Naruto walked in silence, the metallic clink of his chakra-suppressing chains the only sound breaking the stillness as he and the ANBU made their way back to his apartment. He clutched his new headband tightly, the weight of it feeling like a fragile thread of validation—a small spark in the midst of a life filled with rejection and mistrust. He had fought so hard to pass, even with all the limitations placed on him. The headband was proof that he had succeeded on his own terms.
But that sense of victory was short-lived.
One of the ANBU beside him, a man with a fox-like mask, let out a low, mocking laugh. "Look at him, clutching that headband like it actually means something," he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "You only passed because Iruka felt sorry for you. Everyone knows it."
Another ANBU snickered. "Yeah, they just didn't want to deal with you for another year, monster."
Naruto's footsteps slowed, his head tilting down as the words dug into him, each one like a thorn piercing his chest. His grip on the headband tightened, his knuckles turning white.
"Why...?" he muttered softly, the words barely audible, as though he were speaking to himself. His voice was trembling, shaking with something raw and dark.
"Why do they always do this…?"
The ANBU kept laughing, the jeers growing louder, harsher. They circled around him, enjoying their taunts, perhaps confident that the chains and seal would keep him subdued.
"Why...WHY?" Naruto's voice grew louder, trembling with barely contained rage. He could feel something within him crack, a dam breaking, a flood of power surging up from deep inside him. The seal on his forehead glowed brightly, struggling to contain the monstrous chakra boiling within him, but the fury inside him was unstoppable.
In an instant, the seal vanished, shattering like glass as his body began to change. His skin darkened, markings spreading across his body, his Jugo blood awakening with an uncontrollable thirst for destruction. The familiar pull of the transformation engulfed him, and this time, it wasn't just the Jugo's power—it was something far darker, far more sinister.
Red chakra burst from his body in torrents, swirling around him like flames, searing and malicious. The Nine-Tails' chakra melded with his own, wrapping around him like a living cloak, transforming him into a creature of pure hatred. His eyes glowed an unnatural red, slit like a demon's, as claws and fangs extended from his transformed body.
Before the ANBU could react, Naruto vanished, moving faster than their eyes could track. In an instant, he reappeared behind the fox-masked ANBU, his chain wrapping around the man's neck like a steel noose. Naruto pulled tight, his enhanced strength crushing the man's windpipe as he squeezed, his teeth bared in a feral snarl. The ANBU gasped, his gloved hands clawing at the chain as he struggled, but Naruto's grip was unrelenting.
Blood began to trickle from the ANBU's mouth, his masked eyes wide with shock and terror. Naruto's hold only tightened, his fury giving him strength that surpassed anything the ANBU had expected.
The other ANBU froze in place, horror evident even through their masked expressions. None of them had ever seen anything like this. The boy they had mocked and belittled was gone, replaced by a creature of pure rage and power, a nightmare of red chakra and killing intent.
"Naruto! Stop!" one of the ANBU shouted, taking a tentative step forward. "This isn't you! You have to control it!"
Naruto's head snapped toward the ANBU who had spoken, his gaze burning with a savage intensity. His voice, now layered with the dark resonance of the Nine-Tails, was barely recognizable.
"Control? Why should I control it?" he snarled, his voice low and deadly. "When all you ever do is hurt me, mock me… Why should I hold back?"
The ANBU exchanged nervous glances, trying to assess the situation, but the sheer pressure of Naruto's chakra kept them at bay. They could feel the murderous intent radiating from him, pressing down on them like a weight, as though they were standing in the presence of a predator prepared to kill.
In one swift motion, Naruto slammed the ANBU he was holding into the ground, his strength shattering the earth beneath them as he forced the man's face into the dirt. The ANBU coughed, blood splattering from his mouth, his body trembling under the immense force.
"Enough, Naruto!" one of the other ANBU yelled, his voice a mix of fear and authority. He made a hand sign, preparing a restraining jutsu, but Naruto's reflexes were too fast. He released his grip on the fox-masked ANBU and charged forward, his claws extending as he slashed through the air, forcing the others back.
Their formation broke, each of them scrambling to dodge Naruto's relentless attacks. The rage-fueled chakra pulsing around him made it impossible for them to get close. It was as if he had become a living storm, a force of nature that couldn't be contained or reasoned with.
"Why…why do you all hate me so much?" Naruto's voice trembled, breaking through the feral growl. For a fleeting moment, the sorrow beneath his rage surfaced, but it was quickly swallowed up by the bloodlust that surged through his veins. The Nine-Tails' chakra amplified every hurt, every rejection, twisting his anger into something monstrous.
"Calm down, Naruto!" one of the ANBU shouted desperately. "This isn't going to make things better!"
Naruto laughed, a hollow, bitter sound. "Better? Nothing will ever be better! All I've ever wanted was to be treated like everyone else, but all I get are chains and mocking! I'm done with it! I'm done with all of you!"
He raised his clawed hand, preparing to strike, but suddenly a powerful force swept over him, immobilizing his movements. A familiar chakra filled the air—an immense, calming presence.
"Naruto, enough!" A voice echoed through his mind, stern yet gentle.
Naruto's body froze, his transformation beginning to recede as the Nine-Tails' chakra was forced back into the seal on his stomach. He felt the burning rage inside him cool, his senses clearing as the red mist faded. His vision blurred, and his strength left him in an instant, his legs giving out as he dropped to his knees.
As his senses returned, he looked around, seeing the ANBU surrounding him, some clutching minor injuries. The fox-masked ANBU, though bruised and bloodied, was still alive, watching him with a mixture of shock and anger.
Naruto's head bowed, his entire body trembling. He could feel the chains on his wrists, the cold metal a reminder of his failure. He had lost control again, had given in to the hatred and darkness within him.
He felt hollow, a mix of regret and resentment swirling in his chest.
One of the ANBU stepped forward, hesitating before speaking. "You… you're dangerous, Naruto. If this happens again, we'll have no choice but to—"
"Enough," said a voice behind them.
The ANBU turned to see the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, approaching, his face grim. He looked at Naruto, his gaze filled with sorrow and disappointment, but also understanding.
"Hiruzen-sama…" one of the ANBU started, but Hiruzen raised a hand, silencing him.
"I will handle this," he said quietly, his voice resolute. He walked over to Naruto, placing a gentle hand on the boy's shoulder. "Naruto, I understand your pain, but this… this path will only bring you more suffering. You must learn to control it, not be consumed by it."
Naruto looked up, his eyes filled with a haunting sadness. "I tried, Hokage-sama. I really tried. But…they just keep pushing me."
Hiruzen nodded, his gaze softening. "I know, Naruto. I know it's not fair. But your strength… your power can be something great if you learn to master it. You mustn't give in to the darkness."
Naruto nodded weakly, his head hanging low. The Hokage motioned for the ANBU to remove Naruto's chains, and they reluctantly complied, casting wary glances at the boy as they did.
Hiruzen's hand remained steady on Naruto's shoulder as he guided him back toward the village. "Come, Naruto. We have much to discuss."
As they walked away, Naruto's mind swirled with conflicting emotions—fear, anger, and a flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, someone could help him find a way to control the storm inside.