Chapter 15 The truth
As Naruto's unconscious form lay on the ground, Fuka knelt beside him, her hands hovering over his wounds with worry etched on her face. She glanced up at the others, her confusion evident.
"What happened? Why is he in this condition? And who… or what… is this?" she asked, her eyes locking onto Kurama, who stood beside them with the severed head of Danzo in his hand. Kurama let out a deep sigh, knowing that explanations were overdue.
"I suppose introductions are in order." he began, his voice carrying a weight that silenced the whispers of the others.
"I am Kurama, the Nine-Tails, but you probably know me as the demon fox sealed inside Naruto." Fuka's eyes widened in shock, as did the others. They had all heard of the Nine-Tails, the monstrous beast that had nearly destroyed the village years ago, but seeing him in human form, standing before them, was something they never expected.
"You… you're the Nine-Tails?" Fuka stammered, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and disbelief. Kurama nodded, his expression somber.
"Yes, I am. But I am not what the stories make me out to be. Naruto and I… we have a complicated past, but he is the first human to treat me as something other than a monster. Over time, we've formed a bond, and now, I fight alongside him." Tenten, still processing what she was hearing, took a cautious step forward.
"So… you can just leave Naruto's body like this? How is that possible?" Kurama shrugged slightly, his fox ears twitching.
"It's a bit more complicated than that, but let's just say that Naruto and I have reached an understanding that allows me to manifest in this form. It's something we've managed after years of working together." Fuka, still shaken, looked back at Naruto.
"But what happened to him? How did he end up like this?" Sarada, who had been silent until now, hesitated before speaking. Her voice was soft, still strained from her ordeal.
"It was Danzo…he took me. I don't remember much after he drugged me, but I remember being tied down and him saying terrible things. Then… Naruto appeared and saved me. He must have fought Danzo… I think that's how he got like this." The group fell silent, the weight of Sarada's words hanging heavy in the air. Kaguya, who had been quietly observing everything with a cold, distant expression, finally spoke for the first time, her voice soft yet commanding.
"He fought… to protect someone precious. It is a foolish, yet noble sentiment. But it is also something only a human would do." Everyone turned to Kaguya, stunned that she had spoken. Her voice was calm and measured, yet there was an underlying tone of wisdom and power that made everyone listen intently.
"Kaguya." Fuka whispered, her voice filled with a mixture of awe and confusion.
"You… you can talk?" Kaguya nodded, her pale eyes emotionless.
"Yes. I have been observing. This world…it is strange to me, but I understand more than you may think. Naruto's actions, though reckless, are driven by a deep sense of duty to those he cares for. He is willing to risk everything, even his life, for them." As if on cue, the severed head of Danzo slipped from Kurama's hand, hitting the ground with a sickening thud. The girls gasped, their eyes widening in horror at the sight.
"That's… Danzo's head." Tenten whispered, her voice shaky.
"Naruto… he…" Kurama, seeing the reaction, decided to address their concerns.
"Yes, that is Danzo's head. He was a threat to Naruto and the entire village. He would have continued to cause suffering if he were left alive. Naruto did what had to be done, but it came at a cost. Using so much of my chakra has put a strain on him, and it will take time for him to recover." Fuka looked down at Naruto, her heart aching for him.
"He's always pushing himself too far… all to protect us." she murmured, her voice barely audible. She gently brushed a strand of hair from Naruto's face, her eyes filling with tears. Kaguya, her expression softening slightly, stepped closer to Naruto and placed a hand on his chest.
"He is strong… but he needs rest. We should not disturb him further." Sarada, feeling a mixture of guilt and gratitude, wiped away her tears and nodded. "You're right. We should let him rest." She looked at the others, her voice firmer now.
"We should keep watch and make sure no one disturbs him. He's done enough for us… now it's our turn to protect him." Neji, who had remained silent, stepped forward with a determined look.
"Agreed. I will keep watch. If anyone comes near, I will alert the rest of you." Kurama, satisfied with the plan, gave a nod.
"Good. I will remain here as well. Naruto needs all the support he can get right now." As everyone settled into their roles, the atmosphere grew calm, though the tension from the battle and the revelations still lingered. The group, now bound by their shared experiences, silently vowed to protect Naruto, just as he had protected them. Kaguya, still standing by Naruto's side, glanced at the others, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"You are all… strange creatures. But… I see why he fights for you. You are his strength." The others looked at Kaguya, sensing a change in her demeanor, but none dared to question it. Instead, they focused on ensuring Naruto's safety, knowing that their bond with him had grown even stronger through the trials they had just endured.
The tension inside the cabin was thick enough to cut with a blade as Naruto lay resting, his body still recovering from the brutal battle with Danzo. Kurama had returned to Naruto's body, allowing the exhausted boy some respite. The group was on edge, wary of any approaching threats, and when shadows flickered outside the windows, everyone instinctively reached for their weapons. A soft knock on the door echoed through the cabin, followed by a familiar voice that sent a shiver down everyone's spine.
"Naruto, you're surrounded. Please turn yourself in for the murder of Danzo." the voice of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, carried through the wooden walls. Sarada, recognizing the voice, moved toward the door, her heart heavy with conflicting emotions. The others tried to stop her, but she shook her head, reassuring them.
"It's the Third Hokage. We can trust him... he'll understand." Reluctantly, the others stepped back, though their hands remained close to their weapons, ready for anything. Sarada opened the door slowly, her eyes meeting the stern gaze of the Third Hokage. Immediately, Anbu operatives swarmed into the room, their weapons drawn, eyes darting around as they sized up the situation. Sarada raised her hands in surrender, trying to keep her voice calm.
"Please, we can explain everything. Just listen to us." Hiruzen raised his hand, signaling his guards to hold their positions. His eyes, though tired, held a steely resolve.
"You better explain quickly, and bring the boy out. This is not something we can overlook." Before anyone could respond, Karin stepped forward, suspicion in her eyes.
"Hokage-sama, did you receive the information my shadow clone should have delivered by now?" Hiruzen's brow furrowed in confusion. "Information? What are you talking about?" Karin's eyes went wide as the realization hit her. She dismissed her shadow clone, her mind suddenly flooded with its memories. Her face drained of color as she turned to Naruto, her body trembling with rage and desperation. In a heartbeat, she drew a kunai and charged at him, her movements a blur. Fuka sprang into action, but Karin was too fast, weaving through her defense like a snake. Gaara's sand reacted instantly, forming a protective dome around Naruto, tendrils of sand lashing out at Karin, aiming to strangle her. She dodged nimbly, her eyes locked onto Naruto with murderous intent.
"Stop this at once!" Hiruzen commanded, his voice laced with authority. The Anbu hesitated, unsure whether to obey their Hokage or continue their assault. The tension was palpable, the air crackling with suppressed violence, when an Anbu member appeared behind Hiruzen, holding a stack of papers.
"Hokage-sama, you need to see this." Hiruzen took the papers, his eyes scanning them quickly. As he read, his expression shifted from confusion to shock and finally to fury. The documents were filled with classified information about Danzo—evidence of his crimes, his secret experiments, and his betrayals. Nothing that would endanger the Leaf but enough to expose his true nature. The Anbu operative spoke in a low, urgent tone.
"These documents have already been distributed around the entire village by the Fox boy paper clone. Everyone knows by now." Hiruzen's gaze snapped to where Naruto lay protected by Gaara's sand.
"Wake the boy. We need to discuss this immediately." he ordered, his voice barely containing his anger. Naruto, sensing the mounting tension even in his exhausted state, forced himself to awaken. He struggled to sit up, his body screaming in protest, but he pushed through the pain. His eyes, glowing with a faint red hue from Kurama's influence, met Hiruzen's furious gaze.
"You had no right to spread such information!" Hiruzen shouted, his voice echoing through the small cabin. "Do you have any idea what you've done? The chaos you've unleashed?" Naruto's eyes narrowed, his voice a low growl as he responded.
"You knew about this, didn't you? You knew what he was doing in the shadows, and you chose to look away." Hiruzen hesitated, the weight of his years suddenly visible in his slumped shoulders. His gaze fell to the floor, unable to meet Naruto's eyes.
"Yes… but I didn't know the full extent of his actions. He was doing it for the village… or so I believed." Naruto's tails erupted from his back, slamming into the bed and sending it crashing against the wall. He jumped up with a burst of speed, blitzing through the Anbu guards who tried to intercept him. Each tail moved with deadly precision, knocking the Anbu aside like ragdolls. In an instant, Naruto's hand was around Hiruzen's collar, slamming the old man into the wall with enough force to make it creak.
"And you didn't even bother to look into it? Of course not, you're always too passive, thinking the problem will solve itself without any action on your part." Naruto snarled, his voice dripping with contempt. Everyone in the room stood frozen, shocked by the sight of Naruto—exhausted, battered, yet still burning with an indomitable will—taking the Third Hokage to task. The air was thick with tension, the very walls of the cabin seeming to close in as the reality of the situation settled over them. Hiruzen, gasping for breath, looked into Naruto's eyes, seeing the fiery resolve and the deep-seated anger that had been festering for years. He knew that Naruto was right. He had failed to act, and now, the consequences of his inaction were laid bare before him.
"I'm sorry." Hiruzen whispered, his voice cracking under the weight of his guilt. "I should have done more… I should have stopped him." Naruto's grip tightened for a moment before he released the Hokage, letting him slump to the ground.
"Sorry isn't enough." Naruto said, his voice cold. "You let this happen. You let him destroy lives, and now you expect me to forgive you because you're sorry?" Fuka, Sarada, Gaara, and the others watched in silence, their emotions a mixture of shock, fear, and understanding. They knew that this was a confrontation that had been a long time coming—one that had been inevitable the moment Danzo's name had been spoken. Karin, still reeling from the betrayal she had witnessed, stood to the side, her kunai shaking in her hand. She didn't know if she should intervene or stay back, the conflicting emotions tearing her apart. Naruto, breathing heavily, turned away from Hiruzen.
"This village needs to change. No more lies. No more secrets. We rebuild it, or it falls apart. But it starts with you, old man. If you don't have the strength to do what needs to be done, then step aside."
"You need to understand, Naruto." Hiruzen began, his voice firm but tinged with regret. "Danzo was meant to be a necessary evil, a balance to my own leadership. But it was a mistake to not keep a closer eye on him. I see that now. I never should have let him operate unchecked." Naruto's eyes narrowed, and his fists clenched at his sides.
"A mistake? That's all you have to say? Do you even know what he's done? What has he put me through?" Hiruzen held Naruto's gaze, refusing to back down. "I am aware that Danzo's methods were extreme, but he believed—"
"He believed in nothing but his own twisted ambitions!" Naruto interrupted, his voice rising. "He tried to have me killed, repeatedly! He kidnapped Sarada, a girl who did nothing but exist! And don't get me started on how he spread lies about me, about how I was possessed by the Nine-Tails, just to isolate me from everyone!" Hiruzen flinched at Naruto's words, but he didn't falter.
"Naruto, you must understand, the village—"
"The village!" Naruto spat, his anger boiling over. "Danzo didn't care about the village! He terrorized innocent people, all for his own goals. He manipulated everything, even orchestrating the massacre of the Uchiha clan and justifying it as necessary! How many lives did he ruin in the name of the so-called greater good?" Hiruzen's face hardened, his own guilt and frustration surfacing.
"I never defended his actions, Naruto. I should have stopped him sooner, but—"
"But you didn't!" Naruto shot back, his voice trembling with a mixture of anger and pain. "You didn't stop him, and because of that, he kept coming after me. Every time I walked through this village, I felt like I was nothing—unwanted, hated. And you let him do that! You let him make me feel like I didn't belong here!" Hiruzen took a deep breath, his hands trembling slightly.
"I didn't know the extent of it, Naruto. I failed you by not seeing the signs earlier, but I'm trying to make it right now." Naruto's expression twisted into one of bitter disappointment.
"Trying to make it right? You think admitting it now makes anything better? Do you have any idea what it's like to grow up with everyone looking at you like you're some kind of monster? And all because of the lies Danzo spread?"
"I was trying to protect the village." Hiruzen responded, his voice strained. "I wanted to keep the peace, but I made mistakes."
"Peace?" Naruto echoed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Peace built on lies, on fear? That's not peace, old man. That's just control. You let Danzo have free rein, and now look where we are!" Hiruzen's eyes softened, but he didn't back down.
"Naruto, I know it's hard to hear this, but leadership requires making difficult choices. Danzo's actions were wrong, and I accept responsibility for not curbing his power sooner. But this village... it's more than just us. We have to protect it, even when the decisions are painful." Naruto shook his head, frustration and hurt evident in his expression.
"You talk about protecting the village, but what about protecting the people in it? What about protecting me? You knew what he was doing, and you chose to look the other way because it was easier than confronting him!" Hiruzen's voice grew quieter, more reflective.
"I chose wrong, Naruto. I won't deny that. But this village is my responsibility, and I have to try to fix the damage that's been done." Naruto glared at him, his chest heaving with anger.
"Fix it? How do you fix something like this? Danzo's dead, but that doesn't change what he did to me, to Sarada, to all the people he hurt." Hiruzen sighed, the weight of his years and the burden of his decisions heavy on his shoulders.
"We can only move forward, Naruto. We can try to make things better, to ensure that something like this never happens again. But it won't be easy, and it won't be quick." Naruto's fists unclenched, and his tails slowly receded as the intensity of his anger faded, replaced by a deep, lingering sadness.
"I don't want your apologies, old man. I just want to live in a village where I'm not treated like a threat. Where I can actually feel like I belong." Hiruzen nodded slowly, understanding the depth of Naruto's pain.
"You do belong, Naruto. And I will do everything in my power to make sure you know that."As Hiruzen's words left his mouth, Naruto's fury boiled over. His mind flashed with memories of loneliness and heartbreak, and the rage he had kept buried for years surged forward, unstoppable.
"You do belong, Naruto. And I will do everything in my power to make sure you know that." Hiruzen said softly, his voice filled with regret. But those words, rather than soothing Naruto, felt like a knife to his heart. His tails flared wider and longer, thrashing like serpents of raw energy. Without a word, Naruto lunged at Hiruzen, grabbing him by the throat with one hand and slamming him through the wall of the cabin, splintering the wood like paper.
Hiruzen barely managed to block the force of the attack before they both collided with another wall, shaking the entire structure. Dust and debris filled the air as the old Hokage struggled to breathe, his back pressed against the unyielding wood. The Anbu guards immediately drew their weapons, ready to strike, but Hiruzen, with his free hand, raised it to stop them, his eyes locking onto Naruto's face. Tears streamed down the boy's cheeks, cutting through the dirt and grime smeared across his face, and his lips trembled as raw emotion poured from him.
"Why now?" Naruto's voice cracked, trembling with a mixture of grief and rage. "If you had the power this whole time, why didn't you save me when I was little? Why didn't you stop them from hating me, from hurting me?" Hiruzen, despite the pain radiating through his body, looked up at Naruto with sorrowful eyes.
"Naruto, I—"
"No!" Naruto shouted, his grip tightening around the Hokage's neck. "Don't say it! You were supposed to be the strongest in the village, the one who protects everyone, but you couldn't even protect me. You didn't even try!" Hiruzen's heart ached at the truth in Naruto's words, and he felt a lump forming in his throat as he struggled to find the right thing to say.
"I... I didn't see—"
"Don't lie to me!" Naruto interrupted, shaking Hiruzen with each word. "I looked up to you, believed in you, and every time I came to you, all I felt was more alone. You're the Hokage, the strongest in the village. You could've done something, anything, but you didn't! You could've adopted me. You could've had me live with your family, your clan! But you didn't! You left me to rot because you're scared of me, just like the rest of them!"
"Naruto, I—"
"You hate me!" Naruto cried out, the words tearing from him like shards of glass. His voice was full of heartbreak, his face twisted in agony. "You want me to die, don't you? Just say it! I know you despise me. I know you want me gone, just like they do!" Hiruzen's face fell, his own tears now welling up as he looked into the broken boy's eyes.
"That's not true, Naruto. I've never hated you—"
"Then why did you let me suffer like that?!" Naruto's voice was a raw scream, echoing through the broken cabin. His body trembled violently, his muscles torn and bones screaming for him to stop, but the emotional pain was far worse than the physical.
"Why didn't you protect me?! All I ever wanted was to be loved, to be cared for! I didn't want this!" His voice cracked as he broke down into sobs, his body trembling uncontrollably.
"I just wanted to walk through the village without being hated… without being alone!" Naruto's grip on Hiruzen loosened, and he dropped the Hokage, who stumbled but remained standing.
"You say things will change, but I don't believe you anymore!" Naruto continued, his voice trembling. "Because you and Jiraiya… both of you abandoned me. The Hokage, the one who was supposed to protect me, couldn't even see the boy suffering just a few feet away. You watched as the village tore me apart with their hatred. You let me die, piece by piece, and then stuck me out here in this cabin, like I was some dangerous animal." Hiruzen lowered his head, the weight of Naruto's words breaking him down inside.
"I'm sorry." he whispered. "I failed you. I should have—"
"I don't care about your apologies anymore!" Naruto roared, tears still streaming down his face. His chest heaved with the weight of all the pain he had carried for so long.
"It's too late for that! I just wanted someone to be there for me, but none of you were. And now... now I have to live with this pain because you couldn't do your job!" Hiruzen's voice shook with regret as he spoke.
"I'm sorry, Naruto. I know I can't take back what's been done. I know I failed you... but let me help you now. Let me try to make it right." Naruto's eyes flashed with a mixture of anger and sadness as he stepped back, his tails swirling around him protectively.
"You can't give me back my childhood. You can't take away the hatred or the loneliness. You can't fix this. No one can."
"Naruto." Hiruzen began, stepping forward cautiously, "tell me what you want. How can I make this better? How can I fix this?" Naruto turned away from him, his voice barely a whisper as he spoke.
"I want my childhood back. I want to be loved, to be cared for. I don't want the villagers to hate me. I just want to be... normal." Hiruzen clenched his fists, his own tears falling now as he whispered.
"I can't change the past... but I swear, Naruto, I'll do everything I can to make sure you're never alone again." Naruto shook his head, stepping back further.
"I don't believe you." he muttered. "I don't believe anything you say anymore." The others watched in silence, their hearts breaking for Naruto as he staggered out of the cabin, his shoulders slumped with exhaustion. His friends, the ones who loved him, tried to reach out, but he waved them off, his tails forming a protective barrier around him.
"Just... stop." he whispered, his voice hoarse with emotion. "I need space. I can't deal with this right now. I don't want to hurt any of you... just let me process this." Fuka, Gaara, Sarada, and the others looked at him with worry etched on their faces, but they respected his wishes, stepping back as his tails thrashed in the air, keeping them at bay. Naruto turned away from them, the weight of his emotions crushing him as he disappeared into the forest, leaving them behind.
All he wanted was peace from the pain, from the heartbreak, from the endless cycle of hatred that had defined his life for so long. But as he walked away, one thought echoed in his mind: How could things ever truly change, when even those who were supposed to protect him had failed so completely?Naruto kept moving, his mind a storm of anger and confusion. He could feel the villagers' eyes on him as he ran, their glares full of hatred and fear. His blood-soaked appearance, wild eyes, and thrashing tails only fueled their animosity. They shouted at him, cursing, and he could see them clutching their children as they pulled back in fear.
"Monster!" one of them yelled.
"Stay away from us!"
"Get out of here, demon!" another screamed, their voice filled with venomous hatred. The words stung, slicing through Naruto's already raw emotions. He screamed in fury, his voice echoing through the village, causing the villagers to recoil in terror. They scattered like leaves in the wind, leaving Naruto standing alone, his chest heaving with the force of his anger. His tails lashed out, slamming into the walls around him, cracking the stone like it was nothing. He needed to be alone—needed to escape from the hatred that seemed to follow him everywhere. Without thinking, he ran. His muscles screamed in protest, already pushed far beyond their limits, but he didn't care. He just kept moving, kept going, desperate to outrun the suffocating emotions that threatened to overwhelm him.
The sky darkened as night fell, but still, he ran, his feet pounding against the earth, driven by a primal need to escape. Then, through the haze of his thoughts, he heard it—a soft, melodic sound that cut through the chaos in his mind like a knife. The sound of a flute, gentle and soothing, its notes weaving through the air like a calming breeze. His ears twitched, catching the sound, and before he knew it, his body was moving toward the source of the music. His mind was too foggy to process what was happening; he was just drawn to the melody, like a moth to a flame. Naruto pushed through the trees, the sound guiding him to a small river where a waterfall trickled down into a clear pool. There, standing in the moonlight, was a woman, only a few years older than him. She played the flute, her body gleaming under the pale light, her long hair cascading down her back.
She was naked, her skin glowing softly in the night. Naruto's footsteps faltered as he stumbled into the clearing, his eyes widening at the sight. The woman's ears twitched, and she turned to face him, her eyes narrowing as she saw him standing there, covered in blood and staring at her in shock.
"Pervert!" she screamed, her voice shrill with anger as she covered her chest with one arm, pointing an accusatory finger at him with the other.
"You disgusting creep! How dare you spy on me! You should just die for being a filthy peeping Tom!" Naruto's face flushed bright red as he stumbled back, holding up his hands in a feeble attempt to explain himself.
"I-I wasn't… I mean, I didn't mean to… I just heard the music and—" Before he could finish his sentence, the woman threw her flute at him with surprising force. The instrument struck Naruto squarely on the head with a loud thwack, and he fell back, landing hard on the grass. The world spun around him, and his last coherent thought before slipping into unconsciousness was, I'm such an idiot. I ran away like a child… and now I'm going to die like one, out here in the woods, killed by a stranger. Tayuya, still fuming, looked down at the boy who had fallen unconscious from her attack. She huffed in annoyance, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Serves you right, you little pervert." she muttered to herself. But as she bent down to retrieve her flute, her eyes lingered on the boy's form. He was covered in blood, and his clothes were torn and ragged, yet there was something unusual about him—something that caught her attention. She noticed the fox ears atop his head and the bushy tails swaying weakly behind him. Her irritation faded into curiosity.
"What the hell…?" she whispered, crouching down beside him. She reached out hesitantly, poking one of the ears, which twitched slightly at her touch.
"Is he some kind of yokai or spirit?" The thought brought a mischievous smile to her lips. This was no ordinary boy—he was something more, something intriguing. An idea began to form in her mind, and she couldn't help but chuckle at the possibilities. Tayuya stood up, brushing off the dirt from her skin before grabbing her clothes from where they lay near the water's edge. She quickly dressed, her mind racing with plans. Once she was fully clothed, she examined her flute, relieved to see it hadn't been damaged by the impromptu weaponization.
"Good thing you're still in one piece." she murmured, smiling at the instrument before turning her attention back to Naruto. She knelt down beside him again, checking his pulse. He was still alive, though his breathing was shallow, and his body was clearly exhausted. Tayuya considered leaving him there, but then she noticed the papers spilling out of his robe. Strange symbols were scribbled on them, though she didn't recognize any of them.
"Hmm, a calligrapher or something?" she mused, but quickly dismissed the thought. Whatever his deal was, it didn't matter. She had a new plan, and this boy was going to be a part of it. With a wicked grin, she headed back to her campsite where her comrades were fast asleep. Moving quietly, she grabbed some rope and a few camping supplies, careful not to wake anyone. She also scribbled a quick note explaining that she'd be off on her own for a few days and not to be disturbed—a common enough occurrence that she didn't expect anyone to question it. Returning to Naruto, Tayuya set up a small campsite far from her comrades, ensuring she had enough distance to avoid their suspicion. She tied Naruto up, binding his arms and legs securely with the rope. She made sure to strip him down to his boxers, her eyes tracing over his strange ears and tails, curious about how they connected to his body.
"Weird little fox boy." she muttered, tying bells around his wrists and ankles so she'd know the moment he woke up. After setting everything up, Tayuya sat back, admiring her handiwork with a satisfied smirk.
"Let's see what kind of fun we can have with you, little fox." she said to herself before curling up under her blanket, the flute clutched in her hand as she drifted off to sleep, the sound of the bells gently jingling in the background. As she closed her eyes, the moonlight bathed the clearing in a soft glow, and the only sound was the gentle trickle of the nearby waterfall, masking the distant, muffled breaths of the unconscious boy who lay bound beside their faces were now mere inches apart, she finally noticed the deep red flush that had spread across Naruto's cheeks. Her eyes softened with curiosity as she reached up, placing a hand on his forehead.
"Do you have a fever or something?" Naruto was struggling to keep calm, the situation becoming more compromising by the second. He needed to get out of this mess, and fast. Gathering his concentration, he used the Flying Raijin technique, teleporting himself to the papers he had left near his clothes. In an instant, he was gone, leaving the girl to blink in surprise at the empty space where he had been. She turned around, eyes widening as she saw Naruto standing a few feet away, free from his bindings, the paper talismans he had used to break them floating in the air around him like shurikens. She quickly grabbed her flute, readying herself for a fight. Naruto extended his hand toward her, his expression serious but calm.
"Look, I'll help you with that curse mark, but first, let me get dressed, okay?" She crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing with suspicion as she watched him retrieve his clothes.
"Hmph, you were peeping on me first, so I think it's only fair that I get to watch." Naruto let out a long, resigned sigh, realizing he wasn't going to win this argument. He quickly dressed, his back turned to her as he tried to focus on anything but the embarrassing situation he found himself in. His hands trembled slightly as he fumbled with his clothes, her gaze burning into his back. As he finished, he turned around to face her, fully clothed but still blushing.
"Alright, I'm ready. Now, let's talk about that curse mark." The girl smirked, twirling her flute between her fingers.
"Fine, but if you try anything funny, I won't hesitate to knock you out again, got it?" Naruto nodded, keeping his distance as he approached her cautiously.
"Got it. Now, let's see what we're dealing with here…"Naruto continued to scrutinize the curse mark on the back of the girl's neck, his eyes narrowing as he observed the intricate design. It was unlike anything he had seen before. The seal was layered, complex, and clearly intended to prevent any tampering. He reached into his pouch and pulled out a piece of paper, carefully inscribing it with a sealing formula. Placing it over the curse mark, he activated the seal. The girl tensed, her body trembling as she felt the curse mark react. For a brief moment, panic flashed in her eyes, but she quickly realized that the mark wasn't activating in its usual violent manner. Instead, it seemed to be suppressed, held in check by Naruto's talisman.
"What are you doing?" she asked, her voice edged with suspicion as she watched him work. Naruto ignored her question for a moment, muttering to himself as he carefully probed the layers of the curse mark with his chakra. His fingers traced the lines of the seal, feeling the dark energy pulsing beneath the surface. He could see the intricate barriers within the mark—layers of security designed to prevent its removal. Each layer was a puzzle, a twisted combination of chakra and something else, something he couldn't quite identify. As he continued to examine the seal, he noticed how it seemed to be modifying the girl's body, altering it in a way that allowed her to absorb a specific kind of energy. This wasn't ordinary chakra—it was something different, something wild and untamed. Kurama's voice echoed in Naruto's mind, a low, rumbling growl that hinted at both interest and caution.
"That's nature energy, Naruto. The mark is designed to harness it, making Sage Jutsu possible. It's a dangerous thing, this seal. Whoever created it knew what they were doing." Naruto's eyes widened slightly as he absorbed Kurama's words. Nature energy, the very essence needed for Sage Mode. The realization made his heart race. If the curse mark was indeed harnessing nature energy, removing it wouldn't be simple. It required someone who could control Sage energy—a level of mastery Naruto knew he hadn't yet achieved. He crossed his arms, leaning back slightly as he considered the problem.
"I can't help you right now." he finally admitted, his voice laced with frustration.
"The seal is designed to absorb nature energy. If I try to remove it without the proper training, it could overload you, and the consequences could be... well, bad." The girl's expression darkened, her lips curling into a pout as she stared at him with narrowed eyes.
"But you promised! You're supposed to help me! I caught you fair and square, and you haven't held up your end of the deal!" Naruto let out a heavy sigh, feeling a pang of guilt as he saw the hope in her eyes begin to fade.
"I know, and I want to help you," he said earnestly. "But you have to understand the risks. If I had training in Sage Jutsu, I could remove it safely. But right now, I'm not sure it's possible without causing you serious harm." The girl's frustration boiled over, her voice rising as she argued back.
"I don't care about the risks! I've been stuck with this mark for so long, and now you're telling me you can't do anything about it?" Naruto could feel her desperation, the chance at freedom slipping away from her. He understood her pain; it was a cruel thing to have hope dangled in front of you only to have it snatched away. He sighed deeply, rubbing the back of his neck as he thought through his options. There was a place, a sanctuary where he could potentially learn to control nature energy.
The problem was getting there. He remembered that he could use his father's Flying Raijin mark to teleport to Mount Myōboku, the home of the toads and the very place where he could train in Sage Jutsu. But then, the reality of the situation hit him. Going there meant risking running into his godfather, Jiraiya, and the likelihood of being discovered would shoot up significantly. Naruto was already exhausted, his body still aching from the previous battles. The idea of pushing himself even further seems reckless. Yet, when he looked at her face, he knew he couldn't just walk away. She had begun to pack up her campsite, her movements slow and disheartened. The sight of her so defeated tugged at something deep within him. He couldn't leave her like this.
"Wait." Naruto called out, walking over to her. "We're going somewhere so I can get the proper training to remove that mark." The girl paused, her hands stilling as she turned to look at him. A small, incredulous smile played on her lips.
"You folded that easily, huh? You're too kind for your own good, fox boy." she mocked, laughing lightly at his determination. Naruto's face flushed with irritation.
"Forget it then." he shot back, turning on his heel. "I'll just leave you here with that curse mark." She quickly backtracked, her tone more playful now.
"I was just joking! Geez, can't take a little ribbing?" They argued for a moment, their banter lighthearted despite the seriousness of the situation. It was a welcome distraction for Naruto, a way to temporarily forget the pain and anger that had consumed him the day before. Despite everything, he found himself smiling, glad to have something else to focus on. Finally, Naruto placed his hand on her shoulder, focusing his chakra as he activated the Flying Raijin technique. The world around them blurred for a moment, the forest and river fading into nothingness. In the next instant, they were standing in the mystical land of Mount Myōboku, the home of the toads, surrounded by towering trees and serene waterfalls. The girl looked around in awe, her eyes wide with amazement.
"Where are we?" she asked, her voice filled with wonder. "Mount Myōboku." Naruto replied, a small grin on his face.
"This is where I'm going to learn how to help you. But first, we need to find someone who can teach me Sage Jutsu." The girl smirked, her earlier mockery forgotten as she took in the beauty of their surroundings.
"You know, you might not be such a bad fox after all." she teased, nudging him playfully. Naruto chuckled, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders.
"Yeah, yeah. Let's just hope the toads here don't think I'm as annoying as you do."
"Toads?!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with panic as she stared at the large, amphibious creatures hopping about in the distance.
"You brought me to a place filled with giant toads?!"Naruto blinked, turning to her in confusion.
"Uh, yeah? This is Mount Myōboku, the home of the toads."She stepped back, her hand instinctively reaching for her flute.
"I knew it! You are a yokai! Only a yokai would live in a place like this, surrounded by... by... by toad monsters!" Naruto's eyes widened as he realized what she was thinking.
"No, no, no! I'm not a yokai! I'm just a regular human!" he protested, holding up his hands in a defensive she wasn't having any of it.
"A regular human? With fox ears and a tail? Living in the land of toads? Yeah, right! Who do you think you're fooling?" Her voice was filled with suspicion and a hint of fear as she backed away from sighed, running a hand through his hair in exasperation.
"Look, I know it seems weird, but I'm really just a human! The ears and tail are... complicated, but I'm not a yokai!" She narrowed her eyes, clearly not convinced.
"Oh, really? Then explain why you're so comfortable in a place like this. Only a yokai would feel at home surrounded by these... creatures!"Before Naruto could respond, a small, green toad appeared from the bushes, its eyes narrowing as it glared at them. The toad was an elderly creature, its skin wrinkled and covered in warts. It wore a small cloak around its neck, giving it an air of authority despite its diminutive size.
"Who are you, and what are you doing in Mount Myōboku?" the toad demanded, its voice gruff and filled with girl's eyes widened in horror as she pointed at the toad.
"See?! Another yokai! You've brought me to the yokai world! I knew it!"Naruto groaned, facepalming as the situation spiraled further out of control.
"He's not a yokai! He's a toad sage, and we're in their home. It's not some yokai world!"The girl didn't seem to hear him, her focus entirely on the small, green toad.
"You're all in this together, aren't you? Trying to trick me into... into... I don't even know what, but I won't fall for it!"Fukasaku, the elderly toad, croaked in irritation, hopping closer to Naruto and the girl.
"I asked you a question, boy. Who are you, and why have you brought this hysterical human here?"Naruto held up his hands in a placating gesture, trying to calm both the toad and the girl down.
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki. I'm here because I need to learn Sage Jutsu to help her get rid of a curse mark. I didn't mean to intrude, I just need help."Fukasaku's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Naruto.
"Naruto Uzumaki, you say? That's not a name I'm familiar with. And you claim you're here to learn Sage Jutsu?"Naruto nodded, quickly rummaging through his belongings until he pulled out an old, weathered scroll. He unrolled it, revealing a journal filled with notes and diagrams.
"This belonged to my dad. He wrote about Mount Myōboku and the toad sages in here. I came here to follow in his footsteps."Fukasaku eyed the scroll skeptically, his gaze shifting between it and Naruto.
"Your father, you say? And who might that be?"Naruto hesitated for a moment, realizing he couldn't mention his godfather or anyone too specific.
"Uh, let's just say he was someone who worked closely with the toads. He learned a lot from you guys, and I'm hoping I can do the same."The girl, still clinging to the belief that she had been brought to some kind of yokai realm, crossed her arms and huffed.
"I don't care who your dad was! I just want to know when you're going to start granting wishes, fox boy."Naruto rolled his eyes, clearly frustrated.
"For the last time, I'm not a yokai, and I don't grant wishes! I'm here to help you, okay? So stop freaking out about the toads!"Fukasaku, still unconvinced, hopped closer to Naruto, peering up at him with shrewd eyes.
"If you're telling the truth, boy, then why don't I recognize you? We've had dealings with many humans over the years, but I've never seen one with fox ears and a tail. It's suspicious, to say the least."Naruto sighed, realizing that this wasn't going to be easy.
"It's a long story, and I'll explain everything, but right now, I just need your help. Please."Fukasaku studied Naruto for a long moment before finally nodding.
"Very well, boy. I'll take you to see The Great Elder Toad, but be warned—they won't take kindly to any tricks. If you're lying, you'll regret ever setting foot in Mount Myōboku."Naruto nodded gratefully, clutching the journal in his hands.
"Thank you, I promise I'm not lying. I just want to help her and learn Sage Jutsu."The girl, still wary and confused, glanced between Naruto and Fukasaku, clearly unsure of what to believe.
"So... you're really not a yokai? And this isn't some weird trick?"Naruto shook his head, giving her a reassuring smile.
"No tricks, I promise. Just trust me on this, okay?"She bit her lip, her suspicion slowly fading as she considered his words.
"Alright... but if you turn out to be lying, I'll make sure you regret it, fox boy."Naruto chuckled, nodding in agreement.
"Fair enough. Now, let's go see The Great Elder Toad and get this curse mark sorted out."With that, Fukasaku led the way deeper into Mount Myōboku, and Naruto followed, determined to find the answers he needed to help the girl and finally learn the power of Sage Jutsu.