Author' Note: Well…..it's been a LONG, LONG time since I last updated. I'm very ashamed of how the last two updates took considerably longer than before, but at the same time I don't feel as bad this time for a fact that this chapter was incredibly hard to write. This main part of this chapter is one the most difficult things I have ever written, no understatement there. I know it may seem simple, but I tried very hard to lean to a more original theme concerning how I wrote it, which you will notice I hope. The issue in trying to stay original did nightmares (no pun intended, you will understand in a bit) to my productivity, limiting me quite a bit. But alas, I finally finished it an eternity later (it feels like it). This time around I do have some people I need to thank though; people who really stuck it through for me.

Thank you Drag-eart, LD1449, Trexek, DanceAddict and especially mortalone (he put up with my shit the most haha) for helping me iron out all of the kinks in this chapter; most of them helped out quite a bit when I bothered them long enough hehe. DanceAddict helped me out considerably by beta-reading my chapter, which I am indebted to her for helping me in my grave time of need.

Most of all I want to thank you guys, the readers, for not burning down my house doing other violent thinks to me in retribution for my sloth-like speed in updating heheheh…..(seriously, don't kill me). I never imagined this fic getting over 400 reviews, and from what I can see it's steadily growing in popularity. You guys are what keep me going. I know I've been bad with the last two updates but don't give up on me just yet haha. Again, thank you guys for your support.

Chapter 11

Everything was black. Around he looked but he found nothing he could distinguish between the emptiness the surrounded him or himself. He was falling he realized, but into which direction he had no clue. The sound of wind rushing by that would normally accompany such a swift decent was replaced by a low buzzing that wavered up and down in pitches.

"Naruto…"

His eyes wandered upon hearing people began to chant his name; voice he thought he recognized and some that were practically inhuman. His decent began to slow and it seemed the buzzing sound seemed to be increasing even louder. Suddenly his feet met a wet surface which with his momentum, he crouched down into the liquid. The surface he stood on seemed to be solid however he couldn't feel the hardness of a floor beneath the liquid, almost as if he was literally walking on water. Upon standing up, the world around him began to swirl, as if he was inside a rolling wheel, picking up speed every second.

The whispers grew louder.

He ran from side to side trying to find some way out of twisting wind, but the boy remained ensnared inside the paradoxical tornado. As he made another attempt to escape, his foot caught on something under the liquid's surface and he tripped splashing loudly, face first. His head jerked from the pool upon discovering one sickening realization; it was blood. He was back on his feet in a flash as panic began to set in, but instead he stood quietly trying to calm down. He tried harder to focus but couldn't stop the sudden feeling of icy dread that was growing in the pit of his stomach.

Something grabbed his ankle.

He kicked furiously as he felt fingers tighten onto him, but couldn't see what or who was doing it. Another hand suddenly grabbed his other leg and started pulling him down. He thrashed in the water unable to shake off his aggressors, and began to sink faster into the eerie pool. Soon another hand followed and another grabbed onto his legs pulling madly for him to come under the bloody surface. He looked up as his knees were at the water line and saw a dull ring of light shine down on him.

The red light began to encompass the room, filling the ghastly chamber with it's impure hue. He searched desperately for a way out of the crimson bath, but the acute terror of getting submerged within the depthless sanguinary pond with whatever was waiting for him below was dashing his efforts of rational thought. The whispers in the background morphed into one ominous voice as the light poured further into the vortex. The light became brighter, revealing shapeless forms of blackened beings watching him from around the spinning circle, staring at him as he sank deeper and deeper. The "things" pulled down stronger and he was now almost to his chest going under at an exponential rate. The light suddenly became blinding and he shut his eyes tightly while trying to block out the weird luminescence with his forearms. As his head began to go under the blood bath, the voices stopped abruptly before muttering one last word.

"Choose…"

When he opened his eyes he was no longer in the revolving pool of blood; he was standing in a small white walled room. He stood to the back wall where two long rectangular mirrors flanked him on both sides. They were centered onto the wall's surfaces, both mirrors being a meter or so tall. Although there was no light source present, the room was lit up brightly enough to see clearly inside the confined area. He rubbed his eyes while adjusting to the light, and when he looked again, there were two new additions to the room.

On the far left, in front of one mirror, stood a stone alter holding his blood red hunter-nin mask, on the opposite side of the room a similar alter had been placed where there hung the crystal necklace Tsunade had given to him. He could have sworn he had not noticed those just moments ago, and settled with staring at them.

"Destiny…" a child's voice whispered.

He spun rapidly hearing the ghostly voice directly in his ears but found nothing but the walls around him. The room hadn't changed when he returned his gaze to the two alters that lay before him. He stayed evenly to the middle of the room and took his first steps. He stood within few feet of the twin alters. His eyes darted between the two items, lingering on both for a moment before finally sagging towards the ground. He didn't know what to do.

"Why do you hesitate?" a cold voice spoke.

His eyes traveled to the mirror to his left and he looked upon his reflection for the first time. It was exactly as it should be he confirmed; he was wearing his black field jacket with black military fatigue pants along with everything else, except he noticed he wasn't carrying his katana nor did he have his mask. The ugly scar he wore reminded him how much he hated mirrors, but his sleep deprived eyes gazed back just the same. Suddenly the reflection began to smile, which to his confusion he found himself smiling as if he was the reflection's mirror. His own lips curled upwards emulating the expression not on his own accord.

"Don't like what you see?" his reflection said, which Naruto himself said the same words in unison. His appearance in the mirror seemed genuine, but something about his voice tugged at his senses like a great undertow just below the sea's surface.

"You shouldn't be upset. After all, I am what you have become." The smile disappeared.

"What will you choose?"

He looked down at the hunter-nin mask he had made himself a few years ago. Ruddy images flooded his mindscape, remembering the day he painted the very thing that represents a hunter-nin. The eye slits and matching raven tear streaks that slithered down their corners reminded him of the many things he had done while wearing that very mask.

"What are you waiting for?" the voice spoke again, clearly annoyed.

"There is no other-"

"Don't listen to him!" another voice yelled. His head whirled towards the loud voice and he saw his reflection in opposite mirror. There stood a boy in his lower-mid teens in a ratty orange and black jumpsuit that bristled with familiarity. The boy wore the forehead protector of his village but he looked as if he had been starved for months. His gaunt face held a tired smile but his sunken eyes were the most peculiar part about him; they held a deep determination. It was then he realized who it was.

"Don't ever forget your dream…" the reflection/himself said. He found himself staring at the beautifully cut crystal necklace he had received after saving Tsunade years ago. It glistened sweetly in his eyes as he felt strange warmth began to fill in around him, swimming on his skin. He remembered the better days..

"You have struggled for far too long to give up now. Everyone is counting on you" they spoke in unison. His voice was almost too nostalgic for words, but at the same time it was something he dearly missed.

"It's time for you to become what you were meant to be" he said as a cheesy grin grew from his lips. He began to feel stronger, something was happening.

"You must become-"

"He lies!" the opposite mirror howled.

He turned around and faced the older reflection as he stared menacingly back at him.

"You have gained nothing through that foolish dream. In the end, pursuing that dream has only weakened you even more. And as for 'everyone' counting on you…" The room's light flickered momentarily, revealing a hulking shape that encompassed the entire mirror, flashing to quickly to recognize.

"Do you remember why you became a hunter-nin?" the reflection paused as if enjoying himself. The air began to grow colder he noticed, his breath misted in front of him. The warm sensation had all but vanished as a dreadful omnipresence began to crawl down his spine. The reflection grinned.

"You trusted them…and they betrayed you"

He looked away from his reflection, unable to look himself in the eyes. He turned to see his other self and saw he was looking down, his expression unreadable. The hurt that he had hidden crept from the dark recesses; it felt like a freezing knife twisted in his stomach.

"That is why you owe them nothing." It said at last.

His eyes focused back on the mask. Everything it said seemed to ring true, though at this point he couldn't tell the difference anymore. He was right. There was no other way now. He took a step forward and saw his reflection smile down at him, a smile he himself wasn't sure he was capable of doing in such a grotesque manner. He took another step, now in front of the alter. He fingers crept outwards to it.

"Good….the master would be proud" the older reflection said pleasingly.

He stopped. His breath was lost from him. He wasn't sure why but all this time, those memories seemed lost to him, locked away from his knowledge. The reflection looked at him puzzled, but it's expression suddenly swayed angrily. It was losing him.

The blonde focused on the master, trying to remember something that seemed to burn at his senses. He pushed all his will into remembering until he began to speak the words he had lost years ago.

"I can see the good in you, the purity of one who lives his life for others and not for himself. You are a man who only seeks power to protect his precious people…." He said quietly, the words leaving his lips like a recited poem. The words strengthened him, and he felt the cold began to dissipate around him, the air warming to his skin. He turned around and saw his younger reflection staring back at him, his withered face was smiling, his eyes ready to release long held tears. He could see the dark outline of people appearing behind his younger self, standing together watching his back; Standing with him. The younger reflection opened his mouth to speak, but words would not come forth. He suddenly grabbed the sides of his head, his mouth wide in an agonizing scream that held no sound.

"No…" a furious voice whispered behind him.

He turned around to see his older self trembling uncontrollably with his arms at his sides, his fists balled so tight he could see blood seeping down his wrists. Its face was cast downward in such a way he couldn't see anything but his messy wavy hair.

"Do you think you can walk away from this?" the voice no longer held any sort of resemblance to his own; it was a voice that sounded as if a thousand needles were stabbing into your heart.

"You mustn't stop..KILLING ...yes…" The reflection hissed.

It's face jumped upwards, revealing terrifying blazing red eyes with coal-slit pupils, glowing bright, filling the room with a scarlet brilliance. It's canines hooked over his bottom lip, sinking into his chin, drawing blood that ran down his neck. The whisker birthmarks stood out, jagged as lightning on it's cheeks.

"I'LL RIP YOU APART!!!" It yelled as the scar burst open upon its face releasing red chakra streaming outwards from the gaping wound. The chakra rushed out insanely fast, swirling around the reflection and forming a shroud around him. The reflection lugged a fist into the mirror, cracking the surface completely, rumbling the very walls of the room. It punched with its other hand and the mirror cracked noticeably around the impact area. It's punches were relentless as it kept hitting into one spot, beginning to push out shards as if straining to open. The alters both melted down simultaneously as if lava was suddenly doused upon them. The mask and necklace disappeared into the strange dark gobs that now covered the floor. He turned around to see his other reflection and saw that it was still struggling against an unknown pain, but it pointed shakily towards the far wall at the other end of the rooms. He followed his reflection's finger and saw a bright light forming the outline of a door, slowly cutting itself out into existence..

The beastly reflection no longer seemed human as it beat wildly onto the mirror's surface trying desperately to get to its prey. The mirror's surface began to chip away until a small opening formed from the trauma. He could feel the intense heat from the chakra coming out towards him, begging to kill him. He ran to the end of the room and pushed on the door outline, but nothing happened. His composure rattled as he heard the demonic reflection release a blood lusting roar that shook the room's walls. He banged his fists on the door like sledge hammers, trying to force it open. Nothing happened.

The mirror shattered.

Red chakra flooded the room like a noxious gas that twisted like hurricane winds, whistling low and loud as the power swept through. He turned around and saw the reflection reach out with both arms and pull it's self into the room, jumping up and landing on the floor. It's eyes bore into the other mirror intently. He looked over and saw his other reflection was alone again, all by himself and seemingly weakening. The younger reflection locked eyes with him, pleading and apologetic. The demonic reflection raised one arm, pointing a finger at the mirror.

The mirror suddenly became consumed in flames-along with person inside.

It's screams were finally heard.

The reflection flailed around wildly as its anguished screams filled the room, the wind and fire dancing together to the disturbing tune. The mirror began to crack from the heat and blood began to trickle out, pooling in a boiling puddle. The site before him was one that words failed to describe in its disturbing beauty. At last, the demonic influenced reflection turned and faced him.

He couldn't hold it together any longer.

"STAY BACK!!!" he yelled, his back pushing madly into the wall behind him. The demonic being regarded him with a bloodthirsty grin and walked forward, its clawed hands in front of him ready to tear him apart. His eyes darted wildly trying to push further away from the stalking creature, smoke and heat stinging at his eyes, hearing the other reflection's wails descending into shriveled whimpering. The reflection stopped within a foot of his prey, drawing a clawed hand high above his head.

"Don't worry… your friends will join you soon enough" it barked laughingly.

As the hand began to descend to rip open his throat, he clenched his eyes shut. The blow never came as the door flung open from behind causing him to fall out of the frightening room.

When he opened his eyes he was standing outside in a quiet forest. The shock of everything leading till now still gripped him tightly, as he looked around, expecting to see the demonic reflection, yet he found no one. He could see the half-crescent moon among the clouds, illuminating the nightly veil of the trees around him; The creatures of the night seemed void of sound he noticed, and the wind was completely absent. His eyes finally adjusted to the dark, and he knew where he was.

The forest where he killed him.

The memories of that night were long ago numbed in his brain, buried deep within himself to ward off the unbearable feelings they brought forth; they began to stir. He walked around aimlessly, wondering what was going on, questioning why he had been plagued with these strange visions and experiences as he tried to find a way out of his current debacle. A wind raced through the trees and then was down upon him, cooling his brow and giving a moments relaxation where he stood. As it died down, he felt a presence enter the forest, but couldn't detect who it was. Suddenly he heard steps approaching from the rear, but he dared not look behind him. He became a statue, listening to the quiet crunching of the footsteps on the leaves as they drew nearer. The same unthinkable panic began to flow through him, the image of the demon-influenced reflection standing over him, readying to end his life in one brutal slash from its deadly claw. The steps were now within a few meters of him. He remembered the burning form of the other reflection screaming as it convulsed in the bleeding mirror, the vision being one that no living person should ever have to see. His shoulders began shaking in anticipation for the possible grisly death he kept seeing play in his mind. The steps were now within a few feet of him. He wanted to go home, he wanted to be anywhere but here, he wanted to forget everything he had seen, he wanted to stop being so scared, but most of all, he didn't want to be alone. He remembered the loneliness he had hidden from the others, the truth about how he felt that had been masked with that stupid grin, and now he had no way of using such a simplistic tactic to diffuse his current situation. In the end he was alone as again, and now would die alone. The walls and defenses broke away when all his hope and strength to finally abandoned him. He shut his eyes as twin tears laced down his cheeks, and he waited for death.

The footsteps stopped.

He kept waiting,, his heart beating furiously, but nothing attacked. He felt the urge to run away and try to escape, but somehow he knew it would be fruitless. The reflection was probably soaking in his fear he realized, waiting till the last possible second to strike him down. He opted to remain still, not allowing his executioner the pleasure of seeing him flee.

"Naruto"

The voice was unmistakable.

The voice that haunted him.

The voice that had inspired him.

The voice that he silenced with his own hands.

He turned cautiously and faced whatever was waiting. The old man stood tall in front of him in his dominating stature, unblinking. His clothing was pristine as always, stainless and white as ivory, with his katana at his side. His shimmering bald head reflected the moon's rays and his wrinkled face held no expression.. The blonde just stared dumbly, his mind looping like a broken record the longer he looked at him. So many things dared to leave his lips, but the long-dead figure that stood before him uncovered a sea of feelings he had fought so long to hide; the blonde was petrified. The figure that towered over him smiled down to him, causing his eyes to crinkle up into tiny "U"s, something the blonde had almost forgot about his late master. His shoulders began to tremble.

"You look well my apprentice…but what is troubling you so?"

Without anymore hesitation he hugged the man fiercely, whimpering into his embrace. He held desperately as though gripping life its self in his very arms, begging for it not leave him. The tears flowed freely as he fought to catch his breath, but it was just too much for his ravaged mind to handle; the master was back, the master had saved him, the master would help him now.

"Please help me master…" he rasped. He looked up to the elder's face through bloodshot eyes and the old man's smile disappeared, looking down at the boy in concern.

"I c-can't…" he averted his eyes to the ground.

"I can't control it's lust any longer…the people…their faces..." he trailed off.

He looked up again, his eyes pleading.

"What should I do?"

The old man put a withered hand on his shoulder, looking him in the eyes as though reading him like an ancient text. They stood together in shared silence as the wind soared in the tree branches above them, occasionally coming low enough to shimmer through the grass on the forest floor. The wind picked up, singing furiously as it turned into a high pitched whistle. His master began to speak, but the overpowering winds drowned out his soft words.

The master continued speaking as if oblivious of the wind's enraged howling. His hand suddenly squeezed tightly onto his shoulder, grimacing for in a flash, and then all words ceased coming from his lips. The elder's eyes unfocused and he could feel his arm struggling to hold on as if something was sapping his strength; or hurting him. Ever slowly, the wind died down and the blonde stared as his master in confusion. He couldn't see anything or anyone that would be causing him this much pain as his eyes roamed around their position for some sort of threat. The old man's eyes stared blankly at Naruto and slowly drifted downwards towards the ground. He followed his gaze and finally noticed the source; the master was bleeding profusely from the abdomen, his own katana had been thrust inside him.

His eyes traced along the blade to its source and he froze.

He was holding the hilt.

"No.." he whispered, his vision hazing with fresh born tears.

The master slumped forward into his chest, sliding further down the blade protruding viciously from his back, dark blood coating the fine metal.

"No…No..No. NO NO.." he sobbed miserably.

The master grabbed his shoulders and pushed himself through ragged breaths, pulling desperately to face the boy as the last of his strength left him. The master's eyes met his own, glazed over. Lifeless. His lips opened, blood flowing thickly down his chin.

"Bakemono"

His eyes shot open. His body jerked forward, sweat rolling down his brow, gasping for air. Fearful eyes rapidly explored his surroundings. He released a sigh.

He was back in his apartment.

The blonde was sitting on a dining room chair facing the shoulder of his bed. The little girl laid peacefully in slumber, covered in layers of blankets and comforters. One would think she was a natural part of the bed at first glance. Her sweet gentle breaths were all that pierced the silence in the dark apartment. A settling sound he noted. Taking a minute to catch his breath, he rose from the bedside and tread silently to the kitchen. His eyes were already adjusted to the bleak darkness, but that was quickly nullified by the refrigerator light that beamed from the open door. He reached in and pulled out a water bottle, uncapping the lid and gorged quickly on the chilled liquid. A moment later , the bottle fell lightly from his fingertips as he braced his body against the wall, his arms outstretched in front of him. He turned his head to the stove's digital clock. It read 11:35 in neon blue.

'Couldn't have been longer than 20 minutes," he summarized. He usually didn't attempt sleeping without the proper tools at hand, but that didn't matter when it had been so long since his last dreamless slumber. It was just another reminder of why he needed to be stronger. This was his burden, a burden that was steadily becoming heavier; a curse that desperately wanted to consume him. He refused to let it. The blonde closed his eyes, muttering the ancient mantras learned long ago from the-

His hands fell from the wall, sliding down it as he doubled over onto all fours. A trembling wave of white pain shot through his cheek, phantom numbness that felt like ice and fire at the exact same moment. A sickness began to churn in his stomach, threatening to spill out his insides, but he held tight and fought back the natural urges. He cupped his cheek and slowly gathered himself back to his feet. The pain began to ebb as he composed himself, but he knew it would remain regardless. The ghostly pain on his cheek, or his scar rather, never rested, always lingering just beyond his pain's threshold. He peered at the bed in the corner and felt genuine relief, seeing his little guest hadn't waken from his momentary lapse of control. The hunter-nin stared at the mask of his order, propped upon his katana on the dining table. His hand found the crystal that dangled on his chest, palming it subconsciously and feeling its cold perfection while he gazed into the ash eye slits.

'I need to remember' he thought.

He made the seal like second nature and a kage bunshin appeared from a tiny puff of smoke. The clone nodded and strode back to the bed, taking his creator's seat to watch over the sleeping child. Naruto laced his katana through the blood sash that adorned his waist, picking up the mask as well. He was about to slide it on but his hand stopped midway. He paused for a moment, regarding it in his grip. Without another hesitation, the mask went back to his belt, resting on his side. The blonde snuck to the door, grabbing his jacket off the wall and pulling it onto his back. His hand found the door knob and turned it quietly, opening the door wide. The night's breath blew carelessly into the room, washing over the tiny apartments furnishings. Hime-chan moaned tiredly as she turned onto her side, deep within the heap of fabrics that decorated the bed. He looked down at her one last time. A smile took his lips.

"I agree" he whispered as he slipped out into the night.

ENDING NOTE: Incase you didn't know, bakemono means monster.