Disclaimer: Naruto and all associated characters are property of Masashi Kishimoto

Jutsu: Original (Translation)

Bijū/Summon Speaking

Bijū/Summon Thoughts

Naruto mental reply

! - dattebayo

Warning: There will be depictions of violence and sexual assault in this chapter. I have sectioned off the portion of this chapter that describes the assault in some detail for those who may be uncomfortable with reading such content. While not into the realm of detail as lemons go, since the act is not entirely consensual, I feel it requires more of a warning.

Edited 4/22/16

Chapter 36

Act 3: Entangled in the Deepest Roots

With Naruto - Sub-level 3 - Root Headquarters

Naruto followed along behind Makoto in silence, henged as Taro with a shadow clone henged as Ren, and a third clone that was loosely tied up and playing possum as himself. They were currently navigating through the trainee dorms in the third sub-level of the base and, according to Makoto, they still had to travel through two more.

Makoto had come back less than an hour later saying Danzō was preparing to meet the Daimyō and would be gone by the time they got back. After a brief discussion, it was determined that pretending to have Naruto captured would give them the most leeway through the base. It made sense to him since they would have brought him to the same sub-level as the younger recruits once they had him subdued.

Once she looked over Naruto's Henge of Taro, they went back to the base through the mission entrance instead of the side entrance.

Naruto thought he was caught when the guard began to scrutinize him closely, but Makoto was able to redirect his attention by mentioning that Danzō had authorized her team to have quick access to the sub-levels to restrain their target immediately.

The guard looked over a small registration book before nodding in confirmation, then waved them past the checkpoint. Makoto gave Naruto a signal to follow directly behind her while the clones filed behind him in a single file line.

While the group made their way through the upper levels of the base, Naruto took note of some of the weapon supply rooms and a jutsu library that they passed before they approached the checkpoint to gain entry to the sub-levels.

After a short conversation with that guard, they were waived forwards, and Naruto followed Makoto through the labyrinth of tunnels until she came to a brief halt in front of a small door. Makoto looked around quickly before pulling him into a storage room.

"Naruto-kun, wait here for me while I check the next area for our sensei. One of them is a Hyūga and will see through the disguises if we get any closer. It might take me awhile but just relax here. No one will enter this storage room right now since they are all deployed for the invasion." Makoto whispered into Naruto's ear.

Naruto nodded and hid in the shadows with his clone decoys as Makoto left the storage room. He felt sorry for the people in this place being buried deeply underground like this. Naruto reached out with his senses and found most of the place was disturbingly quiet.

While the base was emptier than usual, according to Makoto, the fact that he couldn't sense anything at all meant that everyone loved being in Root, or they had been broken of their emotions so effectively.

Everyone had some negative emotions flare in them on occasion. Seeing something they hate would cause a small spark, seeing someone with a better sword than you would be another spark. He was curious as to why he didn't sense any anger or hatred from the recruits themselves but it maybe because they were out of range or incapacitated.

As he closed his eyes and pushed the limits of his senses, he finally felt some small flickers of fear and anger, but they were very subdued. The recruits must be kept under a tight watch if they were even afraid to act angry. He also noted that when he strained his senses like this, he could feel some strange things moving around throughout the base itself but without Kurama to speak to about it, he was at a loss to what this feeling was.

Makoto entered the room and revealed the all clear hand sign they had agreed upon before entering the base. She beckoned to him to follow with a subtle hand gesture. Naruto nodded to Makoto and followed with his decoys as she led him down a hallway and through another large room before turning down the second hallway.

They went down a few flights of stairs and emerged on the fourth sub-level without running into any Root members.

Sub-level 4 - Root Headquarters

Naruto found it odd that there wasn't one set stairway to lead people to each level like most buildings. It seemed like a massive inconvenience to have to constantly double back and forth across one wing of the base just to make it down a floor. Even though he saw no other Root members, he elected to remain silent instead of asking Makoto why they would structure the base in such a way. The only possible reason he could think of was to throw off invasion forces, but the base was laced with demolition seals every 10 feet, making the layout redundant.

They had crossed another large training room before they began passing through a series of smaller rooms. They even looked just like the dorms from the orphanage but there wasn't much more in them but a pair of futons, a desk, a chair, and a small shared bathroom linked with the next room.

The rooms also looked exactly the same as each other and had strange, unfamiliar smells that he couldn't recognize. He would have to catalog it for Kurama to decipher when he wasn't busy with Shukaku.

"This is the older student training rooms I told you about. The five to eight-year-old trainees are always in the deepest sub-level to get used to not seeing the sun. The eight to ten-year-olds are further down the hall going through the physical training. Then, if you survived long enough to reach the age of 11, you come up to this area for the more strenuous mental and physical training." Makoto informed him.

"These rooms here are for the last two years age 11 and 12 where Danzō uses different herbs and potions to complete our physical and mental training for graduation," Makoto added.

"What are the herbs and potions needed for?" Naruto asked.

"To speed up our mental and physical development so that we move past the hormonal, emotional phases of puberty quicker. Danzō says it allows us to become more effective weapons at younger ages. I think part of the regimen is designed to make us lose our emotions before the final seals are applied. You are paired with other trainees around the same stage of development and exposed to a powerful drug that makes you lose all inhibitions." Makoto replied with a shiver.

"I'm sorry, Makoto-chan. I shouldn't have asked, I didn't want to bring up any bad memories," Naruto whispered.

"It's okay, Naruto-kun. Now that you are here everything will be better. I just know it." Makoto gave him a soft smile.

As they passed another large room, Naruto caught the strong scent of ink and blood. He stole a brief glance into the chamber and saw rows of tables with restraints on them and ink stains.

"This is the place where the final seals are applied, a combination of control, silencing, and suicide seals that make it so you can't speak out against Root or betray them. Most of the recruits are emotionless tools by then anyways, only wanting to serve Danzō." Makoto said.

Makoto turned to Naruto and paused for a moment "I'm lucky this invasion happened when it did. I was already in the middle of the final training before getting the rest of my seals applied. Taro and Ren had already finished, and you saw how they were. I always knew you would be the one to save me, Naruto-kun."

Naruto began to feel a little uneasy but attributed his feelings to being in the middle of an enemy base. The Academy did not teach much in the way of infiltration skills, leaving that up to the instructors responsible for infiltration teams. He stretched out with his senses once more to test the area around him and still only caught flickers of negative emotions directly below him, so he pushed his unease aside.

Makoto led Naruto towards another three-way intersection but continued going straight. As they passed the other hallway, Naruto took note of a door with unfamiliar seals that Naruto had never seen before. He took note of a strange smelling odor that was coming from that door before turning his attention back to Makoto. He noticed Makoto shiver when she passed the door and decided not to dredge up any more bad memories by asking questions.

They reached another staircase and began to make their way down to the lowest level of the base.

Sub-level 5 – Root HQ

Once they exited the stairway, Makoto made a left at the first intersection and began making her way down the hallway before suddenly stopping.

Naruto peeked around and saw the bodies of children scattered throughout the hall. The children were all very young, between the ages of 6 – 8 and had been mutilated with looks of sheer terror on their faces, evidence that their final moments were filled with agony.

Makoto had her hands to her face and was shaking her head in disbelief.

Naruto felt sick at what he saw, all those poor children brutally murdered. Now he knew why he didn't sense anything from the prisoners; they had all been dying or dead when he reached out to find them. Those tiny flickers he had sensed were the final emotions these poor kids had felt as their lives faded.

Naruto felt anger, unlike anything he experienced before. He took deep calming breaths because he could feel himself starting to draw on Kurama's chakra and even though he wanted to tear this place apart so badly right now, he had to play it smart.

"What the fuck is this, Makoto-chan? Why would they do this kind of thing? What is the fucking point?" Naruto hissed in a low tone.

"I don't know, Naruto-kun. I've never seen anything like this before. Usually, they pair us up with someone our age, so we become friends. You do everything together until it is time for you to reach the next level. Then you have to kill your friend before they kill you. I've never seen anything like this! I swear!" Makoto said in a whisper.

Naruto gritted his teeth and had to calm himself even more. Just when he thought it couldn't get any worse, that asshole would out do himself by a huge margin. Making people kill their own friends to survive? What good could that possibly do for someone? Naruto realized that most Root members probably chose to be emotionless because the only other option after surviving this hell hole would be insanity of some sort.

Makoto and Naruto both snapped to attention when they saw a pair of Root Anbu leave one of the side rooms covered in blood and look in their direction.

"So, you have managed to acquire your target successfully? Proceed to the suppression room so we can begin re-education of the jinchūriki immediately." The Root agent on the left said.

"What is going on here Kaori?" Makoto asked.

"Danzō-sama has ordered a purge. Since these recruits are incapable of providing support or defense, they must be eliminated. Once you secure the jinchūriki and apply the seals, we will evacuate this base completely and prepare for Danzō-sama's ascension to Hokage." the newly identified Kaori said.

Naruto couldn't believe it. All these poor children brutally cut down because that asshole thought they were useless? The bastard couldn't even be bothered to wait and see if they would become useful down the line. He honestly didn't see anyone as a person, only tools to use in his twisted little games. Naruto clenched his fist, but he managed to remain calm and not say a word.

"Very well, we will proceed as instructed," Makoto said in a low tone before she began picking her way through the bodies with Naruto and his decoys following behind her.

Makoto peeked behind her and when she saw the other Root travel further down the hall she quickly ducked into a side room and pulled Naruto in with her. The decoys quickly moved inside as well.

The side room had been the dorm of two little girls who had been stabbed through their hearts while clinging to each other in the corner. Naruto felt as if he was the one who had been stabbed when he looked at them. One of the clones draped a blanket over the poor little girls' bodies.

Suddenly, Naruto's eyes widened when he received information from his clone. Kakashi was pissed, but at least, this would help him get Makoto out of Root and to safety. If only he had left with Makoto the first time, he might have been able to, at least, save some of them.

"Naruto-kun, something has gone terribly wrong. You are going to be in danger if you stay," Makoto said with a whisper.

"What about you Makoto-chan? I can't just leave you here!" Naruto whispered back.

"I won't be able to leave unless we find the seal removal scroll, and I have no idea where that is," Makoto replied.

"Where do you think they would keep that kind of stuff? What about that sealing room we passed?" Naruto replied.

"He wouldn't leave something like that out. Only a few Captains have the control hand seals and the patterns. If I had to guess, I would say they store them in Danzō-sama's office." Makoto replied.

"Then we have to find a way there and get that seal off of you," Naruto said with determination.

"Well, Danzō-sama should be gone to rendezvous with the Daimyō for quite some time. It might be possible for us head over there disguised as the recovery team going to leave a ..."

Before Makoto could finish, alarms began blaring throughout the base causing both Naruto and Makoto to jump.

"That must be my sensei and my team with some Anbu sent by the Hokage; they are going to kill Danzō! Makoto-chan this will be perfect for us." Naruto said with excitement.

"No this can't be happening! This will ruin everything!" Makoto wailed.

"What do you mean, Makoto-chan? The alarms and attack will provide the perfect distraction." Naruto had a confused look on his face.

Naruto thought the fact that they were moving to kill Danzō would be good news to her but instead, all he was sensing from Makoto was overwhelming fear.

Makoto seemed lost in thought for a moment before she replied. "You don't understand! When the alarm seals are going off, sensors are stationed at every stairway and intersection throughout the base. We won't be able to sneak anywhere using Henge and with the base on full alert, everyone still stationed in the base will be swarming the hallways."

"What about doing it the old fashioned way? Do you know where I can get some uniforms? I can just dispel my clones for now and put on a uniform and mask, then when I make new clones they will adopt my new appearance." Naruto said.

"I can't get any masks, all the masks are assigned to graduates only and have tracking seals on them," Makoto said sadly.

Naruto adopted his stoic pose and began trying to think of another way besides the obvious which meant fighting their way out. If they ran into a Root Captain, however, Makoto could be killed with a simple hand seal, if his suspicions about those seals she mentioned were right.

"Our best chance is to wait for most of the reinforcements to head up to counter the invasion force before we move to Danzō-sama's office. The base might be empty enough that sub-levels 3 and 2 will be completely empty like how sub level 4 was." Makoto said.

"Should we move back up to sub-level 4 then, so it takes us less time to move?" Naruto asked.

"I think that is a good idea, Naruto-kun," Makoto said with a soft smile.

Naruto dispelled his clones to regain his chakra. Makoto peeked out of the room they were in while Naruto stretched out his senses and didn't detect anyone within range, so they proceeded back the way they came and quickly made their way up the stairs.

Once up the stairs, Makoto quickly led Naruto back to the three-way intersection and headed down the hallway towards the door marked with seals. As they got closer, Naruto noticed the strange smells were getting stronger and were starting to affect him, so he tried to filter the scent out as he followed Makoto. He still didn't sense negativity towards him from her, so he pushed his concern about the smell aside.

"Makoto-chan, where are we going?" Naruto asked.

"This room is where we make our potions from herbs for most of our recruits. No one should bother coming in here with the base under attack." Makoto said.

Makoto led him up to a door and undid the seals before sliding it open. There was a second door directly ahead of them, and as Makoto undid the seals on that door and slid it open, the first door slid shut automatically and sealed.

Naruto spun around quickly to study the seals, but before he could figure out how to deactivate them, he felt a sudden sharp pain in his neck and felt the rush of a cold liquid enter his veins.

'Shit! This was all just a trap! She betrayed me again!' Naruto thought.

Naruto's anger flared for a moment, but whatever substance he was injected with began to take effect and his anger turned into a strange numbness. Naruto couldn't think straight, and his body was starting to tingle all over.

Naruto fell to his knees as he became light headed, he looked up at Makoto and shot her a glare.

Her pupils had dilated to such a degree that her normally bright green eyes were just small green rings. She had an eerie smile on her face which made Naruto begin to worry.

"Makoto, how could you do this to me... I trusted you. I was going to help you." Naruto said with a growl.

"It's not what you think, Naruto-kun. I'm not doing this to give you to Danzō or anyone else. I'm doing this to save you from the others." Makoto said with a smile.

"What...have you done to me?" Naruto stammered out.

His body felt on fire, and his heart was pounding in his chest, the tingling sensation had gotten stronger, and Naruto couldn't move.

"Shh.. don't be afraid, Naruto-kun. You will get used to it real soon. It was the same for me when I went through this the first time. I won't do anything bad to you, in fact, this will only help you realize the truth." Makoto said as she helped Naruto to his feet slowly.

Makoto pushed him up against the wall and pressed herself against him. Naruto couldn't help but gasp as his body responded in a strange way and the tingling sensation grew stronger everywhere her body came in contact with his. Goosebumps formed on his skin as the tingling sensation shot through his spine.

"Naruto-kun, I'm so glad you are here with me. It has been so horrible here, and you saw just how bad these people are. When they put me through all the torment and the ruthless training, the only thing that kept me strong was thinking of you." Makoto cooed in his ear. Naruto involuntarily shivered as her breath caressed his ear.

"I felt so bad for how we tried to trick you. Through all the difficulties and the pain, it was your face that I remembered so I wouldn't lose myself." Makoto had begun to run her hands along his ribs while she trailed the tip of her nose from behind his ear down his neck.

Naruto's head was swimming now, and he didn't resist as Makoto took his hand and brought him further into the room before closing the door behind them. She led him towards the end of the chamber and helped him sit on a built in bench against the wall.

Naruto was only vaguely aware of what Makoto was doing to him at the moment. His breathing was starting to get heavier, the strange feeling inside of him grew stronger, and his mind was unfocused. This feeling was familiar, but he couldn't place it. His thoughts almost seem to scatter with any noise or touch.

Warning Depiction of Sexual Assault Below

Naruto sucked in his breath sharply when he felt Makoto's hands slide up his thighs and up under his shirt before moving slowly up his chest. Makoto was blushing but had a hungry look on her face as she hummed her approval. Her fingers and hands were trailing tenderly from his stomach to his pecs.

His heart began to race even faster like it was about to burst and where her hands touched his skin, his body reacted strongly, sending waves of pleasure throughout his body. Her hands were now moving upwards towards his neck before she moved them down again slowly towards his waist. Makoto crawled up into his lap and began to nibble on his ear and neck.

"Makoto-chan?" Naruto could only sputter out before another wave of that sensation rushed through his body as her hand dipped lower into the waistband of his pants. Her lips on his neck and ear combined with that tingling sensation felt better than anything he could think of. He gasped as she continued with her open mouth kisses down his neck.

"When they brought me in here to finish my training, all I could think about was you. I missed you so much, Naruto-kun. I would do anything to make sure we don't have to be apart ever again." Makoto whispered into his ear.

His muddled brain had finally made the connection to the feeling he was experiencing. Kurama had told him it was a feeling of lust. Now he knew why Kurama said it was such a powerful and commanding feeling since mortals often succumbed to it easily. Now that he was feeling it for his first time he understood. It had seized control of him and his mind only feebly tried to resist.

Naruto started to pant as he struggled harder to regain control of himself, but the combination of the gas and his increased circulation only increased the aphrodisiac's spread. Naruto tried to muster his will and regain control, to push the feeling down but his willpower faltered with Makoto nibbling on his neck, and it was shattered completely when Makoto reached down beneath his pants and boxers and began to stroke him gently.

"I brought you in here so you could see that we belong together, Naruto-kun. It was fate the led me to find you in the orphanage. I was meant to find you and be by your side forever. This place will help you realize it. Don't you feel it Naruto-kun? Doesn't your body feel alive when I touch you?" Makoto explained as she continued to kiss her way up his neck before moving down to the junction of his neck and shoulder and began to give him a hickey.

Naruto cried out in shock when he felt Makoto's hand fondling him and a strong wave a pleasure washed over him causing his mind to go blank. Makoto caught his lips with hers and began running her tongue against his.

Naruto could only close his eyes in ecstasy at the sensations he was feeling. Nothing had ever felt this good to him before, and he couldn't help but start to react as his body demanded. Naruto began to kiss her back shyly by copying the movements of her tongue causing Makoto to speed up her ministrations.

Makoto broke off the kiss and giggled as she slid down off his lap and freed his length from his boxers. Makoto began applying all of her kunoichi training into pleasing Naruto, using her lips and tongue on him just as she had learned from her sensei Haruko.

Naruto could only moan and throw his head back as the strongest sensation of pleasure he had felt washed over him again. The feelings he had experienced before when she touched his body or kissed him were nowhere near the level that he was feeling now, and he was completely at her mercy.

A small part of him was scandalized at the things she was doing to him with her mouth, but that part was squelched by the euphoric feeling his body was experiencing. He was completely at the mercy of the aphrodisiac, laced in the chakra mist filling the room and circling in his veins.

Naruto had fully embraced his euphoric state tossing out his inhibitions. He reveled in the new feelings he was experiencing as she pleasured him, and soon something deep within him begin to build, it continued to grow stronger and stronger before it felt like he was going to explode.

Makoto felt that Naruto was nearing his end, so she hummed as she bobbed her head faster, sucked harder while she fondled his testicles tenderly. Naruto felt that building feeling explode, causing him to cry out her name as his first release hit him.

Naruto felt boneless after his release and was breathing heavily with his eyes closed. It felt like some great burden had been relieved from his body, and he almost felt peaceful. His heart was beginning to calm down, but he noticed that there was a desire inside him for something more.

By the time Naruto opened his eyes to look at Makoto, she had already stood up and was taking a drink from her canteen before wiping her mouth.

She sashayed forward in a seductive manner and ran her hands up his chest again causing him to grunt. Then she caught his lips with hers and began kissing him deeply. Naruto moaned into her mouth before copying her actions and began kissing her back. His arms reached for her and pulled her into his lap forcefully causing her to moan also.

They continued kissing each other deeply only breaking for brief gulps of air before she would claim his lips again. Naruto had begun to run his hands along her sides and back in an exploratory manner as he got used to the feel of a female's body.

Naruto had never felt an intimate physical connection with anyone. The feeling was intense and awoke a desire within him. His body was so sensitive to her touch and responded in ways he had never imagined. All his previous anger and thoughts of betrayal were gone from his mind entirely. All he could think about now was this hunger for something more and how he needed her to fill it.

As they broke for air once again, she trailed a finger up his chest again before whispering in his ear. "It feels wonderful doesn't it Naruto-kun?" Makoto said

His clouded lust filled eyes opened to look at Makoto "Makoto-chan... I've never felt like this before." He leaned his head into her chest.

"You need to have more now don't you, Naruto-kun. You have to have more?" Makoto said in a breathless tone, "It was the same for me also. I had to have more, but I was never satisfied because it wasn't you who was filling me. Now we will cure our hunger together. Come with me." Makoto said as she stood up and took Naruto's hand.

Naruto stumbled a bit from being light headed, but Makoto threw his arm over her shoulder to support him as she re-opened the sealed door and led Naruto down the hallway. Naruto walked along with Makoto without resistance.

Makoto led him into her room and pushed him gently onto her futon before closing her door. She turned around and saw him looking up at her with a dazed look in his beautiful blue eyes. She smiled at him and approached him slowly before she pulled her shirt and bra over her head revealing her budding B cup breasts to him.

"Finally, Naruto-kun we will be together," Makoto said as she crawled over him.

Naruto blushed at the sight of her with no shirt on but could only watch, mesmerized as she crawled up his body sensually. She cupped both of his cheeks with her hands and began kissing him again. As they kissed each other, she started to pull his shirt up. Once they broke their kiss to breathe, she quickly yanked his shirt off before kissing him deeply once again and began running her hands over his body.

Naruto reached up and began to explore her body as well. Makoto took his hands and guided them towards her breasts. She started moving his hands over her breasts in a particular manner for a few moments as Naruto watched before he caught what she wanted him to do and copied the motion. Makoto hummed her approval before she moved in to kiss him again. Naruto began to caress her breasts more firmly, causing Makoto to moan into his mouth while she trailed her hand down his chest before reaching into his boxers to stroke him again.

End of Warning

Unknown to Naruto, Kurama had just finished using the link to Gyūki and Shukaku finally returning sanity to his sibling. Gyūki had subdued Gaara and B was bringing him back towards Konoha.

He linked himself back up to Naruto's senses only to find quite the surprise.

"Kit! What the hell are you doing? This isn't the time for this!" Kurama scoffed at the foolishness of humans.

'I guess even the kit is susceptible to lust like most other humans. I will have to remind him not to be a fool again, succumbing to such base needs.' Kurama snorted.

He felt the emotions running high in his kit which was strange but not unusual for humans 'in the mood' as he heard it called. He growled loudly.

"Kit! Stop that this instant. This is not the time!" Kurama roared out before bashing the cage with his paw for extra measure.

When Naruto didn't respond at all to that, Kurama knew something was wrong. Naruto never ignored the paw bash.

Kurama replayed the memories he had missed while their link was inactive to try and understand how the hell the boy decided to forgo the invasion for carnal pleasure.

Once the truth replayed, he snarled in anger and began to purify Naruto's system by empowering his healing factor and chakra pathways with a safe, steady dose of his chakra.

'That filthy traitorous snake! How dare she taint my kit like this.' Kurama thought with a growl. 'Once I get enough of this foul drug out of his system he will have enough mental clarity to respond to me again.'

Makoto was starting to get a little frustrated. She was certain that she had followed her training properly. He should be rolling her over and taking her like all the others did. She wanted that full connection to him, and she was so close to having her desire and dreams fulfilled. Naruto would be hers forever once they made love to each other and no one would take him from her. Not Danzō, not the Hokage and certainly not that Hyūga hussy with the freakish eyes.

She had been assigned to study her Naruto closely as he grew. She read all the reports about his health from the time they had failed to recruit him up until his training for the exams with Team 7. She had cherished every precious photo that had been taken of him. She knew everything there was about him. She had been enraged when that hussy began getting close to him. Going out on lunches with him, training with him. She could tell the damn Hyūga was laying all her charms on her Naruto.

She needed him! He was the only thing she clung to during her emotional programming, and he became her light in a world of darkness. He was always so magnificent and glowing in every photo she had of him, with the sun shining off of him so brightly. His beautiful blue eyes were always shining with his love for her.

Danzō told her that as long as she threw herself into her training and followed his directions exactly, there would be no failure like last time. When they had deviated from the plan, and she had lost him because she lacked the courage to take him. Makoto's world had fallen apart when Naruto had walked away that day. The tears in his eyes had shown that she had failed to prove her love to him.

Makoto was no fool, though. She knew that Danzō was planning on taking her Naruto away from her as well, so she followed through with her training and conditioning with enthusiasm in order to prepare herself for the day she could make Naruto hers. She had spent the last two years fully developing her plan and studying ever report about Naruto's skills and abilities. That was how she learned about his lie detection ability and that she needed to be honest and genuine about her actions and careful about every move she made, or she might lose her Naruto, and she couldn't have that.

She truly believed in helping the younger children out of Root because she saw them as potential competition for her Naruto. Naruto would feel sympathy with them and one of those little sluts might try to steal him. So, she would convince Naruto to free them so they could go back to the orphanage away from her Naruto. She never wanted them to die and, honestly, she was shaken by the way they were so ruthlessly slaughtered.

She wasn't lying to him when she told him of all the harsh conditions and pain she had experienced because that was all true. Only her obsession for making Naruto hers had kept her from failing or dying. She killed her partner viciously when Danzō said that bitch had eyes for her Naruto.

Of course, she truly wanted Naruto to free her from the seals and bondage of Root, but at the same time, she knew that if they were truly free that Hyūga bitch would try to steal him away from her. She wouldn't be able to kill the Hyūga slut without consequences if she left Root. She wanted to get away from Root, that was certain, but she couldn't keep her Naruto safe if she remained in Konoha. Instead, she would use Root's resources to make sure that Naruto saw her and only her, then he would be hers forever, and no one could ever take him away from her.

So she had modified the plan for capture so that she could be free from repercussion but keep Naruto close at hand by using the combination of aphrodisiacs to free him from the Hyūga's clutches and awaken his true love for her. Then they would be together forever, and no one would be able to separate them. She was so close to completing her objective, but Naruto needed to take her for all this to work.

Naruto stopped what he was doing as his mind began to become clearer, but his focus was interrupted when Makoto pushed him down and started kissing him again. Naruto responded to the kiss at first but his mind grew less befuddled while he was kissing Makoto. He wasn't as lost in the feeling again and stopped responding to it as his mental clarity returned.

Makoto broke off the kiss and began to pour her heart out to him. "Naruto-kun, don't you see that we were meant to be together always?" You don't have to go back to them anymore! You have me Naruto-kun! You always had me! You belong to me!"

Naruto was in absolute shock and confusion. Why was he in bed with Makoto? What the hell had happened to him?

Makoto caressed his face gently as she stared into his eyes. "You won't have to worry about being away from me anymore. Everything will go according to plan, and we will be together forever just like he promised. Danzō will remove the Hokage and without him in the way you can finally be free of everything. We can leave the village and start our family without anyone interfering in our lives. Don't you want that Naruto-kun? Don't you want to stay with me and experience that wonderful feeling we just shared?"

Naruto began to piece together events that lead up to this moment, and once his memories caught up to when he entered that room with her, he was torn between anger towards her and himself. He couldn't believe he was so stupid to fall for her scheming again. He couldn't believe he just let her do those things to him so easily and that she would do such things to him.

"Makoto, was everything you told me just a lie to lure me here? Did you really care what happened to those children? Don't you care about what will happen to everyone if Danzō becomes the Hokage? Naruto asked in a pained tone.

He was in denial that he had been lured into this trap so easily. He held onto a sliver of hope that story she had told him wasn't all just a lie to lead him into this trap. He hadn't sensed any lies in her. Did she somehow manage to hide it and made up that whole story just to betray him again? He had believed her and given her a chance. Was it all fake?

"I don't care about Danzō, the Hokage, or that fucking village who spits on you, my love. While it wasn't in my plans for the children to die as they did, I wanted them out of the way because they were potential threats to our love. Danzō was going to take you away from me, so I have to break free from him, but the Hokage and the rest of the village will only come between us. Everyone is trying to come between our love and keep us apart. We belong to each other, Naruto-kun, and I will remove anyone in our way." Makoto said in a serious tone.

Makoto became nervous when Naruto didn't reply to her declaration. She couldn't lose him to anyone. She wouldn't lose him to anyone.

"You do want to stay with me right, Naruto-kun? You love me don't you? You felt it when we kissed each other and touched each other! We belong together, don't you see that?" Makoto said hysterically.

Now, it was evident to Naruto how she had managed to fool him. She had been driven crazy to the point where she actually believed that what she was doing was the right thing. She wasn't lying or manipulating him because her mind had twisted her fantasy into reality for her. Add in the fact that she spoke honestly about everything that she had experienced meant his negative emotion sensing would be useless. Nothing she had done today was a ploy to harm him in her eyes.

Makoto had been tormented by that bastard Danzō until she lost her mind. Danzō undoubtedly made her fixate on him in some way. Just another tool to get what he wanted and because of this, she truly believed that he was the only one to save her, that he was the only thing that mattered.

He felt pity instead of anger for her, even after what she had done to him. She would never be able to live in peace after what Danzō had done to her. Her entire life revolved around him now, and she had made it clear that she was capable of doing anything to eliminate people she viewed as a threat, and she saw everyone as a threat.

Naruto looked down as he realized that his friend was truly gone. Anything that remained of the old Makoto had been beaten and broken by Danzō and the thought made him sad and angry at the same time. He never imagined that Makoto would ever become someone like this. Some small part of him had hoped he would, at least, get her back as a friend. He had let her tears and sadness get to him, and now he had to pay for it.

Naruto vowed that he would never let sympathy cloud his logic again. He could never rely solely on his senses since she had proven that they could be fooled. She had managed to be genuine in what she said as she lured him into her honey trap.

He let his foolish chivalry and her tears of sadness block out the subtle warnings he should have listened to. She was afraid for him to go with her, but gave him a map to the base. They could have hidden in any room, but she chose the sealed room with the gas in it to hide in. It should have been so damn obvious.

With little to no evidence, he jumped right in because he hadn't sensed any deception and just completely disregarded using logic to analyze the situation as well. Instead, he stupidly thought he could save all the orphanage prisoners and free her so easily in a base full of Anbu level operatives because of her emotional state.

What a fucking fool he had been. She had played with him like a cat did with a mouse.

Naruto's anger flared, and he became determined never to fall for such a foolish act again. He knew what he had to do now to make sure that this lesson wouldn't go unheeded again in the future. He would have to do something drastic to burn this lesson into his mind so it would act as a slap to his face if he got into this situation again.

"Shh. Don't cry, Makoto-chan. It's alright. You won't have to worry anymore," Naruto said in a soothing tone as he brought Makoto in for a hug.

Makoto sniffled as she embraced him tightly. "You're right, Naruto-kun, everything will be okay. You will be mine forever, and no one will ever come between us ever again."

Internally, Naruto was warring with himself about his decision but when Makoto spoke it solidified his decision in the end. There could be no salvation for Makoto.

Makoto pulled him into a kiss and began to pull out the seal tag in her bracer that she was given by Danzō. It would make sure Naruto-kun would stay with her forever and would love only her.

Makoto gasped as she felt something sharp enter her body between her ribs puncturing her lung and piercing her heart. She pulled back from his lips and looked at Naruto with shock, seeing his face was stern, but there was sadness in his eyes. Her vision began to fade as she choked up more blood.

The last thing she registered was his warm arms tightening around her and his breath against her ear, whispering words that she couldn't understand as her hearing was fading already. Less than a minute later she slumped over onto him, dead.

Naruto held her close and whispered comforting words in her ear until he felt her heart stop and her weight fell onto him. He pulled his kunai out of her back and gently set her down on the futon. He noticed a strange seal tag partially sticking out of one of her bracers and removed it. He studied it briefly and found that it was unfamiliar to him, so he simply put it in his pocket to study later.

Heaving out a stuttering breath he shakily walked to the small attached restroom in her room and cleaned himself up as best he could. He really wanted to shower, then soak, then probably shower again, but he had wasted enough time falling into that trap and... other things.

He found his shirt and redressed before fixing his pants and boxers. He gave one last look to Makoto's body as it cooled on her futon.

"I'm sorry, Makoto-chan. Now, you can be free of me," Naruto muttered.

Naruto couldn't help but feel guilty that her life had been ruined and ended because of him. Memories of happier times played in his mind. When they first met and began to play with each other, all the times they hung out with Ren and Taro, all the times she helped him hide to avoid getting in trouble or when she would save him some candy or cake from the group birthday parties.

He pulled the blanket from the side of the futon and covered Makoto's body with it. Tears began to form in his eyes, and Naruto tried desperately to hold them back.

"It's not your fault, kit. I know you think it is, but it really isn't." Kurama decided to chime in.

'I know. I blame that fucking bastard Danzō even after what she did to me in the past, and what she did to me now, there was still some part of me that couldn't hate her. Maybe I am just being weak but I just couldn't Kurama. I just can't hate her.' Naruto replied with his eyes closed as he took a moment to compose himself.

"Tch. You humans are full of weakness but perhaps that you do not succumb to hate so easily is why you are so different. You have gained my respect because of that. The primal urges, on the other hand, we will need to work on. We don't need you turning into an animal because of a few mixed herbs in your veins." Kurama said in an amused tone.

Naruto blushed and fidgeted as Kurama replayed the memory in his head. 'Come on, Kurama. I didn't need to be reminded of that. Especially now!'

"Hmph. I find human mating rituals bizarre and uncouth, but you needed to be reminded that you are not an animal. You still have to master yourself and not lose your mind to those primal urges." Kurama said sternly.

'I know, but I couldn't help it. It was like something just took control of my body. I couldn't think straight and then... it just.. it felt so right to touch her and be touched by her and the other thing...' Naruto said in embarrassment.

"Do not feel too badly about succumbing, kit. Like I said, it was the herbs that weakened your resolve, but you could have avoided it when you first scented those smells, and they began to affect you. Now, you are familiar with them and can avoid it in the future, but it was your trust in the green eyed vixen that blinded you." Kurama said in a comforting tone.

Makoto's beautiful green eyes filled with the pain of betrayal flashed before his eyes, the moment she realized that the boy she loved had just murdered her, and Naruto felt so much pain and guilt. Was it possible that she might have been saved? Sakura had been crazy, and they managed to help her. Did he just murder her in cold blood?

"Do not doubt yourself now. You were angry that she had assaulted you, but you were also justified. She could not be redeemed and even planned to erase your memories and control you like a slave to her will. You were right with your first thought. The vixen you knew as a child was murdered by Danzō, not you. This was merely the remnant of that tool to control your life." Kurama said.

Naruto just closed his eyes to try and stop the tears from coming, but he couldn't. 'I guess you are right. Maybe it was better to kill her instead of leaving her to suffer, and she was a danger to me and everyone else. I have to force myself to accept the fact that I can't simply show mercy or sympathy so easily to those who have stood against me, even if my senses don't detect anything. That's why I held her until I felt her life leave her. That moment will remain with me forever as a reminder of what my carelessness can cost.' Naruto said seriously.

"That maybe so, but do not try to hide the rest of the truth from yourself. You have misplaced guilt that Danzō made her obsessed with you. Danzō is responsible, not you. You freed her from her burden, and you also gave her comfort in her final moments." Kurama said.

Naruto looked back at Makoto's corpse again. 'In her own way, she truly loved me and was tormented without me. She truly believed that only I could bring her that peace, but she honestly didn't know me and in the end, she might not have ever found happiness. There might be a way to grant her final wish...'

Naruto stared at her body before he made a decision and walked back over to her. He uncovered her body and gently rolled her onto her side before removing the ninjato, and it's unique sheath off her lower back. He set her back down and crossed her arms over her stomach.

He studied the sword for a moment and noticed it was a unique blade customized for her. The coloring on the ninjato had caught Naruto's attention because it was completely unlike all the other Root swords which were modified tantō.

The tsuba (Hand guard) had an inlay of a plum tree branches with blossoms sprouting on it. The saya (sheath) had small scattered plum blossoms in a pearly white, emerald green, and sapphire blue that were more heavily concentrated towards the base. It was an odd combination of colors for plum blossoms, but he had to admit the effect was nice.

As he looked closer, he noticed that someone had manually inlaid each blossom into the wood of the saya, and they were made of gem flakes instead of paint like he had assumed. The gemstones being protected by a dense layer of lacquer coating the saya.

Both the tsuka-maki (wrappings on the hilt), and the sageo (wrapping on the sheath) were the same beautiful green as her eyes.

Naruto felt a twinge of sadness with that last thought. This blade truly represented her.

"Forgive me, Makoto-chan, for what I had to do but I couldn't leave you to suffer like that. Maybe I being was selfish, but we couldn't have been together like you wanted in life. One day we might see each other again, and it will be just like when we were together in the past. Makoto-chan, I will take your sword and name it after you, so please rest now knowing that I will keep you near me always. I hope this will bring you the peace you deserve." Naruto said with conviction, as he held her sword over her unseeing eyes.

He bowed his head and secured the ninjato in the same manner that Makoto had hers, horizontally across his lower back. The length was a little bit short for his height, but he didn't care about that. This would be the only sword he would use now.

He closed her eyes with his fingers and after reciting a silent prayer under his breath pulled the blanket over her head once more.

Naruto remained there looking at her body as he gathered himself. After several minutes, he finally turned and pulled out the map Makoto had given him to plan his route of escape.

"Judging from the chakra flares I am sensing there is a large battle most likely in the area displayed in the upper right-hand portion of the map," Kurama said while showing an image of the particular section of the map he felt the flares coming from.

'Probably the secondary entrance to the North I'm guessing.' Naruto replied as he finally recalled the information the clone had sent him from Kakashi.

"Hmph. It shall be interesting to see you explain the situation to the silver sloth pervert." Kurama chuckled.

'I think I will just keep that between you and me for now, thank you.' Naruto said with a grimace. 'Kakashi-sensei might be a little too interested in details once he's done kicking my ass for being so reckless of course.'

With a path laid out and memorized, as hastily as he could, Naruto began running through the base making his way towards his objective. His first stop would be Danzō's office to collect any and all remaining files, evidence, jutsu, and hell while he was at it, he would take all his ryō too.

Next, he would stop at the library and clean out anything that looked rare or valuable. Danzō had probably stolen all kinds of rare books and jutsu that could come in handy.

While he was doing that, he would kill every last one of those Root bastards he laid eyes on. Then he would rendezvous with Kakashi-sensei and hopefully get to pay Danzō back for all the pain and suffering he has caused.