AN: Thank you everyone! Last chapter proved more successful than i expected by being the currently highest chapter reviewed the storyat 16 reviews. at this point making my story bump up to the 3 figures in total for reviews. I know i replied to a few people about explaining the wholeinsanity thingy in this chapter but that didnt happen. It didnt seem like the right place or time to do it so ill find another spot to do so.Thank you for all your support!

Chapter Summary: One problem leads to another when push comes to shove. The fight wraps up only to trigger another confrontation. major kyuubi appearance!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

"Come then since you want to prove it so badly. I will put your misdirected anger at me in the right place," Naruto said cruelly with a sadistic laugh. Naruto slowly took steps forward with a frightening aura causing Tenten to unconsciously take steps back.

"Seigen shi shibori nasai ( restrict and constrict) Ketsugou! (Binding Tail)" Naruto called out causing the bandages to loosen its hold on Naruto's arm and torso.

Will of the Flame

Chapter 11

When Push Comes to Shove

"What's the matter Tenten? A little change in image scare ya?" Naruto asked sneering at her with blazing eyes. Naruto was literally stalking her as if she were a prey. Tenten still continued to back up in her steps. She remembered her surprise when she saw Naruto emitted that chakra during the Chunnin exams but now not only did his image change his personality did as well. It wasn't the cool arrogance he was displaying earlier on that got the rise out of her. This was downright condescending. Putting that together with the feral image of molten eyes fiery hairy and the wisps on the bandages that made him look as if on fire it did more than just tighten her throat. She felt fear.

"Its not over yet Tenten," Naruto quoted mocking her with an even more sadistic look. "I'll give you more to fear!"

Naruto raised his right arm pointing it right at Tenten. The bandages shot out in a spiral. Tenten eyes widened at the speed it was coming at. Out of instinct she swung her sword wildly at the strip of cloth. Instead of slicing it and stopping its advance, it merely bent the cloth and now it coiled itself around Tenten's sword and arm effectively rendering her arm useless. Naruto grasped the cloth that was right next to his palm and gave it a hard pull. The sudden tension on the cloth and the vice-like grip on Tenten's arm jerked her arm forward with enough force to dislocate it from her shoulder. Tenten screamed out in pain.

Sakura dropped down on her knees shivering violently at what she saw. Fear as it did Tenten wrapped around Sakura tightly. Tears came out as it did yesterday night out of fear she felt of Naruto and out of disgust for herself at once again failing to brace herself as she said she would.

"Just remember its still Naruto ne?"

"Is this really you Naruto?" Sakura thought once again feeling the split in wanting to stand firm for her friend and disbelief at the severity of Naruto's malicious being.

Lee felt disorientated. Naruto went from guarded to arrogant to apologetic and finally to this in the matter of minutes. Not in the slightest way did Lee thought a reunion would ended up like this. Lee rushed in to stop the fight from getting even worse. Unleashing a devastating technique was one thing but with such intent… Lee had to do something.

Naruto snapped his head in Lee's direction. With a flare of chakra and an intense stare with his crimson eyes halted Lee. Lee tried to resist but he was paralysed not a muscle willing to move. Tenten panted in pain but using Lee's rush as a distraction she sent debris flying swiftly towards Naruto. More cloth uncoiled from his body and curled out in snapping actions deflecting anything that came his way. Naruto slowly turned his head to lock eyes with Tenten with a smirk.

"Tsk. Tsk. Taking advantage of a distraction?" Naruto chided questioningly wagging a finger at her to show her actions were in vain. Tenten grimaced. With her arm bound and the pain clouding her mind losing her accuracy and control with hashukketsu kanjou she did the only thing she could. She rushed at Naruto hoping to surprise him. Naruto's eyes widened as she threw caution into the wind. However right when Tenten was about the reach him whatever slack the bandage had that was created with the closing of distance snapped into action. Hitting her hard simultaneously at both her ankles the bandage swept her off her feet.

Everything seemed to slow down for Tenten. At that point she seemed to float in midair. A jarring pain burst from her hip as the bandage circled around and hit her where the pain sprouted from. Air got knocked out of her as she slammed into the ground. Instinctively Tenten curled out into a foetal position. The pain was agonising. Firstly from her dislocated shoulder then her hip and lastly the front of her torso as it was the first to suddenly make contact with the ground. The bandage uncoiled itself from her arm but that didn't give her any peace as a sharp kick was delivered to her back causing her to sprawl out on the ground a few metres away with another scream of pain.

"Is that all you got? Is that all your hatred for me has to offer?" Naruto asked condescendingly. Tenten struggled to get up. She got some help. The bandage once again coiled around the injured arm. With another hard yank she was painfully brought to her feet. Tenten bit down on her lip hard to suppress another scream causing it to bleed. The bandage yanked at her arm again lifting her of the ground. Pain tore throughout her body from her shoulder. However not even having the time to react to that the bandage uncoiled itself and another portion of the bandage hit her at her gut which sent her flying slamming her back painfully into a tree. As she slid down and about to blank out from the shock of the hit Naruto's Ketsugou wrapped around her entire body holding her up in place against the tree. The sharpness of the pain from her injured parts kept her awake rather than numbing out and sending her into a black oblivion. Naruto sauntered over to Tenten.

"Now don't I strike you more of the person you hate so much? Isn't this what you see everytime you lay your eyes on me?" Naruto asked menacingly. Tenten just hung limply against the pressure of the bandages.

"Well? You were rather talkative earlier.." Naruto said coldly. Tenten's head was facing downwards. Teardrops splattered on the ground in front of her.

"I hate you…" Tenten mumbled softly.

"What was that?" Naruto asked. Tenten struggled against her bonds.

"I HATE YOU!" Tenten screamed struggling fiercely but still not looking up. More tears spilled on the ground.

"Really? Or is it this situation that you hate?" Naruto asked. However his voice was soft and surprisingly Naruto sounded… hurt. Tenten's head snapped up not quite believing her ears and blinked to clear the tears.

Gone was the malice. Even though the crimson eyes fiery hair and dancing wisps were present everything about Naruto showed pain and sorrow. From the slight frown to the watery eyes the sunken look and the sagging shoulders.

"Time and time again, you grew stronger and stronger but always not getting there. Always getting shot down always failing always left out from what you deserve…" Naruto said each syllable punctuating the pain and sorrow he felt. Tenten's tears came out again. She shook her head slightly and then more vigorously.

"No…" Tenten moaned still struggling trying to deny the reality of what Naruto said.

"It was never me to begin with…" Naruto continued in such a way implying it would have been better ifthat were the case. "I just happened to be there."

"NO!" Tenten screamed out helplessly. The bandages suddenly loosened. Tenten dropped down to her knees. Gripping at the undergrowth she steeled herself in order to stop the tears form coming out but the opposite occurred. More and more poured out against her will. Everything hurt. Her body her mind her soul. Her tears were her only release from all that she pent up in her after everything else was rendered useless by Naruto. Nothing to defend herself with, nothing to hide behind from.

Gentle arms wrapped around her. A soothing hand stroked her back to comfort her pain. Tenten still teary eyed slowly looked up. Looking down at her were the round concerned eyes of her ex team mate. Lee then looked up to glare intently at the remorse looking Naruto that was right in front of them.

"What in the blazing hell are you trying to do?" Lee asked in pure anger as he protectively held his ex team mate away form Naruto.

"Lee please.. I am not done yet.. If you would just step aside…." Naruto's pleading got cut off.

"I will not let you hurt her further!" Lee shouted angrily. Naruto flinched but he forcefully calmed himself down.

"Lee. She is a strong girl she can deal with this on her own. I believe we are done fighting. We still have issues to work out though that is just between the two of us," Naruto said calmly . Lee was about to protest again when he felt a gentle push coming from his side. Looking at Tenten Lee could see her determination coming up again. Tenten made a bit of distance from Lee and he stood up.

"Naruto is right. This is between the two of us," Tenten said firmly. Lee nodded dejectedly and went to join back up with Sakura who seemed to be still rooted on the ground staring fearfully at Naruto. Naruto while looking at Lee's departure noticed this and felt hurt. He knew it was bound to happen but that didn't change the fact how he would feel about it. Sakura saw that pained look in his ears. She buried her face in her hands crying while mouthing the words 'I'm sorry' . Naruto looked away dejectedly like Lee hadas that would be dealt with later.

"One thing at a time."

"I see you took my advice when it came to this girl although intense it is starting to look up. Perhaps you are feeling too attached to do the same with the pink haired one. It would have made this a lot simpler," Kyuubi said in a some what wise manner.

"I am starting to incline in believing that."

"Good."

"I want you to answer Lee's question though," Tenten said struggling to get up on her own.

"Its fine if you want to sit down," Naruto said sadly surveying what he had done to her. Brown eyes stared intensely into the crimson all previously existing fear gone.

"I'm fine! Answer the question already." Tenten said defiantly swaying slightly as she managed to get up. Her left arm curled up across her body holding up her injured arm.

"Someone taught me that the best way to deal with emotional pain was to let it run its course," Naruto said softly.

"How I deal with my pain is none of your business!" Tenten lashed out taking a step back to lean against the tree that she slammed into.

"Normally I would agree with that. However it became my business when you chose to direct it at me rather than dealing with the root of it all on your own," Naruto continued.

"You did this just to remind me of what I went through?" Tenten asked incredulously.

"Yes."

"What gives you the damn right?" Tenten spat out viciously.

"Your choice to involve me and my choice not to stand for it. Especially when I already lost a friend, a team mate to hatred all because he couldn't come to terms with what happened," Naruto said bitterly. Tenten looked away knowing what he meant.

"Is that where you see me going? Why should you even bother? I'm not a team mate let alone a friend," Tenten asked her voice coming out soft and weak. There wasn't much energy left to do anymore fighting against Naruto physically or verbally. Here was a person whom she thought she hated fighting against her when in reality he was fighting for her. Fighting for her against herself. Suddenly she was just tired of fighting it all.

"Everyone is worth fighting for Tenten. You are worth fighting for…. Besides we are friends now ne?" Naruto asked warmly. Tenten couldn't look up even if she wanted to now. Tears once again streaming down her face at the words of acknowledgement. Rustling of undergrowth was heard and a gentle hand cupped Tenten's chin as Naruto gingerly got her to face him. On his face was a genuine smile reinforcing his offer of friendship. Naruto placed his hands on her shoulders and slowly and gently got her to sit down.

"Gomen ne? My teachers were never really the kindest people when driving a lesson home. Lets get you fixed up," Naruto said kindly. Tenten looked into Naruto's crimson eyes seeing only sincerity in them and gave a small nod not only in agreement to the suggestion but also to the questions Naruto asked that was left unanswered.

Naruto slowly pried Tenten's left arm away and Naruto's Ketsugou wrapped her right arm to her torso firmly to give it the support it needed while he went to get Sakura to fix her up. While the wrappings didn't hurt her she felt a little uncomfortable not because of her injury rather because of the wrappings across her chest. The way Ketsugou moves it was like Hashukketsu Kanjou. It was like a living part of her. To have Ketsugou wrapped around her in this manner it felt to Tenten as if it was Naruto himself touching her chest. She squirmed a little only to have the bandages hold her body even more tightly making her feel very self conscious. She mentally tried to shake it away such thoughts knowing it was silly but when it failed she looked around to find something to distract herself. It was then she realised something. Looking at Naruto's retreating back with the trail of cloth leading to her she saw that he was still bleeding. In fact his tattered already dark clothes looked angrily darkened with many wet patches.

"Other than dislocating my shoulder which could be easily fixed all he gave me were a bunch of nasty bruises that's not foreign to me from fighting with Neji and Lee. Even though I didn't hit any vital spots he still has multiple jaggered stab wounds that should be bleeding profusely and if something isn't done soon he could be in danger! How the hell is he still standing so sturdy?"

"Naruto!" Tenten called out weakly. Naruto halted and looked back quizzically.

"You should get Sakura to tend to your wounds first. With the number of places I stabbed you in you should be bleeding pretty badly even though I cant really see it clearly from your dark clothes," Tenten said worriedly. Naruto frowned slightly and turned back. From Tenten's point of view she could see that Naruto was looking at Sakura. Looking at Sakura Tenten saw that she was still gripped in fear staring straight at Naruto. Lee was unsuccessfully trying to shake Sakura out of it looking very worried. Tenten frowned at the whole scene confused at what was going on.

"I don't think Sakura wants to be anywhere near me right now. Don't worry about my wounds. I'm fine. Its already handled," Naruto said calmly but Tenten could sense some bitterness in his voice.

"Since its going well so far lets ride this wave further shall we?"

"Finally. I see your control over the taint is coming to good use here."

"Don't get the wrong idea. I use it when its useful."

"Of course. I never meant it otherwise."

"Two others are going to know."

"That was never an issue for me in the first place only how it affects you."

"I believe I have been beaten up enough in one day so you don't have to worry."

"You are taking away my fun, you know?"

"Save it for when I actually need it."

"Che!"

"Just what is going on Naruto?" Tenten asked confused. Naruto halted again but he didn't turn around this time.

"You are about to find out one of the biggest secrets the village has kept from its youth. The real reason why your parents didn't want you to be burdened with the truth. I apologise in advance. That goes the same for you Lee. Please move out of the way. You are not going to like what I am about to do," Naruto said gravely. Lee got up blinking with the same confused look on his face as what he imagined Tenten would have. The moment Lee took a reluctant step back Naruto didn't hesitant and rushed forward straight at Sakura.

"Naruto!" Lee and Tenten called out together. Naruto ignored them. He yanked Sakura up by her collar and roughly slammed her against the tree behind her with minimal force necessary to prove a point. Sakura eyes jolted wide open in shock at the treatment.

"Since your fear is already present lets go all the way shall we?" Naruto growled menacingly crimson eyes boring right into her emerald pair. Her body convulsed violently and her eyes looked as if she was staring right at her death.

"Naruto.. Stop.. Please," Sakura pleaded fearfully.

"No you stop!" Naruto hollered. Sakura whimpered.

"I have done nothing to hurt you! While I can understand your fear we might as well get this done and over with. Since all you can see is fear right now shall I demonstrate to you Kyuubi's full power so you truly have something to be fearfully about? All Naruto here has done is nothing might as well give you something which will justify your fear. Maybe this will show you who is who," Naruto said in a very tight controlled voice.

"Kyuubi? What is going on?" Tenten asked staring at Naruto. Naruto lookedback at Tenten and then Lee with a stern expression.

"Isn't it obvious? I am a Jinchuuriki. The host to the demon that attacked our village 16 years ago," Naruto said softly and coldly his voice devoid of emotions stating a fact.

"What?" Lee asked incredulously.

"Tenten brace your arm. I will be needing Ketsugou back. I will show you the three of you exactly what it means to be a Jinchuuriki. Then you can start to distinguish the difference between what am I and who am I," Naruto stated bitterly. The cloth uncoiled itself and swiftly returned to Naruto. Tenten let out a slight hiss at the sharp pain that came with the loss of support. Ketsugou however didn't recoil itself around Naruto it once again seem to melt and then it condensed itself to reform the shape of the wakizashi returning to its original form of a black blade glowing red. Naruto transferred the sword to his left hand however holding it in such a way so that the blade ran up the length of his arm. Naruto then unsheathed his katana. He pressed the broadside of the katana to his forehead at the same time extending his left arm out shifting it in a manner so that the tip of the blade was pointing at his stomach where his seal was. Naruto solemnly closed his eyes as if in a prayer.

"Come out Kyuubi… Lets show them when we are put together what we truly are," Naruto said softly with pain and sorrow his eyes still closed.

"Tairyou Hakai Heiki! (Weapon of Mass Destruction)" Naruto said out loud stabbing himself with the wakizashi at his abdominals at the way to the hilt. Seeing this Sakura dropped down on her knees again looking limp not even fear present. It was pure traumatic shock as her eyes remained glued on Naruto. Lee had his hands on his head that was shaking slightly with a lost look on his face showing his uncertainty towards the reality of what is happening. Tenten painfully reached out for Naruto from her position screaming out his name.

Once Tenten's scream died out silence and stillness enveloped the area. Both the katana and wakizashi were glowing red again. Suddenly there was a violent burst of chakra. Naruto knew this would be detected by the village but he didn't care at this point because he knew he could handle almost anything in this form. If everyone was going to know from this so be it. Both swords melted to what seemed like molten lava.. Naruto let go of both hilts. Taking a life on its own both swords transformed. The katana condensed and covered most of his face solidifying into a black red mask of a sinister looking fox. It wasn't a full mask. It covered Naruto's entire forehead and the right side ofhis face. With a jaggered line it revealed his left side of his face from underneath his eyebrow to his chin. The mask was black with the red making out its features. A thick dot connected to a tapering line extending to the right end of the mask indicating an eye. A vertical slim longish triangle demarking a nose and a slim curved line extending to the cheek with a thick fang sticking out made its sadistic smirk. The molten wakizashi however grew as the majority of chakra leaked out from its source where it pierced through. The centre of the seal. It spread out starting to form what looked like a much thicker version of Ketsugou only of pure red chakra. The blade end grew and coiled around his hip and finally fanned out above his rear with nine tails swinging around violently. With a sweep of all its tails it effortlessly toppled numerous nearby trees in an obvious display of power. The hilt end coiled upwards around his torso and the end rested hanging over his left shoulder. The end grew further till it formed a head of a fox and two limbs one curled around his neck caressing Naruto's exposed cheek lovingly and the other curled around his upper left arm in a possessive hold. The fox's head lifted up slowly extended its tongue to lap up his ear affectionately. All in a display to show those around that Naruto was hers. Naruto however straightened himself up showing his stoic expression.

"Naru-chan. As much as I appreciate the gesture I didn't think you would bring me out in the public quite so soon. Is this a wise choice?" Kyuubi asked endearingly.

This was heard by everyone present.

"Sakura had to see while we come together a single person we exists are two separate beings. Tenten would have been next in line with what we intended to accomplish today. As for Lee I intended to tell the rest of my friends about it in the long run so he just got lucky to know it first," Naruto explained calmly out loud so that the three present could hear him. That way there were lesser things to explain.

"And the village?" Kyuubi inquired curiously.

"Knowing Ba-chan, she will probably come here herself soon to investigate with people running around pacifying the situation," Naruto answered calmly.

"Quite a big risk you are playing… Oh well. If it turns out bad might just be fun for me," Kyuubi said with a gleeful giggle.

"There will be none of that," Naruto said flatly looking down at the fox with an unamused look.

"Being quite the stiff aren't you? You know I was just kidding. Though could you change the name of this technique? I told you countless times that it will be unnerving for those you know," Kyuubi whined playfully knowing he will just refuse as always.

"It is what we are. Nothing changes that and it doesn't matter. It is how we use it that matters," Naruto said firmly.

"I know. Well if you insist," Kyuubi acknowledged nonchalantly though nudging her head against Naruto's cheek affectionately.

Naruto frowned slightly at her. He wondered how the rest would see this as once everything settled down if everything settled down positively.

Naruto turned his attention towards Sakura currently the immediate problem at hand to be handled.

"Sakura. Can you now see what I have been trying to tell you and how others have come to accept me?" Naruto asked gently trying to get a feel of how she was doing. Sakura still had a blank look on her face but she seemed to have grasped what was going on in front of her.

"Sakura. This is me Naruto speaking. The fox dangling on my shoulder is Kyuubi. Although together, we are not the same being," Naruto said repeating part of his conversation with Kyuubi to drive it in. Sakura now blinked repeatedly. Naruto inwardly sighed.

"Naru-chan. Let me have a shot?" Kyuubi asked innocently.

Naruto never liked the sound of it whenever she tried to be innocent but seeing he was unsuccessful Naruto decided to give Kyuubi a chance. He could always restrain her immediately.

"Nothing drastic," Naruto grudgingly agreed shooting Kyuubi a pointed look. The moment she heard those words a tail shot out and slapped Sakura hard across the face. Needless to say Kyuubi immediately lost control of the tail with an angry Naruto growling at her. Kyuubi ignored him instead choosing to focus on Sakura who now was knocked out of her stupor.

"You listen up and you listen up good girl! I am not as nice as the dolt I am hanging on to at the moment. As obvious as we already put it out for you, you still don't get it do you? I have no fucking idea what made this dolt chase after you in his earlier years but I am glad he quit it because apparently contrary to what this dolt told me, you to me are just as fucking stupid as he is for taking so long to get this into that big thick forehead of yours!" Kyuubi lashed out viciously.

"That's enough!" Naruto growled at his companion.

"Che!"

"No… its okay Naruto. She is right," Sakura shakily said. Though intimidated by the sudden presence of Kyuubi a demon that almost destroyed the village, the slap not only returned her to the present time and place but it also returned her voice.

"Seeing the two of you in this manner put everything into perspective for me. I get it now," Sakura continued. Naruto silently observed her. Sakura however looked directly at Kyuubi now.

"Thank you Kyuubi..err..san," Sakura said gratefully although uncertain.

"Sama."

"Hai Kyuubi-sama," Sakura said this time with a grateful nod of her head. Naruto closed his eyes and swung up his left forearm to smack Kyuubi's head in irritation.

"What the fuck was that for brat?" Kyuubi snapped angrily at Naruto.

"Don't get ahead of yourself," Naruto said annoyed.

"What the fuck are you jabbering about? you ungrateful prick! I don't give a damn what the situation is! I am still a powerful being! I will be treated with respect!" Kyuubi roared at him.

"And I am your container! So don't go around trying to muscle up my friends. Save that for the bad guys," Naruto retorted angrily.

"You know you are going to pay for that," Kyuubi replied seething though not without a noticeable hint of slyness in her voice.

"Yeah, whatever," Naruto said dismissively know where this conversation will go and not wanting to go there. Kyuubi instead of saying anything to him turned her head sharply at Sakura. Sakura jumped slightly at the sudden turn of attention. Kyuubi had what looked like a smirk on her foxy face.

"The boy actually enjoys what I do to him," Kyuubi said suggestively to Sakura.

Sakura's eyes shot open as wide as they could get with a gasp coming out of her mouth while blood heatedly gushed to Sakura's face turning her bright red at what Kyuubi was implying. Naruto mentally groaned. He should have known better than to think he could get away without Kyuubi finding some way to get the upper hand on him.

"Now that we are done over here I still two other people that I'm sure are in need of some answers!" Naruto exclaimed not wanting this conversation to carry on its current course. Before he could even face Tenten and Lee he heard a holler coming from not so far away.

"You brat! What the hell did you do this time?" the booming voice of the 5th Hokage hollered. Turning to where Sakura and himself first came from Naruto saw Tsunade Shizune and Jiraiya hurriedly appeared into the clearing.

"Make that five people that need answers," Naruto muttered to himself feeling his shoulders sag.

"Well well. If it isn't the big breasted hag herself? Together with her entourage comprising of the sweet quiet medic-nin and that pathetic excuse of a Sannin. Glad we could finally meet Tsunade-hime," Kyuubi said in a smug voice.

Tsunade looked at where the foreign voice came from and saw Naruto there with a fox that looked like it was made from chakra with nine tails swishing about excitedly hanging off his shoulder. Tsunade paled visibly.

"Oh god Naruto. Just what did you do.." Tsunade said gravely more of a dreaded statement than a question.

AN: I kinda had a rough time with this but it came out better than i expected. So thats good. Just to point out something. at the start of this chpater Naruto wasnt exactly insane rather he used the insanity that runs in him because of the taint in the chakra to prove a point. extreme yes but then again like Naruto said his teachers have never been the kind sort.

Oh yeah someone mentioned about my problem of switching tenses. Sigh i hope i did better this time. I gueess im still blind to my usual habit of writing and its hard to spot for me because it sounds right most of the time haha. i usually use present tense in the dialogue butnarration wise it should be in past tense unless its something in the moment or something to that effect. Anyway im looking forward to more constructive feedback as i have been getting more of that. Thanks and i hope i met your expectations in this chapter as everyone has different expectations. Till next time Ja!