"From the void, I am born into wave and particle

In the uncreative eye, emerging oracle"

Cynic - Integral Birth

Chapter 3: Space for this

He was floating, drifting around a virtually empty abyss. He couldn't see, his vision swarmed off black. Body felt weightless, it didn't seem to exist. A small breeze sent a chill up his spine as the blackness slowly started to change, it began to shape into something else. The small breeze was gradually gathering speed. Stronger the wind became the more his vision was beginning to decipher what was around him. After a few minutes the wind disappeared without any evidence of it ever being there. Naruto parted his eyes finally allowing them to see the world around him.

As his eyes took in the sight of his home, his village, Konohagakure no sato. A gasp fell from his lips at the breath taking view. From the very view he knew exactly where he was standing. In his life he had spent much of his time atop of the most powerful and famous ninja's stone head, The Yondaime. A distinct whistling brought the blondes attention from the stone face below him and to the village where leaves were being thrown mercilessly by the howling winds below. A strong gust of wind blew the boy's spiky hair into his eyes momentarily blocking his vision. As the wind came to an abrupt stop his golden locks returned to there gravity defying position.

Tears began to freely fall down his unblemished face as he faced his home. Fire, every where fire was consuming his home his sanctuary.

He could still remember all the times he spent with the old man he considered a grandfather. The only person that ever let him feel like he existed and belonged in this world. He was the boy's guardian and protector, but beyond the duties of a Hokage he was a friend. His only friend in the village before he met Konohamaru.

The cheerful boy who wanted recognition as being more then just the honourable grandson of the third Hokage. After that day he had made many friends and had gotten the respect of some of the villagers for his courage and love for there home. That all changed the day when the third died. The Professor Sandaime was his pillar of strength. Throughout his life he would save him when he wanted nothing more then to give up, to lay his head down and simply fall asleep for eternity, but on those particular days the old man would show up and spark his determination. Without him the blond would have died many years ago, before he made friends before he got the chance to truly live.

But he had died, his best friend had cut there bonds and dealt the final blow that purged him from the realm of the living. Uchiha Sasuke, betrayed a village that practically worshipped his pathetic brooding ass, for a manipulating snake that only desired him for the cursed Uchiha bloodline, the Sharingan.

Naruto didn't know when he had fallen to his knees but he found himself stuck unable to move. His entire being was screaming at him pleading him to go and save his burning village, but his body did not respond to his commands. More tears streamed down his cheeks as he stared on with horror at his burnt village. Weakness was slowly invading his mind as he knew that he had failed everyone he loved and cherished. He knew it was over, with his death he had let so many down. Just the very thought of seeing his most precious people standing over his lifeless form with silky tears drifting from there eyes was enough to increase his sobbing even more.

"The power you seek, to protect those that you deem as precious." His head darted from left to right trying in vain to find the source of the voice echoing in his head. "I posses such power child."

The blonde snorted at the voice ranting about power. "Yeah, yeah I've heard it all before….If I wasn't already dead I would almost have guessed that you were Orochimaru."

Naruto almost snorted again when the voice did not respond. Again the insecurity of weakness consumed him as he knew if it was Orochimaru then he was as good as dead. Hell even Konohamaru could probably kill him as he still could not seem to will his body to move. His eyes clouded over with sadness as his memories reminded him that he was already dead. Then who was talking to him? Maybe it is that damn white clone again. Naruto gulped as he heard footsteps coming his way. Fearfully he turned around when the footsteps stopped right behind him. Shock was apparent on his whiskered face as he took in the sight of a goddess with burning crimson hair. She was beautiful her body was slim but muscular and her face, oh god she was the perfect image of beauty.

The breath was forced out of his body as a extremely powerful punch connected with his abdomen. He looked back at the dubbed goddess only to see hateful seething violet eyes narrowed at him. He gulped again and blinked. When his eyes opened he was greeted with a foot smashing into the side of his face. The pain engulfed his body only for a few seconds, before he felt his body was falling. It only took a second for his mind to realise that he was thrown from the monument. Taking one last look at his attacker, instead of seeing those hateful eyes again there was nothing but caring and maybe even loving emerald orbs looking down upon his falling body. It seemed like an eternity he starred into this women's warming eyes before darkness consumed him.

Naruto sprung up from his sleeping position and immediately wished that he hadn't. His entire face and chest were burning. 'What the fuck' Thought Naruto. 'first time I've ever been hurt in a dream.' He unconsciously rubbed his bruised jaw as he thought back to his dream and that crimson haired women who had attacked him. Even though he had never seen her before he felt a kind of warmth coming from her. It left him with a feeling he had never experienced before. As soon as it had come it was gone and replaced with the burning sting from where he had been hit.

Naruto pulled himself up so he was leaning against a cave wall. The moment he steadied his thoughts and he calmed his erratic breathing he was able to calm himself enough to think rationally. That's when he finally noticed he was no longer where he last remembered being. "I must have impressed someone if I'm still alive eh?" He remarked to himself aloud.

"Indeed." Naruto's eyes widened as he wasn't expecting a response. Ocean eyes gradually turned to another one of those strange creatures wearing the masks. Except this one looked like a centuar with giant horns. "Tis the only reason you still exist, Fox." Naruto could tell just from the way the hollow spoke it was a prideful creature and it was a female, or so he things. "Soooo… do you have anything to eat." Said the fox while he scratched the back of his mane.

Nel tu just stared at the strange fox like hollow. She had never seen anything like him before. He acted more like a human then a hollow. All hollows forget there former selves when they die and transform into the creatures of the spirit world. Yet this one didn't act like any of the others. He was not bloodthirsty or violent. Then there was the fact that he was orange. Why the hell was he a different color.? In all her years of living in Hueco Mondo not once had she seen a hollow that just arrived that wasn't just plain stark white. This fact infuriated her as it made her feel inferior to this lowly fox who by the looks of things had just died. Truthfully looking at the hollow now she had no idea why she had saved him. Maybe it was because of the powerful aura he emitted or maybe it was the strange abilities he had used to destroy that pesky snake. She wasn't completely sure why she did not just leave him there where he had collapsed. She just knew that no one deserved to die after just winning a life or death battle against a very powerful adjuchas class hollow.

"HELLO, you in there?" Nel Tu was snapped out of her thoughts as the pesky fox waved his hand back in forth in front of her face. Using as much power as she could summon she gently smacked his hand away. "I see you don't understand the concept of manners Fox." Naruto was a little taken back by the venom in the hollow's voice but said nothing of it as he held his bruised hand. As he had learned the hard way many times 'you do not interrupt a female while she is ranting'

"It would be wise to show proper respect and adequate in front of your superiors Fox." Nel Tu herself was a little shocked by the way she was acting in front of this measly lower class hollow. It just seemed the simplest of things that this hollow did infuriated her. This disturbed her deeply as she prided herself on being a very patient and understanding pers.. Hollow. 'Might as well show him how to hunt' Releasing a groan Nel turned back to her guest

"Come and we shall get you your food." She glared hatefully at the Fox as she realised he was not even standing or paying attention to her. Nel noted he seemed to be meditating, but by the way his facial expressions kept changing it looked as if he was engaged in a heated conversation with another being.

"Oi, furball you got a shit load of explaining to do." The fox in question could only sigh at the stupidity of its vessel.

"Idiot you really need to stop shouting, before I render you unable to do so." The blond just snorted as he admired the new surroundings. Although they were still in a sewer with obviously water and pipes. There was no longer a giant cage or a seal keeping the Kyuubi separate from himself. No now it was just a large room that had a red haired clone of himself, with extremely long fangs and crimson stained clothes in place of his bright orange. 'Well all be damned' Thought Naruto as he stared in amazement at his right hand with the leaf tattoo on the back. He was a human again. Not an ugly orange fox, but a normal boy. Well as normal as you could be with whisker marks and a hideous orange jumpsuit.

"In here your image reflects off your soul boy." Drawled the Kyuubi as he knew exactly what the blond was thinking. Naruto almost didn't hear the nine tails as he was absolutely stunned by his appearance Staring at his own reflection off the sewage water. It wasn't the fact that he was human that surprised him anymore. No he was more concerned with the fact that he had grown about foot in height and his body no longer had any fat. Oh and his hair hung below his shoulders.

"Five hundred and forty-five days have passed, since you got us killed...worthless child." spat the Kyuubi once again knowing what was going through his head. As if just noticing the Kyuubi, the blond turned and took in the sight of the fox or lack of demon fox."Before you start running around screaming about this unfortunately permanent form of mine, I'll explain instead?"

"How do you keep doing that."

"Why should I enlightened you on such facts. When it's much more entertaining this way." Replied the Kyuubi. "None of that now boy…I'm serious, stop that…I swear if you don't stop…….FINE YOU INSOLENT WHELP, I WILL TELL YOU ALL THAT YOU WISH TO KNOW BUT YOU WILL CEASE THAT IMMEDIATELY."

The puppy dog eyes that Naruto had been sporting instantly replaced themselves with a sly grin. "Who would have thought that the big bad demon Kyuubi is such a sissy."

Naruto's brain only registered two things that he had been hit and that it hurt a lot. "You will learn some respect while in my presence child." Snarled the Kyuubi. "Remember my vessel I am no longer trapped." Naruto couldn't help but show some fear as he listened to the demon fox. The Kyuubi could only smirk at the boy's expression.

"Come you must have noticed the lack of bars boy."

Kyuubi's booming laughter echoed of the walls as Naruto struggled to escape from his grasp.

"Tch, tch." Muttered the Kyuubi as he waved his finger in front of Naruto. "You'd be dead already if I desired it so boy."

"Then why?" Choked out Naruto

"Why…isn't it obvious you interest me, oh and there is the fact that the shinigami would come for my soul if it was ever free." The Kyuubi paused and looked straight at Naruto with an emotionless expression. "Since I was sealed inside of you." Here the fox stopped and pointed at Naruto. "I have been marked by the shinigami. If I was ever to be free on my own will, he would come to collect what belongs to him."

Kyuubi none too gently released the boy in his grasp and let him fall down to the flooded floor. "So as it is we are stuck with each other till the end of eternity it would seem." Kyuubi's grin returned full force as he stared at Naruto "Good thing I have more than enough time to shape you into something worthy of my presence….my vessel."

Naruto didn't know why but seeing the Kyuubi grinning like he had just been released and killed every civilian of Konoha quite possibly seemed to be the scariest thing he had ever seen. Knowing this he was also unsure of why he was mirroring that same expression. Perhaps it was just his nature to be a cheerful person. No matter how he does it, if he can make someone happy then he's just as joyful. Ever so slowly Naruto pulled himself from off the flooded floor.

Growling the Kyuubi patiently waited for his only human companion to organise himself. The foxes snarl turned into a smirk when the boy faced him with a completely lost stare. 'Should I play with him…or just get it over with`

With a sigh the Kyuubi sat down while gesturing Naruto to do the same. "You mean to tell me you waited for me to stand up, just to make me sit down again." Screamed Naruto with killing intent unconsciously leaking from him.

Sighing again the Kyuubi just waved his hand and the blond was lifted into the air by an invisible force before he was thrown through the air. Seeing as how he was already close to the wall to begin with, Naruto quickly impacted against the wall for a second time.

Naruto bit down on his bottom lip to stop himself from screaming out in pain. But he couldn't prevent the gasp of air leaving him as he crashed to the floor. Ignoring his sore body Naruto forced himself to stand up with the last of his withering strength. So as he stared glaring at his attacker he failed to realize the smirk on the foxes face or the finger the demon was pointing up towards the spot he had hit the wall. Because of this a large piece of debris fell on top of the blondes head. With a thud the blonde fell on his rump, while gingerly rubbing the bump on his head.

"Seeing as you've finally gotten comfy we can begin." Said the red haired demon.

"Before we begin I need to have your consent." Naruto was about to voice his confusion, but the Kyuubi cut him off. "In order for you to learn all that of which I have to teach, I must have your permission to continue. If you do not wish to go any further just say so." Taking his silence as a 'yes' The Kyuubi hopped to his feet and stared directly at the still sitting blonde.

"It's going to be painful child, but it is necessary for our survival." At these words the Kyuubi quickly closed the distance between him and Naruto. The blonde lifted his head up to stare into the crimson silted eyes of the youkai king. Once there gazes met the fox moved the last few inches that separated them and snapped his jaws down onto the blondes neck. Naruto screamed out in pain as he squirmed on the flooded floor of his mind. His hands clenched tightly against the wound on his neck, in an attempt to stop the blood flow. Blackness was invading his senses, as his eyes constantly opened and closed in a fruitless struggle to stay conscious. Naruto's eyes snapped over to the laughing fox hovering over him. Naruto's eyes narrowed as he directed one of the most hateful glares he could muster at the traitorous fox.

"Come now there is no need for feeling betrayed, this is necessary boy. In the end you will thank me, for now your story can truly begin." As his eyes closed for the final time, the last sight he saw was the Kyuubi giving him a toothy grin with his fresh blood flowing down the youkai's face.

To everyone who actually reads this story...I'm sorry. What am I sorry for? I'm sorry for taking so long to write this. Now that I finally settled in and withered the brute of the storm known as life. I'll be able to update more often. Oh and thanks for reading and please review. Also the song titles at the top is just the band that I was listening to, while writing this.

I'm only going to ask this once...I am in need of a new beta for my previous one is to busy now a days so If anyone is interested then send me a pm.

P.S (Everything gets all screwed up when I Upload documents. If anyone knows how to stop this from happening, it would be greatly appreciated)