Kitsune no Konoha
02
ISDH
KNK
It had been three Weeks.
Three Weeks since He awoke with new Ears, a scar, and a tail.
Three Weeks since he was removed from Team 7, and put under Ebisu for remedial Control exercises. Of course his rival for the Hat was right there beside him, perfecting his own Control. They started with 'Tree Climbing' and 'Water Walking'.
When Konohamaru had dunked Naruto into the River for the fifth time that day, and Naruto climbed out like he was exiting an underground chamber by climbing a ladder, instead of swimming to the sallows and remounting the surface, Ebisu called for a break, and walked off muttering to himself.
The next day, Naruto was assigned to Team 8, as they went from a tracking team, to 'Tracking and Capture'. Yuhi Kurenai was not happy about her Team being put on the Line so Easily, until she saw just what her new Member could do…
[Flashback]
Team 8 was sent as the 'ever watchful' eyes of the Village, while a Team from Suna collected on a few bounty scrolls. Three nuke-genin broke and ran, causing Kiba, in his hyped mood to break formation, and run them down. This allowed three chunin and a Jounin level bandits to grab Hinata and Kurenai.
Shino blinked… twice, before turning to look at Naruto, his whole shoulders twisting about, "Well, I am going to go help Kiba-san. Try not to kill them please." he then walked away.
Kurenai stopped struggling when she heard Shino's tone of Voice. Four males and two females locked onto the blond ninja in the clearing. Moving with the slowness of a predator in sight of it's prey, Naruto unzipped and set aside his jacket.
"You just had to grab them. Had you just run away, she would have let you go." His coat hung from a nearby tree. "But no… you had to try one last time to make a profit…", His fingers twitched, and chains of golden light pooled by his feet… Chains that looked as if they were foraged from the first rays of sunrise…
Hinata sneezed… and the two chunin holding her were peeled off as a knot of chain impacted into their faces. The third Chunin tried to make a run for it… only to be hog-tied to a nearby tree before his second step.
Naruto swung his arms, and shifted his shoulders. "Just think Sensei, what I could do if I had any training."
Kurenia sighed from where she was being held, a kunai to her throat. "Okay. You bring in all seven and I will get you the training."
"Seven?" Naruto counted the bodies around the clearing… "You mean I gotta rob Kiba of his Prizes too? No, that is just Wrong." He looked in the direction the others left. "Okay, All Seven, but only if Shino and Kiba fail to capture the runners themselves."
"Deal amended and accepted." Kurenai sighed, only to gasp as the knife was poked into her neck. "Understanding that all of Team 8 survives."
"Of Course." a voice behind the 'two jonin' whispered in their ears.
The Bandit threw the Kunoichi away, as he spun to face the threat from his rear. He found nothing, so he spun again, flinging three pointed shurikens at where Kurenai should have landed, only for them to hit a stump in the ground. Another Handful, were readied, but Hinata too was missing, Leaving only Naruto facing him.
There he was facing a child-soldier dressed in bright orange pants and a 'wife beater' shirt. The idiot was even out kunai and shurikens. "Where did those Sluts go?" he snarled.
"Normally I would ignore insults like that about my female teammates." Naruto drawled as he stretched his arms. "But then 'Jiji' put me on this team. Now Kiba is a brute and thug, yes, and Shino is … Shino, but Hinata has been nothing but kind, and Sensei walks me through the things I do not understand…" he hopped on his toes, "So I am going to take a little bit of enjoyment out of this. Once I got them away from you four, I hid them in the trees."
Naruto charged in, twenty clones on his heels, summoned without a hand sign.
The iron triangles were flung, causing half of the clones to pop…filling the air about the males with a white fog. When vision returned to the clearing, all four bandits were tied with a golden chain, rope, and ninja wire, into positions best suited for being carried across the shoulders of a single soldier.
"Okay." the Jounin sensei emerged from the shadows. "That's four…"
"Sorry Sensei, but the boss is out running the other three down." The Clone she was sure was the Original, slung the master bandit onto it's shoulders, as three of it's brothers did the same with the mid-rankers. "Okay you 'dirt-eating pukes', Pop the clone you are riding, and our guard gets three minutes to rough you up, before we resling you, and continue on our way. Everybody understand?" The Chunin class agreed, as the Jonin held his tongue.
Hinata exits the trees, cradling in her arms a red and yellow pelted fox, chatting quietly with it.
Kurenia stopped long enough to determine that the younger Kinoitchi was trading 'hair care' types with the 'little beast'. She looked about, and saw two Narutos combing the ground in a cross patch field search pattern.
"What is this?" she asked one clone.
"Field clean-up." the clone looked at her, his 'sunny smile' in place. "Boss does this everytime we are in a scuffle outside the Village. Team-mates and friends are offered their items back, but everything else the boss keeps and uses."
"Why?"
"Do you know how much a standard kit of shuriken and kunai cost?"
"Three ryu. For the standard kit." the Jonin answered, "Two, if you are from a Clan or buying twenty kits or more."
The clone had a coughing fit. "Three Ryu per kit? Six Shuriken and three kunai?" at the red eyed woman's nod, the blond genin turned away and Roared, Causing the Vixen to go from pampered pet, to on guard Ken instantly. "I am charged Thirty Ryu, limit of one, so that everyone can get one!" the Blond snarled, his red… before it exploded into fiery red fog, dropping its load of iron hardware. It's partner stepped over, and collected the items.
Three ninja exited from the way the others went. Kiba, Shino, and Naruto! Each had a guy slung across his shoulders, but as soon as Shino saw the clones… he passed his prisoner over.
Kiba looked around, as his ken stood on his head. "Nah, I will keep mine, Mom is always dropping off guys two at a time. I need to build up my strength."
[end flashback]
The Brat was always there when he was needed.
Doing a 'Mail run' to the Fire Lord, he stepped up between a stampeding herd of Bovine. [Swamp of the Underworld] turned the whole pass into a boggy mire, and the running beasts were trapped allowing for the Farmers to drag the beasts from the mud. The cow thieves were caught, and because the gang were being led by a 'tagged' ninja as to a rebuked one, the Lord of the Land of Rice now owed the Fire Lord a favor…
While they were in the Village, he would meet her every morning to find out her plans. Days when she had nothing, he would Hunt down Anko and train under her until nightfall. Otherwise he was at Hinata's heels, as she almost always had the red and yellow tailed vixen in her arms or hoodie.
She had told Anko about the Shops overcharging the boy and the two of them took him shopping. He was under orders to dress in a style as close to the Male Jonin as possible. Naruto picked out an exact copy of Kakashi's outfit, minus the flak vest in his size. Anko advised three copies, but Kurenai-sensei forced him to buy five. On his way to the register, he spotted them. Knee length... bright Orange Leather… sleeveless…
A Clone popped up beside him, and pulled one of the Tunics off the hanger. After a Henge to appear in Kakashi's outfit, the Clone swept the Jacket across his shoulders and into place. Stepping to where it had some room, the Clone preformed a kata. The Tunic hugged him like a second skin or hung unmoving in the air as the Clone floated about in a 4 ftx 4ft square.
Naruto nodded, before nodding at the rack twice. The Clone reached for another when Anko put a hand on his shoulder.
"You were told to style yourself after Kakashi. But that thing…" Kurenai admonished the kid.
Anko patted the clone on the head, before gripping the collar, and popping the clone. "Ku-chan. The Color is his trademark. Yes, It is easy to track… but only if you see it." she tossed the tunic on the pile in the boy's arms. "I tested him last week, he knows how to hide. I have seen him hide in the shadow of the Noon Sun." to Naruto, "Get one at this time. And I will buy you the next one."
"Deal!" Naruto dropped his load on the counter, at the Register. "I will need to get the swirl on my back…"
"15,000 Ryu." the old lady behind the counter told the boy smugly, watching his ears droop..
Anko leaned over the boy. "I am sorry. I must have misheard you."
"12,000 Ryu?" the old lady shivered.
"I think you counted wrong. Please recount." Anko tried again.
"I can't!" the old lady folded in on herself. "The Council…"
"I need a name." Anko leered.
"Uta-uta-Utatane! Utatane Koharu!" the woman cried, "That bitch is trying to force the Brat to go Rogue!"
"My Loyality is to the Village, and those Loyal to it!" Naruto snaps, his ears plastered to his skull. "Dattebayo!"
"And purposely overcharging Loyal Ninja while in these walls…" Anko allowed her T&I traits to show.
"And Disobeying Utatane's orders?" the old woman cried.
Naruto squinted at the lady. "How much is the Coat?"
"50 ryu, for them. For you...500."
"And the uniforms?"
The old woman thumbed through the pile. "400 for them, 1200 for you."
Naruto began stashing everything into the Coat… it all fit, without bulging the Pockets. He swung the Coat on… showing no sign that he had five complete sets of Kakashi's uniform in his size. He pulled out Gama-chan, counted out five, one hundred Ryu notes, and slammed them on the counter. "Love the Coat! We good?"
The granny grinned. "I sell you the Coat, at the mark-up. And everything in its pockets included. I can live with that. And I mark the loss of the uniforms as Gifts." she bowed her head, Naruto Smiled and bounced out the Door.
Once outside, he made a showing of Admiring his Coat, and at the 'Bargain' he found.
"This will be reported to the Hokage." Kurenia hissed at the woman, as she followed her genin into the night.
KNK
The next Morning, a Blond Kakashi dropped silently from the Tea Shop roof, causing Hinata to squeak.
"Naruto, where is your…" Kurenai frowned at the boy.
"Oba-san, is having her granddaughter practice her craft. It should be done tomorrow night." He smiled behind the Gaiter-mask. "And it will be done correctly. Or her family compound will be my new target until it is. Prepaid for my whirlpool." He looked like a shorter yellow haired Kakashi, mask over face to just below the eyes, and his headband Hitai-ate as an eyepatch.
Team 8 headed to the Hokage Tower. Today was a mission day. As they cued up, Naruto pulled an orange book from a concealed pocket. The Guys just raised an eyebrow, while the girls glared.
"Naruto." Kurenai hissed so that it would not carry, as she closed on the boy.
"Relax, Sensei. Just reading up on something Anko gave me a couple of days ago. The Art of Binding. ShiBari reru Geijutsu." He offered her a peek. "I am learning how best to bind my Prisoners before giving them to Anko Sensei."
"Maybe Kiba and Hinata-san would enjoy practicing with him?" Shino's monotone cracked at the joke. Hinata blushed red, before fainting at the joke.
"Why would I enjoy practicing being tied up by a guy." Kiba growled.
"Avoidance and Escape." The calm voiced boy returned to the group.
"Ah, and me?" The princess squeaked as Kurenai looked her over.
"I told you during the week in the Forest of Death." Shino sighed, "You must choose between being predator and prey. He will need to tie up targets, and be tied up himself, if he is to learn that style."
"Oh Kit. I like this one more every day!" the yellow fox poked her nose out of the zipper of the girl's hoodie.
"Kakashi!" an angry ANBU shimmered in behind Naruto, "What did I say about you forgetting your vest!" A Knife-hand chop dropped aiming for his shoulder neck joining.
Like oil on a Toad's back, Naruto rolled to the side just enough for the hand to miss, tapping her wrist with his forefingers, he stepped behind her, knocking her knees out from under her, as he spun around to face her. A sharp tug, before Tapping her right shoulder, and he reversed direction to now stand behind her, dragging four of his fingers across her breasts to her left hip, along her lower back, to the right hip. His foot to her left shoulder, caused her to face-fault, and twist to the left. A few deft pushes as opposed to kicks had the ANBU against the far wall, bound in blue chakra, cord sized, chains. The Bindings were spread from mid-calf to the female's shoulder.
Anko looked down. "A simple cocoon?" She punched Naruto in the shoulder. "I thought you would have learned at least one of those from that book…" she waggled her eyebrows at the boy.
"I might have, if I was not too tired, working on my Control exercises from dawn to dusk, daily!" Naruto hissed at the yellow trenched ninja. "Not including those games of yours, the Missions with Sensei, and medical school on top of that!" his voice not carrying far… but far enough.
"And your chakra reserves?" Tsunade asked.
Naruto turned to look at the Princess, who blushed… "He is about half full, Kage-sama."
The Hokage grunted, as she turned to look at the ninja at her feet. "Crow. is there a reason you attacked my Genin?"
"Was looking for Kakashi-sempei. Saw someone dressed like him, with no vest, holding his book…" the Anbu turned away in shame, "I fear something has happened to him."
"Something has." the Hokage sighed. "I sent three of my best. They will either retrieve him or…" the Medic Sannin turned away. "Kurenai, drop her. And bring your Team. I have a mission just up your alley.
KNK
In Tsunade's Office, the door locked, the old woman handed a scroll to the Jonin.
"The Village Hidden in the Waterfall has lost someone. They believe she is under a heavy Genjutsu, and will refuse to return willingly. They have posted a reward for the girl to be returned to the Elder Council...alive."
Naruto was standing at the window staring into the distance. "Let me guess. The Girl's name is Fuu."
"Yes." Tsunade frowned. "I was asking you to find her because of how Leaf bungled our last encounter."
"We Bungled nothing." There were tears in his voice. "We were there when the Council tried to overthrow the Headman. Waterfall's great secret is that the Lake, a gift from the Second Hokage, channels chakra through a massive tree, a gift from the First, to distill a form of water they call 'Hero-Water'. It takes a year to create a drop of this potion. And the Headman died protecting it. What was left was being guarded by the Village's dirty little secret."
"Fuu." Anko spoke up. "Which one is she?"
"Seven" Naruto answered with a glare.
"Seven what?" Kiba asked.
"How was She treated?" Kurenai asked softly.
"The Headman treated her like Jiji-sama treated me." Naruto turned back to the window. "Family, but not Blood." His ears pressed back and centered on his skull. "The Council and children treated her like I was. Verbal abuse from everyone and the kids threw things at her. Her Loyalty was to the Headman, but the Ninja Council held her leash. One Chunin to her Genin talked about how he was going to breed her when she came of age."
Anko hissed, as Shino buzzed. Kiba frowned, something was not right.
"The Chunin died in the attempted coup, before the Headman did." Naruto spoke softly. He cleared his throat. "Hokage-Sama. Change the parameters of the Mission. We are to track her down, and recrute her for the Leaf. I hope I can do for Seven what I was able to do for One."
The Jonin shifted as Naruto turned to look at the Hokage.
"You will need to send someone to track by Scent. To track by Sight. Ero-Sensei had me read up on the Nine. Seven is a giant Rhino Beetle. It would be good to have an Aburame along. You will need a Chakra powerhouse, and a seal master to lock her down until we can talk to her." Naruto was counting on his fingers. "Waterfall will be sending their best to reclaim her, you will need a Legion. We will need to hide in the 'Shadow of the Noon Sun', and …"
"That is the second time I heard that term." Kurenai spoke up. "This 'Hiding in the Shadow of the Noon Sun'."
"The Closest thing the brat can come to casting a Genjutsu." Anko shivered. "I would think he got it from Suna, but he has yet to go there."
"Going to set it as a Class B mission, Search and Rescue, Fuu of the Waterfall." Tsunade scribbled on a blank scroll. "Once you have her, no matter who asks, no matter her condition, she is to be brought here to Leaf for a full health evaluation and seal check." She looked about the room. "Kurenai, Command is yours. Seal Specialist, Anko, second in command. Team 8, Aburame Shino, Hyuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba, Uzumaki Naruto. Search, Rescue, Track, and Capture one Fuu of Waterfall. Aburame, your colony will hopefully be useful in tracking the target, and calming her. You are responsible for her Physical Health. Apply your Family's style as needed to passif her. Inuzuka and Uzumaki, you are guard and Combat duties. Bring my Ninja home, no matter the cost." She stamped the scroll with her Seal, before rolling the scroll up, and passing it to Kurenai.
"Okay Team 8. East Gate, fifteen minutes." and she was gone.
"Naruto." Tsunade spoke with a cold voice. "As of this Minute. I consider Fuu a shinobi of the Leaf."
"Hai!" he turned towards the door, only for Anko to grab him by the collar.
"Follow me."
KNK
At the East Gate, Team 8 Assembled.