A/N - Hehehe... sorry. Hello everyone and welcome back to another chapter of Kitsune Sanctuary! This chapter took a long time to write because it was originally supposed to be around chapter eight or nine, but I decided to change it up! I wrote a chapter, then deleted it cause I wasn't happy with it. I seem to do that a lot! Again, I apologize for how slow I am with my updates but I will try harder!
Like always, I appreciate the feedback, positive and negative! Please continue to review my story and let me know what you all think because it does help me out a lot, plus I smile every time I get a new one.
=Reviews=
Frankieu - Thank you. I imagine it will be interesting seeing that conversation!
KakeruPB - I'm glad you're enjoying the adorableness that I have created! I've always imagined Naruto as a momma's boy. Afterall, in canon, Naruto sucker punches Minato but cheerfully hugs his mother. Now that I'm thinking about it, didn't Naruto get punched by Kushina instead? Don't worry, she has plenty of time to gush of kitsune Naruto. I imagine she will attempt to play matchmaker if given the chance. That's a good question...
Buterflypuss - Thanks!
Ryujomaru15 - Thank you, and sorry for keeping you waiting!
Kaizon-chan - I appreciate your kind words and hope I can continue to deliver the quality that you expect from me.
BorderLand - Of course!
WolfCoyote - Thank you. Minato and Kushina will most likely never leave Naruto willingly.
ThraintarIronShield - Yup, super cute. Madori can be considered divinity, nature spirit, or just sentient Nature Chakra. No one really knows exactly what she is, other than herself. You find out in this chapter, sorry for not being clear on our favorite blonde's age.
TigrezzTail - I'm glad I managed to give that feeling from the situation. It really was supposed to be a terrifying experience.
Shapeshifer340 - Thank you, and I'll try to write faster!
Narudevilfan - That makes me super happy to hear!
Arraia - Here ya go, and sorry for being so slow!
OromisGlaedr - Thank you! I appreciate the advice and will attempt to do better in the future! I plan on going back and correcting issues, but I imagine I will continue to make those same mistakes. Hopefully, in the future, I won't make any of these mistakes!
OOShamusOo - Hmm... I don't know, guess you'll just have to read to find out!
A Reader - In chapter four he was eight years old. You learn his current age in this chapter. I apologize for being confusing. Not many miss him per say, but some do want him back. He's a valuable asset for Konoha after all.
Theriku260 - Thank you, it means a lot. I'm glad I found your story and look forward to reading more from you.
Nappatheloveabl - My heart sunk when I started reading this comment! Then I read the entire comment and was happy. I'm sorry for making you wait so long, but the best things are worth waiting for!
Cmaso65 - Take this!
Azaira - I will attempt to keep this in mind, but sometimes that just how I want them to speak. Thank you!
Guests - Thank you, and yes, yes he will. It just takes time to get him ready to go out into the world.
Please enjoy the story, everyone!
I do not own Naruto!
I do own my OCs though...
Updated 9/5/2018
Corrected a minor error that got pointed out to me.
=The Elemental Nations: Unknown Location=
Somewhere in the Elemental Nations, deep inside a dark damp cave, a strange plant-like man sprouted out of the cavernous ground. Beautiful celestial-blue luminescent moss glowed dimly showing off the strange appearance of the man. The man's unique body looked as if two completely different people were vertically stitched together. One half of his body is jet-black while the other is a sickly pale-white. His eerie beady yellow eyes dully gazed through his venus-flytrap extensions that surrounded his head. He wore a loose black cloak with crimson-red clouds adorned on it.
The plant-like man's creepy yellow eyes wandered the barely lit cavern until they rested on their target of interest. An ethereal red eye with three tomoe wrapped around its pupil stared back blankly at the strange man. "Tobi." The black half spoke in a deep menacing voice.
The plant-like man stood still waiting for a response. Sounds of water dripping from the stalactites echoed throughout the empty cavern before sounds of shuffling overshadowed it. The hypnotizing red eye grew closer until a man wearing a unique spiraling orange mask stepped out of the shadows. The man has black spiky hair and wore the same loose black cloak. "Ah, Zetsu, I expected you sooner." An equally deep menacing voice responded. His head tilted to the side slightly, "Have you located the Kyuubi Jinchūriki?" he questioned curiously.
Before the more serious darker half of Zetsu could respond, the sickly pale-white half did. "We've looked everywhere, but he's really, really good at hide and seek!" A playful, childish voice cried out in dismay. Zetsu couldn't understand how the Kyuubi Jinchūriki got so good at his special game, but it just made him more determined to find him!
The darker half resisted the urge to growl at his childish counterpart. "I've searched the Elemental Nations for the boy with no luck. It's possible that the boy perished when the villagers left him for dead." The black half of Zetsu answered. Strangely, he hasn't been able to locate a single thread of the boy's unusually powerful chakra. This could mean a couple things, one, the boy is dead. An easy assumption to make as the boy is an untrained malnourished child. The second possibility, he's being hidden inside a very powerful barrier, but equally unlikely.
The orange spiraled masked man turned his back to the plant man and hummed thoughtfully at that. If the boy truly perished, it would severally set back his plans. The Kyuubi has never been dispersed before, so it was difficult to estimate when the Kyuubi would fully regenerate. This also gave them another major setback, the Kyuubi would no longer be burdened with a mortal vessel. "If that's the case, it will put a damper on my plans," Tobi commented idly, but Zetsu could hear his frustration. "For now, we'll go under the assumption that the boy is alive and hiding. Keep a close eye for anyone who matches the boy's description and resume your duties for the Akatsuki." He ordered seriously.
"Oh, I sure hope we finally find him! This has been so much fun!" the pale half of Zetsu chirped playfully and Tobi turned around and shot him a deadpanned expression. The whiter half of Zetsu huffed childishly. It couldn't help it being surrounded by two serious personalities all the time, he just wanted to brighten up the mood.
The other more serious half of Zetsu gave a tired sigh at his counterpart's attitude before gazing back at the ethereal red eye. "Then we'll be off Tobi." He responded darkly before slowly melting into the cold stone ground. Just before he completely vanished, a thought rang through both halves of their mind. 'I'm feeling slightly hungry, maybe I'll stop by an orphanage for a quick snack…' they both thought eagerly.
As the cannibalistic plant-like man vanished into the planet's crust, Tobi pressed his back against the cold cavernous wall. He slid down slowly until he is sitting with one knee pressed up against his chest while his other leg is stretched out. "Only a little longer and I'll finally bring this forsaken world to everlasting peace." He said softly while staring absently at the beautiful luminescent moss. A calming silence washed over him only occasionally being interrupted by the methodical dripping of water.
His mind wandered back to the day he set his life on this difficult path. The day the love of his life was murdered by the person he considered to be his best friend. A righteous anger welled up deep inside him as the image of his best friend's hand plunging through his love's chest. 'One day you'll pay for betraying your promise to me…' he thought grimly.
Hours passed as he reminisced in his old memories before he stood up. He padded down his cloak and cracked his neck. It was time to initiate the next step to his plan and gain an asset. He would play his role in the world and help in the removal of a pesky copy clan. He coughed into his hand a few times. His entire stature changed in an instant, "Oh, I can't wait to show them that Tobi is a good boy!" he laughed childishly getting back into his character as his eye spun sucking him into a wormhole.
=Four Years Later – Kitsune Sanctuary=
The orange fiery ball in the sky known as the sun already began its long journey towards the distant horizon. The sky started to shift into a vast sea of blues, oranges, and red and tinted the clouds with its heavenly rays. The leaves in the bountiful forest sung together as the gentle breeze drifted throughout it.
Akane Masumi stood on the crisp green grass below her; her toes curling and uncurling in anticipation. Her sharp vibrant slit-eyed narrowed slightly as they locked onto her opponent and studied him carefully. Beautiful crimson hair cascaded down her back flowing gently in the soft breeze. During the last four years, she has grown considerably now standing at 5'1", which is relatively average for the thirteen-year-old kitsune. Her two silky crimson tails danced methodically behind her posed for battle.
She wore a short white kimono that turned into a dark grey skirt ending at her thighs. A red obi is tied around her waist covering the transition from white to dark grey. Around her neck is a black collar that extends into a red cloth that cascades down her back and shoulders transforming into black lined fingerless gloves. It left the underside of her arms exposed for increased flexibility. A red ribbon is tied just above her elbow and wrist on both arms keeping the cloth tight around her skin. A black strapless leather vest covered the middle of her back, stomach, and hips. Jet-black open-toed sandals that went up to her knees covered a layer of athletic white bandages.
On the opposite side of the grassy field stood Naruto Uzumaki with his blade prepared to strike at any sign of an opening. His brilliant sapphire slitted eyes cautiously studied her body. Golden spikey hair rocked bath and forth as the wind breezed through it. Much like Akane, he too has grown considerably now standing at 4'11", which is slightly above average for the twelve-year-old kitsune. He would be turning thirteen in a few months and hopefully be growing a few more inches. His two – in his opinion, much softer then Kurama's – Uzumaki red tails posed steadily behind him.
He wore a burnt orange long-sleeve t-shirt with a thick black line going down the center. Overtop his t-shirt is a high color black short-sleeved armored coat with a burnt orange sash tied above his waist. He wore dark grey pants with athletic white bandages tied around both his legs. Jet-black open-toed sandals went up to his knees.
Akane watched Naruto noticing his body tense ever so slightly allowing her to make an educated guess that he is about to attack again. As she expected, Naruto shot off towards her bringing his ninjatō down in a diagonal slash meant to cut her deeply across her chest. She simply sidestepped the offensive attack and retaliated with a quick horizontal slash towards his right leg.
However, Naruto noticed this and leaped away in a backflip landing on his palm before finishing the flip in a crouching position. Akane pushed forward on the offensive keeping her ninjatō straight in front her prepared to pierce her blond sparing partner in the gut. "Masumi Kenjutsu Technique: Tail of Piercing!" she shouted condensing a sharp shroud of chakra around the tip of her blade.
It's silly to announce your techniques to your opposition, and usually, you wouldn't. Not only does shouting out your moves alert the enemy but also allows them to prepare a counter to it. The only time it's proper to call out your techniques is in a friendly spar, so you don't harm your partner.
Naruto's sapphire eyes narrowed when he heard Akane call out her technique and planned a counter. He began channeling his potent chakra towards his blade. A dense shroud of chakra wrapped itself around his blade gleaming, waiting to be released. As soon as her sword got close enough to counter he swiftly brought his own blade down onto hers. Her blade hit the ground hard causing a small indention in the earth, but her technique fired releasing a short beam of chakra that tore a hole through the soil. It showed just how deadly that technique is if it caught its opponent. Naruto wasted no time and brought up his left foot plunging it into her chest sending her flying back leaving her blade behind.
He watched her roll on the ground before easily correcting herself. She got back onto her feet quickly and looked down towards her hand before glaring at her blade. "You know, I'm surprised you let me disarm you Akane-chan!" Naruto mused chuckling lightly while glancing slightly down at her ninjatō.
Akane brought her glare to her blond friend's face and narrowed her emerald eyes before shooting him a smirk. A smirk that put Naruto on edge suddenly, but not quick enough. She vanished in a burst of speed and reappeared in front of him slamming her palm into his chest forcing him to stumble backward. She glanced at her blade and grasped it raising it just in time to clash against Naruto's own blade. "You shouldn't let your guard down Naru-kun, you had the advantage." She quirked with the same smirk causing him to grumble in discontent.
Naruto watched as both of their swords fought in a battle of dominance, but he noticed her blade's edge gain a shroud of chakra. The spike in energy made him sweat slightly, but her next words startled him. "Masumi Kenjutsu Technique: Wave of Damnation!" she shouted sending a blast of energy point blank between them. A small explosion of dust ensnared them and suddenly, Naruto's ninjatō flew out overhead landing off on the field.
Both Naruto and Akane leaped backward out of the dust cloud just before it cleared up. Unluckily for Naruto, his weapon rested behind his current opponent, and he knew that she's going to comment on it. "You know, I'm surprised you let me disarm you Naru-kun." She mocked with a cheeky smile. The look of satisfaction in her eyes showed just how much she enjoyed saying that.
Naruto stared into her emerald eyes and sighed, he deserved that. 'I won't be able to get around her easily, looks like it's time to up my game.' He thought a little excitedly. His two tails reached down sending chakra towards his shadow and tapped it, "Kitsune Technique: Mirrored Soul!" he called out.
Instantly his shadow reacted to the pulse of chakra and darkened until the light around it is swallowed whole. From the scene of a horror movie, a pitch-black hand shot out of it and grasped onto the grass, soon another hand followed pulling a humanoid shape from the abyss. The figure crawled out and stood up beside its creator. Vibrant blood-red slitted eyes opened and the shadow-like substance that covered its body shattered leaving behind a unique entity.
The new player on the field looked like the fraternal twin of Naruto. Her heavenly golden hair with streaks of black is done up in a ponytail. Beautifully vibrant blood-red slitted eyes gleamed with a hint of maliciousness. Like her originator, she too adorned three whisker marks on each of her cheeks. Her outfit is entirely identical to Naruto, and her two red fluffy tails danced viciously behind her.
"Yami-chan, you know what to do," Naruto whispered lightly to his other half. He turned his head slightly, his bright sapphire eyes glanced towards her noticing the same gleam of adoration from previous times. Every time he summoned her, she always seemed entirely devoted to him. Her eyes held warmth, love, and adoration only for him.
Yami blinked at his words before glancing over at her creator and smiled lovingly. Her eyes flashed towards the red-headed tramp and narrowed her eyes, oh she is going to enjoy this. "Don't worry Naru-chan, it'll be my pleasure." She purred menacingly.
She wasted no time and charged towards her enemy with the job of distracting her. She narrowly dodged a vertical swipe directed at her shoulder before crouching down. She kicked her feet underneath her opponent in the hopes of tripping her, but the emerald-eyed kitsune jumped over it.
Akane landed back on her feet after jumping over Yami's leg catching Naruto's dash past her from the corner of her eye. She knew that he is going for his ninjatō. She understood the merit in regaining your weapon, but they could have easily double teamed her and kept her on her toes. She mentally shook her head and attempted to intercept the blond but received a roundhouse kick in the gut. She folded into the kick gasping as the air escaped her lungs. Then she felt a hand start to crush her own that held her blade forcing her to drop it. She glared towards the smirking blond vixen, "Yami." She growled out.
"Akane." Yami retorted reeling her fist back prepared to slam it into Akane's face. She channeled chakra into her fist planning for it to be a knockout, but much to her displeasure Akane countered her by slamming her arm into her wrist forcing the attack to miss. This left her open to the kick she received in the stomach forcing spittle to fly out of her mouth and fall towards the floor. Instincts cried out to her and she rolled quickly to the left avoiding being pierced through the throat.
Yami rolled a slight distance away before kicking her feet into the air. As quickly as she rose her feet into the air, she brought them down with equal force. Following the momentum, she pushed herself up so that she is standing again. She turned her body to the left to avoid being vertically cut in half before bending backward to avoid being horizontally cut in half. 'I think I upset her…' she thought in consideration as she continued to dodge fatal blows.
Meanwhile, Naruto reached the destination that held his ninjatō. He reached down and grabbed ahold of his weapon before turning back towards the fight. 'Looks like Yami is on the defensive and wow… Akane is being super aggressive right now.' He thought in shock blinking at the battle but snapped himself out of it. He could use her aggression against her, so he charged back into the fight with the plan of ambushing her from behind.
Naruto's other half leaped backward avoiding being pierced through the heart. She doesn't have a chance to catch her breath as the red-haired vixen continued her vicious assault. She attempted to land a powerful hit on her opponent's chest but got repelled painfully with a swift foot in the gut.
She stumbled backward but regained her balance. Her vibrant blood-red eyes widened in surprise before quickly ducking down to avoid losing her head. Standing back up, she continued to stay on defensive trying to buy more time for her originator. A sharp stinging sensation flowed throughout her entire body with a bunch of pain radiating from her right side right below her ribs. Her eyes darted towards the beacon of pain only to find Akane's blade piercing her side. She shot a heated glare towards her stabber only for her eyes to gain a gleam when she noticed Naruto rushing up behind Akane. An idea sowed itself into her mind and before she knew it, she already acted.
Akane had expected a few things to happen, like Yami stepping backward to help remove the blade from her. To her shock, she instead reached out and latched onto her shoulders forcing her to stay in place. The move utterly confused her until she noticed the gleam of mischievousness in her opponent's eyes.
Her emerald eyes opened in realization at her mistake. She has been so distracted fighting Yami, she temporally forgot about Naruto. Her head swiftly turned to the side and out of the corner of her eye, she spotted the blond rushing up behind her. Quickly turning back to Yami she cut the blade out from Yami's side causing her to cry out in pain and fall to the ground. Akane turned around and raised her blade just in time to block Naruto's attack that would have ended their spar.
Their swords found themselves in another fight for dominance, each pushing with all their strength to win. Naruto sent Akane a smirk and decided to give some much-needed advice to his friend. "You know Akane-chan, you shouldn't turn your back on an enemy even if they are injured." He commented with a smirk that caused Akane's eyes to widen again.
Yami grabbed onto her side where she felt an immense amount of pain. She brought her blood covered hand to her face, 'Dammit, with this wound I won't be able to spend time with Naru-chan!' she mentally cried out in anguish. Clearly, her priorities are in order as she laid dying on the grass. Her hand fell to her side and she watched her Naruto fight against the red-headed tramp in a battle of dominance. A familiar gleam reappeared in her blood-red eyes and mustered up all her strength. She crawled right behind Akane just as Naruto finished speaking and wrapped her arms around Akane's waist pulling backward.
Akane had managed to make two fatal mistakes in this spar that she could count, and she knew that their sensei would call them both out on it. Once she fell backward on top of Yami she struggled to break free, but Yami has a death grip. She brought her blade up to block another attack from Naruto before launching her foot into his gut making him stumble backward. She then swiftly slammed her elbow in Yami's head making the girl cry out in pain again. The hold on her loosened enough to break free and she wasted no time in ending Yami. She brought her blade down and stabbed Yami in the skull. "Later Yami!" she chirped as the girl burst into black smoke before dissipating into thin air.
Naruto who just recovered from the sudden kick in the gut gasped out in pain. His side felt like it was split open, and his head stabbed causing a massive headache to form. A large wave of nausea washed over him and his vision blurred slightly. He blinked a few times to clear up his vision. Shaking his head lightly he regained focus on his opponent only to notice she vanished. He was about to turn around until he felt the cold metal brush up against his neck.
"Looks like I win again Naru-kun," Akane said in a sing-song voice standing behind Naruto. The one large downside to using Kitsune Technique: Mirrored Soul is that you take on the mental representation of your other half's pain. If you know this, you can take advantage to help you win a fight. With training you can negate most of this, but for Naruto who is still learning? It is simply a side effect. Although she slightly enjoyed getting some revenge on Yami. She would bruise on her stomach from the powerful kick she delivered.
Naruto sighed at losing against Akane again. His body relaxed and dropped out of his stance signaling his acceptance of defeat. He felt her blade retract and turned around to look at his best friend. "Looks like it." Naruto sighed in defeat.
Slow but notably audible clapping came from the side of their training ground making both Akane and Naruto turn their head. A tall man standing at 6'2" walked towards them. He has long wild locks of orange-red hair with black covering his ears. His face is narrow, molded to perfection and angular ruby-red slitted eye. He wore a loose blood-red kimono made of high-quality silk and a burnt orange sash tied right above his waist. His feet are bare touching the crisp grass below him. The most notable thing about this man is the nine orange-red tails dancing behind him. "You two have come far since I've begun training you…" he praised the two young kitsunes making them smile brightly and pride began to well up inside them. 'Oh, that won't do at all…' he thought and decided to knock them back down. "However, you two still make stupid sloppy mistakes that will get you and your allies killed." He chastised with narrowed eyes.
Whatever pride began to build up inside them was immediately crushed by their sensei. The look in their sensei's eyes also gave them the impression that they were both about to be called out on some mistakes. Akane and Naruto both looked down at the grass finding it more interesting than the narrowing red eyes of their teacher. "Yes, Kurama-sensei." They both mumbled together.
Kurama focused his gaze on the red-haired kitsune. "Akane, your kenjutsu is coming along splendidly. You're making your clan proud." He praised slightly, "however you still have tunnel vision. You focus only on one thing and forget about others." He started pinching his nose, "For example, you forgot about Naruto and allowed him to get behind you. If he would have been more skilled, you most likely would have been killed." He said with a hint of disappointment laced in his words.
He watched the young kitsune continue to stare at the grass. "You are becoming proficient in the Masumi clan techniques, but you use them far too recklessly. When you used the Masumi Kenjutsu Technique: Wave of Damnation to gain the upper hand, you could have easily harmed yourself when you released your chakra." His eyes narrowed, "I expect you to be more thoughtful in the future and think carefully about the consequences of your actions. Your enemies will not let your mistakes go." Kurama finished lecturing Akane and turned his narrowed ruby-red eyes towards his previous jailor.
"Naruto, your kenjutsu is adequate and while not on the level of Akane, it's still impressive for your age. I expect you to keep improving yourself." Kurama said starting off with mild praise before pointing out his mistakes. "Your mastery over Kitsune Techniques is impressive, but I'm disappointed how you used Kitsune Technique: Mirrored Soul. You used her as a distraction instead of a partner; you must learn to collaborate with one another. You share the same soul after all." He pointed out a little disgruntled with the use of such an incredible technique. If you want a distraction, you might as well just use a plain solid clone jutsu.
Kurama returned to staring at both kitsunes and gave a heavy sigh. "…and finally, you two need to get better grips on your weapons." He raised his hand to keep them from interrupting him, "Yes, I'm fully aware that your kenjutsu style is based on disarming your opponent, but that does not excuse you for losing your own weapons. I do not want either of you getting disarmed by one another often, if at all." He said sternly. Throughout the entire fight, they both constantly were forced to drop their sword which is deadly in a fight. If you know the style of your opponent, it should be easier to avoid being disarmed by it.
Akane and Naruto continued to stare at the grassy floor while they got lectured. It doesn't matter how many times it happens, but they both dislike having their faults pointed out to them. "Yes, Kurama-sensei." They both mumbled again.
Footsteps came to a stop right beside both Akane and Naruto. "I thought your spar was cool!" a familiar excited voice said beside them making them raise their heads to meet Aki and Danno. Aki, much like Akane and Naruto has grown considerably standing at the impressive height of 4'11" which is above average for a twelve-year-old. Her shoulder length dark-red hair is done up in a ponytail held together with a golden bell that chimed lightly when the breeze caught it. Her hair frames her round face and makes her dark forest-green slitted eyes pop.
She wore a black sleeveless shirt with a loose open blood-red jacket hanging off her shoulders, a short black skirt that went halfway down her thigh, and black sandals. Her two fluffy dark red tails danced excitedly behind her as she rocked on the balls of her feet. "The Red Devil verse The Blond Fishcake! The fight of the day!" she cheered out dramatically, her eyes glinted in amusement when Naruto twitched.
A soft yawn came from Danno, "It was bothersome, you two take too long." He said while covering his mouth to stifle a yawn. Danno not wanting to be left behind grew to match his friends now standing at 5' which is just below average for the thirteen-year-old. He has short jet-black hair with a crimson-red streak that thinned out slightly. His greenish-silver eyes are half-lidded and stared at both lazily.
He wore a blood-red short-sleeved shirt with an open black jacket resting snuggly around it, slightly baggy black pants, and black sandals. His left hand sat inside his pants pocket while leaning on his left leg. Unlike Aki, his two jet-black tails rested lazily behind him.
"Alright, listen brats," Kurama said suddenly garnishing the attention of the four young kitsunes. "Training is done for today. You four are coming along decently and I expect you to continue improving." He said giving them an expectant stare to which he got four nods in return. "Good, then I'll be off." He commented with a smirk before vanishing in a swirl of orange-black fire.
That left the four kitsunes alone in the grassy training field. They continued to stare at the previous location of their sensei before the silence was broken by non-other than Akane, "You know, it's still surprising that we even got him to teach us at all." She said voicing a common opinion amongst their small group.
Aki put a hand to her hip giving them all a wide smile. "It's because he likes me so much!" she chirped happily while nodding her head getting a few blank stares in return. She happily ignored them.
"I'm still adjusting to not having his voice in my head constantly," Naruto stated getting a raised eyebrow from the group. In Naruto's opinion, going from having a constant companion in your head to silence was weird. Don't judge him.
"…usually not hearing voices in your head is considered a good thing." Danno pointed out getting a few chuckles. Naruto turned his head to the side to hide his blush.
Naruto turned his head back to look at his group of friends with a thoughtful gaze. "Ya know, it feels like yesterday that Kurama-sensei was freed." He said in remembrance. The entire event was engraved into the blonde's mind. He absently rubbed his stomach, remembering the process.
*Flashback*
"Lie down right there Naruto," Masao told Sanctuary's newest kitsune, pointing at a large flat stone slab. The slab is raised up off the ground with bright green vines crawling up the pillar holding it. It stood in the center of a smooth dirt circle outlined with large granite rocks that sparkled from the rays of light that breached the leafy canopy. Large, thick trees surrounded the strange circle with mighty roots occasionally peeking up for the earthly crust.
Naruto who had been admiring the beauty of this strange place looked towards the stone slab. "Alright." He replied simply walking over to it and placing his hand on it. It is cold from resting in the shade of the trees, and smoother then any surface he had touched before. He pushed his hand up raising his body until he was resting on the cold stone slab. He laid flat on his back and looked expectantly towards the three kitsunes in the room.
Masao seeing the look decided to start explaining. "Now listen closely, Akio, Ami and I will be the ones running this procedure. I'll try to explain it as easily as I can and will answer any question you have after my explanation, understood?" he told the blonde kit receiving a serious nod.
"Alright, Akio here will be overseeing a vital part of your procedure. His job is to coat your body in a thin protective layer of nature chakra." He told the blonde gesturing towards the golden-eyed kitsune. He saw the questioning gaze from Naruto but ignored it for now. "Ami will be watching your vitals while helping your body adjust to the loss of Kurama-sama's chakra." He continued gesturing towards the black haired kitsune. "I will be the one doing the extraction. Do you have any questions?" the dark-grey haired kitsune asked already knowing the answer.
Naruto listened closely as he is curious about the procedure and seeing that he could finally ask his questions, he did just that. "Ah, why does my body need to be wrapped up in nature chakra?" the blond kitsune asked curiously. The last time he was wrapped up in nature chakra, he turned into a kitsune. He is justifiably allowed to be curious about what will be happening this time.
Akio decided to speak up since this is a question for him, "The natural chakra will act as a filter in a sense. If we did this extraction without this protective layer of nature chakra, we wouldn't just extract Kurama-sama's chakra, but your own as well. As you can imagine Naruto-kun, this would be fatal to you. So, when I apply this protective layer of nature chakra around you, it will only allow Kurama-sama's chakra out, understand?" Akio answered with a gentle warm smile that is comforting.
The blonde mostly understood what was going on, and he guessed that was good enough. "How long will this take, and will it be painful?" Naruto asked cautiously, silently praying that it would be a very simple, quick and painless process. From the look on Masao's face, he guessed he wouldn't like the answer.
The dark grey haired kitsune sighed with a frown marred on his face. "This procedure will take just over four days to complete." He answered easily, "However, this will most likely be the most painful experience you will ever endure in your life." He said softly, but bluntly, not sugarcoating it at all. He assumed the blond boy would appreciate knowing the truth instead of a blatant lie.
Naruto's sapphire eyes widened in fear at being told that information and gulped nervously squirming slightly on the cold stone slab. 'I'm doing this for Kurama's sake. I'm doing this for Kurama.' He thought mentally trying to calm himself. "I'm sorry Naruto, but this is the only way. I will promise you this, I promise you that you will survive this ordeal." The Takeshi clan head promised hoping to give confidence to the distressed kit.
Naruto took a deep breath trying to control his breathing and steady his nerves. No matter what anyone believed, being told you are about to experience pain like nothing before would shake anyone's confidence. Naruto is no exception to this, but he smiled weakly at Masao's promise. "Thank you." He replied lightly to the dark-grey haired kitsune.
Ami ran her hand through his golden locks in hope of calming the young child. "Naru-chan, you tell us when you're ready and we will begin." She said warmly, smiling at the blonde. Even when he stopped shaking, she continued to run her hand through his hair.
Minutes continued to pass and the older kitsunes waited patiently on the nine-year-old kit. They all have grown fond of the newest addition to the Sanctuary and wished they didn't have to burden the boy with so much pain. However, they needed Kurama out of the boy, and this is the only way.
Sapphire-blue eyes opened, and with one final calming breath, he answered, "Okay, I'm ready."
"Alright," Masao answered simply getting into position while nodding towards his companions. "Akio tell us when you've stabilized the protective layer over him." He said seriously towards the nature keeper who nodded his head. They watched as a green glow encased the blonde, and a few minutes later it stabilized. "Once we start Naruto, we won't be able to stop. Ready?" he asked the boy.
As soon as the nature chakra coated Naruto, he felt calm, serene with the warming blanket wrapped around him. It helped calm his nerves even more which Naruto is thankful for. Taking another deep breath, he replied, "I'm ready." His voice wavering ever so slightly.
Masao nodded his head and placed his hands over Naruto's stomach. He took a deep breath before focusing his own chakra around his hands. He glanced over at their medic. "Ami, I'm starting." He informed the woman, so she is prepared to help dull the boy's pain. When she nodded her head and placed her right hand over his heart, he began the extraction process.
Naruto's eyes widened in shock as he felt his entire body light itself on fire almost instantly. Every single cell in his young body screamed out in agony begging for the pain to stop. It felt as if magma started pumping through his body, burning himself from the inside out. Tears quickly gathered in his eyes and trickled down the side of his face. His hands clenched into a fist, his sharpened nails quickly drawing blood. He tried to hold it in, but couldn't, and started screaming in agony. 'Four… Four days…' he thought in absolute horror as the realization hit him. We would have to bear this pain for days.
Red corrosive chakra started leaking out of the boy's body gathering just below the palms of Masao. It bubbled menacingly while singing the blonde's skin. Ami who had already started focusing her chakra around her hands tried to dull the boy's pain as much as possible. From the way the boy was screaming, she guessed it wasn't doing much. "Masao, this might be too much for his body to handle!" she cried out while watching the boy convulse under her hands.
Masao tuned out the screaming solely focusing on extracting his father's chakra from the young boy. He continued to watch the beautiful orange-red chakra gather into an orb just below his hands. When he heard Ami start to panic, he decided to speak, "We have no choice but to continue! If we stop now, the whiplash will kill him." He said sternly, not taking his eyes off his own hands.
Ami narrowed her eyes at him but couldn't argue against it. She turned back towards her patient and continued trying to dull his pain to the best of her abilities. She could feel his heart going erratic and started focusing chakra towards it.
Akio looked towards the boy sorrowfully while he continued to keep the protective nature chakra wrapped around the blue-eyed kitsune. His job out of the three is simple, but also the most important. Without his filter, the boy would die. He tried to tune out the pain filled screams but failed miserably. He couldn't and didn't want to imagine what the boy was going through.
Hours, upon hours of screaming passed by slowly. Eventually, the screaming stopped all together garnishing the attention of two of the kitsunes who hoped he didn't die. Thankfully, Naruto was still alive, but still in immense pain. The constant screaming had finally taken their toll and wouldn't allow any more noise to escape him. Naruto lied there silently screaming as tears continued to cascade down his face.
Ami had tears running down her face watching such an innocent boy go through such a painful process and tried desperately to alleviate the pain. She ran her hand over his throat and pushed her chakra trying to sooth it. Her main concern, however, is the kit's heart. She studied it carefully.
The light from the sun vanished replaced with darkness, but the three kitsunes continued the process. The darkness was soon swallowed up by the morning light and the first incident occurred. Naruto's heart from the constant pain, and sheer stress put on his body stopped. Ami quickly got to work and restarted it healing the damage around it. Luckily for Naruto, while his body was still in incredible pain, he was finally unconscious.
Three more days passed by slowly and the three clan heads were sweating and tired from the continuous procedure, and thankfully, they were nearing the end. During these days, Naruto had woken up multiple times before quickly passing out from the pain. His heart stopped two more times during the process much to Ami's displeasure. The three kitsune have come far, and Naruto suffered too much for them to wane, so they pushed on past their limits.
The massive orange-red orb hovered above Naruto's body hardening into a shell much like Naruto had. "It's done," Masao said tiredly, his legs giving out under him. He collapsed onto his knees in exhaustion. Aki and Ami quickly followed suit, both just as tired from such a lengthy ordeal. "A-Ami, what's the damage?" he asked in between breaths.
"His heart stopped a total of three times, the third time I almost couldn't save him. His heart will need to be constantly monitored for the next week with constant care. When or if he wakes up from this, his entire body will be sore beyond belief and he will not be able to use his chakra for at least a month. He is covered in burns and missing skin which are luckily rapidly regenerating. He'll need to be placed on strong painkillers to help dull the pain and help relieve the stress off his body. He's alive though, but I have no idea when or if he will ever wake up." She reported professionally but clearly tired, both mentally and physically after this experience.
Akio stared at the hardened shell of Kurama's chakra before turning his gaze towards Masao. "How long until Kurama-sama's form stabilizes?" he questioned curiously while laying flat on his back. Unlike Masao and Ami, he was able to use the surrounding nature chakra to help relieve his body.
Masao looked up at the harden orange-red shell. "I… I don't know to be honest. We've never done this before, but from recorded knowledge from Naruto, I'll estimate around a week." He responded seriously, but uncertainty laced his words.
An hour passed by quickly, and with renewed strength, they stood up. "While you two watch over Kurama-sama, I'll take Naru-chan to the hospital and get him situated," Ami stated, guessing that Masao wouldn't give up the opportunity to study something new and Akio would just stay behind because he could. She got a nod from each of them before picking up Naruto and heading towards the hospital.
Two Weeks Later – Kitsune Sanctuary
Sapphire eyes opened warily reflecting the rays of light shining through the window. The bland white ceiling met his gaze. He attempted to sit up only to be met with dull throbbing pain. His eyes flickered to his body but spotted nothing wrong. He began to recall the agonizing procedure he went through to free Kurama. The beginning was clear all the way up to the terrifying pain, then it became distorted, fragmented. He could still feel the pain, but strangely it was like his body only remembered the pain but wasn't in pain. His eyes settled onto the ceiling once more and with a heavy sigh, 'I hope they succeeded…' he thought tiredly, not sure if he could ever go through that again.
A little while passed before he heard the door to his room slide open. He glanced over and spotted an unfamiliar black haired kitsune looking at him with wide green eyes. Her three equally black tails danced excitably behind her, "You're awake!" the girl dressed in a white medical garb exclaimed. Before Naruto could even open his mouth, the girl rushed out of the room and shut the door. '…how long was I asleep for?' he thought worriedly.
He waited for a while before his door finally opened again. Thankfully, he recognized this woman. "Oh, thank goodness you're awake Naru-chan." Ami cried out in relief. She walked over to the bedridden blond and encased him in a deep affectionate hug. It is well known throughout the Sanctuary that the Fumiko clan adored the blond after hearing his sob story. "You've had everyone worried about you." She informed the blue-eyed blond while running her fingers through his golden locks of hair.
Naruto felt a mixture of emotions come through with that sentence. Even after being in Sanctuary for five years, he still remembered his treatment in Konoha. He felt elated knowing that people are worried for him but felt equally guilty for making his precious people worry about him, to begin with. He decided to voice a question that popped into his head earlier, "How long was I asleep for?" he asked worriedly.
The motherly kitsune looked down at his worried blue eyes, "A little over two weeks." She answered truthfully. The hospital has been keeping a careful eye on the kit since the procedure he undertook. Monitoring his heart and looking for any signs of him waking. They were all worried he wouldn't wake up from such a traumatic experience.
Naruto blinked once, twice, three times before her response took root in his head. "Di-did you just say two weeks!?" he cried out in shock. That is the longest he had ever slept before and probably explained the killer headache.
Ami continued to massage his scalp, "Calm down kit, we're just happy you woke up at all." She commented soothingly. "How are you feeling?" she asked calmly, her medical instincts beginning to take hold.
"Sore." He answered blandly getting a soft chuckle from the older vulpine. "My chest hurts slightly, and I have a really bad headache." She answered honestly, but he decided it was his turn to get some answers. "Did it work? Is Kurama free?" he asked hopefully, desperately never wanting to experience whatever he went through again.
She smiled at his concern for her father but could tell there was a bit more to it. "Yes, Kurama is free." She said simply, more concerned over him currently. She still remembers the moment Kurama appeared. He immediately took off in a sprint like a sugar high kit. Apparently, it had been a while since he could stretch his legs without the fear of being sealed again. It still made for a humorous sight.
Naruto's shoulders sagged down like a great pressure was taken off them. He would never have to experience that pain again, if he could move his body, he would have jumped up and down excitedly. Luckily his survival instincts kicked in and forbid him from doing just that. "So, where is Kurama?" he asked curiously looking up into her amused crystal green eyes.
"Oh, he's been here and there. He has really been enjoying the newly found freedom you helped give him." She answered with amusement thinking back to her sugar high father. "I imagine he'll most likely visit you once he learns that you woke up." She answered his unasked question.
Naruto gave her a questioning gaze as she reminisced over something funny with Kurama but shook it off. He was relatively confident he would hear about it later. He did smile though at hearing how happy his closest – 'Aw, the pun no longer works…' he thought sadly – friend was with his freedom. Though he couldn't help but notice how odd it felt not hearing his voice in his head. 'He would usually say good morning before calling me a brat…' he thought sadly.
*Flashback End*
Akane tried to stifle the chuckle that escaped her throat. "He's still dealing with the aftermath of his freedom." She chuckled. The stories of Kurama sprinting throughout Sanctuary like a kid discovering sugar for the first time spread like wildfire much to Kurama's embarrassment. They learned quickly to never mention those stories in front of him, otherwise, his training would become more heinous.
The rest of the group joined her in her laughter as they had all heard the stories of Kurama's excitement. The laughter died down when a loud growling sound reverberated from the group. Three sets of eyes landed on the source of the sound. Danno's cheeked dusted pink and turned away from the group before saying, "What? I'm hungry!"
Naruto looked up towards the sky seeing the sun was close to setting. He looked back towards the group and shrugged his shoulders. "It's around dinner time, and we've been training all day." He commented idly. While his stomach didn't growl at the group, he is rather hungry as well. 'I wonder if I can get Riku to make ramen again…' he thought hopefully.
Akane, Aki, and Danno's danger sense immediately went off. They all glanced at Naruto before sharing a look with each other and nodding their heads lightly in agreement. They would all be keeping an eye on their favorite blond fox for their own safety. "Yeah, you're right. Alright, let's go get some food!" Akane chirped hungrily.
With a plan formulated, the group set off towards their clan compound. As usual, the group quickly split into the normal formation. Aki and Danno walking in the front shoulder to shoulder. Aki smiling and happily chatting with Danno, while the ladder just nodded along with a small smile. Akane and Naruto walked side by side closely behind enjoying the ramblings of their friend. Akane smiled warmly at her close-knit group.
=Masumi Clan Compound=
The four kitsunes enjoyed dinner as usual, and it passed by quickly with almost nothing of importance happening. Riku made a beautiful and rather extensive feat of sushi for the large family to enjoy. The chef couldn't help but bask in the compliments that went unsaid, but he knew they all said it mentally. His ego inflated, even more, it didn't matter if they didn't say anything.
The only important thing that happened was Naruto. Akane, Aki, and Danno should have listened better to their danger senses, but it was too late. Somehow Naruto timed it when all three of them had food in their mouths to ask his deadly question. "Hey Riku, could we have ramen again? You make really good ramen!" the Ramen Killer asked hopefully, buttering up the easily swayed chef.
Almost everyone at the table paled as they remembered the previous ramen meal and hoped Riku would take one for the team. When they all glanced at Riku, their hearts sunk. Riku had stars in his eyes at being complimented and immediately agreed to make ramen again soon. Naruto, of course, flashed a smirk towards Akane who looked defeated.
An hour after dinner a defeated Akane, Aki, and Danno walked through the clan halls with a satisfied Naruto walking closely behind them. As they passed by Kenichi's office, they overheard talking. Each glanced at one another before shrugging their shoulders. They were all known for eavesdropping, their curiosity just got to them. All four pressed their ear up against the door and started to eavesdrop.
"…of our newer operatives went silent recently, and we're worried." A familiar hardened feminine voice said in a stern voice. They quickly recognized the voice as Erza, one of the higher-ups in the kitsune food chain.
"Who went missing, and what was her objective?" Kenichi asked professionally. He took the disappearance, and harm of any of his family seriously. He would protect his family at all costs.
"Akitsu Mana," Erza answered sadly. "She was sent to investigate a suspected taker over of a small country. It was beginning to affect trade routes, and not with favorable results. Her mission was a simple infiltration and gather intel on the current situation." She informed the clan head before her voice hardened. "Her first report came in confirming the situation, and that damn mongrel Gato finally showed his filthy head again. From Akitsu's report, he is bleeding the small country dry and selling their woman and children into slavery. I believe it would be in our best interests to remove this cancerous parasite now." She said professionally yet could easily pick up the venom in her words.
Kenichi closed his eyes in contemplation. "How long has she been silent?" he asked, needing more information to go on. From the information already given, he already knew what he was going to do.
Erza sighed lowly, "She was supposed to report one week and two days ago." She informed getting a hum before she continued, "As you know, it's not uncommon for a report to be delayed, but over a week suggests trouble." She finished in a worried voice. She hoped that the young kitsune was alright.
The man pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a heavy sigh. His race has laws that forbid bringing any attention to them. They all knew that if the world discovered their existence, and that they manipulated the world from the shadows, it would only bring trouble. He opened his eyes coming to a clear decision. "We've allowed this Gato to much free reign and is a plague amongst the nations. Erza, you are to recover Akitsu at all cost and assassinate Gato. The second priority is to claim is assets and bring them back to Sanctuary." He said in an authoritative voice.
Erza gave a feral smile and bowed happily before narrowing her eyes. An idea popped into her head and quickly acted on it. "I'd like to take a small eavesdropping team with me, so they may gather viable experience." She suggested while walking towards the office door. Before the four kitsunes knew what was happening, the door quickly slid open causing them to all fall in. Each of them landed on one another and looked up with wide eyes and a sheepish expression. Erza violet eyes stared down at the four sheepish kits, "You four are starting to make this a habit." She said with hidden amusement.
"Akane-chan, Aki-chan, Danno-kun, Naruto-kun… what have I told you four about eavesdropping? He sighed tiredly into his hands. He seems to be sighing a lot lately. A lot of it because of these four troublesome kits.
"Not to…" they all said at once.
"…and what did you do?" he chided them.
A few moments of silence. "eavesdropped…" they answered again.
He rubbed his eyes with his palms and dragged his hands down his face. He sighed again and decided this would be good for them. His eyes met violet, "Permission granted. They're at the age where they should be taking on missions to help Sanctuary." He responded getting a smile from Erza.
"We're going on a mission!?" Naruto and Aki exclaimed in excitement. Akane's eyes lit up in excitement at the opportunity given to them and Danno just stared, but his eyes twinkled with the same excitement. All four of them have been wanting to go out on missions since Natsuko and Isamu started going out on them.
Kenichi shot them a look that told them to calm down. "Yes, you will be accompanying Erza on her mission. You will listen to every order she gives you and learn from her. I expect you four to be on your best behavior and act professionally. I'm putting a lot of faith in you by allowing you to go." He said in a stern voice. Not one of a concerned family member, but of a leader.
While three of the kits were still excited with the mission, Danno decided to get some more information. Having heard what the mission was, he wanted to know the location. "Where exactly are we going?" he asked curiously, already knowing it's a small country of sorts.
Erza glanced down at the boy, "A small island located just off the south coast of Fire Country. We'll be heading to Wave Country." She informed the deceptively intelligent kitsune.
Akane had a question of her own that she is curious about. "The man we're supposed to assassinate, Gato, is he the same guy you spoke of a few years back? The one who captured three of our own?" she questioned simply wanting to know if they were the same person. When Erza's eyes hardened, she assumed her guess was correct.
"Yes, and this time he won't be escaping me." She answered, but everyone heard the silent promise being made. The three kitsunes that the man captured were abused while held in their cage. It made her blood boil knowing that this filthy human was still out there after what he did. However, vengeance was brewing and would be delivered soon. She shook her head slightly deciding to get back on track. "We'll be heading out at the crack of dawn, so I expect all four of you to be at the gate fully prepped." She said sternly.
"How long should we pack for?" Danno asked a simple but important question again.
Erza shut her eyes and considered the details. "Pack for a long-term mission, around a month." She replied after considering the travel time, and time-sensitive objectives.
The four young kitsunes each nodded their head and quickly got back to their feet before leaving to pack for their first mission. Once they were out of earshot, Kenichi spoke up. "Do you believe they are ready for this Erza?" he asked worriedly. He knew that his daughter and friends were skilled for their age, but his over-protective father instincts decided to show its head.
Erza looked back at the concerned father and smiled gently at the man. "Those kids are strong, I've seen them train. Give them a few years and they just might be competing with me." She said giving her own opinion. Those four were at the age and skill level to start doing basic missions already, and complex missions with experienced kitsunes. This would be considered a complex mission.
Kenichi sighed once more, "Alright, I'll leave them in your capable hands." He said calmly. However, his eyes narrowed dangerously at the seven-tailed vulpine, "But, if any of them don't come back from this, you will be severally punished." He said with absolute authority.
The amethyst kitsune nodded her head briskly at the warning and walked out of the office without another word. She would need a good night sleep, and pack for a long-term mission. Though a toothy smile worked itself on her face. 'Oh Gato, your days have been numbered since the day I heard of you. It looks like your time has finally run out.' He mentally chuckled disappearing into the darkened halls of the clan compound.
=Kitsune Sanctuary – Gate=
The sun gently rose over the horizon illuminating the beautiful home of the kitsunes. The morning dew on the tree glistened, reflecting the early morning rays lighting up the forest. The cool morning breeze ruffled the tree leaves.
Sitting in a close-knit circle, four young kitsunes talked excitedly together. Akane, Aki, Danno, and Naruto had arrived just before dawn, so they didn't keep Erza waiting. They were extremely thankful Riku woke up earlier to make them a delicious and hefty morning meal. He only gave them a soft smile before returning to the comfort of his bed.
Erza appeared in the distance and walked towards the four-person circle. Once she was close enough, she asked, "Are you four prepared? Do you have your supplies on you?" They each stood up and formed a line in front of her.
Akane decided to speak for the group. "Yes, we each have a month worth of supplies sealed away." She said getting a nod from her three friends as they each patted their multiple sealing scrolls. Inside those scrolls, were camping gear, medical field kit, cooking utensils, preserved food, water, and other various things.
"Good, shift into mission form and we'll head out." She said while simultaneously shifting her own form. Her amethyst eyes lost their vertical slit, her ears shifted to a more human appearance, and her seven tails vanished completely. To the outside world, she would easily be mistaken for a regular human.
Unlike humans who try to mimic a shapeshift, the kitsunes can truly shift their forms. There was no way to detect their transformation as it was completely real. If they died in this form, they would not transform back. The same would happen if they died in their animal form. They could also stay in this form indefinitely. When outside the Sanctuary, they were not allowed to walk around with their legendary tails, or other kitsune parts.
The four young kitsunes followed suit and shifted into what the kitsunes of Sanctuary dubbed as mission form. Akane, Aki, Danno, and Naruto all lost their fuzzy features looking completely human. Which, according to Naruto, should be considered a crime against foxmanity. The foxes rolled their eyes but silently agreed with the blonde. The form felt unnatural to them, but they dealt with it.
The mission leader nodded her head. "Then let's get going. We have to cross the entirety of the fire country, and that's a long trip." She said turning from the group. She walked into the rift vanishing without a trace.
Aki cheered excitedly and bolted through the rift vanishing in a similar fashion which was quickly followed by Danno. Akane was about to walk through the rift before she turned around and noticed a hesitant blonde. When she thought about it, this would be the first time he's left the Sanctuary. She smiled sadly at him, "It's okay Naru-kun, we'll come back." She said soothingly.
Naruto glanced up at Akane and noticed her concerned look. He nodded his head and gave her a bright smile that easily brought a smile to his best friend. He stood beside her and they both walked through the rift leaving Sanctuary, not to return until their mission is completed.
=Omake: We Made A Mistake=
It was almost an average day in the alternative version of Konoha. The sun was still shining high in the sky, the village is still completely devoid of people other than the two inhabitants. Everything was almost the same except for one minor detail.
Two legendary shinobi stood side by side in the Hokage's office staring out the window. Their bodies were frozen solid in a mixture of emotions. They both knew one thing for certain, they had made a mistake.
"We made a mistake," Minato said as he continued to stare out the window beside his wife. It was a folly on their part, and they both knew it. He regrets so much.
"…yes, yes we did," Kushina said in a monotone voice. Her eyes were dull, lifeless as she stared at the horrific scene in front of her. A scene she would have to live in for a very long time.
"We should have been more specific." He commented in a dead tone.
"…yes, we should have." She replied in the same tone.
You may be asking yourselves, what could possibly turn two legendary shinobi into this? The answer is simple and right in front of them. The village was no longer tinted an eerie orange color that they asked to be changed. They would have been extremely thankful for that if not for what the nature spirit replaced it with. Instead of the eerie orange tinted Konoha, it was replaced with a bubblegum pink tinted Konoha. Nightmare fuel indeed.
"I think I hate Midori." The Yellow Flash commented.
"As do I," Kushina responded.
Off in the distance, Midori sat on top of a roof laughing evilly at her masterful prank. She would let them stew in this pink nightmare for a while before she considered changing it again. Maybe she would do a neon green next time?
A/N - Wow, what a ride that one was. I'm not going to lie, this chapter makes me more nervous than my decision to give Naruto kitsune parts. I'm not completely satisfied with the fight scene in this chapter, and actually corrected one of my own mistakes in the story. I plan on showing hand-to-hand combat soon as well.
What do you think of their pre-teen/early teen clothes?
Did I do better in describing the fight scene? I've been reading a lot of fighting stories and taking notes on how people write them. I'm no expert, but I think I'm getting better.
What do you think of Kurama-sensei?
Did you all like how I extracted Kurama?
Sugar high Kurama anyone?
Ramen strikes again, and Riku continues to be amazing!
Finally, the world starts to turn. This was not an easy decision for me, as I originally had something else planned before this, but decided against it for now. I've not scrapped my earlier idea, just moved it to fit better with the story. Either way, the wave arc has begun!
Did you all enjoy my omake?
Thank you for reading chapter five of "Kitsune Sanctuary"! I do hope you enjoyed it and decide to come back for chapter seven! I have plans for this arc that will change things in the future.
If you have any questions, please type them in the reviews and if I feel like answering them I will. Can't give spoilers, but I can hint at things if I decide to!