"This night was a complete and total disaster! We were so close to getting him back so close, but then that masked asshole shows up and ruined everything!"

"Whine a bit louder runt I don't think they can hear you in the desert." the bulky man, he was built like a brick with messy brown hair sticking out of his hair were two round ears. The man looked like he just woke up as a striped tail lazily hung behind him.

"Don't you start with me, Kotai not tonight meathead!" the redhead monkey man yelled, his tail straightening out in anger. He was much smaller than his friend with solid teal eyes and spikey hair with scarred cheeks.

"Aw what are you gonna do shorty, jump up here and get me?" Kotai jeered.

"You no good…!"

"Enough you two you're going to wake the little one."

The others quieted as the silver haired man joined them in the thick forest brush. He was taller than his red headed companion Aka but still not as tall as the bruly Kotai. The marks under his golden eyes seemed to shine in the moonlight. He wore a breastplate that was cracked from a harsh battle and at his waist was silver pelt. The pointed ears on top of his head twitched as the small newborn with spiky yellow hair whined in his arms.

"So Hariki what's the plan? We didn't get Kurama back and now we have the kid." the Kotai asked.

"Well it may not be the way we planned but we did get him back in one sense." Hariki as he calmed the child.

"I'm not following how exactly?" Aka asked him confused.

"Simple we wait for the seal to weakened they always do. We've seen it happen with the other jinchuriki it just takes some time in the meantime we'll raise the kit. He's one of us anyway." Hariki said shocking the others.

"Have you gone crazy fox!? That kid's a human." Aka yelled.

"That's crazy, you know that right?" Kotai said taken back by his friend's statement.

"I don't think he is not entirely anyways he smells heavily of beast, none of the previous holders had that. Pulse knowing humans they'd likely treat him with the same hatred they have for the beasts. They caged the last holder of Shukaku up till he died if what I heard is true. He has no one, his parents died tonight who knows what they'd do." he said sadly it was no small secret that people only wanted the beasts for their power and those who held were treated as if they were the beasts themselves. It was sickening.

"Fine I guess the kid does have whiskers." Kotai said as he looked at the baby.

"This insane you just want a kit!" Aka said.

"Aw don't be like that look I think he wants his big brother Aka." Hariki said as he held up the baby who's eyes sparkled as he looked at him. Try as he might Aka wasn't able to stop himself from taking the newborn and holding them close.

"What makes you think they won't come looking for him?" He asked held him.

"As far as they know Kurama escaped and is long gone. There was also a lot of blood when it found him they likely think he was crushed." Hoshi said with victorious smile.

"Fine I yield what's his name?" conceding his lost as the child rested in his arms.

"Naruto."

"Human names are so weird, let's head back hopefully Raiu hasn't burned anything down." Kotai yawned as the sun started to rise.

"Too right." Hariki laughed then in a puff of smoke he changed into a giant silver fox while Tokai was a bear sized racoon.

"Here take the kid, I assume we're moving. You two head back without me I'm going to get some stuff for the kids." Aka said.

They weren't far enough from the hidden leaf by Aka standards only about a day trip but for their plan they needed to be close. After the tailed beasts were captured the clans all went into hiding not many dared to go anywhere near humans less they would be caught as well. But he and the others still stopped every blue moon usually for some fun.

"Be careful they're likely to be on high alert." Hariki told him, with that they went to the abandoned house they'd be staying at where a small white fox kit with nine tails came running out to greet them before noticing the baby.

"Hey Raiu, this is Naruto, he's a part of our clan now." Hariki said showing his brother the baby.

"Small!" Raui said happily then ran into the house only to come back with a furry blanket.

"Wow that went easier than I thought." Tokai chucked at the kit's antics.

"That it was, oh I can only wonder what trouble they'll get older." Hariki laughed.

It was a few days before Aka came back with everything they needed. When he got back Tokai was sleeping but with Naruto on top of his belly with Raui curled around him. Aka could only roll his eyes at him. He slept any chance he got normally, which Aka normally kicked the lazy creature up but he got his pass for now.

"How'd it go Aka?" Hariki asked as he came out of the house still in fox form.

"Fine but apparently with Kurama gone they're trying to consolidate power so that might be a problem for us. They probably think another country is behind it." Aka said, he wasn't as crafty as Hariki his power lies more in the fist which he was fine with.

"Going to be strengthening the clans they have now hopefully they don't do anything too crazy. But in case they do, let's head to one of the smaller countries and I have just the place in mind." Hariki said and he had just the place in mind.