Disclaimer: AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA… (Cough) umm, sorry.
Through Crimson Eyes
Chapter 12: Running
He had lost track of just how long he had been running. Although he doubted that he could ever run enough to escape from the reality that he had left behind him.
He had attacked those most dear to him, his precious people. He also slaughtered hundreds of civilians, he had butchered them mercilessly. And he had enjoyed it.
He had become the very monster that everyone had always thought he was, what he himself feared he would become.
"UUUUUUOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
His howl of rage and anger shook the trees around him, the heat of his chakra blazing about him like a typhoon of fire, followed by a loud crash and the sound of splintering wood as his clawed fist plowed into the thick truck of a nearby tree, sending it toppling to the earth.
His pain and anger temporarily spent, his bestial form slumped to the ground, a small growl, almost a whimper, escaped from his throat. 'I never wanted this! Not like this! Stupid fox, I never wanted this to happen!'
The urge began to rise in him once more as he knelt on the ground, his chest burning with a fiery intensity even as his vision began to take on a red hue. He could feel the throbbing ache in his blood, that pounding urge which told him to kill. Shaking his head desperately to clear it, Naruto whimpered again as he attempted to hold onto his senses. He had managed to subdue it before he had killed his friends, but it was back with a vengeance, and he could smell the life all around him. Small game most of it, though his greatly enhanced senses detected something several miles away, the smell of humans.
Lost in the red haze, Naruto leapt into the trees, taking off in pursuit to slake his killing urge.
It was time to hunt.
"Just what the heck is in that pack of yours Lee?" Sakura asked. The others, aside from Neji, turned curious stares upon the Green Beast, each of them pausing briefly from unpacking their own things for camp to look at him, obviously wondering the same thing. Neji, of course, already knew, having known Lee during their time as teammates under Gai. He could guess what the bowl top had brought along.
"Well…" Lee started cheerfully, letting his pack drop to the ground, he began rummaging through the gigantic pack, throwing various objects of varying sizes this way and that as he began to check off his list of items:
"One sand filled practice dummy, one wooden taijutsu practice post. Several thousand pounds of extra weights, not counting those that I am already wearing. A picture of me and Gai-sensei, ten changes of clothes (all green skin tights). My personal tent, extra wrapping gauze, moose for my hair, eyebrow clippers--"
The others (aside from Neji) simply stood gawking at him. Even Gaara seemed a little bit awed.
"Why the hell did I bother to pack?" Jiraiya grumbled sarcastically. The others nodded in silent agreement.
"Oh! And my own personal copy of Gai-sensei's book: The Power of Youth! Learning to tap into the burning passionate power of the heart! autographed by Gai." Lee finished, his smile glinting in the sun, which was really odd considering the sun had set about half an hour ago. He held up the book which showed a picture of Gai standing in the nice guy pose before a brilliant sunrise, his teeth glinting brightly.
"Oh God…" Jiraiya moaned disgustedly, his eyes still locked on the book.
"Idiot." Neji said, unpacking the rest of the way.
"Umm… Didn't you go a little overboard Lee?" Asked Sakura, sweatdropping.
"… Wow…" Hinata said, her white eyes wide with awe.
"Hmph" Gaara mumbled, turning to find a suitably comfortable spot by a large tree.
"Hahahahaha! Well this has been quite a night eh boys!" One man shouted, standing over a large campfire with a group of men, all sporting shiteating grins as they counted the spoils of their latest raid upon a small village just due south. They roared their agreement.
"Yeah, nothing like a good raid to get yer blood going! And later tonight…" he chuckled lecherously, glancing over at the rest of their spoils, two young girls roughly 10-13 years of age, "…we'll have some after dinner entertainment" he finished, roughly grasping at one girl, dragging her by her chin to look at him before running his tongue across her neck and under her chin. The girl trembled with fear and disgust, tears running down her face.
They continued to shout and jeer, their noise carrying through the forest.
Red eyes stared at them from the shadows of the canopy, its gaze burning with barely contained bloodlust as it looked down at the brigands sitting there. It slipped through the trees silently, instinctively; seeking to get closer and perhaps split the prey up.
One of the bandits stood up, shouting out something crude along the lines of taking a leak, and stumbled off into the forest.
Perfect.
Humming drunkenly, the bandit halted when he heard a slight rustle amidst the bushes. Grumbling irritably, he drew his katana and stepped cautiously, albeit unsteadily forward, keeping his blade positioned before him in what looked to be a parody of a skilled kenjutsu stance.
"Oi? Who's there?" He grunted. He leered a bit, raising his blade above his head, seeking to give his little peeping tom a surprise of his own.
A flash of red was all he saw.
"Hey, Satoshi? Another man called as he and two others stepped into view. They stood uncomprehending for a moment before they promptly began to retch, dropping to their knees as they beheld the brutalized form of their fellow, his body slashed to ribbons length wise, as if torn apart by some gigantic beast.
This put them in an excellent position as a shadowy form dropped down behind them, three tail shaped blades of red energy slashing down across each of their necks…
They had been out of the village for only a few days, and for Sakura and the others, a few days with Jiraiya was quickly wearing on their nerves. It had been bad enough when Jiraiya would suggest that they stop off in the nearest town. He had told them that he was going to do some investigation. His perverted habit discovered by a rather red faced Neji when he went looking for the perverted sennin, catching him at the local women's bath house.
But what really got to them, and to Sakura in particular, was when they discovered his dirtiest secret, and in an incredibly shocking way:
They had been sitting around a small campfire they had set up after they had unpacked for camp. Neji had, grudgingly, left to go train with Lee a small distance away, the sounds of their combat ringing through the forest. Hinata was currently trying her hand at cooking under the guidance of Jiraiya, who admittedly was very good at the culinary arts. 'Probably the result of a lifetime on the road' Sakura thought.
This left Sakura by herself.
Well, not completely by herself, there was always Gaara to talk to. A shiver passed down her spine. That was just perfect; the others were all interacting with one another while she was left with the murderous, psychotic, chilly, perpetually grumpy, emotionally dead homicidal maniac.
Oh well, couldn't hurt to try.
She approached him slowly. He was sitting off to the side, barely within the fires radiance. His head was bowed down; almost as though he were… yes he was definitely reading something. It looked like a small book.
"Hey Gaara?" Sakura asked hesitantly, trying to keep her voice stable. Even though he had apparently changed, she found that she still could not forget how he had nearly killed her so easily before. It was not exactly something a person forgot.
The sand nin looked up at her, fixing her with that same emotionless stare that he graced everybody with.
A few moments of his unnerving silence prompted her to continue, if for no other reason than to cut the tension.
"So… um… what are you reading?" She asked.
He continued to regard her before he shrugged slightly, turning his attention back to the book.
Despite her unease around him, his casual dismissal definitely irked her. Putting on a shining smile to mask her irritation, she casually peeked over.
"So what are you re… urk!" Sakura's question was cut off as she read the title:
Icha Icha Paradise...
Her left eyebrow began to twitch uncontrollably. Veins popped out on her forehead. Chakra began to burn about her as righteous feminine fury began to well up with in her at the hated title.
Gaara, completely oblivious to the pink haired girls growing killer-intent, continued to read, his expression completely blank.
"Yo, what are ya kids doing over here and…? OH! Is that my latest volume of Icha Icha Paradise!" Jiraiya crowed, his face glowing with pride.
Gaara simply grunted softly.
Rubbing his hands together gleefully at the thought of another reader, Jiraiya stepped closer, "Isn't it the greatest book you've ever re…" A strange chill in the air caused him to falter however, and he looked over nervously at Sakura, who was currently fixing him with a stare so cold it could freeze the fires of Hell "Uhh… I mean… (cough) where did you get that book young man?" Jiraiya finished lamely, trying to sound stern. It didn't seem to work.
"I found it next to your things." Gaara replied simply, not looking up from the book. The chill in the air grew noticeably colder.
"Oh, well what do you think?" The old Sennin asked, trying valiantly to ignore the increasing chill on his back as Sakura continued to glare at him.
"… I…don't really get it…"
Jiraiya blinked, "Uhh… don't get it?"
Gaara nodded his head in affirmation.
By this time, the others in the camp were drawn over by the massive killer intent being emitted by Sakura. Neji glanced at her nervously. Hinata looked rather shaken, her twiddling fingers going into overdrive as her nervousness began to mount. Lee was currently hiding behind Neji and shaking uncontrollably.
Gaara was undisturbed "… Yes… like here." He said, holding up the book and pointed to the passage "Why does the girl have her face in the man's lap?" Gaara asked calmly, looking up at the now sweating Jiraiya inquisitively.
"Umm… well…"
"Was he struck by a poisoned weapon?" Gaara asked.
"Ummm…"
"Or perhaps he suffers from some sort of infection." Gaara mused to himself, turning back to re-read the passage curiously.
"UHHHH…" Jirayia continued to mumble nervously. He honestly never thought that he would be put in a situation where he would actually have to explain what was going on in his book. He had always assumed that it… er… spoke for itself.
Then Gaara added the last nail to the coffin "…And what is the whipped cream and strawberries used for?"
That did it.
"YOU SICK BASTARD!" Sakura screamed.
Then Jiraiya, one of the legendary three Sennin and arguably one of the greatest ninja Konoha ever produced, was quickly running for his life, pursued by a furious Sakura, who was spouting curses the likes of which none of them had ever heard. But by the sound of them, ignorance was probably bliss.
This left Hinata standing ramrod straight, her face practically illuminating the entire campground. Neji was doing his best to contain the small amount of blood which was currently working its way out of his nose. And poor Lee was passed out on the ground, nose bleeding uncontrollably.
"A-ano… Neji-nisan… w-what is the w-whipped cream and strawberries used for…?" Hinata squeaked.
Neji face flared up almost as bright as Hinata's and he ducked his head to hide his blush, "N-nothing… just forget it Hinata-sama…" He mumbled.
Lee continued to bleed.
Gaara regarded them for a moment before he shrugged and turned back to reading the book.
It was over in a matter of moments. The bandits, caught completely by surprise, didn't even have time to draw their swords before he was upon them, his claws and tails slashing through the night like crimson blades, tearing mercilessly through the human cattle. The scent of blood and fear filled the air, the thrill of the hunt and kill sending ecstatic chills through his spine. Naruto sat in the middle of the now deserted encampment, surrounded by the bloody bodies of his prey.
There was no discrimination in his mind. He cared nothing for the fact that his act of violence probably saved the lives of others, or that these creatures deserved death.
All he knew was that his bloodlust had been sated, for now a least
Then the haze passed, and his thoughts cleared a bit once again. Naruto stood, looking about him in horror at the sight before him.
"No…" He whispered brokenly. He dropped to his knees.
Sakura woke with a start, sweating beading lightly on her forehead. Looking about the camp, she noticed Neji sleeping off to one side, his sleeping bag rising and falling lightly with each deep breath. Lee slept no far away. Her eyebrow quirked a bit when she noticed that he slept with his Taijutsu training post.
A faint sound came from a little ways to her left, where Jiraiya lay snoring, mostly uncovered by his blankets. He was sprawled out in a very uncomely fashion, and she couldn't help the slight shudder that went through her at the sight.
Hinata slept a bit fitfully just a few feet away, mumbling a little in her sleep. A few time Sakura though she heard a name, but it was too soft to make out.
Gaara sat at the fire, his eyes gazing absently into the flames. He would poke it every now and then to keep it going, and then would resume his introspection.
'How long had he been sitting there? Wasn't it about time for someone else's watch?' She thought to herself. Rising slowly out of her sleeping bag, she walked softly over to the fire.
Gaara looked up at her, his face still that blank mask that he always had. In the light of the fire it looked even more eerie than usual. He continued to watch her as she sat down on the opposite side of the fire. After a few moments of watching her fidget nervously, he turned his attention back to the fire, giving one of the logs a light poke.
"Umm Gaara, It's time for my watch so it is ok for you to get some sleep. I'll keep an eye on the camp while you do and…"
"I can't sleep." Gaara stated simply.
"Oh, well I'm sure that if you just lay down and close your eyes you might nod off eventually." Sakura offered helpfully.
"No."
"But you must be exhausted. You don't have to worry, I can watch things just fine on my own…"
"You do not understand…" Gaara interrupted her again, "I can't sleep" he stated again, with a pointed ephasis on 'can't'.
"Huh, why?"
Sighing, Gaara simply stared into the fire, "Because if I sleep, then it will wake up."
"By it, do you mean that…" Sakura trailed off as realization hit.
Gaara nodded.
"Oh… but wait, that means that you haven't slept in…"
"In thirteen years…" Gaara finished.
"Kami…!" Sakura whispered.
Gaara just shrugged as it was no big deal.
'Just what kind of horror have they endured?' Sakura thought as she looked into the fire, hopping that some image, some solution would appear in the flames.
"And…" Sakura started before her throat closed up. Clearing it she continued "And has Naruto… has Naruto suffered the same?" She did'nt think so, he always seemed well rested, and she had seen him sleep before, but given the revelations that she had uncovered, she found her self doubting just how much she knew about the blond haired boy.
"I doubt he suffered insomnia, if that is what you mean." Gaara whispered, "But in general I would say that yes he has, if in a different way."
"A different way?" Sakura asked softly, dreading the answer.
"Like me he was born into hatred…" He stared upward for a second, remembering, "…but for him it might have been even worse than my own. I was created to be a weapon, and I was always aware of what I was and why I was despised the way I was. For him however, he grew up never knowing. Not only was he forced to bear the constant hatred of those around him, but he had to bear the guilt as well, constantly suffering under the belief that he was, somehow, the cause of everybody's misery, and for a long time he never even knew why."
Sakura was silent, staring into the fire absorbed in her thoughts.
"At least that is my take on it." Gaara finished. He poked the fire a few more times before glancing up at the pink haired girl who sat on the other side, trying to keep her tears in check.
"Go back to sleep. There is no need for you to stay up."
Sakura nodded silently, shuffling off quietly back to her sleeping bag.
Off to the side Hinata lay awake with her eyes open, her own tears spilling down onto the fabric of her sleeping bag.
The two girls, who had been in the 'company' of the brigands just a few seconds ago, had slipped away in the confusion. Their chests were heaving, their breaths quick and shallow with terror. Despite the horror of their previous predicament, things actually seemed to have gone from bad to worse.
"A-Asuna-neechan, w-what is that!" One girl whispered to the other. Her long black hair was ragged, hanging down limply over one half of her face. She trembled as she heard… what ever that thing was… pacing back and forth.
"Shhhhhhhh…" Asuna whispered back, twisting her self slightly around the tree they had hidden behind to get a better look at what it was. Despite the danger of the situation, she was morbidly curious about the beast. Besides, she had a feeling that if they attempted to run they would proably not make it too far anyway.
It was eerily beautiful in a way. It's nine fox-tails whipped to and fro as it paced around the site of the carnage, it's head lifted in the air. It's head appeared vaguely human, though it had the definite angular construction of an animal, a fox.
"P-please neechan, l-let's just go." The other girl pleaded.
"If we run off now it will likely see us. I doubt either of us could outrun it."
"But…"
"Shhhh, be quiet Kisa or…" She was cut off as the creature seemed to whimper. Turning to look back around the tree, she saw it as it dropped to it's knees, a pained expression on it's face.
"No…" It whispered, it's voice carried on the wind.
"… It spoke…" Asuna murmured to herself. Kisa poked her head over Asuna's shoulder to look for her self.
"It looks like its… crying…" Kisa whispered.
Asuna didn't answer, instead moving around the tree and out into the clearing.
"Asuna-neechan!" Kisa called out desperately, attempting to reach out and grasp her reckless older sister. Her small hand grasped air as the older girl walked cautiously towards the large creature before them.
He never thought he could feel this miserable.
His whole life he had lived miserably, yet he had persevered, had weathered the bad times and had eventually come across bright times. He had found friends, precious people. People who acknowledged him and accepted him.
And it had all been torn from him in an instant.
It was against his nature to give up and accept defeat. He had been beaten down before and he had always managed to get up again. He had always managed to get up and fight. This would be no different. He would fight just like he had before he would… he would…
But it was different. Back then, when ever he fell down, there were those around him to help him back up. But he had torn that apart too, had attacked the very people who supported him.
This time his defeat seemed to heavy for him to bear, and this time he was forced to bear it alone, something he had not had to do for quite sometime. How was he ever going to live out his dreams now?
So caught up in his anguish and self doubt, he almost failed to hear the soft crunch of leaves behind him. The sudden intrusion sent his instincts into overdrive once again, and he fought against the rising urge that boiled in his blood. He turned his head around to see a small girl step into the clearing hesitantly. Her eyes wavered slightly and he could smell the fear like a thick fog around her.
He gave a warning growl.
Another girl, this one smaller, walked out to join her, hiding slightly behind the taller girl.
"A-ano… youkai-san…" The older girl asked hesitantly.
Youkai?
The word sent a new wave of pain through him.
He growled again, deeper this time. His lips drew back across pointed incisors, and his tails flicked wildly to the sides.
So that was really how others viewed him now…
AN: CLIFFHANGER! Hahahahahahahaha!
Wow, it took me so long to put out chapter 11, then I go and put out chapter 12 so quickly. Well, when you're hot you're hot I guess.
For those who will gripe at me over Naruto's uncharacteristic change in behavior, bear something in mind; his entire life has basically fallen apart before his very eyes. He came very close to betraying his precious people, and for someone like Naruto, that is quintessential to his very sense of self. Not to mention basically becoming the very demon that people had always believed him to be, well shit like that will ruin just about anybody's self esteem. And then of course there is the small fact that he is dealing with the increasing influence of an eon old demon lord, and even someone like Naruto is not likely able to deal with such an influence easily and without scarring.
About the two girls I introduced, will they play a major part, or will they be sliced into confetti? We'll see…
A little bit on my reasons for including the characters I did in the search party. I included those that I felt had been affected most by Naruto in some way or another.
For Gaara… well I think that one is obvious.
For Hinata, Naruto was her inspiration, and probably developed into something more, if her facial expressions in the manga are any hint.
For Neji, Naruto showed him the light, not to mention he yanked that giant stick (figurative) out of his ass.
Jiraiya, again, obvious. Besides I just wanted him along.
Sakura is the most obvious I think. Sasuke had left them, and now Naruto left too. I doubt that Sakura would stand idly by while both of them left, and frankly I can see her going after Naruto. Potential romance or not she is definitely one of his closest friends and I can't see her standing around when Naruto obviously needs help and comfort.
And Lee… well to be perfectly honest I just felt like it. Besides, Lee is awesome, almost as kickass as Gaara.
As for the others like Shikamaru, Kiba, Ino ect. I did not include them due to the fact that they simply did not play as large a part in Naruto's life. Well… I'll admit that it is cutting it a bit close with Shikamaru, since the two of them did in fact have some interaction, but given his new status as a chuunin, I figured that it made some degree of sense that he had more pressing duties, despite how much he might have wanted to go. As for the others, I did not add them because it would tire me out having to write dialogue for each and every one of them. I simply did not want to deal with that much character interaction. I will still give them bit parts in the plotline, but for the most part they are background characters.
As for the rest of this chapter; Gaara is awesome! He can do anything; comedy, angst, you name it. He makes an excellent straight man ne? I was personally rolling around on the floor laughing when I wrote that little scene with Icha Icha Paradise. A stroke of genius on my part thank you very much.
Hey, I have a right to brag about my work every now and then don't I?