Three: Rage


A young woman sat atop a grassy knoll overlooking a vast sea of green, individual blades undulating in the light breeze that gently whistled over the meadow. This was her favorite place to meditate, about a mile from the Hyuuga compound, a small, lush wonderland where patches of wildflowers grew and woodland animals chattered to each other as they headed off on their daily excursions for food. There was something very peaceful about the meadow, an air of serene contentment that settled in her heart as she tilted her face toward the sky, eyes closed and hands resting lightly on her knees.

Though it was only mid-afternoon, her day had begun before the sun rose. As with every morning, she performed a series of complicated strengthening exercises as soon as she woke, followed by a sparring session with her sister Hanabi and instruction from her father and the elders on diplomacy and the ways of a clan leader. It would be some time before she assumed control over their flock, her father still as alert and hale as a youth, but it did not hurt to be prepared. With war looming on the horizon, the probability of suffering casualties was high, and it was impossible to determine who would be left standing by the end. If her father were to die, she would have to be ready to take her place as heir of the Hyuuga legacy.

At first, the prospect of such a large burden being placed on her shoulders frightened her beyond words, but she had since resigned herself to her destiny, looking it squarely in the eye with cool determination. Her debilitating shyness she cast off like a child who loses interest in a favorite toy, yet her nature remained quiet and somewhat reserved. The difference now was that when she spoke, people listened, and when she put on her game face, her challengers took her seriously.

She smiled as a curious butterfly fluttered about her nose and gave a contented sigh. "Beautiful," she murmured.

Nearby, a lone figure crested a hill, one hand shielding his eyes from the bright sunlight, a medium-sized white and tan dog loping along by his side, pink tongue lolling.

"So, she's over there, eh, Akamaru?"

The dog barked an enthusiastic confirmation, and Kiba grinned. His faithful canine partner always did have a soft spot for Hinata, most likely because she usually had a treat hidden for him in the hood of her jacket when they were younger.

"I guess she really likes it out here," he mused, breathing in deeply. His sharp nose detected a hint of jasmine combined with the musky fragrance of wood shavings, and his eyes became soft. "Her scent's part of the atmosphere now."

Akamaru made a sly remark—in his own language, of course—about Kiba's more than apparent interest in the owner of that lovely scent, at which point his master called him a 'gossiping half-wit who has no idea what he's talking about,' and straightened his travel-stained vest with a brisk tug, two tiny spots of color on his cheeks. Akamaru sniggered in the manner of dogs, though refrained from venturing any further comments out of mercy for his feckless human.

They walked in companionable silence for a minute or so until Hinata's back came into view, her long, glossy violet hair free of bindings to flow over her shoulders. She wore a sleeveless, undyed wraparound tunic secured at the waist with a thick sash and black breeches that cut off just below the knee. Even from his vantage point he could tell she was in deep meditation, and, filled with sudden mischievous inspiration, he ghosted through the reeds in her direction, feet barely making a sound. The previous year he had gotten command of his own special tracking and reconnaissance unit, so he had mastered the art of moving around undetected. Once he was about a meter away, he reached into a holster strapped to his right leg and drew out a kunai, holding it between his index and middle fingers. Akamaru cocked his head questioningly, and Kiba winked at him before giving his wrist a sharp flick, the kunai whizzing full speed at its target.

Only after the weapon left his hand did the Inuzuka boy have second thoughts about his little trick.

Shit…maybe that wasn't such a swell idea, he though frantically, stomach clenched in fear. The kunai was hurtling closer and closer, and Hinata still showed no sign that she'd noticed. I gotta do something! As soon as he opened his mouth to warn her, however, her arm shot out and behind, intercepting the kunai before it could implant itself amid her shoulder blades.

"That's hardly a way to say hello," Hinata pointed out lightly, amusement in her voice. She lazily twirled the kunai around her finger while looking back at him with an arched brow, and patted the grass next to her. "Come have a seat."

Kiba's jaw hung slack. "You—I—"

A peal of silvery laughter greeted his ears.

"Don't just stand there. You've interrupted me, so make it worth my while."

Akamaru took the initiative first, gallivanting to the Hyuuga heir and depositing himself in her lap, tail wagging happily as she stroked his fur.

Gee, thanks, Akamaru, Kiba glowered at his companion. After that display, refusing to join them would be considered churlish, and, as Kiba had come with the intention of speaking to Hinata anyway, he had no choice but to follow his dog's example, and flopped down where she had beckoned.

"I'm sorry about the kunai thing…it was…an impulse," he explained, cheeks now as red as the crimson Inuzuka markings beneath his eyes. Ack! That doesn't sound right…"I'd never hurt you on purpose," he clarified gruffly, "Just so you know."

In response, Hinata reached out and tousled his unruly brown hair. "I understand," she told him, her features grave. She managed to hold that expression for a moment before she cracked, a bright smile lighting her heart-shaped face. "It's good to see you! And you, Akamaru," she added when the dog nipped playfully at her fingers. "How did your mission go?" Her strange, pupil-less eyes regarded his dirt-caked attire wryly. "You haven't even been home yet, have you?"

Kiba chuckled sheepishly. "I figured I'd stop by, since it's on my way." That was not quite true, as the Inuzuka clan house was in a more northwesterly direction, and it would take about fifteen minutes extra to get there from here, but that trivial bit of information was beyond the point. "And the mission didn't go as badly as I thought it would. Our darling enemies have erupted in a flurry of activity, and many of them are stupider than I gave them credit for."

When she looked at him quizzically, he explained, "Their tracks. I can tell they've tried to cover 'em up, but they did a shoddy job of it. I get about a week to recoup, and then I'm heading out again. I have a feeling multiple cells banded together to form a network, and if I can get an idea of where the main base is, I should be able to locate the others."

A slight crease formed over the bridge of Hinata's nose. The work her former teammate did was crucial; she did not discredit that, yet she still worried. "Just don't get reckless and overconfident while you're out there, Kiba, for my sake if nothing else."

Their eyes met.

Grass rustled in the breeze, emitting a soft shushing noise as the blades swayed. A lone dragonfly glided freely through the air, not a care in the world.

Kiba cleared his throat once, then twice. "I've gotten much better about that," he managed to defend himself finally. "I don't rush headlong into a skirmish without thinking about it first, and my little charmer here," Akamaru wagged his tail in recognition, "makes sure that I keep my wits about me. He's much less hesitant to bite now when I've pissed him off."

The Hyuuga girl laughed. "Oh, fine. As long as I know someone's watching you."

"What's that supposed to mean?" demanded Kiba in an injured tone.

"Never mind," she replied mysteriously, and changed topics. "So, did you just come for the pleasure of my company?"

His face became serious. "No. Well, yes and no." Eyes overlooking the scenery, he remarked softly, "I heard Naruto came back."

Hinata examined her hands. "Yes. Only briefly, though. I didn't see him."

"Are you okay with that?" the dark-haired Chuunin pressed, somewhat surprised by her reaction. "I mean, I know how much you admired him…"

"It's all right."

Her voice had a finality to it that threw him off guard, and he forced her to look at him.

"Explain."

"I…I did admire him, Kiba, enough to want to change, and I still do admire him, but…we lead two completely different lives. I never really grasped that before, not until…" She broke off, chewing on her lower lip.

"Until?"

"Until my future whacked me upside the head."

And then understanding dawned. Hinata was to be the leader over the entirety of her clan, both Main and Branch houses, and it was because of this rift that Hyuuga had the most complicated internal structure out of any of Konoha's major clans. Not only would she be responsible for maintaining an image of peace between the two houses, but she would also have to be fair and just with both sets of members while honoring their separate systems of regulation. In addition, it was her duty to ensure the continuation of the bloodline by producing an heir of pure blood who would eventually take her place.

"You see?" she said almost ironically once his silence had stretched long enough. "Naruto-kun has his dream to become Hokage, and he will. I, on the other hand, have my own path, one that I am not afraid to walk, and I owe it all to him. Someday, I hope to thank him for being my inspiration, but that can wait."

And then she smiled, reinstating the flush that Kiba had managed to subdue.

"I'll be fine, Kiba, I promise."

The odd thing was, for whatever reason, he knew she would be.

"You've come a long way, kid," he told her as he slung an arm about her shoulders.

She wrapped one of her own around him in return. "So have you, puppy."

"Puppy?" He spluttered. "I am not a puppy anymore, thanks very much!"

The sound of Hinata's laughter rang through the quiet meadow like the chime of a tiny bell.


Pakkun examined the scene ahead of him, feeling well out of his league.

"I should probably hit the road," he said apologetically to his master. "There's not much else I can do other than take up space."

Kakashi smiled. "No problem. You did a good job."

The pug gave them all the tiniest of nods, and disappeared in a poof of smoke.

"So, how exactly do we go about doing this?" Gai inquired, gaze intent upon the immense boulder barring their way. "You're the expert here, I'm afraid," he told Kakashi in a manner that made it seem as though his teeth hurt to admit it.

The silvery-haired Jounin held his chin, exposed eye calculating. "Seems to me like this particular Gofuu Kekkai was set up with kin tags spaced out among five points in the vicinity." He motioned toward the boulder. "Discounting this one, there are four others we have to get rid of before we can storm the barrier."

"Well where the hell are the rest of 'em?" Naruto demanded, appearing like a trap ready to spring as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. Damn it! There's no time for this! Each minute we spend out here is another minute of Gaara's life…

Sakura, who had not removed her hand from his shoulder, applied a bit more pressure to make him remember to stay calm. "Easy, Naruto," she whispered near his ear. "One thing at a time."

He spared her a quick glance out of the corner of his eye, though he did loosen up. "I know," he concurred grudgingly. "I'm just worried...Sorry, Sakura-chan."

Before she could reply, Kakashi spoke again. "Neji-kun, it's your stage."

"I'm on it."

The Hyuuga boy reactivated his Byakugan, then rattled off a list of locations, including a tree trunk, a rock, a cliff side, and a grove, and their distance from the point at which the group gathered a few seconds later.

"All right, here's what we'll do," Gai began, fishing five wireless communication systems out of his rucksack and passing them around to his team and Kakashi, keeping one for himself. "Since my guys are all about speed, the four of us will take care of the other tags and notify you when we've got them." As an afterthought, he undid the knot that held his forehead protector around his waist and strapped it on where it belonged. Lee followed suit.

"Are we ready?" Gai faced his team, who nodded in unison. A hint of a smile crossed his features before he shouted, "Team Gai, Power of Youth Times Ten! Go!"

They went in a spectacular show of momentum that left Kakashi envious.

Showoff, as usual, he thought dryly, though he had to hand it to him—Gai knew how to get things done.

Naruto watched the fading remnants of their hasty departure with his teeth bared, drumming his fingers against the fabric covering his arm. He was more than aware of the troubled looks Sakura continued to shoot his way, and he could even hear her scolding him in his head, however he could not seem to reign in the impatience that now dictated his every move.

Gaara…you're slipping…I can feel it. I've gotta get in there now! I can't stand here and let you die! You're too young…you're the same age as me! Gaara, don't stop fighting it. Hold on with every last ounce of strength you can muster. It's not gonna end this way, I won't allow it!

Kakashi knew without needing to see it as he climbed up the boulder to the kin tag that his most energetic former student was experiencing extreme emotional turmoil, and he sighed to himself, remembering a certain someone who had been placed in a similar situation years ago.

Strange how the past comes back to haunt you, isn't it, Obito? But at least in this case Naurto isn't the one at fault…his defective judgment isn't the reason why Gaara's stuck in there…

The sound of Obito's fervent, spirited voice echoed in his memory, and it was in that voice his conscience set him straight.

Shut up, you ass. Quit with the tragic guilt trip, already! You're making me sick! I had a say in what happened too, ya know. So a rock squashed me to a pulp. It was a miscalculation on my part, and it had absolutely nothing to do with you. I would've gone after Rin whether you came or not. Period. End of discussion. Now focus, baka!

He had no further opportunities to contemplate the errors he had made as a young Jounin, because the reception from the wireless device in his ear had begun to crackle, and he heard Gai on the other end.

"They're all off!"

"Right." He lowered the small microphone by his mouth and shouted to his pink-haired subordinate, "Sakura! As soon as I yank this thing, smash the barrier as hard as you can!"

"Gotcha!" She called back, and reached into her pack for the pair of black gloves she acquired from Tsunade, slipping them on briskly. With one last look at Naruto, she moved into position before the boulder.

Please, don't let me be wrong…please let Gaara be okay…I don't think I'll be able to stop Naruto if he isn't…

"Sakura, now!"

There was the signal.

Breathing deeply, she concentrated chakra in her fist, drew back, and then let it fly; upon impact, the rock splintered like shattered glass. There was a brief moment of utter stillness before the solidarity of the wall gave way, large chunks of rock toppling forward in an avalanche of stone. Sakura and Kakashi were well out of range by the time the rock hit the ground, and went to stand with Naruto and Chiyo, who waited for the cloud of dust surrounding the opening to disburse.

Slowly, the air cleared, and a vast, yawning black chasm revealed itself. A tense silence passed among the group gathered at the foot of the cavern; Kakashi gestured to skirt the debris and follow him. The Jounin went in first, tailed by Naruto, Sakura, and Chiyo, who brought up the rear.

The inside of the grotto was damp; somewhere in the distance, the steady drip of water resonated through the enormous expanse of open space, marred here and there by clusters of stalagmites that jutted up from the ground like razor-sharp stakes. Light filtered in from the now gaping aperture they entered through, reverberating off of the walls and illuminating the center of the cave.

Chiyo's sharp intake of breath alerted the others, who stared ahead with wide eyes.

Two figures in the black, high-necked capes adorned with white clouds outlined in red of the Akatsuki awaited them.

The Elder of the Sand's wizened face was set as she surveyed her grandson, a traitor to his blood, his people…his Kazekage…

Sasori…what have you done to yourself, boy? There is so much hatred in your heart…it has disfigured you…

Naruto could not believe what he was seeing, refused to believe. It was too much, too vile to be true.

"I wonder which of these pretties is our Jinchuuriki, mm-hmm?" The one on the left inquired sardonically to his companion, however the comment was lost on Naruto. His eyes were fixed on the spot beneath the pony-tailed man who spoke, almost blinded by fury. As he balled his hands into fists, his nails extended to claw-like points that bit into his skin, and the warm trickle of blood ran unnoticed down his palms. The whisker markings on his cheeks flared, mutating until they resembled deep, jagged gashes on either side of his enraged face. His mouth curled into a snarl, incisors elongating into fangs. His eyes changed color, from cobalt blue to blood red, pupils narrowing to slits. His mind went blank.

Next to the two men stood an odd-looking creature with the feet, hindquarters, and wings of a bird and small, beady eyes, its head cocked to one side like an inquisitive child.

But that was not what sent a searing trail of fire through Naruto's chest.

"Get off of him now."

The nails of his hands burrowed deeper into his skin. The blonde Akatsuki member was sitting on Gaara as if he were no more than a lifeless rag doll.

Sakura's hand flew to her mouth. Oh God… "Naruto! NO!"

Oblivious to any of the others, Naruto's world narrowed to him and his foes. He no longer cared about the risk to himself if he were to be captured here; the only thing that mattered was the still, prostate form of Gaara…his friend… his brother-of-the-heart…

"I'LL KILL YOU!" He roared, sending pebbles tumbling down the rock walls. "BASTARDS! I'M GONNA MAKE YOU WISH YOU'D NEVER BEEN BORN!"

"Is that—" Sasori jerked his head at Naruto, "—the one?"

The man named Deidera flashed a smirk at his superior. "Itachi was right, mm-hmm. This fella's feisty, so it's gotta be him." He held up his hand, palm facing inward, and cackled as the mouth imbedded in the skin began to salivate hungrily. "You'll get fed soon enough, mm-hmm. Young blood, too." Almond-shaped eyes set in a feminine face gazed lazily at their prey. "This'll be a good fight, don't you think, boss? Lots of fun."

Naruto's vision became clouded with rage. "Gaara! Get up, damn it! Get up!"

You can't feel his chakra anymore, can you?

Dream Sakura had returned, though he knew this time, he wasn't dreaming.

Shut up! It's not gone!

You can deny it all you want, but the fact remains that you were too late. Gaara is—

No! I won't listen! He's not! Don't even say it!

"Naruto, enough," Kakashi's pained voice brought him back to the present. "You should know by now…"

At that moment, Deidera rose to his feet, his expression one of crazed ecstasy. "So the silver one gets it, mm-hmm." His laughter reverberated off of the walls, creating an intensified echo that made Sakura's skin crawl. "Red here is dead, all right. Very dead."

I was wrong…I lied to him…I was wrong… The pink-haired girl clutched at her chest, over her violently thrashing heart. This can't be happening…

For an instant, Naruto remained motionless, the very words he had been dreading to hear repeating over and over and over in his head…a broken record stuck on one spot, replaying the same notes, the same verse, for an eternity…

And then he snapped.

"Give him back," he demanded in a dangerously quiet tone, one that Sakura had never heard before, and she realized that she was terrified, not of him, but for him.

That anger…it's bigger than he is…that anger has the power to consume him…like…like Sasuke…

"GIVE HIM BACK TO ME!"

White-hot rage simmered beneath his skin as Naruto tore after his enemy, no longer aware of his surroundings. GAARA!

Kakashi, who had no intention of allowing his errant former student to run straight into the arms of death, placed himself deliberately into Naruto's path, arms outstretched. "Listen to me," he whispered fiercely, "you go in there as you are, without any plan whatsoever, and it's over, got it? Cool off."

Furious, Naruto had no choice but to obey. Damn it, Kakashi! What the hell are you playing at?

Not impressed by the scene, Sasori glanced sidelong at his cohort. "Leave this one—" his eyes darted to Gaara's still form and back "—with me. Seems like the other Jinchuuriki wants him back, doesn't it?"

"Certainly looks that way," Deidera replied with a mocking little inclination of his head at Naruto. He smirked when the younger boy growled, and returned his attention to Sasori. "Boss…you'll probably get pissed off at me for suggesting this, but let me take care of Blondie. He needs to be broken, mm-hmm, and I'm real good at breaking things," he examined his hand again, "am I not?"

"Don't get greedy," Sasori snapped acidly. "It's one Jinchuuriki per member, in case you've forgotten."

The pony-tailed man's eye gave a twitch. "Boss, I'm an artist, same as you," he pointed out between clenched teeth. "All play and no work makes Jack a dull boy."

"Hah! You still call those sloppy explosions of yours art? True art withstands the ages, it doesn't come and go in seconds."

Deidera raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? I believe we may just have to agree to disagree, boss. Art does come and go. It's fleeting beauty."

"What are they talking about?" Sakura said quietly, incensed. "I don't get these two at all."

Naruto had heard enough.

"Art? Who gives a rat's ass about art? I'm ending this!"

Reaching into his side pouch, he yanked out a scroll, tore it open, and ran his fingers along the writing, producing a large, windmill shuriken, which he sent spiraling at the Akatsuki operatives. Without so much as batting an eye, Sasori deflected it using a long, spine-like tail that snaked out from beneath his cape, and carried on his conversation as if nothing happened.

"Deidera, do you want me to become angry?"

"I thought I just told you that you'd probably be pissed, mm-hmm."

How…the shuriken…he didn't even look at it… Sakura thought with growing trepidation. This is not good…

Chiyo, who had not spoken since entering the grotto, recognized the swaying tail for what it was. More puppets, I see. So he hasn't tired of them yet. However the real question is…how far has he developed them?

"Oh, whatever. Time for me and Red to have a flying lesson," Deidera straightened up and motioned for the strange bird-creature to take the body of the Kazekage. "And at least my art isn't more suitable for children's parties, boss," he couldn't resist adding when he was safely on the back of the bird and high in the air. "I do look forward to meeting you again in the future, Blondie!" He called to Naruto. "It'll be a blast, mm-hmm. Later!"

"Where're you taking Gaara?" Naruto shouted. "Get down here!" Damn it! How am I gonna steal Gaara back from them now? Angry tears pooled in his red eyes. I failed…I couldn't stop them…He's dead…

Dead.

Gaara is dead…

My fault. All my fault. I wasn't strong enough. I wasn't fast enough. And now he's gone.

Sakura saw his face contort in pain, saw the tears that dripped from his fiery eyes, heard the silent accusations he directed inward, at himself, and knew that any words of hers would not reach him, not in this state. But what else could she do? How could she possibly aid him?

I've never felt so helpless in my entire life…so tiny…Oh, Naruto…if you're killed here, too, I…

"Sakura."

She looked up at Kakashi's masked face.

"You stay here with Chiyo and fend off the big guy. Me and Naruto will handle the one in the air."

No! I can't leave him, Kakashi! She wanted to scream. Don't you realize how unstable he is right now? He's liable to make mistakes! Mistakes that will cost him everything…

A gentle yet firm hand rested on her shoulder. "Do as I say. We have to hold them until Gai and his team returns. Just trust me on this one." I'm just as worried as you, Sakura, which is why it has to be me with him. I won't allow two veterans to be paired together and risk both of you.

She had to make a decision, and she had to make it now. "I understand." We can't afford to stall any longer…I'll do what I must, as long as Naruto is safe… One glance at the blonde boy was all she permitted herself before she squared her shoulders and turned to Chiyo, mind racing. She had almost forgotten how perilous her own fight would be, especially when she considered her opponent.

This guy…I can barely even look at him without feeling sick to my stomach…there's something wrong with his chakra…it's…corrupted…like Gaara's sand was. He's a killer to his core, and he's had far more experience than me. I have to be vigilant, or it'll end as soon as it begins…

"Sakura, don't worry," Old Chiyo finally spoke. Her hands were tucked into her sleeves, as if she were probing for a weapon. "I may appear old, however my status was not bestowed upon me without a reason." She drew her hands out, strings containing kunai hooked over her knobby thumbs. In one fluid motion, she flung her arms wide, the kunai rocketing from the string toward her grandson. As before, that sinuous, bony tail warded them off as if they were no more than pesky flies.

Oh? Chiyo noticed the new tear in Sasori's cape. I hit you once, boy. Will I be able to do it again?

Sakura's eyes went wide. So this is the power of Akatsuki…If one member is this strong, what about all of them together? She gave an involuntary shudder, and instantly rebuked herself. Enough. Focus, now. If I survived a scuffle with Itachi, I can survive one with this monster, too.

Such a task would have been easier had Sasori not done what he did next.

Crouched on hands and knees, the former Sand-nin concentrated his will on the cape, shredding it to tatters. A bone-white protuberance shaped like a grotesque, smiling mask covered his back like a turtle's shell, the tail emerging through the mask's gaping jaws.

"I really don't want to do this, you know," Sasori drawled in a way that made it quite clear he meant the opposite, "Still, you did decide to oppose me all by yourselves, so I'm left with no alternative." His cold, black eyes met with theirs. "Do you want to add your body to my masterpiece, Granny? All of the entrails come out first, and then the skin, but once I've cleaned the mess and drawn your blood, the effect is magnificent."

Sakura was repulsed. What the hell? He…he's insane…

"That's not his real body, Sakura," Chiyo quietly informed her. "It's a puppet."

A puppet? Wait…Kankurou's Karasu…wasn't it made by this same person? Sasori…

"I'll have to make sure to preserve the bodies so they don't rot, of course; once that tediousness is out of the way, I'll put the traps in and you two will be at the very top." Though a cloth bandanna concealed the lower half of his face, the way his eyes crinkled around the corners suggested that he was smiling. "The old woman is correct, after all—I have many bodies inside this one. Counting you, it'll be three-hundred." Stretching one arm forward, he braced himself on the other, doing the same with his feet. The mask rose slightly, laughing at them, taunting them… "Behold my art!"

Pushing her fear and disgust aside, Sakura dropped into fighting stance. Freak. The day I give you my body is the day hell freezes over.

Wary, the Elder began to prepare herself mentally for the task ahead, forcing the love and pity she still felt for the grandson that had perished the day this thing before her came into existence out of her mind, for holding fast to it would only present a weakness.

Well, boy, the day of reckoning has come, as I knew it would eventually. You will not find me willing to die just yet, I'm afraid. I have one more thing I must do before I depart this world…


Naruto and Kakashi stood side by side, watching the bird that carried the Kazekage's body within its pouch-like mouth and the Akatsuki member who rode atop it as it soared through the sky.

Gaara…you were alone…you were alone when you died…you didn't have anyone there to ease your suffering, to protect you…

You were always alone…

The other chakra inside of him stirred, that presence prowling back and forth behind the iron bars of a prison cell straining against its confinement, violently demanding to be set free.

While Kyuubi did not posses anything that resembled a human conscience, he was able to connect with a fellow Bijuu on a certain level, knowing that the fate of all his kind was inexplicably bound to the power-hungry beast that was the human race. Wasn't his imprisonment testimony to that? Hadn't he already spent sixteen years sealed inside the body of this child?

It was a rare thing indeed for Kyuubi to be inclined to involve himself in the affairs of humans; he loathed them all indiscriminately, and would rather they continued to engage in their foolish wars and spare him the monotonous business of killing them—they could slaughter each other just as well without his help.

However, in recent years, these Akatsuki rodents had begun to alter his perspective on the matter. All of the scurrying arms and legs of the organization were more meddlesome and intrusive than humans ought to be, convinced that they had the means to subdue a demon in possession of far greater strength and spiritual energy than their puny brains could even begin to comprehend.

The sheer ignorance exhibited by these trumped-up, egotistical pests had far exceeded his allotted store of patience.

Unfortunately, his options at this juncture were few, considering the manner of his captivity. Any move he made would have to be synonymous with the boy, which meant offering his temporary allegiance to the very scum that had whelped him, and forced Kyuubi to inhabit a body other than his own.

The injustice of it was infuriating, however he did not have much of a choice if he wanted to avoid the possibility of becoming a tool to the Akatsuki.

Brat. Do you hear me?

Kyuubi? Naruto's voice was startled.

Yes. I'm glad we've established that. Now listen. You are very angry, are you not? I can always tell. The heat of my cell rises whenever your temper flares.

It does? I never knew that…

I'd be rather disturbed if you did. You're not the one who lives in here, brat.

Nettled and in no mood to banter, Naruto demanded, what do you want, Kyuubi? Now's not the greatest time to piss me off.

Piss him off? One of these days, he would have to teach that boy a thing or two about respect…

I want you to act less like a baby and more like a man, or we'll both die. My life and yours are twined, brat, and if you think for a millisecond that I would sit back and consent to my own meaningless demise you are a bigger dolt than I anticipated.

You don't understand anything. I failed my mission, Kyuubi. My friend is dead. I don't care what happens anymore. I'm gonna mutilate the bastards who killed him, and if you have a problem with it, you can go to hell.

He most certainly did have a problem with it. Perhaps he should go ahead and educate the brat now.

SILENCE! YOU WILL CEASE THIS NONSENSE, FOOL, OR I WILL MAKE YOU REGRET IT.

But he already did regret his rashness. Naruto's head rang with the full impact of Kyuubi's ear-splitting reprimand; it had nearly driven him to his knees.

I'm sorry, okay? Damn it…you didn't have to yell that loud…

Ignoring him, Kyuubi inquired, are you finished?

Yeah.

Will you listen?

I can't exactly say no, can I?

Don't get snotty with me, brat. I'm bigger than you.

Naruto could have countered that by pointing out the fact that Kyuubi couldn't do jack shit while he was taking up residence in his body, though he chose not to.

Go on.

Very well. In order to accomplish anything, we must work in tandem. Do you understand what that means?

Don't patronize me. Yes, I know what that means.

One can never tell with a hotheaded dimwit like you.

I'm this close to telling you to screw yourself and accepting whatever punishment you dole out. What point are you trying to make, here, Kyuubi?

My point, brat, is that you need to concentrate. Refrain from lashing out in anger. Use your head and synchronize with me, or all will be lost. Anger is a dangerous thing, the same as fear. You have both.

What do you know of anger? Naruto spat. What do you know of fear, or loss, or love? Nothing!

Do not condescend to tell me what I do and do not know, brat. I have lived far longer than you, and I have seen more than you ever will. Yes, I am a demon, and the fate of humankind means little to me, but I am capable of emotion.

I couldn't save him, Kyuubi! Gaara needed me, and I failed him!

And what is getting yourself killed going to accomplish, I wonder?

I…

No answer?

I don't…

You don't know. There is no answer. I'll say it again. Synchronize with me. The sooner we are one, the more difficult it will be for Akatsuki to pry us apart.

But why? Why do you want to do this, Kyuubi? You hate humans…

I have no intention of serving that filth while I am alive, brat. They already have Shukaku. They will not take me as well. He paused. As for your friend, we will at least recover his body so that they may not further taint it with their disease.

Humbled and completely stunned, Naruto closed his eyes. Kyuubi…I…thank you…

Tch. Now hurry. We must begin.

All right. Tell me what to do.


Author's Notes:

Well, I must apologize for the delay. My computer went down, so it took a little bit of time to sort everything out. Sorry, sorry!

As you can see, I have already begun to branch away from the original in parts (such as reintroducing characters that have not appeared yet—there will be more of that to come in the next chapter :grins:), and I have a few plot twists in mind, but I'm still working out the kinks, so to speak, so we'll see how long it takes for me to get to them! At the rate the manga is going, however, I think I have all the time in the world. Heh. (And Sasori is a creepy guy, isn't he? He's so awesome…XD)

The last exchange between Naruto and Kyuubi is going to factor largely in future chapters, because I'd like to take a closer look at the fusion between a Jinchuuriki and his Bijuu. I have a feeling things may have turned out differently for Gaara if he and Shukaku were able to work with each other instead of against each other, and I'm going to play around with that quite a bit, I think. Anyway, I've said enough for now. :winks: Thank you so much for all of the wonderful feedback, and keep it coming! I truly appreciate it!