He opened his eyes, sounds echoed through ears as he stared out unseeingly. Naruto hissed in agony as a stabbing pain shot through his skull, grabbing the source of his pain in hopes to quite, or at least dull the metaphorical knife buried within his skull. The muted sounds echoing in his ears Ignored in favor of clutching his skull as spots of light danced through his vision. He was rewarded with warm sticky sensation, as he pulled his hand in front of his eyes. He could feel his cobalt eyes widening in shock as he stared at his blood covered hand. Staring at the ruby liquid (and wasn't that a pretty color?) in a moment of shock, he forced himself to take in his surroundings.

The world was bathed in an orange flickering light, courtesy of the flames that now consumed the once beautiful shrine like a hungry wraith. Random bits of wood scattered about along with large chunks of debris now decorating the ground around him however he could make out nothing more due to his blurry vision. He could feel his skin prickle under the heat of the unnatural flames, Naruto's blue eyes scanned his body for any further injuries.

The Blond gave a sigh of relief as he found no serious wounds other than a few bruises. Sitting still he waited a few seconds for his senses to clear, a faint sense of relief encompassing hims as they returned to him. Only for him to nearly choke, as screams assaulted his ears like dull razors. Not your typical razors either, some part of his mind complained (a Part that had already embraced Insanity), as the sound of the recently mad tore away at his ears. No these razors just happened to be dipped in acid as well! All the while howls of some great beast, and an a roar of some epic monster grated on his ears even form this distance.

Tears clawed their way from his eyes as he grabbed the nearest thing that could possibly make it easier to stand. That Item just so happened to be the spear he had agreed to sell no less than eight hours before hand. With an tired grunt the blond had managed, to stand. Despite the fact he had no wounds he couldn't help but feel like he was weakening by the second, something proven when he struggled to even move.

He moved forward in a feeble motion with his impromptu cane, making an awkward clunking sound echo out with every step. It was not even four feet before he tripped on a rock, crumbling to the floor along with his make shift cane. It was a lucky thing too, as a black figure sailed over his head and into the wall behind him. Idly glancing at the now rubble covered figure, he couldn't help but note the silver gray hair, and distinctive trench coat now in tatters.

'What was his name again? Vobien, Vobine?' That was strange, he couldn't remember? Not that it really mattered at the moment. Heck he hardly recognized the man as the rather imposing figure he had met (Because he had met the man before, right?) previously. The man before him looked like he could barely hold consciousness, let alone kill the beast he had summoned. 'Serves him right.' The blonde though not really caring that the old man was his only hope for survival, though that was probably the head wound's influence.

In a slow sloth-like movement he was finally able to stand (with the help of the spear) once more. Pushing himself forward, the blond went on in a random direction. The clacking sound lost amongst the screams. He went on for what seemed to be days as slowly he stood on his own, the spear still grasped firmly in his hand. He didn't really know why he kept the spear, it would have been far easier to move if he dropped it… but something told him he'd be needing it very soon.

Naruto walked forth, not bothering to stop as he passed by, people giggling insanely, or even the people crying for help hands out reached as they begged him. Don't misunderstand, He wanted to help them, he wanted to make sure everyone was okay… but something was calling him further into the shrines ruins. Something was calling him, telling him that it wasn't what he was suppose to do. He wasn't suppose to help these people, no that was someone else's job. No, Naruto had something much more important to do within this destroyed shrine.

And he believed it.

Even as he got closer and closer to the inhuman roar, the terrifying source of the screams, he still believed in what the voice was telling him. However along his path he did find some solace. As he marched forward the spear in hand, he heard a faint humming noise. Halting Naruto scanned the wreckage, blue eye glowing with relief as he found the source of the sound.

It was a small rectangular device, emerald green in color as the humming sound came from the headphones plugged into the device. It was his Mp3 player! Most wouldn't find this very comforting as he fumbled with the headphones managing to finally push them into his ears. Normally Naruto would agree that playing with an Mp3 player when a heretic god-that was she called them anyway-was wreaking havoc to the area around you, was...( was... what was he thinking about again... was... was... Oh!) Was stupid!

But at the moment all he cared about was that he couldn't hear them anymore. The screams silenced as the music drowned out all the noise around him. No longer were the sounds playing with his sanity as he finally continued on his path. Naruto stumbled over the debris, and crawled through the massive amounts of destruction, marching on for what seemed to have been hours when he came across the place where it had all started.

The courtyard that had once been filled with greenery, and a sense of wonder, was now nothing more than a devil's playground. Dead bodies littered the stone floors, a pleased look on their faces, having been granted a some sort of reprieve from the torment around them upon death. Others simply laid on the ground, demented smiles on their faces as the beings mere presence grated away at there minds. Then their was the sparse few who had managed to retain both sanity and life. Most of them sobbing messes, or frozen in some blank state unable to understand (Or see) the carnage laid out before them.

In the center of this hell (what was hell again?) was a large green dragon, with eyes (Bringing forth the memory of blood red eyes, on gigantic fox colored like rust) of fiery ember. Enjoying the terror on the face of the child it was tormenting as it tossed her back and forth like a cat with a ball of yarn or a particularly interesting mouse. Several small (Tiny, Insignificant, Irrelevant) cuts adorning it's body as it showed them off as trophies, from it's short encounter with Veiban(That was his name right?). A ring of thorny spikes around it's head like an infernal crown, it's leathery wings pulled against it's back as it played with it's food (what bad manners!).

The blond walked forth stealthily navigating the blood (Where did all this blood come from?) covered court yard, his presence remaining unknown to the dragon. Several fires granting a glowing light to the blond as he got a closer look at the child the dragon was toying with.

He recognized her… yes he had met her earlier that day, in the garden. (Wh-why did that seem like so long ago?) Never-mind that's not important. What was her name again? (Mina something…)

Naruto Forcibly dispelled his errant concussion caused thoughts, as he gave the situation a closer look. The dragons muscles rippled under it's skin as it tossed the girl back and forth. Her sobs only increasing it's amusement. However the dragon grew increasingly frustrated as she stopped responding to its attempts at causing her distress. Mina was in a state of panic, her eyes wild (The Insanity growing every second) as she looked around for what the blond didn't know. The flawless look she had maintained when he had first met her, had been long abandoned, her hair was now matted with blood and dirt. Eyes puffy and red as tears marks scarred her face. Her once pristine dress now in tatters, several small cuts decorating her body like a twisted Christmas tree ornaments (That... Is a weird thought).

However the girl seemed to be acclimating to her current position, as each attempt to further her misery was met with less of a result each try. Finally the two story tall dragons seemed to have gotten bored with her as it dropped her to the ground. A gut wrenching snapping sound coming from her ankle as she hit the ground from a full twenty feet in the air. Mina's sob of pain attracted the best further, as it stared at her with what could be considered glee. But it seemed the dragons was still done with using her as it's toy. It's claws long and wicked as the descended towards the helpless girl, blood still glistening from it's last kill, glinting in the light like liquid rubies (So pretty as they dripped down the dragons scales like red rain drops).

Some part of Naruto's mind told him to (Wait!), to not interfere with the girls fate, to (wait for a better opening!) to kill the beast. However every other part of his mind told it to shut up. Eh wasn't like anyone wanted its opinion in the first place… oh great now he was talking to the voices inside his head. That specific train of thought soon crashed, as rage over took both his conscious and subconscious mind. Pulling him towards a particularly insane thought pattern.

Music blasted in his ears (Why are you still listening to this!?) as he made his choice. He sprinted forward, his feet moving on their own as he charged forward. Years of training allowed him to a ready stance, purely on instinct just in time to take full advantage of his built up momentum. His feet making an almost silent squishing noise as he thrust the spear forward into the dragon's… behind.

The spear was a somewhat typical boar spear, the blade in it's bay leaf design, two lungs, or wings in place where the blade was attached to the shaft. Although upon looking closer, the wood used was a bit stronger than normal, and the spearhead was larger than usual, making it much closer to a bear spear, than a boar spear.

'Wait why the hell am I thinking about this?' Naruto asked rhetorically, as he thrust the spear forward only for the spear to glance of the dragon's steel like scales. The fact it even drew a drop of blood was a testament to the blondes strength considering each scale was about as strong as a bar of steel. It however had the desired effect, as the dragon's claws stopped a few sparse feet away from the sobbing Mina.

The Dragons ember eyes, instead turned to Naruto. It's teeth still shining with the gore(Red and oh so Pretty) of it's last kill, as it hissed at him. It's tail swinging wildly behind it as it bared its teeth, the orange light glinting of it's emerald hide like tiny gems. A glance of wind blew through the clearing, bring with it a fresh blanket of snowflakes, as the dragon's tail whipped towards him. A sickening crunching sound echoing through the clearing, as the emerald appendage smashed into his ribs. His last thought before he was sent flying was in the end quite simple.

'Maybe I should have thought this through…'

His world was turned into a blurry mess as he tumbled through the air, his body flailing about like rag doll. His flight ending soon after as he crashed into a storage shed.. The wooden building collapsing under the force of his momentum as he crashed through the wreckage. Naruto gurgled out a short cry of pain, his body twisted in agony as metaphorical dagger's stabbed every inch of his body. A coppery taste leaking ever so slowly into his mouth.

His mind consisted of littler more than mush as he sat up, despite his body's cries of protest. Wincing slightly as he did so, he refused to look at his torso. The warm sticky sensation coming from what remained of his ribs was enough to know he wasn't in very good shape. But Naruto still willed himself to stand despite the pain that crawled through his body as he did so. Some of his life blood slipping down his arm as he grasped for the spear, his Mp3 player (No more music for you!) left little more than a shattered mess next to it.

The spear was in much better in comparison, it's worn shaft of ebony wood not even showing a new scratch, as he picked it up. The feeling of the weapon in his hands was comforting as he looked at the spearhead. Fresh blood present on the spearhead, the weapon itself seemed to give air of joy, Like it was happy to have drawn blood once more.

A new sense of strength enveloped the blond as he climbed out of the wreckage. His spear now glowing a light blue color, as he scanned the courtyard. Blood soaked the stone that made up the ground. Anything that was previously occupying the courtyard appeared to have fled with the now absent Mina. The dragon was expressing its thoughts on this fact through loud guttural roars, the very earth shaking beneath it's feet, as it let a out a gout of flames, turning the rubble around it in molten slag instantly and momentarily lighting up the court yard with the power of a sun.

The heat of it's breath, was so hot that the blond could feel his skin prickle under the sudden warmth. Considering the fact there was a sixty or so foot gap between him and the dragon, he really didn't want to be on the other end of it's mouth. 'Now that I think of it isn't this court yard a little… big?' He wasn't wrong either considering the courtyard was about the size of football field… "Why-y the hell does this shrine need such a large fucking courtyard!" he voiced his incredulity aloud. Not caring that his outburst had caught the dragon's attention, although that might have been the concussion talking… again.

The Dragon growled as it's eyes landed on his beaten but still living form. The fire light causing the scene to be all the more intimidating as the snow drifted down from the heavens. Viscous red liquid glistening on its teeth, as it's muscles tensed beneath emerald scales like a lion about to pounce. Naruto felt the spear vibrate in his hand as power was force-ably funneled into his body. He didn't know where it was coming from, but he thanked whatever twisted deity that decided to help him.

The Great Serpent Shot forward like a bullet, as it cleared the distance between it in it's prey. Naruto did the same charging forward, uncaring of his wounds as the pain seemingly faded within his body. The Reptile gave a roar, of dominance as it met the blond in battle. Naruto following it's lead, without thought as he gave a one of the strangest battle cries of all time.

"STABBBYYY!"

His mind already to far gone, lost in the exhilaration of battle to care about his strange battle cry. The dragon's claws shot forward in preparation to skewer the blond as they swept forward in a wide, sweeping motion. The blond retaliated by swatting the claw aside with his spear. Blood pumping through his ears as if some someone nearby was playing a drum. His muscles finding new strength as energy was pumped into his body, from the spear, before the spear took the energy back.

The world blurred into a mesh of flesh, and steel. As he shot a thrust towards the serpent, the emerald scales he had struggled to even scratch before hand, now being bypassed with seaming ease. The Blue glow strengthening as the spear hummed louder light glinting off the bloody steel. He didn't think as he smacked the beast's jaws aside, no, he couldn't think as he fought on. No thought was involved as the blondes body reacted on it's own, sending a flurry of thrust towards the Dragon.

But He was human, a mistake was inevitable.

And one mistake ended it all.

A spine shivering squelch, overcame clearing his body going numb, the cold invading his body as he looked down. The dragon's claws, wicked and sharp as they pierced his body. However there was no pain… 'That's strange' thought the blond as he looked up paying little to no attention to the blood spilling from his body. The great serpent was capitalizing upon his new found immobility, as it reared it's head back preparing another gout of flames of which it would release upon the blond. A sense of resignation washed over the blond. He was resigned to his death, Content with the fact he had managed to save Mina (that... that was her name right?) and the other people in the courtyard.

But his moment of content came to a short end as he met the beast eyes.

As he saw the amused cackle glinting in it's eyes he knew… the dragon had been toying with him it was amused at his new found resignation. For the dragon this hadn't been a fight to the death, no this was just a momentary game it was playing to amuse itself. A game of blood that it had won with little to no effort.

The sense of resignation was forced to the ground as it was ripped to shreds. He grasp on the spear tightened as he switched to an overhand grip. 'No one.' he thought watching as the dragon brought it's head down, an infernal light that sent shivers down his spine leaking from it's mouth. 'And I mean no one!' the blond raged as the spears soft blue light, turned to a radiant, and blinding royal color. 'Messes with Naruto Fucking Kusanagi!'

The dragon let the flames fly forth, just as Naruto threw the the spear. The spear flew through the flames even as Naruto screamed in agony, his body, and mind set a blaze by pain. Yet the blond's aim was true as the spear, shot forward tearing through the dragon upper jaw, and lodging itself in the dragons brain. Yet, (Being in the possession of Naruto) it didn't stop there as the radiant blue light expanded, with an intensity that would blind the average human as it released a concussive world shaking boom (Well, that was loud).

The blond was thrown off the dragon's blood (Hey that's mine!) stained claws, his form barely recognizable as human. The explosion sending Naruto's mangled body crashing into the storage shed once more. The darkness consuming his vision, while blinding pain stole his thoughts as he tried to think… 'I-I'm Going to die!' was his last panicked thought before he passed into the black.