AN: The last part was so weird (* sweatdrop *) XD PS I'm kinda inexperienced with fight scenes so coming up with a fight with a huge beast I was like 'How?' XD T'anks for reviews and follows. EDIT: I tried fixing some typos X) Thanks.

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Chapter 2: SEAL-The Darkness of Kurama

"Jealousy is a kind of civil war in the soul, where judgment and imagination are at perpetual jars" –William Penn, Some Fruits of Solitude

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"Are you sure that is the seal you want? Shouldn't you wait for your parents to come home first so they can help you through it?" Tsunade asked the teen in front of her as she sat at her desk fiddling with her nails. Hearing tales of what it was like for Jinchuuriki she knew it was best facing this trial with loved ones beside them yet for some reason here Menma was-requesting the seal to placed before his parents had even returned. Not to mention the seal he had chosen was the most burdensome.

He shook his head. "I want to have full control of that chakra before they get home," he said. "I can do this."

Tsunade looked down not sure what to do next. She knew Menma was very strong but still, he was asking for a seal that allowed total access to the dark Nine-tails. It was dangerous…Maybe she should check with Minato first. Then again Menma was always a good kid who always pleased his parents. He was also the best in his age group. Of the many boys on the different teams, Menma was the most normal one. While his own teammate was a flirt and wasted his training time on girls Menma was constantly training trying to better himself as he did not having any outstanding jutsu like his classmates possessed. She sighed and decided to give the boy the benefit of a doubt.

"All right. Though I must warn you," she stated, "The moment it is inside your body a fight will ensue because there will be no bars holding it back. You must win that fight and gain complete control or it will take over and one of the Anbu will have to…to destroy your body and contain it again to protect our village. Do you understand? Are you positive you know you can do this?"

Menma smiled. "I can. I'll beat that fox and it'll be like nothing ever changed with me. Well, except I'll have its chakra anyway."

Tsunade signaled for an unseen Anbu member to come. The masked figured was standing alert next to her desk in just moments. Next entered the elderly current host. Her old age had long stolen the rich crimson hue hair color that was trademark to the Uzumaki clan. She smiled at Menma even though in her old age she could barely even see him. "You have a touch of destiny about you, young one. You…you will do great things in the future but beware the dark."

Menma blinked a few times, unsure of what to think about the Elder's statement but he nodded his head anyways. He felt honored that she would spend her last words on him. Tsunade then stood up. "All right Menma, Mito; let's seal the Nine-Tails now."

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He found himself standing ankle deep in water. It was misty and dim in this strange place that seemed like a huge dome made of concrete that had pipes running through it. Surrounding him was a thick mist, other then that he could not gather any other information just by standing there. Time to move. He took a single step when he was hit with a strange feeling from the tip of his head to the soles in his feet. He shuddered. This place was something else. To be inside one's own subconscious…It was unreal. He then heard a low growl.

'So there he is,' he thought to himself. He saw red eyes open. Huge eyes which under he could see large fangs. He was taken by surprise. He knew that the beast would be large but hearing the word "fox" he hadn't imagined it to be this big. The fog had cleared enough to reveal how towering it really was. It was larger then his own house by far…And he was supposed to fight it. Seeing its size, Menma felt a mix of adrenaline and excitement. He could finally test how far his training had taken him and once he defeated it he would have its awesome power at his command. He would be the strongest ninja in his village.

'So you're the next host body. Just by looking at you I can tell you're young and stupid. Do you think you can contain me with such a weak seal?' the Nine-tails low voice boomed thunderously as it eyed the small human in front of him and began circling around. He was amused that such a small boy would have the guts to attempt total control with this type of seal. It was lucky for him though. Food and freedom. Or at least till Konoha found a way to trap him again….

"Don't underestimate me. How about we skip the small talk and get to business," Menma declared confidently as he pulled a kunai out, already planning the first few steps. His father had steeled it inside him to try to think calmly while in battle and to plan one's moves. He needed to take multiple steps at the same time. The beast laughed at the boys seemingly haste for his death and readied itself.

Menma threw a kunai with his left hand. The fox quickly ducked but reeled back as he was met with explosive tags attached to more kunai chucked from Menma's right hand. It came close to hitting his eye but the fox was quick to get out of the way so they instead flew into the ground. Explosions erupted but compared to the beast's size they were nothing but puny fireworks.

'Such foolish attempts and waste,' It hissed as it started running towards Menma. Smoke bombs suddenly started going off. Smoke spilled completely filling the area so nothing could be seen. Menma took the opportunity to hide from the fox's front view while he had the chance.

'These toys and smoke won't do you any good, boy. I can still smell-' The fox started then stopped. Water. He had covered his scent up well with the water they were standing in. But that just told the fox that the boy was still at ground level. This fight was going longer and better then he had expected. Most Jinchuuriki recruits who had faced him in the past with this particular seal fled away as soon as they saw him or tried dishing out their biggest moves as soon as they faced off. This boy was at least using tactics…or at least he was doing a good job of thinking of ways to survive. Defeating Nine-Tails would be another thing all together though. Throwing kunai wouldn't do him a squat of good. The fox sneer as he licked his massive sized lips.

Menma remained calm as he lay on his stomach in the water right under the fox's stomach and tried to think. Under the fox was out of eye view but most importantly out of easy reach from his limbs. One scratch from his massive claws and it would be enough to split him in half. To top it the nine large tails swinging around (said to bring a tsunami with just a swing) would be a nuisance to concentrate on dodging all at the same time. He couldn't lose this fight; if he died in his subconscious he'd lose his real life. He would have to rely on powerful attacks from afar which he did not possess long range jutsu like a good number of his classmates did. That left him one choice: distract and hit with all he had. He had to find a way how though.

'I need to find a weak spot…With his large size I doubt anything I have will faze him if I tried attack any spot with fur. This leaves his face, especially his eyes and nose. It'd be the most doable but difficult places to reach. I'd have to keep using smoke bombs to keep him blind so he won't see me but with his height smoke bombs won't last long.'

Menma looked up at the concrete ceiling. It would be risky leaving the sanctuary of the water but hiding wouldn't last him long either. The fox would be able to zero in on his location by other means and he didn't want to be there when he did.

The smoke cleared and the fox looked around, his fur spiked and teeth exposed. He couldn't see the boy anywhere in the water but he could sense his psyche. He was, after all, sealed inside the child's subconscious. His ears perked as he unexpectedly sensed a curious thing inside the boy, something he could use; Hate. It was powerful and near boiling point. He smiled. That hate…it was untapped but very strong…This boy might actually be useful. He decided not to kill him after all.

Just as Menma jumped down from above him with a Spiraling Ring, his strongest move that was unfortunately limited to his arm's reach, the fox lashed his tail out into the boy slamming him straight into a wall. Menma hit hard and fell to the ground coughing up blood and water. He cursed. His okay start was now an extreme disadvantage. He coughed again; his back was stinging horribly and his sight was spinning. He had trained too long and hard to quit after a hard hit like this though, he stood back up putting on a weak but cocky grin.

'Heh, you're still alive after that. Not one to go down quickly are you? I just might play with you longer. Although…when my tail made contact with you did you feel It?' the fox asked with an amused look on its face.

Menma coughed, "What?"

The fox smirked. 'Force you don't have. Our link together.'

"What the heck are you talking about?" Maybe if he kept the fox talking he could buy enough time to think the next move through…

'We are tied in a death match or else we will join together. We are bound and in this bond I can feel your hatred. It burns deep inside you. I see it and I can sense you're trying to plan the next move but can't come up with anything as you are distracted by my voice right now and the pain running down your body.'

"Lies! You can't scare me away so easily!" Menma yelled. He didn't have hate inside him; this beast was just trying to control him by fear.

'You doubt what I say about your hatred-'

"Stop analyzing me!"

'but I can see it. In your recent memories you are angry with your parents as they and everyone else in that weak village are nothing but nuisances and you hate them. You're such a pitiful creature full of jealousy for what you don't have. You have aged and trained hard yet your parents are always leaving you behind. They never had faith in you-' the fox continued to taunt knowing he was hitting weak spots.

"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" Menma screamed losing his calm. It felt like the monster was attacking his insides. Touching parts of him no one had ever before. He hated it. He dashed towards the Nine-Tails with a Spiraling Ring in hand but was slammed into the ground by the beast's paw pinning him. Menma glared as the Nine-Tails held the tip of his claw only inches from his throat. Its crimson eye glared back and blinked.

'I sense potential in you but you still have much to learn. Rashness will kill you.'

"I know that, you bastard." Menma tried scooting away from under his paw but the Nine-Tails only pressed harder. Any harder his ribs would crack and break.

"You done playing yet? 'Cause I'm just getting warmed up." He barely managed to croak out. He suddenly felt a dark aura surround him. A powerful one. "What are you doing!?"

'You seek power. I can give it to you and together we can do great things. You feel this; imagine having it all the time. Yet with you it won't be enough, will it? You'll only want even more.'

The pressure being forced on him by the weight of the claw felt crushing as the aura sinister. He could barley breathe.

"What happened to killing me?" he moaned. The fox was playing with him which just ticked him off.

'Seeing your potential this is probably the closest I can come to freedom, killing you would be a waste. You're the best I'll probably ever come by. If I was to kill you they'd only find a new host…but if we were to join forces and form a truce…United we both get what we want.'

"Drop dead." Menma spat as he reached for his holster with his right hand. He was barely able to do it but once he had a star he stabbed it into the fox's paw as hard as he could. The fox instinctively flicked it like he would a flea and Menma quickly dashed back. Throwing the last of his smoke bombs he ducked into the water again while trying his best to suppress his chakra. He had to find a simple way to a weak spot. It had to be fast or the fox would easily block him like he did with his tail. All his training…he'd never fought something so huge and menacing before. But he was tough and he couldn't lose.

'How long are you going to cower?' Nine-Tails hissed walking through the water chuckling to himself.

'It's just strategy.' Menma thought knowing the fox could hear him. If he had said it out loud then the fox would know where he was hiding immediately by the sound of his voice. Menma still needed time.

'Heh heh, already getting used to our Link, I see. Inner communication with me will do you good in the future.' The fox was beginning to admire the kid's guts. He decided to entertain him a little longer and play his game. Menma couldn't hide his presence from the fox no matter how hard he tried.

'Whatever. My future involves me getting your power and not you. Die.'

He tossed a kunai with an explosive tag attached up at the ceiling towards the sound of the footsteps but did not trigger them. Not yet.

'I have a mass vault of knowledge too, even forbidden. Long lost in the sands of time. Knowledge of things you never dreamed of and I'll give it to you if you work with me. I know you want to. Power isn't' enough. You want to learn. You want out. That small aura I gave you moments ago is already a part of you. Can't you feel the power surge? You want more then it.'

Menma ignored him and threw another bomb up. The smoke was beginning to clear and it'd give away his position soon. He activated his chakra triggering the bombs. Explosions erupted at the ceiling causing rubble and rocks to fall down right above the fox causing the Nine-Tails to look up. It was time to move, the distraction would only last a second.

"Spiraling Sphere!" Menma yelled getting ready to attack but when the dark aura surrounded his sphere he jumped back surprised. The concentration of chakra that had surrounded his sphere was ridiculously high.

"What!?"

Suddenly he felt something slash into him and everything went red, then black.

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"Minato, maybe we should have waited off on this mission," said Kushina as they sped through a forest. Minato grabbed a branch above him and swung down to the ground's level where his wife had stopped. They were quite a distance from Konoha by now and reluctance for the mission now was out of the question.

"What do you mean?" he asked. Worrying was normal for his wife but this was a little too much.

"Well, something's up with Menma. I've never seen him act like that before." She said with a very concerned look on her face. More then usual. He understood why but she didn't need to let it eat her up on a mission when it was most likely nothing.

Minato rubbed her shoulder. "Maybe he was just having a bad day. We need to finish this mission first then we'll go home and things will be all right. You'll see."

"Okay but-" she started but Minato held up his hand.

"If you're still worried…then how about the next mission we go on we take him. Spend some time with him. He is after all old enough now." He said smiling sure that he had just solved the problem.

She finally smiled. One thing she loved about her husband was his calm way of thinking about things. "All right. I like that, going on a mission together sounds great…you sure he'll be safe though?"

Minato rolled his eyes.

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His back stung like it had been cut with razors. Claws in fact. He got up from the pool of bloody water he was lying in and carefully pulled off his shredded shirt wincing at the pain. Why was the fox not going all out? That single swipe could have killed Menma yet he was still alive. Why was he just toying with his brain?

'Because I know you,' The fox answered reading his thoughts.

"Shut-up! Stay out of me!" Menma yelled sending a sphere flying from his hands towards the fox. It landed into the wall with a humongous explosion. He wasn't aware he could do that. He could only focus his chakra to his hand and rotate it there to form the sphere. Never before had it ever left his hand. He stared wide-eyed. The aura the fox gave to him was what allowed him to do that?

'The reason you want to take me out so bad is because I know your secrete desires. You hate that just as much as you hate losing and being behind. You were never anything special. Neither's your teammate Sakura. She possesses no interesting jutsu yet everyone in that village treats her like a queen just because something her parents did years ago. But what do they give you? You're just left behind.'

Menma let out a long line of profanity and curses as the fox angered him. He was losing control. Just what the beast wanted. Menma could feel that small bit of dark aura surging through him and it felt exhilarating. As he anger grew so did It. He ran towards the fox with more spheres, each growing more big and powerful with each explosion. The fox dodged them all easily and did not retaliate.

"Stop toying with me!" Menma yelled sending his hand up and suddenly he felt gravity push from it. How was he doing this?

'Are you done jacking around yet or are you ready to begin learning?' The fox asked knowing he had him caught now. Menma was hypnotized with the new abilities.

"No!"

Suddenly he felt the power drain from his body. The creature had summoned it back from him. It felt like a part of him was ripped out and he felt weak. He had to get it back…but if he formed a pact with the beast like it wanted…What other things could he do?

He had never thought about the knowledge it contained. If he defeated it he would lose it. He craved to say yes even though his mind was screaming no. He wanted it so bad. Everything the fox had said about Menma was true as much as he hated to admit it. He didn't posses amazing jutsu like the clowns back in Konoha. He worked hard in training but it wasn't good enough. This was the only way.

'Do we have a deal or not?' His voice was inpatient. 'Are long are you going to keep running from your feelings like a coward? Stop lying. Admit they're better off without you. They won't even look for you. If you stay in the village in the same rout you'll never be happy. Never. '

Menma looked up at his red eyes, already forgetting Mito's warning. His family…they had left him behind. This fox…he couldn't defeat it. All that training and he was too weak…but with him. He collapsed on his knees exhausted. "What first, Fox?"

'My name is Kurama. Menma. First you must leave the village. Find a spot where you can lick your wounds. This fight has not damaged your physical body but pain is in the mind: when you wake up you will fill it. After that I will teach you.'

Menma glared. "We humans don't lick our wounds like you animals. That's sick."

'You know what I mean,' Kurama hissed pleased he had caught such a fool. All he had to do was work with him. That'd be easy enough, he had what Menma desired. Never had he faced a human like him before that he could use. The further he got Menma from his roots and into hatred the easier it'd be taking over. Though he needed to get him far from the village first. Once the time came he'd have his freedom and the boy would be no more. It was only a matter of time.

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Menma slowly peeled open his eyes. What Kurama had said about pain was right. He didn't have bruises or the slashes on his back he had received in his subconscious state but he sure felt them. Tsunade gasped, "You're alright!"

He moaned, "Told you. Ug. I have him at bay but…" The poor kid looked worn out but okay. They had their new host and the village would be safe. The previous Jinchuuriki was carried off, her face appeared so peaceful now that she had finally been released to her much needed eternal slumber. Menma quickly glanced as the Anbu went by with the Uzumaki and whispered, "'Full of wise saws and modern instances; And so he plays his part…'". Tsunade catching Menma's words, assumed he was all right and still the same old Menma he had always been. It wasn't odd for him to quote something seeing as how he loved to read. She felt reassured she had made the right decision.

She nodded understandingly. "You've done well. Now go rest. I believe the words she said were correct. Great things…."

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"The cup of sinners overflows with so enchanting a sweetness, and we are naturally so much inclined to taste it, that it needs only to be offered to us" –Peter Abelard, Letter to Heloise

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T'anks! And the parts with Mito and her prophecy were recently added. I hope I caught all the spelling mistakes too.

(Quote from The Seven Ages of Man by William Shakespeare…unfortunately what comes right after that line isn't very wise like XD)