Life As A Fox

Chapter 92

NSW

Hey Guys, I'm back sorry about the wait, I was busy this weekend, and the days following, school has been really hammering away at me.

But heres the next chapter I hope you enjoy.

Naruto entered the room. Kakashi was in the hospital bed, sitting up, with a table in front of him. At the moment he was going through paperwork, while listening to a man give a report. He looked up when he heard Naruto. "Ah, there you are." Kakashi said dismissing the man with a wave of his hand. "Sir, how are you feeling?"Naruto said remaining formal. "I am feeling all right Naruto, as I tell every other bloody person who asks." Kakashi sighed pushing the paper away

Naruto smirked and stepped forward. "What are your orders?" "Hnmm? Oh, first thing is first we need to get access to the damage done by this war, how many died, who is missing, things of that order." "What of the Hyuga?" Naruto said. After learning of Hiyashi's betrayal most of the main branch was seized upon and taken in for questioning. "Give me some time, we have larger things to worry about."

Naruto nodded. "Shall I return back to see how the clean up is going?" Kakashi nodded. "Right now I am figuring out where I can get more rock and timber for the re-building of the wall." "S-sir?" Naruto said taken aback. "You seem confused, did you think the wall was made of normal wood and stone?" Naruto nodded, wasn't that so? Kakashi chuckled. "No, Naruto the wall is more than that."

"The wall was built of a special stone, not found in this area easily, and I doubt we could find it again, the only way to find it is by use of special locator crystals." "Locator crystals?" Naruto asked. "Yes, the first Hokage had one, one that he passed down to his granddaughter, the late Tsunade, but she passed it down to another, long before her death." Naruto shivered knowing where this was going.

"My necklace" he said. "Yes, the reason it was known to be worth a mountain, is because it literally is, by use of that crystal, you can find mountains of the stone." "What is so great about this stone?" Naruto asked. "It is a diluted version of the crystal." Naruto tweaked an ear his version of raising an eye-brow. Kakashi let out a long breath, he swiveled his head and looked out the window.

Naruto waited in silence for him. Kakashi sat up and pushed the table away. "Come here" Kakashi said waving towards the nearby chair. Naruto padded over and jumped up into the chair. He curled his body and lay facing Kakashi. "Your crystal, helped control massive amounts of chakra, it channeled it and kept it flowing." Naruto nodded understanding. "You knew that at one time, Konoha had a great barrier seal, that the Anbu used, and that only those who knew the password could enter it."

Naruto nodded, that was true. "Well during the chunin exams that you took when you were a genin, the barrier was broken, and it never was put up again, which is a shame." Kakashi said sighing. "Yes, now what does this have to do with the rock?" "I was getting to that" Kakashi said sternly. Naruto laid his ears back in apology. "I wish to rebuild the wall and re-establish the seal, to do that I need the rock, it to held the same capabilities as the crystal, that is why we could do the seal in the first place."

Naruto mulled it over in his head. If what Kakashi said was true, that would mean that instead of having a person constantly feeding the seal, which would drain that person to do such a thing over a massive area. Instead with the stone, one would only have to feed the chakra into the wall each morning and night, the stone would distribute it naturally and sustain the seal itself.

It was a phenomenal idea, Naruto had to admit it would not have been something he would think of, the first Hokage was truly a genius for thinking of such things. "So, you wish to find this stone correct?" Naruto asked. Kakashi nodded. "Yes, and since you so boldly announced to all of Konoha who you really are, I will need your permission." "Permission for what?" Naruto asked.

"To dig up your grave." He said simply. Naruto studied his face, Kakashi was serious. Naruto was silent for a few moments. "Well...how can I say no to you when you look at me like that?" Kakashi gave him a death glare and fumbled around for some papers. Finally he found what he was looking for. "Here" he said handing Naruto some papers. Naruto looked down at them.

It was an official request form, asking for permission. "I...Kakashi, you don't have to do this, If you wanted it just ask, you can go ahead." "That maybe, but like I said, everyone knows who you are now." Naruto sighed Kakashi was right. Ever since he announced to all who he really was, a lot had changed. Many got out of his way, those who used to treat him with so much closeness and friendship now gave him respect, but seemed to only come from fear.

It was as if they were afraid of him. Then again who could blame them, he was a human who managed to get a goddess of demons to give him new life. Well in reality he did no such thing, Karuma helped him, and Megumi herself said she chose him for this. He sighed, maybe after a while things would settle down. Maybe then people would relax around him.

Naruto glanced down, "Do you have an inkwell?" Kakashi nodded and placed one next to him. "Thanks" He said and dipped the tip of his tail in it and wrote out his name. "Um...Naruto, I need your real name...not Fluffy..." Naruto glanced down, he didn't even realize. "Oh...sorry about that." Kakashi grumbled as he got a new set of papers. Naruto signed his real name, it was so weird to write it again, it was as if he had found something that he hadn't seen in forever, it resurrected old memories.

He chuckled, then he nodded to Kakashi, "I shall go and see about the clean-up." Kakashi nodded. "Also, the child, of Ainu, where is it?" Kakashi asked. "Where do you think it is? What happens to all the strays I being home? Hinata has taken him in." Naruto said sighing. Kakashi shook his head smiling. "Of course she has." Naruto finished up his name then bowed his head and left.

He walked the streets going back down to the fighting zone. Civilians, ninja, and demons alike were helping tear down the temporary structures and tents. Others were re-organizing the wall bits. Large pieces in one giant pile, smaller ones in carts and transferred to other piles. Naruto over saw all operations. He scented a familiar scent on the breeze.

He turned, it was Kiba and faithfully limping beside him Akamaru. Naruto greeted Akamaru, who licked him fervently. Naruto looked to Kiba. "He fares well?" Kiba nodded. "Oh yeah, my boy can pull through anything, right Akamaru?" Akamaru gave a bark in reply. Naruto rolled his eyes. "So whats going to happen now?" "First we have to tear everything down, clean everything up, make note of our supplies and persons, then we must begin the reconstruction."

"R-reconstruction?" Naruto nodded. "Kakashi is going to dig up my grave, take my necklace and use it to locate the special rock that made the wall in the first place." Kiba stared at him. "Are you serious?" He asked. Naruto remained silent as he looked about, then he nodded. Kiba wiped sweat from his brow. It was hot in the midday sun. It beat down on all of them.

Already certain groups began to retreat into shade to rest and receive some mercy from it. Naruto panted and turned to him. "Kiba, you should go home and rest, there is nothing more to do here, only those in the special teams and groups are needed, go be with your family." Kiba nodded "Of course, but shouldn't you be there as well?" "With Kakashi's absence and my promotion, I now must stand in, I must oversee this, I must stay here and deliver orders, commands and report what I must, that is my duty charged."

Kiba nodded "I see, well good luck." Naruto nodded. He turned back and walked along the area. Mestat came lumbering up. "Naruto." she said. "Yes, Mestat." "I have something to ask." Naruto nodded "Go ahead." "When I came to fight, I came with the hopes that afterwards, someone would help me with a small favor." Naruto nodded. "I see, go ahead."

"We elephants, we have memories and stirrings of those before us, within us." Naruto waited for her explanation. She curled her trunk delicately as she spoke. "We learn from those in the past, our instinct and theirs guide us, mine has told me, that I must return home, back to where I belong, and I ask for help to go there." Naruto glanced up at her.

At the moment her request was odd, and came at the wrong time, he had many things he had to do! All though she was his kin, he did not have the time to honor such requests. "I know, you are busy" she continued suddenly. Her great eyes gouging into his. The softness in them made him feel as if he was being cradled by her massive trunk. "I am not asking for assistance now, I am asking for it when you have time."

"Why me?" he asked. "Why not others?" "Because others have never lost their families, others do not understand what it is like to be lost, you do." "You have found a family now, but there was a time, when you were like me, I ask you, to think back on those times, remember the anguish and pain you had, show me your sympathy and lend me your strength and guidance, from one lost soul to another."

She extended her trunk out, as if a hand, pleading. He closed his eyes. "Of, course, I will help you, I can't say it will be today or tommorow, but I will return you to your home, that is a promise." She nodded her massive head "Thank-you Naruto" She said softly, then her great mass turned, gracefully away from him. She walked away her limbs moving slowly but with great care.

He sighed too much was going on. He padded towards Fenrir, his 'brother-in-law' He and Mestat had survived the war and were pleasantly lying next to each other. The son and mother duo turned to Naruto. Fenrir stood up and bowed to him. The humans may have held Naruto with fear, but demons on the other hand held him with even more regard and respect, he was a demon crafted from the goddess own hands.

"Fenrir, how fares you?" Fenrir smirked. "We are good Naruto, but there is something that we must ask." Naruto internally groaned, would everyone ask for a request? "Yes?" he asked. "We wish to stay." Naruto paused. What did he mean? "Stay?" Naruto asked. "Stay, some of us wish to stay in this village, in this world, we want to be apart of it, not holed up and hidden away like we were."

Naruto was silent for a bit, the request was odd, he didn't think they would want to. "The same could be said for us." Naruto turned his head. It was Dither. His men stood behind him, massive arms folded over equally massive chests, and eyes drilling down into Naruto's with resolve. "You want to stay...in Konoha?" They nodded. "But what of your homes?"

"We have bled, fought and some have died for this place, I assume that is close enough to a home as one could get." Naruto smirked Dither had a way with words. "But what of your mates? Families?" "Well we aren't going to leave them behind, we will send someone to get them, but we wish to live here." "You are adamant?" Naruto asked. "Yes" Fenrir and Dither said together.

"Okay, I see...look please just give me some time, I have so much...just some time okay?" They nodded, respecting his wishes. Naruto looked to Mestat. "I thought you were the wolves of jagged valley?" he asked her. "We are, in ways, we are, some of us will return back to our homes, those who do not wish to live with the humans, there will always be demons who go by the old ways, but the others...like me and Fenrir will stay, I do not want to abandon my daughter a second time."

Naruto nodded. "I understand, speaking of, I must go and check in on my mate." He bowed to Mestat and Fenrir then left. Heading towards home.

It was surreal to walk into the house, it was so strange, he had been so used to living and sleeping next to the wall, with all the other ninja and demons in the war. But now the war was over, it was done. The War of the demons, that was what is was called. The first, and most likely the last. The smells of Hinata cooking made his mouth water, it had been so long since he had a home cooked meal.

He heard the sound of scuffling over the wooden floors, voices called out. "Papa papa!" But they were not in demon, it was human. He was stunned as his pups ran around the corner and came crashing into him. They almost knocked him over, how big they had gotten! Their ears brushed against his belly! They danced about him, rubbing and nipping at him.

He lowered his head and licked and nuzzled each one, taking in their scents. Minato smelled like the forest, a mix of tree and leaves, swirling about in one so small. Gin smelled like wind flowing through a field of flowers. Soft and sparse, not overpowering. Mashi, Mashi smelled like a winter tundra. Fresh and Pristine. He inhaled their scents and engraved them to mind, he wanted to always remember their precious scents.

He parted from them. "You can speak human now?" "Ah huh!" Gin exclaimed. "We surprised Kiba good when he got home!" "Oh you did, that's good, now you can explain to him when you chew his shoes." Naruto said to Minato, who laid his ears back in embarrassment. "Dad! we don't do that anymore, we are big pups!" "I can see that, you have grown so much."

"Is mama right? Is the war really done?" Naruto nodded. "Why was there a war anyway?" Mashi asked. "It's a long story, I will tell you all later." "Mama said you are a general! How did you become a general papa?" Gin asked, curious as ever. Naruto sighed. "Another story for another time, now come, your father has spent a long day, and would like to relax, maybe I will tell you a story after supper."

"Naruto! Good you are home, I was worried you wouldn't be able to make it." "When I am not at war, I have rules of how long I work, I need sometime with my beautiful mate" he said licking Yume's cheek. "And my rambunctious pups who have grown so much." "What does rambunctious mean?" Gin asked. "They also ask so many questions." Naruto said nipping her playfully on the neck.

She squealed and hopped up on her back paws. Nipping and lunging at his ears. He chuckled. Kiba spoke, "They have grown, I didn't think they would be speaking with us so soon." "I told them they would have to fend for themselves now when they chew your shoes." Kiba chuckled. Mashi spoke up "We won't chew your shoes, Kiba we are sorry." "It's okay, your forgiven, besides you were only pups then."

"See dad, Kiba says we aren't pups!" Minato exclaimed. Naruto captured Minato with his paw, he took the other and fussed up the fur on Minato's head. Minato howled and tried nipping at him. "You will always be pups to me." "Not for long, one day I will be just as big as you!" Mashi said leaping forward and bristling up his fur, puffing out his chest. "Oh you will now?"

Naruto asked him. Mashi nodded. "Yep one day, I will be bigger, stronger and faster! I will be the greatest wolf demon there ever was!" "How big will your pack be?" Minato asked. "I won't need one! I will be Mashi the great white wolf!" "Well until that day" Naruto said interuppting him. "You will be Mashi, son of 'The white demon' of Konoha, and as my son, I think it is high time you sit still and eat your supper."

Mashi deflated. He scurried over to his bowl and waited for Hinata to place their supper in their bowls. Diced up venison and beef, with a basil sauce. The pups ate their food quickly. Naruto sat next to Yume and watched them. Both of them proud of the three pups they brought into this world. Naruto turned, the boy, who Hinata named Kibou ate his supper silently.

Naruto spoke to Hinata, "How is he?" Hinata brushed his hair. "He has not said a word, he comes when I say his name, and he listens to me, but not a word does he say, he only points or walks over to what he wants or needs." "I see" Naruto said glancing at the child. Hime was sitting on the ground, feeding Akamaru treats. "Sit" she said, going through basic commands.

Akamaru did so. "Good boy" she said, her voice still not as yet used to speaking. But she was learning fast, how they grew up! "Tomi has actually spoken to me about him." "Tomi?" Naruto asked, it has been awhile since he seen the adopted son of theirs. "Yes, seeing as he and Kibou are related, second cousins in all, he was thinking of actually adopting him, it would help the child out, when he is older and his blood trait comes through, in a way, they are the last of their clan."

Naruto nodded, "I see, but I guess everything is really confusing and hard to get straight, once all the paperwork and the clean up of the wall is done, I believe a lot of things can finally be straightened out." Naruto said. "I hope so" Hinata said absently stroking Kiba's hair. He leaned his head back and looked up to her as she stood behind him. They shared a small smile.

"How is Ten-ten?" He asked. Sadness flickered across Hinata's face. Neji the loss of Neji was a strong blow to her, he was like a brother. She turned hiding the tears. "I stop in to see her everyday, Sakura, me and Lee we always stop in, give her strength, she is so delicate in her condition. We try and console her the best we can, we don't want her to lose the baby so that is why we try and relieve as much stress as possible."

Naruto nodded. To Ten-ten it was a double blow, both Neji, her husband and father of their unborn child, and their sensei, both gone in one night. "Having someone nearby is the best thing, but I know her, she can get through this, she will live for that baby, I know it." Hinata nodded. "I thought the same thing, I believe she is already, if it is a boy, she will name it Neji, she has told me that."

Naruto nodded. "Good" Then he let out a long sigh as he closed his eyes and just rested for once. Yume spoke. "What is the matter my love?" "Oh, it's just...stress, so much needs to be done, and it feels like more it getting shoved on, me and Kakashi both are being buried under paperwork and duties that need to be done, a brick can't be moved or placed without one of us signing off on it."

"Even the greatest leaders are no match for paperwork." Naruto smiled at Hinata as he opened his eyes. "You would be correct, not to mention I am still being trained in my official duties...the Anbu General, not something I would have imagined being so soon." "To think you were gone so often just being a captain, now as General...I will never see you my love."

He smiled and looked to her. "Oh you will, as General I have to stay in the village and oversee the Anbu core, no more missions for me, it's all paperwork from here on." Yume licked his brow. "I have faith in you." "I know you do." He said to her butting his head into her shoulder. She chuckled. "Eeeewwwww" Mashi,Minato, and Gin all said. Naruto turned to them and chuckled.

"Come, let us go for a walk." he said to them. They scampered over to him, jumping and yipping. They followed him out of the house. Naruto looked about and sighed, the sun was setting, and the village was at peace. He looked ahead to his pups who ran before him, laughing and playing as they chased each other about. Contently he nodded, the future of Konoha was in good hands...and paws.

He watched over the pups and kept them well within his sights as he made his way to a place he had not been in a long time. On top of the mountain that over looked Konoha, and had the faces of the wise leaders of the pass forever etched in its face. Naruto with his pups stared over the great village that laid before him. "Papa what are we doing here?" Minato asked.

"We are enjoying the sight." "What sight?" asked Mashi as he peered over the edge then backed away swiftly. His fur fluffed out. Naruto wrapped a paw around all three of them and pulled them closer to him. "The sight of our home." "It's big" Gin said. "It is" Naruto said nodding. "How many people live here?" "Thousands" Naruto said answering Minato's question.

"You know them all?" "No" Naruto said. "How many others are like us?" Mashi asked. Naruto hesitated. "Well...at the moment many of our kind, but some of them may return back to where they come from." "You mean this isn't their home?" Asked Gin. Naruto nodded "Correct, they have another place that they came from." "So why did they come here and fight?"

He looked down to their curious faces. These questions were hard to answer, he didn't know how to put it in words that they would understand. "It is because it was the right thing to do, they came to help out fellow demons, and to fight for an idea, a doctrine and a hope that will spread outward to all nations and all places." "What is that?" Mashi asked.

Naruto looked up. "That no matter where we go, we demons will be treated with kindness and are free to live and run and be who we are." There was a silence, the wind ruffled through Naruto's fur. Warm and calm it gave him peace. "Are we not treated that way already?" "Yeah papa, everyone is nice to us." Naruto gave them a soft smile. "Yes, you are right, but that is only because I worked so hard to change peoples way of thinking, I did it so that I could bring my family into a place where they would be safe from harm."

He sighed. "I don't expect you to understand everything at this moment, but there is something you need to know." They turned to him. "Everyone, has a light and a dark in them, some people act out more on one side more than the other. People can do bad things, and so can demons, both of us can, but there is something you will always need to remember."

He spoke. "No matter what, never give up, always fight for what you think is right, right for you and for others, because not everyone can be lucky like us, and stand up and fight for themselves." He paused. "You need to remember to always trust and confide in your friends and allies, you need to remember them, for those who forsake them are lower than scum."

"You need to always trust in yourself, and to keep going, no matter what pain there is...and never...never forget yourself, or lose your inner fire." "Papa...why are you crying?" Gin asked. Naruto looked at her and smiled sweetly. "It's just, the last time I gave this speech, it was to three young humans, who were also my pups...in a way." "You had human pups?"

Mashi asked. Naruto shook his head. "No, they weren't actually mine, but, I took them in and raised them, trained them, brought them up to this very spot and gave them the same speech that I just gave you." "What happened?" Gin asked. Naruto shook his head. She was too young all of them were, they were still innocent, they did not need to know of loss and death so soon.

"It is a story for another time." Mashi sighed. "I think that is going to be your excuse for everything" Naruto smirked. "Better than saying I got lost on the road of life, for every time I am late." The three of them cocked their heads. He smirked. "Come, let us go home." "Wait! can't we stay? Please? I want to see the stars from here!" Naruto sighed and consented, he lay down and the pups climbed over and around him as they wrestled with each other until the stars came out.

They watched them in silence. Naruto quirked his ears as he heard a soft padding and a familiar scent that would always make him utterly happy every moment he scented it. Yume walked through the underbrush. The moonlight made her fur glow, she stood in all her beauty before him. He couldn't help but forget to breathe for a few seconds. He had to be the luckiest demon on the earth it seemed.

"I thought you would be here" her melodious voice chimed in. He nodded as he looked to the pups who scampered over to her and butted her chest and legs, rubbing their scents upon her and caressing her warmth. He stood and went over to her. Licking her muzzle affectionately. He turned and led her to a soft patch of grass, they sat next to each other, bodies just brushing each other and tail curling near to each others.

"The stars are so beautiful up here, it is crisp and clean, it was like when it was just the two of us in the wild." He nodded "Sometimes I miss the simplicity of that life." "I know, but the pups would not have had the opportunities that they are able to have, if we had stayed out there." She leaned her head against his shoulder. "I know, neither would have you."

He looked to her. "We will make this work, I promise you since day one, that I will always be there when you need me, and you know me..."I never go back on my promise" They both said. He chuckled and nipped at her while she blushed and nipped back. A howl broke their play, it was Mashi, his little voice rising up over the vast city. Naruto smiled, he put his head back and howled as well for the sheer joy of it.

Yume chimed in her yipping voice adding a mix to the harmony. Gin and Minato joined, then with a sudden rapture, all other wolves in Konoha answered them. The night was filled with their eerie, yet exuberant cries, as they paid their tribute to the stars, which was instinct to their kind.

When all were done and the last howls faded away to only echos and shadows of echos, Naruto sighed. "I have so much work to so tomorrow." Yume chuckled, "Don't we all?" Naruto sighed and rested his head against hers. He didn't know how he would make it without this wolf.

Well, that took awhile, I am so sorry about the wait once more, and no this is not the end. More will be coming soon.

NSW