destined for it

by modern-wonder

on one fateful day, three lonely souls, found solace and friendship with each other. Now perceived as unwanted by their village or families, they will have to make decisions that will effect the world and themselves in ways nobody knew existed. watch as they become the best of the best to realize their dreams and what it means to truly be great.

14. Chapter 14

Chapter fourteen

The great Escape!

"It all begins and ends in your mind. What you give power to. Has power over you. But only if you allow it to

~anonymous

Naru watched the sun rise over the far walls of her prison. How simply the sky seemed in the early, shifting colors of the coming dawn. Blue eyes sighed in wonder. How could the sky, ever present and simple, watch the destruction of an eternity as the small people below waged war after war. She hummed lightly. How I wish I was the sky. How I wish for freedom.

A small shift on the ground beside her alerted the blonde to the new presence.

"What causes such an unyouthful look on your face Naru?" black eyes met blue as Naru faced Lee. Though still technically a new friend, she loved him just as much as Hinata. Some might have thought it strange that she and he had bonded so fast, she wanted to laugh. Anbu training with Crane-sensei and Anko, had pushed her into a more caring and trusting role, these were the people who would have her back in good and deadly situations. So she gave a little off her mask and let them in.

White teeth flashed in a manic grin. Make no mistake and thou shall not be mislead, Uzumaki Naru could still cope a good ol' fashioned bitchy attitude that would make a sailor blush.

She smiled lightly, "its nothing Lee. Just thinking about how everyone is back home ya know." a shrug emphasized her confusion. Lee nodded. "I wonder at that as well. Still its not conductive to getting us out of this mess is it."

Naru smiled. "yeah yeah… things were so much simpler back then. I liked knowing what was beyond the cliff before I jumped. Here things are… difficult. I want to understand, Lee. But how can I when everything around me is falling apart and I cant stop it. I mean, the academy is probably just learning how to throw dummy kunai at non-moving targets. They are sitting behind a desk writing out answers to tests that they have studied for. They get to go… home at the end of the day." tears leaked out of the corner of her eyes as she violently reached up to scrub them. She hated to cry.

Lee reached around her and pulled the still distraught girl into a hug. Sure he was loud and brash. Had a hard time being still, learning anything on paper, and couldn't do chakra techniques at all. But he was still her friend and he was willing to be damned to kingdom come if it meant she and Hinata would live a full and happy life.

"don't be afraid to cry, Naru. Tears can mean many things. Sometimes we build up so much tension - anger, fear, sadness, even happiness and we keep it locked up within the safety of ourselves, so we can avoid anymore pain." Lee smiled down at the sniffling girl, before continuing. "the problem is that we get so good at blocking the pain and tension, that we stop looking for the warning signs that its getting to much to handle. Then we crack, and before to long those tiny cracks become fissures and those fissures become canyons. By this point we simply cannot fill those canyons up with more emotions before they burst out with so much force, that the only thing we can do is try to understand what's happening. And that's the part that's so hard to do."

A small laugh echoed around the two friends before Naru said, "when did you get so smart."

Lee grinned, "my youthful friend, I've always been this smart, Hey, quit laughing Naru."

Snorting laughter boomed in the area around the forge as the cheerful blonde doubled over between gasps for air. To her left sat a boy with jet black hair and huge eyebrows. To her right sat a now awake, girl with big pupil-less eyes in an enchanting shade of lavender. Two fully grown women scowled in amused annoyance.

Soon Hana finally smacked the still laughing blonde upside her head. It was time to get to work before one of the Shadows ass kickers came a calling.

High above the walls of the fortress, the sun kissed those below with reverence. It had seen many things. Horrible and awe-inspiring in almost equal measure, and would continue to watch over the tiny people below it with a sense of quiet pride. Its place in the sky tinged with a light glow of early morning was a seat to view the world below.

And it would stay that way long after the group of friends below had passed into the eternity awaiting them all.

0-0-0-0-0-0

In a bed filled with silks and satins, two figures slept side by side.

The large futon was covered in extremely expensive purple and black covers and sheets. The poster under the mattress was made of imported teak wood. The pillows were embroidered and numerous. Like dark spots flashing across a murky lake, never knowing if it was a monster swimming near the surface only to dive back into that inky depths.

Around the room, mesh curtains billowed silently. Their dance both hypnotic and erotic, as small oil burners heated up the sickly sweet smelling liquids. The tiny pinpricks of light doing nothing to penetrate the gloom of the place.

A small desk held files neatly stacked and ready for the day as well as wax seals and pens. To anyone, this small rectangle of wood with slips of paper covered paper, was a gold mine of information. The amount of info that could be traded to, with any place of wealth was enough to buy a small island and be completely happy for the rest of their life.

To anyone with common sense, it was a seductive trap. Before running in the snoop through those papers, one would have to think, wow that was ridiculously easy, only to fall to the spiders web. Oh those files were the real deal. Completely genuine. But the rest of the room wasn't so simple as one would think at first glance. Seals littered the abode with such quantity, it would take a miracle and a thousand lifetimes to decipher them all.

Under the rich blankets a small hand slithered out to grab a hold of an equally pale shoulder. Manicured nails like claws tipped the slender pianist fingers. Not a single callous marked those pale digits. Smooth skin stretched at the mouth as lips pulled into a small smile.

Seduction at its most merciful.

Jinja chuckled lightly. Her lover was a smart and sadistic man, he made her proud. Though older then him by quite a few years, she still had yet to meet any man more twisted then he.

She had been walking along the paths near the noble houses, the best herbs grew near there. Her keen eyes had idly moved across the expanse of space, a habit she had developed when she was small. After all she was a product of her childhood spent around some of the worst brothels in and around Iwa. She chuckled, how it had seemed like another lifetime ago, rather then only fifteen years since she had left.

It was when she had reached a clump of mint that a small whimper of pain had called to her. Sniffing in disapproval - curiosity, such an annoying habit, she had walked over to a little smudge on a smooth patch of ground.

A boy. So small, weak and confused, oh but his eyes. Black as night and burning with hatred. She still shivered when she looked into them, even to this day, they burned with emotions so dark and twisted even angels on high would fall gracelessly from a single glace of those inky orbs. How she loved them. His eyes.

She had practically raised him, cultivated his lust for revenge against the world like a woman tends her garden. Lessons learned from swords and knifes, poisons and seals. Everything she knew and was had been thrown at the boy until he was the epitome of darkness - a true Shadow.

It wasn't until he was older that he made her his lover. She minded not. She could only smile in adoration of a sick kind, he still needed her, and where ever he was she would stay.

She had too.

0-0-0-0-0

"so what's the plan?" Naru asked. She was a bit skeptical about how this whole plan was going to go.

Hinata looked over at the surprisingly serious blonde. After all she knew her friend well. Naru was very rarely serious about anything. Though maybe this wasn't the best place to categorize her, after all the circumstances were vastly different from playing pranks in the village.

"pranks… that's it! Naru, Naru. You still any good at pranking." Hinata exclaimed excitedly. She berated herself silently, with everything going on, it had completely slipped her mind. Naru had been the villages best prankster for years. Nothing was to difficult for the sly blonde. And trust her, she had seen some of her work.

Said blonde scoffed. Sure she had been out of commission, but that didn't mean shit to her. She narrowed blue eyes at the excited ex-Hyuuga. She couldn't mean what Naru thought she meant. The glowing face was completely serious. who would have thought Hinata would ever want me to pull pranks with her actually knowing. I wonder why?

"Yeah, I still can cop out of few wonders. Why?"

Hana and Yoh gave puzzled looks at the three friends. Pranking. Why were they fixated on something so childish. The two adult watched as Hinata and Naru hashed lines. The only one who seemed to sort of understand was Lee, who, while he hadn't seen Naru's work, knew of her reputation.

Lee blinked slowly, "Hinata, can you please explain. Some people are left in the dark here and the sooner we figure this out the sooner we have a chance of escape." he watched as the girl nodded back to him.

Clearing her throat, Hinata began outlining her plan. "its so simple but I think it could work. Naru was the best prankster in our village. She has the know how to rig up a distraction that could move the eyes of the Shadow and his subordinates. While that happens, we can plan the escape. it's a simple plan like I said, but it has some merit." she watched as the others nodded.

Hana thought over the plan before sighing. "that's a great start, even one of the best we've have at the moment. Its just that, well, there are a lot of holes and unknown factors we have to think of. Anything can happen, we have to be prepared."

The sense of depression was tangible as everyone contemplated what to do. They would only have one chance at this. Failure was not an option. If this didn't work, they would be carted off to the "Minotaur" for a little R&R, Shadow style. That was the best case scenario if they failed. The worst would be torture and then a long, painfully drawn out death in order to gain village and in Hinata's case, clan secrets.

Suddenly, Lee shot up from his spot on the ground, "I've got it. Youth has surely shined down on me!" waving away the 'you're nut's' look, he continued. "we keep the distraction. Naru can whip something up, While we release the other prisoners. This gives us room to work with as the guards and other underlings are busy trying to round up everyone, we sneak out to the torture chamber."

"Why the hell would we want to head further into the compound! That place houses the head torturer and his little spawns of the underworld. We would be completely surrounded. The only good thing for heading to that place if when they do finally recapture us, we'll already be down there for torturing!" Yoh yelled at the raven haired boy. Kami she knew he was somewhat dense, but to actually think this plan could work went past that.

Lee scrambled to soothe the rather violent woman as Hinata and Hana held her back from physically beating the youth right out of the green loving shinobi.

Naru grinned, "I like it."

The resounding silence couldn't have been broken even if a bull hyped on espresso ran through there.

"What"!

The blonde laughed out at the extreme disbelief. "listen. When I was taken to the chamber, I noticed a draining system built into the floor, ya know…for the blood and other fluids. It has to go somewhere right. And I'm betting there has to be some form of large piping under this compound that stops outside to freedom. All we have to do is hold off the torturers until we can break open the floor and get the hell out of dodge."

The others listened with rapt attention. This plan had merit, but it was still missing something.

Hana looked at Naru before asking, "when would we do this then."

The three friends shared a long look before turning back to the two women. Naru sighed, "right in the middle of the first fight would be the best time. Everyone in the crowd is still tired as are the other fighters and guards. They will be disorientated far longer than normal, giving us a longer time to make our escape." Lee and Hinata nodded along with the explanation.

Though dubious, the two women finally agreed. This was the best chance they would have for awhile, might as well take it.

Yoh, nodding at the group said, "the torturers also have this bad habit of keeping gear confiscated of their victims. that's probably where all of our weapons and extra gear is kept."

Naru got up and wiped off her pants. She needed to get to the forge to make some pranking supplies. Picking up a hammer and a thin piece of rolled metal, she got to work. lets see…I have some scrap metal, a few armor rings, some hinges and screws and nails. Lets see, I can make a simple door jam that will keep the gate open. Hmm, maybe I can make something that can hold that hot melted metal…that has merit.

While Naru was busy working on some prank supplies, Hinata and Lee got up to get fitted for some armor. Hana was nice about the whole thing and even worked on fitting Yakennonokarasu, for some armor in a dusty looking grey. Seeing the two children startled and confused by the animal armor made her laugh.

"sometimes the Shadow has animals participate in the fighting. He like having them donned with extra protection because it makes the fight more interesting." she said.

The two shinobi nodded. That Shadow was a completely sick puppy.

A few hours passed as everyone worked to get ready for the great escape.

Lee worked on some of his routine, pushups, sit-ups, kicks and punches as well as feints and form. He winced as he stretched out muscles that had started to relax from his inability to train regularly. He was thankful when Yoh stopped over to help him with his form and was pleasantly surprised when she offered to do some light sparring to help warm him up. To which he readily agreed to.

Hana and Naru bickered in the background as they worked on some weapons for the upcoming fight. The prank equipment was finished and was cooling in the sand next to the anvil. Hana stood by and coached the Uzumaki on how to make brittle weapons stronger and how to tell when the armor that the fighters used was no good and had to be replaced. Every once in a while Naru would call out to the two fighting and either compliment or suggest something. Hana just barked at Naru to get back to work and that Yoh would be running drills before they left.

Hinata watched with Yakennonokarasu. There wasn't much for her to do until she fought and with being the med nin, she needed to conserve most of her chakra for healing the others. She really wished she had asked for some offensive medical ninja techniques. As it was all she knew was the standard Hyuuga fighting style, while fluid and well practiced - lacked form, shape and strength. She was a sitting duck. Sure she want a clan heiress anymore, but still she didn't want to use just her former families style. She knew she wasn't a great fit for that particular fighting technique, it lacked something distinctly 'her'. maybe when she got back to the village, she would find a way to fix her problem. She wanted to be strong enough to help her friends on the frontlines, not stuck in the background waiting for someone to get hurt.

So involved with her thoughts she jumped when her summons partner nudged her arm. His pink eyes so bright against his inky fur. She ruffled the spot behind his round ears and smiled at his small squeak. "Yakennonokarasu. Man that's such a handful to say, huh. Maybe we can shorten it so its not so long. After all we need to be quick if we are going to be fighting alongside each other…hmm, how about just Yakennono? It has a cool ring to it wouldn't you say." another squeak sounded. Hinata smiled. She felt sad that his family hadn't lived long enough to see him become partnered.

0-0-0-0-0

Another hour passed and both Naru and Lee were resting against each other completely exhausted. They had done anbu training and still they felt that Yoh had to have been a slave driver in another life. Not even Crane-sensei had pushed them so hard and he was sadistic in his training regiments.

They gave a collective wince as Hinata was bowled over. Nope Crane-sensei had nothing on Yoh. Even her light sparring hurt. She only seemed to pull her punches and kicks just enough to avoid ruining the mission. Hinata suddenly plopped down on Lee's other side. Small bruises littered her arms and torso. Thankfully the cloak she wore covered them pretty well or Yakennono would be all over the older woman. As it was he just curled up into his partner as she fell into a light doze.

Naru turned her head to look out at the suns position. The had about forty or so minutes till the first fight would start. Plenty of time to take a nap and eat before they ditched this hell hole.

"How long till we leave?" Lee asked

Naru stretched into a more comfortable position before answering. "maybe forty minutes if we're lucky. They pass out the porridge ten minutes before the fight. We should be ready and rested by then. Ill need that time to start my traps and cause the distraction." she kept her voice low.

Nodding his head at the unspoken, Lee closed his eyes, determined to get some sleep. Beside him Naru did the same. It was such a short time and nerves were high. Still she knew that going into a fight exhausted was the same as running a sword through the heart yourself. It was suicide.

Still sleep didn't come easy for her.

0-0-0-0-0-0

A loud banging startled the trio awake as one of the lumbering guards smashed a mallet against the bars of the gate. His ugly mug had sweat and what looked like drool on it. Definitely strong and quick for their size, they didn't seem to have much mental function going on. Maybe whatever had been done to them to increase their size and shape had shrunken the brain or something.

Rubbing their eyes they grabbed up a rough bowl made out of clay and moved towards the large cauldron of still bubbling goop.

Formless, scentless, and thankfully tasteless. The porridge was a rice based recipe with water and a hunk of butter mixed in. each time Naru ate it she swore it winked back at her. Still it was food and though it lacked anything in actual sustenance, it did take away the gnawing pain of hunger. If only just.

Swallowing down the watery goop, Naru hurriedly moved over to the supplies and grabbed a small metal cylinder with a leather scrap covering the top. Along with it she grabbed some steel twine she had made and what looked like a a plain door stop made out of some dark colored metal.

Watching in awe, both Hinata and Lee followed their smaller teammate.

Moving along the shadows Hana and Yoh followed the trio of friends. It was almost time.

Under Hinata's cloak, Yakennono shivered. The anticipation was thick in the air and though they didn't know why, even the other prisoners were effected.

Standing by the large gate, Naru crouched down so that she was looking a small spot about a quarter of the way off the ground. Inside the groove where the gate slid down, there was a small little shelve that locked the gate into place. It was perfect for what she had in mind. Gently covering the back of the stopper in her hands with chakra she applied the same principle as the tree or water walking exercise. The stop hung on the shelve with the force of glue and would hold the gate for at least ten minutes. Allowing a wide scale escape happen.

Once she was sure the stopper was secure, she uncovered the other container.

Made from high heat resistant steel, she had carefully gathered some of the molten metal and placed it into the container. With it she could melt the wood away from the locks on the doors to the torturers chamber. It was delicate and as such, she was holding it with extreme caution.

Thumping footsteps sounded behind them as the guard shoved a person out into the arena. Soon it would be time they just had to wait until the fight started, but waiting was so difficult.

"Naru, how long?"

Looking back at Hana, she held up ten fingers. Ten minutes to let the fight get truly under way.

A creaking alerted the blonde as the gate started its slow descant towards the ground. Seven minutes.

A quarter down. Four minutes.

Halfway down. Two minutes left. Almost there.

Come on, come on. Just a little further. Kami let me have this bit of luck, you owe me this. Naru mentally cheered on the gate.

A sudden horrid screeching whine echoed into the din of the arena. This caused Naru to shoot forward shouting at the top of her lungs, "NOW!"

The arena went to hell in a hand basket. Prisoners from everywhere seemed to shoot out into the blinding sunlight of the sandy place. Several latched onto the lumbering form of the stunned guard, while other raced over to other cages and pried them open. The two other fighter seemingly abandoned their fight to join in on the chaos currently erupting around them.

Up in the stands the rich and sick minded alike scrambled towards safety as prisoners climbed up around them.

Nearing the wall of the other side of the stadium, Hana and Yoh watched as the fighting became more bloody, beside them Naru, Hinata, and Lee watched with wide eyes and bated breath as the ground became stained crimson. How they made it to the other side with only some bruises and scratches, they would never know.

Yelling above the cacophony of sound Lee got the groups attention. "THROUGH THAT GATE. THEN ITS TWO RIGHTS AND A LEFT. DOWN A LONG HALLWAY, AND THEN ANOTHER RIGHT." seeing everyone nod the watched as Naru poured some of the liquid metal over the wood. Once it was safe, she kicked it open and motioned everyone inside.

Looking back once more she shook her head, before following the others.

0-0-0-0-0

Up in his shaded niche, The Shadow watched in thinly veiled rage as his once beautiful arena erupted into chaos.

His gloved hands shook in anger as his servants and concubines shivered in visceral fear. He could practically taste it. Beside him Jinja watched him with mixed emotions of fear and excitement.

His voice was calm, "Shi, Jinja…" both straightened up when he called their names. "go down there…stop them and bring me the ones who started this little riot. Remember…I want the perpetrators here and alive. Do you understand." phrased like a question both simply left to do as they were bid.

Black, soulless eyes watched the on goings down below with mixed feelings. He knew Jinja and Shi would do as he asked. They all did as he asked.

A maniacal laugh bubbled past his thin lips as he smiled. He would punish those who deserted and he would kill the ones who started this mess. He smiled, yes that sounded like a plan.

Never once in his crazed fantasies did he realize killing his meal tickets, namely the nobles in the crowd, would cause more problems then it should. Nor did he think that, maybe he would lose the trio of new genin and would simply not be able to kill them.

Still he laughed.

0-0-0-0-0

The hallways were cool compared to the heat from outside. Flickering flames from the sconces lit the way but only enough to see about three feet ahead. Still, everyone was breathing just a bit easier at actually making into the actual compound. Ahead of the group, Lee ran point, he knew the way best as Naru had been disoriented and weak from her torture to recognize where they were. Hinata had not been brought down this set of halls before so she was also lost.

Still the fact that they had been running for a solid fifteen minutes and had yet to run into a guard was both surprising and worrying.

Lee yelled back to the others about why that was.

"its because the shadow and his posse believe the head torturer and his underlings are enough of a deterrent from a fight. Not only that but the guards and the torturer don't see eye to eye. Last fight that happened between them ended with a assistant have his neck ripped out." Hana yelled forward.

Naru and Hinata shivered. What a way to go.

Yoh, called up, "how much further. Some of us haven't had to do this type of running in forever ya know. We cant go in there all fired up and tired from the run. We'll be sitting ducks."

Lee nodded back, "almost there last turn up on this corner and then the chamber in the room at the very end of the hall. Get ready."

Shifting into a loose triangle formation that had been taught to them Lee continued running point with Naru flanking his right and Hinata directly on his left, leaving Yoh and Hana to steadily bring up the rear behind the genin.

Turning, they all saw a large wooden door at the end of the semi long hallway. And extra burst of speed brought them all up to it and watched as Naru took out the cylinder once more. Using up a good amount, Naru waited a minute before it was safe to bust down. Which Lee did the honors of.

Naru winced as the small of old blood and other bodily fluids hit her. She sneered at the rush of bad memories assaulted her. Looking around she through a confused glance at the room. It was empty. No victims, torturers, big, hulking ugly looking Minotaur, nothing.

Something slightly shiny got Hinata's attention as she Looked around, it was a rack of hitai-ate from Iwa all the way to rain to Konoha. It was here that Hinata quickly found theirs and passed them out to a eager Naru and Lee. Even Yoh found hers, which was tattered and scratched to high hell.

Lee found his nunchaku and Hinata was reunited with her scrolls. It was during this time as the roamed around with their gear being collected that the sounds of gleeful shrieking burst from the hall getting closer and closer.

Hinata ran over to the door and gasped. Men covered with stained leather aprons ran towards the chamber, screeching even louder when they saw her standing in the doorway. If this wasn't about to be a large scale fight Hinata would have laughed at them. They almost looked like rumpled butchers screaming at nosy children.

Still, calling over Yoh and Hana, she had them help her with barricading the door. Naru was the one who brought over the big desk that had been stacked in the corner of the room, or at least out of the way.

Looking over at the other she asked where the drain was located.

Naru pointed down, "here, its definably hollow on the inside and it sounds pretty wide from what ever liquids are flowing through it. Maybe it leads to some type of underground cave system or something."

Lee moved past her with a huge mallet in his hands, "only one way to find out." with that he struck down an watched as cracks spear out from the impact point. Still the ground didn't break open.

"Lee, keep at it, we have trouble. Girls are you ready." Hana yelled out.

A huge banging replaced the annoying little banging from the torturers assistants. One huge meaty hand cracked through the thick wooden door like it was rice paper. Loud throaty grunts punctuated every hit as what ever was on the other side tore down the door bit by bit.

Naru shivered. She knew what was tearing down the door. It didn't help that she had to have a repeat meeting with him. When she had named him the Minotaur, it was jestful, now she failed to find the hilarity she had had before. He was insanely strong, and his greasy looks could make even the most hardened konoichi sick and skittish. Also his manners were appalling.

Looking back Naru yelled at Lee, "hey Lee hurry it up."

She got a dirty look for her efforts, but at least he got the message, as the mallet sounds got harder and faster.

Hinata watched out of the corner of her eyes as Naru yelled at Lee. Though uncalled for, she understood. They were already running on limited time. Now this development was going to cost them. She watched as the other got into stances and readied their weapons. She slid into the traditional Hyuuga fighting stance and prayed to whatever Kami that they made it out alive.

It was the splintering of the door that drew all eyes to the front. Several little assistants rushed threw the small opening, waving instruments of torture at them. Hinata dodged a butcher with a club, as he struck up at her. Her hands glowed a faint blue as she hit him in the right shoulder, closing off his chakra point. He snapped his teeth at her in anger as he tried to move his now non-working arm.

She back handed him as he screeched in frustration. Causing him to fall into a small group of his comrades. He was trampled to death.

Moving in a tight circle she activated her Byakugan and started to deal out hits at random. There was just so many. When one fell two more took its place. It seemed never ending to the lavender eyed genin. She hissed as one of those butchers sliced into her lower arm, a knife securely held in its bloody hands as it made a vulgar series of sounds at her.

Slapping up at a sharp angle she knocked the knife out of the gloating mans hand and relished in his scream of anger. It took a lot to make her upset, but this was just a little bit to much for her.

Lee watched as his friends kept the little men away from his work. He was almost there with the hole, but for some odd reason, the rest wouldn't break off. The hole could get any bigger and he realized why. The part near the drain was a relatively thin piece of concrete which made it far easier to break apart. Yet the further you got from the drain, the concrete was layered to make it more durable to the wear and tear of working on it.

He needed something heavier or stronger to hit it and break it apart. But what?

It was the thud of the door completely falling apart that showed him the answer.

He cupped his hands, "Naru, I need you're help!" he watched as the armor clad genin raced over to his side. Spared from a questioning look he launched into his plan. "we need something stronger to break the rest of the hole open. That torturer, the one you call a Minotaur, he's a giant. Maybe with his strength we have a shot."

Naru paled at the implications. Sure she was good at being able to get anybody riled up…but this was the man who had tortured her. She didn't even want him to notice she was here. Still, Lee rarely asked for anything. And this was essential to getting the hell out of here. She sighed. She better get to kick the ass of the Kami who made her life so fucked up.

"Fine, Lee. I bring him over here…be ready."

She didn't wait for a nod, choosing instead to race closer to where the hulking mass of fleshy muscle was.

"Hey you. Ass-face." the cracked teeth of the nasty giant gave off a rotten smell as he looked towards the small female, he smiled.

"what do we has' here?" he grinned.

"Well I guess big body does little good for a small dick like yours huh? Man how do you wake up every morning knowing that women laugh at your tiny manhood. If it were up to me id just chop the tiny thing off and go back to bed, but hey, what can ya do ya know."

The bellow of rage was heard all the way to the arena.

Naru dodged the enraged man. Wow who would have guessed he was so sensitive about his tiny dick. Such a shame. she faked a sad nod, "you know, steroids are all well and good ya know. But they do have the tendency to shrivel up the goods…guess no one told you. She dodged a bitch slap.

"hey maybe you file for disability insurance from your boss. I'm sure the Shadow would be sympathetic that his hulking meat bag torturer and rapist is suffering from tiny willy disorder." she grinned as she heard the huffing laughter from some of the assistants. She watched carefully as the Minotaur's face turned purple in rage.

"I like this look for you…purple really is your color."

In his fit of rage he only saw red. This seven year old girl was mocking him. Making him look weak in front of his subordinates, calling his manhood into question. She would die, he was going to break every bone in her body and relish in her screams. Then he was going to find the dullest potato peeler and rip of her skin in the slowest possible way, inch by inch. He would make her suffering so long she would beg him to end for her. Then before she died he would show her how much of a man he really was. The last thing she would see would be his satisfied face as he took her innocence.

So caught up in his plans for vengeance, he failed to see where she had been leading him and now it was too late.

His feet made the concrete floor bend and groan. It only needed one good, solid hit to make it crumble. Naru was getting desperate, he wasn't angry enough. Then it hit her, this had to work, it was the blonde genin's last hope.

She took an inhale of air, regretted it because she could practically taste his scent, and went for the final blow. "I mean when I told you to fuck off, I didn't mean to bring up your lack of fucking. All those poor women you raped. I didn't know you could disappoint a women through something meant to break them. But then you've always been a disappointment. Haven't you, bitch!"

The amount of killing intent that washed over the assembly was so massive, it literally caused several of the assistants to have heart attacks right there. It was like nothing Naru had witnessed before. And too see his face go from bright purple to dark purple to almost a black color was hands down the most interesting thing at that moment. Hell not even if the Kyuubi broke free and started to dance in a kimono would have torn her eyes away from the scene before her.

Judging from the lack of sounds behind her, she had a feeling it was a completely mutual thing.

Rage so intense flooded his system as the first smatterings of chuckles reached him in the haze. Soon it was intense laughter as the butchers dropped their weapons. Hana and Yoh, were laughing so hard and holding on to each other, while Lee was looking at her in shock and Hinata looked ready to pass out, a mortified expression on her gentle features.

She was so getting an earful later.

Grabbing the mallet which Lee had abandoned, The Minotaur slammed it down where she had been but a second before. Right on the cracks where Lee was working.

It was beautiful how the whole floor thundered and moved as it broke apart.

With a garbled yell the head torturer vanished under the floor.

Watching as the butchers yelled in shock, Hinata quickly came back to her senses. "everyone we need to leave now!" the shock coursed threw them as they gathered up their things and one by one jumped into the dark hole.

0-0-0-0-0

Lee gasped as the freezing water carried him along the tunnel. It was fast, it was cold, and the water had a funny smell, but he could care less. He and his friends were almost free.

He tried to look around but stopped after a minute as it became too dark. He could only guess the others were behind him as small gasps and some coughing echoed faintly around the darkness. He felt elated, was this how some ninja felt as the returned or escaped from being captured. This rush of euphoria so great it could only be the power of youth. He wondered what was going to happen when the saw the outside though. They didn't even know where they were or at least he and the girls didn't know where they were…maybe Hana or Yoh had any ideas.

Nobody knew how long they had been traveling. Occasionally their feet and hips would brush along something in the water, what ever they were nobody knew and nobody ventured a guess. Sadly as it was so dark it was impossible to tell how long they had been carried by the flow of the icy water. It couldn't have been colder if you danced naked in a snowstorm.

Hinata spat out the thick tasting water. She could tell it was highly mineralized, which meant it could be deep underground spring water, heavily concentrated. It tasted rotten, and from her experiences in this place, she was quite tired of rotten things.

Her eyesight sharpened as her Byakugan flared to life. One, two, three…four, there he is. She sighed, glad they had all made it. Now just to know where 'it' was.

Shifting uncomfortably in the frigid water, the group stayed silent. It was still to soon to know if they were in the clear. If not…well, now was not the time for such depressing thoughts.

Feeling cooped up, Naru looked around and then grumbled in agitation. She had very decent eyesight, courtesy of the Kyuubi she carried, and yet the darkness was too obscuring for her eyes to pick up anything. No, the Uzumaki female felt skittish and trapped. She really needed some light before she threw caution to the wind and gave into a panic attack.

She hated the darkness. When she couldn't see, the fears and insecurities plagued her. She had true friends, Hinata and Lee, and she also had others. The special people that had waltzed into her life and made a home in her heart. Naru knew she wasn't the nicest girl, but she had her honor and loyalty - even if it was slightly warped by her personality.

She could remember growing up in two selective frames of mind - on one hand, she was a scared little girl of only four. She was scared of just about anything that could hurt her. She didn't know why she was hated, only that she was and it was universally excepted. On the other, she was a new genin of Konoha, a konoichi of the leaf. She carried herself with pride, honor, and humor. She loved pranks, ramen, and her special people. She even loved the leaf.

She loved frogs and nature, her new family and team. But even though she now knew why she was hated, she still found that she couldn't forgive it. Oh, don't get her wrong, she "understood", but her entire being hurt to know the villagers she protected, only saw the fox.

They say time heals all wounds. But they never tell you just how long you got to wait.

It was quiet as time passed once more. Everyone eager and scared in equal measure, and all was quiet.

0-0-0-0-0-0

Several miles outside of the fortress, a man was walking.

He was huge and scarred. A dark colored bandana covered his head as his massive body was wrapped in a bland gray uniform. A black trench coat warded off the chill of the evening.

He was an experienced man, had killed more people in his career then he was comfortable with and then tortured the rest. He knew his height and muscles spooked most people away, which is what he was going for. Those that stayed however found out why her preferred solitude.

Head of T&I. he was feared among the elemental countries, mostly because he was damn great at what he did. His eyes would light up with sarcasm and twisted glee whenever someone new was brought to see him. He loved mind games. Played them all the time as he worked alongside his leader and colleagues.

He was known as ruthless, apathetic, sadistic and yet, he never cared. He was Ibiki and he was on a mission.

Those three brats had gone and gotten themselves into trouble and now he was going to retrieve them. Many didn't know that the current Uzumaki powerhouse was the beacon of light he needed to complete his objective. The child had so much chakra, she was like the sun on a clear day, warm and very powerful and ever since she was young the jonin and chunin of the village had used that power to find and keep her safe. Now he was using it to bring those three back home.

A small, deep chuckle echoed out from his chest and past his lips. Anko wasn't concentrating on her work ever since her three pseudo-students had been reported MIA, not to mention Guy-sensei and the Anbu commander had petitioned the Hokage to let them go on this mission. Sadly he knew it would be far faster and safer for all parties involved if he had gone alone. Less attention drawn.

With a small sigh, Ibiki faded back into shadows. He was close now, soon the children would be safe and on their way home and he could get back to his work in the village. Just a few more hours to go until normalcy.

0-0-0-0-0-0

Back in the tunnels, everything had gone to hell in a hand basket.

It had started out a almost peaceful ride through the under passages of the fortress. The water was still cold and was still moving at the same rate, they all still brushed up against stuff all around them. But so what, that was what had been happening for the last hour or so. Then everything changed.

It was Lee who was the first to notice it. The sudden lack of rocks and things at the bottom of the river. He didn't know what to think, so there was nothing on the bottom underneath them anymore, big deal. Then it got colder and the water felt like it was flowing faster and faster until it was too late.

The flashing water were soon frothy and wild. The word untamed filtered into the green clad boys mind as he was bucked and thrown all around. Every few seconds he would hear a gasp or a small scream as the girls experienced the same ride.

It was wild. He felt weightless and humbled and oh, so very scared as the angry waters roared past his ears. Every instinct was frozen as his fight or flight response went into overdrive, sadly both were quite impossible. He fought the urge to swim against the insane current, knowing that he would only weaken and exhaust himself further. So with apprehension he stayed as still as he could and waited for the world to stop spinning.

Behind him, Naru coughed out a lungful of water. She hadn't felt this type of natural fury before, and it scared and awed her. She was finally able to see and then promptly wished she couldn't. the white monster roared and foamed all around her, throwing and smashing her small form up against the sides of the tunnel walls. It was so loud, almost deafening. She felt the urge to throw her hands up to her ears and try to block out the sounds. She groaned as her body ran into something, it felt soft so she assumed it was one of her companions. Before she could reach out and check who it was the white foamy waters dragged her under.

Everything was blurry and a unique shade of light aqua. Her lungs burned as she spun around like clothes in a washing machine. Her hands reached out for something to grab onto, anything, and yet, nothing. Black spots danced across her vision as she tumbled along, the river refusing to give her up.

She felt faint and numb when she was unceremoniously ripped from underneath the waters surface. Air, air was good, she gulped in several large inhales of the life saving stuff as she clung to her savior. Blue eyes wide open with trepidation as she became slightly dizzy. Her blonde hair lightly drooped onto her face as she coughed sporadically. She was alive, a few more moments and she might have had to resort to the fox for help.

It was so bright and cramped as Naru finally looked forward and then promptly cursed. It was a fucking waterfall. Briefly Naru wondered why it was always a waterfall at the end of the river, before panic hit her.

How high were they again, hell she had no idea. For all the blonde genin knew, they were hundred of meters of the ground. Falling from that height, hitting anything below would be like hitting concrete.

Shit, shit, shit! the fast paced thought raced through her mind as she tried to think of something. Anything. come on think Naru, think. Oh god we're so screwed. Why was this a good idea, dead, we're all dead!

Stupid human. The answer is so simple, why don't you calm down and think rationally for a change. Power, you have much of it, more so than all the others of your kind. Use it and stop being over emotional. the voice boomed sarcastically in the depths of her mind.

Naru froze. The Kyuubi was speaking to her. Why now. No she couldn't - wouldn't answer back. He made her kill. Took something fragile and broke it. Her sanity wasn't capable with this. What was his deal. What power - his or something else.

Her breathing sped up until she was practically hyperventilating. The beginnings of a panic attack immanent.

Cat got your tongue, brat. Or is it that you actually know you're afraid. The angry laughter clashed with his direct words. Feel it, conquer it, bend it too your will. I may hate you with the fire of a thousand years, but if I must be imprisoned, I refuse to have a weak warden for my jail.

The hot feeling of hate boiled deep in the center of her gut. Naru felt herself tensing and un-tensing as anger filled her. She knew the emotion well enough.

While most of the time she was the happy and mostly contented child, she couldn't lie to herself and say she had never felt anger or hate. She could say, however, that she had never acted upon those emotions. Maybe it was instinctual, a way of making sure the fox in her belly didn't gain a foothold in her psyche. She just knew that she was better than letting a few loose emotions define her, no matter how powerful they may be.

So she looked out over at the roaring falls and the white water rapids that bore her friends towards the edge and she made her choice.

What do I have to do?

0-0-00-0-0

Deep in the seal of his current jinchuuriki, Kurama, the Kyuubi No Youko, watched the internal contemplations of his host.

Really the girl was too funny not to watch, not that he had anything to do in his current predicament anyways but that was a moot point. Really, hundreds of generations of the former Uzumaki clan had boiled down in this small, but unbelievingly powerful, scrap of child. His father was probably laughing at him from the great beyond at his problem.

Oh, he did have a lot to be angry about. First off, he had been sealed into those thrice be-damned kunoichi of Uzu and later, Konoha. Then he was released by a stupid masked Uchiha and then he was resealed into his current unwitting host. Honestly, he felt just a bit justified in his resolve.

Not to say he hated the poor girl he was now tied too, because he really didn't. no, she was just at fault as he was. Rather, he was pissed off at those ignorant villagers for helping him make her life a living hell. It wasn't her fault he was sealed into her, she had been just born like an hour ago when it had happened. But did the village accept that answer and treat her like a hero like that genius idiot Namikaze wanted. Of course not, that would have been to easy.

Nope those village idiots had decided they were pissed and sad and mortified and out for blood. The poor child had been the subject for dozens of assassination attempts all before the age of four because those villagers had thought she had been himself reincarnated. Really the third should have done something by now and killed off the idiot portion of the population instead of making it law that the younger generation never be told about him and state that he had been killed by the brat fourth. It wasn't going to stop the parents and older ninja from passing along the hatred of him to their sniveling, snot-nosed broods.

It was almost laughable. Him killed by a man with some flashy justu and a better than average brain.

Kurama almost sighed as he readjusted his bulk on the cold, wet floor. At least he wasn't still in Kushina's seal - chained to a flaming ball of lava and fire with metal rods stabbed through his hand like paws and feet, and into each of his glorious nine tails, had been nothing if not excruciatingly painful if not annoying.

He rolled his eyes. Uzumaki women, strong, stubborn and hell-bent on one upping each other with fuuinjustu. Here at the most, he got a little cold. Maybe if he got the brat to trust him and vice versa, they could make an agreement on changing bits of the seals interior. But that is a question for another day.

He had done his part, weak and injured, and had gave his word not to interact with his jailer until she was older. Oh, he knew the Namikaze brat had wanted to wait till she was in her teens for that, but he hadn't said anything and his hand was forced sooner than later. Rather those two lovebird parents should be grateful that he had kept the girl alive this long.

It would be highly annoying and more than a bit painful, but he could have let her die rather than protect and heal all those times. If he hadn't, he could've waited fifty to a hundred or so years to reform somewhere else in the world.

Now though, Naru was a ninja. She was going to have to go into bigger and more dangerous fights and he made no mistake, she would need his power later on.

Like now for example. The poor girl was ignoring his words - which he knew she would soon see reason too - and had the actual audacity to fly into a panic attack instead.

So he had made her kill her opponent, so fucking what. She was a kunoichi, a seductive assassin, she would be forced to kill soon anyways. The only difference between her killing with him powering her up and any other time is she hadn't actually been on a mission.

Besides he had sort of lessened the blow, so to speak. She could only remember true bits and pieces of the actual deed. She was too emotional for the down and dirty details of the kill. She would get better at handling the task once she got older and had time to vent and cry over the whole thing.

Big, slitted red eyes crinkled upwards as he remembered that man. Oh the fear and agony was too amusing not to watch. He had thought he was top dog only to beg and pretend that he wouldn't of killed Naru once she gained control and turned away. His kind were nothing but simpering worms, useless and honorless. Not even fit to kiss the ground his host even walked on. He had done the world a favor in killing the ambitious and crude man, he would not be missed or remembered. A true fate for one of his position.

But back to his host.

She was so small. Not unlike other Uzumaki's, but even they had some true definition in their bodies. No the poor girl had been mistreated in ways that went beyond beatings and near death attempts. She had practically no clothes in decent shape, got overcharged by three times the amount for the most basic necessities, and was thrown out of most places when trying to get food. It was one of the reasons Naru loved ramen. It was cheap and one of the few foods she could get that wasn't spoiled, thrown out, or tampered with.

The fox could also give thanks where it was do. Those two teammates of hers were great influences and had the makings of being great friends to his jailer. Maybe they could even help him with keeping her safe when he was unable too. The idea had merit.

Hopefully that was the case because his powers didn't extend to seeing the far future. The girl could get into trouble like nobody's business.

What do I have to do?

Seems she had finally seen the light of wisdom and was willing to give it a chance. Normally I would say it is foolish to trust me, but I'll let it pass just this once. She truly is capable of so much trouble. I wonder what she'll be like when she gets to jonin. Now that is amusing.

So be it, she has sealed her fate with me, not that she had much choice.

In the depths of the seal, Kurama, the Kyuubi No Youko, smirked in amusement. It was not a gentle one.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

The roaring waters slipped from her mind as the strong voice of the demon fox echoed once more. so mortal girl, we speak once again. How charming and you were so dead set on ignoring me. Really I'm touched.

Naru narrowed her eyes anger and fear, as well as annoyance filled her gaze as she looked inward. Gods he was difficult. listen here feather duster, you said you have a way to survive this, then start talking!

The booming laugh was both parts amused and sarcastic as she imagined two huge ass red eyes look down at her. He wouldn't be laughing anymore if he didn't hurry up.

Yes girl, I know of a way. But…I don't know if you deserve it after being so callous. Really, I would have thought the third had smacked some manners into you by now. she wanted to stab him in the eye. But, I may be willing to part with this pearl of wisdom in exchange for something.

Naru hesitated. What could a demon fox want…power. Maybe, he really didn't need it; already the most powerful thing currently occupying this realm of existence. So what could he want in exchange. Then it hit her.

I wont set you free. I cant trust that you wont kill my friends and destroy the village while your at it. So if that's what you want, you aren't going to get it from me. I would rather die than set you loose to wreak havoc on the world once more. she mentally stated. Her mind voice inwardly cringing at telling the most powerful thing this side of death, No.

She wouldn't risk her friends lives nor her precious peoples. Hell, not even the village deserved the kind of repeat fate that would happen if the Fox was once again at large. Besides she wasn't stupid, she knew he would make his way back to Konoha and if he got there, come hell or high waters, he would destroy it.

Thunderous guffaws' met her inner ears as the Kyuubi laughed, hard.

Ha ha ha, silly girl. I do wish to be free. No creature alive wishes to be caged and hidden from the world with only limited powers. But that is not what I want from you. he paused for the child's benefit before continuing. No, what I want from you is a compromise.

What in the world. A compromise. Naru was stunned. Okay he had admitted to wanting to be free and had backed it up with a solid fact but a compromise. That was something she had thought would have taken some negotiating for. Now that she thought of it, it was kinda suspicious that he wanted a compromise before wanting to be free. If it was her that was sealed and caged, that would have been the first thing she demanded. But she was nothing if not eternally curios.

So she took a gamble. what kind of compromise are we talking about? now we wait.

Its simple child. I wish for some comfort things while I'm stuck in this seal. Like a bit of wiggle room for example, maybe some flooring that isn't covered in murky water or even a better window into your life so I can experience more of what you see and feel. I also wish to be hold conversations with you on a regular basis. I do get slightly lonely in here after all. Those are my terms. his voice rumbled seriously.

Naru felt very conflicted on one hand she was talking to a overgrown fox demon sealed in her gut and on the other he was now requesting things. Not to mention her other real world problems. Man she was going to get gray hair before she was twenty if this was how her life was going to go.

I don't wish to rush you, but that waterfall is getting any farther away. Its now or never brat.

She was loathed to admit it, but the Fox was right this time. She ignored the mumbled 'I'm always right' and thought about his request. It really was now or never.

Fine what do I have to do?

She hoped this was a good decision

In the seal a grin was flashed in victory. This is going to be fun. Okay kit, here's what you're going to do. Gather as much chakra into your body and focus it towards your center. If it helps focus it in place of your seal. Good, very good. Now sit back and let me do the rest. Oh and before I go, this will hurt, just saying.

Gathering as much chakra as she could, Naru felt sluggish. It was heavy, her chakra, like lead weights being pushed by a slow stream. But the deeper she went, the more chaotic and wild her energy was, not unlike the waters she was being borne through. Concentrating on the seal she moved her energy there and with much uncertainty, let the Fox do what had to be done.

It was indescribable. Or almost at least.

It felt like someone was forcing liquid fire through her veins and chakra pathways. It burned and ate away at her remaining energy. She could almost feel it hissing as it moved outwards through her pores, filling her with a different source of energy and strength. Her eyes struggled to stay open as she fell deeper and deeper into the recesses of her mind. The comforting blackness was to tempting to stay away from and soon she was out cold.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Kurama sighed as she finally passed out. Sure he could just have forced her too stay awake, but even he was not so cruel. What he was about to do was going to hurt and would take nearly all his energy to accomplish as well as heal all the damage the girls body was going to endure.

He'd probable have to sleep for weeks to recover the lost power.

Shaking his great head, he stood up in his small cell and focused the power coursing through the kit. His chakra was fiery and poisonous and had always damaged and healed his hosts in nearly equal measures. But it was strong and easily pliable compared to the Uzumaki's heavy and unpredictable energy. With his power in control he saw through her eyes, no doubt as red as his own and launched into action.

Red chakra coated arms stretched outwards as he picked up the Hyuuga girl and the eyebrows kid. Moving them to his left arm, he swiftly knocked them out and then reached for the other two females, repeating his actions. It was safer for everybody this way.

Then he gathered energy to his feet and jumped out over the falls.

He felt free as he marveled at being weightless. The land was barren and dry as huge mountains rose in the far south. To the west he could smell trees and grass, that way was to the land of fire, he would bet his tails on it. Even more surprising and certainly welcome, he could smell the torture man.

Having met him through Kushina on several occasions, Kurama felt him to be a honorable mortal, who felt no hatred for his host. That alone made him okay in the fox's books. Besides now his kit and her friends would be safe while he rested.

Gauging the man to be about several miles away, he looked for a safe spot to land. The water was too shallow but over in the deserty part of the banks there was a huge sand dune. Perfect.

The fall was almost like flying in reverse. The falls really had been several hundred meters off the ground, probably a record, and as such it was going to break the kits bones like brittle clay. That he felt bad about.

Still he would give a huge surge of energy to repair the damage before he retreated back into the seal. An apology if it could be called that.

BOOM!

About four feet from the ground, he threw his burdens at the dune. This way they wouldn't be as hurt as he forward plunged into the mound of sand. A huge explosion covered the others as he created a crater over ten meters in diameter and six feet deep. A harsh growl torn from his hosts lips as he felt the poor girls body bend and break like a rag doll in a hurricane. The Fox winced when he finally stopped moving. He was sure every bone was broken if not shattered. He smelt blood, mostly hers but some from her friends and concluded they had mostly scrapes, though the boy seemed to have landed harder then the others. He maybe had a broken or cracked bone somewhere.

The agony was horrendous and made him almost black out, which wouldn't be good, Naru might actually die from the shock he was currently staving off the girl.

Pulling most of his energy back into his host hurt like a son of a bitch. Though it did heal the kits extensive injuries, at least most of the life threatening ones. By the time he was done, all she had left was a broken arm, several broken fingers, a cracked rib and a colorful assortment of nicks, scratches and bruises.

Nodding weakly at his handy work, he pulled the chakra back into himself and pushed hers back into her reserves. She was safe and alive, as were her friends. Now he could sleep and recover.

Just as the darkness claimed him, Kurama saw the torture man - Ibiki or something - walk out from behind one of the dunes. A kunai in each hand as he took in his surroundings. He blinked out at the man with his hosts eyes and gave a small nod. Now he could rest.

So he did just that.