This is an idea that has been stuck in my head for a while.

I wanted to get it out to at least put my mind at ease and give me a break from writing Hero for a Wilting Rose.

The next chapter for that will be the next update.

Another Naruto/Blake concept, brought about by listening to DMC 5's Bury the Light.

Enjoy.

This was agony.

Her body was stiff and rigid. Everything didn't simply ache. It felt like she was on fire. Her world spun out of control. She had never felt this dizzy in all her life. Her stomach clenched…

Clenched?

Kushina's eyes snapped open. She regretted it immediately from the searing pain of the light. But that pain wasn't insurmountable. She mustered the energy to rise, forcing her body to move.

"Naruto… Naruto… Where is my baby?!"

"Kushina! It's okay. Naruto's safe." Her husband's voice resonated, and she felt his touch as he wrapped his arm around her waist. His presence was calming. Nothing could happen to Naruto… Not when he was around…

"What happened?" Kushina panted, refusing to give in to her exhaustion. "Last thing I remember… We…"

"It's complicated. I don't entirely understand what happened, but we survived." Minato exhaled, attempting to explain. "The Nine-Tails' claw pierced through both of our bodies… And it did reach Naruto."

Kushina's blood ran cold. Despite their combined effort… They failed…

Wait. Didn't he say Naruto was okay?

"Then how is Naruto okay?" Kushina looked up into her husband's eyes before wandering the strange room. This wasn't their room. This wasn't even the hospital. Where was this place? Where was her baby?

"That's the part I don't have an answer for. The Nine-Tails stopped the moment its claw touched Naruto… And of the times I've seen its face, that was the first time I've seen it ever become calm." Minato spoke with a hint of trepidation. "And then, a golden light engulfed us, and we came to this place, our wounds healed… And the Nine-Tails resting peacefully within Naruto without a seal."

Kushina froze at those words. The Nine-Tails was resting peacefully in her baby boy?! What was going on?

"Minato… Naruto… Now." Kushina hissed under her breath, her body shaking. She couldn't trust the fox. After everything it had put her through if it dared harm a hair on his head…

A familiar light engulfed her, and she had to gather her bearings, gently holding her weight to stand. But she stood before a crib, her baby boy silently lying within. Almost as if nothing was wrong…

"Minato, why does our son have fox ears?!" Kushina growled, her rage barely kept in check.

If that demon had done a thing to her child…

"Another answer I don't have at this moment." Minato winced, glancing at his wife and fidgeting. Kushina caught this action and glowered. What was he hiding…

What was twitching behind her? Was it swishing?

"No, no, no!" Kushina's eyes bulged, looking behind her to see a gorgeous red mane of what she knew was a fox tail. "What is this? Why do I have it?! Why does Naruto have the ears?!"

"It must be something about this place." Minato shook his hand, not having an answer. "Wherever this is, we were transported to a different place than our home. Different rules and customs. …Not a ninja in sight."

"Then just take us back home, Minato!" Kushina hissed, the hair on her tail spiking as her anger boiled, her hair waving in nine wisps.

"I wish I could, but I can't feel any old markers. This place is separated from Konoha, and if my hunch is correct, it is likely separated from our world." Minato responded bluntly, a little colder than he meant.

Kushina's rage came to an abrupt stop. A cold shiver traveled down her back as her husband's words hit her. "Are we… Did we…"

"It is the most probable explanation at this current moment." Minato sighed, glancing down at Naruto. "Whatever happened when the Nine-Tails touched Naruto, it drew us to this place. Wherever that happens to be. We're stuck here until we get more information and find a way back."

Kushina numbly nodded, her gaze falling back onto her baby boy. She was glad her raised voice didn't bother him. Yet, it was far from okay. He seemed so peaceful, almost like there wasn't a demon of great catastrophe resting inside him unchecked.

She couldn't let that stand and reached for her son. She had to remove it! Seal back inside her! Her son shouldn't have to bear that burden…

"He is the one. He is the one of power Father blessed."

Kushina shivered at hearing the fox's voice clearly again, almost as if he was still sealed within her. But it was what he said that shook her.

The one of power… That it's father blessed?

That only meant that story Mito told her… Could it be?

Wait, what was that on Naruto's palm?

"Minato…" Kushina's hand wavered before pulling back, staring at her concerned husband.

"What do you know of the Sage of Six Paths?"

"I appreciate the hospitality for allowing us to stay here. You don't know how much it means." Kushina respectfully bowed before the goliath of a man and his very pregnant wife, gingerly repositioning Naruto in her grasp as she did.

She glowered at her husband, standing calmly at her side for not joining her. However, he likely had, so she didn't feel as sheepish.

"I would have done the same no matter the situation. It would betray my stances and beliefs not to assist a couple such as yourself in need." The behemoth of a man known as Ghira calmly reassured Kushina.

Kushina internally grimaced, but her new tail betrayed her with a slow twitch. Minato quickly caught her up on what he had learned. Faunus were a marginalized race in this place, and this was their safe haven. Add in Minato hadn't transformed like she or Naruto had…

"Nevertheless, we thank you kindly. You have been more than generous to us." Minato placed his hands together and formally bowed in gratitude. "If you require anything of me, do not hesitate to ask."

"I cannot ask any more than what you have already done. You saved many lives last night when the Creatures of Grimm attacked our home, so we are in your debt." Ghira shook his head.

Kushina gazed at Minato with a hint of surprise. He had caught her up on everything that had happened while she had been out and still forgot to mention this.

"So you are more than welcome to stay here until you have settled things." Kali warmly smiled. "And if you decide to stay here, we would love to assist you in getting into a new home. I'm sure our children would become best of friends."

Kushina tilted her head. From what Minato informed her, there was no guarantee they would be able to return home. Everything hinged around the Nine-Tails and his investigation into the matter. So if this world was their new home… Naruto would need playmates his age to develop…

"I appreciate the offer. We will take it into consideration if we plan on setting down roots," Minato exhaled, lightly ruffling his hair. Kushina knew he was uncomfortable accepting such generosity. He was a man who accomplished everything by his own merits and was never handed anything.

"Yes, I completely understand. It takes time to make such a decision. But if you stay, Menagerie will welcome you with open arms." Ghira compassionately nodded but left the option for them to stay.

"Thank you," Minato and Kushina humbly bowed.

(15 Years Later)

"And that's one hundred." Naruto dragged himself over the edge of the plateau he had been using to climb.

With only a single arm.

Sitting cross-legged, Naruto rubbed his sore shoulder as he rotated it a few times. Glancing back down the plateau, he exhaled. "Well, better get to using my left arm…"

"Uzumaki!"

"Eh?" Naruto's head snapped to his side when he heard a familiar voice angrily resonate. He briefly glimpsed a figure shrouded in black and white, with a hint of purple, before a backpack smacked him square in the chin. "Ow! What the heck?! Blake, what's the deal?!"

"You're late!" Blake scowled, crossing her arms over her chest and huffing. "The boat for Vale is about to leave, and you are still out here, in the middle of nowhere, training! You are hopeless!"

"Huh?" Naruto blinked several times as he set down the backpack in his lap. His eyes widened, and his ears stiffened. "What?! That's today?! I thought I had more time to prep for the tournament!"

"You idiot! I've told you all week that the ship was leaving today!" Blake yelled before turning her head and grumbling. "How can you be such an idiot to forget! I had you put it on your scroll as a reminder!"

"So that's why it's been ringing nonstop…" Naruto pulled out his scroll and sheepishly glanced at it. He had been so focused on his training he had genuinely forgotten what he had set his alarm for.

"Uzumaki! I know you aren't dumb! Stop playing around, and let's go." Blake hissed, rolling her eyes.

"Yeah, let's get out of here and show everyone a thing or two!" Naruto grinned, jumping to his feet with the backpack, feeling its contents inside. His face scrunched, and he glared at Blake. "Did you pack for me?"

"You obviously forgot to," Blake grunted, a hint of disgust in her voice as she strolled toward Menagerie.

Naruto's skin turned as pale as a ghost before flushing a deep red. She was in his room? Wait, did that mean she saw all his pictures? Or that poster of that redhead that had won two straight tournaments in Mistral. "Is this about all my photos and posters?"

"Shut it, Uzumaki!" Blake snapped, gnashing her teeth. "If you don't hurry up and stop stalling, I will burn them all!"

"Okay, okay!" Naruto stepped in stride with Blake, his shoulders hunching as he could hear Blake growling in her throat.

She was pissed. What he didn't understand was why she was so upset. They were only pictures of Ilia that he snapped of her the last time they saw each other. And he liked redheads, and she was gorgeous!

Was she upset he didn't have many of her?

Naruto internally frowned, sending a quick glance at Blake.

He would never understand girls.

"We are here on opening day for the Vale Regional Tournament! Many upstanding potential Huntsman and Huntresses have gathered today to show us how capable they are! Despite how many upstanding candidates we have, only one can be victorious! So let the first round of the Knockouts begin!"

"Mah, that guy seems a bit too enthusiastic about this." Naruto scratched his head.

"Says the hyperactive knucklehead next to me," Blake muttered darkly, rimming the cup of coffee she ordered.

"It's a condition!" Naruto defended loudly before narrowing his eyes. She had been in a bad mood the entire trip! He wished he knew what he did to make her this mad at him! Or at least come and say what was bothering her.

It was bothering him!

Naruto sighed, looking at the holo-screen through the cafe's window as they sat on the outdoor table. Seeing two kids their age meet in the arena, he turned to the sullen Blake. "What time is your match scheduled for?"

"At three." Blake finally took a sip of her coffee. "My match is against this Xiao Long girl. Saw her in the crowd when they put up the board. She seemed overly cocky."

"Oh, her world is about to be turned upside down," Naruto laughed. "Mine is a little before yours at two-thirty. They matched up against some guy named Cardin Winchester. Gonna be a walk in the park."

Blake scoffed and rolled her eyes. But a twinkle of amusement shone through as she shook her head. "Don't break him too badly. I don't want you to get disqualified until I have a chance to beat you."

"Oh, I'm looking forward to it!" Naruto grinned before taking a deep drink of his coffee. He then slammed down the cup, his eyes shifting to the side as a group approached them. "How can I help ya, gentleman?"

"Naruto, don't…" Blake lowered her head, having a suspicion of what these guys wanted. With the number of No Faunus signs posted through Vale, they would inevitably get singled out. She almost wished she had picked up that bow and put it over her ears earlier…

"You should listen to your girl," One of the men sneered.

"You kind ain't welcomed here," Another grunted, his hand reaching around his back, likely to grab a concealed weapon.

"I don't see any signs at this establishment that bar us from being here." Naruto leaned back in his chair. He could feel Blake's tension and it caused him to glower. "Nor is there a law prohibiting Faunus from enjoying a cup of coffee or being out in town. So I would much appreciate it if you were to leave before things get out of hand…"

"I don't think you understand! You are not welcome in our city!" A third man of the group raised his voice. However, Naruto's gaze was intently on the man who pulled out a baseball bat from behind him.

A pathetic weapon, but a weapon they brandished to harm them nonetheless. Even if it was for intimidation…

"Naruto, let's leave…" Blake stood up and urged Naruto, pulling on his sleeve.

Naruto refrained from growling. He didn't want to give these guys the satisfaction. He wanted to stand his ground…

But Blake was conflicted. He wouldn't risk harming her.

"Yeah, I think you are right," Naruto clicked his tongue and agreed to reassure Blake. He held out his hands on the table as he stood up, attempting to disarm the situation by showing as little aggression as possible. Didn't want it to escalate any further.

"Let's get out of here," Naruto turned his back to the men, unafraid of what they could do, and focused his attention on Blake. "We can wait at the stadium for our matches."

"Oiy, you think you can just leave, punk? After talking back to us?!" Naruto squinted, hearing wood clash against metal and glass shattering.

Blake was panicking. He could feel her twitching anxiously beside him. While she had seen the hate and contempt for Faunus during protests, she hadn't faced it on such a personal level before. However, he had many times before when he went out and traveled the world with his father. He knew how to deal with it and could handle it…

But to see it directed toward his friend…

Taking a breath to calm his building rage, Naruto focused on the lessons his father taught him. And if they wanted this fight, he had to ensure they started it.

Naruto turned back and, with a piercing gaze, warned them. "You don't want this fight. Trust me. Let us leave and get out of here for your sake."

"You think you are better than us, brat?!" The one with the bat screamed and lunged forward. "I'll show you to respect your betters!"

For Naruto, the world seemingly stopped. Everything was frozen in place. Everything from the racists lunging toward him to the pamphlets in the streets rustling in the wind. The wind even had ceased.

His gaze fell onto Blake. Her hand slipped to the handle of Gambol Shroud, ready to fight. But the sheer terror in her expression left an empty pit in his stomach.

It was wrong. This was all wrong! There had to be something that he could do to end this.

End all of this hatred.

"It's time."

"I suppose it is, Kurama," Naruto exhaled, right hand to his chest, the Sun Sigil radiating in his palm.

A furious gale roared. The men were tossed haphazardly across the street, nearly into an oncoming car slamming on its brakes. They looked up in utter horror as to what caused it.

And at its center, Naruto, bathed in a golden glow with orange eyes, stood defiantly before them, a whirlwind swirling violently around him and Blake.

"You don't want this fight," Naruto's whisper echoed louder than the gales. His stare was piercing and unwavering but spoke volumes more than his words could.

The men made the right chase and scrambled to their feet, fleeing the area.

"At least that is over with," Naruto let out a weak sigh before turning to Blake with a smile to calm her.

Only to see her astonished and bewildered look. Naruto grimaced. He had never shown her his transformation before. This was going to be interesting…

"Uzumaki, what was that?!"

Like always, if you enjoyed this concept, I would love to hear from ya.

The more support any one of them have, the chances of it becoming a full fledged story in the future dramatically increase.

Until the next time my friends, Peace.