You can hear it inside you, hissing and burning with words that are less words and more teasing, tempting tugs on your soul.

“Come and enter death,” It hisses, “Die and be free.”

You know you won’t be free- that you will never be free. You know you can’t die yet, and so you push on- with one death behind you, and another blistering foul one in front of you

“Kid.”

When did he arrive? He was once your teacher, and you can hear his voice far to easily- even though he left long ago.

“You gotta play to your strengths. Don’t spend a lifetime trying to learn someone else cracked up jutsu- make your own!”

That was the seed that had started the idea. You wonder if you regret it. Sweat stings your eyes, and you feel like atlas, holding the weight of the world on your shoulders. The cool breath of the spirit behind you makes your skin crawl.

You think about him- the little boy. He is being born right now- chakra helping the birth, cutting him free, even though his mother is already cold and dead. In a moment you will have to think of him as a vessel, not as a child, not as your son.

You tried to explain to them how it worked. This twisted thing you created.You tried to explain that sealing the hate of the demon required a sacrifice- a trade. It took them a long time to understand- and after, you made them promise no-one would ever use it again.

Such a short term as Hokage. You think suddenly, as you feel the burn of crimson chakra between your fingers, and grip it tight. Death shivers, as if it knows what a fantastic meal it will get tonight.

You wonder briefly if they will finish your monument, or whether it will remain half carved forever.