Author Notes: This is it, the great showdown between Madara and Naruto. Please review. I have not called this story complete yet because I have yet to find the best way of writing the chapter involving Pein. I will get one up before too long.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%^^^^^^^^^^^^^^&&&&&&&&&&&&$$$$$$$$$$######################$$$$$$$$$$$$

A twinge of fear found its way into Naruto's mind when he saw the man at the end of the scythe shaft. The Mangekyo Sharingan stared him down in a crazed rage. Naruto's Kikánugan shown back at Madara, and he took on a look of surprise. His flowing grayish-brown hair flew in the wind behind him.

"Well well well," Madara began, "is this your doing Kyuubi? Is this your pathetic attempt to defeat me, another eye technique?" He put more force on his scythe, pushing Naruto down a little. Madara's strength was unreal.

"Naruto!" Sasuke yelled as Sakura, Tsunade, Kushina, and Jiraiya ran up to him. Pein had just fallen; the last of the ringleaders was dead, but still Akatsuki's soldiers pressed on the attack. Killerbee was dealing with the main gate as best he could, but the enemy just kept coming and coming. Even Gaara was completely exhausted after finishing off the leader of the Shadow Ninja.

Sasuke drew his sword and started running at Madara. "Stop Sasuke!" Naruto yelled, surprising him. Madara was using both of his hands to hold Naruto down, but he was certainly making no progress. "You can't fight him; he's far more powerful than you could imagine."

The boy was stunned. Naruto is afraid to fight him? Madara must be unbelievably strong if the dobe is saying that, Sasuke thought to himself. But Naruto can't fight him alone as injured as he is; that's suicide.

"I can't risk your life Sasuke," Naruto yelled as he drew his second Zanmato. "Go help Killerbee, I'll be alright."

"But Naruto…"

"GO!" Naruto yelled. Kyuubi was influencing his voice, making Madara smile. Sasuke was frightened out of his mind by the fact that Naruto had drawn both of his swords to fight and that voice, so he heeded Naruto's instruction.

"Don't you dare die on me dobe!" Sasuke yelled as he ran with tears flowing from his activated Mangekyo. Everyone else stood dismally at the rim of the crater Naruto had formed from using his perfected Rasenshuriken on Pein's true form. They turned their attention to a group of approaching Shadow Ninja and began fighting. Tsunade punched the leader so hard that he flew out and over Konoha's main gate.

"Don't let a single one interfere with Naruto's fight," she yelled as she knocked several others out with a kick. Kakashi appeared out of nowhere and sent an ambusher spiraling through a building with a well-placed Rasengan. Kushina thanked him as she prepared her newly made Jade Fury Jutsu.

"It's nice to see you again Youko," Madara said tauntingly. "Or rather, it'll be nice to see you in pain for what you did to me and my family." Madara pressed down as hard as he could, but Naruto stood firm.

"I never meant for your brother to die, or for your family to exile you," Kyuubi replied through a still in control Naruto. "I warned you that you would go blind, but I didn't know that your little brother would be so willing to give up his own eyes to save you. Why are you blaming me for your brother's undying love?"

Madara was crying and enraged. "You liar! You meant for me to suffer like this; you are nothing but a damnable trickster and swindler. All of you demons are the same. You're nothing but evil!" Using his chakra, Madara put everything into breaking Naruto's defense. He pushed down harder than Naruto thought possible.

Naruto rolled backward out of the way of the blade, allowing it to form another crater with its impact. He quickly recovered as Madara came in swinging. Clang clang clang zip, clang whoosh, boom, crack. Naruto defended himself perfectly, blocking every attack until the last, which was a back-handed swing. This he dodged, allowing it to strike the side of the crater, throwing rocks outward.

Note: In my opinion, a good theme song for this fight would be "What I've Done." I thought it worked when I reread this while randomly listening to it.

As Naruto jumped towards and over Madara, he swung down quickly. At first, Naruto's sword actually sliced Madara, but then it passed straight through him. "Damn!" they both said. Naruto recognized this ability: space-time manipulation. He landed on his feet and spun around to defend against the onslaught he thought was coming. Madara just stood in the same place, frowning at his wound.

I should have seen that coming much sooner, how did he hit me? he asked himself. Lucky shot. Naruto thought he was lucky too. If he got in enough blows, Madara would be weakened enough to slow his movements.

Naruto became frightful when Madara's body started slipping into a dark line in the air. "Oh no!" he yelled. He tried to slice the man before he made it all the way through, but he was too slow.

"Just listen and wait. Calm your mind Naruto," Kyuubi said to him. The boy's breathing was fast, but he stood still and closed his eyes. He saw everything around him perfectly, and the battles around him seemed to be in slow motion, but he wasn't using the Kikánugan's ability to slow time, was he?

A hole began to appear slightly above Naruto's head, and he blocked the scythe that quickly came from it and stabbed his other sword into Madara's left arm. Once again, Madara was only slightly wounded before his space-time manipulation came into effect.

"Damnable child!" he yelled as he drew his arm back. Madara slipped out of another rift at the other end of the crater. "It's not possible; how can you wound me?" Naruto had no explanation and was certainly not willing to give Madara one.

"Come and fight me old man," Naruto taunted. He knew anger could cloud a person's judgment from his own experience, but he still feared his enemy's powers. Madara's anger intensified, and he activated his Tsukuyomi by accident. "Crap!" Naruto exclaimed as the sky turned red and everything else turned black.

"You know how to beat this Naruto. Use the Kikánugan!" Kyuubi roared. Naruto gathered up a considerable amount of chakra around his eyes, surprising his attacker. Naruto gave off an intense burst of chakra, breaking down Madara's grip on him.

"Fucking trickster," Madara said as he covered his right eye. "I will see you burn in Hell. Uchiha Ultimate Fire Style: Amaterasu Dragon!" Naruto was particularly afraid of this attack because of how impossible it was to defend against. He knew what to do though, and Madara had made it easy for him. Black flames hid Madara from his sight, and Naruto from Madara's.

Naruto summoned a shadow clone before using his own space-time manipulation to hide himself within the side of the crater. He watched closely and waited for Madara to approach his burning clone, wondering if the ruse would work. Naruto's clone was halfway consumed before Madara extinguished the flames. He didn't want the Kyuubi getting out because he destroyed the seal after all.

Madara's vision was blurry enough that he didn't see that this was just a shadow clone, so he approached confidently. He picked up Naruto's panting and cringing clone. "How does it feel?" he asked tauntingly as he panted. "Does it hurt? Do you want me to end it, your pain?"

Naruto silently moved himself behind Madara, his control of the space-time manipulation weakening. With both swords, Naruto plunged through the man's left lung successfully. His clone disappeared in a puff of smoke. "What the?" Madara exclaimed as he removed the body from the sword. Blood was flowing from his mouth. Naruto was terrified when Madara turned around quickly and slashed open his stomach with his scythe. It happened in an instant; there was no time for the boy to react. Blood now flowed from Naruto's mouth, an eye for an eye.

"Damn, this hurts," Naruto spat. Something good came out of it though; Madara had taken a critical hit, and his scythe blade had been broken from its attack on Naruto's flesh. He was bleeding heavily though, and the skin around the jagged wound burned.

"Let me take care of this kid," Kyuubi commanded. "But keep an eye on him; he won't fall for the same trick twice." Naruto's body was surrounded in glowing red chakra and started healing the long cut. Another upside to this was Naruto's enhanced strength and speed.

"Damn. How dare you destroy my scythe? You and your fucking healing, coward!" Madara yelled as he took out a twin pair of straight daggers. A strangely glowing black gem was embedded in the cross guard of each one. Madara used his top speed, frightening an off guard Naruto. The boy raised one sword to defend against the stab, but the tip grazed him as it was deflected off to the side.

Naruto's vision suddenly went red, unbelievable amounts of anger and rage pouring through his body. "It's the other tailed-demons,"Kyuubi said in surprise as he fell down in his cage. He kept seeing each of the demons flash through his mind. When he regained composure, Kyuubi said "It's their rage. They're stuck inside an idol that Madara designed himself. I know where they all are now. We just have to kill Madara, and then we can go free them all, my kinsmen."

Naruto could just barely comprehend what Kyuubi was saying as his vision regained its normal color. "The fuck…" he said aloud. Naruto was panting heavily. He looked up at Madara's sneering face.

"Naruto!" Gaara called down to the boy in his crazed state. The former jinchuuriki knew the look in Naruto's eyes, and it wasn't simply the Kyuubi's eyes being violent-looking of their own accord. "Watch out!" Gaara saw Madara begin running at Naruto while he was still only half aware of his surroundings. He created a sand shield in front of Naruto, which Madara simply smashed. Gaara had him captured however, until he used his space-time manipulation to get himself out. He appeared several feet away from Naruto who had himself back under control.

"It feels glorious, doesn't it?" he asked wildly. "That suffering, that anger, all of that rage, so powerful. Can you feel it, that power? You will never get to know the full extent though. These blades of rage will be your end." Madara began drawing on the power hidden in the daggers, making him give off a black aura. He suddenly closed the distance between him and Naruto and delivered an earth-shattering punch to his gut, reopening his wound. The ground beneath them was compressed and blown away as Naruto was flung several feet into the side of the giant crater.

"NARUTO!!!" everyone screamed as they saw Madara's fist connect.

His pain was unbearable, and he could barely think straight. "Damn…it," Naruto said as he watched Madara get farther and farther away from him as his body drilled into the ground. "Kyuubi, I can't beat him," Naruto said into his mind. "The Kikánugan couldn't track him, and all of that hatred is too much for me to me to be able to keep control. We've…lost," Naruto said as he feinted. The swords of his father hit the ground with a clang as the boy fell forward into unconsciousness. Kyuubi was in despair at the boy's words. He never admitted defeat. What was more, the boy was now unable to hear him. Naruto was beyond normal unconsciousess.

"No, don't give up Naruto," He yelled at the collapsed boy outside his cage. "We have to fight him until the end, for your friends, for the village, for your parents! Please get up Naruto. You can't let him win; think of your father. WAKE UP NARUTO!" At that moment, in Kyuubi's weeping as he gripped the bars of his cage, something unbelievable happened. Both doors slid open as Minato's shade appeared next to Naruto.

"Don't tell me he's…" Kyuubi began. Minato shook his head. Kyuubi suddenly gained complete control over Naruto's body, but the boy was unharmed by his chakra. In fact, he was healing and was surrounded in a white aura.

"We shall all finish this together Kyuubi. With Naruto," Minato said from within the boy's mind. "Create two shadow clones." Kyuubi did as he was told, and created two shadow clones without question. He controlled one, Minato another, and Naruto snapped awake inside the third.

"Dad?" he asked as he woke up. Even though Naruto was staring at a clone of himself, the familiar warmth emanating from within himself and the clone had him convinced. Minato hugged him tightly.

"We're going to finish this together. Madara will perish once and for all. You won't have to be afraid anymore my son. I'm here now; you're safe." They could sense each other's thoughts so easily, and they all had the same idea in mind. They each walked out of the cavern to see a horrified Madara. He intensified his black aura and prepared for a fight. Three white-flaming Naruto's stood in front of him, but they each had different eyes. Kyuubi had his eyes, Minato had his brown eyes, and Naruto's own blue eyes had returned to him.

Jiraiya, Tsunade, Kushina, Kakashi, and Yamato took on shocked expressions as a white light shone from within the cave Naruto's body had made. They felt three distinct chakra patterns, and one was unmistakably Minato's. Their suspicions were confirmed as three Narutos walked out and into the crater. The real Naruto sheathed his swords. What was his plan?

"I don't fear you Kyuubi," Madara declared. "I will seal you away forever and kill the boy. Accept your fate! Kneel before me!" Madara's enraged yelling was silenced as the trio finally went into action. They used Naruto's own taijutsu move to send the man shooting nearly a thousand feet into the air. Their speed was impossible for the Mangekyo to track, but Madara was more horrified that their physical attacks had not passed through him. "Damn…you… all."

Naruto, Minato, and Kyuubi each blurred to their own part of the crater. The battles surrounding the crater had ended when their powerful chakra could be sensed throughout the village. All of Naruto's friends were exhausted and beat up, but otherwise okay. They were all shocked when Madara was sent flying into the sky and looked down to see the three glowing white Narutos.

All of Naruto's friends were stunned by this power; they had never seen anything like it. What everyone was most surprised by was the fact that there were three discernable auras that they could feel emanating from the trio. Each of the Naruto's began forming unbelievable Rasengans. They were all made partly by every one of the elements and shone bright white. The orbs grew to be enormous before the three began compressing them into the terrifying, so known "black holes" that everyone named the technique from the last time Naruto used it on Sasuke. As they were compressed completely, the orbs began drawing in the surrounding earth and air.

"Good, you're both quite competent with using all five elements," Kyuubi complimented them both telepathically. "When we finish this Naruto, things will go back to the way they were before, so say what you have to now."

"I'm sorry that I gave up guys, and… thank you for saving me. I love you dad, and I'll miss you. Just stay close to me so that I never have to feel alone again," he said quietly. Minato smiled and nodded his head.

"He's coming back down; let's go," he said loudly. They all went to the edge of the crater above them, surprising Naruto's friends and the other onlookers. Everyone was stunned; even the villagers were pulling for him. No one from the Leaf Village held a grudge for him anymore. They wanted him to win.

In extreme bursts of power, the three flung themselves up into the air at a now half-conscious and falling Madara. Everyone looked up at them. They were like shooting stars heading towards a dark void. Madara had completely focused all of the power from his daggers, so he couldn't think straight.

"This is it!" Kyuubi roared. Everyone in the village knew that voice all too well, but they didn't care. Naruto, Minato, and Kyuubi converged on Madara, thrusting the black dots toward him. Naruto was the closest, but Madara used his space manipulation to allow the attack to begin passing through. This was Naruto's plan though. Kyuubi and Minato were then upon Madara as well. He allowed their attacks to pass into the center of where his chest used to be.

The three dots connected, creating an indescribably horrifying sound. "You've failed little boy," Madara declared as he plunged both of his daggers into Naruto's stomach. The man then proceeded to pump all of the Bijuu's hatred and chakra into him. Naruto lurched forward in pain and agony, but kept his sanity and kept his attack strong. He cringed and held his stomach as he coughed up blood. The white aura and the black one began mixing as they fought for dominance.

"You've made a foolish mistake Madara," Minato declared. The three were suspended in midair, not falling, not rising, and still flowing with white chakra.

"And what would that be? I can simply get myself out of here with…" Madara began until he realized that his space-time manipulation was no longer working. "What have you done you little monsterrrr?!" the man yelled.

"We've created an inescapable attack which uses extreme gravitational force to cancel out your space-time manipulation," Kyuubi spoke flatly. "Soon the part of your body which you detached will return as you are obliterated."

"You arrogant filth, I am Madara. I am undefeatable," he yelled in a crazed voice. "You will perish by your own foolishness." Madara began releasing a large amount of dense chakra. "I will kill you for this!"

"Naruto," Minato yelled. "Finish it, before you lose control. Will our powers into it."

Naruto's eyes and Madara's met. He was just barely able to retain sanity and control with so much hatred and power coursing through him. "This is the end of Akatsuki… the end of your age…Madara," Naruto said, blood flowing from his mouth as the white auras surrounding the three flowed into the crashing black dots between Madara's halves. "Tetra-Chakra Style: Armageddon," he whispered. Naruto felt dizzy and lightheaded as the three let go of the black dots. They were merely clones now. Naruto could not sense the Kyuubi or his father in them anymore.

Note: Right here, I'd begin listening to Tears of Life. I am begging you to reread these next few paragraphs while trying to picture the scene in your head. My choice was freaking awesome, no?

The three dots between Madara's halves slowly began to grow as they clashed. "Wha- what is this?" Madara asked desperately as he felt himself being pulled apart by their force. "How dare you do this to me?!" Madara began reaching for the real Naruto as dark waves of energy began shooting off of the now combining black spheres. When they fused together completely, Madara began to get sucked in, his eyes showing fear and rage, the Mangekyo of his younger brother still active. "I will not die. I will avenge my brother. You will pay Kyuubi!" he roared.

Then Madara stopped with a stunned and terrified look upon his face. His brother, Uchiha Izuna, appeared behind Naruto. Madara began crying as his brother's image looked down upon him in pity. "No, please Nii-San…. I only wanted for you to live on. I wanted to avenge you. Please Nii-san… forgive me," he said quietly while stretching his hand toward his brother with tears in his eyes as the great black orb quickly expanded and surrounded him along with Naruto's clones. Naruto could hear his body being torn asunder as the great sphere shrieked. He was fading fast though, everything becoming blurry in his vision from exhaustion, blood loss, and unparalleled rage.

Everyone on the ground became terrified at the sight high above the village. The black whirling ball began quickly expanding, showing each of the elements used to create it. Naruto was only a few feet from it when it completely decompressed.

All of Naruto's friends were horrified as they saw him become encased in the expanding chaotic chakra. Everyone in the village became terrified as it grew larger and larger. They screamed when at last it exploded entirely, sending waves of destruction downward towards the village. Many ANBU prepared a bubble barrier over the village as the remaining subordinates of Akatsuki tried to run out the main gate. They were slaughtered by Killerbee, who was now staring in amazement at what Naruto had done.

"Sensei," was all he said before falling to his knees in despair.

Naruto did not feel pain inside that light; he felt the loving embraces of his family and friends, even as he was burned, battered, and electrified. A single tear fell from his eye when he felt his father's protective embrace. Naruto tried to contain this feeling, but it slipped away as he lost consciousness.

Everyone noticed a shape being thrown at high speed from the explosion. An unconscious Naruto was slammed through the top of the Hokage Mansion and deep into the mountainside that held the Hokage carvings. The mansion collapsed, and nearly half of the mountain cracked and crumbled, taking the faces of the past Hokages with it. The bubble-like barrier just barely held against the last of the jutsu's force, and the ANBU safely dispelled it once the flames had faded.

"Oh Kami," Kushina said as she fell to her knees. "No one could have survived that; Naruto's… dead." Kakashi leaned down to comfort her, but she smacked his hand away. "I've lost both of my loved ones to Akatsuki. Why?" She began crying without restraint as she held herself. Kushina mourned for her son as she had for Minato seventeen years ago. "Promise me that he will have the funeral he deserves Tsunade-Sama, please," she requested before crying even more hysterically.

"That stupid dobe!" Sasuke yelled as tears fell from his onyx eyes. He was on all fours as he beat the ground. "Why did you have to go and fight him alone? Damn you…you idiot. Always trying to play the hero, always getting hurt because of it, why?" He slammed his fist hard onto the ground. Sakura kept looking from Sasuke to the mountain and back as tears began to form in her eyes as well.

"We'll have time to mourn for him later. Right now, we need to recover his body from the rocks," Tsunade said. Even she could not control her sorrow however, and tears began to stream down her cheeks as well.

If you listen to any song at all, please listen to the Zelda Snowpeak Mountain theme on YouTube as you read up to my next bold prompt. You may need to have it repeat a couple of times.

As the clouds of dust surrounding the mountain began to clear, everyone noticed that Naruto was nowhere in sight; he was buried under the rocks. Everyone alive began rushing to the mountain to try and find the remains of their savior. All memories of hate had been destroyed; the villagers finally acknowledging their dying hero.

As Tsunade, Jiraiya, and the rest of Naruto's companions neared the sight of the crash, they saw a bright red glow coming from a particular patch of rocks. They began to approach it until visible red chakra started forcing its way out of the debris. Everyone's worst fear materialized as the Nine-Tailed Fox blew away the rocks. His tails swayed lightly, creating strong winds. He stepped out from the alcove and revealed himself.

"It's… it's the real demon! It's the Kyuubi" Many of the villagers yelled. Kyuubi silenced them all with a loud and mournful howl. He used his claws to carefully move the rocks away. He found Naruto underneath a bunch of smaller rocks.

"You are the boy's friends are you not?" he asked in a deep voice. "If you wish to see him, I will not stop you. I am as hurt as you by this; make no mistake. However, none but his personal friends may come near, or I will obliterate the trespassers." He roared before giving a more violent swipe of his tail, setting off terrifying winds.

Killerbee was the first one who began traversing the cliff side, followed by the rest of Naruto's friends and Kushina. When they were all standing at the entrance to the alcove, Kyuubi lifted his paw which blocked the entrance. Kushina was the first to rush in. She began removing the rocks from Naruto's body. Everyone began contributing an effort and chucked the stones down the mountainside. Naruto's jacket was in shreds stuck between each of the stones, and his entire body was burnt and bruised.

When they were finished getting the boy out from under the stones, the first thing they noticed was that the seal was gone. "Do you see the knives Madara stabbed him with?" Kyuubi asked. Tsunade drew them out slowly, feeling a certain uneasiness and disgust at the prospect. All of them saw Naruto's half-lidded eyes. They had returned to their former innocent shade of blue. Tsunade then noticed the trail of blood leaving the boy's mouth. Naruto's body gave no response of pain as she drew out the blades; he truly had perished. No blood flowed from the wounds, but the knives were coated. Jiraiya took them both and smashed them into tiny shards of steel on the wall. All that remained of them were two grey crystals.

"He refined the rage of the other tailed-demons and infused the gems in the handles with it," Kyuubi continued. "While it gave him a great boost of strength, when he had absorbed it all, his mind was no longer his own. Madara sent all of that power and rage through the blades and into the seal, corroding it. While we were performing the jutsu and for some time after, I did everything I could to keep the seal intact. Even I failed in protecting him from Madara's wrath. I am truly sorry."

"This may be a discriminatory question," Kushina began, "but why have you not attacked? You are free to do as you please now as the most powerful entity in existence. Why do you actually care about Naruto? He was your prison, no? You could simply sweep us away if you wished, so why haven't you?"

"Only someone as blinded as Madara or someone completely heartless would be able to simply shrug something like this off," Kyuubi replied quietly as a tear fell from his right eye. "And I did not attack the village on purpose all those years ago. Madara controlled my actions with his transferred Mangekyo. Naruto and I also developed a relationship of sorts. The boy listened to me, and I listened to him. We developed an indescribable bond over the last five weeks. I failed as his protector, and I'm terrible for not comforting his sorrow over the many terribly harsh years. While I had no parental experience of my own, I still considered him like my own. Even we demons, as evil as we are portrayed to be, experience emotions and sometimes even develop love for others. I know you do not believe me, but I think I love him as I would my own son."

Kushina held Naruto's body close to her as she listened to Kyuubi's words. He was incredibly cold to the touch. Naruto looked so peaceful in death, and yet the world around him was in an uproar. As everyone began crying, Kyuubi looked up at the now darkening, grey sky.

YOU SHOULD BE NEEDING TO START THE REPEAT ABOUT HERE. IT IS BEST THAT YOU DO!!!!

"Diamond Dust," he said nostalgically. "The power of icy tears of pain coming together under the bond of love to surround and then shatter the darkness. If only the darkness of today could be broken so easily by those words." Kyuubi's tails dropped as he began to cry openly. He half-moaned, half-howled for Naruto. A light snow began falling from the sky, making everyone look up.

"Naruto, Minato," Kushina said softly as she hugged her son tighter. "I love you so much Naruto. Please don't leave me all alone. Come back to me… my babe… my son… my treasure."

"Kushina," Tsunade interjected as she placed her hand on the woman's shoulder. "We must leave now; the villagers are waiting." Kushina nodded. She let Jiraiya carry him in his arms as they jumped from the mountain. Sakura slipped on a patch of snow on the edge of the cliff and was going to break her neck if she continued to fall that way. Kyuubi intervened and caught the girl in his hand, both relieving and terrifying Sakura. He put her down at the base of the mountain, allowing her on her way. Tsunade looked up at the Kyuubi in wonder. Were the Tailed-Beasts really as villainous, evil, and destructive as the legends said? The Kyuubi was certainly powerful; she knew that from what happened with Naruto. But he wasn't evil. She stared at the frozen puddles that were the Kyuubi's tears in awe. The puddles had frozen in the middle of a splash. Each one was a crystal clear and beautiful structure.

The village had been completely wrong all these years, and Naruto had died because of it. Another tear fell from the Lady Hokage's face as she remembered her lover and her little brother. The same necklace was still around Naruto's neck. It kills everyone else but me, Tsunade said to herself, almost blaming herself for betting it in the first place. She caught up to the rest of the group and looked upon Naruto's face again. He smiled slightly, even in death. Even after everything that had happened, Naruto could still smile in death's face.

"Attention everyone," Tsunade yelled loudly. "Everyone is to report to the great memorial for a funeral. Now!" All of the villagers understood and followed the procession. It took about ten minutes for them to reach the giant red swirling flame statue.

A couple of ninja unsealed a stone viewing table and placed it at the bottom of the steps. Jiraiya laid Naruto flat on his back and placed the boy's hands over the slits that were the knife wounds. He then took the Fourth Hokage's sheathed swords from his belt and crossed them behind the boy. Sasuke took off his robe and made a makeshift pillow for Naruto's head.

The Kyuubi had followed them all to the memorial quietly, but many of the villagers became unnerved or angry when they saw him. Killerbee told them all to drop it and listen.

Tsunade went to the top of the steps to gain everyone's full attention. "We stand here today to mourn the death of Uzumaki Naruto," she began. "As all of you probably saw, Naruto just now perished along with Madara in their final clash. As such, he deserves no less than being known as a martyr. I stand before you now as both the Fifth Hokage and as a personal friend to the boy. What he has been put through, there are no words to describe. But let us learn from the grave mistakes we have made in the past so that we may never treat someone as viciously again." Tsunade was now crying, along with Sasuke, Sakura, and Killerbee.

"We owe an incalculable debt to him, apart from our lives. He devoted his entire life to you, to the village, despite his treatment. His is a will that is not allowed to be forgotten, lest we be destroyed by the Kyuubi himself. Naruto held more of the Will of Fire than all of us combined. It can be described as nothing less than a catastrophe that his life has been torn away at such a young age and in such a manner. We will never forget how the Hokage's built and shaped this village, and we will not forget Naruto's lineage either." Everyone began to whisper in confusion, not knowing what she meant. Tsunade raised her hands high, quieting them all.

"Only a few may know or even remember, but Naruto is the biological son of Namikaze Minato, the Fourth Hokage, and Uzumaki Kushina, who stands before us now in turmoil at the loss of her second loved one." Everyone was in shock at this statement. Many became disgusted with themselves while others stood horrified at the claim.

"Silence!" Kyuubi roared. He then signaled for Tsunade to continue.

"Do not be disgusted only because he was the Fourth's son; be disgusted that you did anything as cruel as you did to a human being, to one of your own," Tsunade yelled. Everyone dropped their heads in shame. They finally understood the gravity of their actions.

"But that is not the end of it," she continued. "We must record this in the Leaf Village's historical archives to be an example for future generations. In order for us to truly move beyond this tragedy, we must learn from it and never forget it. Let it be written that Uzumaki Naruto was the reason that the Five Great Shinobi Nations stood as one, as brothers against the threat that was Akatsuki. Let it be written that Naruto completed the Fourth's dreams for creating world peace. Let it be written that Uzumaki Naruto gave birth to a new era of kindness and kinship. And may we never forget his sacrifice!"

Note: Now you should switch to Lugia's song. Notice the similarities and the huge differences as time goes on! If the song becomes too bright too early, roll it back a ways. You will easily find why I chose this song if you try to time your reading to certain points in the song.

All of the villagers cheered, but many of the ninja lowered their heads in prayer and in sorrow. Killerbee took it the hardest. "Sensei," he said over and over again. All of Naruto's friends wept as they passed by the table and paid their final respects. It was then Kyuubi who walked up to the boy. Tears fell from his eyes and froze on the ground. Kyuubi nuzzled the boy lightly before allowing a tear to fall upon him.

"I'm sorry that I could not complete your father's will in the end Naruto," he said quietly before releasing a mournful howl into the sky. The ground shook with his pain, and wolves could be heard howling in the distance. All of nature mourned at the loss as it understood and resonated with the feelings of the people who stood in the clearing. Everyone's tears flowed forth. No one could accept his death, not even Kakashi, who had lost many of his past comrades.

"Minato-Sensei," he began, "you have an incredible son. I hope you two finally meet in the afterlife." After closing the boy's now cerulean eyes, Kakashi began walking back towards the village. Sasuke, Sakura, and the rest of Naruto's friends gave him one final look before following suit. Kyuubi stayed behind.

"May you finally find peace Naruto. I'm sorry that your life ended so miserably, and I'm sorry that I never comforted you in the past," he said as one final tear fell upon the boy's body. Kyuubi didn't know what to do. It would be awkward staying with the village, but he needed another person with large reserves to help him release his brethren. Kyuubi walked into the forest to think for a while, but he did not go far from Naruto.

A single snowflake fell from the sky, unheard and unseen. It slowly drifted downward and rested upon Naruto's cheek. Something in that snowflake sparked a feeling deep within Naruto's unconscious mind. Suddenly, he felt warm and protected, like he was when his father was with him. Naruto's smile widened, but he didn't wake up. Everyone had left, so no one was witnessing Naruto's transformation. The wolves in the forest howled once again. The grey clouds began to clear, allowing sunlight to fall upon Naruto's body. The entire area around him seemed to glow with life and energy. Naruto began growing fur of numerous colors, and he grew a muzzle. His body grew larger and larger, and began sprouting tails. His clothing tore as this progressed. Naruto still smiled as he silently slept through his changes, feeling joyful within his mind. He began to grow pointed, silver ears. Naruto's teeth all became large fangs, just like the Kyuubi's. His legs and arms all changed as well, growing wider and longer, and his hands and feet became paws.

Tsunade and Naruto's friends started coming back so that they could take him back to the village and choose a place to bury him. When they came to the crest of the hill, each one of them paused in surprise. Tsunade went down on her knees as she stared in wonder at the giant creature sleeping in the middle of the clearing.

Note: If the song is halfway done here, you've read it how I wanted you to. You don't need to listen to the song anymore if you do not wish to. It adds some effect to this next part, but it is not as significant.

"Don't tell me that's…" Sasuke began.

"Naruto!" Kyuubi yelled as he came out from the trees. They all started running toward the sleeping figure on the ground. Naruto wasn't anywhere in sight, and the stone table they had placed him on was broken under the creature's weight. The beast was enormous, even bigger than Kyuubi.

"Ten tails?" Kyuubi asked in disbelief. "There's no way. This is impossible. This is history in the making; he's the first ten-tailed demon ever." Everyone was stunned by the creature's beauty. His breathing was deep and peaceful, and the sun kept him warm.

"Is this really happening?" Tsunade asked in amazement. "Jiraiya, is this even possible?" The pervy sage was just as shocked and didn't have an answer. "What sort of animal is he?"

"He's a wolf, a ten-tailed wolf," Kyuubi replied. Kushina ran up to the beast's head to get a closer look. He had a silvery-white design on the crest of his head, but she couldn't see it very well until she climbed up there. It was a very intricate, glowing snowflake.

"It really is you Naruto!" she yelled before collapsing in his fur. It felt so soft and warm to her. She tried her best to hug him, but Naruto's new body was simply too big. She went down to his snout and gave him a kiss on his new nose. "Oh Naruto, my babe, you're alive. I can't believe it. I knew there was no way you would die, but I just can't believe it."

Every one of Naruto's friends came up and surrounded his head. His coat glowed in many changing, stunning colors ranging from dark reds and blues to bright golds and silver-whites. Sakura placed her hand near his neck. "It's so soft," she commented. "I wish I had clothes this soft." Kyuubi made a small growl in his throat, signaling his disdain to the girl. "I wouldn't do that," Sakura replied with a small smile and a bit of hesitation. "I'm just jealous. He's so warm."

Definitely stop listening to the song now.

"And it's so c-c-cold everywhere around him and those damned swords," Sasuke said shivering. "I wish I had my," he spotted his cloak hanging from one of Naruto's ears. "Much better. I still wish I had dressed warmer though. Maybe I can go back and get a sweatshirt before he wakes up."

"We're staying here until he wakes up," Jiraiya said sternly. "I know what you said before Kyuubi, but we don't have experience with the birth of demons. He could do anything from greeting us happily to attacking the village."

"Trust me on this one," Kyuubi began with a chuckle. "He'll be the same old Naruto, just bigger and clumsier at first. His will is stronger than any nature of chakra." Kyuubi nuzzled Naruto a little bit, causing his eyes to squint and his face to twitch a little. "Wake up little man," Kyuubi said a bit loudly. Naruto picked his head up and shook it before opening his eyes.

"Hey guys," he said a little weakly without even having to move his mouth. The transformation had used up much of his strength. His mouth opened in a great yawn to reveal very long, very sharp teeth. He then took on a slightly excited expression. "What happened? Is Madara dead? Did I win?" Everyone nodded.

"We thought you were dead too," Kakashi said as he jumped up onto Naruto's nose. "After you were flung through the Hokage Mansion and plowed deep into the mountain, destroying the Hokage carvings I might add, we all thought you were dead. We found you buried under a bunch of rocks in the mountainside and actually just held your funeral about a half hour ago."

"What?" Naruto asked in disbelief. His eyes were as wide as houses. "You can't be serious." He then paused before asking "Kakashi-Sensei, why are you so small? And why are you standing on my nose? Why is my nose black? Why is it so long? Oh Kami. What happened to me?" Naruto tried to get up frantically, but slipped on the ice. He wasn't used to being on all fours and being so enormous.

"Why didn't that hurt?" he asked. Kakashi had jumped back a ways with the others.

"Perhaps I can explain this with some success," an all too familiar voice said from Naruto's left. Naruto turned his head, and his eyes lit up in shock. "What exactly caused your transformation is not something we are certain of right now, but you're not a human anymore. You've been changed into a giant Ten-Tailed Wolf. By tradition, you'd now be called Juubi no Okami no Naruto, but you can be called Naruto if you so wish."

Naruto managed to stand up, and he examined himself. His fur was glowing in the sunlight; he had four legs with paws and claws, a long snout with razor-sharp teeth, and ten flowing tails behind him. "Is this some crazy dream?" he asked. Everyone shook his or her head.

Naruto's eyes became frightful as he looked at his friends. He began backing away. "Oh no, not again," Tsunade exclaimed. "Just listen to us Naruto," she said, gaining his full attention. He had begun tearing up. "Don't even think about simply running away; there's no point in that. As long as you're still you, it doesn't matter to us how you look." Naruto looked to everyone for reassurance. Every one of them nodded.

"You're the same dobe I remember," Sasuke said. "There's no denying that." Naruto smirked at him. "What are you doing?" the boy asked as Naruto walked up to him. He lowered his head down to Sasuke. "You wouldn't dare," Sasuke said in a frightful tone. A burst of steam erupted from Naruto's nose. Sasuke turned to run, only to take a long lick from Naruto. "Gyaah," Sasuke yelled as he was lifted off of his feet. He landed on his feet in the snow, pissed. "That is disgusting on so many levels," he said as he pulled wolf slobber from his face. "At least I'm warmer now."

"Naruto?" Sakura asked from behind the wolf. He turned around and sat down to look at her. "Are you going to be staying around here, or are you going to leave us?" Naruto looked downward, unsure of how to answer her.

"All I know is that Kyuubi and I have a job to do," he said. Everyone was curious. "Madara has sealed up seven of the other Bijuu, and we have to release them from the giant idol we saw when we rescued Gaara."

"That reminds me," Kyuubi interrupted. "The hideout that they were using isn't far from here. It's maybe a couple of miles into the forest in a secluded cave."

"You're going to release them all?" Jiraiya asked in astonishment. Naruto and Kyuubi nodded. "Then we're going with you." Everyone in the group had a smile on. Just like old times, Naruto thought to himself.

"Yep," Sasuke said aloud, stunning Naruto. He can hear my thoughts? "Loud and clear dobe." Kyuubi started walking into the woods and signaled for everyone else to follow. Sasuke began walking into the woods as well. I'll have to find a way around this. "Still hear you." Naruto dropped his head before walking after Kyuubi and the others. His body was slightly taller than the trees, so Naruto had to be careful not to step on any of his friends.

"Oops, sorry Kiba, Akamaru," Naruto called when he felt the two under his paw. He didn't crush them luckily, just scared them a bit.

"You can change your size kid," Kyuubi called back. "Just use the transformation jutsu to go back to human form for now if you wish." Naruto did as he suggested, only to realize that he had no ninja suit left.

"Aah," Hinata said as she looked at Naruto's naked form. She turned deep red before fainting.

"Materialize some clothes, please," Kakashi said as he looked away.

"Sorry," Naruto called as he materialized an exact replica of his ninja suit. "No one warned me about tha-at," he said toward Kyuubi.

"My bad," Kyuubi said. "Although, I think you look quite sexy with those toned muscles of yours. There's nothing for you to be embarrassed about really." Just about everyone took on a look of awkwardness. Naruto, for some reason, found it to be a legitimate compliment.

"We're here," Kyuubi said as the group came upon a large boulder blocking an entranceway to a cave. Kyuubi transformed into a tall, red-haired man with slightly tan skin. His eyes remained as red slits, but they seemed to show actual emotion to Naruto. "Let me do my thing; I haven't had the chance to do this for years," Kyuubi said as he cracked his knuckles. He flicked, merely flicked the great stone, busting it into thousands of tiny pebbles. "I think the damned barrier they used chipped my claw. Damn it. Madara has to stick it to me even in death." The man walked into the cave and gathered fire chakra in the palm of his hand. He threw it off to the side, igniting a torch on the wall. The rest of the torches in the chamber lit up one by one, illuminating the creepy nine-eyed idol at the back of the chamber. "I can't believe he locked them up in something so vile," Kyuubi said. "The jutsu for this requires at least two people with large chakra reserves, so we should be fine Naruto."

"Shall we?" the boy asked as he walked up to the man. He nodded. They both jumped up to the pinky-finger on each hand. "Now what hand signs do we use?"

"Use the Kikánugan to follow my movements. It would take too long to instruct in the order of all two-hundred," Kyuubi told him. Everyone stood way back and watched as the two became encased in glowing, white auras. This wasn't Minato though; that was obvious by the nature of the chakra itself. It was wispy and didn't have a uniform flow. "I can't believe I didn't think about just what we are releasing," Kyuubi said loudly as he continued through the signs. "The tailed-beasts will take up this whole room, and they won't be able to get out. You guys, Tsunade, widen that entrance if you can. We have another hundred seals to go, but the jutsu has to be completed once it starts. Kakashi, blow open the ceiling with a Rasengan. Make this place more open by any means necessary."

Everyone was scrambling to open the ceiling. Sakura finally broke through with a high-powered punch. "Forty signs left," Kyuubi called. Kakashi blew apart most of the ceiling, making many large rocks fall to the bottom of the cave. "Twenty signs left." Tsunade, Yamato, and Kiba and Akamaru had about doubled the size of the entrance, but they were still working on it. "Five signs!" Kyuubi called. 4…3…2…1…0.

In synch, the two called out "Ninja Art: Devil's Seal release!" Everyone turned to see the white aura flow from both Naruto's and Kyuubi's hands and meet in the center in front of the middle eye. This was the eye meant to hold the Nine-Tailed Fox. It had to be sealed either first or last to keep the altar in balance, or it would crumble away. A white sphere formed where their energy met, and it sent a tentacle into the mouth of the statue. All of the eyes immediately shot open, and an eerie, dark feeling could be felt throughout the cave.

"Get out of here," Kyuubi yelled. "I'm not sure how angry they might be." Everyone went to the top of the cave to watch. The great statue began cracking and breaking apart. A great shrieking could be heard echoing throughout the cave. It hurt Kyuubi's and Naruto's ears, but they pressed on with the releasing jutsu. The mouth of the statue collapsed, revealing what held Kyuubi's brethren: a giant, round, red glowing crystal. White veins began pushing their way through it, cracking it. When the red orb was completely covered in white cracks, it crumbled, releasing giant orbs of chakra, each its own unique color. They floated to various positions in the cave before turning into the Tailed-Demons.

Everyone was stunned by the way they all looked. As the tailed beasts gained consciousness, the first thing they noticed was each other. Everything was still except for the waving tails and turning heads of the demons.

"What is this?" Shukaku asked angrily. "Why are all of you here? Who released us?"

"Be quiet Shukaku," Nibi ordered. "Do you not see who is standing over there?" The giant raccoon turned his head to see Naruto and Kyuubi in human form standing atop the fingers.

"Damn Akatsukis," he roared before launching a big air bullet at the two. Naruto jumped in front of Kyuubi and blocked the enormous attack with ease. The wind chakra flowed into the palm of his hand.

"You idiot," Kaku, the Seven-Tailed Badger began. "I'd recognize that aura anywhere. Show your true self Youko." Shukaku was completely shocked by this claim and started laughing.

"You expect me to believe that that runt is Youko?" Shukaku asked. "Last time I checked, the 'All-Powerful Kyuubi' didn't fight alongside someone else."

"Just shut up you idiotic tanuki," Kyuubi said in his deep and commanding voice. He then reverted to his true form. "I and my friend here released you, so be grateful." Shukaku stopped laughing and froze in shock. "I also would like to present who is taking my place as the most powerful bijuu in existence." Everyone's attention became fully focused, although some were skeptical of his claim. "Go ahead Naruto; show them and take your place as the king of the Tailed-Beasts."

"Okay," Naruto said nervously as he stepped down to the floor from the stone finger. Everyone's eyes were upon him. It felt like he was being stared through. Naruto finally worked up the courage to undo his transformation jutsu, revealing his giant-wolf form. Every one of the Tailed-Beasts gasped as they beheld his figure.

Shukaku was the first to speak up. "Since when does a ten-tailed demon exist?" he asked skeptically. "You're nothing but a simpering fake. No ten-tailed demon has ever been discovered, and Youko is the only nine-tailed demon in existence." Shukaku was quickly silenced by one of Kyuubi's claws gripping his neck tightly.

"He used to be my jinchuuriki if that can provide an explanation," he said. Everyone was shocked by his claim. It was now Nekomata who questioned him.

"Now that's taking things a little far isn't it?" the blue ghost-cat asked. Naruto agreed with Kyuubi; she was beautiful. "No jinchuuriki has ever survived extraction or separation; it's not possible Youko. Now where did you really find him?"

"You do realize that Akatsuki isn't recapturing us right now, don't you?" Kyuubi asked with his hand still holding onto Shukaku's neck. Everyone had to think about it for a second before they all asked

"YOU BEAT ALL OF AKATSUKI???!!!"

"To be specific," Kyuubi began, "it was Naruto, me, and the ghost of his father, the fourth Hokage, who finished off Madara together."

Everyone was now laughing.

"Woo, good one Youko," Houkou, the Gobi said as he regained composure.

"It's true," Naruto spoke up in a voice not his own, stunning everyone. "Madara is dead thanks to my father, Kyuubi, and me. I was originally Kyuubi's jinchuuriki; Orochi can pay testament to that." Everyone looked around for the giant ox, but didn't see him. "Killerbee," Naruto called in a calmer tone, "come down here." The man followed Naruto's order and landed on Naruto's head. "Let Orochi take control for a while." Naruto let Killerbee off of his head and onto the ground. Killerbee quickly went up to the eighth tale in his cloak, summoning the giant ox.

"And that makes everyone," Kyuubi commented. "Orochi, tell them about Naruto being my jinchuuriki originally. They don't wish to believe me." Everyone looked at the ox curiously to see if this claim was true.

"The boy known as Uzumaki Naruto was Youko's jinchuuriki until a few hours ago," he said loudly. Now everyone was really curious as to how the Ten-Tailed Wolf came about. "While he fought Madara, Naruto was stabbed in the seal with the daggers Madara infused your rage and hatred into. All we know is that that is what caused the seal to break. We have yet to discover how the boy survived. On top of that, we are also unsure of how he was transformed into a giant Ten-Tailed Wolf." Every one of the other Bijuu was silent.

"Naruto is taking my place as king of the Bijuu," Kyuubi declared. "Orochi can also attest to his fighting ability, so usurpation is out of the question."

"I'm still interested in hearing about how the Fourth's ghost happened to appear in that battle," Nekomata the Nibi stated. Everyone became curious as well.

"I used the swords that belonged to my father when he was a ninja," Naruto said. He then realized that the Twin Zanmato were missing. "Oh no, my father's swords, where are they?" he asked panicking.

"I've got them," Kushina yelled from the ceiling of the cave. She tossed the swords down to Naruto. All of the Bijuu looked up in amazement to see so many humans standing on the roof.

"Dinner!" Shukaku yelled. He sprung up at Kushina.

"They're not anyone's dinner," Naruto declared as he transformed into his human form, caught his swords, and whisked Kushina to safety. He then punched Shukaku hard, sending him crashing through the side of the cave with a giant patch of ice on his chest, opening another giant hole. The entire ceiling collapsed as the rest of Naruto's friends and Senseis jumped off into the forest.

All of the Bijuu were stunned by both the boy's form and his prowess. Naruto had pants on this time, but he forgot to materialize a shirt.

"Those blades…" Nibi began. "They give off a spiritual power unlike any I have seen before. It is true; part of a man's soul resides within them. And that power is flowing into the boy." She came out of her crazed state slightly embarrassed. "He's cute," Nibi commented. "Just like you Youko."

"Don't underestimate him," Kyuubi warned. "And I wouldn't go around saying things like that when your mate is standing right there," he said as he pointed to Raijuu, the Six-Tailed Weasel.

"Someone's a little possessive," Kaku said. "Although, in your case…" Kyuubi sent him a death glare more fierce than he believed possible, so Kaku was silenced at once.

"Ahem. That aside," Kyuubi began. "We welcome you back to the world. Naruto and I would also like to ask you to do one thing, and that is for you to come with us to the memorial outside the Leaf Village. Tsunade," he called. "Bring the villagers there so that we can end this hunting and hating." Every one of Naruto's friends dashed back to the Leaf village to make preparations.

"Why would we go right into the capital of the Fire Country?" Sokou the Yonbi asked in contempt. "Do you wish for us to be sealed again?"

"Quite the opposite actually," Naruto interjected before returning to his spectral-wolf form. "Through some very boring details, I and some of the Leaf Shinobi gained the support of the other four Great Shinobi Nations. For now, they are united against Akatsuki, so it is our job to solidify their alliance by gaining their trust and showing that their efforts were not in vain."

"What a waste of time," Raijuu, the Six-Tailed Weasel said angrily. "I'm going home."

"You are staying here until my task for you is finished," Naruto said with authority resounding through his voice. Raijuu sensed his strength and relented. "None of you are to attack anyone, or you will just be hunted down for the rest of your life and ruin all of our chances at a good life as well. Tsunade and the others should be done by the time we get there, so let's go."

Kyuubi quickly caught up with him to talk. "Nicely done," he said grinning. "You put that swindler in his place so easily, and you gained everyone's subordination so quickly as well. I'm impressed."

"I have no idea how I'll handle dealing with the Bijuu after this, so we'll have to play things by ear," Naruto replied.

Sakura kept watch at the top of the steps as everyone gathered in the clearing for the second time that day. Everyone wondered why the table Naruto had been placed on had crumbled. Sakura finally saw Naruto and the others coming and gave Tsunade the signal.

Tsunade raised both arms and silenced the crowd. "I realize your annoyance with being brought out here for the second time today, people of the Leaf Village and respected members of the other various villages who assisted us these past couple of days. But this is a matter of great importance, one that will probably shock many of you. Naruto, who we believed to be dead, is alive and is on his way here with some very important friends. We stood together against Akatsuki so that we could look forward to a better future, but we need to realize one particular part of that future if we are to go on in harmony." Tsunade pointed behind the crowd, making them turn in amazement.

Naruto and the other Bijuu stealthily made it behind everyone, frightening them when they finally noticed their presence. "Do not be alarmed," Tsunade yelled. "The shining wolf who stands before you is none other than Naruto." Everyone from the Leaf village was stunned as Naruto transformed into his human form. He remembered to materialize all of his clothing this time.

"Members of the ninja world," Naruto called in his deep and commanding demon voice, "I have been transformed into the mightiest of the Bijuu, the strongest creatures on Earth. As the king of the Bijuu, I have brought them with me as a sign of respect and trust. In the ages to come, none of us can be allowed to forget Madara's evil. He, like so many others before him, tried to gain control over the Bijuu to gain absolute power, and look at what it has wrought. Many of our brothers lie dead on the battlefield because men pursued power that was not meant for them. I believe that humans and Bijuu can live peacefully side by side, and I wish that a permanent world alliance can be established. It was my father's dream to create a world in which people didn't have to die in battle, and we have the chance to make that world, here and now. I beg of you to look inside your hearts for the truth of what you really want. Everyone wants to live a life without problems. A day may come when we create a utopian world, but we must start here, by giving up the pursuit of power to control the world. Now give me your answer!" Naruto yelled.

Everyone was silent for about a second before all of Naruto's friends yelled "For peace!" Tears rolled from Naruto's eyes at the joy presented before him. Everyone began chanting the word "peace" over and over again. Naruto finally raised his hands to get their attention.

"If anyone attempts to seal a Bijuu for the purpose of gaining power, it is both your duty and ours to stop that person," Naruto said calmly. "We will be watching you." Naruto turned back into his wolf form before dismissing the Bijuu. All of them went in different directions to go back and reclaim their old homes. Killerbee went back to his human form and strolled up to Naruto's friends. Only Kyuubi stayed behind with Naruto.

"Will you stay here in the Leaf village Naruto?" Kyuubi asked him. Everyone was listening to their conversation, a fact both of them acknowledged.

Naruto went back to his human form before saying "I will stay here with my family and friends, but you are welcome to stay as well. I promise that no one will disturb you or do anything hateful."

"I must guide the new king of the Bijuu before he begins his reign, so I must stay with you," Kyuubi declared as he transformed into his own human form. Many of the Leaf Village were apprehensive at the thought. Many of them took on looks of distrust or fear. One kid ran out from the middle of the crowd toward Naruto and the human-formed Kyuubi.

"Hey, mister," he called. Naruto recognized that voice and turned. It was that one kid who he returned the kunai to right after he transformed. As if by memory, the kid jokingly threw a kunai directly at Naruto, stunning everyone in the crowd. Many were shocked.

Naruto caught the knife on single finger before responding. "Your aim is getting better," he said with a smile. "Are you using these to protect your loved ones instead of vengeance?" The boy nodded with a smile. Naruto closed the gap between them and personally gave him his knife back. A man and woman started running towards the pair; they were no doubt the kid's parents. The mother leaned down and hugged her son tightly as she stared Naruto down hatefully.

"You stay away from our son," the father said with a dagger at the ready.

"No! Mom, dad, he's a friend," the kid said with fear in his eyes. Both of the parents turned to him with surprised looks on their faces. "I met him before. He's pretty cool."

"Little Shiro," his mother began. "What has he done to you? You're not thinking straight."

"You possessed our son?!" the father yelled at Naruto. Naruto was a bit surprised at how this was turning out, but at the same time, he'd seen stuff like this so many times. The man ran at him with the blade ready to strike. He thrust towards the boy's heart, only to have the blade split and fall apart. A small droplet of blood worked its way out from where the tip struck him, horrifying everyone. The man stared into Naruto's face in fear; Naruto looked back passively.

"Damn you humans!" Kyuubi yelled as he charged the man from behind Naruto. "You are all the same, raging and discriminating fools!" When he neared the two, Naruto halted his punch with his own hand, stunning everyone. A great shockwave went off that cracked the ground and sent shivers down the people's spines. Everyone was waiting on faded breath. What was going to happen to those people who attacked Naruto?

"Kyuubi," he began. "We cannot allow our anger to control us." Kyuubi was stunned by his words, unable to move from the spot. "I had hoped that our display would be enough to convince everyone, but perhaps there is still some teaching to be done." Now everyone was wondering what the boy was up to. Naruto threw Kyuubi into a tree with a flick of his wrist, frightening everyone.

"No, don't hurt my parents. They didn't mean it!" Shiro yelled. His eyes showed true fear as well. Naruto picked the man up who had attacked him before, staring deeply into the man's frightened eyes.

"I won't hurt anyone," Naruto spoke up calmly. "But there is only one other method of teaching that I can use to get through to people like this. They are protective of their son, a novel concept, but they are also too blinded by the desire to protect him to realize reality. If I wanted to attack, if I was truly evil, if I wanted your heads on a platter, I would have attacked by now." Everyone was stunned by his claim and stood still.

The man in Naruto's arm gathered up the courage to finally say "you're nothing but a lying trickster trying to garner sympathy for your own ends!" Naruto turned to him with his Kikánugan activated, anger showing harshly on his face.

"You give me no choice," Naruto said in his demon voice. "If you will not listen to reason, then you will be forced to feel my pain. Ninja Art: Nostalgic Requiem." The father and mother of Shiro became enveloped in darkness, unable to move, unable to speak, unable to show their fear. Naruto had kept Shiro out of this complex genjutsu; the boy should not have to see what his parents were about to.

Suddenly, the seventeen-year-old Naruto disappeared from the parents' sights, and images of the past began to play out in front of them. They saw Naruto when he was being beaten as just a child, suffering at the hands of the hating villagers. At first they felt the excitement of the moment and wished to join the adults beating him, but when they all cleared and left Naruto's apartment, they were horrified by the image before them. Naruto was unconscious, but his blue eyes were wide in fear and pain, and he was bruised from head to toe, even slashed open in some places. His clothing had been wrecked, and tears flowed from his eyes. The image faded, giving relief to the couple, but a new one took its place. This one was of young Naruto inside his own mind, afraid of the giant beast inside the cage. Kyuubi was taunting him, revealing all of the child's fears and doubts. Naruto screamed for him to stop, but Kyuubi pressed on, saying how his parents would never come back for him or love him. Naruto collapsed onto his knees and held his head, wishing for the pain to stop.

The couple was now truly terrified, and almost sympathetic, but Naruto was far from done. This time, Naruto was at a playground with his friends. He seemed to be having fun. Many of his current friends were there playing happily with the boy. Everything seemed happy and innocent until the parents arrived to take their kids home. As Naruto bade each one goodbye, the kid's parents scowled and looked upon Naruto with hating or fearful eyes. They warned him to stay away, and they told their own children not to play with him. Naruto began looking more and more depressed and sad as each kid left. Some parents were far nicer to him, like the Akimichi Clan, who always spared him a bag of chips so that he didn't go hungry. Eventually, everyone was gone, and Naruto was left all alone crying on the swings as he tried to forget his troubles. The couple felt as though they would cry, but were frozen. A shadow appeared beneath the boy in the shape of the Nine-Tailed Fox. Naruto looked down in anger and sorrow. He didn't want to only be seen as the Kyuubi.

"That is what I went through for five long years," Naruto said as he appeared next to the couple. "Sad, isn't it? When the only thing people can see in you is a darkness that isn't your fault. I was never possessed by the Kyuubi, despite what everyone said. I'm going to show you the moment that changed the way I viewed the village now. Maybe you'll finally understand."

The scene changed to one of Naruto being in the Hokage's office. He sat there shivering in the torn up shirt and shorts he had. It was snowing outside, and Naruto was feverish. The Third Hokage sat at his desk with a roaring fire in the hearth. Naruto sat in front of it, trying to warm up.

"Naruto," the man spoke up. Naruto turned to look the man in the eyes, but he was frightened out of his mind. "You don't need to be afraid of me. I can see how painful life is for you right now, and I wish I could find a way to comfort you. There is something I would like to give you though, so that you can stay warm. You will catch Pneumonia and die in this weather without proper protection." Naruto simply stared into the fire, desperately wanting something, but what, he didn't know. The third brought Naruto his familiar orange jumpsuit. It was brand new and clean. He leaned down to give it to Naruto, but the boy was extremely cautious. "It's alright. This is a gift from me." Naruto slowly reached out a shaking hand and grasped the jacket. He took off his freezing and soaking wet shirt to reveal numerous bruises, sores, and cuts. "Don't tell me the villagers have done this to you?" Naruto shook his head swiftly, but Sarutobi knew better. Naruto quickly put on the dry jacket and began to feel better. "I've also found you a good pair of pants and some shoes," the Third continued. "These are in much better shape, and they'll keep the cold out."

Naruto quickly undressed and redressed into his new clothes. He felt much warmer and began crying. "What is it child?" he asked in the most gentle voice imaginable. Naruto hugged him fiercely, not wanting to let go.

"I…" Naruto began. "It hurts so much. Everyone in the village hates me and beats me. I don't know how much more of this I can take. Even though some of the kids at the academy are really nice to me, their parents all look at me like I'm cursed. They say things like 'stay away demon' and tell their kids not to play with me. I don't have many real friends. Almost all of them have started looking at me the same way their parents do. Why do they treat me like this Hokage-Sama? Please, tell me what I did so I can change all of this. I don't want to be afraid anymore. I want to show everyone that I'm not worthless. Please gramps. I just don't want to be alone anymore." Naruto was crying openly now as Sarutobi held him in his arms. The man was at a loss. He knew that Naruto was a good kid, and he knew what the Fourth had meant to happen, but he didn't know exactly what he could do, that was until Iruka-Sensei walked into the office quietly. He saw how Naruto was leaning on the Hokage, and how much the boy was crying. Iruka still held a grudge against the boy because of how the demon fox had killed his parents, but he knew from what he saw that Naruto was in terrible pain.

"Iruka," Sarutobi called quietly to the man. "I am putting Naruto in your care. You are one of the few that can see him as a person, so I am entrusting him to you as his guardian. See to it that he learns to be a splendid ninja, and try to be like a father to him." Naruto had collapsed from crying so much, and he now lay roughly sleeping in the Third's arms. His body still shook with sobs. "Please look passed the Kyuubi and see Naruto for who he truly is on the inside. I'm transferring him to your class, so you two should be able to bond." The vision of the Hokage's office faded to blackness, and the now grown-up Naruto stood in front of the frozen couple.

"That was when I started to try to gain attention by doing things like defacing the Hokage Monuments. I trained harder than anyone else in my class to show that I wasn't worthless. I was still denied my graduation until I saved Iruka-Sensei's life," Naruto ended as he played through the scenes of the night Mizuki-Sensei intended to betray the village. "Once I graduated, I joined Team 7, and I've worked hard since. I still dealt with the discrimination from the villagers, but things got better. Then I lost Sasuke, and I learned about Akatsuki. I've been through so much in my seventeen and a half years, and it hurts to remember, but I must not forget, and neither can you. I am not evil, nor are any of the other Bijuu. I lived in suffering because people could not see passed the Kyuubi, and people sought the power of the Bijuu. They lived lives of fear and running because humans are so ignorant, arrogant, and narrow-minded. I will change all of that, even if it means reliving my past over and over again. I'm going to release this jutsu now; I hope I have been able to reason with you."

The jutsu was exactly like Tsukuyomi, devouring chakra to show so much in a split second. Naruto took a step back to stay balanced. The mother and father came back to reality with a jolt and started panting heavily. Everyone wondered about what had just happened. Naruto set the man down on his feet, shocking everyone.

"Shiro," Naruto began, "take your parents home to rest and to think. I showed them my life, and I think they finally understand."

"W-wait," the mother said weakly as Naruto turned toward the forest. "Thank you, for not destroying my husband in his foolishness. Thank you, for not hurting my son back then." Naruto smiled and nodded before retrieving Kyuubi from the tree he had been shot into.

"Get up you lazy fox," Naruto said before digging his foot into Kyuubi's stomach. The red-haired male coughed and doubled over. Naruto released the small amount of pressure he was putting into Kyuubi's stomach.

"And I thought you could hit hard before," Kyuubi said as he shook his head. Naruto helped him onto his feet. "It's getting late. We should head home… if I had one."

"You're staying with us at the mansion," Naruto declared. "And you're staying with me so that no one tries anything. What happens beyond that is your choice." Kyuubi nodded before hugging Naruto, an odd gesture for everyone. "I suppose I would ask why," Naruto began, "but I think I already know the answer."

Kyuubi made a small laugh and smiled before saying "thanks. And, I'm sorry." He stared toward the Leaf Villagers with a glimmer of anger in his eyes. "I'm sorry that I never helped you through this terrible life you had."

Naruto and Kyuubi walked back to the mansion with Kushina and Tsunade in tow. "Everything has happened so fast," Kushina said. "I know Naruto for a month, and he grows up on me, defeats Akatsuki, releases the Bijuu, becomes one himself, and declares peace between mankind and the tailed-demons. I need a break."

"His transformation is certainly worth researching," Tsunade commented. "Just be glad that Naruto isn't dead or leaving and that Minato's swords still carry a part of him. Everything seems to be looking up for once. This next year should be an interesting one if Kyuubi decides to stick around though. I'm seeing some potential ups and downs, but we will see as time passes."

"Do you think you'll make Naruto the Sixth Hokage?" Kushina asked distantly. "That's his dream, to take up his father's mantle. Do you think that he can do it?"

"Kushina," Tsunade interjected. "If the Bijuu are immortal, then Naruto would not only become an excellent Sixth Hokage, but the last one as well. When it is my time to step down, I will declare him the next Hokage."

"You're doing him a great service Tsunade-San," Kushina said brightly. "I can't thank you enough for helping Naruto through all of this, and for helping me get close to him." Tsunade smiled and hugged the woman before continuing to follow Naruto and Kyuubi.

"Why are you being so forgiving Naruto-Kun?" Kyuubi asked him. "I really don't see why you would do so much for me. What did I honestly do that makes you want to take care of me, because I'm at a loss."

"It's because I will need help with these changes, and you really are starting to grow on me anyway," Naruto replied. "I've seen the rage of the world enough to know that you would be very lonely without me too, so this is the best possible end for us both."

"You really are a softy deep down," Kyuubi said tauntingly.

"And I'm stronger than you," Naruto replied.

"By one freaking tail!" Kyuubi half-yelled. The mansion came into view at last; Naruto was exhausted from his changes and was ready for sleep. Kushina and Tsunade had fallen behind, and Naruto and Kyuubi were now below the crest of the hill. "I finally belong," he said after stopping to view the house. Naruto turned to see a single tear fall from Kyuubi's beautiful face. He hugged Kyuubi tightly.

"You're home Kyuubi. You don't have to worry anymore," Naruto said as he embraced the redhead. They had both closed their eyes to savor the moment, so they did not sense Tsunade and Kushina standing at the top of the hill gawking.

"They're kinda close… aren't they?" Kushina asked with a twinge of worry in her voice.

"A lot has happened today Kushina; just give them time to wind down," Tsunade said quietly. "They'll be good friends; I'm sure of it."

"Alright." As the two finally broke apart, Naruto and Kyuubi made their way into the house and up the stairs to Naruto's room.

"Aw man," he said. "I forgot what had happened. We'll just have to share my dad's room." Naruto closed the door and went up another flight of stairs to Minato's old room. He willed some of his chakra into the seal on the door, accidentally destroying it. "Oh come on!" he yelled.

"Don't worry about it honey," his mom said as she took a look outside her door. "I should've warned you. We'll just make a new seal that can withstand your chakra one of these days."

"Thanks mom," Naruto replied. He entered the well-adorned room and placed his swords within their horizontal holders. "Welcome to your new home Kyuubi," he said brightly. The redhead entered slowly, awestruck by the feeling the room gave him. Naruto seemed to complete the room in Kyuubi's opinion. Putting a person in a room is what makes a room his or her own. "I'm gonna take a shower because I'm riper than Gai-Sensei after his morning marathon," Naruto declared as he went into the bathroom and turned the water on. "You can go to sleep if you want; this is your room, at least until a crew fixes up my old room." Kyuubi felt like the boy was being way too generous as he sat down on the large, circular mattress. The sheets were almost as soft as Naruto's wolf-form, but then again, nothing could compare with that.

"Thanks again, for everything Naruto," he said before curling up on the left side of the bed.

"I've said it before. It's no problem. You're not going to attack the village, and now things are looking up for me too, so there is no reason for me to not be hospitable," Naruto said from the shower. "Goodnight Kyuu."

"Goodnight… Naruto-Kun," Kyuubi called before he curled up underneath the sheets and let sleep claim his exhausted body.

Author Notes: I'm very pleased with how this story turned out. I'm pleased to announce that the sequel involving Naruto and Kyuubi is up. The title is Foxes and Wolves, Humans and Demons, but you should just look up my author name; it's faster.