Lion Hearts

Hey, here´s my second story. I hope you´ll like it^^

But before I begin I would like to ask you something! Please write comments! Without comments I can´t know if you like my story or not^^ so please write some, when you want, that I continue!^^

I don´t want to force anybody into writing! It´s just, that it would make me really happy!^^

If there are questions about my story, don´t be shy, just ask! I´m not going to bite you! I´m a really nice person, plus I like feedback a lot!^^

Warning: SasuNaru (maybe KakaIru^^), shonen-ai/slight Yaoi. M-preg, Naruto is not too uke-ish, don´t worry!^^ I don´t like him, when he´s too weak! I also don´t like him, when he can do anything!^^

Let´s just say he´s a little badass-uke ´kay?^^

Sakura and some other characters (maybe Karin?) will be mean and such … (sorry, need bad guys!^^) I also don´t like her very much … don´t know why … but I couldn´t stand her from the beginning! When you like her, you should leave this story alone!

All characters will be lions! But they can turn into a Human with cat ears and tail! (Humanoids)

Others: I´m not going to let them have a too big mane! I know it´s important for lions but … whatever!^^ Even so, I´m going to write some fighting scenes, so please don´t be too hard on me! It´s my first time^^ When you´re wondering about the fact, that my lions can grin, blush or such. Look at the lion king!^^ The Artist Clawshawk agreed, that I could borrow her lion pics! When you want to see them, the link is on my profile, at the story! When you want to write a comment about the appearance, write it at Clawshawks pages! I think, she would be very happy about it! Just take a look, the pictures are really great!^^

So but now it´s enough! On with the story^^

Attention: I´m going to overwrite and correct (or change) chapter 1 and 2, because... well they suck! So if you had problems understanding the chapters while you were reading I´d like you to read them again, because they are better/easier to understand now! I´ll say in each chapter if I did the overwriting!

P.S. after I´m finished with chapter 1 I will upload the corrected chapter 2 and the translated chapter 4! I won´t correct chapter 3 because I think that it´s well written! If you think otherwise, please say so! I won´t bite you because of it!

Chapter 1

The beginning of all

It was a warm and sunny day in a desert. Not even a single cloud could be seen in the sky as a couple of birds occupied it. All in all, it was a quiet and harmonic day. There were a few birds hiding and chirping in the nearby bushes and trees. A gentle breeze blew over small green grass areas. But this tranquility was disturbed abruptly when two little creatures ran over the ground and scared the birds out of their hidings. The two of them only left a cloud of dust behind them as they continued with their little competition.

They had covered a great distance when they finally collapsed after several minutes. They lay side by side, just a few inches away from each other. Still trying to catch their breath as one declared, with an exhausted but still satisfied grin on his face:"... ha ha ... see ... I told you*ha* that I would win!"

"Hn, you wish! *ha*Dobe, you clearly collapsed before me *ha*!" replied the other.

The yellow-colored lion slowly turned his head to his still heavy breathing black-blue colored rival. One could clearly see the pout on the face of the yellow-colored lion, "you know, that I don´t like it, when you call me that!" as suddenly as his pout had appeared, it disappeared again and the young lion jumped up, the fatigue already forgotten. In his sky blue eyes glinted something as he stepped a little closer towards his rival: "Ne Sasuke, what do you think of a little revenge?"

The black-blue colored looked at him slightly shocked. It was just too unbelievable. Naruto had lain exhausted on the ground, just a few minutes ago and now he was in top shape again! It was well known that Naruto was pretty hyperactive and had great stamina, but his regeneration ability was almost incredible! Sasuke of course, couldn´t allow himself to look weaker than his friend/rival, so he brushed aside his fatigue and said

"Hn, you're sure? You´ll lose anyway!"Sasuke grinned showing his sharp teeth in the process. Naruto flashed him an angry look and narrowed his eyes a little, "we will see Teme!" Sasukes eyes sparkled with amusement as he let the rules be lain down by Naruto.

"If we run a little further ahead, we´ll eventually arrive at the river. The one who reaches it first wins!"

"Hn" was all Sasuke had to say. He walked over to Naruto and stood next to him, "well, then, here we go!" Naruto said, as the two leaned against the ground

"Ready" Naruto pushed himself even deeper into the ground, while sticking his backside into the air.

"Steady" Narutos tail twitched with excitement

"GO!"

After Naruto had finally given the green light, the two dashed so fast across the sandy ground, that they formed a huge cloud of dust behind them. But they didn´t care about that at all. They had just one thing on their minds, and that was to defeat the other.

Sasuke and Naruto ran past many bushes, shrubs and trees. Occasionally, they even frightened some animals out of their hidings, as they approached their destination - the river – more and more. When the river finally appeared on the horizon, Naruto noticed it immediately, and accelerated his pace. Sasuke noticed Naruto accelerating his speed of course, and sped up as well.

But he soon realized that his fatigue began to catch up to him again and so he had to slow down willy-nilly. Naruto didn´t notice that Sasuke was getting slower and slower by the minute. He even increased his speed even more. He was almost at the Riverside, with Sasuke still hot on his heels.

He was so close to the river now, that it would be a good idea for him to slow down a little. But before he could do just that he tripped with his front foot over a stone. He did several somersaults, and landed with a loud splashing sound into the water. When he emerged and escaped to the shore, he heard a noise, that he didn´t like at all. "Stop it! This is not funny!" shouted an embarrassed Naruto to his friend.

His friend however, continued to laugh and a soaked Naruto sat down and growled while he pouted. After a few minutes Sasuke had stopped laughing. But there was still a wide grin on his lips.

"Tch, Teme!" Growled Naruto, but still went over to the black-blue colored to lie down beside him. Naruto was lying on his side, his back turned to Sasuke. After a while, Sasuke laid down too. The only difference was that Sasuke didn´t lay on his side like Naruto did, he lay on his belly.

A few minutes passed and Naruto turned his whole body towards Sasuke, so that he was able to face him and looked at him inquiringly. Sasuke noticed this and turned his head to Naruto "What´s wrong?" He asked Naruto a little bit anxiously, "Huh? Oh, it´s nothing! Everything´s alright! Really! hehe!" Sasuke wasn´t convinced at all and showed that by raising a single eyebrow and looking intently at Naruto.

Naruto sighted and began to speak, "... Well ... I would like to ask you something ..." Sasuke looked at Naruto interested "And that would be?" Naruto paused for a few seconds and looked Sasuke straight into his eyes until he finally made an effort. "W-we're friends, right?" Sasuke nodded, "then I want you to promise me something!"

Naruto paused and Sasuke looked quizzically, waiting for Naruto to continue "I want you to promise me that you will always remain my friend, that you never betray me and that you never ever leave me all alone! Can you promise me that?" Naruto looked at Sasuke intently, waiting for a response or reaction of his dark friend. After a few minutes of silence, Sasuke put a smile on his lips. It was a warm and true smile, "you have my word Dobe! But I ask exactly the same of you! Deal?" Narutos eyes lit up at that and smiled "Deal!"

Naruto lay with his friend for several minutes on the grass near the river, that was until he suddenly heard a noise that had him listening attentively *"Naruto!" * Naruto was startled by that familiar sounding voice calling to him and jumped to his feet. He looked beside him, Sasuke was ... gone? *Where's Sasuke?* Naruto asked himself over and over again. He turned in a circle and searched the area for his lost friend. But ... Sasuke was nowhere in sight and not to be found. *Where are you? What about our promise?* He made a few more steps and stayed still "SASUKE!" Naruto screamed heartbreakingly, he had no choice but to wait.

There was no response, no answer, no call, no whimper or such. Not a single sound was heard. Just now noticed Naruto that the chirping of the birds and the rushing of the water had stopped.

It was quiet. Naruto lowered his head and tears welled up in his eyes just to fell on the hot desert sand.

*Why Sasuke? Why did you leave me alone? Why have you broken our promise?*

*"Naruto"* there it was again. The voice he had heard just minutes ago. As the cries of the voice got louder and louder around Naruto, the world he was in, became more and more colorless and dreary. Everything faded. There was nothing left that could have given a clue about the place, what was here seconds ago. There was nothing alive, well, except Naruto of course. The yellow-colored threatened to sink slowly into the void, until he heard the voice again"NARUTO! WAKE UP! "

Naruto opened his eyes suddenly and saw nothing but brown. He blinked and helped his eyes to adjust to his surroundings. Slowly, Naruto knew what the brown thing in front of him was or rather who it was. He looked into the eyes of his foster father and teacher Iruka Umino. Naruto looked up at Iruka. Iruka was sitting next to his head and looked down at him worriedly.

Since Naruto lay on his side and stretched all four of his legs out, he had to pull his legs in first, before he could straighten up. After a few minutes Naruto sat up and looked over and into his foster father's worried eyes, "Naruto, are you alright? You slept so restless! Did you have another nightmare?" he asked a little worried.

*A nightmare? I'm not sure if you can call it that. I had these dreams, since this damn thing happened!* Naruto thought.

"Naruto? Hey! What´s wrong?"

"Hm? Oh! No, it´s nothing, don´t worry about it" comforted Naruto Iruka, stood up, and stretched. He then went to Iruka and nudged him slightly in the side "Are you coming? I'm hungry! Can I have Ramen for breakfast?" asked Naruto hopefully. Iruka smiled and shook his head slightly, "Maybe Naruto. Let´s surprise you!"Naruto pulled a small pout," Oh man, Sensei! You know that I´m not good at patience"

Iruka laughed at that and said, "Then you need a lot more practice in that subject! But come now I wouldn´t want you to starve on me!" Iruka got up and walked with Naruto out of the small cave the two of them had occupied for two weeks now.

They had traveled a lot in the last years. They had seen and experienced many new things. Unfortunately, they found no suitable place to stay and live. So, there was no other choice for them but to travel even further. But two weeks ago, they had found a small village, which had gladly taken both of them in.

That Naruto and Iruka were very happy and relieved about that was no surprise. Although, it may be nice to travel this much, it was still a lot nicer to have a place where one could live and stay. As Naruto and Iruka came out of the cave, a warm and bright sunshine shone on Narutos coat. He shook himself lightly. Actually, he would like to lay on a big rock and take a long bathe in the sun.

But this had to wait for later, as he noticed how an unpleasant feeling of hunger spread inside of him. He looked over to Iruka, who looked at him knowingly and nodded. Naruto smiled and followed Iruka, who had now set in motion. The two 3.78 feet tall lions went along a narrow path and after some minutes, finally arrived at the village.

The village was not particularly large but that didn´t matter to them. It was just a little bit strange that not many male lions stayed in the village, except them.

Perhaps this was also the reason why the two had been accepted so easily.

They had heard that in the world, the number of females in each village was decreasing, since the new tribe had appeared. The leader of said tribe had - for better or worse - the view that he could do anything he pleases. He did just that by picking the most beautiful and fertile females from other tribes.

As Naruto and Iruka had come into the village, they learned that the inhabitants tried to hide from and escape the leader. So they had built this village a year ago, of which not many knew that it even existed.

So were lions and more important, lionesses protected against the leader.

What Naruto liked even less than that the leader seemed to be utterly ruthless, was that this leader named his tribe after Narutos old one - Konohagakure. *How dare he! Dragging the name of my tribe into the dirt?* Naruto thought bitterly. Konoha had been a peaceful and fair village. And after all that had happened to him and Iruka, he wanted to keep that name clean and in good memories. Now he could kiss that wish goodbye! After all, the name he once wanted to cherish, was now putting the world in fear and terror.

Naruto sighed. Yes, much had happened in recent years. He had grown up by hard and long training and turned from a naive young cub to a proud and skilled fighter. He was even something very special because of that special blood flowing in his veins - the blood of the Kyuubi clan. Many still thought that this clan was totally wiped out.

He and his parents had been the last of his kind. However, he couldn´t remember them, they both died when he was still a cub. There was war between the Kyuubi-clan and the other clans. Even though the Kyuubi-clan was one of the strongest of all clans, it hadn´t helped them at all, when all the other clans allied against them.

The hostile clans were afraid that the power and strength of the Kyuubi-clan would go to the clans head and that it decided to attack the other, unprepared clans without warning. Of course, the other clans would do everything to prevent that, even though they hadn´t had to fear anything at all from the Kyuubi-clan.

The war lasted for 6 years. Naruto was born in the 5th Year of war.

When Naruto was 3 months old, it finally happened. The enemies invaded his home village, tore down houses and burned them down shortly after. They killed everything, whether it constituted a threat or not. Narutos mother, Kushina, was terribly worried about her cub's wellbeing. Her mate Minato, the new and current leader of the Kyuubi-clan fought inside the village, alongside other male lions and tried to chase out the enemies.

Kushina looked hurriedly around the room and discovered a small wooden chest. She took Naruto, who was still sleeping peacefully in his sleeping-place by the scruff of his neck and laid him inside the chest. Naruto woke up during that and looked at his mother with wide, curious blue eyes.

"Shh ... Everything is going to be alright! Don´t be afraid, OK Naru-chan?"

Naruto cocked his head to the side and put his ears forward, as if he was trying to understand his mother better and faster. Kushina however, with a heavy heart tried not to cry in front of her little Naruto, because of the possibility of never seeing him, her only cub, ever again.

She put a few pillows into the chest so that Naruto could sit or lay down on them later on and looked long into his eyes.

"So my little sunshine, it´s time to sleep now, hm?" Kushina smiled and snuggled up to Naruto. He liked that immensely and began to purr loudly immediately.

Kushina was unable to hold back her tears by the show of her cub's affection towards her. But she had to pull herself together and stop crying for her beloved baby. She sang a lullaby and after a few minutes Naruto was sound asleep.

"I'm sorry that I had to use a jutsu on you Naruto. But it´s the only thing I could do, it´s for the best! Please, forgive me!" many tears rolled down freely over her face.

Suddenly she heard something outside. There were screams and sadistic laughter. Her fur stood on end and her ears twitched wildly from one side to another in order to hear the happenings outside better. She realized that the enemies were closer than she had hoped and expected. She ran out of her house and toward the enemies, in order to lure them away from the village and more importantly, away from her cub.

As minutes passed, an anguished and dying scream could clearly be heard. The scream was drowned out by loud and mean laugher. "So, that was the last one! Come on guys, let´s celebrate our victory", they left their enemies lying dead and/or dying on the floor as they headed home.

Some of them purposely stood on the dead bodies that lay on the ground "Hurry up!" said the leader "I want to go home to my mate and kits" with these words they disappeared and left all members of the Kyuubi- Clan dead in their own village. Well, actually they didn´t. They had overlooked a small cub sleeping peacefully in its chest.

He didn´t remember all this. But what he could remember was that he woke up on that day, lying in a warm and comfy bed and saw an unknown person in front of him. That person was none other than his mentor and teacher Iruka Umino. Iruka had brought him to Konoha, where he met new friends

- including his *best*friend Sasuke Uchiha – and learned how to fight and discovered his passion for Ramen. One could say that he was really happy in that village.

However, he still remembered the day when everything changed to the worst like it was just yesterday. Naruto shook his head wildly he didn´t want to remember that day and this incident. The event had caused too much pain and grief, for Naruto and Iruka, that Naruto wondered why it hadn´t torn him apart mentally.

He instantly snapped out of it, when he felt a slight nudge "Naruto, we have arrived!" Naruto fixed his eyes on the house before him. Ramen World. Narutos eyes began to shine, "Iruka you're the best! Let's go in! Please, please!"Narutos tail swung from side to side, while he licked his hungry lips. Iruka watched him amused and said "Come on then".

As the two went into the house they saw a lot of small tables all over the room. There were soft looking pillows lying on the floor. One big pillow for every side of the square-shaped tables. Naruto and Iruka sat down at one of those tables and waited. The restaurant was well attended and liked as one could see by the looks of other lions sitting and eating their ordered food.

When Naruto turned his attention towards the kitchen, a man with a tail and ears made his way over to them. The man worked here apparently since he was wearing a uniform that held the logo of the restaurant on it. The man stood next to Naruto and asked for their orders.

After both had ordered (Iruka had gone for a pork ramen and Naruto a double portion of miso ramen) and the man went back into the kitchen, Naruto turned his head quickly to Iruka "Why did that person look so strange, Iruka-Sensei? What´s the deal with his appearance?" Naruto wanted to know immediately. "I'll tell you once you´re old enough to know" answered Iruka, smiling. Naruto laid back his ears and put his head onto the table "You always say this! Every single time I ask you!"

Naruto whispered. A small pout was clearly visible on his face.

As the waiter finally came back with their orders Naruto removed his head from the top of the table, so that the man could put the two bowls down in front of them. As soon as the food was in Narutos reach, he greedily began eating and swallowing it down hastily.

Half an hour and many Ramen bowls later, Naruto and Iruka left the restaurant. Well sated of course. Naruto licked his lips several times, till he couldn´t taste his favorite flavor –Ramen – upon his lips anymore. "How would you like a small bath Naruto?" Iruka looked inquiringly at Naruto, pricking his ears up in the process. "A bath?" Narutos responded and his ears twitched at the thought, "Yeah OK, we might as well! I was in need of a little relaxation anyway", Naruto grinned.

Iruka nodded joyfully as both made their way to the hot springs.

They had to walk for almost 45 minutes until they reached the hot springs. It had taken both of them this long to arrive, because the springs were located on top of a hill and some distance away from the village.

Naruto immediately jumped into the hot water and made himself comfortable. Iruka shook his head and got into the hot spring as well. Both were seated on one of the many stones that were slightly below the water surface. So they could lie down and enjoy the warm water without having to fear to drown.

Both lions lay neck-deep. Both sighed comfortably and enjoyed the warm water.

After about an hour they were already on their way home. The two of them walked with a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. That was until something struck Naruto, "Iruka ... Do you smell that?"

Asked Naruto, his ears flat against his Head and his nose sniffing the air. Iruka put his nose in the air also and began to smell the air and listened with his ears erected. "Yes, I think I do! I hear something as well! Let´s get back quickly and figure out what´s going on!"

Naruto nodded and both of them ran back to the village.

But when they arrived at the village, they couldn´t believe their eyes. The village was completely destroyed and the inhabitants were nowhere to be seen. They went farther into the village. The further they went the more shocked they became. The village lay in ruins! Houses had collapsed; the ground was torn up, scratched and filled with holes. One could smell dust in the air and the village seemed abandoned.

Naruto gulped. All of this seemed unpleasant familiar. The same had happened to Konohagakure when ... Naruto shook his head wildly *I can´t think about that now! I need to help these people! There still might be some people left after the attack and are now seriously injured or worse* thought Naruto as he continued to walk into the village while following Iruka. Iruka stopped suddenly.

"I think I've found something!" Iruka followed the smelled scent, while Naruto continued to follow him. The brown-colored lion stopped abruptly and gazed spellbound at the ground before him. Naruto stood beside him, frozen. There, on the floor lay the waiter from before, only that this time he was in his lion form.

The two forms did indeed look totally different, but the smell was clearly the same.

*Poor guy* Naruto thought but had to pay attention to something else abruptly, "h-hel ...lp..." Naruto stood still, listened and turned to Iruka "I think I've heard something" said Naruto excitedly to Iruka "Where did that noise come from?" Iruka wanted to know, "from over there "Naruto jerked his head and his right paw in the direction of a collapsed house on the other side of the street. They looked at another briefly and nodded, then dashed to the collapsed house "Hello? Is anybody there?" Naruto shouted, "hello? ... pl-plea …. please … h-hel … p.. me"

Naruto and Iruka listened as much as possible. "This sounds like the village chief", stated Iruka. "You're right! We need to get him out of there! But how do we do that?", "Let´s try to move those wooden boards first", Iruka suggested. "Good idea!" Naruto agreed and began at once to move the boards out of the way. Iruka helped him immediately when he noticed that Naruto had already set in motion.

It was not easy to move those boards at all with their paws, but they still managed it somehow and had the white leader soon rescued. He coughed and breathed hard, "*cough*Thank you very much ... my friends!" Naruto looked down to the leader, "you´re welcome! You provided us shelter after all!" Naruto said and lowered his head slightly so that he could understand the leader better.

He had indeed been saved but it did not look like he'd make it, he was old and injured, coughing and breathing harder and harder by each passing minute. Naruto and Iruka looked at the old with sympathy and sadness. "Naruto is right, sir! But what happened? Who did such a horrible thing?"

"Oh! That was *cough* my pleasure", the old smiled a tired smile. "What happened? *Cough* well, the troops from Konoha came *cough * and took all females with them ... while *cough* they devastated ... our home! *Cough*cough*cough*".

The chief had to interrupt himself as he had a violent coughing-fit "Are you Ok sir?" Iruka asked worriedly. "Yes, everything is fine. Where was I? Oh yes *cough* the few males of the village tried to stop the troops... but … they stood no change, they were outnumbered and all died trying to save the females and the village. All of them were slaughtered!" Naruto and Iruka looked at him, horror shining in their eyes,

"I would *cough*cough* like to ask you*cough*cough*something, a favor actually*cough*"

The voice of the old got even more quiet and weak."Please ask, Sir," said Iruka with a heavy heart, while Naruto had to hold back his tears. It was not nice watching someone die.

Especially if that someone was related to you or you knew him/her well and long. Or if it´s somebody that was as nice and kind as Nabuku (2), the village chief. "Please save *cough* the females! *Cough*cough * and bring ... that ruthless leader to his senses. "W-what? How are we supposed to mange that?" Iruka asked. "*cough*do not worry! ... You´ll manage... You two are special! *Cough* Iruka, you and your empathic nature ... and still strong force and you Naruto, with your gift, to never give up and your valuable and strong pedigree" Iruka and Naruto looked at the old lion with wide eyes.

Each had a different reason. While Iruka asked himself how the old could know this –about himself and Naruto - only he and a few others knew or rather had known about Narutos parentage, and of course, about Irukas own character.

Naruto looked at him shocked and surprised, because he did not know that in his blood flowed the heritage of the Kyuubi Clan. He only knew that he could do some things that others couldn´t! No matter how much they tried. "Please ...grant a ...*Cough* dying old lion, his last wish ... *cough*!"

Iruka looked shamefully to the ground, "I don´t think if we ..."

"We will help you grandpa! You have my word!"Naruto said confidently, "wa-what? But Naruto-"
tried Iruka to say. "No Iruka! This bastard is already too much like a bastard for my taste! It´s time that he learns that he can´t treat others like that! He deserves to be kicked where it hurts most!"

Iruka looked shocked at Naruto. Where did his confidence suddenly come from? He could see a fire-like gleam in Narutos eyes. Just like back then, before that thing with Konoha and Sasuke had happened. Iruka smiled. Perhaps, they should really try? The only thing that was worse than death was, to live in a world with a ruthless leader like the one of Konoha. "You have my word Grandpa! I will free the females, and bring this idiot to his senses! Come what may!" Iruka nodded to show that he would lend a hand. "I wish you good luck *cough*!" Brought the leader out "cross your fingers for us in heaven, ok?" Naruto couldn´t stop his tears from rolling down his cheeks any longer as he asked that.

I´m going to do ... that! *Cough*cough* thank you ... for ... every ….th. .ing" whispered the old lion before he finally went quiet and died.

Naruto and Iruka remained at the same spot for a few minutes. Big and dark clouds hovered over the ground, which poured out their contents - a few minutes later - onto the ground.

It was raining. Naruto shuddered as rain drops landed on his fur and began to make it wet. He looked over to Iruka, who didn´t look like he felt any more comfortable in the rain, than he did. Naruto poked Iruka, so that he would look at him.

Naruto looked in the direction of the village elder. Even without words, Iruka knew what Naruto wanted to say and do. The village elder and the others that had died trying to save their village earned it. They earned to be buried with honor. The people had been so immensely friendly to the two of them.

They had been welcomed with open arms. Naruto and Iruka had felt very comfortable in the village too, although they had arrived not many weeks ago. The two then decided to stay another day and bury the dead and pray for them.

As the rain subsided after a few hours, the two of them set to work. They dug deep holes with their sharp claws - one hole for each lion. When they were finished they prayed for everyone. There weren´t many dead to bury, as the village consisted mainly of lionesses.

What Naruto immediately reminded of something *you bastard. You will be sorry. Just you wait! Soon your life won´t be a bed of roses any longer!* Naruto thought angrily, turned around and left

- With Iruka hot on his heels - the village which had welcomed them so warmly.

When the two had walked a few meters away, Naruto looked back to the village for the last time. *I get you! Just wait! I promised this and I´ve never ever broken even a single one of my promises! So prepare yourself, I´ll get you!* with this thought Naruto turned around and walked away from the destroyed village, closely followed by a silent Iruka.

To be continued

So, this is the overwritten first chapter! I hope you liked it and it´s better to understand now!^^

Your Soraki