A/N: (I have, as is now par for the course failed to upload a pilot chapter for one of my works by the end of the sixth month and in so doing broken my words. I am terrible, am I not. It is a bit short, as my family can has passed. There is unlikely to be any update on this story or Gohan and the Celestial Kings until August because of this. My apologies. She was old and it was expected within a year or two. For any interested in the fate of her body read the rest of this note, if not proceed to the story. She will be part of communal cremation and sprinkled in a Vineyard. I live on California's central coast, lots of wine, cattle, and agriculture county around.)

P.S. In this story I use the older spelling of daemon instead of demon, blame Mary Shelley, I recently reread Frankenstein.

P.P.S. I apologize for any spelling errors in the names and terminology of Naruto, and as is the obvious case I don't own or claim to own Naruto, only my strange brain dribble about it do I claim.

Interitus

Chapter 1: Death's Door

The village hidden in the leaves is by far the grates of the five great hidden ninja villages. Its people live in great prosperity and live lives whose winter are filled with more cheerfulness and contentment than hardships, even though they are still recovering from the attack of the dreaded Nine-Tailed Fox 'greatest of the tailed beasts'. The village is well protected under the second reign of the third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, whose titles include 'Professor' and 'God of Shinobi'.

In only five short years the Village had almost completely recovered from its bout with the daemon, in all but one way. The villagers and shinobi that had lived through that fateful night were still emotionally scarred. Many had lost family and friends. Thus, all was not always sunshine and soft breezes. The majority of those that had lost something that night five years ago to the day would give their whole being just to kill the blasted daemon that took their loved ones from away from them, and that is exactly what they tried to do on an increasing constant basis.

The daemon had not been killed five years ago, most everyone that could remember that night knew that much. In reality the leader of the village at the time, the late forth Hokage Minato Nanikaze, had sealed the daemon fox's entire being into his own son at the cost of his own life. It took his life because the seal was made by the Shinigami himself. The seal would hold true under his power, ensuring that the beast can't escape on its own and that it would die with the destruction or death of its receptacle. The bulk of village knew there was sealing Justu involved, but only the Hokage and a select few knew the whole truth. The Shinobi, Elder, and Clan-head councils knew that the daemon was sealed within an infant that day, but most of their members feared the seal might be two week and lead to the boy being controlled or becoming as the fox itself. Among those councils the only Danzo Shima, Shikaku Nara, and Shibi Aburame knew the strength of the seal and that it would hold indefinitely, their coworkers and those that their councils represent were not so fortunate. The civilians and the Civilian and Merchant councils respectively were the least aware of the events that occurred those five years ago. Most of the civilians, being ignorant of sealing Jutsu, believed that Nine-Tailed Fox had been sealed into the form of a baby by their hero the forth Hokage. They believed that he had done this so the daemon could be vulnerable enough to be killed.

Thus, it was that misguided civilians and a multitude vengeful Shinobi went about making life in the Great Village Hidden in the Leaves, aka Konoha, a sojourn in hell for one Naruto Uzumaki. The young boy was beaten to unconsciousness no less than 5 times a week, and be beaten twice as hard on holidays, since he was learned to walk and talk at the age of two. His unnatural development of motor functions and coherent speech was all the excuse they needed to confirm their fears, and for the orphanage matron to throw him on the streets. Naruto was not welcome in any of the shops, no vendor would let him near their wares, and he was only aloud to get his essentials from one store in the village. He was only allowed that much because the Hokage had told the owner in no uncertain terms that if Naruto was barred from shopping their said owner would be skinned alive by Ibiki. Even if he could by things there he would be given the worst of the worst and be charged a triple or even quadruple premium for it. When he bought food their it was either spoiled, molding, or fallout rotten. On the rare occasion that the food was semi presentable it was either poisoned or otherwise tampered with to harm him. When he couldn't even afford food, he scavenged the dumpsters and peoples trash.

All this, aside from Naruto being unwelcomed in every shop, was kept from the Hokage by two forces. The first was the greatest enemy of all the Kage, its power the only constant they knew and the only thing that the Five Kage could never conquer, the task of Sisyphus known as paperwork. The second force was Donzo and the elders Homura, and Koharu. Donzo wanted the Naruto to become the perfect weapon, and for that to happen the boy needed darkness and pain. Homura similarly wanted a weapon, but one that was loyal to Konoha. His thoughts were that if the child could handle this he would grow strong and become grateful to any that reached out to him. Yes, Homura feared what might happen should he act to late, but with the village as it is he could do nothing, so he simply let it happen. Koharu on the other hand wanted blood, she lost her son and grandson that night. She knew that she could do nothing, but that didn't mean she couldn't keep others from noticing the boy's plight.

So, it is that this day, Naruto's fifth birthday, that said boy has been running and hiding from the villagers and shinobi. Naruto was no fool, he was actually quite intelligent, which the people took as signs that the daemon was gaining control because of how young Naruto was when he started developing his speech patterns. To put it in perspective he was speaking fully formed, coherent, and complex sentences that would be difficult for Chunin to follow when he was two and a half years old. The point is that his mind knew the ins and outs of Shinobi life from observing at a far and up-close. He was small and sneaky, good marks in his favor for survival, but he was also weak from severe malnutrition, exposure to the elements, and near constant physical, mental, and emotional abuse. He knew that when, not if, he got caught, he was going to be out of it for at least 2 days. Despite all he had been through he held no desire to strike back, for a part of him subconsciously knew their pain and knew its source was within him. That did not stop his conscious mind from wishing to be anywhere else or from longing to have so much as a single person that would except him. No matter how intelligent a child is still a child and needs support from someone, anyone. Having nothing and no one Naruto had no reason to stick around if Death came, but he had too much pride to cross that threshold either. Naruto's intelligence came in a way from the Shinigami. The seal held a portion of his parents' souls, and as the fox these soul fragment would eventually be absorbed into Naruto. It was because Naruto was forced to fight for his survival that the seal prioritized healing factor promotion, which strengthened his body so he could move, and knowledge. As it was the seal started developing Naruto's mind and allowing to absorb learned skills from the soul fragments of his parents. No power or memories, but things like speech, strategy, mathematics, critical thinking, concealment, and history were all freely flowing into his brain. Naruto knowing it was only a matter of time before he was found and was more likely to get caught if he moves, stayed where he was in an alley behind a third-rate hotel's dumpster.

The mobs found Naruto at about 21:00 hours. They had been torturing the boy for about an hour and a half. The crowd had stoned, cut, crushed, flagellated, poisoned, and branded him. The branding was particularly cruel. It was done with red hot kunai. The kanji for Daemon was now branded into Naruto's left cheek below the eye, whereas over heart the kanji for Evil was placed, and murderer on his left forearm, monster on his right. The regeneration he had from being the Jinchuriki stopped the bleeding, but at the present time could not heal over cauterized wounds such as these brands. Thus, they would be permanent scars. The mob had shouted endlessly about him being a daemon and a blight on the earth. They had done so countless times, but this time their blood-lust was truly monstrous. A few Shinobi started to slice into his skin and pour salt, vinegar, and light acids into the cuts they made. Each time causing the boy to scream. This continued until his throat bleed leaving him unable to scream any longer.

Naruto knew he was fading, he could see the dark circles in his vision. Then he saw a white robe and a figure that he seemed to remember from somewhere, but he just couldn't place it, especially in his current condition. In truth, he had seen the figure an innumerable count of time.

The Shinigami walked through Konoha in the early evening claiming the souls that had passed and were to stand before Kami for judgment. He could bring death when he willed, but most of the time just came and guided people along in the afterlife. He was finishing his rounds and had a good 20souls walking behind him when he came across the mob that was 'venting' on the 'Daemon-brat'. The deity had long since grown accustom to seeing the boy's blond spiky hair and eye that rivaled the ocean in the richness of their hue. It was his familiarity that concerned him. Most Shinobi landed on his doorstep a few dozen times before they crossed into his domain, but this boy had been at his door so often it was as if he was part of the doorway. This he could not ignore any longer.

The great reaper moved through the living as only the incorporeal could. When he got to the center the condition the boy was in shocked him. The souls that came with him saw the battered and tortured boy, and for the first time saw the boy and not the monster that destroyed so much. Unfortunately for them they literally realized this all too late, they were dead and as such could do nothing. Death gives a clarity that can't be found in life apart from the sages, and that meant one could see all their faults and wrongs, and that is what these spirits were feeling now.

As the Shinigami came near to the boy, the boy saw him approach and made to speak, but could only mouth the word he tried to say. "Hello friend. I feel as if I know you, but I can't remember from where." The boy paused only to fight a bout of pain from a man slowly crushing the bones in his left leg. "You had better get out of here so they don't do the same to you." A moment later and Naruto was unconscious.

The Shinigami was at a loss, most people in that position in that boy's position would have either cowered in fear of him or beg for him to take them now. This boy had however spoken as a friend and out of concern for a friend told him to leave to avoid being harmed. That was something that hadn't happened for millennia. He was even more shocked when he felt his own power within the boy. He looked closer and saw his seal on the boy's belly, and remembered who the boy was and what he contained. The Shinigami being present for the sealing had witnessed the last wish of the boy's father. The now angry deity looked over young Naruto's life and was very unpleased. Seeing the difference between what should have happened he could not stand by and let one that holds his Seal suffer this any longer. He resolved to give the boy a boon that he had never given anyone, the power over that which brings death and decay. It would belong to this boy as a defense mechanism and be his sword and shield when should the child need them. To his line to it would pass.

The Shinigami placed his right hand on the seal and poured into the boy the power to command, manifest, and be as decay, disease, pestilence, toxins, and all else that which brings death but war and direct age.

A Shinobi that still had plenty to vent had drawn his specially curved kunai and launched a volley at the boy's body. Before the blades were within 3 meters of the boy they had been reduced into a cloud of rust. Just after that the whole ally way grew cold and writing was burned into the wall above the boy by acid. The message was this: "I the Lord of death placed my seal, My Seal, on this boy five years ago to the day. Since then you have done naught but make his life a fate worse than my stomach. Now I give him a chance at living by giving him all that brings you to my door. Keep that in mind when you deal with one that holds my seal on his flesh. BE GONE!"

The mob had quieted instantly and stared dumbstruck at the writing on the wall. It gave them an eerie feeling, it radiated an ethereal chill. One Chunin saw this as absolute justification, for their actions and charged with a tonto poised to sever the unconscious Naruto's head. The blade was rusted away. The rust swarmed around the hand that held its predecessor, and locked the ninja's hand in the grip it was in. Unable to move his hand the ninja went for a kick to the daemon-brat's head. When it got close it slowed down and was engulfed in goo. The goo burned, it was strong acid, and the ninja fell back in pain and tried to wipe and rinse the goo away.

Watching the man pay the price for his actions, the Shinigami grinned with his sward in his mouth. The souls he had collected agreed that their guide's actions were just and maintained his honor as the Lord of the dead. Still though, their guilt weighed on them, many had harmed the boy and as such would have to take their due before Kami. The rest had simply not bothered to help the boy, for which they would still answer only less harshly. One of them sent a silent prayer ahead of them asking that those they left behind might see the truth, but the soul that did so doubted that even if the prayer was answered in the positive if it would do any good for one who had lived a fate worse than death.

Inu had just returned to the village from a mission near the border with The land of Lightning. He was tiered and wanted nothing more than to report on his mission and collapse into his bed. He made his way to the Hokage's tower to give his report. Five minutes into the report both the Hokage and Inu felt the pulse of chill spread over the village before it receded. They and a team of other Anbu made their way to the epicenter of the event. The Hokage and dog masked ninja were filled with rage at what they had seen. Naruto in in a god forsaken state and a crowed of dissidence that had put him in that state. To the Hokage this was an attack on his surrogate grandson, though admittedly he had little time to spare for the child, and that he regretted now more than anything. To Inu, or as he was known outside the Anbu, Kakashi, this was an attack on the only thing he had left of his old team, this was his Sensei's son and thus the only thing left alive to remind him of his fallen team. Even if he was not Naruto's real godfather he was practically one. He wasn't around much because of missions, but he was here in the village far more often than Jiraiya. He felt ashamed for having not done anything for the boy, ashamed that he had been naive enough to hope his Master's will would have been observed by some of the villagers. Not any more, now he would be there, because no one else could or would, but for now he was filled with rage and powered his Chidori into is palm. He walked into the center of the crowd and stood before Naruto and turned to face the boy's tormentors.

"If you don't leave now," Kakashi said menacingly, "You will meet the Shinigami sooner than you think."

The mob dispersed shortly after and Naruto was taken to the hospital by the Hokage and Kakashi. They stood guard over him and would do so till the boy awakened. In that time, the two men decided that Kakashi would pull out of Anbu and become Naruto's guardian and teacher. That is, if he would wake from the coma he was know in.

The tenet of the boy's stomach was in no way pleased with his predicament. Sure he didn't want to die, but he would come back in a few years time, being a daemon and one of the nine great daemons had its perks when wassailing one's way out of death. The simple fact remained that if his vessel died he would be free to take revenge on that blasted Uchiha, and the village that kept him bound for nearly a century. With only a choice of Evils he decided to Judge the boy for himself, see if it would tolerable or even enjoyable to pry himself from the seal by tricking the boy into relying on him.

To the daemon's surprise the boy seemed to need no prompting to navigate his mind space. The boy stood before him, for a moment shock on his face then complete comprehension.

"Hello, I am Naruto." he said humbly. "I am your current vessel, and I apologize for the lack of accommodation here, but I have never been in my mind-space before to shape it. I shall endeavor to improve the space, as you are my guest unwilling though you might be."

This caused the fox to real back. He had not paid much attention to his host these past years, spent most of the time sulking and brooding in anger really, and certainly did not expect any child to be so clam and formal in his presence. "Well a proper introduction, I must admit I had not expected that of my Jailer. You even issued an apology. You are an interesting human I will say that much." The Fox gave in his deep daemonic tone.

Naruto was only slightly phased by the loudness of the voice, but was otherwise composed. "You call me your Jailer, but could we not be something else. I wouldn't mind having a friend, though I have no practice being a friend. You being stuck in me are probably lonely so..." Naruto trailed off casting his eyes to his feet as if he had been denied already.

The Fox was now utterly vexed. No human since the old man had ever had or wanted any form of relationship with the Tailed-Beasts. The old man was their father, and was the only one they respected. This child could not know what he was asking one simply doesn't ask an immortal entity of almost pure hatred to be its friend. Most that speak of such things only want to manipulate their 'friend' or want power. The Fox could see that this was not the case with this boy, and he chose to scan the boy's memory. It was not at all pleasant. Not a single memory of being loved or wanted. The boy craved some form of acknowledgment other than pain, but felt as if he would never get it. That is why he cut himself off when he last spoke. The child would rather let the slight hope burn in him that it might be possible to have someone to hold onto than to ask and know he would only be denied.

' I could easily manipulate him, but after seeing that I simply can't. He even tried to ask me for friendship, when he has now deduced that I am why he is treated as such. Whats more is he earnestly wants it, not power, but a friend. Perhaps he is like the old man? I will try? Not really had cause to be anyone's friend before. Regardless he will need help controlling what Old-Knife-in-Mouth gave him, I can help him in some ways there.'

"Kid, I will be your friend if you wish, just know I am surly. I will even help you when you ask, but know that these, both my friendship and aid come at a price." this caused the boy to look up shocked that he might have a fried supposing he could pay what ever price it was, which with his financial situation he doubted he could. Regardless his eye shined with longing.

"What is the price?" He asked with equal parts hope and resignation.

The fox could hear the conflicting emotions in that voice and knew that at that moment the boy feared not being able to pay the price more than anything else, for it would mean that he would be alone as he always remembered. "The price is two things, two favors if you will. First you are to change this infernal cage into something else, I haven't been able to stand fully since I was crammed in here. The second is to change your mind space to something less depressing, gray, and wet." the fox smiled as the boy's eyes lit up. "Oh and one more thing, I will give you my name, but it is not to leave this place without my express permission."

Naruto nodded and, as was only right according to his very archaic and formal mannerisms, prostrated before the entity before him. No one had ever been so kind to him and he showed his full gratitude.

"Thank you. I will pay your price gladly. " Tears fell freely from Naruto's blue eyes, but for the first time the pain that brought them felt good. He had not felt it before, but this was his first taste of joy. "You have my vow on my blood that I will hold to your conditions, and above all you have my gratitude." Naruto now lay openly sobbing, not getting up from his place on the floor, almost fearing that if he rose he would find that it was all a dream.

-End-

Did I make any of you cry or cringe? If so please tell me how bad on a scale of 1-5, 1 being the least effected and being the most heavily effected. This is my first attempt at writing with those results in mind so feed back would be most helpfull.

Naruto's powers are inspired by Magellan from One Piece and Barragan from Bleach.

Thanks for reading and please review.

Peace on all your houses,

Sobek