Alright. I am temporarily back. I have a convention in 40 days. I will either be going on another hiatus, or switching to Biweekly updates. we will have to see.
Arriving at the edge of the halfway constructed bridge, Naruto took a small moment, so brief that any watchers would have easily missed it. He shook his head, hands easily falling into the long familiar motions, the puff of three clones greeting him like an old well worn pair of shoes. He grinned, amused besides himself at the matching mischievous faces.
"Haha, we are so young!" A close looked down at himself, and Naruto was greeted with the rather comical sight of three mini hims posing and carrying on like they all were not well past this era of tomfoolery.
"It's great being young again, but boss man, our chakra hurts. It's all rough and poky." The clone on the right was wincing, rubbing his neck, "Was this how it just always was when we were this age?"
Naruto shrugged, "I honestly have no idea. We know we weren't exactly the most aware of our chakra at this age. Young me didn't even notice the giant raging fox in our belly for forever."
"Speaking of the fuzzball bossman," Middle clone was now standing at attention, eyes narrowed, "You're planning some meditation right now. Is that wise? We don't know if Kurama came back with us, he was barely even an existence after that war."
Naruto shook his head, "Why you bother saying anything when you are me I will never understand. I don't care if the old man came back, he doesn't deserve to be trapped like this, believing that any day now he'd be sucked dry. I would rather work on gaining his trust sooner rather than later, and I don't have much time." Naruto sighed deeply, sondering what exactly it said about him that he argued and discussed with his own clones like this. Probably not anything sane, But there are very few that could judge him he'd be bothered to care about.
"Anyways, You two, go fishing," He pointed to the far left and middle clones, before indicating the last clone, "and You, start observing Haku and Zabuza if possible. Be discreet. If you need to, make more clones. If possible it'd be nice to have some sort of initial contact, you're me so you know what I want. Disperse yourself before day 3. That's most likely around when we will have to start making our move."
"Yes boss!" They saluted, before splitting off to their respective tasks.
Naruto sighed heavily, seeing the one of the two tasked with fishing, tossing the other clone into the water. Man, but it was so weird seeing himself so young, and so very free. He snorted. Comical. He was probably less free than he'd been in years. Konoha, a shackle he hadn't quite prepared himself to face.
This wasn't the time for these thoughts. Honestly, Naruto didn't know when the time for these thoughts would come. He felt pulled apart, conflicted by his old love and loyalty to the village. Tethered to past promises. He knew he wanted to save Konoha. That he had numerous precious people within those walls, yet simultaneously so very many of his enemies lied there as well.
Truthfully, Naruto felt like a coward by wanting to avoid the village as much as possible.
But he wasn't the only one to think about. Sasuke had spent so many years without the comfort of home, and Sakura had her whole family back.
A gleam of sun on the water distracted him. It could already be seen reaching the middle of the trees, and Naruto cursed. He plopped inelegantly to the flow, slowly taking deep steady breaths. This was a tricky thing to try and accomplish with so little time. But remembering secret conversations with his inhabitant, pressed him forward.
The memory of that old fox's shaky voice as he confessed the years of rage filled fear locked in darkness and solitude. Never knowing when Naruto would die and extinguish his very life.
It was torture worse than anything the Fox had done. Something only conceived of by human cruelty.
Naruto felt sweat drip down his temple, body heating up as he focused on circulating his breathing, encouraging his chakra to steady and flow smoother, calming the painful raging power inside him. Breath in, breath out, the task steady, yet fast as he could possibly accomplish. Until naturally the circulating chakra bled red and suddenly he was in darkness.
A damp, molding sewer, lit up by a murkish orange light, greeted him. He swallowed, struck again by the disgusting state of what existed inside him. This would not stay. He shook his head, disgusted, and pushed forward. Steps creating ripples of sludge, it echoed and dripped off the walls
STepping into the chamber housing Kurama's prison was startling. It wasn't like he came to the end of any tunnel, he was just suddenly here. And what greeted with the sight of the one person, being, fox, closest to him in the entire world. The only one truly having been there for Naruto from the start. His partner and friend. The one who nearly completely destroyed himself to keep Madara from being able to absorb him. Kurama, who destroyed any chance he had to ever exist independently again. For Naruto.
Kurama who was giving Naruto an even more familiar look. The furious rage of someone who had been trapped alone and compressed for 13 years.
"What are you doing here, boy?" The words where dark, growled out with so much vehemence it caused the small hairs on Naruto's neck to raise. HIs inhabitant was dripping killing intent in dark and nauseating waves. So thick and pungent, Naruto had to bite his lip to keep his nose from scrunching in disgust.
He swallowed, before shaking out his arms, revealing his bare hands. This was so difficult, and yet Naruto could feel tears starting to build in his eyes. All his ideas and plans for this situation were ripped from his mind as he was greeted with his greatest hope. Kurama hated him, true, but he was so alive. So vibrant and filled with passion. This was leagues preferable to the weak presence he had been when Naruto unwound time.
"God Kurama, I-," Naruto stopped, swallowing at the flash of surprise and suspicion in his partner's face. "I am, I am so happy you are alive." He couldn't stop a tear from escaping his burning eyes as he slowly walked towards the cage.
"Stop!" The growled word of outrage was ignored as he grew close enough to lean his forehead onto the bars, uncaring of the potential for injury.
Kurama was so trussed up he wouldn't be able to do anything to protect himself, let alone attack.
The sight of him was overwhelming. Exhilarating and disgusting. Naruto hated and loved seeing him. He yearned to rip off the seal, but restrained himself. Kurama's release would harm more than help at this point. Naruto's Father's seal was so maliciously designed. It bound them so tightly together, that it would take years of prep to safely release it. Time they most definitely didn't have.
"What do you think you are doing!" Kurama was spitting in rage, teeth bared in a ferocious snarl. His eyes blazed red with power, and he released wave after wave of increasingly potent killing intent. "You don't belo-!" His roar was cut off by the chamber shaking sharply just once.
A ringing gong surged through the chamber causing the edges to slowly blur, and Naruto knew his time was up, still, he didn't want to leave Kurama in such pain.
"Old man, I will be back. You don't remember, but we are family. And I will help you soon." Naruto reached his hand up, stopping just shy of reaching into the cage. "Don't worry. We aren't going to die anytime soon."
"You damned braaaat!" Kurama's furious roar was ringing in Naruto's ears as he opened his eyes to his clones setting down their catch in front of him.
"Sorry boss, but it's time, I am sure any longer than 10 minutes and Sensei will start to get suspicious."
"You're right. Let's go." With two proofs they popped away, and Naruto stood, shaking slightly. His whole body seemed soaked with sweat, but still he grinned. This was the worst possible outcome, Kurama having no memories of the future. But still, Naruto couldn't help but feel hopeful. That old fox was stubborn, and held grudges like no tomorrow. But he had nothing on Naruto. He'd wear him down in no time.