Hi there. I thank the ones kind enough to leave me a review on this previous chapter.
Please note that as of today, this story will have a name change. From now on, this story is called The Demon Plan: The Extra Kyuubi
Hope you like it and I hope you like this chapter.
Read.
Enjoy.
Leave a review.
And note, I don't own Naruto.
What Else Besides. . .?
When Naruto woke up early the next morning the Kyuubi clone was no where in sight.
Thank the heavens.
But the relief was short lived though. Naruto wished it was still dark so he could sleep some more, but now that the sun was up it was only a matter of time before the fox came for him for another day of putting the boy though training. He dreaded it.
After a moment he stood up. He was going to hide. There had to be someplace the fox wouldn't be able to find him. At least, not for awhile. He didn't want to do any training today.
Naruto began venturing forward through the greenery. As he walked Naruto's thoughts began to tread in an unpleasant direction.
What was the point he realized, the fox would find him. He always did.
Six days have passed since the Kyuubi clone had approached Naruto and forced the boy to continue his training. Naruto simply found it easier to surrender to the fox and heed its commands, each individual not saying a word to each other thoughout the course of each day, Kurama's clone only vocalizing when Naruto should rest and resume during the course of the session of that day. Besides that, nothing but silence between Naruto and the fox.
It was easier that way; for the both of them.
Naruto's trek slowed before he took a seat under one of the many tall trees, letting out a heavy sigh.
But he was getting tired.
Not long ago, Naruto used to look forward to what the clone had planned for him, and he used to enjoy the tasks the clone had him do quite much. Even if they could be hard sometimes Naruto still liked the training. It was fun. And it made Naruto feel good.
Naruto didn't like sitting around, especially for a long period of time. The clone's training included a lot of physical activities, which included some acrobatic and endurance stunts, as well as hand-to-hand spars with the demon fox. Naruto didn't enjoy the last one as much as the others, given the fox was a bit too rough with him during those sessions on teaching him how to fight using his body.
He liked it all regardless, though.
When Naruto wasn't being trained to better his body the clone would train him to better his mind, as well as his knowledge.
The clone would also lecture Naruto how on to better himself during his training and how to correct any mistakes he may of made that day. Naruto listened as well as he could but the boy did not take a shine too much to lectures. Naruto would zone out due to the fox's habit in a way a child would have trouble in wrapping their heads around, plus its use of hard words played a hand in deterring Naruto's attention to his imagination.
The fox doesn't like that at all when he did that. So, to avoid getting bonked on the head Naruto would pay close attention and attempt to understand his faults and the things he could do better on his next training sessions, asking questions if he had to, no matter how much the fox would give him a headache with its adult-words.
What Naruto really enjoyed was doing things with his chakra, in particular, ninjutsu. So far, Naruto was only taught how to do the fireball not too long ago and he loved every minute in learning the jutsu. The clone had said in time Naruto would be taught more ninja arts as he grew older and as he aged they would be more powerful.
The fox had also been quite clear that it was more interested in better his body rather than teaching him any ninjutsu. Something about his coils and his chakra control were not at a level yet where could use the jutsu in a productive manner. The fire ball for example, it was so smaller it could hardly be called an attack, according to the clone, because Naruto lacked the body, the focus, and the control to make fire any bigger, even when he possessed much more chakra than most adults.
Naruto hardly cared about all of that complicated stuff. He just liked learning the jutsu because it looked fun. And it was fun every time he practiced.
Besides, once he got bigger he could make the fire bigger anyway.
The only reason Naruto was taught how to do the fireball was because the fox had been pleased with his training Naruto one day and decided to teach the boy the technique as a reward.
"Your efforts have not gone unnoticed. I have a simple ninjutsu in mind for you to use. Do you wish to learn it? In return, I expect you to do better next time."
Naruto could probably count on his fingers the number of times the demon fox had been relatively nice to him, or displayed a singular meaning to the word.
Not only was he given an actual compliment, but was awarded for it as well.
Whenever Naruto had done something right the Kyuubi's clone would always looked pleased, even if the demon didn't show it vocally that much. Naruto liked when the fox was pleased with him, it made him feel good. Happy.
Another reason Naruto enjoyed training, was because there was always an opportunity gain the fox's praise, an acknowledgment on a job well done. Getting stronger. . .made the fox proud of him. And that, was all Naruto cared about.
That was why he had to know. He had to know if the clone cared about his existence, even if just a little. Naruto had to know if the clone cared if he died or not.
If the clone did cared about his life, Naruto would be fine with that. More precisely, Naruto wouldn't care about the circumstances surrounding the clone's guardianship because. . .
There was no else. It always had been just them, and no one else. And Naruto was fine with that, that's how it always was to begin with.
Just him, and the fox. That's how it always was in the beginning, just them. And no else. Yes, Naruto just wanted things to go back the ways things used to be. . .
In order for that to happen. . .Naruto need to hear the fox say. . .needed to hear him say. . .
Naruto stopped walking when a certain object captured his sight.
The boy blinked, "Huh."
Less than a yard away from the boy was a very short tree, barely reaching four feet in height, and three feet in width. The tree resembled more of a log due to lacking any leaves on its three short branches.
Naruto approached and observed it. He never had seen a dead tree so small, usually all the dead trees he had once saw completely towered over anything around him. This tree died young for some reason, Naruto briefly wondered the oddity.
He reached out and ran his hand over the rather frail bark. Naruto hummed as another thought came to his mind as pressed his hand hard against the bark and heard a few loud creaks of protest.
A thought came to Naruto's mind.
"Maybe I could. . ." He pursed his lips before taking a deep breath. Naruto raised his right arm and pulled it back over his head, forming a fist as he did so.
He glared at the log as he concentrated on moving his chakra through his body. Then he threw a swing.
Naruto liked when the fox looked pleased when he did well on his training. He wasn't doing well on this; the fox wasn't happy with that.
And that made Naruto sad, and mad. . .at himself. And the stubborn log before him.
Naruto threw another punch.
". . .your enemy is everyone but me. . ."
'Not your enemy.'
Naruto's fist collided against the rough bark for the third time.
". . .and my creator."
'Your charge, Kurama's host. Your creator's host. . .'
BAM!
Naruto's fist made contact with the bark for a fourth time, and this time, stayed there as Naruto panted lightly.
The Kyuubi's clone's view of their relationship was just that. . .not enemies. . .simply bodyguard and charge. Nothing more and nothing less.
For a long time Naruto was okay with that.
But now. . .he needed more, in order to keep going.
Naruto removed his fist and his eyes took in the clean, six inch, thin crack on the worn wood.
In order for him to get stronger the Kyuubi clone had to become something more in his eyes. And the fox had to view him as something more, too.
Because if the fox's words about the humans sang truth, they both had to.
Or they'll both lose everything.
Unbeknownst to Naruto, a pair of crimson eyes were watching the boy closely.
'Hmm. Well. . .how unexpected.'
The Kyuubi clone sat on a tree branch suspended thirty feet from the ground, watching the blond child below punch the log for the fifth time. The demon fox had made its way over to the boy as soon as it sensed that he was awake and moving around. When the fox finally caught up it found Naruto already practicing, much to the clone's surprise, and slight delight.
Its keen eyes also didn't miss the crack Naruto made on the bark. The fox's eyes narrowed. No fruit had been borne from the labor, yet. The boy could always do better. The demon would call that crack a grain. . .and the boy's effort a shaky step forward.
Naruto continued punching the log for two more hours before stopping to take a break, the child hunched over and panting heavily. The fox let him.
Naruto's behavior showed improvement on this day. The last few days have been. . . for a lack of better term, exhausting.
The boy's progress in his training was still going nowhere, even if Naruto did what he was told to do. The reason being Naruto was performing the motions without any true effort or purpose, he was just going through them in a mechanical sort way; his movements detached and sloppy.
The boy's mind absent body continued to frustrate the fox; for days the demon had been experiencing great migraines of great proportions due to this. . .delicate situation with Naruto.
The headaches had kept the Kyuubi clone from thinking straight and come up with some sort of solution for the boy's tricky mental situation.
For the past six days the clone could not come up with anything and could only watch Naruto's pathetic and robotic efforts in a silent seething rage. Naruto obeyed orders, but hardly responded to yelling anymore; sometime during third day he barely jumped.
The fact Naruto would tune the clone out pissed the demon fox off even more.
Naruto always made thing so hard.
But today had been different.
Naruto had resumed practicing without the clone instructing him to. A welcomed surprise, indeed.
The question now was, what made him do it?
Did Naruto finally see the sense in getting stronger, and understand the truth to its words? Not likely, no. The Kyuubi clone did not now for sure right now. It'll discover the reason later, whatever that may be.
A faint, hardly noticeable glint appeared in the clone's eyes when Naruto stood up again and took his stance.
'Good boy.'
The fox watched Naruto train for a few more hours until the sun began to set and cast many shadows over the earth. Naruto went to sleep quickly at the first hint of night.
That was okay, the boy did good. But he could always do better. Even so, the boy shall sleep the whole night if he wished it.
The fox's eyelids felt heavier than they should be. Sleep on this night was indeed appealing.
The clone glanced up at the moon settled far away in the blue sky. Not a cloud in sight made the moon brighter than it'd normally be. Quite bright.
The Kyuubi's clone breathed deeply though its nose, its crimson gaze not leaving the moon for several moments until it blinked twice before shaking its head, breaking off the trance.
Yes, the moon was bright on this night. And blinding.
The fox briefly closed its eyes before opening them and once more stared at the blue orb in the heavens, the image served to reminder the clone of that time, that one night. . .years ago.
The greatest horror the clone had experienced during its short existence.
"Obey."
Utter subjection.
The sheer powerlessness of watching its own body move under the will of another.
"Obey."
The terror, of not being able to do a damn thing about it.
The mortification of being controlled like a doll, watching helplessly as its body followed the command of that man, the welder of those cursed eyes.
"Obey."
Starring at the moon reminded the creature the worst feeling both itself and its creator have ever experienced in their shared, and separate, existence.
Complete and utter subjection, to the mere whims of another. The ultimate nightmare for not just the Kyuubi nor its clone, but for all Tailed Beast.
Konoha was not the only threat the Kyuubi clone feared. It remembered. After suffering from Minato's attacks the clone, while in immense pain at the time, the fox vaguely remembered the Fourth finishing off the masked Sharingan user. However, he got away in the end. He was still out there, the very thought caused the fox great anxiety, nearly as much when it about the threat of Konoha.
The fox scowled angrily as it remembered the masked Uchiha. Konoha was not the only enemy it had to prepare for. Too bad the clone had no clue who the man was. Or where he was.
Things were always so difficult, never simple.
The Kyuubi clone growled low in its throat. It was not to worried about the mysterious Uchiha, for he was just one man. And he was no Madara.
If the man proved to be after Naruto as well, the clone would separate his head from his shoulders before he could even attempt to cast his cursed spell on the fox. Let the Uchiha come, the Kyuubi clone shall show no mercy to those whom wield those disgusting eyes.
If the Uchiha ever discovered their whereabouts and came searching for Naruto, he'll find fiery hell waiting for him.
The same could be said for any Konoha shinobi.
Dawn was here.
The first rays of the sun lightening up the lands confirmed it.
Naruto could be seen carefully stepping over some above ground roots as walked in a tranquil pace through the greeney, lightly exploring the island.
Naruto blinked, and slowed his trek to a stop. He looked around, his eyes wide in confusion.
Weird.
Infont of him was a large, wide river. Naruto couldn't tell exactly how deep it was, but he figured it was enough for him to be fully submerge past the surface. The river was approximately fifty feet to sixty feet wide.
As Naruto looked both to the right and to the left the river seemed to be endless, seemingly covering quite a bit of ground, at least, further than what Naruto's eyes were able to see.
Looking back ahead again Naruto could make out several high hills just beyond the other side of the large river.
This was quite possibly the biggest river young Naruto had ever laid eyes on. The boy figured he must've never ventured to this certain part of the island. Naruto's neck strained as he looked up. The boy had never never seen such steep hills before, at least, not here on the island.
Naruto had never walked around the whole entire island. Since he first arrived with the clone, one of the first things the demon had told was that the island was close to a hundred miles long; close in width. For all the time he had been here Naruto never stayed in the same area for more than a couple of days. He was not good at measurements, but if he had to hazard a guess, he could say he was now at least close to the other side of the isla from when they first arrived.
Naruto liked to wander a lot during the times he was free from the clone's harsh gaze, and yet he had encountered nothing but the usual tropic-like vegetation and a horde of water streams. Never had he seen a river, certainly not one as big as this one here.
The same would be said for the hills stationed beyond. He had seen not many of those either in his lifetime, and ones that were taller than the Kyuubi's clone.
Naruto's eyes full of innocent wonder and curiosity. He wanted to know what was beyond these hills, which seemed to spread out nearly a mile wide. The boy closed his eyes and exhaled, his small forming into the familiar ram seal as he focussed his chakra. Naruto felt a small tingle as he felt his chakra centered to his feet.
Naruto opened his eyes and smiled, taking a step forward toward the water, about to place his foot against the water's surface-
"Naruto."
Every muscle in his body froze, his chest suddenly feeling heavy. Naruto heard a soft footfall that came behind, then another, before all was silent.
No.
Naruto wearily lowered his foot back down on the ground.
"Go away." Naruto whispered so lowly, so hoarsely he barely recognized his own voice. "Leave me alone."
Naruto thought he was ready to look the fox in the eyes again, to face the demon and speak to it again. But he couldn't. Not know, not when he was caught off guard by the clone's sudden appearance.
He could feel the fox was still behind him, watching him; not heeding his request. Whatever the fox was here for, he didn't want to know.
He didn't want to know.
The clone's eyes stared at the boy intently. Due Naruto facing away from the fox, the boy couldn't see the scowl that marred its expression. The fox's eyes glanced at what lied before Naruto with an uneasy gaze, chastising itself.
It should've paid for attention to Naruto's whereabouts. The fox stopped itself from growling. The demon had awoken shortly after dawn and had found Naruto to be gone from where it last saw him. The fox was not overly concern, for it was fully aware of Naruto's habit.
Finding him was never difficult. Nor long; for the fox found him quickly. But today the hadn't exactly aware exactly where they were when it had been trailing Naruto, or how close he had gotten to that place. Ruins they may be, the Kyuubi's clone saw no reason for Naruto to be near it.
The demon was about to call Naruto over when it paused from the action.
The Kyuubi's clone had still been unable to come up with way to rejuvenate Naruto's motivation and ambition.
An idea formed in its mind right then and there.
Maybe, it could try this.
"Come."
Despite himself, Naruto turned around, eyes wide, "What?"
The Kyuubi's clone sat on its hunches while its three tails swayed in a calm manner behind it, and for the first time in long time, Naruto stared into those bright, crimson red eyes that were always filled with indifference. Except now. Now, they were a little different.
"I have something to show you. Follow me."
Before Naruto would fully react or comprehend the Kyuubi clone brushed past him, walking across the river at a steady place. Naruto stood still for a moment, not really believing what he just heard. Of all the things. . .
"Naruto."
Naruto flinched, detecting a sharper tone. He turned around to see the fox glaring at him, "I said, come." It commanded before resuming its pace.
Naruto's face fell sadly. Nothing's change.
It took a moment for Naruto to center his chakra to his feet, he then stepped onto the water and began trailing after the fox. In the end, all he could do was obey. He had always obeyed, and he will continue to obey the Kyuubi clone.
In less than a minute Naruto had made it to the other side. He walked up beside the Kyuubi clone, the fox standing still a couple feet from the edge of the river. Naruto avoided looking at the fox completely by looking in the opposite direction.
The fox studied him as its thoughts continued to formulate on what it was going to do next. This wasn't what the fox intended to do today, or any other day, but since he was here. . .and under the circumstances, maybe this'll help.
Naruto gasped when, suddenly, one of the fox's tails moved toward him and wrapped itself around his waist and lifted the boy an inch off the ground, "What-"
The Kyuubi's clone jumped high into the air, with its tail hooked tightly around the boy's small body.
The clone leaped with such force Naruto's neck and head were forced down, the strain causing Naruto to let a strangled yell from the slight pain. Before the discomfort could intensify Naruto felt it all stop, the Kyuubi clone's feet touching solid ground once more. He felt his own feet touch the ground, but thankfully, and perhaps luckily, the clone's tail was still secured around him and held his body up as the poor boy was suffering a minor case of whiplash.
Naruto let out a small whine from the strain the muscles of his neck had to endure before slowly raising his head. He blinked at what lied before him, the sight clearing away any remaining cobwebs in his brain.
"What is this?" He asked quietly.
They looked like buildings, tall ones too, however they were clearly broken down to the point of being uninhabitable. They looked really old as well. Very old looking.
There were many of them though, all of them having holes in their sides or missing the roofs. Some were slanted so far to their sides a single push would be all it took for the structures to join the rubble littering the ground.
Naruto could tell these were ruins. He'd seen pictures before, but never had he gazed with his own eyes. The ruins of an old village.
Naruto looked on in wonder, his amazement momentarily overlooking the previous tension moments ago, having never known this existed on the island before hand.
"Can I go down there? Please?" Right after asking Naruto realized how stupid he was.
"No."
Naruto's shoulders fell in disappointment. He murmured, "Then why did you bring me here?"
"I want you to take a look around, Naruto. What do you see?" the clone calmly instructed.
The boy tilted his head, feeling more at ease with the demon fox in awhile. "This is an old village." he answered simply.
"I meant what's missing." The clone stated.
"I. . .people?" he answered hesitantly.
"Yes. People used to live here, a very long time ago."
"What happened to them? D-Did they leave?" Naruto innocently hoped the case was simple. But something in his head told him, the answer was one of a grim reality.
.
.
"They were all killed." The clone's voice lacked any empathy whatsoever.
Naruto felt his mouth open ajar at what he heard. He felt his eyes sting, "Why?" he choked out, his heart hurting. Naruto's eyes wandered slowly back to the old buildings. His sight tracing the swirly symbols most of them were decorated with. A few tears fell from his at what he just heard, upset that. . .
He didn't know why he was upset. Just that the clone's words made him want to cry. He just wasn't liking what was being told to him. He just didn't like it.
The Kyuubi clone spoke.
"I didn't tell you this before the fact others used to live here, because there had been no need to. Now, things are different."
Naruto didn't breath a word, feeling a dreadful feeling, a sense of foreboding that almost tasted like bile in his throat. He swallowed, "How?"
"Naruto," the fox looked Naruto in the eye, its demeanor serious, "Do not speak right now. Listen, and listen well."
Naruto's lips all but sealed shut.
"People used to live here. A lot of people. But then, they were all killed, by other humans," the fox explained darkly, "Those other humans killed all the ones here for a most ridiculously and a horde reason: fear."
"Picture it, Naruto. Imagine this place was full of happy people, peacefully living there lives in their homes. Then imagine all of them getting slaughtered, just because others were afraid of them."
"The humans that lived here were special compared to other humans, whom were jealous and scared of their power. And when they couldn't control them. . .they wiped them from existence."
Naruto trembled but didn't dare look away yet and struggled to remain attentive as the clone continued.
"What lies before you here isn't just the remains of a destroyed village. What's before you, Naruto, is a prime example of humanity's cruelty. As you can see, even against there own kind, humans show no mercy do get what they desire more than anything: power."
Naruto knew that. Humans were selfish creatures. They took what was not theirs. They were dangerous, they meant him harm, and had always told to stay away from them.
He knew all of that already. But he didn't want to hear it again, not anymore. Just no more. . .
The clone's voice became even deeper as it spoke in a near robotic tone, "Obtaining and controlling power. That is the nature of humanity. And what they cannot control, they destroy. That is what happened here."
Naruto couldn't handle anymore and began to cry uncontrollable, "P-Please stop talking. I-I-I don't want. . .to hear anymore!"
"I'm not done. Be silent." The clone ordered harshly.
"Leave me alone!" Naruto wailed loudly before turning around and began scamming desperately down the hill. He was done with all of this. He was done. Naruto was done with the Kyuubi clone, he wasn't going to take this anymore. He'll run away. Somewhere. Anywhere. He didn't want to hear anymore more of this, he didn't want to deal with any of this not a moment longer. The fox. The humans. Their evilness. Becoming the strongest. Slaughtering and killing them all. Naruto was done with it all.
Unfortunately, he lost his footing rather quickly and tumbled down the whole height, landing on his back.
Naruto ignored the pain and quickly got to his feet and started to run. Sadly, he didn't get far. He didn't get far at all.
"I said."
A tail latched around his body tightly.
"We are not done yet."
Naruto could do nothing but let out a shrill cry.
He didn't want to hear anymore.
The demon fox ignored Naruto's distressed screams and calmly walked to the other side of the river, taking Naruto away from the remains of the village and back into the country's jungle.
"Let me go! Let me go!" Naruto yelled, flailing his arms and legs, repeatedly hitting the fox's tail with his small first. The fox ignored the boy's actions, however, when Naruto started to bite one of the fox's tail the clone instantly grew furious.
Stopping, the fox shook Naruto roughly and roared, "Enough!"
"Put me down!" Naruto shouted back, "Now!"
They were several yards from the river now, now surrounded by moderately tall trees that partially hid the sky at the right angle.
The fox growled, "Be quiet, Naruto. Right now."
Naruto lunged down and sunk his teeth into the clone's tail again, biting down as hard as he could. The pain only felt like a small, annoying pinch to the clone, but the mere action caused the beast to seethe.
Hissing dangerously, the Kyuubi shook Naruto roughly once more, "I. Said. Knock. It. Off. . .Do. . .NOT BITE ME!" the fox erupted.
Naruto let go but continued to stubbornly squirm in the clone's hold, his eyes filled with distress, sadness, and faintly, anger.
"Let. . .me. . .go." he whimpered out.
"Naruto-"
"Let me go!" he screamed in the fox's face.
"Shut up!" The clone bellowed. Listen! The time I have to prepare you is never certain! We have to make use of whatever we have, including this very moment! Correct your behavior this instant Naruto, and focus on what I tell you! Get serious on your training and getting stronger! While we still have the chance! While we still have time!" the clone was beginning to sound desperate. It was desperate.
"Let. . .me. . .go." Naruto whimpered, too upset to listen.
Its pupils dilated as the fox watch Naruto continue to resist. Why? Why was this so hard? Why won't the child just listen?
Why was this so difficult? Why was everything so difficult? Why was Naruto making everything so difficult? The fox now staring at the still thrashing Naruto with a stone, apathetic look. The Kyuubi just didn't understand. Were all human children so frustrating? Were all human children this hard to control? Hard to work with? Or was Naruto just a special case. . .?
Dark thoughts started creep into its mind.
The clone's head titled, its red eyes have now gained a rather frightening and unsettling quality to them.
All this could end with a single contraction. It would be over instantly.
Tailed Beast are far stronger than humans in more ways than chakra or technique related scales. All the clone had to do was give fast, hard squeeze. The pressure from its strength would caused Naruto's body to splatter just like a grape.
The result would be bloody.
But it would quick. Naruto wouldn't feel the pain; maybe only half a second. Then he would be freed from this cursed world and his cursed life.
The tail holding Naruto tighten.
This would be mercy compared to what would be in store for Naruto either by the clone itself or the humans that might obtain him. This was mercy. Naruto would be truly free. Yes, Naruto would not have suffer any longer.
The appendage tighten even more.
Kurama would reform many years later, perhaps a whole decade, and when that happens. . .the clone would finally become one with its creator once again, and finally fulfill what it was created for.
Yes.
The Kyuubi and the Kyuubi's clone would become a single being once again, Naruto would be freed from humanity's cruelty, and the Kyuubi would be freed from Konoha's control once and for all. Things seemed aligned. The three of them would be free. This was for the best.
The clone's eyes glowed red, killing intent leaking off. There will be no more difficulties.
Its tail twitched.
There was a red flash of light.
"Gruahhhh!"
The clone howled in pain.
Naruto was dropped to the ground and landed on his butt with a sharp yelp. His eyes widened in surprise. A bright red energy surrounded him completely. The energy was shaped in a sphere, dome like appearance with many black writings decorating the exterior.
A barrier had formed around him.
Naruto had never seen or experienced something so bizarre like this but before, however, said it was all immediately overshadowed at what he saw beyond the energy's range.
The Kyuubi's clone was hurt. Badly.
Naruto could see the clone's tail, the same was that had been holding him, was missing half of the original length. The limb looked like it had been cut off, or, vaporized, the stump where the tip used to be was just. . .gone, and bleeding profusely. That wasn't all.
Nearly the entirety of the clone's right side was scorched, its right torso almost black, its leg was missing a lot of flesh Naruto actually saw bone; same with its right arm. Both were bleeding heavily as well.
Naruto was moments away from hyperventilating and succumbing to a seizure from seeing all the blood and the grievous injuries. The clone was gasping and shivering from the pain and let out a loud, deep moan before wrapping its arms around its body, almost like the clone was hugging itself as it made another deep throat noise that sounded heavily akin to a whimper.
The sight of the fox's vulnerable state had Naruto dumbfounded.
The boy had never seen the Kyuubi clone looked so. . .so weak. And fragile. The Kyuubi moaned again before letting out an angry snarl around its blood-stained teeth.
Before Naruto's eyes a malevolent, dark, crimson energy oozed and poured from the clone's body. At the same time its wounds healed at a rapid, supernatural pace. The exposed bone was once again covered by flesh followed shortly by orange fur. The clone's severed tail was also quickly regenerating, albeit, at a lightly slower pace, most of the energy now surrounding the limb as it grew back more and more.
Within a few moments the damaged limb had regrown.
The clone had moved the limb closer to its face and had inspected it before moving the tail to join the rest. The fox lowered its arms back to the ground and snarled in rage. Naruto heard the clone mutter a number of curse words.
"Damn. . .Yondaime. . .whore. . .redhead. . .damn monkey. . .hope you're all burning. . .every single one of you."
Naruto didn't even notice when the barrier disappeared as he slowly stood up on shaky legs.
"Damn you Yondaime. Damn you. Damn you. Damn you. Damn you. Damn you." The Kyuubi clone continued to murmur hatefully.
"Are you okay?" Naruto whispered fearfully.
The clone quieted and looked at Naruto with a look that suggested it had forgotten the boy was there. The look was quickly gone though. A low growl sounded from the back of its throat as its glowing red eyes stared Naruto down silently.
No. The fox was not okay.
Naruto jumped with the Kyuubi clone stomped its foot, glaring at its own blood that was smeared in the dirt. Naruto gulped, "I said a-are you okay? And, h-hey, w-what was that weird energy? What was that?"
The clone's head snapped up.
"Be. Quiet." Cold fury laced its dark voice.
"You're hurt." Naruto whispered.
"I wouldn't be if you've just listen to me!" the fox snapped, shocking Naruto even more, "What?" he croaked.
The fox stomped, scaring Naruto who slowly took a step back. The clone felt its temple pulsating from irritation. It stomped its foot again to vent.
All the struggles, the suffering, the difficulties could've been ended. Today. Or at sometime in the past, even during that night. But no. The Yondaime had to interfere, even in death. The Kyuubi clone could have given his son mercy.
But the Yondaime was just so selfish.
"Naruto."
From the tone Naruto couldn't help but listen attentively.
"I'll make you strong, boy. I WILL make you strong, whenever you like it or not. That is all you have to worry about."
Naruto sniffled. "Why?
The glared into Naruto's sad eyes, "Understand that there are people after you, Naruto. I won't let them take you, not as long as I draw breath. But I'm not invincible, I can be killed, so you must learn to fight on your own, because there'll come a time when I'll be destroyed. When that day comes, you'll have to be ready. When Konoha comes for you, you must be stronger than me. Stronger than them. When that day comes, when they come for you, if you are weak, you will taken."
"Understand, your enemy is Konoha, and all the humans that desire the power within yourself. I'll teach you how to use it to kill them, Naruto, I'll teach to how get stronger. To kill them all."
"Understand that everyone is your enemy. Everyone but me."
The fox stood and slowly stomped heavily away from Naruto, leaving behind dark red stains of blood on the dirt, along with a final word.
"Now come."
.
.
.
"Why are you so afraid of them?"
The demon fox froze in its tracks.
"What," the fox slowly made a robotic, menacing turn, its voice chilling with disbelief, "did you say?" it whispered, eyes wide and rigid with molten hot anger.
"I said," Naruto's voice seemed to echo, "why are you so afraid of them?" he whispered right back, his face stoic.
The fox's eyes looked ready to pop right out of its skull given how far it had them open.
As Naruto observed the clone for a response the boy had no idea the great turmoil he had sired within the fox.
Steam wafted out of its now open jaws. A fire that could rival hell manifested within its soul.
"Why you little piece of shit," the fox hissed, "I'd out to beat the living-"
The boy remained unfazed as the fox paused on its threat, having regained some sense just before it could lose itself and try to maul the boy.
The demon fox glared into Naruto's eyes, those normally blue eyes now looked like clear water or cold snow given how void they appeared.
"Why do you ask?" the fox gritted out.
The fox wanted to see, if perhaps, it made mistake of the boy's intent. For Naruto's own sake, he'd better.
Naruto seemed surprised by the question, his eyes widening some. He then looked around timidly, avoiding the fox's piercing gaze, "I-I don't know." he stammered, shaking his head.
The Kyuubi clone growled; disappointed.
"You don't know why." the fox said with contempt.
Foolish boy.
"I don't know. I just. . .I just. . ." Naruto tried to find the right words to explain himself, his reasoning for his inquiry. Yet every time he tried to force something out, his tougue would tighten in his throat when met with the fox's glare.
The anger in the demon's stomach was back with a vengeance.
While it may not have been Naruto's intention, the Kyuubi's clone felt greatly. . .insulted.
Afraid? Of Konoha?
How dare this brat made such an accusation. Such ignorance.
"Do not. . .insult me," the fox said with a ragged breath, trying to reign its temper, "And do not ask stupid questions. Now-"
"I ask you because you look scared." Naruto managed to say, gulping.
What?
The demon fox could no longer form words and could only stare at Naruto, flabbergasted.
Naruto swallowed again as words finally came to him, "You say they are the enemy. You say I have to get strong so they don't take me. You say you're not strong enough, so I have to be. You say that there's no time, and that there's no telling when they'll come. And that. . ." Naruto swallowed for the third time.
"That terrifies you." he stated quietly.
'I'll kill you.' Was the first thought the demon had after realizing what Naruto had said, 'You don't understand anything.'
"I know you don't care about me," Naruto said slowly, his eyes stinging, "I know you only care about Kurama, your creator."
Naruto's voice was barely above a whisper, "You don't what Konoha to have me, because you don't want them to have Kurama. So, you want me to get strong so that doesn't ever happen. I know that. I know that."
Naruto's voice quivered.
"I know. . .you don't what them to have Kurama. I know you want me to get strong to protect him, your creator. You want to protect him no matter what. That is all you really care about. And you're scared that when Konoha comes, you won't be able to. You are afraid I won't be able to. You are afraid. You are so afraid. So afraid."
Naruto lowered his head, eyes invisible to the clone due to his hair shadowing them.
"Not for me. Not even for yourself. You are afraid, for the one who created you. The real Kyuubi." Naruto said softly, "You don't care for me, or yourself either. You only care for Kurama. You are afraid for Kurama. You are afraid for his well-being, and his safety, and his. . .freedom."
Naruto looked up and the clone could not possibly describe the amount of emotions he saw within the boy's eyes.
The demon fox before him was still unable to find words.
"Why are so afraid of them? Why are you so obsessed with keeping me hidden from them? Why are you so obsessed in getting me stronger? Why are you so focus on the real Kyuubi?"
"Why do you want to keep Kurama away from the humans so badly?"
.
.
.
.
"I exist. . .for no other reason." the cold response made Naruto's heart feel like to was going to shatter.
"I am Kurama's clone. I live to serve his wish: destroy all who threaten his freedom. That is all. That is the only reason I was created and why I live. If he did not reside in your body, we would never have met." the fox said impassively.
Naruto's shoulders were shaking, tears falling like rain from his eyes.
The Kyuubi's clone watched Naruto cry with indifference before sighing heavily, "Naruto."
Instinctively, Naruto looked up at the sound of his name. He found the clone's eyes looked so. . .tired.
"I exist for just one reason. Why do you have to make that reason so difficult for me?" the fox asked simply.
Naruto stare wide eyed.
The fox shook its head and turned its back to him, "You are Kurama's host, so you must protect him. To do that, you must become the strongest. That is all I want from you."
Naruto watched the demon fox leave and disappear behind the trees. He looked at the fresh blood that stained the ground and felt a wave of nausea hit him. Naruto turned around and took three, shaky steps, before collapsing to his knees and following onto his side.
Darkness quickly became his comfort, like it had been so many nights lately. In the end, he managed to gain answers. Naruto just wished the delivery had been different. . .
Hope you've enjoyed this. Leave a review if you'd all be sooooooo kiiind~~~~
Bye-bye.