By Selim
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Summary: Naruto wants Sasuke for his mate, plain and simple. To do so, he must prove himself an adult in his mother's eyes, a strong leader in his father's, and a powerful Shinobi in Sasuke's.
Pairings: Sasuke x Naruto, Kakashi x Iruka, and Kyuubi x Arashi
Thank you: (FF) Michelerene, Inumoon3, MayIFall, Lil-Vixen24, Kitty-cat-666, Mizuki Hikari, no name, Wise-imagination, Simply, Fawn of the Woods, Jay-Jay51, BitterSweet27, JoelleSandy, Shounen-Ai, Akira-sama, Iloooveinuyasha1, TheSmallestGhost, Bluewolfeyes, Riku, Dayxxdreamer, Immortal Sailor Cosmos, Silvermane1, Kai, KagomeGirl021, Punky45, Smartlikeshikamaru, I Love Jiraiya, (AFF) Xzanayu, ForgottenPrincess, Saki-chan, Lo, Qwerty, Tash1021, XfairyGirlX, Tenshi Suki, and Dobeofthesand
"Arashi, open your eyes love." Kyuubi brushed his fingers through blond hair. Blue eyes opened and blinked into focus. Just as quickly they filled with hate and the man pulled away and closer to the walls of the grand bedroom. Without the warmth of his mother protecting him, Naruto began crying. Neither parent moved forward to pick him up: Arashi too nervous to come that close to Kyuubi and Kyuubi unsure what to do with a child. "Are," the demon started, "you going to tend to his needs like a mother?"
"Back away from him then." Arashi hissed. Kyuubi stepped back. Like a weary animal snatching up a meal, Arashi swooped his child into his arms and returned to the corner. Soft sobs kept silence at bay as the two men glared at each other. "I found a human child in the woods," Kyuubi murmured. "So you can eat him!" Kyuubi winced. "No." The demon reached his arm out cautiously toward his son, Arashi recoiled back. "For you to raise. I killed his mother and father, I couldn't leave him out there on his own." "That didn't stop you when you terrorized my village!" Not giving up, Kyuubi reached his arms out, pressing them on both sides of Arashi's body and closed in. "I went to bring my mate to my village. Your men attacked me. Don't expect me not to retaliate when I'm denied what I want. Now I want you to raise that human child like our son. He's in the dungeon now until he cools off." He leaned his head forward to have a kiss, but was denied. "It seems you need to cool off as well. Let me see my son." The blond shook his head. "Arashi." "Y-you," Arashi whispered, "have no claims to my son, Kyuubi." For the second time that day, Kyuubi attacked.
To say the least, Kakashi was nervous. The mirror's reflection showed all. Here he was, a proud Konoha shinobi going to the dangerous Kyuubi's lair to make friends with the demon that had destroyed his family. And for what? Some man who was becoming so detached with the human lifestyle, he didn't know he was different. Staring back over his shoulder, he eyed the closed bathroom door. Behind that was his squad and the man who was going to guide them back. Probably smiling as he told the two kids proper mannerisms in the fox community.
Iruka Umino. Ever since meeting the man back in the woods, Kakashi had done research on the tiny man who had sparkled his life. Went missing at the age of thirteen, was presumed a victim to Kyuubi. Some punks said he had followed them to attack the demon after the creature had left their village. Before the attack the man had been the goof ball of a pre-genin class. Though he wasn't dead last, he was pulling pranks, often in trouble, and had a mouth that spoke for a whole team. Nothing like the kindhearted creature standing in the living room criticizing Naruto's lack of responsibility for not packing his bag the night before. What had happened?
Not Kyuubi. Not Arashi. Something else had changed this timid man from a child to a mother hen.
But then again; Arashi had also changed from a careless leader to a careful follower. Was that the way of the demon? Kakashi growled and stopped preening his already stiff hair. Why was he trying to look presentable anyway? It wasn't like he was meeting Iruka's parents, trying to trick them into thinking he was a family man just so he could get a few kicks. Sweet Iruka was too fragile for that.
"...No wonder you're late all the time..."
Turning sharply, Kakashi glared at the student that had interrupted his thoughts. "Is no man's bathroom sacred, Sasuke-san?"
"Not when we were suppose to leave an hour ago."
"In a hurry aren't you? Eager to meet the in-laws?" He joked. If looks could kill, he was sure he'd be dead ten times over. "You have to tell me, Sasuke, why the sudden change of heart towards Naruto?
The preteen stormed off as Kakashi laughed to himself. How cute as it to be young. Fixing his mask, he winked at his reflection and started out of the room where his team gave him 'the look' for being late. "Now! Is everybody packed?"
"No thanks to you." Naruto stated, slowly – testing his grammar as it slid from his tongue. He smiled sweetly after saying that and Kakashi found himself unable to throttle the fox for lack of respect. Iruka laughed behind his hand, chastising Naruto for misbehaving. "Home!" Naruto pointed and started out the door with his night pack. Sasuke followed close behind then Sakura who rushed after. Kakashi closed the door behind him and locked up. When he turned he almost jumped out of his sandals. Dead green eyes were staring at the group, or Naruto – Kakashi couldn't tell. "Good morning, Gaara-san. Where's Gai?" The man who was supposed to be watching the group now, Kakashi groaned looking around.
The redhead shrugged his shoulders unconcerned. "Naruto."
"Raccoon."
"Naruto," Iruka whispered.
"Shut up, slave." Gaara hissed at the dark haired man. Iruka's lips clamped shut and his face etched back in anger. "You can't run forever, Naruto. This pathetic human won't protect you forever. When he turns his back on you when you come of age, I will mate with you." A smirk marred his features. "Say good morning to Kyuubi-sama." He turned and walked away.
To Kakashi's amusement it was Sakura that commented, "What the hell just happened?"
Iruka squirmed nervously. "Shukaku. Taking over that young boy, for a second."
"Iruka! We have to go home and tell dad that Shukaku is planning again!" Naruto rushed forward, dragging Sasuke along. Iruka nodded and rushed along with Sakura. Kakashi just looked around. Why did he feel so out of the loop lately? And where the hell was Gai? He'd kill the man when he came home.
Their hands touched longer than necessary. Sasuke shivered as dew fell into his eye from the leaves hanging above them like an umbrella. He was so lost it wasn't even funny. Naruto was talking amiably in his native tongue about the flowers and animals that had crossed them without a care in the world. It was a surprise to the humans every time it happened, but they figured it had something to do with Naruto. These healthy animals had nothing to fear when the Prince of the Forest was there.
Glancing over his shoulder, he noticed how his stupid teacher was eying Iruka's hand hungrily as the man talked just as actively as Naruto about the kinds of plants that would be on the other side. Some kind of ficus, as far as Sasuke was concerned.
On the other side was Sakura, who wasn't even trying to hide her jealousy that Sasuke hadn't pulled away from Naruto's embrace. Her pretty face was scrunched as she talked to herself, eying a deer that looked interested in her. "Naruto," she finally spoke up. Naruto's hold on Sasuke broke as he turned to face her. "Where exactly is the fox village? Why haven't we found it in all these years?"
Naruto tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Iruka, is 'hidden' word?" He asked.
"Yes." The teacher nodded.
Nodding, the blond smiled. "Fox village hidden so humans do not hurt fox." He continued walking as if he'd explained it all. Sasuke rolled his eyes. Sometimes he wondered if the boy was actually picking up their language. "Look, Sasuke! Home!" Naruto squealed and started forward at a fast speed. The four others joined behind until they found a tree. Kakashi eyed the tree. Sasuke eyed the tree. Sakura glared at Naruto. "Home, home, home!" Naruto hugged the tree.
"Open the gate, Naruto," Iruka smiled, "show them your home."
The boy grinned and summoned chakra into his hands. Aligning his fingers with the bark, Naruto shifted his feet back and pushed on the tree. With enough force, the tree lit up, as did the forest just beyond the tree. The Konoha ninjas stepped back nervously, but Iruka just started forward. "We must hurry before the gate closes and we're locked out." Nodding, Kakashi pushed his two students forward and into the demon world, then Naruto rushed through. The gate closed in a flash of light, but the image didn't shift from the woods. "We can see the outside world but it can't see us." Iruka explained. "It's interesting what they've developed before us."
"Very much." Kakashi agreed.
"Let's head to the castle."
Sakura rushed forward, smiling. "A castle? Like one of those western style ones?" Her green eyes brightened as she cooed in delight. Sasuke, like the man he was, stepped behind Kakashi with Naruto. "Oh! I really want to see what one looks like! When you said you were a prince, I didn't think it'd be something like that."
"It's not something like that, Sakura-chan." Iruka started forward stern faced. Kakashi followed behind while Naruto rushed ahead with Sasuke towards a building coming up in the clearing. It was a western style house, as Sakura had thought, but not a castle as Iruka had specified. It was a large building that seemed to grow out of the bark of a tree with mud and brick. For something that couldn't possibly be sturdy, it certainly looked so, Kakashi mused. Two fox guards at the front of the gate turned sharply at their approaching forms but relaxed when Naruto ran up to them for a hug. For a second, the jounin instructor noted, they looked turned on. Was this what Iruka meant by being in heat? What a time to visit the folks: he was going to have to make sure his charges didn't lose their virginity.
Approaching them, Iruka talked to them before returning to the Konoha shinobi. "Kyuubi-sama is busy at the moment. We'll drop our things off in the rooms and take a tour of the castle. Is this fine?"
"We're at your disposal, Iruka. Do what ever you want to m-us. I mean; do what you want to us." Kakashi rubbed his nose. That was close.
"What are you kids interested in then?" Iruka asked the two genins.
Sasuke, surprising was the first to state quietly, "is there a library in this area?"
"The written language is a privilege. The only things written, therefore, are reports done by Kyuubi over the years concerning country relations – and those can't be viewed by anyone other than the royal family. I'm sorry." Sasuke shrugged his shoulders, unconcern. "Maybe Naruto can take you kids out to the merchant circle? Owl the Story Teller is in." Naruto's ears perked before he squealed with a cheer. Sasuke jumped back. In seconds the two other genins were being dragged off by the fox.
Kakashi smiled. "It sounds to me you were trying to get rid of them. Finally realized how great of a man I am?"
The guard didn't look as amused as the jounin was. "Actually, you have to wait for Kyuubi-sama. Children stumble on these lands all the time so the foxes aren't as tense when they're running around. Besides, with Naruto-sama they won't question this sudden turn of events. You, however, are too old to just be a friend of their lord. They'll start talking."
"Aw." Kakashi slumped. "All right. But I thought Kyuubi was busy?"
"Hardly." Another voice spoke up. Kakashi turned sharply, nerved that he didn't sense someone as strong as Kyuubi approach him. Behind the demon was a half dressed Arashi who looked flushed and turned on. "Where's my son, Iruka?" Kyuubi murmured, sharp canines prodding from his mouth.
"He took Haruno-san and Uchiha-san to listen to Owl-sama."
"Good." Kyuubi nodded towards the guard and stepped back in the building, Arashi smiled and followed close behind. With a reassuring smile from Iruka, Kakashi started in the building. "What reason did you follow my child back to my lands, brat?" The demon didn't even glance behind him as they started down a long corridor. "I don't even want the Uchiha brat around my son anyway – especially now."
Arashi smiled over his shoulder. "Kakashi's just being a good teacher and making certain our son came right back to our lands. Right, Kakashi-kun?"
"Yea?" The jounin tried. The demon rolled his eyes as they entered a large room. Scrolls were piled up on various shelves. Kyuubi took a seat at his desk. Not even concerned with his audience, Arashi took a seat on the demon's lap, curling up against the demon's chest. Kakashi felt his muscles tighten, his hand balling up into a fist. Iruka took a stand in front of the demon's desk.
"Kyuubi-sama, is it fine to have those that can speak Japanese use it around Naruto-sama? I really believe he's picking up the language this way." The demon nodded. "Is...Maminaru visiting?" This time, Arashi nodded his head. With a smile, Iruka rushed out of the room, abandoning Kakashi to explain himself. Usually lazy eyes were narrowed as they stared over Kyuubi's wandering hands. Too close for comfort on his dear teacher.
"Leading my son back? Really, Arashi, do you think I would believe that?" Kyuubi tapped his fingernail to his chin. "I think he's after something else. Power? Revenge? You can stop tensing, brat." Kakashi's fist tightened. Arashi's slumped body twitched, almost nervously at the situation.
In a smooth voice, Kakashi answered, "I have no reason to seek revenge against you, Kyuubi-sama. Just because you killed our people, murdered my friends and family, stole my dearest friend for your own twisted pleasure, I have no reason to seek vengeance. I'm not Sasuke." Kakashi smiled behind his mask, trying to hide his anger. "But yes, I am here for my own personal goals."
"Kakashi-kun," Arashi started lovingly, "is courting Iruka-san."
The demon looked unimpressed. "He will have difficulty with such. I've given Maminaru my blessing to pursue Iruka."
The human mate paled. "And I gave Kakashi my blessing." Plastering on a smile, Arashi stood up. "Let's go find Naruto then. We'll be back later Kyuu, don't work too hard!" The demon snorted as Arashi dragged his student away. Kakashi glowered back towards the room and huffed on. "Don't take it personally, Kakashi. He's scared that you're going to take me and Naruto away from him. Deep down Kyuubi's just lonely." A silence fell between the two as Arashi led the jounin through the Forest Lord's home, intent on dressing correctly before leaving the area.
"I hate him." Kakashi finally admitted. The blond blinked. "I don't see what you see in him. He killed Rin. He's enslaved you in an illusion of pleasure and love, turning you in a weak fool." The other man was unusually quiet as he opened a door and stepped in. Kakashi didn't follow upon realizing it was the lord's sleeping quarters. In a matter of minutes Arashi exited dressed in a yakuta. His hair fell down over his shoulders, his face more defined and feminine. Obvious signs on a henge. Kakashi didn't open his mouth at the cold look that had fallen onto his teacher's face.
"Kyuubi doesn't weaken me, Kakashi. Had it not been for the doctors here I would have died out there. The sealing jutsu I started was destroying my body from in the inside. Kyuubi saved me." Arashi murmured to himself. "I forgot that you're still a survivor, Kakashi. I deluded my thoughts thinking that you accepted Naruto and Maminaru into your home because you forgave Kyuubi after all these years but maybe you didn't. I'm sorry Kakashi, maybe it's too soon for you to be around. He caused you too much harm for you just to forgive off the bat."
"Arashi-sensei..." Kakashi whispered.
Rushing forward, Arashi approached the other side of the street, "Naruto! What are you doing to poor Sasuke?"
Entering the town square with his teammates, Naruto stopped in front of a large owl with a wide grin. "Owl-sensei! I thought you were going to the Village of Raven's over in the Mist?" The small blond fox grasped Sasuke's hand. "Remember that Sasuke I told you all about? This is him. And that's Sakura. His...friend? I'm not really sure of her relationship past being teammates."
The owl hooted with a laugh. "Prince Naruto. Isn't it polite to give me time to answer one question? I only came back to tell Kyuubi-san that the humans over in Sound are planning something. But, it seems I returned during fox mating season so I'm having trouble setting up an appointment." Bowing, the demon greeted himself evenly, "Humans from the Fire."
"Eh?" Sakura brought her fingers to her lips. "You can speak Japanese?"
"I've been alive for three hundred years. That was long enough to come to an understanding of your tones of dialect." The owl's beak moved, probably trying to get a smile. Sakura returned it. "It surprises me that you would approach this fox village though. Your plates say you're from Konoha, like Lord Kyuubi's lover."
"Mom doesn't want Sasuke-kun or Sakura-chan to know who he is." Naruto cut in.
"I see, and I understand. Your mother was very important in their civilization." The owl pushed thin wired glasses on his face with a feathered wing. "I'm going to go try again at the castle. I'll see you later, Prince." Bowing, the demon bowed and left the area.
Waving back, Naruto said, "I want to hear stories later!" He turned back to his group. "Food good there," he pointed towards a small stand where humanoid demons were sitting around talking. "Human toys here." He pointed to another store as a merchant walked past them. "Oh! Jijan the fortune teller is here! Let's go get our compatibility checked, Sasuke!" The little fox grabbed Sasuke's arm and half-dragged him towards a small stand that was just shutting down. Unknowingly to the little fox most of the demons in the area eyed him lustfully before forcing themselves to continue on their paths. The fortune teller was no different. Brown ears raised forward and stiffened as Naruto kneeled in front of the stand with the embarrassed Uchiha. "Are my future mate and I compatible?"
"Of course, my prince. Let me see both of your paws." He instructed. Tugging on Sasuke's hand, Naruto extended his paw. The fortune teller glanced down at the human's appendage in nervousness before running a claw over the skin. Sasuke grunted and tugged his hand away. Next was Naruto's hand, and the other fox shuddered before pulling away satisfied. "Y-you're very compatible, my prince."
Squealing, Naruto jumped Sasuke. Unable to sustain the surprise weight, Sasuke fell backwards with an armful of fox and soft lips pressed against his own.
"Naruto! What are you doing to poor Sasuke?"