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FOX TAILS AND WHIRLPOOLS

Chapter 9 - Glimpse the Dark Side


"Alright, that's the chopsticks, napkins, sauce, dumplings, oh I hope I packed enough for you, make sure to eat all of your veggies since you're a growing boy and need your-"

"Mom!" Naruto whined, looking more downbeat than he did when he woke up. "I think I've got everything. You never miss anything when it comes to packing my lunches so don't worry."

Taking up the blond child, Tamamo aggressively rubbing his whiskered cheeks against hers. "Oh, Naruto, a mother can't help but worry. You're eating the finest lunch ever assembled in the history of academy students so I can't help but worry about students trying to steal food from you." Said the pink-haired Servant with mock worry much to the embarrassment of her adoptive son.

By the counter, Hakuno watched the display with a smirk. His conversation with Amaterasu still hung in his head as well as her thinly veiled threats. Times like this he couldn't help but see the goddess biting her thumb in irritation, thus making these little moments all the sweeter to enjoy. Something really could be said for times of peace and bliss no matter how fleeting they were.

"Hey, dad, mom said you and her had something planned for today, what is it?"

It was natural for Naruto to pick up on that. Since adopting him, he'd noticed the boy's innate curiosity had grown. Part of that he blamed on Tamamo, who seemed to encourage his curious exploring as did her fox familiars. Rather than his "work clothes", he was dressed in what was clearly exercise gear, gear he managed to exercise some input on. Tamamo had almost faithfully-recreated his gym uniform, except she's stylized it somewhat. His white t-shirt still possessed the 2-A class logo on it, only the two connected via a singular line that ran through the A and branched off into a bush-like tail. The all-white and blue-cuffed shirt matched perfectly with blue and white-lined shorts. Sewn into the cuffs were a trio of fox tails swirling about. Aside from his sandals, Hakuno looked in the mirror and saw a near perfect recreation of his gym uniform, it actually made him tear up a little.

Lastly, there was the duffel bag thrown over his shoulder. That itself was a pretty big indicator he and Tamamo weren't going to be working the shop.

"Well, me and your mom decided we're gonna spend today doing some exercise. Your mom may not look it, but she needs to do some work every now and then to stay as tough as she is."

The wink he threw in nearly made Tamamo melt on the spot, in fact, she practically did, even with Naruto watching her. The academy student raised an eyebrow seeing his mother looking as if she were about to liquefy on the spot with a dreamy expression on her face. Chuckling, Hakuno leaned down and whispered into his son's ear, whatever he said seemed to do the trick as the child merely shrugged and thought no more of it.

"What your father means is, for us to remain in tip top condition, we too must train our minds and our bodies." Stated the Servant, standing up and raising her fist passionately. She always seemed to make it a point of showing off in front of her son and husband, perhaps the "Wise Mother" possessed a fair bit of pride in her as well. "We'll be gone until possibly the late evening, or not. It all depends on how training goes. Know this, we'll be back in time to prepare dinner, and should training go well we'll be having a royal feast."

"Considering we have a royal feast almost every night, just expect more of the usual." Hakuno cracked as his son's eyes went wide.

Quickly snapping out of his stupor, Naruto fixed his parents with a passionate stare. "I-It's alright if you two are late. I've actually been thinking about cooking dinner myself. I mean, I've seen mom do it enough time so maybe it's time I start learning how to do it myself."

Those words made Tamamo's heart flutter in both joy and sadness. While she looked forward to the day she could teach Naruto how to cook, a part of her wanted to hold onto his young and innocent self. She hadn't completely outrun her old selfish sense just yet. Reaching down, she placed a light kiss on her son's forehead. "Just play nice with the other kids, and don't worry about the shop, I've made sure no one will be coming around to mess with it. Now then, I'll walk you to school."

"Actually," he began shyly. "I was thinking I could walk myself. Y-You and dad are probably going to have a busy day, so I figured today I could try doing some things by myself like cooking and managing the store."

Hakuno and Tamamo looked to each other in equal parts amazement and dread. The latter showed on their faces as they toward their attention toward their young son.

"Alright, but if anything happens, beeline straight for home, okay?" Hakuno requested, placing both hands on Naruto's shoulders. "You don't have to prove anything to anyone so don't think you have to, alright?"

"Al…alright dad." Answered the boy, giving the brown-haired youth a small but brave smile. A quick hug ensued then the young Jinchūriki was out the door, his footsteps resounding in the enhanced ears of both his parents.

The Caster's fox ears twitched as she leaned her head against her husband's shoulder. "How does he do it, keep that level of optimism after everything he's been through?"

"You never know, they say it takes more muscles to smile." Hakuno offered, finding her hand and giving it a squeeze.

Softly, the courtesan nuzzled her love's shoulder. "You two are alike, maybe that's why I love you both so much."

"Really, here I thought it was because of my dashing good looks and wit."

"Oh, there was that too." She chuckled, giving his neck a chaste kiss. "I suppose having you two around me is for the best; however, I'm usually the one who's upbeat and the life of the party. I feel like you and Naruto might be trying to outshine me."

Twirling about in front of his him, Tamamo leaned forward and gently kissed him on the lips. Blushes colored their faces as they broke apart and stood in blissful silence in the confines of their kitchen. Outside birds chirped in a semi-unified choir, perhaps attempting to remind the pair that life was still going on.

"I guess we should get going, don't want to keep Mr. Sarutobi waiting, do we?" Hakuno finally said, rubbing the back of his head with a soft smile.

"Oh, he's old and the leader of a village, I'm sure he's used to waiting. Besides, we've finally got a moment or two by our-" Before her arms could finish looping around her beloved, silver light temporarily blinded her yellow eyes. For a second Tamamo couldn't see, when clarity returned to her she found she was holding nothing but air. "Massster! No fair! Besides, you never told me you'd learned how to go light speed!"


Training Ground Thirty-Three, one of the many empty lots of land that surrounded the Hidden Leaf Village and served a variety of purposes. It was also one of the handful that was privately owned by the Hokage and set aside for his or her personal usage. For that reason, the earth had been "tempered" one could say to withstand the high-level jutsu one was likely to throw around. As a testament to that, the ground still carried various imprints whose origins one could only speculate at. Due to his eventful long life, Hiruzen had been there to see some of the scars made, memories he often looked back on with a soft smile.

"You know, I kinda feel like we're trespassing." Offered a young and gentle voice.

Even though their physical appearances were quite different, a part of Hiruzen felt as if he were watching Minato and Kushina join him for another training session. Oddly enough, the couple seemed to thematically fit the trend set by the two. He wondered if it was a "fox thing" or simply a cosmic joke. "You have no reason to. The Hokage picks and chooses who is allowed to enter this field, and I've chosen you two. Hakuno, I noticed you decided on something different from when we first met."

"Yeah, what you saw me in was sorta my…war gear." Answered the seventeen-year-old with a bit of a downcast look. "I'd like it better if I saved that outfit for when I really need it."

"Understandable, and of you, Tamamo?"

Crossing her arms, the fox-eared gave the old Hokage a haughty and almost offended look. "As a Servant, the clothing I am summoned with is bound to me. As a Caster, I can form a magical connection with any clothing I wear, but I prefer this, my basic and casual attire."

"She was too lazy to wear anything else." Hakuno informed.

"Master!"

Chuckling, Hiruzen realized perhaps the similarities between the Master and Servant pair ran deeper than he thought. Putting away his pipe, he stepped forward he held out a collection of paper sheets no bigger than his palm. "If it's not too much trouble, I believe we should get the training under way immediately. Please, take one sheet each."

"What are these?" Hakuno asked taking one as Tamamo took another, her ears twitching and her nose sniffing the blank pieces.

"This paper is made from a special type of tree grown in this world, or more accurately in the Land of Fire. By focusing your chakra into them the paper will undergo a change, if you're-"

"Fire will cause the paper to burn, water cause it to become wet, wind will tear it, lightning will wrinkle it, and earth will make it crumble into dirt." Hiruzen's surprised look gave Tamamo reason to smile, and she did so while taking four more sheets of paper from his stunned hand. "Mr. Sarutobi, I make it my business to be in the know when it comes to the survival of my beloved as well as my own. To answer the question, I'm sure you're wondering."

It was a good thing Hiruzen had taken out his pipe, if he hadn't it would probably be lying on the dirty grass while he gaped in shock at what lay before him. Five sheets of paper: one was burning like a candle, the second had cackled with static electricity that wrinkled it into a ball, the third practically fell apart in her hands due to the overwhelming moisture, the fourth had been cut into three pieces that scattered to the one, and the last had turned a thin shade of brown and began to crumble away. With a womanly snort fit for a noblewoman, Tamamo threw up her hand and released the remains of the five sheets into the wind where they were scattered to the sky.

"Respectfully, you are no longer the only one way able to use all five chakra natures, no offense intended." She said with a girlish wink.

"No, no, I'm impressed more than anything. It's rare finding one able to use all five chakra natures, and if I had to guess, you are able to do so freely and without much effort." In truth, a part of him had been expecting Tamamo to be elementally gifted. Her supposed class, Caster, made him think of magicians and tricksters, the likes of which were the distant ancestors of ninja in the age before Hidden Villages. Not to mention he'd read the report, she'd frozen quite a few people and things when she first arrived thus water and wind were a given. "Hakuno, what about you?"

The human was silent and his face seemed distant, an expression Hiruzen knew quite well. The sheet of paper in Hakuno's hand had not only torn but it had become saturated with water.

"I see, you seem…displeased."

His gaze flickered to Tamamo, whose expression went from sunny to naked worry. Once more, the pair seemed to silently communicate with each other, the conversation seemed to end with Hakuno's victory.

"Mr. Sarutobi," began the teen. "I…I don't want to sound like a broken record, but can I trust you with a secret?"

"Of course, whatever is said will stay with me, you have my word regarding that."

"Then if something slips, you will be the first person I blame." Snarled Tamamo in a voice ringed with malicious will and killing intent.

Sometimes, he let it slip too easily that the pink-haired woman was still a superhuman entity. One he summarized, valued the life of her partner and lover above all else. Hiruzen knew he'd have to always keep that thought in mind when dealing with her.

A puff of smoke left the old Kage's lips moments later as Hakuno told a rough summary of his informative dream. Hiruzen had to admit, the idea of this Moon Cell implanting a piece of itself into him didn't seem so far-fetched. No, it was actually quite reasonable, over his years he'd seen similar methods used when it came to sealing either abstract powers or entities. Tailed Beasts in particular came to his mind.

"Hakuno, do you have any idea who this other holder is?" He finally asked.

The younger male inhaled through his nose, bringing his heart to a clam beat. Slightly wide-eyed, he watched as the boy's center chest lit up with pale silvery light. In the center, he could make out what looked to be half of a cube-shape, light blue in color yet impossibly radiate and ethereal. The light seemed to wash over the field like the breeze from an ocean. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Tamamo, looking at the glow with visible worry and even shame. Clearly, she knew this power presented a danger to Hakuno.

If Danzō learns of this, he'll have the boy conscripted into service. Realized the Professor of Shinobi with a mental grimace. It wasn't just his old teammate he had to worry about, there was his wayward student, Orochimaru. The light that shined from within Hakuno would enchant his former student and make his already madden mind crazier with thoughts of experimenting and dissecting the boy. And that was just two people he thought of immediately, countless others would want this power as well.

"To be honest, I really don't know. I've thought it over but when I do, I guess I just get a little…scared." Hakuno answered, placing a hand over his chest. Almost instantly Tamamo was on him, her arms wrapping around his waist in an attempt to ease his roused heart. "The Holy Grail in our world, hundreds of people, thousands, have fought and died for it. Now I've got a miniature one stuck inside of me, to be honest, I'm scared out of my mind."

"Well, you shouldn't be. As long as I'm here that hunk of stupid crystal is staying right where it is, as is your heart, brain, liver, and kidney." Declared Tamamo. "Even if I must use that dreaded earth element, I'll use every bit of my newfound power to protect you, my dear Hakuno." Leaning down, she kissed his cheek finally bringing a smile to his face.

"Better yet, why not learn how to use that power yourself?" Hiruzen offered.

"I actually already have." Gently removing Tamamo's arms from around him, Hakuno stood up. He inhaled a quick breath…then outright disappeared.

"Hm?" Hiruzen blinked, three times actually. "What? Where did he-"

"Look to your right." Tamamo said with a knowing smirk. "He's grown quite good at that."

Turning in that direction, the Third Hokage was somewhat shocked to find Hakuno waving at him, from over what had to be twenty feet away. This time his eyes caught the brief silver flash before he disappeared again, and he actually managed to track the following streak. It LOOKS similar to the Flying Raijin, but it's actually high-speed movement. He realized with awe. "Light speed."

"Yep," Affirmed the teenager who appeared by the side of the old shinobi, a playful smile on his lips. "I've actually thought of naming it just that. See, I think with the Luna Corona inside of me, I can manipulate the light particles it gives off."

"And since it's inside of you, you can direct those particles to different parts of your body to enhance your physical abilities. Much like chakra." Hiruzen answered.

"Not just that, last night, my husband found out he could do something else with those little sparkles, right?"

Holding out both hands. Hakuno summoned forth more of the silver light. It condensed into his hands transforming from light into solid matter. Floating in between his palms now hung a chunk of whitish-silver rock almost ice-like in its appearance. After a quick inhalation from his pipe, Hiruzen reached out and touched it with his palm.

"Cold as ice." He deduced.

"Well, the moon can reach two-hundred and eighty degrees Fahrenheit when the sun's not around, according to studies the moon can even beat out Pluto in terms of coldness." Hakuno stated.

Tamamo stepped forward and placed her hand atop the rock. Concentrating her own magical power, a bright orange flame appeared and began to vigorously eat away at the rock, melting it as if it were ice. Getting an idea, Hakuno pulled away what remained of the chunk, roughly half of it. Turning in the opposite direction he tossed up the chunk, then with a kick to sent the white rock flying into the forest where it angrily tore through the trees and bushes before finally losing its kinetic energy.

Behind his calm eyes, Hiruzen's mind was turning and putting the pieces together. Truly he'd made the right decision in choosing to take the day off. "Not only are you able to manipulate light particles, but you can actually solidify it into solid matter. Hakuno, I can tell you very few powers in this word are capable of such a thing." Blushing at his compliment, the boy nervously smiled at him, then yelped when his wife saw fit to launch herself at him and ogled him once more. "If I had to venture a guess, this light power might be a mixture of your own energy and the Luna Corona. The closest thing to it is a kekkei tōta."

"A kekkei what?" Hakuno exclaimed.

"The kekkei tōta, my dear husband." Tamamo clarified. "An elemental kekkei genkai uses the activation of two chakra natures, but a kekkei tōta uses three, right, Mr. Sarutobi?"

"Yes, the only known kekkei tōta in the Five Great Nations is the Particle Style, wielded by the Tsuchikage. It uses fire, earth, and wind. Hakuno, based on what I've seen, your…Lunar Style, seems to use water, wind, and possibly yin, or dark in simultaneous activation. Dark covers the usage of spiritual energy in techniques and given what you've told me regarding the Moon Cell I believe your body now contains more spiritual energy than physical energy. I must say it's quite…unexpected, in fact, such a thing is near unheard of."

"In other words, I'll have people after me for it, won't I?" Hakuno asked with a saddened expression, having already put the pieces together.

"Unfortunately, yes." Hiruzen answered. "Should the village elders be made aware of this, they may make attempts to have you married-"

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" Thundered Tamamo with fiery quite literally burning in her golden eyes. For the first time, Hiruzen choked on his pipe and backed away in open fear of the fox-eared woman. He was pretty sure the giant nine-tailed fox rising behind her, whose vintage was masked with swirling golden flames, wasn't just his imagination. The Servant's body was, according to his old eyes, actually gaining an outline of golden and red flames, and with it came a heat wave that had the old Kage sweating where he stood. "If this village requires my husband's aid, then I shall allow it, but no woman shall touch him save for me! Should any of your nobles even start entertaining the idea then inform them that they will burn!"

Hiruzen now knew it wasn't just his imagination, the ground beneath Tamamo's feet was actually on fire. He felt like he was standing before a volcano, no, a supernova was the more accurate term. Sweat collected on his brow as his old mind raced to find some way to defuse the situation. Wait, if I remember correctly, Kushina tended to become rather possessive of Minato when-

"Um, Mr. Sarutobi," He'd underestimated the strength of Hakuno's will. The boy was far stronger than he gave him credit for. "I sorta forgot to mention, Tamamo…isn't exactly into harems. Her rule is-"

"My rule is," She cut in firmly grabbed Hakuno and squishing his face against her melon-like breasts, making both men blush crimson red. Seeing the display, Hiruzen couldn't help but think back to his dear swift wife and whenever she would get…frisky. "While other deities may allow harems, never will I! Not now, not ever. Be it the Moon Cell or this world of ninja." Holding up her fists her, woman leered at the Kage. "For that reason, I have developed the ultimate secret weapon!"

"The Polygamist Castration Fist." Hakuno answered with a blank face.

"…What?"

Hiruzen's pipe lay along the emerald grass, his heartbeat audible in his ears and the wind in his ear.

"…"

"…"

"It is the ultimate weapon for smashing apart the harem route." Tamamo declared with gusto. "Should Naruto choose to one day pursue a harem of his own then it will be his choice, but for this one that appalling path has been closed off. Permanently!"

"…"

"…"

Hakuno…I don't know rather to pity or envy you.

Wonder if I should tell him her Castration Fist has actually become a Noble Phantasm like her mirror.

A solitary wind blew across the field ruffling the hair of the three.

Loosening his wife's grip, the boy coughed hoping he hadn't scared their patron too bad. Or given him nightmares. "Mr. Sarutobi, if you don't mind, I'd actually like to get some practice in."

Snapped out of his horror-induced stupor, the Kage straightened up. "Y-Yes, I believe enough time has been wasted. We'll start small and gradual build up from there, I shall be your opponent."

"Huh?" Went both young people.

Smirking, Hiruzen gripped his white robes and threw them to the log-bench.

Hakuno and Tamamo stared in unison at the now black-garbed ninja, though their expressions were polar opposites.

"I'm not the only one who came to this placed prepared." Hakuno laughed.

"Quite, I am still a Kage." Echoed Hiruzen.

Tamamo…was a different story. "Mr. Sarutobi," her left eye twitched as she struggled to form the words. "You…realize you're…not a young monkey anymore, right?"

"As I said, I'm still an active Kage. Besides, it still fits as you can see." Defended the grey-haired warrior.

"Whatever makes you feel better." She sighed, "Now then, honey, make sure to go easy on the old timer."

Rolling his eyes, the veteran took a fighting position across from the youth. From the sidelines, Tamamo watched the two combatants with narrowed and focused eyes.

Both ran at each other and locked fists. Hiruzen looked into Hakuno's normal honey-colored eyes and saw they'd hardened; they now resembled the fierce razors which he'd used to stare down the Anbu when defending Naruto. Hakuno looked into his patron's old and seasoned eyes and was reminded of Dan Blackmore. Honor, commitment, loyalty, those virtues that made him respect the old sniper were shined in the grey orbs of the old Kage.

In the span of seconds, a bond had truly solidified between the young Master and the old ninja. For that reason, neither held back as they began an exchange of physical blows.

Hiruzen pressed his attack while Hakuno defended. Blocking kicks and punches, breaking attempts at grabs and throws, redirecting the force of his attacks while patiently waiting for an opening. He observed the brown-haired boy's face, it remained almost inhumanly passive and solemn even as his face came within centimeters of being hit. In contrast, his young body moved with near superhuman zeal and spirit as if a fire had been lit in his veins.

Falling back, he summoned two shadow clones that attacked as soon as they manifested. Hakuno looked between the two then back to Hiruzen who was rapidly performing more hand signs. First, he went after the one to his right, slamming into it with a shoulder-tackle that caused it to vanish in a puff of smoke. In a flash of silver light, he was before the second, launching it into the air with a front kick that easily dispelled it. His glazed over eyes fell upon his opponent, who launched forward releasing a blast of fast-moving air his way. Crouching low, he sprung upwards paying no mind to the way the grass was easily mowed down thanks to the approaching air bullet.

On the sidelines, Tamamo saw the old warrior reach into one of his back pouches. Every instinct in her body told her to run the old man down and tear his frail arms off. Only a quick glance to her love, now hovering in the air, kept her restrained. He'd told her on the way there to hold herself in check and that he'd have to get back to fighting on his own. As usual, that was much easier said than done.

"This here's favorite of mine, Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Shouted the Kage hurled forth a single throwing star.

Just like you, Hanzō. Hakuno thought, watching the single shuriken multiple into a dozen right before his eyes. Alright, just focus my mind and make the transition. Holding out his right hand, he focused his mind and energy and was rewarded. The silver glow in his palm rapidly expanded into a circle-shaped wall of silvery white that tuck in all the approaching shurikens as he descended. Once the barrage ended, Hakuno got another idea into his head.

As he suspected, Hakuno's Lunar Style allowed him to manipulate hard light, hard enough it could withstand a barrage of his shurikens, and malleable enough he could instantly shape the flat rim into a sharpen edge and turn the shield into a razor disc. Mentally smiling as the silver disc cut through the earth where he'd been standing, he felt a soft breeze alert him to his young foe's presence. Looking ahead, he found Hakuno coming at him with a fist rimmed in silver energy. Throwing up his right arm guard, Hiruzen grunted in effort when his fist made contact. His feet sled across the ground, leaving track marks.

"You're getting better at tracking me." Hakuno declared, standing up with a smile tugging at his lips.

"Like I said, I'm old but not out of it yet." When his gaze flickered to Tamamo, the fox merely turned her head.

"I suppose even old monkeys still have it in them. I am finding you preferable to that insufferable furball." She admitted.

"She means Sun Wukong."

"Sun Wu-wait, you mean the-"

His question was cut short as Hakuno plowed his leg into his arm guard. He smiled at the elderly leader telling him he'd answer his questions when the match was over. His spirits now lit ablaze when Hiruzen smiled back at him thus accepting his challenge. Shrugging off his kick, he put some distance between himself and Hakuno while performing hand signs. "Earth Style-Fissure!"

Hakuno saw the line of surging dirt and rock that sped towards him from where Hiruzen had slammed his palm down. Immediately, he bolted to his left, and was somewhat surprised when the line suddenly changed directions and headed for him. Sucking in a breath, he continued running, and to his frustration the fissure followed him, parting the earth wherever he went until his patience finally reached an end. Spreading his feet apart, he formed a mass of ice-like rock in between the palms of his head then threw it forward. As if it were a bomb, it exploded on contact with the fissure, freezing it and the surrounding ground in glimmering white ice.

Just as the teenager let out a breath of content, his sixth sense screamed at him. Behind him sounded several cracks. Four Hiruzens emerged from the ground and aimed for the young teenager with fists and kicks that if connected would have more than likely broken half the bones in Hakuno's body.

Despite being over twenty yards away, Hiruzen saw what happened next with clarity. For a moment, it seemed like his clones were frozen in mid-air by an invisible force. A moment later and second force violently pushed them back with enough force each clone disappeared in an explosion of smoke. Standing up, he had to steady the mixture of both excitement and worry building within his heart. Though this was miles above doing paperwork, he couldn't help but worry about Hakuno's safety as he pushed his powers further and further. He and Tamamo seemed resigned to the fact one day they would be found by their enemies. When that day came, Hiruzen had little doubt in his mind they'd turn their attention to the village. Danzō and a handful of the others had come to a similar conclusion and pushed for the pair to be thrown out.

Staring across the field with a partially cloudy sky above him, Hiruzen realized Hakuno had braced himself for that day. Everything he saw in the boy spoke of a wisdom that exceeded someone his age, and his body moved with more than just enhancements. He was trained, he was battle-tested. Despite only just gaining this new power, he seemed already adapted at using it.

As a ninja, Hiruzen found that respectable. But as a person, as man of peace, it made his heart shed a tear.

"Whenever you live, there's always war."

His white-haired teacher had not been wrong apparently.

Catching sight of a silver glint, Hiruzen readied himself. With bated breath, he watched Hakuno hold out his left hand while rearing his right arm back, as if he were drawing a bow. Barely a second later and that's what appeared - a translucent bow made of silver energy. His old ears picked up a surprised hush coming from their battle's one and only spectator. Briefly, he turned to Tamamo and was quite surprised to see she was looking quite shocked at the technique her Master was using. Feeling the hairs on the back of his neck stand up on end, he turned his attention back to his young opponent finding he was still gathering energy.

Hiruzen had no idea how powerful a "light arrow" would be, but he was in no hurry to find out. He began the sequence of hand signs to form a defensive mud wall and prepared to go from there as Hakuno would no doubt press onward as well.

But the attack never came.

The young man's glowing eyes widened for a fraction of a second and the mystical energy he'd been gathering dispersed. His mouth broke open in a silent gasp.

"Haku-" Before he could even finish the boy was gone, from the field and Hiruzen's mental field of vision. Instantly, he spun to Tamamo. "Tamamo, did something happen?"

"Obviously, if he just ran like-!" The fox's ears twitched as her face became serious. Spinning on her heel, she sprinted out of the field leaving Hiruzen alone in Training Ground thirty-Three.

"…Naruto." He deduced, crossing his arms. "Itachi, you can come out now, the coast is clear."

In a shower of whirlwind leaves, the prodigy of the Uchiha Clan was kneeling beside him. His eyes remained directed to the ground as he spoke. "Lord Hokage."

"How did last night's meeting go?" He asked, already dreading the answer.

"Badly."


"Hey, Naruto…um…sorry." Kiba offered, being the first of several to speak up.

It was clear Naruto was doing everything in his power not to cry, even though he felt like he had every right to. Behind him Iruka quietly steamed not only at who had dared strike out against his blond student, but also at the fact someone had managed to sneak into the academy building relatively undetected.

A handful of tears fell onto the broken black lunch box that had once held Naruto's food, the cartoonish fox face his mother had drawn on it had been scratched out, no doubt with a kunai. The insides had been raided, or more than likely whoever had done the vandalism had helped themselves to the finely cooked food inside. That was bad enough, but the damage done to his seat was worse.

Monster. Freak. Murder.

Those three words had been carved into Naruto's seat, again, probably with the kunai used to commit the vandalism.

"How the hell did this happen?" Iruka snapped to his white-haired friend, hoping his voice was quiet enough none of the students, especially Naruto, heard him.

"Iruka, we're trying to figure that out now." Answered Mizuki, hoping to keep his friend calm and level-headed. Or at least, long enough he could get enough enjoyment out of it.

The whole thing had been so painfully simple. Take the kids out for exercise, unlock a door or two, and then come back and watch the show. Really, as far as security went, the Leaf seemed to slack off when it came to protecting its next generation of ninja.

"I had to guess, this probably wasn't just aimed at Naruto, probably his family too." Mused the chunin to his fellow teacher. "You know since the Kishinamis came into town they've been making waves, and not everyone likes that."

"I know that but…but…" This was personal, whenever it involved Naruto it always became personal. Swiftly turning his attention back to the boy, he marched over and kneeled down. "Naruto, it's okay to cry, I promise no one's going to blame you for it."

For once the scar-faced teacher was right. All around him, students shifted uncomfortable and did their best to avoid glancing at the young Jinchūriki. Rather it was true empathy or fear for their own lives, no one dared say anything.

"I-It's fine, I-I can always just go to my folks' shop. They gave me a key to the backdoor so I can-"

"Take some of my lunch."

Several heads turned in abrupt shock to Sasuke Uchiha. Standing a few feet away from Naruto, he looked down at the carved kanji feeling anger boiling in his blood. He couldn't understand it, sure the blond was annoying on his best days, but the level of scorn directed toward him never made much sense to Sasuke. After getting a glimpse of the sunny demeanor of the whisker-faced child, he found it even harder to grasp one anyone felt so inclined to make his life miserable. Letting out all his frustrations in a huff, he ran to his own desk and pulled out his lunch box.

"S-Since I…still kinda owe you for yesterday, I'll share some of my food with you. You're only getting one tomato though."

Naruto looked ready to say something until he felt a soft hand fall over top his head. "Some of mine too, consider it a treat for all the hard work you've been in over the last couple of days."

Even though a few tears fell, Naruto kept his smile up. He liked being the center of attention, but not like this, and certainly not after he felt like he'd clawed his way out of that black abyss he'd been born into. "T-Thanks, you guys."

"Uh, here you go."

Eyes turned to Chōji Akimichi, who held out what was clearly a half-eaten bag of chips. One could argue it was the thought that counted.

Smiling at the show of generosity, Iruka walked over to Naruto's seat, his hand reaching into his kunai pouch. A cold expression on his face, the children watched him get to work in carving over the slurs.

"Um, Iruka, you're just creating more work for the maintenance department." Mizuki stated with a twitching eyebrow.

The tan-skinned shinobi's brow twitched as he realized that, but carried on nonetheless. "I-I know that, but it'll cause a distraction in class so long as it's there. Naruto, for the time being, take the seat at the top end. I'm sorry but until the damage is repaired, that'll be your new seat in class."

"Um, but what if someone does it again, Iruka-sensei?" Questioned Sakura, looking at Naruto with a twinge of sympathy.

"We'll…take this one step at a time, Sakura." Sighed the head instructor, realizing that even finding the culprit would be a short-term fix. It wasn't like Naruto's reputation was going to improve overnight and people would instantly accept him. He was hopeful but that hopeful, not until a couple of years passed and he truly proved himself in the eyes of the villagers.

As he took his place in his new seat, Naruto himself thought of the future. A part of him felt like an idiot for thinking since he got parents the hate would stop, but he'd let himself become too open to the hurt. Still, he thought looking at the ripe red tomato Sasuke had given him. Now he was on his right side and sitting above the dark-haired Uchiha. Coincidentally, he craned his head up to catch the jinchūriki looking at him; panicking, Naruto eagerly bit into the tomato, noting how it actually tasted pretty good. Sasuke's face screwed up briefly but eventually returned to eating his own meal.

There's about fifteen minutes left for lunch, Thought the blond, glancing at the clock. The gears behind the two hands mirrored those turning in his hand, only his were going at double the speed. I've outran the Anbu dozens of time! I can do this! Besides, if I pull it off I'll be one step closer to becoming Hokage! Exclaimed the inner psyche of the boy.

Are you really sure that's wise idea, brat?

"Hm?" Pausing in his eating, Naruto looked around his immediate vicinity for the distant yet deep voice. Must have just been my imagination.


He slipped out with the expected rush of kids asking to go to the bathroom. Not many knew, including the teachers, but quite a few back-doors seemed to exist in and out of the academy. As he glimpsed the somewhat darkening sky, he realized the intruders must have used one of them to slip in and out. Maybe he could booby-trap some of the entrances in case they tried to sneak into the academy again. Sure, he'd probably have to explain himself, but he believed the benefits would out weight the lecture.

Sneaking out hadn't lost its charm, even as the bottom looked like it was about to fall out. When all was said and done, Naruto still enjoyed the feel of running through the rooftops and streets with the wind whipping at his face.

Buildings flew by as if they were nothing. Block by block he could feel himself getting closer to his destination, and he still had enough time left over to make it back.

"Bingo!" Shouted the seeing the fox-tailed logo that hung above his family's shop.

"Took the words right out of my mouth, demon brat." Cackled a vile voice that made Naruto's blood turn into ice.

It was like the sudden yanking of the thread wrapping around him force the scream out of his mouth. A part of him hoped someone heard his cry, but he knew what he should have hoped for is that someone heard it and actually cared. This time, the world spun but Naruto had no control over it nor did it feel him with invigoration. Multiple colors flashed before his eyes then darkness consumed his vision, and with it came pain.

"Woah there, Chuhatsu, I think you might have yanked the kid a little too hard. I thought we were going to drag this out." Chuckled a male voice Naruto's pain-filled mind distantly recognized.

"Sorry about that, must have gotten a little too excited. Hey, it's actually kinda amazing how light the brat is. Guess all those first-class meals just evaporated inside his stomach."

He tasted dirt, and a little bit of blood. It wasn't the first time he'd tasted either, nor would it be the last. Naruto forced down the pain and managed to move his head upwards. "You three," he tried to say in the most intimidating voice possible. Given the position he was in-tied up and blood trailing from his lips and tears dancing in his eyes it didn't exactly work out as he wanted.

The kunai twirling in his hand came to a stop as the pepper-haired chunin smiled down upon Naruto with a malicious. "Hey there, demon brat, you didn't forget about us, did you?"

"Who are you guys again?" He immediately said.

A hand larger than his hand shot out and grabbed him by the neck roughly lifting the blond child up. Once his focus came back in full, he glared directly into the brute of the trio's dark gray eyes. They almost perfectly matched the gray clouds overhead. "Still the jokester, aren't you? Tell me, how many cracks do your new owners let you get away with?"

Naruto wanted to spit in his face, to kick and scream, but he was too busy fighting the silk-like binds holding him.

"Give it a rest, you little brat," Chuckled scar-face, leaning against left side wall of the alley. "I designed those threads myself, so there's no way in hell your little body's breaking out of them. Just sit back and take your punishment like a man."

"Hey, hey, I think we're being a little too harsh on the kid. I mean he did treat us to lunch, didn't he?" Offered the leader, leering at Naruto.

The young Jinchūriki's nostrils flared. "You bastards!"

Snorting like an ox, the brute swiftly slammed the boy against the wall. Air escaped from his lungs and pain consumed his body rendering him mute.

"Watch your damn mouth, you little shit! You wreck this village and you think you should be eating five-star food?! You're nothing but a parasite, so quit squirming or I'm gonna squash you!" Snarled the black-haired chunin, tightening his grip on Naruto's neck.

"Now, now, Yamashio, don't get too hasty now." Stated the trio leader, placing a hand on the brute's shoulder. "Demon brat, Shōki Matsukata, son of a father you murdered a few years back, and younger brother of a sister who you stomped on. My teammates, Chuhatsu," he jabbed his thumb towards scar-face. "And Yamashio." The big one who had him by the neck grunted. "Now then, you owe us something."

"Which is?" Naruto croaked.

"Oh, family, infrastructure, billions in ryo that had to torn out of the village's budget and used for repairs. You comprehending any of this or did your brain shrink when your body did?" Said Chuhatsu.

"How about I pay you guys back by not kicking your asses, that sounds about fair!" Snapped the academy student. Shōki and Chuhatsu met his offering with snickering while Yamashio savagely tossed him onto the ground. His lungs were burning and his chest hurt like hell. He wanted to simply lay on the ground and lay there until his parents found him, but his pride, his self-worth, it moved his body upward. Who cared if he looked like a caterpillar, he still had his pride. "Look, I don't know why you hate me, but whatever it is I-"

"Don't act like you don't know, you little freak!" Screamed Shōki, sending the boy rolling across the ground with a kick to the ribs. "You may not remember, but trust me, everyone in this village does! They'll never forget what you did! Contrary to whatever that bitch-ass fox and asshole tell you when they're petting you to sleep, you're a monster! Always have and will always be one!"

"S-S-Shut-up!"

The four males glanced in the direction of the alley where the voice came from. All their mouths dropped finding a trembling Sasuke Uchiha standing there before them. Naruto nearly shed tears seeing his black-haired classmate standing there, trying to defend him.

"T-T-T-T-The o-only m-m-monster h-h-here is you guys! Y-You're chunin s-so don't you have anything better to do then beat up on academy students!" He shouted, much like Naruto, he too was attempting to look tough, with equal results.

"Hah! And shouldn't you be in school? Oh wait, maybe you realize you'll never be as good as your brother so you decided to cut class with the loser. You two are a peas in a pod." Cackled Shōki.

Rage clouded the black-eyed boy's face and his hands flew together into a set of hand signs. Yelping in shock and worry, Naruto did his best to roll out of the way. "Fire Style-Fireball Jutsu!"

Yamashio snorted at the minuscule fireball that was expunged from the young Uchiha's mouth. "Water Style-Archer Fish!" The brute's cheeks puffed up then deflated with the opening of his mouth. Sasuke's fireball was immediately put out, and Sasuke himself was knocked into the wall by the blue stream. "To think you're the son of Fugaku Uchiha and brother of Itachi Uchiha, guess talent must have stopped at the latter."

"Sasuke!" Naruto cried, still struggling against his binds. "You'll pay for that!"

"Maybe in a thousand years." Shōki wrote off, walking up to him then lifting him up by the strings that bound him. "Hey, the rest of you little punks, are you gonna come out and defend this freak of nature too?!" His words caused the struggling to go still and turn in the opposite direction of the alley. "See that? Give them all the candy you want, but in the end, they still hate you just the same. You can get killed and I promise you, not one of them would bat an eye. Except for maybe his folks," He said, motioning to a struggling Sasuke.

"And why's that?"

Shōki got a single breath in before an invisible force moved in and knocked it out of him. His body flew backwards like a rag doll, rolling along the earth just as he'd done to Naruto. The boy himself didn't realize he'd been caught or was safe until a silver glow caught his eyes. Glancing downward, he found a pair of fingers somehow magically cutting through the threads binding him. A smile grew on his face as he finally looked upward.

"Dad!"

Hakuno was not smiling, he was glaring, and doing a damn good job of scaring the trio of ninja. "I told you all to never come near Naruto again." His cold voice spat.

"W-Well, maybe we just realized some no-name civilian was nothing to be scared." Spat Yamamshio, taking one brave step forward.

"Then what about me? I do believe I remember promising to tear you all to shreds, now I'm considering following through on that promise."

Golden and orange flames swirled about in front of the father and son pair. Tamamo's furious and regal form emerged from the twister of flames which did not dissipate. Out of fear, Sasuke hugged the wall realizing he'd gotten in over his head. His soaked body instantly dried itself. Across from him, the three chunin felt the heat begin to cook their skin.

"I. Warned. You. All." Tamamo growled, her golden eyes burning hot like torches. "I can smell the remains of my food on your breaths, the food I cooked specifically for my son. You must have enjoyed it so please, allow me to treat you to more!"

The sun-like shine grew hotter and brighter blinding Naruto and Sasuke, but not Hakuno. Narrow-eyed, he watched as the three older boys crumpled to the ground gasping at their stomachs and barfing their innards out. Death by radiation was a painful way to go, yet his heart didn't quite break for these three. In fact, he barely felt the need to call off his Servant.

Luckily, someone had the ability to do it for him.

"Tamamo, as fitting as slow death is for these three, that's not how things work here."

"I don't care! They threatened my son! I want their heads!"

Fugaku Uchiha had lived and long and hard life, how else could he cope with having a vengeful mother coated in the flames of the sun threatening him into being complacent while a triple murder was carried out before him. His continuously stoic demeanor was actually adorable. "Tamamo, as a father, believe me, I know, I want to rip the big one's arms off for what he did to my son, but this village has laws, laws I'm sworn to uphold. Let us deal with these three or else you'll be the one going on trial."

"Then I'll take my chances!" Roared back the pink-haired woman, now lighting up the alley way with her fiery glow.

"And then what'll happen to your son and husband?!" Barked the clan head.

Those words injected new life into Naruto, who'd gone ideal in his father's arms. Looking between Sasuke's father and his mother, he realized he had to do something before things spiraled further out of control. "Wait! Wait!" Jumping from Hakuno's arms, he raced toward Tamamo and grabbed at her hand. "Mom! Please! I-I know what they did was wrong, but don't do something stupid on account of me! I'm fine! See!"

Beyond the cackling flames, no other sound filled the alley. Watchers waited for Naruto to yelp in pain or pull back due to the golden flames swirling around Tamamo's kimono clad form, yet it never came. She looked down at the boy's pure blue eyes which threatened to overflow with tears. The longer she looked, the lighter she felt.

Are you just going to let these three get away on account of that bleeding heart little kit?

Those blue eyes, pure as the sky and innocent as a newborn. How many tears had they shed because of the pain of the ignorant? Of the prejudice? Too many probably.

But she would not be the cause of any more of those tears.

Immediately, the flames receded and Tamamo took up her adoptive son in her arms. Greedily, he returned the embrace. A few feet away Hakuno looked to Fugaku, a thin smile tugging at his lips. He returned it with one of his own before making his way towards his own downed son. Much like with Naruto, Sasuke allowed his father to take him up in his arms. With his son clenching at him, he turned to the three immobilized chunin. They'd realized they had nowhere to go.

"As head of the Konoha Military Police, I hereby place you three under arrest for the attempted murder of a fellow Konoha citizen."

The men who appeared at the end of the alley way wore similar vests to the three, though on their shoulders lay the four-pointed star insignia similar to Fugaku's. Shōki, Chuhatsu, and Yamashio looked at the approaching men in disgust. The leader of the trio turned his head back to Fugaku, his reddish-brown eyes brimming with disgust.

"You know, being arrested and charged with attempted murder is really funny when it's coming from you people."

Aroused by the first droplet of rain Sasuke looked up, and in doing so witnessed something that would stay with him for the rest of his life. He could count on one hand the number of times he'd seen his father angry, but he could never recall seeing him furious, so furious his Sharingan changed shape. It was quite strange, he'd seen or heard of the three tomoe merging into singular design. The sight froze his blood and nearly made him scared of the very man who'd helped bring him into this world. Thankfully, the transformation lasted only a brief second so he could write it off as nothing but a figment of his imagination.

He hoped.


Some drama and action all around. As promised a little more information on what the Luna Corona inside of Hakuno can do and what he'll be using it for. The Moon Cell is mass of light crystals so the abilities it grants at a basic level I figure would be light-based. There's obviously going to be a fair bit of symbolism to Hakuno's moon-based powers since Tamamo's the sun. While the moon can light up the night sky its also associated with things like madness and evil, and in the Naruto-verse the moon has quite a few negative connotations. The Lunar Style Hakuno will be using is made up of Water, Wind, and Shadow (Yin) since those elements are the closest one can associate with the moon.

I honestly decided to add in earth as a chakra nature since logical Tamamo would have access to the other four via her witchcraft and in classical Japanese mythology earth is one of the five elements. It sorta helps in earlier chapters of the manga ninjutsu was outright referred as spells and they're practically the ninja world's version of magic. As for her being able to use kekkei genkai, well she's got ice magic so I'm not rolling other elemental mixes off the table.

The second half of this chapter showed the Kishinami Clan is in for some rough sailing, and next chapter the Leaf gets its second Master-Servant residents!