-3 Years Later-
It had been three years since the disappearance of one Naruto Uzumaki from Konoha. When he was finally noticed missing, it was only because Iruka had come home from a day teaching at the academy to notice a headband on his kitchen table. His old headband, the one he had given Naruto for graduation. He grabbed it and immediately ran to Naruto's apartment. He had vomited at the sight of it and then ran as fast as he could to the Hokage's office. Of course she sent out search party after search party and had ANBU investigate what had happened. Their reports made her weep, the fact that Naruto, the one reason she had come to Konoha, could not be found and the way he had been treated angered her. She showed then and there why she was Hokage. Her wrath was fierce and cruel to those who had attacked and wronged Naruto on that day.
But again, that was three years ago. Since then many of the Rookie 12 had been promoted and grown quite strong. None were below the rank of Chunin. In fact Sasuke, Nenji, Shikamaru and Hinata all being full fledged Jonin, and Shino, Kiba, Tenten and Lee were Tokubetsu Jonin. Although they still usually tried to work with their old teams when on missions if they could. A strange boy named Sai had filled in Naruto's position on Kakashi's Team Seven, and was even Chunin rank like Sakura.
Team Seven itself was no longer so well regarded by their fellow Rookie 12. Most outright refused to consider working with them, unless it was under the Hokage's orders. They weren't usually invited out with the other's for food or just to chill, with Sai being the exception, Ino was really working hard to break through the boys Root training and had succeeded for a large part. Sakura was still the Hokage's apprentice, although she was not looked at favorably at all like she used too (by Tsunade or Shizune). Sasuke, having been resealed with several strong seals against his curse mark, simply trucked on striving toward his two goals. Even though he was miserable the whole time, having seen at least part of the folly of what he had done, and missed the idiot he had at once called his best friend. Kakashi himself was complete mess. The only reason he had not killed himself or gotten killed on the numerous missions he had been taking was the simple thoughts of at least being able to see Naruto one last time and beg for forgiveness. Naruto the only thing he had had left of the family he had pieced together and then lost. As of right now Team Seven, composed of Kakashi, Yamato, Sakura, and Sasuke, were all in the Hokage's office, having just been called in.
"Well here it is the reason I called for you is I have a mission. The Land of Waves, the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Tea have all contacted us about this problem." Tsunade stated, uncaringly towards the group, "There have been sightings of what they're calling Kitsune Spirits. Most reports are of a woman with nine vulpine tails and a pair of vulpine ears. She has done everything from stealing to fighting bandits and Missing Nin to just making mischief. According to TI, there have even been sighting, although few, on our coastline. Your mission will be to find out what you can. We need to know if this is one creature or a whole group and what their intentions are. If you have the opportunity engage the creature and try and bring it back here, using force if necessary. That's why I'm sending three heavy hitters and a medic, this could get ugly if its a true Kitsune or strong enough to consider itself one. Be extremely careful since you could end up in different countries following leads, I don't want to have to deal with a war, or threats of one, because one of you was an idiot. Kakashi, you're in charge, start in Wave, I expect reports monthly. I don't know how long this will take, but don't show your faces until you have either significant information or the creature. Dismissed."
The four quickly did so after grabbing the scroll with all the details of the encounters and the scroll with their actual mission details, having learned in the past that the Hokage did not want them in her office longer than necessary. They made their plans for packing and leaving for Wave on the walk from the Hokage's office to the front entrance of the Hokage tower, leaving Konoha in under an hour.
-Line Break-
They had travelled at quite a fast pace and so they arrived at the bridge to wave by nightfall and were in the same town they had been in the first time they had been here. Much had changed though. Without Gato and with a The Great Naruto Bridge, the Land of Waves had returned to a very nice level of prosperity. Trading with Places as far away as the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth, all thanks to one missing knucklehead. The group decided to crash for the night in a hotel and start their search the next day.
Sunrise was not far off, so it wasn't long until the group was up and ready to go. Sakura and Sai were assigned to stay in the hotel and go through every report and detail they had, while the rest would go and see what information they could find from the locals and return by lunch.
"So," Kakashi said as he and the others reappeared in the room Sakura and Sai were working in, "What does everyone have?"
"Nothing, absolutely nothing." Yamato said, "No one I spoke to knew anything more than we did coming in, even the ones that had encounters with the Kitsune said they never truly got a good clear look at it."
"Hn." Sasuke grunted in agreement and frustration.
"Same for me unfortunately." Kakashi stated, "What about you two?"
"Sensai, these reports make absolutely no sense," sakura started "I have one here about it defeating five Missing Nin easily, and the next was about how it had pranked a mean old man. Then the next was about it stealing one hundred pounds of instant ramen, and then another about it giving freshly cooked food to an orphanage. There is one about it breaking in a flower shop and stealing a bunch of gardening equipment and seeds and another about it slaughtering a group of bandits who downright deserved it. Every report is random and more confusing than the last. Like almost every theft the person was left with money for the goods. And it's not just in the Lands of Waves, Tea, Hot Water and Fire, I have reports here from the Lands of Lightning, Wind, Rivers, Frost, and Water. It's all over the place with no pattern, no rhyme or reason."
The others stared at her shocked at the range of reports and locations, wondering how exactly they were supposed to pinpoint this creature or get any kind of significant information about it.
"While Sakura is right, there is a few facts," Sai began, looking down at his own notes, "The majority of the reports are from the Land of Waves and Fire. The fewest reported sightings or incidents are from Wind and Tea. A majority of the reports have it operating at night, with it alway near or on water, specifically the ocean. I think we should continue in Wave for a little bit. Maybe move locations though, more on the Northeastern coast, and search at night."
"That isn't a terrible plan, anybody else have any ideas?" Kakashi said looking around and seeing that no one did, "And apparently our only plan. One question though Sai, why the Northeast coast?"
"While most of the reports are indeed from the Lands of Waves and Fire, they are actually not very many from the coastlines facing each other. Most of the reports are from the coasts facing the former Land of Whirlpools."
-Line Break-
On the Northeast Coast of the Land of Waves the five Konoha Nin were slightly spread out wandering the coastline. The night itself was quite pleasant, with nice breeze rolling in off the ocean. The only thing was, that same breeze was blowing in fog, that was getting to be quite thick. with a signal the four Nin met on the water's edge.
"I guess that's good enough for tonight. This fog is making it hard to see, and even if we do find this supposed Kitsune it would be difficult to track and engage in any way." Kakashi said, ready for his bed.
"Awwwwwww, giving up already? Is the great Kakashi of the Sharingan scared of a little fog?"
Every hair on the Konoha Nin's neck was standing up, the husky voice of a woman sending chills up and down their spines, as the lept into a defensive position.
"I can't believe Konoha is sending all this to find little ole me."
The Konoha Shinobi could finally see an outline of what was approaching them. An the figure of a woman being seen through the thick fog. Not just any woman either. From what they could tell, she had an athletic body, ample chest, nine swaying tails and a pair of vulpine ears on her head. She was steadily approaching them with relaxed posture and a hip swaying sexy gait
"And who exactly is little ole you?" Kakashi said as he slid his headband up and activated his Sharingan. Sasuke quickly doing the same, while the others either pulled out kunai or pulled their hands up in the first seal for a Juts.
"Why Kakashi, do you really not recognize me? I know it has been awhile, and I didn't look like this, but still," the figure said as it approached. One of its tails flickering out cause the mist to clear, once it was a few steps away. The Kitsune speaking up again right as the mist showed it, relaxed stance, hips cocked to the left, arms crossed under her cleavage. "It's me….."
