"Talking"

'Thinking'

"Demon/Summon Talking"

'Demon/Summon thinking'

Dream/Flashback/Mindscape

Chapter 1: The Tiger and Fox

Four years after the Kyuubi attack

Four year old Naru Uzumaki, with short red hair, blue eyes, and whisker marks on her face, whimpered as she curled up into a ball in an alley, she had just been kicked out of the orphanage for some reason, than a bunch of villagers had chased and beaten her until several ANBU showed up and saved her sending the mob to Ibiki for interrogation.

She cried softly as her wounds throbbed in pain 'Why do they hate me?' she wondered 'Is this all there is to life? Just people hating and beating me?' Curling up tighter she almost didn't her someone speak to her.

"Hey are you alright?" a young boy's voice asked "you don't look so good." Looking up Naru saw a boy no older than herself crouching next to her with an empathetic look on his face. He was slightly taller that her 3'1" at 3'3" and had short brown hair along with Brown eyes

She never met this boy before, would he start hitting her too? She backed away, her back now against the Dumpster. "Hey, don't worry." The kid said, kneeling down more. "I'm not gonna hurt you. What's your name?"

Naru looked at the boy, and she looked deeply into his eyes. They were…peaceful. His face was reassuring, and she felt…safe with this boy…even though she never met him before, she felt something with him.

"N-n-Naru U-Uzumaki." She stuttered, tightening her Grip on her hurting legs. The boy smiled. "Nice to meet you Naru-chan." He said. "My name is Yorudan Takeo. Do you need any help?" he asked in concern seeing her bloody face.

Naru numbly nodded her affirmation. "Ok," Yorudan said, and made a series of hand seals. "Don't move, and this may feel a little funny." Yorudan's hands then started to glow, and slowly, but noticeably, Naru's wounded started to heal. After a few minutes, most of her flesh wounds were healed, but Naru's legs still hurt.

"That's the best I can do, now." Yorudan said. "Sorry, do you know where your Parents are?"

"I don't have any," Naru answered sadly "and the orphanage kicked me out, even though I didn't do anything wrong! I didn't break anything and I ate everything they gave me and didn't complain when it made me sick either!" she protested fresh tears streaking her face.

"Hey, hey, don't cry." Yorudan said, sitting next to her. "The people at the Orphanage are idiots anyways. No one's gonna hurt you anymore."

Naru stopped crying for a moment and stared at Yorudan. "You…you mean it?" she asked.

"I promise it." He reassured with a smile. "I'll keep you safe, and I always keep my promises."

Naru slowly started to cry again, only now they were tears of joy. And he quickly hugged Yorudan. "Thank you so much!" she said.

Though he was surprised by this sudden action, Yorudan decided to hug back. "D-don't mention it." He said. "Hey, how would you like to stay at my place?"

Naru Looked a little wide eyed at the offer. "I…is it ok?" She asked.

"Of course." Yorudan said. "I know for a pure fact that Ryu-nii and Rinda-nee would love to have you there. They wouldn't mind at all. So, do you?"

Naru smiled before nodding madly "Alright, come on." He said, and he helped Naru onto his back. "Wow, your light Naru-chan!" Yorudan exclaimed as he stood up and Naru blushed in embarrassment "But don't worry Ryu-nii and Rinda-nee make really good food."

Naru giggled slightly as he started towards his home "How do you have a home?" Naru asked curiosity getting the best of her.

Yorudan saddened slightly "It was my parents until they died," He said "My mom and Dad died fighting the Kyuubi, along with the rest of mine and Ryu-nii's Clans as well." He brightened up again "But I'm proud of my Parents, because they did everything they could to protect our home. And Ryu-nii's dad lasted the longest against the Kyuubi, and he wants to surpass him, just as I want to surpass mine!"

Naru giggled even more at Yorudan's exuberance "Hey, do you have any friends?" Yorudan asked.

Naru grew sad again "No, I don't," she admitted "None of the adults let other kids play with me."

"Well you do now!" Yorudan shouted as they turned into a small compound. Naru had a shocked expression on her face before smiling widely and giving Yorudan a tight hug from behind as he blushed.

"Thank you so much!" she said, happily.

"D-don't mention it!" he said, trying to conceal his blush. They then came across a some-what large double-door. On one side, was a western Dragon risen onto his hind legs, mouth open with its claws extended. While on the other side was a Tiger in a similar pose. "Well, here we are!" Yorudan said, opening the door, and entered the house. "Home sweet home! Ryu-nii! Rinda-nee! You here?"

There was a commotion, and then two figures ran down the stairs. The first was a girl about Yorudan and Naru's age, with long blond hair, and brown eyes and standing at 3'0. The Second figure was just as tall as Yorudan, if not a few inches taller, and had light brown hair, and the oddest eyes Naru had ever seen. they were green with golden flecks in them.

"Hey, there you are Bro-wait…who's she?" the boy said, pointing at the girl.

"Her name's Naru Uzumaki." Yorudan said. "The Orphanage kicked her out, and some villagers nearly beat her to death. I found her in the alley, and I managed to heal some of her wounds, but I think she may have a broken leg. Rinda-nee, could you take a look at it?"

"Sure." Rinda said, and she quickly ran over to help Naru off Yorudan's back. "Don't worry." Yorudan said. "My sis will take good care of you."

Naru looked back at Rinda, and then back at Yorudan. "…ok…" she said, and Rinda then carried her into the living room and laid her on the couch, and started checking her legs for broken bones. In the meantime, Yorudan tried to find anything for Naru to eat, as Ryu came up to him and sighed.

"Ya know, sometimes the people in this village are idiots." Ryu said. "Beating up a little girl like that…and she's probably no older than we are!"

Yorudan also sighed, and nodded. "You think I should go up to the big man about this?" he asked Ryu.

"Maybe…" Ryu said, knowing he meant the Hokage. "But I think we should make sure she gets through the night…her names Naru, right?"

"Ya." Yorudan said, picking out a few packs of Instant Ramen of different flavors.

"You sure she likes a Ramen?" Ryu asked. Yorudan grinned. "A Ramen addict knows a Ramen addict, Ryu-nii." He said. "I see it in her eyes, she loves Ramen."

"As much as she loves you?" Ryu said, with a smirk as Yorudan blushed. "Wha-Ryu-nii!" He said. "I just met the girl! "

"But you do find her attractive, no?" He responded.

"…Ryu-nii, we're both just Five years old." Yorudan said. Ryu just smiled. "Which gives you plenty of time to get to know her!" he said.

Yorudan gave him a glare. "Hey, Ryu-nii?"

"Ya, Yorudan-nii?"

"Shut up."

With Rinda and Naru

As Ryu and Yorudan got something for them to eat, Rinda was just finishing up a check on Naru. Her bones were not as bad as she first thought, and were healing nicely. "Your lucky that O Nii-san found you." She said. "I can't believe the villagers would do this…"

"He's your Brother?" Naru asked, her voice weak and tired. Rinda nodded. "Yes, Yorudan-nii is my older brother…by about 30 seconds. We're twins, but not Identical as you see." She pushed back her long blond hair. "I get my hair from our Mother I suppose, and Yorudan-nii got his from Father. What about your Parents Naru-nee?"

Naru then became sad again. "I…I don't know…" she said, her eyes welling up. "The people at the Orphanage never told me…I don't know what they look like!"

"Hey, don't cry." Rinda said putting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I know it must hurt not to know your parents at all…Me and O Nii-san never got too know our parents except about what people told us about them." She saddened a little, but she then brightened up. "But, I still have Ryu-Kun and Yorudan-nii!" she said. "And…I wouldn't mind if you would like to be Naru-nii."

Naru's eyes widened at the offer. "A…sister?" she said, not believing it. Rinda nodded. Naru's eyes started to water up again as she quickly grabbed her new older sister into a hug. "Thank you…O Nee-Chan." She said, her voice cracking up a little.

Rinda smiled and returned the hug. "Not a problem, Naru-nee." She said.

"Well, it's great to see you two getting along fine." Yorudan said as he and Ryu came in with two treys, each with five bowls of Ramen each. "I hope you like Ramen Naru-Chan, because that's all we could fix in such short notice."

Yorudan laughed at Naru's reaction witch involved her eyes widening and licking her lips. The moment Yorudan put the Trey on the table Naru dived in for a bowl.

"See Ryu-Nii," Yorudan said as he got himself a bowl. "A Ramen addict knows another Ramen addict when he sees her."

Later

After getting her something to eat (Somewhere around eight bowls of Ramen), and the three helped Naru into her new bed. Yorudan place Naru in a bed, and Rinda made one last check on Naru's injuries.

Naru felt safe and warm on the soft bed wrapped up in the blankets as she slowly drifted off to sleep "Y…Yorugan-kun, can…you sleep with me tonight?" she asked "I-I don't want to be alone."

Yorudan blushed as Ryu and Rinda grinned at each other, but complied anyways "you're not alone anymore Naru-chan, I promise." And with those comforting thoughts Naru drifted off to sleep clutching to Yorudan like a teddy bear. Ryu and Rinda then left the two to sleep.

One year Later

A now Five year old Naru Uzimaki walked down the streets of Konoha. She was taller at the height of 3'8", her growth spurt happened now that she was getting proper food in her system and not the rotten and often poisoned food the orphanage gave her. She also had her red hair a little longer, now at shoulder length.

As she walked down the streets, she notices that it's almost time that she should head back to the Takeo/Hisanaga compound. So she takes a short-cut through an alleyway.

As she walked down the alleyway, she passes by two teens who gave her a mean look, but she ignored them like she did any of the others who would tend to glare at her. But then a third teen appeared in front of her from behind a dumpster, stopping her in her tracks. "Hey, Demon brat." The big man said. "You've got some nerve to come walking in here!"

Naru saw where this was going, and started backing away only to be stopped by the two teens from earlier. "I-i-I'm sorry!" She stuttered. "I…I didn't know…I mean…"

The big teenager smirked sinisterly as he drew out a knife. "Time to teach you a lesion Brat!" he shouted as he moved forward with the two teens holding her down.

5 minutes earlier

With Yorudan

Yorudan Takeo, now standing at 3'9 with short but shaggy brown hair, walked into the Takeo/Hisanaga Compound. "Hey Ryu-nii! Rinda-nee! Naru-Chan!" he shouted as he passed the door. "Where are ya?"

Then Rinda and Ryu came running down the stairs. Ryu now 4'1, and with slightly longer brown hair, and Rinda standing at 3'9 and her hair just as long as Naru's.

Yorudan instantly took into account that Naru wasn't with them. "We're Naru-Chan?" He asked.

"She stepped out for a minute." Ryu said. "But…that was about a half-hour ago, and it's almost time for Dinner."

"Isnt Naru-nee usually home by now?" Rinda said, a hint of worry in her voice. "I mean…when has she ever missed an excuse to get Ramen?"

This got Yorudan worried. "Maybe we should look for her…" he said. Ryu and Rinda nodded, and the trio ran out of the Compound.

For a few minutes they searched without luck. So they split up and started looking for her in different parts of Konoha.

Come on, Naru-Chan. Yorudan thought as he ran through the streets. Where are you?

It was then he heard a girl scream. And he instantly recognized it as Naru's and ran even faster towards the source

With Naru

As the two teens held Naru against the wall, the third pulled out a knife and she screamed. "Go ahead and scream Demon-Brat." The leader said as he slowly came closer. "No one's gonna help you now." Just as he was about to stab her, suddenly a Kunai hit the lead thug's knife hand, and he howled in pain. The other two gang members turned around, and there stood Yorudan Takeo, and he. Looked. PISSED.

"What, are you doing…to Naru-Chan?" He said in a low and menacing voice.

The lead thug growled as he pulled the Kunai out. "So…your this Brat's friend?" he said, and barked a laugh. "This'll be fun, killing you first will make killing her even more fun, right boys?...boys?"

The boss turned around and say that his two friends were knocked out, and standing on top of them were Rinda and Ryu, and they both looked just as pissed off as Yorudan was.

"If you think you can mess with my Naru-nee…" Rinda said, glaring at the leader.

"You've got another thing coming jackass." Ryu finished and the two drew out their respective Kunai.

The thug looked at the two, and then back to Yorudan. He takes his chances by running at Yorudan with a knife. But Yorudan dodges him, and quickly delivers a severe punch to his gut. The big thug collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

"Never try to hurt Naru-Chan again." He said, kicking the thug once in the head before running up to Naru's side with Rinda and Ryu. "Naru-Chan, are you alright?" he asked.

"Yorudan…Kun?" she asked, her eyes starting to water. Yorudan nodded and gave her a reassuring hug. "It's me, Naru-Chan." He whispered. "Don't worry, the're not gonna hurt you anymore. I promise."

That broke the gates holding Naru's tears back as she clutched to Yorudan like a lifeline crying her heart out. They remained like that until Naru had cried herself out and slowly began to fall asleep against Yorudan "Don't leave me Yorudan." She whimpered as sleep began to take her.

Yorudan smiled and nodded as he picked her up. "I'll never leave you, Naru-Chan." He whispered as the four started back home, with Naru asleep in Yorudan's arms.