There was one place that Naruto visited the most.
It was a place that he would run too when he wanted some peace and Rin could understand. Everyone needed a break sometimes.
"Naruto"
But no one should be alone. Naruto looked up to the young woman then turned back to the pond that sat in front of him.
It was this place that the demon fox was sealed. That his mother had almost lost her life. That Kakashi had lost his eye.. A part of the forest that was broken by the fight but that had regrown into a beauty unmatched. The clearing gave way to green grass and wild flowers and a crater either caused by the fox or a jutsu made way for a pond. It was peaceful.
"Naruto don't let what Obito said get to you."
She got closer and knelt on the ground beside him.
"He's right"
Came a mutter that she just barely heard,
"It was a mission failure"
She frowned,
"Of course not, you completed your mission right? I'm sure that…"
"I used it"
She hated when Naruto got like this because it was never blaming others, just self loathing.
"I used THAT power."
Rin sighed,
"Naruto there is nothing wrong with using the nine tail's power both of you are connected now it's bound too-"
"NO!"
Naruto bent forward in anguish as his hands snaked into his hair gripping it painfully,
"I can't after i… it's all my fault...it's my fault…"
It usually took Naruto a while to get riled up. Even when he was little. The age he was specifically at the time though was six. Jiraiya had brought Naruto back to visit his family which didn't happen too often but at least once a year. It was a condition his mom had decided on because even though it was safer for Naruto to stay away she still wanted to watch her son grow then Naruto still loved his father innocently and their relationship was gentle.
It was during this time though that something had happened.
Naruto had been spending time with his mother. His father and Jiraiya were at the hokage's office and they decided they would make lots of food and throw a party, especially since they had missed Naruto's birthday.
Naruto couldn't really recall what took place.
One second his mom was help him and the next she was on the ground and she wasn't moving.
"Mommy?"
Blood was spilling from her mouth and though he knew he should get help his heart began to race and he couldn't think straight. All he remembered was a voice in his head,
She's dead
No
Dead
No
Did you kill her?
He didn't remember anything after that. People called his name in the background but he couldn't tell who. All he remembered was how it felt….
NARUTO!
Someone…?
The small boy tried to open his eyes under the water he found himself in
NARUTO YOU HAVE TO STOP!
Stop?
The water was too dark to see anything and the sounds seemed muffled,
YOU'LL KILL HIM!
Kill?
Naruto flinched,
That was right mommy needed help.
Naruto reached his arm up,
I need to get mommy help
The water seemed to rush past him and then it seemed he was on the ground. He coughed finally breathing in oxygen.
By the time you're done everyone will be dead
Naruto turned eyes widening at the sight on the large gate and the bright red slitted eye staring back at him from behind it.
The demon fox
So this was the beast his godfather had said was sealed inside him. He felt his legs quivered in the fear of it but then the words sunk in,
When I'M done…?
A feral grin stretched revealing fanged canines and sent a cold shiver down Naruto's back,
Can't you hear them?
Suddenly the voices that had seemed so muffled before came in clear
NARUTO!
STOP IT! PLEASE!
I DON'T WANT TO HURT YOU!
JUST PUT HIM DOWN!
Stop? Hurt?
What were they talking about he was right here?
The feral grin spread wider,
This is why humans are not privy to the power we have…..
Naruto felt sick like something terrible was happening but he didn't know what,
You call use monsters but it is you humans that are the real…
Naruto didn't get to hear what the fox said next as he felt himself being forcibly pulled from that dungeon and he no longer was looking into red slitted eyes rather red eyes with a familiar black tomoe.
Red eyes belonging to a panting and sweating black haired man. Naruto felt his eyes wander because he didn't remember when Obito had gotten to the house. Or rather…
When he had left?
He didn't remember coming to the tree lined forest.
And why was Rin there? Why was she also sweating and panting?
And...AND…
WHY WAS JIRAIYA BLEEDING?!
AH!
WHERE WAS HIS MOTHER?! WHAT HAD HAPPENED WHERE WAS HIS-
And in the furthest corner he saw her. His mother in the arm of his father….
Why…?
By the time you're done…
Why was his father looking at him so coldly? So distantly?
You call us monsters…
"Damn"
Naruto looked to Obito…
But it is you humans….
"fu**ing monster"
Naruto wasn't sure if it was supposed to be a whispered comment but it didn't matter…
By the time you're done…
"Neh…"
Naruto's throat burned so his young voice sounded gravelly,
"Neh Obito…"
There was no Obito bro… not anymore….
Naruto looked back at the man that he loved and respected more than anyone else. The man holding the mother that he loved and cared for more than anyone else,
"Obito… where's daddy's arm?"
Everyone will be dead
There would never be the right words for comfort. What had happened that day was….. well
Kushina had passed out, after the extraction of the nine tails her body was significantly weaker. But Naruto had never seen it happen and the intensity of emotions had overwhelmed him and allowed the nine tailed power to leak. Kakashi had been away on a mission, so Jiraiya, Minato, Obito, and Rin had struggled to contain the boy who was fearfully strong. Jiraiya had been left with a large scar across his chest and Minato… Minato had lost his arm.
They hadn't settled it correctly either.
While they sat in the hospital, Naruto was forcibly locked away in the darkest part of the hokage tower unable to access people or his chakra. No one told him exactly what had happened or what had happened to his mother.
He was too young to understand and the guilt and shame devoured him making him fearful of his own reaction. It also didn't help that many others thought he was a monster as well...including Obito..
"Naruto…"
Rin said softly. Naruto had hurt the people most precious to him.
Naruto who wanted to protect others...
Had festered a fear that Rin feared would undo him completely one day.
"It's all my fault…"
Okay who else thinks an adult losing their arm is over rated (author raise hand too).
I KNOW! BUT I CAN'T HELP MYSELF.
Actually I use a lot of other anime references besides the obvious Naruto one, see if you can find them all.