Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, or any of the Characters that are written of therein, my only concession to any ownership is my oc and the story plot that I am putting out there for others to read for their own enjoyment and amusement.
Chapter 2: The Meeting
Five months after the memorial service, life was going on for everyone else. Tsunade never really smiled anymore but she no longer spent the whole day crying and she was able to get on with her work. She was currently expecting the return of Team Gai from a simple mission to deliver a scroll to the daimyo of Suna.
"Tsunade-sama, Gai and his team have been spotted coming this way and they're being followed by Oto-nins." Shizune said as she rushed through the door.
"Get all available defenders to the gates, and round up some medic-nins in case there are any injuries. Which gate are they headed for?" Tsunade asked, bolting for the door.
"The main gate." Shizune answered as Tsunade rushed past.
"We're almost to the gate, Gai-sensei." Rock Lee yelled as he saw the main gate come in sight.
"Excellent, see my students, no one can beat our flame of youth. Just a few more minutes and we'll be safely home." Gai yelled, "Neji, are they still back there?"
"Hai, they seem to be trying to catch up to us. However I don't think they're going to make it now with Konoha being so close, and Godaime-sama is coming to meet us." Neji answered as he ran beside Ten-Ten.
"Yosh, our fires of youth have triumphed once again." Gai yelled as he and the rest of his team ran through the gates. As soon as they were through Gai lowered the limp form that he had been carrying and turned to face the approaching Oto-nins.
"Just give us the boy, we have no quarrel with Konoha at this time, we just want the boy." the leader of the Oto-nins said as he and his team gathered in front of the gate, although they all made sure to stay out of weapon range. Gai and all the other senior ninja turned to the newly arrived Hokage for instructions on what to do.
Tsunade looked at Gai for an explanation on what the Oto-nin was talking about and he gestured toward the still unconscious boy that he had brought in. "How dare you, to imply that we would ever give up a child to monsters like you and your master. Leave this place now or I will have these ninja defend our home by any means necessary."
"You'll regret this, Orochimaru-sama will have his revenge on this stupid village, with or without the kitsune's help." with that all the Oto-nins took off back into the trees.
"Alright Gai, do you want to explain to me what that was all about, and who's this boy?" Tsunade said gesturing to the brown haired boy that the medic-nins were working on.
"My team and I had just finished packing camp and were getting ready to leave, when that boy came running out of the tree line and collapsed. I had Neji check for enemies and when he spotted the Oto-nins headed toward us I grabbed the boy and we ran as fast as we could."
"So you bring a complete stranger into our village. What were you thinking?" one of the ninja yelled at Gai.
"You would prefer that I let an innocent child be captured by those monsters, who knows what they wanted him for." Just as Gai had finished these words there was a poof and a cloud of smoke surrounded the unconscious boy. When the smoke cleared there was a small brown kitsune in his place.
"It's a kitsune; kill it before it can attack us." the ninja from before yelled and drew a kunai to do just that when it was knocked out of his hand by Ten-Ten.
"There must be a reason that those Oto-nins were chasing this kitsune, they even mentioned getting the kitsune's help, don't you think it would be a better idea to wait for the little guy to wake up and ask him some questions?"
"What would a newbie chunin like you know…gack." The older ninja started before Tsunade lifted him off his feet by his neck.
"You would do well to remember respect for your fellow ninja, especially one who currently outranks you. We have no ideal what this kitsune was doing so close to Konoha not to mention what this talented young woman just brought up. I'm sure the Oto-nins weren't chasing him just for the fun of it, and if they were I doubt that they would continue to follow him to here if it wasn't important. So do you have anything else to add?" Tsunade asked sweetly as she dropped the now purple newly demoted genin.
"No, Tsunade-sama. Gomen Ten-Ten-san, I let my anger get away from me, it won't happen again." The ninja replied between gasps for air.
"Now then; Gai I want you and your team to escort our young guest to the hospital to make sure that no one else takes exception to his presence. I'll send some of the other new chunins to assist you soon as well as Kakashi. When they arrive you and your team may go and rest for a while, but I will expect your full report before the end of the day. Try not to compete with Kakashi on lateness. If he wakes before you get to the hospital, keep him calm and send one of your students to get me immediately. Do you understand?"
"Hai, Tsunade-sama. My team and I will report to you as soon as we have gotten a few hours of rest." Gai said seriously, causing his team to stare at him.
"Why have you not treated those wounds?" Tsunade snapped when she looked over to the medic-nins that had been helping the boy.
"Gomen, Tsunade-sama. But my colleagues and I refuse to help that filthy animal. Who knows what it might do when it wakes up, it could attack us all like the Kyuubi, maybe it's a spy for the other kitsunes so they can invade and destroy our village." The head medic said.
"If that was so why did they wait so long to attack? It's been nearly 15 years since Kyuubi's attack, why not do so before then. Foolish woman, if they had wanted to kill us all they would have done it by now." Tsunade replied testily.
"Maybe it was because of that…" Once again Tsunade lifted one of her underlings by the neck.
"You would do well to remember that the Sandaime's law is still on the books, and as such you can still be punished for breaking it." Tsunade dropped the struggling woman and looked around at all the other senior ninja. "Now, does anyone else have anything to say on this or any other topics? No, good. Gai, I need you and your team to stay with this child until I can get the other chunins together to help you and I'll send Sakura to heal him, I'll also have to have Tsume or Hana Inuzuka come take a look at him if he stays in kitsune form. When the others arrive, find a place at the hospital to get some rest, I'm going to have to entrust your team and the other younger ninja to protect the young kitsune until we can get him healed and on his way safely."
"Of course Tsunade-sama, we shall await you and the other youthful ninjas, as well as my eternal rival."
"That's great Gai; I'll be at the hospital as soon as I find Hana or Tsume. You…" Tsunade pointed at a younger ninja. "I want you to find Haruno Sakura, Nara Shikamaru, Aburame Shino, Akamichi Chouji, Hyuuga Hinata, and Yamanaka Ino and have them come to the hospital immediately. Since I'm headed for the Inuzaka clan house I'll find Inuzuka Kiba… well. What are you waiting for? Go, now. And if they're not there by the time I get to the hospital or shortly after you will be doing D-rank missions for a month."
"Hai Hokage-sama," the young man said as he ran off to do as he was ordered.
Tsunade turned to face the ninja that had spoken against her first, "I want you to go and find Hatake Kakashi, Yuhei Kurenai and Sarutobi Asuma. You had best pray that you are at least as fast as that younger ninja or you'll be doing D-ranks for a year instead of the month that I'm going to currently assign to you."
"Hai, Tsunade-sama." the elder ninja said as he too left.
"Everyone else return to your previous posts. We will keep an extra eye out for attacks from Oto but for now we should have no problems. They would not attack so soon, when we are still wary and possibly expecting them." with that Tsunade turned to make her way to the Inuzuka clan house.
It had taken longer then she had expected to find Tsume, but when she did she also found Kiba and Hana. Tsume had been training her son and Hana had come along to help with any injuries that might occur as well as to learn how to train others. After Tsunade explained the situation both Tsume and Hana agreed to try and help the kit and the four humans and five dogs headed for the hospital. When they arrived it was to find most of the staff in an uproar. All of the older staff refused to have anything to do with the young kitsune while the youngsters were following their teachers. Fortunately Sakura had already started examining the kit while Gai and the others kept everyone else at bay. Hana and Tsume immediately went to assist and soon found a bear trap wound on the left hind leg of the kit. After treating it with some antibiotics and a common antidote, Sakura was able to get the wound healed completely. Making sure to lock the door Tsunade and the seven chunin settled down to wait for the kitsune to awaken.
After several hours, Tsunade realized that Shizune would be looking for her sooner or later. Not wanting to sit through a lecture she decided to go back to her office and so left instructions that she was to be informed immediately when the kit awoke and under no circumstances was he to be left alone. She also sent out some search teams for Jiraiya. She had a feeling that she would need him before this was all over and figured he might know a little about what was going on.
It was the middle of the night when the kitsune began to stir, Hinata and Shino were on watch and Kiba and Akamaru had gone to get them all a snack when he opened his eyes and looked at them. He blinked twice and then shot off the bed and into a corner of the room. Hinata immediately began trying to calm him down while Shino sent some of his insects to get one of the adults so Tsunade could be informed.
Hinata had managed to get the kitsune to return to his human form by the time Tsunade arrived, Kurenai had gone to get her as soon as she noticed the kikuchu. Jiraiya was following her when she walked into the full room, the now human boy was still huddled in the corner and everyone but Hinata was staying as far away from him as possible so as not to alarm him. Tsunade looked into the boys teal eyes and saw recognition, "You know who I am?" she asked to confirm her suspicions.
"You are Tsunade-hime, Godaime Hokage of Konohagakure no Sato and granddaughter of the Shodaime, and that man behind you is your teammate Jiraiya. The two of you and that teme hebi make up the group known as the densetzu no sannin, students of Sarutobi, Sandaime Hokage. My onee-chan and her parents watched this village very closely after what happened to Kyuubi-sama."
"What might your name be?" Jiraiya asked after lifting his jaw off the ground at the information that this young kit had just revealed.
"My name is Kodama, and before you ask, my onee-chan is Kori-sama. She is the head of the Kitsune Clan of the Seishin Woods, and the only surviving blood family of Kyuubi-sama."
"What are you doing so far from the Seishin Woods? Surely your sister is worried about you." Hinata said.
"Nee-chan sent me out to discover what those baka Oto-ningens and the hebi are planning."
"And why would she do such a thing?" Kakashi asked from his place against the wall.
"Which part? Send me or wanting to find out about the hebi's plans?" Kodama asked, suddenly showing a frighten-ly adult side to himself.
"Both, actually." Asuma replied as he was the first to recover from the shock of the boy's very adult sounding answer.
"The answer to the first part would be because of my ability," Kodama replied in a perfect imitation of Asuma's voice, "I also have a photographic memory," he continued in his original voice, "and as for the reason for spying on Orochimaru, he recently attempted to enlist the aid of the Kitsune Clan in the destruction of Konoha. When we refused he and his apprentice tried to attack Kori-sama. Kaji-sama managed to incapacitate the apprentice and Orochimaru fled. Since then he's been attempting to recover the boy and trying to force us to help him." Kodama finished.
"Why did she turn down the offer?" Tsunade asked shocked.
"Because it was Orochimaru's fault that Kyuubi-sama attacked you in the first place. You see, sixteen years ago, Orochimaru attempted to capture some of our clan for his experiments. He was discovered before he could harm or capture anyone but in the ensuing escape, he badly injured nee-chan, she wasn't expected to survive and wouldn't have without some outside help. However Kyuubi-sama didn't know this and thinking that Konoha had authorized the attack Kyuubi-sama came to get revenge."
"So what happened to you? I'm sure you didn't plan to be captured by those Oto-nins." Tsunade asked taking in the information and fighting not to react to it. 'It's all the hebi's fault, the attack, Yondaime's death, and all of Naruto's suffering. How could such a thing happen, how could we let it?'
"I was trying to sneak up on them and find out what Orochimaru planned, he's very angry that we managed to capture the Uchiha so he's tried multiple times to get him back, luckily for us I've been able to find out what he's planned each time and get the information back to nee-chan but this time they set a trap for me and I was caught in one of those bear traps when I approached. They found me the next morning still in the trap but I was playing unconscious so they didn't expect me to run as soon as they released me from the trap. I ran as fast as I could and stumbled upon some of your ninja as they were breaking camp, I was trying to go around them because I wasn't sure how they would react if they saw me but I heard the Oto-nins coming and I figured that at least if I was brought here I would likely be killed instantly so I took a chance and ran for your ninjas. When the larger green clad one approached I realized I was still in my ningen form and hoped maybe I could get away later but we were farther from Konoha then I thought and I just barely remained conscious as we passed through the gates. I heard you speaking and I recognized your voice from some of the things my sensei had taught me so I knew I could relax because you wouldn't allow the Oto-nins to capture me while I was in your village."
"And how exactly did you recognize my voice? I sure don't ever remember meeting any kitsune." Tsunade asked suddenly suspicious again.
"Do you remember Sarutobi-sama introducing all of you to a man by the name of Kaeru? He had a frog birth mark on his right hand. He is my sensei."
"But that was almost 40 years ago. He was older than Sarutobi-sensei when we met him, he'd be ancient by now." Jiraiya exclaimed.
"Hai, Kaeru-sensei is ancient, he is now the oldest living kitsune sensei, and he is the one that taught me how to use my voice to copy anyone. He also taught my blood-sister Kagami." Kodama explained. "Is there anything else that you wish to know, I can't tell you much as it may betray my family if I do but I will answer what I can."
"I can't think of anything else to ask at the moment, and I'm sure that you could use some more sleep. I'll return in the morning to check on you and we'll talk then."
"Can the pretty lady with the pale eyes stay here?" Kodama asked as everyone started to leave the room.
"If you want her to, but I can't leave her here alone." Tsunade replied.
"That's fine, I don't mind others, it's just I don't like to sleep without someone near me. It's hard enough when I'm out away from home, in fact I don't really sleep when I'm away from my family."
"Hinata, do you mind staying with him?" Kurenai asked turning to her female student.
"I don't mind, I'll stay." Hinata replied quietly.
"If Hinata-sama is staying here, then I must stay as well." Neji said, speaking for the first time.
"Who are you? You have the same eyes as the pretty lady." Kodama asked curiously.
"I'm Hinata-sama's cousin Hyuuga Neji and I'm also her personal guard."
"You act like Kaji-sama with Kori-nee-chan; he's very protective of her and won't let anyone near her except our family." Kodama said smiling fondly.
"Neji-nii-san, y…you don't need t…to do that, I'm sure that Kodama-san won't hurt me, if he had wanted to hurt me he could have done it when Shino-kun and I were in here alone." Hinata replied stuttering only a little.
"Alright, I'll stay here. Hinata can go ahead and get some sleep and I'll switch off with the other senseis through the rest of the night. Is that alright?" Kurenai asked the kitsune.
"Hai, that's fine. I'm not sure what you're going to do when your Council finds out about me, but I don't mind if the senseis stay here to make sure that the dangerous kitsune doesn't attack the innocent girl." Kodama replied flippantly.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, I just thought that I could protect the both of you better than the chunins, you know in case someone decided to try and destroy the dangerous kitsune."
"At least they would make it relatively quick, although that would totally ruin any chance you had at making an alliance with Kori-nee-chan."
"Nani, what are you talking about?" Jiraiya asked looking at the brown haired kitsune turned boy.
"Kori-sama told all of us if we were taken in by Konoha ninjas that we were to be polite and not start anything. She also said to tell you that the only reason she hasn't sent an envoy before now is because she didn't want anymore of her family to get hurt."
"Why do you do that, one moment you call her nee-chan the next you call her Sama." Ten-Ten asked curiously.
"When I speak of her as an ototo I call her nee-chan, and when I speak as a representative of the Kitsune Clan of Seishin Woods I must call her Kori-sama. It is not what she would prefer, she doesn't like any of her adopted brothers or sisters to call her Kori-sama but our Council insists on it. May I know your answer on whether or not you would be willing to discuss terms of an alliance?" Kodama asked in his grown up voice.
"I would absolutely be willing to discuss terms with your sister, is there anything else that you were told to tell me?" Tsunade replied.
"That is all that I was told to tell you, but nee-chan also mentioned that you would wonder why we didn't attack after Kyuubi-sama's defeat. I was told to tell you that we didn't find out the truth about all that had happened until several months later. By that time, everything was irreversible so Kyuubi-sama's parents didn't want to cause anymore trouble and so left Konoha mostly alone."
"I see, well thank you for that information, we'll leave you now to rest and in the morning we'll discuss this further." Tsunade and almost everyone else left the room, only Hinata and Kurenai stayed.
Hinata started to settle into a chair to sleep when Kodama stopped her. "Why don't you take the bed, I don't mind sleeping on the floor."
"I couldn't do that to you Kodama-san, I'll be fine here." Hinata assured him before closing her eyes.
Kodama sighed and returned to his kit form before jumping off the bed and going to the window.
"What are you doing?" Kurenai asked suddenly suspicious again.
"The moon is full tomorrow; I was just looking at it. Kori-nee-chan loves the full moon. She says that's the only time you can see at night as well as you can in the day, although she has very good night vision and can see fine the rest of the time she says that she likes the full moon best." Kodama replied turning to face the kunoichi.
"She's a kitsune, of course she can see in the dark."
"Yes, but she has befriended several of the local ningens and they can't see as well in the dark as we can so she only visits them around the full moon." Kodama explained as he turned back to face the window. "I'll need to leave in the morning, I was supposed to be back before the full moon, and nee-chan will worry about me if I don't get back soon. I just wish I could have found out what that hebi was planning, I'll have to go back without that information. I just hope we'll be able to stop the hebi without that information."
"Your name is Kodama? Is that your given name or the name you use with others?"
"Both actually. You know something of our traditions, how is that?" Kodama turned to face the kunoichi.
"My sensei had a rapport with the kitsunes before Kyuubi's attack, Yondaime introduced him to a kunoichi from Kiri that had a great deal to do with the Kitsune Clan."
"Your sensei knew Tsuyu-sama?" Kodama asked suddenly excited, "Did you ever meet her?"
"No, I never got the chance; my sensei told me she died right before Kyuubi's attack."
"Hai, she gave her life to save Kori-nee-chan. She is the only reason that Kori-nee-chan survived what the hebi-teme did to her when he was escaping. May I talk to your sensei, we all respect Tsuyu-sama and I would be proud to meet someone that knew her."
"He was killed several years ago."
"Gomen, I didn't mean to make you sad. Sensei says that while it's okay to miss those who are gone, we shouldn't let our sorrow take over. He told me that when he caught me crying for mother and father."
"What happened to your parents?" Kurenai asked, wondering why he and his sister had been adopted.
"They… gomen." Kodama started crying and Kurenai gathered him up in her arms to help him calm down. "Kagami-nee-chan and I were traveling with our parents, it was a few years after Kyuubi-sama attacked your village, about twelve years ago, and we found a little boy in the woods not far from here. He had blond hair and blue eyes and he was covered in bruises and cuts. Mama and Papa approached cautiously, they were in their ningen forms in case his parents were around and when they got close he started crying and tried to crawl away, asking not to be hurt. Kagami-nee-chan and I didn't understand what was going on so we got a little closer to see if we could find out and when he saw us he crawled toward us. Mama and Papa were afraid that he would hurt us so they jumped in front of us and turned back into kitsunes but instead of being scared the little boy calmed down and just sat there and watched us. After a few moments Mama started toward the boy to check and see if he was alright. When she got up to him and he didn't do anything she started nuzzling him like she would do with us, Papa looked at us and nodded toward Mama so we went over to her and the boy and sniffed him and then we started nuzzling him as well when he snuggled up to Mama. Mama and Papa led us a little ways away to a hollow that was big enough for all of us and the boy who had followed us and we all snuggled together and went to sleep. A few hours later Mama and Papa woke Kagami-nee-chan and I and made us hide in the brush, they had caught the scent of approaching humans and thought that they may have been looking for the little boy so they stayed with the still sleeping boy while nee-chan and I hid. When the ningens saw Mama and Papa with the boy they immediately attacked them and the boy, Mama stood over the boy while Papa tried to protect them both but they didn't last long, and both were killed in front of us. The ningens were about to kill the boy when some Konoha ninjas and Sarutobi-sama appeared and saved the boy, we watched as the ninja captured all the ningens and tied them up and Sarutobi-sama picked up the now crying boy and started to carry him away. I'm not sure how but as he turned he saw Kagami-nee-chan and I and coaxed us out of hiding. He apologized to us for what happened and told us that he would send us safely home, and then he summoned Enma-sama to get us home and took the little boy away. Enma-sama took us home and told Kori-nee-chan what had happened and promised that the ningens that had killed Mama and Papa were going to be punished for what had happened. The ones who attacked were civilians from Konoha. We found out later that Sarutobi-sama had kept his promise and that the civilians had been jailed for several years for attacking the boy and for what they did to Mama and Papa."
"Gomen for your and your sister's loss. There is no way for anyone to make it up to you but I'm glad that Sandaime-sama ensured that the people that did such an evil thing were punished for it." Kurenai said after Kodama had finished his story.
"Arigato." he replied faintly on the edge of sleep.
"Kurenai-sensei, do you think the boy he was talking about was Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked from her place in the chair beside the bed.
"I don't know for sure, Hinata, but I think it's probably likely, there aren't very many blue-eyed blond male children that lived in the village at that time." Kurenai replied cradling the sleeping kitsune.
"Why would the villagers try to kill Naruto-kun, he was just a little boy, what could he have done to cause them to attempt to kill him?"
"I'm sorry Hinata, I can't tell you. It's an S-class secret. We'll have to talk to Tsunade-sama about it tomorrow."
"Hai, Kurenai-sensei, do you want me to take him?" Hinata offered holding out her arms for the sleeping kit in Kurenai's arms. Kurenai looked down at the sleeping kitsune.
"Why don't you settle into the bed and then I'll hand him to you, that way you won't wake him and you can be more comfortable." Hinata nodded and climbed onto the bed and lay down on her side then looked at her sensei. Kurenai stepped up to the side of the bed and carefully laid the kitsune kit beside her student. Kodama opened his eyes for a moment when she had set him down then smiled and went right back to sleep.
"Why didn't you ask him about what happened to gaki? I was really surprised when you didn't even bring it up." Jiraiya said as he sat across from Tsunade in her office.
"I was going to wait until morning to ask him, but I may wait until I meet this Kori. I didn't want to upset him more than he already was. I am going to ask about Uchiha in the morning, I want to know what they've done with him." Tsunade answered as she nursed a saucer of sake.
"I think I want to meet this Kaji, if he was able to stop Uchiha and keep Orochimaru from getting him back then he's very powerful. If we can manage to reach an agreement maybe the kitsunes will help us defeat Orochimaru." Jiraiya said, going off on a slightly different tangent as he swallowed his sake in one gulp.
"So why didn't you bring it up?" Tsunade asked suddenly.
"I don't know, I thought about it but I just got the feeling that it wouldn't be a good idea, and I do listen to my instincts on occasion." Jiraiya replied as he poured himself another serving of sake.
"Alright, so I'll meet you back here in the morning then," Tsunade said as she pushed herself to her feet. She wobbled for a moment then steadied herself and headed for the door.
"Giving up already?" Jiraiya asked slurring slightly.
"I don't want to have to deal with a hangover as well as the Council and the questions that they are going to demand that I ask that child in the morning. So I'm going to bed, and if you know what's good for you you'll do the same. Good night." Tsunade said as she walked out the door.
Tsunade walked into her office the next morning to see Jiraiya sitting in the same chair he had been in the night before, she groaned quietly when she saw this, thinking that he had passed out there but as she groaned Jiraiya turned to look at her with a grim look on his face.
"What's with the look?" she asked as she walked around the desk and took her seat.
"I went to the hospital this morning to check on the boy and was informed that some of the villagers tried to attack him early this morning. Kakashi was standing guard at the time and was able to protect everyone without causing any major injuries. Kodama and the Hyuuga are perfectly safe and didn't receive any injuries but Kodama wants to leave as soon as possible, which is completely understandable. I managed to convince him to stay but he says he has to leave before the end of the day."
"Why?"
"He says that Kori was expecting him before the full moon, which is tonight. He says if he doesn't get home soon the others might come looking for him and he doesn't want anything to happen to anyone because he is here. He also admitted that he had tried to send a message to his sister and sensei while he was trapped but he's not sure if they received it." Jiraiya replied.
"You know that the Council isn't going to like this, they want some answers and they aren't going to allow him to leave before they get them. This is a disaster." Tsunade said, dropping her head into her hands.
"Can't we send The Kitsune Clan a message and let them know that Kodama is here with us and that he's safe?" Jiraiya asked trying to help his friend and teammate.
"And what do we say if they demand that we return him immediately? If we send a message like that it could possibly cause problems, besides how do we send the message. You said that the wolves told you that no one was allowed in the Seishin Woods without permission from one of the clan heads."
"Maybe we can get Kodama to send something along with the messenger to let them know that the message isn't a lie or a ruse of some type." Jiraiya suggested then someone knocked on the door.
"Yes, who is it?" Tsunade asked knowing that Shizune wouldn't knock.
"Tsunade-sama, there is a stranger at the main gates asking to see you and our new guest; she says her name is Kagami." Izumo one of Tsunade's chunin guards called through the door.
"Well, that may just solve our problems," Tsunade said to Jiraiya as she approached the still closed doors then opened them to reveal the chunin that had called through the door. "Izumo, please go inform Kagami that we are coming. Jiraiya, come on lets go get Kodama and meet his sister."
"Kagami-nee-chan, you got my message." Kodama yelled as he threw himself into the arms of the girl that had just walked through the gates, she bore a strong resemblance to Kodama but she was several years older and her eyes were a little darker.
"Of course we did ototo," Kagami laughed. "Kaeru-sensei went home to tell Kori-nee-chan what happened with the Oto-nins and I followed your scent to here."
Suddenly remembering that they weren't alone Kodama let go of his sister and turned back to all the watching ninja with a blush. "Gomen nasai, Kagami-nee-chan may I introduce Tsunade-sama and Jiraiya-sama," Tsunade and Jiraiya nodded when their names were said. "The others behind them are the ninjas that have been watching over me while I've been here. Gomen, I can't remember your names." Kodama said blushing profusely.
"What happened to your memory ototo?" Kagami asked jokingly. "Nee-chan told us who all these people were when she was telling us about Kyuubi-sama."
"How is it that you know so much about our village?" Tsunade asked.
"Kannon-sama insisted that we keep a close eye on this village for reasons that we are not allowed to discuss that concern Kyuubi-sama's fate. That is all I will say at this time about that subject." Kagami explained scowling at everyone. "Now may I be shown to a place I can rest for a time, I have had a long journey and I'm sure that your Council has quite a few questions that they are going to insist that we answer before you will allow my ototo and I to leave your village so if someone would show me to a place where I might at least freshen up I would greatly appreciate it."
"Gomen-nasai Kagami-nee-san, demo Kori-sama told us to be polite when speaking to the people from Konoha and you are being rather rude to these people that have saved my life not once but several times and I would ask that you remember the manners that our parents taught you and be more polite." Kodama said stiffly, showing that adult side of himself once again.
Kagami looked at her little brother shocked and hurt that she had brought out that side of him, she hated when he acted that way and she especially didn't like it when she was the cause. She sent an apologetic look to her brother, then turned to the watching ninja and went to her knees and bowed until her head touched the backs of her crossed hands which she had placed on the ground before her. "Sumimasen for my behavior, I should show more respect for the people that saved my ototo from Oto-nins. My only defense is that I do not like this village in the least but I should still have shown you all more respect for what you have done for my brother."
"Kagami-san, there is no need to apologize like this," Hinata said stepping toward the young woman that was still on the ground. "Kodama-san told Kurenai-sensei and I what happened to your parents and I'm sure that after everyone else knows the story that they will understand as well."
Kagami had sat up suddenly when Hinata had mentioned her parents and looked toward Kodama when Hinata had finished speaking. "Arigato Hyuuga-sama, if ototo trusted you enough to tell you that story you must have treated him well. Still gomen for my behavior, I should know better, Kori-sama has tried to get me to understand that I can't blame every ningen for my parent's death but I still sometimes have difficulty remembering."
"If you would like to rest I'm sure that we can find someplace you will feel comfortable for a while and we will discuss everything soon." Tsunade replied neutrally.
Kagami nodded her head and bowed to everyone once again before grabbing Kodama and pulling him off to the side for a moment. She turned back to everyone after saying something to him quietly and looked at Tsunade questionly. "You don't want to do anything today?"
"No, tomorrow will be soon enough for questions, for today why don't you and your ototo rest." Tsunade replied.
"Arigato Tsunade-sama is there any certain place you want us to stay or do you just want us to find an inn for the night?"
"Would the two of you be okay at an inn? You won't change into kitsune will you?" Jiraiya asked.
"The only time we return to kitsune is if we will it to happen or if we're injured. Other than that we're fine." Kagami answered.
"Do you have any money?"
"Hai, Kori-nee-chan makes sure that we have plenty of money whenever we go out for any reason." Kodama answered he started to say something further but Kagami shot him a warning glare.
"Well then, perhaps it will be best if you stay at an inn for the night or if you want you may stay with me for the night." Tsunade said, wondering why the two siblings were wanting to get away so much.
"I wouldn't want to impose. We'll find an inn for the night and see you in the morning. Come on ototo." Kagami replied and dragged Kodama away before he could say anything.
"Something is going on, she's up to something. Kakashi, get some of the Anbu and keep an eye on them." Tsunade ordered.
"Hai." the silver haired man replied before disappearing in a puff of smoke.
The next morning Tsunade and Jiraiya met in the Hokage's office once again before going out to find the kitsune siblings but just as they were about to leave the building Kakashi appeared before them.
"Hatake, what are you doing here? I told you to watch the kits." Tsunade asked getting a bad feeling.
"Hai, Tsunade-sama, demo they ran away somehow. I went to get them and I found this." the jounin explained as he handed the blond woman a folded piece of paper with her name written on it. Tsunade looked at it for a moment before taking it and opening it.
"What does it say?" Jiraiya asked staring at the blond as she read the letter.
"It's from Kodama, he apologizes for leaving but it seems Kagami didn't give him a choice. Apparently she didn't trust us and thought that we might not allow them to leave, it also says that he will pass on the message that we are willing to make a truce to Kori and will return with her answer when he can."