Taking Care
Immediately following my exit out of the tower, I created a Chi-Bunshin to follow Hayate in secret whenever he left the tower. I had no doubt that he would still listen in on the invasion discussions somehow. I hadn't changed enough to keep Sasuke from getting the Snake Hickey of Doom - a thought I shivered at.
After sending another to meet with Kakashi, letting him know I had other plans this month, I decided to stake out the hot-springs. There were several in Konoha, but there was only one I could get into without trouble - the owner thought I was adorable… while the rest hated my 'pretend' parts made to scare them. I let out a little growl I thought about it.
After spreading a small clone network around, I couldn't find any sign of the pervert. I sighed, then cocked my head. Now that I'm thinking about it for a moment, I decided that it wouldn't be such a bad idea to take it easy in a hot spring. After the last few days of dealing with crazies and battles - done by clones mostly - it would be relaxing for tonight.
Sighing wistfully at that thought, I headed towards the only spring I was allowed in. All my clones having popped relaying zero findings, as I entered. The woman at the desk immediately perked up with stars in her eyes.
"Naru-chan! It's been so long!" The brunette practically squealed as she rushed over to embrace me.
I just let myself get tackled, tail twisting around myself in self-protection as I was picked up and swung around. My face a hot blush from her excitement. "Hai, hai. Maki-Chan, you don't have to act so excited. It's only been a month…"
"Thats too long! I'm here every day, you know!"
I nodded as she sat me down. Tail slipping loose as she started petting my head.
"You're even a free customer, no charges for coming! And yet you don't come!" She pouted at me, then muttered, "though there's always money on the counter somehow whenever you leave…"
"But I can't just put you out like that." I said overhearing her. She knew I had sensitive ears, however.
Suddenly there was a shine in her eyes, "Papa! Take over! I'm going in!" A moment later there was a small affirmative from behind a wall, and she dragged me through the doors.
I couldn't help but look down smiling. She was a good girl, and didn't care for what I was. There were actually quite a few people that saw me for who I was. Or as a little pet-like girl to take care of… She had met me when I was only six, when Yuugao took me here for the first time. Though she was only older than me by four years, she decided I was her new pet - or sister in her words...
She literally dragged me into the changing room. Nearly forcing me into the door in rush. Moving along, she proceeded to undress, even as I undid my obi. I was only pulling off my battle kimono when she finished, and immediately was on me. She nearly ripped it off of me before I could even finish. Then she looked me over.
"Mouuu~ I can't take those off! You know you have to loosen them for me…" She pouted at me again looking towards my gloves and socks. "Now sit! I'll get your shoes while you get your gloves."
Shaking my head, I followed her orders. Sitting down, I released my tightened bows from the top of each of my gloves, shoes, and socks. It was better to just allow her to pull my shoes off rather than undo the ribbons, easier too. She quickly pulled the shoes off as I moved on to my gloves.
Something I hadn't expected as I pulled my gloves off, even as she slowly pulled my silken socks down my legs, was her fingers running down my thighs just over my lowering socks.
I felt a shiver tear through my being at the sensation, "Aaah!" A gasp tore from my mouth, and I immediately clamped my hands over my mouth, eyes wide, and ears tipped in self-surprise, and embarrassment. My face going red.
I looked down at the culprit, who had a cheeky smirk on her face. "M-maki-chan?!"
"My my, Naru-chan. You didn't do that before… I wonder why?"
Her voice was mocking, but it was true. She had done this before, but it never felt as sensual. I whined a little as she continued. I felt shivers run through my spine a second, third, fourth time as she continued on to the other sock. I was actually trembling when she finished, ears lowered to the sides. Mouth covered by my hands, making sure I didn't make another sound, however hard that was.
It was only a moment later that I realized she was doing it even though I had already had all my clothing removed. "M-Maki-chan! Let's go already dattebane!" I was already moving out of her grasp towards the towels, even as her smile widened.
Maki had let the little fox go, but for how long..?
'What is it with people lately?! First the fox incident, then the sand-boy wants me to be his mate, and now Maki-chan might be trying to work my body against me too?!'
After grabbing my towel, wrapping it around myself, another around my head to keep my fur thin hair up, I hightailed it out towards the springs, and away from a giggling Maki. She obviously found my behaviour cute. I walked towards the empty side away from the girls whispering about me as I entered.
Easing my body into the hot water was nice. No, amazing… HEAVENLY~ I let out a contented sigh as my slipped down to my neck into the steamy surface.
My ears twitched when I heard shifting of water behind me. Maki had to be getting in now too. I just relaxed, kneeled down in kami's embrace. Even my wet fluffy tail was enjoying it, attempting a speedy wagging underneath the water, though only slow shifts were felt.
'This is how life should always feel like...haaaaaah~'
Quickly I felt a couple arms flowing around my body and under my own, latching on to my front. "EEEEP!"
Maki's hands had reached up from the front of the little foxes smooth front to her developing breasts, removing the thin towel as she moved. It fell down into the water even as she put a squeeze on the little mounds of flesh on the tailed teen.
"NhyaaaahNN! M-Maki! W-what are you d-doing-ttebane?!" The long-eared girl stuttered out through her squeaked voice.
"Hmmm, only just a B size for now. You have a ways to go~ But I think you'll hit a C eventually? They're firm too…almost perfect so far. I'm jea~lous~." The teasing teen had sexilly whispered into furry ears.
"Aaah~! n-no-bane! M-Maki-Chan! Stop it!" I stuttered out, my violet eyes squeezed shut, trying to keep my voice down as she massaged my sensitive skin.
"Hnnn? You want something different~?" She huffed her words on my neck, tickling me.
Moving her arms down, she rubbed my skin slowly working her way downwards, little circular motions trying to force more strange sounds out of my mouth. The slight heating in my face indication of my embarrassment...or warmth.
"Hnn, still no hair down here." My elder said as she reached below my abdomen. My body was heating up, almost on fire, my breath quickening. Then I felt her hand between my legs. A slight shift of position, and her fingers were cupping my special place, even as her other hand gave my breast a squeeze.
"Ahn!" My eyes shot opened, and I scrambled forwards out of her grasp. My breath coming in quick little gasps as I trembled. My face flushed, whiskered face redder than my hair. "M-MAKI-Chan! That's too much-ttebane!" I yelled with in a huff
What I heard was from her was a perverted giggle and an unapologetic apology.
….How can she do both at once?
Violet slitted eyes blinked, then turned around towards Maki, "Did you just laugh?" She shook her head at my question, and I blinked again…
'...It couldn't be…. no…..I just checked!...'
"Maki-Chan, I'll be right back," I said as I pulled my towel quickly back around myself.
She only cocked her head to the side in response. Not quite understanding why I was leaving. But I wanted to make sure…
Swapping out of my towels in the changing room, slipping my panties up my legs, slowly for the sensation…. Then pulling my kimono, face flushing again at myself, tying my obi around it quickly, leaving the rest, I quickly removed myself from the premises, tail dripping behind me as it tries to shiver itself dry.
I quickly circled around the building towards the women's bath fence to a sight I never wanted to behold in such a situation - a figure looking through a small hole towards a place I had just been.. And immediately I flushed twice as dark as mere moments ago in pure embarrassment. 'This man! This man saw everything dattebane!'
Unable to hold my anger in check, my red-orange hair floating up in fiery wave, fur standing on end, I screamed…
"Kyaaaa! Pervert!"
Immediately he turned to face me, his eye leaving the singular hole in the fence, even as I heard several loud screams from inside the baths, and came face-to-fist with a Earth-Chakra-Cloak Covered Fist. His face deforming from sheer rejection of my fist into the opposing direction, straight through the fence onto the ground, face down.
The girls inside - the nin-girls - quickly surrounded the Long-White-Haired man, even as he groaned to look up at my form. Toweled girls behind him, my face in front of him.
His eyes widened as he took my form in. "K-Kushina?"
I decided to play along a little. If he was going to mistake me for my mother, I would put her fear into his nightmares once again. Morphing my features into a smile, though my eyes screamed murder, I spoke up. "Ero-San, I don't suppose you would be willing to apologize to us poor girls as we take out our frustrations of your actions out upon your body?"
The elder man shivered. I mean SHIVERED… His wide eyes screamed in terror. "S-Sorry?! I'm sorry!" The next moment the only thing he felt was pain. In the end, all that was left was a crumpled bloody form of a man.
'A man that had seen me naked, being fondled...' The thought was still eating at me, embarrassment and all, so I gave him one more specialized punch in the gut, creating a small crater where he was left. I grinned in satisfaction seeing my handiwork. It was always nice getting revenge. My sickly-sweet smile never leaving my face. Truly, it was enjoyable.
In the end, I had finished getting the rest my clothes put on, and dragged him to my private training ground to wait for him to wake up. No way was I going to heal him any more than my ambient chakra would automatically do. I sat down, hugging my legs to my chest. Wating.
Eventually a groan was heard. And I looked up at his form in the near-sunset light.
He looked up, taking my features in, recognition finally settling in. Though he looked as if he was going to treat me similar to naruto and play innocent…
"That was cruel gaki…"
I just humped at him. "Says the pervert." My face flushed again at the thought. Now I knew why mother beat him up so much. And got so angry….if people kept doing things like that, she'd never lose her temper, she would just beat them harder.
"I am no pervert!"
I snorted at his attitude, knowing what was coming. I just let him go through his entro, while shaking my head. In the end I just gave him a blank stare that left him shifting in place slightly. Obviously uncomfortable in the face of his goddaughter. Making him squirm a bit was nice.
Eventually I sighed, "I already knew who you were." That left the man flabbergasted. "Ero-Sennin." He cocked an eyebrow on his shocked face. It was so hilarious to see so many emotions get plastered on his face at once from my dealings with him that I couldn't hold in my little laughter, leaving me giggling at his bloodied and emotional face.
"I demand respect! Damn Gaki! At least add a super in there!"
I just snorted again, "no. Ero-Baka."
"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!"
Apparently I was good at this, hehe. I had to turn serious though, which put him slightly on guard. "I need help."
There was a blink before he voiced himself, "And why should I help such a rude child, ignoring the pain and loss of research you caused me earlier?"
Shaking my head, I replied, "Earlier was your own fault, one which included me as a target in your evil plans" Ignoring his shocked mouthing of 'evil', I continued, "This matter concerns the safety of the village."
The man turned serious at that. I finally get to see the real sage behind the pervert. "Speak Gaki. If you know who I am, and if it matters, I will be in the best position to help."
I nodded. It was true. He was a spy himself, his own hidden network working throughout the nations, and he had the clout, the pull in the system. He was the right person.
"I overheard the sand siblings talking about an invasion during the finals of the third exam. Wait, let me finish first," I said as he opened his mouth, "They were speaking of an alliance between Suna and Oto. Orochimaru would summon snakes for destruction, while he kills the Hokage.
To do that, he would require to be in a position to practically kidnap jiji, so very close. Possibly parading as the Kazekage's guard. Or possibly even the man himself. At least this is what I believe. The only other thing I remember was the signal probably being Gaara's, the Suna Jinchuuriki, fight….which is against me. And I need your help for that too."
My ears and tail lowered at the end of my telling. I just waited for him to speak up.
Eventually he did with a sigh, "It's possible. There has been unrest with their village. I'll see what I can do with the information you've given. I will try to verify the authenticity, but I will see what we can prepare just in case. Now, despite this, why should I help you? This information may not even be real, and could be a ploy to get in my good graces."
I was shocked. He was actually more suspicious of me now… Slitted eyes blinking a few times, I answered his suspicious face, "I would think that you would want to help your goddaughter. ESPECIALLY after peeping on her… Hell you even confused me for my mother, there is no way you don't recognize me. I mean jiji had to have told you what happened when I was four, right?"
The man in front of me went from wide-eyed to eye-poppingly shocked, absolutely floored, then with an added confuzzlement. "W-What?"
"...You heard me. I know...everything pretty much. Not specifics, but the dangerous knowledge at least."
"So… You know who your parents are, and about your prisoner?"
I nodded, "and you have not been informed of any of my circumstances?" It was more of a statement.
He shook his head in agreement, "I was actually here in Konoha to meet you. The old man only answered my questions on your well being whenever I popped in to ask. I should have asked more…"
He looked truly saddened, but I couldn't disagree. Rather, "it would have been for the best. I know you lost my father and mother, but abandoning me put me in a terrible position."
And so I explained my situation to the guilty man. I could see the pain on his face the whole time. I explained I was safe for the most part from my fourth birthday on, having a guard constantly visible. She had actually prevented a couple assassination attempts, not that they would work, long with a few other things.
He was quiet for a while before he spoke up. "So you practically became the Kyuubi itself. Or at least half of it… Gaki, you wanted me to train you?"
My face was still, shocked emotionless. He had offered me, yet Naruto had to practically force the man to do. But I actually don't know what he could teach me right now. I was working on true elemental control, without hand-seals, so I didn't need that. I had practically limitless chakra since I was four. I was a sage since I got my summons - my body absorbed natural energy automatically to convert to my own, but I could add to that to generate sage-qualities.
"Um… I know the Rasengan, yes I know it. I recreated my father's variation of the Second Hokage's Hiraishin, and even modified it to allow me to summon what the seal is on back to me, and I am a natural sage." I pulled in enough natural energy to show my fox-sage-lines.
The man fell on his butt at the end of my explanation, utterly floored and flabberghasted. His mouth opening and closing over and over. Once again, I couldn't help but laugh at his face. I pushed my face into my knees in an attempt to quiet myself a bit. Not that it stopped my giggles.
Eventually I calmed down enough to continue. My face turned dead serious again, something he had come to dislike. It apparently came with bad news. "The one thing I actually needed you to help me with is the band around my neck. It was put there by Gaara. Apparently Shukaku actually gave him the required chakra to mold the sand into metal and create it.
My chakra may be what it is now, but a true Bijuu's chakra is denser apparently. Or it could be because it's an advanced elemental release. Or both. It's kinda like my chakra flows over it too. I don't truly know, but I cannot remove it, and he has a hold over me with it there."
The old toad man looked a little unsettled as he came close enough to inspect it. Eventually he reached down and ran his fingers along the metal skin-tight band. The seals covering it a bit different in color as it flowed through the metal.
His face turned sad, "Sorry kid, this is too strong. There's an enormous amount of chakra condensed into the metal, and the seal covering it is both complex and strong despite its simplistic design. Any attempt would just harm you in the end… The only thing I can tell you for certain is that the collar is linked to the kid rather than his tenant."
I dug my face into my knees again. 'So it was useless after all. He's practically placed a slave band on me.' I already knew it was linked to Gaara though. Sighing I turned back up to him. I needed something to cheer me up after that horrible news.
"Actually, there is one technique I want to learn. I have really long hair, and maybe I could utilize it? I heard people could do that. You're probably the only person who could just go out and find a jutsu for me to learn. Aside from that, all I really need is actual experience..." I left out it was him that I knew could use the technique.
His face turned into a huge grin. "Of course! Actually I already know how!"
The long-haired man in front of me practically shone now that he had an ability he knew he could teach me. With that, he taught me the hand-seals in the setting light of the sun, and early moon's appearance. It was actually a nice jutsu, pouring chakra into the roots of the hair to continually lengthen while it hardens the tips, and can either shield you or shoot senbon.
Of course, being able to grow your hair at will is the best part of the technique… If I ever wanted to change my style, it's simple! Now I just had to figure out how to control it without the hand-seals. Being able to harden the ends, and control the flow of my hair, as well as lengthen it, would be a truly formidable technique if I could use it at will.
With that, we parted, after him telling me where to meet up. He had things to verify, and I wanted sleep. It was a really long day…
It was only my way back home that I heard a 'pop' sound in the distance, with a rush of memories. I grinned, my clone had henged into Hayate, use kawarimi to swap with the man before he could be cut down, and exploded in Baki's face. The explosion from my Chi-Bunshin would undoubtedly knock him a bit, or if nothing else, distract him long enough for the real one to get away. It would also bring nearby shinobi to the scene, instantly ensuring his survival. On top of everything else, he would verify the invasion for Jiraiya.
Hopefully Kaa-chan and Hayate would have a wonderful future together. I couldn't help the smile growing on my face as I continued home...