Shadowed Fury 3

Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto.

The four traveled back to the Village Hidden in the Leaves in silence. Minato tried to engage the shadow fox in conversation but she wouldn't say much if at all. The girl and boy she didn't know kept shooting strange looks at her over their shoulders. With a snort she shifted to her fox form and ran through the woods occasionally darting into the shadows and leaping out of another one a couple yards ahead.

Kakashi and Minato watched her with fascination. She was a shadow jumper, but at her age she shouldn't be that proficient at it but she flowed through the shadows like water and her paws didn't even make a sound as she moved. Her stealth skills would be an asset as an assassin.

"Do you think it wise to bring her back to the village sensei?" Obito asked as he came up beside them.

"I think she needs a place to call home and to focus her energy on protecting something."

His gaze drifted to Kakashi. He didn't know the extent of what had happened between the two but Kyouran seemed inclined to follow because of Kakashi. Kyouran's ears twitched as she listened to them. It was clear the blonde had much faith in her abilities which touched her a bit. No one had ever trusted her thus far in life except her father, but he was no longer there to encourage the trust. She honestly wanted a place to call home and people to watch her back even though she was a demon. "She'll make a great shinobi for the Leaf."

This encouraged her and it brought a bit of a hop into her steps. She shifted and landed gracefully beside Kakashi. He gave her a sideways glance and moved ahead of her. Brushing off the rejection she followed the silver haired boy. He didn't know her, but she wanted to get to know him, not because he saved her life but something about him called to her like nothing else. She couldn't explain what it was about him that drove her instinct to protect, but her father taught her to never ignore her instincts. So, she wouldn't for as long as she lived.

Before long the gates of the Leaf stood before them. Kyouran moved closer to the blonde haired man nervously. The guard waved a greeting at them and eyed the newcomer suspiciously. She clenched her hands at her sides. Minato seeing her tensing placed a hand on her shoulder. Her gaze drifted up to meet his. She could see him asking her to trust him.

"She's here to speak with the Hokage."

The guard threw her a suspicious look but allowed her to pass. His eyes followed her until the gate shut behind them. A soft growl rumbled from her chest. Minato looked down at her and then to his team.

"Go ahead guys. I'll make the report."

The three sauntered away. Kyouran watched them go for a moment before she realized that Minato was staring down at her with a huge smile on his face. Her head cocked to the side like a puppy, confusion laced her eyes.

"What?"

"Nothing."

She wasn't so sure it wasn't nothing, but she chose to push it off. "Come on I'll take you to the Hokage."

He led her to the tower and made her wait outside the office as he went in. The 3rd greeted the blonde haired shinobi with a smile. Quickly he made his report on the mission.

"Very good as always Minato."

"Thank you Lord Hokage."

Before he could dismiss the blonde haired ninja. "There's another matter Lord Hokage."

"Oh?"

The older man folded his hands in front of him as he prepared himself for whatever it was that Minato had up his sleeve. The blonde went to explain about the stray they'd rescued and also mentioned the shine she'd instantaneously shown towards Kakashi. That intrigued him not to mention Kakashi had mentioned once of saving a girl with the same description as Kyouran. The 3rd sat there thinking for a moment before he let out a heavy sigh before speaking.

"Minato," the 3rd murmured. "I've always trusted your judgment before now, but about this one are you sure..."

"She'll be an asset to the village Lord Hokage. From what I gauged about her she's a quick learner and flow through shadows like she was made of them. She calls herself a shadow fox demon. Claims her father was a fox demon and her mother a shadow demon, both deceased."

The older man rubbed the bridge of his nose. He wasn't as sure of this as the blonde haired man was. Closing his eyes he tried to work out the pros and cons of taking in this demon. Though it might come down to just meeting her and being the judge of her character himself. Of the little he knew about her from Minato he had gauged that she'd had a troubling start to life and seemed like a lost soul in need of healing.

"Bring her in I want to inspect her myself."

Minato bowed his head and called her in. The 3rd looked at the fox as she entered the room. She bowed her head respectfully to him. His gaze drifted right away to her swishing black tail behind her. Then he noticed her features that screamed of something not human. Though he could see the underlying pain that she tried to hide. This girl had suffered much in her young life.

"Come before me child."

She moved forward slowly and knelt before the older man. Her tail kept dancing around behind her betraying her nervous agitation. She didn't look much older than Minato's team.

"How old are you Kyouran?"

"Eight Lord Hokage."

"Minato tells me that you don't have any family."

"My mother died giving birth to me, my father died a few years ago, and I have an older brother that ignores me."

"Ignores you?"

"He's a fox demon. His mother died and my father mated my mother. Both clans didn't like the fact."

He listened to her with fascination. She was an orphan essentially and needed a place to call home. He had a few questions for her before he decided whether she could stay or not.

"You know what's on the table?" he asked her softly.

Her head cocked to the side for a moment before she gave a swift nod. She understood what Minato wanted of her and she wanted a place where she wouldn't be chased for being a mixed breed.

"My entrance into the Village and the chance to become a shinobi of this village."

"That's right."

He figured he needed to test her. Thinking a moment he thought of a perfect question. She was a fox and many would believe they know foxes, but he wanted to see how she'd react to his words. This could make or break her entrance to the village.

"People would call you a trickster is that true?"

Her eyes narrowed dangerously as the pupils became cat like. Her tail started trashing faster. He knew he hit a point inside of her that irritated her. This would be her true test. There was a flash in her eyes which made him blink and he didn't know if he'd seen it or not.

"People are blind and ignorant when they ask that of me," she growled.

"How is that?" he asked a bit taken aback.

"A fox I maybe, but they forget I am not entirely a fox. So yes I can be a trickster as all shinobi are, but I am also a shadow demon."

"How can I be sure that you'll be loyal to the village?"

Her eyes flashed crimson. A soft growl escaped her. The fur on her tail stood on end a bit. He mentally prepared himself just encase she lashed out. Her hands at her sides were flexing and her nails were wicked and sharp looking. She was holding herself back he could tell. Restraint when provoked in a situation like this was a good trait, for the most part. Looking towards Minato the man was unruffled by her reaction.

"Kyouran," Minato murmured.

"No let her speak Minato. Answer my question."

"Because I hold loyalties to a ninja that has saved my life and as long as I owe him I will abide by the rules of this village."

The 3rd smiled softly. He figured out pretty quickly, who the said ninja was. He saw a strong spirit in her and that was what was needed to carry out the Will of Fire. There was a steadfast loyalty in her and even he could see that. She would make a fine shinobi for the village he was sure of that much.

"What if the debt is paid? What then?"

"If and when the debt is paid I still will remain loyal because if given the chance to make something of myself and have a place to call home and friends to watch my back I will protect this land with everything I am."

This girl would make a great shinobi. There was so much dedication and conviction in her to belong to something. A soft sigh escaped him as that decided him.

"All right, we have a small test that the children must take before they can be placed on a team as genin."

Hope rose in her for a moment until his next words stilled that;

"Test?"

"Yes, you must successfully perform the shadow clone jutsu."

That wording sounded familiar to her but she couldn't place where. She knew it was a human wording for something familiar to her, but she couldn't remember what it was. Her head tilted to the side in confusion. "Can you not perform the jutsu?" the 3rd asked softly.

She looked to the blonde for assistance. He smiled at her which reassured her somewhat. For some reason this man put her at ease. Maybe in a way his kindness reminded her of her own father.

"Can you make a copy of yourself?" Minato said with a soft smile.

"A doppelganger?" she asked in confusion.

Her mind went into overdrive realizing what they were talking about. A smile broke her face. She was expecting for them to ask to perform some high level jutsu that she wouldn't be know or be able to handle yet. "That's easy."

Closing her eyes, without using hand signs, black leaves exploded outward filling the room with a dark colored smoke that smelt like a forest in the fall. The two of them seemed shocked that her smoke didn't smell like it, but a forest. When it cleared there were four forms before them. One of Kyouran and two were foxes on four legs and one standing on two. They were steady in their gaze. Their tails swished back and forth in rhythm.

"This?" her voice came softly.

Her voice echoed so they couldn't tell which was which and it was a bit gravelly, almost animalistic. The 3rd went up and started prodding at the forms. They didn't flinch or even move when poked or prodded. They felt real, they were warm and had a pulse. This was completely amazing to him that she was this advanced for not being trained formally in a village.

"Amazing," the 3rd murmured. "But these other forms."

All of them vanished except for one of the foxes. Her tail swished back and forth. Her black coat glistened under the overhead lights. Her eyes glittered. She stood proud and tall. Her form was the size of a Great Dane.

"My forms that I can assume. So they are me but just look different."

The older man smiled softly at the fox. Her tail swished back and forth happily. Most people feared what she was but this man took it in stride. This gave her a great deal of hope for her future here. The 3rd went back to his desk and pulled out some papers. He handed them over to the fox who'd shifted to lean over to look at them.

"Fill these out Kyouran and you'll become a genin. There was a team that lost their third member on a mission that went wrong so you will join them."

"Where will I stay Lord Hokage?" she asked quietly.

"I think Kushina…" Minato started.

"I don't want to intrude on anyone."

"Kyouran you're going to have to get used to being around other people. No one here will be out to get you. Besides I think she'd like you."

"Okay."

"It'll only be temporary Kyouran," the Hokage assured. "I can get you a place of your own if that's what you wish."

She nodded her head not exactly believing the kindness of these people for her, a complete stranger. "Tomorrow I'll have someone come get you and help you around the village and introduce you to your teammates and sensei."

She bowed deeply to the older man.

"Thank you for your kindness Lord Hokage."

"You can repay me by becoming a great ninja that will protect the village with her life if necessary."

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

The older man handed her a head band with the symbol of the Leaf on it. She tied it behind her bangs so it was out of her face. Minato smiled at her as he gestured for her to follow him. They walked through the streets. Kyouran looked around, a sense of wonder escaped her as she looked at everything. She'd avoided villages when she was on the run and never went into human villages. The sights and sounds intrigued her. He led her to a small house. The roof tiles were red and the house sighting was yellow, and the trim and shutters were white. There were flower boxes underneath the windows. The blonde went up and knocked and waited. A red headed woman answered the door. Kyouran hid behind Minato a bit as the woman stepped out.

"Minato what are you doing here?"

"We have a new shinobi joining the ranks and she doesn't have a place to stay yet."

The red head tilted her head to the side trying to look at her. Minato nudged her forward. She looked at the blonde for reassurance. He just smiled at her. There wasn't any deception in his scent or kind blue eyes. This man wasn't like anyone he'd ever met except her father, but she was sure if you threatened something that was precious to him he would be just as vicious as any parent over their kit.

"Kushina this is Kyouran."

Kyouran moved forward and bowed her head respectfully. Kushina looked at the younger girl. Suddenly she squealed cutely and gathered the startled fox up and hugged her.

"Of course I'll let her stay! She's so cute."

Kyouran fought the urge to fight back. Her hands hung limply at her sides. Finally the woman sat her down. Kyouran tilted her head to the side. "Come in come in," she gestured.

"Sorry Kushina, I have to go finish my mission reports."

She nodded her head and waved as he went. Kushina looked down at the fox. Kyouran walked into the house cautiously.

"So, you're name is Kyouran?"

"Yes."

"Where are you from?"

"I had no home but if I had it would've been the Demon Village Hidden in the Leaves."

She tilted her head to the side at Kyouran's wording. Kyouran's attention was drawn to a picture of a red fox on the wall. Her fingers reached out and touched it. Then did Kushina see her fox tail. She moved forward and touched her tail. Kyouran looked over her shoulder at her. "Where there are human villages that have shinobi there is a mirror to it that's even more hidden that is ran by demons."

"Oh?"

"The Demon Hidden Leaf is comprised of forest type demons. There is a hierarchy and the Clan in charge is the foxes."

"Each human Hidden Village has a demon mirror?"

"Yes."

"That makes you a demon?"

Kyouran tilted her head to the side to look at her.

"Does that scare you?"

"No," she said softly with a smile.

Kyouran shifted and stood there in her fox form. Her tail swished back and forth playfully. Kushina squealed and scooped the fox up and nuzzled her nose against her fur. She was soft and warm and smelled like a forest. Kyouran placed her paws on the woman's chest and stared back at her. She took in the older woman's scent. There was an undercurrent of power in this woman.

"What?" Kushina asked.

"There's a power deep inside of you that doesn't exactly flow with your normal power."

"I hold what's known as a Chakra beast inside of me. Ironically enough is the nine tailed fox."

Kyouran looked her in the eyes and there was nothing but kindness in the woman. She would be a good ally in the future, as would Minato. Her instinct never steered her wrong thus far. Kyouran gave her a foxy smile and rubbed the top of her head on the underside of the chin.

"Thank you, Kushina for taking me in."

"It's not a problem little fury."

Her ears laid back but she wouldn't get mad for her calling her fury.

"What's wrong?"

"When I came into the world I killed my mother. So her clan members who thought I was a disgrace because I am a mixed breed cursed me with the name Kyouran because I was to be the instrument of destruction upon my father's clan. So I'm hunted by both sides for killing my Mother and because my Father's clan fears the curse."

"I won't call you that if you don't want me to."

"You can call me Little Fury."

The older woman just smiled softly at the fox. She carried her upstairs and showed her to the room she'd be staying in.

"Welcome to the Leaf as its newest Shinobi, Little Fury."

She just smiled at the older woman. This would be her new home and she would protect it from everything even her own clans.