Life As A Fox

Chapter 93

NSW

Silence, the silence was deafening in Konoha, the only noise was the slight creaking of a casket as it was marched past the gathered crowd. All in Konoha lined the streets to pay tribute to the 'death parade.' So many had fallen, it seemed as though it was never ending. Naruto thought for a moment, where they would get the people to replace all they lost, surely this had to have crumbled their strength? But no as he looked around he saw so many young children with fires of will burning strongly in their eyes, and he knew, he knew, that Konoha was not lost, that more numbers would stand to come to her aide.

Naruto looked on, his sense were dulled, he did not know what to feel, he felt loss, but had experienced loss enough to know how to deal, so now he felt as though he were trapped in quicksand. The more he fought it, it seemed, the more it sucked him in. He shook his head and looked down at his pups. They sat still, their heads bowed as well, they did not know really what was going on, but they felt and saw the pain in everyone's eyes, so they knew something of a great sadness was happening, and that they to should be sad as well.

Yume comforted him some, by leaning her body against his. He turned his head. She placed her own beneath his jaw. They cradled each other's heads as they watched the procession continue. Then at last, the last casket came into view. Being pulled by four great black horses, wearing black leather harnesses they marched, their knees popping up, lifting their massive feathered hooves in graceful and regal steps.

Their necks were arched all at the same angle, they stepped and even breathed in sync. Naruto had to wonder what training went in, to get horses like these. They were beautiful, and commanding, a nobility and poise to their very stature. Naruto watched them go by, their harnesses chiming and their nostrils flaring. They pulled a casket made of stone, a marble it looked like, carved with the utmost precision.

On the side was the Konoha symbol and ancient text made of Kanji few recognized, even Naruto had trouble discerning the meaning. 'Hidden by the leaves, the great fire burns' That was what was engraved on the side of the casket. Then one by one the crowd joined in with the precision, following it out to the burial grounds of Konoha. At this time many split into smaller groups, going to their families and loved ones, following them to their final resting place in the cold earth.

It was surreal, it was such a bright and sunny day. So sunny in fact that woman dressed in their elegant black gowns sweated and swatted at flies as they fanned themselves with paper fans. Those who wore hats, or had a servant hold a shade for them were lucky. Naruto and his family had to survive by panting. There were times he longed to have sweat glands once more.

Naruto followed the main casket, as it was lead to a more private part of the graveyard. He sat an watched as they positioned the 5th Hokage over the black hold in the earth, freshly dug. For a moment, she hung suspended in mid-air, as if waiting for something. More people came and situated themselves. Sakura and Lee stood off to the side. Sakura wore a long black dress, that cascaded down to her claves, the straps were wide and rested on her shoulders, crossing over her bosom. A simple necklace, pink quartz attached to a silver chain hung around her neck.

Her hands were folded softly in front of her, she stared out sad but she did not cry. Lee laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. She lifted on hand up and rested it on his. She squeezed his fingers and looked to him once then back to the grave. Naruto padded over to her. He sat down then leaned against her leg, something she always found annoying, but at the moment, she found it comforting, for she smiled softly and laid a hand on his head, scratching his ears.

Yume stayed with the pups, she knew at the moment Naruto needed to be alone with Sakura. Naruto turned his head, Ino and Sai arrived, followed by Hinata, Kiba, Hime and Kibou. Hinata wore a black dress similar to Sakura's only Hinata added a belt around her middle, she also had a black wide hat to protect her delicate skin from the sun. Her hair brought up in an intricate bun and she wore her expensive Lily of the Valley perfume, something she only wore on special occasions.

Around her neck was clasped the silver necklace Kiba had given her for their first anniversary. Naruto nodded to her, she nodded back. Kiba wore simple black clothes and held onto Hime's hand, Kibou stood next to Kiba's leg clutching at the fabric, but his eyes stared ever forward. When more had gathered, nobles in expensive gowns and extravagant jewelry, ushering forth children wearing mini versions of the luxurious silks and patterns.

They snapped fingers and commanded to their servants for water, shade, and at times even a nibble of a fruit or small tidbit that they brought with them. All of them sweated and stood red faced as they panted and huffed in the sun. One finally commanded, "We are all here, let us bury her and be done, many of us have long journeys to get back home. The man who was running the ceremony spoke, "We are waiting for one more."

"Who?" "The current Hokage, which would be me." Kakashi said coming forward, leading Anko, and his kids, Anki, and Sakumo. He did not wear his Hokage gown, instead he wore his usual jounin gear, only it was more pristine and elegant than the usual wear and tear one. Anko chose to wear a simple satin gray dress, an amber colored belt clasped on her waist.

The noble who had spoken flushed and remained quiet for the time there after. Naruto turned his head back to the man who stood before them. "The village of Konoha has seen many great and tragic things, she has been led by those who are known as the best of the best, in both strength, honor, integrity and will."

Kakashi nodded. "Before us today, we mark the passing of one more great and noble person, Tsunade was the granddaughter of Hashirama Senju, the first Hokage, and Grandniece of the second Hokage, she was trained and instructed under the wise guidance of the Third Hokage and was known through the land as the 'slug princess' Tsunade was a truly gifted and strong leader of Konoha, and will be greatly missed, her wisdom and her will, will be kept alive in our hearts."

At that moment, Sakura sobbed, the emotion she tried so hard to keep back spilled out. Naruto whined and nudged her. She got her sobs under control and waved him off. Instead she leaned in on Lee's shoulder. He held her tightly and closed his eyes as he held her. A gong rang out, dull a muffled followed by the sound and clattering of a great many bells.

They were the bells of death, ringing out, when someones burial was about to get underway. All around Konoha the elegiac bells rang. Filling the village with their mysterious and other worldly sound, death rang out true and strong for a few moments, then even death itself, died down. Slowly Tsunade was lowered down into her place. Some priest's muttered an intelligible and ancient mantra as one scattered dirt from a ceremony bowl.

Their dull voices spoke in synch, seeming as though they were one, it was chilling and made Naruto's fur stand on edge. The mantra continued for a long while. Till at last her casket rested. Slowly dirt was poured in from large stone containers. One by one, people passed by and paid their respects, lighting a stick of incense, or placing a private prayer upon the prayer tree for her.

Naruto paid his own tribute, he stood before her grave, then he threw his head back and howled, no other joined him because all knew from the sound of his voice, that this tribute to her was his and his alone, mournful and sorrowful he said good-bye to the one who believed in him, the one who sacrificed her all to protect him and to keep his dream alive.

How it pained her to trust in one more person, after all the loss she had suffered she still placed her bets on him. He had a promise to her, a promise that he still did not fulfill, but one day, one day, he would fulfill her dream, prove that faith in him was not wasted. She was the 5th Hokage, she was one of the only relatives of his own clan left, she was many great things, she was also many not so great things, but all and all she was herself, she was what Konoha and himself needed all along.

She served the village exactly how her grandfather and grand-uncle had wanted, dying so that the future children could inherit the will and pass it onto the next generation. After he was done, he bowed his head to her, then he spoke softly. "Rest well...Baa-chan" he said, the words falling off his lips softly.

But paying respect for the dead was not over for him. He continued on, going to the next funeral he had in mind. Iruka's, Sasuke was already there, he stood with his family. Naruto walked over to them. Sasuke gazed down to him, his eyes showed the faint evidence that he had been crying. Naruto sat down, his ears cocked back. Sasuke absently brought his hand down to Naruto's head, ruffling the fur, it comforted them both.

"Just because he died following his motto, just because he died doing that which he loved, doesn't mean it doesn't hurt less." Sasuke said softly. Naruto nodded it was too true. "I heard your howl, who was that for?" "Tsunade, but I guess you could say it was for everyone, when a wolf grieves, he grieves for all." Sasuke patted his head. "There is so many funerals to go to today, somehow I feel I might miss an important one."

Sasuke's first wife spoke. "It's impossible to go to all of them, but just because you did not attend the funeral does not mean you did not care for the person." Sasuke nodded she was right. "I suppose it's time." He said to Naruto, Naruto nodded, it was. Leaving Iruka's grave they set out to their destination in mind.

Pregnant Ten-ten stood dressed in not black but white dress, a long pure one, made of soft cloth, it flowed down to her ankles her hair, which she grew out longer was tied back in a simple bun. Shikamaru was there with her along with other members of the Hyuga second branch.

Lee and Sakura followed behind Naruto and Sasuke. Lee went over to his old teammate and put a hand on her shoulder. She turned, her eyes red from crying, but their was a strength residing in them. She placed a hand on her bulging abdomen.

She looked up and turned her head to where Hinata stood, Hinata left Kiba and walked over to her. Neither Kunochi said a word. They only gazed into each others eyes silently for a few moments. Then Ten-ten and Hinata collapsed unto one another, holding and crying softly, both had loved Neji so dearly, to Hinata he was a brother more than a cousin, and to Ten-ten he was a husband, and best friend.

Naruto remained silent, but on the inside he was seething. He knew it was the main clans fault, by they had covered their tracks well, no evidence of messages or meetings between the enemy and them could be linked, all they had was a confession by Neji that was recorded by a simple summoning.

But Naruto knew he had to avenge Neji's death, Naruto believed him, he would not fail him, he had to do this for Neji, for all who had died in the war, they could not get away, they could not escape their sins. Naruto turned and stalked away he had work to do.

Dead ends, more and more dead ends, for two weeks he had followed every lead, no matter how small or bare he had followed them. But it was no use, he could not interrogate the enemy, they were dead. And one could not even touch a main branch member anymore, after the council had released them do to the lack of evidence that Kakashi had on them.

One witness was not enough to condemn a whole clan, especially one of such high-caliber. Naruto groaned and dug his dead into his desk not caring how stupid it probably looked. "Sir...I don't think that is helping" Mouse stated.

Naruto lifted his head to where Mouse sat in the corner organizing files. "Nothing does, it's impossible, you can't interrogate the clan members and all the paper trails were burned long ago, they covered their tracks like ghosts." "Ghosts...don't leave tracks" "Exactly" Naruto stated and slammed his head back into the desk.

"Instead of trying to peel away the layers, why not get right to the source? Just dive right into the center, have you tried going through memories? Our interrogation squad has a few Yamanaka's, try using their blood trait." "It has crossed my mind" Naruto said lifting his head with a grunt.

"But one, we would need people, and all the bad guys are dead, and like I said the Hyuga are untouchable." "You don't need a bad guy, you need someone who everyone has overlooked even you." Naruto peered at Mouse. "What do you mean?"

"Did you not take in a child who was in the camp the entire time, who is the son of the main plot maker of the war? Did that not cross your mind? The child she would have kept close, and being as he is young, they did not think of all the stuff his mind absorbed."

Naruto was leaping onto his feet. "THATS IT!" He howled and jumped down from his desk in his excitement he ran around the office. He then jumped up unto Mouse and knocked him to the ground. Paws on his shoulders he licked Mouses masked face several times before he realized what he was doing and lept back.

Mouse sat up, wipping his mask. Naruto laid his ears back. "I...I'm sorry...I just sometimes, when I get excited I...act like...well...I..I'm sorry." He bowed his head looking up at Mouse. Mouse grumbled as he got back up. "Every General has his quirks, I guess this is one of yours, I will try and adjust, along with all the hair.."

Naruto whined, "I can't help it! I shed, it's just what I do! If I could control it I would!" Mouse sighed. "You were going to go do something?" Naruto paused. "Oh...right...to Tomi!" Naruto dashed away towards the door. "Wait...don't I have to fill out forms or something to use the interrogation squad?"

Mouse held them up."Yes, just sign the bottom I will do the rest, also you might want to send a message out to gather them? They don't just hang around here, they have lives." "Right" Naruto said. He stuck his head out the door way, looking both ways for a person.

He spotted Horse. "Horse!" he yelled out. Horse paused and saluted him. Naruto ran down the hall. "I need you to gather the interrogation squad! ASAP!" "Sir, Yes Sir!" Horse yelled out and was off. Naruto turned and ran back to his office.

"Taken care of!" Naruto yelled into his office then ran off to get Tomi and Kibou. Tomi had taken in his cousin, to take care of. Since he was the only family the child had. Naruto ran through the streets his feet hitting the ground in soft thuds as he bounded towards the place that Tomi lived. A small apartment on the other side of town.

Naruto ran up the metal steps to his apartment on the second floor, if he remembered correctly he lived at the end of the hall. Naruto stopped and knocked by hitting his tail several times against the door. He stood on the balcony and waited. Tomi answered the door. He was now a young man, full-grown. He stood tall and strong.

His body muscular and lithe. His unkempt brown hair shaggy in his face. A 5 o'clock shadow forming on his jaw. "Na...Naruto? What are you doing here? Get in here ya old flea bag, its been awhile since I saw ya last!" Naruto entered as Tomi gruffly hugged him. Naruto cleared his throat as he parted. "I am sorry, I am not exactly here on a social visit, I need to borrow Kibou."

Tomi paused. "Oh...why?" "I need..." Naruto stopped he didn't know exactly how to tell Tomi. "Why don't we sit down?" Naruto asked. Tomi nodded and motioned to the living room. "Tea?" he asked. "No...I don't understand why everyone thinks when company is over they want tea, give me water, milk, sake even, no more of that herbal shit, tastes like dirt to me, comforting my furry ass, that stuff is nasty."

Tomi chuckled. "Couldn't agree more, Hinata always made this dreadful stuff, I would dump into that one plant every time she gave it to me, who really enjoys that crap? I think they all pretend." "I know right?" Naruto exclaimed. The two of them laughed for a few moments, before Naruto quirked his ears at the sound of feet.

He turned to see Kibou. The child was dressed in brand new clothes and was eating from a bowl some sort of snack cereal or cookie of some sort. He stared vacantly at both of them. "I didn't want to alarm you at all Tomi, but the fact of the matter is, we would like to borrow Kibou for a bit." Tomi cocked his head. "What?" he asked obviously confused.

"We would like to sift through his memories that is all, no harm will we do to him, you know how skilled the Yamanaka are-" Tomi stood up and went to Kibou, placing a hand on the boy's head ruffling his hair. "I know what you are asking, and I understand why you would need him, but he is a child, who knows what affects of purging his memories might have on him? He is just beginning to adjust to this life, he's just beginning to relax and be a normal child, if you do that, would he ever possibly awaken from whatever realm he is in?"

Naruto nodded, that was the same fear he had, but he needed to take that risk. "I know Tomi, but if we do not do this, many innocent lives would have died for nothing, to save their memory and to put to ease the suffering of their loved ones...it is for the name of justice." Tomi sighed and turned to him. "I know, Naruto, I know...but how many wars have been fought, how many lives have been taken for that same thing? Think about it, the prophet thought he was-"

Tomi was cut off, at the mention of the name 'prophet' Kibou threw his snack on the ground scattering it all over the hard wood floor. His little hand clamped over his ears, and he began to let out these harrowing, pitiful sounds. Tomi was kneeling and trying to soothe him, but to no avail, the child jerked from his grasp and cried out louder.

Then for the first time for both, they heard him speak. In a high-pitched wail, he screamed. "Mama!Mama!" Naruto and Tomi made eye contact. Kibou ran to a nearby corner and pressed his little body into it, jamming himself and curling up into a pretzeled little ball. Naruto padded forward to the weeping and distressed child.

He scrunched down, to where he was almost dragging his body across the floor as walked to the child. The child looked up and seeing him started to actually calm. He was transfixed so it seemed by his eyes. Naruto got near to him. "It's okay Kibou, it's okay, I know, I know you miss your mother, but she is gone now...to a better place, she can't come back...but we are here for you...we will always be there for you, can you trust us?"

The child did not make a sound, instead he stared into Naruto's eyes. He stared for what seemed a long while. Silence passed during that time, neither made a sound. Then Kibou rushed Naruto and hugged him, clinging unto him and gripping him so hard. Naruto could not move for a while. "Tomi both of us are in a rock and a hard place, and I understand what you mean, but you must think about the greater good, do you want Neji's death to be in vain? To see Ten-ten raise a child of the man she loved and not know if he died for the right cause?" Naruto looked to Tomi.

"In the name of justice, many people have used that as a cover for doing terrible things, but what I am doing is not a terrible thing, I am only revealing the truth, I seek to reveal the true justice that lies underneath, nothing more." Tomi with a great sigh nodded. "I understand, this is something that needs to be done, very well...I guess, maybe by doing this, it might help him, we might be able to understand what is wrong with him and try and help him."

Naruto nodded. "Exactly so, come now, I shall have the child home by tomorrow, don't you fret mother hen." Tomi rolled his eyes but smiled and nodded to him. Naruto looked back to Kibou. "Kibou, why don't you come with me? I'll show you where I work hnmmm? Wouldn't that be fun? I also think there will be plenty of sweets in it for you."

With that the child's eyes light up. That was how he had always been bought, the thought of sweets, oh how his childish mind loved those things. Cookies, candies, small pieces of chocolates, sweet breads glazed with honey, roasted nuts, sweet crisp berries covered in sugar and sitting in crème. Rich frothy milk to follow, that was his life, that was what he knew.

So he followed Naruto easily, gripping the fur of his shoulder with one hand he walked at ease next to the wolf. He did so all the way to the head quarters, upon entry, his guards saluted him. The child stopped when he saw the masked men. Naruto glanced to the boy. "Gentlemen, I know it's not really in my power to do so, but you are making the boy uncomfortable with your masks, is it possible for you to remove them?"

The two looked to each other than shrugged. They took of their masks. Upon seeing that they were just normal men beneath the boy relaxed. The child followed him down into the lower levels. "Right in here." He led the boy into a brightly lit room. A couple of the interrogation squad were already there, a few were on the ground preparing the seals for the mind purging ceremony.

Naruto spoke. "First off I thank-you for coming on such short notice, second I ask that you treat this child with respect and be gently, his name is Kibou, he has recently lost his mother, and is now in a strange place, do you understand?" They all nodded to him. "Next I am going to need someone to go into town and buy many sweets, candies, cookies, cakes, whatever you think a child like this would like get."

"Milk, Milk" the child said snapping awake from his constant day dream before returning. "And...milk I guess." One of the men stood. "I guess...I could go...I know a place nearby." Naruto fumbled around in his collar pouch that he wore most of the time that held his wallet and Ninja registration I.D, it also held an ink well and some paper, as well as a few medical aid things.

"Here, use this" he said tossing his wallet at the man. The man caught it and nodded to him then left. Naruto turned back to the rest. "All right let's get going."

The boy was placed in the middle of the complex writings of seals. The air was charged with chakra and the floor seemed to pulse and glow with it. For a moment Naruto thought that the floor had came to life and was now a living creature itself. Naruto sat next to the child, to keep him calm through the proceedings.

As one the four Yamanaka members of the interrogation squad went through a complex series of seals. Then all four of them then stopped their hands in the position that the clan used to initiate the beginning of entry of a person's mind. Everyone stood stalk still. Naruto held his breath, he knew the risk for them if they couldn't concentrate their minds.

Suddenly Kibou became slack, his eye-lids flickered closed. His head dropping he drooped in his chair. Naruto glanced around all four members also held a degree of slackness in their stance. Kibou suddenly awoke. He turned his head to Naruto, his eyes alert. "Sir, this is Spider, I am in control of the boys speech and motor functions, I am doing this while Kingsnake, Eagle and Mastiff go in deeper."

Naruto nodded. "I will be keeping you updated through the proceedings." "Very well, and please be gentle as you can." Naruto warned. "We understand the frailness of his mind, young minds are delicate, but this one even more so." Naruto nodded. "Very well, I have faith in you." It was several minutes before Spider spoke again.

"We have learned much so far, you were smart sir to do this, we have confirmation of the main Hyuga branches involvement." Naruto sighed as much as he wanted to prove Neji right, he also hoped Neji was wrong, if this were true, no one could be trusted, if even the oldest clan of Konoha was willing to sell them out who could they trust anymore?

Naruto nodded. "Very well gather the information you consider worthy." The man nodded. "Very well, Eagle and Mastiff will leave and begin the transfer." Naruto glanced over to Eagle and Mastiff's forms. They snapped awake. They created clones to stand in their place as they prepared special scrolls. Over the years, the Yamanaka had developed a way to be able to transfer the memories of people into special scrolls, so they would be able to be viewed by anyone, much like a television set.

A stream of chakra began to be emitted from the boys forehead to the men standing over the scrolls. A chakra link carrying the precious information. Naruto backed away and made sure he didn't even breath near it. Who knows what could happen if the link was broken. It was a long while for the transfer to be complete.

By the end the men, and Kibou had a sheen of sweat on their bodies. But with one last push, they finished the purge and all of them descended back into their own bodies. Naruto nuzzled Kibou. The child looked up, clearly exhausted, but he did not look like he had been harmed mentally or physically. Naruto nodded to his squad.

"Finish up and go rest, go to the bar and have a few drinks on me, you deserved it." Spider chuckled. "That sounds like an excellent idea, but we will have to pass, thank you for the offer though." Naruto nodded to them. The man who had left for sweets returned with bags full. He also brought the milk that Kibou instantly claimed.

Naruto chuckled as the child came to life, snacking and gorging on the sweets. Naruto himself was tempted to try some as well, but knew he shouldn't. But after the exertion put on his young body and after the feast of candy. Kibou fell asleep. Naruto had him placed on his back and he walked back to Tomi's house carrying the boy and the leftover feast.

Tomi was waiting for them and opened the door for Naruto. Naruto placed the child on the coach and turned to Tomi. "We have a success, and the boy was not harmed, here, these sweets are how you get to him, he also like milk, might want to take that into consideration." Tomi sighed. "Great, I am lactose intolerant."

Naruto chuckled and said goodbye to Tomi then left for home. He looked to the horizon. He knew what would be done, the information in the scrolls would be passed to Kakashi. Kakashi would view them and decide what would be done to the Hyuga clan. Kakashi was just and smart, he would think of the perfect way for them to be punished.

Naruto would have to leave soon he, and several other demons would help Biskask on her quest back home. The journey would be long, and into the unknown, but it would be a journey worth having. He knew that Sasuke would also soon find the rock that Kakashi needed for the rebuilding of the wall. He would fly fast and save much time, while he was on the back of Imasen.

Naruto also knew that now that Konoha was a sanctuary for many a demon, and more coming each day. They would have to find a place for all of them to live, somewhere all would be comfortable. He walked home contemplating all these things. His life had many adventures, and held many more to come, his story was long, and seemed to never end.

Storms seemed to always be weathering on the horizon, but that was they way of storms, they formed, lashed out, but passed eventually, all one had to do was survive and fight through them. Who was to say what would happen in the next chapter of his life? Even he nor the gods could know, but he knew no matter what he would face it with his friends and loved ones, and he would prevail, and one day his war would be over.

He was Uzumaki Naruto, a child that was born a human, but lived a demon, and living as a demon, he became a better man from it. You did not need to be human to have humanity, you need only the spirit. He came upon his home, and stopped and gazed on it. Three pups scampered out the door and ran towards him. In the dying sunlight, they seemed to glow.

They came to a stop before him crashing into one another. He laughed and leaned down to lick each of them. He lifted his head to see Yume come out to him. She fell in next to him. Licking his cheek, they walked back to the house where Hinata was cooking and Kiba and Hime were playing with Akamaru. Tails entwined and heads together Yume and Naruto talked about their future, and the future of the pups, and the future pups they might have, but no matter what they spoke of each knew, that the darkness in their life was lifted, and that all their futures would bright, bright like the sun glinting off a young wolf pups fur.

Sorry about the time, I have been super busy, and then I went back home for break, and then work and blah blah blah, well here it is.

NSW