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I edited this chapter because I didn't like how it came out. Sorry for the confusion.

Chapter 9

Minato sat up slowly, groaning and rubbing the back of his throbbing head. "Ouch. . .," he murmured as he massaged the bump on his head. "What happened-?!" He leaped to his feet, simultaneously scanning the area as he did so.

"Dammit! Too much time has past!" He berated himself for not anticipating Kakashi's actions. I'm his sensei. I should know him! He gritted his teeth as he quickly weaved together a complex session of hand signs. "You better not have gotten yourself killed, Kakashi!" he growled before disappearing in a yellow flash.

XXX

"You are truly a fool for all ages," Tai hissed at his partner as a blast of Naruto's chakra hit him. He applied chakra to the soles of his feet just to stay standing. His chakra is monstrous . . . and foul! For once, in a long time, his impassive face was etched with fear.

Yuri, on the other hand, was grinning wickedly as he watched Naruto transform. "Come on, Tai! Don't be so uptight! Just think of how much fun we'll have now!" His manic grin never left his face.

"You will be the death of us," Tai complained, taking out and swinging his scythe in wide circles. "If we ever live through this, I'm breaking off this partnership."

Yuri unsheathed a nondescript katana from his back. "You don't sound so confident in our abilities," he noted with a slight frown. "We can take this brat, no problem!"

Tai shook his head slowly. "Fool, do you not sense the strength radiating from him? It's taking a lot of chakra for me to continue standing."

"You're getting old, Tai. You're not as much fun," Yuri teased.

"Are you two done talking?" Naruto suddenly interrupted. The air around them was disturbed, whipping around violently. In the middle of the disturbance, was Naruto encased in a burning red chakra cloak shaped like a fox.

He raised a clawed hand. "I hope you said what you needed to, because it will be your last words!" Without any warning of any kind, red claws shot out from the cloak.

"Shit!" Tai cursed as he lurched sideways to avoid being skewered. His chakra is branching! he noticed with horror as more claws shot out from the previous ones. What kind of monster is that boy?! he wondered as he dodged for his life.

"Now, this is more like it!" Yuri exclaimed excitedly as he nimbly avoided the five-clawed spears, albeit only by inches.

He's actually enjoying this?! Tai thought with disgust. He was sorely tempted to leave him and allow him to fend for himself. He shook his head vigorously, discarding that thought. He was too honorable to sink so low. Honor is such a burden. He ducked under and weaved through numerous spears of chakra.

"Is that all you two can do?!" Naruto demanded as he sent out more tentacles. "You killed my Niisan so easily, why can't you show the same power against me?"

Here's my chance! he thought with relief as he saw an opening. He gladly took it and charged straight at Naruto's unprotected flank.

"Aw, don't end it so soon Tai!" Yuri shouted with a pout. He watched as Tai drew close to Naruto. Guess my fun's over. . .

"Die!" Tai roared as he slashed at Naruto's throat.

XXXMiles away, in a dark, underground room, two figures waited patiently. To whom was the master was obvious, he sat in a impressive stone chair, resting his chin on his palm propped on his chair rest.

The other stood next to him, his glasses gleaming in the light of a single candle. He looked over at his master curiously. "Do you think they will succeed?" he asked suddenly.

His leader chuckled mockingly. "Ku, ku, ku, ku. . . Kabuto, if they had a chance of succeeding, I would have sent you instead." Two snake-like slits open in the dim light, shining with wickedness. "No, I expect them to failure. After all, this is all a test for dear, little Naruto-kun."

"Could that boy really be your ideal body?" Kabuto asked, adjusting his glasses slightly. His master had switched bodies twice now, and both times the body rejected his soul. As a result, he had to keep switching every few years. A body that can hold his soul, does it really exist? he wondered idly.

"Ku, ku, ku. . ." Again, he chuckled. "Yes, he would have been. . . Who else could be than the Hokage's own son? A son who he will no undoubtedly taught advance jutsu to and strengthened. . ." He sighed dramatically and placed his face in his hand. "Unfortunately, his demon will prevent me from doing so." He smiled a disturbing smile. "He shall have his uses though."

Kabuto nodded understandingly. "So that is why you had the Uchiha taken also."

"You're not as dim witted as you have others believe, Kabuto." He gave his subordinate an almost appraising look.

Kabuto smiled, his eyes filled with cold calculations and malice. "You give me too much credit, Orochimaru-sama. I'm actually a terrible actor."

Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly and he hissed, "Yes, that sometimes slips my mind."

XXX

Tai stared with disbelief as his scythe shattered against Naruto's chakra cloak. "How?!"

"Bastard, you actually think I would leave myself unprotected?" Naruto mocked. "This chakra will protect me from any harm. . . Too bad, the same cannot be said for you." He placed a hand against his chest and focused.

A burst of red chakra exploded out of Tai's back. With a gurgled sound, Tai collapsed to the ground with eyes filled with disbelief. He stared at Naruto for once second before jerking once and then going still.

Naruto gazed coldly at his body. You deserved this. . . he thought with conviction. A sickening sensation rose up in his stomach, causing him to almost double over. He felt like he wanted to vomit, but he refrained himself through pure sheer of will. I can't. . . I'm not done yet.

"You totally suck, Tai! How could you let yourself be killed by this pipsqueak?" Yuri's head slumped in disappointment. "In the end, you were the real fool."

Naruto steeled his nerves, then turned and glared at Yuri. "You're both fools in equal amounts. The only cure for foolishness is . . . death!"

XXX

Minato arrived at the scene and was almost blown back by the amount of killer intent that filled the air. He blinked in surprise and horror as he recognized the Kyubi's chakra that fouled the air. Don't tell me. . .

He leaped into the trees and followed the sounds of a battle. He prayed to Kami desperately that his answer to all this commotion was wrong. Please let me be in time!

He burst into a clearing. . .and his blue eyes went wide. He grimaced as he took in the scene. He saw a body laying in a growing pool of blood. He went over and checked it. ". . . He must be one of kidnappers. . ." He stood up and left it where it was.

He looked around some more and spotted what he hoped he hadn't. Kakashi's supine form laid in the center of the clearing. So Kakashi did go in my stead, he thought sadly as he went to him. He knelt down and tried to find a pulse. . .

He let out a sigh of relief. "Good. . . You didn't get yourself killed." He stood up and chuckled. "If you died, you wouldn't be able to see me burn all your books."

His relief was short lived as a roar tore through the air. "Is dodging all you're good at?!" From out of thick cluster of trees, a red clad figure broke through. The fox shaped chakra was unmistakably the Kyubi's. "Hold still, and I will make it painless!" he shouted, voice filled with rage, as dozens of claws shot out of his cloak toward his nimble target.

Yuri dodged effortless and gracefully, twirling and leaping through the air. "Ha! Like I'd believe you!"

Naruto?! Minato almost had to rub his eyes. He just couldn't believe that fox shaped monster was his son. How did this happen? When did the seal start weakening? He shook his head and formed a hand sign. I can worry about that later. I have to act now! "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

A dozen clones appeared out of the smoke. They all exchanged nods. Minato ran after his son while his clones went to take care of Yuri.

Naruto let out a frustrated roar as Yuri and Minato's clones disappeared further into the dense forest. "Get back here!!!" He caught movement in his peripheral vision and turned toward it. His red slits narrowed dangerously when he saw Minato running toward him. "Why do you interfere?" he demanded with a growl.

He doesn't recognize me! Minato realized almost too late. He was forced to wretch his body to the side as a red claw soared at him. He gritted his teeth as the claw glazed his side, causing a burning red pain to rake his body. It burns!

Naruto through back his head, letting out a guttural roar. "Do not interfere! I will avenge my Niisan!"

Minato cursed as another tail formed behind Naruto. The Kyubi's chakra is spilling out too quickly! At this rate- he broke that train of thought and focused on what he had to do. I'm sorry son, this is going to hurt. He reached into his kunai pouch and took out a dozen or so custom made kunai. He hurled them deftly all around Naruto and began forming hand signs.

"Do not interfere!" Naruto roared again and sent out a barrage of claws, too numerous to count. He grinned gleefully as the all closed in on Minato. "Die!" A deafening exploded filled the air as the claws all smashed into Minato.

"Stop this now!" Minato appeared in front of Naruto, his arm cocked back. "Before I ground you!" He slammed his palm into Naruto's forehead, boring through the chakra cloak easily.

The chakra instantly vanished when Minato made contact with his forehead.

"There, that should hold until I can examine him." Minato smooth out the seal he placed on Naruto's forehead. He gazed at his son's prone form, bitter tears forming in his eyes. He wiped them away before they could fall. "What a fool I've been. . . How could I have done this to my own son?"

A rustle behind him signaled his clones return. Out of the dozen, only five remained. One dragged Yuri's body forward. "Forgive us. He killed himself with a cyanide pill."

"It's fine," Minato said dully. "Take the body to be examined."

"Hai!"

Minato threw Naruto over his shoulder and did the same for Kakashi. "Let's go home."

XXX

Sakura paced outside Naruto's room. She was worried out of her mind. Where are they? She knew the Hokage went after him, so there shouldn't have been any reason to be worried. Still, she couldn't help it.

Even Hinata was worried, but didn't express it in such an obvious way. Instead, she sat by Naruto's door, staring blankly at the wall. Naruto-kun. . .

Minutes felt like hours as they waited as patiently as they could. Finally, as they were about to leave, a sound came from within his room.

"He's back!" Sakura shouted joyously, throwing out the door.

"N-Naruto-kun!" Hinata jumped to her feet and went in behind Sakura.

"Hold it," Minato whispered sternly. He stood in there way, blocking sight of Naruto. He held one finger to his lips. "If you're quiet, you can stay." With that said, he left silently.

They both exchanged confused looks, then went over to Naruto's bed.

XXX Minato shut the door behind him. Who would have thought my past would come back to haunt me. . .