Hello all Storm here with a new chapter! Here we'll be seeing more of Naruto's training along with a flashback to his training with Mikoto, along with some surprises later on. So, without further ado.
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Naruto moved in short bursts of speed with the Shunshin around the Zeroth Training Ground, having been doing this since he arriving there. Wanting to get better at controlling the distance he travels and the destination he ends up at when using the Shunshin. Given what Mikoto told him about Shisui, Naruto hoped he'd be able to master the Shunshin to the point where it looks like he teleports as well.
With the Uzumaki doing this for a few hours before heading to a lake in the training ground to practice the Grand Fireball Jutsu. Not wanting to risk practicing near anything burnable and end up setting a fire that'd end up burning down part, if not all, of the training ground. Arriving at the lake after a few moments and went down to the edge of the lake. Before releasing a breath, Naruto began going through handsigns and inhaled deeply.
"Fire Style: Grand Fireball Jutsu!" Naruto said as he released a stream of fire that soon turned into a decent sized fireball, with Naruto maintaining it for a few moments until it started sputtering out.
Rather than try forcing the fireball to maintain itself, Naruto quickly cutoff the flow of Chakra, letting the flames die out. Coughing a little as he felt his mouth and throat heating up, the whiskered blonde unsealed a water bottle, having made sure to stock up on water before coming here, and took a big gulp.
Gasping in relief at the water, Naruto looked out over the lake while imagining the sight of the fireball and how big it was.
'I think it was a little bigger than before, so that's good. And at least now I don't have to worry about burning my mouth unless I try forcing more fire out.' Thought Naruto, please at seeing the fireball was getting bigger and lasted longer each time he used it.
With the first few times he tried it, Naruto had ended up almost burning his mouth or only succeeded in releasing a few streams of flames before coughing up smoke. But after having the Jutsu explained and broken down by Mikoto, he'd started getting much better at it.
*Flashback*
"Stop, stop now." Said Mikoto, walking up to Naruto and putting a hand on his shoulder before handed him a bottle of water, the Uzumaki coughing up smoke as he gratefully took the water and drank it all at once, panting in relief at cooling off his burning mouth and throat.
"I…I can…I can still…keep…going…" Naruto said while letting out a few more coughs, only for the ravenette took shake her head.
"I'm sure you can Naruto, but if you keep trying the Grand Fireball Jutsu like that you're only going to end hurting yourself." Mikoto said, making Naruto frown and clench his fists.
"Well I can't just stop! All I've gotten out is a small stream of fire and that doesn't even last more than a few seconds! I don't know what I'm doing wrong!" Said Naruto, wondering why the Jutsu was so hard to do.
"You're trying too hard at forcing it, rather than letting it flow naturally." Said Mikoto, the whiskered blonde looking up at her in confusion.
"What does that mean?" Naruto asked, with Mikoto guiding him off of the dock.
"Fire Style Ninjutsu can be incredibly difficult to use if you aren't careful, given how the majority of Fire Style Techniques have you expelling fire from our mouths. Making them risky to use if you aren't prepared, even members of the Uchiha Clan can have trouble with using them. This is because fire is a very volatile element, it can't be controlled or forced, simply directed in the direction we want it to go. Similar to certain Lightning Style Techniques that travel in a straight line." Mikoto explained, with Naruto still looking at her in confusion, but nodded slowly.
"Anyway, for the Grand Fireball Jutsu, the key to using it successfully is to mix the Fire Chakra you mold with handsigns, with the air in your lungs. Giving the fire some strength before releasing it outward, where it'd be able to fully form with the oxygen in the air, but still relying on the users Chakra to keep it formed. Here watch how I do it." Said Mikoto, stepping forward onto the dock before going through handsigns, inhaling deeply as she did so.
"Fire Style: Grand Fireball Jutsu!" Mikoto said, throwing her head forward and unleashing a large stream of fire that soon erupted into a massive fireball, much to Naruto's shock at the size.
Even more so when he saw the lake actually started steaming from the intense heat, until the Uchiha Matriarch ended the Jutsu and turned back towards him.
"So, did you see what I did?" Questioned Mikoto, crossing her arms under her breasts, with Naruto nodding slowly again.
"You…inhaled just before you used the Jutsu, filling your lungs with air, which you used to feed the Fire Chakra, you molded, before letting it out." Naruto replied, with Mikoto smiling and nodding in response.
"That's right. This is also important as the true power of fire doesn't come from how powerful the user is or how large they can make the technique, it comes from their breathing. As long as you can control your breathing and remain calm, then you won't have any problem in using them. But if you try forcing it, then it'll only lead to the user losing control of the techniques and it'd either die out or start burning you." Mikoto said, with Naruto nodding again starting to better understand what he needed to do.
Before the Uzumaki stepped forward, with Mikoto stepping back to let him try and see if he'll have a better time performing it after her explanation. With Naruto going through handsigns and inhaled deeply just like he saw the ravenette do.
"Fire Style: Grand Fireball Jutsu!" Said Naruto throwing his head forward and released a stream of fire that turned into a fireball, one that wasn't anywhere near the size of Mikoto's, but still better than all his previous attempts.
While the Uchiha Matriarch smiled proudly at her godson, as while it may not be anything impressive, the fact he was able to form a fireball after her explanation and demonstration was impressive.
'Despite what you and the rest of the village think, Naruto, you really are a prodigy.' Thought Mikoto, seeing that Naruto was a prodigy that could be on par with the likes of his parents, Kakashi, and Itachi, along with having the drive to keep growing stronger and improving, rather than grow complacent.
It made her proud to help the whiskered blonde reach his full potential, having complete faith that he'll become a powerful Ninja one day.
*End Flashback*
After his first successful attempt at creating a fireball, each of the following times Naruto performed the Grand Fireball Jutsu the fireball grew bigger with each use. With it now close to the size where it'd fully engulf him if he was hit with it. Though it still wasn't close to the size of Mikoto's fireball, which had looked large enough to destroy a house, but Naruto was still happy at the progress he's made. The ravenette having also told him that he'd build up a tolerance to the flames until he didn't feel them anymore.
'And I'll make sure to master it and the Shunshin by the time Mikoto-sensei gets back.' Naruto thought, determined to show the Uchiha Matriarch he's mastered both Jutsu before her return.
Wanting to show her how much he's improved and that she made the right choice in wanting to help him with his training.
*Timeskip-Five Days*
Naruto had remained at the Zeroth Training Ground for nearly week, working on mastering the Shunshin and Grand Fireball Jutsu. Having stocked up on enough water to last him a week, while making sure to occasionally take breaks when he started getting too tired. Before getting back to training once he'd regained some of his energy.
With the Uzumaki being happy that he'd finally succeeded in mastering the Grand Fireball Jutsu and the Shunshin. Having practiced the Grand Fireball Jutsu repeatedly for hours, with it growing bigger and bigger each time. Until it was soon large enough to cover a good portion of the lake and cause the water to begin steaming, with it now being a little over half the size of Mikoto's own.
Before he moved onto the Shunshin Jutsu, having also managed to master it as well to the point where he could use it to quickly move on top of water or stick to vertical surfaces. Even being able to perform it with nothing masking his presence and instead beginning to look like he was teleporting. While still needing to work on fully erasing his presence when he used it.
It pleased the whiskered blonde, how he's improved and knew that he'll keep getting better, especially with the Shunshin Jutsu and all the possibilities of what he could do with it.
'Maybe I could get it to the point like with the Substitution Jutsu, being able to instantly move out of the way of an attack, while making it seem like I'm teleporting.' Naruto thought, while not missing the irony of him being fast enough to appear like he's teleporting, given what one of his father's signature Jutsu was.
Making him wonder if using the Shunshin like that combined with his looks will lead to anyone actually figuring out the Yondaime was his father. Or if they'd choose to be in denial, refusing to believe he could ever be related to the Yondaime.
'The reactions would definitely be funny to see.' Naruto thought with a smirk, imagining the looks of any villagers that'd be able to figure out who he was.
Though with how no one's managed to figure it out yet, despite how Mikoto told him that he looks nearly identical to his father, just with his mother's face and eye shape. Naruto doubted they'd ever figure it out unless he just came out and told everyone.
'But probably some of them would still refuse to believe it, even if I did.' Naruto thought, aware how much the villagers hate and would likely choose to ignore the truth than accept the Kyūbi Jinchūriki as the Yondaime's son.
Shaking his head, Naruto pushed those thoughts aside and took one last drink of water before standing up. Looking up at the sky, he saw that there's still plenty of time for him to get some training done, but wasn't sure what to do next.
'I could go see if the kangaroo and anteater are up for a spar, show them how much I've improved, maybe with and without the weights on to see the difference. Or I could go see if the foxes are up for another chase.' Thought Naruto, considering finding the foxes for a training session.
Having done it several more times before, after the first time the foxes chased him, now being more prepared than he originally was. Only to learn that the foxes had also grown from the first encounter, with them using different tactics each time to try and capture him. Which had further helped with his training at having to improvise on the fly as there was no telling what the foxes would do with each new encounter.
Standing up, Naruto left to go to the fox burrow and see how the foxes will try to catch him this time.
*Later*
'They're really determined today!' Naruto thought as he ran through the forest with nearly a dozen foxes of varying sizes, but all of them being around his size or much bigger, chasing after him.
The Uzumaki hadn't even had a chance to get close to the burrow when he'd been jumped by three of the foxes, just barely succeeding in using the Shunshin to avoid being pinned down. Only for more too quickly show up as they began chasing him. Something that didn't really surprise Naruto, as after the half-a-dozen times he showed up, the foxes had begun lying in wait for him. Having realized that he'd always come back, leading to them always being prepared for when he did.
With them having even begun lying in wait all around the field their burrow was in, waiting for whichever direction he'd come from. It had surprised the whiskered blonde the first few times it happened, not believing the foxes would be that prepared for him. But had still managed to escape them, leading to the normal chase through the forest as he worked to escape them.
Now though it seemed the foxes had no intentions of letting him escape this time, as it wasn't just the clearing they were lying in wait, but even in the forest as well. Naruto having learned that when he tried jumping up into the trees, only for more foxes to show up, having been hiding up in the trees for him. Forcing the Uzumaki back to the ground, knowing he couldn't risk jumping through the trees in case there even more.
'Woah!' Thought Naruto as he quickly Shunshined when he felt a fox jumping down from a tree and their paws just brushing against his hair
Reappearing, standing on a tree, Naruto quickly launched himself off of it in another direction, with the foxes just as quickly turning to pursue him.
'Really determined!' Thought Naruto, glancing back at the foxes, seeing the ones on the ground and the ones still up in the trees, feeling like every one of the foxes had shown up this time to catch him
Doubting that any of his usual escape paths will work this time, Naruto channeled Chakra through his body to run faster to simply just try an outrun the foxes. And if that didn't work, then he knew there was a river up ahead that he could get across, with it moving too fast for the foxes to try following him.
Though suddenly the Uzumaki yelped in pain when he felt something bite his ankle, looking in shock when he saw a fox kit had bit him.
'They brought the young ones too?!' Naruto thought in disbelief, not expecting the foxes to bring their young as well, which really showed they wanted to make sure this was the last chase.
Acting fast, Naruto used a Substitution to get rid of the kit, wincing slightly as he landed on the ground, as while the kits teeth weren't very big, they were still sharp. Before he continued running, but knew the foxes were now getting even closer with that unexpected attack, meaning he really needed to escape.
Only to once again be surprised when a vine was pulled up from the ground, causing Naruto to trip and roll to the ground.
'Seriously?!' Thought Naruto, looking only to see more fox kits biting two ends of a vine wrapped around two trees, not believing they actually set a trap for him.
Though, the Uzumaki quickly used the Shunshin when this now gave the rest of the foxes a chance to catch up. With one pouncing at him and would have gotten the whiskered blonde if he hadn't used the Shunshin, reappearing on a tree branch before kicking off it to escape. Only to have to use a Substitution Jutsu again when something tried jumping on his back. Giving a quick look back to see another fox kit clinging to the log and biting where his neck would have been.
'If they weren't trying to rip me apart, I'd be impressed at the determination and ingenuity they have.' Naruto thought before picking up speed to escape.
Along with making a mental note to ask Mikoto if she could teach him another Clone Jutsu, so he could send in clones for the foxes to attack and reveal their positions.
Luckily, it wasn't long before Naruto reached the river, jumping down and landing on top of the water, stumbling slightly from the rushing rapids before running across it, jumping up to the other side once he reached it. Turning back, Naruto saw the foxes come to stop on the edge of the river, barking and growling at him but not trying to jump in and cross. With even the kits yipping at him as they ran along the length of the river, as if looking for a spot to jump across.
'I should probably hold off in running from them for a while, at least until they relax a little.' Thought Naruto, not wanting to tempt things and really get caught by the skulk.
The Uzumaki then turned to head for the exit of the training ground, only to stop when he heard something over the sound of the river, like something crumbling. Only for his eyes to widen, when he then heard something falling into the river, followed by the foxes suddenly howling. Looking back at them, Naruto's eyes widened in shock when he saw that the ground had crumbled under two of the fox kits and sent them into the river, much to the horror of the rest of the skulk.
'Damnit!' Naruto mentally cursed before deactivating his weights and immediately jumped down into the river, not wanting to let the two fox kits drown.
Diving into the water, the Uzumaki quickly began swimming towards the kits struggling to remain above the water while fighting against the rapids. Gasping for air when the rapids kept throwing him around and tried dragging him under, not helped with the water constantly splashing in his face.
'Almost…there…just a little…closer…got one!' Thought Naruto as he moved closer to the kits before succeeding in grabbing one of them and pulled it up from the water.
With the second one seeing that he was trying to save them and started paddling towards the whiskered blonde, allowing Naruto the chance to quickly reach out and grab them as well. Holding the fox kits close, Naruto tried getting out of the water to stand on top of it. Only to gasp when the rapids almost pulled them under, forcing him to keep kicking his legs to avoid drowning.
'Damnit! Come on, maybe if I could get close enough I could throw them back onto the ground!' Naruto thought, looking at the shore, only to see they weren't close enough for him to throw the kits out of the river and make sure to stay afloat.
Seeing that the only thing he could do is make sure they don't drown and hope he'll get the chance to get the kits onto dry land, Naruto simply kept kicking his legs to keep them above the water. Only to be surprised when he suddenly felt something wrapped around him and start lifting them out of the water. Looking at what grabbed, Naruto's eyes widened in recognition when he saw a long tongue had grabbed them.
Following where the tongue came from, the Uzumaki was relieved to see the giant anteater had grabbed them and moving backwards to pull them out. With the boxing kangaroo standing near the edge of the river, Naruto passing the kits to the kangaroo once they were close enough before pulling himself back up to dry land.
"Thanks guys, I wasn't sure what we'd do if you hadn't shown up." Naruto said, panting as he sat down, with the kangaroo and anteater nodding.
Before he looked at the two fox kits, seeing they were shivering and dripping wet, making him frown before picking them up and put them on his lap as he began petting them.
"Uh…I'm really sorry that happened, since neither of you would have fallen in the river if you hadn't been chasing me. I swear I didn't mean for it to happen, but I'm glad you're both alright." Said Naruto, with the two kits looking up at him, the Uzumaki also now getting a good look at them.
With the first one having surprisingly blue fur and white fur on its underbelly and muzzle, and turquoise- colored eyes. While the second one had light pink fur and white fur on its underbelly, muzzle, and tip of its tail, with darker pink fur on its ears and paws, and reddish-orange eyes.
Both kits looked up at Naruto, still surprised that he saved them before the blue one leaned into his petting, enjoying the feeling and warmth from it. With the pink one sniffing his hand hesitantly, before licking it, making Naruto smile.
"Does that mean you li-ow!" Naruto said, only to yelp when the pink fox suddenly bit his hand.
Only to realize there wasn't much pain coming from the bite, the whiskered blonde looking only to see the pink kit seemed to be smiling. Making him guess that it must just be showing its thanks for saving them, in its own way.
Though Naruto tensed when soon the rest of the foxes soon arrived, with the kangaroo and anteater watching them warily in the case foxes tried fighting. Only for Naruto to stand up and walk forward, setting the two kits down on the ground, with the skulk looking at them in surprise and relief. Before the largest fox stepped forward and looked at Naruto with narrowed eyes.
"I'm really sorry that these two almost drowned chasing me, I never meant to cause any actual harm to any of you. I just thought that being chased by you would be good training, but I'll stop showing up if it'd end with any of you getting hurt." Naruto said, looking at all the foxes, not wanting to risk any of them actually getting hurt.
With the foxes looking at the whiskered blonde, anteater, and kangaroo, before they all sat down with the biggest one actually nodding in thanks for saving the two kits. The sight surprising Naruto, before looking down to see the two kits sitting at his feet and looking up at him. Smiling at the sight before petting them again, happy to see it seems he's managed to earn the skulk's respect.
*Timeskip-Three Days*
After saving the two kits from drowning in the river, along with managing to earn the rest of the skulk's respect and befriend them as well. Naruto had decided to stay at the Zeroth Training Ground for a few more days to spend time with the foxes now that he could be as close as he wanted without worry of being attacked.
With him spending a lot of time with the two kits he saved, leading to the Uzumaki also learning that both of them were young vixens, both of whom had grown attached to him for saving their lives. Naruto having even named both of them, naming the blue one Krystal and the pink one Konkon. With Konkon having taken to biting Naruto at random moments, something he learned was just her way of showing affection. While Krystal seemed to be the more calm and collected one, but still affectionate to the whiskered blonde.
Before eventually he had to leave, saying his goodbyes to the kangaroo, anteater, and his new fox friends, only to be surprised when Krystal and Konkon wanted to go with him. Something Naruto hadn't expected, even more so when the rest of the skulk seemed fine with it. With Naruto being happy at the chance to bring them with him, but also realizing he had no idea how to take care of them.
Leading to him going to the Academy once it had ended to meet Kiba and see if he'd be able to help him.
"Oi, Kiba!" Naruto said once he saw the Inuzuka Heir, getting Kiba's and Akamaru's attention before they went over to the Uzumaki.
"You know if you're not going to show up at the start of the day, you could at least…what're those?" Questioned Kiba, thinking Naruto was now deciding to only show up once the Academy got out, only to stop when he noticed Krystal and Konkon on his shoulders.
"These are Krystal and Konkon, they're my new Ninja Animal Companions that I met while training and saving them from drowning in a river. But I…don't really know how to take care of them and was hoping you'd be able to help me figure it out." Naruto replied, surprising Kiba before he frowned and looked at the two vixens before shrugging.
"I can't exactly help you, since I'm used to looking after dogs and wouldn't know what foxes would need. But Kaa-san and Hana could probably help since they have experience in taking care of all different kinds of animals." Kiba said, with Naruto nodding at this before the Inuzuka motioned Naruto to follow him and his Ninken.
*Later*
It wasn't long before Naruto and Kiba arrived at the Inuzuka Compound, which Naruto saw was very different from the Uchiha Compound. Having much more open space, fewer buildings, and a lot more trees and bushes around. Along with seeing what he guessed were the kennels where the Ninken were kept and taken care of. While seeing several Inuzuka Clan members and Ninken wondering out or training. Before they arrived at a larger house with a veterinary clinic next to it, with them going inside the house.
"Kaa-san! Hana! I'm home!" Kiba called out, making Naruto frown slightly, thinking of all the times he's said something like that only to never get a response.
"Back already runt?! You better not be trying to slack in your training!" Someone said before a woman appeared from another room, accompanied by a large wolf-like dog.
With the woman having an animalistic look similar to Kiba. She has long, spiky, untamed brown hair, vertical slit-like pupils, elongated canine teeth and nails. She also has the Inuzuka Clan fang markings on her cheeks as well as markings over her eyes and a dark shade of purple lipstick. She wears the standard outfit of a Konoha shinobi consisting of flak jacket and a black suit underneath with the sleeves rolled up and bandages around her legs.
While the dog was large and nearly stood as tall was the woman, with black fur and a white underside, a yellow eyes with a black sclera, the right eye being covered by an eyepatch, and was missing his left ear.
"No! I swear I'm not slacking in my training! I just came home early because Naruto needed help!" Kiba said quickly and nervously, knowing his mother never tolerates it when she thinks he's not taking things seriously, especially his training.
"U-uh, hello ma'am, I'm Naruto Uzumaki." Naruto introduced nervously when the woman looked at him with narrowed eyes, worried at the chance that she wouldn't like him due to the Kyūbi, and the fact she's honestly looks pretty intimidating.
"For starters, none of that ma'am shit, I'm not some prissy noblewoman. My name's Tsume Inuzuka, use it brat, and this is my partner, Kuromaru." Said Tsume, with Naruto quickly nodding in response before Tsume went up to him, only to see the foxes on his shoulders.
"I take it you wanted to know how to take care of these little girls." Tsume stated, surprising the Uzumaki that she could tell they were vixens.
"Y-yeah, these are Krystal and Konkon, I met them while training and saved them from drowning in a river. After that, they wanted to come with me, but I also don't know how to take care of them and was hoping Kiba would be able to help me." Naruto replied, with Tsume crossing her arms and frowned thoughtfully.
"Well you should take them to Hana to have them looked over, she's in the clinic right now and should be free, so you're in luck with that. But if you intend to have them be your Ninja Animal Companions, then you'll need to start having them train alongside you and adjusting your fighting style to work with them. One thing that really helps use work well with our Ninken partners is forming pacts with them." Tsume explained, with Naruto being confused at this.
"Pacts?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah, that's why they're so different from regular dogs, we form pacts with them when we're young and imbue them with our Chakra, making them stronger, faster, and more durable, letting them keep up with us. It also helps form a stronger, more intimate bond, along with enabling great synchronization like we're connected." Kiba said, surprising Naruto, while Tsume smirked at her sons response pleased he still remembered his lessons.
"It also grants us far greater intelligence than normal canines, which sometimes results in a few being able to speak like humans." Said Kuromaru, shocking the whiskered blonde that he could talk.
"That's right, it also helps them grow larger than normal animals as well." Tsume stated, patting her partner on the head, while Naruto was amazed at this new information.
Before he looked at Krystal and Konkon before putting his hands on them and channeled his Chakra into them, causing both vixens to lean into his touch in enjoyment at feeling the Chakra flowing into them.
"Okay, thanks for the help, Tsume. I'll go talk to Hana about what else I'll need to do." Said Naruto, smiling gratefully at the Clan Head, with Tsume nodding in response.
"Sure kid, and if you ever need any more advice, feel free to stop by. It'd be interesting to see how these two will turn out." Said Tsume with a small smirk, interested in seeing Ninja Animal Companions outside Ninken and Ninneko, and how they'll turn out in comparison.
Nodding at this, Naruto and Kiba exited the house before going next door to the clinic, where they found Hana inside along with three identical dogs.
Hana has long brown hair which she wears in a ponytail with two locks of hair framing her face over her large, black eyes. She also wears a light shade of lipstick and has the traditional fang-like tattoos of the Inuzuka clan on both of her cheeks. She was wearing a brace on her left wrist, bracelets on her right hand as well as bandages and the beige Konoha medic uniform.
While the three dogs looked to be identical triplets, having the same grey fur with white undersides and short pointed ears, and almost came up to Hana's waist.
'Huh, she…doesn't look like everyone else.' Naruto thought, noticing how Hana's appearance seemed much softer compared to the more wild look the rest of her clan had, with her hair being straight and having regular pupils.
"Are you trying to skip your training, today?" Hana asked, looking up from her clipboard at her brother, only to raise a brow when she saw Naruto, Krystal, and Konkon.
"Why does everyone think I'm trying to skip my training?!" Said Kiba in annoyance that his mother and sister both thought he's avoiding his training.
"Because it wouldn't be the first time you tried it. Now who's your friend?" Said Hana as she went over to them, looking over the two vixens out of habit.
"This Naruto, a friend from the Academy, and he wanted help with his new foxes. We already talked to Kaa-san and she sent us here for you to help." Kiba replied, the older brunette nodding at this before leaning down and smiling at the Uzumaki.
"Okay, do you mind bringing them in back, so I can look them over." Hana said, with Naruto nodding as they went to the back of the clinic into an examination room.
"Just set them on the table and I'll give them a quick examination." Said Hana while grabbing some tools, while Naruto set Krystal and Konkon down on the table.
Once she had what she needed, Hana began checking both vixens over, performing several different tests to check their vitals and conditions, while stopping to write down some notes. Before she soon finished and turned back to the boys.
"Alright, it looks they're in pretty good and healthy conditions, I can also sense you've already begun imbuing them with your Chakra, which will be good in helping them stay healthy and strong. But here's a dietary plan for you to follow for them, which will really ensure they grow up to be big, healthy, and strong." Hana said, handing Naruto a piece of paper showing the dietary plan for Krystal and Konkon.
"And this'll help them grow bigger along with the Chakra I give them?" Questioned Naruto with a raised brow, given the size of the fully grown foxes in the Zeroth Training Ground.
"As big as any Ninken in the Inuzuka Clan, but maybe a little smaller given they're foxes." Replied Hana.
With Naruto, Krystal, and Konkon imagining the size the two vixens will grow to be, with how large the other foxes had gotten, combined with imbuing them with Chakra and the dietary plan. Only for Naruto to picture them growing to the size of a building, while Krystal and Konkon imagined themselves growing even bigger.
"R-ri-right…a little…smaller." Naruto said, chuckling sheepishly and a little nervously at the mental image, with Hana raising a brow before nodding slowly.
"Yeah. Anyway, bring them in, say, every month or so for a check-up to make sure everything's alright and in case I need to make any adjustments to their diets." Hana said, with Naruto nodding in response before Krystal and Konkon jumped onto his shoulders again.
*Later*
After saying his goodbyes to Kiba and his family, along with being provided some food for Krystal and Konkon, Naruto headed back to his apartment with his new companions. While making sure to avoid being seen, given the villagers already low opinion of him. He didn't want to take any risks of them actually trying something if they see the two vixens.
Luckily he managed to return to his apartment without any incidents, with Krystal and Konkon immediately jumping off his shoulders and began exploring their new home.
"Yeah, this is where we'll be staying, sorry if it's not as big as the burrow. But, hopefully, I'll eventually be able to get a bigger apartment." Said Naruto, hoping that when he becomes a Ninja and starts doing missions, he'll be able to save up enough money to get a bigger apartment.
The Uzumaki then got to work on fixing dinner for them, making a mental note to buy some bowls for Krystal and Konkon, along with possibly some toys they could play with. While also imbuing them with more of his Chakra as they sat down and ate, before they began relaxing the rest of the day.
Only to soon hear a tapping sound at his window, making Naruto look only to smile when he saw it was a raven with a message tied to its leg. Going over and opening the window, Naruto took the message with the raven flying away. Reading the message, Naruto's smile widened at seeing Mikoto had returned today and wanted to see the progress he's made with the Jutsu she taught him.
'Alright! Now I can show Mikoto-sensei how much I've improved!' Naruto thought, happy and excited to show Mikoto that he's mastered both the Shunshin and Grand Fireball Jutsu.
With Krystal and Konkon looking at their master curiously, wondering what's made him so excited all of a sudden. Before looking at each other and shrugging, figuring they'll learn what's made him excited, eventually.
So, what did you think, good. Yep we see Naruto training to master the Grand Fireball and Shunshin Jutsu, while seeing a flashback of Mikoto explaining and breaking down the former for him with Naruto managing to start get the hang of it. With us then getting a timeskip of a few days showing Naruto's succeeded in mastering both Jutsu while still working on improving them, before he thinks over what training he'll do next, deciding to get some training done with the foxes.
With us then seeing Naruto being chased by the foxes and learning the new tactics they've begun using to catch Naruto, their latest attempt now involving having their young join them in the chase and even simple traps. Luckily Naruto manages to escape across a river, only for two kits to fall in, leading Naruto jumping in to save them but is unable to get out once he has them, with the anteater and kangaroo helping them get out. With this helping Naruto earn the foxes respect for saving the two kits, leading him to spend a few more days in the Zeroth Training Ground. With the two kits he saved revealed to be vixens who he names Krystal and Konkon (Krystal being from "Star Fox" and Konkon from Naruto fan-manga).
Then we see Naruto leaving, with Krystal and Konkon wanting to go with him as his Ninja Animal Companions. With Naruto then going to meet Kiba to get some help to learn how to take care of the two vixens. Leading Kiba to take him to meet Tsume and Hana, who give Naruto some advice on how to bond with them both and a dietary plan to make sure they grow up big, strong, and healthy.
Finally we see Naruto bringing them back to his apartment where they relax and have some dinner, before a raven shows up with a message from Mikoto, telling him she's back in the village and wants to see the progress he's made in the Shunshin and Grand Fireball, much to Naruto's excitement to show her she's mastered them. So, for those that like the story, thanks for your support. For those that don't or at least don't like the direction taken, you're more than welcomed to drop the story. But thanks for giving the story a chance anyway.
Storm out