My brain turned to rot rather than focus on what was on the other side of the cage. Carnage and death ensued I'm sure, but if I was the cause, my mind wouldn't allow me to process it. As the Kyubi rampaged through the snow my mind wandered deeper and deeper until I felt my mind's eye close.
In that instance, she came to mind. Of all possibilities, Hinata was the only thing I could seem to focus on. I remember the first day I met her...
xXx
Junior summer was approaching at breakneck speed, yet I barely even felt the normal surge of summer energy. Sure summer was close, but my best friend, my brother even, had just left Konoha high for what looked to be forever.
"Damn jerk, skipping out on us like that... Now, who the hell is going to terrorize the town with me this summer?!" I pondered as I had been lately, hands crossed under me as I lazed down the hallway by myself. To make matters worse, homecoming was tomorrow. "Who the hell is going to make fun of this thing with me now?! Hn..."
Another thing that changed since Sasuke left, I seemed to always be by myself. Sakura had kind of drifted off into her own solitude with the absence of the always brooding Uchiha. And with the both of them gone, people tended to stay away from the "Freaky Uzamaki Boy". But loneliness was no stranger, so I tugged along through the busy hallways, my eyes placed firmly on the ground and my mind focusing on the blaring music in my headphones.
" When it all falls down, ooOohhh, when it all falls d-" My singing was pristine if you ask me, and enjoyable until I felt a small thud on my chest and heard the clattering of books everywhere.
"Oh my god I'm so sorry!'" An indigo haired girl had fallen at my feet, she was a complete barrage of apologies as she frantically tried to gather her scattered books and papers.
"No please, let me help." I dipped down to father what I could. " I really should've been watching where I was going..." I lost my train of thought as I came face to face with her, crouched on the ground with books and both hands and my face mere inches from hers.
"Hinata Hyuga. Right?" I'm sure I lost myself in her eyes for a moment because I only realized my staring when I noticed her uncomfortable squirm from the excess attention.
I offered her my hand as I stood with the remainder of her school supplies in my other hand. A blushing mess, she took my hand only after a slight hesitation.
"Y-Yes. We had a couple of classes together last year. T-Thank you Naruto. "
'Why is she so stuttery? Maybe I freaked her out.'
" Hey, are you ok? I promise I don't bite. Haha, you don't have to be nervous around me."
"Well I was kinda hoping you did..."
"Hm, what was that? I didn't hear you."
All I could see was a deep red blush consume her face. Her pale, flawless face. That's the first time I noticed how beautiful she was, paler than the moon with long beautiful hair. Black or a tinted indigo, I couldn't be sure, but I was positive I wanted to run my hands through it. Pupiless eyes dodged mine as I took in her form with my gaze, she twiddled her thumbs and fidgeted under my gaze. Or perhaps it was more like gawking because her figure left nothing out, a light blue shirt and a pair of jeans complimented her curves perfectly.
"N-Naruto. Can I have my hand back?"
"Oops!" I released her quickly, but not too quickly. I hadn't realized how good her warm hand felt in mine. "Sorry, I'm kinda out of it today."
"Oh, my is it because your friend left." Her mood had shifted, suddenly she was no longer shying away. She seemed genuinely concerned.
'About me?'
"Yeah actually. Haven't I had this much me time in awhile you know? It's a bit humbling being avoided by the whole school." I felt the huge grin on my face as I spoke, but the truth did kinda hurt." I guess Sasuke did more for my image then I thought." I let out a weak chuckle with my statement.
"Well. I wouldn't avoid you." Just like that, she was right back to a blushing jumble of nervousness.
" You're kidding right??" No way in hell I'm this lucky. Hinata seems way too nice and definitely too damn fine to be acknowledging me like this. 'Maybe a prank?' A nod no was all I got in response, however. 'Hm, we'll see about that.'
"Then you should come to the homecoming dance with me, I'm kinda going solo considering."
"Y-you're serious?!" Hinata seemed surprised beyond belief.
'See, I knew she wouldn't want to-'
"I'd love too!"
"Huh? Really?"
'Oh shit.'
"Yes, but won't you be taking Sakura?.."
'Why would she care about Sakura?'
"Actually, we haven't been talking much lately. It's safe to say she doesn't want to go with me."
"Well then, good. Her loss." She was smiling huge at this point. I can't be too sure, but that's probably the most confident smile I've ever seen her bare, and at the same time. It seemed to hold an air of... victory?
Not like she's exactly fighting for my attention lately. Maybe some new friends might be what I need.
"Oh and Naruto."
"Hm?"
"Try not to mention her any more than you have too."
"Sure?" I swear I watched a whole different Hinata take charge with such a strange request.
"I'm just not sure if ever be able to tolerate someone... like her. And I don't want anything, or anybody to ruin our date."
xXx
"WAKE UP. Ugh. " The slick sound of hands slapping skin could be heard throughout the forest. Kiba Inuzaka's hand brought itself to the rear again before connecting harshly with Naruto face.
"Ouch! I'm awake damnit! Lay off."
The first thing I noticed was the massive overall feeling of fatigue that seemed to plague my body. Everything from my head to my toes ached.
"The fuck hit me, a train?" The next thing I noticed was the crusted mess that cracked ever so slightly when I opened my mouth. The undeniable smell of iron tipped me off to the blood that was all over my face and clothes.
Or lack there off...
"Where'd the hell my shirt go Kiba?" I was picking myself off the ground. I was finally taking in my surroundings. The moon was still nowhere to be seen and the field of snow that was present before seemed more like a muddy puddled field now, no trace of the anomaly in sight.
A stoic Kiba looked him in the eye. Arms crossed. And an impatient tap to accompany his already annoyed demeanor.
'Geez, what'd I do now? Kiba never shuts up. And now I can't even get a word out of him? Something's wrong...'
Kiba where are we? Where's that man? Wh-where's." Naruto surveyed his location closely. But to his surprise, the night was darker than he remembered. Even the very face in front of him was hard to make out.
Kiba... where's shino?"
Kiba stepped forward and placed a hand firmly on either side of Naruto's shoulders. His fangs weren't bared but the clench of his teeth looked hard enough to break enamel.
"In. Your. Teeth." The older boy shoved hard into the ground, quickly switching from an angered stare to an agitated pacing back and forth.
'What? I haven't even see shino.'
Swiftly Kiba stopped in his tracks and squared down to eye level as to look Naruto in the eye.
" I bet I know what your thinking kid. That you couldn't have possibly don't anything too fucked up right? That you could just lose control like that and everything would be just fucking fine right? Well news flash kid, the world doesn't work like that." Kiba grabbed Naruto by the nape and centered him roughly toward the area behind him.
The bloodied grass and dirt behind him was adorned by a moulage of a corpse. A head was noticeably absent, but the torn through grey and black jacket was unmistakable.
"What wait, wait. H- how did I? Kiba what's going on man?!"
Kiba released his neck and rose as he brought a pinched finger to the bridge of his nose. The moonless night had grown still and quiet, the birds having long since silenced and the stray dogs too fearful to approach the duo.
"Tell me. Are you hungry?"
An odd question at best but I answered anyway.
"Um, random much?
"Just answer the fucking question." The tension was thickening, and it didn't seem to be letting up anytime soon.
"No, now that you mention it I don't have an appetite at all." In fact, I couldn't feel the usual pull of the beast. " This is probably the first time I've felt sated in... I don't know how long."
"Well, there's a reason for that. You did this. You did. ALL. Of this." Kiba motioned toward the corpse once more. " I failed you as a leader Uzamaki. When Kabuto escaped, you lunged for the nearest available victim."
"Shino..."
"Luckily for you. He bled out from Kabuto's ambush. He was already dead. Had you completely responsible, we wouldn't be having this conversation."
"It's true, I could only watch it happen. Poor thing."
'Who the hell?' Haku proceeded to drop from the tree above me. I'm pretty sure I visibly jumped a little.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you. Kiba told me to hide, so I did." The girl seemed worse for wear, blood covered and exhausted.
"Never mind that, you're both saying I did this? But I don't remember anything past Lee running off with Gaara."
"That's what happens when you let go. The black moon was too much for you, you shifted and that was it. I couldn't keep up with you after midnight hit."
"What's midnight have to do with it?"
"Typically. The black moon brings forth a state of, resurgence if you will." Haku spoke freely this time. " The majority of us find ourselves in the most human state possible, with cravings and abilities alike nowhere to be seen. But.."
"But what?" If someone bothered to answer my questions in the first place then maybe I wouldn't be so damn lost.
"But pups like you do a complete 180. I'm convinced you went full fox out there. You even sprouted a few tails when you were barreling after that guy." Haku simply continued to look at the ground as she spoke, subtly avoiding eye contact as she explained. Kiba simply crossed his arms and tried not to howl in anger as he stared daggers at me.
"Listen, kid." A pause. "This isn't your fault. I failed you by bringing you out here before you were properly trained on how to deal with your powers. But keep this in mind." Kiba surprised me by taking me into his embrace, the gesture was harmless but still enough to through me off.
"The next time you act out like that, I won't hesitate to put you down, get it?" Kiba didn't really wait for an answer before walking back in the direction which we came. And surprisingly enough the ever consistent voice in my head had nothing to say.
"Let's go home." He didn't bother looking back at me or Haku as he strolled at a leisurely pace, hands in pockets and spine fully erect as he walked with his head held high. Keeping always in front of us, making it hard to determine if his body consistent jitters were from the cool air, or grief.