Naruto sat cross-legged on the cold, hard floor of his dimly lit cell, wrists bound in chakra-suppressing restraints and staring blankly at the damp stone walls. He had long since lost count of the days he'd been imprisoned in Kumo. His once vibrant blue eyes were now dulled by the weight of despair and loneliness. The only sounds that broke the monotonous silence were the occasional distant clinks of chains and the steady drip of water somewhere in the bowels of the prison.
The echoing footsteps that approached his cell door were a familiar rhythm. He didn't bother looking up, already knowing who it was. The heavy door creaked open, and Killer Bee, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, stepped inside. Despite his usually upbeat demeanor, there was a seriousness in Bee's eyes that Naruto had come to recognize over the years.
"Yo, Naruto," Bee greeted, his voice tinged with a somber note. He leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms.
Naruto looked up slowly, meeting Bee's gaze. "Bee," he replied, his voice flat and lifeless. "What brings you here this time?"
Bee sighed, pushing off the doorframe and taking a few steps closer. "I got some news, and it ain't good, man. The Raikage's made his decision. They're gonna keep trying extract the Nine-Tails from you."
The words hung in the air like a death sentence. Naruto felt his heart sink, the faint flicker of hope he'd clung to snuffed out in an instant. "So, that's it then?"
Bee's face softened, and he shook his head slowly. "I tried to talk him out of it, but the Raikage's mind is set. He ain't trustin' you to defect anymore. I'm sorry, Naruto."
Naruto's shoulders slumped as he leaned back against the wall. "Well, maybe this time they'll get past the seal and put me out of my misery," he muttered, his voice grim.
Within him, Kurama growled, his deep voice rumbling through Naruto's mind. Tch, these humans… they treat us like tools, passing us around as they please.
Naruto closed his eyes, trying to block out the overwhelming sense of hopelessness. "What am I supposed to do now, Bee? Just wait for them to kill me?"
Bee knelt down, bringing himself to Naruto's level. "I know it ain't fair, but you gotta stay strong, ya feel me? Maybe there's a way out, even if it ain't clear right now."
Naruto opened his eyes, looking into Bee's. "How am I supposed to stay strong when every day just brings me closer to being a sacrificial lamb? I've tried everything to show them I'm not a threat, that I could be loyal to Kumo, but none of it mattered."
Bee's eyes reflected a deep empathy. "I get it, man. More than you know. Being a Jinchuriki ain't easy, and it ain't fair. But we gotta find our own strength, even when it seems impossible."
Naruto's gaze drifted to the small, barred window high on the wall, where a sliver of moonlight filtered through. "This is really it... this is how everything ends for me. Dragging me out of here every week to get to the beast sealed inside me."
Bee followed his gaze, the moonlight casting a faint glow on his face. "I wish I could do something about it, but it's out of my grasp kid... I'm sorry."
A silence settled between them. Bee stood up, his expression resolute. "I'll come back when I can. Just hang in there, alright?"
Naruto nodded slowly, watching as Bee turned and walked towards the door. As Bee's footsteps faded away, the oppressive silence of the cell closed in once more, wrapping around Naruto like a shroud.
Kurama's voice broke the silence, filled with a rare note of sympathy. Don't even think of giving up yet, brat. There's still a chance, even if it's small.
Naruto let out a shaky breath. "I don't want to give up, But it's getting harder every day."
Alone in the cell, the fox's presence within him felt like a steady, if distant, source of warmth for Naruto. I don't trust these people enough to allow myself be handed over to them and made another tool for that Raikage.
Naruto nodded, closing his eyes and trying to find some small measure of peace in the darkness. Despite the bleakness of his situation, he clung to that fragile thread of hope, determined not to let it slip away entirely.
The moon hung low in the night sky, casting a silvery glow over the hidden village of Kumo. High above the village, nestled among the mountains, the Raikage's compound stood as an imposing fortress, its walls bristling with defenses. Few dared to challenge its might, but tonight, a team of elite Konoha ANBU operatives moved silently, their mission clear: infiltrate the compound and rescue Naruto Uzumaki.
Hinata Hyuuga led the team, her Byakugan activated as she scanned the surroundings. Her heart pounded with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. The past four years had been a relentless drive towards this moment, fueled by the hope of bringing Naruto home. Beside her, Kakashi Hatake moved with the same stealth that had earned him his legendary reputation.
"Hinata, what's the situation?" Kakashi whispered.
Hinata's gaze pierced through the walls and buildings, mapping out the positions of every guard and patrol within the compound. "Three guards at the main entrance, two more patrolling the perimeter. There's a heavy concentration of guards near the underground cells."
Kakashi nodded. "We'll take out the perimeter guards first. Silence is key." Looking around at his team, he gave the order. "Scatter."
The ANBU team split into pairs, moving with ghost-like silence through the shadows.
Moments later, Hinata notched an arrow to her bow, drawing back the string. As a guard turned the corner, she released the arrow, the shaft flying true and striking the guard in the throat. He fell silently, the only sound the faint thud of his body hitting the ground.
Kakashi and another ANBU operative dispatched the remaining perimeter guards with swift efficiency, their blades silencing them permanently.
Within minutes, they were inside the hidden village, the guards eliminated without raising an alarm. With a friendly ANBU by his side, Kakashi whispered into his radio.
"We're inside," Kakashi announced. "Proceed to the underground cells."
"Roger," came the feminine voice from the radio.
Signaling her squad mate behind her, Hinata slipped into the shadows, making her way towards the Raikage's compound.
The two teams moved in sync, each stealthily moving through the shadows and avoiding the searchlights that swept across the compound. Hinata led the way, her Byakugan guiding them through the gaps in the Raikage's tight defenses. As they approached the entrance to the underground cells, the tension in the air thickened. This was where the real danger lay.
Hinata raised a hand, signaling for the team to halt. "Heavy guard presence ahead. We have to push through them."
Kakashi nodded, pulling out a pair of binoculars. "On my mark, we will move in and secure Naruto." He studied the guard patrols, waiting for an opportunity to present itself. Finally, A trio of guards made their way from the entrance inside the facility itself, leaving just two men on guard.
Kakashi turned to Hinata. "Handle the two guards stationed right at the entrance, we can ignore the rest stationed around."
"Right" Hinata whispered, steadying her self on the tree branch she was perched on. Drawing an arrow on her bow, she steadied her aim on the guard on the left, taking deep breaths to calm herself down. After a moment, she let fly, striking the first guard square in the throat.
The man silently collapsed on the floor, muted screams coming from his mouth. His partner never noticed his death however, his attention was on something in the sky. Hinata quickly punished him for this, sending her next shot into his exposed neck and watching him drop to the ground.
"Beautiful." Came Kakashi's voice from the radio. "Gather at the entrance and wait for my instructions"
The team made their way to the secured entrance, quickly hiding the bodies of the two slain guards and giving Hinata the chance to see her victims up close.
One of them, the one looking at the sky, was barely older than her, and her heart stung at the possibility she just ensured a proud mother would never see her son again. Suppressing the growing feeling of guilt she felt in her heart, she moved inside the dungeon, such was her duty.
"Oi, Inumaki," a prison guard called out, making his way towards the entrance. "Time's up, we're meant to-"
A hand covered his mouth, pulling him into the shadows as the assailant dragged a blade across his throat before he could react to what was going on.
The guard struggled to free himself, holding his bleeding throat and found himself handed over another person. The searing feel of cold steel lodged in his chest silenced the man for good, and the last thing he saw was a face with a headband slanted over it's right eye…
"Move." Kakashi ordered, gently settling the dead guard to the floor and returning his dagger to it's sheath. The team rallied behind behind Hinata for guidance through the unfamiliar location.
Hinata's Byakugan locked onto a cell deep within the underground dungeon. "This way!" she whispered, leading the team through the elaborate system of corridors. The team managed to make their way undetected, expertly making use of any available cover they could find.
Hinata's heart raced as they navigated the narrow corridors, her Byakugan guiding them through the maze. Finally, they reached a heavy iron door, reinforced with chakra seals.
"Stand back," Kakashi ordered, forming a series of hand signs. "Release!"
The seals shattered under Kakashi's command, the door creaking open to reveal a dimly lit cell. Inside, Naruto sat hunched against the wall, his eyes widening in disbelief as he recognized the masked figures.
"ANBU…?" Naruto's voice was hoarse, filled with a mixture of hope and confusion.
Hinata's heart ached at the sight of him, but she maintained her composure. "Grab him," she ordered, watching as two of her squad mates made their way towards Naruto inside the cell.
Expertly, the pair removed the chakra restraints on his wrists, helping Naruto to his feet.
Naruto stood, his movements slow and stiff from long confinement. "Hinata…?" he whispered in disbelief, swearing he heard her voice through the mask.
Before Hinata could respond, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed down the corridor. Yugito Nii and Killer Bee appeared, their expressions a mix of surprise and determination.
"Looks like we've got company," Bee said, cracking his knuckles. "You really thought you could just walk outta here?" He drew out eight swords from their sheaths on his back and tossed them in the air, wielding them all as they settled down in a peculiar stance.
Kakashi stepped forward, his Sharingan eye exposed. "We're not leaving without Naruto."
Yugito's eyes narrowed, extending her claws from her fingers. "Then you'll have to go through us, intruders."
The air crackled with tension as the two sides faced off. Hinata could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on her, but she pushed it aside, focusing on the mission. She nocked an arrow, her gaze locked on Yugito.
Kakashi and Bee clashed first, their movements a blur of speed and power. Kakashi struggled against Bee's lightning-fast strikes, the clash of metal ringing through the corridor.
Wielding his kunai close, he deflected a sword from his opponent only to find himself having to deal with five more sword slashes coming in rapid succession.
An ANBU rushed behind Bee to catch him off guard but found himself slammed against the wall by a massive tentacle that shot out of his leg in mid air.
The other Konoha shinobi rushed towards bee, sword lowered for an attack. Evading a slash from the jinchuriki, he aimed for Bee's side with a powerful cut, but found his blade blocked by a sword being wielded in the bend of his knee.
"Shit!"
Killer Bee shot out a burst of ink at the ANBU's mask, obscuring his vision, and aimed for his neck with a slash from one of his swords.
But he caught movement in the corner of his eye, seeing Kakashi rushed towards him, hand crackling with electricity.
[Raikiri]
Kakashi lunged at the Jinchuriki, but Bee was up to it, evading his attack just in time and sending Kakashi flying into a wall with a powerful kick.
xxxx
Hinata loosed an arrow at Yugito, but the Kumo jinchuriki dodged with inhuman speed, closing the distance between them in an instant.
Hinata barely had time to draw her kunai before Yugito was upon her. They exchanged blows, Hinata doing her best to defend herself from Yugito's raw power.
She parried claw slashes with her bow, and evaded what she could. Yugito grinned, pressing her just enough to keep her in the fight.
But it was clear that the ANBU team was seriously outmatched. Bee and Yugito were relentless, their combined strength overwhelming.
Overtime Hinata found herself leaving more and more openings against Yugito, and a potentially nasty slash to her side sent her falling to the ground, wincing in pain.
Luckily for the Hyuuga, her jacket took most of the damage.
"We can't win this," Kakashi grunted, parrying a powerful strike from Bee. "We need to retreat."
Hinata's heart clenched at the thought of leaving Naruto behind again, but she knew Kakashi was right. "Fall back!" she called, covering their retreat with a flurry of arrows.
The ANBU team moved quickly, retreating through the corridors and back towards the surface. The alarm had been raised, and the compound was swarming with guards. They fought their way out, the clash of steel and the hiss of arrows filling the air.
Finally, they burst through the compound's outer gates, disappearing into the night. Hinata's heart pounded with a mix of relief and anguish. They had failed to rescue Naruto, but they had survived. For now, that was enough.
As the ANBU team regrouped in a hidden clearing, Kakashi turned to Hinata, his expression grim. "We'll get another chance. We have to."
Hinata nodded, her resolve hardening. She wouldn't give up. Not until Naruto was safe.
Shackled to the ground, Naruto watched as the Konoha ANBU team sent to retrieve him engaged in a fierce battle with Killer Bee and Yugito. His heart pounded against his ribs as he saw them falter, forced to retreat.
"No… no," Naruto muttered under his breath, a hollow ache settling in his chest. He had tasted freedom in their presence, only for it to be snatched away once more.
But then, something snapped inside him—a surge of determination, raw and unyielding, swelling within him like a tidal wave. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to his feet, muscles straining against the chains that bound him.
A guttural growl echoed within his mind. "Don't waste this opportunity, brat," Kurama's voice, low and rumbling, filled the air. "You've been holding back for too long. Now's your chance."
With a sudden rush of energy, his body erupted in flaming orange chakra, the vibrant glow of the Nine-Tails' power enveloping him. The chains around his wrists and ankles sizzled and snapped like paper, crumbling to the ground.
Killer Bee turned, eyes widening in shock. "Yo, his chakra's flaring up! The restraints, they've been taken off!"
Yugito's gaze followed Bee's, her mouth falling open as she saw the transformation. "Impossible… No one could have removed them—"
Before she could finish, Naruto was already moving. In a blur of motion, he lunged at the guards who had just stormed into the room, his movements fueled by years of pent-up rage. One guard raised his weapon, only for Naruto to grab him by the throat and slam him into the wall with bone-crushing force.
Bee rushed forward, his voice a desperate shout. "Naruto, chill! You don't wanna do this!"
But Naruto didn't stop. His hand shot out, seizing Bee's arm, and with a brutal twist, he swung him into the wall, shattering the man's forearm. Bee cried out, pain etched across his face as he crumpled to the ground.
"Bee!" Yugito screamed, her voice cracking with fear as she dashed to his side. Two guards ran over to help her drag Bee away, his arm hanging limply at his side.
Yugito knelt beside him, her eyes filled with worry. "Bee, are you okay?"
He grimaced, sweat beading on his forehead. "I'm good, just a scratch." His attempt at humor fell flat, pain distorting his voice. "Don't hurt him, Yugito. He's just a kid."
Her jaw tightened, eyes flashing with anger. "He's a kid who's tearing our people apart!" She glanced back at Naruto, her fingers twitching. "I swear I'm gonna make him pay for this."
Bee's good hand caught hers, his grip firm despite his injuries. "Promise me you won't kill him, Yugito. Just promise."
She hesitated, her gaze softening as she looked at him. "Fine, I won't kill him. But he's not leaving this place."
Naruto, his vision tinged red with Kurama's chakra, fought with a wild ferocity. Guards rushed at him, weapons drawn, but he was relentless, a whirlwind of fury. He moved through them like a force of nature, fists and feet connecting with bone-crunching force. Blood sprayed the walls, and the scent of iron filled the air as he tore through them, leaving a trail of broken bodies in his wake.
"Is that all you've got?!" Kurama's voice roared within him, urging him on. "Show them your true power!"
A guard swung a sword at him, and Naruto caught the blade with his bare hand, the chakra cloak protecting him from the metal's edge. With a snarl, he yanked the weapon from the man's grip and drove it through his chest, the guard's eyes widening in shock as he crumpled to the ground.
Another guard charged, only to be met with a devastating kick that sent him crashing into the wall, the impact shattering stone and bone alike.
"Beautiful…" Kurama urged, the bloodlust in his voice intense. "You're getting the hang of it."
The last guard fell, his body crumpling to the ground, and Naruto paused, his breath ragged. The rage within him still simmered, a burning need for vengeance that clawed at his insides. He turned towards the exit, his mind set on one thing: freedom.
Bursting through the prison's gates, he stumbled into the courtyard, the cool night air hitting his face like a splash of water. For a moment, he stood still, his eyes wide as he gazed up at the night sky. It had been years since he had seen the stars, felt the wind on his face. A lump formed in his throat, and for the briefest of moments, he felt something akin to peace.
But then, shouts echoed from the shadows, and he saw more guards pouring into the courtyard, weapons gleaming under the moonlight. Kurama's voice rumbled within him, filled with urgency. "You have to fight! Don't let them take this from you!"
With a feral roar, Naruto charged forward, his fists blazing with fury. He tore through the guards, his movements a blur of speed and violence. Blood sprayed the ground, and the air was filled with the sound of screams and death. He was unstoppable, a force of destruction, and nothing would stand in his way.
As he dispatched the last of the guards, a voice called out from behind him. "Naruto."
He turned, his eyes narrowing as he saw Yugito standing there, a smirk on her lips. "Going somewhere?"
He growled, the rage boiling inside him. "Get out of my way."
Yugito chuckled, her hands on her hips. "You've made quite the mess, haven't you?" She glanced around at the bodies strewn across the ground. "You know, the Raikage's not going to be happy about this. This was all technically on my watch. You're making me look bad, kid."
Naruto's fists clenched, his body trembling with fury. "I don't care. I'm leaving, and you're not stopping me."
She sighed, shaking her head. "Come on, just get back in your cell. Help me out here."
The casual tone in her voice, the way she dismissed everything he'd been through—it made his blood boil. "You!" He took a step forward, his voice a low, dangerous growl. "You took me from my home. You've kept me here, locked away like some animal. I'm not going back!"
Yugito's eyes widened, her smirk fading. "Whoa, whoa, calm down there." She held up her hands. "Look, I get it, you're pissed. But let's not do something we'll both regret, okay?"
"I'm going to kill you!" Naruto's voice was a snarl, his eyes blazing with hatred.
Yugito's expression hardened, her gaze locking onto his. "You can try."
The courtyard seemed to shrink around them, their visions narrowing to just each other. Naruto's heart pounded in his chest, his entire being screaming for revenge, for freedom. And as he stared at Yugito, he knew there was no turning back. One of them was going to die tonight.
And he was determined that it wouldn't be him.
With a guttural roar, Naruto exploded towards her, the ground cracking beneath his feet from the force of his launch. Yugito's eyes widened, barely a flash of surprise crossing her features before he was upon her.
He grabbed her by the throat with a grip like iron and slammed her into the wall of a nearby building, shattering the stone on impact. The entire structure groaned under the force, and cracks spider-webbed around them.
Yugito grunted, feeling the force of the blow reverberate through her bones. She clawed at his arm, trying to pry his fingers away from her neck, but his strength was overwhelming. He squeezed harder, his eyes wild with rage and desperation, and Yugito felt her vision blurring at the edges.
"Yugito!" Maatatabi's voice echoed in her mind, filled with concern. "This boy is using Kurama's chakra better than before. Be careful!"
Yugito nodded inwardly, still struggling against Naruto's grip. "I can see that," she replied through gritted teeth. "He's stronger than I thought." She coughed blood as his fingers dug deeper into her throat, feeling the air leaving her lungs. "We can't let him reach the village."
"Agreed," Maatatabi said, her voice steady. "Let me lend you some of my power."
Yugito felt the familiar surge of chakra welling up from within her, the blazing blue flames of Maatatabi's energy wrapping around her like a second skin. Dark markings spread across her arms and back, and her pupils narrowed into black slits, a feline predatory gleam in her gaze.
With a burst of strength, she wrenched herself free from Naruto's grasp, the sudden force sending him stumbling back. Before he could react, she kicked him hard in the chest, the blow sending him skidding across the courtyard.
Naruto rolled to his feet, his eyes blazing with fury. He watched as Yugito stepped out of the crater in the wall, her body wreathed in the flickering flames of Maatatabi's chakra.
"If you're going to be stubborn," she said, her voice calm but laced with steel, "then we'll do things your way."
She dropped into a low, wide stance, extending her clawed hands.
Silence settled upon the courtyard.
And then with a snarl, Naruto formed a Rasengan in his free hand, the swirling orb of energy glowing brightly.
He charged at her, his footsteps pounding against the ground as he closed the distance. But just as he was about to strike, Yugito vanished.
His eyes widened in shock as his Rasengan slammed into the wall behind her, the stone exploding into dust and debris.
He spun around, searching frantically, only to see her reappear behind him in a blur of motion. Before he could react, she drove her knee into his gut with a devastating impact, the force of the blow lifting him off his feet.
Naruto crashed into the ground, gasping for air, but Yugito was relentless.
She was on him in an instant, her claws flashing in the dim light as she swiped at him again and again. He barely managed to track her attacks, her speed overwhelming his senses.
Every time he tried to retaliate, she would disappear and reappear at another angle, striking him from every direction.
He swung a chakra arm wildly, but she ducked under it and drove her elbow into his side. Pain exploded through his ribs, and he stumbled back, clutching his side.
Yugito didn't give him a moment to recover. She leaped into the air, spinning gracefully before driving her heel into his shoulder.
The impact sent him sprawling, his shoulder dislocating with a sickening crunch.
"Damn it!" Kurama's voice rumbled in his mind, filled with frustration. "Maatatabi's jinchuriki is being a pain again!"
"She won't stop me!" Naruto roared, his voice hoarse. He struggled to his feet, his body trembling with exertion. Blood dripped from a cut above his eye, and his breath came in ragged gasps, but he pushed forward, his will unbroken. "I won't go back into that cell!"
He charged at her again, his movements fueled by desperation and rage. But Yugito was like a phantom, her form shifting and blurring as she evaded his attacks effortlessly.
She weaved around his punches and kicks, her claws raking across his skin, leaving deep gashes that sizzled with blue flames.
Naruto stumbled, his vision blurring from the pain and exhaustion. He swung his fist one last time, but Yugito caught it easily, her grip like a vice.
She twisted his arm behind his back and kicked his legs out from under him, slamming him face-first into the ground.
He groaned in pain, trying to push himself up, but Yugito's foot pressed down on his back, pinning him to the ground. "Stay down, brat." she said quietly, her voice devoid of malice. "This is over."
Naruto's vision swam as he struggled against her hold, but his strength was failing. The fiery cloak of chakra around him began to flicker and fade, the light dimming as his energy drained away. He let out a final, pained gasp as the cloak vanished entirely, leaving him lying on the cold ground, beaten and broken.
A group of Kumo shinobi, clad in the dark uniforms of the village's elite, approached cautiously. The leader, a stern-faced man with a scar running down his cheek, nodded to Yugito. "We'll take it from here, Yugito-sama."
She stepped back, her eyes never leaving Naruto's prone form. The shinobi surrounded him, quickly placing sealing tags on his wrists and ankles. The leader glanced at Yugito again. "Thank you for your help. We'll make sure he doesn't cause any more trouble."
Yugito deactivated her chakra cloak, the blue flames dissipating into the air. She nodded curtly. "Keep a close eye on him," she warned. "He's more dangerous than he looks." She glanced towards the distant lights of the village. "I'm going to check on Bee at the hospital."
The shinobi nodded, and they lifted Naruto's limp form onto a stretcher. He groaned softly, his body racked with pain, but the worst of it was inside. He had come so close to freedom, only to be dragged back into the darkness of his captivity. His heart ached with a deep, unyielding homesickness, a longing for the place he had been taken from so many years ago.
As they carried him back towards the holding facility, he felt the last remnants of hope slipping away. He was going back to his cell, and this time, it felt like he would never leave again.
The heavy iron doors of the prison loomed ahead, and Naruto closed his eyes, letting the darkness take him.
He was never going home.