For one Mizuki, recently promoted Chūnin instructor of the Konoha Shinobi Academy, this night promised to be unforgettable. He had just gotten back from a party thrown by some of his 'friends', celebrating his promotion, where he had also managed to hook up with some bitch he had been chasing for a few weeks now.

But there was more. Deciding to take a shortcut from Tsuname's home (or was it Tasumi...) he stumbled upon the Demon Bane of Konoha digging through the garbage, probably looking for something poisonous to feed to an innocent civilian.

Well, he certainly couldn't have that, could he?

He snuck up to the brat, grabbing him from behind and gagging him with a spare piece of cloth he found just lying around. He took one of his kunai and stabbed the brat in the shoulder, disabling his dominant arm, before throwing him on the ground and cackling honorably, completely ignoring the demon's obviously fake tears, accompanied by the sweet terror in his eyes.

So yes, the night promised to be one of the best he'd ever had. Too bad it would also be his last one.

A serrated chain wrapped around his abdomen made sure of that.

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Naruto yelped in fright when the crimson chain wrapped around his assailant. The silver-haired man looked familiar, but Naruto was mostly focused on the dark shadow behind him.

Said shadow walked slowly towards the pair, stepping into the light of a streetlamp, showing her obviously-demonic visage.

The woman, if she could indeed be called that, was taller than the average male ninja, who were already very tall to begin with. She stood at no less than 6' 5'', silver hair flowing behind her two twisted horns. He could see the woman's long, pointed ears, pierced with chains hanging off of them. Her skin was deep red, and her face had blue lines tattooed over it, highlighting her abyssal black eyes. She had on brown and gold leather armor, with a long, flowing red cape tied to her back. The crimson chain led to her right hand, and looked like they appeared out of thin air an inch above it. In her left she was clutching a long, curved black blade.

But it was her eyes that captivated the seven-year-old blonde. When they glared at Mizuki they were full of rage and cold as the darkest abyss. But when they would glance at him, the cold would morph into heat, and the rage into... something Naruto was wholly unfamiliar with.

It was at this point that Mizuki started to mumble and whimper, the chains squeezing him tighter and tighter, but the demonic woman seemed to pay him no mind, tightening the chain with every step forward, driving the curved sword into his chest when she got close enough.

Without breaking her stride, or even uttering a single word, she pulled the sword out and sheathed it on her left hip, the crimson chains shattering into energy shards. She then walked up to Naruto, gently picked him up, and disappeared.

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Naruto cringed and shut his eyes when the strange woman approached him, so he was very surprised when he felt himself picked up in a gentle embrace. Opening his eyes, he saw the spiky top the Fourth Hokage's head. He could feel the woman sit down, overlooking the village, and facing the full moon. She still wouldn't let go.

He turned around in her lap, looking at the woman closely. Her black eyes were looking intently at him, that same unknown look in them. Only this time they were also moist. A droplet fell down the woman's face and hit his arm, sizzling when it came into contact with cloth.

"Naruto." She smiled, nuzzling the top of his head with her cheek. "My beloved little Naruto." Her voice was smooth and calming. It was almost like he'd always dreamed. Like his…

"Mommy?" The boy asked, looking hopefully at the woman, who just tightened her hold and kissed him on the top of the head.

"I'm sorry, baby. Mommy's so sorry she had to leave you." She choked out.

"Why did you? Where did you go, mommy?"

"I didn't want to, honey. But they took me away and locked me up."

"Who did?"

"My enemies. You have to listen to me closely, baby, I don't have much time." Naruto nodded and focused all his seven-year-old attention on his mother (he repeated that to himself giddily a few times). "My name is Kushina, firstborn daughter of the Demon King, and first in line for the throne. Twenty years ago father sent me to the human real to get some practical experience. Since humans are so fond of last names…" Naruto chuckled. "I took up the name Uzumaki and made my way on. Long story short I met your father, a remarkable human, and fell in love."

"On the day that you were born the Kyūbi, a contender for the throne, attacked me, hoping to kill me and you in my weakened state. Too bad for him even weakened I was still stronger." Naruto looked up at his mother in wonder. Stronger… than the Kyūbi? "Yes." She chuckled. "But I underestimated his willingness to work with his fellow contenders. While I battled him five others managed to take me to the demon realm and seal me up, leaving your father to defeat the Kyūbi."

"But you're ok now, right? I mean, you're here."

"No honey." She let loose a few more tears. "I only managed to manifest for a short time outside the seal. My physical body is still there. A mother's love is a very powerful thing." Her form started shimmering. "I don't have a lot of time left. Honey, your grandfather doesn't know where I am, so you'll have to be the one to tell him. But not yet. Not for a few years more. Not until you train with your powers." She kissed him on the forehead. "You are a demon of fire and war. You'll be stronger than me one day. I believe in that." Most of her body was now gone. "I love you, my son. I've waited for years to say that, and I'll wait for decades to say it again. I love you." Disappearing completely, she had that same look in her eyes again. But Naruto understood it now. It was love, stronger than he'd ever seen. For him

He sat there for a moment, before standing up, looking at the moon, which was now bathed in flaming red. He lifted his right arm. His hair slowly started to darken from blonde into a deep blood red, and his form lengthened, but he didn't notice. He just stood there, grasping the fiery moon, while his blood of flame and war awoke, igniting his entire being.

"I'll save you mom." His eyes started to glow in a fiery light. "I promise." He turned his back and walked, his leathery wings fluttering behind him. Away from the village. Away from his humanity. Towards the power he needed. Towards rescuing his mother.

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In a dark, bare room, in the middle of a seal array, tied up completely with crimson chains, a silver-haired form lifted her head. She looked at the shadow that just walked inside with a strange twinkle in her eyes.

"And what are you so happy about, bitch?" The shadow asked, a little weary.

"Count your days well, old friend. They are severely numbered." She grinned, a giggle escaping from her lips.

The shadow said nothing, but turned and walked away from the now-laughing woman. It couldn't help but feel apprehensive about the days to come.