Chapter 1: Growl

Naruto strolled through the woods of Konoha pondering what life would be like if he had a family. The lonely boy often thought of what it would be like if he had people that loved him, people that wanted to be with him. Somebody that didn't think that he was a curse. The thought crushed the six year olds heart.

He stopped on the trail and sat down and wrapped his arms around his knees. Why couldn't he have somebody that loved him? The heartache made him begin to cry. Why? Why was he alone? What did he do to deserve this? He was born, that's what it was.

The young jinjuriki began to break down and cry. He kept on asking himself, why, why is he even alive? He didn't understand why he had to live a broken life. Why couldn't he be normal like all the other kids at the academy? He had nothing, while other kids walked home with their hands in their parents.

He cried into his sleeve trying to take make the pain go away. His sleeve was soaked in his tears. There was no controlling the pain he felt. His pain would soon envelope into an anger he couldn't control.

The torn boy had been crying so hard that he didn't notice a new presence near him. "Why are you crying?" A voice spoke, causing the unaware blonde to jump. He quickly wiped his tears away and looked up at the person who spoke.

It was a boy, who stood in the moonlight that illuminated his canine like features. His eyes were one of the boy's most exciting features, almost glowing like a wolf in the dark. Green, a bright green that captured Naruto's attention. His clothes had been worn thoroughly, in some places ripped. He only wore a jacket with a broken zipper, leaving his chest exposed. His shorts were green just like his eyes, with a black border where they cut off. The boy was one of the most interesting things Naruto had ever seen, like something out of an exotic jungle.

His scent was the most intoxicating off all. He gave off a surprisingly strong sweet musk for a young boy. He didn't look to be much older than Naruto, maybe older by a year.

Naruto realized he was staring and turned away. "It's nothing, don't bother with me." Naruto said feeling sorry for himself. The boy didn't leave him alone, instead he leaned down by Naruto's side and put his hand on Naruto's shoulder, turning Naruto to look at him.

"You smell nice," the boy complimented Naruto. Naruto was stunned, nobody had ever given him a compliment, much less on his smell. "Everybody says I smell like dirt…" Naruto said looking away again.

The boy wasn't standing for Naruto's self hate though. The sweet smelling boy took Naruto's chin into his hand and turned Naruto's face towards his own. "What's your name?" He asked letting go of Naruto's chin. Naruto just stared in disbelief at the boy. He couldn't help but think of petting the boys messy, yet soft looking hair. "N-Naruto, my name is Naruto Uzumaki. What's your name?" Naruto replied.

The boy stood up from his kneeling position and looked at Naruto triumphantly. "You can call me Growl, I don't really have a last name…" He trailed up at the sky.

Naruto stood up from his pathetic position and stood next to the intriguing boy, "Why don't you have a last name?" Naruto asked while studying Growl. "Because I'm part of a Demon Dog clan called the Inuki, so it's more of a title." Growl said slightly confusing the blonde. The kids at school that were apart of clans always used their clan name as their last names. It was a different concept to Growl.

"So you're a demon?" Naruto asked, joy welling up inside of him. Finally, there was someone that might be like him. "Yeah, technically, can't you tell?" Growl said using his hand to uncover his ear. It was pointed at the top, like a classical demon. Naruto turned his body towards Growl and grabbed his biceps excitedly. "That's so cool! Sometimes I feel like I have a demon growing inside of me scratching to get out." Naruto said, unable to contain his happiness.

Growl smiled and got in on the excitement as well. "I have a demon inside of me too! It's called the Dog Demon. You probably haven't heard of the Dog Demon but it was a Dog that once belonged to the wife of the Sage of Six Paths," Growl said with a wide grin. Naruto didn't really know what the Sage of Six Paths was but that didn't matter to him at the moment, there was finally someone like him.

"This is so great! I want you to come into the village and play with me!" Naruto said enthusiastically. Growl's smile disappeared, causing Naruto's to disappear as well. "I'd love to… But my place I have to go back to my country now. I ran away a few months ago and now it's time to return with my hounds." He said, opening his arms, gesturing to the woods behind him.

Naruto looked beyond the boy's body to find gleaming eyes off in the bushes. He would've been scared, but he felt safe next to Growl. His spirits dampened, this was the sign he had been looking for. A sign that life wasn't completely meaningless.

Naruto looked down at the ground. "I wish you didn't have to go…" Naruto said, a tear forming. Growl didn't say anything. He just cupped Naruto's cheek and lifted his head. Growl then leaned in and licked the tear from Naruto's cheek. This shocked Naruto to where he had to take a step back. It was as if the boy had just kissed him. He had never been kissed by anyone before. He'd seen boys and girls kiss, but never two boys. Naruto was speechless.

"I like you Naruto, keep your head up." Growl said before letting go of Naruto and turning away. Naruto wanted to say stop, and wrap his arms around the boy. He wanted to take the boy home, and show everybody that he wasn't alone. He didn't say anything, he just watched as the boy disappeared along with his hounds before him. "Bye," Naruto whispered after a long silence. Naruto turned around and began walking back into the village.