I don't Harry Potter or Naruto, damn the rotten luck.
"Crazy, homicidal, psycho biatch!" screamed Naruto at the top of his lungs. It was Christmas break and Harry and Naruto were made to stay behind by Anko despite an invitation from Hermione and Ron. As it was now the castle was beautiful. There was snow everywhere covering everything. Most of the lake had iced over except for near the center where the water was content to just be freezing cold. It was also in this center that Naruto and Harry could be found on their ninth hour of treading water with Anko watching gleefully in her nice warm coat. She had literally begun the morning by marching them out to the center of the lake and stripping them down before plunging them into the freezing water unceremoniously.
"What's wrong?" asked Anko in a sickly sweet voice, "Are you little babies cold? Well too damn bad, you're going to stay there until you collapse of chakra exhaustion from trying to keep yourselves warm.
Naruto and Harry learned very quickly with Anko that she had some unusual ways of training. They learned how to ignore heat and prevent burning by using chakra. Of course the fact that they had to lay on hot beds of coal for weeks on end only encouraged them to learn the skill quickly. Now they were 'learning' how to stay warm in the coldest of climates and it really didn't get much colder than Hogwarts Lake in the dead of winter.
"Bitch," chattered through their teeth Naruto and Harry simultaneously.
"Thank you," said Anko, "But if you think I'm bad now . . ."
They never liked it when she said that to them. It never ended well for either of them.
"Watch my hands and repeat," said Anko moving rapidly through hand seals, "Mizuhai no Jutsu".
Naruto and Harry did as she instructed.
Anko smiled, "I would advise you get underwater now." She then started another set of hand seals before taking a very deep breath Koori: Bakuhatsu no Jutsu," she then breathed out releasing a silvery mist that froze over the top of the lake completely. "Now, enjoy yourselves boys." She then left them to find their own way out.
Underwater Naruto and Harry were both struck with a simple and utter disbelief. They were now trapped under a frozen lake trying not to freeze to death by using chakra and using even more chakra to keep the water lung technique working to allow them to breathe.
"Well this sucks," said Naruto though only bubbles could be seen.
Harry though got the gist of it and agreed wholeheartedly.
Naruto tried punching the ice above him but that only served to hurt his hand and make him more frustrated because he had willing given up his weapons to Anko. Willing might not have been the right word for it, more like didn't resist as much as usual.
Meanwhile Anko was enjoying her walk back to the castle for some nice warm hot chocolate. Other than Dango that was now her absolute favorite thing in the world, especially in this frozen hell known as Britain. Anko entered the castle with a bounce in her step as she happily made her way to the Great Hall for some of the aforementioned beverage.
"Good Morning Professor," greeted Dumbledore with a smile and twinkle in his eye.
Damn old men and their tricks, thought Anko as she took up her seat at the head table just waiting for Dumbledore to trap her in some way. "What do you want?" she asked rather harshly.
"I was merely curious as to the state of your usually troublesome shadows?" said Dumbledore.
"They are studying," said Anko.
"I see," said Dumbledore, "And what exactly are they studying this time. Not heat resistance I should think with this cold."
"Nope," said Anko sipping on her cocoa happily.
Then Dumbledore noticed the open bag sitting on the floor next to her, "That wouldn't be their clothes would it?"
"Might be," said Anko as she grabbed a Dango trying her best to ignore the old man.
"Would it be safe to assume they are now naked somewhere?" asked Dumbledore.
"I wouldn't leave them naked somewhere," said Anko looking the man straight in the eyes. Not naked, they still have their underwear.
"Oh, then where are they?" asked Dumbledore.
"I told you, they are studying," said Anko. If Ibiki couldn't get her to crack, she'd be damned if she ever cracked for this soft hearted old man.
"Where are they studying so diligently on winter holiday?" asked Dumbledore with a friendly smile.
"I'm not exactly sure where they are studying at now," said Anko with a smile. It was true, they were probably moving by now and well on their way to escaping her little training exercise.
"Miss Mitarashi," said Dumbledore, "Should I be worried about the repercussion they will deliver upon us all in an ill-conceived plot for revenge?"
"There is nothing to be 'revenged' upon," said Anko with a grin that told otherwise.
Dumbledore finally decided this was getting him nowhere fast and decided to sit back and enjoy his breakfast.
It was almost another hour before a nearly blue pair of students charged into the Great Hall in only their underwear.
"Anko-Sensei," chattered Harry.
"We will . . . kill you," chattered Naruto straining to point a finger at her before both he and Harry stormed out to find warmth.
"Faster than I thought," said Anko checking her watch with a grin completely ignoring the look of disbelief she was getting from Dumbledore and the other staff members, "But I still think they can do better. I guess we'll have to try again tomorrow."
Dumbledore sighed in defeat. He may not have approved of her methods but they were certainly effective. He was also learning very quickly, that the less he knew of her training methods, the better he slept at night. Things had definitely gotten far more interesting in Hogwarts than he would have thought possible.
BREAK
"Cold," mumbled Naruto and he draped another fluffy blanket around himself. His count was up to about fifteen blankets.
"She's completely nuts," added Harry for good measure before he tossed a few more logs onto the already roaring fire.
"This can't be safe," said Naruto bitterly before adding another blanket to his growing pile.
"I don't think anything she does is safe," said Harry, "How can she get away with this?"
"She's our Jounin Sensei," said Naruto answering the question. They may not have known much about the team structure but they were well aware of the fact that once placed on a team, the Jounin instructor was pretty much free to do anything they wanted to their students including, but not limited to, just shy of death.
They were therefore stuck and it wasn't going to change until they at least made it to Chuunin and even then, if she chose to, they would continue to train under her until they made it to Jounin.
Suddenly the bell tolled signaling the need to leave for afternoon training.
The pair met Anko out on the grounds in their usual spot only for her not to be their.
"Did she forget?" asked Harry as he surveyed the see of white when suddenly he felt a knife against his throat. "Then again, maybe not." Harry then saw Naruto in a similar situation.
Anko released her hold on the boys and dismissed her clone, "In real combat you'd already be dead . . . again. Snow is one of the shinobi's greatest tools but it is also one of a shinobi's greatest enemies. Snow naturally muffles any sound you make, hence it is harder for you to be heard but also for you to hear anyone coming for you. So today, we're going to work on our listening skills." She then tossed each of them a blind fold, "Put it on. You have two hours to find me." Once the blind folds were on she took to walking silently around the pair. There was no crunch of snow as she walked, no clothes flapping in the wind, and no scent to lead them to her.
She studied them both carefully, watching to see who would pick her up first. She thought that Harry would as he had better control of his chakra. On the other hand Naruto had a much higher developed sense of hearing thanks to the fox, but he was much less patient. Only time would tell.
Naruto was indeed getting impatient trying to seek out the 'pyscho-biatch' or more commonly known as Anko-Sensei to no avail. He knew he should have listened to Kyubi's speeches about mastering his fox senses but then Kyubi never set that as a skill necessary for him to learn something else from the bastard. Now he was regretting it for the simple fact that if he and Harry didn't find Anko inside of two hours she would do something horrible to both of them.
"Focus brat, stop thinking about her and your cousin and every other little thing that is constantly speeding through your mind and focus on hearing. Listen to the wind, she will speak to you. You are now fox, listen to the mother's words that are carried on the wind. She will tell you what you need to know."
Now Naruto was really confused. Kyubi sounded almost poetic and soulful. There was no sarcasm or anger, just peace and calm. Having nothing to loose he forced himself to calm down and listen, not for Anko but for the wind. It was everywhere around him constantly moving. And then he heard it bend to move around things. He heard the wind bend around the castle harshly as it pounding against the stones before moving in all directions along the surface. He heard the wind move through the trees in soft turns and bends. And then he heard something different. Something that sounded eerie and yet powerful
"This way"
Naruto turned sharply towards the voice but it was gone as soon as he moved. His heart was suddenly thundering with excitement and even a little fear. He'd heard a voice but it didn't belong to anyone present and yet it was there all the same. Naruto strained to hear it again but there was nothing. Then he noticed that he didn't hear the wind against the castle or going through the trees but he didn't know why.
Anko was surprised when Naruto suddenly turned to look right at her but then he looked almost fearful and then excited followed closely by confused. She had an inkling that he was learning something new and important but she honestly had no idea what it was.
"Calm yourself brat. You cannot listen when you are so damn excited. Calm!"
Naruto shared a few choice words with the Kyubi for distracting him before he listened to Kyubi's advice and forced himself to calm down again. Soon his ears were filled again with the wind and her movements.
"She is here"
Naruto tried to remain calm this time after hearing the voice he turned towards the voice and followed it as the voice moved.
"This way . . . over here . . . danger . . . coming fast"
With the last warning Naruto ducked only to feel a few of his hairs cut free.
"Behind"
Naruto quickly turned to his rear to block only to find that his blind fold was removed to see Anko nod at him approvingly before motioning for him to be silent. And then using the hand code she'd made them memorize, instructed him to sit and be silent or else she would break his fingers one by one, joint by painful joint.
Naruto knew better than to piss her off and sat without question in the freezing snow. This however did give him a chance to think on the mysterious voice. He really only had one source of answers but he wasn't sure as to how forthcoming the source would be.
Naruto closed his eyes and concentrated on the familiar dreary halls that lined his own consciousness. Within moments he was standing within those familiar water filled halls. He began his trek to find the Kyubi in hopes of getting his questions answered.
Soon enough he was before the cage. It seemed that Kyubi was waiting for him. The fox was sitting on its haunches with all nine tails spread out behind it. It seemed much calmer than when Naruto usually saw him. This actually made him more fearful of the fox than when he was in a rage of anger.
"She is magnificent is she not," said Kyubi with what looked like a fond smile.
"I don't understand. What was that? How could I hear that voice?"
"She is the mother of all, her voice is carried on the wind to speak to all her children and help them as they need. She has been very angry with me however for the last millennia or two," said Kyubi with a bit of a chuckle at the end.
"Okay, I still don't get it. What do you mean mother? Your mother?" asked Naruto slightly fearful of another Kyubi.
"Insolent brat, do you not listen to her words? Do you not understand what she is the mother of? Think!"
"I could hear her but the words were broken," said Naruto, "I don't understand at all how it's even possible."
"She is mother of all of nature. She speaks to all creatures and helps to guide them in their lives. When she has stopped speaking, you know your time has come. She stopped speaking to me nearly two millennia ago but I fought against her will and became the great demon you hear of in stories. Since I have . . . joined . . . with you so completely now she has once more begun to speak but not to me. She speaks to you and if you would learn to listen properly you would know all this," said Kyubi almost bitterly but somewhat regretfully.
"Can others hear her then?" asked Naruto still not completely certain of what was really happening.
"No, only you and those of nature, the animals and spirits that roam our world can hear her voice and understand," lectured Kyubi, "Why else would I have stressed for you to learn to use your senses properly beyond the obvious benefits? You are but a foolish child still."
Naruto didn't like what he was about to say but he knew it was necessary, "Can you help to learn then? Can you teach me to listen?"
"No brat, I cannot, this is something you must learn on your own. I would suggest you ask that cat to help you. She would understand better than you think."
Naruto was suddenly forcefully ejected from Kyubi's presence and back to reality to see Harry bleeding a bit from a few cuts and scratches from Anko's kunai and shuriken that she threw at him but he had removed his blind fold and was smiling at his success until he notice that Naruto didn't have a scratch on him.
"What the hell, how come you're not cut up?" asked Harry a bit annoyed.
"I just figured it out faster," said Naruto cheekily.
"Shut up brats, this is only the beginning, an introduction if you will to the things to come. I want you two to think about what you did to find me and then I want you to improve upon it. From now on, every time I get the drop on either of you, it will result in both pain and training, probably at the same time. Now, get lost and get to work."
"What did you do Naruto?" asked Harry once they were clear of Anko.
"It's hard to explain," said Naruto thoughtfully, "I guess I just learned a new way to listen that Kyubi taught me. But he says I have to get a lot better at it."
"Can you teach me?" asked Harry.
"No," said Naruto sadly, "It has to do with my fox senses."
"Oh," said Harry. This was yet one more thing that Naruto could do that Harry couldn't to the continually expanding list. For the most part Harry didn't let it get him down too much because he seemed to be taking to magic much more easily than Naruto was. Anko was also teaching him several new techniques that she couldn't teach Naruto because the fox wouldn't have anything to do with it. Anko had a thing for snakes and Harry didn't really mind snakes so he didn't mind learning from her. Naruto and the fox though were both adamant about not learning anything to do with snake magic.
It was actually approaching a divergence point for both of them as far as the direction their techniques would take them. Anko was quite adamant that Harry could not be a copy of Naruto and his techniques without Naruto's bloodline to work with him. She was becoming more forceful everyday that Harry needed to be his own person with his own techniques just as Naruto needed to be his own person with his own techniques. While they both had the same base of skills to work from was a great thing, they were now both ready to move in their own directions.
"Harry," called Anko as the pair continued on silently, "I just remembered something, you and I are going to have some private lessons."
Naruto would have been disappointed if it wasn't for the fact that he had his own path to follow in becoming the kind of ninja he wanted to be. "I'll catch up with you later Harry, I've got some other things in the works right now anyway."
"Right then, catch you up later," said Harry before he ran back to Anko.
"Okay brat," said Anko once Harry returned, "I've been thinking about this for a while and I've decide that you can no longer use the same Taijutsu as Naruto. It just won't work for you as you get older because you cannot use his bloodline. Now before you argue or complain about all the hard work you've already put into it just shut up and let me explain. Even now when you use that style you tend to rely on your speed and accuracy but you put no power into your attacks. That is the fatal flaw for you and that style. Small attacks will never allow you to win against Naruto with that style nor anyone of Chuunin level or higher."
"So what should I do?" asked Harry not liking what she said but still seeing the truth of her statement.
"While I despise the person that taught me, I will teach you the style I use. It is a form of kung-fu based on the movements of snakes, we call it Hebi-dō. It relies on quick and sudden strikes with your fingers to major pressure points delivering intense pain, sometimes even crippling pain. For your size and agility it will be perfect for you, however, I must warn you that if you learn this style you will not be well received in most villages nor even Konoha. I am a pariah to the village for my knowledge of it and you will be too if you choose to listen to me. I also realize that you may not like snakes very well as that Voldemort character is often associated with them but . . ."
"If will help me to kill him then I don't care," said Harry steeling himself as soon as she mentioned Voldemort. "As far as I'm concerned he gives snakes a bad name."
Anko smirked at that, "Good, then let's begin.
BREAK
Naruto only had one thought on his mind as he separated from Harry. He needed to sort out this . . . hearing thing and all his other senses. So, his first stop was the 'Cat-Lady' as Kyubi called her.
Naruto knocked on her office door.
"Come in," called a voice from inside the office.
Naruto entered. She smiled at him as he entered, "Can I help you with something Mr. Kazama?"
"Umm, this might sound a bit strange," said Naruto as a prelude.
"I have no doubt that it will," said McGonagall with a small smile.
"Umm, first I have to ask you to promise me you'll keep this a secret?" said Naruto. He couldn't very well ask her to help him if she didn't know exactly what the problem was.
McGonagall observed him for a moment before she waved her wand sealing her office door, "I promise you that whatever we discuss in here will remain in here and between us."
"Thank you," said Naruto taking a seat, "Well, I'm not really sure how to start but here it goes. I am part fox."
McGonagall gave him a look that said in no uncertain terms that she wasn't happy with what he said. "Mr. Kazama, I thought you came here to talk with me seriously, not play another of your pranks or jokes. Now if you'll excuse me I am quite busy preparing for the term to begin."
"But I'm not playing," said Naruto forcefully, "I really am. Look at my eyes and you'll see it." Naruto then released the small Genjutsu that made is eyes look normal.
McGonagall gasped in shock, "But how is this possible?"
"I can't tell you that, it's secret but the fact is that I am," said Naruto lowering his eyes away from her.
McGonagall seemed torn between wanting the truth and wanting to help her student, "What can I do to help you?"
Naruto looked up suddenly surprised that she was willing to help him. "Well, it's my senses. Today, I was doing a listening exercise outside when I heard . . ."
"You heard her voice then did you?" asked McGonagall with a small but very fond smile.
"Yeah, how did you know?" asked Naruto.
"All Animagus eventually learn to hear her voice. We may not always understand what she says to us but we do hear her," said McGonagall, "So are you worried you're going crazy then, because you're not. You're very lucky to be able to hear her without being an animal or an Animagus."
"But how can I control it?" asked Naruto now slightly less worried.
"My boy, you cannot control her, you simply need to listen to her, hear her voice."
"I didn't mean to control her, I just meant, how can I control my hearing to hear her properly. I only hear a word or two of what she says but I never hear the entire message. I need to get better at this to understand what she's telling me."
"You mean you can actually hear the words? You can understand her?" asked McGonagall in shock and surprise, "Oh my, this is wonderful. You must tell me about it."
"You mean you don't hear her words?" asked Naruto.
"Oh my no, sometimes you can almost hear the words she is saying to you. Sometimes you just feel her presence comforting you," said McGonagall, "but to actually understand the voice and what she is telling you is something entirely new. No Animagus to date has ever understood what she is actually saying."
"Oh, so I can't get better at this then. Will it always be garbled and incomplete?" asked Naruto.
"Naruto, do not feel down about this at all. You are only just beginning to hear her voice. With time and practice you will hear more of what she is saying to you. You will find it easier to hear her as well. You won't need to focus on it so much and in time her voice will become a constant to you," said McGonagall with tears of pride welling up in her eyes.
"Can you help me then?" asked Naruto hopeful, "I really want to learn this as fast as possible."
"Well, the fastest way to hear the voice would be to embrace the fox side of yourself. Even better would be to change into the fox within," said McGonagall before she saw the look of horror spread across his face at the suggestion that he embrace the fox.
"No, I could never do that. The fox must stay contained," said Naruto, "If I let it out like that . . . it is enough to know that it is there but to embrace it . . . no, never."
"Mr. Uzumaki, I assure you that it would be completely safe. You wouldn't be letting anything out, just changing your physical body into that of a fox, you would still be you up here," she said reassuringly as she pointed to his head.
"I don't know," said Naruto still unsure of what would happen if he did such a thing. The Kyubi was supposed to be safely locked in its cage, sealed behind an impenetrable wall allowing only his chakra to seep out. But then, they were one now weren't they and that wasn't supposed to happen. Naruto wasn't sure what to think but if it allowed him to understand sooner than he would. It was a huge risk, but it was one he was willing to take. After all, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
"Okay, we'll do it," said Naruto, "But I want you to be prepared to kill me if anything goes wrong."
McGonagall seemed surprised that Naruto would be so blunt as to have her promise to kill him if something went wrong. "Nothing will go wrong Naruto, I have supervised many students that have passed through these halls into becoming Animagus themselves. I am certainly capable of helping you as well."
"When can we start?" asked Naruto.
"How about now?" asked McGonagall, "Now, this transformation usually requires you to brew a potion to reveal your animal side, however, you are already aware of your animal side. You just need to call it forward."
"How do we do that?" asked Naruto.
"Slowly over the next year we will build up to it," said McGonagall with a smile to which Naruto pouted.
"But that's so long," he whined.
"Mr. Kazama, I understand how you feel about being patient, however, I must insist that this time you trust me. If you rush this there could be terrible and permanent damage to your body. For every step you make in this process you must be able to control 100 percent of your actions and the change process. That means being able to change and change back without struggling otherwise you may become trapped in such a form forever," lectured McGonagall causing Naruto to swallow nervously, "Now, let's begin."
BREAK
"Okay, ready?" asked Naruto as he checked his supplies once more.
"You better believe it," said Harry with a nod. This would be their last chance to get to that stone before they had to return to Konoha for the summer and after that they may not get another chance. This was the perfect opportunity. Dumbledore was away on business, something they found out thanks to a slip up by Professor McGonagall. Anko-sensei was buried in grading her exams, most of which she would probably use as a pillow to sleep on.
"Let's go then while the others are asleep," said Naruto as he led the way out of the dorm and stealthily through the halls towards the third floor corridor.
They were surprised when they found Fluffy sleeping soundly to a playing harp.
"Someone got here before us," said Naruto unhappily.
Harry though scowled in a righteous anger, "Voldemort." He then moved quickly and opened the trapdoor and jumped in without a second thought with Naruto hot on his heals.
"Devil's Snare," said Harry, "Let's burn it. Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu." Harry and Naruto both set loose a powerful stream of flames burning away the vines. Harry was a man possessed to get to Voldemort and kill him once and for all.
The next room was filled with keys. A quick shuriken toss knocking the right key out of the air and they were through. The next room was a giant chess board. They were both too impatient to play their way across and instead used the mass confusion that can only be caused by shadow clones to slip past the pieces and into the next room.
"Stupid word games," said Naruto reading the little note on the table with several vials that would lead into the next room.
"I hate word games," moaned Harry unhappily as he read the card again, "Can't we just use the heat resistance training to walk through it?"
"Have you ever seen black fire before?" asked Naruto observing the wall of flames awaiting them.
"Hmm, good point," said Harry, "Do you think you'd survive testing them?"
"Probably," said Naruto, "But it would probably knock me out of it for a while at least."
"Hmm," said Harry again studying the word game, "So, the ones that look the same should kill us right?" asked Harry tossing the identical vials away carelessly.
"That leaves us with three," said Naruto grabbing one of the vials observing it, "I think this one will get us back through to the other side."
"How do you know?" asked Harry.
"The fox said so," said Naruto with a grin.
"Did the stupid bastard solve the puzzle then?" asked Harry.
"Yeah, take this one to go through to the other side," said Naruto handing him a different vial.
"About time the fox was good for something," said Harry, "But what about you?"
"I'll wait here for you," said Naruto, "Just hurry up would you?"
Harry nodded before downing the potion and walking purposefully through the flames.
Naruto meanwhile decided to spend time working on his hearing as long as he was going to be waiting. He was interrupted a while later with the arrival of Dumbledore.
"Good evening Mr. Kazama," said Dumbledore.
"Shit," mumbled Naruto as he opened his eyes. Now they would never be able to steal the stone.
"Now, now, such language is unnecessary," said Dumbledore barely concealing his anger, "Now, where is Harry?"
"Dealing with Voldemort I'd imagine," said Naruto, "I would have helped him but there wasn't enough of the potion to join him."
Dumbledore frowned severely before he moved forward and dismissed the flames with a wave of his hand. He stormed into the room just as a specter of Voldemort fled but not without attacking Harry first.
Naruto turned to chase after specter before Dumbledore stopped, "Let him go, we must see to Harry now."
"He's fine, we have to catch him before he escapes," said Naruto resisting Dumbledore's grip.
"And how would you catch him? How would you hold him in such a state Mr. Kazama?" asked Dumbledore rhetorically knowing that Naruto didn't have an answer.
"I don't know but it is better than just letting him escape," said Naruto emotionally, "How can you ever expect to beat him if you just let him go like that? Are you really so foolish to think that you will have such an opportunity to imprison him again as you do right now?"
"I have made my decision," said Dumbledore ending the discussion before scooping up Harry and leaving in a hurry towards the hospital ward.
"You are a fool," said Naruto before following after him. This was not the way Shinobi were supposed to act. Harry was fine. The voice told him as much. He had a mission to see to but Dumbledore's orders took precedence as this was his facility.
BREAK
Harry woke up a few days later in the hospital wing to be surrounded by cards and candy and a sleeping Naruto. Naruto looked rather uncomfortable in the chair he was in but Harry knew that he wouldn't leave his side unless absolutely necessary.
"Hey, Naruto, wake up," said Harry nudging his cousin.
"Go away Anko-Sensei, just five more minutes," Naruto mumbled in his sleep allowing a long line of drool to slide down his chin and pool on his shirt.
"Wake up you lazy ass," shouted Harry causing Naruto shoot up out of his seat with Kunai in hand.
"Harry, you bastard, you're going to pay for that," said Naruto glaring at his cousin.
"Did you go after Voldemort?" asked Harry stopping his laughing and turning serious.
"Negative, permission denied by Dumbledore," said Naruto unhappily.
"Damn it," said Harry pounding the cot.
"Did you get the stone?" asked Naruto hopeful that something good would have come out of this.
"No damn it," said Harry, "I never had a chance. I barely got through the other side and started attacking Quirrel. It was gross, he had Voldemort growing out the back of his head." Harry shuddered for effect which was mimicked by Naruto.
"That's just wrong," said Naruto with an additional shudder.
Not much later after a stiff talking to from Dumbledore and Anko the boys returned to their dorms to pack their bags for the trip home.
"Hey guys," said Neville as they entered, "How's it going?"
"Damn Dumbledore," mumbled Naruto while Harry added Anko instead.
"Didn't go over very well did it?" asked Hermione in her normal voice.
"Obviously, do you know how many school rule they broke," said Ron, "Why didn't you ask me to come?"
Naruto and Harry couldn't help cracking a smile at Ron. He was definitely loyal and good friend.
"Hey, we took a big chance and failed," said Naruto, "Don't worry, there will be other times to come."
"Yeah, but this time would have been cooler," Ron pouted, "I heard about the chessboard. I could have won for you."
"He has a point," said Harry.
"You're all crazy," shouted Hermione finally having enough, "Have a nice summer, see you on the train next September." She then hugged Naruto and Harry before she left them behind.
"Just make sure you keep training this summer," shouted Naruto after her.
"Yeah, that goes for you two also," said Harry, "And Ron, try to get Ginny to join you. I'll write her a letter making sure she keeps on your case just to make sure."
Ron paled, "That was a bit below the belt mate."
"If it works then so be it," said Harry with a shrug before he happily started dumping all of his wizarding clothes and book into an empty trunk compartment content with the knowledge that he would have to deal with them for three months.
Naruto was soon doing likewise with a happy smile. The only thing he didn't pack away that came from the wizarding world was his fox glove which for one reason or another he couldn't seem to remove.
Not much later he and Harry were waiting for Anko so they could return to Konoha.
Dumbledore walked slowly towards the entry hall to bid his young students and Potions Mistress farewell. He contemplated the boys' attitudes and ways of thinking and of how their thoughts were constantly looking for the next move or angle. They were always up to one prank or another in an attempt to out do the Weasley twins and generally succeeding much to his displeasure. He was also slightly startled by how prepared they were to deal with any threat that approached them, he'd lost count of the times that Mr. Malfoy or one of his associates would end up in the hospital wing in any number of broken bones, cuts or knife wounds (those especially bothered him as he had to cover it up from the Board of Governors). Even knowing all of this, he could see the good in both of them. They would die to protect their friends and family, maybe even kill to protect it. They were an inspiration to their friends to never quit or give up despite the odds as exhibited by the exercise routine they had created. They were quite the enigma no matter how he looked at it.
"Well now," he greeted the three, "I do hope you all enjoyed your stay."
Naruto and Harry nodded politely. They enjoyed most of their time in the castle but they felt as though they weren't being challenged like they would have been back in Konoha. On the other hand, Anko made up for any possible challenges they could have faced.
"I see, then you are excited to be returning home?" asked Dumbledore with a smile.
"Are you kidding?" shouted Naruto, "I can't wait to show off all the cool shit Anko-sensei taught us."
Dumbledore chuckled, "And you Harry?"
"Of course, we finally get to do missions," said Harry, "Fighting bandits, rescuing people, steeling secret things . . . it's gonna be great."
Dumbledore didn't necessarily like the idea of the savior of wizarding world conducting himself in such a way but, the end justifies the means at this point. "Well, I will look forward to seeing all of you at the end of summer."
"Not if I can help it," said Anko adamantly.
"Oh, but my dear, you signed a magical contract binding you to a teaching post within this school until such time as I deem to release you of it," said Dumbledore smirking.
"Damn you old men and your damn tricks," yelled Anko ready to skewer the old man where he stood.
"Farewell," said Dumbledore before she had a chance to act. He then tossed a length of rope at the group which they all caught only to feel a massive jerk behind the navel signaling the start of their journey home.
