Kyuubi's Legacy
Chapter 7
By Night Kiryuu
DISCLAIMER: I Don't Own Naruto
Apologies for the long wait. Hope you all like it.
Previously: Both mothers looked at each other. Perhaps it wasn't so bad that they never got to put their plan into action. And that was okay.
In his dream, the sky roared with the might of the lightning. The trees around swayed to the song of the howling wind. For once, he could clearly see the face of his friend that once was. It was ridiculously easy now, to spot the seemingly faceless person. He had always wondered and questioned why he could not see him clearly. But now that he could see him, there was no need for that. He understood.
The war that played behind his closed eyes was a thing of fantasy. Though it was a war fought by two singular beings, the destruction left in its wake was terrifying. Two beings of fire, both wanting nothing more than the agonizing, but utterly seductive edge of revenge. The beauty of the flames, scorching and unyielding with its fatal bite left him breathless. He might have been young, but he recognized the power and sheer control the two warriors must have had. Even then, in the presence of such power, he could not tear his eyes from the warrior he had been watching. His friend. His guide. His eternal guardian. Kyuubi.
He was ripped from the realm of dreams with a pair of gentle arms. His vision blurred for a minute before he was able to see the smiling face of his mom. He gave her a grumpy look, he did not like to be awaken before he was ready. Looking around, he noticed the curious atmosphere in the house. He had the distinct impression he was missing something important. Seeing his mom, Naruto greeted her with a soft 'hello', and he got a smile out of her. It was then that he realized something. It was his fourth birthday. A feeling of anticipation gripped him, he had been waiting for this. If his dream was anything to go by, that impatient feeling that had been plaguing him for some time now was at full force, but he recognized that it would soon end when the sun went down. By then, his parents had better have some explaining to do.
XxX
Shusei slowly walked along the edge of the lake. It was a pleasant day, the sky was a curious shade of light blue ,and white fluffy clouds could be seen lazily swirling about. He didn't have to help his mother in the bakery today, and he did not have to spend anymore time around his siblings then necessary because really, sometimes they were such jerks. For the moment, he was content just sitting on the cool ground with his feet grazing the moist blades of green grass between his fingers and toes. The wind had lulled him into a sleepy haze, and he couldn't help the small smile that curled around his lips. Inevitably, his thoughts began to stray to Naruto, as they seemed to be doing quite frequently lately.
There was just something special about him, even then when he had caught a sight of him all those weeks ago, he had been drawn to him. It might have been the look of wonder so clearly etched across his exotic features, as if he had never seen such things (Naruto had later told him, to Shusei's surprised, that he hadn't) or the fact that he himself just wanted to get away from his horrid sister . Either way it must have been fate that drew him to become friends with Naruto. He used to be a bit intimidated that Hokage-Sama was Naruto's dad, but that feeling had been buried six feet under with a pile of cement when he found out how kind and silly Hokage-Sama really was.
He had been taken by surprised when Naruto introduced him to Hyuuga Hinata, the princes of the prominent Hyuuga Clan. He had felt the acidic tinge of green envy burn in his veins at the thought that he had to share his friend with a snobby girl. That painful burn had quickly dulled until it evaporated into smoke. He had to rethink his opinion of her rather quickly, when she went tomato red, and promptly fainted. Turned out that Hyuuga had issues, and he was quick to take her under his wing. After that, they were a group.
Out of the three of them, Naruto was the unspeakable leader of their little group, but to other people it would seem as if it was Shusei. Although he did not know how that came about, Shusei was more than willing to bet that Naruto wanted it that way, sometimes his blond friend could be manipulative like that. Hinata on the other hand, was more like the proverbial white flag for the group. Being the children they were, arguments tended to be a given, and Hyuuga, bless her soul, could freeze any and all petty arguments when she turned that milky white, doleful gaze on them. As for him, he was the stopper of all the crazy plans Naruto might plot in the name of all things fun, and the occasional bouts of depression Hyuuga tended to have every now and then. In short, he was the sane one and thus the voice of reason.
Then there was Uchiha, he honestly didn't know what was up with him, but he seemed to have this thing with Naruto. In which Naruto's eyes would light up with amusement, and the corner of Uchiha's mouth would curl to give an odd quirky smile, as if they knew something the other one knew didn't but would not dare tell. Shusei always saw the older boy whenever Naruto was up to something, and in those times he would swear that the usually stoic Uchiha found some sick amusement in Naruto's plots. If Shusei was honest with himself, he would admit that the presence of Uchiha was not so bad, and somehow the situation always turned out way more amusing when he was around to act as Naruto's consultant. But Shusei never saw him outside of those times. Somehow, all of them were in an alliance that was friendship-but-not-really because they only knew each other a couple of weeks. However, Shusei had high hopes for them all, after all if they manage to get into all of those shenanigans in that short time, then they could become great friends in the future.
For now, he had a party to got to.
XxX
Several Hours Later...
XxX
"So he was like 'its you! Now where's my money', and I was like 'I think you got the wrong person'. Then he was like 'Nu-huh you're that crazy lady who owes me money' and I was like 'the heck!I don't owe you no money', then the stingy old coot called out his lackeys to beat me up, ME! Ha, as if they ever had a chance. Too bad we had to turn tail once the coppers got there. Sigh, and the sake was so good there".
A few feet away, a son was face palming.
The obnoxious singing was making his ears bleed. He really wanted that cake, but those sadists refused to give him some until they tortured him, hence the singing. "Happy Birthday dear..." Nope, Naruto was most definitely not listening to this heinous wail they called singing anymore.
After making his wish, he was swiftly and unexpectedly thrown head first into the cake.
This meant...WAR!
It didn't particularly surprised anyone when a food fight ensued.
In a corner, two shadowy figures plotted and had their heads thrown back into a psychotic cackle. Nobody gave them a second glance. They, as ninjas and the people around them were far too use to this sort of things to actually be healthy...
XxX
An Amusing Party Later...
XxX
Sitting in front of him were the only two out of the four people in the world that Naruto would do anything for, and because he loved them so much, he did not have any problem giving them The Look. It was kind of amusing, he admitted, seeing his parents squirm like restless children when the only child in the room looked calm and composed, as if nothing could ever possibly bother him. In fact, Naruto almost felt bad for putting them on the spot like this...wait, no he didn't, it was funny. The way they were longingly staring at the door told him they were regretting not getting smashed like his grandparents. He figured he ought to put them out of their misery, and finish this conversation as soon as possible, he was quite tire after all.
Giving them a soft smile, Naruto softly asked them to explain, and somehow this was more terrifying then if he were demandingly screaming for answers. They knew it, he knew it, they knew he knew it, and he knew they knew that he knew it. He also knew they were regretting those lessons with grandma.
In a regretful tone, his mother began by saying, "When you were born, an old friend came to me, and asked for helped. Well, he didn't ask for it more like demanded it, but thats not the point. He was dying you see, and he was far too important to just disappear. I had known this person all of my life, and even thought he hated me at the beginning we grew to respect each other and eventually become friends. He was ancient despite his looks. Powerful beyond imagination, so when he showed up before us all wounded and in the brink of the death, we were scared. Despite this, he still managed to piss of your father with ridiculous jokes. Anyway, he asked us for you to be his predecessor, and that you would complete that which he did not. His name was Kyuubi and he was the Nine Tail Fox, Demon Lord of Chaos. Naruto, you're his memetic legacy."
This was no surprised for Naruto, he had suspected this. However, it did clear some of that confusion that had been driving him mad. On the other hand, he did not know how to feel knowing he was the very thing, the last thing a demon left in earth. A demon, weren't they supposed to be evil, did that make him evil. No! He refused to believe that, the person in his dreams, now identified, had smile, laugh, cried, and loved. But he had also hated, hated with such intensity that his very being had twisted away to the point of almost no return. But, he had been saved. A memory flashed in his head, an1d suddenly he was in the past. A little girl with hair the color of fresh blood, so like his own, was looking up at him with such love and trust in her brilliant violet eyes. For a moment, he could not breath. That rotten feeling in his chest, also known as hate, was leaving him. For a moment, he felt vulnerable and uncomfortable under her gaze. He felt fear for he did not like feeling helpless and he hated it. Another feeling took up residence in his chest, this one slowly then rapidly began to drown the other ones, for it was that intense. It felt like a long lost friend had come back to him, and he began to recognize it as love.
From the abyss of despair, he had been saved.
When he resurface from the deep well of his mind, he was able to catch the last of his mother's words. "...gift for you. Kyuubi said it was to be given to you on your fourth birthday. He was very cryptic, so we don't know much about it except that it is now yours to use as you wish. Sweetheart, we have always known you were special, even before Kyuubi. Since the beginning of my pregnancy, I known my child would be exceptional, and you are. You did not choose this, and I would not be surprised if you hated us for not giving you a choice in the matter. So please, think of this as Kyuubi's gift, he might have been a demon, but he was always there for me when I was all alone." her voice might have been even, but Naruto could tell she was closed to tears, and he admired her the more for it. He's father, who had been silent through out the whole ordeal finally spoke. "That crazy fox said to not disappoint him, but I believe that even if you try to, you could not fail him. You are everything he admired in humans. However, as your father, I must ask you to tone it down a bit with the pranks, those old cranky clansmen have been complaining, they do not know its you, and I would like it for it to remain that way. No need for them to come here demanding for an apology, got it." Naruto nodded. "Good."
While his father spoke, his mother had gone to get Kyuubi's gift. In her hands was a small elaborate box made out of ebony wood. The box had symbols that were carved on every surface, they glinted silver. As soon as Naruto's eyes caught sight of it, he knew it was his, and his very being screamed at him to get it and hold it closed to him. Gently, his mother placed it in his hands. He held it in one hand, and gave his mother the hug she clearly needed as an assurance that her son did not in fact hated her. The expression on her face was worth it.
XxX
Every one in the house was asleep, save one little boy. He could not sleep. The sweet embrace of dreams did not reach him. Everything about him felt awake, like he had been in a haze, and it had only recently been lifted. He could hear further, see everything in astounding clarity, and most important of all he could understand the whispers of life around him. When he had touched the box a barrier within him had broken, and memories of that night when Kyuubi came to his parents streamed into his consciousness. He saw that night so clearly through the eyes of the demon lord, and sometimes as if he was really there. The point was that he could not sleep, and in his restlessness he decided to investigate the box. He had not noticed before, but the symbols were always constantly moving and ever changing. It was giving him a headache. Despite this, the box opened, and a brilliant light flew out the box with astounding speed. He whistle appreciatively, a smirk slowly curling over his lips, 'Kyuubi really was a cunning old fox.' and as if it was reading his mind, it responded, "Those fools won't know what hit them." Naruto could only wholly agree.
End Chapter.
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