Please note: Just to get this out there, I'm not a very religious person. I am Catholic, but I only go to church once a year… at most lol, and even then I'm not exactly sure how Catholic I am. I believe in an afterlife and possibly a Heaven and Hell but other than that I can't say I know anything about the bible or Catholicism or Christianity. Also, any information regarding Christianity/Catholicism was found doing research via google(dot)com.

PS: I wrote out most of this fic in one sitting… go me… -dies-

And much thanks to Emma for going through the chapter and editing it on such short notice. Love ya!

this heart, it beats

There is a faceless person – a man, he figures, based on the husky, deep voice that reverberates low and not quite clear: like an echo – in his dream. He doesn't smile, but there's an almost imperceptible tilt to his lips. His face is covered in shadows, for the most part. Everything about this man in his dream is just that – like a dream. He has no control over his actions. He feels heavy and dazed, barely conscious of what is going on in his own mind. But he hears that man say his name.

Naruto.

He's talking to me, he realizes.

Who are you? he wonders.

The faceless man's lips move. Words are spoken – mouthed, for Naruto cannot hear anything. He just knows his lips are moving.

What are you saying? Naruto asks. Speak up! he wants to say, but like a dream, he realizes he has no control over his actions.

The man's lips stop moving, and then they're moving again, and this time Naruto thinks he hears his voice – deep and warm – and that he is able to register the words and put together their meaning.

Have you ever heard the story of a little demon? About the little demon that no one wanted? But he wasn't a demon… People just thought he was. People hated him, and spited him and hurt him. But he was an angel, Naruto.

He thinks he's heard the story, so he says so. He asks without realizing, why wasn't the angel in Heaven? It would only make sense for this little demon not to be in heaven, for why would someone be hated in heaven?

There's silence.

The man's lips are tilted downwards, deeply, almost forlornly.

He fell.

And what about you? Naruto asks.

I condemned him.

And then he's falling.

- - - -

II.
the sky is bleeding above me

"Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none."
--Bible

- - - -

Earlier

"This isn't good," Sasuke muttered.

"I wonder what gave it away," was the sarcastic response he received.

Obsidian eyes narrowed irritably. "I shouldn't have left him alone." He pressed a boot to the corpse's side and turned it over so he wouldn't have to look at the dead man's mauled face. There were four bodies, or, at least, that's what they figured. Only one body hadn't been mauled or ripped its limbs ripped off, and it belonged to a boy.

"Do you think Naruto killed them all?"

"No," Sasuke said. "The boy was a companion of his."

"So they killed the boy and Naruto went Kyuubi on them."

He didn't receive a confirmation from Sasuke, but, then again, he didn't need one. The difference in the murders spoke volumes. "They've been dead for at least an hour. We should probably find Naruto. If he's still in that state—"

"No," Sasuke interrupted. "If he was, it wouldn't be this quiet."

"That's true." He lifted his head to the sky, the hood of his black cloak blocking the rain from dripping into his face. "I suppose this is the part where you say 'let's split up and find the blondie,' eh, boss?"

"Just go, Suigetsu."

His companion grinned, revealing rows of shark-like teeth. "Don't gotta tell me twice."

And just like that he was gone.

Sasuke disappeared two seconds later.

Present

Naruto woke up both warm and uncomfortable. Warm because not only was the inside of the building warm, but he realized there was a large coat dumped over him as a makeshift blanket; uncomfortable because he fell asleep on one of the church pews. He sat up wincingly, neck and shoulders sore and his arms tingling from being half asleep. He let the coat pool at his lap and fall into his hands as he stared quizzically at it. The last Naruto remembered was falling asleep in the church, but at the time it was only him so who could have put the coat on him?

Leaving said coat in a bundle on the pew; he stood up and stretched in order to move out the kinks from his shoulder blades and neck. He looked around for any signs of a person or people – perhaps the coat's owner – but still, the church was empty with exception to himself. Naruto sat back down with a sigh, his hands falling over his face as his fingers grasped blond bangs.

What was he supposed to do now? If his memory served him correctly, he had killed not only Mizuki, but the two other guys as well. It wouldn't be long before they saw Konohamaru's body and put two and two together. Not only would they know Naruto killed those men, but they would also assume he killed Konohamaru because Konohamaru and Naruto were always seen would realize Naruto wasn't around, that he was hiding, and that would only ascertain their assumptions. They wouldn't give him a proper or fair trial. They wouldn't give him time to argue his defense, or have someone defend him. Because who would want to defend a monster? No one. They'd arrest him on the spot, probably kill him, too.

Naruto was screwed. He knew his only option was to run – but run where? Never in his life had he wandered out of Konoha. With the way the village treated him, one would think he'd have left a long time ago, but Naruto could never allow himself to leave because of Konohamaru. He had always been too sick to travel, so Naruto stayed with him. He didn't mind of course… but Konohamaru was gone now. His only tie to the village was severed. Perhaps he should feel elated or free, but how could he feel any of those things when Konohamaru was dead? How could he feel free when he was now a wanted criminal?

He felt sick and frightened, but more sick than frightened because he could still smell the blood on him. Perhaps he was also a little scared to die for what else was left for a murderer but death? Dying without anyone to remember him fondly was what scared him the most about death. Knowing no one would care, knowing no one would come visit his grave, knowing the whole village would rejoice and dance over his grave… Not knowing what was waiting for him after death… If Heaven and Hell really existed, a monster, a murderer, such as himself only had a one way ticket down to Hell. He liked to toy with the idea of Heaven and Hell since he didn't believe in any religion or had faith. He wondered what would await him in his afterlife. He had to have parents once upon a time, otherwise how else would he be born? Perhaps they would be waiting for him and they would love him.

When Naruto thought about it that way, death didn't sound so bad.

He could run, he supposed. But while Naruto hated what Mizuki did to Konohamaru, he hated himself for what he did. He literally tore those men apart in such a gruesome way…

Naruto wasn't a killer. He never meant to actually kill those men. He just got so angry, so upset, and the next thing he knew, he was there at a church debating whether he should run or wait for them to find him. Then again it wasn't that much of a debate if he was already resigning himself to death.

Konohamaru would probably hate him for giving up so easily.

It wasn't like him, he knew, but what else was he supposed to do? Run? Run where? He would have to pass through the forest to get anywhere and, as far as the village was concerned, going through that forest meant certain death (which was why Konoha never received any guests or travelers). There were creatures and monsters that stalked that forest. No one dared to try and leave unless they were a shinobi who could fight for themselves.

I'm not exactly a helpless citizen either, Naruto thought. He knew enough jutsus that would be helpful in a fight. But whether he'd actually be able to survive was another story. It's not as if he had anything to lose by trying. Death awaited him no matter what, it seemed.

But how was he to get to the forest without the villagers or a shinobi coming after him?

Naruto had a few ideas…

"Hello there, child."

He lifted his head up sharply, surprise jolting him from his thoughts. Confused blue eyes stared at the priest that was standing by the front pew, just a few rows in front of him. He was an older man, perhaps around his 60s, with brown eyes and dark gray hair that showed his age. The man was on the heavier side, the fingers of his large hands threaded together in front of his black priest robes and a rosary hanging around his neck. He smiled kindly at Naruto, the stretch of his lips making the wrinkle on his cheeks and face stand out more. He was a white man, different in appearance from anyone Naruto had seen in Konoha – obviously from a Western Civilization outside their world.

"I wasn't expecting anyone to be here so early," the priest said.

"I'm sorry," Naruto trailed off uncertainly. "The doors were unlocked and…"

"Say no more," the priest said, his words and smile still kind and understanding. "The doors are open to anyone and everyone."

"Ah, thank you…" Naruto said, relaxing. While Konoha wasn't that small of a village, everyone generally knew who he was on sight. He was thankful this foreigner didn't seem to know who he was.

"I am Father Joseph," he said. "And you are?"

"I…" To say his name, Naruto realized, would be unsafe. The priest may not recognize him, but it did not mean he didn't know of the name Uzumaki Naruto— so he said the first name that came to mind:"…My name is Konohamaru."

"Ko…no…hamaru, huh?" the man repeated, testing the name on his lips. Father Joseph's smile widened into an apologetic one. "I apologize if I do not pronounce it correctly. I am still learning your language."

"How long have you been here?" Naruto couldn't help but ask, curious about this foreigner and the world outside of Konoha, the world this man was from.

"I was brought here a couple of months ago," Father Joseph replied, walking over to the pew Naruto was sitting on. He sat down next to the blond teenager, his hands folded in the sleeves of his robes. "The pastor before me passed away."

"Your accent isn't so bad for someone who's only been here a couple of months."

The man chuckled. "You don't have to lie to make this old man feel better."

Naruto couldn't help but smile somewhat. "Father, if you don't mind me asking, where did you come from before you came here?"

"I came from another continent far from here," Father Joseph replied. "From a country called England."

"England?" Naruto repeated, curious. "What's it like over there?"

"It's like another world from here," Father Joseph said. "The weather is completely unpredictable. It could be sunny when you walk out the door, and then later it could be cloudy and rainy. There are cobbled streets and horse drawn carriages and women who wear these big dresses. Men wear breeches and doublets, sometimes big hats as well. We have a king who rules over us, and he lives in a palace…"

Naruto tried to imagine this 'England' that Father Joseph described. He tried to imagine what it would be like, walking on cobbled streets in the middle of a rainy day. He tried to imagine a horse drawn carriage, but he realized he couldn't when he didn't know what a carriage was. He knew what a horse was because of books and pictures, but other than that, he never had any real life encounters with a horse, let alone one that draws carriages, whatever that meant.

"Over there, we speak a different language," the pastor continued. Naruto nodded, listening silently as the man went on about this England. He knew there was a different world outside of Konoha, but considering the fact that education was something only reserved for the wealthy, Naruto didn't know how many continents there were, or what countries existed, or the different languages that were spoken around the world. This man, this pastor named Father Joseph, was Naruto's first encounter with anything that had to do with something other than Konoha.

"How did you get here?" Naruto asked. It was his first time learning of an outsider who moved to Konoha. No one dared to venture through the forest.

"I came from my country and to yours by ship," he replied, smiling as the boy's eyes lit up in wonder.

"A ship, huh? Like a pirate ship?"

"Something like that. Guards escorted me to your country," Father Joseph went on, "and then Konoha shinobi escorted me from the edge of Fire Country to here."

"Isn't the forest dangerous?"

"Oh yes," he confirmed gravely. "It was extremely dangerous going through that forest. One of my escorts was killed along the way."

Naruto gulped. "I see."

There was a momentary pause in conversation as both males sat, lost in their respective thoughts. After a while the priest spoke up again, ending the silence, "Tell me, Konohamaru, what brings you here?"

It took a couple of seconds for Naruto to realize he was being talked to and that he was supposed to be Konohamaru. "Huh? Oh. Well…" He couldn't very well say he was looking for shelter and a hiding spot after killing three men, could he? He didn't think so either. Rather than giving an answer, he went with something close enough to the truth. With a helpless shrug, Naruto said: "I really don't know."

"I've had men and women alike come here and tell me the same thing," Father Joseph reminisced, "sometimes lost teenagers such as you. Sometimes they know what they're looking for, sometimes they don't. Sometimes they come here for confession and forgiveness, or just to pray. Sometimes they don't come here for any of that. Sometimes they come here just to feel like they belong somewhere."

Naruto stared at the man as he went on speaking, a kind smile on his aged face.

"And sometimes, even those nonbelievers will come here, seeking for something to believe in again."

Naruto couldn't help but feel guilty. He always had the impression that church was a place for those who had faith and actually believed in whatever religion said church practiced. He even believed Buddhist temples were for those who practiced Buddhism. Any church, temple or synagogue, Naruto felt he didn't belong to because he just didn't believe. And here was this kind, older man, acknowledging his lack of faith but telling him it was okay, because this church didn't turn anyone away. Naruto always hated any religion ever since he could remember. Maybe because he didn't have parents to raise him to believe in anything, but he just hated the idea that people prayed to some heavenly being and continued to believe, even when times were hard and the world was against them.

He couldn't understand it.

Because where was God or any supreme being when Konoha was turned upside down? Where are the gods now when Konoha is suffering and people are dying every day from starvation?

"How can you tell?" Naruto asked awkwardly.

"I can see it in your eyes," was the honest response.

Naruto looked at him in confusion.

"I can tell you have undergone many hardships throughout your life," Father Joseph said. "There's a jaded weariness in your eyes that gives me that impression. There's also something lost about you, as if you don't know what to do or where to go from here. You're seeking something, but you're not really sure what. And the way you dress indicates you're an orphan – it's nothing to be embarrassed about, my son. Those raised without parents are usually those without belief because they weren't raised religiously, nor had anyone to offer them any faith. I've helped orphans before in the past, or at least those who found meaning in Christianity… It isn't a bad thing, to not have faith, but sometimes believing in something can give you meaning and help get you to the next day."

"Religion… isn't for me."

"I know. Religion isn't for everyone. I've met some amazing atheists in my lifetime. It's okay to come here even if you may not believe."

"You're different," Naruto admitted. "I was under the impression that not believing was a bad thing."

Father Joseph shook his head. "I find those people naïve."

Naruto smiled at that. He felt like he could relax around this man of faith. He felt like all of his earlier worries were suddenly lifted from him, as if a boulder was taken off of his shoulders. He wasn't sure why. Never in his life had an adult been this nice to him… well, except for one, but it'd been years since Naruto had seen him.

"So this is a Christian church?" Naruto asked uncertainly.

"It's a Catholic church," Joseph said.

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Catholic?"

"It is another form of Christianity."

"Why isn't there just one form?" Now Naruto was confused.

"Because there are different beliefs amongst groups within the religion itself," Joseph explained calmly. "There are differences in the belief such as means of salvation. Catholicism believes salvation is received in baptism, but can be lost when one sins, but regained through penance. Christianity believes salvation is found through faith and secured through a relationship with Jesus Christ as well as daily repentance of sin."

The blond scratched his head, processing what Joseph told him. "I see. Never knew religion was so complicated…"

The man chuckled before suddenly asking, "Are you hungry?"

"I…" Naruto opened his mouth to say no, but he realized his stomach was painfully hungry. He had thrown up the other day in front of the church… "Yeah."

With a nod, Father Joseph stood up, "I will be right back. I am rather hungry myself."

The priest departed with a smile to Naruto. He went to a door stationed on the left wall, across from the altar, hidden behind a pillar. Joseph slept in the cellar beneath the church. He found it convenient so he didn't have to leave the church or come back to open it up. It was dark in the hall that the door opened to, but he grabbed a lantern perched by the door as well as a match that was next to it. With a strike of the match, he lit the candle inside the lantern before making his way down a small spiraled staircase.

His room was small and plain with a twin bed at the far corner of the room, a desk next to it, a bathroom to the right and a small kitchen area to the left. Joseph set the lantern on a nearby desk, illuminating a thick, leather-bound book with the words Holy Bible imprinted on the front. Shadows danced along the enclosed walls as the priest moved about, removing the rosary from around his neck and setting it atop his bible. He took his time putting on a surplice and a purple stole before turning to a small crucifix mounted above his dresser. He said a prayer beneath his breath and finished off making the cross in front of him.

It was ten minutes after coming to his room that Joseph left, his bible and rosary in his arms.

"He's at the church?"

"Hn."

A grin twisted over sharp teeth as dark amusement flashed in purple eyes. Hozuki Suigetsu chuckled, obviously finding humor by that piece of knowledge. "How ironic."

After finding Naruto at the only church in the village and making sure the blond wasn't in any immediate danger, Sasuke went out to find Suigetsu. It didn't take much effort to find his companion considering Suigetsu did little to hide his presence or make himself less noticeable what with the huge sword he had strapped to his back. 'Discreet' wasn't a word in his vocabulary, or any other word synonymous with it.

"Well let's get 'im and get outta here. This place gives me the creeps," Suigetsu commented as they started to make their way down a dirt road in a residential area. It had stopped raining overnight so the roads were less wet, but mud still squelched beneath their boots as their stride turned into a run. The two shared a glance, an unspoken communication.

They were being followed.

"Split," Sasuke said, do not lead them to the church, going unsaid.

Suigetsu nodded, understanding, the two of them disappearing in separate directions as they leaped on a nearby house top opposite of each other. Sasuke ran left over rooftop and rooftop, a swift black blur moving through the foggy, damp morning. He could feel rather than hear the presence of his two pursuers, the other two having split from the group in order to chase Suigetsu.

Once Sasuke felt he led them far enough from the church, he leaped down from the roof and on to the street, as did his pursuers. He turned to face them and recognized them as ANBU, elite shinobi of Konoha. Sasuke wasn't surprised. ANBU were skilled in detecting infiltrators and hunting. Considering the way Suigetsu did little to hide his presence, it was no wonder they were just found, otherwise Sasuke was positive they would have gotten Naruto out of the village without a hitch. Fuckin' Suigetsu.

But Sasuke was curious as to whether they'd attack or try to imprison him peacefully; after all, he hadn't caused any harm…yet.

"You are to come with us," the ANBU with the bear mask said, "Uchiha Sasuke."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. So they knew who he was.

"I don't have time for this," Sasuke said, eyes bleeding red. He needed to end this fight, and fast. He didn't wait for the two ANBU to attack first. He charged at them, a surge of lightning circling down the length of his right arm, followed by several other shocks before they all gathered at his fist, lightning crackling. The second ANBU, the one with the hawk mask, disappeared. The Bear remained in his spot, his hands moving in quick successions to form symbols before he slammed his hands down into the mud. Sasuke struck, a whistle of a thousand birds sounding after the wake of his fist. A thick wall of solid dirt rose just as his fist struck it, the electricity running from his arm and through the wall, cracking the earthen barrier and reducing it to rubble.

The Bear threw a fist at Sasuke just as his barrier crumbled. Sasuke knocked it aside with his forearm, jabbing his left fist in retaliation. His attack aimed true as it rammed into the ANBU's mask, creating a crack between the circled eyes. The Bear stumbled back from the attack before regaining his composure and engaging Sasuke in physical combat once more. They exchanged punches and kicks, each one matching the other.

But Sasuke knew how this was going to end.

He slammed his knee into the shinobi's abdomen, forcing him to double over. Once he was bent over, Sasuke grabbed the back of his vest and spun him around, releasing him only to send him flying into his companion who had finally appeared to take Sasuke by surprise. Instead, the Hawk was sent rolling back with the Bear on top of him.

"If you know who I am, then you know you cannot win against me," Sasuke stated.

They didn't acknowledge what he said as they stood back up, their uniforms muddied and wet from the ground. Sasuke sighed in annoyance when the Bear started to form symbols with his hands once more. The mud around him started to shift before raising off of the ground like a wave. Sasuke backed up warily as the mud slide started to surge forward. He really didn't feel like getting dirty…

It splashed against the earth and headed towards Sasuke. He mimicked the Bear's earlier technique and slammed his hands against the surface of the earth, drawing his own earthen barrier in time to have the mud slide split around the barrier, effectively avoiding Sasuke. The wind picked up at an alarming rate as the Hawk sent blades of wind to slice down the barrier. Sasuke was already gone, only to reappear crouched behind them, one hand touching the ground. Lightning crackled beneath his fingertips before electricity ran along the wet, muddy ground and to the two ANBU's feet. They barely had time to turn around before lightning shocked the lengths of their body.

Sasuke watched impassively as the two writhed and trembled with the shock of electricity that continued to run through them, burning them inside out. They didn't scream like normal humans would. The only sounds that indicated they were in some kind of pain were the grunts. Once the lightning died out smoke rose from their bodies and the smell of burnt flesh filled the air. Sasuke narrowed his red eyes at the still standing ANBU. Sure these were Konoha's elite shinobi, but they were human. His attack should have burnt them to crisps and killed them. But they were still standing.

The Hawk took a haggard step forward. Instead of waiting to be attacked, Sasuke attacked again, this time sending a blazing, lava-like fire trailing from his mouth and at the two men. The fire burned through them until the trail itself ran out. The ground beneath the fire had turned to black, crisped earth and steam filled the air. And yet the two men were still standing, their uniforms burnt, some parts having been burnt away completely to reveal third degree burns, and some burns that went yond third degree burns. Skin peeled away from exposed flesh. Their masks had melted completely from their burnt faces. What little hair they had clung to their crisped skull. But the two ANBU continued to move towards him, unfazed by the pain.

It was disgusting watching them move, watching as skin fell from burnt muscle.

"Tch," Sasuke snorted. Inside and out they were human, Sasuke could see that, but the way they continued to still move even when they should be dead went beyond human capabilities. He wasn't sure if they were being controlled, or if they were more than human. He couldn't see any chakras controlling the two bodies, let alone another presence that could be controlling them. But he could still feel the way their chakras pumped through their bodies as they charged at Sasuke once again.

He didn't let their unnatural abilities to move even after death deter him as he charged at the charred bodies. He punched one in the face, shattering its facial bones, before kicking another in the abdomen, shoving its rib cage inwards. They swiped at him with their hands and kicked at him with their feet, but he blocked all of their attacks with ease. Eventually Sasuke grew bored of it and, with a roundhouse kick to one of their heads, knocked their skull off of their shoulders, sending the body crashing unmoving to the ground. He grabbed the other by their arm and flipped it over his shoulders before pressing his boot against its chest and smashing his boot straight through.

Neither moved after that.

Sasuke dusted the dirt from his coat. The fight hadn't lasted that long, but that was time wasted, and now he was annoyed.

His irritation only piqued when Sasuke felt a new presence behind him. He knew who it was without turning around, but it wasn't someone Sasuke wanted to see. He faced the person with a blank expression, cool anger obvious in narrowed red eyes.

"Hello, Uchiha."

"I should have known," Sasuke said. The ANBU. Their strange ability to still move even when they were supposed to be dead… "I didn't realize you would be working with the Snake."

He chuckled. "Now, now, Sasuke. I work for no one. It is merely an alliance." He was wearing a pin-striped suit with a black tie and a buttoned up, white collared shirt underneath his vest. His dress shoes were black and polished, the mud having no affect on his cleanly appearance. His attire was unlike anything seen on that continent.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow.

"Alliances are being formed. A war is coming," he said, smiling darkly. "It is best you pick the right side."

"I have no concern for your war," Sasuke replied coldly, harshly.

"Oh but you do… because your concern is the blond," he said knowingly, his smirk only widening as Sasuke's expression darkened. "And he is very much apart of this war, as you will be."

"Not if I can help it."

Death shook his head. "You are still foolish, Sasuke." He pulled out a silver pocket-watch from his coat's pocket, flipped the lid and glanced at the time.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "If you've come here to claim Naruto –"

Death made a flippant gesture with his hand. "I am not here for him. I am here for a much bigger reward." He grinned, revealing sharp canines. "This village…" he gestured around him, "it's so full of miserable souls, dark souls, lost souls… They believe in a God to hear their prayers, a God who doesn't listen to their prayers, who doesn't answer their prayers. They believe their God will save them. They believe that just because they pray and go to church, that their souls will be saved…"

Sasuke was suddenly in front of him, his hand fisting a handful of his shirt as he lifted Death up on his tip toes. The black wheels in red eyes spun as he glared, growling, "What are you planning?"

"I do not plan anything," Death said, smiling calmly. "You know that I am just merely a guide for souls once they die."

"So then why, if you're merely a guide for lost souls, did you have two dead men fight me?" Sasuke questioned, tightening his grip on Death's shirt and tie, squeezing the collar tighter around his neck. "Only you are capable of raising the dead. You are interfering, and I know it has to do with your alliance. Death is not supposed to interfere."

"Times are changing, Sasuke," Death said as he pressed a cold hand to Sasuke's wrist. "You should pick a side, and be wise as to which side you join."

Sasuke released him, dropping him back to his feet. Death adjusted his collared shirt and tie. "I have no concern for picking sides in a war that has nothing to do with me."

Death smiled grimly. "But you can't hide from this war. It is more than just a war between gods and angels and demons and monsters and heavenly creatures. This war goes beyond that. This war affects everyone… including humans."

"That goes against every law—"

Death's smile turned pleased as he looked at his pocket-watch for the second time and flipped it closed. He slipped it back into his pocket. "I don't think laws are your most pressing concern at the moment, Sasuke." He lifted his head to the overcast sky, the rising sun looking red in the distance. "This village… this is where it all begins."

If Death was implying what Sasuke thought he was…

Death turned back to him, quoting, "Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none…"

And he was gone.

Sasuke cursed.

"Fuck."

Naruto remained sitting on the pew after Father Joseph left to get food. He sat there thinking and waiting, wondering if this Joseph actually knew who he was or not. The man seemed honest enough to Naruto. There was no malice in his words or hostility in his eyes. He looked at Naruto as if he were just an average teenager; another teenager who was lost and needed guidance. It was the closest to being nice that a stranger had ever been to Naruto. There were only two people in his life that showed him kindness: Konohamaru and a man he used to know before he met Konohamaru.

Back then, Naruto had been filled with hate and anger. He had had no one before Konohamaru and that man. He caused pranks not out of humor, but out of hostility and revenge towards the villagers that shunned him. He stole to steal, not to survive. He woke up every day hating his life, pitying himself, hating his parents who had abandoned him and left him in this god forsaken village. He blamed everyone for his miseries. And then that man came into his life and smiled at him, actually smiled at him. It was a genuine and honest smile, a kind and warm smile, and it brought tears to Naruto's eyes. He took care of Naruto like he assumed a father or big brother would. He offered Naruto kindness, shelter and food while asking for nothing in return. He was the most selfless man Naruto had ever met.

He knew the way everyone looked at Naruto. He knew everyone hated Naruto. And Naruto was positive that the man knew what he was, and yet he let Naruto, the monster, into his home, offered him love and affection so selflessly, not caring what the villagers thought of him. Naruto knew, because of him, that there was goodness in that bleak world. All of his hate and anger and blaming others was removed all because of that man. He taught Naruto the basics of reading and writing, let him read his collection of books, gave him a peak of the world beyond Konoha, a world Naruto so desperately wanted to explore.

"Someday I will take you away from here, Naruto," the man had promised him one time.

But instead of taking Naruto away from Konoha, he was taken away from Naruto. He wasn't sure what happened to that man, other than that one day he was there, and the next he was gone and never came back.

At first Naruto thought, maybe the man left him on purpose? Maybe he realized that Naruto wasn't worth his time? Maybe he realized Naruto was indeed a monster and he needed to get away from him? But Naruto remembered all the kindness that man offered, the honesty in his smile, the safety he always felt when he was with him and knew it couldn't be fake, knew it all couldn't be a lie. It just couldn't be a lie…

He wished he knew what happened to that man.

While Naruto wondered what happened to that man every now and then, he was able to get over his disappearance when Konohamaru came into his life. But now Konohamaru was gone as well…

Naruto didn't want to continue pitying himself, he really didn't. He just felt so alone now. It was a sad feeling, to feel alone, to be alone and not have anyone to turn to. He almost wished that crazy shinobi that told him to come with him would return and ask him again. Perhaps he hadn't been lying? Perhaps he'd have taken him out of Konoha… now Naruto feared he would never be able to get away.

The front doors to the church were suddenly pushed open. Naruto looked over his shoulder, curious to see who it was, but stood up when seeing it was a group of people that came marching in, their muddied boots dirtying the floors of the church. There were three of them, and the uniform and masks they were signaled to Naruto that they were ANBU. He realized they were there to arrest him, maybe even kill him. They probably found the bodies and realized only Naruto could be capable of such murder… He hurried between the pews. He figured he could try to run, but then an ANBU suddenly appeared at the end he was running towards, so he turned around to dart the other way, but the second appeared.

Naruto leaped over the three pews to the front, running around the altar to avoid the third that appeared behind him. He threw a hasty punch at the third that grabbed his arm, his fist aiming true at his pursuer's face, causing him to release his hold on Naruto. He quickly regained his composure just as one of his companions cut off Naruto's escape route and swiped at the blond with his katana. Naruto quickly ducked, the sharp edge of the blade grazing the tips of his hair. He kicked his leg out, knocking the ANBU with the katana off of his feet before elbowing the one behind him in the gut. Once Naruto was back up on his feet, he performed the first jutsu he could think of.

Four other clones of himself popped into existence as all three ANBU came at him. The clones split up in their attacks, two going after one ANBU, another two going after the second, and the fifth Naruto going after the third ANBU. Naruto knew enough moves to fight back and defend himself, but he knew he wasn't skilled enough to defeat elite shinobi like the ANBU.

But he was going to try anyway.

The ANBU with the katana swiped at one of the clones attacking him, popping it out of existence. He kicked the other in the chest, sending it colliding into the pews before it popped away as well. The other two ANBU rid themselves of the last two clones before turning to the fifth Naruto, the only one who hadn't popped away yet. He charged at the three shinobi, exchanging punches and kicks, dodging the sword and fists that came flying at him. Eventually one of them managed to kick Naruto back, straight to the katana-wielding one right behind him. Naruto froze when the katana pierced through his back. He looked down at the blade protruding from his chest.

Poof.

The ANBU looked around in confusion when the last clone popped away.

"RASENGAN!"

Naruto appeared out of nowhere, charging down at the katana-wielding ANBU with a spiraling ball of energy spinning in his hand. He pulled his arm back before throwing it forward with as much force as he could muster, his attack flying into the ANBU's chest. The shinobi pressed forward and dug his heels into the ground, trying to hold his ground, but the attack shoved him back and sent him spiraling backwards and through a pillar and into a wall, forcing him deeper until the attack wore out. The ANBU collapsed, buried beneath a pile of debris and rubble.

The other two wasted no time in attacking Naruto. Naruto held his ground and waited for them to get closer, ready to defend himself, when a commanding voice forced them all to freeze:

"Stop this!"

The two ANBU froze, and Naruto looked up to see Father Joseph standing at the other side, having just returned. He wasn't carrying any food, Naruto noticed, but why was he worrying about food when he was being attacked? Then again, he was sure the ANBU wouldn't attack him anymore now that Father Joseph was there. Father Joseph would make them leave, wouldn't he? Wasn't it blasphemous or something to fight in a House of God or whatever, he wondered?

"You are destroying my church," Father Joseph said, displeased, indicating the damaged pillar and the hole in his wall thanks to Naruto.

"They attacked me…" Naruto pointed to the two shinobi.

"I know," Father Joseph said grimly, understanding, and then nodded at the two men. "Grab him."

Naruto looked confused before the two ANBU suddenly appeared behind him, seizing either of his arms.

"H-hey! What the hell? Let me go!" Naruto protested, struggling against the two men that kept an iron grip on his arms. He turned to the priest, betrayal and confusion in his eyes. "What's going on?"

"Don't be scared, Naruto," Joseph said reassuringly, kindly. Naruto's eyes widened. He knew his name the whole time? So how come he didn't say anything when Naruto lied about his name? "I'm not here to hurt you."

"Then why the ANBU?" Naruto shot back, feeling angry and anxious. That kindness the man was showing him, had showed him, had all been a lie in order to lull Naruto into a false sense of security. How could he have been so stupid?

"They are just merely a precaution," Father Joseph said, walking up the steps to the altar. "I hadn't meant for them to attack you. I do apologize for that. But I am not here to hurt you, Naruto. I am just here to help you."

"Help me how?" Naruto spat angrily. "By turning me in?"

"No," Joseph shook his head. "I know what you did was not your fault. I know you hadn't meant to kill those men and that little boy—"

"I didn't kill Konohamaru! Those shinobi did! They are in the wrong!" Naruto retorted.

"—I understand," Joseph said patiently, annoyingly so. Naruto grit his teeth, his mind working to disable the two ANBU, but one of them pressed a dagger in warning to his throat as if reading his mind. "I know it's not your fault. It's that demon in you. It makes you do things you don't want to do, monstrous things. It's the reason everything in your life is the way it is. But I can help you. I can get rid of that demon for you…"

"There is no monster in me!" Naruto argued back. Sure Mizuki had told him, and it would explain the hate he received towards villagers, but he just couldn't believe there was a monster in him, even if he had blacked out when he killed those men. It was just too preposterous to think about…

"Yes, there is," Joseph said, as if speaking to a five year old. "But don't worry, Naruto. I will purify you of that monster. I will get rid of it for you."

"What do you mean?" Naruto asked suspiciously as the ANBU started to drag him to the stone table in the middle of the altar. They forced him to lay on it, each one holding an arm and a leg down. Naruto's struggles became fierce, dread creeping into his heart. He managed to free an arm and punch one of them in the face, but, before he could fully break free, the ANBU recovered and grabbed Naruto's arm, stabbing his chakra-infused dagger through his hand and into the stone. Naruto screamed.

"This is necessary," Joseph said. "You mustn't struggle. It will only make it worse."

The two ANBU stepped away from the table and Naruto was about to sit up and rip his hand away from the dagger when chakra-infused ropes suddenly bound him to the table.

"Fuck you," Naruto spat. "Fuck you all! Let me go! There is no monster in me! This is fucking preposterous! Let me go!"

Joseph held up his rosary. "Reveal yourself, demon."

Naruto broke out laughing, his body trembling in an almost manic manner. "Demon! You believe there is a demon in me? You're the fool, priest."

But Joseph remained firm. "I command you! Reveal yourself!"

"So you want to meet the demon, huh?" Naruto asked, his grin widening around suddenly sharp-canines. Red started to dot his eyes before they bled over blue completely, the whiskered scars on his cheeks becoming more pronounced. "What do you think you can do against this demon, you human? You think your God can drive me away?"

"Kyuubi," Joseph said, naming the demon confidently. "I command you remove yourself from that child's body."

"Fool," Kyuubi hissed, his chest rising against the restraints of the chakra ropes. "Do you know who I am? Do you know what kind of power I hold? You cannot get rid of me!"

Rather than being deterred, Joseph continued with his ritual, reaching out to touch Naruto's forehead. He started to chant in a foreign language, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost…"

"You don't know the consequences of your actions," Kyuubi said, cackling, before disappearing into Naruto once more. The blond resumed struggling against his confines, not understanding the foreign words the priest was speaking. The more the priest spoke, the more unbearable the words became, and the more everything started to hurt. The spot on his forehead where Joseph was touching him started to burn. His eyes watered as his thrashing became more vicious and desperate. He didn't understand why everything hurt. He didn't understand why it felt like a part of him was trying to be torn away. He felt like he was being split in two and it was painful.

"We drive from us whoever you may be, unclean spirits, all satanic powers, all infernal invaders, all wicked legions…"

There was a fire inside Naruto that was consuming him. It was eating him up. Everything was blurry. He couldn't see straight. He felt feverish and delusional.

"Stop, stop, stop," he begged.

But his pleas went unheard.

He tried to move his head side to side, maybe so the man would stop touching him, so the burning would go away. But he couldn't. Joseph kept his fingers and that rosary there, unmoving, unrelenting, still speaking those foreign words that were like knives driving into Naruto's body.

"God of Heaven. God of Earth. God of Angels. God of Archangels. God of Patriarchs. God of Prophets. God of Apostles…"

He pressed his thumb more firmly against Naruto's forehead, his other fingers holding the blond bangs back.

"God who has power to give life after death and rest after work: because there is no other God than Thee and there can be no other…"

"…and we beseech Thee to deliver us by Thy power…their lies and their furious wickedness…"

Everything was blurring together. He couldn't differentiate one thing from another anymore. He didn't even remember where he was, or what was going on, why he was hurting or who he was. He just…wanted…
it
to
end.

He heard someone yell stop, maybe it was him, but it didn't sound like him. He couldn't tell. Everything was confusing. Those foreign, painful words kept going. He knew because he was still hurting. Hurting. Hurting. Stopstopstop.

And then the words stopped.
Relief.

And Naruto faded into the darkness.

"What have you done?!" Sasuke hissed, grabbing Father Joseph by his robes before shoving the man aside.

Naruto had gone limp on the stone table. The blood from his hand had formed a small puddle around the dagger and trailed beneath his head, mingling with the blond strands splayed out.

"I saved that boy!" Father Joseph retorted, indignantly.

"No you didn't, you fool," Sasuke said, staring grimly down at Naruto. "You have doomed everyone in this village."

"You don't know what you speak of, boy," Joseph said sternly.

"I am not a boy," Sasuke snapped, turning to glare fierce, red eyes at the priest. "You are more of a boy than I. I should kill you where you stand. But you have already killed yourself."

"Freedom," Naruto suddenly breathed, his eyes opening to reveal the same red eyes. Joseph's own eyes widened in horror and disbelief.

"No…no this cannot be…"

"I have almost forgotten what freedom feels like," Kyuubi sang-sung as he removed the chakra binds as if they were merely pieces of thread in his way. The two ANBU readied themselves to fight the demon if he made a move to attack. They watched as Kyuubi removed the dagger from Naruto's hand, watched as he stood up slowly in Naruto's body, watched as he licked the blood away from his palm, revealing a completely healed hand. "Seventeen years in a human's body, unable to do anything, confined behind bars may not seem much for a demon of my caliber… but it did rather, how would you humans say it? Suck?" Kyuubi chuckled at his own joke. "Indeed it did…"

"Aah…" He cracked his neck and looked down at those gathered around the altar. "My welcoming committee, hmm? Lovely. I'll kill you all."

A fiery tail suddenly lashed out from behind Kyuubi, hitting the priest and sending him flying into a pillar.

"That's my thanks for freeing me."

He stretched his still-too-human hands. "This body is much too confining to finish what I came here to do, don't you agree?" he asked, looking at Sasuke, only chuckling when he received a glare in return. "Do not look at me like that, Uchiha. Your Sharingan eyes are no match for me. Your eyes are still too young and untrained. Perhaps if you were stronger…"

Sasuke didn't move as Kyuubi leaped and landed agilely in front of Sasuke. "Don't worry about your blond," Kyuubi teased, hooking a finger beneath Sasuke's chin. "I won't let harm come to this body that you cherish so much. Maybe if you be a good boy I'll let Naruto come out to play with you sometime. How does that sound, Uchiha?"

Sasuke's lip curled in a snarl, smacking Kyuubi's hand away from him.

The demon king chuckled. "You are powerless against me. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to finish what I started almost seventeen years ago. The war has been put on hold for far too long…"

With a swipe of his hand, Sasuke was sent flying into the pews. The demon-possessed Naruto started to walk down the aisle when the two ANBU appeared in front of him, prepared to fight. Kyuubi didn't even give them a chance as two fiery tails suddenly wrapped around them, squeezing them before crushing their bones completely. He let their bodies fall to the floor, seven other fiery tails suddenly sprouting from behind, each one licking a pew and the ground, leaving a trail of fire in his wake.

By the time he made it to the opened doors of the church, the inside was completely engulfed in flames.

He turned his eyes to the red sky, the sky as red and bloodied as his eyes. The need to taste blood, to destroy, to kill was so powerful… he needed to destroy the village of that man, that man with the same blue eyes as his vessel, the same blond hair as his vessel, the man with the same face as his vessel; the man who imprisoned and confined him in his son, thinking he'd have put a stop to him, the most powerful demon.

"You must be rolling over in your grave, I'm sure, Minato," Kyuubi practically purred, his bloodlust all consuming.

It was a shame; really, how Minato's precious village had turned against his own son. While he may not have been able to do much, Kyuubi was quite aware of the world from the boy's eyes.

"I'll be doing you a favor by ridding the world of this village."

He watched as orange-red fur started to sprout from the back of his hands, as the claws on his fingers grew and extended. "And now I'll be able to finish what you had thought you stopped me from doing."

Clothes tore as fur spread all over his body. His limbs started to lengthen as well as his bones, and the sound of bones shifting sounded from inside his body. First he shifted into an average sized fox with nine-tails, and then he grew bigger and bigger until he was taller than the church.

It didn't take long for the flames to consume the church completely. Its pillars collapsed and the roofs caved in, crumbling as the demon king threw its large head back and roared. It was the only warning the villagers received before their world turned to red, smoke-filled skies.

Suigetsu observed the mayhem from a tree located at the edge of Konoha. The reflection of the burning fires danced in his eyes and he could feel the heat from miles away. He didn't bother to look at Sasuke as his companion appeared at his side.

"We were too late."

"No shit."

"Those ANBU had been a distraction." Anger suddenly consumed Sasuke as he punched his fist into the trunk of the tree.

"What are we going to do about your rampaging lover?" Suigetsu asked.

Sasuke ignored his remark. "We are no match for Kyuubi."

"I know."

Silence.

"But only you can get through to Naruto."

"…I know." Pause. "You don't have to come with me, Suigetsu."

"And miss out on the action? I don't think so."

Sasuke nodded. "I figured as much. Let's go."

"Aah, into the demon's pit we go," Suigetsu mused as they leaped from the tree and on to a nearby rooftop that hadn't been destroyed yet. They ran towards the beast while others ran away from it. They could see the villagers running on the streets down below, screaming in their terror, children crying in fear and confusion, some calling out for their parents that had gotten lost in the fray, or were already killed. It was amazing what chaos the Kyuubi had already caused, but he was big for one, therefore easily able to crush buildings with a single smash of his paw, and powerful for another. They could see from the distance that shinobi were trying to fight off the demon king, but they were no match for him in his most powerful form. He easily disposed of anyone who tried to stand in his way.

Red eyes turned in their direction as the fox demon spotted the run away villagers trying to make a break for it. He opened his mouth and Sasuke watched through red eyes as a dark ball of energy started to form in his mouth.

"Shit. Run!"

Sasuke and Suigetsu split off in separate directions just as Kyuubi released his attack. A large beam of energy shot out, destroying everything in its way. All of the villagers that were running dissolved into nothing. Buildings were reduced to rubble. A large crater that ran half the length of the village and into the forest was all that was left after it died away.

Sasuke wasn't sure how much time had passed since Kyuubi let out the attack, but Sasuke found himself later regaining consciousness in the remains of a collapsed house. He shoved off planks of wood from himself before standing up and looking around. Everything had gone silent, too silent, and most of the fires had ceased. Smoke still hung heavily in the air, irritating his lungs and eyes. He looked around, wondering where that demon had gone. He walked down the streets of the destroyed village, not finding a single person in sight. He saw corpses here and there, but no live person, not even Suigetsu.

Damn it. If only he hadn't left Naruto alone in the church. If only he had just taken Naruto right away when he found him. Instead he left Naruto alone, thinking the church was empty and no one was there. Sasuke resisted the urge to yell to the heavens. He should have known the ANBU pursuing him were nothing more than a distraction. After all, why else would Death show up, if not to hold him up further? It was his fault. Honestly, Sasuke did not care about the lives in the village. He did not care that men, women and children were dead. He did not care about the burning homes and buildings, about the dead bodies lying around the streets and burning in fires. Sasuke didn't care about humans.

There was only one being in the world that Sasuke cared about; only one being that Sasuke had searched for years to find.

"Naruto—" He saw Naruto walking towards him, a gust of wind making the fires spiral and heighten momentarily. But no, it wasn't Naruto. His eyes were still red. Sasuke stopped in his tracks. "Kyuubi."

Kyuubi grinned with Naruto's mouth. "Don't tell me you came here in hopes of talking Naruto out? He doesn't even know you anymore, Sasuke."

"It doesn't matter."

"Oh but it does, doesn't it?" Kyuubi taunted. "It just kills you inside knowing your lover doesn't recognize you, let alone know your name. He was reborn with no memories of his life with you, of your relationship with him, of his previous life… absolutely nothing. I suppose it's better that way, don't you think?"

Sasuke ignored him and instead said, "I will stop you, Kyuubi."

Kyuubi chuckled. "You've gotten cockier, haven't you, Uchiha? You're a mere infant in comparison to myself."

"Don't underestimate me."

"I believe you overestimate yourself."

Sasuke growled before running at him, red bleeding over onyx. Before Sasuke could land a punch on Kyuubi, the demon disappeared, only to reappear right behind him, practically floating in air as he brought his lips to Sasuke's ear.

"Do you want to know something, Uchiha?"

Sasuke whipped around to kick him, but Kyuubi leaped up, floating upside down in mid-air. He smiled down at Sasuke as the dark-haired male glared heatedly.

"I could walk out of Naruto's body anytime I want."

"Then why use it?" Sasuke asked, anger welling in him to know the demon was merely mocking him.

"Because I know once Naruto becomes conscious, he'll realize everything he did in his body, and blame himself. It will torment him and break his poor heart," Kyuubi mocked, a pleasant smile on his lips as he laughed. It angered Sasuke hearing Naruto's laugh and seeing Naruto's smile as he mocked the owner of said body. "The best revenge is destroying the son of Namikaze Mina—" Kyuubi suddenly froze, his smile turning into a frown. "It appears my fun is over."

The strangest thing happened after that. Kyuubi leaped out of Naruto's body. It was the only way Sasuke could describe it. It was like seeing a soul leaving a body it had possessed behind, except Kyuubi formed into his own solid body. He leaped out just as Naruto yelled, "Get out of my body!" Blue eyes finally returned as Naruto collapsed on all fours, panting from the exertion of trying to rid his body of that demon. It seemed his efforts were rewarded because he was finally able to move of his own accord again.

"Fuckin' furball—" he muttered beneath his breath, coughing.

"Aye I heard that, brat," a growl sounded not too far away from him.

Naruto lifted his head up, seeing the bare feet in front of him. His eyes traveled up a pair of long, black, trouser-clad legs, wandering further up a lean, well defined abdomen and arms, and to the somewhat human face of the Kyuubi no Kitsune. He had taken on a humanoid appearance rather than that of his real, bestial form. His hair was long and silky looking, running to the middle of his back. His eyes were as red as his hair, a deep shade of red that greatly resembled the color of blood. He crouched down so he was face to face with the blond, grinning madly and exposing his sharp canines. Naruto grit his teeth, refusing to show fear in front of this demon who had single handedly destroyed Konoha. While Kyuubi may have possessed him and broken free of whatever voodoo kept him trapped in Naruto's body, Naruto was aware of everything the Kyuubi did.

"So we meet face-to-face once again, Naruto," Kyuubi drawled out, purring his name.

"What are you talking about?" Naruto retorted. "I've never seen your face before."

"Not that you remember, anyway," Kyuubi said, hooking his finger beneath the boy's chin and lifting his head up more. "I do hope you remember sometime. It would be more fun that way, don't you think?"

A struck of lightning had Kyuubi leaping away and Naruto stumbling back. They both turned to an irritated-looking Sasuke. Naruto was confused to see the stranger who had invaded his apartment the other day standing there, but Kyuubi looked more amused than anything.

"Jealousy is the ugliest monster, isn't it?" Kyuubi teased. "Well I should get going. My work here is about done." His eyes lingered longer than necessary on Naruto, who had his eyes narrowed in return. "I'll be seeing you both again soon, I'm sure."

He sunk into the ground. Naruto stared at the spot in confusion, but Sasuke knew the demon was gone.

There was silence save for the sound of crackling of the dying embers. Naruto stared at the spot that Kyuubi disappeared in for the longest time before Suigetsu finally showed up to break it.

"Aye, he's not that psycho demon anymore, is he?"

Sasuke sent him a warning look.

"Just making sure…"

The two just stood there, waiting for Naruto to react.

"Hey, blondie, move so we know you're alive, will ya?"

It seemed Naruto took Suigetsu's advice, for he started to stand, albeit slowly. Everything was spinning in his head as he remembered the day's events. The church. The priest. The demon taking over his body. People dying. And to think it all started with the priest saying he was going to get food for them to eat… Food which Naruto never had the opportunity to eat, let alone think about. He realized his stomach still hurt, painfully so. He was starving.

"Hey…" He turned to face Sasuke and Suigetsu. "Anyone got ramen?"

And then he fainted.

- - -
to be continued.