Chained Beast 2.0 (Naruto Quest)

Many violent thoughts flashed through your mind as the new guard approached, but you kept your cool. There was little you could do in your current situation. You considered shedding some crocodile tears to try and get the guard on your side, but with that veteran guard present, it was likely the plan would not work.

You had to build up trust with this inexperienced guard over time. If you behaved while he was around, he could potentially begin to doubt the stories of his coworkers. You would have to remain patient and subservient, but you felt that this would be your key to freedom.

The guard set the tray in front of you, and you simply looked at him coldly as he backed away, trembling in your presence. You dropped to your knees and leaned down, eating the foot from your tray like a dog due to your restrained arms. In due time, they would pay for humiliating you...

You kept up your calm persona for a while, and couldn't help but smile when one day he showed up between the visits of the guards all by his lonesome.

"Is there something you want?" you asked, your voice hoarse from months of not using it. Yelling, screaming, and cursing accomplished nothing, so you only spoke when the guards taunted you. You were not used to hearing your words in the voice of a young girl.

"I... I really shouldn't be here right now," the guard stammered as he shifted around nervously, constantly glancing behind his shoulder.

"Why did you come here?"

"Well... the others say you're a vicious beast, but..."

You held back the devilish grin you were feeling at the moment. Hook, line, and sinker.

[] Now is the time to craft a sob story. Your freedom is so close you can taste it! Once you were free of your bonds, there would be no way they could shackle you again!

[] Restrain yourself. Keep calm. Breathe. Continue taking things slow. If you can... befriend this human, then not only will you eventually be freed, your chances of breaking out of prison will only go up with an ally.

You had a strong urge to prey on his sympathies and spin a story to get him to unchain you, but you thought it better to remain patient. If you befriended this guard, then it would be much more likely that you would get out of this prison.

"In the past I was a vicious beast. Not anymore," you said. Technically, it was true. Though as soon as you were out of here you would be vicious once more.

"Then why do they keep you chained up in here?" the guard asked.

"They fear me. They have also written me off as nothing but a savage animal. I have changed, but they will never see that. You, however, can see that I am not a rabid beast."

The guard did not reply, but he looked conflicted.

"These are not humane conditions I am in. Nothing to do but wallow in my filth in this dark and cold place. The corner that I designate as my toilet only gets cleaned up once every... what I assume is a month. Fifteen guard cycles. I don't even have a proper track of time. Nobody deserves this kind of treatment... surely you can agree."

"I don't know what you did..." the guard said quietly.

"That does not matter. It is in the past now. I am a different person now." Literally, you wanted to add.

"How long have you been in this cell?"

"This is the third body I have inhabited. I was locked in here shortly after the fight that created what is now known as the Valley of the End."

"That was fifty years ago..." the guard breathed.

"Fifty..." you repeated, digesting that information. "More than half of a lifetime. That is a lot of years to reflect on past mistakes."

"I... I think I should go now..." the guard said, hearing a noise in the distance.

"Please... do not leave me here to rot..." you said. You wanted to retch at the fact that you were begging for a human to help you, but it was all part of the act.

"I... I won't. I'll visit you again," the guard said as he began to leave.

"Thank you... I don't know your name."

"Gekki."

With that, the guard was gone. You took time to mentally cleanse yourself for interacting with a human as if he was your equal. But you were glad that you did it. You could already taste your freedom.

Gekki would come and visit you every so often, always alone and off shift. He became less and less nervous each time. These talks were a good way to learn what the world was like since you had been imprisoned.

Was there anything you wanted to ask Gekki? Or were you eager to move ahead?

[] Ask Gekki some questions (Write In)

[] You have no questions, you want to be free already!

Multiple thoughts flashed through your head, but you decided to ask the questions most important to you. "Who is this host I inhabit? I heard you talking to the other guard about her..."

"She's...the daughter of the Head of the Hyuga Clan. That's all I know," Gekki answered, his eyes shifting from side to side.

"Are you lying?" you calmly asked, forcing down the fury burning in your chest.

"N-No! I'm being honest!" Gekki sincerely replied.

"Alright...then who is the leader of this village?"

"Why would you want to know that?" Gekki responded. "If you're planning on getting revenge..."

"Of course not. I merely want to know if the leader is trustworthy, he might be another who could see the change within me," you calmly lied.

"...The Fourth Hokage, his name is Minato Namikaze. He's a good man, but I don't know him personally," Gekki sighed.

"What's going on in the village? What are some of the events I missed in this prison?" you inquired.

"Um...uh. Well, there has been the three shinobi world wars, but they were all before my time, I couldn't really give you details," Gekki muttered.

"Tch..." you grunted. If he wasn't too sure on the details, then most of your other questions would probably be met with the same ignorance. You wanted to ask about what clans are in the Leaf, but going by his reaction when you asked for Minato, he might take it the wrong way. You didn't want to ruin this while you were so close to freedom! "I have one last question, do you know anything of my siblings?"

"I don't know anything, I'm sorry," Gekki said. He suddenly stiffened as he heard the sounds of footsteps. "I have to go now, I'll be back."

Gekki swiftly left, leaving you by yourself. You had managed to get some information, but not much. You supposed you would find those answers yourself when you finally escape...

---

Soon the talks began to be about ways to break you out of this prison. Only a few select ANBU were aware of where you were being held, which was deep beneath the normal prisons of the village. The optimal time to break you out, according to Gekki, would be during your normal talk times. Your main opposition out of here would be the other guards that visited you.

"I think the next time I visit, I will set you free," Gekki said as he walked up to your cell.

"Is that all you will do?" you asked.

"Well... I want to free you. But I don't want to be considered a traitor against my village..." Gekki said with a bit of shame as he bowed his head.

"How do you expect me to make it out of here by myself?" you asked.

"I think I can distract the other guards as you make a break for it. You should have little trouble getting out of here, since I've thought of some believable excuses."

Is this plan agreeable? If you want Gekki to do a different role or alter the plan, time to try and convince him.

[] The plan is agreeable. Continue forward.

[] Change the plan and convince Gekki to go with it. (Write In for the plan and convincing)

"Little trouble? I've been locked down here for fifty years," you replied with bitterness.

"Oh! Don't worry! I'll have you a map the next time I show up!" Gekki affirmed.

Gekki left you shortly after that, and you became quite antsy as you waited for his next visit in two days. You had spent fifty long years trapped down here, and you were itching to get out. Manic glee was spread across your face when the two days had passed and Gekki returned once more.

He opened your cell and stepped inside, dropping a furled up piece of paper near you as he worked on undoing your restraints.

"One of the first things you should do once you're safe and sound is to get a bath and a fresh set of clothes," he said, disgust carried on his voice. No doubt you smelled repugnant due to your despicable living conditions.

Your arms immediately began to ache as the cuffs binding them behind your back were released. More accurately, they were now able to feel again now that they were free from their previous numbing position. You carefully moved your arms, hands, and fingers to warm them up from years of neglect. Following those were the chains around your legs, but you didn't need to adjust to not having those in due to their lax nature.

"There. You're free to go now. That piece of paper contains a sketch of the complex. Good luck," Gekki said before suddenly turning around and departing. You didn't have a chance to thank him... which was good. You didn't think you would be able to muster the will to thank a human.

You picked up the piece of paper and unfurled it with a bit of trouble. You glanced over the various floors the map showed, along with the path out and various notes that Gekki had placed before closing it and tucking it into a small hole on the rags that clung to your skin. The paper naturally unfurling plugged it in the hole once it was placed within, and the sticky nature of your rags made it unlikely that your movement would jostle the map from its position.

Free... you were almost free. But you needed to get out of here first...

[] There was little time to waste. Just follow the map and get out of here.

[] Gekki might be careless with his distraction. Pay a visit to one of the guards on patrol and forcefully ensure that you would not be caught.

[] You're not leaving this prison without getting revenge on the guards that mistreated you so. Visit their personal quarters while they slumbered.