Chapter 22

Life as a Fox

NSW

Okay first off I have received some messeges and some reviews about my grammer, first off I am a 17 year old girl I am not an author, these stories are for fun and for my enjoyment, if I hear anymore 'complaints' about my grammer, I am seriously thinking of not finishing the story, I am TRYING my best, I read through each chapter several times, before I never even did that, so just be thankful.

Now that we have that cleared up let the story continue.

Naruto's life couldn't have sunk any lower. He was hungry, and cold, he was in pain and he felt so weak, he was to the point of exhaution. His mind played tricks on him from lack of energy, he would see things that weren't really there, his mind felt clouded. It was like his body was shutting done on him and he couldn't control it, he neither had the energy nor the will to do so.

Suddenly there was a flurry of movement at the door, the blonde lead in a group of well dressed people, the men wore suits and fancy robes while the women wore beautiful Kimono's. Most of them were middle aged or older, and had streaks of white in their hair.

She lead them right up to him, "and this is what your generous donations have given us, a show before you a live demon wolf." One man studied him scrutinly, "hah! how do we know he's a demon?" The women turned to Naruto and brought her face within centimeters of his, like he could do anything, he was chained and muzzled tightly, "speak", she commanded.

Naruto said nothing, hoping that if he remained silent, they would take her for a fool. But to no avail, she snapped her fingers, and Instantly Naruto knew what would happen, they would put copious amounts of voltage through him and keep at it till he did what they wanted him to do.

Naruto gave in after ten seconds, he wished he could hold out longer but the pain was too much for him anymore. "allright! I am speaking happy now?" he yelled. The voltage stopped, and the women smiled victoriously, she turned back to the robed people, "see?".

All of them conferred with one another in a series of hushed conversations, "come, let us speak somewhere more comfy and in private" she said extending a hand out leading them away form him, 'good riddence' Naruto thought to himself as he delt with the stinging sensation that came form being electrucuted for a few seconds.

Usumi Suki, lead her visitors into a side room that was the workers 'break' area, which happned to be cleaned and re arranged just for this purpose, it had a large window overlooking the lab, so they could see what was going on. Suki happened to look out and see her newest errend boy ,Teiku's nephew, who became an orphan recently. She watched him hurridely go over to the creature and give it some water, slipping it through a small tube on the side of the muzzle.

Suki sighed that boy was getting on her nerves, Teiku and her were supposed to have children of their OWN one day, not take in a teenage brat from Teiku's kid sister who got sick and died, the father of course ran away a long time ago, so he had to come here, it irritated her, but no matter, he would turn 18 in a few years and be out of her hair.

She turned her head to present matters, "so as you can see, we can now move foreword and began phase two, all it will need is the same donation as settled before hand." Some of the Nobles looked at each other then to her, one fianlly spoke as 'leader' of the group.

"Its not that we don't appreciate what you have done, we are greatly amazed at this feat, the opens many doors, but they are doors none of us are permitted to enter, if the Fire Daimyo finds out about this, our heads and lands would be confiscated, the Village of the hidden leaves, the Fire Daimyo's capital and his favorite cirty has proclamied that demons are to be our allies, both Wild and Summoning, in fact I have heard that this demon IS form Konoha."

She nodded not hiding anything, they gasped, "you took that demon? right underneathe Konoha's nose?" she nodded "well not me personally, but someone I work for". The nobles looked at weach other in disbeleif, "have you no shame?" one older man said.

Anger sparked in Suki, "Shame? Shame? I will telly ou shame! shame is when all us humans have to obey and fear creatures that are beneath us! shame is having to build 'contracts' and 'friendships' with creatures that are not natural, it should be our duty as a race to capture these creatures and bend them to our will! we are the gods greatest creations! none are supposed to be our equals! WE dominate the world not them!".

There was a silence, then the same man spoke, he was a retired Samurai training general, he stood back straight and shoulders back, his eyes crystal clear and sharp as a hawks, his nose was hooked like a falcons, his hair was pulled back up in a tight top knot and his small beard on the point of his chin was perfectly groomed and oiled.

"You need to know your place, everyone in this world is born where they were meant to be, and only though hard work, and the gods grace can they acend to the highest they can, all of us have limitation, we are ordained under heavens rule, and anyone who tries to do otherwise will fail." he paused and cleared his throat "'for the bird that tries to swim with the fishes will surely drown'."

He eyed her like a predator would his pray. "what you are saying, is that you as yourself should command and own creatures that only the Daimyo should be permitted to own, creatures that have willingly gave their services to people they deem worthy, what good would come of this? we have always built contracts and bonds with them! why change now? our way has never failed before."

All the nobles nodded with this man's wisdom, Suki held back as much anger as she could, "that is the point, why is it only a select few may own them, why is it only certain amount of demons living in the spirit world while others...like that one-" She said pointing towards the Wolf "is a race of their own kind running rampant on our earth? why is that? dosen't it freighten you? dosen't it worry you? what if these demons decide to take us over? what if they decide to fight? what would happen then? no one knows exactly what they can do! know one knows how many there are! and do you think the summoning demons would fight for us against their kin? NO! that is why we need to take control of them now while we have the chance!."

The man stood strong, he said nothing he waited for her to be over, "that time, will never be upon us, if the dmeons wanted to take control they would have done it when we humans were few and they many, instead they extended their hands in friendship instead of raising them up for war, the demons that are 'wild' are the ones who prefer to keep their own ways alive, their is nothing to fear of them, well at least now their is, you have captured one and have held it against its will, the demons will not look kindly to you, and if I would have known now what I know then I never would have granted you that loan, I will not mar my face with this shame, so I bid you farwell."

With that he left, his head held proud and dignified, Suki cursed the fates within her head, one by one the others left until their was none remaining at all. Suki sighed heavily, and walked calmly out into the lab, then out of it, then up the stairs through the doorway, across the lawn up into the main house and into the bedroom where Teiku was getting dressed, she tugged away his shirt and dove into his lips and embraces and tried to forget what happned by losing herself to his caresses.

Tomi walked the streets until he arrived at his new job, he wanted out of that house as soon as possible, he wanted away from everything so that was why he got a nighttime job at a local Inn, he was just a regular servent, sometimes helping out in the kitchen or taking things to peoples rooms, that was about it.

Tomi dressed in his robe that had the Inn's emblem inprinted on the back, he quickly got ready for his first order which was taking six meals up to the 2nd floor, a large group of travelers all men had ordered all their food for in their rooms. Tomi took the first three plates up for the men in the room on the Right, they took their food politely, said thank-you and gave a samll tip, Tomi nodded and went downstairs for the rest.

Having very little difficulty he carried the rest up, he knocked on the door and called out saying he brought the meals, suddenly their was loud urgant barking, as something huge hit the door, Tomi backed up in suprise, a man holding the very large white dog by a coller opened the door.

Tomi stared at its large teeth, the thing was huge!. The man had tan skin, and wild brown hair, with suprisingly feral looking eyes, he was quite tall, and the way he held himself was with almost a macho confidence. He spoke, his voice loud and gruff, everything reminded Tomi of a dog, "don't mind him he's not going to hurt you". The man flicked the dog on the nose, it silenced, but whined, and streched its head out sniffing wildly.

Tomi smiled, "it must be hungry, it smells the food" The man laughed, "yeah probably, funny, he just ate, don't know what got into him...hey Shikamaru! grab my wallet will ya?" Tomi looked past him another man was reading he had pale skin and long brown hair tied back into a pony tail, his eyes looked pale, another man most likely 'Shikamaru' grunted as he got up, a Cigerette dangled form his mouth, he had black hair tied back in a bun that reminded Tomi of a pinapple.

Once the brown haird man grabbed the meals from Tomi, Tomi spoke, "exuse me sir, we don't allow smoking in the rooms, I am sorry to inconveniance you" he said bowing. Shikamaru sighed and put it out, the brown haired man chuckled, "nice" then set the trays down and reached into the wallet one handed and fished out a tip, then reached out to give it to him, then froze, he sniffed deeply, his eyes suddenly went blank.

Suddenly Tomi found himself pinned against the wall, one hand on his mouth and another holding him in the air, "what the-"? said Shikamaru, the brown haired man stood, Tomi gasped the man had no pupils!. "Kiba! what are you doing!" "quiet! he has Fluffy's sent!" Tomi gasped (or tried to) then tried to speak. Kiba shushed him "all right kid, I'll let go of your mouth but you better not scream."

Tomi nodded his head, Kiba let go, "you know Fluffy?" he said excited, Kiba must have been taken aback by his sudden outburst, "yeah..." he said, "are you here to rescue him? you from Konoha right? your ninjas! oh man this is so cool! my dad was one from Kumo, but he left my mom, I wanted to learn how to be one but mom didn't want me to be one, but my uncle is! his name is Teiku! he was the one who got Fluffy! you have to-" Kiba put his hand back on his mouth, "you have to stop! I can't keep up, take a deep breath and tell me this, where is Fluffy?".

Tomi nodded, Kiba removed his hand once more, then dropped him, "he's in the main house compound, well its under my Uncles girlfriends name Usumi, she's a 'scientist' I hate her, she's the one who got uncle to do everything! she's evil, and she wants me gone so that she can have her family with uncle, which I hope never happens!."

Kiba put his hand on the boys mouth "you never know when to shut up do you?" Shikamaru grinned, "reminds you of someone dosen't it?" Kiba glared at the others, "hey I shut-up!" Neji sighed, "never when we want you too". Kiba growled and was going to say something, "so how are we going to save Fluffy?" Tomi asked though Kibas hand clenched on his mouth. Shikamaru spoke, "we as in us," Shikamaru said motioning to the three of them "are going to save him", "you" he said pointing to Tomi "are going to stay outside away from the danger."

Tomi shooke his head, "no I am coming with you! I want to help Fluffy! he's really in bad shape, exspecially today! he needs to get out, and besides I know the way in and out so you need me!." Shikamaru rubbed his face with a hand, "how trouble some" he said, Neji sighed, "look were going to have to talk to the leader, he'll decide".

Shikamaru nodded "fine" "no need, we heard everything from across the hall" said Vulture stepping into the room. he wore his Anbu guards and armor, "whoa! is he a ninja too?" asked the kid, "yeah...hey whats your name anyway?" "Waya Tomi", he said. Kiba grinned, "well Tomi, nice to meet ya, I'm Inuzaka Kiba, this is Akamaru, and thats Nara Shikamaru, Hyuuga Neji".

They nodded to him "wow, this is so cool, hey is he blind? because he has no pupils..." Tomi asked suddenly pointing to Neji, Neji sighed an anger mark appearing on his forehead, while Kiba snickered, "no, his eyes are special, thats all, and trust me he is the furthest one from blind".

Vulture stepped forword, "Tomi, we are Konohas elite, these men here are regular Jounin, who have close ties to Fluffy, we were sent on a mission to rescue him, time is of the essence, you need to lead us to where Fluffy is being contained, I will ask you a few questions while we wait for the jounin to get into battle gear."

Tomi nodded, the man lead him into the hall, and asked basic questions like how many people were there and what exactly was Fluffy taken for, what had be done things like that, Tomi told them everything he knew, "well thats all I know right now, they could have done more things to him last time I saw him was this morning."

The man nodded, the door opened out came the other three, Akamaru snuggled up to Tomi, "hey Tomi ever ride a dog before?" Tomi blanced and looked at the pony sized animal, "you can ride him?" Kiba nodded, as soon as they were out the door, Tomi suddenly found himself pulled onto the dog, "point and I'll steer" Kiba said from behind him.

Tomi nodded and pointed in the direction they should go.

After their bought Suki rested and told Teiku what happned, he patted her shoulder and said they would figure out another way, Suki nodded but still was upset and angry at what had happened, she became frustrated she hated that vile creature, "Teiku?" she asked, "what?" he asked, back "do we need that perticular demon anymore?" Teiku shrugged, "do we need anymore tests done on it?" she shook her head, he smirked "then go have some fun, releive your anger."

Suki grinned devilishly, "I love you so much sometimes", Teiku smirked "of course you do, and I love you as well." Suki got up and dressed, taking her time so Teiku could enjoy the show, then left with one last kiss good-bye, she almost skipped like a school girl as she went across the lawn to the entrence of the undergroud compound.

Yes Teiku was right she would have some fun, and she would be very happy in a few short minutes. She grinned as she walked into the lab, "allright boys works done, now time for some play, who wants to start first?"

Tomi nodded, "were here", all of the Ninja quietly slipped in over the wall, Tomi just acted natrual and walked through the gate, Tomi walked towards the entrence, he knew the ninja were hiding themselves within the bushes and in the trees, but he couldn't spot them, 'of corse I won't their ninjas!' he said to himself.

Suddenly someone barked his name, "Tomi" he looked over it was his uncle, he was coming out from the building, "back from work early I see don't bother going down, you no longer need to look after the demon, its pretty much gone by now". Tomi's heart leapt into his throat, "wha...? you killed him!" he screamed, his uncle looked at him strange, "ah, no, I think its probably still hanging on, but its going to die soon." Tomi ran past him, but his uncle caught him by an arm, "what the hell do you think you are doing! its a stupid animal! get a hold of yourself boy!"

He yelled then held his other arm back to smack him, Tomi closed his eyes and waited for th blow, he heard one but didn't feel it, suddenly the pressure holding his arm released, he opened his eyes, Kiba stood over him, he smirked, "rule number one of a ninja, never flinch or freeze up".

Tomi looked around Kiba, his uncle laid on the groud out cold, "whoa..." was all he could say, Kiba whistled, Akamaru came bounding up, "Akamaru sit" Kiba said, Akamaru walked over and sat on the unconcious person, "stay" he said then turned to Tomi, "we were going for a rescue?" Tomi nodded and sprang into action.

Naruto laid on his side, he knew not where anymore, he didn't know if he was on the shoreline of his own unconcious or if he just was alone in a very dark room, a voice in his head told him to get up and fight, to try, to live till another day, so that he could become hokage, he got a chance he shouldn't waste it, he shouldn't but his limbs just wouldn't move, he was too tired, to sore, to weak.

He was always weak, he always needed the Kyuubi, or someone elses help all the time, why was that? why did he need to get help? was he not strong enough? no wait,...what he was thinking? he was strong!, he saved Konoha from Pains attack, he concured, the Kyuubi, he concured the dark half of his heart, he saved many people, he gave people reasons to stand up and fight, he gave hope to others, he was Uzumaki Naruto, son of the Yellow flash and Uzumaki Kushina, he was strong, and yet here he was lying on a cold hard floor, not being able to stand.

The lessons drilled into him by Mammoth and his upper classmen at Anbu head quarters raged in his head, but no amount of yelling or will power would make him move, why was this? because he knew they were just voices, figments of his imagination, they wouldn't be here, none of them would ever come, he was just a Wolf demon now, he wasn't the Hero of Konoha anymore, he was no one.

Tomi felt a little awkward as they took the elevator down to the floor Fluffy should be on, the Elevator music played some smooth jazz, Kiba hummed along with it after a few moments, then one group swivel of heads staring at him made him stop.

The elevator stopped, Tomi looked at the group leader, he held up a smoke bomb, he opened the elevator door open just a bit stopped it threw it in the closed the door counted off three seconds, they heard a muffled, 'boom' and then he opened the door and they ran in, Tomi went in and using his memory slunk through the fog, he held his breath while he heard the coughing and hacking near him suddenly stop with a small yelp or grunt, and then heard the thudding sound of a body hitting the floor.

He made his way to the table, it was empty, he stayed until he could see just a little then searched for him, soon the entire room was cleared, no sign of him, Kiba switched to his nose, he poitned to a door, Tomi went and grabbed one of the unconcious scientists lab key, he took it and opened the door, Kiba lead the way though several doors before they came to a room that was completly dark.

Tomi turned on the lights, and the group gasped. "Fluffy!" he yelled and ran up to him, he laid on the floor, on his side, his side moved, 'he's alive' Tomi thought, he looked terrible, his skin sagged off his bones, he had blood running from several wounds on his body, his fur had been shaved off in some areas, in other areas his fur was singed.

Tomi sat down, they still hadn't taken off the muzzle, tears fell down his cheeks as he tried to work the contraption off, Kiba bent down and helped him, his hands were much stronger and broke it off. Fluffy opened his eyes, they stared out at first in fear then in pain then suddenly they went blank as he whimpered.

Suddenly their was a commotion as Shikamaru, Neji and the rest of the group were suddenly hit form behind. They went sprawling out into the room, Kiba swung around only to catch Akamaru who was thrown at him, the dog whimpered and Kiba was trapped momentarily underneathe his weight, Akamaru seemed to be unconcious.

The other Anbu started to get to their feet, only to be suddenly chained together, "the Waya family has always captured the tailed beasts and controlled them with our chakra chains, many have tried to immitate them but all pale in comparison."

The Anbu members groaned as they chains wrapped tighter and tighter aorund them, "let them go!" Tomi screamed, sudddnly another chain appeared and wrapped aorund him, he tried to pull it off to no avail. "you brought them here? you betray your family! you betray your sister! to save a demon!"? Teiku roared.

Tomi cried, "he's not a creature Uncle-" the chains squeezed tighter, "no! I will not let you link your name to mine, you are filth, you are lower then that creature next to you, if you care about it so much, I will just kill you together, after I finish off these first.

Suddenly the man froze, he grunted, "what the hell? I can't move!" "Shadow possesion no jutsu... is a success, thats the good things about you bad guys, always talking away, not paying attention to others in the room." The men groaned, "Nara, I should have known" Shikamaru shrugged, "yeah you should, but no one ever does".

Neji was also up, he swooped in and broke the chain connecting Tomi to Teiku, then stood in a defensive posture infront of him.

Naruto heard all that went on and saw, they had came, he wans't a nobody he was Naruto still to them, he was a hero worth saving, and he was going to prove why they needed him so much, pain hit him but he ignored it, his friends were in danger, Tomi was in danger, and Naruto's true strength always comes when his greatest friends or the ones he loves are in danger and need him.

That was who he was, he was a Ninja of love, his strength and everything he had was thanks to the love he received from others. he rose, slowly at first, but he rose, he took care not to walk on the leg that had the bone marrow raken out of it.

He growled, Chakra suppresers taken off, he was a free Wolf. "Waya Teiku, its about time we had our rematch." Naruto spat, Tomi whirrled around, Neji glanced back, "you think your up to it Fluffy?" he nodded, "he kidnaps me, and pins me down and treats me like an animal, of course I am ready."

Naruto limped up, his teeth bared, "you want to know someting about us Wolf demons?, well heres something, we always go for the throat". Then with that Nauto launched himself into the air and hit the frozen Teiku, breaking his chains on his Anbu comrade's, Shikamaru broke his hold on the man, as Naruto finally tore into the flesh that had caused him all his pain.

When the man was dead, Naruto turned and staggard, that effort alone took most of his last energy. Kiba finally slid out form under Akamaru, cursing a storm, "dammit Akamaru! you are going on a diet!". Naruto's legs buckled as he fell to the floor, Panda came up, "hey Fluffy, we came", Naruto smiled, "about time you show up". was all he said before he fell into a deep sleep.

Suki, grabbed whatever she could find that she would need and was off, her love of her life had been killed, but she would get her revenge, oh yes but it would take a while before she could, she was a little weighed down at the moment, what with both the baggage she had now and the small baggage she would have in about 8 months from now, oh yes she never told her love the beginning of 'their' family was here, a regret she would have to live with, but don't worry she would be back, and her son, their child would learn all the arts of the Waya family and he would grow up someday and destroy that infernal demon, already she could imagine the pain and suffering she would reek on that Demon.

She turned and took one last look at the home they used to have, the ninja were coming out now, hauling up the unconcious crew members, she turned and ran, she had been trained in the ways of Ninja, of course she had, she knew she was no match for them, but one day, one day. She reached down and felt her now slightly curved stomech, to the embryo who at the moment was multipling its cells bit by bit soon growing into a perfect blend of hers and his genetics.

She chuckled, she would train, and so will her son, until then she would watch and wait, thats all she could do, the demon thought the worst was over, hah! it has just begone, her revenge would be the greatest, and the day she had it? well whenever it is, it would be a glorious day, one well worth waiting for.

Kiba looked around there was at least twenty people, "what are we going to do with them all?" Vulture turned to him, "we wait until Mammoth comes with reinforcments, I sent a mesenger before we left the Inn, we will hold up base here until they arrive, if they move fast they will be here in a day."

Kiba nodded and leaned down and began to wrap Naruto's wounds, and do all that he could, "everything bad always happens to him, and yet he's still the happiest being I know". he said outloud, Vulture and the other Anbu members couldn't help but agree with him, even though they did so silently, they went about their work securing the prisoners and then began to go through files both paper and files stored on computor of what they had done, it was then they came across a video that made the blood run cold in all the Anbu members.

Tomi ended up helping Kiba, "so whats you story again? your mom died? and your dad was a ninja?" Tomi nodded, "my mom trained until she was a Chunin rank then stopped when she met dad, she never told me who he was or anything, she just said he was a strong and powerful ninja who had seen to much death, and she didn't want me to end up like him so she kept my uncle and grandfather from taking me to learn the families secrets."

Kiba nodded, "I see, and your mom, she's dead now?" Tomi looked sad and nodded, "she got really sick, in the end I was taking care of her, but it wasn't enough.." he paused as he curled his knees up into his chest and put his head down and cried.

Kiba patted his shoulder, "don't worry, you did the best you could do thats all that matter's I bet she was proud of you, and she wasn't she is now, you did the right thing Tomi". Tomi nodded and looked up through tear streaked eyes, "thanks, Kiba-san(sorry I forgot suffixes earlier xD).

Kiba grinned "don't mention it, and if it means anything, my dad died before I was born, so I don't know what its like to have a father either, and Fluffy here, he lost his parents as well". Tomi looked down at Fluffy, "thats too bad, hey Kiba-san, how did you meet Fluffy anyway?".

Kiba sighed, "well, lets see, it was after the war, and Hinata, Neji's cousin, well she's my wife now, she found Fluffy, and took him in, and she asked me to help train him, thats how I met him." Tomi smiled, "thats sounds nice, so you train dogs?" Fluffy snapped an eye open, "oi I am not a dog!" Tomi jumped.

Kiba yelped but then laughed, "right, right, sorry Fluffy, but no I don't trian 'dogs' my clan uses dogs as partners when we are Ninja's, I have had Akamaru since he was a pup, I have a sister who runs a vet clinic and adoption center, she has three, my mom's, Kuromaru he so smart he actully can talk, but he's not a demon, he's just a smart dog."

Tomi was amazed, "whoa, that is so cool! I wish I could see them, but I guess I..." he stopped, "what? what is it?" Kiba asked, "well the Waya family has always been very small, but the war...killed all but my mom and my uncle, now he's gone, so...I have nowere to go".

Kiba rubbed his chin, he glanced aorund then sighed, "well, I know a few people who have no family left, one became a hero, the other...well he's serving a prison sentence, and is a little messed up, and I don't want to see you becoming like the latter, so maybe you should come with us to Konoha, we'll find a place for you, maybe you can be a ninja if you want".

Tomi jumped up and down, "really! I can be a ninja! oh I have wanted to be one my entire life! I know its a lot of hard work! and I kinda started later in the game! but just because I start late dosen't mean I can't run the race like everyone else!".

Kiba laughed, "fine, well come on I'll show you how you hold a Kunai without cutting off your fingers." Tomi jumped up, and followed Kiba, Naruto sat and watched them, 'someting tells me, Hinata is going to be a 'mother' sooner then she thought.' Naruto thought to himself then chuckled and fell back to sleep.

Well that is what I have so far, sorry for taking so long, Senior year at school started and its a bit hectic.

NSW