Bloodlines?
Yes bloodlines. What do you know about bloodlines? Kyuubi repeated impatiently.
Naruto thought about Sasuke's deceased family and their renowned killer red eyes. His thoughts also drifted to the timid Hinata and her family's pale emotionless eyes.
Yes, those are the most prominent bloodlines in Konohagakure now. Of course, there are many different varieties of bloodline limits in each country. They exist to bring diversity and a step of power above the rest.
But what does that have to do with me? Naruto asked impatiently. He had grown bored the minute Kyuubi had shifted to lecture mode.
This is very important because…you have a bloodline.
The conversation between them descended to silence.
Naruto chocked with laughter. Yeah right. If I had a bloodline limit, I could have killed the villagers so easily.
Having a bloodline does not necessarily mean you're powerful. Of course you will eventually become powerful but you have to train and unlock the secrets of your bloodline before you can fully control and grow with it. For example, the Hyuugas were born with their bloodline limit unlocked but they still had to train to put it to use. The Uchihas' Sharingan are powerful but they had to unlock their Sharingan first through a crisis that places their lives in danger.
Naruto was still skeptical but decided to play along. Okay let's just say I have a bloodline. I obviously wasn't born with it, like the Hyuugas. About the life-and-death situation, I've been through enough of those in the seven years I've been alive than any of the villagers. Why hasn't my bloodline shown itself?
It has. At least, it's starting to. You were close to unlocking your bloodline limit last night, which might explain how you unlocked me.
Kyuubi continued before Naruto could retort with another one of his sarcastic remarks.
I think it's about time you learned the truth about yourself, now that you've awaken me and your extinct bloodline. You need the knowledge to protect yourself when the time comes.
Kyuubi paused. Naruto's attitude had done a complete 360.
Are you going to continue? Naruto asked, impatiently.
Kyuubi sighed. Listen carefully because I'm not going to repeat myself.
You belong to the Ukiyo Clan. Your true name would be Ukiyo Naruto of the Ukiyo Clan. That is your title. The Ukiyo Clan's infamous bloodline was the ability to control blood.
The image of the blood colored landscape suddenly flashed through Naruto's mind.
The bloodline's name is Chishiogan. It was renowned and feared in the entire world because of its ability to control blood.
Wait, Naruto interrupted, if it's so renowned and feared, why haven't I heard of it?
Approximately nine years before you were born, the Ukiyo Clan and the Chishiogan were supposedly wiped out.
But then how would I have it?
I do not know the answer but with you here in Konoha, I can only assume that your parents possessed the Chishiogan and had escaped here. Most likely they died seven years ago.
Kyuubi refrained from explaining but Naruto knew what he wanted to hide.
You mean seven years ago when you attacked? Naruto questioned smugly, hoping to make the demon feel guilty.
…The Chishiogan has many levels and the basic of the bloodline is revealed in the first level.
Naruto's eye twitched at Kyuubi's attempt to avoid the subject.
Would you like to try?
Why are you phrasing the question like I'm gambling? This isn't gambling! This is my life and bloodline we're talking about here.
Calm down. There's nothing to worry about. Everything will be okay. You get too excited over nothing.
You're too calm. You're tone is infuriating!
Surprisingly, Kyuubi ceased his talking. Naruto sensed the demon calmly waiting.
Are you finished yet?
Naruto fumed at Kyuubi's coolly detached attitude.
This is going to be a long day…
Naruto sat cross-legged on the forest floor, his head bowed, eyes closed and hands gently rested on his knees.
The trees waved in the wind but aside from the whisper of the breeze, the forest was completely still.
Naruto's eyebrow twitched. He furrowed his eyebrows in concentration.
Why are you trying so hard?
You told me to meditate to unlock my bloodline.
So if I told you to jump off a cliff, would you do it?
Naruto's eyes snapped open in disbelief. What do you-
Kyuubi sighed. What's the point of trying so hard when you know you're going to fail?
What?
And it's not to unlock your bloodline but to increase the chances of unlocking your bloodline. Please remember this. Otherwise you'll have a false idea that you are actually powerful.
Naruto tightened his fist in frustration. If I could, I would kick your ass.
Oh please give up that attitude. You have to get it through your head that you're as powerless as an ant. No, correction: you're as powerless as dirt. When you finally unlock your bloodline, and that is, if you do, then you will have graduated to the level of ants.
I wish that I had never met you. Naruto mumbled through clenched teeth.
Believe me, dirt, the feeling's mutual.
Naruto ran through his list of swear words and reluctantly returned to meditating.
You are so unworthy of me. Kyuubi mumbled with a coolly detached attitude and sighed.
Naruto's eye violently twitched but he chose to ignore the arrogant demon.
But since I am so kind, I'll give you another chance. You will prove your worthiness by unlocking your bloodline but you have a time limit. You have until sundown. That is all. Kyuubi finished with a dismissal tone.
Naruto's knuckles were white with anger. Iruka looked at Naruto with worry. He had dismissed the students ten minutes ago yet Naruto continued to sit there with an empty gaze and a red face.
"Naruto, are you-."
"SHUT UP!" Naruto exploded.
Iruka took a few steps back at the rude retort but his expression shifted from shock to maternal anger in a matter of seconds.
"What did you say Naruto? Where did you learn that kind of language?"
Naruto finally snapped to reality and realized his mistake. "I didn't mean you Iruka-sensei, I really didn't!"
"Whom were you talking to then?" Iruka asked, gesturing to the empty classroom. He crossed his arms over his chest and a belittling gaze was fixed on Naruto.
Naruto gulped and decided now would be a good time to escape. "Bye Iruka-sensei. See you tomorrow!"
He jumped out of his chair, narrowly missing Iruka's death glare, and ran onto the streets with a relieved sigh.
That was pathetic. Kyuubi commented with a bored face.
It was your fault. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have gotten into that mess. Iruka-sensei is going to kill me. Naruto mentally groaned.
Again, I say that was pathetic.
Naruto mentally growled but calmed himself. He realized that growing angry did not help his situation at all and it fueled Kyuubi's attitude. Kyuubi, was it? Are all demons like you? Naruto asked calmly, trying to imitate Kyuubi's attitude.
First, that's Kyuubi-sama to a piece of dirt like you. Second, of course not. I am the Nine-tails. I am more powerful than all other demons. And third, I'm sure that because you don't want to displease your Master. You are already thinking about a strategy to unlock your bloodline because you only have four hours left.
Naruto's head snapped up. His eyes widened. Oh damn it…
Naruto stood in front of a tall wire gate that extended to encircle the monstrous overgrowth and vegetation within it. He couldn't see even a meter beyond the gate. The rest of the forest disappeared into shadows.
An ominous creak startled Naruto. He looked over at the sign moving in the cold breeze.
Training Area 44
Congratulations, you've finally come home to this barbarous jungle.
You pompous asshole…
Kyuubi was taken aback at the language and the calmness with which the seven year old spoke. He coughed daintily and resumed his cool demeanor.
You are not worth my time but I will be judging your performance. If you act good, you'll get a treat.
What, you're treating like a dog now?
Naruto waited for the demon's answer. It never came. He sighed deeply and looked up at the ominous forest again. It looked dangerous but there was nowhere else to go. Besides, he was curious about his supposed bloodline.
Naruto took another deep breath and leaped over the wire fence.
Naruto meandered around the enormous trees in the forest. The sun's light sifted through the thick overgrowth. Underfoot, weeds and tall grass caught Naruto's foot.
As Naruto wandered, he came across a shallow stream of clear water. He kneeled down to drink some water when he heard a low guttural growl from behind him.
The child's body froze, tense and nervous. A shiver shot up his spine and sent wild thoughts to his head. The first and foremost thought was to run. His legs straightened and he leapt over the stream. His hands clumsily pushed away the stray branches as his legs pushed him forward. His breath caught in his chest in frantic pants.
Suddenly, his body was propelled forward and pain overloaded his senses. As he landed, his back numbed. He wasn't aware he'd been hurt until he felt a small breeze blow across his wound. Pain stung from his right shoulder to the middle of his back. Naruto carefully reached out and flinched. The movement stretched the edges of the wound. Naruto felt liquid flowing down his back and panicked.
A howl split the air. Naruto scrambled onto his feet and spun around to face the creature.
His eyes widened. The creature was at least twice as large as Naruto and half a head taller. Mangy gray fur bristled. The hackles raised and a low growl erupted from its throat. Naruto noticed with fear that blood coated the sharp side fangs. He took an involuntary step back when his gaze locked with his attacker. The animal's eyes were yellow with madness, rimmed with a malevolent red.
Naruto's body shook from fear. The emotion clouded his mind and judgment, blocking away all coherent thoughts. Naruto's eyes darted around frantically, searching for a person, an animal, anything that would come to his rescue. While he was preoccupied, the wolf readied for another attack.
The animal jumped into the air, aiming for the boy. Naruto dodged to the side. Each time the wolf attacked, all Naruto could do was barely dodge. Sweat poured from him as he panted for air.
I need to finish this.
Naruto suddenly remembered the kunai that he stuffed into his pocket that morning. He searched his jacket pockets for the kunai. Naruto breathed a sigh of relief as his fingers touched cold metal.
Naruto quickly took his kunai out and scrambled to hold it like Iruka had taught them. He riffled through his mind for anything that Iruka had mentioned about the kunai. His heartbeat raced as seconds passed. His breaths were increasing as the thought of dying came to mind.
The animal growled and charged at Naruto. Naruto held his kunai tightly and waited for the distance between him and the wolf to shorten. The wolf snarled.
"Stupid demon!" A man growled angrily and whipped his empty beer bottle towards Naruto. It shattered to pieces on impact. A thin line of blood dripped down Naruto's forehead into his eyes. His vision hazed over with red and the last thing he saw before he lost consciousness was the man's smug sneer.
Something inside Naruto snapped. Visions of attacking villagers flashed through his mind. He raised the kunai above his head and sent the kunai in a sharp decent toward the wolf's approaching body.
Everything slowed. Naruto's eyes blurred red for a second before his vision returned. The wolf's body outline dimmed to black, gray, and white, similar to what was also happening to the trees around them. Complicated red pathways in the wolf became more clear and distinct. Naruto, shocked at the sudden change of sight, hesitated for a moment. This gave the wolf the time it needed. It snapped out at Naruto, ripping off cloth and skin and left a gaping wound in Naruto's shoulder.
Naruto fell to the ground, rolling to the left to avoid the new wound on his right shoulder. He cringed and backed away to safety. The only kunai he brought with him was lying behind enemy borders, out of his reach. Naruto winced as the wind brushed the deep wound on his shoulder.
A growl drew Naruto's attention from his shoulder back to the fight. Naruto looked up, his eyes widened in fright. The wolf was hovering in the air, on crash course with Naruto. Naruto tried moving but with every movement, his shoulder felt like it was catching on fire. A crack behind him drew his gaze. His oversized jacket was caught on a thick branch protruding from the tree that Naruto was leaning on.
Naruto looked back at the wolf. It was closer than before. All Naruto could do was watch as his death loomed closer and closer. Naruto shut his eyes and waited for the impact.
"...Naruto..."
Naruto's eyes snapped open at the familiar voice. The green forest was replaced by a blood red sky. In front him, the wolf was nowhere to be seen.
In its place, the mysterious figure stood, offering him the rotating ball of blood. Naruto's gaze shifted from the stranger, to the ball, and back to the stranger, momentarily forgetting about the attack. His eyes were filled with curiosity as he extended his hands toward the ball of blood. As the space between Naruto's hand and the ball decreased, the humming in the air increased. Within a few centimeters to the spinning sphere of blood, Naruto hesitated. He was aware that he should be careful but something inside of him urged him to take the sphere. He threw all precautions to the wind and reached out for the ball. His hand touched the rotating surface and hesitated again.
The figure offered the ball towards Naruto once again. Naruto looked up at the shadow-hidden figure, then back at the spinning ball. He wrapped his hand around it and lifted it towards him. As soon as the ball left the figure's hand, it disappeared. Naruto didn't notice. He was too mesmerized by what was in his hands.
Suddenly, the sphere stopped rotating. It sprang from Naruto's hands to hover before him. Before Naruto could move, the sphere separated and zoomed towards Naruto. As soon as they touched his skin, they shrank and disappeared, leaving Naruto alone again. Naruto closed his eyes sadly. When he opened his eyes, the wolf had returned and the distance was rapidly declining.
" …use it…"
Naruto's eyes widened. That voice…that voice! His eyes darted around. There was no one here except him and the wolf. He squeezed his eyes shut. When he opened them the sight was different. Everything had slowed again. The outline of the wolf's body became hazy but the intricate pathways of blood became more distinct. But how was this useful? He didn't have any weapons and the distance between the wolf and him was rapidly declining.
Death. I don't want to die… I don't want to die. I don't want to die! I DON'T WANT TO DIE!!
A surge of strength flowed through Naruto. He pushed his hands out towards the wolf.
"I DON'T WANT TO DIE!!"