Author's notes:
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Naruto tore a piece of the seal on the bridge in the Land of Waves. A hush fell over the scene, thick with tension—the calm before the storm. Time seemed to freeze. For a brief moment, everyone held their breath, consumed by fear and anticipation. In that dark instant, crimson chakra enveloped Naruto, visible to the naked eye, instilling terror in his enemies.
His throat tore open with a demonic roar—a terrifying bellow that echoed from the depths of hell. The shockwave knocked everyone around him backward, scattering them to the ground like leaves in a hurricane.
Kakashi's mind screamed, "No! No, no!" as he witnessed the destructive force unfolding before him.
The remaining conscious Shinobi watched in horror as the events unfolded on the ground, overwhelmed by the aura of death emanating from Naruto.
"Jinchuriki?!" Zabuza exclaimed internally, witnessing the boy's horrifying transformation before his very eyes.
Naruto, after his terrifying scream, froze in place. Red and blue chakra bubbles began to form around his mouth, pulsating like living hearts. These energy spheres radiated such immense power that the air around them crackled, and the bridge trembled beneath their feet.
Kakashi and Zabuza quickly realized that engaging in combat near the Kyuubi-possessed Naruto would be suicidal. Fortunately for Kakashi, he and his students were already at a safe distance from the epicenter of the demon's power. This was made possible by Haku, who skillfully evaded the frenzied boy's attacks, drawing him away from the battlefield.
With a flash of strategic insight, Kakashi created two shadow clones. Without waiting for orders, they sprang into action. Utilizing the Shunshin technique, they materialized beside the unconscious Sakura and Tazuna. Hoisting them onto their shoulders, the clones vanished once more in a burst of Shunshin.
Zabuza did not hesitate. He charged toward Haku, noticing his pupil falter, exhausted from battle and overwhelmed by Naruto's menacing aura.
"Haku, we're leaving!" Zabuza barked, gripping her arm. "That kid's a monster; this fight's over!"
Haku, upon hearing these words, managed a strained nod. Fear and exhaustion battled in her eyes, and her body trembled. She understood that Zabuza spoke the truth: Naruto, in this monstrous form, posed a threat to them all.
Zabuza seized Haku's arm and pulled her into a run. They needed to escape quickly before the Kyuubi's dark power consumed them.
Kakashi used the Shunshin technique to flash to Sasuke. For a moment, he paused, feeling the weight of yet another defeat settle on his shoulders. Once again, someone had died, all because of him.
"I could have turned back when we had the chance!" Kakashi screamed in his mind, overwhelmed by yet another death. However, he knew there was no time for regret or despair. He quickly lifted Sasuke's body and struggled to leap off the battlefield, battling the shockwaves unleashed by the demonic boy.
Turning to glance behind him for a moment, Kakashi noticed that Naruto had no intention of pursuing anyone. The demon-possessed boy concentrated on generating more chakra bubbles, which, once stabilized, floated into the purple sphere before his face.
"Why isn't he chasing anyone?" Kakashi wondered, frowning. Could the demon have other intentions? Was Naruto gearing up for a devastating attack that would obliterate everything in his vicinity?
Kakashi knew he had to leave this place immediately and devise a plan. He needed to save Tazuna and Sakura. The weight of responsibility pressed heavily on his shoulders, but he refused to succumb to despair. He had to take action; the lives of many depended on him.
After a moment, he heard Naruto's roar again, but this time it carried a hint of fear and terror. Both he and his clones, who were running alongside him, stopped abruptly and turned toward the boy. Although Kakashi couldn't see him, he could sense the fear emanating from the direction where Naruto stood. In less than a fraction of a second, a powerful explosion erupted in the distance, illuminating the sky like a massive fireball.
Then the bridge trembled, and one of its large sections broke off and plunged into the water. From a distance, it appeared as though the bridge was cracking and disintegrating piece by piece.
At that moment, Kakashi recognized his error. He cursed himself for leaving Naruto alone during the transformation.
"It's impossible!" Kakashi screamed internally, grappling with a surge of regret and remorse. Could the demon truly want to take the boy's life? Had his decision to flee cost Naruto his life?
Kakashi shook off the ghosts of the past. He needed to act quickly before the situation spiraled further out of control. He sprang into action, creating another clone that swiftly took Sasuke from his arms.
"Get as far away from here as you can!" Kakashi's command sliced through the air, sharp with fear and grim resolve. His clones obeyed without question, their faces set in determination as they dashed away.
Alone, Kakashi surveyed the devastated bridge, the epicenter of the explosion. Regret over Sasuke's death, fear for Naruto, and an overwhelming sense of responsibility battled within him.
But he couldn't escape. Jinchuriki were not merely weapons; they were individuals, and the death of one would signal a national crisis in the making. He had to check on Naruto, regardless of how grim the outcome might be.
With grim determination, Kakashi charged toward the ruins of the bridge. Each step weighed heavily on him. He clung to a desperate hope that Naruto had survived, but a gnawing fear whispered that he might have made a grave mistake.
He reached the shattered edge of the bridge and gazed down at the swirling water, which was consuming the remnants of the wreckage. A nauseating realization struck him then: he had failed not once, but twice that day. The weight of two lost lives bore down on him like a suffocating burden.
He had choked back tears beside Sasuke's body, but now, knowing that his teacher's son had died because of him, the floodgates opened. A single tear traced a path down his cheek, his eyes reflecting a profound emptiness.
The sky darkened, unleashing a torrent from the swollen clouds. Kakashi felt the rain mirrored the sorrow in his soul. This overwhelming self-loathing was a beast he had not confronted in years.
This time, he had no comforting shoulder to lean on. Regret and pain gnawed at him, yet he had to complete the mission and care for his final student.
Far ahead, the village he sought emerged through the rain. A desperate hope surged within him—perhaps, just perhaps, he could save at least one of the lives he had sworn to protect. He couldn't turn back time; he couldn't erase the failures of the past.
Step by painful step, Kakashi trudged onward, his mind numb. To think was to feel, and every memory jabbed at the wound in his soul. The rain soaked him, but the cold went unnoticed. He was indifferent and unresponsive to the world around him.
He finally reached Tazuna's house, sensing where his clones had brought the unconscious girl and the fallen boy's body. The clones stood guard at the door. As soon as they saw him, they vanished, transmitting their knowledge of Sasuke's condition into his mind.
"Sasuke's alive?!" Kakashi exclaimed as he received the shocking news. Although relief warmed his chilled heart for a moment, the pain of losing his student still constricted his throat.
He mourned the student he had never truly known. He had focused all his energy on Sasuke, convinced it was the right path. Now, far too late, regret overwhelmed him. He would never have the opportunity to understand his teacher's son or to build the connection he longed for.
Kakashi stepped heavily into the house. There lay Sasuke, pale and drained, yet alive. Sakura knelt beside him, wiping away her tears. Upon seeing Kakashi, she surged forward and buried herself in his arms.
"Kakashi-sensei..." Sakura choked out through her sobs. Her voice trembled with grief and shock, tears welling anew as her face contorted in anguish.
When Sasuke heard the commotion, he struggled to lift his aching head to look at his teacher. After a moment, his gaze wandered around the room, searching for Naruto's familiar figure, but his friend was nowhere to be found.
"Where's Naruto?" Sasuke rasped. Silence was his only response.
Kakashi looked down, struggling to suppress a wave of despair. He felt the heavy burden of responsibility on his shoulders and knew he had to inform his students about the tragic event.
"KIA," he said quietly and firmly, his voice trembling with emotion.
"KIA?" Sakura asked, confused by the acronym. Her face turned pale, and tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Dead?" Sasuke asked, and Kakashi nodded, confirming their worst fears.
Kakashi's words struck them like a thunderbolt from a clear sky. Sasuke clenched his fists, battling against anger and despair. He had lost a friend, a teammate—someone with whom he had shared moments of joy, laughter, and tears. Despite their frequent arguments, Naruto had become significant to him; he was someone Sasuke trusted and could confide in.
Sakura's reaction was markedly different. Although she initially experienced feelings of regret and sadness, she was soon overwhelmed by a sense of relief intertwined with a hint of satisfaction. Naruto had always posed an obstacle in her pursuit of Sasuke. His boisterous personality, naivety, and relentless competition for Sasuke's attention frustrated her and complicated her efforts to execute her own plans.
Although the death of anyone is a tragedy, Sakura couldn't help but quietly celebrate the news. A flicker of hope ignited in her heart that now, without Naruto, she would finally be able to win Sasuke's favor and fulfill her dreams of love.
Kakashi watched his students with a heavy heart, feeling responsible for the tragedy that had unfolded. He believed he had failed to protect them; he wasn't strong enough to save Naruto from his grim fate.
The following day, Naruto awoke on an unfamiliar island. Fog enveloped his surroundings, and the scent of saltwater lingered in the air. He couldn't recall how he had arrived there or what had transpired. The last images that flashed through his mind were his conversation with Kyuubi and the reckless plan to escape the confines of Konohagakure.
"Are you going to ponder like this for a long time?" Kyuubi's booming voice echoed in his mind.
"Who, where are you?!" Naruto attempted to shout, but only whimpers and babbles escaped his throat, reminiscent of a baby's cries.
"Have you already forgotten our conversation, brat?" the demon roared in anger.
Naruto wanted to respond to the accusation, but Kyuubi interrupted him: "Don't attempt to say anything. Your vocal cords are damaged. Just think, and I'll hear your thoughts."
"Why are they damaged?!" Naruto screamed in his mind, and then he grasped the remainder of Kyuubi's statement. "Wait, does this mean you'll be able to see and hear everything I do? Even my thoughts? That means I...won't have much privacy anymore."
"That's the point," Kyuubi replied with a sinister grin. "I doubt you'll be able to survive more than a day in the wilderness of this world without my assistance."
"So, what now?" Naruto's voice cracked with worry. He felt weak and helpless, and Kyuubi's words did little to instill optimism in him.
"You'll wait until your body heals from all the wounds inflicted by my chakra coursing through your worthless form," the demon replied with a peculiar sense of satisfaction. It appeared that Naruto's suffering brought him pleasure.
Naruto narrowed his eyes, attempting to discern Kyuubi's motives. "You seem to be relishing my suffering, don't you?" he challenged. A trace of satisfaction tinged the demon's voice, intensifying his suspicion.
"Of course it gives me pleasure, brat," Kyuubi replied with a cynical smirk. "After all, I was the one who saved your life, snatching you from the clutches of those pathetic Konohagakure ninja. You should be grateful to me."
Naruto gritted his teeth, battling the overwhelming pain. The demon's deceit was evident. Kyuubi did not assist out of kindness; it plotted for its own selfish gain.
"Why did you help me?" the boy asked earnestly.
"I despise Konohagakure and its people even more than you do," the beast replied. It then added, sensing that its words were insufficient to alleviate the boy's fears about its intentions, "Plus, I have gained greater freedom within your body. Additionally, I find amusement in watching you struggle to survive."
"Huh?" Naruto did not comprehend Kyuubi's final words.
"Don't pretend you don't understand," the demon growled. "I take pleasure in watching you struggle and fight in this harsh world. It soothes my soul."
Frustration gnawed at Naruto. The Kyuubi was not merely a powerful demon; it was a sadist, reveling in his suffering.
"Just what I needed," the boy muttered, sarcasm dripping from each word. He turned to face Kyuubi directly. "Not only am I hosting a demon in my head, but this demon revels in my misery. Just fantastic!"
"Oh, boo-hoo, you were dealt a bad hand. Do you think you'd be happier back in Konohagakure, confined like a tool?" Kyuubi's voice dripped with mocking amusement.
"Ehh... whatever," Naruto sighed. "What happened after I lost control?"
"Destroyed the bridge, faked your death, and so on," Kyuubi reported impassively.
Naruto's voice trembled with anxiety. "Konoha trackers might be on our trail. How long do we have before we need to start covering our tracks?"
"You don't have to worry about that for the next month or two," Kyuubi replied. "Their tracking dogs will lose your scent on the island, and even if they do find it, it would take a long time for them to organize a rescue expedition. Besides, who would want to risk their lives to save someone they believe is dead?"
Naruto nodded reluctantly. Although he recognized that Kyuubi was correct, he couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty. He felt like a pawn in the demon's game, stripped of control over his own life.
"And then what?" Naruto asked softly, a hint of insecurity in his voice. He felt as though he was drifting on an ocean without a rudder or sail, at the mercy of the demon's whims.
Kyuubi paused for a moment, his chakra swirling within Naruto's body. "It depends," the demon finally replied, his voice resonating like thunder in the boy's mind. "On how strong you become during that time."
Naruto clenched his fists, feeling a surge of anger. He refused to be a puppet in Kyuubi's hands. He yearned to take control of his own life and shape his own future.
"Focus on restoring your strength," Kyuubi continued, disregarding Naruto's internal resistance. "Your body has endured much. It requires time to heal and regain its vitality."
A reluctant nod was all Naruto could muster. He recognized that the demon spoke the truth. A wave of weakness washed over him, and his body continued to throb with pain.
"Then we'll begin training," Kyuubi rasped, a sinister hiss lacing his voice. "I'll show you how to wield my power and channel my chakra. Grow stronger, boy, and our goals will become one."
"Fine," he said softly, attempting to manage his emotions.
Kyuubi let out a sinister chuckle as his chakra flooded Naruto's body. The boy felt a cold chill and pain, but he was determined to survive.