A/N: N & B here! And I'm back with the latest chapter of A Fox among the Hounds. I've had a hard time with writing this chapter, but I tried. I had a bit of writer's block, and I just finished my thesis a few days ago. Strangely enough, I had some classmates who wrote a Naruto-based thesis. Funny, huh?
Anyway, Q & A time!
To Broken Sexed Up Bloody Kitten: The "Aka" in "Akamaru" actually refers to his color change after swallowing a soldier pill. The dog is a white puppy with brown ears, but he turns red after swallowing the soldier pills. Same principle applies to Aomaru. He is roughly about the same color as the Kyuubi, hence the statement "red, pointy-eared puppy", but he turns into a rich indigo-blue color after taking a soldier pill. As for Kuromaru, he was named for his actual color.
A Fox among the Hounds
The Toad Contract
Within the next two weeks, Naruto was training harder than ever. He was really putting his all into his exercises and had finally mastered water-walking. With his new and improved chakra control, his jutsu efficiency went up by thirty percent, and his senses were sharper than ever. However, he still had to stay on his toes; with Kakashi as his mentor, Sasuke Uchiha was going to be a tough nut to crack, and Sabaku no Gaara was no walk in the park to begin with. If Naruto wanted to advance to Chuunin, he'd have to outmatch than his competition, and that was what he was going to do.
"Fuuton: Renkuudan!"
Naruto released an air bullet that smashed into some nearby trees, knocking them over. His old Renkuudan would have only knocked down around four to five trees, but with the chakra exercises he had been receiving, he was now able to knock down twice that many trees. Concentrating his chakra, he steeled himself for another go.
"Oi gaki, what's with you?" Jiraiya asked, jumping down from his perch. "You've been training like crazy for since you visited your little girlfriend two weeks ago. How is she, by the way?"
"First of all, Hinata-hime's not my girlfriend, two, nothing's with me, and thirdly, she's fine," Naruto muttered.
"Then what seems to be the problem?" asked the Toad Sage. "If she's fine, why are you so glum?"
"Nothing's the problem; I'm just doing my best so I can go into Chuunin level."
Jiraiya scoffed. "Could've fooled me. Something's up with you kid, you're too intense. Even training buffs like Maito Gai and his mini-me don't push themselves that hard."
It was then when Naruto snapped. "She's never going to be a ninja again!" he yelled, punching a nearby tree. "She's going to be crippled for life and has no choice but to pull out of my team. To make things worse, the old bastards that she calls clan elders are planning to send her to the Branch House and mark her with that accursed seal of theirs! And then I was told that some medic called Tsunade or something could help her. If Dr. Yakushi can't help Hinata-hime, I don't see how an old bag who's been MIA for fifteen years could do better."
The next thing Naruto knew, he was nursing a lump on his head. "First of all gaki," Jiraiya growled. "Don't raise your voice at me. Secondly, don't underestimate Tsu-hime. She's been known to save those at death's door, and if we're really lucky, we can look for her and convince to return to the village and heal your girlfriend."
Naruto jumped up and made for a random direction. "Then what are we standing around here for? Let's go get her!"
But before the blond could get very far, the Toad Sage yanked him back by the collar. "Not so fast, kid. You still have the Chuunin Exams to train for. If you want to look Tsunade, we'll have to file for a search-and-retrieve warrant from the Hokage first."
"Then we can look for her?" asked Naruto, looking hopeful. Jiraiya nodded in affirmation.
The blond went back to his training with more enthusiasm than ever. "Okay! I'm gonna work hard, make Chuunin, find Tsunade and get her to heal Hinata-hime!" he chanted.
Jiraiya shook his head at the blond's antics and overoptimism. "Listen up gaki, your control has improved and all, but you're still an underdog in this competition. With an Uchiha as your opponent, most jutsu would be rendered useless because he'd just copy it. Not to mention that the Inuzuka-style taijutsu is virtually ineffective, as the Sharingan can trace its movements."
"So what do you suggest, Ero-Sennin?" Naruto asked, having lost some respect for the Toad Sage after discovering that the man was a peeping tom.
Jiraiya growled low in his throat. "Brat, if you don't stop calling me that, so help me I won't teach you this special jutsu I have."
Naruto looked like Christmas had arrived early. "New jutsu? What is Lord Jiraiya?" he asked eagerly.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu," answered the Toad Sage with a bright grin.
"Kootchie-kootchie-coo?" Naruto asked, scratching his scalp.
Jiraiya's fist connected with the blond's skull. "You moron! I said, Kuchiyose no Jutsu! You know, techniques that allow you to summon a battle partner. Like this!" Making a few hand seals, Jiraiya bit his thumb and slammed it onto the ground. "Kuchiyose no Jutsu!" A horse-sized toad appeared and then dispelled itself.
"It's cool and all, but I already have a partner," Naruto said, picking up his nin-ken. "By now, I bet you're already acquainted with Aomaru, the coolest nin-dog ever!"
"Yes, yes," Jiraiya grumbled impatiently. "But what about when your partner is injured? He can't possibly help you there. What are you going to do then?"
For once Naruto was rendered speechless. "Uh…"
Jiraiya gave a triumphant grin. "Exactly. That's why I was suggesting you get a backup partner in case worst comes to worse."
"O-kay," said Naruto, apprehensively. "What do I have to do?"
"First thing's first," said the Toad Sannin. "You'll have to sign a blood contract, binding yourself to the Alpha Summon."
"What's an Alpha Summon?"
"Good grief! What do they teach you in the Academy these days?" Jiraiya exclaimed. "To put it simply, an Alpha Summon is the leader of your animal summon. For example, the toads' Alpha Summon is the Toad Boss Gamabunta."
"Aah… I get it now," said Naruto, nodding.
"Right," instructed Jiraiya. "Now I'm going to summon the toad holding the contract. Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"
A toad the size of a large dog, wearing samurai armor appeared in a cloud of smoke. "Lord Jiraiya, how may I be of service?" it croaked.
Jiraiya cracked a grin. "Ah Gamachu, glad you're here. Would you be so kind to bring the contract scroll?"
"'Bout time you got yourself a new apprentice," remarked Gamachu with a raspy laugh. "For a minute there, we thought you were going to be the last Toad Summoner. Who's the new victim… …er… …student?"
"Well you see, young Naruto here has agreed to sign the Toad Contract.," explained the Toad Sage, running a palm through his hair. "So contract scroll, please!"
Gamachu puffed out his throat and stuck out his tongue. On the tip of the toad's tongue lay a scroll, an inkpot, and a calligraphy brush.
"Now Naruto, I want you to make a cut on your thumb and mix your blood into the inkpot," Jiraiya instructed. "This will bind you to the Toad Contract."
Using the tip of his kunai, Naruto poked a small cut on his thumb, the blood dripping into the inkpot down below. Jiraiya unfurled the scroll revealing the signatures of the previous contract wielders. However, one particular name really caught Naruto's attention. Right below Jiraiya's name was…
"Whoa, COOL! You knew the Minato Namikaze!?"
Jiraiya snorted. "Knew him? I was the kid's sensei."
If Naruto was a girl, he would have squealed with delight. "Y-you were the Yondaime's sensei!?"
"Heck yeah I was," said Jiraiya. "He was a scruffy little punk, but he had a good heart. In a way, he kinda reminds me of you."
Naruto was flabbergasted. He had just been compared to one of the greatest ninjas in history. He, Naruto Inuzuka, had just been compared to his idol and role model, Minato "The Yellow Flash" Namikaze.
All coherent though practically vanished, and the blond did what Hinata had done so often in the past. He fainted.
Naruto had finally defeated Sasuke Uchiha and Sabaku no Gaara. He had been awarded his Chuunin status by none other than the Fire Daimyo himself, a great honor for shinobis everywhere. Around him, the jubilant crowd cheered, and his friends and family rushed into the arena shouting and cheering their congratulations.
"Naruto, you did it!" yelled Kiba, putting his brother in a chokehold and noogie.
Tsume beamed down at him. "Way to go, pup! It is a joyous day for all of Konoha and the Inuzuka Clan. We're really proud of you."
Kakashi directed his trademark eye smile at his blond student. "Congratulations Naruto. You're one step closer in achieving your dream. You're a Chuunin and a team leader now. As your sensei, I am honored to have had you as a student and I acknowledge your prowess as a fellow Konoha-nin."
"Naruto," called a small, still voice.
Said blond turned to the direction of the voice and saw Hinata Hyuuga entering the arena in her wheelchair. Despite her injuries and recent bad tidings, a small smile was on her face, and with the rays of sunlight wafting down from the sky and draping around her like a halo, the Hyuuga heiress looked like an ethereal angel descending from the highest heaven. The people surrounding Naruto parted into two separate groups so that the blond could have a better view of his hime.
The blond ran to the young Hyuuga and hugged her tightly. "Hinata! You came!"
"Congratulations Naruto-kun," whispered Hinata, returning the embrace. "I'm glad you won. I really am."
"I did it," he muttered breathily. "I've made Chuunin. I did it all… …for us." As he uttered the last tow words, his lips met Hinata's in a soft, chaste kiss.
Tears of joy leaked out from Hinata's eyes as she found herself in absolute bliss. As Naruto pulled out, she couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed.
"You seem really happy these days," observed the blond. "It feels like there's more good news coming."
"Yes there is. The Hokage has assigned me as a medic-in-training at the hospital."
"That's wonderful," said Naruto, caressing the Hyuuga's cheek. "I guess you can still be a ninja, though not on field."
Hinata leaned into the blond's touch. "Actually there's more," she spoke. "The Hyuuga Elders have decided not to brand me with the Caged Bird Seal…" The Hyuuga averted her eyes away from the blond. "But on one condition…"
"What is it?" The blond's gaze turned steely at the cruelty of the Hyuuga Clan Elders. They had been nothing but a thorn in the side to his Hinata-hime.
"You have to…" Hinata whispered.
"I have to what?" Naruto asked, genuinely concerned.
"You have to wake up."
Naruto was confused. "Excuse me?"
"Wake up, Naruto… Wake up… Wake up…"
"OI GAKI, WAKE UP!" hollered Jiraiya, right into Naruto's ear.
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!?" yelped the blond, shooting up.
"What do you mean, 'what are you talking about?'" said the Toad Sage. "You just went out like a light and stayed like that for twenty whole minutes."
"Ugh. What happened anyway?" asked Naruto, running a hand through his hair.
Jiraiya sighed. "All I said was you reminded me of my old student Minato, and then you fainted. What's with you anyway? You still have a contract to sign!" He shoved the brush and the inkpot into Naruto's hands.
"Okay, let's do this!" said Naruto cheerfully. Dipping the brush in to the blood-ink mix, he began to write his name. Seconds later, the name Naruto Inuzuka appeared right below Minato Namikaze.
"Well done, young one," said Gamachu, addressing Naruto for the first time. "You are now bound to the toads." He took the scroll, inkpot, and brush, and dispelled himself.
"Now gaki," instructed Jiraiya. "I want you to summon a toad. A big one, if possible."
"Alrighty then," said Naruto. "Here goes nothing!" He bit his other thumb and made some handseals. Slamming his hand onto the ground, he shouted, "Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"
A big cloud of smoke burst forth and Naruto excitedly brushed it off, searching for the big toad he summoned.
"Heya Boss!" called a child-like voice that sounded a lot like Konohamaru's.
The smoke cleared out to reveal a toad-sized orange toad wearing a blue sleeveless robe.
"Dang it!" Naruto swore. "You're no giant toad. You're just a dinky little frog!"
A sticky tongue hit the blond right smack in the middle of his forehead. "I'm no frog!" yelled the small toad. "I'm Gamakichi, the son of Gamabunta, the Toad Boss."
The toad's outburst caught Jiraiya's attention. "You summoned Gamakichi?" he asked, giving Naruto a look of disbelief.
"I don't see what the deal is," said the blond, rubbing at his forehead. "He's just a dinky little frog."
"You knucklehead!" Jiraiya roared, his fist smashing onto Naruto's skull. "Gamakichi is the Toad Boss' eldest son. He's worth more than any of those toads I summoned earlier."
As Jiraiya was talking, Aomaru ran up to Gamakichi and was sniffed him curiously. The startled toad spat up a bit of foul-smelling oil right onto the puppy, and he ran a few ways away, yelping, bringing Naruto and Jiraiya's attention back to the diminutive toad.
Gamakichi puffed up proudly. "See that? I just held my own against a dog. Still have any doubts?"
"You're a plucky little fellow, aren't you?" said Naruto, picking up the toad he summoned. "Tell ya what- Prove yourself in the heat of battle and I might just change my opinion of you." He turned to his mentor. "Lord Jiraiya, I would like to challenge you to a spar."
A/N: And that's it for now! This is my early Christmas present to you folks! I hope you liked it. Naruto might sound a bit cocky in the end, but there's an ulterior motive to that. Again, this chapter isn't that perfect, but I'll be working in the possible kinks in my story. Until then, seasons greetings from my family to yours! Merry Christmas! Happy Hannukah! Merry Kwanzaa! And most of all, Have a prosperous New Year!
