A/N Thanks for your reviews and support.

Guest: Thanks for your review my friend. Spirit beast. A very very angry spirit beast. Technically it's not there for either of them.

DarkRavie: Thanks for your review my friend.

Naruto's POV

Everything in him screamed to run far away from this forest. The killing intent was immense. Looking at Sasuke he noticed how pale the other went. It was only through sheer force of will that the other wasn't shaking with fear.

Xaiogang whispered, "It is as I feared. Someone has awakened a very powerful spirit beast."

Naruto asked matching his sensei's volume, "What do we do now, sensei?"

Amber eyes looked out across the forest floor as the gates behind them closed. If they were to continue or go back was up to Xaiogang. In Naruto's opinion it could go either way.

Naruto for his part was torn between wanting to go after it and waiting. Even if they killed it there was a good chance it was too old for them to absorb the ring. Then again it could be a powerful 700 year old. Somehow he didn't believe the second part.

Xaiogang said finally, "We will continue on. However if I tell you to run you both will obey immediately."

Both boys nodded. Naruto knew that if he was given the order to run he wouldn't obey as promised. Instead he would fight to his last dying breath if necessary. There were people who could get hurt if they didn't bring this spirit down.

Retainers were those who protected those who couldn't protect themselves. Even if he was just a retainer in training he would do his best to live by that code. Looking at his sensei's back he knew even if it meant breaking his promise. Some things were bigger than them.

The treck through the forest began much like his previous. Xaiogang took the time to explain to Sasuke about his spirit and spirit skills. The look on the ebony haired boy's face was one of resignation. It took Naruto a long moment to realize why.

Sasuke like their sensei had has awakened at half a level. That meant he would never achieve level 30. He would be a grandmaster at best all his life. It put a bad taste in his mouth. To be stuck at such a low level when he had so much potential.

Sure he and Sasuke weren't friends but the ebony haired boy had been making an effort. He wanted to be better. That was what Naruto saw in the other boy. He saw the difference between the Uchiha that arrived at the school to the Uchiha he saw now. If he didn't know the other before he would have never believed they were the same person. Naruto made his decision to check the school library when they returned. There had to be something to help them there.

It didn't take long for him to be drawn from his thoughts. The air around them became electrified. The hair on the back of neck stood up on end. The wolf in him rumbled and he could feel it awaken. If Lupus was being awakened by this feeling it couldn't be good.

He asked his breathing coming out in pants, "Do you feel that? Something is coming."

Lupus said in his mind, 'The mountain's protector. I never thought there would be a day he would leave his precious mountain.'

'Mountain's protector? What do you mean by that, Lupus?' He questioned as his eyes searched around them.

Lupus sighed as answered, 'There are at least two protectors in each spirit beast sanctuaries such as this one. In the wild there is typically only one. There are natural sanctuaries all over the world. Most humans just use ones such as this that are easy to quaradine off.'

That made sense. They could keep an eye on those coming and going. Looking for the prodigies that would shape the world. They so far had ignored Naruto despite his grades. To them he was a scrawny nobody. To be fair when he first came to the forest he was scrawny. That was no longer true. With the exception of his hair it was hard to put the person he was now with his old self. So he didn't hold it against them.

Activating his spirit essence was the first step to this. Whatever the protector of the mountain was it was hunting them. Whether this was because they were humans or something else remained to be seen. Linghun appeared on his shoulder as he called to it. The air while still electrically charged grew colder as a gold ring formed around his chest.

He said his eyes searching the forest around them, "Prepare to fight. Whatever it is, is coming."

Sasuke didn't hesitate to call his falcon to him. Like Linghun it could take physical form or give Sasuke an advantage. While Naruto didn't know the full abilities he had a fair idea of what they were. Likely enhanced sight and talon like nails. No skills yet not until he killed his first spirit beast.

His teacher's own spirit was out and Naruto pulled the radishes out of his belt. Apparently it's favorite food was radishes. This would hopefully give them an advantage. After the spirit had eaten Naruto made a decision. Despite having little training with the true blade he would need it here. He called forth his sword and buckled it across his back.

Xaiogang raised an eyebrow but didn't comment. There was no time.

Sasuke said his eyes in the sky as his falcon took off, "I'll have him search for..."

He was cut off when the trees to their right began to shake. Loud footsteps could be heard. Whatever it was it was large.

Naruto's hand was on the hilt of his sword as a large shape burst into the clearing. Leaves shook from the trees and fell onto them. Not a single one of them took notice. They were staring at a giant White Tiger. It had black stripes running down it but that wasn't what caught their attention. Instead it was the blue lightning coming off of the tiger.

Naruto had heard of the White Tiger clan. They were one of the most prominent clans in the spirit master world. Though it had been many years since the last White Tiger spirit essence had appeared. For it to be a spirit beast was almost unheard of.

It let out a loud roar. The roar made his ears ring. Something about it seemed sad though.

Lupus said quietly, 'He was a friend. No doubt he sensed my disappearance and blames humans. He was never one that liked them to begin with.'

Oh that explained a lot. Great they were going to be attacked for something that happened three years ago. How was it his fault that he had two spirit essences. It was just another thing that made him different.

Xaiogang yelled, "Naruto! Sasuke get back out of the forest. Tell the masters to send word to the Spirit Hall."

Sasuke turned to follow orders but Naruto asked, "Sensei what about you?"

Xaiogang growled, "Go! I'll be fine but you won't!"

The ebony haired boy said as their teacher began attacking the Tiger, "Naruto we have to go."

As the other was pulling at his arm he heard, $You damn humans! You killed my friend!"

His blue eyes searched out the source of the pain filled words. The only thing there was the three of them and the Tiger. Could it be?

Lupus said, 'Yes due to having me in you, you can understand him. He can understand human speech but your friends cannot. Be careful, White Tiger will not be reasoned with. He never liked humans and the fact that he thinks you killed me will only make him want to listen less. The only way to continue on is to kill him.'

'And you expect me to do that how? He's over a thousand years old. We didn't come equipped to handle that. The most I can handle for my second ring is 723 years old.'

There was a brief hesitation before Lupus answered. When he did it caught Naruto off guard, 'There is a way you could survive it but it's tricky.'

'Tricky how?'

Lupus said, 'There is a seal on your body. No doubt you have encountered what lies within it once before.'

It took Naruto a long moment to remember. He had encountered something strange upon his awakening.

Flashback

He stepped forward and the man said tiredly," Last one. Concentrate. Make out an image inside your heart. Materialise it in your hand."

He focused on the image that resided inside him. Having tried this a few times before it wasn't hard to find. What surprised him was when it moved. As if his spirit essence wanted free and was alive.

Angry feelings filled him as his thoughts darkened. He heard a voice say," Well well well. I never expected you to find me so young child. What do you want with me brat?"

He said in a whisper," Your my spirit essence. Aren't you? If you aren't my my spirit essence then what are you?"

A grumbling noise and a growled out," No I am not your spirit essence brat. Look elsewhere. If you want to know what I am ask you Hokage."

Witth that whatever it was went silent. So he began to focus in his heart again. He would ask the old man when this was over. First he had to get his spirit essence.

End of flashback

The dark feelings that he felt. Was that what Lupus was talking about? In a way it made sense but he still didn't know what it was. The Hokage refused to tell him.

Lupus said, 'With good reason. The adults of your village knew but the old man wanted to give you a normal life. The dark feelings are actually the Nine Tailed Fox. He is sealed within you.'

That rocked Naruto to his core. Why? Why did it always have to be him that was different? Why couldn't he have a normal life?

Lupus growled, 'Focus boy! With his help you can accept the strength of this tiger.'

It seems like he didn't have a choice. Either that or kill the beast and leave the ring only to kill another. That wasn't an option here. Naruto would go with the plan.

His eyes turned up just in time to see Xaiogang be his in the chest. Lightning courses over the man's body. When he hit the ground he stayed down. Blue lightning courses over him causing the muscles in the man to twitch painfully.

Naruto said not looking back at Sasuke, "I can't just leave him. Sasuke you go go. I'll hold it off."

Sasuke asked fear lacing his voice, "What about you? Even the sensei was unable to injure it. What can you do?"

He didn't know yet. His swordsmanship was good but not this good. Giving up was not an option however. He had to fight to protect his teacher and comrade.

Naruto said as the tiger turned towards them, "Go I have something of a plan but I can't fight it and protect you."

Sasuke whispered after a moment, "I'll bring help. Try to last until then."