Warm freshly scented breezes had been her downfall. Crawling out onto those irresistible sun bleached tiles had encouraged the wariness collecting throughout the long trip to surface pulling it's host into a welcoming oblivion.

" Lady Silver?"

Readjusting her eyes to the bright afternoon sun Kurine stretched feeling life flow back into her muscles. It was only when her hands got caught in the tangled curls that she realized that those deceptively friendly drafts had a dark side.

'I'm surprised that family of swallows floating around earlier didn't take up residence.'

The monstrosity would have to be dealt with before tea, else it might attack someone. Climbing back though the window turned out to be trickery than it was going out. Mostly because the ledge was about two feet below the actual sill and it wasn't long before a dark haired woman stared down at the snarl of limbs that should have been a visiting dignitary.

"Are....are you ok?"

Reassembling her limbs in proper order the embarrassed lady smiled up at the swine swaddling woman, " Yea just napping."

Shizune grinned back and offer her hand to the unusual girl.

" Looks relaxing, I'm Shizune, Tsunade personal assistant. She sent me up just to see if you were up to having tea."

Surprised by how calloused the delicate hand was when she took it Kurine stared for a second considerably impressed by how schooled the dark haired woman's reaction was, even if her pig did seem a little uneasy. Soft spoken, calm, level headed and a understated beauty the woman was a perfect complement to the somewhat overwhelming Hokage.

"It's nice to meet you. And if you give me a moment to tame this rats nest I'll be happy to join you."

Startled as the fiery girl turned away Shizune had to wonder if her mentor really knew what she was doing. Tea was going to be interesting to say the least that was for sure.

Barreling in with his usual grace Naruto proceeded to take out a stack of scrolls and two chair before ending up in a heap on the floor. Rubbing her already pounding temples the sanin fought the urge to strangle the idiot. Adoration aside Tsunade knew the brat was going to be the death of her someday.

"Naruto! Look what you've done! I'm sorry sensei."

Add her spirited little cherry blossom in the mixture and it promised to be migraine inducing. She didn't know how hatake did it.

' must know something the rest of us don't.'

Smirking from his spot in the doorway the nin in question watched the display with absent amusement. This scene had been played out a million different ways over the years and was old news as far as he was concerned . There was no need for interference unless Sakura did real damage and even then he was sure that the most famous medic in Konaha history would be able to more than handle it.

" Where is Lady Silver?"

Glowering at his audacity to play the causal observer while his children were busy destroying her office the irate medic was mentally calculating at least thirty ways to torture the man without causing any permanent harm. He was the one of the best jounin she had and it wouldn't do to have him out of commission for very long.

" Shizune said she would be down in a minute. Hopefully by then I won't have to explain why two supposed high ranking chunin are scuffling on the floor like three year olds!"

Two flushed frantic apologies later said shinobi had managed to put everything back into place and sheepishly slunk back to stand beside their former sensei, one a little more gingerly then his companion.

Hurtling through the labyrinth of halls Kurine cursed herself for losing track of time now twice in a one day.

' Is it even possible to be late to being late? Great way to make a first impression

half wit.'

Dodging yet another slick solid stone wall the frazzled lady willed her hair to cooperate and prayed she wouldn't slip. Breaking her nose or some other more important body part would be a cherry on top of this whole laughable day.

"Geeze I thought you said she was going to be down in a minute Granny Tsunade."

Patience was not a strongsuit easily found within her shinobi, quadruply so for the orange one now sulking on the floor and it was starting to give her a nervous tick. Where was Kurine though? She didn't seem to be one of those girls who took three hours to make herself presentable. Unwilling to give notice to numerous other possibilities cropping up in her mind Tsunade just sipped her sake laced tea ignoring Naruto's whining, to focus more on the arresting similarities between him and lady silver. Ones that had been the deciding point in whether or not this meeting was going to actually happen. His reaction to her could go eather way and at least here the environment was controlled and there was more than enough power to subdue them both should things take a turn for the worst.

' Oh brat, Kurine I hope you take to each other. Your gonna need the support in this world full of power hungry people who would use you both for their own ends.'

Just like those impertinent fools from the Silver family who had practically bombarded her office almost 6 months ago throwing down bribes disguised as favors. Their sleaze alone made her want to chunk them out the nearest window and shove their negotiations where the sun doesn't shine, just thinking about the slanderious filth that her supposed representive spewed was enough to make her blood boil, but once they actually mentioned the girl who would be coming to Konaha Tsunade relented and swallowed down her disgust. After they had left research had consumed her. The sad story they had provided was riddled with holes the blond bombshell was determined to fill. Kurine Aurora Silver was so much more than an unwanted demon child born to a harlot ostracized from a hypercritical family who only worried about their reputation and she wanted to have that proof in hand when the girl arrived. Weeks went by and all that Shizune and she seemed to find where a lot of dead ends and hearsay construed by the fearful villagers who passed it along. It wasn't until Kurine turned up in a seaside inn along the border of wave country that the mystery began to unravel itself. Sufficed to say the truth shocked the Hokage worse than she ever believed it would and caused her to detest the Silver family even more than she already did. Shaking her head at those brainless oafs Tsunade slid her gaze to the inner doors wondering if she should go and look for the red head. Coming back she caught Kakashi's eyes his own interest hidden there behind his deep liquid eyes. Sensing the growing apprehension building between her sensei Sakura stepped up pulling the fifth's attention.

"Maybe I should...."

Cut off mid comment Sakura turned in time to see a brightly colored blur burst into the room rambling, hands full of frizzy curls that were falling as rapidly as she could pin them.

"I'm so sorry I'm late Lady Tsunade. I feel asleep out on the ledge while taking in that breathtaking veiw."

Taking a deep breath she turned almost bowled over by the assalt on her senses.

'No it couldn't be.'

Everyone froze, shuddering, as the atmosphere shifted menacingly once those flickering emerald eyes honed in on stunned sky blue. Catching the glint of steel Kurine felt her blood rush forward and an instinctive growl rumble against the back of her throat. Colors swirled violently as the smell of fox intensified urging it's kindred spirit to claw it's way to the surface, thirsting to dispose of the insolent whelp who dared to brandish a weapon at her. Desperate to keep control she dug her razor sharp nails into her palm, reeling as the dizzying rich scent of iron melded into the multitude already assaulting her senses.

"Noooo!"

Unable to stomach watching such agonizing suffering any longer Naruto crept closer nearly touching the soft lavender cotton only to be brought up short by eyes so malevolent they congealed his blood. Riveting back on the intoxicating fear radiating from the now trembling blond she lurched forward, only to be consumed by darkness.

As the pale lifeless girl fell into awaiting arms the orange ninja doubled over collapsing onto his knees retching his breakfast onto the floor. Pausing to make sure the idiots sickness was merely nerves Tsunade rushed forward unnerved by how deathly pale lady silver was, not to mention how volatile her demonic chakra turned out to be.

"Thank you Kakashi."

Mercilous eyes bore through her as she approached, "Did I really have a choice?" Running a quick check the sanin was relived to see that kurine was fine other than her half healed hand. Once the chakra had faded from her hands the livid woman whirled around pinning the flailing genin to the wall by his throat.

"What were you thinking?! Do you realize what you could have done?!"

Seeing red as the boy squirmed wordlessly under her grip Tsunade just tossed him away, too disgusted to trust her restraint. Still huddled into a corner Sakura watched as her partner slumped to the floor bonelessly. Memories of her own brushed with death flooded back with a vengeance as she watched the scene unfold. Horrified by the prospect of another crazed transformation the young medic fled not willing to put herself in the middle of another confrontation like the last. Slumped over in her chair, Tsunade had never looked so close to her age, it was disturbing.

"I'm s...sorry."

Crystal tears broke free from their confines at the horse choked words burning their way down her ashen cheeks. Traveling over to the red haired girl who lied only inches away from her own blood Sakura sobbed harder. She had whisker marks, just like Naruto.

Crawling over to his sensei the Jinchuuriki peered down transfixed by how porcelain and delicate she looked, a complete contradiction from the beast with blood lust gleaming in its eyes.

' what have they done to you?'

Brushing away a stray strand that had caught on the dark lashes quietly fluttering against the lightly freckled cheeks; Naruto felt his heart crumble. Nestled there in the long wavy locks was the obvious reason why Kakashi had described her as unusual

"Fox ears.....She has fox ears."