A Dream for a Dream

A Dream for a Dream

chapter 4

"Is this really true?"

"What does it mean?"

"The boy will have to be studied closely."

"Is the seal still working?"

"Please calm yourselves," Tsunade broke in. "We have yet to find out where Naruto is right now and why he hasn't returned." The din died down and the Hokage looked meaningfully at the three team-mates prompting them to enlighten her on those questions immediately.

"Hahah, well you know what he said about eventually going into heat?" said Kiba, scratching the back of his head.

"He really did?!"

"Dude, it was 'crazy'!" Ino elbowed Kiba in the gut and he cut off abruptly with a wheeze, and clutched at his side.

"What 'exactly' happened?" Tsunade did not sound very amused, her amber eyes narrowing. Neji took up the story while Ino actually shuffled back a bit, discretely, and fidgeted with the braces on her arms.

"It was when we were on the way back to Fire Country. Naruto suddenly started slowing. He seemed to be feeling ill in some way and his temperature began to rise rapidly. We had to stop and let him rest. At first we thought, or hoped, that it was just a little fever that he had caught, but it turned out that it wasn't treatable. He just kept getting hotter and more uncomfortable."

I was hating this stupid suspense. So far, I hadn't heard anything that would have kept him from coming back to me... to Konoha. Sure the information was surprising, shocking even, but if it really was a 'heat cycle' he had experienced, then it couldn't have gone on forever. Right? It would come to an end and then he could have just come home. I was trying to listen closely and go through all the possible reasons that Naruto wouldn't have made it home at the same time. Had he changed somehow? Was he just afraid of people finding out? Or had he really been sick?! Had he not recovered?!

"He was sweating" Neji continued, "and then, what looked like steam started to rise from his body. It started out clear but it slowly turned red."

"Kyuubi's chakra!" the murmuring started again at this, but Tsunade held up a hand, leaning over her desk and staring at him almost as intently as I was.

"Well," she said, impatiently.

"It 'was' Kyuubi's chakra." The murmurs were quieter this time, less intelligible but anyone could guess what they were thinking anyway, I suppose. "In fact, it was the Kyuubi himself, separating from Naruto."

Cries of shock and fear and outrage burst forth, filling the room. It took some time, before Neji was able to continue with the telling and I wanted to tear out every one of their tongues. I just wanted to know what the hell had happened to the dobe! It was so frustrating!

"It went on for quite some time, forming a reddish cloud around him. The chakra leaked out of him very slowly, presumably to avoid causing Naruto any damage." Everyone looked confused at that theory, not understanding why the escaping demon would bother to preserve it's host.

"And what led you to that conclusion?" Tsunade asked, before another barrage of comments and questions could break out.

"It... became fairly obvious," Neji answered evasively, causing even more frustration. Tsunade frowned, which is a more controlled expression than I'm sure 'I' must have been making.

"I don't suppose Ino would have begun a recording at this juncture. I would call such a thing, both unusual and relevant to the security of the village."

"Uh, well, yes," Ino answered hesitantly. Everyone moved into position and Ino grasped the hands to either side of her and began her transmission. Suddenly I was looking at Naruto, flushed and doubled over in a small clearing, likely off to the side of the trail somewhere.

Neji was staring intently at Naruto with his byakugan activated, and Kiba was looking worriedly back and forth between the blond and his other team-mates as the red chakra Neji had described was building. Rather than growing in size, the cloud was growing more dense, it was slowly moving away from Naruto who was panting heavily, eventually leaving just a trickle still connecting them.

The chakra, acting as though it had a pulse and a life of it's own, shifted and began to actually solidify as though it were building a tangible form molecule by molecule. Soon limbs and distinguishable features took shape and a man stood beside Naruto. A man with many reddish, furry tails swishing back and forth, very visibly as his back was turned to me. (or Ino rather) He was well built, with honey toned skin and shaggy, blood red hair and he seemed to be looking himself over as he stretched out his arms and flexed his claw-tipped fingers.

Naruto let out a whimper and the man, Kyuubi, turned at once to look at him. He kneeled over him and grasped his hands, gently pulling them away from where they were digging little furrows into the earth.

"Naruto," he said, his voice low but powerful. Naruto's head shot up and his eyes that had been squeezed shut, opened wide. Revealing things I hadn't noticed until that moment. His ears seemed more pointed than before and his blue eyes were sharper and shot with violet. His mouth dropped open at the sight of the demon, showing off fangs that were more prominent now. A swift glance over the rest of him and I saw that the hands Kyuubi was holding bore claws like his own.

"Kyuubi?" Naruto whispered. The demon's mouth curled a bit.

"That's me Kit."

"What... How?"

"What the Fuck are we gonna do?!" Kiba whispered, while Kyuubi chuckled at the blond. He looked like he was about ready to piss his pants and his huge dog was cowering behind him like a little pup.

"We can't attack. We don't have enough information." Neji answered.

"If he's really here, at full power, we could be obliterated and there'd be no one left to warn the village," came Ino's shaky voice.

"That's right," Neji agreed. "We have to get to Konoha and tell the Hokage what's happening."

"You little runts might as well quit plotting over there. I won't be going anywhere near your puny village." All three jumped at the demon's deep voice. "You're seal hasn't really been active for a long time Kit," he continued.

"Wh... Y-you mean you've been free? But why.. d-didn't you..." Poor Naruto could hardly speak around his panting.

"Why didn't I leave?" he finished for him. "I could have. What nobody seemed to take into consideration in that pathetic village, was that the chakra that originally powered the seal was that human's life-force, or what was left of it. Since he was human and mortal, that life energy had to run out sometime.

At that point, your own will-power would have been essential in keeping the seal intact. Those morons never bothered to tell you that I was there, so you never did take over the powering of the seal when you should have."

Kyuubi was shaking his head, apparently appalled by human stupidity. At that point I don't think I could really blame him. I hoped the council members felt like idiots rights then.

"So that's the real reason Yondaime said Naruto was a hero. He was supposed to dedicate his life to keeping that seal intact for the sake of the village," Neji murmured.

"I told you, I don't care about your damn village. The whole damn incident was pointless," Kyuubi growled.

He was still holding Naruto's hands and was even rubbing his thumbs over his knuckles. I was growing more disturbed by this with each passing second.

"I stayed because I didn't want to leave you alone Kit." Naruto's eyes were closed again as he seemed to be trying to will away his discomfort. Kyuubi gave him a look that was both fond and concerned, and my own concern rose even higher. I was beginning to form another theory as to why Naruto hadn't returned.

"Are you saying you actually 'care' about Naruto?!" Ino exclaimed loudly before staggering back as she probably realized that she shouldn't call that kind of attention to herself. Kyuubi leveled a glare at her.

"That kind of thinking is what got you people in trouble in the first place. You're so quick to assume that a demon is a reckless monster, without feelings. The balance of good and evil is a major component of 'all' sentient beings. But a demon tries to pass through your territory and you just 'have' to attack it." He was shaking his head again, a look of disgust on his face.

"My host, was the only one, who never thought that way. He was the only useful human in the bunch, and the rest of them treated him like garbage. At first I wanted to stay a while longer because I knew that my leaving the child wouldn't have lifted the stigma. His life would not have gotten any better, and he would lose the benefit of my protection and advanced healing." While everyone was still reeling over this, he directed his attention back to Naruto.

"I admired your character Kit and that spirit of determination. You were very strong for a human and much more open minded than any others I encountered. I grew attached to you and I found that I didn't like to think of your mortality.

I have become so used to your constant presence, that I didn't want to lose you and be left alone again. So I decided to finish the job that was begun by the natural flow of my chakra within you. I made you a demon like me."

"You... on purpose?!" Naruto gasped.

"It will be better this way Kit. They would never have given you all that you deserved. Now nothing will hurt you again." Kyuubi's voice grew softer and he leaned in close to Naruto. "We can be together 'always'. You can have a real family. I will take care of you."

I wanted to howl out my pain and rage. Naruto had chosen the demon over Konoha, over me. Of course in that moment, I couldn't think straight enough to remember that as far as Naruto knew, I was not an option.

"A family?" his voice was small and cracked, his eyes shining with welling tears. Kyuubi gave a fanged smile, one hand reached up to brush Naruto's smooth cheek and he leaned into the touch with a small sigh of relief. Some of the flushed color seemed to fade just a little.

"Oh yes. We could get started on it right now," Kyuubi purred. "I'm having a hell of a time resisting as it is. You have no idea how absolutely 'delicious' you smell."

I wanted to DESTROY him!! I could have smashed my own skull open with a rock just to take out the instant bombardment of emotion those words slammed into me!

"I want.. I can't... think like this!" Naruto's body was almost writhing in place with his need and discomfort. "I've never felt... I didn't know it would be so... NnnKyuuuuubi!" he groaned.

The sound shot through me like no sound ever had before. If only it were 'my' name.

"How long will I feel like this?!" He was clutching desperately at his flack jacket, his head thrown back, perhaps in a mindless attempt to get some cool air on his neck.

Finally he just tore the vest off, followed closely by the mesh shirt he wore under it, though I doubt if that helped much. I caught myself staring, like some creepy old pervert, at his flushed and shuddering body and wrenched my gaze away to narrow-in warily on the demon fox.

I was suddenly very aware of his lack of clothing, though the tails swirling around him hid anything of importance. I wanted to do something, anything to get him away from Naruto, but this was just a vision and I could do nothing but watch.

Suddenly, the atmosphere seemed to change. It was like the air had gone still. Kyuubi's eyes shifted, his body tensed and he let out a low growl. His head swiveled to look at the many tails waving behind him as a breeze blew over him, bringing with it the tingle of a foreign chakra.

The demon turned back to face forward and something sharp and unseen blew on the suddenly harsh wind, glancing off his face. His head reeled to the side at the blow that didn't seem so much painful as insulting.

His gaze settled ahead once more only to be knocked to the other side by a second imperceptible blow. Something was challenging him, but I could see nothing around us. It seemed Kyuubi knew what was happening though and he'd had enough.

"Kit, you're going to have to hold out a bit longer," he said as he carefully moved Naruto off more to the edge of the clearing and the slight shelter of one of the huge tree trunks. He settled him between two of the large roots and seemed to have some difficulty letting go of him. He backed off quickly when he did and Naruto leaned weakly against the thick trunk with a groan.

Kyuubi went to stand in the middle of the clearing, and casting a last quick glance at the blond, he dropped his hands to the ground as his body began to change. His limbs shifted and red fur sprouted over his skin.

In the space of a few moments a fox the size of a work-horse stood in the place of the man, nine tails lashing angrily about. The fur on his shoulders prickled and stood straight on end and his head dropped low to the ground in a threatening pose.

The rumbling growl he let out this time was accompanied by a burst of red chakra. It sprang from his body in twisting, violent rivers. The chakra pouring from him suppressed the air around him, stifling the wind. And then the mysterious challenger appeared.

He seemed to materialize as he stepped out of the undergrowth. He was a tall willowy man, all pale skin, pale hair and pale eyes. He was draped in some strange diaphanous material which was also... yup, you guessed it, pale.

"Do you dare challenge me?" Kyuubi's voice in this form was a dangerous rumble.

"I do," came the airy reply."If you intend to claim the young one."

"He is mine!" Kyuubi roared.

"You know the rules. You must accept any challenges. All rights go to the victor. He is powerful, healthy, young and easily trainable and he smells extremely fertile. I believe it's worth the challenge."

It angered me to no end to hear Naruto's potential as a mate being discussed as though this arrogant ass were simply buying cattle or some such thing. And my frustrated psyche was simply refusing to process the use of the word fertile.

"Your challenge is accepted. Prepare yourself... for your humiliating loss!" Kyuubi growled, and I almost wanted to cheer him on for a split second before I remembered myself.

The wind picked up, growing faster and more vicious. It centered around the figure that faced the fox, swirling round and round savagely and the leaves began to rip away from their summer hold on the surrounding trees.

Ino, Neji and Kiba backed up warily, arms lifted to shield their faces from any stray debris.

"How the hell are we gonna explain all 'this' to the Hokage? It's freakin' insane!" Kiba's wide eyes looked to Neji for some response.

"I imagine that will depend on the outcome of this fight." God, Hyuuga can be useless sometimes.

The leaves were swarming together in the wind, forming a funnel that built into a tremendous cyclone. The currents parted and began to take on the shape of a body that stood upright on two legs with abnormally long arms. More leaves continued to rip from the trees and the shape grew ever taller until it towered above the trees before Kyuubi, staring down at him through empty, formless eyes.

The killer intent radiated threateningly from the massive entity and the fox slunk closer to the ground and closed his eyes. The rippling streams of red chakra grew brighter, moving with immeasurable ferocity.

His steady growl changed to a snarling roar, higher pitched at first but growing deeper and louder as his form grew in size to match the veritable tornado that faced him. Now, towering above us all, the earth shaking roar the fox let out, had the swirling body of wind and leaves assuming a defensive position. Kyuubi sneered at him.

The grossly disproportionate figure launched without warning at Kyuubi at lightning speed and the demon fox was tackled, caught off guard. He lost his balance and fell to the side, splintering a tree beneath his weight.

The entity rolled out of reach of the swift counter-attack and Kyuubi flipped angrily back to his feet, sending a chakra infused roar hurtling toward the barely tangible shape of his opponent. The entity raised gigantic arms to ward off the attack but the intense chakra burned through the leaves that made up it's body. The bracing form began to disintegrate and Kyuubi kept up his attack, ensuring the enemy couldn't defend when he finally pounced forward with all his might for a finishing blow.

Concentrating some chakra to his hind quarters and claws, he stretched out for a flying hind kick to the weakening body of leaves. The giant, nine-tailed fox flew through the air and landed with a thunderous sound, without hitting his target. Spinning quickly he slid to a new position and went on the defensive as he searched for the entity that had seemingly disappeared.

The air was still and I could practically hear his apprehensive thoughts. Had he defeated this thing already? The wind blew through the trees behind him and he spun again, bracing low just as the entity took shape once more and sent a torrent of debris flying in his direction with an eerie howl.

Kyuubi cringed slightly and let his chakra explode in a shock-wave around his body. The wind could not reach him and the wave deflected the debris back at the monstrous creature.

The great fox watched in amazement as the form dissipated and a horrific funnel reassembled it away from the danger. We were all coming to realize that this entity was immune to such physical attacks.

Kyuubi tested this theory by throwing himself forward and swiping at it with his lethal claws. Again the thing disintegrated and rebuilt itself behind him. Kyuubi backed off warily. The riotous vortex of red Chakra faded as he summoned chakra back into his body.

Only fast, high-chakra attacks would have any effect. He focussed it to his claws once again until they began to glow distractingly with it. Then he roared, sending a blast of raw chakra at the form.

The entity braced for the attack, continuing to regard him with those empty eyes. It seemed Kyuubi was counting on this. He pounced once again swiping his left paw at it's face. Of course it took form behind him again, but Kyuubi flipped over in a summersaulting motion and used his hind claws to cut channels of chakra through the air leaving deep claw marks in both the ground and the enemy's shoulders.

Jumping to meet his opponent, he was given no time to admire his handiwork. He launched at the creature again, claws slicing downward. The creature had already recovered enough to note it's danger and once again it used it's vanishing technique.

Kyuubi kept up with the entity's movements, his hind legs straining to propel his body toward his target with a second bound. He swiped at the form in midair. His claws were out of range but chakra extensions sliced through to air faster than the entity could react.

The blades of chakra bit deep into it's body, criss-crossing over it's chest. The intense heat of the demonic chakra singed away the leaves and Kyuubi watched as bright blue-green chakra shot from the wound he'd created, oddly resembling air leaking from a compressor hose. He leaped at the creature again before it could recover, with an explosive, chakra assisted bound.

Trees flattened like wheat in a storm as the concussion of the giant fox's landing burst through the forest. Kyuubi focused chakra to his razor sharp teeth as he bit at the neck of the grotesquely leaking figure, hot air steaming out around his mouth. He held fast with a determined grip.

As the chakra sprayed from the entity, it began to shrink, writhing in pain and struggling to retaliate. With the chakra binding grip on it's neck, it couldn't use it's vanishing technique without tearing itself apart.

It punched and kicked at the demon fox in a rage but the fox held on. The loss of chakra was weakening the blows significantly anyway.

Kyuubi summoned his mighty chakra and built it up all around him. The creature froze as the writhing mass of red chakra began to form. The apparition of a monstrously enormous fox head bore down over him. The inconceivable jaws opened wide blotting out the sun with huge sharp teeth in an endless black chasm that threatened to fall upon the fox's enemy and swallow it down whole.

Finally the challenger was forced to retract it's chakra, dropping the monstrous guise, leaving only the original demon's form. A sure sign of surrender.

With one final swirl, the wind died down again completely, letting the man's long pale hair fall limp around him once more. Tight lipped, he gave a curt bow to the victor and turned away without a word, gliding off into the half destroyed forest and disappearing.




(A/N; Gotta give a big shout out to Rifter. Fight scenes aren't exactly my strong point, which is the main reason I usually avoid canon-verse Naruto fics. He was a big help, keeping this last scene remotely interesting. So, yay Rifter! He's the man!... And now he's preening like an idiot. XP
Thanks to my reviewers as well, for the compliments. animelover, I'm glad you appreciate my little subtleties. And, Lanie 12777 and lexjamandme, I'm happy to hear that you guys approve of my portrayal of Naruto. See you all again soon!)