Soul of the Heart-Chapter 7

    Nearly, a three month training period went by for Naruto so he could defeat Karou; with Kurama's help, Naruto learned how to use his Kitsune powers in battle. Hinata would come out and train every once in awhile but would quickly run back in before she would make a final strike. Naruto didn't understand why she would do that, Kurama said to him, "It maybe because of when she stabbed her" Naruto clenched his fist as Sasuke shouts, "Hey, dobe, I got a lead on Karou" Everyone froze as Naruto quickly turned around and demanded, "Where is she?" "Last I was told, she was at a small village near the citadel where Siegfried resides", Sasuke explained. Naruto let out a smile as Ezio said, "It looks like we better get a move on. Someone is itching for a fight" "Of course I am, Ezio", Naruto began, "It's payback time for that nail to the gut" Naruto couldn't sleep that night as he felt Hinata sleeping soundly under the covers; he got up and went out the backdoor and looked up at the night sky. He took a deep breath and said, "I know you're there, Ezio, don't you ever get any sleep?" Ezio stepped out of the shadows and replied, "I was 'bout to ask you the same thing, Naruto" "Couldn't sleep. But I'm nervous" Ezio slightly raised an eyebrow and asked, "What are you being so nervous about?" Naruto let out a sigh and said, "If I defeat Karou, would the Kitsune Clan accept me or will they treat me like a criminal" Ezio placed a hand on the young man's shoulder and said, "I may not know much about clans and kingdoms, but I believe you would make a great leader" It was enough from the assassin to make Naruto a bit more at ease. The next morning, Naruto, Hinata, Sasuke, Kurama, and Ezio stood at the back door of the bakery; Yahiko, Konan, and Karin all hugged Naruto and Hinata, though Karin couldn't help but cry as she said, "I hope you make it out of there, Naruto-nii-san" "Don't worry, cousin, I will", Naruto said calmly as Yahiko gave Kurama a bow with some arrows as a way to fight in his human form.

    Everyone headed off in different directions but Naruto kept Hinata by his side as they approached a small village and what they saw was horrific; the village was destroyed. They searched for survivors and met up at the town square as Naruto said, "Damn it, no one survived could this be the Demons?" "All these innocent people", Hinata said but noticed someone in the smoke, "Wh-who's that?" Naruto quickly turned around but drew Soul Calibur saying, "Madara?! What are you doing here? What do you want?" Madara calmly said, "I'm not here for you, if that is what you mean. I am here for that sword" "What-?" "Hateful sword, I will destroy it here once and for all!" A sword as big as Siegfried's comes from behind Madara and it looked like it had flesh on it along with an eye near the handle with its blade of to the side. Madara transformed into a figure that Naruto and Hinata had heard as children when Naruto growled, "You think that you are Nightmare? Take off that damn armor! He doesn't exsist" Nightmare lifted the sword and Hinata shoved Naruto out of the way as she got hit with the side of the sword, making her fall to the ground a little ways away from him; Naruto looked at the sword and said trying not to sound frightened, "Is-is that the real Soul Edge?" Nightmare turned to Naruto and said as he raised Soul Edge, "The Azure Nightmare stands before you now!" Naruto barely had time to raise Soul Calibur as Nightmare swung Soul Edge down onto the young man, making him stumble.
    After another missed strike and stumble, Naruto looked at Nightmare with fear all over his face saying, "Madara! You were Nightmare all this time?! I don't understand! Why on Earth would you have me kill the Demons?!" Nightmare pointed Soul Edge at him and said, "You haven't realized it yet?! Those I had you ordered to kill were nothing but weak and foolish humans like you!" Horror struck Naruto as he remembered all those he had killed and he placed his hand on his face, trying to hide the tears falling from his face and raised Soul Calibur saying, "No! No way in hell! I never killed any humans" Was he like his Kitsune ancestors, killing innocent people, he fell to his knees as Hinata stood there frozen in fear at Nightmare when Naruto let out a war cry. His whole body began to change, his eyes turned crimson with silts like a cat and fox-like ears formed as he charged straight at Nightmare, but Nightmare knocked Naruto to the ground. The young man's hand began to shake, denying everything that he killed humans as Nightmare walked up to him, raising Soul Edge, saying, "Soul Calibur will end here and NOW!!!" Hinata raised her sword and shield as she screamed "NO!"
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    Hinata blocked Nightmare's attack as she said, "If you hurt Naruto-kun, you'll have to get through me first" "Hinata", Naruto breathed, watching her hold her own as Nightmare said to her, "A puppet that is controlled by a fool believes that they can stop me?!" Hinata closed her eyes and muttered, feeling newfound power, "Stop hurting me. Stop rejecting me. Stop killing me!" With all of her strength, she swung Soul Edge away as she screamed and her clothes changed color. Naruto was frozen as he looked at this new Hinata here eyes were no longer the pale lavender but a combination of red, orange, and yellow; she swung her sword and didn't even hesitate as Naruto remembered Karou saying, "This energy, you have, girl…is rare" maybe this is what she meant by it. Nightmare let out a grunt and said as flames came around him and disappeared, "Is that all?" Hinata dropped her sword and turned to Naruto, who was now standing as she asked with her voice sounding lustful, "Are you...alright?"
    Naruto slowly raised Soul Calibur as she slowly walked to her lover saying, "You can't accept me if I am a Demon?" She continued to walk towards him and he walked backwards away from her as his mind tried to tell him it was a trick and that Nightmare did this to her. His back hit a wall as Hinata continued to walk to him until Naruto raised Soul Calibur again with Hinata inches from the blade. She stopped and asked him, "We are a family, right Naruto?" "We-we ARE a family", Naruto says, dropping his arm then growls, "But why is this happening to us?!" Hinata just stood there and watched as Naruto ran off into the forest, heading who knows where when she hears a very familiar voice say, "Oh poor Hinata-chan! See? Didn't I warn you? Blood means nothing to humans that's why they won't even try to understand the real you" Hinata looked at Tira saying, "Tira, I-. Tira, you are the only one that I can trust" Tira nodded her head and motioned Hinata to follow her. Karou watched everything from a distance and said to herself, "The master will be pleased with what I have discovered. My dear Naruto, now I know what to use against you"