Hello, the update is here! Just letting you guys know, the last chapter has been edited with a new scene. See top of page in Chapter 6 so you can find it.
In other news-my gosh-every day I look in my mail box someone has favorited this story and/or has put it on story alert! *Blushes profusly* You all are to kind-thank you so much. I hope you continue to like the story so far. This chapter actually gave me a bit of trouble and I hope I don't have to change it in the future. Be warned now-it get's drakish at this point for Naruto, and I actually feel bad for making him suffer... TT^TT We are getting closer to the 'Time Skip' I was talking about and I'm still trying to figure out how that is going to work out. Please feel free to tell me what you think of the chapter, and perhaps if you think of something to make it better?
-Feed Back-
To Echo Uchiha: Yes I know the pairing isn't everyones favorite, and I'm pretty sure it will never happen in the anime... (I am a slight SasuSaku fan-but then I like SakuraxLee forthe novitly of it all, lol!) Thank you for your impute on the chapter leangth. ^w^
Sakura is actually going to be pretty important for the TimeSkip part of the story.
To PuppetMaster55: Some good observations there! Yes it is something like that/next to exactly like that. :D Thank you for the second recomend I will check it out!
To Grocamol: Yes I have rread some storys like that though I don't know how Arashi's name became so popular. Is it in the anime/manga-I kind of jump around Naruto a lot and am a bad spoiler addict. Any way for this story his birth parents will still be Minato and Kushina. I don't think Gaara will ever show up in this fic. If someone ever does a story like 'Naruto no Kitsune' about Gaara, I might be interested in reading. (He's another of my favorite characters.)
To bob115: Aaah thank you for telling me how to spell Henge and for the commenting on the chapter length.
To AmayaNight: Hee-I mention just about all of my reviewers-though that might be getting harder for me with how many the story seems to be accumulating. I think I may just use pm after this chapter... It's cool that you study japanese-I want to do that to and go to Japan one day. Maybe be an english teacher there or something. ^0^
To Himiko Wukong: Thanks for all the reviews on the chapters! Yes Naru-chan is always seems to have double the charisma when he has fox features! ^/^ As for Tsunade's reaction when he called her Mama-well lets just say it was along the lines of-pretty darn funny! I'm sure her eye's poped out of her head or something. Maybe I will write a short scene on it as a separate document here.
To Mida Fado: Hahaha-yes 'tis true Naruto can put food away-must have something to do with Kyuubi's chakra-who knows... (Mysterious) And yep-Naruto is slowly but surly taking on a more fox/demon mind set. That's why I name the story 'Naruto no Kitsune.':D
-End of Feed Back-
Thanks again to all those who are reading and I can't wait to send you the next update! Oh yeah, Naruto will be refuring to Kyuubi as Father and Dad from now on. I will edite previuse chapters as soon as I can. I reread some of them adn see a lot of the mistakes people were talking about. Until then,
Jya ne-and all that good jazz!
-TheNineTailedKitsune
P.S. (from now on this '######' will be used for scene breaks. I didn't realize the stars I put there weren't coming up on the net.)
Chapter 7 - Unchained
"Naruto!" Sakura called fruitlessly. She and Sasuke had split up with her going to check the ramen stand, and him Naruto's apartment. So far no luck, and Naruto hadn't left a trail to where he'd gone. They had no idea where to look next. "Where could that baka have run off too?" Of course Sasuke didn't answer; even if he wanted to he didn't get the chance.
"Nee-Sakura, what's going on?"
"Wahhh-don't scare me like that sensei!" The girl spun around to face the Jonin and he waved his hands.
"Woah Sakura, I was just wondering what you two were doing."
After her initial shock Sakura burst. "Naruto's not at the hospital."
"Eh, did Tsunade move him?"
"We found the window wide open." Sasuke said in an obvious tone. That was all Kakashi needed to know. He sighed.
"Right then, come on we better find him."
"We've looked everywhere we can think. His home, Itchiraku's…"
"How about the training grounds?"
"He wouldn't have gone off just to trai-" Sakura stopped and Kakashi eye smiled. If anyone could be that brawn-headed it was Uzumaki Naruto. A throbbing pulse mark showed up on her head and she spoke with shaky calmness. "I'm gonna kill him."
"That might not be necessary if someone else finds him first. Let's go." Kakashi motioned and they followed after him.
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Naruto breathed in the fresh air from the ground. He was laying in the shade of a tree after a bit of hard training. He loved it out here! Being inside was miserable-he had to get the Old Lady to let him out! After being outside again he knew he wouldn't survive if he was trapped in there again.
'You know they'll be looking for you.'
'Heehee-let 'em try! Nobodies gonna catch me.' He grinned not bothering to ignore the fox demon. It was more fun to have someone to talk to.
Fluttering over head, Naruto notice a red butterfly glide just above his nose. For some reason it was so pretty he just had to play with it. Sitting up he followed after the shimmering bug, not noticing he was using both his hands and feet to do so.
'What are you doing kit?'
'Just a game.'
He could feel Kyuubi raise his eyebrow but ignored it. This was his hunt, he didn't want any distractions. With a soft growl he crouched down and narrowed his eyes playfully. Just a little bit further… he leapt forward.
He groped for the creature and almost had it, before he caught his foot on an uplifted tree root. He tumbled forward. There was a deep rumbling from inside his mind as Kyuubi laughed. Indignantly Naruto sat up again. No way a bug was going to get the better of him. "Just you watch-I'll get it this time." Once again he crept up on the insect.
'Now I'm gonna get ya'!'
He sprang, but before he could catch the little creature something whizzed past his ear scaring it away. Disappointed his sharp ears picked up the sound of a kunai sinking into tree bark. He looked up at the one who had thrown it. Sasuke glared at him. Kakashi, Sakura and him, had broken up at the train grounds so they could cover more area. This was the one he'd volunteered to look through.
"Jerk, that was my game!" Naruto growled pouncing on Sasuke, and wrestling him to the ground. The boy just kicked him off.
"Dobe, it was a butterfly-grow up!"
"Stupid-Teme-it was mine!"
At this point Sasuke was pretty sure something wasn't right.
Naruto glared up at him with sharp slit blue eyes. "Stupid human…"
"What'd you say?"
"I'm not going back to that hospital. You can't make me!" The blond said with another low growl, and dashed with inhuman speed into the woods.
"Naruto!" Sasuke shouted but he was already gone. That idiot, was he letting the Nine-Tails control him?
Naruto's head felt a bit fuzzy as he ran away from Sasuke. Why had he said that? Part of him knew he was being ridicules, the other a more untamable side just kept running. Humans were nothing but trouble and he didn't want any of it.
'I don't want to go back!'
Both side spoke in unison. It was strange because now that he thought about it, why was he splitting them into two different entities. They were both him, the one that everyone new, and the other something that had been hidden away. Like it had always been there, he just never had the chance to use it.
'Well I'm tired of it!' He growled and launched himself over a log. Finding a good place to hide he stopped in some bushes. After a bit of panting he began to think less like a fox and more like a boy. 'I really should go back before Obaa-chan get's mad though…' he sat on his bum, hands placed in front of him like an animal.
'Starting to feel a bit chained up?'
'Are you the one doing this to me?'
'You should know the answer to that by now kit.'
'I'm not-I'm not like you! I don't want to be like you!'
'Naruto, how did you feel before that boy Sasuke came along?'
'…'
'Would you rather feel that or be caged forever?'
'I'm not caged-I'm human! I'm happy the way I am-eerr-was!' he was growling again and didn't bother to stop. He said this but he wasn't so sure… Suddenly his stomach rumbled. 'Aww man now I'm hungry…' he sniffed at the air. There was something near by. Looking through the leaves he caught the form of a squirrel. Unconsciously he licked his lips. He was really-really-hungry, and that little rodent looked so fat and tender…
Naruto shook his head, 'No I can't think like that!' but there was that natural instinct to hunt again. Darn it, if he didn't act now the little beast would get away!
'Remember what I told you.'
'Shut up… yeah I remember.' He grumbled in his mind and then got serious. The little creature never had a chance. He let go of any human thought as he sunk sharp teeth into his prey.
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Kakashi was the first to find Naruto after they met back up with Sasuke. The Genin had tried to follow the kitsune boy, but he was just too fast. In the end even the great Uchiha felt the need to go for help.
"There's something up with him. He said 'Stupid human'." Sasuke had said.
"Was it Kyuubi taking over?" Sakura asked desperately hoping it wasn't.
"No, I don't think so. He still called me Teme…"
"Then he's gone into that fox state. I'll move on ahead, you two cover me." Kakashi lifted his hitai-ate from over his eye, revealing Sharingan. He would find Naruto's trail soon enough.
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Naruto's ears shifted as he heard something from above. Someone was watching him.
"Gggrrrrrr!" he guarded his food defensively. "Back off-it's mine! Go away!" he smelled the familiar sent of the Alfa, Kakashi-sensei.
"Easy there Naruto, I'm not going to take anything." It put Kakashi on edge to see the furry corps in his student's hand, along with the red blood dripping down his chin.
"Leave me alone Kakashi-sensei!"
It surprised him even more when Naruto recognized him.
"Naruto, we want to help you. Try to calm down."
"No! You're going to take me back-I hate that room-I hate the smells of the hospital!" he arched his back tail down and puffed out.
"Stop Naruto!" His eyes turned upward to Sakura. She'd dropped out of a nearby tree and was looking desperately at him. "Don't you recognize us?"
"Sakura-chan…" he stopped growling and whimpered a bit. "I can't go back-I can't stand it there."
"You're not acting like yourself."
Naruto's ears bent back. "You don't understand…" It wasn't the same for him back there anymore. Just then something caught him around the shoulders and he spun with a snap.
"I said back off!" he growled scratching out at the form. Sasuke felt his shirt tear and blood run down his front. He didn't stop though and grabbed hold of Naruto. That's when he felt his arm burning. Naruto was biting him!
He grunted trying not to cry out in pain. Was he pumping chakra into the wound? "What-are-you-doing-Dobe!"
Naruto just growled his eyes rising to look up at his captor. He wouldn't listen to them-they wouldn't catch him and lock him up again. Kyuubi was whispering for him to just tear the mortals arm off but...
'Sasuke-nii?'
The grip on his jaw slacked and he let go continuing to glare up at his captor. "Let me go."
"Not going to happen."
For a moment Naruto's eye's flashed red and Sasuke heard another voice inside his mind. 'Let my kit go Uchiha, before I kill you myself!'
Sasuke just tighten his grip, keeping his eyes at Naruto's now blue gaze. "That your father talking?"
"Shut up!" Naruto tried to scratch him again but Sasuke just grabbed his arm. "I'm not a demon-I'm not a monster!" his voice strained.
"Then come back with us. Let us help you." Sakura pleaded desperately. "Don't let Kyuubi do this to you!"
That did it, both his human and feral side broke. "…do this to me-Sakura-this is me! Do you hate me now is that it?" he felt angry tears come into his eyes as he ripped away from Sasuke. Maybe Kyuubi was right… he was changing so much and yet he was still Naruto underneath it all. Did she reject him just because he had a demons essence in him? It wasn't fair.
"Naruto, we just want what's best for you. Give us a chance to help." Kakashi raised a hand out to him, but he cringed back.
"I-I don't know what's right anymore… I'm not a human and I'm not a demon." He wept openly. "I thought… a long time ago everyone made me feel like I was nothing. Is that true? Am I just some kind of emptiness everyone hate's!"
"Kit…"
"Shut up you stupid fox! I never asked for this-I never asked for you to be sealed inside of me! I don't have a family I don't have anyone!" he stomped out what little light was still in his heart, and Kakashi had a sudden bit of realization.
"Sasuke, Sakura, I don't think that Genjustu has fully worn off. That's why he's being like this."
'So the mortal isn't a complete idiot. He's right Kit, and I've been doing what I can to protect you from the remnants of that Justsu. Since you're no longer accepting my help the weight of that spell will now be on you. Now I have no choice but to use force.'
"W-what are you talking about?" Naruto's voice shook and suddenly chakra engulfed him.
'I'm sorry kit…'
There was so many emotions-sadness hatred-it was burning him! Naruto couldn't stay conscious anymore. He let himself fall into the darkness. Kakashi sensed when the boy had passed out, so he wasn't ready when he stepped forward and saw Naruto stand. When the half fox opened his eyes they were blood red.
"There is nothing you mortals can do. You're healing skills can not help him, that is why I'm going to intervene fully now."Kyuubi used Naruto's voice and made the boys face look serious. "He is not like you any more, and the pain you humans bring him will no longer be his to bear. I will see to that."
"You can't control him Kyuubi." Kakashi said harshly. The demon just smiled though it was a bit sad.
"You're a fool human, for thinking I would control my own son. I'm going to make him better and stronger then any of you shinobi. Then we'll both get our revenge on this damn village!" With that Kyuubi's control broke thanks to the seal and Naruto's body crumbled to the ground.
Kakashi picked the limp form up and with out a word took him to Tsunade.
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Tsunade watched as the boy struggled in his sleep. Naruto had a high fever, and his restless movements had stripped the bed of sheets and covers. Every few moments he would yell in pain. Other the the pain killers she'd tried to give him, she could do nothing to help.
"His best chance is to wait it out, and fight to make it." Tsunade finely told Shizune. "Watch him, I'll inform the others." She met Team 7 in the outside halls and forced herself not to cringe at the looks they gave her.
"Is he going to be alright?"
The Hokage sighed, "There's nothing I can do, this is his fight."
"But what about what Kyuubi said?"
"What ever happens, well will take the nesasary precautions."
Sakura out of sheer frustration punched the wall making it crack. "This is all my fault-if I had said those stupid things to him-he wouldn't have been effected so bad!"
Tsunade put a hand on her shoulder. "Enough, this was probably going to happen sooner or later. I wondered why Naruto seemed to recover so fast, if Kyuubi is protecting his mind then all we can do is wait."
"How long till you think he wakes up?" Kakashi asked from his position against the wall.
"I have no idea."
"Can we see him?" it was Sasuke this time, his gaze harder then it usually was. The Hokage wanted to say no, then shook her head changing her mind. Waving a hand she motioned for them to follow.
The moment the door opened they could hear the bitter cries. It was then that Tsunade wished she hadn't brought them inside.
"Stop it-leave me alone!"
Shizune was struggling to keep Naruto on the bed as he screamed. "Let me go! I didn't do anything-it's not my fault! Stop hurting me!" he gave a particularly loud scream and then fell back. Breathing heavily and his eyes wide but unseeing he said desperately. "…just kill me… I don't want this anymore…"
Sakura put a hand to her mouth as silent tears ran down her face. Kakashi motioned them to leave when the boy reached a hand out. Shizune took it squeezing gently. Her own eyes were filled with tears
Naruto's soft voice pleaded in desperation. "…where are you… Tou-san…?"