Disclaimer: Naruto is not my property, and I'm not doing this for money.

Kitsune

by Rain in the Sunlight

Hi! I recently unearthed this positively ancient fic that I wrote many years ago. I'm quite aware that some of the writing is a bit off and hard to understand. I'm rewriting it right now, but I wanted to post this version first to see if anyone likes my ideas. Can you leave me a note whether or not you want to read the rewrite, and of course reviews and advice are always welcome. Thanks! Rain in the sunlight

"Hi!" = spoken dialogue

'Hi!' = thoughts

Hi! = Kyuubi speaking

'Why me? Why me?' A little blonde boy, around the age of two cringed from the villager's jibes and punches. 'WHY?'

Naruto only saw a flash of black and silver before he started slipping into a darkness he almost welcomed now.

His last thoughts before he was lost to oblivion were 'Is that a wolf mask? I want one too…'

"What—is—it-with—these—people?" the silver-haired ANBU grunted in between blows meant to disperse the crowd.

"Am—I—supposed—to—know—taichou?" replied his brown-haired companion. "Oh, whatever, let's get this done faster." Wood started streaming out from the ANBU's side, molding into a replica of himself.

With their work finally done, Kakashi and Yamato picked up Naruto and rushed to the hospital.

"Not good," muttered one of the few medics who willingly treated the little Kyuubi vessel. "The villagers were a lot more violent this time." The medic shook his head sadly.

Yamato thought he spied a flash of—was that worry? through his taichou's eye, but it was so fast, Yamato thought he might have imagined it.

'Poor kid,' Kakashi thought, reminiscing of some old memory.

A shout snapped them both out of their reveries.

"NO! He's going into cardiac arrest! This is much worse than we originally thought!"

Now both ANBU were more visibly worried.

"Please don't tell me all that work went to waste" grumbled Yamato.

"SHH! Kakashi snapped and dragged Yamato outside.

'Eh? Why's taichou so concerned? Hmmm…." puzzled Yamato.

Naruto's Inner World

"Kyuuuu? Kyuubi?" A little voice inquired. Naruto stumbled around in a dark watery hallway.

I'm over here Naruto. Kyuubi no Kitsune poked his head out of bars in two gates with a peculiar looking piece of paper holding them together.

"Kyuubi!" The blonde ran toward the furry mass.

What? An audible gasp escaped from the demon fox. Naruto's whole body was bruised and battered. Suddenly, Naruto collapsed, mere inches from the bars. No! Kyuubi scooped Naruto inside with a long, soft, fuzzy tail, wishing desperately for him to be alive.

He had gotten close to the little blonde in the time that they had been together. Nobody, not even an ancient, 9-tailed demon fox could deny that the little blonde ball of energy's puppy eyes.

The giant fox sighed and decided it was best not to panic. He started channeling his bubbling red charka into the tiny form cradled in one of his tails.

"Wha-What?" The medic was baffled. The blonde's heart had stopped for 10 minutes, and despite all they were trying to do to, they had not been able to revive him. And now, the little boy's heart had started up so suddenly, and the bruises on his arms and legs were healing at an incredible speed. The two ANBU who had returned to the room to see how Naruto was doing after the 10 minutes when his heart had stopped were equally befuddled.

They were even more bemused when Naruto cracked his eyes open, peered at the ceiling, glanced at his unfamiliar surroundings, noticed the ANBU with swords, and ended with a terrified screech. Naruto jumped off the hospital bed, leaped over the doctor and hopped toward the door in one fluid motion. The only problem was the door was locked.

"AGHHHH!!!" Naruto looked around with wild eyes, fear clearly visible in the huge cerulean orbs. The ANBU were speechless at the display, and the medics were frozen in place from the shock of seeing a tiny child leaping out of the sickbed with a mastery of his body unseen from those his age, even more astonishing from one who had just come out of cardiac arrest.

Naruto was gibbering now. The ANBU deciphering the words automatically realized that he was blabbering about if they were going to hurt him, please don't, he just wanted to go home, he didn't think that anyone wanted the crackers in the garbage, he didn't mean to try to eat them, he didn't mean any harm, he…Naruto collapsed on the floor, shivering, his body still not fully recovered from the brutal attack from the villagers when they had found him in an abandoned alleyway.

A heartbeat later, a second howl of pain was heard as Naruto convulsed on the floor, the exertion of the attempted escape too much for his damaged body.

Another heartbeat later, the little boy had descended into the darkness once again.

Naruto's Inner World

You shouldn't have done that, Naruto. Grumbled the fox All that hard work, and you collapse on me again. The fox acted annoyed, but in reality, he was extremely concerned for Naruto.

"But, Kyuubi, I thought they were going to hurt us…"

Just be quiet and let me finish with this. The fox continued where he left off from before Naruto had awakened and caused a ruckus in the hospital room.

"OK, Kyuubi." sighed Naruto and he snuggled into the fox's tail, resting while Kyuubi finished up healing all his injuries…

"Uh…" was all everyone could say after a period of stunned disbelief.

The medics hurriedly deposited Naruto onto the hospital bed once more.

"What a kid, eh, taichou?" Yamato muttered.

"Yeah."

At the Hokage's office

"Hokage-sama!"

Sarutobi looked up hurriedly, "What happened?" Kakashi never looked so flustered, so it must have been something big. "Is something wrong?"

"Naruto needs better protection."

Eh? Kakashi was the last person he'd expected to say something like that.

"What do you mean?"

Kakashi recounted his experience with the little Kyuubi vessel at the hospital.

"He's going to get hurt even more if we leave him alone. The instances just keep getting worse!" Sandaime was surprised, he had never seen Kakashi say something that vehemently, and Kakashi definitely looked like he meant it.

"Well what do you suppose we do then, Kakashi?" Sarutobi queried. "I can't really adopt him because of the uproar it would create in the village, and all the orphanages either rejected or abused him badly.

"Eh? Oh..." Kakashi felt strongly about it, but he hadn't really thought of any solutions either. "I'll come back when I think of something."

At the Hospital

"Ahhhh! Where is that little brat? He'll get hurt if he goes wandering around again!"

Naruto had disappeared, and the only clue the hospital staff had of his location was the open window in the little ward.

"Yay, Kyuubi! We're out of that place with all the weird people and the funny smells!" Naruto jabbered excitedly.

Where are we going, Kit? Asked a curious Kyuubi.

"Just you wait, Kyuubi! I'm going to track that scent that was in the hospital room. I want to find that man with the wolf mask! I remember seeing him when I blacked out. Too bad I didn't recognize him when we were in that funny room."

Yeah, because you tried running away even before I was done healing you…

"Oh, I'm soooo sorry Kyuubi…"

Awww, it's ok fluff ball. Kyuubi couldn't stand the little blonde feeling sad and making those HUGE puppy eyes.

"THANKS KYUUBI!"

It's nothing, Kit. Said Kyuubi, melting as the little blonde bounced along the road. Hey, Kit, I have a really good nose; do you want me to help?

"Huh? Kyuubi? How would you do that?"

Just hold on. Hey, why don't you come in here? It'll be easier to explain.

"Sure!" Naruto sat under a tree away from prying eyes and entered his inner world.

Hey, that was faster than last time! You're getting better! Kyuubi was surprised. Usually it took Naruto to be in a life-threatening situation to be able to enter his inner world. When he tried to get in intentionally, it took him a while and lots of patience.

Naruto's Inner World

'HIIIIII Kyuubi!' Kyuubi sighed.

Come here, Kit.

'Sure, Kyuubi'

For the next stretch of time, Kyuubi instructed Naruto on how to meld Kyuubi's charka into certain parts of his body. Naruto was even more successful than Kyuubi thought. In no time, Naruto had popped back out and started sniffing for the "wolf" again with a red-chakra-enclosed nose.

"Aghh! Why does Hokage-sama ALWAYS give me the dirty work? Sure, I'm concerned for the little brat but it's not like I want to hunt him down when he jumps out of a hospital through a 4th story window!" Kakashi was annoyed, very annoyed, so annoyed he didn't notice a little blonde ball of energy finish sniffing and straighten up next to him before it began to talk.

"Oi! Oi! Wolf dude-san! Are you talking about me, 'cuz I'm not a brat!"

Kakashi spun around to the source of the chattering. "Eh?" His eyes widened. "What?!? It's you!?! Ackk! I'm going to kill you!"

Instantly, he knew that that was not the right thing to say. The little blonde was quivering in fear.

"Ahm…I didn't mean that literally…ahh…" Kakashi didn't know what to do. Naruto was still shaking. "Uhm…are you hungry?..." Instantly Naruto brightened up. "You have FOOD!?!?"

Kakashi was a bit shocked at the sudden change, "Uh…ok, what do you want? Uh…how about we go to Ichiraku to get ramen?" They were only a block away from the little ramen shop.

"What's ramen?" Naruto questioned.

Kakashi just started walking and Naruto tagged along. Soon, they reached a place where a wonderful smell was wafting from. Naruto's belly rumbled so loudly, Kakashi almost jumped away from fright. 'Poor kid, he must not have a lot to eat often.'

An hour, 10 bowls, and a lightened wallet later, Kakashi was in shock from how much ramen this kid could eat. It was amazing! He had just worked through each bowl of miso ramen barely breathing; Kakashi was almost afraid he would pass out from lack of air, but no, the kid just kept slurping and slurping and slurping. "Incredible."

"Eh? Did you say something Wolf dude-san?" Naruto was now finally finished and was looking at Kakashi curiously.

"Wah? Oh, uh, nothing. Let's go." Kakashi had thought that it would probably be best to bring Naruto to the ANBU headquarters until they could figure something else out. "Oh, and don't call me 'Wolf dude-san.'"

"So, what should I call you then?" Naruto was curious, and even more so when Kakashi kept silent. "Humph…fine, well at least tell me where we're going. I'm just sleeping in the park again, so I can't just keep walking this way or else I'll get to far from it, 'kay?" Naruto turned around and started off toward the park, but Kakashi grabbed his arm.

"No, I'm bringing you somewhere you'll be safe from att—I mean where you'll be comfortable." Kakashi didn't want to bring up those unpleasant memories in the little boy again.

Naruto looked confused. 'Why would anyone care about me? I'm a "demon" after all.'

"What's wrong? Don't you want somewhere warmer to sleep than out in the park?"

Well, he was right, it did get pretty cold outside…Naruto made up his mind. He gave Kakashi a huge grin. "Thanks Wolf dude-san!"

"No problem…HEY! Didn't I tell you not to call me that?"

"Than what do I call you? You never did tell me." Naruto pouted.

"Hmph…eh?" Kakashi was thinking of something when he felt a little hand take his, and Naruto started to swing his arm back and forth as they walked. Kakashi was about to take his away, but when he looked down, he saw how happy the little blond was and couldn't bear to take away the little kid's smile that was probably a first in a long while.

Suddenly, Kakashi felt a sharp pain in his left eye (the one with the Sharingan), and Naruto froze and dropped to his knees.

'Ouch!!!' Both of them thought and clutched their eyes (an impressive feat for Kakashi since he had a mask on). Kakashi was too busy trying to manage the now searing pain in his left eye to notice the little blonde next to him slowly open his eyes and reveal… a one tomoe Sharingan in each.

Naruto hadn't known what had happened. 'I guess I got something stuck in my eyes.'

… Kyuubi was shocked. Wow…kit, I got something to tell you later, but before you cause a commotion, try to drain the chakra in your eyes…

'Ok, Kyuubi.' Naruto closed his eyes for a second and when he opened them again, his eyes had returned to normal. He looked up at Kakashi and tugged on his arm. "Are you ok?"

The pain had subsided a bit by now, and Kakashi cracked open his left eye. "Yeah, sure kid, let's keep going. I think I just got something stuck in my eye."

At ANBU HQ

"Yo. Everyone, this is Naruto. Naruto, these are my team members, Yamato, Anko, and Genma."

Naruto looked around. 'Hey, Kyuubi. Doesn't the guy, uhhh…Yamato, doesn't he seem familiar?'

Yeah, he was there when you went ballistic in the hospital…He smells friendly.

"Okee dokee, let's get you somewhere to sleep Naruto…Naruto?" Kakashi turned around from the door when he heard "Aww…isn't he cute?" Naruto had toddled up to Yamato and before the ANBU with the dog mask in his hand had known what had happened, the two-year old was on his lap and looking at him with wide, trusting eyes. Everybody looked at Yamato to see what would happen next.

Yamato had frozen when he saw Naruto suddenly there. 'Wha?' Then he saw that Naruto was already asleep with a funky grin plastered on his face. 'Aww…he really is cute.' Yamato ruffled Naruto's hair, but when he touched the fluffy blond strands, his hands felt like they had caught fire. The feeling spread up his fingers, across his hand, up his arm until it encompassed his entire body. Even though he didn't want to startle his teammates, he couldn't help but let out a gasp of pain.

'What the heck is going on?' Yamato had absolutely no idea what had happened, but it sure hurt like heck.

Naruto's eyes snapped open and he gave out a small whimper, jumped off of Yamato, and ran out the door. Kakashi watched the whole thing through narrowed eyes. Yamato didn't look like he did anything, and somehow, this reminded him of the incident before when they were walking to HQ.

"What did you do, Yamato? The little kid just wanted a hug." Anko was just as befuddled. Yamato wasn't the kind of person that would do anything to a little kid like that.

"Eh? I didn't do anything! I swear. One second he was dozing off, and the next second my ha—" Yamato stopped.

"Go on." Kakashi's voice came from the doorway. He had found Naruto huddled in a corner, asleep of all things.

"Uh…well…" Yamato didn't know if he should tell them. Maybe he had just imagined it; they would get concerned, and Anko might just laugh at him.

"I said Go on."

Yamato looked up and swallowed nervously, "Well, the next second, my hand felt like it was being burned, and even after I took it away, it just kept spreading all over. But it's gone now."

Kakashi's eyes narrowed. Things were matching up to the incident with his Sharingan…

"Ahahhahah…the little kid did something to you?" Anko laughed, making it all seem like a joke.

Kakashi didn't bother to quiet her, he had something else to think about. Yamato looked mildly annoyed. 'Didn't I say this was going to happen?'

"Oh, well. Might have been nothing Yamato. I gotta get he kid somewhere to sleep. Ja ne!"

Kakashi picked up the slumbering blonde and tucked him into a bed in spare room, and returned to his room to ruminate over the new mystery.

Naruto's Inner World

Naruto had come to visit Kyuubi every time he slept now. He decided it was much more fun than just sleeping like a vegetable for the whole night.

'Kyuubi. Did you say you had something to tell me from before when we were with the Wolf guy?'

Yeah, come here Kit. I want you to focus chakra into your eyes and say this: "Sharingan."

'Eh? Ok…SHARINGAN!' He opened his eyes. When he looked at Kyuubi, all of the fox's movements seemed to be clearer and easier to follow.

Kit, look at your reflection in the water.

'WHAT HAPPENED?!? Why are my eyes red? Help Kyuubi!'

Don't worry, it's normal, well not normal for a non-Uchiha, but it's alright Kit. I think somehow when you touched the guy's hand from before, you sort of copied his ability. I bet that was Hatake Kakashi. He fits the description from my records perfectly: non-Uchiha, silver hair, one Sharingan. Yup, only thing I don't understand is why you have it now.

Naruto was just as confused with his new ability. 'Something happened when the other guy touched my hair too.'

Hmm…he was the one with the dog mask, right? Yamato… seems familiar. OH MY GOSH!!! Kit, I think I've figured it out… I gotta try something. Mind if I wake you up and use your body for a few seconds?

'Anything you say, Kyuubi.'

Naruto/Kyuubi blinked.

"Alrighty then, Naruto watch this closely."

Kyuubi started pumping out chakra from each hand, some molded for Earth-type in the right and some for Water-type in the left. He tried mixing them together. Usually, it would just become a mess, but when he was using Naruto's hands, it became a little ball of wood! It all happened in a matter of seconds.

Just when Kyuubi was about to experiment a little bit more, he felt his control slipping and he was sucked back into Naruto's mind.

'Sorry Kyuubi. I can't really let you out for more than 10 seconds. That seal makes it really hard.'

It's ok, Kit. Thanks. I think that somehow, you're able to use other's Kekkai Genkai for some reason after you had physical contact with them. Yamato is the only one who has the first's DNA, so he's the only one who can use Mokuton, but now, when I look at your DNA structure, your body has it restructured to be able to accommodate the Sharingan and the Mokuton. INCREDIBLE!

'Huh?' Naruto was a bit confused. He still was a 2 year old, after all.

Never mind, Kit. I'll just teach you how to use them. Ready?

For the next hours that Naruto's body was sleeping, he trained in his mind with Kyuubi…

The next day, Naruto opened his eyes to see a funny man chewing on a senbon at his door. "Who are you?" Apparently, Naruto couldn't remember some of the people from yesterday.

"I'm Genma, remember? I'm on Kakashi—wait, you know don't know his name, right? The guy with the wolf mask, him, I'm on his team."

By now, Naruto was wide awake. "Oh, Wolf dude-san! Can I see him?" Kyuubi had told him to keep everything he had learned last night to himself, just in case.

Genma practically choked on his senbon. "Wolf dude-san?!? AHAHHAHHA—"

His senbon had been yanked out of his mouth and was being held with the pointy end ready to be jabbed into his neck. "Eeep."

"I said not to call me that, right, short stuff?" Kakashi growled.

Naruto's eyes were huge, big as dinner plates as he couldn't quite believe that "Wolf dude-san" had moved that quickly. "Eeep." He said, sounding just as scared as Genma.

Then, suddenly, Kakashi began to laugh, realizing how ridiculous the situation was. "AHAAHAHAH….alright, just call me Kakashi. Letting you know my real name is better than … AHHAHAH..."

Naruto and Genma looked bemused, but Naruto quickly recovered. "HAI! Kakashi-san!"

This got another snicker from Genma, who was silenced by slight jab with the senbon that managed to hurt badly, but somehow didn't draw blood.

"It's ok. Just Kakashi is fine." 'Geez, where does this kid get all that energy from?'

A/N: You made it through the first chapter! :D It's a strange place to break, but I couldn't think of a better place...if anyone has any good chapter titles, feel free to suggest them. "Chapter 1" is a little bland I must admit...