Kedit stepped into the large clearing, eyeing it with amazement. Fallen trees had been cut just so to create rows of desks all pointing towards the Giant Oak – named after the fact that it was nearly as tall and round as a redwood – with a chalkboard nailed to the trunk. A number of creatures, most of which Kedit had never seen before, were already gathered in groups, chattering away to each other.

Her lips formed into a grin when she saw a young black fox with three tails talking solemnly to a creature that resembled a wrinkly, short wolf with its muzzle and tail missing. She bounced over, jumping up on one of the desks and yipped a greeting.

The dark kitsune looked up, light glinting off emerald eyes. "Who are you?"

"My name is Keditsumonne. I come from the C-Forest. What about you?"

The fox scoffed and drew himself up proudly. "The C-Forest? That doesn't even border human territory. I am Delabokfnoxc from the Ox Woods in the Zodiac Forest."

Kedit's ears flattened against her skull and a soft growl began in her throat as he talked. What a braggart, she thought to herself. Repressing the sharp remark that rose in her throat, she turned to the odd looking wolf and asked, "Who are you?"

"My name is Pakkun. I'm a pug dog from the village to the east."

"What's a dog?" Kedit questioned, tilting her head to one side, trying to do her best to ignore the other and failing miserably when his haughty voice broke through her mind.

"'What is a dog'? Where have you been, under a rock? The dog is a descendant of the wolf. I'm assuming you know what a wolf is."

"Of course I know! Momma's best friend is a wolf demon." She turned to Pakkun who was quietly observing the pair of kitsune. "How can you stand being around this jerk?"

The pug had no time to respond as there was a great explosion of smoke at the Giant Oak and a giant frog cried, "Get to your seats, brats! Not a one of you should be deskless."

Giving the black fox one last contemptuous glare, Kedit bounded across the clearing to the row of desks near where she had entered the clearing. Leaping up into one of the seats, her tails lashed irritably at the feel of sand moving under her paws. Still slightly miffed at the other kitsune's attitude, she turned and said sharply, "Pull back your sand or I will do something very unpleasant."

"'Very unpleasant'?" the tanuki beside her snorted. "I've made worse than 'very unpleasant' happen since I was twenty."

She liked his voice, she decided, her bad mood evaporating at the prospect of a new friend. High-pitched and shrieky. Good for making fun of people. "Then I'm afraid you got off to a slow start. I was a full terror at fifteen." She smirked. "In fact, momma said that I'm the reason some of her friends aren't having children."

The tanuki gave a feral grin. "I'm Shukaku from the Desert Starr."

"Keditsumonne from the C-Forest." She leaned in closer to him. "Are you really from the Desert Starr? That's so far west from here."

"Dad said that mom wanted me to be a good summon as a last wish, and apparently GamaBunta's school is famous for teaching this kind of stuff."

"'Last wish'?"

"She and all my littermates died when we were being born. Dad said it's lucky that I survived."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I never knew 'em, so I can't miss 'em, right? 'Sides, it doesn't matter what with –"

"You two!" GamaBunta suddenly called. "Row F – answer me!"

Both Shukaku and Kedit whipped around to stare blankly at the frog, gaping and mumbling.

"Tell him where you're from and your names," a voice hissed from behind them. "We're doing introductions."

"Uh… Keditsumonne from the C-Forest?" the kitsune called tentatively. GamaBunta nodded and looked expectantly at the tanuki.

"Shukaku of the Desert Starr."

"Good." GamaBunta said stiffly. "You know when to take good advice when you hear it. You! Row H – name and location."

Kedit flushed slightly and looked over her shoulder, saying sheepishly, "Thank you very much for – Pakkun-kun! When did you get there?" Her voice soured. "Where's the jack-wad?"

The pug merely grinned. "I ditched him a while back. Plus, my whole family's been summons, so I learned a little bit before I came."

"Well thank the gods for you." The kitsune smiled softly as Shukaku snorted. Kedit would have scolded him for being rude when GamaBunta's voice rose again.

"Each and every one of you are here for a reason – to become competent enough to be a shinobi summon creature. You will be train in ninjutsu, genjutsu, and even taijutsu. You will learn to use every part of your body, every ounce of your chakra-slash-aura-slash-what-have-you, every sense you possess to your advantage.

"From this moment on, you are no longer children, but ninja-in-training. Tools-in-the-making. I will mold you into elite machines capable of anything the humans can do – more than what the humans can do.

"Now." GamaBunta slammed his foot into the ground and before each of the students appeared a thick book in separate explosions of smoke. "Open your books and turn to…"

Kedit stretched out and lashed her tails, trying to reinitiate the blood flow. Flicking her ear as she lay on her bed, a shadow fell across her and an icy chill alerted her of her mother's presence.

"How was your first day, sweetling?"

"Terrible." She rolled over onto her stomach to let her paws dangle above her limply. "Over half the class couldn't read, so we spent all day going over the alphabet and tomorrow we're learning kanji. We won't even be getting to the ruins in a week!"

"It will be a good review for you."

Kedit stuck out her tongue. Suddenly reminded by her own action, she shifted around until she could see the graceful wind fox sitting in the entranceway. "Hey, momma, what does black fur mean?"

"'Black fur'?" Miyaki thought for a moment, recalling her own mother's words. "Black fur is the Void kitsune. They deal in shadow and dark magics."

"Void huh…" Kedit grimaced. "He's a jerk anyway."

"Who is?"

"Deablonox or whatever he called himself. He was so snotty just because he comes from the Zodiac Woods. He hates me just because I don't come from some fancy bunch of trees…"

"I'm sure he doesn't hate you, sweetling."

"Sure he does…"

Miyaki sighed softly at her daughter's stubborn tone. "Did you meet anyone else?"

Suddenly, Kedit's sour mood dissipated and she scrambled into a sitting position, grinning. "Uh-huh! I met a tanuki from the Desert Starr. He's really cool."

"The Desert Starr? My, that's all the way in Sunagakure. What is he doing on the border of the fire country?"

"His dad told him his mother wanted him to be a summon before she died."

"Oh, that poor dear. What is his name?"

"Shukaku."

"Sh-Shukaku!"

Kedit leapt to her feet worriedly. "Momma? What's wrong?"

"Shukaku is the heir to the richest demon in the desert, Sabaku no Kitanu. It's said that his treasure is even more vast than the oldest dragon's."

"Really?" She thought about that for a moment. "That's cool… Why do pug dogs look so funny?"

Miyaki blinked in the sudden change of topic. "'Pug dogs'? Where did you meet a pug dog?"

"He's in my class too. His name is Pakkun."

"Ah, Pakkun's family is famous, too – his ancestors were the first summon creatures ever."

"Wow. So I know all sorts of famous people." Kedit gave a soft, shy smile, saying hopefully, "I hope they'll like me."

Miyaki smiled and padded over to gently nuzzle her child into sleep.

"Just be yourself and you will have as many friends as you could ever need."

Just a quick question to the readers – does anyone know of a good place to look up tanuki legends/lore? I've only managed to find the tale of Shukaku and have a slight bit of info from Shounen Jump, but that's it. So with that little plea out of the way, Obito can say the disclaimer.

Obito: Angel doesn't own Naruto so don't sue.

Angel: Excellent. -glomps him- So, till next time!