A/N: I own surprisingly little of what is in this story. All rights go to those they belong to (I.E. Kishimoto-san)

"Normal Speech" Kyuubi Speech Personal thoughts/Memories Thought-Speech

Chapter 20: Self-Affliction

Naru picked at her dinner that night. It was immaculately prepared, as it always was when her mother cooked, but even the tantalizing smells and sights couldn't calm her seemingly overactive nerves.

"Something wrong?" Naru gave a small start. Red eyes stared questioningly across the table at her. Tenten was out on a mission until the next day, and Kakashi had some assignment to do for the Hokage, so the house was unusually quiet.

"No, I... I really don't know..." She sighed. "I'm just really... Jumpy, for some reason..."

"Anything you want to talk about?" Kurenai pushed her own empty plate to one side.

"I dunno... The exams... Well..." There was a moment of silence.

"You know, if you don't feel up to it, you don't-"

"No!" Naru exclaimed, and she flinched at the responding eyebrow she got. "No, I know I'm ready for this... I just... Can't shake the feeling that something awful is about to happen."

-----

There came a sound that was halfway between a whistle and a cry of pain, and she felt her stomach drop out of her as the trees twisted in front of her. There was the smells of blood and steel in the air, and the lingering scent of death.

Someone had died there.

She grasped the trunk of the tree she stood in, gulping huge breaths to steady herself. 'Where am I?' Was all she could think for a moment, gazing around. There was something about this forest that seemed... Off.

"Naru!" Sakura's scream startled her, and she looked down towards the source. "Help me! He's been... Bitten!"

Sasuke lay on the branch, his head cradled protectively in her lap.

He wasn't breathing.

"Kukukuku..." A chilling laugh made her freeze, even as she made to step off the branch. "A pity... I suppose the Sharingan maybe out of my reach... Perhaps the blood of my most hated opponent will have to suffice..."

It struck from nowhere, a long, snakelike thing with two huge fangs. Naru cried out as they sank into her shoulder, and molten steel flowed into her veins. Her muscled contracted involuntarily as she collapsed, and the last thing she heard before the blackness enveloped her was that horrible, mirthless laugh...

-----

"Naru! Sweetie, wake up!"

Naru complied, screaming in pain as she did so. The feeling was gone the instant she sat up into waiting arms. Cold sweat and warm blood trickled down her back from the claw marks she'd dug into her shoulder in her sleep, and these were joined by hot tears as she felt the adrenalin crashing out of her system.

"Shhhh..." Kurenai rocked her back and forth gently, rubbing her back. "It's okay... I'm here..." And she was. Just like she always had been.

After several hour-long minutes, Naru felt the shakes slowly leave her, and she finally lifted her chin to look up into concerned red eyes. "Feel better?" Kurenai asked in a whisper. Naru managed a tiny nod. "Good..."

They sat for several more minutes before Naru finally spoke. "Why is it always me...?" She whispered, burying her face in her mother's robe as the memory of the nightmare slowly faded.

Kurenai smiled sadly, unseen by the blond. "I sometimes think that very thought, myself." She admitted quietly. The twin blue orbs turned back up to her face in shock. "But I think... I believe that you are strong enough to handle it all, and that is why it always comes down to you."

The warm flush of encouragement washed over the memory of the dream, and Naru sighed, leaning into her mother's arms. "I hope you're right..."

-----

Truly Man is capable of many things that even Demons have trouble fathoming. Great cruelty is countered with great compassion, geat sacrifice with great gluttony. All things in balance, as it was intended in the beginning. Even so, it amazes me the lengths that some of the simplest gestures can go to aid those who require them.

Perhaps I have been too long away from the world...

-----

There was no way she could tell for sure, but as she finished the final set of motions in the kata, Naru felt a smile forming. She could vividly recall that day she'd found the massive scroll, hidden behind a false floorboard in her closet. She'd gotten so excited when she'd found it. It was lucky that she opened it before she'd run off to show her mother.

My dearest Kimiko.

I knew you would come looking through my old room. I only hope it didn't take you too long to overcome your grief over my decision. Our child will be the saviour of the entire village, though I must die to save them.

And to save you.

I have completed the seal that will contain the beast. And I go tomorrow to destroy it, as soon as I have some rest to recover from the creation process. But enough of that. This scroll is my final gift to you, and to our child. This is the last remaining record of the Kazama clan Taijutsu style, Ansatsuken. It has been compiled over many generations, parts taken and adapted from a dozen different fighting styles, some from here in Konoha, some from neighbouring countries. Each generation of my clan, according to my father, is expected to contribute to the style, and this is my contribution: A written record of all that has come before me.

There may be some holes, but I'm confident that you, and any other member of our family who may come in later generations, will be able to fill them. And perhaps, with the clan style, along with my special... Techniques... My clan can be restored to it's former glory, back before the phage... I have left a number of other scrolls, seperate from this one to keep them from all being lost. One lies at the base of Hope, another at the base of Despair. The third watches over the leaf, and the last is in the hand of the first, greatest foe. You should be able to find them easily enough, if your memory is intact.

I left some notes for our son or daughter, about what to expect from our particular bloodline. They're in the safe, and you will be able to open it in ten years time, with my special kunai.

It's getting late. I must rest. Tomorrow, I make history, and our child as well. Know that I love you, more than anything else in the world. And our child... Raise it well. Remember, I promised Ero-sennin to name it Naruto, if it's a boy, and I promised Hiashi to name it Hitome, if it's a girl.

Take care, my love. I will see you again, some day...

Arashi.

P.S.: Don't let our child grow up to be a pervert.

There had been numerous tear stains on the single sheet that had fallen out when the seal was broken. Naru added a few of her own. Her father... Her father had left the note, expecting that her mother would find it, and...

It took many days before she would talk to anyone again. She spent much of that week crying to herself. Of course, this was when she was nearly nine years old. Her friends wouldn't let her withdraw for too long before pulling her back.

-----

Bang!

The door flew open with one firm kick, and Naru was startled out of her tears by the sight of Shino standing in her doorway, one foot raised to where it had just destroyed her door. "Sh-Shino?"

The normally passive boy walked over to her bed and stood, looking down at her through the dark sunglasses. He held out his hand to her. "Come with me."

It wasn't a command, but it wasn't exactly a request either...

Naru was too stunned to stop herself from taking his hand. He smiled behind his collar, the tiny tightening of his cheeks the only visiblee sign of the gesture as he gingerly lifted her up off her bed and to her feet. The skin on his hand gave off a minute buzzing sensation, and she struggled to keep the blood from rushing to her face as he gently, but firmly, towed her into the kitchen.

They were all , Tsume, Hana, Kuro, Hinata, Kiba, Shikamaru, Chouji and, of course, Shino, still holding her hand. And despite her sadness, she felt a small smile inside of her.

----

"What? He's letting you take the exams?" Tenten seemed a little upset by the news. "Our sensei made us wait a whole year!"

Naru giggled at the false anger in her sister's voice. "Well, maybe we're just better than your team is." She teased, sticking out her tongue.

"Better?!" Tenten shrieked. "I'll show you better!"

Naru was running before she even opened her mouth, laughing as hard as she dared. It was a familliar game, one that had occupied much of their childhood together. One would 'insult' the other, and a playful chase through the village would ensue.

Neither of them expected this day to be any different.

Naru laughed as she whipped around another corner at top speed, pushing her chakra into her legs to compensate for any lost momentum. Unfortunately, this act caused her to plow bodily into a young man in a dark outfit, with what appeared to be a huge gourd strapped to his back.

The pair of them tumbled end over end, landing with a slight "Oof!" In a pile of sand that appeared from seemingly looked up to apologise to the person, when, only an instant after coming to rest, the sand engulfed her arms up to her elbows and forcibly lifted her off.

Tenten skidded to a halt in time to see the young man right himself, a small, confused frown appearing on his face as the sand fell away from her sister's arms. Her sister, who had gone deathly pale for some odd reason.

The boy blinked twice, a confused look crossing his face. "Be... More careful..." He said after a moment in a quiet tone, before walking off into the village, slightly dazed.

Tenten didn't notice. She was too busy staring at her sister, whose legs gave out from under her with no warning whatsoever. "Naru?"

The scream came so suddenly... Naru'e hands clamped onto the sides of her head as she collapsed to the ground, trembling violently.

"Naru!"

Her sister's voice was so quiet against the terrible, terrible pain in her mind. Terror, sadness and anger, all combined in one endless scream of pain.

And then it went black.

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A/N: Ooh... I know it's short, but I did it... Next chapter begins something big. And Naru will never be the same again. R&R, and Stay Frosty. -E. Red