I am Naruto but where is Kurama!?

" Fuck."

I cursed as the air burned my lungs, and my eyes were under constant irritation, making them watery.

" Fuck."

I cursed again as I was surrounded again by dark, shadowy figures that fought like Ninjas. One of the figures charged at me with a blade; at least, I think it's holding a blade, and it's not an extension of itself. I couldn't block it; otherwise, the other shadows would jump at me like wolves if I exposed even a moment of an opening.

My recent wounds are what I got from learning that lesson the hard way. I waited and dodged at the last moment before stabbing the Shadow with my spear, and it dissipated as I struck it. Another figure lunged at me from behind, and I tumbled to the side to avoid getting hit before throwing one of my throwing knives that I made to switch from Shuriken and Kunai.

The rest of the Shadows came at me with reckless abandon, and I flowed Wind Nature Chakra through my spear to swing it and cut them down in one blow. I felt drained as I was already running on fumes, and I was trying my best to conserve my Chakra. I cursed some more.

" Damn this trial!"

I thought back to just hours or maybe days ago since I had no idea how much time had passed when I decided to complete the remaining trials of the Fox Clan.

________________________________________

Naruto was being led through the Shrine Palace of the Fox Clan with not only Senko, Haruhime, and Souji but also Tamamo-no-mai and her guard Miyabi. The blonde non-kitsune couldn't help but ask the petite fox girl.

" Senko-san, what do these trials entail exactly?"

" Lady Tamamo?"

Senko asked the Clan leader, and the answer she received was curt but polite.

" You may."

The petite fox girl focused on Naruto as she explained.

" The first trial is known as the Trial of Skill, which you already experienced as it serves to separate the undesirable from those with actual potential. The Trial you are about to undergo is the Trial of the Mind, where your willpower and adaptability are put to the test. As for how you are tested well, that would be telling, Naruto-kun."

Senko said at the end with a playful smile, and the blonde non-kitsune shrugged as it hardly mattered. He would give his all to pass regardless. They entered the basement of the Shrine Palace through some massive doors, and torches lit up as they went deeper into the basement. The torches were an eerie pale blue that only lit up the bare minimum of the basement, which seemed only to get deeper.

The group soon found themselves in front of another set of large doors, which opened by themselves to reveal a room littered with Sealing Formula across the entire room. There were six kitsune-wearing priest kimonos with their faces covered with a cloth that had a Sealing Formula on it. Tamamo-no-mai then ordered.

" You are to stand at the center, Uzumaki, and your trial will start."

Naruto complied as he stood in the center surrounded by the six kitsune priests, and the priests then started chanting along with forming hand signs.

" Tora, Tori, Tora, Hitsuji, Inu, Saru, Inu, Hitsuji!"

They continued to chant and form hand signs until they all kneeled at the same time while calling out.

" Inu!"

The center where Naruto stood turned pitch black, and he fell through the hole, where he met unending darkness and shadows.

________________________________________

" FFFFFUUUUUCCCCCKKKKK!"

I roared out in pure frustration at this unpleasant and annoying hellish place. It's hard to breathe as every breath burns my lungs and throat. Even my skin is starting to feel like it's burning slightly as my eyes continue to water. I have never felt so drained in either of my lives.

My mind felt sluggish and filled with a dense fog while my body was begging for me just to lay down, but that would be a death sentence. Those Shadows would pounce on me and tear me to shreds. I moved forward while using my spear as a cane to support myself. I had no idea how long I had been in this place. There was no day or night, only shadows and darkness.

Another Shadow appeared, but it was different than what I faced before. It was giantic like the huge summons of the Sannin and Team 7 in the Canon, and I cursed in pure anger.

" Fuck."

The Giant Shadow reached out for me with its massive hand. I used Wind Nature Chakra Flow through my steel spear and poured every bit of Chakra I could muster to extend its attack range. As the giant hand was about to crush me, I tensed up and ran at the giant as I slipped past its hand. My mind roared as I used this technique concept I had in mind for a while since I mastered Wind Chakra Nature Transformation.

" Wind Style: Giant Hunting!"

I swung my spear as I tried to bisect the giant shadow, and the Shadow just dissipated like the rest from one good blow. I felt the ground beneath my feet shake as the darkness and shadows turned red, blood red. I felt my feet get wet as the ground turned into a liquid that I soon realized was blood as the smell of it hit me like a truck. At least I can breathe again.

Suddenly, I felt myself sinking, and I quickly used Water Walking to stop myself from finding if this sea of blood had a bottom. I looked up at the now red sky with not a cloud in sight, and with my mind now feeling much clearer, I wondered out loud.

" Just what the heck is this place?"

I briefly considered it might be a separate dimension like what Kaguya liked to use, but quickly disregarded that thought. Even with something like the Flying Thunder God Jutsu, transporting to another dimension requires an insane amount of Chakra. As I took in my new surroundings, the blood around me started to ripple, and bloodstained skeletons appeared out of the sea of blood.

First a few, then a dozen, then soon a hundred, and possibly even a thousand at the rate this was going. They were all armed with blades, spears, and axes, then they all looked at me and raised their weapon. They charged at me like a tsunami, and I did the most sensible thing in a situation like this. I turned around and RAN LIKE HELL!

" Fuck this Trial!"

I shouted as I ran as I was still low on Chakra from the Shadow World. I could hear the countless splashes of the army of red skeletons chasing me. I couldn't just keep on running like this as I have no idea if these blasted things even get tired. Chakra Flow is out of the question with my low reserves of Chakra right now, so Taijutsu and Bukijutsu are what I have to work with. Plus, even Water Walking is slowly taking its toll on me.

I am not sure of how many skeletons there are, but running away won't get me anywhere. I turned around and charged at the nearest skeleton as I held my spear. I pierced its skull, and before the rest could get the jump on me, I went back to running. This was turning into a slow slog where I retreat, then turn back around to try and counter-attack, then go back to retreating, rinse, and repeat.

Suddenly, waves of blood erupted as pillar-like mountains rose from the blood sea. The sea of blood disappeared, and I found myself falling. I pulled out a grappling hook I had in my storage scroll and threw it at the nearest mountain. I honestly wanted this trial to be over already before who knows what else happens

" Seriously, what the heck is this place?"

I considered it might be a Genjutsu and tried to break out of it like it was, but nothing changed. I cursed as my tiredness and frustration bubbled over.

" Fuck."

My eyes felt so heavy that I just wanted to nap, but the mountain I was on shook, which woke me right up. I noticed the mountain started to sink into the mist-covered ground. Yeah, I'm not tempted to find out what's down there, considering how this trial has turned out so far. So I climbed like my life depended on it because it does! I didn't even have any spare energy to curse as I climbed while not risking using any more Chakra, considering how drained I was.

As I climbed the collapsing mountain, I felt a drip of water hit my face. At least, I hope it's water. I touched where the liquid and felt a brief moment of relief, which quickly disappeared as I was met with a torrent of water hit me. I held on for dear life, even using Chakra to stick to the mountain, but the rocks on the mountain soon turned slick, and I lost my grip as I fell. I felt myself hit the water and was no longer able to breathe. I was just tapped out of stamina, and my Chakra is on fumes.

I held my breath as I sank into the water. I desperately looked for anything, ANYTHING, to keep me afloat, but I saw something I wish I didn't. From the watery abyss, a mouth with teeth upon razor-sharp teeth appeared as I sank to the maw with no energy to move and not enough Chakra to help me. It then hit me.

" Ah, I'm going to die."

The thought entered my mind, but it was less fear and more along the lines of acceptance. Considering I had already died once before, it didn't bother me to die again. At least I gave it my all. Right?

.

.

.

NO.

NO. FUCK THAT SHIT.

I AM NOT ABOUT TO BE FISH FOOD.

I refuse to die like this, not facing Orochimaru, not against Pain, not before strangling Obito, not until I kick Madara's shit in, not before killing Black Zetsu, not before smacking Kaguya's booty, and certainly not before beating the ever living shit out of every Ōtsutsuki that dares to cause Mr trouble! I grit my teeth and clenched my fist as I built up my Chakra, and I suddenly felt a fresh new way of strength hit me.

I grinned as I used Lightning Nature Transformation to fry this overgrown fish. Sparks appeared in my hand, but it wasn't enough nowhere enough.

"More, I need more!"

My mind filled with desperation and a will to live. Another wave of strength filled me as lightning filled my hand. I felt my lungs begging for air, and my vision started to blur.

" I will not die."

I thought to myself as another burst of strength hit me, and I now had enough lightning in my hand to do something that, in a more relaxed setting, would make me giddy. I unleashed my inner Sith Lord from Stars Wars and sent all the lightning I built up at the nightmare from the abyss from my hand as I let out a roar of defiance, losing the last bit of oxygen. I had one thought on my mind as I could no longer stay conscious.

" Fuck."

________________________________________

Tamamo-no-mai looked around at freshly singed Kitsune Genjutsu Masters as Naruto laid down and passed out from the Trial. She had an amused smile as she commented to Senko.

" It looks like you were correct in betting on the young Uzumaki's potential. Opening three of the Eight Inner Gates to use pure Lightning Chakra Nature Transformation to break out of the Seal-enforced Genjutsu."

The petite fox girl preened with pride at Naruto passing through Trial of the Mind in spectacular fashion. Senko said with a pleased tone.

" He certainly knows how to surprise people pleasantly."

Tamamo-no-mai chuckled as she retorted.

" Oh, I say our Genjutsu Masters were surprised certainly but not pleasantly in the slightest."

Haruhime went over to Naruto to lift him and Souji helped her in transporting the blonde non-kitsune to rest somewhere. The Clan Leader wondered aloud as she looked at Naruto with curiosity.

" I wonder how he will handle the Trial of the Heart?"