Ahoy minna-san! Excuse my lack in updating but as I've said before, if I hadn't have lost that gosh-darn black notebook I would probably be done! –sigh- the life of an authoress is quite an interesting one -.-;. Especially the death threats from friends to update fics… you know who you are…
Ok well… I'd like to thank each reviewer individually but I honestly don't feel like it so... thank you so much to meh lurverly reviewers though! You all mean SOO much to me! This fic wouldn't be here without you guys!
One more thing! If there are ANY plot holes that you can spot feel FREE to ASK about them! Since my internet isn't really being nice right now and I'm weird like… me… I probably missed some parts in the story or something so PLEASE, PLEASE mention anything you see or may want explained! It helps everyone in the end so, yes. Thank you so much!
Recap:
"You sure seem confident…" Sasuke said propping his elbow up on his knee.
"Because I know we'll be fine!"
"Hn… I wish I could be as optimistic as you."
"Sasuke! You're just too negative! I couldn't… I can't imagine what I'd do if you… if you got hurt." Naruto said sadly.
Sasuke looked over and lightly reached up to ruffle Naruto's hair, "Don't worry. I'll be with you no matter what, dobe."
Good Night My Knight!
Chapter 17: Staring at the Walls
Dusty brown hair was swept away from his face as Shukaku situated himself across from Itachi. The elder Uchiha had much less stress now that Tsunade had come back to take over as Hokage, but now a new evil loomed over the Uchiha Manor. An evil that seemed to ever draw closer towards them. While many where unaware of the possible danger they could be in, it still managed to bring a sense of lingering doom over the grand manor and vast town. Itachi knew what Shukaku was about to say, after all… it was the most important topic the two could think about at the time.
"Kitsune is finishing up a bit of last minute training, I suppose?" Itachi asked, his gaze never lifting from the book in his hands.
"Yes. That's correct. Depending on how long the boys take, we should be leaving quite soon."
"I haven't a doubt in my mind it will take them less than an hour." Itachi spat slightly, how dare he even suggest that the boys could handle a simple bell catching task?
Personally Itachi thought the whole thing was folly… chasing after a bell? What was the true purpose? Surely there was more to this foolish training than trying to snag a bell from Kitsune's waist.
Right?
Xoxoxoxoxoxox
"Haaarrrder, Sasuke!" Naruto whined.
Sasuke gave a light growl as he dug his fingernails deeper into Naruto's back.
"Mmm, right there Sasuke…" Naruto purred arching his back into Sasuke.
"Ugh… are you two done yet?" Kitsune asked as she stood by the river.
"Ah… Yep! My back really was itching there for a second." Naruto said with a smile.
(A/N: Heh heh, gotcha perverts…)
Sasuke rolled his eyes before looking over to Kitsune waiting for her instructions. They were supposed to be having some 'final test' thing and he wanted to get it over with. He was starting to get antsy… something wanted him, needed him to go to Orochimaru.
"Alright boys," Kitsune said clapping her hands, "I'm sure you'll both do fine with this test… I picked up the idea from an old friend… you're going to have to get these from me."
She reached behind her and from her belt pulled out two bells. Naruto cocked his head in confusion while Sasuke just gave her a 'you've-got-to-be-freaking-kidding-me' look.
"Now, now… I know it sounds terribly easy enough but I want you to remember. You're trying to get them from me." Kitsune gave a smug smirk and dangled the bells in front of them for a bit longer before sighing, "Well… let's get started then shall we? Catch me if you can!"
In a flash Kitsune was gone. Sasuke sat there for another minute before rubbing his temples.
"This is more stupid than you, Naruto."
"Yea—hey!"
"Come on. Let's go." Sasuke commanded before Naruto could start his protesting.
Kitsune watched from the trees behind them as they began to move out.
"This will be the most fun I've had in quite a while…" She said with a light smirk.
(…3 Hours Later…)
"I quit!" Naruto said pulling himself out of the river, his clothes soaked and covered with mud.
"Don't be a dobe, dobe. You can't just quit." Sasuke barked helping Naruto out of the river.
"Don't call me a dobe, bastard! That's the fifth damn time she's tricked us into falling in that damn river!" He said throwing his hands up into the air.
Sasuke rolled his eyes for what had to have been the fifteenth time while they were chasing Kitsune.
"Just because you got a little wet isn't a good excuse for quitting." Sasuke pointed out.
"What about that horde of bees that chased us for half an hour!"
"Well--"
"And then that damn CAT! I think I'm going to have scars from that thing!"
"Listen--"
"And then the big pit! That thing had SPIKES on the bottom of it!"
"Naruto--"
"Spikes!"
"Naru--"
"She could have killed us!"
"—to…"
"I refuse to have my life put in danger by that stupid fox again--!"
Naruto's ranting came to a screeching halt as Sasuke's lips came crushing down onto his. Letting out a small sigh Naruto clung almost desperately to Sasuke's wet shirt as the taller boy's tongue invaded his mouth and made his stomach do flip flops. Sasuke sucked on Naruto's tongue for a moment longer drawing out a moan from the blond as he held Naruto close to him. Pulling away Sasuke gave Naruto a small smile/smirk.
"Naruto… would you just shut up?"
Naruto huffed, crossed his arms and glared as he pushed himself away from Sasuke, blushing.
"Good… now listen… All we have to do is think of her weakness…"
"What? But Kitsune has never revealed a weakness… not that I've seen at least."
"That's why we have to think of one, dobe."
"Che! I knew that!"
Sasuke sighed, "Of course you did…"
Naruto's eyes suddenly widened and he got a devious smile, "Ne Sasuke… I think I just got an idea…"
Xoxoxoxoxoxox
Kitsune sat perched in a new tree munching away on the lunch she had brought to keep her occupied. As she chewed on the crust of her sandwich she looked around for the two boys. She'd lost track of them after pushing them into the river… again. They were so much fun to tease but her stomach felt like it was trying to eat itself as she thought lunch was in order. So, finding this nice spot in a tree she set watch for the two to come around at any time, most likely muttering curses from her last attack. Little did she know that the two said boys were only a few trees away, a plan already swirling in their heads as they watched the fox demon eat away at her lunch.
"You sure this is going to work?" Sasuke asked giving Naruto a slightly doubting look.
"I'm positive!" Naruto whispered giving Sasuke a thumbs up.
"Alright then… let's go."
Xoxoxoxoxoxox
Tsunade sat with Jiraiya, Itachi and Shukaku as they awaited Kitsune and the two boys return.
"This," Jiraiya said pointing to a map on the table, "Is where we believe Orochimaru is hiding."
"Not more than five miles away?" Tsunade questioned.
"That's correct," Came Shukaku's voice, "Pa-kun helped us trace him though we ourselves couldn't follow along."
"Pa-kun? Kakashi's nin-dog?" (1) Itachi asked looking away from the map for the first time since it'd been put on the table.
"The same… We'll be heading for this location as soon as the boys and Kitsune are done." Jiraiya informed.
"Indeed." Itachi lifted himself from his seat at the table and excused himself.
As he walked to the door he hesitated, "All of you will be going then?"
"That's correct."
Itachi paused momentarily before speaking up again, "I… will stay here."
"You're not coming with us?" Tsunade asked shocked.
"I'm afraid that someone will need to stay here, isn't that right?"
"Well… I suppose that's correct. But aren't your guards enough?"
Itachi let out a coarse laugh, "My guards? They're a pitiful force… they would offer no resistance if something were to attack the manor. I'll stay here as I said."
No one questioned him again as they heard the finalization in his voice. Leaving the room, Itachi left the three to ponder their quest to capture Orochimaru.
Xoxoxoxoxoxox
Kitsune finished her ham sandwich with still no sign of Naruto or Sasuke. The only thing she'd sensed or even heard for miles where all those damn birds. They were almost never ending out here in this forest. Propping her feet up on the branch she was sitting on and placing her hands behind her neck she sighed. Maybe they'd given up?
'Nah… like hell. Naruto might give up but I know Sasuke'd just tease him into not giving up.' She thought with a smile.
As she sat in the tree she barely noticed the little mewl coming from the base of the tree. When she finally looked down to the small familiar barking noises, a bright orange color caught her eye. There at the bottom of the tree was a little kit. An overwhelming compassion for the kit took over her and she flipped down off the tree to land next to the kit. The little fox barked and mewled at her, its large blue eyes sparkling in the sun light.
"Well aren't you a cutie?" Kitsune said with a small smile, "You've lost your mother haven't you?"
The little kit only continued to peer up at her with large adorable eyes. Kitsune's heart began to melt and she looked around to make sure no one could see her before giving out a squeal and picking up the young orange fuzz-ball. She giggled as the fox began to lick her nose and nuzzle against her.
"You're so cute!" Kitsune laughed oblivious to what thoughts ran through the young foxes head.
Xoxoxoxoxoxox
'Muwahahahaha! Yes! Bow to my fox-cuteness!' Naruto mentally snickered continuing to allow Kitsune to pet him behind the ears, 'If there's one thing you've always given into Kitsune-chan it's foxes…'
"Well now… I wonder what I should do with you." Kitsune said setting the Naruto-fox back down on the ground.
Naruto flicked his tail happily and cocked his head like he was trying to understand what Kitsune was saying. He was supposed to be a fox after all… (2)
Naruto glanced at the bells on Kitsune's waist as she bent down to about his height. As she was thinking to herself he made his move. Bounding from his adorable position on the ground he snatched the bells with his teeth and took off towards the river. He heard Kitsune shouting at him but she wasn't running at full speed… after all… it was just a fox. No need to speed excess energy… or so she thought.
Naruto stopped by the rivers edge and turned around to face her innocently with the two bells dangling from his mouth. She was walking towards him with an amused look on her face.
"Now, now… those aren't for you, kit."
'Oh yes they are…' Naruto thought with a mental smirk.
From the tree above them Sasuke jumped down beside Naruto. Naruto tossed one of the bells to Sasuke. Sasuke caught the bell as Naruto transformed back.
"Looks like we win, Kitsune-chan…" Naruto said taking the bell out of his mouth with a smile.
Kitsune's face dropped as she realized how she'd just been tricked. She suddenly let out a laugh much like that of her true nature… a sort of fox-bark laugh…
"Indeed… you really are a trickster, ne Naruto? Guess that means I've taught you well…" A smile… almost distant, "Let's head on back boys."
Xoxoxoxoxoxox
Shukaku sat in the gardens of the Uchiha manor scowling at a flower. They'd been gone for about four hours now and he was getting bored. He swore he was going to go mad with boredom if they didn't return soon…
"If you glare at that flower long enough it'll wilt you know." Came a sly voice from above him.
Shukaku bent his head back to see Kitsune standing over him.
He growled, "About time,"
She smiled, "Hehe, sorry your highness." Kitsune teased, "But if you're done scaring the flowers then we're all ready to leave."
Shukaku gave her an 'I'll-let-you-live…-this-time…' look and picked himself up off the patch of grass he'd been sitting on.
"Fine. Let's go then."
"Yeah."
Xoxoxoxoxoxox
The darkness was heavy here. A darkness that seemed to consume almost everything it came across. It spread out for miles eating at the light trying to get through. This was the kind of air Orochimaru thrived on. This was what kept him going. This never ending darkness that consumed his heart… that was soon, so soon to consume the world. It was only a matter of time. He felt it. Sasuke was on his way. They would be escorting him… those blasted Sennin and those demons…
'Not to mention Naruto-kun…' Orochimaru thought to himself.
The blond was what Orochimaru feared the most… Naruto was the only way for the seal to be broken.
"Blast." Orochimaru mumbled pacing across the room, "If that boy figures out how to rid himself of the curse… I knew marking Sasuke wouldn't suffice very well…"
"Sir?"
Kabuto looked up to the man muttering with a look of curiosity.
"Nothing Kabuto… I'm just… tired."
"You need to rest."
"I need no such thing…"
"You looked drained. You know your energy will be greatly needed for them. There are seven coming… they will be here in a minimum of four hours. Please, rest. Leave them to me until they reach here… if they reach here."
Orochimaru looked at Kabuto's smirk-plastered face and gave a sigh.
"I leave it to you. But make sure that they don't get to me before I take care of Sasuke-kun and Naruto-kun…"
Kabuto nodded, "Of course sir."
Xoxoxoxoxoxox
"Well then… shall we go?" Asked Shukaku.
"Hold on." Kitsune said, "Have you forgotten so soon, Shuu-kun? Tsunade was training someone as well…"
Shukaku lifted an eyebrow, "Another brat?"
"Shukaku, this is no brat. She'll be useful to us unlike these two," Kitsune said pointing to Sasuke and Naruto playfully.
They both began to protest but shut up as Tsunade walked out with someone at her side.
"Alrighty boys… now we can go." Tsunade said with a grin.
"Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked amazed.
"Hai. Nice to see you again Naruto, Sasuke-kun."
Kitsune smiled, "I've heard you've been doing excellent Sakura-chan! We'll be counting on you and Tsunade-san for our healing squad, ok?"
"Roger!" Sakura said saluting Kitsune with a smile.
Shukaku rolled his eyes, "Let's get going already."
Jiraiya tucked the rolled up map into his belt, "Alright guys… here we go."
"Hai!" The seven took off into the air with out another word.
…So it began…
xoxoxoxoxoxox
(1) I don't remember if Pa-kun is the correct name. All I know is that it's something like Pa-kun and that I think he's called a nin-dog… maybe. If you know please tell me… I'm too lazy to go look it up… hehe.
(2) I know in some stories Kitsune and foxes can talk to each other but I've always seen Kitsune has a higher level than foxes (since she is a demon) and therefore cannot talk to them… the end.
Meh. I wanted to make it longer. AND FORGIVE ME! I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LITTLE OVER A MONTH SINCE I'VE UPDATED BUT SCHOOL IS TEH UBER-EVILNESS! –bows- Gooomeeennn nassaaaiiiiiiii ;-;……
Well despite the shortness of this chapter I hope you enjoyed it. Next chapter will be more of a getting to Orochimaru's and the beginnings of a final fight! Until then minna-san!
Love,
Anukis
