"When you walk to the edge of all the light you have and take that first step into the darkness of the unknown, you must believe that one of two things will happen. There will be something solid for you to stand upon or you will be taught to fly."
-Patrick Overton
This will also be a crossover with XxxHolic, Tsubasa Chronicles, Inuyasha, Saiyuki, and anything else I decide to add in.
He held the crossbow staring at it with interest. Sage said that learning how to use different weapons would help him in the near future, so without any complaints he started learning weaponry. Right now, he was learning how to shoot arrows and actually trying to hit the target in the middle but so far he only managed to hit near the middle.
Not what he wanted but it was a start.
Besides, no one gets things right on their first try.
With a sigh he tried again, getting in position he pulled back the arrow attached to the string being completely calm as he aimed at the center of the circle then released it, not hitting the center but close enough to it like last time.
"Almost got it, huh?" Sage walked over.
Naruto nodded, "Yeah, almost. Archery is a lot harder than it looks."
"I told you it would be, see Archery takes a lot of patience as well as a calm mind. If your mind isn't calm, then either are you." He cryptically said.
Naruto huffed, "You always say things that sound confusing."
Sage ruffled his hair, "Have you ever known me to speak like everyone else?"
"...No." Naruto admitted, pouting slightly.
"Then there you go."
Naruto looked back to the bow in his hand, "Hey, Sage-oji-san?"
"Hm?"
"Where did you get this bow from? It looks really pretty." Naruto said.
He was right. The bow was white with blue markings on it, from what he knew from a little, bows were normally brown and plain looking but this one looked really pretty.
"Ah, I got it from an old friend of mine." He got a nostalgic look on his face, "You'll meet her eventually, either on your own or she'll summon you herself. She's a very...curious individual."
Naruto didn't quite understand what he meant by that but he had this strange feeling that his 'old friend' of his was someone he couldn't wait to meet.
"What's she like?" He asked.
Sage smiled, "You'll know when you meet her."
Naruto was still curious but didn't ask anymore questions. This person he will eventually meet sounds like a kind and caring person.
'Maybe...'
"Ah, I know who his 'old friend' is," Yatagarasu aka Iwao, meaning 'stone man' given to him by Naruto said, "She is a very interesting individual, I believe you will come to like her very much." He said perched on the boy's shoulder as they walked through the forest.
"You think so, too?" Naruto said as he held the basket in his hand. Since it was taking awhile for the vegetables in the backyard of his own home to grow he decided to pick some around the village's forest.
Iwao hummed in response, "Yes, and I'll say this about her, too..."
Naruto didn't say anything as he waited for his friend to continue.
"She is very powerful."
The boy gulped wondering just how powerful this woman was and hoped he'd get to meet her soon. He focused his thoughts on something else as they arrived in a clearing where there were vegetables all around, from carrots, to leeks, and eggplants. One can do many things with the given vegetables he listed, and since shinobi and civilians never come here it was perfect for him.
"What possessed you to want vegetables all of a sudden?" Iwao wondered.
Naruto smiled as he plucked some eggplants and leeks and a few carrots too, "Sage said he was going to make some vegetable stew so I need to get everything ready, plus I need to take notes so I can learn to cook, too. It's one of my goals."
Iwao flapped his wings, "I see, an interesting goal indeed. Is making your own clothes a part of your goal, too?"
"Yeah, if I went out into the village and tried to get some clothes from a store they wont let me." Naruto said not sounding bothered by it.
"True, your clothes have more style to them as well as more protection." Iwao said.
"What do you mean?"
Iwao looked up, "Clothes with patterns sowed on them provide protection depending on what the pattern is. For example, the pattern on your hand-made clothes are butterflies, therefore you have the protection of the butterflies that are sown into your clothes."
Naruto was starting to understand, so since he made butterfly patterns on some of his kimono shirts and even some kimonos he'd started making that means he's well protected. Interesting to know.
"Sage-oji-san was talking like I was going to meet her no matter what." Naruto said as he collected the last of things he needed for the stew. He was confused when Iwao started chuckling as though he just said something funny.
"That's because all things are...inevitable." the crow said with amusement.
Naruto was even more confused now, what did he mean by 'all things are inevitable? And what does that word even mean? He should ask Sage-oji-san, he'll know what it means since he knows a lot of things.
He stood up leaving the area while still thinking about the Yatagarasu's words. Then there was that word he said.
Inevitable.
The word feels very important for some reason.
Naruto watched his uncle make the stew adding some meat in with it too and couldn't stop his mouth from watering. It smelled so good too!
"Where did you get the meat?" He wondered.
Sage smiled his back still turned to the boy, "I was wondering when you were going to ask me, to answer your question I got this meat by hunting and killing a few squirrels."
Naruto stilled, "You...killed a squirrel?"
Sage could feel the boy's anxiety and abandoned the stew for a bit to flick his forehead, "Don't give me that look, little sage. Everything must eat to survive, humans, animals, even plants. Man has always hunted animals for survival, its an unspoken agreement between man and nature, okay?"
Naruto kind of understood and at the same time didn't, but he knew what his uncle was saying is right so he nodded his head as the man went back over to the stew to check on it. Its not like he didn't wonder about where food comes from though, but soon forgot about it quickly. He was glad his uncle was here to teach him these kinds of things.
"Sage-oji-san, were you able to see yōkai when you were my age?" Naruto asked.
Sage finished up the stew and made two plates, "As a matter of fact I did see them when I was about your age. Care to guess what kind of yōkai I met?"
Naruto crossed his arms thinking about it really hard. He hadn't met many yōkai yet so he couldn't give an accurate guess.
"A crow yōkai?"
Sage place both plates on the table, "Nope, but good guess though. The very first yōkai I met at your age, was a Amazake babā."
"Amazake babā?"
"A yōkai with the appearance of a haggardly old woman from the north. Since an Amazake babā is practically indistinguishable from an ordinary old woman, its difficult to tell if she's a yōkai or a human." He explained.
Naruto took a bite of his stew and hummed with how good it tasted, "Was it a bad yōkai?"
"Not when I first met her, but she told me that back in the day she would visit people and ask if they have any amazake. If they answered 'yes' or 'no' then they would fall ill." He told the blonde.
"Fall ill? Like they got sick?" Naruto questioned.
"That's right. She also told me that some people in the village she was visiting would hang a cedar branch over their door to keep her from approaching their homes." He said.
"Did it work?"
"It did," Sage finished the rest of his stew, "When we first met and I told her that I could tell she wasn't human, she was surprised."
Naruto hummed and finished his stew, "What happened? Did she ask if you had any amazake?"
He chuckled, "The opposite. She asked if I wanted to have a drink with her."
Naruto blinked, "Did you?"
"I did. Sure I got scolded for accepting the offer afterwards but it was too good to pass up." He smiled fondly at the memory.
The blonde squirmed in his seat, "So...what happened to her?"
"Oh, we still keep in touch. If you like I could contact her and have her come here to meet you." He suggested.
"Really?" Naruto's eyes were brimming with excitement.
"Yes, now then. It's time to train again." Sage told him sadistically.
Naruto's spine tingled.
This was gonna hurt.
"This feels good..." Naruto sighed as he slid his whole body in the bath. He could feel his tense muscles begin to ease up and sighed. After lunch they got to training in hand to hand combat again, his uncle told him that tomorrow they'll work on one of twelve zodiac styles, and after that they'll work on his senjutsu chakra.
"How are your muscles feeling?" A female voice asked. He turned his gaze towards the entrance and saw Chiharu's twin sister as he called her. He created her yesterday after he finished his sowing for the day. The name he gave her was Chinatsu—meaning 'a thousand summers.' Unlike her sister who wore the color blue, Chinatsu wore a red kimono with butterfly patterns on them, silver eyes, wearing dark red lipstick, and one bang covering her left eye. They're identical twins, yet complete opposites. While Chiharu was polite and well-mannered, Chinatsu was easy-going and rude, but she wasn't rude towards him or her twin sister. She loved them too much.
"Better." He groaned, standing up out of the tub slowly as Chinatsu walked towards him holding out a towel. Giving her a grateful smile he took the towel from her and wrapped it around his lower area, "Thank you, Chinatsu."
"Don't mention it, Naruto-sama." She winked.
He went to his room and dried himself off. He decided to wear one of his handmade shirt kimonos today. It was black with gold dragonflies on it this time. Yesterday he decided to change the patterns on his kimono's, so for today he chose dragonflies. Putting on his grey pants, and his black boots he headed for the door, only to pause when he forgot to put on the bracelet his uncle gave him then left.
Sage saw his nephew come out of his room, "Going out for the day?"
Naruto nodded, "Yep."
"Going to visit Katsumi and Miyuki again today? Or even Ran?" Sage still couldn't believe the boy had taken a liking to the 'spider woman.' All lower yōkai were afraid of her, and it wasn't because of how she looks.
Naruto shook his head, "I'm just going to walk around with Chiharu and Chinatsu. Oh, and if I see any new yōkai I'll tell them to stop by here."
"I see, then take care." Sage waved him off.
"I will."
Naruto headed out the door, Chiharu and Chinatsu right by his side as they started heading towards the village. Sage watched them go with a smile, "Now then...I know she's probably gotten curious by now. So why not call her ahead of time?"
After all.
All things are inevitable.
Chiharu and Chinatsu were Shikigami. They were created for the sole purpose of protecting their master from anything they perceive as a threat. Be it human or yōkai, no harm shall come to him. Those were their thoughts as they walked around the village with their master and observed the humans around them. The looks they gave their master were...unpleasant to say the least, but Naruto didn't seem to be aware of it.
No.
He was aware, but didn't care about these inferior humans. The whispers started next, but this time it was about the twins.
"She has a sister?"
"And they're both following that demon brat?"
"How can they stand to be anywhere near it?"
"They must be demons, too! That's the only explanation!"
Chinatsu rolled her eyes, "These humans are so stupid its pathetic."
"They are. While its true we're not human I don't particularly like being compared to a demon of all things." Chiharu frowned.
"What I wouldn't give to teach these humans a lesson." Chinatsu thought out loud.
"Don't, we will only defend ourselves if Naruto-sama commands it." Chiharu told her.
"Think they'll be stupid enough to try something?" Chinatsu questioned.
"Who knows, but if they do...well, you know what to do." Chiharu said coldly.
Chinatsu grinned, "Hell yeah."
Naruto smiled as he heard the two engaging in a conversation they seemed to be really into. Looks like they're enjoying themselves, that's good.
"So, Naruto-sama, where are we going?" Chinatsu asked.
Naruto stopped dead in his tracks as he felt...something. It wasn't a bad feeling though, but it was sending out a signal to him. He could feel it.
"Naruto-sama?" Chiharu called out to the boy.
Said boy kept his gaze forward, towards the forest area and resumed walking, "This way." He told them. The twins didn't argue with their master and followed him to wherever he was taking them. Naruto was more focused on his destination that he didn't check to see if Chinatsu and Chiharu were following right behind him. He could hear it.
"Help me..."
'There!'
As he walked through the forest he saw a black cat, with two tails lying on the ground, shivering in pain. He wasted no time in going near the cat and picking it up as gently as he could, "Its okay." He said to the barely alive cat. Turning to his two creations he gave them an order, "Change of plans, we're heading back right now."
"Understood." They both said in unison.
Naruto headed in the direction to where his home was, along with the twin Shikigami. This cat has two tails. What are the odds he would run into a Nekomata of all things? But what bothered right now was the fact that this one was hurt, and badly. Hopefully Sage will be able to heal it because it really didn't look too good.
Practically crashing through the front door, Naruto urgently asked Sage to do whatever he could for the poor cat. Sage said nothing as he took the now unconscious Nekomata away from Naruto and into the back room somewhere. Naruto was left to wait alone until he heard some news about what could have possibly happened to the poor black cat. He went to the kitchen to make himself a snack and waited in silence.
"Waka, are you still feeling upset?" Chiharu asked, clearly concerned about what was going through his mind right now.
Naruto put the knife down, "I felt it..."
"Felt it? What did you feel?" Chinatsu wanted more elaboration.
The two Shikigami didn't hear anything and only followed after their young master because he felt something they couldn't.
"I..." he hesitated to get his words out, but managed to anyway, "I don't know how to describe it, but I felt this sudden emotion hit me full on...and then I heard a voice calling out for help."
That had never happened to him before until today. Granted it was a good thing that he did hear the voice of the inured Nekomata, but it was still strange to him that could hear it in the first place. He'll have to talk to his uncle about this.
Chiharu thought about what her creator said and had a theory, "Waka, I believe its possible that the reason you heard the Nekomata's voice is because you are now attuned to the voices of the yōkai that are gathering here in this village."
Naruto looked at her, "You really think that's why I was able to sense that Nekomata and hear its voice?"
"Yes, that is what I believe." She said.
Chinatsu also added in her two cents, "It makes sense actually. Out of all of the humans here you're the only one that has a special connection with the other side."
That did make sense.
No one in this village besides him can see or speak to the yōkai that have been gathering here because of him. There was this certain...connection between him and them that he doesn't feel with any of the humans here in the village for obvious reasons. But that wasn't important right now, what was important is the well-being of the Nekomata he found.
Hearing a creaking sound, Naruto forgot all about making himself a snack as he turned his attention to the door where Sage came out with the now sleeping cat. It looked much better than it before he brought it here, which was a good sign.
"Is it..." Naruto was hovering over the sleeping cat, his unspoken question still hanging in the air.
Sage rubbed the black cat as it purred in its sleep, "She's fine, its a good thing you found her when you did. Her injuries weren't as serious as they have looked, but from what I could tell this Nekomata was beaten and then abandoned right where you found her."
Beaten? Why?
Who could be so cruel as to hurt an innocent cat? Was it because she was a Nekomata and not a normal black cat? That's no excuse to hurt her like this!
Naruto held out his arms silently without a word, but Sage seemed to understand what he wanted and gave the female black cat over to the boy. The rising and fall of her back was proof that she was indeed alive and okay, but the bandages that were wrapped around her made his heart hurt. Beaten and then left alone in the forest. If he hadn't senses where she was, nor heard her voice then chances are she would be dead right now.
"Can I take her to my room?" Naruto asked.
"She's all yours."
Without another word Naruto went to his room, leaving Chiharu and Chinatsu behind in the kitchen with Sage. There was no telling how the cat would react when she wakes up, so Naruto thought it'd be okay to take her to his room. He placed her on the bed and simply left her there to sleep. It was warm and comfortable so she should sleep really good.
In the meantime he decided to get back to sowing some more cloths while waiting for the cat to wake up. Her injuries couldn't have been from another yōkai, they have a spoken vow that they will not harm each other while in this village. It couldn't have been a Bakemono because he wold have felt them, not only that but he had a feeling the creature wouldn't bother to leave her alive. So that only means she was hurt by humans. Humans from this village who have no problem being mean to him, and have now resorted to hurting an animal because it wasn't normal. Would they eventually do this to him to? Will they hurt him just like they hurt this innocent cat who did no wrong, and probably just wanted to make a friend? He had to fight back the shiver that tried to make its way down his spine. Shaking his head he went back to sowing, only to stop when he heard rustling and turned to see the black cat was waking up.
Naruto watched the cat as she slowly opened her eyes, surveying her surroundings before her eyes finally landed on him. It now became a stare down between him and the female Nekomata. There they simply stared into each other's eyes, waiting to see who would make the first move. To others this might not seem all that interesting and somewhat boring, but Naruto knew better than that. Sage told him that if you don't look a yōkai in the eyes then they will assume you either mean to kill them, or are up to something. So that's why he was looking this Nekomata in the eyes to assure it that he meant no harm and only want to help her recover and be her friend, if she'll let him.
After what felt like a millennium the one who ended up making the move first was the female Nekomata. She slowly rose on her hind legs before creeping towards him at the edge of the bed. He didn't move a muscle as she inched closer and closer towards him. Finally she was close enough to scratch his face if she wanted to, except she didn't do that. What she did do however was lick his nose then rubbed up against his face. He smiled as she continued to rub up against his face in what was probably gratitude for finding her and bringing her here. No longer hesitant, he picked her up and rubbed her back in soft, smooth strokes.
"I'm glad you're okay," Naruto gently said to her, "Sage-oji-san was the one that healed you, and said that you should be feeling fine now."
A purr was all he got as a response, which was strange because he could have sworn he heard her voice when he went to her location. Strange how she isn't talking to him right now though, or maybe she was merely sending a distress signal for help. Well, whatever the reason he's just glad she's safe and unharmed.
"How's our patient feeling?" Sage inquired as he stared at the two.
Naruto smiled, "She's feeling better now." The Nekomata was eyeing his uncle with suspicion before relaxing suddenly again in his arms. Maybe she remembered that his uncle was the one that healed her and didn't deem him as a threat? Its possible.
"That's good news, so have you decided on what to name her yet?" Sage questioned. Every time a new yōkai came to the village Naruto had a habit of giving them names, binding them to him without his knowledge.
The blonde thought about that to name his new friend. He didn't just want to name her "cat" or give her a cat like name. Her silly black fur reminded him of those from nobiliy, so her name will be...
"Hisa," he finally said, "Her name will be "Hisa."
Sage huffed in amusement, "Once again you think of fitting names for the yōkai you meet."
Naruto didn't respond to that and instead looked at Hisa, "What do you think? Do you like your new name?"
Hisa's response was to rub against his cheek with a purr, and he took that as she does indeed like it very much.
"She likes it!" Naruto said happily.
Sage chuckled, "That's good! Why don't you go outside and tend to the garden, while I check to make sure your new friend is okay."
With a nod, Naruto placed Hisa back on the bed and left the room. When Sage was sure that his nephew was indeed gone he turned his attention to the cat, "Color me surprised to see you here of all places...messenger of Omoikane."
Omoikane or better known as the "deity of wisdom and intelligence," is always called upon to ponder and counsel in the deliberation of other heavenly deities. Its been known to those in the Celestial Realm That Omoikane uses secret messengers and send them to the humans world to observe humans from afar. Truth be told, no one knows who he uses as his messengers, not even his own fellow deities. The only Sage knows is because he has been friends with the deity since he was very young. and because of this, Sage found out that he uses the Nekomata as secret messengers.
Hisa sat up as she eyed the man that was addressing her, "As expected of the "observer." You knew who my master was right away." She stated calmly.
Sage shrugged, "Not exactly hard since I'm the only one who knows that Omoikane uses the Nekomata as messengers. Its actually kind of sad that no one else, not even his fellow deities know about him using you lot as his own messengers."
Hisa huffed, "Indeed. You are a different story because Omoikane-sama trusts you, therefore we will trust you as well."
"Why, thank you." Sage bowed playfully before getting serious, "But the question remains as to why you are here in Konoha." The man already knew why, but wanted this cat to confirm it.
"Omoikane-sama ordered me to come to the human world to see Uzumaki Naruto," Hisa confirmed, "He has stated that he sensed a nostalgic energy coming off from the boy and sent me here to investigate."
Sage's eyes narrowed, 'Nostalgic?' What did he man by that, "While I'm not surprise he was able to sense Naruto's spiritual energy from here, what do you mean by "nostalgic?"
Hisa beckoned him to come closer so she could tell him the reason why. When he leaned down far enough, the black cat told the man why Omoikane-sama gave her such an important task. Sage's eyes widened before going back to normal. Leaning away from the cat he sighed before looking out the window to Naruto's bedroom, seeing the boy tend to the garden with his Shikigami.
"Somewhere deep down...I knew my nephew was more special than he realized," Sage finally said, "Is Omoi the only one to notice?"
"So it would seem, that is why I am," Hisa stated, "And since the boy has given me a name I am obligated to stay by his side. I'm sure Omoikane-sama will not mind."
"No, he won't." Sage agreed. Even Omoikane-sama wouldn't be angry if one of his messengers decides to stay with his nephew, which she doesn't have a choice in the matter seeing as how she's now bound to him because he gave her a name.
What's important right now is the very fact that Omoikane believed Naruto to be the reincarnation of someone very important to both Uzumaki and Senju clan. And he won't be the only one to notice for long. He'll have to prepare his nephew for what is to come, and it will be his choice to decide which side he chooses.
Humans or Yōkai.
Naruto's House, Nighttime
That night Naruto had a strange dream.
He didn't understand what it was about, but he was seeing the face of a girl about his age with long red hair and purple eyes. She was very cute actually. The girl was in a place that was full of light as she was sitting down on the ground talking to...
What...?
Is that...a giant fox?!
Looking more closely Naruto saw that it was indeed a giant fox with nine tails. And it was...chained up? That's so cruel! Why was the fox chained up in such a way? What horrible treatment! Shaking his head he focused on the girl as she moved her arms erratically as she continued to converse with the fox. At first he couldn't hear her, but after a little while her voice suddenly became very clear to him.
"Honestly, I really can't stand this village!" She complained, "Everyone treats me like I'm some kind of plague just because I wasn't born here!"
The fox huffed in amusement as it listened to her complain about the people of the village.
She then let out a sigh, looking sad, "I really don't like it here. I know I promised Mito-sama...but the people here are so different from the ones back home, Kurama."
Kurama? Was that the fox's name?
Kurama stared down at her before speaking, "Are you the type that gives up that easily?"
She looked up at the fox with a scowl, looking offended by his accusation, "No way!"
Kurama smirked, "Then what're you complaining for? You're stronger than them, and you know you are. Show them what you're really made of, Kushina."
Kushina...this girl was his mother! Then this fox must be the Kyūbi! To think he was this big, not only that, but he and his mother were very close. Close enough to call each other by their names.
Kushina then let a frown show on her face, "Kurama...I know what Konoha really wants, but I won't let them! Mito-sama was unable to keep her promise to you, but I will!"
Naruto didn't understand what they were talking about, but knew it was something very important. He watched as Kurama begin to smile, showing all of his teeth that looked to be quite menacing in fact, but his eyes didn't match his smile.
"Try not to die."
Kushina grinned, "Like I will-ttebane!"
Naruto woke up as a bright light blinded him as he heard his mother's words when she was but a child. She didn't know that when she got older she would indeed die, and leave him all alone.
No...
He wasn't really alone.
Because Kurama was with him, and has been since the day he was born.
He wondered if they could ever be like that? Kurama was really close to his mother, so he was worried that the fox may not feel the same way about him though.
With a shake of his head he got out of bed and prepared to get ready for the day. He was simply going to read and train all day today, and even take a break to tend to his garden.
And that's what he did, he read up on yōkai, while his uncle told him about the different kind of gods that watch over the human world, either out of curiosity or boredom. After that he got to training, then he started sowing some new clothes. This has become a rather nice hobby of his as of late, and to top it all off he went back to the garden to make sure his crops were starting to harvest. So far they were, and he was very happy about that.
Naruto went back inside the house as he was tired and exhausted from his daily activities today. He got ready for bed before he went to his room, his head hitting the pillow. Once his head did hit the pillow he was out cold.
That night he saw another memory fragment.
This one seemed far more happier than the one before. His mother was talking to Kurama again, but this time the memory was a joyous one.
"Kurama, guess what?" Kushina happily said to the giant fox, "I'm going to be a mother!"
Naruto felt something warm flutter in his chest as he saw his mother look excited about the prospect of being a mother. She was happy to have him...
That made him feel happy.
Kurama smirked down at her, "You a mother? Poor unborn brat."
She pouted, "Hey, what's that supposed to mean?!"
Naruto chuckled as he watched his mother get angry at Kurama for teasing her about being a mother.
Kushina gave the fox a determined look, "Kurama...you already know that childbirth weakens the seal, right?"
Kurama said nothing as he stared at her before his eyes widened, "Kushina, you—!"
"Its fine! I promised, and I never go back on my promises!" Kushina fiercely said to him, "I may be out of it because of the birth, but I refuse to let you remain sealed any longer!"
His eyes widened at his mother's declaration. So when she was about to give birth to him the seal weakens. His mother didn't want to seal Kurama again after she gave birth to him. His mother was truly a kind soul.
Kurama looked down sadly at what he'd just done in his rampage. Kushina was impaled, along with that blonde weakling by his very own claw. His own hands. Kushina smiled at him as she was slumped over, with Naruto crying the whole time.
"D..." Kushina spit out some blood as she tried to talk, "Don't look so sad...Kurama...I know you didn't mean to..."
Kurama said nothing as he openly sobbed, tears falling from his red eyes.
"I'm sorry...that I couldn't keep my promise...but please...please...protect Naruto..." with those final words, Kushina took her last breath.
Naruto openly cried as he watched this scene play out before him. His mother was killed by Kurama, but he didn't mean to. He wishes he knew how to talk to Kurama and let him know it wasn't his fault, but he didn't know how.
As if hearing his inner turmoil, the scene finally changed and Naruto was brought to a sunset like setting, with an orange mind scape. He walked forward while looking around at his surroundings, wondering where he was. In his mind he knew he was still asleep, but what he really wanted to know was where he was.
Not wanting to leave until he figured out where he was, he kept walking until he finally arrived at what he suspects to be destination. As he got closer to what appeared to be a cage, his eyes widened at what he saw inside. There, eyeing him was the very same large orange fox that would come to be known as Kurama—his mother's friend.
Unable to help it, tears streamed down his face as he smiled at the large fox, "Kurama..."
Kurama's eyes widened as he stared down at the blonde haired boy, who he managed to call from within his mind scape. The boy he hasn't even met before until today greeted him with a happy expression and was even crying. Not only that...but the kid said his name with such fondness that he hasn't heard since his own father and Kushina were still alive.
With a huff, he decided to greet the boy back, "Naruto..."
A meeting between the fox and the boy...
Both of their fates intertwined...
Next Time: Yasashī Me