"Brat."
...Huh?
"Brat."
What's that voice?
"Wake up, brat!"
The agitation seemed to grow, the more Naruto ignored it, so he decided to comply. He opened his eyes and noticed he was in an unfamiliar room. It was rather large, with pipes along the walls, and the stench of sulfur nearly overwhelmed him. A dark red liquid dripped from various holes in places along the pipes. He sat up and clutched his aching head, when he saw the floor was covered in a pool of blood, but failed to notice what was in front of him.
"Brat!"
Naruto looked up towards the origin of the voice, he saw a large gate made out of a set of corroding bars with an ofuda scroll in the center that read Seal. It only took Naruto a moment to realize that a portion of the scroll was, in fact, missing. He approached the piece of paper to examine it. As he got close to it, he jumped back reflexively as a large set of red glowing eyes opened, and barely eluded the large claws that would have otherwise rent his body. Missing his target, and realizing that was probably his only chance to kill the boy, the owner of the eyes let out a low agitated growl as he retracted his claws.
"Who?" Naruto shook his head, "What are you?"
Approaching the bars, the demon made his glowing, red slitted eyes more visible. "I am your prisoner, brat, and for that I'll swallow your soul, and suck the marrow from your bones." The kitsune approached and revealed the rest of itself. Before Naruto stood a large demon that towered over him. Red fur radiated a flame-like chakra, and it's wicked sneer revealing teeth that each was at least the size of the boy itself.
"My...prisoner?" Naruto asked, his eyes widened in curiosity.
"You are a daft meat bag, brat. I am the Kyuubi no Kitsune, and some bastard sealed me in here, and made you a living sacrifice." The fox demon sneered, which quickly became a grin. "However," tapping next to the now damaged seal with his claws, "as you can see, the seal has been damaged. It's now only a matter of time. Then I'll exact my revenge on those worthless parasites!"
"What? Kyuubi no Kitsune? Prisoner? What is he talking about? Where am I? What happ..." Naruto mumbled to himself as he attempted to recall what happened, when realization hit him. I was running, there was pain, and blood. Lot's of blood. "Am I dead?" He thought out loud.
A deeply amused, but evil, laugh emanated from Kyuubi. This time, however, Kyuubi chose to grace him with an answer. "No, brat. Not yet anyways, and without my help you will be. With the seal damaged as it is, you are no longer just my prison. You are my vessel. I can influence you physically and mentally, however, due to this accursed seal I can not take control of you, yet!" The Kyuubi lowered his head and narrowed his eyes looking at the boy.
"Look at your hands, Brat!."
Doing as Kyuubi ordered Naruto examined his hands to see that his finger nails had grown and now came to points. Flipping them over, he noticed the end of his fingers were slightly rougher as well. "What is thi...ouch!" Tasting copper, he spit the liquid that was in his mouth out to see that blood had mixed with saliva from where he bit his tongue. Using his tongue to feel his teeth he could feel his canines had grown longer and they now came to points. "What is this?"
"You will grow, Brat, and change under my tutelage. That is the only way for you to survive. You are my vessel."
Naruto could only gaze on in horror at a look, that could only be considered a sadistic smirk, that spread across Kyuubi's face. "What? This can't be real. This has to be a bad dream! I must have eaten some bad ramen." He shook his head in disbelief trying to wake up from this nightmare.
"No, brat. This is very real. You stand before me in your mind scape. Your body is in the woods away from your...precious town." The last two words were spoken with mock sincerity. "When you awaken, you will find a source of water and look at your reflection! Thus you will learn that this is not a dream, and that you are mine!"
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Sarutobi's attention was broken away from his seemingly endless paper work when the silver haired ANBU captain, in the dog mask, entered his office. Watching the way the masked ninja handled himself he knew instantly something important had happened.
"Report, Captain." The old man ordered before taking a pull from his pipe.
"Hokage-sama, I have come to inform you of a mob that was broken up in the streets by my unit. I've sent some men to gather their ring leaders." The ANBU stated in a formal tone.
"Do you know what they were doing? Was there any signs of violence?" Sarutobi asked, his concern growing.
"There was various signs of violence that were discovered, including a small puddle of blood. No bodies were found, nor any other signs."
The Sandaime Hokage took a long pull from his pipe to help calm his nerves, as his mind came up with a dark scenario. "I want you to send a search party of your most trusted men to locate Naruto."
"Of course, Hokage-sama. I'll lead the search personally." The ANBU captain bowed, and he left to search for the boy in question.
After he was alone again the old man went to a bookcase, and pulled an old worn tome away from the wall. A small click was heard after it moved a couple inches, then returned to its previous position. Moments later, the bookshelf lowered into the floor revealing a secret room behind the shelf. Walking into the small circular room, he approached a crescent shaped table. Upon the table was a purple silk cloth covering a circular object sitting on a pillow. He removed the silk cloth revealing a scrying crystal. He eyed the seal inked from Naruto's blood on the base, which was created when the boy was very young, that allowed the old man to keep watch on him. Going through a set of familiar hand signs he used to activate the crystal his concern was only compounded when instead of an image it only a gray haze filled the orb.
That should have shown Naruto. The only reason it wouldn't show him is if he's out of range... or if he's dead... He turned away from the crystal and left the room. He sat down in his chair and turned it to look out the window. He considered this turn of events and waited for news from the ANBU.
"Hokage-sama!" The ANBU captain exclaimed to snap the old man out of his concerned contemplations.
"Yes? Has there been any sign of him?" Sarutobi turned away from the window to face the ANBU hiding his hopefulness.
"No, Hokage-sama. Unfortunately there has been no sign of the boy. I personally checked his apartment and the ramen stand that he frequents. The owner hasn't seen him for a few days. I sent my squad to check the training grounds and none had anything to report on the matter." The ANBU captain reported in an official tone.
The old man, dismayed by this news, turned back towards the window and again began looking unseeingly over the village. "Start searching the surrounding woods and, send someone to round up the members of the mob."
The captain stood there formally as he received his orders. After Sarutobi finished speaking the captain waited a few more seconds then stated, "If that is all, Hokage-sama. I will go and see to the task."
As he turned to leave he was stopped when the Sandaime Hokage began spoke again. "One more thing. Send for Special Jounin Ibiki Morino."
The ANBU captains eyes widened slightly, though briefly, not that it could be seen through the mask. He's taking this more seriously than I thought. I almost feel sorry for them. Almost.
The ANBU nodded his affirmation at the back of the old Hokage's head and left to carry out his orders.
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He could only feel his pounding head and burning throat. Curious as to where he was and what had happened, he attempted to open his eyes only for the the glaring light to force them closed again. He decided to open his eyes more slowly to give them time to adjust. When his vision focused he saw he was staring at a canopy of trees. He sat up to get his bearings when he noticed it, the sound of running water. Almost instinctively, he started making his way to the water so that he could quench his thirst.
"I should have reached the water by now. I've been walking quite a while." He, however, didn't stop since the sound of the water only got louder the farther he went. After walking for just under a mile, he reached it. A short distance ahead he saw a small creek.
The youth ran to the creek relieved that he'd finally be able to get a drink and sooth his burning throat. His hand had almost reached the water's surface when he noticed, his fingernails, now resembled claws. Slightly panicked, he glanced at his reflection. His eyes were red and the pupils were slits. His whisker marks had grown broader and darker. His jaw dropped as he began to gape at his reflection only to notice his canines had grown slightly and their point was finer. They were not as long as in his mind scape yet, but they were growing.
"You see, brat. It wasn't a dream." Naruto heard the voice in his head speaking to him.
"No It was only a dream!! This can't be real!" The boy could feel panic welling up inside of him.
"Humans are so pathetic. Is it any wonder why they are prey creatures? Disbelieve it all you want, brat, but it was real. I am real."
Naruto could feel tears stinging the back of his eyes. They started running down his cheek as he pulled his knees up only to scratch himself with his long, pointy fingernails. "I want to go home."
"Stop your sniveling! This is your home now! In that village, are those who want you dead. Want us dead. If you go back there you...will...die! Now drink your water! I'm going to teach you how to hunt." Though Naruto couldn't see it he could feel the Kyuubi's wicked grin in the back of his mind.
Draggingly he approached the water and began to slowly drink as he ran over in his mind what was going on. He had already realized something that would make the Kyuubi happy was, certainly, something that would make him suffer.
After having drank his fill he noticed something he had previously been oblivious too. It smelled sweet, soothing. Sniffing the air to determine the origins of such a pleasant scent he followed the source to his left arm. He raised his sleeve to reveal a make shift bandage of white silk which seemed to be the origin of the smell. He removed the silk to reveal an uninjured arm and took a good whiff of it. Then he remembered Hinata. His first friend short of the Sandaime Hokage. He didn't remember her smelling so pleasant, however.
"If you're done enjoying your female's scent it's time to hunt. You'll still have to find a den after."
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The young, freshly promoted, chunin was standing nervously in front of the Hokage's desk. In a manner that betrayed his fear he kept glancing back and forth between the back of the Hokage who was staring out the window and Ibiki who was staring at him intently with a wicked grin and eyes that spoke of the untold horrors that awaited him if he didn't co-operate.
"So let me get this straight," the old man said without turning around, "a jounin with a scar on his left cheek and who was missing his left ring finger rallied the mob to hunt Naruto?"
"Y-yes, Hokage-sama. H-he said he w-was acting on yo-your o-orders." The young chunin stuttered in fear.
Ibiki's eyes narrowed as he began approaching the youth who looked to be barely able to maintain his bladder control. Stopping with his scarred face a scant few inches away from the teens he began, "You are aware of the fact that there is no such jounin in this village. Now unless you want me to keep you... company... I suggest you tell the truth." The boy felt what little control over his bladder he had left fail him, as the warm liquid began to run down his legs, at the thought of spending any amount of time with the Head of the Konoha ANBU Torture and Interrogation Force.
"My relationship with Naruto isn't a secret is it?" Sarutobi asked with a detached voice.
"N-no, H-H-Hokage-sa-sama." The panicked youth stuttered out as he was still staring into Ibiki's glaring eyes.
"Then may I ask what made you think I would actually give such an order?" The Sandaime Hokage asked with a bit of fire in his voice.
"I-I don't kn-know, H-Hokage-s-sama. H-he was jo-jounin."
"As Hokage it is my job to protect the village, even from the village." Sarutobi stated, his detached tone returning.
"But. H-he. The de-demon vessel."
Someone's been revealing classified information. Sarutobi turned from the window with this revelation, and cleared his throat gaining Ibiki's attention. Turning to look at the Hokage and seeing his expression he nodded and stepped aside to allow the Sandaime to look directly at the boy. On the other side of the desk stood a visibly shaking fourteen year old boy wearing a chunin vest. He had short, cropped brown hair. His brown eyes were wide and appeared as if they were planning their escape from his skull. The front and inside of the legs of his white pants were stained yellow as he stood in a yellow puddle.
"Who told you?" Sarutobi asked leaning over the desk, with his hands on it. His eyes narrowed as he examined the boys reaction.
"Th-the jo-jounin, H-Hokage-sama."
"Not that same tired sto..." Ibiki was cut off as the Hokage raised his hand.
"Yes, he is the demon vessel. More accurately demon prison. He is a hero. He protects the village from his charge." The old man said still examining the boys reaction.
"H-he had the Hyu-Hyuuga Heiress wi-with him." The youth stuttered as he was running out of things to say.
Sarutobi cocked an eyebrow at this. "And I suppose you've never visited or talked with any friends? You must not have to think it such an odd thing to see someone doing so." So Naruto has made a friend. That's good.
"I...well..." The boy looked towards his feet in shame only to notice the yellow stain and puddle in which he stood. He felt his shame increase significantly.
"Well, Hokage-sama, seems he doesn't want to tell us the truth. Shall I "convince" him to tell it?" The boys face shot up to see Ibiki's face turn from him to look expectantly at the old man. Turning his back and waving his affirmation towards the torture specialist the boy felt as he reached his limit.
"I-I-I...i-it was th-the tru-truth." He stuttered out as his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he passed out.
"Okay, Ibiki, send in the next one, and send in an ANBU to take him to a cell. We'll see if their stories match up."
Ibiki nodded and turned towards the door to do as he was told, but before he opened it Sarutobi added, "And send someone in to clean up this mess." Gesturing at the puddle on the floor.
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He missed his lunge and his quarry had taken off into some bushes opposite the way he came from. Not wanting to miss this opportunity for food Naruto started running after it.
"Not like that, brat! Must I teach you how to run, too? Damn. On all fours. That's the only way you'll catch it."
"What?" Naruto asked puzzled.
"Hands and feet, brat. You'll run much faster, and maybe even get to eat before you starve to death."
Dropping to his hands and feet he started running in a very awkward fashion and continued for a short distance before his hand slipped on a moist, moss covered root and he slammed his back into a tree winding himself. He could hear the laughing in the back of his head as he stood, bent forward resting his hands on his knees, and refilled his lungs with air. After he had recovered breath, he stretched causing his spine to pop in a few places as his vertebrae realigned themselves. Feeling better he prepared to resume the search only to realize the trail of his prey had gone cold.
"Eat later, brat, it's time for you to find a den. Find one next to the creek."
With a sigh, and grumbling stomach, Naruto reluctantly complied as he started making his way back to the creek.
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Before having left the alley Hinata had tucked the goggles her first friend had given her away to make sure they were hidden. The girl, having returned a short time after twilight had sat in, went straight to her room making sure to avoid her father.
Reaching her room she didn't even bother to change clothes as she laid down curling up. She took out the goggles and gripped them tightly in both hands looking down at them through blurry eyes. She could feel her tears falling, saturating the blanket that covered the pillow of her still made bed, as the image of Naruto getting ran through with the jutsu played through her mind time and again.
The sun through the window woke her from her hollow sleep. She didn't know when it happened but at some point she had fallen asleep. Looking down she noticed she still had the goggles clenched tightly to her chest. Seeing them, and being assailed by fresh images of what had transpired the night before, Hinata wanted to cry. She, however, found she couldn't. She was too emotionally drained.
After laying there for a few minutes more, staring at the goggles and still nothing coming forth, she got up and went to her bathroom. Looking in the mirror she saw her blood shot eyes and the bags under them, as well as the mess of her hair. She splashed water on her face and brushed her hair. She had gone through the motions of cleaning herself up and changing, the entire time remembering the pain from the night before. The pain of what happened to her first friend.
Though she had no desire to eat she knew she still had to be present at the table for breakfast. She knew her father was going to be upset, but at that point she really didn't care. She left her room and began walking the halls of the compound towards the dining area. As she was about to turn a corner she heard talking coming from the next hall.
"Have you said anything to her yet, Hiashi-sama?" Hinata heard the voice of the elder ask curiously.
"Not yet, Shinji-san. I've not seen her since it happened. It doesn't matter much now, though. Reports say that the demon brat was injured as he fled the village. He's probably off in some bush rotting." This time it was her father.
Demon brat? Is he talking about Naruto-kun?
"Yeah, that's if some predator didn't find him first and make lunch out of him." The elder laughed in a pleased fashion, which Hiashi promptly joined in on.
Hinata's hand had found it's way to the goggles and she began unconsciously running her fingers along the rims as she felt her anger starting to rise. Naruto-kun is a good person. He's not a demon!
After a brief laugh Hiashi continued, "Now if I could only find that jounin that caused it so I could personally thank him."
"The scarred jounin, Hiashi-sama? They suspect it was an Iwa-nin sent to stir up trouble."
"Either way. He did the village a great favor. I think we should have a celebration in his honor."
Hinata had been holding the goggles in her hands, looking down at them, as she took in all that they said. Instead of sadness, however, this time she felt anger, hate. This man, her father, who not only made it a point to drive in how weak and worthless she was, was now reveling in the fact that the most important thing to her next to her mother was gone. The first person since her mother who had treated her like a person instead of a piece of dirt.
Then she felt it. Something in her mind snapped, taking the goggles and putting them over her head allowing them to fall around her neck she vowed. Naruto-kun. I only knew you for a couple of hours, but I know you were strong and you were nice. You were willing to risk your life to save me. Everyone should be that way. Everyone should be willing to protect people. I promise on these goggles you gave me that I will be strong.
She hadn't heard anymore of the conversation as she made her vow. All she heard was the laughter and general enjoyment. Storming around the corner to confront the pair she glared directly at Hiashi. This display had successfully caught the attention of both of the men.
"You! How dare you? Naruto-kun is a good person! Much better than both of you! You have no right to speak of him that way!" She huffed after the outburst which had caught both men off guard.
Recovering quickly Hiashi returned Hinata's glare, not failing to notice the goggles around her neck. "You dare speak to your father that way? And where the hell did you get those?" Hiashi began reaching for the goggles only to have his hand slapped away by the enraged girl.
"That is none of your business! You will not talk about my friend that way!"
By this point Hiashi was fuming, barely maintaining his composure. "That. Is. ENOUGH! To the training room! Now!" With that he stormed off followed by an uncharacteristically determined Hinata.
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He had spent hours searching around the banks of the creek. It was nearly the end of dusk when he finally found a small cave a short distance away from the creek. Not that he was able to notice the time of day based on the light. For him it was still as bright as noon.
Upon entering the cave he took a long look at that which was going to be his home for an undetermined amount of time. It was about the size of a decent size room. The floor was sandy but still quite firm. It was a rough dome shape leading to an oddly shaped hole at the center. The air in his new home was cool and climbing various parts of the wall was moss fairly close to the ground and vines growing down through the hole. The entrance was small, though it did little to hinder his young form.
He didn't get much sleep that night. His hunger made it difficult to fall asleep, and the couple of times he did it was fitful and filled with nightmares of the chase, and Kyuubi, which promptly woke him up.
The sun rose an eternity later for the boy. Still groggy he got up and made his way to the creek. Upon arriving he drank a couple hand fulls of water then promptly dunked his head into the crisp, cold, clear water in an attempt to revive his senses. After about the tenth dunk he felt awake and aware enough to try to get him some food. Setting off, thankful his formless companion had been silent up unto that point, he began the search for food.
After working with it for the few hours he had been awake plus most of the time he searched for his den the day before he had grown more comfortable running on all fours. This allowed him more speed than he would have had running just with his legs. He had been hunting since his trip to the creek and, seeing the sun through the trees, he could tell it was noon. He had been following the scent for the past quarter of an hour and it was only getting stronger. As he reached a small clearing he saw a rabbit in the center eating some clovers. Not wanting to lose this opportunity like he did with the last rabbit he silently made his way around the clearing until he was as close as he could get, then he lunged. The prey only had time to look up and towards it's attacker before it was caught.
"Good, brat. You have caught yourself some food. Now you can eat."
"Okay now I just go back to the cave and I can cook it." The boy said as he hungrily eyed that which would be his lunch.
"No."
"I can't take it back to the cave to cook it?" The blond asked confused.
"You can't cook it at all."
"Why not?" The boy asked growing more confused.
"Do you have any way to start a fire?"
"No."
"Do you know how many predators the smell will attract let alone the attention the rising smoke my draw?"
"But..."
"Stupid brat! You'll have to eat it as it is!"
"But..."
"Now!"
Naruto reluctantly brought the little animal up to his mouth and started digging his growing teeth into it's body, wincing at the things cry of pain and struggle to get away.
Growing sick to his stomach and quickly losing his appetite he heard the Kitsune's mocking voice, "Now isn't this satisfying, brat. Nothing like when your food struggles as you eat." Followed by the demons sadistic laugh as the boy lost the rest of his hunger.
He let the thing go and watched it run away. After the thing was out of sight he rose to his feet and started making his way back to his cave, the coppery taste of blood still in his mouth. He listened as the Kyuubi laughed the entire way.
He knew he was in for a long night. Before reaching his destination he decided to make an alternate stop to get the taste of blood out of his mouth. He reached the water and stared at his worn reflection. He was tired and hungry. This was no life for a five year old. He should be in Konoha playing with children his age, playing with Hinata.
Having drank his water and getting the taste of copper out of his mouth he returned to his cave, dug out his most prized possession, and, curling up, brought the cloth up next to his face and dozed off immersed in the scent.
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The loud grumbling of his stomach woke him from his fitful sleep. He could tell by the hole in the roof of his cave that the sun had just began rising. He had been there a week and still hadn't had anything to eat. He was beginning to grow desperate. He was beginning not to care. He had to eat.
Not even bothering to make his normal morning trek to the creek, he started sniffing the air as soon as he left his cave looking for the scent of prey. He quickly noticed the familiar scent of a rabbit. Promptly dropping to all fours he darted off following the trail of his quarry. It took him the whole of five minutes to find his target and when he saw it he didn't even stop. It turned to notice it's assailant, turned back to run, and made it two hops before the frenzied boy was on top of it ripping a chunk off of it with his mouth. It's pained cries fell on deaf ears.
"Good job, brat. I knew you had it in you."
Naruto only grunted in response as he consumed his meal of fresh rabbit.
After he completely picked the bones of the rabbit clean, he savagely licked the blood from his fingers. Having his hunger sated, Naruto made his way to the creek. He looked into the crystalline water, and made note of his hair, the darkened shade of blond as well as the red roots of his hair. He also saw the blood on his face and clothes. He decided that he needed to clean himself up so he removed his clothes, tossed them to the side, and jumped into the creek. Having realized how cold the water really was when he jumped in he quickly made his way down the creek to a spot lit by the sun.
After he was satisfied with how clean he was, though he was still a little dismayed at the fact that when his hair was washed the color didn't go back, he made his way back to the shore. Making his way back to where he had originally entered the water, he saw his clothes were missing. He began searching frantically in an attempt to find them.
"Don't concern yourself. They were only getting in the way. Now for the rest of your training."
A/N:
I'm glad to see my first chapter went over so well. Please review, I enjoy hearing what people think of my writing. I'd like to thank Endymionrose again for his help prereading this story.