Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine, though the plot is. Narufan0001 owns Gwen.
Chapter 8: Demons and Shadows
"Every single one of us has a fanged beast hidden within the depths of our minds. It lies there, waiting in the dark reaches of a person's soul and it appears in our lowest moments. It doesn't matter how strong you think you are. When the beast comes, it is impossible to control. It can even end up hurting those who are closest to you. But if the monster can be tamed, reigned in with the strength of your will, it can become a magnificent power… And can even make your dreams reality."
~Yuuhi Kurenai~
"MY SISTER IS NOT GOING ON A TRAINING MISSION WITH SOME ANBU THAT I BARELY KNOW!"
Gwen winced at the loud voice. Onoki and Deidara were having yet another fight, but it was starting to become the norm. Ittan sat outside the office with her, reading a bright orange book.
"How long do you think this is going to take?" Gwen asked, bored.
"No idea. Tsuchikage-sama can yell at someone for hours, so…" the ANBU officer trailed off as the kage's voice started yelling.
"I DON'T CARE! HE CAN PROTECT HER! I TRUST HIM TO PROTECT ME, SO HE CAN EASILY PROTECT SOME LITTLE GIRL!"
Gwen twitched. "Did he just call me little?"
Ittan almost wanted to laugh. It seemed that the little four year old had a temper on her just like her brother. "Yes, yes he did."
She growled under her breath and then stalked towards the door, slamming it open in the process. The two heads inside whipped towards her.
"NOT NOW!" they both screamed in unison, causing them to again start yelling at each other.
"STOP COPYING ME, YOU OLD GEEZER!"
"I AM NOT OLD, YOU LITTLE BRAT!"
Ittan hummed, almost cheerful. "You know, they throw horribly clichéd insults at each other."
"Yeah, they do. It's almost like Tsuchikage-sama is a child too," Gwen replied, sighing as she realized that the two weren't even paying attention to them.
"He practically is," Ittan agreed easily as he swept the mission folder off the desk, Gwen following him out the door.
"When do you think they'll notice?" Gwen asked as they quickly walked out of the building.
"Tsuchikage-sama noticed immediately, but I doubt Deidara-kun will for a couple of hours," the brunette answered.
"So, what are we doing?" the small girl asked.
"We're going out to the forest to see how much destruction you can cause," Ittan answered, smiling slightly beneath his mask.
Gwen smiled. "Awesome."
x~x~x
Laying on the forest ground, the exhausted girl smiled at the leaves above her. She was tired, so tired she could barely move, but she was proud of the damage she had done. She was actually laying in a small crater she had created using one of her explosives. It was about the size of a well done exploding tag, but she knew as she practiced, she would become better and better.
Ittan paused from his reading, frowning at the forest around them. He silently approached the sleepy girl, and putting a finger to his lips, handing her a kunai. The color in her tanned skin drained as she realized what was going on.
Maniacal laughter suddenly filled the clearing, the killer intent so strong that Gwen almost puked. The sound seemed to come from everywhere, making it impossible to locate the source.
Rapidly making hand signs, he stepped away from Gwen, whispering, "Earth Release: Rock Shelter."
A dome of earth rose above her, surprising her at its unexpectedness. She stiffly stood up, looking at the smooth wall. There was no way for her to get out.
"Oh, how funny," Gwen heard, "It seems that the Explosion Release Kekkei Genkei hasn't been wiped out. And here I thought that I'd never get a hold of it."
"You're still never going to get it," the ANBU snarled, subtly placing a hand on the dome. When it came away, there were two perfect eye holes for Gwen, who quickly took use of them. Peering out, she saw a very pale man that looked almost snake-like.
The man smirked. "Oh, but I already have," he sang out, just as Gwen felt scaly creatures wrapping around her body. Screaming with alarm, she barely noticed when the woman from before appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
Slicing through the snakes easily with her scythe, Megan caught the girl as she fainted, events from the day catching up with her. She sat the girl down, and then easily phased through the earth barrier.
Ittan looked so alarmed that it was almost comical, and she couldn't even see his face. Orochimaru himself had taken a step back, and then looked her straight in the eye.
Shit! Megan thought just as she was sucked into a genjutsu.
x~x~x
She was falling through darkness, with shadows that seemed to slither and crawl, whispering her worst fears and secrets in her ears.
Without a consciousness, the Juubi roared to life, with Megan's eye shooting open, the green now red. The snake took a large step back, shock briefly written on his face. Megan's face split into a bloodthirsty grin, and she leapt at the man, who barely got out of the way.
Ittan was slowly backing up, attempting not to be seen. The movement attracted the rabid Megan, who then lunged at him, deeming him a worthy target.
Megan, trapped in her own head, attempted to somehow get purchase in the shadowy depts. Juubi? Where are you? Damn it, I need help!
When she realized that no one was going to help her, she started to struggle against the strangling shadows. Kai! Let me out! KAI!
Finally staring through her own eyes, she realized that she had no control over her body. Trees had been knocked down, and destruction was everywhere. The ANBU was clutching his arm, which had a long jagged scratch running down it, and Orochimaru was nowhere to be seen. She hoped Gwen was okay.
Oh, so you finally escaped from the illusion.
Give me my body back, you asshole!
The biju chuckled. You'll have to fight to get it back!
Invisible hands seemed to grasp at her throat, cutting off her air supply. Megan internally struggled, ripping into the hands with claws. I want control! This is my body, NOT YOURS!
Megan gasped suddenly of her own violation as the Juubi let go of control. Oh well. It's only a matter of time.
You've waited for this all along?!
Of course. What, you really thought that I would be a docile little pet? NEVER!
Megan belatedly realized that her arms were covered with scratches from her internal struggle with the ten-tails. Though they were already healing, they stung, causing her to quietly whimper. The ANBU was staring at her with shock, but at the moment she couldn't blame him. She probably looked terrible.
Fumbling with the seals, she teleported to the room in the Ame base, and stared at the wall blankly for about an hour before she forced herself to stand and look in the mirror.
Her eye wasn't red anymore, though she had never seen the change, she had felt it when her supposedly normal eye flooded with demonic chakra, causing it to turn a bright red. Her eye stripes were slightly more prominent, and looked more purple than blue at the moment, though they were still slowly turning back to normal. Her hair was also wilder, but she thought that it could have been the tussle that had caused that.
Juubi?
What is it?
Megan stared into her own eyes, wondering what to say. She felt betrayed. She had known that he was a demon, but it didn't stop her from feeling as though he were her friend.
Why?
Power. It is what keeps this world turning, even though your pathetic human mind believes that it's love. Do you know what it's like to be trapped? It's the worst feeling you will ever have. Once you taste freedom, there is nothing compared to that feeling!
I'm sorry. If I could give you a chance at a real life, without having to worry about you killing everyone, I would give it to you. I don't know how, though.
The Sage would. But you are not him, only a poor imitation that is half blinded with infatuation.
I know.
And I am sorry.
