The next morning Naruto woke up having a restful night sleep.
" Man I haven't slept that good in a long time." Naruto said yawning
As he tried to move his arms though he noticed that something was holding them down. As he looked down he noticed arms wrapped around him. He was shocked at this and turned his head to see Hinata was behind him.
I must have fallen sleep in her arms and she stayed with me. Naruto thought smiling at the girl
He turned around in her arms she made a noise at this. Naruto stopped so not to wake her and then moved again. Soon he was facing her. She was smiling contently in her sleep and he smiled at this. When he had turned around he had managed to get one of his arms free from her hold. He lifted his paw up to touched to side of her face, but before he touched her face he clinched his paw into a fist and frowned.
Who am I kidding she would never like something like me. She was ordered to be here by Obaa-chan otherwise she wouldn't have stayed. Naruto thought sadly to himself
She sighed contently in her sleep.
I need to get out of here. Naruto thought
He managed to pry the girl's arms off of him and get out of bed without waking her. He proceeded to head to the bathroom. As he entered he looked into the mirror and what shocked that the fox ears were gone.
" Well one less thing to worry about now." Naruto said happy they were gone now
He got dressed and headed outside and sat on the porch for a long time trying to figure out what he was going to do. The images in his nightmare were causing him to worry that the problems were only just beginning especially after the incident last night with the fox ears. He ran he paw through his hair.
" I need to take a walk." He said and with that he got up and disappeared into the woods
A couple of minutes later Hinata started to wakeup. She noticed she was still in Naruto's room and he was nowhere in sight. Getting up she walked all thorough the house to find he wasn't there anymore.
" Naruto-kun?" she questioned wonder where he could have gone
She noticed the front door open and went outside, but saw no signs of the blond boy.
Naruto-kun where did you go now? Hinata thought concerned. She got dressed as quickly as she could and ran to the Hokage Tower to tell her Naruto had disappeared again.
Naruto sighed as he sat onto of the Yondaime head looking out onto Konoha as the sun began to rise. He watched contently happy for the moment of peace, but it was interrupted with the sound of footsteps. Naruto hearing this placed his mask on and pulled his hood up.
" Dope take that off." The person said annoyed
Naruto turned to see Sasuke standing there with an annoyed look on his face. Naruto took the hood and mask off and smiled at him.
" Hi Sasuke. What are you doing up here?" Naruto asked
" Looking for you." Sasuke said
" Me?" Naruto questioned surprised
" Yeah Tsunade-sama has all of us out looking for you." Sasuke said
" Well she can wait a little longer then." Naruto said smiling returning to watch the sunrise over Konoha
Sasuke shook his head and went to sit down next to the boy, " What are you doing up here anyways?
" Thinking." Naruto responded and sighed
" Does it hurt?" Sasuke said smirking
Naruto glared over at him and frowned, but turned back to looking out.
" Otouto what's wrong?" Sasuke asked worrying his little brother wasn't in the mood for their sibling bickering
" Nothing." Naruto said unemotionally
" You know you're not a very good liar. Especially if it's someone that's known you for as long as I have." Sasuke said frowning
Naruto hung his head and sighed again, " Aniki….I…" But Naruto stopped
Sasuke moved so he was in front of Naruto and looked at him. Naruto looked up at him the Uchiha could see the tiredness in his eyes and the worry. This made the boy frown as his little brothers predicament.
" Otouto why won't you tell me, tell us how you feel?" Sasuke questioned him
" It's nothing." Naruto said shaking his head and smiling
As he looked up at Sasuke though his rival's/ brother's eyes grew wide. He rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things and he even activated his Sharigan to double check.
Naruto confused as to why Sasuke had his Sharigan on, " Aniki?"
" Naruto you're ears." Sasuke said still shocked what he had see actually had happened
Naruto sighed knowing what had happened, " Let me guess they turned into kitsune ears."
Sasuke nodded, " How did you?"
" It happened last night." Naruto said annoyed they had come back
" You need to tell Hokage-sama." Sasuke said
Naruto shook his head, " I'll be fine."
" Otouto! We are all trying to help you but we can't do that if you hide things from everyone. We've been here long enough we're going to see her now!" Sasuke said as he grabbed the boy's wrist and disappeared in a cloud of smoke
In an instant they were in the Hokage's Office with an upset Hinata in there too.
" Gaki there you are." Jiraiya said annoyed
" Naruto do you have any idea how worried you had us? Had Hinata worried?" Tsunade asked
Naruto hung his head seeing the girl on the verge of tears.
" Hokage-sama he hasn't been telling us everything." Sasuke said crossing his arms over his chest and looking at Naruto annoyed at what he just said
The group was shocked by this, " Gaki!" Jiraiya said
The fox ears went farther down on Naruto's head and it was then the adults saw them.
" Kitsune ears?" Jiraiya questioned shocked at the change
Naruto nodded as Hinata walked over to him he looked up at her, " Gomen Hinata-chan I didn't mean to scare you. I just needed to think, but they came back and I…"
Naruto stopped when Hinata embraced him in a hug. The boy sighed at the contact and relaxed in her arms. His ears returned to being upright. Sasuke and the two Sannin smiled at the scene.
" I don't think they'll go away this time Hinata-chan." Naruto said smiling down at her
Hinata pulled back and sure enough the fox ears were still there.
" What are you talking about Otouto?" Tsunade asked
" This happened last night Tsunade-sama." Hinata said regaining her composure
" Yeah, but when I woke up this morning they were gone." Naruto said
" They changed back right before you drifted off to sleep last night Naruto-kun." Hinata told him
Tsunade sighed at this information, " Hinata take the baka home and stay with him. Sasuke go find the others and tell them Naruto's back home with Hinata."
The two nodded and the three left the office.
As the three left Sasuke headed out the front door, but Hinata and Naruto took as nearby window so they could travel by rooftops. As they headed back to Naruto's house she noticed he was still quiet.
Naruto-kun why won't you tell us what's really going on? There something more you're hiding from us and can only hope you'll tell us soon. Hinata thought as she glanced up at the boy jumping on the tree limbs in front her. Finally they reached the house and the two entered. Neither said a word as they went to their own rooms and cleaned up to have breakfast. Hinata was the first to finish getting ready and headed downstairs to start breakfast. Naruto in the mean time was taking his time and was soaking for a bit in the tub.
" Kyuubi what am I going to do?" Naruto asked him worried
" Tell them about it." Kyuubi said like the answer was obvious
" How can I tell them that I saw Konoha destroyed in my dream by something unknown?" Naruto questioned
" It's not really that hard." Kyuubi said
" For you it isn't for me…" Naruto said but stopped
" Kit I know you keep a lot in, but with the way you are now this really isn't helping it seem that it cause the transformation to progress further. By keeping how you feel inside you are only allowing the darkness to grow and get stronger. They can help if you talk to them and actually tell they how you feel and not hide it." Kyuubi said
Naruto sighed and sank into the water considering what Kyuubi had said
What if he's right and they will help me? He first thought, but something the overshadowed it, But what if he's wrong?
He soon finished and got freshened and headed downstairs as he did he could already smell the food Hinata had fixed. He walked into the kitchen and Hinata had her back to him he smiled at her. She was humming a song and watching the eggs she was making cook. He looked over at the table and saw she had made some bacon and pancakes too.
You didn't have to do all this Hinata-chan. You just have to look after me. Naruto thought upset at what all she was doing for him
He went over and sat down in one of the chairs waiting for Hinata to finished making the eggs. She turned around to the plate that was on the table and was startled to see Naruto there. She let out a scream of surprise and it also caused her to let go of the pan she had been holding. In an instant Naruto was gone and in front of her holding his paw out with the pan on it. He looked up and smiled embarrassed.
" Gomen, I think I might be too quiet for you Hinata-chan." Naruto said
Hinata giggled, " Hai, normally you're the one to make the most noise."
It was then noticed the steam still coming off the pan.
" NARUTO-KUN!" She said shocked and grabbed the pan handle and set it back on the now cool stove top
She grabbed the wrist to the paw he had caught the pan on and pulled him over to the sink and ran cold water on it. Naruto was confused as to what she was doing.
" Hinata-chan what are you doing?" he asked
She looked over at him, " Running cold water on you hand. That pan was burning hot Naruto-kun you paw could have gotten burned."
" Naa." Naruto said pulling his paw back
He lifted it up to show her, " See it's alright."
" How?" Hinata asked shocked the fur on his paw wasn't singed or completely gone from the heat of the pan
" It was hot, so I can touch it and I'll be alright." Naruto said
" But I don't…" she started
" It's just one of those things Hinata-chan." Naruto said smiling and going back over to he seat
She understood it was something that happened from the jutsu, so she didn't ask anymore. She moved to sit in the seat that was open. Naruto looked up at her and smiled.
" Arigatou for making breakfast Hinata-chan." Naruto said
" You welcome Naruto-kun." Hinata said
Naruto was finally able to fully see what all the girl had made while he had been upstairs. Of course he had seen and smelled the pancakes and bacon when he first entered he now saw she had fixed a piece of toast for each of them and also Naruto had a small bowl of Miso Ramen where he was sitting. She had orange juice in front of her seat the milk where he was. He smiled again at the girl's thoughtfulness.
" Hinata-chan this is all wonderful, but how am I going to eat all this?" Naruto questioned
Hinata looked up at him confused, and he raised his arms. She then realized what he was talking about.
" Use the silverware Naruto-kun." Hinata said
" Huh?" Naruto questioned but looked down
There in front of him and Hinata was not hashi, but spoons, forks and knives. He grabbed one of them and found he could handle them easily.
" See. I thought you could use these better." Hinata said smiling
Naruto smiled happily at this, " Arigatou."
With that the two started eating. Naruto found is really easy to eat with the silverware and even used it to help him with the Miso ramen. After the two were done Naruto noticed he had bend the handles of the silverware a little from the strength for his grip.
" Hinata-chan gomen…" Naruto started rubbing the back of his neck, " …I kind of bent the silverware."
Hinata looked down and them and smiled, but he noticed also she seemed upset at the news. The looked instantly left and she looked up at him.
" Naruto-kun it's alright. I thought you could use them, so they would help and they did." Hinata said
She walked over and started to grab his plate and silverware to take it to the sink to wash, but he grabbed her wrist with his paw. He looked at her worried and she smiled at him.
" Hinata-chan what's wrong?" Naruto asked concerned at what he had seen in her eyes earlier
She shook her head, " Nothing Naruto-kun."
" Now you're lying to me Hinata-chan." Naruto said looking at her
Hinata seeing he wasn't going to release her until she told him what was wrong she sighed, " Naruto-kun they weren't your silverware they were what I brought to help you."
With that he let go of her and she moved over to the sink.
That's what that look was. Naruto thought but then realized the full meaning in her words, They weren't mine they were hers and I messed then up.
Naruto got upset with this and sighed sadly running a paw through his hair and then looking at them. He frowned looking at his paw and what he had done to the silverware that Hinata had brought to help him. Hinata while washing dishes was watching the whole scene through reflection on the window in front of her. In an instant he was smiling again and Hinata looked at his reflection sadly.
Naruto-kun why won't you tell us? She thought
" Hinata-chan I going to take a walk." Naruto said
Hinata stopped washing the dishes and turned around, " Iie."
Naruto looked at her shocked, " What do you mean no?"
" You're not going for a walk the last time you said that you disappeared and I had to come looking for you." Hinata explained
She walked over to him and pulled him up out of his seat. Naruto shocked at this just followed. He also felt the same funny feeling he had the night before in his chest again.
" This time I'm coming with you." Hinata said as she walked them to the door
Before they left Hinata grabbed her cream and black hoody and Naruto's cloak and mask on the hanger that were by the front door. As they stood on the porch Hinata handed his stuff to him and she put on hers. Naruto figuring they weren't going to go far placed the mask on his side before they headed off.
" So where do you want to go Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked
" Um… out back I want to see what's out there." Naruto said
" But I thought you'd been out back already?" Hinata questioned
" Iie, I only saw what was out back through the windows in the house. Other than that I've spent most of my time going though all the rooms in the house and trying to find all the hiding places Otousan made." Naruto explained
The two moved around the house to the back and saw there wasn't really too much back there. The land was flat and had two brown patched.
" Looks like a training field." Hinata said
" Probably." Naruto replied but something caught his attention
Over by a grove of trees there were a number that had yellow ties around them. He then saw what looked like a sign and moved to read it.
" Caution: Trap Training Area" Naruto read aloud
" So there are different ways to train back here." Hinata said amazed
" Wouldn't do me any good." Naruto said annoyed
Hinata looked at him confused. Naruto leaked a little of his chakra out and the chakra shield instantly formed.
" It's always around me now. Like Gaara with his Suna Tate I can even have it project out and grab stuff." Naruto said
As he spoke the chakra came off his shoulder and formed a paw and reached up to puck a flower that was blooming in the tree it then moved down and stopped in front of Hinata.
" Here." Naruto said smiling
Hinata smiled back and took the flower. His charka then disappeared along with the extra paw. Inside Kyuubi watched the whole conversation happen.
Kit does have a point about that. With the chakra tate helping him it's kind of hard for him to get hit and get stronger. I'll just have to see if I can do something about this. Kyuubi thought to himself
Outside Hinata and Naruto continued to walk around the grounds and stayed at home that day fixing and cleaning the house.
A few weeks had passed now and the two had gotten us to being around each other. They were currently finishing breakfast. Naruto had apologized numerous times to Hinata for messing up the silverware, but she said she had brought it for him to use and that it was ok. They were for him to keep.
" So what now?" Naruto asked after finishing breakfast
" Well if you don't mind…" Hinata said
" Nani?" Naruto questioned
" Well I need to go home and grab some more things. I only brought a number of things with me and I'm going to be staying here longer I need to go and grab more of my things from home. " Hinata said
" Oh!" Naruto said shocked, " Um, sure I'll…juts stay here and…"
" Naruto-kun I meant for you to come with me." Hinata stopped him
Naruto looked at her, " Hinata-chan I don't think that would be the best thing for me to do right now."
" Why? Otousan know and you can use the cloak and mask like you've been doing." Hinata responded
Naruto looked at her shocked by her statement, " Nani your Otousan knows!" he said shocked and Hinata nodded her head, "And he let you come?"
Hinata nodded again and grabbed his wrist again, " Come on I'm sure he'd like to finally meet the person that change Neji and I."
With that Hinata lead him through the forest until he finally started moving on his own will and placed his mask on his face.
" You don't need that Naruto-kun." Hinata said
" For now I'm going to use it." Naruto said
Hinata looked at him sadly but nodded at his words not wanting to cause him any more stress. He followed her until she got to the front of the Hyuuga gates, which were wide open and people moving in and out of them. Hinata then saw Neji and Tenten standing by the gates.
" Neji-nii-san." Hinata said waving as she walked to them
Neji looked in the direction he heard his name and saw Hinata coming walking up with Naruto following not to far behind her in his cloak and mask.
" Hinata-sama why are you here?" Neji asked surprised his cousin was coming back to the compound
" I needed to pick up some more things and though Otousan might want to talk to Naruto-kun." Hinata said
Neji nodded knowing Hiashi thought highly of Naruto he then looked at the boy.
" Naruto how are you doing today?" Neji asked the masked figure
" I'm just fine." Naruto said happily smiling behind his mask
Hinata hearing this looked worried at him and Neji saw the look on her face. He didn't show any reaction to what he saw.
" You'll have to forgive us Hinata-sama, but Tenten and I have to meet with Gai-sensei and Lee for training." Neji said bowing and walking off with Tenten following him
As they got a good ways away from the two Tenten looked at Neji confused, " Neji what are you talking about we were going to train in the Hyuuga Dojo."
" He's hiding it from us." Neji replied
" Who? Hiding what?" Tenten asked
" Naruto, How he's truly feeling." Neji said
" Then why…" Tenten said
" It's his decision to tell us or not and I'm not going to force him after what happened." Neji replied
Tenten nodded understanding the boy reasoning, " So where to now?"
" Our old training area. That will do just as fine as a Hyuuga dojo." Neji said
With that the two walked to the training field area
Back at the Hyuuga gates Hinata and Naruto entered and went to the main house. As they walked through the house they weren't met by anyone until they got the Hinata's door. Coming out of a neighboring door was what looked like to Naruto to be a small Hinata.
" Hinata do you know you have a chibi Bunshin walking around here?" Naruto said jokingly
Hinata looked over at what he was talking about and smiled, " Hanabi going to train with Konohamaru and his friends again?"
Hanabi glared at her blushing, but didn't speak to her. Hinata shook her head at her little sister actions. It was then Hanabi said Naruto in the Anbu uniform behind her
" Who's that? Have to have an Anbu escort you everywhere now becaue you're too weak? Is that the mission Otousan asked you about?" Hanabi asked pointing to the cloaked figure behind Hinata
" That Naruto-kun, Hanabi. Naruto-kun this is my Imoto Hanabi." Hinata said
Naruto nodded at the girl though underneath the mask he was glaring at the way she was acting to her own sister
Hanabi was shocked at this information, " Naruto-kun? As in Konohamaru's Nii-san?", and the boy nodded again, " No wonder he talks so highly of you I didn't know you were Anbu. Well at least the person they have guarding you isn't in danger of being killed."
With that Hanabi left and two and headed down the hall.
" She's friendly." Naruto said sarcastically
Hinata giggled at his words, " Hai, she has her own way about things, just like everyone else does."
As the two were about to enter her room a gasp was heard form down the hall.
" Arashi?" a person questioned
The two turned to see Hiashi standing there stunned. Naruto was wide-eyed that the man had seen them.
Oh no here we go I'm going got be kicked out for sure. He thought
" Otousan!" Hinata said surprise but happy
" Naruto-kun." Hinata said moving away from the door and to the man, " This is Otousan."
Hiashi just stood there stunned. He finally registered what Hinata said and looked at the boy. Naruto still had his mask on, but had taken the hood off, so you could see his hair.
" Hinata-chan maybe I should…" Naruto started worried he needed to leave looking back to where they had come in from
" Nonsense." Hiashi said, " You just surprised me there for a second Naruto I though your Otousan was back form the dead."
Naruto was wide-eyed again at his words he smiled at the change in the boy's body language.
" You don't have to wear that in here." Hiashi said
" I'd rather it stay on." Naruto said happily
Hiashi nodded hearing the hesitation in his voice, " So lets go into Hinata's room."
With that the three moved into the open room. As they got inside Hiashi shut the door and Hinata moved to the widows to shut the bright sun that shone inside her room. As Hiashi turned around he smiled at the two.
" Now then Naruto-san will you take off that mask now?" Hiashi asked
" I'd rather not Hiashi." Naruto said
" Oh and why not?" Hiashi inquired
While the two were talking Hinata went to getting the things she needed from her room. She looked at the two listening to their conversation.
" I just think I'd be best if I kept it on." Naruto said sounding happy
Hiashi frowned, " Naruto-san if you think I'll throw you out because of what Orochimaru did to you, you are mistake."
Naruto gasped having forgotten what Hinata had told him earlier. He looked over at Hinata. She smiled at him.
" Naruto-kun I told you he knows. I told him when we came back." Hinata said
Naruto looked at Hiashi too see if this was true, " Hai, my Musume is correct after she told me what happened on the mission I went to Hokage-sama to see if there was anything I could do. That's when she asked for Hinata to stay with you until they can fix this. I didn't and still don't object to this, but it was Hinata's decision to make after all." Hiashi said
Hinata moved over to Naruto. She stood in front of him and reached up to his mask. She saw he eyes grow wide and his paw come to cover her hand. She smiled at him and he closed his eyes and removed his paw. She pulled the mask off and laid it on the bed and moved back to packing her things. Naruto kept his eyes closed not wanting to see Hiashi hatred. Hiashi looked upon the boy sad at what the former Konoha-nin had done to him.
" Well I didn't expect the kitsune ears." Hiashi said hoping to lighten the mood
Naruto opened his eyes in surprise and saw Hiashi still standing in front of him smiling, "It happened just recently." Naruto said he ears reveling his true feelings
" Oh? And why is that?" Hiashi asked seeing the fox ears lover on Naruto's head
Hinata looked back at the two. Naruto shrugged, "We're still unsure why."
" Well I think I need to go see the elders about some family matter. Hinata if you need anything else just have Neji bring it to you. Naruto-san nice to see you hope to you come by again soon." Hiashi said and with that he exited the room
Naruto stood there shocked at what had happened. Hinata finished backing the last of the things she needed and Naruto grabbed the bag and they left the Hyuuga compound.
On their way back a number of the villagers saw them and though it was odd that someone was Anbu Kitsune walking around when there hadn't been one in years, but though little of it, but a few though it strange. Some had even noticed a number of the younger ninjas heading into Konoha forest. Three men looked at each other.
" Do you think it's him?" one asked
" Who else could it be I mean the Kitsune mask and he hasn't been see in town since we trashed his place." Another said
" But he has the Hyuuga heir with him we can't do anything with her with him." The last one said
" We just need to get her away from the bakemono and then we can deal with him. It's a pity he wasn't there when we trashed his place." The first man said again
" Are you crazy! Did you see what he did to Hyuuga Neji in the Chuunin exam when he was a Genin. Think of how powerful he is now. He's trained under the Sannin Jiraiya and I've heard his on very good terms with the Hokage too." The last man said
" He's probably using his Kitsune Magic on them to do what he wants, same with the Hyuuga Heir. That's why we need to follow them and get her away from him, so we can finish him once and for all." The second man said
The three then looked at each other and nodded in agreement.
As the two returned to Naruto's house he let out a yawn, " I'm going to skip breakfast Hinata-chan and take a nap."
" Alright Naruto-kun I have to meet with my team, so I might be gone when you wake up." Hinata told him
Naruto nodded heading upstairs to his room and Hinata headed to the kitchen to make a quick snack.
As Naruto reached his room and collapsed onto his bed had was instantly asleep.
" Finally I never thought he'd go back to sleep. Now to wait for the girl to leave and then I can make my move." Kyuubi said to himself inside the room he was in
He waited a couple more minutes and he heard the front door shut telling him Hinata had left.
" Finally I can come out." Kyuubi said
In an instant the Golden Kyuubi was where Naruto had once been. It got up and stretched it legs to get the soreness out he was feeling. His tails swished in excitement of how the Hokage would react to the new of the release for the jutsu.
Looking behind him, " Well if I'm heading out in public better not cause a panic."
With that Kyuubi's tails started to merge until there was only one big giant fluff tail waving behind him.
" This way I won't be attacked, I hope." Kyuubi said as he headed to the open window in Naruto's room.
Suna Tate – Sand Shield
Imoto – Little Sister