(A/N) Hey, everybody. I should warn you, I was in an angsty mood while writing this, so it'll probably have quite a bit of angst going on. Other than that, sit back and enjoy!
Kits
Pairings: In this chapter, I intend to illustrate the relationship between Kakashi and Iruka a little more, as well as delve into the relationship between Sasuke and Kyuubi. Also, I hope to set up some groundwork for the Tohru/Shino thing. Other than that, if a couple shows up, thats them, guys.
Warnings:
Description: Naruto and co. arrive in the Kitsunegakure! Their adventures there will decide the fate of many! Also, Kakashi and Sakura report back, and the village reacts!
Disclaimer: Y'know this thing is really annoying...If I owned Naruto, I wouldn't have to bother with one of these.
Kits Chap. 7 Where the Raindrops, as They're Falling, Tell a Story
Kyuubi ran for two days solid. He ran through the forests, the hills, the dense mountains, taking routes that hadn't seen humans in a very long time. He ran as fast as he could, pacing himself, so that he could get his charges to a safe place.
During those two days, everything was explained to everyone, and bonds were formed. Haku took an instant liking to little Tsubasa, and decided to teach him how to use senbon (metal needles), and Tohru offered to help.
Tohru started recording his adventures on a scroll, telling the story of how he became a retainer for a demon-lord and a pregnant, blonde Jinchuriiki. He rather liked this group, actually. They weren't stuck up, most were down to earth, and quite jovial. As he watched, it was like a family coming together.
Sasuke seemed to be a central part in it, and on Kyuubi's great red-furred back, it was to Sasuke that Naruto clung, laughing, joking, prodding, arguing, and just generally enjoying the ravens presence. This made Tohru smile, because he saw Sasuke smile that elusive grin more and more. It was like watching one made of ice melt to reveal real, warm flesh beneath.
Zabuza felt the same way, only about his Haku, instead. The boy was smiling, more alert, happier than Zabuza had ever seen him. He positively glowed with joy, and it brought joy to Zabuza's heart as well. This was what he had wanted for the boy, a good home, a family who wouldn't hesitate to protect him. He had never dreamed that he might be a part of it. It was more than his wildest dreams had ever hoped.
The days were spent easily, sitting astride the great-beasts back, playing with the cards that Zabuza had had in one of his pouches (he often gets bored, and will play two-man solitaire with Haku -Otaku) with everyone talking and laughing.
And on the second night, Kyuubi stopped. He laid down, in a rather large feild, full of night-blooming flowers, with the great full moon over head. Everyone took this as a cue to get off, and stretch their legs a bit.
After the last had slid off of his back, Kyuubi turned back to his ningen form, and lay there in the grass, dazed a bit, watching the stars twinkle.
Tohru immediately took charge, as Sasuke and Naruto went to sit by the exhausted fox.
"Alright, Zabuza-san, would you mind doing a perimeter sweep, while Haku and I set up some makeshift tents? And Tsubasa-kun, could you start a fire, a SMALL fire, for us?" The black-haired man nodded curtly then dissapeared, and the little fox beamed up at him.
"Hai(yes),. Tohru-san!"
He smiled at the child, and he went off to start a little campfire. He was amazed how much like regular children demonic ones were. He had expected something...stranger. The boy was almost perfectly normal, minus the red-fox ears on his head and the two bushy tails coming from his behind, and his adoration of his 'Naruto-sama'
Tohru began to set up the tents with Haku, while Naruto and Sasuke were trying to coax Kyuubi out of his dead-tired state.
"Kyuubi, you gotta talk to us here. You can't just pass out, you gotta cool down, and you gotta eat something!" Naruto said, trying to sound commanding. It didn't really work...Sasuke snickered at the feeble attempt the blonde made.
"Look, Kyuubi, you're the mission leader here, so you gotta tell us what's going on. How far are we from your village? What should we expect? Are there any strange customs we should abserve? You still have to give up this information, if we are going to successfully survive in your world." Sasuke informed him, sounding quite bored with it, though still snickering.
The red-head sat up, Naruto supporting him. He sighed heavily, resting against Naruto's hands, and blinked sleep away. Then he realised what was wrong. He had forgotten to give his clone body more chakra, which was why it was feeling fatigue. It was at the point of 'poof'ing out, and he ran some more of his brilliant red-chakra through it, feeling instantly better. He grinned up at Sasuke and Naruto, jumping up, and pulling the two up with him.
They went over to their newly formed camp, finding Haku, Tohru and Tsubasa sitting in the center, with a nice warm fire going. However Zabuza was absent, still on his patrol.
"Alright, what I have to say is going to be required of all of you, so, I'll wait to say it until I WON'T have to repeat myself. Until then, I suggest you all wait for me to get back from hunting down our dinner." The red-head then pecked first Naruto then Sasuke on the cheek, leaving both blushing, and ran off into the forest.
"What was that about?!" Naruto asked, sounding slightly pissed. Sasuke just grumbled silently, but everyone picked up the words 'kill', 'skin', and 'fox-fur' in there somewhere...
A few minutes later, Zabuza came back, finding Haku waiting for him with a warm smile, and a 'welcome back' like always. This time, it caused Zabuza to blush behind his mask, however. He sat down next to the feminine boy, and questioned himself mentally, until Kyuubi arrived sporting a giant deer carcass. His grin spoke volumes, as the little fox-boy attacked the meat, tearing off a bleeding chunk of it, right in front of the humans.
Tohru lost his lunch, right there.
Naruto was used to it, and Sasuke was looking a little green around the gills. Haku had joined Tohru in his missing lunch, and Zabuza was staring at the child curiously. It seemed almost as if he was remembering the taste, himself.
Meanwhile, Kyuubi tore a leg off and started chewing on it, blood splattering everywhere.
"Make sure you eat the heart, Bozu (Brat). It's good for you." He offered the tiny red-head advice, and the little boy beamed, looking like he had just been given a christmas present. Naruto shook his head, portioning out the rest of the meat to be cooked for the ningens consumption. "Now, I suppose I should explain a little bit about the village, huh?"
Everyone (who wasn't currently losing their lunch.) turned to look at the fox-demon, expectantly. Even Tohru cut off his gagging to pay attention, while Haku really did try, but he had a delicate constitution to begin with...
"It's very simple. We Kitsune have been around for thousands upon thousands of years. Most of that time, we spend doing nothing more than increasing our abilities. The village of Kitsune, or Kitsunegakure, is a place where our royalty and nobility go to train themselves, to enjoy themselves, and to replenish their humanity, amongst our brethren.
"The literal translation, Hidden in Foxes, is a metaphor, for the basic fact that all Kitsune hold it as home, a sanctuary in time of need. In fact, you ningens copied our naming technique with your villages. Every demonic race has this kind of place, some in the air, others underwater, but we Kitsune chose the forests, deep and untouchable, for we keep it that way."
Everyone was paying rapt attention to Kyuubi, listening to his deep voice, as it gave them information.
"In the Kitsune village, your status is equal to the number of tails you have. Ones, twos, threes, are like common peasants, or Genin, while fours, fives, and sixes are considered nobles. Sevens are considered representatives of our race, as they are usually more peaceful, while eights are nearly gone, for they are usually bloodthirsty, and totally uncontrollable. There is only one Nine-tails at any point in time. They are the king, god, ruler over all Kitsune, and they're word is absolute law. The thing is, they combine the two aspects of the seven and eight tailed, being both representatives of our race, and violent to a fault. I admit, I have quite the temper."
Naruto nodded his blonde head, attesting to the red-heads temper, causing the group to laugh.
"In Kitsune society, we take mates, and those mates are held sacred by us. Only with our mates permission may we take a second, third or so on, mate. Once we take a mate, they are ours for life, as are we theirs. So, be wise, should someone offer mating to you, it is a lifetime thing, not just a fling. If they offer to sleep with you, that's just a fling, go for it."
Again everyone paused to laugh at the joke the kitsune had slipped in.
"Now, onto the serious stuff. You, Haku, Zabuza, Tohru, you are all to be gaurds in my household, retainers, if you will. I trust you, because Naruto trusts you, and therefore, you will be treated with respect and luxury in my home. Same goes for you, Gaki, but you're going to have a tougher time of it. You all must train hard, and keep up your strength.
"Manners go as follows:
One, someone above your rank growls, you bare your throat, just like a dog. It'll calm them down, and you'll look better.
Two, you are a minority, so DON'T act superior, even if you are stronger than a demons human form. Remember, we foxes have a long memory and even longer lives.
Three, do not reveal anything you learn there to anyone. You never know who has secrets from who in a kitsune village, we're all tricksters and theives.
Alright, got it? Feel free to ask me questions at any point in time. Oh, and in the village, you must adress me as Kyuubi-dono, understand?"
Everyone nodded, and dinner commenced, with little conversation. Everyone had important things to think about. Kyuubi was steeling himself up for what he knew would be coming soon...
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Kyuubi pulled Sasuke and Naruto out into the forest, for some 'scouting'. He fidgeted nervously as he led them away from the camp. Damn, why was he so nervous! It wasn't like they would say no...Well, Sasuke might, just to be a bastard, but that wasn't the point. He still had to...
"Oi, Kyuubi, why are you dragging us into the middle of the forest, in the middle of the night?" Sasuke grumbled, looking cross.
Kyuubi stopped, in a small clearing surrounded by trees. There was a log in the middle of the brush, a good sitting spot, and he perched on it, staring at the moon. He was trying to get his nerve up.
"Kyuu-chan, come on, I gotta get some sleep tonight..." Naruto whined. His blue eyes looked worried, and he was wondering what was up with the red-head, wondering what could have made him this skittish.
"Naruto, Sasuke, you remember...You remember what I said about Mates, right?" Both boys nodded. "Well, I told my messangers that I was coming home with mates. In plural. On top of that, well, oh dammit!"
The ages old fox ran a hand through his crimson hair, looking disconcerted. Sasuke's eyes widened a trifle, as he realised, and then he smirked.
"You want us to be your mates, but you're too nervous to ask."
The statement brought wide crimson eyes to land on the boy, and the fox was positively shaking.
Naruto smiled softly, looking at the scared fox. He knew how much it took for Kyuubi to ask. He still remembered the vague glimpses of the memories the demon carried with him, of a vixen screaming as she died, of kits being rended by another male. He knew the heartache that had caused Kyuubi, and Kyuubi's solemn belief that he would never find one worthy of being his mate again.
"Kyuubi, if you will have me, I will be your mate. You would be a better father than just about anyone I've ever met, and you treat me a lot better than most people I know. You already know I love you, and I know you love me, so, that's all there is to it. You're stuck with me." The blonde ended forcefully.
Sasuke smirked, "Well, Kyuubi, if you wanted me for a mate, you only had to ask, you know. It is definately in my interest to consolidate the power of my clan with that of a demon, especially one as powerful as you. Plus, I get Naruto as a package deal, so I accept."
Kyuubi was totally blown away. The two most beautiful, strongest ningens he had ever met, were agreeing to be his mates! He was...exstatic! He jumped up, laughing a loud, boisterous laugh, gathering his two mates into his arms, and dancing insanely around the clearing, filling it with the laughter of the three.
They were deliriously happy, a warmth filling Sasuke that he hadn't experienced since Itachi took everything from him. He had family, now. Family that wouldn't run away, that wouldn't die on him. Because is one died, the other did, and they refused to leave him all alone in the world.
"So, I guess we're officially a couple, or rather, a threesome, now right?" Naruto giggled a few minutes later, when Kyuubi had collapsed to the ground, Naruto and Sasuke pulled tightly to his sides. He snuggled into Kyuubi's warm arms, and noticed, subtly, the raven-haired avenger doing the same.
"I suppose so, Dobe." The sharingan succesor sighed. Naruto noticed the quiet happiness filling the avenger, and smiled brilliantly at it, while Kyuubi just grinned at the world in general.
"Y'know, this means I have to mark you two."
They looked at him like he was a freak, each picturing the kind of 'marking' Akamaru had done in the academy. Kyuubi burst out laughing again at the mental image Naruto was sending him.
"N-no! NO, I won't mark you like THAT!! Jeeze...I'm not some mutt, y'know." He said, his laughter tapering off to giggles. "In a demon, well, marking ceremony, the mates bite each other on the pulse point, leaving permanent scars, while molding the two's Yokai, or chakra, together. But, with you two, neither of you would be able to properly mark me, so we'll have to come up with something for your versions of the ceremony."
Sasuke looked thoughtful for a few moments, and then was surprised when Naruto beat him to the punch.
"Earrings." The blonde declared. When his two companions looked at him curiously, he elaborated, "Earrings, their cheap, inexpensive and they will be a permanent mark on you, Kyuubi. Sasuke and I can peirce you with one earring each." Kyuubi nodded, liking the idea. Simple, effective, and quite enticing, actually.
"So that's all settled, we should probably go to bed for a while. It's going to be rough acclimating to a new society." Sasuke said, holding back a yawn. The other two nodded, and slowly got up, going back to camp.
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Sakura was quiet on their way back, mostly becuase her sensei still hadn't spoken a word since the bridge. The silver haired jounin had been mulling things over all night, and the two days since. She still remembered the harsh explanation she had had to give to Tazuna and the others.
Basically she had told them that Naruto was a missing nin, and he was wanted back home, and now that Sasuke and Tohru had gone with him, they would be missing nin as well. They had told her that they were glad. Naru-chan, as they had known Naruto, was a sweet child, male or not, and a kind person. Kyuuto, who turned out to be the demon Kyuubi, had helped them a lot during the two's time there. They were thankful for the angels who were brought to them through Konoha's stupidity.
Sakura had flinched at that. She, too, along with all the children in the academy, had followed their parents example, and been cruel to the blonde boy. She had always thought he was a moron, someone not worthy of her friendship. After all, he was a brat who knew nothing of what a real family was like, the yelling, the hurt, the crying when someone dies. He would never have to have that problem.
Atleast, that's what she had thought.
"Sensei, when Naruto said..." Sakura looked to her teacher for some guidance, and he turned a single black eye to her, looking a little disturbed.
"Yes, Sakura. He was right. I'm not sure how, but somehow, Naruto is pregnant. I saw signs earlier, but didn't think anything of it, because Naruto was male, but perhaps I overlooked something."
"Then, that demon-" Kakashi nodded, letting her know his thoughts.
"I beleive so, which might explain a bit about Naruto's condition. We know little to nothing of demons, and they like to keep it that way."
They spoke little until they got to the gates after that. Sakura was mostly worried about her Sasuke. What had Naruto done to entice him into leaving the village? She had heard the stories about fox-demons, seducing men, stealing, lying to get whatever they wanted. She was sure that Naruto had somehow fooled Sasuke into coming with him.
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Naruto marvelled at the oppulence of the city. The buildings were sculpted, half in, and half out of the giant trees, all the people were in beautiful clothes, and most looked like walking foxes in clothes. They were beautiful, and everyone was gasping over them. The light, filtering through the leaves above them, threw an emerald glow over everything.
It was like walking into a story book, the trees were huge, and the people were kind, smiling, and laughing, greeting them happily. Naruto was greeted with everyone calling out, and throwing flowers over them as they went along the way to Kyuubi's home. Little ones ran in and out of the party, giving the group things, like frogs, and flowers, and some even ryos.
But what was most spectacular was the greeting Kyuubi recieved.
It was as if some long dead god had come back to them and they wept with joy. Females dragged kits in front of him, asking him to bless them, and with a benevolent smile, he did. Males began chanting an old song, something that soothed and calmed the spirit, making the encounter seem even more of a fairy tale.
It seemed as if they had been wading in a dream by the time they arrived at the palace, once again half in and half out of the tree. It was positively huge, at least as big as Hokage mountain, and they all gasped again, minus Zabuza of course, at the sheer beauty of the place.
Inside, servants were scrambling around, getting into places, just like in an old japanese mansion. They formed two lines, one on either side of the great double doors they entered, and immediately called out, the minute Kyuubi set foot inside.
"Welcome home, Master!" It was a joyous sound, as if they had waited centuries to say it again.
Kyuubi smiled as soft smile, and looking around with joy in his eyes, said, "I'm home."
And everyone cheered.
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"What, no welcome home?" Kakashi joked, smiling at the hokage, who, at the moment was fuming.
Kakashi had returned, from a successful mission, missing TWO genin. Not just that, but in his mission report, he said that the Kyuubi had reappeared!
"Kakashi, what is the meaning of this report." He said, holding up the offending document.
"It's quite simple, Hokage-sama. That report is the exact events that happened while we were on the mission. As it states in there, I came back minus two genin, becuase the Kyuubi enticed them, and they fled with it." The silver-haired jounin had lost all jovialness and was talking seriously.
"That's not possible, unless the seal on Naruto broke." The hokage said, turning his eyes from Kakashi to the documents on his desk. One of them was the entirety of the file they had on one, Uzumaki Naruto.
"Well, I don't know about that, but I did see the Kyuubi with my own eyes. It wasn't a genjutsu, it had it's own chakra system. And on top of that, if you read the report all the way through..."
"Yes, yes, I noticed that part. I believe in that, atleast, the boy was lying. A male cannot conceive."
"And you know this for certain?" A voice asked, softly, from the corner.
The two spun, weapons in hand, as the new threat showed itself.
A smirking woman, arms crossed in front of her, her deep red hair falling around her in waves. Her green eyes flashed with a fury, barely contained. Her green chinese-kimono was deeply slitted, her legs shown in all their glory. Her breasts bounced healthily, but, above all, her two tails waved behind her, flashes of angry red and white.
"I can tell you all you need to know about the damnable blonde, and his pet fox. Including what you seem to overlook."
Sarutobi was immediately suspicious. This woman wasn't human, and she appeared mightily angry.
"Why? Why would you turn on your own kind, just to inform us about their secrets?" A guess by the silver-haried jounin, and it hit the mark. Her red-painted lips widened into a painful grin, and she radiated fury.
"Because that BITCH stole my pup and left me to die. Now, I want revenge."
End Chapter
(A/N) Okay, so, there we go! A whole new element to the problems! Poor Naruto, now everythings all fucked up, huh?
Naruto: YAH, and YOU made it that way!
Otaku: Don't blame me!
Naruto: I do!
Tsubasa: So, who is that woman?
Naruto: SHe's -MARPH!!
Otaku: covering Naruto's big mouth someone you'll meet later, Tsubasa-kun!
See you all later!
