Kitsune no Ken: Fist of the Fox

Written by Neon Majestic

(DISCLAIMER: The Naruto franchise and the characters therein belong to and were originally created by Masashi Kishimoto.)

OoOoO

CHAPTER 53 – Dynamic Fist

Two ambulances and a police car were parked outside the Uzumaki house, with paramedics wheeling Dosu and Zaku out of the house on stretchers to put them in the back of the ambulances. Kushina, meanwhile, sat on the front steps of the house, her forehead and arm bandaged where Dosu had slashed her during their fight, and she was giving her statement to Detectives Iruka and Ibiki. "...and I managed to fend them off as best I could, and then I called the police, and you showed up," she finished.

"Huh." Ibiki, writing the statement, sounded impressed. "Who'd have thought a nice-looking lady like you could kick as much tail as you did with these guys?"

"My husband was military-trained. He taught me what he knew. A girl has to be able to protect herself, you know," Kushina said airily.

"With scumbags like these, no wonder," Iruka shook his head. "Listen, we'll have to treat this house as a crime scene for a little while. Until then, do you have anyone you could stay with?"

"Well..." Kushina thought hard. "I can think of someone I may be able to call..."

OoOoO

"Hello, Samsara Hotel," the desk clerk answered the phone. "...ah, yes, Kushina-san, the lady who came by here earlier tonight...Yugito-san? Well..."

OoOoO

"...you're positive? She's left already?...oh, all right then, did she leave a cell-number with you to contact her...no? I see. All right, thank you anyway." Kushina sighed and hung up the phone. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised...Yugito will already be seeking out Naruto's trail right now...

"No luck?" Iruka asked her.

"Nope," Kushina shook her head. "And as if this wasn't enough...Naruto's out there, in trouble, and I can't do anything about it..."

"Yeah, you mentioned that..." Ibiki frowned. "So not only is Mizuki back in our hair, but he was busted out by this Akatsuki group...Chief Inuzuka's not going to like this..."

"What about Naruto?" Kushina wanted to know. "I already told you what I was told from those two boys just now, about where the gang has Naruto—can't you go there and get him?"

"It's not that simple, Uzumaki-san," Iruka said, quite apologetically. "We've already got officers out on the streets trying to find Mizuki after his latest attack in the upper-end suburbs tonight—we just don't have the manpower to spare right now to go look for a warehouse on the south side, especially since there are a lot of warehouses in that part of the city. As for Ibiki and myself, we still have to file our reports into this break-in here at your house, and that in itself will take significant time. By the time we'll be free to pursue this other matter..."

"...my son may be dead." Kushina's tone was dark.

"Uzumaki-san, one thing at a time, okay?" Ibiki spoke up—and just at that moment his phone rang. "Ugh, hang on a sec," he muttered as he answered the call. "Detective Morino here...damn, Mizuki's gangsters have been sighted in the business district? Crap...fine, we're on our way." He hung up. "Two persons got shot downtown while Mizuki and his gang were rampaging around. We have to go."

"I'm truly sorry, Uzumaki-san," Iruka shook his head.

Kushina's hair overshadowed her eyes. "It's all right. You're only human, after all. It's not like you can clone yourselves and be in multiple places at once." She shook her head. "Thank you, officers. I think I'll be able to manage on my own from here."

Looking at each other at that remark, Iruka and Ibiki got into their car and drove off. Kushina, meanwhile, looked at the cell-phone in her hand, which she'd just used to call the Samsara Hotel. "Only one other person I can think to call right now..."

OoOoO

The phone rang loudly in the Uchiha household, and Fugaku, sitting in his easy chair with the newspaper, looked at it in irritation. "What now?" he muttered as he got up and went to answer the phone. "Yes, Uchiha residence..."

"Hello, this is Uzumaki Kushina..."

"Uzumaki Kushina—ah, Naruto's mother!" Fugaku said, his tone becoming more pleasant as he recognized the name. "Yes, I remember you from when Sasuke had the last match of our tournament here at our house...you were with Naruto and his other friends..."

"This is not a social call, Uchiha-san,"Kushina interrupted him frostily. "You know that the criminal Mizuki escaped from prison, yes? He's teamed up with a group that's out to get my son, and right now they've gotten Naruto into a trap, and just now I had to fight off two of Mizuki's henchmen who were sent to kill me. The police can't do anything since they're dealing with Mizuki's riding around town, but I know where Naruto's being held. I need help, NOW."

Fugaku's face was now serious. "I understand, Uzumaki-san. I'll send a car round to your address to pick you up and bring you here to the mansion."

OoOoO

Hanabi wandered along the roadway, staying as close to the shadows as possible. She kept a wary eye out as the various cars and other assorted vehicles passed her, hoping against hope that one of them might be a police vehicle; to her disappointment, though, no such vehicle came by.

How long have I been walking?

To her, it seemed to have been hours since she'd fled from the meeting site, at Straw-head's insistence. And him...how was he doing? Was that bad man going to hurt him, or worse?

At least they didn't hurt me when they had me...but...it was Straw-head they wanted all along, anyway, wasn't it?

Approaching headlights coming from behind her caught her attention. She froze where she was, watching the oncoming car with suspicion; but the vehicle drove right on past, its occupants apparently too preoccupied with their own business to mind that a little girl was walking alone on the street at night.

Alone...scared...far from home, with no sense of direction with regards to where home was...her feet hurting from all the walking and running she'd done since escaping from that crazy gangster...cold, since she was still in her school uniform and otherwise not properly dressed for a chilly night...and at the moment, getting hungry. It had been quite a few hours since she'd had lunch, before she'd gotten snatched from school.

Grrr...

Her stomach rumbled. Embarrassed at the loud noise, Hanabi wrapped her hands around her tummy, shivered at the cold wind blowing past her, and kept walking.

OoOoO

"...I see." Fugaku's face held no humor. "So that's what happened...Hiashi, that bastard..."

Sitting across from him in his living room, Kushina sighed and nodded. "I can understand that he wants his child back...but to allow Naruto to go out there on his own without some form of backup, even with Naruto's past experience..."

"I understand where you're coming from," Fugaku nodded. "That being said, how exactly can I help? Mizuki may not be a Kyuushingai as he was pretending to be a few months ago, but he is still a dangerous character to have in Konoha Town. Without police involvement in this, we have to tread very lightly."

"Just give me one or two helping hands from your security detail, and possibly a vehicle, that's all. I'll go down there and get Naruto myself, even if I have to tear down the whole south side of Konoha Town to do it," Kushina said with determination.

"You?" Fugaku sounded doubtful.

"See these bandages?" Kushina pointed to her head and arm injuries. "Mizuki sent two of his punks to kill me in my own house. I stabbed one in his balls and hit the other in the head with my good ramen pot. Plus, I got military combat training from my husband. And, as you know, I spent the last two years raising my son, who was one of the Kyuushingai. I should think that more than qualifies me to do what needs to be done."

Fugaku nodded. "I understand, but as I said, there is need for caution. After all, in addition to what I've said, look at you—those injuries you've got will hamper you and make you a target for any gangster smart enough to take advantage of them. Still..." He crossed his arms over his chest and frowned in deep contemplation. "I know what to do, then. Sasuke!"

Moments later, Sasuke himself appeared. "You called, Dad?"

"Eh? Were you there all along?" Kushina asked.

"When Naruto's mom comes a-knockin' at this time of night, injured as she is, of course I'm going to get curious," said Sasuke. "What do you want me to do, Dad?"

"Get in touch with all your contacts who are in the warehouse district—they need to give us all the info on what's happening on the ground, with Mizuki and his gang on the rampage," said Fugaku.

"Got it." Sasuke nodded. "I'll do even better than that...I'm going to ring up every one of my school friends who took part in the Uchiha Zaibatsu Invitational Tournament. That way, Kushina-san, you'll be better fortified to rescue Naruto."

"I appreciate that gesture, Sasuke-kun, but is it really wise to put yourself and the others at risk, even for Naruto?" Kushina asked worriedly.

Sasuke didn't miss a beat. "They won't say no."

Kushina looked at Fugaku. "Are you all right with that?"

"I trust my son to be able to take care of himself," Fugaku nodded. "If he's willing to help rescue Naruto, then make use of all the help you can get, Kushina-san."

Kushina looked from father to son and back again. Then she closed her eyes and nodded. "Thank you...both of you."

"Right, then." Sasuke nodded in turn. "I'll make those calls right now. Meantime, Kushina-san, I'll have our chauffeur drive you in our Land Rover. You'll need something that can transport Naruto in case he can't move on his own, and also something that's tough enough to handle gunfire in case Mizuki's gang has a lot of firepower."

"Right." Kushina smiled. "Let it be done, then."

OoOoO

Continuing to walk along despite the cold breeze blowing against her, Hanabi rounded a corner...and saw a much-welcome sight: a convenience store on the other side of the street. "Food..." she whispered.

Carefully crossing the street, she approached the store and looked through the window. She barely managed to keep from salivating as she beheld sandwiches, donuts and chocolates in the display case...and then her face fell as she remembered that she didn't have any money. She'd never needed to carry even pocket money when she was going to school, since she always carried a prepared lunch from home and Kabuto always dropped her and picked her up on a daily basis. Still, she reasoned, she could at least go inside the store to get a little warmth...and maybe make a telephone call.

Stepping inside, she felt at once grateful for the warmth that hit her, clearing away the chilly feeling she'd had outside. She savored it for a full minute before going up to the counter. "Excuse me, sir," she said politely to the cashier, "could I use your bathroom?"

"Sure, little miss, just down the back there," the man replied. "Say, shouldn't you be home from school already? Why are you out so late?"

"Long story," said Hanabi, sure he'd never believe her claim that she'd been kidnapped. "Thank you for accommodating me."

She hurried away to the direction of the bathroom as the cashier had shown it to her, and locked the door. Heading to the nearest face-basin, she hurriedly washed her face to try and refresh herself. "Next up, to ask for a phone call," she said half-aloud.

"All right, this is a hold-up! Give us all your money, NOW!"

Hearing the venomous voice from outside, Hanabi felt a chill run through her body. As cautiously as she could, she crept up to the bathroom door and cracked it open...and, peeking out, she was just in time to see two youths, their lower faces covered with handkerchiefs as makeshift masks, standing in front of the counter with one of them pointing a gun at the very-scared cashier. What now?she groaned to herself.

"Hurry it up!" the gunman snapped at the cashier, even as his companion now began to rummage through the store aisles for various snacks. The cashier, meanwhile, was frantically pulling money out of the cash register and piling it on the counter.

Terrified tears formed in Hanabi's eyes as she bore witness to all this from her hiding place behind the bathroom door. I...I...please, someone...someone help...

"Dynamic Entry!"

A burst of green exploded into view at that moment as something shaped like a human shot out from one side and kicked the gunman square in the head. The gunman flew to the ground and lay there senseless, even as his companion turned at the sound of the noise. The second robber immediately rushed at the newcomer—who spun around and delivered a straight punch into his midsection, followed by an uppercut to the jaw that knocked the guy down.

By this time the cashier was out from around the counter and standing guard over the first crook, kicking his gun away from him. "Who're you trying to rob now, punk?" he snapped, sending a kick to the crook's side to emphasize the last word.

Blinking in awe at what she'd just seen, Hanabi carefully crept out of the bathroom. "Uh...wow..." she whispered.

"Eh?" The newcomer turned and saw her. "Ah, so a little girl was here too?" He put a contemptuous foot on the head of the second crook he'd just felled. "You guys have no shame! Suppose this child had gotten hurt because of you?" he demanded.

"I'm calling the cops now, then," said the cashier, stepping away from the first crook to go to the phone. He picked up the receiver and started to dial the emergency number—

BANG!

A scream escaped from Hanabi's throat as the cashier, groaning, fell to the floor, now clutching his bleeding shoulder. The gunman was up on one knee, his gun back in his hand, even as he shook his head to clear the stars out of his vision. "Damn you," he glowered, pointing his gun at the guy who'd just kicked him even as he now stood up. "Who the hell do you think you are, eh? I'll teach you a lesson!"

"NO!" Hanabi cried out, grabbing an apple from a nearby fruit stand and flinging it at the gunman's head. It bonked the guy right on the temple, catching him off-guard for a moment...and that was all the newcomer needed.

"Dynamic Fist! ATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATAAAAAHHH!"

The stranger's fists moved as fast as lightning, hitting the gunman all over his body before he could think to point his gun forward again. The crook wound up flying right into the door of a nearby fridge, smashing into the glass and slumping to the floor, out cold.

Again Hanabi was in awe. "Whoa..."

"Whew!" the stranger exclaimed. "That took everything I had just to pull that off...and..." He turned to Hanabi. "If you hadn't thrown that apple to distract him, he might really have shot me. Thanks."

"Aw, shucks," Hanabi chuckled, scratching her cheek with one finger in embarrassment—and then remembered something. "Mr. Cashier!"

"Ow...I'm alive, kid...but I'm kinda bleeding over here," the cashier's voice announced even as he struggled to get up from where he'd fallen. "Can we call the cops NOW?"

"Yosh! You do that!" the stranger advised. "Well, we'd better hurry up and tie up these two! Got any rope, cashier-san?"

"Yeah, in the closet at the back, by the bathroom door," the cashier replied as he began again to dial the emergency number.

"Right!" Hanabi hurried back to the bathroom door where, sure enough, she found the neighboring supply closet door. In a moment she was carrying a bundle of rope up to the front and helping the newcomer to tie up the two miscreants. "You were really cool, nii-san! Who are you, anyway?"

"Rock Lee's the name, jo-chan," and he flashed a grin and a thumbs-up, even as one of his teeth inexplicably sparkled. "And you?"

"Hyuga Hanabi," she said importantly.

"Eh?" Lee took a good look at her. "Wait—as in, Neji's relative?"

"Yes, he's my cousin. You know him?" Hanabi seemed surprised.

"We're classmates at Konoha High School! And I chat with your butler, Kabuto, every so often!" Lee informed her.

"Oh, yeah, Kabuto's mentioned that, hasn't he..." Hanabi recalled.

"But what are you doing this far from home—and still in your school uniform, at that?" Lee wondered, even as he now finished tying up the crooks. "Did something happen?"

"Yeah...I was kidnapped," Hanabi said, in a more subdued voice now.

"What? Kidnapped?" Lee was immediately at attention.

"Yeah...but then my sister's boyfriend came to save me, and he told me to run and leave him...and now, I don't know what might've happened to him..." Hanabi looked down at the floor.

"I understand. I'll help you get home, then," said Lee. "But first, we need to wait for the police to show up and take care of these miscreants. While we wait, you explain everything that's happened."

OoOoO

Back at the Hyuga mansion, Hinata lay in her bed, staring up at the ceiling. Sleep would not come to her—she was too deeply worried about Naruto and Hanabi. Naruto-kun...please be safe...and Hanabi...

Riiiiiiiiiing!

The loud ringing of the telephone in the hall downstairs broke into her thoughts. In a flash she was on her feet and heading down the staircase, grabbing the phone's receiver just as it was starting on its third ring. "Hello, Hyuga residence," she announced.

"Nee-san, it's Hanabi!"

"Eh? Hanabi?" Hinata's eyes widened. "Oh, we've been so worried about you! Where are you?"

"I...I'm not too sure of the address, but it's a store,"Hanabi explained. "Neji's classmate just saved me and the cashier from a robbery."

Hinata blinked. "A...robbery...?"

"Yeah! But he was really cool, he beat up the two crooks like lightning!"Hanabi was definitely hero-worshiping the person. "Want to talk to him?"

"Uh—yes, yes!"

A moment passed—then a different voice spoke up. "Hello there, Hinata-san! This is Lee, Neji's classmate. Hanabi told me everything that's happened...with Naruto-kun..."

"Y-yes..." Hinata's gaze was downcast. "Naruto-kun ran out to find Hanabi after Father told him of her being kidnapped."

"I see. Well, fear not—I'll help you to find Naruto-kun!"Lee said cheerfully. "But for now, I'm going to bring Hanabi-chan home to you guys. Wait for us, okay?"

"Hai." Hinata nodded. "Arigato, Lee-san."

And in her mind she added, Please...let Naruto-kun be found safely too...

OoOoO

The Land Rover pulled out of the garage of the Uchiha mansion, its driver stone-faced as he steered the vehicle along the driveway and toward the main gate. "Ready to go," he announced, in business-like style.

"Good," Sasuke spoke up from his place in the back seat. "All of our shadows in the south end of the city have been alerted. Now it's just to call the others who I have in mind." His eyes narrowed. "You ready for this?"

Sitting beside him, Kushina had a grim look on her face. "This is my son we're going to locate. I'm as ready as I can ever be."

"All right." Sasuke patted the top of the driver's seat. "Let's make it snappy, then."

OoOoO

While all this was going on, over at Konoha Hospital...

"I see," Hiashi said slowly. "So Kabuto's unconscious, then..."

"Quite so, Hyuga-san," Dr. Haruno told him. "He suffered quite a concussion in that accident. He won't be in any shape to receive visitors for a little while, at least not until he regains consciousness. We're doing the best we can, in the meantime."

"Thank you." Hiashi turned and walked toward the waiting area, where Neji was already sitting and looking hopeful. "Well, that was a bust..."

"Is Kabuto all right?" Neji asked, standing up.

"He's alive, but unconscious," Hiashi told him. "There's nothing we can do here. We'll just have to head home for the time being..."

"Hyuga Hiashi?"

Hiashi and Neji looked up and saw a blond woman approaching them with a determined look on her face. "And you are..." Hiashi began.

"Nii Yugito. I'm a government investigator. I was at your party recently," the woman replied, nodded briefly to acknowledge Neji's presence as well.

Hiashi studied her. "My daughter Hinata has spoken of you."

"I'm honored." Yugito nodded briefly. "I understand you're having some...problems...concerning your other daughter, Hanabi," she added in a lower voice. "Tell me everything. I will keep it confidential and out of the police's hands, if you wish."

Hiashi eyed her carefully. "And why should I do that?"

"Because I also know that a certain Uzumaki Naruto has gone out of his way to help in rectifying this problem. And I have met that young man, and he happens to be someone I have a great deal of respect for. And if he's gone to help you with your problem and anything's happened to him...I will use every last bit of government clout that I've got to make sure justice is done for that slight." Yugito nodded meaningfully. "And I'm sure you don't want a scandal on your hands...right?"

"Hmm..." Hiashi's eyes narrowed.

Yugito fixed a piercing stare on Hiashi. "Let's not waste further time, Hyuga-san. Tell me everything."

OoOoO

END CHAPTER 53

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NEON MAJESTIC: I'm sorry, I just HAD to throw in some kind of "Fist of the North Star" reference somewhere. And Lee WAS kinda getting shafted in my view—might as well give him something to shine for himself, right?

Chapter 54 is next on the list!