Author's notes:
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Several weeks later, Naruto finally arrived at the destination designated for him by the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, Kurama—the village of Uzushiogakure. This village was destroyed during the Second Shinobi War, yet none of the attackers could uncover the true treasures of the Uzumaki clan. All were expertly concealed and sealed. Naruto was one of the few who possessed the ability to access these vaults, as Kurama was aware of their locations.
Naruto paused, his gaze drawn to the remnants of the village from which his nearly forgotten clan had originated. Though familiar with the history of his clan and village, the sight of the ruins filled him with a profound sorrow. Crumbling buildings, twisted metal structures, and shattered columns that once supported the roofs of temples now lay scattered like the bones of a colossal creature. The overgrown foundations of houses evoked memories of the vibrant life that once thrived here, now replaced by an eerie silence punctuated only by the creaking of Naruto's boots on the debris and the distant cawing of crows.
"Pathetic..." Kurama thought to himself, his demonic eyes sweeping over the shattered columns and crumbled walls that had once formed the impressive village of Uzushiogakure. "Once a powerful clan, masters of Fuinjutsu, now reduced to rubble. Its legacy carried by only a handful of descendants."
"Why did you bring me here?" Naruto asked sadly, not waiting for the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox's response. Bitterness and disappointment resonated in his voice. "To see these ruins? To mourn the history of my clan?"
"No, you fool!" Kurama snarled, his voice piercing Naruto's mind like an icy dagger. The boy shuddered, taken aback by the intensity of the demon's reaction. He had anticipated anger and accusations of weakness, but not this raw, visceral contempt. "The ruins don't matter; it's what lies within them that counts!"
"You said it yourself! These are ruins!" Naruto retorted, his confusion deepening. His voice trembled with barely contained frustration as he surveyed his surroundings, struggling to comprehend the demon's meaning. All around him lay destruction, a stark testament to the brutality of the war that had ravaged his clan.
"For you, maybe so," Kurama sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "But for me, these ruins conceal secrets and powers beyond your wildest dreams." His tone shifted, becoming ominously low, his eyes gleaming in the darkness. "I brought you here not to mourn the past, but to claim what it conceals—the legacy that harbors undiscovered secrets!"
"What do you mean? Surely, everything was plundered during the attack," replied Naruto, increasingly bewildered. He sensed that a hidden truth lay just out of reach, like a whisper lost in the wind. Everything felt shrouded in fog, obscured by a veil of dust and destruction.
"You're still blind!" roared the demon, his frustration with the boy creating palpable tension in the air. "Grr... You're as foolish as ever. Consider what the Uzumaki clan was renowned for."
Naruto instinctively opened his mouth, ready to blurt out the first thought that came to mind. However, at the last moment, he bit his tongue, a flicker of defiance in his eyes. Instead of providing a hasty response, he paused for reflection. His brows furrowed in concentration, his gaze fixed on the distance, as if searching for answers in the emptiness of the surrounding ruins. Kurama, still seething with anger, noticed this change in the boy's demeanor. The tension in his massive form eased slightly, replaced by a spark of hope. Perhaps this boy, who had become his prison, wasn't completely useless after all.
"The Uzumaki... were renowned for their sealing skills," Naruto finally murmured, almost to himself, before looking up at the demon in his mind. "Am I to understand that the true treasures of the clan were sealed in a manner that prevents anyone undesired from obtaining them?"
"Finally, you've put that dull head of yours to use," snarled Kurama, his scarlet eyes flashing in the darkness. Although his tone was harsh, Naruto sensed a hint of satisfaction beneath it. "Yes, now we just need to locate and unseal them, and all the secrets of this cursed clan will be ours. Imagine, boy, the power that will be at our disposal!"
Naruto clenched his fists, a mix of anger and unease churning within him at the demon's words.
"In your paws, perhaps," he thought wryly, momentarily forgetting the telepathic bond that connected him to the creature.
The Nine-Tailed Demon Fox erupted into laughter, his voice echoing in Naruto's mind like an icy wind, penetrating every corner of his consciousness. "Details," he remarked with a hint of amusement. "So confident, yet you forget the fundamentals. I'm the one who knows the location of these treasures, and you're merely the key that will unlock them. Remember your place, boy."
A sharp pang of resentment echoed in Naruto's heart. The demon was correct—he was indeed dependent on him. However, that did not mean he had to submit. A familiar spark of rebellion ignited within him, the same fire that had always fueled his defiance.
"Don't forget that I'm the one who ultimately makes the decisions," Naruto retorted, attempting to sound confident despite the tremor in his voice. "And if these treasures are as powerful as you claim, perhaps it's best that they don't fall into the wrong hands—yours included."
Kyuubi fell silent for a moment, momentarily surprised by the boy's unexpected resistance. Naruto sensed a flicker of hesitation in his mind, a brief pause before the impending storm. But then, the demon's lips curled into an ominous smile, his scarlet eyes blazing even brighter.
"Oh, the little ninja has claws," he purred, his voice sending a shiver down Naruto's spine. "But don't forget, brat, all your recent decisions were ultimately influenced by me."
Demonic laughter echoed in the boy's mind, a chilling reminder of the power that resided within him. Ignoring the unsettling sound, Naruto ventured deeper into the ruined village, a blend of determination and uncertainty swirling within him. Each step on the crunching rubble served as a reminder of his clan's lost history, a history he was now determined to reclaim. The village of Uzushiogakure loomed before him like a somber labyrinth, filled with the shadows of the past and the weight of an uncertain future.
With each fallen wall and every shattered Uzumaki symbol he observed on the crumbling structures and foundations, a profound sense of loss welled up within him, a yearning for a past he never knew, a connection to a legacy seemingly lost forever. These symbols, once a proud emblem of a formidable clan, now served as a poignant reminder of its tragic fate. What had become of those who crafted them? What secrets lay hidden within these ruins, waiting to be unearthed?
After an hour of fruitless wandering through the skeletal remains of Uzushiogakure, stumbling over fallen rocks and pushing through dense thickets, Naruto finally acknowledged the futility of his defiance. He would not find the treasures on his own. Resigned, he let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping in defeat. Dust swirled around his worn sandals, and sweat trickled down his weary face, mingling with the grime and dust.
"Which way?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper, laden with exhaustion and a hint of shame. He hoped the demon wouldn't revel in his momentary weakness.
"Couldn't bear the weight of your own failure, could you?" Kurama taunted, his voice a low growl that reverberated in Naruto's mind. "And where did that lead you? Right back to me." A strange satisfaction was evident in his tone, amplifying Naruto's feelings of weakness and dependence.
Naruto clenched his fists, anger and frustration battling within him. "I have to depend on him once more," he thought bitterly, the truth of his situation a bitter pill to swallow.
"North," Kurama snarled, his voice echoing in Naruto's mind like the ominous rumble of an approaching storm. "Where the clan's temple once stood. That's where they concealed their most precious secrets."
Clenching his jaw, Naruto nodded and moved forward, navigating the treacherous ruins of the temple with a newfound determination. He stepped over broken columns overgrown with moss, remnants of a grandeur long gone, and the crumbling foundations of houses, each stone a silent witness to the tragedy that had befallen the village. Twisted, rusty structures loomed like the skeletal claws of a long-dead predator, casting long, eerie shadows in the fading light. The silence was broken only by the creaking of his sandals and the mournful cawing of crows circling above the ruins like dark omens.
Finally, he arrived at the temple. From the outside, it appeared abandoned and forgotten, reclaimed by nature, its walls overrun with moss and ivy, its roof partially collapsed, revealing the skeletal framework beneath. Naruto took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he might find within, before pushing open the heavy wooden doors. The hinges groaned in protest, their mournful cry shattering the silence that had enveloped the ruins. The interior of the temple was as desolate as its exterior. The meager sunlight that filtered through the dust-covered windows cast long, dancing shadows on the cracked walls and the uneven floor, creating an atmosphere of decay and forgotten memories.
"Do you sense anything?" Naruto asked after a moment, his voice echoing in the vast emptiness. He took a deep breath, attempting to sharpen his senses, to pierce the veil of time and decay.
"No," Kurama snorted, a hint of irritation lacing his voice. "But that doesn't mean there's nothing here. The Uzumaki were masters of camouflage and sealing. Their treasures could be concealed anywhere, even right beneath your feet."
Naruto halted abruptly, the demon's words echoing in his mind. He furrowed his brow, his gaze sweeping over his surroundings with renewed intensity, scrutinizing every stone, every crack in the weathered walls. Was it possible that he had overlooked something? A subtle detail, a hidden clue that could unveil the location of the treasure? He concentrated, his mind straining to see through the layers of devastation, searching for anything unusual, anything that would stand out against the backdrop of ruin.
"There!" Kurama suddenly exclaimed, his voice sharp and urgent, shattering the silence. "See that section of the wall? It looks different from the rest. Go closer!"
Naruto sprinted towards the indicated spot, his heart pounding with anticipation. The section of the wall stood in stark contrast to the rest; it was unnaturally smooth, as if time and the elements had forgotten to leave their mark on it. It was as if someone had intentionally erased all evidence of damage, a silent testament to a secret carefully guarded. The boy examined it more closely, his fingers tracing the smooth, cool surface, searching for any sign, any clue that would reveal its hidden purpose.
"Cut yourself and touch it with your bloody hand," Kurama instructed, his voice devoid of any sympathy for the boy's pain. "The Uzumaki often used blood-activated seals. Perhaps this is one of them."
Hesitantly, Naruto reached into his pouch and retrieved a kunai. With a swift, practiced motion, he drew the blade across his palm, a thin line of crimson welling up. He then pressed his bloodied hand against the smooth surface of the wall, his breath catching in his throat. A tingling sensation shot through him, and the wall in front of him vibrated as if awakening from a long slumber. The stones began to crumble and shift, revealing a hidden passage that yawned before him, an invitation to delve into the darkness, into the heart of forgotten secrets. A chill emanated from the corridor, raising goosebumps on Naruto's arms, but his curiosity was far stronger than his fear.
"Come on, what are you afraid of?" Kurama taunted, his voice laced with mockery. "There's nothing here that can harm you. And even if there were, I'm here with you," he added, the unspoken threat hanging heavy in the air.
Gritting his teeth, Naruto stepped into the darkness, his heart pounding a steady rhythm against his ribs. The corridor sloped downwards, the steps treacherous and coated in a thick layer of dust. He descended cautiously, his senses on high alert, every creak and groan of the ancient structure echoing in the confined space. After what seemed like an eternity, he emerged into a spacious chamber. Scrolls covered the walls, their surfaces filled with cryptic symbols and diagrams, whispering of forgotten knowledge and forbidden techniques. In the center of the chamber, a stone pedestal held a small, unassuming wooden chest.
"This must be it," Naruto whispered, his voice filled with awe and anticipation. His hands trembled as he reached for the chest, eager to unlock the secrets it held.
"Open it already!" Kurama urged, his impatience radiating through their mental link.
Naruto, with trembling hands, carefully lifted the lid of the chest. Inside, nestled on a bed of faded velvet, lay three scrolls, each meticulously wrapped in aged silk cloth. With a racing heart, he selected one of the scrolls and gently unrolled it. The ancient parchment crackled softly beneath his touch, its surface adorned with intricate diagrams and symbols that seemed to pulse with a faint, ethereal light.
"What is this?" Naruto asked, his voice hushed with reverence, his gaze fixed on the enigmatic symbols.
"These are the forbidden sealing techniques of the Uzumaki clan," Kyuubi replied, his voice charged with excitement. "Some of them are so powerful that they could even seal... someone like me."
Naruto swallowed hard, a wave of unease washing over him. "If these techniques are powerful enough to seal the most formidable demon, what could they do to a human?" The thought sent a shiver down his spine, a chilling reminder of the power he now held in his hands.
"Look around more carefully; there must be more sealing scrolls here," Kyuubi commanded, his voice brooking no argument. "The vault is open, and anyone can come here and take these. Hurry up! Don't just stand there like a statue!"
"Yes, sir!" Naruto exclaimed, startled by the demon's sudden outburst. With a renewed sense of urgency, he began to frantically search the chamber, his eyes scanning every shadow, every nook and cranny. Time was of the essence, and the thought that someone else might stumble upon this treasure trove before him fueled his desperation.
Finally, amidst the dust and cobwebs that clung to the walls like ghostly shrouds, he discovered another scroll. Then another, and another... Each one was a precious relic, a key to unlocking the ancient secrets of the Uzumaki clan. With the precision of a seasoned shinobi, Naruto meticulously sealed all the treasures into a single scroll, ensuring their safekeeping.
Within an hour, Naruto had collected all the scrolls, the weight of his clan's legacy heavy in his hands. He felt a sense of accomplishment, but also the burden of responsibility that came with possessing such power. He understood that these techniques were not merely tools of war, but a testament to the ingenuity and resilience of his ancestors. He aspired not only to learn them but to master them, to honor the memory of his clan and show the world that the Uzumaki legacy lived on.
Throughout the entire process, Kyuubi maintained a vigilant watch through Naruto's eyes, ensuring that no treasure was overlooked. But in the end, his vigilance proved unnecessary, as the boy had meticulously searched every corner of the hidden chamber.
"I'll show the shinobi world that one Uzumaki still lives and breathes!" Naruto's determined words echoed in the chamber, his voice filled with a newfound resolve.
A flicker of a smile, almost imperceptible, played on Kyuubi's lips. This was the kind of fire he had been waiting for, the spark of ambition that he could nurture and mold to his own purposes. A shadow of satisfaction crossed his eyes, and the corners of his mouth twitched into a subtle smirk.
"You know what, Kyuubi? If I didn't know you better, I'd think you were up to something," Naruto finally declared, breaking the silence that had stretched between them. His voice held a tremor of uncertainty, a hint of suspicion that he couldn't quite shake off. "It's as if you're grooming me for some specific purpose," he added, his blue eyes searching the demon's face for answers.
Kyuubi pondered for a moment, weighing his options. "Revealing my true goals is out of the question," he thought, his mind a whirlwind of cunning schemes and hidden agendas. "But if I don't offer him something, this brat will start concocting his own theories. Tsk." He let out a sigh of resignation, a sound that echoed through the mental landscape they shared.
The demon raised an eyebrow, a glint of amusement in his crimson eyes. "Naruto," he began, his voice surprisingly gentle, a stark contrast to his usual harsh tone. "Have you ever doubted my intentions?"
Naruto hesitated, unsure how to answer. He had always been wary of the demon, his instincts screaming at him to be cautious, to never fully trust the creature that resided within him. But at the same time, he couldn't deny the undeniable truth – Kyuubi had helped him escape Konoha, had guided him to the hidden treasures of his clan.
"Of course you still have doubts," Kyuubi continued, his voice returning to its usual gruffness. "I promised you freedom from Konoha, and I delivered. I promised you power, and you're on the path to acquiring it."
"Yes, but it doesn't make sense," Naruto argued, his voice laced with frustration. "I'm your prison. Why are you helping me so much?"
"Grr... Listen, you fool! If I had wanted to kill you, I'd have done so back on the bridge," Kyuubi snarled, his anger momentarily flaring. "I had enough control over your body then, but I didn't."
Naruto's eyes widened in surprise. He had never considered that Kyuubi could have killed him back then. He had always assumed that the demon was simply biding his time, waiting for the opportune moment to strike.
"Do you know why?" Kyuubi pressed, his voice low and menacing.
Naruto shook his head, his mind reeling from the implications of the demon's words.
"Because that would have meant my temporary demise as well," Kyuubi growled, revealing a truth he had kept hidden for far too long. "If you had died then, I'd have also perished momentarily due to the seal your father placed on me. Remember, I'm a construct of chakra. For me, death is merely a temporary state, a brief inconvenience that lasts a few years. But it's still... unpleasant."
The demon paused, his crimson eyes boring into Naruto, their depths holding a flicker of something that resembled fear. Naruto's heart pounded in his chest. Was it possible that Kyuubi, the most powerful of the Nine-Tailed Demon Foxes, feared death?
"And besides," Kyuubi continued, his voice dropping to a sinister whisper, "no one said I want to die, even for a moment."
"After all," he thought to himself, a bitter edge to his voice, "I'm the only one of my cursed siblings who hasn't tasted death, not even once. And I intend to keep it that way. I won't allow some inexperienced shinobi to change that."