Disclaimer:...::twitch twitch:: NO THEY'RE NOT MINE...but I have hope...eheheh

AN: OO sankyuu for the reviews...they make me all fluffy inside

But sorry for the long time it took to post this...been in process of moving and without internet for over a week...gomen ::bowbow::

::shuts up::

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The ground rippled beneath his feet, the darkness being lit by the glowing coming from each individual ripple. He stepped on the water tentatively, expecting to fall through, though he himself stood perched above it. The water was hard beneath his feet; he put all his weight on his foot, and began to walk, though he knew not where he was headed.

In the distance he saw a faint glimmer of red light in the distance, ripples flooding against his feet with a loud thud coming from the light. Curiosity ushered him forward, though he was fairly certain he knew what caused the light. The ripples from his footsteps flowed into those coming from the large crimson thing in the dark before him. Where the ripples collided, sparks erupted.

He stared at his feet, not wanting to see that thing as he neared it, the warmth radiating off it in waves. He could hear the heavy panting, could see the ripples of light splashing from its feet as it thudded against the ground, could smell the acrid stench of it. It hissed at him loudly, and he cringed away from it—out of fear and away from the hot, fetid smell.

He stepped closer, and could now make out the shape of it out of the corner of his eye. Bright eyes glittered from between the bars, glowing menacingly from within. He could feel warmth pouring off the giant beast, and noticed his own body beginning to perspire from the burdening heat. Ivory teeth flashed and snapped at him from behind the bars; though there was a protection between the two of them, he stepped back nervously.

"Wh—why am I here?" he demanded nervously, wondering why he suddenly felt so afraid. The Fourth's seal was still on the iron bars and the fox couldn't get through as long as they were there. And yet, the fox seemed closer than it had before; he felt as though there was nothing keeping the fox from lashing at him.

The low rumble assailed his ears, jarring his chest with deep vibrations. It was a laugh. "Not happy to see me, I assume?"

"Not particularly."

The kyuubi laughed again. "Oh? You should be—you'll be seeing me rather soon." He laughed once more, only more evil than Naruto would have thought possible. The malicious cackle grinded on his bones and made him wince in almost tangible pain. Vaguely, he sensed this was a dream, but he still felt fear and pain.

"Err...what?" Naruto squinted at him nervously, and glanced down to his abdomen quickly, guessing what the kyuubi meant.

"That's right, Naruto." The kyuubi laughed cruelly, pressing his front paws against the bars, claws snaking around them. He gripped them tightly—Naruto noticed the Kyuubi did not cry out in pain at the touch of the cold metal as he once had. "I'm going to show you something, alright?" He extended a furred paw out through the bars, though he should have been incapable of doing such, and pointed to the seal on the door.

The kyuubi started to convulse, shoulders heaving as though he was going to vomit. A tiny ember appeared on the tip of his middle tail, and began to devour his body quickly. Naruto turned to run from the scalding heat consuming the fox, when the beast hissed at him, and told him to stay put. Naruto remained, though his body was tense. The fire roared and crackled along the kyuubi's body, soon enveloping him in a blanket of hot fire.

The fox's paw soon caught on fire; he roared as it lapped at his claws, though not out of pain. The deep rumbling noise shook Naruto's bones as the beast laughed. Naruto's azure eyes widened as he saw what the kyuubi had intended to show him. His claws had been grazing the seal when his body had been engulfed in flames. This fire licked onto the seal, charring it, though not burning it completely.

The fox roared irritably and returned to normal instantly, shaking his fur of all embers. They splashed on the floor and sank down into the dark abyss, Naruto's gaze following them as they continued to burn in the liquid. Dimly, he knew that normal fire would not continue to burn in water, but he could not concentrate his thoughts on anything but the charred seal.

"What the hell, Kyuubi! You can't do that!"

The demon fox withdrew from the gates and lounged behind the iron bars, sighing with annoyance. "Baka, I just did."

"But you CAN'T!" Naruto squealed, his face paling to the shade of paper. "How can you do that?"

The fox chuckled softly. "You really are an idiot." Naruto scowled at him. "The seal is...breaking."

"It looks more burnt than anything..."

"I'm trying to explain—the seal is weakening. I will be free, soon, Naruto-kun." The kyuubi threw his head back and laughed cruelly. "DO YOU HEAR THAT?! FREE!"

Naruto stepped away nervously. "But, the Fourth's seal—"

"Was merely a speed bump." He grinned at the blonde boy, showing more teeth than necessary. "I'm going to be out of your wretched little body soon. Then the fun will begin."

"Wh...what are you going to do, Kyuubi?" Naruto's voice cracked; he had a damn good idea what the kyuubi was planning. And he didn't like the thought.

"Destroy Konoha, of course."

"YOU CAN'T DO THAT!"

"Of course I can. I almost did once before." The kitsune reached up and scratched his ears with one of his paws absently. "But that stupid Hokage gave up his life and sealed me in your gut. Now I'll be leaving this dark place for good."

Naruto rubbed his stomach nervously and stared at the kitsune in fear. He wouldn't do that to me, would he?

"Of course I would," the fox smirked. "Don't look so surprised—I can read your thoughts, this shouldn't surprise you. I've only been living in here for 17 years."

"Why do you have to destroy Konoha? Can't you just be a good little fox?" Naruto suggested, knowing full well the response.

But to his surprise, the fox said he wouldn't destroy Konoha. "You're right—I may have gotten stronger in here, but I'm definitely going to be too rusty to take on an entire village of shinobis. I know." He grinned at the boy. "I'll kill those closest to you."

"NO!!" Naruto cried fitfully, falling on the ground before the fox, tears beginning to form at his cheeks. "Don't do that!"

"Don't be sad—I'm not going to kill everyone. You should be pleased." The kyuubi grinned maliciously and began to name those he would slaughter. "Just Iruka, Kakashi, Tsunade, Sakura—" each name provoked a whimper from Naruto who sobbed, begging him not to kill those whom he loved. "And Konohamaru."

At least Sasuke is spared...

"OH! Yes, we mustn't forget Sasuke-kun." The kyuubi spread his paw wide, displaying his claws. A tiny flame flickered in the middle of his outspread 'hand'; he extinguished the flame, gripping his paw tightly. Naruto swallowed the nervous bile rising to his throat, knowing the flame was only a substitute for Sasuke's body.

"YOU CAN'T KILL SASUKE! I'LL DO ANYTHING, PLEASE!"

"FOOLISH BOY," the kyuubi roared, slamming his body against the gates making them shake as though they would give way at any time. "I CAN DO ANYTHING AS SOON AS I AM OUT OF YOUR FLESH BAG! I WILL BE THE KYUUBI AGAIN! NOT THE PRISONER OF SOME BOY WHO DIDN'T EVEN KNOW I EXISTED FOR 12 YEARS!"

"I'm begging you, Kyuubi, please don't kill Sasuke." Naruto's voice was barely a whisper, but he knew the kyuubi heard him.

"Why shouldn't I kill your rival? Don't you hate him?" The kyuubi smirked at him, though he knew the boy did not see. The tears flowing down his face would have made it difficult, if not impossible, to see the change in his expression.

"No, I don't hate Sasuke...I..." Naruto bit down, keeping from speaking the words he had never even admitted to himself from escaping.

"You don't hate him...you...?" The kyuubi snorted. "Well then, I suppose you won't mind if I take my claw to his neck. Slide it across his neck, tearing his flesh." Naruto inhaled sharply. "Oh, don't like that idea? Well, then, why shouldn't I kill him?"

"Because I..."

"Again you refuse to finish your sentences. Very well, I'll have to continue. I could bite him in two. But that would be boring and nearly painless. No, something more painful. I know!" the fox shouted with glee. "I can break his limbs slowly, snapping his bones. Just picture his face. Pop. Pop. Pop."

"STOP! YOU CAN'T DO THAT TO HIM!" Naruto pounded his fist onto the ground, sending many ripples gliding across the water. "I LOVE HIM! I LOVE SASUKE, YOU CAN'T KILL HIM!" Naruto inhaled quickly, as though trying to suck back his words.

The fox tilted his head back and laughed. Naruto closed his eyes trying to block the sound out.

When he opened them, he was lying in the hotel room alone. He shot up and pulled his shirt off, the night art sending shivers up his sweat covered back. He looked down at his stomach and saw the spiral of the seal standing out, black against his white abdomen. The seal had never been visible when he had not been calling on chakra before. He backed against the wall, trying to get away from himself.

Pain sliced through his mind, stemming from his hand. He looked down and saw a shuriken had fallen out of his pants protector. With a sickening feeling, he reached for the shuriken, feeling as thought his body was that of someone else. He held the shuriken gingerly and pressed it against his wrist, not believing he was going to do what he intended. Blood welled up where the shuriken rested, and he began to slide it across his skin.