I'd just like to start off by saying wow. I got over 1,000 views on my story in under twenty four hours. I haven't seen any of my stories do that well before! And thank you so much to everyone who reviews my chapters, especially recurring readers who take the time to review each one. That means a lot to me, so thank you.

Warning! Chapter includes lots of sad stuff. Gotta get it outta the way though.

Cold, dripping water was the first thing Naruto felt falling unto his scalp. With each drip, it seemed to awaken his consciousness a bit more each time. As he became more aware, so did a foul odor fill his nostrils. He couldn't tell what it was, for he had never smelt something so bad in his life, but it wasn't overpowering. Sound, was the next thing to return to him, as he could clearly make out loud breathing. Each hot breath seemed to wash over him in the worst way possible, making him more uncomfortable upon the cold stone ground he lay upon. Finally finding the strength to do so, he then opened his eyes. He wished he hadn't.

Before him, penetrating a great blackness held behind iron bars which seemed to be closed shut by a paper seal, was a gigantic, glaring red eye. Red bulging veins traced their way to the red iris, slitted to almost a sliver and directed straight at him. Before he had time to scream, another joined the other, just as intense as it's twin. Slowly, sharp, bloody yellow teeth became apparent behind a vulpine muzzle. The eerie glow of the maw seemed to lift more of the darkness and soon a gigantic fox appeared, tightly bound within it's tiny cell.

Every fiber of his being knew what this fox was, even if his mind refused to believe it. Before him lay the dreaded Kyuubi. The nightmare of Konohagakure, and the reason why he was hated, shunned, and the village pariah. He also knew that the fox was radiating pure malice and hatred, all aimed to devour the young boy. If it could reach him.

Swallowing the fear he felt, as he knew the beast couldn't reach him, he shakily stood. Doing his best to look the fox in it's eyes. "You. . .you're the Kyuubi, aren't you?" Naruto asked rhetorically, he just didn't know any other way to converse with this beast, if it even spoke.

The beast opened it's jaws, hot rancid breath spilling from it's mouth making the boy cringe from the smell. "Yes. . . that is I, and you are the cowardly little human who imprisons me." The Kyuubi replied, it's voice seemingly a mix between a human's and an animals.

Naruto did his best not to shiver, but he couldn't suppress the urge. The fox noticed this, and if a demonic vulpine could, it grinned with glee. "You should be afraid of me. For no longer will you be my jailer, but soon become you will become my host."

"W-What?" he exclaimed, "What do you mean your host?"

The Kyuubi's grin became larger as it laughed with pure satisfaction from being far more knowing of the seal that bound the two than his jailer. "Simple, you blonde idiot. When that damned human sealed half of me away into you, he made the seal so that it would slowly allow my chakra to be absorbed into your body, and once you reached full maturity, we would become one and I would be no more." As the Kyuubi spoke, it's tone seemed to grow angrier as it thought of being absorbed by some human. But, with another laugh, it seemed to calm itself. "But it is of little consequence, for now you shall be the one absorbed into me. Slowly I will take over your body, your right arm is already mine. And each time you draw on my chakra, I shall grow stronger within you."

Having a moment of complete understanding Naruto shook his head grimly, he had little idea of the fox, or what effect it would have on his body. After Mizuki had let the proverbial cat out of the bag, no one had explained to him the seal. He suspected because no one knew, not even the Third. "B-But, how? Why did the seal fail?" he screamed back at the fox, now feeling very upset at the idea of this stupid fox taking him over.

"Because, you almost died. Thanks to that the seal was almost broken. But because I saved you before death it was still intact but, I was allowed free reign of your body for a few blissful moments. While I took care of those missing ninjas, I was able to tamper with the seal to allow it to work both ways. Too bad I wasn't able to just destroy it."

Then, all at once, his memory seemed to bring him back to the events that transpired not even minutes before. He remembered everything, the pained look on his friends faces, as they all were killed. How he just watched, as they all died for nothing. How Kazuma looked at him, disappointed with him and how he sacrificed his life.

"My. . . my friends, they're all. . ." Naruto whispered to himself as he fell back to the ground on his knees, not caring the fox was watching, drinking in the human's sorrow. Tears welled in his eyes as the memories began to flash within the theater of his mind. Joy pain and sorrow all erupted at once within him as he cried now freely, trying to deny his only friends weren't dead.

The Kyuubi laughed as it relished in the anguish the human was emanating. "Yes, I love this! After all the years of getting to watch you cry and scream from being abused by the people you saved from me, I now get to see it up close and enjoy it! Suffer human! Suffer as I have suffered in this damned cage for thirteen years!" The fox screamed out, shaking the mind scape he resided in with not only his booming voice but whipping tails.

Still crying, Naruto jumped up and glared at the fox, hatred filling his heart as he charged the gate. "Shut up you stupid fucking fox!" he yelled, fist held high.

The Kyuubi just smirked as it released a wave of chakra that knocked Naruto back, sending him to the ground harshly and making him roll backwards.

Naruto felt himself continue to tumble, his mind growing fuzzy as the mind scape slowly went pure white. Then, he heard the fox's voice in his head again at a normal tone and volume.

"Four years. That's all you have until I devour your soul. But, I'll tell you one thing, because I want to see you try only to fail so I can see the pathetic look on your stupid face. The seal will work both ways, in four years we will fight, and if you defeat me, I will be absorbed instead. But you will fail. Because I am Kyuubi. So train, become as strong as you want, all it will do is make your body a better shell for me to fill."

For the second time in what felt like an instant, Naruto could feel the cold ground around him, but this time he felt alive. Beaten, battered and his body felt like a huge bruise, but alive. A breeze wafted over him, bringing a smell of death and blood. He grimaced, as he felt a coppery taste in his mouth that seemed to coat the entire cavity. Not to mention he felt chunks of tasteless, rubbery tough meat in his mouth. Spitting out a chunk, he didn't dare think what it was. Slowly pushing himself up, he opened his eyes and gasped, as he lifted his head. No longer was he with the Kyuubi, but he almost wished he was.

Looking ahead of him, he saw Zabuza, dead in the road with a large gaping hole where his heart would have been and missing a leg. Now he could guess what was in his mouth, but he had no clue how it got there.

What had happened? All Naruto could remember was getting sliced in two by Zabuza's sword then blacking out. Then, he remembered the how the fox told him he had free reign of his body for a few moments. Did. . . did the fox do this?

Looking further ahead of Zabuza, he also saw a strange body, it was headless, but wore a green robe and had scattered senbon around the corpse. Naruto tried to stand, to turn away from the gruesome killings, but stopped as he not only felt a foreign presence attached to his right shoulder, but a weight holding it down.

Looking over, he realized it was an arm, but he knew it wasn't his. It didn't feel right, like it shouldn't be there. The arm itself was barely a darker, red clay color than the rest of him. It was also a strange contrast to the rest of his body as it was defined with strong muscles, not obscene, but not unnoticeable either.

Is this what that bastard fox meant when it said it had control of my right arm? Not even wanting to know how he regained his right arm, he then saw the reason for his new strange limb being weighted down. It was tightly grasping the gigantic sword Zabuza had once used to attack them with. Lifting it, he was almost amazed by how easily his right arm could wield it. Before he had anymore time to contemplate it, he heard a faint, weak voice carry through the bloody battlefield. It was very quiet, but Naruto swore it sounded like his name.

"N. . . Naruto!" he heard again, it sounded like someone was trying to yell a whisper. Whipping around, he almost felt like crying again as he saw his sensei, lying on his stomach where Zabuza's blow had left him. He was staring straight at his last student with an almost relieved look.

Dropping the greatsword, Naruto charged over to his dying sensei, dropping to the ground and skidding on his knees as he neared. "Kenshin-sensei!" he cried out, grabbing his teacher and very gently turning him over. Holding him in his lap, he grew deathly pale as he saw the wound that was still slowly leaking blood.

"Na. . .Naruto, good . . . you're okay." Kenshin spoke between pained breaths. He was having to use all his strength to just speak, both the wound and poison afflicting him gravely.

"Sensei. . .I'm so sorry about -" Naruto started before he was cut off by Kenshin shaking his head slowly.

"Don't. . . don't blame yourself. . . b-besides you were able to. . . avenge us in the end." Kenshin spoke, coughing at the end, blood coming out of his mouth. "I. . . I don't have much time. . . Naruto. T-take my . . . necklace." He instructed simply.

Knowing this wasn't the time to deny his sensei's claim of death or to tell him it was going to be okay, he solemnly nodded as he gently pulled the lion necklace over and off his sensei.

"I. . .It's yours now. . . that n-necklace has been . . . been passed down through my family . . . for generations. I-I don't have a . . . son to pass it to. W-Will you . . . take the burden . . . of continuing my family. . . tradition?" Kenshin weakly asked, feeling his own life to start slowly fading.

Naruto just nodded, crying to himself as he quickly slid the large necklace over his head, the lion resting just over his heart. "T-thank you. . . now you have the lion . . . to help you and give you . . . courage. His name is. . . Hatzumatchi. . ." Stopping by another violent coughing fit, Kenshin could feel his soul being tugged by death.

"You guys were one of the best things to ever happen to . . . me. You're like . . . a little brother to me Naruto. Before. . . I go, will you deliver a message?" he asked, using the last of his concentration to speak.

"Of course sensei." Naruto gently replied, not trusting himself to speak as he continued to cry.

"Tell. . . Tell Kurenai the words I never could, t-that I . . . love . . . her. . ."

Naruto gasped in fear as he watched the light fade from his sensei's eyes as he spoke. As he finished his message, his eyes finally closed and his head gently fell against Naruto's leg, his body no longer housing the soul.

"K. . .Kenshin?" Naruto asked, not using the honorific. Gently shaking his shoulder, he prayed with all his might his final friend might come back to life, but nothing happened. "No. . . no . . . NOOO! KENSHIN-SENSEI!"

His screams echoed throughout the still mist covered road, his mournful cries of pure sorrow causing any animals nearby to duck their heads and hide from the poor boy who's heart felt like it was being ripped apart over and over again.

For the rest of the day, Naruto began the solemn duty of gathering up each part of his team, and buried them in graves that he did his best to mark with stones. Even Zabuza and the headless human that lied next to him, he buried them as well, but didn't bother to mark the graves.

Finally, he walked over to the gigantic sword that had remained untouched since he dropped it. Grasping the three headbands of his team tightly in his hands, he put them in his back pack and then grabbed the zweilhander, holding it with the tip touching the ground. "I swear an oath on this sword and Hatzumatchi, never again will I run. Never again will I let anyone precious to me die. I'll die before I let anything happen to them." He swore, in a voice that didn't feel like his own. Hefting the sword up, he decided to use it himself. It was too big for him at the moment, but he'd work around that. His right arm could wield it easily enough, but his body strained under it's weight. The weight of it, would always remind him the price of his cowardice.

It was a rather quiet early morning for Konoha, it was Sunday, so most businesses wouldn't open until later in the day or not at all. The only people out were some of the more hardcore ninja who took their training very seriously, such as Might Guy and Rock Lee. According to a pair of Chunin standing guard along the wall, they were already on lap three hundred and four around Konoha.

Every thing was silent, not even birds seemed to be singing as they usually did. Two gate guards sat in their booth quietly, still waking up after replacing the night guard not five minutes before. They watched as the sun barely started to creep over the horizon, light spilling over the Hokage mountain.

"Think anything will happen today?" A shinobi with a rather large scar on his face asked.

"Besides a merchant misplacing his travel visa? Nah, I doubt it." the other replied with a sigh. Sometimes he hated signing up for guard duty.

Then, as they chatting quietly amongst themselves, they started to hear footsteps coming from the direction of outside the gate. To the acute hearing of the scarred chunin, it was only one person. Standing up he walked against the edge of the counter to see who was coming.

Soon, a figure clad in bloody orange tattered clothing entered into view, a gigantic sword, stained with blood and gore, slung over his shoulder. His shirt was hanging off his chest, showing a gigantic red scar that ran from his left shoulder blade to just above his heart. The bloody swordsman had his hair matted down with sweat, dirt, and blood that scarcely covered empty blue eyes.

"What the –?" the scarred chunin exclaimed taking a step back in surprise before leaping over the counter.

The other guard stood up too, shock filling his features as he recognized the genin slowly walking into the village without looking at either of them. "Naruto? Where the hell is the rest of your team?" he shouted, taking the more conventional route of running around the counter.

Both ninja stopped the young boy who almost didn't stop even with their gentle grabs. After hearing the name of the blonde ninja, the scarred chunin vaguely recognized the kid.

"Naruto, where's your team?" the other asked again, fearing the worst.

Naruto just shook his head in an almost zombie like state. He hadn't felt tired or even weary, all he could do was continue to walk. His mind wouldn't stop plaguing him with the images of his team's death.

"Shit. . . I'll take the kid to the hospital, stay here." The scarred chunin said, picking Naruto up and placing him on his back. As he did, he grunted feeling the additional weight of the sword and briefly wondered where he got it or even how he carried it.

Sarutobi normally was in a rather bad mood when he was awoken early by his personal ANBU guard. Normally, it was because of some trivial matter that his old teammates, who were now the head of the village council, decided was important. But this time, he knew it was serious. All the messenger could tell his guard was Naruto had returned to the village alone and bloody.

Naruto, The Hokage started to himself, as he appeared via a shushin in front of the hospital, what happened to you now?

After getting the appropriate information from the nurses, he was told the boy was being given an examination by a medical ninja. He was asked to wait outside his room until the medic was finished. Even being the Fire Shadow didn't allow any leeway in the hospital. So, there Sarutobi stood, taping his foot uncharacteristically inpatient wishing he could at least smoke his tobacco.

Just as he was about to barge in and strangle the medic, the door quietly opened and the ninja dressed in the uniform white body suit stepped out. He had a somber look on his face that told the Third volumes. Even so, he had to ask, "Is he okay?"

Looking up surprised to see the Hokage, the medical-nin quickly bowed before slowly rising and shaking his head. "Physically? Besides a . . . odd abnormality, fine."

"Abnormality?" The Hokage replied, fearing the worst yet keeping a stoic face.

"His right arm is different from the rest of his body. It's hard to explain, it's like it's not even his. The muscles are developed like he was a full grown man and the chakra network is also matured, yet the bone length is proportionate to his other arm. I've honestly never seen anything quite like it Hokage-sama."

"I see, may I see him then?"

"Of course, maybe he'll talk to you, all we've been able to get out of him was the occasional nod or vocalization." The medical ninja stepped to the side of the door, and Sarutobi walked past him, opening the door.

The room was darker than the outside hall, the lights being turned off, and the room's only illumination coming from the open window. It was a single room, containing only a small white bed and side table. Hiruzen also briefly noted the blood encrusted zweilhander leaning on the side of the bed. What caught his attention however, was the young ninja whom he watched grow up and forced to endure being a pariah.

Naruto was propped up against the head board, staring down at his lap, unmoving and almost seemingly not breathing. They had removed his torn jacket and had it somewhat neatly folded on the bed at the edge of it.

"Naruto. . ."

Hearing his name spoken by a familiar voice, Naruto slowly raised his head, looking at the Third though his blonde locks still stained with blood.

Sarutobi could feel his age start to catch up with him again as he stared into the lifeless blue orbs of the young genin. He had seen them before, from other ninja who had come back from a mission alone or who'd lost a teammate. This time, however, it hurt him far more than any other. For not only was Naruto the one person he never wanted to see like this, he knew that it was his fault.

"Old man." Naruto replied, relieved to see the Hokage. Tears began to well in his eyes, as he felt his defenses break down at seeing the man he considered a role model and grandfather.

Hiruzen stepped forward with his arms wide as Naruto clutched onto the Hokage, crying his eyes out into his robes as he had done so many years before as a child. All the Sandaime did was gently pat his back as he waited for Naruto to stop crying, for he knew Naruto's life was about to get even harder.

For a ninja to return alone from a mission was something highly controversial. Rumors of the survivor being a coward and leaving his comrades, or even a traitor. Most just accepted that the team fought another equally skilled team or a powerful ninja, and that it was just an unhappy circumstance. But, for a genin to return alone was even worse. Then, being labeled a coward or traitor was almost assured, as was a thorough examination by the ANBU interrogation squad. And though despite the Hokage's assurances, the jonin council, the village council, and the clan council all almost unanimously voted to put Naruto Uzumaki through the full interrogation tour. From mind probing to torture would be allowed, and encouraged.

Not being able to stop the motion weighed heavily on the old Hokage's heart, as he watched from behind a one way mirror Naruto's mind probe. He was covered from head to toe in seals that would prevent any mind blocks that had been built to surface.

Jonin Inoichi Yamanaka was conducting the probe, his face covered in sweat as he explored the memories of Naruto, having to be extremely careful of how he treaded. For there was another tenant inside his mind, one that could possibly kill him if he crossed paths with it.

After almost an hour of searching, Inoichi let out a gasp as he fell backwards, tears suddenly springing to his eyes. Quickly rubbing away the tears and trying his best to banish the lingering emotions he sometimes absorbed from his examinee's, he turned towards Ibiki Moreno.

"His story checks out sempai. The things he had to endure were. . . horrible." He spoke, shuddering at the last bit. It was always a little unsettling to the older man how easily the mind transfer could influence him. It was something that was hard to avoid, but happened sometimes nonetheless.

Ibiki nodded, but didn't look entirely convinced. "No offense Inoichi, but I'll be conducting my own tests, we don't know if the Kyuubi has erected any strong barriers to elude you from the truth. If he checks out after I get through, then I'll be okay to let him go." He replied. Then, motioning to the two ANBU who were acting as guards for the boy, he instructed them to pick Naruto up and follow him.

Still watching from behind the glass, the Hokage couldn't help but send out an apology to Naruto for what he was about to endure.

After an agonizing three days of torture and sleep deprecation, Ibiki finally gave his approval of Naruto as well. The things he'd done to the boy might of even broken the special jonin. What almost worried, even scared the sadist, was the fact Naruto had said a single word the entire interrogation process. He hadn't begged him to stop, he didn't scream and cry. At the end of the three days, when he released Naruto, he stopped him.

"Tell me why you never asked me to stop." He had asked, honestly curious.

"Because I deserved it." Was all the reply he got as the runt dressed in the new change of clothing that had been brought to him and took the greatsword that they confiscated.

As he watched the blonde genin silently and slowly walk away from the interrogation building towards the hokage tower, he shook his head. "The shrinks would have a field day with that kid." Sighing, he decided it would be best to get started on the lengthy paperwork that awaited him.

The Hokage rubbed his temples as he observed the 'new' Naruto that stood in front of him. After returning home to shower and get the grime of a weeks worth of battle and torture off him, Naruto reported to the Hokage for a final debriefing.

"So. . . you have four years until the Kyuubi absorbs you?" The Hokage repeated back what he just heard. It was bothering him how Naruto's personalty had done a complete one-eighty. It made him wonder if he should get the genin checked for post traumatic stress disorder.

"Yes, Hokage-sama." Naruto replied, his voice no longer containing the joy and innocence it once had.

Sarutobi sighed as he only guessed the consequences of this. "In that case, I'm making this an S-class secret, no one but the people who already know can this be discussed with. Are we clear?" he asked, praying the interrogation squad had enough sense to keep their mouths shut until he could speak to them. Receiving a nod in reply, he leaned back in his chair as he took a long drag from his pipe. He'd already smoked more in the past four days than he usually does in a week. Then, he remembered the zweilhander that Naruto had yet to get a sheath or holder for, as it was leaning against the wall behind Naruto.

"About that sword, why do you have it?"

"It's to serve as a reminder to me." The blonde replied, glancing behind him to the giant sword. His eyes seemed to glaze over for a brief second as memories floated to the surface.

"Naruto, you shouldn't blame your –"

"Yes I should, it's my fault they died!" Naruto screamed back, showing more emotion than he had since the hospital visit.

Sarutobi was slightly taken aback by the outburst, not used to seeing the boy angry towards him. "You couldn't of taken on Zabuza by yourself. You know that." Then, he bore his eyes into Naruto's own, deciding that the boy needed a push in the right direction. "Do you really think your teammates would be happy, seeing you like this? Their death, their sacrifice deserves more from you than pouting and feeling sorry for yourself."

The blonde's head snapped up, anger in his eyes. "How the hell would you know?" He replied, not thinking.

The Hokage's eyes hardened as his stoic mask almost broke into one of annoyed anger. "Naruto," he started, his tone harsh. "In the many combined yearsI have been Hokage I have known death and sorrow beyond that which you can comprehend." His reply seemed to somber the boy, but the Fire Shadow wasn't done yet. "One thousand three hundred and twenty nine shinobi have died in the line of duty since I have been Hokage. Not to mention friends and family I have lost as the years pass. Each and every single one of them I sent to their deaths, in not only in the second shinobi world war, but in missions from as large as an assassination attempt to killing bandits. Every team that has come back missing a member, every report I receive of ninja killed in action weighs down on my soul."

Now the young genin seemed genuinely sorry and remorseful for what he said, but Sarutobi knew he had to make one final point. "I could be like you, and lose my will to live all together, blaming myself for their death, and dishonoring their very memory. Or, I can be strong, because I know they wouldn't want me to be anything else. It is not only my duty, but my honor to remember those who died for their village, and the tell others of their valor."

Taking a deep breath, he leaned back in his chair, as he started to feel every wrinkle in his old, tired body. "Never forget Naruto. But don't let their deaths weigh down your life."

Silence reigned supreme in the Hokage's office as Naruto let all the things Sarutobi told him sink in. With a final, shaky breath, he nodded as he looked the old ninja in the eye. "I won't. . . Old man."

Hiruzen smiled, grateful to hear his nickname again. "Good. Now, I want you to take a two week break from active duty. Take that time to let yourself heal. You're dismissed."

Naruto bowed, before walking out of the room trying his best to keep his head held high. He had to return the possessions he collected from his teammates to their families now, and hope they wouldn't completely shun him.

Much to his complete surprise, neither Shin's or Kazuma's parents were angry with him. They had already received the news from the Hokage who delivered it personally. Shin's parents were civilians, they had been dreadfully afraid of this day, but didn't blame Naruto. Kazuma's parents were much the same, but seemed to take the news better. They had already prepared themselves for death, for either themselves or their son's, they just wished it hadn't been so soon. Both families had been immensely grateful to get back the headbands of their fallen sons.

Now Naruto only had one final stop.

Hearing a light knock at the door, Kurenai put down the romance novel she'd been reading and wondered with a smile if it was Kenshin. She'd been actually surprised at how much fun she had with the handsome Jonin. Even though he was a little over the top, he was very caring and romantic. It made her wish she had given him a chance before. But, now she knew they had time.

When she opened her door, however, she saw Naruto with an impressive sized sword slung to his back. It looked a little awkward on the genin, as about a foot of the blade and the handle stuck out over his shoulder, but he seemed to be hefting it around easily enough. "Naruto, to what do I owe this pleasure?" Kurenai asked, stepping aside to let the boy in.

Naruto only shook his head as he looked back up at her. "Kurenai-san, I have bad news."

Fear clutched the kunoichi's heart as she knew he would only have one reason to bring her bad news. No, don't let it be. . .

"Kenshin-sensei is. . . he's dead. He was killed in action by an enemy ninja." He whispered, kicking himself for being so weak. He had practiced the speech a hundred times as he traveled to her home, but still couldn't find the strength that the Hokage had.

The genjutsu master almost felt like falling to her knees. Instead, however she kept up a brave face as long as she could, not wanting to break down in front of a genin. "I-I see. . ."

"I was with him, at the end. He wanted me to deliver a message."

"Naruto you don't –" she started, fully aware of what he was about to say.

Ignoring her, he interrupted her, wanting to fulfill his sensei's last request. "He wants you to know, that he loves you."

Kurenai bit her lip as she clenched her eyes shut. She knew what he was going to say, but still wasn't prepared for it. Kenshin had declared his love for her before, but she could almost feel the emotion he had at the time when he had given the message.

Knowing she wanted to be left alone, Naruto bowed to the Jonin. "I'll be on my way now." With that, he turned and quickly ran off.

Shutting her door, Kurenai pressed her back against it, and let the sorrow she was hiding go. Sliding down the wooden door she cried into her hands at the loss of her first love.

Well, there's another chapter, sorry if this one is shorter than the rest, but I actually wrote this in one day. I know, am I good or what? Anyways, the next chapter will be a lot less emotional, and will focus on forwarding the plot. Maybe even some NaruHina fluff if I get motivating reviews. *hint hint hint shameless hint*

Till next time, Shinobi no Ryu