What makes a Man and what makes a Monster
Written by Silent Soul Ken
Assisted by Baron Von Nobody
Summary: It had been a day like any other day, until the giant meteors hit. All those in the blast radius find themselves still alive, having awoken in a new place, but things are not what they seem…


Chapter 4
The Terror of an Apex Predator

Naruto woke up from a nightmare, he had dreamed he had been in his beast form only for a large beast to descend upon him. He tried to fight but even as he had turned he could feel an instinctual fear of the beast. He willed to move but his body would not respond no matter what he did. Then he had been consumed, and that was when he had woken up. He looked at Hinata who was still asleep, he got up quietly and looked at the pack, he checked the food stores. They didn't have much left, enough meat for at least 5 days worth of cooking, at least for normal people's consumption, but they weren't normal. Hinata's own appetite had been growing bigger and bigger with each meal, and if she was a beast then who knew how big it's appetite was.

He looked at her wary and… afraid of her, to busy himself he turned to the fire which was little more than ashes. He got up, to start another fire, and he contemplated just running and leaving her there… but he couldn't. 'But what if she tries to eat me?' came the fear, 'She won't survive as a person… a monster but… if she becomes a monster is that because I abandon her?' came the reason. 'If she tries to eat me I'll just beat her unconscious.' came the bravado. He stood there thinking, trying to figure out the correct decision to make. Should he stay with her he would have to deal with the food problem if he did he would have to hunt down other beasts, other people, to feed her. He could survive on fruits and vegetables but she ate meat so far and she didn't have much an appetite for vegetables and fruits

He heard a yawn and turned to see Hinata waking up, she sat up rubbing her eyes and looking at him. "Naruto-kun is something wrong?" she asked.

He was silent thinking of an answer, "No just starting up a fire, gonna make some breakfast then we're gonna go find an exit ok?" he said, he got the fire going and grabbed the pan and meat to cook.

-Several Minutes Later-

Naruto washed the pan off in the small beads of water that lined the walls. HIs fears had been confirmed, she had eaten 2 times what a normal person ate, and it reduced their food stores to just 2 days though realistically speaking it was probably just one day. He knew that he would have to find a new food source. He shook the pan of the water and walked back to Hinata. "That was a good meal." she said, "Though I kinda wish there was more." he froze then grabbed the pack and stuffed the pan back inside.

He got up hefting the now nearly empty bag, "alright let's go," he said, "hopefully we find a way out before nightfall." he said, he walked faster unable to hide his desire to get as far away from her as possible. He couldn't deny that part of him was disgusted at his cowardice, but a part of him approved of his actions wished for survival over his pride. They kept walking and as they did Naruto smelled fresh air in his nostrils. He paused and sniffed Hinata stopped watching him. He crouched almost going on all fours as he sniffed and opened his mouth tasting the water vapors in his mouth. "This way!" he said and he got up and began to run forward. Hinata running after him, Naruto's head held high as he sniffed his way to the source of the smell.

They ran for minutes but as they did the saw the light shining. They ran full tilt and came to blinding light forcing them to shield their eyes briefly. Their eyes adjusted and as it did so did their ears no longer straining to hear the softest drops of water, or the gentle streaming. The sound of animal sounds filled them, the birds chirping, cicadas buzzing and other wildlife assaulted their ears but it was a welcome assault. They stood there breathing fresh air tasting the moisture in the air. He sighed and sat down relief flooding him only to vanish as he heard the growl of her stomach. He stood up slowly, he turned to her to see her rubbing her stomach sheepishly, "Sorry all that running made me hungry maybe we can stop to eat real quick?" she asked.

Naruto paused staring at her, "We're almost out…" he said, "Meaning…" he bit his lip and looked away his stomach already churning at revolted at what he was going to say next. "We need to eat the wildlife… the people." he said. He waited, he didn't want to look at her, he couldn't look at her.

Hinata was silent, her mind thinking about what he had said. However her next thought utterly terrified her, 'that's perfectly fine with me.' she was jolted, eating people was not fine so why would she think it was? She shuddered with fear, and hunger, which was now filling her like a black hole. "I need… to eat." she said, "It'll be fine as long as we don't think of them as people right?" she asked.

Naruto closed his eyes, then he dropped the bag of food on the ground, "Then eat that while I go find something." he said. He opened his eyes and walked away when he was out of her sight he leaned against a tree and raised his sweaty arm to wipe his equally sweaty brow. "Shikamaru was right." he finally admitted, "I gotta… end this… and her while I can…" but even as he stood there he knew he couldn't. 'She doesn't know she's doing this… or why…' he frowned, 'I… can't kill her can I?' he realized.

He then heard it Hinata tearing into the food he glanced and saw her grabbing the uncooked meat only to shove it into her mouth without a second thought. He gritted his teeth then set out to find some meat… or rather, to find some prey.

-Several Minutes Later-

Naruto stalked the animal, a large rotund animal and snorting not unlike a pig. His nose twitched as he smelled the potential meat, and fat, it would be a delicious meal but could he do it? Could he devour a person? He didn't have a choice really, he leaped out jumping on top of the creature it indeed looked like a pig, bloated and squealing as he forced it down into the ground. Naruto opened his mouth to bite down on it then he paused his eyes catching a wallet on the ground. He reached for it and with a single finger opened it. Inside the wallet was a picture of a portly man with an equally portly woman between them was a skinny teenager who was smiling sheepishly. Naruto stared at the picture then he rose up and walked away from the pig letting it huff and grunt as it got up and ran squealing. 'I can't kill innocents… I'd be worse than a murderer. I'd be a beast... but those that are beasts… they I can kill… they've thrown their humanity away already and will just prey on the weak… so I'll prey on them.' he resolved.

The pig squealed as it ran despite being long out of Naruto's sight it still felt it's instinctual fear, fear of a danger that had its eyes on the pig's round plump body. From the tree's claws, shining emerged and dug into its flesh. With a single quick motion the pig lay its head removed from its body. The bird like monster stared at the kill then it grabbed the food with its talons and beat its wings after several powerful beats it began to rise. It flew into the sky already with a destination in mind.

Naruto heard the wingbeats but as he raised his head he saw no bird, he stood there but the wing beats were fading away slowly but surely. He ignored them and raised his head to sniff. He could smell blood already he moved forward scenting, going on all fours to step forward. His steps light even as his ears twitched he could hear a slight hissing and the sound of ripping flesh. He swallowed the saliva pooling in his mouth even as his eyes searched for the source of the sound. The faint crunch of a twig made caused him to pause as a hiss sounded in the air.

The sound of something flicking the air, another hiss then more ripping and tearing of flesh but at a slightly more fevered pace. Naruto got on his hind legs risking a peek, he saw it, it was a serpent like beast but with a lizard like head, which explained the ripping and tearing compared to the usual snake's wrapping then swallowing whole eating method. Oddly enough though it's body was built like a snakes with no arms or legs.

The fox flicked his ears, tensed his muscles and pounced, what happened in the next few rapid seconds would be a blur to his eyes, but his mind would remember it very clearly. The reptile creature heard him and turned and opened its mouth releasing a stinking breath at his face. His nostrils however plugged themselves to prevent the smell from overpowering him. He struck with a clawed slash the reptile moved it's snake body back causing him to miss as it then wrapped around his arm then his whole body. Naruto's muscles bulged and he roared as the head came face to face with his own. He saw the human left, the pale head with purple marks on each eye, and yellow slitted slotted just above the lizard head crown. The face smirked as it stared at naruto's face.

Naruto snapped his jaw down the head moving out of the way. His feet on the ground he jumped with one foot, a poor jump but enough to spin in the air and force the reptile off him or get crushed. He placed a hand on the ground and pivoted on his arm his foot slicing at the reptile. It again tried to move back when Naruto's toes flexed outward. The extra inch it provided was enough to scrape the body to create a cut. It howled with pain and squirmed. He barely had a foot on the ground when he pounced again this time he whipped out his tails which extended and wrapped around the reptile drawing it in.

Naruto could feel his body move partially by instinct partially by command. But with each attack he made he could get a stronger and stronger hold of its abilities and limits. He knew what he could do something in his mind told him what to do and how to do it. His grasp of control was becoming broader and the possibilities of what his body could do grew. His next attack was swift, he spun and his tails clenched hard. The reptile hissed it's snake body whipping as it spun in circles before the tails released it slamming it into the ground and into the body that it had been feasting on. Blood splattered everywhere some of it falling on Naruto's tongue as he panted. He felt a spike of an urge, an urge to brutalize and consume.

He squashed it down, and he attacked stabbing into its body the reptile screamed and writhed then something unexpected happen. Thick bones with sharp points suddenly emerged from its body including around it's head forming a cage of blades. Naruto cried out as his hand was pierced he pulled it out just as it began to spin rapidly then lowered it's head down and drilled into the earth. The fox held up his hand and grunted as he felt his skin bubble then heard the hiss as it began to heal. But he barely had time to gawk when he felt the ground rumble.

He jumped back as the reptile burst from where he had been, arc and submerge itself again. Naruto growled then he raised one foot and stomped the ground. His foot however sunk into the ground, he withdrew it and flipped forward just as a mouth covered by bones emerged to snap at his feet. He jumped again into the air and into a tree where he clung onto with one arm while searching the ground.

The enemy emerged slicing it's kill and then sinking back into the ground again. The ground was becoming finely grounded up making it effectively quicksand. Naruto climbed onto the tree branch when he felt tree shudder. He growled then a quick slash cut the top of the tree, a few more turned it into a spike which he threw at the ground. There was a splat and a screech and he saw the ground turn red with blood.

The spike wiggled ferociously then fell still. He waited it out then he jumped to another tree and repeated the process this time when it sank in, the ground didn't move and turned a deeper shade of crimson. He slid off and landed in the ground and dug out the beast. It was dead, bleeding out and most of its bones had retreated into its skin. The ones that hadn't he grabbed and pulled out, he was thankful that said bones weren't connected to the actual body. They seemed to be some extra bones that were connected to the main tissue muscle. He pulled one up and then bit down, it didn't break but it did crack. If he was truly hungry he could've broken down the bone like breaking glass but it wasn't his hunger he had to satisfy.

-Hinata-

Hinata could feel it, she had felt it when she had finished eating and was now waiting for Naruto to return. When she heard herself talk, something was lurking inside of her and it was breaking out. She was terrified… of herself. The hunger gnawing at her was unnatural or rather it was beyond human nature. She wanted to devour flesh to satisfy her hunger, she wanted to taste the blood on her tongue like it was a drink and feel the crunch of bones and the squish of flesh in her teeth. "Nooo… no... " She gasped even as she felt her heart thudding in her chest.

She smelt it, blood and flesh it was triggering the change inside of her. She wanted to run to prevent herself from turning into a monster and hurting Naruto. But as the smell got stronger the transformation spasms got stronger. She clutched at her heart, 'Stop… stop! I don't want to be a monster!' she willed herself so desperately.

Naruto walked through the forest path still in his monster form, his ears twitched as he heard the panting and squeaks of terror from Hinata he moved with urgency dropping the meat he ran. He saw Hinata, laying on the ground hand on stomach,l twitching, her skin starting to change color scales blistering on her body. "Hinata?" he asked, she twitched then looked up at Naruto. Her eyes were turning a golden color and her face was wrenched into a look of pure horror and shock.

She gasped then she groaned, "Naruto… please… k-kill me!" she gasped.

Naruto could see the change but he also saw the conflict, "You can fight it! C'mon Hinata you're strong enough to do it." but his words were weak and shaky. His body was reacting to her, something about her was causing an instinctual fear inside of him.

Hinata sobbed, "I'm not… I never was! I'm not like you… you who saved me years… who I love more than anything I have ever loved in my life." Naruto blushed at that, "I don't want to become a monster, I don't want to kill you… Kill me… please…" she begged.

Naruto looked at her then he leaned down and held his claws to her throat. She pressed her neck against them her red rimmed teary eyes staring at his face. He knew he had to stab his claws in and kill her… 'Do it,' a beastial growl commanded him. 'Kill her so you can live.' it said.

He gritted his teeth, eyes narrowed as he wrestled with two thoughts. 'If I kill her I kill my humanity and I may as well live my life as a beast… but if I don't kill her she'll eat me…' Naruto growled, 'Dammit… my humanity vs my life this isn't fair... Fuck!' he roared his hand trembling then he pulled his claws away from her throat. "I can't do it!" he said turning away.

Hinata stared at him then she saw his hand and the blood. Her nostrils flaring, she knew she couldn't stop it anymore. "Run…" She gasped, "Run away!" then she gagged and from her throat a low growl emitted. Her skin steaming as she began to transform.

Naruto turned he stared at the steam covered her and he tried to move to stop her transformation but the sound of a growl made him freeze. Even shrouded in the steam Naruto could see her outline standing. He tried to move but his feet only moved him backwards while in his mind a voice screamed, 'Run, run!' but he wanted to help her he wanted to make her be human. 'Dammit do something!' he roared at himself. He turned and ran, 'NO!' but he couldn't stop he ran, getting down to all fours for speed as he ran away from her as fast as he possibly could.

Hinata stood up growling the smell of blood fresh in the air transformation completed her scent glands on the side of her head sniffing. She snarled as she followed the scent, she came across the snakes carcass her lips shuddering as it pulled back into a snarl. She leaped on it and began to eat the flesh tearing into it with wild ferocity. Her claws ripping it just as rapidly as her mouth did. Within seconds it was stripped clean of meat merely a pile of fat and blood. She growled the meal not enough to satisfy her belly. She sniffed and the blood from Naruto's hand caught her scent glands. She ran after it going on all fours herself, her powerful legs allowing her to speed through while her powerful body bashed through the tree's like they were cardboard.

Naruto could hear the tree's snapping and breaking as Hinata chased after him. Despite being a good 40 seconds ahead she had caught up to him within eight. He kept running the fear of her presence and death fueling his speed and desperation. But he could hear her, as she snarled and growled with each tree she smashed through. Time slowed to a crawl as he looked and sniffed at the same time. He smelled many things, insects, fruits, flowers, moss, and water. He looked around and saw small insects flying, flowers blooming here and there, tree's covered in moss… and a tangle of vines hanging between some trees.

He smelled the water coming from that direction as well. It was a chance he had to take. He jumped at the veins flattening his arms and legs against his body he flew through the vines like a bullet and fell into a pond of water. He quickly submerged himself down the pond wasn't very deep but it was enough that his body was underneath…. Save his tails. Naruto would've grunted but controlled his tails sinking them down. He sank to the bottom once there he wriggled his tails mud and dirt floated up making it murky. He had gotten a good amount of air in his lungs, and could hold his breath for at least 3 minutes with this new body and his enlarged lungs he figured he had double the time.

Hinata snarled as she pushed past the vines ripping them to shreds as she sought out her prey. Her scent organs sniffing, she walked up to the pound and looked around where the scent had vanished. She huffed then she closed her eyes when she opened them there was a thin film about them, she looked and snarled as her vision showed trace amounts of heat from the prey she sought. Forming footprints that she couldn't see before but now was as clear as day. They led to the pool her lips trembled as she leaned in to the muddy water. She blinked again and although she couldn't see into it she knew he was there.

Naruto felt it a prickling in his back as his senses detected the danger. He moved automatically, the water shifted and he saw Hinata's face, snarling, teeth bared, eyes shining and water distorted by her hiss. He scrambled backwards his fingers and claws digging into the mud propelling him upward. Her arms shot toward him but a flick of his feet knocked them away and he was out even as her body fell into the pool. He was out and was running toward the tree line, but something shot out o the water. He didn't have time to react and something stuck into his back.

His vision blurred and his feet faltered he stumbled into a tree reached into his back and grabbed something he pulled it out and looked at it. It looked like a spike, he remembered seeing them on Hinata's tail. There was a strange purple liquid leaking out mixing with his blood. "For fucks sake she has poison spines that she can shoot?!" he growled he threw it on the ground. He couldn't outrun her… but he could outjump her. He did so jumping toward the treeline but even as he tried to put his feet down lightly he felt the poison mess with his senses and he landed heavily on the branch which cracked loudly. He jumped off and landed on another branch. He felt the burn of the poison inside of him, but he knew his body was working against it but it was dulling his senses the poison was strong, strong enough to give his healing factor a work over.

He growled and jumped toward the tree his hand reaching out for the trunk. He grabbed onto it jumping from branch to branch using the trunk to anchor him. He heard the screech of tree's falling over, but thankfully they were a way off. His rapid pace kept him far ahead of the falling tree's… and more importantly ahead of her. But he knew it wouldn't last there was only so much forest his nose told him he was running out he could smell the leaves, the dew, and the sap. Less of it in the direction he was going but he couldn't turn his body still mis-coordinated from the poison doing such an act would make him tumble to earth and be devoured without a second thought.

But even as he swung he felt a strange… feeling of remembrance. A voice calling out to him, "This way! Come on!" he blinked, he looked to his right. A young man with black hair ran next to him was a girl with pink hair. He looked to his left and saw another man also with black hair tied up by a headband and wearing glasses. He… knew them from school. The boy was Sasuke, the girl was Sakura and the other boy was Shino… but he hadn't met them… not yet anyway but somehow he had seen them but he couldn't- he suddenly realized he was flying over the ground the tree line having stopped.

He turned but it was too late, "Shit!" He cried as he landed on the ground. He dug his claws in and turned to jump back in but Hinata bashed through snarling. He got to his feet and stepped backwards but as one foot fell back he felt it plunge. He looked behind to see a deep drop leading to the ground below… he looked around to see there was room to run but it would be pointless here. Hinata proved she could outrun him… and if she could do that then there was only one choice left… suicide. He looked at the chasm behind him and swallowed as his vision blurred from vertigo, in he turned to face Hinata as she stomped toward him her mouth open saliva dripping in long sticky ropes.

Naruto looked down not wanting to look into that gaping maw. "What the hell man! I just… I wanted to protect you… I wanted… to do something right for once with this new power… and now…!" he felt tears stinging his eyes "Dammit!" he growled.

"So... I take it you got your ass handed to you... am I right?" Jiraiya asks, a cold bottle of beer in his hand.

Naruto gritted his teeth, 'Why that memory? Why now?'

-Flashback-

Naruto angrily wipes his face of blood and tears, and spits back, "None of your business you pervy Geezer!"

"Look, you don't have to go into details about the hows and whys... but a real man should own up to his losses... so tell me you at least managed to get one in on the other guy..."

Naruto glared at the ground, "Yeah… once…"

Jiraiya was silent as he took a drink of the beer smacking his lips once then sighing, "Now, I'm not going to chastise you kid for getting in a fight... I'll leave that to Tsunade... what I am going to say though is you lose a fight the moment you decide to quit... did you get knocked down on the first punch, and you just let them use you as a punching bag? Hoping to draw their attention from someone else?... Look kid... while I'll admit, standing up for someone takes guts... but all that is worth is shit if you don't fight back when the fighting starts... learn to stand up for yourself before standing for others!" he grabbed Naruto by the collar and pulled him so they were face to face. "Learn to swallow that fear, grit those teeth, and stand your ground, because no one else will do it for you..." He had growled into Naruto's face.

-Reality-

He chuckled, he knew why now. "Yeah…" he felt the instinctual fear in him still the fear of an animal. "I'm not an animal… but I'm not human… I'm something in between. Human and animal combined… which means I have the strength of a human as well. Most humans would also quiver in the face of danger. But there are some." he punched a fist into the ground. Hinata who had been advancing took a step back. He looked up at her, "Some who will stare death and danger right in the face and fight!" he stood up his muscles bulging his human spirit overriding the instinctual fear. "I will be among those! I will look death in the eye!" he took a step forward she a step back. "Apex Predator or not, I will face them with all my strength! And fight for the one life I have! To protect other people, I will protect myself... when I can do that then… then I will protect them! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" he roared into the sky a roar that shook the air. Hinata stepped backward then forward.

In her mind the animal was in control, it had been scared of this defiance but that fear was overridden with arrogance, and pride. Pride of being an Apex Predator, pride of being stronger… or was it? Hinata was deep within able to see but unable to take control. But even inside she knew that this body of her's could feel fear and she knew that if Naruto was able to win the fear would consume it and she could take control so she would wait. Wait for Naruto to win… "Please win." she begged.

Naruto growled as he stared at her, Hinata roared at him and he snarled back at her. As they stared Naruto looked at her tail he saw the spines he counted them 6 of them in total. His body had purged her poison but the damage it had inflicted on his healing, that had only been from 1 spine, if all 6 had impacted he'd be in trouble. 'Which means her tail must be sealed off.' he glared at her.

"When you're in a fight for life and death don't think about fighting fair, that's for idiots looking to die. Forget about honor too… you're fighting for your life not your honor. One is your life the other is an ideal. Which of the two is more important?"

Naruto knew that answer. "My life… my ideals are for later, if I can protect my life then I can fight for my ideals." he growled. He saw in his mind a fight against a bully once, the bully was bigger, stronger, tougher… but that fell apart when Naruto got ahold of his neck. He had held on till the bully had fainted from lack of air. 'Tch getting her neck will be tough but if I can use my tails I can do it… the problem is maintaining control. No I don't need to I need to convince my body to do it.' he moved first, charging straight at her.

The beast snarled and swung here tail at him spines outstretched. He jumped spinning horizontally just in time to avoid the spines as they ejected from her tail. 2 sailed below, 2 just missing his arms and the last two sailing past tail fur. He landed then slid down and extended his leg out in a sweep kick. It hit her foot and he winced at the hardness of her skin and bones but it was enough to trip her up.

With that a deadly dance began, Naruto struck at her side again the hardness of the skin and bones made him wince but he swung for her head as she fell down only to move to the side to avoid her claw from reaching out toward him. He swung his open hand up to the back of her neck to pull her down when one of her clawed wings reached for the hand. He withdrew it and slammed his fist into her gut. But met hard skin again and a claw reached for his head.

He swayed under the claw and opened his own hand into a claw 'if my fists don't work then maybe my claws will!' he slashed at her side and felt his nails digging in and ripping the skin apart. She snarled and her own clawed hand came and sunk into his side. Naruto gritted his teeth but didn't feel his vision blurred, it seemed the poison was limited to her spines, 'Good,' he spun away slicing at her middle as he did dodging the follow up swipes she made however she thrust her body forward sending him sprawling to the ground.

He rolled as she shot out more spines. He glanced at her middle where the slashes he made were slowly closing up. 'So she has a healing factor as well but it's not as strong as mine. This means I can go dirty.' he opened his hand revealing his claws she snarled and her tail swung up then stabbed down toward him. He kicked off the ground jumping backward he dug his claws in to prevent himself from going too far and used his powerful arms to rocket toward her. She swung her claws at him but he was already slamming his head against her gut making her stagger. Naruto then slashed at her legs cutting them up to prevent her from moving. Even as she snarled with pain he pivoted and side stepped so that he was behind her.

She tried to turn but the pain in her legs made her stumble. In response her claw wing shot forward, Naruto knocked it aside with a swipe of his tail as he slashed 2 times at her own. The skin was harder but the two slices was enough to rip the skin. Just as he was to slice at the tail again the two claws sprung backwards slashing at him. He grabbed them both and jerked them then twisted them down causing two loud cracks and a roar to sound.

The tail slammed into his leg and a barb dug in. He grunted, maintaining his footing, but used the opportunity to give one more slicing slash digging into the meat of her tail and then grabbing it. The barbs shot out again but he dodged them and he slammed a foot down even as his vision blurred. His muscles bulged as he felt her feet dig into the ground resisting his attempt to lift her up. He dug in his own feet and his muscles bulged even more her feet dragging on the ground. He turned and her feet scrabbled on the ground, "Nyraaaah!" he roared as he began to spin her around even as she clawed the ground with hand and feet.

He was spinning now in a olympic Hammer throw her considerable weight making him dig in his heels as he spun around and around. He could feel the signs of dizziness affecting him thanks to the venom but he kept spinning his ears listening. He heard eventually the first tear of skin as her tail began to separate from her body. Blood was now spurting wildly everywhere in a spray painting the air red and both of their skin's crimson. He heard the second tear and he raised his arms up increasing the pull and weight of her body and tail increasing the overall force in the motion. The ripping of flesh grew and he could feel the tail suddenly pull away but it needed a final tug, he knew exactly what that motion was. He planted his toes down gripping down and he turned and placed her tail on his shoulder. He then pulled with a loud roar and Hinata sailed up and over his head a terrible ripping sounding and she flew several feet away from him into and her body skidded and rolled on the ground as her tail came off. Naruto held up the tail which squirmed with little life before falling still he tossed it on the ground in front of her even as she stood.

She stumbled slightly her balance lost without her tail he glared at her as she snarled but he could see she was fearful. He had proven that he wasn't willing to be fearful in fact more than that he had proven he was a viable threat. Fear would cause normal animals to run, but for an Apex Predator fear meant that something could kill it. In these cases a predator would fight harder and more ferociously so that none could challenge it in battle. It would kill the opposition so it would maintain it's status. For the beast in Hinata it would not allow Naruto to live even with it's wings broken and it's tail ripped off it would fight to the bitter end if only so it could maintain it's pride. Naruto walked up his hands curling into fists he would beat her into submission with all the power he had. With her two major sources of damage out of the picture he could hit her only needing to watch for her own claws. She pushed herself to her feet her healing factor having healed enough to do that. But it was clear she wasn't sturdy he approached rapidly his fists held up and he swung at her skull it hit but her head was so impressively hard that he winced in pain. But the blow was sufficient enough that she staggered slightly. 'Harder! Ignore the pain!' and indeed his next blow was harder aiming for the side of her skull.

A claw swung up to get him, he brought his elbow down on it slamming the point on the open palm. She squealed and withdrew her hand shaking it even as he dug in his feet and pivoted swinging for her ribs. He felt it connect and unlike her head he got more leeway even with her muscle cushioning the blow but it sunk in deeper as a result. She recoiled and lashed out with a series of swipes that he dodged. 'It seems to be the typical case her body despite being powerful is soft possibly cause she's not a physical person me on the other hand.' Naruto had fought countless times to the point that his body was hardened both in muscle and bone. He was a fighter a born fighter at that, it just took a few years for him to realize that and to train his body into peak condition.

He forced a fist into her swipe and it connected with her jaw she staggered back again her head raised her feet stumbling. Her arms flailed wildly and Naruto gritted his teeth as one of her claws swiped his side. He struck back with a powerful kick to her leg it connected causing her to collapse as her still half-healed legs couldn't take the strain. The ground shook as she fell and Naruto pressed his advantage aiming for her face again with powerful downward punches even throwing a few kicks as well. The barrage of blows forcing her to raise her arms and cover herself. A sound began to come from her, he paused to hear the whimpering squeak. He stood there unsure of what to do… 'mount and bite her!' came the bestial response of his animal instincts.

He flushed as slightly at that thought, he shook himself then realized he could use it somewhat he wouldn't bite her neck but he could do a chokehold. If he did that he could knock her out, he jumped behind her he wrapped one arm around her neck and the other around his and pulled putting pressure on her neck. 'Her neck will be easy to-what the-!?' even as he wrapped his arm around he could feel it, powerful muscles. A growl emitted from her throat and she got up, jumped and turned her back facing the earth. He tried to let go but was too slow and he felt his body get crushed his body sinking into the ground. "Graaah!" he growled as his head slammed down his vision blurring from a concussion. He knew he had to hold on if he let go she would tear him to pieces, he felt her start to roll 'But at this rate she'll turn me into putty.' his tails waved about and he tried to use them to push off the ground but she was too heavy.

He grunted as rocks dug into his skin, he felt her stand up again wobbling only to jump again. 'Dammit I gotta do something!' he noted she had jumped even higher. 'With her weight this is gonna hurt alot… wait a minute I can-' but before he could finish the thought she came down and he grunted as air was knocked out of his lungs and his ribs groaned ominously. But he held on grimly as a plan had formed 'That really fucking hurt! Do it again I dare you cause the next time you do you're gonna regret it!' he then began to shout, "You'll never shake me!" of course the beast was goaded. It sensed his loosening grip from her recent jumps and this time it would jump the highest it had ever jumped. Indeed it did, it leaped high into the air soaring over the treeline and then coming down. Naruto gritted his teeth as he felt he wind resistance against his skin and head he wrapped his tails around her waist he released her neck and held up his arms and aimed his elbows right for her skull. The elbow was among the hardest parts on the body and since his body had become even harder still with his beast form he was sure it would be enough for a knockout blow.

He felt his back muscles bulge as it prepared for the fall and his chest muscles also bulged as well. Her weight combined with the fall would inflict severe damage to him hopefully he could curb it somewhat. 'This is gonna hurt.' and it did when they crashed down the weight of the two from the fall alone created a crater several feet deep doming downward. Naruto felt the blood pooling his mouth and he coughed his blood spurting out of his mouth spraying into the air. But he knew he had won, the limp body on top of him was proof. He grunted as he felt the broken bones moving, he used his tails to push her off and he grunted as he hugged his stomach. He groaned then cried out as his bones cracked. "Shit I gotta!" he held up his own clawed hands and sliced at his torso gouging it out just in time as his old ribs were forced out by his newly grown ones. He pulled them out quickly even as his skin hissed as it reformed back into solidity and his bones now regrown back to normal.

As for his spine the bones grew on top of each other the old bones that were broken were consumed then used as material for the new bones. As the spine was slightly more important it's reformation was more delicately handled compared to the ribs which while still important could be handled more violently. He grunted as he lay there the punctured organs having reformed back to normal and the blood staunched and relayed back into his vessels. With that done he got to his feet painfully. His bones still aching he stood and looked at Hinata her body still transformed. He saw the slight indent where his elbows had slammed into her head. He reached down to flip her over when he heard it. 'Kill her! KIll her and become the Apex become the top predator! Survive!' he grabbed her shoulder and flipped her around. She lay there breathing slightly her body exposed to whatever he wished.

He felt his body jerk he looked to see his claws growing longer slightly his muscles bulging. He knew what his animal instincts wanted, but he looked at her and he felt the urge to kill her but also the urge to save her… protect her. 'Before you protect other's protect yourself.' he stared at her then he looked at his claws. 'I've already protected myself… and if i can do it against her then I don't have to fear her.' he stared at her and knew his answer instantly. "No I won't kill her… her and the animal has no say in the matter unless it means her survival." he stared at her then his eyes focused on her neck. He remembered the animal speaking, 'dominate her,' he then remembered something in biology class.

"Most animals when they find a mate mark them as a sign of dominance. It varies from animal to animal but one of the more commonly known one is the bite to the neck. This is exhibited by cats and there are many theories behind such a mark. Lately…" the rest droned away. He looked at her then knelt down his lips quivering as he opened his mouth.

It was then that Hinata's eyes opened he withdrew fist raised, "W-wait please!" he stopped his fist half-way the force of his punch creating a slight windblast. He stared as Hinata looked at him her eyes no longer feral but wide and innocent and no longer golden now a pale yellow. She was staring at him and he stared at her. "I-It's strange… it's like… like…" She tried to find the word.

Naruto kept his fist held up, "Like you're in a suit?" he asked she nodded he hesitated then unclenched his fist. "Just see what happens when you move your fingers and toes first." he backed away diggin his toes in so he didn't slide down, watching her body move he was fortunate that he did move. Her arm slashed out where he had been and her leg snapped up as well. "Yeesh you are built for being a predator huh?" He asked dourly.

She hiccuped, "S-Sorry…" he could see the tears in her eyes.

He sighed, "Just figure out how to stand up first." he said.

But Hinata had something else in mind, "Turn me on my back." she said he looked at her then she snarled lunging at him only stopping mid lunge. "I-It's coming back you have to dominate me!" she gasped.

Naruto gasped, "Oh the mating thing right?" He asked, "I m-mean not that you aren't good looking c-cause you are!" he said suddenly noticing he was feeling defensive.

But Hinata was getting frustrated, "Just shut up and do it! Th-The-AAAAARAGH!" she roared her back arching making her stand up. There was a loud crack and Naruto saw those clawed wings rising up, then they stuttered and fell onto her shoulders again. "Dominate me and it won't see you as a threat only as the Alpha, If you are the alpha it can't harm you!" she growled.

Naruto didn't understand entirely but he jumped at her tackling her down and flipping her onto her back even as her stump of a tail wriggled trying to throw barbs but had long since been lost. He grabbed her head pushing it aside staring at her neck. He felt her head move but he held it in place he opened his mouth his heart thudding. The experience made him feel like a vampire, he remembered the comics and movies and he had to admit there was something strangely arousing about the whole thing. Hinata trembled as she felt his hot breath at her neck and he paused then he placed his teeth down and bit gently. "Harder…" she muttered her own breath coming out in weak gasps. Her toes digging into the ground as her body tried to stand she felt his teeth sinking into her skin as he bit down harder.

He could hear it in his head, the voices urging him to bite down and tear out her flesh to devour her. He bit down harder his teeth piercing through the scales and into her flesh. The softness was like a perfectly roasted ham so tender and the blood filling his mouth was a nice aftertaste he was pressing down on her even with her bigger body which was stiffening as he asserted animal dominance. The animal in her retreated back into her consciousness having been conquered by an Alpha Male. Hinata whimpered as she felt his teeth sink into her muscles.

She shuddered "st-stop please," she moaned.

Naruto was brought of his trance and he released her "S-Sorry got a bit carried aw-," he was stopped by Hinata flipping onto her back and grabbing him pulling him into a kiss they locked lips for several seconds. When they parted they stared into each other's eyes. Then they stood up and headed to the woods to fully act on the emotions bombarding them.

-Several Hours Later-

Naruto laid with Hinata the two covered by a bed of leaves both having reverted to human form, and both completely naked she wrapped her arms around his torso pulling herself closer. "That was amazing," She muttered.

Naruto smiled, "Yeah… so…. How long?" he asked.

Hinata was silent as she thought, "5 Years." He blinked.

He turned his head, "When did we meet before highschool?" He asked.

She smiled, "I've known you since kindergarten I didn't love you till the final year of Junior High. That was when you were in the MMA club." she said, "You fought that boy so hard." She said.

Naruto turned his gaze to the treeline, 5 years ago he had been in an MMA club, it wasn't a real MMA club more of a hybrid Karate Judo club. He had been chosen for the finals and fought a guy named Atsui from another school. The fight lasted 5 rounds and Naruto was outclassed he didn't win the fight but he won the crowd for never giving up. He turned to her and suddenly he remembered a shy girl who was watched over by a boy with eyes like a hawk. He laughed, "You grew up big huh?" He said gesturing to her chest. She blushed but gave a slight smile.

She looked at him, "I-If it pleases you I wouldn't be against being bigger." She said.

It was his turn to blush, "N-Not against it but uh I think you're uh… good." he said, she smiled and pulled herself even closer her chest mashing against his arm. He turned his body to face her, he knew her for years they didn't really talk save this year… but he found that he loved her more than anybody else in his entire life… more than Sakura even. It was strange he felt this way after only a few days around her. But he found he wanted to protect her and make her his… and only his. "I love you." he said, "it feels weird saying this especially since I only really got to know you a few days… but I guess when you find that person in your life you just 'click' together." he kissed her again and she returned it gratefully. When they broke they pressed their heads together and fell asleep in each other's embrace.

-?-

"So how do we build this thing?" Naruto asked, crouching from atop a rock. Below him Sasuke, Sakura, Shino, and about 20 more people stood around him. "It's not like we have power tools." he said.

Sasuke smirked, "No but we have our beast forms and they have special abilities we can use. Alright, you 5." he pointed to 5 people who stood forward, "Go get some stones, you 5 wood and…"

Naruto was lifting a wood pole up lining it on another pole as Shino coated the top and bottom with a stick substance that he spat out from his large beetle like form. While his insects trimmed the wood by eating the bark and giving it to another beast who would use it's long claws to smooth out the bare wood. It was quite a operation building houses for themselves. It took a few days but with everybody cooperating and sharing food from both the river and forest everybody was content. They talked about this new world and how they missed shops and chips, burgers, ramen and video games.

More people came and they were starting to create their own mini-society… it was great… it was like the old days.

But the vision shifted, Naruto stared at a hulking monstrosity he was in his beast form and he was in pain. Blood dotting his body from wounds that had healed but the pain reached deeper. It reached to his heart the pain of watching this thing eating and ripping apart the people only to take parts of their body and stick it on it's own.

A hand grabbed his arm, "We gotta go!" Sasuke's voice shouted. But Naruto shook it off.

He stepped forward, "We gotta kill this thing! We promised to protect these people!" he was about to run when he felt an electric shock run through his body. He stiffened then fell forward he wasn't unconscious but he couldn't move.

Sasuke grabbed him, "Forget them we gotta go, that thing will kill us all!" he snapped, he hefted Naruto onto his broad scaley shoulders and ran off with Naruto, Sakura right behind him lumbering on in her beast form.

Naruto stared at Sasuke as the rain fell on them. "What the fuck Sasuke!? We said we were all in this together! You just fucking sacrificed all those people just to save your neck!" he shouted pointing an accusatory finger.

Sasuke's monster form was shadowed by the rain and darkness, "They're expendable you're not." he said coolly.

Naruto growled, "Nobody is expendable you fucking bastard!" he charged Sasuke and punched him in the jaw. The battle came in flashes, a kick to the gut, a blow to his skull, a barrage of fists, and a clawed hand stabbing into his heart then electricity, a final great swing and he felt the claws sinking neck muscles extending to decapitate Sasuke, he fell bleeding out…

He was dead… and yet… he heard voices that were muffled… and he felt like he was… floating in something wet. "Surprising… Scenario… another… reset…. Experiment…. Different… others." he felt something piercing his spine the pain too much to bear he was gonna die again!

-Naruto-

"YAAAAAAAAAAH!" Naruto shouted as he sat up a fist thrown sweat sliding down his body. He panted as Hinata sat up a relaxing hand on his arm. He blinked then he gripped his head as a headache throbbed. "I… I had… a weird dream." he said.

Hinata looked at him worriedly, "You mean the one with the floating and the people talking?" she asked remembering.

He nodded, "Not just that I… I was with… Sasuke, and others, we were… building a village then this thing… attacked and we ran I fought Sasuke cause… cause he ran and we killed each other. Then the wet and the voices again and something was in my spine… hurt so much I was dying again." he said "It… doesn't make any sense… I haven't seen Sasuke or Sakura or Shino." Hinata was silent.

She then spoke, "I… I saw Sakura… but Sasuke wasn't with her." she said, "She… tried to kill me… but I think I transformed and when I was awake she was gone." Naruto was silent. He then stood up transforming to cover his nudity. When he finished he noticed that he was slightly taller than last time and his muscles felt bigger but also more compact. He looked at his claws and noticed they were longer and thicker. In fact he could feel new power swelling up inside of him.

He looked at her, "C'mon we're gonna get your tail back." he said. Hinata looked at him worried, then she stood up, she concentrated on transforming. He paused, "Remember the danger and feel the need to protect yourself and those you love. If you do that you won't become a monster." Hinata nodded and began to create the desire to protect herself… and the one she loved. She felt the transformation start, the bones cracking and growing thickening. The feel of her muscles swelling as well as her body. The tail growing in, only to stop merely a fleshy stub. She felt the wing's emerging from her back the flesh changing turning into scales while creating the flaps needed for flying however they currently couldn't carry her bulk and were more like an extra pair of hands. She growled as she felt the skin turning into scales and the slight spikes along her spine. Her hands grew and her fingernails turned into claws that she clenched into fists.

Within seconds she was in her full monster form, Hinata had to admit changing felt… good. She could feel the strength in her body fully now whereas before it felt alien to her and unfamiliar. Also unlike before moving her fingers in this body didn't cause a slash but it did cause her arm to move around quite a bit. "Maybe because I never transformed of my own accord my motions weren't technically mine." she said. Naruto thought about that, while that might've been true the only time he really transformed without wanting to was against Mizuki and the three that ambushed him. But for some reason he had gotten the motions of his body pretty quickly… almost… as if he had done it before.

His head ached as a strange vision came to mind, he was standing in front of Sakura while a bear-like beast reared on it's hind legs and slashed at him. His chest was cut open but instead of falling dead he began to change. Naruto grabbed his throbbing head. Strange scenes flashing in his eyes.

Hinata rubbed her head as she began to feel the soreness from Naruto's attacks from before. Her head, her stomach, there were very few parts that were spared. She then saw him grabbing his head his teeth gritted with pain, "What's wrong?" She asked.

He growled as the memories finally faded at her voice, "I… remember things… I… don't know why… but I feel like… this is… not the first time I've... " he trailed off then shook his head, "Never mind I can't live twice." he said, "Let's get your tail." he said he turned away but the thought was nagging at his mind, 'What if I was alive once died then brought back to life? Or what if… I'm dead and this is all an illusion?' the last one was dumb he knew he could feel things and he could sleep but nothing made sense. If he had died why would someone bring him back to life? 'Maybe something not human did it.' the sudden thought that he was in some world simulated by an alien species came to mind.

Hinata saw Naruto walking past her tail which was still there bleeding and emitting an unpleasant odor. "Naruto!" she called out and he stopped then turned his eyes were unfocused. "Are you okay?" She asked.

He nodded "Yeah sorry anyway let's reattach your tail," he said, he grabbed it and walked up to her, "In that vision I saw this thing was taking parts of… people and attaching to itself so I thought maybe it might work with your tail." he lowered himself, Hinata presenting her tail nub. He used his claws to carve out her tail so it would fit with the nub. He then stuck it in and held it there, several minutes passed with Hinata staring at the night sky. The stars shone brightly in the sky, Naruto then saw it, "There we go." Hinata stiffened as she felt her skins shift then strands of tendons were connecting with her tail and rebuilding the nerves that had been damaged devouring the old ones to use as material for the new nerves. Hinata felt the sensation of her tail but didn't move letting her regeneration heal it up first.

After another few minutes she looked behind to see her tail sliding side to side on the ground. She looked at it but then wondered how to move it, "Think about moving it, that's how I move mine." Naruto's tails whipped about as if to clarify his theory. Hinata concentrated on lifting her tail up. She felt the muscles contracting near her butt and she turned and saw the tail was lifted. She raised, lowered, whipped, spun and even shot a spine out. The moment it left Naruto jumped to the side and she felt the spine regrowing. As it did though her spines began to flatten down onto her tail and her claws also seemed to sink into her hands till they were just small points. Naruto looked at her, "Seems you almost got controlling this body down." he noted.

She smiled, "I have a good teacher." She said he blushed at that then he walked up to her.

He grabbed her hands, "So then where do we go?" He asked.

She shrugged, "Anywhere as long as it's with you." She said and she leaned in to kiss him, responded with a kiss of his own.

He then thought, "Let's see if we can find someplace to get some clothes, not against looking like this but I think we want to walk around like our normal selves." he said.

She nodded, "Yes I think that'd be nice." The two walked off into the night their eyes seeing through the darkness. But they weren't the only ones who saw in the dark. Perched on one of the trees in the forest watching them with shining golden eyes was the bird beast from before. A growl was emitting from it's throat as it's eyes saw them with such focus and clarity it was as if it stood at their side. It raised a taloned hand which held a squirming squeaky rodent and crushed it with ease. It then flew into the sky to wait for the chance to strike...


I apologize deeply for the long silence but I'm working on several stories at once and I'm a slow writer. I will say I am working on entries for Rebirth, Man and Monster and a few other stories. So please I ask for patience and understanding. THank I hope you enjoyed.