Ch 9
"It is within them they contain a power so great, that many considered the idea of demon containers as a military strategy," Sasuke told Naruto who continued to listen in fascination. They both travelled down the path, off the road from the park to where trees towered the area. It was a secluded spot and they sat on top of smoothly shaped stones as Sasuke had explained a story of harnessing a demon's power.
"Amazing," Naruto had spoken out excited. He had never heard these kinds of people and to him, they sounded strong, "you think I will ever see a demon container?" Naruto had questioned as Sasuke had become momentarily silent at that question.
"Keep listening Naruto," he spoke as Naruto nodded and Sasuke continued.
"In most cases, a sacrifice is needed in order to form a demon container, sometimes a person who is well loved dies in the process of sealing away a demon," Sasuke stared at Naruto who was watching him with bright yearning eyes, "do you know the story of the Fourth Hokage?"
Naruto grinned widely at that, "of course I do, he is my idol."
Sasuke waved a hand to him, allowing him to continue as Naruto spoke.
"He defeated a great nine tailed demon and saved the village of the leaf. He was the strongest of the Hokages!" Naruto declared with sparkling eyes.
Now it was here that Sasuke felt a bit uncomfortable as he spoke, "sometimes, demon containers are formed because of some unknown consequence."
Naruto looked at Sasuke curiously.
"What if I told you Naruto that the demon Kyuubi was not killed and that this village possesses their very own demon container?"
His little blue eyes widened as Naruto spoke out excited, "really!? Do you know who it is? He must be strong," Naruto stood up with eyes burning, "yes, with powers like those, he must be strong."
Sasuke had a sad smile on his face, "you seem excited."
Naruto immediately stared at Sasuke, "how can you not be?" he questioned as his body seemed to be delighted, "the demon Kyuubi was powerful and now the village has that power. I want to see who wields that power…is he an adult?"
Sasuke shook his head, "no, he's your age actually."
"My age?" Naruto questioned again as he sat back down, "wow, he's my age? C'mon Sasuke, tell me who it is?"
Sasuke briefly looked down and spoke in a quiet voice, "Anger, Naruto, people need to find an outlet to their anger, and even though the person is not responsible, the outlet still exists whether they like it or not."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying is," Sasuke stared at Naruto with a serious expression, "don't you find it weird how you've been treated most of your life?"
Naruto shrugged while removing his gaze from Sasuke, "so, I've learned to deal with it."
"Don't you ever wonder why they treat you like that, most of the villagers?" Sasuke asked as Naruto turned to stare back at him.
"You have to remember from the story of the Fourth Hokage, the Kyuubi killed this village's beloved leader and instead of killing the demon, the demon was sealed into a child," as Sasuke said it, he knew he had Naruto thinking. Sasuke needed Naruto to figure this out, to comprehend exactly why he was hated, "not only has the demon killed their Hokage but the demon had also killed so many ninjas but the demon was left to survive, that doesn't sound fair now, does it?"
Naruto had nodded as his mind continued to ponder. He could tell Sasuke was trying to make him figure out who this demon container is and Naruto tried to take a guess out of all his classmates, who would it be. Then, it hit him as he widened his eyes in shock at the story. "He wasn't well liked, wasn't he?"
Sasuke nodded his head, "no, actually, the way I've seen it so far, I don't think they like him very much."
Then the words before this story echoed into Naruto's mind, Sasuke had told him that he needed to understand what he was but how can that be? 'I'm weak, nothing special, how can I be a demon container?' Naruto asked himself, shocked and numb from the inside as he remembered the snippets from the villagers who had glared at him. He remembered them calling him a demon and now, with this story, he knew why.
"Who else knows?" Naruto stared at Sasuke, his eyes still in shock and still trying to comprehend the info.
"It seems only the adults know, "Sasuke answered respectively as Naruto seemed to still be processing all of this, "everyone else our age, they don't have a clue."
It grew quiet again as Sasuke continued to watch Naruto sit there, staring at the ground.
"Sasuke," Naruto had spoken in a voice that was so confused as he looked up at Sasuke, "what exactly am I?"
Sasuke smirked, "you are Naruto a demon container of Kyuubi, wielder of a power so great that you can become a powerful ninja," Sasuke placed his hand on Naruto's shoulder, "and I will be there to watch you grow to become a powerful ninja."
Naruto found comfort in those words, he was so excited to meet this demon container but now that he knew the truth, he grew a bit excited, he was no ordinary person. Then the villagers came into his mind and he grew sad again.
"Will they ever like me?" he asked as Sasuke nodded.
"Give it time Naruto, they will recognize you as a person, just," he smiled as Naruto stared up at him as he spoke as if he was a long time friend Naruto had never had, "just never lose that attitude of yours, got it?"
Naruto continued to smile at this revelation. He looked at Sasuke for the longest time and he knew he had found a friend, "you think, the others would understand?" he had asked as Sasuke shrugged.
"I don't know Naruto but you should wait a while before you say anything to them."
"So, what do I do now," Naruto stood up and flexed his arms, "do I have some special powers or something, can I use the demon's powers?"
Sasuke stood up as he chuckled, "what, why so excited all of a sudden?"
It was a wide grin and determination on Naruto's face that told Sasuke why already but Naruto spoke in a voice that meant it, "I will become stronger for this village, because I will be the Hokage," Naruto punched towards Sasuke, "I will master the demon's powers and show them all not to look down on me."
The words that were said were met by the approval of Sasuke as he started to walk away. Naruto followed after but he repeated the questions to Sasuke but Sasuke didn't answer, instead, he asked, "Are you hungry?"
A grumble escaped Naruto's stomach as an embarrassed blush appeared and Naruto scratched the back of his head, "yeah," Naruto pointed forward, "Ichiraku's ramen, let's eat there."
Sasuke shook his head, "Naruto, when was the last time you actually ate something other than ramen?"
Naruto thought for a moment before answering, "I always eat ramen, why?"
With a sigh, Sasuke knew that Naruto was mal nourished. It was thanks to either Kyuubi's presence or maybe the ramen Naruto ate had some vegetables in them that Naruto was still very much alive.
"Naruto, you are eating something else tonight, I will see to it," Sasuke directed but Naruto whined in response. Sasuke didn't take it, "you want to grow don't you, to become stronger right?"
That quieted the boy as Sasuke continued to move forward, "then we have to start with your eating style, you can't always eat ramen, you got that?"
Naruto grumbled but begrudgingly agreed with Sasuke. Sasuke saw the look and smiled, "but that doesn't mean we won't eat it at all, just not all the time, alright?"
Naruto nodded, a bit happier as they made their way to whatever destination Sasuke had in mind…
