Aaaalrighty then, so the revision is now complete, and the story is up to date. I will warn any new viewers right now though, this story is NOT for everyone. I do a SHIT LOAD of descriptive writing in this story, as well as many other things. And when i say A SHIT LOAD, i really mean it. Some people think it's shit, a lot of other's think it isn't, you're an individual, you're entitled to your own opinion, just please don't take out your anger and whatnot out on me; it hurts my feelings.

This is my 'first' original fic, i have like four other one's now (probably only three on my profile, I'm probably counting the one's i haven't posted yet because I'm too lazy to keep track of my own fics, sue me...but not really). Anyway, for the veteran readers of Rising Tides, you'll find that not much has been altered content wise but it has been restructured pretty hardcore. Also, I've done a different take on Naruto's ermm...'confliction'. I don't wanna spoil anything for the new viewers.

That being said, and as I've said before, this fic is a testing grounds of sorts, and is pretty much open to any and all suggestion. THAT being said, however, i don't appreciate flames (no writer does), so if you don't like the way the story progresses, I'll be very sad to see you go, but please move on. Seriously. And also, please don't skip the AU's, that's pretty annoying. Especially when they usually carry critical info as far as the story goes.

Disclaimer: I wish i owned Naruto, but i don't...outside of my dreams that is. But shhh, don't tell anybody i said that.

Warning, this is a pretty dark beginning.

I'll also be giving you a heads up whenever 'shit gets real', or when there will be a lemon coming up. Yes, there will be lemons. Don't be a little kid and cry to mommy and daddy because you read 'smut'. This story is rated M for reasons. Because sex,blood, gore, and a ton of war. You have been warned. Keep note that my approximation of 'dark' is VERY different from others as well, just saiyan...like what i did there? No ? Damn...

'This is usually the character's thoughts, but italics are also used to put emphasis on words, or because someone's voice is altered by external forces'

'Bold is Kurama's voice, and jutsu. Italics have the same application towards her voice. Also, conveniently forget i said the last part of the last sentence, you're not there yet.'

Chapter One: Beginning Wake

The night was cold in Konohagakure.

But for the ninja that called the village hidden in the leaves their home, it was business as usual.

The streets were empty, save for the occasional drunk and beggar. Lights were sparse, and far in between as most homes were sound asleep at three in the morning. The shifting shadows of the Anbu patrol disturbed no one as they made their rounds, keeping watch over the peaceful village.

Well, in ideals at least.

The faces of four Kage's looked over the entirety of the village like titan gargoyles. Their faces unique to the one next to it in both shape and headwear. The fourth face looked the kindest out of the bunch though. A sort of passive mask was etched in the stone, giving the man it was modelled after a look that showed just how much the spikey-haired kage had treasured the village he had protected.

Out of the sea of darkened buildings, only one stood out. At least, only one had stood out to a passing Anbu patrol.

Leaning fully into the soft embrace of his chair in the Hokage's office, one of the men whose face was carved into the monument overlooking the village sat behind his desk. Sarutobi Hiruzen was shifting through letters and notes stiffly after being informed by his most trusted ninja, the Anbu captain, of something that had every fiber in his being lock up in anger, and hate…and regret.

"You are certain the villagers are the cause?" the old war veteran asked in a hard and tired tone. He really didn't want to believe what he had just heard. Truly wishing that it was just some sick joke that the Captain of his Anbu was playing at, hoping that he had just cracked under the pressure of his own life.

A kneeling man in an Anbu uniform lifted his head, his dragon mask hiding the entirety of his face with only his gravity defying grey hair giving any details of his identity.

"Leave me alone…" the dragon-masked captain recited in a monotone voice. Though Hiruzen could hear the hidden sea of anger lurking just beneath the surface of it, "Go away." The masked shinobi's fists clenched noticeably, and if his hands weren't covered in fingerless gloves, they would without a doubt show quivering white knuckles, "Not a monster."

The grey haired Anbu let out a silent sigh, "Those were just the start of what I could make out on the walls and floors of his room. All of it, written in blood, and not a sight I would mistake."

Hiruzen closed his eyes, and swallowed the guilt of a night he would never forget. The two stayed silent, before the tired voice of an equally tired old man barely spoke above a whisper.

"Go."

Hiruzen didn't need to open his eyes to see the nod that he got in return, and the swift exit that followed.

For a while, the Sandaime simply sat there. Letting the silence of the room engulf him as the gravity of the situation set in. He was a moving statue of emptiness as he got back to the pile of paperwork on his desk that never seemed to end. Turning over pages of reports that he wasn't even retaining as he read them.

Over and over again he read through bits and pieces of the title-less papers, putting them down and flipping to the next one without a blink.

Each paper he read through, he skimmed each line but registered none of it in his head. For minutes that seemed to be hours, the old man stared numbly at the blurred pages until he finally stopped with a sigh.

And was held hostage by himself.

He couldn't ignore it anymore, feeling the clawing sense of being watched, and soon found his eyes staring weakly into the framed picture of the Kage who was meant to replace him. The Yondaime.

The blonde spikey-haired man in the picture was an undisputed mirror, albeit a fully grown version of the boy that he had the pained and shame filled responsibility of personally admitting to Konoha's Hospital.

In a near robotic fashion he had the son of one of his most treasured friends placed in his personal medical room to make sure, most regrettably so, that no further harm would come to the boy that had worked his way into the deepest crevices of his long since battered heart.

Hiruzen's faced grimaced as he drank in the photo of the young kage, smiling in the picture, as he hugged his pregnant red-haired wife from behind.

"This isn't what you wanted…" Sighed the now aching leader, "…And I've allowed it to come this far." The former mentor of Konoha's revered Yellow Flash forced out with a weighted whisper, the likes of which were only allowed and meant for himself. "He was supposed to be a hero to the village. . . not the village's vent for revenge against the thing that forced you to make your sacrifice."

The once calm and collective man who analyzed and planned everything before he so much as stepped in and out of his office, suddenly smashed his desk in splintering halves with a forceful grunt and failed attempt to keep his frustration from reaching the surface.

The reality of failing one of the closest friends he ever had and would have was made obvious on his brow, and placed a weight on his shoulders that should've been there from the start. He had allowed his closest friend's child to be tormented to lengths that should never have even been possible.

So disgusted with himself was he, that the old veteran couldn't so much as feel the burn of the sake he was now gulping down. A bottle of fine product that he hadn't laid hands on since the day he had bought it.

The bottle he was supposed to share with Minato after he and Kushina settled in their home as a family, with their child resting in the nursery they had built in preparation for becoming parents.

Furious, he brought a leg up past his shoulders and whipped it down, obliterating one of the newly formed halves of his desk. But he wasn't finished, as soon as he smashed the desk, he spun on the foot he had kicked down and sent the metal lamp that stood next to it flying into a nearby bookcase with a very noticeable dent in the middle. As well as embedding it a good number of inches within the wood.

With a few regaining breaths and a brim filled cup of sake, the now determined man sat back down into his chair, and proceeded to rest his wrinkled forehead upon the support of his right palm. "This ends today" signaling the loyal Anbu who instinctively left they're lord to his thoughts, the old kage cursed his title and wished that there hadn't been so much for him to do.

For this night could have avoided if not for the destruction left in the Nine-tailed fox's wake. That, however, was no excuse. And he knew it.

Upon ordering his guards to return they, without a moment's pause, trailed alongside and behind him as he once again continued to tear at himself with his frustrated and self-loathing thoughts as he made his way to go pay a visit to the hero he was entrusted to watch over.

"Forgive me, Minato. . .Kushina."

The weary hokage entered the Konoha hospital and made for the room that was designated for his personal use.

"It wasn't supposed to be this way."

The sounds of a child's labored breathing and running water could be heard echoing through the empty hall leading to a bathroom, the light from within it flickered on and off as if it were possessed.

The walls of the apartment were bare. As were the floorings, even the bedroom only had a single mattress with a ruffled blanket crowded at the foot of it. What would be the living room only held a single coffee table, and a chair that was thrown off to the side with only a single leg.

The door to the entrance of the small one-bedroom apartment was sealed shut. Two of the missing chair legs were nailed into it and the section of wall beside it, keeping the door from being opened. The other was being used in an attempt to barricade the only window in the somewhat spacious room, going across the shattered panel of glass from one bottom corner to the top.

It was all done poorly, and red finger and handprints stained much of the surface of the legs, window sill, and door.

Footprints of the same red rust-like color littered the ground, as if someone had been pacing around aimlessly. Though if one took a closer look, the faded murky footprints were much too small to be that of an adult.

A harsh gasp hissed from out of the bathroom, and a small frail figure emerged from the room.

The dim light of the old lightbulb flickered in and out still, but revealed a floor smeared and seeming flooded floor coated with a thick crimson liquid, and the small frail body left a print behind with each bare step.

"*hic* S-stupid *hic* stupid!"

A boy no older than five years of age stumbled down the hall, his body fumbling from one wall to the other as he kept losing his balance and tripping over his feet. Carelessly slipping on the remnants of the blood that he was trailing from the bottom of his feet, and leaving crimson streaks along the walls where his hands were being dragged on them to keep himself steady.

"W-why won't they just *hic* me alo-*cough*-ne?!"

The boy clenched his head in agony. His wrists and forearms showing many jagged cuts that were starting to scab over, and other bloodstained lines depicting areas that he had cut before, but were now healed over without a mark.

'Demon!'

The boy shuddered as his eyes darted across the empty space in front of him, quivering in instant horror, "N-no…" he muttered weakly.

'Murderer!'

His body was quivering now, with his shaking legs just barely able to keep him up, "I-I'm Naruto…" he protested aloud. 'I'm not a murderer!'

The voices of the villagers had come back. They'd been plaguing his thoughts for a while now. Beatings, shunning, and name calling. The whole bit. Now though, he couldn't even escape the hell of his life in his dreams anymore, the villagers had found a way to torment him in them too.

'You damn demon-brat, get out of my store!'

Tears were streaming down his face, making the dried blood that was smeared on his cheeks and chin, drip down along with the small liquid trails coming out of his eyes, "I-I'm Uzumaki Naruto..." he wasn't a demon! He didn't do anything wrong!

He sniffed again as his breathing became erratic.

The image of a man holding a thick piece of wood approached him, and his head snapped to the side as he turned his body with the blow he received, only to be sent down to the floor by another image that had appeared behind him, with his leg still sticking out in front of him.

'I won't disgrace this home with your presence! It's because of you that the orphanage doesn't have any more room!'

Naruto curled into a ball, and clenched the rusty kunai tight in his trembling hands, "I didn't do anything!" he cried out, and shielded his head from the incoming blows of the villagers.

An older man who was missing an arm kicked him in the face.

'YOU killed my daughter!'

He yelped in pain from the blow, "I didn't!"

A young teenager with a Konoha headband stomped on his stomach.

'YOU killed my sister!' He choked out the air in his lungs as he hugged his midsection, "N-no!"

A man with burn marks on his face and neck kicked him on the side of the head with enough force to make him flip the other way.

'YOU killed my family!'

More images started to crowd around him. Everywhere he looked, all he could see were the hateful eyes of the villagers, and faces turned into snarls of rage as more and more closed in on him.

Their voices melded together into a roar that he could hardly make out. All he could hear in his head was 'You!'. A little girl holding her toy away from him protectively glared at him.

You.

A rebellious looking teen smirked as he watched Naruto pick himself up from the floor, just like he did when he had pushed him down the flight of stairs at the park.

YOU.

His head was bleeding after being hit with a large rock, and the woman that he had asked for help looked at him for only a second before turning around. Completely denying that he even existed.

You.

They were in his face now. Prying Naruto's little hands away from his eyes, forcing him to take in all of their hate. Punching, kicking and cursing his name at the top of their voices. Finally, his eyes flashed red and his pupils turned to slits as he raised the rusty kunai up in reverse.

YOU!

Fire seemed to shoot through his veins as his vision blurred, and the only thing he could feel now was anger. His small heart thundered in his chest, the adrenaline flowing through his body making him numb to everything but the one's doing harm to him.

"I didn't DO ANYTHING!"

His voice a menacing growl that should not be able to come out of a child's body, Naruto plunged the rusted blade into the hand that was hitting him and pinned it to the ground. Making sure he could hear the opposing limb hitting the floor with force.

The voices stopped, and the villagers disappeared. And then…nothing.

Silence engulfed the apartment as Naruto's harsh panting slowed, and gazed down to see that the hand that he had stabbed was his own. His eyes shook, still glowing red as he stared at his hand dumbly, before he could hear the voices of the villagers coming again.

Fearing another onslaught coming, he clenched the kunai tighter, and dragged the blade down.

"Raaaaaaaaa-!"

"*Gasp*!"

Naruto awoke with a terrified intake of air. His small heart beating erratically as he woke up expecting a fist or at least a rock to be flying his way.

His body felt tired. Exhausted. And his head felt like it had a hot nail going through the middle as he gripped the sides of his skull in pain. The echoing sound of dripping water filled his ears, and Naruto's young mind slowed to a standstill, as he felt the moisture of warm liquid underneath him.

He was there again, the part that lay within him that he had visited multiple times over the duration of his…escape. This time though, it was different. It wasn't like it had been before where it was as if he were floating outside of his body and looking on into black nothingness.

No, this time he was there. The smell of calm and subtly shifting water reached his child's nose and threatened to go in it with each time he bobbed in the warm water. A sort of peace befell him. As if there were no way anything could hurt him so long as he lay still and let the water he was floating in hold him up, as would an equally calm lake or pond hold up a leaf. But something else was different about this place…he couldn't quite pin it down.

Vibrations in the once still water alerted him to a presence. And the sound of shifting movement perked his ears. Subtle to the point as if there were an invisible wind playfully weaving through the leaves of a tree, the young boy found himself listening to the sound of a deep turbulence. The likes of which he had heard before, coming from himself at any given time he so chose to listen.

It was the drawing and release of breath. The simple and most unthought-of action one could make. Except this one was different.

For it was not his own.

The breathing he was hearing didn't seem too far away, but the length of time it took for a single breath to be drawn, made whatever it was that was breathing seem limitless in size. Naruto knew that whatever the breathing belonged to, it was big enough to make him appear miniscule in comparison, that much was clear.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity spent laying there, Naruto started to pick himself up.

As if rising from the ground for the first time in his life, and taking another age for him to find his feet, Naruto finally stood up. Steadily as if expecting something, or someone to appear before him that he hadn't met for a very long time. The whole thing was strange to the blonde, the expectance was something he hadn't yet experienced, and would find that what followed next would be something that he would never forget…something that he would never wish too forget.

The deep and warm breathing sounded out once more as the small, and now ant like boy when compared to the behemoth that dwelled not too far for comfort from him, began to turn his head to take in the both majestic, and petrifying sight that waited not one foot behind gargantuan iron bars. The pillar-like beams of metal seemed to disappear into the distance of the forever going black that he could only assume was the ceiling of whatever place he was in.

Azure blue eyes met blood red as they seemed to peer into his very soul, his very source of being and with a final exhale of breath, pushed his expressionless mask back and replaced it with a look of shock that could stop the largest boulder from free falling to the earth if it were caught in his gaze.

"So. . You've finally come." A deep, mountainous voice bellowed out like gentle thunder. And made his whole body thrum in tune with each word spoken, "As I have been expecting you, to make my acquaintance." A massive body slowly emerged into dim but well enough view for the wide-eyed Uzumaki to see perfectly within the darkness of the titan sized cage.

Piercing crimson-red eyes gained a rim of black fur, and the rest of the hidden figure was revealed to be a body of orange fur of monstrous proportions with a red tint. The upper portion consisted of a very human like torso that turned into that of a regular fox passed the mid-section, and ended at the swishing of nine, equally sized if not larger in length, fox tails that seemed to carelessly sway from side to side. Their nonchalant sway looked as if they were all moving for the sake of just moving.

All in all, the being behind the gate was a force of nature in pure size alone. A fox, the likes of which only heard in bed-time and scary stories, lay outstretched in front of the five year-old boy who could do nothing but stare back with eyes wide enough to be mistaken as diner plates.

The Kyuubi No Yoko, the bijuu whose name would set off any alarm within a 100 kilometer radius, stood not 20 feet from him.

"Though you are a good deal earlier than I had first expected you. .how peculiar." The massive and near mythical being chimed nonchalantly with a deep and almost resonating voice, the likes of which could be mistaken for kami himself.

The giant eyed the boy who still stood frozen, with a curious gaze. Whether out of fear, shock, plain awe or even a combination of the three, it didn't matter to the kitsune. As if reading the boys blank mind and an attempt to reset it, the being spoke again, "What. . nothing to say or scream?" the great fox mused with a slight twitch of an ear, and a sly foxy smirk of mischief, "I'm hurt."

The body of pure and immense power lazily spoke as the blond shifted from shock to confusion. A deep chuckle and near laugh could be heard as the fox sat on its haunches, peering down at the insect like human boy that stared almost straight up with his mouth agape, trying to say something but the words could not make their way out.

"You have no need to fear me boy. If I truly wished you dead, you would be so already." The bijuu's tails flicked in agitation, "If not for me, your futile attempts to end your pathetic life would have had you passed on already." The enormous fox spoke with a visible look of growing annoyance appearing on its fur clad face, "Which you will pay for when the opportunity arises, as soon this is over with."The nine-tailed fox continued in a matter-of-fact tone as it's human like hands tapped the flooded ground in patient beats.

At this point, saying the boy was clueless as to what was going on and how he should react would be the understatement of the century. Naruto had absolutely no clue where he was, why the Kyuubi who had been thought to be dead was there in front of him in what looked like a prison, and to top it off, he had no idea of how to carry on a conversation with the godly fox.

As if it could read his thoughts, the giant kitsune nodded with a smirk, "All excellent questions kit, might I say that I must commend you for not replying with anything stupid." The way he said it was as if he had expected him to reply with something cliché like uuugh wh-wha-what are you or a-are you the K-kyuubi?! , which made Naruto grow a quick flash of balls for a moment.

"Oi Furrball, just because I'm barely old enough to enter school doesn't mean I'm stupid." The tempered Uzumaki retaliated with somewhat of a lethal glare (for a 5 year-old that is), the 'Furrball' as he called it shot him his glare and what little fight he had was again surprisingly reluctant to leave him.

"Hmm. . impressive for a brat." One giant ear twitched, "You pass for now." The Fox stated as he retracted his glare and replaced it with a look of minor, and an 'I have no other option' sort of approving look.

"Umm. . pass what Fur-ermKyuubi?" 'I can't make him mad, he'll squish me', answered the once more surprisingly intelligent boy who had enough common sense to not piss off the tailed-beast who's nostrils were more than 3 times the size of his body.

Speaking of nostrils, the Bijuu smirked a foxy fang revealing smirk and snorted at the small boy's remark, 'It's going to be rather interesting with this one', thought the fox in its head. "You pass as possibly being worthy to be my potential container," Replied the kitsune with a puzzled looking Naruto gazing up into his eyes with a look that caught his attention.

It appeared as if Naruto was also hearing whatever was happening outside of his mind, the Kyuubi had noticed the whispers that had started up a few minutes ago, and were slowly growing in volume and frequency.

Both took the time to tune each other out and see if they could get a clearer input of what was happening around them.

~Outside Naruto's mindscape~

"Hokage-Sama…," Began a male blond shinobi who's appearance seemed to be worrisome for a certain senior citizen…who needed no cane to beat some sense into anyone who dared tried to cause a hair to go out of place on Naruto's head.(Though it would take the eyes of a Hyuuga to detect a change in the spiky forest that made up the top of his head)

The shinobi seemed to be distressed because of the small boy currently slumbering in the bed not three feet away from where he was sitting in Hiruzen's private hospital room, "If what you're telling me is true. . how do you plan on dealing with his aim of becoming a shinobi? With his mental state being in this condition, there's no telling what could happen should he be allowed into the academy." The teal-eyed man reasoned.

This really wasn't what Hiruzen wanted to hear, sure Naruto was in a fragile state but with this shinobi's help, perhaps that could be changed, "Inoichi, please just do this for me. . . not as a shinobi under my command, but as one the few who have my absolute trust and can call me friend." the old kage pleaded tiredly. He hadn't slept since he admitted Naruto into the hospital the night before. It was well into the morning now.

Inoichi, the head of a clan of ninja who specialize in ninjutsu of the mind and capable of altering, destroying, and in some cases even implanting memories within other shinobi if they so choose to.

Some of the more experienced within the clan could also invade the mind of other people, giving them access to their memories and psyche. A skill that have them the ability to make friend turn on friend, a useful and intimidating tool in battle.

Inoichi found his current situation particularly difficult however as a shinobi of the interrogation unit, his professional opinion would be to deny Naruto any chance at becoming a ninja. Simply because of the danger he would pose to his comrades since he was now clearly suicidal. And at such a young age as well.

With that being said, the seasoned ninja was torn because of another factor. The Sandaime, his leader, trusted friend, and not to mention the one who bore the name The Professor because of his extensive knowledge and ability to see things through. He had just asked him to basically erase the events of the previous night and allow this suicidal, no, five-year old suicidal boy a chance at becoming a ninja.

A profession where life depended on other ninja to have your back without question, and the same in return. A mentally damaged ninja would get you killed in no time if given the opportunity, and the Sandaime was asking him to do just that?

Thinking hard on it, Inoichi came to the conclusion that not once has the Hokage ever lead him or the village astray. Even when the opportunity presented itself for him to rule with an iron fist came along during the wars, the Sandaime proved true his loyalty to his village.

His decision was made, he had never doubted his leader's intentions or reasoning, and he would not start now.

~In Naruto's mindscape~

"It seems we will have to save this for later kit, it's time for you to go back and make sure nothing will happen to your body. Lesson number one, even in sleep your senses must be alert as if you are not." And with that, the fox slowly faded away into darkness from which Naruto had originally gotten into the landscape of his mind, which he took to calling his mindscape as he exited out.

The feeling of floating was upon him once again, though this time it felt as if he were on a cloud, if he could imagine what a cloud felt like.

Slowly opening his eyes, Naruto found that the dim light in the room was enough to sting and irritate his eyes, as if the amount of light he needed to see was much less than what was being allowed into his twilight veiled room.

The next thing that he took notice too was the fact that what should have been whispers before, he could now hear as if they were normal spoken words. If that wasn't odd enough, he could also distinguish the slap-like sound that resonated when someone smacks their hand into water.

His irritated eyes looked up to see an I.V. , the source of the annoying crack every time the liquid dripping from the bag dropped into the section where the tubing went up his arm.

'Well that's new.' Thought the little blonde as usually a drip would be the sound that he would hear coming from something like that, not a amped up clap.

Though what woke him, fully woke him next was the stench that threatened to blow his brains out of his head from the headache it was giving him, 'Jiji really needs to brush his teeth!'

"Very well Hokage-sama, I'll get started," Inoichi bowed and turned around to get to work, but was immediately shocked still.

Sitting up on his bed, and who should be completely out for well over a week after what had taken place not 10 hours ago, was the very boy Inoichi had been asked to give a 'mental tune-up' while he was unconscious. Not knowing what to do, the interrogator ninja immediately turned to his leader for instructions.

Hiruzen couldn't believe his eyes.

What was once a little boy on the verge of death and damn near the same color as the bed he was laying in, now was propped up and fully awake. Looking around as would a little kid surveying unfamiliar surroundings, just as he should for he was, in fact, supposed to be just that. A little kid.

Then, it hit him just like the smell of his surrogate grandson's blood had the night before. 'The Kyuubi'. Taking everything within him not jump up and rush in to embrace the boy in a hold that could quite possibly put him right back to sleep, the old veteran rose an eyebrow and voiced the only words he could form at the moment.

"Naruto-kun. . how are you feeling this afternoon?" hoping not to startle the boy in any way after such an experience, though he was only there to see the aftermath of it.

Naruto stood in his propped up position for a few moments before turning his little head towards his grandfather figure, and the sight that Hiruzen bore witness to broke his heart more ways than he could count.

What came into view was a face not belonging to your average, bounding with energy toddler.

What looked into the old man's eyes was an expression that could make even a dead man look away, for the sight was not normal to see on one so young. The dead-panned face that was once one full of radiant laughter and joy that could cheer up a fellow toddler who had lost his favorite toy, now stood lifeless.

As if the candle that lit up his face and eyes had suddenly been blown out. And it was almost instantly followed by an imitation of that former face.

Like a clear mask had been put, Naruto's face turned from still and without a spark of life, to a hollow imitation of his once usual smile. The sight was truly tearing the old kage apart with every fake emotion displayed and sound aloud as the boy began to speak and forced the war veteran to struggle to keep the frown from appearing on his wrinkled brow.

"Hey Jiji," the obnoxiously loud boy sounded out with a now empty replica of his famous ear to ear grin. Upon continuing his sentence, Naruto proceeded to change his expression to that of a confused look, and arched his eyebrows, "Where am I?"

At this point, Hiruzen didn't have the slightest idea of how to answer his surrogate grandson's question, fearful of how his reply may cause the small boy who, if he hadn't have carried him out of his personal hell, appeared to be perfectly healthy with not a scratch on him.

"You are in the hospital Naruto-kun."

Not one second after his words were allowed to escape him did the boy's face undergo a rapid storm of emotions. A face that should only appear on one who has witnessed true terror and agony…such as the old survivor himself. "Do you remember how you got here Naruto-kun?" The Sandaime dared ask.

Inoichi was now once again stuck in-between decisions, not knowing if his request to alter the tortured boy's memory was still valid. Though something told him to stay put and see how it panned out.

The smaller blonde who could only look down in shame and defeat slowly, as well as painfully replied in a regrettable whisper, "…Yes." At this point there was really nothing Naruto could really do or say to get him out of his current situation.

The once almost ghost-like illusive boy who could slip through and in-between a village whose sole purpose seemed to be to seek him out and give him his daily dose of hate and blame, found himself unable to slip by this time.

The only thing Hiruzen could ask was a three letter word that would decide the broken boy's fate. A boy who he had grown to love as his own.

"Why?"

The single worded question would set in motion a line of events whose ripples would be felt across the elemental nations…and the fabrics of the world itself.

The tiny blond looked directly into the veterans eyes, with eyes that should not belong to one so young.

A look that could make even the healthiest and fullest flower wilt and wither as if a plague had been set upon it. Eyes full of defeat and sorrow, the depths of which one could only achieve through years of unending pain and torment.

A short and simple answer was given to the short, and simple question.

"…Why not?" Naruto replied. Sending the lurched forward body of the leader of his village immediately into the full support of the chair he sat on.

The old war veteran looked at him with a loss for words, not knowing what to ask or even say tot that. Not knowing even how to continue what he had set out to do.

About to let loose another sentence, he was stopped dead in his tracks by what Naruto had to say next, "I know what I have inside me Jiji." The young blonde began as his expression shifted into a state of blank stillness, "It's why the village hates me."

Hiruzen looked on at his adopted grandson in both astonishment and horror. Astonishment that he had found out, but horror as his thoughts drifted to just how he had discovered the truth of his burden.

Now sitting on the side of the bed and straightening his posture, Naruto spoke again. A cold, icy tone beginning to form as his words spilled into the dull silence of the hospital room, "I'm not going to let them make me do it again." the boy's face was etched with determination, and his eyes held scorn with a hint of underlining hate in them, serving to both reinforce his statement and effectively scare the old man with the almost coin flip change of emotion and body language.

An occurrence that almost never occurred to the old time veteran.

Tiny hands bunched up bits of the plain white hospital blanket as Naruto clenched his fists. And an all too familiar presence made itself known…though it did not show. It didn't have to, for the old war hero could feel the tailed beast in his grandson's shadow as his small body shook with anger. The limited light in the room seemed to dim as Naruto continued, "I'll never let them hurt me again!"

Had his eyes not been the deep-blue that they were, the old man could have sworn he could make out the blurred image of the kitsune that was sealed within his grandson, making its presence known as the shadows behind the eerily still Uzumaki seemed to quiver and fluctuate like smoke as he imagined the commanding presence of the great fox staring him down. And only the stress of metal being compressed and glass shattering, broke the unending silence that consumed the room.

If this was the power of the fox as he was sealed, one could only imagine what it was like when it was in no such prison. Glancing behind Naruto out of the corner of his eyes, the Sandaime could see the handy work of the boy's hatred for those who had led him to his self-infliction.

The I.V. the hospital had Naruto on was all but operational, the pressure from his anger had made it compact on itself as if it were in some sort of press. A plausible side-effect from being attached to the boys arm via needle.

Hiruzen could do nothing but sit there and continue to stare at Naruto with his still unwavering look of fearful shock. Of all the years he had lived. Of all the years he had fought. Of all the years he had spent conquering, and surviving everything that was thrown in his way. All that time proved for not, as he had absolutely no idea of what action to take.

Looking back at one of his only true friends. He signaled for the man to sit down. Something was telling him, that his request…would no longer be necessary.

The next couple of weeks would hold supervision and constant observation of his behavior. Naruto knew that his kage grandfather-figure would be watching him close. But it wasn't a troubling matter to him anymore.

It wasn't like he ever had trouble staying under the noses of ninja before.

Alright, made a few slight changes to the AU to let people know the story is no longer under overhaul, but the same rules apply from before.

Am i repeating my mistakes (to the veteran readers who restarted the story, some people do that, including me which is why I'm putting this)?

Are the scene changes so far a little jumpy, or workable?

How is my current style of write? Is it ok, or do i still need to do some adjusting?

And lastly.

What do you faithful readers whom i am eternally grateful for really want me to keep from the original take?

Changes in the first chapter won't impact the story much, but the next three will (Which will also be back up to my usual 20-30k word count. I didn't want a long first chapter) I'm aiming for the next three chapters to set the foundation of the story, but i can always break it up into bricks that'll pile up as the story progresses. I personally like that way better, but this isn't just my story, it's all of yours as well.

So, please review as it really helps my writing and it gives you all a chance to get involved with the story's development. Like i said, it's your story as much as it is mine. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns feel free to p.m. me. I reply back to EVERYTHING, so please, make yourself known.

Updates will be coming out soon, so please stay tuned.

Happy reading my friends :)