Chapter 36 The Fox Comes

Naruto entered his mindscape. No longer was his body in pain and for that he was thankful. He looked Around the Library for a few minutes before turning his head to the ceiling. He saw the Icosahedron figure. It's metal cage like form and sphere like tendrils. Though it looked different. Several of the spheres looked frozen like ice with a visible cold white smoke coming from them While others looked like eyes, the eyes of the Sharingan. He realized he was seeing the bloodlines he drank when in wave. He looked at the being, the physical representation of his Eldritch powers given sentience. Several of the Sharingan eyes turned to look at Naruto, but the being never spoke It just continued to watch the world around it. Naruto shrugged as he turned his head to the back of the Library. Naruto walked through the library heading toward the spiral staircase. He headed to Kurama's cage.

Once there Kurama looked up at Naruto for a moment before yawning.

"What do you want", asked Kurama.

"I was wondering if I can have a little chakra. I'm nearly out and my teammates are in trouble", said Naruto.

Kurama looked at Naruto for a moment thinking of what to say. Then it smiled.

"Very well, I will let you have some, but only under one condition", said Kurama.

"I'm willing to consider it if the request is manageable, but I will not open the seal", said Naruto.

Kurama growled at Naruto.

"I have no intrest in such a move at this time. As the Deep One said we are linked. I have no way of knowing whether such an event would kill me or not. My request is simple. Let me out, not out of the seal. No I only ask that in your next battle I be allowed to have some form of freedom", said Kurama.

Naruto put his hand to his chin with his eyes focused on the floor as he thought over the request. After only moments he turned them back to Kurama.

"Can you promise me you won't harm anyone other than my enemies", asked Naruto.

Kurama smiled it' toothy grin at Naruto.

"I will not harm your allies, though if they get in the way I will not be held responsible for my actions", said Kurama.

"Very well, should I be in a battle I will allow you some freedom, but do not betray my trust", said Naruto.

"Whatever, now then do you know how to access my chakra", asked Kurama.

Naruto Nodded.

" In theory I do, though most of that was through research on the hosts for tailed beasts and the beasts themselves. I understand the science behind it, but have been far to busy to train with it to a satisfactory level, which is the only reason I am asking you to give me chakra directly", said Naruto.

Kurama scoffed.

"It will have to do. Now releasing me is simple. Just draw even more of my chakra than you normally would", said Kurama.

"Simple enough, now then I need that chakra", said Naruto.

A red glowing mist of chakra flowed through the bars before spiraling around Naruto. It was not much, but it was enough.

"Remember our deal", said Kurama.

Naruto nodded as he exited his mindscape. He awoke looking at the struggling forms of both Sakura and Sasuke. Naruto felt more energized than normal. He watched as the Shoggoth protecting him sunk into the ground to hide. Several very small black stalks too small to be seen from more than a few feet away came from the ground. Each stalk had eyes on them to watch for anything coming. Naruto nodded to the Shoggoth as he reached into his pockets before pulling out a scroll. He opened it and unwrapped it. Pouring some chakra into the scroll he unsealed a small lab set. It was all he had at the moment, mostly for use in the event of discovering poisons, unique plant life, or minor medical problems, but there was just enough equipment to help his teammates. He set the equipment on a large stone that acted as a table. Naruto took out two syringes filled with a colorless liquid and injected it into both Sasuke and Sakura. After a moment they stopped struggling. He grabbed a small scalpel and a pair of glasses with a loupe attached to the lenses. It was the closest thing he had to a microscope. He adjusted it's magnification before turning to Sasuke. He examined the outer skin of the seal before carefully taking the scalpel to it. He sliced open a small cut right on the seal. Looking inside the cut he increased magnification to it's highest level. He could actually see cells at this level. And from appearances Sasuke's cells were mutating. It was currently concentrated on the nervous system likely the reason for such pain. Naruto then went over to Sakura. The same mark was on her neck as well though the opposite side when compared to Sasuke. The same effects were happening. Naruto took off his glasses before standing up to create a clone. Immediately the clone dispelled. The reason for this was so that the other clones at Naruto's lab would give a message to Xel asking him to dispel so that Naruto could summon him. After a minute he got a confirmation from them, as well as over a month of memories. He shook his head. He bit his thumb and in a cloud of smoke Xel stood.

"What is the emergency my lord", asked Xel.

Naruto pointed to his teammates.

"That seal on their necks are causing an unusual mutation. It could prove fatal. They need serious attention which I cannot give them here", said Naruto.

"But if you leave you will be disqualified", said Xel.

"They do not have to know we left", said Naruto through a smile.

"What is your plan", asked Xel.

"There a a few of my blood samples at the lab. You can dispel then the clones can use that blood to summon you there. Once there you bring them to Brainiac to fix them up. Then once they are stable you dispel again while holding them and I summon you back here. No one will know", said Naruto.

"That can work, very well anything else I should do", asked Xel.

"Make sure they do not wake up and defiantly make sure Brainiac does not break the laws of nature. Just stabilize them, provide proper medical attention, and remove the seal if possible", said Naruto.

Xel nodded before dispelling. Naruto created another clone to send the ones at the lab his message. Sasuke still had the heaven scroll so he did not need to worry about that. For now he was alone in the forest. He looked at the ground and snapped his fingers. The Shoggoth's eyes oozed from the ground but it still stayed under. Naruto smiled.

"Lets find us an earth scroll", said Naruto.

Then Naruto jumped to a nearby tree. The Shoggoth following him underground as Naruto jumped through the forest. It wasn't long before he came upon a group. Looking down he saw what appeared to be ninja wearing yellow. Naruto smiled when he saw them wearing rebreathers. Their forehead protectors showed them to be from Amegakure, the rain village. Naruto just hoped that after he was done with them their masks would not be damaged. He jumped from a tree. Landing just in front of them they turned around. They did not have a chance to speak when Naruto sighed.

"Sorry about this, but a deal is a deal", said Naruto.

A cloak of red chakra began to flow around him. Naruto's eyes of Azathoth began to glow red as he took on a more feral visage. His fingers grew claws, his fangs became sharp, and his whiskers became more pronounced. He shot off toward one of the rain nin throwing him into a tree. Naruto began to laugh, though it was not his own laugh.

"Finally freedom, now who is next", said Naruto as he turned to another ninja.

Like a wild animal Naruto systematically beat and clawed each of the ninja. Occasionally they would attempt a genjustu but the Eyes of Azathoth still could not see them. Clones of earth and water were destroyed as he concentrated on the ninja. Naruto watched his body move and to with the ninja against his will. though the sight was not pleasant he was a man of his word. Kurama tore through the Genin with reckless abandon. Kurama was clawing, slashing, biting, hitting, and kicking the ninja leaving them a literal mess. Though he left no mortal damage. He was toying with them, it wasn't even a real fight so much as physical and psychological torture. It was his first taste of freedom in twelve years and he was going to relish in it. To distract himself from the images before him Naruto's mind traveled to Orochimaru.

His plan had backfired, horribly. Yig was a Great Old One, just as powerful and strange as Cthulhu. Orochimaru should have been left a gibbering madman who posed no real threat. Why Naruto chose Yig was simple. His truths that he showed were based off what he was thinking at the time. Fighting Orochimaru obviously snakes would pop up, as such Yig was used. But the effect was not what was hoped. Unlike most other Great Old Ones, Yig was not mindless and is just as easy to please as he is to anger. He listened to his prayers and protected snakes fiercely. Those who were kind to snakes were given gifts by Yig, those who harmed snakes in his presence were cursed. In short there was no worse being for Orochimaru to worship. He would undoubtably become very powerful. In many ways Orochimaru himself was more snake than a man if some stories about him were true.

Yig himself was a rather creative God. He commanded an army of snake like minions. One of his more grotesque creations were a species of parasitic snakes. These snakes traveled in groups when they would find a host hundreds of them would bore into human flesh to work them like a puppet, and they were careful to keep the host alive through this. Luckly Yig used that particular creation rarely. Only using them when someone did something very bad to a snake. If Yig took a liking to Orochimaru, which was possible there would be no telling what gifts the Father of Serpents would give him. Yig could grant Orochimaru immortality, not the kind Orochimaru was looking for though. Yigs gift of immortality was more focused on Oroboros. The gift of immortality he granted was infinite rebirth. Orochimaru would live his life from birth to death over and over again until Azathoth woke up.

Either way it would not effect Naruto. Orochimaru would simple be born in another universe where his choices and actions would change the history of that particular universe if the Necronomicon was correct, which it so far always was. The only good thing was that Orochimaru may have seen Yig but he undoubtedly knew nothing about the snake gods history so if luck was on his side Yig would ignore Orochimaru's prayers. Yig was rather fickle when it came to that. Only time would tell.

Naruto waited for Kurama to finish it's fun. It was already night when the rain ninja laid on the ground. They were not dead, but their injuries would cripple them for life if not treated soon. The one who had both eyes covered was in a bad shape. His legs bent at odd angles and his arms were twisted in such a way they would never properly heal. His yellow clothing was now brown and red. He was missing his left hand and three fingers on his right. Only his thumb and index finger remained. It looked like they were bitten off. The One with only one eye covered was on no better condition but he was only missing his right leg just under the knee. His arms were bent just as bad though. The one with both eyes showing had all his limbs but he was missing his left ear and there was a huge gash in his cheek showing teeth underneath. His ribs were obviously broken but could still be healed. his arms had all manner of bones sticking out. He was never going to be able to use his arms again, not normally anyway.

"I enjoyed my freedom, I'll let you decide their fate. I had my fun", said Kurama.

Naruto was in control of his body once more. He took their masks and searched for their scroll. After a few minutes he found it and luckly it was an earth scroll. He looked down at the broken remains of the rain ninja on the ground. He felt bad for them though the life of a ninja was a hard one their only crime was being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Naruto reached into his pack to get out some equipment. The least he could do was allow there bones to settle properly. Using some of the equipment the rain ninja brought with them and some nearby sticks he was able to form a temporary splint until they could receive proper medical attention. If they were lucky they would live through this with some ability to move normally, thogh their ninja carrers were over. Once done Naruto left to find an area to set up camp. He found a large hollow tree that would work. He could see the small eye stalks of his Shoggoth underground. He would be able to sleep with that protecting him, but he had to stay up when Sasuke and Sakura were fully healed. He sat in the hollow tree as he waited.

It was late. Over six hours had passed since Sakura and Sasuke were taken by Xel. He was hoping that both their mutations would not kill them. As he sat there he began to doze off. he fought against sleep as hard as he could. It was during this time that memories entered his mind. Naruto shot up. He bit his thumb and quickly summoned Xel. When the smoke cleared Xel was standing holding both of his unconscious teammates.

"So how did it go", asked Naruto.

"The scientist did all he could but the marks cannot be removed. He studied them intently. The seals have an unusual effect on brain chemistry. A suggestive mind control. It is weak but tenacious. The mark promises power and a want to use that power. We were capable of removing this but the other effects remain. There mutation is incomplete but they both will be more powerful. The scientist says he can complete there mutation artificially but it would take longer than the time he had", said Xel as he lowered both onto the ground.

"So what are the effects", asked Naruto.

"Secondary form of chakra that is quite potent, improvements to the human body notably strength and speed. Essentially the mark makes them better, genetically speaking. However the second stage appears to be an actual transformation if what we found is any hint. There was a new introduction of strands of DNA that are dormant, we can activate it but not now. So far we were capable of removing the negative effects on the mind but not the body. Over use of the marks power speeds up mutation gradually though the physical mutations need some outside source to activate the domant areas of the DNA. Being that DNA is changed to such a degree sterility is a possibility though we cannot know at this time. There was a period during the experiment where the seal seemed to grow into jagged spots on the skin though we suppressed that for the operation", said Xel.

Naruto nodded.

"Well I guess this changes things. If we can get rid of the negative effects we can activate further mutation for them if they choose. Once this is over I guess we have to let them in on everything. Maybe I can show them my eldritch form. it might let them know that whatever they change into I have been through something similar and can understand what they are going through. Either way it's their choice", said Naruto.

"If that is what you wish I will not stop you, in any event Brainiac has compiled this information at the lab. He believes he can copy the changes of the seal for our own uses", said Xel.

"Thats a plus", said Naruto.

"Indeed, I shall take my leave my lord", said Xel as he dispelled.

Naruto sat next to his teammates. He almost laughed when he though on the second form thing. With his eldritch form and whatever they could potentially become they could be known as Team Monster. He shook his head. Yawning Naruto closed his eyes and fell to sleep. They had both scrolls they could head off to the tower when they all woke up.