Disclaimer: … Pshhh… Who needs a disclaimer? :D
AN: That was my beta's comment on my … disclaimer. ^_^
Kung Fu Kitsune
By Zaion Indulias
Chapter 2: Strength of the Fox
When Master Shifu came to collect Naruto from the quarters which had been assigned to him he found an empty room.
"Hmm. It appears that the fox has decided to leave after all."
Master Shifu smiled smugly to himself as he led the Furious Five through the complex towards the courtyard they normally used for training. He was calmly planning how he was going to convince Master Oogway to instead accept Tigress as the Dragon Warrior seeing as the fox had disappeared, but when he pushed open the heavy wooden gate into the courtyard his eyes widened in surprise. In the center of the courtyard was Naruto, doing one-handed push ups and grunting as he did so.
"Ahem." Shifu coughed, annoyed that the fox had apparently decided to remain.
Naruto bent his head back so that he could look towards the gate and then smiled when he saw who was there, waving towards them with his free hand before pushing off the ground into the air and flipping to land right side up.
"Good morning. I figured I'd start testing the extent of the changes I've undergone so that I was prepared for whatever training you want me to undergo. Master Oogway seems pretty insistent that I'm this Dragon Warrior thingy, and personally I'd rather just get whatever training I need to do over with so that I can find a way to get home."
Naruto sheepishly scratched the back of his neck and closed his eyes as the others took in his new appearance, thus missing the narrowing of Tigress' eyes. Naruto was still wearing the same torn up pair of pants he had arrived in, but he had found a black sleeve-less vest somewhere in his size, and wrapped bandages around his legs and forearms. His fur was completely clean of the blood that had been caked in it the day before, and in the early morning sunlight the golden tips of his ears seemed to glow.
When Naruto opened his eyes and saw them all staring he was very confused.
"What are you all staring at? It's not like this is the first time you've ever seen anyone do a one-armed push up before…is it?"
"No." Tigress replied with a growl as she stalked past the others. "But you don't belong here, so we're surprised to see you didn't leave last night like we had hoped."
Naruto's eyes widened in surprise.
"Geez, what did I ever do to you?" He muttered as he stepped aside to let the annoyed female pass.
He looked towards the others for explanation but they all seemed to ignore him as they too entered, lead by Master Shifu. The gate closed heavily behind the old red panda and Naruto just watched in confusion as the six others stopped on the other side of the practice courtyard and turned to face him.
"Now, since I have been ordered to train you, train you I will." Master Shifu said loudly.
Naruto grinned at the prospect of training.
"Yosh!" He cried out as he leapt forward, unconsciously dropping to all fours for a brief moment before he stopped, kneeling in front of Master Shifu. The others all raised their eyebrows in surprise, not expecting such respect to be shown by this…outsider. "I am yours to command, Sensei."
Naruto bowed his head as he spoke the last part.
Master Shifu's own eyebrow lifted in surprise.
"Very well. We will begin by having you fight each of the Furious Five in turn."
Naruto grinned and shot to his feet, taking up position on one end of the practice courtyard as Viper, his first opponent, slithered out to oppose him. Just the mere thought of a snake however brought back clear memories of just who Sasuke had run off to for power, and Naruto unconsciously began to growl.
"Grrrr."
Before anyone could react Naruto rushed forward, lashing out with a pair of punches towards Viper. The elegant serpent merely twisted around each of his blows before spinning and lashing out with her tail in an attempt to trip him up. Master Shifu smirked as he saw Naruto go tumbling forward, thinking that getting the fox to give up would be easier than expected. Sadly, his pleasure was short-lived as Naruto firmly planted his paws on the ground before flipping away. The red-furred boy-turned-fox landed firmly and rushed Viper again, this time attempting to strike with more sweeping blows that would have a better chance to catch his swift opponent.
Viper again dodged all of his blows and sent him flying with a whip of her tail.
As Naruto slammed into the ground nearby and scrambled back to his feet, shaking his head out as he did so, he realized one thing.
Learning this Kung Fu stuff was going to be harder than he had expected.
Naruto spent the rest of the day being used as a punching bag by the furious five. Viper and Mantis proved to simply be too maneuverable for the blond boy's brawler style, Monkey's use of the bo-staff completely subdued Naruto who had never wielded such a weapon in his life, and Crane's aerial style of Kung Fu ran circles around Naruto. Finally, when he faced Tigress, he had a chance to hold his own. However, the difference in their skills became readily apparent when after only a few minutes Tigress launched him into the nearest wall with a powerful kick to his solar plexus.
Master Shifu hadn't even bothered to stay and critique Naruto's form after that. Instead he shook his head sadly and stalked off to the Hall of Heroes to meditate, while the Furious Five and Naruto headed off to their quarters.
Later that evening Naruto lay on his back staring at the ceiling. Around him his nine tails fluttered restlessly, revealing that Naruto was not quite as peaceful as his repose would imply.
Just how am I going to get home? This Kung Fu is so much different than I expected. Then again, I am in a different body than my own. Perhaps I simply need to learn to use this new form properly.
Naruto cocked his head as the door to his room slid open, allowing Monkey, Viper, and Mantis to enter.
"Naruto, could we speak with you for a moment?"
Naruto sat up and smiled at the three.
"Sure. What's up?"
The trio entered the room and quickly slid the door behind them. All three took a seat before Viper finally spoke.
"Naruto, I was watching you during training today. Why didn't you use that technique you used to destroy the dummies yesterday? You could have easily won against any of us if you had used it." She asked softly, curious as to why a warrior would not use every technique in his arsenal.
Naruto sighed and held up one open palm, looking down at it sadly before speaking softly.
"Tell me, do you learn Kung Fu to destroy, or to protect?" He asked so softly that the three arrayed before him barely heard him.
"Huh? What kind of question is that?" Monkey asked as he scratched his own head.
Naruto looked up at them with sadness in his eyes.
"The only kind that matters."
Naruto sighed and stood, still looking at his palm.
"That technique you witnessed, well, I was just showing off when I used that. The truth is, that I will only use that technique to protect someone, as that technique only has one true job."
Naruto frowned and looked up as chakra suddenly spiraled around his hand, beginning to condense into a glowing purple Rasengan. When he spoke, his voice was cold, and the three gathered before him shivered as the aura of purple chakra they had witnessed the day before appeared faintly around the red-furred fox.
"To kill."
Naruto clenched his fist and crushed the incomplete Rasengan within. The chakra he had gathered was released in a burst of light and wind.
"That is why I did not use it."
As Naruto stood and turned to look out his window at the stars the trio behind him sat in shock.
Just who are you, that you are trained to kill in a manner like that? Just who are you, Naruto? Mantis thought as he sat on Monkey's shoulder.
There's no sign he's joking at our expense, so just what would cause him to have such a strong distaste for a technique he obviously has mastered? Monkey thought.
Poor, poor boy. I can sense the pain in him…but I have no idea how to help him. Was he truly the right choice for the Dragon Warrior…or will he go the way of Tai Lung? Viper thought sadly.
As Naruto continued to stare out at the stars the three members of the Furious Five quietly exited the room, leaving the moody fox with his nine waving tails to his thoughts.
For the next two weeks Naruto was trained by the other members of the Furious Five. Master Shifu appeared rarely, usually to mock Naruto or attempt to get the fox boy to quit. However, no matter what shit or duties Master Shifu threw at him, Naruto never gave up. He did however realize after those first two weeks were nearing to a close that he hadn't had ramen in over two weeks, and was starting to feel a heavy craving for it. So one evening after training, rather than join his compatriots in the small kitchen of their quarters for a simple meal, the fox-boy snuck out of the Jade Palace and made his way down to the valley below in search of a ramen substitute.
Noodles…noodles…where are you noodles…?
Naruto lightly leapt from rooftop to rooftop, looking for any sign of a restaurant that might sell noodles. He had long since mastered the difference in chakra release through the soles of his feet between his human body and his new fox form, and thus did not damage any of the roof tiles as he went.
As Naruto paused on the edge of a roof along one of the main streets the light for a nearby lantern revealed his new look. His tattered orange pants had been replaced by a clean pair some of the disciples at the Jade Palace had acquired for him, and he had replaced the simple black vest with a custom one lined with gold thread. As Naruto grinned and dropped towards the street, the light from the lantern reflected off the back of his vest, revealing the Konoha leaf symbol embroidered in gold thread.
Naruto hurried across to the other side of the street, to a courtyard that was bustling with rabbits and pigs. In the middle of the commotion he saw a large panda carrying bowls of steaming noodle soup, and at the back of the courtyard he saw the bar and entrance of the noodle shop and a goose tending large pots of broth that to Naruto smelt divine. It might not be ramen, but maybe, just maybe, it would make up for it.
Double-checking his pockets to be sure he had the money on him that Monkey had given him in case he went into town, Naruto stepped forward into the restaurant. The blond-boy turned fox smiled as he smelt the delicious soup and navigated his way through the crowd. He slid past the large panda as he was preoccupied with serving a family of rabbits and stretched as he slid into line. He only had to wait a few minutes before he reached the bar, and he grinned as a seat became available as he arrived. With another grin and the jingle of his money hitting the wood of the bar Naruto slid into his spot at the bar.
"Hey, give me however many bowls this will get me." He said with a cheeky grin.
The goose looked up and smiled at him before taking the money and turning back to his stove. A minute later and the first of Naruto's ten bowls of noodle soup was set in front of him. Thirty seconds later and the bowl had been licked clean and set to the side as Naruto reached out and took his second bowl. He was on his eighth bowl before the fat panda returned to the kitchen and slumped into a chair, wiping sweat from his brow.
Clunk.
"Mmm. That was delicious. Hey, old man, how many more bowls do I have left?"
Mr. Ping smiled at his energetic customer as he took the empty bowl and placed another before him.
"Two more, including this one, young sir. I must say, I've never encountered anyone who could eat as much as my son Po here." The old goose who owned the noodle shop said calmly with a smile.
At the sound of his name Po looked up, curious as to whom his father was speaking to. When he saw Naruto sitting there with his face buried in a bowl of his father's "secret ingredient noodle soup" he shot to his feet in surprise.
"Oh my god! It's you! You're the Dragon Warrior aren't you?!" He yelled out energetically as he rushed to the bar, the commotion he caused turning heads and starting a bout of whispering amongst the other customers.
Naruto swallowed as he finished the last of the broth in his ninth bowl and set it down as he wiped his face on a napkin.
"So they keep telling me. I'm still not really sure what it all means though." Naruto said with a wry grin. "I'm Naruto by the way. What's your name?"
"I'mPoit'ssuchanhonortomeetyouI'myourbiggestfancanIhaveyourautograph?" Po spat out so fast Naruto could barely understand what the breathless panda was saying.
Naruto chuckled and held out a paw, which Po promptly gripped with both paws and shook vigorously.
"It's nice to meet you Po. I have to say that these are some of the best noodles I have ever had in my life. Not quite as good as the ramen back home, but then, nothing beats ramen. That's just a fact of life."
Naruto grinned cheekily at the surprised panda before he lifted his tenth and final bowl and dug in. Within seconds Naruto had that bowl drained as well and was cleaning his mouth off for the last time.
"Mmmm, that was delicious. I need to remember to take a break from training to come down here more often." Naruto said with a grin as he stood up. "I'll see you around Po."
Naruto sent his newest fan a grin before he leapt straight into the air and alighted on the roof. After taking a moment to breath deeply of the cool night air and gain his bearings Naruto sped off across the dark rooftops, heading back towards the Jade Palace to get some sleep.
As he ran up the steps, on the side of the mountain by the old peach tree where he had spoken to Master Oogway two weeks before, Master Shifu watched in worry as Master Oogway dissolved into sakura blossoms in the wind.
When Naruto finally reached his quarters it was to find five downcast Masters facing Master Shifu. As Master Shifu turned to face the grinning and barely winded fox Naruto grinned and spoke up, hoping to brighten the mood.
"Come on guys, what's wrong? Cheer up. It's not like somebody died or anything, is it?"
Given the way everyone looked at him Naruto instantly regretted those words, his grin quickly sliding off his face. Finally Master Shifu spoke, his voice breaking.
"Master Oogway…has left this world behind. And Tai Lung has escaped."
Naruto's eyes widened in shock and sadness for a moment.
Master Oogway is dead?
Then the rest of what Master Shifu had said sank in.
"Wait, Tai Lung? Wasn't he one of your old students?"
Master Shifu nodded.
"And now he is on his way seeking revenge and the Dragon Scroll."
Naruto frowned and narrowed his eyes.
"Then I guess we just need to be better than him when he arrives."
Naruto spun on his feet and began to exit the room. He paused after a few steps and looked over his shoulder.
"Well, are you coming? We aren't going to stand a chance against someone who not even Master Shifu could stop unless we get some serious training in."
Everyone stared at Naruto like he was an idiot for a moment. Then Mantis stood and leapt onto Naruto's shoulder and they left. A few moments later Viper and Monkey followed him out of the room. As the quartet disappeared down the hall Crane looked at a surprised Master Shifu before standing and following, leaving Master Shifu and his second apprentice staring in confusion. Finally the pair closed their mouths and shook their heads before exiting the room themselves, heading to see just what sort of training Naruto intended to perform.
T-Minus Four Days and Counting…
AN: Here it is, chapter 2 folks. Sorry it's been a while, but real life has been hectic. Family problems, trying to find a job, beginning to stand on my own two feet, its all been stressful and not only taken a lot of my time, but given me a case of writers block. The downside, I haven't been able to write as many chapters as I planned. The upside, I continue to develop really awesome ideas for stories, though several are being kept in storage until I have more time to work on them. Several of these ideas are joint projects with my amazing beta I.E.T.S., and others are ideas that I may either pass to her to write, or may be willing to pass off to one of the authors I admire as long as the story is attributed to me and I'm allowed to beta it. I've got five or six such projects in storage, and am working on a seventh one that I was inspired to prep last night while I was plotting out chapter 3 of KFK.
Now, good news for all you loyal readers. Chapter 3 hopefully won't be more than a few days away, and chapter 4 is actually already complete and at my beta. Yes, these chapters are shorter than what I do sometimes with my other stories, but so sue me. It's the length that feels right, and I'm sticking with what feels write not a wordcount goal. I will also be trying to power write chapter 5 as soon as chapter 3 is complete, so there is the outside possibility of another 3 chapters going up before weeks end.
Now, as of this posting I will have closed the poll for the pairing for KFK. I have made an executive decision with regards to the pairing, and decided to use the top two from the poll along with two I have chosen from the list who I've decided need to be involved and the final hidden character. Therefore, I hereby present to you the FINALIZED list of who Naruto will be involved with over the course of the story.
Hikari, Sakura, Hana, Temari, and…the last one is still a secret ;)
Now, hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and I hope you all enjoy the next one when it goes up, because it will go up simultaneously with chapter 4 and the reveal of Hikari.
*grins*
Jaa for now.
-ZI
Message from the Beta: Roses are red, violets are blue. This story is awesome, so please review!
