Sacrifice
One final act of defiance
Naruto and Mika walk for a while more, hearing a waterfall nearby and deciding to take the time to relax. The two of them sit in the moist grass, silently enjoying one another's company while Kurama naps.
Naruto breaks the silence, keeping his voice down. "I've been meaning to ask you something."
Mika, distracted by the waterfall. "Yeah?"
"What's up with that stuff from earlier?" Kurama stirs in his sleep.
"It's a…clan thing. All of us can or…could do it."
"What happened to your clan?"
Mika shrinks into himself. "They died."
"Oh. I'm sorry, I didn't-"
Mika shuts his eyes. "It's fine. I just-"
Not a second later and he's on his feet with Naruto safely behind him, dizzy from the sudden movement. Mika scans the area, sensing the chakra of at least a dozen shinobi as his horns grow back and arms turn red. He takes Naruto by the arm and takes off into the trees, the shinobi tailing them as they get further and further away and deeper into the pitch black forest. Mika jumps to the ground, heavy tears blurring his vision while Naruto regains his balance. Naruto goes to hug him but is pushed away.
"Run." Mika says, his voice shaky with fearful determination.
"What?"
He looks him in the eyes. "Go damnit!"
"But…I can't leave-"
Mika shoves him away, harder this time. "Go, and don't look back."
Naruto cries as he turns to run, hesitant and terrified as finds the strength to abandon his new friend.
Mika takes a deep breath, closes his eyes and steadies his mind as the shinobi get closer and Naruto gets further away.
'Naruto, thank you for your friendship. I'm sorry but…I'm tired of running.'
The red chakra coating his arms spreads over his entire body and his horns double in size as he weaves three hand seals.
Tori
The shinobi close in, shouting orders.
Mi
Dense red chakra floods the air.
Tatsu
Naruto runs as fast as he can, refusing to turn back, fighting against stinging tears and short, wheezing breaths. A powerful rush of air throws him to the ground, a deafening boom ringing his ears and the sky bright with white hot fire. A warmth passes over him as Kurama, awakened by the sound of the explosion, covers the boy in a protective layer of his chakra and tries desperately to get him to say something, calling out his name into the void.