Sorry for the late update. I'm very busy at school right now
Chapter 2.
Naruto opened his eyes and saw a red sky with orange clouds staring back at him.
"Kit?... Kit have you awakened?" he heard a smooth voice near him and rose up. He shock his head, trying to rid it of the dizziness.
"Kit?" This time he looked towards where the sound was coming from and saw a familiar fox looking down at him.
"Kyuubi?" Naruto groaned out, the grass under him, although it was brown, was very soft and he would have preferred to go back to sleep.
'Wait…grass?' He looked around, shocked, and saw plains of brown grass with huge trees covered in brown leaves. He looked back towards Kyuubi and noticed that he was a lot smaller than usual. If he stood up, he would probably reach Kakashi's shoulders, not including his long ears and nine tail he bore.
"Wh-wheres the cell?!" Naruto asked suddenly afraid.
"We are not in your mind Kit. We are in my world, the world of Demons." Kyuubi replied.
Suddenly Naruto felt like he could faint.
Kakashi looked down at the slumbering blonde. Any other human would have died from having his skull cracked in half, but not him. The severe third degree burns on his back had become very light pink marks and were getting smaller as time passed. The only big problem he seemed to have was a deep coma.
Looking at his student, he could see a resemblance in Naruto's hair to his friend's Obito. They both defied gravity and loved to break the law. He smiled sadly and moved a stray hair from the blonde's face.
He thought of the mission, it didn't have to have ended this way… There were many things he could have done to save the boy; he was going to save the kid anyway. He just wanted to see if his team could follow those orders. It was a tough lesson to teach, and he didn't know if he should be upset or proud that Naruto had disobeyed orders.
The door opened and Kakashi sensed the familiar chakra of Sasuke enter the small hospital room. He had asked to have his team under a short vacation so one of them could be with Naruto at all times. They didn't quite understand why, but he did not tell them that he could not trust that the nurses and doctor would make sure the villagers didn't come because they thought Naruto wasn't dead enough.
"You're later Sasuke. That's usually my thing…" he looked at Sasuke and saw he had a bag in his hands.
"Hn. There's parties everywhere and Hokage-sama told me to bring this." He held up a goofy looking nightcap, "She also said she would have someone watch the Dope's apartment." Kakashi smiled and watched Sasuke sit in the chair in front of the small bed.
"Is Sakura-chan alright?" he asked on his way to the door.
"Haven't seen her."
"Well I'll go check on her then." Before he could open the door to leave, Sasuke made a noise.
"What is everyone celebrating Sensei? October 10th is not for two more weeks."
Kakashi smiled sadly, but did not respond, instead he opened the door and left.
Sasuke found himself watching Naruto breathe. He could still feel the light body in his arms and the blood that had soaked through his clothes.
When he had brought Naruto to the hospital, the stupid nurse had asked if he was ok, she had almost seemed to ignore the bleeding boy in his arms! He was beginning to get agitated with this hospital. A knock sounded and he almost growled for them to come in. he was going to yell at the nurse, but was surprised to see the Hyuuga girl instead.
"Um, h-hello Uchiha-san." At this she gave a deep bow, "How is N-Naruto-san?" she looked towards the boy in question, who was still sound asleep.
"I don't know, a nurse hasn't come in since I got here. How did you get in? It's not visiting hours." Hinata blushed and twiddled her fingers.
"Um, um, N-Nara-san snuck me i-in. He-He said he wa-wanted to check some of Na-Naruto-san's wounds. I to-told him the doctors would han-andle it b-but he said for me to d-do it." She began to squirm more noticeably form his intense stare.
"Where is Shikamaru now?" Sasuke asked, suspicious.
"Oh! H-he's guarding the door." She looked behind her back towards the door.
"Just check him." Sasuke moved aside and let her near the sleeping boy. He watched as she activated her byakugan and she looked over him. She then dug in her bag she had brought and grabbed little containers, even mixing a few. She laid some on the table and put most back in her bag.
"Give N-Naruto-san this whenever he gets a fever and have him drink this, h-his chakra is swirling f-funny and this should calm it down a little." She bowed and turned to Naruto, her face lit up and she bowed to him too.
"G-good luck N-Naruto-san." She whispered, a knock sounded and she grabbed her bag. But she stopped at the door.
"I-If you talk to a-a person in a coma, t-they will wa-wake up." The she hurried out of the room and Sasuke barely caught a glimpse of Shikamaru before they were both gone.
He turned back to Naruto and sat back down in the chair. He stared at the Dope for more than 15 minutes before he reached a hand out and moved a stray hair from the other's face.
"Naruto… you're an idiot."
"Wha?! How did I- Ah!" Naruto felt himself begin to panic and was about to bolt, but Kyuubi nuzzled it's snout to his cheek and it had a surprisingly calming effect.
"I do not know Kit. We were dying, after one of you stupid stunts, and I brought you back. Then we were here. Do not worry Kit, no one will kill you." Kyuubi told him like it was an obvious fact.
"Why?! I'm not a demon! I-" A loud growl stopped his rant and he froze.
"You have large chakra coils like a demon. You have chakra color like a demon. You bare my mark. You are as much demon as you are human!" Naruto stared at Kyuubi's outburst- Kyuubi had never had such an episode when they talked before. He was about to voice a denial but the demon fox interrupted again.
"If you do not believe me, then take a look for yourself." He then directed his head towards the left and Naruto followed his gaze warily. A large pond was a few feet away. He moved towards it cautiously and peered inside the clear, almost white, water. Instead of seeing himself, he saw a blonde fox staring at him.
Kyuubi was pretty sure most of the demon world heard the scream Naruto let out.
"How could this happen?! What did you do furba-" Naruto tuned to yell at the fox, but all he saw was a handsome man. The man was tall and wore a black formal kimono; he had long red hair and had red eyes. But the odd thing was the log fox ears and nine tails he had.
"Kyuubi?" Naruto asked confused.
"Yes, this is my other form, the human form. You-" Kyuubi suddenly stopped and his fox ears perked up. Then his face seemed to grow fur while it reformed; his hands and feet became smaller until they were paws again. It didn't take more than 10 seconds, it was like he just slid into another body!
The fox looked at him "Come, tis I not my land and we are not welcome here." A loud roar was sounded form a distance, so Naruto didn't hesitate to obey.
They ran for the trees and he wondered why he had not noticed before that he was on four legs. It was so natural, sure he did it when he and his team had to run through trees, but this should be harder…
"Stay on guard Kit, I do not know what has changed since I was sealed away within you. We may be attacked."
Naruto looked at Kyuubi in horror, "I thought you said this was your land!"
"It is, I still am the nine-tailed fox, but I have not been here to protect my right! Someone may have decided to take the position." Kyuubi growled.
They ran for miles, getting deeper in the forest. Naruto was just about to complain when the bigger fox suddenly stopped.
"Now Kit, I need you to walk behind me when we enter the clearing. Hold your head high and do not speak at all. This is a dangerous situation we're about to enter, so if you want to live do what I say." Naruto bit down the instinct to protest and do the exact opposite. He really didn't feel like dying today.
Kyuubi led them forward and they entered a clearing in the middle of the dense forest. Naruto almost ran back in the trees at what he saw. There were foxes of different sizes, and color lying beside each other, some wrestling. There were even men and women with fox ears and tail wandering around. It was like a little village with no houses!
But what stood out the most was the seven tailed gray fox sitting on a ledge that looked out over the whole clearing. Many of the demons gasped as he and Kyuubi walked by, some even bowed. A quiet murmuring flowed and many stopped what they were doing to stare, Naruto could fell many curious looks directed towards himself.
Suddenly the other fox, which Naruto had assumed was old because of his color, hopped down from his perch and transformed. A young gray haired man with yellow eyes and many scars approached them. His ears and tail were the same as his hair and he wore a dark blue kimono. He had short hair, unlike most of the demons Naruto could see in human form.
"I see you have returned Kyuubi." The seven-tail smiled, revealing sharp teeth, Naruto vaguely wondered what his teeth looked like now.
"I have indeed, Akyuudo, and I would appreciate it if you stepped down from my title." Kyuubi retorted smoothly. A low growl emitted from the other man and his yellow eyes seemed to bore holes into Naruto.
Suddenly he charged forward, transforming back into a fox! But Kyuubi was prepared; he transformed and dodged the attack. The two demons began to pace in a small circle, the gray one growling and Kyuubi circling silently. Kyuubi jumped forward and the other fox slashed out with his claws, but the bigger fox had already launched to the side. He twisted and had Akyuudo by the neck before anyone process what really had happened.
"You have lost." Kyuubi let go and motioned for Naruto to follow him.
As they walked by the defeated seven-tails, he growled at Naruto and slashed out with his claws. A monstrous roar was sounded behind him and he saw one of Kyuubi's red tails grab the paw. Kyuubi jumped on the terrified fox and grabbed him by the throat again, this time he ripped back his head and tore the demon's throat, killing him instantly.
The nine-tailed fox got off the corpse and continued walking, Naruto followed, trying to hold back his fear. The other demons cheered and bowed down on the ground towards their direction. Once they got to the mouth of the cave overlooking the clearing Kyuubi stopped. He looked towards his people and shook all his nine tails and let out a fearsome roar; receiving many in return.
Once inside Naruto couldn't control himself any longer, "Why dig you kill him?!"
Kyuubi turned back into the handsome man, "He attacked you after he had lost, it is a huge insult towards me."
"That's no reason to kill him! You could have done something else!" Naruto yelled, becoming angry.
"Kit, if I had not killed him, then he would have killed you." He held up a hand to silence Naruto's denial, "if not then, he would have come after you later. You do not understand the ways of demon." Naruto's anger quickly drained.
"You are not safe yet Kit, first you must transform into your human form. My people are expecting to see you today." Kyuubi looked at the mouth of the cave and made a soft whistle; an orange three-tailed fox entered the cave.
"You summoned me my lord?"
"Find my Kit a suitable kimono." The fox bowed its head low to Kyuubi and turned to Naruto to also bow low; then it ran out of the cave to obey.
"Now, since you are a ninja and have been practicing chakra control, this should be easy. Focus all your chakra to one point in your stomach; then force it to mold into the shape of a human. Do not stop until you have taken complete form."
"But-"
"You must do this before the three-tails comes back!" Kyuubi's stern look gave Naruto the idea of the importance of the matter.
He reached for his chakra; feeling the familiar swirl, he forced it to flow in a different shape, to fit in a different body. He could feel his small form morphing to fit the chakra, he watched as his paws turned into a hand. It felt like he was just sliding into another body completely, like bunshin, but solid.
Once the process was complete, he inspected himself. He was naked, but it didn't bother him since Kyuubi had been with him all his life anyway, a blonde fox tail flicked around his legs and he reached for his hair; large fox ears twitched under his touch and made him want to giggle. He stayed seated on the ground and looked towards Kyuubi. The fox gave him a nod of approval and opened his mouth to say something but a woman with orange hair and three tail ran in.
"I found the most beautiful light blue kimono for the young prince, and a few trinkets." She walked over to Naruto and he flinched away when her hand came towards him.
"It's alright, she is only going to dress you Kit. He is not used to such things form our traveling." Kyuubi smiled warmly and Naruto let the woman help him up.
He was suited in a long blue kimono, which matched his eyes; a winding collar fit on his neck, it twisted and turned in a pretty design and a small chain fell from the bottom tip, a blue sapphire was attached at the end. She also gave him two tight ankle bracelets, even though they could not be seen from under the kimono; they were gold like the collar. Last she placed a thin gold head band around his forehead, a tiny sapphire dangled from a small chain between his eyes.
She smiled and moved on to Kyuubi, Naruto twisted and turned, the kimono was very comfortable but reached past his feet. When he looked at Kyuubi he saw that he now had a gold band on each of the two front sections of his hair that hung in front of his shoulders and he had a new black kimono that hung loosely. The man looked like an actual king in some twisted way. The woman bowed and transformed back into the orange fox, the exited the cave with a fox grin set on her face. Naruto always wondered what people meant by his "Fox grin".
"Why?... Why are you helping me now Kyuubi? We are back in the demon world; could you not just kill me?" Naruto asked, he has wondered why Kyuubi had not killed him since it would mean that he would not also die now.
The great fox turned towards him, a scowl on his beautiful face, "I know just as much as you do, I do not know if I would die if I killed you while we were here or if I would be free. But, I would not kill you either way Kit. You bare my marks, my chakra flows through your veins, you are just as much mine as you were to your blood parents. Besides, the people would love to have a blonde fox as an heir, such a rare color." Kyuubi made a purring noise, almost like a laugh.
Naruto stood there shocked, of course he had had conversations with the fox back in his world, and Kyuubi had always been there for him, but he always thought if the demon had one chance, it would kill him, guilt started to build its way to his stomach.
"Would you like to see the village Kit? They are expecting you." Kyuubi began walking towards the mouth of the cave and Naruto followed, scared of being left alone.
As soon as they were out of the cave a swarm of adults surrounded them, many reached out to shake Kyuubi's hand, other punched his shoulder playfully, some bowed, and many of them looked like they would explode form questions.
One came forward, a brown four-tailed beautiful woman, "Where have you been for all this time Kyuubi-sama? To think we had to follow orders form a seven-tail, the shame!"
"I do not wish to talk of my travels or of the happening of my Kit." Kyuubi stated bluntly, and no one seemed upset or of wanting to argue. The people just turned to look at Naruto, he could feel his face turn red.
An orange four-tailed man smiled, "You know Kyuubi-sama, my daughter would make a pretty mate for your Kit, what is his name?" Many of the demons voiced an objection and offered their daughters, some even offered their sons" Naruto could definitely feel his face turn red now.
Kyuubi cleared his throat and the fighting stopped, "My Kit will decide his mate. His name is Naruto." Naruto moved behind Kyuubi more, his face becoming unbearably hot and many of the adults laughed.
"If you will excuse us, I would like to get acquainted with my village again." Kyuubi moved forward and everyone cleared out of their path. He led Naruto through the clearing, sometimes through the woods to certain spots where a river or pond was. There were children running all over the place, some as foxes; they came in all ages, even his own. Everyone stopped to stare at them, mainly Naruto, some kids waved or brought Kyuubi wild flowers, he was very popular around the children and women Naruto observed. The village was very beautiful, even though it looked more like it was fall, and was very much alive; but by the time Kyuubi had showed him most of the terrain it was nightfall, and they were headed back to the cave.
Kyuubi switched back to his fox form and lied down on the ground, Naruto took it as a cue and slipped back into his blonde fox form, it was much easier then turning into a human.
"Kyuubi-san, why did they offer their daughters and sons to me?" it had nagged Naruto all day.
The fox made a sort of laughing sound, "I think they were offering you to be the mate to their sons. It is because you are my Kit. In the demon world the more tails you have the more power you have. Shukaku being the lowest, toughest one-tail is their leader so they re always fighting; the highest being Kyuubi, if you have the highest number of tails you are the leader."
But the why do they want me? I'm a one-tail?"
"As the Kit to the current leader, you are presumed to be strong because I would train you, wanting you to be the heir after my time. Most of the time there is an heir, unless a fox kills the leader. Go to sleep for now Kit, it will be cold tonight."
Naruto yawned and curled up in a tight ball, it was already getting cold and he shivered through his fur. Kyuubi made a snort kind of sound and he could hear footsteps, the he felt the warmth wash over him. Kyuubi wrapped a tail around Naruto and pulled him closer, he stiffened, he had never had anyone so close to him before or hold him like a parent would a cold child. But he couldn't help but melt in to the long wanted touch.
"Hey Kyuu?" Naruto asked as sleep began to overcome him, he was very comfortable, "Were you an heir?"
Kyuubi nuzzled Naruto with his snout the lied his head down. Naruto worried that he had asked the wrong question and feared Kyuubi would leave, when he didn't move Naruto felt himself drift to sleep.
"No, I killed the last Kyuubi."