The Fox in the Sewers

Naruto gradually opened his eyes and sat up with blurry vision. He winced in terrible pain as a pounding headache suddenly struck him. It was as if someone had smashed a hammer right into his head. His blurry vision slowly subsided, and Naruto could see once more.

"What the hell?" He looked around in confusion. "Where the hell am I?"

Concrete hallways and metal pipes and wires appeared all around him in pitch darkness. His voice echoed throughout the seemingly infinite beyond. Below his feet was an ocean of water that reached up to his ankles. Naruto stood up and slowly wandered through the endless halls.

Suddenly, a loud growl echoed deep within the darkness. It was bestial and guttural in nature as it reverberated against the hollow silence. Naruto followed the sound of growling in curiosity. It was stupid, but he didn't know where else to go; this place was like an endless maze.

An enormous metallic gate stood tall before him as it soared high into the void of darkness. Naruto walked towards the metal gate with cautious steps as the sound of rippling water echoed below his feet. He felt a looming presence behind the enormous gate; an aura of pure hatred and malice filled him with a sense of dread.

Naruto stood before the gate and looked through the thick bars, "Hello?"

"Come closer to me, human child," It spoke from the darkness.

The inhuman voice startled Naruto, and he couldn't help but take a step back. He felt a bit of fear towards the unknown entity. This had to be just a weird nightmare. How else could Naruto explain how he suddenly appeared in a creepy sewer that stretched for miles.

"Who's there!" Naruto shouted.

Giant red pupils suddenly shown themselves in the empty void. Its colossal claws smashed against its metal prison in an attempt to harm Naruto. The monster had finally revealed itself: a gigantic fox of bubbling crimson chi the shade of dark orange. The fox snarled at the whiskered boy, revealing its sharp fangs. Nine tails aggressively swung behind the demon fox as red eyes gazed hatefully at bright blues.

Naruto's eyes widened with shock, "What the heck are you?"

He could not believe what he saw - a towering monster standing over him with a menacing aura. The entity was like a fox but with rabbit-like ears. Naruto had to admit that the demon fox looked pretty damn scary.

Kurama gave him a scowl in response, "You will show some respect to me, you despicable human child." He growled. "I am the Kyuubi, the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox. It will only be a matter of time before I escape this prison of mine."

"How did you get here in the first place?" Naruto raised an eyebrow. He had so many questions running through his mind.

"I can not answer that question, boy," Kurama answered.

The bubbling mass of evil chi spread out of the prison like liquid as it flowed towards Naruto. Meanwhile, black smoke rose up from the pool of chi in thick plumes. Naruto nervously walked backwards as it slowly approached closer.

"Why don't you come closer, boy." Kurama grinned maliciously. "I will give you all the power in the world."

"And why should I trust you?" Naruto asked.

"I've been watching you," Kurama replied. "You need my power to save that girl, boy. Otherwise, she will die."

Naruto clenched his fists, "What do you mean, Kyuubi?"

"That man will kill her," The bubbling mass of chi merged together to form Kurama's head. "Use my power and kill him, Naruto. Save her."

Naruto shook his head, "And why would I do something as stupid as that? It's evil. I will find my own way to save Azula." He stared back into the eyes of Kurama with confidence.

Kurama's powerful roar shook Naruto's mindscape like an earthquake, "You stupid, naive child! You risk saving a life because of your moralist, incompetent thinking?"

"I may not be the sharpest kunai in the shed, but I always trust my gut when I smell something fishy," Naruto pointed at the demon fox, "And you reek like it, furball!"

"Enough of this!" Kurama screamed. "You will leave my domain, now!"

*****

Naruto suddenly opened his eyes again and gasped for air. He tried to move, but his arms were chained against a metallic wall. He quickly looked around the room with wide eyes. He was imprisoned in a jail room built entirely of metal. Fire nation banners decorated the walls while iron lanterns dimly lit the darkened room.

"Naruto, you're awake!"

Azula was chained just beside him; her royal clothes were now replaced with brown rags. Azula's hairpiece was gone, and her black hair flowed down to her shoulders in waves.

"You don't know how worried I was about you," Azula said.

"Azula..." Naruto groggily said. "Where are we?"

"We're on a Fire Nation ship. They're taking us to a war prison in the Earth Kingdom, I believe." Azula replied.

"How long was I out for?"

"Four days."

"That long!" Naruto cried out in shock. The time he spent inside that creepy sewer felt instant.

"Are you hurt anywhere, Azula?"

"Just a few bruises, but I'm perfectly fine," Azula shook her head. "But, Naruto, what happened to you back there?"

Azula could remember as clear as day about the strange and horrifying power that Naruto had displayed. That wasn't regular chi; it was imbued with pure hatred for everything. Azula never thought there was something like that in this world. She couldn't believe that he was the same boy that harbored such hatred inside.

"I don't remember that much," Naruto sighed. "I only remember confronting your dad, and then my mind suddenly went blank."

Naruto didn't want to tell Azula about his weird encounter with the Kyuubi in his dreams. He was afraid that Azula might fear him even more. Just like those villagers back at his home village.

Naruto bit down on his lower lip as he glanced at the current state of Azula. The once royal princess now fell from grace as a traitor. Naruto had acted out of impulse when he faced Ozai, and he knew it. If he approached him at a different angle, perhaps she wouldn't suffer this fate.

Pervy Sage had always called him a happy idiot, and Naruto had refuted his claim every time. But, this time, he couldn't help but agree with sensei. Naruto usually wore his heart over his sleeve, so he always followed what his gut had told him since he was young. However, Naruto had let his emotions get the better of him, and now, Azula had to suffer the consequences of his actions.

"I'm sorry, Azula," Naruto dropped his head in shame.

"What are you saying, Naruto?" Azula's voice laced with confusion.

Naruto grit his teeth, "If I wasn't so damn stupid, you wouldn't be here with me right now."

"Naruto, I betrayed my father for you," Azula stared deep into his eyes. "If I had to do it again, then I would."

Naruto felt his heart skipped another beat. He haven't felt this way since Azula first kissed him. Was this what love felt like? He never really experienced love until Jiraiya came into his life. But, with Azula, he felt real love.

"Thank you, princess... that really means a lot to me," Naruto grinned.

"I'm pretty sure I was stripped of that title, Foxy."

Naruto laughed it off, "But, you're still my princess."

Azula blushed but spoke with haughtiness , "If you're thinking about earning another kiss from me, then think again. The first one only happened in the heat of the moment."

A faint shadow suddenly appeared under the light of the iron door, and Azula and Naruto grew quiet. The door slowly opened, and a woman with brunette hair and light armor that exposed her midriff entered the jail room. In her hands were two trays of food.

She quickly closed the door, "Princess Azula, I added in extra food without them noticing."

Azula smiled, "Nu Wa, you didn't have to do that for me."

"It was my choice, princess," Nu Wa smiled back, her obsidian eyes squinted with glee. She gently set the trays of food down.

"Wait, you guys know each other?" Naruto asked.

"Since we arrived on this ship," Azula answered. "She helped me many times during the past four days."

"Ah, you're finally awake, sleepyhead," Nu Wa chuckled.

Nu Wa observed the blonde boy closely. She heard rumors about this boy, and his strange, demonic powers. Her comrades called him a devil reincarnated, but Naruto didn't look like one at all.

She heard that he was supposed to look like an evil rabbit fox that would mercilessly slaughter innocents in cold blood. However, Nu Wa only saw a adolescent, not older than twelve, chained like some animal along with her princess.

Loud knocks reverberated from the iron door along with a muffled voice, "Nu Wa, what's taking you so long in there?"

"I'll be right there!" She quickly answered.

"Princess Azula, we'll be arriving at the Earth Kingdom tomorrow," Nu Wa stood up. "That would be your chance to escape with Naruto."

"Thanks for the heads up, Nu Wa," Azula said with gratitude.

"I truly wish both of you the best of luck," Nu Wa opened the door and left.

"Well, I guess we have to plan accordingly," Azula smirked.