Refer to the chapters before.
Comments, are accepted. Constructive Criticism, are lauded and grandly received.
I
The waves crushed onto the sandy shore, mowing away all the footprints within it's reach. When the waves receded, the sand was flat again, and his steps left marks again. But the next wave came not long later, and it too removed the prints on the ground. His feet, wet from the random yet oddly rhythmic crushing of the waves, tickling his senses and sending sensations towards his mind. Eight days, since he, or more accurately, they left the monastery but the sight and majestic of the woods, mountains and the structure itself is still strong inside his mind.
Crabs, small and tiny was swept away by the waves, and they seem to try to swim back ashore. These small crustaceans are truly odd indeed, for they cannot survive on too little water, and neither too much. Wait. Isn't everything like that? Isotonic, hipotonic and hypertonic. The creatures of nature are picky, because they could not have peace of mind having too litttle or too much, although to men, too little is more frequent than too much,
Then, the waves came again, erasing the deep marks on the floor ever so easily.
Slowly over the past few days, Naruto had slowly moved north along the beautiful beaches and cliffs, and he is approaching Cloud by doing so. The headband that he prided so much in, was kept and placed inside a compartment inside his clothes. Safety is the primary point that both Kyubi and Kagizume highlighted, and he gave in to their request.
The waves crushed again, the bubbles slowly collecting around his feet before vanishing into the receding waters, again, it washed away all signs on the floor.
He was walking leisurely, with no aim but to wander the world, he had all the time. But as he stared at the vanishing footprints, he looked into the sky.
"If memories can be erased so easily as the footsteps by the shore..." He said silently. Then, he sauntered towards the palm trees, and sat underneath one to seek shelter in it.
II
Naruto rested his mind and body by gazing at the sea, the islands covered in lush green, the beautiful emerald reef around the isles and the rock outcroppings that are natural monuments. In a way, this place was paradise. And the untouched beauty is perhaps owed to the fact that it was too far from the towns or villages, and even from the main roads.
Kyubi then spoke. "Man are creatures of the shadow. As much as your blasted kind wants to deny it, don't you prefer to live under the shade than embrace the hot searing sun? We seek comfort in the shadow, it's cool allure that contradicts the overly hot light of the sun. Man, in a way, fear the sun. They are pretty much like vampires who shun the sun, albeit a less serious case of sun-phobia."
Naruto stole a glimpse at the flying birds, and then he replied. "What are you trying to say?"
"People are more likely to fall into the dark side."
Naruto's hair, slightly muted by the shadows, floated when the sea breeze ran through. Then, he answered. "We are not born evil."
"I'm not saying that, stupid brat. Don't misinterpret me. I am saying that humans are more likely to becoming bad than good."
"... What's our training today?"
"Trying to escape the subject, but never mind. I will not force your pea-sized mind to think."
"... Just get on with it."
"Well. There is some things you should learn. Mainly, killing instinct and intent."
"What? That's evil. It's bad. I will not become an evil murderer."
"That is another failure of man. Having mindsets before viewing the contents. Frail pathetic humans...." He commented, then it was followed by a short moment of chuckling. "Killing intent is not necessarily evil. Few thousand years ago, man still hunted for food, and at that time, man could only rely on their instincts and skills to help them. But they also realized the power of killing instinct that seems to drive a person, and they soon incorporated it into their hunting techniques."
"So, killing instinct is not evil?"
"Yes. But it can be. Anyway, when man slowly settled down and moved into controlled agriculture, the instinct was left unhoned and unused. But, a few thousand years isn't enough to undo the instincts just yet. What I want, is for you to reawaken this instinct, and when you do, you won't even need to think when you fight."
Kagizume interrupted. "Stop contradicting my tutelage. Naruto, please pay no attention to this absurd fox."
Kyubi growled, "The Golden Rule, Kagizume. Don't do something on others, that you don't want other to do to you. So butt out if you don't want me to bug you during your worthless teachings."
"Fine." The sounds of Kagizume stomping angrily echoed inside.
"Anyway, killing instinct is deeply ingrained in people, and some call it intuition. Ever wonder why your worthless people went on hunting trips? That is because the killing instinct is awakening."
"... So, what do I do to hone this... instinct?"
"You'll be ripping some things apart." Kyubi chuckled sadisticly. "Go into the woods, and mow down a few trees with your chakra alone, once you get that 'feel', you'll know what to do next."
(I realized how Naruto seem strong when he relied on Kyubi's power, which leads to the hypotheses that Kyubi is a person who relied on sheer murdering instinct alone, and the instinct also incorporated a certain level of blurred tactics, so I assume that this sentient intent resides within all creatures that are hunters. Fox don't really think when they hunt, Their instinct creates a tactic subconsciously, pardon the long A/N)
III
Neji inspected his battered arm, and he sighed.
"Damn. Still no match..."
Kakashi chuckled, "You are like Sasuke in a way."
"Shut up. I don't want to be a traitorous idiot."
Kakashi laughed some more, and he teased. "Well, you are quite power hungry, are you not?"
Neji stared at the jounin, and he gave in. "Yeah. I am kind of power hungry, but the way I will use it is different."
Kakashi chuckled continously. "Believe what you will. Just don't be consumed by your goal like Sasuke did."
"Shut up. Just because you beat me doesn't give you the right to lecture me."
"But as your teacher, I do have that right."
"Is it? I thought Kurenai-sensei was the real teacher, here? You are merely the jutsu bank."
"Since when Hyuga Neji been so talkative?"
"Just shut up."
IV
Sasuke flipped the books that was available in the abandoned mansion where he temporarily resides, and in the cold walkways, unkept gardens, dusty floors and the empty rooms, he found both hope and despair. The book contained one phrase that hit him close.
"The person who fights with demons, must be sure that he does not become a demon." The book, a translation from another language continued. "Demons breed demons, and by letting it cultivate the demons within, it has succeed in it's goal."
The Uchiha's function. The purpose of an Uchiha.
He had seen it, he had known of the purpose. Uchiha's are meant for death. They are merely tools of war. Can he never escape the killing?
"Well, if I am a tool, might as well be the sharpest one to ever exist. When I am the sharpest, not even my brother will stand in my way. In fact, nobody will."
Then, he stood up, and he glanced at the blasted rock formations that he had wrecked since he lived here.
V
Naruto stood in front of the flattened patch of trees, and he breathed hard.
"What.... What was that?"
'Like it?'
"No. It's.... scary."
'Well. It'll take some time.'
The blonde's breathing was uneven, his body tense, his heart pounded on the ribs hard. His hands was covered in blood from the injuries sustained, and the blood dripped to stain the dark ground. Chakra flared from his body, his own blue chakra was acting up, and it travelled around him.
"What's happening to me?"
'Chakra is linked to your mind, both subconscious and conscious. So, when your subconscious mind is active, your chakra will react too.'
Then, he moved his hand to touch a floating orb of chakra, and he felt that... thril rushing through him again. His vision became blurry, his hearings seemed cut off. But yet for some reason, he was aware of every sound, every item, every scent that ran across air. He could feel the movements, yet he could not be certain.
'Perhaps my presence within you have caused change in your instincts.' Kyubi said.
"What's this feeling? I can feel nothing, yet I seem to know where everything is."
'Powerful, isn't it?'
"Yeah."
The orbs around him swirled, and it merged with his body after a short period. His muscles were tense and hard, and he felt the power bursting inside. He felt like he was going to explode, and he didn't like it one bit.
"Stop..."
'I can't stop you. You must stop yourself.' Then, the kyubi laughed hysterically.
"Damn."
VI
His blonde hair whipped in the wind, and so did his dark brown garments. The sun affected all things that was present, the clouds in the sky, the leaves that curl under the hot sun, the cerulean sea shimmering under the glimmer of the sun, and the wind became an engine of movement in this paradise. Even at night, under the cloak of darkness, and the company of Erebus, the wave continued to crush regardless, as if they were a thing unchangeble.
The night, was indeed beautiful and colorful, where the countless stars gaze at mortals with strange curiosity, and perhaps insultingly. But no matter for even the clouds are unseen under the hues of both black, dark blue and grey, and should the clouds even be there, they only serve to add mystique to the alluring celestial objects on the sky.
Wind came, and it let loose all of his worries for a moment. Enthralled by the beauty that is around him, it is hard not to find peace, even if that peace would only be momentary. He turned his eyes to check on his bag, and slowly, he made his way along the shore, for the next town where he will find a job, for some food.
Nightfall brings peace, not the so called evils other claim it harbors. Well, at least not here.
VII
He felt the kid's heart pound, and punch the stalwart rib cage when he was anxious or afraid. Are man not all weak to a kind of fear? Perhaps, for he too once felt the humanly fear that could easily possess and manipulate the mind. Fear is a liar, a conman and a conspirator.
If the night could bring peace to a kid chained by pain, perhaps the night too can do many wondrous things.
Dark is the night sky that envelops them, but it is not night itself that mortal fear and shun. It is the creatures that the night holds, beasts the operate behind the light, that they are truly afraid of, and yet some men still relate to the night, one half of the natural cycle, as an illusion of evil. Man and their need to separate evil and good when the two are not much different should it be considered.
Wandering the halls where Kyubi was kept, and confined, he could imagine the misery, and perhaps the amusement that the young human of twelve summers could offer.
IIIFlashbackIII
Moments that passed were like the flipping of the pages of the book, quick and blurry. So was everything that should and forever will be of existence. Forests, that seemed eternal changed into a relentless inferno through the mere flick of the finger, and the mountains that seemed unmovable crumbled with the swift clap of the two hands. They are the reborn, and with ease they could awaken mountains, shake the earth and bring forth the tides.
But they were told and they were taught to restrain the use of their powers so long as they remain under his control. A very safe net, but he was a person who would easily grant freedom to his disciples. Perhaps there was regret in Kagizume for the request of freedom which he made.
He had fought many battles at his ex-master's side, and often the goal was to restore the balance of nature to the world. Yet balance is something that is lost quickly, unstable and reactive.
But he knew his master also had different goals when the time demanded it.
Annihilation.
IIIENDFLASHIII
Kagizume looked at Kyubi silently, and he then asked to break the icy silence which holds the labyrinth captive.
"What were you sent to this world to do?"
Kyubi's red eyes glowed, and he gave a very short chuckle. "Restore nature."
"You failed?"
"... I did not. I was... merely... Delayed."
"Failure is a failure, and no one has not failed. True success comes from the wisdom to rise once more."
"Shut up."
"It is likely that the cogwheel will spin again."
"The Twenty Year Delay... Oh no... Damn!" Kyubi cursed.
"We might be... targets when the timeline ends."
Kyubi's eyes grew slightly wider, "I don't like that idea at all."
"Neither do I."
"But... perhaps we can stop it?"
"If we can bring the downfall of the agent which would be responsible, yes."
"Well, I suppose we can arrange something."
"Those Naruto have any idea of it?"
"No."
THE END OF THIS CHAPTER!
Well, leave me a few critiques should you please.
Comments, are accepted. Constructive Criticism, are lauded and grandly received.
I
The waves crushed onto the sandy shore, mowing away all the footprints within it's reach. When the waves receded, the sand was flat again, and his steps left marks again. But the next wave came not long later, and it too removed the prints on the ground. His feet, wet from the random yet oddly rhythmic crushing of the waves, tickling his senses and sending sensations towards his mind. Eight days, since he, or more accurately, they left the monastery but the sight and majestic of the woods, mountains and the structure itself is still strong inside his mind.
Crabs, small and tiny was swept away by the waves, and they seem to try to swim back ashore. These small crustaceans are truly odd indeed, for they cannot survive on too little water, and neither too much. Wait. Isn't everything like that? Isotonic, hipotonic and hypertonic. The creatures of nature are picky, because they could not have peace of mind having too litttle or too much, although to men, too little is more frequent than too much,
Then, the waves came again, erasing the deep marks on the floor ever so easily.
Slowly over the past few days, Naruto had slowly moved north along the beautiful beaches and cliffs, and he is approaching Cloud by doing so. The headband that he prided so much in, was kept and placed inside a compartment inside his clothes. Safety is the primary point that both Kyubi and Kagizume highlighted, and he gave in to their request.
The waves crushed again, the bubbles slowly collecting around his feet before vanishing into the receding waters, again, it washed away all signs on the floor.
He was walking leisurely, with no aim but to wander the world, he had all the time. But as he stared at the vanishing footprints, he looked into the sky.
"If memories can be erased so easily as the footsteps by the shore..." He said silently. Then, he sauntered towards the palm trees, and sat underneath one to seek shelter in it.
II
Naruto rested his mind and body by gazing at the sea, the islands covered in lush green, the beautiful emerald reef around the isles and the rock outcroppings that are natural monuments. In a way, this place was paradise. And the untouched beauty is perhaps owed to the fact that it was too far from the towns or villages, and even from the main roads.
Kyubi then spoke. "Man are creatures of the shadow. As much as your blasted kind wants to deny it, don't you prefer to live under the shade than embrace the hot searing sun? We seek comfort in the shadow, it's cool allure that contradicts the overly hot light of the sun. Man, in a way, fear the sun. They are pretty much like vampires who shun the sun, albeit a less serious case of sun-phobia."
Naruto stole a glimpse at the flying birds, and then he replied. "What are you trying to say?"
"People are more likely to fall into the dark side."
Naruto's hair, slightly muted by the shadows, floated when the sea breeze ran through. Then, he answered. "We are not born evil."
"I'm not saying that, stupid brat. Don't misinterpret me. I am saying that humans are more likely to becoming bad than good."
"... What's our training today?"
"Trying to escape the subject, but never mind. I will not force your pea-sized mind to think."
"... Just get on with it."
"Well. There is some things you should learn. Mainly, killing instinct and intent."
"What? That's evil. It's bad. I will not become an evil murderer."
"That is another failure of man. Having mindsets before viewing the contents. Frail pathetic humans...." He commented, then it was followed by a short moment of chuckling. "Killing intent is not necessarily evil. Few thousand years ago, man still hunted for food, and at that time, man could only rely on their instincts and skills to help them. But they also realized the power of killing instinct that seems to drive a person, and they soon incorporated it into their hunting techniques."
"So, killing instinct is not evil?"
"Yes. But it can be. Anyway, when man slowly settled down and moved into controlled agriculture, the instinct was left unhoned and unused. But, a few thousand years isn't enough to undo the instincts just yet. What I want, is for you to reawaken this instinct, and when you do, you won't even need to think when you fight."
Kagizume interrupted. "Stop contradicting my tutelage. Naruto, please pay no attention to this absurd fox."
Kyubi growled, "The Golden Rule, Kagizume. Don't do something on others, that you don't want other to do to you. So butt out if you don't want me to bug you during your worthless teachings."
"Fine." The sounds of Kagizume stomping angrily echoed inside.
"Anyway, killing instinct is deeply ingrained in people, and some call it intuition. Ever wonder why your worthless people went on hunting trips? That is because the killing instinct is awakening."
"... So, what do I do to hone this... instinct?"
"You'll be ripping some things apart." Kyubi chuckled sadisticly. "Go into the woods, and mow down a few trees with your chakra alone, once you get that 'feel', you'll know what to do next."
(I realized how Naruto seem strong when he relied on Kyubi's power, which leads to the hypotheses that Kyubi is a person who relied on sheer murdering instinct alone, and the instinct also incorporated a certain level of blurred tactics, so I assume that this sentient intent resides within all creatures that are hunters. Fox don't really think when they hunt, Their instinct creates a tactic subconsciously, pardon the long A/N)
III
Neji inspected his battered arm, and he sighed.
"Damn. Still no match..."
Kakashi chuckled, "You are like Sasuke in a way."
"Shut up. I don't want to be a traitorous idiot."
Kakashi laughed some more, and he teased. "Well, you are quite power hungry, are you not?"
Neji stared at the jounin, and he gave in. "Yeah. I am kind of power hungry, but the way I will use it is different."
Kakashi chuckled continously. "Believe what you will. Just don't be consumed by your goal like Sasuke did."
"Shut up. Just because you beat me doesn't give you the right to lecture me."
"But as your teacher, I do have that right."
"Is it? I thought Kurenai-sensei was the real teacher, here? You are merely the jutsu bank."
"Since when Hyuga Neji been so talkative?"
"Just shut up."
IV
Sasuke flipped the books that was available in the abandoned mansion where he temporarily resides, and in the cold walkways, unkept gardens, dusty floors and the empty rooms, he found both hope and despair. The book contained one phrase that hit him close.
"The person who fights with demons, must be sure that he does not become a demon." The book, a translation from another language continued. "Demons breed demons, and by letting it cultivate the demons within, it has succeed in it's goal."
The Uchiha's function. The purpose of an Uchiha.
He had seen it, he had known of the purpose. Uchiha's are meant for death. They are merely tools of war. Can he never escape the killing?
"Well, if I am a tool, might as well be the sharpest one to ever exist. When I am the sharpest, not even my brother will stand in my way. In fact, nobody will."
Then, he stood up, and he glanced at the blasted rock formations that he had wrecked since he lived here.
V
Naruto stood in front of the flattened patch of trees, and he breathed hard.
"What.... What was that?"
'Like it?'
"No. It's.... scary."
'Well. It'll take some time.'
The blonde's breathing was uneven, his body tense, his heart pounded on the ribs hard. His hands was covered in blood from the injuries sustained, and the blood dripped to stain the dark ground. Chakra flared from his body, his own blue chakra was acting up, and it travelled around him.
"What's happening to me?"
'Chakra is linked to your mind, both subconscious and conscious. So, when your subconscious mind is active, your chakra will react too.'
Then, he moved his hand to touch a floating orb of chakra, and he felt that... thril rushing through him again. His vision became blurry, his hearings seemed cut off. But yet for some reason, he was aware of every sound, every item, every scent that ran across air. He could feel the movements, yet he could not be certain.
'Perhaps my presence within you have caused change in your instincts.' Kyubi said.
"What's this feeling? I can feel nothing, yet I seem to know where everything is."
'Powerful, isn't it?'
"Yeah."
The orbs around him swirled, and it merged with his body after a short period. His muscles were tense and hard, and he felt the power bursting inside. He felt like he was going to explode, and he didn't like it one bit.
"Stop..."
'I can't stop you. You must stop yourself.' Then, the kyubi laughed hysterically.
"Damn."
VI
His blonde hair whipped in the wind, and so did his dark brown garments. The sun affected all things that was present, the clouds in the sky, the leaves that curl under the hot sun, the cerulean sea shimmering under the glimmer of the sun, and the wind became an engine of movement in this paradise. Even at night, under the cloak of darkness, and the company of Erebus, the wave continued to crush regardless, as if they were a thing unchangeble.
The night, was indeed beautiful and colorful, where the countless stars gaze at mortals with strange curiosity, and perhaps insultingly. But no matter for even the clouds are unseen under the hues of both black, dark blue and grey, and should the clouds even be there, they only serve to add mystique to the alluring celestial objects on the sky.
Wind came, and it let loose all of his worries for a moment. Enthralled by the beauty that is around him, it is hard not to find peace, even if that peace would only be momentary. He turned his eyes to check on his bag, and slowly, he made his way along the shore, for the next town where he will find a job, for some food.
Nightfall brings peace, not the so called evils other claim it harbors. Well, at least not here.
VII
He felt the kid's heart pound, and punch the stalwart rib cage when he was anxious or afraid. Are man not all weak to a kind of fear? Perhaps, for he too once felt the humanly fear that could easily possess and manipulate the mind. Fear is a liar, a conman and a conspirator.
If the night could bring peace to a kid chained by pain, perhaps the night too can do many wondrous things.
Dark is the night sky that envelops them, but it is not night itself that mortal fear and shun. It is the creatures that the night holds, beasts the operate behind the light, that they are truly afraid of, and yet some men still relate to the night, one half of the natural cycle, as an illusion of evil. Man and their need to separate evil and good when the two are not much different should it be considered.
Wandering the halls where Kyubi was kept, and confined, he could imagine the misery, and perhaps the amusement that the young human of twelve summers could offer.
IIIFlashbackIII
Moments that passed were like the flipping of the pages of the book, quick and blurry. So was everything that should and forever will be of existence. Forests, that seemed eternal changed into a relentless inferno through the mere flick of the finger, and the mountains that seemed unmovable crumbled with the swift clap of the two hands. They are the reborn, and with ease they could awaken mountains, shake the earth and bring forth the tides.
But they were told and they were taught to restrain the use of their powers so long as they remain under his control. A very safe net, but he was a person who would easily grant freedom to his disciples. Perhaps there was regret in Kagizume for the request of freedom which he made.
He had fought many battles at his ex-master's side, and often the goal was to restore the balance of nature to the world. Yet balance is something that is lost quickly, unstable and reactive.
But he knew his master also had different goals when the time demanded it.
Annihilation.
IIIENDFLASHIII
Kagizume looked at Kyubi silently, and he then asked to break the icy silence which holds the labyrinth captive.
"What were you sent to this world to do?"
Kyubi's red eyes glowed, and he gave a very short chuckle. "Restore nature."
"You failed?"
"... I did not. I was... merely... Delayed."
"Failure is a failure, and no one has not failed. True success comes from the wisdom to rise once more."
"Shut up."
"It is likely that the cogwheel will spin again."
"The Twenty Year Delay... Oh no... Damn!" Kyubi cursed.
"We might be... targets when the timeline ends."
Kyubi's eyes grew slightly wider, "I don't like that idea at all."
"Neither do I."
"But... perhaps we can stop it?"
"If we can bring the downfall of the agent which would be responsible, yes."
"Well, I suppose we can arrange something."
"Those Naruto have any idea of it?"
"No."
THE END OF THIS CHAPTER!
Well, leave me a few critiques should you please.