Chapter 23

Life as a Fox

NSW

Mammoth and his group traveled at top speed for the enitre day. Running through the night as well, by dawn of the next day they had made it, There really was no need for rushing, but they had to apprehend the criminals that were caught, at least that was the exuse each of them made for themselves but really in reality, they all wanted to see that Fluffy was all right.

Even Mammoth who was supposed to be the General of the Anbu, the top dog who knew the code, and the ways of the Anbu, to not have emotions or strings attached to people. But the fact of the matter was, Fluffy was a being you could not ignore, a person who you could not get attached too, there was something about him that made a person trust, and dare Mammoth say it hope in.

So they arrived at the place where Vulture said they would be, Vulture in fact met up with them at the small villege entrance. They spoke not a word, just a curt nod and then they were off they were but black flashed moving across the villege landscape.

They arrived, first thing they did was check in on Fluffy who was still sleping, the medic nin got to work on him. Mammoth and the others placed all the captives under arrest and had guys setting up a special transportation seal moving along the scientists to Konoha with ease by transporitng them there.

Mammoth then lead a team to go through and serch the entire complex below ground while, others serched the house, and one or two took notes of everyting, Mammoth interogated Tomi himself and judged him to be innocent.

After a long day Mammoth finaly was able to rest he filed through some of the scientists notes, he began read ing some.

'-creature seems to have the generic make-up of the species canius lupis, however it has the addition of a chakra coil, and an advanced frontal lobe in the brain, evidense suggets either demons are either advanced evolved forms, or a anciant breed of creature dying out.'

Mammoth sighed, he flipped the page and came upon something intresting...

'chakra density and purity of the creatures is 3 times that of a normal human, further exemining of the chakra coil reveled that the chakra coil is made of five combined coils on one, one for each element, proving that Demons have the ability to use and harness the power of all elements and are able to create new elements by combining chakras of different coils together.'

Mammoth hummed thoughtfully under his breath it was very intresting, he glanced at Fluffy, his heart went out ot the poor creature, his injuries were quite extensive, who knows how long it will be before he was back going on missions.

Mammoth took all the papers and made copies of them, then sent copies Via messenger bird to the Hokage, he added an extra letter explaining everything. Fluffy stirred suddenly and opened his crystalline blue eyes, "M...mammoth?" he croaked.

Mammoth leaned down and rested his had softly against his head, "we got you Fluffy, we got you, rest now." Fluffy nodded and drifted back to sleep. Mammoth gave him one last pat then walked back out, Kiba Inuzaka was showing the boy different techniques for the Kunai.

Mammoth gazed thoughtfully at them, they seemed like father and son already, they even looked alike, same brown unruly hair, same tan. Mammoth smirked beneath his mask, he sighed, he was old now, he no longer had dreams of family, he once did but he could never find the right girl, he once came close, but one day she said something that haunts him to this day, if had to choose between her and his job as leader of the Anbu which would he choose.?

Mammoth's then young hand was on the door nob when she said that, she was tired of him leaving all the time for work, and he was sorry for her, he trully was, but he ended up turning that nob all the way and leaving, the next day when he came back, she was gone and so was all her stuff, she only left a note that said, 'I hope you find what you are looking for'.

Mammoth had stood in that empty house just staring at those few words that bored out at him, he still had that note, he kept it to this day, but she was wrong he already had found what he wanted, he was someone people could look up to and trust, who respected him and needed him, he was the lead Mammoth of the herd, and like any great Mammoth you are always alone, sure you may mingle with your herd, but you show your love for them by protecting them and doing whats right by them, and they will follow you to the ends of the earth, that was who he was.

The next day they moved out, Fluffy was carried on Mammoths back as they came home, Kiba took Fluffy when it was time to part, all the men gave Fluffy one last pat or wish for good luck and parted, Mammoth nodded to Fluffy and gave him a pat on the head.

Hinata kept herself busy most of the time Kiba was gone, she cleaned the house a couple thousand times, did the dishes, washing each dish thoroughly twice. Hinata sighed, all she could do was wait, but to wait for what? to hear news that Naruto was dead? to hear news that no one could find him? that he could never be brought back home?.

Suddenly the door opened, she heard familiar pantinf and foot falls of Akamaru, she stood up from where she was lying on the bed, she walked slowly out, she heard two voices, Kiba's and another, younger softer, more timid. Hinata walked out, Kiba stood Naruto's white fluffy head stuck out from behind Kiba's shoulder, and a young boy about 14 or 15 stood next to Kiba, he was slim but wiry, and he had an innocent face and honest looking eyes.

To Hinata it looked like Kiba in a way, Kiba spoke "umm...hey sweetie, I'm back" Hinata smiled and rushed him, hugging him strongly and kissing him and Naruto a hundred times each, she wiped away tears of joy, Kiba set Naruto down on couch, Hinata moved in and got him comfertable, "how are you? what hapened? what did they do to you? do oyu need anything?".

She must have sounded like a babbeling baboon to him but she had so much she wanted to know, she wanted to know what she could do to make him better to help him, Kiba rested a hand on her shoulder, "Hinata, let him rest, he's been through a lot, now I want oyu to meet someone" Kiba turned her towards the boy, "this is Tomi, ..he kinda. dosen't have anyone, he also was the one that made it possible for use to find Naruto, he also helped save Naruto, he needs a place to stay, I figured we have an extra bed-room, if its all right..." he trailed off.

Hinata siled softly, "of course he can stay here, here Tomi, I will show you the room, you must be tired, I'll bring something for you to eat later, you are welcome here as thanks to saving Naruto". She then leaned down and kissed his forehead, he blushed, "you're welcome...mam, I...ah, thanks...you really are nice" Hinata chuckled and hugged him "call me Hinata, now tell me what is a young boy like you doing all by yourself?".

Tomi sighed, "my mom died, so I was sent to live with my uncle, him and his girlfriend... they were the ones who took Naruto, I'm sorry, I hated them, they were cruel and mean, I'm so sorry they caused you this pain". Hinata shrugged, "its no pain, don't worry you have us now, come" Hinata said ushering him away.

Kiba glanced at Naruto, Naruto glanced at Kiba, "might as well start calling him son" Naruto said, Kiba said nothing, Naruto was suprised at this, "so, you already have, very well, get me ramen". Kiba rolled his eyes but did so.

Naruto happily slurped the noodles up, Naruto ate them then Akamaru came up and in Naruto's weakened form could only watch in horror as the dog knocked the bowl down and slurrped up the noodles. "Hinata!" he howled, Hinata rushed into the room, she saw what happened, Kiba came in. Both of them looked at Naruto, then suddenly they both began laughing, they laughed so hard they were crying Naruto just glowered at them, Kiba finally said "kami Naruto, its good to have you back".

Naruto smirked and gave them his familiar wolfy grin, "and its glad to be back, but I will chew on your shoes unless you get me another bowl and get that mutt as far away as possible from me", Kiba grinned, "sure, but you chew my shoes, and its a call to my sister, saying you have gotten uncontrollable aand need to be fixed."

Naruto muttered under his breath of what he would like to do, to a certian brown haired Ninja that painted his cheeks red every morning.

whew, its done once again, I am so sorry for taking a crap load of time, Senior year at school. Drama, Band choir concerts and plays, and Science olimpiad tournments, and just plain 'I don't want to frikin write right now'.

NSW