Prologues Open Books, Epilogues Close Them

Welcome to POBECT, the only story I know of where everyone knows the ending except the guy who wrote the goddamn book. Let's begin.

Chapter Two: Repetition Isn't Key

Timing is.

"No."

The Kyuubi's blood red gaze widens before narrowing as a hint of malice seeps into the air. I didn't think Bijuu could breathe but it then took a deep, frustrated breath. I didn't care. I just wanted to go back to my bed. Back to reality. "I will repeat this only once in honor of our past friendship. I am-"

Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. "I know who you are. I don't care what you say. Send me back now!"

I heard something slam above and for a moment I thought the creature was planning to break out and eat me. When I did look up though, it wasn't its paw or tail but rather its head that had slammed into the bars of its cell. Not the snout either, but the forehead part instead, like I was the idiot and it the one suffering. It took another deep breath before sighing. "I do not think you understand what I am trying to say."

What part of shut up do you not understand? "Now!"

It stooped down low into a huge heap as if it had surrendered. I had no doubt that that was a trick though. "Was this what you had to deal with before? Kami, I must have been insufferable."

What part of 'now' did it not understand? "Now!"

It rolled its eyes towards me, "You are my jinchuriki, my seal and my partner. We are bound together and if we are to succeed we must act less the first and more the second." Despite it being a ancient monster that killed my parents, I felt the distinct urge to walk into its cell and punch it in its face. It wouldn't help and would probably get me killed but I'd feel better for a few seconds. This creature was not my mom and had no right to treat me like it was! It killed my mom!

And it was still talking. "Now!"

A deep, musky breath swept past me, knocking me off my feet, reminding me that while it was trapped in its cell, the creature was still very real and very capable of killing me effortlessly if it ever got out. "Tell me, little one, what do you think I expect of you?"

I rose to my feet and glared at it. Why would it ask such a stupid question? Everyone knew what it wanted. "You want me to free you from the seal so you can destroy Konoha!"

The creature closed its eyes and grunted. "Why?"

Huh? "Why what?"

The Kyuubi laid its head on the floor such that its eyes were around level with mine. One of its eyes was still bigger than my entire head so it was probably a trick to intimidate me. "Why would I want to destroy Konoha?"

I was about to reply when I realized I had no answer. It had attacked Konoha before, that was obvious, but it had been sealed before anyone could figure out why it had attacked. But did it need a reason to begin with? "Because you're a monster?"

For a moment, the creature eyes looked pained. Did I hurt it with what I said? I should be happy if I did then but... The creature gave a sigh before its eyes disappeared into the darkness below it. Did it... did it just bury its face in the ground? "Do I look like a mindless beast? Am I acting like one now?"

So it had a reason then? The problem was, it was smart. I was older than me and probably much smarter too. Which meant I couldn't tell if what it told me was the truth or a lie. There were plenty of people this morning whom I thought were honest with me who confessed to lying to my face before. "Well, no, but it could be a trick!"

"How could it be a trick if you don't know what I am asking of you?"

What? Wait, what? Wait, let me think about that for a second... That sounds right but everything about it feels wrong. I couldn't find a way to respond and I hated the feeling that I was being tricked again. It was definitely going to find a way to trick me unless I stopped it right now! "That's- I- But you're a monster!"

I realized it had gone back to facing me. It was different this time, where it was pretending to be someone I knew earlier, pretending it was someone like me, it felt like someone who knew me this time, as if I was like it. I didn't like the feeling no matter how loud the voice in my heart said the opposite. "Didn't they call you a monster as well?"

I felt scared. Naked. I wanted to leave now more than ever. I said the first thing that came to my mind which in hindsight was probably true as well. "That-that was your fault!"

It closed its eyes and shook its head before coming closer. It was fear that stopped me from moving away and nothing else. I did not take a traitorous step forward. I felt nothing but anger at this creature no matter what it said. "Did that make you any more a monster? Did that fact make them hate you any less?"

My voice was smaller than I wanted. This was a monster. I needed to be brave. "They don't hate me anymore."

It laid its head fully on the floor of cell and its body soon followed. Its eyes seemed tired. Tired but hopeful. "And I am not a hateful beast anymore."

I was sitting on the soaked floor before I realized what had happened. I knew I should stand up and defy the Kyuubi, the monster that killed my parents and so many others, but I just couldn't find the strength.

The Kyuubi seemed pleased by the fact I had stopped struggling against it as its eyes looked normal again. "Let us talk, Child of Prophecy, and I will tell you the truth."

Ugh, this was like the fifth word it used that I wasn't aware of. I knew I wasn't great at history but if he was trapped in my psyche, six words now, he should know that I didn't know what he was talking about. "Are you going to keep mentioning things I don't understand?"

I felt a gust of air blow from the side. I think the Kyuubi had waved a paw. "I'm an obscenely powerful, ancient chakra beast trapped in the psyche of a prepubescent child. I have to pass the time somehow."

Ugh, right. Was that a thing all old people did? The old man did that a lot too. "Fine then. Why did you attack Konoha? Why'd you kill my parents?"

The tired look returned to its eyes but it faced mine with a sort of conviction. "I did not desire to attack Konoha nor did I wish to kill your parents. I was controlled by the one called Madara."

Another word I don't know. At least this one sounded familiar. "Who is Madara?"

It broke its gaze as it showed the more anger than every other moment since I had arrived. "The sworn brother of your first Hokage. He is the progenitor of the Uchiha clan. He seeks to enslave the planet under his will."

I think I remembered that now: Madara Uchiha, one of Konoha's two founders. Also, it was definitely lying to me. That story was way too unbelievable. "Riiiiiight. Shouldn't he be dead then?"

The creature tilted its head and gave a huff. "You are talking to a creature older than your entire puny species and one of many. Why would I be alone in my immortality?"

I rolled my eyes, "But you're a monster!" I noticed that the last word didn't carry as much bitterness or anger as it did earlier. A part of me even recognized it as joking. I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

The humor seemed infectious, however, as even the Kyuubi seemed to lighten up. "And to his enemies, so was Madara."

I gave a chuckle at that. Yeah, Konoha ninjas are pretty awesome. "Right. Who is Asura then? Who is the Sage of Six Paths?"

A distant look crossed the Kyuubi's gaze. I couldn't quite place the feeling but I've seen it on the other kids' faces before. Usually when their parents picked them up. "Asura is the second son of the Sage of Six Paths, the father of chakra and the shinobi way, and the creator of the Bijuu."

Back to ridiculous then. Still, it sounds like an interesting story. Maybe he'll share? "And I'm supposed to be their successor?"

The Kyuubi nodded, his gaze warm and proud. It felt nice. "Yes and you would be successful in severing the cycle of hatred."

And right back to mysterious bastard then. Could the Kyuubi pick a trait and stick with it? "What's the cycle of hatred?"

Its eyes turned old and tired but with a tinge of hope. Sort of like the old man. It probably felt like the cycle it was talking about was a big deal and that me breaking it was an even bigger deal. "A fate of brothers betraying one another that transcends time itself. You and your other half would end their endless feud and bring peace to the ninja world."

That sounded cool and all but it sounded way above me. How on earth was I going to do... whatever that meant? What on earth was 'severing the cycle of hatred?' "And what's that supposed to mean?"

I swore the Kyuubi chuckled before dramatically pausing. "...You and the Uchiha boy become friends."

Really? Really? I was going to save the world by being friends with Sasuke? "Ew, that bastard? No way."

The Kyuubi clearly chuckled this time. Laughed even. "It is what it is."

The silence stretched on as I took everything in. It still sounded unbelievable but there was a confidence in the Kyuubi's voice. The way it spoke, it wasn't as if it was saying great things were going to happen to me but that great things were going to happen because of me. He sounded like the old man, always smiling whenever I told him I wanted to be Hokage. He even had that annoying old man atmosphere the old man had. Like family.

If Kurama seemed annoyed by the silence, it didn't say. In fact, it seemed to be happy for the peace and company. In the end, I was the one to break the peace. "And I'm supposed to do this? Me?"

He nodded, his eyes creasing in a smile. "There are a few prophecies to that effect. You tend to exceed expectations, though in their defense the bar does start low."

Ouch. Low blow, Kurama. "Do you know why everyone changed? Why everyone seems different?"

Kurama's gaze moved to a corner, narrowed and focused on something on its mind. "I know little outside of what you already know but I have an idea."

Ugh, get on with it, Kurama. Don't leave it for me to drag out of you. "What is it?"

He stood up, fully exposing his size in a moment of realization. The display would have been much more impressive if I didn't realize he was just trying to impress me. "Perhaps what happened to me had happened to them as well."

Will I be like this when I become an old man? Frustratingly vague about everything just because I'm old? It doesn't seem like fun. "Okay, what happened to you then?"

Kurama stooped down low once more, as if whispering a secret. "My mind was sent back in time."

What? "What?"

The look on my face must have been hilarious because I could feel Kurama's smirk even through the darkness. He took this as his cue to continue blowing my mind. "Last I recall, you had defeated the greatest evil I or anyone has ever known, become Hokage, established a peace that lasted decades, and married the woman of your dreams."

That didn't make any sense but the longer I thought about it, the more it did make sense. It would explain why everyone was nice to me all of a sudden, why Sasuke acknowledged him, and why Sakura wasn't so mean anymore. Still, just because it made sense doesn't mean it was believable. "That's great but also really dumb. The being sent back in time part, I mean."

Kurama nodded in agreement before punctuating his reply with another chuckle. "The truth often is. Shall I tell you how the moon is a goddess?"

"...Now I know you're just making fun of me."

His chuckle grew into howling laughter. It lasted a lifetime before he calmed down enough to not break into giggles while speaking. "The truth often does that as well."

Another quiet moment appeared just as nice as before. I didn't know what to say and Kurama seemed happy without saying anything though neither he nor I were focused on one another. Still, it was clear each other's company was all we needed. Once again, I was the one to break the silence. "I still don't believe you."

Kurama snickered as it curled up on the floor of its cell, facing away from me. "I didn't then either. Still, you chose to convince me of your sincerity. In honor of that, I shall do the same."

I stood up as well. It was clear that it was time for us to say goodbye. "I still think you're a monster."

He gave me a sly look over his shoulder before returning to his old position. "I still think you're a loud, obnoxious brat. I am sure my opinion will outlive yours."

I turned around as well. If Kurama wanted to end on an overly dramatic note, I might as well play along. "You're not so bad, Kyu-Kurama."

He gave a content huff as the world seemed to disappear beneath my feet. His goodbye echoed in my ears as it did. "I wish I could say the same, whelp. Now go enjoy your new life. Kami knows you deserve it."

I opened my eyes to find myself in my parents' bed with the sun in my face. The old man was right. It'd just started but today was already better than yesterday.