Naruto: The Beast Within

Next Day

The air is cool, the evening sky painted in deep hues of purple and orange as the sun begins its slow descent. The training ground, a wide open field surrounded by dense trees, is quiet—only the rustling of leaves and the distant sounds of the village can be heard.

Raimu stands at the center of the field, hands in the pockets of his loose-fitting hoodie, the fabric slightly oversized on his smaller frame. His golden eyes are half-lidded, the usual drowsy glow in them making it look like he's half-asleep on his feet.

Three days have passed since his fight with Iruka. Three days since he was humiliated, pinned, and outmatched.

This is the first time he's trained since the fight with Iruka. His body feels rested, his chakra full. Everything should be fine.

He exhales slowly, lifting one hand. Alright… let's do this.

Energy stirs within him, a familiar warmth rising in his chest. He focuses, shaping it, expecting the usual surge of chakra that brings his creatures into existence.

But nothing happens.

His brows furrow slightly. Weird. He tries again.

Still nothing.

His fingers twitch. A flicker of chakra finally sparks—but it fizzles out almost instantly.

Raimu stares at his hand. Blinks. Tilts his head. Huh…

He scratches his cheek lazily, rolling his shoulders. "Okayyy… maybe I'm just stiff. Let's try again."

Closing his eyes, he focuses harder, pulling at the energy deep within him. He shapes it, imagines the form—something simple. A small beast. Something easy.

A faint glow appears in front of him, just for a second—

—before it vanishes like a candle snuffed out.

Raimu's eyebrow twitches.

His lips press together in a tiny, almost comically cute pout. "…Huh."

He tries again.

Nothing.

Again.

Nothing.

He stomps his foot slightly, frustration creeping in. "Oi, oi, oi… what is this? This isn't funny."

A pause. His eyes shift around the empty field, golden irises flickering with confusion.

Then, he cups his hands around his mouth and calls out in a slow, sleepy drawl—

"Hellooooo? Where did you guys gooo?"

The only response is the soft rustling of the wind through the trees.

Raimu narrows his eyes. "Tch."

He exhales, rubbing the back of his head. Alright. Calm down. Let's think.

He hasn't used his power since the fight with Iruka.

Did something change?

His creatures always came to him instinctively, responding to his chakra like an extension of himself. They were never just weapons—they were a part of him.

So why… why aren't they listening?

Raimu sighs dramatically, flopping backward onto the grass. His hands rest behind his head as he stares at the sky, deep in thought.

"Did Iruka mess me up somehow?" he mutters to himself, his voice lazy but tinged with frustration. "Did he punch my quirk out of existence? I don't remember him hitting my soul…"

He kicks his legs a little, just enough to vent his irritation.

Then, as if testing something, he wiggles his fingers in the air.

"…Nope. Still got chakra. Not broken. So what's the problem?"

The silence around him offers no answer.

Raimu groans, rolling onto his side, pulling his hood up over his head in mild defeat. "Ughhh… I don't wanna do this the hard way… But I guess I don't have a choice…"

He lifts his hood just enough for one golden eye to peek out.

"…Trial and error it is."

Raimu sits up, stretching lazily before standing. He rolls his neck, shakes out his arms, then pours more chakra into his attempt.

More power = stronger response. That's how it always worked before.

He focuses. Channels the energy deeper.

Something stirs—a flicker, a wisp of movement.

His eyes brighten slightly. "Aha! There we—"

The chakra bursts violently, then explodes in his face.

BOOM.

Raimu yelps, coughing as smoke covers the air around him.

When it clears, he's sitting on the ground, his entire front covered in soot.

A single lock of his bright white hair sizzles slightly at the tip.

"…Ow."

He pats at the burnt strand, eyes half-lidded and unimpressed. "…Okay. Too much chakra. Got it."

Maybe I overdid it.

He dials it way down, focusing on a gentler approach.

A small pulse of chakra flickers out—calm, controlled.

For a moment, something starts to take shape…

…But it vanishes immediately, like it lost interest.

Raimu pouts again, a bit more aggressively this time. "Oh, come onnn… That was perfect! What do you want from me?!"

The wind blows mockingly in response.

He stomps his foot again, but since he's barefoot, all he does is stub his toe against a rock.

His face contorts in slow-motion pain.

"—Nnnghhhhh… Ow."

He hops on one foot, holding his injured toe, teeth clenched.

After a few moments, he just flops backward onto the ground again, defeated.

"…Okay. This sucks.

__

1 hour later

Laying flat on the grass, Raimu crosses his arms over his chest.

"…Hey." His voice is calm, almost casual. "Are you guys mad at me?"

Silence.

He tilts his head slightly.

"…Is this about Iruka?"

Nothing.

A small, uneasy feeling creeps into his chest.

He's never had to work to summon them before.

They always answered.

Always.

But now, it's like there's a wall between them.

Like something has changed.

And he doesn't know what.

His fingers dig into his sleeves slightly, expression unreadable.

After a long moment, he exhales through his nose.

"…Alright. Fine." He sits up slowly, brushing dirt off his clothes. "If you won't come out… I'll just make you."

His golden eyes sharpen slightly, determination flickering through the exhaustion.

"I've got all night.