Here we go, chapter two of Soul of the Fox!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Soul Eater.
Author Notes: This story is gonna be a bit AU. You'll see as I go along. ^.~
Bold is Kyuubi talk.
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Medusa discovered one thing about Naruto a week after he was settled in.
The kid was a little hellion. A prankster. Cunning like a fox. The kid was quite creative with traps. Too creative. She had too many close calls with buckets of water, hair dyes, showers that shot out water that would turn your skin green and other nasty surprises. She supposed it was part of his ninja training, but trying to get her was a bad idea. Or was it? If he could get her, he would be getting better at stealth.
However...
Medusa had lost count of the times she had to Vector Bullet him away from her tail. The kid was determined to use it as a jump rope. She couldn't blame him though, he never got to play with the other children. Well, there was this blue haired girl who played with him for a few minutes, but her father took her away quickly.
Back to the point....
Medusa was training the kid now, alongside Crona, to make him a strong weapon. She was currently watching him go through punches and kicks. Taijutsu was the most Medusa could teach him besides practicing to wield him as a weapon. When it came to chakra, Medusa frowned. She used magic. There was no way she could teach him about chakra. This was a huge problem.
If she couldn't teach about chakra, how would he use his ninja techniques?
Medusa thought long and hard, until finally, she had a solution.
Kyuubi was sealed inside him. He would HAVE to know about all that. But how would she talk to the demon?
Well, she had one way.
"Hey Naruto, come here."
Naruto ran over.
"Yes?"
"I need to talk to Kyuubi."
"Who's that?"
"You'll find out in due time. Now, I need you to sit down."
"Ok..."
Medusa then placed her hand on him. She was looking for the Kyuubi's soul so she could go to it. Find the soul, find the fox.
Medusa saw a flash of red, then all of a sudden, she was standing in front of a cage...
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The fox's laughter echoed into her ears. She stood there and waited on the fox to open it's mouth…
"I finally get to meet you. I wonder how you taste..."
"I hope disgusting to you. I would rather not be eaten by you. Not an ideal way to die."
"Doesn't matter how you feel about it. I really don't care. I've had snake before, it wasn't too bad."
"I happen to be very poisonous..."
"I can only imagine. I am a Demon Lord though. Poison is like a spice."
"...We're getting nowhere here."
"Am I unnerving you? Is the big, bad Demon Lord too much for you snake witch?"
"Quiet. I'm merely here to ask a favor. Your joking around is not necessary."
"If you notice, I'm behind a fucking cage. Not much I can do here. I figured you'd at least appreciate the humor. I personally thought it was very funny watching your reactions."
"Your act needs work then."
"I thought it was perfect. 'I happen to be very poisonous.' HA! I'm a Demon Lord, your poison is petty. It just adds flavor. Now why are you here? The kid is doing fine with his fighting."
"You know full well why I'm here."
"I would still like to hear it from you. There is something called uncertainty."
"Smartass kitsune. I would like for you to help the kid in chakra control, ninjutsu and genjutsu."
"What's in it for me?"
"You'd like to stay alive would you? A strong host is necessary for your survival. Unless you wanna have a container not worthy of holding you."
"You have good logic. Valid argument. You're right. I would love for him to be strong. However, I have an issue I need to work out with you…"
"And what would that be?"
The demon grinned. Medusa knew it was bad. Kyuubi must have known what Naruto didn't. She knew Kyuubi knew how she really felt about Naruto. He was her tool. He was for her to become stronger. As long as she could keep up the "loving mother" act, he would be devoted to her. However, Medusa knew it would be a problem to sync when her heart was not in it.
Kyuubi knew that fact entirely.
"You have two options, either love the kit for real or drop him now. You know as well as I do that if you don't, you'll be facing problems. It'll be greater than just sync."
"There's something else you're not saying…"
"I don't need to. I think you know where I'm going with this."
"Enlighten me. Like you said, there is uncertainty."
"Smart witch. You learn quick. Let's just say the kid won't handle your betrayal very well. He's actually attached to you and if you betray him, let's just say that I'll be the one to end you."
"I think your threat is empty fox. There's no way you can get out that cage. What can you do?"
"I don't think you understand witch. Anger and despair weaken the seal and open his mind to me. His state of mind after betrayal will be fragile and I'll be able to get out. The seal is my cage, but the lock and key is the boy's will. If he is angry and wants to destroy you for betraying him, all I have to do is say some words and I'll be free long enough to kill you."
"……" Medusa's silence was all the fox needed to know that she took his threat seriously.
"I mean, go ahead. Act like you love him. Deceive. When he finds out the truth, I can't wait to tear you to shreds."
Kyuubi grinned at her through his cage. Medusa shivered. She knew the fox had a point and she hated it. She reached her decision.
"Being a loving mother would be way easier on the soul."
"It'll also keep you alive. Remember, snake is one of my favorite foods. Don't worry though, I'll train the kit. Hehe, if you screw up, I get to use his body to kill you. I wonder how the Hiraishin and Rasengan will be in my hands…"
"I hope you never find out."
"But I want to experiment like you."
"Maybe on someone else. Not me. I'll be taking my leave."
Screwing up was not an option. If she kept Naruto happy like a mother should, she could use Kyuubi's powers for herself through the kid.
Screwing up was definitely not an option. Before she left completely, she had one last question.
"Why do you care anyway? Wouldn't you want me to betray him and let you have control?"
"No. I don't want the kid to suffer for things I have done. No reason why he should suffer the consequences of my actions. He looks to you as a beacon of light. One person to care for him out of the many who beat him for no reason. Betrayal is unforgiveable even to demons. Betray and break him and you'll pay the price. Then I'll be enjoying my freedom. Hehe."
Medusa stared at the cage. Loyalty was something Kyuubi took seriously. She would not lose her life over a screw up.
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Medusa was back in reality and Naruto was looking at her in curiousity.
"Who's Kyuubi?"
"The big bad fox in your navel."
"Who said that?"
"Kyuubi."
"But I don't see you…"
Medusa merely stared with interest. The fox was introducing himself.
"You don't have to."
"But I wonder if you're fluffy…" Medusa had to stifle a laugh.
"I AM NOT FLUFFY! I'LL EAT YOU, YOU LITTLE BRAT!"
Naruto's eyes teared up. He was only six after all. Kyuubi was a mean fox.
"B-but foxes are fluffy. Their fur feels nice doesn't it?"
"……."
"Does it?"
"Whatever. I'll see you tonight. I'll bring you to me."
"That's right son. Foxes are fluffy. Nice and fluffy."
"…Tell that witch I'll kill her if she ever steps in front of my cage again."
"Kyuubi wants to kill you."
"That's nice."
Kyuubi growled.
That night, little Naruto got to meet Kyuubi in his mindscape. The fox was way bigger than he imagined. Of course, the first thing he asked was if he could touch the fox's fur, to which the fox snorted and bent his head down. The fox knew the kid would dwell on this subject and decided to nip it in the bud. Of course, hearing Naruto say he was fluffy after all made the fox glare at the small boy.
Kyuubi then went into detail over his training regimen. Naruto would work on chakra control and building until the fox decided he was ready for jutsus. They would work on those things when Medusa was focusing on Crona. Naruto groaned and asked why and the fox merely said that if he charged into jutsus without doing exercises, he wouldn't make it to see seven years old and he'll fail his mother.
Naruto shut up immediately.
"Now that we've handled that, you can leave now brat."
"When do we start training?"
"Three days. Now leave me alone, I'm playing Mortal Kombat. I'm sure you see the game system and TV."
"Street Fighter's better."
"I get to kill people in Mortal Kombat. Fatalities are better. Especially when Sub-Zero rips off someone's head and spinal cord."
"Whatever. Demon fox."
"You're just mad you can't play."
"So?" The six year old pouted.
"It's your mind. Do something about it."
"Huh?"
"Imagine a second controller."
"Why?"
"Just do it, there's a lesson here."
Naruto imagined a controller and one poofed into existence.
"Wow!"
"It's your mind, you can do what you want."
"It's time for you to lose!"
"Whatever."
Many matches later……
"CHEATER!"
"What do you expect, I'm stuck behind a cage, of course my skills are top notch."
"There's no way that combo exists! I'm winning next time!"
"How?"
Kyuubi's controller vanished and he already knew what happened. Naruto made it go away.
"I want that back after you senselessly beat my character."
"It doesn't even feel right."
"Not fun beating on defenseless people eh?"
"Shut up. I'll beat you one of these days."
"You try sitting behind a cage for six years."
"I'll do that after I try to blow up a village."
"Brat…"
"Medusa-sama…"
"Yes Crona?"
"I think Naruto is having a nightmare. He is screaming in his sleep about cheaters and such."
"Why are you here telling me this?"
"Because I do not know how to deal with it."
Medusa groaned.
End Chapter 2!
Author's Notes: I wanted Kyuubi to be more of a smartass than his usual completely evil, sinister self. And the Mortal Kombat thing was something of a last minute idea. The idea of a Demon Lord playing Mortal Kombat was too good to pass up.
Soul Eater fans will recognize Crona's last line. :P
Naruto's training with Kyuubi starts next chapter! How else will our favorite fox torture Naruto?