In the morning when they were both getting ready to leave Naruto felt nervous, he hoped the pup wouldn't be cast out for associating with a fox. Naruto had told Kyubbi to stay in the den and if he felt threatened to run, it was a foxes best technique of survival as they are agile and faster than most forest animals.

Soon enough they had both turned into their animal forms before setting off. Naruto picked up a wolf scent and followed it, he looked over to his wolf companion and he nodded it was the right scent to follow.

Itachi picked up his speed, the night and snow had put many hours onto his quest into finding Riko that he couldn't afford, when the wind picking up he growled as he smelt Riko's scent as well as another animal. He could only tell that it was an adult, probably the one that had kidnapped him. Not 10 minutes later he watched them walk through the forest, without any other thought in his head besides protecting the pup Itachi stalked the golden fox and pounced on it.

The fox let out a cry as Itachi sunk his teeth into the flesh of his shoulder but soon Naruto took advantage of Itachi otherwise busy teeth and kicked him off. His eyes burned with anger at this man, he was always being attacked and no stranger to a fight. They both lunged for each other and their claws and teeth dug into the others flesh. The fox was putting up a tough fight Itachi thought, Itachi was finding it hard to kill the agile thing.

"'tachi stop! Please!" Itachi heard Riko cry and eyed the fox who was also looking at the child and panting. Itachi wasn't as worn out from the fight and the fox was clearly more injured. He looked over to Riko and saw him in his human form crying. "He's helping me." The boy said tears falling from his eyes, all the shock and fear coming forward.

Meanwhile Naruto eyed the wolf, it was clear the two must know each other if not be related. He was hurt from the larger and more powerful animals attack. He turned into his human form to check the powerful wolf was indeed coming for the pup.

"Do you know him?" Naruto asked Riko and coughed up some blood. He sat in a way that would hide his modestly from the wolves.

"He's alpha's son." Riko said nodded and coming over to Naruto. Naruto lifted a hand gesturing for him to stay back. "He's here to take me back…"

"Then my job is done." Naruto quickly transformed once more and stretched, feeling his cuts sting. He refused to be in the company of the clear killer any longer.

"Naru!" Riko called upset that the man who had been so kind to him had been injured and just left, but he was gone.

"What were you doing with a fox, Riko?" Itachi asked angrily, now human.

"He was taking me home, 'tachi! I gots lost and Mr Naruto found me. He looked after me, why did you hurt him!" Riko said and matched Itachi's anger with his own.

"Because he is a fox but more than that you were missing, Riko. You're young you don't understand the implications or being an Uchiha." Itachi said and pulled on his trousers, he threw some to the ungrateful child as well.

"What does him being a fox have to do with anything."

"Shut up and come on. Your father is going to be furious." Itachi said walking forwards. The child said no more after that, too busy thinking about what his Papa would say. Meanwhile Itachi now content that the cub was safe and unharmed thought about the fox. He must have been bringing Riko home in order to gain some sort of social standing or money from them. Itachi like most had a natural dislike for foxes, although they were very rare now, what with most of them having been killed off.

Strangely he couldn't knock a smell that seemed to be following him. It was sweet and musky, he sniffed himself and found it was on him. So this was the foxes scent? Itachi wondered. It was intoxicating. He hadn't noticed while trying to retrieve but now he had noticed it he was drowning in it. Not letting the cub see his struggle he growled and turned to him. "This is too slow, shift I'm carrying you back." Riko nodded and did so. Soon Itachi was running while being careful of the cub he was carrying in his large, sharped toothed mouth.

When he entered the compound fellow wolves turned to look at the rare slight of a bloody Itachi who was carrying the missing pup. Before he could get to the alphas office Takada was running up to him so he carefully placed Riko on the ground and didn't stay to watch their reunion. He did accept Takada's thanks with a nod and went to report to his dad.

Naruto stumbled home and collapsed a couple feet from his den entrance. "Papa!" He heard Kyuubi cry and smiled at the little fox.

"Shh it's okay, I'm okay, Riko is home. Just ran into a bit of trouble is all." He assured and picked himself up. Being in his human form was less painful and would be easier to treat his wounds this way.

2 days later and Itachi was still thinking about the fox, by now it had all but consumed him. The blond, red and white fur was so angelic before he attacked, but matted and covered in blood after his attack. His eyes were amazing but he couldn't picture a happy expression on his face, only the hurt and angry ones he had seen.

Making a decision Itachi once again dived into the forest towards a certain fox.

Naruto felt him before he could smell or see him. He shoved Kyuubi into the den and looked around, his wounds were okay now but would easily be ripped open with a fight. He moved away from the den, trying to draw attention away from it and soon after he saw him, the same wolf that had attacked him 2 days prior. He growled and in his fox form got into a fighting stance.

"I'm not here to hurt you, little fox."