Chapter 21: The Broken Seal
The monster that was unleashed was Naruto, and he was pissed. When he transformed to this jinchuriki form, it was as if all his skin burned off. One may not see it, but Naruto was in pain and he used that pain as his hate grew. The one he ever loved was dead(even though she wasn't), his friends were close to dying and being defeated, and he still hasn't avenged his sensei. To him, the Death Eaters, Voldemort, and Menma, they are responsible for everything that was happening. In a way it was as if the universe really wanted Naruto to suffer. Due to this belief, he became a mindless beast as he rushed at the Death Eater who killed Hermione and hurt his friends. Dolohov was paralyzed in fear, as he felt that killing intent from Naruto. "What the HELL are you?!" he shouted, as he was trying to fire some spells to stop the beast. But Naruto wasn't fazed by it, as he jumped on the man before he tried to escape. Naruto rips both of Dolohov's arms off, as the man screamed in agonizing pain. Naruto kept pounding Dolohov's face to the ground repeatedly, before firing a powerful blast on the man's face, making him almost unrecognizable.
However the blond didn't stop, as he wanted to exact more violence at the other Death Eaters, who appeared to be shocked by what they saw. So he did exactly as planned, he went after them all, ripping and tearing them apart. Over with Naruto's friends, they were seeing this whole thing. "That really is Naruto, from the way he is sounding, it's like he's in pain," Luna stated, almost as if she could sense her fellow blond's feelings. "Naruto did say that he had the Nine Tails sealed inside him, I just hope we can get back our friend," Daphne said, worried for Naruto. Harry helped Neville, as they went to check on Hermione. "Come on Hermione wake up, Naruto needs you, we all need you, come on," Harry stated, looking really worried. Neville checked for a pulse on the girl's wrist. "Harry, she's alive," he said. Harry sighed in relief, as he looked around the room to see if their allies were there.
Fortunately the others arrive, as they see Harry and Neville with an injured Hermione. "There you guys are!" Ron stated, going to them to see if they are ok. "Where's Naruto, we can't find him?" Neville stated. "Guys I'm afraid that beast you saw rip apart that Death Eater was Naruto," Cedric said, which shocked Harry and Neville. "Are you saying that…" Harry was going to ask when Itachi nodded. "Yes the seal has broken, the Naruto you saw has been corrupted," Itachi explained. "Is there any way we can get back our friend?" Ron asked, as he didn't want to lose his pal. "I'm not so sure, but I'll see what I can do," Itachi stated. Suddenly they see a couple of Death Eaters entering the room, as they were prepared to attack Harry and his group. Fortunately Itachi used Amaterasu against the Death Eaters, burning them to a crisp. "Alright everyone listen to me, I will handle the Death Eaters and try to get Naruto back, you guys have to stick to me and don't get lost, is that clear?" he ordered, to which everybody nodded.
With Naruto
It was a bloodbath at the Ministry, as Naruto was ripping and tearing every Death Eater that he saw in his path. The blond was in extreme pain as he growled. He continued with his massacre, as he had just ripped apart a Death Eater's head. When he was about to continue, he was stopped by a giant sword slashing at him. Naruto turns around to see that it was Itachi, but something was different about him. Itachi was protected by some glowing orange avatar, as he looked at the feral Naruto with his Mangekyo Sharingan. "Naruto, I need you to snap out of it," he ordered. The feral Naruto growled, as he unleashed a chakra blast at Itachi. But Itachi deflected it with his shield, as he decided to fight back. The two went at it, as it was a battle between student and sensei.
With Harry and the Others
Harry and his friends were in some room, as they were resting up as ordered by Itachi, in order to keep them safe. While they were resting up, their thoughts were on Naruto and Hermione, as they were worried for the two. Suddenly Hermione wakes up in shock, as she was feeling her chest. "Hermione, you're awake!" Ginny said, running up to her, glad that her friend is alright. The others were glad as well, going as far as to check to see if she was doing ok. Hermione thanks them and looks around the room, but can't find Naruto. "Guys, where's Naruto?!" she asked, sounding worried. That's when things really went silent as everybody couldn't say anything due to what they witnessed. "Where's Naruto, heck where's Itachi?" she asked, looking concerned. "Hermione…it's best if I explain everything," Harry said, as he figured she had the right to know. She nodded and Harry began to explain everything that happened. After listening to Harry's explanation, she was feeling saddened and scared, and no she wasn't scared of her boyfriend, but she was scared for her boyfriend, as he had lost control of the very beast he held inside of him.
She got up and proceeded to go to the door. "Wait, where are you going?" Daphne asked the brunette. "I'm going to get back my boyfriend," she stated. "You can't just leave, not with your injuries and everything," Cedric stated. "WELL I CAN'T LEAVE HIM TO SUFFER! Please…just let me get him back…please," she pleaded, as tears were dropping. "I'm coming with you, I'm not going to lose my friend," Harry said. "Yeah, me too, Naruto is our friend and friends never leave anyone behind," Ron stated. The brunette looked at the two and tearfully smiled as she nodded. Harry turns to Cedric, "Keep them safe, ok?" he asked, to which Cedric nodded.
With Itachi and Naruto
The two were duking it out as both of them didn't show any signs of backing down. "Come on Naruto, you have to wake up, don't let your hate take over you," Itachi stated, as he was using the Amaterasu to pin down the demonic creature. The demonic creature growled as it got back up to slash at Itachi. Luckily Itachi dissipated into a murder of crows, as Itachi prepared a jutsu, using his handsigns. "Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu," he shouted, as he blew a huge fireball at Naruto. But it didn't do anything, as it only made the demonic creature angrier. Harry, Ron, and Hermione arrive at the scene, as they see the two fighting each other. Both Harry and Ron were horrified by what their friend looked like, as he seemed to have grown a seventh tail, while the skeleton was starting to blend into the skin.
Hermione wasn't afraid, she was heartbroken to see the one she loves in this state. Memories came to her as she remembered when the two first met each other on the train journey before they began their first year, how they began their friendship, how the blond made her laugh, how he was there when she needed him, and even that night when they had their first kiss and became a couple. She was remembering everything, as her eyes were filled with emotion. She knew what she had to do, as she began walking to him. "Hermione, what are you doing?!" Ron asked. "I'm going to reach out to him, stay here guys," she said, determined to save Naruto. "We'll stay here and help out just in case," Harry said, as he too wanted to save his friend. She nods at the two, as she walks to the seven-tailed Naruto, who seems to have his or rather its eyes on her, yet it wasn't doing anything except observing her. Itachi was surprised, but he thought that maybe if Hermione could get to him, then it's possible Naruto could revert back to normal. She goes up to him, with no fear as she knew it was her lovable boyfriend underneath there. She smiled at him, "Naruto, it's me…"
The demonic creature was growling, yet it didn't attack. It was as if the creature held some bits of humanity left and was signaling the brunette to stay back, as it didn't want to hurt her or anybody else. "Come on Naruto, I know you are underneath there, please come back," she pleaded, not wanting to lose him. He growled again, swiping one of his tails at her, but not hitting her as he was slowly backing away. Soon he was growling in pain as he grew another tail, along with his skeletal muscles showing. He was causing a rampage, as he kept hitting the walls almost as if he was trying to break free. Everybody felt it, as Itachi in his Susanoo form was protecting Hermione. "Stay back, this might get ugly," he stated, as this is going to be the point where Naruto really might not come back. He wanted to deny this, yet he knew it was true. 'Have we really lost him for good…?' Harry, Hermione, and Ron thought, as they couldn't believe it, there was no way, yet fate seemed cruel.
Inside Naruto's Mindscape
The blond was feeling cold and empty. It was a good thing he was still wearing his mask, because secretly he was feeling despair, anger, hatred, sorrow, every possible negative emotion one can't even comprehend. He lost the only woman that loved him for who he was, his friends are possibly dead, his sensei dying right in front of his eyes, in his fourth year, etc. In a way he was remembering those terrible memories from this world and his previous world. All those years, he's been holding back so much hate that for once he became a broken person. It was at this point where he realized he would be better off dead, then having to suffer any more pain. He didn't even notice that a black hole was forming on his stomach, indicating the seal might break any time or probably has already. "Naruto you need to snap out of this, this isn't you!" Kurama yelled at his host, trying to get him to see some sense. But Naruto didn't care anymore, as he slowly walked to the cage that held the Nine Tailed Fox.
"Stop it Naruto! You can't rip the seal!" Kurama yelled, as he didn't want his host to die, as he still made a promise to Hagoromo to keep the boy alive. "I don't care anymore, Kurama. I just don't want to suffer this pain again," he said emotionlessly. "You idiot, if you rip this seal off, it's going to kill you and you might risk endangering everyone!" Naruto didn't listen, as he was close to the seal. 'Minato…Kushina…now might be a good time to help your son out,' Kurama thought to himself. Before Naruto could peel off the seal, his hand was grabbed by someone who was there in his mindscape. He landed on the floor, as he saw a silhouette offer him a hand. He took the hand and got up, as he tried to see who the silhouette was. When he saw the silhouette clearly, he was shocked as he recognized the man. The man wore the blue Konoha leaf headband on his forehead and the white trench coat with the red flames on the bottom, with some kanji letters on his back. It was the Fourth Hokage, the savior of the village, the one he wanted to surpass the most, but more importantly…his father. "Dad…" Naruto said, as he was shocked that his own father appeared in front of him.
His father smiled, "Hello son, oh and hello to you too, Kurama," he said, greeting the fox. Kurama of course scoffed as he wasn't particularly thrilled to see the man who sealed him inside Naruto, but nonetheless was alright with him at best. "Fourth I believe it's best you and your son talk to each other, as I have a feeling my host here really needs it," Kurama stated. Minato nods, as he and his son appear in another part of Naruto's mindscape. Naruto still had mixed emotions, like he was glad he finally got to see his father, but at the same time he was angry that his own father condemned him into a life of hell, despite knowing the truth.
"I guess the third never told you, I understand how he felt. The information about you being my son had to be kept a secret so no one could know the truth. It was the only way to protect you from my enemies, Sarutobi wanted to keep it that way, so that is why he chose to remain quiet. Fortunately Jiraiya told you the truth, knowing that you were ready."
"Dad… why did you do it? Why did you seal Kurama inside me?" he asked, despite knowing from Jiraiya that his father wanted him to be seen as a hero. "Because I have faith you will learn to control his power," Minato said. Naruto nods, "I understand, after all I am your son," Naruto said as he whipped his tears, knowing his father had faith in him. "Tell me Naruto, how old are you?" Minato asked. "I'm fifteen," Naruto responded. "Ah you are a few years away from adulthood," Minato said, smiling as his son was growing up. "Naruto if you could, I want to see my own son, without the mask?" Naruto obliged and took off the fox mask, showing his face. "It's like looking at a mirror, isn't it?" Minato stated, as his son looks exactly like him, minus the whiskers.
"I'm sorry Naruto, for what I did to you. I thought Sarutobi would do his best to make the village accept you, but it wasn't easy. I expected the village to see you as a hero, but they had disregarded my wishes and made your life a living hell and treated you like trash. So for that, I am sorry," he said genuinely. "Dad I already forgave you, I know you wanted to save the village and make me be seen as a hero. I know it was never your intention to turn me to the host of the Nine Tails, but without you sealing him inside me I would've never made friends with him."
"I also know what the villagers did to you in your childhood, and I was appalled by what they did and how they disregarded my wishes, by taking their unjustified anger out to you. So if anything it was reasonable for you to have left the village on that fateful day." Naruto was shocked, "Wait are you saying that…"
"I know you are not in Konoha, you are in a world where magic exists and you are a wizard," he said. "So you know everything that happened?" Minato nodded, "I saw everything from how you awakened your magic when you were tormented by the villagers to right now. All I can say is that you have been through a lot, I wished I could have been there to help you."
"But you've been here all this time, so you were basically with me always." Minato smiled, "It's still not the same if I'm not with you to experience your life."
"I hope you're not angry with me…"
"Why would I be angry at you?" Minato asked, looking rather shocked. "Because I won't be able to fulfill my dream of becoming hokage. I have always wanted to become an even better hokage than you someday. But since I'm in this world, I won't be able to do that, in a way I feel like I somehow disappointed you in not following you in your footsteps," Naruto stated, looking rather depressed. Minato smiled and shook his head, as he placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "It doesn't matter if you won't follow in my footsteps in becoming a hokage, if anything I'm proud you found your own true calling on what you want to do in life. The most important thing is that you follow your heart, to become a strong person who fights to protect the ones he considers his most precious. You have already proven yourself to me, so you haven't disappointed me. You even managed to master the Rasengan in a few months, whereas it took me three years, that really is an impressive way of surpassing me." Naruto smiled, feeling glad to hear these words, "Thanks dad, it really means a lot to me to hear that."
"There's nothing wrong with how you live your life or who you live with. I also know you love a certain brown haired girl." Naruto blushed thinking about Hermione, "So you know about that too, huh?" Minato chuckled, "Don't be embarrassed, if anything I'm glad you found someone who loves you for who you are. Your mother and I are very proud of you," he said. "Speaking of mom, where is she?" Naruto asked, wondering where his mom was. "Right here," a voice said, as the two turned around. A beautiful woman in her late twenties was standing there, as she had long fiery red hair reaching to her ankles, violet eyes, and was wearing maternal clothes.
"Mom…" Naruto said looking shocked, as he was seeing his mom right here. She smiled, as she nodded, but soon she was caught by surprise when the whiskered blond rushed to her and was giving her a tight embrace. He was sobbing, never wanting to let go, as he finally got to meet his parents in the flesh, despite them being in his mindscape. After being told many things about them from Jiraiya, he finally got to see them, as he wanted to tell them so many things about what he saw and what he did, how he became a wizard, etc. "I always wanted to meet you mom, Jiraiya told me everything about you and I knew I had to see you one day and I…" he paused, still crying.
The red head Uzumaki smiled, accepting his embrace, as tears formed in her eyes, feeling so much joy to see her son again, "Believe it, I am your mom my son." Minato joins the family hug, as the Uzumaki family reunites once again. The whiskered blond whipped his tears, slowly breaking the hug with his parents, as he was smiling a big happy smile, "So you're here too, but how?" he asked. "Minato also sealed part of my soul in you, so we could see you in the future one last time," she explained. The red head smirked, taking a good look at her son, "You look just like your father, I'm glad that you got his hair, I honestly didn't want you with red hair." Naruto chuckled, thinking if he did have fiery red hair like his mom, he and Ron would be considered as brothers, but then again he did wonder if he could pull off red hair. "You are close to being an adult and you've become quite handsome, I wouldn't be surprised if you already found a nice girl like your mother."
Naruto softly smiled, "Yeah, I have. She's beautiful, she's smart, strong willed, and she was the best friend anyone could ever ask for, and I wouldn't give her up for the world." Kushina nodded, "I already know who she is, that girl with the brown hair, Hermione. You really found yourself a keeper sweetie," Kushina started enjoying teasing her son. Naruto grinned, "I really did…Mom there are so many things I want to know from you guys."
"Kushina, I think we should tell him everything," the fourth hokage stated. She nodded, as she turned to the whiskered blond who looked confused. "Tell me guys what?" he asked. "Sit down, it's going to be a long story."
With Harry and the Others
Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Itachi stood staring at the eight tailed Naruto. The creature was standing still, not making any movement, as it seemed it was in stasis mode. Hermione felt relief when she tried talking to the creature, it was just creating a rampage when all of a sudden it just stopped doing what it was doing. "How long do you think he's going to stay like that?" Ron asked. "I'm not so sure, but I'm going to try to reach out to him again," Hermione said, as she walked to the still standing eight-tailed Naruto. "Be careful Hermione," Harry said, as he was worried for his friend. She nodded, as she turned her gaze towards the calm eight-tailed Naruto. 'No matter what happens, I'm not leaving you Naruto.'
With Naruto
The whiskered blond was surprised after being told everything from Kushina. He was told of how the Uzumaki were related to the Senju, how they were proficient when it came to magic and sealing, and how the Uzumaki clan was wiped out by Iwa, Kiri, and Kumo. He was especially shocked when he found out that he was related to the first hokage, Hashirama Senju, given that the first hokage married Mito Uzumaki, the first jinchuriki of the Nine Tails. But he was even more shocked when he was given more details on what happened the night he was born, about how a masked man claiming to be Madara Uchiha was the one responsible for the attack on the village. Naruto was moved to tears by how his parents sacrificed themselves to save him and the village from a mind controlled Kurama. Finally Naruto asked his parents about how they met, which made Kushina blush, while Minato smiled remembering everything fondly.
"Wow, that really is a lot of information to take in," Naruto said, after hearing everything about the emotional and tragic night of his birth. "I know, but I figured it is necessary for you to know everything, though I feel it wasn't necessary for you to know about how I fell in love with blondy here, but it was fun telling you," Kushina chuckled. "Don't you mean embarrassing?" Naruto retorted, as he smirked. "Stop it! I'm not embarrassed to talk about that wonderful day," she comically cried, as she blushed violently. "Naruto, I'm sorry," Minato started. "What…?" Naruto asked surprised. "I was the one that decided to seal part of your mother's soul in you. It was a selfish act of mine. But Sarutobi and Jiraiya sensei have told me that in a shinobi's life you will always have to make a drastic decision no matter how dire the situation may be. I only thought about what was right at the moment, stopping the Nine Tails by sacrificing the people I love to save everyone."
"I already forgave you dad, you had to do what was necessary. Plus I'm glad you did it, because I wouldn't have met you guys or anybody I know in this world," Naruto stated with gratitude. "Then there's nothing to regret," the blond hokage said, as he walked up to him. "Hold still Naruto," the fourth placed his hand on the boy's half broken seal, which suddenly turned back to its normal state, despite not being visible. "You fixed the seal?!" Naruto asked in surprise. "I did, but this will be the last time," he explained. Naruto nods and thanks his dad.
"I can't stay anymore, fixing the seal has made me lose too much chakra, I guess this will be farewell." Naruto nods, trying so hard not to cry. "Same here, I used too much of my chakra as well, but I wished I could stay here," Kushina said in tears. "I guess this will be the last time I'll see you guys…"
"Naruto, I want you to know that I love you. I was so happy when I held you in my arms when you were just a newborn. I was the happiest mother in the entire world. Thank you for everything, for being our son, for letting me be your mother," she said, as more tears escaped from the red head's eyes. Naruto laughed as tears dropped, "I should be thanking you guys." He went up to them and gave them a big hug, as he thanked them for everything. "Walk tall, my son," Minato said, as he let out some tears. "Naruto it doesn't matter if you are in another world or if you aren't a shinobi, just live your life to the fullest, follow your heart," Kushina said, as she sobbed. "I have great parents, they sacrificed themselves in order to save me and tried to give me a future. And now I'm here, I have the best parents in the world, I love you very much."
'Naruto, can you hear me?'
"What the…who's there?" Naruto asked, until he recognized that voice.
'Naruto, I know you can hear me, please don't let that monster win. Please come back to us, we need you, I need you! You've always been strong, fight that monster, don't let it win!'
His blue eyes widened as tears dropped. He recognized that voice, "Hermione, she's alive, thank god," he said, as he smiled tearfully as the one he loved is alive. "I like her style," Kushina said, approving of the girl's attitude. "It's your girlfriend," Minato teased, while his wife elbowed him smiling, she enjoyed the teasing a bit. "I guess it's time to go huh…" the whiskered blond said, knowing he had to go back to the real world. "Give the wizarding world hell, and kick Voldemort and Menma's ass for us!" Kushina said. "I must agree with your mother here, make us proud Naruto," Minato said. Naruto nods, as he won't let them down. "We love you Naruto," his parents said, before vanishing. Naruto, knowing what to do, wakes up from the mindscape.
Back in the Real World
Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Itachi stood wide-eyed, as they saw the eight tailed demon fox was gone. The monster turns back to normal, as they see their friend is looking human again. Naruto was standing before them, as he was holding his mask. Despite everything that happened, they were glad Naruto was back. He was about to drop to the floor when Hermione catches him and puts his head on her lap. The others came and saw that the creature was gone and it was Naruto who remained. Soon Naruto wakes up and sees that his head was on Hermione's lap, as he looks to see the others who seemed to be smiling with some tears showing that they were glad that he finally woke up. "Guys…Hermione…" he said, as he was glad they were there. Hermione smiled tearfully, as she hugged her boyfriend, not wanting to let him go, as she was glad he came back.
Note: Phew, what an emotional chapter this was. Naruto finally meeting his parents, the whole tearful reunion, etc. Anyways the next chapter will be the duel between Naruto and Menma, and this will be one of the many battles they will have.