Shadowed Fury 7


A/N: Okay. I'm going to explain a couple things to you my loyal fans even though you are few and far between. Kakashi in chapter six is six years old. I'm trying to stick to things the way they are but sometimes I got outta the lines as it were. So I'm keeping it as close as it is in the series. Kyouran is eight and Kakashi is six. There's a two year age difference between them. I know the exams were done differently than the exams of the past but I liked the format of the chunin exams of the future.


Kyouran lay in a tree shaded by the deep emerald leaves. Her team was training underneath her. They'd recovered fairly well considering they'd been in a huge battle the day before. She looked like a big jungle cat sprawled among the branches. Her tail swished back and forth lazily. Sora was leaning against the trees base watching the two practice their nin jutsu. He occasionally threw out commentary for their moves and corrections. The two of them moved fluidly like water when they fought each other. The fox knew that it wouldn't be too long before they were together. There was no lack of caring between the two. One of them just had to make the first move towards the other.

Things were as they should be as far as her mind could tell. The animals were moving around like normal so danger wasn't nearby. The sun was warming her black fur, so she was starting to drift to sleep. A small sound made her head shoot up. Her ears were twitching madly. Sora looked up at her through the branches. He'd heard it too. The man rose and watched the area where the noise had come from which had stopped the battle between Yuki and Masaru.

"What is it Kyouran?" Yuki asked.

She rose slowly. Her eyes flashing as she vanished and reappeared in the clearing shoving a silver haired ninja before her. Kakashi barely caught himself as he stumbled from her shove. The shadow fox was standing behind him. Her tail swishing back and forth in irritation was the only betrayal of her emotions. Her ears twitched back and forth to make sure he was alone. People in the village knew she wasn't normal but most didn't know the extent of her oddity and the less people knew the better. She'd never roam the streets in her fox form except for at night.

"Really Kakashi you resort to spying?" Kyouran asked as she shifted to her humanoid form.

She shook out her long black hair and tied her headband behind her bangs. She tied it back into a high ponytail. He was looking around at the other three. Then did his attention turn back to the fox. He looked so serious which made her a bit uneasy. Though Kakashi was always serious, a calming breath relaxed her. It seemed like he was gathering his thoughts before he spoke.

"I came looking for you actually."

"Oh really?"

He gave her a dry look. Kyouran just smirked at the silver haired male. He was getting riled up over nothing and it was making her day. Kakashi seemed the type not to get so easily ruffled. Though, him being here made her realize there was something on his mind, and she had a feeling he didn't want to talk about it in front of her team. Her eyes met Yuki's and the older girl seemed to catch what she wanted without words being said. Her attention returned to Kakashi. She tilted her head to the side towards the wooded area. Kyouran walked away and he followed. She threw out a;

"Stay here guys."

Since the guys wouldn't have the same understanding that Yuki would, they'd need a verbal warning. They could only nod before they vanished in the shadows of the woods. She leapt forward until they were a good distance from her team. He landed gracefully beside her. He seemed a bit fidgety to her at this moment and he wasn't speaking up right away. That peaked her curiosity on what he could want that he seemed reluctant to talk about.

"Is there something you wanted Kakashi?" she prompted him.

He was looking around himself at the surrounding area. It was like he was trying to play a game of espionage and he was making sure that no one was looking. She didn't know whether to be patient or annoyed with the silver haired male. She was started to lean towards annoyed. It wouldn't end well for him if he didn't say something soon.

"That ninja you humiliated at the exams…"

He wanted to talk about her exam fight. Of all things that wasn't the expected conversation. She'd decimated the Mist ninja with ease, but some people would be concerned by that kind of power. She thought that Kakashi wouldn't be like the others. He was one of the few that knew her true self. He'd seen her in a rage and fighting. Though, him saying something about

"What about him?"

"You were holding back."

She snorted at his words. His words were annoying her. He was pointing out the obvious to her. Even at her age she'd had to hone her power at a faster rate to take out weaker and stronger people and creatures than herself. There was a feeling that he'd forgotten whom and what he was dealing with. The one point of being a good ninja was to hold your aces until the right moment. She'd hold back all her power to form the illusion that she was as strong as she was going to get to make the enemy think she was weak. Only good fighters could see through her ploy.

"Of course I was. There's no need to broadcast that I can take most of them on singlehandedly and win," she scoffed.

He seemed a bit annoyed at her comment if the huff he'd let out was any indication. He crossed his arms over his chest. She fought the urge to roll her eyes at him.

"Your arrogance is going to get you into trouble."

Kyouran finally let it go and rolled her eyes in exasperation. At this rate she was going to beat him down unless he got to the point really fast. He was beating around the bush and she didn't know why. This wasn't like him, normally he'd come right to the point.

"What do you want Kakashi? I have better things to do if you're going to stand here and insult me."

His heart rate sped up a bit, and she could tell he wanted to say something. Though, it seemed as if he couldn't find the right words. Around the bridge of his nose was a little red. She tried not to smirk knowing he was blushing underneath his mask. Kyouran wouldn't call him on it even though she wanted to. Once they were to a certain point she'd let go and tease him to her hearts' content but right at that moment wasn't the time.

"Will you train with me?"

Of all things he could've asked for this wasn't what she expected. He was a prodigy in everything he was. The Hatake line was known for their greatness. She'd heard stories of his father before him and his powers as a ninja now. Though, she understood his drive to improve himself to rise above the shame of his father's actions. In demon clans she was also talked about with distain but there was also talk of her power. She would never match the prestige that the Hatake Clan or the Uchiha Clan was known for, but she'd blaze her own way. If Kakashi wanted her help to blaze his own path she'd assist him readily and without question.

"You really think you need my help to win?" she asked in confusion.

"Look I just want a training partner," he grouched.

She inwardly was smiling. He came to her for this. Maybe she could get to know the Hatake if they were to be sparring partners and he could get to know the person that owed him her life twice. They could form a friendship. Kushina had told her that she needed more precious people to keep fighting for. That fighting for oneself only for them-selves was a lonely existence. She knew the older woman was right and maybe this was her chance to find precious people to fight for.

"Kakashi…" She started. "You really don't need my help to beat others in the next exams you enter. You just need to refine what you have already."

He took a step back as if she'd burned him. She gave him a lopsided smile. "But if you want a sparring partner then by all means I'll spar with you."

There was a curt nod on his part. Kyouran's ears twitched hearing something. A heavy sigh of annoyance escaped her when she realized it was Yuki giggling.

"My idiot teammates."

"They worry about you."

"I know."

She looked over at the silver haired male. "You wanna start now?"

The wind tossed her hair. The words 'what does she have that I don't' came across her ears. She ignored the reply. There was the feeling that Rin didn't think much of Kakashi showing her attention, much less ask for her help in training even though he'd have to wait till the next go around to get into the exams. She had faith in Kakashi though. As the Hokage would put it the 'The Will of Fire burns brightly in his heart'. A soft laugh escaped her drawing his attention to Kyouran. She waved his questioning stare off.

"Let's go."

"To where?"

She smirked at him.

"The training ground where the Hokage designated my training grounds when I need to be myself."

He looked at her suspiciously. She smirked at him.

"Give me five minutes and I'll be back."

A swirl of black leaves marked her departure. He reached down and picked up the black leaf in confusion. Normally when people used that jutsu it smelled like smoke and gun powder. He smelled the leaf and it smelled like a real one. It crumbled in his hand and the wind carried the sand like particles away.

Kyouran landed gracefully in the Hokage's office. The 3rd wasn't startled by her doing that anymore after a couple dozen times. Though the ANBU weren't exactly happy at her presence and charged into the office.

"It's okay guys."

They reluctantly left through the door.

"You need to stop doing that Kyouran. My ANBU are getting annoyed by it."

She laughed softly as she stood before the Hokage. She tilted her head at him before bowing respectfully towards him. This man reminded her of a grandfather she never had.

"I was going to inform you that I was going to go into training ground 44 again."

"That's fine. You know it is."

"I always inform you first but I also was going to request bringing a guest to train with me."

"Your team…"

A negative headshake was her answer. Her eyes came up and met his. She had to appeal to the Lord Hokage for him to allow Kakashi to go with her.

"Hatake Kakashi."

The request kind of shocked him considering how dangerous training ground 44 was.

"Kyouran I don't think so."

"Please?" she pleaded. "He came to me asking for my help in training for the next round of exams."

"I only will allow you to go…"

"Do you want me to destroy a normal training ground?"

"I still don't think…"

"I will protect him I swear to it. I owe him a life debt two times over and if he wants me to help him train I have to go with it. Also I don't want to be near the village when there is a possibility the other ninja's can see me."

He knew she would keep at this until she had her way. There was a deep pleading in her eyes that was hitting some of the strings in his heart. He of course knew that Kyouran wouldn't let anything happen to Kakashi. She'd rather die first. So quickly he scribbled the paper with Kakashi and her name on it and placed his seal on the document to allow Kakashi entrance. She carried her own copy when she passed ninja to get into the training grounds. He handed the document to her and she read it over quickly. With a squee of happiness she leapt forward and kissed the old man on the cheek with a thank you and vanished.

"What do you think of that?" the 3rd asked of the man leaning in the shadows.

Minato came out to stand beside the older man. There was a soft smile on his face. Kyouran and Kakashi would be quiet the team one day if things worked out for them.

"I think it's a start."

"A good start indeed."

Both men grinned at the other before continuing to work. Kyouran returned to Kakashi's side and handed him the paper.

"What's this?"

He asked as he looked at the small scroll and then back up at the grinning fox.

"You're going to need it."

He read over it and looked at her in shock. Her grin turned into a feral smirk across her features.

"You want to spar with me we're doing this on my turf."

He kept looking behind him then back at her as if he was considering bolting. "Come on Kakashi you asked for my help and I'm offering it to you. Besides I won't let anything happen to you in there."

"Isn't this kinda like cheating?"

"No," she said softly. "We're not going near the tower, and we already know where it is on that note."

Kakashi wasn't so sure about this idea. The idea of going into the Forest of Death was a bit daunting. She held out her hand to him. "I won't let anything happen to you I promise."

He took her hand and they headed towards the gate where a ninja stopped them. They presented their papers to him allowing them to pass. They entered the Forest of Death. Kyouran took them deep into the forest. Kakashi seemed kinda nervous which made her almost laugh but she held it back. The wild creatures scattered as she got into a clearing. He looked at the animals scattering in confusion.

"Animals can sense power."

She rolled her shoulder a bit till it cracked. "They are wary of demons and just leave it at that. I'm sending them packing so we can focus on training instead of running and fighting for our lives."

"Should I be wary of you?"

There was an untamed nature buried deep inside her that he could see in her eyes. Red shards dotted her cat-like gaze. She looked towards the canopy and closed her eyes. A small smile graced her features. The sun bathed her pale skin in its light. The spell was broken by the sound of her voice.

"Probably but I'll never be a threat to you even at my angriest be assured of that."

"Why?"

Her eyes met his dark ones. Those eyes were hypnotizing to her. She shook the thought off because they were too young for thoughts like that. Of course her spirit was old even though her body was young.

"When you're older we can talk about that one, but the simplest explanation is instinct. We have to fight a great deal of instinct to harm someone under our protection."

She rolled her shoulders softly and popped her back. A sigh escaped her. Then did she turn her attention to him.

"Shall we begin?"

He gave her a curt nod and they sank into their fighting stances. "For right now we're not going to use jutsu. Even though it'd be more than okay to do so here."

"Why no jutsu?"

"Do you start of training with jutsu use?"

He was at a loss for words. "Exactly. We're not going to use jutsu for right now because you're not exactly ready to face the full onslaught of my clans jutsu."

He gave her an indignant look.

"Are you…"

"Kakashi, first and foremost I know for a fact you're not weak considering you're as young as you are and going out for the chunin exams. I don't underestimate you in the least but I need you to trust I know what I'm doing. You asked me for my help Kakashi and I will give it but you have to follow my rules."

He huffed a bit. Her eyes narrowed dangerously as she vanished into the shadows and leapt for him. She wasn't trying to hurt him so she kept going from shadow to shadow and throwing punches at him making him dodge her. He'd backed himself too close to a tree as she leapt forward. Kyouran paused in mid punch as silver metal flashed against Kakashi's neck. Her heartbeat quickened as her punch landed on the tree behind his head. Her knuckles cracked in protest as she hit the wood. Even after all this time he still had it, her clan insignia shown under the filtered light of the canopy. Most would've taken it off. It made something in her chest tighten at the sight.

"Kyouran is something wrong?" he finally asked after about ten minutes of her standing still.

"No, it's nothing."

She pulled back and started rubbing her knuckles. Getting her thoughts together she looked at him. "Did you see why I said no jutsu yet?"

"I didn't even have time to form the succession of hand seals."

"Exactly. I'm not saying. When you're ready we'll incorporate jutsu in your training but for now we're just going to work on speed."

"You're going to enjoy beating me aren't you?"

She just gave him a feral grin.

"All right Kakashi let's begin again."

A sigh escaped him as she got into a stance again. He knew he'd brought this on himself for asking but he wanted to know the extent of Kyouran's abilities. The Hokage and his Sensei thought she was worth the trouble to get her into the Village as a ninja. He wanted to see for himself. She let her glamour go so he could see her for what she really was. Her fox tail swished back and forth. Her pointed ears twitched and the two black slash marks marked her pale cheek stood out. She gave him a fanged grin. They would work together up until it was time for her to take the last part of the exams.