Kitsune Rising

Chapter 2: The Fox Kit and the Wolf Pup

Naruto limped into Tsunade's office, leaning on Sakura and Kitsu resting on his head. Naren went to open the door. Naruto grimaced. Even though Sakura had healed his leg, it still hurt a bit. The antidote had not quite kicked in yet.

Naruto lifted Kitsu off his head and carried him into the office. Tsunade looked up from her paperwork. A vein bulged in her forehead.

"Don't bother knocking," she said sarcastically, glaring. "I just don't like knowing people are coming into my office."

"Sorry baachan!" said Naren. She pointed behind her at Naruto. "Look! Aniki's back!"

Naruto grinned sheepishly at Tsunade, rubbing the back of his head with his free hand.

"Hey baachan!" he said. Tsunade narrowed her eyes at him.

"Naruto! Oh thank Kami!" she cried, making everyone jump and Kitsu start growling. "It's been so long! I thought we may have lost you!" She jumped up out of her seat and gave him a bone-crushing hug.

"It's good to see you too, baachan," choked Naruto. Tsunade held him back to look him over. It had been a good three months since she had sent him on a solo mission to get information on Akatsuki and Anzu, the leader of a small group trying to get the twins for similar reasons. Naruto's hair had grown longer, making him look even more like his father than ever. His clothes were tattered and travel-worn. Then she noticed the fox kit in his arms.

"Naruto, explain," said Tsunade, pointing at Kitsu. Naruto set Kitsu down on Tsunade's desk and sat down. Then he told her, Naren, and Sakura everything that had happened since he had left. When he got to the part about the boy, however, Tsunade stopped him.

"Do you know who the boy is, Naruto?" she asked.

"No," he answered. "He just showed up, said someone is hurt and led me to Kitsu." He picked up Kitsu and began scratching the kit's neck. "And I'm kinda glad he did," he said, smiling.

"I wonder if he would get along with Natsu." Naren asked herself. Naruto shrugged.

"Maybe," he said. "Why don't you summon her?" Naren nodded and made the necessary hand signs. When the smoke cleared, a small yellow wolf pup sat at Naren's feet, wagging her tail and panting.

"Ohaio, Naruto-kun!" said the pup, giving him a wolf grin. Then she spotted Kitsu. Natsu jumped from to Naruto's legs, then to the desk. She and Kitsu circled each other, sniffing. Naruto laughed. Kitsu was much smaller than Natsu, but that didn't stop him from tackling her playfully. Natsu barked in surprise and they rolled off the desk on the floor, wrestling with each other. However, Naruto soon became concerned for the fox kit's health, knowing that the kit had only just gotten cleared by Hana. He picked him up, but Kitsu struggled against him, whimpering.

"But you just got out of the Vet," Naruto told him, turning Kitsu to look at him. "You're still weak." Kitsu growled at him and gave a look that could only be described as a pout.

Naren, Sakura, and Tsunade laughed. "That fox looks just like you, Aniki," said Naren. Sakura nodded in agreement. Kitsu licked Naruto's nose, getting the attention back to him. He yipped at Naruto.

"Fine, but don't hurt yourself," said Naruto. He set Kitsu down on the floor. The kit sat there for a moment, then began chasing his tail. Natsu looked up at Naren.

"Why can't Kitsu talk like Natsu?" asked the pup. Sakura cocked an eyebrow. Had Naren never taught the pup how to talk in the first person? Or did the pup just enjoy referring to herself in the third person? Sakura shook her head. Sometimes, it was just best to go with it.

"Well, he is quite a bit younger than you, Natsu-chan," said Naren, leaning down and petting Natsu's head. "It'll be up to you to teach him everything he needs to know."

Natsu cocked her head and gave Kitsu, who was now playing with her bushy yellow tail, a look of distaste. "Does Natsu have too?"

Naruto leaned down beside his sister. "I would be really grateful if you did, Natsu-chan," he said, scratching Natsu behind the ear. Natsu stuck out her tongue and began tapping her foot in pleasure. Naruto stopped after a couple of seconds.

"Ok, Natsu teach Kitsu-san everything he needs to know!" barked Natsu, jumping to her feet excitedly. Suddenly, Natsu pounced a couple feet in the air. Naruto and Naren jumped to their feet, surprised. Natsu growled and turned to see Kitsu biting hard on her tail. Without letting go, Kitsu yipped happily.

Naruto, Naren, Tsunade and Sakura laughed. Natsu gave Kitsu a stern look and kicked him gently in the nose with her back foot. Kitsu immediately let go and rubbed his nose, whimpering. He backed away from Natsu and jumped into Naruto's arms, curling up into a fluffy, orange-red ball.

"I little fox bites Natsu again, she won't teach him anything," growled Natsu, she gave Kitsu an angry look, making the kit cower even more into Naruto's arms.

"Don't scare him too much Natsu," laughed Naren. "We don't want him to be a cowardly little kit."

Natsu pouted, but nodded and jumped into Naren's arms, nuzzling Naren's face with her nose.

Naruto laughed. "Well, I'm exhausted and my leg is still sore, so let's go home Imouto," he yawned, setting Kitsu on his head. He linked his arm with Sakura's, waved good-bye to Tsunade, and headed for the door.

"I expect a full report of you mission in the morning Naruto!" yelled Tsunade. Naruto waved a hand in acknowledgement, and closed the door after Natsu, Naren, and Sakura had gone through after him.

Tsunade sweat-dropped and a vein bulged in her forehead, and reached into her drawer, pulling out a bottle of Sake. "That boy's gonna be the death of me," she muttered, taking a sip. She sat down and checked the familiars registry. She signed her name beside Naruto's, clearing Kitsu to be his familiar. But she couldn't help but wonder. What will the village think about Naruto have a fox follow him around?