What makes a Man and what makes a Monster

by Silent Soul Ken -SSK

Summary: It had been a day like any other day, until the giant meteors hit. All those in the blast radius find themselves still alive, having awoken in a new place, but things are not what they seem...

2. Chapter 1

What Makes a Monster and What makes a Man?
Written by Silent Soul Ken SSK
Assisted by Baron Von Nobody
Rating M for Mature: Blood, Gore, Violence, Sexual Activity, and Language
Summary: It had been a day like any other day, until the giant meteors hit. All those in the blast radius find themselves still alive, having awoken in a new place, but things are not what they seem...

Considering how many favorites and follow's this got it seems it's garnered enough interest to continue. So here's chapter 1 just a warning this is going to be a very bloody ride, also for now do not assume things to be set in stone till later on in the story.

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Chapter 1
Inexplicably Alive, Inexplicably Changed

The sound of birds chirping, and a groan sounded in the air. His groan… from his mouth. 'I'm alive?' Naruto Uzumaki pushed himself up looking at his hands. "I'm alive?" He asked aloud, he touched his face, it was still there. He began to touch his body, his clothes were still there as well as all his body parts. "What about-?" He reached down, "One… two… ok they're there." He looked at the ground it was grass, "How can this be? I got squished by a flaming meteor… the ground should be, well if not burned at least sunken in!" he said he got up and the first thing he saw was the ramen shop.

He shook his head then looked again it was still there, "It's here? How can it be…" he stopped his mind slowing down. "Why the hell am I thinking about this I don't like thinking!" he shouted waving with his arms in his frustration. He stood there panting slightly at his little tantrum then he sighed and turned around. "Well if that's there then maybe this was all just a… dream…" as he turned he saw something he knew was not something you saw in the city. Flowers, trees, bushes, yeah you saw those a city but these looked like they belonged in some jungle or rainforest.

He paused then he put his hand to his chin, "I can't be dreaming still, right?" He asked himself, then he remembered, "Old man Ichiraku!" He turned to the ramen restaurant "He has to be inside right?" It was then he stopped. "Why the hell am I talking to myself out loud!?" he shouted. 'That was really weird.' He mentally stated. 'I gotta find the old-' the crash of expensive china plates sounded inside. "Old man!" Naruto shouted and he ran inside pushing the door open. "Old ma-" he started then stopped as what he saw was enough to shut him up good. Behind the counter was some bizarre creature, it was some type of bizarre giant worm it's body was plated with thick shining armor with had thick stubby arms that were spiked as well as armored.

Naruto took a step back and the door creaked open, the creature turned and it saw him and gave a shrieking growl it's mouth a mere hole with rows of spinning teeth in its maw. The blonde stepped back even further, "Fuck me." He said, turned and began to run. The monster hissed and it bashed through the counter and then through the main doors utterly pulverizing it. It looked around as Naruto ran for the trees and when it heard the rustling bush it squealed and began to chase after him wriggling it's body like a snake to move.

Naruto ran as he had never ran before. He could feel adrenaline pumping through him boosting his senses and body to avoid this creature as it bashed it's way through slowed down as it crashed into trees. "Fuck I gotta get out of it's range!" he muttered, it was a good deal behind him he looked at the trees as he ran. 'That one!' and he ran toward a tree he jumped into a small v-shaped crook and pulled himself up using the branches and the split trunk. He got higher till it was possible that he could jump to another tree if needed. He stood there and looked down waiting. The creature squealed as it bashed in, it gave a huff and it looked around. Naruto waited watching carefully being as still as possible in case the thing could hear him wishing he would stop sweating like crazy. It huffed and growled then it turned and went back down it's trail of destruction. Naruto waited for 3 minutes then he clambered down when he landed he looked to see it had gone. 'I guess Old man Ichiraku got eaten…' he looked down, 'Ayame… she was away I think on some trip to learn new recipies…' he ran a hand through his sweaty head and hair. 'Guess I should look around,' he finally decided, and he decided to keep heading the direction he was running.

Minutes passed as he walked, Naruto had the distinct feeling he was getting nowhere. 'There hasn't been even a slight break in these trees… hmmm.' He stopped and looked around folding his arms over his chest. 'Which way to go?' he heard a slight rustle he tightened his arms and legs ready to fight or run.

"Haaa!" a person jumped out from a bush knife in hand. The blonde spun to the side grabbing the knife and pulling the person down only for the person to drop the knife and roll forward then thrust his foot backward. Naruto however didn't near his adversary he just shifted his feet and hands into a fighting stance a fist held forward open hand raised 5 inches behind it feet shoulder with apart one forward the other back. "You're a tricky one huh?" the person said, they stood. Naruto paused as he recognized the face.

He slightly lowered his guard as he looked at his opponent, "You… aren't' you the gangster Haku? Don't you belong to some gang in the southern side of the city? What're you doing here?" Naruto said.

The man, now identified as Haku, spun his knife once "So you know me huh?" Haku was a thin man wearing a folded black sleeveless gi, with leather pants and leather boots. His long hair had been tied into two forward ponytails with beads attached near the tip as well as one in the back. He grabbed the knife which Naruto now recognized as a balisong knife or a butterfly knife. Haku flicked the knife expertly, he watched Naruto unblinkingly as he did. The knife clicking and clanking as he performed tricks with it, "You look familiar… What's your name?" Haku asked.

The blonde looked at the knife pointedly, "I'll tell you if you put that damn thing away." Naruto negotiated.

The gangster flipped the knife out, "Fine I don't need this to kill you." Replied the knifewielder and he expertly put it in his pocket flipping it close.

Naruto raised his eyebrow and pointed to Haku, "Really? You want to kill me when you're stranded in the middle of nowhere after being hit by a fucking meteor? When I could help you with figuring out what the hell is going on here?" Silence then the gangster folded his arms across his chest.

"You're not as stupid as you look." Was the snarky response.

"Gee thanks," Naruto drawled voice dripping with great sarcasm. "The names Naruto," He said simply and Haku raised an eyebrow, "I'm guessing you know me then?" a nod in response.

"Didn't you beat up the twins Gōzu and Meizu?" queried the gang member.

"Oh those two morons well they were picking on little kids for no good reason." Replied the brawling blonde.

"Part of me wants to thank you for beating those numbskulls and part of me wants to stab you for defeating my comrades." Naruto sighed.

He tightened his headband and rubbed his forehead angrily. "Good god do we really have the luxury to fight each other?" He asked.

The young gang member smiled, and shook his head "No we do not." Haku agreed, "So then a truce till we find out what's going on then?" he held out a pale hand. Naruto paused then took it and they shook.

"Let's get out of here firstly," Naruto said then they heard a growl. "Fuck me." He groaned and he turned to the source above them was a monster it jumped down and landed in front of them and it stood. It was larger than them standing at 8 feet tall it's body covered with fur striped like a tigers, it had large hands with jagged claws, and spikes on it's knuckles, elbows, shoulders, along it's back, thigh area, and on the knees its tail had a sickle like blade at the end. The tail whipped in the air as the monster looked at them then it roared head thrust forward. "RUN!" Naruto shouted and both began to run the monster snarled then it ran after them it's reverse jointed legs giving it an advantage as it began to close after them.

"This way!" Haku shouted and he ran to the right Naruto pursuing him. The creature tried to turn but it's legs couldn't turn in such a way and it fell it growled then got up and pursued again and it began to slice trees out of it's way with it's claws. "Dammit we won't be able to outrun it forever!" Haku hissed.

Naruto leaped over a fallen tree, "Then we gotta trap it and kill it!" he shouted back.

"Trap it where!? Unless you can somehow dig a pit trap within 10 seconds we got nothing!" the gangster roared back.

"Agh dammit…!" Naruto looked around and he saw a tangle of vines he and Haku could jump through it but the creature would get tangled not for long but long enough to stab it's skull. He ran up to Haku, "To the left there's vines let's go that way we can get through and it'll get tangled briefly give me your knife." The gangster looked then nodded and reached into his pocket grabbing the knife and handed it to Naruto. "Ready? Go!" And they turned sprinting for the vines. The monster turned with them using its jagged claws to turn and it ran at them. It narrowed it's eyes and it picked up it's speed to catch them. It raised it's arms as it neared then suddenly they did a diving jump it looked at them confused then it saw the vines. It tried to stop but too late it's body was in the vines. It snarled and snapped trying to pull itself loose the vines were strong though. "Awesome now to kill this bastard!" Naruto said and he opened the knife and held it up ready to stab.

"Goddamn blonde brat… you've always been trouble now you'll be a murderer you happy with yourself." Said blonde stopped as he recognized the voice.

"That voice… was that…?" He looked at the beast which looked him in the face and Naruto gasped backing away as he saw those black hateful eyes and as he looked he saw the distinct human like face that clashed with the animalistic tiger jowl. He looked up even more and saw the light tuft of silver hair. "Mizuki!?" he gasped.

"Got it in one," Mizuki said then he laughed "You've been a unspeakable blemish to the honorable name of Konoha highschool! Time and again I've tried to throw you out like the unprincipled thug you, however you were blessed with incredible luck and the good graces of principal Sarutobi." Spat the man-monster. To say the blonde was shocked would be an understatement, more like rattled to his core. He thought back to the giant worm monster and wondered if that was Ichiraku? It could have been very likely then did that mean that he too would transform into a monster?

"What are you doing!?" Haku shouted, Naruto turned to face him mouth opening to explain. "Look out!" Haku tackled him and as our blonde hero felt he heard a 'snikt' and blood splattered his trench coat and under shirt.

"Haku!" Naruto looked to see that scythe shaped tail was dripping with blood. The blonde pushed up grabbing Haku and swinging him over his shoulder. Both Mizuki and Haku were surprised as Naruto began to run carrying the gangster like a sack of potatoes. The monster tried to move but couldn't due to the vines and his tail whipped about cutting the vines one by one. Meanwhile his prey was getting away.

"Gotta find a river or something," he mumbled as he pushed a branch aside, "Gotta lose our scent!" He said and he slid to a stop.

"Right if we go underwater we'll loose him and a river will carry us to a safer location… if it doesn't run into a waterfall at least." Haku agreed quickly understanding his allies reasoning.

"Yeah found one but it's kinda a drop." He lowered the gangster down who looked for himself. They were at a ridge and below them perhaps 15-18 feet was a river.

Haku rubbed his chin, "That's almost suicide." he muttered.

Naruto looked at him, "Wanna get mauled by the man-tiger?" He asked sarcastically.

"No," And they heard bushes rustling, "here goes nothing!" And the two jumped feet first. G-force and wind wrippled their clothes and body Naruto's headband trails flapping wildly in the air they landed in the water submerged and were instantly whipped by the current.

Above them Mizuki walked to the ridge and growled, "Tch clever and I can't fall myself I haven't mastered transforming back yet." He muttered coldly, "Only thing to do is follow it up stream but where?" and he began his search.

-Hinata-

"Ohhhhh…" The sound emerged from her mouth her hand moved slightly. Even as she opened her eyes she knew two things; one she was alive, two that it was impossible for her to be alive. She had to be dead yet she could feel, she could move, and, as she pushed herself up, she could see. She was inside the school, the cafeteria to be exact, and it was in a state of destruction the wall where the windows had been was twisted pile of cooled slag. Chairs, and benches had been crushed, scattered or melted. 'This can't be… how can I be alive? I was killed by the explosion… I know I was.' She looked outside to find a meteor or a crater. The dense foliage was not what she would've expected. 'A forest? But how!? This should be barren this building shouldn't even be standing!' she got into a sitting position. 'I can figure that out later the real mystery is why am I still alive? The meteor exploded and I died when the blast radius hit me.' She crossed her legs thinking, yet no matter what thought came to mind it didn't fit in logically. 'Magic and miracles don't exist… at least that's what I want to believe. No matter what logical thought comes to mind they all fall short.' A loud roar sounded and Hinata jumped slightly.

'Was that a bear? How can there be bears in-' the roar sounded again interrupting her. "Dammit!" she cursed and looking at the foliage she got up. Now that she got a better look the plants they seem of the more jungle variety. She stood up hesitating, 'I could just be leading myself into danger.' However from what little she knew staying where she was, was also dangerous. Taking a breath of courage she ran into the jungle.

Bushes, trees, branches, flowers, all signs of a healthy ecosystem, 'Which shouldn't be possible a meteor would've flattened this and the explosion would've burned everything.' The more she thought on it the more crazy it seemed to become. A bush ahead of her rustled she stopped and clumsily assumed a karate stance. She was imitating what she had seen from movies, any fighter either with trainer or experience could've bashed through her defenses with ease. The bush rustled again and out of it came Sakura. Her clothes were torn, she staggered as she walked and one hand clutched her arm which was bleeding profusely. Hinata instantly ran to the girl, "Sakura! What happened." She looked at the arm. It looked broken as it swung almost uselessly.

Sakura was breathing heavy shaking breaths "I-I…" she swallowed, "M-Me and Ino we were walking." She took another shaky breath as Hinata pulled her to a chair and sat her down. "W-w-we were walking and then… some kind of monster came, it… it killed Ino! I tried to stop it but it threw me and I hit my arm!" She said her voice high and cracking. "I-I tried… it… it…" She was sobbing, her body rocking back and forth and her good hand clenched tightly on her arm. Hinata was stunned, someone was dead. Someone she knew that realization really stung. It also confirmed what she had been denying, they had survived the meteor… and probably were in the future where city life had been taken over by nature. She looked at Sakura who was still sobbing.

"Hey… look on the bright side you're alive right? Now all we need to do is search for more survivors." She said. Sakura sniffed, and rubbed her eyes which were still puffy.

She looked at Hinata her face sorrowful. "B-B-But w-what if we're the last ones alive?" She spluttered.

"Then we're the last at least let's look first." Hinata stubbornly stated.

"No need cavalry's here." A familiar voice said, the two turned Hinata's eyes widened in surprise.

"K-K-Kiba?" she gasped. Indeed it was Kiba but something was different the triangle marks on his face seemed bigger, he was shirtless and his pants were mere rags. His arms were tight and his fist were clenched into fists.

"So you're here too thought you were gone… By the way what happened to your eyes? Did you go blind?" he said, there was something strange about him then Hinata caught his last sentence.

"Wait what?" He looked at her again.

He then pointed to her face, "You're eyes are pure white," he said simply "But that's not really important." He muttered he looked at her pointedly again. "Nearly drove me crazy thinking you were dead." He looked at Sakura, "She's here too huh?" He nodded his head his jaw working slightly. "Well good news girls, we're free." He said to them.

Hinata raised an eyebrow, "Free?" it was a simple question.

Kiba threw his head back and laughed boisterously. "Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Yeah free! Free to do what we want, we won't have to worry about society, our parents, or other people or anything really! Anything goes!" he said his voice slightly pitched with madness. "And that means I get to do what I always wanted to do," his voice was low at this, even as he was lowering his gaze to Hinata and he took a step forward. She didn't know if it was the light or perhaps the first signs of paranoia, but Kiba seemed to be larger now.

"Hinata Hyuuga heiress of the Hyuuga family." He took another step a log under his foot creaked then split. "One of the best and brightest students of Konoha Highschool." His voice was gravely and bestial, even Sakura backed away but she didn't seem fearful oddly enough, just cautious. "And by far the most beautiful girl in school with a body that would look better on a whore." Fur was spreading across his body as his fingers became skeletal a boney muzzle forming and his eyes sinking into his skull. His face contorted the ears sliding up his head. He growled as he stood over her, she stared at him wide eyed unable to move, speak or do anything other than shudder as she tried desperately not to pee her pants.

He laughed, "Good this'll be easy then," he said he reached for her top and Hinata reacted finally.

"Get away!" She shouted and she slapped his hand instantly regretting it, 'Is that a hand or a block of cement!' she stepped back waving her hurting hand.

"You know this could've gone nice and simple, I take you back to my new place we fuck live happily ever after and maybe have some kids." Kiba growled as he raised both hands, a dog growl emerging from his throat. "But now we're gonna do this the hard and painful way!" he snarled and he leaped at her only for a cry to sound and from above something dove down and tackled Kiba!

Hinata this was her chance, she reached for Sakura grabbing her good arm and she turned and ran. "Let's go," she said and they were soon out of the reach of Kiba and this new monster.

"Graaaargh!" Kiba grabbed the other monster by the neck and threw it. The monster tumbled then righted itself and flew up flapping it's wings to hover. Kiba looked at his foe, it was a bird, it's arms were wings and it was covered in silver, black and gray feathers it's face was hidden under a curtain of long black hair that looked like feathers. The tore legging of pants could be seen covering bird like legs which had 5 talons that were currently curled into a type of fist. "So who the hell are you then? Huh? Naruto? Lee?" the creature shrieked at him. "If you want to die fine!" Kiba snarled and he held up his hands and the claws on his fingers extended. The bird monster flew at him and it's foot hit Kiba in the head. It was a powerful blow that felt like a punch than a strike from a bird. He staggered to the side from the blow.

'The hell!? That wasn't just any other punch I've felt it once before!' he turned to see the bird diving at him one claw held out the other still cured into a fist. As it dived Kiba sprang to the side it flew up turned and dived him again. Kiba jumped each time his dog body maneuvering till they came to a clearing. He gritted his dog teeth in annoyance. 'I'm being led somewhere!' he quickly realized, 'If it wants to play then I'll play along!' and he jumped at it, only for the bird to outmaneuver the dog and kick his back sending him sprawling to the ground. But the dog beast got back up and jumped again only to get countered yet again this time with a flurry of blows to the face, a grab on the shoulders then a flip and throw into the ground. Kiba hit the ground hard his face slightly paving the dirt as he slid forward. He heard the sound of crumbling rock and raising his head he looked to see he was over a ledge that overlooked a ravine.

'Fuck he's trying to kill me by dropping me!' he realized. He looked at the bird monster and snarled, 'maybe I just need to come at it faster!' and he crouched down then he leaped up his body rocketing toward the bird. 'Too fast for you to do anything,' he gloated but the bird flew to the side till it ended up right next to him. The man dog growled as he soared past it, and in that moment he caught a glimpse of it's face. White eyes, and a beak that was twisted into a smug smirk, a very familiar smug smirk. "YOU!" Kiba shouted only for the bird to charge him and ram it's head into his chest the dog monster coughed blood. "You'll pay for this you bastard!" he shouted as he fell into a ravine. The bird monster landed on the ground and walked to the edge looking down it's sharp eyes narrowed in concentration, gave a satisfied screech it took to the air again.

-Naruto and Haku-

Naruto gasped as he surface he grabbed a fallen tree and grunted as he pulled Haku up as well. He panted, "Well at least we didn't drown," He said, "Though that undercurrent nearly done us in." Haku grunted as he grabbed the tree as well.

The gangster looked to see a rock bank "Let's get to land." He suggested and the two climbed the tree back onto land. "Fuck he got my arm," Haku said when they stepped onto the rocky bank. Naruto looked to see a large gash in Haku's arm. "Here," and using his good arm he pulled out his knife. The blonde took it and began to cut off strips of clothing to stop the bleeding from the gangster's wounds. "You didn't have to do that you know," Haku muttered.

Naruto looked up at him confused. "Huh?" he grunted eloquently.

"Carry me like that," at this the blonde gave a small 'oh' and he went back to work.

After some silence Naruto rubbed the back of his head embarrassed, "Sorry I thought he hit your leg or something so I thought you wouldn't be able to move I was wrong." He said apologetically. He took the strips and tied them near Haku's shoulder making sure they were tight and secure to prevent bleeding. He gave back the knife, "So what's next?" he asked, but before Haku could answer there was an audible grumbling they were both silent.

Haku rubbed the back of his head, "I guess food," they looked at the river and Naruto went to the water thanks to his jacket's short sleeves he only had to roll them up slightly. He stood knee deep in the water one hand raised. He was silent then his hand was in and out of the water in one swift stroke.

He looked at his prize triumphant "Gotch-aaaaaahhhhhh!" Naruto jumped as the fish wriggled in his hand.

The gangster rolled his eyes, "What is it?" He said using the log to stand up.

Naruto looked at him horrified, "T-T-The fish! It has a face!" he said.

Haku slapped a hand to his face, "All animals have faces so what? What you feeling sorry for it? I didn't realize you were such a pussy bitch." Naruto glared at him.

"Do fishes have human faces?" He snarled, this stopped Haku.

"You can't be-" Naruto held up the fish to Haku, "Seriou-ahhhhhhhhh! What the fuck!" instead of a fishes face he was staring into something similar to a mans.

A it looked like a fish but there was a nose and the eyes were set like a humans not on the side, also at the top of it's head was gray hair that looked similar to a lion's mane and then it squealed. "Don't eat me! Don't eat me!" This caused Naruto to drop it in the water. They stood there silent then their stomach's rumbled again. "If I wasn't so hungry I would've lost my appetite." He said. "Let's look for something without a face like berries or something."

Naruto nodded, "Agreed." He said and the two went to the foliage to search. They looked around and as they did they gave a tentative sniff. Both could smell it, berries, they sniffed again and let their noses guide them to a bushel of berries. "Hmmm think this won't kill us?" he asked as they stared at the berries, they looked like blueberries but were significantly larger.

Haku looked at the berries, "Well only one way to find out," he said and he took one and ate it. He chewed on it then swallowed they waited several seconds. "Well I don't feel like throwing up or wanting to take a shit so I guess it's good." He confirmed.

The blonde nodded at that accepting the words, "Hmmm alright then," and Naruto began to take berries and eat them, they tasted like blueberries with a sour and sweet taste toward it. "Not fucking bad…" he said. As he chewed he finally decided to say something on his mind. "Have you noticed anything strange about the… wildlife here?" He asked.

The gang membered chewed a berry quietly then swallowed, "you mean that fish thing? If I were to guess that looked an awful lot like Gato he was the boss of a mob in south part of town." He said. "You seem to know that tiger thing too." He turned his head pointedly to the delinquent.

Naruto paused as he grabbed another berry then popped it in his mouth chewed and swallowed. "Yeah he's a teacher at my school hates my guts for no good reason." He said and he grabbed another berry. "I just don't care for school they don't teach you shit, I'm not the only one that does it either. But something up that fucker's ass makes him hate me for it. I can't deal with that type of crap." He said and he popped the berry in his mouth and ate it.

Haku observed him, "sorry if it's a sour subject…" He said, and he ate another berry.

The blonde sighed rolling his shoulders slightly then leaning back and looking up, "Earlier I was being chased by another monster… I think that might've been old man Ichiraku. Does that mean that everything we'll find that isn't a plant used to be human? Does that mean we'll be like that forever?" he asked.

Haku paused, "Dunno, this is some weird shit going on that's for sure," He said, "let's worry about that crap another time just eat." And Haku grabbed another berry. He was quite enjoying the berries as he stopped to chew he inhaled deeply and a smell rose to his nose. He sniffed and found the source a flower. He looked at then sniffed it then plucked it and ate a leaf. "Hmmm," it was a surprisingly tangy flavor. "Mmm… hey! Try this!" Haku said, Naruto looked at it, sniffed.

He raised an eyebrow, "Really?" he asked, Haku just shrugged Naruto snagged up a leaf, then he spat it out. "Ack!" he shook his head, "not for me," he said Haku shrugged and continued to eat the plant all the way down. Naruto shook his head, as he watched the gangster eat another flower. 'Guess he's pushing daisies.' Naruto thought and as he ate more berries he paused chewing and he inhaled through his nose and caught another smell. He sniffed and turned to see a large fruit that looked like a cantaloupe he swallowed and felt drool at his lips. He went to the tree and grabbed a the trunk and began to scale it. Only to slide down but he tightened his grip and slid to a stop though his fingers were raw. Shaking them briefly he resumed climbing the tree. He eventually got to the top of the tree and now looked at the fruit which hung on a branch as thick as his arm.

He licked his lip and slowly and carefully got on the branch, "Are you seriously trying to get that fruit?" Haku asked from down below.

Naruto glared at him, "Shut up, I'm concentrating!" and he turned his attention back to the fruit. He reached out with his hand for the fruit but his nails barely scratched it's surface. He withdrew his hand and inched closer, the branch groaned dangerously. He swallowed even as sweat began to fall from his face. Luckily his headband got the majority of the sweat. He reached out a hand again and his nails pulled it close enough that he could get purchase. But when he tried to pull the fruit the branch creaked and a loud snap sounded. "Uh oh…" was all Naruto could say before the branch split under his weight and he fell down to the ground his head bumping the branch painfully. He stood then fell back groaning as he clutched his head in agony.

Haku swallowed a flower and looked at Naruto pitifully. "Wow that was just really stupid." He said and he grabbed some berries and threw them in his mouth.

Groaning and rubbing his bump he sat up, "Gah that hurts," he looked for the fruit and saw it a few feet to his right. He grabbed it and lifted it up. It looked like a cantaloupe, yet when he sniffed it give a very sweet and nutty scent. He raised it and brought down on his knee, it hurt but the fruit split open juices spilling out a sweet, savory nutty smell exuding out of the light green flesh. He marveled at the fruit's insides then he took a bit. It was just as sweet and savory as it smelled. He quickly devoured the fruit licking the bare insides with his tongue to keep the flavor. "Oh man that was great!" He said, "But I could do with a few more of these berries." And he reached for a berry when he heard a rustle. Haku also stopped and the two stood up.

Naruto cracked his neck, "So we fight or run?" He asked, Haku rotated his good shoulder and reached into his pocket for his knife.

"Honestly I think we should get outta here who knows what we might fight. But let's see what we're up against first." He said and he grabbed the knife lightly. They watched the bushes rustle then something leapt out of it and the two stood their ground as it landed before them. They watched as it snarled and barked, It looked like a bizarre humanoid dog with thick white fur covering parts of its body, long straight black hair, a black furred tail that was bristled up at the base of its back, and trianglular shaped black ears at the side of its head. What really caught their attention was that it had breasts which seemed too large to be naturally possible. It snarled at them and reached out slashing with a clawed hand. The two fell back slightly as it growled at them.

The blonde observed the beast carefully, "Doesn't seem too tough and it's female," Naruto said he looked at Haku who was looking at it's face with a stern expression. "If anything seems scared of us." He added in.

Haku looked at the blonde, "What makes you say that." He asked.

Naruto nodded toward her, "I've seen wild animals, dogs, cats, even a coyote. She acts the way they do, right now she's putting up a front to protect something… most likely this her food supply." He informed, he pointed to the bush.

Haku looked at the beast again then he slowly began to move toward her. As he did she moved back growling even deeper but backing away slowly. She was in the bushes and so was he and what he saw made him realize who this was. "Tsunami…" he said.

The school delinquent appeared next to him, "Say what?" he asked. Haku pointed to a cave.

Naruto looked and he saw the female growling there but just behind her was what looked like a small boy that was sobbing and bawling. "Whose the kid?" he asked.

The gang member sighed then he looked at Naruto, "That's Inari… he's the son of a lady called Tsunami she works in a shop near my part of town… He's a bit of a crybaby but he's an ok kid when he's not crying. She's probably protecting and feeding him we should back off and leave them be." He said.

Naruto nodded and the two backed away slowly Tsunami didn't approach them just barked once. When they were out of sight she returned to her son. "Well that was different…" he said running a hand through his sun-kissed hair.

The gangster put a hand to his chin, "it seems that transformations can be to protect something too… curious." He said. Naruto blinked at that then he raised his hand looking at it.

He looked at the fingers wondering what they would look like as a monster. 'Becoming a monster to protect…' he was relieved that could be the case. "Does that mean we can turn into a monster?" he couldn't help but ask.

Haku put a hand to his head, "Ughhhh… maybe, fuck do I know?" he said, "Does it matter?" he asked.

Naruto shrugged, "I think if I transformed I would do it to protect someone rather than because I hate someone… I mean if I'm gonna be like that forever I'd rather protect than just mindlessly killing shit you know?" It was then he remembered, "Did you see her tits?" he asked.

Haku held up a warning hand, "Don't go there, there's plenty of other weird shit already. I don't need that added in." He said walking away even as the blonde smiled.

Naruto cupped his hands over his mouth and shouted, "Watermelons baby watermelons!" Haku just gave him the bird.

"You're an ass." Was the singular reply.

-Hinata and Sakura-

Sakura walked to Hinata, "I think we lost them," she said. The two of them had been running away from the fighting monsters and they ended up in a type of grove with a pool of water in the center. Hinata had been staring at the pool of water looking at her face… or to be more exact, her eyes. Like Kiba said they were pure white, but she could see, she wasn't blind. She had splashed water, pinched her cheek, smacked herself and even dunk her head under the water for 10 seconds. But no matter what her eyes still were white.

Hinata sighed then she stood up, "We should find food," She said, "And something to carry the water." Sakura nodded and the two walked out of the grove to find something to eat.

The pinkette sighed then looked at Hinata, "S-So… what happened to Kiba you think?" she suddenly asked.

Hinata shook her head slightly, "I can only guess… the only thing I can think of right now is that the after effects of the meteor has caused humans and animals to somehow fuse together into some type of mutation… it raises the question of whether or not it could happen to us." Said the ever thinking heiress.

Sakura slowed slightly, "So by that logic… that means one of our classmates probably killed Ino." Hinata stopped walking… processing that single thought through her mind.

She took a shuddering breath as her heart began to thud in her chest, "Maybe… we don't know that for sure." She said.

Sakura stood in front of her and she turned to face her, "That means they're a murderer." She said. There was something ominous about her tone that made Hinata suddenly feel very afraid.

She stilled herself and let her mind take over, "Maybe turning into… that form brings out the worst in people, which could mean that bird thing fought Kiba to eat us… probably. I…" she paused her lower lip quivering slightly, "I don't want to talk about it." She said and she pushed forward. Sakura let her through and looked at fleeing heiress. She looked at her bloody arm and moved it up and down slightly wincing as it came to certain angles.

She looked at Hinata's back and she clenched her good hand into a fist. 'Brings out the bad side of people huh?' And she walked forward following Hinata.

The heiress had been walking to stop thinking but she couldn't, 'A murderer… somebody killed Ino... someone killed her.' It kept echoing in her head over and over like the thudding of her heart. She heard the sound of crunching and she stopped and looking around saw bushes that shook slightly, she went to a tree and hid behind it. She looked to see a small animal munching on leaves. Part of her wondered if that was also a human in the form of a monster animal. 'No if it was it'd be more… monstrous.' She reasoned, she needed something though to attack it. Part of her hated the idea of killing an animal to eat but she knew she had to, her stomach was begging for food. She found a arm thick branch and grabbed it. She lifted it up it weighed a bit but she could hold it, the weight would help with striking the killing blow.

Sakura walked up to her, "Found something?" She asked.

Hinata nodded, "over there," she whispered "it's eating the leaves." She said Sakura nodded and she stood to the heiress' side. Her hands were trembling but Sakura's hand on hers stopped the shaking and she tightened her grip. She mentally counted down, 'One… two… Three!' and she sprung and raised the branch and whacked the beast in the head. It gave a groaning cry as it fell onto it's side stubby legs shuddering as blood spurted from it's head. Hinata panted as it sounded in a call and she ranged the branch again. She tried to look away from it's face and eyes not wanting to see the desperate struggle for life when something stopped her, a voice.

"Stop it…" she froze she looked to see that it's mouth was open and as she looked she recognized certain facial features. "Stop… don't… kill me…" she stepped back horrified, and the branch fell out of her hands.

Sakura came forward, "What's up?" She asked, then she looked at the creature. "So what's the problem?" She asked.

Hinata looked at her utterly shocked by this question. "What's the-!? That's… that's a person!" She said, "I'm not gonna eat a person!" She shouted, "That's cannibalism!" She stared to hyper ventilate but she turned away to try and slow her breathing.

Sakura went to the face even as the man-creature started to whimper. It looked like a rather small obese cow however the face was bringing memories. Originally he had been a giant Sakura knew this but the name was escaping her, "Hmmmm isn't this that one kid… what's his name?" She began to snap her fingers to try and remember, "Bu… Buchi? Burachi? Busami?" she then smacked her knee. "Burami! Yeah!" she said.

Hinata was breathing shuddering breaths she kept breathing then she closed her eyes, sighed and opened them. "I don't know though the name does sound familiar." She said, "Might've heard it once or twice." She turned appearing calm.

Sakura looked at the heiress. "So what're we gonna do with him?" She asked.

The white eyed girl didn't even take a second to think it, "we're leaving," she said, "We'll find some berries or something to eat. I'm not eating a person." She stated stubbornly and she walked away.

Sakura watched her go then looked at Burami, "I'll be back for you later." She said in a low dangerous tone and she stood up and followed Hinata again.

Hinata despite herself wasn't calm still, she was still remembering seeing that face, the fear… the meat. 'The hell is wrong with me!?' she felt herself slipping back into her old self, the part of her that her father had practically banished with his ferocious and pitiless lessons of life. It was the 'her' that was once a normal girl. The 'her' she wanted to partially bring back just so she could have some sense of normalcy in her life.

Sakura was quickly catching up, "Hey Hinata!" but the girl ignored her, "Hinata slow down!" again she was ignored.

'If he was like that then does that mean everything here is like that too? A ant? A mosquito? A bird? A fish? All of it used to be a human being? Does that mean everything I'll eat will be some innocent bystander? Am I doomed to be a cannibal?' and it continued in her mind. 'Why am I even still considering this sickening notion?' then she felt the hand on her shoulder.

Sakura grabbed Hinata's shoulder and turned her around, "Hey slow down!" She shouted Hinata started then she blinked.

The heiress looked at her classmate. "Oh S-Sakura I'm sorry I… I guess I kinda lost track of time." She said.

The pink haired girl raised an eyebrow, "More like you lost track of where you are." She said.

Hinata looked around and found she was in the middle of tree's and vines, "Oh so I did." She said somewhat meekly. But as she looked she saw fruits, and she recognized the leaves of certain plants that we used for salads. "Well on the plus side I found us food." She said.

Sakura looked around, "Oh yeah this is edible, hmmm good thing I got this," she said and she pulled up the stick "Use it to knock the fruit out of the tree." Hinata nodded and grabbing it she poked the fruit it shook and she prodded it even harder jabbing it hard. The fruit creaked then the small twig holding it up snapped and it fell down. Hinata quickly threw aside the stick and grabbed the fruit and she fell to the ground as a result. "Ooooh oh! You ok!" Sakura asked bending to the fallen heiress.

Hinata spluttered as she raised her head from the grounds she gently patted her face to see if anything was broken, her nose stung and she touched it again to receive a sharp stab of pain she touched underneath it and felt blood. "I-I think I broke my nose." she said.

Sakura lowered herself, "Oh yeah you're nose is crooked… want me to try and fix it? It's gonna hurt." Hinata knew that with her nose broken she woulnd't be able to smell that good specially with the blood. But trying to fix it would hurt like hell, ultimately though she would have to bear the pain. She nodded and Sakura reached with one hand gently placing it on her nose and gave a quick pull. It was excruciating, she felt like Sakura had ripped her nose right off her face. She screamed at the pain and panted as she tried to cope with it eyes closed to focus on mitigating the intense pain. She rolled onto her back as she coped with the pain.

Even as she panted she tried to reassure herself. 'I-It's ok your nose is back to normal at least just suck it up.' But no matter how hard she tried to it was an uphill battle. Tears streamed out of her eyes as she gingerly touched her nose. "Ow…" She moaned quietly eventually she got to her knees she winced with pain as she inhaled with her nose. Hinata opened one teary eye to look at her. "Didn't you want to become a doctor originally?" She asked suddenly remembering this detail.

Sakura shrugged, "Paramedic actually but it's a tough job to get into so I wanted to try something simple." She said, as Hinata nodded closing her eye again the pinkette's good hand twitched.

After a while Hinata opened her eyes as the pain lessened enough for her to observe her catch, she grabbed the fruit looking with slightly stinging eyes the outer skin was soft but she couldn't open it with her hands. "I-I think it needs to get a good whack." She said.

Sakura nodded, "Way ahead of you," She said and she held up the stick. Hinata held it out turning her head to the side, the pinkette swung the stick and it split the fruit in half juices spurting out and spilling onto the ground. Hinata felt the blow and noted the extreme force of the strike. She held out one piece to Sakura who took it and ate it. "Mmmm nice and sweet," she said happily. The heiress sighed in relief and took a bite. She froze and spat it out, whatever Sakura had said it tasted vile, like eating vomit. "What's up with you?" asked the pink haired girl.

Hinata looked at her, "I dunno about you but that tasted awful." She said and she tossed the piece of fruit to the side. "My half must've been rotten or something." The heiress complained and she grabbed the stick to get another fruit. A poke out of the tree and smashing it open and she took another bite only to spit it out again. This fruit tasted the same as the other fruit, 'What's going on?' she couldn't understand it. She then turned to the plant that she knew was edible and pulled out some of the leaf and bit into it, she barely chewed when she spat it out with contempt. 'What the hell…' she began to go from plant to plant biting it only to spit it out again and again and again! 'Why… why is this happening to me!?' she loved vegetables, salad was her number 1 favorite food and yet she couldn't handle not even the taste of a plant. 'Does that mean… I have to meat?' and she shuddered repulsed instantly for even considering it.

But she couldn't just starve, she had to eat something. She tapped her chin, then she looked at Sakura who had just finished eating. "Let's see if there's more survivors." She said and she walked forward. The pink haired girl stood up and followed Hinata and while the heiress had her back to her she rotated her bad arm which did so smoothly. However she still winced in pain slightly, she then looked at Hinata and smiled slightly before following her.

-Naruto and Haku-

The two were walking down the river, Naruto turned his head slightly to Haku. "So how did you get in the gangs anyway?" He asked.

The gangster was silent, "I was saved by the former boss." He said quietly.

The blonde tapped his chin trying to remember, "You mean Zabuza right? Didn't he die thanks to some rival gang?" he asked.

Haku sighed and shook his head, "Nah it's best to explain what happened. When I was young like 8 I got kicked out of my house by my alcoholic dad and my drug pumping mom. I basically lived in the streets since then eating left overs and other shit. Then one day I tried picking out of Zabuza's pocket for some money. He found me and I thought he was gonna kill me. Instead he took me in and fed me, clothed me, and other shit. He told me he didn't cause I looked like some type of dog." He was silent for a while. "I didn't mind, he taught me stuff how to steal better, how to fight and defend myself. I was with him ever since then 5 years later I got dragged away by the cops after a steal went wrong. I thought I was going to Juvie but I found out my dad and mom got divorced and my mom was dating a new guy and wanted me to come home. I refused, and I was thrown in jail for about a year. When I got out my mom tried to bribe me back." He shook his head disgusted, "I couldn't believe the shit she was trying to pull. So I told her, 'You threw me out when I was a kid, and now you want me to be a family again? Fuck you, if you try this shit I'll ghost your ass.' And walked away, she didn't try to get back in contact with me since then." The gangster said.

Naruto blinked, "Dude she's your Mom." He said, "I can't speak for myself since my mom died when I was too young to remember but if it were me I would've tried to at least give it a try." He said.

Haku shook his head, "Maybe you would've I wouldn't though she threw me out and didn't try to get in touch with me till years later. Then when I refused it the first time she had them throw me in Juvie, then when I got out she tried to bribe me with money. Does that sound like a mom?" he asked.

Naruto held up a hand shaking it slightly then dropping it, "No not really no." he finally admitted.

Haku gave a 'hmph' and continued, "Anyway one day Zabuza just upped and vanished, nobody knows where. He did it after a raid with a rival gang so I guess that's why people think he's dead. Anyway when he left it left things a right mess. They talked about me taking over but I refused, so they began to start arguing over who should lead… which is why I decided to head to your part of town." He said, "Bad day to do that in the end. Get obliterated by a fucking meteor. Not a good way to go." He muttered.

Naruto though held up a finger, "Um we didn't go we're still alive quite obviously." He said. "Anyway let's not get into it I don't like thinking." He grumbled. The two kept walking.

Haku then looked at him pointedly "Maybe we're not alive maybe we're in Hell." He paused for a response and got none, finally decided to change the subject. "So what's your story?" he asked the blonde.

Said blonde stopped, "What do you mean?" He asked his voice suspicious.

The gangster waved a hand still walking, "As in what's your deal? I've heard of you, you like to brawl but you don't hang out in the gangs, and you cause trouble nearly every day in your school yet you do have some brains when you put your mind to it." He said.

Naruto walked up and grabbed Haku's shoulder spinning him around, "Who the fuck told you that shit?" he snarled.

The gangster chuckled, "You wouldn't believe what you hear from students during Lunch, you know the ones that go to restaurants and stuff? There's one girl who talks a lot about you though forgot her name but she has long hair and black eyes." Naruto, who had raised his eyebrow at the girl, frowned when he heard the description.

"Dude that makes up like half the girls in my school," He said "A two year old would have better description than you." he grumbled. "Anyway I don't want to go into it." He said and he started walking again.

"Aw come on I poured out my story why not give me one in return, eh?" Haku said holding up his hand graciously.

Naruto sighed, "I didn't ask for it… but whatever… I guess I just don't know what I want. I hate school but I want a good job, I don't like listening to people but I have to in school, I don't like thinking but I have to if I wanna meet my goals… I'm just… I dunno fucked up I guess." He said.

"Sounds to me you don't know what kind of a person you are," Haku said, "Your lost." He stated.

The delinquent blonde rubbed his hair. "Yeah I guess I am." He said.

Haku nodded quietly, "Dude it happens, when I was a kid I didn't know where I wanted to be or what I wanted to do. I kinda still don't now but I know I want to live to the fullest even if it means beating someone or taking their money. Shit like pity or regret I feel but I don't really got time for it. Just keep going and you'll find what you want to do with your life." He said rather sagely.

"Wow look at you, Guru Haku, next thing we know you'll have discovered your own religion." Naruto teased.

"No, no, that's my goal when I get to a ripe old age." And the two laughed at that.

Naruto then made a mock praying pose "I have just converted to Hakuism, I am ready to serve the great Haku!" he said in a mocking monk like voice.

Haku held up a hand, "Haku requires no servants, but he lives to serve, to acquire knowledge through perseverance, patience and diligence." Naruto gave a snorting chuckle.

"You just said the same word three different ways." He said.

"Oh shit you're right," and both were now laughing hard so hard that Naruto even coughed slightly.

He tried to stop but still giggled slightly, then he sighed as he looked up at the sky and rubbed his blonde hair, "Damn… man I wish we knew where we were." He said.

Haku had also slowly stopped laughing as the question sobered him. He looked around then he turned, "Hey look there's a mountain." He said pointing with his good hand at, yes indeed, a mountain.

Naruto looked up at the mountain, "Shit man we'd never make it to the top." Considering the mountain tip touched the clouds it was likely that oxygen got very scarce near the top.

"We don't have to make it to the top just high enough to see where the fuck we are right?" said the gangster.

The blonde rubbed his chin, "You're right… oh screw it let's try," he said and the two began to try and find a way to get to the mountain base.

-Sakura and Hinata-

Hinata and Sakura pushed through some bushes, "Ugh…" groaned the white eyed girl, and she placed a hand on her stomach which was starting to get hunger pains.

The pinkette looked at her colleague, "You ok?" She asked, a nod was her only response and they kept walking. "We should find a place to sleep for a bit." She suggested.

Hinata nodded more out of agreement than any need to rest, "Yes a cave would be our best choice as long as something else isn't in it already." She said, and they kept walking, they eventually came to a slight clearing. After some searching they spotted a slight rise in the landscape forming into a slight rocky hill and near it's base was a cave entrance.

Sakura whistled, "Whoa found one on our first try," she said, "Let's go and see if it's-" but then a loud shrieking cry called out. They both turned to see the bird monster again! "Go for the cave!" Sakura shouted and the two ran as fast they could. Sakura ran with speed she had never shown before, Hinata however could barely run her lack of food was hitting her hard. She got halfway when her feet faltered and she tripped. The beast cried out again and dived it's claws outstretched. "Get away!" Sakura shouted, she had stopped to see Hinata hand fallen and grabbing a rock she threw it. The rock sailed at the creature and impacted on it's face. The rock dug into it and it gave a gurgling caw as the rock penetrated it's eye! It turned to Sakura growling and it dived, "Fuck me!" she groaned and she dove down just to avoid it's attempt to grab her.

Hinata groaned as she pushed herself up, and watched as the bird fly up her and turn around to dive again she then shouted, "Sakura! Back into the woods!" The pinkette ran toward her in response, and she grabbed Hinata pulling her up with surprising strength considering she was using one arm.

As they ran Sakura looked at her, "That's not gonna help!" she panted, "It'll just start going from branch to branch to branch! We need to lose it permanently!" They were in the woods pushing through branches and bushes hastily. Hinata glanced left and right but found nothing when she grabbed onto a bush however she gave a cry of pain as she felt something dig into her skin. She stopped and saw thorny foliage to her right she quickly bent down and saw some space to crawl through.

She raised a hand to Sakura, "Over here!" She shouted pointing to the thorny foliage her classmate stopped then looked at the bushes and nodded. The two got down and crawled underneath as best they could. When they were under a good thick brush of thorns, they flipped onto their backs to see what they could out of the thorny branches. They heard the wing beats and both of them slowed their breathing, minutes passed as they heard the bird creature moving, and they briefly saw it above them on a branch looking around. However as time passed a sense of safety filled them, the adrenaline draining out of them and their eyes began to droop, and within minutes they had fallen asleep.

-Naruto and Haku-

The blonde wiped his sweaty forehead with his equally sweaty arm. "Ugh finally we made it to the base of this mountain." He looked at the gangster, "How's your arm?" he asked.

Haku raised it and lowered it slightly, "Better but I'm not risking making the injury bad again, anyway we should start climbing." And with a nod of agreement the two began to climb. Some small rocks rolled to their feet from above they looked at the rocks then up but saw nothing. They looked at each other then shrugged, and it was in that instant a large clawed hand erupted from Haku's chest. Time slowed to a crawl as they looked at the claw. Then blood shot out of his mouth. Naruto moved and he saw standing there Mizuki a dark triumphant grin on his face. The blonde reached into Haku's pocket as he got close and pulled out the knife and then he opened it and stabbed it into tiger monsters eye. Time resumed as Mizuki screamed in pain and he kicked Naruto away.

The blonde skidded across the ground painfully as Mizuki grabbed the knife but howled even louder when Haku threw his head back with what little strength he had and drove the knife even deeper! The man monster threw his arm and Haku slid off with sickening squelch and flew into Naruto who was pushed into the ground. But he didn't care as he got up and looked at the gang member who was already gasping like a fish out of water. "No, no!" Naruto looked around not sure what to do and too stunned to do anything.

Haku reached for the blondes collar and grabbed it a bloody smile on his lips. "Nothing you can do man… mng… I'm gone already."

Naruto was clenching his free hand into a fist, "NO! You're not we can fix this somehow! I know we can I just-! I just gotta-!" but he had no idea what he had to do. "Dammit I can't let you die because of me!" He muttered gripping the progressively chilly hand.

At this a gurgling laugh came out of Haku, "Yo-you're starting to talk like it's your fault… fuck…" he coughed again blood splattering Naruto's chest and neck. "Listen man… I haven't…" he swallowed even as he tightened his grip and pulled Naruto down, "I want you to know something… I had a good time… probably the best time in my life," he swallowed again, the blonde didn't move just listened eyes closed trying to stop the tears from coming. As the two had their heart to heart Mizuki was busy trying to remove the knife from his eye. The process was excruciating as he had been hit in a vulnerable area never would he have thought someone would attack his facial area. But someone had and when this knife was out he'd make sure it wouldn't happen again.

Haku was trying to breathe but it was hard, "Traveling with you… was awesome… I'm just sad I won't be with you… to-!" and he coughed again then he inhaled a few times though all that happened was blood spurting into the hole he had. "I won't be with you… when you figure out what the fuck is going on here." Naruto grabbed the hand holding his collar and gripped it tightly. "You… are probably… the-nkt! The best friend I've ever h-had i-in my l-life." It was getting hard to speak his lips were twitching even as the muscles in his face began to seize up. He gripped Naruto even harder, "I-I w-want you t-to d-do something f-for m-me…" he gasped.

Naruto tightened his grip, "whatever you want…" He said quietly it was the only thing he could say.

Haku smiled, and he swallowed again to stop the tide of blood in his throat. "I-If y-you m-meet Zabuza… h-here… t-tell him…" he coughed blood splattering Naruto's cheeks. "T-Tell him… I'm… s-s-sorry…" and his voice cracked slightly at this, "I'm sorry… f-for not… for not l-l-living u-u-up… to his…" and his voice was a whisper now. "To his… standards…" tears were flowing from the blondes eyes dripping onto Haku even as his body began to stiffen then relax as the life faded from him.

The ground shook as Mizuki approached in his hand was the knife which had his eyeball on it. His face set in a growl. "You little shit, I'm gonna kill you slowly you won't get off as easily as that scum bag did. I think I'll peel your skin off with this very blade!" and he raised the knife high and thrust it down. Before it could reach Naruto the boy raised his head and Mizuki froze petrified with fear. Staring at him was a pair of red eyes with slit pupils and Naruto's teeth were bared revealing fangs, he stood up growling and gave a roar, the strange markings on his cheek were suddenly broad and black. The snapping of bones could be heard as Naruto began to change. "No!" Mizuki had unfroze and thrusted the knife only for his hand to be grabbed and a fist get slammed into his face his bones bending at the impact as the fist pressed against his face and then he was sent flying then rolling back.

Naruto was giving long huffs, then he groaned as he felt his body burn and his skin squirmed, his arms began to lengthen and his legs did too both limbs gaining mass as well powerful muscles forming his pants ripping under the strain. His torso began to stretch first in width then in height his undershirt shredding and his jacket also tearing slightly, reddish orange fur began to sprout all along his body, covering what was exposed. His ears sunk into his head but above them near the top of his skull two more appeared, large, long slightly rounded ears similar to that of a fennec foxes. His hair stood up and gained a reddish tinge near the tips. He growled as his arms began to morph and suddenly bone began to rise up the upper arm and the back of the hand and wrist. Then he gave a roar as from his rear 3 tails sprouted out slick with fluids but quickly shaking themselves dry to reveal thick furry fox tails also reddish orange.

There was a final snap and Naruto fell forward but caught himself by punching his fists into the ground. He huffed like a wild beast even as Mizuki stood up rubbing his face which was slightly caved in. The former teacher narrowed his eyes, 'Such power… and he has just transformed…' and that made him smirk. 'Perfect I'll eliminate him all the easier.' And he began to walk to Naruto, the new fox-like monster man stood up and glared at Mizuki, he stood at equal height now, having grown 2 feet taller and he opened his hands revealing the claw-like nails he had. Mizuki looked at the claws then held up his own hand. He had to admit losing his eye was a serious blow it was affecting his depth perception slightly but even with this handicap Naruto would be nothing more than playtime.

Naruto was currently rage and muscle while Mizuki had time and practice in his new form he knew it's tricks and how to manipulate it for very high damage but he was sure it had more secrets buried within. He charged Naruto who swung a claw but Mizuki ducked and closed his claw into a fist and punched Naruto. The new born monster coughed as the punch sunk into his muscular abdomen his feet leaving the floor and then the tail appeared and flicked forward. However Naruto raised a hand, Mizuki smirked thinking he had one but his eyes widened when his blade hit the bone protrusions on the boy's hand which sunk in slightly before stopping in the bone. But the Tiger wasn't done and he raised his other hand grabbing the fox's face and hefted him up and slammed his body into the ground. He released Naruto to see that the new monster was still eyes closed.

"I think I'll first have an 'eye for an eye' first, however I'll take both!" And Mizuki thrusted his fingers toward the boy's eyes only for the boy's face to give a loud crack and suddenly his mouth opened inhumanly large. The skin of his cheeks peeled back to reveal the rows of sharp teeth. Mizuki tried to pull his hand back when Naruto pushed himself up and closed on the man-tigers hand. A howl emerged from the tiger's throat as the teeth crunched down with almost more force than an alligator bite! It became apparent that if the fox even jerked his head it would most assuredly rip his hand off. So Mizuki placed his other hand on Naruto's head his muscles bugling to hold it still when he felt a powerful fist in his gut! It followed by another one this one stronger than before. 'Fuck! I miscalculated how could he be so knowledgeable when he's just fighting like an animal!?' Then another fist hit his gut and he felt part of his body explode. He gasped and then raising his other hand he punched Naruto on the nose. The fox released his hand, the nose a sensitive part of his body Mizuki staggered back gripping his badly mangled hand. "This is impossible! He shouldn't be this aware!" He saw Naruto's mouth close and a loud snapping sound when he did. Then his mouth parted into a snarl and the fox began to advance on him slowly. Mizuki stepped backward fearful.

Naruto hissed, and he began to run toward the tiger who took another step back faltered, then look down behind him. "Oh shit!" and he turned but a fist was raised and then it was thrown hitting his nose and pushing him back and off the mountain range into the river below that Naruto and Haku had crossed earlier to reach the mountain. Naruto went to the edge of the range and looked down growling but all he saw was a red river. He raised his head, thrusted out his chest and gave an echoing roar of triumph. It went on for 10 seconds then he lowered himself, panting and as he did a short flush of steam emitted from his body and in the cover his body snapped and cracked back to normal.

Back in his human form Naruto was on his knees his hands on the ground his body covered with sweat, and his clothes torn but still on his body. He could taste blood, and he also felt pain in his body especially his back. He groaned and rolled onto his back. "What… what the hell just happened?" He asked himself yet he couldn't figure out what it was. When he put a hand to his head to remember all he could remember was blinding anger, and the desire to destroy. "That was just before- oh man…" he got up and looked to see Haku's dead body. "Fuck… fuck!" Naruto raised his arms walking away not wanting to see the body. He paced, he turned to the body slowly, unwillingly looked at the corpse then he groaned and walked back. He knelt down putting a hand on the corpse and then he grabbed some rocks and began to dig a grave for Haku. It was agonizing and long work taking an hour to dig, when the hole was dug he stripped Haku of the majority of his clothes and placed him in the hole before covering it with the dirt and rocks. Naruto looked around and saw the knife with Mizuki's eyeball still attached, he grabbed the knife and flicked the eyeball off.

He then closed the knife put it in his pocket and left Haku's shirt and pants on his grave holding it down with a stone, he then pulled off his tattered remains and slid on Haku's jacket and turned to the mountain. "I'll climb it for both of us." Nauto said and he began his long climb.

-Hinata and Sakura-

Hinata and Sakura opened their eyes as they heard the loud roar of a beast, it echoed from a way off yet it was still close enough that they could hear it. The sound sent a shiver of fear down both of their spines. They nearly sat up but stopped just short of the sharp thorns. Very slowly they lowered themselves. "Do you think the bird thing is there?" Hinata asked for some reason her vision was blurred slightly.

Sakura shrugged, "Dunno don't think so but there's only one way to find out." She said and the two very slowly turned onto their stomachs. The white-eyed heiress' grumbling when she did so. She felt even hungrier than before her starvation was probably why her eyesight was off. Sakura poked her head out first and looked around she didn't see the bird, "Coast is clear let's go." And she slid out and got up, turning she waited for Hinata to come out. When the starving girl did the two resumed their pursuit of the cave. Sakura walked briskly while Hinata walked slowly staggering slightly. She knew hunger could cause weakness but she had only been hungry for a few hours she shouldn't be having such painful effects this quickly. "Come on hurry up!" Sakura called, Hinata picked up her pace and when she was inside the cave she flopped onto the ground gratefully. "Wow you're really feeling it huh?" Sakura asked, "Didn't even check to make sure the cave was empty." She noted. The heiress just gave a low moan.

Sakura looked at the weakened state of the heiress she didn't say anything just sat down facing away from her. Hinata though was having a small argument with herself. 'Sooo hungry… I want to eat… but I'm not gonna eat a person…' her reasonable part whined.

However a dark voice emerged speaking in a whisper, 'But they aren't people anymore are they? They're just animals… mutant animals… eating animals is fine, you've eaten beef, that's a cow. A pork chop is a pig and soooooo much more.' It chuckled as it finished.

Her reasonable part steeled itself, 'We can eat other stuff! Fruit and what not Sakura could so why can't we!' it snapped.

The dark part chuckled, 'Isn't is strange? Not only could she eat that fruit no problem but she managed to break it quite easily with her left hand which last we checked isn't her dominant hand. Speaking of how's her wounded arm? A wound like that should take several weeks to heal but look at it now.' Hinata turned her gaze to Sakura and saw the girl leaning on her 'injured arm' humming to herself. She didn't flinch, or hold it up to prevent strain. 'Looks like it's fully healed isn't it? And what's the story behind Ino? How did Ino die exactly? Why didn't Sakura describe the monster if she saw it attack Ino? Did a monster attack her? If it did who was the monster?' and it was then that the questions began to pile on. 'She healed very quickly… where did she see Ino… why wasn't she scared of Kiba… why did she seem fine around Busami...' and it was then she remembered something Sakura said, 'By that logic that means they're a murderer.' The word murderer echoed in her head till she sat up and looked at Sakura.

She then stood up and walked to Sakura. "So how exactly did Ino die?" She asked.

Sakura was silent then she lowered her head. "I-I don't want to talk about it." She said.

Hinata walked infront of her and sat down glaring, "I do, you must've seen it, how did the monster kill her?" She demanded.

The pink haired girl slid back slightly, "I said I don't want to talk about it?" She said again an edge in her voice.

However the heiress pursued, "And why is that?" she prodded.

Sakura began to sweat now, "B-Because it's a traumatic experience!" She said.

Hinata's glare hardened, "In that case talking about it is the best way to recover from a traumatic experience unless there's something you're hiding from me?" she shot angrily.

The pink haired girl stood up, "W-What do I have to hide?" she said just as angrily.

The heiress stood up as well but wobbled at the sudden change in stance, "I'm not stupid Sakura. I've noticed things, like your arm, it's fully healed isn't it? Rather quickly for a broken arm." She said pointing to Sakura's bloodied arm, which was coated with dry blood that was moistening thanks to the pink haired ones sweat. "Also when you broke that fruit open you did it quite easily with your left hand. I know for a fact your dominant hand is your right but you couldn't use your right it'd show that it heal, which would be unusual for a broken bone. Also your left hand is your weaker so it should've taken at least 3 strikes to split it open yet you did it in one." Sakura clenched her hands into fists, "Also when Kiba transformed you didn't seem surprised that he did. In fact you seemed to be expecting it. So then here's the big question have you transformed and if you did what exactly did you do when you were? Did you go nuts… or did you know what was happening?" Sakura had lowered her head, he faced shadowed by her pink hair. "Did you kill Ino… by accident? Or… on purpose?" came the scathing question.

Sakura chuckled then she began to clap her hands and went into a full on hollow laughter. "I gotta admit, I thought being starved half to death would've dulled your brain but instead it made it sharper. So then I guess I have a short story to tell." She said. "Your right I did transform but that was after I met Ino.

-Sakura's Awakening-

Sakura groaned as she pushed herself to her feet. "I-I'm alive?" She looked around trying to find Ino but didn't see her instead all she saw was the forest that seemed to be everywhere around her. Some plants she recognized while others she had no idea what they were but knew they wouldn't be out of place in a rain forest. Ignoring that she cupped her hands over her mouth and shouted, "Ino!" she waited for a response but got nothing. She rubbed her hands unsure of what to do, then realized she could only do one thing and that was start moving. And so she began to walk through this unknown environment wondering where she was exactly.

She wringed her hands nervously as a sudden realization hit her, 'What if there are wild animals here?' and with that she began to slowly move forward taking care to hide behind objects and peeking out before moving again. As she approached a tree she heard a whimpering sobbing. She flattened her back against the tree then very slowly, with as much caution as possible she poked her head out. She was relived to see Ino, though her friend was… naked her clothes utterly gone and before her was… a student. She didn't know who it was but recognized the uniform for a boy. She walked to Ino, "Ino thank god I found you what happened?" the sobbing girl looked at her, and the blondes eyes widened with fear.

She staggered back, "Get away from me!" she shouted.

Sakura stopped confused, "Ino? It's me Sakura what's going on? I'm not gonna hurt you or anything." But the green eye was wide with fear the pupil dilating wildly.

Ino stood up, "You won't kill me! I won't let you! I'll kill you first!" and it was then that Sakura witnessed the most bizarre thing in her entire life. Ino's body began to grow, but as it did her body morphed. The skin near her jaw split so that she had large open mouth, her teeth grew as well becoming flat rows with her upper and lower front teeth becoming bucked, while from her lower jawline large slightly serrated tusks and her skin began to thicken. Ino's breast seemed to do the opposite sinking into the skin shrinking till they became small nubs.

Sakura stepped utterly horrified, "I-Ino!?" She gasped but the changes didn't stop out of her back her sprouted a line of hair with curved rows looking like her body had blades covering her upper back. Then from her upper and lower wrist a nub of skin formed then began to harden into a hoof like protrusion however the inside of the hoof was hollow the final changes that occurred was near Ino's face where her nostrils turned up like a pig's snout and her green-blue eyes stared at Sakura, she scuffed her feet. Ino stood massive, and panting hotly. "Oh my god…" Sakura could only say dumbly.

Ino lowered herself the hooves closing over her closed fists. "I'll kill you before you kill me!" She panted and gave a pig-like squeal and charged. Sakura screamed and she jumped to the side however Ino caught her hand with a tusk and a large gash split her skin open like peeling an orange. The pink haired girl spun to the ground gripping her bloodied right arm screaming shrilly as she saw the muscle and blood spilling out of her wildly. Ino grunted as she turned and scuffed her front hooves. "I don't want to die! So you have to!" She babbled wildly her eyes rolling wildly in their sockets.

Sakura gritted her teeth biting her lip to ignore the pain and she ran to tree but knew it wouldn't provide the cover she needed. She heard the trampling footsteps and ran heading for another tree, but her rapid blood loss was blurring her vision and she stumbled as she ran to another tree. But she barely had time to catch her breath when she heard the tree she had been hiding behind earlier shatter as Ino plowed through it. She heard the monster girl snort and grunt like a wild pig and heard it snuffle. Sakura pushed herself off running again this time heading for a large bush. She dove down and got underneath and began to crawl. When she was underneath she turned to look behind her. She once again hear a tree get obliterated thanks to another charging attack by Ino.

Sakura panted and hoped that Ino wouldn't see the blood that was turning the ground crimson. She swallowed breathing in through her nose briefly and in that brief intake of breath she realized there was a smell in the air. She looked at her bleeding arm and sniffed again, the smell of blood. She turned back onto her front and crawled it a timely maneuver as Ino drew close then after some snuffling squealed, got onto her hind legs, her front raised and came down on the bush flattening it, just as Sakura got out. The scared girl got to her feet and ran again seeing a large rock she homed in on it determined to get behind it.

But Ino had seen her and gave a squealing cry scuffing the ground with her hoof and she charged. Sakura glanced back and the terrible thought of her being squished against the rock and reduced to meaty paste filled her. The action sent a burst of adrenaline through her body quickly nullifying the pain in her body and she gave a yell as she ran toward the rock and she reached out for it her fingers scraping the air. They touched the rock and she pulled herself up and to the side and spun around as her back hit the rock. The rock shuddered violently and a loud crunch sounded. She panted heavily the taste of blood reaching her tongue though there wasn't any blood. She swallowed then slowly turned, Ino was lying on her side her body twitching and convulsing as she laid there, a large wound on her skull blood pouring out of it.

Sakura held her breath, fearing the worst despite the situation, 'I-Is she…? Dead?' she looked into the boar's eyes and knew otherwise, the eyes were focused on her and burning with that rabid fear that was motivating her so. 'I-I have to know her unconscious! Yes if I do that… I can get away!' and she looked around and saw a large, moss covered stick, the adrenaline was still pumping through her and she grabbed it with her good hand and lifted the end then swung it around. The stick hit Ino in the head breaking off halfway. She squealed loudly and Sakura, the stick now lighter raised it high then began to bludgeon the boar. Each time she swung she did it with more force than the last. The stick was breaking, it's entire body crimson. Sakua kept swinging though till she heard the sickening 'splat!' She stopped the stick clenched tightly in her hand.

Hollow, shuddering breaths… however the breaths were too heavy, and even as she released the stick she knew something was horribly, horribly wrong. She stepped back her eyes focusing on Ino, whose head was utterly demolished a bloody mess. Sakura turned to avoid looking but her body swung like a pendulum and she nearly tripped, her feet thudding on the ground. 'What…? Why am I so…?' she grabbed a tree and felt her hand wrapping around the whole trunk. She paused then looked at her hand, a massive furry hand.

Sakura stood there, then she held up her formerly injured hand. "I wanted to help people to cure them… I was trying to protect myself from a monster… and in the end I became a monster myself." She then looked at Hinata her pupils contracting, "And if Ino, me, and Kiba could become monsters… that means you can too so I'm sorry but I'm gonna have to kill you. I don't want to die… and this new world it's a dog eat dog world now." Hinata could barely follow it, her mind was spinning and her stomach growling demanding for food. But she could see Sakura's body changed, it wasn't immediate but it was quite fast. Her arms began to bulge with muscles and her body grew close-set fur appearing on her body covering her arms, breasts, and lower regions. It was then steam erupted from her body covering her as loud snapping and crunching sounded. After several seconds a large hairy arm emerged hand spread open then clenched into a fist and slammed on the ground causing the cave to shudder dangerously.

Then from the steam emerged a monster. It looked like a giant gorilla with thick fur that covered it's chest and groin while the arms and legs had closer set fur. It's muscles were powerful and large bulging with even the slightest of movement and stood a good 9 inches tall. It had a gorilla face with Sakura's face over where the eye's would've been blending into the nose and becoming her mouth. Sakura looked at Hinata who was moving away. "Don't make this any more difficult than it has to be." She said and she lumbered forward while Hinata struggled to stand but her strength was non-existent her stomach was empty, her mind spinning, and her legs trembled she fell once, twice, three then four times trying to get up but it was all leaving her energy, sanity, and even her conscious mind. It was then that she lost all forms of consciousness and a new one emerged.

Hinata laid still while Sakura approached, she reached with a giant hand and pinched the heiress' neck with two fingers. "Good-bye." Said the monster girl and she squeezed but instead of a sharp crack or the feel of bones crushing between her fingers she found she couldn't even apply pressure to Hinata's neck. She looked and saw that protecting the heiress' neck was scales. Even as she looked she could feel hard muscles start to bulge along her neck and she stepped back quickly. "Transforming now!? But how!? She should be-!" But she froze as Hinata's body cracked and snapped and a low growling emerged from her throat. The heiress' body was growing and bulging larger and larger her clothes tearing themselves as she grew scales forming on her arms and legs. Suddenly something shot out form Hinata's back and Sakura pulled back in time to see a fleshy blood covered arm of some sort. She looked a bit closer to see that what it was some bizarre type of wing with claw like hand at the point the joint bent. The wings were leathery and damp though were quickly drying however they were too small to allow flight.

She backed away getting a good view of the transformed Hinata. Hinata's body was larger she stood at least a foot taller than before and her body was covered in scales save her chest, stomach and nether regions the scales had a slight black hue. She was still humanoid but Sakura could see a long serpentine tail waving behind her slick with flesh juices and with large barbs on the end that quivered ominously. The hands had morphed into 5 fingered claws with large talons as did her feet though they had formed into 3 large taloned toes. What worried Sakura though was the head, which was currently lowered preventing her from seeing anything she was a little surprised to find Hinata still had her hair. The sound of muscles moving and the strange claw wing retracted and then grabbed onto the new monster's shoulder settling on it comfortably as did another claw wing.

It was then a sudden surge of danger filled Sakura as the head raised and she saw the face the outer parts of her face, her cheeks, chin, forehead and neck region covered in scales while the inner part was flesh. Poking out of Hinata's head were a pair of horns that had a spiral formation that curved forward then up and on the side of her head was strange orifices that expanded and contracted rhythmically as if they were inhaling and exhaling air. The eyes that stared at her were pure golden, the sense of danger only increased as Hinata's mouth opened and breath of air was exhaled then the mouth and as it did the sound of flesh ripping was heard and Sakura stiffened.

The new monster's jaws opened wide, the gorilla girl moved but the body lunged forward and as it did one of the claw wings lashed out grabbing the former students' arm pulling it into the jaw that clamped down hard on her arm. Teeth came down with guillotine force and severed her upper arm off of her body. Sakura gave an animal howl as her arm spurted blood all over this newborn monster which spat out her arm and crouching down began to tear it apart piece by piece devouring the arm sating herself on the flesh.

Sakura trembled and her body fluctutated fear pumping through her as an animal knowledge of what Hinata was flooded her mind. 'An Apex Predator, the top of the food chain and capable of destroying it if it wanted to. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run.' The words blazed inside of her mind and she obeyed lumbering out with only one hand the other still bleeding all over the floor. However the new monster paid no mind, it's hunger was finally abated and it would enjoy this meal to it's very last.

Sakura ran as fast as she could she knew that she wouldn't get pursued now that it was feasting on her arm but she wasn't gonna try to take it on. She was out of the cave and panting when suddenly something flew down from above and slashed her shoulder with powerful claws. She screeched as she fell her arm jerking uncontrollably. She heard a screeching eagle cry and she raised her head only for it to be punched back down by the curled fist claw. She instantly knew it was that bird monster from before she waited, she had regain control of her arm and she clenched her hand into a fist waiting. She sniffed and she could smell it above her, circling then it dove down and when it was within range she struck out furiously swinging a powerful back fist toward it. The bird raised it's legs then struck out with the left and then the right bashing her head in. It was in that instant she realized she couldn't win. She rolled onto her front and pushed herself up. Tears were streaming down her eyes pain, fear, and despair was flooding her as the realization that she could die edged closer and closer. She tried to run when the monster swooped and rammed into her making her stagger back.

It kept doing so pushing her left and right with each swoop. It was then that Sakura realized, 'It's herding me! But to-!?' and that was when she slipped her foot stepping down into nothing. She reached up with her remaining arm instinct telling her to do so. She got a strong grip on solid ground when the bird monster suddenly landed. It walked forward looking down at her though she could not see it's face though she could sense clearly it's malevolent and pure spite that it had for her. Tears started to stream down her face, 'Why? What did I do?' she couldn't help but wonder as she saw the claw raise up the nails gleaming ominously, 'Why must I die? I just… I just… I wanted to live for another day… I wanted to-.' the claw slashed off her fingers and she fell into a pit filled with large rocks of varying shapes.

She landed with a sickening crunch her head split in the back by a sharp rock blood and brain matter oozing out. Her body twitching uncontrollably as the bird monster landed it's body shrinking down to show a human figure with white eyes that stared down with disgust then turned and walked away. Tears fell down her lifeless eyes, as she died with just one question, 'Why?' was the last thing that entered her mind as she died.

-Naruto-

Naruto went down the mountain his eyes narrowed, he could remember what he had seen clearly. The climb had been perilous and when he got to the top oxygen was a bit low but even with that he could remember clearly the view. He was on a giant island that was surrounded by water for miles and miles. 'There's no way out of here… and I have a power that I can't control yet. My first priority should be to get this power under my control.' He knew that unless he did he would be nothing more than prey and in order to survive he must control the monster that was now inside of him. He looked and saw Haku's grave. He paused, after some silence he continued walking, 'I should help those that need it… just like you did with me Haku… this new world doesn't need to be as cold as the last one.' He resolved and he began his journey in this new, strange and dangerous world and with it he asked himself one final question. 'What is it… that makes a man… and what makes a monster?' he would find out the truth of that question.

As he walked high above a winged figured hovered watching him with white eyes, and horns on her head shaped not unlike rabbit ears. She raised her head and spoke, "Whether monster or man... thou will all come to know death and violence... thou's life will for now on be the path of survival... whatever road thy path shall lead, thou will forever know such, and live on the fine line between man and monster..." and with that she vanished into thin air.