Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor do I make any money writing or posting this fanfiction.

Prologue – UNTIE ME!

"God Dammit!"

A loud voice echoed through the air of Training Ground 7, towards three people as they walked away, into the forest that surrounded the large clearing in the middle of the training grounds. Struggling against the ropes that bound him, Naruto Uzumaki, recently graduated Academy Student, and just cleared Genin, tried to break free from the log he was tied to. His struggle was in vain though, the ropes having been tied by his new Jōnin Sensei, Kakashi Hatake.

Who coincidentally was currently leaving the training ground, followed by Naruto's two teammates, who had also just been cleared to be Genin. Sasuke Uchiha, the last surviving loyal member of the Famous Uchiha Clan, and Sakura Haruno, the first ninja in her family, a fan-girl of Sasuke, and Naruto's crush. The tree of them were walking away together, leaving Naruto tied helplessly to the log he'd been bound to mid-way through the test Kakashi had given them.

"I knew this would happen!" screamed Naruto loudly as his team walked away, ignoring him even as he shouted even louder, eyes wide with anger as he struggled more and more, "UNTIE ME!"

But it was no use, Naruto watched in complete despair as Kakashi, Sakura and Sasuke all left his sight, heading into the forest to leave the training ground. As he lost sight of them, Naruto's shouts finally died and he simply stared into the forest ahead of him, unable to believe they would do this to him. This was his Team? A Sensei who lied about the test, tricked them and pitted them against each other...and two teammates who couldn't stand him, and treated him like dirt.

The most amazing thing about it all, was that Kakashi had passed them, and spouted a line about Teamwork. Before walking away leaving him tied up like this, how was this teamwork? Naruto felt a tear slide down his cheek, over the whisker marks that stood out against his dirt-covered skin. He sniffled for a second and quickly pushed aside his emotions as he'd done countless times, with a sigh he began to squirm and shift against the log, working to loosen the ropes that bound him.

Not many knew it, but Naruto wasn't the foolish, hyperactive blond knucklehead he appeared to be. It was an act he put on to appease the villagers and Council that had people follow him, certain that at any moment he would show his true colors as the Kyuubi. Kyuubi, the Nine Tailed Demon Fox, greatest of the Bijū. Sealed inside him by the Fourth Hokage at birth, Naruto had lived with it his whole life, and the hate of his village just as long.

Some days he wondered why he even bothered, why he worked so hard to convince the village he wasn't the Kyuubi reborn. Any other Jinchūriki treated like him, would snap and destroy those who hurt them, but he refused to do so. His parents, whoever they had been, had loved this village, and protected it with their lives. The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, or Jiji as Naruto called him, had promised him that his parents would have loved and been proud of him. That, combined with the few people that saw Naruto as himself, kept him from just giving up and leaving Konoha.

Because of those few people, he put up with everything, everything the village did to him. People, civilian and ninja alike, attacking him in the streets. Stores; tailors, hospitals, general stores, blacksmiths, restaurants, all of them refusing to serve him, or at best, selling him their worst products, rusted weapons, rotten food. The hated stares, the cruel whispered words, high rent for a broken apartment, everything...

But still, he lived each day with a smile on his face. Only those closest to him knew that it was a mask, a mask straining to be maintained, that he was barely holding together. The Hokage tried his best, but even he couldn't protect Naruto all the time, and without knowing who he could trust, every time he ordered someone to protect Naruto for him, he chanced them outright attacking him, or leaving him to the mobs that formed.

'Ugh...stupid Sensei! Why'd the damn Scarecrow have to make these ropes so tight...' thought Naruto to himself in annoyance.

He'd been struggling this whole time, and still Naruto hadn't been able to get out of the ropes. He supposed this meant that despite how lazy his new Sensei appeared to be, Kakashi was at least skilled, which Naruto was thankful for. Sighing Naruto decided to try a new strategy, and stretched out his right hand, down towards his ankle holster. He knew he had one kunai left, now if only he could reach it, he could use the dull thing to at least start fraying the ropes to weaken them.

"Well look at this...how nice," a dark voice echoed out from around the clearing, "Someone left us a tied up gift."

Naruto's head snapped up, and he swore violently in his mind at the sight that greeted him. The whole clearing was full of people, he could see a bunch of villagers, and ninja of various rankings. Scanning the crowd he gazed into various sets of eyes, at the postures of their bodies, and knew that this wasn't going to end well. The villagers were armed with weapons, and the ninja looked like they were ready to attack an enemy nin.

"It seems your new Sensei left you all wrapped up for us Demon," said the same voice from before.

Naruto's gaze snapped to his right, to see a ninja leaning against the log to his right. He felt his eyes widen immediately at the sight of the ninja, not because he was carrying some huge weapon, or looked any more angry then anyone else. But because the ninja was wearing an Anbu Mask, Owl, the Anbu that had been assigned to his protection this month by the Hokage. It had been years since an Anbu had betrayed the Hokage to attack him, but those attacks had always been the worst.

"Let me out of here! I haven't done anything wrong!" screamed Naruto, glaring at Owl, "I'm not a Demon you ASS!"

Owl laughed darkly, "Oh?" the Anbu took a step forward, and traced a kunai along Naruto's whisker marks, cutting into them and causing Naruto to wince in pain. "Not a Demon you say?" he questioned casually.

Owl stepped back, and with a gloved hand twisted Naruto's head around, letting the watching crowd see the small cut on his cheek slowly press back together as it healed. Owl stabbed the kunai into Naruto's shoulder, getting a short scream of pain from the boy, before he slammed his mouth shut, choking on his scream and glaring up at Owl.

"You won't convince any of us Demon Fox, we all know you've tricked the Hokage into believing you, but we aren't fooled," snarled out Owl, dragging the kunai down, cutting into Naruto's arm deeply. "Today we'll get out revenge for all our loved ones you killed, for everything you did to our village Kyuubi!" screamed Owl, ripping his kunai out brutally.

Naruto couldn't stop his scream this time, and with a howl of pain he struggled harder against the ropes that had bound him. He didn't know what he was going to do, with Owl turning out to be traitor, no one was here to protect him. Worse yet, Training Ground 7 was near the outskirts of Konoha, away from anyone who would casually be passing by. With no one to get help, and Owl attacking him rather then warning the Hokage, Naruto was on his own.

"P-pl-please," whispered Naruto softly, "I'm not Kyuubi."

Naruto knew it was useless though, there was no point in trying to convince anyone of his innocence, all they saw in him was the Kyuubi. True to his thoughts, Owl didn't even answer, instead he simply smashed his fist into Naruto's face. Naruto's head smashed back into the log from the force of the hit, the bones in his nose breaking, and his teeth cutting into his gums. Blood flowing from his nose and teeth, Naruto glared up at Owl angrily, struggling harder against his binds.

Naruto struggled harder and harder, using all his strength to try and escape his bonds, but it was no use. The only good news was that Owl had stopped, letting the others in the mob take their own turns. Naruto was used to being attacked and beaten, torture...torture was another story all together. Owl stood to the side, and whenever a civilian found their way to in front of Naruto, he would guide them on the best way to damage him. The rest of the Ninja in the crowd didn't need such help, they each had their own favorite ways of attacking the defenseless young genin.

For hours it continued, a beating...no, a torture...beyond anything Naruto had ever experienced...

Weapons of all kinds; kunai, senbon, swords, steel knuckles, and more. Were stabbed, slashed and cut into him, leaving deep wounds that not even the heightened healing given to him by Kyuubi could heal, before they were retraced. Fire burned him, earth crushed him, water suffocated him, and air scared him as the ninja in the crowd unleashed Ninjutsu after Ninjutsu on him, the elements coming together to torture like never before.

As the hours passed, Naruto's screams faded, and he stopped fighting and struggling. Blood flowed from wounds all over his body, his hair matted down with it, his clothing torn and destroyed, plain scars, and cruel words carved into his flesh. His breathing slow and shallow, Naruto had stopped thinking, his mind fleeing from the cruelties inflicted on him. Until he was suddenly brought back to the present when a kunai was stabbed into his shoulder once more, his head snapped up as he gurgled on his own blood.

Owl stood over him, and after a second his cruel dark voice echoed from behind his mask, "Today we rid ourselves of you Kyuubi, know that the pain you have suffered is nothing compared to what you inflicted on us."

Owl ripped his kunai from Naruto's shoulder, and stepped back, making sure Naruto could see him as he moved forward. With a loud cry of victory he stabbed forward, kunai striking towards Naruto's heart, intent to kill the cause of his families death once and for all. Naruto's eyes fell closed, and his breathing slowed to an all-time slow, his mind blanking as he awaited the death he knew was coming, images flashing across his brain, of the few happy times he'd enjoyed.

It might have been a bad life, but he had lived his best, and had made a few friends. As the darkness began to swallow him, Naruto couldn't help but feel content for the first time in a long time, perhaps in death he would get the things he missed in life. His mother was waiting for him in the beyond, and one day...probably soon cause of his age, Sarutobi-Jiji would join him. He wondered, would Jiji avenge his death? Would Iruka, who he'd finally grown close to, would the man he considered his Father-Figure miss him? Naruto's blood covered face shifted, of course Iruka would miss him, so would Jiji, and Ayame and her Dad Teuchi. Naruto couldn't help it, he smiled.

The kunai struck...

/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

Hiruzen Sarutobi, The Third Hokage, The Professor, swore violently as he blazed across the roofs of Konoha, chakra flowing through his limbs as he propelled himself rapidly towards Training Ground 7. Beside him Kakashi Hatake, and his two Anbu Bodyguards, Tiger and Cat surged after him, their chakra filled with worry and concern just like his. It was an amazing sight for the villagers, few could remember their calm Hokage ever looking so worried before.

Hiruzen had been in his office only moments ago, going over the paper work handed in by this cycles Jōnin Sensei, analyzing their reports, and committing to memory the teams that had passed and those that had failed. It was the arrival of Kakashi Hatake, the new Jōnin Commander of Team 7 that had spurred his need to leave his office though, and had sent his worry sky rocketing. He couldn't believe the former Anbu was so careless, had his time away from young shinobi truly been so long ago?

Kakashi had come into his office, hours after all the other Jōnin had reported in of course, and Hiruzen had been anxious to hear what had happened to Team 7. Naruto was on the team, and he was praying Kakashi's failing streak had finally been broken. Though he wasn't able to show it, Naruto was like a grandson to him, nearly as much as his own blood grandson, Konohamaru. When Kakashi had entered the office, he put aside everything he was doing, and ordered a report.

A report that was fresh in his mind...

Flashback no Jutsu

"Kakashi, Report."

Hiruzen's voice was stern and strict, this wasn't coming from the friendly old man that enjoyed chatting with his Jōnin to see how they were doing, but an order from the Hokage. Kakashi snapped to attention at the tone of his Hokage's voice, book disappearing into a pocket of his vest, body straightening, and all his attention focusing on his duty.

"Hokage-Sama, Team 7 successfully passed their exam," intoned the veteran shinobi.

Hiruzen let out a sigh of relief, and his presence faded faintly, returning to the more benevolent kindness he normally excluded. With a smile he gestured for Kakashi to sit down, the Jōnin immediately doing so. Leaning back against his chair, Hiruzen laced his fingers together and rested his head on top of his entwined hands, looking across his desk at Kakashi.

"Tell me how they did, and you're opinions," said Hiruzen casually.

Kakashi nodded, his one visible eye glazing over a little as he spoke, "I used my normal introduction to the Bell Test, Sasuke and Sakura immediately fled to the woods to hide, well Naruto challenge me without thought."

Hiruzen listened as Kakashi explained what had happened, using his sharp senses, and knowledge of the lazy Jōnin to pick through his words to the truth of what the man had experienced. He understood that Sasuke Uchiha was a skilled Genin, capable of becoming a great shinobi if trained slowly, and not simply given things. Kakashi also seemed to recommended the last Uchiha undergo a small amount of therapy, worried for his students seemingly indifferent attitude to everything but becoming stronger.

Sakura Haruno, who had received high scores on all the written tests, and average on the practical had disappointed the skilled Jōnin. Failing to see through a simple Genjutsu, she hadn't shown any talent or drive to show any real skill, simply following Sasuke around like a lost puppy. To further make her unworthy in Kakashi's eyes, she had abandoned Naruto who was right in front of her, in an attempt to aide Sasuke instead.

Hiruzen was most interested when Kakashi began to speak about Naruto. He listened with interest, and was pleased by what he heard, and the happiness he was hearing in Kakashi's voice, something that hadn't happened in a long time. Kakashi had been impressed with Naruto's determination, and angered by some of the things he'd seen, the Jōnin had easily been able to see that Naruto had been held-back and even sabotaged in his learning.

"I think they will eventually be a great team, if they can all get their acts together," said Kakashi with his unique eye-smile.

"I'm glad to hear that Kakashi," said Hiruzen with a smile, before frowning and questioning curiously, "Tell me, how do you plan to fix Naruto's problems from the Academy?"

Kakashi rubbed his gloved hands together, and the grin was easily visible under his mask as he spoke two words with total conviction, "Kage Bunshin."

Within a second Hiruzen's grin matched Kakashi's hidden one, the unique knowledge transfer ability of the Kage Bunshin would make Naruto's problems easy to fix, the young Jinchūriki would catch up to his classmates and fellow ninja in no time. Grinning he stood to his feet, Kakashi quickly rising at the same time out of respect.

"I think Naruto could use a congratulatory dinner, I'll go to his apartment," said Hiruzen grabbing his wallet from a drawer in his desk, already imagining how empty it would be when he returned. Turning he caught sight of a slightly pale Kakashi, and raised an eyebrow curiously as he questioned, "What is it Kakashi?"

"Hokage-Sama...I...I left Naruto at the training ground," answered the Jōnin nervously.

"Hm?" Hiruzen blinked in confusion, "He would have simply gone home Kakashi, worry not."

Kakashi paled a little more, and nervously admitted what he'd done to the Hokage.

"YOU WHAT!?"

Flashback no Jutsu...KAI!

Hiruzen blazed from tree to tree as he rushed towards the training ground, fists clenched in worry for his adoptive grandson. Kakashi had left him tied to a log, in retaliation to the eraser prank from the other day, planning of course to release him later. The Jōnin hadn't even taken into consideration what he was doing, leaving a Genin, especially Naruto, alone like that, defenseless. Worse yet, Owl hadn't reported back with Kakashi, which to Hiruzen meant only one thing...

Breaking through the barrier of tree's, his heart almost stopped at the sight that greeted him. A mob practically filled the clearing of the training ground twenty...maybe thirty people, even some of his ninja, and at the very center, was Owl. The Anbu he'd assigned to protect Naruto, was charging forward with a kunai held in his gloved hands, towards the middle of three logs. Tied to it was a beaten and bloodied form, barely recognizable as Naruto.

Hiruzen's years of experience came to the front immediately, that angle would cause the kunai to pierce Naruto's heart, something he wasn't sure even Kyuubi could heal. With speed that defied his age, Hiruzen appeared in front of Owl, kunai stabbing into his hand even as his two Anbu bodyguards appeared at either side of the traitorous Anbu, holding him still. A crackling sound filled the air, and Kakashi appeared knelt in front of the Hokage, hand halfway extended, resting an inch away from Owl's heart, covered in lightning.

"Hokage-Sama!?" exclaimed Owl in shock and surprise, before his voice growled and echoed, "Move! I'll kill the Demon once and for all, and free you from Kyuubi's control!"

"Stand down," ordered Hiruzen, his voice cold.

Owl didn't even think about obeying, with a snarl he ripped his Anbu mask from his face, revealing an aged face, practically foaming at the mouth with rage. "I'll kill the Kyuubi! You won't stop me!" he shouted out, spitting in Hiruzen's face.

"Kakashi..." Hiruzen's voice echoed even colder than before.

Owl gasped out in pain, and looked down in shock. Kakashi's hand was stabbed through his chest, coming out the other side, still covered in lightning as he glared up at the Anbu, visible eye ice cold. With a sickening sound that no civilian there would ever forget, Kakashi pulled his hand out, and Owl dropped to the ground lifeless. Kakashi stood and appeared at the Hokage's side, two Anbu body guards joining him in a blur of speed as they surrounded their Hokage.

"All of you," said Hiruzen, his voice cold and disappointed. "All of you had a part in this...I can see the weapons in your hands, weapons you used on a defenseless boy of twelve," whispered the aged Hokage, his voice echoing over the assembled mob.

"Ignore him, the Demon's controlling him!"

"Let's finish what the Fourth started!"

"One more hit will kill the Fox, they can't stop us all!"

"Kill the Kyuubi!"

Shouts and screams echoed from the formed mob, and for once Hiruzen felt every bit his age. None of them felt regret for what they'd done, and were about to try to finish it. He knew that he would die before he let a single one of them hurt Naruto, his adopt...no...his grandson couldn't survive another wound, and it appeared Kyuubi was already barely sustaining him. With a grim determination he flared his killing intent, and pulled a kunai from within his robes.

"Anyone who moves for Naruto, kill them," ordered Hiruzen coldly.

...ba...bu...mp...

Kakashi raised his headband, revealing a spinning sharingan, even as he pulled two kunai and held one loosely in each hand. Cat stepped forward and pulled out a short tantō, standing beside Kakashi and the Hokage, ready to obey his orders without question. Tiger was also moving, flowing backwards he stood in front of Naruto, chakra flowing through his body as he prepared to strike down any who dared approach him.

"KILL THE DEMON!"

With a loud roar, the mob went charging forward, civilian and ninja alike rushing to kill the demon hiding behind their Hokage. With a speed that defied his age, the Hokage cut down any who approached him, his anger for once had reached its breaking point, and he killed any that dared to hurt Naruto as they had. Beside him Kakashi, and Cat both did the same, soon half of the mob had fallen, the rest looked hesitant to attack.

But it didn't last long, with a new renewed roar they charged forward. Tiger was forced to step forward, as a ninja streaked past the Hokage, with a simple strike to the throat, he crushed the foolish Chūnin's throat, causing him to choke to death. The mob was thinned even more, until finally only the ninja seemed to remain, a handful of Chūnin, three Jōnin, and what Hiruzen could only identify as an Anbu, not wearing their mask.

"Stand down, that's an order," declared Hiruzen, not wanting to kill any more then his ninja then needed.

"That Demon has tricked you Hokage-Sama, but we will free you!" shouted out the assumed Anbu.

BA...bump...

Hiruzen sighed, and stepped forward prepared to enter what would be a much more difficult battle. As the various ninja began to gather their chakra, they were stopped as a loud echoing laugh filled the area. A screechy laugh that Hiruzen immediately knew could belong to only one person, sure enough, as he turned around he spotted distinctive pink hair. Standing in front of the bloodied and unconscious Naruto, was Saruika Haruno, Sakura's Mother, member of the Civilian Council.

"This is the end of the Demon Fox!" screamed Saruika, plunging the kunai forward. "DIE!"

With a loud screech, Saruika plunged the already bloodied kunai in her hand forward, right into Naruto's chest, and into his heart. Saruika laughed loudly, pushing the kunai in even deeper as Hiruzen and Kakashi could only stare in horror. Tiger blurred forward to try and drag her away, wondering how a civilian had snuck past him, when something happened. The faint sound that all the ninja had been hearing came back with a powerful force, they had all assumed it was simply their adrenaline making them hear their own hearts, but this time it was impossible to mistake.

It was coming from Naruto...

/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

...ba

'Is this how I die?'

...bu

'I suppose it's not so bad, at least it doesn't hurt.'

...mp...

'I wonder if Mom will be mad I died so soon? Will she recognize me?'

BA...

'I hope I'm remembered...not for Kyuubi, but for myself.'

bump...

'It's funny...I'm not afraid.'

BA...

'It's not cold...or dark.'

BUMP...

'It's actually getting brighter...am I...going to Heaven?'

BA BUMP...

'Warmth...I feel warm?'

BA BUMP...!

'Is...is that my heart?'

BA BUMP!

'This feeling...I...I see...alright...I suppose one more try couldn't hurt.'

BA BUMP!

/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

Saruika clutched to the kunai hilt in her hand, starring at the Demon's chest as it continued to rise up and down, undeterred by the kunai plunged into it's heart. She didn't understand, she had pierced the Demon's heart, how was it still breathing? Surely even a demon couldn't survive without it's heart?

A powerful force filled the clearing, and Saruika found she couldn't move, all around the clearing the others felt the same. Pinned to their spots, everyone watched in awe as a faint fiery red aura began to circle around Naruto, slowly growing wilder and wilder, spreading out and surrounding a good foot away from the log he was tied to. Saruika looked around her in shock, the aura flowing around her, warm...so warm.

A bright circle began to form at the edge of the aura, burning into the ground at it's edges. Saruika began to sweat, and steam began to rise from the ropes tying up Naruto, the log slowly beginning to char and burn. Saruika began to struggle, trying to let go of her kunai, to run away, but she couldn't move. The aura around them flicked and twisted, lines burning into the ground in a strange symbol, and a cough caught everyone's attention.

Naruto's bloody head lifted slowly, his mouth twitching, opening and closing slowly. Every inch as the brutally tortured youth lifted his head caused him to cough, blood flying from his mouth and splattering the ground, ropes, log, and Saruika as he choked on his own blood. But still Naruto continued to try and speak, as his head continued to rise, Saruika began to scream as her skin bubbled and boiled, the warmth burning away the grass beneath them.

The strange circled symbol on the ground glowed brightly...

Naruto's head stared ahead, eyes closed...

Naruto opened his mouth, his eyes opening, starring into nothingness...

"Gōitsu..."

/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

AN: It begins...

Gōitsu – Union