Author Note: Welcome, everyone! This is the first chapter of many chapters to released in the future. I consider this story to be my baby. That sadly means I will be taking my time to write my chapters. Please do not expect quick uploads, but please feel free to yell at me if it takes too long. A small fire under me might get me moving!
This story was initially released on March 16, 2018. My writing skills and format have evolved considerably since. This is the first chapter I have entirely rewritten from the ground up. I changed quite a few things people pointed out to me. I would highly recommend everyone rereads this chapter and gets a feel for the new setting. However, it should still read quite smoothly.
Please enjoy the chapter, everyone!
Disclosure: I do not own Naruto or Naruto Shippuden. I do own my original character, though!
Kitsune Sanctuary
Chapter One
The Border of Hi No Kuni
"Shouldn't we just kill it instead of leaving it to chance?" a middle-aged man questioned, looking down at the unconscious monster. "I don't want this thing finding its way back to the village," he stated, disgust evident in his voice. A bitter hatred sowed deep in his soul the day it murdered his wife and daughter. The Sandaime Hokage told them – practically praised – that it was supposed to be seen as a hero. The idea filled him with revulsion, how could he ever treat this demon as a hero?
"No, we'll leave him here. He doesn't know which direction Konoha is in, so we'll never see the kid again anyways," the second man replied pointedly. Unlike his partner, he never truly hated the kid. He didn't believe that this small child could ever be the Kyūbi in human form or whatever bullshit propaganda the villagers spewed. However, a fat merchant offered a lot of ryō to make the kid disappear. Times are tough, and he needed to make ends meet.
The middle-aged man tsked. "Whatever, let's just get out of here," the older male sneered. He turned his back and took off back toward the village.
The second man looked down at the knocked-out child guilty. He let out a tired sigh and rubbed his eyes with his thumb and index finger. "I'm sorry kid, I hope you find a place where you belong," he said softly before taking off after his partner.
Neither of the men realized their altercation between them had been observed. A small shadowy figure waited patiently in the vegetation, it's slitted emerald eyes watching the sleeping child curiously. Once it safely assumed the two men wouldn't return, it leaped out of the bushes and landed softly on the child's stomach. The moonlight that broke through the canopy showed the creature to be a small fox kit. It's two red-tails swished back and forth as it examined the target of its interest.
The small child has spikey golden-blond hair that seemed to light up the night. It reflected the moonlight radiantly. Three unique whisker-like birthmarks on each cheek. One could argue it made the boy look more cat-like, or perhaps fox-like. Though, what truly caught the young kit's interest is that the boy smelt heavily of foxes. The kitsune tilted its head side to side before letting out a soft yip and jumping off the blond's stomach. The fox took off at a leisurely pace back toward its den to inform the rest of its skulk.
A few hours passed by swiftly before light pierced through the forest canopy. Sapphire blue eyes lazily opened, looking up at the green roof. I don't remember going into the woods, the boy thought, then wincing from a sharp pain in his head. He reached up to his head and rubbed his head soothingly. Strangely, it felt wet and cold. He pulled his hand down to look and saw it lightly covered in a crimson red liquid. Blood? Why am I bleeding? He wondered, before dawning realization set in. Starting to panic, he quickly sat up, trying to figure out where he is. He tried desperately, focusing on the last thing that he remembered.
Flashback
The young whiskered boy had been wandering the streets late at night. He had been evicted from the orphanage not too long ago. He never understood why the villagers called him crude names, hatefully glared, and abused him. Yet, it is all he's ever known since his first conscious memory. When he had lived in the orphanage, a place that never felt like home. The mother matron kept him locked away in his own tiny room. They rarely fed him, sometimes forcing him to go days without food. They refused to let him play with the other children, and wouldn't allow him to learn. He is isolated. Occasionally, he would be woken up through violence, because as his caretaker declared. "A demon shouldn't be allowed to sleep peacefully!"
He arrived at the playground and walked over to the swing set. He sat there quietly, rocking back and forth, trying to wrap his head around his short life. Why does everyone hate me? He wondered while wishing that someone would tell him, so he could possibly fix the problem. He didn't act any differently than other kids his age, at least, he didn't think he did. He occasionally stared deeply in mirrors, painstakingly looking for any sort of defect. However, the only unusual physical trait he could pinpoint are his whiskers. That couldn't be enough to warrant such intense hatred, right? If he asked an adult why they hated him, or what he did wrong, they would only sneer and tell him, "You know what you did, demon!"
Lost in his own thoughts, he failed to notice two chūnin stalking him. Only the snapping of a small twig managed to knock the blond out of his daze. He felt someone glaring at him with murderous intent, and that scared him. He jumped to his feet and quickly scanned his surroundings. "Who's there? I'm warning you!" he yelled out, hoping to scare whoever is watching him. He put up a brave front, but he knew it wouldn't work.
An older man burst out in front of him, which caused him to fall flat on his rear end. His bright eyes looked up to his would-be attacker. He has ragged brown hair that loosely covered his right eye. A grotesque scar peeking out from behind his bangs. The man glared hatefully, filled with loathing. "Not too tough now are you demon. You'll pay for what you did to my family," the elderly man sneered, forcing his killing intent to wash over the young boy. While the amount of killing intent is minor, pathetic in actuality, to an inexperienced person such as a child, it felt like a lot.
"I-I didn't do anything!" the boy cried out, which only seemed to upset the man more. He crawled backward to quickly get some space from the man. He knew that he needed to run, to hide, or he would be seriously hurt. Sudden pain rocketed from the back of his head. He rolled onto the ground, clutching where the pain radiated from. It felt as if someone hit him with the blunt end of a kunai.
"You're making a scene, Hiro," an unknown voice whisper-shouted, "Let's hurry and get this over with. The faster he's out of the village, the faster we get paid and get home," the male voice commented. That is the last thing he heard as darkness swallowed him up, and he drifted off into a dreamless slumber.
Flashback End
His sapphire-blue eyes widened in fear, he isn't in Konoha anymore. Questioned started flooding his young mind, to which he had no answers for. Where did they leave me? Which way is home? Then, another thought process appeared. Do I want to go back home?
The idea of escaping the village that reviled him has plagued his mind. A lingering hope that just maybe he could find people out in the world that would love him. People who would appreciate him. However, he could never bring up the courage to run away. He didn't have the necessary survival skills.
When he had been forcibly removed from the orphanage, he rightfully panicked. While the orphanage barely fed him, he still got something to snack on. Luckily for him, people are wasteful. Trashcans are on every corner and always packed with old food. He could survive on that, but now, he didn't have that option.
The young golden-haired boy jumped to his feet, but the sudden movement left in light-headed. He promptly fell backward against a tree. He reached back up to his head and prodded the wound. He winced in pain. It felt like a tiny gash, which luckily for him has already begun healing up. His meddling fingers have only agitated it causing it to bleed. Sadly, the boy did not know this information and continued to panic senselessly. After all, some people roughed him out and dragged him to the middle of nowhere. He has every right to freaking out.
The sound of bushes rustling around him caused the whiskered boy to freeze in place. He isn't stupid and realized the situation he found himself in. Here he is, a four-year-old boy, bleeding and wounded, in the middle of the woods. You could very well put a sign on him that reads, 'Free meal!' He shivered as he felt multiple sets of eyes watching him.
Foxes started slowly approaching out of the bushes and shadows around him, circling him, while keeping a slight distance from him. Each fox varies in size, the largest standing proudly in front of him. It's around the size of a large horse, with fur that is a dark shade of black with pearl-colored stripes throughout it. Electric blue slitted eyes peered at him with interest, but the most noticeable feature is the eight large tails swishing back and forth. Glancing around, he noted that all the foxes have varying colors and tail numbers. Some have the average amount, one tail, while the others have two-to-seven.
The boy went through a mixture of emotions ranging from pure excitement to unadulterated fear. Being a prime piece of meat did not leave his mind, however, being surrounded by his favorite animal blossomed happiness. For the longest time, he has always adored foxes. He felt at peace with them. He remembered when he informed the matron of the orphanage, he had received a terrible beating. He had been locked away in his small room for days without contact.
Flashback
The small boy looked over at the matron and all the gathering children surrounding her. She adorned a smile that he is never privileged to see directed at himself. Children rushed passed him, and he stopped a fellow orphan with a slight tug on the shoulder. "What's going on?" he asked curiously.
"Don't know, but I heard something about presents!" the kid responded excitedly, taking off to join the rest of the pack.
"Okay, everyone, I got a special surprise for you! We just received a generous donation filled with stuffed animals!" the old matron said kindly to the sitting children in front of her. She smiled brightly at each of them, but of course, it dimmed when she noticed it mixed in with the crowd. She chose to humor the thing for now. "Alright, quiet down!" she chastised, but amusement rang out. "So, what's your favorite animal?" she asked.
"I like birds!" a young girl chirped from the front.
"I like froggies!" a small boy replied from the matrons right.
"I like tigers!" a tiny pale boy replied with a small smile from the center.
This round of answers continued, all the children excited to receive a stuffed animal. Eventually, it reached the small blond's turn, and he saw the elderly woman's scornful look. It confused him, but he desired a stuffed animal like the rest. "I like foxes!" he shouted out excitedly.
It happened so quickly, the boy didn't know what happened. He felt as if he got hit by a horse's hoof. His cheek turned a flaming red as it stung fiercely. Tears spilled over his watering eyes, and he saw the utter loathing in the woman's eyes. What did I do this time? He thought tearfully, not understanding what he did wrong.
Even the other children seemed bewildered with the strange random acts of violence. Each of them knew that he isn't treated like the rest of them, but they didn't think he deserved it. Every single one of them had been ordered to stay away from him because he is an evil child, and very dangerous. They did as told since they didn't know any better.
"Of course, the demon likes foxes! I should have seen that coming from a mile away!" she sneered in disgust. Grabbing the boy by the ear, she dragged him roughly through the halls of the orphanage and tossed him into his room. "You're grounded, and you will not leave this room until I let you out!" she growled, slamming the door to let the boy cry alone.
Five agonizingly long days passed before the matron opened the door to see if he is alive or not. Much to the old woman's annoyance, she spotted the brat on his bed, back pressed up against the wall. He is curled into himself with his knees pressed tightly against his chest, rocking silently. She didn't say a word and left with the door open.
Sapphire-blue eyes gazed upward at the open door. The boy slowly uncurled from his ball and stood shakily before making his way out. He is excruciatingly hungry and dying of thirst. Sadly, this situation happened enough that the boy started to get used to it.
Flashback End
After that day, he kept his love for foxes a secret to avoid his caretaker's wrath. He learned shortly after that outburst that foxes are seen as a taboo after the Kyūbi attacked. He discovered that the Yondaime Hokage had sacrificed his life to save the village and banish the demon.
The large black fox crept closer to the whiskered boy, snapping him from his thoughts. He sat frozen in place, there isn't anything he could do about them. He didn't have the strength to fight against one fox of this size, let alone a small army of them. The fox's face brushed up against his skin. Its hot breath batting at him before it suddenly backed away and faced the others.
"It appears that you were right, he smells oddly similar to Kurama-sama," the black fox suddenly stated. When he had been told that this kit smelt like their leader, his father, he scoffed. The only way a child could smell like his father would be if he came into contact with him. That is impossible, they had sadly lost touch with their leader almost a hundred years ago. However, his curiosity had already peeked, and he needed to reassure himself. As soon as he smelt the kit, he froze. The kit smelt like Kurama-sama, but how? Unless…
The boy's eyes widened comically. Not only is he surrounded by foxes, but he is surrounded by talking foxes who haven't eaten him yet! It appeared his bad luck is turning around. Though, something caught his attention. Who did they say I smelled like? Kurama? He wondered.
"Told you, otou-san," a smaller fox with two red-tails replied cheekily. When she had spotted the boy being dumped by those two men, her inquisitive nature took hold. However, when the boy's scent reached her, her emerald eyes widened. He smells like Jiji! She thought, now needing to get a closer look. When the two big men left, she leaped onto the boy's stomach. In her opinion, he is adorable with his cute whiskers and pretty hair. She decided to alert her tou-san right away.
"Uh, who is this Kurama guy, and how can you talk? I didn't know foxes could do that…" the golden-haired boy suddenly asked, causing him to become the center of attention once more. He shifted nervously with all of their eyes on him. The multitude of questions running rampant in his head cried out for answers. He figured, who better to get answers out of than a majestic talking fox.
"Kurama-sama is our leader and my otou-sama. He vanished years ago and been recently told he had been slain by the hands of you humans," the black fox answered sharply. "The reason we can talk is because of Kurama-sama," he stated vaguely.
The wounded boy continued to rest his back against the tree, processing the newly given information. Something didn't make sense to him, though. "Why do I smell like him, then?" he asked curiously.
"I have a theory, but I do not wish to talk carelessly out in the open. Follow me, and we will discuss this further," The large fox stated, shifting his head to his right and started walking away.
The boy got up cautiously, still slightly dizzy from earlier, and started following the foxes. He desperately wanted to ask more questions but decided to remain silent. For a small child, it is quite the feat. He would get his chance to get answers when he arrived at wherever they were going. It's not every day a group of talking foxes asks you to follow them, after all.
The forest around them remained relatively silent other than the sound of walking through the brush. The tree reminded him of home, large and imposing. Very little sunlight managed to get through the canopy of leaves. The rays of light that did gave the forest a magical feeling.
The group stopped in front of two strange trees that reached up high and danced around one another. It created an arch, lined with flowing green vines. It reminded the boy of an entrance, but all he could see beyond is the same thick woods. He glanced around in confusion. Is this their home? He thought curiously.
"This is the entrance to our home, our sanctuary," the black fox stated, startling the boy. "If you don't have our blood coursing through you, you will not be able to get in," he commented, staring down at the boy. This would either answer multiple questions or create many more. However, if the boy isn't able to enter, he would end the kit's life to protect his home.
"I-I don't think I have that, though… I'm human," the boy said quietly, whispering out the last part. He was turned away by his own and left to die. Now, his favorite animal would turn him away as well.
"Perhaps, perhaps not. There is only one way to find out," the eight-tailed fox said kindly. He did not know the boy's story, but he could see the fear of rejection in his innocent eyes. He nudged the boy forward supportively.
The boy stumbled forward before looking around nervously. All the eyes of the foxes watching his every moment. He took a deep breath and looked toward the entrance to the sanctuary. He took a careful step, then another, and soon he stood right in front of the arch. He turned slightly toward the large black fox who nodded. With one more step forward, he vanished completely. His entire presence disappeared without a trace.
"Well, would you look at that. The boy has our blood running through his veins after all," a dark grey fox commented, walking over to the black fox. He is slightly smaller than his companion and has seen tails whipping around in interest. His calculating silver slitted eyes staring at the portal to their home.
The black fox looked ahead, "Indeed, he does…"
Kitsune Sanctuary
The moment the whiskered boy stepped through the gateway, he felt a tug on his entire body. Some force beyond his comprehension reached over, grabbed, and dragged him away. It happened in an instant, but the feeling was unreal. He couldn't think of any words in his limited vocabulary to describe it other than being pulled or maybe pushed.
When his sapphire eyes opened, he almost gasped in delight. The area he appeared in is beautiful, much prettier than his home village. He stood in the middle of a large lush green grass circle with white blooming flowers scattered around. In the center, behind him stood the same tree arch he entered from. Lining the ring is a circular cobblestone path that branched off into multiple roads.
Tall buildings intermixed with nature lined the edge of the cobblestone ring that resembles shrine buildings. The walls are a crisp white with a deep red lining the sides. Greenery seemed to be at home everywhere, giving the place a calming sense of serenity. The area felt peaceful and calming to the mind. Safety, a sweet feminine voice whispered with the wind around the boy.
However, the thing that caught the boy's interest quickly is the sheer lack of fluffy foxes. Instead, humans are walking around, minding their own business. Though, perhaps humans may be stretching it slightly. These beings have extra parts connected to them. The humans have ox ears rested atop their heads, and tails of various numbers and colors swishing behind them. What are they? He wondered, tilting his head to the side.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" a hand grabbed ahold of the boy's shoulder, causing him to jump. He turned around and caught sight of a large tall man. He looked up and found familiar electric blue slitted eyes gazing back into his own. His shaggy black hair with pearl-colored highlights gave his muscular build a sort of elegance. He is wearing an elegant dark grey kimono that is layered with squares of black. A blood-red sash tied around his waist only allowed you to see a simple white shirt underneath. White sandals adorned his feet, completing the entire uniform. Though, the eight tails hovering behind the man caught his eye the most.
"Y-yeah, um, are you the fox from earlier?" the boy asked, though he felt quite confident that the answer is yes.
The man's lips twitched upward. "You would be correct in assuming that. Outside this sanctuary, we take on our natural forms to blend in with our environment. While in this world, we take on a more human form," the man said, looking over at all his people walking about. He turned his eyes back toward the boy, "You may call me Kenichi Masumi," he said, introducing himself.
"Oh, nice to meet you, I'm Naruto!" the blond chirped warmly, feeling peaceful and relaxed. He couldn't explain it, but he felt safe. In Konoha, he felt like he needed to always look over his shoulder. Without that, he felt tension melting away.
"Maelstrom, a strong name," Kenichi stated, smiling lightly at the boy's relaxed state.
Naruto tilted his head to the side. He never knew what his name meant, but he felt proud of having an impressive-sounding name. Although, he didn't really know what a maelstrom is either. "What's a maelstrom?" he blurted out as the question entered his young mind.
"A maelstrom is a powerful current of water swirling around itself. You can find maelstroms in the oceans and rivers occasionally. Another name would be a whirlpool," he informed, before giving Naruto's shoulder a squeeze. With his hand secured, they both vanished from their spot in a swirl of autumn leaves.
"Woah," was all Naruto could say at the sudden change of scenery. As Kenichi left his side, he took in his surroundings. He stood in a large room that's just long enough to not be a square. The walls are an eggshell white lined with a crimson-colored wood. The center of the room went down a single step. A beautifully crafted wooden table rested on a warm mahogany flooring. For ruby-red pillows rested on the ground for seating.
"Please, take a seat," Kenichi said, gesturing toward one of the pillows as he sat down on the other side. He watched the child sit down opposite of him. "As promised, I'll answer your questions, but afterward, I expect you to answer mine. Do we have an understanding?" he stated, giving the boy a meaningful look.
"That's fine, I guess…" Naruto replied slowly while scratching the back of his head. It seemed like a fair trade to him. A, 'You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours' type of situation. He looked down at the table while he thought about the questions he wanted to be answered. "What is this place?" he asked, deciding to start simple.
The large man smiled warmly. "This place is called Kitsune Sanctuary. It's a haven for our kind, our home away from the dangers that lurk on the other side. Kurama-sama himself created this place for us, though he never revealed how he did it. I'm of the personal opinion that he did not create it, but instead linked one time to another," he answered.
"Oh, okay. Um, what was that strange pulling feeling I felt when I entered the door?" Naruto asked, unsure of how to phrase his question.
"Do you mean when you walked through the tree arch?" Kenichi asked with a raised eyebrow and got a nod in return. "That's a bit complicated. What you felt is your body being transported to another dimension. You'll find that you are no longer on the Elemental Nations. This dimension is rather unique. Time doesn't function the same on this side as it does on the other. It's rather complicated for someone so young to understand. I hope my answer satisfies you," he answered slowly and carefully. He could tell the boy didn't really understand, but he expected that.
Naruto felt as confused as he looked with the new bundle of information. He didn't really get it, nor did he understand how time could work differently. However, one thing he did understand is the name of the sanctuary he found himself in. Kitsune Sanctuary, a haven filled to the brim with his favorite animals in human form. This is the greatest thing to ever happen to me! He mentally cheered but noticed the pointed look the big man is giving him. "Um, I remember you saying I needed your blood to get inside. Does that mean I'm a fox too?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.
Kenichi hummed lightly to himself while rubbing his chin. "I have a few theories. The first theory is that one of Kurama-sama's children is your ancestor. Even diluted with human blood, you would still have our blood in your veins. The second theory is Kurama-sama blessed you and gave you a human form when you were newly born. It could explain the scent and your allowance in the sanctuary," he said, laying out a few theories.
Naruto's eyes widened as he listened, and it somewhat made sense. Everyone in Konoha has always hated him and called him a demon. If he is a fox, it would explain a lot of his problems.
"My third theory, and the one that I think is most likely correct, is you somehow have Kurama-sama sealed within you," he stated bluntly.
Naruto stared owlishly at the man. "Wait, you think your tou-san is inside me?" he questioned skeptically. He raised an eyebrow, "I think I'd know if I have a big fox inside of me. I mean, where would you even fit him?" he said, poking his own belly in a childish way of proving how small he is.
Kenichi let out a chuckle at the innocent question. "Yes, I do believe that to be the case, but it's a complicated situation. You see, beings like Kurama-sama are sought after due to their abilities of mass destruction. The humans would know Kurama-sama as the Kyūbi no Yōko," he said, which got a flash of recognition from the young boy.
"W-wait the Kyūbi is inside me?" he squeaked, having heard monstrous tales of that demon.
"It's a possibility, and we divine the truth right now. Come over here,' Kenichi said, gesturing the boy forward. As the boy got up and moved closer to the man, he raised his shirt, exposing the boy's stomach. His finger lit up with chakra and probed until a complex seal appeared. "It appears my theory is correct. You are what is known as a jinchūriki," he stated, gesturing for the boy to take a seat once more.
"What's a j-jin-jinchūriki?" he asked quietly, stumbling over the unknown word.
The older man let out a tired sigh. "A Jinchūriki is literally known as a human sacrifice. They're created to be living weapons for their village. To be used in times of war, but sadly the sacrifices are often treated poorly. For a while, we assumed Kurama-sama managed to escape that fate, and it held true when we heard of his appearance. We did not take kindly to the rumors of his death at the hand of your village. It appears Kurama-sama could not escape that fate of all bijū," Kenichi said lowly, before letting out another sigh at the boy's frightened expression.
For Naruto, it suddenly felt like he found that one missing piece of the puzzle. The reason he could never find it is because the part is hidden inside of him. So that's why everyone hates me… he thought sadly before looking up at the suddenly tired-looking man. "Is there a way to get your tou-san out of me?" he asked softly.
"There are a few ways of removing Kurama-sama, but most of them would result in your untimely demise," he replied and saw Naruto suddenly start paling considerably. He thought over his previous comment before coming to a realization. "There is a non-fatal way, but we will discuss those options later, alright?" he said, reassuring the boy that he didn't have plans of killing him.
Naruto nodded, suddenly relieved by that reassurance. He chewed on his lower lip in thought for a moment before looking into the electric blue eyes with a hopeful look. "Can I stay?" he asked quietly, though it came out as more of a whisper. Still, to the sensitive ears of a kitsune, it's loud enough. To Naruto, this place felt safe and more of a home than Konoha ever felt.
Kenichi smiled warmly. "You have the blood of a fox coursing through you. This world is your home as much as it is ours," he replied, seeing the multitude of emotions swirling in those young sapphire-blue eyes. A crooked smile washed over the boy's face, and tears cascaded down his whiskered cheeks.
"T-thank you," Naruto choked out in between sobs.
A red rice paper sliding door on the side suddenly shot open, and a young girl that looked slightly older than himself walked in. She has beautiful scarlet red hair that reached down to her back. However, in Naruto's opinion, her emerald eyes are her prettiest characteristics. She wore a jet-black kimono with a loose grey sash tied around her waist. Her two fluffy tails swished behind her in agitation. "Tou-san! I can't believe you just left me there!" she huffed angrily, crossing her arms across her chest.
"A-Akane-chan, glad you could join us," Kenichi chuckled nervously. "There's no need to get angry over some as trivial as that," he commented, putting his hands up placatingly. The man knew full well the excessive fury that ran through her blood. How someone so tiny could pack so much strength, he has yet to find out.
"It's a twenty-minute hike to get home! Do you know how many stairs I just had to climb?" Akane growled.
He gave her a deadpan stare, "Yes."
Naruto wiped the tears away as he stared at the scene unfolding in front of him. An out of place breeze soared through the room as the father and daughter stared at one another. He could have sworn he saw a tiny spark of lightning between them. Eventually, the young red-head looked away in a huff and stared at the blond instead.
"Well, hello there, I'm Akane Masumi, and you are?" Akane asked with a bright smile.
Naruto smiled in amusement at the girl's sudden shift in emotion. She seemed a bit strange, but he liked her. He wanted to be this girl's friend, and nothing would stand in his way. It helped that she is a fox. You can't get much better than that, in his opinion. "Hello, I'm Naruto!" he chirped excitedly.
"Do you have a family or clan name?" Akane asked curiously, sitting down beside the boy. This question also piqued Kenichi's interest, it was one he planned on asking himself. Although, the sudden sadness that swelled in the boy's eyes almost made them wish they hadn't asked.
Naruto frowned. "I'm an orphan, never knew my parents," he answered with a sullen shrug. The idea of having a family and being loved is every orphans' dream. Sadly, Naruto is disliked by everyone in the village. He knew his chance of finding a home was very slim, almost non-existent.
Akane soothingly rubbed the boy's back, trying to comfort him. "Sorry for asking," she said softly. She didn't think anyone liked being reminded of what they didn't have.
"It's okay," Naruto responded with a small smile.
"How old are you, Naruto?" Kenichi asked suddenly.
"Oh, I'm four! I'll be five on October 10th," Naruto answered.
"Would you mind telling me of your life in your previous village? I'd like to get to know you better," Kenichi asked with a fatherly smile.
Naruto stiffened slightly and looked torn on the question. He didn't like talking about the past. He preferred looking toward the future and trying to remain positive. However, he promised to answer any question that the older man asked if he responded to his own.
"Uh, well, I guess I've always been at the orphanage. The kids liked to pick on me or avoid me, and the mother matron really didn't want me there. So, for the most part, I just sat around quietly," Naruto responded, scratching the back of his head while trying to explain.
"Did the matron take care of you, at least?" the man asked.
"I mean, I guess?" Naruto answered unsurely. "I got fed one meal a day, which wasn't really fair since the other kids got at least three," he huffed. "I never got any warm water for my weekly shower, except for that one time, but I got in trouble for that," he pondered, not noticing the darkening in the man's eyes. "Oh, there was a magical dog-man that would visit me at night. He always appeared when I was sleeping, but he would give me fresh clothes," he commented offhandedly.
Kenichi didn't know who this dog-man is, but he appreciated the small sentiment. Fresh clothes made a difference in comfort. "How did you end up out in the forest?" he asked, knocking the boy out of his thoughts.
"Oh, well, I was on my way to my tree for the night after looking for food when two guys jumped me," Naruto started, but a hand raised to stop him.
"What do you mean 'tree'?" Kenichi asked.
"Well, after my birthday, the matron said I couldn't stay anymore. So I had to find a place to sleep, and I always loved this one tree in the park. It has this one large branch that you could sleep on," he answered truthfully, happy about his tree. "Anyways, the two guys jumped me and hit me. Next thing I know, I'm in the forest, and you guys were there," he said, finishing up his short tale.
Akane couldn't believe that humans could mistreat someone so badly. She has always had a loving family and home with food on the table. She couldn't imagine not having that stuff. Kenichi, on the other hand, is less shocked than his daughter. He expected a troubled past from the boy. The boy's story kicked at his fatherly instincts.
"I'm sorry for bringing up such painful memories. I hope you can forgive me," The black-haired man said with a small frown.
Naruto waved his hands erratically. "No, no, it's okay! I promised to answer any of your questions. It's no problem," he quickly replied, not wanting his new friends to feel guilty.
Kenichi nodded. "Akane-chan, could you please show Naruto around the compound. I need to speak with the council to inform them of this recent development," he asked Akane, who nodded in acceptance. His daughter looked almost attached to the boy after his troubling story. He stood up and gave Naruto a once-over. "If you'd like, you're more than welcome to stay with us," he offered.
Naruto's eyes twinkled with shock and joy. He just offered me a place to stay, he thought joyfully. He fought down the urge to run and hug the man. "Thanks, I'd love to stay with you and Akane-chan!" he replied excitedly, giving one of his brightest smiles.
The man smiled warmly in return. "That's good to hear," he commented with a soft chuckle. "Alright then, you two stay safe," he said, turning and walking out of the room.
"So, Naruto-Kun, follow me. You'll love this place," she said with mirth, emphasizing the -Kun suffix. She noted that the boy's smile grew wider at that with a soft blush. She stood up and stretched, which Naruto quickly copied. They both walked out the door she entered to explore the grounds.
Kitsune Sanctuary: Council Chambers
Kenichi opened the council chamber doors and strode inside. The rectangular room is large and grandiose with smooth, cold stone walls. Opposite the entrance is two massive vertical glass windows that let in a healthy amount of light. In between the windows is a large red silk banner with a black anvil and sword embroidered into the fabric. Eight other similar banners hung from the walls, four on each side that depicted each clan. A beautifully crafted walnut-colored wooden circular table rested on top of the luxurious mahogany floor. The table is engraved with the visage of the Kyūbi. His nine tails each pointing to a throne type chair, which evenly lined the table. Kenichi took his place in the center, in front of his banner.
The Masumi clan are known for being a jack-of-all-trades. While they are not considered masters in any area the other eight families specialized in, they did master the art of kenjutsu. They have a swordsman honor and will usually not turn down a duel. It would go against their reputation. Some members of this clan are known to specialize in weapon forging. The male members are relatively laid back, only getting serious when the situation demands it. However, the female members have a natural-born fury that terrified everyone. One must never under any circumstance, underestimate a female from the Masumi clan. A fate worse than death awaits any who dares.
After a short wait, the door opened once more, and a tall, tanned man stepped inside. Masao Takeshi, the fourth born of Kurama's gift. He stood at the height of 6'1", his posture refined. He has long dark grey hair that went flat against his back, giving him more of a royalty appearance. His piercing silver slitted eyes are as mesmerizing as they are cold and calculating. He wore a beautiful light grey kimono, with a deep purple sash tightly wrapped around his waist. Eight magnificent dark grey tails followed him closely, hovering just off the ground.
The Takeshi clan are known for their intelligence and logical outlook. They enjoy reading and collecting knowledge to store in the central library. They often send their clan members out into the world to seek rare and valuable books, artifacts, scrolls, and other miscellaneous objects. From a young age, they are taught to not let emotions cloud their judgment, always trying to seek out the best solutions. They enjoy the company of the Nao, Fumiko, and Mana clans. The man approached the seat, two down on the right from Kenichi, and sat down quietly.
A few minutes later, two more kitsune walked into the chamber alongside one another. One gracefully and the other without a care in the world. Takara Yuzuki, the seventh born of Kurama's gift. She stood at the height of 5'8". She has beautiful snow-white hair that covered the left side of her face and reached her breast. Her ruby-red slitted eyes have a slight haunting glow. She wore a white kimono that hugged her hourglass figure with a silver sash tied around her stomach. Eight snow-white tails are pressed gently against her back.
The Yuzuki clan are known for their kind and loving nature. They enjoy watching over and taking care of young children. The members of the Yuzuki clan are natural-born parents and raised off their children to be as pure-hearted as themselves. Their love for a peaceful atmosphere leads most to never leaving the safety of the sanctuary.
Natsumi Miwa, the second born of Kurama's gift. She stood at the height of 5'10". She has light auburn hair done up in a ponytail with her bangs framing her face. Her ocean-blue slitted eyes danced with amusement. She wore a short-sleeved burnt orange shirt with black trimming that clung tightly to her, showing some cleavage. She also wore an open loose red jacket and charcoal black pants that hugged her hips. Her eight auburn tails danced around in the air behind her.
The Miwa clan are known for their boundless energy. Most considered them to be bottomless wells of stamina. They always looked for an opportunity to have some fun or pull a prank on unexpecting victims. The clan members mostly specialize in physical training, preparing the young kits for the world outside the haven. The Miwa and Takeo clan are known for their rivalry, as well as their long-time friendship.
Three more strode inside soon after. Eiji Takeo, the eight born of Kurama's gift. He stood at the impressive height of 6'5". He has dark orange hair that is spiked erratically with his bangs growing out. His deep purple slitted eyes glowed eagerly. He wore a large white jack that reached toward the floor, while also exposing his well-toned and muscular chest. White bandages are wrapped in an angular fashion around his torso. He also wore loose dark grey pants. His eight orange tails swished back and forth behind him.
The Takeo clan are known for training their bodies to the extreme. They enjoy exercise and fighting hand-to-hand. All clansmen and women, including the children, are a rowdy bunch. However, in a real fight, they are known to give in to their bloodlust. The Takeo and Miwa clan are known for their rivalry, as well as their long-time friendship. You can often find them playing, sparring, and exercising with each other for hours one end.
Akio Hiro, the fifth born of Kurama's gift. He stood at the height of 5'10". He has short wavy light-brown hair that resembled dry soil. His golden slitted eyes are half-closed with a serene smile adorned on his face. He wore a forest-green kimono with a simple black sash tied around his waist. His clothing is covered small patches of dirt, and if one looked at his nails, you would find loose soil. Behind him, his eight, light brown tails dragged.
The Hiro clan are known for their love of nature. They make sure to keep the sanctuary clean and the forests healthy. They also take care of multiple greenhouses and produce much of the food the citizens eat. The members are calm and caring, as well as intelligent. It is not unusual to find members of the Hiro clan sleeping in the forest under the stars. Their family is also the most well-tuned with natural energy, and it heavily influences them.
Ami Fumiko, the sixth born of Kurama's gift. She stood at the height of 5'9". She has beautiful silky black hair that drapes down her back and splits at her shoulders. Her crystal green slitted eyes radiated warmth and kindness. She wore a soft cream-colored kimono that hugged her tightly. She has three blood-red sashes tied around her, one around her waist, stomach, and below her breasts. Her eight fluffy black tails wrapped protectively around her like a warm blanket.
The Fumiko clan are known for their healing prowess. Working together with the Hiro clan, they grow many medicinal herbs and create antidotes, remedies, and medicines. Though they don't advertise it, they are also known to dabble in the art of poison crafting. While it's not their primary focus, they can create some extraordinarily toxic poisons. A game the members enjoy playing is creating a unique poison and having others find a remedy. While most members are kind, others do come off rather cold and calculating. These members work well alongside the Takeshi clan.
Finally, the last two kitsune joined the chamber, whispering amongst each other, and the doors closed behind them. Ken Nao, the third born of Kurama's gift. He stood at the height of an even 6'. He has short, light grey hair that just covered his left eye. His warm brown slitted eyes drooped but shined with intelligence. He wore a simple black kimono shirt that is slightly wrinkled. He also wore baggy but comfortable green pants that could probably pass for pajamas. His eight grey tails dragged lazily on the ground behind him.
The Nao clan are known for their strategical and brilliant minds. Most clan members are born with photographic memories, and with their intelligence, it often led to them seeing the world as dull. This, in turn, led them to just lazing around. Though they are always looking forward to seeing something new and exciting. While their clan is mostly filled with loners, they occasionally spend time with the Takeshi, Fumiko, and Mana clans.
Keiko Mana, the ninth born of Kurama's gift. She stood at the height of 5'6". She has straight, beautiful red hair with orange streaks running throughout it that rested gently down her back. Her cold, dark violet slitted eyes are slightly covered by her bangs. She wore a tight scarlet kimono shirt that hugged her small figure and skin-tight dark grey pants. Her eight red smooth tails are pressed against her back, their tips peeking over her shoulders.
The Mana clan are known for their quiet and stealthy nature. The day their children are born into the world, they do not cry. Their instincts scream for them to remain silent and calm. This naturally leads them to rarely speaking unless spoken to first. Though when they wish to socialize, they choose to spend their time around the Nao clan because they rarely move, or talk for that matter. Their members are also considered to be exceptionally beautiful.
Everyone was sat down, quietly talking to themselves. Each member subtly glanced over to Kenichi before resuming their conversations. They all knew it is rare for a meeting to be called so randomly. Kenichi coughed expectantly and hushed his fellow members.
"Kurama-sama has been found and safely returned to the sanctuary," Kenichi stated bluntly, deciding to drop the ball first. Their face expressed shock and excitement. He related, knowing his own feelings on the matter.
"Explain," Masao said in a loud, clear voice over the excited mutterings of his peers.
"My daughter, Akane, left to explore the forests outside of the sanctuary. From her words, she stumbled upon an unconscious blond-haired boy being left for dead. According to her, one of them wanted to murder the child but was thankfully talked out of it by the other. When they left, she examined the boy out of curiosity and discovered something imperative," Kenichi stated, pausing to let his information settle in.
"She informed me that this boy smelt of Kurama-sama. Of course, I didn't believe her, but I felt I should still investigate. I arrived amongst the scene of a panicking child who froze as I approached. Imagine my surprise when the boy smelt just like our missing father. The surprises did not end there, however. No, the boy has our blood coursing through his veins and entered into our haven," he said, perhaps a bit dramatically.
"Where is the kit currently?" Takara asked, already worried about the child.
"Currently, he is residing within my compound being escorted by my daughter," Kenichi answered.
"Kurama-sama is sealed within the boy, is he not?" Ken drawled out. His mind already worked out how this child could smell like their missing father. Though, his interest in how the boy has their blood in his veins poked at his curious mind.
"That is correct," Kenichi acknowledged, not surprised that Ken managed to piece it together quickly.
"If Kurama-sama is sealed inside the child, we should unseal him immediately!" Masao voiced his opinion loudly.
"While I would like to have Kurama-sama unsealed, doing so would kill the bot," Kenichi retorted.
"Is the boy a fox or a human?" Ami questioned suddenly.
Kenichi rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I am unsure. His body is that of a human, but with the blood of a fox. However, it appears that our blood and Kurama-sama's presence has always affected his body. His pupils are slit ever slightly, and his canines longer than a human," he replied.
Hiro hummed. "With the boy staying within the sanctuary, the natural energy will affect him. She will more than likely start to remold him in our image as she does with all new-bloods," he informed.
"With the boy being protected by the natural energies and having our properties, the unsealing won't kill him," Ken said lazily.
"So, what does he look like? What's the boy's story?" Natsumi asked, slightly eager to learn more about this strange new kid.
"His name is Naruto, and he is four years old. He has spikey golden-blond hair and bright sapphire-blue eyes. He has these unique whisker-like birthmarks on his cheeks," he said, ignoring the comment about fishcake. He suddenly sighed sadly, a depressing aura around him that the others did not miss. "He is an orphan, and his life has not been an easy one," Kenichi said, sighing once more. He then proceeded to tell the council what Naruto had told him earlier.
Looks of anger, disgust, and pity filled the room. Most of them couldn't understand how you could treat an innocent child like that, but Masao did. He studied the outside world enough to understand human nature. They are cruel, filled with greed, hatred, and lust for power. He felt a pang of guilt for calling for the kid's death without all the facts. However, the news of his father being imprisoned within the child angered him.
"Maybe I should go and teach this village a lesson they won't ever forget!" Eiji growled angrily before pausing in thought. The other stared at him with a raised eyebrow. "Uh, what village is he from?" he asked, scratching his cheek.
"He did not say, but it's not difficult to discover. Kurama-sama went missed and was said to have died in Konoha. The village in question is more than likely Konoha," Kenichi informed.
"It wouldn't be difficult to get into their village," Keiko droned out.
"Searching the village for files on the kid isn't a bad idea. There should be a paper trail for their living weapon, after all," Masao said, turning toward Keiko. "Would the Mana clan be willing?" he asked.
"I can have it done," Keiko answered quietly.
"This is acceptable. This also allows us to copy some valuable scrolls and store them here," Kenichi mused.
"I like the sound of that," Masao agreed, almost salivating at the thought of acquiring more knowledge.
"The poor kit probably needs a mother figure. If you want, I'll take him in and shower him with affection," Takara said, almost crying at the boy's sad tale.
"Naruto has already agreed to stay with my clan. However, I know he would appreciate some affection and tutelage," Kenichi said with a small smile. Tough he about laughed when he saw her glare at him for already whisking the boy away. Ah, a mother's love, he mused.
"Fine," Takara grumbled.
"Perhaps we should all take an effort in teaching him. It's been a long time since we acquired new blood," Masao commented thoughtfully.
"That's a great idea! I'll teach the kid to fight like a champ!" Eiji bellowed with an excited grin.
"No, you won't! I'll teach him!" Natsumi retorted with vigor.
"You can't even handle a fight with me, what could you do?" Eiji laughed tauntingly.
"Last time I checked, I won our last fight!" Natsumi commented smugly.
"You cheated!" Eiji accused.
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
The two of them argued back and forth like children much to the amusement to most of the council. One, however, did not enjoy the loud noise. "Enough!" Keiko shouted, silencing the entire room. Each member looked at her warily.
"Did, did she just yell?" Ami asked, almost not able to believe what her ears just heard.
A round of surprised nods spoke volumes, causing a very stoic Keiko to blush in embarrassment. She knew she made a mistake as soon as she opened her mouth and began coming up with a valid excuse. "It was the wind…" Keiko said in a quiet, dignified tone. Nailed it, she thought victoriously.
"In any case, we'll leave it up to boy if he wishes to be trained. I believe he is overwhelmed at the moment with everything happening so quickly," Kenichi commented after the few awkward moments of silence. "For now, we'll allow him to adjust and learn more about the sanctuary," he stated, and with no objections, he moved on.
Masumi Clan Compound
Akane slid open another door leading to the outside and walked out. Naruto followed closely behind her and held a face of awe. In front of him is a large open green field full of flowers with trees plopped down here and there. A stone path intermixed with moss and grass led to a drop-off. From Akane's previous conversation on their way out here, it more than likely is a staircase.
However, what caught the blond's attention are the countless other children playing in the flowered field. Some are playing tag, a game he often saw other children play in Konoha. Sadly, he was never allowed to join them. If he attempted, the kids would call him mean names, or the parents would pull them away. Some would even throw a few small stones until he left.
"This is the front of our compound," Akane said, arms waving in the direction of the open field. "Every clan home has large fields like this, but I think ours is the prettiest. What do you think?" she asked with a grin.
"It's amazing," Naruto said with awe.
"I knew you'd like it. Just wait until you see our dojo and training fields!" Akane exclaimed, grabbing ahold of her new friend and dragging him forward.
Naruto allowed himself to be dragged along the wooden walkway as he admired the place. He felt at peace, walking through their garden. The chestnut wooden pathway has a small scarlet tinged fence with large beams holding up a roof. Vines coiled themselves around the pillars and wall, seemingly blending in with nature.
They started approaching a rather sizeable domed building that followed the same theme as the rest of the compound. So much red… Naruto thought. The outside of the building is around the size of a small mansion and could probably hold a large number of people. The same greenery covered the building as if trying to reclaim its land. You could tell that the caretakers allowed nature to keep a firm hold on its territory, but the building still looked taken well care of.
The blond walked into the building with his red-haired companion. Once more, Naruto's face lit up in awe. Never before has he ever seen a dojo as unique as this. Though that might be because he has never actually seen a dojo before, he didn't care for minor details like that. The sides of the building are lined with wooden benches to watch the sparing or other activities. The middle of the room is sunken in, so the viewers could have a bird's eye view.
The area that is sunken in is more of an arena with its own contained ecosystem. A small river cut the grassy field diagonally. Large mossy stone spikes stuck out for participants to take shelter with. Trees of varying sizes are scattered around, some broken, laying across the river, creating a natural bridge. Small rays of light shined through the multiple skylights placed randomly around the roof to give a tree canopy vibe. Overall, Naruto found the sight incredible.
"This is where we usually do large scale spars. They can be really intense, and a bit destructive," Akane commented.
"Wow," Naruto said, his eyes twinkling with excitement. "Imagine the game of hide-and-seek you could play in there," the boy said wistfully.
"I guess you could probably play a good game of hide-and-seek," Akane retorted wryly.
Naruto nodded his head before looking over at his new friend and asked, "So where to now?"
"Well, I've already shown you most of the compound, I–" Akane started to say, but got cut off as she got tackled to the ground.
"Akane-chan! I've been looking all over for you!" the tackler shouted excitedly.
The tackler looked like Akane, but her hair is a darker shade of red. Her hair went down to her shoulders and has a long ponytail with a golden bell holding it in place. It helped shape her small round face and dark forest green eyes. Though, Naruto only saw her face for a few seconds before it got buried in Akane's neck. She wore a light-red sleeveless shirt with a small black shirt.
Akane attempted to pry the girl off of her but failed miserably. She shook her head in exasperation. "Aki, what do you need?" she sighed.
The girl, now known as Aki, raised her head and grinned at her captive. "I was hoping you would help me with my kenjutsu," she chirped before turning her gaze toward Naruto. "Who's the blondie?" she asked inquisitively.
"First, can you let me up?" Akane asked, and after a few moments, Aki complied and helped her up. "Thank you," she said, dusting down her backside. "Sorry, Aki, I can't help you right now, I'm sort of showing said blondie around right now," Akane finally answered.
Naruto's eyes twitched. "I have a name, you know!" he stated hotly.
A few seconds of silence passed. "Okay… well, what's your name, blondie?" Aki asked cheekily.
"Naruto."
"Fishcake, you're named after a ramen topping?" Aki questioned with an amused smile.
"What's a fishcake?" Naruto asked in confusion, tilting his head to the side.
"It's a cute little swirl food made of fish," Aki responded.
"My name is not cute, and I was told it means maelstrom!" Naruto declared.
"Whatever you say, blondie fishcake," she retorted with a teasing grin.
Naruto collapsed to his knees dramatically and started pouting. He mumbled stuff about 'not being named after a ramen topping' and how 'it's a powerful name.' It didn't matter that he didn't know what ramen is. Akane and Aki just looked at him with mirth.
"Anyways, I guess I'll just go spar with Danno-Kun. Later, Akane-chan!" she chirped, running out of the dojo to bother some other poor soul.
Akane glanced from her retreating friend to her newer blond one. "You okay?" she asked warily.
"It means maelstrom… it's powerful, not cute…" Naruto grumbled.
"I'm sure it is, Naruto-Kun, really powerful," she said soothingly.
His misty eyes looked up into her emerald ones. "You mean it?" he asked softly.
"Of course I do," she cooed.
Naruto's entire demeanor changed in a flash, and he was up on his feet like nothing happened. "Good," he stated with a nod. "So, where to next?" he asked his earlier question before they got interrupted.
Akane raised her hand to her chin and took up a thoughtful expression. "Well, I've already shown you most of the compound. So, I guess we can go wait back at the house for tou-san to come back," she replied, and Naruto just shrugged and followed her back.
Masumi Clan Compound: Nighttime
Akane and Naruto sat in one of the many empty rooms in the compound, talking for a few hours while playing a card game called war. War is a game based solely on luck. No skill is involved, yet somehow, someway, Naruto won every game. This rightfully frustrated Akane, who felt compelled to continue to play to win at least once. She didn't let her frustration show, though, they were supposed to be just playing this to pass the time.
"Do you have any interest in learning kenjutsu?" Akane asked, flipping over a king of spades.
Naruto shrugged. "I don't know what kenjutsu is," he responded while flipping over an ace of hearts, stealing her king.
Akane held back her growl. What type of luck does he have? She screamed mentally. She let out a frustrated huff. "Kenjutsu is the art of using a sword. It's what my clan specializes in. Anyone can swing a hunk of metal around, but someone who really understands and respects that art can be incredible," she explained, her respect for the art showing in her words. She flipped over an ace of clubs and smiled in victory until Naruto flipped over an ace of diamonds. This signaled the start of a war, which they both quickly put down three cards facedown. The moment of truth, she flipped over a jack of spades. Her eyes twitched violently as Naruto flipped over a king of diamonds. He also just happened to win the last ace in that batch.
"Okay, that's it! You're cheating somehow, you have to be!" Akane cried out, slamming her hands down on the table. "I don't know how you're doing it, but no one is this lucky!" her eye twitching, showing her frustration.
Naruto narrowed his eyes at the implicated. "I don't cheat! You even said it is impossible to cheat in this game!" he argued indigently.
She opened her mouth to retort, but quickly closed it. A moment of tense silence. "W-well, I know what I said, but I still don't like it," she mumbled angrily.
Naruto felt a bit of sweat on his forehead. Note to self, Akane doesn't like losing… he thought. He scratched the side of his head while his new friend muttered things he couldn't hear. "Uh, do you want to play something else?" he asked cautiously.
"No, maybe later," she replied with a sigh. "Sorry for blowing up at you. I'm a bit competitive," she apologized.
"It's not a problem, dattebayo!" he chirped, not noticing anything wrong with his sentence.
"…dattebayo?" she questioned slowly.
"Hm, did you say something?" Naruto asked dismissively, tilting his head to the side.
Akane felt generally confused and wanted to question him more, but the door to their room opened before she could. Kenichi walked in and glanced at the two of them. He smiled, glad to see them playing together, and hoped they would be good friends. "Akane-chan, Naruto-Kun, dinner will be served shortly," he stated.
"Gotcha tou-san, how did the meeting go?" Akane asked curiously. Naruto also looked interesting in knowing this information.
"It went as I expected. I'll be discussing it with you both tomorrow," Kenichi replied vaguely.
They both nodded their heads in acceptance. Kenichi left the room, leaving the two of them to their own devices once more. "Well, I guess we should clean this up and head to the dining room," she said, secretly happy to clean up the game before she lost.
They both walked out of their game room and down a long hallway until they arrived in front of a spacious dining room. The place is quite large, with a massive wooden rectangular table. A generously sized feast is laid out on it that made Naruto's mouth water. As he followed Akane to his seating, he took note of all the foods. There is a rotisserie-style chicken dismembered and ready for the taking. Steamed broccoli, white rice, and fresh bread rolls. He couldn't remember the last time he sat at a meal like this. As a matter of fact, he couldn't remember ever actually eating a feast like this before.
Naruto sat down beside Akane at an end. His eyes radiated excitement and hunger, his mouth hanging open with a little drool forming at the corners. He failed to notice the others sitting at the table watching him curiously.
"Hey, fishcake!" Aki chirped mischievously.
That managed to snap Naruto out of his food fantasies. His eyes shot toward the familiar vixen, eyes lit with a passionate fire. "It means maelstrom!" he shouted with as much passion as he could muster. It didn't matter that he had only learned that today himself.
The blond boy finally took the time to look around at everyone sitting at the table. It wasn't just Kenichi and Akane, it seemed to be the entire clan. Loads of people varying in ages gathered around the table prepared to eat but are staring wholeheartedly at Naruto. Perhaps it's because of his outburst, or maybe it's the fact that he is a new face.
Kenichi coughed into his hand, drawing everyone's attention. "Good evening, everyone. Today we celebrate the return of Kurama-sama with a grand feast!" he announced loudly. The members looked excited by the prospect and whispered amongst each other. "We also welcome a new member of the sanctuary, Naruto! Please make him feel welcome," he said, looking over at the new blond.
Naruto twitched nervously in his seat as all the eyes fell on him once more. Guessing that he is supposed to say something, he spoke up. "Uh, hello, everyone. I'm Naruto. Nice to meet you!" he said shyly, twiddling his thumbs.
After a few soft murmurs, Kenichi raised his hand into the air, gathering everyone's attention again. "Naruto will be staying with us for the time being, but we can discuss this all later. For now, let's feast and enjoy ourselves!" he cheered.
Naruto watched everyone grabbing plates filled with food and passing them around while taking what they desired. This is a new experience for Naruto. Even in the orphanage, it's a take what you can get before it's all gone. He snapped out of his musing when he got passed a warm basket of rolls from Akane. He snatched three bread rolls and placed them on his plate, passing along the rolls to the person opposite him. This procedure continued for the rest of the food, and soon Naruto's plate is filled with delicious food.
He continued to watch everyone eating casually and chatting with one another happily. It brought a smile to his face. Is this what a family is like? Naruto puzzled. He glanced over to Akane, who is chatting happily with Aki and another boy he didn't recognize. Finally, his eyes settled back on his own food, and he started eating at a more subdued pace than usual. He didn't want to embarrass himself in front of everyone, but mostly, he wanted to savior an actual meal for once. No more rotten meat, spoiled milk, or moldy bread.
The food in question is rather simple, and nothing special to anyone else sitting at the table. To Naruto, it could have been a five-star meal at a fancy restaurant. Every bite melted in his mouth, savoring the herbs and spices. He felt a tear slowly creep down his face, and a small sob escaped his mouth. The table took notice, but Naruto paid them no mind. For once in his short life, he is happy. Today has been the best day of his entire life.
"Are you okay?" Akane whispered, nudging her new friend lightly.
Not trusting his voice, he just nodded yes and continued to shake slightly while eating.
"Are you sure, fishcake?" Aki asked from the sidelines. Receiving the same response from him, she looked over to the creator of tonight's meal. "Hey, Riku! Your meal is apparently so good it brought him to tears! Good job!" she commented, laughing as she got a thumbs-up from said man.
"My food is always heavenly," Riku said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Yeah, yeah dear, whatever you say," a woman sitting beside him retorted with a roll of her eyes.
The friendly banter continued until the meal finished. Naruto nudged Akane lightly. "Could you show me where my room is?" he said softly.
Akane nodded and stood up. "Tou-san, Naruto wants to go to his room," she told her father.
Kenichi nodded his head before telling her where he would be sleeping. Naruto followed Akane quietly out of the room, walking toward the sleeping quarters. The sliding door to the dining room shut behind them. After a few moments passed, one of the clansmen spoke up, "So, who is the boy?"
This question gathered everyone's attention, who all wished to know the same thing. The family is curious about who the boy is, especially after he broke down from just eating. Kenichi simply sighed before he began informing his family what he knew about the child.
Masumi Clan Compound: With Naruto and Akane
Akane and Naruto padded down the darkening halls. When they reached a door, Akane slid it open, revealing a small furnished bedroom. There is a full-size bed that is pushed up against a corner in the room with a nightstand on the side. Akane went over and turned on the lamp that rested on top of it. On the other side of the room are a closet and small dresser.
"This is your room for as long as you stay here," Akane said, breaking the silence.
"Thank you," Naruto said softly.
Akane sat down on the bed. "You want to talk about it?" she asked in a friendly toon while patting the bed beside her. She didn't like this version of Naruto. She preferred him happy and smiling.
Naruto's eyes shifted over to Akane before letting out a sigh. "I-I guess," he mumbled out. He walked over to the bed and sat down beside his new friend. "This whole place feels like one big dream, you know? I'm afraid that I'm going to wake up all alone in the park," Naruto whispered.
She listened silently as he tried to explain his feelings to the best of his abilities. She wiped the tears off his whiskered cheeks. "This isn't a dream, Naruto. For now and ever, this is your home too. You're my new friend, and I won't let you go without a fight. I can already see we'll be the best of friends," she said in a comforting tone.
Naruto wrapped her in a hug and cried silently into her shoulder, which Akane quickly returned. A few minutes passed before his shaking died off, and he passed out from exhaustion. Akane rolled him on to his back and covered him in a blanket before standing up. She made her way out of the room. With a sad smile, she shut the door leaving the blond alone to rest.
Masumi Clan Compound: The Dining Room
"That's ridiculous! How can anyone treat a kit like that?" a clansman roared.
"And they have the nerve to call us monster!" a clanswoman shouted, getting many nods of agreements from the others.
The door to the dining room suddenly slid open, revealing a saddened Akane. She walked back over to her seat and sat down beside Aki. "Is Naruto alright?" Kenichi asked what most of the family wanted to.
"He's sleeping. He's afraid that this is all one big dream and that he's going to wake up all alone again. I tried to make him feel better," Akane said, holding back her own tears.
Kenichi frowned sadly. "I hope everyone here will continue to treat him well. But please don't give him pity. Kami knows I wouldn't want it. Just treat the boy like everyone else his age," he said sternly.
Getting nods of agreement, the clan members stood up and started filing out of the room with thoughts on their minds. Everyone's mood soured by what Kenichi said, some mumbling some choice words about Konoha. When the room finally cleared out, leaving Akane and Kenichi alone, he spoke. "I hope you'll continue to spend time with him, sweetheart," Kenichi stated, his voice reverberating off the walls.
"Tou-san, he's going to be so much fun to be around. He saw our dojo, and his first thoughts were about how awesome a game of hide-and-seek would be. We'll get along just fine, and the others will love him," she said, as they both chuckled.
"I have a feeling things are going to start changing, and we'll be pulled into something big. Whatever it is, I can only hope we're ready for it," Kenichi said, looking off distantly. Akane simply nodded.
End of Chapter
Author Note: Thank you for reading chapter 1 of my story. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did writing it. I also hope my older viewers appreciate the changes I made. I do listen to your advice.
Now, for those who are wondering why Naruto doesn't go by Uzumaki in this story. It's quite simple. Naruto has yet to meet the third Hokage. He has never been told his mother's maiden name, meaning it'll be just Naruto until he discovers the truth for himself.
Thank you again for reading the first chapter of Kitsune Sanctuary. I appreciate all my readers, and it warms my heart to know you're all reading this. I hope you all leave a review and let me know your opinions and thoughts. It makes me smile to see them. All of you have a wonderful time. See you next chapter!