A/N: EDIT: Flames and trolls ahoy! Well, that's a spirit breaker T_T

Still here, still updating, despite life consistently kicking me in the teeth.

Sorry if its not quite as long as I would've liked it to be. Hopefully there aren't any errors.

I'm well aware this story isn't anywhere as popular as the others, but I do hope everyone enjoys it. I worked real hard on this chapter for everyone to enjoy.

As ever, we're following the Ember's Rule here. That's no joke. Really, it isn't. If folks don't like this...well, it won't be continued. Every bit of feedback helps. Reviews are the fuel which keeps me writing in these crazy times. With my tight schedule -two jobs!- I simply don't have time to write a story folks don't like. Without them, my inspiration cannot take wing and I can't write a word. So by all means, speak up!

Now onto the good 'ol Q&A:

Q: What are you updating next?

A: A New Archon hopefully, coupled with Just A Dust Shop/Remnants of a Shinobi.

Finally managed to wrangle a few days off coming up, not sure if I'll use them to write or just to sleep.

Q: How does Naruto use Demon Breathing?

A: Its been heavily implied that Naruto still has the leftover chakra from the Tailed Beasts in him. That's manifested as his Demon Breathing, and their techniques as a result. Problem is, he doesn't have all his memories from his past life and can't interact with them properly.

Doesn't make his sword style any less deadly; because THIS chapter...weeell...

Q: Makomo!

A: Um...? I don't understand the question. Theoretically she shouldn't be here.

Q: Why do I smell impending death and doom...

A: *shrugs*

Q: Why did the Hand demon target Naruto?

A: It didn't; as show, it wanted Kanae before he got in the way. Food is food.

Technically speaking, the Hand Demon ought to be a little weaker, if only because this is well before Tanjiro met it and as such; it hasn't had as much time to chow down on would-be slayers. Should, being the operative word.

But we all know Naruto's presence in this world has changed things, so who can say?

Remember, this grabby bastard has a grudge against Urokodaki.

With Naruto's whiskers, it wouldn't be much of a leap.

Q: Will we see more references?

A: That depends on you, the reader. Don't want to overdo it.

Q: ...Naruto's about to snap, isn't he.

A: You mean his shinobi instincts? Read and see.

Alright, then! I think I've kept you all waiting long enough, no?

As ever, I own no references, themes, or memes. Not a wit, not a one!

"Breathe.

We're still with you.

Just remember to breathe, Naruto.

Yes. Just like that. Inhale. Exhale. Focus.

That's all you have to do. You don't have to do anything else."

~?

Call Your Name

So many hands!

They were everywhere and everything, grasping at his flesh, tearing into his skin, trying to rip him apart even as they hauled him away into the dark. One of them had him by the leg but he couldn't cut it at this angle. He simply wasn't fast enough; for every one he severed three more took its place in an instant; no matter how many hands he hacked away there always seemed to be more keeping him at bay, dragging him down and hauling him further away from his friends.

He could still hear Kanae's horrified scream echoing in the distance.

Blast it all, he didn't even know where he was anymore, let alone where the hands were dragging him. Wherever it was, it couldn't be any good. Trees flashed by in a mottled green blur as they thrashed him to and fro. He felt his back crack against a particularly solid oak, and his right shoulder with hit. Pain flared up his collarbone as he choked down a snarl. With neither word nor warning, the hands ripped him into a clearing and he found their source.

He soon wished he hadn't; if only because the sight nearly made him gag.

'What the hell is that thing?!'

It was a grotesque demon, twisted and morphed. All wide and large, and so very, very green. Covered in covetous hands from head to toe, it was a creature straight out of nightmare. Its maw yawned wide as he hurtled toward it, ready to swallow him whole. Dangling him over it now-

'Move, blast you!"

Arching his back with all his might, Naruto reared up and glared at the hands holding his ankles. Here at last he had an angle on them. His blade flicked out. Blood spurted. Gravity reasserted itself with a vengeance and he crashed toward the forest floor. It was only his training that saved him; he hit the dirt on bent kneed and flicked his blade upward, eviscerating another torrent of grasping hands that tried to drag him back in, then leaped away.

Distance. He needed distance. Now!

"What's this?" Ghastly golden eyes squinted at him as he scrambled away. "Has another sweet little fox cub come to me?" Those hideous slits shivered in delight. "Little fox...ha!" As he looked on aghast it counted off on his many fingers. You're number twelve, now!"

He frowned. "Twelve what...?"

"The twelfth brat of his I'm going to kill, of course!" A merry giggle rent the air. "I may have missed that girl and that other brat, but not you!" a giant finger pointed at him. "You don't have the mask, but I know those whiskers! You must be one of Urokodaki's!"

"I don't know who're you're talking about!"

That massive head tilted. "It doesn't matter. You're already dead, boy."

Naruto felt the ground shift beneath him too late.

A torrent of fists burst from the earth, striking him in the chest him to launched him away. Blood burst from his lips as he struck a tree. This time, there could be no ignoring the pain in his shoulder. His right arm hung limp and useless. His sword clattered to the floor. He snatched it up with his good arm, hating himself for the slip. Even as tried to stand his left leg buckled as another hand closed around it and squeezed, pulping the joint.

The Hand Demon could have finished him, then. Instead it let go and cackled.

"Poor little fox." those hands cupped its face as it giggled. "Finally out of gas, are you? You're going to die alone, just like the rest...

This was it. He was going to die here. He was alone and down his sword arm. Kyojuro and the others were too far away. There wasn't any help around for miles; if there was, everyone was steering well clear of the creature. He couldn't even bring himself to curse them for it; not when he would've done the same thing.

"Aw, man." he hung his head with a hearty sigh. "Guess this is it."

Bloodied blond bangs fell over his eyes.

"Is this what I get for trying...?"

Hands smashed down.

"Sorry, Kyojuro."

He'd tried...

.

..

...

"Don't falter!"

His eyes snapped open; his leg snapped back into his place and his ruined arm swept up of its own accord in spite of his injury. Muscle and bone twisted horribly, ripping the blade back into his right hand. Blue fire blasted out from the nichirin sword, bathing his hidden face in ethereal glow. He felt rather than saw his wounds heal. Not by much, but enough for him to stand.

The Hand Demon hesitated. "Eh...?"

"Demon Breathing." weary lungs rasped out of their own accord. "Second Form. Matatabi."

Azure flame flared forth and flashed through the hair, annihilating the hands reaching for him.

Bright as the sun and thrice as hot, the blaze tore into the arms, a hot knife through so much butter. Their heat spread like wildfire, racing up those lengthy limbs to find their host. Retracting them did no good; the flames only spread all the faster, fastening to their target with a single-minded fury.

For the first time since he'd encountered it, the Hand Demon shrieked in pain.

"It burns!" With a howl of pure agony the portly creature flung itself to the ground, rolling about. "It burns!" the very earth shook as it shook itself to and fro, bodily thrashing about in a frantic attempt to stifle the flames that even now crawled across its form. "What is this? Why does it burn?! Make it stop!"

Naruto blinked away the haze, unable to comprehend what just transpired.

One moment he'd been at death's door; the next, his adversary was doing the stop-drop-and-roll. "What in the world...?"

"Don't you DARE give up like that again! If you die, we'll never be able to look Kurama in the eye!"

Had he heard a voice just now? Why did his arm hurt so much? His eyes drifted to it, noting the swellling. It was clearly dislocated. Had to set it, and quick. Do it now, while the Hand Demon was distracted. He swallowed the lump in his throat, eyed the nearest tree trunk, and...

"Son of a whore!"

...slammed it back into place. An awful clicking noise filled his ears. He ignored it and pressed on, pushing his aching body upright. Don't stop. Push forward. Fight. Avenge them. All those who had fallen. He dragged his blade into a stance and stood on quivering legs.

"I get it, now." he growled. "Even the gentlest of souls may become a demon if you push them hard enough. But even so...

The hand demon thrashed its way upright, tearing great tracts out of the ground. "What's that look for?!"

...but you..what you've done...for all the blood you spilled, all those you've killed...

His glare could have curdled milk.

...it ends here."

His prey swore and spat, arms bunching for a single monumental burst.

Calm down. He inhaled deeply, filling his lungs with fresh air. Get your breathing under control. Now they swelled with something else. Remember your training. Remember.

And in that instant, Naruto remembered something else.

"Don't underestimate me, brat!"

Those hateful hands came for him again, but they seemed so slow now. He ducked one, cut apart another, and stepped forward. His blade blazed with blue fire time and time again, turning all to ash. He understood now. His arms swung down, intercepting another punch that would've surely pulped his head. It was all so simple. He just had to cut the hands before they reached him. Were they slow? Or had he simply become faster.

One step now.

Cut. Deflect. Parry.

Three steps in succession.

Slice them. Slash them. Annihilate.

Five steps, each faster then the last, quicker still.

Exterminate. Exterminate. Exterminate every bit of demon flesh.

No mercy for this one. Kill. Kill. KILL! His mouth twisted in a snarl as he brought his burning blade up and sent it crashing down twice as fast. A pillar of unholy blue fire bloomed, reaching up into the trees. The flames -Matatabi!- answered joyfully, roasting the Hand Demon alive. All the while he heard its screams, just as he could feel his arms burning, his shoulders growing uncomfortably hot. But still he forged on in a streak of blue light. So close now. Just a little more.

"You can't be saved!"

"Damn you!" countless hands flailed about, grasping none. Gah! Hold still!"

The world spun.

He didn't even realize he'd been thrown until his back struck the ground; instinct forced his legs to kick out and right himself. Mistakes were made. Naruto flashed beneath him. His blade swept out, severing the demon's legs at the knees. It toppled forward like a fallen elm.

Blood spattered the forest floor as the Hand Demon screamed, cursing him anew.

"Demon breathing." He felt something twist deep inside him, voice echoing oddly as he took another stance. "First form...

All around him, the last of the fires guttered out; the dirt, already pounded to sand at the demon's hands, began to rise.

...Sand of Shukaku."

His blade kissed the ground, sweeping across the ruined soil. For a moment he could've swore a hysterical tanuki cackle in the back of his head, echoing his words. He knew this technique, though he'd never used it. Never been able to. And yet the knowledge itched in the back of his brain as surely as any other. Gaara. The name came unbidden to him. This was Gaara's move.

.

..

...who was Gaara?

His exhausted mind shoved it away and struck. "Sand coffin!"

A sea of angry granules swept forth, swarming the hand demon, encasing him in a cocoon of hardened earth. His great bulk thrashed and fi Naruto held him still with his will alone, grinding the grains against the demons body. Only a demon could terrify another demon. He saw fear in its eyes now. Heard it beg for mercy.

Funny thing about regeneration. You needed actual flesh for it to work.

And if all that flesh was pulped and mangled. Well...

"Sand burial."

...you were vulnerable.

He closed his ears to the Hand Demon's heartrending screams as the coffin constricted with enough force to make a diamond. He dropped its ruined corpse to the dirt. It was already beginning to regenerate, but far too slowly. He'd crushed its organs, lacerated its lungs, flayed its flesh. It was weak. Vulnerable. He knew it. Even if it took a minute to recover, that was a minute in which it couldn't move.

Naruto, however, could.

"Wait!" He heard it beg. "J-Just hold on!"

He did no such thing. Blue fire flashed forth in the night.

"I said wait! Mercy!"

Taking his blade in both hands, Naruto swung down at the demon's head. Once. Twice. Thrice.

On the third swing, that thick gargantuan neck split like so much rotten wood. Even then he didn't stop. He cut down with a howl, fangs flashing with fire. Azure heat kissed the ground, burning his hands, annihilating his prey; rendering its final scream a faint, raspy gasp. He never heard its pleas. There was only the faint scent of singed flesh.

Eyes stinging, lungs heaving, he planted his sword in the soil and leaned against it for support.

Reality snapped back like a rubber band. Then came the recoil. Everything hurt. He couldn't move. The very act of breathing scalded his lungs. So tired. He'd used too much energy again. So dark. Why was it so dark? He could barely see. His eyes were heavy, weighing down even as he sought to keep them open.

'No...don't pass out...not here...!

His knees buckled. He swayed forward.

'C'mon! Wake up! You have to stay awake, damnit!'

If he fell asleep here, the demons would find him. He'd be easy prey...!

Gentle arms enfolded him, pulling him upright. A faint, almost familiar scent filled his nose.

Bleary blue eyes blinked, baffled by the sudden save as much as the one doing the saving. "Kanae? Is that you...?"

"Not quite." Not Kanae's voice! Definitely not! A smooth palm patted his back, running small circles between his shoulders. "You pass again. Good job. I knew you could do it."

You pass. Where had he heard those words...?

"Don't worry. I'll repay you for your kindness...and the meal." was that a woman's voice? He didn't recall giving a woman food, certainly not in this forest...but she was still speaking. "Relax." Full lips kissed the back of his skull, bringing with it a sudden surge of exhaustion. "Rest now." her words were the sweetest honey, lulling him to sleep. "You're safe. I'll watch over you until your friends arrive."

Who was that? Naruto tried to crane his neck back, but their grip was firm, and he, weary.

"No, no," she tutted, butting the back of his head with..what was that? It felt like bone or something rubbing against the back of his skull. "Bad boy. You mustn't peek. Not yet." laughter rippled into his ear. "I don't think I'll be able to hold myself back if you look at me right now...

In all fairness, Naruto tried to keep his eyes open. He really, truly did.

But he was just...so...terribly tired right now...

The last thing he saw was green hair.

A/N: Thought you saw the last of her, did you?

Aaaaand scene.

And so the countdown begins. One year, Naruto. Make it count.

As ever, we're following the Ember's Rule here. That's no joke. Really, it isn't.

If folks don't like this...well, it won't be continued. And it doesn't seem all that popular compared to "Doctor of Demons"...

*Sigh*

As ever, reviews are the wind beneath my wings. Without them I cannot write.

Now, the enjoy the previews. Some are pretty far off, but still~!

Timeskip coming soon!

AND SPOILERS.

(Previews!)

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.


...I'm home, Mom."


Someone was sauntering their way, spinning twin blades on a loose chain.

"Now that was flashy! Let me handle the rest!"


Shinjuro granted his sons a weary smile. "So you both want to be Hashira, do you? Then you know what is required."

Naruto and Kyojuro shared a glance. They did. Therein like the problem.

Slay fifty demons or kill a demon moon. Lower...or Upper.


Show yourself!

A tall young woman with flowing green hair smiled out into the moonlight, clad in a flowing white-on-black robe.

Her smile was for him and him alone. No one else.

"Hello, Naruto. Do you remember me?"


"They're calling you the Terror of Death, brother."

His lips pursed. "What kind of nickname is that?! So tacky!

"Well, if you become Hashira, then call hardly call you a "Demon Pillar", after all.

...all my hate, brother. You have it."

Kyojuro only laughed.


"Don't go on that mission alone, Kanae."

"My, my, are you worried about me? I'll be fine~!"

"No, you won't." His fist tightened on her sleeve. "Stay put and wait for reinforcements, or I swear I'll knock you out!"

She smiled. "Someone's aggressive today."


Shinobu was glaring at him again. "You lout! What do you think you're doing, sparing another demon like that!"

...she was crying."

"It could've been an act! A ruse!"

"You always say that! It all worked out, didn't it?!"

Naruto glared down at her and pinched her cheek right back. "What did I do this time?!"

"There, there." Kyojuro patted her head. "We're all friends here, aren't we? Lets get along."

Much to his dismay, the girl actually blushed.

"Aha! You're sweet on him!"

"I am not!"

R&R~!