life as a Fox

NSW

Naruto's team at first was quite average, they completed mission's with minor errors that were fixed and were never done again. But soon his team were becoming more and more successful. He had to find tougher missions just to challenge his students, their progress oddly had increased greatly in such a small amount of time.

Take for instance Baru, he could bench press 350, fight ten guys at once and not break a sweat. His power was like a bull's, fierce strong and always getting stronger. It was bred into him by his father and forefathers who had worked the mines for generations, making the next generation stronger then the previous because each generation started in the mines at a younger and younger age until there was boys only the age of six or seven working alongside their father.

However Baru would not be known for a scholar, he would be known for his kind and gentle heart, were as his body was like a bull, his heart was like Panda he preferred to just sit around all day (between training) and either watch the clouds, or even at time go pick flowers. (He helped Ino sometimes with her shop, going out and picking the kind she needed for her arrangements)

Chikao now took medicine for his dyslexia which helped him greatly, and Naruto had helped him with concentrating so that he could be able to read without his medication (he still stumbled but was getting better). In fact Chikao was very bright, he could figure out how to do jutsu's quite easily and even created some of his own techniques.

Him and Naruto were one in the same, they had this mind that worked differently from others, where in some area they were complete idiots and at other times, they did things that defied previous rules, they were always outside the box. It almost seemed to prove that at times ingeniousness and madness could sometimes be the same thing.

Naruto would think to himself at time, how Chikao reminded him of a younger less hairy him. They weren't exactly alike but similar they had different problems and obstacles to over come in their own time, so Naruto would be there to guide him but not solve his problems for him, part of growing up was having to fend for yourself.

Little Gin had grown as well, between taking a few classes as a medic nin and training in advanced genjutsu classes with people twice her age and more, her plate was full. But she still always was up bright and early and smiling through the day, Naruto could not name a day when she was not smiling, she had this innocent sweet grace to her, that made everyone adore her almost instantly.

Especially Naruto who allowed her to do almost anything to him, she could put hats and sunglasses on him, and give him T-shirts to wear, and he would. What she liked most was laying her head on his shoulders when he was lying down and lean agianst him while she did her medic work or studied a form of Genjutsu.

Naruto was inspired, amazed and proud of his students they seemed to be different from when they first came, unable to throw a kunai right, and no idea how much potential they had. Everyone was impressed with Naruto and praised him greatly for his success, their progress was astounding to other sensei's who were still trying to teach their kids to get along.

That was a thing Naruto didn't have to worry about, the three of them had been together for a long time, they were a family. Their bond was forged when they were young, scared and alone. When everyone had turned away from them, they turned towards each other and created something for themselves. It was always them against the world, that was the train of thought that had been embedded into their heads a thought that would stay with them forever.

However thanks to Naruto he had managed to save them from thinking that the world was really all dark, that even in the darkest of situation's their was a light, it didn't have to be big and bright, you didn't have to be able to see it form a far way off, you just had to know it was there, believe in it, and it would guide you wherever you may go.

Naruto knew it would be hard for them to trust people right away, which is probably why they accepted him more easily then the others, humans had been unkind to them, humans had abandoned them and left them to die when all they wanted was someone to love them. It was the pain all orphans in a war torn land felt.

They trusted Naruto because he wasn't the one who abandoned them, he was the one who found them, he wasn't the one who pushed them away he was the one who pulled them closer. Naruto accepted them first, Naruto trusted the first, and to an orphan that was the greatest feeling in the world.

So yes in a way he might have unintentionally used his knowledge and experience of being an orphan to manipulate them, but he did it to help them, to heal them, to teach them, which is what all great teachers are supposed to do. Luckily they did not feel that they were being controlled by him, they seemed to prefer to have his leadership and guidance.

Naruto seemed to understand one must have someone to look up to, to strive to be, and if they wanted to be him, who was he to deny them? So Naruto trained them and taught them, he got them into activities and missions that provided a lot of social interaction, they needed to learn to trust humans again, that was his inner goal for them.

But until that day he would just have to live with three 'puppies' yapping at his heels curious about the world around them, but afraid of getting out of sight of him. Naruto thought thought it was ironic that even though they were afraid of the world around it (not literally the world they were just afraid of having what happened to them happen agian) they were willing to follow Naruto anywhere.

Baru for instance, was afraid of bugs yet he followed Naruto through the forest of death to the control tower to help with repairs. Gin had a fear of drowning yet she was willing to train with Naruto on perfecting her walking across water ability. Chikao was always afraid of the dark, when it was time to make camp he was the closest to the fire and huddled in a little ball, so Naruto would sleep next to him every night. It took a while and a lot of bad back aches but soon Chikao was relaxed with the night, as long as Naruto was nearby.

But then changes began to happen, small at first but steadily growing. Not all of them bad either, the first one was just a happenstance. Naruto was leading his team through the trees, when he wanted them to speed up, he was about to turn and tell them this when they did it before he spoke.

It was strange but he pulled it from mind thinking he was just imagining things, but then it happened again, when he wanted to turn left suddenly (forgot which way he was going) they did it before he even turn his body. Naruto expiramented with it, and came to the conclusion, that they could well...read each other, they could speak (in a way) to each other using body language, a simple twitch of the ear or hand, or turn of the tail or head.

That was something only teams who had been together for years could manage, yet here they were two months of being a team and already they were doing it, maybe it was because there was complete trust and faith between them all from the start. Who knows, but Naruto did not question it, he was both pleased and frightened by it.

Then there was the time they were running down a theif, Naruto took point and the others fanned out behind him, after a while they had caught up and surrounded him. Naruto as was his nature then began to do that wolf circle pace thing that his kind did. Slowly inching closer and cutting off the chance to escape, moving without ever taking his eyes from the target, adding an air of mystery and deadliness to him.

Naruto happened to notice in his peripheral vision, that his students were doing the same. They glided and moved in and about, never getting in each others way, while still moving closer, he could see a look in their eyes, almost matching his, primal and animal but still retaining their humanness, that knowing that they have captured their pray and that he wasn't getting away.

That feeling of being a god deciding the fate of another. Naruto quickly apprehended the man and they took him in, he wanted to ask about what had happened but decided there was no harm in it and ignored it.

Then on a tougher mission, he didn't know why but his students had began to act...like wolves. It mostly while they were fighting, instead of yelling at who ever they were fighting or grunting...they growled. When they were angry they snapped...and when they were victorious they howled.

In some occasions Naruto found it harder and harder to keep from howling along with them, he had noticed a change in himself as well, a feeling of oneness with them, when they were together the world seemed to pale in comparison, it was as if the team had became the world to him.

Even if it was something simple as running as they returned home from a mission, he felt a thrill throughout all of them, they not only enjoyed each others company, it was as if they needed each other company, as if it hurt them to be apart. They slowly had began to sleep all in one pile of blankets and sleeping bag in one tent or beneath the starts, the latter they chose more and more frequently, if it rained instead of a tent they would search for a cave or a build a small lean to instead of just bringing along a tent.

They stopped bring ninja ration and began to hunt instead, there was nothing like rabbit over the fire on a chilly night. On full moons they would just lay in their pile and look up at the moon, for some reason they could never sleep when it was a full one. Finally one night Chikao spoke breaking the silence of the night.

"I think I have came up with a name" Naruto looked down at him "a name for what?" "our team" Naruto smirked "we are team 27" Chikao shook his head "no, that's not us, I think our team should be called 'the wolf pack of Konoha' Naruto smirked "seems a bit long don't you think?" Chikao shook his head "doesn't matter a team name should describe the team, and that is who we are".

Naruto laughed "very well then, Baru...Gin? what do you think of the new name?" Gin and Baru both eagerly accepted it, and from then on they called themselves that. In fact when they had returned home from the mission and reporting in (they always have to say team name) Chikao stepped forward before Naruto could say anything and said "Wolf pack of Konoha reporting in".

The man behind the desk happened to look up "Iruka? when did you start working here again?" Naruto asked Iruka grinned "oh hello Na-Fluffy...I started a few weeks ago on night shift, I finally went to day shift on weekends" Naruto grinned "that's good" Iruka looked at Chikao "so..Wolfpack of Konoha?" Naruto sighed "Chikao named us".

Iruka glanced at him, Naruto smiled "you know how students are" Iruka grinned back "yes...yes I do, alrighty then mission scroll?" Naruto picked it up in his mouth and walked over, he leaned against the table with his front paws as he dropped it into the basket, full of saliva. Naruto put his ears back "sorry...it's hot out".

Iruka nodded "I see" as he blanched at the saliva. Naruto exited his team behind him. "wait sensei!" Gin said Naruto turned back to them "what?" Gin ran up to him and held out a book it was about wolves "I was reading this book, and it says that when wolves part they will howl together one least time".

Naruto looked at her quizzical, "that's only if they are going away for a long while...I am going to see you tomorrow" Gin pouted "but tomorrow is a long while away...please?" Naruto sighed how could he say no to her? she was to cute. "very well" he cleared his throat "awhoooo" he said then nodded "there is your howl".

Gin pouted, "that's not a howl" Baru nodded "yeah Sensei, that failed" Naruto glared at him "excuse me, I am the one who is a wolf, you are human, you think you could do better?" Baru grinned. "actually Sensei, yes I can" then he put his head back and howled, Naruto was surprised it was quite loud.

Gin and Chikao laughed and joined in, after that Naruto couldn't help but join in as well, when the echos of their howls had descended the village was then filled with laughter. Gin leaned down and hugged Naruto "see you tomorrow Sensei" Naruto nodded to her then to the boys, they waved and ran off together, laughing whooping and hollering down the street.

Naruto turned to see a few village women in the street, "afternoon" he said and walked past he glanced back at them when he had reached the end of the block, they were in a huddle whispering and looking at him and glancing down to where his students had gone. "oh great" he said then continued home to greet Hinata.

"oh hey Naruto" Hinata said digging through the fridge, she was grabbing a Ketchup bottle, that was her craving ketchup. Naruto laughed to himself she looked so strange taking a large bottle and putting it in a bowl and licking it off of her fingers, on occasion she would make tater tots or french fries with it so it wasn't to strange but sometime she would place gold fish snacks in, which was odd but hey she was pregnant, pregnant people get to do whatever the fuck they want.

Naruto nodded to her, "so how was your mission?" Naruto shrugged "good, we have renamed ourselves" Hinata smiled at him "oh really?" she said closing the fridge and grabbing the gold fish snacks. Naruto shivered as she stood there dumping them in, 'that looks terrible' he said to himself.

"yes Chikao named us 'the wolf pack of Konoha'" Hinata smiled "he is such a cute kid sometimes" Hinata commented. Naruto nodded "yes although I am beginning to think I am rubbing off on them a little to much" He said sitting down in a chair "how so?" she asked "they are reading books about wolves and today they said that every-time we are done with a mission, they want to howl when we leave for home".

Hinata glanced at him "why?" Naruto shrugged "apparently wolves do that, I don't know I have to start reading about them, otherwise soon my kids will know more about wolves then me...and I am one". Hinata chuckled "well keep in mind you are a Wolf Demon" she said, Naruto grinned and smiled "you are right, anyway I am going to go take a nap, right now I need one".

He went to his pillow and curled up and slept the day away with not a care in the world.

The next day he was up bright and early, he grabbed himself something to eat by heading through the market place when people were setting up shop, he had regulars who would give him something, the baker always had a scone waiting for him, the butcher had a small tid bit of sausage or bacon so he usually got a good breakfast.

He heard a screech in the air, Sokol came down and landed on his shoulders while he walked, he was used to this by now, "morning Sokol, how are the eggs?" Sokol chirped happily "they are doing splendid, they will hatch any day now, and soon I will have three beautiful hatchlings with my mate, you will come to the falls soon yes?"

Naruto nodded instead of staying inside the village like originally planned, the Gyrfalcons had discovered the Valley of the End, and decided that it was the perfect place, wildlife lived all around, it was secluded and had many places for nests to be built, they just had to promise to cause no harm to the figures that were set on either side of the waterfall.

Naruto continued to the tower to receive his mission "you have anything today?" Sokol nodded "yes, I have to deliver a message to the Suna red feathered flock leader" Naruto sighed "Kazekage, he's the Kazekage, and his name is Gaara" Sokol chirped "right him, I must deliver a message to him then I am done".

Naruto grinned "that is good, but I will visit you shortly okay then?" With one last sweep Sokol was off. Naruto stared after him and sighed happily to himself, he walked to the tower to visit Kakashi. "yo" he said stepping through the open window. "why can't you use the door like normal people?" Kakashi said hanging his outer robe on the hanger, it was a warm day and un needed at the moment.

Naruto stuck his tongue out, "I'm not a normal person plus, you always used windows more then door" Kakashi sighed "true, I did, but then I matured...plus Anko yelled at me because I knocked over her favorite vase once and broke it". Naruto grinned "well then, I guess that will train any man".

Kakashi nodded and sat down roughly in his chair sighing as he sunk into the red leather. "so what is this I hear about you teaching your students to be wild animals?" he said casually as he searched around his drawers looking for his ink well and favorite brush. Naruto groaned "for the hundredth time, it was their idea."

Kakashi glanced at him with his eye, studying him with a measuring glance "oh really? how peculiar" Naruto huffed "yeah, those kids have me wrapped around their fingers...I just can't say no to them, they...they are so darn cute!" he exclaimed. Kakashi laughed "well I guess some sensei's get all the luck, me I ended up with an obnoxious color blind idiot, a scatter brained fan girl, and well...a self centered arrogant brat".

Naruto was silent, "how was I color blind?" Kakashi stared at him "you wore a bright orange and blue jump suit...how is that not color blind"? Naruto stuck his tongue out, "oi! they are my favorite colors, plus, jump suits are cool, I mean Gai wears them and Lee wears them..." Naruto paused for a moment, as he thought about what he just said.

The office was silent then Naruto burst out "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME I WAS DRESSING LIKE A GIANT BUFFOON!" Kakashi smirked "what? you acted the part, I thought it better if you looked the part as well" Naruto leaped at Kakashi, soon Naruto was chasing Kakashi around the office scattering papers and knocking things over.

Kakashi laughed and Naruto growled and snapped "get back here! I will end your life!" Naruto exclaimed Kakashi only laughed harder, soon they were in a pile on the floor wrestling with each other. One of the office aides came in looking at some paper work "Hokage sir, I need you to look over these...forms" she said trailing off as she glanced at Kakashi who was in the middle of giving Naruto a noggie of his life.

Kakashi paused "ahhhhh...yes, well set it on my desk, I will get to that soon enough" She walked past them then set it on an open place on the messed up desk then walked back being careful to not step on any papers. She closed the door silently. Kakashi and Naruto glanced at each other. "well...I suppose I must be going" Naruto said getting away from Kakashi's hold.

Kakashi cleared his throat, "you are correct, we must go to our jobs, like mature professional adults". They glanced at each other and bust out laughing.

well I will be on vocation for a few days, so don't expect a new chapter anytime soon, I am sorry for the wait, you know how summer vocation is like.

Thank-you for reading and please Review, I am always open to new ideas and positive input.

NSW