Etsuya contemplates for a moment. He observed the young blonde's action after what he has said. He stared at the shoulders of this boy who has gone a tough life yet he bore it all until now, even serving the people that hates him for what he is not. 'His like me after all...'
Hey... Naruto," Etusya called. He flashed contented face towards him. "I was once the vessel of that fox." He said flatly.
Heart of Konoha
Chapter 4: Broken Spirit
A/N: I don't own Naruto never have and never will
"blah" - speech'blah' - thoughts
"blah" - Kyubi's speech
Upon hearing this, Naruto froze and shook over his boots. He can't believe what he just heard nor was it believable. A former vessel of the Nine-tailed fox is new news not only for him but also for everyone in the cave. The once soothing deep blue eyes were filled wit revulsion. The message seemed to have hammered his eardrums. He could not hear another sound aside from the "I was once the vessel of that fox." It's like an eerie sound that filled his ears blocking other sounds from entering in.
Confused that there was a vessel before him and he was not told about it; joyful that at least there is a possibility that he can get rid of the fox that cause him all the loneliness he has gone through; and angry... for the reason he even didn't know yet. All these emotions filled his complicated mind and increased the pain of his tattered heart.
Tsunade could not believe what she just heard. Her face was no different from Naruto, it was filled with the same emotion. But being the Hokage and one of the legendary sannin this matter is more unbelievable. After all the years she've been through, this is the first time she heard such thing. She even doubt if Sandaime knew anything about this, but on the second thought mayabe he knew but decided to kept the matter shut. After all Sandaime is known for such actions.
To everyone's surprise, Naruto immediately dashed in front of Etsuya cocking his right arm for a powerful punch. But then Etsuya also disappeared into thin air to everyone's surprise.
"What the hell," Naruto exclaimed as Etsuya vanished infront of him. He back flipped to gain a better distance and see where is enemy is. He heard a thunderous sound of clashing bones and muscle behind him as he landed. Etsuya was already there and he didn't even see him. In fact no one saw it except Tsunade who blocked the attack from behind Naruto.
"Ahhh…… Hokage-sama , believe me I'm doing you a favor here…" he winced behind the clashing punch.
"Believe me also when I say that the only favor you'll give me is answers to my questions," Tsunade swiped a full round house kick, but Etsuya leaped to evade it.
Ibiki was shocked with he saw. Judging from the preemptive fight, there was no way these Anbu could have captured him. As expert that he is when it comes to human mind, he presumed that he intentionally turned himself in to face Uzumaki Naruto.
"But it seems you're not willing yet to spil the beans,"Tsunade exclaimed as she launched herself for another attack. She ran directly to him and punched him to the face, but Etsuya blocked this attack with his left arm and counter with a right hook punch, which was, also blocked by Tsunade's free hand. She flipped back with the intention of hitting Etsuya with her feet. Again Etsya leaped backwards avoiding the hit but this time he quickly performed a set of hand seals and stamped his hand upon landing
"Doton: Ishikura Joudan!" Suddenly elongated massive rocks from beneath the ground sprung up in columns and struck Tsunade before she could land on the ground.
Tsunade, blocked the surging rocks with her raw Herculean strength, punching each one that emerged. She managed to land of the ground but not without her robe being ripped off.
'Damn, this guy is as strong is Jiraiya,' she mumbled. She stood up and prepared to launch another attack but this time she was more cautious. She carefully assessed the enemy from head to toe looking for a weak spot where she can attack.
Etsuya though stood still in his defensive stance. He knew that the Hokage is sizing up his capabilities so he did also the same on her. He never had fought a Kage before and he didn't wish to fight one now especially with an elite jounin and 3 Anbu.
"Hokage-sama, I don't wish to fight you, all I want is the kid," he said hoping that somehow he could avoid a needless fight.
"If you don't wish to fight me, you better give me some answers," she replied without putting off her guard. But then.
"Kage Bushin no jutsu!" 3 Narutos leaped from the ground and started attacking Etsuya from behind.
"Naruto, NO!!! Tsuande shouted
But Naruto didn't seem to hear it. 3 Narutos continued with the attack. One Nartuo puched Etsuya's slightly turned head. But Etsuya docked to avoid getting hit. The other Naruto proceeded by kicking the knee level head of Etsuya, but then Etsuya covered and block the kick. Only one Naruto is yet to attack and as he predicted the blow did come from the blind side, which he easily blocked.
"Naruto stay put, this guy is way out of your league. Let me handle this." Tsuande ordered.
"Naruto," Ibiki called. "Let us handle this one," he ran beside Tsunade with a glance of permission for her to butt in. Tsunade nodded in agreement to what Ibiki said.
"Naruto we'll handle this one." The Anbus rounded up on her side wating for an order.
"What do you want with Naruto?" Tsuande shouted at Etsuya. Her fist still balled right front of her. Her eyes never left her target.
"Kill the Kyubi…" he said.
When she heard this, she quickly looked at the blonde's reaction and saw his unusual trembling. She wanted to touch him just to let him know that she wont let anything happen to him. But something stopped her; a strong urge that even managed to penetrate her experienced mind and heart. Suddenly in her mind she saw an image of man stabbed in kunai all over his body. So horrible that even she would like to throw up upon such image. Thus, she realized this was Naruto's killing intent.
Ibiki paused upon what he saw in his mind. A man stabbed with kunai all over his body. He a special jounin could not even move because of the fierce killing intent. He only managed to detect where it came from. And yes it came from the blond. He could not believe such killing intent to have come from a young less experience ninja and in fact it has penetrated to him easily. He tried hard to notice the Anbu and saw them on their knees already and his thoughts are right, they could not take it long enough as he and Tsunade can.
Etsuya saw an image of man stabbed with kunai all over his body and he trembled. 'A killing intent such as this is definitely fueled by the Kyubi's lust for blood,... I should know,' he said to himself. He looked at Naruto once again after hardly freeing himself from the dreadful image of his death. 'Let's see if you are what they said you are,' with that he prepared himself to whatever is coming.
"I remember him!!!! I will kill you.. you pathetic human... I'm going to devour you" the kyubi roared inside Naruto's belly.
Somewhere inside Nartuo's mind, a place was filled with crimson red clouds. A roaring of a beast echoed inside the unending tunnel. Once again he stood there infront of the large gate with a seal. He was here only twice but unlike before, red chakra were steaming off and thundering sound was heard from the inside. A roar sounded and suddenly a giantic red body bumped into the gate; its red eyes were filled with anger. His reflexes moved him backwards to avoid getting hit. Although the sealed gate promised a protection, fear cannot be avoided even for the host. Naruto stared at the eyes of this evil beast before him, he could hear him breath deeply or was it snarling slowly; he could smell for the first time the blood stained breath of the demon.
The demon stared back at him. His sharp teeth displayed his hunger for human flesh and blood. It was like he was ready to devour Naruto. He streched his claws slowly for the human before him, but then an electric flow extended from the seal and penetrated deep to its outstreched arm. The beast gave out a roar of pain and immediatel pulled back his arm inside.
"This seal.... this detestable seal... i will break it!" Once again the beast took a momentum and furiously flung itself to the gate.
Naruto cowered in fear. He could not move a single muscle except for his erratic heart beat. His mind ran through all the history he had heard about the Kyubi. All the cold glarnings he received from the adults flashed to his mind, the manner they turned away from him; the way they talked behind him; and why some of the adults are afraid of him. He knew about the demon inside him but he never got the real picture then. The wild beast before him was indeed the Kyubi everyone feared 15 years ago. The monster that cause so many deaths; the monster that destroyed many lives, homes and family. This is this monster
A craking sound brought his attention back to the fox and there he saw the gate cracked open. The claws of the fox was able to reach him. He panicked and desperately tried to ran but the outstreched arms of the fox grabbed him.
"Got you at last," the fox grimly smiled at him. "Now that I got you, might as well use you.... hahahaha!!!!!
"No... wait... let me go.... no..." Naruto pleaded
The fox held Naruto to his him close to his dreadful face, "So where is that brave spirit that twice faced this dreadful gate...ha?" The kyubi asked sarcastically.
Naruto was filled with fear that not a word escaped from his mouth except, "Help!" He was shouted it for the first time since the wave country mission when he faced the Demon brothers. He cried for help but he knew that nobody can hear him. Nobody can help him. Not even the Hokage who is the most powerful there is nor Tsunade whom he looked up to as both mother and sister.
The fox notice the blonde's fading strength, and took it as sign of hoplessness. He clenched him hard which made Naruto winced in pain and held him close to his mouth, "At last I will be free," with that he let out an evil laugh.
In the real world, Naruto was emitting huge amount chakra from his body. The emitted chakra caue the stonewalls to collapse on them and it triggered a small earthquake.
"Arghhhhhh......" Naruto shouted.
Everyone turned to see the Naruto whose became different. Naruto shivered and trembeled as he had never before. He grew fangs; his body got bigger and taller; claws were forming out from his hands; his trademark whiskers began to thiken making them look like wounds; his eyes turne red slit.
Only few have felt the abnormal urge, if not because they are elite or skilled or absent from the village, they could have forgone the situation.
A dark mysterious man emerged from the forest. He had his dark hair brushed up that should have revealed his entire face if not for the collar of his overcoat that covered the lower part of his face. Even at night he wore shades and as matter of fact, all his life he had been wearing that shades. He leniently raised one of his fingers and revealed a bug that was crawling on it. "Tell me what it was," with that the bug flew as it obeyed its host's command.
"Neji, did you feel it," asked the older Hyuga.
"Yes, I ask permission to leave the manor and check on it," he prostrated himself to the floor before the head of the Head of the Hyuga clan.
"Yes you may go, be careful," was all Hiashi replied.
A fast moving silhouette of man leaped from one tree to another towards the cave. As fast as he was going, not a sound of breaking branches can be heard. His moves were indeed very stealthy. As he arrived at the mouth of the cave, Gai, Shino,Genma, and Hyuga Neji were already there, waiting for some ninjas to arrive.
"So can anyone fill me in," Kakashi asked after landing before them.A/N
A guy wearing a green jump suite with dark bowl like hairstyle and thick eyebrows stepped in front among the crowd of ninjas. "Hokage-sama and Naruto are inside. According to some Anbu, a spy was caught and the interrogation is there inside."
Kakashi nodded and then turned to the white-eyed shinobi. "Neji-kun, anything you can see?"
"Too dark to see, only few torches and 6 figures…. Wait red chakra, what is this?" Neji exclaimed.
A/N: forgive me for my poor use of japanese.... its just that its cooler to mention the jutsu in japanese. Please review and watch out for the next chapter.