Chapter 4
Naruto opened his eyes, the dark gray ceiling greeting him. The jitterring feeling of waking up in pain was still shocking, but less so. He looked around, he almost swore there was another person there but they'd left.
Probably Tobi.
He looked down and noticed the blanket and shirt. He stared at the cloth. It hadn't been there earlier.
Why would Tobi give him a blanket though? Tobi didn't strike him as that kind of person anyway.
The blanket was nice and warm and a part of Naruto really wanted to go back to bed.
But he can't do that. Sleeping is kinda scary when you don't know if you'll wake up.
Besides, he needed to train to get out of here.
Naruto tried his legs to see if they'd hold any weight. They were still broken, but he was able to hold some for five seconds before he came crashing down.
He gasped in pain but held off a scream. The pain was jarring and made his whole body shake.
The fall had caused the shackles to rip into his wrists again. Blood oozed from them, Naruto bit his lip, letting the blood run down his cheek.
He tried again, though not with much luck.
Naruto tried to do some upper exercises, just something, anything to do. But to no avail the chains restricted almost every single movement he made.
This was frustrating. He couldn't escape if he couldn't practice. If he couldn't get better, then he would die. But he can't get better when he's all chained up.
There had to be a solution. There had to be an out.
"How pitiful."
Naruto didn't look at the stupid fox. His eyes were on the water-ish ground. He still didn't really know where this place was or why he could go there. But he could.
"Oh shut up. You're the reason I'm here."
The fox growled, wind blowing into his face.
"You're going to get us both killed. Let me help."
"If you could help, then we wouldn't be here. We'd be in the Hidden Leaf with Sasuke!"
"Boy, you haven't even seen the extent of my power. I could easily get us out of here."
"They aren't coming."
"You don't know that."
Naruto looked up at the fox, seeing something he'd never seen before. Its face was sullen. Not sad but less angry.
Naruto sat in the water. The stupid fox...that stupid, stupid fox.
The Akatsuki wanted to kill him so they could have that fox.
It wasn't fair. He never asked for this. He never wanted this… he just wanted to be normal.
Maybe then people would like him.
"Boy, you can't change this, so stop sulking. That isn't really like you."
"How do you know what I'm like?!"
"I've been with you since the day you were born! Had enough time to tell you're acting strange."
"Guess you never really paid attention then."
A thick silence brewed. Naruto bit his lip again, the blood trickling down.
"You should probably stop doing that."
Naruto knew the stupid, demon fox was right about one thing. The lip biting was probably bad for him but it was the only way to calm his nerves and keep himself from crying or screaming.
"You really think you can help me get out?"
"It's better than waiting around for them to kill you, isn't it?"
"Fair."
"This isn't because I like you, just so you're aware. I don't really want to be their 'pet' or whatever they are cooking up. We aren't friends."
" Like I care. You're the whole reason everyone hates my guts!"
Naruto looked away.
"What do you need me to do?"
"Simple. DON'T FIGHT BACK."
