A/N: Hey! Lytn here, soooo you might be looking at that other version of Seeing White and Blue on my profile all confused. So, basically, bc of ideas that I had and new and current lore that I did not have when I originally published SWaB, I discontinued it in order to make edits and revamp the entire thing for this new version of SWaB right here :D! It's included in a shared universe with Daisugi: The Art of Growth, which you should totally check out. Both series are going to be published daily until they're caught up with their respective publications on Ao3, which I published wayy earlier back in April lmao. So yeah, about two weeks of rapid-fire uploads and then you're going to be getting weekly uploads every Sunday. So, yeah, enjoy Chapter 1 of SWaB :D!

ϟ—Chapter One — Enter: Ka'rai Uzumaki—ϟ

A warm, comforting hand caressed Ka'rai's face as he groaned. His tired eyes opened slowly. "It's time for the academy, Ka'rai," a motherly voice sang.

"Five more minutes, mama," he grumbled, turning over away from his mother.

Arasei frowned. "No, five minutes is more than enough time for a life-or-death battle to take place; every second is invaluable."

"I guess so," he admitted, dragging himself upright with a yawn. "Wait… you're here; didn't you have a mission?"

Arasei laughed as she messed with her full head of curly red hair. "Oh, I'm just a clone!"

Ka'rai hummed, but he wasn't disappointed.

"I just wanted to be here somehow… for your twelfth birthday!"

"Oh, it is my birthday!" realized Ka'rai with a cheer. His tiredness burned away along with his rising joy.

Arasei grinned. "Happy birthday, Ka'rai!"

"Thank you, mama!" he shouted and he pounced out of bed, clutching his mother.

Her eyes widened at the sudden vice grip, before returning her son's affections with a hug of her own. "You're welcome," she managed through a tightened breath.

"Oh—I'm sorry!" he sputtered as he loosened his grip.

She took a breath of relief before smirking and squeezing the breath out of her son. "Revenge," she snickered.

"Mama—please—I apologized!" spattered Ka'rai. He struggled and thrashed against his mother's vice grip with little avail.

Arasei hummed in pondering, before tightening her grip ever so slightly. "I don't think you apologized as sincerely as you should've…"

"Dearest Mother, Arasei Uzumaki, I sincerely apologize for hugging you tighter than I should've," Ka'rai strained with a wheeze.

She smirked haughtily. "Apology accepted." She loosened her grip on Ka'rai, who took a deep breath of relief.

"Thank you, mama."

Arasei pulled back from the hug and flashed her son a smile. "Is there anything you want for your birthday? I'll try to get it when I get back from my mission."

"Oh—uh…" Ka'rai stammered. "I do, I don't think you'd like it, though…" he mumbled, looking down to his bedsheets.

Arasei raised her brow. "Well… you can tell me and we'll both know for sure!"

"Iwannaknowwhomydadis…" Ka'rai sputtered.

She sighed. "We've had this conversation, honey—"

"I know, I know!" Ka'rai argued, clenching his fist. "But… Man, I don't know."

Arasei let out a deep breath. "Well, he's dark-skinned!" she beamed with a big, fake smile.

"Anyone with a pair of eyes can tell that much," Ka'rai said dryly. "You're about as pale as the clouds that surround this village."

She blinked in surprise as she looked at a wry-looking Ka'rai. "Okay…" she said as she cleared her throat.

"C'mon, at least something! Please!" Ka'rai pleaded.

Arasei shook her head. "I'm sorry, but no… I really don't want to talk about it. He's…" she trailed off before sighing.

"Is he a bad person?" Ka'rai asked.

Arasei shrugged. "By some people's standards, yes. I don't think so, personally."

"Then why aren't you guys still together?!" His frustration nearly boiled over.

She looked away with a frown. "I don't want to talk about it, Ka'rai. I'm sorry."

"Fine…" Ka'rai conceded.

Arasei pulled him back into a hug. "I'll see if I can get you something else, okay?" she assured as she rubbed his back. She pulled away from the hug and forced a small smile. "Well, I'm gonna stop holding you up now; have a great day, baby!"

"I'm not a baby, mama!" Ka'rai complained as he leapt out of bed and ran to the bathroom. As Arasei watched her baby scurry off, her smile faded as… that day crept into her head. It clawed into her like a living corpse aching its way out of the closet she hid it in to never be seen again.

Yet, she saw it every day.

She loved seeing it—but she couldn't deny the pain.

It had been nearly twelve years… and she still didn't know if she have done any different if she had the opportunity. Arasei frowned, then a sudden smile tugged at the corners of her lips. Ka'rai was strong, much stronger as a twelve-year-old than she could ever dream of being.

Sealing it into him might've been the right choice, regardless of her own personal feelings. If she was the Jinchuriki, she'd perish just like Yugito. Was this her own sick way of trying to justify her actions? She didn't know. Any sort of comfort and solace that she could get was very much welcomed.

But he was her son, and it was inside of him. Nothing she could do about it now. She knew he could handle it; she knew Ka'rai could handle it. Arasei took a deep breath before disappearing in a puff of smoke.

⁑ —ϟ— ⁑

Ka'rai strutted down the streets of Kumo, his chest puffed out, his hands swinging at the rhythm of his fast-moving legs. The clouded sun sent faded rays in his path as his messy, crimson hair obscured the view from his black eyes of the Kumo Shinobi Academy he approached.

Kumo's academy sat on a series of rocks over a lake, which had platformed buildings with umbrella-shaped roofs of various colors. Crowds of students and their parents drawled into the academy through the singular entrance. For most people, this would be a problem, but not for him.

He simply pushed through the crowds and cut the line to get where he needed to go. Was it a less than stellar action, morally? Yes. Did he care? No. He eventually reached the front of the line, checked in, and trekked over a series of red-roped bridges to a blue-roofed building.

With a wicked smirk, Ka'rai kicked down the door. All eyes of the class inside dead set on him. He ignored most of them… except for one. The boy's grey eyes matched his with the veracity of a storm. His bald head shone like a tanned light under the sun's reflection.

"Well, well, well… look who it is; our least favorite redhead and his unnecessarily loud entrances," the boy remarked.

Ka'rai cackled. "Check the date, Cirru! It's the most important day in academy history!"

"August sixteenth…" Cirru pondered in false ignorance, examining his luxurious cloudy-grey outfit. "Doesn't ring a bell," he dismissed with a shrug.

Ka'rai twitched as he looked at Cirru before clearing his throat. "Okay! Are there any smart people who know the importance of August sixteenth?!"

"It's your birthday, right?!" suggested a dark-skinned boy with shaggy blonde hair.

Ka'rai grinned and pointed at him. "Exactly! What's your name?! I don't wanna forget such an intelligent individual."

"Y-Yowui," he sputtered.

Ka'rai nodded. "Thank you, Yowui!"

"You all continue to encourage such abhorrent behavior," Cirru muttered with a shake of his head.

An amber-eyed girl with curly hair that dropped over her fair-skinned face spoke up. "Well, Happy Birthday, Ka'rai!"

"Thank you, Sami!" Ka'rai cheered as he pointed at her, his eyes drifting towards the pale girl with white hair and bloodshot eyes that sat next to Sami.

The girl met his gaze and looked at him blandly. "Leave me alone or I'll make you bleed."

"Okay…" Ka'rai trailed off.

Cirru chuckled. "Amazing work, Clowui!"

"The same applies to you, Cirru," she stated, barely sparing her a glance.

Cirru laughed off the threat. "C'mon, us clan heirs need to stick together, you know—" He was interrupted by the pencil embedded in his arm. It drew a stream of blood that trickled down his arm.

"Leave me alone or I'll make you bleed more," Clowui reiterated, gleaming at the sight of blood.

Cirru blinked as he observed the pencil in his arm. "Ow," he spat as he shook his arm.

Suddenly, the door shot open and a big, burly, dark-skinned man with orange hair burst into the room.

"All of you shut up and sit down or that's a week of detention and the training for the next month will increase in difficulty, tenfold!" he commanded.

The students bolted to their seats and sat stiffly and at attention. "Yes, Eff-sensei!" they shouted.

Eff proceeded to give a stern lecture about the betrayal of the Senko Clan during the period of peace between the First and Second Great Ninja wars. The Chinoike Clan aided them in driving them out of the Land of Lightning.

The Second Raikage, as an award for their aiding of Kumo, instated them as an official clan of Kumogakure.

Ka'rai only paid half attention to the lesson, only tuning in during discussions of battles. The names, political stuff… wasn't that interesting despite being sixty percent of the lesson.

He'd be fine; Sami would give him the answers. She always gave him the answers. Sami is a good friend…

After pretending to pay attention for a couple of hours, beating Cirru in a kunai throwing assignment, and getting the homework answers from Sami, Ka'rai was finally free from the academy.

He grinned as he sprinted away from the blue-roofed building that was his classroom. He leapt through the crowds and out of the academy; he kept running, and running, and running until—

"Ow!" Ka'rai grumbled as he stepped back. He rubbed his head and he looked up to see who he ran into.

He saw three Genin guys glaring down at him. "Hey…" one of them started. "He's one of those 'bigshot' kids at the academy!"

"Ka'rai, ain't it?" another one asked.

He smirked at the mention of his name. "So, you've heard of me."

"Yeah, we have! You think you're all that? Well, you're wrong! We just became Genin, and I think we should put you in your place," one of them monologued.

Ka'rai laughed as he clenched his fist. "I'd like to see you try—"

A punch to the face shut him up. He stumbled back as blood dripped from his nose. He felt the tickle of dripping liquid down to his lips. He licked it and savored the metallic taste. A wicked grin spread across his face. Ka'rai leapt into the air and kicked at a Genin, who dodged and punched Ka'rai in the stomach.

Another Genin grabbed Ka'rai and slammed him to the concrete. Another one stomped on him. Ka'rai clutched the foot that came down on him, gritting his teeth as he pushed up, his arms shaking and trembling as he did so.

Ka'rai's wicked grin turned to a contorted face of pain as his muscles burned—his bones creaked with sharp aches. Ka'rai huffed and ignored his arm's protests, pushing harder against the Genin's foot with a strained roar.

One of the other Genin kicked Ka'rai's arms. They buckled as the Genin's foot slammed onto his face. Ka'rai groaned and spun around, leaping out of the vice grip. He didn't get far. A sudden fist punched the wind out of him with a gut punch.

Ka'rai grit his teeth and collapsed to the floor. He wheezed as he gathered his breath. He forced a glare at the Genin that punched him. The Genin gawked out a mocking cackle. "Is somebody mad?"

"Go die in a hole," Ka'rai spat. The Genin twitched before slamming his foot into Ka'rai's face. Blood poured out of his deformed nose. Another Genin grabbed his hair and drove his knee into the back of Ka'rai's head.

Ka'rai growled in pain as he attempted to release himself from the grip, punching the Genin behind him. The other one grabbed his arm and slammed it into the ground, then stomped on it.

"Bastard!" Ka'rai screamed as he jumped up and kicked the Genin holding his hair. He groaned and released Ka'rai. He took the opportunity and charged, kicking him in the gut. He stumbled back, but one of the other Genin kicked Ka'rai in the back.

He lifted Ka'rai into the air, and the other two Genin leapt into the air and struck him down into the concrete. "Hah! Take that you fatherless piece of shit!" one of them taunted.

"Hah! He doesn't have a dad?! His mom must be a hoe!" another Genin cackled.

The last one snickered. "We're done here."

Ka'rai growled as he clenched his fists. He was bruised, with bones cracked, and bleeding. He trembled with rage. Bearing his teeth, he forced himself to stand. A burning sensation ignited his body as he inhaled shakily, but exhaled smoothly. His black eyes flickered between black and a heterochromatic yellow and green.

Visions of cobalt blue flame and the chill of death enveloped his vision.

Kill them. Kill them. Kill them.

Ka'rai's breath sped up as he forced the power inside to come out—whatever it was—he needed it. They assaulted him. They insulted him. They embarrassed him. They insulted his mother… They needed to pay.

Ka'rai's canines elongated into feline fangs and black flames danced around his face. His nails extended into claws as they dug into the skin of his clenched fists. Blue flames struggled to ignite on his skin as Ka'rai strained.

You want them dead? What do you know about death, boy?

Ka'rai froze at the chilling voice in his head. Despite the inferno he was turning into, he could feel nothing but cold.

HIs fists clenched harder and more blood fell from his gashed palms. What I know, is that they need to die!

The voice scoffed, and Ka'rai's chakra ignited into a blaze.

This is what death means, you Uzumaki.

Suddenly, Ka'rai's eyes glowed with their full heterochromatic glory. The black flames twirled and gyrated over his face. Cobalt blue flames erupted from his body in a furious hell storm.

Ka'rai roared.

The three Genin stopped and looked back at the torrent of blue flames behind them. They froze in utter horror at Ka'rai's glare. It wasn't murderous, but the full intent of death fueled it.

Ka'rai disappeared—

—A Genin cried as blood spewed from his chest—

—His ally collapsed to the floor, his left leg smoldering and severed at the knee. The Genin screamed as he gripped his cauterized, amputated leg.

The last Genin bolted. Fear drove each foot into the ground as he left his allies screaming.

He needed to live, but death was inevitable.

A chilling blaze whirled around Ka'rai's arm and he screeched like a wraith. He pounced at the survivor, reeling his fist back. When he threw it forward, a massive blaze of cobalt blue fire scorched the concrete black.

He hit flesh, but it didn't turn to ash.

Ka'rai's eyes widened as he realized what he made contact with. An ANBU with a lightning was holding his fist, completely unharmed. "Calm down, Nibi," the ANBU commanded.

"What the hell?!" Ka'rai shouted as he pulled his fist back, but to no avail.

Another ANBU leapt down and picked up the two injured Genin before flickering away. The ANBU pulled his hand up and brought it down on Ka'rai's neck. His eyes lost their heterochromatic light as the flames around his body blew out. Ka'rai fell into the ANBU's arms, unconscious.

⁑ —ϟ— ⁑

Hours later, Ka'rai groggily sat up and rubbed his sore neck. He shivered as he rose from the cold concrete slab. The smell of microwaved bologna invaded his nostrils. His face scrunched, then he finally opened his eyes… to see he was in a room, behind iron bars.

"Wait, what?!" Ka'rai shouted as he ran up to the bars and gripped them.

He shook them. "Let me out—!"

"Shut up, child!" shouted a large, muscular, dark-skinned man with slicked back, blond hair, and a white cloak with golden, lightning-shaped edges surrounded by ANBU.

Ka'rai's eyes widened as he took a trembling step back. "L-Lord Raikage?!"

"Indeed," he confirmed, irritating grating his tone.

Ka'rai was oblivious to his Lord's irritation. A sudden grin broke out across his face "Lord Raikage! It's a true honor to finally meet you! I've looked up to you—"

"I said shut up!" yelled the Raikage.

Ka'rai slammed his mouth shut, making direct eye contact with his Kage. "Do you know why you're here?"

"Uh… the Genin that attacked me… and I had this weird power show up… and a goddess voice talked to me about death… then I…" He gulped. The gravity of the situation finally weighed on him. "...attacked them—"

"You almost killed them!" the Raikage shouted, before sucking his teeth. "Bah! I knew listening to your mother was a bad idea."

Ka'rai raised his brow. "What did she say?!"

"We'll continue this discussion when she arrives," the Raikage stated.

Ka'rai paled. "She's coming?!"

The Raikage ignored Ka'rai. He sighed and put on the hat of his title, hiding his frustrated face. Hours passed. Ka'rai worriedly waited in the cell, while the Raikage simply executed his duties in the prison.

Fuck… I don't think this is good, was the conclusion Ka'rai came to. But, they totally deserved it.

Frantic footsteps sped down the hallway. "I'm here!" Arasei announced as she walked into the room, panting and in her Shinobi gear.

The Raikage narrowed his eyes. "I'm sure you've heard."

"Yes," she responded breathily, bowing her head.

"Talk to your son," he commanded, motioning to an ANBU that unlocked the cell.

"Ka'rai!" Arasei shouted as she rushed into the cell, placed her hands on his shoulders. Her grip was tight—it made her bear hug seem like a love-tap in comparison.

Ka'rai winced, but forced a smile. "Hey,,, mama…!"

"Ka'rai… why did you do that?" she asked with an unnerving calmness.

Ka'rai gulped. "Uh, when I was running home, I bumped into them. They told me that my ego was too big, and needed to get taken down a peg… then they attacked me, said some things I didn't like. Then… I got mad. There was some goddess-like voice, and she gave me power, the blue firepower… and then… I attacked them."

Arasei nodded. "I see… So, it's talking to you… Did it ever talk to Yugito, Lord Raikage?"

"Yes, it did," he responded.

The boy shifted under the weight of the room. "Wuh—who's Yugito? What's this it? You guys are making everything sound so scary…."

"Ka'rai… I'm sorry." She paused and Ka'rai fought the urge to run… not that he could have, anyway. "I've been keeping something from you—not your father—something much more important.

"When you were six months old… Yugito, the previous Jinchuriki of the Nibi—"

—chills echoed throughout Ka'rai's body. A fire sealed into his chest churned—it burned.

"—was killed in action. I was on the mission to recapture the Nibi. When it was taken down, we needed a new Jinchuriki…" she continued shakily.

Arasei let out a trembled sigh as sweat rolled down her face. "That Jinchuriki… is you, Ka'rai. You have the Nibi."

"What?!" Ka'rai shouted as he took a step back out of his mother's now loosened grip.

Arasei looked away from Ka'rai as he clenched his fists, gritting his teeth, staring at the floor, shaking. Arasei pursed her lips and held back tears. "Ka'rai, I'm so sorry."

"Yeah, you should be," Ka'rai murmured, his crimson hair shadowed his expression. His teethed were bared, shining in the cell's light.

Arasei winced and looked away from her son.

"If you had told me earlier, then I could've totally used this to one-up Cirru!" he whined as he cocked his head up. "This is the best thing you've ever told me in my life!"

An uncertain smile crept over Arasei's lips. "You're… not mad at me?"

"No?!" Ka'rai asked with a raised brow, his tooth-bearing grin apparent. "Why would I be?!"

Arasei chuckled uncomfortably. "Uh, I don't know… I'm just being irrational, I guess."

"I'm just like Lord Killer Bee! And the Nidaime Raikage! He had the Nibi too!" Ka'rai cheered as he squealed like a fan girl. "So, when does training begin?!"

The Raikage chuckled. "Well, you're enthusiastic, aren't you? Your training will start tomorrow; your mother will teach you how to manipulate the seal that holds the Nibi. But there is something else that's slightly more relevant at the moment; you won't be attending the academy anymore."

Ka'rai's eyes widened. "What?! No! My friends—!"

"You don't have a say in the matter. If you can go mad on the Nibi's power that easily, then you're a threat to your classmates, and possibly the teachers at the academy, depending on how strong you get under the influence of the chakra."

Disappointment crossed his face as he pursed his lips. "I see…"

"Hmph. Bee is on a long-term mission outside of the village at the moment, so he won't be able to train you with the Nibi's chakra directly for a while. Even if I think I'd be a waste of time, considering you're not even a Shinobi yet."

Ka'rai pouted. "Aw."

"That's all I have to say. You're dismissed. Consider yourself lucky that you're not gonna be locked up for twenty-five to thirty years for attempted murder," the Raikage warned with a thunderous look.

Ka'rai bowed. "Thank you, Lord Raikage," he said before walking out of the room with Arasei, the biggest smile on his face as he did so.

"This… this was the best birthday ever."

ϟ—Chapter End—ϟ