~Scroll 10~

Early the next morning, and surprisingly Kakashi arriving on time, Team Seven and their charge met before the great gates of Konohagakure. Naruto's excitement was infectious as he bounced from foot to foot. Sakura had to giggle at her 'otouto's' antics while Sasuke continued to scowl at them. They were on a mission; not some day-time jaunt. Sasuke narrowed his eyes as he noticed the blonde's lips moving. No doubt that the blonde was muttering something about 'ramen'. But in fact said blonde was really whispering, "Road-trip. Road-trip. Road-trip."

He had never been beyond the forest that bordered the village. Each time he tried to see what was beyond the forest, he was always chased back behind the village walls by a troop of Jounin; a few times even by an ANBU Operative or two. The teen never understood his village's logic. They hated him and yet they refused to allow him to simply leave…

~Not this time! YATTA!~ Naruto cheered, which roused a certain sleeping fox-demon.

~Oops! Sorry! Didn't mean to wake you!~ Naruto apologized.

~No need to worry, Young One. It's best that I am awake.~ Ka'a stated.

~Hai!~ Naruto chirped as he dart to and fro; causing Sakura to giggle, Sasuke to growl and Kakashi to wonder about his blonde student's mental state.

"Am I really expected to place my life in the hands of this fool?" Tazuna grumbled.

Naruto stopped and glanced over his shoulder. There was something about the man's tone that did not sit well with the teen. It was as if he knew something was going to happen… Something bad.

"Maa, maa, there's no call for concern. I'm an elite ninja, and I'll be along too…"

"Unless there's something you forgot to tell us, Old Man?" Naruto challenged.

His senses were on alert. He was hearing something, but he did not know if it was part of the forest or not. It sounded foreign; even more foreign than the old man, and it sounded ominous.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about brat." Tazuna replied defensively as he marched past the teen.

~Take his scent and tell me what you smell.~ Ka'a instructed. Naruto obeyed.

~Sweat… Sea salt… A bit of sake… and something really sour…~

~That sour scent is nervousness.~ Ka'a explained from past experience. ~He's anxious about something…~

~Could he be anxious to get home?~ Naruto asked.

Ka'a shook his head.

~That type of anxiety would have a different scent. You will understand once you scent it.~

Naruto believed the great demon.

~So that means he's worried about something… Something bad.~

~Best we remain alert.~

~Hai.~ Naruto then snapped to attention.

The foreign sound that did not belong to the forest careened again. This time louder. Did it mean that they were closer or did it mean that they were happy? Naruto tired to remember when the last time he heard louder. Was it when the villagers were closer, happy, angry, determined… He could not remember. All he could remember was when he heard louder, it was best he left quickly. Naruto hurried after his teammates but kept his senses opened to the present danger.

/

The journey was pleasant thus far. Although still on alert, Naruto continued to dart to and fro like an excited kitten. While random leaves fell from their trees, Naruto chased after them and gathered them for later practice of Kitsune magic. Even though he was quite good at it, Ka'a kept having the blonde practice. Not that Naruto minded. Ka'a always made practice fun.

The nights were even more magical to Naruto. Even though the night sky in Konoha was clear, nothing compared to the clear skies of the forest. The night was louder in the forest than in the village and yet even more beautiful. Naruto caught himself almost swaying to what he heard, but he quickly remembered himself and almost cried. He did not know why, but he thought of Ka'a… After all Ka'a was a forest creature perhaps the need to dance with the forest came from him… Not that Naruto would complain…

However, despite his desires and his awe in the forest, Naruto could not ignore the threat. The horrible careening had faded but had not disappeared, which meant that they had left to regroup before attacking. Would they attack tonight? Naruto believed so; however, Ka'a disagreed.

~Why not?~

~We're still too close to the village.~ Ka'a reasoned.

~We are?~ Naruto questioned uncertainty.

~Yes, we're still too close, which means if we're attacked then we still can get help from the village.~

~Oh!~ Naruto acknowledged Ka'a's logic. ~When do you think they will attack? Should I warn Kakashi-sensei?!~

~They will not attack soon. They will want to observe how much of a threat we are to them…~ Ka'a reflected, ~No need to inform your Scarecrow-sensei. I am certain that he is aware of the possible danger.~

~If so then why would he let us continued on this mission?~

~He too wishes to observe the enemy, and if he were to turn back, when do you think your team would ever have another chance at a higher-ranked mission?~ Ka'a asked, ~Although I personally prefer that we have more information rather than proceeding blind.~

~Often times a shinobi enters a mission blind, Ka'a.~

~That may be, Naruto-dono, but I am not a shinobi. I am Ka'a no Kyuubi.~ Ka'a stated.

~Yes, you are Ka'a no Kyuubi, but I am shinobi.~ Naruto countered.

Ka'a sighed and knew that his Jailer was correct.

~Very well.~ Ka'a conceded then watched as his human and his teammates went about their nightly ritual.

~Would you like to learn more of Aki no Kitsune, my Little Beautiful?~ Ka'a purred.

Naruto stiffened as his eyes widen in delight. Ka'a had called his abilities Aki no Kitsune, the Way of the Fox. Kitsune magic, or fox magic, was the basic of basics. It was practically the determining factor among Kitsune to see if they had any potential, and Ka'a had told Naruto and Iruka-tousan that Naruto had a lot of potential. At first Naruto thought that Ka'a was being too kind, but now that the great demon was offering more lessons…

~Hai!~ Naruto chirped.

Ka'a chuckled.

~We will wait until your watch.~

~Okay!~

/

That night Tazuna saved them once again after Sakura's stew became a healthy shade of black. Sasuke kept grumbling about food poisoning while Naruto soothed the girl's hurt heart and glared at the Teme, who had harmed his oneechan. Kakashi observed all this with interest and plotting. After their meal, they settled for the night; with Kakashi taking the first watch followed by Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto ending the shift.

As they slept, Ka'a and Naruto found themselves in Naruto's "mind world"; in their little camp site, just the two of them. Ka'a sat cross-legged across from his young charge, who even in the dream world was full of energy. Ka'a chuckled at the eagerness of his student.

~Calm down, Little One.~ Ka'a said with amusement clearly evident in his voice.

~Can't! This is so exciting!~ Naruto was hyper.

~However, before we begin, I wish to ask you something.~

Naruto stilled. Ka'a rarely asked of anything about Naruto since the demon knew pretty much everything about the blonde.

~Naruto-dono, you hear…~ Ka'a paused; uncertain of how to phrase his question. ~You hear something. Do you not?~

Naruto blinked owlishly.

Ka'a frowned. He was uncertain on how to ask.

~You hear something that others do not.~ Ka'a tried again.

~What do you mean?~ Naruto asked, ~I hear like everyone else.~

Ka'a shook his head.

~I do not believe so, my young Jailer!~ Ka'a stated, ~I believe you hear something much more.~

~I don't understand. What do you mean 'much more'?~ Naruto asked then suddenly looked thoughtful as he began to chew his lower lip.

~Normal people don't hear Heart Songs, do they?~

~Heart Songs?~ Ka'a asked.

~I guess not.~ Naruto whimpered.

Ka'a reached out and held onto Naruto's tiny hand.

~Tell me, Beautiful One, tell me what are Heart Songs?~

Naruto looked into Ka'a's eyes and saw concern and curiosity. Was hearing Heart Songs bad? Especially since it would seem that no one else did. Maybe that's why no one listened to me when I told them about the songs. Naruto thought, It wasn't because it was private, but because no one could hear them… but why can I?

~Naruto-dono…~ Ka'a squeezed his host's hand.

~I-I hear them…~ Naruto slowly began, ~The music… they're different from person to person… like their scents… usually I have to touch someone to hear their song… sometimes with certain people I can just hear it without touching 'em… I call the music 'Heart Songs' because I think it matches people's hearts.~

Ka'a was silent. He had never come across anyone, human or demon, with the ability that Naruto described. He had met those who 'saw' colors rather than music when they were in the presence of others.

~Have you…~ Ka'a paused, ~Have you ever 'seen' colors when you touched people?~

~Colors?~

Ka'a nodded. Naruto thought about it and shook his head 'no'.

~Always music. Besides colors are deceiving.~

~Oh? How so?~

~Well…~ Naruto paused, ~Nature has a lot of pretty things with bright colors but are also very dangerous… and colors are too… too vague and set, if that makes any sense?~

~I'm afraid not. Perhaps an example?~

~Uhm… Red! Red is love, hate, compassion, a flower, the sun, fire and blood. Blue is the sky, the water, sadness, solemn air. Green is the earth, money, jealousy, possessiveness, joy… eh..?~ Naruto tried to think of more but stopped when he heard Ka'a chuckle.

~I understand now.~

~Oh! Also colors lie!~ Naruto exclaimed as if it was an absolute revelation that no one had ever realized.

Ka'a frowned. He did not know what his young host meant by that. Colors lie. Perhaps the teen was referring to Nature's use of bright colors or something else, whichever it may be now was not the time to divulge further into the mystery. He had promised his charge a lesson, and a lesson they will have.

~Very well, shall we begin with today's lesson?~

~Hai!~ Naruto bounced.

~This will be difficult than performing Kitsune magic.~

Naruto stilled though still humming with energy.

~As you know, kitsune are forest creatures, and forest creatures draw their strength and power from…~

FORESTS!

~Correct. We draw our strength and power from the forest. The forest gives us shelter, food and clothing, and we protect the forest in turn. We are part of the forest as the forest is part of us. We are also the forest as the forest is us. Remember that well, Little One, and you will never be alone.~ Ka'a informed Naruto, who nodded his head.

The blonde understood perfectly what his demon companion was saying. The teen often times felt more at home in the surrounding forest of Konoha village than inside of the village itself. Again was it because of Ka'a? Naruto did not care. The forest was home to him, and alive with so many Heart Songs. Naruto did not tell Ka'a that all living things gave a Heart Song. It was not important at the moment.

~Now, until you are needed for your shift, let's begin with meditation…~

~Ne!?!?!~

~Trust me, Naruto-dono.~ Ka'a chuckled, ~A clear and focused mind is needed for this lesson.~

Naruto grumbled but obeyed.

/

It only felt like a few minutes since he started his dream-meditation, but he knew it was much longer since it was Sakura, who woke him up for his shift. Naruto took a deep breath of the fresh cool air. He could scent the pre-dawn dew in the air. Slowly and silently sitting up, Naruto stretched the kinks out of his body.

Sakura had quickly returned to her nap-sack and fell immediately back to sleep.

Naruto began to walk the perimeter of their little camp. He had not bothered with putting his shoes or jacket back on. He wanted to feel the forest on him. As he quietly walked around the camp site, he could hear the faint tunes of the Enemy's Heart Songs. Now, that he had confessed about hearing the Heart Songs, Naruto understood better what he was hearing, and he could now identify what was enemy and friend. Right now, the enemy was far away but still close by.

~Good, but to be on the safe side,~ Ka'a said, ~create several shadows as guards.~

Naruto nodded and created four shadow clones. He motioned them to their posts, which they took silently. Naruto felt a bit relieved; trusting that his clones would wake everyone if the need arose.

~Now, sit against a tree, and make sure that you are touching the tree.~ Ka'a instructed.

~Any tree?~ Naruto asked.

Suddenly the teen got the impression that the fox-demon was grinning. This made the blonde pout. Of course not! Naruto grumbled. Not only was this an excuse on connecting with the forest but also connecting with the 'right' tree. Naruto huffed but kept quiet. He knew it was useless to complain to the demon, who now was meditating himself. Baka Fox! Naruto grumbled then began his search for the 'right' tree.

It did not take long to find the 'right' tree. Of course, it helped that the tree was also looking for him! The forest could sense one of its children had returned and wanted to bond with its child. The excitement that Naruto heard in the forest's Heart Song echoed in his own soul. The blonde found the aged tree, surrounded by smaller trees. The tree was large! Absolutely huge! The teen doubted that ten of his village's largest men could wrap around the trunk of the great tree!

~How interesting…~ Ka'a whispered.

~Hunh? What's interesting?~

~It's a God Tree.~

~A tree is a god?~ Naruto was confused. Ka'a chuckled.

~Iie,~ Ka'a shook his head, ~it means that this tree is very, very old.~

~You mean like ancient?!~

~Older.~

Naruto's eyes widen while his lips mouthed an awe filled 'wow'! Without further prompting, Naruto quickly found a comfortable spot at the tree's base. With his back supported against the God Tree's massive trunk, Naruto immediately began to meditate.

~Good.~ Ka'a encouraged his young charge, ~The purpose is to feel the ebb and flow of the God Tree's chi, or chakra; however, do not become upset if you do not succeed at first attempt. It will happen with practice.~

~Feel the flow of chakra…~ Naruto mumbled to himself as his eyes slide half way closed. His breathing steady as he flared his chakra to feel out the tree's; imagining his chakra as his hands reaching out in the dark for the tree's chakra.

Ka'a was right about not succeeding on the first try, but Naruto was stubborn. He continued and continued until almost at dawn did he feel it. The great God Tree's chakra! Naruto moaned. It was as massive as the tree was! And it felt unbelievably warm! The warmth felt so good that Naruto just wanted to drown in it. A deep chuckle roused the teen from the natural high. Sapphire blue orbs opened only to reveal that the teen was alone. Naruto frowned as he looked around.

~Congratulations, Little One.~ Ka'a beamed.

~Eh… Thank you… Was it you, who laughed?~ Naruto asked.

~No.~ Ka'a smiled, ~It was not I but another…~

Naruto's eyes widen as he looked at the great Tree.

The Tree rustled as if to mimic a chuckle, which caused the teen to yip in excitement.

The Tree was alive! And responded to him! Naruto was grinning like a loon!