Author Notes
This is a rewrite of Red Lotus. I wrote myself in a corner and honestly I didn't like the direction of that story was going. But I'm going to keep the old story up for anyone to continue to enjoy. In this story I'm going to focus on more of my main plot line and not so much on the romance. I've added more details to the fight scene in this chapter compared to the other so let me know if you like it!
Lastly, You know what I hate about the original story and fanfics is how stupid they write the Tailed Beast. Like if these are figments of chakra that's been alive for centuries you would've thought they'll be more intelligent about the world around them. So instead of them being a plot device, I want Kyuubi to be more involved in the story.
Enjoy!
Chapter One
Land of Waves
"You've been a great distraction Naruto, maybe in some other lifetime we could've been friends but there's only one person in this world that matters to me. And I live to serve and protect him... as a tool.. that is my purpose." Haku said stoically, pushing Naruto out the way and stood in the path of Kakashi's signature Jutsu.
Naruto eyes widened as he reached out desperately "WAIT!!!"
SQUELCH
The buzzing of electricity and nasty a squelch sound echoed throughout the bridge. Naruto stood stock still as he saw the life leave the eyes of his first and only friend and the helm of it was his teacher with his arm piercing through Haku's chest.
'No...' Naruto thought desperately, trying to deny the reality before him.
Zabuza stood there stupefied, even Kakashi, with all his knowledge and battle experience stood in shock as his PTSD from similar past events played in his head. Seeing that Kakashi was distracted, Zabuza took the opportunity cut down his adversary. Shifting the Kubikiribōchō in his good arm , he swung with all his might finally landing an attack on the Copy Ninja; not only he bisected his apprentice but leaving Kakashi with a bad wound his chest. The silver haired Jōnin cursed at being caught off guard like a amateur.
Zabuza smiled "Heh. Who'da thought picking up some runt off the street would pay off so well? Even in death a tool found it's purpose."
Zabuza's voice carried over the bridge effortlessly, even with the mist and its auditory amplification effects gone. The Demon of the Mist stood over the corpse of Haku, hunched over from exhaustion as he fingered the handle of his massive cleaver. Using the blood that surrounded him, his sword glowed a ominous red light as it grew back fixing the imperfections. His black muscle shirt was stained with dark splotches that looked right at home on the man named the Demon of the Mist.
Kubikiribōchō shone like the sun was bathing it in light, despite the clouds and low lying mist. Its presence made for a chilling picture when next to its blood drenched wielder. An idle swipe of his hand removed his bandages. Blood soaked as they were, it was getting hard to breath. He tossed them to the concrete without a glance.
Naruto watched in horror as the dismembered body of Haku was mutilated on the ground. Naruto dropped to his knees as he looked at the now dead boy.
'Why?' Naruto thought as he gently closed Haku lifeless eyes
Noticing the blonde brat was still looking at the corpse, he decided to poke fun at the boy's misery. "Is this the first time you've seen someone fall in battle?" Zabuza asked, disgust dripping from his voice. He scoffed. "Greenhorn genin. To think, Haku had so much trouble with you but I suppose he was weak after all. The boy never could kill that heart of his. He was weak and because of it he died and now look at you ! Too weak to do anything HAAA! What a pitiful existence."
'WHY! WHY! WHY!' The blonde mentally roared as ominous red chakra surged inside him.
Naruto, and Team Seven, was silent as Zabuza rambled. A scream threatened to break from Naruto's lips as his eyes stayed rooted on the rapidly cooling corpse of his friend. He can't accept this.. this couldn't be happening. Not after everything Haku been through. To live such a cruel horrible life just to die without any retribution..
The blonde boy realized that Zabuza was speaking again. "When I was your age, I already had blood on my hands. Liters of it, from dozens of kills…" the man trailed off, seemingly in fond remembrance. "'The Demon of the Mist', they called me. A boy who slaughtered an entire graduating class of Mist genin when he was only nine."
A smile uglier than anything Naruto had ever seen broke across Zabuza's face. "And it felt so good!"
Naruto closed his eyes as the man's words washed over him. He was hearing them as if from very far away, his attention still focused entirely on Haku.
Thump.
His heartbeat thumped out the seconds in his ears, overshadowing the Demon of the Mist's words effortlessly.
Thump.
The click of the handle of Kubikiribocho sounded as Zabuza hefted the blade to the level of his shoulder without effort. Kakashi readied himself while trying to reassure his team in the positive.
"Until your names appear in my bingo book, you're not real shinobi in my mind." A short chuckle that sounded more like a cough escaped his throat. The man gently massaged his bruises that the Konoha jonin had left with him. "Heh, too bad you won't live long enough to get there."
Thump.
'It's my fault. It's my fault. It's my fault' Naruto yelled in his mind, his voice no longer a whisper in the dark. His eyes were squeezed shut, as if not opening them would make Haku's death less real. Blood coated the underside of his fingernails as they dug into his clenched fists.
Mini Flashback Start
In the forest you see Naruto by a fire, cooking and chatting with the boy he met a few days ago. The blonde was quite excited because this is a rare occasion someone actually wanted to hang out with him.
"Here ya go Haku, straight from the pot!" Naruto proclaimed proudly as he handed the boy a plate that had all sorts of meats and vegetables on them. Haku looked at the food for a second before he pushed the plate away, "Is it uncooked again?" He asked making Naruto hang his head low and a small dark cloud rained over him.
Haku just shook his head in amusement. "Naruto you burned the food yesterday, how did you manage to burn the outside but inside was still raw?" Naruto seemed to only hang his head lower as his depression increased.
Haku then let a grin slide across his face. "Let's not worry. We can always go out for food, how does that sound"
Naruto looked up, meeting Haku eyes with a deadpan. "You've been running me dry. My poor Gama-chan can't keep up with your appetite..." He checked his Frog wallet and saw cobwebs and a few coins there. He shook his head in disbelief "I'm broker than a joke and the joke ain't funny.."
Haku chuckled "Well it was your bright idea too feed anyone who asked. I mean it's a kind gesture but didn't you realize this would've happened."
A tic mark appeared above his head "Hey, It's not my fault !! Those people needed help and I being the super ninja I am came to the rescue!!!" Naruto screamed to the heavens , causing the said Haku to dawn a soft smile.
"Brash and a loud mouth" Naruto tic mark deepened but Haku continued "But a big heart and the drive to help those in need. You truly will become strong Naruto. People like you is what this world needs." Haku finished.
Naruto's face brightened up, never has he's been acknowledged for his dream before.
As the memory faded into nothingness, Naruto is seen floating through darkness. The Nine Tailed Fox loomed over him, an angry snarl etched onto its vulpine face.
"What a pathetic display, you're weak and lack conviction...Let me show you what true strength is child." With that his chakra overwhelmed him.
Crimson eyes flashed open as if from a great slumber, as a painful warmth wash over him, coating his muscles and bones.
Finger and toenails sharpened into claws; muscles bulged for a moment before relaxing as lactic acid was flushed from them, chakra flowing at an accelerated rate through Naruto's whole body; chakra crackled like electricity down nerve endings, sending instantaneous impulses that impacted the adrenal glands, the chemical heightening Naruto's reflexes beyond anything capable by a shinobi of his age.
"It's too bad really," Zabuza continued as he looked back to Kakashi. "You're kids got talent but the battlefield's no place for mere children, though."
THUMP.
Seeing he was ready for another fight, the silver hair Jōnin gave orders to his students near him, "NARUTO, SAKURA, SAUSKE, TAKE THE BRIDGE BUILDER AND RUN.. I'll finish this" proclaimed Kakashi ending the order in a low growl, oblivious to the blondes inner turmoil.
In his moment of despair, Naruto unknowingly opened himself to Kyuubi's influence. The fox spirit seized the opportunity, engulfing Naruto's consciousness with its malevolent aura. Kyuubi stoked the flames of Naruto's hatred, convincing him that embracing its power was the only way to survive in a world that had forsaken him.
With every passing moment, Kyuubi's influence over Naruto grew stronger, and the line between their identities blurred. The once optimistic and hopeful Naruto began to change, becoming more withdrawn and resentful.
Whisker marks elongated and deepened along Naruto's face, and Zabuza finally took notice of the increase chakra output literally spilling from the genin. Black eyes narrowed as he gripped his cleaver, his shinobi instinct is telling him kill the genin before anything happens, overrides his curiosity.
Kakashi eyes widened feeling this chakra, 'No I need to do something right now'
"Naruto you need to calm down" said Kakashi desperately. But It was too late.
Pupils slit down the center, a eerie ear to ear smile snapped open as a wave of killing intent that brought Tazuna, and Sakura to their knees , even made the battle harden Sasuke face cringed at the malicious feeling. The killer intent reminded of that day causing him to freeze in place.
The pressure struck Zabuza like a hammer blow. His forward progress was halted abruptly as his eyes widened. 'What the fuck? No genin should be able to produce this kind of murderous intent!'
'Dammit the seal is loosening.. at a time like this? I need to reason with him or this can become bad.' Kakashi thought in frustration. Slowly he put his hands up in a surrendering position and voiced out a calm tone "Naruto calm down, we-" he was cut off. A wave malicious power permeate throughout the Bridge.
"No matter the Era, you monkeys always find a way to disgust me..." Kyuubi said in a soft voice as he shot a murderous glare at Kakashi and the Mist Swordsmen. His killer intent was overwhelming their senses.
"Despite my fathers best efforts, the one thing that stayed constant throughout out the ages is death. Death is the one thing that effects all creation; the one thing we all share in common.
No matter the entity or force of nature, The inevitable consequences of being in this world stays true. In the Shinobi world, death is something one should be used to but in many cases even the most idealistic person, like the fool I inhabit, can be swayed by death. Whether it's negative or positive there's no escaping the beauty or terrifying face of death." The possessed blonde said sagely.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes realizing the danger this represents. "Nine Tails what happened to Naruto! Give his body back!" He demanded, his lone eye spinning threateningly.
He opened his palm and looked at his empty clawed hand, ignoring the angry silver hair man. "Even I, with all the power I have can't escape death, especially with my and this welp soul intertwined. No one can escape death.." Clenching his first, he smiled like a mad man.
Kyuubi then chuckled, putting both ninja on guard. "Give back...? You expect me to go back after all this trouble? Oh no, I'm finally out and I'm going to enjoy killing you both." He said with much excitement. His blood lust permeating throughout the bridge.
"Well Kakashi, it looks like we're no longer enemies. From feeling of his chakra we can't take this monster alone. How about we team up for now then finish what we started?" Zabuza said readying his sword.
Kakashi sighed tiredly "We honestly don't have a choice.. Let's go!" Both dashed to the possessed blonde boy from opposite sides.
"You know you'll lose and yet still march towards your death? You humans don't have a shred of intelligence do you?" Kyuubi said mockingly. His clawed hand glowed red as he put his open palm to the ground. The concrete began cracking at the pressure.
"Dismantle" Kyuubi uttered. Right before the duo reached him the ground shook and half of the bridge began to collapse, causing both Jōnin to lose their footing.
Seeing them unbalanced Kyuubi jumped up in the air while spinning and Taekwondo split kick both combatants away in opposite directions.
CRACK
Kakashi cringed at pain of being snapped kick back. He did a couple back flips in the air gracefully before gaining his footing. He then saw Zabuza was sent flying across the bridge and landed in a loud thud, he sat there on verge of unconsciousness. Kyuubi looked towards Kakashi amused and then a uncontrollable laughter escapes his lips, echoing through the battleground.
"I missed sensation..." He then ripped off his tattered shirt, exposing his chest. "Finally I can fully savor battle once again!!" The possessed boy said like a maniac and got into all fours.
With a harden glance, Kakashi knows he must act quickly. He got into a ready stance, eyes spinning madly preparing for battle. "If you won't listen to reason then this is the only way to stop you." He said determinedly.
Still smiling, Kyuubi burst forward towards Kakashi in a show of speed that even Joūnin would be hard press to match in his fatigued state.
Village Hidden in Leaves
Jiraiya and Sarutobi Hiruzen, sitting comfortably while the old man smoked his pipe and watched the village from his window in the Hokage's tower. Konoha maybe be beautiful at night but it was so much more during the day. His thoughts trailed to a particular thirteen year old blonde boy named Naruto. Today is his first mission out the village and he hope nothing got more complicated.
Sarutobi had thought to assigned Anbu to watch over Team 7, just in case anyone would dare to attack them but chose against doing so. Trusting in Kakashi's ability.
Suddenly the door to his office burst open and a Lion masked Anbu came in running. "Tenzo?" Hiruzen asked surprise.
"Sir something horrible is happening" Tenzo quickly said, taking deep breaths. "Where is Nine Tails container?" The Lion masked Anbu asked and Hiruzen raised an eyebrow.
"Do you mean young Naruto…why?" The Toad Sage asked with worry in his face.
"Look at this sir, we don't have time. We must hurry!" He said, raising his hand. Both Hiruzen and Jiraiya saw his palm glowing with the kanji of two. Indicating two tails of Nine Tails chakra is seeping out the seal.
Hiruzen shivered when they felt a wave of dark foreboding wash over him. "Dammit!" Hiruzen yelled as he threw his pipe across the office and got into his battle armor.
"Tenzo! Grab a squad and Inochi and bring him here. Jiraiya go get the former Hokage Guard Platoon consisting of Raidō Namiashi, Genma Shiranui and Iwashi Tatami, they were taught a minor version of the Flying Thunder God Technique by Minato, the Flying Thunder Formation Technique. When everything is set we'll teleport to Kakashi directly." Hiruzen ordered
Both nodded and disappeared.
Land of Waves
The battle begins with Kyuubi making the first move. He blitzes towards Kakashi. The Joūnin with his sharingan activated, anticipated his attack and jumped over him. While in mid air, he swung his leg downwards in an axe kick. Kyuubi, seeing the attack counters with a roar sending an explosive wave of chakra around him causing a shockwave throughout the bridge. The surrounding water raged in waves as the trees in the forest cringed from the pressure. Kyuubi, grabbing some surrounding rock and threw it at the Joūnin, in attempt to distract him before throwing a slew of punches and kicks.
Kakashi seeing through the trickery, weaves through the concrete debris, dodging the attacks, and tries to land a hit on Kyubbi to disrupt the chakra flow but Naruto, still enhanced by the Tailed Beast power, displays increased speed and strength. He launches a barrage of shadow clones, each packing a punch like a sledgehammer.
Kakashi skillfully defends and analyzes his movements. He manages to get close enough to land a powerful strike, breaking Kyuubi's concentration slightly. The cloak flickers, but the beast anger deepens at audacity of the human and uppercuts Kakashi in the gut, pushing him back. He's pained but his determination still remains unwavering.
Kyuubi smiles "Not bad! Impressive human, this battle has been entertaining. Do you have more in you?" He said, mocking the silver hair Joūnin antics.
Kakashi was kneeling on the ground, breathing heavily 'Dammit, I don't have enough chakra for a Lightning Blade so I have to use the powered down version. But can Chidori really help? No it has to!' He thought desperately.
With a flurry of hand signs Ox - Rabbit - Monkey - Dragon - Rat - Bird - Ox - Snake - Dog - Tiger - Monkey. Lightning started buzzing around his hand.
"Chidori..."
Kyuubi shook his head unimpressed by the display "You humans have no creativity, do you.."
Kakashi not responding dashed towards his student in Lightning enhanced speed. Ready to end it all, he then thrust his hand forward.
SQUELCH
Naruto went limp. Kakashi sighed in relief, but then suddenly he heard laughter. Kakashi eyes widened in horror. Kyuubi was grabbing his wrist with a iron grip, smiling like a mad man. The grip tightened.
He winced in pain as Kyuubi chuckled softly,
"You monkeys with your ninjutsu are truly pathetic. Using hand signs that generate your chakra to spew out Ninjutsu, how primitive and small minded. Let me show you the true way of Ninshu." Kyuubi said closing his eyes, Black markings formed around his face and torso as he became one with nature. Suddenly a wave of chakra put Kakashi on edge as it surpassed anything he felt before.
Kyuubi opened his eyes and converting all his tenketsu nodes at once.
"Fuga (Open)" Kyuubi muttered. Opening his chakra nodes and suddenly Lightning sparked into life and crackled around him in a flurry of light. The purple light bends to his will, flowing like water.
Kakashi saw the lightning leave his hand, he then became mesmerized by the mastery of the element. He shuddered in slight fear at the threat if Naruto realized his full potential.
"How did yo- ARRRRGGGGG" Kakashi was cut off abruptly, as he was completely shocked by the Lightning. He then fell to one knee. He looked up to a smiling possessed Naruto.
"With Ninshu, I can wield the Natural chakra around us. Why waste time on the battlefield weaving signs and wasting energy within you when I have endless of energy around me.. You're done human." Kyuubi said, his clawed hand glowed once again and he cut Kakashi down, leaving nasty gashes across his chest.
Kakashi on the ground barely conscious looked up in fear then screamed in pain as Kyuubi stole his Sharingan. Kyuubi then took out his own eye and implanted the Kakashi's eye. He then smiled and put his hands in a prayer like motion as a enormous of chakra chorused throughout the bridge.
Kakashi looked up weekly "Wh-What are you doing?"
Kyuubi smiled as his Mangekyō Sharingan spun into life. "About two centuries ago, I battled a man that was half Uzumaki and Uchiha, he wasn't very strong but his visual prowess was annoying"
Kakashi had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach "Are you saying Naruto is related to this man?!"
Kyuubi shook his head in the negative, "No he's unfortunately not, but tell me.. what do you get when you have a Uzumaki that bends reality with Fuinjutsu and a Uchiha that can bend reality with their eyes.." he said as he cut his palm and made a whirlpool seal below his feet.
The seal and his Mangekyō Sharingan glowed simultaneously in a ominous red light. "You get the..."
"Izanagi"
The ground began rumbling violently and then suddenly stop. Kyuubi smiled at the success of the jutsu he casted. There was no way he'll lose now.
"What did you do..." Kakashi asked, on the verge of unconsciousness.
Kyuubi smiled sinisterly, Sharingan still blazing with power "Nothing as of now since there's a delay but that doesn't matter since I'm going to end you." He said as Lightning crackled around his hand murderously. He went for the kill..
CLANG
The Kubikiribōchō slammed hard on the hand that pulsated power. He tried to push harder to split him in half but couldn't.
Kyuubi attention turned to Zabuza once again and became even more amused. Canceling his jutsu, he stood face to face with the Ex-Anbu smiling. "Are you going to step aside? Or not"
"Don't you forget brat, that's my prey to kill!" Zabuza uttered harshly.
"Amusing, you must be a comedian Zabuza.. I would've indulged you with a fight afterwards but since you're so eager to die, I'll kill you first since my jailor was so gracious enough to bestow me my freedom." Kyuubi said smiling at the prospect of killing one of the seven swordsman. His vessel wanted to kill this man so he'll indulged him for now.
Zabuza eyes narrowed "Just because you took down that weakling, you think that means you can kill me? Foolish!" He exclaimed upset this monster would disrespect his pride.
Kyuubi became even more amused "We'll see then.." Both jumped in opposite directions. He smiled then demonically, his razor sharp teeth shown "I'm going to enjoy killing you human..." He said manically.
Suddenly the floor cracked below him, and chakra exploded as the possessed boy burst forward toward Zabuza in a show of raw speed once again.
Only instincts born of countless battles saved Zabuza as death soared toward him. A hasty duck and a thrust of Kubikiribōchō put the massive blade in the path of the monster's claws, and Zabuza's brown eyes watched in shock as the tempered steel was carved into, the sound of metal cracking and scraping sending shivers down his spine.
He didn't know what the fuck is happening with the blonde kid, but he knew that he had to make space fast.
Kyuubi, however, wasn't about to let that happen. Smiling he uttered a jutsu without weaving a sign. Proving his mastery after of centuries of experience.
"Cleave: Spider Web"
Clawed swipes that resembled webs tore through the air at Zabuza, the former Jōnin using all of his speed and reflexes just to avoid being split in two. He wasn't fast enough though, and Naruto's claws met vulnerable flesh with a sickening tear as Zabuza's pain sensors over rode his pride. The Demon of the Mist screamed in agony.
The pain ignited his reflexes, however, and the former ANBU leapt away from Naruto with speed born of desperation, blood dripping from four gashes in his chest.
Kyuubi smiled at the man's pain, "Dam you're resilient. Color me impressed 'Demon of the Mist', come show me more!!"
He shifted into a crouch and in a instant he was gone from sight. Zabuza though, was far more ready for round three though, the visible power surrounding the monster gave away his position long before Zabuza actually saw him.
Muscles screamed as Zabuza pushed his body more than ever had before, Kubikiribōchō flat edge swinging in a wide arc that impacted the charging monster with a hard thump and a crack, indicating that he shattered his ribs.
The possessed blonde landed heavily on his back and stayed there for less than a moment, springing back to his feet from his hands.
The blow to his chest had done more than just hurt, the extreme pain caused Naruto's consciousness to fall further in the abyss.
Kyuubi began laughing like a mad man at the damage he's suffered. "This taste of blood… This pain in my chest! I'm truly blessed to be free!" He smile like a manic.
"HAHAHAHEEHHAAAAA!!!!!!! FINALLY AFTER SO LONG I FEEL SOMETHING!!!" He screamed like a mad man, ecstatic over being temporarily free but then slowly became serious.
The whole universe seemed to grind to a halt for a moment as the two shinobi locked eyes. No words were spoken after that, but then, none were needed.
Kyuubi blasted towards the former Anbu but this time with speed, reflexes and reaction time beyond this current Zabuza's comprehension, and certainly beyond what the monster had been capable of before.
A quick pivot on his hands and a thrust kick upwards shooting the Demon of the Mist skyward as his blow landed on the underside of Zabuza's chin. Kyuubi went down on all fours once more, before disappearing in a burst of red chakra.
Then suddenly he appeared above him, Zabuza eyes widened for a fraction before the fatal blow landed. The Demonic chakra infused punch slammed into the ex Mist Nin face; the required speed and power almost unreachable by normal ninja, but he was no normal ninja when under the influence of the Kyuubi's chakra
Chakra exploded into a surrounding area as the possessed boy dug his fist into Zabuza skull in midair as gravity went to work. The two combatants were an indistinguishable blur to any observing eyes as they fell, He roared.
!!!BOOOOOM!!!
Chakra exploded outward as Zabuza's head met the concrete, liquefying flesh, bone, and brain matter while simultaneously providing Naruto with a cushion. The impact was felt by everyone on the bridge as the two shinobi came back down to earth with an almighty crash. Dust was sent skyward and the force channeled by the supports rippled across the area, knocking Kakashi prone body, Sasuke, Sakura, and Tazuna to their back as twenty foot radial fractures spread from the point of impact.
Kyuubi wordlessly hopped off the now headless Zabuza without ceremony, red chakra still racing around and across his body as he silently regarded the corpse.
The genin was silent as his red eyes rose to meet those of his teammates. He smiled like a wild animal, still under the influence and he was going to pounce towards them until the smell of fear hit the beast before the sound of clapping made itself known. The boy turned slowly to regard a small horde of mercenaries, a stubby man in a business suit at the head.
It was unmistakably Gatou.
"Well," the man began, his voice surprisingly steady as he strode forward with a swagger that belied his fear.
Fear that Kyuubi could smell.
"I had brought all these nice men with me today in order to deal with Zabuza, but you seem to have done me a favor, boy. Thank you." The short man laughed at the irony of the situation. "I never intend to pay any of the shinobi I hire, you see, they cost far too much. I let them do their work, tire themselves out, and then kill them off with numbers. It's a nice little operation I use." The man smirked viciously as he stepped over Zabuza's blade.
Disgust rippled through the beast despite his detachment from his feelings. It was a testament to how much he hated this man that he could actually feel it through the pleasant yet painful haze of the Kyuubi's chakra.
Gatou would die this day; he just didn't know it yet.
"Gatou" was all the rage fueled boy managed to grate out. He got the name based off his vessel memories.
It seemed to please the man, though the guttural growl by which it had been delivered seemed to unnerve the man.
"Indeed I am, boy," the stumpy man said. "I'd ask for your name, but I'm not all that interested in dead people." The thugs behind him laughed menacingly, brandishing their assorted weapons in what they thought was a threatening manner.
Kyuubi was far from impressed as he began a slow march forward.
That only seemed to amuse the man further, though the smell of fear wafting off the man increased.
"Look at this one, men!" Gatou crowed as the assorted thugs laughed at Naruto's stupidity. "Don't try to be a hero, kid. It'll only hurt before you die."
Naruto said nothing as he continued his march, nearing the assembled group with palpable murder in his eyes. A kunai found itself in his hand and began spinning around his finger. He smiled demonically.
Gatou had stopped laughing as the genin got ever closer, taking a step back in apprehension as the boy refused to stop. He was an instant away from ordering his men to attack the crazy kid, but he never got the chance.
Naruto's kunai was buried to the hilt in the chest of the thug standing directly behind Gatou, having passed through the shipping magnate's exposed throat like a hot knife through butter.
The stumpy man dropped to his knees as if in shock, blood spilling from the gaping wound lie water from a broken canteen. Naruto paid him little mind as he shoved him aside, now at a full sprint, reaching down to snatch Zabuza's cleaver from its resting place on the bridge.
Neither the balance point, nor the weight registered in his mind. All the boy cared about was cutting down anything that crossed his path.
Corrosive chakra crackled madly as it rippled down Kubikiribocho, and he turned his body so that the assembled thugs could see his back. Coiling and uncoiling like a spring, Naruto hurled the massive decapitating knife at the crowd of mercenaries at speeds almost too fast to track.
The sword, spinning like a shuriken, passed through the first man unlucky enough to be in its path as easily as if he were made of water but it didn't stop there, living up to its name it cleaved through three more men before it escaped the four lines the thugs had formed at the entrance to the bridge, finally coming to a stop as it hit the ground, its momentum spent.
Blood spilled from the halves of the victims like water from a broken canteen. One poor soul had been unfortunate enough to be close to the spinning blade's path, but not close enough to have been granted the mercy of death. His arm lay on the ground, neatly sliced off above the elbow as blood flowed from the wound.
Another lay dead on the concrete, having had his chest tagged with disruptive chakra that splayed off the blade in rivulets.
The living man's screams drew the rest of the assembled thug's attention from the dead bodies as they turned as one to watch in morbid fascination as the man, formerly a samurai, quickly bled out.
Kyuubi paid no such attention.
Bursting forth, the he left cracks in the concrete as latent chakra was forced into the bridge from Kyuubi's speed. A blurring after image of the blond was left in his place, so great was his chakra enhanced speed as he hurtled toward the small army.
A spinning back fist shattered the skull of one mercenary. An improvised punch that sent claws forward instead of knuckles claimed the life of the next. Vulnerable flesh was rent effortlessly as Naruto literally ripped the throat out of one man unlucky enough to be in his path.
It took a total of six seconds and nine dead men to capture the full attention of the assembled mercenaries. Weapons were drawn hastily, hefted in front of them as an impotent defense against the miniature monster in front of them, poised to slaughter them all on a whim.
He had stopped, however, directly above the still sputtering and paralyzed Gatou. A kunai slipped into his hand from his hip pouch and began to spin around one of his fingers.
It had a hypnotic effect on the small army, as the eyes of every man on the bridge was drawn to the small, spinning knife. They all knew what was about to happen, were powerless to stop it, and couldn't look away even if they had wanted to.
Without ceremony, without warning, He buried the kunai hilt deep in Gatou's back, blood spurting forth from the wound in rivulets as the blade severed the aorta savagely. It was withdrawn just a brutally, red life water covering it and dripping down to the now liberally stained concrete.
The kunai broke now his clawed hands started swiping once more, flecks of blood flying off in all directions, most landing on the right side of Naruto's face. Blood dripped off the boy's claws and splashed to the concrete, the soft noise all the more deafening in the silence of the bridge.
That was all it took for the dam to break.
All it took was a single man to turn and flee, before all the rest got the idea that they had a much better chance of surviving if they weren't anywhere near the blond ninja turned monster. Most of the men sprinted back toward the forested land that was Fire Country, while a few others dove off the bridge and into the water in their attempt to escape.
He stood silently throughout the whole process, watching with a dispassionate eye as many men tripped over themselves in their haste. The fox's chakra was slowly leaving his chakra coils, the process seemingly instinctive despite Naruto not having any experience with it.
Without boosting his system beyond human capabilities, Naruto once more felt every little ache and pain in his body.
He ignored them, however, in favor of watching the crashing waves that gave this country its name. His mental faculties starting returned to full strength, finally. To think, he had thought of this country as beautiful just earlier this day; as someplace that he would love to return to.
Now, it would only be a memory. A bloodstained memory filled with sorrow, self loathing for all that he had done, and pain.
He knew right then that he would never return here.
Naruto himself turned, numbly, after several long moments that seemed to last an eternity and an instant all at once. Getting out the trance he picked up Zabuza's sword and began moving back to his still shell shocked teammates, red eyes flicking back and forth to blue as the Kyuubi's chakra started slowly leaving his system.
The terrified eyes of Sakura and Sasuke watched silently as Uzumaki Naruto trudged towards them with murder in his eyes. Until Kakashi stepped up but still heavily wounded and fatigued but Naruto was in no better shape.
Naruto using the sword as a crutch snarled at the silver hair man. "You Killed him." He grated breathlessly.
Kakashi shook his head in disbelief this is actually happening. "Naruto you don't understand. He killed himself but you're too blinded by your anger to see reason. Let's stop this fighting. There's been enough bloodshed."
The blonde snarled as a bit more of the Nine Tails power started to envelop his body. And with much pain a single tail of chakra surrounded him and he heaved the Kubikiribōchō that was substantially bigger than him. His corrosive power caused the sword to hum ominously.
Kakashi sighed then took out a kunai and coated it with Lightning.
Wood Release: Smothering Binding Technique
Before the two combatants can engage wood binding the blonde warrior, it wrapped around his neck and chest. Completely absorbing any poisonous chakra. Naruto eyes turned a dull blue and fell to his knees. His breathing became even more ragged. He look down his bindings and saw explosive tags surrounding him. His eyes came heavy as he shuddered with emotion for a moment, before going limp, exhaustion finally taking hold of him.
"Looks like I came in just in time." Hiruzen said solemnly as he saw Tenzo holding the snake sign , completing the jutsu. Hiruzen, Jiraiya, Inochi, Tenzo and a squad of Anbu appeared in a flash.
Kakashi sighed in relief once again. "Yea, thanks Hokage-sama, what a shit show this is going to be when we get back home." He looked down towards his unconscious student and dead boy, that started all this.
"What a waste" Kakashi said solemnly.
Sasuke looked at his teacher in disbelief when hearing that. Waste? Is that all he can say? He sees that his teacher is filled with a sensation of sympathy and respect, but it is not comfortable in the slightest. Here was someone who had failed to protect his loved one, his precious person. Which invigorates his path to power even more. He's sure Kakashi has killed many times in the past, many despicable men and women who commited crimes against people for enjoyment.
"I hope you have better on the other side." Kakashi respectfully arranges Haku's body so that he didn't look like just some other casualty.
Sasuke sees himself in Naruto. He stares down at the corpse that Naruto defended with unimaginable animalistic vigor. He sees that this Naruto was hurting so much that he essentially threw away his life after losing his friend. The intense love he felt for his friend turned to stronger hatred. Is this what he would become? Would he throw away his life for the sake of taking another? Should he learn to preserve himself instead, and preserve the Uchiha Clan through other means?
It is a conflicting conundrum. He begins to see defeating Itachi as a means to an end instead of his goal, his purpose. For as long as that man lives, any legacy he may try to rebirth through the ashes of his clan would be at risk. Itachi must die. Not because he slighted Sasuke, but for his duty to protect the future of the Uchiha Clan.
Sakura doesn't step even a foot away from Kakashi. She hugs her Sensei finally breaks down after this nightmare mission has traumatised her.
Suddenly, the blonde eyes open and Kyuubi began laughing through a broken body and bloody mouth. "No matter what you do... I already won." He said, closing his eyes into unconsciousness.
The Hokage sighed tiredly,
"Inochi erase the memories of Sakura and Tazuna.. Go before I regret my decision." Hiruzen said towards the clan head who quickly bolted towards them. He closed his eyes and hardened his resolve when he heard the girl and old man cry for mercy.
Hiruzen approached the Uchiha, "The only reason I don't erase your memories because of your visual prowess, but this is not to be spoken about.. if you do. I'll End you. Understand?" Sasuke shakily nodded in fear and walked away.
He then approached the unconscious form of Naruto and picked him up. "I'm sorry Naruto" Hiruzen whispered.
"What about the eye?" Jiraiya asked
"Give it back to Kakashi.. cut his right eye so it can be more convincing when he wakes up." Hiruzen said and Jiraiya nodded, destroying everything evidence of what happened.
Village Hidden in Leaves
"We was almost too late" Jiraiya said looking out the window at the hospital. Hiruzen simply sighed as his attention fell towards Naruto who was peacefully sleeping in the hospital bed.
"What are you going to do now, Sensei?" Jiraiya asked, looking towards his teacher.
"The only thing I can do" Hiruzen sighed as he looked towards the Hokage Monument, more specifically towards Minato's face. "I am going to seal his memories away" Hiruzen said and Jiraiya was shocked.
"Isn't that going overboard…the kid can still see the light" Jiraiya advised and Hiruzen chuckled sadly.
"No he won't" Hiruzen said and stopped Jiraiya from talking. "Did you see the look on his face yesterday, the hate? I have only seen that look on another person, a long time ago" Hiruzen said looking at the sky. "There is no going back." Hiruzen said and Jiraiya sighed.
"I'm going to seal away his memories about Wave, specifically the ending, and the memory of the Nine Tails. In essence his Yin chakra" Hiruzen said and Jiraiya was shocked.
"You will seal the Yin chakra as well?" Jiraiya asked in disbelief "If you seal his Yin (Evil) chakra you will cut his potential drastically and make him a kind and forgiving fool in a world of death" Jiraiya warned.
"There is no other choice" Hiruzen said approaching Naruto.
"Loyalty to the village above all, right?" Naruto asked as Hiruzen stopped his progress to look at Naruto's face filled with no emotions, he's just tired at this point.
"I'm sorry Naruto-kun" Hiruzen whispered loud enough for Naruto to hear.
"Spare me" Naruto snorted. "I don't care anymore. The seal will break eventually and when it does… I will show you something truly interesting." Naruto said, smiling darkly with a tinge of red that threatened to spread to his eyes, even with chakra blockers applied to his body.
"It's for the greater good" Hiruzen sighed as he placed his hand on Naruto's forehead, just above his eyes.
"Fuuinjutsu: Yin Lock" Hiruzen whispered as a small seal appeared in his forehead before disappearing. Naruto stirred as Hiruzen stepped away.
"Wassup Gramps!!" Naruto cheered, back to his old self and Hiruzen smiled with a heavy heart. He flinched in pain gripping his right eye. "Arg! Dammit, what happened to my eye old man? Feels like someone ripped it out." The blonde said, not even understanding the irony of that statement.
Hiruzen smile slightly faltered but Naruto didn't see, "It's a long story..."
Naruto's Mindscape
Deep inside Naruto's mindscape, inside the Kyuubi's cage a figure suddenly shimmered into existence. This figure looked exactly like Naruto with the exception of his glowing blood red eyes. He was the Yang part of Naruto, his darker side, so to speak.
"I never expected to have long term company in here" the Kyuubi said as he opened a single eyes to gaze upon Naruto's form.
'So that's the seal' he thought with a detached sort of wonder.
Without warning, crimson eyes fifty feet above Naruto's own opened, the pupils focused on Naruto's own with uncanny clarity, menace and hatred beyond the scope of his imagination held within the twin orbs. Then, somehow, the murderous intent became even more pronounced; thicker and heavier.
Naruto just barely kept himself standing, though he did sink into the water. He was suffocating. Hands rose to his throat by their own accord, trying to find something to unlatch to allow oxygen into his system.
That wasn't the problem though. There wasn't something coiled around his windpipe, restricting his access to air no matter how much he tried to breathe. Nothing was wrapped around his chest, crushing his ribs and lungs. He just couldn't breathe. His lungs wouldn't expand; his diaphragm wouldn't move; his own mouth would barely work to try to force air down his throat.
Just as he was about to lose the battle and fall, the pressure disappeared. It didn't recede or slowly reduce itself. It simply vanished as if it had never been there in the first place.
Naruto took gulps of air with all the vigor of a starving man given a feast to eat. His mind, however, was focused entirely on the monster looming in front of him.
Unknowingly, unconsciously, his respect for the Yondaime, shot up even more to like, God-like levels. How did he fight such a beast? Naruto wondered, in awe of the man who had not only fought the biju, but defeated it.
Suddenly, the idea of the Yondaime being acknowledged as the greatest shinobi in the history of the world wasn't so farfetched.
That though, mattered little at present.
"I would like nothing more than to devour you whole boy but that would defeat the purpose of this little chat," the Kyuubi spoke in a deep, gravelly, unyielding voice that brooked no argument.
"Kyuubi," was Naruto's whispered response. Internally, the genin cursed the waver of obvious fear in his voice, but he was powerless to stop it. It was an instinctive, primal fear that asserted itself when faced with a being so obviously more powerful than he was.
A wave of hot air smacked him in the face, and Naruto realized belatedly that the fox had just exhaled. "Yes, boy. I suppose I should be pleased that you at least know that much. I had expected little from a human who had managed to turn his mind-scape into a sewer," the fox said with an audible note of sarcasm.
Naruto felt vaguely insulted, but conceded the point. There wasn't much he could do to refute it, in any event. He was standing in a sewer.
"So…" he began, his voice made steady through a force of will he hadn't known he possessed. "…what do you want?"
Another blast of air hit him square in the face. "What do I want, brat?" the beast asked, seemingly askance that Naruto would ask such a question. "What I want is to devour you where you stand! What I want is to break free from this prison and finish what I started in that pitiful village you call home! To set that hovel aflame with my power, devour each and every one of those fools who celebrated my so called "death", destroy every monument to your precious Yondaime, and find and torture the monkey who calls himself Uchiha Madara for the rest of eternity!"
Naruto was growing steadily more horrified with each passing word, his ability to breathe leaving him once more as the massive killing intent returned bit by bit, choking him all the while.
And, once more, it evaporated as if it had never been present.
"Unfortunately, boy," the beast said, its rant finished, "that is impossible at present." The huge eyes snapped to Naruto's form once more. "Unless, of course, you would be so kind as to remove that slip of paper." The phrase was said mockingly. The fox knew full well that Naruto would do no such thing. Not after that last declaration.
Still, Naruto shook his head. A deep rumbling that shook the very ground Naruto stood upon reverberated throughout the sewer that was Naruto's mind-scape. It took a moment for Naruto to realize the Kyuubi was laughing.
It wasn't a pleasant sound.
"I thought not." Red eyes bored into Naruto, making him fidget as fear took hold even without the monstrous killing intent. He was nothing to this being, and he knew it. Almost unconsciously, he brought his – meager – chakra to bear in a preemptive attempt to stave off what little of the fox's chakra he could.
The fox, however, simply ignored the life energy, not bothering to deign it with a response of every kind. It didn't even bother to mock Naruto.
"You asked me what I want, boy, and I told you. What you're here for is something different," the Kyuubi spoke. It had Naruto's attention. "I wish to deal."
Naruto's eyebrows threatened to take flight. "Deal?" he asked incredulously, working up some nerve to actually talk back to the monster in front of him. "Do you think I'm a fool?" He hadn't been privy to many folk tales as a child, but he knew better than to strike a deal with a being that might as well be the devil.
That nerve promptly disappeared when the beast narrowed its eyes, though the killing intent didn't return. "You would be a fool not to, boy. You have seen and experienced firsthand what my power is capable of," the fox growled. "My chakra allowed you to reach a level of power you thought unimaginable. My power allowed for you to kill men against whom your meager skills would have left you dead."
Naruto shook his head quickly. Despite the truth in the words, truth he had been forced to acknowledge even as he had killed Zabuza with ease, he wasn't about to make a deal with the nine tails.
"I don't want your power, Kyuubi."
The rumbling laughter returned. "Don't you, brat? I have been privy to your innermost thoughts since you were old enough to have them. Power is all you desire in this world, boy. The power to crush all of your enemies and leave them dead at your feet." The fox bared its teeth in a grotesque imitation of a grin. "The power to surpass all that stands before you."
Naruto looked to his feet. He knew the fox was right.
"I offer you all the power you would need and more. Power beyond what you had previously thought capable would be at your disposal. The very ability to crush those who would see you dead would be at your very fingertips," the Kyuubi said, its gravelly voice pouring golden honey into Naruto's ears.
Naruto's eyes clouded with doubt. There was little to refute the beast's claims, for Naruto indeed had been witness to the very power the beast spoke of. Having a source of chakra that would never run dry and which could boost his own abilities beyond anything humanly possible certainly wasn't a bad thing, especially given the very people who Naruto sought to destroy were so far beyond him.
It would be like the ultimate trump card, with that in mind he accepted.
"After we're out we need to kill a man by the name of Uchiha Madara." Naruto startled at the name, though it had been mentioned once before. The fox nodded. "Yes, you've heard of him. That monkey unfortunately isn't dead, he's the reason we're in this situation , he killed the woman that birthed you." Naruto eyes widened in shock but the Kyuubi continued "As much as I hate the retched Uzumaki clan , I hate him more and want him dead, boy, and painfully so. Since I cannot do this from my current lodgings, the task falls to you. It shouldn't present much of a problem, as by your reaction were already planning to kill him."
Anger, Rage, Despair coursed through Naruto mind he opened his mouth, a question on the tip of his tongue, the fox interrupted once more.
"Information about that man will be revealed to you in due time, though there is little you need to know about him other than his rule over a group of humans who called themselves Uchiha, and that his chakra was more sinister than even my own." The Kyuubi shook its head. "My relationship with that man is not to be questioned. Is that clear?"
Naruto kept his silence as he pondered the deal; of course the sentiment was clear. He didn't question the Kyuubi's hatred of Madara, he was a dead man he just didn't know it. But to gain the ire of this beast , Naruto didn't want to think about the kind of power at the man's disposal. The beast was impatient, it seemed.
It was a good deal, almost too good.
It wasn't about to stop him though, and the fox had said itself that it didn't want Naruto dead. There was no drawback to that.
Still, there was one sticking point. "With your power, I want to make sure that my mind isn't overshadowed like it was at first on the bridge. I need to be in control of my own body. I want to make sure when I cut that bastard down I get to look in his eyes while doing it." He said firmly
The fox hesitated for a moment, but nodded its head in acceptance. "Agreed, boy. Do we have a deal?"
Naruto took a deep breath, thinking about his family..
Resolve hardened to determination in Naruto's mind, and a single nod happened almost of its own accord.
"We have a deal. But Kyuubi whose my parents..."
The Kyuubi simply nodded.
Deep within the mind of the biju, hidden from Naruto by a force of will sharpened over a millennia, the fox smiled.
"Heh, I guess it wouldn't hurt to tell you, your mother a Princess hailed from the great Uzumaki clan , from the village of Whirlpools , and my former host.. Kushina Uzumaki." Then the fox sneered "You're father who put you through this hell.. this torment is the infamous Fourth Hokage"
Naruto eyes widened then darkened. Quietness ensued for hours until the he broke the silence once more.
"What does Uzumaki chakra feels like? My mother for example."
The Kyuubi large red eye look down on the blonde, "The Uzumaki was known for their red hair, dense chakra and exuberant personality. Their red hair is a sign of their vitality. But since you're only half, that skipped you. It was said their Elite warriors even rivaled the Sanbi in terms of Chakra. Such is the case of the kids blessed with the Sage blood." The Fox explained as he showed him memories of the Uzumaki of the past.
Naruto eyes slightly widened catching that tidbit of new information, "Who or what is the Sanbi? And Sage children?"
The Kyuubi closed it eyes and spoke
"The Ichibi , Nibi, Sanbi, Yonbi, Gobi , Rokubi, Shichibi, Hachibi , and me the Kyuubi , each tail beast represented by their tails.. the Sanbi is the three tails. All siblings living the same fate. But as far as the Sage I'm not speaking no further about that until you prove you are worthy for such information."
Naruto understands he shook his head and dawned a sad smile
"I'm sorry of what humans put you guys through, imprisonment for the sake of power is horrible but hopefully in the future we can both conquer our hatred towards the world."
The Kyuubi eyes widened at those words , haven't heard such words for a long time and he watched Naruto heading away he seen an outline of his fathers back. 'Fa-father is he the one, is this a sign?' He thought stunned
Naruto turned around slightly still smiling, "I'm going to train even harder now, and we're going to get stronger together so we can hope to conquer our hatred towards this world. Who knows you may be part of this.. revolution"
"Hmph, Either way this seal will break eventually" Kyuubi simply replied, as Naruto leaned to the wall far with his arms crossed and his eyes closed.
"And until then?" Naruto asked having calmed down due to Kyuubi's influence.
"We will plan while trapped here" Kyuubi replied simply
"I just only hope my Yang part keeps my body in good shape.." Naruto said with contempt in his voice.