-Morris Code-September 4 – 7 Dragon Con

"KYUUBI TALKING TO NARUTO AND HITOGOROSHI."

"Hitogoroshi talking to Kyuubi and Naruto."

"Naruto talking to Hitogoroshi and Kyuubi."

Naruto thinking to himself.

"Regular talking."

"Two or More (Hito, Kyu, and-or Naruto) talking at once"

:Akamaru, Kuromaru, or a dog/fox speaking:

TEAMS:

Team Seven. Shino Aburame, Ino Yamanaka, and Sasuke Uchiha. Kakashi

Team Eight. Sakura Haruno, Kiba Inuzuka, and Choji Akimichi. Kurenai

Team Ten. Shikamaru Nara, Hinata Uzumaki, and Naruto Uzumaki. Asuma

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When Hinata went to protest, Naruto pushed her along with Shino and Kiba - after asking him to send Akamaru and Ichigo to the Inuzuka compound for the night - to go and get Arashi. Then when they were out of sight, Naruto grabbed Kagura while directing Shikamaru and Sasuke ahead of them. With the two eavesdroppers far gone and the other two who, smart and with common sense (and since Sasuke was the one that she did it to), would be there for Naruto to question. Shikamaru for direction on how to handle the situation, Sasuke on why he even went along with the plan to begin with. Ee-gads, what a headache this was becoming.

"You two go to the living room. Kagura and I have to discuss something, isn't that right, Kura-chan?"

Kagura gulped. "I-I-I guess s-so." She knew that look, and it did not mean anything good, that's for sure."

In the kitchen, she sat on the counter and waited, Naruto pacing in front of her. "Okay . . ." he started with an aggravated tone, "just what was that earlier today?"

"What?"

Naruto knew that Kagura was playing stupid and his temper went through the roof. His voice rumbled in a growl as he snarled at her. "Don't be stupid, Kagura! I saw you kissing the Uchiha. Enthusiastically, even. WHY? And why was his hand all over your body? That wasn't a kiss, it was molestation."

"To stop those damned fangirls from coming after him all the time. It was the only thing that I know that works against those vipers," Kagura said with finality. "And he didn't even know what he was doing. I told him with Morris Code how to do all that stuff."

"Morris Code? What did you do, tap it out on his teeth?! Kami-sama, Kagura! You're eleven, not twenty-one! That kind of intimacy is supposed to be years from now," Naruto groaned into his hands when Kagura got a stubborn set to her mouth, her eyes flashing into a searing crystal blue instead of their usually happily vibrant cerulean. "I can't handle my little sister being romantic with some guy, even if I know the dude. It just . . . I just can't," he sighed and looked at her with big pleading eyes. "I don't know what is going on anymore and if you become involved I think I just might go insane. I can't help but worry for you, Kura-chan. What kind of brother am I if I don't take care of my little sister?"

Kagura felt her eyes soften along with her heart. She had been so angry when he had accused her like that. But now . . . Now she was so happy. He was worried, so very worried about everything. People, the probability of having a new clan, her, his friends and family, Kyu-chan and Hito-kun. It was a wonder that even with his regeneration he didn't have an ulcer the size of a plate in his stomach lining by now.

"Oh, aniki, why didn't you just tell me that?" Kagura slid down and stepped up to hug Naruto hard. "Don't worry about me. I won't date anyone for at least two more years, okay?" Naruto embraced her tightly, his heart a little bit lighter.

"Thanks . . . I think. Come on, squirt, I gotta start supper. Send in the teme so that he and I can have a little talk."

Kagura glared at him. "Don't scare him off, Naruto, or I'll call in my cousin."

Naruto shuddered. "She's insane, I tell ya." He grinned anyway, his eyes twinkling. "Just send him in. I won't kill him yet, just waiting until you do start dating. Promise."

Kagura kissed his cheek. "Alright. Have fun making him feel like an evil child molester, okay? And remember, Nata-nee will be back soon, so she'll want to know what you said."

With that, the little tart just strutted from the room like a queen. She went directly to the living room where Shikamaru was beating Sasuke in a game of Chinese Checkers, Sasuke growling at the fact that he was getting beat so badly by the genius boy. "That's it. I'm not playing this game with you again! I can't even score once against you," Sasuke groaned.

Shikamaru just laughed merrily, his eyes twinkling. Kagura came up behind Sasuke and hung lightly on his shoulder. "Come on, lover boy, Naru-nii needs to see you."

Sasuke sighed as he stretched up out of his seat, Kagura rising with his shoulders. She hid a grin when those muscles under her hands rippled. Just how tall and toned was he going to be in a few years? Enough to make even Kagura enjoy a little perversion, she was sure.

"I'll be back . . . maybe," Sasuke muttered. Shika snorted to keep from laughing, Kagura laughing openly at her beau. Or was it a crush still?

Naruto waited in the kitchen, a large cleaver in his hands as he chopped veggies and sliced through beef and chicken slices, freshly plucked and cleaned shrimp in a bowl nearby. "Sasuke, take a seat. I'm almost finished."

Sasuke complied, his senses telling him to fight or take flight. Too bad he couldn't.

"I don't mind the thought of you dating Kagura so much," Naruto commented blithely. "It actually doesn't bother me. But what I do ask is that you don't molest her like that in public or in private until she is at least thirteen.

"We've already had our talk about it. She understands why I ask, and I hope you do too. I don't think asking you to wait two more years is such a bad thing."

Sasuke blinked. This was it? No yelling, threats of castration, or death? "Are you alright, Naruto? You're acting too calm."

Naruto sighed and turned to face Sasuke. "Nothing. Just . . . everything seems to be going too fast. I marked Kiba. Kiba, Hinata, Shikamaru, Shino, and the pups are . . . well, bound somehow to me through the ritual. It could mean a clan binding, truth be told. I was unaware of the side effects like this and feel like I'm doing this all wrong. Kyu-chan even suggested adding you to the clan." He scrubbed his face in weary thought. "But that's up to you. You are already like an honorary brother to me, snarky bad attitude or not."

Sasuke felt for Naruto. He really did, but it would be a cold day in hell before he admitted it. "So, you want me to be a part of this 'new' clan?"

Naruto nodded lightly. "Kind of. It's more like Kyu-chan saying it would be a good idea. She knows something. Then again, she is a few millennium old."

Sasuke sighed. He actually didn't mind if he was a part of a new clan. With Hinata taking him to task every time he was within ten feet of her, Shino giving his quiet advice, and Naruto making him realize just what it was he had been doing, what he was becoming, he had changed subtly. He truthfully hadn't even noticed until now just how much he had changed in so short a time.

Sasuke looked at the blond hard, his eyes taking in the tired, worried expression. Just why was it always Naruto? "I will think about it, I promise, but I cannot say anything now." Sasuke got up to help fry the meat as Naruto went about cutting up even more vegetables. "I just can't do it now."

Naruto nodded in acceptance. "But, if I have to, I will mark you if it will save you from yourself."

Sasuke's brow went up. "What is that supposed to mean?" Naruto shrugged.

"I can connect to each of my new clan mentally if the need is strong enough. And, by having them all a part of my family, they can draw strength from me or I from them. Kyu-ch . . . excuse me, Kyu-kun said that soon I would be able to talk to them through the links. Therefore, if I need to keep you or the others from causing yourself harm, I can, in a sense, take over your actions and stop you." He wiped sweat from his brow onto his sleeve. It was getting hotter in the kitchen as the meat sent out delicious smells of eatable goodness. "It's not a light gift to have, but why would I want to abuse it? That just wouldn't make sense."

Sasuke knew his jaw was hanging open, his mind running around in circles screaming in confusion. Just how powerful was too powerful with Naruto? If he had that kind of power, Sasuke knew that he wouldn't be able to help himself when it came right down to it. The kind of strength it would take to deny one's self . . . phenomenal.

Kagura and Shikamaru soon came into the kitchen, Kagura going to the sideboard to retrieve the dishes and silverware. Shikamaru was directed with a wooden spoon that just appeared in the smaller girl's hand, her waving it like a baton . . . or a mace. Naruto laughed when she caught Shika on the butt with it more than once to hurry him along.

"I said set them neatly like this, you lazy dork. What is that mess? Fix it, fix it now."

Shikamaru glared at her and crossed his arms as he avoided her spoon. "And why should I?" he growled. Kagura smiled the kind of smile that makes even sharks afraid.

"I'll tell your mother. Is that a good enough reason, pineapple head?"

Naruto and Sasuke had never seen Shikamaru move that fast before, the table set (correctly this time) and napkins folded just so. Kagura went around the table to check his handy work. "Hm, good. Much better than before, of course, but still not the best that I know you can do. Oh well, I'll just have to teach you how to take care of your home better, won't I, Shika-kun?"

Shika whimpered pitifully. Naruto shook his head and ignored them. Sasuke rolled his eyes and flipped the meats, waiting as Naruto added in the vegetables. "What, I don't get any help?" Shika asked in a pleading tone as he back away from the psycho girl.

"Hell no, buddy. I may like you a lot, but she scares me a lot more." Naruto looked at the tiny girl, to Shikamaru, then to Sasuke. "Would you go against her?"

Sasuke shook his head. "Like you said. Hell no."

Hinata's voice boomed through the house, her warning clear to Naruto. "We're coming in, aniki, and Tou-san is really angry. Shino and Kiba are coming with him once he calms down." She walked into the kitchen, perching delicately on the counter, Kagura jumping up there with her. "Hey, girlie. How's my munchkin? Naruto's not been too hard on ya?"

Kagura smiled. "Nah. I'm good and aniki has been pretty well-behaved. He didn't even try to gut Sasuke-kun."

Hinata chuckled. "Good. I'd hate to kick his butt . . . it's like kicking a boulder without chakra covering your foot."

The roar of a man, one who seemed infuriated and sounded quite familiar. Naruto winced and was quite glad that Sasuke had taken over the cooking. Shino was the first in, running and scooping behind the island counter near Sasuke. He washed his hands and set himself to work on a salad. Kiba wasn't far behind, skidding around the corner and diving under the table. Naruto stood in the door to see his father stomping through the house, his henge flickering before out right dissipating. Ooooooooo . . . he looked mad.

"Tou-san, stop rampaging like a bull," Naruto snarled at the man. "Don't make me call Jii-jii."

"WHY?! Why was I denied entrance into this house?! To the property for that matter! WHAT is going ON?!" Arashi roared with vicious anger coating his every word. Naruto made sure he couldn't get passed him to the others, his father not in a forgiving mood. Naruto had known he would be angry, but this was just too much.

"DAD!" Naruto kicked out at him, luring him out the side entrance to the training grounds. Arashi responded in kind, following up with an upper cut that Naruto barely dodged. "What is wrong with you? Did you have a jutsu put on you? Or have you finally lost it?"

Arashi's eyes were full of tears, his face in pain. Naruto knew just what that meant. He had thought he had lost his children. Like he had lost his wife. Naruto fought, his fists flying out without holding back, his full strength enough to send Arashi flying when one connected to his ribs. Not that it kept the ex-Hokage down, no, but it helped pull him back a little, the grief not as intense as the pain. Naruto executed a kick combo the started from the head and went down, a shot to the head that swung directly into one that knocked the legs from under Arashi, the last planted in his stomach creating a crater beneath him.

Naruto panted as he stood above his father, his eyes soft in understanding. "Dad, we did what we had to. We didn't mean to hurt you or make you scared, but they—we—were determined to keep me alive. Even Shino and Shikamaru helped me."

Arashi covered his face with his hands as he cried, his sobs loud and half fearful. Naruto knelt by his side, reaching out to embrace him tightly. Arashi just cried himself out, his face pressed into the neck of his son, inhaling his scent and memorizing it. Hinata was there too, her arms around his waist as she kissed his temple to calm him. Kami-sama and all the gods, he had thought he had lost both of his children. He couldn't live if they were gone, his precious and wonderful children. He just wouldn't be able to handle it, not the loss, not this time.

"My wonderful babies, what would I do without you?" he whispered into their ears. "I . . ." his voice choked up and he bit his lip. Naruto hugged his dad as tight as he could without hurting him. Hinata tilted Arashi's face up to see his blue eyes, eyes just like Naruto's.

"Daddy, we're here. We'll always find a way to be here, but sometimes we have to grow up a little. What will you do when I or Naruto go on missions? I think is it time that you let yourself live again." She kissed his nose like he usually did hers and his lips tilted into a lop-sided smile.

"When did my little girl get so smart?"

She smiled at her daddy. "When I found you and Naruto. When I finally had good friends who wanted to be companions."

Naruto sat back and sighed. "I think you, pops, need a girlfriend . . . or a boyfriend, which ever floats your boat."

Arashi groaned. Ye gods! Naruto was trying to give him advice on his love life! "I'll think about it," he said without any real enthusiasm.

"Come on, I gotta check to make sure Sasuke-teme hasn't burnt supper."

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Later that night, after Arashi apologized profusely, everyone gathered in one of the large sitting rooms, the soft color of lavender with darker purple, green, and navy blue stripes marking the room as one that the lady of the house most likely decorated. Not that the old blue and green vases would give that away, as did the faintly pastel purple and green striped furniture and vibrantly colored stained glass lamps and sky light. It was a warm, comforting room with little touches of life here and there even after all these years.

Naruto was pacing, Arashi watching from his seat on the floor, Hinata and Kagura on either side of him on the over-stuffed French lounge. Shino and Kiba occupied the giant poofs that had sat around the un-used fireplace while Shikamaru and Sasuke grabbed opposite ends of a western style couch. Naruto turned suddenly, his face set. "Here's the thing, people. Due to some side effects, pretty much everyone in the ritual has become more. What that implies depends upon the person. If I guess right, Hinata will become more flexible, faster, night vision to rival that of a feline. We already see that Kiba is much more feral than he once was, but that in no way makes him a different person. Just better at what he does.

"Shino will most likely gain access to some hidden talents from his family line. You communicate with insects, but I bet that you'll know and understand more about them than anybody else within your family," Naruto pointed out with a no nonsense air. "You, Shikamaru, will have a greater capacity with which to work with your shadows. More chakra means that you'll be able to dabble a bit more with the powers than the other Naras will. Not only that but since the techniques are similar to a fox's, your abilities may manifest into that your shadow can act independently when you are in need. A burst of conscious thought, if you will." Naruto rubbed his face.

"You may even gain some fox-like qualities. My most noticeable features are the whiskers, but I can take on the female form as if I have always been a woman. Try and find some of the old myths and legends. Ninety percent are true in some sense or form. If you do have a female form, stay away from canines and lupines. Do not drink wine or alcoholic beverages. Do not lie with your target or whatever because you can get pregnant."

Arashi was grinning at the very idea of his son as a girl with a big baby bump. So was Shikamaru and Sasuke. Kiba's lips were twitching until he choked on his laughter causing the rest to follow him. Naruto glared at them with a pout. "I'm serious guys."

Hinata patted his arm. "Dear brother, you know that these fools will forget in time. Just wait until it actually happens," she whispered into his ear as he bent down.

Shino having heard through his Kakai nodded in affirmation of her words. He knew one of them would end up being pregnant by the time they were, eh, seventeen at the most. Which gave them five years to perfect their fem forms. Oh, yeah, pregnant boys-turned-girls, here we come.

Naruto gave up getting their attention and sat beside Shino on his giant poof. Leaning into the comfort of his new friend and sudden ally, he watched as they all made merry at the very idea. He couldn't help the few chuckles that escaped him at the very idea of seeing Kiba or Sasuke with breasts and baby bellies. It was too weird. No. Really. Just think about it.

"O-Kay. People, time for bed or home. Get'on outta here! Shoo! And, Kiba, if your mom asks, tell her I did it," Naruto said as he stood. "If anyone is staying, there's a phone in the kitchen you can use. Just dial 9 and the number to go outside the compound. I'm going to bed because everyone has lost their minds."

Shino went to the kitchen, followed by Kagura. Shikamaru went out the door and home before anyone could say 'halt' and Arashi stood by his son, his hand on the much younger blond's shoulder. "Well, son. Who do you have in mind for me to date?"

Naruto looked up at his Dad and grinned. "Give me a week to find someone. Male or female?"

"Preferably female, if you don't mind. I just . . ." Arashi shook his head. "Nope. No men at all. It's just too weird for me."

Naruto laughed. "At least then the village will know that you've 'come back to life' or some other such thing. Will you be taking over again?"

Arashi snorted. "Are you serious? If you and Hinata wouldn't be branded traitors, I just might have to take you with me to another village! Still, Konohagakure is home." He rubbed the stubble on his chin. "I might have to leave for a while to find Hime-chan and bring her back. I might be able to convince her it's a good thing."

Naruto nodded. "Sure. Welp, bed time. See ya later, Pops." He hugged the man around his middle, feeling the embrace returned and then went off to the over-stuffed room, plucking up a quilt and tumbling onto one of the moved in twin beds. Shino soon joined him, as did Kiba, both picking their beds without care. The room was large enough to fit two twin beds end to end against each wall but for the one with the door (only one could fit in on the backside of the door) and since all the beds were twin doubles, one over the other, there was plenty of room.

Hinata swayed in and took the bunk above Naruto, Kagura the next bunk over. Sasuke came in eventually, his hair brushed down for the night, and took the top bunk behind the door. It was way too early to be woken up, but even Kiba couldn't sleep through the sounds of terrified whimpers and fearful screams. Kagura was tossing on her bunk, her vibrant green hair tangled around her sweaty face. Sasuke was the fastest to her side, jumping up to swing onto the mattress beside the girl.

Hinata couldn't get up there without knocking someone off and Naruto was keeping Shino and Kiba back. Sasuke didn't know exactly what to do, but the moment his skin came into contact with Kagura's brown sugar flesh, she latched onto him, settling herself around him in a death grip. Sasuke patted her awkwardly, rocking side-to-side. Hinata sat on Naruto's bunk, pulling Shino and Kiba down with her as Naruto watched Sasuke. She hummed a soft tune before singing a lullaby in a warm voice.

"Husha-by and good night,

Time to lay down your head.

Hush your cries, close your eyes,

It's time for bed.

So husha-by and good night,

Time to lay down your head.

Husha-by, sleep tight,

It's time for your bed."

Kiba joined her in the second round, his voice a rich compliment to her own as he followed her lead. Shino sat back against the head board, his eyes involuntarily drooping, Sasuke with Kagura sighing sleepily leaning over so their heads fell to the pillow. Naruto himself took up another bed, the one Hinata had abandoned in her haste, curling up with the covers.

Kiba eventually petered off, leaning against Hinata as he started snoring, the girl yawning. Ignoring the fact that the bed was probably too small for all of them, she scooted Shino into a corner and pushed Kiba more fully on the bed. Seeing as they were out of it, she swung back to her bunk, putting her back to Naruto's as she drifted.

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Early morning brought grouchy teens to wakefulness. Of course, both Naruto and Hinata were awake with breakfast on the table, their father having trained them on how to survive on little to non-existent sleep. Sasuke barely spared a glance at them as he grunted and sucked down some black tea. Kagura was yawning into her eggs, the fluffy western style breakfast one of her favorites.

Shino eventually made his appearance with Kiba in tow, the feral teen living up to what he was as he growled and picked up all the meat he could possibly get away with and put it on his plate. Kiba sucked his food up and was out the door within minutes stating he needed clothes and to get the pups for the training session.

Naruto sighed and stretched, hugging Hinata to his side with a smile. "I think we need to invest in stronger morning brew."

The bluette nodded as she looked at the mostly asleep nin-in-training with a calculating eye. "Which reminds me, when are we going to pull the month long prank on the faculty and Jii-jii? It needs to be soon so that we're both in the village."

Naruto looked thoughtfully at his sister before he smirked. "Leave that to me. Jii-jii still has to give us at the very least a month's worth of D-rank missions. He just doesn't know he's signing his own bill of horror and pranks."

Six rolled around and Naruto herded the grouchy lot of teens out the door with Hinata skipping along beside him humming serenely. Kiba walked past them with Ichigo and Akamaru pouncing each other and barking at all and sundry since Kiba didn't seem too interested in bringing the canine brats to heel. Choji was with him and both looked like bears with short tempers the way they growled at anyone trying to talk to them. Not far behind them came Kurenai and Sakura, the pinkette looking smug. Hinata debated with herself for a moment before handing over both Naruto's and her own bento lunches knowing they could get more later. Kiba grunted as he shuffled onward like a zombie.

"Someone is not a morning person, eh, Naru-chan?"

Naruto snickered at Hinata. "Nah. More like a night owl with barking tendencies. Tell me again why he's a canine ninja?"

As they bantered – the others blindly following them almost as rude as Kiba and Choji – Naruto and Hinata met up with a lazing Shikamaru as he stood by the training grounds. Asuma wasn't to be seen but Naruto expected this.

Shino and Sasuke went on to their own meeting spot, Sasuke making sure he had the "anti-fangirl" project in his scroll. Shino himself was debating on whether or not to hide when Ino was pit against the device.

Kagura looked at them all, her droopy blue eyes closing and opening slowly. Shrugging, she followed her current love interest to his training grounds leaving Team Ten to themselves. "Anyone know shy the instructors wanted us to, ya know, not be their favorite teams today?"

Shikamaru looked up at Naruto. "Apparently the Hokage is making his rounds for the next several weeks since he heard about the unorthodox training methods the sensei had employed. He's furious, actually."

Naruto nodded and gave a sage "ah" sound that had Shika rolling his eyes. "So that means you all train with me for the next two months or so. Welp, it can't be helped. Come on, all, we have taijutsu training to attend."

Hinata perked up like a happy puppy. "Really? Really, really, really?"

Ten seconds after meeting Gai-sensei, Hinata wasn't as enthusiastic as she had been. Shikamaru was just plain terrified for his sanity and any mental stability his instructor might have had before he drop-kicked it to the other side of the Elemental Countries. Naruto ended up greeting the mini-Gai like a man would his brother with hard slaps and manly hugs while ignoring Gai altogether.

After that, it was relatively standard of the most talked about taijutsu expert, the drills and body, stamina, and respiratory building exercises for endurance and ability. Shika didn't question how Naruto had beaten Kiba so soundly after the first four hours of intense but low-level training the three were subjected to, Naruto even showing off the weights on his legs and arms that had been disguised to look like ankle and wrist bands. By the last two, even Naruto was lagging.

Hinata was huffing her last lap as their time with Gai ended, Shikamaru already on the sidelines with a water bottle and Lee fanning him to keep him in the lad of the living. "Good job, students! You have shown the True Power of YOUTH! Let your Fires burn Brightly, young pupils, and you will achieve anything!"

Naruto gave a thumbs up from the ground as he let his body slowly cool down, stumbling to his feet and walking around so his muscles wouldn't outright seize. "Come on, guys, we have another teacher today. Anko sensei wants to up my training since she says Asuma was worse than a fresh-out-of-the-academy kunoichi about getting his hands dirty."

Shikamaru groaned but levered himself vertical, Lee grabbing his arm when the world decided to tip dangerously before righting itself. Hinata just groaned on a wheezing breath as she followed her two male teammates to the high security Interrogation Facility. Having a half naked woman drape herself over one's back was a new one, though, even for Naruto who had to put up with Anko on a bi-daily basis.

"Anko-sensei, don't do that to my sister. It's just disturbing on so many levels," Naruto said in a dead-panned voice. Shika was trying to stop the flowing of blood that steadily dripped through his fingers as he held his nose and face tightly. Naruto rolled his eyes and smacked his teammate over the head. "Perverts. I'm surrounded by perverts and weirdos."

Anko pouted unconvincingly. "You're mean, Naru-chan."

"And a fool for bringing my friend and sister here. Anko-sensei, I'm here for my lessons before meeting with Asuma-sensei. We need to be finished before then or I won't be able to come back to see you again." The blond smirked at the fishnet wearing woman with a crazy glint in his eye. "That, and Hinata seems to be morel like you in certain aspects, one of which concerns explosive tags, kunai, and a few meters of nin wire. Not to mention a mouthy Uchiha . . ."

Anko squealed like a fangirl. "Oh, you know just what to get me, Naru-chan! A sadist in need of training! How wonderful and sexy."

Naruto and Shika felt chills go up their spine, maybe this wouldn't be the best thing Naruto had ever done . . .

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Sasuke felt his entire body stiffen as dread formed in the pit of his stomach. Shino was right beside him, his entire face a frozen mask of horror. They looked at each other then at the Interrogation Facility with more than a little worry. Something evil was happening there, and to one of their own. They could just bet who it was too.

Ino was staying back – though not for the lack of trying – and she too felt fear skitter through her bones like scurrying spiders. One of her own kind was being corrupted by a horrendous force of being. There seemed that there was no justice!

Kakashi blinked at his students, looked to where they were focused, then shrugged it off. Sometimes the Interrogation Squad got a little too over-dramatic with what they were doing to censor what went outside the small enclosed compound. Nothing to worry about, really.

Sasuke sighed and nudged Shino forward. "Just think, Nata-chan will be so much scarier when it comes to fangirls."

Shino nodded and blinked slowly. "Yes . . . but I wonder who her test subjects will be."

Sasuke shivered before he could stop it. "Me, Naruto, Mr. Kah-er – Uzamaki-san. Maybe Kiba."

"Or the 'helpless' and 'victimized' citizens of Konoha." Shino muttered so only Sasuke could hear. Sasuke and Shino nodded.

"That's who," they agreed in chorus. Just then Ino tried to reapply herself to Sasuke's side. There was a two second delay before a burning arch of chakra zapped her – it almost resembled a bug-zapper, truth be told. Sasuke would have to up his reserves to keep it going all day, but, hey, what kind of nin would he be if he didn't up his chakra capability at all times? A bad one. Or, at least, that was the excuse he was going to use. He felt giddy with the fact that no fangirl could touch him without his permission.

"Emo-kun!" a green blur was shouting before she did the same thing Ino had tried to attempt . . . only, she succeeded since the zapping didn't occur. "Jii-jii told me to tell you that he was going to come by the compound at dinner. And, Kakashi-teme," she looked at the scowling jounin, "Jii-jii wanted me to tell you that you are going to be doing generalized chakra exercises tomorrow." With a kiss to Sasuke's cheek, she skipped off humming.

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Kiba felt his stomach flip and his spine tighten in fear. Choji looked at him and stepped in front of the pathetic attempt Sakura was making at hitting her teammate. "Cool it, pinky. Something is wrong with Kiba."

Sakura gave a furious growl and attacked them anyway. Kurenai looked over at them and suddenly charged a chakra seal on her wristband. Sakura hit the ground in a flying dust cloud. "Sakura, if you have the energy to pound on your defenseless teammate, you have enough energy to do laps again. Ten more." When the pinkette didn't move, Kurenai barked out, "NOW!"

She pulled herself up and went to do what she had been told. Choji looked at Kiba, the two pups that were usually so diligent about keeping him safe shivering from where they had dropped. "Kiba, what's wrong?" he whispered so Kurenai wouldn't hear him.

Kiba shook his head and looked slightly dazed for a moment. "Naruto is with that Anko woman. I feel the killing intent from the interrogation . . . Just what kind of teachers was he forced to take?"

Choji blinked hard. "Do I even want to know how you know?"

Kiba shook his head. "I don't think you do."

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Naruto stared at the man that Anko had been interrogating. He may have just discovered a new found fear of snakes and women over the age of twenty. Hinata didn't seem to keen on either one herself right now. In fact, Hinata was cowering in Naruto's arms and crying her eyes out. When Anko made herself known, Naruto glared and snarled wordlessly at the jounin.

"If you force that on my sister – even only to teach her – I will hurt you," he promised with burning eyes that became slitted with his emotions. Shikamaru nodded to that statement, his own dark eyes flashing warning at the snake-user.

Anko sneered. "Well, she has to buck up if she is to be a kunoichi, now won't she?"

Shikamaru snapped his teeth. "Not when she is trying to be a healer or even a cook. The only reason Hinata is a nin at this point is to make sure the Hyuuga Clan cannot have her put down for being an 'inadequate' member of society." He growled low in his chest as he stalked forward and placed himself in front of Naruto and Hinata. "Understand the circumstances before passing judgment, Anko-san."

Shuffling to take Hinata, Shikamaru left with the sniffling young woman to sit in the park. Maybe the warm and calm atmosphere would calm her?

Naruto watched them go with a small sigh. Hinata was no where near cut out to be so vicious even if he could stand it and even use such ugly, dirty methods. The sound of someone clearing their throat had him looking back at Anko with a less than pleased expression. "Yes?"

"I have been informed that it was only you I was to teach. Why are the other brats ruining our time?"

Naruto messaged his face. "Jii-jii said – more or less – that he's not happy with what the jounin instructors were doing to get around his team placement. So, to make them do it, he is monitoring all the teams for the next six to eight weeks. After such a time, he might release us to normal activities." Naruto shrugged. "I could care less since my sensei doesn't seem to want me but has me anyway. Same with the others. Only you, Ibiki, and Gai-sensei welcome me with any kind of enthusiasm, good or bad."

Anko looked stumped. "You're not serious, are you?" She just couldn't figure out why anyone wouldn't want such a powerhouse of unlimited potential on their team, demon fur ball or not.

"Very." Seeing her disbelieving look, he pondered something with Kyuubi. "Anko-sensei, can you keep a secret? Even from Hokage-jii?"

Anko started at this but nodded anyway. Sure. She'd been doing that most of her life, why not listen to what would most likely be a harmless admission? Naruto took a breath and sealed the room. "What I say can't leave this room. I'm Yondaime's son and heir. My father isn't as dead as everyone thinks, either. Actually, he's a bigger mother hen than Iruka-nii-san and as powerful as it gets. And, to let you know, yes, Jii-jii knows this one."

Naruto ran this hand through his hair. "However, only a hand full of people know I've hidden my real strength and abilities. I have the makings of a first generation Kekei-Genkai, am most likely stronger than Gai-sensei, and have what might be the start of a new clan through a series of unusual mishaps and mistakes."

Anko blinked. Her mouth moved several times as if she wanted to say something but it never came. Naruto looked at the clock and cursed. He was ten minutes late to meet with Hinata and Shikamaru. Letting himself out since Anko didn't seem to register him, he sprinted to the ramen bar as fast as he could. Hinata was so going to be pissed at him.

Kiba, Akamaru, and Ichigo were there with Shino and Sasuke too, Arashi sitting at the table with his henge working and grilling Shikamaru on why his baby girl was in tears. "Pops, cool it. It was Anko showing off her elite and dangerous skills. She was interrogating a foreign nin."

Arashi nodded. "Ah," he said as if that explained everything. Maybe it did. The meal was long and fun, Naruto telling the others about his training with Gai and Anko when asked, and what he did with the Inuzuka Tsume and Naru Shikaku teacher team.

"And then there is Ibiki-san. He's scary looking and a little insane, but he's not half bad when he teaches me. If he has the time to teach me, anyway. He is an interrogation expert. He's . . . busy." Naruto rolled his eyes at this and grinned at his friends and family. Glancing at the clock hanging by the flap, Naruto sighed. "Come on, guys, Asuma-sensei will be there before we are if we don't get a move on."

Kiba groaned as he dragged himself and the pups away and back to Kurenai. If Sakura didn't pull her head out of her ass, he was going to bite the nearest part of her body. No questions. No warnings, he was going to BITE her.

Shino and Sasuke left with silent sighs. They now had to deal with Ino. Maybe she would gain some sense . . . but they doubted it. Sasuke upped the chakra output of the "Fangirl Deterrent" Jutsu. Shino was contemplating something on how to – not prank exactly – estrange Kakashi-sensei from their training so that they could train full out. He would need to talk to Arashi-san and Hokage-san on the best course of action.

Naruto and Hinata just looked at each other and walked out behind Shikamaru. Asuma-sensei would probably have them running those dull drills again. Joy. At least they upped the endurance and their patience. But one thing was really clear. The next month was going to be sooooooooo very boring.

Okay, people, sort of a filler chapter. Sorry. Been trying to get things done . . . that and my last comp was fried by lightning. It still works – more or less – but since the internet connection is roasty-toasty on the motherboard (and the chapter I was working on GONE with it and all the other little things that keep this story running) it was cheaper buying my brother's old one. Still, it was expensive. Oh well. At least I'll be able to update now.