A New Fox
By Tea Ghost Disclaimer, I don't own Naruto, obviously. I have also not read every Naruto fanfiction, nor do I know every Fannon Jutsu ever made, so I apologise for any toes accidentally stepped on. Obviously if someone made a Fannon Jutsu I mistakenly used, know that doing so was not intended, nor do I lay claim to it.
Chapter 4: Aftermath
"_" talking
"_'_'_" Quoting or quotationing mid dialogue
'_' thinking
"Blank" 'Blank' Tailed Beast (Not Kushina) talking/thinking
It had been three weeks since the failed Sand Sound invasion of the Hidden Leaf. In those three weeks, few things had changed, evacuation had ended, minimal repairs to buildings had been made, the dead had been found, catalogued, and buried, and finally Gaara and his two siblings were accepted into the Leaf Ninja forces.
The Sabaku siblings remained on a team together and were under Genma's command. They lived in Naruto's building. Since no one wanted to live with him before, he'd been given ownership of the whole building after he saved up from his D-rank Missions and bought it. Since he had the room, Naruto offered the floor right below his as a single large apartment for his Jinchuriki brother's small family. Thanks to Shadow Clones and some quick cannibalising of furniture from other unused apartments in the building, renovations were rather quick and efficient. Temari decorated, Kankuro used his carpentry skills to break down and remake the raided furniture into slightly better and more usable decor. Gaara used the brief time to get to know his mother, occasionally inviting Kankuro and Temari into his mindscape to reunite with Karura as well.
Once they were done setting up their apartment, the Sabaku siblings started training with Genma, learning the ways of the Leaf Village. They had done several missions with their new Sensei, Genma was both frustrated and pleased with the results. Pleased with how far they'd come, and frustrated that they still took things further than typical Leaf Ninja usually did. It was honestly to be expected though, life in the deserts of the Land of Wind was harsh, and therefore such brutality was expected. It represented itself in the nature of the ninja from the Hidden Sand. Once exposed to those unforgiving ways, it was a hard habit to kick.
While things in the village were slowly going back to how they were, other parts were changing more.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked out his window, behind him, stood his last loyal apprentice in the village, "Jiraiya do you understand the mission parameters?"
Jiraiya nodded, "Yeah sure, simple fetch job, let me grab the brat and we'll be on our way."
Hiruzen turned around to face Jiraiya, "If you mean Naruto, I'm afraid that won't be possible."
"Why not?" Jiraiya asked.
Hiruzen spared a single chuckle for his old student, "He came to me a day or so after the invasion..."
Flashback
Hiruzen sat, going over after action reports. In a seat on the opposite side of the desk, was his Grandson, Konohamaru, colouring in a book on a small corner of the desk that had been cleared for him. The boy's mother had been one of the very few civilians injured. Miraculously, despite being buried when every building in the Sarutobi clan compound was blown up, she survived. The paper bombs were all planted on the outside of the buildings, concealed by fresh paint. Having been relaxing in a room near the centre of her house, Haria Sarutobi had been shielded from the blast. Despite surviving, Haria had been critically injured and was in a medically induced coma. Unable and unwilling to leave Konohamaru alone or with a babysitter, Hiruzen decided to bring the young Sarutobi to work with him. A knock on the office door received the attention of the both Sarutobi clan members in the room.
"Enter." Hiruzen barked at the door. The door opened and Naruto walked in.
"Boss!" Konohamaru shouted as he excitedly leaped at Naruto.
Naruto allowed the younger boy to tackle him, "Konohamaru, been a minute. Sorry about not seeing you much during the month break in the exams."
Konohamaru Smiled and looked up at Naruto, "It's ok Boss! I know you were training to kick that Neji guy's butt! I just wish class was out that day so I could see it!"
Naruto smiled and roughed up Konohamaru's hair, "It sure was something." He said Coyly.
"What brings you here, Naruto?" Hiruzen asked.
"About that..." Naruto responded.
Further Flashback
It was just after reentering the Leaf, Shibi and the Sabaku siblings went off to the Hokage tower for the mandatory council meeting after a disaster. Sasuke, Shino, Tenten and Sakura went off to the hospital to get checked out. Leaving Naruto to return home. Once he got home he headed straight for his bedroom for some well deserved rest. As he opened the door, he was met with the sight of Mimiki sitting on his pillow.
"Mom wants to talk to you." Mimiki simply stated.
"Can it wait a few weeks? We just got done repelling an invasion, I just fought another Jinchuriki. Not to mention he wants to join the Leaf, so naturally I will need to help him settle in here. So please, three weeks at the latest?" Naruto begged, "Please, I just need some rest for a little bit."
Mimiki sighed, "Alright, Three weeks. Now sleep, oh and this...thing I'm on is comfy, I'll be sleeping here too. Mom always says I got my love of napping from Dad."
Naruto sighed as he flopped onto the bed and gently shoved Mimiki off the pillow. She found a new residence just in front of Naruto's stomach, curling up with her back to her summoner. Naruto then pulled the blanket over himself and Mimiki, taking just enough care to not cover the fox's face. Naruto crashed into unconsciousness unknowingly cuddling Mimiki when his hand flopped over her.
End Further Flashback
Hiruzen chuckled slightly at Naruto's antics with his summon.
"I should only be gone a week or so. I want to leave with Gaara just after they get settled in here." Naruto explained.
Hiruzen bridged his fingers, "Hrmm. You, I can understand and even justify to the council, why take Gaara with you?" He asked.
"Remember how I told you about Gaara's mom becoming the new One Tail?" Naruto asked. At Hiruzen's nod, Naruto continued, "Well Mom wanted to get with her at some time and try to figure out how to use their Tailed Beast powers. Mom said that for the chakra she had, it took too much effort to fight Gaara and Shukaku. She wanted to train with these new powers."
Hiruzen closed his eyes and thought deeply, "Hmm. it would be wise to have our Jinchuriki as powerful as possible, as much as I hate thinking of Jinchuriki as mere weapons. Also I don't want Karura and certainly not Kushina to be vulnerable. If what I know about Karura is right, she is, was, a civilian. Permission granted for your little trip. They need to be strong, like all shinobi. Get Kushina back in top shape, and Karura up to snuff."
Naruto nodded before saluting, "Yes sir, Gramps."
Hiruzen chuckled.
Flashback End
"So... he's gone?" Jiraiya asked.
Hiruzen smiled slightly, "Left not more than five minutes before you walked in the door, they are long gone by now."
With Naruto and Gaara
They'd arrived in the forest of Kitsune when Naruto summoned Mimiki, and after returning she in turn reverse summoned them here. Naruto and Gaara followed Mimiki into a very large den. The two boys walked into the den and were eventually met with the sight of a large royal blue and white fox, who was surrounded by dozens of fox kits all eagerly running about under her watch.
"Ahh, our new summoner and he brought a guest. Mimiki, thank you for bringing them here. Now rest, my daughter, your job here is done." The large blue fox spoke soothingly, her voice very silky.
Mimiki bowed and led the many other foxes away through one of the side caves. Gaara backed over to the entrance of the den, feeling it best not to interfere too much yet.
The large blue fox rose to her feet and walked over to the pair of humans, "You are Naruto Uzmaki? I can smell both Kushina and my mate on you. Please, tell me, is Kurama really dead? Was his soul really overridden by Kushina's?"
Naruto looked down, "I'm sorry...but yes, Dad used the Reaper Death Seal to separate Kurama's soul from his chakra and body. He sealed Kurama's chakra and Mom into me. He saved Mom from death, and took Kurama's soul with him into the Reaper's stomach."
The large fox frowned, "He killed my mate, so he could save his, correct?"
Naruto nodded, all while not even looking the fox in the eye.
"And aside from most likely having Kurama released when she gave birth to you, what exactly happened that made it necessary for my mate to die?" The large fox asked.
"Mom told me some masked guy held me hostage, separated Mom and Dad, then took her away and released Kurama. He used some kind of Genjutsu to control your mate, and made him attack the Leaf Village. Mom and Dad fought both the man and Kurama, they were going to seal him inside me. But Kurama got loose and tried to stab me with his claw. Mom and Dad got in the way and took the hit for me. With both himself and Mom dying, Dad used the Reaper Death Seal, and well... you already know what happened after that." Naruto explained solemnly.
The large fox could smell the guilt the boy was feeling, 'Likely he knows how female Jinchuriki seals are when pregnant, and knowing his parents sacrifice, well partial sacrifice in Kushina's case, and also knowing my mate is dead as well. I'm also not helping so the guilt is likely eating him.' She thought.
The large blue fox layed down on her belly and crossed her front paws, "You need not feel guilty child, your mother and father chose to bring you into this world knowing the risks. It is also not your fault for a parent's natural desire to protect their kit. On top of all of that, your father's actions are his own, he seems to have been the one to decide to kill my mate, certainly not you. I know if our roles were reversed that day, I would have allowed your mother to die to save my mate. So while I strongly dislike your father's choices, I cannot fault them."
Naruto looked up at the larger being with tears in his eyes. Seeing the kit crying, her maternal instincts kicked in and the large fox extended her neck and drew her mouth close to Naruto. Who, seeing the approaching mouth that could swallow him whole, stiffened and tightly closed his eyes while thinking the fox had decided not to forgive him after all. Seeing the same things Naruto did, Gaara prepared his sand to defend his Jinchuriki brother. To both boys' shock, Naruto felt a sandpapery but also soft wetness slide across his face. Gaara saw the large fox lick Naruto's face.
Naruto gagged and gasped, "What the hell!? What was that for?!" He asked as he wiped fox slobber off his face
The large fox giggled, "You had tears on your face, it's a natural thing us foxes do for our young. Do you humans not do the same?"
Naruto, still wiping fox slobber off his face, responded, "Not with our mouths, I thought you were going to eat me!"
"My bad, forgive my ignorance." The Large fox apologised.
"Apology accepted." Naruto grumbled.
"Now that that's over, how about we get to know some more about each other, hmm?" The Large fox asked.
Naruto nodded, "Sure, I'm Naruto Uzumaki. Future Hokage of the Village Hidden in the Leaves"
The large fox smiled, "Moriko, I am Moriko, of the forest. Mate of the former Nine Tails, Lady Leader of the Fox Summons."
Naruto smiled, "Nice to meet you Moriko!"
Moriko smiled back, "Pleasure to make your acquaintance. Now, why bring a guest?"
"His name is Gaara. He's a jinchuriki too. His mom was betrayed by her people, she knew she would be, so she made a Jutsu to make herself the new One Tail. It kinda worked. She and the old One Tail, Shukaku, were stuck in the same body, it was driving both of them mad. So Mom and I helped her out and now Gaara's mom is the new One Tail." Naruto explained.
"As fascinating as that is, it does not explain why he's here." Moriko countered.
Naruto smiled and sheepishly rubbed the back of his head, "Well, when Mom and I were fighting the One Tail and Gaara, she noticed that it took way too much effort to control her chakra and fight. She wants to train to use her new power, since Gaara's mom has the same problem, double since being a civilian and all, Mom thought it best to train together."
"Hmmm, I vaguely remember Kurama having issues with his power when he was younger too. Not to mention that it would be difficult to control chakra not originally your own. Kurama had a study here, just off our private den. If anywhere in the world has what your mother seeks, it would be there." Moriko revealed.
Naruto grinned, "Well, let's see what we got?"
"Let's." Moriko said as she got up.
Naruto and Gaara followed Moriko as she walked through several tunnels. They travelled into one of the deepest parts of the den when the tunnels opened into a large chamber. The group then veered off into a side room. In the centre of the room was a red blanket, on the far wall a desk that appeared to be made for foxes, in all the remaining wall space, holes and shelves held hundreds of scrolls.
"Please, help yourself to anything you find inside, except...this blanket, it still has Kurama's scent." Moriko said through some embarrassment as she pulled the blanket off and out of the room.
Naruto and Gaara got to work analysing the scrolls. Some were dated, and appeared to be personal journals, Others were miscellaneous things, only a few were anything useful, around two dozen. Next Gaara and Naruto got to work sorting the scrolls so as to get a coherent manual on learning Tailed Beast powers. They would work through their first night in the fox realm arranging the scrolls.
Back in the Leaf Village
Kakashi was walking down a street, ahead of him was Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenaii Yuhi. Kakashi was a master of observation and noticed that his two friends were in a secret relationship. He and the pair of Jonin converged in front of a restaurant tent that was located on the outskirts of the village. Inside the tent was a pair of suspicious ninja, donned in black cloaks with red clouds and wearing straw hats, the three had been separately following. Not that the three wanted the pair to notice them following.
"Hello you two, Nice day for a date, isn't it? Then again, I guess you two would know, wouldn't you?" Kakashi teased.
Kurenai blushed and Asuma choked on his spit.
"H-how?" She asked.
Kakashi chuckled, "Well, its quite obvious in your body language, and your look." He subtly made a gesture to the suspiciously dressed people hiding in the tent.
The pair nodded and Asuma's face turned serious, "So, how many people know?"
Kakashi responded, "Not that many, after all why would I blab about a couple friend's romantic lives?" Kakashi discreetly pointed to a few hidden ANBU following him. "However if you two really want help keeping it a secret I guess I could back you up, if not I'll just leave it to you." Kakashi waved them off but before he could leave, his student Sasuke appeared.
"Kakashi-sensei, I've been looking everywhere for you. I was hoping for some more training." Sasuke told his sensei.
Kakashi "eye smiled" and spoke, "Sure Sasuke, meet me at our usual training grounds, I'll be there shortly, I just have some errands to run."
Sasuke nodded and walked off. As his student left, Kakashi too disappeared.
Kurenai and Asuma steeled their resolve and turned to the people inside the tent.
"Alright you two, not the best idea to stealthily infiltrate a village that just fended off an invasion, and is on high alert." Asuma spoke.
The pair inside the tent got up from their seats and walked out to the street.
"That's far enough, now identify yourselves." Kurenai said, raising a Kunai Knife. Asuma raised his dual trench knives.
The cloaked duo brought their hands up to their face obscuring straw hats. In a swift move they tossed them away, revealing their identities. Asuma and Kurenai both gasped at the infiltrators in their village. Before them was Itachi Uchiha, the man who butchered the Uchiha Clan, leaving two survivors, himself, and his younger brother. The man next to him was an unknown to the pair, but if he is with Itachi, then he must be extremely dangerous.
"Well what do you know, Itachi Uchiha." Asuma said with a smirk.
The unidentified cloaked man spoke next, "These friends of yours, Itachi? Well then, I guess I should Introduce myself. The Name's Kisame Hoshigaki, former member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. I hope we can get more acquainted later. You see right now we are kinda on a job."
Asuma, still smirking, responded, "Why wait, I could just kick both your ass's now."
Kurenai got in some words of her own, "Since you so kindly identified yourself, we now know who you are. Kisame Hoshigaki, S ranked criminal from the Land of Water, more specifically the Village Hidden in the Mist. Accused of espionage, treason, and the murder of a Feudal Lord. Wanted in every nation, dead or alive. It lists you plainly in the International Bingo Books, nice to put a face to the name."
Asuma continued, "You got balls, turning up in this village after everything you've done. So why are you here?"
Itachi said, "It is not your concern, just back off. This is your only warning, I do not desire to kill you both."
Asuma chuckled, "Pretty damn ironic coming from you, the man who pretty much murdered his whole family. So out with it, what do you want here, because I guarantee you won't get it."
Kisame slammed the tip of his bandage wrapped sword on the ground, making a small crater and kicking up some dust. "These guys are in our way, we don't have a whole lot of time here. Can I just kill them and we can be on our way?" Kisame asked.
"We are not going anywhere without a fight it would seem, just be discrete. You mention time, so know that if we have to kill half the village's ninja, we will lose a lot of it. Your attacks draw a lot of unwanted attention, so do try to be quick as well." Itachi responded.
In a blink Kisame was about two feet from Asuma, he swung his sword quickly at him. Asuma jumped up and back away from the sword. Kisame swiftly brought his arm back swinging again at the ninja. This time Asuma blocked the swing with his knives, just above his shoulder. Kurenai, who had moved further to the side, weaved several hand signs, and in an instant her body disappeared like smoke on the wind. Itachi, through his Sharingan eyes, recognised this as a Genjutsu. At the same time Kisame bared down on Asuma with his blade. Though leverage was firmly on Asuma's side, he was struggling to keep the sword away from him.
Once the sword made contact with the man's shoulder, Kisame spoke, "Samehada is unlike other blades, as are all of the Seven Swords of the Mist. Samehada doesn't cut, its name means sharkskin, and like its namesake, rub the wrong way and... It shreds!" As quickly as he could Kisame retracted his outstretched arm, bringing the sword back to him.
As he did, the weapon did its work, the bandages came undone and the scales of Samehada ripped through Asuma's flack jacket and undershirt. It had also torn up the flesh pretty good, blood seeped from the wound and stained the clothing around it. Asuma also felt slight Chakra Exhaustion. As his opponent stepped back and made his footwork for a second attack, Kisame had started to notice himself apparently sinking as the ground came up to trap him. At the same time Itachi noticed a tree sprout up behind him, two branches came out of the trunk, they grew in a way as to pin him to the tree. Kurenai's upper body phased through the tree above Itachi, she brought down her Kunai to stab Itachi's carotid artery. However, in a blink, right as her shot was about to ring through, she was in Itachi's place, and he was standing before her.
"Genjutsu of that calibre does not work on me." Itachi lectured as he brought his own Kunai to bare.
Kurenai bit her lip hard, drawing blood, this had the effect of pain overriding the illusion. She raised her knife to defend herself just in time. Itachi's locked blades with her, before ducking back and letting loose a powerful kick to Kurenai's gut, she flew over a railing and into the nearby aqueduct. She hit the water and used her chakra to stop herself from sinking, as she was recovering, Itachi was already standing behind her, using his chakra to stand perfectly on the water surface.
"You certainly live up to your name, Genjutsu Mistress of the Leaf, but you will die here." Itachi spoke in his usual stoic monotone.
"Actually that will be you, Itachi." a voice said from behind the Uchiha.
"Kakashi, it's been a while, how have you been, Captain?" Itachi spoke.
Itachi made his whole body twist and roundhouse kicked Kakashi, who ducked under and used his own footwork to dance around Itachi. He now stood between the traitor and Kurenai.
Asuma broke off from Kisame and leaped into the aqueduct to regroup, Kisame followed him in and regrouped with Itachi. About half a dozen ANBU flanked the cloaked pair.
Kakashi spoke to them, "It will be no use for you guys to engage, these two are too strong for those of your level, hold back and support only if needed, you'll just get in the way otherwise. So let me guess, you Akatsuki guys are after Naruto, and more specifically the Nine Tails inside him."
"So, you know who we are, this is not good, we do not have time for this." Itachi spoke as his Sharingan eyes changed to a three point Shuriken. "Mangekyou Sharingan!" he shouted.
Kakashi quickly closed his right eye and moved his Leaf Ninja headband up, uncovering his left eye, an implanted Sharingan eye from his departed friend Obito Uchiha.
"Tsukuyomi!" Itachi yelled. In an instant the world around Kakashi changed to a distorted red haze, Itachi controlled everything in this world, even time. For seventy two hours Kakashi was nailed to a cross, and tortured by Itachi. In the real world this all happened in a second, and just like that, Kakashi fell unconscious as a third Leaf Jonin jumped into the frey, Might Guy.
Hearing the sounds of battle distantly, Sasuke made the decision to turn around and run towards the fight. Once he arrived on the scene Sasuke saw the familiar face of his brother, the man who murdered their clan.
"ITACHI! I'm going to kill you!" Sasuke shouted and at the protest of the Jonin in the fight, and the attempted intervention of the ANBU. With a Chidori in hand, Sasuke charged at his brother.
Itachi grabbed Sasuke's hand and broke his wrist. The other Jonin and ANBU tried to approach, but some showing off from Kisame and his sword was enough to stop the approaching ninja.
Itachi looked into Sasuke's eyes and said, "You are not what I'm after little brother, so unless you know the location of your teammate Naruto Uzumaki stay out of this. On another note, you are not ready to face me, you don't have enough hate, and do you want to know something?" Itachi then whispered into his younger brother's ear, "You never will."
Itachi then used Tsukuyomi on Sasuke, knocking him out. Before tossing his brother aside into the water like trash.
The next thing anyone knew, Hiruzen appeared on the scene in full armour, twirling a bo staff.
Hirzen shouted, "Itachi! I know of your organisation and its goals! You will not lay a single finger on the One Tail or Nine Tails! They are no longer within the confines of this village! Even when they do return, our forces within the village will not let you even get within a hundred feet of either of them!"
"Kisame, it seems what we seek is long gone, and we are now vastly outmatched and outnumbered." Itachi spoke in monotone.
Kisame nodded and the two missing nin started to retreat. Hiruzen directed recovery over attempting to capture the Akatsuki agents.