Author Message: Finally got this chapter done and the ending I had inspiration from another anime that helped me finish the chapter on what I thought was a good way to end it.

WORDS STYLE:

[Tv/Intercom]

SHOUTING

TwIsTeD

(((((Past conversations)))))

(So'unga speaking)

Chapter 8: The Cursed Pond and The Devil Heart

BACK AT THE VILLAGE

Kirara lands before Kaede's home, leaving the three to get off of her as they step off so the Nekomata could return to a smaller form, jumping upon Setsuna's shoulder which she pats the head of the beast while Naruto takes out the envelope he got from his mother, the time being now to read it.

"Hey, Moroha we're ba—" As he starts opening the beaded door he froze in place just as the attention of Kaede and Moroha was brought towards him.

"Ah, your back." Kaede smiles while Towa starts moving past Naruto who blocked the entrance, a little confused by his actions.

"Naruto is every—" Towa stops in surprise just as Setsuna peaks past the two and blinked in surprise. Before the three stood Moroha who wore a Priestess outfit, particularly a copy of Kaede's and Kagome's, her mother's which the girl proceeds to smile and spin.

"Ah, so you three must be stunned!" She puts her hands on her hips with a smile widening. "Kaede wanted to see how I looked wearing a Priestess outfit!" Their reactions were mixed, Towa was surprised since it reminded her of the old photos of her adoptive father with his sister, Kagome. Setsuna just raises an eyebrow not much impressed since it looks normal and Naruto…

"So, what do—" Moroha stops as her eyes widen to see a very clear reaction and that didn't go unnoticed by Setsuna who saw he was visibly blushing while looking away, this display caused the Daughter of Inuyasha to smile more as she gets closer to the blonde and nudges him with an elbow.

"What's with that reaction, your looking all embarrassed and stuff?" She places a hand to her mouth with her gaze being that of amusement. "You must really like this outfit." Her words merely got Naruto to quickly turn around while Setsuna wasn't all that amused, her eyes narrowing a little at him while Towa tilts her head in confusion with Moroha just laughing at the blonde's reaction.

"Why am I acting like this, she's just wearing a—" The thought immediately goes to Towa wearing the same outfit and immediately blushes more. "…do I have a Priestess fetish?!" The horror was evident on Naruto's face as he slapped his face, surprising the three as they watched him shake his head and pull out the envelope that surprised Towa.

"Let's read this while we have the chance, we haven't had the time to do so." As he spoke, the others stayed silent as he opened it yet what he got caused his eyes to widen which surprised them.

"Why…" What he had on his face was confusion before turning the paper over to reveal a tag on the paper with the Kanji of 'Seal' printed on it.

"I don't know what this means?" While he said that, Kaede's eyes narrow.

"That appears to be the work of the Kitsune's." She stood up, looking closer at it while the others were confused.

"You would need someone in the way of the Kitsune's to know how to remove this seal…" She puts on a bothered expression.

"Ok, so is there a Kitsune village near—" He stops to see Setsuna's eyes widen and she looks away.

"There isn't any…they…were wiped out by 'that' cursed spirit." Upon hearing that, Naruto's eyes widen in shock just as Towa's did which caused the blonde to grit his teeth.

"But there is someone who could…" Hearing that, they all turn to Kaede who places a hand on her chin.

"He's been quite busy with all that's happened and I'm not sure where he is but I am sure he's alive. He's a Kitsune and his name is Shippō, he was a traveling companion to Kagome and Inuyasha." That seemed to have surprised them with Naruto putting the envelope away.

"If you hear anything just let me know…" She nodded in understanding.

"I'll ask the other Demon Slayers if they have information," Setsuna said while turning around. "You guys, check that Corpse Dealer." When they heard this, Naruto noticed the look in Towa's eyes and spoke up.

"Me and Moroha will head to the guy, how about you and Towa head to the Demon Slayers?" This caught Setsuna by surprise and looks to see Towa smiling brightly, this scene could only sigh yet in the end understood, sister bonding time.

"I wonder what Towa and Setsuna are doing right now while we're just looking into the missing people cases?" Muttered the blonde who held the envelope in hand, staring at the seal and thinking about the talk they had with the Corpse Dealer who didn't have much of a lead. His thoughts were silenced by Moroha's scream brought his attention away from the envelope, turning to look over at the log, towards the panicking Moroha holding a spatula in one hand and chopsticks in the other.

"W-What's going on?!" The poor girl demands, staring in utter confusion at the pancakes steaming. "Hey, Whiskers is this burning, did I already screw it up?!" Naruto felt like facepalming why he even let the girl make pancakes and stood up to look over the log where she sat cooking the food.

"Just flip it over." Was all he said, getting a surprised look as she does as told and smiles as she takes out the bag of pancake mix she used from her large bag.

"It's looking just like the bag!" She smiles happily at her friend who wondered if it was such a good idea to bring back their world food when a bag could get lost and found by some civilians.

"Just remember to burn the bag when you're done." She just smiles and looks back at the food.

"Yeah, yeah," She proceeds to wait a little longer before putting them on a paper plate.

"Gotta say, this looks useful." Her gaze rests on the portable she used to cook the pancakes before sticking her chopsticks through all three of her pancakes, resulting in Naruto's eyes going wide as she suddenly bites down in all three and devoured it all in one bite. The sight caused the blonde to start to sweat as he goes to the bag just as she begins to choke.

"Drink this." He told the girl running in place who immediately takes it and devoured all the water instantly, coughing hard before breathing normally, turning to Naruto she blushed and laughs while scratching the back of her head sheepishly.

"Whoops, guess that wasn't a smart idea. But how did you know I was going to choke?" Her words caused him to start sweating at the fact he pulled the same thing at a ramen shop, yet it was a lot worse involving Towa's strength + Heimlich maneuver, ended up cracking a rib.

"Just a guess." He just avoids her gaze while she looks past him, seeing a little way down at the muddy pond at a bird that fly's a little too close to the pond and ends up getting devoured, freaking her out which all her friend does was look back to see nothing.

"What?"

"IT WAS CRAZY?!" She abruptly grabs him by his clothing, pointing at the murky pond. "The pond swallowed up that bird!" Yet this got a sigh from Naruto.

"You sure you're not seeing things—" She abruptly shook her head and Juno's back, proceeding to give him a physical display of what had happened to it yet during the entire time the blonde just stares at her yet his eyes widen as he recalled what happened earlier today and slightly blushed while looking away.

"Hey,!" Moroha called, looking annoyed. "I'm trying to give a demonstration so don't turn away Whiskers!" His nickname once again being used for a sigh yet despite that, more and more he got used to it unlike when the Dog Breath said it more as an insult but as she continued doing her demonstration, the blonde noticed something from the corner his eye.

"What the?" His gaze fully focused on it, annoying Moroha until she followed it, and immediately Naruto ran past her, witnessing a boy being held back by a girl with said boy appearing to head towards the murky pond.

"No brother, don't go! It's too dangerous!"

"Let go of me, Chiyo! I have to go there and avenge our Ma and Pa!"

"You can't, please! I don't want my Big Brother to go disappearing too!"

As this argument happened, Naruto moved even faster just as the boy pulls away from the girl who falls forward just as the brother starts to run into a hand grasps his wrist tightly, turning he found Naruto standing there.

"That is not how you treat your sister." His gaze moves onto the pond with his eyes narrowing

As he smells the air.

"Who are you huh, let go!" Yet despite all the pulling, it did nothing until Naruto lifts him over his shoulder, struggling and all.

"If what was said is true, all you would do is throw your life away and leave your sister all alone." This seemed to have gotten his struggling to stop, reluctantly as the boy looked away while Moroha helped the girl stand up with a small wound on her leg before the four start moving away from the pond.

"I understand you wanting to avenge your parents, but doing something like that was pretty stupid." His words cut into the boy who grits his teeth.

"But I—" He was cut off by a fist to the head, gaining an 'ow!' from the kid.

"What could you have possibly done, yelled at it to make it feel bad or demand it to bring back your parents?" The kid shows more hurt with Moroha looking surprised.

"All you would have done is abandon your sister…I know someone and if she were your age, she would have beaten you black and blue for even thinking of such a stupid thing." This gif Moroha to realize he was referring to Towa while the kid could only cry from where he was held yet during the entire time Naruto had a serious expression while Moroha just stares at his back until she slaps a hand to her neck, looking to find Myōga in the palm of her hand.

"Lady Moroha…"

"What are you doing here, Grandpa Myōga?" As she asked that, Naruto looks back to see the flea demon on her palm while the kids were surprised by seeing such a thing.

"Being beside you is such a lovely experience, I couldn't help myself." Hearing his words, her eyes widen at recalling something.

"Hey Gramps, could you find a certain someone for me?" This request seemed to surprise him with Naruto's eyes widening.

"Sure, but who might that be?"

"Does the name Shippō ring any bells?" The name seemed to surprise the Flea who tilts his head.

"One of Master Inuyasha's traveling companions? I may have not seen him in a number I years but I could find him." This got her to smile.

"Thanks, Gramps!" While she thanked him, the flea glances at Naruto who was looking at him before turning away, causing him to sweat at the fact what his relationship was with Sesshōmaru's daughter or daughters from what he's found out so far with Setsuna.

"I'll be off then!" With that said, he made his leave quickly without another word, leaving the four of them as they continued a little way down to a small house.

"Ow!" The girl, Chiyo mutters the word and flinches from the stinging sensation of the spray. The group was inside the small house with Naruto kneeling before the girl.

"Don't worry, it's helping the wound heal faster since all you have is a scrape." He told the girl who smiles while the brother, Hikomaru sat away from them with Moroha standing against the wall, bored out of her mind.

"The sun is already setting." Spoke the grandmother who approached them from where she was sitting.

"Why don't the two of you spend the night, here?" This caused Chiyo to brighten up as she looks at Naruto with hope and awe for the reason of saving her brother's life.

"That's a good idea, you should stay here!" She turns to her sibling. "Right, Brother?" All he did was look away, a look of regret on his face yet the girl holds his hands, staring at him hopefully.

"Pretty please?" The look gave him no way out and even Moroha was finding this funny and the result was they stayed, eating with the family tho Naruto didn't need to eat due to being just a corpse.

"Yes, the Pond has been very murky and muddy ever since I was a little girl." This confused the blonde who tilts his head.

"Wait, if it's been like that for such a long time, why haven't you already reported it to the Demon Slayers?" The old lady shook her head.

"It's all thanks to the sage, when I was a little girl she came to the pond. She used some medicinal herbs to purify those filthy waters." Hearing this, Moroha wasn't all too interested.

"So what, a Demon recently took up a home in the pond?" The old lady sadly nodded before looking in the direction of the pond.

"The sage planted more herbs around the pond so if it became murky again than they could be used to clean it yet it stopped after 'it' took up residence in the pond, it wasn't until recently I came to realize why there have been more and more disappearances being reported from the village near here, we used to have many visitors come in when the pond was clear." Moroha just frowns at all this, more so just wanting to kill the Demon and get things over with.

"There should be a big beautiful patch of herbs growing over there by now." It was at this point, Hikomaru spoke up.

"But no one can reach it because of the venom Serpent. So there's no way to clear the pond." That new info caused Naruto to glance at Moroha who realized what she saw.

"It's a Demon that's poisonous and looks like a giant snake." Hearing that explanation, Moroha lifts her Kurikaramaru.

"Don't worry," Moroha shows a big smile. "Before the day ends tomorrow, we'll slay that Demon!" Her words caused their eyes to widen with her confident smile, which seemed to amaze the little sister while the Brother was shocked and looks at Naruto who raises Sō'unga which immediately Chiyo begins to cry followed by her brother who holds his sister, causing the grandmother to comfort them.

"They're just remembering their parents." As she told them that, Moroha starts to look uncomfortable with Naruto noticing.

Naruto just lay outside, staring at the sky with his arms behind his head in silence.

((((((Do it yourself.)))))

(((((You cannot keep relying on transformations. As a reanimated corpse, your body relies on my power to continue functioning. By transforming, it takes power away leaving you more vulnerable to falling to pieces. I will not keep using my power to keep you alive when you so foolishly risked your body to save that daughter of Sesshōmaru when she went berserk.)))))

At this point, he was frowning at Sō'unga's words and glared at the sword, not regretting what he did one bit.

"Must be boring." Came the words of Moroha who plopped down next to him, a large bag at her side with Naruto just glancing at her.

"Shouldn't you get some sleep?" Yet she just waves it off, not caring.

"Nah, I've stayed up longer before so it's no big deal—" She was cut off by the sudden question being asked.

"Are you ok?" This seemed to have surprised her, looking at the blonde staring at her.

"You looked bothered when they were talking about their parents." When she heard that, her surprise disappeared as she blushes and turns away, mustering up a laugh.

"I-It's nothing, I've gotten used to having no parents so it's no big deal!" Despite saying that, Naruto could see she was lying before she suddenly realized something, and a smile forms on her face, immediately she goes into her bag and searches for something.

"Since we're now alone…" She retrieved a particular box, one that caused Naruto's eyes to pop as he starts to sweat. "I want you to finally tell me—" She was cut off by the blonde immediately grabbing the box and chucking it out and into the pond, shocking and angering the girl who turns to him.

"HEY, WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?!" Her demand hit a facepalm.

"I'm just gonna get this over with." He mutters that before making a motion to come closer which her eyes narrow and did as told despite still not looking happy yet she gave him her ear which he speaks into it quietly. As the seconds went on, her eyes widen while her face turned redder and redder until finally she abruptly stood up.

"Ah…ahahah…ah…" The fake laughter did not help with Naruto staring at her and quickly she turns away, blushing out of embarrassment.

"I'm going to bed!" Was her only reply and abruptly takes the bag and runs back to the small home, leaving Naruto by himself yet he couldn't help but smile when he saw her look once more at him, still embarrassed before looking away upon entering the house. Naruto just lays back down.

"I can only pray that if her parents are alive somewhere, they don't find out about me seeing their daughter naked despite that not being my fault."

Naruto stood ready, staring down at the murky waters before him with Sō'unga in hand just as he heard footsteps, turning to see Moroha approaching him, also ready for the battle to commence.

"So what's the plan, we gonna just go all out or what since last I recall, Sō'unga's isn't letting you use its transformations." As he heard that, Naruto glances at the sword.

"Transforming the sword requires energy. Unlike when it uses techniques, changing its form requires more." He grips the handle tightly and frowns.

"I'll think of something, so until then I'll rely more on you in this fight." When Moroha heard that, she immediately glances away while looking embarrassed at hearing for the first time someone wanted to rely on her strength.

"S-Sure, but don't do anything stupid, ok." He could only nod yet still he frowns at not knowing what exactly he can do while Moroha extends her weapon.

"YO, Venom Serpent! Come on out here, get ready because I'm sending you to the afterlife with my Kurikaramaru!" Despite what she originally said about a 'plan' she seemed to have forgotten with Naruto just sweating due to not exactly having a plan either way yet that thought ends upon a whirlpool being seen from the murky waters, becoming a spiral geyser.

"Found ya', Crimson Dragon Wave!" Moroha shouts as she swings a single time with the dragon energy wave heading for it, only to be hit by some kind of purple missy from the top of the spiral, dispersing it and in turn hitting Moroha who fell to one knee.

"Moroha!" He runs to her side and she was clutching her throat.

"I. Can't. Breath." Yet she couldn't finish as another spiral flew right at the girl yet Naruto grabbed and jumps out to the way, dodging it, and with that, the next phase had begun as the water dispersed to reveal a serpent with an oni face and long purple hair.

"Tell me, are you the ones threatening this pond?" Naruto just grits his teeth as it didn't wait any longer and unleashed another blast at Naruto who jumps out of the way again, narrowly missing.

"This isn't good!" When Naruto heard that, he looked to his shoulder and found Myōga on him, much to his surprise.

"Why are you here, weren't you looking for Shippō?" His question gained a shake of his head.

"I didn't want it to leave yet, I had to confirm something but enough of that." He locks eyes with Naruto. "If you are indeed reanimated by the power of Sō'unga, you shouldn't be affected by its poison. Lady Moroha, make your way to the patch of herbs over there!" He told her yet she appeared worn out from the toxins as she started coughing.

"BOY!" Its shout gained Naruto's attention to watch as water spiraled around the serpent and consumed it much to his confusion.

"The Venom Serpent isn't the only opponent you must defeat! The Pond itself is also a demon!" As he wanted him, he watched as the water pulled into one spot, revealing the countless skeletons below it.

"Disgusting." Muttered Moroha from where she was located, still held in Naruto's arms while the spiral bends and reveals a face.

"I am Drifting Pond, I drift from Pond to Pond, consume it when becoming the Pond itself!" Its explanation made Moroha frown but could do nothing as she was still very weak with Naruto not being any better off for having no long-range attacks in his arsenal and Sō'unga refusing to let him use transformations just as the demon unleashed a multitude of water spirals at Naruto, not giving him time as he's hit in the side and they went sent through the air, slamming into the ground near the patch of herbs with Moroha flinching. This sight just angered Naruto who stood up, already healing from the attack he received and glaring at the Demon yet he turns his attention towards Moroha's and makes a run towards her yet found his leg was grabbed and pulled by the tendril of water, sent slamming away from Moroha and in turn causing him to flinch in.

"Whiskers!" Moroha shouted and tried to stand up yet just falls forward, her body still too weak.

"Lady Moroha!" The Helper turns to Naruto who was already getting back up. "Focus on the fight, with Sō'unga there's no way you'll lose!" He told the blonde who stands and runs to the side, away from them with his gaze on the Demon who fires more spiral tendrils yet could only block and be pushed back just as the Serpent's face appeared in the spiral.

"You insolent little boy, you've angered me!" It's warning only gif Naruto to lift his practically useless sword, the bones in his line of sight yet shake his head, not wanting to rely on the deceased bones while the serpent charges up another attack of poison mist with Naruto crouching, his gaze glancing back at the others, more so the herbs that he didn't know how to extract.

"YOU WON'T ESCAPE!" Both demons unleash their attacks at Naruto who changes full speed, narrowly dodging the tendrils of water yet the mist attack consumes him.

"Fool—" The Serpent stops to find Naruto in front of it, his body having remnants of the poison coming off of him.

"W-Wait—" With a single full-powered swing, he delivers a single slash across the demon's face, gaining a roar of rage as Naruto leaps to deliver a second when he was slammed into the side by the spiral water.

"Naruto!" Moroha's shout was heard as he was sent flying back, his left side is noticeably damaged yet slowly healing as his body used the soil of the earth to slowly repair the damage and he just stands up.

"HOW DARE YOU!" Its gaze moves onto Moroha, much to his shock. "Drifting pond, help me attack and kill that girl, let us make him suffer!" As it spoke, it powered up while the pond uses its water and concentrated a larger amount for longer-range attacks, both directed at Moroha with Naruto getting in front of her.

"Sō'unga, I need a shield now!" His shout gained no response, causing him to grit his teeth in anger and looks back at Moroha, planning on getting her out of here until he froze at seeing a rock hitting the serpent in the already face, gaining its attention on Hikomaru, the boy holding several rocks with tears in his eyes while up above the grandmother was holding back his sister, Chiyo.

"WHY YOU!" It directs anger on the boy, much to Naruto's horror.

"RUN!" He leaps into action, towards the boy who had no time to react as the poisonous mist and water tendril headed straight for him, the distance of the attack being close to the kid while Naruto's speed played a part, having gotten to him with only a few feet between them yet it still wasn't close enough. All he could do was stare into Hikomaru's eyes, the tearful eyes of a kid who put his life on the line.

"No…" As he thought that, his left hand was extended towards the kid.

"Please… I just need." As those thoughts raced through his head, veins start forming in his eyes as blood starts to leak from them and as they did so, time itself started to slow down, unnoticed to himself as he was fully stuck in his thoughts.

(((((I can feel it, within you lies deep malice that which I have never before felt, one which has awakened me from my 700-year slumber. I am So'unga...)))))

(((((I wish to make that child my new owner, a ruler that surpasses the likes of 'him'! His inner malice is what awakened me from my 700-year slumber and I foresee greatness! It would be nothing but a shame to lose such a child!)))))

As those words came to mind his hand grips Sō'unga.

"Inner Malice…" As he thought that, he looked inward at that 'malice' inside himself, using Sō'unga to do so, tapping into that dark speck inside himself and with it, he could make out a single form, a man inside his being that stood in the darkness and all he did was look back at Naruto with a cruel smile forming on his face, this caused a pulse as a flash of images he could not place formed in his mind.

"Barrier." As he muttered that word, what came to life was a crimson sphere that formed around that, blocking the attacks that could not pierce through it.

"What?!"

"Impossible!

Moroha was as shocked as Myōga at witnessing the crimson barrier that vanished as soon as it appeared with Naruto standing before Hikomaru.

"T-Tha—" The child froze when Naruto looked back, his gaze held no warmth or mercy, he just stared at the child as if he were an annoyance which all he did was step back, afraid and shaking with Naruto turning his gaze back to Moroha who was just watching in shock.

"DON'T IGNORE US!" The water demon roared in anger, sending tendrils of water spirals at Naruto who swings the blade only once as more memories flash.

"Dance of Blades." With those words, the blade produces a gust of wind that morphs and transforms, taking on the shape of Magatama beads the slams into the tendrils, destroying them much to its shock with Naruto crouching.

"Pitiful." He leaps from where he was, heading straight for the Demons that once again charged to their attacks in a hurry and unleashed them right at Naruto who once again used the same attack on the tendrils, letting the mist hit him only for it to have no effect as he lands in front of the Demons with the sword being drawn back as it gave off an orange aura, the color of the rainbow pearl Sō'unga absorbed.

"G-G—" The serpent froze in place, the gaze Naruto showed him forced the to remember an encounter it had years ago with a certain Demon.

"N-Nara—" He was silenced a large wind blade cut the spiral half, including the serpent whose eyes were wide, only able to stare at Naruto as he saw the image of Naraku standing next to him with that same, annoyed look as he was turned to nothing.

"SERPENT!" The Water Demon, Drifting Pond shouted in horror as his comrade was killed and reduced to nothing which angered it as it summons more tendrils that slam into Naruto, the spirals sending him skidding back and dirt being sent flying until he came to a stop next to them.

"Damn Naruto, where did you learn those moves?!" Moroha commented with a smile yet that stops when she met his very cold gaze, taking her by surprise as he points the sword at her and unleashed wind right at the panicking girl who jumps out of the way with all her strength, missing the wind the draws in the herbs with Naruto turning back and with a single hand he swung down the blade, sending all the wind with it, using a large wind blast not as strong as the slash yet it did its job, slamming into the demon that roars as the herbs burn it.

"Holy, it's working on the Demon!" Moroha shouted while sitting up, seeing the demon disperse with a scream, leaving behind purified water as it vanished entirely. With this done, Naruto just stood there and stared at the pond with Moroha slowly getting up.

"Geez Naruto, you could have given me more of a warning you know?" She starts to approach Naruto from behind but stops in her tracks when she saw him drop Sō'unga on the ground, the sight of this through her off.

"Naruto!" Came the shout of Chiyo and Hikomaru running towards the two, gaining Moroha's attention as they stop before them which the girl proceeds to hug Naruto from behind, happily until the mood changes drastically from the blonde pushing the girl.

"GET AWAY FROM ME!" He shouted as the girl hits the ground, shocking Moroha and Hikomaru who runs to his sister's side which she sat up tearfully, a scrape once again on her leg as Hikomaru glares at Naruto while Moroha looked very annoyed.

"Hey, what the hell's your prob—" Moroha stopped, what she saw was visible fear on Naruto's face as he was shaking with sweat running down his face as a single hand grabs his head.

"Whiskers—" Moroha extends a hand but he suddenly grabs Sō'unga and makes a run for it, leaving behind the shocked Moroha who frowns.

The rain had started to fall the moment sundown came, leaving many to find shelter during the rain such as Naruto who found a noticeable empty cave to take refuge in yet he was still soaked but didn't care, he lay against the wall with his hands covering his face.

"There you are!" The sudden loud and obnoxious voice caused the blonde to jolt from where he sat, his gaze moving to find a soaked Moroha who was holding herself, shaking from the cold rain, and in a matter of ten minutes, wood was gathered and a fire lit with the two sitting in opposite sides.

"Geez, it's coming down at there, if we hadn't dealt with the demon that day it would have a longer range, huh…" Moroha glances from outside to Naruto who remained silent next to Sō'unga, sitting with his hands covering his head.

"So…are you ok?" Her question got no response from Naruto who sat in silence. This seemed to cause her to frown as she picks up a pebble and tosses it at him yet got no response.

"Whiskers…?" As she said the nickname, he started to shake from where he sat.

"Please…just leave me alone…" The tone caught her by surprise until she saw it, a droplet falling and that caused her eyes to widen as his fingers dig deeper in his hair. Moroha scratches her head as she wasn't sure what to exactly say in a situation before her eyes widen as she recalled seeing something from the box with movie pictures back in Naruto's time, it was a scene from what was called a 'Drama'.

"Would that work?" Moroha started to feel embarrassed yet with a deep breath she stood up and found her way next to Naruto, plopping down next to the blonde who didn't move from his spot. With another deep breath, she outstretched a hand around Naruto who jolts upon skin contact and found himself pulled close to the embarrassed girl who was looking away.

"What happened?" That simple question finally got a reaction as he removed his hands, staring at them with a look of fear as he couldn't stop thinking about what happened.

"I don't know…I recalled something Sō'unga once said about deep malice inside me. I decided to tap into it, thinking it could help me but…" His hands move to his head again.

"What I got instead felt like I was losing myself, like something deep inside me was clawing its way out. It was like it was taking over me, I had all these kinds of thoughts racing through my head…like killing the kids for being nothing but a nuisance…" Moroha's eyes widen as he shook once again.

"Then I get these flashes, scenes I don't remember…I watched from their point of view as they killed people…I could 'feel' the satisfaction…I was starting to like it." He starts to grit his teeth.

"I don't ever want to go into that place ever again…if I do, I might end up killing you guys." Moroha just sits there, holding him with her gaze resting on Sō'unga, glaring at the blade and what it's planning.

(Hmmmm.)

xxxxxCHAPTER ENDxxxxx

NEXT TIME: The Next Peril.