The Road of One

by Raijuu

One can only take so much pain in life. What if Naruto experienced something he couldn't brush off. Naruto tries to end his own life.. will there be anyone to save him? What does kyuubi have to do with it? Main Pairing NarutoKyuubi female discontinued

4. Chapter 4

Disclaimer: maybe you don't understand the job of chap 1

In the life of a human being one will experience many things unless they live in a cave. Once outside this cave they will meet many surprises. Some of these surprises can give a person an adrenaline rush. Life as a shinobi can give you almost endless occasions of adrenaline fused moments. Such moments could include; death, a fight with a friend, or hearing the screams of the dying. But very few times does it include just a few words.

Well one word was passing through my mind had me moving faster then a bullet, fueling him like a jet engine. The moment when Kyuubi mentioned the direction after her statement of the killing I bolted east to the Uchiha sector. Though they never said anything I knew they had questions boiling over as Sasuke and Itachi tried to keep up with my inhuman speed.

I was still at least 20 meters from the beginning of the sector when I see the bodies trailing through the road. Merchants, families, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, all covered in their own blood. The fear in my blood rises as one scream rains above the silence several buildings out.

LEFT!

Turning on the dime, having my right leg dig and swerve, I charge into an alley. Still running flat out I recognize the path to be leading to Itachi's father's home. My hand is on the door when a strangled scream hits my ears, I open the door immediately. It was quite the sight. A guy a little taller then Itachi holding a bloody katana standing over the falling body of his latest victim. But the freakiest part about it wasn't what he did, it was his eyes. Calculating, calm, steady, exuding an aura of an absolute professional fashion. 'He is a machine' the thought made me shiver.

At my sudden movement he twitches, focusing on me and smiles warmly, "Yo! what can I do you for?" I got half way past a grunt before Itachi came flying past me, sword at the ready. Within the blink of an eye he was already in the guy's face with his katana bearing down on the killer. I thought that would end it, the sheer speed of Itachi just wouldn't be matched. But people can be wrong. And today it is proven in full affect as the 'Uchiha bane' caught the blade between two extended fingers, snapped it in half, and lastly slammed a back hand directly in the ANBU's chest all in under a second.

At the sight of my friend crashing through several buildings had my rage at its zenith. Before I could stop myself I was sprinting toward him, but it appears Sasuke beat me there only to be gut punched and fell to the side. The way was clear, the fire in my hand builds, it consumes me, it holds me, it is me. The last thought running through me as I let the burn run out of me onto him was why and how you could do such a thing without so much as a flinch. My arm entrenched in blue fury mere inches from his calm visage thrusting with the viciousness of a viper. Only to strike air, I never noticed his palm coming from the side until I felt the pain. My arm snapped like a twig.

Even through the incredible pain I was able to chuckle, he was yelping and seemed to be having trouble extinguishing the flame on his arms. I scream out and take the opening filling my leg with the deadly flame and slamming it home. To bad he had reflexes that rivaled Itachi, taking my foot in one hand and splitting my shin with the other.

Next thing I know I am sprawled out on the ground looking at a flaming jacket. 'Didn't think about that'. I growl in frustration knowing he took me down without breaking a sweat, 'Jump in any time'

give up, no matter how much I help you he can't be stopped by one kid

I will not give up'. During my little talk with an unwilling demon I saw a fire jutsu was just ahead of me completely cover the man in front of me.

As the fire begins dying down and Itachi runs in, the intruder appears behind the embers covered in and exuding extreme flows of chakra. Itachi still coming hard was almost in range to intercept when the once 'inferno' materialized about his person slapping their palm to Itachi's chest yelling out "iteru no jutsu". Nothing happened for a few seconds but Itachi never moved even when ice formed nearly instantly around all of the Uchiha's structure.

All that came to my sight as of the moment was the amused smile of the approaching dark clothed man. Before he passed me I shot up with my better leg and made a strike for his throat jamming the foxfire through like a torch. Although it would help to mention that before my fist made contact he grabbed my wrist (again controlling the foxfire around it as if he read the manual) lifting me high and whipping my frame out so my good leg hit the edge of two meeting walls snapping the beam just as easily as my femur, the jolts of pain shot up faster then a wolf spider.

Following the sound of my destroyed bone a shower of shuriken rain in from the side as the other of the seemingly last of Uchiha came in smoothly like the blowing wind, two kunai in his hands ready to slice open his opponent. The enemy however was on a level high surpassing, shown by the twin split second blocks and their following parries leaving Sasuke's arms high. Taking the all to prevalent opening, slamming 4 rock crushing lightening quick jabs that had the lad on the floor clutching his chest growling in the pain of his broken ribs.

Biting back the agony of my broken limbs, I assess what has come up to this point it in less then a minute. The Uchiha Itachi was frozen to the spot covered in nearly clear ice. Sasuke was bleeding internally and externally due to the bones puncturing and being twisted so far as to poke the surface. I lay trying to get a threshold on controlling the sparks of fire red shooting up my arm and legs while I get my bearing. And finally one unharmed assailant slowly walking toward the door behind me. Being unsurpassingly stubborn I make a last ditch effort in holding him until others come with my last limb grabbing his ankle before he passes me.

It was strange how for a few moments nothing happened no pull on my hand, no crushing blow, no words, just silence. Unnoticed by me, he turned his head down and giving a very interested and perplexed look almost knowing. "The will power that some humans possess conquers by far that of any strength demons could conjure even from millennia of gaining power and knowledge. If you keep it up you will one day break me in ways most nins would never dream of, unimaginable and impossible. I hope this road you look upon will be trodden by your feet." And with that his leg slowly slipped from my grip and he walked leisurely out the house.

The silence came like a gust of wind catching me off guard. The moment it hit my face my body started to tingle. That was my adrenaline slowing to a crawl. Without that constant thrust of energy, I began to feel the pain on the pain, oh and the pain it was; 2 broken legs one open and my arm bent the opposite way it should be.

Grinding my teeth to the blood pumping in my ears, I try to focus on the two I came in with. It looked like the ice covering Itachi was melting fast while the cracks echoed with it. Sasuke looked like he was about to pass out or something. He wasn't growling anymore but he was giving off deep breaths like he was in the middle of running a marathon, and sweating the same. It was then that my good hand, lying at my side for the moment, felt the blood slowly flowing out of the open fracture. I knew in my head I should get right to it and fix it, but the strangest lifting feeling held me back.

I hear a small series of snaps in the background and turn to see Itachi break off most of the ice makes a quick double take between his brother and me, the fear etched on his face. He yelled something but I couldn't hear it. Soon everything around me started fading. 'Strange, why cant I hear him, the sun doesn't dim, does it?'

The last thing I remember seeing was Sasuke slowly standing and Itachi hovering over me looking fierce and wouldn't stop yelling. After that it went black. But my sight didn't end there, next came color, fire orange.

"Iziri what's up? Why didn't you say something while I was losing pints? "

"Shut up I'm keeping you alive kit"

"What are my chances" I sobered up real quick.

"Not to shabby, just lost some blood, bones need fixin', but nothing life threatening"

"When will I wake up?"

"Well how about...now"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Bam! My eyes are screwed up so tight I'm seeing spots instead of the freaking 1000-watt light bulb shoved in my face. It takes a few moments to register the voices and several minutes to make the voice even remotely coherent.

"I wo..." "It's not" "For all sense I shou..."

Clearer and clearer the words filtered through the foggy mass some would call a brain. My hearing is straight when Itachi's even voice hit my drum. "You will stay in bed and rest or I while make you, alright?"

Someone 'huffs' in retaliation but doesn't say anything. By now the light doesn't sting and my vision is finally getting into focus and I see... white, lots and lots of white. 'Fuckin hospitals'

"Naruto you awake?"

I lean up to see Itachi sitting in a chair and Sasuke lying in a bed, both staring intently. I look down to see my legs in casts and my arm in another. I couldn't feel any pain, it was strange because of how much I could feel it before I passed out.

I look back up to still the same looks. I throw on my foxy grin and scratch the back of my head, "yeah, how long I been out?" Itachi answers immediately "For a few hours. You lost a lot of blood. The main artery in your left leg was cut and pouring out. And I only know enough medical techniques to stop small bleeds. So I rushed you here."

Sasuke turns my way and gives me a weird look. The older Uchiha notices and adds to his vocal practices of the evening, "Sasuke here only woke up about 20 minutes before you did. He wasn't so bad; few broken ribs, pressure on his lungs and a little blood loss. Your really lucky to be awake already."

And just as he finishes a knock came from the door. My mind still on the mention of time when it switched to hope for more company so I gave a call to the visitor. The door opened to reveal the Third. Stepping in he gave the room a once over, looking each of us in turn, from Itachi to Sasuke to me. His gaze lingering for just a moment returned to the elder Uchiha. "Itachi can I speak with you in private for a moment?" It was a command more then a question. "Sure. Later guys."

The Hokage stayed back and looked me right in the eye, "Don't leave the hospital Naruto, you need rest."

After the door shut silently I turned to Sasuke and check if he was all right, but as I looked his face once stoic and firm was now sullen and remorseful. I couldn't think of one thing to say. It wasn't my place to say 'its ok' or 'shit happens' it wouldn't even be true justice to tell him it wasn't his fault.

'Man, what can I do?'

You don't have to do anything.

'Ya know Iziri that's fucking cold!'

Life is not always a warm thing.

'You still don't have to be so goddamn blunt about it Iziri, and how the hell did you ever come to possess such a weird name like Iziri anyway!'

I named myself, demons have no names but the ones that take on or are given and my title as The Kyuubi was made strictly because of hate. What is wrong with Iziri hmmm?

'-Huff- its just dumb, it makes me think I am ripping the name out instead of having it slide out every time I think it.

You have any suggestions twip?

'hmmm...how about... Maliku'

Maliku jeez where did you get that one?

'It's from a poem I read once, it means nameless one.'

So you're not really naming me but defining

'Call it what you want I still think it's a good name.'

You are a strange one Naruto, so what do you..Naruto you have a visitor.

I came out of my mental talk to look Shikamaru in the face, and what a bored face it was. "Did they break your brain as well as your limbs?" I couldn't help but chuckle, "come on Shika that's mean and your kicking me while I'm down."

General Pov

Naruto had his mirth and Shikamaru smiled still finding his best friend in good humor even though he was injured. But the Nara had something on his mind, "hey Itachi got me and told me you were here and that's, what happened to you and Sasuke-san?" Sasuke still hadn't moved and didn't seem to like the idea of talking anytime soon. Naruto now grim faced gave Shikamaru a level explanation of the happening. From the moment they arrived to the Uchiha sector to his own unconsciousness.

Shikamaru took it all in without question or strange look and remained passive the whole time. Sasuke unmoving, Naruto unflinching, Shikamaru deep in thought. A void filled the room and there it remained.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Wake up

'hmmm'

Wake up

'hmmmmmm'

WAKE UP

'AHHHHH'

Now Naruto finds himself abruptly awakened and on the floor. Still collecting his self he rolls over on his back staring that white ceiling in the dark. Letting out a groan the Uzumaki snatches a glance at the glow-in-the-dark clock to find the time of 3 am. 13 hours since the incident.

Sasuke lies snoring softly in what could only be explained as blissful slumber, Naruto however wasn't so lucky. Flush to the linoleum he questions his tormentor, 'what do you want?' I just wanted to tell you your arm is fixed. 'Huh' not being the smartest, to check he lifted and slammed his 'fixed arm' against the hard floor only to feel the sting of his wrap cast cutting into flesh and nothing more. Crawling over to the wardrobe on the opposite wall he rummaged in his clothes and took out a kunai to cut off the cast.

Only to reveal a smooth and scar free, deformity free, and best of all pain free arm. 'What about my legs?' Those were a slight bit worse, so a slight bit longer, probably a few more hours. Naruto thought of all the times she helped him in his travel through life thus far' It's pretty cool to have an ally, no not an ally, a close friend, the closest friend there for me.' Its not like I wanted to, I don't have much a choice in the matter. 'Thanks anyway Maliku.' Whatever, ummm you ok? And the reasoning for the wake up finally hit Naruto.'Yeah, but... I mean I can't help but feel like shit knowing I wasn't strong enough to even truly slow him down.' Finally letting the entirety of the situation hit him in full the pain of the failure overwhelming.

Maliku made her effort to ease the blonde. There was nothing you could do, even Itachi couldn't take him on and Itachi is one of the best. Don't go berating yourself for losing. Everyone fails once.

Naruto's thoughts brighten but still pretty mellow, 'whatever I said I was ok so don't fuss over me.' Well from where I am fussing is a big part of using my time so until the time comes when you can take care of yourself I need to yell at you once and a while.

The thought was the last for this 8 year old as he fell back into slumber once more. (worn out isn't he)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

There are figures surrounding him. All without faces, all laughing. Everyone pointing and he feels another jolt of pain. He turns and runs threw out alleys and shortcuts, through streets and doors, from doors to forest, always running yet not going anywhere. He stops, but he doesn't turn around. He doesn't have to, he knows they're still there right behind him. Finally he feels himself picked up and lifted, lifted beyond any human height. He could have been 200 meters up in the air when they let him go it didn't matter, he didn't care. Really he didn't. He didn't try anything, even when he was a few meters from the ground. But he heared a scream, it was his own.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh" Naruto jumps and stands looking back and forth, cold sweat running down his body, his breath raggid. It only took a second to realize where he was and comprehend the sights and pain were fragments of a dream. Shaking it off, something came to his head in a sense of extreme peculiarity and that is when he slowly tipped and fell like a stone.

The strength had not yet returned to his legs. But stinging he sits up and Naruto at last took notice of a bug eyed Sasuke. Brushing his finger across his nose he smirks. Sasuke gives his look a few more moments and withdraws back to his bed. Turning the same as 9 hours prior to the clock on the wall finding it noon.

Every second behind the white walls reminded him of every lonely night.

'Fuck I got to get out of here'

Oh forgot to mention your legs are fixed

Wasting no time he made the haste of a hungry cheetah taking the kunai, (yes till in his hand), and cut to the last piece of white casing. Showing off tanned but slightly pinker then normal legs. Tossing the kunai to his pile of cloths, he stood up only to begin staggering and grab onto a bed close enough for reach.

I also forgot to mention that they will be numb and sluggish for a day or two.

'That one might of fucking helped Maliku... hey don't you dare laugh at my situation'

This demon does as she pleases how about them apples'

'Them apples don't taste good, and we need to have this tenantship on different damn terms.' You wish

After their small fight Naruto sprinted/fell to a wall with a wheelchair and climbed in. Next location achieved was his gray t, blue jeans, and tennies.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Naruto Pov

I sped across the linoleum like an anxious shinobi, for I had left 2 behind who were supposed to make sure I never left the hospital but mysteriously, conveniently a fire sprung up and kept them busy while I made my getaway. Other then that no one bothered to stop me. I was just getting out when one of the guards leapt out of a window and showered the ground in front of me with shuriken. I swerved and kept on wile he tried to keep up. (you can go really fast in a wheel chair no joke)

I only got about a block before I notice that everyone is doing one of two things; staying far away from me, or coming at me with weapons. So here I was driving a wheel chair fast as a bat out of hell, being dogged by low ranking shinobi and angry citizens alike, and dodging rocks, knives, and what ever else they got. Today was proving to be not a good day.

5 minutes later I have a mob on my heels and gaining, for my recently mended arm was giving out and I was slowing. I was still a good 20 meters ahead of them when I reached the gate, the closed gate. Burn it. Without hesitation I pressed my hand against it and having foxfire gush out like a geyser melting the door away as if it were paper. During my disintegration operation my 'followers' never ceased their rain of blows, good thing most sucked with their aim for I only had 7 objects sticking in my back through the denim strap of the wheelchair. I went beyond the gates limit and left the bluest of fire blocking the void I created.

One jump made, yet 2 terrible leaps lay ahead of me. What options lay before me were the beaten path or the dense forest, all with a large lack of energy due to the wall. Now when you are trying to out run and hide from someone going on an open strip of land is the worst possible thing. I throw all the warning and danger out of my mind and get rid of my chair, and stagger into the forest.

"Maliku! I need help NOW!" Before I even finished the thought I was running full speed with only slight difficulty. At this speed your legs will snap again, find a place to hide out.'Thanks Maliku, I don't know if I could outrun them without you.' A moment passed with a noticeable uneasiness in my inner self. But it became clear in no time. Naruto... I'm very- 'SHUT UP! It is not your god damn fault.' Maliku had nothing to say after that but I knew I eased her somewhat. Just then an idea struck me.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

General Pov

Rewinding a bit we find a halted vicious crowd at the gates of the hidden leaf. Stopping them is a large wall of blue flame. The goal of this angry mob was to extinguish the life of one Uzumaki Naruto. The aforementioned one created this obstruction. The flame, it appears has not yet been perfected by Naruto for it only lasted for close to 20 seconds and died down. The pursuers were jumping over the fire before it reached a foot's length. And like enraged lions, they dashed into the woods roaring their fury.

At first it took some time to find the trail true, at first thinking he vanished. After a while thought it wasn't too tough to follow by the leading few chuunins. They got about a half-kilometer into the forest when they first saw him dashing in the trees. All who were chasing felt their confidence in capturing Naruto rise knowing that Grumman's Gorge was not to far away. Naruto came to the deep expanse with eyes wide. The people gathered around him with menacing looks and gleeful eyes.

Naruto kept looking from the gorge to the mob. Back and forth it went for what seemed like an eternity, though few seconds passed. Coming to his final mind set, Naruto turns toward the others. He spreads his arms, closes his eyes, and leans back to his death. Applause, cheers, and whistles echo across as everyone takes a look over the edge at the falling deadman until he is encompassed in inky blackness. All leave in high spirits.

The only thing holding back Naruto's laughter was the knowledge that he would not be able to run away if he was caught, he had absolutely no physical energy left after using so much foxfire and running with legs that wouldn't get credit at a muscular dystrophy clinic. Using a bunshin as a decoy worked perfectly, but he still couldn't move. The only thing keeping him from being seen by the returning scum was the fact he was using henge as a squirrel in a tree at the moment. It was 20 minutes later that the last of the stragglers past him. It took about 4 hours later before Itachi found Naruto and brought him back to Konoha.

Naruto Pov

Some time later one could find, or more accurately not find, Itachi and I going down the street. Itachi was a black 17-year-old guy with dreadlocks, and I was a disgruntled looking 12-year-old girl sitting in a wheel chair (blonde huge pony tails, you know who I'm talking about). Both of us in a henge to get around with as little interference as possible. We were heading to my place. I needed rest and real bad. We just so happened to be passing the Nara residence and I had to make myself known.

Shikamaru is visible even in the quarter kilometer distance. Anyone who knew him for longer then a day would know he's taking his dear sweet time doing what ever the hell it is he's doing. All I could see from the range I was at was him poking his head in and out of the Nara deer. In a few more short minutes I was at the fence waiting for a chance to call him out. It only took a second to remember how long something like that would take so made my move.

"HEY SHIKA-KUN!"

And what would have taken minutes only took another 30 seconds. I could see the spiked head weaving through the deer near me, the one next to me looked as if he was slapped in the face. The face was soon replaced by one of Shikamaru. His eyes slowly focusing on my whiskers, "wait a minute... is that you?" the look on this face was absolutely priceless, "yeah, so what you doing with your deer." The Shikamaru's brow furrows at my disguise before chuckling, "checking for pregnant doe, are you?"

"Oh very funny Nara, I just so happen to be looking for a game of shogi, interested?"

The thin smirk lifted to a grin on Shikamaru's face at the sound of his favorite game. He turned and waved me to follow, which I did until it came to his front steps. When he got passed the first step he looked back seemed to concentrate, "who's"- Itachi held his hand up right away, "She will tell you, can she stay with you Shikamaru-san?" A shrug came from Shikamaru, "Ja ne" Itachi left abruptly after taking one last look at Naruto. Shikamaru lifted the chair with me in it up the stairs. We went past the foyer and past the kitchen door before the trouble started. Shinobu(crazy lady) came rushing out of the portal wide eyed and mouth gaping, her gaze moving from her son to her guest over and over until it came resting on me. Suddenly a look of semi-relief came over her like a guy finding something he thought he lost, "Naruto are you alright, I heard about what happened?" My foxy grin rises faster then a phoenix, "no worries just a little tired, you mind if I crash-" grrrrrraaaaaaaagh! The effects of my stomach subsided and I suddenly felt all the hunger of 2 days hammer me to a near fetal position. Jaka from upstairs was the first to make comment, "Orange that is a disturbance of the peace, quiet down!"

While I rub my head in embarrassment, Shika chuckles, and Shinobu is slapping her knees and crying. It took several moments before Shinobu calmed down enough for speech but gave her consent for my stay and said something about making a ton of food. While she prepared the meal, Shika the strong took me from the chair and carried me bridal style to his room and set me down on the bed. He told me to wait. He left and later came back with a cup of hot water, a rag, and some bandages.

It was clear even before he said it, "remove the henge." His voice was firm but I cross my arms and pout. His voice softens, "please Naruto." I turn and I hear his exasperated sigh leave him, "so damn troublesome." I couldn't help but smirk at that. What he did next I would remember for the rest of my life. He sat down next to me and with out a word turns my head gently while the other hand snakes around my waist and places his lips over mine. His kiss is passionate and soft, chaste, to the point where I craved it. My whole body was on fire, he growls making my throat vibrate, it was freakish. With all my thoughts on the kiss my disguise falls and I am left before him in torn up jeans and relatively no shirt, covered in bruises and cuts. Smoothly like nothing happened at all he removes himself from me and goes for the rag and water.

"What the hell was that?" my voice barely above a whisper. He had a small tinge on his cheeks as he moved to wash and clean the cuts and dirt. But it was nothing considered to the rose on my cheeks. "I had to clean you up and I can't clean what I can't see." It was a shifty silence as he washed me up. As the time flew my mind kept running the kiss over and over again but it was like there was nothing in the thought. But when I put someone else in Shika's place, namely the one who knows me best I got a strange stirring in my gut. I wanted to feel that again. By the time my mind slowed again Shikamaru was throwing one of his net shirts, an exact replica of the one he had on under a black button up with flames bordering the edges.

We went down stairs, well Shika carried my feminine firm again, and into the kitchen for the grub. My eyes waved over the 4 different courses(she LOVES cooking) in wonder of their taste. I fill my plate with each one and pick up my fork. The moment the first forkful touches my tongue I think of one thing.

'Maliku I promise I will show you all the things you haven't seen'

Fin

Reviews of chap 3

Skuld's Sentaro4: She will never be yours kukuku

Johnny Q: Thank you

Stormraven: Cliffy's I don't think I will ever get bored of them

Kyuubi fan 2: Your like the other guy who doesn't know how to sleep

Ultima-03: Cliffs can hurt when fallen off of but they are my cliffs

D-sama: It takes me some time to update in some cases and thank you

Nightshade/Jonathan: Thank you

Flamer: it said in the summary it was kyuubi Naruto paring? Can anyone say ignorance

Fic Slayr: Thank you

Fic Slayr: Read on

Fic Slayr:Cliffys are good for you/ Maybe

Kyuubi:woops

Kisturumenokitsune: it took a while

Sbqchan:I am good at the cliff thing/ thank you

Arsenel: thank you I will

Shadow Elipse: yeah some time

ruby-sama aura-chan the neko-jin's yamiI aim to please

Big Daddy Cool: Thanks

Paul Phoenix: 1. how his father treats him/2. yes/ I think that when others grab concepts by the bandwagon approach like everyone hates Naruto, once they see some light everything is clear

Emissary of Death: :) thank you

Read and Review please :D

I plan 2 have updates within a 2 week span of time just to let you guys know