I dont own Naruto.

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The Bug, The Fox and the Hare / Chapter FOUR (Mission rank C, part two)

Kurenai and Shino flew through the village. Luckily, Kurenai had learned how to sense the brainwaves of those she was familiar with over a distance, allowing her to track them quickly. She knew better then to focus on Naruto; his Shadow Clones would make it all but impossible to find the right one. Hinata was her main target but she has having trouble finding her. Clearly, she shouldn't have had them look for the bunny's owner without having some way of finding them. Kurenai thought it would give them something to do while Shino and she dissected the dog (something she was sure would cause Hinata and Naruto to both faint at). But now, they could have been anywhere because of it.

They jumped on a high roof which have them a nice view over the village, hoping to spot the orange jumpsuit with a spot of purple and grey beside it.

Maybe the bug was just squashed... why I'm so nervous about? Maybe Shino concern's got the better of me, she began to think.

Ironically, it was at that time she and Shino sensed the catastrophe that was happening. Feeling the surge of malevolence, they turned towards it, west.

Kurenai's breath fell feeling, it was the same one she felt when...Goosebumps of fear spread across her as she shook, breaking out in a cold sweat.

Shino snapped her out of it." Kurenai- sensei, what is happening?

" Shino, you stay here... That's an order. I need to deal with it, on my own."
"Sensei-"
"I SAID STAY! NO ARGUING!"

Shino flinched... he NEVER heard his sensei scream like that. He thought he understood his sensei already, that she wasn't the type to yell, even if really angry. Up until now, he always saw her collected and in control of her emotions, something he highly respected about his sensei. It was something new for him, to see her like this.

He knew something was terribly Kurenai left, he noticed even the villagers was turning their head in that direction, looks of fear and worry spreading across their faces. The fact that he, a Genin, not trained in Chakra Sensory, could feel whatever was causing this was disturbing enough. But if civilians were feeling it, it was something else entirely. He returned his attention to the horizon, wishing it will go well…but in his gut, he dreaded that that was a false hope.

MEANWHILE

The cloud of poison was surrounding Naruto... but the enemy ninja could tell something was off.

Is the wind within the woods stronger than I thought? Maybe I should summon a mole warrior, just in case...

He was about to make the seals when suddenly, the poisonous cloud was blasted away in what seemed to be an explosion. The nin was immune to his poison, but the smoke and dust was making his eyes itches. But even blinded, he felt it; the overflowing killer instinct and an ominous chakra coming from the boy, he called the summon and stepped back, rubbing his eyes.


What the hell is going on here? What is that boy?

The ninja couldn't believe his eyes, and neither could his summon... well, his summon was almost blind since it was a mole, but that's not the point.

The mole sensed the Naruto and said, "Ok, I can see what's going on here. I will protect you the best I can," digging underground quicker than you'd think. The bald guy didn't know what kind of jutsu that boy was using but he braced himself, preparing a substitution jutsu.

The ground around Naruto seemed to have been smashed by a giant punch. A red chakra was flowing around him and the more chakra was flowing out, stronger got the dark wind blowing from Naruto. Finally, the wind stopped; still on four legs, Naruto turned around to look at the man. The murderer flinched. The boy's eyes were blood-red and a feral looking, like a predator. With a guttural voice, surrounded by flowing red chakra going in all direction, he said the only words he wanted to say to the man.

"You killed my friend!"

The fight began...


Ooo0o

If Kurenai had used the main road, she could have seen what happened. However, no witness were near Hinata's body to hear a squeaky voice say the words, "Wind Style - Second Wind Jutsu"

After that, slowly, Hinata opened her eyes. Her head seemed heavy like a boulder and her whole body was stiff and sore. The last thing she remembered was Naruto holding her... Hinata gasped."Naruto! I forgot to tell him about the ninja! I have to find him!"

When she tried to get up, she looked around and saw he wasn't there with her. She finally sensed what was happening, not very far from there. She also saw Kurenai sensei, going in the wood ahead, not noticing her. She tried to run to her but fell on the ground. Her legs were still too stiff and she only able to walk clumsily. She was almost near the stables when she heard a big explosion. With her Byakugan, she saw a giant stalagmite jut out from the ground, only to be crushed a second later by... Naruto?

She stopped, trying to focus on what she saw. It was Naruto but the same time, it was like it wasn't him... he was surrounded by a weird chakra flow and had a scary look on his face. She couldn't believe the Naruto she knew was the same person, fighting the ninja who was in front of him.

She stopped using the Byakugan, as she wanted to save her energy and chakra. She focused on moving her legs quicker and realized they began to feel normal. Soon, she would be able over run there...

I don't know what is happening to Naruto but I have to go help him and Kurenai! she thought.

Behind her, hiding, a pair of eyes was watching her...


OoOoOo

Kurenai closed in towards the combat zone. She saw Naruto and the ninja having a heated battle but somehow, the enemy was focusing all his energy to dodge the genin's attacks. His sensei could clearly see that the man Naruto was facing was scared and barely hanging in there.

If I stop the battle, maybe Naruto will calm down before it's too late.

She then made the seals and to snare the enemy ninja:
"Angelic Illusion: Dream Catcher Jutsu !"
It was a jutsu that makes causes the target to sleep and allows the user to see target's dreams. Obviously, she just wanted him to be out cold but it didn't go as she wanted... Walls rose out from the ground around the enemy, forming a pyramid. Kurenaï then sensed the Summon below ground level she failed to notice at first. Naruto was quicker however. When the four walls was about to come together, he jumped into to enter. She didn't know what happen in there but the pyramid soon exploded. After that, she saw Naruto on the top of the unconscious man, his now clawlike-hand raised, murder in his eyes...

"NARUTO, STOP! " Kurenai screamed.

Naruto slowly turned towards her. The anger in his red eyes seemed to slowly vanish when he saw her. Suddenly, something else caught his attention. Kurenai turned around and saw Hinata, not too far off, breathing heavily. When Naruto saw her, the red chakra disappeared. It was like time itself was frozen. They could see Naruto's eyes, filled with tears. He rose up and made a few step in Hinata's direction. Half-way, he suddenly stopped, looking at his hands and then back at the enemy. Kurenai could clearly see the panic in his eyes before turning his back and running away in the woods. She summoned a Shadow Clone to follow Naruto and then checked on the enemies. Naruto had nearly killed the man while he was under Kurenai's illusion and she couldn't sense his summon anywhere around. She returned to Hinata.

" Are you alright?"

The young girl nodded and looked towards the direction Naruto fled , asking, " Will Naruto be ok?"

Kurenai decided it was best to ignore the question for now. "Hinata, if you can, look underground with you Byakugan to see if- "

Before the young girl could do anything however, Kurenai stepped behind the girl and draw a kunai:

" I can sense your presence, show yourself!"

After a few seconds, a voice came out from behind them. "Ok, but don't attack me, I'm not your enemy."

From the bushes appeared something both of them didn't expect: it was the bunny from before!

"I'm sorry I didn't talk sooner but after what my people and I have through, we found it necessary to consider most humans untrustworthy."
It bowed before continuing."Thanks to you, we retrieved our summoning scroll. The mole the man summoned is gone, I can't hear it anymore so dont worry about it. I would suggest you retrieve that boy before I try to explain everything."

Kurenai put back her kunai and her Shadow Clone came from the wood."He's already here."

Kurenai clone was brought over Naruto like he was a potato sack on her shoulder. He slept soundly.

"I use a Jutsu to put him to sleep. It was a hard day for him. You should bring Shino here also."

Kurenai agreed. She rose up and vanished while the clone stayed behind.

The rabbit sighed."Now, if you don't mind, I would like to wear some clotches before my clan sees me like this. Could you give me some piece of cloth I can work with while I tell you the story?"


O0o0o0

The rabbit introduced herself as Minu and began to explain. A month ago, the rabbit's clan made a contract with a strange man in the new Sound Nation. The rabbits learned things about that man that was disturbing but since nobody listened to them, they fled. And as their spies told them, it was about time, as that's when the man seemed very interested by them. However, since their former ninja partner could summon them with scroll, he killed all whose names were on the contract also. The Hare Clan, as they call themself, were chased up to the border of the Fire Nation and they thought they were able to evade the ninjas chasing them. For a time, they were resting and healing their wounds. Because their chief had been among those killed, there was fighting among the group for leadership; another reason why they didn't seek help from the Fire Nation when needed, as some were fighting among themselves.

When she finished that part of the story, the rabbit had a bandage cloth wrapped around her chest and Kurenai had ripped part of her clothing to make some sort of skirt. When Shino finally arrived, Kurenai clone vanished and Minu give her a brief resume with a promise for detailed explications later.

Kurenai wanted to ask more questions but the bunny moved her ears and said, "My people are coming for me. If you don't mind, I will tell them what happened."

Kurenai understood the hidden message of those words. She made a discreet sign to Shino and Hinata, just in time before they saw some green flashes coming from the wood, two rabbits in solider uniforms stopping in front of them.

"Princess, are you alright? Did the humans hurt you?"

Hinata eye's got slightly bigger at this statement. She looked back at the bunny she was holding all day.

"Not at all. In fact, they save me and, at my request, retrieved our summoning scroll from the ninja who attacked us with those pesky moles. We definitely are lacking firepower if they could take it away from us so easily."

The two soldiers cheek seemed to have become a bit redder. Kurenai was impressed by the bunny's bluffing skills and was glad Naruto was asleep, so he couldn't ruin anything. Before the rabbit soldiers could speak, their princess continued.

"They have proved to me to be good and caring people. If our people want to survive, we need the protection of the Fire Nation. Our ancient pact partners have now vanished and we need to find a place to build our village once more. As a sign of peace and friendship, I have offered our summoning scroll to those ninjas in exchange of their protection."

Both soldiers rose up. "B-But, your Highness...

"SILENCE! I will deal with what remains of our council later. As for our people, I know in my heart they will understand my reasons and time will be able to prove to all of you that I'm right."

The rabbit soldiers looked at each other before bowing again. "As you wish, your Highness. Now, can you accompany us back to our people? They have been extremely worried."
"I will do so but before that, let me say thanks to my saviors."

She turned to Kurenai. "Thank you again for taking care of our enemy for us and for everything else you've done for me. I, Minu, Princess of the Hare Clan, am in your debt."

She slightly bowed before going near the two hare soldiers. They took her hands and surrounded the three of them with a green chakra before disappearing in a flash.

That's a use of wind type chakra I never saw before . Anyway, that little rabbit is a clever one, thought Kurenai with a smile.

Kurenai then gave the summoning scroll to Shino and helped Hinata to her feet. The girl realized she could breathe normally and just seemed tired now. After doing the Dream Catcher jutsu a second time to the unconscious ninja, she then picked Naruto again and said, "We will start return to Konoha now. The rest is no longer our concerns."

Shino and Hinata had a lot of questions but they understood now wasn't the time. Shino however, risked saying something."I know I'm repeating myself but I would really appreciate a briefing of everything that had happen when I wasn't there."

I knew he would be sulking after this, thought Kurenai.

She didn't answer him however; luckily, everyone's attention was on Naruto, who was muttering something about a bunny stealing his bowl of ramen in his sleep.


O0o0o

After giving the villagers chief a brief report of what had happened, they started off for home. Kurenai told her genins that they will go through the forest this time, jumping from tree to tree. And they won't stop this time, she warned them. By doing so, they will arrive by tomorrow morning. When they asked why, she told them she wanted Naruto's condition to be checked as soon as possible. She gave them food pills to be taken once they feel fatigued.

Once home, She told her genins to go rest for the day and vanished quickly. She headed straight to the Hokage Tower, Naruto in her arms. She was afraid he could wake up any moment now, her jutsu having worn off since her lack of sleep. After making a brief report, she went straight to the Hokage's room, asking for an audience. It took only a few minutes before she could see Sarutobi, but to her, it was like hours. She decided to do the Dream catcher jutsu a second time on Naruto while waiting. It will be less powerful now but she just needed a few minutes anyway.

Once the situation was explained to Sarutobi, they sent Naruto to the hospital. Kurenai wanted to supervise the interrogation of Minu, of the Hare clan. Since she also wanted to keep an eye on Naruto too, Kurenai made a Shadow Clone. Exhausted, she still went to the hospital while her clone went to the interrogation.

It was hard to summon an animal without making a contract but Konoha' ninja always been resourceful. Minu appeared and was glad to see Kurenai was there too.
Minu finally revealed to Kurenai what happened to Hinata. Even if she seemed calm, Kurenaï was consumed by guilt.

"Minu, I am in your debt for this. For the life you saved, I really want to do something for you. How can I ever repay you?"
"Well, hmm... I may have something in mind."Kurenai could swear she saw the white bunny slightly blushing.
"Our clan never was the strongest to begin with in term of raw power. Our real strengths are our speed, extended hearing and combination attacks. And since I got interested in the young girl who was holding me, I was hoping if... you know..."
Kurenai raised a hand to stop her, as she understood what she wanted to ask."You don't need to say one more word. I'm pretty sure she will accept. But she is only a genin. You are sure that's the favor you wanted to ask?"
"I could sense she is very kind and understanding person. My clan needs someone like her right now to make a contract with. And since I cant -"

She stopped there, realizing she was able to say something she didn't want to. Kurenai understood it was something personal, making a sign to the others ninja observing them it was ok to not interrogate her on that matter.

Minu continued. "If you could also find a safe and hidden place so we could rebuild our village, we would appreciate a lot too"
The rest was concluded quickly both Minu and Kurenai's clone vanished once it was done, leaving to the other ninjas the rest of the work on that matter.

O0o0o

Kurenai was in the hospital, next to a snoring Naruto. She received a package from the Hokage itself during her waiting time. It was a box containing seals on small pieces of paper. She recognized them as chakra sealing seals. There was also a notice with the package.

If your genin go wild again, just put the seal on his forehead to suppress this chakra back. Be sure to rest first before reporting back to me.

Signed,
Sarutobi

Kurenai smiled. At least now, she wouldn't have to worry about that anymore. She placed a few seals in her pockets first and set the box next to her chair. Once her clone vanished, she released Naruto from her sleeping jutsu. He slowly opened his eyes... but shot up in the bed promptly.
"Huh! Where I am! Where-!- Kurenai sensei!"

She put a hand on his shoulder to calm him. "We are back to Konoha. How are you feeling Naruto?"

Naruto looked like he was about to cry. He looked down, not able to say a word. Kurenai then took the control of the conversation.

"I know you are feeling guilty. You are probably afraid of facing your comrades also. But Naruto, don't take the blame all to yourself. I was the one in charge, I decided of the course of actions. I'm as guilty as you for what happened..."

Naruto clinched his fists. "If I stayed by Hinata's side as you wanted, I could have prevent this! I should had taken this mission more seriously."

Kurenai didn't say a word. After a pause she told him, "The lessons we need the most are often the harshest one. I'm sure now you will do your best now so it should never happen again."
"I think that can't happen again now, Kurenai-sensei," Naruto said sadly, "I'm sure Hinata and Shino hate me. I almost let Hinata die. I don't think I'll ever be able to face her again."

Kurenai then something Naruto didn't expect: she hugged him. While doing so, she told him, "I won't give up on you Naruto, even though I know what happened. If I'm able of doing so, don't you think your teammates, your friends, could do the same?"

Naruto cried in her arms, something new for him. When Naruto calmed down, she told him, "I'm sure they will understand so give them a chance, please. "

She also told him something else, something she asked the Third Hokage if she had the right to do so."I want you to come live in my house for a few days, and in time we'll settle everything. Please Naruto, let me take of you until then. "

Naruto nodded, very, very slowly. He didn't know what to say, or think, but he didn't have the strength to resist her pleading look...

END OF CHAPTER