Chapter 18

Life as a Fox

NSW

NOTICE- Inow have a new Beta, and the story will soon be going under costructon and will be reposted as soon as posssible.

I hope this does not bring fan anger or angst to any of faithful readers and reviewers.

from your faithful

NSW.

Months had passed, Naruto was rising in the ranks of the Anbu, and many of them even the veterans were beginning to respect him. Naruto also had become quite good friends with Ichino, Goza and Mouse the secretary of the Anbu.

However Ainu had became more distant from them, and though Anbu never had specific 'teams' that they stayed on, or were registered to, Naruto ended up going on most of his missions with the 'team' of Goza, and Ichino. Together they had completed many missions; of course Naruto was called on for a few solo missions mostly just spying which was quite easy for him to do, since he could blend easily as either a homeless dog or a wild wolf.

In fact because of his mission success rate, Mammoth called him more and more often on Solo missions. One day however Mammoth, called him for a mission he was always dreading to get, an Annihilation Mission.

Annihilation missions were different from most other missions. They were basically an over-stated hit list, and the one that Naruto had received was long. Naruto stood in front of Mammoths desk; he looked at the list, "so this is my mission sir?" Naruto asked.

Mammoth nodded. "This group has been causing much trouble, they are preying on merchant routes, if we don't stop them soon people will stop trading and traveling to villages." Naruto nodded understanding the importance of the mission.

Mammoth nodded "very well I will leave it to you, they were last spotted in the land of Marsh Grasses, I trust you will come back successful and in one piece now go" Naruto bowed his head "hai sir!" he yelled then ran down to the Armory.

While he was being fitted and loaded (Which one of the few things he did need help with, although he much regretted doing something so degrading) Naruto thought of Hinata's wedding which was only a week away.

'I have to finish this mission quickly then ask for a day off for the wedding' he decided, once the last strap was tightened he was off, running at a gait that moved fast but required little energy.

It took a day in a half just to reach the land of Marsh Grasses, a very small country that could only be reached by going through the sound country. Naruto rested for the rest of the day then that night went into town under his 'begging dog' guise.

He left his stuff hidden safely in the woods and instead wore a frayed rope color that hung from his neck limply. He also smudged up his fur and made himself look as skinny as possible.

He wandered around the town square, listening to the conversations of the people, most of it was town gossip 'blah, blah, blah' he thought as he half listened to the gossip when a tidbit of the conversation of the two men in the booth next door drifted his way.

He ducked beneath the table and listened in "that merchant over there is selling pottery, he carries all his supplies with him, that includes the jewels and the gold dust, he is also traveling with a few others that should be good hits but he is the best, they leave in two days, we have to go tell the men, and plan when to hit them"

Naruto followed them from a safe distance; he waited to see where they went. Finally he saw them go onto a path that headed in the direction of an old shrine that was located in the woods, no one went there, it was long forgotten and unpopular the town had moved unto bigger things.

So Naruto followed them through the trees stalking them quietly, the men were more brash and more open of the mouth when they got out of town. They talked about the last time they had 'fun' it was sickening and made bile rise into Naruto's throat when they talked about what they did to those poor women.

Anger sparked into Naruto of how people could be so cruel and evil at times. Naruto though took check of his anger and let out a sigh. Naruto continued until they arrived at camp.

There were at least 20 of them, all of them big and ugly and had weapons, large swords, broad swords, long bows, some even had ninja weapons, and by the look some of them were even Missing Nin.

Naruto studied them for the rest of the day silently accessing were to go and who to hit first when he would attack that night. By the looks of everything the leader was a man near the temple door that was sealing all the stolen good in scrolls.

Naruto studied the man closer, he was tall, tan skin, but something about his felt familiar, and so was the way he was sealing things, everything was so fluid, and easy for him that made little flags go off, but he couldn't place it, and he couldn't see the man's face for the shadow in the doorway.

Naruto sighed when the man went back inside, Naruto looked up, it was starting to get dark out, and so he left to go get his gear and something to eat.

Naruto waited until it was late into the night before he traveled back to the group. He walked through the woods towards the temple, while he thought 'I must say it was very good luck to find them so easily, I can get this mission done and then go home to see Hinata and Kiba get married'.

Naruto slunk through the bushes, he paused and let all of his senses go to the highest degree of attention, he could hear each person's individual breathing pattern, he exhaled slowly with the night wind.

He felt his body loosen some tension in the correct places and tighten in the right ones; he was perfect for this job.

Silently he crept to the farthest away person from the group; he moved in with lightning fast reflexes and snapped the man's neck before he even woke up. No one else heard him so one by one he went around snapping the neck, but then when he went for the third man's neck he woke up.

He made a gurgled noise as Naruto tore the jugular quick. It sprayed blood all over and causing much of the bittersweet tasting liquid to go down his throat. All at once there was noise and sound, Naruto turned and launched at the man closest to him.

Attacking with fangs he leaped and dodged ripping and shredding any skin that came close to him. Avoiding using jutsu's until at the last minute. Finally one must have ran into the temple and woke the leader up cause all of a sudden they stopped shouting and attacking and just surrounded him.

Naruto eyed them, looking for which one would attack first. Then a man stepped out of the shadows Naruto gasped he had burning bright red hair, and sea blue eyes.

Naruto growled low, "what is it sir?" the man looked a him "must be a ninja dog, by the fact that it has ninja gear on it, and it hails from Konoha, so we just need to find the puppet master, go and search for the person who owns it, should be a ninja nearby"

Naruto quickly made a barrier 'I am not letting any escape' he thought, Naruto growled and launched again into attacks. The men were surprised by the fact he was using jutsu's.

Very few put up a worthwhile fight for Naruto. But the few that did used simple attacks and no system or pattern; they were used to attacking helpless people who had no idea how to fight using their numbers to scare others.

They never stood against a person who actually fought back, and adding to the fact that it was a dog that they were fighting, Naruto dodged the sword blade brought his head up underneath quickly and dug his muzzle into the stomach and ripped a hole.

Naruto moved away from the screaming man he would die soon anyway, this time two guys attacked at once Naruto dodged there choppy sword swings and used a water dragon attack sending them sprawling.

Three men charged their swords drawn while four others cast jutsu's finally it was a challenge, Naruto leaped into the air, he spun and weaved high velocity winds around him creating a small twister with his chakra that kept him suspended in the air.

The air currents blew the men's weapons away and made them stop in there tracks stood up against the strong gales. Naruto dropped back to earth and created ten clones they ran around attacking and throwing random jutsu's to cause confusion.

Naruto scanned the area, suddenly the full moons light came out from behind a cloud covering, the battle suddenly changed for Naruto. The moonlight caused strange affects on him, he saw the men diffrently after that, the y seemed like abunch of prey, easy and defensless and weak, and one who is strong had to make sure the weak never lived.

Adrenaline coursed through his veins as wild instinct took over him, he wanted to stop it to break free but he was already ensnared into natures wild addictive call.

Voices rose in the back of his mind quiet at first then they grew louder and louder until they screamed at him forcing him to act otherwise he would go mad.

'Hunt'…'fight'…'kill' Naruto let a growl rise from his throat suddenly his vision went red and he attacked his primeval thoughts making his head feel like a mist, no train of thought he had only that which he heard, he did not see the men fall one by one beneath his fangs he did not hear there cries, he did not feel anything.

He only acted and reacted, the taste of blood drove his taste buds wild, no longer was it bitter, but instead it was sweet and a beautiful taste that left him wanting for more, he lusted and hungered for it, so he tore deeper and gnashed his teeth harder.

Soon the clearing went quiet as the last man fell well almost the last man only one was left, the red head. Suddenly the sight of the red hair scent powerful memories the words 'mother' and 'uzumaki' rang through his head.

Suddenly Naruto realized he had a voice, "who are you?" he asked the man said nothing for a moment then he spoke "My name is Satoi, and I was the leader of a band of rouges but it looks like you killed them all"

Naruto looked at all the bodies around him suddenly he felt very sick. "And I am guessing you have no master" the man continued. Naruto shook his head.

The man clucked his tongue "so that make you a Demon? Funny, Konoha would be the last village I ever thought to accept Demons into their ranks" Naruto growled "quit stalling, either you come with me willingly or join your friends" the man laughed "I will never submit myself to the ball and chain of being a prisoner, instead I make my own life and own rules, and I don't think a simple demon like you could take me on, you have no idea of my power".

Naruto grinned "by the looks of it you're an Uzumaki, a survivor from the whirlpool, they were masters of fuinjutsu, but had high stamina and loads of chakra, but terrible control". The man was startled that he knew so much.

Satoi chuckled "very few people know such things, Demon" Naruto shrugged "I have my ways, and I am prepared to fight a battle with another Uzumaki" Satoi looked at him questionlly, "you knew another?"

Naruto nodded "several young survivors were taken to the village, Uzumaki Kushina was one of them, she had a son with the Yonidaime, and his name was Uzumaki Naruto."

Satoi grinned "well, lets put your words to the test, come on Demon bring it" Naruto grinned and dashed ahead, making several clones with his ears while he did so then they played the old switcheroo, running in circles around each other and jumping over and under they confused the enemy.

While they did this Naruto created a few clones to hide themselves within the bushes, and then created a deep fog to start rolling in on the battlefield.

Satoi went through the hand signs for his jutsu 'dance of the twelve fire dragons' who appeared in all their flaming glory and struck at Narutos clones destroying them with their fiery rage.

Naruto went through the signs of 'Raging water phoenix' attack and doused out the twelve dragons in a single hit. Satoi was knocked back by the force of the impact.

Naruto took this moment to use the water on the ground as pathways for him to go through and attack with (remember back to team 7's first mission with the two brothers).

Satoi looked around before realizing the water on the ground he leaped away from the puddles but not before Naruto used a special chain weapon called a Manriki Gusari,(if you don't know what that is its like chain with a curved blade on the end, or go to google images) he threw seven of them out of the different puddles he had clones in.

They caught Satoi and caused him to crash into the earth, Naruto pulled the chains tight Satoi grunted. Naruto rose up out of the nearest puddle and leaped at Satoi; he flipped over and lashed out with his legs kicking Naruto back in mid-air.

Naruto landed with a grunt, he rose, Satoi was trying to wriggled out of the chains, Naruto looked as the clones were being pulled out of the puddles, and he whistled and directed his clones with his thoughts.

They obeyed him and began to run in a circle wrapping the chains tighter, and then he told the clones in the trees to attack, the converged upon Satoi, who used his head and shoulders to attack the clones back.

Suddenly Satoi used an incredible bust of chakra that sent the clones and the chains that held him flying, he roared in triumph. But Naruto was far from over.

He re grouped the clones that were left and they formed a Wolfs Brigade charge. Attacking as a pack they surrounded him.

The man and wolf fought beneath the moonlight his red hair flying upon the wind and Naruto's Crème fur glowing in the moonlight, they clashed and parried.

Wolf and Man long ago were enemies but generations of domestication had made the wolves breed into dogs who then became companions, but underneath the same moon here. Two beings fought each other against themselves and against the destiny that gods had drawn out.

But this time man did not triumph, instead he fell to the Nature, he fell to the jaws of the beast, the inner beast that raged inside of man had slumbered for too long no more could it rise to the fight and the challenge, it's fighting spirit taken away, it had grown soft from generations of unused.

Naruto rose that night glimmering in the moonlight, he rose covered in Blood and sweat, he was injured and tired but most importantly he was victorious. He had overcome the obstacles; he looked up to the moon, the only witness to the events that had transpired here.

Naruto looked down he had killed all of these men, granted some deserved to die, but what of the others? What if they were forced into this life? How many of them were like him? Orphaned and alone and turned to crime because they thought it was the only way out? And what about Satoi? What if he was the last Uzumaki? What if he had family hidden somewhere still in hiding?

The thoughts caused Naruto to falter in his step, suddenly the flashes of what had happened replayed over and over in his mind, the cries the blood everything, it was too much.

Naruto howled in agony, he was torn from the inside, the voices of the dead clashed with the voices and rules of the Anbu, he was overcome with such raw emotions he just collapsed and stayed there the night amidst all the bloody corpses.

That night he dreamt terrifying dreams that all the dead were coming back to get them there decaying limbs reached for him there haunted voices calling, always calling. He snapped awake, it was early morning, he looked all around him he shivered, and sunk his head, 'come on Naruto get a hold of yourself' he told himself.

He sighed and assessed his wounds that he so foolishly slept on without tending, it was hard to tell which hard caked blood was his or the enemies, but from what he could tell twas but some deep scratches from swords.

Naruto shook himself stiffly and got to work first he sealed away all the bodies in special scrolls and sent them Via special summoning birds to Konoha then he went into the shrine and gathered up all the scrolls that held the 'evidence' that the Anbu would 'confiscate' and 'store' in the head quarters, at least that's what it seemed to be used for but actually how else do the Anbu pay for all the weapons and supplies they go through?.

Naruto cleaned up the area to make it look like nothing happened then headed home, he ran at break neck pace because he knew tomorrow was the wedding, and he had to get there.

Naruto ran through the night by early morning he could see Konoha, by mid morning he was in Anbu head quarters, standing before Mammoths desk.

Mammoth stared at him, "are you all right?" Naruto nodded panting, "Yes…I just need to have today off for a wedding," Mammoth looked at him "take the week, you need rest, and go get yourself cleaned up" Naruto nodded and ran.

Hinata waited anxiously in her White gown, she looked this way and that still no Naruto, she fiddled with her flowers he just had to be coming, Tsume Kiba mother came out "they're getting anxious, especially Kiba" Hinata nodded "I know just five more minutes please?" Suddenly a voice rang out "wait,! I am here!"

Hinata looked over there was Naruto dressed in his little dog tux they had found and with his bow tie, his fur was well somewhat in order, but tinged red all on his chest, she also seen he had fresh stitches on his head above his eyes, and bandages here and there.

Hinata smiled at him, Tsume nodded and went back in; she bent down "are you okay?" Naruto nodded "I rushed through my mission just to be here" she looked at him "how did it go" Naruto shook his head "one of those, and you know what I mean" she nodded, "I won't ask, so don't tell anymore" Naruto nodded.

The he smiled up at her "you look beautiful" she beamed and gave him a kiss on the forehead, "so do you" Naruto snorted. The music began to play, "shall we?" he asked. Hinata laid a hand on his shoulder, "lead the way" she said and Naruto did just that.

It was a beautiful ceremony, and all of the teams and their senseis were there and Kakashi was the one who joined them together, (meaning he was the preacher or whatever you want to call it)Naruto happily got to sit in front row with Akamaru next to Hinata and Kiba.

The best man was Shikamaru, and the Groomsmen were Sai, Neji and Lee, the bridesmaids were, Sakura, Ino, and Ten-ten. All of them looked so splendid. After the Kiss Naruto suddenly found himself being shaken awake, by Kakashi.

Naruto hopped up shaking his head "Kakashi? What happened? Where are Hinata and Kiba"? Kakashi looked worried at him "did you sleep through the entire ceremony?" Naruto shook his head "no I stayed awake till I saw them kiss, and then after that…"

Kakashi nodded "I see, so how's Anbu treating you?" Naruto shrugged "it's all right, the missions are challenging but I like them that way, the only ones I hate are the-""inhalation missions?" Kakashi filled in.

Naruto nodded "how did you guess?" Kakashi ruffled his fur lightly, "because those are the missions every Anbu hates. Naruto looked at the ground "I just…its weird" Kakashi looked down at him "how so"? He asked. Naruto sighed and leapt into the chair next to Kakashi and sat, Kakashi sat down with him.

"Last night, I had to get rid of this band of thieves, and well in the middle of the fight, something happened, like everything slowed way down, and I heard a single train of thought 'kill, kill, kill' over and over and I did just that I couldn't stop myself or slow down, I was out of control, but in control at the same time, like I was a different person, I don't know I'm so confused."

Naruto put his head down, Kakashi wrapped an arm around him "listen, things like this happen at times, you get caught up in the fight, you have all this adrenaline and you mind will just go blank its actually a basic reflex your brain does so that you won't be able to remember exactly what you did so you are saved from trauma"

Naruto nodded "it makes since, all the thoughts are kind of muddled and misty" Kakashi punched him lightly in the shoulder "see, its normal, now did you feel sick after you were done?" Naruto nodded "I was sick" he added, "good then everything is a okay, it's when you feel no remorse for what you have done that you have to worry".

Naruto nodded, "thank-you Kakashi" he smirked from beneath his mask, "from an senior to a greenhorn like you" Naruto nipped playfully at Kakashi's hand, "don't call me that"! Kakashi laughed fully.

Suddenly Anko appeared, it had been awhile since he had last seen her, and Naruto was shocked to see her with a pregnant belly, "Kakashi? Are you ready yet hon.?" Kakashi nodded and moved to her placing a hand on her stomach and kissing her on the cheek.

Naruto blushed but jumped down "good day Anko" she looked at him curiously, "so your, Fluffy? The Wolf Demon Kakashi mentioned you" Naruto nodded; "I am, but he never mentioned anything about you, you look beautiful" Anko laughed.

She looked over at Kakashi "some people I guess have manners, anyway yes thank-you Fluffy, although I feel like a bloated penguin with the way I walk." Naruto chuckled "you don't, but how far along are you?" she grinned at Kakashi "8 months and another to go!" she happily exclaimed then rubbed her tummy saying, "Ohm, someone's kicking again".

Naruto grinned "so where is the reception?" Kakashi chuckled "you can come with us, were going that way anyway" Naruto walked with Kakashi and Anko (who actually did waddle) Naruto trotted easily, enjoying the fine day.

Anko chuckled and said "you look so very dashing in your outfit Fluffy, tell me where Demons come from?" Naruto looked over to her, "all over, we demons used to be as many as the regular animals there are, but humans one day turned their backs on us, and began to hunt us out of fear".

Anko sighed "I am sorry" Naruto shrugged "it's all right, I know there are good humans as well as bad, just like there are good demons as well as bad ones" Anko was silent for a moment, "but where did you come from"? Naruto quickly thought on his feet.

My father, was a Wolf Demon, my Mother was a White Fox demon, they met one day in the forest and fell in love, I was born latter with my brother, we were happy, as far as I can remember, but then men tracked my father, they seen him use his powers and were afraid, they followed him to the den." He stopped and continued.

"Me and my brother had just opened our eyes two days ago, my mom's fur was white as snow, she smelled like fresh earth, that's all I remember about her, my father was brave and proud, he smelled like the mighty oak trees, my brother, he was black as coal inside and out, and he smelled like ash, but he was still my brother and I loved him."

But the men came with fire and with weapons, my father fought them off while my mother escaped with me and my brother" He paused and looked up to her "she ran far but with us she was slowed down and the men had hate fueling them, suddenly a large shot rang out and she fell, me and my brother were tossed about, my brother hit his head on the rocks and never moved again, I was lucky, I fell into a crevice were the nest of a demon Hawk was, she sheltered me and kept me safe for we were kin."

Naruto continued, "She knew I was in danger of humans so she taught me how to fight and how to take care of myself, but most importantly she taught me how to care for my brothers and how beautiful the world truly can be, I thank that hawk and the teachings she gave me to this day."

Naruto gave a quick glance at Kakashi, "anyway, after that I found an old human man who took me in, and he cared for me, but he was killed also, and then I ran into Hinata and here I am today".

Anko bent down and hugged him her eyes full of tears "you lived such a long and sad life I am so sorry" Naruto sighed "yes well, I am a grown demon and I have learned much, now let's go and celebrate the joining of true love".

Anko waddled on ahead and Kakashi muttered lowly "I like how this 'hawk' who taught you all of this stuff was a girl, Naruto grinned "well, you are quite feminine" Kakashi sighed "well seeing how Anko is pregnant, I would have to say that I am quite Masculine" Naruto snorted, "keep telling yourself that darling" he said before running away from Kakashi who started to chase him.

Naruto, Kakashi, and Anko made it to the reception, while there Naruto planted himself in a spot, he watched everyone dance and enjoy themselves, once he started to get hungry he headed to the food table, Naruto trotted happily over but stopped when he saw the pile of meat on the trey.

Suddenly his eyes misted over and instead of being at a reception in a big fancy hall, he was back in the middle of the combat field standing over a pile of corpses.

He smelled blood and bile instead of flowers and food; he heard pleadings for help and cries of pain instead of music.

Then all of a sudden a shaking on his shoulder snapped him awake, it was Shikamaru "Fluffy, are you all right?" Naruto ran outside to the bushes as he vomited what little was in his stomach.

He then collapsed slightly feverish as he suddenly felt exhausted and sick at the same time, he had not eaten in two days, the medical pain killers were wearing off and he had not slept in four days, he was a mess.

Naruto shook himself to clear his head "I'm okay, I just need a new dose of medicine and something to eat that doesn't remind me of a human corpse" he spat and put his head down he moaned.

Shikamaru sat there looking puzzled "um, so food, and painkillers, I think I can get some of that stuff" Shikamaru hurried away.

Shikamaru quickly found Sakura, "hey, do you happen to have any painkillers on you by any chance?" Sakura nodded "I always have a medical bag with me, I'm a medic Nin have to be ready for everything."

Shikamaru stiffened "well, are you prepared for a exhausted demon wolf who can't keep anything down and is low on his pain killers?"

Sakura sighed 'can't he be completely unharmed just once from one of his missions?" she said to no one in particular.

Naruto was asleep by the time Sakura got out there, she carefully began to exam him, she found the problem his stomach was bruised, she quickly healed it, and then gave him a low dose of aspirin and checked everything else, "he should be find, we should move him somewhere so he can't get a cold."

They picked him up lightly and brought him inside, then put him to bed in an unused room.

Naruto woke up the next morning, and stretched he looked around 'where the heck?' he thought then he remembered he fell asleep so someone probably moved him, he walked out people were cleaning up from the reception.

He quickly mad his way home, he snuck in he already knew Hinata and Kiba were (ahem), 'occupied' with each other like all newly weds are so he helped himself to some food and went to visit Kakashi.

Naruto easily slunk through the window like Jeriyah always would have done. Kakashi was at his desk, going through papers "you missed out last Night Naruto" Naruto sighed, "I know, but I was dog dead tired" he said cringing at the words he just said.

Kakashi let out a small chuckle "well its actually good you're here, I know you're on leave but could you take these request forms to Mammoth?" Naruto nodded "of course" then he paused "what are they for"? Kakashi turned to him "use of Anbu members for security and guardsmen during the Chunin exams, also the request to use the property known as 'the forest of death', which is also owned by Anbu." Naruto looked at him "that sounds like my Chunin exam" he said. Kakashi nodded "yes, I think it is the one that works the best, split into three parts, and it's the most challenging and hardest so I am giving it another test run, if it works like it did last time it will be the way the Chunin exams will run into the future."

Naruto nodded "very nice, now who's all joining this year?" Naruto asked, "Suna, of course, but also Kumo, Bee is their new Raikage" Naruto stared at him "really? Wow that's good for Bee, I knew he would be it, awesome, well I better deliver these."

Naruto leaped off into the morning sky and launched himself towards the Anbu compound, 'his heart racing and his spirits high, Uzumaki Naruto learned to fly' he thought to himself as he remembered his dear comrade and friend Killer Bee, the only other one like him on this planet.

Well there is chapter 18 I hope you enjoyed, I think I did good on the fighting scene sorry I wasn't as descriptive as I wanted to be with the wedding but I really just want to move this thing on there is along way to go.

from your ever faithful servent,

NSW