sorry about updates! gonna be busy w/ my trashaversary (don't ask)

NEXT UPDATE: soon

chapter sixteen: Fire Coming Out Of The Monkey's Head

AND

chapter seventeen: Like Eating Glass

-Junko

The bright light woke Naruto as it hit his face. He opened his eyes slowly, blinking a couple of times to get used to the brightness. He looked around groggily. He was in the hospital. He sat up slowly, but found that he wasn't as sore as he thought he'd be. He checked his body and only found a few scratches and bruises. Was last night a dream? Then why am I here? He got out of bed and stretched. He saw his clothes on a nearby chair and threw them carelessly on. Underneath the pile of clothes was a note. Naruto picked it up and read it indifferently.

Naruto, if you're reading this, it means you're

obviously awake. It's 10/12 at the time, and you were

just admitted. When you wake up you should be fine,

leave when you want. Koretto's in here too. She

should be fine in a couple days.

-Tsunade

Naruto shrugged and tossed away the paper. Something was going on with Koretto, and he wanted to know what it was. He walked out of his room, down the hall, and to the lobby. He walked over to the front desk and asked for Koretto's room. The woman looked a little shocked, as if seeing Koretto would break some bad taboo. "030" she said, pointing down a hall. Naruto nodded and walked in that direction.

"027, 028, 029, 030," He stopped at the closed door, and looked at the handle. What was with this girl? What's going on? Naruto's determination to search for answers pushed him into the room. He walked in with his eyes closed, turned around and closed the door. He stood there, facing the door for a few seconds, and then turned around. Koretto lay there, motionless. He walked over to her and sat at the chair by her bedside. She looked like she was sleeping, and he didn't want to wake her. He looked around her room. The calendar had been X'ed out, up until the day 10/12. Naruto looked at it, puzzled. It could be 10/12. His mission started on 10/11, and he and Kiba had been in the woods late at night. He knew he had slept for more than one day. He continued to look around. The nightstand was covered in a thin layer of dust; the sink was dry and had accumulated its own layer of dust. The health chart on her door was blank. Naruto realized then that no one had been to the room since she got here. The only sign of outside life where the two bouquets of wilting flowers, one get-well card signed Lee, the other Kakashi. Naruto looked back at Koretto. Her brow furrowed slightly and Naruto smiled. How did this girl manage to make him love her, even when fear filled his heart? Naruto sat patiently.

Meanwhile, Koretto's dreams filled her head with the nightmare of a couple nights ago.

She had beaten him senseless in less than three minutes. She was losing the little bit of control she still had quickly. Had she lost all control, he would have been dead in less than a minute. He couldn't defend himself, even with the amount of aided-power he had. The Kyuubi would be free. But she had slingshot-ed him against the ground, causing him to go unconscious. She felt herself walking over to the screaming child. Panic rose inside her. She felt her control slipping. Her voice and hair had already changed. If it progressed any further, he really would be dead. She needed a distraction, and fast. She tried to distract herself with her mind, but her body kept pushing forward. It was useless. She was trapped inside herself, like a prisoner in an empty shell. Her thoughts were useless against her body. She looked to the boy in front of her in horror; as if she were watching a movie. Luck was on her side though; she heard an explosion behind her, and her body turned away from Naruto. She took advantage of the distraction and regained control. She brought herself to the ground, and held herself in the fetal position, trashing and screaming until she regained full control, and she was the normal Koretto again. She caught a glimpse of the hooded boy and his dog that had grabbed her attention, and then looked over to Naruto. He was bloody and bruised, because of her. She pulled herself toward him, and sat upright, placing her hand on any spot that was cut, bruised or bleeding. She started to feel light-headed as her chakra surged from her fingertips into his skin, closing any open wounds and healing sore spots. She had to help him recover. The Kyuubi had already begun the process, but she had to make up for what she had done. Her vision became fuzzy and her fingers slipped from his face. Her eyes rolled back, and she fell to the ground next to him; unconscious from her over exertion of chakra.

Naruto looked at his sister, so peaceful in her sleep. He smiled at her. She had stopped herself again, and put her own life in danger for him. After all, she was in the hospital. Naruto didn't even see the point of why he was here, he felt fine. He looked at Koretto, who slept motionless. Motionless. Naruto's eyes widened. No one was here for a couple days. He started to panic looking at Koretto. She didn't breathe. He grabbed her wrist, pushing his fingers around to find a pulse. He searched but couldn't find one. No, no, no!!!!! I can't lose her. I can't-Koretto-don't go! As if in response Koretto grabbed his arm, and sat up suddenly. He sat and watched her dry heaving. After a moment she calmed herself down, and looked at him. Naruto stared back. Koretto smiled "You're okay," she said, relived.

Naruto shook his head to get away from her smile. "You weren't breathing- you didn't have- it wasn't there-"he choked. Koretto looked down at her hands.

"I want answers!" he yelled. Koretto looked up

"You won't give up, will you?"

"Nope, 'tebayo!"

She sighed. "I didn't plan on ever telling you. I thought someday I'd have full control, and it wouldn't be necessary. But in light of…last night's(?)…events, it seems that I have to tell you."

"That's what I hoped you'd say," Naruto grabbed the chair and pulled it underneath him.

"Okay Naruto, I'm warning you now, your perspective on me may change drastically,"

"Go on,"

"Alright. I guess I'll give you something short to begin with, then go on with the whole story…hehe. This may take awhile."

"I've got time."

Koretto became very serious.

"I have a demon inside me too. My real name is not Uzumaki Koretto. I can't remember my real first name. My demon is allies with the Kyuubi, and wishes to set him free. Whenever we embrace or are close, or smell each other's blood or tears, the demons take control. Are demons are different though. You are a host because you save Konoha from the demon. I am a host because I need my demon to support me. If I die, my demon will take full control of my body, and use it as her own. Because she is the only thing keeping me alive, I have no pulse- my heart doesn't work-and I don't need to breathe. And lastly, I haven't aged in thirteen years," she smiled at the utterly quiet Naruto.

"Let the saga begin."