WARNING CHAPTER CONTAINS SUICIDE
NOT GRAPHIC BUT IT'S IN THERE
"Welcome home. Now get in and shut up." Beckoned an all too familiar voice. "And keep your hands where I can see them. I don't want you pulling any fucking funny business!"
Naruto steadies his breath while raising his hands, closing the door with his foot. "Minato."
The man jams the gun further into Naruto's temple while flicking the hall light on. Noticing the bloodied, wadded up scarf, Minato's quick to pull the teens beanie off, freeing the makeshift bandage. Seeing the gash, the man sneers. "It's a pity. Looks like someone got to you before I did."
Naruto hisses at the cold, hard metal, pressing into his already injured head. "What do you want?!"
"Like you don't fucking know." Minato growled, his eyes cold with madness.
"Seeing as I'm asking, clearly I don't." Naruto sassed back, the threat of a firearm the last thing on his mind.
Pissed off, Minato grabs the blond loosely by the throat, slamming him against the front door, placing the barrel of the gun between his eyes. "Don't test me boy." he warns in a low grumble.
Naruto groaned, his eyes drawn shut and face tightly skewered at the sudden action, his body rejecting the abuse. His head was throbbing, his only saving grace was the adrenaline coursing through his veins. Reminding himself that he is done appearing weak in front of this man, though that's a generous word for the thing that stood in front of him, he opened his eyes and glared.
"What? You gonna shoot me...dad?" Naruto sneered, he didn't care that he was playing with fire right now, he wanted to piss the man off.
Pure rage washed over the man's face, before that of twisted amusement. "Maybe, maybe not. You like playing the hero right?"
Naruto furiously squinted at him. "What do you mean?"
A disgusting grin washed over the man's face as he snarled. "How about I show you?"
In one smooth motion, Minato's hand rises from Naruto's throat to violently grip the teens blond locks by the scalp. Lowering the gun slightly, he wrenches the blond away from the door shoving him forward. The sudden assault caused Naruto to grunt and momentarily lose his balance before regaining his bearings.
"Keep moving." Minato prodded him in the back with the barrel of the gun to edge the teen forward towards the living room.
Naruto wanted to berate the man, but knew better than to do so with a gun to his back, so he bit his tongue and allowed himself to be led like a lamb to slaughter. When they reached the living room, like the rest of the house, excluding the front hall, the lights were out. Even in the dark Naruto could make out the shape of something on the couch, he didn't need heightened senses to hear the muffled, panicked breathing of someone.
Trying to piece together who's there by sound alone, Naruto was startled by Minato's snide demand. "Turn on the light."
Naruto clenched his jaw, but complied. The last thing he wanted was to give Minato more power, but he was no longer the only person at the mercy of this psycho. Reaching for the wall he flicks on the switch and the pot lights shine to life, illuminating the room.
Naruto didn't know what to expect but this wasn't it. Laying on the couch bound and gagged was who Naruto remembered as Guren, Minato's girlfriend. Her legs and arms were bound together behind her back with rope, and she had some sort of rag shoved in her mouth held in place by a generous wrapping of duct tape. Her eyes were a sight Naruto will never forget. The black eye mixed with her shaky tear broken eyes were glazed over with pure terror. Naruto needed no imagination to figure out what this monster has done to her.
The woman lay there trembling, trying to scream through her makeshift gag upon seeing the blond teen. Naruto wasn't sure if she was panicking for herself or him, but he couldn't stand Minato's madness stretching out and hurting other people.
"What have you done?" Naruto asked, keeping his voice calm and level, but his insides were an inferno of rage.
"What have you done?" Minato repeated mockingly. "Shut up!" He kicked the teens knee out causing him to buckle to the floor with a hiss.
Catching himself with his hands, Naruto brushed off the wave of pain that shot through his head from the vibration of the fall. Not hearing anything from the monster behind him, he looks up to come face to face with the petrified woman, he didn't realise he'd fallen that close to the couch.
"It's gonna be okay." Naruto whispers, but seconds later her eyes get even wider as she tries to wiggle herself farther back, attempting to cry out.
Following her gaze, Naruto slowly turns around and looks up. Minato had turned the gun towards her. "See, trying to play the hero. Well, not this time."
"Leave her out of this." Naruto's voice dipped dangerously low.
"Oh, but I'm not doing this, you are." Minato grinned psychotically.
Narutos lips drew up like a snarling beast. "What the fuck are you talking about?!"
Dividing his attention between his two captives, Minato glowers at the teen. "What am I talking about? What am I fucking talking about? YOU! All your little fucking stunts have caused me a lot of trouble. Because of you I'm under investigation! They've fucking suspended me!"
Naruto snorted sarcastically. "Sorry father of the year, clearly I forgot it's my fault you're a fucking psychopath."
Naruto's forced backwards against the couch and into the woman as Minato's foot connects with his lower jaw. The woman shrieks as the sudden movement jostles her causing her flesh to dig further into her bindings.
"Enough snark you little shit." Minato moves the gun to face the teen once more.
Licking the blood that's now trickling from his mouth, Naruto lifts his head, his icy gaze meeting Minato's. "Well I'm sorry, but I fail to see how you getting investigated for shit you've actually done, might I add, is my problem."
Minato's face twists into a sick smirk. "That's where you're wrong, you've done it all. You need help Naruto, you're sick."
The blond teen scowled at the man. "What are you talking about?"
The twisted man's eyes gleamed like he'd won the lottery. "You remember how during the meeting with the school I was letting them know how...problematic you are?" He didn't wait for an answer before overdramatizing sorrow. "Well turns out you're way more troubled than I thought. So troubled in fact that when I brought my girlfriend home to meet you, you went berserk. You ended up killing Guren and trying to kill me before ultimately taking your own life. If only I had known about the drugs and your gang affiliations, maybe then I could have prevented this all from happening."
Guren sobbed out muffled pleas as she wiggled and panicked at the man's sickening ploy.
Naruto shook his head in disbelief. He had to swallow down his bile, he was seriously going to be sick. "You're fucking insane, you can't do this! No one's gonna believe you, have you forgotten about the cameras?"
Looking into the man's cold, dark eyes, there wasn't any semblance of human left in him. Naruto had seen many of his sperm donor's faces, but the mask he currently wore was something truly foul.
With his gun loosely aimed, Minato tilted his head to the side like an innocent child, only adding to his sadistic twistedness. "What do you mean? You're doing it, not me. Besides, didn't you know?" He uses his one free hand to make an air quote. "They're "not working." Convenient huh?"
Naruto ground his teeth at the man's twisted satisfaction, he was furious. Hanging his head he took a deep stabilising breath. If he were to have any hope in getting the woman out of here he'd need to be calm. "If this is all to punish me, why do you need her? I'm the one you want dead, correct?"
Minato chuckled mirthlessly. "Wrong. The bitch needs to be gone as much as you do." On cue she began to viciously writhe, her wrist and ankles beginning to bleed as the rough rope tears into her delicate flesh.
Naruto lifts and twists his head, sending the woman a sympathetic look. Looking back at Minato he quickly schools his face. "Why? What could she possibly have done to you?"
"She—this bitch lied to me!" Minato growled, turning the gun back on the woman. "She conveniently forgot to tell me she has a kid. A fucking kid! She shares custody with her ex-husband. Apparently they switch off every six months. I didn't want you, who's part of Kushina, why the fuck would I want some other man's tit sucker?"
Guren shakes her head furiously as her muffled voice begs for her life.
Looking down at his lap, Naruto couldn't wrap his head around what he was hearing. The teen had to make sure he understood correctly. In a low, empty voice he asked, "you, you wanna kill her because you didn't know she had a child?"
"That's right" The man had a wicked glint in his eyes. The power of madness flowed through his veins.
"So instead of breaking it off with her, you drag her into your twisted ploy to end me?" The teens tone never changed, it remained calm and even, even with his inside ready to erupt with wrath. The thought of another child motherless because of this man's callousness was revoltingly infuriating.
For some reason that question momentarily enraged the man. "Don't you dare think you understand what I'm doing!" Minato's gaze turned malevolent. "Do you want me to kill her right now? Hell, maybe I should have brought the kid too, huh?"
Internally, Naruto heard something in his psyche snap. The teen raised his malicious eyes. "You leave them alone."
Minato's menacing expression altered to fear. The eyes staring back at him were once again those crimson orbs. "Y-you, you fucking d-demon!"
Naruto didn't need an explanation to know the visual change his eyes must have undergone, the fright coming off of the man told him everything. In a quick swoop, the teen leapt to his feet. "Stop calling me that!" he demanded, the air permeating with his rage.
The sudden movement was unexpected, causing the man to stumble backwards. With a shaky hand, Minato aimed the gun back and forth between the two in a slight panic. "Sh-shut up, I'm in control here not you! Move again and I'll shoot the bitch right now!"
A low rumbly growl escapes the teens throat. "You'll have to go through me first."
"Hmm, fine." Minato turns the gun, without a second thought he fires a round into Naruto's right thigh. A loud bang echoed off the walls of the quaint living room, the air perfumed with gunpowder. Naruto shrieked in pain as his body crumpled to the floor, blood seeped out the wound, immediately soaking his jeans a crimson red that rivalled his eyes. The blood oozed out and began pooling beneath him.
"AH! You mother fucker!" Naruto threw his head back and howled. He tried using his hand to apply pressure to his wound, but to no avail.
"There, now you can't move." Minato smirked viciously, feeling quite pleased with himself.
Guren had gone deathly quiet. The shot went straight through the blond legs just missing her and splattering her with the teens blood, she went into shock. The woman didn't know who or what was shot, she could no longer comprehend what was happening.
Naruto was breathing heavily through the onslaught of pain. "You're gonna regret that."
"Oh please, we both know you only have a few minutes at best before you slip into unconsciousness." Minato snorted.
After all, he was right. Blood loss was rapidly taking its toll, making the teen dizzy and cold. With his body beginning to shiver, Naruto closed his eyes. The teen wasn't sure if it was the blood loss, or the possibility that this may be his last chance to know, regardless he asked, "why? Why did it have to be this way? Why couldn't you have tried to love me?"
Minato crouched down, gripping the teen by the scalp and wrenching his head up to look him in the eye. The man's face pulled into a snarl when hazy, crimson eyes finally opened. "You took everything from me, there was no way I could have ever loved you. Kushina was my everything, the moment the Kyuubi sacrificed her for your wretched life was the moment your fate was sealed. If I'm being honest, even if Kushina was alive, I would still never love you, you were just a means to bring her happiness. I really fucking hate kids." As if making a point, Minato spat in Naruto's face.
Not even flinching as the disgusting saliva splattering his face Naruto grinned menacingly. "You blame me, but what would you say if I told you I know you used Kyuubi to give me to her?"
For a split second, Minato's face looked shocked. "What—how could you possibly?"
Naruto's grin stretched into his own wicked smirk. "Easy, I lied. When I was five I started talking to Kyuubi. I know everything."
Minato shook his head in a blinding furry, releasing the blonds hair. "Nonono!"
"Oh yes. And let me let you in on another little secret." Naruto uses hidden strength to lean closer with a sneer. "You'll never get Kyuubi back, for I am its Jinchūriki and when I die so shall it. Face it, you'll never get Kushina back." Minato didn't need to know that Kurama wouldn't really die, not unless they undid the seal before he died.
"That's a lie!" Minato let out a maddening bellow. "And for your lie, she's going to pay."
Before Minato could move, Naruto used the remainder of his strength to launch his weakened body, preventing the man from firing his weapon at the innocent woman. There was a loud bang then pain, so much pain, before everything went black.
The teens inner mind was chaotic, the ground quaked and the air was thick with panicked furry. The roaring fox rattled at the bars of its cage in utter dismay. "Don't you dare Naruto! Wake up!"
Naruto drifted through his mind, following the terrifying voice that could only bring him comfort. It was strange, he didn't know what was happening, all he knew was he felt unbelievably calm.
"Come on Naruto, wake up! You can't do this, you can't leave me! You are my home. Please wake up, please fight!" Kurama begged as he prodded the teen with a tail. The fox couldn't handle losing its other half.
When Naruto's muddled mind finally links the panicked voice to his companion he finds the strength to open his eyes. He frowns when he sees a disheveled Kurama staring back at him. "What's wrong Kurama? Why'd you pull me here?"
"You idiot, you're dying!" The fox snapped, closing its eyes tightly.
"What, how am I-" Naruto's face completely fell. The teen looked down at his lap before looking back up to his companions with a soft expression. "I guess this is it then huh?"
"Don't you dare stop fighting! You hear me? I will not lose you!" Kurama's voice almost quivered with emotion.
By now, Naruto's inner mind was catching up to his real selves injuries. "I don't know how, it hurts Kyu, and I'm so tired."
The giant fox began to panic anew when the blond's eyes started to droop again. "Keep your eyes open!" Kurama harshly demanded, now wasn't the time for kindness. "I need you to stay awake. I have a plan."
Naruto struggled, but managed to pry his eyes open. "What's your plan?"
Closing its beautiful crimson eyes, the fox spirit takes a deep breath before leaning in and pressing its nose to its precious Jinchūriki. "You're going to undo the seal. It's your only shot."
The shock jolts the blond conscious. "What?! I know I told Minato that you'd die if died, but he doesn't know that will only happen if the seal is opened. Just because I'm dying doesn't mean you need to as well!"
Kurama smiled at the boy. "I've lived a long time, I don't need anymore time to know that you're it for me. Living eternity without you is far worse than death. It's either we both rise together or we fall together. So what do you say?"
Tears crept up and fell from the blonds eyes. Naruto didn't know how to cope with the depth of such words and the feelings he was having. The teen simply rested his arms against the foxes snout. "I say we got out with a bang. What do I have to do?"
"Now that's my brat." Kurama gave him a toothy smirk. "Here." The Fox wrapped its tail around the blond and lifted him up and between the bars to a tag that hung outside in the centre of the cage. "First, remove that tag." Kurama instructed.
It was getting increasingly difficult to hold on to his consciousness. It took almost all the blond energy to peel the tag off the cage. Underneath the large black and white tag was a golden spiral with five holes.
With barely any strength left Naruto whispered, "okay, what now?"
"You should see five holes, put your right hands fingers in them while putting your left hand directly on the seal on your abdomen." The fox explains, trying to keep calm.
Once again, Naruto follows the instructions. "Next?"
Kurama lets out a heavy breath. "Now, this might hurt. With your fingers in place, grab and twist the lock. You have to keep your left hand perfectly still, you absolutely cannot move it until the pain stops, or this is all useless."
"Okay." Naruto's voice was hushed.
With his right hands fingers firmly gripping the holes on the lock, Naruto twists. Naruto cried out as his veins immediately burst into a blizzard of molten fury, the skin on his left arm felt like it was being branded with magma.
Kurama's eyes clenched shut as the pain coursed through their body the same way. They were undergoing the spiritual exchange of the passing of the key. If they couldn't get through this pain, undoing the seal and merging would be impossible to survive.
By the time the pain finally subsided, the blond was left panting, but surprisingly felt a second wind. "O-okay, next?"
The fox takes a second to catch its breath before lowering the teen to the ground. "Now we merge. You ready?"
"Yes, but first, thank you Kurama, for everything. You're the only reason I've made it this far in life. I guess what I'm saying is I hope we get through this, but if we don't, it was an honour being your Jinchūriki." Naruto bows his head at the giant fox in the greatest show of respect.
The spirit's face softens. "Rise brat. It is I who should be thanking you. You saved me from my lonely, hate fueled existence. You are my home, and I will forever be grateful for everything that led us to this moment, good or bad."
Naruto looks up to the fox. "It's kind of strange isn't it?"
Kurama tilts its head. "What is?"
The teen frowns. "That technically Minato's responsible for aligning our fate."
Kurama scrunches its nose in distaste. "Fuck that. I refuse to go down this line of thinking."
Naruto couldn't help but snort. "Sorry."
The fox smirks at him." Well, you ready to see where our fate takes us?"
With a deep breath, Naruto nods. "Let's do this. What do I have to do?"
Kurama nods back. "Roll up your left sleeve."
Naruto looks down and notices for the first time that his hand is etched with a variety of complex looking symbols. Rolling up his sleeve he quickly realises his whole forearm if covered in these symbols. "That explains the branding feeling." He mutters.
The fox snorts. "Accurate depiction. Now lift your shirt and place your fingers around the seal on your abdomen. Much like how you did with your right hand and the lock."
Nodding, Naruto follows the foxes instructions. As soon as he puts his hand in place, every symbol begins to glow a reddish-orange. "Whoa."
Kurama shakes its head at the amused teen. The blond is literally dying but finds it cool that he's glowing. "Now, the last step is to twist. You ready?"
Accepting whatever his fate is, Naruto sighs. "Yeah, I am. Kyu, if this is it-"
Scoffing, the fox cuts him off. "None of that shit. This isn't goodbye, you hear me? This is see you on the other side got it?"
"Got it." Naruto gives his companion one last heart melting smile.
"Alright, twist." Kurama commands.
Naruto doesn't hesitate. As soon as the spiral on Naruto's abdomen swirls open, Kurama recites his incantation. "Eight sign seal release."
The cage that held the fox for sixteen years began to violently quake, while shockwaves of energy pulsate out into the cavern. Everything began to crumble as the cage finally flew open. In a blinding red light, unimaginable pain took over. Every nerve felt as though it was about to burst torturously slow. The crumbling cavern of Naruto's mind echoes with agonising shrieks and howls.
Naruto's body felt every inch of being stretched and torn over a fifty foot foxes body, while simultaneously feeling Kurama's pain of being crushed and squeezed to fit into a six foot container. As their energy merged a bright orangish-red sphere formed over the blond's body, causing a new level of pain to emerge. It felt like being flayed on a cellular level while being ripped inside out. Just as Naruto was sure he was about to die, the sphere shattered leaving a named blond covered in blood.
Naruto laid panting on the floor of his new mindscape, the blood seemingly disintegrating into nothing. The blond didn't dare move, he felt like he just got fucked by the universe.
"Welcome back. Looks like you did it."
Naruto hesitantly looked up to see a smiling Kurama. "Wait, you mean I'm not dead?"
With a big toothy smile the fox snorts. "Nope, you fucking did it. You are I and I am you."
Naruto was shocked, all that pain, he was sure he'd died. "I-I can't believe it."
Naruto tried to move but Kurama caught him with his tail as he fell, his body felt like it was made of lead. "Whoa, careful. Merging took a lot out of us, and with the rest of our strength we still need to deal with him." With a swish of a tail, Naruto's mindscape shows a crystal clear view of the outside world, where Minato's still looming over him, seemingly frozen.
"Oh, right." Naruto furrowed his brow, wondering how he'd forgotten such a detail.
Looking from Minato to the teen, Kurama asked. "What do you want done with him?
Naruto lowers his head, resting his forehead on the ground. "I don't want him hurting anyone ever again."
"I'll ask again. What do you want, Naruto?" The fox asked softer.
Naruto raises his head, meeting the foxes gaze. "I want to make him pay."
Kurama bows his head with a wicked smirk. "As you wish."
In a snap Naruto was opening his eyes, staring straight into Minato's eyes.
In his mind Naruto can hear Kurama talk to him freely now. "That explains the pain, he shot you in the stomach."
"Wait, I can hear you." Naruto wanted to shout, but his exhausted, bleeding out body caused it to come out more like a strangled gurgle, startling Minato all the same. Naruto then realised the burning in his throat as blood from his stomach wound worked its way up his esophagus and out his mouth causing him to violently cough blood into the man's face.
"How the fuck are you still alive?!" Minato glowered, wiping the splattered blood from his face.
"Naruto, you can speak to me in your head, just think what you want to say and I'll hear you." The fox quickly informs him. "Now, you don't know how to use my energy so I'm going to take over before we both pass out alright?"
Trying his "think to speech" mind-link, Naruto quickly agrees. "Alright." His body was heavy, and permeated a dull pain. All Naruto wanted to do was sleep.
The only reason Naruto was still alive and breathing was because of the foxes energy working its magic preventing him from bleeding out completely. It was also the reason he wasn't in as much pain as he should have been. Being newly merged they were exhausted, but they needed to fight to finish what Minato set in motion.
"I figured we'll stop you from bleeding profusely so we can call and get medics after dealing with him. That way the whole "boy shot but woundless" suspicion doesn't arise like it would if we healed you completely." Kurama explained.
"Wait, I can heal myself?" Naruto's internal jaw hit the floor.
"Oh my cute little Jinchūriki, when you learn to control this energy, there'll be almost nothing you can't do." The fox smirked, enjoying the blond's childlike amazement.
"That's crazy." Naruto uttered in wonder.
"Hm, anyways, we'll go through all this later. Right now I'm going to deal with Minato, so unless you want to watch, I suggest you rest, but don't fall asleep." Kurama informed the teen almost dreamily. The excitement of the fox getting to deal with Minato was practically palpable. It was enough to stave off the foxes' own exhaustion.
"I'd like to watch." Naruto didn't really care what the fox had in mind for Minato, all he knew was he wouldn't miss whatever was about to ensue.
Just as Kurama nodded at the teen, Minato went to strike Naruto. As the hilt of the gun was about to connect with the teens face a force froze the man in place. Not only were the teens eyes crimson, but now the marks on his cheeks were darker and he canines were slightly elongated.
The teens face contorted into amusement as a deep bellowing voice Minato hadn't heard in sixteen years shook his core. "I wouldn't do that If I were you."
Next thing Minato knew, he was somewhere dark and humid, the man was utterly confused. He felt like he was in a dark interrogation room, except instead of a small room, it was a giant expanse of nothingness. There was no logical explanation, it didn't make any sense. Just as he came to the conclusion he'd passed out, he felt a strong gust of hot air rush down over him. That was the moment he felt it, the strong presence behind him accompanied by an immense thrumming of energy. The air was heavy and charged as if lightning were about to strike.
Turning around agonisingly slowly he's met with more darkness, he was completely convinced he'd lost his mind now. Feeling another gust of hot air coming downwards he looks up hesitantly to be met with two gigantic, glowing, crimson eyes.
The man fell backwards on his ass, trying desperately to scurry away backwards. Minato still had his gun in his hand, he aimed it up, but for some reason couldn't shoot it, looking more like a child with an empty cap gun. In the blink of an eye, the dark room was illuminated and towering over him was the so-called demon.
The fox chuckled darkly as it leaned its enormous body towards the cowering man. "Where do you think you're going, Minato Namikaze?"
"GE-GET AWAY! D-D-DEMON!" Minato spluttered, his whole body quivering in fear. Even his worst nightmares couldn't have prepared him for such a monstrosity. Every aspect of the beast screamed "demon" in Minato's mind.
Kurama smirked wickedly, enjoying the man's torment. "Now, that's not very nice. And to think I'm nice enough to keep my promise to you."
"Stay away!" The man demanded, his voice cracking in betrayal as he tried to retreat backwards. He didn't get far as his back collided with something, warm and lush.
"I don't think I will." Kurama flashes its sharp, humongous teeth. One tail had worked its way behind the man, preventing him from further scurrying. Wrapping its tail around the cowering man, Kurama hoists him up.
Startled by the action, the man panicked, trying to thrash around but to no avail. "P-put me down! Let me go!"
Kurama brings the man in front of its elongated snout. The man was dwarfed by the sheer size of the foxes head. "Now, why would I do that?"
"Please, please!" Minato cried out, still struggling.
"Tch, begging now? You really are pathetic." The fox clicked its tongue in annoyance.
"I'll do anything, please, just let me go." Minato clenched his eyes shut, hoping to wake from this nightmare soon.
"You don't get to bargain with me!" The fox snaps. "I told you...no...I promise you that I'd make you pay, do you remember that? I've despised human for as long as I can remember, but you, what you did to Naruto-"
Hearing the mention of the teen sends Minato into a blind rage. "HE KILLED KUSHINA! HE DESERVES WORSE THAN WHAT HE GOT!"
"NO! YOU KILLED HER!" Kurama bellowed, a violent gust of energy sent careening over the terrified man.
Minato's face paled, his eyes were wide. Realising just how stupid he is to raise his voice at a beast that could consume him in a single bite." But h-"
"Everything that's happened is on your hands, not his." The fox snarled, his deep growl vibrating the empty expanse making the man quiver.
"Tell that to Kushina." Minato mumbled through clenched eyes and teeth.
A gleam sparkles in Kurama's crimson eyes as an idea comes to mind. "Naruto?" The fox asks through their mind link so Minato can't hear.
"It's okay Kyu, do it." Naruto answered. With them being merged the blood teen knew what the fox was planning on doing without ever needing to voice it.
"Are you absolutely sure you're okay with this?" Kurama washes warmth over the exhausted teen.
Kurama can practically feel the gentle smile the teen's giving him. "Yes, do it."
"Very well." Kurama takes a deep breath before speaking out loud again. "Fine Minato, we'll do this your way."
The man opens his eyes to squint curiously at the demon. "What does that mean?"
The fox doesn't answer. Minato was overcome with darkness once more, he felt like he was living through dream sequences. He could feel that his body was no longer suspended in the air, he was on his knees on solid ground. When his eyes registered the illumination he couldn't believe what he was looking at. "Ku-kushina?"
"You don't get to say my name." The fiery redheaded female warned dangerously low. Little did Minato know that it wasn't truly Kushina, just a transformed fox spirit.
"But, Kushina, I-I missed you so fucking much baby!" Minato began to crawl towards her.
She backed away from him. "Don't! How could you Minato?"
Frowning, he stopped moving forward. "He killed you baby! I couldn't let him get away with it."
Kushina shook her head furiously, pointing a finger at him. "No Minato, you killed me, you're a pathetic waste of space."
"You don't mean that." A sad smile pulled at his face.
"Of course I do. When have I ever lied?" She sneered at him.
Leaning forward he rested his face in his hands. "Please baby, please. Everything I did was for you! I'd do anything for you!"
"Anything?" The woman asked too sweetly.
Minato looked back up at her, his eyes seemed hopeful. "Yes, anything, my love."
Her big violet eyes gleam at him. "Well, I guess there is something you could do for me."
"Anything!" He exclaimed. She doesn't move this time when he crawls towards her, hugging her thighs.
When Minato looks up at those eyes he fell in love with so many years ago and they go from gleaming to malicious. "Than, you can suffer." She snarls.
As the woman's violet eyes bleed to crimson, Minato's eyes haze over. Kurama had altered his reality. For the next ten seconds, the man will surfer thirty years of consecutive torture. The man will relive every tortuous thing that had happened to Naruto, over and over for the next thirty years.
When the ten seconds of real time were up, Minato's shuttered a gasp. Now his blue eyes held nothing but that of a tormented mind. Thirty years of never ending torture had stripped the man of all that he was, turning him into a drooling, bumbling, fool.
Minato no longer made eye contact with Kurama's version of Kushina. Crouching down, the transformed fox grabs the man's chin, tilting it up to force eye contact. The fox uses Kushina's voice one last time. "Now you know. You can live like this, like you deserve, or you can end your own pathetic existence."
Like another dream sequence, Minato was back in his living room, crouched over an almost dead teenager. But those sapphire eyes of Naruto's were open and blazing into his soul. Guren's muffled, blood curdling sobs had picked up again after he shot the teen for the second time.
Whether this was a nightmare or his reality he'd reached his limit. Minato had made his choice. Using whatever remained of his psyche he stood up, never breaking eye contact with Naruto. Minato smiled, lifting his right hand, bringing the gun up to his temple. "I couldn't, but she always loved you."
Naruto closed his eyes, letting the man's final words seep in. A loud bang echoed through the room and the sound of a body hitting the ground mixed with unmistakable screaming from the bound woman behind him. Naruto didn't dare look forward. The teen was so tired. Kurama stopped him from dying outright, but he wasn't in the clear, the chill coupled with the dull ache he was experiencing reminded him of that.
While he was grateful for his diminished pain, it was bizarre, his brain knew he should be in excruciating pain, but instead he was almost completely numb. Moving his arms proved to be a challenge as he tried to dig his phone out of his pocket. Successfully getting his phone out he whispered, "it's all gonna be okay now."
Naruto managed to unlock his phone and make a call before darkness overtook him.
"What's your emergency?"
There was a loud persistent beeping and an obnoxiously strong scent of antiseptic which could only mean one thing, he was in the hospital. Naruto tried to open his eyes, but they felt so heavy. After struggling for what felt like hours, the smell of pineapple and cigarettes finally stirred him enough to open his dry eyes.
"Shika?" Naruto hoarsely rasped out.
"Hey, hey, don't speak, you just had major surgery." The usual lazy teen rushes over to push the nurses call button, probably to notify them he was awake.
Naruto looked dumbfounded. 'Why did I have...oh, right...Minato.'
"Welcome to the land of the living brat." Kurama greeted him, successfully startling the shit out of him.
Before Naruto gets a chance to verbally speak, the fox reminds him. "Hush, we can speak through thoughts now, remember?"
"Right...This shits weird." Naruto confessed.
"Well I'll leave you for now, I'm still pretty tired myself. Plus your friends looking at you strangely." Kurama chuckled.
Naruto had so many questions but knew now wasn't the time. "Wait, before you go, this talking to each other thing-"
"Don't worry, I'll be here whenever you need me. We are the same being now." It was a confusing concept. They still spoke like two entities, but their energy was now combined into one form.
"But my injuries..." Naruto trailed off. All he could think about was healing and getting the fuck away from the dreaded hospital.
Kurama knew what the teen was getting at. "I figured it would freak the doctors and nurses out if you came in almost dead from gunshot wounds and ended up completely healed four hours after surgery. I've temporarily cut off your pain receptors until we can fully heal you. But for now we rest, after that we do whatever you want."
"Whatever huh?" The question was directed at himself more than Kurama.
"Yep, now I'm going to rest for the both of us. If you need me just think about me. Oh and just one minor thing...Try not to blow up the hospital with our energy. Night." The fox was gone as quickly as he came.
"Blow up the hospital? What the fuck do you mean? Kurama? Kyu? Guh, damn lazy fox." Naruto grumbled, knowing he was being ignored. Now he just needed to not think about the foxes cryptic request.
'Right Shika.' Naruto mused as he watched his friend speak to a short brunette nurse. 'Guess I should pay attention now.'
The nurse was a little shocked to say the least, but nice nonetheless. Apparently being fully conscious after extensive blood loss and four hours after grueling, life saving surgery is a feat. Who knew?
Being in the hospital for being shot this time was like night and day from last time. No coma, no breathing respirator. Sure he was hooked up to a million other tubes and wires, but at least he was awake and breathing on his own. If the situation wasn't so shitty, Naruto would have laughed at himself. After all, how many people compare gunshot wound hospital stays?
After getting over her initial shock, the nurse checked Naruto's stats, looked over his bandages and increased his pain medication even though he denied being in any pain. The woman informed him that his doctor should be in to see him in the next couple of hours and to page them should he need anything. They had also prohibited the police from speaking to him until he's recovered more thoroughly.
Naruto was grateful they were keeping the police away from him, he really didn't want to speak with them. What was he supposed to say? The whole situation was a clusterfuck. Sorrow quickly overcame him when he realised he wanted Sasuke but could no longer count on him. The last twenty-four hours have been utterly fucked.
That's when Naruto thought of something. "Shika, how did you know I was here?"
The Nara scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "It's all over the news."
If Naruto's face wasn't still pale from his trauma, his face would have paled now. "What are they saying?"
Shikamaru was able to read his friend's true question. "Sorry, let me rephrase that. Minato Namikaze is all over the news."
"How?" Naruto furrowed his brow.
"A detective who you're the carbon copy of? Hardly a challenge to put together." Shika smirked lazily.
"Right. Does anybody else know?" Naruto needed to know if anybody else figured it out.
"I doubt it." When Shikamaru saw the news in the morning he dropped everything and rushed to the hospital as quickly as he could. At first they refused to let him see his friend, so he did something he never would've done in a million years, he used his name.
When he saw the news his heart dropped, he knew who it was, how could he not? And the things they've found in the house, and the statement from the woman who was also there, Shika didn't know what all his friend had gone through. All the Nara wanted was to be there for his friend, nobody deserved comfort more.
"Good." Naruto slowly nods.
"You erm, want me to call Uchiha?" Shika asked, not sure where the two stand from their drama yesterday.
"Nah. We're done, he made that blatantly clear last night." Naruto lips drew together firmly as he unconsciously brought his hand up to his bandaged head. No one any the wiser that he received this wound from someone other than Minato.
Shikamaru frowned, but didn't push the matter. "Right. Well, let me know if there's anything I can do for you."
The cogwheels turned and Naruto perked up a little. "Actually there is. I need some clothes."
"Does this have anything to do with why your eyes keep flickering red?" Shikamaru asked apathetically.
Naruto shot open wide before shutting tightly." I, um, erm-"
Shika chuckled. "Naruto it's fine, a little weird but totally fine. You don't have to explain anything. Just know that I'm always here for you alright?"
Naruto slowly opens one eye, peeking at his lazy friend before whispering, "Are they...you know?" Maybe the drugs the nurse gave him were affecting him more than he initially thought.
"Well the one I can see is currently blue." Shika snorted at his friend's antics.
Naruto went to lay his head back but realised he was already laying down. 'Whoa, when did that happen?'
"Oh, okay. That's good then." Then sleep takes the blond over.
The next time Naruto woke up it was dark out and Shikamaru was nowhere to be seen. On the bedside table beside his phone was a letter addressed to him. He reached over and grabbed the letter. There was no doubt that that scribble could only be Shikamaru's.
Naruto,
Call me crazy, but something tells me that by the time I come and see you next time you won't be there. The news has some pretty crazy shit going on regarding your old man right now. I don't even know what to say. Though knowing you, you'd hate any form of pity so I'll save us both the trouble. Anyways, it was a drag but I got you a change of clothes like you asked before your stoner ass knocked out. They're in the bag on the chair. I don't know what you're planning on doing, or where you're going from here but know that I'm always here for you. I know my lazy ass usually doesn't give a shit about much, but you're important to me Naruto, never forget that. Don't stay a stranger, life wouldn't be the same without you. Take care of yourself, Uzumaki.
Your lazy ass friend,
Shika.
By the time Naruto finished his letter, he was both laughing and crying. For someone as lazy as Shikamaru to take the time to write him an actual letter, meant the world to the blond. Naruto didn't know what he was going to do, but thinking about everything going on here, he just wanted to go, get away as far as possible.
Now that he wasn't so doped up it's like his body was being physically called to somewhere. At that moment he knew, he knew exactly where he needed to go. Before getting dressed he reached over and grabbed his phone. He scrolled in search of the one number he needed. Upon finding it he dialled.
"Naruto?" The gruff voice answered.
"Hey, can you still book me a flight?" Naruto softly asked.
Shikamaru arrived at the hospital the next day, as soon as visiting hours started. The Nara is a creature of sleep, so for him to be running on nearly none was unheard of. He just couldn't tear himself from everything that was plastered all over the news last night. Somehow Naruto's name had managed to stay out of all the reports, but that didn't erase the Nara's knowledge of who was being talked about.
Nothing throws Shikamaru off, but when he went to check on his friend and was informed that there was never a patient under that name in this hospital, he was utterly confused. He had a feeling Naruto was going to disappear, but for the hospital to just lose track of a patient didn't sit right with him.
After once again having to throw his name out there, he was allowed to go to the room of his apparently fabled best friend. The bed was freshly laundered and the room empty. There wasn't a trace that Uzumaki was ever there, or at least that's what ordinary people would believe.
Shikamaru being Shikamaru, he looked up then smirked. 'Bingo.'
Climbing on the bed he stands up and retrieves his prize that was peeking out from the drop ceiling. With his precious cargo in hand he makes his way out, there was no reason for him to be here any longer, obviously his blond friend was long gone.
It was unusually warm for December, and the sun was out. There was only one place that felt right to go, the abandoned park. Sitting on Naruto' favourite swing, Shika takes his prize out. It was a crisp white letter addressed to him.
Shika,
You've always been two steps ahead of me, lazy or not. This isn't a goodbye, so don't worry, it's a see you later. I've disconnected my phone, sort of part of my new beginning. All the shit going on I can't stay, I just can't. Don't worry about me though, I feel like where I'm going, it's where I'm supposed to be right now. It ties into the whole red eyes thing, much like how I'm out of the hospital already. Maybe one day when I figure it all out I'll tell you about it. As soon as I can, I'll be in touch. Look after Choji for me! I'm not really good at this shit, but thank you for everything Shika, you are truly an amazing person, never change.
Until next time,
Naruto.
Shikamaru gently swung himself on the swing, his eyes never leaving his letter. His friend was alive and out there, but that didn't mean he wasn't mourning his loss.