life as a Fox

NSW

Okay so you know how writers write random things at the end of the story or the beginning? please read it and don't skim over it I feel like some of you miss the message, (even though sometimes I don't really have one) but anyway's I hope you enjoy.

Silently they crept forward, the fallen leaves crackling slightly underneath their feet. Releasing the faint odor of decay. Hushidly they moved along, their young bodies at the ready, stalking their unknowing prey. A flicker went out from their leader, a slight tremor of his tail, telling them to circle in sharper, and to be extra cautious.

The changes in them were un-earthy even they admitted, nothing physical of course, but mostly, psychological, their thinking, they way they acted. It wasn't right, not human, but they knew this, and didn't care. What was so great about being human? Human's where the ones who abandoned them, and pushed them away, enslaved them to work out their lives underground and in the dark, Humans never cared about them before, why should they care if they were losing their humanity?.

Like their sensei their mouth hung open slightly drawing in air, in rapid silent gasps, scenting and filtering it with their limited ability, nothing like a true wolfs, but they still attempted and would keep on doing the same. Baru crouched forward, ready to spring into action, his fighting prowess of hand to hand fighting was vicious and brutal, he had the advantage his sensei did not, whereas Fluffy-sensei had to use his fangs for fighting, Baru could use his hands and feet, he could fight humans more easily and not worry about bringing his head in so close where it could get hurt.

Chikao waited just in the corner of his eyesight on his left side, he was fast and could quickly be there for Baru to back him up, Baru was always the one that led them on, making them surround him, while Chikao came in, while their backs were turned he preferred the deadly assassination type fighting, quick,dirty, and unseen, until too late.

Gin mostly served as relief, and a distraction, staying outside of the battle to survey it and make sure it wasn't a trap and so that no one escaped. She also served as the one who would bring in horrifying and bizarre living nightmares, trapping the enemy with her dangerous and unstable ideas that had came to her head. It was unnerving that such a sweet young girl could conjure up things that made grown men shudder and scream, that was her way.

At the head of this dangerous trio was a creature that brings both hope and fear, a creature that could instill the terrors of the night and bring them to light in the day. He was known far and wide, as many names, but the one that stuck with him the greatest was, 'The White Demon' for he was that ways in many, White because he conveyed the appearance of purity and intelligence, and true he was that (as long as you were on the good side of those fangs) but then underneath he had that inner creature, that beast of battle, that primal instinctive nature of the Wolf.

Always wary of the world, always willing to fight or to run so that he could fight another day, no one had ever bested him yet, and few wanted to, there was no getting to him, he had earned much respect and much hatred but few were strong enough or willing to act upon it.

Their sensei waited patiently next to Gin, he would come in neither a second too early or a second to late, but exactly when he had planned to, right now he was looking. Looking for possible weaknesses that he could fix, looking for strengths to strengthen further, he was doing what all teachers do, seeing if he had more to teach, seeing if they were worthy enough, or ready to learn more.

He had taught them much, and they have came far, true it wasn't as expected, no one could prepare for what had happened to them, the link they shared. This ability to sense the emotions of another, more like a shadow, a hint of an emotion but a feeling non the less. The ability to know when one is needed, when one is summoned or when one needs to be dismissed. (Something proven to be a great help in time for preparing for missions)

Their senses, had been heightened to a point, and for each one it was different, Gin could pin point and look upon things closer then any normal human could. Chikao, he could hear a pin drop three blocks away, and Baru...he could smell and decipher out what that smell was. (He liked to show off by naming out all the ingredients in a food that he was served)

This was a peculiar and unprecedented turn of events, causing much muttering and stirring within the village and still to this day does, but most have grown to accept it, or deemed it unimportant since this change only seems to happen to these three and to no one else. Baru leaped in, as usual a small band of thieves, making a last hit before winter comes in over the mountains and puts them out for the season.

Like the seasons of the year, there was a season to crime and to missions, in early spring it was always missions on fixing up damages and repairing what winter did, or escorting builders and repairmen to places to do that job. Then there was a pause in missions, then the first bands of thieves would break out once again, hitting the merchants and travelers who were moving out in the new weather, after that it was a long and wearisome summer of fighting the heat and these pesky thieves that sprouted like weeds, once you got rid of one another would pop up.

By the time fall came around the heaviest offenders or the ones who were stupid enough to get caught were captured, and left behind the seasoned and more smarter of thieves, the ones that knew what they were doing and how to do it right. These ones took longer to track and catch, which wasted precious time before winter laid in.

But Naruto nodded contently, Baru and Chikao were holding their own, he flicked his eyes to Gin who was doing her duties as well, he did happen to note, that Baru would need to exercise more control in fighting, in several instances he almost seperated completely from Chikao, Naruto knew that Baru didn't meant to and that he had a good head on his shoulders, but he would need to learn not to be enticed by enemies into following them, something they wanted to do, the old 'divide and concur' trick at its basic use.

But other then a few errors in Chikao's use of excessive chakra, and Gin sometimes concentrating to much at one area instead of the whole they were good, he had a great feeling and was proud to be their mentor.

While walking home with them he couldn't help but feel like everything was falling into place, that he was fianlly having some semblance of balance and happiness in his life, Hinata and Kiba were only a few months away from having their baby (they opted for not knowing the gender until it was born, a nice little surprise) and he himself had a little family of his own, albeit mostly adopted but he was still a father to these kids nonetheless, which made him happy.

"What?" Naruto exclaimed Mammoth spoke "you heard me Fluffy, I want to know what you think" Naruto didn't know what to think "my team? all three of them? Anbu? are you serious! they aren't even of age!" Mammoth leveled with him "Fluffy, there is no age limit to the Anbu, sure we prefer those who are 18 and above, but there are exceptions, and those three are".

"why? because I taught them?" Mammoth sighed and rubbed his temples "mostly yes, Kakashi spoke to me" Naruto paused his ears turned, he wanted to hear this "Kakashi said that people have became uncomfortable with their.. progress, they have claimed your demon powers have witched them, they don't want to have missions done by them".

Anger tore through Naruto 'how dare they! these kids have worked so hard! and now the village doesn't want them? I will rip the throat of this person who says this!' Mammoth held up a hand as if he knew what Naruto was thinking and wanted him to calm. "Fluffy hear me out, I want them to fulffil their dreams as well, they have talents as Ninja, very skilled ninja at that, they wouldn't be full fledged Anbu, not even Anbu trainee's, more like Apprentices, they learn from you and in two three years depending on how much they know, they can apply to be trainee's".

Naruto thought about it "you would still go on missions, Kakashi will pull them from the missions board and give them to me for you to do, you would be doing the exact same work as before, instead you will just be doing it for the Anbu core and not the village of Konoha" Naruto sighed "I don't know, it sounds reasonable...let me talk to them" Mammoth nodded "of course, you have until tomorrow though" Mammoth warned "to give me your answer".

Naruto nodded and left for home, his mind in a muddled mess, he didn't know what to think, how to even explain or ask this of his pack. He wandered around for a bit before he felt the familiar presence "whats wrong Fluffy-sensei?" Naruto smirked and turned "oh, I just have some thoughts troubling me" he said turning to his three students "like what?".

Naruto spoke "what would you say, if I asked you if you would like to serve the Anbu core instead of the village?" There was a silence the three of them looked at each other "why would you ask that?" Gin said "because someone has asked it of me, the village had grown, wary of us, and won't permit us to do missions, however the Hokage and the Anbu general, are...friends of mine, and are willing to help us out, we would do the same missions, only under the name of the Anbu"

They were silent as they thought about it, he could see the wheels turning in their heads then Baru spoke after several minutes, "I don't care who we serve, the Village, the Anbu, it doesn't matter to me, as long as you are my sensei and are leading us through the mission" Naruto looked to Gin and Chikao "well, what say you?" Chikao stood and nodded "I am with Baru, as long as we are together, I don't care" Gin stood up with him "same here".

Naruto studied the three of them, he smirked and shook his head "how can I say no, when you look to me with those eyes" then he looked to all three of them, "the Anbu is a tough place, it's the best of the best kids, they will push you and test you to your limits and push you past them, they will throw you into things that they know will tear you apart, just to see if you can rise to the challenge."

All three of them listened to him sternly "if you join this now, you will be apprentice Anbu, and in two years if you show the talent, you will be accepted into the Anbu core as trainee's, where you will undergo the trainee regimen, and then..just maybe, you will finally be able to be equals with me, and be able to be lone wolfs yourself for a while".

he said giving them a small sad smile. Chikao spoke "wrong, we will never be lone wolfs, we will always be members of this pack, packs stay together, and even if members may leave or die, they still have a place in the pack, their spirit will run on with us" Naruto for a moment thought he was going to cry, but he managed to get a hold of himself "very well, you have decided, then meet me at my place bright and early".

Naruto stood waiting in his Anbu gear (which they had finally created a design, that he could put on and take off by himself) the three of the appeared without a word, he made a quick nod to them, and they continued towards the Anbu head quarters. It was a secret place that few new in the village, it required use of the secret path ways and tunnels that had been built underneath he village so long ago that only few knew they were there anymore.

Once there, Naruto led them into the building, this early in the morning, few were there, so it was mostly an empty and silent journey up to Mammoths office. Mouse gave Naruto a quick nod then they entered. Mammoth was sipping his usual coffee, and eating a blueberry bagel, something he enjoyed every morning. Naruto stepped forward "they have decided to take your offer" Naruto said.

Mammoth nodded to them "I see that, very well you three, come I have your uniforms ready" Baru spoke "wait, you knew we would say yes?" Mammoth swiveled his head to him "of course, you three were trapped, and I offered a rope, you would be idiots for not accepting, and since Fluffy is your sensei, I know you are not idiots".

Baru was quiet after that. They dressed in a light gray clothing, same make of the Anbu dress, only theirs was many shades lighter. Naruto studied them, it was almost comical the way, Gin's was to large for her, Baru's was tight across his shoulders and chest, "hnmmm" Mammoth said, "we will have to modify both of your slightly, come I will measure you and send them to the uniform maker".

"so this is our first mission...you ready?" he asked turning to the three of them, who know had uniforms that fit them all comfortably. They nodded "do we get masks?" Chikao asked "no, masks are given to trainees, and you don't get your official mask, until the naming ceremony". "oh" they all said simply, then followed him out.

The women cried out, her forhead beaded with sweat form the effort, there was much pain and blood, but she was storng and she could so this, she could survive, all around her were people with sharp implements, waiting and watching, not caring about her pain, but goading it on. Finally with one last heave she brought forth into the world, covered in blood and crying like a struck animal, a baby boy, she lay there exhausted, panting.

Next to her hand cuffed to the bed sat her husband, "good job Momoko, you did wonderful" She smiled which took effort, "I brought forth an heir, are you pleased husband?" she said, tired "very, now rest and relax, I will see to our son". Momoko looked up into his obsidian eyes, Uchiha Sasuke wasn't as bad as everyone thought, he seemed damaged when she first met him, like a lost boy who was turned down the wrong path, but enough love, and understanding, she was able to steer him more towards a better one.

He was far from perfect, but no one was perfect, but he was learning, something about the thought of receiving so many chances told him, that maybe there was something worthwhile in his life that he was missing, that he wasn't able to see. So he was taking it one day at a time, trying to piece it together and find what he was looking for, trying to right the wrongs of a lifetime, even if it took the rest of his life he had left.

They gave the wriggling bundle of joy to them, they looked down upon him beaming, she was happy Sasuke was smiling, something he only did around them, her and her 'sisters' (even though they weren't related) He had learned to relax, and let down some of that arrogance and guarding nature. "He has your nose" Sasuke commented "yes, but more impotently he has your eyes" Sasuke looked away sadly, "no...he has my brothers eyes" she sighed and brought a hand to his face he looked softly upon her "then let us name him Itachi, and give Uchiha Itachi a second chance?"

Sasuke then began to cry sweet, fat rolling tears, falling down softly across the smooth marble like skin of his. She smiled at him and he leaned down and kissed her gently, then his new born son, Uchiha Itachi, a gentle but firm voice said "you have only one hour before you will be escorted back" Sasuke nodded and waved them off, idiots, like he would run away from his son.

He spoke to his son "it's okay, daddy is here, he always will be, I am never going to leave you,...Itachi" then he leaned his head and gently set it against the babes he brought his arm around to hug both Momoko and Itachi holding them like that until they had to force him to leave.

Okay, so I added in that last part, feeling like I seemed to totally forget about Sasuke, now I know there are a lot of Sasuke hater's out there, and I actully was one when I started this fanfic (hard to believe right?), but then I got to thinking and looking at his perspective of things, I kind of understand his pain, and although some parts I frown upon, I say 'to each his own'.

Anyway, I wanted to show my readers that Sasuke has been changing(for reals this time) and that yeah it's slow, and yeah it's going to be long, but everyone can do it, they just need support, so that was my input, and plus I just wanted to write a cute little fluff scene and not base the story around, Naruto, Hinata and Kiba,and the OC's I am constantly bringing into this story.

So I hope you enjoyed and I hope you REVIEW and if not REVIEW please, please, do not hesitate to PM me, I really want to hear your ideas and input, and any questions or really anything that you think could contribute to the story or the characters, plus I would like to know more about my readers and what is it about this story that is so well... appealing, seeing as it takes a whole different path from the Manga/Anime :P.

Well thats all for now, hope to hear from y'all soon, byes.

NSW