Chapter 3:

Naruto and Shikamaru returned to the Leaf as quickly as possible to sort things out in the office, alone. It was Naruto's desire and strict order to keep matters involving the kitsune between them and a trusted few. Though this incident didn't directly involve them, Kai's situation resulted from Boruto's mission which brought him to the mountain on a couple of occasions. Most importantly, it involved something spirit related which was kitsune territory. After all, this wasn't a jutsu but a spirit item.

"Can't we get the kitsune to reverse this?" Shikamaru asked Naruto, sitting on the edge of Naruto's desk. "I know they don't meddle in human affairs but what happened to Kai was a spirit thing, not a human thing, so technically…"

"They won't," said Naruto, holding his head in his hands. "Ryosuke and the other kitsune taught me a lot of stuff while I was with them and one of those things was about the limitations to their powers."

"But that was about how a kitsune can't curse someone who is already under a kitsune curse, which was why you wanted them to use one on us to keep us safe from the enemy kitsune. But this wasn't a kitsune curse. They could use their power to change Kai back, couldn't they?"

Naruto shook his head. "No," he said. "Their powers are useless against someone afflicted with another creature's spell. A strong one, at least. And transforming a human is a strong one. After all, the kitsune couldn't use that ability until they got their second tail. And this wasn't a spirit, exactly, but an item given by a spirit from the spirit realm. I'm not sure how that would work, but I'm certain that Ryosuke, even with his five tails couldn't do a thing about it."

Shikamaru folded his arms and sighed heavily. "You mentioned that the ones in the spirit realm are more powerful than the ones who remained behind on earth. If Boruto received that bag of rice from a spirit in the spirit realm, Ryosuke wouldn't be strong enough to do anything about it. That's what you're saying?"

"That and we don't have a full understanding of how this item worked. We know what it did but it probably wasn't supposed to do that. And I gave you my theories on that. I'm certain that if a spirit had eaten it nothing would have happened."

Shikamaru clicked his tongue. "Since this is beyond our skill and understanding, it would be impossible for us to try to remedy this ourselves safely. The smart thing would be for us to have the one who gave it to Boruto fix this since they would probably know."

"But they're in the spirit realm and Boruto said that the spirit lost its mind while in the human world, unable to cope with being in this strange world so far from home."

"Can't you ask Ryosuke to send us into the spirit realm to find this guy and talk to him ourselves?"

"That won't work, either," said Naruto, slumping over his desk. "Mortals don't belong in that realm. Ryosuke took a chance sending Boruto in there and that was only because I was in there and he had to rescue me. Even if I asked, there's no way Ryosuke would send us in there for this."

"But he can," pointed out Shikamaru. "There's nothing wrong with Ryosuke doing it. He can track down this thing and ask it about a cure."

It was Naruto's turn to sigh. "Not for something like this. Yeah, this is a spirit thing we're talking about, but it's Kai. I can't see any of the kitsune lifting a paw to help someone who not only tried to expose them but enslave them."

"Fair point. Kai didn't exactly make a good impression on them." Shikamaru lifted his head to the ceiling. "We'd be asking them to help revive an enemy. Can't see them being willing to help with that."

"None of us want Kai back. He can't do any damage as a donkey. But what the king is asking…"

"We got two days to figure this out," Shikamaru reminded him. "During our next meeting, he's going to expect results. Not just about Kai but the shinobi and there's no way we're handing Boruto and his friends over for this. It was not their fault, no matter what the king seems to think."

"We could always say it was another shinobi interfering with the mission. That happens occasionally."

Shikamaru scoffed. "True, but the king still wants to punish those he saw. Even if there was another shinobi from a different village, the king doesn't care. And he'll still want Kai. He'll just send us to whatever mythical village this is and get him back."

"Ok," said Naruto. "What if we have a shinobi in disguise stand in for Kai?"

"A transformation wouldn't work. They'd test us to see if it's really Kai. We've never met him so we can't do a good impersonation. Even if we get information from Boruto's friends, they'd only know so much. And if we answer anything wrong…"

"We could say our memories were altered from the thing."

"No good. The king wants Kai back the way he was. Any changes to his persona or memory… We can't fake this, Naruto."

Naruto flattened his torso to the desk, sprawling out. "This sucks… We can't bring Kai back because he's a jerk but if the king wants him… And if he's threatening our village… We're gonna have to do something."

Shikamaru didn't see a way for the humans to alter Kai's predicament. "Are you sure the kitsune can't just use their curse ability to change him from a donkey to a human? It's wouldn't be a cure, per se, but it would get the job done."

"I can't see how. If Kai's already been altered, their fox magic shouldn't be able to do anything. Even if it could, doing so would expose them which is what Kai wanted all along and not what the kitsune want. It's too dangerous."

"Not doing anything is just as dangerous. You said Ryosuke and the others can protect themselves, so trust them to figure it out."

"But Kai's different, somehow. He was so obsessed over them and then with the rice thing… He had a spirit object in the king's palace vault." Naruto lifted himself off the desk. "No matter how I look at this, it looks like a bad idea to change Kai back to being human."

"You always believe in giving people a second chance…"

Naruto gave Shikamaru a stern look. "Yes, and he was given one by his king. Kai still bullied people to get what he wants. He threatened to kill a prince in front of the boy's father with everyone begging him not to. He stole a bag from Boruto because he thought it would give him power and locked him and his friends in a vault. Kai's too dangerous."

"I agree," said Shikamaru. "I'd rather he stay a donkey, too."

Naruto sighed, looking at his desk with a sad expression. "But you're right. I would have given Kai a second chance… But if he can't see reason…"

Shikamaru raised his brow, turning his body to look at Naruto. "Seriously? Even this guy, after everything we've been saying?"

"Only if he believed he was doing it for the right reasons. If he was just out for himself… You know how anybody can be steered wrong because of someone's influence." Naruto sat up in his chair. "I'd talk to him, of course, but, yeah… If Kai truly is…"

Shikamaru didn't let him finish his thought, steering the conversation back on track. "Maybe he will turn over a new leaf after he's changed back, but we won't know until we figure out what to do."

"You're right. But with everything we talked about and everything we know, it looks like we might have to find a way to change him back."

"At least as long-"

The door to the office bust open and Boruto stormed over to the desk, furious. "You can't do this!"

"Boruto-"

"You can't change Kai back! You said it yourself, he's too dangerous! Everyone's a lot better off with him as a donkey."

"Were you spying on us?" Naruto asked.

Boruto dodged the question. "What are you thinking? It's stupid to even consider it!"

"Boruto, you don't understand. This is a private-"

"Are you seriously going to let that king threaten you into giving him what he wants? Stand up for yourself!" Boruto ranted, standing before Naruto's desk with furrowed brows. "Don't let him do this! If he threatens to attack the Leaf, then attack him first!"

"It could be a bluff, so if we strike first, he'd have probable cause and we'd look bad."

"Who cares?" Boruto asked loudly. "He started it! He threatened the village. You shouldn't have to listen to him! For even making such a threat, we should attack him to show him who's boss."

"Then the Leaf would become an enemy for striking the king," said Naruto. "And if we attack his kingdom, we'd be hurting a lot of innocent civilians. They have no idea what's going on. This is between leaders. We'd be dragging them into an unnecessary battle, Boruto. Think."

"I'm not saying that exactly," he admitted.

"Then what are you saying?"

"I'm saying you don't have to listen to this guy. Kai's dangerous and hated by a lot of people. Why bring him back? It's stupid. You'd be making problems, not preventing them."

"In a situation like this, there isn't a move we can make that doesn't require some level of sacrifice," said Shikamaru. "We give him Kai, someone's unhappy. We don't give him Kai, someone's unhappy."

"Let us handle this, Boruto," Naruto pled with his son in an effort to calm him down.

"No!" he shouted. "You're gonna make a stupid move!"

"Boruto, this is a bit more complicated than you-"

"He's threatening you. You shouldn't listen to threats. What kind of message is that, anyway? If I want my way, I have to act like a jerk and threaten the village to scare you into submission? You big baby!"

"Boruto, that's not-"

"He's not even paying you for this mission," Boruto went on. "Technically, you don't have to do it. You can refuse!"

"Boruto-"

"Kai getting stuck as a donkey is his own fault. Leave him! He'll do less damage as a donkey than as a human."

"Boruto-"

"You can't bring him back! He'll just cause more trouble. And what if the king gets his way and decides to attack us anyway? Forget this! It's a stupid move."

"Boruto!" Naruto shouted, standing up. "I understand all that."

"Then why are you even considering this? Just refuse."

"Boruto, just leave this to the adults, ok? This is my job. I'll handle it."

That was the wrong thing to say to Boruto. Just as when Naruto was his age and heard those words, it got their blood boiling, not wanting to be considered lesser because of their age. They hated being treated like a child.

Boruto banged his fists on the edge of Naruto's desk and leaned forward to make sure his glare of anger was seen. "Dammit, you're making a stupid move that'll do more harm than good! Don't you see? Ignore the king and leave Kai the way he is! You shouldn't even be considering this!"

Naruto met Boruto's rage with a calm glare and said, "Boruto, I know what I'm doing. Trust me on this. Please."

Neither was going to bend and Boruto understood that. He could shout until he was hoarse and it wouldn't change a thing.

Thumping the desk in anger, Boruto turned and stomped towards the door. He stopped briefly to shout back, "I'm eating your dinner!" and slammed the door after getting in the last word.

Naruto slumped into his chair and sighed. "He doesn't listen. Always his way."

"You're very similar in that," remarked Shikamaru. "If Tsunade ever made a call you didn't agree with, you had to take things upon yourself to make it right."

"It's not because I didn't trust her," said Naruto. "It's that some of the calls seemed too cold. I'd never sacrifice a shinobi, even for the greater good."

For so long, shinobi were seen as nothing but tools and over time they themselves lost a part of their humanity as a result, growing cold and detached. Forgetting they were human, some caved under the pressure of self-doubt and criticism from others rather than being helped. It was a dangerous profession, but Naruto was determined that their lives mean something beyond their importance in missions. That they have value in themselves and others. Naruto worked hard to improve the system. There were still those who resisted and it was far from perfect, but most in the village agreed with Naruto's views and approved of the changes.

They helped each other, relied on each other and were stronger together, having faith in one another. To Naruto, they were all members of his family and he wanted them to look upon each other in that same way, so there would no longer be a need to resort to the old ways of doing things.

If he surrendered one person to save the village, it would cast doubt on his motives and his values. Some might say he made the right call, but the sacrifice's family and friends might think otherwise, which would breed distrust and hatred.

He saw it consume Sasuke. He heard Itachi speak of his regrets. He saw an emotionally stunted Sai struggle to understand basic human emotion and form attachments. He compared himself to Gaara who withdrew from people and became the monster they feared, giving up and surrendering to hate.

Naruto was determined to never repeat the cycle.

However, he was thrust into a situation that was difficult to remedy. No matter what he chose, there was going to be conflict.

"The one with the least amount of possible damage would be to bring Kai back, as the king requests," said Naruto, mulling it over. "My understanding is that Kai's accumulated a number of enemies over the years by bullying people into submission; procuring items by threatening to pull out of trade agreements with the king, something the people rely on for their people. Once they find out Kai's back, they'll probably seek revenge, knowing of his demotion."

"Kai could say he was acting on the king's behalf, in which case the people might target him instead," said Shikamaru.

"Yeah, but that really isn't our problem, is it?" said Naruto. "Our task is to help Kai return to human form. Whatever happens after that is out of our hands. It could become our problem, but given his lifestyle, it might not be. And it seems the kitsune won't be in any danger, since the king said he wasn't interested in them. Even if Kai's still thinking of doing anything, they'll handle it themselves."

"So we're doing this?" asked Shikamaru. "We're helping the king and Kai?"

"Not much of a choice. We'll at least make an effort. If we can't, we'll tell the king we did what we could. We'll spare no effort on our part to be sure. The king won't be able to say we didn't try. That's what I was trying to tell Boruto when he started shouting. I don't think we can change Kai back, even if we wanted to. It's not a jutsu and we can't contact the spirit who gave Boruto the rice Kai ate."

Shikamaru shrugged halfheartedly. "Fine by me. I gave you my input." Then he said, "Though… I've been suspicious about something."

"What?"

"What the king said, or didn't say," Shikamaru explained. "He admitted that he spent the past two months conducting his own investigation regarding Kai and the missing object, but more specifically Kai. I know it takes time to conduct an investigation, but two months? And after knowing shinobi came to his kingdom? Seems the first place he'd look is at the Leaf."

"Maybe he thought they were unrelated. He did say he thought what the one servant was saying was insane. He didn't believe them."

"Yet kept the donkey? Maybe he did know. Though he could have been keeping it just in case."

"Good thing Kai turned into a donkey and not a pig," commented Naruto. "Might have gotten eaten by now…"

Shikamaru was still trying to figure this out. Some of these things weren't making sense.

"The king did say flat-out that he wouldn't pay ransom for anyone, and that Kai was a special case," said Shikamaru. "He even said that he could replace his own people if they were defeated in combat."

"Views people as things. I hate that," said Naruto. "Boruto did mention that Kai's job seemed to be to get the king things he wanted. He even said it was because of Kai's swindling that he was able to build an empire as big and profitable as his. That's probably why he wants Kai back."

Shikamaru shook his head. "No, he's already so wealthy and his kingdom sustainable he wouldn't need more. And knowing that Kai made unfair deals under the table probably makes the king unwilling to take any chances with those people, wary of everything."

"Some people are greedy," said Naruto. "It might not be because the king needs it but because he wants to horde his wealth and show off."

"Even so… After knowing what Kai did, why keep him around to help with more deals now that he knows they were underhanded? That doesn't make sense to me."

"Kai might have other skills," suggested Naruto. "Or they're related, which is why he wants him back."

"If so, Kai wouldn't have to work for him. He would be royalty, too. Using Kai to increase his wealth would be too risky for the king, and the king bragged that he could replace anyone he wanted."

"He could have been bluffing, like with the war thing. Though we're not taking any chances on that." Naruto frowned. "He did say he wouldn't pay ransom for anyone but Kai, he's still not actually paying us, as Boruto pointed out. We're doing this because he threatened us. He's playing the victim card, saying it was Leaf shinobi's fault. He just wants the mistake corrected."

Shikamaru looked at the floor in thought. "Something's not adding up, though… It most likely is an idle threat. The king's got money, but after war devastates his land, he'll need to rebuilt which will take a chunk out of his fortune. A fortune he got because of Kai. Kai could bring back the wealth, but because of the swindling, it would be too risky to use Kai again. A possible rebellion, too, if his actions make the people suffer. He has wealth, enough to brag about. So he doesn't need Kai. Another purpose…"

Something clicked in Shikamaru's brain and he stood up, spinning around to look at Naruto.

"Naruto, what if this has nothing to do with the king's desires?"

"How do you mean?"

"Remember what you suggested about how sometimes shinobi from other villages will show up on missions because they got an order from someone else? What if this is one of those times only slightly different?"

"You mean like a mission?"

Shikamaru nodded. "What if there's a third party? That's why things aren't adding up. Why the king's being so vague. It's not that he wants Kai back, but someone else. What if someone contacted the king and promised him something in exchange for Kai? If he made a lot of enemies, it would make sense that one of them would want to take aim at that target sign on his back."

"So this might not be about the king at all, but a third party who wants revenge on Kai. Only they don't know what happened. If the king produced a donkey saying it was Kai, they wouldn't believe him. That's why he wants Kai back to normal. To do a trade."

"That could very well be it."

"If that's the case, then going to war really was an empty threat," Naruto said with a grin. "He just wants whatever this other group promised him in return. Not really sure how this helps us otherwise, Shikamaru."

"Leave that to me. We can work with this. We see the king the day after tomorrow. Let's gather what we can and work out our strategy. If we stick to this plan, neither village will be in any danger and we might not need to change Kai back after all."

Naruto chuckled wearily. "Good thing Boruto's eating my dinner, because this is going to be a long night…"

At the same time, Boruto had come up with his own strategy.

Knowing Naruto wouldn't listen to him and believing there was only one way Naruto was going to handle this, Boruto decided to take it upon himself to settle things. He was going to make sure Kai didn't return and that the king couldn't threaten the Leaf, or carry out his plans for war.