The Fox And The Tiger

The Demon Awakened

3 Hours Earlier

"NARUTO! I NEED YOU TO CALM DOWN!"

All Ay got in return was a roar from Naruto. It was becoming more obvious that he was losing himself more and more by the second. The more he was consumed, the less human he becomes. The more he loses who he is. Everyone looked on warily, the Hachibi was powerful but the feeling they got from the Kyubi's power was far worse than it. It was in it's own league and the kid was only 9.

"Bee! Is this the Kyubi's doing?"

"N-no. Brother, this is all him...Gyuki is talking to Kyubi and he's frantically trying to stop the flow of chakra."

"Then what's wrong? Why can't the Bijuu stop it? Why is it even trying to stop it?"

"I don't know. Kyubi can't stop it though. It isn't even Naruto in the mindscape...it's-"

Naruto roared and appeared infront of Bee and went to swipe at him. Bee morphed his arm into a partial Bijuu transformation and blocked Naruto. Naruto balled his other fist and jumped up to smash him to the ground when Bee dodged and jumped away. Where Naruto hit, a 4 foot deep crater was made.

He growled in anger within the crater and jumped out. He got on all fours as his tails flailed rapidly. He looked around at all the shinobi present and locked eyes with Ay. He suddenly charged and went to punch Ay. Bee reacted by forcing a tentacle out and wrapping it around Naruto's waist, holding him.

"NOW BROTHER!" Bee called out.

Ay nodded and took out a tag with a seal on it. He charged at Naruto about to place the seal onto his forehead when a growl came and a large red beam exploded from Naruto and into the sky. The tentacle was thrown off, and Ay got sent flying back from the force of the chakra erupting out of Naruto.

Another roar came as his skin seemed to start burning off revealing red and black chakra streaking all around. "BEE, THIS IS BAD! HE CAN USE THE BIJUU DAMA IN THIS FORM!"

"I know!" Bee lowered his stance and red chakra bubbled around him and his own skin became black and red chakra as well. Entering the version two cloak.

Immediately, Naruto was gathering black, purple, and blue chakra from the environment and it was taking the form of a sphere that was rapidly growing in size. Bee jumped and smashed Naruto into the ground with his feet and tails, making the Bijuu Dama explode from the imbalance in Naruto's face.

The explosion threw him into the cafeteria and blew a hole in the wall where he was sent flying. From within the cafeteria, he roared in anger and next thing they knew, he came charging out really fast and had grown to be three times his original size. Creating a larger hole in the wall. He came in and was met in mid air by Bee. They both were trying to overpower the other and looked to be in a stalemate. However Bee was far more experienced in his form and in general, so he managed to shift his weight and threw Naruto into the ground and sent a hard punch into the young Jinchuriki.

The impact of the punch caused another crater to be made and angered Naruto even more. Bee went wide eyed and found a solution. "We need to keep angering him!"

"WHAT?" was the unanimous question asked by everyone.

"His anger is feeding his power! Too much and he will practically overdose!"

Ay understood. There was only so much Naruto could handle for being so young. Eventually it would knock him out for overexertion. Everyone nodded and took out kunai with explosive tags. They all launched their kunai at Naruto and 80 small explosions went off all around him. When the smoke cleared from him roaring, he was shaking with anger and they knew it was working based on how he was beginning to be strained. However the drawback to the plan was that he was getting increasingly more powerful.

Ay entered his lightning armor and charged with a kick to Naruto's jaw sending him flying through the courtyard. He was met by more explosions and jumped out of the smoke with the goal of tearing one of the masked shinobi apart. He got in reach and was about to grab hold of him when Bee came flying from Naruto's left, tackling him to the ground.

Naruto's tails whipped Bee off of him and he charged a Bijuu Dama although this time kept it small so it could be released faster. It was launched into the group in front of him at ridiculous speeds and they couldn't get away. Bee jumped in it's path in time and surrounded the Bijuu Dama with his tails, and himself, absorbing the explosion himself.

Although it was small, the force was felt and it was still really powerful. Bee was sent into the cafeteria, now making the whole wall collapse and part of the roof to come down.

Now that Bee was out of commission for a little while, Naruto began running in a circle all around them as he was growing in size and was now four times his original size. He was getting faster and faster as he ran on all fours creating a tornado-like effect from the winds he was causing. The shinobi noticed how similar it was getting as they were beginning to be lifted off the ground. Using their chakra, they remained in place but that was a different story for the chairs, trees and anything all around the grounds.

This debris flew around wildly and hit some of them, killing near instantly from the force of impacts. Ay powered into his version two lightning cloak and watched as Naruto ran, tracking his movements. Suddenly he darted ahead and sent a punch into Naruto sending him flying into another building of the academy nearby.

Ay noticed that the barrier team finally got the barrier up as a bubble was formed around the campus of the academy. Now no damage would be done to the village and everything was contained.

The next two and a half hours was hell for everyone as now only Ay, Bee, and 5 of the masked shinobi remained. Everyone was visibly getting tired and it didn't look like Naruto was coming to a stop any time soon.

"What now, Raikage-sama?" One of the masked nin said.

"WE NEED TO KEEP HOLDING OUT. HE CAN'T DO THIS FOREVER!"

"Brother...His anger isn't rising too much anymore...he's not calming but he's getting to level state."

"So what you're saying is...this can actually last way longer than what we thought?" The female shinobi said from earlier on.

Bee nodded and everyone got worried. Just what would the plan be now? They didn't get much of a chance to think since Naruto blitzed them and began to attack the female. She was parrying and blocking desperately since he was just far stronger and faster. He finally got threw and started landing blows on her chest and face and her mask snapped. It fell to the ground as his fist was about to deal a finishing blow to her face.

A trail of blood was coming from the edge of her lips and right brow. She had a really weak smile as she looked at Naruto and he froze. He immediately stopped in his tracks and hesitated. He took a slight step back and just stared into her eyes.

As he just stood there, she was releasing chakra into the air, trying to get him into a Genjutsu and calm him. He was having a low growl and everyone was wondering if he was about to go berserk again. He grabbed his head in agony and dropped to his knees.

"Raikage-sama! Now!" Kira said.

Ay nodded and ran up to Naruto with the sealing tag and slammed it into his forehead. Naruto screamed in pain and the chakra exploded into the sky in a beam that actually bled through the barrier. They were surprised to see that the barrier was broken and worried that the seal wasn't working.

But sure enough it died down as he was in pain. His skin returned to normal and the red chakra went away. His features went to normal and he was burnt from the chakra and he was in pain. He gripped his head in agony and ended up falling unconscious.

"What was wrong with his head?"

Bee walked up. "The seals on his emotions has completely broken and it is excruciating to have that happen. His negative self was trying to take over. He managed to overcome it this time and not fall to it."

"So he's completed that phase?" Kira asked.

"No. Just managed not to fall to it's influence. Kyubi is not the cause and Gyuki is even surprised..."

"Let's take him to that seal. We have to keep him contained for now." Ay said and everyone nodded.

Naruto was taken back to the sacred waterfall, however this time they went through it. On the otherside was a large stone room with many stone statues. They followed the walkway to a statue that Bee went caused to open up and revealed a room of pink and yellow. It seemed like a void. They placed Naruto in it and everyone left Ay and Bee there with him.

"Bee. Will he be sane?"

"Hard to tell, yo. This boy is resilient but I don't know. His mind just come and go. One moment he good to go, next he a broken mirror, bro."

"I still haven't found a way to work around his training. It seemed so simple with you...with Yugito. Why's he so different?"

Bee looked seriously at Naruto with a frown. "The life of a Jinchuriki is hard brother. It's lonely, even if it doesn't seem that way. Everyone around you looks at you different, treats you differently, even if they don't realize it. Brother, I had a chance to find a sun, Yugito too. This boy, he never did. He never found that light that shines through the darkness of the life. Me and Yugito were lucky to find our light before taking on the burden. The sun is what gives us the strength to live on and endure the miserable life of being a Jinchuriki."

Ay looked at Bee then back to Naruto. "Based on his past, he'd have every reason to be insane. It's a miracle that he's held onto his humanity thus far. Bee, there has to be something we can do."

"Brother, he needs to find his light. Or atleast a purpose for living. From what Gyuki tells me, Kyubi says he is borderline suicidal. He hides his emotions well, but it's failing. As much as I don't want to do this, maybe him becoming a weapon for Kumo will give him the drive to live. Atleast until he finds his light."

Ay nodded. "He's already shown the potential to becoming strong. His gift to the shinobi arts is unmatched. His senseis speak highly of him and his ability to learn. Who could we have take him on?"

"Yugito now knows of Naruto's burden. Perhaps the two should train together."

"The two young Jinchuriki together? Hmmm...interesting. I think I know just the guy to train them come their graduation. Will you take this boy under your wing as well?"

Bee shook his head. "No." Ay looked at him stunned. "Not until he proves something to me."

"What is that?"

Bee just sat down a few feet from Naruto. "That's for us. You can go now, Brother. They will need their leader."

Ay smiled and nodded as he left the room, closing the two in. Bee always had strange tests for people, but it always led to bringing the best out of the person. He might have verbally denied the kid, but it was all part of the process. He still maintained high hopes for Naruto and Bee would help bring that out.

After they took the bodies away, it was time to release the students. There was a widespread shock from all the students. The academy was partially destroyed and messed up. The courtyard had craters and was scorched.

Just what went down here? Where was Naruto? Was he even alive anymore? Was he even Naruto anymore?

Omoi took a step out and walked to the center of the courtyard and looked around. All around him was destruction. Did Naruto do all this? He turned when someone touched his shoulder.

"Did you know?" He turned to see it was Yugito.

"Know what?"

She looked at him seriously. "Did you know about him?" Omoi stayed silent and glanced away slightly. "I see."

"Is he going to be ok?"

"Why do you ask me?"

"I understand it now. I get his interest."

"What are you talking about?" Yugito began to get slightly worried since no one really knew aside from the BOLT members and the Raikage. In extension, Bee and Mabui.

"You're like him. Aren't you? You too hold a Bijuu."

Her eyes went wide and she grabbed him to take him somewhere else, away from everyone else. They stood at a far corner and she stood infront of him not knowing what to say.

"He's still friends with Naruto so..." She looked at him and frowned that he was able to figure it out. "Yes. I just learned that we were the same as well..."

"So. Will he be ok?" Omoi looked at her seriously.

"I-I don't know...if he was like me, he should have been with Bee and the Raikage this whole time...they've been helping me since I was six."

"He told me why he hadn't been."

"Oh?"

"He failed some sort of internal training. Something about a sacred waterfall."

"The waterfall of truth? He failed that stage? That can't be good...What else did he say?" Omoi hesitated in continuing but she softened her gaze. "Look, if I am to say if I think he will be fine, I need to understand the full scope of the situation."

"I just don't know how he'll feel about me saying anything. As you know, he keeps to himself and doesn't really express anything about him."

She nodded and understood where he was coming from. Someone as private and secluded as Naruto, wouldn't want their secrets revealed. Especially not by someone other than themselves. Even she had her secrets.

"Well, the secret's out now. So you might as well tell me since I also went through the training."

Omoi reluctantly agreed and sighed. "He said he was faced with the embodiment of all his anger, hatred, pain, and sadness. That he couldn't overcome it and instead was consumed by it, rampaging there."

She went wide eyed slightly. That wasn't her conflict so it meant everyone's experience was different. So there were still aspects to their burdens that were left to be learned.

"Continue." She said which got a nod from him.

"You don't know this, and I don't know much about it, but at his previous village, he told me that he was hated by everyone. You may think it's a shocker, I know, but the thing is, he hadn't done anything. Atleast not that he knew. Saying that they would beat him and anyone that even showed a shred of kindness to him. It is why he acts the way he does here. He's only ever known hatred and cruelty. Naruto's afraid of bonds from the times he saw someone suffer just for being nice. He also doesn't want to ever experience what it's like to lose a bond so he figures that if he never gets a bond, he'll never feel the loss."

Yugito was starting to feel saddened. There really was a whole other side to the blonde asshole. It really was making sense the more Omoi told her about him. Was this the root of those eyes she saw from him? He really was completely faking everything about himself.

"That's one of the worst things he could do...especially as a Jinchuriki. The life is lonely as it is, he's making it worse...I was told by Bee that...nevermind...please continue."

"I tried talking sense into him about his bonds and he understood but I haven't really seen him actively try. Everyday I know the act he puts up is getting harder and harder."

"Explains that time in the locker room..." She thought as he spoke.

"I don't know if they did anything like this to you, but he said as a result to his failure, the partially sealed away his emotions. They defined him as unstable and left him be to try to figure out a work around to his problem."

"No, they didn't do that to me. I had passed my training and moved on...I can't believe they did that...why?"

"I don't know...but I think it's because of what happened today. It was his anger that sparked his transformation. They probably thought the partial seal would prevent this. But...Naruto bottles up all his emotions and the partial seal wasn't absolute. Eventually it was going to break. Which it finally did."

"Right. Omoi, I honestly have no idea how Naruto will be. From what I have seen of him, he's resilient and annoyingly bounces back from everything. I'm sure everything will be ok...but Omoi?"

"Yes?"

"This event...it just made things worse for him..."

"I know. Yugito, he really isn't a bad person. You know that right?"

"You know? You're the second person to tell me that. I know he isn't bad, but he's still a bastard. I hate him for his constant lies and the fact that I don't know a thing about him at all. I can't trust that. Also, he's an asshole."

"It's only human to fear what we don't know."

She turned to walk away as she spoke. "I'm not scared of him."

Omoi smirked and mumbled to himself "Keep telling yourself that."

Naruto began to slowly open his eyes and groaned as he did so. His head still had some pain and his body felt like it was burning.

"Bout time you come awake. Wondered if you came to a brake. Thought it might be all you could take."

Naruto looked over to his right and noticed Bee. "Huh? How long have I been out? Woah...where am I? What happened?" He looked around then went wide eyed. "Is everyone ok!"

"Easy there, little guy. Don't try to move, you were just a fry. Take it easy and you won't die."

"Can we talk just normal for a bit? Your rhymes are amusing but I don't think this is a time for fun."

Naruto tried to sit up but got held down. "I told you to remain still and rest. You just went on a rampage and need to recover."

"To hell with me! The others, are they ok? Kira..."

"Relax kid. You want the facts? Ok then. Sit back." Naruto complied and laid back. Bee sighed before shaking his head. "Thirteen are dead. Two are injured. On of the injured is Kira. You were rampaging for two and a half hours. You've been out for a week."

Naruto's eyes went wide. "I-I I'm sorry...I didn't mean to-"

"We know kid...take it easy. This isn't the first time we've had this happen. But I need to warn you, Naruto. Everything from here changes..."

"It'll be like Konoha. I know...but I understand...I went crazy...they have reason to he scared of me. To hate me..."

"Did you get what you wanted?"

"What do you mean?"

Naruto looked at Bee with confusion. What was Bee getting at? Get what he wanted...what was he speaking about?

"You wanted to be alone. To not have bonds. To be hated. Are you satisfied with the result? You're a demon now. Are you happy now that they see you as you wanted them to? Did you get what you wanted?"

Naruto looked away. He looked to the sky...or roof...or whatever it was and didn't speak. Was this what he wanted? Did he really only want to be hated by everyone? Was the sadness he felt from having no bonds really better than the alternative? Omoi had been right, he was happier with Kira, Trey, and Omoi, but to lose one of them, he didn't want to ever imagine it.

Would the pain of having no one be better than the pain of losing someone? Or was it the other way around? He could never know though. Because to get the answer, he'd need to open up the door and risk the chance of losing someone.

"I don't know anymore, Bee-sama..." A tear dropped threatened to drop from his right eye as he looked to Bee. "Can I talk for a moment?"

Bee nodded, gone was all his joking and in it's place was him being serious. "Sure, kid."

"For so long, I've been locking myself within my own conscious. Barricading the doorways as to not let anyone ever come in. They might get other doors to open up, but this one's not." He gestured towards his heart. "I don't want to give anyone the opportunity to hurt me. But if I do this, I can be the only one to blame when they desert me. Being used to having nobody...doesn't make the pain any less. But, if I open up, I can get hurt and if I lose that person...I don't know what's worse. Having no one, or losing someone. I feel trapped. Because in order to find out, I'll have to open up and what if it's worse?"

Bee nodded. He understood. Before he was loved, he was hated as a Jinchuriki. Although he didn't immediately start as a Jinchuriki like Naruto, he went through similar things. Unlike Naruto, he had found his sun before becoming a Jinchuriki and that gives him his strength to endure, to this day.

"I understand your fear, Naruto. I went through the same things you did when I was a kid. There was a difference though, in that I wasn't always a Jinchuriki. I won't tell you how to feel or what to do. That is up to you, Naruto. Just know, I found my sun, my light, my reason for living and being. It gave me the strength to endure and live. It helped lead me to becoming accepted and loved by the village. You have to find yours...until then, you'll only suffer."

Naruto looked away and contemplated what he heard from Bee. He was another Jinchuriki, like him, so what he says means more than what anyone else would say. He understood what he was going through. He lived it.

"I'll give it some thought, Bee-sama."

"It's easier than you think. You might think you have no bonds, but you clearly care for Kira, and your friend Omoi. All you have to do is put more trust in them."

"Perhaps..."

"I'll train you. We start in two hours. Rest until then."

Naruto nodded and closed his eyes as he quickly slipped into sleep. Bee watched over him as he smiled amused at how quickly the kid fell asleep.

"Maybe there's hope for him." Bee thought.

Classes for the academy were relocated to a an outdoor setting. They were in a training ground within a valley. The entire school was there at different sections doing different tasks. Similar classes all worked together in a group. So if your first period was the homeroom class, then all of them gathered in an area. While all weapons classes and physical classes also gathered up.

Rather than 22 students in a class it was more like 88. Omoi was just going through the motions of the combative training. All week he was just droning through the classes. Every day he hoped to see Naruto would walk by or just be standing off in the distance, just something. Something to show he was ok.

"You know he wouldn't want you being all mopey."

Omoi turned to see Yugito walking up to him and Samui behind her. "Now you're all friendly?"

She looked away with a slight chuckle. "I never treated you bad at all. I just was always annoyed of the bastard. Either way, it's strange but I sorta kinda miss that idiot. The class was interesting atleast when he was around." Samui and Omoi looked at her wide eyed. That was something they never expected to hear come out of her. "You guys will keep this yourselves! Understand?"

They both nodded and smiled. Although she openly hated him, and he sought out every chance he could to aggravate her, they pushed eachother to be at their bests. No one got her to be at her best like him. Although Samui was a rival, she never forced her to be at her best because she wasn't like Naruto who outsmarted you. He always was clever and forced you to be on your toes.

Then she always forced him to get his most creative. Especially because she was the best in their year. He was forced to try harder against her than any other. Not even Samui forced him to get as creative.

"So what the hell is he? I've never seen anyone like that." Samui said "He seemed very demonic."

Omoi and Yugito flinched slightly at her question and description of Naruto. In fact, all week everyone was talking about the "demon's" awakening. Whenever he did return, things were going to be very different.

Naruto was panting heavily and was on a knee after a long session with Bee. He was learning to utilize his chakra and control it. So Bee had him try running up the walls of the special room. He was gaining progress fast and Bee was very impressed.

"He really does catch on fast...He'll be an interesting student."

"Alright. That's enough for now, Naruto. Come get some food."

Naruto stopped his movements and looked at Bee then nodded. He walked over and sat down in front of Bee and began to eat.

"Listen yo, if you ever need to talk, I'm here, bro. Not many are like you and I so we stick together and live on the low. Eventually you'll blow and they'll see your glow. Once that happens you'll be they'll be your bros. Yeah!"

Naruto nodded and just remained seated as he ate. The silence was calm and Bee was learning that Naruto preferred the silence. He wasn't one to talk much but he spoke with a purpose. It was nice because kids could be annoying. He knew...he was that annoying kid.

He also wondered how he was going to tell Naruto that he was going to be staying in here for a few more weeks...

Hey y'all. chapter is out faster than usual, next one most likely Thursday or Friday.

Yeah...genre...I don't know how to classify genre...that's why I don't lol. I guess there'll be aspects of all? I don't know...what to say really.

Yeah, always looking to improve. Not many say anything so I just try to pick and choose what I want. You get me?

Hope you've enjoyed. See you in the next one.