As The Kyuubi no Yoko in Naruto

While Team Seven settled into Tazuna's home, a shadow clone made days earlier approached a hidden hideout deep in Wave Country's forests. The imprints had aided it in it slipping from Konoha's gaze.

Inside, Zabuza lay recovering from his "death," while Haku tended to him. Neither noticed the red chakra seeping under the door until it was too late.

"The memories are clearer here," the clone spoke, as the door broke apart "Away from the village's seals, I remember more of what I am."

Haku moved instantly, senbon appearing between their fingers, but the clone's eyes had already shifted to crimson. Red chakra filled the small space, heavy with power that made both missing-nin freeze instinctively.

"I remember being sealed," the clone continued, maintaining their careful narrative. "Remember being bound into this small form. But the seal is weakening, the memories returning. The power..."

"What are you?" Zabuza managed, his trained instincts screaming at him to flee from something that felt older than the villages themselves.

"Once, I was called the Nine-Tailed Fox," the clone's voice shifted between youth and ancientness. "Now... now I'm remembering. Understanding. This body, these memories of being human... they're part of me now. But not all of me."

The chakra pulsed, making the air itself feel heavy with malevolent energy.

"You called yourself a demon," the clone's eyes fixed on Zabuza. "Perhaps you'd like to serve a real one?"

"And why," Zabuza managed through the oppressive chakra, "would the Nine-Tails - if that is truly who you are - want our service?" 

"Because I remember more than just power," the clone's voice carried that perfect mixture of ancient knowledge and childlike confusion they'd practiced. "I remember... being controlled. By villages, by seals, by those who think they can cage what I am."

Haku remained tense, senbon ready, but their eyes showed growing fascination with this strange being - neither fully demon nor fully human.

"The village thinks I'm breaking," the clone continued, red chakra swirling more gently now. "Thinks the seal is making me forget which memories are mine.

And perhaps they're right. Perhaps I am both the demon and the boy now. But that makes me... useful. Powerful. Free to act in ways they can't predict."

"And what does that have to do with us?" Zabuza's eyes narrowed.

"You tried to kill the Mizukage," the clone stated, making Zabuza tense. "Failed, but tried. That interests me. Someone who understands the need to break free of those who would control us."

The chakra pulsed once more, but gentler this time - almost inviting.

"Gato will betray you," the clone stated with certainty. "But I... I reward loyalty. Protect what's mine. And I could be convinced to make you mine. To help you succeed where you once failed."

Zabuza's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. Years of survival as a missing-nin had taught him to evaluate offers carefully, but this... this was something beyond his experience.

"And what exactly would this service entail?" he asked, noting how the clone's form seemed to waver slightly.

"For now? Simple things. When we meet again in battle, you'll play your part. Make it convincing, but ensure I appear... unstable. Dangerous. Let Konoha see exactly what they fear - a weapon they can't fully control."

"And after?" Haku spoke for the first time, their voice careful.

"After..." The clone's smile showed too many teeth. "After, we discuss the Mizukage. And how a true demon's power might succeed where human strength failed."

The chakra pulsed once more, weaker now as the clone's time grew short. "Consider carefully.

When next we meet, show me your answer through your actions. Remember - make it convincing, but ensure I appear the greater monster."

As the clone dispersed into red mist, Zabuza and Haku exchanged looks. They'd just been offered something far more valuable than Gato's money - a chance at real power, real change.

The question was: could they trust a being that so perfectly played at being both demon and child?

And more importantly: could they afford not to?

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In Tazuna's house, Naruto sat in quiet meditation while his teammates slept. The memories from the dispersed clone flowed into his consciousness, shared instantly with the warmth in his mind.

"Well played, kit," the Nine-Tails approved, reviewing their performance. "The offer of power against the Mizukage was particularly inspired."

"Will they accept?" Naruto asked internally, processing the memory of Zabuza's calculating expression.

"They'd be fools not to," the warmth curled thoughtfully. "Missing-nin survive on opportunity, and we've offered them something far greater than Gato's petty schemes. Besides..." A touch of amusement colored its voice. "We showed them just enough power to make refusal dangerous."

Through the house's thin walls, they could hear Kakashi shifting in his sleep, still recovering from chakra exhaustion.

The floorboards creaked softly as Sasuke approached, having noticed his friend's meditation. He sat down quietly, waiting for Naruto to acknowledge him.

The floorboards creaked softly as Sasuke approached, having noticed his friend's meditation. He sat down quietly, waiting for Naruto to acknowledge him.

"That fight today," Sasuke murmured, keeping his voice low enough not to carry. "The killing intent he used..."

"Was nothing," Naruto replied, though the tone in his voice suggested it wasn't entirely him speaking. "Human malice is such a pale imitation."

"Hn." Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly. "You enjoyed letting him see that."

"Of course," the voice carried that careful blend of childish enthusiasm and ancient amusement. "It's not every day someone calls themselves a demon in front of us. How could we resist showing him the difference?"

Sasuke's Sharingan activated briefly as he scanned the unfamiliar house for any listeners. "He'll be back." A useless action, for the Kyuubi was more than aware, but in the end, Sasuke was never one who enjoyed being dependant on others.

"Good." Naruto's eyes flickered red momentarily. "Next time we'll give him an even better demonstration of what real demons can do."