Character Thoughts

"Character Dialogue"

_ = Changes in Scene

Chapter 2 - Acceptance

Darkness enveloped his vision as he kept his eyes closed, his mind repeatedly playing the events that had led him to his current situation, his current descent. However, like a brick wall, all of his momentum stopped. With his body submerged in water and an echoing dripping noise permeating his ears he sharply breathed in. It took a few more seconds for his brain to process the change in environment for him to jolt up from the ground, sitting up as his eyes shot open.

Now scanning the golden sewer system he lay in, his breathing now irregular and heavy as his eyes darted to every visible detail. Amidst this scanning his hands reached to his chest, patting himself down and then pinching himself. It was only by doing this that he sat still, his breathing briefly returning to some level of calm. His eyes glanced down to his black shirt, specifically the red swirl that adorned it, and sighed in defeat.

I guess I couldn't go out to find them, he thought to himself as his azure eyes turned grimly toward the dark tunnel ahead of him. Picking himself up from the water-covered ground he began to trudge through the tunnel, the air becoming colder as he progressed. He continued this tunnel for minutes on end until suddenly a horrifying shiver fell down his spine, his heart in his mouth as he struggled to breathe. This feeling lasted moments before it subsided but the fear it instilled remained as he dropped to the floor, grasping his neck as fell.

Breathing heavily again, he heard a distant growl from the veiled tunnel. As he looked further into the darkness, he saw a small golden light however, the shape of the object behind was not clear but the clear light was a much welcome change. In his panic, he shot toward it, his legs painfully cutting through the water as he did. As he got closer and closer to the light, the feeling of fear developed further as the image of a gate, a colossal gate began to take shape behind it. The growling that he had heard earlier became more pronounced, deadly and vicious.

Until it stopped, as Naruto approached the light, approaching the gate hundreds of times taller and wider than him, the air fell silent. In this reprieve, Naruto took a quick glance at the gate, the vine-like patterns that lay blissfully upon it, the giant bars that could fit half a house in, and the lock for the gate. The large paper with the kanji 'Seal' imprinted onto it.

Like a hurricane, wind shot forth from within the cage, his eyes now leaving the gate lock and locked straight ahead, to whatever was in the cage. The growling returned, more powerful and more maliciously than he had ever felt as he froze still as he saw a pair of burning red eyes, the slits of the eyes glaring at his very soul.

The fear, the unquenchable fear he felt had made his body refuse his commands. The eyes getting closer and closer to the gate only elevated his fear, culminating into him falling backwards into the water once again. This time, however, his eyes were glued to the shadowy form that approached him from the other side of the cage. The anxious anticipation of what it could be somewhat drawing him in until it hit him.

"Seal…" He muttered to himself whilst still in trepidation with the sight before him, the figure being to reveal itself as a black snout emerged from the darkness. "Burning red eyes…" Naruto continued to mutter, as the creature's face emerged from the shadows, revealing its orange fur and 6 black whiskers on either side of its snout.

"They sealed it in me…" He painfully spoke, his body going limp as his eyes looked broken toward the being before him. In this phase of realisation, he hadn't noticed the fox's reactions to this.

Once, he had looked at the boy like any other human, greedy balls of flesh that wished for his enslavement. But for once in his life, he felt pity for a human. With these thoughts bleeding into his gaze onto the boy, having softened slightly as he continued to observe the boy's revelation.

Long, long minutes passed as Naruto began to contain himself, his mind coming to grips with his new found tenant as he then looked back to the Kyuubi. Its form was just imposing as was told, its mountain-sized tails calmly laid onto the sewer floor as it stood watching him. Seeing this made him jump away, but he slowly began to sit back down.

Their eyes now locked with each other, Naruto's Ocean blue eyes stared curiously at the Kyuubi's indifferent blood red eyes. This lasted mere moments until Kyuubi sat down in front of the cage, its head resting on his legs as only his right was now looking at him.

Naruto had to admit to himself, as much as everyone hated the Kyuubi, as much as it had done, it was nothing like the being he had read about. A creature of unending rage and hatred. A beast of continental destruction. An unintelligent natural disaster. He saw nothing of that. Instead, he saw caution, he saw control and he saw consciousness. An ancient, intelligent mind behind those eyes.

"What am I human?" It bellowed briefly, knocking the boy off balance as his eyes lay widened at the sentence. Staring back to the fox, he saw intrigue and anticipation in the deep restages of his eyes hidden and locked behind his control hatred.

"Certainly not what everyone thinks you are." Naruto honestly, commented as he quickly sighed at the thought. Thinking back to everyone who had glared at him, scammed him, neglected him. It now made sense. They must have thought him to be the Kyuubi. "Then again, I don't think those people are the best judges of character." Naruto muttered to himself, missing the raised eyebrow from the ancient Biju.

"Someone whom I can actually have a conversation with." Naruto spoke, still looking toward the ripples in the water, originating from where he sat. All the while, the Kyuubi, having widened eyes at the statement, couldn't contain his surprise at what the boy had dared to say. But upon thinking about it, he could very easily see why he had said that.

"If you're looking for friendship, human. You will not find it here." The Kyuubi responded, his eyes now narrowed at the boy, as he turned his head to meet with the fox's eyes again. "I am being cordial with you because you have actually tried to understand what I am." The fox continued, as he gazed at the boy's now slightly widened eyes. Seeing the light bulbs spark in his head as well as hearing his thoughts he sighed in fatigue.

"There have been others before you, human." The Kyuubi spoke, his gaze still planted to Naruto's now shocked expressions, opening his mouth as if about to speak. "Yes, I can hear what you think as well." He spoke tiredly as it stood up and began to walk toward the darkness. "You're not a dead human. Keep your head stable and yourself alive and you won't need to come here again." He continued as he slipped into the shadows as Naruto watched on trying to take everything in.

"Now go! Leave my presence at once!" It roared, making Naruto take a step back in shock, due to the volume of its voice. Only moments after this, however, Naruto could feel something tugging on his mind, pulling him away from consciousness as slowly laid onto the wet ground. His eyes heavy and vision decreasing until it all faded to black.

Feeling the air rushing through his hair, Naruto opened his eyes in terror as he continued to plummet toward the ground. Having continued where he had left off, he had been slightly disorientated by the sudden changes in momentum but this was overpowered by the adrenaline pumping through his body at the deadly-situation.

Breaking his train of thought, he heard a plank of wood shatter loudly nearby. The sound powerful enough to reach his ears amid the rushing wind caught his attention but this was quickly diverted to someone slamming against. This action, at the speed they'd done it, caused him to wince as he closed his eyes as a result. When he had reopened his eyes, he was in the arms of a man. A grey chest plate, arm guards and a dog mask. Coupled with the familiar presence.

"ANBU…" Naruto uttered in relief, his body now relaxing as the two flew across the village's many rooftops. Turning his head toward their destination, he noticed the iconic, large red building becoming bigger. A symbol for 'Fire' planted at its entrance directly below an office. "Hokage-Sama…" Naruto spoke with slight anxiety, as while they had been friendly he didn't know what to think of him right now, not after what he'd learnt.

Much to his surprise, the ANBU carrying him began to tighten their hold on him, not in a forceful manner but in a caring, protective way. His knowledge painted them as emotionless shinobi who are put with the highest-risk missions, the elite of the elite in terms of shinobi. Just like with the Kyuubi, he knew now for certain. Never judge anyone from anything other than themselves.

Landing atop the building, the ANBU had crouched to the ground, leaning his arms toward the boy's feet allowing him to get off. As Naruto's sandals touched the ground, like jelly, his legs gave in and fell to the ground. But, before he collided with the ground, the ANBU had caught him, raising him back up. What confused Naruto the most among all of the events that had happened today was the way the ANBU was looking at him.

"Do I know you?" Naruto asked with tired confusion, not missing the spark of sadness that seemed to flash in the man's eyes as he asked. The ANBU, however, shook his head and gestured toward the set of stairs heading into the tower. "Well then what's your name?" Naruto innocently asked, only now looking up to the man's gravity defying silver hair. With the ANBU seeing the realisation in the young boy's eyes he chuckled before scooping the boy onto his back and walking toward the stairs and into the tower.

Quickly passing through the repetitively dull hallways, the two made it. The Hokage's office and inside, after opening the door, sat a man, hidden by his diamond-shaped hat that held the kanji for fire written atop it. The man's white robes calmly rustled as he went about his paperwork. Turning his head upward to meet the new arrivals, revealing his aged face, his white facial hair and wrinkles apparent. However, the concern in his eyes never aged as did his fondness for the red-headed boy.

Upon entering, the two extended the formalities toward their Hokage before he quickly shot it down. "You two know me well enough that we are past such pleasantries," He softly spoke as he took a puff of his pipe, leaning back in his chair and becoming more serious in his demeanour. "What happened?" He sternly commanded, causing the young Uzumaki to flinch slightly.

"A boy around Naruto's age pushed him off the monument, I managed to save him from the fall." The ANBU almost robotically reported, as his tone too held severity to it much like the Hokage's did. The words made the age leader sigh as he got up from his chair and walked over to the ANBU, with said ANBU placing the boy down again making sure to remain next to him in case of him falling over again.

Crouching to meet at eye level, the Hokage embraced the boy as Naruto reciprocated. "Thank Kami you're alright," He muttered in relief, as Naruto warmly smiled at the comment enjoying the almost familial moment with his leader. The embrace quickly ended as the Hokage looked the boy in the eyes. "Are you hurt at all?" He asked with concern, garnering a head shake before he ruffled the boy's hair as he stood up.

"Hokage-sama." The Uzumaki spurted out desperately, immediately retaining Hiruzen's attention. "Can I ask what about the whereabouts of the Kyuubi?" Naruto innocently asked, all the while his mind was left apprehensive as to the Hokage's answer. Hiruzen, as well as everyone in the room seemed unfazed by the question but all held their breath, all knowing how close the boy was.

Hiruzen thinking about what Naruto had just experienced in addition to the studying at the library that he had managed to watch had made the question make sense. The apprehension in the boy's demeanour and anxiety led to only one conclusion. "I have a feeling you already know the answer to that question, Naruto-kun." Hiruzen answered in defeat as Naruto stared at him, slightly shocked at the man's honesty and how quickly he had realised this. "Given your apprehension, I'm assuming you no longer trust me because of this. Am I right?" The Hokage questioned, his tone wishful yet painfully realistic, receiving a mixed reaction from the boy.

Taking another puff from his pipe, he sat the boy down onto the couch that lay in the office, kneeling before him as he began. "This knowledge was dangerous given what it is, if unprepared to fully understand this burden it could lead to… Unpleasant consequences." Hiruzen began to explain, but the feeling of guilt and the painfully sad look on the boy persisted. The ANBU all the while remained by the door, his eyes remorsefully watching the scene unfold.

"I tried, my boy. I truly did try to make people understand, but they were too fixated on their own misery to have been able to understand." Hiruzen muttered in humiliation, as he watched Naruto in sadness as the boy's eyes filled up with rage. All of it justified. All of it warranted. Shooting his head to the side in fury, a slight tear coming to his eyes, he folded his arms, the hold progressively getting tighter and tighter.

"Or maybe they wanted a scapegoat to push all their pain away. Never giving a second thought to their action against the 'Kyuubi" Naruto ranted, sarcastically air quoting as he spoke. Hiruzen only watched as tears started to fall from his ocean blue eyes. "I've never known anything other than unearned hatred. Tell me Hiruzen, how do I live with that knowing now what caused it?" Naruto asked desperately as Hiruzen could only sigh, signalling the ANBU to remove his mask as he sighed.

Approaching the two, Kakashi knelt next to the Hokage, as Naruto focused his attention on him. "You live for those who love you, Naruto." Kakashi began, as the boy looked to the floor in sadness. Placing his hand on his shoulder and gaining a slight nod from the Hokage, "Live for those who gave their lives for you, live up to their expectations and exceed them." Kakashi said with a sad smile as Naruto shot his head back up, his eyes widened in shock amid his own crisis.

"Who in their right mind would ever give their life for me? The Kyuubi?" Naruto bitterly remarked but he flinched as he could feel the serious glare of both the Copy ninja and Hokage staring him down.

"Your parents, Naruto. They gave their lives for you to live. As Naruto Uzumaki, not the Kyuubi." the Hatake expressed his grip on the boy's shoulder firmly as Naruto sat frozen at those words. As the shock wore off it soon turned to bitter disappointment, narrowing his eyes at the Hokage. But as he did, he then looked back at Kakashi and then back to Hiruzen.

Why in Kami's name would Kakashi know my parents? Naruto thought as his narrowed glare turned into a calculating gaze. Maybe he was a friend to them, he had proposed in his head but then mentally shook his head at the thought, the vagueness and secrecy of their identity would lead to someone important.

"No… They can't be…" Naruto muttered, mortified. "They wouldn't… He couldn't off…" the boy cried as he retreated further into the couch, meanwhile Hiruzen and especially Kakashi avoided the boy's gaze but at the same time attempted to calm him down. His breathing was progressively getting more laboured as his mind concluded that the identity of his parents was now certain.

Tears streaming down his face, he curled up into a ball, shoving his face into it. "Why would he condemn me to this life, Hiruzen!" Naruto screamed, his voice muffled by his current position and croaking as he cried. The sudden scream and the pain laced within caused the two men to flinch, their eyes looking on with empathy and terrible nostalgia. Kakashi especially, getting up and hugging the boy as he cried his heart out.

"I'm certain you have an idea as to why. Minato was a man who placed the village above himself, and his family. A true Hokage." Hiruzen began, not missing the snarky tongue tick from the Uzumaki. In response, the Hokage placed a hand onto his shoulder, sternly, as his expression turned deadly serious. "Minato saved this place, Naruto. I will not sit by and let you, despite your justified anger, disrespect his and many others' sacrifices including your mother's." Hiruzen reprimanded as Naruto flinched at the tone, feeling so familiar with the many villagers who'd hated him.

Recovering from the old man's tone, his anger returned, "Why not!" He shouted, as his tears still fell without reprieve now looking straight into the Hokage's aged brown eyes. "He saved a village who would not honour his wishes! He saved a village of idiots!" He screamed as Hiruzen sighed in sadness, as did Kakashi. "How can you stand to protect people so vile, so heartless…" Naruto muttered in disbelief, as he recoiled further as he searched the adults before for answers and found none that he could see.

Kakashi however, looked at the boy with laced pain much like he had moments earlier. "Ignorance is the quickest path to hatred." Kakashi began, Naruto simply scoffing at the statement. "We fear what we cannot control, hate what we do not understand." Kakashi continued his voice aged like an aged veteran as his eyes looked in deep thought as he spoke.

"Then why?" Naruto pleaded, as his eyes desperately searched for the answers to his questions, the honesty to be presented openly. "Why won't they even bother to understand? Kakashi? Hokage-sama?" Naruto spoke in a coarse tone, his body seemingly drained of its strength and his eyes fatigued close to losing consciousness.

"Sometimes, when we lose those we love, we are swallowed by the hatred we feel and see only what we lost," Kakashi uttered, instantly grabbing Naruto's attention amid his tired haze. "It is not something that is controlled, Naruto. It cannot be overcome as you might think possible." Kakashi began growing more offended and also disappointed at both himself and the son of his sensei.

Naruto, meanwhile, continued to listen closely and only now realised that. Kakashi had lost everyone he had ever cared about. Having studied the Hokage to the ground, the research naturally extended to their students with Kakashi being the last remaining member of Team Minato. In addition, being orphaned through his Father's tragic suicide illustrated clearly the levels of despair a person could go to.

If I were someone like Kakashi, who'd lost everyone. I can't honestly say for certain I'd be any different than them. Naruto bitterly reprimanded himself within his head as his mind began to understand why they hadn't changed in five years. "I'm sorry Kakashi. I was… Out of line." The young redhead quickly apologised, earning a small smile from the now weathered Hokage.

Raising his hand out, gesturing to him to stop, "You weren't Naruto. You have every right to be angry at what has already happened to you. But I'd hate for you to be a hypocrite." Kakashi said with a warm smile as he ruffled the boy's hair. "You don't have to forgive them. Just move on, be the better person." Kakashi encouraged, though this had irked Naruto the wrong way, frowning instantly.

"I understand, to some extent, the reasons for their hate. I understand. I do not forgive. Not like this. Not for what they've done." Naruto affirmed to himself, the two adults smiling softly at the boy's maturity, despite his opinions being less than what they would've hoped for.

"That is acceptable Naruto-kun. For now. My advice to you, my boy. Forgive, never forget." Hiruzen wisely spoke as he stood up, walking toward the window and taking a puff of his pipe, Naruto looked toward the office's wooden floor in slight agreement. Though upon mentally agreeing with this advice he felt a sudden urge of dreariness and he slumped onto the couch his eyes closed as his breathing calmed to a peaceful rhythm.

Kakashi looked at Naruto's now sleeping form fondly as Hiruzen continued to observe his village, looking in disappointment at the place he called home. All the sacrifice. What will it all amount to in the end? When will this endless conflict end?

Thank you for reading the chapter and I hope you enjoyed it.

I hope the heavy dialogue created the sort of natural progression that was intended so any comments on that would be appreciated as well as any sort of feedback in general.

In addition, if you ever wanted to chat with me without having to use Wattpad or comment channels you can join my discord ( /rQn2Ar7y)

As always, I hope you enjoyed it and hope to see you in the next chapter or chapters to come.