Life As A Fox

Chapter 57

NSW-The Forsaken Author of the Lost Story (see my bio for explanation)

Thank you so much for the reviews and hugs by the way! They really are inspiring. I'm working to get as many chapters done as I can!

Lately, I have been getting some mail of people asking if the story is over, I am going to say this out right, it is not over, it is not even close, so please refrain from asking, thank-you.

It was a solemn affair, thought Naruto, as he stood silently in the middle of the dirt road leading into the main gate of Konoha. Even from a distance it looked omnipresent and looming to the returning party - though it was strange to think of their own home as a 'threat'. On either side of the road, the leaves dropped from the trees, scattering on the wind. Dust would pick up and blow towards Naruto as if challenging him to step forward.

Yume stood behind him to the side, he turned and glanced to her. She nodded giving him the strength he needed. He turned to see the others join him as well. It was sometime in the afternoon, so it was quiet and calm. All the teams who had received missions were already far off, and would not be coming back for awhile. Naruto breathed in the air, he could smell all those once-familiar smells flooding his nostrils, the different scents of businesses and people.

The roasting spices from the barbecue stand, the over-intoxicating aromas from the beauty store and all the perfume and chemicals that girls used upon their faces. The soft decadent smell of ramen, being brewed and perfected over a stove. All these overpowered his senses, he could hear the sounds of people walking, talking, eating - children screaming and running around.

The village was so full of life, and energy; full of noise and pollution. It was such a jump from the simple sounds and smell of nature. He was detoured, and he suddenly was frightened to step forward. He felt like he would be lost if he entered that village, how on earth would he find Yume? How would he be able to scent for her or howl for her? It was too smelly! Too noisy! Too many people, they would get separated!

On top of that, every one of these people, they knew about him - how he had left, disappeared without a trace, betrayed them. He would be met with disgust, he shivered at the memory of how he was before he had left. All he wanted now was to be trusted by them...He'd had it once, but he had betrayed them, he had turned his back on them. There was no way they would ever trust him again.

Hinata walked up to him, she laid a sudden hand on his shoulder. "It's okay Naruto, you can do this. Remember, we are here for you." Naruto nodded as his inner turmoils suddenly vanished - she was right, he would just have to re-earn their trust; re-learn how to live in such a place. He could only imagine what Yume was feeling. For a fleeting moment he thought about running back to the wilds with her, but an aching inside him told him he had to do this, he had to return. This was his home, the home of his father and mother, the home of his friends, the home of his pack...he could do this.

He stepped forward and began to walk, that last, long, gravel mile towards the gates of Konoha. As they grew larger and taller they made him fell even smaller and smaller with every step. They were designed that way, to make the village of Konoha seem bigger and greater then it already was. He stopped though, just beyond the gates. The two gate guard's he could see were casually reading a magazine or sleeping, not paying attention.

Naruto felt a small tremor of a familiar emotion run through him. He turned to the others, "If I am going to return...I will not return slinking in like a criminal, I want everyone to know that I am back, once and for all." With that he dashed forward and, bouncing off the two gates, he climbed up to the top of the Konoha gate.

He stood, now a small dot against the sun, and they heard a howl rise into the air, a long powerful one, one that signaled that once more the streets of Konoha will now and forevermore, be home to a familiar demon wolf. Yume tipped her head back and howled, answering him, their voices climbed and echoed together. Reaching a climaxing symphony they fell together, blending in an eerie harmony, that only they seemed to know how to do.

Kakashi was reading a book, his legs extended easily upon his desk, his chair slightly tipped backwards as he read relaxingly, one arm folded up behind his head. He turned the page with his thumb and had just begun to read the next when, suddenly, a howl broke through the conundrum. He dropped his book and eased the chair forward.

He set his feet gently on the floor, his heart pounding and his arm falling from its position. He stood slowly and turned; Ignoring the book he turned instead to the window. Then he heard another howl answering the other. He listened to them silently, as happiness and hope began to fill his heart. He knew that this could only mean one thing: Naruto had saved Hime, and had returned once more to the village.

He quickly pulled his Hokage gown off, it was bothersome and dis-hindered speedy flight, and opened the window. As he leaped through it he began to wonder randomly why they even bothered put a door to the office when the only people who ever used it was the office assistant. Well, he supposed some ninja did actually report by going through the door, but he and many others had always used the window. When he thought deeper - every Hokage was that way. Was there something peculiar about using a window instead of a door?

Kakashi mulled it about as he hopped from rooftop to rooftop. ...and then there was this - this leaping upon roofs. it was quick yes, but did the people who lived in such places ever get annoyed with it? Or did it become a common everyday thing? Like, did the wife of the house when she was cooking say to herself 'Oh, another ninja off to a mission, he must be in a hurry, he only landed once' or something like that?

Then he thought why the hell was he thinking of these things now? He shook it from mind. He smirked as his private guard caught up to him, they huffed as they got into positions. He smiled to himself, he always liked getting one up on them, keeping them on their toes. He hated the fact that he needed them, who the hell was going to attack him? He was the Copy-cat Ninja for hell's sake, he was the strongest ninja in the village, why the hell did the strongest ninja in the village need protection?

He cursed himself again - why the hell was he thinking these things now? Naruto was here! He should be more worried about Naruto. Finally, the main gate came in veiw, and he saw a familiar figure standing upon it. "So like him, everything has to be big and 'cool' looking, just like his father." Kakashi said to himself. He leaped down to the main street and walked upon it. The only time this part of town was busy was in the morning and at night when teams were coming and going to missions.

He walked casually towards the gatehouse as the two gate guards frantically fixed themselves to make them look presentable. Kakashi waved them off before they cold salute him. Just beyond the gate he could see a familiar group of people, Sakura, Lee, Neji,Kiba,Hinata,Shikamaru...and little Hime. He smiled softly, he didn't know how the hell he had done it so fast, but he was happy.

Then his eye caught sight of another figure, it almost blended into the gravel. Tall, with an long skinny muzzle, aother wolf stood, but it wasn't Naruto. Naruto leaped down a few yards away. Kakashi, by one look, could see he was smiling and happy once more. He held no regrets or any guilt of the past, he was healed. Gomeg had spoken the truth, which meant that the other wolf, was the one who healed him...his mate.

She ran forward and, on closer inspection, he noted she had very lovely green eyes. She ran right to Naruto, the gate guards stood in slack-jawed confusion as they looked up to where Naruto had came from. Then they watched as this wolf ran towards the Naruto. Naruto turned to her, grinning, then he turned back and walked forward - his tail held down, but not tucked.

His ears however were held backwards and his head bowed. He paused, someways away from him. "Sir, Hokage." he said. Kakashi was silent. Kakashi had enough formalities, he was just happy Naruto was home. He spoke to Naruto "Oh, so now you want to be formal, how about when you decided to leave the village for almost a year? Couldn't be bothered to leave a note or request for some leave?"

Naruto slunk lower. 'Man...he really is sorry.' Kakashi thought to himself. But now his happiness of Naruto being here was waning, now was time for the anger of having to be over-worried and stressed over his student. "Don't think that sitting and cowering there is going to curb my anger, you have any idea what I had to go through? How much I had to do to keep you from being put on the Bingo books as a traitor? You owe me big time Na- I mean...dammit! What the hell was your name again?" Kakashi yelled, his anger making him forget.

"Fluffy...sir" Naruto finally said. Kakashi nodded, stifling laughter, 'Oh yeah, that's right, that is what Hinata named him.' Kakashi thought, then he spoke. "Well..Fluffy, what do you have to say for yourself, what the hell was going through your head when you thought leaving the village was the smartest fucking idea in that messed-up wolf mind of yours? Hnmmmmmm?"

Naruto was silent for a bit, 'Holy hell...he is pissed.' Naruto thought to himself. "Well...I...I wanted to go and bury my students." Kakashi was taken aback by the answer..."What? they already were...we buried Gin-" "but not Baru and Chikao." Kakashi was silent then it hit him. 'He went...and buried...but...that was months...oh my...' Kakashi stood there stunned.

Naruto continued "it was terrible Hokage sir, but...I managed to give them proper burial. I had planned on returning soon after completing the burial but...something happened while I was out there...and I realized...I was not safe to have in the village. I would have moments of...intense anger, so intense I would lash out and attack anything with such viciousness...and Hinata and Kiba had a young child in the house..."

Then it hit Kakashi, Naruto had left not to because he wanted to, but because he had to, It made sense now, he could see Naruto's point of view, a small young toddler, running about next to a wolf with jaws that could bend steel and if that said wolf was having moments of... delirium to put it mildly, it would not be a good mix. Thankfully, Naruto had come to that realization, that knowing that something was wrong with him, and that until he was fixed he needed to stay away...this changed everything.

Naruto watched Kakashi, waiting for his reaction. Kakashi spoke after awhile. "Very well...I guess the best thing to do at the moment is to see what the council has to say about these things." Naruto nodded, Kakashi was right, that would be the proper thing to do. Kakashi looked to Yume Sso, is this one who Gomeg told me about?" Naruto smiled and nodded.

He turned to Yume she stepped up cautiously. "That is your alpha is it not?" Naruto nodded "He is" Yume glanced to Kakashi. "You are the alpha who is perverted and is late all the time, correct?" Naruto whimpered "Yume! don't say that! we want him to like us!" Kakashi was silent. "I am NOT perverted." Naruto snapped his head to him "Yes you are! dude you probably were in your office reading one of those paradise books - like always!"

Kakashi yelled at him "OI! It is not my fault that his editor found a huge private manuscript stash and is now publishing them all!" A silence descended the area. Everyone stared at Kakashi. Kakashi blushed beneath his mask. "I mean...well, that's what I have heard at least." Naruto raised an eye-brow at him.

"Oh be quiet." Kakashi said crossing his arms. "Anyway, let's get moving. Someone go notify the council and get them ready." He then turned back to Naruto "Fluffy, come with us. I am sorry but you will have to leave Yume with them" Kakashi said, motioning to the others. Naruto nodded, Yume whined and rubbed against him. "Don't worry, we will get through this, just please stay with Hinata and them...nothing could keep me parted from your side."

Yume nodded "I know, but I am scared, I love you Na-" Naruto silenced her with a passionate licking on her muzzle he whispered in her ear "Don't speak that name, it's a secret name, only few know of it, you must call me either Fluffy or Wolf-heart when there are others besides them around." He said nodding to Hinata and the others.

Yume nodded and licked his back. They stood for a moment, heads wrapped around each others necks, then they slowly parted. "I love you Yume" he said, before he left - then followed Kakashi as they led him away.

Sorry, not much in this chapter as well, but still hoped you enjoyed.

Remember to R&R, and that every review is greatly appreciated. I also want to take this chance to thank everyone who has given me support for college, only three days left. I want to try getting a chapter done each of those days. Thank-you to all for sticking with this story and really making it come to life.

I have been thinking in awhile I might do an Author Q&A (even though it's forbidden, I can place it at the end of a chapter, so then it's not a separate chapter onto itself.)

So please send me questions in PM or even in a review, I don't really mind, I read each one, and in a few chapters I will give you answers to all your questions. So...

Ta Ta for now!

NSW