Kitsune Rising

Ch. 7: Plots

"Hey! Naruto! Glad to see you're up and about!" cried Kiba as Naruto ambled slowly out of the room. "What was the scream for?"

"Oh nothing really…" Naruto muttered sheepishly. Kiba shrugged and looked to Naren, who had long since placed the jutsu that hid her animal features back on herself. Naren looked happier, and Kiba was glad that she was. Naren looked to him and blushed when he smiled at her, but she smiled back. Neither of them noticed Naruto watching them closely, narrowing his eyes in suspicion. Sakura flicked his shoulder to get his attention and shook her head subtly.

"What?" he asked confused.

Sakura sighed. "Baka."

"What's wron-….Gahh!" Naruto winced as a large hand grabbed his shoulder.

"So Gaki," said Jiraiya, leaning down over his shoulder. "What's with the change in look? I didn't much like the orange myself, but it just doesn't seem you without it."

Naruto grumbled, folding his arms and saying something that sounded like "orange-hating jerk."

"Yeah, what's with the new look?" asked Kiba, drawing his attention away from Naren.

"None of your business, that's what!" growled Naruto. Kiba took a defensive step back. Naruto hadn't meant to sound so harsh, but it really wasn't any of his or Jiraiya's business, though he would probably show Jiraiya anyway later.

"Ok," said Kiba. "Don't hurt yourself again. Geez." Akamaru barked, growling at Naruto. "Glad you're feeling better pal. Later Naren-chan." Kiba gave Naren one last grin and walked off, Akamaru trailing behind him.

"That was so unnecessary Aniki," said Naren, giving her brother a hateful glare.

"She's right, Naruto-kun. You didn't have to be so mean." Sakura glanced up at Naruto, who looked genuinely upset at his outburst.

"I know," he muttered sadly.

"Let's try this again." Jiraiya stepped around in front of the trio. "What's going on Naruto? You can tell me."

"I'd rather not."

"Alright. I won't make you….today. But don't be surprised if I ask you again soon." And with that Jiraiya turned and walked off. However, before he turned the corner, he looked back and said, "Glad you're feeling better Gaki. I hate to see you messed up like that."

Naruto sighed as Jiraiya left. He knew he'd been mean. But he had good reason. Didn't he?

"Naruto-kun, let's just get you home, ok?" Sakura shook his arm a little, shaking him out of his thoughts.

"Yeah," he sighed.

……………….

"Sasuke, wait! You just woke up! You shouldn't be getting out of bed!" Karin cried. Sasuke glared at her as he rubbed his head.

"Shut up, Karin," he growled. The fight with Itachi had really taken so much out of him; he knew he'd almost practically died. But Itachi was dead, and that was what really mattered. Finally, after so long, he'd completed his revenge. Finally, he could do whatever he wanted.

"Eh, Sasuke," said Suigetsu in a bored tone. Sasuke glared at him.

"What?" he hissed.

Suigetsu pointed toward the shadows. Sasuke looked toward the shadows he was pointing at and noticed a figure standing there. He got a glimpse of orange and old memories tried to awaken but Sasuke pushed them down.

"Who're you?" Sasuke barked.

"Wouldn't you rather like to know what you should do now that you're revenge is complete rather than wasting time with petty introductions?" asked the figure in a mocking tone.

"If you don't show your face, I'll kill you where you stand," grumbled Sasuke. The figure laughed.

"Alright." Slowly, the figure strolled out of the shadows. Sasuke had seen orange, but this orange was a mask that the figure was wearing over his face with one hole where his eye was.

"I'll ask one more time before I kill you," said Sasuke. "Who're you?"

"I'm the other survivor of the Uchiha clan."

Sasuke's eyes widened. Impossible.

"I'm Uchiha Madara, and I have a job for you."

Sasuke gave him a wicked grin.

"And that would be…?"

"Find Uzumaki Naruto and bring him to me….Alive! How you do so is you're responsibility."

(A/N: I'm so not sticking to the original story line……if you don't like it…..deal with it…..here's a hint though……Sage mode is so staying in the story…..it's just too dang cool to leave out….)

…………………….

Naruto sneezed.

"Someone must be talking about you Aniki," said Naren, grinning. They sat at Ichiraku's ramen, waiting for their ramen to be made so they could eat. Teuchi had heard that Naruto had been in the hospital for some reason, and being the nice person he was, offered to treat Naruto and Naren to ramen that day in celebration of Naruto being ok.

"I hope not," muttered Naruto. He grinned when Ayame handed him and Naren their ramen. "Thanks Ayame-neechan."

"Glad you're feeling better Naruto-kun," said Ayame and she went back to helping her father.

"Where's Sakura-chan Imouto?" asked Naruto between slurps. After they had left the hospital, Sakura had gone off in the other direction, saying she would meet them at Ichiraku's.

Naren shrugged. "Idunno," she said. Naruto adjusted the bandana on his head, unable to get it in a comfortable position.

"Stop messing with it," barked Naren. "You'll pull it off."

"But it's uncomfortable!"

"Just leave it alone till we get home, then you can take it off!" Naren growled.

"Can't I just wear a hood, like Shino?" asked Naruto.

"Well if you had a hood you could, I guess," said Naren, a thoughtful look on her face. "We'll have to get you a cloak special made."

"Anything to get rid of this bandana," muttered Naruto. He didn't care how cool it made him look; Naruto would forever avoid bandanas after this.

"Hey guys! Didn't expect to see you two!" Naruto and Naren turned to see their friend Chouji walk into the ramen shop. "Especially since I heard you were in the hospital Naruto."

"Geez…how many people know I was in the hospital?" Naruto turned to his twin. "How long was I there anyway?"

"Almost a whole day and night." Said Naren absently, slurping her ramen. "People tend to notice if you aren't around Aniki."

Naruto's freak out was imminent. "A whole day and night!? Why didn't you tell me I was there that long Imouto!?"

"I didn't think it mattered all that much at the time."

Naruto felt his eye twitch. "Really?"

"Don't worry about it so much Naruto," Chouji piped in. "At least you're not there anymore right?"

"Yeah, that's one good thing." Naruto drank the soup from his fourth bowl. "Listen Imouto, I think I'm going to head home. Catch you later ok?"

"Yeah, alright. See if you can find Sakura-nee first though k?" said Naren waving.

"See ya Naruto!" Chouji grinned and waved. "By the way, I like the new look."

"Thanks Chouji," said Naruto, waving back. "See ya."

Naruto made his way back towards his apartment. He didn't really look for Sakura. If he saw her, great; if he didn't, fine. He was too preoccupied with examining his newly formed claws. He couldn't help but wonder if he had gotten just a little bit stronger.

Naruto decided. Instead of turning right to get home, he turned left and headed toward the secluded training ground where he took the first bell test from Kakashi-sensei.