A new chapter!! ANd I know it's about time!! Please stop pelting me with rocks! squeals This is a good sized chapter for me. I hope you like it! rock hits her in head Ahhh!! runs away


"Sakura?"

"Huh?" Sakura jumped at Hiashi's voice. She pulled her head out of the bushes she had been searching and stammered. "L-Lord Hiashi. Um… What may I um…do for you?"

Hiashi sighed. "Where is Naruto?"

Sakura chuckled, embarrassed. "Well, you know…Naruto is around…here somewhere. I'm sure she's-"

"She ran off, didn't she?"

"Yes!" Sakura cried. "Please, I'm sorry! I tried to get her to stay but-"

"Be calm. It is alright. It is not your fault that she left." He sighed again. "She does this quite often, actually," he explained to Itachi. "She will be back. I am sure that she is just seeking out Kyubi."

Itachi's eyebrows shot up. "Kyubi? The Kyubi?"

"Hai." Hiashi nodded. "Naruto befriended the Kyubi when she was young. About four, I think. Her father used to bring her here to see me."

"Her father?"

Hiashi smiled sadly. "Surely you didn't believe that I was her father?" He continued reminiscently, "Yes, her father and I were friends for a very long time. He lived with Naruto not far from here, and they visited us frequently. I remember the first time I saw her with Kyubi. She had the strangest look on her face. Almost like she was dreaming. I found it most peculiar that Kyubi allowed her to touch her. I had lived here since my birth and I had never seen more than a glimpse of the beast. That day, I took a step toward them and the Kyubi ran. Naruto turned and said goodbye as though she was her friend. Ever since then," Hiashi ducked under a branch as they moved through the wood, "Naruto has disappeared every so often to visit the Kyubi. I never hear much about what goes on, though I believe I am right to say that she has had pups in the past year."

"Pups? But doesn't that mean that there is another out here?"

Hiashi shrugged. "I don't know. I've never seen one, but then again, I am really not an expert in this subject am I?" Hiashi stopped when he found the clearing he'd been looking for.

"Strange," Itachi leaned casually against a tree, and then, remembering whose company he was in, he straightened up.


"Kyu? Kyu?" Naruto called softly for her friend. She glanced around until she spotted a small tail. She laughed softly. "Fuji, is that you?" A miniature fox wiggled backward out of a hole in a tree.

"RRRuuuuu!!!" He bounded toward Naruto.

Naruto laughed as he licked her face. "Hey, hey!" She giggled as she rubbed the little Kyu's ears. "Where's your mommy?"

The baby rrred softly and hopped down from Naruto's arms. Fuji leapt away. Naruto watched him leap up to another of his kind. A bigger one. His mother.

"Kyubi." Naruto ran to her and threw her arms around her neck. "Oh, I missed you. I'm sorry I haven't been out here lately but the world seems to be spinning backward."

Kyubi nuzzled her head into Naruto's chest. Naruto rubbed her head. Then she stroked the wound on her left ear. "It looks better," she noted. She looked into Kyubi's eyes. "He didn't mean to do it, you know. Perhaps if I had told him about the pups he wouldn't have mistaken it-"

Kyubi snorted and shook her head around.

"Yes, I know. You must have your reasons for wanting to keep this secret but perhaps if we shared only certain things…"

Kyubi snorted again.

Naruto laughed. "Why don't you just talk to me?"

Kyubi gave her a look. "This language is so… tiresome," she said.

"Well," Naruto beamed, "I've been practicing my Italian. We could try that instead."

Kyubi laughed. Her voice chimed like bells. "Last time we tried that you butchered the language."

Naruto grinned sheepishly. "Yeah, well… I've gotten better." She glanced at the three cubs around her. Fuji, Ume, and Matsu. "Where's Take?"

Kyubi smiled reassuringly. "She's around here somewhere. Don't worry about her. I have been wondering though about the man you brought into my forest?"

Naruto tucked her hair behind her left ear. "Yes, Lord Itachi. He…um… he saved my life."

Kyubi's eyebrows shot up. "He what? When did this happen?"

Naruto shrugged. "Last night."

"Last night!? Are you kidding!?"

Naruto held out her arm to Kyubi.

"Oh, Naru." Kyubi nuzzled her gently. "What happened?"

Naruto explained the night before in all its dreadfulness.

Kyubi tutted, and then to Naruto's surprise, she laughed lightly. "Anyone else would be traumatized. Yet here you are wandering in the wood by yourself the very next day. You are a strong woman, Naru. Either that or completely crazy."

Naruto laughed. "Probably the latter."


"We should be going. Lunch will be ready soon." Hiashi motioned to Sakura.

Itachi glanced around. "What about Lady Naruto?"

Hiashi smiled. "Naruto will be fine. Kyubi will bring her back before supper."

Itachi nodded, unsure.

Hiashi shrugged. "But if you think we should look for her…"

Itachi bowed slightly. "I trust your judgment."

"And I yours." Hiashi nodded to Sakura. "Perhaps Lord Itachi is right. Naruto should be present for the gratitude feast in honor of Lord Itachi."

Itachi shook his head. "No, that's not what I meant."

"I know what you meant and it is quite alright."

Itachi nodded slightly.

Sakura mumbled something as she once again stumbled away after Naruto.

"Now, my boy, let us head back. They will catch up soon enough."

Itachi followed Hiashi through the trees and brush.

"Ita." A small voice chimed.

Itachi stopped. "Hm?" He looked around but saw nothing. He continued after Hiashi.

"Ita Ita!" Itachi stopped again, and looked around. Nothing. "Hm…" Itachi turned around slowly and began to walk.

"It-"

Itachi turned quickly.

"Eeep!" A small fox ran into the bushes.

Itachi glanced at Hiashi who was still walking away. Then, he leaned over the bushes.

The pup cowered.

"It's alright." Itachi reached down.

The pup bit him.

"Ow!" Itachi pulled his hand back to observe the small bloody tooth marks on his hand. He looked back at the fox who was eyeing him curiously and cautiously.

"Ruuuu," The small fox took a slow step out of the bushes and toward Itachi.

Itachi crouched deliberately, trying not to scare the small one. "Hello, there." He reached his hand out to touch it.

The fox reached up a paw and used it to pin Itachi's hand to the ground where she attempted to lick the wound clean.

Itachi laughed. "Hey, what are doing?" He reached a hand under the pup and lifted her into his arms.

The cub, seemingly determined to make up for biting Itachi, licked his face mercilessly.

"Were you talking to me?" Itachi rubbed the small fox's head.

"Ita!" The cub jumped from Itachi's arms and bounded away.

Itachi watched her go until she turned and made a motion that obviously meant that she wanted Itachi to follow her. Itachi glanced back at Hiashi once again but he was almost out of sight. Itachi turned and followed the cub.


"Fuji good boy."

Naruto laughed. "Yes, Fuji IS a good boy." She rubbed his black and white splotched head.

"Pet me! Pet me!" Ume, the first born and (as she insisted) therefore the most mature, jumped into Naruto's lap. Her fur was a chocolate brown color.

"Ume," Kyubi reprimanded her. Then she laughed. "Have some dignity, will you?"

Naruto beamed. "Come on, Matsu, you too."

Matsu took two small steps in Naruto's direction. He was the smallest. His fur was the same reddish orange color as his mother's.

Naruto, seeing that Matsu wasn't coming any closer, scooted closer to him. "Don't be shy, Matsu." She scratched him behind the ear.

"Naruto."

"Yes?"

Kyubi's ears perked up. Her body stiffened. She sniffed the air. "Another."

Naruto moved the pups to the ground and quickly stood. "Who?"

Kyubi shook her head. "Itachi."

Naruto panicked. "Lord Itachi? He can't see you. Hide!" She ushered the pups into the bushes.

"Wait," Kyubi sniffed again. "Take is with him."

"Huh?" Naruto turned to look into the trees where Kyubi stared. She heard a quiet laugh and leaves and twigs being stepped on.

"Come back here!"

Finally, he came into sight. Itachi chased Take playfully. His arms were outstretched. When he caught up to her, he scooped her into his arms and rubbed her belly.

Naruto let out a small gasp.

Itachi looked up quickly.

Naruto's eyes were wide but Itachi seemed relaxed. "She's a playful little one isn't she?" Take hopped from Itachi's arms. Itachi's gaze moved from Naruto to Kyubi, where his eyes stopped. Itachi took a deep breath and bowed. "It is my honor to be in your presence," he said humbly. He held his bow but lifted his eyes to meet Kyubi's.

"Stand," Kyubi commanded.

Itachi did as he was told.

"What is your purpose here?"

"I was playing with the pup when I stumbled upon your council."

"And how, may I ask, did you come across the pup?"

Itachi stood quite still. "I thought I heard someone speak my name. When I looked, I found the pup."

Kyubi nodded and relaxed. "Her name is Take."

Naruto's eyes shot to Kyubi. "Kyubi, a-"

"Do not worry. I trust him."

Naruto did not question Kyubi. Instead, she nodded.

Ume bounded from the brush. "Hello. I am Ume." She grinned. "I am the most mature one here."

Itachi nodded. "I'm sure you are."

Fuji followed her. "Fuji's name is Fuji. Fuji good."

Itachi stroked him under his chin.

Matsu took a timid step from the bushes. "I am Matsu." His voice was small. He took another step toward Itachi. "I…like to dance."

Itachi crouched to rub Matsu's head. "Nice to meet you."

Kyubi looked to the sky. "I am the Kyubi. These are my pups." She took one step toward Itachi.

Itachi bowed again. "Enchanted."

Kyubi nodded for Itachi to stand. "You should be going now, Naruto. Both of you will be expected at the house."

"Where are they?" Sakura paced.

"I am sure they are fine, Sakura." Hiashi sat in the main room, waiting for Naruto and Itachi's return.

"But didn't you say Lord Itachi was behind you? Did he just disappear?!"

Hiashi laughed heartily. "Disappear? No. I am quite certain that the woods drew him away. He shall return soon."

"How can you be so sure?"

Hiashi smiled. "When you live like I do, you start to understand things that that."

Sakura sighed. "I hope so."

"Hello?" Naruto's voice rang through the house.

"What did I tell you?" Hiashi stood. "Naruto, my dear, we have been waiting for you." He swept through the house to meet them at the door.


So? What thinks you? Tres bien? Tres mal? Please review!