Demon Dragon Rider

Chapter 6: The Tale of Kushina

A fire sputtered, providing the only light in the cave it had been built in. Naruto sat against one of the walls as he looked at the sleeping form of his mother. He sighed as he looked back at the flames while polishing and cleaning his sword.

Soon after his mother had fainted, he had sent clones to free the slaves in the fortress and gather stolen supplies and riches. The clones had taken the supplies and riches back to the village, minus the amount for the job.

Afterwards, he left, heading southeast to the Land of Waves, which had become his base of operations after that fateful day.

[Flashback]

The blinding flash of light faded and Naruto lay on the ground, panting heavily. He slowly stood up, groaning as he did.

"Onyxia? You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah. You?"

"Yeah. What about the fox?" he thought as he entered his mindscape. He soon came to the large cage.

"HEY! WHERE ARE YOU, KURAMA?!" he shouted out.

"Here...master." The fox's voice rumbled from behind the bars before the fox appeared, only there was no aggression in its eyes.

"Master? What are you talking about?" Naruto asked, angry and confused.

The fox withdrew its head and then a figure appeared. This figure was a young woman wearing a black kimono with a crimson obi and a crimson nine-tailed fox design along the bottom of her kimono. She had long red and black streaked that reached to mid-back. A pair of fox ears and nine fox tails were the only thing that told Naruto that this wasn't a human being.

The woman bowed her head. "Sir Naruto, since you defeated me in combat, I am your loyal servant, though I really don't like the idea of submitting to being a human," she said. "As you've probably guess, I am Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox and -"

"You're a girl?" Naruto asked.

Kurama growled. "Yes...did you expect me to be a man? Are males the only ones that are capable of being the most destructive beings on the planet?" she asked with her crimson eyes glowing in anger.

Naruto shook his head. "No...it's just...the voice sounded male, that's all. I have no problems with strong women," he said.

Kurama sighed. "Yes. Well, I am Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox. And since you and your dragon defeated me in combat, I must now follow your every command, as required by demon law. Not only that, but since I'm sealed in you, my power is now yours to command," she said, bowing again.

Naruto sighed. "You don't have to bow. I know you're only doing it because you have," he said.

Kurama stood straight. "Very well, Sir Naruto," she said.

Naruto sighed. "Well, can you tell me what it is I can do now?"

[Flashback Ends]

Naruto was drawn from his thoughts as his mother began to stir. He turned as she began to sit up, with the blanket over her falling off. She began looking around until her eyes landed on him.