Ch.5
So far Kurama was having some luck on missions, even if she was being treated as a Genin. A Reserve Genin. Even worse, these human hormones were really messing with her decision making as she met more friends of her kit's late parents and that Nara kept meeting up with her over ramen. The Nara was the worst part!
"I want to make another fox body." Kurama grunted as she lazed on the couch.
"Why?" Inu said with a lot of unease.
"I can control this body and the hypothetical fox at the same time. Don't panic. I just want a break from the human hormones. They are…unnerving to me. It was bad enough I got attached to my baby girl as a fox, now I feel weird around certain other humans." Kurama huffed.
"Um?" Inu uneasily gestured at himself.
"Not you. I don't even know your face and you smell too young for me. Specifically, it's someone else. He keeps asking me questions. Besides, the second body can help watch Naru since I'm sure I can transfer bodies at any distance as long as I made them with my chakra." Kurama asserted, sure that such a thing would work. After all, these bodies are real, not ephemeral.
"I think Lord Hokage should approve that first." Inu voiced worriedly.
"Fine, summon him or whatever. I'll start on the body." Kurama said before she let herself slip from the human clone-puppet-body-thing of herself to her real body in the seal.
After a minute she strolled out in a new fox body made of chakra and saw the human body awake and looking just as confused as the vixen was. "Oh no. Boss, you fucked up." Inu fainted.
=Fox=
"So you two are Kurama?" The Hokage asked as Inu kept apologizing for letting the demon make a new body. "Enough, Inu-kun. Do not apologize for things beyond your control."
"Yes, but I'm more of what Minato called a Shadow Clone, just with an organic body. Boss is still in control of me subconsciously, but I can act independently when she's not in the pilot seat. The only downside is that I only have memories of the time after my creation once she completed the fox brain I used to have. I don't have her vast knowledge of the past." Human-Kurama, Hurama, explained what she understood of the situation she and her maker had hashed out.
"You're not going to rebel against Kurama for dominance are you?" Hiruzen questioned, since the Shadow Clone Jutsu was a Forbidden Technique for a reason. If given enough chakra leaving the user depleted, the clone could become real enough to replace the original. That isn't even covering the exorbitant amount of chakra the jutsu called for in the first place.
"No. Even if I make my own chakra, I can't repair myself like she can. I may have independence, but Boss is in charge since she can regenerate me." Hurama shook her head and shrugged. "I'd rather support her than go off, live and die as a mere human."
"I'm as surprised that she does not want to take over my main body in Naru just as much as you." Kurama admitted from where she lay next to Hurama, being petted. "I have no idea why she doesn't. Oh~, scratchies~..." Hiruzen and Inu sweatdropped at the display.
"I have the same goals as you do, Boss. Besides, in a straight-up fight? I'd just get reabsorbed by you. My memories are yours, even the ones I make on my own. It's how Shadow Clones work, so why not with us? Just…please take my own opinions in account." Hurama voiced.
"So when I take over the body, you just become me again? What the hell did I make?" Kurama laughed as she thought of an army of autonomous mini-Kyubi's. "I'm calling you a Chakra Doll since I'm using you to play house with my daughter."
"Sure thing, Boss." Hurama said happily.
"I agree that this is a new Jutsu, one I think only a Biju could really pull off. Does this new fox avatar have a purpose? You created the first to take care of Naru. From what I am sensing it is just chakra right now and far weaker than the body we found you in. No offense." The Hokage said with a calculating look.
"I'm using it right now as a relief from the human hormones in my other Doll. Future plans are for a pet I can watch Naru with. Transferring my mind between the two Chakra Dolls should be an easy one once the fox has a solid body." Kurama explained while getting belly rubs.
"Isn't it solid now?" Inu asked with trepidation.
"Not really. If I shifted to the seal or my human Doll at this time the chakra making up this body would go with me. I need outside mass to craft a body that I can leave behind. Technically this is a sack of chakra that can hold milk. I don't have enough chakra that I can push through the seal for much more than a shell and it's all burned in its creation." Kurama clarified.
"So you made a Shadow Clone and you can turn it into a Chakra Doll." The Hokage said, mulling the information over. "The idea of a Doll with Naru is a smart one. I will concede to that, but this leads me to another reason I was willing to come to you after Inu's call."
"And that would be?" Kurama asked since Inu seemed a little disappointed that the demon who had cloned itself was not that big of a deal to the military leader.
"You can't tell Naru that you are the Kyubi. You can't even mention that she is it's container. I want to try and give Naru as close to a normal childhood as I can. Learning that her caretaker is a demon sealed in her gut would not help that. I have already passed a law preventing anyone of speaking of her status to the younger generation to be sent to T&I or sentenced to death." The Hokage explained.
"How would you even enforce it?" Kurama asked, wondering where this was going.
"We could strengthen the seal to the point where you would not be able to manifest outside of it. The actions of the Orphanage distressed Naru enough to give a small opening. We cut you off and send Naru back to the Orphanage with full ANBU detail watching her 24-7. This is the condition we have for you if you try anything against Naru or the Village. Complete isolation." The Hokage declared with steel in his voice.
"Pardon me Hokage-sama, but shouldn't we be more worried about the Kyubi making another body outside the seal…again?" Inu asked with concern.
"Inu, the power in both these bodies in front of us could be overpowered by rookie Genin. It's amazing the Kyubi is making Shadow Clones with so little, but if a common civilian hits that fox hard enough in its current state, Kurama would pop. The Doll can survive similar to a fresh Genin right now, maybe Chunin if Kurama was in the seat. You guarding Naru and watching her would be a misallocation of resources if I was not worried about rioting Shinobi and civilians." The Hokage explained while Kurama fumed at being called weak, even if it was true at the moment.
"Any other restrictions you want to place on me?" Kurama huffed from her spot on the couch as her Doll moved to get food. "Especially after I have been so cooperative."
"At this time, no. I have been deflecting many from questioning you since you came to the village, but after this latest development, my, hm, my student will be coming back to examine the first doll. I hope you two will get along. Without Tsunade present he is one of the best doctors in the village. With his entrance though and the increase in your ANBU detail I can't justify preventing one of my former teammates from coming as well. I will be present for both meetings, so don't worry." The Hokage explained to her.
"Who are they?" Kurama asked in a growing sense of tension.
"My student Orochimaru and Danzo, former head of ROOT." The old man explained and Kurama thought the Hokage was trying to warn her of something about this Danzo.
"What is ROOT?" Kurama asked with trepidation.
"ROOT is a disbanded division of ANBU which was used for especially clandestine operations. Minato had written up a decree to disband it the day before he died and I followed through with it signing the decree into law. Danzo has no military or political footing other than as an Adviser." the Hokage stated coldly before handing a note to Inu who seemed to smell fearful once he read it.
"Can I eat him?" Kurama asked with concern and got a disappointed shake of the head from Hiruzen. "Damn. I'll be on my best behavior, but I do not lie. It is not in my nature to lie, even if I do obscure the truth a lot." Kurama has only ever been herself, even when trying to deceive, she detested lying.
"I suppose that is the best I can hope for. Neither can know you are the Kyubi. That is a secret between Dragon, Jiraiya, Inu and myself. Am I clear? You will have time to craft your fox body so you can use it as an example of a Chakra Doll. I'll mark it down as an Uzumaki Justu." The Hokage told her. "How long will it take?"
"With the proper amount of food, a week." Kurama answered, knowing she was going to feel overstuffed the whole week.
=Fox=
Kurama stood in front of a glass window in someplace called a medical lab. She could see the pale snake-like man named Orochimaru examining her Fox Chakra Doll, his long black hair pulled back into a ponytail, taking notes and commenting on what he observed. Kurama was worried the man may recognize her chakra, but the Hokage had stated that her chakra has supposedly changed dramatically in the last three months she had been taking care of Naru.
The other man, covered in bandages, black hair atop his his head and an odd X-shaped scar on his chin, stood next to the Hokage on the other side of the room. The three of them were watching the proceedings as the snake made comments on the Doll's brain, his voice showing astonishment on the fact the Doll's brain was as advanced as something called a Ninken. At that comment this Danzo looked over at Kurama.
"Could you create larger animals, like dogs, using this technique?" Danzo questioned firmly.
"Yes, but they would not be as accurate unless I have observed them thoroughly. I was mostly around foxes while on the road when I cultivated the skill." Kurama obscured, not outright lying. The secret vixen was known for her deception, but lying made her feel sick.
"That can be arranged. Providing the Inuzuka with replacement assets for their lifelong Ninken will allow them to retain their effectiveness should their partner die in action." Danzo coldly stated, but Kurama saw the logic in that. She would have to see these 'Ninken' herself to see about it, since while tiring, making Chakra Dolls was also a very engaging process.
"This Uzumaki will be useful Hiruzen, but I still feel the Weapon should be put under my care. Letting it get attached will not help us in future conflicts." Danzo almost ordered the Hokage.
"Watch your tongue, Danzo. Lest this new mother strike your feeble face." Hiruzen growled and side-eyed Kurama warningly, since her hair had visibly bristled up like the hackles of a beast.
"Hmph, very well. Kami hath no wrath like a woman scorned, after all. At least we have another Uzumaki in the village. I still say we should have expanded a district and invited all the survivors here." Danzo grumbled and Kurama eased down a bit. Not at his comment on housing her supposed clan-mates, but the fact she knew he just wanted Uzu's lingering power for Konoha. He was exactly how she had been warned. Truly this bastard had no qualms.
"Uzumaki-dono, would you please command the Doll? I would like to see it in motion now." Orochimaru asked from the other room.
"Dono?" Kurama questioned while willing the Chakra Doll to prance about the room with the sensors all attached for Orochimaru's testing and he followed while taking notes.
"Are you not acting clan head in Konoha?" Orochimaru asked while walking and writing. Goodness, this man can multitask.
"I…guess I am. I didn't really consider that…there's so few of us left, after all. Not much of a clan…" A deep sadness filled Kurama. The Uzumaki were brilliant. Their skill in Fuinjutsu could have revolutionized the world, but the envy and fear of their neighbors and enemies saw them nearly completely wiped out. Kurama cared not for humans before Naru, but one thing she always lamented was the loss of culture, of the ways humans lived so vibrantly and differently.
"You should consider finding a bachelor and fixing that as soon as possible." Danzo bluntly stated and Kurama bristled while looking away with a hot blush. She…has actually been…considering that. Naru was doing things to her by merely existing. Seeing Naru and Sasuke or Naru and Hinata, Hiata's baby girl, playing together made her core flutter with desire. Thoughts of Shikazu Nara filled her mind and she walked away from the old men in fluster.
Stupid human hormones. Kurama ideally told the fox to fire something in frustration at her hormones. Orochimaru casually dodged swirling balls of chakra that nearly hit him in the side. "Uzumaki-dono, why did the Doll just fire ranged Rasengan?"
"A what? I was having it imitate a Bijudama." At the tense looks she winced. "Y'know, those enormous exploding beam-balls that the Biju use?"
"You say Biju as if it were a title rather than a descriptor." Hiruzen stated leadingly and Kurama pouted at The Professor for taking the opportunity to learn more.
"...The Biju, the Tailed Beasts in plainer words or the Nine Tailed Demons as they are commonly referred. They are siblings, spawned from the fabled Jubi by the Sage of Six Paths: Hagoromo Otsutsuki. Do you really not know the lore?" Kurama asked with annoyance, that these humans would pass judgment upon her and her kin without even knowing what they were.
"That is considered a myth, with very little proof." Danzo commented.
"Well, it is fact. Just speak to one and they will answer." Kurama huffed, getting a scoff out of the old war hawk. "If you doubt me, try to open discourse with Kurama." Danzo and Orochimaru looked confused and Kurama blushed. "Ugh…the Kyubi's name is Kurama. Ironic, I know." Kurama played with her hair nervously to calm her nerves at being deceptively truthful.
"You've spoken to it?" Orochimaru asked with immense intrigue.
"Uh, not really me…my father had before it was sealed into Mito-sama." Kurama said, lying without really lying. "That said, the 'demons' are not mindless, just…broken. They were all once just part of a greater whole. Some have their faculties intact, but some like Shukaku, the Ichibi, well…" Kurama grimaced at thinking of her insane younger sibling. "He's the worst of them."
"How old are you?" Danzo asked with some suspicion.
"Older than you, I'll leave it at that." Kurama snipped with a glare, channeling as much feminine indignance at having her age questioned as she could without really having to try.
"May I ask why you almost killed me with a Jutsu? And can other Dolls perform this ranged attack?" Orochimaru asked.
"Ah, sorry. It was just the Doll channeling my frustration, I won't do that again. Also, yes. That attack is basically a pure chakra attack. All you need to do is compress chakra into a sphere, then break the shell in a pinhole. Depending on intent, it will either launch it as an exploding projectile or fire a beam of chakra as a force projectile. It takes a ton of chakra, however. I can only do it because of my fabled Uzumaki reserves." Kurama boasted proudly.
"She will be useful indeed." Danzo grunted and then left with Hiruzen and Kurama glaring at his back. Such an unpleasant bastard. It took everything for Kurama not to attack him.
"Is he seriously necessary?" Kurama groused quietly to Hiruzen while Orochimaru kept writing.
"Too much political power." Orochimaru chuckled before looking around. "Sensei, since I may have found a solution to some of my experiments, I feel I should divulge what Danzo has authorized for me to do. I'm willing to flee the village under false pretenses so we can keep Konoha's reputation clean, but I want to learn how to make these Dolls. They're an excellent replacement for human and animal test subjects."
"As unnerving as this all is, I agree. I would rather use manufactured entities no more complex than a Shadow Clone over born flesh and blood creatures and people. As for these experiments, speak." Hiruzen demanded firmly, looking grimly eager to finally be done with that war hawk, it seems~.
=Fox=
Kurama was unsure why she was drinking sake with the Hokage and the Snake. She had finished explaining how she made Chakra Dolls to the Snake Sannin a few hours ago and the Old Man had brought out the drinks for them in a tea room next to his office.
"The village is starting to bear down on me more. The ostracization is getting worse, almost unbearable. I turned to Danzo because I could not get funding for my labs otherwise, it is why I joined ROOT. My pursuit of immortality is still my main goal, Sensei, but I feel I'm going mad and Danzo has hinted at that you may have been onto my work. I've been on a knife's edge for over year now with my sanity. When you came in with the information of Uzumaki-dono's Jutsu, I had the answer to many of my ideas." Orochimaru said calmly while breathing over his tea.
Kurama looked around the room, wondering if she should be here for this. "Then Danzo is likely to blame. He must have engineered things to use you, then push all the blame on you. Don't worry, my old friend will be getting his justice soon." Hiruzen sipped his tea and turned to Kurama. "Would you help my student with his experiments? In return, I am sure he can provide more advanced training in Ninjutsu and Genjutsu than Dai Maito ever could."
"Don't be so cold, sensei. Dai is one of the greatest Taijutsu masters of his generation, even if he's still a Genin." Orochimaru smirked and sipped his tea.
"Only because he has no ambition and wants to be in the heat of the action at all times." Kurama defended her sensei, who was, without doubt in her mind, the most powerful physical combatant she has ever encountered. Should he go all-out, even in her true form, she would be forced to move, whether to avoid his attacks or by them.
Kurama then felt Naru being burned alive! She flooded Naru with her chakra and exploded out of the nearest wall of the Hokage Tower! She raced at maximum speed, channeling as much of her chakra along with Hurama's native chakra as she could. She arrived home within minutes, which was enough time for Inu to have killed the attackers and Naru to be a sobbing mess covered in…not-corrosive red chakra? Her apartment was nothing but ashes.
"What happened?!" Kurama snarled as she checked both Naru, who was okay, along with Inu, who clearly had a broken arm, severe burns and was barely standing. She went to Inu since Naru was okay, just upset, then began trying to use her chakra on him like she did for her Dolls to fill them in and or restore them.
"They caught me off-guard and the others in the detail just stood by." Inu hissed in pain as he watched the burns be grown over by fresh flesh. "W-wow…" Yeah…new for her too.