Don't know why, but I feel sadness when you're near me Why can't we become one? I put my hands out for those words that are too fragile, even just one Please give my heart something,

anything like a blade sharp enough to strike you

Dir en grey - Ware, Yami Tote…

Chapter 8 : Repetition of Hatred

"Son…how is that possible?" Naruto was scrutinizing the red haired woman as she stood still, grinning at him.

Naruto felt like digging his nails into his skull, just to release the pressure that was building. A headache, of all things, was the last thing he needed at the moment.

"I don't believe you." Naruto said. "There's no possible way we could be related…I still haven't even figured out how you're here in the first place."

Naruto could see the woman's expression turn from cheerful to grave as she frowned at him. This just wasn't possible, why did this woman think she, of all people, was his mother? Even if they were related what was she doing here in his soul? There were only two people that had ever been part of him, besides himself.

"Where's Kyuubi? What have you done with him…" Naruto asked, leaning against a fake tree, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Kushina." She introduced herself.

"And perhaps you need only look in yourself for the answer." Naruto gritted his teeth as the taunting smile was back stretching across the woman's beautiful face. Thinking over her words, Naruto had to agree with her, this was his soul, wherein he possesses complete control.

Naruto pushed off the tree and glanced around for a moment, scratching his head.

"Call out to him, if he is still inside of you, he would be able to hear you and respond."

Naruto subtly nodded his head in agreement. Even though he was kind of annoyed about how she seemed to be so knowledgeable about these kinds of things. It didn't really matter if he could indeed contact his father, then he would get an explanation for all this madness.

His eyes shut for only a second as he silently called for the demon lord. Seconds passed and there was no response or any signal from the fox lord. Naruto began pacing forward while gripping his blade's handle firmly in preparation to draw it at any moment.

"Give me a reason why I should not kill you where you stand…woman?" Said being took a step toward Naruto, not in the least bit affected by his spiteful tone and words.

Standing no more then a few feet away, Kushina extended her arms outwards to him.

For a minute Naruto curiously looked at her opened arms, not quite sure how to react. Kushina continued to inch forward until the blonde was almost in reach. Naruto stumbled backward to put some distance between the two of them.

"Why are you here? What the FUCK DO YOU WANT!?" In one split second Naruto drew his blade and held it against the red head's throat. His breathing was heavy as the blade inched deeper into her pale skin.

"Is this how you want to solve your problems? By taking your anger out on your poor defenseless mother?" As the last word left her lips, Naruto slid his blade across her neck.

"LIES! YOU'RE NOT MY MOTHER!" Naruto screamed as he glared at the lifeless body.

"Oh my, oh my….but I most certainly am, my child. It seems I need to knock some sense into you." A vicious grin spread across her face, and her eyes glowed like rubies. "For my words to reach that thick head of yours."

Naruto glanced behind him where Kushina was now standing, with bloodlust radiating off her in waves. His eyes returned to the ground where there was no longer a body staining the bountiful nature with it's putrid color. Instead, there was a pile of sand in it's place.

Turning back around Naruto glared at Kushina. "I don't know who you are, and I have absolutely no idea what you want." He walked forward while returning his blade to its sheathe attached to his left hip.

"However, I promise you this, I will have my answers…one way or another." Naruto's face became as hard as stone.

"Oh my, come now sweetheart, you, of all people, should know what I want most of all is…" Her melodic giggling sent a tingle that rushed down Naruto's spine. "Control!!" Naruto wasn't allowed to fully process her last sentence before she was in front of him digging her elbow into his abdomen. Naruto clutched his stomach as the air from his lungs was forced out.

"You really should pay attention darling." She swung, her fist nailing Naruto in the jaw, sending him soaring through the air.

Kushina shook her head, before gathering a large amount of reiatsu in her palm. A straight crimson beam streaked through the air following the path that Naruto had carved through the village. Her face seemed to glow, as a giant explosion decimated a section of the village.

Panting Naruto staggered out of the wreckage that was once an apartment building. He was given a moments reprieve before the red haired demon was upon him again. He sidestepped a kick aimed deliberately for his lower regions. Grabbing onto her extended leg he pulled Kushina to him. As she stumbled forwards Naruto buried his knee into her face. Without hesitating he followed up with an axe kick to her exposed stomach, which sent her straight into the ground, covering the area with a cloud of dirt.

Naruto landed and watched as his so called mother pulled herself out of a small crater. He chuckled quietly as she spat out a bloody mass.

"Better." Kushina said. "But play times over." Her hand reached to her left hip where a blade similar to Naruto's resided. The blade was fluidly drawn from its sheathe and held with both hands.

Rolling his eyes at the woman's dramatics Naruto followed her lead and drew his blue-steeled blade.

"So do you fell like answering yet?" Kushina scoffed as her left hand ran down the length of her blade.

"Of course…but you'll have to meet my demands first." Kushina replied cheekily.

"Right, where were we then?" Naruto said lazily before disappearing.

Kushina stood still for a moment as she gazed up at the sky. "Well, that was disappointing." She mumbled, as she pivoted on her left foot and sliced the area directly behind her. Naruto appeared at the exact moment moving too fast to stop, he took the full blunt of the blow. Grunting, he ignored the pain and struck out with his blade, which Kushina in turn parried.

Kushina removed her blade from the stalemate and ducked underneath the blue blade. Appearing directly beneath Naruto, Kushina flashed a smile before delivering a devastating uppercut that connected solidly with his chin. She followed Naruto's flight as she propelled herself into the air.

Just as she reached him, and her blade was about to plunge straight through his unprotected back, he vanished and appeared behind her with his arm wrapped around her throat.

"Enjoy hell, mother." He mockingly whispered into her ear before snapping her neck.

Naruto watched as the body in his grasp turned to dust and was carried off by the wind. Snickering alerted him of his opponents presence in time to duck under a killing blow aimed for his head. Flipping over Kushina, his blade dragged down her back as he fell and gracefully landed behind her.

Both combatants disappeared the next instance and clangs rang all throughout the fake village. Each time their blades connected a shock wave followed, testifying to how strong both fighters actually were.

Gritting his teeth, Naruto quickly removed the blade from his shoulder and swiped at Kushina, who ducked under the overhead strike and pulled her blade from Naruto's grasp, slicing open his palm as the steel slid through his clenched fingers.

Then, as Kushina was about to strike, Naruto moved forward quickly and elbowed her across the face, knocking the goddess back with amazing strength. He dashed forward catching up to her and heaved his blade downward, cleaving her in half. Blood exploded everywhere, drenching him in the vile substance. For a second, Naruto believed it was over. Then crimson liquid changed into sand and was scattered by a gust of wind.

Naruto's eyes narrowed, hissing in rage as he craned his neck to look behind him as Kushina's blade tore through his flesh.

Kushina blocked a brutal spin kick, while trying to chop off the blond's legs. Naruto jumped back putting enough distance between themselves, so he could have a second to rest.

"Do…you have any….idea how…it..feels to be…stuck in this….hellhole." Kushina hissed under her breath, but Naruto heard her as clear as if she were yelling.

"I've stared at this place long enough to be bored. The very home I would have gladly given my life to protect, and now I can't even stand the sight of this wretched place." Naruto said nothing as he waited for Kushina to finish her rant. Breathing heavily she looked directly into his eyes.

"I guess you've never seen your home in the same light that I have." Kushina muttered darkly. "Always so happy and carefree you were. Not a thing in the world could ever dampen your spirits." Naruto was unsure to where this was all leading to or even what purpose her childish rant served, but he still remained silent. Allowing her to continue as he recovered and began gathering his energy.

"Do you want to know why? Why, you were always so happy and never possessed any hate for those who wronged you? Why one child could love a corrupted village filled with fools who would rather see you die then succeed?" Naruto's grasp on his energy began to slowly fade as he became more engrossed in her words.

Her body was practically shaking as her crimson eyes pierced holes through Naruto.

"My child, your life was nothing but a lie…look at yourself, can't you see how much your personality has changed since dying?" Kushina growled out. Naruto was unconsciously getting closer to the infuriated woman as he clung to her every word.

"It was a side affect, that occurred with the Kyuubi and I fusing." Naruto stopped and positioned his sword in front of him defensively. He still had a tinge of curiosity remaining but that was overpowered by his desire to live.

"You simple minded fool!" Kushina yelled "The fusion wasn't the cause of all the hate and bloodlust now residing in you!"

"So what is, hmm? You seem to know just about everything about me. Tell me mother why the sudden drastic change?" Sarcasm was practically rolling off every word the infuriated boy spit at Kushina.

Kushina shook her head. Such a fool her son had turned out to be. "Me." Naruto stared blankly at her.

"Do tell how you have anything to do with my mentality." Naruto chuckled, amused. "Cause the fact remains you weren't even a part of me till…wait...YOU'RE THE LEECH!" Naruto roared. "It was you who was draining all my energy!"

Kushina hesitated for a moment, her gaze getting a saddened look before responding. "Yes, I am. I'm also the reason why when people remember you, they'll think of a smiling boy that could brighten up the night." A sad smile graced her features.

"Maybe one day you'll learn the truth, and then again maybe you won't." She gripped the blade in her hands and signaled for Naruto to come forth.

"But the time for talking has long passed…" An insane smile widened the woman's face as she charged at Naruto, laughing.

The demon vessel knew this was no longer the same woman who was calm and collected during their discussion. The insanity was almost tangible, Naruto could sense the oppressive aura that now surrounded her. Indeed, the time for words was gone. Only one option remained, to fight until the other stopped breathing.

Naruto easily followed her movements as she unleashed a barrage of strikes, all which were easily avoided. An elbow to the head left Kushina staggering. Taking advantage of her weakness Naruto hit her with a kick to the chin. Kushina's body rose into the air where Naruto was waiting, gathering energy through his arm. A pulse of concentrated reiatsu exploded from his palm and collided with Kushina.

Naruto landed and glanced at Kushina's sprawled out form indenting the ground. Naruto held back a snort as he watched her body once again turn into sand.

"Is that the only trick you know?" Naruto let a small grin sneak its way on to his face.

Kushina didn't reply by words to his taunts, instead she emerged from the ground beneath him and sliced upon his right arm.

Naruto screamed out in pain as he grabbed his injured limb and relinquished hold of his blade. All the while Naruto was completely oblivious to the smirking being hovering over him.

Kushina listened and soaked in her enemies anguished cries, as he held his arm tightly and tried to stop the bleeding.

Before he could do much more, Kushina whistled bringing Naruto's gaze up to her. As their gazes met, Kushina smashed her foot into the blondes face. The immense blow sent Naruto hurling into the distance, where he flew straight into a building. The walls holding the building up crumbled as Naruto crashed right through, sending debris and rubble flying out of the point Naruto flew into.

Soon the building collapsed in on itself, burying Naruto beneath a few tons of concrete.

Kushina skipped over to the wreckage, her exuberance increasing as she tried sensing her opponents energy. Feeling a faint amount of life coming from the area Naruto was buried, the red head turned away and began heading towards the Hokage tower.

"I'll be waiting in your office…oh great Hokage-sama!" Kushina shouted back, never stopping in her stride to the giant structure in the distance.

A pile of rubble was scattered as an explosion of reiatsu blew it all away. Getting to his feet and dusting off the debris and dust, Naruto headed back to where he left his blade.

He leaned down to retrieve his sword and glared ahead of him. From where he stood, he had a great view of the Hokage Tower.

"I guess it's inevitable. My fate has always been linked to that title." Naruto sighed as he sheathed his blade. Pumping his legs full of reiatsu, Naruto blurred before vanishing altogether.

As he stepped inside the tower, he searched from left to right looking for his opponent. Making it to the front desk, he bent his knees and jumped, tearing a hole through the roof and splitting the Hokage's desk cleanly in two.

"Quite the entrance, I'm impressed." Kushina was standing off to the left leaning against the wall with her eyes closed.

Her eyelids slowly parted and she squinted at the blonde. "Fitting place to end this little skirmish of ours. Don't you think so?"

Naruto placed his hand on the hilt of his blade, and glared at the grinning woman. Readying himself, Naruto crouched in preparation to attack.

"Yes. I agree, this is the perfect place to die."

A dark red aura flooded out of Naruto and covered him completely, forming the shape of a kitsune. From this crimson cloak two hands shot out stretching further as they chased after Kushina.

The crimson hands were tearing the room to shreds as they constantly missed the speedy red read. Kushina sighed as she stopped running and a crimson cloak of her own engulfed her.

Naruto's own cloak evaporated as Kushina drew the power from him. He blinked as he watched the last remnants of his cloak disappear into the red heads own.

"Only Kyuubi can do that. How did you acquire his abilities?"

Kushina chuckled. "Easy, I absorbed him."

An image of Kyuubi passed through Naruto's head, before being torn away and replaced with the spitting image of the woman standing in front of him.

Ever so slowly the gears in Naruto's head began turning as he digested the information concerning his father's demise.

"So you killed him?" Naruto questioned, his tone void of all emotion.

Kushina licked her lips and winked at the stunned blonde. "Yes."

That was all it took, the flood gate holding back Naruto's remaining strength was broken wide open, as he snarled baring his fangs.

He charged forwards running crouched low to the ground. He swiped at the laughing woman separating a few strands of hair from her head. Naruto was running on pure animal instinct and fury as he relentlessly swiped at and tried to sink his fangs into Kushina's exposed skin.

Kushina was dancing around the beast trying to kill her, laughing each time he'd miss his mark. After a while of bobbing and weaving around Naruto's unpredictable attacks Kushina began to grow bored. She avoided another attempt made at trying to decapitate her and retaliated by sweeping him off his feet.

As his back hit the floor Naruto rolled to the side, dodging the foot now planted in the floor where his head used to be.

He looked around the room as Kushina tried to free her foot from the wooden floorboards. Naruto lifted half of the desk he had destroyed and tossed it at the struggling woman.

As the piece of furniture was about to crush Kushina, it was reduced to ash by a crimson hand that formed a shield in front of her.

Naruto grit his teeth, as his hand once again wrapped around his blades hilt. He wrenched it free and dashed forward, positioning his blade to run his opponent through the chest.

Kushina freed her foot and ducked under Naruto's thrust. She jumped and kicked off his chest, using it as a platform.

Naruto grunted as he was knocked off balance. Before he could blink Kushina had capitalized on the opportunity, appearing in front of him in mid swing. He could only watch her fist as it traveled from it's starting position to impacting with his face. His head was thrown back from the force of the blow.

Still shocked from the first punch, Naruto had no way to defend himself as Kushina landed blow after blow to his chest, neck, and head. So consumed by the torture his body was experiencing, Naruto didn't hear the sound of his bones snapping or see the blood flying from his attackers fists.

Kushina ended her assault with a kick to the side of the demon vessels head, sending him sprawling.

Somehow, Naruto mustered the will power to get back on his feet. Agonizingly slowly he raised his blade above his head.

He could feel his grip falter, as his grasp was weak and loose around his blade. A painful battle cry was released as he gathered his remaining energy, swinging at the approaching woman. Kushina stopped the blades progress with a single finger, before she pushed it aside and smashed her forehead into Naruto's.

Naruto fell to his knees still clutching his blade tightly. A gasp escaped his parted lips followed by a dribble of blood streaming from the corners of his mouth. His blade fell to the ground, clanging as it hit the floor.

Kushina let go of her blade, leaving it sticking out of the blond's chest. Gracefully she strolled over to Naruto's side and picked up his blade.

"I made your life a paradise, it's only fair that your afterlife be a living hell." She said as she placed his sword atop of his neck.

She grinned before raising the blade and swinging it down with all her might.

The sound of steel cutting flesh echoed throughout the ruined village.

Terribly sorry for ending it here. I've already started on the next chapter and expect that one to be out in a week or two. I quite liked writing the fight scenes in this chapter.

Big thanks to Vassago-Toxicity, for fixing all my fuck ups.

So nows the part where I tell you all to read and review. Cause I love reviews.