Author Notes: Welcome back!
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Tsume: She awoke with a heavy heart that morning. "Well, I guess I can only hope," Tsume spoke quietly as she arose from the bed. Kurumaru was already up and about somewhere. She got herself dressed before opening the door to her sons' room quietly. Tsume walked up to the embracing pair, and she nudged Naruto awake. "Hey bud, time to get up," Tsume spoke softly. Naruto's eyes opened slowly, and by his look, it was evident that the Inuzuka mistress didn't need to remind him at all.
"Thanks," he replied quietly. "I don't want Kiba to watch if it can be avoided." Naruto lightly kissed the brunette's forehead before carefully stepping out of the sheets and dressing himself.
"Go and eat your fruit salad. I'll find Kurumaru; he's wandered off somewhere," his mother told the blond as he quietly shut the door behind him. "If we're lucky, the fight will be over by seven-fifteen, and Kiba won't even be awake by then. He'll get to see you right after you recover from your injuries."
"That's the best case scenario," Naruto replied. He got the prepared dish out of the refrigerator and removed the plastic wrap. "Bottoms up." The blond sat solemnly and ate as he went over Tsume's tactics in his head. Naruto looked up at Hana who gave him a half-hearted smile. Whatever confidence they had in the boy was nonexistent now that the trial stood squarely in front of them. Naruto's stepsister gave him a pat on the back and a good luck smile. Well, it was what the blond really needed, luck.
"Whatever happens, we're proud of you Naruto," Hana spoke as she leaned down and hugged him. "He can't pull you from the family, so don't lose hope if you lose."
"It's time," Tsume said as she walked in the front door. "The council's gathered along with everyone who wants to watch. Kurumaru's over at the big sparring ring." Naruto gulped down the last slice of strawberry in his bowl before wiping his mouth and silently getting up. He walked right past Tsume and grabbed his jacket. Naruto pulled his headband from a pocket and tied it on tightly.
"If Kiba gets there before we're done, tell him I'm sorry for making him worry," Naruto told them flatly before walking out into the still slightly dark morning. Dew coated the grass, and the crisp, cool air burned the inside of his nose. His mom and sister quickly caught up with him. "I know Kurumaru thinks I'm trying to take over the clan, but you guys still trust me, right?"
"Of course Naruto," his mother replied.
"Unless Kami is gonna bless me with a miraculous good hit, this won't end very well," the blond spoke. "No matter how things seem, I don't give up, but maybe I'll have to this time." It was a silent five minutes until they reached the dojo. Biran and Han were eagerly waiting for Naruto's arrival, and they patted him strongly on the back.
"Crack his jaw for me will ya?" Biran asked, receiving a small smile from the blond. "That's the spirit!" They didn't need help finding the ring; there were too many people around it for it to go unnoticed. "Jeez, who didn't show up?" They were greeted by a few of the council members, and Naruto was then escorted to the edge of the sparring ring by Tsume. Kurumaru sat there patiently waiting for them.
"Quite the crowd we've drawn," he spoke.
"You're a slimy little son of a bitch Kurumaru," Tsume replied. "You'd best remember my rules."
"I will abide by your rules, but the boy's damage will be a direct result of his will to go on," the black wolf told his master. Tsume walked back with the other clan members, leaving the two "alone." "I'll give you one last opportunity to submit before we actually have to get to fighting Naruto. I'm offering you what comfort I can; it would be in your best interest to accept." A single tear fell from Naruto's face, but his expression was the same distant one it had been since he had arrived.
"What difference does it make if I simply subject myself to being marked instead of defending my pride?" the blond asked. "Either way, I lose Kiba. Either way…you still win. If I'm going to lose everything, then I'll go down swinging."
"Famous last words to be sure," Kurumaru replied. "The better sign of character would have been humbling yourself and taking the smarter road. Everything about you contradicts what you say. You said you would train harder than anyone and become Hokage, you said you loved Kiba, and you said you would beat me about a week ago. Everything behind you is lost forever, and what lies ahead of you is burning away. You know you can't win, so I must ask…why are you still trying?"
"Because…if I don't…all of it would have been for nothing," Naruto replied. "What happens in this fight will really only determine whether or not I am allowed to remain Kiba's mate. What he said to me…is something even you can't take away. Even if you deny me and Kiba, this whole clan still accepts me. That will keep me going; I just wish you could see that." There was a strange silence after the blond had said this.
"I won't hold back, but I am merciful," Kurumaru eventually spoke. "If at any point you wish to give up, just speak up. No shame will come to you but your own pride saying that getting marked is humiliating." His comment received zero reaction from the blond. "Well, I guess there is noting left but the fight. Try to give me at least some exercise, Fox-Boy." The black wolf blurred to the opposite side of the ring. Naruto looked back one final time at Tsume; she nodded, and one man, apparently the referee, held up a small gong. As it tolled, the blond could sense his opponent's movement. "Here I come little boy!" Kurumaru sped at him, but Naruto remained still until the very end. As a huge set of claws swept at him, he crouched, pushed off, and spun sideways to avoid the attack, much like he had avoided Haku's attack back in the Land of Waves. "Hmhmm, your hearing is very good Naruto. You could have attacked though."
"And it would have been stupid," the blond replied. "Your stance suggests that you would have back-handed me." The black wolf was surprised that he had been so easily found out, but he didn't show it.
"This will be fun." He began increasing his chakra flow, and now Naruto answered with a surprisingly potent exertion. "Hm, what have you been hiding from us…Naruto?" Kurumaru asked before flying at the boy once more.
Naruto's chakra could be felt throughout the entire Leaf Village, but since it was still early, only a few instantly knew who it was. "Naruto…" Tsunade spoke as she sat in her office. The aura was strong, like he was fighting for his life strong.
Sakura woke up panting in fear, but the pattern in the air was unmistakable. "Naruto." Hinata woke up similarly, and the rest of the rookie nine excluding Sasuke, along with Gai's team, woke up too.
"What in Hell is going on?" Shino asked into the air in his room. His insects were all yelling at him with such a grand source of chakra nearby. "This is Naruto's chakra; he's fighting. Kami help us," the bug user exclaimed as he shot from his bed to his closet.
"Naruto," a frightened Kiba whispered in his sleep. He could see split-second images of the blond fighting…and getting hurt. The entire village was now awake and interested, and this was not a good sign.
"Aaaggh," Kurumaru exclaimed after getting dirt stuck in his right eye. It was his own fault too. Naruto had successfully dodged his downward claw swipe, and his paw kicked up the dust.
"Get him Naruto!" Tsume yelled. The blond decided to take that chance, but Kurumaru's hearing was even better than his. Naruto's foot rushed over his head, and the blond had to block the leg swinging up at him. The impact was incredibly strong, and Naruto was flung a ways into the trees.
"Your timing was perfect," Kurumaru called out after removing his irritation. "But your moves are too focused, too predictable. For one so in tune with his instincts, you disappoint me…Naruto." Two kunai were drawn, and the blond flung himself quickly at the massive wolf. "There's my fighter." Kurumaru narrowly missed getting slashed in the face, but his left set of claws raked across Naruto's lower right leg as he rushed past.
"Agh, shit!" the boy spoke as he kneeled down and turned to defend himself from Kurumaru. The black dog didn't move in though.
"Leave your wounds to me," Kyuubi told his container. "Keep focused, but don't focus your attacks as much. He's just using that against you. Aim for a general area, and be ready to adapt your movements to his defense so that you can work around it." The blood flow stopped, and Naruto rose with kunai drawn.
"Hmph, if it were that easy, this wouldn't have been worth my time," Kurumaru said cockily. "Nraah!" He rushed toward Naruto, fangs bared. Clang! Steel met enamel as Naruto defended against his opponent's greatest weapon. The blond was sliding back from the forward force, but Kurumaru was still in the air.
"Take, THIS!" he growled as a cold, steel knife fired into the massive beast's front right shoulder. Kurumaru's eyes widened, and he yelped as his cartilage and flesh were torn into. The blade was plunged between his shoulder and upper leg bone, and so the pain was doubled as Naruto tried to jerk the kunai out from the tight spot. One harsh cry resounded as the knife was pulled from the wound, and Tsume smiled.
"Looks like luck is smiling on you today Naruto," she called. "That's a critical hit if I know one."
"Damn you!" Kurumaru snarled as he bit down on the first blade. Using his three good legs, he used that leverage and pulled Naruto off balance and harshly thrusted his back right leg into the blond's chest, sending him flying and pounding into the dirt several times as he bounced.
"Puh," Naruto spat, bringing a small amount of blood up with the action. He knew one of his ribs was cracked in the front of his chest, and the warmth of blood trickling down the back of his head wasn't very reassuring either.
"Try to avoid another one of those if you can Naruto," Kyuubi told him. "Deep cuts are easy, but bones take time. Stay on your toes. His anger will help cut his focus, but don't underestimate him at all. A solid hit to the head and it's over."
The blond nodded, and he saw just how powerful Kurumaru's jaws were. The kunai blade in his right hand had dents in the forward edge, the blade itself was bent, and the dog's teeth deeply scratched the surface of the iron. "I can't let him get a hold of me."
"We'll see about how well you can do that boy," Kurumaru yelled as he ran toward Naruto, seemingly unaffected by his forward right leg being wounded and bleeding. Something in Naruto's mind told him a Fang Over Fang was coming, and so he summoned nine shadow clones. "Your scent gives you away Naruto!"
"And I'm not idiot!" the blond fired back as he pulled a pressurized phial from his jacket. He broke it, and his concentrated sweat fell over all of the clones. "Try finding me now!" all ten of them yelled in unison.
"The Inuzuka estate?" Kurenai asked as she tracked the source of the chakra. "Uh, Kakashi?!"
"It's Naruto, no doubt," the white-haired man told her.
"What's going on?" Gai asked as he came up to them. "Is Naruto fighting someone in the clan? I know his pattern from back in the Chuunin Exams, but this is much stronger."
"Well, it's very difficult to explain, but Naruto is fighting the prize dog of the Inuzuka Clan," Kakashi spoke. "Well, it seems the cavalry's arrived," he said lazily as Naruto's friends came running up to the gate.
"What's going on?" Shikamaru asked. "It feels like a war's going on."
"It's Naruto, isn't it?" Sakura asked depressively. Kurenai nodded.
"This is Kiba's home. Is he fighting Kiba?" Neji asked flatly.
"No, he's fighting a huge black dog, and they're both hurt," Hinata spoke up. Everyone finally noticed her activated Byakugan.
"Just what is going on?" Ino stammered. "Tell us why."
"Ino, let's just go watch and be there for him," Sakura spoke softly as she walked through the gate. The white blond was surprised at Sakura for showing such interest, her love of Sasuke usually seeming much more important.
"Rrrrgh, hah!" Kurumaru exclaimed as he slashed through another Shadow Clone. "Fang Over Fang!" As he began spinning, Naruto completed a Rasengan, and his clone played the last bit of distraction.
"Eat this!" he yelled. The whirling sphere and the violently twirling beast collided, but their power was evenly matched until Kurumaru could no longer keep pace.
"Rrr, no." There wasn't enough left of the Rasengan to deal him bad damage, but the force it put on his skull plate still caused major pain. Kurumaru was sent back about fifty feet with pulled hair and a headache, and both he and Naruto were left panting. "What technique is that? Tsume doesn't know anything like that."
"A jutsu the Fourth created: Rasengan," Naruto answered flatly. "Pervy Sage taught it to me."
"Hm, I'd say I'm impressed…but that'd be lying!" Kurumaru roared as he came in for another attack. Naruto dodged, but the dog was too quick, and he clawed him in the stomach after continuing from where he landed. The blond looked at the red in his hands, and he became worried.
"This isn't going well Naruto," Kyuubi told him. "Your internal organs have been damaged, and even though I'm healing you, it isn't going quickly enough. Draw on my powers more. Use my chakra like you did when you fought the Hyuuga!"
"Fine," Naruto whispered. He formed the Tiger Hand Sign, and he forced himself to draw on the fox's healing powers. Tsume became worried when she felt the Kyuubi's chakra, but she kept the referee from interfering. The blue aura originally surrounding Naruto turned a light orange-red, but his eyes remained blue.
"Worried you'll lose?" Kurumaru asked his rival. Naruto chose not to react. "You must be if you're revealing your true self. Otherwise, there'd be no reason. Not that this will matter much." Naruto was the one to charge him this time, and faster too. "Come and get it demon brat." The black wolf dodged the punch, but he could barely hear the kick coming, and he lurched as his stomach was impacted. Kurumaru was thrown into the air, and Naruto followed it up by punching the beast hard, sending him plowing into the ground.
"You're not done yet; I know that much," the blond called as he landed on his feet.
"You've become a special case unfortunately…Naruto," Kurumaru spoke as he rose and panted. "I normally only fight dirty against someone like Tsume, but it seems that I'm stuck in a corner right now." He flung himself at Naruto, but he wove around the blond's defense and bashed his head into Naruto's chest. He was flung a ways and formed a new indentation in the ground.
"Kahack," he coughed, bringing blood to rest on the ground and a trail on his chin. Naruto wiped it away, but his anger was growing. Unbeknownst to the two, Naruto's friends had arrived and were now watching in both awe and fear. "I won't…lose," he declared as he got back up. Naruto's eyes turned red, and slits formed as his whiskers thickened and he grew claws. He held his arms crossed in front of him with his fingers splayed, ready to attack. "HrrrAH!" The blond's hands slashed forward, and an invisible wave of chakra blasted away the surface ground until it rushed into a terrified Kurumaru. He was temporarily blinded and distracted, and a punishing kick sent him flying into the trunk of a nearby tree.
"Curse you…you fox demon," Kurumaru said laboriously. He got up and noticed two of his ribs were absolutely shooting with pain. "I didn't want to hurt you too bad, but you give me no choice. Fang Over Fang!" He flew at Naruto, but the boy dodged every attempt.
"What's wrong? Getting tired?" Naruto taunted. His overconfidence would be his undoing, because he found himself backed against a tree. "Oh crap!" Kurumaru just missed him, but Naruto tripped from springing backwards.
"You're finished!" the black dog yelled before stopping his rotation and kicking the blond hard to land not fifty feet from where his comrades stood. It was only then that Tsume noticed them.
"Guys, you shouldn't be watching this," she said in an attempt to turn them away. "This fight is something you wouldn't understand." Naruto sat up with the help of his arms, and he turned slowly and fearfully to see his friends standing there in shock at his appearance.
"Guys?" he asked. Kurumaru being the absolute jackass that he was, thrusted his forepaw into his stomach, pinning the blond and making him cough up more blood.
"Tsume, you have to stop this," Tsunade told her. "Naruto's too hurt."
"No one is allowed to interfere," the Inuzuka mistress replied. "Either, one has to lose, or one has to give up. Until then, we can't heal him. They're both pretty hurt though; just watch and wait."
"Get off me!" Naruto growled at Kurumaru.
"Naruto!" Kiba yelled as he ran up to the edge of the ring.
"Ki, ba?" Naruto asked difficultly due to his breathing restriction.
"Oh, now this is interesting," Kurumaru said sadistically. "It looks like all of your friends are here Naruto. Would you like to tell them why we're fighting, and you're getting hurt? Or should I do that?"
"You, shut, up," the blond replied dangerously.
"You're the one stuck under my foot, so I don't think you can make that decision," the black wolf spoke as he pressed his foot down harder and leaned his head down closer to Naruto's. "That's right, there's a lot you never told your friends. I'll start with the reason why we're fighting though."
"Shut up!" Kiba yelled. He tried to go after Kurumaru, but Tsume restrained him. "You wouldn't dare!"
"Your confidence exceeds your ability pup," Kurumaru replied. "Actually, you're the reason that your friend is so hurt."
"Shut up," Naruto said beneath him as his fangs grew.
"Right, you never told them how you've got a raging demon living in you," the black wolf said tauntingly.
"Shut up." The leg pressed harder, and Naruto winced.
"Heck, you are a demon." Everyone was stunned, the rookie nine, Team Gai, and the Jounin excluding Kakashi. "You never told them how you're connected to the Kyuubi, the Nine-Tailed Fox who nearly destroyed our village thirteen and a half years ago." Tears were in Naruto's eyes, and that ceaselessly amused Kurumaru and made him continue his torture. "That's the reason no one loves you; that's the reason everybody hates you."
"Please, just stop," Naruto begged. Kurumaru lifted his leg up only to slam it down hard, bringing pain and more tears to the blond.
"They've already seen them, your eyes and whiskers, and claws and fangs," the black wolf told him in reply. "What more proof could you need? Oh, and let's not forget the other reason why we're all here." Horror found its way into Naruto's face, and now Kyuubi was pissed too. "It's the whole reason we're fighting."
"If you hurt Naruto any more, I swear I'll kill you!" Kiba yelled from outside the ring as tears fell from his eyes. That threat carried no weight though; it was useless."
"No," Naruto spoke quietly.
"We're fighting because Tsume adopted you into the family," Kurumaru began. "Now, why adopt the village outcast?"
"Stop," Naruto spoke quietly.
"She adopted you because of how you and Kiba are such great friends."
"Don't."
"Although, it was more than that." The hope drained from Naruto's teary face, and Kurumaru just loved torturing him. "Because you're at least part fox, you, like the Inuzukas, go into heat. It can only be coincidence that you went into yours at the same time as Kiba experienced his first."
"Don't…I'll do whatever you want," Naruto whispered.
"Oh no, I'm gonna say it whether you submit or not," Kurumaru replied as he deviously smiled at the crying boy. "You entered your heat, your first, at the same time Kiba went into his first heat. But beyond that, you told him you loved him." A few gasps came from Naruto's friends, and the boy felt as though he had just been stabbed. "You started getting close to Kiba, admitting feelings of love and attraction, but it didn't end there." Kiba tried to scream out, but his body wouldn't respond. "No, you took it all the way. You laid in bed with him. You took his innocence, and he probably didn't want it that way. We proved that he was absolutely high on pheromones the first time, but you started enjoying his body on a daily basis, and you never used pheromones again. Why is that? You seduced him and convinced Kiba that it was enjoyable, but it's all a lie, isn't it?"
"No, it's not…like that," Naruto spoke quietly as he tried desperately to get out from under the dog. "Kiba and I…"
"No longer exist," Kurumaru ended for him. "You claimed him as your mate, and by extension, placed yourself on a rung in the clan that you don't deserve. You're merely trying to take over, and you'll toss Kiba aside when you're done."
"No."
"All you care about is getting relief," Kurumaru spoke as he pressed harder. "You don't love him. You don't even lust after him; you just want a little something to get off on."
"No!"
"What more proof do we need?" the black dog asked eagerly. "You're obviously not really human. If I thought you were, I'd probably have let things go. You're nothing but an angry fox trapped in a shell that will kill you if it dies. All you are is a demon who cares only about himself, and that won't change. And the best part is…after this, you'll be stuck under my thumb until my dying day, and that's a looooong ways off."
"Just stop," Naruto begged him.
"Aw, did I hurt the little demon's feelings?" Kurumaru asked tauntingly. Kyuubi was on the verge of doing things his way, but he held himself down. "At least you'll have me. All your friends are going to abandon you. Even Kiba won't be able to love you anymore."
"STOP IT!" the blond roared before an enormous wave of chakra threw the beast off of him. Kurumaru was flung a long ways off, and Naruto went raging at him. Claws tore flesh, kicks crashed into the wolf's body, and even a bite left him bleeding. Kurumaru had nearly given into despair until Naruto missed.
"Hmph, not quite…Fox-Boy," he spoke before beginning a Fang Over Fang.
"Oh no, he can't dodge," Tsume said in terror. "Naruto…"
Sakura, Ino, and Hinata all gasped in horror as the spiraling black form took the blond in the side.
"Aaaagh!" Naruto yelled out as he winced in pain. Part of his side was torn away, and his ninja jacket would need replacing assuming he lived. Kurumaru ended it by swiftly turning and using both hind legs to bash into Naruto's chest super hard, sending him breathlessly into the ground, bleeding, bruised, and barely conscious. "Ki…ba…" he whispered as he tried to use his left arm to support his way up. Naruto's vision was blurry from both blood loss and the jarring his head had taken. His eyes rolled up, and he fainted backwards.
"It's over," Kurumaru spoke as began limping over to the unconscious Naruto. Villagers had gathered now, and while they didn't understand the fight, they were mostly happy to see Naruto half dead with such an enormous dog walking toward him.
"Guys, look away, seriously. You don't want to watch this," Tsume told them as she grabbed Hinata's left shoulder softly. "He won't die…but you shouldn't have to watch this."
"I didn't want to do this Naruto," Kyuubi spoke. "Forgive me." He forced his chakra through the seal with all his might, and Kyuubi began trying to revive the blond, even if it did cause him pain. Kurumaru stood over the unconscious body.
"That…was certainly…a workout worth remembering," Kurumaru panted. "You gave me some fun Naruto, but we both knew this would happen." He was talking too quietly for anyone to hear, and only the Inuzukas knew what would happen next. Kurumaru began lowering himself when he suddenly felt chakra beneath him, a vicious chakra. "What the?" A flake of solid red chakra slowly drifted up and past him. A strong knee and then a punishing kick sent the black dog flying. Tsume and the others turned to see a leg enveloped in the Kyuubi's cloak sticking straight up. Kurumaru was whimpering from the hit he just took. It was far stronger than most of the ones he had taken. He looked in absolute horror, and so did everyone else, as Naruto's form rose and slowly balanced on his feet. An orange-red veil covered his legs, and it was slowly spreading upwards. Naruto's eyes opened, and he could barely breathe.
Kyuubi, it burns, he told the fox. The cloak then rapidly covered the rest of his body, and he roared both from the sudden shock and from the anger that emanated from the chakra.
"I'm sorry Naruto," Kyuubi replied as he actually cried from forcing it on the blond. "End it quickly so that I don't have to. With this, you can do it." The blond examined his right hand and clenched it.
"Fine then," he spoke before looking at a rising Kurumaru. "Let's finish this!" Naruto yelled before going on all fours and chasing the wolf down. BOOM! Cra-ack, went Kurumaru's ribs as the punch collided.
"Holy…Hell," he managed to say before getting thrown. Naruto wouldn't let it end there though. He wanted to end it quickly, but not before the bastard suffered. Using his chakra arm, he caught the beast and gripped him harshly. "NaaaghaaAAAGH IT BURNS!" he yelled as he struggled. The arm slammed him into the ground, and Naruto used that arm to bring himself to the dog before spinning downward and delivering a solid kick to his stomach. The dog seemed to break under his force, looking as though one more little push would snap him in half.
"Oh no, you're gonna pay," Naruto told him angrily. He threw Kurumaru into a tree and held him there to burn in Hell as he formed a Rasengan in his right hand. "Now, let's end this!" he roared as he harshly pulled Kurumaru towards him and also sprung at the beast.
"Huh, noo," Kurumaru got out before the whirling sphere hit him. It was like his very life was being shot from him as the chakra surged through his being. "No…way…" Kurumaru breathed before being enveloped in a white sphere much like Kabuto was and being flung deep into the forest.
"Now, it's over," Naruto panted as the cloak dispelled and the burning sensation stopped. He turned back to the onlookers.
"Wait, you're not going to mark him?" Kyuubi asked. Naruto just softly shook his head with what energy he had left. Tsunade could see it from her standing point though, chakra scarring, the exact same as from the Valley of the End. The blond could barely stand, and unconsciousness was taking him back. He blurred over to his senseis and walked a bit past a shocked, wide-eyed Ino and Hinata before fainting and falling forward to land flat on his face. Everyone was stunned, shocked, horrified, and afraid. The villagers were not as easily scared though.
"Get him! Kill him now! Get rid of the Kyuubi!" they yelled. Tsume and about nineteen other Inuzuka's blurred to and surrounded Naruto, shielding him from their wrath.
"Naruto Uzumaki is under the supervision of the Inuzuka Clan now. Anyone who has a problem with that, talks to me," the woman declared passively and dangerously. With such an insanely strong person defending the boy, the villagers stopped before turning and cautiously walking away.
"Naruto," Kiba cried as he held the blond to him. Everyone looked at him, and Tsume gave them a single passive warning.
"Kiba, I need to examine him," Tsunade said softly as she ran her hand through his hair and comforted him. "Naruto's hurt." The brunette nodded, but his reluctance could easily be found on his face. "I'm taking him to the Nara medical center." Tsunade blurred away with Naruto in her arms.
"Kiba," Sakura began. He just shook his head though, and Tsume softly gestured for them to leave him be.
"Someone go find Kurumaru; I can hold down the fort here," the Inuzuka mistress told them. All except Biran and Han left. "Kiba, Naruto wanted me to tell you something," she spoke softly as she rubbed his back. "He says he sorry for making you worry, and for making you watch that."
"I don't care," her son sobbed. "I just want him to be okay!" Kiba grabbed her shoulders harshly and rested his head on her collarbone as he cried. "I just want Naruto to be Naruto when this is over."
"Shhhh, I know," Tsume told him as she comfortingly rubbed her son's back. "He'll be alright Kiba; Tsunade's taking care of him. You'll see him again, probably today." She softly rocked them for about five minutes before the search party came back with a leaf-coated, unconscious, bleeding, and broken Kurumaru. "Hana, you can deal with Kuru; I'll get Kiba home." Her daughter nodded, and the four men carrying Kurumaru brought him to the ER. Kiba laid down in his bed and cried himself to sleep with worry. "I'm sorry Kiba," his mother spoke before shutting his door.
"It's been a while since I've seen someone this beat up Naruto," the Hokage spoke over her patient. "Stitches? I haven't had to use these in ages, but you'll be out of them by nightfall probably. Ton Ton, bring me a sponge will you?" Her pig brought the requested item, and Tsunade blotted the sweat from her forehead. The Hokage finished fixing up the back of Naruto's head, the profusely bleeding slice closed by the stitches. She went to work on the chakra scars, but they weren't as extensive as the first time. "Kurumaru will probably be in far worse shape." Tsunade got the blond to a stable condition and put salve over the areas she had closed to further speed the healing.
"So," Shikamaru began. "Is Naruto gonna be alright?" Tsunade turned to him.
"I know you're avoiding the big question Shikamaru, but I can't answer that," she replied. "He'll live, but how things progress from here, Kami only knows."
"Hmph, I never would have guessed those two," the shirker mused as he sat down in a chair. "I would have guessed Naruto maybe with Sasuke or possibly even Neji. Although, Neji was more suited to either Lee or Shino. Either way, this puts a spin on things."
"I'm going to ask you what Naruto probably will when he wakes up: do you hate him?" Tsunade asked. Shikamaru was silent as he closed his eyes and thought.
"Nah, too much work," the Nara eventually stated. "I was kinda freaked out because it all happened so fast, but when you think about it, none of what just happened really matters. So two of my friends are in love with each other? It happens. As per what happened with Naruto and looking like a fox with that chakra, it doesn't matter. He didn't attack us, so what's there to hate him for?"
"You can give people a lot of hope sometimes Shikamaru," Tsunade told him with a small smile. "Maybe they won't hate Naruto."
"Chouji, Hinata, Sakura, Lee, and probably Neji won't, but Ino is impossible to predict. As per Ten Ten, I have no idea. Shino doesn't exhibit anything resembling emotions, so I wouldn't worry about him. As per our Senseis, I'm guessing Kakashi already knew. Asuma's not the kind of guy to make grudges. Kurenai might, but I don't know. Gai-Sensei probably won't because Lee won't. As per the rest of the village, what would that change?"
"Hmph, able to see it from every angle, thanks Shikamaru," Tsunade told him as she lightly rubbed the thin whisker lines on Naruto's face. "I'm gonna get him a new set of clothes, and he'll need a new ninja suit; this one's wrecked beyond repair. Shikamaru, keep an eye on him, and don't let any of the doctors work on him until I come back."
"You got it," the Nara boy replied as she walked out the door. "You're one lucky guy Naruto; I gotta say that."
The blond lay in Kyuubi's cage holding the small and soft fox close to him.
"You do know I'm no replacement for Kiba," Kyuubi spoke.
"Well, you might end up that if he doesn't love me anymore," Naruto spoke softly as he rubbed the fox's soft head. "Although, you said you weren't interested in relationships."
"You're special to me though Naruto," Kyuubi replied as he grew slightly and wrapped his warm tails around the blond's partially exposed body to keep off the cold. Even in his mind, Naruto's clothes were still torn. "Kiba won't dump you, but I promise I'll love you if he does. I mean, I love you like my kid anyway, but I wouldn't really mind being your mate if he gave up on you. In fact, I'd be honored that you could trust me so."
"You really have that much confidence in Kiba?" Naruto asked.
"I know every kind of guy that exists," the fox replied. "If I'm right, and I haven't been wrong yet, he won't leave you. There'll be a few issues to get around, but he won't flat dump you."
"Thanks Kyuu," Naruto told him.
"Get some rest Naruto," the fox told him as he forced the mental blond asleep. Kyuubi put him under his warm covers and wrapped him up tightly before going back to his fox form and nesting up close to his blond jinchuuriki. He also fell asleep.
"How's he doing?" Tsunade asked Shikamaru as she came back in.
"He's doing just fine," Shikamaru replied. "Apart from his death-like sleep, he's normal."
"Well, that's good to know," the Godaime replied. She checked Naruto's eyes, blue, and the rest of his body no longer showed response to the fox's chakra. "I can't believe Sasuke was strong enough to beat him in that state."
"What?" the Nara boy asked.
"The chakra scars were exactly the same, and Naruto lost against Sasuke at the Valley of the End," Tsunade continued. "But back on point, that power…it really hurts Naruto to use it. That was why the fight only lasted about a minute after he activated it, and he stopped using it the second he was safe."
"He really did look like a fox," Shikamaru commented. "Ears, tail, claws, and the chakra actually formed into that shape. It's incredible. I just can't believe that fight was over some family position crap. Naruto's not the kind of guy to go searching for position and power just for the sake of having them. Ya, he wants to be Hokage, to be acknowledged, but he isn't after just abusing power."
"And Kurumaru just couldn't see it," Tsume spoke as she entered the room. "I tried so many times to convince that bastard he was wrong, but he never listens." She sighed as she sat down next to a sleeping Naruto. "You got him…Naruto; you win."
"There'll be stuff to explain to the others," Tsunade commented.
"There's nothing left unexposed Tsunade-Sama," Tsume softly replied as she moved some stray hairs from the blond's forehead. "Kiba's and Naruto's secret is out. It's up to them to decide how they handle it. I swear Kurumaru's gonna wish he had never said half the stuff he did."
"But how will Kurumaru deal with losing?" Shikamaru asked. "He doesn't seem like the kind of guy to drop a grudge."
"Naruto didn't follow up with putting Kurumaru in his place," Tsume replied. "With some luck, he'll realize that Naruto was just after being with Kiba. He didn't…mark Kurumaru, so there's not much else that can be said about today. Naruto's doing fine, and he needs his rest. Let's go see how the big bad wolf is doing."
"I've never seen you in worse shape Kurumaru," Hana spoke as she worked on grafting skin over the hole in his stomach from the Rasengan. Kurumaru was torn up all over, and he would need physical therapy to deal with his right leg injuries. "I swear Kuru, you're more trouble than you're worth. What it takes to get through your thick skull…"
"I knew Naruto could beat him," Biran said happily. "You got what was comin' to ya Kuru. No broken jaw, but this works."
"Ya, but Naruto's in pretty bad shape too…alright, now just to tie up some loose flesh," Hana commented. "Well, his life's not in danger anymore, but he'll be sore and nearly immobile for a while."
"That bad huh?" Tsume asked her.
"That chakra scarring is far worse than what was on Naruto," Tsunade commented. "Forget it; he'll be nearly unable to fight for a year, maybe longer."
"That's fine," the Inuzuka mistress replied. "He needed to get taken down a peg. Naruto's fine; they both just need rest. Kiba's at home sleeping too. That was pretty traumatic."
"Ya, going by what he said, it's not a one-sided relationship," Shikamaru spoke. "Well, all's well that ends well. I guess I should go see how everyone else is doing. They seemed to be pretty surprised back there."
"You go ahead and do that Shikamaru," Tsunade told the boy. "I'm gonna go find him a new suit. I suppose you can just bring him back to your place Tsume?"
"Kurumaru? Yeah," she responded as she lifted the three-hundred pound beast. "I suppose Shikamaru can bring Naruto home when he wakes up?" The shadow user nodded and walked out to go back to his complex. "You hear that doggy? Naruto wins!" Tsume yelled in the dog's ear. Tsume and Hana left and brought the unconscious dog home. "I'll put him up on my bed."
"And I'll go check on Kiba," Hana replied. She softly opened the door to find Kiba sitting facing the window and shaking. "You alright little bro?" she asked as she walked over to him. Hana gasped when she saw him: pale, bloodshot, and crying. "Kiba," she said concernedly. Hana sat down and hugged her brother lovingly. He just closed his eyes and clenched his teeth at first, but Kiba broke down and held her by the backs of her shoulders. "Let it out," Hana spoke softly.
"This wasn't fair," Kiba declared softly, barely at a whisper. Tsume walked in as he spoke that. "Why? He didn't deserve that. Naruto's gonna lose all his friends, and I couldn't do anything about it!"
"Don't blame yourself," Tsume spoke. "Kurumaru's always been a vicious and conniving slime ball, and the rules of the fights forbid interference. You tried to; that's what counts." Kiba just looked at her hopelessly. "Kiba, you're both strong, stronger than I could have ever hoped for. Naruto's not dead, he has you, and he won. Whoever abandons him is completely narrow-minded and unworthy of your thought. Besides, you can't be crying. You need to be there for Naruto when he wakes up." Tsume patted her son on the back, and her words seemed to have quite the impact; Kiba was smiling.
"He's gonna need someone to stand with him when he confronts his friends," Hana told her little brother. "Cheer up Kiba. Be his light like you promised him."
"Is Naruto alright?" he asked.
"Far better off than Kurumaru, I'll tell you that," Tsume replied. "Take a look for yourself; Kurumaru's still unconscious. He's in on my bed." Kiba couldn't resist looking.
"I stitched him up, but he is gonna be one sore puppy for the next few weeks," Hana told them.
"Serves him right," Kiba replied. "When do you suppose Naruto will be waking up?"
"He's currently at Shikamaru's, but I don't see a problem with heading over there," Tsume told him. Her son eagerly flew down the stairs. "Hold your horses. He's still banged up, so don't be too rough when you give him his hug."
"Can we just go?" Kiba asked impatiently.
"I just knew Naruto had been adopted into the Inuzuka Clan," Kakashi told Shikamaru and the others. "This um…relationship of theirs is new to me."
"I knew," Sakura spoke up. "Sensei told me everything. I uh, actually caught them after they had showered…wearing boxers and a sheet of course," she told them as blushes quickly spread through the group. Everyone sighed at that information. "They're actually kinda cute together."
"I don't really care, but do we have to discuss this?" Shino asked. "Who here has a negative opinion of Naruto or Kiba now? Be honest." No hands went up. "Then let's leave it at that. I'm pretty sure this was meant to be kept as a private matter until some point further down the road. Just give them some room and time to adjust to us knowing."
"So, who do you think tops?" Ino asked. Three awkwardly silent seconds went passed.
"Kiba," they all spoke flatly. Boy would it be a shocker when they found it to be quite the opposite.
"It figures you come up with that question Ino," Shikamaru commented. "Don't you think that is probably meant to stay in people's minds? I get the feeling you're more than just accepting of this. In fact, I'd say you're a yaoi fan."
"Guilty is charged," the blond kunoichi replied. "I couldn't help but notice Naruto when he was fighting. He's pretty handsome, but I didn't get to see much of him. Sakura, you saw Naruto almost completely right? He's hot isn't he?"
"Well, uh um hrm," the girl began hesitantly. "He's pretty muscular."
"I knew it!" Ino said eagerly. "On a scale of one to ten?"
"Do I really need to know this?" Neji asked pretentiously. "It's bad enough finding out one of my comrades is obsessed with guy love, but hearing you two go on about how they're both apparently appealing is getting on my nerves." Sakura was relieved to hear the opposition. "Honestly, get a soundproof room."
"It's good to know nothing will change," Shikamaru commented. "It makes me kinda wonder…what would happen if we suddenly started hating each other. No matter how much I try to avoid it…that makes me kinda think about how tough Naruto's got it." Everyone became silent, and they each looked to either the ground or the sky or something solemnly. "We oughta give him a grand welcoming."
"You're the best Shikamaru," Sakura told him as she hugged the Nara. "Hey, it's Kiba." Everyone turned and saw the Inuzuka boy and his family walking into the complex. "We should probably give them some privacy."
"Who cares about privacy?" Ino asked. "Especially in your case Sakura."
"Hey, knocking on the door is being courteous. They were the ones who chose to come down and talk while being nearly naked," Sakura protested. Ino just rolled her eyes and pulled Sakura by the wrist. "Hey, Ino! This isn't right." The others decided to follow just out of curiosity.
Kiba opened the door Tsume had gestured to, and he found his blond sleeping soundly. He smiled knowing Naruto wasn't too badly hurt. The Inuzukas went over to his bed, and Kiba sat down. "Naruto?" he called softly. "You in there?"
Kyuubi woke up to these words and yawned. The Naruto in his bed was still asleep too. "Aaaahaaa…mm Naruto, your pup's waiting." The jinchuuriki merely turned away from him unconsciously. "Up kit…fine. It looks like I'll have to throw you out." Kyuubi transformed into his humanoid form and tossed the boy out of his cage, making him disappear once he had crossed the bars. "Have fun."
"Come on Naruto. I know you're in there," Kiba spoke as he lightly nudged the golden-haired jinchuuriki.
"Kiba, he might need to rest longer," Hana told him. "It's only been a couple of hours. Even Naruto has had to rest for days before." Her little brother's smile lost some of its luster, but he still gleamed down at the blond boy as he lightly rubbed over a whisker mark. Kiba lightly kissed Naruto's forehead, and Ino had to suppress her "aaaaaw."
"Sleep well Naruto," the brunette spoke before standing back up. "I guess we'll just have to wait until later." They started walking away when Naruto actually woke up.
"Kiba?" he asked softly. His stepbrother turned with a heartwarming smile. Naruto couldn't help but softly smile back at him. "My whole body, feels like I had a boulder dropped on me." The blond struggled to use his arms to get himself sitting up, but it didn't work.
"Take it easy Naruto," Tsume told him. "You and Kurumaru are both in pretty bad shape. By the way…congratulations."
"Kurumaru? Where is he?" Naruto asked more concernedly.
"Back at home where he won't be tempted to go after you," Hana replied. "You just lay down and rest."
"I didn't win, not fairly anyway," Naruto spoke much more morosely.
"What are you talking about Naruto?" Kiba asked. "You both got beaten up, and you say you didn't win fairly?"
"It wasn't only my strength," Naruto replied. "I should have lost. It was really Kyuubi who beat him; it was just how his power defeated him that was mine. Kurumaru shouldn't have gotten that hurt, so later, bring me to him."
"Naruto," Kiba spoke softly as he sat down next to him. "You won okay? Just leave it at that." The blond shook his head softly. "Fine. You owe me this much though." The brunette took his mate's lips in his own, and Ino and Sakura were both a bit surprised. Naruto hugged him while they savored perhaps their last loving kiss. They broke apart softly. "I guess I can't blame you though," Kiba began again. "You're always caring about others more than yourself. You never take anything you don't deserve. I just wish, for once you'd be selfish, for me."
"Where's the honor in that?" the blond asked humorously and with a giggle before wincing. His ribs were still in bad shape. "You remember our promise though right? I still love you."
"And I won't abandon you," Kiba finished as he kissed Naruto once more. "You're an idiot Naruto."
"But I'm your idiot," the blond replied before laying back down. "Maybe sometime this afternoon I'll be walking again. I'll be fine on my own for a few hours." Kiba smiled at him and rubbed a whisker mark.
"I guess I'll see you later Naruto," his mate spoke before giving one light kiss back to the blond. "Just promise you'll stay out of trouble."
"We can see to that," Shikamaru spoke as he opened the door, revealing the entire troop to Naruto's terror. "You feeling alright Naruto? You got pretty well tossed."
"Oh, um, hey guys," the blond spoke nervously. He certainly seemed uncomfortable, although who could blame him with every last ounce of his being revealed. They knew everything now: the fox, him being a jinchuuriki, and his and Kiba's relationship. "I uh, guess I'm feeling okay, how about you?"
"Well, a bit surprised, but otherwise, we're the same as always," the shadow user spoke, making sure absolutely no one spoke the wrong words. "I guess we really can't blame you for not telling us, about the Kyuubi. Everything about the villagers hating you makes sense now, but that doesn't make it right." Shikamaru stepped forward into the room and took up a chair. "Sakura told us a lot, but don't worry Naruto. We wouldn't be very good friends if we couldn't find a way around that. After all, the Kyuubi obviously doesn't affect you very much. You've been Naruto since the day I met you."
"Is that really how you feel, or is it just to make me feel better?" Naruto asked flatly with a passive expression. "If you were going to kill me or something, I guess you would have tried the second you got here."
"Naruto, I think you're very brave to fight alone like you have," Ino told him. "If anything, things will just get better now that we know. Just come and talk to us; we'll listen." Naruto just turned his head and looked up into the ceiling. "Naruto, get well soon," the kunoichi said with resignation.
"You guys mind leaving?" Kiba asked. Shikamaru grinned and nodded before herding everyone out and away. When the door was shut, he turned to his mate. "That went better than expected."
"And you know what stinks about that?" Naruto asked. "It'll all be for nothing later. Kurumaru won't let us be together. Why do you have to lose in order to win?"
"Naruto…" Kiba spoke softly as the blond cried silently. He hugged Naruto lovingly and picked him up so that he was sitting. "I won't leave you, not truly." Naruto embraced him as though he was threatening to fade away. "You're not alone."
"Then why do I feel that way?" the blond asked. Kiba now began to cry, because he didn't have an answer. He just looked Naruto softly in the eyes and held the back of his head. This time it was Naruto who kissed him. No tongue, just…a wish for acceptance. "I can get up. Guess it's time to go see Kurumaru." Kiba nodded, although he really didn't want to have to be separated from his love. He helped Naruto to stand up, and the blond noticed a new set of clothes sitting on a shelf. "Mind giving me a minute?" Naruto asked. Tsume and Hana along with Kiba left him alone for a couple of minutes. "Shall we?" he inquired as the door opened. Naruto wore a pair of knee-length shorts and a t-shirt with the symbols for wind written on it in large characters. They passed their friends along the way, and Naruto gave them a soft smile as he and Kiba walked off. "At least my legs are in good shape," he mentioned.
"Kurumaru raked your right leg, but cuts seem to heal up pretty easily," Hana told him. "Tsunade said she stitched up your side though. That was where Kurumaru got you with a Fang Over Fang. Oh, and Lady Tsunade also mentioned something about getting you a new ninja suit. The one we got you wasn't meant to go into battle against a vicious ninja hound."
"Aw, I liked that one," Kiba mewled. "Oh well, you look good in just about anything anyway," he said towards Naruto as he took his hand in his own. The blond smiled and nuzzled his stepbrother. "You still won't be going on missions for a little while, so you need to rest."
"You don't have to stick to such a strict diet anymore Naruto," Tsume spoke. "You've mathematically caught up, and you're currently in the middle of growing. Notice it yet?"
"No, but I imagine I will soon enough," Naruto replied as he rubbed his thumb over Kiba's hand. He sighed as they came upon the Inuzuka grounds, luckily missing any passerby. "Home sweet home." Naruto nearly fell on the steps going up to the front door, but Kiba pulled him up before pulling him into a kiss.
"Alright Kiba, give him some air," Tsume told him before pulling her real son off of her stepson. "Kurumaru's up in my room if you really want to see him Naruto." The blond nodded and started climbing the stairs more carefully. He sat down in his mom's bed while Hana watched from the doorway.
"Jeez, the cloak really did a number on him," Naruto said as he examined the burn marks. "Oh well, sorry Kiba." He put his hands over the dog and began drawing on Kyuubi's chakra. The fox was both surprised and a bit distressed that he was healing the dog, and Hana was surprised when the familiar orange-red chakra started flowing from the blond's hands into Kurumaru. "I'm healing him using Kyuubi's chakra. It's really good at that stuff." Tsume came up quickly after sensing Kyuubi's chakra, but she was more shocked by Naruto's action. Kiba was saddened by it. Fur began growing back where the skin was once burned with chakra, and the stitches where Hana had grafted his skin fell away as the wounds closed themselves. Every little scratch or cut was healed up, and Kurumaru's front right shoulder closed up, the cartilage and bone bruising repaired. The red chakra stopped flowing into his body, and Naruto sighed. "I wonder what he'll say when he wakes up."
"Ooooooogh," the black beast moaned as his eyes opened a little. "Hey, where's the…" he began until he caught sight of Naruto. "Well, I guess you're here to laugh it up now," Kurumaru spoke before putting his head back down grumpily.
"You won," Naruto began. Kurumaru's ears flicked up at this. He sniffed the air just to remove an itch in his nose, but he noticed something; there was no scent of marking. "I would have lost if I hadn't used Kyuubi's powers, so I can't say that I beat you fair and square. I'm sorry Kurumaru, so I used his chakra to heal the damage I caused."
"What are you getting at?" the black dog asked as he turned to Naruto in complete confusion. "You cut me open like a frog in a biology class, burn me until I cry, toss me around like a stick, and now you're apologizing and healing me?"
"I didn't deserve to win," the blond replied flatly. "So I owed you this much. We both know you had me beaten, and you would have marked me if Kyuubi hadn't intervened. Look, if you're gonna mark me," Naruto began as he took his shirt off, "just make it quick okay?" Kurumaru was dumbfounded to say the least, but he had to stay on his toes. The black dog pinned the blond on the bed in the blink of an eye, making him wince from the pain in his back. Kiba looked to the floor in sorrow, and Hana and Tsume looked away. Kurumaru had no idea on how to read the situation. Nothing made sense! Instead of just flat out marking Naruto as his property, he leaned his head down towards the blond's neck and sniffed harshly twice. The boy was biting his lip with his eyes closed waiting for the humiliating feeling of Kurumaru's crotch on him. He lifted his head away and simply stepped off of Naruto. A few tense moments went by, but no further action by the dog was taken. Naruto opened his eyes to find the black wolf simply laying on the bed. "Huh?"
"You're free to go," Kurumaru spoke calmly. "I quite obviously misjudged you, but don't expect an apology. Nothing about your scent suggests deception or hidden intent…embarrassment, and a touch of fear, but nothing more. You wouldn't have healed me, you could have beaten Tsume with that power, and you wouldn't have willingly submitted after the fact if you were who I thought you were. Go on, I'm no longer interested."
"Crazy pain in the ass dog say what?" Tsume asked dumbfounded. "What happened to you wanting to make him suffer for eternity?"
"I was wrong. Leave it at that," Kurumaru stated without even turning toward them. "Go on Fox-Boy, take care of your puppy before I change my mind."
Naruto sat up in confusion and happiness. "Really?" he asked eagerly. Kurumaru just hummed a yes "mmhmm." "Thanks Kurumaru!" Naruto spoke before giving a haphazard hug to the gargantuan dog.
"Hey, get off me!" Kurumaru complained as he struggled from under the blond's grip. "Sheesh, one minute he's nearly killing me, the next he's hugging me to death. I'm gonna go test out how well you healed me. I'll be back by dinner Tsume-Sama."
"That was anticlimactic," Tsume spoke as her dog ran out of her room. "So, any…" She stopped at seeing her two boys hugging and kissing each other passionately. Tsume smiled and giggled a bit before leaving the room. "I love having gay kids. They're so cute."
"Ya, they are, but those two can only get more intimate at the rate they're going," Hana spoke. "I just hope the roller coaster calms down for a bit. What should we have to celebrate, for dinner?"
"Ah, do whatever you want," Tsume spoke with a smile. "I'm gonna go to the dojo for a bit. Shen, Raija, you guys go tell Tsunade Naruto made a full recovery and everything's fine." Her two dogs ran off as she stepped out the door.
"Thank Kami Naruto," Kiba spoke as he held his mate dearly. "Who'd have thought?"
"Be gentle Kiba," the blond spoke. "Even though I've got Kyuubi, I'm in no shape for lovemaking today. I'd be happy to stay here and kiss though."
"Of course," the brunette spoke. "I love you Naruto."
"I love you too," his mate responded. They softly brought their lips together and began telling each other just how happy they were to be in each other's arms.
"Perfect ten," Ino spoke as she hung from the roof.
"Ino, you shouldn't be spying," Sakura spoke softly. "Ya, they're cute, and Naruto's a hunk, but this is being invasive."
"Shut up. You'll give us away," the blond-haired girl spoke.
"A little late for that," Naruto spoke as he opened the window. Ino nearly lost focus and fell, but she caught herself in time. "We're not simply here for your viewing pleasure." His expression wasn't angry, but his voice hinted annoyance. "Although, if you want to gross out Neji or someone we know…take a picture of us kissing. You can look at it yourself too." It just so happened that Tsume had a photo camera sitting on her dresser. The two canines stood in front of the window hugging suggestively and curled their tongues together. Ino blushed and took the shot, and Naruto took the camera back as she and Sakura left with the embarrassingly erotic photograph.
"We're gonna regret that later," Kiba spoke.
"Probably, but I could care less," Naruto replied. "Can we go back to our room? I'd like some rest." Kiba nodded, and they undressed down to boxers in their room before going under the sheets. "I guess we have a lot of time ahead of us."
"Ya, time to be together," Kiba spoke softly before kissing Naruto lightly, gaining a response to his kiss. He placed his fingers lightly on the seal and loved Naruto with all his mind. Kiba soon felt the euphoria hit him through his clan marking too. Neither of them could stand such an immense feeling for long. Kiba broke off panting and staring into Naruto's eyes. "Kami Naruto. I can't tell you how much it means to me, to be the only one you can share stuff like this with. I love you Naruto. I always will."
"And I'll never be able to say just how much it means to me, to have you love me so much," the blond replied before taking his lips even more softly. Their marks radiated with such strong feelings. They just couldn't stand giving each other so much joy for very long. Their minds threatened to blow with the feeling growing so strong. "Does that maybe explain it to you, my mate?"
"Only if you can understand mine," Kiba replied. "Naruto, thanks for not giving up. Everything's looking up now." The blond licked his neck lovingly in response. "Hmm, get some rest buddy." They fell asleep like that, under the covers and safe from the outside world.
Four Hours Later: "Mmm, nothing like a sweaty day at the dojo," Tsume spoke as she walked in the front door with her dogs. Kurumaru was sitting patiently in the family room. "I guess the maternal instinct is superior to the bestial one."
"Oh, I wasn't wrong about what he is," Kurumaru replied. "I was wrong about who he is. He'll completely fuse with the demon eventually, or get very close to it, but his actions and motives are not governed by it, so I have no reason to pursue stopping his relationship. Naruto's an okay guy, but I prefer the strong, silent, and yet aggressive type, like you. Why else do you think I enjoy going on missions with you?"
"Because you love spilling blood?" Tsume asked.
"Well, maybe that too," the black dog spoke. "They've been sleeping the whole time you were gone. At least it gives me a break. I wonder just how much chakra Naruto gave up to heal me, because he should have been able to heal himself."
"Probably not all of it, but ya, he gave it to you because he thought you didn't deserve those injuries," Tsume told him. "You did deserve them, but Naruto's got a good heart. He'll get to feeling better soon, but you'd best be thankful. He was even willing to have you mark him because he thought he cheated you so badly. Not quite the corrupt and ambitious demon you thought he was is he?"
"Just a kid with abnormal problems who's after some comfort," the dog replied. "I can live with that. He seems like the right kind of guy for Kiba. Naruto seems like he's able to control himself through sexual urges, so there's no reason to toss him on that basis. I think Hana's doing fresh sushi."
"Ooo, I think you're right," Tsume replied after sniffing the air. "Wow, you outdid yourself." The Inuzuka mother stepped into the kitchen to find her daughter precisely slicing fish and small veggies.
"We're gonna have an early dinner if you don't mind," Hana told Tsume. "I've got a guy who wants to take me out to a movie. He's not in our clan, and he actually just moved to the village with his family about a month ago. He says he couldn't work up the nerve to ask me out before."
"So, probably not gonna have a follow up?" Tsume asked.
"Probably not, heard the same story a bunch of times," her daughter replied. "You mind waking the boys? I'm almost done here." The Inuzuka mistress climbed the stairs and lightly knocked on the door. There was no response, and she could hear faint breathing. Tsume opened the door, and it seemed her sons were buried under the covers.
"Guys," she whispered as she raised the sheets. "Aw, now that's cute…perfect for the Inuzuka Album of Romances." Tsume grabbed her camera and took a snapshot of the two wrapped together smiling in their underwear, Naruto wearing a blood-red pair of boxers, and Kiba wearing form-fitting gray briefs. She got two shots to make sure she had a backup before replacing her camera on her dresser. "Naruto, Kiba, time to get up you lazy bums," Tsume spoke loudly, keeping up her false reputation of being a hard-ass woman with zero feelings and no tolerance for people not working.
"Hey Mom. What time is it?" Kiba asked as he rubbed his eyes. He smiled when he found cerulean orbs just opening to meet the afternoon light. Naruto smiled when he realized he was lying on top of his mate. Kiba kissed him lightly before the blond rolled off to the side. Then they shared a longer one, but Tsume cut them off.
"It's five-thirty, and Hana's got a date, so early dinner," she spoke. "She made sushi, so you better eat up well."
"Who's the poor sap this time?" Kiba asked. Tsume shrugged, but she snapped her fingers to get the two moving and get dressed. Both boys felt a bit hot, but it wasn't anything they couldn't handle.
"You two really are taking your first heats well," their mother told them as they walked downstairs. "Normally you'd be itchy by this point in the day. By the way, how're you feeling Naruto?"
"Not one-hundred percent, but I'll be fine by tomorrow," the blond replied. His abdominal regions still felt sore, but it was much more dull than before. "This looks awesome Hana-Neesan. I so wish I could cook like this."
"Well, you've got time now," she replied. "Whenever you're here, I can teach you how to cook. You seem to know ramen better than Mom does though. I'll let you handle those nights. I've gotta leave in about twenty minutes, so let's save the chit chat for later. Now, you've got normal California Rolls here, spicy, dragon rolls, unagi, butterflied shrimp, tuna sashimi, and wasabi for whoever wants some heat to go with the fish." Two of each were initially handed out, and Kiba and Naruto took the occasional turns feeding each other. "I'm so jealous," Hana told them. "What I wouldn't give for a boyfriend like either of you." Five minutes later, she got up, put on a coat, and headed out to meet her date.
"Hana's got the worst luck when it comes to dating," Tsume told them. "She's pretty, smart, talented, and has a great personality, but every person who tries to date her is either too trashy, too egotistical, or too awkward. Hana doesn't even have super high standards. She just wants a guy who likes spending time with her, occasionally tries to be romantic, and isn't just after easy sex. Too many guys her age are obsessed with getting experience. The only reason she hasn't found someone in the clan is because all the guys in her age group, sixteen to eighteen, are with another girl, or in many more cases, other guys. I keep wishing her luck, but it doesn't seem to work out."
"I'm sure she'll find the right one eventually," Naruto spoke before lightly nuzzling his brunette-haired stepbrother. "But yeah, love can be hard. I'm just glad I found mine early," he said, referring to Kiba. Said dog-boy decided to share another soft kiss with his fox. "What do you want to do for the next three hours?"
"Well, we do have monopoly," Kiba spoke. Tsume instantly got the game board out. "Cool, you ever played?"
"With Sakura once," Naruto replied. "She easily beat me though. Math and calculations were never my strong suit. I'll take the red piece." They got in four rounds of monopoly, Tsume winning two rounds, Kiba winning once, and Naruto "lucking out" on the final one. "Thanks Kiba," he said to his mate as they climbed the stairs.
"I didn't think it would be very fair if you didn't win at all," Kiba told him. "You feeling up to a round?" Naruto mentally checked himself.
"Not in real life," the blond replied flatly but with a devious smile.
"Aw, well, you did risk your skin for me. I shouldn't complain," the brunette spoke before kissing his mate on the cheek. "You want to just curl up then?"
"I never said I wasn't up for a session with you," the blond began as he closed the door and stripped down. "I just said I wasn't ready for one in the real world." Kiba looked at him with that smile that just said "you sly little fox you."
"Fine, but can we leave Kyuubi out of it?" the brunette asked calmly as he hugged his now exposed stepbrother lovingly and looked into his eyes.
"Anything for you," Naruto replied before beginning to relieve Kiba of his clothing. "I remember though, so we won't be in pain when we wake up." Kiba kissed him passionately and rubbed over the seal as his pants and boxers slid off of him. "Calm down Kiba. We have a whole night ahead of us. Get in the bed." They wrapped themselves closely together under the covers, and they kissed for a while before going into their meditative states.
"Wow, it's not so dark in here anymore," Kiba said when he found himself in the familiar yet changed corridors. There was a torch here and there to light the tunnels, but he wished he could find a way to get rid of the dampness and the puddles. He sprinted like always to meet up with Naruto, and he was happy to see the blond waiting right outside Kyuubi's cage. "I like the new decorations Naruto, but we need to do something about the excess water." The blond just smiled and pulled his stepbrother in after him. Kyuubi was sitting in a comfy feather bag chair, and he gestured toward his empty bed.
"Thanks Kyuu," Naruto told the fox. "Sorry, but it's just gonna be Kiba and me tonight."
"That's perfectly fine," the fox replied. "After last time, I haven't had the urge. Go ahead and enjoy." Naruto smiled as he climbed into the bed. He waved his hand for Kiba to jump in.
"It's been a while, so can I top first?" the brunette asked as he climbed in and situated himself above his blond.
"Go for it…puppy," Naruto teased. Kiba just looked at him deviously before claiming his lips. Naruto wrapped his hands around the back of his neck and moaned lightly into the kiss as Kiba's tongue traced his insides perfectly. He was smiling when the brunette broke off. "I love you so much Kiba."
"Thanks Naruto," his stepbrother replied. He lightly rubbed over Naruto's left whisker marks, and the blond focused on his mate's left red fang tattoo as they lovingly kissed. "You're a great kisser, you know that?"
"And you know exactly how to make me feel on top of the world," Naruto replied.
"Suck," Kiba told him as he held down three fingers. Naruto took them into his mouth happily and lapped his tongue over them. The brunette moaned lightly as the warm muscle slipped between each of his digits. He removed them when he deemed his fingers slippery enough. Kiba kissed Naruto lovingly as he lightly pressed his index finger into his mate. The blond moaned into the kiss, and Kiba smiled. The second and third fingers were pressed in at the same time, and for some reason, it hurt a little. "You've been a bad little fox Naruto," Kiba told him. Naruto let go of his back and dropped onto the sheets completely.
"Hey, what did I do?" he asked a bit angrily. Kiba had stopped his movement, and he nuzzled the blond's left cheek.
"You made me worry," he spoke quietly and without any anger or contempt. Naruto smiled softly, and the light stinging receded. Kiba spread him out slowly as he let Naruto explore his mouth.
"I'm sorry," his mate told him before he nuzzled Kiba lovingly. The three digits were removed, and Naruto groaned at the loss.
"Don't worry, you'll be feeling much better soon," Kiba told him huskily before tracing the blond's jugular with his tongue. Naruto felt over his back and giggled every once in a while from the feeling. "Does it tickle?" He nodded. "Hm, I'll remember that. Are you ready to be loved?" A kiss was Naruto's reply, a deep, passionate and loving kiss. Kiba began tracing his seal, leaving acceptance behind with a hint of lustful pleasure. He laid Naruto on his back and placed his stark member at his entrance. Naruto moaned into the kiss as his insides were gradually filled and stretched.
"Kiii, baa."
"I love you Naruto," the brunette whispered as he traced over his whiskers. When he was securely inside Naruto, Kiba stopped and locked eyes with his mate. "Only for you," he whispered. Naruto gazed back at him in a calm joy as his stepbrother began slowly moving inside him. Kiba lightly took hold of his mate and began pumping slowly in time with his thrusts. The feeling was there again, their souls touching as they kissed and made love.
"No one will ever have my love like you Kiba," Naruto told him before crashing their lips together once more. Kiba chose not to give into his wild side and kept things at a steady, not slow, not fast pace. His tongue and Naruto's wrapped around each other, trying to draw their beings together even as they embraced and came together with each of Kiba's movements.
"Be with me Naruto, forever," the brunette spoke softly as he felt his stomach tightening in wait. Naruto tilted his head back and savored the feeling of being right on the edge. One strong blow to his prostate just tipped the blond fox lightly over the edge. He fell alongside Kiba into the bliss of release.
"I love you, my mate," Naruto spoke before he came into Kiba's hand and over their bodies. His brunette closed his eyes and smiled as he rocked into his lover. Kiba lightly moaned as he released inside the blond, but he remained able to support himself.
"Thanks Naruto," the brunette slowly panted.
"Anytime," Naruto breathed. "Will you sleep with me?" Kiba nodded before drawing himself out, both of them now soft and kissing as they called for sleep to take them away.
"Goodnight you two," Kyuubi spoke before gently letting the two sleeping boys fall through his cage bars. Even though their conscious minds snapped back to reality, they managed to stay asleep. The only hint that they were done was the smile that adorned both of their faces.
Author Notes: Until after March 18th, I will be slightly tied for writing time, but I won't completely stop. I promise. To those who were reading my NaruKyuu fic, I will return once this fic is complete.