A Lost Soul
Naruto looked over at Kyuubi,
"So, you two were actually friends? Then… why did you attack the village….?"
"You'll learn the answers all in good time… But for right now, I think it would be best to concentrate on what's at hand. Naruto, you're not permanently sealed to this body, only for a little while, so we need to fix this terrible situation before too long…"
Kyuubi stood up, his wounds seemed to be healing quickly, but Naruto could still tell they were causing him great pain. "Listen, Naruto, we don't have much time… the only way I can keep you in this body is if Nami-san helps me with the seal, but seeing as he's been gone for a while…"
The pain of the sword had disappeared, but the cold steel seemed to stay within him, as he felt nothing but a cold emptiness.
"Kyuubi-kun, I have one question…" Kyuubi looked questioningly at Naruto. "If I'm not alive, then what is going on with my body, and what would sealing me to it do? If I'm dead… is there really any reason to keep me around?"
Kyuubi's eyes flickered, revealing a deep sadness within.
"Naruto-kun…. I'm an ally, which is something you'll have to understand. Nami-sama sealed me here in order to catch you when you fall, to give you power when you need it."
Naruto remained quiet, trying not to meet Kyuubi's cold eyes. All this time he had thought that Kyuubi was an enemy to him… but now? He still wasn't ready to trust the nine-tails, but, he argued to himself, Kyuubi had saved him from leaving his body…
Kyuubi turned to Naruto, "Listen, Naruto-kun, I need to ask a favor of you… I have an idea about how to get Namikaze here to help, but I need you to concentrate hard. Think back to the times when you were younger, back when Nami-sama was still alive. I believe that in reviving him in your memory, we'll be able to sustain him long enough for him to assist me."
He turned to leave, but then looked back at Naruto, "As for your body…."
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Sakura sat beside Naruto's limp body, tears streaming down her face. Sai was behind her, trying to comfort her, but not succeeding due to his lack of emotion.
"Sakura, these tears," He said blankly. " They're real aren't they?" Sakura covered her eyes and did not respond.
Sai looked up as several ANBU members gathered behind. He heard one whisper to another
"That's the nine-tails isn't it?" Sai could see Yamato fill several of the other ANBU members in on what had happened, and as he turned his attention back to Sakura he found her unconscious beside Naruto. The stress had proved too much for her to handle, and she seemed to have collapsed. He stood up as the ANBU picked up Sakura and Naruto and carried them back to the village.
Back at the village, Tsunade looked over Sakura and Naruto carefully. When the ANBU had arrived, she had been forced to hide her tears when she first saw Naruto's limp and injured body. She knew it was too late for him, and the thought of having to tell the village, and all of Naruto's close friends, hurt her.
She saw them both to the hospital and slowly walked back to her office, wondering if Kyuubi would break free from the seal. If so, she would have to work quickly to figure out how to remove Kyuubi and replace him in another body.
She pondered these thoughts, but also thought back to Namikaze. He had trusted Kyuubi to protect Naruto, but had Kyuubi been able to keep that promise he had made so many years ago? Kyuubi had agreed to the promise during the time he had begun betraying Yondaime.
Tsunade shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. First thing was first, she would have to figure out who Kyuubi should be sealed in. She was worried, this was the first time a jinchuuriki had died on such a short notice. She had no idea what would happen if she tried removing the bijuu from a dead jinchuuriki.
She pulled out the file previous ninjas had written on jinchuuriki, and began to skim the paragraphs. Tsunade had to figure everything out, and fast. The entire village was in danger, and she had no idea how long she had to solve the problem.
Shizune burst open the door, breaking Tsunade's concentration.
"Tsunade! You have to come quickly! Naruto… He's…. he's…. Please! You must come now!"
