Disclaimer: I don't Naruto. Kishimoto-san does. But who's to say I'm not Kishimoto-san?
Story: Kyuubi's found a way to escape, leaving to his homeworld. He's left Naruto a "gift", transforming the former jinchuuriki into a half-demon. The new kitsune needs to deal with the ups and downs of his new change in life, and gradually accept that maybe he isn't as alone as he thought he was.
Set after Sasuke's defection and Tsunade.
Spoilers: Maybe. I've just seen recent episodes on Cartoon Network and rented the first two DVDs. Everything is mostly from fanfics. So help me out if there's anything wrong, okay?
Warnings: Eh, I dunno right now.
Pairings: Kakashi/Naruto (for now), maybe more later.
A/n: Lol, I've always pictured kitsune!Naruto as something like Youko from Yu Yu Hakusho. At least this new version of him will be.
Rebirth: Rokudaime
Chapter One: It Ends Tonight
It was a long two and a half years, and to say the least…it was the best of Naruto's life. Considering all the years he'd felt anger directed against him from the villagers of his home village, it was nice to travel and not feel hated.
Turning sixteen was another ordeal.
"Yes, vacation! We totally needed this!" Ino cheered, trying to get Sakura into it.
The pink-haired girl tried half-heartedly. Naruto watched sadly, swearing once again to himself he'd bring Sasuke back no matter what. It stung a little, though, that the girl he loved was in so much pain and he had only arrived from his trip an hour ago.
"So, Tsunade-baa-chan. Hot springs? In the Village of the Hidden Mist?"
The blonde woman grinned, "I already have the Mizukage's permission to spend a week over there. It's my birthday gift to you, brat! Though I bet you'd rather be training."
"Believe it! I have to get stronger so I can bring Sasuke back and keep the Kyuubi under control."
Tsunade snorted at the old catchphrase. But her happiness at seeing Naruto wavered; there had been no mention of his dreams of becoming Hokage. The Kyuubi container seemed much more inclined to bring about others' wants instead of his own.
Naruto shook his head.
Tsunade's grin lessened even more. The usually loudmouth ninja only nodded politely and cheered when it was appropriate. She hoped someone would notice the new introverted side to Naruto. Maybe this trip could bring him back to his old self, even if somewhat.
"Oi, Naruto! Let's go kick some Hyuuga butt at volley ball," Kiba yelled.
"As if. Fate has ordained us to win against you, mongrel," Neji said, turning up his nose, though lowering it a bit when he saw Naruto's twitching, smiling face. Hinata's blush grew when Naruto grinned at her.
That girl had become less shy over the years, especially since the fateful Chunnin exams. However, around Naruto, she was still the same girl with the obvious crush on him. Tsunade would guess that even when the girl moved on, a part of her heart would keep a special place just for the blonde boy Tsunade had come to be so fond of. Surprisingly, Hinata seemed to have quite the aptitude at tag team volleyball with her cousin.
But Naruto's tag team use of the Kage no Bunshin can't be beat.
"Everyone get together with a jounin so we can leave," she hollered, and immediately everyone scrambled to their old sensei. Everyone except one team. Naruto stared at his sensei before averting his eyes to the ground as Sakura trudged over to Kakashi. Everyone else had left except for Team 7, and Jiraiya and Tsunade.
The sannins watched, tense.
The silver-haired jounin strode over to Naruto and held out a hand, Sakura following absentmindedly.
"Yo," Kakashi grinned from underneath his mask.
Naruto stared at him again before smiling and taking the hand, disappearing in smoke. Sakura was still there, her mind having still not registered being left behind. The two sannins sighed before grabbing her and disappearing.
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The day had been spent in fun, the teens trying to get in as much fun as they could in one day. Jiraiya, of course, had tried peeping and Tsunade had beaten him into a pulp, extremely annoyed and pissed off at the nerve of her colleague. Kakashi walked around, reading his Icha Icha Paradise and everyone else doing things as if Sasuke hadn't of betrayed them and Naruto hadn't left.
Only two people didn't act the same.
Naruto approached a still Sakura, who was standing before her door doing nothing but looking as if she was going to cry, and walked passed her. He uttered as he passed, words that would make her rethink a lot of things and realize she wasn't the only one hurting.
"We are two thirds of one whole. Sasuke will realize that before it's too late."
And he disappeared down the corridor.
She entered her room, pondering on her behavior and everyone else's.
Meanwhile, Naruto had met up with Kakashi in another corridor, both dressed in bath robes. They were to meet Tsunade at the mix baths onsen so they could talk, instead of going to the separate onsens. They had a feeling an important mission had come up.
"Baka Naruto!" the Hokage's voice echoed, as a shoe flew past Naruto's head.
"Eh?!"
They hurried and saw Tsunade already inside, glaring at them though her mouth was twitching upwards. Jiraiya was laughing to the side, clutching his sides.
"Ero-sennin! You said something! What did you do?" Naruto accused the toad sannin.
"I told her what happened the last time we came here, Mr. 'I'm-so-molestable-please-don't-come-after-me," Jiraiya said, still guffawing.
The demon vessel's face reddened in both anger and embarrassment.
"You didn't even try to save me, Ero-sennin!"
"Ah, but it was so funny! I couldn't help but watch. You know, for research."
"Alright, Naruto. I want you to get in there and transform. That way, you can collect valuable information for my next book."
"Pervert sensei! I won't!"
"Of course you will!" Jiraiya said grinning, before tossing the towel-clad Naruto into the women's baths where he had only a second to transform. His female self emerged and there were naked women everywhere.
He was going to kill that pervert sensei.
"IhateyouIhateyouIhateyou…" Naruto repeated under his breath as he walked around, blushing a dark red.
He could practically hear Ero-sennin snickering from wherever he was at, that bastard.
He ran into something, something soft cushioning the impact. He paled when he saw it was a woman's…pillows. Naruto panicked, backpedaling and not realizing he had lost the transformation, everyone there realizing he was actually male.
"Hey, little boy. What are you doing here?" the one he had run into questioned him.
"Gomen nasai! Pervert sensei tossed me in here! I'm sorry! Please don't kill me!" Naruto shouted out, his eyes closed and he tried to run away. The women closed in on him and were…cooing over him.
Jiraiya snorted, his eyes wide, as his pupil stood there being pawed at by dozens of women.
"Oh, isn't he adorable!"
"Look at that, he's blushing!"
"Kawaii! He's getting so flustered!"
"Come here, love! I'll show you around!"
Then they started pulling him back and forth, pawing at him and giggling. Naruto broke free from them and his shock, running out of the baths and into the corridors where they scrambled after him.
He ran into a large, private bath, darting to the large tub in the middle of the room and plunging into it. He hid there, hearing the horde of women run past and someone actually opening the door to that room before leaving. He sighed and was slowly getting out when dainty arms closed in around him, pulling him against a very female chest.
"Hi there. Now where are you going?"
Naruto screeched and ran out. He kept running, darting into another room and slamming the door shut, and accidentally slipping backwards where he landed into a tub. He stayed still, catching his breath, when he realized his mistake. This time, definitely male arms encircled him, pulling him back and crushed against a male chest. The unknown man chuckled.
"Now what do we have here?"
Naruto didn't answer, having been sent into another shock. He snapped out of it when the man unexpectedly grabbed his ankles, hefting them into the air and prying his legs apart. He screeched again and struggled.
"Help! Someone help me!"
The door snapped open, revealing a female ANBU. She grabbed him and ran away. Which led to him being attacked by her, she claiming she just wanted a little 'fun' with him.
The rest of the day passed on the same, with Naruto running away from both women and men.
"It's not funny, Tsunade-baa-chan! They were everywhere and I couldn't escape! And stupid Ero-sennin wouldn't help me."
The Hokage kept laughing with Jiraiya, his sensei chuckling as well.
"Don't worry, Naruto-kun. I'll make sure to protect you from lechers," Kakashi purred, draping his arms around Naruto teasingly.
"Baka sensei! Everyone, quit!"
Tsunade shook her head in amusement before turning serious.
"Oi, I've got a mission for both you and Kakashi. Naruto, I'll need you to transform into a female and go with Kakashi to meet with the Mizukage. We need you to persuade him to ally himself with us against Orochimaru, and Kakashi will protect and guard you. You two got it?"
Naruto pouted but said yes anyway. Kakashi's enjoyment increased.
"Then go, brat! The meeting's tonight, in just eleven minutes. Don't let Kakashi get you late. The Mizukage won't tolerate that."
"Hai, hai," Naruto waved it off, walking out of the springs and out the door, his teacher following.
"Oi! Wait up!"
"Sexy no Jutsu!" Naruto's female form appeared, causing Kakashi to start a nosebleed.
Naruto glanced worriedly at him, before his now even more dainty hands grabbed onto Kakashi's and led him inside another section of the bathhouse. "This sucks, Kakashi-sensei. We're supposed to be on vacation and now we have to deal with a mission."
Kakashi didn't answer. He was too distracted by Naruto's female form.
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The Mizukage, as had been expected, was perverted to the extreme. In fact, Naruto quite knew him. And the Mizukage had recognized Naruto even through the disguise.
"Naruto-kun! I'm so glad to see you again!"
Naruto squeaked and tried to hide behind Kakashi, but the Mizukage had already grabbed onto him and was pulling the boy onto his lap.
"Ne, ne, Naruto! I've missed you lots! Have you missed me? Eh? You know, you look really cute, but I still prefer you when you're a boy!"
"Ah! Kakashi-sensei! HELP!"
But his teacher just stood there, gawking in stunned fascination at the two of them. Naruto's transformation dropped.
"Eek!!! Baka pervert! Get off me!"
Oh, yeah…first time Naruto had met the Mizukage, was in a bathtub with the man trying to pry his legs apart.
"Uh, Mizukage-sama, my student and I need to talk to you…"
"Hey, Naru-chan! Do you remember when we first met? I tried so very hard to pry your legs open! Maybe it'll be easier now!"
Kakashi sweatdropped as the Mizukage tried to molest Naruto, right in front of him.
"Ehhh! Takori-san! Please leave me alone! We have to talk about Orochimaru!"
"Hehehe! Ah, him! Actually, I'd already known I wanted to ally with Konoha. I just wanted to get you to come here. I asked the Hokage exactly for a blonde with spunk! I was right when I knew she'd send you!"
Naruto whimpered. The sound caught Kakashi's attention, making him blush more than the scene before him.
"Ah, Mizukage-sama…I think that Naruto-kun and I must return to our rooms if that is the case. Gomen ne, we'll see you around."
And with that the jounin gently pried Naruto away and carried him out. Takori pouted.
"That…was interesting," Kakashi commented.
Naruto stayed silent.
"How about we soak in the springs? It'll relax us. And I really will protect you from any lechers. At least I'll attempt to, unlike Jiraiya-san."
"Ero-sennin is a baka. But I'd like to take you up on that offer."
Why did everything Kakashi said or did end up sounding like an innuendo of some kind?
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"My poor kit…enjoy this blessed curse." Kyuubi chuckled darkly. While he had grown fond of the wretched soul, Naruto would be the only human. The boy was a special case and wasn't some gesture that meant Kyuubi loved all humans. Of course, for some sixteen years, it would be expected that Kyuubi would become attached to his host. And the Kyuubi was going to leave Naruto a gift that Kyuubi was sure to be more of a curse.
The nine-tailed fox trotted down the mind corridors, looking for the embodiment of his host in psyche form. He spotted his kit sitting forlornly at the main water fountain, having already noticed the kitsune's presence.
He nudged his nose against Naruto's hand and the boy forced a smile onto his face.
"Hey…"
Kyuubi growled, snapping his teeth at Naruto. But the boy just shrugged. Well, best to break the news.
"Gaki, I'm leaving. As in gone permanently. But I want this to be a parting gift to remember me by. You'll see me somehow later on anyway, so don't cry."
With that, Kyuubi sunk his teeth into Naruto's neck, eerily reminiscent of Sasuke and Orochimaru. But this was more tender, at least.
Kyuubi began to fade from Naruto's vision, as his eyes also began to blur and pain lanced up and down his body, growing as time went by. Finally, the pain reached its maximum and a scream tore out from his throat. He felt a ghost of a wet snout comfort him before vanishing, leaving Naruto alone in his torment.
When Naruto woke up, things were no longer the same.
Naruto didn't breathe as he stared into the mirror. How could he when he had dreamt of Kyuubi leaving and giving Naruto a "gift" as a parting farewell? When his body was wracked with phantom pains? When he wakes up to see his hair lighter and tamer, but two furry ears perched in them?
"Happy birthday, Naruto!" Tsunade and Jiraiya yelled when it hit midnight and they burst into the room. They froze when they caught sight of the frightened Naruto, gawking at the "new look".
They slipped inside and closed the door, so nothing could be seen or overheard. They just prayed the Hyuugas were asleep.
"What happened?" Jiraiya asked, staring at the ears. Naruto broke down and told them.
Some sixteenth birthday.
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"Naruto? The Kyuubi jinchuuriki?" Kiba couldn't let the disbelief out of his voice.
After the revelation, Tsunade had Jiraiya awaken the jounins, so that they may wake up every one of Naruto's friends. It was time they found out about Naruto, now that it couldn't be hidden with Naruto's new look coming about. The new look had still been hidden from everyone, making the jounins confused as to why everyone had to wake up so late in the night and tell the kids about Naruto.
Well, Tsunade and Jiraiya had planned on springing Naruto's look on everyone later…when it was calmer. That way, when everyone blew up again, it would be less of an explosion than if everything had been revealed at once.
"It's funny. I didn't even know today was his birthday. Much less he's the Kyuubi container," Sakura said bitterly.
"So now you think he's a monster?" Neji said sharply.
Kakashi watched the rest of what was left of Konoha's Twelve. They were congregating after they had heard the news and Jiraiya and Tsunade had gone back to Naruto. Some of them were in different states of shock.
"No, of course not! I just…didn't realize how little I knew of Naruto."
There was a murmur of agreement. Kakashi's eye swept over the group and saw that they were still there for Naruto. And as long as they were with Naruto, it didn't matter what the villagers or anyone else thought.
"So, what's happening?" Naruto's voice brought them to the door.
"Naruto, wait! Don't go in –" Tsunade's yell brought it all into focus.
Furry ears, slightly slanted eyes, a grin showing his small fangs, sort of tamed white-gold hair…
"Oi, Naruto! Since when did you become the fox?" Kiba asked 'tactfully'.
Naruto's grin dropped at the same time the two sannins bowled into the room in a panic.
Started 10/15/05 –Completed 10/21/06