Hello again, first off THANK YOU!!! Reviewers, I write this story just as much for you as I do myself, so keep the suggestions and critiques coming
Second, to answer reviewer issues/questions/suggestion:
I'm answering some of the questions from last chapter, this chapter, such as the caved in sections
I'm still working it out with possible beta readers, please bare with me
I don't think Kyubi is exposed too much, in my opinion, but this chapter is the last he will have any real major conversations with others, save maybe Naruto occasionally
Sorry, I just don't like Sakura any more, "Naruto, I hate you, Naruto, your not as good as Sasuke, Naruto, go bring Sasuke back so I can go back to fawning over him and treating you badly", these things just anger me, I can't let them slide, I certainly don't want her dead and I think her character has potential, but she needs to get off her ass and work for it, as well as realize she can't treat everyone like crap because of a childish obsession.....man this is a long answer
I'm really trying to lengthen these chapters, but it is hard, I usually don't have to write anything more than a few pages, but I'll try
Ok, this is probably going to lose me some readers, but I can't help what I am, to answer your question, I am Male and I am Bisexual, meaning I swing both ways, that's why gay couples don't bother me in the least, so for my half-homosexuality, I'm sorry it bothers some of you, but not for being
Ok, last thing before the start of the chapter, I am so sorry it took so long to update, I got dragged to the middle of nowhere, but I brought my laptop with me and was told there was an internet signal, nope, wrong, nyet. So I write my next chapter, well actually one and most of the next one, which I will try to get out tomorrow or the next day, just a few last finishing touches on it.
disclaimer: I don't own nothin
-----------Master of the House-----------
Chapter 5
Inch by inch they were dragged closer to the maw of the hungry beast. A scream for help was echoing through the room as it mingled with the fiendish laughing of Kyubi. Fight as they may, there was no escape, they were bonds, pure chakra, chakra so terrible and overwhelming no mere mortal even attempt to break it. As the Yamanaka's prepared for their fates as the maw of the horrible creature began to close down on them a horrible scream rang through the room, yet it was not they're own. As they opened their eye to see their bonds gone and the creature on the other side of the cage howling in pain as a blue energy pulsing through the cage seems to crack out at it and force it into submission. Suddenly they felt something grab the back of their collars and drag them backwards away from the cage and to their freedom and safety. Turning they saw a boy who they both recognized as the one they left in the hospital bed in the waking world. Before they could open their mouths he turned away and walked to a door that appeared in what was once the nothingness of this vast expanse of a room, opening the door and turning only partly to say "follow me" in voice that send chills down both spines. When they went through the door they found a large round room with a black curtain following the wall, a many large round mirrors that seem to hang in mid air, supported by nothing, and finally a series of circular platforms that acted like stairs up to what only be described as a throne of sorts, but like the rest of the room, it seemed old and somehow tired. Sitting, or more so laying so his feet hung over the side as he rested his head against the other arm rest was Naruto, and yet he seemed older, and very tired. With tired red eyes, obviously from crying, Naruto down at them and in a cold, void of emotion voice asked, "Why are you here"
"I was asked to come in and bring you out and WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT MONSTER OUT THERE", Ino asks/screamed at Naruto.
"Kyubi", Inoshi said in one word, "but what confuses me is this, if he is out there, then what are you, you obviously have the same human form as that monster"
"KYUBI!!!", Ino screamed in shock, "the same one that almost destroyed the village 13 years ago, the same one that killed the 4th in a battle to the death, wait, didn't he get killed in that battle as well?"
"No, he was forced into a human form, given a baby's form, who grew up into that, a monster that should have been slaughtered at creation", Inoshi said with venom
"If all you have done is come to insult me, at least tell the story correctly", Naruto said plainly, "I know you were told the correct version, I saw you there at the debriefing", he said pointing to one of the mirrors showing an image from up on high of a group of shinobi, obviously injured and battle exhausted, and in one of the rows was Inoshi, standing next to two men Ino and Inoshi both recognized as Shikato and Chomaru. In the background, the Third could be heard talking.
"With the death of the Fourth, we are left without a leader, by the Fourth's will, I shall take up the position of Hokage again.", the Third said, "Moreover, I will now read the Fourth's last instructions, first, I the Fourth Hokage, here by apologize for abandoning my post for the afterlife, but I leave Sarutobi-sama the position, and therefore you all in good hands, second, the infant in front of you, assuming he survived the process, is the mortal vessel for the demon Kyubi. As I have not been able to find a process to kill the demon, I have been forced to seal it into this innocent who will carry it to the day he dies, a hero to us all. He is to become a ward of the state under the direct supervision of Sarutobi- sama.", with this the Third stopped talking and the image changed as if lifted to a higher elevation, then put down to its original position. Afterwards, the group of injured ninja could be heard murmuring, saying things like, "Look at those whisker marks", "all they did was give the demon a new form", "I give him five years before he destroys us all", before the conversations got too far, the Third interrupted again, "while you may not agree with what has been done, it has come to pass, I am the protector of this child, no harm shall come to this innocent under penalty of death, "the Third paused as most of the audience looked slightly angry and unbelieving, "furthermore, we are not to speak of this ever again, history is to state that the Kyubi was killed in the battle with the Fourth, and that this child is just a war orphan, now moving along, the rest of the instructions the Fourth left us...", the Third was starting to say as the image and sound faded to black and both Ino and Inoshi turned back to Naruto
"While you may believe what you want, you know better", Naruto said
"How can you remember that, you were but hours old", Inoshi asked confused
"Another curse all together, by some fluke I have perfect memory, I can perfectly recall every event in my life, from my first moments of consciousness to right now, in perfect detail", Naruto said as he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose
"Sounds like the gift of a demon", Inoshi said
"Perfect memory, a gift, A GIFT!!!, Would you call it a gift to see every glare, every cold look you ever received, every cold word, every mean thing people have done to you, for all time, to never be able to escape them, all because you had something put in you body with out your consent, to be labeled a monster at birth, to have every one who could remember the Kyubi and what really happen hate you for no reason, to have they're ignorant children hate you for no reason other than just because they're parents do, a gift you call it, it is a curse", Naruto stood and screamed at the two, "to answer your earlier question, I am Naruto, that out there is the Kyubi, he who is bound to me for all time. You all hate me so much, for something that I can't control, you all fear me, that I will come and destroy you all, for someone with so much power, you all certainly take your lives into your own hands by constantly treating me like garbage. All I want is to be left alone, left to wonder my mind and hope that my body dies and oblivion follows, but since you seem to believe you need to bother me and that I am a monster, that I am garbage, maybe you should no what it's like to be garbage.", and with that Naruto disappeared from sight only to reappear behind them. When they turned to face him he touched both they're foreheads, "See what it's like to live my life"
Ino and Inoshi fell to the ground, their mind assaulted with images, memories of Naruto's life, every glare, every unkind word, all directed at them. Face after face of people they knew, some who they would judge to be the kindest people on the planet, their faces twisted and contorted into scowls with vile, hurtful words coming out. It was too much, far too much for anyone to bare all at once, and one final image for both of them were themselves, far uglier then they could ever possible imagine, saying the most horrible things. As the assault ended, both Yamanaka's fell to the ground.
"And with this final gift, leave and bother me no more", Naruto said as both Yamanaka's faded away leaving Naruto to himself. Back in the real world both Ino and her father immediately regained consciousness, looking deathly ill, enough so that both immediately vomited. Tsunade and Shizune catching both of them, heard Inoshi say something right before he lost consciousness, "My gods, we're monsters".
Several days later both Inoshi and Ino woke from the coma they had been in. Ino had been so upset that she immediately wanted to be released to go see Naruto. Granting her request, if she would allow a complete check up before hand, Tsunade dragged Inoshi into another room and began to question him, "So what the hell happened in there"
"We were so wrong, so very wrong for what we did to that boy", Inoshi said, eyes downcast
"What do you mean?"
"He showed us everything, every horrible thing that has been done to him in his life", he said, "What the villagers do to him, what I have done to him is inexcusable"
"But why did he show you all that"
"Something I said", Inoshi said then suddenly remembering something, "I forgot, what's his physical condition right now"
"So far it's still fairly healthy, but he's degrading, at this rate in week he will start to fall apart, even if we maintain his health best we can, I can't say he will survive, this is different from your usual coma, why do you ask?"
"Something he said, he is waiting for his body to die, hoping for it, he wants to die and if we don't get him out of his mind soon he won't be able to come back"
"Then what do you suggest, last time we tried to wake him, he immediately forced unconsciousness on himself, how, I'm not even sure"
"We drag him out, if I can get a hold of him and then cancel my jitsu, it will force him back into consciousness, during that time we seal him into the waking world, it won't last long, especially with his mind, but long enough for us to at least try and help him. I just need a scroll from home, the help of my daughter since no one else is available and two hours to rest and refresh myself."
"Alright, meet me in his room in two hours time"
Two hours later, Inoshi and Ino were in position to perform their jitsu once more. Sitting on the side lines were Tsunade and Jiraiya, along with a handful of ANBU stationed outside in case there were any problems. Along with them sat Hinata and Shizune to observe and help with any medical conditions that may come up. As the two Yamanaka's prepared them selves a seal was being painted onto Naruto's forehead thru the wrapping that covered his body and hid his physical changes. Once all was prepared, Inoshi told Tsunade that once he awakes, immediately finish the seal and he will be trapped.
Ino and her father, going thru the proper hand signs found their mind leaving their bodies and floating towards Naruto's. Once they were in they found them selves back and the beginning of the memory hallway. Running to get to the main chamber, they passed by the collapsed hallway, remembering her curiosity from the last visit she asked her father about it.
"From the looks of it, it was most likely part of separate set of memories. There are a couple reasons for it, one, a split personality, or possibly amnesia or it very well could be implanted memory run off", Inoshi answered as they ran
"What is that, the implanted memory one", Ino questioned
"If you change or replace someone's memories, the original has to go somewhere, but from what you said about it going all the way to the present, it's probably not that"
"Then what was the hallway, from what I could tell it look different than this one, but just as well crafted, if it was amnesia wouldn't it look sloppier"
"True, so honestly, I can't say, but for now, lets just focus on this mission and get it done", and with that hurried to the end of the hall, coming to the massive void that held the Kyubi. Entering the chamber, they both ran for the door that they had gone through before, glad that the Kyubi seemed to be asleep. Entering they found Naruto sitting in his throne, eyes closed with tears leaking out as memories played on all of the mirrors.
"Why have you returned, can't you leave me in peace", Naruto asked without even looking at them
"Why are you crying", Ino asked with compassion as she walked up to his throne, her father trying to grab her, "what has turned you from annoying, hyperactive Naruto to this cold person who wants to be left alone"
"He is dead, killed by that Uchiha bastard, trapping me here or worse, out there, in the real world", Naruto answered her
"Who, who did Sasuke kill", she asked getting closer to him
"He who was most important to me, my salvation, and my sunshine"
"If he killed someone wouldn't he be under arrest, wouldn't there be a body"
"No, no body, utterly destroyed", he said as the tears began to fall faster
But he's not..." and then it dawned on her, maybe she didn't understand all of it, but from what her father said about the hall way, why Naruto seemed so different and cold, why he was grieving, "Have we met before?", she asked
"No, he was here before I started going to the academy"
"I'm Yamanaka Ino, nice to meet you", as she held out her hand with a big honest smile on her face.
"I know who you are", he said as he opened his eyes and looked at her questioningly, "I have all his memories, why are you here"
"To beg forgiveness for what I have done to you your whole life", Inoshi said as he dropped to his knee's and begged forgiveness
"Why, why should I believe you"
"Because, if it takes the rest of my life, I will continue to apologize for how I have wronged you and only hope that one day you can forgive me", he said, head pressed to the ground
Turning back to Ino, "Even if you apologize, it still leaves me with the hate of the rest of the village, and the love of no one", he then closed his eyes again, "Leave, or I will force you out"
Before he could truly settle back down Ino had come right up next to him, "Stay away from me", he said in a slightly panicked voice as she reached out to touch him, backing into the throne, "Don't....touch...me, STAY AWAY!!" he began to scream, terrified of her very touch, curled into a fetal position, "Please go and leave me be", he said as she began to wrap her arms around him. "NO!!!" he screamed as she hugged him, causing her to tighten her grip as he shook in fear.
"It's time you came back, there are people out there who want to meet you, to make sure that you aren't alone, that you are loved", she said, trying to reassure him
"No touch, only pain, pain, go, please go", he said as he shook and cried
"I promise, I won't let anyone hurt you again", she said and with that she left, pulling him with her. In the real world his eyes opened, and Tsunade finished the seal, trapping him in the waking world. He immediately tried to return to his mind and found that he couldn't, trying again and again as he became more terrified, more fragile. Finally giving up as the rest of the group just backed up to let him tire himself out, he hugged his knee's to his chest and his face to his legs, he began to shake back and forth, mumbling the same thing over and over again, "No, trapped, only pain, only hate, everyone hate, can't escape". After a few seconds of this, the shock finally wore off Hinata and she clearly heard what he said, against her judgment and her sense of embarrassment, she did what all her natural instincts and heart told her to, she walked up to Naruto and wrapped her armed around him, pulling him into an embrace, a strong one, with all the love and compassion she could muster. Even when her cheeks were redder than she could ever imagine, she still held on for dear life. After a moment of this Ino joined her, trying to soothe and comfort the boy, eventually, even Shizune and Tsunade joined in, it took awhile, but there combined efforts were enough to finally calm the terrified boy.
The next day Hinata came to check on Naruto, along with Ino, to discover his room empty and his chart saying he was released. Racing to the Hokage's office, the too girls entered to find her saying goodbye to a man jumping out her window.
"Hokage-sama, what happened to Naruto, the hospital says he was released", Hinata asked, a little louder and more emotionally then she normally would be
"Yeah, where did he go, his mind is far too fragile for him to be back out there amongst the villagers", Ino added
"Don't worry, Naruto needed counseling to deal with his problem, and staying in the village wasn't going to help him get better any faster, so he left with Shizune, who will be counseling him and Jiraiya, who will be protecting him, he seems to trust them enough to tolerate their presence", Tsunade said as she sat down at her desk and sipped her tea.
"But when is he coming back", both girls asked at the same time
"He needs time to recover from the mental abuse, after discussing it with you father, Yamanaka-san, he is to spend one year outside this village with his identity unknown, so he can reintegrate into a social setting. During this time he will have to relearn many of his social skills as well as learn to deal with other people, including those who dislike him. It is our job to ensure that when he returns that it is to open, friendly arms, and hope that he can stand the abuse."
With that, both girls left the Hokage's office and found themselves quite worried for Naruto, Ino, as someone who promised she would protect him from those who hated him, and Hinata, as someone who respected him, admired him and above all else, loved him. Hinata vowed that while she may never have had the courage to tell him before, after this event, she was going to darn well make sure he knew he was loved, even if she had to beat it into that dull head of his. Slightly shocked by her violent and forward idea, she blushed and followed Ino out the door to return to her work, her life and to wait for Naruto's return.
Ok, this is the end of the first section of my story, there is plenty more. Before everyone starts to speculate who I will be pairing Naruto with, I haven't decided, I am leaning towards a Naru/Hina pairing with a Naru/Ino sort of brother sister relationship, but I can't say that is how I am going to do it, it's for much later in my story when they are older and can do far more with themselves.....Insert Hentai smile here with slight nosebleed