𝓣𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓪𝓻𝓮 fast approaching what most of Konoha's citizens call Danzō's vacation house. Naruto never liked that title. To him, it feels disrespectful to all the civilian shinobi who disappeared. Whatever they've been through has nothing to do with being on vacation. Not that he knows what's going on out there, but he can guess... Danzō's merciless, even more so when it's about clanless shinobi.

It all started after Pain's invasion. Something to do with resentment from civilians who lost everything and clan members who felt the formers were being ungrateful. The ones caught in the middle? The civilian shinobi.

Or at least that's what Ganny Tsunade explained to him when they gathered the first resistance.

The woman tried her best to keep both parties happy, but Danzō and the council had been scheming in the shadows for quite some time. Without the control of the Anbu force, Tsunade couldn't do much.

And that's when it happened.

Naruto's fists tighten at the memory of the bakery's bloodstained walls, the ball of trembling limbs by the door, the pink locks sticking to Sakura's wet face, and Neji's arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders.

Sakura's parents. They never found their bodies.

The thought of innocent, caring people being murdered for a cause they didn't even choose made Naruto's blood boil, and if not for Hinata's sudden touch, the beast's hatred would have consumed him. But he returns to the present moment at the feeling of her fingers intertwining with his.

"Naruto-kun," she whispers, "Neji-nii-san asked you a question."

Naruto scratches the back of his neck and looks apologetically at Neji.

"Could you repeat?"

The Hyūga closes his eyes in annoyance but clears his throat at Hana's snort.

"Nezumi, know your place," he orders, "and Naruto, Kami, this is serious. I'm risking my life here. Could you listen for once?

Akatsuki's famous leader unveiled part of his plan to Danzō a few days ago. I know someone who knows someone who was there."

"Huh?"

"He plans to use the tailed beasts' chakra to complete some jutsu," he continues, ignoring Naruto. "The deal is that Konoha would be the only village untouched by its effect."

Another filthy human who wants to subject us, use us, an ominous voice curses in Naruto's head.

"But how can we win against him if he already has eight of the nine beasts?" Genma interrupts, playing with his senbon nervously. "Even with our manpower, we don't compete."

"I don't know," Neji admits, shoulders slumping.

"And what about Sakura?" Kakashi asks in a foreign voice, staring at Neji expectedly. Naruto mimics his sensei, but the Hyūga suddenly punches the tree behind him, killing any remaining hope in his heart.

"There's no good reason for him to want her that bad. It makes no sense."

If Naruto hadn't spent so much time with his sensei, he would have missed the subtle clenching of his jaw. But he didn't.

"Kakashi-sensei," he calls. "You know something."

"Later, boys," Hana interrupts. "She's just one girl. We're talking about a village here, maybe the entire world. Could you widen your vision, please? There's plenty of fish in the sea, for Kami's sake."

Hinata retracts her hand, and Naruto is about to deny having feelings for his teammate when Genma chuckles. "Nezumi's right. The question, Hyūga."

"Right," Neji shakes his head. "Naruto, how's your relationship with the Kyūbi? Do you think he would help us?"

HA! There it is, the beast mocks in his head. The Hyūga wants a favour from me, does he? What do I get in exchange, huh?

Naruto fidgets. "I don't think he's interested in helping us."

"Even if it's for him just as much as for us?" someone points out.

One prison or another, what does it change?

The blond repeats the Kyūbi's answer for the others but adds as an afterthought: "I'll try to channel his chakra, anyway."

"Naruto—" Kakashi begins, but the Jinchūriki silences him.

"You still have your seals, sensei? There's no time to waste. Hana's right. We're talking about millions of lives."

"So it's settled," Neji concludes. "We'll catch up with the rest of you." The resistance quickly disperses at that, leaving the Hyūga cousins, Kakashi, Hana and Naruto, alone in the clearing.

"Who made him captain?" Hana asks with a scowl, making Kakashi chuckle.

Naruto drops to the forest floor, letting his sensei's laugh ease his doubts, eyes closed. It's bringing him to another time, when Team Seven could still act carefree, Sasuke in Konoha, trying to hide his blush every time Sakura would touch him, Kakashi reading his book and dozing off during training sessions.

The series of books for which Jiraiya was doing "research" in the onsen. That pervert.

Kami, how he misses him.

But this whole idea of channelling Kyūbi's chakra comes from him, and by finally having the courage to try it, Naruto feels like he's honouring his memory.

What do you want, kid?, the Kyūbi asks, lounging in his cage, ruby eyes gazing at him.

"Killer Bee and Hachibi... Do you think we could have that?"

I'm not as naïve as Gyūki.

"Gyūki?"

The fox snorts. Who you're calling Hachibi, his name is Gyūki.

"But I thought... so Kyūbi is not your name either?"

You are no different. You only see me as a tool. If you want my chakra, you'll have to succumb to your hatred.

Naruto's face scrunches into a frown. "Life's too precious to hold on to grudges. That's what I want Sasuke to see. I don't hate; I try to understand people.

What's your name, anyway?"

The Kyūbi barks a laugh. Hatred is part of who you are. You've just been lying to yourself all your life.

"I'm not—"

If you can prove me wrong, then my chakra is yours.

About to argue, Naruto claps his mouth shut at the beast's proposal. Could it be that easy?

Time not being on his side, Naruto agrees promptly and extends a hand between the cage's bars without warning the people surrounding him.

He feels the familiar scalding power creep up his arm and enter his body by his left eye. Half of his vision turns dark red.

They abandoned me, a voice—his voice—growls in the back of his head. They taught their children to bully me, to stay away from me. And they let me fend for myself, all alone. Years of being alone. Of hurting. Yes. I hate everyone in Konoha without exception.

Naruto shakes his head and focuses on Kakashi's order to remain calm and the pressure of Hinata's hand on his shoulder. Even so, hatred is at the forefront of his thoughts.

It's burning, scalding, like so many times before. Yet, it's also different. For the first time, the words used, their meaning, it's all him. He never thought he could hate Konoha's citizens, but maybe a part of him does.

And it's not just them. It's Team Seven, the voice interrupts with venom. It's Kakashi, who knew who I was, who my father was, but never shared that knowledge. It's my sensei who always chose to teach Sasuke over me.

And it's Sasuke, who left without saying goodbye, who filled my life only to leave it bare again. It's my best friend who kissed the girl I love.

And it's Sakura who will never love me. It's the girl of my dreams picking the wrong guy, again and again, no matter how hard I try to be the better choice.

A feral cry escapes his lips, and Naruto lunges at the smirking beast, Rasengan swirling in his hand.

"Just fucking give me your power!"

No hatred, you say? Kyūbi laughs, awaiting the attack with a challenging glare. You're just like the others. Mark my words, kid, I'll never be your tool.

Naruto's palm stops centimetres away from the beast's muzzle.

"No! This isn't me. I don't believe those words. They're not mine..."

The Kyūbi's smile widens at Naruto's hesitation. Well, they're not mine, so...

He almost succumbed, almost lost himself, Naruto realizes, staring at his palm, eyes wide. What would have happened? He can still feel Hinata's fingers clenching his shirt. What about her? Would he have attacked her?

"I can't..."

You give up?

"I..."

"You can do this, dear."

The cage and the beast give place to a bright room with a beautiful woman with ruby hair in its centre. The creases at the corner of her dark violet eyes created by the soft smile spread across her face are familiar, like he could trace them with the tips of his fingers even in the dark.

"Who are you?"

"You know."

He closes his eyes, relinquishing in her chiming voice. It reminds him of a dream, a memory he can't pinpoint.

"I do?"

"You look just like him, you know?" She chuckles, raising goosebumps on his skin. "Minato."

There is something sad in her tone, and Naruto wants to close the distance and engulf the woman in his arms.

"He was the Yondaime," he settles on saying instead, his chest pumping with pride. "Everybody loved him."

"And he loved them back just as strongly."

A pregnant pause follows her words, and she extends a slender arm tentatively. Naruto freezes when her fingers brush his spiky blond hair.

"Just as unkempt, I see."

"You... Are you..."

His heart is in his mouth, and when she gives him the most subtle nod, her fingers trailing to cup his cheek, it's like a weight has been lifted from his shoulder.

Naruto throws his arms around the woman's petite shoulders and buries his nose in the crook of her neck, relishing the familiar perfume of her long red locks.

"Mom!"

"My son," she half-giggles, half-sobs. "My dear, dear, son."

Time stops for them both, and they remain in that position for a while, the woman's fists gripping her son's jacket and Naruto's tear-strained face nestled in the crook of her neck.

"What's your name?" he mumbles when she breaks the embrace. "How old are you? Why are you here? Where's Dad?"

"Kushina," she whispers, her breath caressing his wet cheeks. "My name's Kushina. And we don't have much time, so I'll have to be brief."

"But... But I just got you back!"

Being impaled would hurt less than the pain in his chest at the thought of losing his mother again. His eyes follow the curve of her nose, wander to her lips stretched in a sad smile, then to her soft gaze. He tries to engrave in his memory his mother's features and the profound love and admiration conveyed in her loving eyes.

"I'm always with you, Naruto. We both are."

"But—"

"Anger," she interrupts him hurriedly. "Anger is part of life. Everyone experiences it, and it's important to acknowledge this emotion to overcome it. To be angry at the Third, the villagers, dear Kakashi, or your precious teammates is okay, son. But hatred is not in your essence. I know it. You are forgiving, caring, and understanding. Don't let the Kyūbi take that away from you."

"You really believe all those things?"

Her fingers run through his spiky hair, and he leans in her touch.

"I do. But what matters is that you believe it, Naruto. If you want to pair with the Kyūbi, you need to see him and act as you would with any other person—like you did with Zabuza or Pain. You have a gift, and I know you can get through to him."

"You were there? You... You saw me?"

Kushina brings her forehead to his and bumps their noses together. "I'm your number one fan, Naruto. I am so, so proud of you."

"Say that again," he sobs, clenching her shirt, but his grip loosens, and he is left staring at his mother's disappearing figure.

"Stay! Please! I need you!"

His eyes follow a tear rolling down her cheek, and he finally registers her radiant smile.

"No, you don't. You have everything you need, all the love you deserve. And remember: I'm always with you. I love you."

"I love you!"

His arms fall limply at his side when Kushina evaporates in his embrace.

"It's okay to love them both," she says, leaving in a whisper.

Naruto gasps when a familiar cage replaces the bright scene, his mother's scarlet hair turning into two ruby eyes.

So, you give up? The Kyūbi repeats, leaning against his crossed paws, clearly annoyed.

Naruto wipes away the tears and the snot from his face and takes a few steady breaths.

"Give up, me?" he laughs, taking the beast by surprise. "What's your name?"

Why would I tell you? You only want to know so you can use it for your benefit. You won't trick me.

"I'll never use you as a tool. I promise," he counters, his mother's words in mind. "And you've known me my whole life. You know I would never go back on my word, that I understand how it feels not to be perceived as human. Well... Okay, you're not technically human. I know that. But you get what I mean. You deserve the same respect as one, anyway. That's always been obvious to me."

You're rambling.

"Right," Naruto clears his throat. "Sorry. What I mean to say is... You and I, we're not that different. And what I'm asking from you is not to give me your power but to choose a side in a conflict bigger than us. If you accept to help the resistance, I want it to be because that's what you believe in."

If I relent this time, it will set a precedent.

Naruto shrugs. "If I ask for your help again one day, you'll still have the last word. If you don't want to help, you don't. That's easy, right?"

The Kyūbi quirks an eyebrow, but before he can answer, the Jinchūriki adds: "This time, it's about the other tailed beasts, and it's about my imminent death so that someone else can access your power. And this other person doesn't seem the type to give you a choice."

The silence stretches until Naruto breaks it with a sigh. "So, what do you say?"

That I don't trust you one bit.

A lump forms in his throat at the thought that he will disappoint his mother on top of everyone else. It had felt so good to hear her cheering words and see her proud smile and loving eyes. But he should have known better—should have known he wasn't enough, that he would never be enough.

Kurama.

Naruto jumps at the Kyūbi's voice, and the fox rolls his eyes.

My name is Kurama.

"It has a nice ring to it," the blond beams at the beast in pleasant surprise.

Shut up.

The lump in his throat evaporates, and Naruto extends a fist forward in a genuine, boisterous laugh. "Alright. Let's do this, Kurama! Let's save the world and free the tailed beasts!"

The fox can't fight the quirking of his mouth upward as he extends a paw.

Just this time, kid.