A/N Their mission accomplished, Team Kakashi returns to Konoha, licking their wounds. As they journey, questions are answered, but more remain unasked.

Summary: One fateful night in Konohagakure, the Yondaime Hokage chose his village over his only son; only time will tell if he made the right choice. Feral!Naruto, NaruXAnko, Some yuri

Key: Normal, "Speech" 'Thoughts'

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Chapter 10

After effects

There was an eerie silence as the group journeyed home. Every couple of seconds one of the three would risk a glance at the sleeping jinchuuriki, resting almost peacefully on his father's back(1). Sakura, on the left, kept glancing in fear. Kakashi, at the rear, kept glancing with apprehension And Anko to the right, kept glancing out of sheer curiosity.

'He looks so calm, nothing like how he was before' Sakura thought to herself, she winced at the memory of the earlier battle. It had taken a lot out of her to heal everyone's wounds; even then she needed Arashi to seal away the lingering demonic chakra into a scroll. She couldn't help but be amazed at his stamina, being able to perform a high-rank sealing technique after having bested…whatever the boy was. The only reason she was still awake was because of the three soldier pills she had taken. She knew she would be hearing about that later, Tsunade was very strict when it came to substance abuse.

'You'd think she could at least not drink sake while giving that lecture' the pink haired medic thought rebelliously. She was mildly surprised when her 'inner-Sakura' didn't add her own comment. She sighed; the battle had really shaken her up. She glanced at the sleeping boy again. Raging red eyes flashed before her mind, she flinched and almost missed the next branch. She noticed her hand was trembling. She couldn't help it, that Thing terrified her. Its power was inhuman. True, it wasn't the girl's first near-death experience, but still, she hadn't felt that helpless since…

'Since Team 7…' She thought glumly. Sub-consciously she began veering off to the side, increasing the distance between her and the blonde duo.

Anko bore a scowl as she travelled, her back, though healed, was still pink, and highly sensitive. Every brushing twig, every biting insect was like a jagged kunai against her bare back. Of course, being the stubborn jackass that she was, she had refused Kakashi's offer of wearing his vest.

'Stupid pride, gonna get me killed one day' She thought somewhat darkly. She wanted to accept, but she just felt so compelled to do the whole 'tough guy…well, tough girl' routine, she found it hard to break out of her mould.

'I need Dango…' She thought glumly, before glancing at the 'package' on the ex-Hokage's back.

'I wonder if he eats humans' She thought, before grinning. 'I wonder if he eats women…' she thought, her mind drifting elsewhere. She was brought out of her musings by a pair of red, slitted eyes staring back at her.

"Wah!" She cried out, more startled than afraid. The resting jinchuuriki had

"Hebi-hime scared?" HeHHe chortled, his voice, while still unnaturally deep and guttural, held a certain mirth within it. Everyone in the party instantly flinched, save Arashi, who was lost within his own mind again.

"You wish you just startled me!" She announced, Kakashi and Sakura stared at her like she was crazy.

'Is she…provoking him? Didn't she see what he did?'

'That woman…does she want to die?'

"Hehe, can't hide fear. Any of you" He said, laughing at what he perceived as a joke.

"Without fear, how would we recognise danger?" Kakashi said cryptically.

"Hehe, Silver-head smarter than most humans, stupid humans try to ignore fear." He quickly turned to give Sakura a large grin, causing her to flinch, before resting his head on his father's back again.Kakashi narrowed his eye, either in irritation or concern.

"So who are you then? And how do you know Arashi?" He asked

"Ah, he is Arashi, Me? I Mischief" 'Is that his name, or simply a description?' He thought, trying to make sense of the days occurrences.

"Ok then, what are you?" Kakashi asked, getting irritated.

"What am I? Who knows…"

"Kakashi, the interrogation can wait until after we report to Hokage-sama." Arashi said sternly. Kakashi picked up on his concern and dropped the subject. Naruto felt himself slipping into sleep once again, he yawned and snuggled close into his fathers back, unfettered by the constant jostling their movement was causing.

They travelled for another half an hour, before Yondaime started to lose his grip.

"Stop here, we'll take an hour break, then we should reach Konoha before sundown." Arashi said, his eyes glancing around for any potential enemies. There were several soft thuds as they each jumped down from the tree branches. As each member of the team unpacked his or her supplies, Arashi gently lowered Naruto onto the ground, before sitting down himself. Soon, the other members of the team were similarly situated in the small clearing. as they rested. Anko found her gaze drawn back to Naruto again. In many ways, the boy was quite beautiful, she thought.

'He's fit, probably from living in the wild for who knows how long. He's got a pair of fangs that would put most Inuzuka to shame, those lines on his face…they almost look like whiskers, and his eyes…' She stared at the black markings around his eyes.

'At first I thought it was makeup, but it would have worn off by now if it was…tattoos? No, it's the skin itself that's black, I wonder if…'

"Hebi-hime?" The blonde teen mumbled, looking at the special jounin through half lids.

"Eh?" She muttered, startled yet again. Upon hearing confirmation of his suspicions, Naruto got up and walked towards her, remaining on all fours. He slowly approached her, keeping his eyes locked on hers until eventually hi was staring her in the eye, his face inches from hers. She briefly wondered what he had planned when he started sniffing her.

"Wh-hey!" She started, pushing the teen off her. He fell on his back, only to spring up again.

"You strong" He said, flashing her a foxy grin

"Bu-ut…" He quickly dashed towards her, tackling her to the ground.

"Oof, what the?"

"I'm stronger" He finished, he had her pinned down at the wrists, and his own body was stopping her from getting enough force behind her movements to break free.

"Oh, I suppose that make you king of the world then" She said, sarcastically. Trying to salvage what was left of her dignity.

"Iie, Shining Storm strongest, Shining Storm king of the world!" He replied, gesturing his head towards Arashi (3). He was about to say something more when something shiny caught his eye. His attention focused, he scampered towards Sakura, scaring her half to death.

'What's that?" He asked, tilting his head to get a better look.

"I-I-it was a gift" She stuttered, clutching the small pendant to her chest.

"Who from" He asked, sounding for all the world like a curious child.

"A-ah, from my…old teammate…" She said, her voice taking on a sad tone.

"Team-mate?" He asked, unfamiliar with the word.

"Er…teammate, like the others here" She said, gesturing to the other ninja.

"Ah, pack" He said, grasping for a familiar concept.

"Yeah…kinda like a pack. Our other team member had left, so he had gone to retrieve him, bring him back." She gazed down at the piece of metal in her hand

"He broke off a part of his headband, promising to bring our friend back, no matter the cost."

"He…not bring back pack member?"

"No, the one who he set out to retrieve…killed him, after having beaten him to the brink of death he killed him" She let out a long sigh.

"This…this is all I have left of him now…" She said quietly, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Kinslayer" The jinchuuriki spat angrily.

"What?"

"Kinslayer, worst kind, don't care about pack, only self."

"Yes…I just wish I'd realised that before it was to late." She said softly. Deciding to leave her be, Naruto wondered over to Kakashi next. The one-eyed jounin looked on warily at the smiling face before him.

"Why haven't you tried to escape?" Kakashi asked curtly. Naruto gave him a puzzled look.

"No point, Mischief not beat Shining Storm, Mischief part of Shining Storms pack now" He grinned, causing Kakashi to almost flinch 'He's got a set of teeth that would put Gai to shame…'

"Naruto" Arashi said suddenly. Said nude blonde turned and scurried over to the elder blonde.

"What is it, Chichiue?" He asked, his voice calm and reserved, his tone respectful. The other members of the group briefly wonder how Arashi seemed to know his name, not hearing the whiskered teen's reply

"What…what happened? Before we…well, before you found us?" He asked, his face flickering between emotions.

"Two men, Shark-skin and Evil-eye, they came after me. Said they wanted fox, I told them "Fox is dead" they not believe me. They attacked, I fought back, they ran when injured."

"Wait, what do you mean, "Fox is dead"" He asked, Naruto scowled.

"Bastard fox, raised me as it's own, called me 'kit', named me 'Mischeif', taught me how to live, fight, kept me alive. Then, fox attacked me, tried to kill me. Said, "It just wanted a strong container". Fox was kinslayer, I attacked, tore open cage and fought fox. Fox eaten alive, fox dead. Now fox power is all my power. Stupid fox." He growled lightly as he finished, his hands clawed the ground impatiently.

"That was three summers ago"

"I see…you removed the seal"

"Eh?"

"When I fought the Kyuubi, I made a deal with death to seal it, in you, by paying with my life. When you removed the seal you broke the deal, so I was revived. Naruto…I…I'd just want to say…I'm sorry for the way things turned out, I did a terrible thing to you…"

"Chichiue…not all can see future, I…I glad to be part of your pack" Naruto said, nuzzling his head into his father's side.

"I see, thankyou, Musuko. Come on, its time to go" Arashi said, much of his former downcast mood having been lifted by his son's acceptance. Naruto grinned and leapt up, causing the two young women present to blush.

"Arashi-sensei…I think it would be best if our…'exited' young friend here stayed at the back" Kakashi said sternly, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

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A/N: Something doesn't feel to right about this chapter, I think I tried to explain everything to fast, but I just want to get everyone (cast and audience) up to speed so I don't have to worry about who doesn't know what at inconvenient times.

Yes, Naruto still has the mentality of a six year old, albeit a rather knowledgeable six year old, but yeah.

Next couple of chapters will be spent working on pairings, then I hit that brick wall I mentioned earlier. Someone throw me a hammer.

Also, read Ramen Gone Astray by Tobmaster, it involves lots of hormone crazed romping around