New Friends
Hinata and the others headed to the snack bar and saw three girls sitting at a table. This wouldn't have been unusual, but the three girls had animals with them, but unlike domestic animals like Akamaru these were wild. At least, that's what the Konichi's though.
The girl on the right hand side had short strawberry blond hair and blue-green eyes, but her pupils were slits like Kiba's. She had markings on her face like Naruto's, but instead of three whisker marks she had four. She wore a one-piece swimsuit that had flames on it. Near her was a small fox, which was the same color as her hair. Beside of her was a light brown girl with brown hair that had blond highlights. She had her hair ties into half-buns with the rest of her hair falling down her head like bunny ears. She had light brown eyes and wore a one-piece solid pink bathing suit. With her she had a snow-white bunny. Sitting in front of them was a dark brown girl with short black hair and dark brown eyes. She wore dark eye make-up on her eyes and it reminded Temari of Gaara's eyes. She was wearing a light brown one-piece with leaves falling down the side. Beside her sat a Tanuki, all of them were talking together and to the animals. All of the konichi's found this unusual because they could understand what the animals were saying.
" Um excuse me. Are your animals talking?" Asked a curious Hinata.
Not only did the girl in the flame bating suit look similar to Naruto, but also she even had a fox with her.
" Why yes, they are." Said the girl in the pink bathing suit "Hi, my name is Usagi and to my left is Kitsury and Anuki is in front of me. The fox's name is Inari, but we just call her Kit. The rabbit is Ninjin and the Tanuki is Leaf. We are konichi's from Doobutsugakure." Usagi said.
" I've never heard of that village." Sakura said.
" It's a village where the summoning animals live. We are the guardians of that land which both demons and summoning creatures reside." Stated the blond that they now knew as Kitsury.
"Yeah, our animals are really summoning animals. That's why they can talk." Anuki said
" But if they are summoning animals, shouldn't they go away once your chakra runs low?" Asked Tenten
" No, because they came with us and are our partners. They can be with us as long as they don't get seriously injured." Stated Kitsury
" You are konichi's of Konoha and Suna, right. I'm sure you know about the partners of the Inuzuka clan." Anuki said
At the mention of the Inuzuka clan, Kitsury's eyes widened. Anuki smiled at her reaction.
" Kitsury wants to learn and be taught by an Inuzuka. She thinks it will help her and Kit in they're tracking and defense," said Anuki still smiling.
Temari though saw something else in Kitsury's eyes.
"Well it just so happens one of the boys with us is from the Inuzuka clan. He is here along with is partner if you would like to go meet him." Temari said
" Oh, that would be very nice." Said Kitsury and Inari
" Yeah, the guys are back at the pool. Let's go and we'll introduce you." Ino said
" Ok" the girls said
Their animals just went along to look after the girls. Unbeknownst to the konichi's Anuki could be a handful sometimes. So Kitsury had to step in a lot with help from Inari and Leaf. Usagi and Ninjin would help if needed.
Once they were back at the pool.
" Hey Hinata, who are these girls with you?" asked Naruto
" They are ninja's from Doobutsugakure. We meet them at the snack bar. The blond girl is named Kitsury and is interested in learning from an Inuzuka." Hinata said. Though she suspected that the girls actually might like Inuzuka's.
" You say my name Hinata." Kiba said as he and Akamaru came running up.
But instead of going up to Hinata like Akamaru normally does he headed strait for Kitsury. This surprise Kiba because Akamaru didn't normally take to strangers.
" My what a cute puppy you are. Kit come down, he isn't going to hurt you." Kitsury said
When Inari had seen Akamaru running at her she had gotten scared and climbed on top of Kitsury's head. Kitsury placed Kit down on the ground.
" Are you sure it's ok Kyu." Inari asked
" Yes, it fine Akamaru is a very nice dog. Ne, Akamaru" Kitsury grinned at Akamaru who barked in response.
This caught Kiba off guard. First Akamaru runs up to a stranger, her fox talk so everyone can understand it, and then the girl knows Akamaru's name without him even telling her.
" How did you know his name?" asked Kiba
" He told me." Kitsury said like it wasn't unusual
" You understand him." Kiba said surprised
" We three can talk to all animals and understand them perfectly." Anuki said walking up next to Kitsury.
"Cool" Naruto said
" Oi, Kitsury, I smell him." Anuki stated
" Again? You haven't found him the last 20 times you've said that." Kitsury said annoyed
" But, Kyu-ane-chan I'm sure this time." Anuki said
" What are you guys talking about?" asked Neji
" Oh, sorry. You guys remember how we said that both summons and demons come from our village. Well, we are actually looking for two demons that have been gone for a long time." Usagi explained
" So, who are these demons?" asked Kankurou
By this time everyone had gathered around and the girls introduced themselves and their animals to the boys.
" Well one is by beloved Shukaku." Said a starry-eyed Anuki
" Oh god, here we go again." Kitsury said rolling her eyes
"He was the greatest and most powerful demon in the village and his kindness was unmatched." Anuki said
" Excuse me? Kyubi is much more powerful than you stupid One-tailed Shukaku." Kitsury stated.
" Don't make me bury you ass Kyu." Anuki said angrily
" Yeah, like that could happen." Kitsury said
" Now you two stop it." Usagi said
"Sorry" both said
" D...did you j...ust say Shukaku and K...kyubi?" Asked a now nervous Naruto.
All the Konoha and Suna kids were surprised that Naruto was nervous about hearing the demons names. He even looked like he had just seen a ghost.
" You see my partner Inari and Anuki's partner Leaf are the daughters of the Kyubi and Shukaku." Kitsury explained
" Wait, Inari is a girl? But, Inari is a boy's name." Kiba said
" Yeah, I have no say in naming kitsune's in the village. I don't know what the elder kitsune's were thinking when they named her Inari. We just call her Kit she likes it better anyways. Right, Kit." Kitsury said
"Right, Kyu" Inari stated
" Ok, so then why do they call you Kyu?" Temari asked
Kitsury gave a foxy grin and said" It's a long story and I don't think now is the time or place to discuss it." With that the subject was dropped.
"Ok, back to Shukaku and Kyubi. Why is Anuki going gaga over the Shukaku." Kankurou asked
" Well…. You see, before the Shukaku left our village, he was engaged to Anuki. When he and Kyubi never returned the elders sent us out to find them. And since they had to send a group out Usagi came with us to make it a three person team." Kitsury explained
What the hell are they talking about Shukaku? Asked Gaara
" Before Suna found me and Konoha ran into a pissed off Kyubi we lived in Doobutsugakure. When I was captured that crazy Suna monk found me and I couldn't return to my village or to my family. Now since I'm in you, Anuki is yours to marry." Shukaku said
"I'VE GOT TO DO WHAT!" shouted Gaara
This caused everyone to look at Gaara, including the three ninja's from Doobutsugakure. At the moment Anuki recognized Shukaku's chakra signature. All you saw next was a brown streak and Gaara fall on the grown. The next image was Anuki on top of Gaara hugging him and Gaara still shocked from what the Shukaku had just told him.
" I was wrong, this is worse that the last time. Gaara's got a girlfriend now." Kankurou stated. Everyone else just sweat dropped, except Kitsury who was getting rather ticked at Anuki's antics.
"Uh-oh!" said Usagi
" Now she's done it!" Said an angry Kitsury
" Now Kitsury, calm down, you know she can't control it if she gets like this." Usagi said
" But she could put us all in danger with her baka shenanigans." Said Kitsury
Everyone else hadn't even heard the argument. They were all looking at the ears and tail sticking out of Anuki. On top of that they were the ears and tail of a Tanuki, just like her partner Leaf.
All the time Anuki was hugging Gaara telling him about herself and asking him about what he liked. Silence was his answer for all her questions.
"Dammit cub, talk to her." Shukaku said
Like What? Hi, but I'm no who you think I am. Yeah, like that's going to work. Gaara said
" You want me to talk to her?" Shukaku asked.
No, not now, maybe later first I need to get her off of me. Then I have to figure out what she is and why she has a tail. Gaara said
"She's a hanyou, a Tanuki-hanyou to be precise." Shukaku said
A What? Gaara asked
" A hanyou is when a human and demon have a child. The child has features of the demon, mostly ears and tail. But they look more human than anything. Of course, don't let their appearance fool you, she would be an equal match if you were to fight any of them." Shukaku said
Any of them? Gaara questioned
" Yeah, look at her companions." Shukaku told Gaara
At this time Gaara turned his head and looked at Kitsury and Usagi. Where Usagi's buns and floppy hair had been they were now brown bunny ears. While Kitsury, had fox ears and nine-tails the color of her hair. On top of that she looked like she was ready to kill. The only thing stopping her were the animal partners and Usagi holding onto all of her tails for dear life.
"LET ME AT HER! I'M GONNA KILL HER. SHE KNEW HOW IMPORTANT THIS VACATION WAS TO US AND NOW WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE. NO ONE WILL LET US STAY HERE NOW!" Kitsury screamed
At her shouting everyone looked at the image that Gaara was also seeing. Even though, Anuki was a surprise. Everyone almost freaked when they saw Kitsury's nine-tails. So far she had been so nice to everyone, but it looked like she was going to destroy anything in her path to get to Anuki.
"She's worse than her father." Stated Kyubi
What are you talking about Kyubi? Asked Naruto
"I'm that girls uncle, I suppose. Her father is my brother, he fell in love with a human and had Kitsury. But in kitsune cases a hanyou version is even stronger than a demon and they are accepted in our clan. Whereas, other species look down on them." Kyubi explained
But she was trying to find an Inuzuka to help train her. Naruto said
" I said she was strong, not smart. She still had to learn how to fight and protect the village. BAKA!" Kyubi said
Oh! Naruto said
"Also, don't be surprised if she's already figured out that I'm in you." Kyubi stated
NANI! Naruto screamed to Kyubi
" It's just a slight chance, she has probably sensed my chakra when everyone first meet." Kyubi said
What brought Naruto talk with Kyubi short was a vision of fire
Great I'm seeing fire now. Naruto though
" Naruto-kun duck!" Screamed Hinata.
At that Naruto ducked and just missed being hit by a large fireball coming towards him. Because he had ducked the ball headed strait to Anuki's tail and caught it on fire.
"ITAI, ITAI!" screamed Anuki as she jumped into the pool to dowse the flames.
"Ooh, Kyu-ane-chan is so mean to me." Anuki said
"Yeah, well now we will have to leave. No one is going to talk to us now that the Henge has been released." Kitsury told Anuki
" But did you have to use Fox Fire on me?" pouted a soaked Anuki
" Well it got you off Gaara and I don't think he liked you being on him too much." Smirked Kitsury
"No, Gaara-kun liked me being with him." An upset Anuki stated
" If you say so." Kitsury said
"Now Kitsury, we wouldn't be having any problems if you didn't loose you're cool and use Fox Fire." Usagi said
" How can I stay calm when this baka ruins it every time we go anywhere. We haven't had a vacation in ages because the baka Tanuki is always thinking every boy she sees in the Shukaku's container." Kitsury said.
" Actually, in this case she's right." Lee interjected
"NANI!" Kitsury said
" Are you sure your not related somehow to Naruto, Kitsury? Cause you and him could probably out yell one another with your answers." Kiba joked
Kitsury just looked at the dog-owner and calmed down enough so that Usagi didn't have to hold her tails. She then got very upset.
" Well, we will be going now. Knowing none of you will want to talk to us now. Come on guys, Kit." Kitsury said sadly
" But Kitsury, I like being with Akamaru and he doesn't mind that you are like that." Inari said
" Yeah, I knew you were a hanyou when I first met you." Akamaru barked to Kitsury
At this Kitsury was surprised. Normally, if animals or people knew they were actually hanyou's they would be run out of town. They though hanyou's were worse that demons, so the group could never stay in one place for a long time.
" We all want to stay." Said the hanyou's and partners to Kitsury
At this time her friend's sweat dropped. Naruto still couldn't believe Kyubi's story about the girls and Kitsury. So, while she had stopped to listen to he friends, he decided to investigate. Of course, his version of investigation was to go behind Kitsury and pull on her ears and tails.
Ears ok, but tails is a different story. Kitsury thought
"I'll give her 5 seconds." whispered Leaf to Inari, who just shook her head in agreement
Five second later, Naruto was 2 miles away in a giant crater. Kitsury had gotten mad and taken all nine of her tails and used them as a bat with Naruto as the ball.
"Oh no, Naruto-kun." Hinata said as she rushed to him
" Don't worry Hinata, the baka can withstand more than that." Sasuke said
Everyone then went to see if Naruto was all right. At this point Anuki decided to attach herself to Gaara again, but as a permanent addition to his back. With no gourd on he didn't think anything about it. As Hinata was rushing to Naruto, Kitsury stepped in and told her to give them a minute. Worried Hinata looked at Kitsury who just gave her a foxy smile.
"No worries." was all Kitsury said
With that she walked down the crater and helped Naruto up.
"So, you Ok Naruto." Kitsury asked
"Yeah, but that was quite a hit." Naruto said
" It'll teach you next time to not pull on my tails." Kitsury said putting her hands behind her head
"Ya know." Kitsury started
" Huh?" Naruto answered
" If it wasn't for Kyubi you would be dead right now." Kitsury said
Naruto stopped in mid-walk. Kitsury looked back and grinned at Naruto
" Don't worry, you can tell the others when you think it's the right time. I have no right to tell your friends about Kyubi or to tell his container what he should or shouldn't do with his life. But let me tell you one thing, Hinata and the others won't care either way. They don't see you as s demon, but as a strong willed, loud-mouth blond who never give up on anything." That all Kitsury said and walked on
Dumbfounded that the baka kitsune was right and she knew about it froze Naruto, until Hinata came running up to him to check him.
" Well I think you three have some explaining to do." Stated Kankurou
" Yeah." Everyone said
" Well we will be going now. I'm pretty sure you all just want us to leave now." Kitsury said
"NANI" everyone shouted
This caused Kitsury's fox ears to perk up in surprise.
" Are you joking? Your going to stay here and explain to us what is going on? This is too mendokuse." Stated an also confused Shikamaru
"Um, are you sure you guys are ok with us staying." Asked Usagi
" Yeah, just don't throw anymore Fox Fire at me anymore and we'll be ok." Stated a grinning Naruto
" Ok, we'll tell you our story." Anuki explained
" First just tell us what you are." Sasuke stated
" They're hanyou's." Gaara and Naruto both said
Who then looked at each other confused also how the other knew about hanyou's.
"Shukaku must have told him Kit." Kyubi told Naruto
Oh right. Naruto said to him
" I don't know how that kid knows about hanyou's, but there is something familiar about his chakra signature. It's almost like Kitsury's or Inari's." Shukaku said
You mean fox like, even Kyubi like. Gaara asked
" You don't think Konoha put Kyubi in him. Do you cub?" Shukaku asked
It would be the only explanation as to how he beat us when we attacked Konoha. Gaara said
The discussion between Gaara and the Shukaku only lasted a few seconds and Gaara then went on to explain to the group what Shukaku had told him earlier about hanyou's. Naruto decided to stay quiet and listen to Gaara's explanation because he still wasn't ready for his friends to learn his secret.
" So that's what you are?" Choji asked
" And they call you Kyu because of your tail, right?" Kiba questioned Kitsury
The three girls nodded their heads. Waiting to be stoned or yelled at, but what came next was a shock to all of them.
" THE STORY OF THE FIERY YOUTH OF THE HANYOUS. I MUST HEAR YOUR COURAGEOUS STORY." Lee stated
Everyone sweat dropped, except Usagi, who giggled at the boy's playful nature.
" Actually it would be best if Usagi explains. She's good at this sort of stuff." Anuki said who was still on Gaara's back
" Ok, I'll do it. Only if you get off of Gaara's back, Anuki." Usagi said
" Do I have to?" Anuki wined
" Get off or be forced off." Leaf said
Anuki looked down at Leaf.
" You wouldn't." Anuki said angrily
The next thing everyone saw was Leaf started to grow in size. Originally Leaf was the size of Akamaru, but by the time Anuki had gotten off Gaara she was the size of a wolf.
" Mou, Leaf is mean to me." Anuki pouted. Kitsury just smirked.
" Ok, now that that's done. Ninjin-chan your up." Usagi said
" Yes ma'am." Was all Ninjin said and the next second was gone
No one saw what happened next, only the results. Which was Anuki tied to a nearby tree with black rope. Everyone then looked questioning at Usagi.
" First off it's maiden hair rope. Anuki can't get out of it. Secondly, I won't be able to tell the story because she'll be back on Gaara half-way through it." Usagi explained
" Your so mean to me Usagi, Kyu-ane-chan help me." Anuki cried
" Nope, you'll stay there until the story is done." Kitsury said
" Ok as we explained to the girls we three are the guardians of Doobutsugakure. There is only one requirement to be a guardian you must be a hanyou. Gaara explained earlier what hanyou's are, which I'm guessing Shukaku told you about." Usagi said which Gaara nodded his head." Anyways, when Shukaku and Kyubi both went missing the elders of each clan sent their guardians out to find their leaders. With them they sent the demons daughters as partners. As to why Ninjin and I are here, we are friends of these four and the elders didn't want them going alone. For the worlds own safety." Usagi said
" You wouldn't have to do it if the baka Tanuki could control herself." Kitsury said
" Oh, like you have room to talk." Anuki replied
" Will both of you please, shut up!" Usagi said
"Sorry." They replied
" Ok, so since then we've been looking for the two leaders and it seems we finally found them." Said Usagi as she looked at Gaara and the Naruto
" We found one." Kitsury said. Trying to protect Naruto who had went rigid when Usagi looked at him.
" But…." Usagi said
"ONE!" Kitsury shouted
Usagi could see in Kitsury's eyes Kyubi didn't need to be brought up at the time and dropped it.
" Oh, my bad." Usagi said
Naruto relaxed a little, but this didn't go unnoticed by Hinata.
Naruto-kun, why did you just get so nervous when Usagi looked at you? Is there something you still haven't told me?" Hinata thought
" So, no we'll return and tell the elders about Shukaku. Since we won't be able to stay here now." Usagi said
"WHY WOULDN'T YOU LOVELY LADIES NOT BE ABLE TO STAY AT THIS WONDERFUL ONSEN NOW?" Lee questioned
Usagi smiled caringly at the innocent Lee.
" Because you don't want to be around us now." Kitsury said
" Who said that?" Kiba asked
" You guys can stay. It's ok with the human." Akamaru barked to the hanyou girls
" Well, we just thought since most human and demons don't think too highly of us. That you would just want us to go after we explained everything." Anuki said walking towards the group.
"Um, how did you get out of that rope? I though it was impossible for you to break?" questioned Ino
" Yeah, it's impossible to break, but not difficult to use Kawarimi on." Anuki replied
"Oh, then why didn't you use that in the first place?" Asked Ino
" Because I didn't want to be Tanuki BBQ." Anuki said looking at the innocent Kitsury
" So you guys are ok with our guardians?" Ninjin questioned
" Yeah, we'll need you and your guardians to shut up now about us not liking you all. We wouldn't still be here if we didn't like you. Kay. Also, if you had to grow up around Gaara nothing comes as too much as a surprise anymore." Kankurou said
" What's that suppose to mean?" Gaara questioned
" I'm just saying." Kankurou replied
" Don't make me tell mom when we get home." Gaara said calmly
" Hey, I thought we were going to leave mom out of this from now on." Kankurou said
" So, what do you guys want to do now?" Tenten asked
" Lets go to the Arcade. That was fun last time." Gaara said
Doobutsugakure – Hidden village of Animals
Inari – God of Harvest
Ninjin – Carrot
Usagi – Rabbit
Tanuki – Raccoon Dog (Not and American raccoon, there's a difference!)
Ne – Right/See/Hey/Isn' it
Hanyou – Half demon, half human
Kitsune – Fox
Ane-chan – Older Sister
Kawarimi – Body Switch
Kyu - Nine