Kitsune Rising

Ch 9: The Secret is Out

"D*** it!" growled Naruto, putting a hand on his head.

"Naruto, what's wrong?" Sakura turned to face him. Naruto frantically searched his pockets looking for his bandana.

"I lost the freaking bandana!" he replied, continuing to look in every pocket he could find a fourth time around. "I can't find it! My god, I'm an idiot!"

"You took it off at the training field, Naruto," implied Sakura. "Let's just go back and look for it."

Naruto nodded and pulled his jacket up over his head to hide his ears. They had just turned the corner when they bumped into Ino.

"Well if it isn't the happy couple," said Ino, grinning.

"This isn't a good time to chat right now Ino," said Sakura, looking to Naruto. He looked really silly with his jacket up like he had it, and Ino seemed to think so as well.

"Naruto, why are you wearing your jacket like that?" she asked, failing miserably to suppress her giggles. Naruto narrowed his eyes, and tried to think of a good excuse. Unfortunately, he could only think of one really lame excuse.

"I'm…..imitating a turtle," he said uncertainly. Both Ino and Sakura stared at him for a moment before Ino burst out laughing.

"You really are the most unpredictable ninja, Naruto." Ino looked to Sakura, who was still giving Naruto a confused, yet sympathizing look. Naruto gave her a grin, and then became serious.

"Listen Ino, now's really not the best time," he told her. Ino just continued to laugh.

"Seriously Naruto," she said between giggles. "It's like ninety degrees outside. You must be burning up with that jacket on.

"No I'm fine really. It's shading the sun out of my eyes." Naruto assured her. Ino stared at him for a moment. He was lying. She knew this because of the relatively large beads of sweat pouring down his neck. Naruto gave her his trademark grin and made to go around her.

"Naruto, you're hiding something aren't you?" Ino glared at both him and Sakura. Naruto gulped.

"No!" he said, and then realized he'd said it in a way that sounded defensive. Naruto shook his head. Ino cocked an eyebrow.

"Of course you are!" barked Ino. "No one walks around with a jacket on their head in one hundred degree weather!"

"Ino-pig! Shut up!" growled Sakura. Ino glared at Sakura.

"Fine, forehead!" she barked. "I'll catch you two later. And trust me Naruto. I will find out what you're hiding." Ino stalked off around them. Naruto watched her. He liked Ino, he really did. Sometimes, though, she could be kinda mean.

"Come on, Naruto." Sakura pulled his arm to get him to follow her. He did so, but pulled the jacket up further over his head so it shielded his eyes. He let Sakura lead him.

"A most youthful look for Naruto-kun, but don't you think it's a bit hot?" Naruto lifted his jacket a little so he could see his friend. He knew who it was before he saw him. Rock Lee, the green beast of Konoha. Well, he wasn't the only beast anymore.

"Hey Lee," sighed Naruto. "I'm fine. I'm just shading my face. I'm tan enough as it is." Naruto laughed.

"May I ask where the ever lovely Naren-chan is?" asked Lee looking around Naruto. "I've noticed that you and her hardly ever separate and I was hoping I could talk to her."

"She's busy, Lee," said Naruto, narrowing his eyes at the way Lee said "lovely". "Why?"

"Because she is pretty and the picture of youth!" Lee grinned. "I want to ask her for a date."

"Not no, but h*** no, Lee!" growled Naruto, earning himself a slap to the head from Sakura. Lee looked crushed.

"Um…she's already got a boyfriend, Lee-kun," said Sakura kindly, giving Naruto a side-ways glare. She had noticed how Naren and Kiba looked at each other. Kiba seemed perfect for her considering the circumstances, where as if she dated Lee. Lee and Naren didn't seem to fit together. Poor Lee.

"Naruto, we'd better go," she said, trying to ease the tension. "We have to get that thing."

"Yeah," said Naruto, still rubbing the back of his head. "Sorry Lee. I didn't mean to be mean."

"No worries, Naruto-kun!" Lee gave Naruto a thumbs-up. "If Naren-chan won't have me, then I shall fight hard for her love!"

"Right. Come on Sakura-chan." Naruto pulled Sakura's hand and they swerved around Lee.

"Tell Naren-chan I would love to see her soon!" called Lee, waving. Naruto ignored him and kept going.

It wasn't long before the training grounds were in sight. Naruto sighed with relief, but didn't relinquish his hold on the cloak that covered his head. He couldn't take the chance of someone seeing him.

"Sakura-chan! We made it!" he cried. He took off toward the field. He was almost there when…

WHAM!

"Gyah!" Naruto ran into something hard and fell to the ground. He rubbed his head.

"Hey watch where you're going...oh it's you," Naruto sat up. "What's the rush Konohamaru?"

"I could ask you the same question, Naruto-niichan," said Konohamaru, rubbing his own head. He opened his eyes and looked to Naruto. His eyes widened and his mouth fell open.

"N-Naruto-niichan?"

"What? Is there something on my face?" Naruto lifted a hand to his face. Konohamaru shook his head and pointed at Naruto.

"E-ears!?" He gasped. It took a moment for Naruto to realize what he was talking about. Naruto's eyes grew wide. He reached for the top of his head. When he had run into Konohamaru, the cloak had fallen off his head.

Naruto wrapped his arms around his head, trying to hide his ears. "Konohamaru! Don't tell anyone!"

Konohamaru just stared at him. "Konohamaru?" Konohamaru got up quickly and ran away.

"Eh! Konohamaru!!?" Naruto called after him. Konohamaru kept on running. "aoh.." Naruto sighed sadly.

"I wouldn't worry Naruto-kun…I don't think he'll tell anyone. He was probably just caught off guard.

Naruto nodded but didn't answer. He had a sad look in his eyes. Sakura got in front of him and held his face in her hands. "I don't care if he does anyway! You've always got me, Naren, Tsunade-sama, and Jiraiya-sama."

Naruto smiled. "Let's go get the bandana." And they entered the training grounds.

Unfortunately for Naruto and Sakura, the bandana was gone. Naruto even sent out clones to look for it but it was nowhere to be found. Neither of them noticed the tiny snake slithering away with the bandana wrapped around it.