Chapter 12

Tenzen stood there for several minutes thinking over the situation. He hadn't seen Shiro in over two years. He couldn't even be one hundred percent sure that the young fox remembered him. After all, they were both so young. The only real memory Tenzen had of the pup was the day they met. He could only hope his fox-aniki remembered, and wasn't bitter.

The young white fox approached his father with his head somewhat held high. To Tenzen it felt as though the fox had taken an hour to finally stand within the group, though truthfully it was mere seconds.

The son of the boss fox stood proudly next to his father. His head square with Tenzen. There yellow eyes met one anther, and a long silence ensued. Time seemed to stand still, Tenzen and Shiro staring deep into each other's eyes without making a single movement or sound.

Then suddenly both jumped backwards at speeds that would have been unseen by anyone not trained as shinobi. Minato gave a small smile at remembering the raw speed of his student. Kushina simply looked on in awe, she had never seen the young boys speed before.

"What are they doing? They look as though they are about to fight each other." Kushina questioned, while still looking on in amazement.

"I can't be certain, but it looks like a battle of dominance." Minato replied looking over to the giant white fox for clarification. The boss fox gave the blonde shinobi a light nod letting him know his suspicions were correct.

"Why would they do that? From what you told me, the Seishin and Fox were together for life. Why would the fight for dominance?" Kushina asked as the two white haired figures landed on opposite sides of the garden, both in fighting positions. They both knew this needed to happen. One could not be stronger than the other.

"Well, and I'm just spit balling here, but I would assume it is because it has been some time since they had seen one another. They have to see who is the strongest and if they still belong to one another." Minato said putting his index finger to his chin. Gekido once again nodded in agreement. Then all eyes were on the two combatants.

Tenzen fell into a low stance, just like Orochimaru-sama had taught him. One arm in front of him and the other at his waist to await the follow up. Shiro stance was low as well, is teeth bared and he began to growl lowly. Both stared into each other's yellow eyes and prepared themselves for what was to come.

Then in an instant both were heading straight for one another. Tenzen opted to take a wait and see approach. He couldn't be sure how fox's fought and what they were capable of. At the last second Tenzen dodged a quick swipe from Shiro's claw with a side step. Tenzen followed up with a kick aimed for the young fox's torso. Upon impact, Shiro skidded slightly across the ground. Once again the two combatants eyes met and Tenzen had a smile on his face.

"You shouldn't be holding back Shiro. I'm not just some little kid." Tenzen said once again lowering his body into a fighting position.

The two began circling each other waiting for their opening. Suddenly, Shiro took off at Tenzen. His speed being a surprise to Tenzen, he couldn't keep up, and with quick paw to the face Tenzen was sent flying to only be stopped by the wall.

"Kushina did you see that?" Minato asked his eyes a little widened.

"Yeah the fox is fast." Kushina responded.

"No not that. Shiro's paw never hit Tenzen." Minato exclaimed. Kushina's eyes darted to Minato and then immediately back to the white and black fox.

"But Tenzen was sent flying." Kushina said lowly as though talking to herself. "How is that possible?"

"Well do you remember the training Sensei had me doing?" Minato responded trying to give reason for what he just saw. "He was teaching me frog kata. This style utilizes the sage modes capability to control nature chakra, and using it as though it were a third or fourth arm."

"So what your saying is that the foxes use the same technique with their fighting style. They can control nature chakra and use it as a weapon." Kushina summed up. Turning her head back towards the battle she could see Tenzen peeling himself off the wall and readying himself. Kushina clutched her hands, hoping Tenzen would be okay.

Tenzen wiped the blood from his lip and gave a wicked smile. Finally I can test myself he thought as he got off his knee and stood up. Shiro was good, really good; he knew there could be no margin for error. He made the ram hand seal and focused chakra into his feet. He knew he wouldn't be able to keep up with Shiro otherwise. Feeling the warmth of chakra moving to his feet, Tenzen once again dropped into his fighting stance and readied himself. Now he was going on the offensive.

Tenzen took off in a flash of blue chakra. His speed had increased, if only slightly, from the hiding exercises Minato-sensei had him do. It was anything but easy to get away from the fastest man in the world after all. So, it didn't take him long to be on top of Shiro with his fist reeled back for a big hit.

Out of shock at Tenzen's speed, Shiro wasn't ready when the punch came flying his way. Tenzen connected cleanly right into the wolf's jaw. Shiro went skidding back several feet before regaining his footing, but it was too late. Tenzen was already on top of him ready for a follow up, which came in a form of a stiff kick the to the abdomen. Now Shiro was soring. Only to be stopped by the wall, the same way Tenzen had.

Minato couldn't help but crack a smile at his student's prowess. The boy was still very young, and he already looked as though he was a genin. With more training, Minato had no doubt Tenzen would surpass every expectation.

"Done already Shiro-aniki?" Tenzen asked with a slim smile on his face. He knew the fight was far from over, Shiro was stronger then this.

The young fox finally wiggled himself free of the wall and a look of confusion was on his face. Tenzen merely stood in the center of the gardens with his hands on his hips and a cheeky smile on his face. Shiro got down in his all too familiar battle stance and growled low. Quickly Tenzen's smile and he too got down into fighting position. Both were serious now and there would be no holding back.

In a blur both of the white haired speed demons took off towards one another, meeting one another with punches, kicks, scratches, and bites. The two wanted to end this fight as quickly as possible but neither was giving an inch.

The series of attacks ended abruptly and both combatants jumped backwards to get distance between each other. Shiro was very still for a few seconds before he shot open his mouth and pure chakra shot out aimed directly at Tenzen. The young white haired boy looked on in shock at the approaching. He didn't think the fox's could do something like this. Thinking quickly Tenzen went through several hand seals and then bit down on his palm hard. Putting his bloody hand up towards the ball he was completely focused. Finally, the ball collided with Tenzen's hand and then disappeared. Everyone was holding their breath wondering what had happened. Then suddenly, the field back near Minato and Kushina exploded with chakra. The Yellow Flash looked on in amazement. He knew what the boy had done but, he still thought maybe it was a dream.

Tenzen gasped for air for he had lost most of his chakra from his efforts. He was worried Shiro would move in for the defeat. But, looking over to his summon, he saw that the white fox was on the ground panting heavily. It seemed that they both had used up their chakra on that last one. Tenzen gave the young fox a cheeky smile while trying to support himself with one arm. Tenzen felt that the fox was pleased as well, they were finally reunited and they were one again. Minato and Kushina swiftly moved to Tenzen's side to ensure he was okay.

"Tenzen, are you alright?" Kushina asked as she picked up the small boy and cradled him in her arms. Tenzen replied with a slight nod of assurance.

"Well then, do you care to explain how you know that technique?" Minato asked, his face anything but pleased. The boy looked away knowing that he'd been had. Now he had to tell the truth.

"While you and Kushina were away on your mission I broke into your apartment and copied down your Space Time Jutsu." Tenzen said not being able to make eye contact with his sensei. Minato pushed on his sinuses frustrated by the whole thing.

"I told you I would teach you Space Time Jutsu in time, but they are much too dangerous. If you had slipped up for even a second you could have transferred the chrakra into yourself." Minato said, frustration present in every word.

"But I didn't and…"

"That's not the point!" Minato said raising his voice his frustration peaking. Tenzen and Kushina both jumped at Minato's anger filled words. Seeing that he had startled the two, he quickly composed himself and bent down to Tenzen's level.

"It's just…" Minato trailed off. "You could have died. Then how could I live with myself?"

Minato put one hand on the boy's head as he normally did when he teased him. Tenzen could see the worry in his sensei's eyes, and lunged into his arms not caring if it was unmanly or whatever. They pulled away from one another in time to see the four foxes walking up.

Shiro walked forward to be face to face with Tenzen. They stood there staring at one another for several seconds until Shiro leaped onto Tenzen and began to lick his face repeatedly.

"I know bud… I missed you too." Tenzen said trying to fight off the licking, to no avail. Minato, Kushina, and the older foxes just looked on and laughed as Tenzen finally broke free and put the white pup into a headlock.

"Seems that boys will be boys even after a dangerous fight." Kushina said laughing as somehow Shiro had stolen Tenzen's pants and were running off with them.

"So I'll assume you accept him?" Minato asked the great white boss fox who responded with a simple nod. "Good then we should start training tomorrow."

Once again Gekido nod in agreement. It seems Tenzen's home to stay.

End Chapter 12

Woo! I'm back! Sorry for the extremely long wait but you know how it goes with school. Well here we go, it's time for that time jump I've talking about forever. Next chapter it's time for the academy. I'm only going to spend a few chapters on Tenzen's academy life, because honestly I just want to get unto genin teams. See ya next time.