Life As A Fox

Chapter 2 *2013 Revision*

NSW

He ran away, away from his friends and away from that accursed ground. Away from that terrible war everything. He just ran, not knowing what to do or where to go. Naruto finally stopped in a clearing of trees, next to a fast rushing river, he peered into the water but saw nothing. 'Of course not,I'm dead, so I wouldn't have a reflection.' He turned away from the river only to chance upon a sight he never had seen before. A fox maybe twice the size of a horse lay stretched out basking in the sun. Its nine identical tails curled passivly around it, "K-kyuubi?" Naruto finally said.

The fox opened an eye lazily, then seemed to register him. "Ah, its you kid, I see you got the boot for dealing with me, sorry about that" he said as though he were talking to Naruto about the weather. Naruto stared at him confused. "What do you mean?" he asked. "Let me guess, they said said something about you made a deal with me, and said that you were forbidden to enter heaven, am I right?" Naruto's mouth gaped open, that was exactly so.

"Y...yeah" Naruto said. The fox snorted, "They are still hung up on that? Jeesh, those gods can really hold a grudge, well like I said, I apologize for that, my bad." Naruto blinked as he sat down. "So….what do I do now?" Kyuubi spoke without opening his eyes, he must really like the sun apparently. "Travel the world, do whatever." He said waving a paw, as if trying to shoo Naruto away like a pesky toddler.

Naruto slumped down (note Kyuubi can hear and see Naruto because he is immortal and a Demon) "But what about Konoha? How am I going to warn them of Sasuke's plans?" Then after sometime he added sadly, "How am I going to save my friends?" The fox opened his eyes and lifted his large muzzle. His fur seemed to glow in the sunlight, as his warm eyes gazed into Naruto's.

Kyuubi sighed scratching his head. "You know, usually when you die, you leave that stuff behind and forget about it." Naruto shook his head standing up suddenly. "No!" he said sharply "Konoha is…was my home, it was my fathers home, it is where all the people I care about the deepest live, I can't let that get destroyed, I must protect them! I must protect them all, because they are the ones I treasure most!" Naruto said looking into the Kyuubi's startled eyes. Kyuubi with a heavy sigh stood.

Naruto looked up at the fox. "Where you going?" he asked as the fox shifted his bulk around. The fox glared at him. "I'm not going anywhere! I am just getting ready for what I am about to do." Before Naruto could say anything, the fox spoke with a great booming voice the proclaiming to all the earth it seemed. "Here me all Demons from this world and the next, this is Kyuubi no Yonbi."

He paused for a moment. "I have travled far and wide but have never met a soul so strong and willful to continue on his quest even in death, if any Demon can give this soul a way to full-fill this desire answer my call." Seconds passed by and nothing happened, but then from out of the woods, a figure emerged.

Riding a large white wolf, hair dark as a tree bark sprouting vines and flowers. Eyes green as the grass beneath Naruto's feet. She came closer, her alluring eyes looking into his. She was clad in a loose dress the color of earth that flowed freely from her body like wind. It was bunched at the waist, clasped with a sea blue sash that had designs etched upon it that Naruto knew no words to describe them. Her skin was like an almond shell glowing like sunlight drifting over water. Silver necklaces set with burning amber enveloped her throat. While rubies dangled from her ears. Gold braclets chimed with her every movement as she made her way towards them.

She dismounted from her mighty steed who disappeared with a poof. She stood before them in her full glory, Naruto looked away, he felt like he didn't deserve to see her beauty. She chuckled, her voice chiming, astounding, beguiling. "Greeting's Kyuubi, I am Ookami no Megami, your godess, I am here to answer your request my creation."

Kyuubi bowed with a graceful opulence, then lifted his eyes to her. "What is your gift?" He asked her softly, like a child talking to his mother. The goddess smiled and placed a hand under his chin, lifting his head lightly. She spoke showing off her pure white teeth. "New life" she whispered with excitement. Kyuubi widened his eyes. "You know that's-" he began but she silenced him. "I know I can't bring him back as a human, but I can bring him back as one of my own creations."

She turned her head to him raising her eye brow in amusement. "Uzumaki Naruto, are you willing to do whatever it takes to protect those you wish to protect?" Naruto nodded. Stepping forward her bare feet falling on the ground as delicately as a deers would. "Even if it meant returning into a body that is not your own?" Naruto nodded, at this moment he would take anything, he would do anything to save the village he loved. She paused before him her complete radiance almost blinding Naruto. "Good, very good, I am pleased" she said, her voice carrying smoothly like a birds song. "Step foreword" she commanded him as if trying to calm a startled creature. Naruto did as he was bided, all argument and free will seemed to vanish.

She then spoke "Naruto I will give you the power and the stamina of a wolf, as well as the mind and versatility of the fox." She said studying him. Naruto found his voice, "What...what are you going to do to me?" He asked her, if he had a heart, he knew it would be beating like a hammer in his chest. With a coy smile she spoke "Naruto, my dear, I am turning you into a demon."

Naruto stared at her, not knowing what to say. She placed a hand on his shoulder he felt a great warmth fill him as though he was being set on fire. Only, it didn't hurt, like it was a good fire. She spoke to him, words falling from a far away place. "I am placing your soul into a new body, this may tingle." He felt life flow into him once more. Filling up his hollowed form. She was right, he tingled all over, he felt like a new born lamb, shaking in the fear of this new strange world.

Then he felt the change. Sinking he shrunk towards the ground. His jaws extending forward his eyes positioning farther apart and back. His hears seemed to move to the top of his head, it felt weird, both bad and...good at the same time. He felt a prickling sensation as his skin grew fur, so much fur, he felt warm and covered. He felt internal changes, lungs expanding, spin shifting, organs moving about, and yet, it did not hurt. His body continued this metamorphosis until with one last burst of heat it was done.

Opened his new eyes he peered up the ground, he looked up. Already everything was different. His view on the world was drastically changed. His senses felt to strong, too bright, too loud, to...smelly, too much! He groaned and clamped his eyes shut. He felt his new heart thrumming in his chest. But he felt a calming hand on his shoulder, it's warmth drifted down through his thick fur, he looked up into eyes, that gave him the stability and the reassurance he needed.

She beamed down at him. "Rise" she said softly. He did so, not breaking his eye contact with her. It was different on four legs, instead of two. But he got the hang of it. Kyuubi stepped up to him, already his nose was registering everything about the fox. "Okay Naruto, now it's time to make you a demon, may I?" Kyuubi said looking to the goddess.

She nodded "Of course you may." Kyuubi grinned, "Welcome to our world, my new brother." Kyuubi said as he felt a great power well inside of him. It surged through him. Filling to almost the point of breaking. "I am giving your own chakra network, all demons have them." Naruto groaned he could tell by the density of his network that he had a lot of chakra, and it was...potent, much stronger then any humans.

Kyuubi and the goddess stepped back. The goddess circled him muttering under her breath. "Yes…..yes,….this will do." "Excellent craftsmanship Karuma." The fox lifted his head higher, growing from the compliment. With a final affirmative nod the goddess stepped back. "Yes, it is finished, now go to the river side Naruto, and see what you have become."

Naruto tentivly went to the river. Peering into the water to see what he looked like. He gasped as what looked back at him surprised him. A light crème colored wolf with his deep azure eyes. The wolf was covered with very fine soft thick fur. Had large wide paws, a deep long chest which would be perfect for running long distances for long periods of time. This suple frame was held up by long, powerful legs. His body was short and sturdy with a long fox like tail attached. Upon said tail was a tip of pure white, marking the small bit of fox within him. He turned back to the goddess and Kyuubi.

The goddess stepped forward, almost standing on top of him. "Are you ready?" she said grinning softly. Naruto was confused "ready for what?" the goddess smirked. "The beginning of a thousand miles begins with the first step." Without warning she pushed him into the river. The powerful current easily captured him. He fought against the torrent trying to keep his head up. The water roared around him. When he managed to come back up he yelled at her, coughing water. "What was that for! I can't... get out... the current is too strong!" The goddess who was growing smaller by the second seemed to speak into his mind. "Then let the current take you."(1) That being said Naruto lost his battle with the current, and he let it carry him away.

Hinata worked herself until someone forced her to stop. But she didn't want to because if she stopped she would have nothing to keep her mind from the thoughts that just hovered out of her consciousness. Like vultures slowly circling above. She knew she had to face it, but she didn't want to, she tried reasoning and making up excuses but it did no good. She knew Naruto was dead, that there was nothing she could do about it. He was gone, and he was out of her life forever.

The realization hit her, she dropped what she was holding and stumbled out of the tent she felt weak and sick. Greif and hopelessness overtook her as she crumpled to the ground and sat. Unable to think coherently. With every sound of footsteps she hoped it was Naruto returning. Yet each time it was reveled to be someone else.

She became more and more lost into her greif. She slumped herself next to a tree. Clamped a hand over her mouth, her fingers digging into her face. A arm gripped across her chest as she bit her hand and sobbed. She disparately wanted to control herself but could not, memories and tears flooded her relentlessly, her voice became sore, unable to produce more sound. As her heart and entire being seemed to ache with a feeling of empty hollowness.

She didn't know how long it was. But finally the tears stopped, but still the sadness clung to her. She knew no name for it, only though it felt as if she were a ghost among the others. Alone in her own little world of perpetual greif and agony. Then a figure clad in dark purple strode towards her. It was Kiba she looked up at him and into his dirt smeared face. She could see the trail of tears down his cheeks, marring the dirt and his clan face paint.

It only confirmed her worst fears. Suddenly an anger overwhelmed her. Anger at everyone and everything, how could they let him die? How dare the others around them not cry! Naruto was the best and greatest person she ever known! Kiba reached for her she striked at him like a snake. A cold venom building in her blood. "DON'T TOUCH ME!...YOU LET HIM DIE!, HES DEAD! DEAD DEAD DEAD! AND I'LL NEVER SEE HIM AGAIN!" She screamed, the voice seemed not her own, even though she heard it fall from her lips, she felt her tongue contort and create the vile syllables as she screamed in rage at her classmate, teammate, and dear, dear friend.

She screamed at the top of her lungs not caring if the entire camp heard. She pulled at her hair and face, trying to release the emotion in anyway she knew how. Finally the wave of anger passed as exhaustion took over. She felt weak and terrible, she collapsed. Clutching Kiba's leg like it was her lifeline. "Kiba…." she sobbed "what do I do?...what do I do?" she asked. Kiba bent down and reached for her, this time she wrapped herself as tightly as she could. Wanting to feel some comfort, any comfort at all.

Gaara, Neji, Shikamaru, and Yamato carried in the body bag with Naruto in. It had the mark of Konoha insignia on it. But to further seperate it from the many other bags. They immortalized a swirl on it so everyone knew it was Naruto's. Kiba had went off to find Hinata while the rest carried Narutos corpse to the body collectors. They were set up and sealing the bodies in special sealing scrolls made for the dead. One man in charge looked at them he opened up a ledger book "Name?" he said professionally. Shikamaru almost said his own, but realized they were asking for the bodies name. He spoke after removing the lump in his throat, "Uzumaki Naruto."

The man sighed sadly and nodded. Even he a Konoha body collecter had heard the feats of this young man. Who couldn't? He saved so many people in so many ways, and so many countless times. "Age, 17 right?" the man said filling in the blacks. They nodded "too young" the man added under his breath. Another group of nods. The man looked up. "Hes technically a genin right?" Shikamaru smirked despite himself, that was right, Naruto never got his rank promoted, what with the attack and the war.

The man spoke "Well, from what I witnessed and heard hes more skilled then that, I'll give him the highest rank I can give….. Anbu Captain, right? He got premoted before we left" Shikamaru widened his eyes, then realized that was probably true, Naruto was skilled enough for that. Shikamaru nodded cathcing unto what the man was saying. "Yeah" Shikamaru spoke, "he wouldn't stop bragging about it."

Shikamaru said turning to Gaara. Garra nodded "don't worry, you have Suna's full authority to claim him as a Konoha Elite." They set Naruto down gently. Gaara looked down at Naruto's black bag, with the Konoha swirl. He kneeled and placed a hand upon it, skimming his fingers over it. "Good-bye, my best and greatest friend" he said quietly. Bowing his head he started the first line of a well known poem.

"We thrive in the chaos of enemy tide"…

Shikamaru joined in

"Quiet shinobi don't need dens to hide"

The others joined in at this time and they finished in unison

"Our only concern is to watch and to wait,"

"For our enemy to open the gate"

When the small memorial was said the body handlers took the bag. Giving it the utmost care as they laid it down to be sealed in the special scroll that would halt the decaying process. At least until they got to Konoha and prepared for his funeral.

They staggered out free of the physical burden. But then were weighed down by the emotional burden. Just then they heard a women scream "YOU LET HIM DIE! NOW I'LL NEVER SEE HIM AGAIN." Just as suddenly as it rose it quieted. They all could guess who that was. "Looks like she took the news hard." Neji said "I think we all did" Shikamaru said. "I mean Naruto is the first from rookie nine…to die" a cold chill hit all of there spines. 'Who is next'? splayed across all their minds. But then Yamato said "Do not worry, remember, we have achieved one of Naruto's goals, peace, something Naruto would be damned proud of all of you for doing."

Shikamaru smirked and let a tear slip of remembering their comrade. "yeah, but we couldn't have done it without him, I bet that idiot is looking down on us now, eating every bowl of ramen in sight and annoying the heck out of old man third and every other soul in heaven." A small out burst of laughter came from the group as they all thought of him, all of them knowing that's exactly like Naruto.

Shikamaru turned to Gaara "so now what?" Gaara looked at him. "The nations will break camp in the morning, going out separate ways, everyone will be slowed down due to injured and the wagons carrying the supplies, but everyone will return home eventually, but right now tonight is the night of honoring our fallen, and celebrating our win, which means I am going to go get drunk in my tent, I will see you tomorrow." With that the Kazekage left them.

That night true to his word many ninja and kunochi did get drunk. Most of them were quiet about it in fact, Neji, Shikamaru and Kiba all drank until they could not even walk straight. But the reason was only to rid the feeling of sadness for their fallen comrade. Also it was the only way for them to sleep that night, what with all the memories haunting them.

Hinata woke in the morning. Her sore eyes slowly opening. She moaned as she got up. Sakura was already out, her bags and bed roll cleaned up, 'Probably doing her rounds at the medic tent.' Hinata thought, she rose and went to the command station where many other ninja stood waiting. Suddenly there was a flurry of movement and all five kages came out of the tent.

Gaara to Hinata seemed sluggish, Bee-san guarded his brothers armless side. Bee gave a nod to Hinata, she nodded back. "Attention" called out Danzo "it is time for the five Nations to break up camp. Each Nation will head in the direct vicinity of their home. We have requested that all clan members group together and head out in a alphabetical order."

There was some mumbling and grouching about. But by mid-day Konoha ninja were heading out. Hinata walked far behind of the Hyuuga clan. Even Neji who was the heir to the 2nd branch was ahead of her. No one bothered her, and if they did feel bothered about it they did not mention it. Mostly due to the vast number and the supply train and injured. Travel was slow, they ended up guiding themselves by a river that tore through the land. They travled no more then at least a 100 yards from it. Hinata felt it refreshing, hearing the distant sound of the water. It gave her something to think about, leaving her mind from wandering.

Naruto tore and scratched at the muddy bank. Grappling for something to grab onto and pull himself out of the river. He was dog tired (no pun intended) and disparately wanted the feel of solid ground beneath his….paws. Finally Naruto got hold of a wrangled old tree root, he pulled himself half out of the water then guided himself down a few meters until he came to a small eddy. He pulled himself out of the water and plopped down next to a patch of water reeds, he welcomed the few rays of sunlight to warm him and the slight wind to dry himself off. As he sunk into a dreamless sleep.

Hinata woke up the nest day feeling slightly refreshed from the long trek they had took. Deciding to get some peace and quiet before the other ninja woke up she left her tent. It was early morning, the sun just beginning to rise in the west, she walked briskly in the crisp air, the leaves on the trees were edged with yellow, hinting that fall was on its way.

She walked through the small line of forest before coming upon the view of the fast river. She sighed once more as she contemplated about Naruto. There was a small twinge of pain and a deep stab of sorrow still fresh upon her heart, but she knew life would go on, she knew If Naruto was there he would want her to go on and so she shall. Even if the barest memory of him dragged her into a raging hurricane of agony and sorrow.

She followed the river for quite some ways when she stumbled upon a poor sight. A creature, lying on its side in an exhausted heap. It was a light crème color, rather large but a quarter smaller then Akamaru. yet still quite big, its fur was ragged and damp but she saw a side move in a slight breathing pattern. She carefully made a sound giving away her presence the ears perked up and the head turned her way. Her eyes were inexplicably captured by light blue ones.

Hinata instantly recognized that this creature was a wolf, and that this wolf, for some strange crime against nature, was not wild or hostile. It looked at her with eyes that held a certain stability and curiosity. Its tail wagged slightly. Hinata bent down she held out a hand she made soft calming sounds the wolf staggered to its feet. Fear clutched in her throat, but she remained strong.

The wolf hesitantly moved towards her. She let….him come to her. then when he relaxed next to her she hesitantly reached her hand to him. Hoping, praying that he wouldn't bite her. Those jaws were full so sharp fangs...wat why was she doing this? Or right, the eyes, so serene, beautiful...calming. He slightly jumped when she touched him, but he stayed put. Amazed she ran her fingers through his damp soft fur.

She did this for who knows how long, feeling his suple form beneath her, the power that emanated from within, what kind of power was this? Soon it grew apparent that the camp was starting to wake up. She stood and gave him a final pat, "I would love to take you…..Fluffy wolf." She said nicknaming it on the spot. "But I….don't want to take you away from your home in the wild." The wolf looked at her as if he actually understood her with those unnerving intelligent eyes.

Hinata turned to walk away. The wolf was instantly by her side in step. She paused, he paused, she continued, he continued, she paused once more, he did so again. She turned to him and motioned him away but he stood resolute. As if to say 'do you really think that will work'? and she sighed and continued on walking with her new found companion in tow, she was caught up in thinking of how she was going to explain this.

(Okay I don't really think this would work in real life, and I dont think any of you children should just go up to any wild animal or injured animal and start petting it...you might end up hurt or worse, this is a warning, but if an animal is hurt or sick notify your local law enforcement and they will figure out the best course of action.)

She walked into camp no one had yet noticed her new four-legged shadow. But she didn't want to take the chance of him being hurt, his look screamed 'wolf' and 'kill on sight' so she continued on quickly to her tent and started to pack. She then found an old headband she used to wear that had a scratch on the top. She shrugged and whistled for the wolf, he walked up to her and made no fuss when she put it around his neck he actually seemed to swell in pride.

She stood with satisfaction, he looked...less...dangerous now. She continued to pack, just then Ino walked in. She saw the wolf and screamed. Hinata quickly covered her mouth. She pushed Ino out of her tent so that she could explain. But she wasn't quick enough. Shikamaru, and Chouji who had a broken arm and many bruises on his face came up "Ino whats wrong?"

Hinata who still covering the struggling blondes mouth spoke. "Its nothing she just won't calm down so I can explain" Shikamaru quirked an eyebrow at her. "Explain what?" Then the dog stepped out. Hinata smiled sweetly, "my new friend I found." Shikamaru looked at the wolf then to Choji then back to her. "Um,….Hinata ….I,..ah,…..damn this is troublesome" Hinata let go of Ino.

Ino staggered back "Why on earth! Do you have….that,..that,…wild animal!?" Hinata looked at him "hes not wild look how calm and nice he is" Ino looked at the wolf again, then back to her. "Yeah but still, what if he has rabies or something like that? Why is he wearing a Konoha symbol? Are you going to train him like Akamaru? You're a Hyuuga! You don't train animals!"

One question after another the blonde bombarded her. "I don't think he has rabies, I know what a dog looks like with rabies, and hes wearing that so no one try's to hurt him." She added after a brief paused. "I might train him, and it dosen't mean a god damn thing if I am a Hyuuga, I can have a pet if I want" all of them stood shocked at her use of a swear word. "…Fine then, what's his name?" said Ino getting over the shock.

Hinata folded her arms "Fluffy, I am naming him Fluffy." Fluffy seemed to choke and whined for a second (I mean imagine what Naruto would feel like when a person just blurts out his new name is Fluffy) but then sat down and looked up at them. Watching Hinata out of the corner of his eye. Shikamaru and the others looked at each other but Ino finally shrugged.

"Okay then, Fluffy is your new pet, fine whatever" she said walking away. Shikamaru then added "All of us are having breakfast at Kakashi's camp, we are going to have a small…..memoriam for Naruto." Fluffy perked his ears up at Shikamaru. Staring with an intentive gaze that made Shikamaru shudder it was so …un nerving his blue wolf eyes watched him like a hawk and had a look of mystery and intelligence behind them.

Hinata seemed to stiffen but nodded her voice growing soft as her eyes seemed to wander unknown memories. "Y-yes, I'll be there as soon as I finish packing up." Shikamaru frowned "listen ….Hinata, I know this is weird and hard, I mean even I am having some trouble getting used to this, its like too quiet, without Naruto around, and everything has become so distant, Naruto was like the glue that held us together." Shikamaru paused.

"With Naruto everything was care-free and relaxed with him, you could be super sad or angry and Naruto would just say or do something and he had you thinking about the bright side of life, that was Naruto's gift, but you and everyone needs to know we are still ninja's, and this peace probably won't last, something will happen and we'll be back to being enemies again, maybe not with Suna" he said casually shrugging.

"But with others, so we have to do our jobs, you need to learn that not all of us are going to make it and that when one dosen't return you need to fill in that place and not be lost like you are, it will cause others to die" and with that Shikamaru turned and walked away his hands in his pockets.

Hinata shook her head stopping the flood of tears, she bent to the ground and looked at Fluffy. "Shikamaru's right, I need to be stronger, not just physically but mentally and emotionally,…I have always been a push over, controlled by my clan and my father, I…..must get stronger, you'll help me right?...Fluffy" the wolf looked at her, compassion and resolve in his eyes. Once again Hinata felt as though this wolf had something inside of him, something….strong and great, with those eyes that spoke of wisdom and understanding she knew that Fluffy would be a strong base for her to lean on when times were hard.

Hinata and Fluffy walked to Kakashi's camp. Kakashi had gotton over his shock, but he still looked quite sad. Although he was pulling himself together, absorbing what strength he could from Gai and the others. It was like they were slowly adding kindle to his will of fire. All of them turned when she walked up with Fluffy by her side, Sakura and the others cocked an eyebrow, but it was Kiba who walked up to her.

He said not a word but bent down and grabbed Fluffy gruffly, he pulled back his lids to look at the eyes, he checked the gums, and a few other things before standing up and saying "perfectly healthy, but to what he is exactly…..I can't tell, he looks wolf but something about him….wait a second" he then grabbed Fluffy's tail, and looked at the tip he then seemed to study him more intently then he backed away "holy….shit" he said.

Hinata looked at him worried "what is it? Is there something wrong?" "he's part fox" Hinata gasped. "You mean he's a wolf….fox?" Kiba nodded "maybe a lone male wolf came across a female fox in heat, but its really rare for it to happen but not unheard of." She looked down at Fluffy "is that bad?" Kiba scratched his head. "Well some people believe when you mix breed wild animals something gets messed up, and sometimes they don't develop right, so he might look right on the outside but he might be bad on the inside or his behavior got messed up." Hinata looked at Fluffy, "but hes okay to keep?" Kiba rubbed his chin he didn't really want to disappoint her "you would have to have my sis check him out then, we'll see but until then just watch him".

Fluffy watched Kiba, a cool studying look as though he was thinking or planning something. But Kiba let that go, even Akamaru never thought farther then what was in his stomach, the only dog he ever known to think like that was Kuromaru his mothers familiar, who had the ability to talk. Kiba shrugged it off, just then Akamaru stalked up he growled low at Fluffy, Fluffy glanced at him and flicked an ear in indifference.

Akamaru let out a loud growl Kiba gave him a command of stand down. But Akamaru ignored it, Kiba gave it once more and reached for his coller but it was to late Akamaru sprung. Hinata gasped and lept away, her body acting on instinct. Fluffy stood braced and ready, yet still had a look of calmness around him.

Naruto waited until Akamaru was in mid air. Then dashed underneath the barreling brute. Akamaru landed where he used to be. Surprised at not landing on his target Akamaru turned around as fast as his massive size would let him. Ignoring Kiba's commands, pure hate came from him. Naruto simply waited he knew enough that in fights were one is fueled by rage that person would run out of energy first. He grinned knowing to attack just when they are at there weakest. Naruto backed up leading Akamaru towards the fire that lay behind him, hidden from Akamarus view. Naruto stopped, judging that the distance was accurate enough, Akamaru charged him.

Like being in a bull fight Naruto stepped aside at the last moment letting the dog slip by him and slide his great ugly nose into the fire. The dog let out a howl of pain and jumped away from the fire. Everyone just moved into the trees seeing how it was a fight between them two. Hinata hoped Fluffy would be all right.

Akamaru glanced over at Naruto growling as loud as he possibly could, then ran to him teeth bared, and eyes burning enraged. Naruto dodged the wicked fangs and the huge dog for a few moments. But Akamaru got a lucky swat with his font paw and sent Naruto into the air. Naruto was ready and caught himself and landed on his feet. His hind legs touching a tree, Naruto smirked slightly this was to good to be true, cause already the dog was barreling down on him.

Naruto stood patiently waiting, then at the last moment he flipped backwards and pushed himself off the tree just above the colliding body. He then jumped foreword and landed as Akamaru was picking himself up. Akamaru groggily got to his feet and turned towards him, he barely stood on his feet but charged foreword once more.

Naruto got bored of this game and charging a small sliver of chakra into his paw. He hit Akamaru against the ear, making the dog crash to the ground in a heap. This time he didn't get back up, Naruto just smirked and trotted happily over to Hinata. Who was getting down from the tree she had stood in.

She bent down and hugged him. "Good boy Fluffy! I am so proud of you!" Kiba apologized to everyone and and grabbed Akamaru by the scruff of his neck. Akamaru moaned and whimpered "you are in BIG trouble little mister!" Sakura looked at Kiba. "Little?" she said Kiba shrugged "yeah, he's a pup to me still" everyone grimaced. "I don't see it" Shikamaru said turning to Hinata. "He's a pretty good fighter that Fluffy, or Kiba is just a bad trainer" Kiba glowered.

Hinata smiled and laughed. "I do believe it is both Shikamaru." Everyone chuckled at Kiba's embarrassment. "That's not funny!" Kiba interjected. "Besides he didn't fight! he just stood in front of things and dodged out of the way so that Akamaru ran into things! It wasn't fair!" Kiba proclaimed, coming to Akamaru's defense. Kakashi placed a hand on Kiba's shoulder silencing him."Kiba, nothing is ever fair, not fights, or wars, or even peace, because life in itself is not fair." The small smile on everyone's face fell softly.

Sakura then piped up, "we built a small shrine to say good bye to Naruto in the tent, its big enough for us all, we'll say a small prayer then…have breakfast, ramen, in remembrance of Naruto." Naruto's stomach growled at that but luckily no one heard. They all walked into the tent. At the far side of it was a small wooden table erected with a picture of Naruto.

Naruto recognized it. It was the picture they took of him after the last war meeting was over in Konoha. They were goofing off with a camera and took a picture of him. In it his arms were folded over his chest as two birds perched on both of his shoulders. He smiled at the memory, it was when he was showing off his sage powers. In the picture he smiled deeply, almost laughing in a way, his eyes were bright and shining. He looked so strong yet graceful in a way, so calm and happy.

They bowed and went over the ritual prayers for death, then Kakashi got up. "Naruto, I don't know if you can hear me or any of us, but we are here to say good-bye formally, you were kind and thoughtful, yet strong and a little stubborn some of the time…" there was a pause "okay most of the time, but all of this made you, no one could say you never gave it your all, cause that is what you always did, you would turn the impossible into possible and sometimes small things like teaching a simple jutsu that was possible to others, impossible to you." There was a small round of light laughter from everyone.

Kakashi sighed "I remember all the times you annoyed me to no end, blabbering away with that trademark loud voice, I thought It would be a relief if I could no longer hear it, but sadly I was mistaken, now there is a heavy silence were you once filled with laughter and noise." A few of them had tears in the corners of their eyes, even some of the guys, Kiba whiped away his quickly. He glanced to Hinata who cried silently. Kiba reached a hand out and held hers, giving her some comfort, he knew ho hard it was on her.

Hinata looked up to him. She glanced at him, tears trailing down her cheeks. She looked so innocent, and graceful when she cried. She smiled and mouthed the word 'thanks' to him. Kiba glanced away unsure of what to say, so he continued holding her hand. Kakashi continued " I just want you to know that even though you are no longer with us, and that the days will go by turning into weeks and years, yet no matter what, you will always be in our hearts and our minds, it is were you have always been, even if you didn't know it."

Naruto sat dumbfounded and shocked , he quickly wiped a tear from his eye before anyone saw. 'Kakashi, I wish I could speak, because then I would tell you, you are not alone and that I finally realized you were right, but even if I could I can't, not yet, there is something that I must do to keep all of you safe, I am doing all of this for you".

And with that Naruto slowly slipped out of the tent leaving them to conduct the ceremony by themselves. Fate was on his side because just then he saw four Anbu walk buy guarding a person that made his blood go cold and his heart skip a beat. There he was, the one who had killed him, his murderer, the one now moving his sights unto his own home. Uchiha Sasuke, Naruto growled low after they passed and then followed them quietly.

{1} this is from the movie Balto II wolf quest I know, but it seemed to fit perfectly.

I hope you enjoyed the newest chapie please REVEIW!

From your ever Faithful writer,

NSW