Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

ᗰOᑎᔕTEᖇ	By : Sessakag Category: Naruto > Het - Male/Female > Naruto/Hinata Views: 44706 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 45
- 46
- 47
Chapter Forty-Six
Entity 504

May 15, 2010

Water flowed smoothly and quietly over pretty gleaming rocks, the gentle trickling filling the quiet clearing with a calming lullaby of peace, nature and tranquility. A stark contrast to the emotions churning within the whiskered cheeked jonin. With his back to a tall shady tree, a few feet from the serene stream, the soothing sound was lost on the frowning blonde.
Naruto read silently through the details surrounding his current, long term mission.
Four hours from crossing over the border into Suna, the group had stopped for a break before they began the most grueling part of the journey; the day and a half travel through the scorching sandy sea of the desert. Naruto had quickly delegated duties; sending Botan to refill canteens, Fuyuko and Choji to forage food, and tasked Sai and Ino with beginning the lookout rotation, before seeking out a quiet place to continue reading through the stack of papers given to him by Shikamaru. Heavy and wordy, the documents were a combination of the latest information from the team currently combing through the abandoned city and the finial impressions upon the sixth sweep through the ghost town. The pages held a number of first hand accountings from the investigators dispatched by the Hokage and Kazekage, documentation detailing numerous findings amongst the ruble, a slew of status reports and more importantly, analysis of the ‘tree’ that had sent Uzumaki and kyuubi down a road to hell.
That six page synopsis chilling to say the least. He’d been reading for over an hour and growing more and more disturbed as the minutes ticked by.
And more mystified.
Guess it was to be expected considering this information came from experts that were just as baffled and confused about the husk of the ‘entity’ they were studying.
To summarize the summary; they didn’t know what the fuck it was.
Samples collected from what remained in that lab indicated the unnerving perennial plant was no perennial plant at all. Sixty four feet tall, twenty feet wide and a branch spread measured at fifty seven point four, its dimensions were comparable to the average tree, but outside its appearance, it had fuck all in common with an actual tree.
‘Entity 504 is not a tree despite its outward depiction. Its structure is comprised of unidentified fleshy material, fluid with components similar to blood and a clear sticky substance yet to be identified,’ he read silently, ‘many of its observable cells appear alien and their function remains unclear. Deoxyribonucleic acid extracted from the nucleus are comprised of known and unknown nucleotides. Further testing and analysis has been requested.’
He set down the finished paper, grabbed the next and continued.
‘The branches atop the trunk are better described as external limbs. They are limber and dexterous, equipped with small, retractable talons nestled within millions of suction cups buried below the epidermis. These sharp hooks reside within the reticular dermis but extended beyond the epidermis when triggered. It is believed that these appendages provided a means of attacking and capturing prey.’
Blonde brows creased.
“What the hell am I reading?” he muttered.
‘The ‘trunk’ is lined with an inestimable amount of teeth comparable in shape to those of a shark. Due to the high concentration of shredded flesh and bone fragments, it is surmised that the center, anterior of the trunk is the primary site of mastication, although teeth encompass the entirety of the trunks spongy surface.’
“That fucking thing had teeth?” he sputtered, cerulean orbs wide.
This report was getting weirder, more abhorrent…and he knew where this was heading. He knew what that fucking thing had been doing with those teeth.
Swallowing sickly, he continued.
‘Functioning analogous to the jubokko, entity 504 is postulated to have drawn its nutrients from the consumption of living creatures. It is speculated that this process resulted in the producing of an unknown fruit. While the full scope and range of it’s feeding sources are thus unknown, there is enough physical evidence and information to surmise that it’s primary diet consisted of human beings-’
Unease slid across his skin.
This thing…
This abomination was once a living creature…
That fed on human beings…
He stared down at the black ink, wondering if he’d misread. He’d had a haunch, a sixth sense that the flesh caked in those teeth was human, but he’d wanted to be wrong.
A second read through disabused him of the notion.
There was no mistake.
Just when he thought the characterization couldn’t possibly worsen, the words on these pages proved him wrong. There seemed to be no depth to this depravity. No end to the grisliness of this scientific horror movie turned real life. Five months away from his twenty first birthday, Naruto Uzumaki had seen a lot in his young life, experienced situation many could never dream of, he even accepted there was a plethora of strange and unexplained occurrences in this universe, however, no matter how cosmopolitan he grew, coming face to face with a reality this far beyond the realm of normal would always leave him mystified and unsettled.
‘Evidence suggest that this carnivorous entity is either the source or at minimal, a crucial component in the creation and/or composition of the jubokko that have ravaged the Elemental Nations and beyond.’
As strange as it sounded, it was true. That monstrosity mimicking a tree had giving rise to those bloodthirsty beasts. He still couldn’t fathom that reality, but the connection could not be denied.
The similarities between both parasitic incarnations was irrefutable.
‘Entity 504 has been monitored twenty four hours a day beginning April 16, 2010 at 1500 hours. This observation include but are not limited to, visual and auditory. The frequency, otherwise described as a ‘song’, experienced by Uzumaki Naruto and Kurama has alluded all means of detection at this time. More sophisticated means are being constructed, however, we formerly request the assistance of Uzumaki Naruto and Kurama in the process of producing these results.’
“I feel like we only added more questions reading all this, Kurama…” Naruto admitted, “and all this crap about teeth and blood and shit, really not looking forward to going back in there. It was bad enough going in blind, but now that we know a little bit about this damn thing…”
He shook his head.
‘The time for second thoughts was before you left Konoha, Naruto.’
“Not saying I wanna back out, just saying I’m not looking forward to it, dattebayo.”
‘At no point were you looking forward to it.’
“You know what I meant,” he complained, returning his attention to the final line, “hardly the time for jokes, Kurama.”
‘With the information gleaned from entity 504 and it’s surrounding environment, at this time, we do not believe that this creature originated on earth.’
He trailed off, goosebumps pebbling his skin.
He took a moment, processed the unease crawling over his flesh then moved on. Naruto set the papers aside then grabbed a different stack. Sifting through the stapled booklet, he glanced over the contents. Photo copies of what appeared to be journal entries. Neat, bold handwriting stood out against the stark paper. There were stains from the original, dark spots he surmised was blood. Along the edges as well as within the body of the paper, were rips and tears. Flipping back to the beginning, he read through the inner monologue of an individual believed to be Kabuto’s twin.
Takahiro.

February 10, 2007
‘A man reached out to me today. Somehow, he knew about our village, he knew about the serum, and he knew of our plans. I should be terrified that he knows as much as he does, that he knows anything about us at all, and somehow, I feel neither fear nor concern. Oddly, when I first saw him, I felt a nagging connection to him. He is strange, he is unsettling, he is familiar.’

February 23, 2007
‘Otsutsuki. That is who he is. That is what he is. A being not of this planet, not of this dimension. He told me that the seeds originated from his people, that the text I interpreted were a part of his plan. He claims to know of my past, of my brother and clan. That he could show me proof, that he could uncover my identity and give me the past that has thus remained an empty space for as long as I could remember. Five years ago, I might have been interested, I may have questioned him with an ache in my heart, now, I feel naught but disinterest. That life is no more. I do not remember it, nor do I wish to return to it. I have my own people, my own family. The past will offer no benefit to my present, nor my future. The Land of Blood is my present, The Village Hidden in Darkness* is my future.’

Blonde brows crinkled.
There was an asterisk next to that last sentence, along with a number. Naruto reached for the supplementary documents for details.
‘Compiled from data recovered from hard drive A-762, A-766, C-941, D-109; document A-111967, G-498215-’
“I got it, it came from a buncha different places,” he muttered to himself, “don’t have time to read all that, dattebayo.”
He skipped to the relevant parts.
‘This wide enclosure carved below Sunagakure was a burgeoning nation dubbing its self The Land of Blood.’
They’d certainly lived up to that name in spades. Soaking the very earth in crimson.
‘It was named thus in deference to the many shinobi and civilians lost, attributable to the years of war between the Elemental Nations and ensuing chaos that followed skirmishes.
His frown deepened, though it was one laced with profound contemplation and that familiar ache he’d felt, listening to Nagato’s tragic past. Like the redhead Uzumaki, the people of this ‘Nation of Blood’ were victimized by battle after battle that had nothing to do with them, made to pick up the pieces in the aftermath despite having no part in the destruction. They lost friends, parents, sisters, cousins, peace and security.
At the hands of those bigger, stronger, they suffered.
‘The exact day of its creation is unknown. Estimated to have been established nearly a decade ago, it was founded by a former shinobi originating from the Village Hidden in Rain, who identified himself with the moniker Kohei. In the wake of unrest, he recruited followers largely comprised of defectors, surviving kin of war casualties and orphans, with the directive of establishing a new Nation with the might and power to rival the Elemental Nations.’
He was unsurprised by the nature of this man’s ambition. During his studies to become a jonin, his current studies to become Hokage, Naruto knew there were many, many pockets of civilizations fighting tooth and nails for a place at the table. As impossible as it seemed, there were a few that already toed the power line, or at least, they had been prior to the jubokko attacks. Rising to the top was extremely difficult, but not outside the realm of possibility, couple that with the passion and angst losing loved ones wrought and that task became more than surmountable.
‘The infrastructure within this new nation named itself; The Village Hidden in Darkness, a reference to the perpetual darkness found beneath the earth. With a population estimated between eight to fifteen thousand, this hidden village operated akin to standard hidden villages. Despite it’s modest numbers, the village formed a small military force comprised of highly skilled shinobi tasked with the protection and prosperity of its territory and people. Mission logs indicate assignments modeled and derived from the Hidden Village basic rank tier form, ranging from D to S; encompassing simple resource gathering and recruitment pitching to the clandestine such as espionage and assassinations.’
There was more to read, but in deference to time, he’d save it to read at his leisure when returned home.
He went back to the journal entries.

March 31, 2007
‘We began testing the serum today. Toriyama is right, if we are to compete with the Elemental Nations. If we are to become masters of our own future, dramatic steps must be taken. Revolutionary measures must be utilized. Food is low, morale is low and the people are losing faith in the dream Kohei and I promised. I cannot let that happen. The Village Hidden in Darkness will not fall. I will wait a while before telling him. When enough time has passed to present him with real, tangible results, my brother will have no choice but to see the wisdom in this course of action.’

April 4, 2007
‘Four men among my staff have undergone the transformation and it is more than I could ever have imagined. Their strength has exceeded expectations. Their speed unmatched by the swiftest amongst the shinobi forces. We may need to adjust the levels, as their aggression is proving problematic, but even that is within the margin of error of my predictions.

April 15, 2007
‘I plan to confront brother today. I can already his blistering fury in my ears. He will be beyond livid. I know this. But once he reads the data, once he sees with his own eyes the fruits of our labors, he’ll see that this is the only way forward and the time to move is now.

The next page was not an journal entry, but some sort of log.
He straightened as his eyes moved over the paper.
This was about the serum he’d read about, the final product created from the fruit that tree produced. They called it ‘the harvest’.
0321 hours; Subject 3 has rejected the harvest.
0322 hours; Subject 3’s skin has begun to melt.
0322 hours; Subject 3’s orifices are leaking blood and a dark fluid.
0325 hours; Subject 3 has expired. Remains are scheduled for autopsy and disposal.
Naruto turned the page, reading through the deaths. There were gaps in numbers, missing information here and there, but the trend was undeniable.
Subject 20 has expired. Remains are scheduled for autopsy and disposal.
Subject 21 has expired. Remains are scheduled for autopsy and disposal.
Subject 32 has expired. Remains are scheduled for autopsy and disposal.
Subject 39 has expired. Remains are scheduled for autopsy and disposal.
He skipped several pages, knowing they held the same damning words, the same horrific fate for each of these people referred to as mere numeric bodies. Stopping on the finial page, he read the words typed there, eyes wide, stomach turning.
Just below subject 1003’s death was a finalized dictation.
Final Determination: Females are not viable candidates for the harvest. Injection of serum induces immediate liquidation of internal organs, and erosion of skin. Further investigation required. Testing of female subjects has been suspended indefinitely.
“Canteens are full and everybody’s ready,” Choji announced, wiping the residue of whatever snack he’d been eating on the bottom of his shirt.
Setting the papers aside, Naruto looked up as the pudgy man neared.
“Are you finished here or you need a few more minutes?”
Thoroughly repulsed, deeply angry and sick at heart about the suffering of a people he knew nothing about, Naruto shook his head. Rubbing both eyes with a thumb and forefinger, he pulled his pack closer to him and started placing the documents back into their respective folders. He’d gone over the required documents, the ones he needed to complete his mission and those detailing Sai’s. He didn’t need to read any more, nor did he really want to.
For now, he’d work on processing what he had read and worry about the rest later.
xxxxxx
Racing across water, Hinata spotted a disturbance. In the distance, she could make out seven flying creatures. Six were circling the single wintry owl carrying her teammate and medic. Chiho broke from the hostile ring, the birds hot on their tail.
“They’re in trouble,” she called out to her teammate, watching Chiho dodge a water pistol, “ birds, six of them. Water based attacks. I’ll take three, you and Akamaru take the others.”
“We’re on it!” Kiba shouted back.
Akamaru gave a sharp bark as his feral friend hopped onto his back.
With that, the three bounded quickly across the pseudo lake, splashing droplets as they sped towards the fight. Hinata searched the incoming forest as they neared, looking for a boost. Spotting a tree with just the height she needed, the agile Hyuuga leapt from branch to branch, propelling herself forward faster on the last. Hurtling towards the massive tree, she reached out with a palm coated in chakra. Her hands touched bark, the brief contact anchoring her to the tree as she launched into a quick somersault, gained her feet and charged up the tree.
At the top, Hinata jumped, using the momentum of her run up the wood to spring skyward, the wood beneath her feet cracking under the force of chakra.
Hurtling towards one of the gray falcon-like creature, she reached for its long neck, swung herself upon its back and delivered a series of crippling Juuken strikes to its tenketsu. Wasting no time, she stood and hopped to the next as it began its ungraceful fall too earth, landing none too gently on its back. Dishing the same treatment to this one, rode it down a few seconds, long enough to put herself in range of the final fowl. This one put up a fight. The moment she stepped foot on its feathered spine, it shifted sharply, turning her world upside down.
She tightened her grip as it barrel rolled, her fingers and arms straining as she held on. The moment it righted, she pushed herself up and raised a hand, only to return to securing her place upon it’s back. The bird cawed, spun again, then dove for the treeline.
Twigs, branches, and leaves slapped her skin.
Teeth gritted, Hinata screwed her eyes closed against the flying debris.
It was taking her backwards, towards the lake. A hard spin tore her tight grip from the bird and sent her sailing. Shifting her weight as she flew, Hinata landed on her feet atop the water’s surface, immediately taking a defensive posture.
She had less than a second to before it attacked.
Dodging a row of water blasts, Hinata coasted the rippling surface in a series of back flips, righted herself, then ducked as it swooped overhead. Harsh wind threw her hair into chaos, but the taijutsu expert was already on the offense.
‘Mizu Hari!’
Needles, made faster, stronger by the surrounding water and her own boosted chakra, shot towards the gray creature, lodging within critical tenketsu, immediately halting chakra flow. It fell like a bag of stone, hitting the lake with a splash, sending several waves rolling beneath her feet. Swaying with the water, she watched it sink to the bottom, ensuring it was down for the count before turning and taking off after her teammates, passing three ravaged birds as she did.
Kiba had done his part.
Seven minutes later, she caught up with him and Akamaru.
“You okay?” he questioned.
“Fine,” she assured him as her eyes passed over the terrain ahead, scouting for any other pursuers, “take a food pill if you need to, we won’t be resting until we reach the village.”
“Right. How’s Shino?”
“His chakra flow is stronger, and steady,” she reported, “as long as we can clear anymore attacks and avoid delays, Enmei’s healing will hold him long enough to get him help. I’ll take lead, you cover the rear.”
Man and dog slowed, while the lone kunoichi quickened her pace.
xxxxxx
May 17, 2010

“Naruto, its good to see you again, my friend,”
Naruto reached for the offered hand, his tan skin, made even tanner from the sun, gratefully soaking up the cool breeze blaring from the air conditioner. No matter how often he traveled that route, he would never get used to the scalding sensation. Excluding the Sunagakure population, who in the world could acclimate to trudging through burning grit beneath a shinning sphere tasked only with charring flesh from bones with its heated rays? The Kazekage and his people were due a high level of respect for their tenacity to live and thrive beneath these grueling conditions.
He latched onto the redhead’s firm grip with one of his own.
“Great to see you too, Gaara,” the blonde replied, “wish it were under better circumstance, dattebayo.”
The other man nodded, a small, rueful smile spreading his lips.
“Perhaps your next trip to Sunagakure will be one of leisure rather than unrest.”
“Hopefully,” he agreed with a grin before wiping the brief informality from his face, tone and stature.
They were here for business not pleasantries.
Turning, he gestured to the shinobi at his back, gave quick introductions, then turned back to face the Kazekage and his older brother.
“This is my team, I have the identification and permit papers for everyone here if you need them for the Council.”
“Unfortunately we do,” Kankuro sighed, “the daimyo’s aren’t letting up in any of the Elemental Nations.”
Taking no offense, Naruto shrugged out of his pack, opened it, grabbed the manila clasp envelope he’d placed in front for easy access an hour ago and handed it to the puppet master. Whether in defiance of the restraints, or a show of faith, Kankuro left it unopened, unconcerned with the validity of the papers.
“Come, I’ve made preparations for the trip to the site,” Gaara prompted, “we’ll talk more in route.”
Fifteen minutes later, Naruto could finally loosen his grip on the strangely swaying creature beneath him. He could honestly say he’d never ridden a camel before, and now that he had the hang of it, he found it sorta…pleasant.
Well…
As pleasant as could be expected trekking through the inferno that was the desert.
Despite his discomfort, he’d rather be riding this beast of burden than running across this hellish plan, sizzling sand blistering his toes the entire way.
“Are you both prepared for this?” the Kazekage questioned as he cantered next to him, “the Hokage shared your mission report with me…what you describe…it’s troubling.”
Naruto frowned.
“Don’t really have a choice but to be prepared,” he answered honestly, ignoring the quiet whisper of anxiety in his gut, “we made it out in one piece last time. Now that we know a bit more about what we’re dealing, not only can we brace ourselves against the effects, but now we actually have measures in face to hopefully learn what it is that’s causing it.”
“The Yamanaka.”
The blonde nodded.
“Ino’s the best of the Yamanaka clan. If anyone can help us get to the bottom of this, it’s her.”
“She’s been able to harvest information from the jubokko,” his friend noted, “I have no doubt about her abilities. That feat alone is remarkable. Her current breakthroughs and efforts during the war are legendary in our own intel department.”
Pride curled the Uzumaki’s lips.
“Ino’s awesome, dattebayo.”
“Indeed,” Gaara agreed with smile of his own.
“She’s gone through a lot to get us this far though,” the jonin admitted, his upbeat grin dimming, “and I’m more worried about her than us. I’m hoping that this tree only has an effect on bijuu and Jinchuuriki, she’s neither. With this plan for her to observe and see if she can verify the sound, I think she’ll be safe from the pain it causes even with her inside my head.”
“It’s a plausible outcome.”
“I wish it was a guarantee,” he sighed.
“Is Kurama…accepting of this plan?”
“Yeah, though he grumbled about it the whole way here. He’s not a fan of having somebody else in our space,” Naruto chuckled.
Like a line with a torn in his paw, Kurama had more than grumbled. Irritated and aggravated, he’d spent the first half of their journey growling with annoyance.
“He’ll be fine once it’s over with. As much as they fight, Kurama’s doing this for Shukaku. He’s worried about him. We all are.”
Gaara nodded, but his face was pensive.
“Even though we are no longer ichibi and Jinchuuriki, I cannot help but worry for Shukaku’s safety. However, the last thing I wish is for you and Kurama to be put at risk.”
“Don’t worry about us,” Naruto boasted, “we’re not exactly strangers to danger. If we can handle Kaguya, we can handle anything. This tree is really creepy, won’t lie about that, but we’re gonna tackle it like we do everything else, full force.”
He turned somber as he continued.
“Besides, running from this won’t give us answers for whatever that thing is, and we wouldn’t run away even if given the choice. We need to know what’s happening, why this is effecting Kurama and I, and if it had something to do with Shukaku’s behavior, ‘ttebayo. We’ve gotta do this.”
Though he appeared hesitant to do so, the Kazekage acquiesced.
“Then I will once again place my faith in you both.”
They arrived to the site a while later, and as they neared, Naruto slipped into senjutsu. He searched the area, trying to feel that trail that had led him to the button in the sand weeks earlier.
He was…embarrassingly relieved when he felt nothing.
“I can’t sense anything,” he told the group at large, “so either that nasty energy cleared up completely, or its starting to fade away.”
He preferred the later, but the former held more value. He turned frog shaped pupils to the Kazekage.
“I won’t be able to say one way or the other until I get down there, dattebayo.”
The former Jinchuuriki nodded.
“You have leave to go wherever you wish in the site,” he informed him, “I’ve cleared the area of everyone but essential personnel, they’ll assist you with anything you need, you’ve only to ask. Whatever your findings, send them through the predetermined channels and they’ll arrive immediately to my desk. Good luck, and be careful, Naruto, Kurama.”
“Thanks Gaara. Hopefully we can get some answers for everybody.”
The Kazekage departed with his guards, leaving Naruto, his team and Kankuro behind.
“Ready?” Naruto questioned his team, though his eyes sought Ino’s.
He received affirmatives and a determined nod from the lone kunoichi in their party. There was no hesitation in those blue orbs.
Heartened, he turned to Kankuro.
“We’re ready.”
The puppet master walked a short distance, crouched down and hit the button.
Inside, the once bloody nightmare had been swept through with efficient thoroughness. The blood remained though dried, but the bodies, parts and grotesque insides were gone. As they traveled along the dirt road, goosebumps pebbled his flesh.
He still didn’t sense anything.
There was no trail leading him to that destroyed lab, and yet, he couldn’t help the unease that flayed his skin. His anxiety was through the roof, goaded by the muted distress he could feel radiating from Kurama, though he knew better to comment on it. Instead, he sent his friend positivity and comfort, hoping it’d soothe them both. That presence might be absent at the moment, but it was almost as though they were reliving that day.
“Ino?” Botan called out.
Yanked from his morse head space, Naruto stopped and looked over his shoulder at the ninja, then beyond him to the woman in question.
She’d veered from the dirt path and into a husked out stone building.
He followed, the group trailing in his wake.
“This place, one of the jubokko lived here…before he was turned,” she told them as the filed into the dirty house.
Emotion crossed the young woman’s face. Raising a hand to her chest, she clutched the fabric there, as though pained. She glanced around, looking from one crumpled corner, to another before moving towards the surface that was cracked but intact. A shelf was nailed to it, and atop it, a shattered vase.
“Ino, what are you doing?” Lee questioned.
“She’s got some memory she needs to resolve,” Choji explained.
“What do you mean?” Naruto asked.
“When she enters other people’s mind, the memories come attached with emotions, and sometimes, those emotions are full of regrets and last wishes,” the chubby shinobi explained as his teammate collected the vase, “for example, if someone wanted to tell a loved one something before their death, Ino feels that compulsion almost like it was her own. Even though she doesn’t have to, she feels compelled to tie up those loose ends. Most of the time, she can ignore them, but its a lot harder when she’s in near the environment directly connected to that feeling. As long as it’s not dangerous, it’s better to let her resolve it so she can move on from it.”
Made sense.
“Alright, we can do that,” the blonde team lead announced, watching as Ino took the shattered pottery and headed down a hall, “we’re not on a time constraint. We’ll stop where needed.”
She was wiping tears from her eyes with the back of her hand, her fingers dirty, as she returned.
“I couldn’t take the vase to his mother’s grave, but she loved that garden, that’s the best I can do given the circumstances,” she said as she rejoined the group.
“Is that gonna be enough to resolve that memory?” Naruto asked softly.
Ino nodded.
“As long as I do…something, anything close to what they wanted before passing, that’s enough to put it to rest for good.”
“Good. When you need to stop again, let us know.”
They stopped twelve more times, each one differing in actions and emotions. Some provoked anger and a smashed window, others drew tears and a righting of furniture, others brought happiness and a peaceful smile. Aside from Choji and her lover, the spectacle was both fascinating and disquieting to those that watched.
Nearly an hour later, they stood in front of the lab and still, Naruto sense nothing. A woman was waiting for them at the doors. From the white coat, he surmised she was one of the necessary personnel left behind, a scientist to lead them to their destination.
He stopped them short of the woman.
“Ino, Lee, Choji, you guys are with me,” the Jinchuuriki instructed, “we’ll be heading directly to entity five zero four. Fuyuko, Botan, you two are heading over to lab seven with Sai. You’ll be briefed on the way, and depending on the situation, you’ll either be returning to the village with us once our part is finished, or dispatched as needed to other locations at Sai’s discretion, dattebayo.”
“Understood, sir,” Fuyuko nodded.
“Yes sir,” Botan replied.
Kankuro approached, his gaze locked on the former Roots member, however, the Anbu Captain turned and shared a look with his girlfriend. Clearly having expected it, Ino gave a short nod and a somewhat cocky smile.
“I’ll be fine,” the psych kunoichi assured him, “I can handle it.”
Though he said not a word, his dark eyes held a silent response only the blonde female could interpret. Voiceless conversation Naruto recognized from his own relationship with his wife-to-be. With a love deeper than space, words weren’t necessary.
“This way,” Kankuro directed.
That quiet look was erased with a blink, blankness taking it’s place. The painter nodded, and with his two companions, followed the sand shinobi into the science lab.
“We’re ready,” he told the female waiting patiently.
“This way, Uzumaki-san,” the woman in the white coat ushered, “we’ve cleared a path to the chamber of entity 504. My name is Yua, I’m the current head of investigatory team B. If you have any questions or need any assistance, please feel free to ask.”
“Thanks.”
The trip was short, and his heart was pounding the entire time. Not once had he felt anything untoward, however, he was braced for a blast of sensation with every door, every turned corner, and every flight of stairs they descended. Nothing happened. At least, not until they began to slow and walked pointed to a door down a long hall. Time felt as though it had slowed, like he was moving at snails speed despite the fact that his pulse was racing. When they reached a small room with a heavy airlock door, sweat beaded his forehead. Anticipation slid along his skin, raising the fine hairs at his nape. Kurama stirred, his attention rapt on the door.
‘You feel anything?’
‘No.’
But there was a quiet knowledge passing through them that once they opened that door, that lack was bound to change.
“Whenever you’re ready, sir,”
Taking in a quiet, stabilizing breath, he gave a nod and watched as two men standing guard popped the six bolted locks before the bulkier one twisted the giant valve.
He pulled, grunting as he dragged the door open.
Muscle tense, cerulean orbs sharp, Naruto waited for the agonizing eruption…
There was none.
Confused, relieved, he moved forward, stepping through the open portal and into the room. Like the ghost town they’d passed through, there were no bodies or parts left over. No intestines or fleshy chunks strewn across the tiled floor. Dried blood remained, and a repulsive undercurrent that smelled of rot lingered, but the previous images of carnage were absent.
A relief to all involved.
Within the room’s center, the tree, entity 504, had degraded drastically. Wilted, with white patches, it was nearly half its original size, and eerily similar to the tree they’d found beneath Kabuto’s village. He’d read about the changes, as well as the consensus that both trees were of the same nature due to the similarities in decomposition. Naruto was of the same mind. This wasn’t a coincidence. These two…monstrosities were either one in the same, or among the same species.
His eyes swept the room.
He could see the room he’d been in the first time, several feet up behind plexiglass. There were people in the room. Scientist, shinobi, Sai and the rest of the team. His head inclined further up, stopping on the broken glass above the tree.
“What happened there?” he questioned.
“We’re not sure,” Yua answered, “initially, it appeared that something had broken free from entity 504’s chamber, but the way the glass lay scattered, it seems the opposite occurred.”
Blonde brows creased.
“Something broke in, rather than out?” he questioned.
“Yes sir,” she confirmed, “this facility has a surveillance system but the recordings were destroyed and the devices ruined, we can only speculate as to what it was that forced it’s way in. We suspect it was the act of jubokko, but again, that is merely speculation.”
Disturbing…
He looked around again, noting the cameras circling the room.
It was just their luck whoever was responsible from this science fiction nightmare had had the presence of mind to take out an easy means of deriving answers.
Eyes on the snowy, pitiful tree, he moved again, only to stop mere seconds later.
There it was…
Finally, that unpleasant phenomenon had risen to ply chilly fingers along his senses. It was different this time.
So…quiet.
So faint.
Barely a whisper of sensation.
Even so, his heart was pounding.
Memories flooded his mind, a film reel filled with writhing agony. Shaking it from his head, the resolute blonde pushed forward, only to be stopped once more.
He looked back.
Gripping his arm, Lee gave him a concerned look, weariness in his eyes.
“If it gets as bad as last time, I’ll pull you out immediately,” his spandex wearing friend vowed.
Heartened, Naruto gave a grateful nod. The earnest promise brought a deeper calmness to his mind. Knowing he had a lifeline in case things went to shit again, was comforting.
“You too, Ino,” Choji said, giving his sister in everything but blood, a determined look, “if it starts to look bad, I’m stepping in.”
He lifted a tan, square up for her to see.
Kakashi-sensei had told him about it in an effort to quell his concern for his friend. It was rare, specially crafted jutsu that had been passed down through Akimichi lineage. A small paper with dark writing designed to force the Yamanaka back into her own psychological space should she be unable to do so of her own accord. It was a one time emergency measure, entrusted for generations to the Akimichi and the remaining one to the Nara. Shikamaru still held on to his, Choji had brought and hoped he wouldn’t have to use his. Naruto was hoping the same; for the sake of everyone involved.
“I’m counting on you Choji,” Ino said.
Naruto turned to the only other blonde among them.
“Ino, before we do this, remember what I said before we left the village. Kurama knows you’re gonna be…in our space, so don’t worry about him,” the Jinchuuriki reassured with a rueful grin, “he’s always pretty grouchy and unfriendly so it’s really nothing personal. Most likely, he’s uh, not gonna speak to you directly. If you feel him get riled up, don’t panic. He’s not gonna attack or anything, it’s just that this whole situation has us both on edge and with the whole ‘sharing our space’ deal, he’s really not gonna be in the best of moods, dattebayo.”
Not that many people made it into their space. Sasuke, his parents, the other bijuu, all special cases. Wasn’t like this an easy access place.
Still, he felt like he should warn her.
“He knows this is necessary for the mission and agreed to cooperate. He won’t go back on his word, no matter what you feel coming from him.”
“I understand,” the Yamanaka answered nonchalantly, “sorry for the intrusion, Kurama.”
Radio silence.
Not even a stir of interest from the fox spirit.
“He appreciates it,” Naruto replied, abundantly familiar with answering on his unsociable family member’s behalf.
Kurama was more stubborn than his host.
The blonde shook her head.
“Ya know, Naruto, you don’t have to keep concocting responses for him. Kurama’s not a people person, we get it,” she told him with a knowing upturn of her lips, “it’s fine. Its not going to make us hate him or anything, we just want to acknowledge that he’s around, even if you’re the only one he speaks to. We owe him a lot, if hadn’t been for the both of you, we’d all be wasting away in dreamland. Besides, for the longest time, he and the others were treated less than, and even though it’ll never make up for the past, the least we can all do is ensure the future is different. Acknowledging his presence and sentience is part of that.”
“Thanks for that Ino,” he said with a sheepish grin, despite the skepticism bleeding through his connection with fox in question, “I appreciate it, dattebayo. Not sure if he’ll ever come around, but at least he knows that things are different now.”
Derision joined the skepticism.
Kurama took the words of others outside their family with a microscopic grain of salt. Naruto, Hinata, Gaara and Killer B was the extent of his list of trustworthy humans. Everyone else was the enemy until proven otherwise, problem with that, Kurama wasn’t looking for proof. He was happily content with his small circle and saw no reason to widen it for newcomers. With an silent sigh, Naruto stowed that ongoing fight for another day.
Right now, there was business to attend to.
He started forward again, walking towards the gnarled tree.
It was skinnier, frailer, it’s ‘branches’ twisted in grotesque angles. As he neared the tree he felt it. Distant, but without a doubt, it was there.
Unease slithered up his spine.
Cold malice whispered over his skin, a burgeoning headache settled in his temples. Apprehension bloomed in his gut.
“Ino,” he prompted.
“Right.”
There was shuffling behind him.
A beat passed, then he felt another presence in his psyche. Immediately, discomfort bloomed. Four sensations stood out amongst the kaleidoscope of emotions.
Bellicosity and hostility- Kurama
Hesitation and trepidation- Ino.
It was crowded, and if he were honest, very unpleasant. There just wasn’t enough…room. And while her consciousness wasn’t in itself repugnant, her mass was. It was so outside his comfort zone, that he had to fight to urge to tell her to leave.
‘Sorry guys,’ Ino murmured.
‘It’s fine,’ he told her, ‘lets just get this over with.’
He moved closer and was gently washed in malignity.
A low buzz filled his mind, tension tightened his jaw.
‘Can you hear it, Ino?’
He could feel her straining.
‘Not yet.’
Swallowing the sick in his throat, Naruto moved forward again, stopping when he stood toe to toe with the tree’s base.
‘I can sort of…sense something but its so low I can’t really make it out.’
Fuck…
Moisture dotted his temples, a chill traced his spine.
‘Kurama-’
‘I’m ready. Do it.’
He reached out and laid a hand to the chalky surface. Disgust, repulsion, ruptured beneath his palm, shot up his arm and sliding beneath his skin. Nausea bloomed, collecting at the back of his throat and twisting his insides violently. Hellish agony surged through his body, sucking him under with the strength and chaos of a tornado.
Vibrations flayed his skin.
A low, melodious…inhumane wail echoed through his brain. It was same as last time, a sound he heard in his mind rather than ears, below the range of a whisper, yet blaring and grating with the voracity of a trumpet. Torturous contractions crashed over his nerve endings like jarring ocean waves, each blast splashing acid within his subconscious.
His head felt seconds from splitting-
It stopped abruptly, parting the sea of torment.
Hard arms were wrapped around his middle, holding his shaking form in an iron grip. Naruto sucked in desperate gusts of air, willing the pain in his head to cease long enough for him to form a coherent thought. A high pitched noise cut through the room
The fog cleared rapidly, snapping him from his own agony by the screams of someone else’s.
Ino…
Ino was screaming.
xxxxxx
Lol, didn’t plan this, but it’s so funny that they reached that terrifying village on my date of birth XD my subconscious tryna tell me something I’m sure!
Sorry it took a minute to post this time around. I had some trouble with my sleeping, so it took me a little longer to finish this chapter. I try to update once a week, but I was so tired and sluggish. Think my medication needs a tweaking, not sure. I know all this sun isn’t helping. Sunlight makes me sleepy and there’s plenty of it now that spring has started. I was very careful with the action again, so hopefully it’s as good as the others for you all!
Anyway, don’t forget to review! Like it? Hate it? Please let me know!
ANON April 20, 2022- Thank you for the feedback! I wasn’t sure people were still reading the fic here! I happy to hear you enjoyed the confrontation, and I hope you enjoy this chapter as well. A small request though? When you review, can you drop a name or alias, I feel bad calling you ANON with a date, lol. It feels like I'm being disrespectful to you. Hope to hear from you again! Thank you for reading!
Laters
Sessakag~
- 45
- 46
- 47
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

ᗰOᑎᔕTEᖇ