Alrighty-hey there everyone this is TheNineTailedKitsune! I wanted to thank all of those who left reviews so far on both my stories-gah I can't believe how many hit's they seemed to get. *getting dizy at the thought.* Anyway to answer some of your questions and give feedback.

To Grocamol-san: Thank you for all the kind words. It make me my typing fingers tingle with joy knowing someone likes my work! Also I'm not sure if this is going to turn into a DarkNaru-Fic. I don't think so, but there will be blood and some animal instinct-plus Kyuubi is a demon so... Yeah, with Kyuubi's influence on Naruto I'm not entirely sure what's going to happen. But I'm going to try to keep Naru as much like himself as I can-while adding my own drama. (I'm a sucker for that kind of thing. *rubs back of head sheepishly.*) Obviously this Naruto is much more vulnerable-I'm trying not to go all OOC though. ^^;

To Tachi-san: Glad you like the story and you want updates-I dish them out as fast as I can!:D Thanks for your support!

and finely to PuppetMaster55-san: Huh, well I've ben reading a few NaruVampire Fics lately but no, that's not quit the angle I was going for. *Curse it all I just had to add a little blood thirts in there didn't I lol!* No it's more like the need to be free and hunt along with Kyuubi's influence as a fox. Kind of like when he was hunting that chipmunk down, though that was more like playing. I have a feeling some of Kyuubi came out in him during his fight with the deer. Just a remeider to everyone; they are still connected, and in a way emotions seem to be able to pass between them sometimes. Why else would Kyuubi start thinking of his host as a kit? Don't think I wouldn't have Kyuubi as sadistic as he comes across in the anime-this is just a softer version of him dew to time with Naruto.

Alright I guess that raps things up so far-sorry if my replies are to long. *pokes figures toghether like Hinata.* Oh and just for the heck of it I'm going to say:

I don't own Naruto-if I did then he would most definatly be a half kitsune running around with fluffy ears and tails! (Plus everything else would be different-nobody can write/create Naruto like Kishimoto-sama. ;D )

Chapter 4 – Animal

The next morning Naruto woke with a groan. His whole boy felt stiff-and no wonder why. He was on the floor just beneath his window. "Gaahh-what happened?" he cried looking down at himself. He was covered in dirt and smelled like river water. Raking some leaves out of his hair he sat up.

'Is this someone's idea of a joke?' he thought picking himself up off the floor and stumbling to the bathroom. For some reason he still felt tired, like he had been up all night.

Turning on the shower he didn't even notice the red mixed with the muck and dirt swirling down the drain.

Walking down the streets of Konoha to meet up with the rest of Team 7, Naruto noticed a familiar, newly appointed and lazy, Chuunin. He was leaving the Yamanaka flower shop, an uneasy look on his face.

"Hey, Shikamaru?" he called out to him actually startling the boy.

'Wow, never seen that before. I wonder what's up with him.'

"Hey, Naruto."

"What's up? You look like your gonna be sick?"

Shikamaru tried to wave an impassive hand, but slightly failed when Ino showed up still in her work apron.

"Haven't you heard Naruto? Last night some wild animal mutilated two of the Nara's deer!"

Naruto cocked his head raising a lip in discussed, "Really?"

"Ino, troublesome woman… yeah it it's true. My dad and I found it this morning." Shikamaru shook his head. "Saying it was an animal is an understatement."

"What do you mean?"

"The entire area looks like it was massacred, trees were practically torn out." He shrugged, though he still felt loss he didn't like to show it. He'd liked those two deer, and the way they had went... it was barbaric to say the least. "We only found one carcass…"

"Any idea what could have done it?" Naruto questioned curiously. The Nara just shook his head.

"We're not sure. Like I said, it looks like an animal attack, but something's off about that." He looked up at the clouds and after a while Naruto new he'd lost him. Shikamaru may have been a genius, but more then half the time he seemed like nothing but a laid back, cloud watching bum. Naruto couldn't understand him in the slightest.

"Well I guess I'll see you guys later then." He waved a hand before Ino stopped him.

"What happened to your hands Naruto?"

"Huh, what?"

"Look down baka!"

He did, and was surprised to see his fingernails were still filthy even after the shower. "Huh, must be from that prank."

When he said this, both of the other young ninja looked at him confusedly.

"Somebody broke into my house last night, covered me completely in dirt!" Just thinking about it sent him off on a small rant. "Took me almost an hour to get all that gunk out of my hair!"

"Ha, so somebody finely got you back, huh Uzumaki."

Naruto just crossed his arms with a pout. "Yeah right… my pranks are way better then that." Then shaking his head he remembered. "Ah-I've gotta go-I'm gonna be late for training!"

'Gah-if I don't hurry I'm going to be later the Kakashi-sensei!'

Sighting both Sakura and Sasuke in the training field he sighed. "Ha-I made it."

"You know Naruto, it's not good manners to show up late." There was a hand on his shoulder and Naruto jumped.

"Aah-Sensei!" he cried swinging his fist around. Kakashi only just caught it in time. He actually winched in pain. Naruto grined-he mustr be getting stronger if he could get a hit in on Kakashi. Maybe he should try anoth-

"How is that anyway to treat your mentor?" suddenly he was bejing raised from behind by the shirt collar. A swirl of leaves passed infront of them before he said this, landing them right infront of Sasuke and Sakura.

"Aww-let me down-" Naruto clawed up at him. Kakashi just dropped him to the ground and he snarled still on hands and knees.

"Baka." Sakura tapped him on the head. Wait. Sakura tapped him? Now she was holding her fist.

"Ouch, did your scull get thicker over night?" she asked waving her ingered hand back and forth, as if to shake the pain away.

"Sorry Sakura-chan."

Kakashi was watching his students with a cocked eyebrow. "Naruto?" he stared down at the young Gennin still on the ground.

"Uh, yeah Sensei?"

Kakashi helped him to his feet and then took a look at his students right hand. "I smell blood on you."

"Huh?" the boy as usual looked confused, while Kakashi seemed even more perplexed.

"You didn't go off and get yourself in trouble did you?" he eye smiled down at him, but on the inside Kakashi was very serious. For some reason Naruto reeked of old death and he couldn't tell why. His blond student just looked up at him like he was crazy, and pulled his hand away.

"Stop playing around Kakashi-sensei! I got pranked last night-and I showered!" He explained what fate he'd awoken to that morning. Like Ino Sakura metioned someone actually got him back for all those pranks he'd use to pull. He just whined and said he hardily deserved it.

Naruto sighed, todays trainin felt a bit borning. They were sopoused to find Kakashi, while staying out of sight then capture him. As if that was going to happen, even with the three of them combined he was still a Jonin. Sakura wouldn't let him do a frontal attack either. Still, there was something about sneaking up behind your prey and taking them off guard.

Sasuke glanced around from his branch, 'This is stupid. We should be learning jutsu's no playing hid and seek.' But he couldn't argue and now he was forced to play this stupid little game, not to mention having Sakura almost right next to him.

"I don't see Naruto…" she muttered squinting.

"Maybe the idiots learned to hide."

They ducked as Kakshi turned here way but didn't seem to knotice them. That's when an intense arua seemed to fill the forest. Both of them froze on there perch and Kakashi didn't miss it either.

Something in the trees moved in front of their sensei. If he hadn't been a ninja he wouldn't have even noticed. But even a civilian could feel the intensity of being hunted.

'This isn't Naruto, Sakura, or Sasuke…' Kakashi thought grabbing a kunai from his pouch. He'd heard a rumor about the Nara's clans deer being killed in the night. They were near the complex; did that mean the animal could still be out here?

Movement-to his left this time. Animal or genin, something told Kakashi that he had to find out what that thing was. If his team was still watching him then he would have back up. He followed the movement deep into the trees.

'Easy kit…'

Naruto felt his heart race as he stared past the bushes. He remembered this feeling, it made him feel alive. He'd taken his time to lure his prey away, now it was close to it's end.

'Lure him in and then strike.'

He grinned, "Right."

There it was-an opening! He took it and lunged.

"Naruto?" Kakashi seemed surprised as he raised his kunai. Naruto dodged it and went to slash at his stomach. "Naruto!"

The second command snapped him out of it and he shook his head. "Huh?"

"Duck."

He didn't get the chance as his sensei tapped him on the back of the neck and he fell forward. "Eerrr-not fair Kakashi-sensei!" he cried as his limbs tingled from numbness.

"A ninja shouldn't fall for such simple tricks Naruto."

He just grumbled from his spot on the ground and two people landed next to him.

"What did I tell you about barging in like that Naruto. Tsk, you're hopeless." Sakura rolled her eyes as she helped him to his feet. Sasuke on the other still remembered the threatening intent from before.

"Sakura stay-" he stopped himself as they both looked at him strangely. He shook his head. "Never mind."

"What happened to this place?" Sakura said looking around, and Naruto finely sensed the stench of blood. They were in a clearing but it was hardily natural.

"Woah," Naruto walked over to a tree that looked like it had been ripped in half. Dried blood smeared its side.

"I heard the Nara clans deer were attacked last night, this must be some of the damage." Kakashi motioned and Naruto spun to look at him.

"But what in the heck could do something like this?" he wave a hand and then stopped, freezing. He could smell it… he could smell where it was.

Slowly he moved away from the other two and went deeper into the greenery of the forest. There it was-he found it. Pushing dirt back from the hollow of a tree, he inspected the area before falling back on his bum.

"What is it?" Sakura asked then gasped covering her mouth as she tried not to get sick. Even Sasuke wrinkled his nose.

"Guess we found one of the deer." Kakashi said in his usual board tone. He noticed Naruto was still on the ground shaking.

He put a hand on his shoulder, "Alright Naru-"

The savage look his student gave him when he spun around made him drop his hand. It passed in a moment as the boy stood and looked around the forest. Images flashed in his mind.

He was in the foliage watching them as they grazed, the hunger still clawing at his stomach.

'Go for the one with the limp…'

He nodded and did as he was told; sneaking up on the unknowing deer when another caught his sent. He had to move quickly, and in a swift move he'd brought he large animal down.

'Behind you!'

He turned to see a large deer snorting at him. For a moment he looked scared but then his face changed to enthrallment. The deer charged and he did the same moving to the left just in time to claw it's belly. The buck screeched and kicked at him, slamming him to the earth.

'Kit!'

"Don't worry Otousan." He growled crouching down and jumping upward latching his jaw onto the beast jugular. It wasn't long before his prey gave out beneath him. He threw his head back howling at his kill.

When he had finely satisfied his craving, he shoved what was left of the deer in a make shift den. He would come back later. Then to get the sticky hot blood off of himself he had played in the river.

"…Otousan…"

Naruto blinked as a hand was waved in his face. It was as if he'd just remembered something, but he was only getting fractions of a bigger picture. Still, what he saw he didn't like and he raised his hands to his face.

He saw blood on them.

Hunt-blood-kill! The thrill burning inside of him.

Naruto held his head with a moan and stumbled forward, passing out onto the earth.

Kakashi brought Naruto to the Hokage where she put him in a hospital room. After Sakura and Sasuke had gone she turned to Kakashi.

"Is there anything else I should know."

He nodded glancing down at his students, peacefully asleep face. "I'm sure you must have noticed something to. We found the remanes of thesecond Nara deer in the woods. The thing is Naruto found it without even trying and there's something else." His tone was grim. "When he came to traing today the smell of death on him, it was over powering."

"How can that be?" she bit her thumb looking consernedly down at the boy.

"The smell was the exact same as were we found the deer."

Her head shot up, "What are you insinuating Kakashi!"

He didn't flinch back at her thunderous tone. He just simply looked at her with that one eye star of his. "We have to consider that Naruto was involve in some way."

The hokage was giving him a firy gaze.

"Ma-ma, Hokage-Sama. Don't look at me like that." He finely broke waving his hands in front of himself. Tsunade dismissed him. Before he left he turned in the doorframe.

"By the way, I spoke with Iruka earlier today. He seemed worried about Naruto, and something's he said to him last night."

Tsunade sighed and motioned for him to continue with her eyes.

"Supposedly Naruto's been having some interesting dreams of a man with red hair and eyes. He say's that he's his Otousan." She stiffened.

"Well he's still just a kid, not having a family can't have been easy on him. It's no surprise he's fantasying of a parental figure." Kakashi nodded his head.

"That's what I thought too."

She raised an eyebrow since he obviously had something more to say. Kakashi was the only one aware of his hesitance before he said, "The last word before he passed out was… father."