Gai looked down and placed his hand on his cheek. "A failure. It used a genjutsu on me."
The Hokage looked up from his painting. "Really? That's surprising. A genjutsu that could beat the mighy Maito Gai. He must be quite powerful."
Kurenai looked at him. "More than that. His genjutsu. "It left a mark."
The Hokage spun around and rose to his full height in one fluid movement. "That's impossible. Even the strongest genjutsu can only break one's will. A physical mark is far above it's abilities."
Gai dropped his hand revealing the mark. "I used to agree with you."
The Hokage's eyebrow rose. "This is troubling. Very troubling. The pure force of will behind it must have been huge. I want him found and brought back here. What's needed to accomplish this?"
"Full Jounin team. I want Kakashi. Any Chuunin you can spare. Maybe even some Genin teams. I don't want to take any chances."
"Gai, that's quite a tall order, do you believe that much force is necessary?"
"Yes I do. In the Genjutsu, the thing that attacked me, was the nine-tailed demon fox, Kyuubi."
The Hokage looked up from his thoughtful pose. "The Kyuubi? Then you think?"
Gai looked at him and nodded. "Yes, I think the person in the woods is the Kyuubi's vessel."
The Hokage looked thoughtful. "It would explain a lot. His training in chakra molding was just beginning so he would have known how when he disappeared. And the power of the Kyuubi, it could have transformed his body to something more suited to the life of a predator."
Sarutobi looked down at his hand for a second. "Genin teams are forbidden on this mission. Only Chuunin and up. Do you understand me?"
Kurenai and Gai nodded.
"Also, I want you to take Iruka. He and Naruto knew each other and respected one another. He could be key to regaining Naruto. I will make preparations. Whoever he is, if it's a he or not, needs to be taught and supervised."
Gai and Kurenai left the room while Kakashi went from his hiding place to meet them outside the building.
Sarutobi went to his desk and scribbled a quick message before going outside and catching a genin. "Take this to Hiashi Hyuuga, tell him it's a matter of grave importance to the village and I need him to attend me in my office as quickly as possible.
XXXForestXXX
Kurenai and Gai led the way to the clearing they'd encountered Naruto in while Kakashi and Iruka, who wondered why he'd been chosen, followed.
Iruke looked at his three companions. "Okay, really, why am I here? What can I do that three Jounin can't?"
Kurenai and Gai looked at each other.
Kakashi went straight for the kill. "Simple, The thing we're after used to be human. Do to it's power and other things, we believe it to be the container of the Kyuubi." He turned a page in his book.
Iruka was shocked into stillness. "Are-are you serious? Naruto disappeared almost three years ago. He couldn't have survived out here."
Kakashi looked from his book, to Iruka's face. "The boy has the Kyuubi inside of him. He can, and most likely did, survive out here.
The four made their way through the thorny underbrush to the den. Immediately they heard the low growl.
"Hoooookaaaaaaageeeee"
Kurenai started to make a genjutsu, but Kakashi stopper her. "His mind is more beastial than ours, it's had the top layers stripped off. Any genjutsu would be useless. Gai get ready to fight. This will be mostly physical. Iruka, stand still. He might trust you, I don't know that for sure though." Kakashi pulled his headband from it's accustomed place and revealed his eye.
Then the creature struck. Faster than anyone but Kakashi could follow Kurenai had been knocked out. He was turning around as the creature stopped and hurtled at Gai.
"Kick now!" Gai followed directions and planted a foot firmly into Naruto's stomach. As he was forced away he hooked his claws into the taijutsu specialist's leg shredding the muscle. There was no doubt Gai was out of the fight.
The beast landed against a tree and bounced back towards Kakashi. It hooked it's hands into the ground pulled itself close and launched itself into the air over the Copy-nin's head. Kakashi ducked so that it couldn't catch him with any of it's deadly looking claws.
His eye picked up the tell-tale signs of it gathering chakra into it's hands. He watched in horror as the fingers extended along with the claws, arms, and legs as his bones and muscles repositioned for it. He only barely avoided the now lengthened strike range as he fell to the ground in shock. He's using jutsus without any handsigns! What have we gotten ourselves into.
"NARUTO!" Iruka cried out at the creature who was believed to once be his student.
It looked at him cautiously. "Grr." It slunk lower and started backing up.
"Naruto? Come here. Come, come here Naruto."
He opened his mouth revealing the razor sharp fangs that had ripped into the tiger's side for nourishment. His face twitched from a feral to wary expression and back again.
He slowly settled down while staring strangely at the creatures that had invaded his territory. His fingers and claws shrunk until they were the same as they'd been at the beginning of their battle.
He watched as Iruka slowly moved forward. He hesitated with each step.
"Naruto, is that you? Do you remember me. My name is Iruka. I taught you."
Naruto bounded letting his full weight force Iruka to the ground. His mouth opened wide and the juices of his mouth started to fall on Iruka's face. Kakashi was about to body slam Naruto when he leaned his head down and licked Iruka.
Kakashi shook his head in shock. Well what do you know, he did come in handy.
