A/N at the end of the chapter.

Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with the author or owner of Naruto or Shadow of the Colossus. This is a work of fandom and I am in no way profiting from it.

"Italic"- thoughts

"Quotations" – normal speech

"Bold Italics"- jutsu

The Shadow Kyuubi

Chapter 3

"Damn fox," grunted Naruto through gritted teeth, "Never said anything about this when we talked."

He was thinking of the conversation that took place in his mindscape after the battle with the strange creature.

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"So, the thing's dead, right?" Naruto asked, looking at Kyuubi through the brass bars.

"No," replied Kyuubi calmly.

"What?! Are you saying that I didn't kill it?!"

"The reason it's not dead is because it was never living to begin with."

"Umm…?"

"The creature you fought was a manifestation of chakra, my chakra. It was the first entity."

"Chakra? But it didn't look anything like chakra! It wasn't even red!"

"It must have somehow absorbed things around it in order to take on a physical shape. I honestly don't know exactly how it took the shape it did. However, the point is that you defeated it."

"Yeah, you're right! That means there are only four left!"

"Yes, your body is going to go through an absorption process soon with the newly gain chakra. It will make you quite tired so you won't be able to go searching for the next entity yet."

"What about training?"

"Training will exert your body, therefore extending the absorption process and weakening your body for even longer. Right now, all you need is rest."

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And now Naruto was curled up in a ball on his bed, clutching his aching abdomen.

"Maybe if I move around some it'll go away or at least let up. Right now, I'm willing to try anything."

Having made up his mind, he slipped on his shoes and jacket before making his way outside, albeit somewhat slowly.

The sky over Konoha was grey and most people on the street were headed home to avoid the inevitable rain that would soon come. But Naruto was in no hurry, although he had the strange feeling that he didn't have enough time…

Clearing his head with a shake of it, he headed to the outskirts of town to escape the claustrophobic village.

His legs ended up carrying him to an empty field as if following some invisible path.

He walked the empty field slowly, a few raindrops falling on him. The place looked very familiar and seeing three beaten logs lined up in the middle of it filled the gap in his memory.

It was team seven's training spot.

Thunder boomed in the distance followed by a flash of lightning.

He stood motionless for a moment, staring at the three punching logs nostalgically as the rain came down.

He had many humiliatimg moments here, such being tied to one of the logs. But there were many that were priceless. It was here that he made his first two real friends. True, they may not have been the best of friends, but for Naruto who had grown up all alone, they were heaven sent. He knew that they would always be there for him, no matter what, because he would do the same for him.

If only that dream had come true.

Aloud crack resounded through the field followed by a flash of lightning. Naruto's fist was planted half an inch into the thick wood. The bloodied fist was slowly removed, the owner staring contemplatively at it as the crimson liquid mingled with the cool rain. Crimson, like those eyes.

The eyes of his teammate, betrayer, friend, and failure.

Failure.

He had told his friends that he would bring him back. But like usual, he screwed up. He had failed to keep his promise; he had gone back on his word. He had failed.

But then, redemption had seemed within his grasp when he was with Yamato and Sakura and found Sasuke. But even then, he could not escape failure's shadow.

Twice he had almost had him. Twice he had slipped through his fingers.

The rain came down faster.

But no more. He'd bring him back; he'd show everyone that Uzumaki Naruto was not a failure. No longer would he be living in the shadow of failure and hate… of Kyuubi.

He hung his head as his tears were lost in the rain.

"I have to do this on my own. I have to…"

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In a darkened cave in an unknown location.

"Itachi. Kisame."

"Yes, Pain-sama?"

"It is time to resume the hunt for the Kyuubi."

Chapter End

A/N: Yes, yes, I know that was a very short chapter, but it was short for a reason. And I know it took longer than usual for me to get a chapter out (and a short one at that), but I've already started on the fourth one and have really developed the plot for this story as a whole. So cut me some slack. Or not, I don't really care.

Anyway, I'd like to thank all my readers (over 500 views!) and reviewers, especially the ever loyal Sharkteeth and Kammari. Also thanks to Vilkath for the interesting review.