The nine tails attack
The 23rd of November
That would later become the to haunt Naruto Uzumaki for the rest of his life.
However, the day itself started like most for the six-year-old boy. (Taking away the impending feeling of doom that settled deep the moment his eyes flickered open). Waking up to the sounds of birds chirping in the chill winter breeze. His father plodded around the kitchen, his mother complaining about the other side of the house, mostly about her aching back and feet from her heavily pregnant body.
Ever since his mother told him that he was going to get a little sibling, Naruto was almost ecstatic and was most definitely not jealous of his best friend Itachi, who was told he was going to be an older sibling a few months before. Even so, Naruto was surprised he didn't have more siblings, seeing as his parents were very...affectionate with each other.
Exiting his bedroom, the young blonde boy caught the slight smell of burning. His father, despite being the current Hokage of the village, a master of many styles of jutsu, just had never mastered the art of cooking toast.
“Mother, father.” He greeted respectfully as he took his respective seat at the table, and they, like all mornings, would laugh at his apparent uptight ways of speaking. He wasn't a baby anymore; He was six; And a genius, just like his father. He can't be caught speaking like a baby.
Sitting silently at the table as his parents talked about the goings of the village or his mother shared some gossip with her gaggle of mother friends, swinging his legs back and forth, seemly frustrated that he was too short for his feet to reach the ground
“So Naruto,” The blonde turned his face to look up at his father, “What are you doing at the academy today? I heard they pushed you and your little friends up.” The look of pride shone boldly in his father's cerulean eyes as he reached across the table to ruffle his son's hair.
His mother reacted to the news as any mother would, but then his mother was the Kushina Uzumaki, so she wasn't just any mother. She moved at Naruto with a swiftness no heavily pregnant woman like herself should have. Once reaching him, she peppered his face with kisses and smushed his cheeks together between her palms, much to his displeasure.
“I just knew the moment you were born that you would be the best child in this village, just like your father, you know.” She squealed, “When you get home later, we'll go out and get some ramen.” before pulling him quite literally in a breathtaking hug, her floral perfume overtaking his senses. Her mass of red hair tickled his face as she pressed him closer.
Once free of her iron grasp, taking a deep gasp of air, his father laughed from his seat. It warmed Naruto's heart, chipping away at the feelings of doom that stirred in his gut. Shaking his head, feeling much older than his young age of six. Being born in the height of war wasn't the ideal place to bring up a kid. Yet he blamed his parents for not being able to keep their hands off each other.
Slipping off his chair, looking at the face of amusement coming from his mother causing the boy to scowl as he went to get ready for the day. Looking at clothes his mother had left out for him to wear with slight caution. His mother is still adamant about doting on him. Not that he minds wearing what she picks out because it makes her happy, it's just what she makes him wear,
Originally, the village did not know his relation to their beloved Minato Namikaze, for his own sake. But when the time came for his father's inauguration ceremony after the party, some drunken fool (his mother) proudly kissed her husband and announced something about their precious son.
After that little announcement, he'd become the most protected person in his village, after his father and mother. After that, the apparent weight had been off his parent's lives, and his father would gladly take him around the village on his shoulders. The only downside was that his mother made sure that they would dress alike. People would find Naruto very adorable and call him a ‘cute young lord’.
Yet ever since then, his array of clothes all but matched his father's. Showing this was what his mother had neatly folded up for the day. The matching long-sleeved blue top, complete with matching bands around his arms, was very similar to what his father was usually seen wearing. He paired it with a faded green t-shirt, resembling the colour of the flank vests ninjas wore, which all, unfortunately, matched the colour of his sandals.
The only upside was that it wasn't overly bright, unlike most days when his mother could dress him in brighter colours, much like herself. Making Naruto envy Itachi most days, as the Uchiha is mostly seen wearing darker colours. Why be a ninja if you're going to stand out, so much for hiding in the shadows.
Naruto would stand out in a crowded street whether he liked it or not, not only because he was a look-alike to his father, which meant he also inherited a full head of bright yellow hair. Plus the unique facial feature was the three lines on each cheek, which seemingly resembled whiskers.
“Naruto, are you ready yet?” his father knocked on the door before poking his head through the gap, his blonde hair oddly ruffed…almost as if someone ran their fingers through it, Naruto didn't want to know.
Nodding as he pulled his bag from its place by his desk before trailing behind his father to where his mother was waiting, hand rubbing her overly pregnant belly. Looking away as both his parents shared a kiss, wrinkling his nose up with obvious disgust.
“Oh, don't look like that, Naruto, I'm sure you'll find a beautiful woman, and then you'll understand.” His mother poked the centre of his forehead before stuffing his lunch away in his backpack. The redhead perked up for a second as if remembering before waddling towards the kitchen. Long crimson hair swaying behind her with each step.
Looking up at his father with a confused expression, the man just shrugged with a smile on his face. She came back with neatly wrapped parcels in her hand a few moments later before stuffing them in his bag.
“For you and your cute little friends, don't eat them until lunch though.” Kissing him on the forehead before ushering him out the door and out into the chilling weather.
“And what about me, Kushina? No sweet treat for your husband.” Naruto dared to look back at his father, who pretended to look hurt and even pouted. His mother smirked slightly and before she could even open her mouth, Naruto took it as his chance to flee down the stairs then rather than hearing what things she'd say to his father,
“Are you okay young lord?” The ANBU with a dog mask greeted him at the bottom of the steps with a taunting tone; Naruto was sure behind the double layers of the mask, and the silver-haired teen was smiling widely.
“Don't call me that.” Naruto huffed and crossed his arms over his chest like a petulant, spoiled child. Eyes narrowing as he scowled, and definitely not pouting.
“Where's lord Fourth anyways, He’s taking you to the academy?” The masked teen turned his face up the stairs where Naruto had just come down in a hurry.
Naruto huffed again before turning on his heel to the direction of the academy, causing the ANBU to splutter slightly at his abrupt movements.
“Not anymore, he isn't; you are now ‘Kashi.” Hoisting the bag up further his back, rocking on his feet as he waited for the dog-masked teen to catch up to him.
When he did, however, Naruto earned with a quick tap on the back of his head, “You're not supposed to call me that.” Under that mask, Naruto was sure he was rolling his eyes.
Naruto doesn't exactly remember the first time he'd met Kakashi, he'd just always been around, but it was before he started to wear the dog mask. Not that the mask mattered because he wore another one underneath it anyway. Covering half of his face, much to the curiosity of others.
From what Naruto knew, he was born just after his father was given a team. The proof was pictures of his father's three students holding him as a baby, whose faces were nothing to him, dying before he could remember them. All he knew was Kakashi, who had taken the role of his guard since his birth.
Even when he was off duty, the older teen was prone to spending his free time around Naruto, which, in a way, made him like an older brother to him, so when his sister was born, she would have two brothers.
The morning was bitter, the bleak November air made his nose tingle and body shiver. The wind rustled the leaves of the trees that surrounded the village. At this time the hidden leaf was just waking up, people setting up their shops and stalls for that day, all bundled up to combat the weather. People would greet him as they walked past, after realizing who he was. His eyes darkened slightly, but he gave them all a smile anyway. They didn't mean it, kindness can be easily faked by even the dumbest of people.
The village didn't see him for him, not Naruto Uzumaki, but the son of the fourth hokage, the yellow flash of the leaf's child. It was like they expected too much yet so little of him, comparing him to father anytime they got.
Sure, they don't even realize what they are doing is affecting him; they are proud of his father and rightfully so. He was a symbol of light for the village, but Naruto had no intentions of following in his fathers footsteps. He'll gladly wear a mask and fight as an unknown ninja. With too many people watching his move, It'll be hard to underestimate him.
Sighing as he looked up at the academy, he joined a little under two months ago after much begging from his father. If Itachi could, then why couldn't he? Which he soon figured out was much of a bore, learning the history of the hidden leaf or simple jutsu. No one could match him in taijutsu, Only Itachi and that was because they trained together daily.
“What's wrong with you, Naruto?” It was like the energy in his body was renewed as he turned around to see his best friend standing there with a soft smile on his face.
“I was beginning to wonder if I would have to suffer another boring lesson about the history of the village without you ‘tachi.” The brunet shook his head with a light laugh.
“I'm sure it won't be that bad; maybe you'll learn something new today.” Naruto side-eyed his softly-spoken friend's enthusiasm, who was rocking on his feet.
“I highly doubt that.” Scrunching up his nose in displeasure, watching the students run around the grounds of the academy, carefree and embracing their childhood.
“Don't be like that, Naruto, I'm sure it'll be fun.” The blond turned around to face Itachi’s mother and bowed slightly.
“Lady Mikoto.” The older lady laughed lightly, before ruffling his hair, The corners of her eyes crinkled as she smiled.
“Such a polite young man as always, but remember Naruto, let's Aunty or just Mikoto. I don't know how many times i'll have to remind you.” Flicking his forehead. His godmother was a rather kind and soft lady, which is definitely where Itachi gets it from. Being his mother's best friend, Mikoto and Kushina seemed to place their respective sons together a lot as babies. That's how Naruto and Itachi became attacked at the hip.
After bidding goodbye to both Kakashi and Mikoto, Itachi pulled him by his hand and dragged him towards their new classroom, waving at the small figure who waited for them by the door.
“Hello Hinata.” They both said in unison as the shy, purple-eyed girl smiled back, her whole face lighting up.
“Hello Itachi, Naruto.” Hinata bowed her head slightly. The Hyuga heiress was the final piece of the trio of young geniuses, also the most talented at combat, able to sweep both boys off their feet with her clan's style. Which itself is no easy feat, but past her shy and calm exterior is a determined fighter.
Sitting at the back of the class, as the trio normally did, listening to the teacher ramble on and on about history and simple jutus, which the ten-year-olds around the room seemed interested in, but the three practically half their age found it quite a bore.
Maybe it's on them to read the basic history before the lesson, which, in Naruto's case, was three years ago. He was quite the reader at age three; there was nothing else to do… except steal scrolls and books from his parents' study.
After half the day of being stuck in the classroom, Naruto was getting frustrated. Itachi was staring out of the window daydreaming, and Hinata’s head nodded as sleeped threatened to claim her. When lunch finally rolled around, the teacher announced a quiz of today's lesson, and groans echoed around the classroom, also that they had lunch to study. The hyperactive ten-year-olds threw a fit as they slumped out of the classroom.
The three however made their way under the tree and sat in a quiet circle. Itachi talked excitedly about his younger brother, how sasuke was the cutest thing in the world. Hinata took that time to talk about her baby cousin Neji who learnt how to walk and speak. Naruto just listened in and took mental notes on the does and don'ts about handling babies.
As lunch rolled to a close the two had managed to make Naruto a little weary of babies, his only hope was his little sister would be more like his father then his mother or he would never be able to handle her. Shivering at the thought of a mini version of his mother running around.
As predicted, the test they were given was easy, with questions about each hokage, the village's beginnings, and the first two ninja wars. After that they piled outside for the final lesson of the day, which was weapon throwing. Naruto's personal favorite.
Hinata was first out of them, her aim almost as deadly as her fighting style and landed each kunai and shuriken perfectly. Naurto took his place behind the line when his name was called and spun the kunai around his fingers. Apparently his nerves were still at a raging height from the feeling he woke up with, causing his concentration to waver and stir a couple of the weapons off course.
While it took some points off, he still did marginally better than the rest of the class. lastly it was Itachi, who ended obviously, with everything on target with a satisfactory sound.
At the end of the day, the two boys waved goodbye to Hinata and promised to see her the next day. Walking back side by side to the Uchiha compound, the two boys struck up a conversation about which nature transformation they have, after a promise from Minato to teach them when they become genin. Which only pushed boys harder, not by much because they were sure they'll graduate before they even become eight.
It doesn't matter when, anyways, in the future the trio of six year olds will be a force to be reckoned with.
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Night rolled around quicker when Naruro left the Uchiha compound, navigating his way through the now eerily quiet street, only the feelling of the chakra of the ANBU that was trailing him.
The wind rustled in the trees again, harsher then in the morning, echoing a rattling noise all around him. Branches casting spinderly shadows on the ground, warping with the rocks that tracked the paths. It was so quiet as the hidden leaf village slept, unaware of the impending doom that raised the hackles of the six year old boy.
One moment there was peace, the small boy just existing in a world where he was loved by his parents.
Then that world exploded right in front of his eyes.
Death, that's what he felt, a chakra so malicious it almost brought him to his knees. So distracted by such a thing that he didn't even catch the building next to him collapsing. Being swept out of harm's way before any deadly damages could be done.
Taking deep breaths as the sounds of havok swirled around him, hung limply from the shoulders of the ANBU, one which he didn't know the name of.
“Young lord, we need to get you to safety and a medic.” The man's voice wavered, Naruto didn't even complain about the title as he could only stare wide eyed and trembling like a leaf caught in the wind at the slight his eyes gave him.
A Fox, so immense and filled with vast amounts of corrupt chakra. The nine tails which swished behind the beast like a bad omen. It didn't take one to know what it was.
The nine tailed demon fox
A myth of a creature which lay since the beginning of the ninja world. Coming here only meant one thing, a secret which only a section of people would know.
“Mother.” Naruto whispered painfully and he wiggled in the ANBU's grip, kicking and screaming when the man took off in a run away from the fight.
“NO, Let go of me, I want to see my mother.” He shouted again, his attempts to free himself didn't prove fruitful. Pain filled in his heart as he begged that it wasn't what he thought it was, and that his mother and sister were all right.
He needed to be free. Doing the only thing that his grieving mind could think of, was taking a kunai and driving it right through the ANBU's thigh, causing the man to drop him in yelp of pain.
“Fucking brat.” He heard the man say, clutching his bleeding thigh, but Naruto didn't want to waste anymore time and ran back towards the chaos. His head was throbbing, blood blurring the vision of his right eye and dropped down his shirt.
Ducking under some rouge rubble that flew, Ninjas rushed around him to free trapped civilians. That didn't bother him, all he needed was to get to his home, find his mother. Her chakra was weak, he could feel it, like a dying heart beat. Ignoring all the harsh cries for help, all the ninjas that tried to grab him.
His mother was dying.
Trembling as he sobbed, feet pounding on the ground beneath him running as much as his little body could carry him. As he grew closer to home, he could sense his mother inside. That alone couldn't comfort him, the feeling of death that carried him to this point. Warping around him like a familiar blanket.
The house was quiet, the sound of a baby's cries made him lose his footing, caught off guard. The photos of the happy family that mounted the walls, now seemed to mock him. Chattering on the walls as the ground trembled beneath him.
“Mother…” He whispered, as he found her, back facing the door as her long red hair splayed out messily on the sheets of the bed. For a movement he thought the worst, until she slowly turned her head to face him, the sight made him stumble back.
She didn't look like his mother, yet her chakra said overwise. Face so pale, which made the darkness under her eyes and the shallowness of her sunken cheeks stand out. But she smiled, her tired violet eyes seemed to shine with the life which her body couldn't.
“Look, Naruto.” She smiled with all the warmth which Kushina Uzumaki radited, her feet seemed to carry him carefully; it felt like wading in a pool of syrup. Nothing feelin real, all faded at the edges.
Reaching his mother, who raised a shaking hand up to his right eye, trailing lighty down the cut on his face, flinching slightly up as the action caused it to sting, running of adrenaline made him forget all about it.
A cry caught his ears, a high pitched baby yell, training his eyes over the bundle which lay squirming next to his mother. A baby…his baby sister.
“Kimiko.” His mother said with adoration as she ran a feather light touch down the baby's face.
Naruto observed the little baby, with an odd fascination, her birth alone caused a wreckage of the village. Though not her fault, it was something else. Neither thing happened at his own birth, No, a sickening Chakra lingered on both his mother and sister and it wasn't nine tails either.
So then, who?
It doesn't matter, Naruto would find them. Hunt them down to the end of the earth if he has to. His body shook with an unknown sense of grief and indignation, burning through the small amount of energy his body had, but yet despite it, it wove through each nerve keeping him standing up right.
“Naruto, my son,” His mother wiped his filthy, tear streaked cheeks, giving him a weak smile, “You shouldn't worry, your father, he’ll fix this.”
She made it up to comfort him yet she sounded like she was lying to herself, making her believe in such a foolish notion. The nine tails can't be tamed, his mother wouldn't survive being made a prison for the beast again. Do as they must, but they will die trying, that Naruto was grimly sure of.
The room's energy shifted which caused Naruto to skittishly turn around with a bloody kunai in hand. Only to be met with the warm eyes of his father, holding his hand out. a small frown marred the young fathers face, looking at his son then to his wife and new daughter. He shared a look with his wife, one which Naruto didn't know what was shared in that silent conversion.
His mothers face fell, clutching the baby close, “Minato…is that-”
“It's the only way Kushina, I wish there was another,” Voice radiating pain as he crouched down to Naruto's height before pulling him into a crushing hug, clutching the back of his head.
Naruto knew death, he knew when it was coming so he didn't even complain when his father picked him up, Wrapping his small arms and legs around his father, who in turn picked up his mother and sister. Flashing them out of the room and into an abandoned field.
There were the nine tails, in all its lethal glory, raging and flicking its monstrous tails. It seemed to talk but Naruto didn't even feel lucid enough to understand a word.
He watched as the world flickered by, chains coming out of his mothers back and holding the creature in place. watching a ritual circle came to life around him and his sister. He watched with distressed, wide eyes as his father flicked through the hand seal and a ghostly figure appeared.
The only thing which pulled him out of the trance was his mother and father being impaled by the claw of the beast only a meter away from him, their blood splattering everywhere.
Between the chaos of that night, his parents bodys hanging almost dead from a large claw on their stomach's, he didn't even notice the raging headache that started at his eyes then creeping at the back of his head. The world slowed for a second, his throat seemed to close up as his stomach churned horribly.
“Naruto…” His mother spoke, raspy and blood dropped from the corners of her mouth. He wasn't even sure if she was actually talking or he was imaging it, she looked very much dead yet she was talking.
“I know this is going to be hard for you, and you will go through a tough time. But stay strong and remember that your parents love you so very much,” She was crying now, but she still smiled at him all the same, “Look after you sister, teach her the three shinobi prohibitions, you know. Make sure she isnt a picky eater either. You both need to attend the academy every day, and become strong ninjas. I want you to live happily, marry someone nice, you know.”
When she stopped talking, the grumbles of the fox were heard, pushing reality forward. All Naruto could do was kneel inside of the circle and watch his parents die helplessly.
“I would say something Naruto,” His father spoke up weakly, eyes crinkling in the corners as he smiled as well, “But your chatty mother took my time. We love you, that's all you need to know. We couldn't ask for a better son, you succeed our expectations. You were the light of our lives, never forget that Naruto.” He couldn't get a word in as his mother and father pulled out the nine tails soul splitting it into two. They shouted something, the incantation for a seal but Naruto didn't hear as he felt foreign chakra enter his system, burning his body as it burrowed deep. Pain welled up and the world went black. Something stirred within him before settling down.
When the boy came too, eyes flickered open, the world came to a hush around him.
Silence.
Pulling his aching body off the ground, ignoring the anger steering deep within him. Bleary eyes looked around the surroundings, eyes regretfully catching the mangled bodys of his parents. Dragging his tired body to them.
Staring down at them was a nightmare, the holes in their stomachs were grotesque, pooling blood around then, soaking his knees and hands.
“N-Naruto.” His mother spoke, much to his own horror, breath catching in the back of his throat. She chuckled weakly, blood bubbling from the corners of her mouth at the action, hand reaching out to cup his blooded cheek, “So has what he meant…huh.”
Naruto didn't know who ‘he’ was but he didnt care, too tired to think about it, arms collapsing on him, ending resting his head on hs mothers chest. Not caring that the blood matted his hair, just the fading sound of her heart beat seems to outweigh the loudness of his own.
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Hiruzen Sarutobi, the third hokage, though he saw everything. Fight after fight, war after war. It was a never ending cycle of violence that threatened the village he cared so deeply about. Once hailed as the ‘god of shinobi’ then later renowned ‘the professor’. There was no doubt in his abilities, yet…
Passing the hat to a young man, such as Minato Namikaze was much of the weight off his old shoulders and much a relief of its own. Minato would do great things with the village, a powerful young man and a pride of the people.
Coming out of retirement however, to fight the nine tails was something the old man thought he would never do. Even his own abilities were unable to quell the beast. watching Minato on top of a massive toad however, white cloak billowing around him, just like he did back in the third war. His presence alone was enough to calm the fear of the village.
At the age of 24, already mastered so much and would continue to grow. Or so he thought, watching Minato transport the mass of the Chakra was a display of brilliant power, and the last time anyone would see the young man alive.
Tracking down the beast was easy enough, anyone could catch it. Yet by the time he and other high ranking ninjas reached the spot it was already too late. The beast was gone, and the price was the lives of two young parents.
The third couldn't even speak, regret weighing heavily on his wrinkled face as he stepped closer to Minato's cooling corpse, a large hole piercing his stomach, white cloak soiled with dirt and blood. It felt so wrong to see the once lively man like this, a death which would turn the village upside down,
“Is that-” Turning towards Shikaku Nara, one of his most trusted, the man who's not much older than Minato himself, pointed towards Kushina who had an unmissable blonde head of hair on her chest.
He knew Kushina would die, it was set in stone the moment the nine tails were free. No jinchūriki can survive once the beast was free, the strain on the body was too much. But in Naruto, Hiruzen knew the boy from when he was born, almost like a grandson to him. brought into the world too early, seeing the horrors of war at such a young age made the bubbly baby into a sullen boy. Either way, he was a polite child, and a genius at that. To be taken away from the world at such a young age was too horrible for the old man to believe.
Putting a finger to the boy's pulse, sighing with relief as the pulse was strong. But his outward appearance said otherwise. hair matted with blood, face and covered the same, the only clean was the track that his tears left behind.
His heart was heavy as he took the boy away from his mother, looking around as a few ninjas prepped the bodys.
“Lord third…there's a baby.” Someone stuttered out, there was no doubt on who it was, the red hair on the babe was easily recognisable.
“Kimiko-” a small voice said, Naruto who was now awake, looking at the sleeping baby in earnest as if his life depended on it. What shocked the third, which seemed to be happening a lot now that he's old, was the fact that Naruto's cerulean eyes were now replaced by a blood red, newly awakened sharingan. The one tomeo swirling wildly.
it wouldn't be uncommon for someone to awaken the dōjutsu in this situation, if they were part of the uchiha clan that is. But Naruto was of none, and Kushina would never, plus the boy was a near clone of his father. The greater mystery of the night faded however, Naruto's eyes changing back to blue. Yet enough people already caught the sight for it to not be a trick of the light.
looking up at the sky, as he felt the weight of what the future will bring him, praying to his sensei's to give him strength from beyond the grave and hope that their beloved village will get through the tough time. He'll have to keep an eye on Naruto, Not even beginning to understand the horrors the boy has seen tonight. With grief comes revenge and with revenge comes a dark path which is a path destined with self ruin.
Minato and Kushina, I hope you two knew what you were doing. Whatever path your children take I'm sure you'll support them no matter what.