Helpful note: Disclaimer & warnings are in the first chapter
~o0o~
"Ah!" Iruka arches his back as he cries out in pleasure. He falls back against a soft black fur rug surrounded by large white feathers. His heated skin glistens with sweat and his chest heaves up and down trying to control his breathing. "That was-"
"Amazing, I know…" someone's husky voice whispered in Iruka's ear. He nips the chuunin's earlobe earning him a moan from said chuunin. He nips and kisses lower until he stops at the chuunin's collarbone and sucks on the tasty flesh.
Iruka angles his neck to give his lover more access. He keens softly at the feel of his lover's lips sucking him greedily. Iruka runs his fingers through his lover's hair, "Easy there or you're going to leave a mark."
The lover growled and bites the chuunin's collarbone hard enough to break the skin.
Iruka cries out with a breathy groan. His arms wrap around his lover's neck and his trembling thighs clamp onto his lover's hips. Iruka whimpers feeling his lover still inside of him becoming hard and hot again. "Again…?" Iruka purred.
The lover releases the chuunin's skin to lap and kiss the bruised flesh. "Again…" he growled and thrust.
"A-ah!" Iruka cries out. Every slow and hard thrust from his lover is driving Iruka mad. The chuunin is becoming a wanton mess again. "So good…" Iruka moaned. He grabs a fist full of his lover's hair to pull his lover into a hot kiss. "So good…" Iruka moaned again between the kisses, "Obito… so good…"
The lover pulls away from the kiss with a chuckle, "Sensei, I'm hurt. You know better than to call out someone else's name."
"W-what?" Iruka opens his eyes to look into a pair of mismatch eyes and silver hair. "Kakashi?!"
Iruka gasped – bolting awake and his eyes snapping open. He frantically looks around the dim bedroom in a panic. Alone, he was alone. Iruka closed his eyes as he leans back against the headboard trying to calm his racing heart. "It's not real… It wasn't real…" he kept repeating to himself. "A nightmare…"
Iruka opened his eyes to look at himself. He grumbles noticing the stain on his pajama bottoms. "Fuck!" Iruka cursed and covers himself with the blankets so he can't see what his nightmare has shamelessly provoked. Even though he can't see it, Iruka can still feel the evident dampness which causes him to remember the nightmare all over again.
"Fuck, fuck!" he curses again and again in frustration. Iruka throws the blankets off him and gets off the bed. He strips himself of his sleeping pants and chucks them across the room. Iruka sits back down on his bed facing his left bedside drawer. He sees Team 7's photo and grabs it with anger. He glares fire and daggers at Kakashi's smiling face. "You! How are you doing this to me?! Why is this happening to me?!" Iruka yelled at the picture.
Iruka holds the frame tighter and tighter and the glass begins to crack, "I hate you! This is all your fault!" Tears fall from Iruka's eyes dripping onto the broken photo frame. His body quivers, "I… hate you…" he sniffles.
Iruka raised his arm with the picture frame in hand ready to toss the photo across the room. His hand trembles with hesitation as he grips onto the picture like a lifeline. But he doesn't throw it. He can't. He released a shaky breath and lowers his arm. Iruka doesn't understand why he keeps such a photo close to him or why he can never bring himself to get rid of it either. Iruka looks at the jounin's masked face.
Iruka gently runs his finger over the hidden sharingan and begins to cry again. "I'm sorry, Obito. So sorry…" Iruka gasped when he noticed himself unconsciously tracing the Copy-nin's hidden face and once again remembers the nightmare. "Ugh!" he opens his bedside drawer, shoves the picture in it, and slams the thing shut.
Iruka storms out of his bedroom. He needs a cold shower.
Iruka walked out of his bathroom wearing only his boxers and a towel over his bare shoulders. His body is moist and his damp ebony hair is looking darker. He smiles when he inhales the sweet aroma of fresh coffee in the air. As Iruka walks into his kitchen he sees a long-haired gray cat, with white markings, black stripes, and a fluffy tail, eating from a porcelain bowl on top of his kitchen table. But his smile turns into a frown when Iruka noticed the scroll with the Hokage's seal next to the munching cat.
Iruka walks close to the table and gently runs his hand over the length of the cat's back. The cat purred and arches at the chuunin's touch while still eating. Iruka chuckled softly seeing how determined the cat is on finishing up every last bite and crumb. "Gai must have given you something really good, huh?" The cat purred louder in gratification.
Iruka walks over to his coffee maker to see the glass pot filled with warm fresh coffee for him to drink, courtesy of Gai. He rolled his eyes when sees a note next to his coffee maker with two medicine bottles over it. Iruka grabs a blue mug decorated with a gray bottlenose dolphin from his cupboard, a birthday gift from his class. He fills his cup with the dark liquid and takes a long whiff of the warm steam. He carefully sips the hot liquid and hums with satisfaction, "Leave it to Gai to make such great coffee."
Iruka grabs the two medicine bottles and sets them aside off the note. He takes hold of the note and leans against the counter as he sips and reads:
Iruka, remember to take your medicine and get plenty of rest. (Iruka scoffs) Your body is still weak and your mental and emotional state is very vulnerable right now. I'll be gone for a few days on a mission. Sakura will be checking up on you if necessary. And… (Iruka noticed Gai's pause on the note) …Hokage asked me to deliver a personal scroll to you. She refused to tell me what it's about. Hokage said it's your choice whether if you want to open the scroll or get rid of it. In the end, it's always your choice, Iruka. (There's another pause) Please take care, Iruka. Don't do anything reckless. I'll see you when I get home. – Gai.
Iruka crunched up the note and tossed it in the sink. He continues to sip his coffee as he stares at the Hokage's scroll right next to the still munching cat. Iruka can hear Gai's worried and nagging voice in the back of his head, but he's also curious as to what Tsunade could want from him again.
With a deep sigh, Iruka pushed himself off the counter and walks up to the table. He grabs hold of the scroll and releases a small jolt of his chakra against the Hokage's seal. Iruka then tossed the scroll out of the kitchen into his living room. When Iruka turns away to fill his mug with more coffee he hears a distinctive pop in his living room. Iruka leaned once again on the counter when he hears footsteps approaching and sees a shadow clone of Tsunade stepping into his kitchen.
Tsunade stops at the entryway when she sees the cat staring at her with those round yellow-green eyes. The cat stopped eating just to stare at Tsunade in a way that makes her skin crawl. Tsunade glares at the cat and the cat glares back, "What is she doing here?" she questioned in a clipped tone.
Iruka sets his mug down and crosses his arms over his chest, "She lives here," he answered curtly. "What do you need, Lady Tsunade?" The clone and the cat continue with their stare down. Iruka sighed with annoyance, 'It's been years and they still refuse to get along.' He moves off the counter and walks across the kitchen. He takes hold of the clone's arm and leads them both into the living room. Now that he has the copy's full attention he asked again, "What do you need?"
Tsunade looked back into the kitchen and sees the cat eating again. The copy releases a small breath of relief before she looks back at the chuunin, "How are you feeling?"
Iruka shrugged as he sits on the arm of his sofa facing the Hokage's clone, "Fine. I've been through worse before, but you would know that already." Iruka furrows his brow, "Let's spare us any idle chit-chat, Hokage. Just tell me what you came to ask for."
Tsunade looked away guiltily from the chuunin for a second before looking back at him. She pulled out another scroll from her robe and holds it out for Iruka. "I have a classified mission that requires only someone of your caliber. If you're up to it, the Elders and I need your help with this task." The chuunin reaches out to grasp the scroll, but the clone pulls it back from his reach. They both glower at each other, "I may need your help, but I am no fool either. I know you're not fully recovered, Iruka. So please choose wisely."
Yes, Iruka knows he should choose wisely. He knows he's physically strong enough, but not completely mentally or emotionally ready to take on a dangerous mission. Even so, Iruka needs this. He needs an excuse to leave the village. After what happened between him and a certain silver-head jounin, Iruka's emotions have been completely out of whack. Not to mention the guilt is eating him alive after what he did and shared with the Copy-nin.
When Iruka had seen Kakashi's memories from the sharingan he was not prepared for what awaited him. And he was especially not prepared for the feelings the jounin's kiss had invoked in the teacher. Even though he was barely conscious when it happened, Iruka could still feel and taste the jounin's lips. The jounin's searing kiss felt good, too good, making it hard for Iruka to truly hate the kiss. Iruka hates himself for even liking the kiss in the first place and no matter how hard Iruka tried he can't forget the kiss. As if the Copy-nin's kiss held a meaning, a truth that Iruka is too afraid to decipher. Till this day that kiss still haunts his every thought causing him to have some strange dreams. Iruka cursed himself for letting Kakashi affect him. But as good as that kiss felt, Iruka is suffering from shame. Indisputably his loyalty is supposed to be with Obito. He's not supposed to feel anything for anyone else. So what made Kakashi different from everyone else?
To Iruka's demise, the jounin isn't making matters any better. Kakashi has been trying to corner the teacher down any chance he can. Iruka knows Kakashi must have many questions, especially after discovering his personal pictures of Obito. Kakashi deserves some explanation, but Iruka isn't ready to face the Copy-nin just yet. Iruka needs time to think… and to erase these strange and uneasy feelings for the jounin. He needs to create some distance between him and Kakashi for now.
Iruka stands and snatches the scroll from the clone, "I accept," and the clone disappears. Iruka unrolls the scroll and quickly reviews his mission. "It's not that bad…" he commented to himself. Iruka rolls up the scroll as he moves toward his bedroom to prepare himself.
"That wasn't very wise of you, Ru. You're not ready."
Iruka stops in his steps and turns around. On the floor licking her face clean in a cute manner is the cat. She then looks up at the chuunin and stares with a knowing look. Iruka narrows his eyes at the cat before looking away with a huff, "No one asked for your opinion. We leave at dawn." Iruka makes his way into his bedroom and the cat follows close behind.
Naruto stretches as he walks down the street, "Haaah~~ I'm so tired. My muscles ache and my feet hurt. Dattebayo…" He looks back at his other two companions. "Do we really have to go home now?" Naruto whines to Sasuke and Kakashi. "We're still hours away from Konoha. And I heard it's supposed to rain tonight. Why don't we just stay in this village for the night? I saw some nice looking Inns a couple of blocks back. We can leave at dawn and be home before noon. Come on guys, what do you say?"
The three jounin have just finished a week long A-class mission and now heading home. Just like Naruto, Sasuke and Kakashi are also aching and tired. But unlike Naruto (thanks to Kyubi), Kakashi and Sasuke are low on chakra after using their sharingan's one too many times. Apart from that, all three men are filthy and stunk like dead fish. Even so, Sasuke can still make village girls swoon after him.
Kakashi and Sasuke about-face and begin to walk away.
"Hey, where are you guys going?" Naruto trots after his teammates.
"To find an Inn," Sasuke tells him.
"Thanks," Naruto said. He smiles toothily and takes Sasuke's hand in his intertwining their fingers.
Sasuke smirks at his spouse. It makes Sasuke feel superior above anyone and anything when he is the cause of Naruto's smiles.
Kakashi exhales deeply seeing the lovey-dovey couple and wonders when their honeymoon phase will be over with. "Remind me to get a room far, far away from you guys."
"I can't believe you did that, Teme! I had the situation completely under control." Naruto scolds his spouse.
The three-man team entered a ramen stand. The owner and his employee and three customers look at the loud blond. The young male employee flushes as he ogles the Jinchuuriki with desire as soon as he saw the blond. Naruto is as much a catch as Sasuke, especially with those electrifying blue eyes and sun-gold hair. And those scarred whisker cheeks are too adorable to resist.
The young employee's vision is soon obscured by a masked Leaf-nin with silver hair. Kakashi glowers at the young man with a warning look and shaking his head. "S-sir?" the young man takes a step back.
"That bastard had it coming to him," Sasuke retorts, looking very pissed and jealous. He grabs Naruto's arm and spins the blonde around to look into those blue eyes with conviction. "You are Uzumaki-Uchiha. You belong to me, Dobe. Don't forget that. I'll kill anyone that dares to make a pass at you. And I would've killed the bastard too if you hadn't stopped me," Sasuke grumbled the last part.
Naruto smiles but shakes his head at the Uchiha with resignation. And people thought Naruto is childish? Naruto sighed in defeat, "You can be really cute sometimes, Teme. Together forever we vowed, right?" Naruto leans in and pecks the Uchiha on the nose. "I belong to you as much as you belong me. Even I wouldn't defy such truth. Now, stop frowning and let's eat. Your Dobe is hungry!" Naruto takes Sasuke's hand and leads them away to a table. The Uchiha is looking very smitten now.
The young man gulps and nods at the silver-head jounin in understanding. The young employee appreciates the silver-head jounin's warning because he did not want to be at the receiving end of the Uchiha's jealous wrath.
Kakashi smiles at the smart kid, "We'll have two vegetable and-" The jounin contemplates Naruto's eating habits before continuing, "Six beef ramen bowls. And three round of teas, please."
"Coming right up, Sir!" the young man said before he dashes into the kitchen.
Kakashi sighed before heading to the table where his two companions are waiting for him.
Earlier the three-man group had been at the bathhouse in the Inn they will be spending the night. At one moment, Sasuke had left to purchase some of the Inn's soaps. When he returned, Sasuke found some man making passes at his blond. Naruto is strong enough to beat the man to a pulp, but his time training as Hokage and a diplomat have taught the reckless blond to be more patient and civil. When the man tried to grope Naruto the blond couldn't hold back his patients any longer. But before Naruto could hit the guy - POW! - Sasuke's fist connected with the man's face first. Sasuke was ready and willing to kill the man with his chidori crackling in his right hand. Naruto, of course, stopped Sasuke from committing unnecessary murder.
And Kakashi? He just watched the whole spectacle for his own joyful entertainment. Naruto and Sasuke had caused such a ruckus in the bathhouse. Lucky for them, because of Naruto's credibility as the future Hokage of Konohagakure, they weren't kicked out.
Naruto belched, "man that was good. You make some good ramen, Naoya. Dattebayo!"
The stand owner chuckled with a proud smile, "thank you. And you've just become my number one customer, Naruto."
Naruto grins from ear to ear.
Sasuke is reviewing their mission report.
Kakashi is reading his old novel of 'Icha Icha'.
"Neh, Kakashi, so how are you doing?" Naruto questioned the jounin.
Kakashi looks up from his book to the blond, "Hmm?"
"Your injuries, are they completely healed?"
Kakashi smiles, "Of course. If I wasn't, Godaime wouldn't have allowed me to come on this mission with you guys."
Naruto pouted, "I'm really sorry about what happened, Kakashi. I never thought Iruka would've attacked you like that."
"I didn't think you would've been stupid enough to risk waking up an ill and sleeping ninja," Sasuke commented with a snort while still reviewing their report.
Kakashi glared at the Uchiha.
Two weeks ago Kakashi had woken up in the hospital with a lump on the back of his head, left bicep bandaged up, his torso wrapped up in layers of gauzes, and no memory as to what happened to him. When the jounin tried to move, the left side of his stomach hurt enough to make him cry out. Tsunade and other medics kept an eye on him throughout his stay in the hospital in case he tried to discharge himself early.
When Tsunade questioned Kakashi what he remembers before he passed out, the jounin recalled babysitting an ill Iruka. He told Tsunade he had agreed to watch over the chuunin while Naruto and Sasuke did some errands. But they never returned. Tsunade informed the jounin, Naruto and Sasuke couldn't return to Iruka's side because she had to send them away on a last minute mission.
Tsunade continued her interrogation and Kakashi answered as much he could. He could remember every detail of Iruka's home. Kakashi remembered the beautiful sword in Iruka's living room. The jounin recalls every photo he saw in Iruka's training room, especially the unexpected ones of Obito Uchiha. Tsunade only nodded her head in acknowledgment to the photos but didn't comment. The Copy-nin recalls helping lower the chuunin's temperature in the bathtub and summoning his nin-dogs for help. Kakashi could remember everything up until when he was returning from the kitchen with Iruka's medicine. After that everything else was a dark blur and he woke up to find himself in the hospital.
Tsunade told her jounin that Iruka had woken up confused and alarmed by Kakashi's presence. Iruka's fever induced mind didn't recognize Kakashi and attacked the jounin. Tsunade told the jounin that Iruka was the cause of his injuries. Iruka's assault had been so fast and unexpected Kakashi was knocked out unconscious. She told the jounin that Gai had shown up in the nick of time to stop Iruka from killing him. Tsunade blamed Kakashi's unconsciousness and that bump on his head for his lack of memory.
And that was that. Kakashi believed everything his Hokage told him. He didn't have a reason not to believe in Tsunade's words. Iruka's attack and his injuries were applicable. It was his mistake for not being careful around a sleeping and sick ninja. Ninjas were always on kill mode when in a muddle. They wouldn't be able to identify friend from foe until it's too late.
And yet, Kakashi felt he was being cheated. After Tsunade's explanation, Kakashi couldn't help feeling empty. As if he was forgetting something very important and Tsunade was keeping it from him. It was a frustrating feeling like he had discovered the meaning to his life and lost it. Kakashi tried using the sharingan to remember anything he couldn't on his own but came out empty handed with the sharingan.
As his last resort, Kakashi had summoned Pakkun and questioned the dog. Kakashi recalled Pakkun being present a majority of the time before he lost conscious. He wasn't surprised when Pakkun stated everything Tsunade had already told him. Pakkun even included more specific details how Iruka kicked his ass.
Kakashi then started to think cunningly like a ninja. If Tsunade was keeping the truth from him, she had probably used some jutsu to erase his memories from his mind and the sharingan and maybe altered Pakkun's. But Kakashi didn't want to believe it. He really did want to trust in his Hokage's words. With a sense of hollowness to his heart and mind, Kakashi chose to believe what he was told.
After Kakashi was released from the hospital he paid Iruka a visit but from a distance. Kakashi grew concern when Iruka wasn't back at work. Later on, he found out by Gai that Iruka's little spar with the Copy-nin had weakened his body further and caused his illness to advance. Tsunade had ordered Iruka further rest until told otherwise. And Kakashi couldn't help feeling guilty… and empty.
"How's Iruka-sensei doing?" Kakashi asked the blond.
Naruto smiles, "He's doing much better actually." Naruto being the last person to see the chuunin before they left on their mission. "So much so, that granny Tsunade has let him go back to the Mission Room. But until he's to full strength he will be allowed to return to the Academy."
"That's good," Kakashi said, feeling a little depress. He wouldn't have known all that because he's been staying clear away from Iruka. Not that he wants to. Several times he'd tried cornering the chuunin to apologize, but Iruka is openly avoiding him now. Kakashi has so many questions to ask the teacher, but Iruka isn't making things easy for him. Anytime Kakashi came close to Iruka the teacher has been behaving more hostile toward him than usual. 'I guess… this really is the end…' Kakashi thought. He'll never be a part of Iruka's group of friends. He'll never find out why Iruka hates him. He'll never get the chance to ask Iruka about Obito. 'All alone like always…' To protect himself from any more hurt Kakashi shuts away his heart to the darkest part of his being and goes back to reading his book to pass the time before they returned to the Inn.
Naruto stares at the silent Copy-nin. Once again Naruto sensed something is not right with his former teacher. Naruto opened his mouth to speak, but a commotion at the entryway silenced him.
A group of four men walked in making a ruckus. They were all exchanging information about some awesome battle they just witnessed. Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi were all ears.
"Hey, hey, settle down," Naoya told his new customers. "What's going on, Raizo?"
The man called Raizo steps up to the counter, "You should've seen it, Naoya! A band of ninjas showed up at the south side of the village. They attacked the farmers demanding their money and valuables."
"That's terrible," Naoya said.
"Oh, but it gets better," another man steps into the conversation. "You know old man Sagara? Well, he didn't have much of anything to offer. One of the ninjas decided to take his granddaughter as compensation."
"What?!" Naoya screeched. "That bastard better not have touched little Kagome!"
Raizo shook his head, "He never got the chance. You see, old man Sagara started to fight the ninjas, but he was no match against them. He was about to get killed by one of the ninjas, but out of nowhere another ninja showed up swiftly like the wind slicing off the enemy's head."
"Who was it?!" Naoya questioned. Other customers and onlookers gathered around to listen as well.
"Nobody knows," Raizo answered. "He was wearing a dark gray hooded cloak with a black mask hiding his identity. But Kami-sama, you should have seen the battle! That ninja moved like water, untouchable like the wind, strong like earth, powerful like fire, and struck like lightning. Damn, he was awesome! He massacred the six ninjas like a wild beast. Man, I wish I owned a camera."
"Then what happened?!" the whole crowd of people chimed together.
Raizo shrugged, "He fainted."
"Eeeeehh?!" the crowd cried out.
"Like I said, he fainted," Raizo continues. "Some of the villagers wanted to reveal the masked hero, but old man Sagara wouldn't allow it. He gave everyone a good lecture and everyone backed off. Sagara and his granddaughter are housing the hero at their barn."
Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi look at each other. All three men nod in agreement and teleported out of the ramen stand.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi follow the south side road that leads to the farming area. Every villager they passed by were still talking about the battle they've witnessed. This masked ninja is growing popular. This is bad. The villagers don't know of the consequences such heroism can cause. This village could be in danger now.
If word continues to spread, others will come looking for the masked ninja. They will come seeking a challenge. They will come to reveal the ninja's identity and what village they work for. They will come to gain power or knowledge from the masked ninja before they kill him. Or they will come to gain a new ally and kill him if he refuses. To avoid such problems, ninjas are supposed to be silent assassins and perform their duties unseen by the rest of the world. Then they are to disappear without a trace.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi need to speak to this ninja. They must know his intentions. Be it a friend or enemy of Leaf, Naruto isn't going to let such heroism go unrewarded. If their confrontation doesn't end with a battle, Naruto will let the ninja go. But the ninja must leave the village a.s.a.p. before he causes trouble for the villagers.
The three-man team is approaching old man Sagara's farm. Their senses are on high alert. Their chakras are detecting everything around them. Kakashi has a kunai in hand and Sasuke held his sword.
"Who should confront him?" Sasuke questioned.
"I will," Naruto said. "It is my duty as future Hokage. And you guys are too low on chakra to do any more fighting."
"Be careful, Naruto," Kakashi tells him. "Sasuke and I will-"
"Stay back or I'll kill you!" someone yelled.
The three jounin prepare to attack, but they deflate when they see a white bearded old man with a straw hat holding a pitchfork. The old man is really short and pudgy. He looks like one of those decorative gnomes people add to their gardens. This is old man Sagara.
"Go back where you came from!" Sagara tells the three jounin. "I am not going to let you hurt him!"
Naruto signals his teammates to lower their weapons. He smiles at the old man, "we're not going to hurt anyone, Gramps. We just need to talk to him."
"Why should I trust you?" Sagara glowers at the three jounin. "All ninjas are killers and deceivers."
"Then why are you protecting a ninja?" Sasuke challenged the old man's words.
Sagara glares at the Uchiha, "he protected us. My granddaughter and I are in his debt. Besides, he's not like you ninjas. He's… different."
The three jounin are taken aback by the old man's last comment.
Sasuke is growing impatient, "we don't have time for this. Naruto, we have to-"
"Naruto?" old man Sagara lowers his pitchfork and stares at the blue-eyed blond. "As in, Naruto Uzumaki-Uchiha?" Naruto's name isn't a common one after all. "The container of the Nine-tails? The Sage? The future Hokage of Konohagakure?"
Naruto smiles toothily with a thumb's up, "The one and only. Dattebayo!"
Sagara gasps, drops his pitchfork, and starts to look like a fish out of water. He points at the raven haired man standing next to the blond, "And you-"
Sasuke smirks while crossing his arms over his chest, "Sasuke Uzumaki-Uchiha."
Sagara's eyes widen. He points at the last jounin.
Kakashi offers his smiling eye, "Kakashi Hatake. Copy-nin extraordinaire at your service."
Sagara drops his jaw. Never did Sagara believe in his wildest dreams he will live to meet the powerful Kyubi vessel, the last of the Uchiha, or Sharingan no Kakashi. The three most legendary and renown ninjas of their generation.
Naruto chuckled, "With your permission, Gramps, can we speak to the masked ninja?"
Sagara takes a moment to recompose himself. "Well, yes, but…" he rubs the back of his neck, "I don't know if the cat demon will let you."
The three jounin look at each other confusedly then back at the old man. "W-what do you mean by-"
"Kyuuu-chaaan!" someone cried out happily.
Everyone turns to the farmhouse to see a young woman running toward them with a cheerful smile and arms spread open in greeting. Her hair is a dark gray color with black streaks and white long bangs. Her hair is evenly split in the middle and knotted into two thick loose braids. Her hair is ridiculously long, nearly touching the ground. Her cat-like eyes are a bright yellow smudge with lime-green. She wore a skimpy dress similar to a kimono, but a lot smaller and tighter that showed off the female's perfect curves and long legs. Her dress is white with black outlining and two black buttons on the mid-collar. Her long bell-sleeves reached the ground and were dragged along beside her. She wore fluffy fur boots that reached bellow her knees. The fur boots are gray and white with black streaks just like her hair. Last, but not least, she has a black collar around her neck with a silver bell. There's something unnaturally beautiful about her. As if she isn't even human.
The old man got a bloody nose watching the young woman running toward them. Her bell jingling as she ran.
"Is that his granddaughter?" Sasuke had to question because it's right down disturbing to see the old man drooling at the sight of the young female.
Sagara spreads opened his arms to welcome the girl, but she runs past him and glomps Naruto instead. Kakashi gaps and Sasuke growls under his breath.
"Kyu-chan!" the girl hugs Naruto tighter and rubs against him. "I've missed you so much!" She pulls back to look into those blue eyes, "It's great to see you too, Kit!" she hugs Naruto again.
Naruto is in Lala-land having this gorgeous girl embracing him to understand her confusing greeting. He didn't even notice when Kyubi's chakra jolted and continues to stir do to the female's presence.
On the other hand, Sasuke is turning green with jealousy while his blood-red sharingans spin with fury. He grasps his sword ready to slash the woman into pieces. But before Kakashi can stop Sasuke, the young woman looks at the Uchiha and squeals.
"Sas-chan, you're here too!" she grabs Sasuke by his collar and pulls the Uchiha into the hug. She hugs the life out of the two young men.
Naruto and Sasuke look at each other confusedly behind the young woman's head.
"Excuse me, Miss," Kakashi addresses the young woman, "Do you know Naruto and Sasuke?"
The young woman looks at the silver-head jounin for a moment with a raised eyebrow. She released the two young men to face Kakashi. Her expression breaks into a grin, "Well, well, well, if it isn't the big bad Hound doing jounin work now. It's been a while, Kakashi Hatake."
Kakashi is floored. How does this woman know his ANBU identity?! He glowers, "Who are you?"
She crossed her arms over her chest and grins wider, "I'm not surprised you don't remember me, Hatake. It's been what? Over a decade? You were only seventeen at the time and I was in a different form."
Kakashi is more confused. She said they've met before when the jounin was only seventeen, but she herself looks like she's in her late teens or early twenties. What was she, a toddler when they first met?
"Grandpa! Grandpa!" a ten-year-old girl comes running up to the group. The girl runs into the old man's embrace.
"Kagome, what's wrong?" Sagara questioned.
"He's not doing well, Grandpa," she cries. "His fever is too high. I don't want Darkwater to die!" Kagome wailed.
"Darkwater?!" Naruto exclaimed. Naruto and Sasuke look at the young woman, who is still smirking. Naruto points a shaky finger at her, "A-are you, Maneki?" He can now feel Kyubi's chakra stirring within him. The demon fox had recognized this woman before anyone else did.
"Heh, figured it out did ya?" Maneki's body is suddenly engulfed in a bright light.
Her form melts and shrinks. And when the light disappears, what stood before everyone is a very large cat. Her fur is a gray color with black stripes; white under her chin, chest, tummy, and on all four paws. White around her black outlined yellow-green eyes. Her ears are all gray with black tips and wisp of white fur cover the inside of her ears. The tip of her fluffy tail is black with a white outline. Her moist nose is black. And she still has her black collar with its silver bell around her neck.
"Nyaaa!" she meows with a wink.
Thank you for reading! (^_^)/