(A/N) Hey, everybody, how y'all doing? Anyway, this is the next instalation of the Kits! Saga. Trust me, you might want to get out a hanky now, because it gets bad...
Kits!
Pairings: Wow...Okay, NaruKyuuSasuGaaShuka, plus some IruKaka, and just a smidge of ShinoOc. Also, there are going to be some really cracky Sakura/? Pairings, but their only for the plot, not for anything else! (Please don't eat me alive! -Otaku) and plus I'm going to start pairing off the Rookie Nine.
Warnings: Lots of political stuff, but its played down, so as not to bore you all. Also, we've got some character death, but most of them die anyway in the original, so...Anywho. We've also got Evil!Sakura, and just a twinge of creepiness on her part...
Description: Sasuke and Naruto get thrown headfirst into their duties as princes of the foxes, while Tohru and Shino continue their penpal relations. Naruto learns an awesome new skill! Meanwhile, at Konoha, several people are dying, and no one can find any connections...
Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, then you definately wouldn't see me writing this, because this would BE the Naruto series. Anywho...
(Oh, and I just found out a couple of days ago that the three-tails was actually a turtle, not a boar...Oh well...I got the second one right, anyway!
Also, for ages, see last chapter. I'm not changing them again. Nor am I repeating myself. I have a hard enough time keeping track of what all the characters are doing, let alone what age they are!
-Otaku)
Kits! Chapter 12
Naruto had been bored. Now, he was swamped. It seemed that since Kyuubi was busy healing, and dealing with extremely important business such as the various treaties with the other countries, both human and demon, that he and Sasuke were left to deal with internal matters! They were inundated with requests for financial aid, marital disputes, territory disputes, and gods only know what else these silly kitsune come up with!
Sasuke wasn't finding it too appealing either. But, where as Naruto could deal with sudden incurrences on his personal space, Sasuke's method was to simply hold court once a week, and if they needed something they could bring it to him then. He couldn't deal with it like Naruto, who was getting accosted on his walks around the city, various complaints and such, that the blonde, though often short tempered, dealt with with efficiency and stamina.
One such request actually forced Sasuke to rely on a method he felt a little too close to his brothers. A guard had come forth, holding a baby kit, barely born. A vixen as well as a male came forth, both claiming it. The vixen said that since she birthed it, it was hers, and the male said that he was half the parents as well, so it was his.
Naruto was at a loss of what to do. He didn't really want to remove the child from either one of it's parents. The poor thing needed a good home! He didn't want to see it hurt, and it was just a baby!
Sasuke understood the arguments on both sides, and surely there was a way to solve this. Taking a page out of his brother's book, he fixed them both with a stare, before declaring, "Take the child, and cut it in two. Give one half to each parent."
The cries of utter revulsion came from all, and Sasuke was treated to a disgusted glare from Naruto.
"Have you gone out of your teeny Avenger mind?!" Naruto yelled, "How is that going to do anything but put an innocent child to death?!"
"Just do it." Sasuke said, calm as always. He turned to Naruto, "This is the only way to be fair. They both had a hand in making the child, and they both obviously love their child, so this is the only method available to us."
The male nodded, saddened, but willing to accept the Prince's judgement. The vixen, wild eyed, clutched the child to her breast. She looked around, hoping for someone to help her.
"No! I'd rather see my child raised by that male, than to see him harmed! Please! I'll give him to him, just...Just don't harm my child!" She yelled, hoping to appeal to the prince's sense of mercy. Naruto froze. He could stop this, just as easily as Sasuke had started it, but...Who should he give the child to?
It seemed a simple answer to him. And apperantly, it was to Sasuke as well, for Sasuke turned to him, with that quiet Uchiha smile, and nodded, allowing him the descision. He turned to the two, and began walking towards them. Taking the baby from the mother, and in gentle arms, holding the cooing child, the golden haired prince smiled at the kit.
"This will one day be a full grown fox. Until then, it needs all the love, and compassion it can handle. You two are his parents! You shouldn't fight amongst each other! If this had been a human child, I would say you two should work it out, but this child will need to learn all the essential Kitsune culture, as well. You, madame, " He said, turning to the vixen, "are a sweet, kind woman, and I can tell you truly love your child. You would rather see it in another's arms than hurt. I commend you for that. And you sir, " he said, turning now to the male, "are a brave individual, willing to sacrifice your own child, should your prince demand it. I appreciate that kind of loyalty. So, as Lord Kyuubi's mate, I award custody of this child to both of you. You will share him, and teach him properly. And hopefully, you two will learn something from each other as well. Good luck."
And, finally finished, Naruto kissed the babe on the forehead, smiling down at the child, before handing him back to his parents, who hopefully, would learn to live peacefully with each other, for the sake of their child.
Many more cases, just as harrowing as this one, appeared before the two princes, and, slowly, over the weeks, they began to become used to their noble duties. Naruto, pregnant still, actually enjoyed having something to do, since training was becoming harder. He found it nearly impossible to move with the same speed and accuracy he had had before his growing babe.
He endured, however, and perservered. He only hoped he wasn't doing damage to the baby.
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While his "Princess" was training, Tohru often had little to do. However, he found that this was a perfect time to reply to the strange shinobi's request. He was rather peeved, especially since the interloper had even suggested he change Aurora's name to Hidari! This was severely intriguing. Especially since when Tohru had lived in the leaf-village, there had seemed no ninja who would show any interest in a dying child.
"Aurora, I give you the freedom to choose. Whichever name you choose will suit me fine." He whispered to the little creature. Those liquid purple eyes never left it's Creator-Master's face.
"I...Well, Master, I was wondering if perhaps, I could have a companion? Then we could use one name for him and the other for me?" Aurora had been apprehensive bringing this up to it's dear Master. It wasn't sure what using the Water of Life cost it's Creator, and it didn't want it's Master to suffer.
Tohru was surprised. He wasn't even sure what gender this creature was, much less if it could reproduce, yet here it was asking for a companion. He couldn't deny it, especially since the little voice had sounded so very lonely while it spoke. He failed to imagine what it would be like, to be the only one of your kind. He was saddened by it.
"Alright, little one. Find me a suitable butterfly for you, and I will create you a Life-Companion." He smiled, unknowingly creating a small culture for the little creatures, just speaking those words. Tohru wondered what he would do, if the two procreated. If he had created an entirely new species. He wondered what that would do to the world.
It was a few days before Aurora brought back a beautiful, red and yellow winged butterfly, rather flighty in nature. Tohru commended his creation on a beautiful choice of companion. Taking out his flask of the Water, he poured just the tiniest bit on the butterfly, and both he and Aurora watched as it worked it's magic.
The little being grew, twisting, changing, slowly, almost painfully. It's legs collided, solidifying and combining, to form arms and legs, tiny, but perfectly working. It's tiny hands clenched in pain as the rest of it formed, it's legs, body, and finally, it's head. The same tiny ears, long, and pointed, grew, and soon became shrouded by short, fire-red hair, spiked as if styled somehow. The little creature blinked open large, liquid, pupiless green eyes, and looked around. Fluttering it's beautiful flame-designed wings, it opened it's tiny mouth, as if seeking to talk.
Aurora fluttered down next to it, and smiled. It was strange, seeing two such similar, and yet so different creatures standing next to each other on his hand. Where Aurora was a feminine androgyny, the newly born Hidari was rather masculing looking. Aurora's skin was a light, sparkling green, matching it's beautiful peacocklike wings, Hidari's skin was a bright yellow color. Aurora's long, soft blue hair was more elegent and refined, where Hidari's was sharp, and pointed.
"Happy Birthday, Hidari." Tohru said, smiling down at his new creation. Aurora took Hidari's hand, which caused the little thing to look at it's companion strangely. "Now, do not fear, Hidari, Aurora is your Life-Companion. You two were created as equals. You are safe here, with myself and with Aurora."
Those green eyes turned on Tohru and a questioning look appeared on his face. It seemed Hidari wouldn't be one to talk much...
"He is our Creator-Master, Hidari! We owe him our very existance. He created us with the Water of Life. We...We are Aurora and Hidari, the first of our kind!" Aurora announced, happy and proud. However, this left Tohru with a slight problem. He didn't know what to call these creatures. Now that there were two of them, they needed a name for their species.
Finally, after a few days deliberation, he decided to call them Faeries, after the old Fairy tales. They certainly resembled the little nature spirits that tricked and traded with humans. Informing them of this, Aurora smiled, and fluttered around her Creator-Master's head, and Hidari smiled as well, but stayed firmly planted on his creator's shoulder.
Now, Tohru knew their genders for sure, because something in their chemical makeup had changed during the days they spent with each other. Hidari, for lack of a better term, grew genitals, and Aurora gained mamory glands on her chest, much like those of a female human. It was because of this that Tohru managed to find some small handkerchiefs around the castle, and give them to the little beings. They accepted them graciously, and turned them into small, rather barbaric outfits, usually dresses for Aurora, and some form of tunic for Hidari.
One day, after Hidari had been born, Aurora came to her Master, dressed in an elegant, if somewhat ripped gown of blue-green silk, and flitted in front of him. Tohru turned to the little creature, and waited for her to speak up.
"Aren't you going to answer Master Shino's message?" She asked. Tohru found himself a bit urked that she had called him that.
"Alright, Aurora, I'll answer. Repeat the message to me again?"
"'I, Shino Aburame, would like to know who you are, to create such a magnificent insect. Please contact me again, using this little one. He will know where to come to give me your response.' End message." She intoned, before resting on her master's knee, waiting for the response.
"Alright, I'll reply, but I want both you and Hidari to go this time, and I want you to stay for a full day, and then I want you, Aurora to return with the message. Hidari will stay, in case he forgets something he wanted to put in the message. Then, when I reply, you two will stay there for another day, and then switch, Hidari delivering his message that time. Do you understand?"
She nodded, and smiled. She would hate to be away from her beloved Hidari, but they would obey. Tohru was their Creator after all.
"Here's the message. Are you ready?" At a nod, he began. "I am Tohru, and that is all you need to know. I created these beings to help me. Why are you so interested in my Faeries? Surely, you, as a ninja, have better things to do. Aurora will deliver your message to me, and Hidari will stay with you, should you need anything. When Aurora returns with my message to you, send Hidari with the reply the next day, alright? I look forward to hearing from you. That's the end of the message, Aurora." She nodded, and recited it again for him. Tohru was always amazed at how much these little beings could memorise in one sitting. It was astounding.
"Hidari and I will leave in the morning to deliver the message, Master." She said, smiling again. She couldn't wait to watch what passed between her Creator and Master Shino. Finding her Life-Companion sleeping under a flower, she woke him and told him of their mission. They began gathering things they would need, and in the morning, left, silently as the wind they rode.
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Meanwhile, Sakura was becoming rather notorious. It seemed as if she was simply becoming a Lolita icon, dating older men, starting with Ibiki Morino (I think that's his name...-Otaku), the interogations head. He was in charge of gathering information from the various spies the ANBU manage to catch.
That is, until he turned up dead, two weeks after he began dating Sakura. No one could really explain his death. He was found in a ditch, a few blocks away from Sakura's house, and it was deduced that he was coming to see her, from the flowers he had in his hand. His dead body was just staring off into space, rather disconcertingly, as if he died happy. Had they not been ANBU, his finders would have sobbed, at the loss of such a fine shinobi.
At the funeral, Sakura was seen being comforted by Asuma, who, everyone knew, was having a rocky time with Kurenai. Of her sensei, no one knew. He had for lack of a better term, dissapeared. No one had seen him since his and Iruka's break up, except in the company of the red-headed kunoichi that no one really knew. Iruka was at the funeral, and though several gossip mongers tried to pry information out of him, he was tight-lipped, and utterly silent. It was strange.
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Kyuubi, trying to reconnect with his youngest mate, had sought the blonde out, hoping to gain some favor with him. He found the little blonde trying his hardest to train, even while the child in his belly made it rather hard for him.
"Naru-chan, I...Let's train together!" He said, grabbing Naruto into a huge hug. The blonde griped at him, but sooner or later, relaxed into the hug. Naruto was actually rather happy that Kyuubi wasn't too busy with his work. He had missed the fox's constant presence, though they still chatted through the seal, it was less frequent now.
"Alright! Alright, Kyuubi, just settle down." The blonde grinned, pushing the fox-man away from himself. Setting into a stance, he initiated a spar between the two, and it just took off from there.
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Just months after Ibiki was found dead, so too was Asuma Sarutobi. He too, was found in a ditch, as if going to see Sakura, with candy, this time. And again, he seemed happy to have died. It was strange, of course, but no one, in the whole shinobi village could find any information to implicate the pink haired shinobi who sobbed at the two's funerals.
Rumors began flying, varying stories. Some said a demon had a grudge against Sakura, and was punishing her for being vain. Some said Sakura was the demon, and was feeding off the men. Others said that she was just plain bad luck, and anyone who stayed in contact with her would die as well. And still others blamed it on the Kyuubi, one last dying strike against the village it had tortured.
Even so, Sakura earned herself the title of "the Cherry Blossom Widow". She secretly loved the name, though she outwardly protested it being used. She wanted to be feared, to be loved, as her mistress was. Her teacher was beautiful, deadly, and utterly uncatchable, and she wanted to be the same.
How else would she steal back Sasuke from that damn bastard? (hm...does this remind anyone else of the Shippuuden arch? Or is it just me? -Otaku)
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Naruto was learning quickly, even Kyuubi had to admit. It had taken him over two hundred years to learn this technique, as simple as it was, and his little mate had it down within two weeks! Though, he had to admit, with as fine a teacher as him, he would've learned it a lot faster too. And, the boy had natural talent, shifting his conciousness to work with the 'jutsu' as he called it, allowing his mind to figure out the inherant parts of it.
He was doing so well...Yet, Kyuubi would still sense a turmoil, in his heart and mind, sometimes. Whenever Kyuubi got too close, or touched him, he would feel a tremor of fear run through the little Jinchuuriki. It made him sad, and angry, to think that Naruto might fear him. But he knew that the little one couldn't help it.
He had thought that teaching him the Fuin no Kaze would help. Maybe learning the Wind Seal would help him to calm, to steady himself. Kyuubi had known for years that Naruto was a Wind User. He had the personality for it, the mind for it. He was quick, flighty, utterly fascinated with the world around him, and rather uncontrollable.
So perhaps, learning a technique to put him in contact with his own nature would help the boy to alleviate some of his fears. It seemed to be working, but only time will tell...
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The third Hokage was no fool. Nor was he prone to ignoring a situation, especially if it posed a threat to the village he loved and protected. He had hoped that by using that damnable vixen they would perhaps locate their own errant fox, and then return him home. Then, perhaps, they could have been rid of her.
But now, after all the damage she was causing, he had no choice. He had to make her leave. She was a threat, and she was destroying his home, his people, one by one.
She had destroyed Kakashi, taking away the only thing he had loved, since he lost Obito.
She had compromised Iruka's ability to teach, simply by putting his heart into the shredder.
She was corrupting, corroding away at Sakura's soul, turning her into a ruthless she-demon, much like herself.
She was slowly eating away at the sanity of several of the Genin, among them: Hyuuga Hinata, who she was poisoning with false sympathy; Hyuuga Neji, who she was slowly devouring his trust in all; Inuzuka Kiba, who was slowly losing control on the tenuous balance his family keeps between the wild of the animals, and the humanity of his soul; and finally, she was destroying Akimichi Chouji, and Nara Shikamaru, by raising doubts about their own friendship.
And worse still, he knew in the reaches of his heart, she was responsible for the death of his son. However indirectly.
All he could do was watch, as the beginning stages took root. But now, before this evil flower blossomed, he could uproot it, and drive it out of his beautiful leaf garden. He would drive the she-fox out, turn her away, whether they found the fox-village or not.
These were his thoughts that night, that fateful last night. These were his thoughts as his Anbu fell, silently, to the illusions of a master vixen. These were the images, the rants that filled his mind, as she snuck into his office, where he was finishing up the remnants of the day's paperwork.
Sensing the presence, he turned, quickly, armed. He was a shinobi, though old, and would go down fighting. Or so he thought.
It was Orochimaru. Young, sweet, before he had been corrupted with thoughts of experiments, and immortality. This was the child he had nearly raised, after the war had taken his parents, after the academy had turned out yet another child prodigy. This...was his student, his failure.
But, he was too young...Even now, he would be fifty or more...Surely...This was some trick?
Before he could call out, new gaurds burst through the door, only they saw an Orochimaru much older, in his thirties, with his kunai at the Hokage's throat. They stayed their hands. The snake-summoner had their leader, whom they had sworn to protect.
Orochimaru gave one last grin, his long, slimy tongue sliding down the old man's cheek, and whispered in his ear, "It's been fun, old man. But your time is up."
Blood sprayed everywhere, as the jugular was sliced open. The poison on the blade quickly took it's toll, stopping the elder's heart before he had even bled to death. Before his killer had even fled the room, through a window.
Laughing out, in his voice, Tsumi called out, "Sound will DESTROY Konoha! Wait for us, for we will strike, fearsome and swift!"
And the snake-master dissapeared.
End Chapter
Otaku: Oooooh! I am SO evil! Sorry guys, but Sarutobi had to die, or else Tsunade would never get to play a part! And she is VITAL to my story line. Okay? Don't worry, he will be avenged...In one way or another.
Naruto: WHAT IS IT WITH YOU AND TRAGEDY?!
Otaku: Not sure...Not enough love as a child? -shrugs-
All the Konoha orphans: -glares at Otaku-
Otaku: What?
Tune in for the next chappie, after all, we've still got to find out what Tsumi's up to!