A/N: Heya folks! JW here with a poppin' fresh chapter of A Fox among the Hounds that is longer than the last one I wrote. I apologize if updates have been slow recently, but I've had my hands full as of late. Since returning from my vacation up in Mother Russia, I have began my job hunt, and take my word for it, because of this *%^ recession, job vacancies are really hard to find. Especially if you are a noob fresh out of college. Crap, I'm ranting again… Anyway, enjoy the story.


A Fox among the Hounds

Tsunade's Redemption


Orochimaru grinned menacingly as his summon loomed over the battered Tsunade and the groggy Jiriaya. Naruto's hand instinctively flew to the hit of his kodachi. Beside him, Aomaru whimpered at the sight of the giant snake but stood his ground nonetheless. On the blond Inuzuka's left, Shizune readied another set of senbon needles.

"Relish on your offerings, Lord Manda!" crowed the psychotic snake-man, jumping onto the snake's head.

The Snake Lord gave a deafening hiss before lunging down towards his summoner's enemies.

"KUCHIYOSE NO JUTSU!" Acting fairly quickly for a drug-addled man, Jiriaya called out one of the two beings in all of creation who could stand up to Manda.

"What is it now, Jiriaya?" snapped the Toad Boss. But before the giant toad could continue his usual tirade on Jiraiya's debts, he was tackled by Manda.

"Out of my way, frog," hissed the snake.

"Oh, it's on now," Gamabunta growled, unsheathing his tanto. "I guess my wife will get that snakeskin belt she's wanted after all."


While Orochimaru and Jiraiya dueled with their summons, Shizune and the Inuzuka duo had teamed up to fight against Kabuto.

Using the Inuzuka agility, Naruto threw out a flurry of thrusts and slashes towards the male medic, whereas Aomaru in clone form went at him with his claws. As a poison and senbon expert, Shizune used her poison jutsu and venom-tipped needles to fill in her share of the fight.

"I knew from the start that there was something up with you!" snarled the blond Inuzuka, going for Kabuto with a particularly furious swipe.

Kabuto simply smirked. "You should really trust your instincts, Inuzuka-san. Because…" The medic pumped more chakra into the already active Shousen no Jutsu. "…it's usually right! Hoden-suru!"

Discharging the pent-up chakra in his palms, Kabuto hit the blond with the raw energy, wounding him.

"Naruto!" Shizune and Aomaru screamed in unison. The beast-clone grew increasingly furious and pounced towards the traitorous medic, throwing a barrage of kicks and punches at him. However, Kabuto simply hit Aomaru with a three-strike combo- the third strike involving a palm-thrust that sent the beast-clone flying back into the already injured Naruto.

Kabuto chuckled darkly. "I guess it's just you and me then, Shizune-san." He lunged towards her, the Shousen no Jutsu flaring once more. "Once I do away with you and your sensei, I will be the greatest medic-nin in the world!"

"You're crazy!" Shizune gasped. "As medics it's our duty to help people, not heal them for glory. You don't even deserve to be a medic. Dokugiri!" A toxic fog spewed out of the woman's mouth towards Kabuto, only to have him retaliate with another chakra discharge.

Naruto winced as he shoved Aomaru off him, and used his kodachi as a prop to pull himself up. Getting up, he saw Kabuto hit Shizune in the legs with the same attack that injured him in the first place. The older medic fell to the ground, writhing in pain.

"Shizune-san!" Naruto yelled, taking a few steps towards the wounded female.

"Naruto… …don't…" wheezed the medic, despite her pain. "You're walking… …right into… …his trap…"

Naruto stopped cold. "A trap? What trap?"

Kabuto's cheerful smile was unnerving. "She means this one, Naruto-kun," he replied, kicking the blond before going back to dispatch of the still frozen Tsunade. "Say goodbye, you old has-been," he sneered, charging his Shousen no Jutsu.

Naruto clenched his fists in anger. He had to stop Kabuto, but with the older boy knowing every move and jutsu in the blond's arsenal, it was near impossible. Unless…

The Rasengan! The blond could use the Rasengan, but every attempt to create it had been a failure so far, and his theory was still untested. Then again, the best way to test a combat theory was to put into action. It was now or never, he had to do it.

Channeling his chakra, Naruto molded a shell while Aomaru spun the chakra inside. Upon attaining the desired results, Naruto sped towards Kabuto and rammed the spiraling sphere into the medic's left side. The Rasengan's power was incredible. It had practically ripped through Kabuto's side, giving him extensive damage.

"Alright! Now that's what we're talking about!" Naruto cheered as he and Aomaru slapped a high-five. He turned to Tsunade. "Come on Granny, let's get you outta here."

"There's nowhere to hide her, Naruto-kun," Kabuto hissed, using chakra to heal his wound. "There is no sanctuary for her."

"Of course she doesn't need it, you traitorous teme," said Naruto, drawing the kodachi. "Because this time you're going down, and staying down! Juujin Bunshin Rendan!"

Diving towards Kabuto in their frenzy, Naruto and Aomaru did not notice that the ambitious medic had recharged his Shousen no Jutsu. By the time Naruto had discovered the attack, he had already been struck in the heart by a chakra discharge, while Aomaru had been struck in the shoulder.

The twin cries of agony snapped Tsunade out of her trance. She found herself looking at the bloody form of Naruto lying prone in the ground, and a bleeding Aomaru back in his canine form lay nearby, his leg mangled.

The sight of awful scene sent Tsunade back to her worst memories…

--Flashback to 32 years ago--

"Nee-san, Nee-san! Guess what?"

"What?" 18-year-old Tsunade turned around to see her 12-year-old brother Nawaki bounding towards her, a cheerful grin plastered over his face.

Nawaki pouted, his ruddy cheeks puffing out a bit. "Come on, guess! It's no fun if you don't guess!"

"Alright," said Tsunade. "You got a new haircut?"

Nawaki grinned cheekily. "Nope."

"You finally got to talk to that girl you liked… …er… Megumi was it?"

The Senju boy blushed a bit and shook his head shyly.

"Hmm…" Tsunade hummed, pretending to think very hard. "You're finally a ninja?" she asked, pointing to Nawaki's new Konoha forehead protector.

Nawaki's smile brightened by a hundred-fold. "Yep! And I'm on a team under the famous Sakumo Hatake. With him as our sensei, I'm sure to be Hokage in no time!"

"I suppose you would make a good Hokage," said Tsunade, eyeing her brother thoughtfully. "But you're missing something."

Nawaki looked at his sister curiously. "What is it, Nee-san?"

Tsunade took off the Shodai's pendant and slipped it around Nawaki's neck.

Nawaki was dumbfounded. "Grandpa's amulet? For real?"

Tsunade nodded. "For real. Make me proud, Otouto."

Nawaki gave a squeal of delight and enveloped his sister in a crushing hug. "Thank you, Nee-san! Thankyouthankyouthankyou!"


"Guess what Nee-san; we're finally getting our first C-rank!"

"Really? What is it?"

"I can't tell you that Nee-san. It's confidential. But I can tell you that we'll be leaving tomorrow."

Tsunade ruffled her brother's hair. "Well kid, you've made it this far. And I have to say, I'm really proud of your progress. When you go out on that C-rank of yours, just remember to come back in one piece."

"Don't worry Nee-san," assured Nawaki, giving Tsunade a wink and a thumbs-up. "I'll be careful."


Along with five other Jonin, Tsunade sped through the forest as if hell itself had been on her heels. Sakumo Hatake had just sent word for backup. Apparently during the mission, Team Sakumo had been ambushed by a group of Kumo-nin.

'Please be alright, please be alright…' Tsunade mentally prayed, hoping that the higher powers would hear her plea.

"There they are!" crowed a Jonin from the Aburame clan.

"How are they faring?" Tsunade could not help but ask.

"Not so good, by the looks of it," replied a Hyuuga Jonin. "Team Sakumo is still standing, but one of its members is down. A Genin by the looks of it. We'd best hurry. They're sorely outnumbered and outmatched."

Upon hearing that a Genin had fallen, Tsunade felt dread build up in her bosom. 'Please don't let it be Nawaki, please…'

"Well, what are we waiting for?" asked the commanding Jonin. "Position yourselves for formation Alpha Zeta Phi. We have to help Hatake save those kids."

As they neared Team Sakumo, Tsunade's worst fears came true. None of the two Genin who were standing their ground with the White Fang was Nawaki. The Senju heir lay on the ground, motionless- a kunai lodged into his heart.

Killing intent burst through the clearing, overwhelming everyone in its path. A furious Tsunade broke from position and dispatched of the Kumo contingent. Within moments, about nine mid-level Kumo-nin lay dead or dying.

"Senju!" roared the Jonin commander. "What the hell did you think you were- oof!" He was cut short when the angry blonde shoved him away, and stalked off to her little brother.

"Nawaki!" screamed Tsunade, pulling the kunai out of his heart. She cringed a bit as blood welled out of the cut, but she sucked it in and set to healing the gaping hole. "You'll be okay. You'll be okay…"

"Um… Senju-san…" Hyuuga began nervously.

"WHAT?!"

"I-I'm sorry to say that's it's too late to heal your brother," Hyuuga stammered. "The damage is too extensive. He's way past the point of salvation."

"NO!" Tsunade yowled. "He'll live! I have to try!" Once more, she laid her hands over her brother's wound, but Nawaki did not even move a muscle. "Come on Nawaki, you're stronger than that! Wake up! WAKE UP!"

"Tsunade." This time it was Sakumo Hatake. "He did all that he could. He was only trying to protect the team."

"You…" Tsunade snarled, yanking Sakumo's collar. "This is your fault! If you didn't choose this particular C-rank, none of this would've happened!"

"It wasn't Sensei's fault!" a new voice burst out. The speaker was a young brunet boy with red fang marks running down his face, identifying him as an Inuzuka.

"Pardon?" Tsunade let go of Sakumo.

"It wasn't Sensei's fault…" the Inuzuka repeated, looking like he was about to cry. "It was mine. I-I wasn't careful. By the time I sensed the kunai coming at me, it was already too late. I choked; I choked and he pushed me out of the way, taking the blow for me. He saved me; even though all I ever did was laugh at him for wanting to be Hokage! He saved me!"

All anger left Tsunade as grief settled in. She fell to her knees, sobbing as Sakumo came up from behind her.

"He died a hero…" murmured Sakumo, taking the Shodai's amulet and handing it back to Tsunade. "The most honorable death anyone could have."

--Flash forward eight years later--

"You can take off the blindfold now, Tsu-hime."

As Tsunade opened her eyes, she found herself in a field of wildflowers. "Oh Dan… It's beautiful. Is this the surprise you were planning to show me?"

"Actually, this is the surprise," said Dan, pulling a palm-sized box from his pocket. He knelt down on one knee and opened the box. A white gold wedding ring was wedged inside. "Tsu-hime, will you marry me?"

Tsunade was speechless. All she could do was envelop Dan in a hug with tears of joy streaming down her face.

"Erm… I'll take that as a yes."


Dan walked in, carrying a large backpack. By the looks of it, he was going out on a mission. A fairly long mission. "Sweetheart, I'm afraid we'll have to postpone the wedding until next week."

Tsunade looked up from the medical reports she had been reviewing. "What? Why?"

Dan looked apologetic. "It's like this… There have been reports of border conflict and Sandaime has sent several ninjas to relieve the garrisoned forces there, myself included of course."

"Of all ninja, why you?"

Dan's fingers twiddled around the his backpack strap. "Remember that petition we sent? The one about making it mandatory for every ninja team to have a medic-nin? Sandaime finally approved, but of course I'll be going in personally to prove that the program really works."

Tsunade gave her fiancée a light peck on the lips. "I'm sure it will."

"I hope so," said Dan. "If this is successful, it'd be a breakthrough for shinobi lifestyle everywhere."

"Stop being so wishy-washy about it," Tsunade chided. "As a future Hokage you ought to be more confident."

"But Tsu-hime-"

"No buts, Dan," Tsunade asserted. "I didn't give you my grandfather's necklace so you can wuss out. I gave it to you because I knew you will become a Hokage. Now repeat after me- The program I petitioned works."

"The program I petitioned works."

"I am going to be a great Hokage."

"I am going to be a great Hokage," Dan repeated.

"And I am marrying the woman of my dreams."

"What!? I didn't know you were into girls, Tsu-hime," Dan teased.

"Shut up, Dan," said Tsunade, playfully swatting her fiancée with a rolled-up newspaper.

"Kidding, kidding," Dan chuckled, holding out his hands in front of him. Then he grew serious. "I am marrying the woman of my dreams, because I am marrying her in a week." With that, he kissed Tsunade full on the lips.


Tsunade sat in shock as Sarutobi placed a familiar necklace in front of her. It was her grandfather's necklace. The same necklace that she had given to Dan.

"No…" she whispered. "No, no, NO!" And with the last "No" she slammed her hands on top of Sarutobi's desk, shattering it into toothpicks.

"I'm sorry Tsunade," said the Sandaime. It was like the day Nawaki died all over again.

"We were getting married when he came back," murmured the Slug Sannin, blankly picking up the talisman. "He was supposed to marry me…"

"I know…" muttered Sarutobi. "But even if we've had our whole lives planned out, it still has a tendency to ricochet. Ah, such is the life of a shinobi."

"He wasn't supposed to die yet," Tsunade insisted.

"He died fighting for Konoha and the Land of Fire," said Sarutobi. "He died a hero."

--End flashback--

"He died a hero…"

"He died for Konoha…"

"He died an honorable death…"

Tsunade's eyes flickered back to Naruto. The boy had taken a death blow intended for her. Even though she had belittled the position of Hokage, the blond Inuzuka and his partner had fought tooth and nail to protect her. This Naruto… He was just like them… Like Dan, like Nawaki… Brave, selfless, and hopeful.

Running towards the struggling Naruto, Tsunade strengthened her resolve- she may have not been able to save Dan and Nawaki, but she'd be thrice bedamned if she'd let another hero die before his time. However, before she could reach the injured boy, the legendary medic was suddenly intercepted by Kabuto.

"You will die here!" screamed the silver-haired medic, lunging towards Tsunade, his Shousen no Jutsu flaring at full power.

Tsunade evaded his attack and countered with an axe kick that sent Kabuto flying. "I beg to differ."

"You might think otherwise after this!" Kabuto hissed, making a few more incisions with his Shousen no Jutsu, the blood splattering across the approaching Tsunade. Kabuto smirked, expecting the woman to freeze over like last time.

"Nice try, punk," said Tsunade, remarkably unfazed despite the blood dripping from her face. "But it's not going to work this time."

"Impossible!" Kabuto gasped. "You should be petrified from fear by now."

"You know what they say about fear, punk," Tsunade replied, giving the astonished Kabuto a punch to his recently healed Rasengan wound, the pain knocking him out. "It's all in the head."

With Kabuto down and out, Tsunade quickly ran back to Naruto. Despite the severity of his injury, the blond was still alive, conscious, but barely breathing.

"Don't you dare die on me, Naruto Inuzuka," warned Tsunade, as she prepared to heal the boy. "Don't even think of dying on me."

Naruto flashed Tsunade a weak grin as he reached out for her necklace. "I'm not dying anytime soon, Granny… 'Sides, I believe you now owe me your pendant… Told ya I'd win."

"Shut up and save your energy," Tsunade chided, channeling the healing chakra. Within moments, the Slug Sannin had closed off the wound and put him under a sleeping jutsu. As soon as Naruto's condition was stabilized, Tsunade took off her amulet slipped it over the unconscious Inuzuka.

"Shishou, look out!" Shizune yelled.

Tsunade whirled to see Orochimaru lunge towards Naruto, his Kusanagi drawn. Acting quickly, the Senju descendant dove into the sword's path, taking the blow.

"SHISHOU!"


A/N: Yeah, I'm ending this chappie here. Sorry if you were expecting the big-ass summons battle by then. This arc of the story is really a ^$&* to write. I barely have any AU references, as most stories usually fizzle out by the Chuunin Exams Arc. Using Narutopedia and episode synopses, I usually end up with a slightly altered version of the original story.

Anyway, I hope you'll like this chapter, the first one for May 2009. Don't forget to read and review. Constructive criticism would be accepted by this point.

Later

N & B

P.S.: More brownie points to those who could identify the Inuzuka boy in Team Sakumo.