Disclaimer: I do not own anything pertaining to Rumiko Takashi's work. Nor do I own anything by Masashi Kashimoto. Ok I do own this story and characters not in any of the series by the authors of said stories. Anything that sounds like someone else's work is purely coincidental.

The Fox Siblings Ch 8

"Talking"

[Written Words]

{ Memory }

Most of us never have a chance to regain something we've lost. I was one of those lucky few that did get that chance. Well I'll just let the events that played into it speak for themselves. It had been almost six months since we had officially become part of Konoha's shinobi forces. For being as close as they were to this world's Jusenkyo there was a very small percentage that got cursed and most of those voluntarily. That might explain why the Amazons didn't have more inhabitants that were cursed. Anyways for the most part the citizens of Konoha had accepted the craziness that follows me everywhere.

OOooOO

"Have a good day at the academy Naruto." Kushina called as Naruto left for the day.

"Always mom." Naruto called as he walked out the door following Hinata.

"Oh having a family again is wonderful." Kushina said happily as she stared out the window.

"Morning mom." Ranma said half asleep giving Kushina a start as the voice was a few octaves to low.

"Ranma how did you change to being male?" Kushina asked in surprise whipping around catching sight of Ranma.

"What seriously?" Ranma asked as he patted himself down noticing that his chest was hard and flat. "And just as I was getting used to being female." Ranma said sighing in defeat. "Just when I get used to something I get thrown a curve ball.

"Are you really Ranma?" Hanabi asked prodding Ranma.

"Yeah Hanabi it's me." Ranma said as Ryoga walked in on the discussion.

Ryoga didn't say anything just looking like he was starting to return to his old depressed self as he was really starting to come to like the female Ranma. Kushina notices this and splashes Ranma with a glass of water. "That Ranma I know." Hanabi said nodding as she resumed eating and Ryoga seemed a little more upbeat from where Kushina was sitting.

OOooOO

"It's good see that you have almost completed the teacher curriculum Iruka." Sarutobi said.

"Thank you Lord Hokage." Iruka said bowing as he took a seat in the offered chair.

"I have high hopes for you Iruka now let's see how you do." The Third Hokage said as his newest academy instructor hopeful sat in his office nervously.

"I hope I can live up to your expectations sir." Iruka said fidgeting in his chair.

"Good now I have something that I wish you to help me with." Hiruzen told Iruka a smile on his face. "I know that you'll think I'm crazy but it will work out for the best for all parties involved."

OOooOO

"Morning Sasuke." Hinata said in greeting to her fellow girl.

"Morning Hinata, Naruto." Sasuke said returning the greeting. In the last few months Sasuke had remained female most of the time and had let her hair start to grow out.

"Hey Sasuke why don't you just have Ranma lock you in that form? Seeing as you stay that way so much." Naruto commented.

"I don't think I'm ready for that. Why in the heck do you keep asking?" Sasuke asked in frustration as her dress swished around her legs as she picked up the pace.

"Oh come on don't be like that Sasuke. I only have your best interest in mind." Naruto said as he turned into a she after getting hit with cold water.

"And what about you? You change back and forth a couple times a day." Sasuke shot back.

"Now girls please let's just along we're here." Hinata said as they entered their classroom.

"Ok class since the stragglers are all here we can start." Mizuki said with a sigh. 'I can't believe this since Kushina and her daughter showed up the strangest things have begun occurring. On top of that surprisingly Naruto has been behaving. This doesn't help me at all.' Mizuki thought this as he watched Hinata, Naruto, and Sasuke take their seats at the same desk.

OOooOO

"Reporting for duty Old Monkey." Ranma said sarcastically as she stood relaxed in the Hokage's office after being summoned.

Sighing Hiruzen rubbed his temples in exasperation. "Please stop calling me that. Anyways I had a reason for calling you here other than what you call your more mundane duties."

Ranma raised an eyebrow at this but stood silently waiting for an explanation.

"You have exceeded my expectations especially your mastery of chakra in such a short amount of time. Your probationary period has expired I'll have you know but there is one skill that you're required to have before I can truly give you the rank your other skills say you deserve."

This piqued Ranma's interest. "And what would that be."

"You have to hold a summoning contract." Hiruzen said simply.

"Eh?" Ranma asked.

Smiling Hiruzen stood came from behind his desk and bit the end of his thumb. "Observe carefully and follow this handsign sequence 'boar, dog, bird, monkey, sheep' and Summoning Jutsu." Ranma was surprised a glowing circle appeared on the ground followed by a puff of smoke filling the office.

When the smoke cleared Ranma was to say the least surprised and then seeing the irony began snickering then outright guffawing as she rolled around on the ground unable to contain herself. "This is just to much you and your summons are a matched set." She said calming slightly as she looked at the large ape that was king Enma before breaking out in laughter again.

"What is she talking about Hiruzen?" Enma asked his long time friend. Rather than answering Sarutobi took a glass of water that was on his desk and poured it over his head. "Hm she does have a point we might as well be a matched set." Enma said with a toothy grin.

"I don't need you starting on me as well old friend." The hokage said sighing. Enma just sat there and grinned.

"Alright I'll admit that's cool. How can I summon an animal like that?" Ranma said calming down somewhat.

"Two options either find an existing summoning scroll and write your name and your fingerprints in your own blood. The other option is to perform the summoning jutsu and reverse summon yourself. It will take you to the homeland of the summons that best fits you. Take my student Jiraiya for instance the impetuous boy performed the summoning jutsu and disappeared for about six years when he came back he was the first toad sage in almost 400 years. So you can say reverse summoning finds lost summoning scrolls that had been thought lost or forgotten." The shinobi professor explained.

"I see so that means I ju-." Ranma began before she was interrupted.

"Can you hold off on that just a minute?" Hiruzen asked as Enma returned home. "Are you not the caretaker of the springs?"

"Drat, I am. I can't just leave them unattended." Ranma stated as the excitement drained out of her.

"Are you able to appoint a temporary caretaker?" Sarutobi asked contemplatively.

"I think I heard something along those lines." Ranma said.

"Yes you heard me say that." A new voice in the room said surprising the other two occupants.

"Geez Ryoga stop sneaking up on me." Ranma said turning on the other girl

"Oh but it's so much fun. I can't sneak up on my wife no matter what I try." Ryoga said.

"Might I ask who you are young lady, and how you got in here." Sarutobi asked trying to feel out the newcomer.

"You could say I'm Ranma's boss." Ryoga answered.

"I see so do you have an idea for a temporary replacement?" Sarutobi asked.

"Actually due to the nature of Shinobi life it was high time that a few more caretakers were appointed with Ranma as the one in charge while she/he is in the vicinity.

Hearing the gender distinction the Hokage arched his eyebrows while Ryoga explained. "Ranma was locked by the power of the springs. I was requested to unlock him since it is my area of control. I will also give you and only you the power to replicate your powers to those that are worthy of being caretakers."

"So you're saying that before I try reverse summoning myself I need to appoint several people as assistants?"

"Correct." Ryoga stated before turning serious. "Well soldier you have your marching orders. Trust your instincts when choosing. They are there for a reason."

"On my way." Ranma said as she calmly left.

After the door shut Ryoga turned to the Hokage. "That was some good acting there."

"Couldn't let plans go arry now could I?" The Hokage asked.

"No matter what occurred in this room it would have turned out fine. I recommend when you give the other me the same news and immediately send him on his way."

"That'll be acceptable."

"Well Sayonara." Ryoga said as she entered into the mirror on the wall that was easily missed.

OOooOO

Ranma had passed Ryoga as she left the Hokage tower. "Trust your instincts huh? Well my instincts say go this way." After walking for a few minutes Ranma found herself in front of the academy. Shrugging she entered as the feeling that the ones she was looking for were close got stronger. The first place she came to was one of the classrooms where there was a student teacher observing the class that was being taught by Asuma Sarutobi. "Hey Asuma mind if I sit in for a minute?" Ranma asked after Asuma acknowledged her presence.

Thinking about it Asuma gave her the ok as this wasn't the first time she had done so. Ranma waited till after the class was adjourned before talking with Asuma. "Would it be possible to have a few of the student's remain behind?" Asuma answered by nodding and asking for the students to remain seated for a minute.

"Could I ask for Kiba and Shikamaru to stay for a little bit?" Ranma asked.

"Troublesome." Shikamaru said as he and Kiba remained in their seats while the rest of the students filed out.

After there was just the five of them present Ranma closed the door giving them some privacy.

"What do you need the four of us for?" Asuma asked fidgeting like he needed a dose of nicotine.

"You are here as a witness for your father." Ranma answered. "I need Shikamaru Kiba and whoever your student teacher is."

"I'm Iruka. Iruka Umino." Iruka finished.

"Anyway these three are candidates to be caretakers of Jusenkyo and there's a few more people in the building with that qualification including my brother and Sasuke Uchiha. Which classroom are they in?"

"They are in the class taught by Mizuki this year." Asuma answered.

"I see and where would that be?" Ranma asked.

"Follow me. I don't think the hokage would appreciate me just letting you wander around at the moment." Asuma answered sighing as Ranma gave him a look that said whatever as she followed him without complaint.

OOooOO

Mizuki had not been having a good day it seemed that the three girls in the middle row were tag teaming him. He was glad that it was lunch time so that he could get some time away from them. 'To bad she doesn't have the Byakugan or she'd be my ticket out of this dead end village.' Mizuki thought as he was about to dismiss class. His musing was interrupted by Asuma entering the room and inspecting the classroom.

"Hinata, Sasuke, Naruto. And Neji what are you doing here?" Asuma asked seeming to be flabbergasted.

"I'm winning a bet." Neji said dropping the henge he had raised.

"Well based on the looks on the faces around you you did win I'll tell the Hokage. Now everyone else can leave morning classes are done." Asuma said dismissing everyone. Mizuki left grudgingly.

Ranma entered the room after everyone else left. "Ok everyone is here I have chosen the seven of you to be my assistants as the caretaker of Jusenkyo. Before I do anything else I only have one rule Iruka is in charge when I'm not around should he choose to accept. The finer details you'll have to discuss with the Goddess of Transformation. Any questions?" Ranma asked after her quick speech. Seeing one hand raised in particular. "What Naruto?"

"What do we get from this?" Naruto asked.

"Do you mean what is the benefit of being a caretaker?" Ranma asked.

"Yeah that."

"To answer your question nothing. The pay sucks. You'll know when anyone has fallen into the springs sometimes painfully. And somebody that is a caretaker has to be in the village at all times to assure that the unfortunate one that fell in knows what they're in for and doesn't go berserk."

Much to her surprise all seven chose to accept. Their reason was the safety of the village. Ranma thought that was a good a reason as any seeing as this was a shinobi village. She gave her blessing by giving them a kiss on the forehead after that was done Ranma bid them goodbye and returned to the Hokage Tower.

OOooOO

"How did it go?" The Hokage asked when Ranma walked in.

"It went ok. I found seven people that accepted my request." Ranma answered before telling him who.

"I'd have to say those choices seem very good." Hiruzen said before asking. "Why did you ask Asuma to have Mizuki leave?"

"Not sure how to explain it. He just felt off." Ranma replied.

"Fair enough. Now Ryoga has already reverse summoned himself to the home of his summons. Seeing as the springs have caretakers that is."

"Alright let's see if I get this right. I just use a little blood." Ranma mumbled to herself biting her thumb. "Follow the handsign sequence 'boar, dog, bird, monkey, sheep' and-" Ranma said flowing through the handsigns before slamming her hand down on the ground calling. "Summoning Jutsu." A cloud of smoke erupted where she was standing. When it cleared she had vanished.

"Ok that's one problem out of the way." Sarutobi said as he started going through more paperwork.

OOooOO

Meanwhile Ranma appeared in a forest with trees bigger than anything she had ever seen before. "Where am I?"

"Well well well this is the first time a human has been on Mt. Oinari in over two hundred years." A deep female voice said really close to her head causing her to jump in surprise.

Whipping around Ranma saw a big red canine's face mere inches from her own. "Aaaah!" She screamed as she scrambled away falling over in the process.

"Whoa slow down there I'm not going to attack you. I mean what kind of summons would I be if I attacked my summoner." The animal Ranma identified as a fox said.

"A fox summons. Does that mean the animal I'm most compatible with is a fox?" Ranma asked not really expecting an answer having not paid attention the first time the fox spoke.

"Well we do things a little different than other summons so we'll have to have a talk about it." The fox replied.

"You talked just now didn't you?" Ranma asked pointing at the animal.

"Yes I did but enough about me. I need to take you to speak with the elder." The fox said as she turned to leave indicating for Ranma to follow her.

Ranma followed the overgrown fox cautiously feeling around not wanting to be surprised again.

About fifteen minutes later Ranma found herself in what looked like old ruins standing in front of an elderly fox. "Well it appears that you are a descendant of the Uzumaki clan." The Elder said as she looked Ranma over.

"My family name is Saotome." Ranma answered looking up at the towering fox before her.

"That's no matter because very few clans can produce red headed offspring and I can see you also have the massive reserves of Chakra that are a trait of the Uzumaki's." The old fox said a twinkle in her eyes Before going on. "Many years ago before the sage of six paths brought the shinobi world into being the patriarch of the Mt. Oinari foxes fell in love with a human female who bore him twin boys. The elder decided to give up his almost immortal life span to live with his mothers people giving one clan increased life energy. They later became known as the Uzumaki. The younger brother is still alive though currently no one knows of his whereabouts. He was a being of great power and one of the few to attain the status most coveted by our race."

"Seeing as I don't need to know your family history I would like to go ahead and get whatever entails summoning over and done with before I do anything else." Ranma interrupted getting impatient as she put her hands behind her head.

"Then let's cut to the chase you impudent whelp." The old fox declared a twinkle in her eyes. "Kurashi you'll take over her training. And depending on how you do there might be a reward for you upon completion."

"Thank you honorable leader I shall do my best." A much smaller fox than all of the others present said as she came out of the crowd and bowed.

"You mean she's going to be the one teaching me?" Ranma asked unimpressed.

"It'll be her or no one at all and you won't get the contract scroll." The matriarch stated as she began shrinking and took on a more human appearance. "Some of the greatest changes come from the most humble of beginnings. My decision is final." She said as she dismissed the assembly.

OOooOOooOO