Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Naruto in any way or form.

Kyubi Unleashed

By DigiScanner-Shonen

Chapter 5: Preparations

Tsunade was beginning to pack for the Kage Council, taking place in the Village Hidden in the Sand, remembering those words that Jiraiya had told her.

"A monster..."

It kept echoing in her mind. So this disaster is some kind of monster, she thought. If it was easy for it to defeat Jiraiya that easily, it must be very bad. She hated to think of what would happen if it continued to go unchecked. All those poor people that had to go through what happened...

Tsunade grabbed some socks and stuffed them in her case. What else was there to pack? She had clothes, important documents, some sake... This was going to be her first meeting of the other Kages. She was the first woman to be leader of the Fire Country, so being the only woman Kage in that room would be kind of awkward. She wondered if the other Kages might try to hit on her. If they did, they'd be greeted with a swift smack upside the head.

The meeting would be to discuss current affairs like Orochimaru's attack during the Chuunin Tournament, which was still unfinished. Maybe after the meeting Tsunade could order the Exam to be finished. She had heard that Uzumaki Naruto competed in it and had advanced to the semi-finals. She'd have liked to see how exactly the young Genin fought against his opponents...

She was also going to the meeting to press about the existence of the monster that Jiraiya fought and emerged in the Cloud Country. Maybe the other countries have information on this as well, she thought. If we pool our resources together, we might have a chance to combat this disaster.

There was a knock at the door. Tsunade went to answer. She was greeted with a small army of shinobis, all ready to escort her to the Sand Country.

"Hokage-sama!" they said in unison, "We are ready to serve you!"

"Thank you. Just hold on a moment, I need to pack one more thing," she replied.

"Yes, ma'am!"

Tsunade went back in and double-checked everything she had packed. One thing was missing. She'd need it for luck. She searched her house over and under and found it nowhere. Then, she saw it on her desk, by the counter.

It was a picture of her, Jiraiya, Naruto and Shizune, together in the shade of a large tree, looking happy.

This photo was taken just before Tsunade official became Hokage. She couldn't just leave without it. These were the people who most believed in her, the people who helped her realise her duty to become Hokage. Every time she was down and felt she couldn't go on, she looked at that photo. And every time, she felt her strength renew.

Tsunade folded the picture and put it inside the case. She closed it shut, locked the door to her house and, with her shinobi bodyguards, headed off for the Sand Country.

Haruno Sakura was sitting down to dinner with her parents. Tonight's meal was spaghetti and meatballs, courtesy of Mrs. Haruno. Since becoming closer to Naruto, Sakura had been happier than she had ever been crushing on Sasuke. But now she felt nervous. Not because the meatballs were uncooked on one side, not because she was supposed to do her long avoided chores tonight, and not because Ino was treating her better now since Sakura had given up Sasuke.

It was because she hadn't told her mother and father about her and Naruto.

Sakura picked at her noodles with a fork. She probably knew how they were going to react. But how to break it to them gently? Mrs. Haruno asked her daughter what was wrong, but Sakura said nothing. Mr. Haruno said she looked a bit pale and to tell them what was wrong. She could tell them anything and they wouldn't be upset. Sakura was really nervous now. Telling her parents about what was going on between her and Naruto?

"Come on, Sakura," Mrs. Haruno said, "Don't hide things from us."

"Again, you can tell us anything and we won't become upset," Mr. Haruno added as he finished his plate.

"Are you sure, Mom, Dad?" Sakura asked.

"Of course, hon. We'll back up your decision no matter what," Mrs. Haruno said.

"So what's wrong?" Mr. Haruno wondered.

Sakura took a deep breath. In and out, she told herself, in and out. Breath of Empowerment, that's what was taught to her at the Ninja Academy. Taking a final breath, Sakura calmed herself and began.

"Well, there's this guy..."

"Still on that boy Sasuke, hmmm?"

"Not really, Mom. Anyway, I used to hate him. He always did something stupid and was kind of clueless about everything. But then he showed me things that I really never knew he could do. He did special jutsus that barely anyone knew. He demonstrated fierce determination in the face of danger. He showed me something I never saw in him before."

"Sounds like a special boy," Mr. Haruno said.

"He is, Daddy. Only recently did he open up about his feelings about me. At first I didn't return them, but then I grew to like him back. He's really special, to me at least."

"A new crush, huh? Finally given up on the unattainable Uchiha Sasuke-kun?"

"Yes, Mom. I gave up on Sasuke-kun because he never returned anything I gave him. He always gave me the cold shoulder and I always felt cold inside, but with this new boy, I feel, well...very warm inside."

"So tell us, who is this new boy that you like?"

"Daddy, do you really want to know? Mom, same with you?"

"Of course," they both replied.

"All right. His name," Sakura began and let it hang for a moment. She wasn't really sure she should tell them, but they had asked for it. She took another Breath of Empowerment and said:

"...is Uzumaki Naruto."

Instantly, her parents' faces turned from curiosity to hatred.

"You stay away from that boy," Mr. Haruno said simply.

"But Daddy, I can't. He's in my team!"

"We'll negotiate something with your sensei."

"Daddy, I can't stay away from Naruto-kun. I'm the only one he truly relates to. I care about him!"

"You can't care about a monster," Mrs. Haruno said.

"Monster? He's not dangerous! Only when he fights against a powerful opponent is he dangerous! He saved me from that strange Sand Ninja Gaara when he and I went after Sasuke-kun during Orochimaru's attack!"

"You went WITH HIM?!" Mr. Haruno burst out, "How long have you been doing this?"

"Only recently by ourselves. We always go with Sasuke-kun and Kakashi- sensei for training and missions."

"I don't want you seeing him again."

"Daddy, he's my friend! Maybe more! I can't stop seeing Naruto-kun!"

"You can and you will!"

"Why do you hate him so much? He hasn't done anything to you!"

"He's done something to everyone in Konoha!"

"What did he do? Tell me!"

"It's his fault that the Forth Hokage is dead!"

"Are you saying Naruto-kun was somehow involved in what happened twelve years ago? He wasn't even born then! How could he be involved with something like that when he didn't exist yet?"

"There is something inside of him that is so dangerous, it has made everyone in town hate him! If it breaks free while you're with him, I hate to think of the consequences of what will happen to the village and you!"

"Sakura, you must understand, we're only trying to protect you," Mrs. Haruno put in.

"Protect me? From what? From Naruto-kun? From the thing inside him? Tell me, what do you hate about him? The boy or the thing inside him?"

Mr. and Mrs. Haruno were at a loss of words. Sakura had a point. They didn't really hate the boy, it was the monster inside of him. Sure Naruto did plenty of wrong things, but it was to get attention.

"Naruto-kun doesn't have anyone! He has no parents, unlike me and the other Genins of Konoha. He told me he only does the things he does to get attention! The only person who ever treated him like a human being was Iruka-sensei! He was as much a father to him as you are to me, Daddy. All he wants is attention and perhaps love! So far, only Iruka-sensei and I have given it to him. We see past the terror that he holds and see Naruto- kun for who he really is! I care about him and he cares about me! If you're going to try and stop me from caring about him, you'll have to kill me!"

Sakura's parents took this all in. They remembered what he held inside him. The demon fox from twelve years ago that ravaged the country. He was sacrificed to bear the fox's presence. Then they thought of the actual boy. How he must have grown up all alone without love, despised because of not who he is, but what he had within. His loneliness must have been extremely overbearing.

Mrs. Haruno looked at her husband. He was one of the survivors who fought the fox from twelve years ago. Of course he would hate the fox for all eternity, but he too must surely be thinking this over.

"Sakura, please excuse your father and I for a moment," Mrs. Haruno said. She took her husband and moved to the kitchen, where Sakura couldn't hear. "Please Yosuke, think about it."

"That boy is dangerous, Miya."

"You heard Sakura talk about him. He keeps the demon fox in check. It hasn't broken out for many years."

"What if it breaks out? What do we do then, hmmm?"

"Yosuke, she loves Naruto. She doesn't even know that he bears Kyubi for all eternity. You heard her speak about him with all her heart."

"I preferred it better when she was infatuated with the Uchiha boy."

"Hon, she gave up on Sasuke-kun because he was always cold to her. You know that he's all that's left of the Uchiha clan and he's obsessed with killing his older brother. The Uchiha's have a dark secret too and with either Naruto-kun or Sasuke-kun we would have to tell our daughter."

"Girls always pick the boy with the deep, dark secret."

"Well, that's why I found you attractive, Yosuke," Mrs. Haruno said, putting her head on Yosuke's shoulder, "We can't deny her her feelings forever."

"Miya, that thing could break out at any time and begin its revenge on us all!"

"Please, Yosuke, just try to get to know the boy. Do what Sakura told us, 'look past what he holds inside of him'. It wouldn't hurt to extend some hospitality and generosity to Naruto-kun. Besides, the fox might be watching from inside of him and maybe getting to know about caring between people has softened it a bit."

Yosuke was silent for a moment, think about it. He still thought extremely low of Kyubi, but Miya and Sakura were right. He did need to look past what Naruto had inside. He took a deep breath and looked down to floor and mumbled something.

"Hmmm? I couldn't hear that, honey," Miya said.

"I said I'll try to make the boy feel welcome. Ask Sakura to invite him to dinner tomorrow."

"She'll be so pleased. Thank you," Mrs. Haruno gave her husband a kiss on the cheek and went to tell her daughter the good news.

Haruno Yosuke could hear Sakura's voice screaming in glee and saw her rush in and hug him. Yosuke smiled a bit, thinking of just how happy Sakura must be.

He just prayed he could overlook his bitterness towards Naruto and share the same kind of joy.

Uchiha Sasuke had done everything the scroll told him. He cleared his mind. He made sure that nothing could distract him. He had put his home under lock and key and was about to read the first part of the scroll.

As he went over last minute checks, Sasuke couldn't help but feel a bit excited. If he was right, the scroll would tell him how to unlock his true power and he'd be able to beat both Naruto and his brother Itachi.

Sasuke started out as an elite shinobi and wanted to stay that way. But to have his power threatened by a dense, ramen-scarfing blonde ninja was unacceptable. Sasuke usually thought less of Naruto since becoming team- mates with him and Sakura, but recently he had shown some real power. Naruto was able to take on Haku back in the Wave Country. He had defeated Gaara of the Desert during Orochimaru's attack. He trained with Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Ninjas of the Leaf. Gradually, Sasuke had begun to respect Naruto not only as a ninja, but as a rival as well.

Still, he hated Naruto. His brother, Itachi, had passed over Sasuke, looking for Naruto and the power inside him. Sasuke had fought Itachi, but it still wasn't enough. Sasuke was still defeated. Naruto may have fared worse than him, but he may have fared better still. And it was because of something inside him. Something that had driven him to do all these things. Sasuke wanted to know exactly what that power was.

And if he could, claim it for himself.

Sasuke entered his room and reached for the scroll hidden under his pillow. With the Sharingan, Sasuke was a formidable opponent. With Orochimaru's Curse Seal, Sasuke was dangerous. With the techniques that Kakashi-sensei taught him, Sasuke could be named the best Genin of the Rookie Nine of Ninja Academy. Now combined with this scroll which could unleash all his power, he would be one of the most powerful ninjas in Konohagakure, if not the most powerful.

Sasuke again cleared his mind and opened the scroll to read what it contained.

It was time to unleash his true power.

Uzumaki Naruto was training on the outskirts of town. He was working on tree climbing again, to focus his chakra. It was still one of his weakest points as a shinobi. He had picked an extremely tall tree to climb and wanted to reach the top with no problem. So far, he had only made it halfway, but the blonde ninja wasn't one to give up so easily. Again thinking of his Sakura-chan cheering him on and beating that baka Sasuke was enough to keep him going.

Focusing the all the chakra he would need to get to the top, Naruto could feel the energy flowing to his feet.

Ready, steady, GO!!

Naruto was off like a light. He dashed towards the tree and made a jump onto the tree. He wasted no time in running upwards to the top. Everything was rushing past him. He went farther and farther up. He was almost past the halfway point when he felt something stir within him again. It was Kyubi again, still uneasy about what was coming.

Naruto tried to make Kyubi ignore it, but doing that meant concentration, but he also needed to concentrate on what he was doing or he would fall down again. The stirrings in him were so strong that it was making Naruto slip. He reluctantly pulled back from the tree and headed for the ground to talk to Kyubi.

"Kyubi, what's wrong with you? You've been like this for days," he silently muttered, sure Kyubi could hear him. Before he could ask further on what was wrong, he heard Sakura's voice.

"Hey Naruto-kun!"

"Sakura-chan! Hey!" Naruto waved as he saw her rushing to him and he went to greet her, "What's up?"

"Hold on a second," Sakura panted as she caught her breath, "Why don't you ever train IN the village?"

"I just don't like to."

"Sounds reasonable. Anyway, my parents want to invite you over to dinner tomorrow night."

"Really? They want ME there?" Naruto was in shock. Eating with Sakura- chan's parents was something he never thought possible.

"Of course. They'd love to have you. I hope you bring your huge appetite tomorrow because Daddy's going to cook up a feast for us."

"I wouldn't miss it for the world, Sakura-chan! What time should I be there?"

"I'd say around six o'clock would be good."

"Great! I'll be there at five! I wonder what the course will be..."

"I don't know, but Mom says it'll be delicious. I got to go. I'll see you tomorrow, then, Naruto-kun! Ja mata ne!" Sakura said as she headed off for home.

"Ja ne, Sakura-chan!" Naruto said. Oh man, eating at her place would be great, he thought. What with the food and the occasion just for him and the parents...

Just then Naruto thought of something. Sakura-chan's parents. He had never thought of talking to them. He'd just be intimidated by them. He knew how everyone felt about him, so Sakura-chan's parents would be the same. Even just sitting in the same room with him made anybody uncomfertable. Naruto started wondering what exactly was in their minds, asking him to dine with them. Were they going to kill him?

Naruto began to wonder why he ever said yes in the first place.

TO BE CONTINUED!

Well, do you like this part or not? Let me know by reviewing! And keep a lookout for the next chapter coming soon.