Furious Fox Ch: 12

Naruto breathed softly as he sat outside of the palace. It had been a few days since his secret went out into the open. Almost everyone in the temple hated him in an instant. Closing his eyes, he allowed his true appearance to come, closed his eyes as he started to meditate. Maybe that would help him relax, since there was no point in trying to hide what he was out here anymore. No fear of anyone seeing him like this since they all knew the truth.

The only people that didn’t seem to hate him so far is Hinata, Kakashi and Hiruzen. At least, he thinks Kakashi didn’t hate him since he never showed that he knew but then again, he didn’t show that he never knew. Shaking his head, the young man breathed deeply as he slowly started to back into his mind scape once more.

Looking around, Naruto found himself back into his mind scape. He wanted to ask some questions of Kurama. Wanting to know if there was a reason why Hinata accepted him so easily. It just didn’t make sense to him, but at the same time he never wanted to lose Hinata’s kindness. There was just so much to it, so much more to Hinata’s kindness than what people would ever suspect.

“Hinata just has that kind of heart Naruto.” Calmly came Kurama’s voice as he stepped out of the shadows. Naruto frowned at him in confusion. He chuckled a little bit before he walked over to the confused fox demon in front of him. Placing ah and atop of his head and ruffled the spiky locks. “You see, some people are just born nice and filled with compassion. Hinata must have been born with that in her heart along with having very good role models in her life.”

Looking up at Kurama, Naruto wondered why the man was acting like… like he was family. It didn’t make sense but at the moment that was the least of his worries. “But what about when… I lost control? I didn’t attack Hinata at all. I know I didn’t because I didn’t smell any blood on her! Well, not her blood.”

Kurama chuckled a little before he turned to look back toward the sakura tree that resided in the scape. “Because, she held no hate. No fear, no anger towards you. Your body reacted to the hate that is around you, hate that is directed towards you. Plus, that part of you that small part of you doesn’t want to hurt a woman that it thinks is his mate.”

“Mate?!”

“Yes, in demon terms, a mate is a wife or husband. In some sense, you have picked Hinata to be your mate though the bond isn’t strong enough yet for it to cause any kind of harm to you.” Kurama explained. It was as if his mind had shut down with those words. He had chosen Hinata as his mate? Oh dear god, how could he have done that?! It just didn’t make sense to him but then again, maybe it was because she was nice to him and his other self felt that she would have been a good choice as his mate? He had no idea, but he couldn’t do that to Hinata. He just couldn’t do it to her, to be with him? That would or could very well ruin her reputation and he just couldn’t do that to her.

Closing his eyes, the young man looked up at Kurama with narrowed blue eyes. “I won’t allow it. I can’t allow Hinata to be my mate. Think about it Kurama, if she is my wife then… then she…” His ears lowered a little atop of his head as he went on. “She’ll grow old and leave me alone. She’ll have to deal with my staying the same age forever Kurama! I can’t go through with it! It is best that Hinata and I just stay friends.” Turning away, Naruto just wanted to be able to enjoy himself, he just wanted to try to live his life like a normal man would. Well, a man that just happened to be a demon.

Kurama sighed softly as he whispered “Naruto, let me tell you a story about another demon that had been in your situation.” Naruto frowned in confusion before he tilted his head at him. “Many decades ago there was a man, a warrior really. He was lost, badly wounded and left for dead. He thought that he was going to die but he found himself staring face to face with a woman. She had beautiful hair, long and black as the night sky, brown eyes that were soft and loving.”

It made him wonder where this story was going right now. What did this have to do with his own trouble with Hinata and everything else?

“She found the warrior left alone in the woods and brought him to her home to treat his injuries. The woman, was smart, a healer and had a heart that was pure and not an ounce of hate within.” He chuckled a little, his eyes staring at Naruto with a softness, a fondness that resided there. It made him wonder if this was… “The warrior was confused and shocked as to why the woman brought him to her home, treated his wounds.”

“What happened?” asked Naruto with a frown.

Kurama chuckled a little more before he leaned against the tree that was nearby. It seemed that this story had some kind of meaning for it. “She treated him and nursed him back to full health. He knew that he had to go back to his village, but he couldn’t leave her. He had fallen in love with her at first sight, and so did she.” Lowering his head, the young man let out a defeated breath as he added “They loved, they laughed, and enjoyed each other’s company. The warrior and the woman married in both the demon and human terms. They enjoyed their lives, and had a child together. Yet, after decades of love and joy the warrior lost his wife to time.”

“Lost her to time? You mean…”

“Yes Naruto, she died of old age. Leaving the warrior, and their child alone. Normally, a demon joins their mate in death but, he couldn’t do it. He knew that she wouldn’t want him to do it, that she would want him to stay with their child and protect the village of fox demons. The love he shared with her had remained in his heart, he taught the others of his village how to fight, how to protect and live their lives to protect humans.” Kurama explained before he let out a soft yet sad sigh. Naruto was sure that this man had something more to his story, that there was something more to it that no one would ever expect of him.

“What happened after that?”

“The warrior too, met his fate. Over the death of his mate, his powers dimmed a bit, not enough to notice by humans, but enough for demons to notice.” He ran a hand through his hair before turning to Naruto with sad eyes. Before he died, his child found their own true love, and had a child together. The warrior vowed to protect that child forever because in a way, the child reminded him of his wife, mostly in appearance. Even now, that child is protected by their grandfather, never knowing the truth.”

Looking down at the ground, Naruto wondered what the point of this story was. Just to tell him that he could be with Hinata even though he was a demon? That he could indeed love Hinata and just enjoy the life that they have together even though, they were different and she would slowly fade away from him? “I don’t know Kurama, I don’t really know if I can do this.”

“You will be alright Naruto.” Kurama said with a chuckle before adding “Also, keep your true appearance up when you fight. You have better access to your chakra. A fox demon can only fully access their chakra if their tails are out. The number of tails is the amount of power you have.” Turning to the tree, Kurama had a soft yet sad smile on his face as he whispered “It’s time to go, I think Hinata is calling for you.” With that, Kurama snapped his fingers, ending their time together.

Naruto slowly opened his eyes as he looked up into the smiling face of Hinata. Her face, radiant with her smile made his heart flutter within his chest. How was it that she could make him feel like this? He had no idea, but he knew that he couldn’t allow himself to get too close to Hinata. At least, not in a romantic sense. Gulping a little, the young man pushed himself up and started to dust his pants off of the grass and dirt that clung to the cloth. “What’s up Hinata?” asked Naruto with a grin on his face.

“I came here because I sensed a great amount of chakra coming from here. You were… you were glowing with blue and red chakra. What was going on?” asked Hinata with a frown on her face. It seemed that it had scared her a little, to see so much chakra like that in front of her, must have scared her. Closing his eyes for a moment, the young man stared at Hinata with a soft smile on his face as he asked, or at least was about to ask, until Hinata spoke up again. “Please tell me that this wasn’t something that could harm you!”

“No, no, I’m fine. I was just meditating. I wasn’t trying to worry you I’m sorry Hinata.” Naruto said before pulling her in for a hug. To scare her made his heart ache a little. He wasn’t sure why that was, but he just felt like it caused him pain to him to think that he had done something that could have scared Hinata like that. Breathing softly, a blast of her scent washed through him causing him to shudder and pull back. “How about we go and get something to eat? I’m kinda hungry.” He chuckled a little before he started to walk with the blue haired woman.

It all just seemed like it would be a quiet walk back to the palace. In all honesty, he wanted to hide his tails and ears again, but he wasn’t sure if he should anymore. What was the point in doing it now when everyone was sure to know what he was now? It just seemed pointless, sure he knew that he should have done that in the village but, then again everyone in the village was trying to hurt him in a way, no need to add more to their fear since they couldn’t him back. Now, the warriors here, they could fight back so there was no fear… just the hate.

Closing his eyes, the young man ran a hand through his hair, fingertips lightly touching his fuzzy ears. It had been a while since he really felt his ears, he never had them out this long before, and normally they only came out when someone hit that pressure point on his spine like Hinata had. Or, if he had shifted in his sleep. Turning to Hinata, his eyes opening as he did so… all he could see was her smile, soft and radiant. He could see how his other self would have fallen for her.

Breathing softly, the young man calmly asked “Hinata, what do you think the others will think? About me anyway?” He just wanted to get himself out of all of this hate, it was already starting to bother him but he knew that he had to keep it buried deep within his soul. Though, he also sensed a hint of calm washing over him. Was Hinata keeping that other part of himself down in his soul? He had no idea, but it was possible. Inhaling softly, the young man felt himself reaching out for Hinata, before he could stop himself, he had grabbed a hold of her hand.

Blood rushed to his face, Naruto felt like he had done something stupid, yet before he could pull his hand back, he felt Hinata’s fingers curling around his as she held his hand. His face went warmer, the blood flowing into his face grew hotter and hotter as he stared at Hinata with wide blue eyes. She just looked up at him, her face still held that smile. How was it that she could just stare at him like that? Gulping a little, Naruto opened his mouth to say something, yet the words seemed to have frozen in his throat. In fact, he looked more like a fish out of water.

“Well, they will have to remember what a kind person that you are Naruto. You are still the same person that you’ve always been. You may be a demon but at least you haven’t done anything to prove that you are evil. Yes, you lost control but you didn’t plan for it to happen.” Hinata answered with a big smile on her face. It always amazed him that she could be so positive about the whole thing, but he knew that he had to talk to them. After all, it wasn’t like he could really do anything to change their minds right away, but what he knew was that he had to at least talk to them, tell them that he wasn’t going to hurt anyone. He had no true reason to want to hurt anyone.

“I hope so Hinata, I hope that they see things like you do.” Whispered Naruto before he let out a soft sigh. Turning his gaze to the sky, he wondered what ever happened to the warrior from Kurama’s story. Does the warrior’s grandchild even know that they are being protected or that they have some kind of human blood in them? That would be rather amazing to be honest, and… it did get him to start thinking. If it was possible to have a child with a human, was it possible to extend… no. He shouldn’t be thinking about that right now, he wanted to make sure that Hinata lived a normal human life without him interfering.

“I’m also hungry, how about I make us all some soup after we talk to the others!” Naruto said with a big grin on his face.

***

Naruto walked into the kitchen with Hinata, still holding her hand. It did confuse the hell out of people to see him with his tails and fox ears out but hey, this was in a way a test. A test to see if anyone will attack him, so far nothing. Maybe they were afraid to attack him thinking they’ll get their asses handed to them? He had no idea, but he knew that he would pace everything. He had to make sure that he didn’t just throw this all in their faces.

Mostly by just waving and smiling, mindful not to show off his fangs.

As he gazed around the kitchen, Naruto saw everyone sitting there. Lee, TenTen, Temari and Shino. All of them turned and saw Naruto, eyes narrowed into a glare. Well, from what Naruto could see anyway from Shino since he wore those sunglasses of his. Naruto was about to speak, until Temari spoke instead. "Get out of our faces monster!” Came Temari’s yell. Okay, to be called a monster did hurt, but he knew that he had to be careful over what he says next.

“You do not belong here!” shouted Lee.

“I can’t believe I helped a demon.” Mumbled Shino.

Naruto’s hand clenched into a fist as he tried to keep himself calm. He knew that they were mad, but was it mostly out of them seeing that he was a demon, or that he had kept this a secret from them all? Before he could even say anything, Hinata spoke up. “He didn’t even do anything wrong, you guys have seen the kind of person that Naruto is and yet you’re judging him just based on him being a demon?!”

“Demons are not allowed here.” Came TenTen’s voice.

“That doesn’t answer my question.” Said Hinata, her voice taking on a different tone. Was this something that came now and again? Her going from sweet to a hardened warrior? He had no idea but he kinda liked it. Man, he was glad that Hinata couldn’t feel emotions like he could. That just would have been a little weird to go through.

“He lied to us all! He pretended to be a human and tried to befriend us all! Aren’t you mad Hinata?!” shouted Temari.

“I’m not. He had his reasons for it!” Hinata defended.

“I did…” whispered Naruto, causing everyone to turn and stare at him, as if they are just noticing him in the room. Lifting his eyes, eyes now a deep crimson as he said “I had my reasons for hiding what I was. Sure, a lot of people in the village knew about what I am, but I had a damn good reason for it!”

“What was it?!” shouted Temari.

“I wanted to be human like you all!” shouted Naruto.

Everyone stared at him in shock. The red slowly bleeding from his eyes as Naruto tried to get himself to calm down and relax. He slowly looked up at everyone in the room, noticing that the four masters, not including Hinata, were staring at him as if he grew a second head. Rubbing his face, the young man felt like a great weight was placed upon his shoulders, no, this weight had been placed upon him since the moment he realised just how harmful he could be to humans.

Inhaling deeply, Naruto started to explain. “All my life, people feared and hated me. All because I was a demon. My father, is also a human but he didn’t care about what I was. He still loved me, even if I do hurt him in some way he could never hate me.” He gave a small smile as he looked up at everyone in the room. “Try being in my situation. I try to hide myself to forget about what I am. To forget that I’m a demon, yet every morning I wake up in my true form. The form that you see before you.”

Everyone was silent for a moment, it was as if they didn’t know what to think of it. What to think about being in a situation that was like Naruto’s and personally, he never expected them to see what it’s like. “I can never forget because no matter what form I take, I can still sense people’s emotions. It’s rare when I can’t really sense anything as often as I should. Yet when I sense nothing but hate and it’s directed to me… I lose control, lose my mindset and attack. I can only snap out of it, if someone tries to stop me doesn’t feel anything but a positive emotion.”

“Like what I did for him. I wasn’t afraid of him, but I was concerned for him.” Hinata said, to give everyone an idea.

Nodding his head, Naruto turned to stare at them all again. “So try being like me. Try to live a life where everyone hates or fears you for no good reason. You try to do nothing but good and people only see you for what you look like. A demon, instead of looking deep down inside to see what a person really is. I can see you all right now in fact for who you truly all are!” He growled a little, causing the haters to stare at him before going into a fighting stance. “Before I thought you were all amazing warriors, warriors that do the right thing and fight to protect the innocent. Now though?” He closed his eyes before saying “I see the real monsters.” With that, he turned around and started to walk away. “Hinata, I… I’m gonna go visit my father for some of his soup. I don’t really feel like cooking anymore.”

With that, Naruto started to walk away. Leaving his words in his wake as he left the masters behind. He knew that what he said may have been a little much, but it had to be done. It just had to be done, for if it wasn’t there would never be a chance for anyone to ever get over the fact that he was a demon.

Meanwhile, far away in a prison of the highest security… a door was blasted off by a powerful punch. A guard had been thrown out of the prison causing him to gasp out in shock and pain. He groaned a little and was about to get up until he felt someone stomping their foot onto his chest. Causing the air to be knocked out of his lungs once more. Wheezing, he looked up and stared at a pair of black eyes, a sick grin on his face. The guard gulped a little as he said “You won’t get there, we’ll do all we can to stop you!”

“Really? You all those years to do it and yet, you let me live.” Said the man, a smirk growing darker and sinister. Chuckling, he added “Now, all I want to do is visit my home is that too much trouble? Plus, I want to see who this… warrior is. I want to see whom Master Hiruzen chose to be the Furious Fox, a title that should have been mine!”

The man laughed like a psycho before he looked back down, his smile dimming until nothing remained. “I’ll have one of the other guards send a message to the palace. I want a nice welcome party waiting for me. But, I want to test my skills on someone.” He smirked once more, his eyes closing for a brief moment. The guard went pale at the idea of what was to come. He knew that he was going to die but he had no idea what it was, but knew that he had to do something! Yet nothing came to mind.

Eyes opening, the man revealed a pair of glowing black eyes with three black tomoe in each eyes. At that point, the guard screamed as he felt bits of his body being ripped apart one by one with the insane laughter echoing around him.