It's been a while.

This update is long overdue

Ch3: Training

Hikari just stared as the third hokage examined the now clothed form of Tora. The cat boy couldn't help but feel stiff and frightened by the old ones sight. The masked girl couldn't help but feel a bit uncomfortable herself. And the ANBU hidden in the shadows of the old mans office weren't helping her either. "So," the third started saying as he walked back to his desk ", Tora, what do you intend to do from now on?"

His tail flicked nervously at the question. "I-I will uh protect Hikari," Tora stuttered out. Sarutobi rose a unconscious brow ", is that the only goal you have?"

"Yes, um is there a problem with that?" Tora asked

"No but to protect something you must be strong," the third said. He had put a lot of thought into it and found it to be the best course of action. He had to get them to fall completely under his jurisdiction and make sure the civilian counsel is kept away from the situation as much as possible.

"Am I not strong?" Tora asked furrowing his brow. Sarutobi paused for a moment before answering ", no, but there is a way for you to become strong." Tora just asked calmly ",how?" The old man smiled inwardly, things were going smoothly ", you both must agree before I could explain what it is I have planned." Tora was all for it while Hikari decided to consult the one person she knew would make the best choice for her survival. 'Kyuubi what do you think?'

The fox took a second to think about it, the chances of the brat dying would lower. As a being of hatred it could feel all forms of detest and the old man didn't hate them so there was no point not to make use of a good thing. "He is sincere so he is trustworthy enough so do as you please," Kyuubi told her. Hikari just looked at the hokage behind her mask trying to see if there was any deception in his eyes. Finding none she nodded slowly still not liking the situation as she sensed a unforeseen circumstance in this agreement. "So," Hikari started to say ", what did we just agree to do?"

The old man smiled and said ",you will now be privately trained by one of the shinobi of my choice." Tora nodded getting up from his seat only for Hikari to pull him back down to his chair. "What exactly does this entail?" Hikari asked calmly. Sarutobi expression didn't change at all by the scrutiny in the girls eyes. He might as well tell them what will be going on. " I will be choosing a shinobi for you to apprentice under to teach you in the history, style, and art of the ninja," Sarutobi took this time to pause and observe their reactions. Of course Tora was listening attentively to his words, but Hikari was trying to look for something in his words, something hidden. 'Trying to look for what is hidden underneath the underneath, she will be a fine kunoichi,' he thought. "During this time you'll be trained you will not be allowed to be out in the open without permission, then after said shinobi finds you to be adequate enough to be genin, then your jonin sensei will be chosen to train you until you make chunin then you will continue as you please but remember to follow shinobi protocol if you choose to continue your career as one," the third finished telling them.

Hikari kept thinking about what was just told to them then froze as she remembered a part of his explanation. 'During this time you'll be trained you will not be allowed to be out in the open.' She couldn't help it but those words kept going through her head ", what do you mean by we aren't allowed to be out in the open?"

Sarutobi knew she would eventually ask this question. He tipped his hat covering his face, he really didn't want to see what kind of reaction the two would give. They were different than children but they still had the form of children. "You both are not to be seen around the village," he said emotionless. Tora's eyes widened slightly as he stood up in his knocking his chair to the floor. "Why?" He growled baring his fangs. Sarutobi discreetly sent a hand signal for his guard not to attack the boy. "There are those in the village that would not agree with my choice on you coming into the shinobi ranks," the old hokage said sagely. "What do you mean?" Tora asked picking up his chair then taking a seat in it, though the growl in his voice still hadn't disappeared yet. Sarutobi sighed, at least his guard had seals put on them so they could never speak about what happens in his office or else they would die. " Because of your connections with the Kyuubi, the village will become so afraid and possibly act violently, so imagine what sort of situation you both will be if too many people learned of how you came to be," Sarutobi said with a calming tone. Tora knew what would happen they would be treated as though they were a living breathing stigma in society. Hikari had a thought ", what about Naruto?"

"He will be under my protection until he is in the shinobi academy, but I will keep him under watch, can't be too careful," the hokage answered. Hikari couldn't stop thinking then she realized something important. "You have enemies in the village don't you?" Hikari could sense it in his chakra concern for them. Sarutobi couldn't help but be impressed by her ability to read people. "Yes," he gave them a solemn expression ", there are those in the village that do not agree with my choices and I have no doubt that knowledge of both your situation have been leaked to my opposition."

(Play GOTHIKA - Child's Play)

He paused again and looked at the hokage monument that was just outside his window. "So to protect us you have to keep us out of there attention which is why we can't be notice," Hikari said. Tora just knit his brow he understood it would keep them safe but the tension was deep between the masked girl and the old man. "And do you realize what that would mean?" Sarutobi asked. "It would mean that for us not to be in contact with anyone," Hikari answered ", that…would also mean that I would have no contact with Naruto." Sarutobi nodded grimly noting how she controlled herself, she had figured out what that meant. "I can't meet him until I become a chunin, but," Hikari gave the hold man a steely gaze ", that would also mean he can't meet me so you have to keep him ignorant of my existence otherwise he would come looking for me which would raise suspicion if he is seen searching for someone making the threat of investigation all the more likely." Tora froze, they were separating the only family she had. Hikari got up from her seat. "You will meet your first sensei tomorrow at twelve a.m during the hourly shift in guards with Kakashi guiding you so remember not to be noticed," Sarutobi said as two ANBU appearing grabbing on to the kids. Before the disappeared he said ", forgive me Hikari." When they were gone Sarutobi sighed.


"So who did we get to be our sensei?" Tora asked.

Kakashi just gave the kid a withering glare wondering if the tiger child understood that they were not to be noticed. They came to a halt in a alleyway as one of the chunin guards was seen jumping over them. With all the rebuilding going on security was brought up to a all time high with all shinobi ranked genin to special jonin were kept to protect the village and all normal jonin were made to take high ranked missions to help pay damages which meant non-stop missing nin hunting to upper leveled assassination for them Hikari elbowed the boys side and gave him a look. Tora just gave her a somewhat hurt expression knowing that the tact wasn't his specialty. Especially with what she told him the other night before they were put in their respective rooms in the hokage's mansion which was one of the few places that was less beefed up security wise making it one of the best hiding spots for them at the moment.

Flashback

Tora was nervously looking at Hikari wondering what was going through the girl's head. "Um," was all Tora could say but it made the masked girl look at him expectantly making the tiger boy flush nervously. "If we don't want Naruto to be left alone for the rest of his life we better work our tails off, right Hikari," Tora said giving the best smile he could at her. Hikari stopped at her door and said coldly ", I can't see him but, I also realized that he is our scapegoat that will keep the enemies of the old man busy as we are being trained."

"Wh-what?" Tora asked his eyes widening, the two guards just looked at each other then stared at the girl. She was smarter than she looked. Hikari turned to Tora saying ", with all the reconstruction going on even those opposing us will be distracted, as well with all of the political issues of village trying to not make itself look weak to outsiders under the risk of war between other villages, also having to deal with the fire Daimyo when looking towards him for secret financial support, and having to assign missions this is the perfect way to make us become inconspicuous in the scheme of things as time goes on."

Having Kyuubi fill in a few holes for her she could follow what was going on. Then there was the fact that the fox loved making her feel bad by telling her why Naruto was going to have the worst time of it.

Tora still didn't get it ", Then how is Naruto…"

Hikari decided that sugarcoating it would be a bad idea ", with them distracted who do you think is the bigger target us or Naruto." Tora's eyes widen as it all started to sink in. "When the old man said that he would protect Naruto and keep him under watch that would mean that he isn't hiding Naruto," Hikari's gaze hit the floor ", it meant that he's going to leave him out in the open making everyone's focus on him."

Tora just stared at her sadly and whispered "…sorry."

She closed the door behind her leaving the tiger boy frown sadly at her response with one thought as he entered his room ', she's mad at me.' He felt something wet run down his cheek he wiped it away with his finger ',a tear?'

Flashback end

Tora had a frown on his face as Kakashi made them stop in a more forested area. "Okay, we have five minutes till this area's guards switch," Kakashi announced then noticed something missing. The masked boy pinched the bridge of his nose, annoyed as he asked Tora ", where the hell is the girl?" Tora just calmly sniffed the air and pointed at a random direction. Kakashi sighed as he wondered why the hokage made him of all people baby-sit these brats. No matter how important this was the why couldn't he just go on a A-rank mission that would be a heck of a lot more worth his time.

The sound of rustling heard as the masked girl walked over to them holding what seemed to be a akita pup. Tora hissed quietly as his eyes landed on the dog.

"No," Kakashi said before Hikari could even begin to tell him where she got it from. "To bad I'm keeping him and try anything and I'll run and you know that I can get away from you," Hikari said glaring at the one eye Kakashi had uncovered. "Fine," Kakashi sighed ', screw it I just want to be rid of them already,'

The fox masked turned into what seemed to be a smirk making Kakashi roll his eyes as he motioned them to follow him. Tora just glared at the pup that just slept in the girls arms. Kakashi gave them a brief glance before shaking his head as they neared the Hokage monument.


'Finally,' was all Kakashi could think as they went into the emergency shelter that had been set up for civilians. The place was dark with only enough moonlight shinning through the genjutsu sealed windows. The room they were in now was large with high ceiling. Tora was just looking around the room noticing the different doorways that the room was connected to.

"So we'll living here right?" The tiger boy asked.

"Yes, this will be your quarters until it is time for your chunin exam."

"Hokage-sama," Kakashi said with a bow. The two children just gave the old man a passive stare.

Sarutobi made eye contact with Hikari noticing that her eyes seemed somewhat darker than before. He put the thought away for later. "Alright now it is time for you to meet your sensei," Sarutobi said. He turned and nodded as a figure who seemed walk out of the shadows into the light. It was a boy about twelve to thirteen yours old, short brown messy hair wearing common chunin attire with the green vest black pants and blue sandals. Though Tora couldn't help but notice the boy's black eyes that somewhat disturbed him. He wore his forehead protector imbedded into the visor that framed around his face.

"Meet Yamato, although he is young Yamato is very skilled and will no doubt be a fine sensei to the two of you," Sarutobi announced with a small grin. "Actually it's soon to be three," Hikari corrected gesturing to the pup in her arms. Sarutobi seemed to deflate a bit at those words while Tora visibly twitched.

"After all aren't genin teams group of threes in the first place this way we can keep our little group secret instead of revealing information to a outside genin that we would have to work with in the exams we just add a new member," Hikari continued with a shrug. Yamato just rose a brow and gave Kakashi confused stare only for the masked nin to shake his head.

"Do you really think you could do what you did with Tora to this pup, Hikari ?" the old man asked.

She nodded ", though it will take longer to make him because he is smaller than Tora was but yes it will work."

'Did you hear that Kyuubi?'

"Yeah I heard I heard but this is my final freebie," the Kyuubi growled ", next one will cost you got it?"

'I see but you do realize the fact that your inside me makes you my prisoner, makes me wonder what type of ways I can make you submit to me after all I am now going to train for life threatening situations,' the Kyuubi really didn't like the fact that she was threatening it but Kyuubi had to admit the brat did have the guts considering the girl still had the DNA of it's previous host.

Hikari couldn't help but feel the fox's smirk as it said to her ", that little outburst just earned you another freebie."

Hikari nodded at the old man who nodded back, well this stunt will make their security a bit more stable at least.

"Your rooms have already been set up in one of the deeper corridors," Sarutobi said then turned to Yamato who stood attentive ", I expect you to take good care of them and teach them well." with that the hokage body flickered in a blur as he left them to their own devices. "Well I'm of then bye," Kakashi said getting a nod from Yamoto as he body flickered in a bunch of leaves. There was a awkward silence between the three of them four if you included the pup. "So," Yamoto said trying to start a conversation ", how about you two introduce yourselves since you already know my name." Tora and Hikari just made eye contact then turned to Yamoto who couldn't help but feel a bit nervous considering he really didn't have much experience with children. 'Maybe becoming a chunin right after becoming genin wasn't such a good idea,' Yamoto thought knowing that the interaction he had with kids were very limited. If he had stayed a genin longer he would have known how to deal with kids through some of the baby sitting d-rank missions that would have help him develop some skills in socializing with them.

"Well I'm Uzumaki Hikari," the masked girl said calmly, Yamoto couldn't help but note how her masked changed facial expressions. "Tora Aijin," the boy with the cat ears and tails muttered with narrowed eyes. Yamoto blinked noticing the cat limbs twitched cautiously, he couldn't help but think it was a bit…cute?

Regardless he smiled and said ", it's nice to meet you Hikari-kun, Aijin-kun." Tora blushed a bit at the name and said embarrassed ", c-call me Tora." Yamoto couldn't help but find the tiger boy's bashfulness amusing. "Are you going to tell us what type of training we'll be doing exactly?" Hikari asked bluntly.

"Oh, right," Yamoto said sheepishly scratching his neck. He was literally out of his element at the moment.

He coughed loudly ", well you see unlike the normal academy training I will be a bit more hands on as well as using text books I barrowed by the academy I'll be covering history, fundamental theories, basic mathematics, politics, and the shinobi code with the two of you-er three of you." He paused as Hikari pointed at the dog that barked while Tora growled quietly". Anyways I will be waking you up at six on the dot, you will begin doing laps around this room until seven, then you will be doing sit-up, at seven-fifteen push-up, seven thirty squats, seven forty-five stretches, at eight we will have breakfast until eight-thirty then we will begin with chakra theory, nine-thirty basic chakra control, at eleven meditation, at twelve basic taijutsu , at twelve thirty lunch, at one thirty you'll get a two and a half our break, then from there on we'll start on history and politics until six, mathematics till seven pm then we will be spending time learning jutsu basics."

"Oh and also," Yamoto started to say as a disturbingly sweet smile appeared on his face ", if any of you slack off there will be dire consequences." Hikari, Tora, and the pup stared blankly at him, the dog whined. That was kinda creepy.

"Anyway what are you going to do with the puppy anyway, he could make a good ninken but I don't see how he could possibly be the third member to your genin teammate though," Yamoto said rubbing his chin trying to figure out what they were going to do. "Looks like the old man didn't explain to you why I have tiger parts did he," Tora said annoyed.

"Tora," Hikari said catching the boys attention ", I'm going to start now so explain everything you can to him until I'm done okay, Aijin." Tora blushed lightly when she said the name and crossed his arms as he walked away from her giving the masked girl some space. "Right," Tora said as Hikari was covered by a red chakra shocking Yamoto making Tora laugh at his expression.


The sound of dripping.

Drip.

Drip

Drip

The such a lonely sound.

Eyes opened revealing innocent orange eyes open as he stared at a unfamiliar ceiling of stone.

Where was he.

Unfamiliar.

What was his head laying on.

Soft yet he felt wet

Was that breathing.

The girl.

Yes that's right the girl that had saved him from the owl.

Her scent

"Are you okay?" her voice asked as her masked face came into his sights. "Yea," he answered.

Wait how did he speak human.

His body but was it really his or was he in someone else…so confusing .

"Can you move?"

He didn't want to he was comfortable.

"Don't wanna," was his response.

A giggle did she find him funny? Was he smiling?

"Inu gaki."

That growl, this feel of hate.

Intent to kill.

He turned his, his eyes widened in horror as they locked with giant blood red slits behind larger bars. A vicious smile appeared on the thing in front of him presenting the enormous fangs that were its mouth.

He did the only thing that his thoughts would allow.

He screamed.


Yamoto just stared at the cat-no tiger boy in front of him and asked ", seriously?" He had seen and experienced horrid things things that made a strong men shudder in pure undeniable terror. But this shocked him that this…boy was not naturally born with cat-er tiger parts no instead for it to survive he was changed from a adolescent tiger.

By.

A.

Little.

Girl.

In a fox mask of all things.

And who just happened to have a link to the Kyuubi no Kitsune who was confirmed to be sealed inside Uzumaki Naruto.

Tora nodded with his arms still crossed. He really didn't care what the guy had to say and Hikari was taking longer then he liked. 'Damn it what's with me,' he thought. These feeling were so unfamiliar to him tiger actually any animal didn't feel like this at all. He sighed and gazed at the red orb of chakra, what had Hikari- what had that damn Kyuubi done to him. Tora really couldn't help it he blamed the fox because it was what tempted Hikari to allow this to happen to him in the first place.

'I really can't blame her at all can I?'

Yamoto just stared at the sphere of chakra wondering what exactly was it, he knew better then actually touch it himself the beasts chakra was volatile. Instead he made a hand sign causing the ground to split as wood grew out forming into a copy of Yamoto. Tora said something that was normal for a boy at the age of eight ", cool." The original Yamoto nodded at the clone making it walk to the red chakra orb. The clone stopped in front it then reached to touch it. The clones arm seemed go through the sphere. Yamoto rubbed his chin from the look of it anything the clone didn't seem uncomfortable and it didn't dispel meaning there was no pain in touching it. "Yamoto you might want to take a look at this," Tora stated pointing at the other side of the orb opposite to the clone. Yamoto walked to the other side of the orb, his jaw dropped at the sight of the of the clones arm. He ordered the clone to pull it's arm from the chakra, then the arm sunk into the orb. He ordered the clone to put it's arm backing and the arm popped back out in the exact same spot it was at. "Incredible," Yamoto stated awestricken at what he had just discovered.

"What's so incredible about a red ball?" Tora asked not knowing why Yamoto seemed so impressed." Normally nothing but…" Yamoto paused as he walked around the orb with Tora tailing him"...this isn't what I thought it was when I first saw it." Tora unconsciously raised a brow wondering what had the wood shinobi learned that piqued his interest so much ", well are you going to explain it to me or just keep looking at it?"

"Well to start when I first saw this I believed it was just some basic barrier to keep everything out," Yamoto stopped talking as he silently ordered the clone to walk through it only to find that it stepped out to the other side. "And?" Tora muttered as he gestured the chunin to continue. "Well instead of a common barrier it is a more of a distortion in space that reacts like a portal," Yamoto explained.

"Portal?"

"A doorway of sorts, you see my clone that went through it?" Yamoto asked Tora who gave him a nod. "Well instead of blocking something, it literally just takes anything in any point of the sphere then throws it back out in the opposite point of it's radius…but," Yamoto started to say.

"But what?" Tora asked.

"Well my only question is, is Hikari-kun doing this or the Kyuubi?"

"…"

Tora didn't know what to say.


He couldn't help but feel a bit used a bit sad…but all in all she saved so he owed her. This was just to return the favor but the question was will he be happy with it.

'Oh well no going back,' he thought.

"Time to head back Ryouken Shitau," Hikari said.

He couldn't help but blush as the world around them exploded in a shower of bright light.


That chapter was long overdue wasn't it. Hopefully I can get the other chapter up soon well bye for now