It was a little past midnight in Konoha. The village was asleep for the most part, but like any other hidden village there were still plenty of people active. Some didn't want to sleep, some had to work night shifts, and then there were people whose minds refused to shut down and grant them rest.
For Uzumaki Naruto, the latter was applicable. Sitting with his back to a tree, the outskirts of the Forest of Death was the spot he visited for times like these. Today had been like any other day; he got up early, trained a bit and then went on a mission with his team.
Yet there had been some... hiccups.
The mission was a total failure.
The worst part? It happened because he'd been too distracted, which led to the target getting away. Kakashi-sensei said it wasn't a big deal, seeing as it was only a low-ranked C mission, but the disappointment was there. When they got back home, Tsunade had berated him for said mistake, adding fuel to his already bruised self-esteem.
But what hurt the most was Sakura's disappointing gaze. No words, no shouting, no anything; just that look.
Afterwards, they'd gone their separate ways, with him just staying at home all alone. Times like these were when a hidden part of Naruto rose to the surface. Beneath his cheery behavior, there was a sadness that had been there since his childhood, and had yet to leave the young genin.
Not that these feelings were anything new to Naruto; he'd been wrestling with them ever since he was a small kid, shunned by the villagers. Of course, things got better. He had a team now. Also a lot of friends, who didn't hate or avoid him.
So why was he still so letdown?
Well, a big part of him longed for that close contact that others had. Not just in the sense of wanting to be loved in a relationship -- still no luck with Sakura on that front -- but also the type of love that only a family could give.
He'd long given up on been taken in by a family, so the only option left was to start one of his own. Now that was a whole different story. Aside from being too young to have kids, Naruto didn't know anyone that would want to go out with him.
Sakura? She seemed to be infatuated with that bastard Sasuke. Ino? They didn't really hang out that much. Hinata? The poor girl seemed to faint every single time she saw him. His thoughts would often drift off to the older women he knew -- he was a teenager after all. Then he'd imagine himself being in a relationship with Tsunade, whose beauty and assets were legendary. Or even cute Ayame. Maybe that crazy but hot snake lady too; Anko.
Naruto let out an explosive sigh. They were just fantasies. Things that he would dream of, but never experience. Just, wishful thinking that wouldn't solve his loneliness.
"Not necessarily."
"K-kyuubi?!" Naruto exclaimed upon hearing the deep voice inside his head. Despite having had few interactions with the demon fox, he recognized that distinctive rumble, "What do you want? And since when do you speak?"
"Shut it, brat! I'll talk when I feel like it." The Kyuubi snarled back, and the faint image of the beast's fearsome visage appeared in his mind's eye, "And the only reason we're having this conversation is because you need to man up, and stop moping around!"
His eyebrow twitched at the blunt remark. At first, he was interested in what the mighty Tailed Beast had to say, but Naruto found himself growing irritated rather rapidly.
"Oi, my feelings are private, you damn fox!" He yelled back, startling the birds nearby.
But the Kyuubi was having none of it, "Cry me a river, brat. Actually, don't do that, because it's already bad enough in here as it is."
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Naruto was genuinely confused.
"Damn humans... Always oblivious and dumb." Ignoring those additional insults, he focused on what the captive Bijuu said next, "In case you forgot -- which you obviously did -- I am stuck inside your inner world, trapped behind bars. That means I have to live here; a place that reflects your mood. And apparently your inner mind sucks, because I have to live in a goddamn SEWER!"
Ouch. Naruto felt a small pang of pity for the Tailed Beast. As much of an asshole the Kyuubi was, even he didn't deserve to spend all of his time in a sewer. What was even more depressing was the fact that his mind was said sewer.
"Ah, sorry about that. Anything I could do to... you know, make it better?"
The Kyuubi snorted, "At least you're willing to do something about it. Can't say my previous hosts ever did the effort. Yes, you can make my living conditions better by doing something about all of that negativity -- as much as I support it otherwise."
"Well, I can't really shut off my emotions, can I?" Naruto snarked back.
Because seriously, if it was that simple then he wouldn't be here in the first place. How could that stupid fox possibly understand his loneliness?
"Somehow, I know you're insulting me." The Tailed Beast growled in annoyance. Naruto's silence was damning. This time, the Kyuubi sighed, "Anyway, your negativity is caused by your loneliness. As long as you feel this way, I'll be stuck inside this dump, which means that it's in my best interest to help you out."
"Hold up; you want to give me relationship advice and be my wingman?" Naruto's eyes grew as wide as saucers.
There was no immediate response, but his mind was quickly filled with a dull thumping noise. As if someone was banging his head against metal bars.
"No! I mean, yes -- in a certain way." The nine-tailed fox let out an annoyed grunt, before recomposing himself, "What I'm proposing is a little trick of mine. As the strongest of all the Bijuu, I am a pack leader and can make you, my host, the same. By combining my chakra with yours, we can create a chakra virus; capable of turning others into mates."
Naruto blinked in astonishment, "Chakra virus? How does that even work?"
"Simply draw on my chakra and then touch the person you want to be part of your pack. The change is instant, and they'll be both loyal and madly in love with you." The Kyuubi chuckled as if knowing a particularly funny joke, "Plus, the virus affects humans differently. When you infect a woman, she'll have to absorb our combined chakra and this means her reserves will need to be expanded, resulting in her physical strength to increase."
His eyes narrowed into splits, suspicions raised as he asked the Tailed Beast, "What do you mean with that last part."
"Those girls who fall in love with you?" The fox grinned, "They'll all turn into tall, muscular women."
Blood rushed to his cheeks as he stumbled with his words. How did the fox know about his preferences in women?! Naruto was fairly certain no one knew about his secret love for female bodybuilders, and he hadn't told anyone either.
"How?" He simply asked.
Naruto could feel the Kyuubi rolling his red eyes at him, "Oh, please; I'm captive inside you, remember? I know everything about you. Including those magazines you've hidden underneath--"
"Okay! Okay!" Naruto shouted out loud, leaning his head against the bark of the tree in mortification, "You've made your point."
"So what will it be, kid? Do we have a deal?"
Naruto closed his eyes, crossed his arms and hummed loudly, deep in thought on whether or not to accept the Kyuubi's proposal. True, this was the demon fox they were talking about, but was there really a master plan behind it. He'd seen the beast's residence and had to admit it sucked.
And then there were the benefits. A virus that would turn, let's say Sakura-chan, into a musclebound lover? His heart agreed that the companionship was more than welcome. In addition, his lower half stood at attention at the mere mention.
Lots of benefits, if you though about it. Besides, what could the harm be?
"Yosh! You've got yourself a deal!" Naruto cheered.
The Kyuubi's grin was nothing short of shit-eating, "Excellent..."   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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