KnK
03
At the Gate, Team 8 Assembled.
Kiba in his fur lined parka, his white 'puppy' lay sprawled across the backpack.
Shino looked stoic in his knee length trench, with the collar turned up. A day pack dropped over one shoulder.
Hinata dressed like a Shinto Priestess, but in pale violets. In her arms a yellow gold fox played the part of the pampered pet of a priestess. She had no sign of a pack, but her full sleeves …
Kurenia wore her ribboned dress.
Anko arrived by Shunshen just before Naruto cannon-balled into the group.
"That is Cheating!" his the fox-boy, his Orange tunic flaring in his wake. "At least teach me that jutsu before you use it against me!"
"Where did you two go?" Kurenai asked.
"Picked up his jacket, reloaded his pack into scrolls, and then Raced to the Gate. He almost beat me, just by running." Anko smirked. "It is a two day run to Taki, as the chunin runs. I say we can make it in eight Hours!" She sprung to the branches.
Kurenia ruffled Naruto's hair. "When they start faltering, I will need You to carry them." and she jumped into the trees. Naruto shrugged, and joined the genin as they raced into the green.
KNK
The Squad dropped from the branches, landing before the greatest majestic waterfall possible. Two Jonin, a scruffy genin in a hoodie, and two in orange carrying others.
Squad-Leader barked out orders. "DB, looking for a female leaving, she will smell off. BM, you know what you are looking for. Double P, keep an eye out!" She turned her red eyes on the orange dressed genin carrying the girl, "BH, Cover our six!"
'Bone-Head' grunted… "And Done."
"Can we help you?" a trio of grey dressed Ninja stepped from behind the trees.
'Squad-Leader' frowned at BH, "Our Six?"
"You said cover, not watch." He grinned cheekily. "They touch so much as a blade…"
The bigger of the trio drew a dagger, only for twenty clones to fall on him, wrestling him to his knees, disarming him, and binding him in their chakra chains.
The leader, the second biggest of the three, coughed. "Your purpose."
"The Hokage sent us to find your Duckling." the shorter Jonin sneered, "it was declared to be in our best interest to find said duckling, and return her to her nest."
"Sensei! Got her scent! Three days old, six males followed close after. Two days ago, Kikashi followed…" The Scruffy gennin paced between two groups of trees, sniffing. "All but Kikashi and the Female have returned."
The boy in the shades, swung off the other genin. "This is fun, but when we get back to the Village, I would advise stirrups." He squatted three times, rotated his limbes, and turned to remount the blond he rode in on, only for it to pop. A fresh one dropped from the branches above, and allowed the shaded youth onto it's shoulders.
"Why?" the youngest of the trio of Taki asked, waving his hand at the two riders.
"Riding allows me to travel the same distance, but only costs me a tenth of my energy." Bug-Master answered, as he adjusted himself across the blonde's shoulders. "Dog-Breath, lead the way!"
DB growled, but bolted into the green, the white puppy howled to lead the hunt.
SB frowned before making a gimme motion with her hand. Another Blond dropped to kneel before her. SL snorted, before flickering away. The now three burdened Blondes nodded to the two Taki ninja, and as one, charged off in the darkness.
Three minutes later, the twenty clones holding the big guy vanished, as did their chains.
"Are we going after them?" the tiny guy asked.
"No. we report to the Council, and let them send a squad to the Leaf." He turned to the waterfall, "Our job is done."
KnK
Three Days later, Team 8 found Fu and Kakashi having a glare off over a roasting rabbit.
The three Narutos landed with a thump that never shook their riders. Kurenai landed with only a whisper, as Kiba landed on a fours on the far side.
Naruto shifted Hinata to her feet, "Gather what herbs you will need for a small boar." He told the 'Priestess', as four clones flashed in, before running off into the night.
"Bone Head," Squad-leader swatted him across the crown of his skull. "You are supposed to wait until I give the order."
"Aie Sensei." The blond dressed like Kakashi, including a face mask and eye patch. "But If Hinata-sama starts on the prep work, and the Clones bring in a boar, you should be able to talk Kakashi-Sensei into sitting down before he falls down. It is afterall the only way for him to protect his book. Fu is outnumbered, but if given time, and the right approach, will see us as allies."
Before Kurenai could answer, four Clones returned with a spitted boar half the size of a pony.
"See?" The blonde slid out of his tunic, passing it to Shino. "Talk Fu down. She is a hive-colony of one, but Milady speaks softly in her presence." Turning to Anko, "Please see to our Defenses." Looking at Kiba, "We will need a better spit frame, and more wood." He grappled the boar, carrying it just out of sight. "Hinata-chan, join me as we prepare our guest for Dinner."
Fu frowned as the genin in glasses took the rabbit from the fire, and moved to sit at her side, but far enough away to not encroach on her 'space'. The rabbit was passed to her. The orange jacket set to the side gently, as the two adults turned to face off over one another. "Why?"
"Naruto-san is wise in the ways of team dysfunction." the Genin was not looking at her, but she could feel him watching. "Eat. Kakashi is as worn out as you are. Kiba-san needs to cool down after that long run, and Anko-sempi is making sure no one will disrupt our sleep. Naruto-san and Hinata-chan are dressing the pig to feed us all, as Kurenai-sensei is taking Kakashi-kun to task over his little book." He raised his fist closest to her. "You and I have something in common; an interest in beetles." One of his bugs walked across his knuckles.
"And you are not afraid?" Fu frowned.
"Of what?" asked Shino.
"They don't know." the yellow fox crawled into her lap, wrapped her three tails about her, and sampled the cooked rabbit. "Hinata-chan can read your Chakra, and probably knows you are more like the kit, then the others. And the Adults know the secret. Kiba sees you as a female that needs to be impressed. He believes that the Kit can be taken in a one-on-one match, he just needs to train more. The Kit is a bit slow, but when he says something, he makes it come true." She liked her muzzle, "He is under orders to return every ninja here to the Leaf. the Exact words; bring my Ninja Home. I am counting Fu as mine."
A deep rumble came from Fu's chest.
"Not knowing the full story, but we were in the office when Hokage-sama brought you up." Shino crossed his arms, just putting his hands into the other sleeve. "His teammate put his hand through our gaki's heart, and left him for dead. And he released that Anger." Shino peered over his shades. "When he heard that you were out, He talked about his visit to Waterfall. Then he turned to demand that the Hokage send him… and advised a team to join him. He did not release the Anger, but doubled down. Something about your story hits him low, and awakens his Anger. He practically carried us from the Leaf. Our only real stop was outside of Waterfall, where Kiba found your trail."
They watched Naruto and a clone rack the spitted boar and then the sea Orange exploded into white smoke. When the cloud cleared, the blonde dressed in blue with just the one eye showing, was on one knee, holding his head.
"Naruto-kun?" the priestess asked.
"The Legion just retired for the night." His eye locked on her pale purple proserptors. "The Feedback of over fifty at once… just give me a minute. See to the others, Hinata-chan. Kiba ran all the way here, but does not have my pool, nor Sensei's control. See if he is running, or riding tomorrow." He rotated the 'pig'.
The Priestess moved to the male in a grey hoodie and a white puppy.
The two Adults were whispering, "...and Her Orders were to return with all her Ninja." the Female hissed in annoyance. "He is right about your Chakra reserves. Sit, rest. Enjoy the meal these kids will feed you, and relax. I will even allow you to read your little book, as long as you don't giggle."
The white-haired Jonin all but collapsed. His sudden movement had every eye on him…
Hinata stepped over and ran her hands over his chest, "this one is riding. But he is going to need a chakra feeder…"
"What?" Kiba barked.
"Chakra-Feeder." Anko slid back into the clearing. "A Chakra source that his coils can nurse off…"
Naruto made the rat sign, and a copy of him in his orange sleeveless coat appeared at his side. Both blondes nodded, and the one wearing Orange walks over to the drained Jonin , and pops into a cloud of smoke. When the smoke cleared, a pug in a blue vest appeared…
"Pakoon?" the vested male asked,
"No, Kakashi-sensei!" the dog spoke in the blonde's voice. "Just my Henge." the pug jumped to the white haired guy's shoulders, before coiling about his neck, and going to sleep.
Fu pulled the leg off the rabbit, before sucking the flesh from the bone. "Are all Leaf-ninjas like this?" with the naked bone, she points to Naruto, "You have a Loud mouth, Orange wearing, Bonehead all but leading this mission, you Team Leader is busy talking down the psycho who chased for the last two days, the Psycho who seem to be on a suiicde run rather than a capture mission. You say that the Adults know about Naruto's Secret, a Secret he shares with me…"
"Yes, We know the burden you carry." Anko sat on the other side of the girl. "The Genin don't know the exact words, but know Naruto is not a danger to those he is loyal to. He gave his Loyalty to the Leaf, and the Loyal of the Leaf. We walk in the shadow of his power. As long as we are Loyal, he will not only place his life on the line for us, but to kill for us."
"And yes." Shino spoke. "Our Team leader is allowing him provisional Leadership. Last week it was Hyuga-chan's turn. We were tracking poachers in the Fire Lord's private reserve forest. It helps build confidence in one's self
And the team." His shaded eyes turned to the blonde working the spit, cooking the pig. "She needs to know that she is Valued as a ninja, as a person, and soon, as more. He needs to know that he is able to command, because he is to be our Hokage."
Fu sniffs, "How is he cooking that whole pig faster then whitey did this rabbit?" She waved the half devoured carcass on the stick in her hand.
"Oh That." Anko snorts, "He Studied cooking with the Akimichi. Seeing that he is a Chakra Workhorse, he picks up things like this, and does not understand why we can not. He also struggles over things that academy students master." She smiles, "He enjoys the Ninja way of life." Her smile soured, "But he detests killing."
Hinata had returned to Kiba, "Kiba-Kun, you're riding tomorrow. You are running on pills right now. Come Morning you are going to be skin and bones."
"But to ride on his shoulders like the rest of you?" the grey hoodie whined, "Not sure which would harm my image more?"
"How about before we mount up, I teach the Kit a new Henge?" the yellow vixen spoke from Fu's lap. "We will need everyone to ride, but with the new Henge we should be home by noon, the day after we leave."
"That long?" grinned Anko.
"Avoiding trouble." the vixen flashed a grin, "If the demon-brat were to not worry about the fall out, he could be there before sun down."
"Piggy's Done!" Naruto crowed, and slashed with his knife, catching the juices in a wooden bowl. The meat landed on a wooden platter.
The feast was on!
KNK
The fire had burned itself out and the uneaten carcass was sealed away in scrolls.
Fu snorted as she watched the Leaf Ninja prep for the night.
Both Anko and Hinata had grabbed Naruto to use as a pillow/warmer. A quick exchange of frowns passed before they nodded and drug the male to a spot where the three of them were cozzy. Once he was down, with both females cuddling close, he tossed a seal into the air, only for it to pop into a quilt that fell over the three of them.
The adult Male, had been fed and watered to his fill, then laid to rest, the henge'd clone/dog only shifted to better act as a pillow.
The younger male and his puppy just flopped by the fire, twitching in their dreams.
The adult female and the bug-boy were still at her side, the bug-cries falling silent in the night.
"I am sleeping up above, tonight." Kurenai smiled at the girl. "Please, join us as our Friend, if not our Sister-to-be. Our Orders are to bring you in, and two 'Demon-brats', having a pissing match is not in everybody's best interest."
"Demon Brats?" Fu asked.
"You both hold Demon Beasts, and are of the brat age." Kurenai walked up the tree behind the girl.
"Kyubi-no-yoko." hissed Shino, before he nodded. "That means you hold and care for…"
"Chomei." Fu sighed, "Lucky Seven Chomei."
Shino, now the only ninja at her side, and awake, nodded. "Cool. Well I Need my six hours." He pulled a scroll from his sleeve, and passed it to her. "My Spare bedroll. See you in the morning." He unsealed and unrolled a bedroll across from the dog-ninja, and was quickly asleep under watch.
"This is crazy."
"The funny thing is, you want this crazy. I can see you and the Kit as part of a team. The question, who would we run as our Third." the yellow vixen stretched, as she rose from the girl's lap. A flick of her tails, and she pounced… to land on Naruto's stomach. She quickly burrowed under the quilt.
Fu unsealed the scroll, and found a natural fiber sleeping bag and pillow within the first seal. Spreading out along the log, she turned in for the night.
KNK
Fu awoke into combat.
Shadows flickered above her, some striking, some dodging, some performing jutsu… all in complete silence.
"How…" she began.
"You can thank Anko-san." the soft voice of the Priestess, Hyuga Hinata. "She set up a bubble that kept those within from hearing those without, allowing them to sleep. Kakashi-kun and Kiba will need the rest." Her eyes glowed in the night.
Then it was quiet. Still.
Then Naruto dropped into the campsite. Not noticing the two Kunoichi watching him, he stripped to his boxers, before pulling a scroll from his orange coat, and unsealing a new outfit. Then he slowly dressed… to look like the white haired Ninja, minus the green vest. Before sealing away the ripped, torn, and bloody clothes he just took off.
"One, why is he dressing like Inu-san? Two, was any of that blood his? Three, permission to join you in your next cuddle time." Fu never taking her eyes off the stout muscled piece of man-meat.
"Kurenai challenged him to drop the orange, and he did, until he saw that coat." Hinata whispered in her dreamy voice. "As to the Blood… yes, some if not most of it was his. But he heals quickly, and making him bleed just gets his attention." the Priestess eased up to Fu. "Three… Three I will decide after Hokage-sama has listed you as a Member of Leaf. But you will earn your place."
Fu's chest rumbled. The way the gentle girl hissed those words…
The two adults landed softly beside the now dressed boy-toy.
"Wave and Grass." Anko toed two of the slumped forms. "Two Squads each."
""Hunting us, or rather Fu." Kurenia turned to look at the girl. "Legal in these lands, but rude, once We caught up to her."
"We should wake everybody, try out the new Henge, and strap these losers on, we can give them to Ibiki-kun to play with." Anko Looked off into the night.
"Is that legal?" Naruto shifted his shirt. "This is River, but…"
"Had Fu been alone, or refused our company, they would be legally able to claim her. It is bad manners, but legal to attack us." Kurenia "Just as it is legal for us to strip them naked and leave them here. As we did no damage to the forest, the option is up to us. and as you will be the one carrying them…"
"Kurama-Chan. If we can start…" Naruto called softly to the vixen.
"That Fox is his…" Fu Began, "How?"
"A cross of the Uzumaki bloodlines, Her, and his Father." Anko Began stripping the bodies to their underwear, clearing them of Seal, blade, or spike.
"Looks like I am on Tea." Hinata stood and pulled a Tea Kettle from her sleeve. A minor jutsu over the spout filled it with morning dew, as another rekindled the fire. A kerchief filled with mint and flower heads was dropped into a bowl and two palm sized pots labeled 'honey' set beside. One was marked 'Shino'.
Pointing to the pot marked Honey, Shino, Fu frowned at the ninja at her side. "Do I want to know?"
"When adding honey to his tea, some of his...friends do not make it back out" Hinata smiled, "It was just easier adding another pot."
Fu smiled.
An hour later four large foxes stood there as Anko and Shino lashed the twelfth nin into pack position. Kurenia sat on another fox, holding Kakashi in place. Hinata and Fu rode on the Henge'd form of Naruto, as Kiba sprawled across another golden fox, his puppy perched between its ears.
One last fox lay, waiting for Shino and Anko.
As they mounted up, Hinata softly, but was heard by them all. "It took us three days to get here. The Bet is for us to get home by sunset. The Prize is who gets the belly rubs. Me or that vixen bitch! You cost me my belly rubs, and I will rub your Belly! Get ME!" Her glowing eyes swept those before her, "Naruto! Home!"