Dark Naruto

Everyone gasped when they saw the Nine-Tails suddenly pull a white snake out of Sasuke.

The Nine-Tails said to Naruto, "All right. Now we just need to get rid of the negative emotions in the Senjutsu Chakra inside Sasuke, and his strength might even skyrocket."

Naruto asked in confusion, "Skyrocket?"

"That's right. If you can get rid of the negative emotions inside him, this Senjutsu Chakra will belong to him. Using this chakra as a catalyst, Sasuke will be able to train in Senjutsu Chakra. Once he can enter Sage Mode, the damage caused by tempering his body with Natural Chakra will be healed, too."

Naruto said happily, "Really? That's great!"

The Nine-Tails smiled. "All right. Now it's up to your Dark Persona. Since he's a collection of negative emotions, I think he'll have a way."

Naruto replied in surprise, "Kurama, you mean I should hand over control of my body to him so he can save Sasuke?"

"That's right. There's no one else who can do it. I know what you're worried about, but have you forgotten? He's Naruto, too, so he wants to save Sasuke just as much as you do."

Naruto answered reluctantly, "All right, then."

Shikamaru stared at the dead white snake and said to Naruto, "Naruto, why do I feel like I've seen this snake somewhere before?"

Ino looked at the white snake. "Now that Shikamaru mentions it, I think I've seen this snake before, too."

Naruto smiled. "Yeah. Everyone except Neji's team should have seen it. Have you forgotten? There was a snake like this on Yota, too."

Ino cried out, "That's right, I remember! The snake you pulled out of Yota looked just like this one!"

Shikamaru said, "Does that mean the person who revived Yota was the one who hurt Sasuke—the same person you just fought?"

Naruto nodded. "That's right. He's Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin."

Even Shikamaru was shocked. "The legendary Sannin? One of Konoha's Sannin? Why would he do something like this?"

Naruto replied, "He's always been researching forbidden techniques, and now he's a rogue ninja. Honestly, I have no idea what he's up to. As for attacking Sasuke, he might have wanted his Sharingan. Anyway, saving Sasuke comes first. We can talk about the rest later."

Naruto entered Mental Space, where the two Narutos, Good and Dark, were already waiting. He asked Dark Naruto, "You already know what happened. Can you fix it?"

"I can, but are you sure you want to do this?"

"What do you mean?"

"The only way to get rid of the negative emotions inside Sasuke is to absorb them into your own body. They'll make me stronger, but you'll become a little evil. If you can't control yourself, you might lose control. Are you sure you want to do this?"

After hearing Dark Naruto's words, Naruto turned to Good Naruto, seeking an answer from him. Good Naruto said gravely, "He's right. You nearly lost control of your emotions before, and if you absorb Sasuke's negative emotions now, you really might lose control."

After thinking it over, Naruto said firmly, "No matter what happens to me, Sasuke comes first. I believe I can keep myself under control."

Dark Naruto shrugged. "Suit yourself. If you've decided, then let's switch."

Naruto nodded. "Yeah. Let's do it."

When Naruto closed his eyes, everyone thought he was switching bodies with the Nine-Tails again. But when he opened them, Shikamaru noticed that his eyes weren't red, slit-pupiled eyes. They were black.

Shikamaru recoiled in shock. "Who are you? You're not Kurama."

Dark Naruto smiled wickedly. "Of course I'm not Kurama. I'm Naruto. Just not the Naruto you know."

Hinata asked anxiously, "Then where's the original Naruto-kun?"

Dark Naruto flashed over to Hinata, wrapped his arms around her, and grinned mischievously. "I'm your Naruto, Hinata."

Embarrassed, Hinata hurriedly pushed Dark Naruto away. "You're not! You're not the Naruto-kun I know!"

Dark Naruto pretended to be hurt. "What a cruel woman. You're even rejecting your own man."

Deep inside, Naruto roared, "Don't you dare bully Hinata, you bastard! Hurry up, treat Sasuke, and get back here!"

Dark Naruto shrugged. "Yes, yes, yes, stop rushing me. I hardly ever get to come out, and you won't even let me stay a little longer and breathe the outside air. Even if I'm just one of your personalities, you should respect my rights." After making this baffling remark, the unfamiliar Naruto walked over to Sasuke, whom Sakura was holding.

With a wicked smile, he said, "Beautiful lady, could you hand over the handsome guy in your arms? I need to treat him. And how can a pretty girl like you be into someone so cold? You should like me instead. I'll take good care of you." He leaned in close to Sakura's face. Their eyes met, and Sakura backed away in fright.

Dark Naruto turned to look toward the trees, and the others followed his gaze. Anbu and Anko had arrived at the scene.

Anko looked at the completely transformed Forest of Death and asked Naruto and the others in confusion, "Can someone tell me what happened here?"

Dark Naruto grinned wickedly. "I was wondering who'd show up. So it's Teacher Anko—and you too, Zabuza."

Zabuza said, "Naruto Uzumaki, the Third wants to know what happened here."

Dark Naruto grinned wickedly. "How cold. We've known each other for ages, and you're acting like this is strictly official business. I hate that."

Anko said sternly, "Naruto Uzumaki, please answer the question seriously."

Dark Naruto suddenly appeared in front of Anko, wrapped his arms around her, and grinned wickedly. "Teacher Anko, how would you like me to answer? What sort of response would you prefer? If you mean this, I'd be more than happy to answer. Mmm, you smell wonderful."

Anko froze as Dark Naruto suddenly embraced her. She wasn't the only one—the entire group was stunned.

Hinata snapped angrily, "Let go of Teacher Anko!" Her shout brought everyone back to their senses.

Dark Naruto smiled. "My little Hinata's angry. Teacher Anko, let's chat like this again next time." He released her.

Anko, finally coming to her senses, turned to Dark Naruto, both embarrassed and furious. "You brat! Drop dead! Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!" Several large snakes shot out of her sleeves and lunged at Dark Naruto.

With a wicked grin, Dark Naruto used the Flying Thunder God Technique to appear behind Anko. She cried out in shock, "The Flying Thunder God Technique? Did you leave a mark on me just now?"

Dark Naruto wrapped his arms around her from behind and whispered in her ear, "You're that reluctant to let me go, Teacher Anko?" Then he kissed her ear.

Anko's face instantly turned red. Naruto used the Flying Thunder God Technique to return to where he had been. Anko was both embarrassed and furious, but she didn't dare attack him again. She was genuinely afraid he'd do it again.

Zabuza coughed. "Naruto Uzumaki, please answer my question properly. Otherwise, I'll have to take you to the Third and let you explain it yourself."

Dark Naruto smiled. "It's nothing much. Orochimaru was just here. I fought him, and I didn't hold back well, so I destroyed this whole area."

Anko exclaimed in shock, "What did you say? Orochimaru was here?"

Dark Naruto smiled wickedly. "That's right. I drove him off. He won't be getting out of bed for at least a month."

Anko was even more shocked. "You're saying you beat Orochimaru and seriously injured him?"

Dark Naruto gave Anko a wicked grin. "Is there a problem, Teacher Anko?"

The look in Naruto's eyes made Anko very uncomfortable, as if she were being watched by a "hungry wolf." Combined with the way he'd just behaved toward her, it made her cheeks flush, and she couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze.

Zabuza, standing beside Anko, gave her a strange look. Hinata, standing beside Dark Naruto, had been thoroughly enraged by his behavior.

Hinata thought, Naruto-kun, you idiot! How could you do something like that to Teacher Anko? I'm so mad at you! I'll never forgive you again. Hmph!

After coughing, Zabuza asked, "Do you know why Orochimaru came to Konoha?"

Dark Naruto smiled. "No, but I'm sure he has some plan targeting Konoha. So you should warn the Third to be careful. It's always good to make a few extra preparations."

Zabuza nodded. "All right. I'll tell the Third. As for that unconscious kid over there, is he all right? Should he withdraw from the exam?"

Dark Naruto glanced at Sasuke and smiled. "No need. I'll heal him. It'd be better if the exam continued."

Zabuza shrugged. "Suit yourselves. We'll head back and inform the Third."

Anko said impatiently, "Since everything's fine, I'll be going." She left at once. Zabuza watched her walk away, then looked back at Naruto with a strange expression. He nodded to Naruto and vanished with a Body Flicker Technique.

Once the Anbu had left, Naruto went over to Sasuke and pressed both hands against his Cursed Seal. A terribly sinister chakra flowed into Dark Naruto's body. The overwhelming negative emotions surged into Naruto all at once, making him feel so uncomfortable that he nearly fainted.

Hinata, who had been scowling the whole time, hurriedly caught Naruto and asked with concern, "Are you all right?"

Dark Naruto smiled wickedly. "What, you're not mad at me anymore?"

Hinata tried to play it off. "I wasn't mad. Hmph."

Dark Naruto grinned mischievously. "You say that, but your lips are practically sticking up to the sky."

Hinata protested, "They are not! Do whatever you want. You're not my Naruto-kun anyway."

Dark Naruto smiled. "That's right. I'm not the fool you like, but I'm still Naruto. All right, that fool's coming back. I'll be going." He closed his eyes. When Naruto opened them again, he was the familiar Naruto everyone knew.