WARNING: This chapter includes some heavy stuff, so proceed with caution, please.
On that note, not a whole hell of a lot of action in this chapter, but this chapter is the set up to alter and change Naruto, to trigger that darker side to take root and grow, prompting more of Vergil's influence later on down the line, so bear with me, please. I will say though that this chapter was harder to write, emotionally, to get it typed out. I've had this chapter roughly planned out for a good long while, but couldn't commit due to the content till now. So I apologize for the wait, just know in the future, future chapters will not be as... challenging on the morals.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor Devil May Cry Series
[Naruto's Apartment]
Naruto tossed and turned in his bed as he had fitful dreams, he couldn't describe some of the things he was seeing in his dreams, but they came to him clear. But as he was watching, it was both as a spectator and as if he were there himself, doing things, being a participant. He woke in a rush of breath and gasping as he huffed. Bringing a hand to his face, he was a bit of a cold sweat and made an unconscious movement of sweeping his hand back, his shaggy spiked white hair flipping back with it and staying for a moment before falling back down. He shook his head free of sweat and sat on the side of the bed to get his head on right.
Thinking of the dream, it was so vivid, just like the others he'd had before it. "Arkham?" he spoke aloud, not understanding what he had seen. Who was this Arkham, and what did he mean when he spoke of evil?
Getting up, he looked at the time and then outside, it was still very early, still dark. But he couldn't sleep after those dreams. He went to his small desk and turned on the desk lamp, pulling a notebook and started writing. This was something he had been told to do when he brought up the matter of those dreams, Jiji had him see Inoichi and as he described the dreams of a man with white slicked back hair, a blue coat wielding a powerful sword, how he donned the cat and sword in his teens and grew into is power, fighting others, joining a mercenary group, the man seemed entertained. Inoichi told him it could just be his imagination projecting his own desires to be strong into his dreams. His advice was to record those dreams in dream journals, every detail he can recall.
He was a little pissed that the man had brushed off the dreams so easily, but he had no answer himself, so he guessed he wasn't wrong. He did want to be strong...maybe that was how he could become strong? He didn't know but something the man, him in those dreams...Vergil spoke in the dreams stuck with him.
"Might controls everything, and without strength, you cannot protect anything, let alone yourself."
Speaking those words felt so right, and while he may not be strong or completely understand, he did get the basic idea. With power, you have control over yourself. He held that close to his chest as he continued to write. He finished not too long after that and put this journal away with the others. He was surprised by how much he had written so far, his bookshelf had a growing collection of notebooks dedicated to dream journals.
Going to his kitchen, he started on breakfast now that he was awake. Ramen was still the comfort food that he ate often, but for some reason, he was drifting away from the dish for his everyday food. Grabbing some stuff from his fridge he started cooking. Then again it helped he wasn't being overcharged at stores anymore, the glares didn't stop, but he as able to buy things for good prices now and get the good stuff.
Finishing up, he sighed as he rolled his shoulders and went to get cleaned up and dressed. In the shower, he thought of his last few weeks at the Academy and KGRD building. Things were going well for the most part at the academy, he had made a few friends so far. Kiba was full of hot air, but he'd calmed down ever since he got Akamaru a week ago, he was very attentive to his newly bonded partner. Shikamaru was lazy, but smart and gave good advice, playing board games with him was nice, even if he couldn't beat him half the time, half because he got bored with most board games, so he tried to make them fun. Chouji was good, they talked about food a lot and was trying to help Naruto find the solution to his weird crazing for something with cheese, tomatoes, and pastry.
Course they started as friends when their parents, either their fathers or mothers picked him up as the day's caretaker to take him to the KGRD building then back home. They weren't the only ones as Inoichi picked him up to, Ino with him and they talked. Ino still wouldn't believe he was a boy... a fact that irritated him to no end, and it was worse since the other girls wouldn't believe him either. Didn't help that Ayame found him cute and actually encouraged it, which Tsume said to use it to his advantage, while the fathers told him to roll with it, he wouldn't escape females easily at all, so best to roll with it. He gave up on trying to resist the girls, but he still insisted he was a boy.
Course getting to know Ino, he got to know Sakura as well. The girl was nice if just a bit shy and unsure of herself. Ino dragged her along with her determined to get her out of her shell no doubt. Shino was silent and rarely interacted, it almost seemed as if hardly anyone noticed him, though when he tried to talk to him, there was no answer. Then there was Hinata, she blushed rapidly and rarely spoke through her stutters. For some reason, he liked the color red like that... He did remember when he stopped those bullies from picking on Hinata and he asked if she had any more trouble with them, she just shook her head and thanked him. He didn't get why she always stuttered, but he hung out with her where possible.
The others kids of the class tended to keep their distance, mostly, didn't stop all the girls, Hinata included now through a little shyly, to crowding around him going on girl mode and dragging him into their antics. There was one thought that got on his nerves the most though. Sasuke Uchiha. He was arrogant like he was kami's gift to man, going on how Uchiha this and that are the best and superior. He was about to plant his sandal up his ass if he didn't stop here soon. He was always bragging how the Sharingan was better than any Kekkai Genkai, though Naruto always asked where his was just to shut him up.
His caretakers were nice though. Tsume, Inoichi, Chouza, Shikaku, Yoshino, Chi-chi, Ito, Kurenai, Kakashi, Itachi, Mikoto. Just to name the ones who had come to pick him up and take him to the KGRD building and then to his house. Sometimes he went to their houses to have dinner, though not all of them, a few times they brought their kids to his house.
He knew why that was rare, he wasn't stupid, he knew the area he lived in, what the ladies did, what some of the men at bars sold when no one was looking. Though every caretaker who took him home was surprised when he'd wave to them all and they'd wave back with a smile or talk to him. He was starting to find it funny, so he started going up and talking to them when he had a caretaker with him, just to weird them out, the ladies and dealers catching on and playing along for their own amusement. The panic on Yoshino's face when a lady spoke about teaching him stuff early was priceless and she dragged him to her house that night.
Finishing up his shower, he sighed and just got his day started. Today it was only a half day and classes were shorter and to the point, not even a lunch period. So when the Academy let out, he waited at the academy gates for the person who was supposed to pick him up.
"He's not here..." He spoke looking around for the man he'd been told by his wife that he'd be here to pick him up as his caretaker for the day.
"Probably doesn't like you, I know I don't," Sasuke spoke and Naruto restrained a violent urge to shove his fist down his throat.
"Whatever Sasuke. Doesn't matter I know the way anyway. Tell your mom I'll see her next time." He said with a subtle jab. Sasuke had HATED that his mother willingly became a caretaker for Naruto and that he had to follow her and Naruto until they took him home, partly as a punishment. Yesterday had been the second time and today it was her Husbands turn, the first time he'd do it, but he wasn't here.
"Tch, yeah right, she probably just does it out of pity for an orphan." The urge to bury his fist down his throat just turned to murder, he wanted to kill him, plot bloody murder... but the fact that would upset Mikoto stopped him. Mikoto was nice, as was Itachi.
"Whatever teme, see ya tomorrow." He ended that off as he left the academy. He walked down the streets heading towards the KGRD building to get started on his courses there. However, he felt something, something very familiar, but with the last two months of ease, he had gotten lazy in his awareness as he found a few men approaching him from various parts of the empty street he was walking on.
"Hey, there boy. I hope you remember us. Been a while eh? Ya know it's something, we had some friends in that group that got killed that night you turned all freak. I and the guys here think you might have had something to do with that. You don't mind right?" He asked, pulling a knife from his belt, the other males pulling their own weapons.
'Shit! I got lazy, I would have noticed these guys sneaking up on me... they have all the exits covered, These guys look to have some training if I had to guess, don't know how I know that. No one else around. Damn, right on the day when I'm by my...self... You have got to be shitting me.'
He was trying to find something he could use in this situation, but not much was coming to him.
"Get him!" One shouted and several rushed him. He breathed as he rolled to the side and tried to make a break for it, but some had hung back just for that reason, so they closed in on him and punted him back to the others. He hit the ground and rolled. Gritting his teeth, that had hurt.
"Not so lucky now eh?" another asked before they rushed him again. One came in with a long blade, not a sword, but not a tanto. didn't matter though since he slashed him with it before he had a chance to move, he felt it slicing through his stomach and he gasped out, hand going to the area as he backed up. The men laughed, Naruto just felt panic, feeling the pain in his midsection spread throughout his body as he backed out into the alley.
But he stopped when he didn't feel...anything else. Looking down with trepidation, fearing the worse, he found only some blood on his clothes around the cut and on his arm, but that was it, none of his insides were out. 'What? but how's that- no, worry about it later.' His eyes darted around for something, and his eyes landed on a pipe. He didn't know where it came from, but when he grabbed it, he placed it into his left hand as he stood and looked the men down.
"Hey! I thought you cut the little bastard!"
"I did, I felt the resistance, look there's blood!" The one with the blade said and they did indeed see the blood, but there was no cut.
"Whatever, we'll just have to make sure it sticks next time... Oh, the boy thinks he's going to fight. Well, ain't that cute." They laughed at him, but Naruto just growled. These men...they were like the others who hunted him down months ago, they knew them...and now they wanted to do it again. He remembered the pain from that night, he should have died.
"Not again..." He whispered out, his anger building as his chest rose and fell rapidly his pulse quickening, he felt his body heat up and his hackles rose, all throughout he felt his chakra rushing through his pathways like a tearing torrent. There was an awareness that came with the feeling of his anger bashing against the cage that was his skull and ribcage. "I'm not your punching bag anymore." He barked out lowly.
"Oh yeah? Who's gonna stop us? You?" The leader of this group asked, snickering all the while. Then darkness as there was a sudden pressure on the side of his head and he knew no more, leaving the land of waking for unconsciousness.
The rest of the group had watched as the boy moved, fast, and drew the pipe from his left hand in a move that was pure samurai, the Iai draw and strike with the pipe knocking the man out as he hit his head. His only saving grace that this was a child's strength, it was a blunt pipe, and he had physical conditioning to take strikes, that saved his life.
The rest of the group were stunned at the display. "No one said the kid could fight!" One shouted.
"So I have to be weak and defenseless for you to attack me. Pathetic and cowards." He stated in a cold voice that certainly didn't belong to the boy in tone.
"Don't just stand there, rush the demon all together!" Another called and they did just that. The boy growled as he held the pipe at ready as the men came at him.
The first came in with a kunai while naruto sidestepped it and lashed out, breaking the man's jaw with the hard strike, knocking him out at the same time. The one with the blade who cut him first came at him and attempted for a decapitation to make it quick, but the boy rose the pipe to guard, but stepped in and brought his foot up into the man's balls as hard as he could. When he dropped his blade and fell to his knees, Naruto growled as he brought the pipe up and brought it down in a helm splitter to his skull, and he was out.
Rolling out of the way of thrown kunai. The next rushed him, but before he could get closer with his weapons, he dived forward and struck low, the pipe shattering the man's right knee from the side. But as he went down, he spun and came down with a strike to the temple, also out.
The last few rushed him as a group, so he rushed them and jumped. They hadn't been expecting it and when the boy rose into the air from his jump, the last one of the three didn't expect the strike to the crown of his head, knocking him out. Nor as the boy rotated in the air and over them that he'd strike the back of the head of the rightmost one. He landed on the ground in a stance, pipe in the left hand.
He didn't give the last man the benefit of turning before he rushed and with an Iai, shattered his left knee, sending him down.
"Can't even handle one kid with this many. Cowards, pathetic, and weak."
"Fuck you-you demon!" The man shouted at him.
"...If being a demon means not being a victim to scum like you, then fine. I'm a demon." He said, making the last man freeze. "Just don't complain about the result you get when you fuck with a demon." Naruto spat out as he brought the pipe up and then down and the man was out.
Naruto was huffing as he held the pipe, his hands shook and stung from the force of wielding the pipe so harshly, it felt heavy in his arms, but he held onto it as he looked at the scene around him. He just took out that group of men...like it was nothing... "Where did all that come from..."
"Naruto!" He heard and shout and turned fully to see Tsume rushing for him, but he saw her eyes widen and gasp slightly as she looked at his cut open shirt and the blood. Behind her was Kiba and an older girl he knew was Hana, Kiba's older sister, and a Genin.
They stopped and looked him over, Tsume checking his stomach, but saw no wound, looking to the bodies, she had a lot of questions. These men may only be chunin in name only, civilian raised and graduates of the new system, but they were still adults with training. But as she turned back to Naruto and saw his hands still gripping the pipe tightly, she got a clear view of how much his hands were shaking.
She grabbed his hands, holding them, willing him to ease, and soon he stopped shaking. But she noticed that while she got his right hand off the pipe, his left wouldn't leave it. Instead of trying to force it, she held his right hand. "Naruto, I need you to tell me what happened." She asked and he nodded and began telling her that he'd been waiting for his caretaker but they never showed up, he figured it'd be okay to just head on to the KGRD building, but on his way he ran into these guys and they trapped him and fought him, calling him demon, and then he grabbed a pipe and something just came over him.
"I didn't want to be the weak one anymore." He said simply. "I don't know how I fought them, it was like my body moved and I was along for the ride." He stated and Tsume's eyes widened, there was no way a boy should have that level of muscle memory and skill. But the bodies spoke otherwise.
"Alright, you defended yourself just like you are supposed to, it's not your fault. It's your caretaker's fault for not being here like they should have been. Come on, we're going to the Hokage to settle this." She spoke but looked at Hana. "Hana, head to the KGRD building and tell them Naruto won't be in today, he was attacked, take Kiba with you and after you do that, head home and cook dinner, our dinner out tonight is canceled."
"Sorry Kiba, Hana..." Naruto called out, not wanting to spoil their night out.
"No worries bud, ain't your fault. But why would they attack you and call you a demon?" He asked and Tsume was on edge with that one.
"I wish I knew... But if they're calling me a demon, I might as well be one if it means fighting back." He spoke, his voice going an octave lower and the voice smooth and steady, not faltering as if to show his conviction. Tsume's spine chilled at the statement, eyes widening and she gulped a bit. She wasn't expecting that... that last attack months ago unlocked a cage and now this one woke up what was inside it, that was honestly the best way she could describe this sudden feeling she had listening to him.
"Come on Naruto, we have to go." Tsume said, leaving with the boy for the tower.
[Hokage tower]
The old Hokage was shocked at the news Tsume delivered to him, and then angry. He'd been attacked when he was left alone. Where was his caretaker? He had already gotten the full report from Tsume and Naruto, now Naruto was in another room with his secretary who was keeping the boy busy.
"Was there anything else Tsume? You seemed on edge when you were talking and kept skirting around something."
"I do... It's Naruto, something's changed." She spoke. "I think he may have hit a breaking point." She stated.
"How so?" He asked, worried.
"They called him a demon, and obviously the way he described how he fought with the pipe and my own statement of the group, it shouldn't be possible to fight like that. Not to mention what he said."
"That being?" He asked.
"He said if they were going to keep calling him a demon, he might as well be one if it means fighting back." She spoke and the old man ceased all movement. "He said it with such intent that he meant every word. He's had enough of being their scapegoat. Sir...you need to stop this."
"And what exactly do you expect me to do? You know as well as I do that half my power is gone thanks to the interim between Minato's passing and my reinstatement. The council has a strong hold on the village legally."
"I know, you have to fight tooth and nail just to get as much done as you do. They prevent us from adopting him and the last time he tried to run away, they shinobi that found him beat him and brought him back. But this has to stop otherwise he's going to start killing his attackers." She growled out, but then realized who she was speaking to. "I'm sorry Lord Hokage."
"No, you're right. But why are you concerned about his attackers? I thought you'd volunteer to execute them?" he asked a bit confused.
"Actually if you're offering I'll take it. No, what I'm concerned about is what will happen to Naruto when he starts killing. It will mess with his head and then the villagers and council will want his head on a block. That's my concern." She made her own intent and opinion clear and the Hokage nodded, understanding her perfectly.
"You are right, the moment that starts, people will be gunning for the boy..." The old man spoke, leaning in his chair.
"Sir?" She asked and he sighed.
"I'll have to think on this, but from now on I'm shrinking his caretaker group to people I know will actually be there. For now, do not speak of how he fought his attackers, we'll discuss that skill with him later." He warned.
"Yes, sir. But what of his caretaker for the day? The fact that he didn't show up is one thing, but on the same day he doesn't show up and Naruto heads for the KGRD building, walking a known route he usually takes, he comes across a barren street with his attackers lying in wait. That can't be a coincidence, sir."
"No, it can't. But I can't outright call Fugaku out on it either since he can just admit to his negligence in his duty and pay a fine. Unless we can make a connection between the attackers and Fugaku, our suspicions will remain as such." He stated.
"Has T&I had any luck?"
"None yet. They covered their tracks according to Ibiki's initial reports of those he interrogated being egged on and where to do it, but not by who. Likely a genjutsu to affect short-term memory."
"The Sharingan would make that easy." Tsume stated and he sighed with a nod.
"It would... If this was Fugaku's doing then it's in a bid to Eliminate Naruto, and since this came after the awakening of his Kekkai Genkai, it's likely to prevent the rise of another Kekkai Genkai in Konoha that could undermine the Uchiha, since Naruto will have the option to start a clan in the future if he so desires to. If said clan grows, it will have a Council seat. Meanwhile, the Uchiha have been having a decline in those who awaken the Sharingan in recent generations. So there position has been weakening."
"Then what's to be done?" Tsume asked.
"...For now, take Naruto home with you tonight. I'll handle Fugaku. Mikoto and Itachi will be the only Uchiha allowed to be caretakers for Naruto now. This incident will spread soon So I have to work damage control. See what you can find out about the skill he displayed to handle his attackers." He spoke and she nodded, leaving the office as Hiruzen got started with his own tass at hand.
That incident had changed a lot of things. People who openly glared at Naruto before, mainly civilians, started keeping their distance and their distaste with him a bit more discrete, especially since he continued to carry that pipe he fought with everywhere as his current weapon of choice. Naruto started to become more confrontational, not backing down, and when kids tried to bully him, they left him more injured than when they approached, and quickly the message was clear.
Tsume had asked about the sword skills, which he spoke he honestly didn't know, that like before it was as if his mind was just along for the ride while his body did the was no other explanation he could give, and so Tsume had let it go, but she said to tell them if something like that happened again. But that incident had started him out on learning proper kenjutsu, the heavy pipe he had used as his stand-in for a bokken.
Fugaku had reacted as expected and paid the fine for his neglect, though denied any involvement with the attack. This wouldn't be the last incident of an attack on Naruto in the village, which the civilian council mitigated the negative repercussions for the offending parties before, but soon, no longer.
Naruto had developed a closeness with several of the clan kids and various girls, he had all but given up now insisting he was a boy without end to them, more often than not he went home or back to Ichiraku's with bows and braids in his hair, his failed escape attempts from said girls. But Ayame had decided to help him, and so taught him how to pull off the girl look, which he had to admit...worked.
In fact, it worked too well...
[3 Months Later] - Warning, Graphic Content -
Naruto had just gotten home from his day at the academy and the KGRD training. In those three months, he had developed a bit more now that he was eating better and training properly. Unfortunately, it did nothing for the feminine appearance he had. But Ayame had been showing him how to look the part and how to use it to his advantage, which he found hilarious screwing with the guys in the class. Most of the girls laughed, even Sakura and Hinata laughed, both having come out of their shells a bit.
Getting to his bedroom, he suddenly had something smothering his mouth, before feeling something slammed into the back of his neck. It wasn't a hit like to knock him out, but... energy draining. "Now you can't use your chakra." Was the first words his new attackers spoke, and Naruto's panic shot skyward as he tried to mold chakra to his limbs to escape. "Struggle all you want, it won't matter." The voice spoke again as he was then pressed up against the wall.
"A lot of shit has been happening around you later. We don't like it, so we're going to get our payback." The first man, he wore a face mask and a head cover so only his eyes were seen, he wore standard ninja blacks, but no headband or vest, so he had no idea who this was or what he looked like. The other wasn't any better. The first man pulled out a knife and showed it to Naruto who was panicking.
"Hang on a minute. Ya know it's funny, ever since the little demon changed, he's been looking different, prettier, almost like a girl. It's been a while for you hasn't it?" The other asked in a tone that suggested more. Naruto's heart sank into his stomach as he started getting an idea what he was meaning. He knew what they were meaning, what it meant, but they wouldn't right? He was 8 and a boy.. apparently, his shock was clear on his face as the other looked at him a chuckled.
"Yeah know what it has been a while, and judging b that face, looks like it'd be a good place to start off at. Can't trust his mouth though so we'll have to take turns."
'Nononononnono!' He panicked and struggled hard against them, screaming into the gag that had been put into his mouth.
"Fine with me. Who can say no to a face like that? Let's get the little demon to the bed, you got wire right?" The other asked while the man held the boy's arms back.
"Right pocket." He spoke and the other man grabbed the spool of wire. Naruto was desperately fighting against the two, but his head was bashed into a wall which allowed enough time for them to tie his hands together and he was thrown to his bed, where his arms were then tied off to the headboard of the bed. They left his legs alone and he tried to kick but they held him down. They used knives to cut his clothes, uncaring of any cuts they made on his body, not that it mattered since they healed immediately.
"Well look at that, he is a boy. Well, he'll be feeling like a girl tonight." The second man spoke up as he was suddenly flipped over and held down. Exposed, he tried to cry out, pulling against his binds and shaking the headboard. He didn't want this to happen, he had to try to find a way to escape. He heard a slight jingle of what he guessed was a belt and shuffling of clothes.
But then he felt hands on him...spreading him open... and then a painful invasion. An invasion that got worse and didn't stop.
The two men had their way with him for hours, not caring for how they handled his body and found his ability o heal to be entertaining as they tested to see what the limits of it were. Even without Chakra, he healed from everything. Stabbed him...everywhere, chocked him out but never let him lose consciousness, left a knife in as they continued to use him, even using the knife in his back for leverage.
Hours later he was crying against his gag, trying still to get away, anything. His wrists were bloody with how much he had strained against them. His kept trying to mold his chakra, to get free, anything. Despite healing, it did nothing for the pain and soreness of the repeated intrusion. The worst part was that...his body reacted to it.
-Graphic Content Warning End-
"That was fun, but I think its time we finished up now. The kid doesn't die easy, so we'll have to get creative." The first spoke.
"Well, we haven't tried completely choking him yet. Can't heal from suffocation right?" The second asked.
"Who knows, let's try." They spoke, and now Naruto felt large hands around his neck, squeezing tight, cutting off his air. He started to chock, he tried to thrash but the hands wouldn't leave his neck and his vision started to darken.
"Hey man, think his body will stay good after this? Some of the others prefer'em cold to warm." The second one spoke.
That sentence hit Naruto hard. Even when they killed him they were still going to... 'NO!' Rage built up in his person, and he felt power well up from within him. He felt a singing on the back of his neck as though something was burning. His vision cleared eve as he had no air to breathe on, but that didn't matter as he flexed his arms and snapped the wire tied around his wrists and pulsed his chakra, the pulse strong from the built-up molding he'd been trying all that time, which knocked the man choking him and his friend back and from there feet.
"What!? How! that was an Anbu suppression tag meant for S-rank Prisoners!" One shouted but was cut off as Naruto pulled down his gag and threw the other arm forward, and blue chakra rolled off his body, coalescing in the air in front of him, forming into shapes that changed color. The blue color shifting to a very distinct color of gold as their shape settled into long blades with handles. Naruto roared as the golden chakra swords suddenly flew at the two men, legs weak from the past few hours and off balanced from being thrown, much less not expecting this.
The swords cut through them both but didn't stop as they cut through the wall and out into the night before exploding.
Naruto huffed, breathing hard as he looked at the two men who were going cold themselves before he collapsed to his bed, drawing into himself and crying.
[Hokage Tower]
Hiruzen had been running through a number of reports when he first felt it. A strong pulse of chakra that was heavy and potent. That could only be one source of chakra. "Anbu! Naruto's Apartment Now!" He ordered as he got up and left with his Anbu. They were already outside when they saw the flash of gold and then an explosion.
Hiruzen hurried it along and son came upon the property. The front of Naruto' apartment had holes in the wall where whatever that was had come through it. Hiruzen entered first, looking throughout quickly for the boy. But he heard crying and sobs in the bedroom and went there. What he found though froze him to his core.
Naruto was laying n his bed in shredded clothes, stained with blood from injuries that wouldn't be there anymore, his wrists still had wire around them, bloody wire, and there was evidence of what had taken place in that room on his body at the bed. The boy was sobbing uncontrollably, holding himself. He also saw the two men, their bodies looked like they'd been run through a slap chop. Thankfully their heads were preserved.
"Naruto. It's me, Jiji." He spoke, putting his weapon away as he approached the boy. But as soon as he got close the boy panicked and rushed away, curling up into the farther corner of the bed away from him, still curled up. His heart broke at that reaction. "Naruto, it's okay, I won't hurt you. please." he pleaded, he wanted to help the boy, but as he tried again, the boy was hyperventilating and panicked, throwing his arm out again and the blue chakra swiftly slung off his arm, turned gold shaped into several longswords and shot out at him.
The old man was shocked but his instinct and experience got him moving and he evaded the blades which shot through the walls, and a distinctive crackle and slight boom sounded the explosions. 'That explains the damage then.' He thought. But he had to think of how to handle this.
"Lord Hokage, if I may?" One of his Anbu asked, he looked to see the purple haired Neko and he nodded to her. She grabbed her mask and pulled it off, surprising the old man who hadn't ordered her to remove her mask. But he didn't say anything as the woman inched closer to the boy now, grabbing a blanket up.
"Hey there Naruto. It's me, Neko, see?" She spoke, showing him her mask, and the boy looked at her, swallowing hard as he didn't react violently yet. "You don't want to stay here do you?" She asked and the boy shook his head.
"n-no..." He managed to mumble out.
"Well, if you'll let me, I can get you out of here. Somewhere safer. You can hold onto my mask if you want to." She spoke, holding it out to him. He looked at her to it, before he started reaching out to her, tentatively taking the mask. She very slowly brought the blanket up. "I'm just going to cover you up okay?" She asked, showing it to him and he nodded, feeling the blanket cover his body. He flinched, but let her pick him up, holding him as he held the mask in his hands.
He missed the woman nodding to her superior but heard what the old man said. "Take him to my office apartment and help him. Whatever he needs." He stated and the woman went to leave, but as they passed from the bedroom to the kitchen, he made a strangled cry, reaching out and grabbed his pipe which was leaning against the wall where he had set it. Pulling it up, he held it close, not letting it go.
'Taking his weapon with him...' The old man shoulder's sagged further, that action speaking volumes of Naruto's state. Once they were gone, he looked to the remaining Anbu. "I want this apartment locked down, no one without my order to enter. Take the heads to Inoichi to scan their recent memories." He ordered and the Anbu nodded, carrying out his orders as he returned to the tower.
[Hours Later]
Hiruzen was reading Inoichi's report of the incident and confirmed rape, though some of the details he described had taken place he wanted to say was impossible, but knowing Naruto's healing factor brought them well into the realm of possibility. He felt rage like he'd never felt before. His own shinobi had been responsible for this, and that they suggested for his body after they killed him...there were others who were sicker than the two Naruto had killed.
Setting the report aside, he looked up to Inoichi who looked paler than he had in a long time, and he could smell the scent of vomit on him. "Can your stomach hold anything?" He asked the man.
"Sir?" He asked and Hiruzen pulled out a bottle of sake and handed it to the man.
"I know I'm going to need some just from this, so I won't even pretend to understand what you had to see, nor care if you drink that now." He told the Yamanaka who was stunned but nodded and pocketed the bottle into his pouch.
"Sir... Our own shinobi did this? And there's more?" He asked, though he already knew, some small part of him was wishing it was a lie and that the Hokage would tell him different.
"I'm afraid so..." He spoke, looking to his side door where his office apartment was, the unmasked Yugao in there with Naruto helping him. The crying and sobs had lasted for over an hour and had weighed on him heavily. "Were you able to go back far enough to identify who these others might have been?" He asked.
"No. As you know reading from a dead mind is a race against time. While the heads got to me quickly after their death, optimal time, only the last few hours of memories remained, starting from when they were en route to his apartment." He stated.
"I see. The hard way then. Go to Ibiki, I want them to start an investigation of known associates of the two killed." He spoke.
"Yes sir, I'll-"
"Lord Hokage." A voice spoke, knocking on the door, his secretary.
"Enter."
"Sir, the council has gathered and are starting a meeting without you." The secretary spoke, reporting to him and making the old man grumbled, while Inoichi hissed. Either the civilians or the elders.
"Thank you, please send out for anyone else that might not yet be in attendance." He ordered and she nodded, leaving the two as he Hokage stood. "Let's go see what the Honorable Council has to say then shall we." He stated with no shortage of sarcasm and Inoichi nodded with a sigh as they both left.
[Council Chambers]
"The boy has killed two Shinobi! How much more is it going to take to realize he is dangerous and should be dealt!" A civilian councilor shouted as he looked to the half of the Shinobi council gathered, the elders all already in the room.
"Perhaps he is running out of control if so he should be placed under someone's supervision and care to ensure he doesn't," Danzo spoke as he looked to the so far gathered council.
"Oh? Do tell Danzo, who's care and supervision would this be I wonder?" Hiruzen asked as he pushed open the council chamber doors. Door schooled his features but he was scowling internally, wanting to reach a decision before he arrived.
"No! The boy has killed two active duty SHinobi and thus should be tried for murder and executed." One of his civilian councilors stated and Hiruzen gave the man a passing glance before he took his seat at the head of the table. Inoichi taking his seat and within the minutes to come, the rest of the shinobi council arrived.
"I don't think that will be necessary councilor as punishment has already been dealt out to the guilty party," Hiruzen stated.
"You mean the boy is already dead?" Another civilian spoke.
"Oh no, the men are dead, Naruto is healthy and sleeping right now, a good thing considering the ordeal he just went through."
"What!? How could those two be the guilty party!" Another spoke up.
"Inoichi?" Hiruzen asked calmly and the man nodded.
"The heads of the two...Shinobi were intact so I was able to review the last few hours of their memories. I can verify the two had snuck into Naruto's apartment and proceeded to rape the 8-year-old boy for several hours whilst torturing him as they did so." He stated and proceeded to clarify to those gathered some of the details of the rape, in vivid detail. Needless to say a few had to eject the contents of their stomachs into nearby waist bens.
"So please, clarify for me, How Naruto deserves any kind of punishment for this?" Hiruzen asked once Inoichi had finished. No one spoke for the time being, though a number of the shinobi Councilors were having difficulties schooling their features.
Inoichi obviously was pale and ready to drink the sake he gave him, no doubt sicked with what he had to view. Shikaku was pensive but sitting ramrod straight where normally he would have lazed even a little in his seat. Chouza hand his arms crossed and his hands gripping his arms tightly, no doubt bruising his own arms from the pressure as the anger was clearly seen on his face.
Tsume looked absolutely livid and ready to kill someone, she had arrived later than he himself had and had not handled the news well. Shibi while stoic as his son Shino had a subtle hand twitch Hiruzen had learned to indicate from the man he was angry. Hiashi while not much caring for the boy, this was known, did not look pleased as this was still a child.
Fugaku though looked indifferent, which did not help Sarutobi's mood in the slight. Frankly, he did not care for the civilian council enough to gauge their reactions at the moment. "This matter is closed then."
"Hiruzen," Danzo spoke.
"Hokage. You and everyone else in this room will refer to me as Lord Hokage as my title dictates you to. The moment I give you leave to refer to me by my given name is the moment I hand off this hat to my successor." He stated, staring down the war hawk, who stepped back as he saw a challenging flame burning in his eye that spoke he would execute him for the slightest step out of line right now. "Now speak."
Danzo's lips twitched at the order, preventing a scowl. "What of the boy. He has displayed a new ability." He stated.
"Which will be handled as part of his Kekkai Genkai Training as previously discussed months ago when he was voted into the program." He stated.
"You said they were golden colored Hiru-" He stopped when the Hokage looked at him in open challenge. "Lord Hokage. That is the same color as the Adamantine Chains some of the Uzumaki were known for producing." He stated, making his point.
"Yes, and what of it? If this is part of his Kekkai Genkai or an awakened Uzumaki trait, it will be handled by those already assigned to do so. Is this clear Danzo?" He spoke through in no way a question.
"Yes Lord Hokage," Danzo spoke, clearly not happy with this decision, but leaving it alone otherwise he'd very well incur the wrath of his Hokage who right now, had the presence of the man he had once been.
"Good. Now, this session of the council is closed, if I hear even a whisper of this past these walls, I will send Ibiki and Anko out hunting. Everyone leave." He stated, getting up. "Tsume, Inoichi, my office." He stated as he left the Council chambers with the two in tow, the rest of those in the chambers shocked at their Hokage's final address before he left.
[Hokage Office]
Taking his seat, he sighed as he looked back to the two he had called back to his office. "Inoichi, It would not be healthy for Naruto to go back to the same apartment correct?" He asked the mind walker.
"Correct Lord Hokage. The place would only hold memories of the incident for him." He stated.
"And obviously a strong male presence would make the boy panic and potentially become violent," Hiruzn stated.
"Also correct. You've... seen it up close." He stated and Hiruzen nodded. His hand drifted to his left cheek where the little bit of fuzz he had there before was now cleanly shaven.
"Sir. What's this about?" Tsume finally asked.
"SImple. I'm assigning you as Naruto's standing caretaker effective immediately." He stated and watched as her jaw dropped. "Regardless of the trouble the council will cause in light of this decision, he can't go back to that apartment where he was...violated. And to not put to fine a point on it, nor to offend, you are a widowed unwed woman with a daughter and the one son who he is friends with. Right now Naruto cannot stand other adult males, as far as we know, and I'm hoping he'll be able to open up to you and your daughter, get closure, while Kiba can be a supportive male presence so he doesn't close himself off completely, hopefully being his friend will help him do that."
"O-of course, Lord Hokage. I'd be happy to." She stated but went quiet as he held up his hand.
"Inoichi." He spoke and the man nodded, turning to Tsume.
"I don't need to explain everything to you as you've had to deal with some Inuzuka women going through it. You know that after this his emotional state is unstable and likely to fluctuate, he'll close himself off, the whole deal. But he's also shown he'll react violently to an adult male that gets too close or tries to touch him. He's recently awakened an ability to produce blades of pure chakra that can fly at a target and cut clean through, so extreme care will be needed to ensure he doesn't hurt others who don't intend to hurt him, but most of all, himself. He may heal, but it's still best to prevent a cutter coping mechanism from forming, his healing factor may drive him to take it to extremes, and we're not sure if his own Kekkai Genkai can leave lasting damage on himself. You do understand what you're getting into right?" He asked.
"Yes, I do Inoichi. No worries we'll help him as best we can. Though for now, I request we suspend him from the academy and KGRD program. He'll need time to heal and moving to a new place will not help that right off the bat, so time to adjust and heal." She requested.
"Granted. He's in there with Yugao who's been helping him."
"Yugao?" Tsume asked surprised.
"Yes, she had to remove her mask to get Naruto to allow her to carry and move him. Be warned he also has that steel pipe with him. I don't think he's going to be letting go of that anytime soon." Hiruzen spoke.
"After what he went through, wouldn't surprise me if he slept with it. That's the first weapon he used to defend himself with." Tsume stated. Tsume opened the door and found the purple haired woman laying down on the bed, her arms wrapped around Naruto who was holding that pipe close. He was asleep but his pipe was gripped tightly in his hands. The woman looked up at Tsume and nodded.
They proceeded to wake Naruto, who looked up to Tsume and the woman smiled down at the depressed boy who didn't return the smile. This was going to take some time
It had taken a little effort, but they had managed to get Naruto to leave Yugao's side to go to Tsume's house. Tsume had sent Kuromaru to warn Hana and for her to make sure Kiba at least had the presence of mind not to do anything stupid. They were going to be Naruto's support network for the foreseeable future, so they all had to help. When they arrived Hana had taken Naruto to the guest bedroom that was going to be his now, but the boy practically begged not to be left alone, so Hana laid with him.
Like Hiruzen had predicted, once word got out that Naruto was with the Inuzuka, the councilors threw a tantrum, including Hiashi, Fugaku, and the elders. However, he shut them down quickly with an Iron fist. The boy had just been violated and they're throwing a fit over where he lives...
Naruto's recovery had been difficult, he refused to leave the house for a while and getting him to open up was a slow process. While not violent towards Kiba thankfully, he certainly wasn't trusting him either. Kiba had finally figured out after weeks of trying to piece it together, so Tsume explained to him, in barest details possible, what had happened. Kiba had been pissed and dedicated to helping the white-haired boy. He saw Naruto as apart of his pack, so for that to happen to him just infuriated him, something Tsume encouraged, but she explained Naruto had dealt with them, even not intentionally, so there was no one to hunt until someone else decided to try. That spurred Kiba on to train seriously, who after some time had gotten Naruto to come out and start training again.
It was two months before he went back to the academy in any shape after the incident. He was noticeably different, quieter, more solitary. This attracted the attention of the girls as he just rolled with whatever they did, but the boys, it was clear he was apprehensive of them. Kiba talked to Shikamaru and Chouji, and though Chouji didn't get exactly what was wrong, Shikamaru did and decided to give the space.
There was...some trouble, their other instructor Mizuki nearly lost his jaw when he tried to take the pipe away from Naruto who refused to let it go. The boy had whipped around so fast that had he been any slower he'd have been hit full rather than just clipped on the jaw by the pipe, but that clip was enough to break it. Tsume came by and had to explain to Iruka the reasons behind the retaliation, something she had warned Mizuki about since he was the teacher she first saw when she brought Naruto back, apparently he hadn't taken it seriously.
Iruke understood better so he worked to make better accommodations for Naruto, such as changing the seating to by a few girls, which he saw relieved his immediate tension but not all of it.
The months passed and Naruto was recovering. Sure he didn't tolerate much male contact, enough for fights...which he was getting good at. He wasn't using academy style, but something else that seemed all his own, not to mention his use of the Pipe like a sword, his skill obvious and growing.
Thankfully no further incidents took place after that, allowing for Naruto to fully recover and heal, but he was never the same. He got back some of his energy, but it was tempered, his eyes analyzing everything for a potential threat, men were still a problem, but he managed some form of contact with them at least to not attack immediately. But he didn't tolerate anyone's shit, not anymore.
The years that spent after that living with the Inuzuka were good to him, Tsume, Hana, and Kiba quickly becoming family to him.
So at 12 years old, it was time to graduate and show the world what he can do.
So, How'd I do? Probably not my best work considering some of the emotional strain I put int this, I kind of fell off at the end I guess, but I'll be attending to greater details of his academy years later on through flashbacks. I didn't want to spend 15 chapters just on the academy years.
So please, Review, tell me what you think, what I need to work on or where I can improve. Make me a better writer.