A alarm clock rang insistently in the early morning. A pale arm shot out and turned it off. A man pale as death clothed only in pajama pants threw back his covers and swung his legs over the edge of his bed. Two foxes entered his room and rubbed against his legs. Naruto scratched behind the foxes ears before standing. Tossing on a black tank top he entered his bathroom and splashed water on his face. Looking in the mirror he took a moment to study his features. Pale blonde hair with streaks of blood red, eyes a deep purple, almost transparent pale skin and red triangles under his eyes. One of the foxes yipped and Naruto nodded.
Making it to the kitchenhe set the coffee pot. Frying some bacon he set on a plat and placed it on the floor for the foxes. The fox duo nibbled leaving two pieces on the plate before nudging it toward Naruto with their noses. He pushed it back in front of the foxes with a gentle smile. The female fox of the pair whimpered holding a piece out to him. Naruto squatted down in front of the fox and took the offered food with a sad smile. The female fox nuzzled his hand as he took a bite.
"Pup." The matriarch of the Inzuka clan, Inzuka Tsume, was standing in the kitchen door way. Naruto straightened up and bowed.
"Tsume-sama pleasive forgive me for waking you. That wasn't my intention." He shifted his gaze to the pair of foxes who also had their heads bowed in respect. Straightening up once again he grabbed two coffee cups and poured the coffee. Adding cream and sugar to the cups he handed Tsume her cup before grabbing his. "Hime is due soon" Naruto said motioning toward the fox rubbing against his leg. Tsume nodded sipping her coffee.
"I'll have Hana take a look at her later this morning" Tsume said putting her cup on the counter and shifted her gaze to the blonde enigma.
"I don't want to want to bother Hana-san. Hime is fine." A sad smile was on his face as he half heartedly scratched behind Hime's ear. Tsume growled in the back of her throat. "It is nothing Tsume-sama. I am fine." He left the kitchen, coffee cup in hand, stepping onto the porch as the first rays of sunlight filter through the trees. The sunlight made a profile of Naruto's pale form, the light exposing the bags under his eyes.
"You know pup lying isn't your best skill" Tsume said stopping beside Naruto. "You're thinking about her aren't you? I can smell the sadness coming off you." Naruto didn't respond instead choosing to silently sip his drink.
"I don't know who you are talking about Tsume-sama. I am telling you I'm perfectly fine." Naruto left the Inzuka matriarch by herself as he re-entered the Inzuka compound main house. Tsume followed a few minutes later. When she got back to the kitchen she noted a plate of bacon and eggs on the counter with a note saying 'enjoy'. While eating the food left for her she idly noted the pregnant fox laying in a corner, her muzzle resting on her front paws, staring at her.
Putting the empty dish in the sink she took a seat beside Hime. The fox got up and jumped onto Tsume's lap. Getting comfortable Hime layed her head on the Inzuka matriarchs stomach with concern written plainly in the foxes emerald eyes. "I worry about him as much as you do" Tsume said running a clawed hand through the foxes fur.
+WITH NARUTO IN HIS ROOM+
Naruto sighed as he slipped on his clothes. His attire consisted of a black t-shirt, grey camo pants, black combat boots, black gloves completely covering his hands, a black face mask, his head band which was on a black cloth tied on his right sleeve ,a black hoody two sizes two big for him with the kanji for ghost on the back and red tinted sunglasses. When he pulled the hood up he strung his new custom made camo sniper across his his back. He left the room with the other fox on his heels.
+HOKAGE MONUMENT+
Naruto stood atop the Hokage monument as civilians began to fill the streets. He sent a withering look toward the crowd. The fox rested his nose on his masters boot. "Look at them. Care free and happy, I envy them." The fox raised its head and looked at his master. Naruto took of his sun glasses and sighed kneading the bridge of nose as he took a seat on the monument. The fox crawled onto Naruto's chest and nuzzled the hand he layed across the top of his chest. A small gesture the fox was aware but his master needed some cheering up. "At least Koushaku, I have you and Hime." He affectionately scratched the base of the foxes ear. Koushaku nodded at his masters statement, tail wagging. His master was happy and the ear scratching felt really good.
Koushaku jumped off Naruto's chest a few minutes later allowing Naruto to get up. Standing up Naruto put his sun glasses back on before picking Koushaku up and both vanished in a swirl of master and pet reappeared in front of the Yamanaka Flower Shop.
"Welcome to the Yamanaka Flower Shop. How can I help you today?" Naruto ignored the girl and grabbed a dozen white roses. Bringing the roses to the front he paid while the girl wrapped his roses in paper. Grabbing the roses when the girl was done he left the shop without saying a word.
Walking at a brisk pace he soon made it to his destination. Pushing the cemetery gate open he walked between the grave markers, the air around him becoming somber and solemn. Laying the roses down he lit the incense and said a quick prayer. The stone was weathered and faded all except two words on the top: Kushina Uzumaki. Finishing the prayer he began to speak. "Hey mom sorry I haven't been around for a while. Tsume-sama had needed me for some very time consuming tasks." Naruto stood there for another hour or so before leaving.
When he made it back to the compound most of the clan was up and eating in the mess hall. Slipping through unnoticed he made it back to his on the edge of the bed Koushaku jumped off Naruto's shoulder and curled up next to Hime who was asleep on Naruto's pillow His eyes softened looking at the pair of foxes. Naruto was knocked form his reverie when he heard a soft knock on his door.
"Come in Hana-san." Naruto pulled his hood off, tossed his face mask onto his desk across the room and layed his tinted sun glasses down on the bed side table. "Can I help you?" he asked.
"I came to check on Hime" Hana responded shifting a vet kit on her arm. "I was told she was expecting her litter soon so I came to check and make sure she is healthy." Hime blinked and yawned as Koushaku nudged her gently awake.
"Go ahead. Koushaku" the second fox perked his head up "make sure she doesn't pull anything funny."
"I WOULD NEVER HARM AN ANIMAL! ESPECIALLY A EXPECTANT ONE! HOW DA-" Hana's rant was cut short when she noticed Naruto had the barrels of his colts pressed to her temple and throat.
"Shinobi conduct dictates that you are to expects anything and everything. That means second guessing ones motives." He drew back his colts and holstered them back in his shoulder holsters. " Hana checked Hime over and gave her a clean bill of health.
"Mother wishes to speak with you afetr dinner tonight. You seriously need to get laid or something dude. You're too wound up. Mellow down for once." Hana patted him on the shoulder before leaving his room.
"Am I really that wound up?" Naruto asked. Both foxes yipped. "Nice throw me under the nin-ken." Naruto sighed tiredly.
His body went on autopilot as mundane cycles repeated themselves. After dinner Naruto met with Tsume in her private quarters. "Sit down Naruto."
"I would prefer to stand Tsume-sama. Please take no offense." Naruto stood at attention.
"Getting to the heart of the matter. It has come to my attention you have years of built up vacation time and haven't taken a personal day through you active duties to date. Explain now."
"My duties to the clan and village come before my own leisure. Also it would be dishonorable and dismantle my system of accomplishing my duties."
Resisting the urge to wring his neck Tsume asked "What about your duties to yourself? Do you even care about you?"
"On the back burner till my duties to the clan and village are fulfilled. Then I will take my priorities to order. Not before, not during ONLY AFTER clan and village priorities. To answer your other question minimally. I exist only to impose the will of my people" Naruto responded.
"Let me see if I cant ranslate. You refuse to be more than arms length away from the people you care about and refuse to let them die." Naruto fliched but his emotionless face didn't change.
"Is my lack of taking personal days the only reason you wished to speak with me Tsume-sama?" Naruto asked.
"If I were to order you to take a day off would would take it easy?" Naruto shook his head negative.
"No, I'd make a durable to stay under the scrutiny of the clan and I would be about the village working. Tsume-sama you can order me to do things but I will not relax" Naruto said. "I will do.." Tsume palmed her face in irritation.
"Dismissed." Naruto bowed before he left. Swallowing a few tylenol she changed into her long sleep shirt and sleep pants. She was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
+SHOOTING RANGE+
Naruto layed on the ground staring down range at the target through his rifles scope. Pulling the triger six time in rapid succession all his shots hit dead center. Shoulder the rifle the target exploded.
"Very impressive Inzuka-san. But a bit overkill don't you think?" a voice behind Naruto asked. A young woman with pale skin looking a year older than Naruto helped him up. Her auburn hair styled in a loose pony tail reached her waist, tow long bangs framing her heart shaped face and one hung in front of an emerald eye. Her attire consisted of a white blouse, black skirt and white flats.
"Thank you Nakamori-san." Naruto snapped his fingers twice and the target reformed in its entirety. "So it works" he muttered to himself.
"How many time must I tell you to call Hitomi?" the woman, now identified as Hitomi, huffed in annoyance.
"As many times as I must ask you to stop calling me Inzuka-san."
"Fine Naruto-chan."
"Whatever you say Hitomi-kun." Naruto smirked as Hitomi turned red.
"DON'T CALL ME A BOY DAMN IT!"
"Then don't call me a..." Naruto was cut off a column of fire erupted in the business district. Naruto noticed a red hawk out of the corner of his eye. Tapping the hidden head set he said "All teams this is Armageddon. Operation Silent Night has the green light."