Disclaimer: In response to the insinuation that I have run out of ideas, I put forth this:
"Hey Bob.'
"Yo Ted."
"EAT SHIT AND DIE! I DON'T OWN NARUTO OR WORLD OF WARCRAFT!"
"This had absolutely nothing to do with lawyers or legal matters."
Here's the next installment of The Legend of Uzumaki Naruto!
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It was bright when Naruto awoke.
Too bright.
It came as a blinding flash as soon as Naruto regained consciousness. He hadn't even opened his eyes. The light pounded his tightly shut eyelids with the force of a rampaging demon, making Naruto groan, and turn over. It didn't help. Plus, his body ached: tiny rivulets of pain running constantly through his limbs and chest, though mostly centered around his stomach. Listening to his arm's tormented screams, he rolled over onto his back.
The movement must have attracted someone's attention, because there was a sudden bustle of footsteps, and Naruto felt the light dim as someone leaned over him.
"Ah!" came a voice from above, clearly female. "You're awake!"
Naruto then felt something cool touch his forehead. A cloth. Naruto relaxed a little at the feeling, and was happy to find that the towel also shaded his eyes from the bright sun. A moment later, he groaned again, and decided to try and sit up.
"I wouldn't do that," the voice came, softly. "You've been asleep for some time. At least open your eyes first. You're completely healed, but you've yet to regain much of your stamina. We had to re-grow a fair amount of your skin, and all of your hair, so please take it easy, okay?"
Deciding to heed the voice's better judgment, and thoroughly disgusted by her last comment, Naruto lay back down. The wet cloth was lifted, and dabbed across his face a bit, before it was replaced.
"I'll close the blinds…Hah! I never thought I'd hear myself say that!" the voice chuckled, moving away from the bed. A second later, the brightness dimmed, and Naruto sighed in relief. The woman came back, dabbed his face again, and asked, "Is that better?"
Naruto mumbled a groggy "yes" and slowly began to open his eyes. The room was dim, and looked like a proper night elf room: grassy floor, leaf-covered ceiling and vine covered walls; a small globe of light hanging from the ceiling, dimmed; and numerous wisps bobbing to and fro in the air. It had the same earthy smell, and seemed as alive and pristine as any path of forest.
Even so, as Naruto sat up, he could see at once that something was different.
For one, the windows, which before had just been holes in the wall, and served no purpose other than to circulate fresh air into the room, now had blinds covering them. They were little more than strips of a fine, heavy cloth hung quickly in front of the window, which of all things, had sunlight streaming out into the room. Naruto stared at the window, mystified, not noticing the pretty elf next to him.
"Amazing, isn't it?" she said, making him jump and look quickly at her. She smiled. "It has been many years since the sun has shined here."
Naruto didn't recognize the elf, and it must have shown on her face, because she smiled, and said, "Lady Tyrande has been watching over you personally the past four days. She appointed me, however, to stay here while she and Lady Kira tend to the other wounded."
Naruto nodded. At the word "wounded" his mind suddenly turned. His eyes widened, and his heart plummeted. He began to remember.
He remembered the pain. The Kyuubi's taunts and jeers and horrible laughter came next. The repeated promises that it'd take everything he cared about filled his mind, and for a moment he couldn't breathe. The weight of what he had done, a veritable Hokage monument, settled down on him with the force of a meteor.
But then his mind stopped working. He stopped thinking altogether, holding back the tide of emotion with a will of tempered steel. But, his posture slumped, his eyes became clouded, and it appeared as if he had gone into a trance. The elf opened her mouth to voice her concern, but in an instant, the blonde looked up at her with a strange smile. It was not strange in that it looked unnatural; instead it seemed too natural. It had appeared suddenly, and was in stark contrast to the look he had had just before. She could see that he was covering that emotion. The boy was used to smiling like that.
"Is there anything you need?" she asked, deciding not to pry. The boy shook his head, and she nodded.
"I'll inform Lady Tyrande and Lady Kira that you are awake. They would like to speak with you." She departed.
Naruto sat a little while longer. The smile had long faded from his face. He then threw off his covers, and with his eyes glazed over as before, he slowly stood, and began to walk away from his bed. His legs shook when he walked. But by the time he reached the window, his legs, though still achy, were solid and strong. He gazed out the window a moment, and then he grabbed the ledge, hauled himself up and out.
He landed deftly, years of ninja training kicking in, despite his clouded mind. As soon as his feet touched the soft grass, he began to walk. He didn't think about where he was going, because he knew that his legs would take him there. He was doing as little thinking as possible. It was something that Naruto had learned a long time ago. He found, that after a particularly bad experience, of which he had had many, that he could stay the rush of emotions that would likely embarrass him (were he to reveal them in public) by simply not thinking. On numerous occasions, it had allowed him to return to the safety and sanctity of his room, before allowing his emotions to run free.
Naruto rarely used that technique anymore. He had had little bad experiences in the past few years that had been so traumatic. Naruto hadn't even had to use it after Sasuke's departure. Then, his determination had stopped the emotions from coming, and still did.
But when he finally reached the edge of the forest and the massive clearing, which he had seen from the window, the technique failed him.
He slumped the ground. He didn't cry. Crying, as he had told Inari so long ago, did nothing. But his face was so torn with anguish and sorrow that he might as well have been. He closed his eyes, wishing the scene away from him. It was too terrible. Though the voice of the Kyuubi could not reach him any longer, it still haunted his memories. Each time he opened his eyes, he heard the Kyuubi's laughing roar, and saw its grinning face.
Though he had seen none of it, he knew exactly what had happened on this field. Though he had seen none of them die, he knew that had. He could smell it, and in the silence of the forest, he could hear them too. He saw the blood stained on the ground, long faded, but still there, dim black marks that would last forever.
He had done this.
The horror and disgust that welled up in him made him want to retch. He had done all of this. His body! He had killed so many people. He had destroyed this pristine land. Because he had been weak! He had lost to the demon inside of him.
And he knew what was going to come of it.
It was going to be the same. The demon was sealed again, but it still lived. Inside of him. And the people of Darnassus would know that. Fear that it would return to like it had been in his youth: the terribly cold eyes, the biting words, the palpable hatred for simply existing. It would all come back. He would lose the bonds he had made here. He would lose the friends, the allies, and even the family. It was too terrible to think.
The lady in the Temple had been nice enough. But any number of factors could have played a part in that. Perhaps she didn't know. Perhaps Tyrande had not yet told everyone. Maybe the nurse had hidden it. She might have been very old, and even with his eyes, Naruto sometimes couldn't decipher what people were thinking or feeling. His mind had been groggy. Maybe he just hadn't seen what was in her eyes.
It scared him. His heart pumped fast, and his eyes closed hard. He fell forwards, gripping the sand covered ground, and pain filled him again. But this was not the pain he had felt while trapped by the Kyuubi. It was worse. Far worse. It hurt the one place that he used the most.
His heart.
He didn't want it to happen. He didn't want them to look at him like that.
He didn't want Tyrande to look at him like that. It would hurt too much. He couldn't bear to think of Tyrande, the kind, motherly elf who had been his friend since they had arrived in Darnassus, looking at him with those icy, brittle, hateful eyes.
And then another thought came to him. Because of him, the night elves would never join. They would shun the alliance, and Kira, and because of Naruto, Kira's dream would not be fulfilled. All the work they had done would be in vain. Kira would hate him for it; if she didn't already fear him. Fear what he could do.
He began to shake. He didn't want any of it to happen. He might have sounded childish, wishing for something like that, but he had grown so accustomed to being treated as an equal; as someone who mattered. He had gotten used to the feeling of being part of a village, even if he was different. The feeling of loss that he would experience would be too great to imagine.
Perhaps he had grown soft. Perhaps he shouldn't have felt like this. Maybe he was jumping to conclusions. He should have been able to laugh it off. He was thinking too poorly. He was an optimist. They would listen, wouldn't they?
He didn't know. That's what scared him. But that fear was preferable to the pain he would feel if he saw the cold looks in their eyes. He wanted to know, and yet he feared too much what the result would be.
He didn't notice the footsteps. He didn't notice the figure standing next to him, an instant later. But he heard her voice. Soft and beautiful and ethereal, each word carried by wisps; but at the same time it was hard, filled with command and dignity and strength, the words of a battle goddess.
"A demon did this."
Naruto didn't look up. He didn't want to see Tyrande's face.
"A demon did this, Uzumaki Naruto," she repeated. "A demon obliterated this forest. A demon killed and injured the many night elves that faced it. A demon did all that you see here. It tore the land asunder. It poisoned the trees with its awful power. It melted the earth beneath it. It caused pain and anguish to all those who faced it. Physical and emotional. It was freed by another demon." Then, Naruto felt her eyes upon him. His heart was beating fast, and his mind had once again stopped working. He wanted to look. But he was scared.
Finally, Tyrande's eyes pulled his up, and he looked.
"But unless you are willing to admit that you are that demon, then you have no reason for sitting there. Unless you are willing to admit that you were behind everything that caused this, then stand up. Stand up, throw off your fear, and wear the badge of honor that you so rightly deserve. You helped stop that beast. You fought with everything you had, just like the ones that died, and the ones that lived. Stand up. Stand up, Uzumaki Naruto!"
Naruto stared at her. Everything he felt ebbed away, melting back into the depth of his subconscious. He stood. But he noticed that the world seemed blurry.
He was crying.
Hot tears rolled down his face. They touched his lips, and a moment later, he tasted salt. He was smiling, too. Smiling wider and truer than ever before. Crying didn't solve anything, he knew, but now he knew that it did do something. You could cry, and not be sad. He realized, for the first time in his life, that crying could show others how happy you were. And how much they meant to you. He'd cried like that before, briefly, but it had never held as much significance as it did then.
And then he hugged her. It was awkward, but her arms were there to meet him, and she hugged back. It was a strange feeling. He had never been hugged like this in his entire life. He felt warm and safe. He felt like a child, or what it should have felt like, and held no shame in it. He enjoyed it, even. He figured that this was the one time he'd be allowed to do something like this in his life. He would make it last.
And he did.
The sun was shining brightly. It was strange to feel it again. Naruto hadn't seen or felt the sun for almost a month, the thick, misty foliage of the World Tree obscuring it. Though he hadn't actively missed it, he was glad to have it back.
With great reluctance, Naruto pulled away. He was still smiling. Tyrande was too, her eyes wet with tears. The feeling they were experiencing was new to both of them. But, they silently agreed, it felt right, and they wouldn't trade anything in the world for it.
Naruto glanced up, towards the direction of the sun. He smiled wider.
"You know," he said, locking his hands behind his head, not bothering to wipe away the twin trails of tears down his face. "You're the closest thing to a mother I've ever had."
Tyrande smiled. The words made the feeling inside her swell to bursting. She wanted to hug him again, and would have done so, had he not continued.
"Actually, more like a grandmother. Or a great grandmother…or a great, great, great, great, great…"
"Okay…"
"Great, great, great, great, great, great…"
"Yes, I se—"
"Great, great, great—OW!"
Tyrande lifted her fist from the top of Naruto's head, which was throbbing painfully. Naruto rubbed the bump that was beginning to form, and glared at her petulantly.
"My first word of advice, little one: Women don't like to be reminded of their age. Remember that," Tyrande said, smiling down at him.
The blonde just smiled back.
The words of a loved one can soothe any hurt, close any wound and begin the process of healing. For hurts such as these, one can only heal if one is willing.
But even so, even as Naruto stared at that picturesque scene with the newest addition to his ever-growing family, the pain lingered on, in the back of his mind. Wounds such as that cannot heal so swiftly, even with the boy's regenerative abilities.
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"You're alright, then?" said Kira, sometime later. She had just arrived in the room, exhausted from aiding injured elves. She had been fraught with worry when she had heard that Naruto had left, but when she had returned, Naruto was back in his bed, looking far better than before.
He felt better, too. He felt happy. It was not the giddy happy that he got when he was to be taught a new jutsu, but more the contented happy he felt usually when he was devouring a bowl of ramen. Of course, the reasons were different, but he still felt it. He felt warm all over; it was an incredible feeling, one that he didn't want to go away.
"Yep," said Naruto, grinning at the girl. His fears were gone. He felt a little foolish for not believing in his friends. He promised himself, however, that that would be the last time. He'd never doubt his friends again.
Tyrande came in a minute later, looking as happy and refreshed as Naruto. Kira didn't know what had happened between them, only that when they had returned, both had looked better than they had in days. Despite all of the work she had done, Tyrande looked as if she had had a full day's rest. Both of them exuded a new confidence, too. It was a little weird, but she still found it to her liking.
Tyrande sat down beside Naruto's bed. Her face suddenly became stern.
"We need to talk about your seal."
Naruto sat up straight, and his hand immediately rested on his stomach. He looked with concern at Tyrande, but she smiled reassuringly.
"It is not bad news in the slightest, I think. While you were asleep, we've been doing some tests on the seal's nature. I must confess—most of this is probably conjecture. We know little about the seal, and how it may treat the Kyuubi's chakra. All of what I am going to tell you is based on nothing at all, only theory. Therefore, to truly see what it might do, we must have a true test. But let me tell you what I think is happening."
At Naruto's nod of agreement, Tyrande continued. "The seal should be, foremost, stronger than the previous one. You should not have any fears of the demon breaking free again. I do not believe Illidan's weapons, either, would be able to cut it. The nature of both seals has changed. From what we can gather, the Kyuubi's chakra will now obey your beck and call. Though it belongs to the demon, it cannot no longer refuse you its chakra.
"From what we can see, the seal now has connecting pathways from the Kyuubi to your body. These pathways make it seem as if the Kyuubi's chakra is now simply a second pool of your own chakra. You can access it whenever you wish, or at least that is what we believe."
Naruto stared down at his stomach, feeling elated and wary. He was glad that he no longer had to ask the Kyuubi for chakra, but wary of what the effects it would have on his body.
"However," Tyrande said, with a piercing look. "This is a double-edged sword. Though you can call it forth whenever you wish, you won't be able to control it as you did before. It needs to be molded now, just like your own chakra. Before, it was the demon that controlled it. It gave you both access, and at the same time, controlled the chakra as you used it. That is what granted you such superior abilities during battle, coupled with the healing factor and enhanced senses. The Kyuubi was consciously controlling all of that.
"Because the Kyuubi no longer has control of its own chakra, you won't either. Every time you access it, you will have to use your own abilities to wield it. It will be extremely difficult. I imagine your body will continue to use it in unconscious ways as before. Because before it got so used to accepting the demon's chakra and was always used in such a specific way, it will treat the new pathways as simply having access to the chakra. Therefore, your healing factor and enhanced senses should not be affected. In fact, the healing factor should respond faster, and with a bit of training, you can improve it.
"However, in battle, when summoning the chakra, you will have to use all you have in order to control it. It is far more volatile than your own chakra. You might have to train quite a bit more in order to use it effectively. Even then, you will not have the instinctual ferocity that the demon did.
"Finally, you shouldn't have to worry about the demon's chakra harming your own body anymore. We believe that a small portion of it remained trapped in your body after the demon was sealed. Instead of harming you, your body has already begun to absorb it. You already had an increased tolerance to it—eventually, your repeated use of it will make your body immune to its effects. Hopefully, it will even help you control the second chakra pool. Your biggest problem will no doubt be trying to stem the tide of chakra from coming out all at once. If you can manage to pull it out in small bits, and then gradually control more and more, you may be well on your way to mastering it.
"Unfortunately, it might have other effects as well. It stands to reason that because of the chakra's presence in your own body, your use of the main section might do several things: it might, for example, instead of unleashing the Kyuubi's personality, stimulate your own aggression levels to higher degrees. You will not possess the animalistic fury of the Kyuubi—that is impossible for a human to mimic, I imagine. You will still be in control of your own actions, too. It will simply make you more prone to violence and violent acts; only, of course, when the Kyuubi's chakra is being utilized to a certain degree. It will not be unlike what I have seen many orcs do in battle—stimulate themselves with certain herbs or potions to make them fiercely unstoppable; they become berserkers.
"Ah," Naruto said, after a while. It was a lot to take in. But he didn't find it too troublesome. In fact, he found it preferable to what he had been doing before. Before, he had been allowing the demon's chakra to control him, in every fight. In nearly every major battle he had been in since he had arrived, the Kyuubi had been a huge part of it. Now, it would be all Naruto. Even the prospect of increased training didn't bother him. It just opened more and more possibilities.
But he could still not help but being afraid. He had been ready to swear of the demon's chakra for good, until he realized it would be a very foolish thing to do. It was a tool, in ninja terms, and though it scared Naruto, he vowed that he'd master it. No matter how hard he had to train.
And no matter how much he feared using it.
Tyrande nodded. "We'll have to have you test it yourself for us to be sure, however. None of your own abilities should be affected. Treat attempting to control the demon's chakra as an exercise in overall control. If you can master the Kyuubi's chakra, your own should be no problem. It may easily be the most difficult undertaking you have had yet. We will help, as best we can, but it all depend upon your skill. You now have two separate wells with which to work with. No doubt, eventually, they will become one. Until then, make the most of it."
She then stood as sadness began to trickle into her smile.
"Tomorrow we will mourn those who have died. I would like you both to be there. You fought as hard as they."
Naruto nodded, his shoulders slumping. He realized he had no reason to be in such good spirits.
Kira nodded as well, her smile growing sad as well. Too many had fallen. But, as Tyrande had said, they had fallen in a just battle, against a powerful enemy. There was no shame or dishonor in their deaths.
Tyrande reached out, laying a hand on Naruto's shoulder. She smiled at him kindly, and then left, her robes billowing, her head aloft. Once again, Kira and Naruto, both future leaders-in-training, had to respect the power that she carried herself with, even at such a time.
When she was gone, Kira smiled again, looking at Naruto. "She's amazing, isn't she?"
Naruto smiled too. "Yeah. She's the best mom I could have asked for."
Kira blinked. "Mom?"
Naruto nodded. "Yep. That's what Neera said, at least. And you said she has a good influence on me." He brightened again, chuckling. "I have one screwed up family."
Kira raised an eyebrow, but didn't comment. In fact, she didn't need to. If anything, Naruto deserved a family. From what she knew, he had never had one. No matter how odd it was, she figured that if they were all good people, it didn't matter what race they were. Even so, she couldn't help but feel a little envious. She had no family, not anymore. While the thought was depressing, and opened the gradually healing wounds a bit, seeing Naruto so happy made it worth it. She was glad her friend had finally found something of a family.
"You'd best get some rest, and I've got to go check on some patients," she said. "Can you believe I can honestly say that I'll see you in the morning?"
Naruto chuckled, and bade the girl goodbye.
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The ceremony took place at nightfall the following day. It was a spectacularly clear night, and Elune, but a simple sliver of light in the darkness of space, shined as brightly as if she were full. The night sky was a mystery to some of the younger elves, so used to the mystical covering that had been cleared away by the Kyuubi. But they found it fitting nonetheless. Those who could not usually see Elune, because they were not her Priestesses, found it much more suitable to put their loved ones to rest beneath her watchful eyes.
Tyrande stood on a platform of raised wood, in the very center of the great clearing. The ceremony was taking place upon the battlefield. It was to cleanse the stained earth with the ashes of the dead, and to repair the ruined earth. One day, they hoped, the trees would grow back and the land would heal. Their dead friends would help that along.
Many great pyres had been set up around it, over thirty in all. Atop them lay those who had fallen—Sentinels, druids, warriors and others—their eyes closed, their faces set in peace and death.
There was no speaking to be done. Tyrande stood with the other Priestesses, chanting softly to their goddess and protector. Naruto, Kira, and Kylia stood a little ways away, with Neera and Shandris. Fandral, The Keeper of the Grove who had saved Kira, whose name was Remulos, and the other druids stood very near the forest. They too were praying, but not to Elune, but the earth. Wisps answered their prayers, illuminating the clearing, glowing brighter than ever before.
Next to the pyres stood night elves—family of the dead—clutching burning torches, their heads bowed in mourning. They listened to the unearthly chanting of their leaders, becoming lost in it and seeking comfort in it too. To those who had never heard it before, it was a magnificent song, more beautiful than they had ever imagined; soft and ethereal, like the speech of Darnassus, but ringing with sadness and despair and loss. But even burdened with such heavy things, they did not fall, but rose high and drifted across the entire city.
Kira felt as though the words they spoke were not words at all. They were feelings, emotions, in their purest form. She could feel the loss and sadness of the elves in addition to her own despair. But she did not cry, no matter how much she wanted to. Tyrande would not cry, and she realized that it was because she was the pillar for everyone else. She was what allowed them to cry.
She had to be that too.
When the singing ended, the pyres were lit. They burst into flame at once, lighting the area with purifying, warm light. The light was comforting, and as they watched, the night elves became soothed. They did not see the flames as devouring their loved ones—they saw it as embracing them, and freeing them from their prisons of flesh. They knew that even though their bodies would die, they would live on among them.
Tyrande stood atop her dais, her eyes closed. Her tears remained unshed for the sake of all around her. She held her head high, and her chest out, and maintained a composed exterior, so still that it was more a painting.
But it was hard. So hard. Her painting was made on tissue paper. Any moment she felt as if something would pierce through. Her tears stayed on the very edges of her eyes, blurring her vision, but never falling. Her people were dead, and she felt the pain of those who had been left behind. She knew that loss all too well.
But she remained silent and stoic. For everyone, she had to.
Naruto watched silently, his head held high. He too did not cry. He couldn't. Instead, he promised.
That it would never happen again.
He made a promise that he would show them that their death was not in vain. They had died to stop a demon, and save his life. Some of them had been his friends, ones he had trained with or talked to during his stay. They would always remain so. He would let them know that with the life he had been given, he would do everything he could to make their people grow and prosper, and to protect them as if they were his own.
That was his promise.
And he never broke his promises.
As the pyres died down, many hours later, the chanting rose again. From the ashes then, rose a great procession. Wisps, glowing azure, golden, emerald and pearl, flew into the sky, and joined those of the forest. They rose with the words of the song.
Naruto, watching them, realized what the wisps truly were. He smiled.
They truly would always be with them.
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"Oi, how you doin', stupid fox?"
'How dare you compare me to that oafish demon,' Tsuwabuki groused, rolling over in bed to glare at the blonde.
"Sorry," the blonde said, grinning. "Princess fox, then."
"Better," she said, leaning back, satisfied.
"Thanks," Naruto said, directly. He sat down in a chair beside the fox's bed, looking at her with smiling, sincere eyes. It was the first time he had seen the fox since he had awoken. He had been so wrapped up in his own problems that it wasn't until late the previous night, after the ceremony, that he remembered his spirit partner. Shame-faced, he had asked Tyrande where she was. She had been given her own room, small and dark, in which to recuperate from her bodies prolonged exposure to the Kyuubi's horrible chakra.
"I figured it was about time for a role reversal," she said, knowing what he was referring to.
The blonde laughed. But when it died down, so did the boy's smile. It became but a faint sliver on his face, and he seemed to shrink a little into himself. The light in the room was dim, the shades closed, and the overhead lamp nearly faded. The fox said that the light bothered her eyes.
"That isn't like you," Tsuwabuki muttered, seeing the blonde's look and feeling what he was feeling.
The blonde shrugged. "If you hadn't been there…"
"Both you and that girl would've died and everyone else," she said. "Is it that hard to understand? But stop feeling bad. You didn't do anything. And you were never so ungrateful for help…"
"I'm not ungrateful!" the blonde said, annoyed. "It's just…I feel like I still failed. Keepin' the Kyuubi in me was my responsibility. I was its guardian. Then I went and started using its chakra without a thought, and it started breaking free. I used it too much. I feel like that made me weak. I couldn't even stop that Illidan freak from cutting it loose." He sighed. "Guess the Fourth was wrong about me."
"Maybe," said Tsuwabuki. "But do you see anybody blaming you?"
Naruto shook his head. Though, truth be told, he had yet to venture far from the Temple of the Moon. He had not yet returned to the city. He had not seen any glares, or heard any whispered accusations yet. But he reasoned that those in the palace were likely more informed. Tyrande had likely had the time and energy to speak to all of them about it, and reveal the truth of the events.
"Stop worrying. When did my spirit partner become such a daisy? I liked it better when you glared at and made fun of everyone, and didn't care what they really thought. Nobody blames you. Buck up, and just get stronger, like you always do. Stop whining." She glared at him. "That Naruto is still in there, isn't he?"
Naruto grinned. "Yeah. He'll be back soon, I guess." The blonde looked up at the ceiling. Once again, he felt a little better. She was right. He was being stupid. It was just like Tyrande had said. And he wasn't usually one to dwell on it, anyways. He had long ago learned to deal with the cold looks and silent sneers. He could do it again.
He was smiling wider now. It didn't matter what everyone else thought. He didn't care if just a few blamed him. His precious people didn't. They cared for him, and would stick by him. They had already proved that much.
Then, something occurred to him.
"Wait, did you just call me a daisy, you dumb furball?"
"There he is."
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The next day, Naruto felt much better. Kira had woken him early, saying that they were to meet Tyrande at the moonwell, and then they were to meet the council once again. She had no idea what they intended to say—she had seen little of Fandral Staghelm since the attack, and had spoken nothing to him. He had called the meeting, however. The small kindle of hope in her burned a little bit brighter knowing that.
Naruto had been surprised that they were even agreeing to see them at all. He had said this with a shamed face, knowing that if they refused again, than it would likely be his fault.
Kira had smiled, and shaken her head.
"You're wrong. It isn't just me, Kylia, Tyrande, Shandris and Neera that don't blame you. Nobody does. Tyrande even spoke to them of what happened. They're putting the blame where it rightfully falls—Illidan and the Kyuubi. They know you too well, Naruto. Why do you think they went through so much trouble to save you?"
Naruto didn't stop smiling the whole way down to the moonwell. He knew it would take some getting used to. He vowed that he would trust his friends with everything from then on.
He had no reason, anymore, to hide anything.
They met Tyrande and Shandris where they had before the first meeting. The moonwell was transformed at the presence of the sun. The bright blue light that had rained down on the statue before was now bright yellow, and the glowing waters of the well had become a shining emerald green in the presence of this new light.
"What's the meeting going to be about?" asked Naruto.
Tyrande shook her head. "I do not know. It was called and organized by the Cenarion Circle alone. I imagine Remulos had a talk with them, and the battle no doubt changed more than few views on the subject of this alliance." She smiled at Kira, sharing the hope shining in her eyes. "We can only hope."
"Who's Remulos?" Naruto asked, as they started towards the stairs.
"A member of the Cenarion Circle, a Keeper of the Grove, and a close confidant of Malfurion. He is one of the many sons of Cenarius, the demi-god of the Forest. He aided us in the final stretch of the battle. Though he and Staghelm have had their disagreements, they are still our allies."
They reached the council meeting a moment later, discovering it almost completely full. It was no surprise to Naruto that nearly all of the council members had survived. Two were missing, and Tyrande whispered that they were still healing.
But it was far fuller than before. There were many more druids that Naruto hadn't seen before, and in the back a monstrous being towered over the rest, the tops of his antlers nearly touching the ceiling. Naruto openly gaped at the being, half fascinated by and half jealous of his size. There was little doubt that the giant half-stag creature was Remulos.
"We are gathered." The giant said, his voice surprisingly elegant. It was not deep or booming, but soft and misty, like the sound of leaves ruffled by the breeze.
Fandral stood, as soon as Tyrande and Shandris took their customary seats, while Naruto, Kira, Kylia and Neera stood behind them.
"The reason we have gathered," Fandral said calmly, his face solid and stony. "Is that we who represent the Cenarion Circle have felt the need to amend our decisions. Recent events have led us to believe that our decision was made…hastily. There will be no vote for this." His eyes went to Tyrande. "Is that satisfactory?"
Tyrande answered with a nod and a small smile. She had a feeling what was to occur.
Fandral sighed deeply, and at once turned to Kira, boring holes into her eyes with his gaze.
"We have, through much deliberation, decided to retract our final decision on the finality of your proposed alliance," he said.
Kira's heart seemed to stop, and her breath caught in her throat. Her eyes widened, and a smile exploded into being, so great that it lit her whole body with joy and shock. Her mind couldn't even begin to process the words necessary to speak what she had so hoped would come true. What she had been seeking for so long, was now right there, in front of her.
And just as quickly, it vanished. Snatched away by the Arch-Druid's quick words and steady, rumbling voice.
"But that is not to say we accept it as it is."
Kira did not allow her spirits to plummet. She held on, immediately speaking, not caring if she sounded rude.
"As it is?" she said in a soft whisper.
Fandral nodded.
"This battle has demonstrated two things to us. It has shown us that no matter how strong we are, there will always come a time when our forces alone are not able to win. In those times," he gritted his teeth, "it is clear that we need aid. Aid from those who have strength equal to ours. Not just aid in battle, but aid in our economy, in our healing practices and other abilities." He looked calmly at Naruto and Kira. "You have demonstrated that there is much for us to learn. And learn we shall.
"But it has also demonstrated that we are weaker than we have ever been. As I said before, this has not changed. Because of this weakness, we cannot join you in battle. We have decided this: until we have strengthened our own forces, we cannot stand by your side in your fight with the Lich King and his Scourge."
The elf's words seemed as final as an ax-blow to the neck.
Kira did not allow herself to fall into despair again. Not when she was this close. Her heart beat faster, and quickly she said, "But—"
"His words are harsh," said Remulos suddenly, stopping her. The giant loomed behind her, and when she turned to look up at him, his eyes were kind and full of wisdom. "But they are not final. We cannot aid you yet in your fight. We will offer all that we can; medical aid and supplies, as well as whatever weapons that we might have. In turn, we ask that until we believe we have a strong enough standing army, strong enough to be of worth in this battle that threatens all of us, then let us remain outside of this battle. We will aid, and we will join, but we will not fight just yet. But we will fight, in time. Is this acceptable?"
Kira's answer was a smile, and the sudden presence of tears in her bright purple eyes.
Naruto, who had experienced a similar feeling not a few days ago, smiled at the sight of them. They were the eyes of someone whose dream had come true. Eyes, Naruto realized, that he had seen only once before, with the dying breathes of a boy named Haku. Eyes that one day, he hoped to have, too.
Her dream had come true.
Her dream had come true! The mere thought sent the welled tears spilling down her face. She was laughing suddenly, so happy that she couldn't contain herself. It was a foolish thing, she would see later, to laugh in the presence of so many important people, but she couldn't help it. It wasn't funny; she just couldn't believe it had happened. Laughing seemed like the only thing she could do. Her spirits were so great, soaring so high, that the whole world seemed open to her in that instant. She felt that she could feel anything. Do anything. She had achieved what she had set out to achieve.
It was better than any gift she had received. It was a feeling that she would never forget, no matter what would happen in the future. She would treasure that feeling for as long as she lived.
Kylia took the laughing fountain in her arms, giving her a big hug and a bright grin. Words would shame the feeling of joy she felt for her mistress. They had waited for this day. It had seemed so far away for so long, and then it had returned, faster and faster. And now it had come upon them, suddenly, and a little anticlimactically. It had taken but a few words.
And then, like a wish made upon a genie's lamp, it was so.
Those who watched the girl's triumphant laughing and tears did not speak or interrupt. Sometime in their lives, they too had experienced a similar feeling; and those who hadn't seemed to gaze longingly. But even the bitterest among them could not help but feel uplifted by the girl's glee. What she had done was worthy of it.
She had, they had, united the great races of the world. They had created an alliance that nobody else had in Azeroth's history; an alliance that nobody had expected a human, of all creatures, to create; a human who had the best interests in the world, and not just her own race.
None of them entertained the idea that such an alliance could be permanent. But that didn't matter. Before, none had believed it even possible. But now they had proved it was.
They had proved to all history that an alliance between eight different, completely estranged races, many of which were once enemies, was possible.
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Fandral cleared his throat, stemming Kira's glee and turning everyone's attention back to him. His face had not changed during the princess's exclamations of glee.
"But that is only one of the reasons that this meeting has been called." He looked at Tyrande. "The other is Illidan's reappearance. Since it is he who unleashed such a terror upon us, I must know what his intentions may be."
Tyrande's eyes narrowed, and she at once she assumed her role as High Priestess. "Illidan, at this moment, is no threat to us," she said, calmly.
"Oh?" said Fandral, raising a mocking eyebrow. "All evidence to the contrary. If he meant us no harm, then he would not have unsealed the demon inside the boy."
Tyrande shook her head. She could tell that an argument would be on the horizon.
"His mind is shattered. His fight with Arthas, and the continuing exposure to the chaotic power that flows through him has shattered his sanity. His actions, I don't think, show anything but the simple delusions of a madman. His reasons for unleashing the Kyuubi were purely selfish. He wanted to see it up close." She looked disgusted at the very thought. "Power is what is on his mind. He claims to have no goal, other than to continue gaining strength. I am not foolish enough to believe that, but I don't believe that his plans include us at the moment. I think that his goal might be revenge—against Arthas and the Lich King. He hates them, at the moment, more than anything."
"I see." The Arch-Druid laced his finger together in front of him.
"Good," she retorted sharply. "Illidan is a threat, make no mistake—but at the moment, I don't believe he intends us harm. He came for the simple reason, or so he says, of seeing me." She looked disgusted again. "But Kira's alliance will aid us in this respect, too. We will grow stronger with their help, and give us protection from Illidan and his cohorts." She sighed softly. "But we must be vigilant. Illidan is insane—he is unpredictable, and therefore we cannot afford to make any final decisions regarding him. His plans could change at the drop of a hat; he might not have any at all, as he himself said. Whatever the case, we must wait and see."
Fandral gazed at her a moment. The Arch-Druid's face was closed and gaunt; not even Naruto could see what was beneath it, what he was thinking or feeling.
"Very well. Do what you need to do," he said.
He noticed Tyrande's obvious shock at his lack of protest, but didn't comment. He stood. He then stared directly at the group of humans.
"This decision was made out of the best interests of our people. You have shown us that our time of isolation has come to an end. But I warn you," his eyes grew cold. "Should this alliance harm our people in any way; should we be betrayed, or cheated, or attacked know that you will be responsible. You have our trust now; but if you do anything to break that trust, then know you will have made an enemy of every one of us."
It was Naruto who answered. The blonde was smirking at him, and staring with the determined blue suns that not even the Kyuubi had never been able to shake.
"You won't regret it, old man."
Fandral glared at him.
"I should hope so."
He then turned, and strode from the room, never looking back.
His druids got up and followed a moment later, as did the other members of the Cenarion Circle. The Council was over.
Neera, still full of glee over their victory, grabbed Naruto, Kira and Kylia in a fierce hug, and with a loud shout, cried that they needed to celebrate. Then, without giving any of them a chance to protest, she dragged them from the room, singing a loud celebratory song in Darnassian, which was marred by Naruto's occasion shouts of protest at being manhandled in such a fashion.
As Tyrande, shaking her head, stood and prepared to follow, Remulos leaned down and touched her shoulder, stopping her.
"A word, Lady Tyrande."
Tyrande turned. "What is it, Keeper Remulos?"
The Keeper of the Grove smiled at her. "I was asked to deliver a message. He told me 'I am alive, and though I continue to fight, I miss you more and more each passing moment. I shall return to you soon, my love, so please hold out a little longer.'"
Tyrande's eyes were wide. "Y-you mean…?"
"Yes," responded Remulos, bowing his head. "And I have never known Malfurion to lie."
Tears were already streaming down Tyrande's face.
"Nor have I."
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Naruto stood in front of the shining cage, staring through the bars into the swallowing darkness beyond. Despite the shining light of the chains, Naruto couldn't see the majority of the Kyuubi's body. He could make the outline of some fur, and saw the occasional flick of one of its long tails, unbound by the chains. But its eyes were perfectly visible: hate-filled orbs of red that burned in the darkness and stood out from the shining purity of the rest of the cage.
'YOU HAVE RETURNED,' it said.
"Yeah."
'COME TO KICK ME WHILE I'M DOWN? IT WILL DO NOTHING. I HAVE LOST. YOU HAVE WON. IT IS, IRONICALLY, THE SAME SITUATION I FACED FOURTEEN YEARS AGO WITH THAT DAMNABLE FOURTH. YOU HAVE DEFEATED ME.'
Naruto nodded, glaring at the demon, which was as unimpressed as ever.
'KNOW, HOWEVER, THAT I REGRET NOTHING. IF THE CHANCE EVER ARISES AGAIN, I WILL DO THE VERY SAME THING. THAT WILL NEVER CHANGE.'
"Heh," Naruto said, folding his arms out in front of him. "I wouldn't expect any less from the damn fox who helped me get this far." His eyes turned cold and hard, and his next words were similarly frigid. "But I'll be there to stop you, every time, fox. I've got a family to protect now, and I'm gonna make sure that your chakra doesn't go to waste. I'm gonna use it until it becomes my own."
The demon laughed maliciously, its voice ringing throughout the massive chamber. 'GOOD. USE MY CHAKRA TO DESTROY EVERYTHING IN YOUR WAY. THAT IS WHAT I HAVE COME TO EXPECT OF YOU. YOU WILL USE IT TO PROTECT AND TO FIGHT FOR THOSE YOU LOVE. AS DISGUSTING AS THAT IS, I NO LONGER CARE. USE MY CHAKRA TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT. YOU ARE USELESS WITHOUT IT.'
Naruto's glare grew hot. "You're wrong and you know it. You may have helped me get this far, but it was all me. You know that, and that's why you're so bitter. You need me to use your chakra to know that you still have a connection with the outside world. Too bad. It's my chakra now, fox. You lost, I won." He smirked, and stood up straighter, puffing out his chest, and looking as impudent as he could. "But if you're lucky, I'll stop by and chat with you once and a while, so you don't get lonely."
'I'D RATHER BE NEUTERED. PERMANENTLY.' The Kyuubi's eyes shown a second later, brighter than before. 'THIS IS THE SAME DAMN TALK I HAD WITH THAT BASTARD. RIGHT HERE, JUST AFTER HE SEALED ME. JUST BEFORE HE DIED. YOU'RE JUST LIKE HIM. NO, YOU'RE WORSE, FAR WORSE.' He cackled again. 'YOU WIN THIS ROUND, BRAT. BUT THE WAR IS NOT OVER.'
"Then bring it on, fox. I won't lose to anybody. Not anymore," said the brat, with a roguish grin.
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"Ahh!" said Neera, inhaling her last bit of en'mara. When the last bit of sapphire-colored noodle disappeared into her mouth, she turned to Naruto who was already polishing off his third bowl.
"You guys," she said, slowly and emphatically, "are my best friends!"
Kira blinked at the outburst. "Oh?" She was on her second bowl.
"Yep," said Neera, leaning back slightly, smiling. "We haven't known each other long, comparatively, but I still feel like I know you better than anybody else." She grinned childishly, and pointed at Kira.
"I like you because you say what must be said, and you pursued your dream all the way to the end, accepting help from anybody who offered. You're smart, too, and funny. You're so easy to get along with that I know that you will definitely be a great leader. If anyone can make this alliance work, its you!"
Kira blushed. "Thank you," she said.
Her gaze and extended finger swept to Kylia. "I like you 'cause even though you don't say much, and you don't stand out much, and though I sometimes forget you even exist, I know you'll always be there. You're a great friend to have 'cause you're so reliable, and cool too. Silent types are always cool."
Kylia was unsure whether to take offense, or blush and thank her like Kira. She decided the latter, adding a small bow as well. She made a mental note to speak more often. She hadn't had a single line in the past several chapters!
Naruto, wasn't sure that Kylia was the type of silent type Neera was referring to. She was more like a Hinata silent type. Of course, he reasoned that that could be cool as well, as she had demonstrated in the Chuunin Exams.
Her hand went at last to Naruto. "And you." She smiled, almost catlike. "I like you because you never stop doing what you want to do. You put your all into everything, and you're a lot like me. You can relate to me, and you can keep up with me in a spar, too. You've also done so much for all of us. Lady Tyrande has never looked happier, lately, and I know its all 'cause of you. You've given us all hope, Naruto." Then, to add even more color to Naruto's burning face, she said, "And you're really handsome. Or maybe sexy is the word. Like in training, when you take off your—"
"Okay!" said Kira, her right eye twitching slightly.
Neera giggled, wrapping her hand around Kira, and then grabbing Kylia and Naruto as well.
"You guys are the best. I'm so glad that you came here. I'm so glad that you're all my friends."
The trio of humans smiled widely at this, before Neera shouted, "Okay, let's hit those hot springs! Naruto, you can join us this time!"
"I can?"
"NO!" the other two girls shouted, breaking Kylia's night elf arc silence.
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Fandral stared up at the bright sun. He did not know whether he hated it, or loved it.
The sun gave life. He was no stranger to that. It gave life to everything in the world. It made the giant rock inhabitable, allowed the plants and animals to grow and prosper beneath it. It was also a symbol of hope for those beneath it. It would always be there, as long as they were. It even gave light to their goddess, the great Elune.
But he had never looked upon the sun as it was. He had never seen it so clearly. It was too bright, and it hurt his eyes and burned his skin. It made him feel weak and insignificant, like the sky that it hung in, and he hated that. It did not help, either, that the sun was the symbol of those who had long ago broken away from them—the High Elves, and the Blood Elves. Those who even now craved the power of the Well of Eternity.
So he scowled up at it, his dark hair shading his sensitive eyes from its light. What was this light to him?
"You will hurt your eyes, doing that."
"You concern touches me," Fandral retorted, not turning to meet the High Priestess as she walked up beside him.
"I am not concerned. I am simply enlightening you," the woman responded.
"Then you have served your purpose. Why are you here?"
Tyrande didn't answer for a second. She too was now staring into the sky. "It is not in your nature to not fight."
"Fighting always comes second to our people," he said calmly, "You should know that."
"And I do," she retorted. "But do they? Already, I have had many requests from the younger generation for extra training. Those who stopped fighting, and settled down, are now wishing to take up arms again. The blacksmith shops are starting up again. The alchemists and apothecaries are beginning to produce poisons for the Rogues Guild again, as well as take on new apprentices to develop new ways of fighting. The young Sentinels are training harder than ever, and many wish to become Priestesses. There are even those, I imagine, who wish to take upon the mantle of the forest, and become druids. I know that they will be ready when time comes to fight. Will you?"
Fandral didn't answer.
"That brat," he muttered, reaching up to shade his eyes. "I cannot believe that brat convinced me. I cannot believe that we are joining an alliance forged by children."
Tyrande smiled. "They are not children. What they have done shows it." She gave a little laugh. "And that boy, I know, will grow up to be great."
"He is too much like Malfurion," rumbled Fandral.
"I wouldn't say that," said Tyrande, shaking her head. "He is Naruto. That is all he will ever be."
A breeze swept past them, ruffling their hair and clothes. All around them, the sounds of the forest had returned. The birds chirped and the critters chattered. The deer loped through the brush, watched by nightsabers and bears. Insects crawled and buzzed, and wisps, every present, glowed and flittered. The great clearing was no longer dead, and both could see that life was slowly returning.
But to Fandral, the forest had never seemed so alive. He looked up, and stared at the giant burning orb again.
"The sun," said Tyrande softly, "has finally come to us. Perhaps we should live in it for a while."
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Done.
Well, I changed it around a bit. I hope this is better, and explains things a bit more clearly.
The Tsuwabuki and Neera scenes I added because I realized that they were already featured so little. Tsuwabuki is a main character, or at least I'm trying to make her one. She, regrettably, slips my mind on occasion, and though it is shameful, I am doing my best to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Thank you all who reviewed to help me rewrite this chapter. I hope I made the Kyuubi situation clearer (he is anything but all powerful, as you will find out) and less cliché. I also hope I was able to make his emotions seem more real. Some asked me to drag it out a few chapters, but I think that's stretching it. Naruto doesn't angst. It isn't his thing. He might have angsted a while if nobody had talked to him, but Tyrande, Tsuwabuki, and Kira all made sure that it wasn't his fault.
There will likely be repercussions involving those who do blame Naruto for the attack (though they are few and far between, and likely of the younger generation).
Some disapproved at my final depiction of Illidan—that he was just insane and I won't show him again. You're quite wrong. Illidan is going to be playing a huge part in this story. For now he is insane because it is right for him to be. Time will tell if that changes.
Okay. Next chapter will be a semi-filler arc. I figure that I'm allowed one or two, right? I haven't shown in detail what it going on in Konoha for a while. This is going to be my chance. It will probably be only a chapter or so long. Maybe more. It will be in media res, so I won't bore you with the whole process, or make you revolt against me for not continuing immediately with the Naruto situation. I will likely have time to write it during Orientation Week.
Thanks again for all those who reviewed! You're praise was too kind, and you're nitpicking was brutal and truthful. I need more of it! Slay me with your criticisms and harsh truths (no bad words, please, they make my ears bleed…mostly)!
P.S. Forgive my two fourth wall breakings. I just realized that, as the story has gone on, Kylia has spoken less and less. That will have to change, won't it?
Seeya later!
General Grievous