Kyūbinokitsune Shinobi
"Senshi, Naruto, get back here." A Shinobi shouted running after the two boys.
"No way, you can't catch us." Naruto, a blonde spiky haired, boy with goggles, shouted as he and his friend ran from the ninja.
"Just try and catch us." Senshi shouted smacking his own butt in a taunting manner.
The reason for Naruto and Senshi running off like this, was simple. They had painted the Hokage monuments to look like clown faces. It was evident that they did it by the pain that was smeared across their faces, arms, and clothes. It has been twelve years and Naruto and Senshi were getting along just great, even though they knew they were quite different.
They managed to lose the Jounin chasing after them using a disguise technique. They lowered their tarps looking at each other laughing at their prank when they knew they were in the clear, or so they thought.
"You two are supposed to be in class."
"Ah, Iruka Sensei." They shouted in unison.
~Hokage's Office~
Kushina was looking out the window sighing, with Ahri by her side, her ears and one of her tails on full display, and her long fiery red hair braided down to her waist. Neither of them proud of their boy's antics but understood why they did these things.
"What happened to make the kitsune boy act so juvenile Lady Fourth?" One of the elders, Koharu Utatane asked. "I mean your son has always been juvenile and a bit of a prankster, but recently, Lady Ahri's boy has been misbehaving as well."
"Well, it's kinda obvious isn't it?" Ahri asked. "The incident that took place a few years ago."
"The one involving his sharingan?" The other elder, Homura Mitokado asked, his eyebrows raised in questioning.
"You know how Danzo was always obsessed with the Uchiha's Sharingan?" Kushina sighed.
"Indeed. But what does this have to do with Senshi?" Koharu questioned.
"When Senshi was seven, he unlocked his sharingan, and it fully developed by the age of nine. When he was doing a candy run as a treat for completing all his chores in record time at our house, he was ambushed by Danzo's men, who were ordered to take his sharingan, by force if necessary." Ahri explained. "Ibiki Morino had extracted that information from one of his Anbu when they were interrogated, and stopped them from biting the blue fire pill. But because of Danzo's selfishness, Senshi's emotions triggered his Nine-Tails transformation, resulting in him having tails, and ears similar to mine. Ones in which he hides."
"I see. Then we were right to put Danzo on suspension and house arrest." Homura stated. "However, because he has done nothing to prove his criminal activities for the past three years, we are forced to give him his position back, unless the Feudal Lord says otherwise."
"I understand, there's nothing we can do to prevent that, but the least we can do is keep him under surveillance." Kushina sighed.
"But, given the evidence, we will make sure to inform him that he and his Foundation Organization, are to stay away from Senshi and Naruto. If one of those boys so much as says that they were followed by Danzo's Anbu, then he will be executed as a traitor to the Hidden Leaf Village, for targeting one of its citizens." Koharu explained.
"But back on topic. Senshi's antics are like this, because he tries to get back at those who shun him, and Naruto does the same, trying to help his friend." Kushina explained. "I mean, Naruto isn't the best role model for Senshi, I'm the boy's mother, and I'll be the first to admit that. But he's not going to let his friend become a target for constant bullying, and assassination attempts."
"There have been attempts on his life?" Homura asked.
"Multiple. So we've assigned a personal friend of ours in the Anbu to guard him from a distance. He's the wood style user, the only one the village has got." Ahri sighed.
"Ah, him. That is a wise choice, with the wood style he can protect Senshi within seconds." Kushina smiled.
"Pardon my inquiry Lady Hokage, but isn't tomorrow the graduation exam at the academy?" Koharu asked.
"Yes, it'll be Naruto's third try, and Senshi's first if I'm not mistaken." Ahri smiled.
"Well, we wish them the best of luck, please, tell them we said hello." Homura smiled as they left.
"We will thank you Village Elders." Kushina smiled as they left.
"Kushina, can I ask something of you?" Ahri inquired.
"What is it Ahri?"
"Well, I was wondering if I could have the day off tomorrow." Ahri exclaimed. "I want to cheer Senshi on when he takes the exam tomorrow, and I want to treat him to his favorite dish tomorrow as a reward for graduating."
"Of course, I'd go support Naruto if I could, but I have a lot of work to do as the Hokage." Kushina sighed. "But isn't it a little presumptuous that you think Senshi is gonna win already?"
"Senshi's been training his hardest, so I know he's gonna pass."
"An' what makes you so sure?" Kushina inquired.
"Mother's intuition." Ahri smiled.
~The Academy~
Back in the classroom, all students were currently going through the basics of the transformation jutsu, thanks to Naruto and Senshi's antics. Sasuke and all the other students had transformed into Iruka Sensei, while Naruto, had let a bit of his perverted side out with the transformation, forcing Iruka to plug his nose with tissues to stop the bleeding.
"Alright, next up is Senshi Kitsune." Iruka exclaimed. "Please don't use the Sexy Jutsu like Naruto?"
"I won't." Senshi smiled putting his hands together to do the transformation jutsu. "Transform."
In a plumb of smoke, in Senshi's place was a nine-tails cub. All the girls of the class awed in the cuteness as well as some of the teachers. To show off the cuteness, Senshi yapped a couple times and did three back flips earning a bigger response from the entire class and staff in the room. In a plumb of smoke, Senshi was back to normal with a smile on his face.
"That was quite impressive Senshi. You've advanced a lot since starting the class." Iruka smiled. "Your mother must be very proud of you."
"Thanks." Senshi smiled.
"That still doesn't get you out of cleaning the Hokage Monument after class." Iruka exclaimed, knowing what Senshi was trying to pull.
"Eh, worth a shot." Senshi chuckled.
~Hokage Monuments~
"You two aren't going anywhere until after you have cleaned this monument spotless." Iruka explained as he was overlooking the boy's punishments.
"Whatever, it's not like my mom's gonna be home to greet me anyway." Naruto grumbled as he scrubbed.
"Naruto, Senshi-baby."
The boys turned their heads, as Ahri landed beside the two, after jumping off the monument.
"Hey mom. What are you doing here?" Senshi asked as he continued to scrub.
"I'm here to let you both know, I'll be taking you out to dinner tonight. Now it's not a reward or anything, it's just I'm not in the mood to cook, and I'm too tired to get the ingredients for dinner. Naruto, I'll be bringing you along to. Your mother got swamped with tons of paper work that will keep her late." Ahri explained.
"Alright, fine with me." Naruto smiled.
"Mind if I tag along? Senshi and Naruto might not have been the best kids in the village today, but they sure make up for it in determination. I was actually gonna treat them to some Ichiraku's after they finished scrubbing the monument." Iruka explained.
"Sure, the more the merrier." Ahri smiled.
"Hey, I think they might have a thing for each other." Naruto whispered to Senshi. "Hope you enjoy having Iruka Sensei as a dad."
"Shut up." Senshi exclaimed splashing water in Naruto's face.
"Now boys, no fooling around, or you're just gonna be waiting longer for dinner." Ahri exclaimed with a chuckle. "Now hurry up and get to it."
"Yes mom." Senshi smiled.
"Yes Auntie." Naruto stated as they began scrubbing.
~Later~
"Man that sure was tiring." Senshi sighed as the four of them were walking down the street to one of Ahri's favorite places to eat. "I think I'm just gonna head home and sleep."
"You sure you don't want anything sweetie?" Ahri asked.
"Nah, I'm fine, I'll just grab something simple and eat it on the way home. See you mom, see you tomorrow Naruto, I'll see you in class tomorrow, Sensei."
"Bye Senshi, be safe." Iruka called as Senshi ran off.
Running down the street, Senshi made his way through the crowds without making a big fuss, stopping at a simple takoyaki place he was very familiar with.
"Hello Mrs. Akimichi." Senshi smiled walking through the open entrance.
"Well, I was wondering when you were going to show up Senshi." Mrs. Akimichi smiled turning to him from behind her counter. "What'll it be today?"
"The usual please." Senshi smiled.
"Is that Senshi I hear?"
"Hi Mr. Akimichi." Senshi smiled as Chōza Akimichi came into view.
"How've you been my boy?" Chōza smiled.
"I've been good. How are things going with you? I heard Choji mastered the Partial Expansion Jutsu." Senshi smiled.
"That he has my boy that he has. Ordering the same beef and cheese takoyaki as always?" Chōza asked as he saw his wife cooking up the dish.
"Yep. Hey, there's something I wanted to ask you." Senshi started. "Why, don't you hate me like most of the village? Not that I'm ungrateful for it, it's just I don't want you to get judged about treating me like I'm not a freak."
"Just as big a heart as always." Mrs. Akimichi smiled as she cooked up the takoyaki. "Don't call yourself a freak sweetie, it's unbecoming of someone of your level of strength and honor."
"Well my boy, that's simple. You didn't choose who your parents were, and you didn't have a choice when you became the son of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, and Ahri Kitsune. I mean, yeah, she might be a kitsune from lore, but it doesn't matter. We've known you both for years and just because your appearances have changed, doesn't mean our opinion on you has. You both are still human to us. We've even been called to the academy quite a few times because Choji got into fights about beating on bullies who were talking smack about you behind your back." Chōza smiled.
"We understand that you'd be concerned with how people would react to us treating you like a normal human being. But that's for us to worry about, not you. We appreciate it none the less, and hope that you keep yourself in good health." Mrs. Akimichi smiled handing him a bag. "Here, a couple extra-large portions, on the house."
"Thank you." Senshi smiled leaving the money, with a generous tip. "Have a good night."
Once Senshi was out of their sights and out of the curtain, Chōza and his wife looked at one another with smiles on their face, happy they could be of some help; that is until something wrong echoed from outside alerting them to trouble.
"Hey, what the…? Get your hands off me." Senshi shouted before he went silent.
Chōza ran out front and looked to the sides, before looking to the ground, finding Senshi's order splayed out, mostly crushed.
"Oh no." Chōza exclaimed as his wife came out, gasping at the spoiled order, knowing just as well as her husband what it meant had happened to the boy. "Senshi."
~Later after contacting Ahri and the Authorities~
"What do you mean Senshi has been taken?" Ahri asked, confronting Chōza as several shinobi were scouting the area.
"He came in to make his usual order, and asked us why we treated him like a normal person. After answering him, he paid for his order, and left. A moment after that, my wife and I heard a commotion outside and when we came out, we found his order on the ground, completely destroyed." Chōza explained.
"Oh, I knew I shouldn't have sent that Anbu home for the rest of the day." Ahri cried as she slid down the wall, burying her face in her knees and arms as she began to sob. "My poor baby."
"Hey, it's not your fault. You didn't know this was gonna happen, c'mon inside where it's warm." Chōza exclaimed, trying to comfort her as best he could.
Ahri calmed down a bit before standing up; on her way inside she noticed something on the roof of the shop, something that seemed familiar to her.
"Hold on a minute." Ahri exclaimed as she began to climb the wall, examining the part of the roof that stood out.
"What'd you find?" Chōza asked.
"A clump of fur." Ahri exclaimed pulling the hair from the roof. "It's a greyish… brown." Ahri stated, before remembering a certain dark creature with the same fur. "Oh no. I know who this came from, and who took my son..."
~With Senshi and his kidnapper~
"Hey put me down you mangy mutt." Senshi growled as he struggled in his bindings.
"Shut up kit." Warwick growled as he ran through the forest. Once they were deep enough, Warwick stopped at a large tree with a small campsite beside it. The tent in the center being the largest.
"Warwick, is that you my pet?" A dark, evil emanating voice called from the center tent.
"Yes Mistress Zyra. I have returned." Warwick stated, approaching the tent and bowing right in front of it.
"Did you find her?" Zyra asked, her shadow dancing on the wall of the tent.
"Yes Mistress. But she was not alone." Warwick exclaimed. "She is within a village, filled with the mightiest of shinobi."
"The Hidden Leaf Village. I'm not surprised. So who is it you brought with you?" Zyra asked as her shadow grew larger as she approached the tent's entrance.
"I have procured, her kit." Warwick smiled.
"She has a child? Well, that is rather interesting." Zyra smiled swinging open the tent flap.
Senshi stared wide eyed at Zyra, his eyes focused on her attire, looking as if she were covered by a skimpy scale made bikini, with two tails, with dragon heads at the end of them around her shoulders. Her white hair down to the small of her back, as two horns sprouted back from the sides of her heads, giving her a more menacing vibe. Cup size: E-Cup.
"What do we have here?" Zyra smiled as she examined Senshi. "Hmm, you don't seem to have the same tails as your mother, nor the same hair, well I guess there is a similarity with the black hair and crimson bangs, and a nice stripe going straight through the right side, all the way to the back."
"Believe me, my hair used to be completely black, but I woke up one morning and looked in the mirror to find the bangs and skunk stripe." Senshi explained, lying about his bangs as he was stalling for time, as he silently used Foxfire to burn away at his bindings.
"Don't even try burning those ropes with your magic boy." Zyra smiled. "These ropes are enchanted, they nullify any type of spell that a kitsune has at their disposal."
"So, you really have thought of everything to try and kidnap my mom huh?" Senshi sighed, giving up his efforts.
"Indeed. Now, I can see directly that you are indeed, her own flesh and blood." Zyra smiled.
"I'm adopted. Mom raised me from newborn because my mother died giving birth to me." Senshi explained.
"Ah, but Ahri never gave you formula did she?" Zyra asked.
"Formula? No, she believed in the natural feeding of a newborn, still does." Senshi explained. "She told me when I was younger that I'm able to use magic like her because she fed me breastmilk that a female kitsune can create from her own body when they take in a kit who was abandoned or alone."
"Well, at least she kept you well educated on the biology of a Kitsune, and their maternal habits." Zyra smiled. "But that doesn't explain why you have the exact same aura as her. Which means, either there's a piece to the puzzle you're not telling us, or you don't know it yourself."
"Mistress. There's someone watching us." Warwick growled standing at attention, gaining Zyra's interest.
"Fetch." Zyra smiled knowing Warwick's senses were superior to any animals.
Warwick took off into the trees. Returning only moments later dropping a young girl, around Senshi's age on the ground, tied up with spare rope the scientifically created monster had not used on him.
"Oh, now who might this be?" Zyra smiled using a clawed finger to raise the girl's chin.
Senshi looked up from the ground, seeing the girl that Warwick had brought in, his eyes widening in fear. The young girl had slightly pointed ears, cherry red hair, with silver tips, dressed in a pair of leggings, with a sky blue shorts, and a royal blue sleeveless two piece qipao consisting of a lace up halter top over a sleeveless mesh shirt, and a loin flap, leaving her midriff exposed, with knee and elbow bands, and he knew from seeing her all the time that she constantly wore fingerless gloves. Her eyes were blank, giving off the obvious signal that she was part of the Hyuga Clan. Unlike Hinata Hyuga, her clothes were tight and form fitting, not baggy, showing off how hard she worked, as well as accentuating the curves she's developed so far.
"Leave her alone." Senshi shouted.
Zyra turned to him with a mischievous smile on her face, before grabbing the girl by the back of the neck, and raising her up, forcing a pained look to appear on the girl's face as she forced her to look at Senshi.
"So you know this girl?" Zyra asked.
"She's my classmate, Athena Hyuga." Senshi exclaimed.
"Tell me something girl. How did you find us?" Zyra asked.
"I-I was following Senshi, I wanted to ask him… a personal question, but before I could do anything, that big monster came and took him away." Athena said, gritting her teeth. "Without thinking I followed him here."
"I see. You're infatuated with this boy." Zyra smiled, thinking she could use this to her advantage.
"I swear, if you harm her…" Senshi began.
"You'll what? Grind my bones to dust and make me suffer as I lie helplessly to your wrath?" Zyra questioned before her senses kicked in and she moved to the side, as a large kunai with a golden blade came zipping past her.
"You know, I always knew you would start picking on children Zyra." A woman's voice exclaimed.
"It's almost sad really, seeing her stoop this low. But it's more fun this way." Another woman exclaimed.
"I'm honestly not surprised. She was always the dullest tool in the shed, but this is just embarrassing." A third woman's voice resonated.
From the sound of things, all three of the female's voices came echoing from all around. Leaving Zyra unaware to the source their voices were originally coming from.
"Mistress look out." Warwick shouted as he rammed her out of the way, just as a large sword was coming down on her, avoiding Athena by a good chunk of ground.
"Just as slippery as ever Warwick." The large, armor clad man stated, raising his sword over his shoulder.
"Garen. So I assume the other three are Akali, Evelynn, and Kai'Sa?" Zyra questioned as she picked herself up.
"Oh, you know it Zyra." A woman wearing a pair of yoga pants, with the upper left leg removed, making the rest of the left side a legging. On her upper body she wore a white tank top that only reached to right under her breasts, leaving her midriff exposed as she wore a baggy hooded jacket, with a gold arm band on each arm. Her hair was done up in a spiked ponytail, with some hair let down on the sides, with a piercing in each ear. She wore a medical mask, which gave her the appearance of dragon fangs in the dark. On the back of her jacket, there was a golden dragon stitched into the fabric, with a golden sickle on her side. This was Akali. Size F-Cup.
"We've always been a team, and we're never gonna split." Another woman stated walking out from a tree behind Zyra. This young woman wore a top that left her shoulder completely exposed, with her armbands, reaching all the way to her wrists, from her biceps that connected at the back of her outfit. Her midriff was exposed as she wore a pencil skirt, with a pair of combat heels. Her fingers were comprised of golden claws, while she had two ribbons, floating in midair, with pointed arrow heads on the ends. She was Evelynn. Size H-Cup.
"We're going to find Ahri, and once we do, our team will be whole once more." A third woman exclaimed, dropping from the sky. This woman's attire was comprised of tight fitting leather pants, with part of her hair done up in two buns, with a braid, from each, while the rest remained straightened, her top was nothing more than a revealing sports-bra, to put it lightly, leaving a sizeable amount of cleavage visible to the naked eye. She wore fingerless gloves on each hand, with a gold bracelet on each wrist. On her back, were a pair of floating robotic like wings that glowed, blue, gold and silver, while also doubling as her weapons. This third woman was Kai'Sa. Size E-Cup.
"Well, I've got good news for you then. This boy can lead you right to her." Zyra smiled, holding a blade to Senshi's throat. "I mean, after all, he is her son."
The four newcomers all looked at Senshi as he was tied up, with a glare in his eyes, directed towards Zyra.
"Now you have two options here. You can take him, and find your comrade, making your little band of misfits whole once more, or you can stop Warwick from enjoying a well-deserved treat."
The trio of women, and the man looked to Warwick, their eyes widening in horror as he was about to bite down on Athena's head as she screamed in horror.
"NO."
Within a flash of a few seconds, the sound of snapping bindings echoed through the air, as a strong gust of wind rolled past them, nearly knocking them over, and Athena's head was replaced with an arm, Athena laying on the ground a few feet away unharmed staring in horror.
"Senshi." Athena gasped.
Senshi stood there, in front of Warwick, his arm in the monsters mouth, as he was breathing heavily.
Zyra looked from them to where he was originally, and saw his bindings had been snapped, with a trail of kicked up earth in his wake.
"I warned you." Senshi growled, his body trembling in anger. "I warned you that if you ever harmed her, you'd regret it."
Senshi rose his head to look at Warwick, his eyes having changed slightly. Instead of his royal blue iris, they were crimson red, with a ring and three tomoe's around each of his canine pupils.
Athena backed up and hid behind a tree as she had a feeling this was a fight she couldn't handle, or even help in. She turned back around, seeing Senshi raised his left fist, before punching Warwick in the gut, sending the monster sliding back, as he released Senshi's arm, tearing a chunk of flesh from the bone.
Senshi lowered his arm, revealing the skin covered in blood, and the bite marks Warwick's jaw left, with some bone showing from where the flesh was torn. Senshi turned his head, to look at Athena. Temporarily trapping her in a Genjutsu.
"Athena. Go find my mom. She warned me about these two, and she's the only one who knows how to fully beat them. Go now." Senshi told her before releasing her from the Genjutsu.
Once Athena was free of the temporary Genjutsu, she ran off, understanding what she had to do.
"You damned brat. You think a simple punch can hurt me?" Warwick shouted, running to Senshi.
Senshi slid one foot back, bending backwards, evading Warwick's lunge, with his arms raised, and all nine of his tails out on display, before he slammed his clasped fists on Warwick's back, shattering the container of green liquid that kept the dark beast alive, and sending him to the ground, creating a small indent.
"No, but I know how to slow you down enough to where you can't reach your goal faster." Senshi growled.
"You little bastard, how'd you even break free of your bindings?" Zyra questioned, as she was now standing alone against five fighters.
"The rope may have been able to nullify my Kitsune Magic, but it's useless against my Demon Fox Chakra." Senshi stated, before he stared into Zyra's eyes.
Zyra froze in place, as she was now standing in the middle of an open field of wheat. In front of her stood a giant monster, with nine flowing crimson fox tails with golden tips. The entire creature's fur was crimson red, with stripes of black gold visible along its back and legs.
Its eyes were a glowing red, with Senshi's Sharingan staring right at her.
"Prepare yourself. For a living hell." The Demon fox exclaimed, its voice reminding her of Warwick's when he was in a blind blood rage.
Meanwhile, in the outside world, Zyra was lying on her back, her eyes blank as she stared out into nothing while Akali, Evelynn, Kai'Sa, Garen, and Senshi stood over her in a circle.
"What the hell did you do to her kid?" Garen asked.
"I put her under one of my most powerful Genjutsu's. Right now, in her mind, she's fighting a version of me that has no speck of humanity, and is all Demon." Senshi explained. "It's not very strong though, since I barely know how to do Genjutsu, she'll be free of it in about an hour or so with my inexperience of Genjutsu's, but to her, it'll feel like an eternity has passed."
"Damn, remind me never to get on your bad side kid." Akali chuckled removing her mask. "So, you really Ahri's kid or what?"
"Yeah. It's a long story, I'm sure mom can… OOF." Senshi never got to finish as he was tackled by the one person that was late for the party.
"Senshi, my baby boy, are you alright?" Ahri asked, holding him tight, as they stopped rolling, with Ahri sitting with Senshi tightly wrapped in her arms.
"I'm fine mom, but I think some friends of yours are wanting a chance to hug you." Senshi smiled, trying to breathe as Ahri squeezed the life out of him.
Ahri turned her head to see her four teammates standing there, with bemused and tender looks.
"Oh no please, don't let us stop this lovely reunion between mother and son." Evelynn smiled.
"Akali, Evelynn, Kai'Sa, Garen. It's so good to see you all again." Ahri squealed in happiness, pulling them all into a hug with her tails. "Wait, how are you all in the Elemental Nations?"
"Well, it all started around thirteen years ago." Garen started.
"We had a feeling something wasn't right with the solo quest you took, so we tailed you, no pun intended, and swore to only intervene if needed." Akali chuckled.
"Then, when Zyra and her team showed up, we knew it was a trap. As we were about to intervene, your attacks collided, and everything went dark." Evelynn smiled.
"Afterwards, we woke up in the Elemental Nations. We've spent the last thirteen years trying to find you. Unfortunately all we found was Zyra's group, who like us, had been sent here." Kai'Sa exclaimed.
"When we heard of a rumor that there was a Kitsune in the Land of Fire, in the Hidden Leaf Village, we came to check it out. We got sidetracked when we stopped to help your son and the girl." Garen explained.
"Oh yes, Athena found me, and told me everything that's been going on." Ahri sighed. "But it seems I got to the party a little too late. What happened to Warwick and Zyra?"
"Ask your boy. He took down Warwick in a couple of blows, and put Zyra under something called a Genjutsu." Evelynn stated.
Ahri turned to Senshi as he was using green foxfire on his arm, healing the bite marks Warwick left, as well as regenerating the flesh the hound devoured from his arm.
"Here sweetie, let me take care of that." Ahri exclaimed taking his arm, allowing pink foxfire to finish what he had started. "Were you sure to destroy Warwick's core?"
"The thing on his back filled with green liquid? Yeah, I destroyed it, just like you taught me." Senshi exclaimed.
"Good. At least it'll be a while before he returns from wherever their regenerator is now." Ahri sighed.
"Regenerator?" Senshi asked.
"It is nearly impossible to keep Zyra and her team dead. They use an ancient cursed spell to regenerate after their death. When they die, they regenerate wherever the glyph for the spell has been carved. Every time they use it, a piece of their soul is sent to hell." Garen explained. "Until we find where that carving is and destroy it, Zyra's team are gonna keep coming back until they've killed us all."
"Now to level the playing field, your grandfather, my father, used a technique that is only usable by Kitsune's." Ahri explained. "When a Kitsune is killed, or dies, their soul as well as their essence get transferred to their family crest, where, much like the cursed regeneration Glyph, it recreates our bodies from particles of matter in the atmosphere. To even the playing field, that gift was given to these four fighters right here when I had told my father about how Zyra and her team kept coming back after being killed."
"Is that why our family crest is carved into the wall in the basement?" Senshi asked.
"Yep, but I have to connect these four to it since they're connected to the one my father carved." Ahri smiled. "But unlike the cursed spell, our souls don't get torn apart. Quite the opposite actually. Each time we return, our souls are purified for a bit."
"Alright girly, you can come out of hiding now." Evelynn called.
Senshi and Ahri turned their attention to the direction Evelynn had shouted to, as Athena slowly poked her head out, before stepping out fully.
"That's it, now why were you hiding?" Akali asked.
"Well, um… I w-wanted to make sure that Senshi was okay. So I ran back here after Ms. Kitsune made her way here." Athena exclaimed.
"I specifically told you to go back to the village." Ahri sighed.
"I know. But I just wanted to make sure Senshi was okay."
"Athena." Senshi began. "Earlier, you told Zyra why you had followed Warwick. What is it you were wanting to ask of me?"
Athena blushed and looked to the ground slowly.
"W-would you, possibly consider going on a date with me?" Athena asked nervously.
'What is it with the Hyuga girls and being shy, is that just a Clan trait or something?' Ahri mentally questioned.
"Well I think it's adorable how she wanted to come and see how the man she likes is doing." Kai'Sa smiled.
Senshi stood up, and headed in Athena's direction. Despite being around thirteen years of age, he still towered over her a bit.
"Well, how about you and I grab a bite to eat after graduation tomorrow?" Senshi smiled.
"Uh sweetie, it's actually today." Ahri chuckled. "It's four in the morning."
"Well, either way, I'd like to go on a date with you." Athena smiled softly.
"Alright. Now let's get you two home and get at least three hours of sleep in the both of you, otherwise you won't be able to go through the graduation ceremony." Ahri sighed. "You four are welcome to stay at my place until Kushina and I can get you settled in your own homes."
~Elsewhere~
Deep within the land of sound, in the darkness of an underground base, Orochimaru was busy mixing up a few different chemicals, and chakra's, testing the effects of the mixes had on each other. Much not to his surprise, one of the testing vats began glowing as the glyph carved on the roof of it, was the source of light, as Warwick began to grown from the smallest of cells within the green liquid.
"My, Warwick. Did you fail at your mission?" Orochimaru asked.
"Shut up whelp. There was an unexpected factor. I had grabbed Ahri's kit instead of her, which resulted in learning the hard way he's stronger than he looks." Warwick growled.
"Oh, the perfect vessel I had created is getting stronger. Oh, I can't choose between him, and the girl I gave the curse mark to." Orochimaru smiled. "Now Warwick, you know the deal we made. I provide you a place to regenerate if you're ever defeated, and you allow me to experiment on you in exchange."
"Go ahead. I know our deal. Do whatever you have to." Warwick growled.
"I was hoping you'd say that." Orochimaru smiled holding up a syringe of the liquid he was just mixing.
~The Shinobi Academy, some hours later~
"Next up for the Graduation Exam is Naruto Uzumaki. But one last time, does anybody know anything about what happened to Mr. Kitsune last night?" Iruka Sensei asked.
"His mom said he wasn't coming in today, because he and Athena Hyuga needed to recover from the fight they got in last night with some of his mom's old enemies." Naruto explained. "I went to walk with him to school, but then his mom told me what I just told you."
"Alright. Since we're still going with Naruto's story, we'll finish the exams with him." Iruka sighed before the doors came sliding open, revealing Senshi and Athena.
"Sorry we're late. My mom had Athena sleeping over so she could keep an eye on our conditions." Senshi exclaimed.
"Why are you late Mr. Kitsune?" Iruka asked.
"I got kidnapped by one of my mom's old enemies last night, and I ended up fighting them. I got hurt, and my mom had both Athena and I sleep in so we could recover." Senshi explained taking his seat, with Athena sitting next to him.
"I see. Well, I owe Mizuki twenty bucks." Iruka sighed. "Alright Naruto, you're up for the clone jutsu."
"Alright. Watch this." Naruto smiled, performing the hand sign for the jutsu. "Clone Jutsu."
In a plumb of smoke, Naruto was standing there, with a pale wormy clone lying on the ground, looking dead as a door nail. Naruto looked nervously at it, Senshi was concerned, and Iruka looked annoyed.
"YOU FAIL." Iruka shouted causing Naruto's world to shatter.
"Iruka Sensei." The other instructor looking over the graduation ceremony began. "He's off, but his moves weren't bad, and he did hang in there and replicate. This is his third try so you know you he really wants to become a ninja. We could cut him a break and pass him."
'If that happens, Naruto's never going to learn a thing. He has determination, but if they pass him, he's just gonna get it in his head that everything will eventually go his way.' Senshi mentally shouted.
"Mizuki Sensei." Iruka started. "The other students created at least three effective replications, but Naruto could only create one, and look at it, it's pitiful. I can't pass him."
~Outside After The School Day Ended~
Everybody was talking about how they had passed their exam, and receiving praise from their parents, while Kushina was leaning against the courtyard tree, while Naruto was sitting on the rope swing.
"Hey come on sweetie, don't let it get you down." Kushina sighed patting his back.
"I just don't know what to do mom. Even Senshi did better than me, better than everyone else in the class. He didn't produce simple illusions, he produced Jounin level, Shadow Clones." Naruto groaned in defeat.
"You say that as if you think you're better than him." Kushina exclaimed.
"No mom it's just… he's barely a Genin, and he can do Jounin level jutsu's. I can't even do a simple Genin level clone jutsu." Naruto sighed.
"I see, you're jealous he's advanced his skills farther along than you, but you don't wanna let it show because he's your friend." Kushina exclaimed.
"That obvious huh?" Naruto groaned.
"Well, I'm gonna let you in on a little secret." Kushina smiled. "Senshi didn't just learn those jutsu's on the fly. He had to earn the right to learn them."
"What do you mean?"
"What I mean is, Senshi had to do a certain amount of chores before he could use his Sharingan to memorize the moves to just one of the jutsu's he knows. Once he had them all memorized, he began practicing, until he got to where he is today." Kushina explained.
"Still doesn't matter. He's able to do those Jutsu's and I'm stuck being a Non-Genin." Naruto sighed.
"Lady Hokage."
Kushina and Naruto turned to see Mizuki Sensei standing there, with a soft smile on his face.
"Would you be opposed if I had a word with Naruto?" Mizuki asked.
"No, go for it. Maybe his Sensei can brighten his spirits. I gotta get back to my office anyways." Kushina exclaimed before patting Naruto's head. "You behave."
"Yes mom." Naruto sighed as she kissed him on the cheek.
Once Kushina left, Mizuki motioned for Naruto to follow him, all the while Senshi was on the other side of the fence, having heard the conversation Naruto had with his mother. Senshi was dressed in a pair of black jeans, with a buckle belt around the waist, an X-STATIC material workout shirt, a pair of fingerless wrist gloves with metal plates underneath. A pair of light weight, titanium toed combat boots, with his headband to top it all off tied at the front of his pants like a belt buckle.
"I had no idea you felt so envious of me man." Senshi sighed before his hearing caught something.
"I heard that Lady Hokage's son was the only one to fail."
"Serves him right. Could you imagine what the village would be like if he became a ninja? I mean, we already have enough to worry about with the Kitsune Freak walking around freely on our streets, and now he's a full-fledged Genin."
Senshi turned to see two women talking, as they walked out of the gateway. What they were talking about, wasn't something that Senshi cared to acknowledge, usually, but this time was different, because they were breaking the law by talking about it.
"I mean seriously, what is Lady Hokage thinking, letting a dangerous weapon like that run loose in the village. If you ask me, he should have been executed along with that freak mother of his as soon as he was detained after that incident a few years ago." One of the women said.
Now bad mouthing him was something he could tolerate, but bad mouthing his mother was something entirely different.
Before Senshi could go confront those two women, a hand reached out from the bushes and pulled him into them.
Senshi turned to see it was Akali, without her mask or hat, motioning for him to stay quiet. She was dressed in a black jogger's tracksuit with red insides, and strings.
"Is that my tracksuit?" Senshi asked.
"Just watch." She whispered before disappearing.
Senshi looked out the branches of the bushes, to see the two women, just standing there, and Akali came running by towards the bushes.
'Damn she's fast.' Senshi smiled focusing his attention on her, his Sharingan active so he could catch whatever she does.
To his surprise, Akali does nothing as she runs by them, and turning the corner before hiding in the bushes again.
"What did you do?" Senshi asked.
"Just shut up and watch, you'll miss the fun." Akali smiled.
Senshi looked back to the two women, and right as one of them took a step on the same path Akali ran along, she slipped and fell, dragging her friend down with her.
"Oh man." Senshi smiled as he began laughing, seeing the two women trying to pull themselves up, only to fall back down on the ground. "What was that?"
"I left a bit of black-ice on the ground. The stuff's invisible to the naked eye, and it's impossible to stand on without slipping. Everything within ten feet of them is covered in it. That will teach them to badmouth and gossip about you and Ahri." Akali smiled, laughing alongside him. "But to answer your first question, yes this is your tracksuit, Ahri said I could wear it while my clothes are in the wash."
"Please tell me you're wearing underwear under those." Senshi groaned, realizing that all of her current clothes were being washed.
"Nope."
"Go ahead and keep the tracksuit." Senshi sighed.
"Hey, don't you have a date to get ready for?" Akali inquired.
"Oh right, I'm taking Athena out for dinner. I need to get ready." Senshi exclaimed as he rushed out of the bushes, and down the street.
"Good luck." Akali smiled.
"Hey you."
Akali turned to see the two women as they were trying to remain standing on the black ice, the crowd that gathered still laughing their heads off.
"You did something to the ground didn't you?" One of them asked.
"Yeah, I covered a ten foot radius around you in black-ice." Akali smiled. "No one bad mouths my friend and her son. Also, you were breaking the law by gossiping about Lady Kushina's son involving a certain Demon Fox. You two are lucky I haven't started my first day as a Shinobi yet, otherwise, I'd bring you in. Instead I'm just gonna let you suffer on the black-ice until it melts. Bye." Akali explained before disappearing, leaving the two women gobsmacked.
Meanwhile, in the market place, Athena was walking around, her new shinobi headband around her neck like Hinata's.
"I wonder which team Hinata is going to be on, and who her teammates are gonna be." Athena contemplated. "She was so nice to me when the clan kicked me out. I wanna be as kind as her."
"Hey Athena."
The Hyuga girl jumped turning around to see Kai'Sa and Evelynn standing there.
"Glad to see you're feeling better after last night. Did you pass the graduation exam?" Kai'Sa inquired seeing the headband around her neck.
"Y-yes I did. It's good to see you both again." Athena smiled.
"So, what are you doing out here?" Evelynn asked.
"Well, I have my date with Senshi in a few hours, so I'm just out shopping for a new outfit to show up in." Athena explained, a small blush on her face. "Princess Hinata told me to try one of her favorite stores, even gave me her discount card to use for it."
"Oh, wanting to swoon our little Prince Charming huh?" Evelynn said with a mischievous grin. "I think we can help you with that, don't you think so Kai'Sa?"
"Oh, I believe we can Evelynn. Lead the way to the store Athena." Kai'Sa exclaimed as they began walking with the Hyuga girl. "By the way, who's Princess Hinata?"
"She's the next in line to lead the Hyuga Clan from the Main Family. I was part of the Main Family line to, until I was kicked out of the clan."
"You were kicked out, why?" Evelynn asked.
"Well, my Byakugan is very different from the rest of the clan's. Inconsequentially, it's a result of a failed jutsu. Apparently the jutsu was meant to try and merge the Byakugan and Sharingan together, but to do that, it had to be done to a newborn, or an unborn fetus. My mother was heavy with me when it was performed, it somewhat worked, but not entirely." Athena explained. "When I use Byakugan, my eyes go from white to crimson red like the Sharingan. I can still track things as fast as the sharingan, and copy jutsu's with it to, but the Clan Elders who agreed to this experiment saw it as a failure, because when I was born, my appearance is as you see it. Plus, they were expecting the eyes to remain white when the Byakugan is used, not turn red. So, as soon as I was in the academy, they kicked me out. Lady Hokage, and Lady Ahri helped me with a place to live when they found me, and I explained what my situation was."
"If you ask me, the experiment was a success." Evelynn smiled as Athena took them into the clothing store. "Now, let's get you all nice for Senshi."
"Hey Athena, don't take this the wrong way, but what cup size are you?" Kai'Sa asked.
"Oh, um… I don't really know, I haven't really measured it before." Athena exclaimed with a bit of a blush, tapping her two pointer fingers together. "I know I'm kinda big for a girl my age, but that's a normal trait within the Hyuga Main Family for women."
Evelynn hummed, examining Athena over a couple times before having her spread her arms out wide and turn to both sides a bit.
"I got it." Evelynn stated, snapping her fingers and racing over to the bra-section and returning a moment later. "You're a D-Cup. Go try it on."
Athena went to the fitting rooms with Kai'Sa and Evelynn waiting patiently outside the door, as Athena tried on the bra.
"You're right, it fits perfectly." Athena exclaimed.
"Good, now you wait right there, and I'll come back with some clothes for you to try on. What's your size?" Evelynn questioned.
"Uh, I'm a girl's medium for both my shirts and pants." Athena explained.
~Elsewhere~
Up on a balcony Naruto was sitting on the ledge with Mizuki Sensei, as he was talking with Naruto.
"Iruka Sensei's tough, but he's not against you." Mizuki exclaimed.
"Then why, why only me?" Naruto asked.
"He wants you to be strong with all his heart, but that will never happen if he goes easy on you." Mizuki sighed.
"But, this time I really wanted to graduate." Naruto exclaimed.
"Heh, then I guess I have to tell you…" Mizuki smiled, gaining Naruto's attention. "It's a secret, but I'm gonna let you in on it."
"A secret?" Naruto questioned.
~Later that night, out on the streets~
"Are you sure about this Garen?" Senshi asked, tugging at the collar of his shirt.
The attire Senshi wore, started off with a white dress shirt with a pair of black dress pants, with a jacket and dress shoes.
"Trust me, Athena is going to love it. I ran into Evelynn, Kai'Sa, and Athena earlier today at the market, they were helping Athena pick out some clothes, and I saw the outfit Athena chose." Garen said as Senshi undid the top two buttons of his shirt.
"So you grabbed me and picked one out for me that will go well with Athena's. I get it." Senshi exclaimed as the giant of a man was walking him to the restaurant. "But still, do you have to walk me to my date?"
"Your mother asked me to keep an eye out for you, after what happened with Warwick last night. I won't be going into the building with you, I'll just be at the restaurant across the street." Garen explained.
"All right, if you're sure." Senshi sighed.
"H-hi Senshi."
Senshi looked up and stopped in his tracks, seeing Athena standing there, with Evelynn and Kai'Sa behind her. But what really caught his eye was what Athena was dressed in.
Athena was in a surprisingly slender red dress that sparkled with a shimmering gleam, with heeled boots. For makeup, she wore dark lavender eye shadow, and lipstick, with a violet eyeliner as a finish.
"W-wow. Athena you…"
"You don't like the outfit?" Athena asked.
"No, you look… you look amazing." Senshi smiled.
"The girls pressured me into buying this, I guess they were right when they said you'd like it. I guess I've got my mission uniform to." Athena smiled.
"Alright let's get inside and eat. You three promise to leave well enough alone?" Senshi asked.
"We promise not to interfere with your date." Garen smiled as he, Evelynn, and Kai'Sa all went to the open door restaurant across the street. "We're just gonna be watching to make sure nothing bad happens."
"Well, that's the best I can do for getting us some alone time." Senshi smiled holding his arm out. "Shall we?"
"Why thank you sir." Athena smiled looping her arm through his.
Once they were inside, Senshi ordered a bottle of martinelli's which the servant brought on ice.
"I know we're not old enough to drink, but I want to make this as authentic of a date as possible." Senshi smiled.
"You're such a charmer." Athena giggled.
"Hey freak."
Senshi gave an annoyed sigh before turning to see several Chunin standing by his table.
"Can I help you gentlemen?" Senshi asked.
"Yeah, you can tell us where Naruto Uzumaki is." One of them said.
"Why do you want him?" Senshi inquired.
"Don't play dumb. He stole the Scroll of Sealing, and I have a sneaking suspicion you two are in cahoots and are planning on destroying the village with it." The Shinobi exclaimed putting his hands on the table.
"Well, sorry to say, but I have no clue where he is. Or why he would steal that sacred scroll." Senshi explained. "Now if you don't mind, Athena and I are on a date, and we'd like to continue it."
"I ain't buying it. Take them away and we'll interrogate them later, on where these two were." The shinobi exclaimed.
"Excuse me."
The shinobi turned around to see Garen, Evelynn, and Kai'Sa standing there, unamused looks on their faces.
"I can assure you Senshi had nothing to do with the scroll being stolen. I was with him from the time he left the Academy, to just a few minutes ago." Garen explained.
"We were with Athena from that time frame as well." Kai'Sa stated.
"The two of us were helping Athena pick an outfit for her date tonight, and Garen was doing the same for Senshi." Evelynn explained.
"The three of us were actually just across the street, enjoying some takoyaki." Garen explained.
"If it's any consolation, I did hear Mizuki Sensei talking with Naruto for a few seconds before they both took off." Senshi exclaimed.
"Alright fine, you're off the hook this time. But I know there's something fishy about the both of you."
After the shinobi left, Senshi motioned for Athena to follow him to the back. A few minutes later they returned and ordered their food, while Garen, Evelynn, and Kai'Sa returned to the restaurant across the street. One of the shinobi had stayed behind to spy on the two love birds on their date. Unaware of the two figures fleeing at the back of the building.
"You sure your clones can handle this?" Athena asked.
"It's a simple Shadow Clone and Transformation Jutsu combo. It'll take a lot more than that to make them break." Senshi explained as they rushed through the village.
"But, do you know why Naruto would steal the Scroll of Sealing?" Athena inquired.
"Most likely, he was manipulated into doing it. I have a feeling I know who tricked him. I've known Naruto since we were both able to walk, this isn't something he'd do. He loves the village, no matter what."
"Any idea where he could be?"
"There's an old shack just outside the village, we used to have sleepovers on weekends there, or whenever school was out for summer break, we'd train there during the day, and sleep in the shack at night. If he's gone anywhere for what I think he's doing, then he's going there."
"Then lead the way." Athena exclaimed.
~At the Shack~
In the forest at the shack, Naruto was sitting on the ground, panting heavily as he had just finished with that round of training. He was actually kinda impressed with how he was getting a grasp on the first jutsu in the scroll that was now on his back.
The sound of footsteps drew Naruto's attention to his right as the shadow of a man lingered over him.
"It's all over." Iruka stated, with a chuckle.