~NRK~
The morning after found Sebun coming over to Naruto's part of the home, using the master key she'd been given by Master Oguma to come in.
When she did, she blinked as the small step up onto the wooden flooring of the house.
Depositing her shoes at the front, she stepped up and into the home, moving down a hall for a few seconds before looking into a set of stairs to her left and a kitchen to her right.
'He's certainly got a way directly to his kitchen,' she thought with a giggle as she peaked in to see a tidy kitchen with a fridge, kitchen basics of a stove, oven, sink, and counter, an island with chairs by it, and a dinner table about seven feet away.
'It's so big!' She wondered if Naruto was a cook or not.
Continuing past that, she found herself moving into a large living room with a dark gray carpeted area with a large TV to the left of her and a large L-couch in front of her against the wall.
Coming around it, she giggled a bit more at the sight of the boys strung around.
Bill was laid completely across the middle of the couch with Legoshi flat out on one of the corners, legs hanging over the side.
Louis was in the long portion of the couch, leaning back as he crossed his arms in front of his chest. Below him was Naruto sitting on the floor, resting against the couch's inner side, legs crossed as expression serene…. A-And, finally, pfft.
She snickered at the sight of Tem enclosed in tails from all the carnivores in the house, laying on Naruto's decently long tail while Bill's laid across him and Legoshi's covered his feet.
All in all? It was adorable and she took three pictures before doing what she came here for.
She kneeled by Naruto first and shook his shoulder.
"Naruto… Naruto," she whispered to him, the fox hybrid blinking as he slowly sat up, looking at her with a lazy tilt of the head. "Naruto, it's seven o'clock. Your friends and brother need to go to school."
He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes as he moaned. "O-Oh, right," the young man stretched. "Mind stepping back a bit? I know I'm about to stumble."
She did as asked and watched as he, in fact, did stumble a bit before steadying out, tail gently lifting Tem to rest him against the couch's edge by Bill's tail.
Naruto stretched before shifting from side to side, the cracks and cricks being heard by Sebun as Naruto smacked his lips before grimacing.
"I got it, Sebun. I'll wake the guys up."
She nodded before heading back the way she came, smiling as she heard Naruto shout.
"GUYS IT'S MONDAY!"
"Whhou!?'
"Wha?!"
"EEYYYY?!"
"Too loud!"
She snickered as she passed Naruto's kitchen before considering an idea.
"Thanks, Sebun," Naruto said as Legoshi nodded, the eggs for all the carnivores much to their taste. "I have a feeling they'd have gone hungry until lunch if we'd rushed out."
"Thankfully, we already showered last night," Louis said as he ate some glazed broccoli, nodding to Sebun. "I can't imagine what rushing to bathe would do."
"Thank god, you guys have tailors as well," Bill said as he adjusted in Naruto's vest, its snug fit much to his taste. "It'd kind of suck if we had to be late on top of late."
"Yup," Tem said. "Though, classes start at 9, today. How far is your home from school, you guys?"
"Hmm," Naruto shrugged. "Give or take five miles. It's doable at a good pace in under two hours but it's just not viable most times."
"Do you guys get to school early all the time or do you walk on occasion?" Legoshi asked, munching on some eggs. "Mm."
Naruto answered this time. "If we know it's going to be a casual day, we do. It's nice to just… slow down, ya know?"
"Yeah, I get that," Tem said with a hum. "When the mornings are perfect, you just want to keep on walking. I actually found one of my favorite food places by going for a walk once. I like doing that every now and then."
"Same," Naruto said with a chuckle. "Though I'm guessing, mine are gonna be a bit more exciting for the future."
"Hmm, yes, I can feel the questions from my year," Louis said with a twitching eye as Bill snickered. "Never mind the drama club."
"Eh, I don't think that the club will be that bad," Tem said with a grin. "We know you both pretty well, I don't see things being that bad."
"Yeah, I bet Els-neechan is having a fit, actually," Naruto said with a chuckle. "But she's probably over it already. She adapts to things pretty well."
Louis nodded as the group finished eating, Naruto helping take up their dishes with Sebun.
Twenty minutes later, they were standing outside. Naruto wearing what he had the day before and Sebun in a white blouse and dark gray trousers with black slippers.
As the limousine rolled up, Legoshi nodded to Naruto.
"What are you going to do for now?" the gray wolf asked the hybrid.
"Well," Naruto considered it. "Probably work out, spend time on the manuscript-"
"The competition is in two weeks!" Tem said excitedly as Naruto nodded with a grin. "We've already finished the outline and half of the writing. Just a bit more is all we'll need."
"Right!" Naruto said with a thumbs-up. "After some of that, I'll probably see about practicing some martial arts to see how this," he raised his arm the slightest bit, gesturing to it. "Affects me. I'm gonna test my limits, basically."
"Take it slowly," Louis said with an intent look.
"I will, promise," Naruto nodded. "I'd say, good luck dealing with the fallout of all this."
"Have a little more faith," Louis huffed as Naruto chuckled. "What's the worst that could happen?"
"... Louis, you're in drama, why in the world would you say those words?" Bill asked flatly as the red deer coughed into his fist. "... Guys, I think Louis has just cursed us. Be prepared for anything."
"You're being overdramatic."
"Drama club."
"You guys are just…" Louis shook his head. "It'll be fine…"
~NRK~
"Thanks a lot, Louis," Bill said as the group was the focus of all eyes in the courtyard, the feeling of gazes all over getting a shiver out of Bill. "Y-Yeah, I don't like this part, either."
Louis had the decency to cough and look slightly as nervous as Bill did.
Legoshi's tail stayed down as Tem did his best to hold up a false smile even as he looked at the entrance to the school building with desperation.
Then, out of said doors, came their fellow club members.
"Oh thank go-" the entering group almost said in unison.
"What's this about guys?!" Came the call of the Cherryton Drama Club's president, Sanu the seagull.
"Dammit."
~NRK~
Naruto went about cleaning up the area he and the guys were in the past night before going into his backyard.
The space was green and wide with several workout items in the corners of the area but the one Naruto was here for was the one in the middle.
A large spike-like cone sat in the middle of it with a stack of flat, stone, panels next to it. It was about five meters high and that was as high as his father would allow.
The fox hybrid rolled his shoulders, testing out his bicep with a slight flex before grimacing as even that hurt and felt like he was digging needles into his flesh.
'Okay, not exactly something I can outright heal out of overnight,' oh how he missed how Kurama would heal him at times like this.
… Mmmm, he'd not thought about his old bijuu friend in a long time… Oh, what'd the big bastard say to him when he looked like this?
Naruto chuckled to himself as he walked towards the spike spire before picking up a stone tablet and climbing the spike in front of him with his agile toes.
He placed the item on the very tip, balancing it out while he had his legs wrapped around the spire, before flipping around to sit atop it.
Steadying out, Naruto observed the blue sky above him, the air ruffling his fur before he entered his meditative stance.
And nature swirled around him, surging throughout his body.
He felt every part of his soul and then physical coil, noting that his body was certainly returning to a normal mode. The energy spasmed around his left shoulder down to the back of his hand, the areas circulating with Natural Energy.
His eyes closed before he took in a deep breath, Naruto's body going still.
The world welcomed him and he welcomed it.
~NRK~
Sebun helped clean up the kitchen area before dusting the living room as she listened to the television.
"Many are waiting for Oguma's official statement today about the hottest topic in the city!" Came a reporter cat woman with a grin and eyes alight with excitement. "Many are wondering the answer. Some say he's going to spin a harsh conspiracy about a son he wasn't expecting! Others say that the CEO of Horns Conglomerate was in a secret affair with a fox woman! Was this young man adopted? An old promise from a friend?! Stay tuned for the official statement!"
Sebun's cheek twitched in annoyance as she frowned.
"What in the world is wrong with these people?"
"The same question many are asking of Master Oguma," came a voice from her side, surprising the merino sheep. "Apologies, Bulou, Master Oguma's personal cleaner. Thanks, again, for helping out."
"Well, I mean, I wanted something to do before going out to get groceries later," Sebun said with a smile. "It's fine. I'm just annoyed with these people."
"I'd ask 'why'?" Bulou asked, confusing the sheep. "Sebun, are you not curious of how this came to be?"
"No, I… After speaking with Master Oguma, Master Louis, and Naruto, I've come to understand that it was simply a situation none of them could have planned for. Master Oguma always seems to take care of his sons even before all this. Naruto has a house, an education, food, clothes, and everything he could ask for."
Bulou blinked at those words, cupping his chin in thought. "... I'd always assumed that this was simply the case of raising a carnivore bodyguard from the base of his upbringing."
Sebun frowned a bit, looking down. " … Do you hate Naruto?" she asked him, seriously.
"..." The ox didn't speak for a moment. "I'm going to be frank with you, Ms. Sebun, I detest carnivores. I can't say otherwise," he said, getting a wince out of the shorter animal. "... I believe you must see a different side to him that I am unable to. I… I don't understand herbivores who'd be able to. Like yourself and that young alpaca, Tem."
"... I-I get it, I do," she said with her hand lazily using her brush to dust off some glass. "Before even meeting Naruto… I was always scared of carnivores. When I learned that he was the bodyguard, though? I was terrified… I told Naruto this but I lied in my application process when I said I wasn't scared of them."
"Ah, yes, that particular question," Bulou looked annoyed. "Being honest, I don't understand why Kuuzo Gaston uses that question. Surely, he realizes, that the mere chance of such a person coming here wouldn't be likely."
"I believed that, too," Sebun admitted. "... But I think that Mr. Kuuzo is like Master Oguma, Dr. Pyrus, and Louis. He knows Naruto. He understands him in a way that I didn't before coming here."
"Hm… I hope that you still understand how dangerous carnivores are."
"I do, Naruto's even said as much, not all carnivores are like himself and his friends," Sebun said with a chuckle as Bulou looked shocked. "I think you think more of him than you let on, sir. While Naruto seems naive at times… He understands," she said, the ox looking away. "Naruto gets that he can't change everyone's minds right away but he's also determined to protect us. I believe that completely."
Bulou cupped his chin as he considered her. "... You seem awfully taken with him."
Sebun's smile froze as her face grew hot. "H-Huh?!"
"... It's nothing but conjecture, Ms. Sebun. Nothing but thought."
"B-Bulou?! Y-You have the wrong idea!"
~NRK~
She stood in front of Naruto's home, dressed in a pair of tight-fitting black jeans with a ripped pattern on the thighs, a green, baggy-sleeved, top that allowed her fur to breath around the neck, and some black heels that had numerous straps on top to fasten them.
'Should I be asking him, though?' she wondered to herself, knocking on the door several times to no response. 'I mean… He's not supposed to be too active, right? Wouldn't this be a bad idea?'
Sebun's thoughts raged even as she didn't realize she'd kept on knocking, the door to Naruto's home opening to allow her knuckles to rap against something firm.
"Sebun?"
'But, maybe he'll want to come out even if it's only to get some fresh air?'
"Sebun?"
'Naruto might do it, regardless, though! He's an adventurous young man… Not that that means anything for me! Hahahhahah!'
Naruto blinked as the sheep woman's eyes remained unfocused but her cheeks reddened beyond what was normal.
'Does she have a fever?' he wondered with a sweatdrop, drying off the fur around his bandages with a towel in hand. 'Maybe she's remembering an embarrassing memory?'
Oh, he'd done that tons of times! It always seemed to get worse each time after the first.
Still, he needed to break her out of her trance.
"Sebun?" Kneeling, Naruto tapped her cheek, getting a blink from the short herbivore. "Yo, you finally awake?" the fox asked as the woman's eyes focused on his face.
And then Naruto got up and Sebun was face-to-face with some marvelous abs.
'...?!' She jumped. "W-What were we doing?!" she yelled with a red face, confusing Naruto completely.
"H-Huh?"
"...?!" Sebun's face burned bright red as she turned away from the half-naked Naruto. "I-I was wondering if you wanted to come and get groceries?!"
O-Oh god! W-Who came to the door without a shirt?!
T-The only times she could think of that happening w-were in those filthy v-videos?!
The sheep blanked as Naruto considered her suggestion.
"Yeah, sure, just give me a bit, alright?" he said, leaving the door open for her to come in. "I'll get dressed real quick! Make yourself at home!" Naruto said as he ran up the steps to the second floor.
Once done, a burning bright red Sebun was left in his wake, her face trembling in embarrassment.
~NRK~
"Okay, okay!" Louis said, raising his hands to calm down his fellow club members as they found themselves in their club room. "I know you all are… Confused about the news."
"So it's true?" Came Moro's, a female rhino's, voice, dressed in gym wear. "Is Naruto your brother?"
"... He is," Louis admitted fully and totally as the club's mouths dropped in unison. "It/s been a situation we've lived with up to now but that time has come to an end."
"..." Els nodded. "I'm glad for you two, I guess Naruto's staying home for now?" she asked, getting a grateful smile and nod of the head from Louis.
"He is," the red deer explained as the window to the room inched open. "Naruto's just resting, he's going to be away from school for about a week."
"Yea but, trust us, he's fine," Bill said with a look of contentment. "His place is crazy! Uh! All that space!"
Many looked intrigued as Louis sighed before facepalming.
Leave it to Bill to play up their wealth.
"So, is anything really gonna change 'cause of this?" Shira asked and Louis cupped his chin in thought.
"... We might get more visitors to the club in the coming days-"
The door to the room opened, gaining the group's attention as a lion walked in.
… Well, if you could even call him a tiger at this point.
For a middle-aged man, he wore an expression that made him almost seem grandfatherly. His furred face was covered by orange with black stripes around his forehead and chin, white dominating the outer edge of his facial features.
Wearing a black suit and white dress shirt, his black dress shoes clonked against the floor as he walked in.
"Principal Gon?" Legoshi said in confusion. "What are you doing here, sir?"
"I wished to speak with Naruto," the Siberian tiger said simply, getting a confused frown out of Louis. "Many people are looking for him and know he comes from Cherryton Academy."
"I understand that," Louis said with a sigh. "That said, Naruto is going to be gone for at least a week."
"I see."
"Sir?" Els spoke up. "Was it really just reporters?"
"Reporters?" Gon looked slightly amused. "If it were, that would have been easier."
"What do you mean?" Louis asked. "It's more than just reporters? Who else would want to speak with Naruto right now?"
"Some of the other notable schools," the group gasped. "... Do you all know how… deep the history of Cherryton is?"
"It's the school where numerous Sublime Beastars have come from," Louis said slowly. "Yet, in the past couple of years, no one from the school has been selected to even become a Young Beastar."
"Hm, hm, you live up to your reputation, Louis," Gon said with a nod. "But, so does your sibling, and that's what the schools are after."
"... Wait," Bill's mouth fell. "They want Naruto as their Young Beastar nomination?!"
The group's mouths fell in shock as Principal Gon nodded.
"I've already been considering who I want to nominate," amber eyes and brown ones met, Louis closing his gaze away. "They know that but some believe that I 'shouldn't let a young talent go to waste'," he recited with twitches of the fingers.
"... I mean," Legoshi scratched his cheek. "I don't think Naruto would leave. He likes Cherryton too much… I think."
"... Hmph," Louis closed his eyes as he crossed his arms. "The gray wolf speaks the truth," hazel eyes opened with finality. "While, in the end, it is Naruto's decision, we know how he thinks. He's a little too happy, too kind, but, in the end, he is Cherryton's. That fact hasn't changed, no matter what."
Gon blinked before chuckling. "Well, you all certainly know how to provide an inspiring argument," the Siberian tiger considered something. "... I'll tell them he needs a month before returning to school. While I'm sure his answer will be ironclad, you all may need to help him through any people who'd want to persuade him to the otherwise."
"Hmph, Naruto's mad stubborn," Bill said as many of the club nodded. "Trust us, he's not gonna be going anywhere even if we wanted him to."
"Hehe~" Els giggled a bit. "I knew Naruto got to you, too!"
"T-That's not it!" Bill turned with a red face and a laughing room his answer. "G-Guys?! Come on?!"
Louis chuckled a bit along with the principal before gaining an odd look.
"... I may not be him," Louis said to the man as they watched the drama club tease Bill. "I want to change the world… But perhaps that stage isn't mine."
Gon's eyebrows shot into his hairline as Louis chuckled.
"I-I see…" the principal breathed in before nodding. "We'll see. And, I guess, the heir to Horns Conglomerate would also end up having an important brother, hm, hm."
Louis smirked.
"Actually, there was one other person who wanted to meet him," the principal remembered. "Actually, she was a young woman who ran a hybrid nursery, I believe."
Louis's eyes widened. "I think that one, Naruto will have no issue with."
~NRK~
Wearing masks for their mouths, for whatever parts of their identities they could hide, Sebun and Naruto moved down the street.
Now wearing a pair of blue cargo pants, a thin, baggy, red hoodie that he allowed to remain open at the chest level, and a pair of blue ninja sandals, Naruto smiled as his hood was up.
These shoes had been something he'd been insistent on his father getting made for his birthdays. He had a similar pair back at the house, in black, that were completely replicas of his old world ones.
Louis had always been curious about them and the former blonde had gotten a pair for him, dark green in color, for his 15th birthday.
So, he was actually pretty well-hidden as they entered a store, both picking up a basket for groceries.
In the corner of the large, flat, store was a large TV that showed his father's statement.
"Many have been oddly concerned about Naruto," he began, flashes of cameras flickering on screen. "It's been an odd time for my sons as you can all imagine."
"Son?! So it's true?!" Came the cashier's shock as the two passed him, both smiling as they traversed the aisles. "This is crazy! I lost a bet!"
Naruto snickered at that as he picked up some packages of seaweed. "Now that's funny."
"If you say so," Sebun said as she grabbed several cans of herbal drinks. "Do you drink Herbie's Juice, Naruto?"
"Herbvi what now?"
'Wait,' Agata, the lion, dressed in a pair of shorts and a hoodie, balked at the sight of the woman next fox in the aisle. 'She's a white one!' he realized.
With his boss's picky tastes, this woman fit the criteria of being albino! And she was with his target! With the kid injured, this couldn't get better!
With how he'd been watching the front of the house, he'd noted that the bastard didn't come out until this herbivore did! So, that meant he was on a tight leash!
Agata planned. This would take more timing than just a few days.
He prepared to make his boss proud and full!
Naruto raised a brow as those eyes on his back went away, head tilting to see a shadier-looking individual, compared to himself, leaving after buying a pack of beer.
'I've marked him, just in case.'
If this man was after him, he'd leave him feeling differently.
"Naruto?" He returned his attention to Sebun as she considered two packs of ramen. "I-I've never tried egg before. Are you sure about this?"
"I mean, it's only if you want to and your body can handle it," he emphasized. "I've been eating eggs almost my entire life along with bug meal, protein powder, and calcium bones."
"Calcium bones?"
"Yeah, they're good for, actually, many kinds of animals' teeth and nutrition," he said with a hand cupping his teeth. "I've met a hippo, giraffe, and hyena who chew on 'em. My body metabolizes stuff easily so I have to keep up my nutrition."
That'd been an odd thing to deal with but it wasn't like he was hurting for money most times. The only times he really used money were for pretty specific things.
Ninja memorabilia, custom clothes, cool pendants, and flowers were probably the only things he spent large amounts of money on.
"Wow, I didn't know that," she said with curiosity, observing as Naruto led her to the section with the said items. "And they're in the Herbivore section?" Sebun said in disbelief. "How hadn't I known about this?"
"Well, this is a specified health section," Naruto explained as he pointed to a section of the aisles. "That's specified disinfectant for accidental venom spills, I actually should pick some of that up," he said, doing as much. "Alright. Next, there are the workout powders, it's all made of plants, bugs, and other vitamin pills."
He pointed out other things as they shopped, the nearby shoppers blinking as the fox, to them, explained some of the stuff.
A few even asked him about that, with a few being a familiar set of mice.
"I'm surprised to see you here, in the open," came the mice as the fox lifted him to peer at the selection. "Mmmm, I hope this place does mini-orders. Finding places that handle small purchases is always a hassle."
"I thought there were smaller shops for that?" Sebun asked as the mice's sister sat on her shoulder, looking as well. "Is there a problem?"
"Yeah, the shops we usually go to don't carry some of the brands," the sister mice said with a frown. "With how things are going, we might need to purchase some of these and that's not really in the budget."
"Up, say no more," Naruto said with a shake of the head. "Point out which you need. I can just grab a few of the fruit bags and cut 'em up into small things for you… You guys don't have a cart, do you?"
~NRK~
He grinned as he lowered both to their mini-apartment, the two bowing as Sebun set down a metal can twisted into a little cart.
Naruto burped off to the side, the smell of tomatoes filling his nose.
"Thanks a lot, man!" the guy mouse said as Naruto nodded, bowing back along with Sebun. "I guess you're really just a lot different from what most people think."
"Eh, I'll let 'em think," Naruto shrugged as Sebun smiled. "People that get to know the real me are what matter."
"Hm, hm, hm," the female mouse giggle-squeaked into her paws. "I hope you can find more, too!"
"Hm, hm, take care," Sebun said with a smile and a wave, the two lugging in their gifts. "That was really nice of you."
"I'm glad to help," Naruto said with a chuckle as the two of them walked down the way, a trolley pulled behind them full of groceries. "It's the right thing to do and-Whoa, sorry!" the fox said to a passerby, shifting the cart as the man almost ran into him.
"... Hmmm," the zebra cupped his chin, coming to a halt as he spotted Naruto. "... Apologies, young man," he said, voice mature and smooth. "I was hurrying to somewhere. Didn't mean to run into you."
"Nah, it's alright," Naruto said with a chuckle as Sebun raised a brow. "Just be easy, please. I was able to stop but I don't think most people have that good of a reflex."
"Ain't that right," the man chuckled, his white dress shirt, brown slacks, and shoes shifting as he took off. "Sorry, again!"
Watching him go, the two chuckled a bit.
"I guess someone's late for their appointment."
"Wanna guess what it is?"
"I'm betting it's his anniversary!"
"No way, job interview!"
"Haaa! That's so good!"
The two of them joked even as that same zebra listened from behind a corner.
'... Hm, he seems like an alright, kid,' the man said to himself, adjusting his glasses before walking off. 'And that woman next to him seems pretty comfortable.'
Of course, the boy was probably raised from when he was young to protect herbivores, most likely. His strength was something to be used to protect people. Especially with his reputation.
'Honestly, though? Going on a date with how much hot news you are is such a bad idea,' he thought to himself as he stopped in front of an establishment. 'Well… The boy's intuition is sharp. I was late to get to a business…'
He'd heard that this place hadn't been treating its workers so well.
~NRK~
Oguma nodded to a shocking question.
"Yes, Naruto, the deer-fox hybrid, is indeed my son."
There numerous flashes as he answered, Oguma blinking slowly to not let them startle him.
'Now, where's that question-'
"Oguma, sir!" Came a bull reporter. "Case of Rattler News! The question I'd want to ask is why was he hidden for so long?"
Ah, there it was.
All the reporters trained their microphones on him, a scary thing for a foal to this side of his business…
… But Oguma was in his element, here. He knew how to direct, lie, beg, and be honest.
And, at that moment, doing the last was the best thing.
"I will not lie to you," he began, the cameras focusing in. "Back when I was first… In charge of taking care of him, after his mother's death… I wasn't the man before you," Oguma admitted with a frown. "I was ashamed, angry, worried, and, horrifyingly, pathetic. It was never because he was a carnivore in a twist of oddness, no matter the blood in him.
"It was because I'd been ladled with another child I wasn't prepared for and, let me explain that," he continued. "I say that but that's me looking back, no, the Oguma of back then had been angry his life had gotten so complicated! He was a young man drunk on his 'free years'," he twitched his fingers before shaking his head with a sigh. "I… Looking back on that person, over these past years… I'm not happy with him. No, it'd be right to say, I hate that person… Because my mixed son was an amazing individual even as a child."
"How so?!" Came the call of another reporter. "With how you describe yourself, you weren't appreciative back then, were you?!"
"No, I didn't fully understand what he was doing," Oguma answered. "Back then… Perhaps a year or so after gaining him, he and Louis got into an altercation with carnivores. I wasn't… I couldn't do anything," his head fell, remembering what he'd done.
He regretted it only so much as he wished there'd been a better alternative than past Oguma could have thought of… Perhaps, had he been more conscious of Naruto back then, he'd have found a way to do so.
Cold logic won out, though.
"And Naruto, my son, had been more capable than I was at that moment," he said with a solid tone. "A boy, no older than three was more capable than I was… And, from then on, I paid more attention, spoke with him more, listened to him more… And I'd come to enjoy my life with him. Watching him learn, grow, progress into the young man he is today… He is my son and the fact it took me this long to have that recognized is completely my folly. I'd simply grown complacent with his bodyguard status but no further. I will declare it now," Oguma's eyes locked onto the middle of the crowd, solid and firm. "Naruto is the son of Oguma, CEO of Horns Conglomerate, and brother to Louis, the heir to the company."
The air was filled to the brim with claps and talking, the numerous flashes nearly blinded him but Oguma did not falter.
"So," one reporter finally spoke up. "What does this mean for the boy?" An old baboon with a long beard asked. "I'm glad for him, truly, but what does this mean for him?"
"Hmm, I want to talk to him about it," Oguma admitted. "In the grand scheme of things, the only real change is that he is recognized. As for the intent of your question, you clearly mean in the case of Horns Conglomerate, yes?"
"I do."
"In that case, I've spoken somewhat with Naruto in the past about this. You may confirm it with him in the future, one day, whenever he's fully healed."
"Yes, about that!" Came a Doe woman with bright blue eyes. "These attackers on you, and your family's, lives. Has there been any news of that?"
"No," Oguma said with a frown. "That investigation is underway but I've heard nothing back as of late. It's worrying."
"What if a Beastar were to come in?"
"I'd welcome it wholeheartedly," Oguma said, amused. "Having one of them actually involve themselves would make my life feel a lot less stressful. Though, for now, it's simply a case of waiting to see what comes back from the investigators."
~NRK~
"No, come on! Don't admit to him being your son!" the leader of the purist of blood said with a grimace and then sigh. "Why? These are abominations in our world! Don't promote it!"
Deshico the civet groaned before looking at the ceiling. "Any input?" he asked, his vest, dress shirt, and slacks, depressing as he leaned forward with a hand on his chin. "Hello?"
His employee simply blinked before shaking his head, his upside-down posture making the move more confusing.
"Haah… Does this one really get the pass?" the civet asked himself with a grimace. "I thought about it yesterday and I still can't come to like it!"
Deshico grimaced before deflating in his seat.
"You've been keeping an eye on that daycare, right?" the employee nodded. "Good, if so much as another damn kid pops out of the woodworks, I want that group wiped out."
His bat employee nodded.
~NRK~
Watching the announcement, Naruto grinned as Sebun hummed.
They'd put away all the groceries inside the main house first before coming to Naruto's home and doing the same with the fox's food.
Afterward, he'd suggested they watch Oguma's announcement and had done as much.
Sitting on Naruto's large couch, Sebun smiled as Oguma explained himself.
"Yeah, dad's always been the type who doesn't expose his emotions a lot," Naruto explained, his body leaning back on the couch next to hers, a can of orange juice in his hand. "This must be a shock for them."
"Well, it's probably a load of things," Sebun said before turning to him. "Naruto, I am curious, what do you think of the Horns Conglomerate situation?"
"Well, while it'd be kind of cool to be a big shot, I couldn't do it," he said with a shake of the head. "All that sitting, talking with people who might not have the best intentions at heart, the no moving, I'd be doing does not make me want any part of it," the fox said with a sour expression.
"Well, in a way, that makes sense," she said. "When we first listened to Master Oguma speak of your education. I, too, after a while, thought you'd be a good motivational speaker."
He chuckled. "While I like the idea… I'd want a job where my body is used to its fullest," he said, drinking from his can. "I like moving too much, no way I'd make it in a desk job."
Sebun nodded, tapping his abdominals with a giggle before she removed her hand with a red face and embarrassing thoughts.
'Wait, why'd I do that so easily?! He's five years your junior, you creep!' she thought with a red face as Naruto looked at her oddly. 'S-Stop imagining his abs against you, right now!' Sebun wanted to curl up and scream.
Surely, she wasn't being serious!
Naruto blinked as Sebun devolved into a mess of mumbles, red cheeks, and slight rocking back and forth.
She'd done this before, did she have a fever?
Sebun had been in the middle of her abs-induced rambles when she felt the back of a hand on her forehead. A warmth spread from the tip of her toes to her head as Naruto leaned down with it.
Cool blue eyes, full of life and wisdom, peered into her own shocked emeralds before closing in focus.
"You don't feel like you have a fever," he said as he leaned back, so caught up in his own thoughts that he missed how her lips had involuntarily puckered up before she retracted them and glowed a nuclear red. "You alright, Sebun?"
"YES!" She screamed, getting a wince from the hybrid. "T-That is! Sorry!" Sebun wanted to sink into the floor and die!
Please! Please don't tell her she'd somehow become attracted to Naruto! That wouldn't work, dammit!
S-Sure, he was hot. A-And he was also wise far more than his age would say.
Y-Yeah, he was turning seventeen soon… That was the legal age of adulthood somewhat…?!
She felt woozy as the front door to the home opened to reveal Louis along with Haru.
"Hm?" the red deer looked up in curiosity as he heard the TV in the living room on. "Naruto?!" Louis called out.
"Yoo!" Came Naruto's callback, the fox teen coming out of the couch to be seen fully. "Yo… Don't I know you?" Naruto made to say something before seeing Haru.
"Yes, you almost ran into Haru."
"Oh shit, right, sorry about that!" The hybrid said with a bow from the living room, the rabbit girl giggling a bit as she carried in a basket. "Nice ta meetcha, Haru," he said with a thumbs-up and a grin before blinking as the rabbit offered him the flowers. "For me?"
"Yup!" Haru grinned as he accepted the flowers with one hand. "When someone's dealing with stuff, flowers are always a good gift to bring to let them know you've been thinking about them."
Naruto smiled softly at the sight of sunflowers, dandelions, chrysanthemums, and orange tulips.
"Thanks, love it," he said, taking the object and placing it on the stand next to his TV. "There, I can see it almost all the time. Me and anyone else who's over."
"Hm, hm," Haru giggled as the two were led in by Naruto. "...?" she made a noise when she a sheep on a couch, a woman who she thinks was older than her. "Oh?"
"... Hm," Louis didn't say a single thing but Sebun burned brighter as he observed her. "... Oh, where are our manners," he said with a slight smirk. "You forgot to tell us you were having company, Naruto."
"Yeah, sorry," the fox-deer said before gesturing to the blushing Sebun. "This is Sebun, she recently started working here and me and she recently became friends," the blue-eyed one said with his chest out and his hand on his hip.
The cook blushed harder as Louis nodded his head with a raised brow and Haru giggled before bowing to her.
"P-Pleased to meet you," Haru said with a giggle as the merino sheep blushed harder. "H-Hm, hm," she giggled some more and the college grad wanted to just roll up and die!
"So, how'd school go?"
"Well, quite a few interesting things, actually," Louis said as he and Haru came over and sat down. "For one, Principal Gon came by, looking for you." Naruto looked curious. "A bunch of the other schools want you to attend there instead of Cherryton."
"I'm gonna say 'NO' but I'd want to know why," Naruto said immediately, getting a chuckle out of Louis as Haru blinked. "There has to be a reason, right?"
"They want you as their Young Beastar," Naruto blinked as Sebun and Haru's eyes widened. "They want for both of us to be considered for the position."
"Mmmm, eh," Naruto shrugged, much to the girls' confusion. "I'd love help unite people, world peace has always been a dream of mine, hehe," even Louis blinked at that. "But, I'd decline, if I'm to be considered the best," blue eyes locked with brown, Louis's eyes widened.
"I have to beat any of the other candidates at Cherryton. There's no other way than to just be handed the position," the fox hybrid said with a hand rubbing the back of his head. "They've all heard about me doing one thing and that I'm a hybrid. Aren't they all just following the 'trend'? This doesn't feel genuine."
Louis sat there, stunned, as Naruto explained himself and the deer had come to realize, in those last portions, that he was right.
Naruto hadn't fully stood out yet, even if Louis felt that he did that enough. For now, the coattails of being their father's son… That wasn't a title to ignore and that was also a part of this.
"I never thought of it that way," Sebun said with a finger scratching her cheek. "I heard they wanted you to be a Beastar and wondered what anyone would say to justify saying 'NO', sorry."
"Nah, it's an amazing chance to do some good," Naruto said before shrugging. "It's just if it's all just because I'm my dad's son, strong, hell, or even if it's just because I'm a hybrid, it's all because of those are all things I am. It's not because I'm me. I don't think they'd see me as a person if I accepted the title on those terms."
The three sat there, stunned, for many different reasons.
Louis… Was emboldened by this. His brother was special, he'd known this but hearing this when it ascertained to the possibility of becoming a Beastar? Oh, that'd been enlightening.
Naruto's nature was always so fascinating to watch but, listening more often than not, Louis always seemed to be surprised by its massive contents.
Haru, on the other hand, really liked this guy! He knew exactly what kind of time she was on!
Being a small 'helpless' dwarf rabbit being seen as yourself isn't… It simply never happened for her the way she wished it did… And, so, she did what she could to make that a reality before she met Louis.
A red deer who was projecting a strong image to his, not that anyone knew back then, little brother. A young man who'd stolen her heart… And she was sure that it wasn't mutual…
She let out a sad smile as her eyes went to the contemplative Sebun.
'Hmph, maybe you will have a better time trying to wrangle one of these brothers,' Haru thought with her hands behind her back.
Finally, Sebun just kind of… thought. It wasn't an unusual action, she liked thinking.
But it was the topic that she was thinking about.
Naruto, son of Oguma and brother of Louis, was an amazing young man. Perhaps it was luck, maybe a fluke that he'd realized these things in the seconds he'd been told about them… But Sebun had a feeling it was neither.
Wisdom wasn't something she thought even most adults had. She knew she didn't have much wisdom to give anyone and knew more than a few people, of both sides, who'd bore none of that wisdom as well.
So, where had this young man, all 'alone' in this life of his, gained such insight? What was she to do with this information? Wisdom wasn't exactly cheap, you know!
So, she didn't worry about it. Naruto was who he was, as he said, and trying to quantify him was likely to just leave her flustered.
"Hmph… A response I should have expected," Louis breathed in through his nose before exhaling with a shrug. "Good to know but it was also more," he said, smirking as he knew this bit of info Naruto would like a LOT. "There was a young woman at a daycare," he said.
Naruto leaned forward.
"A hybrid daycare-"
"I'M THERE!" The teen hybrid was out of his seat. "Where is it?!" Naruto asked urgently.
The three herbivores blinked at his behavior before chuckling, snorting, or giggling.
What an odd, funny, amazing fox.
~NRK~
Principal Gon blinked as he saw his phone ringing with a familiar number.
Picking it up, he listened to the person on the other line before snorting and pulling out that young impala's business card.
~NRK~
When the limousine came to a stop, Naruto allowed Louis to come out first before following.
"I'm glad they saw reason," Naruto said as he came out. "Even if over here isn't as dangerous as it could be, taking chances isn't something we should do," he said, getting a nod from his elder sibling.
"Indeed. Especially since, no offense to them, they're small. If they got taken in some chaos…" Both of them nodded at Louis's statement.
No chances, not while Naruto was in this state, at least.
As Louis told Harry to just circle around for the next hour, Naruto looked at the place.
He was glad to see it was clean, bereft of markings that'd bare less than kind words for the kids, and, for the most part, perfectly fine in looks.
Wearing a pair of black slacks, and an open red hoodie, with an orange fox emblem on the back, for his bandages, Naruto tapped his ninja sandal-covered feet against the floor, ignoring the passing, shocked, faces of people as Louis came up to him.
"Ready?" The red deer asked, adjusting his green shirt as he stood there in his brown slacks and sandals. "You have to make a good first impression."
"... Nah, I don't think they'd care for that kind of stuff," Naruto said with a soft smile as Louis raised a brow. "They're kids, Louis. They don't care about decor, reputation, for the most part, and fancy stuff. Meeting someone who's like them and ended up great is likely all they'll need to be happy."
Louis closed his eyes before nodding with a smile. "Yeah, I'll have to hand these reigns to you."
"No problem, come on," Naruto said with a chuckle. "It's only Monday but the day has almost ended."
Going past the door of Kindergarten for Hybrids, Naruto peeked inside to see a few children moving about, playing, chatting, and laughing before all heads turned to the entrance where he'd come in.
The kids' eyes widened as the impala woman who ran the place looked over at him in shock.
"I-It's you!" She said in disbelief as Naruto and Louis stepped in fully, the children around all looking on with interest as the impala woman set down some materials. "I-I wasn't expecting you to show up, no offense, I saw all the other people waiting to try and meet you."
"Well, they all want something I just don't care about," Louis snorted as Naruto chuckled. "This, though, I care about," he said as the children gathered around. "Well aren't you all colorful, hehe~," he said, kneeling to their levels.
"Whoa…" A rhino with a furred head said in awe as he looked up. "Y-You're the guy from TV!"
"H-He is!" Came a girl pigeon with a pair of sharp claws.
"He's so cool!" Came a boy leopard's, with a large crocodile tail, voice. "Y-You're the guy from the T-TV, right?!" he stuttered unnaturally, gaining Naruto's attention.
He nodded to them all, grin on. "Yep, the name's Naruto. What are all your names?"
"Koiwa!"
"Connie!"
"Ruth!"
More of such names were said and Naruto did his best to recognize each of them by their energy and features.
Naruto nodded before standing up to meet the owner.
"My name is Wala, pleased to finally meet you," she said as he shook her hand, his bandaged arm the curiosity of many of the children. "It's been interesting to think that you were the son of the Oguma. Then I learned of the fact that you're a hybrid and I was left wondering what kind of person you are!"
Naruto grinned. "Well, I've got an hour, get to know me," he said as she smiled and led the two to an area in the middle of the room. "Alright," Naruto said as he got seated, sitting cross-legged with Louis. "What's everyone's first question?"
Many hands went up, Naruto counted all 10 and chuckled a bit before picking the familiar pigeon girl from before.
"You, Connie, what's your question?"
"U-Um, have you always looked like that?" she asked nervously as Naruto hummed.
"Nope," he said simply, the girl's eyes glowing in interest. "... Actually, I've looked like this ever since I was ten," Naruto explained, bringing out his phone and showing the group his picture. "See, I was far foxier than I am today."
Many of the kids stared in shock at the younger Naruto, Wala smiling as she saw it.
"Interesting," she said with a tilt of the head. "This is the first time I've heard of it happening during your formative years. Usually, your heritage happens from the offset or around when you turn twenty."
"I know that last one but, seeing your kids, that first part makes sense," Naruto said. "Then again, I'm kind of weird."
Louis nodded at that. "He is weird, don't let his big smiles fool you, he once pranked the entire club at school.
Many of the children giggled or outright laughed and Naruto felt very good about that.
A hand raised and Naruto nodded to it. "What's up?"
More questions were asked and he answered them all with Louis adding his large sarcastic twists on many of his words.
"It's dinner time!" Wala said as she eyed the children still around. "I hope you don't mind."
"It's fine," Naruto said as he and Louis chilled out. "Hm, I like this place. She seems to really want to help these kids, and their parents, out. I'm glad someone like her is around."
Louis nodded before the door to the place opened to reveal… His eyes narrowed in confusion at this tall woman.
Wearing a pink hoodie that came down to her thighs, a pair of white sneakers, black stocking, and a face mask, all that was revealed was her bushy white tail, her pristine white fur around her eyes, and bright lavender orbs looked around the area before softening at the sight of the children.
"Ms. Para?" Wala said with a tilt of the head before she smiled widely at the fox woman. "I didn't know you were coming!" the impala said with an excited tone as the children's heads snapped in her direction.
"Fox lady!"
"Missy Pala!"
"Para!"
The kids cheered and Naruto felt how the woman's soft pity disappeared, her eyes bright with life as she crouched near the children.
"How are you all doing?" Her voice was sultry and soft, speaking to the young ones around her in kind tones that nearly had Naruto doing a double-take. "I see your parents haven't shown up yet. I guess the workdays have been rather long, huh?"
The kids answered in their own ways, the woman's tail waving from side to side as she giggled at them before looking up.
Lavender eyes widened as they locked onto Naruto.
'Oh shit,' she hadn't expected him to be here!
The target had appeared in front of her, in her free time, and she didn't know if he'd figured out who she was or not.
'Play it up,' she told herself, blinking a few times before pointing at Naruto. 'Act like any other person on the street.'
"Aren't you that Naruto guy from the conference?" she asked as the children giggled.
"U-Um, yeah," Naruto blinked, caught off guard, before answering. "Sup. You come here often?" Louis snorted and the fox shouldered him. "Ignore him, he's filled up his sarcasm quota."
"Hm, hm, I see," she said with a chuckle as she stood, long legs pushing her above the children. "Wala, did they have dinner?"
"They were just about to start," the impala answered. "Come, come, it's been a while. How have your trips been?"
"Well, they're rather chaotic as of late," Para said as she and impala talked.
"... Huh," Naruto blinked at the two chatting away. "I guess she's one of the kids' mom?"
"Maybe… Though," Louis frowned. "Am I the only one who feels like we've seen her before?"
"No, you're not," Naruto said with a sigh. "I just don't know where. I guess she's someone we passed on the street," he said with another look at Para's legs and tail. "... Why do I feel like I've seen those legs before?"
Louis's expression went flat. "... I hope we didn't see her anywhere… ahem, illicit."
Naruto blinked before blushing. "N-No… I hope not?" he said.
God, he hoped not.
They chatted for a bit, Naruto professing his want to visit this place more before the two of them were interrupted by a boy sitting next to them and nibbling on some carrots with honey on them.
"Koiwa?" Naruto said as he tilted his head at the rhino-horse hybrid. "What's going on, buddy?"
"Mmm, mm," the boy nibbled on his food, pouring honey on it. "I wanted to sit near you."
Naruto chuckled before ruffling the boy's fur.
Louis smiled a bit before noting the honey. "That's kind of a lot of honey, Koiwa."
"Mmm," the boy nodded, looking at his food. "I can't taste lots of things," the two's eyes widened as the boy. "Mom and dad say that I just need to make it really tasty but I get tummy sick sometimes."
Naruto's eyes widened before he took on a determined look.
"Koiwa, can you put your food down for a moment?" the boy did as asked, looking on as Naruto placed the plate a bit more away before shifting a bit to the side, legs still crossed beneath him. "Thanks… I want to try something, Koiwa."
"Try what?"
"... Something I've never tried before," Naruto said, gaining the rest of the kids' attention along with Wala and Para. "... But, if it works… I might be able to get you to eat things without getting sick."
The rhino boy's ears flagged back and forth. "Really?!"s
"Yup, hm, hm," Naruto chuckled before holding out a fist. "You know what a fist bump is, right?"
The boy nodded eagerly, pressing his fist to Naruto's.
"Good, now, keep it there, alright?" the fox hybrid saw his nod before breathing in. "Now, close your eyes," Naruto did the same. "Breathe in. Not too fast but not too slow."
Koiwa tried before mumbling. "I-I don't know how to do that."
"Hm," Naruto smiled even with his eyes closed. "Then follow my own, alright?"
The fox hybrid breathed in loudly before exhaling, the boy following his example.
He did it a few more times out loud so Koiwa could hear it before going silent as the boy matched his breathing.
Naruto focused on the Natural Energy around the two of them before pulling it in and then passing it to the boy.
Para leaned forward in confusion before noting something.
The excitable Koiwa was perfectly still. The boy had a form of bodily issue that made him shake, slightly, uncontrollably after every few minutes.
And the boy was silent and completely unmoving as he connected fists with Naruto.
Then the very air in the daycare… shifted.
It was hard to explain but it was like it was circling… Circling the two over there.
Louis's eyes widened as he felt the air pulling around him.
W-Was this what Naruto had meant? How had he missed it?!
Naruto, on the other hand, focused on the energies in Koiwa's head first and foremost.
He could sense how tangled the energies were in there, his herbivore nature was of two kinds. The boy was a mix of two different species, so that made sense.
He prodded the twisted mess and Koiwa shivered.
"It's going to feel weird, I know, Koiwa," he said, eyes still closed. "But they're all tangled in your head, I'm going to undo that and you should be better off."
"A-Alright, mister."
Louis swallowed as what was basically mysticism happened before him.
As the rhino hybrid grimaced somewhat, the hair on his head smoothed out a bit.
Naruto frowned curiously, feeling his predator half kind of 'bark' at the two herbivore energies.
'Is… Is my predator half forcing them to untangle?' Naruto felt his disbelief up three-fold as he felt the energies doing as directed, his two halves twirling together before unfurling. '... That's kind of crazy.'
Perhaps… Perhaps this is why he'd been born this way. He had the two balances. One forced and the other urged gently.
Wala's eyes widened as her mouth dropped, the fox's arm fluffing up with fur before sinking back down to his normal lengths. Koiwa's hairy head had smoothed out completely, the fur still there but it… molded, in no better words, to his head's shape.
Naruto breathed in before separating fists with the boy, steadying him.
"Keep your eyes closed, Koiwa, just checking something," the fox hybrid said as he silently removed one of the boy's carrot sticks from his bag, no honey on it. "Now, I'm going to let you try one of your honey-covered carrot sticks, alright?"
The boy nodded, biting down on the vegetable.
"How's it taste?"
"L-Like normal?" the eyes around him widened to impossible levels. "W-Was it supposed to taste different?!"
"Of course not, Koiwa," Naruto rested his head on his fist with a grin. "I mean, after all, that was just a normal carrot."
The boy's eyes snapped open, looking at the bit-down carrot stick in Naruto's hand and the grin on the older hybrid's face.
"Here, try it," Naruto took out another carrot stick and handed it to the boy as Wala covered her mouth in shock. "Go on, it won't bite."
Koiwa nodded, biting down on the item, eyes widened as he chewed on the rest of it.
"... THANKS, MISTER!" the boy said with cheer as he ate.
Naruto chuckled, popping his carrot stick into his mouth.
"Glad I could help," he said as he rolled his neck before looking at the others. "Does anyone else have anything like th-"
He was swarmed in seconds, children attaching themselves upon him in seconds.
"Help, I'm being attacked by children!"
Louis was just left there, stunned, as he watched the far more 'rhino' boy eat, giggle, and watch the processions.
'I…' what could he even say to this!?
This went beyond being different. Naruto might very well have been an outright psychic!
The heir to Horns Conglomerate just sat there as his sibling was left to the whims of nine children.
"Me next!"
"No, me!"
"I want butterfly wings!"
More of such madness assaulted the former blonds before he sat up, the children hanging off every available part of his body.
"W-Wait, big bro is hurt and slightly tired, let him rest!" Naruto said, speaking about himself in the third person.
Wala breathed in before letting out the biggest smile she'd ever had when it came to Kindergarten.
"I-Is it permanent?" she asked, hopefully. "I-Is he truly helped?"
"Arg, well," Naruto breathed out as the children barely made room for his face. "I'll have to just keep coming back to make sure his two halves are perfectly aligned, and I'll need to speak with his parents about the one downside, but, if I'm right, then yeah, he's good to go."
Para felt all of that hit her at once before she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"T-Then, if you could, please, help her," the impala pleaded, Para's eyes watering at the mere kindness she was receiving. "I… Para is sterile and many doctors think that it's because of her heritage."
Naruto stared before nodding, picking off his children fruit before standing up and flipping over them.
They cheered as he did, the young man chuckling as he walked towards the desperate woman.
"I'm gonna be honest, that was the first time I've done this with someone else," he said as he jabbed a thumb back at the happy rhino boy. "I might need to get better at this if this doesn't work on the first go."
"I can wait if it comes to that," Para said as she bit her lips, cheeks red. "I… Can the changes be more drastic than Koiwa's?"
"Hm," Naruto looked back at the child in question. "Well, you saw my pictures, I don't know how it works completely. Trust me, I'm kind of new to all these news effects of mine. So, I can only say… Eh," he shrugged, Para blinking at him before chuckling even if a little bit.
"... I can live with that as long as I can…" she held a hand to her stomach. "I-If just this can be possible, I'd be fine with any side effects," Para said to him, seriously.
Ever since being born, she'd been dealt the hand of possible issues but she'd never had any at that. She'd gone to school, covering her face, sure, but she'd been just like everyone else… And then she'd found the man she'd wanted to be the father of her kits.
They'd tried, vigorously, numerous, pleasurable, times and yet the effect had been for naught… A-And then he'd… He'd died…
A woman destined for malcontent had been her 'legend' and she'd never wanted any part in this world until she came and found her. Curie, a woman secretly working on trying to perfect the hybrid formula.
If that could happen, Para might have been able to adjust her body to become fertile… But then this young man came into the picture and the fox woman wasn't sure how to take this.
If he could affect her this deeply… That meant big changes for society. Changes that might become controversial for many reasons.
For one, there was literally no other way around this, this was mysticism of some sort. Which might make people think things about all these crazy people in the world who faked it.
… Para was worried for this young man should things go as badly as she imagined.
He sat across from her in another chair, bright blue eyes locking onto her lavender orbs.
They glowed with a power that she'd only recently become witness to.
"... A-Alright, let's do this," she said shakily, not knowing how she'd feel if this didn't work. "... Mm-Hmm," Para nodded before holding up a slightly shaky fist.
Naruto placed his fist against her own and she just stared at how still she'd gone at that.
'W-What is this?' the feeling of the world around her seemed to fall away and it left her in a void of warmth. 'I-Is this what he did to Koiwa?!'
What was going on?
"Focus," she heard his words, knowing that she'd long since closed her eyes. "Breathe in."
She did and the more she did, she felt her world fall away.
"Interesting," she heard in front of her and her eyes snapped open before they widened in such shock, she fell on her rear. "Hm?" Naruto made a noise as he looked down at his hands.
"Interesting. Weird but interesting."
What stood before the older fox hybrid was not a person.
Long, curled, horns hung off his forehead before curling backward somewhat. Two long fox tails waved behind him as his now taller form was covered by a cloak of gold.
Oh, right, he was completely gold and black and she was fucking TWEAKING right now!
"W-What?!" she said as she saw him before looking around to nothing but black. "W-Where are we?!"
"Well… I think we're in a shared mindscape," Naruto said nervously, rubbing the back of his head. "... It is weird… I've never been here in so long," he mumbled to himself before looking back at the hybrid before him. "Hey, Para, is there something about you that I should know about? This place isn't what usually happens."
She'd panicked for a moment before looking as confused as he did, taking his offered hand and being pulled up.
"I-I don't even know what this is!" she said. "... I-Isn't this normal?" the fox asked worryingly.
"No but it's not bad, per se," Naruto explained before shaking his head. "Ya know what, this is honestly not important. Come on," he walked past her and Para turned to see…?!
"What the hell is that?!" she screamed at the large womanly shape of darkness before them. "W-What?!"
"That's your spiritual body," Naruto explained, getting a gawk from his fellow fox hybrid. "... Wait, is this because your body's changes are more drastic?" he wondered out loud as Para froze, paling.
"W-What does that mean?"
"It means that your situation is a lot more difficult to deal with, I guess," Naruto said, giving her a sad smile as she fell to her knees. "W-Whoa now, don't be like that. I said more difficult not unfixable. After all…"
The woman watched as red and blue came out of the fox-deer's hands before forming into tools of some sort.
One was in the shape of a tanbo, a short metal staff, while the other looked like a short shakkujo, nine rings around it. Both in blue and red, respectively.
"..." Naruto looked at the weapons before closing his eyes. "... One pushes while the other leads," he whispered, the weapons glowing brighter before solidifying. "... Oh, this is gonna take some time. I have a feeling learning how to do all this is gonna be a long task."
Para swallowed, looking up at him pleadingly.
Actually, now that he could see her real face, he saw the beautifully scaled muzzle on her face, her teeth sharper than his were.
He nodded before turning to her body. "Alright, let's see how this goes, alright?"
And to think, he thought his day would be normal!
Hah! Should have known better.
~NRK~
And that's a wrap for this chapter.
Personally, I felt like I made him meet Para too quickly but, at the same time, I think I can work with this.
Onto the meat of this chapter, yeah, Naruto's going to be coming to the Kindergarten for Hybrids for the foreseeable future with big changes to society that'll eventually make him a bigger figure than he could have ever imagined.
Para's thoughts are right. When this gets out, no matter how kind of an individual Naruto is, things are gonna change no matter what he wants. He's slowly becoming bigger as the chapters go on.
The mice community already has a good view of him while the hybrid community… And a certain fruit will be interested.
Louis learns more about his brother, Sebun's attraction is becoming a bit more apparent to everyone, Haru has a new 'See me for me' buddy, and Naruto's being considered for Young Beastar by many people… Oh, and he met one, on accident, already.
The next chapter is bound for fun.
Words: 11.5k+
~NRK Out~