章 2189: Fox On the Run by Bow_Woww
Fox On the Run by Bow_Woww
Summary:
At the end of the world, Kaguya's victory is imminent. Naruto and Kurama are the only ones left fighting and know they have no chance of survival. The Sage finds the power to send one of them to the past to stop Kaguya from ever being resurrected. It was supposed to be Naruto, but at the last minute, Kurama finds the fate of the world in his paws. Now, if only he could convince his previous host and her husband that he really is here to prevent the world from ending.
AKA yet another time travel AU
Notes:
I can't believe I'm getting back into this fandom in 2022 legit maybe 15 years since I last watched any of the series. I watched part of the original series when it first came out (and boy doesn't that explain a lot about my middle school personality) but never finished it until recently. No idea why, just got the urge to actually binge the whole thing so I did. Now I have all these fic ideas rattling around in my brain and I can't stop thinking about them until I write them down. So idk if anyone will actually read these but uh if this is something people like I'm down to write more.
Also tagging time travel stuff is kind of hard cuz people die but not really so I'm sorry if anything isn't tagged right.
(See the end of the work for more notes.)
Chapter 1: Because you're my friend, you dumb foxChapter Text
The smell of blood and ash was thick in the air as the battlefield burned around them. It was eerily silent, save for the hiccuping sobs of the boy who contained Kurama's essence. In his many centuries of life, the fox had accumulated vast amounts of knowledge on nearly every subject imaginable. Unfortunately, that didn't include how to comfort a crying teenage human at the end of the world. And really, what could Kurama say, anyway? Nothing could bring the boy's friends back, or undo the mess Kaguya and her mutated progeny had made. And apparently, nothing could stop them. Not the united front of the entire ninja world, not the bijuu, not even the Sage of the Six Paths. They had put up a valiant fight, but the world was crumbling around them and only Kurama and his host remained.
Well, that was only partially true. Most of humanity was safely locked away in an infinite slumber, their life force being slowly siphoned away. They would never awaken from their slumber, not now that their assault against the goddess had failed. Truthfully, Kurama thought they had the better end of the bargain. The sleeping humans had no idea that they were slowly dying. Their lives would fade away while they lived in their perfect dream worlds. Compared to the gruesome fates of Naruto's friends, a quiet, peaceful end sounded more preferable.
He knew Naruto would never agree. He would fight to his last breath, which was likely coming sooner than either of them cared for.
Not for a lack of caring, but for a lack of ideas on what the hell else to do, Kurama nudged the boy's consciousness with his own. They had to move on. "Come on, runt. We can't stay here." He did his best to let his chakra coat the boy in a mockery of a warm embrace.
Naruto held onto the still figure in front of him. His knees were becoming soaked with mud and blood as he knelt on the ground. Kurama had never seen him look so defeated. Even when the odds were against the boy, he always seemed to find the strength to keep fighting. But now, Kurama could feel the exhaustion deep in the boy's bones, and the threat of a darkness that whispered to just give in.
"We need to move," the Kyuubi tried again. "We're sitting ducks here." Not that it really mattered at this point. Kaguya had proven she could defeat them no matter where or how they positioned themselves.
Still, the boy didn't budge. Kurama sighed, staring through his host's eyes at the shredded corpse in front of them. The Uchiha brat had put up a good fight, but he'd fallen just like all the others. First, their teacher. The Copy Ninja had thrown himself in front of an attack aimed at Naruto's neck. He slipped into the afterlife muttering the name of his foolish friend that had started this mess. Even the reanimated Hokage had been devoured by the moving shadows, leaving not even a trace of their essence behind. Kurama didn't count the other Uchiha's death as significant, even though he knew Naruto had. The boy was far too trusting for his own good.
And then the pink haired girl. Kurama had been impressed at how long she'd lasted. He'd never cared much for her, particularly in the early days when all she would do was fawn over the Uchiha brat, but he found himself respecting her after her death. Her mastery of medicine had proven invaluable, and she'd gone down dragging at least two dozen of Kaguya's pawns with her.
Each death had been hard on Naruto, chipping away more and more of his resolve. But the fall of his friend/rival was hitting him the hardest now. There was not much left of the boy, but Naruto still clung to him all the same. The hole in his face where the Rinnegan once sat stared up into nothingness.
They'd been winning for a while, and they had been so close to banishing the goddess and her spawn for good. The reincarnations of the Sage's sons had been about to deliver the finishing blow, when the remnants of Black Zetsu exploded into a writhing mass of limbs and teeth. It split into shadowy forms that devoured the battlefield, and everything in their path. That's when things went wrong. No matter how many they killed, more just erupted from the splattered remains of the creature. Their group lost their advantage, and they were picked off one by one. Now it was just Kurama and Naruto.
They were out of options, and out of time. "Naruto." The Kyuubi's voice was firmer this time. Using the boy's real name seemed to finally catch his attention. "We need to find a better place to make our last stand."
Naruto nodded numbly. He glanced down at his fallen comrade one last time, before rising to his feet and racing away from the oncoming wave of black. They both knew this was a futile effort, but they were also both too proud to give up and die without a fight. They would lose, and the world would end, but no one could ever say they didn't give it their all.
The Kyuubi's power surrounded Naruto once more as he activated tailed beast mode for the last time. They found a cliff overlooking the battlefield, which was slowly being engulfed by a writhing sea of black. Kaguya's light stood out in the middle of it all, burning like a beacon. The shadowy figures of her progeny curled around her, cackling and hissing with malice as they surrounded Naruto and Kurama from every side.
Tears still dripped down the boy's face, but he stood his ground. "Thanks for everything, Kurama. I'm sorry I couldn't save us."
"It's been an honor to fight alongside you, Naruto Uzumaki . " The fox replied, releasing any remaining hold on his power to let the boy use it.
Together, they stood tall, the fox's form towering over the ruins of their battle. Kurama wasn't foolish or conceited enough to think he'd never die. No, all things must end, even the bijuu. However, he'd expected that end to come many millenia down the line. And he'd never imagined he would die fighting side by side with a human.
No, not just a human. A friend. His first, and now his last.
Kurama would fight to his last breath, as would the boy. But with that last breath, he would make sure his partner's passing was as quick and painless as possible. It was the only remaining mercy he could offer his friend.
The tidal wave of shadows was almost upon them, somehow still growing impossibly taller. The unnatural red glow coming from the moon was completely blocked out, but Kurama's chakra radiated enough light to bathe the battlefield around them in orange. Misshapen figures clawed toward them out of the living shadows, snarling and slobbering like feral beasts. No trace of Black Zetsu's wit was among them. These were mindless creatures of death, with no purpose other than devouring their mother's enemies.
The duo tensed, preparing to strike. The integration of their chakra was seamless, with no distinction between bijuu and jinchuuriki. There was no more time for doubt, or holding back. This may be their last stand, with no hope, but they would make the goddess remember them.
"There will always be hope, so long as those who remain to draw breath believe it."
Naruto startled at the sudden intrusion, but Kurama just grinned. "Father, have you come to join us at the end of the world?"
In their shared consciousness, the Sage appeared before Kurama and Naruto. Outside Naruto's body, everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. Hagoromo looked like he'd aged even more since he'd bestowed his power to Naruto and the Uchiha boy. The lines in his face ran deeper than Kurama remembered, and his skin held an unnatural pallor.
"I've come to offer an alternative," the Sage replied. He looked out onto the battlefield through Naruto's eyes, reflecting a deep sadness. "It is clear that mother is too powerful to be defeated."
"If that's true, then what kind of alternative is there?" Naruto questioned. He too seemed to have aged greatly in such a short period of time. Kurama had become used to the boy's carefree smile and infectious optimism, but very little of those remained.
The Sage looked weary. "There may be a chance to stop this, or rather to prevent this. But it is a slim chance."
Kurama and Naruto glanced at each other, neither one sure of what the Sage was getting at. Naruto turned back to him. "What do you mean?"
"What if," the Sage continued, "you could go back and stop the events that lead to Kaguya's rise from happening?"
Kurama snorted. "Father, are you serious? That's impossible."
"What's impossible?" Naruto frowned. "Kurama, what is he talking about?"
"He's talking about something foolish. Changing the past."
Naruto's face scrunched up. "What, like time travel? Is that actually possible?"
At the same time Kurama was grunting, "No" , the Sage muttered, "Maybe."
Both Naruto and Kurama looked at him, wearing equally shocked expressions. They looked at him expectantly, waiting for further explanation. Kurama knew the Sage wasn't one to joke about such matters, particularly at a time like this, but surely that was the only explanation for what he was proposing.
The Sage cleared his throat. "While you have been fighting Kaguya, I have not been idle. Gathering energy, and gathering my thoughts. We know there are powers that can bend space," he explained, referring to Obito's kamui, "so it is entirely possible that there are powers that can bend time. I just had to figure out how to tap into it."
"And did you?" Kurama asked curiously.
The Sage nodded. "Yes, or at least, I believe so. It is…complicated. I won't know for sure until I try it, unfortunately. Nothing like this has ever been attempted so a lot of my knowledge is theoretical."
"That's so cool!" Naruto grinned. Some of his normal jovial attitude seemed to leak through. "So you can send me and Kurama back to kick some butt? And then we can save everyone and keep Kaguya from ever being revived?"
Hagoromo's expression fell. "Not quite. A tangible body will not survive the journey, but I believe chakra can."
Kurama nodded in understanding, but Naruto was rubbing the back of his neck like he did when he was confused. Still, he seemed to understand that this wasn't the time for asking a lot of questions, so he kept it to himself.
"Well, that will be no problem for me," Kurama huffed. After all, he was a being of pure chakra, so he didn't really have a body to worry about anyway. "But how will that affect the boy?"
"My understanding, which again, is quite theoretical, is that I could move chakra from this time to another. But only if a receptacle for that chakra already exists," The Sage explained. "I believe I could put compatible chakra into its host at a different point on the timeline."
Naruto's frown returned. "So that means…we couldn't go back and stop Obito from getting taken by Madara. Because I wasn't alive then."
"Correct," the Sage confirmed. "And I don't think I could send you back that far, anyway. If my calculations are correct, the amount of chakra I'll need to use will grow exponentially for every small step backwards. I believe I could give you 10, maybe 15 or so years."
"Well, that's still a lot of time to fix things!" Naruto insisted. The Sage still looked grim.
"There is one other problem." He sighed as both Naruto and Kurama stared intently at him. "I can only send one of you."
Both of them started protesting.
"I can't leave Kurama behind!"
"The runt can't do this without me!"
Hagoromo waved his hand. "I'm sorry. But I can't manage it. I went through every possible scenario in my head, and adding a second chakra signature throws everything off. It won't work. If I had more time I could possibly send you separately, but…" he looked out onto the battlefield. The shadow wave was still moving toward them in slow motion, gaining ground with every second.
Kurama understood. They were out of time.
"Send the boy," Kurama said immediately. "I can try to hold them off long enough for you to get the energy you need to send me after him."
The sage looked at him neutrally, but Kurama could read the expression hidden on the old man's face. Kurama would not last long enough for that to happen. Only one of them would be able to make this journey.
"No way!" Naruto protested. "I won't go without you!"
The boy had tears in his eyes again, and he was staring up at the fox definitely. It made Kurama laugh, a deep, warm rumble. Here they were at the end of everything, and Naruto still wouldn't abandon a friend. Kurama bent his neck, letting himself drop his head to be face level with his jinchuuriki.
"You must," Kurama insisted. "You're the hero, not me. You've already proven your strength and your resolve, so I know you are more than capable."
Naruto shook his head vehemently. "No. I won't leave you here!"
The fox's expression was softer than he ever remembered it being. It was touching to see how much the boy actually cared for him. "It will be alright, Naruto. I'll still be with you, and now you know the way to an old fox's heart." The previous version of himself would still give Naruto trouble, but now the boy had plenty of cards to play. Kurama knew how angry and lonely he'd been. Naruto would have no problem convincing his former self to his side now that he knew the fox.
"Kurama…" Naruto was tearing up again.
The Kyuubi lowered his massive head even more, so Naruto could lean forward and grab the fur on his snout. He let the boy hug him and cry, not even minding the snot and tears being dropped onto his muzzle. This was the last time he'd ever see his friend, so he wasn't about to push the boy away.
When Naruto finally stepped back, his expression hardened. He wiped at the tear tracks on his cheeks. "Ok, I understand what I need to do." He nodded at the Sage.
The Sage nodded in return. "Alright, first I'll need to separate you two. I'm going to break the seal and pull your chakras apart to separate them completely."
Naruto took a shuddering breath, while Kurama just nodded silently. He felt strangely calm about the fact that he was close to death. At least he could leave this world knowing that its fate would be in good hands. If anyone could fix this mess, it was Naruto.
"Do you know when you want to go back to?" The Sage questioned.
Shrugging, Naruto replied, "I think so. I don't want to be so young that I can't do anything, but not so old that nothing changes either." He glanced back in the direction that they'd come from, where his last friend had fallen. "And I want to stop the Uchiha massacre. I want to save them. I want to save everyone."
Kurama wasn't surprised. He'd always been too soft for the Uchiha brat. "Perhaps when you first entered the academy," he suggested.
Naruto nodded in approval. "Yeah, that should work. I'll stop a lot of bad things from happening, and I'll save a lot of people too."
"Is your mind made up, then?" The Sage questioned. He gestured to the battlefield around them, where the mass of shadows was nearly at their throat. "We're out of time."
"Yeah, my mind's made up," Naruto replied, staring at Kurama with a firm resolve.
Without another word, the Sage got to work. Kurama felt the tug on his chakra, and Naruto's pained expression made it clear the boy did as well. He felt a ripping sensation as he was dragged from his host. Their chakra had become so entangled that it seemed impossible, but Hagoromo persisted. He managed to separate them down to a final thread, barely hanging on to each other. Kurama's deep orange, and Naruto's bright blue.
The Sage prepared to separate them, ready to grab hold of Naruto's chakra the moment he was free. It would be just in time, as Kaguya's spawn were just inches from tearing them to pieces. Kurama braced himself for his last battle.
The last thread started to snap, and Kurama was ready to launch himself forward at the enemy. Except, he never got the chance.
At the last moment, Naruto grabbed hold of their connection, which was now no stronger than a piece of hair. He ripped his chakra from Kurama's, separating them completely. The Sage reached out, but Naruto was already out of his reach. Kurama's cloak faded from Naruto, and he started plunging into the waiting claws of the creatures below.
"What have you done?! Idiot boy!" Kurama tried to rush forward to catch his jinchuuriki, but the Sage clamped down on his own chakra.
"Kurama, I'm sorry. But all will be lost if you don't go now," The Sage urged.
It still felt like everything was moving in slow motion around them. Kurama roared, and Naruto offered one of his characteristic toothy grins as the first black claws pierced his body. Blood started trickling from his mouth. "Sorry, cranky old fox. Go save the world."
"You stupid, foolish human! Why would you do such a thing?" Kurama felt himself being tugged backwards. The Sage was behind him, where a void of crackling energy was opening.
More claws and teeth grabbed at Naruto, tearing flesh from bone. He closed his eyes against the pain, but his smile remained. "You know, you're pretty dense for a centuries old chakra being."
Kurama tried reaching forward again, but he knew it was too late. The wave of shadows was devouring the boy. It didn't make sense. Why sacrifice himself for Kurama? He was obviously the better choice to deal with their past mistakes. Naruto was likable, and had a way of turning people to his side. Kurama was a demon of chakra and malice. He wasn't meant to protect anyone.
"Why?" The fox asked again, as he lost the battle of wills against the Sage's pull. The cold, empty void was starting to surround him as Naruto was lost beneath the black swarm.
The answer, which seemed so obvious after the fact, echoed around him. "Because you're my friend, you dumb fox."
Kurama let go, watching the ruins of the world fade from his vision. The idiot boy had sacrificed himself to save Kurama. Of course he did. It was a poor tactical choice, and completely foolish. But it was exactly what the fox had come to expect from the boy.
The Kyuubi wouldn't let his sacrifice be for nothing. He wasn't a hero, not by any means. But he could be a guiding voice for a young Naruto. He could warn his siblings of the Akatsuki before it was too late, and keep them out of Obito's clutches. And maybe…
An idea struck him.
"Father, can you send me to a different time?"
The Sage was fading, but still holding tight to Kurama's chakra. "Possibly, if we act fast. When were you thinking?"
Kurama glanced one last time at the chaos in front of him, almost pretending he could see a flash of blonde hair. It was a stupid idea. Really, Uzumaki level of stupid. But if he could pull it off, he could save everyone the boy cared about. It would never repay Naruto for giving his life for Kurama, but if he could keep the boy from suffering, it would be a start.
He relayed his plan to the Sage, who smiled softly and nodded in agreement. In front of him, the future blinked out of his vision. Would it still exist, in its own dimension? Or had his actions already erased that horrible future? Kurama suspected he'd never find out, but he could make sure none of it came to pass. He wasn't a hero, dammit, but he could make sure Naruto still became one.
As time and space became tangled around him, Kurama could hear a whisper in his ear, like a mantra urging him forward.
"Because you're my friend, you dumb fox."
—------------------------------
Kushina was dying. That was the cost of ripping a bijuu from its jinchuuriki, even if she was persisting far beyond what most humans could bear. The only drive keeping her going was to protect her family, and her village. If she could stop the Kyuubi and save her son, she could die and be at peace. That very thought was what kept her fighting, her chakra chains sprouting from her ruined body to pin the beast.
The Kyuubi roared, its fury shaking the foundations of the earth around them. Kushina's vision was becoming blurred, but she could see Minato still fighting. His plan was terrible, truth be told. But she was in no position to argue. And he was acting not only as a father, but as Hokage. She understood, even if she didn't want to sacrifice her son to this monster. She'd lived with the Kyuubi since she was a child, plugging her ears against the beast's toxic words and corrosive chakra. He'd tried on many occasions to take advantage of her weaknesses, and had promised a swift and terrible vengeance upon her clan, her family, and her village. She really hated that demon fox, yet she was about to seal half of it inside her infant son.
She could see Minato starting the signs for the Reaper Death Seal, and she held her breath. She had to trust him, and trust Naruto. He was an Uzumaki after all; the blood of Uzushio pumped through his veins.
The Kyuubi was still struggling, feral and angry as her chains tightened around it. The demon spat curses and promises of revenge, roaring with a bitter fury. Its snarls became frantic as its chakra surged. Kushina grit her teeth, feeling her strength fading. Impossibly, the fox had become more frantic, letting out a horrific wail that almost made her lose her concentration. The beast struggled, foaming at the mouth and slitted eyes rapidly dilating and constricting. And then just as the beast was about to break free, it stopped struggling.
The demon was breathing heavily, but had stilled. It glanced around frantically, jerking in surprise as her chains held against its bulk.
"It worked…"
Kushina didn't know what to make of that phrase, but it was getting too difficult to think clearly anyway. All her concentration was going into keeping the fox chained down long enough for Minato to seal it.
If she didn't know better, she would've thought the fox followed her train of thought. Its slitted eyes flicked over to Minato, and then to Naruto, who was wailing miserably from all the commotion. She wanted to run to her son, to comfort him, but her legs would collapse the second she moved. The Kyuubi's eye settled on her husband, who was moments away from finishing the signs for the Reaper Death Seal.
"That is not necessary, Minato Namikaze. I will cooperate."
The shock of the fox's words startled both of them, making Minato lose his concentration. He swore, starting the sequence again. Kushina narrowed her eyes. The Kyuubi liked to play games, though she'd never heard it manage to say anything quite so non-threatening. Clearly, it had the intended result of distracting them from their task.
Seeing that its ploy didn't work, the great fox rolled its eyes. "I see. We're going to play this way, then?"
Without warning, the fox pulled against its chains. Kushina had not been ready, and the surge of power seemed to come out of nowhere. She was an idiot! It had obviously been waiting for her to let her guard down, and she had. Now the beast was ripping her chains with a mighty flare of its chakra, all nine of its tails extended. The beast stood at full height, glaring down at her with a cold gaze.
She didn't have any strength left to fight. Kushina collapsed, her muscles weak and her chakra exhausted. She could hear Minato yelling her name, but all she could do was turn her head to face her husband and child. At least the last thing she would see would be her family.
"This won't do."
Darkness was just starting to overtake her vision, when a warm presence wrapped around her body. All at once, she felt fire flowing through her. She cried out, not in pain, but in surprise from the sudden invasion. Despite the intense heat surrounding her, she did not feel burned. In fact, she felt reinvigorated. Her strength was rapidly returning, and the blurred edges of her vision sharpened.
"What are you doing to her?! Release her, you monster!"
Kushina could hear Minato yelling as her awareness returned. She realized she was in the fox's grip, held tight by one of its tails. She recognized the red-orange chakra around her, but surprisingly, it didn't feel as corrosive as it normally did. The other times the fox had let its chakra loose on her, it had felt like her skin was being peeled off. This felt strangely warm and inviting, but there was a dangerous edge to it.
The fox dropped Kushina without a second thought, the chakra flow cutting off. She managed to land on her feet, even though she wobbled a bit. It was jarring, to go from almost dead to suddenly full of strength and energy. What was the fox thinking?
"Calm down, Namikaze. I'm saving her life." The fox replied nonchalantly. "A jinchuuriki cannot live if their bijuu is removed, so I gave her enough of my chakra to keep her alive."
Her immediate thought was to shout some very choice curse words at the fox, because of course that was a lie. The Kyuubi had no reason to help her, and it never would. But strangely enough, the demon's words made sense. She could still feel the familiar thrum of the fox's chakra under her skin, but obviously the fox was still free. And she was still alive.
Minato looked ready to skin the fox where it stood, but Kushina held out a hand. "Wait. I do feel better," she confirmed. Her husband paused, looking between her and the Kyuubi with confusion. "What game are you playing?" She addressed the fox.
Snorting, the Kyuubi sat back on its haunches. "No games, Tomato Head. I simply wish to have a civilized conversation. Or," the beast grinned darkly, "would you rather we go back to trying to kill one another?"
"What are you talking about?" Kushina pressed. Every instinct was telling her to chain the fox down again, but her curiosity was overwhelming. Nothing about the fox's body language was indicating any hostility. That alone was a shock. It was sitting in a neutral position, head tilted slightly with a bored expression on its face.
The fox glanced behind her and flicked its tails. The barrier they'd put up was suddenly infused with a dense shield of orange and black chakra, obscuring their view to the outside. Both Kushina and Minato tensed again, but the fox remained neutral.
"Can't have any pesky eavesdroppers," it offered as an explanation. Instead of attacking, the fox relaxed even further, laying down like a dog in front of a fireplace. Its eyes flitted back to Kushina and Minato. "Care to listen to what I have to say?"
"We're not interested in your lies," Minato spat.
The fox's ear twitched but it did not move from its neutral position. "I have no lies to tell you, only difficult truths."
This time, Kushina was ready with a rebuttal. A curse was on the tip of her tongue, when Naruto's wails picked up to a particularly high octave. The infant's cries caught the demon's attention, and his massive head turned to face the child. Both Kushina and Minato rushed to protect their son, but the fox had a head start. One of its tails curled around, reaching toward the helpless baby. Kushina was ready to throw herself in front of the monster, to let herself be devoured by the demon itself if it meant saving her son.
But the Kyuubi never struck. Instead, it laughed. No, it chuckled. The sound was so unexpected she actually stumbled. The fox dangled one of its tails above Naruto, wiggling it back and forth. It wore a shockingly soft grin as it looked at the boy.
"Heh. You are going to be such a pain in my tails."
Minato reached their son, snatching him away from the fox and leaping out of harm's way. Kushina breathed a sigh of relief. Naruto, on the other hand, did not seem pleased. His cries had momentarily softened as he became entranced by the Kyuubi's lone tail, but now he was back to screaming his head off.
"Don't you dare touch my son you demon!" Kushina snarled. "I don't care if you're the Kyuubi, I will flay you alive if you hurt him!"
At Kushina's outburst, the fox laughed heartily. "Ah, there's that famous Uzumaki spirit." He waved a massive paw. "Relax, Tomato Head, I will not harm the boy. In fact, he is why I'm here."
Kushina frowned at that. "What are you talking about? Why are you doing this?"
The fox scoffed. "I was imprisoned within you for most of your life and you don't even notice the difference? How pathetic."
"Enough games," Minato snapped, still protectively cradling Naruto against his chest. "I'm ending this."
Without thinking, Kushina held up her hand. "Wait." The request surprised Minato, and it surprised herself.
The fox's words were rattling around in her mind. Something wasn't right with this whole situation, and it was making her uneasy. The Kyuubi was no stranger to mind games, but it had never shown the kind of patience needed for something like this. It was acting oddly docile, not attacking despite numerous openings, and its insults were more like good-natured jabs than cutting remarks. Kushina dared to close her eyes for a moment, reaching deep to feel the fox's chakra that had been implanted in her. And that was another thing. Why had the fox done that? It had spent enough time telling Kushina all the ways it wanted her to die for her to know that it did not carry any positive feelings for its jinchuuriki.
The fox's chakra was easy to find, since she'd had a lifetime of knowing where to look. It was as searing as ever, but something was a little different. Normally, the fox's very essence oozed malice. It was suffocating, how much the fox hated . There was still the usual unease associated with the demon's chakra, but it was surprisingly…subdued. In fact, she'd almost call the pulsing chakra's heat pleasant.
Kushina opened her eyes, staring up the fox with a frown on her face. The Kyuubi was still laying in the same spot, its legs kicked out to the side lazily. It was almost as if it was trying to appear non-threatening. But why?
"Your chakra is different," she said finally.
The fox hummed, flicking a few of its tails. "Yes, a few decades of perspective, plus the end of the world, will change even the most stubborn bijuu."
Once again, Kushina was lost. She tried to search for any genjutsu, but found none. She even pinched herself to see if she was dreaming. "Ugh, just give me a straight answer, you stupid fox! You're being purposefully vague!"
The Kyuubi snorted in amusement. "Perhaps. Are you ready to listen now?"
Kushina crossed her arms. Minato was shouting a warning to not let her guard down, but she just glared at him. She could handle herself. She'd been dealing with the demon fox for most of her life. "Just say what you want to say."
Nodding, the fox addressed them both. "Listen well, if you want to prevent the end of the world." It ignored the skeptical look that Kushina shot it. "I am not the Kyuubi that you know. I…" The fox paused to gather its thoughts. "I came here from the end of all things to stop certain events from coming to pass."
This time, Kushina was the one that laughed. She doubled over, clutching her stomach and ignoring the fox's angry grumbling. It was the most ridiculous thing she'd ever heard. The Kyuubi? Here to save the world? Ridiculous.
When Kushina managed to get ahold of herself, the fox's ears were pressed back and it was scowling down at her. Minato remained quiet, hushing Naruto but never taking his eyes off the Kyuubi.
"So," Kushina chuckled again, "you're trying to tell me that you, what, time traveled? To stop the world from ending?" She still couldn't contain her laughter.
"You wouldn't laugh if you'd seen the fate that awaits this world!" The fox stood, its hackles rising. Both Minato and Kushina took up a defensive stance. "Both human and bijuu, cut down as if they were nothing but insects! You think your petty human squabbles are war? No, they are nothing like the horrors that I have faced." The Kyuubi snarled. "You can't imagine the sacrifices, and the pain!"
The fox's rising voice made Naruto wail again. Surprisingly, the sound made the fox flinch. Its fur fell flat, and it sat back on its haunches again as it looked over at the infant with an unreadable expression.
When it spoke again, its voice was soft. "This is why it should have been you. Why did you have to be such a self sacrificing fool?" The fox shook its head. "I'm not suited for this."
It sounded almost…sad? Why was the Kyuubi staring at her infant son and looking like a kicked puppy? Granted, a very large kicked puppy, but its face was pure misery.
Kushina was an idiot, probably, but something in her gut was urging her on. "Ok, fox. Tell me your story."
Minato gave her a curious look, and she shrugged in response. The Kyuubi was staring at her with narrowed eyes, waiting for an insult or a trick. Kushina held up her hands in surrender, indicating that she wasn't going to interrupt.
Finally, the fox sighed. "Let me try this another way. In the life I've lived, you," he gestured to Minato, "seal half of me inside the boy and take the other half with you into the Reaper Death Seal. And I kill you both as you stop me from killing the boy."
Both parents tensed at the explanation, and Minato instinctively angled his son away from the fox. If the Kyuubi was bothered, it didn't react. It kept speaking, spinning a tale of a lonely boy cursed with a demon inside of him. It spoke of loss, of love, and of sacrifice. It spoke of an ancient evil that would consume everything in its path, and a vengeful goddess that would strike down even the combined powers of the Tailed Beasts.
"You sealed half of me in the boy hoping he would use my power for the good of the village, for the world." The fox looked back at the infant in Minato's arms, who had finally fallen into a peaceful slumber. "And he did, but not in the way you expected. That boy," it pointed toward the infant with a massive claw, "will unite not only the entire shinobi world, but the nine bijuu, and the samurai against a threat that will cause the destruction of this world and everything in it. He will grow up hated, and alone, but still become an unfailingly, obnoxiously , kindhearted human with a propensity to befriend anything that breathes. Including," it gestured to itself, "ancient demons of chakra and anger."
When the Kyuubi finished speaking, there was a heavy silence that fell over them all. It was insane, but it seemed more insane that the fox could have made up such a story.
Minato was the first to break the silence. "If what you're saying is true," he sounded disbelieving but curious, "why send you back? You had to have known we wouldn't trust you."
The fox grimaced. "Oh, I would have not chosen myself for this job either. But unfortunately for all of us, your son is a self-sacrificing idiot." It glanced at the infant again, the same worn expression on its face.
Kushina considered the Kyuubi's words. As absolutely crazy as it was, she believed it. Maybe not all of it, but enough. The idea of time travel was preposterous, but it was hard to ignore what was in front of her. Even if the Kyuubi had wanted to toy with them, it had plenty of opportunities to catch them off guard. And it didn't. It had their infant son in its grasp and left him unharmed. Even if not all of the fox's story was truthful, it did seem genuine.
"So, what do you want then?" Kushina wanted to know. Because if the fox demanded freedom, or something unreasonable, it would be easier to decide that it was lying about everything.
"Didn't you hear me? I want to stop the end of the world!"
Kushina crossed her arms. "No, I mean, what do you want from us? You've got our attention, what now?"
The fox waved a massive paw. "Seal me in the boy, just as you planned. But don't split my chakra."
"Absolutely not!" Minato responded immediately. "Your full chakra is too much for an infant to hold back. You just want the chance to escape."
Tilting its head, the fox huffed at Minato. "If my goal was escape, don't you think I would've tried by now? Or at least tried to kill you or the boy?" Its tails flicked irritably. "If you would prefer, you can take half my chakra with you to your death, and we can go back to fighting. But I would think you'd rather be around to raise your son."
Minato glanced back her way, looking skeptical but thinking hard. They didn't have a lot of good choices here, and they both knew it. Both of them would readily sacrifice themselves for their son if it came down to it, that wasn't the problem. The issue was that the fox was offering a way for them to stay together as a family. It might be a trick. Actually, it probably was a trick, but it would be a trick they could face together as opposed to one or both of them dying now.
"Are you saying you will willingly let yourself be re-sealed?" Kushina questioned. When the fox nodded, albeit reluctantly, she continued, "We should re-seal you into me, then. It makes more sense than putting you into Naruto. That was only the plan when we thought we had no other choice."
The fox's expression turned sour. "No, that is not the deal. I will only cooperate if you seal me in Naruto. If you try anything else, I will fight you tooth and claw until the world ends again."
"You can't seriously think we'll go along with this," Kushina pressed.
"You were ready to seal me in the boy just a few minutes ago," the fox countered.
"Only because we didn't have another option!" She snapped. "Give me a reason to trust you. Because my entire life, you've done nothing but torment me. You tried to feed my anger and hatred, and made sure that any use of your power resulted in extreme pain on my part. You better have a damn good reason for me to put that burden on my own son."
There was a momentary quiet as the fox considered her words. It stared at her, unblinkingly, and she stared back. She'd seen those eyes in every nightmare she'd ever had, and she'd be damned if she let them get to her now. The fox growled, its pointed fangs bared.
"Would you have me thank you for keeping me in chains? Should I praise your ancestors that turned me and my siblings into prisoners and weapons?" The Kyuubi laughed dryly. "You call me a monster, but your kind is solely responsible for the wars and ruin of this world. I may cause destruction, but I am a cynical, centuries old chakra construct of fire and rage; what's your excuse?"
The fox didn't stop its tirade, its voice rising enough to shake the earth once more. "I will accept no other host. I watched that boy," it gestured to the sleeping infant, "grow up ostracized from your village, blamed for my sins. I made every effort to feed into his anger and use him to exact my revenge. At every turn I was vile, and cruel. And do you know how he responded in turn?" It didn't wait for either of them to respond. "He gave me the chance to be better."
"Are you trying to tell me that you had a change of heart because, in the future, my son asks to be your friend?" Kushina scoffed in disbelief.
To her immense surprise, the fox nodded. "Yes. I didn't make it easy for him, but he's a stubborn fool."
The story was getting more and more ridiculous, but Kushina found herself becoming even more convinced that the fox was not completely full of shit. It looked almost…fond as it stared at her infant son. Its voice had dropped, becoming soft and almost gentle as it continued speaking.
"You would have been proud of him," It said absentmindedly. "When enemies raised their fists, I watched your son extend his hand. It was idiotic," the fox grunted, "but worthy of respect."
Kushina wanted to believe every word. Hearing that her son could become a hero like that made every motherly instinct inside her warm with pride. She realized that she wanted the Kyuubi's words to be true. The picture it had painted of the end of the world was grim, but she couldn't deny that she was soaking in every detail about her son's future. Minutes prior, she was on the verge of dying, burdened by the knowledge that she was leaving her precious son alone in the world. She wasn't going to see him grow, or see him fall in love. And now the Kyuubi was offering an alternative. Who could blame her for wanting to take it? One glance at her husband made it clear that he was having a similar struggle.
Cautiously, Kushina crossed the battlefield to stand with her family. The Kyuubi didn't move, letting her approach her husband and son without protest. She placed a hand on the sleeping infant's cheek, trying to imagine the young man the fox had described.
"What's going through your head?" Minato whispered. He glanced cautiously up at the fox, never really taking his eyes off of it.
"It sounds insane, and I'm probably insane for considering listening," she admitted, "but I don't think it's lying. At least, not completely."
Minato was frowning, but he offered a single nod in response. "You know the Kyuubi better than I do, so I trust your judgment. But can we really trust it enough to seal all of it inside Naruto?"
Sighing, Kushina replied, "I don't know. My brain says we shouldn't, but my gut says it will be ok."
He chuckled. "Well, your gut is usually right. Except when it comes to creating new ramen flavors."
Kushina smacked her husband's arm playfully. "Hey, pregnancy cravings make you weird, y'know?"
Their banter died down as they both stared at the fragile life in front of them. No matter what they decided, it seemed that Naruto was going to be involved one way or another. She didn't want to leave her family, of course, and the fox's story about Naruto being shunned made her want to put a few heads through a wall. If she could prevent that, then shouldn't she? Wasn't that her duty as a mother? If only her duty didn't involve putting her trust in a malicious fox demon.
She turned to look at the Kyuubi, who was watching them impassively. "Let's say we agree to this. What happens next?"
The fox shrugged. "You're the kid's parents, that's mostly up to you." It looked thoughtful. "As for me, I will likely sleep for a few years. I don't recall enjoying the diaper phase." Its nose wrinkled in displeasure. "After that, I'll guide him when I can and teach him to use my powers."
"I don't like the idea of the Kyuubi talking to our still-maturing son," Minato replied with a frown. "You could tell him anything, any lies."
"I suppose I could," the fox admitted. "I have no way to make you trust me, but I swear on the name of my father that I have no ill intentions toward the boy. That courtesy extends to those closest to him, so long as you don't do anything stupid to make me angry."
Minato looked like he wanted to say something else, but Kushina jumped in first. "Wait, you have a father?"
The Kyuubi scoffed. "Of course I do. The Sage of the Six Paths. Don't you know your history, Tomato Head?"
That sounded vaguely familiar…maybe. "What else don't I know about you?"
At that, the fox laughed. "So much. It's not like you ever bothered to ask me anything about myself. You don't even know my name."
Again, Kushina was shocked. "You have a name? Other than Kyuubi?"
The fox's tails twitched. "Yes."
"Aren't you going to tell me?"
"No."
Kushina gave the Kyuubi a flat look. "Why not? You're the one throwing a fit about me not asking you questions about yourself." Of course she hadn't; she was too busy trying not to let the demon poison her mind. Why would she have ever thought to ask such a simple question?
"An exchange of names would imply mutual respect. You don't trust me, and I've barely convinced myself not to eat you." The fox grinned darkly.
Kushina rolled her eyes. "Fine, be that way." She glanced back at her husband, who raised his eyebrows at her. Their son was sleeping peacefully in his father's arms, drooling a little on his shirt. "Well?" She prompted.
Minato sighed. "I can't come up with a better alternative. At least, not one that guarantees we all make it." He scowled. "But I still don't trust it."
"I don't think I ever will," Kushina admitted, "but I still think it's being at least somewhat truthful. My gut still says we should do it."
"Considering a few minutes ago you were arguing against me sealing the beast in our son, I'd say your mind's pretty made up," Minato quipped.
Kushina snorted in response. "Well, I am always right, y'know?"
They took each other's hands and turned to face the Kyuubi, together. "Ok," Minato said firmly, "we're going to do it. But," his expression darkened, "if you do anything to hurt Naruto, or the village, I'll drag you to hell myself."
The fox huffed, not the least bit phased by the threat. "As you say, human. Now, I do have a few conditions before we continue."
Kushina scowled. "I suppose you want us to loosen the seal when we put you in?"
With a single chuckle, the fox shook its massive head. "I'm not foolish enough to make such a request. No, my demands are far more simple." It held up one clawed finger. "First, do not lie to the boy about my identity. I have no intention of doing so, and it will only cause unnecessary confusion if his parents tell him anything different."
That was…surprisingly reasonable. Both parents nodded. They motioned for the demon to continue.
A second finger joined the first. "Second, keep the information I have revealed to yourselves. Whether or not you want to tell Naruto about the future is up to you, but you will not bring in any outside parties."
"What? Seriously?" Kushina scoffed. "You expect us to go along with that? That will just make it easier to trick us!"
The fox growled, low and threatening. "Use your brain, Tomato Head! Do you think that revealing the future is wise?"
Ok, the fox had a point. But still, isolating the knowledge made them too vulnerable to deception. She glanced at her husband, who seemed to be thinking hard. He was likely coming to the same conclusion she was.
"Can we compromise? Is there anyone we can tell?" Minato asked. "If this enemy you told us about is so powerful and clever, wouldn't it be a good idea to have a few more people aware of what's going on in case something happens to us?"
The Kyuubi considered this, humming deeply. "Alright." He cocked his head as he thought. "You may tell the Slug Princess. She is trustworthy…when she's not drinking."
Kushina raised an eyebrow. Tsunade the Legendary Sannin? That was a surprise. She never would've guessed the fox would've picked her.
"If we can inform Lady Tsunade, what about one of the other Sannin? My master?" Minato questioned. "Master Jiraiya is trustworthy as well."
"Yes, you may tell the Toad Sage." It was grumbling, but did not outwardly protest. Kushina thought she heard some muttering about "disgusting frogs", but it was hard to tell.
"We should probably keep the Sandaime in the loop too," Minato reasoned.
Surprisingly, that suggestion set the fox off. It stomped its massive paw into the dirt and bared its teeth. "Absolutely not! I will not have that incompetent fool involved!"
Instinctively, Minato angled their son away from the fox, and Kushina took a step back. This was the angriest the Kyuubi had been since its bizarre personality shift. It snarled at them, anger radiating off its gigantic form. The crackling chakra in the air disturbed Naruto, who whimpered in his sleep. The fox's eyes shot over to the infant, and its temper started to cool. Its hackles were still raised, but it looked away with an irritated glare.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi is a dealbreaker," it said simply.
"Why?" They both questioned in unison.
The fox turned back to them. "Perhaps some day I will tell you. But for now, be wary of the company he keeps," it said ominously. "I have given you two outsiders to share this information with, is that not sufficient?"
The two of them shared a glance. Kushina wanted to argue, but it wasn't worth breaking the fragile truce between all of them. They shared a nod, then relayed their confirmation to the Kyuubi. It looked pleased, then held up three fingers.
"Seriously, more demands?" Kushina scolded.
"Calm down, Tomato Head. This is the last one."
She really didn't appreciate the nickname, but she grit her teeth and let the fox keep talking. What else would the fox ask for? So far the demands had been surprisingly reasonable, but she wouldn't put it past the Kyuubi to push its luck. Would it ask for something crazy like a blood sacrifice to prove their loyalty? Or what if it wanted to give their son a bushy tail?
"My final condition," the fox rumbled, "will not be met immediately. But I expect you to honor it all the same."
Ugh, she swore the beast was dragging this out on purpose, just to make her nervous. "We got it, now just tell us what you want."
The fox pointed a claw at Naruto. "In time, when the boy comes to the proper age," the Kyuubi continued, "I pick his genin team. And his jounin instructor."
Kushina froze in shock. She actually picked at her ear, to make sure she heard right. "Can you repeat that?"
The fox scoffed. "You heard me. I will tell you who will be on the boy's team, and who will instruct him."
Even Minato, the genius, looked confused. "Why would you care about something like that?" His eyes were searching, looking for whatever trick the fox was pulling.
The Kyuubi looked away, almost grimacing. "Well, since I'm from the future, I just know who he works well with. That's all."
A lie, and not a very convincing one. At the very least, she now had more confirmation that the fox had been truthful before. "I'm not buying it. If you want us to agree, be up front with us."
"Fine!" The fox snapped. "Naruto, from my time," it grimaced again, "would be…displeased to be separated from his friends."
The fox's strange behavior made sense. It was being nice. How odd. It cared enough about her son, at least the one from its own time, to remember who he was friends with. This was certainly an interesting development, and one look on her husband's face confirmed he was thinking the same thing. They looked at each other, and she shrugged. It seemed like a relatively harmless request anyway.
"Are we really about to do this?" Minato questioned. "Make a deal with the Kyuubi?" He rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
Kushina sighed. "Looks like we are." She glanced at their son. Please let this be the truth, for Naruto's sake.
The two of them shared another nod, before turning back to the Kyuubi. "Alright," Minato said after a prolonged silence, "we will accept your conditions. But we have some of our own."
She glanced at her husband, eyebrows raised in surprise. It was a smart thing to say, but they hadn't discussed anything! The fox just nodded, not looking the least bit surprised itself.
"First, you will not use Naruto to harm the village or its allies in any way."
The Kyuubi rolled its eyes. "And if his life were in danger?"
Kushina jumped in. "If his life depends on it, you may step in." She recalled the Kyuubi's power flowing into her on multiple occasions when everything else seemed lost. It may have been to save its own hide, but it had still kept her alive.
Minato looked a little skeptical, but deferred to her judgment before continuing. "Second, you will not try to escape."
"Given how easily solitary bijuu and jinchuuriki were captured during my time, I am far safer here anyway." The fox waved a hand, indicating for Minato to keep talking.
Minato glanced at his wife, giving her the chance to add in. She stepped forward. "The third condition is that you will keep Naruto safe. You will not do anything to harm him, and you will protect him to the best of your abilities."
The Yondaime looked surprised, but his expression softened when he saw Kushina's resolve. He offered a small smile and nodded gratefully, his arm unconsciously curling a bit tighter around the bundle he was holding.
With their final condition, the fox lowered its head. Both of them braced themselves for an attack, but the beast remained neutral. Its eyes flitted between all three of them. "I will protect the boy to my last breath." The fox's head tilted slightly as it looked at the infant. "I will not fail you again."
Something about the fox's tone struck her deep in her core. It sounded so genuine in that moment she could almost forget the death and destruction it had wrought. Almost. With all of them in agreement, the world seemed to hold its breath as they waited for what would happen next. No one made a move.
Finally, Minato stepped forward. "We will need a cover story," he explained. "It won't make sense for me to seal you in Naruto instead of Kushina." He gestured behind him. "Plus, I can feel a whole bunch of chakra signatures out there, who will be wondering why they can't see anything."
Kushina nodded, as did the fox. "What do you have in mind?" She asked.
Again, he rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Well, if I weren't able to reach you to seal the Kyuubi, and they were to see it happen…"
She understood. Kushina looked up at the fox, taking a few steps toward it with a confidence she didn't quite feel. She was a powerful shinobi in her own right, but she wasn't an idiot. This was the Kyuubi they were talking about! One of the most powerful beings in all of existence, towering over her and her family. It was perfectly reasonable to be a little anxious, wasn't it? All things considered, she thought she was handling it quite well.
Kushina jabbed a finger at the fox. "Listen up, fox." The beast's eyes narrowed. "I'll let you pin me down, but you better not actually hurt me."
The Kyuubi offered a sharp grin. "Oh, I won't hurt you. Much." It laughed. "But it would be a little suspicious if you didn't have any injuries after this battle, wouldn't it?"
"Just don't try anything, you mangy beast!"
The fox growled, but didn't offer any protests. "If I wanted you dead, I wouldn't have given you some of my chakra," it reminded her.
She rolled her eyes, taking a few more steps toward the beast. Kushina looked over her shoulder at Minato, who looked torn. Neither of them were completely sure that they were doing the right thing, but they didn't want to be the one to say it. She grinned, and offered her husband a thumbs up. Minato laughed, and grabbed Naruto's tiny hand to make him wave at her. Oh she was going to snuggle that baby so much once this mess was finished. She hadn't gotten the chance to properly bond with her son. Kushina looked back at the Kyuubi, and offered a single nod. She was ready.
The Kyuubi stood, returning to its full height. It grinned, and its chakra rippled around it. "Let's give our audience a show, shall we?" It laughed darkly as the visual barrier collapsed around them. The protective dome remained, but the orange chakra fizzled out.
Just before it vanished completely, Kushina felt herself pinned to the ground by a massive weight. The breath was knocked out of her, and for a few moments, she panicked. She was so sure the Kyuubi had betrayed them, and that she was going to die. It held her to the ground, roaring and snarling at Minato across the battlefield. All of its tails were lashing, and its chakra was filling the air with a dry heat.
Fortunately, Kushina's wits came back to her. Even though the Kyuubi held her, she quickly realized that the grip was not binding. If she had wanted to, it wouldn't have been too hard to break free. It hadn't even hit her that hard, just bruised her, probably. She'd likely lost her healing abilities now that the beast was free, but nothing felt broken. Apparently the fox was keeping up its end of the bargain, so she would too. She put on a show of struggling and cursing, pretending to be crushed by the Kyuubi's weight. Her exhaustion wasn't just for show, though. Even though she'd been reinvigorated by the fox's chakra, she still felt like absolute hell. Giving birth and having a demon ripped out of you on the same night would probably have that effect on a girl. Once the adrenaline came down she might even pass out without having to put on an act.
From the corner of her eye, Kushina watched the Kyuubi swipe at her family. Her heart raced, even though it was obvious from her vantage point that the fox wasn't really trying to hit them. She hoped it looked convincing enough to their onlookers. The Sandaime and the assembly behind him had clearly been trying to breach the barrier, and now their efforts seemed to have doubled as the battlefield became clear again.
Minato was putting on a show of rolling away from sharp claws and lashing tails, holding the infant protectively against his chest. Naruto had stirred again and was wailing at the sudden activity and noise. She silently apologized to her son for the rough start he had in the world, and for what they were about to put him through.
The Kyuubi let out a breath of fire that got a little too close to her family, singing the edge of Minato's cloak. Kushina glared up at the fox. "Be careful, you stupid fox!" she hissed under her breath. Evidently, the fox's massive ears picked up the words, because its grip tightened ever so slightly in response. She spat a few more curses at it, not even needing to pretend that she was pissed off.
As the fox raised its head, as if to deliver a final blow, Kushina could see Minato performing a series of familiar hand signs. She couldn't hear what he was saying over the fox's roars, but she saw the swirling pattern form on her infant son's abdomen. She swallowed hard against the guilt and fear.
Light erupted from the seal and engulfed the fox. It made a show of clawing at the dirt, although she swore she saw the beast grin at her before it was pulled into the seal. She held her breath as the massive power of the Kyuubi was locked away in the fragile body of her infant son. Minato held him, bracing the boy against the backlash of the Kyuubi's power. The light was blinding, and the whoosh of air was loud enough to drown out even the boy's terrified wailing.
And then, it was silent. Kushina was still on the ground, laying on her back and breathing hard, while Minato was hunched over their son's form. Their son, who had become eerily silent. Cold dread ran down her spine, and she tried to stand and run to them, but her body finally gave out. The pain and exhaustion caught up to her, and she felt her muscles failing. Minato seemed to notice, and he was rushing forward, yelling something she couldn't hear. She was vaguely aware that the barrier had come down, but she didn't care. All that mattered was getting to her son, and holding him in her arms. She needed to know that he was ok. She needed to know that she hadn't just killed him. Kushina reached out toward her husband's approaching figure, but her vision went dark before he reached her. The last thing she heard as she slipped into unconsciousness was a low, rumbling growl.
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