Author's Note:

I don't have much to say this time. Hi everybody and I hope you like it.

Acknowledgements and Thanks to Reviewers:

-iWolf: Thanks. I am glad the story pleases you. I hope to keep up and no worries I WILL finish it. I just hope by the time it is done it is still enjoyable for you

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or anything pertaining to it besides the idea for this fan fic.

On With The Story

Chapter 2: Surprises and…A Lesson?

The sun had risen a bit higher in the sky as it rose quickly once started. Naruto treaded along the tree lines to the North of town, heading towards a rock formation just inside the trees ahead of him. His gate got a bit sloppy in his anticipation. It had been a while since he saw his friend. He was now before an opening at the base of the rocks in the shade. Another quick sniff said that his friend was around, but so was another. He stood back not knowing what to expect.

"Kyuubi," Naruto called waiting for his friend to emerge. Within the next few seconds a furry head could be seen cautiously emerging from the opening. Upon the eyes falling on Naruto a body merged as well. The body was completely white with specks of dusty brown from dirt. The tail was very busy and twitched in excitement. The nose was black and the eyes a startling red. This creature, the fox Kyuubi, bounded up to Naruto and Naruto did the same. It was a joyous reunion as last time Naruto was there Kyuubi was not.

"Naruto, Kit, it is good to see you." Kyuubi said settling down. Naruto sat and nodded. Kyuubi had been the one to take him in as a pup. His father took him to town, but his father passed away and no one in town wanted him. Kyuubi found him in the snow and after Naruto following him around took care of him as best he could. Naruto eventually couldn't expect him to keep providing for him as he is so much bigger so Naruto would find as many scraps from garbage cans as he could. He eventually learned to hunt by watching a wolf pack near town. He had to adjust some things, but he figured out how to hunt small game.

Naruto was going to ask his friend how he was when another set of eyes could be seen in the cave. Kyuubi noticed Naruto's abrupt stop in whatever he was going to say. When he looked the direction Naruto was looking he realized he had yet to tell or show Naruto. The curiosity in Naruto's eyes was so evident Kyuubi almost laughed. He gently called to the eyes in the cave. Slowly another body slinked from the cave over to just behind Kyuubi. It was another white fox, a vixen. She stared at Naruto with frightened eyes. Naruto's ears went back as he hated being looked at in fear and wanted to quell the females' fear. Kyuubi attempted to help the situation by introducing them.

"Naruto, this is Sinopa(1) my mate. Sinopa, this is Naruto my son I told you about." Kyuubi lightly said. He was scared his mate would never accept his friend. It was a hard concept to swallow as wolves and dogs were usually enemies of foxes. She seemed to still be intimidated, but she was a little more at ease. Naruto's eyes lit up as he lowered to his stomach and put his ears back. She came from behind Kyuubi, curious of this huge creature that seemed so gentle compared to others like him. She approached cautiously as curiosity crept into her eyes as well. Naruto's tail began to slowly sway. She came to his face and then took a step back. Naruto turned over onto his back and put his nose in the air away from her. Sinopa sniffed his head and slowly he lowered his head down so his nose met hers. She lightly touched his and he tentatively licked her muzzle. He rolled back onto his stomach and wagged his tail as he slowly raised his head. Naruto noticed scaring on her neck that started near her shoulders and went down to her chest. They were the marks of teeth left by a dog. He lowered his head and licked it, his way of showing his sorrow for her pain. She looked stunned, but her eyes quickly softened as she nuzzled his head for his kindness. Kyuubi came up beside his mate and nuzzled her and she returned the gesture. Naruto became filled with joy at the sight.

"Well now I know why I did not catch you the last time I was here." Naruto said as he got to his feet. "Should I expect to hear little feet anytime soon?" Naruto asked. Kyuubi looked proud and Sinopa happy. Naruto knew that meant a yes or a hopefully.

"We are indeed expecting." Sinopa chirped. She seemed like such a joyous little thing. Kyuubi and she make a perfect match.

"How is hunting? I know it is hard right now." Naruto inquired growing a bit concerned. His friend didn't look too bad yet, but if pickings were scarce for him they were likely scarce for them too.

"Hunting is getting harder and harder. Winter will end soon though and things will get a bit better." Kyuubi spoke growing a bit solemn. Naruto understood. Kyuubi had a mate expecting kits now and thus needed to be able to provide for his family.

"By the way it looks winter will be a bit longer this year, but it could just seem that way. I was going to try hunting again today. I will see what I can find." Naruto said excitedly bouncing and doing a 180 bounding off.

"Kit!" Kyuubi called, but Naruto didn't seem to hear or heed his call, most likely the latter. Kyuubi sighed.

"Poor dear looks like he could use the meal more than us. Why would he hunt for us if he is hungry? We are not losing much weight yet." Sinopa said coming up next to her mate.

"You are putting on weight my dear and it is just the way he is." Kyuubi said leading her back into the den. "Silly kit," Kyuubi whispered to himself.

"I think he is sweet," Sinopa said having heard what Kyuubi whispered. Kyuubi nodded in his agreement.

…..

Naruto's searching took him back towards an abandoned part of town after he picked up a trail. A hare was nibbling on some grass at the end of an alley behind a rundown closed grocery store. Naruto crouched as he crept closer trying to move only when the hare was preoccupied. Naruto pounced when he got his chance and managed to corner the hare and make his kill suffocating the little creature. It kicked and gasped, but to no avail. Naruto had been successful.

"Finally," Naruto panted pride swelling at his catch for his father. He stood and plucked the hare from the snow covered ground.

"Well, well, if it isn't the half breed." A voice said in a mocking tone. It was a voice Naruto did not want to hear. He turned to see a black and white husky with dark brown eyes surrounded by rings of black. Behind him were four other dogs from the husky's old dog sled team. The one who spoke to him was Duke, Jake's father. "I heard you were messing with my boy this morning. How fortunate to have come across you. Now I can make sure you learn your place that much quicker." Duke said as he advanced towards Naruto.

"If you taught your boy some manners no one would have a reason to mess with him," Naruto said as he backed up, but the fence left him with nowhere to run. Naruto knew he might be able to win Duke, but if the town people found out he would never even be tolerated in town again. He went to jump the fence, but teeth sunk into his left back leg stopping him from jumping. He tried to free his leg, but his scruff was grabbed by another dog as the one grabbing his leg jerked Naruto's leg back and forth and side to side ripping flesh as he did so. The other began gnawing on his scruff while another grabbed his right front leg. Naruto did not know these dogs personally. They were just more dogs who also thought little of him. The other took bites at his sides. The dogs at his legs made sure to also get his other two pulling Naruto to the ground. Duke went for his jugular and held on for a bit pulling and tightening his jaws. Naruto whined and yelped, but no one heard him or cared. This part of town was deserted and the chances of friends around were slim, closer to none. Duke let Naruto's jugular go for a second only to grab it again while clawing at the bite marks on his side. Naruto's yelps had stopped along with his struggles; he barely whined anymore after five minutes of this torture. Duke's dogs were still ripping at his flesh and agitating sores they created. They mostly messed with his right side now, it being exposed as he lay on his left.

Duke left his jugular pulling off the bandana as he did so claiming it as his blood stained prize. Naruto's eyes barely focused anymore and his body ached. He wanted his bandana back, but he did not have the energy to stand anymore and he didn't believe he could the way his body hurt. He no longer whined. "Pitiful, you didn't even put up a decent fight. I was hoping for more. Oh well, but if you threaten my son again I will kill you out right." Duke growled in his face. Then he snorted with a half laugh. "If you survive the night that is," he said smirking and then continuing, "I think a storm will come tonight. It is best you find shelter," Duke said as he full out laughed leading his dogs away with Naruto's kill and bandana. Naruto lay there in blood covered snow, his blood. The cold burned his wounds from being on them too long, but he could not move. He tried to get up, but only his head rose before dropping back to the snow. He could barely see straight. The pain was immense and his throat hurt from his shouting.

Back at Sarutobi's Sakura was beginning to worry. She had heard Naruto say he would be back and the sun was setting.

"He has yet to return." She said to Sasuke and Neji, a brown, grey, and white Akita, who were next to her playing an intense game of tug-o-war. Lee was waiting his turn from the side lines and cheering the two on. Their game ceased as they gave her their attention. They too had heard Naruo say he would be back later and that always meant that day usually in the afternoon.

"The dobe probably got caught up with Kyuubi and is staying there," Sasuke said in his cold voice.

Neji nodded and added his say, "And remember, he didn't get to see Kyuubi last time he was here."

Lee came up to Sakura and said, "Do not worry Sakura-san. Naruto is fine I am sure. It is probably just as Sasuke and Neji-san said."

Sakura nodded, but she was still worried. There was a storm on the way and even they were all sleeping in the barn. "Maybe the wolf in him will help him through it if he doesn't show up," She thought and then sighed before going back to watching the tug-o-war game that started back up.

A chocolate brown Newfoundland with a scar across the top base of his muzzle just under his eyes sat a bit away near the barn door, but heard the conversation. He too was worried for the lively Naruto that he began to think of as a son figure if not a little brother. He looked to the grey furred dog, Kakashi next to him and voiced his thoughts. "Sakura is right. He has been gone a while."

The grey dog was a German Sheppard crossed with a Karrie Blue Terrier, but resembled the German Sheppard more as he had the German Sheppard pattern, but instead of black it was grey and the usual tan markings were white. His eyes a miss match pair of grey and red. The red eye having a scar over it, but for some reason he had exceptional vision from it. He raised his head from atop his paws. He had been staring at his companion's troubled stare. He wanted to wipe that turmoil from his eyes. He too was a bit concerned. "Naruto is very spontaneous and probably did stay a while. He might have wanted to stay once he got there." He said making some of the worry leave. Iruka felt a bit more convinced when it came from Kakashi. "If he is not back at some point tomorrow then it may be cause for worry." He added hoping Iruka would calm down.

"Yeah, I guess." Iruka said as he tried to settle down. Kakashi put his head back on his paws, but now watched the tug-o-war game which switched to Lee and Neji as Sasuke must have gotten bored or lost. He had ended up beside his brother on the porch.

Kyuubi looked at the clouds as snow began to fall and the wind picked up. He was worried. Naruto never came back. It is not like Naruto did not know what to do in the event of a storm, but it is the fact that he had a bad feeling. Something was wrong, but he could not go search for him. He continued to watch at the mouth of the cave.

"What troubles you Kyuubi?" Sinopa asked as she came up to him. Kyuubi jumped not realizing she was there. He settled down and looked at her and smiled. She understood then. She had her suspicions, but it was for sure now. "I am sure he is okay. You raised him well. He is probably taking shelter." She said as she went further into the cave. Kyuubi stayed at the mouth for a few more minutes before he called it a night. Maybe, Naruto would show up when the sun came back up.

Sasuke watched the snow swirl violently and some of it hit the side of the barn as the wind howled. He was sitting at a window while the others slept. Only his brother remained awake watching him.

"Stupid dobe," Sasuke sighed lightly.

"You should sleep. Sarutobi is using you to go into town in the morning when he picks up a few things," Itachi said. Sasuke didn't even flinch.

"You are going too." Sasuke said. He wanted to be left alone. Itachi chuckled which made Sasuke turn around. When he did he was met with a gentle touch of a paw on his head.

"Get some sleep. Maybe after going to town we will look for him," Itachi said leaving his brother to go sleep.

Sasuke snorted, "As if anyone would look for that dobe." A small unnoticeable doggish smile formed on his face at his brother's perception. He sat for a while longer and then curled up to go to sleep.

As for Naruto, he continued to lay there as the storm rolled in blowing snow to the earth in turbulent fashion to hit the ground as if it had lightly fell. It layered like a blanket of death. The fence was keeping his head, shoulders, and torso from being covered completely, but little specks tomented him still. He still had not moved.

TBC…

Author's Note:

So how was it? I hope you like it because I do. I feel bad about Naruto though. But no worries. Once again I will try to update soon. Please review.

(1)Sinopa: female fox

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