A Bare Anomaly

Disclaimer: Kishimoto owns Naruto. (Insert colon scope)

Notice for this chapter: Read the Author’s note at the end to help. You’ll see what I mean when you read the chapter.


Jiraiya noticed the slight slump in the boy’s gait. Must still be brooding over the other week. He didn’t understand why the boy was so depressed. He managed to seal the tails, Naruto returned to normal, and the regency was none the wiser. Still, it wouldn’t do the let the boy mope. “Hey, brat! C’mere.”

Naruto’s head popped up to the sound of the old man’s voice. He hadn’t even realized he had been looking at the ground. The past week had been trying, to say the least. He thought that the exercises on controlling the Kyuubi were supposed to work. That poor girl. She hadn’t deserved to see such brutality. “Whadda want old man?” He never took to Jiraiya’s commands. The old man always sounded like he wanted to be anywhere else but with Naruto. That always bothered Naruto, but now more so.

“Look, there’s a town nearby, I figured we’d go unwind for a day. Take in the relaxing bathhouses, you know . . . ” Oh, so the old man wanted to peep on women while Naruto ambled around the town looking to not be bored. Last time that arrangement happened, he killed . . . His mood, visible on his face, darkened. “No thanks, I’ll stay here and train, you go off to your whores.”
He’d learned over the last year to enjoy looking at women, he no longer thought that appreciating the female form was truly perverted. Just the blatant disregard for decency was what he minded. But today, and probably for a long time, he wouldn’t enjoy it today. Something was flying toward him. He caught it with ease. “Just relax boy, you can sit in the shaded grove and catch up on your reading.”

The perverted geezer was good for a few things. A few indeed, but what he was good for, he was tops in each category. Naruto was a little excited to think he was getting a new technique book, and was disappointed (only slightly) when he realized it was the smut the man wrote. Ah well, maybe he could nap or something. “If you’re not coming with me, just . . .” Jiraiya stopped himself. The boy was in a particular time of his life and saying brash things wouldn’t help him at all. “Just relax today, we’ve still got a few months till time to head back. No sense in you being dead. Tsunade-hime would kill me.” Naruto grinned, not as wide as normal, but a grin nonetheless. Under his breath, Jiraiya added, “So would the Hyuuga” Naruto heard him, anyway. “Anyway, brat, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” A leering grin later and the pervert was off.

He supposed that Jiraiya was being concerned and serious when he mentioned Hinata, but now Naruto was even more concerned. What was he going to do about her? He’d made up his mind previously to give her a better chance. He did admire her courage. As he witnessed in his own fight, Neji was never to be taken lightly. That kid truly had power. Neji was certainly incredibly strong. And Hinata, knowing what he did not, faced that crushing power the best she could. To say he was proud of her, well, that was doing it disservice. He meant ever word he said to her. That he’s ever said to her. She accepted his burden . . . but he was a monster. His emotions were never in control. And Kyuubi abused that fact. Naruto couldn’t let that happen again with someone he cared about, or in her case grew to care about. Bah. I don’t know what to do. I’m so confused. Maybe he’s right. I’ll have to get my mind off of it.

After sitting down, the book opened and he began reading. Hmm. This must be the new novel he was working on. After reading the first few chapters’ Naruto began reading he started to get drowsy. So, he hopped up into the branches of the tree. No sense in wandering thugs mugging him because he was careless. This was strange, sometimes the man’s books were boring, but this was different. Certain chapters were better than others, but one never put him to sleep. He couldn’t hold his head any longer. So he nodded off. And he dreamed.

Hinata sneezed, giving her position away to Sakura and Shino. Today was a joint training effort with team eight and team seven. Hinata still had an uneasy relationship with her teacher, but it was getting better. She did miss her old team. But since they all had achieved Chuunin status she had moved onto intense training with her new team. Still, it was nice to romp in the outskirts of town, ‘battling’ her equals. Only she had to go and sneeze. Kiba sighed, loudly (as he does with everything else), and jogged over to her. “Awesome, we almost had Pinkie this time. Thanks.” She growled and lowered her head. “Sorry. Must have been some passing pollen.” “Or maybe a certain ninja is talking about you, sunshine.” Kiba had accepted that Hinata would only see Naruto. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t tease her, mercilessly. She growled again, this time because Sakura was laughing. The two had jogged up seconds prior, catching Kiba’s comment. Shino never teased Hinata about Naruto. Instead he just listened to her. But he was allowed to chuckle once in a while.

Hinata, head still lowered, had actually been looking at Akamaru. Finally, his whimpers confirmed her plan, she growled a final time and launched her self at Sakura, Akamaru at Shino. Kunai and teeth at necks, Hinata finally spoke. “Do you yield?” Kiba roared with laughter. “Part of the plan was it?” Sakura sighed, and nodded. Shino did the same. “You know, both of you should have never let your guard down” Kurenai appeared in front of the tangled mess. “Enemies can turn disadvantages into these situations all the time.” Hinata smiled. Kiba would get his later. And she had proven that no matter the situation she could be prepared. It still chilled her that these fights were getting easier and easier. The shake was all but gone. Kiba, still laughing, “Our little sunshine’s full of surprises.”

“It would seem so,” Shino affirmed, then, glancing over to the canine “Akamaru if you please.” The dog gave a light bark and licked his cheek, then bounded away. Sakura sighed and moved away from the dangerous girl. “Nah. I just think she’s missing . . . ” Hinata growled again, then pouted. “Watch it Pinkie . . . ” It was Sakura’s turn to pout. Kakashi, from the shadows, was pleased at the whole thing. He arranged this at the request of Hinata, and was glad to see that she was more open with her teacher. “How about some lunch everyone?” They all knew he was there, but he never appeared unless they were sparring him, which given his level, wasn’t often. So anytime he graced them with his physical presence, it was almost always a jolt. Kurenai agreed, “Sounds fine. There’s a traveling cart near here, let’s go there.”

As they enjoyed lunch, Naruto was in the middle of his dream, resting fitfully. The Kyuubi was using the link between them to his advantage. The seal the old man used to contain Kyuubi’s influence hurt the demon greatly. He knew it wasn’t supposed to tickle or peacefully restrain him, but that shit actually hurt. Jiraiya taught the fourth everything, so it made sense he knew how to seal anything properly. Luckily for Kyuubi, the old man didn’t really teach the brat about dealing with emotional recognition. The brat was dreaming, and in turmoil. So the Kyuubi decided to twist a few things. A dead friend here, a scorned lover there, but what finally he discovered would drive the boy further toward him was delicious.

As we all know, Naruto was shunned and spat upon all his life. His loyalty to those who have his respect and love is unshakable, his disposition was always sunny. Yet for all his worth, Naruto was always scared, deep down (so far now that it’s buried), that he was the monster adults called him. He used to wonder what it would be like to kill without mercy or remorse. Then he found the third Hokage. Life, or course, became bearable, if only slightly. We know what happened after that. Gaara brought these old fears to light though. And ever since the Kyuubi’s been influencing the brat here and there. Glimpses of brutality that shake the youth awake, crying and screaming. Petty dreams where blood stains his hands, and he doesn’t care. The tactile crushing of his foes windpipes. Squeezing Sakura’s throat shut, watching her gurgle too late apologies. That malicious grin as he rapes and pillages the entire populace, those left quivering in fear of the great monster he is. What he became.

This afternoon was no different. Naruto dreams of ramen. Of a better life. Lately, of his friends and family. Of Hinata. Mostly innocent, but this is the ninja that invented the Orioke Technique. So, of course, his dreams start benignly.

The day breaks, Naruto roused from his slumber. He finds his house occupied, breakfast wafting its summons. So he rises, ambling madly toward to the smell. The skies outside are darkened, but nothing horrible. Couldn’t ruin this day anyway. The light humming coming from the makeshift kitchen is soft and pleasing. The figure and visage of the sweet temptress come into focus. It’s she. He smiles. A little deeper still.

She beckons him to the table and he obliges. It’s not ramen, but he’s learned to deal with that. It makes her happy. The conversation is light, the hearty food. He gets up to start the day for his mission, bending over her to kiss her forehead. Then he’s off.

The rain starts, pitter patter, dancing lightly down the horizon. The corner bends and he’s in view of the familiar place. The worn foot paths, the used sturdy logs. The training ground. Where this all started. He bypasses this for now, there are more important things to attend too now. The obsidian stone juts into the view. His smile shortens, and his eyes try not to match the skies.

Names forever etched onto this stone. Names that will live forever, well past the time his bones are dust. And his fingers trace the grooves. As though he’s gently caressing the young lass from her clothes. His other hand clenches, promises of redemption and revenge clear in its grasp. The prayers start. The rain’s drumming picking up pace. Violently shifting into a frenzy. The anguish the grief crowd his mind.

If only he’d been faster. Better. Smarter. Stronger. Dum dum dum. The drumming becomes maddening. The rain isn’t letting up. It’s pulsing encourages his madness. Her name appears upon the stone. Wasn’t it just this morning? Was that two years ago? Was it yesterday? His time has become his reality.

His eyes flutter open, the scene’s still the same, so they shut again. He breathes in, exhales slower. It’s starting to shallow. His fingers stop their clumsy fumbling. The fist unclenches. There are matters to attend to. The council is begging to see him. Matters he must attend.

Voices thunder from all directions. Accusations come from the front. Worries from the east. Her voice from the west. In the dead center, the swelling laughter. The red eyes of those most affected by his decisions.

As he arrives, the chaos spewing forth stops. It becomes rigid. He sighs. And the barrage begins. It was a trap. This time it’s his red eyes that affect the outcome. Ninjas should know better. All he wanted was peace for her. Peace for them. Peace for him. The simplest requests. The simplest denials.

Today he would be denied no longer. Fist carried out it’s demand. Fingers gouged the soul. When all the bodies were piled and broken, he smiled. The fear was palpable, the blood bathing the town. And he walked home again. As he did everyday. Smiling and thinking of her. Her cold dead hands greeting him every night in bed.

Naruto jolted awake, screaming again. Something was grabbing him, from the inside and out. He was disoriented, as he scrambled away from the probing grasp, he forced himself to be alert. The haunting voice kept calling him back. “SHUT UP! LEAVE ME ALONE! SHES DEAD! YOU GOT WHAT YOU WANTED!” Jiraiya was startled. “Brat! Naruto!” The chase was on. The kid was running for his life. And the man was getting too old for this.

Trees became blurs. He knew his physical attacker was long gone, but the voice was still haunting him in his head. Once he gained his bearings, he realized. The fox. Coming to a complete halt, he jumped down into the thick brush. It was time he had a talk with the tenant. So his meditation began. And the sewers welcomed him again.

The pervert knew to keep his distance, but the kid was panicked. That could prove dangerous. So he followed, slowly, until the kid disappeared completely. Worrying would be good about now. And he did.

“FOX! BASTARD FOX!” Naruto knew it annoyed Kyuubi, but this time it went to far. “What do I owe the pleasure brat?” Kyuubi’s toothy grin mimicked the brat. “This shit stops now!” “And if I don’t? You need me brat. Without me you are just a below average worthless ninja.” “It stops.” It had to give the kid credit. Naruto’s bravery (borderline stupidity) always got its attention. So for now, just this moment, it would agree. “It is done, go away.” To prove that the Kyuubi was serious, it retreated from the front of the cage, leaving a bit of it’s restorative power behind.

As the old man found the area Naruto was in, Naruto popped out of the brush. “Holy hell, kid. You scared me.” Naruto didn’t even acknowledge the man. He plopped back down, shivering and shaking. Jiraiya bent down and grabbed the kid. As the dam broke Jiraiya resolved to make it better. He guesses it was time.

Author’s Notes:

I hope the dream sequence confused people. I wanted to recreate the feeling I get from my dreams. I remember most dreams I have, in vivid detail, but when relate them, they end up being a jumbled confusing mess. I’ve never been a big fan of flashbacks in fictions. But for Naruto they are almost integral for the story. So here I pay homage to it with a dream sequence.

You will not find may, if any, flashbacks here. This will probably be the first, last, and only dream sequence. I hope it did it’s job.


I bet you were expecting a reason for the absence. I don’t have one. I write when I can, I already had the first three chapters written and planned. The last four (this one included) were there, but not fully fleshed out. Besides, David Tatum took a full year to do a chapter for Training for the Job. But it was worth the wait. This isn’t in that scope, but meh. So there’s that.