The Cursed Child Chronicles: Naruto's Unconventional Destiny

Ch-23 (Future Set in Stone)

The words felt hollow, even to her.

In a training field on the outskirts of the village, Rin Nohara, in her three-tailed bijuu form, felt the earth tremble beneath her. Her shell-like armor glinted in the sunlight as she turned her gaze toward the source of the roar. Her heart sank. She could feel the oppressive chakra even from this distance. It was wild, suffocating, and all too familiar.

"Naruto..." she murmured to herself, her voice laced with concern. Without hesitation, she began to move, her massive form crashing through the forest as she headed toward the battle. Her mind raced with urgency.

"Sensei needs me... but more than that, Naruto needs me. I won't let him fall further into this."

Meanwhile, in the depths of Suki Namikaze's mind, another presence stirred. The Kyuubi, sealed within her, opened one lazy eye, its massive form sprawled languidly within the confines of its cage.

It could sense the roar that had shaken the world outside and the terror it instilled in the weaklings of the village. The bijuu chuckled, a low, guttural sound that echoed through Suki's subconscious.

"Hmm. That brat's making a scene, isn't he?" the Kyuubi mused, its tone filled with equal parts amusement and disdain. "And these pathetic humans... scared of a little noise. How predictable."

Suki, however, heard nothing of this internal monologue. She ignored of both the Kyuubi's musings and the roar that had shaken the village to its core.

The fox let out a derisive snort, its tails swaying lazily. "Meh, who cares? Let the kid throw his tantrum. Not my problem. I'm comfortable here."

Back on the battlefield, Rin's massive form approached, her presence a stark contrast to the overwhelming chaos she steeled herself for what lay ahead.

The air was thick with tension as a dozen shinobi, including Kakashi, Obito, Asuma, Kurenai, and several ANBU operatives, landed strategically around the raging Naruto in his four-tailed form. The corrosive chakra emanating from Naruto made the air feel heavy and toxic, causing their breathing to grow labored. Still, each of them steeled their resolve, prepared for what lay ahead.

"Naruto!" Kakashi called out, his Sharingan spinning as he tried to find some semblance of his student within the monstrous figure before them. "You have to stop this! This isn't you! We can help you, but you need to fight it!"

Obito stepped closer, his Mangekyō Sharingan glowing ominously. His tone was both commanding and pleading. "Naruto, listen to me! Don't let this power consume you! Remember who you are! Remember the people who care about you!"

Kurenai, her voice soft but steady, added, "Naruto, think of all the pain this will cause! Think of your friends, your village... You don't have to fight alone."

For a fleeting moment, Naruto's monstrous growls faltered, his head tilting slightly as if he were processing their words. His claws lowered slightly, and the deafening hum of corrosive chakra dissipated to a faint crackle. Hope flickered among the shinobi.

"Is it working?" Asuma whispered to Kakashi, his hand hovering near his chakra blades.

Kakashi nodded cautiously, his gaze never leaving Naruto. "Maybe. Keep talking to him-he might be regaining control."

Naruto's growling ceased entirely, his feral posture relaxing as his head slowly lifted. The crimson hue of his form dimmed ever so slightly. But just as the hope took root, a devilish grin crept across Naruto's face. His sharp fangs gleamed, and his tails twitched with renewed energy.

The shinobi froze, their relief turning to dread.

Suddenly, the corrosive chakra surrounding Naruto began to collapse inward, spiraling into a dense ball that floated ominously above his outstretched claw. The sheer intensity of the chakra ball warped the air around it, crackling with malevolent energy.