Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. But man… It would be so BADASS if I did…
This story is inspired by a series of 'Bitch Kyuubi' deviation artworks done by an Artist named 'Croaky.' I really liked the artwork and it inspired me to write this fic. I'd encourage you to check it out.
ALTERNATE UNIVERSE
Hey! Sorry I'm late with the update… Heh… I uh was kind of busy taking finals and uh, graduating. I was also holding off posting this because I was thinking of scrapping this chapter and doing a total rewrite… But I'm too lazy. So I'm really going to be wracking my brain for chapter 4… Oh well, enjoy.
To those who have reviewed: Thanks! I take great pleasure in reading your reviews especially those of you who left me comments about what parts you like and so on. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.
And to Blitz Kitsune: Wow, you remember that! I haven't done those since sophomore year of high school I think…
Chapter 3:
"Good morning Hokage-sama!" The young secretary greeted. Standing up from her desk to acknowledge the elderly man with a bow.
"Ah good morning, how are you this morning?" Sarutobi asked, smiling warmly at the young lady.
"Very good my lord, m cousin is taking his final exam in the ninja academy today." The secretary smiled.
"Ah, I'm sure he'll pass with flying colors." Elder man grinned. "Another generation ready to help serve the village."
"Yes my lord." The young woman agreed as she returned to her seat. "The usual paper work is on your desk."
"Wonderful." Sarutobi sighed dejectedly. Well, nobody can avoid the inevitable.
Upon entering his office and closing the door, the aged ninja could immediately sense something was out of place.
There were already several Kunais in his robe-covered hand when he took several steps into the darkened room, stretching out his honed senses to find the intruder.
He blinked in surprise when he felt a strange, but familiar presence.
"You can show yourself. I'm alone." He called out, the Kunais were gone from his hand.
Staggering slightly, a woman who Sarutobi thought he would never see again emerged from the shadows of a corner. She looked haggard and a bit tired, the nine bushy red tails behind her dragging sluggishly against the floor.
"Hello… Sarutobi." The woman murmured, leaning against his desk.
"My God." The elderly man whispered, already at her side, giving her support. "Kyuubi…. How…"
"It was a bit of a walk to get here… I had to use a lot of power to keep from being seen… I'll be alright in a little bit." Kyuubi explained, detaching herself from the Third and standing on her own again. "What's happened?"
"What do you mean 'what's happened?'" Sarutobi asked. "I should be the one to ask you that."
"I… I'm not quite sure how to answer that." Kyuubi admitted.
"Come sit down" Sarutobi said, leading her to a worn coach that stood against the far wall. "I think you and I have much to discuss…"
"…That's all I remember." Kyuubi finished. It had been several hours now since their discussion had begun. Sarutobi had informed Kyuubi on much of the happenings after the incident twelve years ago.
The young(in appearance really) woman appeared to be looking better now in the time she had had to rest. But her disposition was a very different matter.
Much had changed in the time that she was gone. Arashi, yes she knew that her husband was dead, that was something she had already known was going to happen twelve years ago.
As their discussion had continued there was only one thing really on her mind. And the elderly man had yet to address it.
"Hmm… Yes… As far as I can tell..." Sarutobi said, nodding his head in understanding. "When you channeled your energy into Arashi to perform that draining jutsu, it needed a continued source of power to keep going. Most likely, I think it continued to feed off your power so it could finish off the other Fox demon's. Probably leaving you both in a similar state."
"Not a very effective Jutsu." Kyuubi commented. "A double edged sword that does almost more damage to the user than the target."
"Well, considering the amount of time we had to prepare, I dare say it was a miracle it even worked to begin with." Sarutobi shrugged, the once cheerful face of the elderly man, finally showing all the weariness of years and years as a shinobi and a leader.
"So then why did I wake up nearly twelve years later?" The red head asked.
"I can only guess at this point." Saruboti said, scratching thoughtfully at his beard. "You are a demon fox, to sustain yourself; you require a near infinite amount of energy. With almost all of your power used up. My best guess is that your body went into a type of self preservation mode and found a secluded place to hide while your energy built up again and you could sustain yourself physically.
"But twelve years?" Kyuubi asked.
"Like I said, a creature such as you, I would dare say would need that much time to… 'Recharge.'"
"I…" She was speechless. Twelve years gone… Her husband… dead. Her son…
Her son!
"You've avoided something Sarutobi." Kyuubi stated accusingly.
"Ah," The old man nodded. "I should have known better… Yes, Naruto."
"Is he alright?" Kyuubi asked worriedly. "Can I… Can I see him?"
"I not sure now would be a good time for that." Sarutobi replied, scratching the side of his head in thought. "There is still more I need to explain.
And so he did. And the red headed demon fox was not happy, at all.
The Third had explained the whole situation about Naruto, to the decision of the elder's and council to keep the secret of the demon fox incident from the children of the village, and especially Naruto himself. The fabricated lies made to substitute the true origins of the young boy's existence on that faithful day. Even, the boy's treatment by the villagers was not held back from his mother. The old Hokage couldn't find it in his heart to lie to her, not now, not like this.
"So…" Kyuubi began "… Where is he now?" She appeared to be calm and collected, but the he knew what was going on inside her head. He too had once had a wife and he could tell what was going through her mind.
Sighing, he knew it would be pointless to not tell her. She'd just go looking anyways.
"Well, if I am correct about the time." He began, looking towards the clock hanging on the nearby wall. "I would say he's at the academy graduation ceremony right now."
"Graduation ceremony?" Kyuubi looked surprised. "He's already going to become a genin?"
"Well, if he passed that is." The elder man admitted, sweating a bit nervously.
"I'm sure he's done fine." Kyuubi stated, rising from her seat. "I'm going now."
"You know… I actually could stop you. I'm not sure this is the right time." Sarutobi stated, rising from his own seat as well.
"You could… But you won't." Kyuubi replied, a faint ghost of a smile on her lips.
"Heh…" The old man chuckled. "No, I won't… Just please be careful. Things have been very difficult for him."
"I understand." Was her last reply, with that, she was gone.
Sighing, the Third Hokage sat wearily at his desk.
What a day…
And then the old man looked at all the papers that still lay on his desk…
She had no way to confirm it, but in the next room, the Hokage's secretary could have sworn she heard the Saindaime crying…
It was mid afternoon; the sun was high over the sky, shining down upon the village of the hidden leaf. The sounds of joyful laughter could be heard floating through the air.
At the ninja academy, the next years class of graduates where situated in the outside yard. The children's parents celebrating the newly appointed ninja's accomplishments. It was a joyous occasion all around.
… Mostly…
Sitting on a small wooden swing off to the side of the courtyard sat a short blonde boy. His body drifting back and forth as he looked longingly at the display going on before him.
A mother kissing her daughter on the cheek, a father ruffling his son's hair as he smiled brightly at the boy.
Another father tossing his son proudly into the air and catching him.
They all looked so happy and proud of their children.
The young boy in the swing, Naruto could barely keep his eyes open. Watching all of them together, so happy… It made that longing feeling feel so much deeper.
When he opened his eyes again, Naruto took notice of a strange looking woman wondering around the courtyard. She was wearing a plain dark red kimono and her hair was tied back in a loose bun, letting the majority of her hair hang down her back. Though that wasn't strange in itself, it was the bright auburn red hair and pale white skin that made her noticeable in a crowd.
Another thing that caught his attention were the three red marks that lay on each side of her cheeks. Unconsciously, Naruto scratched idly at the thin black marks that resided on his face.
She appeared to be looking through the crowd of children and parents. Most likely looking for her own somewhere. With a sigh, Naruto turned his gaze to his feet, barely able to touch the ground from his spot on the swing due to his short stature.
"Excuse me?" Blinking, Naruto looked up to see who was addressing him. To his surprise it was the red headed woman. She was bent down at the waist, with her hands on her knees looking at him at eye level. Her head crooking to the side as she appeared to be examining him.
"Y-yeah?" Naruto asked wearily. Any and all experience with adults had taught him to be careful. They were ALWAYS yelling at him or thowing stuff at him or chasing him away with brooms.
The woman just continued to stare at him. Her almond shaped eyes squinting shut in a foxish look. After another moment, the woman smiled, gave a sharp nod, and stood up straight again.
"Can I ask you a question?" The woman asked, walking around so that she was beside the blonde boy, looking out at the small congregation of people.
"Yeah, What?" Naruto looked puzzled, as he stared up at the strange woman. Her gaze was directed at the crowd. Did she want him to find her kid in the crowd or something?
"Why aren't you celebrating with the other children over there?" She asked. Naruto could feel his throat tightening as he turned to look at his feet again.
"I uh… I didn't pass." He mumbled. The red head looked surprised as she looked at him.
"You didn't pass?" She indeed did looked quite surprised. "Why?"
Naruto REALLY didn't want to get into this, especially with a complete stranger. But despite that, the fact that someone was actually paying attention to him completely overrode his embarrassment.
"I couldn't perform the final exam jutsu." The boy admitted. "I uh… I bombed it."
Blinking, the redhead stared at him.
"I couldn't do a simple Bushin…" Naruto explained.
"Oh, I see." She replied.
A moment of silence. What was she going to do? Laugh at him like all the other villagers?
There was a short rustling behind him and then a surprised Naruto found himself sailing forward in the swing. When he came back, he looked up to see the woman holding onto the ropes.
"This is a very nice swing." She commented. "I bet it's a lot of fun."
"W-well yeah." Naruto replied, a smile creeping onto his face. "It's my favorite."
"I bet it's a lot of fun having someone to push you." She added, giving the swing another push, sending Naruto forward again.
"Yeah." The boy's smile was growing wider now.
Back in forth he went as she continued to push him, Naruto's earlier mood seemly forgotten.
"So what are you going to do now?" She asked suddenly. Bring the young boy out of his brief happy trance.
"What do you mean?" Naruto asked, turning his head to look up at the red head.
"Now that you failed. Are you going to try again?" She asked, her tone sounding merely thoughtful.
"Well… Well of course!" Naruto replied a familiar fire returning to the blonde. "I'm Uzumaki Naruto! Do you think I'm going to let this stop me!"
The woman smiled.
"I'm glad to hear it." She replied.
"Y-you are?" This was a surprise. In all of his life, Naruto had never met anybody who had ever said anything encouraging like that to him. Well… Except maybe for his academy teacher Iruka… But Iruka was also always yelling at him too.
"Of course. Who wouldn't want such a nice boy to succeed?" The woman smiled brightly. As she leaned forward, a number of her red locks fell in front of her and into Naruto's face.
Brushing the red strands of hair out his face, Naruto stared up in awe at the strange woman.
"Who are you anyways?" He finally asked. The woman looked somewhat taken aback and released her hold on the swing.
"Um… I'm…" She appeared to be pausing for a moment to think about it. "My name is Kyu…"
"Kyu?" Naruto asked jumping out of the swing to look at her. "Well thanks Kyu! I'm definitely going to pass! One way or another! Just wait and see!"
"That's very good." The Kyu smiled.
"Well, I have to go! Make sure to look for me Kyu! Next time you see me, I'm gonna be a full fledged ninja!" Naruto proclaimed, before dashing off, waving the whole time until he was out of sight.
Kyuubi wore a bitter smile as she watched him go. It was, as she realized much harder to tell him who she was than she had realized. But… Why? Wouldn't it have been good if she had told him she was his mother. Wouldn't he have been happy?
Wouldn't he?
Maybe Sarutobi knew more of what he was talking about than she thought.
But still, he seemed like such a nice boy. That was good. Maybe there was still hope that she could reclaim her title as mother.
While Kyuubi was deep within her own thoughts, she hadn't noticed two women from the main crowd of people walk over to her. Blinking in surprise, the redhead turned to look at the two.
"You must be new here." The first woman stated.
"Um… Yes." Kyuubi replied carefully. She hadn't realized she stood out THAT much.
"It's understandable. We saw you talking to… It, and thought you should be careful." The second woman explained.
"Excuse me?" Kyuubi looked puzzled.
"Where really not suppose to talk about it." The first continued, looking around carefully to make sure no one was listening. "But be careful. That thing is a monster. If you're not careful you might get killed."
The sheer intensity of the glare that the two women received was so powerful that they both jumped back in surprise.
Kyuubi left without another word.
As Naruto sped off in search of his teacher, a sudden shout of his name caught his attention. Turning around, Naruto was surprised to find one of his other teachers standing behind him.
"Hey Naruto, can I have a word with you?" Mizuki asked.
Several Hours Later:
Kyuubi, had decided not to return to the Hokage's office, it would be pointless seeing as how he would most likely be at home so late in the day.
So there she was merely strolling through the now deserted streets of the village. Looking up at the forming twinkling stars in the sky.
How had it all turned out like this? Why did it have to be this way?
But of course, she knew why it was this way. Kyuubi knew exactly who brought all these horrible events to fruition. And it made the guilt grow that much more steadily inside her.
With her head still looking up towards the stars, Kyuubi blinked in surprise when she noticed a small figure exit out of a nearby window, what a appeared to be a large scroll tied to their back.
Before she could do or say anything, the figure sprung from the window and from rooftop to rooftop, leaping out of sight in an instant.
'What's going on?' Kyuubi thought as she turned back to the window. Taking a deep breath and gathering her strength, Kyuubi leapt the three-story distance to the open window.
Peering inside, the red head took immediate notice of the elderly figure sprawled on the ground.
"Sarutobi!" Kyuubi exclaimed in surprise, crawling through the window and going to help the old man. There was, as she noticed a LOT of blood coming out of his nose.
"Sarutobi! Wake up!"
Blinking woozily, the elderly Hokage opened his eyes. "Ugh… Kyuubi… W-what's going on?"
"You tell me? I saw somebody jump out of your window and found you here in a pool of your own blood! Who could have done this to you!"
"Oh, uh that." The Third chuckled nervously. "That would have been Naruto."
"What!"
"Uh yes." Sarutobi nodded sheepishly. "He exploited my one weakness completely."
"He had a nudie magazine with him?" Kyuubi asked in surprise.
Sarutobi looked even more embarrassed. "Er not exactly… Ahem! That's not the point. The point is that he took a very important scroll with him!"
"What? Why?" Kyuubi asked in shock.
"I'm not sure…" Sarutobi admitted. "But the problem lies in what scroll he took."
"What scroll was it?" Kyuubi asked.
"Remember the scroll Arashi was working on before he died?" The elder man asked as he got back to his feat.
'Oh." Kyuubi thought. 'THAT scroll.'
With his eyes closed, the head teacher of the ninja academy, Iruka Omiha(I tried really hard to find his last name, really, I did. Sorry.) thought back on the words the Hokage had spoken to him.
'I do understand how you feel about the boy.' The Hokage's voice drifted through his thoughts. 'Growing up like you, without his parent's love.'
He tried to block the memory out, but it came back like many times before. The raging red beast, with its devastating tales lashing back and forth.
'No! Let me go! Mom and dad are still fighting the demon!'
It hurt every time, no matter what.
Knock, Knock!
Blinking, Iruka got up from his bed and opened the door to find a worried Mizuki standing there.
"Mizuki… What's going on?" Iruka asked worriedly.
"It' bad." Mizuki replied. "Naruto somehow found out about the secret scroll! He's stolen it!"
'Oh god.' Iruka thought.
An hour later…
This was definitely a new experience.
Never, in a millennia of life had Kyuubi ever experienced anything like it. Her lungs were on fire, her throat felt as dry as wind country. Her legs, she had stopped feeling anything in her legs a while ago. She felt like she was running on stilts connected to her torso.
Yes, this was a new experience for her.
For the first in her entire life, Kyuubi was complete and utterly physically exhausted.
Well that sort of thing is to be expected when a creature of near infinite power is running on barely a fraction of their former strength. Twelve years or not, it's going to take a damn near long time to recover.
Maybe… Maybe even forever.
But that was the least of the demon fox's worries at the moment. Exhausted or not, she had to keep going. She had to find him before one of those enraged ninjas found and killed him.
That's why she was out here in this forest, searching desperately with no clue as to her son's whereabouts.
When the Hokage had first gathered the search teams she had remained in the shadows to watch.
She had felts so enraged and helpless as she saw the reactions of the group of ninjas. Rage for the hated words they dared to speak about her child and helplessness because there was nothing she could do about it.
But one of those ninja's had caught her attentions. Iruka wasn't it? He was Naruto's teacher if she had heard Sarutobi correctly. The look in his eyes… He must've known where Naruto was.
And so she had followed him, out into the darkness of the forest.
Unfortunately, what Kyuubi hadn't thought about was just how fast ninja's are when you yourself have nothing but the ordinary speed of a human. She had lost sight of Iruka almost right away.
So now she was running though the great forest of Konoha without any idea as to where to go. Only on the brief chance that she would find her son.
I guess it turns out for once, fate was on her side.
As the pale skinned redhead ran through the forest, a sudden crashing sound caught her attention. Skidding to a halt, Kyuubi craned her head upward just in time to see Naruto(with the forbidden scroll) slam full force into his teacher, Iruka.
"Naruto!" Kyuubi gasped in shock. What was he doing!
"Naruto…" Iruka muttered, getting back to his feet. "How did you know wasn't Iruka?"
With a poof of smoke, Iruka was gone, replace with an unfamiliar white haired ninja. A sinister look in his eyes.
"Simple." Naruto smirked, leaning heavily against a tree. "Because I am."
With a second poof of smoke, Naruto was revealed to be the real Iruka.
In all of her worry, Kyuubi found a moment to curse herself. Was she really THAT weak that she couldn't even see through a simple human illusion?
Being careful not to alert the two to her presence, Kyuubi carefully crept her way to hide behind one of the nearby trees.
She kept her eyes fixed upon the two ninjas. Making sure that neither looked at her. She only looked away when she bumped into something as she crept behind a tree.
Startled, she looked down to see none other that Naruto! A startled and utterly puzzled looked on his face as he looked at her. In his tightly gripped hands was the forbidden scroll.
"Kyu-" Naruto was about to speak when Kyuubi put a hand to her lips in a quieting motion. She then looked back around the tree at Iruka and the other ninja.
"Hee, hee… So Noble." Mizuki sneered. "To save your parent's murderer. And for what? What happens if we let him live."
"Then maybe the scroll is safe from a scumbag like you." Iruka replied. Ugh, he had so many wounds from the earlier shuriken assault, his body felt like it could barely move. But Naruto was okay, that's all that mattered.
"Naruto and I are two of a kind you know." Mizuki said, stepping closer. "With that scroll, I can attain the same kind of limitless power!"
"What?" Iruka asked. Mizuki couldn't be talking about…
"The demon within hungers for that kind of power!" Mizuki exclaimed. "You were right to fear him."
Naruto couldn't believe it. So it was true then. His teacher really held him… In contempt. The tears were starting to come to his eyes now. The scroll in his hands gripped bone crushingly tight to his body.
So it was true then. What Mizuki had said.
'You are the Nine tailed Demon Fox who attacked Konoha twelve years ago!'
'Haven't you always wondered why everyone always hated you?'
It all seemed to make such painful sense. All those years… all the glares, the scornful words. The feeling of complete loneliness.
'Get lost you little brat!'
'Don't go near that boy! He's nothing but trouble!'
'He'll never amount to anything.'
It hurt so much… all of it.
'Just give up you loser!'
'You can't do it, can you?'
Now he understood.
'Now that you failed. Are you going to try again?'
He blinked. Wait… Those hadn't been words of scorn…
'This is a nice swing… I bet it's nice to have someone to push you.'
That woman… Looking up, Naruto saw Kyu staring down at him. Her eyes, they weren't filled with hatred… No! She was looking at him with… sadness? Her hands were on his shoulders, holding onto him softly.
'Of course. Who wouldn't want such a nice boy to succeed?'
No, she didn't hate him, unlike everyone else.
"You're right." Naruto could hear Iruka's voice. "I do hate the fox."
Kyu's grip tightened on his shoulders.
"But not the boy. Not Naruto." Iruka finished.
Naruto blinked in surprise. No… He couldn't have heard that right…
"For Naruto, I have nothing but the utmost respect. He is an excellent student." Naruto looked up to see Kyu smiling. She appeared to be looking over at the two ninjas.
"He works with all his might, and because he is clumsy and screws up, people have mocked him and shunned him.
"It has given him empathy." The words floated to Naruto's ears. Was he hearing things? Was this real? Did… Did Iruka-sensei really mean it?
"That boy is not the demon fox. He is a citizen of Konohagakure Village…"
'Iruka-sensi…'
"Uzumaki Naruto!"
Kyuubi couldn't hold back her tears. Despite the situation, those words had filled her with great pride. Looking down, she could tell those same words had had the most effect on her son.
The tears of joy were over flowing.
After seeing that smile on his face, to Kyuubi the rest had been but a blur. Naruto had moved out of her grasp and stopped the attacking ninja from killing Iruka. She recalled faintly that Naruto had created nearly a thousand shadow clones of himself. Completely powered by the need to protect the man who had accept her son, all of his faults included, no matter if they were true or a fabricated lie.
She would always remember it. The moment her son opened his eyes, wearing Iruka's head protector of the leaf on his head. Her presence had been completely forgotten, all the events that had transpired had moved her to the background of everything around them. But that was okay for now.
So she watched, silently from behind that tree. The look of pure joy on his face as he embraced his teacher. He was now a Konoha Leaf Ninja… Just like…
Just like his father.
'I wish you were here Arashi…'
That's it for this chapter. Look forward to seeing a one shot humor fic by me involving one of the more unthought-of (straight) pairings in Naruto. As always, I read every single review you send… a couple hundred times in fact…