Chapter 3 – Hunting & Ramen

"Ikuze-Sasuke!" Naruto charged at his opponent kunai ready. Sasuke forced himself not to role his eyes and just gave a smirk of confidence.

"You're to strait forward dobe." He said, blocking the cut that was aimed at him. Coming up behind Naruto, he kicked him in the back sending him flying forward.

"Err-!"

"Naruto! Didn't Lady Tsunade tell you to take it easy? You've only been out of the hospital for a week!" Sakura barked from her seat on the ground. She was setting up lunch for her and her teammates, thinking a little picnic would make Naruto relax. She was wrong.

"You've got to be kidding me Sakura-chan! I feel great, in fact I've never felt this alive before!"

"Hee-then let me help take care of that for you." Sasuke went to roundhouse kick him and Naruto ducked down dodging.

"Hee-hee-to slow Teme!"

"Well see who's to slow!" he growled activating his Sharingan. For someone who had just gotten out of the hospital, Naruto was pretty fast on his feet. Naruto, fingers crossed in front of him, was about to do his signature jutsu when Sasuke hesitated.

"What the-"

"Hey-don't let your guard down!"

Sasuke didn't even blink as the shadow clones were sent on him. But there was something wrong here. Naruto's chakra was spread out but he was defiantly aware of the real one... Held down by two of the clones he tried to figure out what it was he saw, when the real Naruto's fist came at his face and stopped.

"What's wrong with you Teme?" he barked irritably. Since when did Sasuke get jelly legged in one of their fights. "You're not even trying."

Sasuke blinked. There they were again-nine slashing tails of chakra only he could see. He kicked both clones, dispelling them. Naruto thinking they were starting there round again grinned like a fox. He pulled his arm back and instead of turning it into a fist slashed at Sasukes front.

'Are those claws?'

The look in Sasuke's eyes made Naruto pause for a moment. A second later he regretted it as Sasuke had him by the shirt collar, and was looking him in the eyes with his Sharingan. Quite suddenly Naruto felt anger. Not for Sasuke, but for those eye's he was looking at him with. Sudden killing intent radiated of him and Sasuke dropped him on the ground. He snarled.

"Naruto!" Sakura's annoyed voice was the one thing that broke him out of the sudden red haze of his thought. "Both of you come eat!"

"Coming Sakura-chan!" the killing intent was completely gone and forgotten now.

Sasuke who had dropped the Sharingan was looking at him perplexedly. "Hey baka, you feeling alright?" he asked. Now even Sakura looked at him funny as he said this. It wasn't like Sasuke to be concerned-least of all about Naruto!

Naruto shrugged then grinned again, "Don't mess with me-you're not getting out of the next fight so easily!"

Sasuke scoffed and sat down on the blanket Sakura had laid on the ground. Naruto who was already there, looked ecstatic at the food. If he had a tail, Sasuke was sure it would be wagging vigorously.

That made his thoughts go back to what he had just seen.

That strange red chakra again… and that killing intent. It had almost made his spine freeze. Taking a bite out of a rice ball, he was still looking at his over active teammate searchingly. As usual he was cramming food into his mouth with inhuman vigor.

"Sheesh-you know your going to choke if you keep eating that fast." Sakura commented taking a delicate bite out of her own lunch. "Try having some manners, like Sasuke-kun."

Naruto just gulped down his large potion of food, looking at the dark hair boy. "If that means sitting there and hardily eating, I think I'll pass. What's up with you Sasuke? You're acting weirder then usual."

Sakura knocked Naruto in the head and tears prickled at h the corner of his eyes. "Ouch…"

"Don't talk to Sasuke like that baka!"

"Hmph." Sasuke shut his eyes and continued to eat his rice ball. 'It's not me who's acting weird dobe. Sure your being just as annoying as ever, but there's something off about you.' He thought back to the fight and how instead of his usual fist combat, Naruto had tried to slash him with his fingers.

Naruto, finishing off his second helping was grinning. This whole lunch was made by Sakura-there was no way he was going to let Sasuke-teme get more then him. Everything tasted so vibrant too-maybe it was from all the hospital food. It was as if his tongue could place almost every ingredient. Naruto sniffed at some of his beef and rice and said, "Huh, this smells a lot like the onions Itchiraku-san uses." Yeah he'd recognize that smell anywhere, but he didn't see any of the onions in the meal.

"Really? Actually he lent me some of the beef so I could make this. He said it was a treat for you getting out of the hospital… I didn't use any onion though, maybe they were nearby when the meat was in storage." Sakura tapped her chin thoughtfully. Naruto just shrugged a shoulder. She continued, "I don't taste or really smell anything like that at all."

"Hee-it must be my awesome ninja senses-teboyo." he grinned inhaling the food. When almost the entire picnic was gone, Naruto fell backward hands behind his head and sighed. "That was almost to good…"

While Sakura was shyly asking Sasuke if he had like the meal as well, Naruto felt his ear twitch as he heard something. Cocking his head, he rolled onto his stomach and looked to see what it was. It was a little chipmunk not five feet away, it's cheeks bulging with nuts.

"Heehee…" Something in is mind clicked and he felt like this would be a good game.

'Slow kit… you don't want to scare it away.' The thought brushed his mind. Right, he had to be stealthy-prey couldn't be aware that you were hunting it. He crept forward-and lunged. Grabbing the chipmunk he laughed triumphantly, when a sharp pain came from his hand and he hissed. Dropping the little beast he put his wounded hand to his mouth with a whine.

The sound broke Sakura from questioning Sasuke, who barely even used two words other then, 'humph.' it had sounded like a small animal crying for a moment. Sakura raised an eyebrow when she saw it was Naruto.

With another whimper Naruto began to lick the cut delicately with his tongue.

'Remember, a predators prey will come with it's own teeth sometimes.'

"Yeah, Otousan…" he mummbed pulling his hand away. It was already almost heeled.

"Hey Naruto what are you doing-and what are you mumbling about over there?" Sakura called and he shook his head.

What was he doing? There was pain in his right hand, oh yeah, he'd tried to catch that fat little chipmunk. Then what? He'd said something. Naruto rubbed the back of his head wondering what it was, when Sasuke slapped him upside the head. "Were done Dobe."

Naruto snapped his head around and bared his teeth at him. Sasuke pulled his hand back, almost sure he was about to get bitten, when the blond boy shook his head as if trying to clear it.

"Uh, yeah…"

"You should get some rest Naruto, straining your body like this so soon isn't good for you." Even Sakura was noticing something now, and he just nodded his head.

"Y-yeah, I think I'll head back to my apartment. Thanks for the food Sakura…" he didn't use the usual suffix at the end of her name, but before she could ask him if something was wrong he was gone.

"Something's up with him." Another surprise for her as Sasuke spoke, though she agreed. "Maybe we should tell…" she wasn't sure what to say next. Unlike her, Naruto didn't have a family or parents who she could mention this to. She remembered what Sasuke had said that day before the bell exam with Kakashi.

'Fighting with siblings… Having your parent scold you…' he'd looked at her with such cold hate. 'Having to be alone… you don't get anything do you?'

'Sa-Sasuke what are you talking about-?'

'You're annoying.'

Again she wondered for a moment if Naruto, always so cheerful, was actually lonely. She looked down at her feet. 'Wait… there is one person though...'

Latter that night there was a knock on Naruto's door. "Hey Naruto, I'm coming in." Iruka called, before opening it and stepping into the light fading room. "Naruto?" there was no answer. He rubbed the back of his head uncertainly.

Sakura had told him about Naruto's strange behavior earlier. She said she'd come to him because Naruto was always talking about how they would get ramen together, and how cool Iruka-sensei was. He chuckled at the thought. Naruto really was like a son or a little brother to him. He was glad Sakura had come to him when she thought her friend needed help.

It was late evening now, and the sun had almost completely gone done outside. He'd been busy at the academy all day, so it had been a while before he could leave. He was thinking about taking Naruto out for there usual ramen again.

"Oi-Naruto, you home?" he flicked the light switch. Instant ramen cups were littered everywhere along with laundry and half read scrolls. 'I've really got to get him to clean this place…'

"Iruka sensie?" Naruto's voice, it was from outside. Iruka followed it to find the small boy sitting on the roof, staring at the stars as night fell.

"I've been calling you for five minutes." Iruka tapped his foot hands on his hips.

"Sorry Sensei, guess I just zoned out for a bit…" Naruto frowned looking back over the city. It was a cool night but the boy was hardly shivering. He seemed transfixed on something he couldn't see with his eyes.

"What are you doing out here?"

"Huh, oh… just thinking."

Iruka sat down net to him brow a bit furled. Sakura was right something was up with him. "Want to tell me what about?"

There was an uncomfortable shift in Naruto's posture. "Aw-you'll just laugh at me."

"No I won't." Iruka was patient. It came with the job of being a teacher, or at lease he thought so. Though there were plenty of educators a lot more impatient then him. The Third Hokage had called it a gift. Naruto was probably one of the only one's who could really get on his nerves. Maybe it was because they were so much alike.

Naruto groaned and looked up at him, "Uuuhhhwelll… I've been having these weird dreams lately…"

Iruka nodded and prepared himself, but as always Naruto surprised him.

"Iruka-Sensei… what was it like to have a dad?"

The older Chuunin stiffened. So that's what this was about…

"Why do you ask Naruto?"

Looking a bit frustrated, the boy put his hands in front of him and bristled. "I keep on going to sleep and seeing this man in my dreams. He calls me… well it's weird and-I-I call him my Otousan…" his face was a bit pink now, and he wasn't prepared for the arm that rapped around his shoulders.

"That's completely normal Naruto." His teacher said gently. Naruto thought it was weird because he felt his throat tighten up.

"R-really?"

"I used to have dreams like that all the time after…"

Naruto looked away from him again. Yeah, he knew. After the Nine Tailed Demon Fox had killed his parents; the same demon fox that was sealed inside of him.

"What's this man look like by the way Naruto?"

Still embarrassed Naruto swallowed down the tension in his throat. "Well he's really strong-I know that much-and he's got this crazy red hair and eye's!" he waved his arms frantically. Iruka's eyes widened and his former student took it as a sign he should continue.

"And he's always protecting me-when ever I have nightmares about when the villagers beat me up!" he grinned then looked out over the village again. But Iruka saw his eyes instead of trailing the buildings, fell on the far off forests. "He promised that no one would ever hurt me again, and that I was going to be stronger then anybody." His voice was soft. "He… told me I would be free."

For some reason Iruka didn't know, this put an unsettling feeling in his stomach. The longing in Naruto's eyes actually hurt him. But he knew he wasn't anything compared to what a real father could be. Both him and Naruto were always busy; the boy on missions and Iruka at the academy. Though they held a close relationship, it couldn't make up for twelve years of loneliness. He ruffled Naruto's hair making him look up.

"Let's go get some ramen-you've got to be hungry."

This made Naruto's blue eyes light up, and he pumped a fist jumping to his feet. "Alright! I can smell Itchirakus from here!" he sniffed the air mouth watering. Iruka just laughed and followed him, hopping rooftops to get to Naruto's favorite restraint.

"Itadakimasu!" Naruto clapped his hands together, digging into his sixth bowl of ramen. Iruka's brow was twitching. He's wallet couldn't take much more.

"Aren't you even a little bit full yet?"

"No way-this is way to good! Hit me with another bowl Ji-san!"

'Holy cow-he's eating faster then Kakashi-san!'

"Ha, I know you love your ramen Naruto. You're our best costumer. But tonight you might just eat us out of business." Itchiraku sweat-dropped some. The older man had noticed Iruka counting the bills up in his mind. Naruto, horrified at the thought of his favorite ramen stand disappearing, stopped in mid slurp. "Yuph-wofdifph!"

"Don't speak with your mouth full." Iruka reprimanded in a disciplinary tone. The boy frowned and swallowed the last bit of ramen.

"You wouldn't!"

"Easy now Naruto-I was only joking." Itchiraku waved his hands in front of himself. Something told him that he shouldn't be trying the boy tonight. Naruto smiled in relief.

"Ah well, I better be getting home anyway-thanks for the meal Sensei-Ji-san!" Naruto called back eagerly. Iruka just waved at him.

"Now, about the bill Iruka-san…"

"Oh… yeah… uhheehe…"

Naruto struggled in his sleep that night, sweat forming on his brow. Something was clawing at his stomach-something that couldn't e satisfied, even by the abundant amount of ramen Iruka-sensei had given him.

"Otousan, I'm hungry." He whined a bit crossing his arms. His father looked down at him and rolled his eyes a bit.

"You're awful greedy even for a kit. Didn't you get enough to eat earlier?"

"No… ramen's good, but I feel like I need something else…" he felt something behind him twitch. Kyuubi smiled down at him, his teeth looking extra sharp. His kit flashed the same grin back showing his own animal like smile.

"Hee, I think it's time for your first hunt kit…"