"Eh?"
Naruto knew that he had something inside of him; Ego had told him. But he had thought that it was only a chakra form.
Mikoto continued "That's the reason everyone hates you, Naruto."
Mikoto couldn't help but feel pity for the kid in front of her. He had been carrying the sin of something he didn't do.
"Wait a second, Auntie Mikoto. What do you mean by that?" Naruto couldn't understand what she was talking about. 'Isn't it supposed to be chakra and that's all?'
"It's as I'm saying, Naruto. The people of the village place the hatred they felt for that thing, in you." Mikoto continued, but it was obvious to Naruto that she felt awkward telling him that.
"I didn't hurt them, I don't even remember how my life was before I was six." Naruto didn't know what to think, would they really treat him like that for something he didn't do?
"You didn't, Naruto. But it did. They cannot separate you from that thing, so they put all their hatred on you, another of its victims."
"...What's their problem?"
"Everyone felt fear, Naruto. Fear that you couldn't handle the thing inside you; only a few know the truth, but no one wanted to take the responsibility."
"...But I didn't do anything wrong."
"Fear doesn't need a reason. As long as you exist, they will have a way to vent their frustration. Everyone is the same. Why would they take care of you if they were all afraid of you? They hate you, but no one dares to kill you."Mikoto's eyes were overflowing with compassion for the kid in front of her.
"Because with my death the thing inside me would be released, right?"
"Yes. You're not only the fear of the village, but also the strongest weapon. They call you demon fox because that's what you have inside: a fox. The strongest one." Mikoto shook her head. "You've had a hard experience, Naruto. It isn't easy to stay mentally healthy in this village."
"I don' t think I fit in that description, Auntie Mikoto." Naruto spoke with his head down. "Lately, I've wanted to burn down all the stores. "Every time I try to buy something, they insult me and refuse my money, even if I offer them more."
"Mm I'm surprised that you were able to grow this tall.
"It was hard. I had to use a jutsu my friend taught me just to be able to buy food. If I didn't meet my master I would had to continue like that." Naruto felt better mentioning Ego, his best friend.
"Friend? Are you talking about 'Ego'?"
"Mm, he has been helping me since I found him when I was six. "
'Found? Isn't he a person?'
"Okay. Tell him thank you for me; he was really helpful. Without him, my clan would have been exterminated." Mikoto bowed to him, it's the least she could do for their savior.
Naruto shook his hands in denial. "Don't do that, Auntie Mikoto. He said that it was a friend request; things were different from what he thought but he's glad with the result."
"Fine. If you have difficulties, you can come to me, Naruto. My clan and I will gladly help you."
Naruto spoke with hesitation, he wanted to know. "Auntie... can you tell me what the fox did? You mentioned that he's inside me but I don't know why."
"This will be hard to accept but I want you to promise me that you won't lose control, okay?" She was worried, she could handle it, but didn't want problems for herself or for Naruto.
"I promise you, Auntie Mikoto." Naruto assured her.
"Fine. The thing you have inside is called a Tailed-Beast, or Bijū. It was the first Hokage who captured the beasts that were dispersed across the word and distributed them. Most villages in the world have at least one. Usually, they aren't used as weapons, but as a deterrent."
"Why did he capture them? Did they hurt anyone?" Naruto was confused. What was the reason he captured the beasts?
Mikoto shook her head and continued. "I don't know. They only mentioned that capturing the beast was necessary for 'peace'. Hah, how cute, the 'peace' their disciples are showing now. Anyways, let me continue with the rest.
He did that, and that's why everyone calls him the God of Shinobi; he was by far the strongest man in recent centuries. As our first Hokage, he took the strongest beast and with help from his wife, it was sealed inside her. "
"Sealed inside his wife? Is he stupid?" More than confused, Naruto was shocked by the First Hokage's stupidity
'Well, Naruto…Your own father sealed it inside you. I don't know who was more stupid…'
"Cough! Naruto, don't talk like that about the First." Seeing the kid nod, she continued. " Mito-sama, the first Jinchuriki, had the beast sealed inside her for several decades. No one dared to attack the village as long as she lived; aside from having the beast's power, she was the strongest woman.
But no one can live forever. Time passed and she aged, and with that, the seal grew weaker every year. Seeing this, she sealed the beast inside another girl--"remembering her friend, pity filed Mikot's eyes"-- she was only thirteen years old when the beast was sealed inside her. She did a great job containing that beast, but she died at an early age. When she was dying, the beast was released by an enemy and almost destroyed the village."
Mikoto could see Naruto's eyes trembling as he heard this.
Looking past Naruto, she could remember that night. "Many people lost their families in that disaster. They hate you for that; all the sins the beast committed are now on your shoulders."
...
Naruto felt stunned. Guilt began to creep into his mind
"Auntie Mikoto... can I ask you something else?" Naruto asked, his voice trembling as he clenched his fists.
"Of course, Naruto. As long as I can tell you." Mikoto could see that the kid was near collapse.
"I don't even remember anything before I was six, but I know that the hatred began long before that. Why does everyone else know about it? Why can others know, but I can't?" As he spoke, the guilt inside him dissolved, and rage surged with every word he said.
"Why can no one see that I'm carrying a monster inside ME? I didn't ask for that, they only did that and I don't remember who was the bastard who did this to me-"The atmosphere changed completely, Naruto's eyes turned red and a giant shadow could be seen behind him" Why- WHY WAS I THE ONLY ONE WHO DON'T KNOW? WHY?!"
Mikoto didn't say anything; she only stared at the child with pity.
"Why do they treat me like this? They always look at me with disgust. They call me a—" Naruto gritted his teeth, "—a little monster. Everyone calls me a demon, as if I'm the one who killed all those people. I didn't ask for this. Even my teacher at school hates me... Why doesn't anyone help me, like they did for the others before me, Auntie...." Naruto collapsed to the ground, his cries echoing throughout the house. The shadow was getting bigger and a chilling aura radiated from him.
Sasuke had been listening the whole time; it was the first time he'd heard such a weak voice from him. He seemed to be getting used to it, he usually ignored the contempt people gave him at school and in the streets. But now? He collapsed.
Mikoto's hatred toward Hiruzen and Danzo kept growing. Why would they treat the hero's child like that?
The aura didn't fade and the red chakra was trying to consume the amount that suddenly appeared near the fountain; every bit that Naruto released was slowly consumed by the Fountain.
He didn't notice it, the red one was far less than the amount of normal chakra he usually carried.
The situation seemed to get worse every second, then, suddenly- Naruto stood up and wiped his tears away. In a few seconds, the entire shadow was drawn back to Naruto's body.
Naruto turned his gaze to Mikoto, his eyes still red. "Thanks for answering my questions, Auntie Mikoto. Next thing I will find out by myself."
Mikoto approached and hugged him. "It's okay, Naruto. If you need help you can always come to me."
Naruto nodded and left her arms. "Mm, I'll keep that in mind. If you'll excuse me, auntie."
"Take care, Naruto."
Mikoto and Sasuke watched him leave—the visit had ended in a way Sasuke hadn't expected.
Waving his hand, Naruto left the Uchiha compound and went straight to his house.
I feel tired
He didn't notice that someone was following him.
As he walked through the streets, the pointing felt more intense than ever. Their eyes held not only hate–but fear. No one dares to attack him, but their eyes were enough to annoy Naruto.
Damn bastards, where is the Will to Fire that they talk so much about? The more he thought about that, his annoyance grew.
Why do I need to be accepted for this bunch of bastards?
He didn't notice yet–but faint whisker-like marks had appeared on his cheeks.
A few minutes later, he arrived at home.
He never felt this tired before.
Closing the door, he walked heavily to the living room.
It felt much harder than a full day of exercise. As he entered, he collapsed into the sofa.
Ego was there, waiting for him.
Using his power to move the child into another position, Ego stood in front of him.
[Naruto]
"Ego, you are here, as always..." the tears seemed as if they were going to fall again.
[Don't cry, Naruto. I'll be with you]
That didn't help, Naruto's eyes blurred again.
"Ego, they hate me for something I didn't do..."
[It's okay, Naruto. Nothing of this is your fault.]
"Thanks, Ego. You are always supporting me."
[It's what I'm supposed to do; you know that isn't the whole truth. Mikoto can't tell you some things—you need to ask them.]
Naruto remains silent. He knows who Ego is talking about.
The Hokage and the councilors. It's a truth hard to digest, but it's the only explanation.
No one can do whatever they want in the village if they don't allow that.
"...Okay, Ego. I will do it on my birthday, which is near. I will ask the Third Hokage." Naruto clenched his fists.
[Fine. Ask me for help if something went wrong. We don't need to stay here. If you want, I can take you to another place.]
"Mm, I'm counting on you."
With a calmer heart, Naruto hugged Ego and fell asleep.
He felt emotionally drained.
As he fell asleep, a conversation happened in another place.
When Naruto left the Uchiha compounds, shadows began to appear surrounding Mikoto's House.
Irritated by the previous incident and now dealing with this, Mikoto was upset. "Get out and show your ass, stupid monkey."
"That's not how you should address your superior, Mikoto." An old man appeared slowly walking from the forest in front of the courtyard. It was Hiruzen.
"You aren't my major. You're only an old bastard who can't leave the power that seat gives to you." Mikoto replied with sarcasm.
Hearing her disrespect him repeatedly, his eyes turn cold. "As long as I'm the Hokage, I'm the major of all in this village. Don't overestimate yourself, Mikoto."
"I'm not overestimating myself, I know what my power represents. You are the one who overestimates, monkey. You're old, I'm at my peak." Mikoto shrugged his shoulders, obviously she didn't take Hiruzen seriously.
"I won't fall for your provocations, Mikoto. Tell me, why did you tell those things to Naruto? Everyone had an agreement to keep the silence." Trying to pretend that nothing bothered him, Hiruzen spoke.
"I can say whatever I want, don't bother me. That agreement was between you and the other rats; no one of those rats can stand up for a child, even if he's the hero's child."
"Don't you dare to mention that. Everyone must follow the agreement."
"Hiruzen, get out of my house. I haven't settled accounts with you yet."
"Don't divert the subject, Mikoto."
"Hiruzen, you can continue if you wish to turn this day into the anniversary of the Sarutobi clan massacre." Mikoto grinned, she rejected her son, but--Hiruzen must pay for the things he did these years.
Hearing the obvious threat from Mikoto, Hiruzen had veins popping out his forehead. The Uchiha clan must be exterminated, but his clan is another matter. He couldn't accept that someone would threaten him, he's the one who threatens others.
"Don't go so far, Mikoto. Don't threaten me with my clan, we had the strongest Will of Fire in the village. That's why I'm the Hokage and not an Uchiha."
"Shut up, you didn't even believe the things you say. You can say that to trick the kids, don't bother me with that. The only reason I didn't tell Naruto about his parents it's because I don't want him to hate them; they died for this stupid village just so you could seize power again and sit on it for eight years." When will you die, Hiruzen?"
"Mikoto! I told you, stay away from Naruto!" Hiruzen seemed ready to fight.
But- Mikoto didn't fall for that, she knew his old bastard. "Don't you dare give me orders. I told you before-- don't bother me or my son, you and your cripple rat-friend. "
As she says that, a giant fireball appears in front of her-straight to Hiruzen.
Hiruzen could only dodge it, but the ashes soiled his tunic.
Damn it! Everyone went wrong since that bastard appeared!
He was furious, but he didn't dare fight her.
I don't want other villages to know that we had inner troubles... Tsk, I need to find another way...
Excuses, the signature skill of the Professor. A coward will always be a coward as long as he thinks that he isn't one.
Entering the home, Mikoto saw her son waiting for her in the dining room, with a cup of tea.
"Is something wrong, son?"
Sasuke didn't know how to ask her, he remained in silence, stared at her.
"It's about Naruto, right?"
"Mm"
"He had a difficult life, none of those things were his fault." Mikoto shook her head. "But people need someone to blame."
"Why didn't the Hokage do anything to solve it? He's a victim too..." Sasuke was confused.
"Because that's what the Hokage wants, Sasuke. Promise me that you would never trust him, okay?" Mikoto said the last words with worry on her face. She didn't want to repeat the same incident.
Sasuke knew that his mother loved him and seeing her like that, he promised without any hesitation. "Okay. I promise. Mom, you can't do anything to help him?"
Mikoto pondered and nodded. "Mm we can accompany him; ah, I know. Your birthday is soon, invite him and your other friends. That will help a little."
"Ughh... fine, I will do it." Sasuke said with shame, his only friends were Naruto and Hinata...
"Hoho, it's decided then. Invited Naruto's master if you wish, I want to meet him." Mikoto said with a soft smile.
Her son accepting her was something she'd wished for all these months.. It's still awkward, but it got better with time.
The next day, at school.
The kids formed groups again, and they continued their training. The more proficiency they gain, the better they will be in the future. The clan kids only needed to train their bodies and their families would later teach them their secret techniques.
Naruto had been silent since arriving; the news from yesterday still haunted him.
Sasuke and Hinata watched him—it was the first time they'd seen him like this.
"Sasuke, do you know what's going on with Naruto-kun?" Hinata was worried, she didn't understand what happened yesterday.
Sasuke felt ashamed, he heard something private but he replied. "... It's a delicate subject, you need to ask him about it. Let's go-let's form a group again."
Approaching him, they made a group once again.
"Naruto, are you okay?"
"Naruto-kun, is something wrong? Do you need help?"
Hearing his friend's voices, Naruto awoke from his trance. He was thinking that no one in this village wanted him beside Ego. And Ego wasn't even from there.
"Ah... something like that, I want to tell you something, it will be later. When we were with Gai-sensei."
"Fine."
"Okay, Naruto-kun. We are your friends, if you need help you can ask us." Hinata spoke with a worried expression, even more than she had with his own problems.
"Yup, thanks." Feeling a bit better, Naruto replies with a smile.
The training continued with Naruto in a better mood.
Soon after the afternoon arrived and Naruto didn't go home to eat. He was nervous the whole time, waiting for them in the training field
He took Ego with him, it's his last support.
As he was looking everywhere, he didn't notice that his master had arrived.
Maito Gai was watching Naruto's face. His disciple was worried about something, but he didn't know.
"Naruto. Do you need help?"
Startled, Naruto turned to his master's voice. "Gai-sensei... I want to tell you something, I was waiting for you, Hinata, and Sasuke."
"Fine. I will wait with you." Gai took a seat beside him.
Ten minutes later, Sasuke and Hinata appeared in the field.
"Naruto, Gai-sensei."
"Naruto-kun, Gai-sensei"
Their bond had grown stronger in recent days.
"Hello, kids. Take a seat, Naruto wants to tell us something."
"You guys know that everyone in the village hated me, right?"
They nodded uncomfortably.
"Fine, now I know why." Taking a deep breath, he continued. "People hate me because I have sealed on me the beast that almost nine years ago killed tens of people in the village... Sasuke's mother told me. Everyone else seemed to know it, but I didn't."
They fell silent for a moment, then Hinata broke it.
She shook her head. "It's okay, Naruto-kun. It's not your fault, you didn't ask to have that thing inside you. You are our friend and we will be there for you. We don't think that incident could ever define you."
Sasuke said with quiet determination. "Don't pay attention to them, Naruto. You are Naruto–not the fox."
"Naruto. I didn't expect you to find out from Sasuke's mother, I was waiting for you to ask me about it. If you need help, you can come to me, I'm your master."
Gai hugged Naruto with tears in his eyes, he felt so sorry for his disciple.
Naruto wasn't alone.
He had friends.
He had a master.
People who truly cared for him.
They stayed together, wrapped in a quiet, kind atmosphere.
No words were needed now.
Just the warmth of presence, and the promise of support.
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I think it's better for Naruto to ask for himself; the impact is much stronger than hearing it from someone who wants to kill him.
Hinata is trying to be a good friend and Sasuke too; in his way, he respects Naruto.
Sasuke can't accept the things his mother did, they need time to heal.
Naruto showing traces from Kurama on his body is something I want to explore; not only a layer of chakra as he had in the canon.
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