Kitsune Rising
Chapter 3: Natsu Begins Training
Naruto woke with a start and sneezed. He looked around and saw Kitsu sleeping on his chest, his bushy, red tail gently tickling Naruto's face. It took him a moment to register why the fox kit was there, then memories of the last couple of days came back to him. He smiled and rubbed Kitsu's back.
Suddenly, there was a loud crash, making both Naruto and Kitsu jump ten feet in the air. Naruto struggled to get untangled from his sheets. When he had finally gotten out of bed, Naruto and Kitsu ran into the kitchen where they had heard the crash. After a few moments of staring, Naruto laughed.
"What's so funny?!" growled Naren, pouting. She was covered in what looked to be…breakfast. "I was trying to be nice and make you a breakfast that wasn't instant ramen, and you laugh at me?!" she barked, scowling at her laughing twin brother.
"I appreciated the gesture Imouto," chuckled Naruto, pulling a couple lumps of hard, scrambled eggs out of Naren's hair while Kitsu licked gravy off her foot. "However, wouldn't it have been smarter and safer to just go out to eat somewhere?"
"What are you saying, Aniki?" asked Naren, glaring. "You don't like my cooking?"
"I didn't say that," laughed Naruto. "Breakfast just isn't your strong point."
Naren glowered at him and stuck out her tongue. "Besides," said Naruto, pulling at his hair. "I need a haircut. I'm beginning to look even more like you. Any longer, and no one will be able to tell us apart."
Naren sighed. She nodded and went to go clean up. Kitsu barked and looked up at Naruto, his tail swishing gently from side to side.
"It was a nice gesture Kitsu," said Naruto, picking the fox kit up. "But between you and me, the only thing Imouto can cook without blowing it up is instant ramen."
"I heard that!" barked Naren from her room. She stomped out angrily, pulling on her short-sleeved, black and orange, hooded jacket as she went. Naruto gave Kitsu a wink, set the kit on his head, and followed Naren out the door, pulling on his own orange and black jacket. (He had gotten new clothes since he had come home.)
It wasn't long before Naruto noticed the hateful looks some people were giving him and Kitsu, who still perched on Naruto's head. Naruto glared back at them, as if daring them to say something.
"Hey, Imouto?" he asked, trying to get his mind off the insensitive villagers. "When do you think Natsu will want to start training Kitsu?"
Naren shrugged. "If she's in a good mood, she'll start today. At least, that's what she said last night."
Naruto nodded. It wasn't long until they found a barber shop where they could get Naruto's hair cut. Kitsu yipped at Naruto. "What do you think?" he asked both Kitsu and Naren. Kitsu barked happily and Naren nodded.
"I think you should of left it long. It made you look hot," said a voice. Naruto swiveled his chair to see Sakura standing in front of the door, blushing and smiling sweetly. Naruto gave her his signature fox grin. He payed the barber and left the shop with Sakura's hand entwined with his own, Kitsu resting on his freshly cut hair. They went and got breakfast. When they were done, they made for the training ground.
Naren bit her finger, made the necessary hand signs, and slammed her hand on the ground, yelling, "Kuchiyose no Jutsu!" When the smoke cleared, a small yellow wolf pup stood in front of Naren.
Kitsu jumped down from Naruto's head and ran for Natsu excitedly. He bounced around her a little and Natsu began to get annoyed. She growled.
"Stop!" she yelled at Kitsu. He stopped immediately. Natsu pressed her nose against his. "Natsu will not train Kitsu if he keeps acting like an idiot!" Naren and Naruto cocked an eyebrow. Sakura giggled.
"They're almost as bad as you two," she laughed. Naruto and Naren scowled.
"We don't act like that," they said in unison. Sakura sweat dropped. The little fox and wolf behaved exactly like Naruto and Naren. The latter leaned down beside Natsu.
"Listen Natsu-chan," she said, rubbing the pup's back. "I really need you to train Kitsu."
"But Kitsu annoys Natsu!" argued the pup. "He'll be nothing but trouble for Natsu!"
"Please, Natsu-chan," begged Naren. Suddenly Naren got an idea. She leaned down further and whispered in Natsu's ear. The pup's eyes widened and she wagged her tail happily.
"Ok Naren-chan!" barked Natsu. "I'll do it for that!" Naren grinned and stood up. She made her way back over to her brother and his girlfriend.
"What did you say to change her mind?" asked Naruto, putting an elbow on her shoulder and using her as an armrest. Naren crossed her arms and grinned. Both Naruto and Naren watched as the fox kit and the wolf pup began their training.
"I told she could stay out like she used to when I was a genin," said Naren, grinning. "You know, become my familiar, like Kitsu!" She turns and smiles at Naruto, who gave her a fake smile, knowing full well that his home was going to get a lot noisier with two rambunctious animal babies in his home. It was going to be a long day.