(EDITE) Sorry for the inconvenience of double e-mails. I forgot to let you guys know I made an update to chapter 15 - please go look. Thanks.

Update! (Why do I always write that before I say something up here?) Alright so let's get strait to the,

FEED BACK

To Grocamol: I hope this chapter answers your first question. As for the second; Orochimaru, (aka creepy cross-dressing snake man,) is not available at this moment, due to the fact it's gotten so cold he has frozen his tongue to his katana. ^^; (Good do happen in life!)

To Kitsune Lover 101: Heehee, thanks - wow, I've never had a number 1 fan before. *Blushes deep red.* Thank you so much! :D

Animefan1997: Aww-thank you so much! Wow, I'm glad my writing is pleasing people. ^ _ ^

Evci: Thank you - I will continue to pump out as much story as I can! X3

Now for the story. I have to say, this chapter is not for the faint of heart. I'm a little nervous about it, and I'm crossing my fingers that you guys wont hate it. (I'm a pessimist - sue me!) We are going to start moving out of Naruto's cuteness stage, or maybe I should say, 'larger then life KAWAIINESS!' After this he is going to start to grow up, (Eer, I think - see I still need to write the next chapter.)

Naruto has gone through a lot of stages so far, from being a 12 year old genin of the Leaf, to a mere innocent child. The next stage, (not seen in this chapter,) will revolve around him knowing nothing but a demons life, and having his past ambitions collide with these ones off the future. He will be a teenager soon, and I'm hoping to pull off a mischievous trickster, with a hint of something that put others on edge kind of feel. (Yeah, these are just speculations.) So Naru fan girls - get ready! Hahaha. I'm still working out the kinks.

Anyway on with the chapter - and thank you all again for your support! :3

-TheNineTailedKitsune

Chapter 16 – I Am a Demon

"Oto nin'." The old woman hissed. "What do you want here?"

"Just to bring your little group back home with us Baa-chan. Ya' see, the Otokage's got some special experiences – or maybe I should say experiments - in mind for you."

Naruto hissed as a kunai flashed past him. The old woman snatched it out of the air. "Really? You can send him my regards since we'll not be able to make it."

"Oh, I'm sure you'll find the time. So just come quietly like the rest of your clan and we'll let you live – with out broken bones!"

Naruto was shaking now… these people – they were dangerous, he could taste it on the air. Nightmares passed through his mind as he backed away. He didn't want to be scorned at; he didn't want them to get close enough to hurt him.

The old woman had set herself in a fighting stance, while put her body between the enemy ninja and the children.

One of them snorted, "Think you can fight us all grandma?"

"Age means little when it comes to knowledge brat. To me you are nothing more then a babe just finishing to sucker." She brought her hands up and performed a hand seal. "Ninpo Undine Chēn no Jutsu!" (Water Nymph Chain Jutsu)

The air around them dampened as particles of water formed in front of the old woman. Soon the form of a beautiful young girl stood before the attackers. She was completely made out of water. The older woman moved her hands swiftly, and the creature skated through the air in a clear blue rush. Water separated from its self, and rapped around the ninja it could catch.

"Err – this bag of wrinkles isn't playing around Hurumi –"

The first attacking ninja snarled. Yeah he knew, and it was about time they put her in her place.

"Yuri, you're a water style type – show her what it's like to have ones own technique turned against them!"

One of the females on there team nodded, and touched a mark on her hand. The others watched as it began to spread across her body like ripples of liquid.

Naruto hissed, what was that stuff crawling on her skin? It didn't smell normal and it felt… evil. He took another step back sensing similar feelings from the others. 'There all tainted with something, and smell like snake.'

"Huh, go ahead little one. Let's see how this fight plays out."

The young woman just gave the most blood cold smile Naruto had ever seen. "Very well… Water Possession Jutsu!"

It wasn't a moment later that the water binding her allies was gone, and forming around her. "And now Suiryūdan no Jutsu!" (Water Dragon Bullet)

Five different water serpents shot after the little group. In a blur of movement something had grabbed Naruto around the waist, and they were flying backward. After hitting something with a jolt he struggled to break free from the arms holding him. They went limp almost instantly.

"Granny!"

Naruto rolled over from the place he'd fallen on the ground; he could smell blood. Above him sat the old woman. Her head had been cracked against the tree, while her body protected Naruto and Metsure from the oncoming attack. Metsure was crying.

"Shuuhh, it's alright dear…" the elder tried to stand but could barely move. Her body shook with pain and adrenalin.

"W-why?" Naruto asked her after she'd turned to lean against the tree. She just smiled as a trail of blood left her mouth. Naruto was confused. Why had this human sacrificed herself for him?

"Got anything else to say, or are you going to come quietly now?" the male leader said as the old girl pushed herself to her feet.

"Like there is a chance of that…" she coughed up blood. "I'll protect these kids with my life."

"Not much left of that is there?"

"Old hag – what are you doing?" Naruto snarled as she readied herself to fight again. "Get behind me Metsure, you to Naru-kun."

Naruto just growled at her with his ears back, and his tails down between his legs. It was the only the only reason the other ninja hadn't noticed him for what he was yet. All the same he was frightened, but also angry. Who did this lady think she was jumping in and saving him – and taking a blow like that – it was obviously going to kill her! He didn't like humans, and he didn't want one protecting him… it was all so confusing.

"Then shall we begin again?" the water wielder's body was almost completely black.

"Yuri – don't waste your time going into second level!" barked their leader. Of course she wasn't listening. The others were circling the group huddled around the tree, just waiting for the order to grab them all.

By this time Naruto, though scared, was getting royally fed up. He didn't like being ignored – as a possible threat that is – especially by humans who threw there weight around like high demons.

"Hey freaks – yeah you – you guy's smell like old snake skin." Naruto said in a quit yet deadly voice, the anger from before still bubbling up inside of him. He wasn't like these things; he was a strong demon prince – not a weak arrogant human! In fact he would prove the old hag how wrong she'd been now. Naruto let off a large amount of killing intent. The shinobi in front of them actually shuddered, along with Metsure and her grandma.

"W-what the heck is that thing?" one of them stuttered, a hand gripping his kunai.

"I thought it was a kid… doesn't look like he's with the caravan though, hair and skins to bright."

"That's right – ugly – and I'm gonna' kill you!" Naruto forced his ears to rise a bit, and his tails to puff up threateningly.

"He's a demon!" hissed one of the other men, and they readied themselves.

"I bet it's that same one that helped the girl earlier – watch him all of you!"

"Yeah, yeah Kento. Leave it to you to get beaten by a little baby."

"Hey –"

There was a swift movement and Kento dropped to the ground. Naruto had one of his kunai in his hand. He ran his tongue over the blade, now already dripping in blood. "You should pay more attention to you opponent."

'This kid's not normal…' the leader realized giving the others looks of, 'stay back until I tell you what to do.'

Yuri, now finishing the transformation to her second level of the curse-seal, looked read to kill. "Huh, Kento was a weakling – let's see how you fair against this! Odoru Mizu!" (Water Danc!) Naruto looked at her misshapen form in discussed. She was like a grey slippery monster... every thing about her was cold wet and moldy.

He just dodged her attack with a fierce snarl. Something primitive and untamable had woken in the little boy. Suddenly this contest wasn't about wining or loosing, but how much blood could be spilt. He bared his teeth viscously and attacked her. The water she tried to use on him turned to nothing but steam as it reached his body. Naruto tore through her arm like it was slime. She jumped back only to reform a new limb as the other dissipated into liquid.

Naruto sputtered a hiss at her, when someone landed a kick on his back. After hitting the ground, he pushed himself up and ripped into the one who attacked him. This one was not so lucky, and was dead before he could trigger his curse mark past the first stage.

Naruto looked sick as he smelled the air. The first mans blood had tasted awful, now the smell was heavy on the breeze. The only ones left standing were the two women and their leader. They'd all entered the second level of transformation.

"Hurumi, this kid could be useful for Orochimaru-sama." The one beside Yuri spoke delicately. The kid was strong, and bringing him back could higher their status with the Snake Sanin.

Yuri spat some blood. Although her arm seemed healed she still retained some damage from the attack. Even now she could feel the kids burning chakra eating at her arm. "I say we kill him – bring his corps back! Let him be studied by Kabuto or something –"

"No." Harumi said raising a clawed hand with mutable shiruken. "He's a goldmine – think of what it would do for us to bring him back. Tomoko, incapacitate him while we strike!"

Naruto felt fire running through his blood. Who were they, to think of him as some sort of prize to be offered? He didn't know why, but just the name 'Orochimaru', made him want to tear somebody's throat out.

He crouched and felt his fury manifest itself in waves. He didn't even notice that, instead of his usual brilliant blue chakra, the power he was radiating was a pure blood red with strikes of gold. It enveloped his body like a bubbling cloak, forming multiple chakra tails behind him. He looked back at them; two of the limbs were natural, while seven had been completely made by the power of Kyuubi.

He grinned, yes this was a gift from his Tou-san, and he was going to use it.

The next attack came from the shiruken which he hadn't dodged. They burned to a crisp as they met the chakra. He giggled.

This was going to be fun.

Yuri and Hurumi came at him with water and earth techniques. Hurumi even went as far as to try and bury him. What an idiot!

Of course even with his increased power, Naruto had never fought ninja before; not in this life time. He didn't even understand what made their aura become so much stronger, and horrific then it already was. Just as he was shooting out of the earth, something hard and tight had rapped around him. He clawed and bit, scraping his teeth against some kind of mettle. The Sound Nin' above him just held a blank look. Her body now like living mettle, had separated from her hands, putting the boy in lock down; she was already draining his chakra.

'… Why do I feel like I'm getting weaker? What's she doing…?' Naruto still had the cloak around him, but if he didn't do something soon he would run out of energy.

"Hey, Tomoko – share with the rest of will ya'! I want a little pay back after what he did to my arm." Yuri spat, but couldn't come any nearer with out steam rising from her wet skin. It seemed only Tomoko could get close enough to the kitsune with out getting burned.

"A little greedy aren't you?"

"You and your stupid kekkei-genkai …" Yuri said with cold loath. Hurumi was at her side pulling her back by the shoulder.

"Enough!" he ordered, then turned his gaze on the mettle weilder. "Don't drain him to much – just enough to make him unconscious."

"Hai."

So that was it, she was draining his chakra. Well two could play at this game. Naruto smirked innocently up at the blank faced woman.

"What?" she asked.

"I was just thinking of what a big treat I'm going to give you. I hope you're hungry." Chakra and killing intent, the likes of which hadn't been seen for thousands of years, was pumped out of his body and drained by the mettle. There was a screech from above.

Heh, no matter how twist a human could make themselves, none could just handle the power of a demon. She was dead before she hit the ground, and the mettle around him broke.

"T-tokomo!" Hurumi choked out, tears were actually running down his face as he went to the body. Naruto ignored him as Yuri came at him again. 'Heh, she thinks I'm weaker thanks to that little trick… well, I've got more then enough power left for you water bug.'

He reached out with a chakra, arm catching her around the middle. She sizzled away like water at the bottom of a bubbling cauldron. Naruto threw his head back and roared. It wasn't human and it wasn't like a child. All life in the next hundred miles fled or shuddered in there hiding places.

"T-tokomo…" Hurumi cradled her head in his lap. She was gone… gone! Naruto stood over him, his usual blue eyes blood red and ready to kill.

"Stop – Naruto-kun!" a little voice cried. His ear flickered. A voice, so small and insignificant… He raised his clawed hand above the man's head.

"STOP!"

His head snapped in the direction of the scream. Metsure had her fist balled and she was shaking, her grand mother still bleeding heavily, had slipped to the ground eyes half closed.

Naruto just snarled. She was annoying, maybe he should kill her first.

"Don't do this… I know you're a demon but – but you're being a meanie!" snot and tears were rolling down her face, and through all the hate, Naruto could sense her sorrow.

"Get… away." He commanded in a harsh tone. It still sounded young, but had the gravely sensation of a predator.

"N-no I gotta' help Baa-san!" she squeaked.

Naruto sniffed the air listening. There was barely a heart beat left to hear. "She'll be dead soon."

"No!" sobbed the little girl. The cloak around him disappeared. Naruto walked up to her and bent at the crippled woman's side.

"Yo, Baa-chan, you know you're gonna die, right?"

Her eyes barely flickered up to him. They were already loosing their light. "What do you think now… still want to call me a human like you?"There was movement behind him. Naruto spun, clawed hand breaking through ribcage and lung, before exiting out of the figures back. Hurumi choked as he drowned in his own blood. The last breath he had was spent cursing the little demon kitsune. Naruto just pulled his hand back in discussed, and let the body drop. Metsure had a fresh wave of tears flowing, she was terrified. Naruto's narrow eyes took her in, and saw the thin old fingers that rapped around her tiny hand.

"Shuu, little one… The boy is right; I will not walk away from this."

"Granny!" she buried her face into the old woman's chest.

"Tsk, and here I was hoping to die at a ripe old age in a comfortable bed… Metsure, I am so sorry for all the blood shed you've had to witness. My poor little girl."

Naruto crouched next to them, and Metsure cringed back. He didn't let it faze him.

"To answer your question, Naruto-kun… I see how very much of a demon you are…" she raised a hand and touched his chest with a figure. "But there is also a light in your heart…" she coughed and blood spilled again.

"Huh… not for you…" he said softly his eyes drifting a bit. She really was a stupid old fool... she should have saved her last breath. Metsure felt hollow as she sensed her grandmother's spirit drift away. She was crying again, it reminded Naruto of something long ago; a scream he had felt in his own heart. He raised her up to her feet, and she didn't bother to struggle.

"I'm going to take all the pain away now…" he whispered in her ear, she would have shivered if she didn't feel so empty inside.

Something soft touched the top of Metsure's forehead. The last thing she saw before the darkness took her, were two deep shimmering blue eyes.

###

"…tsure… Metsure wake up…" a gentle touch on her face.

She blinked, "Huh…?" wasn't she supposed to be…? "Obaa-chan!" she cried. Her voice was horse, and barely coming above a whisper. The woman above, one of her clan members frowned sadly.

"Metsure, how do you feel?"

"…Na – Naru…" she coughed blinking. That boy, he had said he was going to take the pain away… She thought she was dead. But the stiffness from lying on the ground, told her just how alive she was. "The kitsune…" she mumbled as her eyes drifted closed. She still felt so weak. "…prince…"

###

Naruto watched the party of humans below from a spot in the trees. It had been easy to free them. It seemed that the jutsu holding them prisoner dispelled when the Oto shinobi died. He'd made sure to get some of their attention and lead them to Metsure and the old woman's body. None were ninja, so it was easy enough to fool them, even if they were scared and suspicious. He just made enough movement, and sound through the trees to get them to follow after him.

With that kiss one Metsure's forehead, he had done his best to erase the memories from her mind. It seemed she still remembered him though… it wouldn't matter, by the time she awoke, the battle would be nothing but a loose nightmare and he would have been forgotten. Dropping from the tree he reverted to fox form. The movement started one of the caravan members, and he caught sight of the kit.

"Huh…?" he blinked and the beast was gone. Scratching the back of his head he looked confused.

"What's wrong Ruruki?"

"I thought I saw a fox."

The woman, now with the girl's body in her arms, turned to look at him. Her eyes were a bit wide.

"What is it?" he asked her.

"It's just..." she glanced down at the girl. "She said… there was a 'kitsune prince' here."

"A spirit of the forest?" another woman supplied as everyone looked at the carnage. They knew that the old wise woman had been a powerful ninja once, but to take out a band of Oto nin' by herself was an unbelievable feat. They also knew her abilities reflected mostly around water, while this clearing looked scorch in places.

"A Fox Spirit protected Metsure?" the woman looked down at the child in her arms. There was a smear of blood across her forehead, but no injuries on her. Wiping the blood away, she saw a tiny mark beneath its place; a little orange swirl that slowly faded to black before disappearing completely. Something had touched this girl and saved her from death, of that she was certain. She hugged the child close to her, while little pools of tears formed in her eyes and murmured, "Arigato …"

###

Kyuubi watched the entire seen from the shadows. It had taken all his being not to lung out and protect his kit. He could tell Naruto was scared when the shinobi finely decided to strike. 'How easy it would be just to kill them all.' That was when the old one had protected the human girl and his child. The look Naruto wore as he stared back at her mirrored the Nine-Tails own feelings, and more. Not a moment later the shock had melted into anger. Familiar killing intent filled the air as his son's eyes and claws sharpened. Before he could blink one of the shinobi was already killed, with his kit holding a kunai t his lips.

"You should pay more attention to you opponent."

Kyuubi's gaze narrowed intensely as he realized what was happening. Naruto was running purely off of demon instinct, and it was coming in killer waves. His lip turned up in a murderous smile. These foolish humans didn't know what they had stumbled upon.

Then he had smelled it. The sent of misshapen twisted blood. Kyuubi growled low. These were no ordinary mortals. Something had poisoned them giving them strength. He now understood what his son had meant by the smell of snake being on the air. He'd smelled that sent somewhere before, long ago in a forest humans thought of as death. 'Orochimaru…'

"He's a goldmine – think of what it would do for us to bring him back. Tomoko, incapacitate him while we strike!"

The Demon King had heard enough, and was ready to finish this himself when another sense stopped him. He turned to the source of power, stare widening as he saw his sons brilliant eyes bleed red. The killer instinct was so thick on the air it was a wonder the shinobi could still breathe.

Red chakra surrounded his kit and he saw the tails emerge, something Kyuubi did not expect. Only a Jinjuriki had ever used a demons cloak. It seemed his son had inherited more from him then he had realized. Residues of his chakra left untapped were now exploding in the boy. A hint of evil filled the clearing, one that Kyuubi had felt only once in another life time; this was the hatred of the Jūbi, the Ten-Tailed Demon Spirit of old.

And then his kit smiled. A beautiful, feral, untamable, smile…

The fight didn't last long after that, and soon the ninja were all dead. Naruto crouched next to the old woman.

"What do you think now… still want to call me a human like you?" The red and gold aura had disappeared, and his eyes had turned blue again.

'So that's what this burning anger was all about...'

"… there is also a light in your heart…" The woman had touched his chest with a finger, and Naruto cringed, eye's averting for a moment.

"…huh… not for you."

He didn't see the old woman's soft smile.

Kyuubi sense as the human died. The young kitsune then took in the form of the sobbing girl, and he wondered what he would do next. Naruto lifted her to her feet, and Kyuubi just barely heard him whisper, "I'm going to take all the pain away now…"

He watched as the child's bloodstained lips brushed her forehead, and he preformed an ancient spell. The little boy caught her in his arms as she fainted, and then looked around analytically. Kyuubi knew he hadn't killed her, and now stayed still watching out of curiosity. He followed his son silently as he led the freed humans back to the battles clearing. Soon the little girl was in the arms of another human. He turned to go after Naruto left. The kit had only accidently allowed himself to be seen once. Once was all the mortals needed. Kyuubi snorted as he heard the awe in their voices.

"… A Fox Spirit…?"

"… Arigoto…"

###

Kyuubi followed the sent of his kit, finding him cleaning himself at a nearby spring.

"You spared her."

Naruto stopped the delicate licking of his tails, sitting up strait and alert. When he saw it was his father he relaxed.

"Huh?"

"The human offspring."

"Oh," Naruto shrugged his little fox shoulders. "Yeah, she was…" he wrinkled his nose trying to find the word. "… nice…"

Kyuubi waited for any other explanations, but none came. Something about the statement made him feel strange though, almost relieved. Relief for the human? No. Relief that his kit, though now demon, was still that same pure soul he had been sealed in all those years ago.

Naruto yawned and stretched, shaking the dampness from his fur. "Tou-san… I'm tired now." He said groggily going up to the great fox, and huddling into him for warmth. Kyuubi licked some of the missed blood from his head. Naruto purred, but there was a sad hint to it.

"What's wrong kit?"

Naruto shook his head, "Nothing…" Kyuubi sensed that it was not nothing, but let him continue. "… Tou-san, I think I know how I can get strong now."

"Oh?"

Naruto yawned again and curled up into Kyuubi's fur. "Hai… and soon, I'm gonna' be powerful like you…"

Kyuubi eyed the bushy third addition to his kit's tails. He lowered his head to the already sleeping little kitsune.

"Yes Naruto, I think you will."

Alright - should I have given Naruto his third tail so soon? You tell me - readers input is invaluable.

On a side note, I find it extremely interesting that Naruto has gone from arguing with Kyuubi about being human, to arguing with humans to prove he's a demon.