Disclaimer: No own Naruto kay ^.^

Chapter 16

Naruto walked beside Haku into a dense part of the forest. They walked until they came to a group of closely grown trees. Naruto hesitated but after a moment he followed Haku into the trees. Inside of the trees was a wooden fortrest, it blended so well with the forest around it that it was invisible. Haku led Naruto to a ladder made of branches and leaves.

Once to the top of the ladder they walked till they reached a natural looking opening and proceeded into the darkness. Naruto cast his eyes to and frow taking in all the layout so he wouldn't forget where he was and how to get back out. He almost crashed into Haku's back as he came to an abrupt halt in front of a large door. Haku knocked a series of codes to assure the person inside that it was indeed him. He waited for the gruff 'Enter' before he opened the door and gestured for NAruto to follow quietly.

They entered the room to hear a growling deep voice ask "Haku who have you brought here?"

Haku stepped forward and nelt facing a shadowed part of the room. Naruto observed as he made out a large figure reclining in the shadows. "Master Zabuzza I have brought a friend who has information that is of importance to you"

The now identified figure of Zabuzza stepped from the shadows a glare on his half concealed face. He looked NAruto up and down recoginsing the brat that was with Kakashi. He sneered at the youth but said nothin waiting. Naruto finaly decided to speak. "Greeting Zabuzza-san my name is Naruto Uzumaki and I have a proposition for you"

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(With Kakashi and team 7)

Tsunami was starting to get worried for the young blonde boy. He hadn't come back to the house and it wasn't even an hour since she last saw him. She looked at his teammates and scowled they were a useless lot but she was thankful for them protecting her father during the time he was building his bridge. She looked to her father and sun seeing them talking and smiled.

Kakashi was aware of Tsunami's scrutiny and read his book observing the people in the room laughing to himself at Sasuke's discomfort of having a pink haired fan-girl on his arm. He had to admit the girl was smart but would die quickly if she didn't get over her obsestion with the Uchiha soon. He sighed hating the fact that the council had pressured him into training the Uchiha seeing as he was the only trust worthy sharringan user left.

He had been observing their progress and what surprised him was Naruto. He had learned the tree exercise in barely a day then went off to train on his own leaving a stunned group behind. Kakashi had followed him and what he saw was surprising to say the least.

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(Flash back)

Kakashi followed Naruto deeper into the woods careful to fully mask his chakra. He had been curious to see what type of training Naruto had been doing. When he observed Naruto walk into a clearing close to the water's edge he was thankful that he wore a face mask or his jaw was likely to hit the floor.

He had blinked for a second, a second and where Naruto once stood was someone almost completely different. This youth was more sleek and fit his muscles gleaming through the near transparent mesh shirt. His hair was the color of a sunset flowing down his body in a thick braid. The most surprising thing was when the youth turned to face his direction and he hoped that he hadn't given himself away.

He needen't have worried the youth's deep blue eyes scanned the area until they fell on a seemingly innocent squirl. He smiled and called out his voice like crushed velvet to Kakashi's ears. "Did you find the herbs alright?"

Kakashi thought he was crazy talking to an ordinary squirl when a soft female voice called back from the squirl's mouth." Hai kit I found it fine thank you for the help"

Kit the now confirmed person in Kakashi's mind smiled a breif glimps of fangs. "No problem Kanako-san but tell my ka-san and everyone at the village I miss them and might be sending some people there way soon"

The squirl now identified as a Kanako chattered for a second before bowing in what had to be an akward way for a squirl "No problem she misses you kit and pluse your brother keeps getting beat up every time he tries to come and kidnapp you, you really should go home they haven't seen you in weeks"

Kit grimanced but smiled after a second "Tell them I'll come visit as soon as my mission is over kay"

The squirl nodded then scampered away leaving Kit seemingly alone. Kakashi absorbed the information to sort through later as he continued to watch the boy. Kit had closed his eyes back facing the ocean. Kakashi almost gave himself away as he watched Kit back flip onto the water's surface and then into the air higher than before.

Kakashi held himself in check as he watched Kit bite his thumbs and go through handseals as fast as an Anbu would. He starred as a Kit sat on a cloud that appeared in a puff of smoke. He sweat dropped as he saw Kit take out a cup of ramen and eat it. He gave up watching when he heard the boy snoring on the cloud. He made his way back to his two other students dispelling his bushin. He would have to ponder it a while he decided as he took his spot in a tree reading his icha icha paridise volume 3.

(flash back end)\

He had yet to find Naruto and he was begining to suspect that the boy 'kit' had sent him to his village. He hoped he was wrong or else he was in deep shit with the hokage. He peered over the book's edge once more to see Tazuna talking to his grandson Inari the kid had some serious issues to deal with but it wasn't his problem. He would question Naruto tommorrow at training. With that settled in his mind he went back to reading his book ignoring the glares he got from the others as he giggled at a particular part.

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(Forest hideout)

"So your telling me that he plans to kill me after I finish with this job."

"Yup," Zabuzza leaned in and growled at the teen "Were is your proof?"

Naruto smiled and leaned back inching his hands slowly to a vest pocket as not to cause them to attack him. He pulled out a scroll and bit his thumb before running it across teh symbols. In a poof a red book popped out of the scroll. Naruto handed the scroll to Zabuzza and waited. "This is a list of all the bountys that Gato has turned in over the last six years and if you were to cross check them with the underworld network you would know that all of these men were previously hired by Gaato for a job before they turned up dead and then money into his accounts."

Zabuzza looked through the book and spotted several names he knew from his days in mist. He looked at the kid who had given it to him and said "Well damn guess we don't get a rematch yet."

Naruto laughed and accepted the tea that Haku handed him. "I have more wonderful news for you, Haku would you do the honors."

Haku nodded and let his true form slid into place as Zabuzza watched him. Zabuzza just looked on as he saw the scales, horns and tail come from his student. He turned back to the other to find a young kitsune staring at him. The kit was the color of sunset with cruelean slitted eyes. The most astonishing thing were the nine tails that wagged as he watched Zabuzza's reaction.

Zabuzza looked from one to the other and his eyes hardened into a glare "So it seems you've been keeping secrets from me Haku."

Haku bowed dropping to the floor gracefully. Naruto snorted and stood stretching his body like a cat befor sitting on his hind legs to face Zabuzza. "Well not really keeping secrets, more like didn't know and now is showing."

Zabuzza was shocked when the fox spoke ut then his eyes widdened as he remembered the tales told about the kyuubi. "How the yodaime killed you."

Naruto shook his head." contrary to beleif he sealed kyuubi into a human child and to answer I am that child but as you can see not so human anymore."

Zabuzza got a calculating look as he looked the fox over again."How bout you join me and Haku."

Naruto shook his head again a grin appearing on his mussle" I got one better how bout you join my village, no not konoha but the demon village Hiroshima. My mother would not mind helping you get settled as one of the nin there and you get better pay and no more hunter nin on your trail."

Zabuzza thought it over and then " to good to be trut whats the catch."

Naruto's foxy grin grew looking like a snarl "Well there are a few things first before I can send you there but the benifits out way the risks"

Zabuzza shook his head"Ah huh now what are the conditions?"

Naruto smiled on the inside as he began" Okay first off you must never tell any one what I really am, two you cannot attempt to rape me..ever this is more for your safety than mine, three you have to die in this world so we'll stage an accident for you two, four you must listen to my ka-san she will be able to help you the most and last but not least you must sware loyalty to the village"

Zabuzza thought it over and nodded" Fine kid now change back your giving me the creeps talking to demonic animals that ain't summons."

Naruto nodded his vulpine head and beagan to change to his true form. He stood and stretched his tails curling to wrap around his waist like a belt. He wore his customary harem outfit but in an orange color. Both Haku and Zabuzza looked at him as he twisted this way and that way to get the kinks out of his body.

Haku looked to his master and gently shook his head so that Zabuzza would see. He got a nod in response and then waited as Naruto stopped stretching and looked to them smiling so sweetly they knew he did it on purpose. "Okay here's the plan a week from now you will go to Gato's hide out while he goes to confront us at the bridge. I want you two to take out those he left behind and seal all the valuables there into these scrolls, the rest we can work out later I need to sleep."

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(One week later)

Naruto walked to the front of the house and waited. He knew that Kakashi would be able to sense it was him. He didn't wait long before the sharingan user stood at the door dressed and wearing his mask already. He looked at Naruto and then around before letting him into the house. Naruto made his way up the stairs and into the boy's room before laying int he pallet that Kakashi had vacated and falling asleep.

Kakashi looked at his blond student and shook his head before sitting against the wall and resting until the sun came up.

Later ass they trooped downstairs Sasuke was wondering where Naruto had come from having awakened and seen tehe other teen sleeping in Kakashi's spot. He continued to throw glares at Naruto as they made their way down the stairs.

Naruto ignored sasuke and Kakashi as he smiled thinking of all the things he knew would happen to Haku and Zabuzza after they met his family. His smile turned evil as he thought this causing his two teammates to stare at him making sure they had seen it. They made their way into the living room to see Inari nodding off at the table. Naruto laughed and walked behind the boy kneeling so he could manuver the younger child into his lap.

For a second the sound in the room stoped as everyone stared at the two. Naruto just shrugged and pushed Inari's head into his chest so the boy could be more comfortable. Tsunami wanted to do a fan girl squeel when she came out of the kitchen to see her sun sleeping on Naruto. She resisted and moved with dignity while inside she was chanting 'gotta get my camera, gotta get my camera'. She set the food onto the table before walking back upstairs for a moment. When she returned a smile on her face she sat down with the others near her fathers side.

Naruto looked up from stroking Inari's hair and saw that one person was missing. He looked to Tsunami and in a quiet voice asked "Tsunami-san do you know where Sakura is?"

Tsunami nodded pointing to the stairs a look of disgust on her face. "Yes she said she needed to apply something to her skin."

Naruto nodded and gently tapped Inari on his head to awaken him. Inari opened his brown eyes and looked around for a moment thinking he was still in his bed because of the warmth. He saw his mom sitting across from him and looked around before he felt a hand wrap around his waist. He looked down to see a tanned arm there and looked up. Naruto's face was inches away from his causing him to gasp.

Naruto smiled down at him before lifting him out of his lap and into the place beside him. He steadied him to keep him from swaying there was a click and a flash. Both boys turned to face Tsunami who was whistling as she ate.

Naruto just shook his head as he steadied the blushing boy. He leaned down near his ear so that only he could hear "Don't worry Sakura didn't make the meal"

There was another click and a chocking gasp from Inari as he tried to visualise eating something made by the pink haired girl. He shuddered as he remembered the one day she had made food for them. It had looked okay and smelled okay but one bit had made everyone but the ninja's run for the bathroom. It had tasted like rotted meat covered in mud. Tsunami didn't allow the girl in the kitchen after that and all were thankful when Naruto had given them the food he was eating(he made it) and some pills for food poisoning.

Inari looked around and then at the boy bye his side he remembered his dad as well. He suddenly growled causing everyone to look at him. He stood to his full height of 4'4 and glared at the ninja present "Why are you trying so hard your all going to die anyway."

His mother gasped "Inari"

Inari shook his head "No there is no such thing as a hero so why do you try so hard when you'll fail in the end you who've had a happy life don't know anything about suffering."

There was a slam next to him making everyone turn to Naruto. His head was down but you could see his body shaking. Inari moved as if to comfot the cryin teen when he heard laughter. He looked at the other figure again and rubbed his eyes to make sure he was'nt sleeping still.

Where once was Naruto's golden spiky hair was long sunset colored strands floating in an unnatural breeze. He looked to the others and was just as stunned. He heard a musical voice come from the cloud of hair "Kid you don't know what suffering is like, have you ever been beaten to within an inch of your life over and over again, have you ever been forced to eat garbage just to survive, no you have a family that helps you, all I got was hatred from my whole village"

Two eyes appeared out of the gold hair not a crystal blue but the blue of a deep ocean spot "Did you ever have people celebrate when one of them almost killed you, how about being tortured on your birthday since the day you could walk,no, okay what about being hunted down each year and being used as target practice. If not then you have no right to complain."

Naruto stood up and he looke normal again. It was as if it had been a dream he turned crystal blue eyes on Inari "Just because something bad happened does not give you any right to bitch and moan because someone out there has it worse." He walked to the door his last parting words "I pray every night for those that have it worse than I because I know eventually they won't survive. I'll come back later"

They sat in a stunned silence until a crying Inari looked at Kakashi for answers "Is it true what he said was it that bad for him."

Kakashi sighed and put down his book "No it wasn't" Inari gave a sigh of releif but was stopped by Kakashi's next words "He had it far worse that was just a watered down version of what happened until he turned about 5 I think then he left the village till he was ready for the academy."

The adults in the room looked disgusted while the children were all wondering how the hell he could smile and keep going on. Inari turned to the door that Naruto had left out of and followed at a run. He ran until he reached a clearing and he saw a figure in the trees. He shouted up at the figure "Naruto-nii please come down."

The figure in the trees turned torwards the sound of the voice and tilted backwards. Inari saw this and was about to scream when he saw the figure back flip onto the ground below within the shadow of th trees. The figure stood to a height taller making Inari look up into curulean eyes. The person walked out of the shadow of the tree and into the light.

At first Inari thought it was a girl hat with the long hair and slim body but he got a closer look and saw th three whisker marks on each cheek. His mouth hung open for a second before he stuttered "N-n-naruto-nii is that you?"

Naruto nodded and took a step closer to Inari before kneeling next to him to put them on the same level. Inari squeek when he got a better look and blushed. He looked at Naruto and reached his hands to touch the fall of hair. When his hands touched the top of Naruto's head a pair of fox ears popped out startling Inari. He fell onto his ass causing the silent Naruto to laugh. His eyes sparkled as he looked down at the younger boy "What's the matter never seen a boy with fox ears before?"

Inari shook his head and sat up next to Naruto raising a hesitant hand to the gorgeous blonde's head silently asking for permission to touch. Instead of answering he tilted his head into the path of the boy's hand. Inari gently touched th furry ears tugging them to make sure they were real. "oh, wow they're real so cool where did you get them? do you have a tail? are you human? can you transform?"

Naruto laughed at the rapid fire questions he settled into the grass. His eyes sparkled with mirth as he answered. "Okay first off their real, they are mine and yes I am human...well sort of, turns out I haven't ever been human."

Inari heard the bitter ring in the young kitsune's voice and leaned into him for comfort. He decided to change the subject. "so... you never answered my question...can you transform seriously that would rock so much it beats being a ninja"

Naruto relaxed again and laid into the grass his hands behind his head as he flopped back to stare at the sky. "Well maybe... what would you do if I could"

Naruto turned to watch Inari's reaction and saw theat he was practically bouncing in his spot with eagerness. "Canyoushowme, canyoushowme, what do you turn into is it a cat or a wolf cause of those ears."

Naruto laughed and rolled overonto his stomacheHe grinned as he stretched his body like a cat."You really wanna see?"

Inari nodded his head so fast Naruto thought he had whiplash "Fine but don't scream I hate the taste of kids"

Inari nodded and watched in awe as fur began to cover Naruto first one tail and the another and another and another until there were nine in total. His face elongated into that of a fox the whisker marks on his face becoming three-d before his eyes. It seemed like a hour but it lasted for only a minute, where Naruto had been was a ruset furred fox with slitted blue eyes.

inari was still for a moment then before Naruto could react he was tackled to the floor. He whined as a rough hand rubbed through his fur. Inari was busy running his hands over Naruto's furred side to notice that Nariuo was whining softly as his rough hands abused the soft flesh.

Naruto gently shook his body to dislodge the hands of the young boy. He jumped back a bit and sat on his hind legs to look at the boy. "You know Inari you shouldn't rub an animal so hard it hurts. Oh and don't do that to anyone else whether they're real animals or not they might bite just on principle."

Inari nodded a longing expression on his face. Naruto sighed and stood walking in front of Inari before sitting three feet away. "Fine you can pet me some more but no rubbing unless you do it gently okay."

Inari yelled in joy and dived at him again causing Naruto to flinch at the sound. He heard chuckling behind him in the woods and recognised him instanly and growled. "Come out Haku so the little one dosen't get scared of you and no ice"

Haku laughed and stepped from behind a tree his kimono from before flowing around him slightly. He walked forward his hair slowing with the breeze. Inari was stunned as he watched another pretty person walk out of the woods . He looked to the fox he was currently laying on. "Naruto-nii do you know this lady, she's cuter than my mom."

Naruto snickered as Haku's serene expression changed to a sadistic smile as he advanced on the pair. His hair shaded his face giving him a mysterious look. "Oh really little boy well thank you very much but I don't think your mom would appericiate the comparison."

Inari was puzzeled "Why she likes pretty girls too."

Naruto had a coughing bark that sounded like a laugh. Haku was right in front of the two and kneeled next to them letting his face inch closer and closer to the boy. Naruto watched in amusement as Inari became beat red when Haku's face was inches away from his , he waited for the climax snickering at what he knew would happen. Haku spoke his voice soft and enchanting. "Well you see there is a problem because well I'm a ..a...a..boy"

He used the suspense to great effect and caused Inari to freeze and Naruto to detach himself from his companion to roll on the grass laughing. Haku waited patiently for the boy to come out of shock.

Inari looked at the older boy and then to Naruto in question. Naruto understood and turned to Haku. You can change to your other form he doesn't mind look how he's taken to me and besides you need the practice anyway."

Haku nodded and let his body change into that of a slender blue and silver chinese dragon his leathery wings foldd at his sides the horns on his head grew as well as his hair to go down his back reflecting like ice or diamonds shimmering in the light. He curled up so he didn't fill the clearing to much.

Inari was bouncing in excitement as he petted Haku's scales looking back and forth from the dragon to the fox. "Mom is not going to beleive this at all."

Naruto shook his head "SOrry Inari unless we tell her you can't until my team leaves I don't want them knowing about my demon side they might kill me."

Inari nodded his head and hugged Naruto. "Okay Naruto-nii I don't want you to die so i'll keep it a secret."

Naruto smiled a foxy grin as he heard Tsunami call them back to the house. He began to take his human shape not bothering to go to his before face. He motioned for Haku to do the same."Okay lets head back to the house, you too Haku so we can explain you and Zabuzza's part in the upcoming festival"

Haku nodded and changed back as well following Inari and Naruto out of the little clearing and hope for the best.

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I know short right well i'm working on if I want them to die or not and how who should they fight and all that good stuff so till next time LATER.