Hello one and all! How are you today? I'm good, just gonna drop this chapter for you loyal fans, hope you enjoy and thank you for all of your reviews!

"Speech"

'Thought'

(Disclaimer)

Chapter 6: Proud

Waking up before the sun had even begun its journey in the sky wasn't all that uncommon to her. In actuality it had become quite frequent for some reason or another for her to go to bed at any time yet wake before the sun rose in the sky. She yawned and it in turn caused the unavoidable fanning of her tails and arms as it had since she was but a kit.

None the less she managed to scramble from her bed that was so graciously given to her, in white pajama pants and white shirt, and decided to find the kitchen seeing as no one would be awake at this 'ungodly' hour. For anyone who would think a fuzzy brain would hinder her thoughts they would be sorely mistaken. She was born with a gift of almost immediate comprehension when awoken from her slumber.

Remembering the mansion layout that she had been shown by her mother she drew a line in the air, a habit of hers, and quickly remembered the swiftest route from her room to the kitchen. Forgoing the useless waste of chakra at the expense of a teleportation and even worse waking ninja with a spike of chakra she calmly exited her room and began the stroll to the kitchen with completely silent steps.

Upon arriving to the kitchen it was quite a surprise to find her father sitting at the table, his single cerulean eye staring out into nothing as he just sat there. His right arms was lying on the table while his left, gloved appendage, was draped at his side lifelessly. His body was uncloaked which meant that he was showing his scars, the sins of his past haunting him even now at this time of spirits.

However it was not this that disturbed her nor was it the fact that he was up before her, Quite the opposite. For him to be awake it meant one of two things had happened during the night, something that did happen often. "Otou-san?" she called and then found her answer. He cast his gaze up to her with a sorrowful look in his eye, completely oblivious to the fact that a lone trail of tears was flowing down his cheek.

"Hitomi-chan," he said in surprise and in a sense pain. She bowed slightly in a form of respect but he waved it off and called her closer with a motion of his organic arm, something she complied with instantly. When she reached him it was almost by instinct that they hugged one another, her father holding her close as he produced some choking sobs.

She could almost smell the pain that was wafting off him in waves, without any reason her eyes began to leak with the crystal clear tears wrought with sorrow. She knew why he cried, she knew why he pained, all she could do was try to calm her father. There they stood, Naruto holding his daughter as he cried while she held him in an attempt to soothe him. Once again she was reminded, this was not uncommon, yet…

"Otou-san, where is Okaa-san?" Hitomi questioned as they broke apart, both of their tears held at bay for now. "Your Okaa-san is sleeping," he gave her a small smile, "couldn't wake her with such stupid crap like this. It's her first time back since…" He trailed off and suddenly the atmosphere turned much colder, both felt it and the need to disperse it quickly.

"So Otou-san," Hitomi began before he father could, "what are our duties for the day?" Naruto thought for a bit then said, "well nothing for the time being. Your Okaa-san and I will be with Obaa-chan early giving the report so you kits have free reign as to what you want to do." He snickered, "I'll bet anything your brother will pick a fight with Suzume again."

Both laughed a bit before Naruto stood, towering above Hitomi as he placed his organic hand on her snow white locks, "I had a feeling it would be a good idea to hide out in the kitchen. After all that's where your Okaa-san and I had a few 'moments' as we like to call them. Well I'm going to try and get back to sleep and if not your Okaa-chan will make good company. Awake or asleep." He smiled and ruffled her hair lightly before disappearing on quick and silent footsteps leaving Hitomi to her own devices.

It wasn't but a scant three hours later when Naruto and Hinata walked in, both having an animated discussion yet not even blinking at the amount of food their daughter had cooked in such a short amount of time. They greeted her cheerfully and took some food then just as quickly were gone only to be replaced moments later by her older brother Kyuubi.

"Good morning Onii-san," she said happily as he stumbled into the room more or less awake, "did you sleep well?" He shrugged with a grunt, "fell asleep on only one shuriken this time so I guess it was a good night." She couldn't suppress the smile and slight shake of her head as she spoke, "I don't understand why you don't just put your weapons under your pillow rather than in the pockets of your pajamas."

Instantly his attitude changed from drowsy and passive to alert and angered. "Hey," he growled pointing a clawed finger at her, "remember what happened to Okaa-chan when she was a kit? I do NOT want to be caught off guard if ANYONE tries to take the runts." She shrugged a noncommittal answer and went back to her food preparation as he stomped off in a pouting fashion. He was still such a kit in so many ways.

In time he returned to grab some of the food she had prepared and was off on his way with a bid of farewell to his Kitsune sibling. After that she finished a few more morsels of food and laid them out in the dining hall, no only surprising her uncle and his family but also the cooks who had been hired to fix the meals for the Hyuga mansion.

In total she had just about enough to feed the mansion and with a brief flash of Kitsune Bi she heated whatever had cooled back to fresh warmth. Neji stared at the variable buffet that lay on the table before him, "I must say I am impressed." After that bit of gratitude, followed by many others after tasting said food, she left and proceeded to go about her morning preparation ritual.

First it consisted of a bath of hot water, cleansing her body so it would be free of any dirt or grim despite the fact that today she might get just as dirty as before she entered. Casting that thought from her mind she dried herself off and put on her clothes that had been handmade by her mother and herself.

For a moment after she had dressed she faced the full length mirror that stood in the corner of the room and looked over herself. She was a beautiful Kitsune, a girl slowly blooming into an even more beautiful woman. She sighed and after strapping the senbon to her leg she exited her room to find her two charges for the day.

It didn't take long to find them though for anyone without a Kitsune Byakugan it would have taken an eternity. They were hidden within an illusion of their own concoction and while it was funny to see so many Hyuga run right past them in the search for the 'troublemakers' she needed to take them for the day.

As easily as tearing through a sheet of wet paper she put her hand through their illusion and gently pulled them out with a kind smile. "Good morning Otouto, Imotuo. Just what have you two been up to?" The pair grinned sheepishly at her and spoke in tandem, "oh nothing Onee-san!"

Hitomi could only giggle a bit at their innocent attitudes but taking notice of the clock on the wall she realized she needed to be going. Seeing that she couldn't leave the twin terrors here all day without someone to look over then and not wanting to both Uncle Neji for a caretaker for the two she decided the only alternative was to take them with her.

"How would you two like to go to Ichiraku's Ramen today?" she asked with a sweet voice, instantly she had their attention. "Yeah!" they both said and without warning a swirl of leaves surrounded them, Hitomi deciding that a teleportation was in order.

It wasn't but a short few hours later when Hitomi heard two voices pipe up a request, "Onee-san! Can we go do something fun now?" Hitomi sighed in exasperation at the work she had been doing. It was amazing what business could be accumulated in only a day of working for Teuchi-san. Add that to the fact that the two kits, who had been stuffing their faces full of ramen since they arrived, began to get board and you were destined for a nervous breakdown.

However she handled it well, turning to the two obviously bored kits with a kind smile and said, "when I'm on lunch break we'll go wherever you want for the entire time. Does that sound good?" That was a quick perk up for the two young kits but seeing as they inherited a certain someone's impatience they were back to asking her freedom moments later.

Hitomi sighed in exhaustion but kept working her hardest. "Old man Teuchi! It's been a while since I've had your Pork Ramen!" came an unusually brash call from the other side of the counter. Teuchi sighed, "hello Kawamaru, it's been a while I know but I just recently had a flash of inspiration. Hitomi! Bowl of pork please!"

Hitomi nodded and in seconds she had produced the ingredients, allowing Teuchi to prepare them while she simmered the water for their cooking. In the midst of this action she cast a glance over the counter and saw the customer, Kawamaru, with a smile on his face and a little golden furred dog on his head.

He wore and unusually thick brown jacket for this time of year, the hood was very fuzzy but it was pulled down letting the small dog sit in it while it lie on his head. The ninja himself had deep brown hair and the most peculiar icy blue eyes, the pupil a very odd shape resembling an animals rather than a human. He looked to be about the age she would be if she were a human and he had odd red triangles on his cheeks pointing downward.

"Hey," he said with a smile, "name's Inuzuka Kawamaru. And who might you be?" Hitomi smiled back, all in good faith, "Uzumaki Hitomi. Pleasure to meet you." Kawamaru smirked, "oh the pleasure is all mine. So what are you doing working for old man Teuchi?" Hitomi was handed his ramen which she gave to him but it was quickly ignored in favor of talking to the white haired beauty that was working there.

"My family just arrived a few days ago and Teuchi-san was kind enough to offer me a temporary job," Hitomi said with a respectful air. Before the conversation could take another turn the flaps of the ramen stand fluttered and in their wake stood a silver haired ninja with golden eyes.

"Hitomi-hime," he said with a wide smile, completely ignoring the confused glance Kawamaru gave him, "what a pleasant surprise! I didn't know you worked here." Hitomi smiled, "hello Zaimaru-san." Zaimaru scoffed, "oh enough with the formalities. Call me Zai-san, or better yet Zai-kun."

Hitomi giggled a bit, "you're one to talk about formalities?" Zaimaru chuckled a bit, "true, true." Zaimaru looked to his side, regarding the now dangerously glaring Kawamaru with a smile, "I see you met our resident dog Kawamaru." Kawamaru growled but he was shut up instantly as the small golden dog on his head scurried off and leapt into Zaimaru's arms barking happily. "Well hello to you too Kin!"

The dog barked a bit before Zaimaru handed her back to Kawamaru, not bothering to return the glare sent his way. Zaimaru was about address Hitomi again only to be hit with twin blurs of gold and nearly knocked off his seat. "Woah!" he said just before he looked down and saw two smiling faces and the bodies that held onto his arms.

"Hello Tsunade-chan and Arashi-kun!" he said happily as he got off the stool and knelt down to their height, "have you been giving your Onee-san any trouble?" Both suddenly looked down sheepishly, "no…" Zaimaru raised an eyebrow and looked to Hitomi who could only smile. It was infectious since all he could do was grin in response.

"Are you working here all day?" he questioned getting a swift nod of affirmation. He sighed and looked down at the two, both of them radiating an aura of inactivity that he had just lifted if only by his presence. A loud 'ah' accompanied by the clink of chopsticks reminded them that there was another person present in the conversation making Hitomi feel just a bit foolish for forgetting him. "Well seeing as I'm finished I'll be leaving," Kawamaru said with a smile to Hitomi and a dark glare to Zaimaru, unintentionally catching the two kits in the crossfire.

As Kawamaru left Tsunade glared while Arashi just stuck his tongue out at him, "I don't like him, he's a jerk." "Now it's not nice to say that about someone you don't know. He's a nice guy," Zaimaru said with a sorrow masking smile that Hitomi just barely noticed, "I just get under his skin for some reason or another."

The kits gave a slow nod that was soon replaced with an eager smile and open palms held out to him, "Zai-kun can we have more chocolate?" Hitomi sighed while Zaimaru chuckled, "well that all depends. Did I get an agreement from your Onee-san that you were good?"

The twin terror's turned to Hitomi with a pleading gaze as Zaimaru gave her a trusting smile, something that gave her heart a little boost. "Otouto and Imotou behaved like perfect angels," she said with a smile and was rewarded by two shouts of glee.

Zaimaru dug into his pockets with a smile and produced more foil wrapped chocolate coins, dropping a fair amount into each of the twin's palms. Instantly they were being savagely ripped apart, both of them enjoying the treat as they stuffed as many of the chocolate disks into their mouths as possible.

Meanwhile Zaimaru stood and addressed Hitomi who was lucky enough to have a momentary lull in work so she could talk. "How have you been Hitomi-hime?" he asked casually with that almost ever present calm smile of his, his silver bangs just barely hiding his sparkling flawless golden eyes.

Hitomi found her hands beginning to fiddle a bit but she shook it off as she spoke, "well. It's the first full day we'll be here so adjusting is going to be a bit of a challenge but we'll find a way to make it work." Zaimaru nodded, "seeing as you got a job before your first twenty four hours I'll say you're well on your way to running the place."

After a bit more conversation the lunch crowd began to come in, telling Hitomi that she had about one hour until her break. "Otouto, Imotou," she began but the twins instantly rose a protest. "Onee-san! We don't want to just sit here all day! Can we go somewhere PLEASE!" they cried both of them producing the best pouting faces imaginable.

Hitomi was stuck yet again, she couldn't very well let the two wander around alone but she couldn't leave her job on the first day. "I'll take them," Zaimaru commented offhand, as if he was just reading her mind. In reality he was reading her emotions through her facial expressions, something his father taught him since he was liaison to many villages, but it was all the same in the end.

The twins were incredibly happy with the proposition but Hitomi asked, "are you sure? They can be a handful and without my parents or myself around they only have a hour in their forms…" Hitomi covered her mouth, realizing she had just spilled something she hadn't meant to.

"In their forms?" Zaimaru questioned realizing that this was now something big. Hitomi sighed realizing it was already halfway out, "my Okaa-san placed a special Kitsune Genjutsu on them to give them 'human' form. Without it they were return to their original fox forms. It works indefinitely as long as a Kitsune is around them to supply the Genjutsu with Kitsune magic. Without one they only last an hour."

Zaimaru shrugged and suddenly hoisted the young kits onto his shoulders, both of them screaming in fear and joy at being hauled up so quickly and easily. "Don't worry about it Hitomi-hime," he said with a smile and a wink, "I'll have them back before anything happens to them. I promise."

Zaimaru turned and left with the kits, not noticing the blush that crept onto Hitomi's normally pale cheeks.

"So," Zaimaru asked, looking to the two kits on his shoulders in turn, "what do you want to do?" "Playground!" was their answer as one came into view, he smirked at the sheer luck that there happened to be children playing around it at the time. To bad for them it was quite a ways down the street. The only reason they could see it was ninja training and Kitsune Byakugan heritage respectively. Zaimaru knew it would take a bit of walking to get there but running…he grinned and said, "hold on tight."

As soon as the Kits grabbed hold of his shirt and hair he vanished from sight, seeming to normal citizens and a fair amount of shinobi that he just flashed into non-existence. In reality he had taken one of his shinobi talents, speed, to the extreme and ran at such a pace that he was almost invisible to the naked and untrained eye.

As he ran he could hear the kits screaming in terror but as he started to slow they voiced complaints, telling him to go faster. He chuckled and increased his speed earning more screams from the kits of not just terror but happiness as well. All three of them were so wrapped up in the moment that they completely passed up the playground.

Zaimaru realized it a little too late but he decided he could make it on another pass. He leapt high into the air, giving the kits a wonderful view of Konoha as he spun in midair and prepared himself for landing. The second he touched down he was off again, giving the kits the rides of their lives but this time not passing the playground with his speed.

Despite taking them to where they wanted to go they sure put up a protest being set down again, he chuckled at the fickleness of the kits. Just as they were set down, and after they reprimanded Zaimaru on his actions, they raced into the playground all smiles and sunshine ready to meet new friends.

Zaimaru smiled and watched the young ones rush into the group of children, shooting off their names rapid fire before asking names in turn. His golden eyes looked into the group of children and his smile was replaced by a confused twist to his lips. He watched the children rush from the group and to their parents, each child the son or daughter of a ninja.

After having a few words with the children the parents sent a dark glare, surprisingly not to the children but to Zaimaru himself, their eyes boring into his body like thousands of kunai. They turned sharply and left with their children leaving Zaimaru to sigh and plop down onto a park bench, his ever present smile gone as he looked to the ground in pain.

"Zai-kun!" sounded a shout so close to him that he jumped and looked up to be met with two pairs of pale blue and light lavender eyes. "Um yes?" he asked with a confound expression. "Can we have more chocolate to share with our new friends?" they asked in tandem with such childish joy that he found his smile racing across his face as he brought out the candies. The twins grabbed the treats and raced off into the crowd of children, Zaimaru watched forgetting the glares completely.

Zaimaru sighed in relaxation as he settled himself onto the park bench, watching as the kits gave the chocolates and showed off their minor Kitsune skills and tails to the amazement of the children. It was remarkable seeing Kitsune, he couldn't deny that, but over all he found it quite a soothing sight to see. His father would tell him stories about the Rokudaime Uzumaki Naruto, the great guardian Kitsune of Konoha, and now he was watching over that great Kitsunes offspring.

Add Hitomi to the mix and he'd say he was damned lucky.

Before he was able to get more comfortable and lost in his thoughts a loud yelp interrupted him and his refocused eyes caught onto a very unsavory scene indeed. Standing above Arashi with his hand in a fist was a young academy student, his face locked in a glare at the kit and his sister who knelt by him. In the young boys fist was the crushed golden foil and brown of the chocolate he was given.

The boy scowled at the two and yelled, "what are you doing here!" Tsunade snapped her head up to say something but Arashi beat her to the punch with a wild smile despite his pain, "making friends!" The young boy that stood heard them, felt them, they were so quiet he could almost imagine them but he knew he didn't. It was praise, complete and utter love from his parent.

"Get out," the boy said crossing his arms after dropping the wasted chocolate treat on the ground, "we don't want you here!" Tsunade growled low in her throat and her hands started to form a seal but Arashi held her off, still grinning that idiotic smile, "oh come on we just want to be friends!" The praise and words played in the boy's ear, 'no one wants those monsters around. Their kind abandoned us letting us suffer. They deserve to feel that.' "I said get out!" the boy said as he reared back for another punch.

The punch followed through but it never made contact with Arashi nor Tsunade, only a hardened silver cloth covered back. The twins blinked at suddenly being face to face with a smiling golden eyes ninja. This alone was not an uncommon sight however it was what he said in just barely a whisper, "your father would be proud."

Zaimaru patted them on the head then turned in his crouching position to face the boy who had struck Arashi, "now, now it's not nice to hit someone who hasn't done a thing to you." The boy was speechless and could only stare at the ninja that as before him, even the smiling face radiated contained anger. Suddenly an adult walked up, grabbing hold of the child's hand and walking away but not before serving a wicked glare to the twins and Zaimaru.

It was a tense silence after that, the parent leading the boy away with every set of eyes on their retreating backs. In the distance Zaimaru prayed he was the only one who heard the parent's praise to the child, telling him that he did well. Zaimaru sighed and stood, towering over the children present as he said, "now don't let him scare you."

He picked up the two Kitsune Kits with a smile and planted them on their own feet, "Arashi-kun and Tsunade-chan are the best little Kitsune I know!" That seemed to dissipate the mood slightly, allowing the children to smile and return to their play, the parents who had watched the entire spectacle a bit more wary of the ninja and his Kitsune charges.

It was a good forty five minutes later when Zaimaru called out to them, "Tsunade-chan, Arashi-kun time to go back!" The kits, who had been involved in a game of hide and seek, suddenly popped their heads out from their Kitsune illusions with twin groans, "oh come on Zai-kun!"

Zaimaru shook his head, "your Onee-san would kill me if I kept you later than this besides hiding in your illusions is cheating." The twins grumbled and hopped out of their illusions, bidding farewell to their new friends and letting the silver haired ninja put them on his shoulders as he walked them back to the ramen stand.

Seeing as Zaimaru was taking his time the twins got a far better look at the town, seeing everything that was in store for them in this new village known as Konoha. There were so many stories that they didn't know which ones they would visit first when they had the chance! It was so over stimulating that they began to fidget, twisting and turning rapidly as they watched the world go by.

"Woah!" Zaimaru said with a smile as the twins decided to look over his head at something, "calm down you two. Then next thing you know you'll be on the ground!" "Arashi-kun can handle it, he's got a thick enough skull," Tsunade commented with the aid of a raspberry. "She cried when she got a splinter!" Arashi accused which made Tsunade glare, "shut up!"

Zaimaru sighed, 'how does Hitomi-hime keep up with you two?' It didn't take long for them to reach to Ramen stand especially since Zaimaru had upped the pace seeing as his hair was close to being ripped out by the squabbling kits. "Now, ow, no need to, ow, yell," he said trying to calm them down finding it quite impossible.

"Imotuo, Otouto, what are you doing to Zai-kun?" came an angelic voice that had the arguing twins silent and quite literally out of Zaimaru's hair. Zaimaru gave a sigh of relief as he set the kit's down, having them rush to their Onee-san's side with the cheerful chime of, "nothing!" Hitomi gave Zaimaru an apologetic look but he waved it off with a smile.

"Did you two behave?" Hitomi questioned them as she looked down, both of them nodded and before she could ask Zaimaru spoke, "they were wonderful. Couldn't ask for better Kitsune to watch after." Hitomi looked up at him with a relived smile, even though it was nearly invisible their bodies were ready to transform into their true forms any moment now. With a brief surge of Kitsune aura the Genjutsu was reinforced and the kits were safe once again.

"It was so much fun!" Tsunade shouted with a gleaming smile. "Yeah and we made so many new friends!" Arashi added nearly jumping up and down with excitement. "But that one boy wasn't nice," Tsunade said with a frown concerning Hitomi. Arashi could only smile, "I'm sure he's a nice guy, we just get under his skin some way or another right Zai-kun?"

Zaimaru was taken aback with the comment, the same one he had said only an hour before. His look of surprise was soon covered with a bright smile, "exactly Arashi-kun." Hitomi was amazed by the comment, both Tsunade's and Arashi's. Tsunade's comment rose questions and suspicions in her mind but Arashi's comment…

Hitomi smiled wide and looked at Zaimaru, his golden eyes catching her own milky lavender the instant her gaze hit his face. Zaimaru returned the smile but on a smaller scale, "well I have to say it was a very fun and interesting afternoon." Zaimaru crouched down, "and you two made it the best ever." The twins beamed proudly as Zaimaru stood up, giving Hitomi a wink that made her face slowly begin to heat.

"W-well how about i-in the future?" Hitomi asked her nerves starting to shake. Zaimaru gave a light smile and spoke softly, "anytime I can Hitomi-hime, anytime I can." Zaimaru waved to the three as he turned and began to walk, his left hand in his pocket as he waved over his shoulder. The twins rushed up a few steps then began frantically waving back, telling him that he better not forget about that promise.

Hitomi only stood there and gave a small wave, a smile pulling the corners of her mouth across to dark pink cheeks…

When the twins asked why she was just standing there waving just as Suzume and Kyuubi arrived for some Ramen it was quite an embarrassing scene but that's another story for another time.

End Chapter

Well how was that? I hope it was good because it was just another POV on a day and...yeah. Sorry if you didn't like it. Q and A?

Q: Is Zaimaru gonna be a cheap Naruto clone like in so many others?

A: No...I will kick myself in the ass if it ends up like that. I swear to god I've seen so many of them myself I just want to drag them into the middle of a freeway and beat them with a sack of oranges!

Q: Naruto being outlived?

A: No, he is still a Kitsune.

Q: Naru for Hokage?

A: Yes, of course!

Q: The infamous Kenshin question?

A: ...do I have to? Oh and by the way I will not, no way no how, make him say Oro. When I saw what the other meaning of that word was I vowed never touse it ever again. Go ahead, look it up. I dare you.

Q: Kyuubi is a pervert!

A: No not really, he just thought it would be funny as hell to see the proud Uchiha take a fireball then find out she's naked all of a sudden.

Q: Itami in charge of her son?

A: There will be an explanation later on...sorry.

Well that's it...for some reason I feel like I'm going to get hurt in some way for this chapter. Dunno why, just I know it's gonna sting. Well thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy! Later!