A/N:

Good News. Due to the interest received from the first chapter, I plan to upload another chapter after this one.


READ VERY IMPORTANT

Stuff I forgot to mention in the last chapter:

Naruto doesn't have whiskers

Naruto is 19

This is a HAREM so EVERYONE is fair game. And when I say everyone, I mean everyone, so whatever disgusting pairing comes into your head, it's probably gonna be in here. (No gay stuff though.)

So ummm yeah EVERYONE EXCEPT HINATA….She's not going to be a pairing. In fact I might kill her off just to be sure she's not part of it.

SO NOW YOU'VE BEEN WARNED….Un-follow now if you might be offended.

Again, I don't want kids reading this. Any kid (16 & under) reading this is mentally sick. RATED M folks…


CHAPTER 2

THE HUNT


Naruto sat on the ground with his back lounging against the tree trunk; feeling the rough edges of the bark pinching his back. It was anything but soothing, but he remained in place.

He stared at the bonfire in front. It seemed weak and small. Glancing around his legs, he saw the twig beside him. It was old, dried, and thick; perfect to be sacrificed to the gods of fire.

Naruto grabbed it from the dirt and flung it to the flames. The bonfire gladly accepted the piece offering. It flared and crackled, spitting sparks and flames upwards and everywhere. Maybe the twig was too perfect.

The bonfire grew large, chewing more broken branches, twigs, and pieces of woods that before were untouched beneath it, like it had just noticed them.

Naruto glanced away from the bonfire and watched as the growing bright light from its flames pushed back more of the darkness around the open, showing more trees and bushes. Now scanning the lighted area, Naruto noticed how almost perfectly Mother Nature had formed a barrier around them using the trees and bushes; shielding away the inky night blackness beyond.

/

"So what are we eating?"

Eating? Naruto turned to Konohamaru, who sat on another side of the bonfire; his juvenile face socking in light and heat from the flames. The boy had his eyes set on his; waiting, like a puppy wanting to be fed.

"I don't know. Do we not have any?" Naruto asked.

"No." The boy replied.

"I see." Naruto turned back to the flames; watching it spewed more bursts of sparks. A few landed on the dried leaves littered below and immediately began burning holes through them. The sparks would need drier leaves to start another fire as the holes stopped growing as quickly as they had started.

/

"I guess we spend the night without food then." Naruto said indifferently. Years of being poor had made him a master of spending nights without dinner.

"Okay. I guess if you say so." Konohamaru said; resignation visible his voice. Naruto glanced at the teen and saw the hunger crawling on his face. It seemed he wasn't used to the condition of "sleeping without food." The teen was of royalty of course with his grandfather being a former hokage.

Naruto exhaled to himself. It ached his heart, somewhat, seeing people depressed, but it also annoyed him since it meant he had to do something about it. If he had to say, he was slowly becoming like Shikamaru; lazy in most situations but caring at times to put in the effort.

But Naruto, in truth, couldn't deny that the emptiness brewing within his own belly. He was hungry too.

He scanned around the open; saw some berries sticking out from the bushes. Nah, those won't do! His face scrunched up with detests and rejection. His gut needed something more edible and filling if it was going to eat, and those wild, unknown berries wouldn't cut it. And not to mention the chance they soaked with poison on the inside. He scratched the back of his head in thought. This would be hard, finding food.

Ohh, how he missed Sakura. At times like now was when her usefulness and presence were most appreciated.

What would she have done?

Soup? Too dark for something as convoluted and difficult as that, especially without the ingredients. And lord knew he wasn't feeling adventurous to be scavenging for leafy ingredients at this dark of the night.

Hmmm… A thought appeared. Scavenging…MEAT!

They had the fire. A simple meat, smoked by these flames would leave everybody satisfied. He looked up and peered past the trees and into the darkness. He felt he could hunt for something and the darkness could aid him in doing so. And so it was decided, on his feet he was.

/

"Where're you going, sensei?"

Sensei? Naruto turned and saw Moegi; her face etched with fear and worry as she stared at him; her slim jawline and her fat pony tails, which fell softly on her shoulders, shimmered from the bright firelight. She was becoming more of a woman than he realized. And since when did she start wearing lipsticks. Her lips glittered from the yellow lights.

Naruto shook his head, burying the thought away, but secretly praying that she didn't notice his staring of her lips. "Don't worry Moegi! Udon and Konohamaru will protect you and I won't take long." He smiled and watched the fear leave her face. A tiny smile appeared across her lips…..those lips…..SHIT MAN, GET A GRIP!

Her face grew strong as she nodded to him, taking comfort in his words.

He brought his sights to Udon and Konohamaru who were seated, cuddling around the camp fire, as they had their sights equally set to his. "You guys keep watch on each other's back" He commanded with confidence. He knew they would. They were strong and capable; he felt it. He had trained them and watched them become skilled genins and he was glad to call them his students. But something felt off.

"Okay, Naruto sensei, I will protect them." Konohamaru embellished a wide grin and thumped his chest once.

Naruto sighed aloud. Despite his aging, the boy was still a kid on the inside, almosta carbon copy of himself in his younger days; overconfident and overoptimistic. But how many times did those passions lead him into troubles?

"Just. Don't do anything stupid Konohamaru." He felt he needed to say that, a caution somewhat to the growing teen.

"When have I ever?" The boy asked; feigning a stunned reaction.

Naruto said nothing, letting his deadpan gaze rest on the other two who equally shared his reaction.

"I will be back soon." Naruto reached for one of the pockets on his green vest and a scroll slid down into his hand. "Use it in case of an emergency." He tossed it to Konohamaru and who eyed it with curiosity, rubbing his thumbs on the inscription on it.

"Don't do anything stupid." He warned again and then whiffed away in seconds before they could respond.


Branches flew past his feet as he hopped from tree to tree; eyes searching through the darkness and ears listening for anything. Then his ears prickled from a noise. He latched his feet onto a branch; coming to a sudden stop. Something was in those bushes. He watched and listened with silence; the bush rustled once more from movements within. Naruto snaked a hand into his back pouch; pulling back with a kunai in that hand; the blade glittered from the moon's light.

More rustling noises came from the bush down below. Not in rhythm, rather in random bursts followed by moments of silence in between. Naruto kept his sights on the rustling shrub and finally saw his dinner clearly. It moved and stopped within bush, eating things; unaware of anything else.

Naruto waited and slowed his breath, keeping still his movement. He needed the perfect view and the perfect angle; one where he could see the creature and see its backside facing his line of vision. The creature, blindsided, wouldn't see his weapon flying in for the kill.

The bush twitched and rustled again and Naruto saw it moved. An opening! He threw the kunai in a flash and watched it pierced the shrubs with vengeance. The rustling ceased and silence befell the scene. He couldn't see his blade or hopefully what was now a carcass. Mangled branches and leaves from the shrub kept everything hidden.

Naruto kept waiting and then, the white blur dashed out from the shrub. Oh no you don't! He leaped from the high branch to the ground and gave chase.


Naruto dodged past trees and leaped over bushes, throwing kunai knives when he saw a chance, but the dazzling white creature evaded all.

Yes. Naruto saw another chance, a better chance than the previous. He sized up the creature once more and threw ahead of its path, hoping it would run and cross directly into the streaking blade. He watched, tracking his blade and the creature with a sure sense that he had it this time around. But it twisted its tiny paws, changing its path in the last second. Are you kidding me? Naruto clenched his teeth; frustration was building now.

/

More attempts failed and more kunai blades became wasted. Naruto was now in the thick of the forest. What the heck is going on?

Even when he felt certain or strongly knew that he had it, it slipped away. He would get so close to it, corner it, and when he moved in for the kill, it would slip away. And what's worse was the feeling that it was either getting faster or he was getting slower. The latter couldn't be right. He was still fit and felt no fatigue, but their distance was stretching. It moved really fast and that wasn't right.

Fuck! Naruto watched as his umpteenth blade pierce a tree bark instead. He willed himself hard; clenching his hands, he dashed mad after it once again. He was going to get it no matter what it took.

The white furry blur moved and moved and eventually leaped over a large shrub into the open ahead. A wicked smile etched on Naruto's face as he followed suit, leaping over the shrub. He knew that he definitely had it now. Out in the open, the advantage will be his and he would take it. He would kill that fucking rabbit, even if he had to employ the rasengan. Forget eating it. It's personal now. Naruto saw it in the open. I'm gonna fucking kill him even if I have to blow him up into smithereens.

He landed very ungracefully into the open; anger filled his veins and clouded his senses. "I've got you now you little rascal." He said very loudly with a craze tick.

The white rabbit had stopped moving in the open. It turned to Naruto and stood up above the grass; raising his front two paws with him. It seemed it needed a better view at Naruto himself.

An arrogant predatory grin appeared on Naruto's face when his eyes met the creature's tiny black eyes. "Awww, is someone tired?" Naruto cooed as he crept closer to it; his devilish grin growing larger.

The white furry creature kept staring at him as he inched closer, its whiskers moving rapidly. It cocked its head to side, staring as if it found the human to be confusing.

"That's it. Don't move, you little rat." Naruto slowly shuffled his feet towards it; trying his best to not startle it as he closed their distance.

Shit! Naruto froze in place when the rabbit's ears twitched violently. Was it startled? Naruto watched as its large ears started twitching again. Naruto readied his kunai just in case, but kept it hidden behind him.

He would prefer getting closer, but should he strike now from this distance? Just wait, Naruto. He cautioned himself; waiting with patience as he watched the rabbit moving its head around, looking at the grass around him and other things; its ears kept on flapping wildly around. Naruto kept still, hoping that soon enough it wouldn't see him as threat to run away.

But then it started running again. MOTHERFUCKER! Naruto threw his kunai and the blade buried itself in the grassy ground, inches behind the leaping rabbit. I can't fucking hit anything. He gave chase and saw it run into the bushes ahead.

Naruto leaped over it and landed into another open; this one had less grass and more ground. The white furry daredevil wasn't far ahead. "You're not going anywhe….." Naruto slowed down when he saw her. He walked to a stop and stared with wide eyes. Who…. His thoughts were all mushed.


She stood on the edge of the cliff, gazing at the large full moon hanging above the clear night sky. She wore a white kimono dress with a red sash. Her hair, blood red, glowed under the large moon and it fell long, neatly on her back, and was braided into a single large strand.

The chase had taken him out of the forest and into this clear open and now he stood there, gawking at the back of this mysterious woman. She was breathtaking, despite her face not visible to him.

/

Her large cat ears—that's unusual—prickled as the hopping rabbit got close to her. The white creature stopped beside her and looked up to her. She turned and looked down at it, her red bangs obscuring any eyes or face from him.

She gracefully went down and picked the animal up, cradling it in front of her and out of Naruto's vision.

"Kaguya" she said and Naruto's heart jumped from her candy sweet voice. Kaguya. Is that a name? It definitely was one but whose? Hers? Naruto watched as he noticed the attention she gave to the rabbit in her hands. She held it like her baby. He wondered if she was smiling right now. Oh what he would give to see her face.

"What are you doing here?" She spoke again; her voice calm and soothing as she lifted the rabbit high up, almost trying to hand it to the moon as an offering.

/

Naruto stood dumbfounded. Was she talking to him? Yes dumbass. Who else could she be referring to? They were the only two souls out here.

"Uhhh," Naruto straightened his stance and composed himself. Finding words to say was becoming hard. Why was he so flustered? She definitely seemed enticing and mysterious. He looked again at her; her elegant white kimono back and that long braided glowing red hair, the only features he could see. And those ears. They seemed very real, covered with matching red hair. WAIT a second! Was she even a human?

The thought shook him. He studied her and noticed her height; definitely shorter than his. She seemed of young age, a teen probably. He took comfort knowing that. He could try to reassure her as the oldest here.

"Don't be alarm…..um….miss, I'm sorry for the sudden appearance but I was just hunting…hunting him" He jabbed his finger at the rabbit she now cradled high above her head.

She gazed at the white rabbit that she held high to the moon. "I always knew you would find your way here…" She spoke to the rabbit, it seems. "…eventually." She added; her voice different, subtle, and quite cold.

What? Naruto watched her with confusion. Did she know him? "Do I know you by any chance?" He asked. He didn't know her. How could anyone forget about that hair and those ears?

"But I'm slightly shocked." She said, still staring the white furry animal she held high. "You came quicker than I expected."

/

What is she talking about? The girl was confusing. She couldn't have possible known about their chance encounter.

Naruto stood there, worried for the stranger. Perhaps, being stranded alone, here in this dark forest had made her mad and possibly as a remedy, her mind had induced severe hallucinations. Maybe she ate some of those wild berries. Naruto chuckled inwardly a little from his jest, but quickly dispelled it.

"Are you lost, miss?" Naruto asked, stepping closer. "Do you need any help?"

"Does this mean that the time is near?" She spoke, again gazing high to the rabbit, freezing Naruto on the spot. She made less sense with each passing statement. "Is that why you are here? Is that why you came here? To tell me that the time is near? TELL ME!" She shouted to the rabbit, unhinged she was starting to seem. "When are you really coming?" Her voiced chilled and sounded inhuman towards the end.

/

Something was not right and Naruto felt it.

Besides her crazy questions…WAIT….was she even speaking to him?

She was treating his presence like the wind, like he didn't exist. Only that stupid rabbit held her attention the entire time.

Naruto watched her holding that rabbit, still gazing at it; his left eye started twitching. Suddenly he moved towards her, unabashed and determined to make her realize his existence. "Excuse me, but are you lost?" A menacing wave chilled him to the spot before he got anywhere near her. His heart rate quickened from the sudden feeling that washed him over. The air spewing from her was one filled with hate and dread. It was intense. Her bloodlust was strong and suffocating but it very much felt familiar.

"Who are you?" Naruto asked; his voice weak. Fear had shaken his manly core. She wasn't human and now he was utmost certain of it. No human could have this demonic blood thirst aura.

Her shoulders tensed, but then relaxed. His presence was finally acknowledged by her it seemed. She lowered the rabbit slightly and faced straight—away from the rabbit—and ahead, into the night valley that stretched below and beyond the cliff.

A moment passed and then her head turned to the side. Naruto's breath caught his throat when her bangs cleared away. She eyed him sideways; revealing her blood red eye with a pulsating black slit in its center. It pulsated, piercing directly at him. The menacing wave hit his core again and Naruto slowly took a step back. His mouth and eyes enlarged to unrealistic height. She was a demon.

"You should leave." She said; her voice cold and dead, and Naruto knew she most definitely meant him.

Soon the rabbit started making noises, strangling sounds. Naruto looked up and saw it being squeezed around the neck. She was chocking it without even looking at it. His gut sank when he saw her long sharp red fingers or claws. It was piercing deep into the rabbit and it struggled, thrashing in her strong grip.

For the first time Naruto felt sorrow for it. He wanted to protest but he couldn't utter a single sound. He looked back to her and his eyes met her red demonic gaze. Fear stiffened him into indefinite silence.

She looked away and brought her sights to the thrashing rabbit. She grasped high again to the sky. "Why do you feel sadness for it?" She asked. "Weren't you hunting it before?" She was speaking to him and Naruto knew it, but couldn't mutter a word back.

He trembled with fear and unease, watching her squeeze the life out of that rabbit with her long red claws. The creature's strangling noise grew hoarse and hoarse, each become very un-animalistic.

Naruto finally willed himself to say something. He opened his mouth to protest but froze in place. WHAT THE…. He gawked very largely. The rabbit was changing; morphing into something un-holy like.

It was getting bigger; its mouth formed with a white substance, saturated saliva it seemed, and Naruto saw jagged, sharp canine teeth. It grew more sharp incision teeth all around his enlarged jaw by the second. It sounded different—wolf like actually—and now it was fighting back the strangulation with its visible black claws.

"What on earth…." Naruto said; his eyes bigger than before. He watched as the rabbit's once tiny black eyes rolled up into its head and what came underneath were deep red eyes. His eyes were bigger and angrier. It hissed at Naruto and but roared at her.

She stood calm and collective; her tight grip not loosened from the fight this rabbit or whatever mutation this creation was putting up.

Naruto stepped back even more. This wasn't normal. These two weren't normal. What was he even doing here?

The air around changed. It picked up. He watched as her long hair and robe started flaring. The bloodlust in the air grew and Naruto felt being suffocating by it. He noticed the rabbit's white fur was also standing and flaring.

Strong, visible black aura started spewing from the animal. No, it's chakra. Black chakra and it felt ghastly and death. Naruto's heart quickened with his breathing. He had to leave, run away from here.

The rabbit roared liked a great beast. It roared loud and strong, blasting air past Naruto. He clasped his ears, trying to save his eardrums, but he heard them popped. His ears echoed with a mix of beastly roars and whistling. Naruto looked up and saw the creature getting bigger and puffier, like it was being pumped with gas. Oh my god.

Suddenly, it blew up. An inky blackness spewed fast from it and spread in all directions, covering everything. Naruto tried moving an arm in place to shield his eyes but he was consumed by the blackness.

"AHHH!" Naruto screamed loudly, thrashing wildly on his bed. He sat on his bed; breathing fast and erratic; sweat trickling down from his forehead and cheeks. His eyes—wide and frantic—stared straight ahead at the fading greenish wallpaper that dyed his entire room.

A sweat bead swept down between his nose and eye, almost getting drawn into his eye through the caruncle. His eye shut itself close to prevent the sweat from entering and he brought an arm up to wipe his wet forehead. He stared at the sweat that now skim the surface of his arm. It was just a dream. He remembered trying to shield his face from that black explosion with this arm.

Everything became black.

A ray of grey light, beaming through his window, snapped his thoughts. The moonlight shone on his mangled blanket which covered his legs haphazardly. He turned and gazed past his window. The moon was full just like his dream, but much smaller and the night was covered with some drifting clouds.

His breathing had calm down. He returned his gaze back to his blanket, then arms, staring at them while calming his breathing down even more.

What time is it? He turned to his desk beside the bed. 3:14. It read on his digital clock. The night's journey was halfway done. Should he return back to sleep? He closed his eyes, pondering.

The dream was very vivid. And now when he reflected back, it made sense that he struggled to captured that bunny. That was how dreams were; a struggle to do simple things, especially running. That's why the rabbit felt faster, despite him running wild and mad after it.

/

"Huh." He sighed and opened his eyes, staring at his hands again. He was tired, thinking of the dream; a dream that I still remember even after waking up.

It was rare, remembering an entire dream. If any, he would recall some bits and pieces of a dream but not the entire picture. It was like deep mining through his memories; trying to recollect and remember a dream that was buried in pieces and scattered deep inside mountains of thoughts. Simply put, it was futile. Yet he remembered this one in its entirety.

He wished he could remember his other past dreams; the ones with girls and hot springs. He sighed once again with dejection. It always sucked waking up from those paradise dreams; the only place where Sakura could stroke his membrane without killing him and Ino would follow up by…. "AHHH!" Naruto screamed; ruffling his disheveled hair. Why didn't I have a dream like that instead?

"Huhh, whatever."

He rubbed his belly and felt the emptiness within. He needed food. "Oh shit" He remembered. I never brought back anything for them to eat. He felt bad for Konohamaru and the gang. He had been a jounin and their sensei in his dream but still couldn't capture that rabbit to feed his team. "Even in dreams, I'm still a failure, it seems." He sighed.

But a sarcastic chuckle escaped from his lips. I was actually a jounin. And he looked quite good in a jounin vest. But still being called sensei actually felt nice. The looks of dependence from those three had given him a sense of worth. It was what drove him in his pursuit for that rabbit meat; to feed his students. It was like a sadistic pleasure; having someone dependent on him.

Naruto's smile slowly evaporated. A nagging sense of regret lodged itself at the back of his mind. Maybe the Kyubi was right. He should have taken his power to win that match.

Do I really care that much about becoming a full-fledge shinobi? Did having this dream showed that he cared? He pondered about this for a lot longer.

Nah, I was probably just thinking too much about ninja stuff. He had just lost to Tenten several hours ago. He looked at the time again. 3:22.

I'm still hungry. Going to sleep without dinner was a bad idea. Maybe that's why I had this awful dream involving chasing bunnies for food. He kicked his blanket away and hoped off his bed. The fridge and a peanut butter and nutella sandwich awaited him. He grabbed a cup near the kitchen sink. It won't be complete without some orange juice. Or should he go with cranberry?


/


Under the same full moon, two figures wondered near the outskirts of the village. Their features veiled under the long black cloaks they wore. They threaded through the dark forest, hugging the base of mountains escarpment that walled part of the village.

"Who else will be there?" The one in front spoke.

"It will just be the two of you, Godaime-sama." Came the answer from behind.

The one ahead glanced back to her companion. She could see the white mask underneath that black hood. "You don't have to be so formal Itachi." She said.

"Yes Tsunade-sama." He replied; his voice indifferent with any emotion.

Tsunade sighed and faced the rocky path in front. He was too dense with honor and respect. Hard to believe someone like him was part of Danzo's pet corps. But Itachi was cold and calculated and that was one of the stipulations into joining Danzo's group.

/

Regardless, Itachi was invaluable to her. His unique position allowed her to keep tabs on Danzo and his projects.

And not mention his rare and unique bloodline. How many Uchihas did the village have? Not many. And to have one of the strongest as her servant and ally was her great asset.

But a nagging doubt reared itself in her mind. The shinobi world was treacherous, filled with betrayals and backstabbing. And his clan was no strangers to them.

An ally today can be an enemy tomorrow. She glanced back to the young anbu behind her; his white mask barely visible under that black hood of his. I wonder where his trust truly lies. Was it with her or worse? She looked away. Danzo's.

Years of experience had soured the sannin with cynicism. Itachi had being more loyal to her than most. But it was wise being safe than sorry. And she had contingency plans; even for him should the worst come.

/

Itachi had one more choice besides the two she thought of. His trust could lie with no one else but his own. And that was probably wise in this maniacal world. Trust no one but yourself. Words she used to live by and still does.

/

Minutes of walking between thick wooded forest and rocky large escarpment, they finally near their destination. Hidden from the world, they were greeted by a pair of anbus who led them to its entrance.

"RELEASE!" The anbu signaled with a hand-sign and the paper seal peeled off the rock. The large rock rolled itself out of the way, showing a tunnel descending deep into the rocky escarpment. Flaming torchlights hung allowed its walls, lighting the way down.

"He will be waiting for you there Hokage-sama." One of the anbus spoke. Tsunade turned and saw the two kneeing on the ground; heads bowed. Despite being Danzo's underlings and under his direct thumb, the anbu corps displayed great respect and dignity towards her.

Well, I am the hokage after all. But with all the bickering and fuse going on secretly with Danzo, it was easy to assume that the corps was Danzo's personal army. No! They are his army. And she shouldn't be swayed by their show of respects. She looked away from the two and glanced at Itachi, who gave her a nod.

"Okay that will be all." Itachi said and the two flashed away in seconds.

/

"I will be nearby, Tsunade-sama." Itachi said and vanished from her side as well.

Tsunade looked down the tunnel, feeling the wind and her soul being drawn deep into it. Fucking Danzo, always suggesting we meet in weird places? It wasn't that she felt fear, but the drenching sense of unease whenever she went to his hideouts.

She took steps and entered, grabbing the first torchlight that hung on the wall. The fire danced and waft violently from the passing wind, being sucked in. She brought the flames close to her body, shielding it from the wind.

/

Soon she took more steps down, disappearing into the tunnel.


A/N:

STAY TUNE FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER…