Disclaimer: I do not in any way own Naruto or any other character in this fic
Me: Woop!! next chapter is finally out
Kakashi: chapter three already? going fast :D
Sakura: i wanna know what happens with me and the fox
Me: well I'm not going to shout out spoilers for the readers, just read it and find out
Kakashi: anyway, hope you liked the other chapters, now enjoy reading this one
CHAPTER THREE: A NEW FRIEND
Sakura woke up with the morning light shining in her eyes, finally realising that she didn't have any nightmares at all that night. She sits up, rubbing her eyes and wiping the sleep away before she remembered that she had a fox sleeping with her overnight. Sakura looks around her and finds the fox snoozing next to her still.
The fox stretches out her legs and yawns quietly. Sakura grinned, "Morning Kitsune," she said, patting the brown fur ball. Kitsune, the brown fox meows happily as Sakura crawled out of bed.
Before Sakura walked into her bathroom to wash up, she stood frozen at her feet. Her memories had come back and she was slowly replaying what had happened last night, "what a night," she said frustratingly.
Kitsune jumps off the bed and quickly nudges Sakura's leg in order to get her back to the real world, "meow," she said, brushing her tail against the medic's leg. Sakura looks down and grins lightly, "sorry little Kitsune, just faded for a bit," she stated.
"Be right back," Sakura added, patting Kitsune one last time before disappearing into the bathroom.
After half an hour, Sakura exited the bathroom with a white towel wrapped tight around her. She opens her closet to find some clean clothes while keeping an eye on her newly found fox friend. Kitsune was rolling around on Sakura's bed, hoping that the medic would play with her for a while.
Sakura ignores the fox and continues to search for her clothes to wear for the day. Once she found them, Sakura strips from her towel and tosses it on her bed and changes into her day outfit quickly. Kitsune, who was now under the towel, struggles to find the light from under the damp towel.
"Kitsune?" Sakura wondered, looking around curiously for the fox.
Sakura keeps looking around until the movements under the towel finally allowed Sakura to spot the fox, "there you are," she walks over to her bed and pats the fox, scratching Kitsune's belly and throwing a scrunched up sock around the room.
The two were having so much fun that Sakura had completely forgotten about what she was going to do today and had let time slip her mind, "oh crap," she sped out of her room and into the kitchen. Sakura rummages about in her cabinets in order to get something for Kitsune to eat; luckily, Sakura finds a pack of mince in her fridge. She quickly mashes it on a small plate and sets it on the ground, allowing Kitsune to munch it down quickly before demanding for seconds.
"Sorry Kitsune, that's all I have for now, but when we go into town, I'll be sure to pick up some real pet food for you," Sakura offered, kneeling down next to Kitsune and patting her gently.
With that said and done, Kitsune purrs again and cleans her face from her breakfast. Sakura prepares herself some toast with butter and jam and downs it with a glass of orange juice. All set for her day's work, Sakura leaves the apartment and locking it behind her.
Kitsune jumps up on Sakura's back, who didn't mind at all but was somewhat surprised in a way. The fox purrs happily while brushing her tail against Sakura's neck and face, "reowr," she droned, eyes squinted as always. Sakura reaches up and pats Kitsune before going down the steps and out onto the open streets.
The morning breeze filled the air as Sakura and Kitsune entered the dawning side of the market, where people had already opened their shops to welcome their customers to buy their merchandise. Sakura blissfully passed many people as they ogled the brown fox that sat upon the medic's shoulder and didn't mind the attention at all.
Sakura wondered why so many people stared so much due to Kitsune; she had seen a man walk before around with a chained tiger through the market and not many individuals gaped at the strange sight. Maybe the attention was because of Naruto's death and the relationship between him and the Kyuubi. Sakura ignored all those who gave her a scared look and moved on through the village until she found herself in the food store, "and now for your food Kitsune," mutters the medic as she raced into each aisle in search of cat food. Of course, Sakura finds the cat food and takes a bag of dry food along with a few cans of cat chow to see which Kitsune would like best.
After paying for the food, the pink haired medic and Kitsune exit the shop and were out in the streets again. Sakura had a few things to do at the hospital that she remembered only at that point, "okay Kitsune, I have to go to the hospital to file a few papers, I won't be long and I want you to stay outside until I call you," exclaimed the medic while giving the fox a gentle stroke from head to tail. Kitsune cuddles with Sakura, letting her know that she understood that, and so Sakura makes her way to the hospital.
"Stay here for now okay," Sakura briefs and puts Kitsune on the ground just outside the hospital.
Kitsune just sits in front of the main door, staring gladly at Sakura as she entered the massive building and disappearing in the hallways somewhere.
"Please Yoshino-sensei, it's Tsunade-sama's orders and I have to leave for two weeks in order to recover from my losses in the past month," those words alone set Sakura to think back about Naruto again.
Yoshino, another female medic, was the manager of the hospital and Sakura was the closest medic to have worked under her orders, "I understand that Sakura-san, but both the hospital and the patients need you here and I can't handle it all with one less medic," she clarified.
Sakura sighs in frustration; no one could ever outsmart Yoshino even if he or she were as close to her as Sakura was. She pinches the bridge of her nose before saying, "I really need this, even my former teacher, Kakashi needs it as well because we were a team and now him and I are the only ones left in Team 7," Yoshino leans to one side and tucks her brown hair behind her ear. She starts walking down the hallways with Sakura hot on her heels, "in my office Sakura-san," she demanded firmly.
Without a word, Sakura enters Yoshino's office and waited for her medic teacher to shut the door and take a seat, which she did eventually. Once the sigh from the brown haired medic was breathed out, she clears her throat and says, "Sakura-san, you are one of the best medical Kunoichi in all of Konoha, if you leave, there will be a mass shortage of professionals here in the village and that it when the problems start, you understand?" Sakura nodded, though wishing Yoshino could understand what she wanted to say.
Yoshino was the type not to listen to anyone's words but her own, even if Tsunade yelled at her face to face, but of course, Yoshino knew her boundaries and knew when she went too far with her tolerant and stubborn attitude and would listen to the Hokage alone.
Sakura always knew Yoshino was stubborn but never knew that it was that bad; her own medic teacher wouldn't let her own student leave the village for two weeks without her going mad. It was as if Yoshino couldn't live a day without her pink haired Sakura.
"Tsunade had planned this for a week Yoshino-sensei and Kakashi and I must go because it's a mission," Sakura demanded, her temper rising greatly with each unwanted response from her teacher.
The tree shattered into peaces as the silver haired Jounin landed on the ground, catching his breath, "Kakashi-senpai, it's pointless to take out your anger on defenceless objects," Yamato mentioned while manipulating more wood from the ground. Kakashi wasn't listening, he sped up and rammed straight into the trees, having no real reason to in the first place.
This routine Kakashi was going through happened ever since Naruto died, as if there was something inside Kakashi that needed to be unleashed to ease the pain. His Sharingan now activated, Kakashi focuses on an old tree and says, "Mangekyou Sharingan!" Kakashi's Sharingan changed from the three tomoe in that red eye into the combined pattern of the marks.
Yamato could tell this would end bad, "Kakashi-senpai, be careful with that; you know your vision will deteriorate if you use it too much," he warned. Yamato had a point, Kakashi felt his Chakra drain quickly whenever he used that technique.
"I know what I'm doing," he stated briefly before creating another dimension with his eye and sucking three trees into the blackness of the hole. Once it was closed, Kakashi's anger ceased and he calmed down, knowing that if he went on with his rage he would most certainly kill himself due to the amount of Chakra he would use.
Kakashi slides his forehead protector over his left eye once the Mangekyou Sharingan reverted to its normal stage and he sits down on the grass, staring at what damage he had caused. With a sigh of frustration, Yamato walks to Kakashi's side and sits down next to him, "Kakashi-senpai, this mission should help you with the loss you have had to endure in the past month, and it would be wise if you could take it easy through the next fought night," he elucidated, giving his long time friend a pat on the back.
Kakashi sighs heavily while staring at the grass, "I know," he lamented tiredly.
Silence ensued between the two friends before Yamato raised his head and narrowed his gaze far ahead, "what's with the fox?" he wondered, staring up into a tree where a young black fox sat on the branch and stared at Kakashi with his squinted eyes.
Kakashi moaned loudly and instantly tried to ignore the fox, "that thing has been following me all day and I don't know why," he said, pointing at the black bundle.
Sai, the emotionless boy who sat in a tree not far from the two Jounins, was drawing his lifelike animals with his ink and scroll, "do you want me to take it out Kakashi-sensei?" he offered, pulling out his small sword and pulling a fake grin.
"No way," Kakashi snapped, glaring at the pale boy as he stared at the black fox.
The fox meowed happily before trying to jump up into a higher branch but couldn't grip onto the wood with its paws and begins to tumble to the ground that was high.
As an instant reaction, Kakashi leaps into action and catches the fox just before it hit the ground. Kakashi looks into his arms to find the fox startled before it began to purr like mad and squirming around in the Jounin's arms.
"Silly thing," he muttered, while carrying the black fox over to where Yamato was sitting.
Kakashi lets the fox go and sits back down, but the fox wouldn't leave, he stayed right where he was and ogled Kakashi with his big blue eyes before meowing cutely. Yamato couldn't help but sigh, "You know Kakashi-san, that fox is kind of cute and he's been following you all day as you said before so why not just keep him," he unwaveringly implied. Kakashi shrugged, not sure, if he should go for it. He stares at the fox, thinking back to last night when he first saw the thing on his bed; the fox was instantly nudged off the bed before Kakashi ended up following it into the forest just outside the village.
"Oh okay, he can stay," the fox perked his head up with joy and jumped up in Kakashi's arms and purring like crazy.
Meanwhile, Yoshino leaned back on her chair and Sakura could tell where this was going: nowhere, "Sakura-san, what have you always wanted to be when you were young?" she asked.
This question came up every time her and Sakura had an argument and Yoshino always won the battle in the end. Sakura felt curious at first until the thought came up in her head, 'married to Sasuke-kun,' "a medic of the Leaf," she stated dryly.
"Then if you want to keep your job, you are to keep yourself safe throughout these next two weeks during your recovery mission," Yoshino's words stunned Sakura's reaction and was taken aback by Yoshino's expression when she said it.
"I can go?" Sakura asked, ready to yip around in utter joy.
"Yes, but keep in mind that you will have a lot of work set for you when you get back," a wide grin on Yoshino's face assured that she wasn't lying. Sakura nods with a bow, satisfied that she got what she deserved; no one had ever gotten Yoshino to give in after a long conversation like this, it was a miracle that it happened.
'Oh my god, I convinced Yoshino-sensei to let me go on the mission. How cool am I?' Sakura couldn't help but smirk at Yoshino's defeat, but pulled it together with a soft smile.
Yoshino sat there, eyeing Sakura widely before saying, "I understand what you are going through Sakura-san, that's why I have decided to let you go so you can recover from your losses," Sakura raised an eyebrow, 'wait a minute, didn't I tell her that before? Oh well,' she thought, before grinning like an idiot and ready to go: "hah, in yo face!" with pointed fingers, but Yoshino wasn't the type to take jokes like that and would most certainly get angry with her medical student.
Sakura stood with nothing but determination in her eyes and waited for Yoshino to dismiss her, "you are released," she said calmingly.
"Arigatou, Yoshino-sensei," Sakura was honoured that she was able to go somewhere now that Yoshino agreed to it.
Sakura quickly leaves the office and makes her way to the exit of the hospital. Once out of the tall building, Sakura remembered that she had left Kitsune to sit and wait until she got back, "Kitsune?" she wondered, eyes shifting from one place to another, hastily trying to find the brown fox.
Sakura looks to her left and sees Kitsune just sitting there patiently, eyes squinted as usual, "there you are, I was getting worried about you," she stated as the fox made her way to the medic.
Kitsune hops up on Sakura's shoulder and purrs like mad, "lets go Kitsune," Sakura suggested and began to walk down the streets of Konoha again.
It was long past midday and Kakashi had spent almost the whole day on the training field with Sai and Yamato and the pestering little black fox, "so Kakashi-senpai, what are you going to do with that black fox?" enquired his fellow Jounin.
"Not sure, I might keep him," Kakashi replied tiredly, still thinking of Naruto's departure.
Yamato sighs before standing up, "Sai, are you ready for tomorrow's mission?" he asks briefly. Sai nods as he leaps out of the tree and putting his inking scroll away, "yes Yamato-sensei," he replied quickly. Yamato faces Kakashi, who was still sitting on the grass with the black fox on his lap and says, "Kakashi-senpai, Sai and I will be leaving now, the mission tomorrow will take all day so we need to get ready," Kakashi nods, slightly disappointed in something, "okay, then I guess you won't be able to see me off tomorrow morning," he mentioned.
Yamato sighs again, scratching the back of his head frustratingly, "yeah, I'm sorry, but don't worry, your mission will be fine and Sakura shouldn't be too much of a handful, besides, she was your student after all," he explained.
Kakashi nodded his head and patted the black fox roughly, making him scowl, "well, see you in two weeks then," Yamato waved and exited the training grounds with Sai following him. Kakashi waved back silently, staring at the trail they left behind before the black fox nudges the Jounin with a meow. Kakashi faces his attention to the fox and says, "what do you want you little mischief?" those quite harsh words made the black fox meow in a cute moan, causing Kakashi to sigh.
Kakashi stands up, ignoring the fox that followed him around constantly and he jumps up in the tree, pulling out his orange book and relaxing himself with a good read, while the black fox leaps up into a different tree to find something to do.
The winds were picking up as Sakura approached the fields with Kitsune following behind her. Sakura stands on the now long grass and stared at the greens as the airstream made it dance through every gust.
"How nostalgic," muttered the Jounin medic as she stared at the training posts. Kitsune sat there, examining everything that came across her line of sight.
Sakura began to have flashbacks from when she and Naruto trained here until her memories dragged her to the death of the blonde haired boy. She winces with a painful moan and clenches her fists again, "aargh," she grunted quietly.
Kitsune quickly brings Sakura to the reality world with a heavy nudge and meow. Sakura looks down at the brown fox and sighs heavily, "sorry Kitsune," she pleaded before hearing a familiar voice, "Sakura-chan," it was Kakashi, sitting up in the tree and reading Icha Icha Paradise. He gave a lazy one-eyed stare at the younger Jounin, making Sakura raise her eyebrow with curiosity, 'what's with Kakashi-sensei, he always ends up where I am and he's constantly staring at me with that lazy eye,' she said inwardly.
Kakashi jumps down from the tree and closes his orange book and tucks it in his back pouch, "what brings you here?" he asks, taking a few steps closer to the pink haired medic.
"I had some time to spare so I decided to pay a visit to somewhere where my memories would come back to haunt me," replied Sakura sarcastically, but not showing it physically.
Kakashi nods slowly before tilting his head when he spots a young brown fox hiding behind Sakura's legs, ogling the tall Jounin in front of her, "cute fox," Kakashi started lamely. Sakura looks down to where Kitsune was and says, "yeah, her name is Kitsune, she came back after I returned from the Konoha forest," Sakura glared at Kakashi with her emerald green eyes, reminding Kakashi about last night.
"What about your fox sensei? You mentioned that you followed a fox into the forest before it vanished after hearing me scream my lungs out," Sakura added, wondering with a raised eyebrow.
Kakashi rubs the back of his head before looking back at the trees, "my fox? He's up in the trees somewhere," Sakura leans to one side to try to spot Kakashi's fox and finds it high up in a massive tree, "found him," she states. Kakashi spots the black fox and hears him meow loudly.
The black fox notices Kitsune sitting by Sakura's leg and attempts a jump to the ground, which was obviously too high for him to land safely, "crap," Kakashi exclaims before leaping into action and catching the fox right before he hit the ground. The fox was safe but Kakashi received an awkward landing after catching the black fur ball and hit the ground on his ass.
He winces with a painful grunt, but exceedingly hid the pain on his hidden face. The black fox ignores his master's rescue and trots towards Sakura and Kitsune with squinted eyes. Kakashi gets up with an aching twinge in his backside and slowly makes his way to the others.
"This surely is a cute fox, what did you name him?" Sakura asked, patting the black bundle of joy.
Kakashi hummed in thought for a moment before coming up with a name, "Kuro," he declared, staring at the black fox on the ground with an unpredictable expression in his eye.
Sakura nods, "cute name," she mutters, watching the two foxes introduce each other through the constant staring of one another.
Sakura smirked before saying, "Hehe, looks like Kitsune and Kuro are getting along already," she grinned lightly as she observed the foxes' progress of friendship.
Kitsune sat patiently as she awaited the approach of Kuro, who was excited to learn new things. Kuro skulks closer to the brown fox, while Kitsune stood her ground. The two foxes were only an inch apart; Kuro takes in Kitsune's scent before the brown fox got an unexpected lick on her face, which surprised both Kakashi and Sakura.
Kuro went too far for Kitsune's likings and whacked the black fox on the head and started chasing him around. Sakura watched momentarily before glancing at Kakashi, "maybe not just yet," she said with an inward giggle.
Kakashi chuckled as Kuro was being chased, "yeah well, I'm pretty sure they'll get along eventually, besides, they have no choice anyway when we have to spend the next two weeks together," he added, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.
Kitsune and Kuro were now attacking each other and Sakura was beginning to worry about Kitsune's safety, "okay that's enough," she ended the cat fight and picks up Kitsune, "sensei, you need to keep an eye on Kuro," she warned with a concerned glare.
"Don't worry Sakura, Kuro will be a good boy on the mission and hopefully not a nuisance when we are trying to enjoy ourselves," Kakashi swore with a raised hand as a sign of promise.
Author's notes: Before you throw anything at me, I just wanted to let you know that I exadurated with Kakashi being a bit angst and throwing a fit at the poor trees. I even thought that using the Mangekyou Sharingan was a bit over the top, but oh well; usually the more insane it gets, the better it is, but I'm not 100 sure. On the good side here, I'd like to thank all those who reviewed, I really appreciated it, and I hope it continues .
Me: woohoo XD
Sakura: that seemed a bit more like a filler
Me: it sort of was, it just makes the fic seem longer and show us what happened in that day, thats all. And besides, the title says it all, you did make a new friend and bonded briefly with Kitsune
Sakura: oh okay then
Kakashi: why did I use Mangekyou Sharingan on the trees: (
Me: sorry, just wanted to shout out what you an do
Kakashi: ...okay : )
Sakura: anyways, hope you liked this chapter as much as the rest XD
Me: thanks again for the reviews, the next chapter will be up as soon as the reviews start reeling in : P
Kakashi: review time!!!o