Naruto: Return From Darkness

Kyuubi speaking

"speaking"

Thoughts

/

Chapter 1: Prologue

Naruto, age 10, careened through the alley, knocking over garbage cans and sending the ragtag band of cats scurrying away.

"Why are you doing this?" Naruto said, choking back a pained sob.

"Shut it demon! This has been a long time coming!" one angry villager yelled as he grabbed a fistful of the blonde boy's hair and slamming his face onto the ground.

Blood poured down Naruto's face as he picked himself up and darted out of the alley smashing into passerby and street vendor alike, before jumping onto a roof to escape his pursuers.

"Come back here, coward!" shouted another angry villager as he glared daggers at Naruto.

It's always the same, why do they always look at me like that? Naruto thought as he nursed his broken arm and injured face, before making his way over to the Hokage Tower.

"Hey Jiji…" Naruto said, eyes at the ground.

"Oy Naruto, what happened to you?" Hiruzen said looking at the dried blood on Naruto's face and arm.

"The villagers attacked me on my way home from the academy… again." Naruto sighed before staring Hiruzen dead in the eyes.

Hiruzen looked at him worriedly, "Naruto, you know that they aren't allowed to harm you by law. What trouble did you get yourself into this time?"

Naruto stopped for a moment, shocked by the words that just came out of the man who was supposed to be his caregiver, his guardian's, mouth. "I'm not lying Jiji! Why would I lie about this!" He yelled as he held up his blackened and broken arm.

Hiruzen continued to give him the same pitying look, clearly not believing anything that Naruto was saying. "Naruto…" Hiruzen said condescendingly.

The word shot through Naruto like a bolt of lightning, He isn't going to believe a word I say… what do I do? He thought, realizing the gravity of his situation.

"I can't live like this anymore, Jiji. I'm only ten years old and I'm worried one day that they'll kill me!" Naruto shouted, tears streaming down his face, desperate for someone to listen to him.

"'Naruto, you have nothing to worry about as long as this village is under my protection." Hiruzen said to Naruto patting him on the shoulder reassuringly.

"Now go, I have paperwork to do and I won't be dealing with any more of your mischief today." He said pushing him through the door and out of his office.

Why doesn't he understand how much they want to kill me?Naruto thought angrily as he jumped from building to building on his way home.

Naruto opened his door and flopped down on his couch. Closing his eyes and feeling the pain from the brutal attack just hours before, he cried softly.

Mom, Dad… Why did you leave me alone like this? Why couldn't you be here for me? Sadness ripping through his body with every sob.

Hey boy, why so sad? Said a menacing voice, seeming to come from everywhere around him.

Naruto jolted up out of his seat and looked around the room, the feeling of fear running down his spine.

"Who's there?" Naruto called out, afraid.

It's just me boy, your "resident". The voice said, seeming to find the interaction amusing.

What does that mean, and how are you speaking in my head?Naruto spoke to his "resident".

Listen to what I'm about to say and you will understand. I'm the reason why everyone hates you; I've been inside you since the day you were born. I'm the Nine Tailed Fox, the Kyuubi. The Kyuubi said to him, and suddenly, Naruto closed his eyes and reappeared in a dark, dank sewer somewhere.

He looked around for a bit, noticing a massive red gate standing imposingly before him. He stepped closer, apprehensively, but then he noticed the eyes.

In between the bars of the gate, were two massive red eyes with thin, menacing, pupils. Naruto paused, afraid but also uncertain of what exactly he was locking eyes with. And slowly, the massive orange fox came into view as the fox moved closer to the barrier.

Naruto's eyes widened and his heart pounded in his chest. No, that can't be true, the Yondaime killed the Kyuubi ten years ago.Naruto said to the Kyuubi

I'm still breathing, just inside of you. The Yondaime sealed me inside of you to defend the village, you're not the demon; I am. The Kyuubi said matter-of-factly.

Why are telling me these things? You've been quiet until now, and you've done nothing but make my life hell because you're inside of me. Naruto asked the Kyuubi, angry and sad and confused all at the same time.

I've been watching you the whole time, watching from inside of you. I see the way that the people treat you, I feel your pain and feel the harm that they cause you and I want you to understand that you are more of a hero than anyone in this village, and you should be loved instead of hated. And so, I have decided to help you. The Kyuubi responded, something caring and sincere in themassive creature's voice.

Naruto paused for a moment, apprehensive and not completely trusting the Kyuubi yet.

The Kyuubi laughed, the boys fear and apprehension apparent to him, Don't worry, you don't have to completely trust me yet, but you do need to leave this village, move somewhere else, and change your identity, so that you can grow strong and be free from all this… pain. The Kyuubi explained.

Leave…Konoha? But-but it's my home. Naruto said sadly, hating the way that things are, but afraid of change.

You will die if things continue as they are going now. I will train you to be a strong shinobi, stronger than anyone in this village. The Kyuubi said confidently.

But where will I go? And how will I get there? How will I escape? You know that I'm not allowed to leave the village, right? Naruto said, his mind moving quickly, thinking about everything that could go wrong.

The Kyuubi laughed, admiring the boys quick and overactive thinking, Don't overthink it, I'll give you all the answers in time. But now you must pack, we're running out of daylight and we have a lot of ground to cover.

Naruto shook his head, annoyed at his "resident's" stubbornness, but for some reason he complied with the massive creature's orders. Maybe it was because of his beating earlier, or maybe it was because of his conversation with Jiji, either way something that the fox said struck a chord with him, and he decided to do what he said.

Naruto moved quickly and gathered his few belongings in a bag, before writing a simple note, leaving in to the table and dashing out of his room for the last time. He stopped, momentarily, running his eyes over the room that has been his only home for as long as he could remember, before leaving it behind forever.

Naruto walked down the main street and looked around at all the shops and buildings that he wouldn't see again for a long time, if again at all. He looked further down the road and saw Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka walking and talking to each other.

"Oy Sakura, isn't that that Naruto idiot in our class?" Ino said, pointing at the blonde haired boy.

"Yeah, that boy is always alone, I doubt anyone would care if he walked out of the village, never to be seen again." The pinkette said snorting at the boy's loneliness.

Naruto clenched his fist and looked farther up the street, seeing Kiba Inuzuka, Shikamaru Nara and Choji Akimichi walking while eating barbeque.

"Huh" Kiba said seeing Naruto walking down the street

"What isch it Kibuh" Choji said with his mouth full of food

"Why is Naruto walking down the street with a full backpack?" The doggish boy asked, his head turned curiously as Naruto passed them by.

"Camping trip?" Choji guessed.

"Anh, whatever, who cares anyway. "Kiba said removing his gaze from Naruto.

Now boy walking through these gates and go northeast. You will reach the mountains in a few days and begin your transformation. The Kyuubi instructed him.

But what will my name be, people will find me if my name is the same. Naruto asked, his curiosity seeming to be a massive trend in his life.

Good point, boy. But we'll worry about that later. Now get moving! The Kyuubi yelled excitedly.

Naruto broke into a run as he reached the gates. The Chuunin sitting at the desk scrambled to get up and stop the small boy.

"Somebody stop him!" He shouted, knowing the boy couldn't be allowed to leave the village under any circumstances.

Naruto looked back, hesitating slightly as he heard an alarm sound. But he continued on, running faster and faster.

He felt strong, very strong, too strong...

An orange aura surrounded his whole body as he hurtled through the forest. The miles began to melt away as the forests disappeared and the landscape became much rockier.

Naruto turned to look behind him at where he had just come from, and Konoha was nowhere to be seen.

W-what just happened?Young Naruto asked the Kyuubi, confused.

I gave you a little boost in speed.The Kyuubi said laughing, That should have got us away from most of the ninja chasing after you… ah I spoke a bit too soon. Look out! The Kyuubi yelled as three kunai came hurtling at Naruto.

Naruto jumped back, just barely avoiding the sharp metallic weapons.

Three Anbu landed just in front of Naruto, kunai in their hands.

"You need to come back with us Naruto." The grey haired one on the far left said, his tone firm.

Naruto shook his head, too scared to respond but also terrified of being taken back to that place of pain and fear.

The Anbu in the middle stepped forward, "Listen you little brat, you need to come with us or it's not going to be so easy for you anymore, ok?" He said, clearing holding a strong hatred for Naruto and not hiding it at all.

The Kyuubi laughed inside of Naruto, Why don't we show them what you're capable, eh?

Naruto nodded at his resident, before feeling the incredible strength he'd felt before. The orange aura whipped around him, creating a strong wind that blew away grass and rocks.

"Woah!" The second Anbu said.

"Careful there." The grey haired Anbu said, stepping back slightly, waiting to see what Naruto would do.

The power was pumping through Naruto's veins, almost more than his small body could handle, and he closed his eyes, letting his body feel it. And when he returned to the conscious world, he was standing in between the three Anbu as all three lay on the ground, in different states of injured. One had both his legs broken, one was lying completely unconscious, and the last was nursing his side, clearly dealing with numerous broken ribs.

"M-m-monster." The Anbu with broken ribs said weakly, before passing out.

What just – what did I – how did I… Naruto couldn't even finish the sentence, the unbelievability of the situation staring right at him being too much for his young mind to comprehend.

The Kyuubi was silent for a moment, also processing what happened, It seems like there is more to you yet, this will be even more fun than I thought. The Kyuubi said excitedly, Now let's move, those Anbu probably won't be the only ones to come after you and we have a lot of ground to cover.

Naruto nodded with determination and took his first step toward his new existence.

/

Here is the first rewrite of the very first chapter.

Hopefully this is a little better than what I had before.

Please leave a review.

See ya soon,

Dog