No Choice
Water?
He was sure that he had been falling to solid ground. He let his body drift down until it hit the base of whatever he fell into. He sat up with a start. He gasped for air as he took in his surroundings, quickly noticing that the water was barely knee deep, hence his ability to sit in it. He shifted tentatively to his feet and leant against a wall. A long hallway spanned on either side of him, the dingy water continuing into the distance and out of sight. Naruto was barely able to stretch his arms out in the narrow space, the walls a rough textured stone of some kind. Then he noticed something.
He wasn’t wet.
He regarded the water below him, his mind swirling at his current situation. He dipped his sleeve into it again and brought it back up. Dry. He did it a few more times before he began to wonder. He stared at the surface, considering for a few more seconds before plunging his head into the liquid. He took in a breath. He could breathe?
A familiar rumble sent waves through the water and reached Naruto’s ears. He was snapped out of his odd fixation, and instead trained on the direction the noise originated from. He pushed off the wall and stared hesitantly down the hallway, and waited. It came again, a more agitated, guttural noise.
Where is he?
The question suddenly occurred to him, after the initial disorientation wiped away. He looked up and was met with the sight of a ceiling over head. He couldn’t have fallen in here…was he teleported? What the hell is going on? He considered for a moment, and concluded that staying here isn’t going to do anything, so he should start moving. Against his better judgement, he began wading towards the source of the sound, almost drawn to it, like it was calling to him.
Not long into his journey, he spotted a light in the distance. He tried squinting to make out what was emitting it, but couldn’t reach any conclusions. In any case, the light was a stark difference to the blank dark walls that surrounded him, so he continued at a faster pace.
Again the growl came, but this time it shook the ground, sending Naruto off balance. He half fell into the wall and tried to keep his footing as he let it pass. Whatever was making that noise was up ahead. He swallowed and steeled himself.
As he was coming up on his destination, he finally put together what it was. A room with an open doorway was cut into the side of the wall, light flooded out and flickered, indicating torch light. He slowed his pace and tried his best to quietly creep up to the edge of the opening. Naruto took a deep breath and pushed himself flat against the wall, then he peeked in. The room was gigantic. Bigger than he had expected it to be. The same water lay stagnant a few feet off the ground, torches lining the walls with strong flames mirrored in the surface of the liquid. Though Naruto’s attention was instantly drawn to the enormous bars cutting the middle of the room in half, like a prison cell. The light didn’t reach inside, leaving it a veil of pitch black, ominously silent. Naruto flicked his eyes around the room again, ensuring there was no immediate danger and he took a tentative step into the room. His chest felt odd at the action, like he was betraying his natural instincts and walking straight into the lion’s den. He couldn’t help it though, his feet moved on their own as he made it to the center of the room.
He paused, waiting for anyone to notice his presence. Then he spoke, his voice coming out stronger than he expected. “Hey! Anyone in there?”
His voice bounced off the walls and echoed back into his ears. Nothing. No response. He frowned. Naruto strode forward, b-lining for the huge cage in-front of him. If it won’t come to him, he’ll go to it, he resolved.
Naruto got to the edge of the bars, and without preamble, stepped in.
His blood ran cold.
Every sense in his body was telling him to run, that if he didn’t move, he’s dead. He didn’t argue, and jumped back, just in time to see something lunge out of the darkness and snap at him with sharp teeth. He landed, but slipped on the wet stone underneath, sending him falling to the floor. He didn’t notice though, eyes fixed on the mass emerging into the light. A beast, he bargained. Maybe a demon? It didn’t matter. Whatever it was had the face of a fox, dark crimson fur laid against its body. Naruto counted nine tails lashing back and forth behind it.
The creature laughed. A low, malicious sound that sent a shiver down Naruto’s spine. It settled into a crouch, aiming to get a better look at the child.
“We finally meet, human.” It drawled.
Naruto was at a loss for words. “What?” He asked oh-so intelligently, the word shaking slightly as it passed his lips.
It considered Naruto “Hmm…how tedious. To think they would let a jinchuuriki run free without knowledge of their circumstances.” It flicked its tails again to emphasize the inconvenience.
“Who- what, are you?”
The fox turned its head to look at Naruto completely. “I…” It raised its head in obvious disdain. “…am the Kyuubi, the Nine Tailed Fox.”
Naruto scrunched his face up, trying to think. He’s never heard of it, and clearly it showed on his face because the fox sighed.
“Where is this? Did you bring me here? What happened to the ninja who was after me?” Naruto fired off the questions one after the other.
The fox laughed again. “We, are inside of you.”
Naruto blinked, getting frustrated now.
“The hell are you talking about? Listen you giant rat, you better tell me the way outta this place before I beat you up!” Naruto could never accurately read the room, but he knew the threat was hollow. The bravado was more for himself, to shake free of his nerves and convince himself that he had the advantage, not the fox. He stood to stare at the beast in promise.
The fox narrowed its eyes in light amusement. “Didn’t you ever wonder why you were treated with such contempt by your fellow man?” It’s lips curled into a vicious smile.
Naruto flinched and his heart skipped a beat. He clenched the fabric at his chest and tried to shake off the flash of painful memories.
It continued, not letting Naruto respond. “Twelve years ago a demonic beast attacked The Village Hidden in the leaves, your precious Konoha.” It gritted out the last part. “Then the brave Yondaime sacrificed his life to save the village.”
Naruto’s eye’s widened in recognition. He knew this story, it was something he’s heard time and time again. The Fourth Hokage was someone he looked up to, the person he aspired to be like.
“Then you’re…?”
The fox tilted its head in confirmation, letting out an indignant huff.
“Why…” Naruto had more questions than he could count. “Where is this?” He asked again.
The fox glared, clearly fed up with explaining itself. “Your Hokage couldn’t kill me. No human can ever dream of killing me. No, he was cunning.” It bared it’s teeth and its fur bristled in rage. “I was sealed.” It knelt down as close to the bars as it could. “In you, human.”
Naruto’s heart was racing at this point, breaths coming out ragged as his mind raced. He didn’t want to believe its words. Didn’t want to admit that it made sense. Twelve years ago, Naruto was born. Then ever since, he was ostracized for no apparent reason; berated as a demon, or a disgrace. This whole time, he really had a demon sealed within him? For a fleeting moment Naruto felt relieved. It wasn’t his fault, all of the pain and suffering he was subjected to wasn’t his fault. The thought then translated to rage. Rage at the fourth Hokage, at the Kyuubi sealed inside him. He wanted to collapse in on himself and scream, his entire reality crumbling to pieces.
His dark symphony of thoughts was interrupted by a breeze sent by the large creature’s deep sigh.
“I care not for your human intricacies. If you hadn’t noticed, you are currently falling to your inevitable death.”
Naruto snapped his head up, remembering his current situation.
“Regrettably, as I’m sealed within you, if you die, I die.”
Naruto’s hand curled in his hair. “What do I do? I- I don’t have any chakra, and I’m no good at any Jutsus-“
The fox smiled deviously and interrupted the child. “I can offer you my chakra, take dominance over your weary consciousness, and easily demolish your pursuant.”
Naruto thought for a moment. There really wasn’t much to consider. He didn’t like the nefarious undertones that the fox held in its offer, but what else could he do? No, he had to do this, he had to live and he could think about the consequences later.
“Fine.” He glared at the fox, daring it to cross the line.
The fox practically purred in gratification. “So be it, kid.”