Sorry it took so long to write another chapter. I'm happy to say that voting is coming to a close. So, this is it. Everyone has to let me know their couple of choice.

Sasunaru: 19

Itanaru: 9

Nejinaru: 4

Shikanaru: 4

Kyunaru: 4

Naruhina: 2

Narutem: 1

Itakyu: 1

Itagaa: 1

Enjoy the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Panther V

The past couple of days have been good among the family of fighters. Each day they trained and had fun telling stories. Itachi and Gaara were like the overprotective brother. Aries, Shino, Naruto, and Kyuubi were like brothers, while Faye and Hawk were the mother hens of the group. Hinata was treated like the baby sister.

Soon the fun would end. Many of the council members were trying to find different ways on getting rid of the 'demon' child. One major problem was how popular among the shinobi of both Konoha and other villagers he had become. After a few hours they finally thought of something. They will have him go to Sound. Orochimaru was rumored to be starting a new army and on his was to attack Konoha.

"Kit, they are still after your head."

"Aa."

"Kyu-kun, is right mio piccolo. What will you do?"

"I'll prove that it is time to stop punishing me for sins of their own imagination."

/ Do you want me to come? I can help you. /

/ Iie. I can do it. I will use 'it' /

Kyuubi nodded his head when he learned what Naruto will use on his mission. Over the last years of their travels the blond had grew beyond imagination. Not even the Lord Kyuubi himself could dream of beating the young man.

The day of the mission drew near and the blond could be found outside by Cell Seven's old training grounds. He was sitting on the railing of the bridge with his eyes close in a meditative pose. He was bringing in all of his chakra and spiritual powers. Just as he finished the blond felt three presences nearby. He knew these people well. Each was one of the reasons why he left.

There was the Copy-nin Kakashi. The man who was supposed to be his sensei and mentor. Next was the medic-nin Sakura. The girl he had looked upon as a precious person. Lastly was the chuunin and last of his clan, Sasuke. The other person he had held as precious. None of them knew the real Naruto. Not the Naruto that brought home the Uchiha-heir, or the Naruto that could summon the Toad Boss. All they saw was the dobe and weakest member of Cell Seven.

"What do you three want?"

"Naruto, we want to talk," said Kakashi.

"Yeah, why are you being so rude?!" shouted Sakura. She had been upset since Naruto turned his back on everyone at the Hokage Tower.

Naruto was growing annoyed by the two asking him questions. "…" He just looked at them with blank eyes.

"Hn. Dobe, answer her question." Sasuke was frustrated by the lack of emotions in the blond. There would have been a time in which Naruto would yell at him or smile a bright smile, but now it was all gone. Now he looks at them with nothing in his eyes, with no more smiles.

"I do not have any answers for those who are unworthy."

/ He called me and my Sasuke-kun unworthy? We must grind him to the ground. / Inner Sakura was not pleased by the blond's answers.

"What do you mean by unworthy?"

"It means only those who harbor no delusions of who I really am can have all answers." The blond once again closed his eyes to the scene before him. Kakashi was clearly upset, Sakura was gritting her teeth and Sasuke was about to explode.

/ I can sense you and the others nearby, Kyu-kun. Don't worry, these three will explode in a second. /

/ Ah, and here I was planning on shaving pink haired one's hair. /

/ Do that tonight. I bet she screams so loudly it could be heard in Sound. /Kyuubi had to cut off contact there because he was laughing too hard.

"You bastard! How dare you say we don't know you!" Sakura was beyond pissed. The blond had the nerve to say they didn't know him.

"I agree with her for once. Stop being a dobe. Everyone knows you only left because you were too weak."

"And here I thought it was you who was too weak. After all I wasn't the one who joined with the Snake."

Now both Sasuke and Sakura were angry. The younger male had insulted them both. Letting the anger control them, they rushed the seemingly defenseless blond.

Sakura went for a chakra filled punch, while Sasuke was going in for a sweep. Right before the connection of both attacks, the blond seemed to have faded away with the last of sun's rays before night fell. The three remaining shinobi were shocked. It was like trying to hit a ghost.

"You coward! Come out right now!" screamed Sakura. She was angry. All that training she did with Tsunade and still she wasn't on the same level as Sasuke or Naruto.

Suddenly a growl was heard. It had come out of the darkness of the early night. Two gleaming eyes peered at the rest of former Cell Seven. Kakashi was wary of the eyes. They were the eyes of a predator who found its prey.

"Sasuke, Sakura. Be careful. Something is lurking in the shadows."

"You are right Hatake-san. I sense your fear. I sense your weaknesses. A predator always knows when prey is near."

From the shadows a large cat emerged. It was the same big cat that Naruto gained his name from. A panther was large, relied on stealth to hunt, and it was famous for being a sort of demon of the night. The only difference was the size and the color of the panther's eyes. It was as large as a lion and had blue eyes.

"Master, these mortals smell of weakness. How should I proceed?" The panther was eyeing the shinobi in front of it.

/ Proceed?! It's going to eat us/ yelled Inner Sakura.

The three shinobi backed up a step. Sakura, Sasuke, and Kakashi decided to do their own summoning to even the grounds for they did not know what the panther could do. Soon a dog, a slug, and a snake appeared.

"Brat, why am I here?" The snake was not happy to be called forth. That was until he saw the panther nearby. The fear was great in the giant snake's eyes. He knew that panther and only one person had the contract to them now.

"Sakura-chan, what is going on?" The slug didn't sense any real danger and was confused on why she was there. Like the snake she grew fearful when her eyes saw the panther.

"Kakashi, I'm tired. Why did you call me?"

"We have a small problem." The dog looked towards the area Kakashi was eyeing and saw the big cat. The dog was soon tucking its tail between his legs and shook with fear.

"Kakashi-sensei, what is wrong? Our summons are afraid." Sakura was confused. Normally each would be ready to attack, but at the sight of the cat the animals were afraid.

"We dare not attack the Lord of Summons. He could destroy us a thousand times over and never even use one-eighth of his power."

"He can only come forth for the Heir of Nature. The one who knows all and sees all."

"He is our king and master, even above those who have a contract with us."

The three shinobi were stunned. The panther was their lord? That meant they were at a disadvangted.

"Now, how would you like to finish this, with ninjutsu, genjutsu, or taijutsu? I would say kenjutsu, but none of you use swords." Naruto had reappeared behind the stunned shinobi. The panther king was making sure that the other animals stayed away from his master. There was no worries for the others know who Naruto was and would never dream of attacking the one human who could forever destroy their line.

The decision was made when all three began making their seals. Sasuke started a katon jutsu, Kakashi had his famous Chidori in the making and Sakura was putting chakra in her hands to punch the blond. Each attack would normally kill a person, shinobi or not. Yet, Naruto is not a normal person. No, he was much more now.

A small smile appeared on the blond's face. Kyuubi, who was nearby in the woods, saw the smile and told the rest of the watching group to cover their ears. It was about to begin. The one thing that not even Kyuubi could stop once it started.

The wind swirled around the awaiting blond. It was beginning a song. Naruto was glowing with a burst of light and soon a voice like an angel was heard.

Dancing memories of my world

Let you be my guide

When the light seems dim

Remind me once more

Why I fight!

Remind me once more

Why I stand tall!

Please don't leave

Not like so many before.

As the sword of hate

Thrust through my heart

Remind me once more

That I am strong!

Remind me once more

That I am good!

As the world grows old

Memories of times long ago

Come forth again

And remind me once more

That I will not fall

Into the darkness of my own

Hell!

At the end of the song the three shinobi were in a trance. Nothing seemed to exist on the outer plains of their minds. Naruto walked up to them and told them to go home and sleep. To forget that they were here and had talked to him at all.

"Kit, you can be very cruel sometimes." Kyuubi and the rest of the blond's family had appeared once the others were gone. The song was called, "Remembrance." It put the listener under a heavy trance like state. Kyuubi liked to call it Naruto's 'siren' song, for he was like a siren calling the sailors to come ashore.

"Cruel? Hai, I'm cruel. But…It keeps them from disturbing me for any longer."

"Master, I will leave you now. The other summons are gone and I know you have worked to do tomorrow."

"Thank you Lord Hyō. I hope you had a good time out."

"Ah, it is fun to scare the cubs a bit every once in awhile." With a feral grin the Lord of Summons left the rest to do as they pleased.

Hinata and Shino were confused about the exchange they had heard. First off, who was Heir to Nature? Second, what did that mean? Also they was confusion about the song. Since they couldn't hear it, the two did not know about its effect on people.

Naruto looked at the two and decided to explain what happened. "Aa. Let's go home and tell another story tonight. I'm sure after training with Hawk all day, you two must be tired. He is a hard taskmaster after all."

"I doona, what you're talking about. Such a young fledgling and still can't listen to his elders," said Hawk with a cheeky grin. The rest laughed, except for Itachi and Gaara, but the others could see the happiness shining in their eyes.

The family trudged towards their home. It was a home because it warmed the hearts and freed the mind from responsibilities. For the two heirs, their family knew that they spent time with the blond and didn't care. Shino's father liked the good influence Naruto had on so many people, especially of the younger generation. Hiashi, was proud how strong his eldest daughter had become and knew it was because of Naruto.

"Let me begin," said Naruto once everyone had settled in the family room. A large fire was roaring in the fire place since it was close to winter time. The two Leaf Shinobi looked on with rapt attention. "The song I sang is called, "Remembrance." It holds an aura of power. Those who are weaker then I will be sucked into my own power and have to do what I say."

"So, it is hypnosis. Only yours works on about everyone?" Shino always knew Naruto was going to be stronger then all of them one day, but this power exceeded expectations.

"Ah, that is right Shino-kun. It is rare for someone to not be effected. Kyu-kun can be halfway under and it would take more power to get Aries that far, but most people are easily influenced."

"Ano, Naruto-kun…what is Nature's Heir?"

Kyuubi decided to answer the question. "Nature's Heir is someone chosen by all of nature. They have to pass many trials prove themselves worthy of being, well…basically the child of the Earth."

"Then what type of trials did Naruto go through?"

"I had to live a life of pure hatred and to never become like the ones who hated me. I had to help a friend when help was not wanted. I had to protect those who did not want me. I had to bring people from their darkness and not fall into my own. And I had to love a demon when no other would. These are the trials I lived without knowing I was going through them."

Everyone was quiet. It was true, his life was pure hell and too many who have had similar lives either went insane or died. Gaara and Itachi were perfect examples of those who were pushed into lives that were not fit for anyone. How did Naruto survive it all?

"How…" Hinata could not finish asking her question. Before the blond responded he turned his head sharply towards the door. Two people were approaching his home, his sanctuary.

It was Neji and Shikamaru. They both decided that it was time that they got to know the blond better. After all he helped them repeatedly. Both were in awe of how beautiful the house and land was. It was like out of a girly fairy tale.

"I hope you two aren't here to start a fight," said a voice from a tree nearby.

Turning the two young man saw Naruto sitting in a tree looking at them. His arms seemed relax, but they were position at an angle so that they were close to his sword. One never knows when they have to face down an army of people.

"Iie. We want to talk. To know you better." Neji was the spokesman for the two. It was true. They wanted to be closer to him, like Shino and Hinata are.

"Good, then come meet my family." The three walked inside to start down a path that was very familiar to the blond.

TBC

Yeah, I finally updated. Sorry it took so long, but I had other things to do. The next chapter will have the mission in it. Please Read and Review!