A/N: Gyah, I am so sorry! I said I'd get this up this afternoon, but I got called in to work. Anyway, thanks go out to: Belladonna-LaMorte, Fritter, incensedance, iNsAnE nO bAkA, The Laughing Phoenix, deerang88, BookMaster3000, melissa, SilverWhiteDragon, micah.n10, Hebi R, singing ferret, VescaWithoutWings, Beff, Julieanna333, Rangerfan58, DarkRavie, Wolfkun, Silvergem88, Tara La'Quinn, Cricket, illyia, nila, x-smith, Thealie, oOforeverobsessedOo, Yokura and Kasumi9-9.
Just to remind: Shinzui means core or essential.
All across the Fire Country, people outside of Konoha reacted as the wave of malevolent chakra swept across the land. Babies cried, and children hesitated before giving in and running back to their homes, overcome with an unreasonable sense of dread. Hands fumbled delicate tasks, and shivers raced up spines, causing the people to glance fearfully around them in search of the sudden disturbance.
In a small tea shop, however, one person only raised a single brow. "Hm," the cloaked figure murmured. "It seems the Kyuubi vessel is not as dead as we had believed. Interesting…"
-0-
Inside of the Hidden Leaf Village, that reaction was much stronger. Battles all across the city stumbled to a halt, rebels and ROOT alike turning their attention to the greatest concentration of that horrible chakra. Many dropped weapons in their shock, and all trembled under the suffocating weight of that vicious killing intent.
All had paled, but only one man spoke. A scarred Chunin gasped, his voice reflecting his shock and concern. "Naruto…" Iruka whispered, his eyes seeming almost glazed. He snapped back to attention when the boy at his side shifted uncomfortably, trying to remain stoic beneath that awful feeling.
"Stay here!" he blurted, snapping when the boy opened his mouth to argue. "I said STAY HERE!" And he moved quickly, faster then he had thought himself capable of. 'Please' he prayed silently. 'Please don't let that be what I think it is… Please be alright, Naruto.'
-0-
Iruka may have been the first, but he wasn't the only one who recognized that chakra.
Hinata drew in a startled breath, her pale eyes widening as her Byakugan detected the same red chakra she had glimpsed in Naruto over the years. Blocks away, Neji also spotted the unique red tint. Kiba and Hana picked up the scent of their friend, mingled with something that sent an instinctive shiver down their spines. All four raced to help their friend, and as they ran, the rest of the Shinzui spotted and joined them.
-0-
Asuma, Gai – and, for that matter, every Konoha shinobi old enough to remember the Kyuubi's attack – instantly recognized that chakra. But unlike the others who took an instinctive step back, those allied directly with Sanctuary moved towards the soul-crushing feeling.
-0-
Danzo stumbled, his breath catching in his throat as he felt a crushing sense of impending doom drop abruptly on him. He hadn't even heard the scream of the blond boy who suddenly appeared in front of him. His one good eye widened as he had the brief impression of blond hair, blue eyes… and a crackling red haze, surrounding a boy who seemed to have fangs, claws, and… whisker marks.
If he had held any doubts as to the identity of his wild attacker, they were blown away by the sight of that red chakra shifting – into what appeared to be two red tails waving behind the boy. Konoha's Godaime found himself frantically blocking and dodging, as the Jinchuuriki moved with an inhuman speed.
He brought up a kick directly into the creature's face, but it merely tumbled a short way and leapt back up onto it's feet, seeming unaffected by the power behind the strike. The creature darted back towards him, attempting to drag a kunai across his ribs. Danzo blocked, a twist of his wrist managing to disarm the creature, but it drew its' arm back in. With a shock, Danzo felt claws rip into the flesh over his left hip.
The Godaime shoved the Jinchuuriki away again, and this time the creature disappeared. Feeling that smothering chakra appear behind him, he spun, barely blocking the claws swiping at his face. But he couldn't avoid the knee brought up into his gut. The man doubled over – and that was all it took.
He was given no time to recover, but was struck over and over again, each blow connecting with brutal force. Danzo distinctly felt ribs break, along with his left humerus. He bit back an oath as his jaw cracked, and could only gasp in pain as his right kneecap shattered. Gashes opened up seemingly on their own, jagged claw marks running along his face, his arms and his torso.
One kick threw him into the air, and as another flung him to the edge of another rooftop, his pain-hazed mind had one clear thought. 'I knew… I should have had that thing killed first… and now, my one mistake… is my destruction.'
-0-
Tsunade had frozen, gasping for air as that wave of chakra had crashed down on her. But she had forced it aside, making herself analyze the chakra signature. Finally she had moved, searching through the stunned city until she found the one shinobi she was looking for.
She landed beside him – and smacked him over the head. "Jiraiya, you idiot, that chakra is still half human. That means that the seal hasn't broken yet – so get over there and make sure it doesn't!"
The Toad Sage had yelped at the strike, and he yelped again at her words. "Gyah, right!" Tsunade shook her head, muttering "idiot" as she watched him speed away.
-0-
All but forgotten, a pale haired figure stirred. The shinobi knew that chakra – it had haunted his nightmares for years – and feeling it now utterly terrified him. 'Kyuubi…' he thought, but… that… wasn't right. 'No, not Kyuubi now… Naruto?' The word – 'name?' – brought to mind laughing blue eyes shining under blond bangs.
With a groan, the shinobi pushed himself up onto his hands and knees, trying to think through the blinding pain in his head. He tensed as someone landed beside him, but relaxed again as he heard Gai's familiar voice. "Easy, my friend. It looks like you've taken a rather nasty blow to your head, there."
Ignoring the advice, Kakashi sat up, putting one hand over his Sharingan eye to minimize the pain as much as possible. As Gai helped him to his feet, more people landed near him, and he heard Asuma mutter in concern. "Damn, what do we do about… Shit! What the hell does he think he's doing?!"
Kakashi forced his mind to focus then, just in time to see Naruto lunge after the Hokage – and Iruka place himself between the two.
-0-
'It's still Naruto' Iruka reminded himself, even as he braced for an impact. 'The Kyuubi may be closer to the surface, but it's still Naruto. …I have to stop this.' Somehow, Iruka simply knew, deep in his gut, that if he let Naruto kill while under the demon's influence then the boy would never be the same. Which was why he placed himself between the blond and his enemy.
The Jinchuuriki – 'Naruto' he reminded himself again – skidded to a stop before him, snarling as he snatched the Chunin up by the collar in a shocking display of strength. "It's okay, Naruto" he murmured, trying not to let the boy see him trembling. "It's okay, it's done. Naruto, please, calm down. Don't do this, Naruto, please. Come back, okay? Come back to us, please, Naru-chan." Iruka pleaded, searching those red eyes for any trace of the boy he had raised, more afraid for the teenager than for himself.
Naruto snarled, baring sharp teeth as his fist tightened, beginning to choke the teacher with the collar of his vest. Despite gasping for breath, Iruka reached out and wrapped his arms around the boy's shoulders. "Naruto… please."
The Jinchuuriki hesitated, its mind rioting with confusion and conflict. It could feel the urge – the need – to rend, to destroy. It felt the rage inside of it, but… the creature in front of it… disturbed it. The fragile being brought feelings of… fondness, trust, comfort. It saw the discomfort on that scarred face, but felt the warmth of the arms around it. The man's voice made it pause, the concern and… love?... keeping it from killing him to get to its enemy.
And then, other voices, other feeling-bringing faces.
A girl, wide pale eyes and short dark hair. "Naruto-kun, it's enough. Please, you've done enough."
A boy, dark hair and red markings, a large white dog behind him. "Yeah, Naruto. Quit showing off."
Another girl, pink-haired and upset. "Naruto, stop it. You're freaking me out."
Another boy, dark hair and large dark brows. "Naruto, my friend, please. Come back now."
Dark eyes, the alert expression somehow wrong – it should be deceptively lazy. "Stop being troublesome, Naruto."
A girl, brown hair and many weapons. "Naruto… please stop now."
A boy, pale eyed like the first girl. "You are worrying your friends, Naruto. Stop."
Yet another boy, his weight hiding his enormous strength. "Hey, Naruto… cut that out."
Dark hair, red eyes, a voice masking concern with anger. "Naruto, you idiot. You're always telling me not to rely so much on the Sharingan's power – are you going to rely on that damn fox?!"
Finally, it turned back to the one in its' grasp. Seeing, smelling the tears in those eyes, something inside of the Jinchuuriki stirred. Its'… no, his hands relaxed, allowing the Chunin in his grasp to breathe easily again. He stepped back, fists clenching and unclenching at his sides, fighting the need to destroy. There was too much precious to him that could be damaged if he gave in.
His breathing becoming ragged, Naruto stumbled back, flinching when Iruka laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. The other children murmured worriedly, but obediently stepped back when Iruka gestured for space. The Chunin was very concerned – the boy's chakra kept flaring, and he was curling in on himself as if he were in pain. His clothing was ragged, the intensity of the chakra shredding strips out of it even as they stood there.
Iruka fought of the urges to flinch as that same chakra opened a number of small cuts on his arms. He spoke quietly, calmly, trying to soothe the distraught boy. From the corner of his eye, he saw the Jounin gathered nearby share grim glances, fingering weapons reluctantly. Iruka felt a swell of cold panic, and then his attention was caught by the flash of white appearing at his side.
A strong hand pushed the teacher slightly to the side, and the person's other hand, glowing with chakra, slammed into Naruto's stomach. The boy shouted, collapsing to his knees, and Iruka shoved the strange man away from his student. Almost instantly, the older shinobi found himself facing over a dozen of Sanctuary's finest.
Kakashi, apparently recovered from his period of unconsciousness, snarled. "Jiraiya, what the hell?!"
It was only the fact that Kakashi apparently knew this man that kept the others from attacking. As it was, this 'Jiraiya' prudently backed away, hands held harmlessly in front of him. "Relax, it's okay. I was just stabilizing the seal, that's all. I was helping, I promise!"
Trusting that the others would watch the newcomer, Iruka turned back to Naruto, watching closely. Sure enough, the red chakra was receding, drawing back until there was only the familiar blue eyes in that face. Everyone heaved a sigh of relief, and Jiraiya grinned nervously, vaguely wondering where Kakashi had disappeared to. He wanted an ally there – the Jounin had been bad enough, but those kids had had death in their eyes.
It was a little creepy.
-0-
While the rebels were gathered around the Kyuubi vessel, Danzo slowly, painfully levered himself up to his hands and knees. His head spinning, gasping for breath as he fought back waves of pain, the Hokage began to drag himself away from the enemy. He grinned faintly, an ironic twist of the lips.
"They did me a favor" he murmured, the words slurred because of his jaw. "Those kids, there's no way… that they could kill a defenseless enemy. They're… too nice… no way… they could murder in cold blood.
"No, they couldn't." Danzo froze, breath abandoning him at the frost in that voice, the hand laid almost gently on the nape of his neck. "But I can." A sudden motion, a sharp snapping sound, and the tyrant of Konoha died before he hit the ground.
Kakashi stepped away from the body, and did not look back as he rejoined the others.