Uzumaki Nari

Nari's Mind

STOP FIGHTING ME! The voice snapped.

LEAVE ME ALONE! She snapped back. THIS IS MY BODY, NOT YOURS. I WON'T LET YOU TAKE ME OVER!

You have no choice but to let me in, child. I am part of you, I am you. I only have your best interests at heart.

Then why does it always hurt? Why is it whenever you appear I always hurt? Why did you make me change? Who are you? What are you?

I don't wish for your pain, child. I only seek to protect you from danger, to ensure your safety.

Nari felt something warm wrapping around her, cloaking her in safety. She could feel the furry softness brush against her. Her heart pounded in her chest. Some kind of creature lived inside of her mind. It was a very realistic creature, one that was convinced that all it was doing was for her own good. Why couldn't it see that it was pushing away people who cared about her, who may actually care? Why wouldn't it give her a chance to make friends, to be normal, to be part of the world?

Because the world isn't safe for people like you and your brother. Should they know about your secrets, the world will do all it can to ensure your demise.

So you refuse to allow me to experience the world on my own?

And risk you being damaged? I can't allow that.

If you won't tell me who or what you are, then what am I supposed to think of you?

Think of me as your mother trying to protect her child.

My mother's not an animal.

Maybe I am the remaining will of your mother who hopes to keep you protected from the very dangers that will destroy you. Nari, something rubbed against her, trying to comfort her, please do not fight me on everything. Perhaps we can meet in the middle.

Can you make this pain go away?

As long as you stop fighting me. Now child, I will allow you to experience the world, but if I tell you that someone's dangerous, please listen to me and allow me to do what I'm supposed to do.

Okay.

I'm glad that you've come to understand.

Is it true? Is it because of you that I suddenly want to become a ninja?

Yes. If you are defenceless, you'll be killed much quicker.

I don't want to kill people though.

As long as you learn how to defend yourself and have adequate jutsus, you can become a ninja that heals others. You have many capabilities that I can sense. You'll be an excellent healing ninja.

Isn't that against your nature though?

My nature?

You kill. Your nature is destructive and full of bloodshed and death.

Do not worry about my nature. Focus on what you want to become as a ninja. Never mind me. Only listen to me when I deem danger is around. I will keep you safe. All you have to do is allow me to do that when the time comes.

What do I call you?

Ryuna. My name is Ryuna.

Instead of a mother looking after a child, maybe I'll think of you as my friend.

Nari swore she could have felt a smile.

You'd be the first to consider me as such. I hope you still think that way when you discover what I really am.

Hokage's Office

Nari felt the pain recede. Peeling her eyes open, she stared directly at the doctor in front of her. There was fear but relief suddenly rushed out of him in a breath. When he instructed on what he was going to do, she just nodded. First he shone a light in her eyes. After that was done, he did other tests she unfocused on. Her gaze searched the room. Naruto was talking with the Hokage, the Suna team stood nearby listening in. Not one of them looked her way, so she was safe from scrutiny for a while.

The doctor looked at the Hokage. 'Since he's busy, can you tell him that I found no problems?'

She nodded and watched as he slipped out of the room.

Did he really find no problems or was he just saying that so he could escape quicker? Whatever the case, something must have happened if he held fear towards her for a moment. She wasn't so sure. She turned her focus onto the six ninjas around the desk. Their voices were low. Perhaps they hadn't wanted to break the doctor's concentration when he was helping her out. Standing, she checked her stability before taking a step forward. While they were busy debating whatever it was they were debating, she walked up to the desk and watched them.

The creature she had come to a compromise with stirred. She felt it throughout her whole being.

That boy emits a dangerous energy. He's dangerous.

There were only three boys in the room, her brother, the redhead and the purple makeup wearing one. Her brother wasn't the one Ryuna was on about. The boy wearing makeup didn't seem dangerous enough. So the one she was on about was the redhead. She immediately understood when she felt that aura wrapping around her. She hoped that whatever dangerous part of him hadn't targeted her specifically or she was in trouble. Since she wasn't a ninja, she didn't have any fighting experience. If she were to go in battle against someone right now she would lose and be killed.

The redhead turned feeling her gaze on him. He had no eyebrows, black surrounding his eyes and a kanji for love on the left side of his head. His arms were crossed defensively over his body and his eyes burned hatefully at her. She was positive that he didn't hate her personally. It seemed he hated the world personally and everyone in it. In other words, he was everything she had accused Ryuna of. He was a killer, a top notch one and very capable at it. He wouldn't hesitate to kill her either.

'I see you're back with us now.'

She turned to face the Hokage. She nodded. 'Gomen just had a little weakness there for a moment.'

'That wasn't weakness, Nari. You were in tremendous pain. I'd like to look further into it. Until I can deem that you're fine, I'm going to have to contain you until you've been thoroughly examined.'

Nari's eyes flashed in anger. 'You're going to experiment on me despite knowing how much I hate it?'

'It's for your own good.'

'You're seriously going to argue this here in front of the Suna ninjas?'

'That's my line.'

'Beat you too it first,' she said folding her arms. The Hokage struggled to retain from smiling. 'I did say I'd let you know if I find anything out. I've found some information, but I'm not going to talk about it in front of them.'

She looked at the Suna ninjas and eyed them from head to toe. She didn't like them and she made that adamant as she looked at them. The redhead seemed to share the same opinion about her. The other boy glared as if he found her disrespectful. The girl was curious but not happy about being kept in the dark. The sensei, their sensei anyway, looked generally unhappy anyway.

Turning back to the Hokage, she didn't reframe from hiding her contempt with the Suna ninjas. 'They need to disappear.'

'Nari,' the Hokage scolded. 'Be nice. They're allied with us. You shouldn't be disrespectful towards your allies.'

'Allies or not, they haven't earned my trust. Therefore they need to disappear.'

The Hokage settled with giving her a warning look before he turned to the Suna ninjas. 'Forgive me but could you excuse us for a moment? As soon as I've finished up with Nari, I shall be right with you.'

'Of course, Hokage-sama.' The Suna sensei said bowing. He led his team out of the door.

Nari listened for a moment, her eyes glaring at the door. She wanted to make sure that they weren't on the other side, listening in. She was tempted to go over, open the door to find out. She reframed but only barely. Clenching her fists, she tried to maintain control over her curiosity. Instead she probed around inside of her head, wondering if Ryuna would give any hint.

They're not there.

She turned to the Hokage, happy with her confirmation.

'My ears and tail were brought on by Ryuna,' she told him. 'She hasn't told me all the details yet, but once she does I'll be sure to pass them along. She's also going to help me if I ever get in a difficult situation.'

'Ryuna? Do you know anything about Ryuna?'

'Sadly no. I only know that she's there to help me out, protect me, and to keep me safe. We've come to a compromise. She'll allow me to experience the world and do what I want to do as long as I listen to her whenever she tells me there's danger, and to let her do what she needs to do when there is danger.'

He sighed and leaned back in his chair. 'It's not the amount of information I was expecting. But that puts a name to the creature inside of you.'

'How do you know it's a creature?' she asked suspiciously.

'I have my suspicions that you have a demon inside of you.'

'You mean like I have the Kyubi inside of me?' Naruto asked bewildered.

'Hai. I believe this Ryuna is a demon like the Kyubi. There's no way for me to tell without her confirming it with you, but during the moment when you were in pain, your eyes were a different colour. I suppose I can't stop you from doing what you want to do.'

'She was the one to have wanted me to become a ninja.' The Hokage frowned. 'She wanted me to be able to protect myself from danger. She said if I were defenceless, I would be killed.'

'Very well, I'll have you trained to be a ninja. But the first sign that you're not yourself or you're losing control, I'm confining you, you understand?'

'Hokage-sama…'

'I mean it, Nari. We don't understand anything of what's happened to you. Until we know that you're not of any danger to the village or to anyone, you have to be kept an eye on.'

Agree with the plan.

She nodded reluctantly. 'So what team do I join?'