Part 9- Fate
Fate rides an indecisive wind of war, no one knows what will happen, and fate can only ever turn up in the worst of situations.
Iruka had been sent to meet Kakashi and Neji's team to get Naruto whilst the Hokage addressed their villagers from the roof. And he found them stumbling with Kurenai's team not far behind, Iruka ran out to greet them, he gasped when he saw both Nara Shikamaru and Uchiha Sasuke's eyes staring at him blankly from their sockets.
"Both are dead…" Kakashi said thickly. Iruka nodded.
"The Sandaime said to go straight to the roof we are holding the trial up there," Iruka sniffed and wiped his eyes on his sleeve, he spared a glance at Naruto who was slung between Asuma and Kurenai who nodded and progressed up the stairs.
"Should we bring these two?" Neji muttered,
"Leave them down here for the moment and then Hokage-sama can examine them later," Iruka waved the others to follow.
"Where am I?" Naruto opened his eyes, Asuma stopped. Iruka turned back
"Naruto?"
The blonde cocked his head to one side and gave a sharp toothed grin, Iruka withdrew as if he had been burnt, this was not Naruto staring out of those bouncing blue eyes, Naruto was no longer there, he may look like Naruto but the Naruto the practical joker, chaos maker and No. 1 hyperactive Ninja was gone. In his place was a savage demon that had finally broken free.
"Y-you aren't Naruto!"
"I am Naruto, I am Kyuubi no Kitsune, I am a demon and I am anything you want me to be." Said the corpse, it grinned again.
Kakashi stared and then flinched as he felt a medic Nin begin to heal his broken hand.
"You will be facing council in a few moments Naruto-kun… Are you ready?" Lee came up with Gai.
The mask of Naruto grinned more hugely than ever, as they all ascended to stairs to await Uzumaki Naruto's fate.