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"Speech"

Thoughts

"Demon speak"

"Angel speak"

Sasuke stood over the unconscious form of Naruto. In the end, it had been his power that was greater. Not that Naruto didn't have some decent power himself. Sasuke had to hold back awe as he thought of the chakra that Naruto had just unleashed. That red energy, feeling like poison, the impossible strength and speed.

But then Sasuke smirked. The Curse Mark was greater. Orochimaru was greater than any wanna-be in the Leaf. To emphasize this, Sasuke removed his headband and slashed the Leaf symbol with a kunai. He dropped it on the ground next to Naruto.

Naruto, though beaten and exhausted, was not unconscious. But no matter how he tried, he could not move a muscle. But he had promised Sakura to bring Sasuke back. And he never went back on a promise. That was his ninja way.

But willpower and determination could only do so much. Naruto felt like he'd been dunked in acid. The Nine-Tailed Fox's power was great, but there was a price for using it. Despite his unyielding efforts to get up and fight until his best friend saw sense, Naruto felt the blackness of unconsciousness creeping into his mind.

The blackness was oppressing, overpowering. Trying to fight it was like trying to lift a mountain above your head. But Naruto fought. He didn't keep the blackness at bay, just held it off. It gained one inch, two. Naruto just wanted to give up, but he didn't. If he failed, he wouldn't go down without a fight.

The blackness was all around him now, just an inch away from smothering him. But Naruto pushed, even though he knew it was useless. He would not let the blackness win. And then, just as the blackness was about to overtake him, there was a light in the blackness.

Naruto grasped at the light. He clung to it, letting its strength flow through him. The blackness backed away, ever so slowly, and the light grew bigger. It kept on growing and growing, filling Naruto's whole body with its rays…

Sasuke was at the edge of the forest when it hit him like a lightning bolt. An enormous spike in chakra, not of the normal variety. Sasuke turned in horror. No way could the dope have another power.

But apparently he did. Sasuke watched in mounting panic and incredulity as Naruto glowed brighter and brighter. The light was a dazzling blue, so bright that it was almost white. It was a palpable force in the air. It was soon so dazzling that Sasuke had to shield his eyes.

Naruto's body started to lift up, as if the light were liquid. The scratches and bruises and other various wounds sustained during the fight vanished, as if they'd never existed. Naruto was floating an inch above the ground, his body limp, when he opened his eyes.

Sasuke gasped. Those eyes! The irises pulsed with power, but it was the pupil that was the most extraordinary. They weren't black. They were the same blue-white light that engulfed the whole of Naruto's body. Naruto looked up, and Sasuke felt like the pupil's were searchlights scouring Sasuke's very soul.

This chakra made the red one seem insignificant in comparison. Not only was this one more intense, but it felt like steel wire brushing against the very fabric of your being. "Sasuke!" Naruto yelled. Sasuke felt a chill run up his spine. There was an echo behind Naruto's voice. An echo of pure power.

"It's time for you to see the light!" With that, Naruto attacked. He flew at Sasuke at a speed that, with Sasuke's hastily activated Sharingan, looked normal. That meant that it was probably supersonic to the naked eye. The light carried Naruto like a cushion of air, letting him glide right over the waterfall.

Naruto delivered a swift uppercut. To Sasuke, it felt as if a steel wrecking ball had just hit his jaw. Sasuke was lifted bodily into the air by the force of the punch. Naruto flew straight up, grabbing Sasuke's legs. Naruto spun Sasuke around in the air, building enormous momentum.

"Naruto Uzumaki Ground Toss!" Naruto yelled, still his show-off-y self, even with the layers of chakra. With that battle cry, Naruto flung Sasuke straight down, at a perfect 180 degree angle, with about a megaton of force behind him. The cold, hard, unforgiving stone imploded when Sasuke hit, leaving a crater a good 100 yards across.

Sasuke, through some miracle of flexibility, had managed to not land on his head. Even so, critical injuries were sustained unconsciousness inevitable. As his eyes closed, Sasuke watched Naruto as he gently dropped to the ground, the light dissolving into oblivion when his feet touched the earth. Sasuke's last thought before total black out was: What are you, Naruto?

All that Naruto could do was stare at the crater in shock. He recalled the events of the past minute or two. The light had grown stronger until it was like a physical presence in his body, not unlike the Fox's chakra. He'd felt strength flow through his limbs, until he had felt like he was at 110 percent.

Then of course had come the butt-kicking. Naruto tried to remember how he had moved. It was as if all he had to do was wish he was somewhere, and then suddenly he was there. Instantaneous movement. And of course there'd been the strength. It was as if he had tapped into a better, healthier version of the Fox's chakra.

But, unfortunately, Naruto did not have the cranial capacity to take it all in. So he just decided to live in the moment until an explanation came along. So Naruto walked down the crater, picked up Sasuke piggy-back style, and started on the long journey home.

As Naruto moved, he detected an odd sort of… bubbliness. He couldn't resist the urge to smile. He also noticed a slight spring in his step. He passed it off as joy that he was bringing Sasuke home. However, at the back of Naruto's mind, he doubted that that was the actual explanation.

Just as Naruto reached the top of the cliff on the Hidden Leaf side, Kakashi and Pakkun, jumped out of the trees. Despite his mask, Kakashi managed to give off an expression of shock. Pakkun rubbed his eyes, as if he didn't trust the image he saw. Naruto's grin widened. "Hi, Kakashi-sensei! Why you look so surprised?"

Kakashi took a quick moment to compose himself. "Nothing, Naruto, I just didn't expect to see you so uninjured. You don't have a scratch on you." Naruto felt an odd sort of guilt, but he brushed it aside. "Come on, Kakashi-sensei! Sasuke never stood a chance! He's all bark and no bite."

Kakashi treated Naruto to one of his penetrating stares. They both knew that this was false. But Kakashi didn't decide to question it. "No matter. Let's get Sasuke back to the village." Pakkun puffed out of existence before he could say so much as a word. It wasn't the dog's day.

The next few hours were a blur for Naruto. He was shocked to see the aftermath of his team's battles, and he worried over his teammates to no end. The medics snatched Sasuke right out of Naruto's hands. They gave him a few black glares, but they were a little preoccupied over their work.

When the whole medical procession reached the Hidden Leaf Village, it was a literal riot. Naruto dimly remembered being told to hurry through the crowd's towards the hospital. Grandma Tsunade was everywhere, checking up on everyone. Naruto had been told to sit in an uncomfortable chair, and just when he thought he would go mad with boredom, Tsunade took him to her office.

Tsunade instantly saw the look of worry on Naruto's face, and quickly gave a status report. "Don't worry, Naruto. Everyone's fine. Of course, Chouji will have to carbo-load for a few days, and Neji will spend a few weeks in physical therapy, but I assure you that everyone's fine."

Naruto breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Grandma Tsunade." Tsunade would normally have been ticked off by the nickname, but she let it slide this one time. "Sasuke is doing okay as well. A few people might begrudge you for all his injuries, but I say it's a small price to have him back."

Thoughts of the fight immediately plagued Naruto's mind. He was about to voice his concerns, when Sakura burst into the room. Before his eyes could even widen, Naruto was in a vice-like hug, courtesy of Sakura. "Oh, thank you, thank you, Naruto! Thank you for bringing Sasuke back! I swear, I'll never call you an idiot ever again! And when this is all over, I'll take you to that ramen place you like! My treat!"

Naruto wasn't listening, too busy enjoying his little bubble of joy. He breathed in the strawberry aroma of Sakura's pink hair. Sakura was gushing over him, offering him ramen. Paradise. No need to ruin this moment with thoughts of some strange power. Unfortunately, Tsunade had to break it up.

"Um, Sakura, would you be as kind as to stop choking Naruto?" Sakura was instantly three steps away. Naruto scowled at Tsunade. Leave it to her to ruin his little moment. Tsunade winked at him, a sly wink that seemed to say "It's my job."

Matters went from innocent to serious in a heartbeat as Danzo, and another half dozen angry Council members, stormed into the room. Naruto's heart skipped a beat when he saw the unfiltered hatred and anger in the one-armed man's eyes. Naruto got a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach that bad news was coming.

"Naruto Uzumaki, by order of the Council, you are hereby banished from the Village Hidden in the Leafs. You have one hour to leave before you are listed as a rogue ninja, and therefore subject to whatever punishment we see fit!" Naruto's pupils contracted in fear. Leave the village? Forever?

Tsunade was on her feet in the blink of an eye. "You do not have authority to do that, you self-serving, manipulative prick! What makes you think you can just banish Naruto?" Danzo starred back with unconcealed contempt. "The Uchiha has suffered heavy injuries, all from this demon. He has put the heir to this village's greatest clan at risk. Believe me, this is a lenient punishment."

Tsunade pounded her table, cracks spreading from the point of contact. "Well, I'm the Hokage, so I say your claims are bullshit!" Danzo smiled, just the right note of victory in his eyes. "Check the rulebook, Lady Tsunade. If six or more members of the Council agree on a matter, they have the authority to veto the Hokage's decision on the matter. And I assure you that these men and women beside me back me up fully."

Almost as if on cue, the people who had accompanied Danzo gave a simultaneous look of hatred at the suddenly very scared blond boy in the room. Tsunade had a look of utmost defeat on her face, her eyes suddenly retaining moisture. Her hands were tied. Danzo turned his gaze back to Naruto.

"If you aren't out of this village in the next hour, you will be hunted down and killed by ANBU. I'd wish you luck, but you don't deserve it." With that, Danzo and the pompous Council members left the room. When the door closed, Jiraiya climbed in through the window, having just heard everything.

"Tsunade, you can't just let them sentence Naruto like that. Fight back!" Tsunade looked at the white-haired Sannin with dead eyes. "I'm a Hokage, Jiraiya. I can't fight back. I'm chained by the rules more than anyone, and I can't do anything. Even if I did, it would only make things worse."

Sakura had collapsed on the spot, her sobs raking her body. Naruto felt strangely numb. As if his mind and his body had fallen out of sync. He was aware of Jiraiya arguing with Tsunade, but it was in a corner-of your-eye, you're-not-really-seeing-it sort of way. Naruto tried to imagine life outside the village. He couldn't.

Naruto wasn't aware he was moving until he heard the door close behind him. What to do now? Naruto thought of his options. On the one hand, he could ignore the council and wait for the ANBU to come. Suicide. On the other hand, he could comply with their wishes, and leave. Naruto shook his head. That wasn't a choice at all.

Naruto tried to think of the way his decision would impact his friends. If he died, it would break their hearts. But if he left, at least they'd know there was a chance he'd survive. Naruto sighed. Caring for his friends, right to the very end.

Naruto ran across the rooftops to get to his apartment. If he was going to leave, he might as well do it sooner rather than later. Feeling dead inside, Naruto packed some clothes, about a week's worth of food, and his ninja tools into a small bag. With a final, parting look at his apartment, he walked out the door for the last time.

The crowds ignored him, as per usual. A few spit at him, but that was routine. For all they knew, Naruto was just going for a stroll. When Naruto reached the gates, he stood still. He turned to gaze at the village that was his home. He stared at the mountainside with regret. It seemed like his face would never adorn it. With tears flowing silently down his face, Naruto stepped outside the village borders and into the cold, unforgiving world.

It wasn't that bad. Naruto walked through the woods, enjoying the scenery. Occasionally there were slip-ups. He would spot a rare bird, and would try to point it out to someone, only to realize that he was on his own. But for the most part, Naruto tried not to think of what had happened or where he was going. He just tried to live in the moment.

Naruto happened upon a gentle river, and the scene was so beautiful that he decided to just stop there and enjoy it. Naruto became acutely aware of the dirt on his skin. He tried to remember the last time he'd taken a shower. He showered irregularly as it was, what with the landlord overcharging on the water bill. What with all the craziness he'd been through, it had probably been at least a week.

Naruto quickly removed all his clothes, until he was in nothing but his boxers. Then he had an impulse. Since he was officially on his own, who did he have to worry about watching him? With a flick, Naruto slipped out of his boxers and jumped into the river.

Naruto found that skinny dipping was very different from regular swimming. The water hit you differently in your… area. It was very enjoyable. Naruto washed himself, and then afterwards swam around for fun. When he got out, he had another childish wish. Why get his clothes wet?

Naruto sat down cross-legged on a rock, stark raving naked. It was a very freeing experience. Feeling every touch and whisper of nature on your bare skin, from your neck to your dick. Naruto smiled. Maybe this wouldn't be that bad. Sure, he wouldn't have friends, but that had been his normal way of existence a year back.

Naruto breathed in the crisp air. Yep. He could live like this. In an effort to soak up the scene further, Naruto tried meditation for the first time. Naruto closed his eyes, and breathed deeply. He tried to block out all unnecessary thoughts. Just breathe in, breathe out.

Over time, Naruto grew more and more relaxed. He barely even noticed his nudity. Man had started out with no clothes, so why should he worry over it. Naruto kept feeling more and more at peace, his body slowly fading away from his conscious mind…

The next thing Naruto was aware of was cold water. He opened his eyes. He was in a sewer. Naruto stood up, and recognized the place. It was his mindscape. Unsure of what else to do, Naruto walked until he came to a turn. He followed it until he came to the chamber with the cage.

Naruto noticed two major changes since his last visit. First, the Fox wasn't just a mass of energy with a face. He was a fully-fledged 100 story fox, with nine tails waving behind him. The second change was that the ceiling was made out of clouds.

Naruto craned his neck back to get the full-view. Where once there was blackness, there was a solid layer of clouds. Not only that, but the clouds had a strange luminescence, as if they were covering the sun. Naruto's neck snapped down to the cage when the Fox made a remark in his thunderous voice. "For evil's sake boy, cover up! I don't appreciate you waving your dick in my face!"

Naruto was about to respond in kind when the clouds parted. Naruto gasped as a being that seemed to be made from pure light descended. It wasn't until the being was floating in front of the Fox's cage that Naruto made it out clearly.

It was a man with hair the color of white gold reaching towards his waist. Except for an elaborate loin cloth made of some white material, he was naked. And what a body he had. Naruto was definitely not gay, but the word that jumped to mind was beautiful. Muscles like a statue of some forgotten god of masculinity.

But the most noticeable thing about this creature was what protruded from his back. Three pairs of wings, each of them as beautiful as a dove's. The man had eyes a shade darker than his hair. When he spoke, Naruto felt the same thunder in his bones he felt when the Nine-Tailed Fox spoke.

"Welcome, Naruto. I imagine you must have a lot of questions." All Naruto could do was nod. That voice was the voice of intimidation and command. You didn't defy a voice like that. "This is very complicated, so I'll start from the beginning." The man's brow furrowed, as if he were trying to concentrate.

"My name is Angelus. At the dawn of time, there were only two races that ruled the planet. The angels and the demons. The two were polar opposites, and of course there was hostility. A few small skirmishes—" The Fox interrupted Angelus at this remark. "A few skirmishes? Out battles carved canyons in our respective lands!" Angelus turned to the fox, a look of annoyance on his face.

"I'm trying not to make it sound too threatening! We're talking in front of an adolescent here!" Naruto was miffed at that. He spoke up, his respect for Angelus dwindling. "Um, excuse me, Angelus? I'm a Shinobi. I live with 'threatening' every day."

Angelus frowned, but then continued with his lecture. "However you wish to call it. Anyway, after a while, we realized the fighting had to stop. So we, demons and angels together, created a world to stand between our two kingdoms. We populated it with creatures that contained the best traits of both our peoples: humans."

Naruto frowned. "So you're saying that the planet was made to be a middleman between the two of you?" Naruto waved his hand to indicate the both of them. The Fox barked out "Pretty much, yeah." Naruto sighed. The Fox's direct mode of speaking could get grating on the nerves.

Angelus was about to start talking again, but Naruto interrupted him. "Excuse me, not that I don't mind the history lesson, but what does that have to do with you being here, or that weird chakra I used to beat Sasuke?" Angelus grunted. "I was getting to that part."

"So, anyway, we angels grew more and more fascinated by what we had created, while demons were just upset by all the extra ground to cover if they wished to fight us. We started venturing down to Earth, learning how you humans lived. You are an interesting people, so full of both light and dark. Your proficiency at channeling chakra is most fascinating."

"One night, an ambitious young angel went a little bit closer than the rest of us did. He bedded one of your women. No one would have cared unduly had not the woman became pregnant." Naruto gasped. He could see where this was going. "Interaction with your kind was banned, to the most trivial level."

"The woman gave birth to a handsome baby boy. He had blond hair and beautiful blue eyes." Naruto noticed a slight hesitation in Angelus' speech, but it smoothed over. "As the boy grew, it became apparent that he was not ordinary. His chakra reserves were unparalleled, and he had a limitless capacity for knowledge. You humans were just forming your countries and ninja villages. This man, whose name has been lost, quickly became one of the best and brightest in the Land of Fire."

Angelus turned to face Naruto then. "His bloodline survived through the years, leading up to a man named Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage of your village. That man was your father." Naruto's world was turned upside-down. His father? A Hokage? The Fourth Hokage? Naruto suddenly understood why the Old Man Hokage had always said he looked a lot like the Fourth.

The fox spoke up. "Excuse me, Mr. High and Mighty. I've been imprisoned in this kid's body for thirteen years. I think I would have noticed if he was a descendent of your kind!" Angelus turned to face the Fox. "The bloodline grew fainter and fainter with each generation. You didn't notice until Naruto here finally claimed his birthright."

In a flash, the dots connected for Naruto. "Wait a minute, hold up! You're saying that I'm some sort of half-angel and the container for this annoying fox?!" Angelus shrugged. "Pretty much, yeah." Naruto sighed. It appeared that Angelus could be just as forward as the Fox at times.

Naruto looked at the scene with new eyes. An angel living inside him side by side with the lord of all demons. This would be interesting. "So that was you that gave me that power at the Final Valley?" Angelus shook his head, but he wasn't giving away any explanations. You could tell by the sly grin on his face that said "Figure it out for yourself."

Naruto sat down. It was too much at once. "So where does that leave me now?" Angelus shrugged. "Well, for starters, you can put on some clothes. Even I'm not butt-naked." "That's what I said," the Fox said, and for a moment, the two of them had a moment of similarity. But then it passed.

"Here," Angelus said, waving a hand in Naruto's general direction. In a flash of light, Naruto was wearing some billowy boxers made from the same material as Angelus' loincloth. It felt like silk, only softer and more airy. Naruto stood up. It was as if he weren't even wearing anything.

"That's better. Don't get me wrong, clothes are by and large most important to humans than any other species. But we don't just parade around naked." Naruto scowled. So he'd had a nudity kick. So what! He would have continued with this strange and enlightening conversation had he not been brought most forcefully to the real world by a kunai in his chest.

Naruto's eyes flew open, instantly turning to the blade sticking straight out of his heart. The wound was undoubtedly fatal. "Good shot," a voice said, capturing Naruto's attention. Three ANBU appeared in his little clearing, the one in the lead obviously the one who had hit Naruto.

The man spoke the way a king would speak to a beggar. "Killed within the first three hours of your exile. I think that's a first. Other rogues at least manage a few days. But then again, demons don't have the best karma." Even though his face was masked, Naruto could sense that the man was grinning.

Naruto grasped the kunai, swallowing a cry of pain as it came out. If he was going to die, he would take down of many of them as he could. But the ANBU gasped, as if they were seeing a miracle. Naruto looked at his wound, which was rapidly disappearing. The blood was being sucked back in, and the wound knit itself closed quickly when the vital fluid was back inside. All that remained was a dull scar, as if the wound was years old.

Naruto knew that the Fox afforded him some kind of super-healing. But with two all-powerful beings inside him, it seemed as if he had a team of invisible miracle-scientists following him wherever he went. Naruto grinned. The ANBU didn't look so scary anymore.

Naruto charged forward, the element of surprise giving him another advantage. But the ANBU were highly trained, and they soon recovered. Naruto instantly revised his thoughts. What good was healing if you died before it started? The three ANBU worked like a single, deadly organism. If he wasn't getting barbequed by a fire jutsu, he was being skewered by shurikan and kunai.

Naruto was down in seconds, the bloody kunai still clutched in his hand, unused. Naruto couldn't move. His muscles were torn from all the weapons, and the healing couldn't begin until they were out. Naruto felt the darkness coming again. The ANBU had a little chuckle over his demise. "Not so tough, are you, demon?" one of them remarked.

The word reminded Naruto of his mental inhabitant. He silently shouted in his head Hey, where are you when I need you? Give me some chakra! Naruto waited a few seconds, and felt a little closer to death, when it came.

The acidic power of the Nine-Tailed Fox flowed through Naruto, in a much greater quantity than Naruto had anticipated. Naruto felt the chakra mold itself into a cloak, just as it had done during his fight with Sasuke. Only this time, there were two tails.

Naruto watched as the ninja tools flew away from his body, hurled by the great energy Naruto now had at his command. He felt the strength associated with the chakra flow through him, making his limbs feel like they could move mountains. But there was one crucial difference.

It didn't hurt. Naruto didn't feel the burning pain as the chakra roamed his skin. He didn't feel it hijack his brain, reducing higher brain functions, making him rely more on instinct. Naruto looked at the ANBU, who by now were seriously freaked out. Ah, well. He could puzzle it out later. Right now he had a job to do.

Naruto flashed forward, going onto all fours as he moved. Naruto took out the first one with a brutal mauling with his now claw-like fingernails. Naruto noticed the others running, so he molded his tails into hands and grabbed the two.

Naruto squeezed the one in his left claw, but held onto the other, who was the leader that had leaded the assault. Naruto walked up to him, looking him straight in the eyes. He was about to stab the leader's own kunai into his heart when he saw his reflection in the man's eyes.

Naruto saw a monster with blood-red eyes, wild hair, darkened whisker-marks, and huge canines. It stopped Naruto dead. Sure, these men had tried to kill him, but they were just tools. The Council had ordered them to hunt Naruto down. They were simply following orders.

Naruto, though sorely tempted to finish the deed, let go of the leader, dispelling the Fox's chakra as he did so. "Go," was all he said, and the leader complied, running away screaming at the top of his lungs. Naruto looked down at himself and realized that the boxers Angelus had given him didn't have one scratch. Or a bloodstain. He wondered what it was.

Then Naruto returned focus to the matter at hand. Naruto quietly dragged the bodies into the forest, and then covered them with rocks. Naruto didn't know why he buried them. It must have been the realization that he had just robbed two families of the ones they loved. After he finished, Naruto returned to the stream, and meditated again.

Naruto wasted no time in going to the cage. Angelus and the Fox seemed to be ignoring each other. The Fox was at the back of his cage and Angelus was in his lofty perch. They both came forward when Naruto approached.

"I'm going to ask two questions before you both start yammering. One, why did you send so much chakra, Fox? And two, how come it didn't take over like it did before?" The Fox had a genuine look of confusion on his face. Then again, Naruto wasn't an expert on fox facial features.

"I'm not going to answer those simply because I don't know. I only sent a little, but it multiplied before my eyes." Naruto turned to Angelus, who was inspecting a wing for dust. When he finished, he spoke.

"The thing, Naruto, is that angels are like a magnifying glass for chakra. That's how out our soldier's work. Each angel amplifying the powers of the one next to him. It's quite a clever system really. Anyway, now that you've embraced your heritage, you've turned into a magnifying glass yourself."

Naruto narrowed his eyes. "What are you talking about, embracing my heritage? That angel chakra came out of nowhere. And how does that explain how it didn't hurt?" Angelus sighed. "I'd hoped to give out my information gradually, but apparently you lead a fast-paced life. Okay, here it goes."

"Early in their lives, we angels are ordinary, just like you humans. Then, there comes a moment that we call 'the spark.' We angels have a determination to help others that is almost genetic. That's why we're seen as protectors. 'The spark' is the moment when they truly become selfless to save another."

"That was what you did with your friend Sasuke. Admittedly, 'the spark' comes under less drastic measures, but since you're a half-breed, it must have taken more dire situations. Either way, when you decided that you'd never give up in order to keep your promise, you got 'the spark.' That's what I meant by embracing your heritage."

"To answer the second question, angels are incredibly resilient. The only to kill us is to chop out heads cleanly off. Combine that to the Fox's natural healing, and you're basically invincible. Your normal human self couldn't defend against the Fox's chakra, but now that your angel half has been unlocked, your skin is immune to all the side effects of using it. That will probably help you stay alive a good ten years longer."

Naruto was beyond amazement by this point. "How come I couldn't tap into that angel chakra when I was being attacked, huh? And while we're at it, what are you doing in my body?" Angelus sighed again, this time even more deeply.

"As far as the chakra is concerned, your body already has natural human chakra in it. Plus you have the Fox at the center of your system. Calling on your angel chakra is like trying to grab your friend in a crowded room blindfolded. You'll need intense concentration and training."

"And what I'm doing here…" Angelus slumped his shoulders, as if he'd lost all strength in his back. "After 'the spark', young angels are assigned a mentor from the angels of the past. They guide them until their full potential is reached."

Naruto paled. "Angels of the past?" Angelus had a look of pain and longing on his face, staring at his own body. Angelus looked Naruto in the eyes, and then snapped. For a second, the perfect body disappeared, revealing a skeleton that seemed a thousand years old, with dried wing carcasses on its back.

Naruto screamed in horror. Then the terrifying cadaver was gone, replaced with Angelus. A look of humiliation and sadness on his face. "Would you want that to be following you around everywhere? We mentors travel in our charges minds. That way, we can disguise ourselves as we used to be."

Naruto was silent. Finally he spoke. "What do we all do know? I have a feeling another ANBU team is just waiting in the wings." The Fox glared. "Us all? What do you mean. I'm the prisoner. I don't have any say in this." In response to this, Naruto got that look on his face that usually preceded a reckless and incredibly stupid act. "Not anymore," Naruto said. With that, he jumped up and completely peeled off the strip of paper holding the cages doors closed.

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