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) Chibikuro Rose-sama, Zoomi, Akira-sama, Smartlikeshikamaru, Kitty-cat-666, Animekimi, Punky45, Emerald Gaze, Immortal Sailor Cosmos, Night Essence, Silvermane1, Sshounen-Ai, The Girl in the Mirror, Ilooveinuyasha1, TheSmallestGhost, Takuya, KagomeGirl021, Lil-Vixen24, InuAce, BlackAngel02, MalikLove, MayIFall, Mizuki hikari, KawaiiKoneko89 (AFF) Deandraquin, Hen, Xzanayu, Lo, Qwerty, Lonelylulaby, Kawaiicrimsonkitsune, Kreyana, Inumoon3, and Saki-chan.
Note: As sorry as I am that this took forever to update, I wish to state that if I don't update after a month do not yell at me. Do not rudely demand me to update. I have a lot to do in my life so finding time to write has not always been easy. I do plan to finish this fanfic. Just don't badger me about this. Chances are when a month hits of no updating I'm working to get it done.
Arashi brushed his hands against the architectural work within the trees. Outside it looked like bark but inside was beautiful stone craftsmanship so advanced yet...primitive. It was no surprise that Kyuubi and the rest of the fox demons had lived in this area for centuries. Hidden through a dimension by chakra, surrounded by trees in an uncharted land. Who would have thought? Wrapping the cloth around baby Naruto, Arashi continued down the path towards the dungeons. Kyuubi had said there was a gift for him...
And there was. Chained against a wall, bleeding, was a child no older than thirteen. The hokage gasped. He'd seen that face in the crowds at the academy though he wasn't sure of the boy's name. Rushing to the fallen child, he sat and ran his fingers through that dark hair. "Are you okay?" "Hokage?" The boy's eyes forced open. "Hokage! K-Konoha! Kyuubi!" He cried, confused with the situation. Running his free hand through the boy's messy hair, Arashi nodded. "I know. Calm down and nothing else will happen to you. What is your name?" "Umino...Iruka." The boy sniffled. "Umino-kun," Arashi whispered, "I'm going to help you escape." "Hokage-sama!" The child whimpered. Taking the chains, Arashi pushed chakra into the metal until they melted in his palm. The teenager's arms dropped weightlessly. "Come with me, hokage-sama!" The blond leader rocked his cooing son his arms. "It's safer if we travel at different times. I'm...too weak right now to leave anyway. I need...rest." The leader stood on rocky legs. "So leave now." Standing, Iruka tightened his fist. "No! I'll protect you, hokage!" Arashi could only shake his head. He knew there was no way to discourage this kid from fighting because he, too, planned to fight Kyuubi every step of the way. First with his child.
The fox village was surrounded by hot springs and there was nothing a fox liked more than to relax in the steamy water during their heats and cool off. It was an option for those unable to find a mate because of their young age or just didn't attract a lovely mate that year. There were three kinds of pools, however. Being a possessive kind of demon (like many others), there had to be a separate bath for those who weren't demons. There was one for the lower level demons and one for the higher class. The higher class one, however, was rarely used because there were so few.
Naruto picked at his tail, cleaning some dirt from the splitting tip. Soon he'd be a two tail fox! He giggled. It would take a millennium before he, too, became a nine tailed kyuubi like his ancestors but to achieve two tail within the first thirteen years of life was a rarity. He smiled up across the pool at his parents. "My tail is splitting!"
"It means you're strong." Kyuubi murmured absently as he reached for his mate. Arashi stuck his tongue out and swam away towards Naruto to take the boy's tail with admiration. "It's not that great of a thing considering he's my son."
Arashi smirked. "How old were you when your tail split?"
"That was ages ago. I don't remember."
"Old Kyuubi!" Arashi laughed. "Wanna go spy on your mate, Naruto?" He poked his son, Naruto blushed and slid deeply into the water. "You can't be shy forever! If you are I'll never have a grandchild to take care of."
"Naru – Um...I can't have babies until I'm fifteen summers." The boy cracked his voice to be adult-like. A plus, both parents had decided. "But what about Shukaku, dad? He said he was going to mate with me before Sasuke did. Should I go over there to show that I desire him?" The boy blushed, rubbing his index fingers together in a human-like motion. Arashi grinned and poked his embarrassed son. Kyuubi frowned, unamused, as he leaned back against the rocks.
"Shukaku...will do no such thing. What do you make of the whole scenario, Arashi?"
The blond adult stopped picking on his son. "I heard that Sand had sealed Shukaku into a baby based on the information that I had done it to you. There might be a problem with the seal, making it not tight enough to keep Shukaku in check." He ignored the glare about being sealed from Kyuubi. "Are you saying he just had complete control over this Gaara?" Naruto nodded. "That could be problematic. I also know Shukaku will fight dirty to get what he wants."
"So Gaara's okay?" Naruto asked.
"I suppose? But that doesn't mean much. There's nothing that can be done once the seal is activated. If it wasn't done right we can only be thankful that the child is still alive." Arashi rolled his shoulders. "Kyuubi, maybe it's best to take defensive measures to be on the safe side? With Orochimaru building his forces in Sound and Shukaku after your throne things might get hectic in the next few months." The blond's tone came out slightly commanding. His hokage voice, something that was never given up over the years.
"The humans have no clue where the village is and Shukaku is defenseless without his sand." Kyuubi dismissed Arashi's fears with a simple wave of his hand. "We're fine, Arashi. Just relax."
"Who's Orochimaru?" Naruto turned as his mother went about cleaning his back to relieve tension in the air.
"He was a Konoha shinobi long ago," Arashi hummed, "But when he was denied the right to become hokage, he grew angry and vanished in the night. Now he's the leader of a shinobi village – Sound – where they take in those who are criminals to give them a second chance."
Naruto tilted his head back as his mother went quiet. Kyuubi approached behind and took Arashi's hand. "We're going to our room tonight, Naruto. Go spend time with your friends." The little fox nodded and climbed out for the pond. Climbing up a tree, he started straight towards the foreign baths that even he had not been to before. It took a few minutes to make it there, but he perched his animal form along the rocks and stared at the towel draped humans that were relaxing in the warm water.
Kakashi was sitting next to the relaxed Iruka, face a deep shade of red as Iruka asked about the scars on his naked chest. Tightening the mask around his face, he tried to look like an serious shinobi in front of his students but the presence of an almost naked Iruka in a coed bath was just too much. He stared up. "Naruto." He smiled.
The tiny fox jumped down and sat at the edge, not willing to go in the water. The upbringing in him refused to touch the water made for lower class demons and humans. Transforming, the naked little fox grinned, ignoring the scream that came from Sakura from across the large hot spring and, in Japanese, said, "Sasuke, come see." He pulled.
"See what?" Sasuke moved to the side of the pond to get out, trying to avoid the watchful gaze of the pink haired girl across them a good distance.
"Bug ... lit up?" Naruto tried.
"Fireflies?" Sasuke tried, Naruto shrugged. "All right, just give me my kimono." He pointed to the article of clothing he was proud to have packed. Naruto brought it over, turning around with a blush. Sakura was trying to hide else where while fighting the urge to look. Iruka was next to dress in a kimono, avoiding the gaze from the jounin.
"Before you go see the fireflies, Naruto needs to dress up in his ceremonial robes. Will you be joining us, Sakura-chan?" Iruka asked the little girl sitting on a rock in her own robe, trying not to die of a nose bleed at the lack of modesty the fox clan had. "I'll see you kids there then. Naruto." He took the demon's hand, leading the boy away.
"Mom and dad won't be joining us. Mom's worried about the sudden uprising of surrounding nations." Naruto stared back with wide eyes, letting it be known that Kyuubi planned to distract Arashi. "And I get this feeling that something is going to happen, Iruka."
The guard frowned. "Kyuubi won't allow them to attack. Trust your father's opinion now and just relax with your friends." He tied Naruto's ceremonial robes around the boy's, lithe frame. Groaning, Naruto picked at them, mumbling under his breath that they were too scratchy for his taste. Iruka, of course, choose to ignore him. With a firm tap to his bottom, he dismissed the blond fox to run off. "You don't have to be standing in the shadows, Kakashi-sensei." Iruka licked his lips as he switched to his native language.
"Naruto looks worried." Kakashi came out, arms across his chest. "Is something going on?" Iruka shrugged his shoulders. Smiling, Kakashi slid his mask down, resting it at his shoulders. "Would you join me out in the trees, Iruka-sensei? I found this tree just above the springs."
"Why are you so nice to me, Kakashi?"
"I'm always like this!" The jounin laughed.
Iruka smiled. "You've done too much. I should be doing something for you." The two men started down the forest towards the tree Kakashi had reserved for them. At the base, Sakura was sitting with a little white fox kit, petting his fur roughly as she tried to relieve anger. The two teachers ignored her as they started into the tree. Smiling, Iruka rested back against the tree. "I can't figure you out. Why would someone with your abilities be teaching children of all things?"
"Arashi-sensei seemed to enjoy it. Besides, it's a challenge. And you, why didn't you ever come back to Konoha? I'm sure you didn't just wake up and say 'this place isn't so bad.' Even I felt I'd forgiven Kyuubi for destroying my family, yet wanted to kill him when I first saw him." Kakashi held his hand out as a fire fly landed on the tip of his finger. Unexpectedly, he let his finger rest on the bridge of Iruka's nose, the small bug moved across and rested on the fox guard's face.
Cutely, Iruka's eyes went crossed as he stared at the bug that walked across the tip of his nose before flying off into the night air. "Kakashi..." He started, only for his words to be silenced by warm lips.
"Sasuke, here-! Here-!" Naruto tugged on the Uchiha's hands down a valley. At the sudden shift of speed, Sasuke felt his legs slide out from under him causing him to fall forward and onto Naruto. The little fox cried out himself as he slid into the mud, held down by Sasuke's heavier body. Giggling, the little fox reached his hand through the mud as Sasuke climbed up.
"Where are we going, Naruto?" Sasuke brushed the mud as well as he could from his pants, only making it deeper into the threads of his yukata. Grabbing Sasuke hands, Naruto took off towards a cleared area. He stared around. Faintly he could pick up to other chakra signatures. Probably from a week ago but the owners of the chakra were long gone. Naruto started digging through some moss until he pulled out an old yellowish blanket. Sasuke was sure that, at one time, it was white. Even the faint red stripes at the bottom were starting to fade into a light brown in color. When the fox started patting the blanket, Sasuke permitted himself to sit. "Where is this, Naruto?"
The fox bit his lip. "Safety."
"Huh?"
"Mom and dad's safety."
Blinking, Sasuke thought about what Naruto said. A safety for Kyuubi and his own mate? Like a nesting ground. Stomach twisting, Sasuke moved from the blanket and onto the dirt. At least that was a bit better. He leaned back and stared up, slightly surprised at the sight of the star covered sky. Naruto leaned against him. "This is...actually nice." He stared around. "Who would have thought something so beautiful is out here in the wilderness?"
Smiling, Naruto tilted his head up to stare over into Sasuke's eyes. "Mine."
"Huh?" Sasuke felt his blood rush to his face. Possessive little fox...
Arm spreading out in front of him, Naruto pointed towards the land. "Mine." Sasuke nodded. Naruto...really was a prince. Being heir to the powerful clan was nothing like being the heir over demons and animals in a complete section of woods. Possibly even...the world. "Sasuke mine too. Naruto is Sasuke's."
"Naruto." Sasuke grumbled. "I told you. Again and again. I don't have the time for a relationship. I need to kill a man before I can start rebuilding my clan."
"Wait." Naruto whispered. "Naruto will wait for strong mate." He leaned forward. "Kiss?"
"No, you don't understand, obviously." Sasuke stood up.
"Naruto understand. Sasuke fight. Be strong. Then mate. Not with Naruto. Not with Sakura. But with strong mate to make strong babies named Uchiha. Naruto wants one kiss then Sasuke can go." The little demon closed his eyes innocently. Turning and grabbing at Naruto's outfit, Sasuke pulled Naruto towards him. The little fox's eyes snapped open as he tried to understand what Sasuke wanted.
Lips touching Naruto's ear, Sasuke breathed shallowly in though. "Of all the people I've meet thus far, you are the strongest. If you train enough to be on the legendary Kyuubi's level when I kill my brother, I will mate with you. If you are less of a demon than Kyuubi at that point, then I will not give you a second glance, Naruto-sama." He pulled back, eying Naruto's pink face. The Uchiha laughed. "You're still a child. You try to act like an adult but your words and actions are like a child."
Pulling his arms away, Naruto glared. Fast, he grabbed the blanket and wrapped it around his body and took a seat, unaware of the surprised look on Sasuke's face.
"Where'd you get that?"
Naruto blinked.
"That...blanket. Where'd you get it?"
Eyeing the fabric, the fox smiled. "Mommy."
"That...is the Yondaime's robes. Let me see that!" He reached his hands out to take it. On reflex, Naruto pulled away. "Naruto! You don't understand what that is!" He grabbed the bottom, tugging with all his strength. Naruto returned the pull with equal (if not more) force. It was mom's blanket! Arashi snuggled into it on cold nights! Naruto glared at Sasuke, kicking his foot out and into Sasuke. When the human released the fabric in surprise, Naruto tugged the rest of the blanket around him and stole off to a tree, climbing up quickly.
Sasuke followed close behind. "Naruto! That's part of Konoha history! Kyuubi probably robbed it from the corpse of our hokage during the mayhem!"
"No!" Naruto cried, jumping branches, where he landed near surprised squirrels. In anger for being 'attacked', the two squirrels climbed up the fox demon's robes. "Ah!" Naruto cried, falling down.
Only to be caught in midair by the equally surprised Sasuke holding his arm. The white and red blanket fluttered to the ground as Sasuke dragged the blond into the tree, wrapping his arms around the boy to calm both their racing hearts. "Dead...last..." He finally whispered. Naruto whimpered, clinging on. "You need to get over that phobia of squirrels."
The blond didn't move. "Sasuke."
"Hm?"
"...Naruto smell..."
Sniffing the blond's mane, the Uchiha chuckled. "No you don't."
"No. Naruto smell...f-fire." He looked around anxiously. "Sasuke!" The dark haired boy meet his look towards the distance where a wave of orange and red rose above the trees. Too late to be sunset. Too early to be sunrise. No. The haze surrounding the coloring in the sky was distinctly smoke. Someone had set the woods ablaze. "Home!" The fox prepared to jump down from the tree, but Sasuke stopped him just as a kunai flashed his vision, lodging into a tree. Naruto gasped.
Turning, Sasuke glared at the enemies quickly approaching on the trees. They were under attack.