Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

Disguised Curses	By : Raholea Category: Naruto AU/AR > General Views: 2438 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 3
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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CH 18

Neji looked across and up, into the leering face of the fox demon. Kyuubi was far more terrifying in person than ever before, but somehow, the emotion was oddly detached. The fear was present, but no longer mind- numbing like it had been since the rising of his swan nature. He could actually look into the demon’s face. “I am prey?”

“Humans are prey for those like me. But you are even less, just a bird. You’d be prey, food, for even normal animals.” He sneered at the group, no warmth for anyone. “All of you would be only so much meat if I were still free.”

“You’re such a bastard, Kyuu.” Naruto was leaning backwards, peering up at the fox’s chin. “I brought you out here to help me explain what was going on, not try to intimidate my friends. Even if one of them had quite the surprise in store. And we both know you’re not going to do anything to them, or him.”

“Your overconfidence in me will get you hurt some day, kit.”

“My confidence in you is what has kept me alive. You’re just jealous that you can’t curl up in my lap like Neji’s swan can.” Raging red eyes blinked, and something passed between the bijuu and his host. A huff sounded before Kyuubi’s red chakra bubbled around him and faded, leaving an indignant looking, shepherd-sized red fox. Snickers broke the astounded silence as the much smaller Kyuubi draped himself over Naruto’s lap, one of many tails promptly wrapping around the fox vessel’s neck. The glare toward the insulting female of their group was no less icy than before.

“Not all of us can stay awake all night. If we could get back to the topic at hand.” Sasuke was beginning to look impatient, his words reflecting his frustration. As amusing as the mini demon- fox was, he wanted to wrap things up soon. This jutsu would start draining him soon. “What is going on with you, and Naruto, and his odd tendencies lately?”

“Several months ago, after discerning the true threat potential from the organization you call Akatsuki, I started weaving my chakra around Naruto’s. It shouldn’t have changed much beyond what the sealing had already allowed, as long as the merging was kept into minor amounts. It would increase his speed and reaction times, and sometimes allow him to sense things better. It also gave him much easier access to me when he needed it. But on his last mission, we met the group’s leader. He is a formidable opponent, even for me, and especially while contained in this manner. It led to something far more complex, and irreversible.”

“He’s mixing our chakra into a more permanent blend. Not to mention I’m gaining his instincts, and reactions, and sometimes his needs. That’s why I have been having so many out of character moments.” Naruto gave a wry grin. He knew exactly how unlike himself he’d seemed, particularly over the last few days. “Like Kyuubi said, I’ll be much faster, and I have heightened senses already. It’s how I tracked Kimi- san to here- simply through her scent.” The hawk- shifter chuckled. Naruto smirked a little, but relaxed. He knew the seriousness of this talk; he just wasn’t expecting the impact of the next words spoken.

“That is not all, kit. By the time we are done with this, you will more like me than you anticipated. The process is turning you into a half-demon, the likes which hasn’t been seen since the last time one of us dared do such a thing. It is a risky, drastic move, but in this case one I have decided is necessary.”

Silence hung in the air, thick with shock, for seconds until Naruto snapped. His fist landed squarely against the fox’s head, which resulted in a backwash of blistering chakra, disrupting the whole genjutsu. Sasuke blinked, trying to orient himself from having the jutsu backlash on him like that. He couldn’t believe what had just happened, but didn’t have the chance to ponder the incident further. He could sense Naruto pulling away, the speed his chakra signature was going indicated he was fleeing. Not that he could really run away. One couldn’t truly run away from themselves. He focused in on Naruto’s signature and ’ported himself up to the roof.

The night air greeted him as he scanned the street, looking for any visual signs of his friend. Sasuke leapt from the roof, crossing over the higher ‘road’ of the town, tracking Naruto. He knew the blond was tearing himself up- after what he’d seen the night before, it was easy to recognize the sensation, the flickering of the chakra ahead. A flare came from beside him, and Gaara was there, an arm before him. Sasuke stopped but glared at the redhead.

“He needs to run, to let himself tire. He will be safe.” A slight shrug answered the incredulous, disbelieving look. “My town, my desert.” It would take near nothing to find Naruto, even if he lost himself in the small desert village. Gaara knew every inch of his village, every road, every alley. No one could hide from him here.

The duo waited, feeling the minutes pass as they watched and focused for any signal that their mutual friend was okay. An eerie stillness had gripped the air, and Sasuke almost couldn’t resist the urge to search. He had to find Naruto before something happened. He knew things would go really bad right now if he lost control- of himself, or Kyuubi.

Distraction- and attraction- came in the form of a huge wash of chakra, a wind that blew Sasuke’s slight bangs from his face and scattered the trickle of sand around Gaara’s feet. On the heels of that breeze was the most forlorn sound the raven had ever heard- a pained scream that rose, quivered, and turned into a chilling howl. Movement around him had Sasuke charging, searching for the epicenter of the danger. Sand ninja were appearing around him and before Gaara, who merely shook his head at his men. They wouldn’t be of any help. Naruto was someone no one was really a match for, but he wasn’t someone to be fought. He needed his friends- not a potential enemy.

****

A small group paused a couple miles from the outer walls of Suna, as a thick soulful sound echoed across the sand. Akamaru whimpered, and even Lee looked a bit pale. There was just something wrong about that sound, and it tugged at the minds and hearts of everyone present. Kiba turned a tired but worried gaze beside him, where his teammate stood, gone pale and shaky. “Hinata? Are you okay?”

“That-” She paused, trying to sort out her thoughts into words. “I think that was Naruto. I can’t prove it, but...” A light hand gripped her shoulder. “It’ll be okay, Hinata- chan. Naruto has friends with him. And we’ll be there soon.” Sakura’s words did little to comfort her though, and they continued on to Suna, sick feelings settling into most bellies, and even Akamaru looked like he’d rather be somewhere else. But the distance passed quickly, and soon they were met by Sand ninja, ready to escort them in.

The presence of both Gaara and Neji did nothing to soothe the twitching nerves settling into the Leaf ninja. Gaara led Kiba, Sakura, and Lee further into the village while Neji drew his cousin to the side. She waited only long enough for obvious viewers to be gone before cautiously wrapping her arms around him in a hug. “I know that look, Neji.” She pulled away to look into his eyes, the pale orbs lined with a touch of light violet. Her voice dropped. “And I heard that sound. What is going on?”

Neji shook his head, not sure how to explain or even where to start. But he wanted to help Naruto, and his cousin, who looked like she was about to pass out from nervousness and fear. He understood the feelings. “How far would you go to keep Naruto safe?” He remembered the few quiet words Shikamaru had said after the evening had crumbled, and he didn’t doubt them. Naruto needed someone who wouldn’t care how he was changing, that would not only be loyal but care for him in that special way. Maybe not love, but more than just a casual friend. And he knew, without a doubt, that Naruto would never, could never hurt Hinata. He just wasn’t sure about how much the boy liked his cousin.

The question, though, incited the closest thing to a glare he’d ever seen on his cousin. Her Byakugan activated, making her seem stern, and her head twisted to the left, blinking, before her face dropped to smoothness. “He’s changed.” The whisper was barely audible. “Does he need me, nii- chan?”

Neji swallowed his surprise, but not the happy bubble he felt at the familial term. He let it show in his words as he offered a small, grim smile. “Hai. Go to him, Hina- chan.” She disappeared a moment later, and Neji hoped that he was doing the right thing.

______

Ok, so I'm evil. yes, I have plans for a little bit of possible Hinata and Naruto... but don't worry, all of you who are hoping for some Yaoi. (I know some of you are) I have plans within plans. And it will be a while before the next chapter. And thanks to ALL of my lovely reviewers!!! It keeps me going, it does.... R&R PLEASE!!
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Disguised Curses