Happy Wednesday everyone! I can't wait to present you with this chapter. Lots of stuff happens! Also I feel I need to give this warning.
WARNING: There is going to be a particularly violent paragraph that is borderline gratuitous. I think it's necessary but I'm going to put a warning around that paragraph anyway. Just depends on the type of person you are I guess~ I try to keep the description of violence to a minimum generally. The story has been violent recently but it's not really the "point" of the story. This story is primarily a romance in my eyes, with a little bit of adventure, drama and intrigue thrown in. Anyway, enjoy!
P.S. I changed the formatting a bit for this chapter and sequential chapters. Tell me how you like it. Is it easier to read now? I'm trying to isolate the dialogue a bit more and separate descriptions from dialogue.
"Kyuubi Speech"
"Midnight Speech"
"Everyone else's speech"
Chapter 22
On with the story
A dark figure moved as a blur from tree to tree, zooming through the air at speeds that should have been impossible for any human to endure. Despite the speed in which the figure moved it was completely silent, an advanced sound nullifying jutsu surrounding it's body coupled with it's naturally soft steps. As the figure soared forward a large mountain became visible through the tree line. Dark red, slitted pupils narrowed.
This figure was the child of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, Naruto Uzumaki. The effeminate tween rushed through the forest to rescue a certain black furred vixen.
When viewing the mountain with his demonic eyes Naruto could see a powerful Genjutsu surrounding it. Analysing the nature of the jutsu, Naruto discovered that it would make anyone who neared it want to turn around. It also concealed an entrance to a cave which was guarded by two Anbu Black Ops shinobi. The masks they wore was a dead give away. The fact that Anbu were giving a position guarding the entrance to this mountain when they usually dealt primarily in assassination missions was telling in and of itself.
Naruto ran straight into that genjutsu, completely unaffected. The chakra in his body began to contort without him having to use hand signs, the tween casting a Genjutsu of his own. He jumped from a tree branch and sailed straight towards the entrance, dashing into the mountain cave. The two anbu didn't notice a thing despite looking right in Naruto's direction.
Naruto sprinted down a long hallway illuminated by torches along the walls . After a few seconds Naruto came to a crossroads in the cave with two paths diverging left and right. The blonde completely ignored those paths, running straight ahead directly into the wall. His body passed through it. Another illusion.
On the other side of that illusion was an iron gate, a single masked Shinobi sitting down on a chair reading a magazine. His arm was resting on a wooden table, a bored expression in his eyes. The only thing the Shinobi saw before his head was smashed into the cavern wall, forcing him unconscious, was a long mane of fluttering golden hair.
"Argh!" Midnight yelled within her mind as a metal rod pierced her gut, tearing all the way through her body until the metal clanked against the stone that the girl laid across.
Her face showed her anguish but she continued to stare up at the ceiling. Ibiki stood over her, his hand still gripping the rod.
"After all this time you haven't screamed out once." The man stated matter of factly.
Like usual he got no response from the vixen. Ibiki stared down at her mutilated body thoughtfully.
"I'm being reassigned. Just thought I'd let you know. I'm almost sad. I've enjoyed our long talks." The man continued.
Midnight lazily shifted her eyes to his, the girl still completely silent.
"One sided as they may be." He commented with a disturbing chuckle.
Ibiki removed his hand from the handle of that metal rod, lifting the same hand up to take off his shinobi headband, revealing the many scars that covered his scalp. Midnight had seen these scars multiple times. She had to endure his monologues about the torture he endured, his life story. Hearing him rant and talk about his life was almost as painful as the physical torture itself.
"They haven't told me who will be replacing me. I do know that their methods will definitely adopt to my reports. They won't be given as much time as me to...interrogate you." Ibiki mused, leaning down until his face was inches from hers, staring into her pitch black orbs.
"You are going to rot here for the rest of your days. Though I'm sure you could have guessed that by now. Lucky for you we still need information out of you otherwise we would have killed you a long time ago. Or well...not so lucky." Ibiki stated with an amused chuckle.
"Kami he never shuts up." Midnight lamented inwardly.
She then felt his palm rest against her bruised belly, just below that rod.
"I mentioned that my replacement's methods will differ greatly from mine. It was made clear rather quickly that we won't get anything out of you with pain. Honestly what we learned from your body was worth the wasted time torturing you, knowing you wouldn't speak a word. However..." Ibiki paused while sliding his hand down Midnight's pelvis, tracing a finger over the band of her panties.
Those garments were no longer hers. Her original attire was long gone, to be replaced by much lower quality undergarments. Midnight kept her dark orbs on him, the girl's eyes narrowing. Seeing that caused a pleased grin to appear across Ibiki's face.
"...They will most likely be implementing methods far different from my own. There are more than one way to cause suffering. Especially to a woman's body." Ibiki stated in a sinister tone while shoving his hand underneath the band to Midnight's panties.
Midnight tore her gaze away from his eyes to go back to staring up at the ceiling. A deeply satisfied expression appeared on Ibiki's face. She'd never took her gaze away from him in reaction to something he's said or done. Every time she did it it was out of boredom.
Emboldened by her response Ibiki shoved his free hand into Midnight's face, gripping her jaw tightly as he bent down to force his lips against hers. Midnight didn't respond, the girl continuing to stare up at the ceiling as his tongue licked against her muzzle. The hand he had delved past her panties was moving, a single finger thrusting into her.
After a moment the man pulled back from her face, a sick grin painted across his lips. His grin was only matched by Midnight's, the girl's smiles was as wide as the Cheshire Cat.
"After all this time, you still know so little about us." Midnight spoke out loud for the first time in his presence.
Ibiki was barely able to mask his surprise.
"So you finally UGHHHHH!" The man's words were interrupted by his own cry of agonizing pain as he quickly removed his hand from Midnight's panties.
He looked on in horror as his middle finger began to melt away, a sticky acid burning through the bone. The acid was sliding down the digit, threatening to spread to the rest of his hand. Acting fast Ibiki took out a kunai and quickly cut off what remained of his middle finger, watching in shock as that digit fell to the ground and was completely disintegrated by the acid. The goo then began to melt through the stone floor. Ibiki's attention was drawn away from the scene by the sound of Midnight's laughter.
The girl was snickering deviously, still staring up at the ceiling. Slowly her black orbs shifted to Ibiki, an amused smirk playing across her lips.
"You're everything she said you were." Midnight stated cryptically while watching the man with an idle gaze.
Ibiki had his teeth gritted, scanning her form tentatively. She still seemed to be made immobile by the long chains which pinned her limbs to the stone table she was forced to lay on. He took a moment to compose himself standing up straight and looking down on her with a narrowed gaze.
"What do you mean? Who are you talking about?" Ibiki pressed while slowly walking back to where Midnight was pinned.
Midnight stared him straight in the eye as she spoke.
"I could have escape a long time ago. I could have ripped your tongue from your mouth when you kissed me. I could have removed your fingers, hands, arms, made you pay in unimaginable ways for daring to touch me. I choose not to. You and everyone else here, you continue to draw breath because I will it." Midnight explained nonchalantly, as if the fact was obvious.
Ibiki moved a hand forward to idly grab the handle that was impaling Midnight. He didn't move it however, the man maintaining a practiced poise despite the fact that he was missing a finger.
"You expect me to believe you could have escaped at any time and you just let me do what I wanted to you?" He pressed.
Ibiki just wanted to keep her talking. This was a golden opportunity to learn very important information. To his surprise Midnight displayed a gentle smile.
"I've already shown you multiple ways I could have escaped. I freed my tail, so clearly I could free every other limb you've bound. Your middle finger was just not-so-pleasantly introduced to another method." She went on while idly glancing at his burned nub.
Ibiki stared stoically at her. He could see she was trying to get under his skin.
"Sneaking past the guards, which rotate every 2 and a half hours, sometimes switching to 3 and a half hours, would have been all too easy. Taking out Matsu, making his 4 year old daughter an orphan, child's play. Or Natsu and Megami during the times they sneak off to have fun with one another." Midnight continued before turning her gaze away from him and staring up at the ceiling.
He got the point. Ibiki glanced at the ears atop her head as they twitched.
"So that's how good her hearing is. Incredible. Those Shinobi are assigned to the entrance. She could hear them all the way in here, through the walls?" Ibiki pondered to himself in amazement.
He was so lost in his thoughts he barely noticed that she stopped speaking. He twisted the metal rod in her belly. He could see her toes curl as he performed that action. That got her attention.
"Then why? Why let us live if you could so easily escape? My jutsu allows me to sense your pain. You feel this as much as any human. Why endure this?" Ibiki pressed while softening his grip on that rod but still holding on to it.
Midnight gazed up to him with a solemn smile.
"To make him see." She stated vaguely.
This answer was clearly unsatisfactory because Ibiki began to twist that rod again. Midnight spat up blood, coughing a bit. But as soon as she was done the girl grinned, her teeth bloody.
"You're no fun." She teased playfully.
Ibiki was taken aback, hesitating as he contemplated his next move. Midnight released a weak chuckle before continuing to explain.
"I wanted to prove to someone close to me, and even a bit to myself, that you were every bit the monsters that we thought you were, and you didn't disappoint."
Ibiki raised a brow at her explanation.
"You think we're monsters. You who tore innocent people to shreds? You seek to judge us?" Ibiki retorted in amusement.
Midnight stared at him with a dull gaze.
"They were far from innocent but you are approaching the heart of my dilemma. In many ways we are similar. Humans and demons. I jumped to the defense of someone I cared about and had no problem with bringing immeasurable suffering to those people. The same as you. You humans have no problem doing unimaginable things to your enemies to protect your own. Unimaginable atrocities to anyone you deem "the other." Even your own kind. There in lies the important distinction between our species." Ibiki was listening intensely, watching as Midnight turned her head away.
"Do you know what the biggest different between us is? I'll give you a hint. It's not the fact that we regenerate our limbs and body parts." Ibiki glared down at the girl, removing his hand from the rod to bang his fist on the table as a show of frustration.
"Quit playing games and just get on with it." The man barked out. Midnight frowned.
"No fun at all." The girl lamented before continuing.
"What you do to your own kind, what you justify in order to feel safe and secure, it's something we would never do to one another. We have a connection, an empathy that you can't possibly comprehend. Demons of the same clan don't rape each other, don't murder each other, don't hate each other, don't torture each other. We live in perfect harmony. We suffer together, we struggle together, we succeed...TOGETHER. We...are...one." Midnight emphasized those last words.
"Your society is a parody of itself. This planet has given you so much yet you waste it's bounty on war, slavery, extreme poverty. Look how many of your kind die of curable disease because they don't have enough "money" to pay for medicine. Look at how many of your kind starve while a few have enough food to feed your entire species ten times over. Look at how many of you freeze to death in the winter when at the same time there exist empty castles and mansions built for one person. You don't care about each other. Not really. You only care about your own, your tiny groups, your tiny families. And you'll do anything to ensure their comfort and survival no matter the cost. Even then, that compassion is fleeting, so often dropped at the first sign of trouble." Midnight's head turned to look at the two way mirror.
"Even now your Hokage not only tolerates the torture of those he's deemed enemy, but orders it. I can free myself at any time but how many others couldn't? The man that My Love looks up to. When the chips are down, when he feels it's necessary for his survival and the survival of his small group, he'll do and order the unspeakable. The shinobi who follow this man's orders perform atrocities regularly. The people who benefit from these monstrous acts sleep soundly on a foundation of blood and agony spilled in their name. All done to their own kind." Midnight gritted her teeth now, snapping her black orbs over to Ibiki, the man listening silently, taking it all in.
"You asked why I endure this? It's because I've seen every possible outcome. Humans cannot know peace. It's against who you are at your core, against your very nature. Our people have endured horrors you can't even dream of but we've done it together. We've achieved true peace. We don't know betrayal, we don't know revenge, we don't know war. Not towards are own kind. We love each other in a way that your books couldn't even describe. We don't fall out of love, or grow apart, we don't cheat. Our society is better than yours in every conceivable way. But we can't exist in peace as long as humans exist. One way or another humans will destroy our family given enough time. If we let you continue to rule this world, your greed, selfishness, hatred, it'll destroy you, taking us down as well. I can't let that happen. I won't. I knew that merely speaking these truths would only give a small chance that he makes the choice that will lead to the brightest future. Just speaking would not be enough. He has to see it with her own eyes. See how lost you are, how cruel you can be." Midnight spoke out in a strain voice as a pool of blood spurted from her mouth to interrupt her speech.
"He?" Ibiki finally spoke up.
Midnight tried to compose herself but was struggling. The rod in her belly, combined with her other wounds, was doing quite a bit of damage. The girl turned her head away and closed her eyes, her teeth gritted.
"Naru-chan, My Love. Now he'll finally see." Midnight whispered weakly before falling unconscious.
Ibiki stayed still and silent for a long while, the man taking time to process everything she had said.
"So they do know each other, and they appear to be lovers. I must know more." Ibiki thought to himself resolutely while pulling the rod out of Midnight's belly and thrusting it back against her torso in a different spot.
"We aren't done!" The man barked out, causing Midnight to visibly recoil.
She was exhausted. As the rod pierced her flesh the door to the dungeon room began to slowly creek upon.
"Not now!" Ibiki yelled without looking up to see who was at the door.
When he didn't hear footsteps walking away Ibiki lifted his head and shot a glare towards the person in the door way.
"I said not n..." The man began to say. He stopped when his eyes met the fiery red gaze of a certain blonde.
Tick...
Tock...
Time seemed to stand still as the two stared at each other, both of their bodies frozen. Ibiki's mind was racing.
"It's Naruto. But how? How did he get in here?" He thought to himself in alarm.
Ibiki was the first to react, or at least he attempted to react. Before his hand could move even an inch to reach for a kunai Naruto was right next to him. With a high pitched cry of anger Naruto slashed at Ibiki's wrists with razor sharp claws, completely severing the man's right hand. The dismembered hand was left gripping the rod stifly.
As he opened his mouth to let out a pain-filled scream three golden tails smashed into his body, sending the man flying across the room and colliding into the wall opposite the door way. Blood spurted from his mouth as he collapsed on his ass, his head hung low.
Naruto now hovered over Midnight, the boys eyes wide in horror. Seeing her like this, mutilated so grossly, the girl's body so broken. It was too much for the poor tween's mind.
Naruto stood there for what seemed like eternity, a pit forming in the depth of his soul. His arms hung limply at his side, the effeminate boy's vision blurring as a sea of tears poured from his eyes. His tiny figure was visibly trembling, his world was collapsing. There was a clock on the far wall, the constant ticking often driving prisoners mad. At this point time was a foreign concept to Naruto.
Tick...
Tock...
Tick...
Tock...
"I will rain down...every agony..." The boy whispered in a barely audible voice.
"...Every violation imaginable..." Naruto continued, his throat raw, the words barely able to escape his lips.
"...I will bring a suffering so vile it will echo through the ages within your collective memory!"
The once pretty face of Naruto was contorted into a hellish scowl as dark, blood red chakra thrashed violently around tendrils whipped through the room, leaving large gashes wherever they struck. Scarring the walls, ceiling, floor. Naruto slowly placed a hand along Midnight's chest. As soon as he did all her bindings, every kunai and weapon that was stuck in her skin, it all jaunted away, dislodging from her flesh and sailing in all directions like bullets.
Naruto slowly picked Midnight's battered body up to cradle her in his arms bridal style. He could see her brow trembling from the pain of being moved. Loud electric noises began to emanate from Naruto. Small, short bursts of black electricity crackled erratically around him. The noise managed to wake Ibiki up from his daze. The first thing he did was use his remaining hand to grab something from inside his vest, a small button. He pushed it just as a golden tail wrapped around his throat and lifted him up into the air.
"You will feel every bit of pain you've ever inflicted as if it were your own. Every torture you will relive as the victim. Taste what it means to be a demon!" Naruto spat out in a rage as the boy's eyes began to glow a dark red.
Ibiki looked on in horror, struggling to pry the tail from around his throat with his remaining hand. The socket where his right hand should have been was spurting out blood at an alarming rate.
As Naruto finished his sentence Ibiki's eyes widened in shock. The man then let out a sickening, agonizing scream while grabbing his head. Naruto dropped him on the ground unceremoniously, the tip of one his tails igniting with blue fire before searing Ibiki's wound shut.
With a look of disgust on his face Naruto turned his back to the man, walking slowly out of the door as a very loud alarm sounded through the facility. As Naruto left the room Ibiki's writhing body began to move, though it wasn't him who was causing the movement. An invisible hand began to pull on the man's ankle, dragging him across the floor behind Naruto.
Naruto walked deliberately slow, backtracking his steps and heading down a familiar corridor. As he rounded a corner a hail of shurikens flew his way. This was combined with a number of various jutsu as well. Spikes of ice, plumes of fire, razor sharp wooden spears and many more various jutsu descended upon Naruto from a large group of Shinobi that had gathered several yards away.
That hail of attacks continued for a moment longer, kicking up smoke and dust. One of the Shinobi in the front raised a fist, signaling for the assault to stop. A dead silence fell on the area, only broken by the sound of soft footsteps.
Naruto excited the smoke completely unscathed, that same violent aura lashing around him.
"I am going to mutilate half of you in ways that only exist in your deepest nightmares. The other half, I almost pity." Naruto spoke in two different voices.
One was his usual high pitched effeminate voice, the other was extremely deep and demonic.
"Fire." One of the shinobi called out, the man appearing to be the leader.
Before anyone could move to complete a shuriken toss or perform hand signs Naruto was standing in front of the man leading the pack, moving at a blinding speed that none of the Jounin level nin could keep up with. The leader was frozen in place, shaking violently. Naruto had his hand inside of the man's stomach.
(Ok, this is going to be really, really graphic. I'm going to give you an opportunity to skip this paragraph.)
(Proceed at your own risk)
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With a ruthless tug Naruto pulled out the man's intestines, a spray of blood drenching the boy's face. He held Midnight's body in two of his tails now, freeing his hands up. Before the man could die Naruto exhaled a cold breath, freezing a good portion of those intestines. He then broke it apart and shoved about two feet of those guts down the man's throat. The shinobi was convulsing violently at this point while the others looked on in terror. Moving without hesitation Naruto slammed the man's head into the nearby wall, bending him over. The boy then shoved his hand and arm up the man's ass, grabbing the tip of those intestines and pulling them out through his anal cavity. Already at least a few of the shinobi were throwing up. Some shurikens were sailing Naruto's way but they were bouncing off a red, dome-like aura that surrounded the boy's bloody form. Naruto then begin to walk towards the group, still holding those intestines in one hand in order to drag the very dead body of that shinobi behind him menacingly.
(Proceed at your own risk)
(Proceed at your own risk)
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(It's safe, sort of...you can open your eyes.)
Weary eyes stared forward as leaves passed by, the old man quickly darting from branch to branch. Around him were about a dozen other shinobi, all heading in the same direction. A deep sense of dread filled his old bones but outward he maintained a calm visage.
Sarutobi dashed forward until he arrived at the entrance to the mountain prison several miles outside of Konoha. When he reached the edge of the tree line he jumped down to the rocky ground in front of the cave. The area around the entrance was surrounded by hundreds of shinobi. They stood on tree branches, clung to the mountain walls, stood in a guarded position, all facing towards the mountain cave.
As Sarutobi arrived a man with one Sharingan eye appeared at Sarutobi's side. Without being asked he started to go over the situation.
"As you suspected Hokage-sama, Naruto is missing. His apartment was completely destroyed. That combined with the reports of a dark red aura destroying the gate, we have to assume the worst." Kakashi stated in a hesitant voice.
Sarutobi nodded in understanding before grabbing the front of his Hokage uniform and ripping it from his own body, the old man adorning an all-black shinobi outfit underneath those robes. He performed a hand sign which caused tree roots to grow underneath his feet and raise him up into the air above all the shinobi on the ground.
"Then the Kyuubi has escaped." Sarutobi called out with his eyes narrowed.
He did that to prepare everyone in the area for what was to come. Based on the reports there was no other logical conclusion. Who else but the demon child had enough power to cause so much destruction? Who else would be emitting a dark red aura? No, there was only one answer.
That announcements caused many shinobi to stiffen, their stances becoming more guarded. Sarutobi looked towards a group of Shinobi who were gathering around the entrance to the cave. They all exchanged glances, understanding a few unspoken orders.
As everyone waited there was a distant noise coming from deep within the maintain. It was unintelligible, but growing more distinct with every passing moment.
There were several Hyuuga shinobi within the large battalion. A few of them held looks of distress on their faces because their Byukagan could see what the others couldn't. Two bent over and began to throw up violently causing alarm to everyone else. This sight only built tension in the army.
Finally as time passed the sounds became distinguished. Yells, screams, agonizing moans. The noise echoed from the cavern. Red tendrils shot out of the cave entrance causing the shinobi near the entrance to dash away. But the tendrils weren't going after anyone in particular. They appeared to lash out at random, gashing and scarring the ground and mountain walls. A few shinobi took a step back in response to that. Every second that passed caused more tendrils to appear, violently lashing out. Then from the darkness the demon child came into view.
Naruto appeared out of the cave entrance like a thing straight out of hell. He was covered from head to toe in blood and gore, a thin aura of demonic chakra bubbling and weaving around his skinny form. That black lighting continued to crackle about. But that wasn't the worst of it.
Sailing past Naruto on each side of him two gigantic red claws grabbed at the sides of the cave exit. The claws were made out of red chakra, nails digging into the stone.
"Kami help us." A man in a green jumpsuit whispered to himself from out in the front of the army.
"Now!" Sarutobi called out.
Multiple shinobi near the entrance to pulled on thin strings, causing a few hidden explosive tags to go off. The following explosions were enormous, the force of them shaking the area violently. The assault didn't stop there however. A bombardment of explosions filled that cave entrance, each one larger than the last. Many shinobi had to cover their ears from just how loud it was. Most of them guarded themselves from debree that sailed in every direction.
From out of the smoke, dust, and fire, a gigantic fox head made from chakra appeared. It held a menacing snarl, barring it's teeth. Enormous tendrals then shot from the smoke towards the nearby shinobi. The ninja jumped away but the tendrils followed, lashing at them like a whip. Each person that was touched would explode in a violent eruption of crackling red chakra. The tendrals connected with the side of the mountain and the ground. Everywhere the tips touched would explode.
"Keep your distance!" Sarutobi ordered as the army began to pull further away from the entrance.
They didn't stop their bombardment however, pelting that fox's head with a huge swarm of different jutsu and attacks. The fox screamed out in anger before opening it's mouth wide, shooting a huge fiery laser across the field. The laser washed over a large portion of the army, completely disintegrating all it touched.
From atop his elevated position surveying the battle field Sarutobi looked on in distress. So many of his subordinates were dropping like flies. The old man analysed the fox, making note of it's attack patters. It wasn't firing at random. It was retaliating towards those who were firing at it. Maybe...
"Cease your attack! Evade only!" The man shouted while forming his hand into a specific handsign and dropping into a horse stance.
The battalion looked up to him, most recognizing what he was doing. They did as they were ordered, falling back into the tree line. As soon as the bombardment stopped hitting the fox's head it stopped it's attack as well, the thing glaring at Sarutobi. The old man's suspicion was correct.
When the dust began to settle Naruto's body appeared, the boy walking calmly out into the clearing holding Midnight in his arms. He still had tears streaming down his face but his expression was a look of absolute hate. Naruto stared up at Sarutobi silently, just standing there as Sarutobi performed his Jutsu.
"Sealing Jutsu! Reaper Death Seal!" Sarutobi shouted out.
A large ghostly figure appeared behind the man. It was a shinigami, a death god. It was invisible to anyone buy Sarutobi. It's ghastly face was purple, a knife wielded in it's mouth. Long white robes adorned it's body with long white hair flowing down it's chest. The old shinobi's soul junted from his body to be suspended in the air and entangled by the hairs of the shinigami.
Naruto watched with a narrowed gaze, still unmoving. As he did this three figures suddenly appeared around him.
Guy's skin was boiling red, the man having unleashed 7 out of the 8 gates. He aimed a powerful, earth shattering fist towards Naruto's head from behind. The man's fists were on fire from the speed in which he punched. From the front Hiashi appeared, Hinata's father. The man thrusting his palm towards Naruto. Kakashi appeared towards the side with his Chidori screeching in his hand.
"Chidori!"
"Morning Peacock!"
"Eight Trigrams Air Palm!"
They all shouted in unison as the trio struck simultaneously. When Guy's fist got within an inch of Naruto's face a black circle suddenly materialized in front of his knuckles, engulfing his fist.
"What?" He thought in alarm just as a similar black portal formed behind him. From that portal the force of Hiashi's Air palm strike hit Gai straight in the back.
A similar black portal appeared in front of Kakashi, Guy's fists shooting from the portal to deliver that bone crushing punch into Kakashi's stomach.
Finally a portal opened up in front of Haishi, out popped Kakashi's chidori tearing into the Hyuuga's side.
Naruto didn't even both looking at them, his eyes focused on Sarutobi.
"Demon Art: Dimension barrier." He whispered to himself before dashing around.
The tween headed towards Guy first since the man was clearly the biggest threat. Naruto remembered the fight between Midnight, Guy, and Kakashi, using that knowledge to strike efficiently.
Before Guy could recover from that Air Palm attack Naruto appeared in front of the man and sent all three of his tails lashing towards the Jounin. Guy was quick enough to raise his arms and legs in front of his body just as those tails hit. The power of that strike sent him crashing into the mountain, the force of his collision making it appear as if a bomb went off where Guy landed.
Kakashi had been sent flying into the air from the force of Guy's punch, blood spewing from his mouth. Naruto appeared just above Kakashi, performing a front flip to smash his tails down onto the man's torso to send him crashing into the ground. As soon as those tails landed the boy dissapeared to the perception of most everyone.
In reality he lashed his tails at the air causing them to release a sudden burst of chakra which propelled him forward like a jellyfish flying through the air. Except he moved more like a rocket, sailing straight for Haishi who was holding his side from the damage that the Chidori did to him. With his Byakugan flared the old Hyuuga was able to see Naruto coming. The man, gripping his side with one hand, began to spin to form his Revolving Heaven defense. But Naruto had spent months training a certain Hyuuga.
"Demon Art: Rotating Hell." The blonde whispered still in that eery two pronged voice as he began to spin in the opposite direction that Hiashi spun.
A whirl of red chakra engulfed Naruto's body, colliding with the spinning force of Hiashi's barrier. As they met both auras dissapated, just leaving Naruto descending upon the elder Hyuuga.
Naruto struck like lightning, passing by Hiashi swiftly to land on the ground. Despite the speed in which Naruto's moved the effeminate boy's landing was completely silent. Naruto had his back facing Hiashi, the man standing still. Suddenly a spew of blood shot from the man's arms, legs, and chest as huge gashes appeared all over his body. He collapsed forward on the ground, unconscious but alive. Naruto then picked up the man with his tails and tossed his body towards the army of Shinobi. One Hyuuga shinobi launched forward to catch him, cradling the defeated man in her arms.
As Naruto threw that man more bodies suddenly appeared, launching from the cave entrance which was still guarded by the phantasmal visage of the enormous red fox. The fox's tails threw dozens of bodies into the army. Those bodies were the living, but extremely mutilated figures of the shinobi who had been guarding the mountain prison. Many looked on in horror as others jumped into the air to catch the disfigured ninjas. The sight of those bloody, violated victims was unspeakable.
The army was shaken, many frozen in fear. The only hope was Sarutobi who was currently speeding past all his broken and bruised allies, wielding a large pole. The old Hokage performed a series of one-handed hand signs, causing tree roots to sprout from the ground around Naruto and engulf him. Naruto stayed still, allowing those tree roots to get close. But the branch hit a barrier, a nearly invisible red dome surrounded Naruto's body. The protective shield only became visible when those branched collided with it. The roots were immediately set on fire, burning away.
That was just to buy time as Sarutobi closed the distance. He came within a few feet of Naruto, maintaining a look of determination. He took that pole in both hands before smashing it against Naruto's barrier, the pole denting it slightly. As he did this a ghostly hand shot from Sarutobi's stomach straight for Naruto. The hand passed straight through that barrier and got within an inch of the boy's body before suddenly freezing.
Naruto's body was suddenly engulfed by a blinding white light for just a moment. That light then began to dim. As it did a pair of hands settled down on top of Naruto's shoulders from behind, slender fingers sliding along Naruto's chest slightly before womanly arms wrapped around the boy's neck to embrace him in a loving hug.
Kyuubi stood behind Naruto in her physical humanoid form, bending over slightly to hover over her son and cast an amused smirk towards Sarutobi. Her nine fox tails swayed hypnotically behind her, the woman completely calm despite the intensity of their situation. Sarutobi looked on in disbelief and shock, confusion evident in his expression.
"You didn't think that would work twice did you? That I would let you harm my child anymore than you already have? No, you've done quite enough." The woman drawled out in a smooth, sultry voice.
"Your child!?" Sarutobi managed to exclaim disbelievingly before a powerful voice resounded from the woman.
"Art of Two Souls: Mother's light!" The women proclaimed as her eyes which were normally fiery red, instead shined a bright white.
Her son's eyes glowed the same blinding light. Everyone, even the Hyuuga shinobi, had to shield their faces from the brightness as Naruto and Kyuubi's body glowed like the sun. Standing behind Naruto, Kyuubi's form transformed into a spectral visage similar to the form of the Shinigami. Her spectral hands reached through Naruto's back and emerged through his chest, the woman's ghostly fingers spreading wide before an even brighter light radiated outward from her palms.
Even the Shinigami had to raise a ghostly arm to shield it's eyes. It let out an otherworldy moan before completely disappearing, banished back to where it came from. Sarutobi's soul returned to his body, causing the man's back to arch in pain, the wind being knocked out of him.
Within in instant that light was gone, leaving Naruto and Kyuubi in their same spot, Kyuubi's arms still draped over her son. Everyone was completely still as Kyuubi watched their awestruck faces. She took sultry steps forward in front of Naruto, turning her back to the shinobi army to focus her gaze down on the tween.
"I'll take care of her Sweetheart." Kyuubi cooed while reaching her arms forward to take Midnight's broken body from the boy.
Naruto looked down to Midnight with a somber gaze.
"Tell me she'll be ok." The tiny blonde whispered with a shaky voice.
Kyuubi maintained a warmhearted expression.
"Come now Sweetheart. You think Midnight would allow herself to be killed by some human?" Kyuubi asked, spitting out the word "human" in absolute disgust.
A tentative smile graced Naruto's pouty lips.
"You're right Mother. Midnight is strong." He stated with a resolute nod.
Kyuubi smiled approvingly before bending over at the waist to deliver a tender kiss to Naruto's forehead.
"Stronger that you know." Kyuubi whispered sweetly into her son's ear before standing up straight with Midnight in her arms.
She then turned around to gaze upon the army of shinobi who were watching with a mix of emotions ranging from fear, to confusion, to hate. The gigantic fox version of Kyuubi was still towering above the battle field. While Kyuubi spoke down to her son the enormous fox was staring threateningly towards the soldiers, it's tail's thrashing about in warning.
Kyuubi narrowed her gaze at the army, scanning over them before settling her fiery, slitted eyes on Sarotobi.
"I must thank you. From the bottom of my heart I appreciate what you have done for us. You have shown my son exactly who you are. How cruel and heartless even the best of you can be. You've shown us just how low you can and will go if it suits your best interest. That will make it so much easier to wipe you from the face of the earth like the plague that you are." Kyuubi spoke calmly until getting to that last sentence, which she barked out in a dark, seething tone.
She looked back at Naruto who's expression was one of pure malice.
"We've endured your evil for long enough." The woman spoke those last words in a more light hearted manner as she gazed adoringly down at her child before suddenly disappearing in a plume of blue fire.
As soon as she did the enormous chakra fox sprung to action, thrusting 7 of it's trashing tails directly into the ground. The impact caused a large earthquake on the battle field. The tips of those tails then lashed out along the ground like land-sharks, speeding towards the shinobi who all jumped out of the way. But the tails weren't aiming for the shinobi. No, the tails ignored them completely. Instead they disappeared into the forest, heading for Konoha.
"Squad 6, 17, 8, and 4. Stop those tails. Do what every you have to do. Don't let them reach the village!" Sarutobi shouted in alarm.
As soon as he did 12 shinobi dashed further into the Forrest.
"It's futile. None of the shinobi here have the means to stop her." Naruto spoke out in a dull tone, drawing most everyone's attention.
The small, blood covered, effeminate boy was kneeling down now, his hands resting gently atop his lap. Naruto's tears were gone, those slitted red eyes of his staring with a near blank expression. A few angry shinobi looked towards Sarutobi, awaiting orders, all ready to attack at a moments notice.
"Orders Sir." One shinobi called out through gritted teeth.
The old man hesitated, his mind racing. Naruto stared at the Hokage silently before closing his eyes and releasing a small breath. When Naruto closed his eyes Sarutobi's eyes shifted to a group of shinobi to the side. The shinobi nodded before cautiously approaching the boy.
"You said she. Are you referring to the Kyuubi?" Sarutobi questioned, hoping to distract the boy.
The giant fox behind Naruto was unmoving, it's head bowed as if focusing on something else.
"Yes I was referring to Mother." Naruto explained willingly.
Sarutobi was still processing this new information.
"That demon is not your mother Naruto. I knew your mother and your father. They are your real parents, not that thing." Sarutobi called out, not actually expecting to convince the child of anything.
Before Naruto could respond a few shinobi appeared at his side holding various weapons. They kept their distance, tossing various Jutsu and ranged weapons. Even a few explosive Kunai. Naruto allowed those attack to hit him, the assault colliding with that invisible red bubble which surrounded his body and became visible when something collided against it.
When the dust settled Naruto remained unscathed, the boy now staring blankly at Sarutobi as if oblivious to the fact that people were trying to kill him.
"I know who my birth parents are. Despite that, Kyuubi is my REAL mother. I don't expect you to understand. Your understanding is not necessary. I only need one thing from you." Naruto responded back still in that emotionless tone.
"And what is that Naruto?" Sarotobi questioned while signally for the shinobi to fall back.
There was a wave of hopelessness that filled the minds of many of the shinobi remaining in that broken army.
"I need you to die." Naruto stated hauntingly.
He made no move to fulfill that desire, but as he spoke those words there was a huge explosion heard in the distance which drew most of the shinobi's attention.
"That's coming from Konoha." A random shinobi announced in a strained voice.
"It can't be. Those things got there so fast." Another stated in disbelief.
"Your shinobi have failed." Naruto proclaimed emotionlessly.
In Konoha...
Screams of panic and fear filled the night time air of the village. Konoha was being evacuated but it was a rather large city and many of the village's shinobi were busy with Naruto. Kyuubi's tails obliderated the front walls of the village, every whip against the concrete causing enormous, violent blasts and left mini-mushroom clouds in their wake. Different caging jutsu were attempted to contain those lashing appendages to no avail. Once the wall was reduced to rubble the tails lashed out at nearby buildings, slowly making their way further into the city by slithering up from the ground.
The few Shinobi that hung back to give the panicking villagers time to evacute were falling like flies, unable to deal with the speed in which the tendrils struck. Blood rained down on the streets as body after body exploded upon contact with the tails. Before long the tails caught up to some of the slower civilians, lashing out wildly to create more bloody chaos.
Back with Naruto...
"Stop this Naruto!" Sarutobi called out as a hail of attacks filled the area, the army bombarding the golden haired tween.
Everything they tried was ineffective. There was even a few underground attacks attempted to bypass Naruto's shield but Naruto had a personal aura which deflected and adsorbed what little could get through his main barrier. He stared stoically at the army, unmoving, unfeeling. Sarutobi stood back watching the scene, his mind going through every possibility.
"Why is he just sitting there. With his power he would be able to destroy us easily. Even Kyuubi has not attacked us, not even to defend Naruto." Sarutobi noted while observing the gigantic spectral fox.
"Is Naruto's strength proximity based? No, he is naturally fast, naturally strong. Why then?" Sarutobi stated silently.
"Hokaga-same, nothing we are doing is getting through. The village, the people, what do we do?" A panicking shinobi called up to the old man who was currently standing on a branch.
The old man paused, still thinking through his next move. His eyes then widened in realization.
"The answer has been right in front of us the entire time. He is staying here because he isn't controlling the tails. The Kyuubi is. Kyuubi is attacking the village instead of Naruto because there is a difference between killing people who are trying to kill you and hurt those you care about, and murdering civilians. Naruto still hasn't made that leap. There is still a chance! Despite the destruction he's wrought Naruto is just an angry child in pain, as emotionally vulnerable as he has always been. We have to stop treating him like a monster and treat him like the child that he is. That is the key. It's always been the key! It's how it always should have been." The Hokage snapped his head down to his subordinates.
"We can do no more here. Retreat, everyone retreat, protect the village!" Sarutobi ordered causing the shinobi to disappear from the area and jump back into the forest towards Konoha.
Sarutobi gave a signal to a certain shinobi who had a large dog by his side. A shinobi from the Inuzuka clan, just like Kiba.
"Find Kurenai and Iruka and bring them here. Make sure to give them a complete report of the situation." Sarutobi whispered that order.
The man was confused but didn't disobey his Hokage. He prepared to jump away but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. Sarutobi had a conflicted look on his face.
"No...he can't see this. He isn't ready."
"Just bring Kurenai." The old man clarified, drawing a nod from the shinobi before the man disappeared into the trees.
When seeing that last shinobi dissapear into the foliage Saratobi slowly turned his attention back to Naruto. The boy was staring him in the eyes unfalteringly.
Sarutobi closed his eyes and released a deep breath before reaching down to the sash which was wrapped around his waist. He didn't retrieve any weapons however. Instead the old man pulled out a small brown pipe and a bag of tobacco. Sarutobi then walked a safe distance away from Naruto based on the previous strike range of the giant fox's tails. The two remaining tails didn't seem to extend past a certain range. Sarutobi sat down with his legs crossed, silently packing his pipe. He made a one-handed seal and blew fire from his nose to light it up. The old man puffed on it a few times before exhaling through his nose, finally turning his full attention to Naruto.
"So what now Naruto? Do you plan to destroy us all?" The man questioned in a bitter tone.
"Yes, eventually." Naruto answered without hesitation.
Sarutobi analysed the tween's eyes, seeing the pain within those fiery orbs.
"I know that's not what you really want." He retorted.
Naruto narrowed his eyes.
"Even if you knew exactly what I wanted you have no ability to provide it."
"And you think a demon can?" A small sneer grew along Naruto's lips from hearing the skepticism in the Hokage's voice.
"In many ways she already has. The rest, I'll see to myself."
"What do you want Naruto?" The Hokage asked directly.
Naruto didn't answer immediately, the boy's eyes trailing off in thought.
"Love and Peace."
Sarutobi puffed a large cloud of smoke from his nose as he thought about that response.
"You can't expect to get that in this way, by destroying everyone who would potentially give that to you." Naruto scoffed when hearing that.
"Your assumptions are counter productive. I don't need humanity to obtain these things. In fact the presence of humanity only makes it harder, if not impossible for these things to be achieved."
"How so? Humans love, humans have been at peace. You seem to love Kyuubi and that girl. Is that not proof enough?" Naruto shook his head.
"The person loves, humans as a collective do not. The love your feel is at best mixed in with needless hate, at worst overshadowed by it. Peace is a thing that humanity cannot achieve together. You never have and you never will. No matter how far you progress, for you it's impossible. My life, the life of my mother, of everyone around us, is proof of that. There can be no peace as long as humans exist." Naruto stated solemnly.
Sarutobi picked up on that.
"I agree Naruto. But that is how the world works. World Peace, curing world hunger, ending poverty, stopping people from hating once another, being cruel to one another, all these things are childish dreams. We can only make peace within our own worlds. Or at least strive towards it to make the lives of those we care about better. You can't give up on us. On your own humanity." The old man pleaded in a sympathetic tone.
Naruto shook his head once more.
"That's where you are wrong. The world that I've seen, the world that I will create, it's not just a childish dream. I can do it. It's just that...in that world there is no room for humanity." Naruto spoke softer now, the topic clearly upsetting him.
"You can't believe that Naruto. You can't create a world where everyone everywhere is at peace, where everyone loves each other, whether there is no hate, war, bigotry. It's simply not possible." Naruto looked up to gaze into the old man's eyes, the boy pausing for a long while.
"Not with you, no."
Sarutobi realized that the "you" Naruto was talking about was not referring directly to him. It was referred to humans as a species. Naruto was disconnecting himself from humanity.
"What can I say to him? His beliefs are already so strong. Whether that is the influence of the Kyuubi or not, it doesn't matter. Can he be convinced otherwise? The fate of humanity may rest on just that. Or...what if..."
"Show me." Sarutobi finally spoke out, disrupting the long silence between them.
"What?" Naruto's eyes showed his confusion.
"If you've seen this vision of a peaceful future, then show me. I want to see what you see Naruto." Sarutobi pressed.
Naruto turned his head away.
"It would be pointless. Even if you saw what I saw it wouldn't change the fact that it's a world where you don't belong, can't belong."
Sarutobi put his pipe away before responding back in a pleading voice.
"Please."
Hearing that caused Naruto to shift his eyes up to scan the man's face. The boy hesitated before giving in and nodding his head. He stood up on his feet, placing dainty hands against his own pelvis gracefully. Naruto walked forward to close the distance between them, stopping directly in front of the Hokage.
"Close your eyes." Naruto instructed.
Sarutobi instantly complied. As he did Naruto reached his blood soaked hands forward to grip both sides of the man's face. A series of visions flashed through Sarutobi's mind. The experience was incredibly intense. He saw so many different faces, so many events, so many possibilities. Then he saw it, the world Naruto envisioned. It was possible! After a few minutes of both of them being completely still Sarutobi suddenly fell over on all fours, the old man heaving heavily.
"There has to be some way we can be a part of that world Naruto. Together." Sarutobi spoke out while still trying to catch his breath, reeling from the overwhelming experience.
Naruto, still standing, looked down on the man with sad eyes. He opened his mouth to speak but closed it in hesitation. He then shook his head.
"There is only one method but it's too risky for my family. That option would heavily reduce the chance that we'll reach that world at all. Humans simply aren't worth the risk." Naruto explained, causing Sarutobi to grit his teeth.
The old Kage composed himself, standing up on his feet to now tower over Naruto's small form.
"I know what I'm asking may seem unreasonable to you, knowing what I know now. We are fundamentally different, humans and demons. Our interest often clash against each other, yet we share the same space. Humans are a perpetual threat to your family, as you are to us. By any reasonable standard we should be mortal enemies, but I just can't give up. I can't just accept that. I ask that you give us a chance. Now that I know what's at stake. Can you do that Naruto? Or have you completely given up on us?" Sarutobi's voice was softer then usual, almost defeated.
Naruto hesitated, this question being probably the most important question he'd ever answer.
"You'd give up on all of us Naru-chan?" Came a feminine voice from the side making Naruto's eyes widen.
From out of the brushes Kurenai walked into the clearing, the women's expression one of deep sorrow. Naruto began to take tentative steps back when seeing her approach.
"Is that how little we mean to you Naru-chan? Hinata, Sasuke, Iruka, me..." The woman continued to press.
Naruto shook his head while wrapping his scrawny arms around his own torso in a vulnerable manner.
"No...please stop. Don't." The boy sputtered in a panic.
He didn't want to see her face. He couldn't. He couldn't think about all the humans he still cared about. Not if he wanted to have the best chance of bringing his dream to life.
"I just can't!" Naruto screamed out, his tiny voice being a pathetic squeak at this point.
Kurenai kept walking forward, moving past Sarutobi now, slowly closing the distance. Naruto was backing up towards the giant fox that still guarded the entrance to the mountain prison. The closer Kurenai got the more agitated the fox became. It's two unoccupied tails began to thrash threateningly, it's muzzle contorting into a snarl. Kurenai ignored the fox, casting her piercing gaze straight at Naruto.
"Even if you've given up on us Naru-chan, I won't give up on you. I see more than just a demon. I see a sweet boy, the same sweet boy I held in my arms that day we met. I see your heart. I believe in you. And if that means that I'm stupid, or wreckless, or ignorant then so be it. I saw something in you that day and it's still there. But if you can't see a future with us then this is the time to show it." The woman stated while grabbing her kunai and tossing it to the side.
She finally looked up to the large fox, fully aware of it's capabilities as she was briefed on the events while in route. Kurenai spread her arms open, looking up at the fox not with hate, but with kind, understanding eyes. Kurenai then continued to make her way towards Naruto, completely within the range of those thrashing tails. With a fierce growl the fox sent a giant tail downward, the demonic appendage lashing out like a whip.
"Kurenai!" Sarutobi called out in a panic, watching helplessly as the woman was attacked.
The giant appendage got within just a few feet of the woman before a strained high pitched voice screamed out.
"STOP!" Naruto shouted in a panic, causing that tail to pause in it's track right before ending the woman's life.
Tears began to pour from the boy's eyes, the tween clearly conflicted. Kurenai smiled warmly, continuing forward until she was standing right in front of Naruto.
"Don't...I can't..." The quivering boy continued to plead.
Kurenai dropped down to her knees to be level with him, both of her arms moving forward to wrap around his skinny waist. She didn't care that he was still covered in blood. She ran one hand up along his back, across his neck, before finally entangling her fingers within the blood-stained blonde hair on the back of his head. The woman then pulled his head into her body as he began to sob quietly.
Kyuubi was seething, that snarl never leaving it's muzzle. Slowly it's gigantic body began to disappear, dissolving into red bubbles. The tails that had been decimating Konoha disappeared at the same time. Though they'd left much destruction in their wake.
As the fox disappeared Naruto shook his head frantically before suddenly pulling away just enough to turn to the side and thrust a palm towards the mountain prison that had been the location of Midnight's torture. As he did this a dark orb of red chakra formed within his palm, shooting towards the mountain. It sailed through the cave entrance, exploding after a few seconds of travel.
The scale of that explosion was enormous, like an atomic bomb going off. Rubble sailed in all directions as fire consumed the area. Despite this Sarutobi and Kurenai were completely unharmed. Naruto protected them with a large, red, chakra barrier.
Both Kurenai and Sarutobi looked on in awe. When the dust settled only an empty crater remained of that mountain. Naruto stared at it in fury, the tween sniffling a bit as Kurenai returned her hand to the side of his head and pulled him back into her bust. The woman was steady despite that display, noting how Naruto was protecting her from the fallout.
"Let's go home." She whispered sweetly before picking the tiny tween up bridal style.
Naruto's buried his face within her bosom.
"I won't forgive them. I won't apologize. I'm not sorry. I hate them." The boy whimpered out.
Despite that Kurenai continued to hold him close.
"Shhh, it's ok." She cooed.
"I can't go back to that village." He stated in a muffled tone.
Kurenai nodded in understanding.
"Lets go to your favorite clearing then. We can wash you up in the stream." The dark haired woman proposed.
Naruto didn't answer her. She took that as approval while turning around and putting her back to the giant crater. Kurenai walked past the Hokage with Naruto in her arms, heading into the forest towards Naruto's clearing.
"I assume you know where we will be." Kurenai called out to the old man.
Sarutobi was still taking time to properly take in everything that just happened. He released a heavy sigh while nodding his head.
As Kurenai disappeared into the foliage Sarutobi shifted his gaze to the side to stare blankly at the crater. The old Kage closed his eyes for a long moment before turning around to walk into the forest. There was so much to do.
That's the end of the chapter. Please review!
Please let me know what you think. I've reread this chapter like 10 times just to make sure everything plays out in proper dramatic fashion. I even rewrote the last part of the chapter once. Next chapters will definitely not be as long as we cool down from this event. But the next chapter is ready and will be promptly posted on Sunday morning! Honestly, I'm like 4 chapters ahead. I just can't stop writing. The idea is that if and when I lose my muse I'll still have a bunch of chapters to upload until I find it again! I hope you enjoy the rest of your day.