[Sending his one remaining clone—once it arrives—down the well is the right call. Naruto nods distractedly as he peers with curiosity at the crumbling structure. So, this is a chapel? He has to wonder what kind of purpose it served before…whatever happened to this place. Judging by the miles of urban devastation, some kind of disaster must have wiped out the Barrens a while ago. But what? Caught in these musings, the blond doesn’t register that they’re under attack until the sharp call of his name. He whirls around, chakra enshrouding his body instinctively in a protective shield, only to find the monster knocked aside by his teammate. Before he can thank Sasuke for having his back, a second gargoyle divebombs the other young man. Recognizing the seal for katon, he braces himself.
Except the wall of blazing heat never comes. Sasuke goes down.
And Naruto…Naruto loses himself. It reminds the jinchūriki of the times Kurama wrestled control from him—that disembodied sensation where he’s simultaneously aware and unconscious, both powerful and fragile, himself and other. There is no lapse in memory this time, however; Naruto slides immediately into his three-tailed version, chakra boiling the very air around him, fangs bared, nails like blades, crimson eyes wide with rage.]
Don’t touch him! [Naruto snarls, growled voice like the low reverberation of a nightmare.] I’ll kill you!
[When he moves, it’s at a speed normal sight would be unable to follow. Naruto launches himself at the gargoyle with enough force to send the creature flying—clawed hand slamming Sasuke down to the ground before the shinobi can be similarly dragged along. The jinchūriki pauses, too intense gaze lingering on his best friend for several seconds as his clouded mind tries to hold fast to the fact that Sasuke is an ally, not an enemy.]
Never again. [A grim promise, hissed out between elongated teeth as if to himself.] You take out the first. This one’s mine.
[With hate contorting his features, Naruto chases on all fours after the gargoyle he struck down.]
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Except the wall of blazing heat never comes. Sasuke goes down.
And Naruto…Naruto loses himself. It reminds the jinchūriki of the times Kurama wrestled control from him—that disembodied sensation where he’s simultaneously aware and unconscious, both powerful and fragile, himself and other. There is no lapse in memory this time, however; Naruto slides immediately into his three-tailed version, chakra boiling the very air around him, fangs bared, nails like blades, crimson eyes wide with rage.]
Don’t touch him! [Naruto snarls, growled voice like the low reverberation of a nightmare.] I’ll kill you!
[When he moves, it’s at a speed normal sight would be unable to follow. Naruto launches himself at the gargoyle with enough force to send the creature flying—clawed hand slamming Sasuke down to the ground before the shinobi can be similarly dragged along. The jinchūriki pauses, too intense gaze lingering on his best friend for several seconds as his clouded mind tries to hold fast to the fact that Sasuke is an ally, not an enemy.]
Never again. [A grim promise, hissed out between elongated teeth as if to himself.] You take out the first. This one’s mine.
[With hate contorting his features, Naruto chases on all fours after the gargoyle he struck down.]