Uzumaki Naruto was less then highly pleased. Kyuubi had told him that he had two days to himself. But early this morning When Naruto staggered in after spending the night on the town, Kyuubi had told him to change clothes and follow.
Baka-Kitsune what the hell is so important that it couldn't wait a couple of hours for me to get some rest
Now if I told you everything kit, what fun would there be in it for you?
But you told me I had forty eight hours to myself. I only got to use what… twelve? I'm I didn't even catch a short nap before I went out with the girls.
You're my pupil now kit. Do you want to learn or not?
OF COURSE I want to learn, you could have given me a little bit more warning however. You haven't even told me what's so Damn Important that I'm wandering around at three o-clock in the morning to find it.
You professed an Interest in gathering more summons in case of emergencies did you not?
…Yes, but what does that have to do with my current…
Be still a moment, I'm going to come out and show you.
A moment later the seal on Naruto's stomach glowed red, and then, like water flowing out of a spring, out poured Kyuubi.
"I still don't see why I'm toting you around."
"Because I can tinker with your senses, and there was no time to waste."
"Ok, are you done yet?"
"Yes."
"What did you change?"
"Nothing."
"NANI? Then why?!?"
Kyuubi chuckled for a moment,
"Because I was tired kit, and until you began your infernal whining, I was getting a nice nap."
"Why you BAKA, ERO….KITSUNE!"
"You may want to work on your insults kit. The last one was pretty weak."
Naruto went red in the face and began stuttering, but Kyuubi ignored him.
"Now, we are nearly to the Focus, when we get there you will no longer be under my control."
Just after he said this, Naruto noticed him lift up a feather that glowed a dull red in the dark.
"W...what is that Kyuubi-san?"
"This kit is a Phoenix feather."
"A Pho…Phoenix?!? They actually exist?"
"Of course kit. In fact most of your old lessons are based in a truth."
"Where did you get the feather from Kyuubi-san?"
Kyuubi looked at Naruto for a moment.
"A phoenix was up in the rafters in the common room. I can only assume that it was looking for some-one or some-thing has caught the attention of their community. Phoenixes are usually fairly curious, so my guess is that one of the young ones was trying to get a glimpse of the last of the hated Uzumaki's."
"… Hated? Why would they hate me? What have I done to them?"
"Not you kit. Your… Let me think, your Great great great greatgreatgreatgreat Bah… One of your early ancestors caused Major trouble with a rouge Phoenix as his companion."
"A... A ROUGE Phoenix?"
"Yes, Coldflame the white I believe. Humans are not the only beings that are corruptible you know. Unfortunately even though it was Coldflame that led you ancestor astray, the Phoenix lay the blame for his death squarely at the feet of the Uzumaki clan."
"Why?"
"Because the young man's father laid the blame at the feet of the lord of the Phoenix. Their elder, Monato Siame. The Uzumaki's refused the apology of the Phoenix, and it resulted in the equivalent of a blood feud between your two peoples."
Naruto had begun to dislike the way this story was going
"My ancestor sounds like an ass."
"That would be because he was. I never much cared for the man myself, personally I still think that his son went off the deep end just to get away from his father. Regardless, I've brought you here in an attempt to make restitutions. I warn you however. You will be Killed if you cannot complete their trials."
Naruto thought hard for a moment, swallowed hard, and took a deep breath.
"To set right an old wrong, I will attempt to regain the trust of the phoenix. Do what needs to be done Kyuubi."
"Good lad. Hold tight Kit, this isn't going to be a smooth transition."
----Two hours later----
"What are we waiting for Kyuubi-san?"
"Sunrise."
"Why?"
"Because shortly before sunrise marks forty-eight hours awake for you correct?"
"Yes, but why does that…"
"Tradition states that you must remain awake for forty-eight hours or more prior to any meeting with the Phoenix. It's a mark of respect, pride, and a certain stubborn streak. To be honest I'm doubting that they will appear even then."
"Then why on earth am I…"
"Because if they won't come to you, you must go to them. You are currently standing in the center of an ancient Gateway to the shadow dimensions. It was here that we the Youma fought the final battle of the war of shadows. The Phoenix will meet you here if they are willing, and you will impress them by arriving from here if they are not."
Hinata was stumbling back from the bar with Ten-ten and Ino each hanging on to one of her arms. It was dawn.
Naruto-kun, Be glad that you left. I don't know what these two might have done to you in the state their in.
Hinata herself hadn't had anything to drink. Every time she had managed to get a glass of Sake' either or Ino or Ten-ten had picked it up and thanked her for buying another shot for them.
Naruto-kun I'm REALLY glad you left when you did. Only a half hour after you left I was trying to keep them from hunting you down to flash you.
Hinata had barely gotten the two girls back to their room when she remembered that she had forgotten her coat back in the bar. Normally she wouldn't have been seen without it on, but Naruto being so close had seemed to heat the room just by his presence. After he left she had been to busy keeping her friends from doing something stupid to put it back on.
Kurenai met her at the Door.
"Kurenai-Sensei? Can you take care of these two for me? I think that I left my coat back at the bar."
Kurenai gave Hinata a searching look before shrugging.
"Sure, I suppose. Just don't get lost, and don't lose your head. The…less likable people tend to be heading home at this time of day. But that doesn't mean that they will hesitate to attack a lone woman who looks weak."
Hinata raced back toward the bar at her top speed.
Most bars close by this time, Oh PLEASE say that I'm still in time.
Hinata arrived just in time to step into the bar as the last people were stepping out.
"Pardon me miss, but we're closed."
"A...ano sir, but I forgot my coat."
"Alright, but make it quick. I want to go home and go to bed."
Hinata ran to the back of the room and grabbed her coat. As she did Hinata noticed that the necklace that Naruto had been showing them earlier that night.
Now what's THAT doing here? Perhaps I should go return it.
That was how Hinata found herself in front of Naruto's door it was still ten minutes or so till sun-up. Hinata was thinking that she had probably made a stupid mistake coming here however.
He's probably been sleeping for HOURS by now. It'd be stupid to wake him just to return a trinket. I'll give it back to him tomorrow.
What Hinata DIDN'T notice was a pair of blood red eyes watching her from the shadows
What is THAT doing still around. I thought I got rid of that damn crystal when I killed off that Stupid kid… His sister must have grabbed it before he was buried. DAMMIT. Another blunder, oh well this one should be easy enough to take care of.
As Hinata started down the street she couldn't help but feel uneasy. Every time she turned around however there was no-one there. Just as she was about to speed up however a man emerged from the alleyway in front of her, another from the alley behind. Hinata began to breathe deeper. She wasn't paying much attention to the Man behind her, but she couldn't help but notice that the man in front had a pair of scaly black wings folded around himself like a coat.
"Time to die little girl."
Nobody was close enough to hear her scream.
Naruto looked up at Kyuubi.
"I don't think that they are coming. This building has been sitting in front of us for the last ten minutes. It's nearly dawn."
"This 'building' is nothing but an illusion kit."
"WHAT? I can see it, it blocks light, if I walked over to it I could."
"Pass right through it" Interrupted Kyuubi "This is the building that the houses the seal to the dark planes. Most humans are grounded too much in the 'real' world to touch the metaphysical world, You included. This building will vanish as soon as the sun actually appears above the horizon. But you are right. The time has come."
Kyuubi looked directly into Naruto's eyes
"Are you certain about this? Once started there is no return short of completion. To fail is to die. Death is final, and Only one human in 10,000 was ever able to survive this even in the best of times."
Naruto stared into his eyes
"I'm ready, Begin."
Kyuubi nodded and spread his arms to the morning light.
"Now is the hour, the hour when night dies and the new day begins. Witness the dawning of a new flame!"
Hearing these words said, Naruto, as instructed sliced open the back of his right arm with a kunai. Kyuubi pressed the feather onto the cut Naruto had made.
"Blood to strengthen, fire to bind, feather to beckon, Phoenix to find."
With that the feather began to glow brighter and brighter. It Began to flicker first it pulsed in time with Naruto's heart, It turned from red to blue and then to white with orange edges before suddenly burning with a black flame that illuminated the entire building. Naruto was in extreme pain, all traces of his former sleepiness were scrubbed as the feather slowly sank into his skin. Naruto was about to sink into the welcome blackness that passing would give when the pain suddenly disappeared. Naruto looked up into a pair of eyes that burned with a hatred which made the black flame the feather had burned with moments before seem cool. Naruto instantly became aware of more than two dozen eyes suddenly fixing themselves on his back.
"And who," said a cold voice "Let YOU in?"
Yes I know that this chapter isn't near as long as the last, but if you've been following my works at all you know that the REALLY long chapters are few and far between. Anyway, I hope none of you hate me to much because of my nice little cliffhanger. If you do... Tough ;-) On to the replies.
boredathome: I'll consider it. they'll probably be throwing themselves at Naruto for a little while longer though.
DarkGarra: You are either the only person to guess that or the only person to ask, but yes.
RyokoTenchi: Ecchi ;-) Keep your mind outta the gutter pervert D
Donut-Nin: Actuly it was the Air guy that got knocked out. the fangirls thought that the old man was Naruto. He may have a bit of a problem with Temari since Kyuubi has him... indisposed... at the moment
Dragon Man 180: No, I hadn't considered having him pull a Tsunade, interesting Idea however. I was going to put Sasuke back in, but I left that section on another computer accidentally oh well.
TimeShifter: That would indeed be to OOC, and yes.
To everyone else: Thank you again for all your reviews, even the one lines saying that you liked it, Perhaps especally them. The more reviews, the higher the motivation. Keep em coming.
Sincerly,
Manatheron
