Naruto: The Fate of Beasts

Konoha's gates loomed before them, their massive wooden doors etched with the Leaf Village symbol—a spiral that seemed to pulse with the life of the village beyond. Kaito stood frozen, his bandana pulled low, his hands trembling at his sides. The sounds of the village washed over him—laughter, shouts, the clatter of carts, the hum of a thousand lives intertwined. It was too much. Too alive .

Jiraiya nudged him gently. "Breathe, kid. It's just a village."

*Just a village.* Kaito's throat tightened. His clan's home had been silent, nestled in the forest's embrace. This place was a storm of noise and motion.

"Jiraiya-sama!" A voice called from above. An ANBU operative perched on the gate, her mask carved into the likeness of a sparrow. "The Hokage awaits you."

Jiraiya grunted. "Of course he does. He can wait a little longer, Let's go, kid."

Kaito followed, his head darting towards every shadow.

The Third Hokage sat behind his desk, his pipe curling smoke into the air. His gaze softened as Kaito entered, now covered in bandages and wearing clean black clothes, but the boy shrank back, putting himself behind Jiraiya. The office smelled of old parchment and burnt sage, the shelves lined with scrolls and ornaments.

"So," the Hokage said, setting down his pipe. "This is the Tenshiro survivor."

Jiraiya crossed his arms. "His name's Kaito. And he's got a target on his back bigger than your ego, old man."

The Hokage ignored the jab. "Kaito. Your clan… I had thought them lost to time."

Kaito's head poked out form Jiraiya's back. "You know us?"

"Only through fragmented scrolls," the Hokage admitted. "The Tenshiro were renowned for their mastery of chakra. But they vanished decades ago. Until now."

Jiraiya leaned forward. "There's more. His eyes—Yajuugan . And his chakra natures…"

"Divine Release," the Hokage finished, his voice grave. "A Kekkei Mōra that transcends even Yin-Yang. To think such power exists…"

Kaito's fists clenched. "It's not power. It's a curse."

The Hokage studied him. "Curse? Child many would kill to have what you do."

Kaito shrunk back behind Jiraiya immediately, face pressed into his robes.

Jiraiya gave Hiruzen an angry glare.

" Ah.., I misspoke, I am sorry Kaito, I am getting old after all Hahaha.." Hiruzen said with a strained laugh.

"He's seven," Jiraiya interjected. "And he's got assassins on his tail. We need to keep him safe"

"…and contained." Hiruzen spoke.

The Hokage nodded. "He'll stay under ANBU surveillance until the council deliberates. No training, No Investigating, no unsupervised outings. Understood?"

Jiraiya frowned but didn't argue. Kaito stared at the floor, the weight of the Hokage's words pressing down on him. Contained. Surveilled. Just like a Beast.

---

Jiraiya led Kaito to a small apartment on the village outskirts, its walls thin and its windows barred—a precaution, he claimed. The room was sparse: a futon, a wooden desk, a single shelf collecting dust.

"Home sweet home," Jiraiya said, tossing a bag of clothes onto the bed. "For now."

Kaito stood in the doorway, paralyzed. The silence here was different from the forest. It was heavy, suffocating, broken only by the distant shouts of playing children.

"What's wrong?" Jiraiya asked.

"I've… never had my own place before," Kaito whispered. This room felt empty, like a void coming to swallow him, there was no scent of vanilla from his mothers perfume, no smells wafting in the air from whatever his Dad was making for dinner, no one to tell him off for trying to hide his eyes again or wearing a Bloody shirt. The solitude felt like a punishment.

Jiraiya ruffled his hair. " Take your time kid."

---

Sleep didn't come. Kaito lay awake, staring at the ceiling. The walls seemed to close in, the shadows twisting into shapes he didn't want to name. He tugged his bandana lower, hiding even the faintest glow of his eyes.

A sudden crash outside made him jolt upright. Peering through the barred window, he saw a flash of orange—a boy, no older than himself, sprinting down the street with a spray-paint can in hand.

"Get back here, you little demon!" A shopkeeper roared, shaking his fist.

The boy laughed—a bright, reckless sound—and vanished around a corner.

Kaito pressed his forehead against the cold glass. *Demon?* The word echoed in his mind, mingling with the insults the red-cloaked killers had hurled at his clan. *Abominations, Demons. Beasts.*

Days passed in a blur of hushed voices and ANBU shadows. Kaito wasn't allowed outside without escort, but Jiraiya's idea of "escort" was a half-hearted stroll to the market before disappearing into a tavern.

"Stay here," Jiraiya said one afternoon, shoving a bag of coins into Kaito's hands. "Buy yourself something edible. And don't set anything on fire."

Kaito wandered the market alone, his bandana drawn tight. The villagers' stares prickled against his skin—curious, wary, hostile. He froze when a familiar flash of orange darted past.

"Hey! Watch it!"

The blond boy—Naruto—skidded to a halt, nearly colliding with Kaito. His cheeks were smudged with dirt, his grin too wide for his face.

"Whoops! Sorry 'bout that! I'm Naruto Uzumaki! Future Hokage, dattebayo!"

Kaito stumbled back. The boy's chakra was… *bright*. Like sunlight piercing through storm clouds, warm and unapologetic.

"Uh… you okay?" Naruto tilted his head. "Your eyes are kinda… glowy."

Kaito snapped his bandana back into place. "I'm fine."

"Hey, wait! You new here? Wanna see my secret training spot? I've got ramen coupons!"

Kaito blinked. "Ramen… coupons?"

"Yeah! Old Man Teuchi gives 'em to me when I fix his stools. C'mon!"

Naruto grabbed his wrist, tugging him toward an alley. Kaito froze, panic surging. *Don't touch me. Don't look at me. Don't—*

"Let go," he hissed, yanking his arm free.

Naruto's grin faltered. "Oh. Uh… sorry. I just thought… y'know, you looked lonely."

Lonely. The word struck Kaito like a kunai in his heart. He'd been alone since the pyre, but no one had said it. At least not out loud.

"I'm not lonely." Kaito spit through clenched teeth.

Naruto scratched his head. "Well… if you ever wanna not be not-lonely, I'm usually at Ichiraku's! Or the bridge! Or… y'know, anywhere they don't chase me out."

He waved and scampered off, leaving Kaito standing in the market's noise, clutching the ramen coupons as if they were gold.

——-

Jiraiya returned that evening reeking of sake and frustration. "Council's arguing," he grumbled, slumping into the apartment's lone chair. "Old fools think you're a security risk."

Kaito sat on the floor, picking at a cold rice ball. "Am I?"

"Yes," Jiraiya said bluntly. "But so's every kid in this village. Difference is, you've got me."

"Why?" Kaito's voice was small. "Why are you helping me?"

Jiraiya stared at him for a long moment. "Let's just say I've got a soft spot for strays."

——-

That night, Kaito jolted awake. The air tasted wrong—stale, metallic. He crept to the window and froze.

On the street below, a figure stood cloaked in red and white, their mask gleaming in the moonlight.

*They're here.*

Before he could scream, the figure raised a finger to their lips—then vanished.

Kaito scrambled back, his heart pounding.

Sweat drenched his body, he stumbled, before "whoosh" finding himself tearing himself back up out of bed again.

Running straight to the window he looked out, the street was empty.

———

Naruto found him the next day at the bridge, where Kaito had been ordered to "get fresh air" under ANBU watch. The operative, a hawk-masked man, pretended not to listen as Naruto plopped down beside Kaito.

"Soooo," Naruto drawled, swinging his legs over the water. "Where'd you come from?"

Kaito stared at the river. "Nowhere."

"Nowhere's gotta be somewhere! I came from nowhere too, y'know. Well, the orphanage. But it's basically nowhere!"

Kaito glanced at him. "Orphanage?"

"Yeah! Everyone there hates me. But I don't care! 'Cause one day, I'll be Hokage, and they'll have to be nice to me!"

"Why tell me this?"

Naruto grinned. "'Cause you're the first person who didn't call me a demon."

The word hung between them. Kaito's brows creased as he turned to look at Naruto. "Why would they call you that?"

Naruto's smile dimmed. "Dunno. They just do."

For a moment, Kaito saw it—the flicker of pain beneath the bravado. The same pain that gnawed at him.

"I'm… sorry," Kaito said quietly.

Naruto blinked, then laughed. "Don't be! I'm gonna be so awesome, they'll forget all about it! Hey, wanna see my frog impression?"

He puffed out his cheeks and croaked. Kaito stared—then snorted, a sound so foreign he clapped a hand over his mouth.

Naruto beamed. "So you can laugh!"

Jiraiya found them an hour later, his expression unreadable. "Kid. Time to go."

Naruto leapt to his feet. "Bye, Glowy-Eyes! Come find me tomorrow!"

As they walked back, Jiraiya eyed Kaito. "Making friends?"

"He's… persistent," Kaito muttered.

"Good. You need persistent."

That night, the Hokage summoned them.

"The council has agreed to grant you asylum," the Hokage said, "on the condition that you remain under ANBU guard and begin basic academy training when you turn 8."

Kaito's stomach dropped. *Academy. More people. More stares.*

Jiraiya frowned and crossed his arms. "And the assassins?"

"Konoha's borders are secure. The red-cloaked attackers won't dare strike here."

"Bold assumption."

"Who would dare attack Konoha so openly Jiraya?"

"Fine. Jiraiya spoke before turning around a leaving with Kaito in tow.

—-

Naruto was waiting at the apartment the next morning, his face smeared with what looked like stolen jam.

"C'mon! Let's go to Ichiraku's! My treat!"

Kaito hesitated, then nodded. As they walked, Naruto chattered about ramen, training, and his dream of being Hokage. Kaito listened in silence, the weight on his chest easing—just a little.

At the ramen stand, Naruto slammed his coupons on the counter. "Two miso bowls, extra pork!"

The chef, Teuchi, chuckled. "Who's your friend, Naruto?"

Naruto puffed out his chest. "This is Glowy-Eyes! He's got cool glowy eyes!"

Kaito stiffened, but Teuchi merely smiled. "Welcome to Konoha, Glowy-Eyes."

The ramen was good, the city too loud, too overwhelming. But as Naruto laughed, Kaito felt a little better— just a little

——

That night, Kaito awoke to a kunai embedded in his chest, pain shooting through his body. A Wolf mask looming over him

"The beast cannot hide forever. We will find you."

He screamed himself awake once more.