Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Crossing to the Other side ❯ Of Spirits and Tricks ( Chapter 26 )

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“Naruto.”

 

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“Naruto!”

 

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“Uzumiki Naruto!”

 

A head moved groaning the body followed. “Where…where am I?” The hesitant tone was not lost on the being as it watched the young man struggle into a seated position rubbing his head and looking around.

“You are in your own mind.”

 

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“Huh?” Kyuubi dropped his head dramatically forward rolling his eyes. `Well,' he mussed `it was one hell of a fight.' He thumped the blonde on the top of his head making him growl and rub it before shooting up and pointing an accusing finger at the Kitsune.

“HOW THE HELL ARE YOU HERE!” The blonde shinobi gestured wildly around his arms wind-milling, he spun a tight circle frantically when he finally noticed that there where no bars and the normal dripping sound was different. Upon coming back around he came face to snout or more accurately his own face when he used Kyuubi's chakra. The red eyes and deepened whisker mark's brought the young man up short and he studied the others face carefully forgetting momentarily that his real body was in a fight to the death. The blondes hand reached up to touch the Kyuubi's face and the Kitsune allowed it reasoning that it wasn't like the teen looked in a mirror to see how his face looked when using the hidden power of the Kyuubi no Youkai.

“Do…” the teen coughed to clear his throat before continuing, “do I really look like that?” Kyuubi just looked at the young man as he traced one long whisker mark with his fore finger and his eyes then jerked his hand back as if burned a disbelieving look on his face, Blues eyes meet red.

“You understand what this means?” Even though the Kyuubi knew he had explained this to the teen before it never failed to amaze him what the young man absorbed or disregarded. The blonde teen nodded his head stepping back up to the demon with his face.

“The seals are beyond unstable he can't hold them in their current state. Which means he will try to absorb not only myself but you as well.” Kyuubi paused allowing the young man the time to change his mind. This whole plan hinged on the teen and his resolve much like the seal his brother bore to control the curse mark from Orochimaru this too would depend entirely on the teen. Kyuubi for the first time in his life was worried for the boy, he had come to like and even adopt the boy though he would never admit it out loud and this plan could very well kill them both and could possibly change the teen psychologically making him as unstable as Madara. “Are you ready for this?”

“Sasuke?” the blonde asked.

“He's safe with the pink bitch.” Naruto blinked slowly then both grimaced as a particular powerful hit ripped down their side they leaned on one another briefly. Blood dribbled down their right sides then stopped and they stood up still holding onto one another. Kyuubi looked down into the blue eyes of the young man who would soon be all that was left in the body they both shared, in the thousands of years he had been alive no human had managed to move him as much as this boy and it was all thanks to his father who had sealed the demon inside his only child. A perspective he had lacked when he had a corporal body had forced its way into his plans and now he could not take the boy out of the equation but being a powerful demon with the memories of his pervious conquests did give him some advantage. `Though,' he mused `He wont appreciate that once this is over but at least I wont have to hear it!' The Kyuubi chuckled, Naruto looked at him with raised eyebrows.

“What's so funny baka fox?” The youth was already taking on most of his characteristics and the growl he emitted now was proof. He decided he wasn't entirely done teasing his vessel in that moment.

“With the seal gone I could finally be free.” His grip tightened on the teen as his face paled. Fear danced in blue eyes as the impact of the demons words repeated in his head, lips curled in a feral smile exposing sharp canines. For the first time since being sealed in newborn 18 years ago the chance was in his grasp he could take over the boys body without hardly any fight the result would be one thing. The boy would kill himself to stop that from happening, the Kyuubi could already see the hardening line of the teens mouth the steel creeping into those sky blue eyes. The call of the challenge was almost overwhelming, almost. Not changing his expression he pulled the boy in a tighter embrace as the boy gripped him tighter in response preparing to do what was necessary to stop him.

“But it's so much easier this way.” He whispered in the boy's ear. Power surged around their body on the out side as the last of the seals holding the monstrosity together broke and the wave of chakra threw friend and foe down.

“HOLD TIGHT KIT!” The Kyuubi shouted both could feel the forces of the other sealed demons tugging at them as the high level power surged and wailed in and out of the teen's body. As suddenly as it had began a small space cleared around the two in the maelstrom of chakra and surrounding them 8 others with the features of their vessels when using their chakra, occasionally one would snap at the other glaring.

“Just like the tails.” The blonde shinobi whispered, a tall blonde woman spoke as he lips moved her canines flashed long like his own when using Kyuubi's chakra.

“…chakra?” Kyuubi's hold on his body tightened and Naruto winced.

“What the hell?” he growled, unbeknownst to him his blue eyes flashed red.

“The end.” Another spoke he looked like Gaara.

“Shukuku.” Kyuubi growled. The blonde's features softened but Kyuubi jerked him sharply digging claws into his back. Naruto growled digging his own claws into the other in retaliation.

“They are the `Demons' humans fear…human vessel…couldn't fit otherwise.” The blonde shook his head trying to clear his ears, he was only catching half of what Kyuubi was saying. “The hag…Seal…pain, lots…gomen my memories…die.” the blonde shook his head again his body felt light and heavy alternately, the last part Kyuubi spoke sounded ominous and he wanted to ask him to repeat as the world went black around him.

“Damn it.” Kyuubi growled holding the boy to his chest as the others paced around him snarling and snapping eyeing the boy. The language was no longer human and the noises they where making filled the area making man and beast alike cringe and hide. Kyuubi snapped and snarled back clutching the teen his posture and movements stating his intentions. `Mine.' It told the others he laid the boy down gentle transforming into the Nine-tail, red chakra boiled and whipped at the others pushing them back. The 6-tailed wolf stalked the closest still keeping a safe distance.

“Why the great Kyuubi no Youkai has a `human' cub? How interesting.” Jaws opened and closed as the beast circled in and out in and out testing the limits. Kyuubi whipped one tail at him slamming into the other.

“You lost your cub, should have taken better care of her.” The wolf whimpered angrily.

“They are weak why stay?” the high pitched nasal voice addressed him, Kyuubi turned another tail on the raccoon curling it around him, the creature knew better then to run away.

“You made yours insane but you still could not escape him, not so weak I say.”

The Kyuubi regarded all the beasts around him now cowed by his show of power.

“Your souls are free to be born again do as you please but remember,” he cautioned as they all prepared to leave, “if not for this `human' my kit you would all be sealed still with no chance of freedom and death with your container.” The taste of death for an immortal was frightening and for the wolf who, whined and shivered, was sealed the longest escape had been near impossible. For a moment the snarls, whimpers and whines became deafening.

“So what do want from us?” the two tailed falcon demanded.

“I don't care what you do, but you will leave my Kit and his kin alone.” Silence hung in the air, the great Kyuubi No Youkai wasn't giving them orders and his time in the teen had changed him but the only thing he was telling them was to leave his kit alone simple enough. Heads nodded and voices acknowledged then they disbursed to find new life only one remained. Sitting on his haunches know transformed into his original body the six-tailed wolf. Yellow eyes watched the Kyuubi all six tails curled around his body at peace.

“That was low.” Kyuubi looked up red meet yellow the wolf tensed eye contact always excited a challenge.

“I make no allowances.” He responded still meeting the others gaze. The wolf smiled a show of teeth.

“I tried to protect her more then you did your cub.”

Kyuubi just looked at him not answering.

“One day I will have nine.” The fox's lips twitched.

“I look forward to that day Rokubi Ookami.” The wolf inclined his head briefly at the kitsune, turning he walked away his shape fading into the darkness of the black cloud surrounding the Kitsune and his kit.

The great Nine tails swayed back and forth over the teen hovering just out of reach his tails brushed the ground and for the first time in 18 years he could feel the breeze on his body, fur ruffling he eased down his front paws braced him just above the boy as he hesitated.

“This is an imperfect gift with faults and draw backs but you are the best choice for this; my power will be yours and that of your decedents. I will fade from your memory bit by bit which is as it should be but I will give you this last bit of knowledge.” Lowering his muzzle his breath puffed the body and for a moment longer he was solid and whole before the next breeze blew through his essence. Red chakra swirled as the insubstantial body settled on the blonde teen bubbling and boiling, seeping into the teens skin the Kyuubi threw his head back roaring as he felt the pain of dieing once again a flicker of white shot up and then the teen was screaming. The white ball of light hovered waiting and watching as the teen's friends came slipping and sliding and bloodied from fighting. His sensei and foster father next, a tear he had never shed in life slide down his face landing on the teens red headed mate setting in motion the events to heal all those around. Kyuubi stirred as he felt another approach it's position.

“So you will choose to remember?” the six tailed fox asked, It's own essence swirling black and yellow.

“You who have chosen to remember do you regret your decision to do so?” the Fox asked as he watched the Leaf Ninja.

“I have not always been happy with it but humans,” the essence appeared to shrug, “make interesting companions from time to time.”

 

“Naruto! What the Hell?” Sasuke shouted chasing after his blonde brother. Kat crossed her eyes and leaned on Itachi as she watched the three disappear into the trees followed by Iruka-sensei and Kakashi-sensei.

“You aren't going to follow?” Itachi questioned his voice monotone. Kat looked up her right arm hooked over the older ninja's shoulder.

“I don't have near the level of energy that they do I'm still a gennin.” She was drained both from the physical fighting and the use of her Sharingan. Itachi smiled it was so unexpected that the others, namely Ino, Choji, and Kiba, drew back eyes wide and not with a small amount of apprehension. It was one thing to see Sasuke smile which was rare if at all but to see the older Uchiha doing so and not in the sadistic `I will kill you' sort of way. Ino being one of the three females in their group to remain behind felt her heart skip a beat, it was a good thing he hadn't been in the village for all those years while she and the rest of the female population grew up. It had been troublesome enough with one handsome Uchiha two would have decimated all friendships as well as a run all blood banks dry. Grimacing at the phrasing she knew that she had been hanging out with Nara Shikamaru too much.

“I need a vacation.” She grumbled.

“Ino?” Choji asked but she just shook her head letting her teammate know it was nothing.

 

Meanwhile Sasuke and Sakura were both at the limit of frustration, not that they weren't happy their teammate was alive and breathing but really, to jump up like that and then go running off into the trees without so much as a thank you or explanation! Sakura was trailing behind them once again, it seemed to be her lot in life to be always trailing behind them. Forcing her protesting muscles to move she focused chakra into her tired legs, she was also worried about the Godiame Hokage. The blonde had taken off at a fast pace leaving the others to follow or not, she could sense both Kakashi and Iruka not far behind them trying to close the distance between their groups. Glancing over her shoulder she saw them moving through the trees, Iruka seemed the lest injured it was the copy ninja's movement's that bothered her the most, he was being supported by the younger man inconspicuously while favoring his right arm, the Hiet-ate he wore though covering his Sharingan eye was torn and blooded. Slowing her own pace the pink haired medic allowed the two older shinobi to catch up.

“Kakahi-sensei, Iruka-sensei.” The younger man smiled or grimaced more accurately. Both men where bone weary and the stresses of combat and then Naruto's almost death was telling on them all.

“Allow me to look at your arm Sensei.” They came to a halt on the ground rather jerkily, the copy-nin wasn't above admitting when he couldn't push any further and right now his body was telling him it needed to be looked at and healed even if only marginally. Sakura, gathering chakra into her hands, did a quick scan for anything life threatening before working on his arm to heal the break, clicking her tongue to the roof of mouth she worked setting the bone then placed a temporary healing seal on the ends to hold them together. Con-tray to what some people (Naruto) thought she could not replicate cells but she could speed up the process of cell regeneration which is exactly what she did the technique was relatively painless and used mostly the patients own chakra with a small push from her own. It took less then 2 minutes to finish, when she looked up she saw both her teammates had not only come back for her but had watched her work. She meet Naruto's gaze first, his altered appearance was a little unnerving, slitted pupils in his deep blue eyes and the thicker whisker marks stood out giving him a fox like appearance. The hand that gripped the tree trunk boasted longer sharper looking nails and his hair was wilder if possible. The teen didn't pull away from her gaze but he did step back into the shadow of the foliage over head and Sakura felt her heart twist.

“Naruto.” She called softly but he was already turned, his back facing her. The others watching the exchanged worried, Sasuke moved to join the blonde on the same branch but just as he landed the other jumped forward calling out to them to follow.

“Hurry up Sakura.” Sasuke beckoned to her including the older shinobi in the barely contained command.

 

“You have always been an idiot, time has only improved that point.” The snake hissed, his long pale red tongue flicked out between cracked lips tasting the blood there. Tsunade glared, though she agreed that Jirayia could be a baka he was still a genius in more ways than one. She couldn't help but wonder if Naruto had grown up with them if she and Jirayia would have given up on their former teammate.

“Tsuande-hime don't be so squeamish.” The pale man called to her, “Blood is a natural part of living.” A flash of red and white and Jirayia Resenganed through Orochimaru's chest only to swear loudly as the body exploded in a spray of mud and grass. The Blonde Godiame raised her leg high over head and brought it down sharply creating a crater the size of a small house. Sweat slide down all of their faces drenching their clothes.

“Why are you holding back or was that boy not that important?” The husky whisper slide in her ear, she turned catching the man across the jaw sending him flying.

“Bastard!” she snarled. She would have continued to pulverize the vile creature but something orange and black beat her to it. The Blonde Rokudiame barreled into the Snake Sannin, his body wrapped in dark violet chakra. Claws grasped the mans throat holding him in the air his hand reached out grabbing both of the Snakes wrists and squeezed a loud snapping sound filled the area.

“Mine!” the blonde growled his voice deep, it was the same mixture of Kyuubi and Naruto that they had all heard during his fight with the Akatsuki leader. “Out.” The order surprised them all, the blonde dropped the broken wrists he held and slapped his palm heavily on the others chest in the center his chakra flared violently digging into the ground. Orochimaru screamed as pain laced through his body and he felt the ripping of his soul and the same sensations when he had faced Saritobi-sensei coursed though his limbs. He couldn't lose to the boy this child, he had lived far longer then he should have after experimenting with his own body by transferring his soul into others. No he wouldn't let this boy take his victory from him though his wrists were broken and it was painful to move he couldn't let this insolent brat kick him out of this body, forming the seals for the transfer jutsu he smirked as just before both of their consciousness fell away he heard the pained cry of the Uchiha as well as the others. Naruto's face went slack but his body reacted before he lost consciousness, the hand holding the Snake sannin's neck tightened and the neck snapped killing the body he dropped to the ground still holding tight to the neck.

Several feet away the youngest Uchiha went completely still a fluttering of…something brushed his mind and when he opened his eyes the sight that greeted them could have sprung from the darkest pit of his worst nightmares. He stood transfixed as what he had survived all those years ago was spread out before him again the only difference was the blonde being mired down in the countless shadow forms of what had once been powerful ninja. Swallowing bile the ex-avenger moved into a quick jog to reach his brother when out of no where a huge wall of seething fury slammed into him throwing him to the ground and pinning him in place.

“What the hell?!” He struggled pushing against the mass that lay on top of him only to have it shove him further into the ground rather painfully forcing a grunt out. “Shit.” He hissed as something cut into his stomach and right leg, it was at that moment he felt the fluttering again beside him and a voice not his own whispered to him.

“He can hear you if you talk to him.” The Uchiha glared around continuing to shove at the mass.

“Who the hell are you, where are you?” It came out as growl

“Call him and he will hear you.” Sasuke felt like snarling, who ever was talking to him was pissing him off with these cryptic messages, Who would hear him.

“Stupid brat, my kit.” This time the voice was exasperated and the sarcasm thick, the realization of just who was talking to him startled the darker shinobi.

“How?” he asked not concerned with why the beast was still there and the other seemed to understand.

“As you always have.” And with that the fluttering in his ear disappeared and the pressure increased holding him down.

“Oi Dobe.” Sasuke called out the surface holding him down lightened slightly, “Get off me Ursatonchi.”

“Sasuke?” The hesitation in that always-confident voice worried him. “Teme you have to leave if he wins you have to kill me.” The wall eased further letting him up then attempted to wrap around him to force him to leave, Sasuke jumped in the air dodging.

“No, Naruto I'm staying.” Abruptly he found himself standing with the blonde facing the Snake Sannin. “Besides I know how to beat him.” He clamped a hand on the Blondes shoulder. It wouldn't be that hard to defeat the Bastard he had done it before it was just convincing Naruto, at the back of his mind whispered he was giving the idiot an advantage in their fights but it also meant he could use more advanced techniques later. Naruto shot his brother a questioning look making the Uchiha roll his eyes.

“Its Your mind baka, what ever you want will happen.” He said it as if it was the most obvious thing in the world infuriating the blonde.

“Teme.” he muttered, narrowing his eyes he glared at the Snake as the older shinobi hissed flicking his tongue at them.

“You seem to let anyone in your mind.” The snake mocked, he was only slightly concerned with the appearance of the Uchiha. If worse came to worse he would escape back into his previous body, but he wasn't planning on that he felt confident that the Kyuubi vessel couldn't grasp what the Uchiha was telling him. He knew from experience that the boy was an amazing tactician but anything more `in-depth' only served to confuse and irritate him leaving him open.

Now Naruto knew he wasn't the smartest person and having been dead last wasn't entirely due to neglect but he was neither the dumbest. What Sasuke was suggesting seemed feasible but the hard evidence lay before them in the shape of human stalagmites jutting all around them. As doubt took hold the bodies shifted and circled him crawling up his leg and body trying to swallow him.

Ebony eyes widened as his brothers body was being swallowed by the shadows, he did the only thing he could think of to focus the blonde he picked a fight.

“And you say you can beat Me…Dobe.” The dig at his pride and the insult where the right trigger, the blondes face suffused brightly in red his nostrils flared and he pointed an accusing finger at the Uchiha.

“DON'T CALL ME THAT!” The blonde took a step forward freeing himself from the grasping bodies only it wasn't the young man Sasuke was dealing with it was the 10 year old child filled with anger.

“I'M NOT A MONSTER!” the boy screamed. Something had gone horribly wrong he only wanted the idiot to get a grip not lose his sanity. The boy Naruto clutched his head and screamed, with it came a wave of immense power knocking Sasuke to the ground as well as the Snake who lay groaning not far away.

“I'M NOT A MONSTER!” the boy screamed again this time he directed it at the snake. “GET OUT!” the boy took a step forward. Sasuke watched stunned as his best friend shouted, the pain in that voice alone made him want to cry. “I'M NOT YOU.” The voice was somewhat deeper and the 10 year old was now the 12-year-old Sasuke remembered fighting at the Valley of the End. “I WILL SAVE SASUKE!” The boy grew taller as he walked towards the snake every step he took he got taller and his voice deepened further.

“YOU CANT HAVE THEM!” It was the 15year old Naruto, Sasuke remembered this clearly, at that time he had been with the Snake when Naruto and Sakura came to get him with Sai. A brief flash of jealous pulsed but he forced it down, he had felt betrayed when his replacement had tried to kill him only to be relieved when Sakura and Naruto's eye's revealed that they had not known their teammates plan.

“…MY HOME, MY FAMILY!” He was now standing over the snake shouting his hands clenched at his side. “GET OUT!” with the last shout the snake screamed writhing on the floor his body dissolving in what Sasuke could only describe as agony having no body to return to and not being able to take over Naruto's his existence was being wiped away. When the last of the body was gone the blonde crumpled to the ground clutching his head again rocking back and forth. Sasuke sprinted the short distance to his side dropping beside the blonde listening to the broken sobs.

“I'm not…a…mon…ster.” The words broken by hiccups, he repeated the mantra between gasps and sobs and once again the Uchiha was looking at the 10 Naruto, he guessed that it was at this point in his life that made the difference between becoming what the Kazekage had been as a child and what Naruto had been as a child.

“I'm…n..ot…a…” Sasuke wrapped his arms around the boy holding him close.

“You are Naruto…your not a monster you never were.” The boy stiffened then clung to the older teen almost desperately.

“Promise?” came the small trembling voice.

“Hn.” Small arms grasped his sides, the hands clutching his shirt as the boy sobbed this time in relief his head coming to rest on Sasuke's chest. Sasuke held the child Naruto until the boy fell asleep, once he did the boy disappeared and the Dark haired shinobi found himself holding his brother returned to his older form. His head came up from Sasuke's chest and blue eyes blinked in confusion.

“Nani?” Sasuke rolled his eyes, leave it to the Dobe to forget. He shook his head, no the blonde didn't forget he did what he did best he repressed it so instead of leaving it alone like he would have he shook the blonde's shoulders roughly.

“Insanities not a fun pas-time dobe.” For a moment Sasuke wondered if the blonde would continue to hide when the shutters dropped and the years of pain and rejection where clearly present. “Sakura and I are here for you, you're my brother after all.” A faint dusting of pink stained his cheeks. They both stood up assisting each other.

“Oi teme so how do we get out of here?” The Uchiha smirked.
”KAI!”

“BASTARD!” Naruto came awake with a jolt shouting across from him stood the smirking Uchiha. His face red as a hydrant he shouted at the other man again.

“TEME WHAT THE HELL?!”

“Ursantonchi.” Was all the other answered; Sakura rocked back on her heels, these two never changed.

“Oi why are you blushing Uchiha?” Kiba's voice cut through the tense making everyone look more closely at the youngest Uchiha.

 

 

Authors Notes

OK so this took a while to get out and many revisions have been made plus I cut it in half so it wont be to long to read it's a bonus long chapter for the previous ones falling so short of expectations. R&R JA!