A/N: It's been a long time since I've even watched the anime and quite frankly I don't remember any of Deidara's technique besides explosive clay so this fight may not be the most accurate in terms to what he uses but I will try my best. There's also something I forgot to mention in the last chapter and it's that the Akatsuki won't be as powerful and broken as they were in canon. They'll be slight nerfs but when they reappear they'll be crazy strong again.
Chapter 11: The Truth
-Forest of Death-
Mako Uchiha was currently seen hopping through the trees with her wolf summon Jun by her side. For a few hours they have been on the trail of Naruto's scent before Jun would come to a halt.
''Mako wait.'' The wolf said.
Coming to a halt, the Jonin looks to the wolf with a questioning look. ''What is it Jun?''
Jun then raises his head up and begins to sniff the air. ''Do you sense what I smell?'' The wolf said.
Looking up into the night sky Mako closed her eyes for a moment as a gentle breeze blows through the forest. Opening her eyes we see a look of worry in them. ''Naruto...'' Mako said.
''Yes, I believe it's happening too.'' Jun said.
''We have to hurry.'' Mako and Jun then leap across the forest.
''You fucking bastard let her go!" A now angry Genma shouted.
Naruto then suddenly felt an unknown energy build up within him, it was so powerful it even made Deidara halt his torture of Kurotsuchi.
Despite the pain she was in Kurotsuchi, along with Genma and Deidara looked at Naruto and saw what appeared to be orange chakra flaring around him and he appeared to be...on all fours?
''N-Naruto?'' Kurotsuchi thought despite the pain she was in. She noticed that his nails appeared to be growing sharper..and his hair was getting wilder.
''Is that..no way..'' Genma thought with a look of fear.
''So, it wants to come out and play un?'' Deidara thought smiling as the Naruto was now completely surrounded by the orange chakra.
''Let her go...'' Naruto's voice change sent shivers down the spines of his two teammates. It sounded like a demonic growl, ''Because if you don't...'' Naruto then stood up with his body slightly hunched in a way that was beast-like then looked up and eyed Deidara, his eyes were now red and his pupils were slits, the whisker marks on his face was more defined and his canine's were elongated. ''I'm gonna kill you..''
''Un, so the Kyuubi has come out to play, let's see what you're made of brat.'' Deidara said before tossing Kurotsuchi aside like trash.
Naruto then ran forward on all fours and leaps straight at the blonde Iwa nin with his arm reared up for a swipe. Deidara raises his own hand up and effortlessly catches Naruto's hand and quickly goes to shove an clay spider right into his face but the Kyuubi container quickly delivers a punch with his free hand striking the Akatsuki member straight in the gut sending him flying into the trunk of the massive tree.
''Ung! Damn that hurt.'' Deidara said as he slowly gets up. ''Un, I would expect this from the Kyuubi, it is the most powerful of the tailed-beasts.'' The blonde Iwa nin then fires several clay spiders at Naruto hoping that the sheer numbers of the explosives would overrun him.
Naruto just stands there as the spiders crawl all over him before they completely cover his body.
''Take this!" Deidara smiled maniacally hoping to see Naruto get killed from the explosion but his smiled disappeared when a vortex of the Kyuubi's chakra spiraled around the blonde Kyuubi container sending the spiders flying in every direction allowing them to detonate harmlessly away from him and his teammates.
''Un, this is going to be more difficult than I thought.'' Deidara said before charing head on towards the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki.
Deidara makes a few more clay spiders only this time they were a bit larger and sends them crawling straight at Naruto, the blonde Jinchuuriki saw this and with sheer ferocity swings his claws and slices them into tiny little pieces, little explosions following just a second after. The two blondes then come within arm's reach of each other and Deidara goes to draw a kunai knife and brings it upwards hoping to strike the Jinchuuriki in his pressure point to at least knock him out but Naruto's reaction time, thanks to the Kyuubi's chakra was enhanced and the Jinchuuriki moves his head to the side and quickly swings his claws at Deidara's face striking the Akatsuki member. Grunting in pain Deidara was sent flying sideways from the force of the hit.
Kurotsuchi and Genma were watching the fight between the two blondes with shocked expressions on their faces. Kurotsuchi especially was at a loss for words.
''That's...that's not the Naruto I know...'' Thought the Iwa girl.
''I've never seen Naruto fight so viciously...'' Genma thought as he and Kurotsuchi watched the two blondes fight.
Grunting in pain Deidara gets up and goes to create some more clay spiders but Naruto was already on him and manages to catch the Akatsuki member and places a clawed hand on his throat while the other was pinning his hands against his chest in a way that he was unable to defend himself.
''Urgh! Un, I should've known better, I guess us blondes are dumb huh Naruto?'' Deidara sneered looking straight into Naruto's eyes but the Genin's only course of action was to deliver a powerful punch with enough force to knock several of the Akatsuki's teeth out.
''Gwah!'' Deidara cried out as he was sent to the floor, the force of the punch having done a lot on him and realizing that it would be futile to try and continue to fight Naruto he tries to get up but was once again shoved to the ground.
Naruto was about to deliver a fatal punch when suddenly he froze in place, his eyes grew wide and he had a look of confusion on his face.
Kurotsuchi and Genma looked on as they watched Naruto freeze in place and after a few seconds of silence the chakra around Naruto disappears and his hair, eyes, nails and teeth to normal. Groaning in exhaustion, Naruto collapses to the ground unconscious.
''Naruto!'' Shouted both Kurotsuchi and Genma as they run over to check on their teammate.
''Is he okay?'' Genma asked.
''Yeah, he's just unconscious.'' Kurotsuchi said before turning to look where Deidara was but the blonde Akatsuki nin was missing.
Suddenly a shadow appeared above them, looking up Kurotsuchi and Genma saw Deidara on his clay bird and preparing what looked like a bomb of sorts.
''Un, I think I'll just get rid of you three. Sorry Kurotsuchi but as much as I'd like to stick around and catch up on old times I'm afraid you die here.'' Deidara sneered before tossing the round clay bomb over the bird. ''See you all in hell un.''
''Shit!'' Kurotsuchi and Genma huddled over Naruto. ''Earth release: Rock shelter!"
A shelter made of rock appeared around the Genin as the bomb descended upon them.
Deidara watched as the bomb descended upon them with a wicked grin when suddenly he saw what appeared to be a spiral void appear in the center of his bomb.
''What the fuck is that?'' Deidara thought in wonder as he watched the spiral void continuously expand. He then went wide-eyed when the bomb appeared to be sucked into the spiral void.
It was gone.
''What the?!'' Deidara thought in pure rage.
At the same time Kurotsuchi, Genma and the unconscious Naruto awaited their demise from the bomb only for nothing to happen.
''What the? Where's the explosion?'' Kurotsuchi thought.
Dispelling the rock shelter jutsu Kurotsuchi and Genma look into the sky only to see Deidara hovering above.
Suddenly, several fire dragons appeared from under the forest canopy and one struck the bird partially searing it's wing. ''Who the fuck is attacking?!'' Deidara thought in anger, ''I've gotta get outta here un!" Deidara then maneuvered the bird south and flew away but not before a figure appeared behind him, feeling a presence he turns and spots Mako taking in a deep breath.
''Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame!" Mako then expelled an immense blast of fire from her mouth blowing it straight at Deidara's face.
''Arrrrgh!" Deidara cried out as the right side of his face became severely burnt. He then prods the bird to pick up speed and within a few seconds he flies off into the horizon.
Falling back down to where her Genin were Mako quickly rushes over to check on the three Genin. ''Are you three okay?'' The Jonin asked.
''Yeah, we are, just...Naruto...'' Kurotsuchi's voice almost broke but she stayed strong trying to fight back her emotions. ''Naruto...he.''
''I know..I know Kurotsuchi.'' Mako said patting the girl on her back.
''I've...I've never seen anything like that.'' Genma said with a shaky voice.
Mako picks up Naruto and places him on Jun's back. ''You sure you can carry him?''
''Yeah, I've carried heavier.'' Said the wolf summon.
After a few minutes of tending to Kurotsuchi's injury the shinobi and the Jun hop through the trees in the direction of a large tower that looms over the forest canopy.
-Elsewhere in the forest of death-
''Hurry! Let's try and make it to the tower before dawn!" Mei ordered her two teammates Chojuro and Utakata who were following close behind.
''How much longer Mei?'' Asked Utakata.
''It shouldn't be that long, a couple of miles I guess.'' Said the kunoichi.
''My feet are sore.. let's take a few minutes to relax.'' Complained Chojuro.
''Stop being such a wuss and come on!" An irritated Mei barked.
''Whyyyy? I'm so sore!"
''Grrrrr, fine! Let's take a few minutes to rest!" Mei said in annoyance.
The three Kiri Genin then land beside a stream but the moment they land the water from the stream rose and flew straight at them shaped like a shark.
''Water release: Shark bomb!" A voice called out.
''What the?!'' The three of them leap out of the way just narrowly avoiding the technique.
''Who the fuck is attacking us?! Show yourselves!" Mei growled.
Then a figure emerged from the water manifesting into a man with blue skin with round, white eyes.
''Ah, Utakata, it's a pleasure to meet a fellow shinobi from Kiri and the Jinchuuriki of the Rokubi as well.'' Said the revealed Kisame.
''K-Kisame Hoshigaki...Monster of Kiri...'' The three of them said in obvious fear.
''No time to talk, just come with me Utakata and your friends don't have to die.'' Kisame said while gripping the handle to his sword.
''Tch, you're not getting your hands on Utakata you shark-skinned fucker!" Mei shouted.
''Mei! We can't fight this guy he's too experienced!'' Chojuro protested.
''He's right Mei, let's just get the hell out of here.'' Utakata said placing a hand on his teammate's shoulder.
''No, I'm not running, if you two want to run go ahead and be cowards. This is our chance to confront the biggest traitor of our village.'' Mei said as she performs several hand seals. ''Water release: Water dragon bullet!"
Next to Kisame a large amount of water begin to spiral into the air and slowly it formed into the shape of a dragon. Smirking in amusement Kisame holds his hand out with the palm pointing towards the water dragon and when the dragon collides with his hand it disperses harmlessly around him much to the shock of the three Kiri Genin, especially Mei.
''What!?'' Mei thought.
''Heh heh, you think a little jutsu like that is going to harm me? I'll show you how to use water style.'' Kisame then performs his own series of hand seals. ''Water style: Exploding water shockwave!''
Then a massive wave comes flying out of the stream heading straight for the Genin.
''Scatter!'' Mei ordered but they were suddenly grabbed and held into place by Kisame water clones.
''You've got to be kidding me!" Chojuro said as he struggles to break free.
''Damn!" Utakata screamed and the three of them were helpless as the massive wave came crashing down on them.
Kisame, who was riding the wave grinned in glee as the wave came closer and closer to engulfing the three of them. ''This fight is mine!'' Kisame said in glee and as the wave came within feet of crashing onto them a figure quickly struck the clones effectively dispelling them before scooping up the three Genin and taking off with them.
The wave crashes down onto where the Genin were sending water flooding throughout the surrounding area. Several minutes later the waves would die down and Kisame noticed that the three of them were gone.
''Well, looks like someone came and intervened. Better report to Tobi and that mummy guy.'' Kisame said before disappearing into the night.
The quiet night next to the small lake within the forest of death was interrupted when a figure shunshins by the bank of the lake. The figure is revealed to be Asuma Sarutobi, one of Konoha's elite and next to him were the three Kiri Genin Mei, Chojuro and Utakata.
''You guys okay?'' Asuma asked.
''Y-yeah, thanks for saving us Konoha sensei.'' Chojuro said between coughs.
''Yes, thank you very much.'' Utakata said.
''Th-thanks, but I wanted to fight him..'' Mei said with a hint of gratitude and annoyance. ''Damn! I wanted to take down the biggest traitor in Kiri history!"
''No, he's way too advanced for you three to take on and I'm not going to risk you Utakata since you're a Jinchuuriki. Let's hurry on towards the tower, you guys do have the earth and heaven scroll right?'' Asuma asked and the response he got was Mei taking out both from her pouch and showing it to him.
Nodding, the four of them then make their way towards the tower safely.
-Medical ward, Tower at the 44th training ground-
Inside the medical ward of the tower we see Mako, Kurotsuchi and Genma sitting beside an unconscious Naruto, it's been four days since their encounter with the Akatsuki nin Deidara and when they saw first hand to power the Kyuubi.
''He's...he's been out for four days straight..'' Kurotsuchi said worried.
''I know, that encounter really took a toll on him.'' Genma said.
Mako gently pats both of them on the shoulder while giving them a comforting smile. ''It's okay you two, he's fine and I'm sure he'll come around in a bit.''
Just then a figure shunshins into the room, turning around they see Hiruzen, the third Hokage standing before them. ''How is he?'' Hiruzen asked walking over to the bed where Naruto was.
''He's fine Lord Hokage, he's just exhausted is all but he should be feeling good when he wakes up.'' Explained Genma.
''Yeah, considering how energetic he is I bet he'll go back to being his normal self.'' Mako added.
''I'm glad, I was afraid the seal would've failed and the Kyuubi would've unleashed. I don't even want to think of the hell that would've ensued.'' Hiruzen said taking a puff from his pipe.
''Why Lord Hokage?''
''Hm?
''Why..'' The voice asking the question was Kurotsuchi who appeared to have tears forming in her eyes.
''What do you mean Kurotsuchi?'' Hiruzen asked.
''Why...why does Naruto have to bear such a heavy burden?'' Kurotsuchi's voice was cracking.
''You mean...''
Hiruzen was interrupted when Naruto began stirring. He sits up and opens his eyes to be greeted by the face of Mako, Genma, Hiruzen and Kurotsuchi.
''Hey guys! Urgh, damn my sides.''
''Hey, welcome back dobe.'' Mako said placing a hand on his shoulder.
''What's up Naruto.'' Genma said.
''Hey guys! Aw man, my sides!" Naruto said rubbing the mentioned area.
Naruto, we need to talk.'' Hiruzen said in a stern voice. Despite not wanting to kill the fluffy moment he had to tell Naruto the truth now.
''Hm? About what old man?'
''We need to talk about who is inside you.'' Hiruzen's voice made Naruto feel nervous, he knew what he was going to bring up.
''Lord Hokage, do you think it's the right time to tell him?'' Mako asked.
''Yes, from what your wolf summon had told the Akatsuki member they encountered revealed to him the Kyuubi being within him.''
''So...it's true, Naruto really is the Kyuubi's Jinchuuriki.'' Kurotsuchi thought to her self in sadness.
''That's what that was then..'' Genma thought.
Looking at Mako Hiruzen nods to her before speaking,''Fourteen years ago, Konoha was attacked by the Kyuubi. During the attack many shinobi sacrificed their lives to try and slay the beast.'' Hiruzen explained, ''You can even ask your sensei, me and her were there.''
''S-sensei was there?'' Genma and Kurotsuchi asked in disbelief.
''Yeah, I was there..'' Mako said, ''I just don't like to talk about it is all.''
''And I'm sure you were taught in your history classes that the fourth Hokage killed it correct?'' Hiruzen asked the Genin who nod in response.
''It's a lie, I passed on a law that forbids the truth about the Kyuubi, the truth is when all hope seemed lost the fourth Hokage used the Reaper's Death Seal Jutsu on the beast but there was a drawback, he needed an infant child to seal the beast into.'' Hiruzen said looking at Naruto who was looking at him with realization in his eyes.
''You...you mean...'' Naruto's suspicion was correct. He was that child.
"Yes Naruto, you are the infant who the fourth Hokage chose to seal the Kyuubi, the most powerful of all the tailed-beasts into your body.'' Hiruzen concluded.
Naruto looked at his comrades and saw their responses. Genma just placed a hand on his forehead rubbing it while Mako,who already knew the truth looked at him with a frown and nodded. He then looked at Kurotsuchi who had her head down hiding her facial expressions from the other four.
''Kurotsuchi?'' Naruto asked.
Kurotsuchi just stayed that way for a minute before she finally spoke. ''Genma, Hokage-sama, Mako...can..you ...give me a minute?'' Said the Iwa girl.
The three of them nod before they up and left the room leaving Naruto alone with Kurotsuchi. Seeing Kurotsuchi still sulking Naruto knew he had to break the ice.
''K-Kurotsuchi? I...I understand if you hate me like the villagers, I understand...I'm just a de..mon..'' Naruto was caught off guard when Kurotsuchi leaped onto the bed and embraced him. Caught off guard by her sudden embrace Naruto's cheeks turned red from how tighter she was hugging him and the fact that she was resting her head into his shoulder.
Then what happened next made Naruto frown, he heard her beginning to sob and soon he felt warm tears on his shoulder. For the first time since they've met Kurotsuchi had always been a tough girl that was hard to break, she was also mean at times but the when she was around him she was really sweet and caring. The sounds of her crying in his shoulder made Naruto hurt inside. Never in his four years of knowing this girl that he would live to see the day she would cry, and she was crying over him.
They remained like that for a few minutes until Naruto heard Kurotsuchi say words in between her sobs, they were difficult to make out but she repeated them and he then could understand what she was saying. ''I-I'm sorry...Naruto..'' Kurotsuchi sobbed.
''Sorry? Sorry for what?'' Naruto asked confused.
''I'm s-sorry..f-for all the pain you experienced...'' Kurotsuchi added, ''I-I finally understand now...''
The fact that Naruto was carrying such a heavy burden and that burden being the cause of all the negativity he experienced when he was growing finally made sense to Kurotsuchi, now she remembered why she was attacked the night they met and why he was dragged out of his apartment that day.
The two then separate and look each other in the eye. Despite the tears Kurotsuchi smiled at her best friend maintaining her tough girl exterior. ''I won't hate you Naruto, doesn't matter if you do something stupid or even with the Kyuubi inside you, I can never hate my friend and blonde knucklehead.'' Said the Iwa girl.
''And you're my favorite, scratch that, you're not only my favorite person in the world Kurotsuchi. You want to know what else you are?'' Naruto said earning a questioning look from Kurotsuchi.
''What would that be?'' Kurotsuchi said smiling.
Smiling, Naruto gently moved his hand so that it was on top of hers. ''You're my most precious person. I will never do anything to hurt you and I promise that I will protect you.'' Said the blonde.
Kurotsuchi went red from those words. She then moves her hand and places it on top of his. ''You're my most precious person too Naruto. It doesn't matter if you're the Kyuubi's container because I don't see a demon, I see Naruto. And like you just said I won't ever do anything to hurt you and will always protect you.'' Kurotsuchi said with a tender smile.
Returning her smile the two stared into each other's eyes for a moment before separating.
''Come on Naruto, we should get going because the next phase of the exams is about to start, I mean it's pretty obvious you're going to win anyway right? You can call upon the Kyuubi for a power boost!"
''Wait, but wouldn't that be cheating?!'' Naruto asked shocked.
''Hey, that weird proctor lady said it's an anything goes battle!" Kurotsuchi said sticking her tongue out, she was right though.
She then took herself off of the bed and grabbed Naruto's orange jacket and handed it to him. ''You feeling okay?'' Kurotsuchi asked.
''Yeah, I feel fine. Boy the Kyuubi needs to share his secret to why I heal so fast.'' Naruto joked showing his grin.
''Oh quiet you.'' The two of them then walk out of the room and into the hallway where they saw Mako, Genma and Hiruzen waiting for them.
''Is everything alright you two? You were in there quite a while.'' Mako said with a raised eyebrow.
''Everything is fine sensei.'' Kurotsuchi said.
Nodding, Hiruzen takes a puff from his pipe before turning the other way. ''Alright then, come on you three we have more examining to do.'' He said teasingly earning groans from the Genin and a laugh from Mako.
''Oh come on..'' Genma complained while his teammates just shrugged.
''Stop complaining Genma.'' Kurotsuchi scolded.
''Yeah! What Kurotsuchi said!" Naruto quipped before walking in front of the group.
Watching her best friend go back to his usual cheery self made her smile even with the heavy burden he was carrying. If there was one thing Kurotsuchi learned today it was that she would do anything to make sure he was safe and that meant even if she was in danger doing so, but to her it would be all worth it.