Chapter 17: Threads of Fate and Fury
Wave Country, Forest Edge
Vergil Sparda waltzed out of Tazuna's house, his blue coat swaying like a storm's herald, Yamato glinting at his hip. The peck on Tsunami's cheek lingered in the air, a devil's parting gift, before he vanished into the shadows, his smirk a promise of chaos yet to unfold.
Far enough from the house, where the trees thickened and the wind whispered secrets, Vergil paused. His senses flared, something slithering beneath the earth. With a flick of his wrist, he plunged his hand into the soil, ripping free a writhing figure, Zetsu, split in twain: White Zetsu's pale grin and Black Zetsu's silent menace.
"Eavesdropping, are we?" Vergil drawled, his voice a velvet blade. "Spying on dining room chatter doesn't suit a pair of weeds."
White Zetsu chuckled nervously, a high-pitched titter. "Caught us, huh? Just curious, that's all!" This guy's sharper than a kunai? he thought, sweat beading on his leafy brow. Black Zetsu remained mute, his dark half glaring, He knows too much already… what's his game?
Vergil unsheathed Yamato, its edge glinting as he leveled it at White Zetsu's throat. "Black Zetsu's the key, needed to resurrect his mother. You, White? You're just fertilizer."
Black Zetsu's silence shattered, shock rippling through his tar-like form. Mother… Kaguya? He doesn't just know of the Ten-Tails, the Akatsuki... he knows about her?! His mind raced, This devil's agenda… does he seek to claim her power, or destroy her? White Zetsu yelped, "Hey, now, hold on!"
White Zetsu forced a grin, voice trembling. "A joke, right? Me and Black, we're a team! I know all his schemes, Indra's manipulation, twisting Madara, puppeteering Obito from the shadows. I'm useful, swear it!"
Vergil chuckled, a low, dangerous sound. "Relax, I was only teasing." His glare returned, icy and unyielding. "But hear this: my origins stay buried. Tell Pain, Obito, or your little club, and I'll carve you both into mulch."
The duo nodded furiously.
"Here's to a fruitful alliance," Vergil said, extending a hand. White Zetsu shook it eagerly, Black Zetsu with reluctance, a pact sealed in shadow.
"Deal!" White Zetsu chirped eagerly, He's a madman, but this could be a riot!. Could be fun! Black Zetsu's thoughts churned, A Black Zetsu gripped it with reluctance, An alliance… but his agenda with Mother gnaws at me. Power or betrayal? I'll unravel him yet
Tazuna's House, Dining Room
Inside, Kakashi slumped in a chair, exhaustion etching lines into his face. Options dwindling, he thought, rubbing his temple. We can't drag Tazuna back to Konoha, ambush bait. Leave him here? Gato's men'll gut him. He sighed, pulling a scroll from his vest. "Pakkun, you and the pack, take this to the village. Reinforcements, fast."
The ninken materialized in a puff, Pakkun's gruff voice cutting through. "On it, boss." They bolted into, only to meet Vergil's blur. A flurry of precise strikes, and the dogs poofed into smoke, scroll snatched. Kakashi's plea never left the forest.
Naruto's Mindscape, Night
Later, as the house quieted, Naruto slept, his snores a soft rumble. His mind plunged into a dripping sewer, water sloshing at his ankles, pipes groaning overhead. "Where the heck am I?!" he muttered, eyes darting. A dream? Smells like a dump.
A deep growl echoed. "Over here, brat." Naruto froze, then followed, heart thumping. At a massive gate, red eyes glowed, fangs glinting, Kurama, coiled and immense.
Naruto's knees wobbled. Those eyes… that's the fox! Fear gripped him, but Kurama's smirk softened the edge. "Calm down, kid. I'm not eating you, yet."
Naruto steadied, then pointed, voice shaking. "You! You're why my life's a mess!" All those glares, the whispers, it's his fault!
Kurama's growl thundered, rattling the bars. "I didn't beg to be your prisoner! That was the Fourth's call!" His tails lashed, Humans… persecuting me, chaining me. Madara's leash, Hashirama's cage, Mito passing me like a curse to Kushina, your mother. Why can't you human leave me and my siblings alone?
Naruto blinked, anger faltering. He's… mad too? Kurama's rant sank in, he shifted, softer. "You said my mom… Kushina? Tell me about her."
Kurama's eyes glinted. "Brought to Konoha as my next cage. Fierce girl, fell for that fool Minato, your father."
Naruto's jaw dropped, fury igniting. "The Fourth's my dad?! And he shoved you in me?!" My own father… screwed me over?
Kurama rumbled on. "The night you were born, a masked man tore me from her, sicced me on the village. Minato broke his hold, then sealed me in you."
Naruto's fists clenched. "You tried to kill me?!"
"Damn right," Kurama snarled. "I'd had enough prisons. But your parents, they took the hit, shielded you."
"You killed them!" Naruto roared, tears prickling, Mom, Dad… gone because of him?!
Kurama's voice boomed. "They were doomed anyway! Minato's seal took his soul, Kushina couldn't survive losing me!" Ungrateful brat, blaming me for their choices.
Naruto sank into the water, tears mixing with the filth, rage and grief warring. They died for me… and he doesn't even care. His voice broke. "You're a monster."
Kurama's smirk returned. "I don't give a damn about you, kid, only my survival. Work with me, or we're both screwed."
Naruto glared, wiping his face. "Fine. I'll never forgive you, but that masked man? He's toast" I'll crush him… for Mom and Dad.
Kurama mused, The Akatsuki's head… probably that masked bastard. "He'll come for me again. Be ready."
As Naruto stirred awake, Kurama growled low. "Don't trust Vergil, he'll turn on you." That devil knows my name, the Ten-Tails… he's a blade with no sheath.
Naruto nodded, voice soft. "Sorry… for how humans treated you." He's a jerk, but… maybe he's not all bad.
Kurama's eyes narrowed, Peculiar brat. Soft, yet stubborn. He said nothing, retreating into shadow.
Gato's Hideout, Night
Zabuza lounged in a room, bandages crisscrossing his chest, his blade propped nearby. Gato stormed in, face twisted with fury. "You're useless! One last chance, kill Tazuna, or you're fish food!"
Zabuza smirked, unfazed. "Patience, shortstack. I'll carve him up." Gato huffed off, muttering, Where's that Akatsuki woman? Dead in a ditch, probably.
--
Gato's Hideout
A thug burst in. "Boss! Visitor!" Gato waved irritably. "Bring 'em in."
Vergil strolled through the door, coat swaying, smirk sharp. Gato squinted. "What's a brat like you want?"
"Hire me," Vergil purred, leaning against a desk. "I'll handle Tazuna, his guards, Zabuza and his pretty companion too, for a bonus."
Gato sneered. "You? Take Zabuza? Laughable."
Vergil's hand brushed Yamato's hilt, lifting it an inch, then slammed it down. A heartbeat later, Judgment Cut, invisible slashes ripped through the air. Gato's two guards gurgled, heads tumbling, blood spraying in crimson arcs across the walls. Their bodies crumpled, lifeless heaps staining the floorboards.
Gato's eyes bulged, sweat beading, What the hell?! He's a monster! "Y-You're hired!" he stammered, voice cracking.
Vergil smirked. "Initial payment now, rest when it's done." Fool's coin spends easy, he thought, pocketing the Ryo.
Tazuna's House, Next Day
Dawn painted the lake gold. Kakashi gathered Team 7, voice firm despite his pallor. "We're on our own, time to train harder." No backup… we're sitting ducks otherwise.
They resumed chakra control, tree-walking mastered, now water-walking. Naruto flailed, splashing, This is harder than it looks! Sakura balanced, focused, I've got this.
Later, Kakashi and Sakura escorted Tazuna to the bridge, its skeletal frame rising over the impoverished town. Shacks slumped in decay, hollow-eyed villagers staring. Sakura's heart sank, They're starving… this bridge matters. Kakashi nodded, Gato's chokehold… Tazuna's right to fight.
Next Day
Kakashi intensified their regimen. For Sakura: "Genjutsu and Mystical Palm, your chakra control's perfect for it." She's got potential, Tsunade'd approve. For Naruto and Sasuke, he handed chakra paper. Naruto's split, Wind Release. Cool! Sasuke's burned and wrinkled, Fire and Lightning… fitting.
Kakashi demonstrated wind techniques for Naruto, Shadow clones speed this up, every lesson sticks. Sakura watched Mystical Palm on a fish, Focus… heal, don't harm. He left with Sasuke and Tazuna.
Naruto bolted, Training time! Sakura fished a trout from the lake, hands glowing, Live, little guy… focus
Flashback, Amegakure
Rain streaked Amegakure's towers. Konan knelt before Nagato, wounds bandaged. "I failed," she admitted, voice flat.
Tobi materialized, his Tobi-voice lilting. "Oh, Konan, tripped over a bridge-builder? Pathetic!" She glared, Mock me again, fool.
His tone sharpened. "Why?"
"Vergil Sparda," she said, eyes narrowing.
Nagato frowned. "The mysterious swordsman"
She nodded, recounting Chapter 15, Blade and Paper Inferno: "Swift as a shadow, Iaido strikes, spectral blades, dual swords… then a demon form, blue and clawed, tearing through my paper like silk." His power… unholy.
Tobi whistled. "Dangerous fellow. Could be an ally." A wildcard, might ruin my Moon's Eye, he thought, or tip the scales. "He knows the Akatsuki, members, goals?"
Konan's jaw tightened. "Yes."
Nagato's voice hardened, A traitor among us? Tobi waved it off. "Don't jump the gun." Tsuki no Me… does he know that too?
"Tell the others," Tobi ordered Nagato. "Vergil's a threat, run, don't fight."
"Zetsu'll watch him closer." He vanished, This devil's a wrench… I'll bend him or break him.
Nagato relayed the warning later, Flee from Vergil Sparda.
Forest, Afternoon
Naruto's clones dispersed, wind gusts fading. He collapsed, panting, Gotta keep going! A figure approached, Haku, her long black hair swaying, kimono rustling, senbon glinting in her hand. She paused, eyeing him, End him now? No… not yet.
Naruto blinked awake. "Who're you?"
She knelt, soft-spoken. "Haku. Picking herbs." Their talk mirrored canon, Naruto aided her, boasting of Hokage dreams. "For someone precious?" he asked. "Yes," she replied, Zabuza… my light. "You?" Naruto grinned, Iruka, Ayame, Kakashi… my people. She smiled, Pretty… and kind, he thought, then said, "Protecting someone… that's true strength."
Dining Room, Evening
Inari exploded, voice shrill. "Why bother?! Gato's men'll crush you, no training beats them! The weak die!"
Naruto puffed up. "I'm a superhero! Gato's toast against the future Hokage!"
"there's no such things as heroes, idiot!" Inari snapped, He's delusional!, then sneered, "You don't know suffering, go back to your cushy lives!"
Naruto called him a coward and crybaby.
Inari stormed off.
Tazuna sighed, Tsunami explaining Kaiza's loss. Sasuke tsked, His pain's nothing to mine. Naruto softened, Poor kid… Sakura nodded, He's hurting.
Later, Kakashi found Inari on the porch. "Naruto and Sasuke know suffering, Naruto most. Shunned, alone… he fights anyway." Inari's gut twisted, I… didn't know. Was I wrong?
Two Days Later
Kakashi summoned Pakkun. "Message delivered?" Pakkun shook his head. "Ambushed, scroll's gone." Gato's thugs, Kakashi thought, No help coming. (Vergil's shadow unseen.)
Night, Boulder Perch
Vergil lounged on a boulder, Yamato at his side, stars sprawling above. "Zabuza, the time for our clash is upon us?" he mused, his voice a low murmur against the night's silence.
Afterwards, Vergil gripped Yamato tightly, his gaze distant yet resolute. With a swift, deliberate motion, he drove the blade into himself, a flicker of pain crossing his features before a strange calm settled in. The stars above remained indifferent, casting their light on the scene below.