A/N: As everyone knows, I have a bit of fun when I get a hater. But there is a fine line between being a hater, and being a total Douchemuffin. Read the Reviews for yourselves if you're curious what I'm talking about.

Shigure Toshiro: Thank you for your honest feedback with a legitimate reason as to why the chapter displeased you, and I appreciate that you are sticking with the story despite that.

Guest: don't worry, the poll churned out the Chains too. Try reading the A/N's buddy, I announced which two Naruto is getting, and he said it in the story. But I enjoy your enthusiasm.

Kisa: Maa Maa *waves hand lazily* don't worry about it

xXAliceBlackXx and Ilikebob: Then I tugged the right heartstrings :3

darkhuntressxir: and you didn't already?

Chapter 24: Near Death

You're doing what's best for everyone... you're doing what's best for everyone... you're doing what's best for everyone. Naruto repeated the mantra over and over in his head, but still he hesitated. The kunai, which was rusty and chipped, was pressed to his skin, ready to tear it open, but it wouldn't move.

Inside the Seal

"Kit... no..." Kurama was near tears as he looked out through his container's thoughts and memories. He had resolved several months ago that if this child, who had endured far more anger and hatred than he should have, could retain that brilliant smile, then maybe Kurama could be nice to him. After all, his father, the Rikoudo Sennin, had made him to be a guardian of children, protecting them through righteous rage. Each Bijuu had a job, and Kurama's was protecting the future, the children.

But now, it looked like he was about to fail... again. Countless times he had watched children suffer, but never as a Jinchuuriki did. At this point in the child's development, he couldn't course enough Chakra through the tiny Chakra coils to heal the boy, so his death was all but assured. Kurama placed his head against the cage, small tears leaking through his fur and down his snout.

"Father... I'm sorry... I failed you again..." Kurama's breath hitched as he felt the first tug on Naruto's wrist.

Outside the Seal

With a great breath, Naruto steeled his resolve and gave a great yank, ripping open his wrist with the rusty blade. He almost cried out, but swallowed his pain, as he had always done. He didn't want to alert the ANBU outside his door. They'd stop him. He placed the blade against his flesh again, his skin already slick with blood. He felt a bit light-headed, but it wasn't enough. He gave another yank and ripped open another gap in his small wrist, far too small to be marred as such.

Inside the Seal

As Naruto continued his death, Kurama was growing more and more hysterical. Finally, he wiped his eyes and gazed sadly out at the place that was the boys' mind. This was apparently the last time he would see it. For a sewer, it was fairly homey. At least there was no water. He sighed despondently, then steeled his own resolve.

"Kit... I will avenge this injustice. I will make. Them. Pay." with that, he settled in and waited for the Seal to weaken just enough. He preferred the boy not suffer on his way to the afterlife, and the Kyuubi no Kurama escaping the seal placed on his three-year-old body would kill him near instantly, instead of allowing him a slow, agonizing death that would result from bleeding out.

And then, he would show those idiotic humans just what a Demon was capable of. But just as he felt the young one pass out from blood loss, and just before the seal weakened enough, a Chakra signature appeared right next to his vessel, and almost immediately, a foreign Chakra entered the body of the boy, stitching his flesh shut. Kurama growled.

"Why can't they leave him be? They would instead send him to a slow death... bastards," and he settled in for another long wait.

Outside the seal

Kakashi was frantically using the one medical Ninjutsu he knew to heal Naruto as best he could. He couldn't let his Sensei's son, his hero, and his little brother all in one, die.

Kakashi had taken Minato's words that Naruto should be viewed as a hero to heart, and he respected the young boy for carrying such a great burden, even if the child didn't know about it. He dealt with Anko, because it made the blond happy. He couldn't lose his Otouto.

"RAVEN! GECKO! GET TO THE HOSPITAL AND PREP A ROOM, NOW!" he screamed over his shoulder to the two ANBU on guard duty that night. The left quickly, choking on their own bile. They hadn't even noticed what the boy was doing. Kakashi picked up the limp, frail, nearly lifeless body and Shunshin'd to the hospital. Nurses and Doctors dissipated like water vapor at the aura of rage of distress the man put out. He found the prepped room and laid the boy gently on the bed as a Med-nin hooked up an IV to replace the blood Naruto had lost.

"You nearly lost him, Inu-san. Even a moment more, and he would have passed on. What could possibly lead this boy to such a drastic measure?" the Woman was genuinely concerned, Kakashi noted. It seemed she was one of the very few who didn't see Naruto as the Demon Fox.

"Ignorance," was the ANBU Captain's hollow answer as he pulled up a chair and sat, staring blankly at the motionless boy. He hung his head and rested it in the palm of his hands as the weight of emotion began to set in. it was going to be a long night.

A/N: Short, but it filled in a couple blanks.