Alternate Hosting
By TwinEnigma
Warnings: AU
Tail Three:
Chouji liked food. Food came in an endless variety of styles and combinations. It could be formed and shaped into beautiful works of art that were pleasing to both the palate and the eye. It often had layers of flavoring, from the robust first taste, to the subtle undertones that lingered long after.
People, on the other hand, were not among his favorites. They judged easily and it tended to make them both ugly and unpleasant. Many of the children in the Academy had judged him harshly for his weight and seemingly excessive consumption of food. But, as Shikamaru was fond of pointing out, they didn't know about the Akimichi and why they were built the way they were.
It was the other stares that bothered him, the ones adults gave him when they thought he wasn't looking, and the way stores seemed to be out of candy if he was on his own. His parents didn't like it when he mentioned it and, eventually, he'd found it was easier to stick to the family shops, avoiding the discomfort of telling them about it altogether.
He had a few friends, here and there. He'd known Shikamaru and Ino forever and they were somewhere between friends and siblings or as near as they could be without actually being related. Shino didn't like being bothered much – he was kind of a lot like Shikamaru like that – but he didn't mind hanging out with them and watching clouds. Sasuke, when he was lonely and brave enough, would sometimes creep into the picture. He was always distant, but he seemed to appreciate that Chouji simply accepted him as he was and didn't try to drag him into things, like some of their louder classmates were fond of doing. Kiba and Naruto both were loud and goofy, preferring to rough-house and play games. They were fun, though, and didn't mind when Chouji tagged along. They were real into the idea of 'the more, the merrier' when it came to mischief. He didn't know many of the girls though, but he'd always assured Ino that her friends were his as well and she'd appreciated it in her own way.
It was because he had so few friends that he hung onto them with the same ferociousness he normally reserved for that last precious barbeque crisp. He'd fight for each and every one of them, because they were his friends and he would never abandon them, not even when they were being stupid.
So, when his team came across Team Seven being beaten by Sound-nin in the Forest of Death, it came as no surprise that he charged in to help.
The red chakra, though... that certainly was unexpected.
AN: Chouji was harder to write as the Kyuubi host. He's always struck me as someone who's very aware of his friends and not so much of other, less important things.