Author's note: *Before you go and write anything in the reviews about the title being stolen. The other one, was my fucking story too. I decided to delete it, one of the major reason was that I didn't like was how Naruto just had everything from the start.
I posted my decision two days ago (20October2021). So this is the idea I originally intended to post with this title and you'll find why in the coming chapters.
Don't worry lads I am not gonna pull a plagiarism case on my own account. There isn't another story with this name it's only mine. Relax. Enjoy the story.
You should already know what the idea is from the description. I am gonna explain some more elements here:-
*I am not gonna use the canon lore, I came up with something I feel is better suited for this fic.
*Characters' age is different from canon
*Characters' relations
*Uchiha Clan's children weren't killed in the massacre.
*Characters' behavior
Yep, I think that's pretty much it. I am gonna add the changes as the story goes on posting every change here in the author's note kinda ruins the story but I will still post some major ones in the author's note.
Some changes from the canon:-
The Nine Tails attack instead of 12 was 14 years ago from when the Konoha 9 graduated. That means Naruto is 14 years old and is older than the other 8.
Minato is Tsunade's and Dan's son. She gave him up for adoption during the war and revealed that her relation to him later when he was a genin. Only a few people know about this.
Naruto's childhood was a bit more severe, rather than just isolation, there were also times where he received physical harm.
I know it doesn't sound that great now, but bear with me you are gonna enjoy it.
Speaking: "Naruto"
Thinking: 'Naruto'
Tailed beasts/Summoning: "Naruto"
Shouting: "NARUTO"
Jutsu/Bloodline: "Rasengan"
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, never will. I mean this is "Fanfiction". Please google what it means, Thank you.
Chapter 1~
The Demon Within
"Is it you Haku..? are you weeping..?" Zabuza spoke, looking at the snow falling over Haku's pale face, as he was lying down by his side.
Looking up at the clouds he released a sigh recalling the snowy night he met Haku "..for so long.. you were always by my side ... the least I can do is be beside you in the end."
Coughing up blood he slowly brought his hand to Haku' face. With a pained smile, he cupped Haku's cheek.
"I know it cannot be... but I wish...I could go where you have gone..."
A lone tear rolled down Naruto's as he watched Kakashi walk up to Zabuza's dead body and close his eyes.
'Haku...' He looked up at the snowing clouds recalling the times he met Haku in the clearing, the conversations about their homes and the people precious to them.Lowering his face, he saw his sensei walking back towards them.
Kakashi stopped in front of his team sliding down his headband over his left eye to cover it. "Stay here, I'll ask the villagers for a place to bury them..." he spoke in a low tone. All three Genins nodded in reply as Kakashi walked past them.
Kakashi abruptly turned back hearing a loud thud, his eye widened seeing Naruto slumped down on the ground, struggling to breathe.
'What's the hell is... happening to me?' Naruto thought feeling his whole body slowly going numb.
Naruto coughed violently as Kakashi rushed to his side. "Naruto! what's wrong?! " he asked kneeling by his side. His worry grew worse seeing blood trailing down Naruto's mouth and eyes.
"I... I don't...know.." Naruto started speaking but couldn't complete while struggling for air. He tried getting back up but his limbs seem to had lost all their strength, and he fell to the ground flat.
'His body temperature is getting too high.' Kakashi thought, rubbing Naruto's hand. He turned towards Sakura who was supporting Sasuke to his feet, both looking at Naruto worriedly.
"Sakura get the villager's fast!" he ordered.
"B-but sensei-" Sakura stuttered out but Kakashi cut her.
"Leave Sasuke here, he's fine, now go!" Kakashi ordered again and Sakura followed. She helped Sasuke to the ground and then ran through the mist towards the crowd of villagers at the other end of the bridge.
"What's wrong with him?" Sasuke asked, looking at Kakashi wiping the blood off Naruto's face.
"I don't know..." Kakashi replied, his gaze still locked on Naruto's face.
'What the hell is going on..?'
Naruto thought as all the voices around started getting distant. 'I feel so heavy...' closing his burning eyes, he slowly drifted into unconsciousness.
'Where am I...?' Naruto thought as he opened his eyes to find himself floating in darkness. He tried to move his hands but couldn't, it seemed as if he was falling slowly into an endless pit of darkness.
'What is this place?' he thought turning his head, trying to look for any source of light but found nothing but darkness staring back at him. He narrowed his eyes hearing a low growl nearby...
Suddenly a large crimson glowing slitted eye opened near him.
Naruto woke up, clutching onto his chest and breathing heavily. Looking around he realized that he was at the bridge builder's house. He slowly calmed down himself and removed the Ice pack from his head.
"You are awake!" Naruto turned his head to see Inari standing at the door with another ice pack in his hands.
Before Naruto could ask/say anything, Inari ran out of the room dropping the ice pack on the floor.
"Mom! Grandpa! He woke up!" Naruto heard him shouting downstairs.
Naruto sighed slowly adjusting himself better on the bed and sat with his back supported by the bedhead.
"Good, you woke up" came the voice of Kakashi. Naruto turned his head towards the door to see him walking towards him.
"How long was I out for?" he asked, in a hoarse voice and coughed. Kakashi handed him a glass of water, sitting down by the bed.
"A day and a half, don't worry it was a severe case of chakra exhaustion, but you recovered just fine" Kakashi replied, waving his hand dismissively.
"How are you feeling now?" he asked seeing Naruto gulp down the water.
"I feel alright, Kakashi-sensei" Naruto replied, placing down the glass and giving Kakashi a thumbs up.
"How's Sasuke doing?" he asked, his tone carrying a rare serious tone.
"Oh he's fine... but we travel back to the village tomorrow morning, the replacement team is already here. We can't continue protecting Tazuna with Sasuke injured." Kakashi replied standing up. "Come downstairs and eat something," he spoke.
Naruto nodded in reply, slowly standing up to his feet and didn't face any difficulty moving by himself.
"That's good, I thought I would have to carry you borh on my back to the village," Kakashi spoke with his patent eye smile and started walking downstairs.
'It wasn't chakra exhaustion... it was something else... why is sensei lying..?' Naruto thought following Kakashi down the stairs.
"We will handle everything here, you all be safe on your way back," Kotetsu spoke standing in front of Kakashi.
"Yeah, you guys take care too," Kakashi replied waving his hand as he walked back towards his Genin team. They were surrounded by a crowd of people that had come to see off the saviors of their land.
"Come here and visit us sometime again with your team. I owe you all my life." Tazuna spoke shaking Kakashi's hand.
"We will, whenever we get time off. Thanks for housing us all these days miss Tsunami. " Kakashi spoke while rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
"It was the least I could do for you all." Tsunami replied, holding Inari in front of her who was barely managing to stop the tears from flowing out of his eyes.
"Keep taking care of your mom like you did, okay Inari?" Naruto spoke foxily grinning at 5he young boy.
Inari wiped off his tears and returned Naruto's foxy grin with one of his own.
With that team 7 left the land of waves in the hands of Team Kotetsu.
"Something wrong Tsunami?" Tazuna asked, looking at the worried expression on her face as she gazed at the boat carrying team 7.
"That kid Naruto... he isn't well, he didn't sleep at all last night, he sat by the docs... " Tsunami replied with a worried look.
"Yeah I saw him too...don't worry tho, if anything that kid is a fighter he'll deal with it, now let's go back home," Tazuna replied with a gentle smile, placing his hand over ber shoulder comfortingly.
'I promise I'll become strong just like you, big brother Naruto! ' Inari though with conviction looking at the boat slowly disappearing into the fog.
Konohagakure no Sato:
Hokage Tower
"So that's how it all went, huh?" Hiruzen asked looking at Kakashi who had just finished giving him the report.
Hiruzen leaned back in his chair lighting up his pipe with a snap of his fingers. ' So it's finally happening...the nine tails and the Sharingan back...' he thought taking a drag from his pipe.
He tapped his fingers on the desk thinking of the situation. A small smile appeared on his face as he opened his eyes. He cleared his throat and began speaking, "That's a piece of good news, Sasuke Uchiha's Sharingan you will help him train with it so he can utilize it to its full potential as for Naruto... I will send a messenger for Jiraiya so he can check on the seal, I have someone in mind who would be best for training him in utilizing more of Fox's chakra properly."
"What about the side effects Naruto faced? wouldn't it be dangerous for him?" Kakashi asked with concern in his voice. Hiruzen smiled and shook his head.
"I will have one of my medics him, I will also go through some of Kushina's scrolls, after all, she was trained by lady Mito herself in being a jinchuriki. They didn't face such high side effects because of their Uzumaki clan's highly potent chakra trait... looks like Naruto didn't inherit it." Hiruzen said looking down on his table, with a frown at the last part.
"I will have his checkup done by tomorrow so that we can find a way for him to utilize the chakra without those side effects...Well if that's all then you are dismissed, I have a meeting to attend," he spoke standing up from his desk.
Kakashi nodded and exited the room after giving the Hokage a formal salute.
'The training schedule is gonna be real tight now I guess... The thing with Naruto is worrying me a bit..'
were Kakashi's thoughts as he walked away from the Hokage Tower flipping the pages of his favorite book.
Naruto's Apartment
' Is the demon breaking out..?..or am I becoming one..?' Naruto asked himself for what seemed to be the millionth time. These two questions stuck inside his head. Ever since he has returned to his apartment all he has done is lie down and repeat those same questions and stare at the ceiling blankly.
He turned his head towards the alarm clock and saw it was already half-past ten in the night. ' Guess I forgot to eat lunch...I should get some ramen from Ichiraku's ' Naruto thought getting up from his bed. He walked towards the door putting on his upper. He brought his hands up to his face and then slapped both his cheeks. A grin replaced the dark look on his face.
"I am Naruto Uzumaki and I am gonna become the greatest Hokage ever!" he spoke to himself exiting his apartment.
He took the alleyways to avoid the harsh gazes of people. He knew he wouldn't be able to hold up his smile in the public with the conflicting thoughts in his head and sleep deprivation on top of it.
"Hey isn't he that *hiccup* brat?" came the voice from behind Naruto. 'I can't deal with these drunks' bullshit right now... ' Naruto thought rolling his eyes. He started walking fastly but one landed in front of him.
"Oh you are right he is! *hiccup*" the drunk ninja that landed in front of him spoke. Naruto jumped towards the wall sticking to it and started running away.
"HEY BRAT YOU STOP WHEN WE ARE TALKING TO YOU!" shouted one of the drunks and threw a bottle in Naruto's direction. The bottle hit Naruto's back and cracked. He grunted in pain as skidded for some distance falling on the floor as the bottle pieces got embedded in his back.
The two ninjas laughed loudly as they walked towards Naruto who was getting back on his feet to run away.
"Oh no you don't.." spoke one of the ninjas and stomped Naruto's face on the wall. Naruto grunted in pain and curled down covering his head knowing there was not much he could do now he was cornered and outnumbered against stronger ninjas. The two drinks started kicking him furiously.
"Our Brother Died Because Of You!"
"You Damn Monster!"
"You Should Have Been Killed That Day!"
"The Fourth Should Have Done It! "
"Die You Damn DEMON!"
Each of those words pierced his heart like those glass pieces on his back. He started cursing himself for this as he did with every other beating... telling himself it was his fault... that people got angry... every beating... all those harsh gazes... the wipers behind his back... all his fault.
But
Suddenly the thoughts of Zabuza slicing through Gato's thug came to his mind... the blood... Zabuza's words.
"A shinobi is a tool made for killing" he recalled Zabuza saying them with the suffocating bloodlust around.
' Yes... kill Naruto.. kill them... ' a growling voice echoed in his head and Naruto felt his anger growing.
'KILL THEM! '
Naruto roared and threw the two drunk ninjas away with a burst of energy.
The two ninjas shakily took out their kunai knives and put them in front defensively of them still on the ground. The bloodlust Naruto was radiating made it difficult for them to get back to their feet.
Naruto stood up to his feet with his neck bent down and hands hanging lifelessly by his side. He slowly brought his right hand to his face covering the right half of his face.
"I will kill them all... " He spoke in a demonic tone and slowly raised his head. His visible eye shone crimson under the faint moonlight reaching the dark alleyway.
He let his right hand slide down from his face revealing his right eye to be the same crimson slit as the left.
One of the drunken ninjas broke out from the shock and started running pulling the other with him.
"HELP! IT'S THE DEMON!" they shouted running at their full speeds with Naruto following them on all fours.
' I will kill.. '
'Yes, kill!'
Naruto's head was a mess right now. There were two voices...? were both his...? He was following the voice but why? he didn't care to ask.
Naruto jumped at both the drunks aiming to tear them to shreds with his elongated claws. His claws were inches away from the drunks when something suddenly wrapped around him.
"LET GO OF ME!" Naruto roared trying to tear away the wooden branches which were wrapping around him but all his efforts were in vain as the sudden rush of energy started fading away and his thoughts became clearer.
'What? where am I? why can't I move?' Naruto thought looking around. Four anbu landed in front of him.
"I'll take care of him, Hawk go explain the Hokage about the situation, weasel, crow take those and go with Hawk." The bear masked anbu ordered with his gaze fixed at Naruto who looked around trying to understand all this.
"Yes Sir!" the three anbu replied and followed their superior's orders.
"You, Don't try to move until I tell you to. Do you understand?" Bear spoke stepping towards Naruto. Naruto was still confused his head was still a mess but he nodded in affirmative nonetheless.
Bear nodded back and raised his hands making a snake seal. The wooden branches around Naruto retracted back to the ground leaving a single branch that curled into the shape of a handcuff locking Naruto's hand behind his back.
Bear stepped forward to take Naruto away with him but stopped when Naruto suddenly coughed up blood.
'This again... No dammit..' Naruto thought as he felt his whole body burning and losing all strength. He dropped down on the ground struggling to breathe and blood flowing down from his mouth and nose.
'What's wrong with him?! ' Bear thought taking a cautious step towards Naruto. He knelt and put his hand on Naruto's forehead.
' Shit! he's burning up he needs medical attention right now!' Bear thought as he picked up Naruto and Body flickered away.
Hokage Tower
Council Meeting
Hiruzen Sarutobi massaged his temples for the umpteenth time since the meeting started listening to the bickering of the civilian council and the advisors questioning his competence as a Hokage.
"The boy should be punished for attacking a fellow shinobi Lord third!" shouted one of the civilians on the council seat.
"Such a drag...Lord third just told that there have been instances Naruto has been attacked in the past, it's probably he accidentally released the chakra trying to protect himself." Shikaku Nara replied in his usual bored tone.
"You can't say that when we have the two chunins explanation right here!" shouted a civilian woman and the others on the civilian council roared in agreement.
"Yeah two chunins who were drunk attacked in an alleyway by a 14-year-old boy, do you know how ridiculous that sounds?!" exclaimed Tsume Inazuka stopping the shouts of the civilian council.
There was silence for a moment and Hiruzen mentally sighed, he wanted to end this meeting and rush to Naruto's side to see how he was doing.
He was going to speak but was interrupted again by a civilian councilman who stood up slamming his hands on the table while he spoke, "Well that boy isn't human! Lord third should about the de-"
He couldn't complete the sentence as the room temperature suddenly dropped and the councilman's face turned pale. Every face turned towards the Hokage who was directing his killing intent towards the man.
"Choose your next words carefully councilman Touma, if your head stays on your neck or rolls down my carpet depends on it," Hiruzen spoke making all the civilian council members gulp.
"I... I apologize... Lord Hokage..." the councilman stuttered out sitting down.
Hiruzen grunted tapping his fingers on the table and then spoke, "Shikaku and Tsume are right. The chunins' report can't be reliable. As for Naruto, I will look into the matter myself, and anbu from my guard will be following him around So that if a situation like this arises again, they'll restrain him like today and no one will be harmed. I think no one disagrees with this? "
He looked around the desk at the whole council from his seat and found one hand raised. Hiruzen mentally groaned in frustration seeing whom the hand belonged to.
"Yes, Danzo what problem do you have with this decision?" Hiruzen asked signaling his old teammate to speak.
Danzo cleared his throat and began speaking, "There's no problem with the decision Lord Hokage I feel like we are missing a vital point and I have the perfect suggestion for it."
'What is this old hawk try to do this time? ' Shikaku thought glancing towards Danzo. Hiruzen had a similar thought but he signaled Danzo to continue now that it has been pointed out in front of the whole council.
Danzo seeing Hiruzen's gesture continued, "I believe that the jinchuriki should be put off any missions till he learns to control the nine-tailed Fox's power. Otherwise, he would be a bigger threat than an asset on missions in addition to this he should still be given some form of punishment, he shouldn't take tonight's incident for granted just because he doesn't have control, he should know that the power is not for his personal use but the sake of the hidden leaf village. I propose two weeks of imprisonment in the underground anbu facility and 5 months off missions."
The room was silent for a moment then murmurs of the agreement began filling the council chamber.
"I support Lord Danzo's proposal." Hiashi Hyuga spoke in his usual stoic tone and the murmurs began to get louder.
Hiruzen cleared his throat silencing everyone. He leaned back in his chair releasing a tired sigh and started speaking, "Fine I believe that's the best thing to do, nonetheless my personal anbu guard will be the ones guarding him in the facility too. If that's all then this meeting is dismissed."
Hiruzen stood up not seeing any hand raised and left the meeting room. As soon as he reached the entrance of the Hokage tower Hawk landed in front of him.
"Lord Third, Captain Bear took Naruto Uzumaki to the medical ward in the northern underground facility," Hawk reported.
"Get Kakashi Hatake and meet me there as fast as possible, Go! " Hiruzen ordered walking past him. Hawk nodded and Body Flickered away.
'Stay strong Naruto... ' Hiruzen thought while he ran at full speed to reach Naruto.
High-security underground prison facility
(Northern District Konoha)
"Lord Third." Bear knelt and greeted Hiruzen who gestured him to stand back up stopping in front of him. He turned to his left to see Naruto lying strapped down to a bed through the glass wall.
"Report," Hiruzen spoke his gaze fixed at Naruto who was deep in sleep.
"He suddenly collapsed during the arrest. His temperature was rising rapidly and he was showing signs of internal damage. I brought him here so he could get the medical attention he needed." Board reported standing beside Hiruzen.
"Did our medics find anything?" Hiruzen asked turning away from the wall and walking towards a bench to sit down.
"They did sir. Looks like he was the one who got attacked they found glass shards on his back. His chakra network and internal organs were damaged by Fox's corrosive chakra... but it started healing everything after some time. The experience for painful for the boy we had to strap him down with chains to hold him down on the bed and sedate." Boar replied making Hiruzen frown.
'Poor boy Naruto... I am always too late..dammit..' Hiruzen thought and clenched his fists. He then sighed and massaged his temples before turning his gaze towards Boar again.
"Your squad and Cat's will rotate and guard him for the next two weeks when he is assigned a cell... the council won't let him go without any punishments. Are your orders clear? " Hiruzen spoke as he stood up seeing Kakashi and Hawk at the end of the corridor.
"Crystal Sir!" Boar replied giving Hiruzen a formal salute and walking away to inform Cat about their teams' new assignment.
"Lord Third." Kakashi greeted Hiruzen with a slight bow and Hiruzen grunted back in recognition.
"Good you aren't late. Now come we need to talk with the medics. I guess Hawk already gave you an idea of what's happened?" Hiruzen spoke and started walking with Kakashi and his anbu guards following behind.
"Yes... I do." Kakashi replied regret clear in his voice.
"This place again... " Naruto spoke finding himself floating in the dark pit again. He turned his head when he heard a low growl. Two crimson-slitted eyes snapped open in some distance from him and things started getting clearer.
Naruto finally found the surface beneath him. He was in a dark cave with barely any light and ankle-deep water on the ground. And in front of him was a large cage door which had a paper with kanji for 'seal'(はんこ) on its lock.
Naruto could see nothing behind the cage it was complete darkness except for the two glowing crimson slitted eyes staring at his cerulean blue ones.
"We finally meet.. " came the booming voice from behind the cage. The creature moved towards the cage door and stopped inches away from it and releases a low growl.
"You are- th-the nine-tailed fox demon..." Naruto spoke in a low tone seeing the shadow of nine tails swaying behind in the cage and an outline of large fangs behind the bars.
"Yes I am." the fox replied grinning as he stared down at Naruto who stared at him clenching his fist.
"Where am I? and why have you brought me here?!" Naruto shouted demanding answers.
The creature just kept grinning for a moment before he released a low growl and started to speak "You called for my power and that's why we're here... now break the seal and I'll lend you more of my power."
"I don't need your power, now tell me the way to get out of here!" Naruto shouted again.
"You do need my power... " the demon replied as the water around Naruto rippled and images started forming on it.
"This... " Naruto spoke shock clear in his voice as the scene of him chasing the two drunk ninjas started appearing in the water and their screams for help echoed the cave.
"This can't be me..." Naruto spoke in disbelief looking down at the scene with wide eyes.
"You are weak with me... see the difference..." the fox spoke and the water rippled again showing the memories Naruto had tried his hardest to forget... curled up in an alleyway crying for help as a mob of civilians and shinobi attacked him on the night of his 6th birthday.
"Stop this... " Naruto spoke as he started breathing heavily hearing his own voice crying for help.
"Even Iruka wanted to kill you remember?" the fox spoke and the water rippled to the memory after Iruka had caught Naruto in a park after one of Naruto's pranks. Naruto saw the Kunai knife he was hiding behind in his hand.
"Please stop this... "
"You shouldn't feel ashamed for using my power everyone wants you to do that, remember what the old man said?"
The water rippled again. This time the memory of Naruto hiding on the porch listening to the conversation between Kakashi and the Hokage who were inside his house.
"I won't lie to you Kakashi... Naruto by himself is a hopeless fool, he has no talent but he has the nine tails inside of him once he starts utilizing its chakra he would be a force to reckon with...I put him on the same team as Sasuke Uchiha so when he awakens his Sharingan he will help him control the nine tails." Hiruzen's word echoed the cave and a lone tear rolled down Naruto's whiskered face.
"Stop it..."
"And Kakashi... he knows who your father is but didn't tell you... "
The water rippled again and the scene changed back to the moment when Kakashi and Hiruzen had just entered Naruto's house.
"This milk is expired... I can't believe this kid is his son... he was so meticulous..." Kakashi's words sounded throughout the cave and the water rippled again showing more of his memories.
"You can't play with us my mom told us you are bad. Go away!"
" Go away you freak!"
"Get out of here you damn monster!"
"Don't come here again you demon brat!"
"Our Brother Died Because Of You!"
"You Demon! "
"Monster! "
"Demon! "
"STOP IT!" Naruto shouted covering his ears with his hands as tears rolled down his face and he struggled to breathe.
"I am.. not a demon.. " he stuttered out as the voices stopped and the cave went silent.
"Don't lie to yourself..." came Fox's voice from behind Naruto making him turn back to look at the glowing blood-red eyes.
"I am not.. "
"Why do you think your idol.. the fourth Hokage chose you for the sealing huh?" the fox spoke getting no reply from Naruto who was still struggling to breathe.
"It's because he knew... it takes a demon to hold another... he knew you are a demon Naruto from inside Naruto.. "
"No..."
"Accept the demon within you... "
"STOP IT!" Naruto shouted with his voice cracking as he began to hyperventilate.
"Break the seal and I'll end your suffering."
"Please.. stop it...I am begging you.. " and with those words, Naruto faded away from the cave.
"You will come to me one day... and then I will never free and have my revenge... " the fox spoke and chuckled closing his eyes disappearing into the Cage's darkness.
"What's happening to him?!" Kakashi asked as he wiped off the blood flowing down Naruto's eyes who was struggling in his sleep.
"The nine tails chakra is flowing into his body but he's trying to fight it back... this is bad his body won't be able to handle it for long... " the lizard masked medic ninja replied.
"How do we stop this Lizard?" Hiruzen asked holding Naruto's hand.
"We have to stop the nine tail's chakra someone has to lock the seal completely my Lord." the medic replied and Hiruzen nodded and snapped his fingers. A weasel masked anbu appeared behind him.
"Do it carefully," Hiruzen ordered. Weasel stepped forward and stretched his hand out.
Pale blue flames appeared on his fingertips and Kanji for fire(火) wind ( 風) lightning (雷) earth(土) water(水) appeared inside those flames. He moved his hand towards the Eight-Pronged-Seal on Naruto's abdomen and then slammed his finger over it.
"Five Elements Seal!" Weasel spoke as the pale blue flame transformed into 5 symbols over the Eight-Pronged-Seal and a chain made of kanji for 'seal' joining them.
"Noooo... " Naruto woke up roaring with crimson eyes and slitted pupils which slowly transformed back to their usual cerulean blue.
"It's okay Naruto we are here everything's fine," Hiruzen spoke rubbing Naruto's hand to calm as he struggled with the chains holding him down.
"Get these off!" Hiruzen ordered turning towards Lizard who nodded and immediately started to unlock the chains.
It took about 20 mins for Naruto to calm down completely.
"Where am I? What's this place?" Naruto asked looking at Kakashi while Lizard bandaged his back.
"You are safe here Naruto. It's an anbu black ops facility. Do you remember anything?" Kakashi replied standing in front of him with Hiruzen by his side.
Naruto looked down as he tried recalling and everything that he saw in the cave returned back.
'He's right...I am a demon...' Naruto thought still looking down.
"Don't worry Naruto, we know what happened and those who attacked you will be punished accordingly," Hiruzen spoke taking Naruto's reaction as confirmation to their question.
Naruto just nodded back in reply with his head still lowered.
"... there's something else you should know about. " Kakashi spoke and Naruto raised his head to see both Kakashi and Hiruzen looking at him with sad looks in their eyes.
"... this is my reason to be a shinobi the reason I trained every day and keep doing it, fighting the inner demon that wanted me to stop, I'll become a pillar of strength for the people precious to me and for my village till death separates me from them." Naruto read and smiled sitting in the corner of his cell. It has been 13 days since the night of the incident and 12 days since the news about his punishment and suspension was delivered to him.
"You will have to learn and train to use that chakra without facing those side effects. The seal we placed won't work forever, we'll undo it the day of you'll need these to prepare for it study them seriously! There are also scrolls on taijutsu, a form of apology from my side since I wasn't able to do much for you. I am sorry Naruto.." Naruto recalled Hiruzen's words when he brought these scrolls as books to him. Naruto chuckled remembering the shocked look on Hiruzen's face when he didn't whine about this being boring.
'Well, I never knew books could be this interesting. They are much better than Iruka sensei's boring lectures. And who knew Lord Second Hokage's reason to get strong was to protect his precious people too... like Haku..' Naruto thought with a sad smile recalling the conversations he had with Haku.
His expression suddenly darken and he looked down on the chains attached to his feet with lifeless dull eyes. 'The nine tails wasn't wrong... they do want me to use its power... and... I am a demon ' he thought placing a hand over his abdomen.
He snapped his head up as he heard his cell door open, standing at the door was the Hokage with his two anbu guards weasel and Bear.
"Lord third." Naruto greeted formally making Hiruzen wince. Those words from his mouth felt like piercing needles.
' I guess I deserve this...' Hiruzen thought looking sadly at Naruto's lifeless expression.
"Naruto... you will be freed tomorrow night, I couldn't visit you anytime sooner. How have you been?" Hiruzen asked stepping in front of Naruto.
"Can't say I have been good seeing I am in a prison but the food's better than any expired shit I eat and the books are quite nice. Could have done better than white prison clothes. " Naruto replied and shrugged his shoulders.
"That's good enough I suppose. We'll talk properly after your release. I'll visit you the day after tomorrow and we'll have the seal removed then and I advise you to try staying out of the public eye till your suspension at least..." Hiruzen spoke mentally cursing the council.
"The word got out and everyone knows... right?" Naruto asked already knowing the answer.
Hiruzen nodded shamefully with an apologetic look towards Naruto who smiled back sadly.
"Don't worry, I plan on staying out... I do have to train for this thing, quite a lot actually." Naruto replied placing a hand on his abdomen.
"Some of my personal anbu guards will be with you in case something goes wrong while you train, you can also ask them for help anytime," Hiruzen spoke standing up and Naruto nodded thankfully in reply.
"Well, I guess that's it for now. We'll talk properly and I'll treat you to ramen too when you are out." Hiruzen replied and walked out with his anbu guards.
'So it's tomorrow.. looks like I didn't really count the days... ' Naruto thought and opened another scroll and began reading.
"Try not to do things that will get you back here. We actually like our cells to be empty." Hawk spoke as he unlocked Naruto's handcuffs and handed back his orange jumpsuit.
"I plan on not coming back here. Good day," Naruto replied taking his clothes and walking towards the changing room.
"Yeah, yeah now change fast and get your ass outta here kid," Hawk spoke putting away the handcuffs.
Naruto changed back to his orange jumpsuit and tied a new headband around his forehead putting the old one in a bag with his scroll and books and exited the changing room.
"What time is it?" Naruto asked as a rat masked anbu untied the blindfold he had to wear while he was escorted away from the facility.
"It's four in the evening. Remember we will be watching you don't get in trouble." Cat replied and disappeared with her squad preferring to travel in the shadows.
'Guess I should do this first...' Naruto thought looking at his bag and sighing. He started walking confusing the anbu guards as to why he wasn't going in the direction of his apartment but they followed him nonetheless.
'Who is this during this time, I swear I am gonna murder the person disturbing my nap time if this isn't important' Iruka thought hearing the doorbell to his apartment. He opened the door and froze in place when he saw Naruto standing there.
"Naruto... " Iruka said in a shocked tone and Naruto smiled sadly.
'I have to do this...' Naruto thought and took a deep breath before he started speaking.
"Hey Iruka-sensei, yeah they released me today just a few minutes ago. I am sorry to bother you at this time but I had something to return to you... "
Naruto pulled out his old headband, Iruka's headband which he had gifted Naruto when he graduated him.
"Naruto... why?" was all Iruka could say with how shocked he was right now in this situation.
"I attacked a fellow leaf shinobi I don't deserve this anymore, I am going to start training as a Jinchuriki now, starting from scratch. You gave me this believing I am not the monster Mizuki-sensei believed I was but I proved you wrong when I attacked fellow leaf ninja last week. I am sorry I can't have this anymore knowing that." Naruto replied and handed back the headband to Iruka and stepped back with a sad smile.
"I.. " Iruka tried to speak but no words came out from his mouth.
"You don't have to say anything sensei. None of us can change or deny what happened and no one can change what I have decided. This is goodbye for now maybe you'll see me in 5 months. Take care sensei." Naruto spoke and walked away leaving a shocked Iruka standing on his apartment's entrance with a headband in his hand and millions of questions going through his mind.
Naruto's Apartment
'That wasn't too bad... I guess he was too shocked' Naruto thought while he packed the scrolls and books into his traveling backpack.
"Guess I don't really have anything in this apartment that is useful or not expired other than this backpack. Goodbye home. " Naruto murmured to himself as he walked out of his apartment and started running towards the west.
'Where the hell is this kid going? ' were the collective thoughts of the anbu squad but they kept following him from the shadows.
After a few minutes of running through the forest, Naruto finally stopped near a clifftop in Infront of a waterfall.
'It feels like ages since I have been here... well I was 7 years old when I first stumbled here.. ' Naruto thought as he walked towards the stream formed by the waterfall which turned into a larger waterfall falling down the edge of the cliff.
Cat landed behind Naruto as he drank some of the streams of water and asked, "What are you trying to do at this place?"
Naruto stood up dropping his backpack and turned back to face Cat as he started speaking, "I need to train and stay out of the public eye, I decided camping would be the best option for me." he ended with a shrug of his shoulders.
Cat just stood there staring at him blankly from behind the mask for a few seconds before nodding and disappearing into the forest nearby.
"Well guys looks like we'll have to set up a camp I and Rat will watch after the kid, Snake gets the things we need for setting up a good enough camp for 5 months, go and inform Boar of our location," Cat announced and clapped her hands while the other three just nodded and before going away to follow their assigned orders.
"Wow, what's all this preparation for?" Boar asked as he landed with his squad in front of the camp set up by Cat's squad.
"The kid is deciding to camp here to stay out of the public eye and do his jinchuriki training. We have got the supplies we'll need while either of our teams is here." Cat replied walking out of the tent.
"Speaking about him where is the kid?" Weasel asked putting down his backpack.
"By the river, I offered him a place in our tent but he said he doesn't want it. Well be good and allow him in if he changes his mind." Cat replied as her squad assembled behind her to leave.
"Did he accept any food because it's already 10'o clock, don't tell me he is going on a newbie training tantrum that he'll train till he collapses?" Crow spoke looking at Naruto sitting by a bonfire near the stream.
"He is a decent enough hunter I must say, got himself some fish and foraged some mushrooms and fruits. Go on now our shift is already over, see you tomorrow" Cat replied and Body Flickered away with her squad.
Bear put his backpack down near the tent and clapped his hands to get his squad's attention. "I and crow will be looking after the kid first, weasel and Hawk you'll be next till then get some sleep," he spoke getting nods in response.
"and I learned that everyone has their own inner darkness. For one to control the beast's power or to achieve the full extent of their own one needs to not push it away but embrace it."
' Well, this Mito Uzumaki is an amazing writer as well. I wonder if I am related to her somehow.' Naruto thought lying down by the fire reading a scroll using his backpack as a pillow and a large log by his left side. He was wearing a half sleeves black T-shirt and his orange jumpsuit lower. He rolled the scroll back as he stood up packing it back in the backpack.
'It's almost midnight but I don't feel cold at all.' Naruto thought looking up at the moon. His eyes then fell upon his orange upper lying on the log. He picked it up and it in front of him recalling the day he bought it after saving for 7 months from the monthly orphanage funds he received.
His expression turned emotionless as he stood up and walked towards the bonfire.
' I don't need this anymore... 'He released his grip on the orange upper letting it slowly fall on top of the fire and watched as the flames slowly consumed it all and nothing but ashes remained. He stared up at the moon with full eyes before he started walking towards the edge of the cliff where the stream defended to a bigger waterfall surrounded by the spikes of earth on both the inner edges of the cliffs all the way down.
'"it takes a demon to hold another... he knew you are a demon Naruto from inside Naruto.." he recalled the nine tails' words and took off his headband with his right hand. He outstretched both his arms feeling the breeze as tears rolled down his face.
"We should stop him, Captain he might fall off the cliff," Crow whispered to Bear who nodded and jumped off the tree and started walking towards Naruto's direction.
"Accept the demon within you..."Naruto opened his eyes, tears still flowing down them and a pained smile on his face as the wind made his spiky blonde hair sway.
"Hey Kid! you'll-" Bear couldn't complete what he was saying as he saw Naruto jump off the edge. Board and crow rushed to the cliff with crow jumping down the spikes as fast as he could and Boar holding a snake seal which made two wood branches sprout from the ground he was standing on and race down following Naruto in an attempt to catch him.
'He's falling too fast we won't make it.' Boar thought as he saw Naruto getting farther away from the branches approaching him and crow still a good distance apart from Naruto.
"You do need my power... " Naruto recalled all the memories he saw at the cave...
and then...
"You know I believe when a person has something important they want to protect that's when they become really strong."
the memory of his conversation with Haku flowed back in.
'To protect something.' He thought and the faces of Teuchi and Ayame then the old Hokage...Kakashi... Konohamaru... Inari... Tsunami... Tazuna... appeared before him.
"I'll become a pillar of strength for the people precious to me and for my village till death separates me from them," he recalled the Second Hokage's words from the book as he neared the bottom of the edge.
"Till death separates me from them," he said and snapped open his eye to see the ground meter away from him. He felt a burning sensation in his abdomen one similar to the nine-tailed Fox's chakra but still different...
The Fox's eye snapped open as the walls of the Dark cave started glowing a dark bloody red.
'Looks like I won't have to wait five years to reform... damn brat.' The nine tails thought and released a low chuckle before going back to sleep inside its cage.
Naruto stared at the ground with narrowed eyes.
"For one to control the beast's power or to achieve the full extent of their own one needs to not push it away but embrace it."'Embrace it' he thought and let the burning sensation consume his body.
The narrowed cerulean blue orbs staring at the ground now had a dark violet hint around the pupils.
Numerous chains glowing blood-red erupted from Naruto's back tearing away the branches in their path as they made their way up pierced through the spikes and wrapped around them slowing Naruto's descend to the ground.
Both the anbu guards looked with eyes as Boar jumped down the spikes after his wooden branches were destroyed by Naruto's chains.
"Captain... it's... " crow spoke pointing at the arrowhead of the crimson chain wrapped around a spike near them.
"I know... " Boar replied staring at Naruto who firmly landed on the ground on his feet.
The chains retracted back into Naruto's body as he stood there looking down at the headband in his right hand.
"If the village needs a tailed beast's strength to maintain peace... then I will become one with my own strength... " he spoke moving the headband up and tying it around his right arm.
"using my own power... stronger than the even the nine-tailed fox..." he continued...
"If I become a demon in the process so be it...
Anything
to protect them!"
Chapter End
Please drop a review it helps me correct the mistakes and improve on the coming Chapters. See ya!