Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor any of the characters, except for the one's I killed.
Note: This is not yaoi nor will be, sorry to anyone who was looking forward to that.
Second Note: This is slightly based upon the series Through Wolf's Eyes by Jane Lindskold, which everyone should read and the newest installment is absolutely fantatstic.

List o' names:

Raven Hair: Sasuke
Kitsune: Naruto
Scar Nose: Iruka
Silver-Moon: Kakashi
Ill One: Sakura

Through Fox's Eyes
Chapter Twelve

Sunset had long since passed and the dark sky was filled with deep, thunderous clouds. Candled lamps lined the streets and in the recesses of the shadows figures could be seen moving about. Rolling fog covered Konoha from the tops of houses to the dank alleyways and silence reigned the once bustling streets. Only the soft calls of an owl and the small rivulets of water rolling off the roofs from the last rain dared impede, adding to the eerie mood.

The clock struck ten and the loud metallic booming resonated throughout Konoha, bringing forth cloaked figures from the houses. Filling into the streets, neighbors joined neighbors and family joined friends as all ages and sizes began their slow trek towards Hokage Mountain. Not one made a noise, not by utterance of word or by step, and even the night wind raging against their cloaks remained hushed, the thick fabric wrapping around them as a shield.

Among these travelers were two highly respected shinobi dragging their charges behind them. One of the most treasured traditions of Konoha and these two were the only ones stuck with children who didn't want to go. There weren't many traditions outside of martial art styles that were kept, but this was one of them. On the longest night of the year, a celebration is held where the younger shinobi are tested and judged accordingly. The winner chose an older shinobi to be their mentor until the next longest night winner was chosen as well as received a day of special training from the Hokage himself and this tradition had been fulfilled for generations. The chuunins and jounins enjoyed the chance to scope out their future while the young genins were thrilled with showing off their skills.

Iruka sighed as his hold on Naruto's hand wavered once again. The damn fox child was insistent on disappearing and had already done it four times today, luckily he had found him each time within a few hundred yards of the house. He had planned to leave Naruto at home for this, but it soon became apparent after the third disappearance he wasn't going to be able to. Someone had to watch him and both Iruka and Kakashi were summoned—as was every shinobi—to attend the festivities. And so, he had to drag the fox along with them and he had yet to stop squirming.

He didn't know exactly what was going on, but Naruto had been acting very odd for the past two days and now, it was worse. If it wasn't for the fact that he was a chuunin, he would've lost Naruto on the first try. Even now, the fox child's nails were digging into his hand as he pulled and dug his heels into the ground so to get away from him. He even had two deep puncture wounds in his hand from where Naruto had bitten him.

And Sasuke wasn't much better, just less violent. The dark genin sulked behind them; his head hung low and his walk purposely slow as he was dragged along on this trek towards Hokage Mountain. When Iruka announced they were going, Sasuke glared at all of them before stating he wasn't going, vehemently.

Sasuke still didn't understand quite how he ended up wrapped in a cloak and becoming part of the stupid thing, but somehow he did. Kakashi made certain of that by threatening many months of boring workouts that did nothing to improve skill. He was a first year genin and all genin shinobi were expected to attend, no matter if they sulked or cheered. Yet he too had tried to sneak off twice until Kakashi took to walking beside him with a friendly hand on his shoulder. Sasuke then took to glaring at his 'keeper' for the remainder of the walk, though it didn't seem to faze the jounin's mood whatsoever.

The raven haired boy leaned back against the wall of a house and glared at the gathering of nin around him. This was just stupid and he refused to join in some pointless tradition that an idiot decided to create just to further torture the inhabitants of Konoha.

"Listen closely," Sandaime said, his voice hushed and yet carrying over the winds. "Look for where Hati chases the moon and there you will find the object you seek. But be careful! For there are dangers at every turn."

Sasuke rolled his eyes, yeah dangers alright, grown ninjas jumping out and scaring the younger ones like children.

Iruka grinned as the answer immediately surfaced in his mind as the genin puzzled over it. "Remember, this is about cunning and stealth so don't beat your opponents into the ground."

Well, there goes the last of the 'fun'. Sasuke thought sourly, but he had to admit, the prize could be worthwhile…

Lifting his hand, Sandaime held a handful of smoke balls and said before throwing them, "Let the night begin!"

The smoke cleared and only a few chuunin remained to watch the surrounding area while other ninjas spread out to watch the genin. Iruka was one of the few to stay behind, though his reasons were because of Naruto. He couldn't just drag Naruto around the city with him and he knew how badly he reacted to the use of chakra.

Sandaime looked at the two of them and crossed the stone street to stand beside them, "How is he?"

"He's getting there Hokage-sama." Iruka said with a slight bow, "Say hello Naruto."

But the fox child just glared at them from beneath his cloak, his eyes almost iridescent in the night.

"Iruka-san, are you bleeding?" Sandaime asked, eyes focused on the small hand wound dripping blood.

The chuunin slowly nodded and held his injured hand up, "We had a…disagreement."

"Oh?"

"It's nothing really, barely a flesh wound."

The older man cocked an eyebrow, "A flesh wound that's bleeding that much?"

"Okay, so more than a flesh wound, but I barely even notice it's there." Iruka replied, nibbling on his bottom lip. If Sandaime thought Naruto was a danger then they wouldn't hesitate in killing him, but so far he hadn't shown any signs that he would be.

"Iruka-san—"

"Iruka?" Naruto whispered, hands clenching tightly, "Moon calls…"

The chuunin looked down at the blonde, eyes worryingly searching his face. "Moon calls? But you can't see the moon tonight."

"Calls, calls, calls, calls, calls." He began to shake has the mantra fell from his lips until small whimpers interrupted the words.

"Naruto?" He reached a hand towards the fox child, but quickly retracted it as sharp teeth snapped at him. Yet he wasn't quick enough, those canines of his had ripped skin deeper than before and left a bloody trail in their wake. "Shit!" He whispered, letting go of the blonde in surprise, his other hand cradling the injured one against his chest.

"Iruka-san, get back!" Sandiame called, eyes narrowing as Naruto began to edge backwards.

The blonde's hood fell back and he stood up, no longer couching on the ground at their feet. Iruka's eyes widened in surprise at Naruto's height, the boy now stood a head taller than him and the clothes he wore seemed to have shrunk. His hair had grown longer, not by much, but it now reached his ears and fell around his face, making him look much older. His canines now peeked out between his teeth, tinged red from Iruka's blood, and the fox child—man—smiled at them. Reaching a hand up to sweep back his hair, Iruka immediately noted his claw-like nails and reached for his weapons.

"Ah, ah, ah." Naruto—no, Kyuubi—tsked, his still blue eyes watching them with amusement. "It's not nice to attack your charge, Iruka-nii."

"You're not Naruto." He said, eyes narrowing.

"I'm not? How sad." The fox slowly licked his lips, tasting Iruka's blood on them. He closed his eyes and smiled at the salty yet satisfying taste of blood, letting out a small moan. "I must say, your blood is certainly sweet." He said, opening his eyes to look at Iruka.

Deep red eyes stared back at him, the pupils dilated and large with bloodlust. "How…?" He whispered, there was supposed to be no way Kyuubi could gain freedom and yet he was staring at the embodiment of the fox demon, even if it was Naruto's body.

"Stupid humans, didn't you know the seal was corrupt from the beginning? I'm not some idiot." The fox sighed, staring at his elongated nails with boredom.

Iruka narrowed his eyes and rushed Kyuubi, kunai in hand, but he didn't even have the chance to get near it before he found himself being thrown back. A hand gripped his wrist and before he could even focus on that, he was thrown into a wall and his wrist snapped. Screaming, Iruka felt a knee connect with his stomach and a fist connect with his jaw. Making a sign with his good hand, Iruka was able to avoid Kyuubi's next attack and stumble away from the fox demon.

Turning, Kyuubi smirked at the injured man; he hadn't even lasted a minute and was already retreating. "You must have someone more challenging than this." He mocked, flippantly waving towards Iruka.

Sandaime narrowed his eyes, but stepped in front of Iruka and watched the demon warily. How he had suddenly gained so much control over Naruto was puzzling and dangerous, he couldn't allow the child to live if Kyuubi could take over control whenever it became convenient. Yet Kakashi had said when Kyuubi tried to take control, it wasn't a pretty process or an easy one, usually resulting in agonizing screams coming from Naruto. "How were you able to surface demon?" He asked in an even voice, readying himself for an attack if one should come.

"How?" Kyuubi asked, cocking his head. "You know one should never reveal his tactics Hokage, so why should I tell you?"

"That seal should've held for all eternity, tying you to Naruto until his last breath and beyond. You were to never awaken nor were you to gain freedom from your prison." Sarutobi said, slowly reaching into his robes for his weapons.

"It should've? Hm, I do believe you have to work on that." The fox grinned, "But I believe you have bigger problems on your hands than wondering how I escaped. Don't you think so?"

"So it seems."

"Hokage-sama?" A chuunin asked, edging towards the man.

Sandiame glanced at him and ordered, "Stay behind me." Turning his attention back to Kyuubi, he stumbled back when he came face to face with the demon.

"You shouldn't take your eyes off an enemy, human." He smiled, his canine's shining in the darkness.

Glaring, he touched his lips and whispered, "Katon," fire erupting from his mouth towards Kyuubi.

The fox didn't move as the fire approached him, his smile widening as the flames engulfed him. Sarutobi ceased his attack and looked carefully at the charred stones and smoke. "Using fire against a demon fox doesn't exactly work, since we thrive in it." The voice whispered next to his ear before he found himself pressed into the ground. Kicking him in the side, Kyuubi stared dispassionately down at the man, his eyes calculating and distant.

"Hokage-sama!" A man whispered, rushing to the aid of his fallen leader, but a roundhouse kick sent him spiraling back.

"Hmph, this is too easy." Kyuubi muttered as the man's skull made a sickening crack against the stone wall of a house. Turning his attention back Sarutobi, he crouched beside the old man and smirked. "Do you even know how demons work, human?"

Lifting his head, Sarutobi glared at those blood red eyes, leaping away from the fox with as much grace as he could muster. He immediately armed himself for an attack, but was surprised to find Kyuubi still crouched on the ground. "You are elemental creatures and since you're a fire elemental, your weakness is water."

"Used to be water." He smirked, "I am a fire being, true, but even this despicable body has it uses and it is not susceptible to water as my former body was."

"What? But the fire didn't affect you either!" He hissed.

"On a normal night, it might've, but this isn't."

Sarutobi frowned, the damn fox was speaking in riddles now. He didn't dare risk taking his eyes off the demon, but staring at him wasn't getting him anywhere either. "It's a full moon." He finally said, eyes narrowing in concentration. A demon's abilities waxed and waned with the moon, growing to full strength with the rise of the full moon and cresting with its setting.

"Ah, but not just any full moon, tonight is the night of the Red Moon." Kyuubi grinned, slowly standing. "The Bloodlust Moon I've heard it called and I see from your expression you have too." Chuckling, the demon fox clicked his nails against a lamp post, "A rare phenomenon, one that only passes every twelve decades and it happens that tonight it is in at its pinnacle and my powers have grown exponentially."

Though he had never seen it before, the Red Moon was something spoken in demon lore and it was said that on such a night a demon's abilities multiplied threefold. It was also said that on the night of the Bloodlust Moon, demons were overtaken with a yearning for blood to the point of insanity and looking at the gleam in Kyuubi's eyes, he had to agree with the myth. Fear gnawed at the back of his mind as he forced himself to face the demon fox head on, his hands delving into his robes and returning with two scrolls. "Iruka-san," he said, not even looking at the injured ninja, "warn the others and get the children to safety, hurry."

Iruka nodded, holding his limp arm against his chest and leaping up to the rooftops, ignoring the pain lacing through his shoulder. He didn't like leaving the Hokage to face Kyuubi alone, but he didn't have much of a choice considering his injuries and the other three nins—a chuunin and two jounin—had more of a chance of helping the Hokage than he did.

Kyuubi smirked at the retreating figure and cocked his head towards Sarutobi, "Do you really believe that hiding the children will protect them from me? If I wanted to drink their blood, I would have no problem tracking them and slaughtering them."

"Leave them alone demon!" Sarutobi growled, releasing his first scroll, the words glowing in amber as he recited them by heart. Water erupted from the paper, surrounding Kyuubi and covering him until he couldn't be seen by the raging waters. Releasing his second scroll, he sealed the water into a self sustaining bubble and waited for the waters to slow to reveal Kyuubi trapped inside.

"Almost got me that time." He smirked, tilting his head.

Sarutobi gasped as he saw his own ninja trapped inside the bubble, quickly breaking the seals on both jutsus and thus freeing the young kinouchi. She fell to her knees, coughing and spitting up water while heaving in breaths of air. "I will kill you." He whispered, his hands trembling slightly as he wracked his brain for another strategy. Fire jutsus were useless and it became apparent that the demon could easily escape a jutsu anyway, which left taijutsu, genjutsu and weapons.

He had become the Hokage not because he was one of the strongest ninjas Konoha had, but also because he was one of the wisest. He led his village and kept the peace between the people of neighboring villages, he rarely fought anymore and with age came the waning of said abilities. Yet he wasn't about to let the demon kill his people, the Yondaime had defeated this demon by sacrificing his life and though he was free, he was limited to a human body.

Kyuubi's eyes narrowed, "You'll kill me? You don't have nearly enough to do that." Reaching out, he grabbed the kinouchi and brought her to her feet by her hair. Smiling, he slowly ran his claws across her neck, not even leaving a mark across the woman's pale skin, and then dropped her again.

"Ritsuko, move!" He yelled, trying to get the girl to move, but he could only look in horror as drips of blood began to fall to the ground. Looking up at him, her eyes wide with terror, blood poured from the cut on her neck until she fell to the ground dead in a puddle of her own blood.

"Pity, if she hadn't looked up, that cut wouldn't have ripped open and she could still be alive." Kyuubi drawled, nudging the girl with his toe. Yawning, he divested the dead girl of her weapons pouch and dumped the contents on the ground, finding nothing of interest in it. "This is becoming boring."

Sarutobi growled, his eyes glaring dangerously at the demon. "You will pay for that."

"I will? And who's going to do it, you?" He laughed. Stooping down, he picked up a kunai covered in the girl's blood and twirled it around his hand. "She's certainly not up for it." He added sarcastically.

"We will." A voice answered as shinobi poured out from the shadows, weapons drawn and pointed towards Kyuubi.

"Ah, finally, something fun." Kyuubi grinned while flipping the kunai into the air. Catching it by the point, he cocked his head and threw it in a random direction. Ninjas scattered and Kyuubi soon found a barrage of weapons flying towards him. Gracefully moving, Kyuubi sidestepped the attack with an ease that put everyone else at unease. His keen hearing allowed him to hear the weapon cutting through the wind seconds before it would reach him and seconds was more than enough time to dodge the objects.

Iruka watched from the back with Sarutobi, he knew he would only get in the way if he tried to fight but if he was called to then he would. If only he hadn't brought Naruto out…but he'd probably be dead and there'd be no one to warn the village of the impending demon attack. At least here Kyuubi was in the open and the few jounin that weren't on missions were now in the ranks of those defending the village. Iruka cringed as blood splattered the stones, a foolish chuunin had rushed him and now lay dead beside the girl—both whom he had taught four years ago.

Kyuubi shook the blood of his hand with distaste, ugh, it smelled polluted and there was no way he'd try that. A soft scuffle alerted him to the next victim and he turned to face him head on, ducking beneath the ninja as his claws ripped through fabric and to the soft flesh beneath it. He jerked his hand towards him and watched as the man's shocked face turned into one of horror as his insides began to leak from the wound on his abdomen.

A scarred ninja appeared beside the man and with a puff of smoke disappeared with the injured ninja. Kyuubi smirked, eyes glinting red in the dark as he surveyed his enemy. Two jounin strength ninjas were left—excluding the Hokage—and the other twelve were chuunin. "Where are the children?" He murmured, head tilting as if trying to hear better.

"It's none of your concern demon." Someone spat, kunai drawn in a defensive stance.

Kyuubi grinned, canines snapping together. "Oh? But then who shall inform them of their fallen comrades?"

"Stay away from them." Another said, the woman's voice trembling.

"Are one of them yours perhaps? I bet his blood is so sweet and to hear his last breath will be music to my ears." He taunted, licking one bloody knuckle as if it were the son he spoke of.

"Don't you lay one fucking hand on them!" Another yelled, charging Kyuubi with three others behind him.

Smirking, he met them halfway, dancing around his prey with a grace that couldn't belong to this world. Iruka watched transfixed as the fox demon slipped beneath his comrades' guards as if he were anticipating their moves like a choreographed ballet. Trembling with fear and rage, Iruka watched as shinobi and kinouchi died one after the other by his hand and they had yet to scratch the demon.

Is this the power of the Kyuubi? Iruka thought as he forced himself to watch as Kyuubi reached his hand through a kinouchi's neck and another's chest. Jumping, the demon placed a foot on either ninja and pushed them back, thus freeing his hands and ridding the area of bodies to fight the next ninjas. Though the demon was covered in blood, none of it was his own and from the looks of it, none of it would be.

The only warning Kyuubi had was the slight whistling, but that was all he needed. Flipping back, Kyuubi skidded across the stones and glared up at the ninja who attacked him. A small trickle of blood escaped from the cut on his cheek, but he ignored it and stood to face the jounin before him.

Sharingan spinning, one red/black eye and one silver stared back at him from beneath a mop of silver hair. Kakashi held a scroll in one hand and a shiruken in the other, his back tense as he waited for the demon to make his move.

Slowly standing, Kyuubi touched the blood on his cheek and smirked evilly at his newest victim. "Congratulations, you seem to have injured me."

"Where's Naruto?" He demanded, flipping the shiruken backwards so he could open the scroll if needed.

"Naruto? Oh yes, your little feral child. He's here…but I don't really think he wants to come out."

"Release your hold on him, demon, and you can live."

Kyuubi lifted an eyebrow, "Ah, but for me to do that, you must release me human, so please do and I will let you have your little 'foxling' back."

Kitsune huddled in the back of the room, his body trembling as he pressed himself into the corner. The room smelled of mildew and blood, but it was so dark he could barely see. Metal tree branches[1] blocked the only opening to the dank den and any time he approached them he felt weighed down by something he couldn't comprehend. And so he stayed shadowed in darkness where it was safe. Whimpering, he brought his knees to his chest and closed his eyes as tears threatened to spill. There was no sound except for his own breathing and he felt so weak, more so than when he didn't eat for a six moons. He could no longer see through the dark or smell what kind of blood had been spilled and it scared him to be without what he knew.

Flinching, Kitsune sat up at the sudden pain on his cheek. Something warm and liquid dripped from his cheek and he touched it slowly, bringing his fingers to his nose. The scent of his own blood was strong and he quickly wiped it on the stones, his eyes scanning for an enemy nearby, but he couldn't see anything. Carefully standing, Kitsune neared the tree branches, eyes darting around the den for whatever attacked him and yet there were no other movements.

Fighting the sudden weight added onto his small frame, Kitsune pressed towards the branches and peered into the corridor before him. Trying to peer between the bars, Kitsune leaned forward and found himself flying back into the wall behind him. His head snapped back against the wall and he slumped to the ground in pain. Blood trickled down his neck as he remained on the floor in a daze, the back of his head throbbing from the impact.

Kakashi stood back, eyes surveying the demon crouched on the ground a few yards away from him. Bricks fell away from the house he was slammed into but it didn't seem to affect the Kyuubi as he stood up and brushed off his clothing. "Damn it." He whispered, breaking the seal on the scroll.

Kyuubi rolled his shoulders and grinned, "Things are beginning to look up it seems." Before Kakashi could follow the demon's movements, Kyuubi was right beside him, that grin still in place. He tried to block those clawed hands, but only had the chance to deflect them from his neck before he felt them bite into the side of his arm. Yet he turned into Kyuubi's attack and used the palm of his hand to slam upwards into the blonde's chin while flipping the kunai around and leaving a gash on Kyuubi's right side. He then brought his knee up and jammed it into the new wound before slipping beneath Kyuubi's arm and moving back.

The demon seethed and glared at the ninja, eyes glowing with rage. Straightening his back, Kyuubi brought his hands up into fists and sloped down to the ground while sprinting towards him. He avoided the bloodied kunai and slammed his closed fist into the ninja's stomach before pivoting and kicking him in the side as Kakashi had done earlier to him.

Kakashi rolled across the ground, but he was on his feet before he stopped and speeding back towards the demon. Releasing the scroll, he incanted the spell and watched as chains spread from parchment towards Kyuubi. Only two of the six chains were able to connect, but it was enough to hinder the demon's movements. Holding tight to the scroll, Kakashi landed a barrage of blows upon Kyuubi while the chains sapped at the demon's strength. Using the chains as leverage, Kakashi pulled the demon to him and placed the kunai at his throat, "Will you leave?"

Though blood seeped from his split lip and he looked like he could barely stand, Kyuubi grinned and whispered, "No."

Moving the blade up, Kakashi nicked the demon's neck before he heard the chains snap and felt the air expel from his lungs as claws scratched at his armor. He could barely move in time before another blow landed somewhere on his body and despite his attempts to escape, somehow Kyuubi followed behind him.

The fox demon continued to rain hits upon the ninja, claws ripping at the fabric until blood soaked through the black clothing. Kyuubi smirked down at his tired prey and stooped down beside him, his nose centimeters away from Kakashi's. "You were the Yondaime's pupil, weren't you?" He asked, eyes calculating.

Kakashi kept silent, but used the moment to retrieve a kunai from his pouch. He was certain his ankle was broken as well as a couple ribs and he didn't even want to think about the amount of blood he had lost so far.

"You are! I recognize you, though you were a bit smaller then." He chuckled, as he leaned back. "Well, at least I can get some kind of revenge upon that bastard." Flexing his hand, Kyuubi brought it back to strike Kakashi one last time when someone grabbed his wrist and pulled. Snarling, Kyuubi craned his neck to see his opponent and slammed the flat of his hand into the man's chest.

Sarutobi grunted at the contact, but held firm, dragging the demon away from Kakashi. "Your fight is with me."

Twisting up, Kyuubi slid behind the man and gracefully reversed their positions. "I think not. You're washed out, admit it, and your strength lies within fire jutsus, which don't work on me."

"Then fight me." Kakashi whispered, springing up from the ground and lodging the kunai into Kyuubi's stomach, twisting the blade to cause more damage.

The fox didn't even flinch as he absentmindedly thrust the Hokage away to turn towards his original prey. Grabbing the kunai, he pulled it out and wielded it as a sword towards Kakashi.

Metal clashed and slid against each other as the two danced around each other, but Kyuubi was just a bit faster, a bit stronger and a 'bit' older even if he hadn't fought in a more than a decade. Slipping beneath Kakashi's guard and tilting their blades up, Kyuubi slugged Kakashi in the stomach and danced away again just as gracefully as before, despite his injuries.

Kakashi glared and decided it was time to end the fight, but he still felt like he was missing something vitally important. Putting a good amount of distance between them, Kakashi focused on moving all his chakra to his right hand and forming it into a ball of electricity. The Chidori was the quickest way to get this battle over with and that's exactly what he planned to do. Half the chuunins lay dead on the ground before him while most of those who were left were injured and the Hokage, though strong, just didn't have the strength and stamina he had before.

The other jounin were protecting the children and the few who weren't injured were tending to the wounded, leaving him and the other chuunin to deal with the demon. And he could defeat him, but he needed a little more time. Though he kept his eyes on Kyuubi, he continued to build the small Chidori in his hand, willing it to collect to its mature form.

Kyuubi narrowed his eyes and charged the ninja, only to be blocked by another ninja. A wall of earth appeared before him and only the slight trembling of the ground alerted him to the next pillar appearing. Rolling out of the way, he quickly disposed of the shinobi only to find another one standing in his way. Growling, he ducked beneath the spray of water and flipped the woman over his back and continued towards his prey. But by then it was too late, Kakashi had finished.

Gripping the spinning ball of electricity, Kakashi rushed towards Kyuubi, Sharingan spinning and dead set upon the fox demon. The fox stared with a look of surprise on his face at the sudden increase of Kakashi's speed as he came barreling towards him, but even moving proved useless as the ninja copied his every movement.

Those red eyes widened as the Chidori slammed into his chest and there was nothing he could do to block it. His body went limp and he fell to the ground as that chakra literally short circuited his muscles. Blood welled from his chest and mouth as he stared up at the panting ninja, smoke coming off his hand. The smell of burning flesh filled the air and Kyuubi felt his control slipping as Naruto struggled within to gain some kind of control.

"You lose, demon." Kakashi said, a hint of sadness in his voice.

"Lose?" He croaked, still smiling. "Oh, I still win in the end, who do you think was suffering from your attacks? Certainly not me." He laughed, eyes fading to blue. His eyes dilated and an inhuman scream ripped from his throat as an aura of blue chakra flared up.

Kakashi leapt away and readied himself for another attack, but the demon never got up. Instead, the flare died down and revealed a young boy with numerous cuts and blood soaking the ground with every second. Hesitantly, Kakashi approached the figure and stared into clear blue eyes hazed with pain.

"Kakashi?" He whispered, before his eyes rolled back and he promptly passed out.

Dhampir
12/08/06
Page 11

Hati Hrodvitnisson: This is from Norse mythology. There is Skoll and Hati Hrodvitnisson and these are the two wolves who chase the sun and moon, thus bringing about sunrise and sunset. It is said that when Skoll catches the sun is when the world shall be destroyed. Just a little history there.

[1] The metal tree limbs are the bars over the Kyuubi's cage.

Sorry everyone, my modem died and then I took a long time trying to write the fighting scenes. You wouldn't believe how many times I rewrote it…

Anyway, I'm tired so I'll have to wait to do reviews next time, but thanks for all of them, I love each one.