Naruto awoke to find himself in the Tetragram seal, the large red cage standing before him. He sighed with relief and headed for the gate doors.

"Kurama."

No response.

"Kurama!"

Silence.

"Oi!" No reply. He softly mumbled. "Stupid fox."

Suddenly a growl broke through the steel of the double-gate doors. "Who the fuck are you calling stupid, mere human?!"

The blond narrowed his eyes and tapped his crossed arms, tilting his head ever so slightly. "What's your problem, eh? And what'd you mean, mere human!?"

"Khahahahahahahaha! All you humans are weak and pitiful. All you ever do is fucking relly on the powers of others when you have none yourselves!"

"Are you going insane or something? Anyway, where are we?"

"Kheh."

Naruto peered into the dark cage and found nothing behind a deep curtain of shadow. "I'm dead asleep and I can't get out. I'm bound or something..."

A low chuckle escaped from the prison. "Why don't you let me give you some of my power and help you escape? I'm sure you'd enjoy it."

Naruto's eyes widened in shock. "Some of your..."

"Together we can destroy those you hate."

"N-no..." The teen took a step backwards.

"Together we can achieve the greatest of powers."

"Kurama..." Another step.

"Together we can destroy Konoha." Hot breath flew from the cell, blowing the strongest of winds at the boy's shaking body.

One more step sent him toppling to the ground. "What's wrong with you..."

A chuckle. "Together we can destroy the Shinobi world!" Its eyes burned through the darknes. Emitting a bright and blood like red glow. Not long after flangs glowed beneath the so called eyes. "we can kill everyone!"

"No!"

The gate was crushed beneath the demon fox's massive paws, smashing to the ground into a mere thousand pieces. The loud clang echoing throughout the cavern walls.

"Cut it out, Kurama!"

"Die with the rest of the planet underneath my monstrous powers! For I am The Demon Fox Kurama, The Devil Himself. The Nine-Tails!"

The Bijuu leaped from its confinement, risking no moment of pause, no mercy, only killing intent. "I'll kill you, koyonaro!"

Claws sliced at the air, aiming for its prey with malicious fury. The monster's eyes seemed to glow with such a fire the temperature in the room seemed to rise to a near two hundred degrees.

Naruto rolled from the recent slamming of paws. What's up with him? His mind was completely fresh out of ideas. What was he to do when... "Kurama, I don't want to play this game anymore!"

"Who said this was a damn game?!" Kyuubi growled and slapped its foot over the boy's body.

The blond struggled in his grasp. The demon's claws held tight around the boy's limbs, confining them from movement. He gasped in fear so loud that this sent the beast huffing in laughter and bursting into almost near tears.

"Now, you die!" He threw his fangs at the boy's skull, crushing it in a single snap. Bright crimson blood sprayed through all four corners of the room, splattering along the walls and splashing at the thin layer of water's surface before slowly sinking in and spreading throughout, causing the water to stain itelf red.

The fox was silent for a moment before it licked its blood-stained teeth and jaws. "I'm free of this wimp of a human. Khahahahahahaha!"

He woke in horror as the darkness continued to engulf his very soul. Not a single ray of light seemed to shine in this endless hell of confusion and pain. He pulled at his arms and legs, hoping that somehow he could brake free and not long after he realized he was in a terrible situation. His whole body was sweating from pure exhaustion but he didn't know why. His breathing was ragged and he didn't know why. Why did he feel like this?

His head pounded, almost as if it had been crushed. Then he recalled what had recently happened and screamed out in terror. No, I'm not dead...I can't be dead!

Suddenly he felt a warm feeling over his shoulder and realized quickly that it was the hand of a human. He somewhat relaxed only to have another thought enter his mind. That's right...I was here before...I can still hear the sound of something like an air conditioner...

"Please, you need to calm down, Naruto-kun." A sweet voice calmly told him.

It must have been a dream. He flicked his head in fear towards the sound and received a gasp followed by rushing footsteps.

I didn't mean to scare her off... He thought once again and struggled ever more against his restraints. I swear, this feels like a hospital...but I could easily still be captured.

There was a soft chuckle from the far off side of...a room?

"You're supposed to be asleep." Footsteps approached the bed.

Naruto slightly flinched when he felt the figure come nearer. I recognize that voice... "Granny-" He instantly stopped himself. But how did I get here in the first place?

"What's wrong, kid? Got nothing to say?"

It sure sounds like her. Am I dreaming again? No...Genjutsu? Maybe.

"Are you feeling alright?"

He stopped himself from replying to the question.

The footsteps proceeded to approach him and his entire body stilled when he felt a cold hand against his sensitive abdomen. The heart monitored sped in the continual beeping sound. The hand shifted slightly in movement.

"It should heal in about two weeks."

This doesn't feel right at all! How the hell could I have gotten back to Konoha? The last thing I remember was fighting with Sasuke...where is he now? Did we get caught before the rescue party came? Was there even a rescue party?

He slightly shifted under the hand. It was cold...just like that snake's hand. Could I really be under some Genjutsu? If my hands weren't bound I could try and release it. Was this done on purpose? Dammit...

"Naruto, do you realize where you are?"

The blond was afraid to answer. Madara would be the type to ask something like that.

A sigh was heard. "You're in the hospital. It's me, Tsuna-." She stopped herself. "Granny."

A smile escaped his lips but he instinctively pulled it back. No...this is a trick.

"Naruto..." She placed her other hand onto his cheek and received a whimper followed by a flinch. He really doesn't know where he is. "The rescue team I sent found you and Sasuke at the edge of Konoha's borders. You were horribly wounded and you've been unconscious for nearly four days."

Four days? Does that explain my splitting headache and so many dreams?

The hand on his cheek was removed and placed over his eyes. "Does that hurt?"

That's what both of them would say! He swallowed before he shook his head.

Tsunade removed her hands from the boy and peeled away at the bandages at his eyes. If he hasn't gone blind I just hope he recognizes where he is.

The last of the bloodied bandage was removed and pkaced on top of a side table. Naruto immediately blinked his eyes open, attempting to remove the blurriness that was constricting his sight. The room around him swayed in between darkness and light. He continued desperately to focus them.

Suddenly, a hand was placed around the leather binding his arms. He turned to the figure and saw that she was unbuckling the straps! Once it was removed he threw his hands up in such a fury the wind from his action sent multiple papers flying across the room.

"Release!" He yelled. Nothing changed. "Release, dammit!" Still no response. "Release, release, release, release...release..." He turned his gaze toward the woman that stood there staring in complete shock.

Her bright blond hair swayed slightly and marked her smooth, pale complexion of her skin. Her eyes shined so bright even in the dim light emitting from a glowing light bulb. She smiled slightly.

This...this can't be a Genjutsu. Can it? He was in a loss for words, unsure of how to respond. What do I do?

"Trust, Naruto."

Who is that?

"Have you forgot me already, my little orange Hokage?" The voice seemed to flow smoothly from his brain itself.

"M-ma?"

Tsunade continued to watch him in cofusion, following his gaze to the side of a blank wall.

A red-haired woman stood leaning forward while holding her hands behind her back. A deep smile was engraved along her cheeks. "Of course, ya' know."

"B-but, ma? Why are you even here? I thought you-"

"Naruto, I'm in your heart. I'll always be with you." She took a step to the side as a shimmering yellow light appeared. It lengthened in size into the form of a body. "And so wil your father."

"Hey, son."

"Dad, ma?" His blue eyes filled with the shine of tears. The water glinted and he blinked them away with a quick, swinging motion. "I missed you so much..." The tears soon fought their way through and poured down the side of his face.

"Naruto, we love you and so does Konoha."

Minato stepped closer to his wife. "This isn't a Genjutsu. Trust me, it's real."

"Naruto, they're right."

"Kurama, where were you?"

"Kheh. Asleep, you bastard. Chakra exhaustion after helping you, remember?"

"I-I do..." The tears continued to rain down.

"Naruto, we love you." Kushina blew a kiss at her son and the two faded away.

Minato waved at the blond. "I believe in you, remember that."

"I love you..."

They faded from his vision and returned the stunned Tsunade. She had only heard Naruto's side of the conversation and was completely confused. Just then was when he realized whom was sitting next to him and he burst into a crying laughter. He rubbed his sore arm along his face and failed in his attempt to wipe the tears.

Tsunade found that he was smiling and she lent him into her outstretched arms. Wrapping him into a warm, love-filled hug. "Glad you're back, kid."

The blond was shocked at first and soon enough his worry eased and he returned the hug.