Phew, it's been a while. Once again, sorry I haven't updated for a bit. I'd like to say I was busy, but really I think I just needed a little break from the story. I hope you guys like this new chapter, don't worry Naruto will be back in Konoha soon and then the real drama will commence. By the way, I'd like to note that this will be a NarutoxHinata Fic. I like the pairing and for those who don't - well, sorry... It's not that I don't like other pairings like NaruSaku, I just think Hinata is really cute and I can do a lot with her character. (She reminds me of myself sometimes, though I can also be loud and boisterous like Naruto - does that make any sense? Don't worry, romance shouldn't take up the whole story line - there is a lot of Team 7 friendship angles I want to fit in.)

Anyway on with the,

FEED BACK

lilanimefan247: Thank you for the complements! Naruto should be meeting up with everyone else in the next chapter or the one after. Most likely the next though.

MariKatzuki: I was always impatient as a kid to write fight scenes in my stories - though they are hard to create. Thank you for your review and kind words.

I love cute things: Well as far as I can say for Naruto's chakra (is that what KI is?) not being recognized. No one else showed up because the five Ninja that were sent was all Orochimaru need to capture the caravan. They all had curse marks and such so that made them powerful enough in my mind, and the caravan had no other ninja then the wise woman.

Echo Uchiha: Thanks - you are awesome too! :D

Keeper of Storms: Thanks - I will do my best!

Black Ace 0: Here is an update - I hope you enjoy! :)

WolfCoyote: Only time will tell what Naruto chooses. Thank you for your review - glad you like the story!

Kitsune Lover 101: You are to kind my friend but I'm so happy you love this story so much. Yes, Naru-chan was so exhausted last chapter he barely noticed he new tail. Of course you can just image he was ecstatic when he woke up! Heehee!

Ninja: Thank you - I will check out this anime it sounds interesting! Thank you for your recomendation. ^_^

ScareFace1000: I'm glad I've gotten a lot of positive feed back on Naruto's third tail - phew I was a bit worried! Thank you for reading my story and reviewing - and of course for the positive feedback!

I can't wait to hear what people review, tell me if you like this chapter - I get the feeling there might be loopholes in the plot that I'm missing. (Or maybe I'm just being a worry wart.)

Fans and readers - you are amazing and I'm so happy for those who have stayed along the way of this story.

Jya ne! :3

-TheNineTailedKitsune

Chapter 17 - Mt. Myouboku

Naruto grin from a perch on one of the large green leaves that covered Mt. Myouboku. It had been a long time since he'd tormented something other then humans, and the Sage Toads of this region looked like so much fun to mess with. He snickered, 'Who ever heard of Toads that could be Sages?'

Creeping forward he bent his head down to look at the forms underneath him. He's eyes still shown a bit at how big these creatures got! If he hadn't had a bad experience eating a toad as a child, he might have thought about hunting one of them.

'Hee, just look at that fat yellow one there.' He had to suppress a giggle. He'd found his way to this place through on of the demon realms hidden gates.

'It's almost like fate. Some deity of chaos must be on my side today.'

He rubbed his hands together. "Alright… what trick should I pull on them?"

"Perhaps you should turn them pink with yellow polka dots…"

"Hee, yeah, that would be fun. But I'm not sure what kind of spell to use for…" Naruto's tails bristled as he looked behind him. The toad watching him was old, but smaller then the rest. "Oh, crap…"

"You think so?"

Naruto tried to leap to another large leaf, but was stopped by a dry warty hand rapping around his ankle.

"Not so fast young one, I'm especially curious about you."

"Let me go you old fart before I eat you for lunch!" the kitsune boy tried to scare him, but it did little to faze the old toad. From bellow the other two amphibians looked up. One of them, mostly burnt orange with dark-blue markings, wrinkled his brow.

"What's wrong brother? Who's that yelling?" The seconded, a fat yellow toad with gold-orange markings asked.

"I don't know – sounded familiar though, a lot like –"

There was a crash in the greenery near them making Gamakichi and Gamatatsu turn their head sharply. Gamakichi being the more outgoing of the two immediately followed the sound, hopping into the mossy brush.

"Ouch – who the heck are –"

There was a loud sound of rustling, and suddenly the toad hopped back out into the open.

"Freaky frog brained – "

"Hey who are you calling a frog brain!" identical to the toad that just came out was another Gamakichi. His yellow companion looked confused.

"Brother, did you learn a new technique?" he asked while cocking his head between the two toads.

"What no –"

"Don't listen to that guy – he's an imposter!"

"ME! You're the one who fell on my face you little –"

There was some chuckling, and all three boys looked up to see an old toad watching them.

"Fukasaku –jiji!" Gamatatsu said cheerily hopping over where the old toad patted his head. "Has brother learned a new jutsu from you?"

"I'm afraid not, it seems we had a little trickster in our presence."

One of the Gamakichi's twitched with a small vein budging. "Come on Gama-chan it's obviously me!" he cried pointing an accusing webbed finger at the form next to him. The toad just rolled his eyes.

"See how desperate he's acting? You know I'm your big brother!"

Gamatatsu had big confused tears in his eyes. "I – I don't know – you!" he whined pointing to the toad on his left.

"Ha – see I knew you'd pick –"

The seconded Gamakichi had fire in his eyes, and began performing hand seals. Sucking in a deep breath he croaked. "Gōkakyū no Jutsu!" Surprisingly the other Gamakichi didn't even have time to evade, and was blown backward with incredible force. He slammed into a green spire with a crack.

"Going a bit far aren't you Gama-kun?" Fukasaku rubbed his chin.

"Hnph." The toad snorted as his brother hopped up to him happily.

There was a groan as the smoke cleared, and the form of something relatively human came into view. Naruto growled as he shook his golden head. That was a powerful fire attack – and who the heck would have guessed a toad – a toad – would have an affinity with fire chakra! He was about to get to his feet and chew the little brat out, when the same toad said in a surprised tone, "Naruto?"

The kitsune looked up confusedly, his ears cocked. Instead of asking how the toad knew his name he just said, "Who wants to know?"

The toad brother turned hard faced and snapped, "You little brat – what are you doing here playing pranks! It's been three years – have you forgot your summons already?" he wanted to put the boy in the head lock of a life time. What stopped him was the blond backing up on all fours and snarling at him, his tails raised high – wait a minute – tails?

"Hey, I may have just been playing a minute ago wart face, but I'd be happy to sink my claws in you any day!" Naruto threatened hair rising.

"Stop joking around you little pipsqueak! I'm a lot bigger then you now, so don't make me –"

"Hah, what cha' gonna' do – sit on me?" Naruto taunted. He knew he was in a bit of trouble, but this was one of his favorite parts of his game. He wondered how far he could get under the toads skin before he had to make a break for it.

"Why you little baka –"

Naruto stuck his tongue out as Gamakichi lunged. He was immediately stopped by Fukasaku. The kitsune demon was slightly impressed. That old frog was pretty strong, even stronger then that old bat who'd tried to protect him all those years ago. Naruto grinned, maybe playing pranks wasn't the only thing he could do here.

"Hey, gramps you're pretty tough – what to fight?" Naruto felt excitement bubbling in his gut. It had been a while since he had a powerful opponent to go up against.

Fukasaku just sighed ignoring him, turning to the young toad beside him. "You know this boy?"

"Yeah, haven't seen him in a long time though – he has a summons contract with us."

The old toad looked back at the kitsune with his bushy white eyebrows pulled together. Naruto couldn't help but wonder how a toad could have hair in the first place. It took him a moment to figure out they were still talking about him.

"Phee, I've never seem you freaks in my life." He snorted. "Now come on geezer – I haven't got all day!" his claws sharpened as he dug them into the earth, demon instincts kicking in. He wanted to start playing in some blood. 'They aren't like the others though… maybe I shouldn't kill him… I mean…'

There was a sharp movement to his left and he had to dodge out of the way of the strike. The spike of power that radiated through the air enthralled him. He grinned showing sharp teeth. The toad just looked at him calmly and he pouted. What was he waiting for? Then the pain hit him throwing him backward.

He gripped his stomach painfully. The old guy hadn't even touched him – so where had that come from? Could it be that his strikes were so powerful he didn't even have to hit his target? Somehow he was glad the punch hadn't hit him dead on.

Spitting some blood out of his mouth he grinned. "You're really strong… Hee, strong enough maybe defeating you would earn me another tail."

"Cockiness will get you no where young one."

"Yeah? It's been going pretty well for me so far." Naruto began to shift forms, and what stood in front of them was a medium size fox. His ears and paws were large indicating he was still young, but that didn't matter. What he lacked in size he more then made up in power. Raising his tails forward he began gathering and condensing chakra in his mouth.

"Bijūdama?" (Tailed Beast Ball) Fukasaku barely had time to grab the two young toads and leap to safety. What was left when they landed on some far off foliage above was nothing but a giant crater.

Naruto looked around irritably. 'Is that it?'

There was the sound of movement through the air.

'Not quit.'

He lunged from the sudden wind attack from behind. Turning on his heals when he landed clouds of dirt followed him as he slid. He growled at the white haired toad who showed little emotion. This guy was no push over, and even if he wasn't as old as his Tou-san, he was defiantly more experienced in years then Naruto.

"Are we finished here?" Fukasau asked patiently.

"Not a chance!" the fox demon yelled at him fiercely, and lunged a frontal attack.

Shaking his head the toad merely took in a deep breath.

"Senpō: Kawazu Naki!" (Sage Art: Frog Call)

The sound that hit Naruto was deafening, and even sent him flying backward. He hissed in pain trying to cover his ears with his paws, but couldn't even stay on his feet. Wearily he dropped to the ground, and looked up at the calm yellow eyes of his opponent. With a snarl he snapped his jaws trying to bite. It did him little good.

"That will be enough of that, I think." Fukasaku grabbed his jaw and clamed it shut. The whimper that escaped Naruto made him even angrier, but he couldn't think on it since there was a sudden pressure at the base of his neck, and his vision darkened.

###

"Are you sure this is Jiraiya-boy's student?" a voice almost out of the fox-boy's hearing rang spoke.

"There's no doubt, that's the little gaki alright." A much more gravely voice rumbled. Naruto wrinkled his nose as he smelled the sent of strong ash and tobacco. "I don't understand the ears and tails though. Also he doesn't seem to have aged a day past thirteen… Perhaps he's merged with Kyuubi…?"

"Look's like he's waking up." Eeerrr… that was the voice of the little frog face who'd hit him with that fire jutsu!

Naruto sat up and snarled, lashing out with his claws. The toads surrounding him immediately gave him space. Still suffering from Fukasaku's paralyses jutsu, he began to stumble backward. When one of the toads tried to approach him, he hissed couching down on all fours. Seeing his tan furless hands he became even more wary. He was in his human state again – had he reverted while unconscious?

"Easy Naruto, what's wrong with you?" the toad who had stepped forward, Gakamichi he remembered, snapped at him while his voice lingered with unsettlement.

"Shut up! How do you know my name?" Naruto glared violently, eye's darting like a cornered animal.

"How do we –? Come on Naruto – it's me! I know it's been three years but you ought to remember –"

Naruto didn't give him time to finish. For once he wanted out of a bad situation, and tried to sprint past the toad so he could find somewhere to plan, and recollect himself. He didn't get very far as an enormous foot pinned him to the ground.

"Gah!"

"Stop squirming brat!"

"What the heck is this thing?" Naruto cried struggling underneath the large webbed foot. A giant toad looming over him, his crimson lips pressed to a giant pipe. Naruto continued to bite and claw at him mercilessly and he grimaced.

"Gaki – if you don't stop I'll crush you!"

Naruto spat the amphibian's blood back at him. "Go ahead, but I'm warning you now; do that and the King of the Bijuu will wipe you, and this stupid mountain out of existence!" Gamabunta just blew smoke in his face, causing his eyes to burn.

"King of the Bijuu, eeh? You're always full of surprises."

"Stop talking like you know me, and let go!" Naruto hissed furiously. Why couldn't he do anything against these frogs? He was powerful and if he hadn't been so cocky he could have taken down that old geezer – he was sure! But now it felt like his power was pent up and he couldn't reach his full potential.

"Don't bother gathering chakra just yet kid. Since we don't know what state your mind is in, I took the liberty of putting a seal on you."

"A seal!" Naruto hissed. So they were the reason he couldn't gather more then a fraction of chakra – well a fraction was all he needed. Eye's glowing he smirked. 'I may not be able to escape just yet, but I can still give some pay back!' There was a sudden sharp intake of breath from above and his grin spread. Still the toad held him down.

"Think you're pretty smart using wind like that do you?" Gamabunta hissed down as a bit of blood seeped through his webbed fingers. Naruto just kept baring his teeth keenly. He'd managed to call enough wind element to grind back and forth, making the air sharp enough to cut flesh. Gamabunta continued, "But I'd say that's about as much chakra as you can expend at this point, am I right?" He bent low and blew a bit more smoke in the kitsune's face. This made Naruto's expession darken, a testament to the truth in his words. "Now tell me what happened to you. What do you mean by King of the Bijuu?"

Naruto grumbled under his breath.

"What was that? I didn't hear you!"

"My Tou-san will come here, and kick your butt you stupid toad-and I'll help him when this seal wears off!" The was a long pause of silence.

"I thought Naruto was an orphan." Gamakichi thought out load. He'd been stunned that Naruto had been able to do any damage to his father. As he observed his old friend, he came to the realization that this wasn't the same Naruto he had known.

Naruto's ears went back and he looked away from them. "Shut up…"

"Who's this father your speaking of child?" Fukasaku, sensing a tender subject, asked delicately.

"Kyuubi no Kitsune – Demon Fox of the Nine-Tails!" he stated while baring his teeth yet again. He wanted them to know that they had made a dangerous enemy.

Fukasaku looked up at Gamabunta who sighed deeply. He'd thought as much, but was hard with coming to terms believing it. Pulling his hand back a bit he moved the orange kimono from Naruto's stomach. He would have told the boy to gather chakra to his abdomen, but stopped when he saw the light scare adorning his stomach.

"He – let me go – ya' creepy pervert!"

"Shut up brat! This – this is not his normal seal, in fact it doesn't seem to be sealing anything at all." The Toad looked over to his elder whose eyes were just as wide.

Naruto hissed, freeing one hand and pulling the fabric back over his skin. "It's a scare – a reminder!" Naruto snarled at him.

"A reminder? A reminder for what?"

"That humans can't be trusted – that they're cruel unjust creatures that shouldn't even be allowed to live! It's to remind me what they did to both Tou-san and I before he saved me!" he didn't mean for all this to spill out, his emotions were just running away with him, and he had to force tears back. He hadn't cried for a long time now, and he wasn't going to start again any time soon.

"Saved you? What are you talking about Naruto?"

"I don't have to answer anything!"

"Eeerrr – listen here you little brat – "

"Very well, Gamabunta leave the boy be." Fukasaku said, though his voice wasn't commanding it was an order all the same. He motioned for Gamabunta to let the fox-child up, and he did as he was told. Naruto didn't even bother to try and escape, he knew he was trapped and needed to wait for the right opportunity to get away.

"You will be staying here for a bit Naruto-kun." After addressing the kitsune, the old toad looked to the other individuals with him. "I want to get in contact with Jeraiya-boy before too long, and settle this predicament."

"Hai, but it's said he's on an important mission right now, and can't be disturbed for another week at least."

"More important then the one he's been on for the past three years… I wonder…"

"I'll send a message out to him in case he doesn't summon one of us." Gamabunta nodded, and began to walk away to look for one of his servants.

Fukasaku nodded his agreement. "As for now, Naruto will be bunking with you and Gamatatsu, Gamakichi." He nodded toward the two other toads. The younger of the two still looked confused at the whole predicament, while his older brother just grimaced.

"Yes sir…"

"Huh, there's no way I'm sharing a den with a couple of frogs." Naruto pouted defiantly.

"Toads idiot – we're toads! Now shut up and come on!"

Fukasaku motioned with his eyes to follow the two other boys. Naruto glared at him but did as he was told. He was in no position to argue. He could only hope that his father would notice his disappearance soon and come to find him. There was little chance this would happen soon though, as Naruto had come to disappearing for months at a time, on his own small escapades of chaos. Hee, the humans had even started to call him the fox prince, though they didn't know how much that name implied. They thought he was protecting them, like some kind of guardian spirit… He'd laughed the first time he'd heard. It was funny, kill a couple of humans nobody liked and you were suddenly some kind of hero, but show your true form to any and they were terrified of you like a monster.

He grinned. 'Well let them think that, and while I'm here, I'll show these toads just what a misfortunate trickster the Fox Prince can be.'