Disclaimer: There is a reason why the disclaimer is here people!

This chapter is dedicated to Sirshapechanger!

About Japanese translations:

I don't know Japanese. Actually, that's incorrect. I don't know MUCH Japanese. I do know about: some on honorifics, and some words and sayings (I took a class on Japanese not long ago) But it's mostly what a person would use in day to day interactions if they were in Japan. I don't think you'd use jutsus in Japan daily. So if there are any jutsus named, it'll be in English. The English that's in the Manga, because that's what I go by. If they mention the Japanese, I might put that. But there are no promises nor if I put it once will I always list the Japanese with the English. If you know the Japanese for a jutsu, or know the actually translation (in case VIZ messed it up) feel free to tell me. It'll do more good then harm. Or if I make up a jutsu (which is bound to happen with where I plan to lead the story) and you know a good Japanese translation for it, tell me!

About OC's: IMPORTANT READ OR DON'T COMPLAIN!

Yes, there will be OC's. But only as a supporting role. Some may only be mentioned as normal every day people, some may be only remembered as a past person who had great influence upon a Naruto character, but so far only one will be more then both the aforementioned areas. I know most people don't like these types of characters, but this OC will hopefully only be showing up a few times. I need a way to get certain events to happen, and this OC and the role that's played by the OC is the only way to get these events to take place. (Love how I don't mention any thing about the actually OC or the events?) And I'll do my best to keep the various OC's that show up limitations constant to both their roles, their part in the story, and how it would be in real life if the OC's were real. None of the people in Shadow of Kyuubi should be Mary/Gary Sue's. I personally hate characters like that; readers don't come to read about an author's perfect dream characters.

Shadow of Kyuubi

Chapter 2

Team Troubles

Am I… still asleep? Naruto thought. Aware of only the black abyss opened before him. "What the hell kinda dream is this!" The number one loudest ninja in Konoha yelled.

'This?' 'This?' 'This?' echoed back at him.

Cocking his head to the side and crossing his arms across his chest, the boy muttered "Weird," under his breath. "Eh?" He looked at his hands. A stricken expression crossed his face. Wha…? His hands were coated in blood; it dripped off his flesh to form a red puddle on the all black landscape at his feet. Even as the blood dripped off at a steady pace, the same amount still managed toclung to his hands. Blood! Mine?

Then, he remembered.

"No, Gate's and… Haku's…" When the 'Haku's' finished echoing about, a piece of paper appeared before him. The simple word, Seal, inscribed upon it. At the bottom right hand corner, was a small rip edging up towards the center.

But for some reason, the single, tiny rip seemed significant to Naruto even in his dream mind.

What… He thought before he voiced the rest "…is this place!" His voice continued to echo as he slowly faded into the darkness.

Then, the bright world of reality greeted him.

It was Inari's face that greeted Naruto when he woke up. "You're awake!" The kid greeted, smiling down at the genin. Standing up, Inari went to the door that lead out of the room and slid it open. "Mama, Grandpa! He's awake!" Blinking groggily, Naruto groaned and pulled a hand down over his face. Wishing he could go back to sleep, escape the guilt, depression, sorrow, and despair that he knew he should have expected upon waking up. Inari trotted back over to the futon that Naruto had been laid on. "Your sensei said it would take a few days for you to wake up. Heh, he'll be surprised to see you up so soon. Unless you're gonna fall back asleep again?"

"Don't think I can." Naruto mumbled around his hand. "How long was I out for?" Glancing out the open window revealed to the Kyuubi vessel that the sun would soon start its decent beyond the horizon.

"Since around ten in the morning." Inari said, kneeling by the bed. Naruto shot him a look from between two fingers.

"That can't be right." Naruto said.

"Grandpa set out for work around six thirty. You woke up not to long after. Me an' the villagers came to the bridge around nine." Naruto blinked at the boy from behind his hand.

"You timed all that?"

"Mama did. She's very 'by-the-clock.' Or at least that's what Grandpa says…" Inari shrugged and pulled his hat further down his head just as Tsunami, Inari's mother and Tazuna's daughter, came in with a tray of food.

"Naruto! It's good that you're up. Everyone's getting ready for a giant party today in celebration of Gato's death. The council, who's pulling the whole thing together, will be pleased to hear that you're awake. Your sensei should be in soon to see how you are." After setting the tray down by Naruto, she left the room with a 'eat up!' called back to him.

"Party?" Naruto asked Inari as he pushed himself up and pulled the tray onto his lap.

"Yeah! You won't believe how excited everyone is! Its gonna be great!" Inari leaned forward. "They're making booths like in a carnival, lights are being brought out. More food and drinks then I knew the entire city put together had… it'll cost a lot… yeah… but it'll be worth it. We haven't had anything to celebrate for ages! Or any reason to have fun! An-" Inari was cut off as Kakashi slid open the door and hobbled in. He was back on the crutches and seemed tired.

"Hey Inari." Kakashi greeted. "Do you mind? I need to speak with Naruto for a bit." The boy nodded and left the room, letting Kakashi pull up a chair by the futon.

"How's Sasuke and Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked, taking a sip of the miso soup.

"Sakura is fine, doting on Sasuke of course. She's a little shaken about the whole bridge battle. But I'm sure it's mostly because she thought Sasuke had almost died then anything else. Sasuke has a bed in another room. Tazuna thought you two could recover better if you had your own rooms. Sasuke took the room Sakura had been in, and she's sleeping downstairs next to where we eat."

Naruto nodded, and after finishing off the miso got started on the rice. While there was no ramen, a fact that normally would greatly disappoint him, he didn't have the heart to either feel sorry for himself, or ask for ramen. "How's his injury from Haku's needles?" He asked, remembering Sasuke's needle riddled body.

"When Tazuna brought you back here earlier today, I stayed behind with Sasuke at the bridge to remove the needles from his body. In his state, it would have hurt him to be carried, and if he walked it would have been hard with how the needles went through his body."

"Is that so?" Naruto asked. Looking into the cup of green tea he was now drinking from.

Kakashi paused for a second, not completely sure about how to broach on the subject about Kyuubi. While the Hokage had assured Kakashi that the boy knew of the demon inside of him, the jonin was still unsure how to bring it up. Having his own painful memories of the fox only made it harder. "Naruto, during the battle, when Zabuza's mist was up and you were fighting Haku, did something happen to…" He paused. Then plunged forward. "…to cause the seal to slip or crack? And if so, what happened, how did that affect you, and is it fixed?"

"I though Haku had killed Sasuke." That lost look appered in the blonds eyes again. "And I… snapped. In my anger, I think the seal might have slipped a bit. There was chakra… a lot of it… blo-" Naruto winced as the memory of his blood stained hands assaulted his mind. "Blood red, fierce… I'd call it savage, but that seems to… it just isn't the right word. The needles in my body went flying out, and the wounds healed quick. I moved fast, deflected some needles, caught Haku, and punched him through a mirror. The mirror broke, and let me leave the prison. Haku's mask fell… and I recognized him as the kid I met really early today before I came back and fell asleep. I calmed down, and I think that the seal settled back into place, and we talked for a bit."

Naruto swallowed, suddenly feeling chocked up. "Then?" Kakashi urged.

"He… he asked me to kill him." Naruto said quietly. "I asked him if there was no other way, and he said no. He said that he had no purpose, since Zabuza had no need for a weak shinobi. He told me about how he came to be with Zabuza. Then he told me to kill him again. I rush at him… and…………. I killed him." Naruto noted that his sleeves were stained with blood still. And that there was still some blood on his hands. "Then the mist cleared up and… well, you know what happened then."

Indeed, Kakashi did remember what happened. But he also remembered when Naruto had thrown a kunai further, faster, and stronger then even some jonin could, much less someone Naruto's age and rank. "Is that the only time Kyuubi's chakra, strength, or speed effected you?"

Naruto opened his mouth to speak, but the sensation of fingers caressing his mind seemed to reorganize his thoughts… making him think better about it he drank more of the tea. "No. It was only that time in the Ice Mirrors of Haku's." Naruto said.

That… caress, ceased. But not in the bad way, more like whatever it was approved.

Kakashi nodded. "Is there anything you want to tell me?" He asked. "Something you might want to talk about?"

"Does it always feel like this?" Naruto asked quietly. So quietly, Kakashi almost didn't hear him.

"Does what always feel like?" Kakashi asked, idly nudging one of the crutches lying on the floor with his toe as he leaned back further against the chair.

"Killing someone… does it always fill you with such despair… sorrow?" Even if he was called a genius, Kakashi wasn't sure how to best answer the question.

"Haku? It may be because you knew him from before. Or how well you got to know him from the battle. It could be because you knew he was only a victim of circumstance. It could be many things. But no, for me at least, killing normally doesn't make you feel like that. If it does, maybe the person shouldn't be a ninja." Shrugging his shoulders, Kakashi picked up his crutches and left. Passing Inari who entered the room when Kakashi left.

"Sasuke-kun, do you want some more tea?" Sakura asked, holding up the tea pot. It's like we're a married couple. Uchiha Sakura… She though dreamily. 'Till death do us part. Inner Sakura added, pumping a fist into the air.

"No." Sasuke said. Sakura ignored what he said, still lost in her day dream, and poured more tea. Glancing at the boy again, she let out a deep sigh at the sight of the bandages covering most of his visible flesh.

Sasuke-kun is so strong…and handsome!

Sasuke looked up as Kakashi hobbled into the room and sat down at the table. "How is the dead-last?" Sasuke asked.

"Who?" Sakura snapped back to reality. Placing down the tea kettle.

"Naruto." Kakashi told her. Formulating his answer. As his teammates, Sakura and Sasuke deserved to know about Naruto's condition, just not about the Kyuubi portion of it.

"He is alright, isn't he?" Sakura questioned. Running a finger around her teacup's rim.

"Physically he's all healed. Emotionally, right now, he's still sort of in a state of shock. How the battle affected his mental stability though, I'm not sure how he is. It worries me."

"Why?" Sakura questioned. "We were all there. And we are all fine, besides. This is Naruto we're talking about, he's a bit dense and he's also known for springing back instantly. Besides, Gato wasn't anyone worth feeling bad over."

"Turns out it was Naruto who had killed Haku." Kakashi answered. Sasuke and Sakura looked up at him sharply. "Apparently, Naruto and Haku had met earlier today, when Naruto was training." Looking at Sasuke, Kakashi saw the boy nod.

"Yah, the same person we fought on the bridge was the boy from this morning." Sasuke said. Remembering seeing the bodies of Haku, Gato, and Zabuza when they were brought back to the city and recognizing the body of the boy whom Naruto had been talking to when the Uchiha had gone to collect his teammate earlier.

"The boy, apparently, had asked Naruto to kill him. And Naruto complied. But it's having some affects on him."

"What about Gato?" Sakura asked.

"Naruto didn't talk much about it." Kakashi told her.

"Hn." After a moment, Sasuke stood up, pushing the chair back as he did so. "He still up in the room?" The genin asked his jonin sensei. Kakashi nodded as he pulled out his book from his utility pouch.

"Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked. Standing up too.

"He's probably going to check on Naruto, to try and find out how Naruto managed to beat Haku when Sasuke himself couldn't do it." Kakashi responded from behind his perverted book.

"Wait for me! Sasuke-kun!" Sakura raced after the boy, who had only just left the room.

"Just as they were finally learning about teamwork too." Sighing, Kakashi turned the page and a blush stained the skin above his mask at the words written on the paper before him. "This probably set them back to step one."

Naruto looked up from his conversation with Inari, which mostly consisted of the younger boy talking about the celebration and Naruto adding a comment here or there. Sasuke had his hand braced on the sliding door, regarding Naruto with expressionless eyes. Sakura peered around the Uchiha to glance at Naruto. "Inari," Sasuke spoke, "We need to speak to Naruto."

"I'm getting kicked out again?" Inari grumbled as he left the room. The two other genin entered the room. Sakura knelt by Naruto's futon, and Sasuke leaned against the wall after closing the door. Still regarding Naruto.

"Ummm." Sakura fiddled with her hands in her lap. "How are you, Naruto?" Mentally beating herself over the head for the lame question, asked in front of Sasuke no less!

"What does it matter?" Naruto asked, not in the state of mind or heart to deal with his teammates. Dropping his eyes back to the green liquid in the cup in his hands, Naruto couldn't help but see the blood still staining his hands. Apparently, whoever had tried to clean off the blood hadn't spent more then a few seconds on the grisly task.

Blood coated the area when nails met skin, between his fingers, the web of skin between pointer finger and thumb, under his nails, around his wrists, all over.

His orange sleeves were stained too.

"We're your teammates, Naruto!" Sakura argued, "Of course it matters."

Even in his depression Naruto felt his heart swell up that his crush cared enough about him to come and visit him.

"Besides, Sasuke-kun wanted to see how you were doing. You should be grateful that he took the time to come visit you!"

Only be feel himself falling back into depression again.

Sasuke mentally rolled his eyes. The girl is obsessed. But he kept quiet; Sakura would probably ask Naruto the questions Sasuke himself wanted to know.

"How did you manage to kill Gato? Kakashi-sensei could have, but logically no genin should be able to throw a kunai so fast or powerful, especially over such a long distance." Sakura's book worm mind had been chewing on the question when she wasn't with Sasuke. It bugged her that Naruto managed to defeat logic, Naruto of all people!

That wasn't the question Sasuke wanted to know, but she'd probably ask it sooner or later. "Not everything can be answered by logic." Sasuke told her.

The pink hair girl blushed horribly, an awful red color from the roots of her hair all the way down her neck. Embarrassed to be corrected by her crush. "Ahhh… ummmm." Fumbling, she unconsciously fell back to the habit of being mean to Naruto when she felt uncomfortable. Turning her head around to look over her shoulder, she looked at Sasuke. "But its Naruto!" Sakura protested. "He's the worst in our whole class. That's why he was put on a team with you, Sasuke-kun, you're so smart, and strong, and amazing!"

Naruto's fist clenched around his tea cup. Sasuke-kun, you're so amazing. Sarcasm dripping off his mental words. Sasuke-kun, you're so strong. Sasuke-kun, you're so smart. Sasuke-kun you're so wonderful. Sasuke-kun, Sasuke-kun, Sasuke-kun!' It did manage to do one thing though, depression was slightly nudged back.

Slightly.

"Well, maybe he could pull of killing Gato…" Sakura mused, and then turned back to Naruto. "But how did you manage to kill Haku? He was so strong! And he had such an amazing Bloodlimit. I mean, he was strong enough to almost k-k-kill Sasuke-kun." Sakura stuttered, fresh tears gathering in her green eyes at the memory. "There is no way you could have been strong enough to defeat him. Are you sure Sasuke-kun didn't defeat Haku? The attack Haku used on Sasuke-kun- like he did on Zabuza- that death like trance, seems risky. It could have made you forget about you killing Haku, Sasuke-kun!" Sakura spoke the last part to Sasuke, turning her head around to look over her shoulder. Turning her head back around to Naruto, she was so caught up in scolding the blonde that she didn't see Naruto's eyes darken.

What the hell do you know? Naruto demanded in his mind. Always assuming that you know that it's always 'Sasuke-kun.'

Shaking his head, because the needles had gone through his body too cleanlyto cause anything but temporary weakness and make his body sore, the dark haired boy waited for Naruto's screamed out answer. Or until Sakura finished berating her other teammate, whichever came first. But if Sasuke had to bet money on it, it'd be on Naruto yelling first. But then again, with the blonde's huge crush on the pink haired girl, even Naruto's infamous loudness took a back seat. The dead-last had never put Sakura on the receiving end of his hot headedness. Sasuke glanced out the window, by Kakashi's orders, it would be a few days before he could start training again, or even learn to use his Sharingan.

"I mean really, Naruto." Sakura continued on. "Taking the credit for something you didn't… couldn't, do. We all know that you have lousy morals, creating trouble all over Konoha and annoying people, but really!" Naruto clenched his eyes shut and clamped his jaws together, even went as far as to hunch over the green tea cup. All just to shut out Sakura's accusations. "Saying that you did something you could never do, right in front of the entire city and making Kakashi-sensei believe you because he's a good person-even if he is a pervert…" Can't believe he actually carries that book around with him even on a mission! Inner Sakura grumbled. "And taking Sasuke-kun's credit for killing Haku when he can't remember it. That's an all time low! Even for you!"

The sound of porcelain shattering drew both Sakura's and Sasuke's attentioncompletely to Naruto. His hands were in fists, and shards of the tea cup were digging into his skin, causing blood to trickle and add to the dried blood already on his hands. The remaining tea leak between his fingers and the bits of ceramic not cutting into his flesh fell to the tray in his lap. Naruto's eyes, open now, were glaring at the wall in front of the foot of his futon. His whole body quivering with barely suppressed rage.

"Shut up." Naruto snarled, for the briefest second, his teammates could have sworn they saw his blue eyes flicker to red and his pupils stretched into slits. But only for a second. His voicestarted from an emotionless tonethen worked its way backto its former snarl as he said, "shut up, shut up, shut up, shut the hell up!" Slanting his eyes to glare at Sakura, Naruto pulled his lips back like an animal in a snarl.

Startled, Sakura fell back from her knelling onto her rear, hands supporting her upper body so she wouldn't fall backwards anymore. "N-Naruto?" She questioned. Never, EVER, had Uzumaki Naruto, the dead last of their entire class and Konoha's number one hyperactive, loudest ninja ever raised his voice at her! Much less so threateningly. "Naruto? What's wrong with you?"

"Go away." His voice was toneless. His eyes moved to Sasuke, letting the top rookie know that the demand extended to him too.

Forgetting that it had been her that had gotten him so angry, Sakura reached out. "Naruto?" She recoiled when Naruto's eyes fell back on her. Other then Sasuke when she had made that comment about orphans on that first day as a team, or Ino, when Sakura had given her back the ribbon and thrust the other girls friendship back in her face, never had Sakura been on the receiving end of such anger. Such an emotion almost bordering on hate that hurt more coming from a comrade then actually, pure hate from anyone else ever could.

"I said go away!"

Naruto, who always had managed to do something stupid that would make Sakura feel better about her own lack of skills in the ninja arts- since at least she was better then him. The blonde who seemed to brush everything off and bound right back, the boy who Sakura could always count on to do anything for her because of his silly, stupid crush that he never seemed to understand would never amount to anything…

"Get OUT!"

Hearing the door slide open and Sasuke calmly leaving, Sakura lost all courage to stay in Naruto's angry presence. Scrambling gracelessly from the room, only one thought went through Sakura's head that only Inner Sakura dared actually bring forth.

Is this really that same Naruto?

If any mortal or demon knew where they were, they would believe themselves to be dreaming. For it's only in dreams that one can imagine that they are walking in the home of the Gods. It might have been up in the clouds, or in a valley, in a forest, or perhaps inside a mountain. The landscape outside the majestic building seemed to shift from landscape to landscape, the sky drifted from dawn to day to dusk and night continuously. Some stories of both mortal and demon origin even spoke of how this traditional styled castle was worthy of only the gods themselves. Or that it drifted up and down the river of time at its own whim.

None knew how this building came to be. Once again stories told their views on it. How it came into existence when the gods came from the chaos that originally formed nothing and everything. Or that the gods created it themselves, each pouring bits of their own divine souls into it.

It was worthy of the gods, and only the gods, that much was known about it in the end.

Right now all that mattered was taking place in the deepest chamber of the castle. Right in the center of the building and even the seemingly endless landscape that was constantly shifting, now to a plains, then to an island in the middle of a lake.

Currently, one god was storming down the halls of the castle. Perhaps, storming was putting it lightly.

Short cropped black hair, blood red eyes gleaming with a dark anger, and dressed in red and black…

…the colors of death and blood.

His knuckles were white as he made a fist, lips pressed into a thin line in agitation. How could she?

He was barefooted, and silent as he moved through the abandoned halls, but a dark energy shifted about his form. How could she be so stupid!

Rage wasn't even bothered with being concealed. Kage, the God of Shadows, had only one thought in his mind. She screwed up everything.

The god flung open two colossal doors that lead into the center room of the Gods Castle- for lack of better name- and red eyes narrowed in anger as his gaze fell upon a group of three people.

One was the beautiful, radiant Life. One of the two head gods. She was the mother of all gods, Kage included. The other was her opposite. Death was the father of Kage and his siblings.

However, it was neither Life, nor Death that held the man's attention. But rather the woman standing before the two thrones that seated the parents of the gods.

I knew… I knew she would fail! Kage stepped forward, the dark energy, physical shadows, above him only grew in both size and intensity. How could I have been so stupid? How could I have ignored it for so long!

"Not only," Death rumbled at the woman before him, "have you neglected you duty, but you also allowed it to move out of control badly enough for the vessel's destiny to be forever altered!" Kage stopped for a moment, the shadows about him calmed down. A brother before he was a god, he couldn't help but forget his rage to smirk. His sister was getting a verbal flaying from both the ruthless Death, and the benevolent Life. It wasn't often that both the parent gods were equally enraged at one of their children. In Kage's mind, Fuko more then deserved it. He'd been at odds with her for the last twelve years. What had started the argument? What she was being yelled at for right now. This only served to help Kage feel more avenged. She had won that fight, but today, hopefully, would be a different story.

Fuko stood proudly before her parents, she was brave, Kage gave her that. But like the wind she was the goddess of, she tended to be reckless. The shadows that surrounded him intensified in both movement and size again. And it was because she had been reckless that it had all come to this.

"FUKOOOOO!" Kage's voice broke through Life and Death's scolding. The Goddess of Wind flinched at the rage in that voice. "What the hell have you done!"

Fuko stood up straight and turned around, facing off against her brother. "What have I done?" She questioned. "I didn't do anything." She defended. Death looked ready to intervene, but the hand of Life's upon his caused him to look at his wife. She shook her head.

"Let us see what will become of this." She murmured to her husband.

"Exactly." Kage hissed at his sister. "You didn't do anything! Uzumaki Naruto was under your jurisdiction. That is what you wanted, remember? That is why you implored Mother and Father twelve years ago to that yoube the one who became the boy's patron god. And for what! You created his destiny, and you set his path-"

"As I was suppose to do." Waving a hand, Fuko summoned wind to form a chair behind her. Sitting down with all the aloofness granted to a goddess, she regarded her brother coolly, calming down.

"Since the beginning you have made his path too narrow to leave him unsupervised. As his patron god, it was your duty to insure that he stayed on the path you set for him." While no longer yelling, Kage's voice dropped to its regular level, but that only made the dark rage within it much greater. "From the beginning you knew that if you were not constantly shoving him away from the edges of his fated path, something like this would happen."

"I never imagined it would be to this magnitude!" Fuko shrieked, thumping a fist on the armrest of her wind chair. Enraged that Kage was insinuating that she was incompetent at her task. Much less one of watching over a mere mortal.

"Enough, Kage, Fuko." Both siblings turned to Life. She looked disapprovingly at them. "Kage, it is not your place to tell Fuko how to handle the boy. The Kyuubi's vessel is under her jurisdiction, not yours. We told you not to interfere with the boy in any way, shape, or form. Demon vessels and half demons- since they are rare and have unique abilities that full blooded mortals or demons do not have- must be put under the jurisdiction of a god. That patron god sets the path that the vessel or half breed must take to the destiny that your father and I help choose. Not just to insure balance, but to keep us gods in power so we can insure that the world of demons and mortals survives."

Fuko turned a smug face towards her brother.

"Fuko." Life started. "You, however, were in error. The boy's path was akin to walking the edge of a knife. If he overstepped even the slightest, his destiny would not be reached. You're desire to micromanage the boy from the start was what made you make his path thus. Though it is your first time holding such jurisdiction over anyone, you let your pride and arrogance cloud your judgment. If you had left margin for error or unwanted surprises, the Kyuubi vessel would not be walking on a knifes edge, but have room to grow, mature, and learn on his own."

"So what should I do about it now?" Fuko snapped. Kage sat back, the shadows forming a chair behind him, a writhing mass of solid black vapors that flowed like liquid but were as sound as any solid.

"The vessel killed, he should have not done something like this for many years. He killed a person he knew, when it was to have been someone he had never seen before. He moved fast enough because you failed to watch to insure that he would not pull off something surprising like that."

"What am I suppose to do?" Fuko demanded, standing up. "Baby-sit him? I have other duties then to watch the brat!"

"As we told you when you first demand that we give you jurisdiction over him." Life commented. "But you said you could handle him and you other duties as the Goddess of Wind. It was your choices along the boys life that lead his path to narrow so significantly to the point it is now. No longer can the destiny we planned for him be reached. Because you left no room for a mistake." She listened to her daughter defend herself for a few minutes before she raised her hand for silence. "Kage, what do you have to say?"

"Fuko screw up." Leaning forward, the Shadow God glanced over at his sister. "Naruto would never have known that there was a god pulling for him. At the height of his life he was still to be whispered about as a monster. And what's worst in my mind is that never was she going to give him any benefits or gift to aid him."

"I was going to let him master that one wind jutsu-"

"Let him nothing!" Kage growled. "That was the only thing you let him do without your interference in anyway! You knew it would make you look good if Naruto so easily mastered such a powerful wind jutsu when his patron goddess is the Wind Goddess." Looking to Life and Death he spoke. "The path she put Naruto on is one that will make him improve only the moment he needs to, and only enough to win or survive. She leaves only the slightest margin for him to evolve his own personality, then that's that. He can't mature on his own." Standing up, Kage fully turned to Fuko. "Then she leaves him alone for five mortal minutes, and already he strays too far off his path for any god to set him back upon it." Glancing up at Death and Life, Kage sighed. "He has potential, he has the ability to become and do so much more then you are letting him. Even on his own, with no influence from any god!"

"His destiny was to indirectly protect the same artifact the Kyuubi was protecting." Fuko barked. Slamming herself down into her seat, she played with the wind forming the left armrest in agitation. Sulking like a child rather then acting like a god. Kage looked to her.

"Why have him protect it indirectly?" Kage asked. Curiosity chewed at him until he glanced back up at his parents.

"Fuko insisted that it be indirectly, rather then directly." Death finally spoke up. "But then again, all of this anger over the boy isn't because he's a vessel or because he has so much potential, is it?" Glowing eyes settled on Kage. "It's because of Kyuubi, isn't it?"

Kage clenched his fists and he glared at the ground under his feet. His jaw locked harsh words into his mouth until he had control of his emotions. "Kyuubi deserves better then this. He did so much for us, and this is how we repay him? For centuries, he has guarded the Sacred Shadow Scroll. Guarded the scroll that you yourselves deemed to dangerous to be left unattended, yet to important to be destroyed. Kyuubi has sacrificed much and has lost much guarding the Scroll. He let us bind him to the Scroll so it could remain better protected."

Death was about to tell his son to be silent, but his wife squeezed his hand. "Shhhh, for what he says is the truth. Perhaps we should listen to reason?" She whispered to her husband so only he could hear. "Kage is right; Fuko does not allow the boy to improve unless it's just enough to survive some fights and win others. And were you not talking earlier about how the Nine Tails being sealed away was perhaps not the best thing to be done? Even you can not break the seal you made, so we cannot release the kitsune. Kage is onto something, the fox's vessel might hold the answers to our problems. All our problems." Death nodded, touching his stomach where a soul resided that had offered itself up in order to seal away the Kyuubi no Kitsune into the body of young Uzumaki Naruto. Because he had taken the payment of the Fourth Hokage's soul, Kyuubi could never be released from the vessel that held it, not even by a god. Even upon death the two would be forever bound together.

"Very well." Death nodded to his wife. Looking towards the two gods, Shadow and Wind, he shook his head. "Leave us. Your mother and I must speak to one another about this matter further in private. Go about your duties, we will summon you when its time."

Kage nodded and stood up just as Fuko did.

"Oh, Kage?" Life started. "After today, you are not allowed to be in the castle for five decades time unless your father or I allow it or it is an emergency."

Dark brows shot up. "Why!" Kage asked.

"We felt you touch the Kyuubi vessel's mind earlier today. Not just touch it, but influence it." Death watched as his son flinched. "The boy is not under your jurisdiction, he is off limits to influences by other gods except for his patron god, your mother and myself. Do not disobey me like that again."

Kage nodded stiffly and ignored the smug Fuko as they left. Though he still didn't regret 'influencing' Naruto about not telling Kakashi about using the Kyuubi's strength when the boy killed Gato. Some things are better left unsaid…it is best to keep that little secret just that, a secret.

Sakura sighed, pleased for finally having a reason to use all that makeup she had dragged with her all the way from Konoha. After adding one last coat of blush, and some final touch ups to the lipstick, eye liner, eye shadow, and mascara she had used, she took one last searching gaze through the mirror. I wonder if Sasuke-kun will like the color of my lipstick… maybe I should go for a lighter color, to match my hair color. Looking over a rather sizable collection of make up that was laid out on the bathroom counter before her, Sakura shook her head. Sasuke always wore darker colors. Obviously he liked them better. Sasuke-kun is defiantly the dark and mysterious type! Inner Sakura chirped.

Carefully packing up her makeup, Sakura sighed as her eyes drifted to look at her forehead in the mirror. Not touching it, because that would cause oils from her hands to get on her face that would cause zits later; she inspected her least favorite body part.

Finding that there was nothing she could do to fix it, Sakura zipped up the bag that held all her make-up and other toiletries. Adjusting the red dress like outfit she always wore for missions and training, and checking to be sure her Leaf head band was secure, she left the bath room. Passing an excited Inari as the boy rushed past her to get ready for the celebration tonight. Listening to her own feet making noise on the wood floor, Sakura put the toiletry bag with the rest of her stuff and met up with the others down stairs.

Kakashi was using his crutches for support as he read his book, giggling at random intervals. Tazuna was laughing at something Tsunami had said. Sasuke was standing apart from the group. Sakura skipped over to him. "Hello Sasuke-kun!" Looking around, Sakura spotted Naruto already putting on his sandals. Inari rushed down the stairs and ran straight to the blonde.

"Since we're all here, let's get going to the celebration!" Tazuna said, pulling on his own sandals and starting off, Inari on his heels and Naruto trudging behind.

Reviews: Shit! Twenty three reviews for ONE chapter! That's amazing! Thank you all so much, hopefully I'll be able to answer your questions. Down here.

KupoKupoKupo: My first reviewer for this story! I love you! Thanks for your review. And don't worry, I need Sasuke alive! He is a vital part of shaping Naruto.

Le1: Really? I thought the last chapter could have used more work… but I guess its better then this one…

Uchihaprodigy: Heh, thanks. The idea has been bugging me since Haku grabbed Naruto's arm during their fight and told Naru-chan that he 'couldn't die yet.' I always wondered how that would have affected the boy if he did manage to kill Haku.

madnarutofan: Naruto killed Gato because his was a bit emotional at the time, and yah, kinda for vengeance too. It will change Naruto's outlook a bit. But nowhere in the storyline do I ever remember Naruto not understanding Sasuke's need for vengeance. I think he just didn't care for how the Uchiha was going about it.

Yum2: No need to fear. There will be no Sasu/Saku except in Sakura's mind. And let's face it, after this chapter; do you really think Naruto could really get together with Sakura? I already have a pairing in mind too…

DFIRE314: Yup! Actually sometime within the next few chapters Naruto will actually see the fox. And don't worry, I need Sasuke alive. I'll try and update sooner also from now on.

Demonfox04: I always thought killing someone would cause a great change in Naruto's attitude and overall outlook on life. A much needed one.

Wrath-of-air: Thanks, I'll try and start updating more often. But school really sucks, and my English class already has us doing this pain-in-the-ass project that takes up more then the first semester! It's insane!

Kyuzo: Thanks! I'm glad you liked it! )

Sancho323: Naruto won't be at Garra's level for a while. Both because Garra has more practice with his demon induced abilities and also because that is a too easy for Naruto if suddenly he gets all powerful and stuff. Don't worry, he will get a bit closer to the level to use Kyuubi's powers not only when he's emotionally distressed, but it won't be much and it won't be for a while.

DarkHercules: Don't worry, there is ABSOLUTLY NO YAOI OR YURI in any way, shape, or form! If people want to write that and/or read that, go right ahead, I'm not stopping you. But I don't read it nor support it.

Kitsurumenokitsune: Really? Do you think it has potential? (Laughs and scratches head.) I just had this idea one day that wouldn't leave me alone.

Deathsyte01: Thanks, hopefully the update will be out sooner then this one.

Nasuren: I don't have much time to read many fan fictions, 'cause of school and all. I do remember reading a few that were good, but had lots of grammar errors and whatnot. I'll do my best to keep up the standard I've apparently set for myself, but this chapter was a royal pain. The next one should be better.

Silver fox: Thank you, hopefully it will stay interesting! I'll try and update sooner then this.

Alcyone-blk: Wow! Thanks. I'm glad you liked it so much. Yah, its going to affect Naruto. He really needs a reality check and the next chapter will be dedicated to that. The question is, now that he knows what being a ninja is, will that change his goals? (Evil laughter)

Viky: Thanks. I'm glad you liked it. I'm not so sure about this chapter, but I hope you like it!

Toenail: Wow! Thanks for the vote of confidence! Sadly, this chapter isn't as good as I'd like it to be, but I can't seem to figure out how to better deliver Kage and stuff. Hopefully it's not that bad…

Chaoslord Shinobi: (Laughs and ducks head to hide blush) Really? Kick-ass seems kind of strong for something that just came off the top of my head. I'll update sooner then this next time… hopefully. Naruto isn't really 'able and ready to kill.' Well, he's been trained since childhood to kill, so yah, he is able. But the whole point of killing Haku was that he was able to when no one thought that he could kill. And that he is able to do it again when he kills Gato. Even if Gato is scum, doing that will have an impact on Naruto. And having killed Haku will only present a bigger problem. Seriously? It's Kick-ass? (Blushes again)

AzureSky123: Thank you. I'm glad you liked it. Sadly, this one isn't as good, but the next one should be better.

Skuld's Sentaro 5: Well, Sakura was too emotional at the time to actually take note of Naruto killing Gato. Remember, when Sasuke is around she tends to put all else aside. Think of how she'd act if she thought Sasuke had died then suddenly he was alive again. She'd be too wrapped up in her 'Sasuke-kun' world to really take note at the time. And the fog from Zabuza's jutsu was up, so she couldn't see Naruto kill Haku, nor was there any direct connection at the time that she could tell. Don't worry, there will be romance. But it'll take awhile.

Martial Master: He knew that it was going to be unavoidable one day (I hope, if he didn't, that would be really sad) but it wouldn't be right to have him not hesitate about killing. He might a bit before killing someone, but he also knows that now he always has that blood on his hands. Glad you like the story so much!

Really unbelievable! So many reviews for one chapter! I'm on cloud nine! I hope I answered all you questions and concerns.

Now

Press

The

Little

Button

Down

Here

And

Review!

SilverNinjaHikaru over and out!