Author's Chapter Notes:
I know I know I know, I have not updated this story in so long you thought it was dead! Well then here it is to prove you wrong, fully updated with a new chapter. Long awaited but never rushed. Black Clouds in White Skies! Chapter 2!
60 YEARS LATER(IN HELL)
I don't know when I stopped caring and just went in to automatic killing mode, for it seemed never resting and always on guard has made me evolve or adapt.
Though that only brought on the idea I could no longer tell time in this place, it having no sun but just a red endless sky was no help at all and for a while made me believe that maybe a triviality such as time didn't exist in hell. But at the same time I knew I couldn't let myself fall to the terror of this place and loose hope that I would one day get out of here.
And end this never ending mission of a battle, for my life.
I remember when the chain I had on my chest just shattered to pieces one day an there was nothing left. That day then marked a new time or milestone of adaption for me.
Kyubi told me he was shocked by the incident. He talked about how that was not suppose to happen, how he was going to get enough power an build it up to make a portal to the world of the living and how the last time when he had gotten to the land of the living his own chain had retreated back in to his chest not shattered in hell as mine had done.
I asked him about further knowledge but, of course like the bastard fox and spiteful being he was he did not tell me, nope that day he brushed me off and then went back to killing our once tormentors now prey.
Sometime later, what I knew from counting hours just to pass my monotonous life by, was many years but no more then thirty eight. Was when he informed me of some of his knowledge that he had previously collected.
The only thing that I had truly been glad to learn from his story was things such as how time moved differently here and what could have been hundreds of years in this world could be seconds back in my world. Which brought some hope to me as the idea that my loved ones wouldn't have been with out me for long or that I could get back to them if I did indeed break out of this hell hole was no longer a hopeful glimmer but actually possible.
My outlook on everything took a turn for the best then, an for the first time in what seemed like a eternity I felt happy.
Then finally one day Kyubi, after much pestering, told me how he was re-birthing himself by keeping his chain and staying above the guardians by eating them so he would not get tired.
Then in a couple years he would have enough power to go to the living world and recreate himself by going dormant an gathering chakra or any life force, which explained why he had been reported in history to attack out of nowhere.
It was clear to me then that Kyubi devoured anything in his way like he did with the hell guardians to help himself get back powerful. That was his secret but I knew there had to be more to it.
Though I didn't like Kyubi's plan or how he had casually stated he would be devouring hundreds of innocent or not people. I grew to better understand the fox behind the cloak of mystery, power, and myth.
But later Kyubi stated he saw it was not going to be the same now for I was here with him and my chain broke while his was some how getting shorter link by link, a incident he didn't explain as to why was happening.
He then came to the conclusion after we were fighting back to back one day. If we were here together that maybe we should work as a team.
I agreed but watched my back for Kyubi was a devious one. Time soon passed once again as the battle for survival that was our torment resumed.
It was then much time later we got word of what was happening in the living world.
Which came threw a unexpected source, surprisingly when another tailed beast died. It was the one tail Shukaku. I knew it used to be in Gaara so I talked to it backed by Kyubi.
I then realized that those who were once powerful in life and with enormous amounts of chakra were not so in death especially compared to me or Kyubi who had been building our strengths.
With just a slight glare for a warning Shukaku told me what had happened in the living world, for he in his small size was nothing compared to my spiritual pressure that threatened to crush him an yet I did not even use it.
The tanuki spoke of how a organization named Akatsuki was trying to take over the world.
I then learned of how important Kyubi and the tailed beast themselves truly were. The tanuki told me that 3 years after my battle with Sasuke. Two Akatsuki members had invaded Suna village and had defeated Gaara. Who was now in fact the Kazekage.
I then immediately asked if he was dead where was Gaara.
I was then told that Gaara in a desperate bout after protecting his village had expended all of his chakra and could no longer hold back Shukaku's own that flooded his body and in his final moments took his own life. Making sure Shukaku didn't escape to rampage as well as Akatsuki did not get the tailed beast for their own purposes.
The raccoon looking dog then went on to inform me that Gaara was suppose to die with him but was somehow revived by a old woman with a very powerful jutsu that cost her own life in exchange for Gaara's.
The story would have been a happy ending of sacrifice if I was not horrified and appalled at what the raccoon dog had told me next.
''Gaara was very happy to see you even though the you arrived late. Though that Chiyo woman was happy to have your chakra source to use in healing Gaara''
Naruto blinked confused ''What do you mean me?''
The raccoon scratched his nose carefully as he replied ''I knew it was not the real you. I thought it funny how I could not sense Kyubi's chakra in you.''
Pondering the answer Naruto then asked "What aren't you telling?"
The first time dead former tailed beast who was in fear for he noticed how the shield that Kyubi had put up to block out the guardians was the only thing keeping him from the waiting patiently horde that wanted him, seemed to waver a bit as if it were about to fall.
''Gah alright! I will tell! Gaara was a fool! When he killed himself he tried to take me too but somehow I was pulled towards my prison. It was just like the one the Sage used. So I killed myself to get away! it was the only thing I could do to escape from the statue I was imprisoned in." yipped the small dog creature
Naruto looked sadly at the creature who did not like the pitying stare.
As if to not seem like a mad man the tanuki explained "Plus I knew that Kyubi had died some how once an was able to come back so I thought to do the same. Everyone else thought I was crazy!''
Kyubi interrupted ''You are crazy to think you could do something that I could an what do you mean others?''
''Everyone was captured even the 8 tails eventually. We were going to all be combined. That is what Pain, the guy who imprisoned us all wanted, to create the 10 tails but you were a major part so it did not work. He was soon double crossed by a masked man who took one of his eyes then that was when I tried to convince the others to die with me for it was our only chance for freedom''
Kyubi sighed ''You really did kill yourself basically an let me guess this is how you got here but I want to know how long have you been here for?''
Shukaku was not put off by Kyubi's keen observation ability which was correct. ''I been here for a long while but I have been...'' he trailed off looking down.
Naruto asked ''You have been hiding until we found you here. Hm you must hide good if the guardians have not even found you until we led them here?''
The tanuki had taken the smart road since he was weak an dug a hole in the side of a canyon wall that was not touched by lava to cower in.
Still looking down shamefully the raccoon dog knew he was a coward.
''So are the others still alive?'' asked Kyubi
''Yes they were but I think that since I am dead and you are too that guy might be waiting for us to come back to life like it is rumored you do''
Kyubi looked at Naruto an the blonde looked back.
They proceeded to have a conversation threw their thoughts. They had learned that they had a connection threw the years an how if they concentrated they could talk to each other threw their thoughts alone with out anyone being able to tell.
Kill him Naruto an eat him i have a plan
An what would that be?
We are going to consume him an leave
Wait you are talking about getting out of here? But how Shukaku is not nearly as strong as us?
The fool after we kill him will probably be revived. He ain't like me Naruto I am truly powerful, my revival won't happen overnight. When he get's revived we would have his essence from you killing him in the way you kill. That will give us the trail back to the old world. Don't you want to go back to your friends?
OF COURSE! I want to get back to the Leaf! But Kyubi what if it is not the same up there. . . we have been down here for so long.
Naruto-idiot, the world is always the same. It just gets a new face but you cockroaches always stay around so you'll be fine. Now do it! I got some asses that have been fucking with forces they can't comprehend
You guys don't die Kyubi, me on the other hand well I. Well I am not sure what I am any more
You are a weak human that has been feasting on the bodies of hell guardians for the last 60 years. Just tell your friends when you get back, you have been on vacation. Not like they will know seeing as Shukaku says some one has taken your place so off that bastard then continue living on- well what ever it is you will be doing since you are technically dead
You go then. . . I'll catch up'
NO! get over your fucking fear! you know we are tied together idiot! I can't leave this place without you! If I could I would have been have!
I knew that Kyubi. It is quite obvious we are not tied anymore but now almost one. Like one of those shinigami an their sword. Alright I want to leave now
Kyubi stopped fuming What ever. Just eat him I don't want to, when you eat him we will then search this place an devour many of these evil souls which will make you much stronger an your pure spiritual pressure unbelievably sinister from devouring those evil beings. This will get you ready. Naruto you will GET your REAL sword first by awakening it in you it will probably be a representation of your true nature. When you do that we will then be able to leave
That is funny, I could have sworn that you were my zanpakuto
I am not your sword! So get that out of your damn head! There is nothing between us but mutual incarceration
Naruto turned away from Kyubi's glance back to the small raccoon looking dog creature who was on the barren black rock ground looking back an forth nervous to the awaiting monsters than himself and Kyubi.
Naruto killed him quickly with a sharp stomp Shukaku never saw coming to his neck, snapping his vertebrae.
He picked up the dead tanuki an then ate him in a way all his own; letting his spiritual energy flow off of him.
The orange colored energy highlighted with a yellow outline flowed like waves that licked down his arm to the dead body and consumed it until it's flesh was nothing more an it's last essence was eaten.
Kyubi watched the process that only lasted seconds, he loved it but would never tell the boy that. His love for the action stemmed from when Naruto ate they both got stronger, it was like a meal for one counted twice yet he did not have to do any work.
An the way Naruto ate was with absolute efficiency his spiritual energy would consume everything quickly and without waste an it doubled as a very vicious attack with that ability.
Kyubi quickly figured it must have developed from the years of always eating an fighting but knew it strange for he himself did not have the ability in such a strong power as Naruto.
Naruto looked at Kyubi ''Well where to now?''
Kyubi pondered the question seeing if he could feel the trail Shukaku's revival to the living world would cause ''I was thinking it weird''
''What?''
''I don't know what you really are I know you shinigami for I know you have a sword in waiting but yet I know I should be a hollow for my way I lived but I guess you being...''
''Apart of you'' Naruto stated making the fox grunt then continue
''That might be keeping me from becoming it totally but yet I now see it we are half an half you have my hollow abilities while i have your shinigami ability balancing each other out''
''Yes I guess it is so huh still kind of weird though.''
''Let's go now Naruto'' stated Kyubi turning to run preparing to follow the trail back to the living world.
Naruto abruptly spoke ''Hey I was wondering if you are my you know...'' He did not say the word for he knew it pissed Kyubi off but he continued ''Then what do you really look like?''
Kyubi snorted ''So you want to see my human form?''
Naruto nodded ''What ever, it is not a big deal... just want to see what you look like"
Kyubi stood still an in seconds he was surrounded by orange and yellow energy blocking view of his body.
The sudden explosion of energy lasted but a few seconds before it subsided and the fox stood unchanged.
"What? Weren't you?" clumsily asked the boy confused
Kyubi gave a demonic laugh "Stupid fool, like I told you I am not your sword! Now let's go!" roared the fox as he jumped threw the spirit particles (reishi) made dome and crashed threw it showering it in to fragments.
Following the fox's lead Naruto jumped atop of the still gigantic being as a sense of nostalgia came over him when he passed the many lava covered rocks.
''Bye bye hell my old home though for old times sake I am going to get all I can for a keep sake from our time together" he stated seeing a hell guardian, one of many stepping out in front of their path.
Until Later. . .