Naruto's POV (Hokage Rock - Hidden Leaf Village)
Naruto climbed up a mountain slowly. In truth, he could climb the stone easily with chakra. He even had experience climbing it without chakra. But with the climb, he attempted to burn some of his energy. He needed to think, perhaps meditate. He needed some time to process what had happened tonight.
His mother told him of his father… why he was given the burden of the Kyuubi… the fate of his father… even why she held the secrets. Naruto had wanted to scream at her. To let her know how angry he was. Yet he was grateful for her finally telling him. To finally know everything, even as his frustration grew, he felt a growing sense of peace. He felt proud to be the son of the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze. Yet Naruto felt slightly betrayed. If the man had found a different solution, he and his mother would not have their burdens. They could've even been a whole family… But from his mother's story, his father had done the very best he could that he faced impossible odds… Naruto was a walking storm of contradicting emotions and thoughts. Henceforth, he had waited for his mother to fall asleep before he snuck out. Naruto knew his mother was worried and didn't want to worry her further. As his mind freed itself from introspection, he finally arrived at the top of the mountain. A frequent hangout spot for him, even at a young age. Perhaps even then, he had subtly known his connection to it.
Naruto walked over the heads of his one-day predecessors. Hashirama Senju, The First Hokage, was the first man dubbed the God of Shinobi. He had formed the village that was now Naruto's home. Naruto didn't know his whole story, but from what everyone said, he may be the strongest shinobi ever. Naruto had always found his story inspiring. A man who had formed a home to end the war. Something about it simply felt right to the blonde. He walked atop the next head. Tobirama Senju, The Second Hokage. Known for his genius intellect, he had run the village well. Created various techniques, systems, and tools for his home. While Naruto never felt the same connection with the man, he did the others. He did envy Tobirama's famed intelligence and creativity. Naruto thought he was nothing like the man yet wished he could be. No, he knew one day he would be. Next was the head of the current Hokage. Hiruzen Sarutobi, The Third Hokage, the second God of Shinobi, or as Naruto called him, on the few occasions they had met. Old man. He was the student of the first two and, according to some, had surpassed his masters. He was also the only Hokage so far to not die in battle. He had brought some form of peace after the Third Great Ninja War through unknown methods. Naruto had watched the older man and felt respect for him. The Old Man had kept his home safe for years.
Something Naruto hoped to achieve as well once the hat was his. As Naruto arrived on the fourth and final head, he slowed before sitting in a meditative position. His attempt at blocking out the thoughts had failed. In his stupor, he had walked onto the head of the man who had technically caused his grief. Minato Namikaze, The Fourth Hokage, The Yellow Flash… his father.
Kushina had told him a bit about his father. He was a bit different from Naruto. She had described him as a man who used logic to pursue his passions. Calculating but in such a way that only made him more considerate. Intelligent to a fault, the man could be oddly bumbling. Something his mother had remarked they shared. They shared the same seemingly endless determination. The same compassion and care for those they cared for. It had been a painful conversation, yet it had also felt as if it healed him oddly. Despite the conversation, Naruto thought himself wondering more about the man who had helped create him. From what his mother described, he seemed complicated…
Furthermore, Naruto wondered what the man would think of him? Would he be proud of his son? Ashamed? The question ate at the blonde. He considered his merit. He had barely become a Genin, completed one mission, and was in the final in the Chunin Exams. Wouldn't that impress Minato? Should it even matter if it did? Naruto needed clarification. He cleared his mind with incredible difficulty. Relaxing his muscles, he slid into a meditative state.
It had taken Naruto years to find the patience and will to do so, but he felt it allowed him to find peace he rarely felt. He felt the chill breeze that often permeated the Hokage Rock. He smelled various things: the faint scent of rain and the more pungent scent of food from the village alone. The stone underneath him was excellent and smooth. He felt himself achieve momentarily inner peace. Naruto needed to find some peace.
'Stand tall… you are enough… face the woes head on.' A faint and oddly inhuman voice called. As he heard its words, Naruto felt an odd level of peace flow throughout him. Naruto frowned at this. What was that voice? This feeling? But as quickly as it came, it went. Naruto felt confused about it but decided he must've imagined it. He relaxed again as he refreshed his meditation. Before, he felt as if his midsection was being pulled. He outwardly gasped at the sensation; his upper and lower body felt as if they were being drawn into his core.
"What the f-" Naruto started before his eyes seemed to unfocus the blonde collapsing bonelessly on the ground.
Naruto blinked; suddenly, he seemed to be in some kind of sewer system. Oddly, it all seemed tinged with red. He shifted back, wondering how he got here. But I was surprised to notice there seemed to be some sort of liquid running throughout. It was red, and for his own sake, Naruto merely tried to pretend it couldn't be blood. He walked forward through the system. Indeed, it was a maze, yet he somehow knew where he was supposed to go…
He came upon a large gated door. It looked like it had simply been somehow forced into it. Naruto hesitated but opened the door with grim determination. Somehow, he had an idea of what he was about to face.
The room was large and also partially filled with liquid. It would've been nondescript if not for what inhabited the opposite side of the entrance. An absurdly large cage was present. Built into the side of the wall and locked with ludicrously large iron bars. Naruto felt a sense of dread from it. Yet he fearlessly marched forward. Pausing a good six feet from the cage. He looked at it with a complex stare.
"You in there… aren't you?" Naruto asked simply.
"Of course, This One is you damned brat." A booming voice responded. The mere force of it shook the room. "Your kind ensures This One's own is always suitably contained. Filthy humans!" It roared with force that nearly sent the blonde flying.
"I guess we meet at last… Kyuubi."