What makes a Man and what makes a Monster
Written by Silent Soul Ken
Assisted by Baron Von Nobody
Summary: It had been a day like any other day, until the giant meteors hit. All those in the blast radius find themselves still alive, having awoken in a new place, but things are not what they seem…

Chapter 6

Escape

Voices… speaking… saying… "Are you sure? This will be his 4th time and he's already shown that he's remembering past simulations." nervous, nasally.

"Hmph, It's just a coincidence there's nothing showing how he could be doing this, is there?" proud, feminine and arrogant.

"W-Well one of our biologists think it might have something t-to do with his extraordinary h-healing factor." said the nasally voice.

"I don't see how healing can affect one's memory, rubbish and poppycock hook him up and remember this time we're doing the feral experimentation he-" and suddenly their voices became muffled and something wet was enveloping him. He didn't know what was going on… but one thing echoed in his mind.

Faintly, a name… "Naruto…" what did it mean?

?

Heat… he felt it on his body from somewhere… a growl emitted from his throat, he snarled and slashed at it blindly. He stopped when he found nothing to hit, pausing he looked up and saw the bright light. He looked around and saw he was in a clearing amongst a forest, he looked at his hands and saw them, the long fingers with also rather long claw-like nails. He stared at it then the nails retracted into his body, he looked at his furry arm then his body the reddish orange fur.

His mouth opened and a low grunt came out, he shook his head giving a snort as he did. He stood on his hind legs, his rear feet flattening so he could stand comfortably. The beast paused then looked at his feet, he then bent forward and as he did his feet changed so he was standing on his digits not the sole. It was so strange he then felt his stomach growl with hunger. Growling he began to walk on all fours, his head raised sniffing, after some walking he caught it, the smell of hot and sweaty flesh. He growled and set out in a full run easily bounding toward his target, his nose guiding him closer and closer. When he was within a reasonable distance he slowed making his steps silent. He crept forward silently, then he looked around and saw a tree, he grabbed it and began to climb up digging in his claws as quietly as possible. He kept climbing till he saw his prey hiding in some bushes. It was a fat beast feasting on plants it gave snorts and grunts not unlike a pig. His mouth began to salivate.

He closed his mouth to prevent it from dripping and alerting his prey. He felt the rumble of a growl deep in his throat but suppressed it as he positioned over the food. It snorted and looked around. He made his move and jumped down on top of it, it squealed and began to struggle. But he was so much bigger than it and his limbs were more finely developed. He forced it down with one hand and held up another fingers outstretched the nails elongating becoming thicker instinctively. He snarled as he readied to slice it apart when he saw its face… strangely shaped face… shaped like his somewhat but… different. He hesitated and the pig struggled again instincts took over and he stabbed it's throat. It's squealing became a gurgling squeak and he pulled his claws out not even letting it bleed out he sunk his teeth into it's back digging in deep before jerking his head ripping a chunk of meat filled with fat, skin and muscle. He chomped on the meat, it's fattiness giving it a good tender texture invigorating his appetite and his jaws making him chew it up thoroughly before swallowing. But as he ate he felt a tug in his chest as if… something was not right.

He ignored it consuming the pig till little but bones remained, when he finished he tossed aside what was left of the carcass his belly filled he sniffed the air and went to find a suitable place to sleep for later on. After some searching he found a small cave, big enough for him and deep enough that he would be alerted should a foe come. He raised his claws and gouged out the rock to mark his territory. With that set he began to search for a water source. Using his nose he sniffed out a river and with time and steady snuffling he found a river. In the river he could smell fish swimming in it and he reached forward and snapped it up with his jaws crunching it down even as it made strange sounds. He swallowed and began to sniff back the way to his cave. He was pleased to discover that it wasn't that far of a trek and now with both shelter and a water source all that was left was one thing… to explore. But night was coming, so for now he would sleep.

-1 Week Later-

He snarled at the beast in front of him, a wolf-like beast, his body had some scars from the various fights he had undergone in this short week. Scars from wounds he had been unable to fully heal his fights had been harrowing, a snake-like creature with blades along its body. It attacked by burrowing into the ground and leaping out… oddly enough he felt like he had fought it before but that wasn't possible. He had however taken a deep gouging slice from it in his chest causing a scar to form there. A lizard that shot out blasts of slicing wind that hit him full on in the head slicing into his skull nearly cutting the bone. Finally there was scar tissue close to his heart where he had been attacked by a tiger like creature with large claws via a stab. All of them though had been felled, and devoured. He felt strong and was only getting stronger.

He roared at the wolf which snarled back and charged. He got down on all fours then rose up digging in his toes into the ground and holding up both arms. They crashed against each other and he closed his arms around the wolf's back even as it sunk its teeth into his shoulder. He ignored the biting and began to squeeze his muscles bulging as he began to crush the wolf's back. The wolf felt it, it's spine slowly being turned to mere fragments by the sheer power of his muscles. It released its bite and began to punch his stomach. The blows were hard but his powerful muscles reduced their overall damage.

He kept squeezing even as it began to whine loudly whimpering and giving squeaking howls. He kept squeezing down till he heard the snap, when he heard it he changed his attack he headbutted the wolf it fell back unable to move. He then held up one hand and clenched it into a fist the muscles around his fingers bulging making it swell up slightly and he punched down. A single blow that ended the fight crushing the wolf's skull, jaw and brain. He watched as the limbs twitched and trembled then fell still the wolf's eyes clouding over. Triumphant he gave a snort and grabbed his meal and dragged it back to his den.

-Several Hours Later-

He snorted as he took the bones and began to dig a hole… he didn't know why he did it but something, inside him… told him to do it. After a meal he would dig a hole then laid the bones in it and covered it back up again. He made sure to dig the bones far from his den so that no beast would find him. When he had finished his ritual he began heading home… the week had been… strange images filled his mind at times. Of him looking; bizarre, mostly hairless save for golden hair on his head, and with other beings also mostly hairless… he seemed… happy. Their mouths would move but he couldn't understand a single word they said, save one word. He saw his den and walked up he then curled up into a semi-ball and began to close his eyes, one memory kept nagging at him… a memory and a scent. It was a soft and sweet scent and everytime this memory came he could smell it. It was a being with long dark blue hair but… whenever it turned around the face was lost to darkness… 'Who is it?' he wondered, he wanted to know, but he felt sleep claiming him and with that final thought he was asleep.

-?-

The sensation he felt was familiar… but he didn't know why he felt like he was floating. Floating in wetness, something was around him keeping him afloat and yet he felt this wasn't the first time it happened. He heard strange noises, though he could understand a few words but otherwise it was gibberish, "...again… no… sedate… stronger… risk…" He wondered what those words meant. He then felt something… flooding his body and his eyes grew heavy again.

-The Cave-

He opened his eyes to the sun, and he rumbled stretching his arms forward stretching his back legs up like a cat. Then he pushed forward, his toes splaying out as he held up one then the other he shook himself then went to the nearby river he had found. He gazed down at the water and his hand shot forward grabbing a fish he tossed into his mouth eating it it's bones crunching under his powerful jaws. He then leaned in to lap up some water, he drank the water in hearty gulps. When he was hydrated he began his day.

For the past week he had been exploring this world he didn't know why he felt compelled to search beyond what he knew. But he felt a deep desire to do so something in him demanded to look for more… and more than that it demanded something else. But he couldn't understand what that something else was… and until he did he wouldn't act on it. He walked forward on all fours, his ears twitching to the sound of animals and insects. He had traveled quite a ways and his mind had mapped out what he had seen. His instincts mapping the place with his scent, it was quite a large world, and he had seen a few strange… ruins? Of stone and a strange substance that was see-through sometimes and sometimes showed a beast like him. Whenever he attacked the beast though the substance would shatter into millions of shards.

He saw a tree and he jumped toward it and climbed it rapidly, he emerged at the top and looked around. His nose sniffed and he saw a forest to the east, and north but toward the north there were mountains… that looked strangely familiar. To the west was a rocky path that led to large stone formations and caves. South led back to his home and more mountains. He had explored some of the north coming to the end of the forest and the east… so he would go west. He jumped down and began to head for the rocky path.

He didn't know how much time had passed, apart from the fish he ate before really setting out, he had seen and ate nothing else. It was strange but when he looked around he found it made sense. Apart from some large rocks there was no cover, no way to hide if you were out here you were asking to be eaten. His ears twitched as the air blew and with it… a familiar scent. He paused and got on his hind legs he looked around but saw no one… the wind blew again and the scent vanished… he paused then got down on all fours and continued walking.

By the time he reached one of the caves the sun was on the horizon and the moon was beginning to rise. He had gone too far to race back home at night beasts would be bold. Even with his senses he wasn't sure he'd win a fight if more than 3 enemies attacked at once. He walked up to it and sniffed, he smelled moisture and walked in still sniffing. He saw a light near the ground that sparkled. He walked up and saw a pool of water just big enough for him to go in… and he felt… like he had seen something like it before. He shook his head and went to the water he drank from it, it was very clear and tasted amazing better than the water from the river. His thirst slaked he looked at the entrance; he hadn't smelled any beasts around here. He turned back to the pool, perhaps there was some kind of fish in the water. He inhaled deeply and thrust his head into the pool. His eyes open he looked around and indeed saw some fish of large and medium size he raised his head inhaled again, he dove down.

He swam down and with powerful force he reached forward grabbing one fish then another and he thrust his head forward but the rest of the fish had begun swimming away. Giving a bubbly growl he swam back up using his tails and emerged from the water, he growled and opened his mouth to eat a fish, "-lp m-!" he paused and lowered his hand one of the fish was struggling and he looked at it… the face was… strange. Not like a beast, but something familiar. He saw the eyes wide with panic, the strange face on with the nose and the eyes of blue… he grunted he could feel it emerging from deep within.

Not a growl, not a snarl but something more, "Hu… man…" he forced out.

He dropped the fish and gripped his head with one hand, then he dropped the other one as he felt an intense pain filling his mind. "RAAAGH!" he roared, he fell forward as the fish began to flop toward the pool again. Strange images filled his mind, images of him… not as a beast but as the near hairless beings again… human. More and more flooding his mind of a life he never had yet had lived a life that was somehow part of him though he had never done it. He heard voices saying one single word, "Naruto! Naruto. Naruto? NARUTO!?" the word echoed again and again "NarutoNarutoNarutoNarutNaruNaruNarNarutNar!" he couldn't help it. He screamed the word, "NARUTO!" and heard his voice… a voice he had forgotten a voice that was his own. He gasped as the pain began to fade away, he laid there then he rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling, "Naruto…" he said, he blinked, "My… name…" he said. He felt tired all of a sudden, and his eyes closed.

-?-

He felt the liquid around him again… but this time he could open his eyes more than last time and he could see a man with dark brown hair who stared at the tube, "This is impossible, how could he have regained the ability to speak? We destroyed his vocal functions in his brain! Not only that but he remembers his name?" he said.

Another man walked up, "S-Sir!" he said nervously, when the man turned to face he spoke, "Sir his brain has repaired the damage not only that but it seems to have triggered his past memories as well!" he said.

The brown haired man was shocked, he rubbed his chin thinking "We must destroy his memories… again but that won't just do… we need to do something else." he said. "I think 009 has gotten too comfortable in his current environment... we should probably introduce a danger element to spike his fight/flight responses... that should mitigate any regeneration... The last thing we need is for him to realize what is going on and try to find a way out. We've lost precious resources from the other escapee." he said he thought.

He then looked at the man, "Bring up Subject 012 back up, insert her into 009's Simulation." he ordered.

The other man turned to him, "What? But she was just in the last simulation with him! She has barely been prepped and primed yet. After the last scenario, we don't know how they'll interact with each other again!" Said the other man.

The brown haired man waved his hand, "You've had her mind completely cleansed, she shouldn't hold any memories of the last time... throw her in like 009 in a feral state... maybe tweak the fight response of her brain so she'll literally attack anything that gets too close to her..." he ordered.

The other man shook his head, "But sir, what if 009 recognizes her? He might not try to run or fight, and in her feral state, she might rip him apart, we'd have to restart his scenario all over again…" said the man.

The brown hair man scoffed, "Hmph, with his will to live? He'll either fight or run! At this point, his mind is just that of a beast with simple emotions... he'll do whatever it takes to survive..." the other man sighed then nodded and left to carry out his orders. The brown haired man turned back to the tube, "This individual… he's shown tremendous potential far more than most the power to adapt, incredible healing powers, and a strong desire to live… if we make his mind ours he'll be the single most powerful weapon in the whole world." he said. He rubbed his chin, "but this is problematic his healing abilities shouldn't restore his memories… and not to mention his own will power. His beast instincts should override his human judgement but in the last simulation he overpowered it with sheer will power… I hesitate to guess how powerful he'd be outside…" he said then he saw it, the eyes slightly open, he reached for his wrists, and pressed a button, "Sedate subject 009 immediately!" he ordered.

He could feel his eyes grow heavy again but he felt a burning desire fill him… 'Outside.' his mind began to hurt and he felt…

-?-

Something was wrong… but she didn't know what… she didn't know what to feel, like she was swimming in a haze, everything was muted and muffled. She felt like there was something important she needed to remember, something that caused an ache to be without, but it was all a blur, like trying to peer through muddy water.

Suddenly she felt a sharp pain, like something hot being stabbed through her head, and all she could feel was a throbbing pain, like a fire burning in her brain. She could feel her heart beating in her chest, threatening to explode. She didn't know why, but she was suddenly feeling threatened, like she was under attack from an unseen enemy.

And then, her vision began to clear, finding herself in a forested area. Her breathing quickened, a new haze coming over her vision, a blood haze. A scent came through the air, a familiar one, but in her frenzied state, all she could think of was hunger, and a need to kill whatever threatens her. Her hunger driving her, she rushed for the scent, her mouth gushing with saliva.

-Naruto's Cave-

He snarled, slashing at the air, his claws searching for that… for… he blinked he didn't… know what he had been attacking… and yet he felt he did! Somehow it was out of reach in his mind like he had just thought it not but a few seconds ago. He settled down onto his haunches trying to remember what it was… but everytime he tried to think his head hurt. He growled with frustration then inhaled deeply… and that was when he smelt it a scent that was familiar… and dangerous! He walked out of the cave and sniffed he could smell it from the rocky plains there was a scent coming near… the same familiar yet dangerous smell. It was dark but he had good night vision and his nose was excellent at scenting out a way out. He would go into the cave complex he had smelled multiple creatures inside as well as the general surrounding there were plenty of places for him to maneuver around… he went into the cavern and quickly made his way down the rocky hall he came to a large opening cave he looked around and saw 3 creatures, one being a large boar, another a cow-like beast, and another one in the water. He looked up and saw a slight alcove above and using his powerful legs he jumped up latched onto the wall then jumped into the alcove.

He wasn't soundless though and the three looked toward where he had been standing. The boar raised its snout and began to sniff about. He retreated back just enough that he was hidden by the darkness. The boar turned its head to him and opened its mouth to squeal when its nose wrinkled. He smelled it as well; the other scent, it was clear whatever this beast was it was locked onto his scent. He peeked out and saw a large dragon like beast complete with scales wings with claws at the ends. It was big and it was powerful. It was clearly an apex predator he could smell the power… and also smell… familiarity. The scent… he knew it somehow it was very familiar he sniffed again and his head began to fill with pain. He knew what it was a memory, one important to him… but it was… muddled and hazy like it was… 'erase,' he felt it then, 'nobody… remembers…' erase to remove. What was erased? He couldn't think… think? Think, thought, mind, past and future, memories… he knew what had been erased. 'They erased my memories! But how!?' he growled, he knew what he was missing yet the question was how to get it back?

He looked down again and watched the beast noting the sign of breasts indicating it was female. He kept watching as she tore into the boar devouring it hungrily, he narrowed his eyes. It was a chance he had to take; she was the key somehow her scent tugged at his memories forcing them to return. He needed to know his brain took her scent and placed it in the back of his mind and he sniffed again his nose using various scents to map out the cave. He would have to get close to get the most of her scent. He waited till she finished gorging into the other beast, the third one having escaped. With her feast completed he jumped down landing onto her back. She snarled and thrashed he released letting her own strength propel him toward the next tunnel entrance. He landed smoothly digging in his claws to slow down. He looked at her and gave a derisive snort and turned, waving his tails tauntingly and ran. Her furious roar and rumbling steps signified her pursuit of him.

Thus began the dangerous game of Cat and Mouse. It was a close game, there had been times where he had tripped up or gotten stuck due to his body and she nearly had bitten into him several times yet somehow he knew how to counter her perfectly… almost as if… he had fought her before. He dodged and ran eventually coming to a singular cave with a large pool of water that emitted a glow. He looked back and saw her approaching, she was panting and huffing hard obviously tired. He walked up to her slowly taking great care to stay out of reach of her wing claws. He slowly circled her while he circled her. He took note of the back wall that was lit up by the water he… understood what they said, he growled and opened his mouth, snarling, his brain throbbing with pain. But he couldn't; he snarled and shook his head, "i… Can…" he growled out. He kept trying to speak, but couldn't.

She had been watching him. She had been tired but he was distracted. Her instincts told her to attack but he began to emit strange sounds… and as she heard the sounds something calmed her. There was something familiar about the sounds and something about hearing them from him made her heart shudder. He clutched at his head, standing on his hind legs groaning with pain. Then he fell forward still grabbing his head. He was helpless before her… and she did not strike. She just watched as he rolled about roaring and snarling his tails whipping about wildly. After about a minute of this he stopped and got up. He panted sweat sliding down his fur and onto the ground. He faced her and got up close, she didn't move her slitted eyes watching him carefully as he leaned in… and began to sniff. Her own olfactory sensors sniffed him in turn and as his scent filled her brain she felt it… a sense of something deep inside of her. She knew this smell… and knew that she loved it more than anything else in the world. Her furious hunger could not overpower this. She sniffed him more and relaxed her body, exposing her belly to him a clear sign of submission. He kept circling her sniffing and she could see it in his eyes a familiarity in him as well.

He knew her, his nose remembered this smell so well it was impossible for him to forget it. When he was in front of her he saw her exposed belly, and he leaned in his face inches from hers. He could see past her scales, and saw what was underneath a beautiful face, almost angelic. He spoke, "Hi… na… ta…" he grunted. Her eyes went wide, and he knew that she knew the same.

She looked at him and spoke, "Na… ru… to…" she said and both knew what they were. Mates… for life, he moved in close his head bumping against hers giving a low rumbling growl. She responded as well with the same, their versions of purring. He felt her tongue lick his neck tasting his sweat and her head went down and he rumbled with pleasure as they commenced with mating.

-Several Hours Later-

The 2 laid there their bodies coiled around each other, his hands grasping her back holding her close while her wings enveloped them both and hugged each other. They purred gently and it wasn't long before they were asleep.

-Sometime later-

He erupted out of the water, in his jaws a fresh fish he didn't know how long he had spent in this cave system, but he and her had been making a new life… together. Him a mere beast and her an Apex Predator… and yet she never tried to devour him she would hunt in the cave and he would check the water. Both brought back their kills and shared those kills with each other. When they finished they would dance around each other, a dance unique to them. After the dance they would look at the words on the wall since spending time with each other their closeness was causing their memories to stir… memories that grew stronger with each passing day. He laid down the large fish and sniffed he could smell it meaty flesh, a good kill.

She approached him and in her wing claws on her back was a large beast. It was wolf-like in shape, she tossed it before him. He looked at it, his head cocking to one side, there was something… familiar about it. The black fur especially on top was familiar. He leaned in closer even as it weakly gasped blood leaking from it's throat, a clear kill attack. He looked at the face, the eyes that turned to him already becoming glossy as death drew near. He rumbled slightly and his eyes caught the cheeks… a strange marking on the face. A red… fang… he had seen it before. He clutched his head, he felt it a strong memory reaching out of him.

He stood in a room, flashes of him… wearing… strange garments, and laughing with others like him. One had hair tied up, another had brown hair and was fat, the last had those markings. He laughed with them, and a word sounded in his head. "Ki… ba…" he said aloud, the wolf's eyes went wide, it gurgled something but then it choked and it fell still head flopping down tongue lolling out. He looked at the wolf again and he backed away the memories flashing in his head. He shook his head, and the memories faded away. He growled at his weakness, and looked at the meal.

She watched him silently, she saw the distress and she moved closer to comfort him by nuzzling him. He pressed his head against hers, and looked at the body, she looked at the body and uttered his words, "Ki… ba…" she felt it, images in her mind. They burned into her mind she growled and clutched at her own head. They stood there memories filling them and with it understanding and awareness when they looked at each other… they turned to the wall and saw the words and they both spoke 'What is real? Is real something you can touch and feel? Is it something you can taste and smell? Is it the feeling of your heart beating in your breast? Or is it the the thing you see before you? When you close your eyes do you know if you are dreaming? Or are you seeing what is really real?' when they finished they looked at each other.

He looked at her and he walked up and held up a hand to touch her cheek… "Hinata?" he asked.

She blinked and raised her own hand to his cheek, "Naruto?" they stared at each other, tears forming and falling. "What's… happened to us?" she asked. He answered by kissing her she responded in kind wanting to hear nothing but knowing she would have to. She just wanted to know nothing, nothing but that he was with her and he would never leave. Eventually they separated again.

Naruto held her cheek with one hand, "Hinata we've regained our humanity I don't know how… but I do know this we gotta get out of this… thing!" he gestured around.

She looked at him, "Thing?" she asked.

Naruto looked at her, "Look this will sound crazy but this isn't real this is some kind of… projection or, or an illusion! It's not real, none of this is real trust me!" she nodded and her eyes were serious.

She had a hard time believing it but knew Naruto wouldn't lie about something like this. "S-So what do we do?" she asked.

He shook his head, "I don't know, but somehow we gotta figure out a way." he said.

She sighed then she looked at the words on the wall, she saw the words and began to speak, "What is real? Is real something you can touch and feel? Is it something you can taste and smell? Is it the feeling of your heart beating in your breast? Or is it the the thing you see before you? When you close your eyes do you know if you are dreaming? Or are you seeing what is really real?" she blinked, "It means this… is not real like you said, but we can't tell between what's real and what isn't." she said.

He scratched his head, "So… if we figure out what is real and what isn't we'll get out of here?" he asked.

She shook her head, "I don't know but… we gotta figure out how to get out…" She said, she then looked at the body… Kiba's body. "Naruto I know it's Kiba but…" she said.

Naruto nodded, "I know just remember this isn't really him!" she nodded, the two ate both trying to remember that it was an illusion but they still felt guilt in the back of their minds. After eating the two tried to figure out what the message in the wall was… but ultimately they couldn't, their internal clocks told them night was near and the two resolved to sleep on it. Naruto circled around her body and laid down even as she curled up. He nuzzled her gently and she returned the gesture the two kissed then laid their heads down. Naruto happened to see the words on the wall, he mentally groaned, 'Ugh great I get to sleep with those damn words in my skull…' and indeed as he closed his eyes his mind kept replaying the words over and over again…

?

Naruto felt strange, he felt like… he was in nothing, no water, no ground just floating in space. Suddenly a being appeared in front of him, a rather short woman, she had long pink-red hair that was pulled back spiking down and sharp green eyes. She wore a lab coat and underneath was a shirt and skirt. "Hey there! My name is Professor Washu. If you are seeing this image, it means you either figured out the truth to this world, or that your smarter than your average Beast, and you have stumbled upon my personal Easter Egg... Congrats!" Naruto blinked watching her dance around holding a fan with the words congratulations on it. He opened his mouth to speak but the woman suddenly became serious, "By now, you have probably figured out there is something amiss in this world, or have had strange dreams... well guess what? Right now, you are dreaming in a sense, and it is time for you... TO WAKE UP! Come find me when you do!" She suddenly was in front of him and touched his forehead. He felt himself fall and as he did he eyes closed.

Reality

He felt himself in water… and felt it something piercing his skin pumping something into him. He opened his eyes and saw the greenish liquid. Unlike before he felt his strength and he was wide awake… and he knew he was finally, truly… awake. He heard voices, "S-Sir! Subject 009!" he saw a man standing at a console. "He's awake!" the man said.

A man and a woman walked toward him, the woman spoke, "Absurd he couldn't possibly ha-" but Naruto decided to show her he was indeed awake. He clenched his hand into a fist and punched the glass it didn't crack but he had their attention. "Impossible! He shouldn't be able to wake up! He wouldn't figure out it's a-" she began but the man turned to her.

"We told you his regenerative factor was affecting his memories, somehow he can restore his memories through regeneration we don't know how!" said the man, he turned to the man on the console, "Sedate him 3 times the dosage, and subject 012 take her out if he has figured out how to break free then she might have as well." Naruto attacked again punching the glass this time he heard it crack, "SEDATE HIM!" Naruto felt something pumping into him. He gritted his teeth struggling to stay awake but as the drug filled him he gave up knowing one thing… it wouldn't last forever.

The man turned to the woman, "We are taking them to the deeper facilities for a total mind crush, we'll have to use them as mindless weapons they are too volatile to be given free reign." he said.

The woman glared at him, "Do as you will." she said and turned and left.

The man looked at the other, "Get them disconnected and prepped for transport, make sure 009 is constantly sedated." he ordered the man nodded and began to prep the two beasts for transport, "It's a shame 009 had great potential, he was showing that we are just barely understanding the Bio-Beasts." he said.

-Unknown Time-

Naruto felt heavy, like his body was filled with lead, his ears twitched, he heard footsteps and heavy breathing. "A-Are we're sure it's being sedated?" said a nervous voice.

A chuckle, "Relax doctor we have him sedated constantly, It's only been 50 minutes since we unplugged him, you know it takes about 2 hours to get to the lower levels." said a strong voice.

Naruto concentrated and used the footsteps as a means of echolocation, he could 'see' 7 men, 6 of them were heavily armed, 2 were in front, 2 at his side, and 2 at the back near his head. They wore a metallic armor on their elbows, arms, chest, upper and lower legs, and their back. They all had heavy assault rifles in hand, two of which were aimed at his head. He was on some type of floating table thick belts strapped to his arms, legs and chest, on his arm was a device that kept pumping the sedative into him. As for his tails they laid on the bottom two of them under the bonds on his legs but not fully bound he could probably move them. On the bottom were containers that kept back-up stocks of the sedative to ensure constant injection. With that done he focused on the 7th man he wore a lab coat and seemed small and mousey… and from his voice he was a man of fear… which meant he was weak and would fear for his life.

A plan formulated the only thing he needed was some sort of distraction, and so he waited, time passed with the time passing the sedative was weakening his senses were coming back and so was his strength but he feigned unconsciousness. They had exited the corridor and were now in what appeared to be an elevator. He heard the elevator door ding and the sound of mechanisms grinding to open the door. They began walking down another corridor when suddenly the floor shook and the lights flickered, "Wh-What's that?" asked the scientist. The men stopped and looked around as a red light began to flood the corridor and an alarm began to sound Naruto trying his best to not wince at the sound.

One of them reached for his ear pressing on a device, "This is Escort Group Delta what's happening?" he asked.

Naruto could hear the footsteps moving away from him, the two near his legs, he could also hear the communication in the man's ear. "We're under attack! Several Bio-Beasts have started attacking the facility! We believe subject 021 is leading the attacks. But we- look out!" the sound of a roar cut him off.

The man turned, "Higashi, Sujumi and Jin, come with me. We'll back them up, you two stay here and protect the scientist." he ordered they nodded. He moved to run when the corridor shook again much more violently causing them all to stumble. Naruto attacked, his tails extended and two of them slapped the remaining two soldiers. His muscles bulged and he was able to get one his left hand free. Using that he sliced the restraints on his legs and was about to move to his arm when he heard the cocking of a gun. "Don't move freak!" said the soldier.

But Naruto did move. He raised his feet up and slammed them onto the device, the force caused it to flip forward and the men fired their bullets hitting the metal and falling down harmlessly while Naruto landed standing up he then bent his legs and jumped back flying toward them. Two jumped out of the way while the other two couldn't move in time and were crushed, Naruto's head bumping up and down as the table hit the bodies whatever kept it hovering. Guns were raised but Naruto kicked one sending him into the wall and slammed his tail into the other's neck. His tail wrapped around the man's neck and squeezed till a loud crack was heard. With the guards incapacitated Naruto growled and he tore through the straps with is sharp claws. Finally free he stood up cracking his neck, his ears twitching as he heard running footsteps he turned to see the scientist running.

Naruto grabbed the needle and pulled it out, he crouched down and did a four legged run. He quickly caught up to the scientist and grabbed him with one hand and he forced the man down onto the ground. He forced the scientist onto his back, the beast lowered his head he saw a name tag, 'Sugawa' "Well doctor Sugawa, I'm going to ask you to do one thing and one thing only if you don't I'll eat you…" he growled, he opened his mouth revealing his many rows of sharp teeth. He could smell urine as the man wet himself, 'Pathetic.' he growled mentally.

The man shuddered, "Y-You wouldn't you haven't eaten any person in real life it was only simulation!" he said.

Naruto's eyes narrowed, "It may have been a simulation but I can still taste the flesh in my mouth… their hot blood going down my throat. I wonder how you'll taste piss or not I'll eat you regardless." Again he opened his mouth wide and leaned in, his saliva covered teeth inches from Sugawa's face. Driblets of drool dripping on his face.

The man cowered, "OK! OK! I'll tell you whatever you want to know!" he said hurriedly.

Naruto backed off, licking his teeth and closing his mouth, "Where is Hinata being taken to?" he demanded.

The man shuddered, "Y-You mean 012?" he said nervously.

Naruto snarled, "Her name is HINATA! And don't you dare forget that!" he roared. It was then the corridor shuddered again, "Whatever where is she!?" he demanded again.

The man pointed to where he had been running toward, "Th-That one it leads to the deeper parts of the facility where we forcefully eliminate a Bio-Beasts personality turning them into mindless animals permanently." Naruto's eyes widened and he stood up gripping the doctor tight, "H-Hey I told you what you wanted now let me go!" he shouted.

Naruto snarled at him, "I said I wouldn't eat you, I never said anything about letting you go free!" he snapped, "You better pray to god that I reach her in time… if I don't I'll destroy this facility by myself if I have to!" he dug in his toes and took off running at full speed. He quickly exited the facility, his mind processing everything quickly slowing down time so he could see everything. He was in a large open room and was running on a catwalk, the room had several tubes filled with liquids and creatures of varying shapes inside of it linked to other catwalks. Naruto saw scientists looking around concerned. But he didn't care about them all he cared about was Hinata. He ran about halfway when suddenly he stopped he sniffed the air and found it, Hinata's scent.

His brain created the smell even though he had never really smelled it before his brain was convinced by the simulation so much so that his brain replicated it by instinct. He turned to his right and looked upward and indeed he saw the unconscious form of Hinata being placed into a tube, with smaller tubes inserting into her skin. He growled and dropped the scientist, Naruto crouched and rocketed into the air he grabbed the upper pathway and pulling himself up even as his weight and claws dug into the metal bending it. He glanced and saw the scientists turning to face him as well as the guards. They held their guns up, "Give her to me and I'll spare your lives," he growled. The guards began to aim but a scientist, a familiar brown haired man grabbed one and pushed it down.

He looked at Naruto, "Let him take her." he said.

Naruto was surprised, but he moved forward, "Smart move," he snarled and he walked up to her. She was hooked up, "Take her down!" he snarled and the scientist went to the panel and keyed in a command the needles came out of her skin small flashes of blood spurting from the holes. He snarled at the scientist who held up his hands in surrender. Naruto ignored him and he reached for her as she fell. He caught her easily and he held her close he could hear her soft breathing and he shifted so that she was on his back and her arms around his neck. He turned then left, but as he made it halfway he heard the doctor speak.

"Tranq him!" he turned and slashed at the metal below him and grabbing the sheet he pulled it up just as the men grabbed their tranquilizer guns and fired the needles bounced off harmlessly. Naruto turned and ran one hand holding onto Hinata's arms while two of his tails held her body securely to him. He walked to the railing and jumped from the side grabbing onto the metal floor to swing so he landed on the catwalk below.

He shifted and began to run toward the corridor leading to the elevator. But he barely got to the corridor when he saw soldiers coming out of the corridor in their hands were guns. He slid to a halt and growled and looked around. He could go down but that would cost time he had to go up. He looked up there was nothing but another catwalk and metallic walls. He heard footsteps behind him and turned to see more guards. He was surrounded, he had to go down, he moved to jump but a bullet flashed before his eyes and he stopped. "You move you die!" said a guard.

He growled, then all of a sudden he heard the clopping of hooves and he turned to the guards on the catwalk and saw a beam of orange light utterly obliterate them and melt the catwalk. He then heard the metallic clopping and he turned to see a figure land in front of him… a very familiar figure too. "Shikamaru!?" Indeed the reindeer-like form of Shikamaru stood his antlers open, energy forming in them and leaned back and fired his bio-laser, the guards shouting as they were obliterated. He then turned to Naruto, his antlers closing.

He punched Naruto's shoulder lightly, "Bout time you woke up!" he said. "I've been waiting for months!" he said.

Naruto blinked, "Month's? How long have we been in this… simulation?" he said. But then the speakers crackled.

"Subject 021 has met with 009 and 012 Capture them!" it said.

Shikamaru shook his head, "No time follow me!" he said and he aimed for the wall and opened his antlers he fired another laser melting the metal when it cooled he jumped up, "Come on!" Naruto followed and realized they were in a very large vent. "This way I got this place mapped out." he said and Naruto followed they went through various passages into other vents and occasionally jumping out into rooms both large and small till they came to a much smaller passage, "you need to revert to normal." he said and his body began to emit steam and as it did Naruto heard the cracking of bones and muscles as he reverted to his human form. The steam vanished to reveal Shikamaru wearing shorts and his top bare. "You too." he said.

Naruto laid Hinata down and concentrated thinking of returning to normal, his body began to emit steam and he snarled with pain as his body forcibly reformed itself back to his usual form he seemed to be wearing some kind of ripped shorts. "Huh they had the decency to give you some semblance of clothes. Must mean you transformed back in the real world somehow." he said.

Naruto shrugged then looked at Hinata, "what about her? She can't turn back to normal." he pointed out.

Shikamaru smiled, "Oh it's fine something they didn't do in the simulation is reveal that some of your strength from a beast carries into your human form too. Not a whole lot admittedly but enough that you can carry oh… I'd say about 600 pounds easily." he said.

Naruto walked to Hinata and hefted her up, and amazingly it was true she was heavy but not as heavy as he originally thought. He held her up and turned to Shikamaru. "Ok." he said nodding.

Shikamaru turned to the entryway, "We gotta crawl, don't worry the sensors here won't pick us up." he said.

Naruto blinked, "Sensors?" he said.

Shikamaru sighed, "Don't worry about it!" He said, "We got it covered." he assured.

Naruto stopped, "'We?'" he asked.

Shikamaru groaned, "Why is it now of all times you choose to ask questions?" he asked.

Naruto sighed, "Look man I trust you I'm just… trying to process this." he said.

Shikamaru sighed, and he walked up to Naruto, "Look when we get out of here and to the base I promise I'll tell you everything! But we gotta go NOW! They've lost us for now but it won't take them long to figure out we're in the vents near the elevator to the surface they'll assume we're lost in the lower vents." he said, Naruto nodded and Shikamaru went back inside the small vent Naruto right behind him dragging Hinata along. He didn't know how long they crawled, a minute… 5 minutes? An hour? Then Shikamaru stopped, "We're here!" he said and he grabbed a grate and pulled it up. He then slid down and landed on all fours, Naruto sliding down behind him but the two had to work together to get Hinata down. She came down hard hitting her lower body hard on the ground and causing the two to fall back. This seemed to be a great enough shock for her to wake up. She snarled and slashed at the air wildly.

Naruto reacted by grabbing her head and pulling her so he was looking into her eyes and she his. "Hinata relax!" he said, "It's me! It's Naruto!" he said.

She looked at him, her eyes slitted, then slowly filling up into circles again, "Naruto? Where… are we?" she asked.

Naruto leaned down and kissed her. He lowered his head so they were cheek to cheek, "We're out of the simulation!" he said.

She blinked, "We're out?" she said. She then turned so she could stand up again, and saw Shikamaru, "Shikamaru? But… we thought you were dead!" she said.

Shikamaru smiled, "I'll explain later, look can you turn back to your human form?" he asked.

Hinata nodded, "I can… but I don't think I have clothes to wear." she said.

The genius thought on that, "You're right well it's fine we got the cameras all on the upper floors now let's get on the elevator and get the hell out of here!" he said. He pointed to the elevator in front. Naruto and Hinata looked at each other, they nodded and followed Shikamaru. They got to the elevator and Shikamaru looked at a camera, it turned and focused on him, "Washu we ain't got time for games!" he said to the camera it whirred then the elevator dinged. It opened revealing a very large elevator box they went inside and the door closed and it was then that Naruto noticed the elevator had no buttons. "The elevator is controlled by a computer system, it automatically goes to two floors and two floors only the upper level of the research facility, and the surface but because it's a computer system it means that someone can hack into it. But of course they think it's unhackable because it was created by a super genius… but what those idiots don't realize is that the super genius IS the one hacking it." he said.

Naruto looked at him, "So who is this super genius?" he asked.

Shikamaru chuckled, "If you got the message you know her… kinda… Doctor Washu. Again I'll explain everything back at base." During this time the elevator had been going up Naruto and Hinata held each other's hands for comfort. The elevator slowed and then the doors opened. Naruto and Hinata shielded their eyes from the light. When they're eyes fully adjusted they looked in shock. They saw greenery, trees and plant life growing from the fallen wreckage's of buildings all combining to a massive jungle. "Welcome to the world… 20 years after the Meteor's crashed down." said Shikamaru.

Naruto turned to him, "20 years? We've been down there for 20 years!?" he asked.

Shikamaru sighed, "This one is really complicated, look let's get out of here before the wild beasts pick up our scent." and he transformed back to his beast form once again covered by steam. Naruto did as well, Hinata looked around, fully transformed Shikamaru looked at them, "Follow me precisely!" he said and he ran off his powerful legs giving him speed. Hinata and Naruto right behind him… both wondering the same question. What has happened in 20 years?