Embraced by Crimson

Chapter 7: Disrupting the Balance


Konoha Rooftops,

Immediate aftermath of the invasion

On a lone rooftop - the only one to survive the battle that had taken place around it - ten members of ANBU and two prone bodies could be found, still as death itself. Surrounding them was the remains of the epic struggle between five kage-level ninja. Where there had previously been wide and flat roofs there was instead gaping openings to the buildings below. Wood and stone were jutting out and collapsing everywhere. The remains of what had once been an incredible forest was now nothing more than a destroyed husk, flames still licking on the dying trees.

The air itself was still saturated in chakra and the ANBU knew that if anyone less than jonin-level were to enter the immediate area right now they'd likely collapse from the pressure. It was often said that powerful ninja would transform the very landscape when they fought and this time, in the absence of an available environment to destroy, it seemed these powerful ninja had instead transformed the feeling.

Because now, with two souls being revived and the Shinigami itself being summoned, all that the ANBU could feel was death.

That only minutes ago there had been three Hokage and Orochimaru of the Sannin - four S-rank ninja - doing battle here was alien. The Sandaime's struggle against Orochimaru and the Nidaime had been nothing short of awe-inspiring for the ninja watching. It was exactly like the legends told in the textbooks. And if that wasn't enough then Hashirama Senju - the greatest ninja behind perhaps only the purported Sage of the Six Paths - had been here and he had fought one of their own; Naruto Uzumaki.

And with that thought the ANBU Captain corrected his previous assessment of four S-rank ninja to five because if there is one thing he was sure of it was that today he'd seen the birth of a legend. Naruto Uzumaki was not in any way, shape or form simply an A-rank jonin. Holding off the First Hokage demanded strength that could only be wielded by the greatest ninja alive. It didn't matter whether the Senju had been at full strength or not; Naruto was twelve. Yes, the ANBU captain was sure he'd just seen the reveal of the leader of the next generation.

The very fact that the Sandaime had died to save the boy was symbolic in and of itself.

The ANBU Captain ceased his thoughts, focusing on the situation. It had only been seconds but it was still vital seconds lost. While all the ANBU around him stood silently, taking in the fact that their leader had just died - that they had effectively failed at their only purpose - he considered the next course of action. When he gazed upon the shuddering frame of the unconscious Naruto, he immediately knew what he had to do.

"Can you save him?" He broke the silence, directing his question at the med-nin beside him. The man quickly moved toward the boy, his hand flashing in some sort of diagnostic jutsu. As he moved the injured body of the jonin his face drew into a grim line - though no one could see under his mask.

"If we get him to the hospital soon he might survive," As he spoke ANBU members were already moving. Two of the eight surrounding the battlefield broke off and approached the blonde jonin, preparing to take him into their arms, "Full recovery though..." A pause, "It's out of my hands."

The ANBU Captain nodded slowly, understanding implicitly what he was saying, "Take him." At this the two ANBU members holding Naruto grabbed him and left. The med-nin meanwhile grabbed the severed limb of the blonde and quickly followed after. It was a twisted sight; the body of the jonin being followed by his separated arm. Injuries like that spelled doom for weaker ninja and were significant setbacks for even the most talented.

The ANBU Captain returned his gaze to the body of the Sandaime Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. He sighed.


Sasuke didn't move from where Hiroki had saved him throughout the entire invasion. He ignored Neji's orders to help in evacuating and he even ignored the subsequent full retreat of the enemy when Orochimaru's defeated echoed across the village. When the sounds of battle died down and a chunin passed him, giving a cursory glance at the scene of the deceased Hiroki before a pitying expression rested on his face, Sasuke still didn't move. Outwardly the boy didn't react to anything.

Inwardly, emotions were consuming him. He'd been so cruel - so dismissive - to his obnoxious teammate. He'd made it very clear how little he thought of his entire team and how little they mattered to him. In fact, he was sure almost all of Konoha recognised that he had no interest in forming bonds of friendship or otherwise with anyone at all. He'd made it very clear that he had no feelings for those around him.

So why did Hiroki die for him?

And why...

Why did it hurt so much?

"You idiot..." Sasuke muttered lowly, an unknown emotion entering his voice. His body shuddered slightly and he felt a twinge of something in his eyes. He realised with a start that his body was trying to cry. Unfortunately, he'd long since lost the ability to. Nothing exited his eyes and instead he simply shuddered occasionally, a blank stare attached to his face.

The black flames that had killed Hiroki's killer were still flickering angrily, the body of the man long since having been reduced to ashes. When he took notice of this the fire suddenly stopped and disappeared altogether before a piercing pain struck Sasuke's eyes. He raised a hand to touch them before feeling something wet and sticky sliding down his cheeks. He touched it and held his fingers out in front of him.

'My eyes,' Sasuke wondered, 'are bleeding.'

If there had previously been any doubt before Sasuke now knew with absolute surety that he'd unlocked the Mangekyo Sharingan. Obviously Hiroki's death had triggered it and the black flames must have been summoned by him instinctively. The Uchiha recognised intrinsically the sheer power he now held in his eyes - something his brother held. Still, the boy hesitated. Hiroki's death was what caused this activation.

Sasuke asked himself; if it meant Hiroki lived would he give up the power?

The Uchiha wasn't sure he liked his answer.


When Tsunade finally found herself in the catacombs of the hospital - one of the most secure locations in the entire village - she was greeted with a horrifying sight.

"Hold him down!" A medic-nin shouted over a crowd of similar ninja surrounding a single operating table. From her position several feet away the blonde Sannin couldn't see who exactly the medical experts were working on but from the blood that was literally coating the walls she was sure they were either doomed or not far off it.

"We're losing him!" Another voice pierced through the air, "Damnit!" Tsunade slowly moved forward, swalloing the lump in her throat that had formed at the sight of the bloody visage. She was afraid of who she was going to see dying but something inside her willed her on. Tsunade was compelled to know who it was.

A medic-nin, clearly one of the more experienced if the way the group surrounding the table moved out of his way, announced, "Forget about the reattachment, just focus on stabilising him." The sharp intakes of breath by several people indicated to Tsunade that clearly the person was incredibly important. When she finally got a glimpse of who it was she felt her heart stop, body shuddering in physical pain.

It was the blonde brat, Naruto - the one who'd dragged her back to Konoha.

'No...' Tsunade felt devastated. Just when she thought she'd found someone to believe in the Sannin was instead being forced to watch another person die. Another person leave her behind.

"B-But sir, he won't be able to-"

"It doesn't matter!" The man snarled in reply, "He was a lost cause as soon as we got him in here, the only person who could fix something like this is Tsunade of the Sannin and do you see her around here!?"

And then, as suddenly as the despair was clutching at her, it disappeared. The mention of her name struck Tsunade in her core. It was almost like destiny that she would walk into this room - to this particular patient - and how cruel fate was, to put her in this position. But then, the blonde kunoichi knew that no matter how afraid or resigned she was she'd never before backed down from the chance - the opportunity - to save someone precious.

"Out of the way." She growled, stomping forward without hesitation. At the sound of her voice dozens of heads whipped around in surprise to stare at her, having not noticed her entrance. Shock and awe was visible on their faces; they were seeing a living legend in their field and the only one who could possibly save the jonin - as if the gods themselves wanted Naruto Uzumaki on the table to survive.

"T-Tsunade-sama!" The man from before uttered in amazement.

"I said," Tsunade's voice grew powerful and her chakra began to coalesce around her hand in preparation to heal the boy, "Get out of my way!


Jiraiya entered the command centre of the ANBU HQ with a grimace in his step. As soon as he took one step inside all movement in the room ceased as the countless ninja around him stopped in respect for the appearance of the Sannin before activity once again resumed seconds later. The Toad Sage could see hurried chunin carrying what was surely casualty reports to and fro as well as several Yamanaka linked up to machine that was the communication system of Konoha, passing on orders to the ninja still out on the field.

Shikaku, who was situated in front of a table in the middle of the room, inclined his head slightly as the Sannin neared.

"Jiraiya-sama." He greeted gruffly.

The man in questioned simply crossed his arms, "Shikaku. I trust you've heard of sensei's passing." He almost hissed in pain as he spoke, doing all he could to hold himself together. The Sandaime had certainly never been the kindest teacher to him - they'd butted heads on more occasions than he could count - and the man's favoritism for the traitor had broken something between them that couldn't be fixed, but he was still his teacher. He was probably the only family he had left.

Well, that was excluding Naruto who - according to current rumours - was apparently in his own struggle to survive right now.

"Yeah," Shikaku admitted slowly, "So you're taking over then?" It was a simple question but it was loaded.

"Temporarily. I have absolutely no interest in that death sentence." It was ironic really that the famous Jiraiya of Konoha, the purported last loyal and devoted Sannin, had such a similar belief about the position of Hokage as his female teammate. The man was sure if people knew his true thoughts on it much of the allure of his naive idealism over Konoha ninja would be broken. After all, he was supposed to be the proud and powerful student of the Sandaime - unbroken and unbowed to the reality of the world.

Sadly, Jiraiya had long since decided he'd never touch the position. Not only was he not suited to it - if the foolish elders tried to do to him what they did to his sensei he'd have them hung, drawn and quartered and the very idea of trying to balance the powers of the clan disgusted him - but he also knew the greatest cost to those who inhabited the seat. If you were Hokage you were destined to lose your humanity, in some way or another - whether through self-sacrifice and duty like the First and Fourth or through ruthless pragmatism like the Second and Third.

No, Jiraiya would never take up the position - he pitied whoever was made the next Hokage.


"You're weak." The guttural voice cut through the air harshly.

Naruto, lying in the waters of the imaginary sewer that was his mind, nodded, "I know." Opposite him the hulking shape of a fox could be seen resting on it's paws. A loud barking laughter erupted from the creature echoing through the gate that separated them.

"You're a fool." The Kyuubi continued maliciously.

"I know." Naruto repeated with the same resigned acceptance.

The fox grumbled darkly at this, "Feh! Humans." He snorted in disgust, "I'll never understand you loathsome creatures."

"That makes two of us." The blonde shrugged.

"Ah, yes. I often forget..." The Kyuubi let a dark smirk fall across his face, "You're quite the broken animal aren't you? And now, your body reflects your mind." Both knew he was referring to the injuries he'd sustained in battle.

"Did you bring me here just to taunt me, Kyuubi?" Naruto asked wearily, long since over the habits of the demon sealed in him.

"What will you do now, I wonder? A weapon as damaged as you are is even less useful than the common tools of this wretched world..." The fox hummed in thought, "Even if you don't die what use is a crippled container? Hmm."

It was clear what the demon was implying; he'd accepted his inevitable fate of being removed from Naruto and placed in another host.

Naruto didn't rise to his jeers, "I can release you, if you'd like." There was a pause as the boy considered what he'd just said.

"What?" The fox was likewise just as caught off-guard by his words.

"So long as you promise never to harm Konoha... I'm willing to let you go if it does come to that."

"Why?" The Kyuubi demanded in anger, furious at the audacity of the boy.

"It'll mean I've failed what my father entrusted me with." The boy explained calmly, "And if that's true then I don't see any reason to prolong your sentence."

"And what of Konoha? What of the precious balance?" The Kyuubi sneered at this.

"I'm the last Uzumaki left aren't I? There aren't any suitable hosts left for you," He winced before concluding, "Which means the next person used would probably be in constant pain and would struggle with their condition."

The fox nodded, "They'd die within two decades." It was still a lot of time to Naruto but to the fox it was nothing - merely the blink of an eye. Still, dooming someone to only twenty years of life wasn't something the boy was comfortable with.

"I think about the life of a Jinchuriki - it seems we're doomed to either follow my path or Gaara's. Servitude or madness..." Naruto trailed off, as if he didn't even want to ponder what he was saying.

"So philosophical..." A dark smirk greeted Naruto, "Don't tell me your impending fate has spurred these thoughts?" Naruto ignored the words of the creature.

"It must make for a terrible existence, living how you do." When the Fox merely blinked in reply Naruto elaborated, "I think, if Jinchuriki are doomed to one or the other you're destined for both." The boy sighed, "Now I only have a duty to the dead." Images of the Sandaime and of his parents flashed through his mind, "And it's not enough to convince me to enslave you once more. So if it does come to that then... I'll free you - provided you don't touch Konoha of course."

Silence.

Then, a booming laughter reverberated in the sewer, "You have amused me Naruto Uzumaki." The fox grinned, "I suppose it's only fair that I save you from your sentence then." At this chakra from the beast flew outward, toward Naruto, "Accept my gift and just this once I will help you beyond my own needs."

Naruto blinked in surprise at the fox, confused by the words. Before he could contemplate them however he felt a blinding, white-hot heat strike his body and envelop him. It was simultaneously excruciating and relieving - like bathing in the heat of the sun and of a river all at once. As the young blonde felt himself being consumed by the golden chakra he felt himself slipping from the mindscape. In the final moments before darkness consumed him he heard one final line from the demon.

"Oh, and call me Kurama."


"I need more chakra pumped around his optic nerve!" Tsunade's roaring voice reverberated around the operating room.

Where there had previously been at least a dozen medical ninja there was now only the Sannin and three others. And the three still remaining counted their blessings that the woman had chosen them to stay and help her because what they were witnessing was nothing short of a genius at work. The speed that the Senju had stabilised the jonin on the table had been awe-inspiring. Where it would have taken them several hours and likely loss of the boy's limb, Tsunade did it in only minutes. Then, she'd had the audacity to claim they could fix not only the boy's arm but his eye as well.

For the three knowledgeable and experienced med-nin her claim was nothing short of madness. Trying to fix even one injury like that was an unlikely prospect but to try and do two at the same time spelled disaster. Their teachings demanded that they give up the eye in order to save the arm - a callous acceptance of the boundaries of medical practices. Tsunade however, was not simply just a med-nin. She was a doctor - a surgeon - someone who'd combined the spiritual healing of chakra with the advanced techniques of civilians.

"I said," Tsunade growled, "Focus chakra on his optic nerve - do you want him to be blind in one eye?" As she spoke one of the three remaining med-nin was shocked into action, immediately summoning the requested energy and holding it over the still profusely bleeding right side of Naruto's face. What soon followed was something that the medic-nin in the room would later attest to as the greatest miracle they had ever witnessed.

Before their very eyes the chakra of Tsunade was embraced and supported by wisps of golden energy that flowed and concentrated around Naruto's eye and arm. The missing appendage was being held in place by one ninja while another stabilized the damaged eye as Tsunade switched her focus constantly between the two. It was audacious, arrogant and genius all at once because they were seeing the two injuries - ones they knew in their mind to be untreatable considering the circumstances - fix themselves.

The arm stitched itself to the shoulder, skin and bone growing out of nothing, while the eye glowed and bubbled as what was once destroyed reformed. In only seconds Naruto's arm had fully reattached and only the pink colour of the raw skin gave evidence that there'd ever been such a horrific injury. His eye meanwhile looked no worse than before the Invasion, a blue orb gazing out blankly instead of the half-shredded remains it was only moments before.

And while the medical ninja in the room openly gaped at the display Tsunade too found herself awed because she hadn't intended to fully fix the eye, nor should the arm look as untouched as it was. Right now she should still be struggling to reform the pupil while the boy's arm should be still unattached, waiting for her attention later. Instead she was met with the sight of an apparently fully healed Naruto. The issue was, if it wasn't her then there was only one other thing could be healing the boy.

'The Kyuubi.' Tsunade grimly realised. She had a hideous combination of jealousy and concern bubbling in the back of her mind - that the fox could do such wonders with his chakra was incredible and it put her own talents to shame. That he was allowed to by the seal was worrying. She wasn't one for paranoia but a demon fox wielding chakra so freely was something worth being suspicious about.

Ultimately however, the blonde woman felt a great deal of relief at the sight. The boy who'd inspired her - who'd reminded her so much of her past - was not going to die on the operating table. He wasn't going to repeat history. The gratitude she felt to the fox for preventing her from having to watch the existence of another person she cared about being extinguished was stronger than any concerns she had. And so Tsunade stepped back from the table confidently, now assured that the boy was safe from any danger.

"Wow..."

"She saved the eye too."

"How is that even possible..."

Ignoring the whispers around them - because, she reminded herself, it wasn't even her they should be thanking - Tsunade grabbed the necklace hanging around her neck and took it off. Arms shaking and emotions running riot, The blonde woman took the famous necklace of her family and carefully tugged it around the boy's neck. Even with all the fear and hesitation that she felt from the action and even with the knowledge that she may have just cursed the boy, Tsunade gave Naruto the necklace.

"Just one more time." She murmured in the midst of the chattering and awed medical ninja.


ANBU HQ,

Several days after the invasion

Deep in the catacombs of the ANBU HQ three aged ninja sat around a table; The Sandaime's old teammates Koharu and Homura sat on one side while Danzo, the crippled warmonger, sat on the other. All three were visibly shaken by something, with Sarutobi's old teammates in particular wearing expressions of abject confusion.

Koharu breathed deeply in consternation, "This is... this is ridiculous!" As she spoke she threw the document she was holding onto the table that the three of them were surrounding.

"Indeed, even for him this is unexpected." Homura nodded slowly in agreement with the woman, "I propose we convene a meeting with the Daimyo and stop this in it's tracks."

"I don't want to disrespect his last wishes but that may be the only way to stop this madness." Koharu added her agreement to the idea.

"I didn't think he still had it in him to take such risks..." Danzo mused silently, tapping his cane on the floor in thought.

Homura concluded quickly, "Then we're in agreement. I'll contact the necessary people and work out a time to me-"

"No," Danzo interrupted, "No. I think we should follow his directions." The bandaged man was clearly grappling with something mentally, "This is completely unlike him. It's audacious. Dangerous. I... respect it."

Koharu exploded at this, "You can't be serious!"

"Why would you of all people agree to this?" Homura asked calmly.

"Hiruzen was idealistic and naive, yes - but he wasn't a fool. Hmm, the more I consider this the more I like it. It speaks to me." A dark grin flickered across his face, "And that's precisely why he's done it. It has a touch of all of us, this move, and while I'm not one to usually compromise I like this."

"This is the sort of thing that leads to wars- is that why you want it Danzo? Hoping for it to fall apart and for you to pick up the pieces?" Koharu's voice was vicious and cruel, her thoughts on Danzo's previous manipulations clear.

"You know precisely how little I think of the Sandaime's worthless teachings," Danzo sneered, "Which is exactly why when he's actually inspired to do something different I find myself intrigued. This move is clear; he's conceded - conceded to me. I'll taste victory with this, the village will." Homura raised his eyebrows as the man spoke, realising that Danzo's arrogance and stubborn streak had once again been manipulated by the late Sandaime to forge cooperation. He knew his old teammate had, even after death, tricked his adversary into following him.

"N-No! I refuse-"

"Koharu." Homura interrupted her carefully, a curious expression on his face.

When she saw it she visibly paled, "Not you too..."

"I think we should discuss it with some other select individuals at least." Homura explained.

"Fine." Koharu conceded after sputtering in disgust for a few seconds, "Get that brat, Shikaku, see what he thinks."


A/N: Establishing chapter. fun fun fun

See ya next time.

P.S. How dumb is the manga right now? I mean seriously, there is a limit to the amount of crazy I can handle.