People separated to make way to a man of large frame in farm worker garb wielding a pitchfork in his right steadying a gaze at the boy in front of him, "I don't know who you are, or even how you get here, but all we want is the girl, this doesn't concern you."

Joseph takes a look behind him to the shivering blonde girl behind him and back to the bigger man, "That was before I found this girl bleeding. What is your guys' problem?"

"Problem?" The man spat out, "That problem is letting that thing continue living with all the lives it taken!" The crowd cheers at the statement.

"Off with it's head!"

"Kill that murderer!"

"Finish what the Yondaime started!"

The crowd is soon greeted with the sight of the boy placing a palm to his forehead, as if in stupor over their stupidity, "Listen to your own words, how can 'she'" he stresses the pronoun as he gestures to the shivering girl behind him, "hurt anyone for crying out loud! What did she do to deserve that?"

The crowd soon goes silent at Joseph's words. Reactions were mix; some shown guilt, a few were ashamed, however a fair amount were actually livid for having a child question their actions.

The farmer-esque man being the most insulted.

"THIS IS NOTHING A BRAT LIKE YOU SHOULD GET INVOLVE!" He winds up his weapon for a vertical swing. "THIS IS OUR JUSTICE!" He soon swings down, aiming to strike both children in one go.

The brunet's eyes widen, both at the coming attack and at the man words. 'Justice?' His body soon reacts, raising his own stick above his head in a defensive stance, blocking the attacker's weapon in its tracks upon contact, earning gasps from both the crowd and the girl. The boy glares daggers at his opponent and he begins repelling the attack back.

The man's eyes widen to almost dinner plants to find himself, a man with the strength brought about by countless of hard physical farm work, being push back by a mere brat. He forces more of his strength into his pitchfork, making the boy stagger a bit before the latter regains footing and continues holding the defensive. Yet something more that disturb him more than the boy's unnatural strength is his eyes. Eyes that were glaring him with so full of rage that shouldn't even belong in one in such a young age.

"Justice?" The boy growls out, the tone nearly belonging to a beast. "How dare you call murdering someone, a child no less..." With a final push the brunet knocks the attack to the side, catching the man off guard and off balance, exposing himself to a counterattack, "…JUSTICE!" Holding his stick with both hands, the boy swings hard aiming at the man's face.

*BAM!*

The blow stuck with enough force to shatter Joseph's club in two as it strikes the man's face, sending him reeling back as he clutches his face with one hand on his face, another holding onto the pitchfork with a shaky grip. "GAH, YOU DAMN BRAT!" He moves his hand to reveal blood coming out of a moderate cut on his forehead and nose, along with a developing black eye, "I'LL…!"

"You'll do what exactly?"

Everyone froze except for Joseph at the familiar voice coming from nearby. Everyone turns to the source to find an elderly man wearing white robes and wearing some sort of hat with the kanji for fire embroidered on it. Beside him on both sides stood people wearing some sort of black clothing with white armor and wearing white masks.

"H-h-h-hokage-sama?" The farmer stammers.

"Hokage-jiji?" The blonde girl says with a tone of joy in her voice, eyes regaining an air of hope in them.

"Huh?" Joseph could only raise an eyebrow in confusion.

"Huh?" I voice out at the sudden addition of what I could best describe is some old guy with a funny hat and others wearing black pajamas that just pop up out of nowhere. Wait, so Kyuubi's mention of ninjas wasn't just for show, oh Mama Conners what has your baby REALLY gotten himself into. Well whoever they are, I think I owe them my life for saving mine and Naruko's bacon.

I catch sight of the farmer guy, along with mob themselves, backing away from the newcomers with fear visible on their faces, "Hokage-same, we, uh, we were…"

"About to harm a boy who is doing nothing more but the right thing I take it." The 'Hokage' cuts in, "Don't even attempt to save face, I, as well as these ANBU, have heard and seen enough who's the party at fault here." He turn towards me, or more likely at the blonde girl behind me and gives a small smile, "I'm sorry for not coming to your aid sooner Naruko-chan."

"It's okay Hokage-jiji." She returns.

The Hokage nods and gives a warm smile before his face turns cold the moment he turns his attention back to the mob, "To dare attack a little girl with weapons, and then bringing a boy into your madness…" His lips curled into a cruel grin, "…I believe a trip to Ibiki-san will be…justice for your actions tonight."

The mob soon disperse into panic fleeing, seems like whoever this Ibiki is he's the type of guy you don't want to piss off. I don't know whether I should pity them or not. "Wait." I say as I turn to face the Hokage, "You're just going to let them go away like that?"

The elderly man gives a soft chuckle, seems like I've just peg myself as a novice or something. Remember Joseph, I'm dealing with ninjas now for the time being. "Don't worry, they won't get far. ANBU!"

"Yes Hokage-sama." The ones in the masks answer…in unison.

"Capture them and take them to interrogation."

"Understood." The ANBU soon disappear right before my eyes.

"Wait how did they-?" I voice out.

"ARGH!"

"HELP!"

"NO PLEASE MERCY!"

I turn my attention back to the forest to the direction of the screams and cries of what I assume is the mob getting round up. Wow, these are defiantly ninjas.

"Hokage-jiji!" I turn back to see Naruko hugging the Hokage like she would a grandfather, with the old man returning the hug like he would a granddaughter. "Thanks for helping us!"

"You're welcome Naruko-chan. I'm just glad that your safe. I-." The rest soon turns to mumbling, as if he's talking as if he's far away. The girl also says something but I can't seem to understand it either.

What's going on? Oh shoot my vision is going blurry again, gah and my chest feels like it's on fire as well. I think I've just reach my limit.

Everything is going fuzzy as my eye lids feel heavy and my legs finally gave out, making me fall to my knees. I can barely make out someone reaching out to me with panic cries before falling face first onto the grass. I feel exhaustion for all that running and that small amount of fighting I've just did hitting me like a shot. Damn, well ain't life an ass like that.

*Ba-bump*

I thought it would be get a job, join the military, or go to college after finishing high school. Didn't expect to get killed though, and accepting a deal to be revived as a guardian for this Naruko girl.

*Ba-bump*

Or maybe I'm just having a near-death experience dream or something. The next moment I'll just find myself alive and well in my room or in a hospital bed.

*Ba-bump*

Well my heart is beating, so I take it this is real. Well crap and a half, guess there's no going back now, guess this is where I'll be from here on out huh?

*Ba-bump*

Still wish I could say goodbye to my friends and family back home before all this. Heh, that must make me a horrible person then huh?

*Ba-bump*

Still, deal with the hand life gives you. I take one last deep breath before letting myself fall into sleep's embrace.

*Ba-bump*

X OMAKE X

Warning: The following omakes are a byproduct of my bored little mind. So chances are their going to be silly. All rights reserves to their respectful owners.

Omake One: A Contract

It's deep within the Kyuubi's chambers, the red head and a young man with brown hair named Joseph Conners were just winding down over a discussion of the latter becoming a guardian to a girl named Naruko.

Joseph looks up to my host with a cautious, "This is asking much for someone like me."

The woman across the brunet nods, "I know, so I will ask this just once, will you make a contract with me and become a shikigami?"

The brunet's face soon goes blank with half lidded eyes, "This is not going to involve turning my soul into a jewel battery or something and making me fight eldritch abominations inside screwed up dimensions right?"

The man's words caught Kyuubi by surprise, "Huh?" She clears her throat before regaining some composure, "No, it's not in my power to do the first, and honestly I have idea what you talk about the second thing you just mention."

Kyuubi's answer makes Joseph take a breath of relief, "That's good to hear."

The fox woman raises an eyebrow, "I am unfamiliar of the principles of your world, but I think it's best I should not dwell on it anymore."

Joseph only chuckles, "It's nothing really, just some silly show a friend of mine tricked me into watching." Though despite his calm visage he's mentally panicking a bit, 'Yeah a show, remember Joseph that's a show, a show that has no connection to the situation that you are in right now. This is a different Kyuubi and different contract, plus you're a guy, so you're safe! HA HA HA HA HA!'

'Perhaps I maybe wrong on this pick after all.' Kyuubi thinks to herself as she silently watches the young man's face turn shockingly pale, muttering about "Soul Gems" and something called "entropy". 'A puzzling choice indeed.'

Omake Two: ANBU Shenanigans

"You'll do what exactly?"

Everyone froze except for Joseph at the familiar voice coming from nearby. Everyone turns to the source to find an elderly man wearing white robes and wearing some sort of hat with the kanji for fire embroidered on it. Beside him on both sides stood people wearing some sort of black clothing with white armor and wearing white masks. Well most of them anyway…

"Is that…a moustache scribbled on that mask?" Joseph questions out loud pointing to the ANBU to the far left.

Said ANBU looks surprise before taking off his mask to see for it himself. His eyes widen to see his cat mask with a crudely scribbled handlebar moustache on it. "What the hell?" He yelps as he clenches his mask in shock. Another ANBU with a dog mask and silver hair that seems to defy gravity gives a snort, getting the attention of the cat ANBU. The unmasked ninja glares at the assume perpetrator, "Damn it Kakashi! Stop messing around with my mask already!"

"I have no idea what you are talking about Tenzō." Kakashi answers nonchalantly. Meanwhile the remaining ANBU, the Hokage, the mob, Naruko, and Joseph only watch in silence at the sight.

Joseph could feel his eyebrow twitch, 'Are these guys suppose to be ninjas?'

XXXXX

So that's basically the end of the first chapter of the renew Second Go. If you wish to send your thoughts then please send me a review of private message. Love it, well I'm glad I pleased you; hate it, well I'm not making you read this am I.

Anyways, this is WanderingWriter79 signing off.