IMPORTANT MESSAGE AT BOTTOM

Chapter 63 Changing of the Guard

The freshly fallen snow crunched under their padded feet as a group of eight demon panthers along with Gamba and Hinata moved though the snow and underbrush. The sun wasn't even up yet but it was the best time to go out hunting.

"Do you see anything?" whispered a panther

"No but I smell something." stated Gamba "There is prey in these woods."

Hinata was right beside him as they moved in the first hunt of the morning, from what she had been told the hunt was more for show then actual hunting. While it was important for bragging rights what each member of the government brought back as a kill what was really important was forming bonds with the royals.

"What lives in this area?" asked another panther

"I know deer live here, along with some wild pigs, small game and a small population if bears." Said Hinata as she wished she could use her Byakugan but this was supposed to be a natural hunt and using justus was considered unsporting.

"Any wolves because hanging a wolf pelt on the wall would be nice." laughed an member of the general pride

"Not as good as hanging a demon wolf on the wall." Stated an older royal council member

"You know your scarring away any game." Stated Hinata as the ten of them kept moving unaware that they were being watched.

"They are splitting up?" asked Kiba as he lied on his belly up to his chin in snow. He and the thirty five ninjas who had slipped out of camp in the middle of the night were watching the demons from higher up on the mountains. Most of the ninjas had agreed that the demons needed to be watched but most hoped Neji would come to his senses and attack them. While they disagreed with Neji they respected him but respect will end in time.

"Yes, looks like groups of ten or so, with the group with crowned prince and Hinata have ten around them and another ten spread out to the sides and in front for extra guards." Stated an ANBU

"So we can hit the smaller groups." stated Kiba "But what are they doing in the first place?"

"Sir, I got something look north East." stated an ANBU "One of the demons took down a rabbit. I think they are hunting?"

"Why would they need to hunt?" asked another ANBU

"It's a fucking vacation." growled Kiba "They are taking a vacation."

"They only left five of them at the camp we can take them and strike the rest when they come back." stated Kiba as he pointed toward the five panthers in the camp.

"That would be foolish." Stated a new voice as Kiba and the ANBU turned to see Neji knelling behind them.

"How did you find us?" asked the ANBU

"Byakugan and now will you tell me why the fucking hell you are out here?" asked Neji

"We are going to attack their camp and there is nothing you can do to stop us." Stated Kiba

"Kiba you are fucking insane?" stated Neji "You really think thirty five ninjas half of whom are chunnins or low level jonnin can take down five demons one of whom is Itachi Uchiha?"

The name Itachi Uchiha was as well known as his brother or Naruto's, it was a name that sent a chill down even the most experienced ninjas.

"We have surprise." stated Kiba

"Surprise means next to nothing against Itachi and you know that." stated Neji

Meanwhile Kushina Namikaze sat across the kitchen table from the legendary slug princess Tsunade. The demon council and Orochimaru had allowed Tsunade and Jiriaya to move to the demon fox village, the council wanted the two of them to look like a normal life.

"You know I never thought I would talk to you again." Admitted Kushina

"And who would have thought that we would both become demon foxes and that I would become pregnant by Jiriaya." said Tsunade as she looked down at her blonde fur covered hand "I am still getting used to being a fox."

"It takes some time." said Kushina "Sometimes I wake up and expect to see my human face looking back at me in the mirror however you get used to it, mostly when you hold your kit for the first time. I still remember when I first held Adria I didn't see a demon fox, I saw my daughter."

"A small part of me says I shouldn't be looking forward to having a kid, since it was done as part of an experiment but still…." said Tsunade

"You're looking forward to holding your kids." said Kushina "There is nothing wrong with that but it is painful."

"I have been a doctor longer then you have been alive, I know birth is painful." Stated Tsunade

"Well the pain goes on beyond just birth it happens every time you breast feed them." said Kushina as Tsunade raised an eyebrow "Demon foxes are born with small sharp teeth."

"Sounds painful." stated Tsunade

"Just something to deal with." said Kushina as she prepared to ask the question she had too afraid to ask of her son or Sakura. "So what is this Sasuke Uchiha to my son, I know he along with Sakura were on the genin team with Naruto and they are rivals. I also know that Sakura used to have a crush on Sasuke and that fueled the rivalry. I mean he seems to tense up his name and I was friends with Sasuke's mother."

Tsunade lowered her head as she thought about it for a second before speaking.

"From what I have seen and what I have been told they are opposite sides of the same coin." explained Tsunade "From the reports it was clear that they were following the same paths as Jiriaya and Orochimaru."

"I see." said Kushina

"But there is more to it them that, they are reflections of each other." said Tsunade "They both could have followed the others path with ease, Naruto could have become as cold hearted as Sasuke and Sasuke could have become as caring as Naruto."

"They seem to want to kill each other." said Kushina as she remembered the look of hate in her son's eyes when Sasuke appeared at the door.

"That's the thing I don't think deep down they want to kill the other." added Tsunade "Deep down even though they may openly hate each other they enjoy fighting each other. Neither one will kill the other not until they know for once and for all that one of them is stronger than the other. One of the reports are that the two of them are destined fight each other until one if not both are dead."

"I see." stated Kushina fearing the death of her oldest child.

"That is unless someone or something causes them to change course." said Tsunade "I hoped it was Sasuke who would stop Naruto and now add on to that he has a family to live for, he will stop."

"But what will stop Sasuke?" asked Kushina

Inside the demon panther camp lunch was being served.

"So Hinata I heard you did great for your first time hunt?" asked Fay as she walked up to Hinata.

"Just a boar nothing more." Explained Hinata as she remembered the animal like rush that came from pouncing on that 160 pound full grown wild boar. It wasn't even the largest one which was brought down but still bringing down an animal which weighted more than she did on her first day was impressive. "Besides the forest is filled with them, if I remember correctly."

"That is what the hunting reports said but still you don't understand for you a kill is important." explained Fay "They will compare you to what you kill, if you kill nothing you are seen as weak and there are different levels. One his first hunt with his father Prince Gamba refused to kill a doe which made him seam weak."

"He is not weak." growled Hinata as she moved to protect Gamba

"And I never said he was, but that it what it seemed like until the next year when he took down a bear." Explained Fay "That gained him respect and while taking down a boar isn't the same as a bear the fact you took it down means a lot."

"I don't really care." said Hinata

"I know but the people back home does." explained Fay "And they report everything back to the newspapers who report it to the people. You have to understand to the people you are now basically a member of the royal family they will want to know every detail about your life and everything means something.

It was nearing seven at night Vachan growled as he read the afternoon paper. Every single paper in the demon feline village had images of Gamba and Hinata walking amongst the commoners shaking hands with them in the morning additions. The most common photo was of Hinata knelling down so she could talk to a school age cub in the eye with her hand resting softly on her shoulder, with Gamba smiling in the background. Even he had to admit it was a touching photo even if it destroyed hundreds millions of years of traditions. With the evening addition they finally got messages from the people and the news wasn't good for Vachan. The polls that the news media had done made it clear that a lot of the subjects loved the photo, even the traditions found the image nice.

"God Damn this Hinata and Prince Gamba." thought Vachan to himself the polls were not going his way almost 80% of those polled favored Hinata and Gamba as doing that and only 7% felt it was wrong for a royal to talk to a commoner, the rest was worried about keeping the royals alive. He could already feel power slipping away from him, since the passing of the King he had become the Queens voice in the government. He had hoped and planned to remain as powerful when the Queen died with a young king he could control but that hope was all but gone. Now his main goal was to protect the traditions that had stood since the beginning of the kingdom and Hinata and the prince was in the way, he needed to find a way to turn the public against Hinata maybe with a true lioness guiding the hand of Gamba then traditions may be safe. The problem was Hinata was making herself known and loved by the public and with the influx of turned humans and elections for the lower house of government just over a year away the elected traditions would have to soften their stance to remain in government.

"Luckily the next hunt isn't till march, which means the human will be trapped in the harem were she can't be seen by the public." Thought Vachan as suddenly there was a knock at the door to his office.

"Enter." stated Vachan as another tiger entered his office.

"Sir, we have a situation." Said the guard

"What is it?" asked Vachan as the guard lowered his head.

Night came early to the mountains as Kiba moved toward the demon camp, he had left his trusted pattern Akamaru behind. This attack was likely a one way trip and he was fine with that, he knew that a full on attack wouldn't get though but maybe just maybe a single ninja moving in the darkness could get past the guard. His mission was to kill Gamba and free Hinata from demon hood by ending her life before dyeing himself. The light from the crescent moon overhead glimmered off the snow bathing the forest in a slight glow. He was still over a thousand yards away from the camp as he passed though a small clearing with a stream in the middle.

"You know your not as quite as you think you are Kiba." said a voice in front of him as Kiba pulled his kunai as he looked toward the source. Out of the woods stepped the dark blue furred lioness Hinata. "And you're not as great in hiding I've known you, Neji and all those other ninjas have been here since I arrived."

"So where are the other demons." stated Kiba

"We are the only ones here Kiba." stated Hinata as she walked toward Kiba stopping just on the other side of the stream. "So take my advice and get out of here before you are found out."

"No…I am going to free you from demon hood and the one who is took you." stated Kiba

"You plan to kill me and Gamba-kun don't you." growled Hinata as her razor sharp claws came out.

"You call that monster kun?" snapped Kiba

"Of course I do." snapped Hinata back "I love him!"

"How could you love him!" growled Kiba "He is a fucking demon!"

"I am a demon now and looking back I think I would have picked to turn to be with him." explained Hinata

"That is just because it messed with your mind." stated Kiba "You can't possibly love him."

"Why not?" asked Hinata "He is among the nicest caring guy I have ever met, he loves me and I love him. True he may like traditions a little bit more then I like but that is nothing."

"Because…." said Kiba "We love each other."

"Kiba…" said Hinata as she rubbed the place in between her eyes . "You are like a brother to me nothing more than that. What Gamba and I have is beyond that."

"How could you say that!" yelled Kiba

"Because it is true." stated Hinata

"What does he have that I don't?" pleaded Kiba "Why did you chase after Naruto for years when I was right there."

"Kiba I can't explain that but the simplest answer is I am just physically not attractive to you like that." Explained Hinata, those words was like a bomb exploding in his heart. "I wish I could say I was sorry Kiba but I am not, you need to know the truth."

"If I was brainwashed would have told Itachi to ambush you and turn you instead of letting you get this close." explained Hinata as Kiba shut up instantly as she turned around "Now head back to where the camp is and tell them to move we are going to be hunting in the area for ten days and we will find you if you stay around. So move before you're turned into a demon."

Hinata left Kiba standing there as she moved though the woods coming Itachi and Gamba were she had left them a few minutes.

"Thank you for letting me give him a chance to get away." said Hinata with a smile as she kissed Gamba.

"Hinata I wronged you when I forced the turn on you, it helps you which helps me." Stated Gamba

"Still you didn't have to." Said Hinata

"Do you think it worked?" asked Gamba as Hinata lowered her head.

"No." answered Hinata as she looked back "Kiba is Kiba and my words aren't enough, he will come."

"What should I do if he comes?" asked Itachi as Gamba thought about it

"Treat him like you would anyone else." answered Hinata as the three of them headed back to camp.

The camp fires had died down from lack of fresh wood, the only light in the camp came from the torches of being carried by the patrolling guards and the small alert fires that formed a circle around the entire camp. Inside the camp Gamba and Hinata lied sound asleep in the large king's tent in the center of the camp. They had decided not to have mate since they would have been heard by the entire camp but just being in each other's arms was enough letting each other's body heat warm each other on the cold night.

"Anything?" asked Itachi as he walked toward one of the small fires on the outside of the camp was his mate-in-waiting was.

"Nothing more than I wish I had more wood for the fire." said Fay as she shivered a bit in the cold only to have Itachi wrap his arms around her and pull her back into his chest.

"Is that better?" asked Itachi

"Ya, but now I wish we could sneak away and do it." purred Fay "But that would be against the rules."

"When we get home." answered Itachi as he kissed her neck

"I have to meet my mom, she wants to talk dates and locations for the mating ceremony." said Fay as Itachi smiled he knew that mating ceremony was another of those demon renames for a wedding

"When we do pick a place and start sending messages out make sure we send it to my mother not my father." Said Itachi "It's the only chance any of my family will show up."

"I would ask about your brother but I already know the answer." answered Fay as Itachi lowered his head a bit.

"My family is messed up, that is why I love your family." answered Itachi as both of them noticed three figures moving toward them. Instantly both of them were on guard as three demon felines appeared.

"We have an important message from the Palace." stated the Lion as he handed the message to the Itachi and Fay who's eyes widened as they read the message. "This can't wait till morning."

"Understood." stated Itachi

The camping lights inside the tent flipped on suddenly as a three feline royal guards members moved though the tent. It didn't take them long to reach the bed where Gamba and Hinata were just sitting up. The looked around the room, even with sleep in their eyes they could make out five new people in the room, three were standing at the foot of the bed while Fay and Itachi stood by the entrees.

"What is it?" asked Gamba as he rubbed sleep from his eyes

"Sir we have an important message." stated a lion

"What?" asked Hinata

"I am not talking to you." Snapped a tiger

"I would watch what you say to her." Growled Gamba as the lion glared at the tiger

"Sorry sir." Stated the lion

"Again I ask why? What has happened?" asked Hinata

"At seven this evening Queen Oda suffered a massive stroke." stated the Lion as Gamba's and Hinata's eyes widened "She was declared unable to carry out her duties as Queen by the royal healers."

"That means." said Gamba everyone knew what it meant but neither Gamba or Hinata wanted to say it.

"Yes, sir." stated the Tiger as all three of them got down on one knee and bowed their heads, followed by Itachi and Fay. "You are now King."

I wasn't planning to update this story until Friday but I have news. First since Fanfiction has clarified it's M for mature rating and romance scenes I have already gone back an edited this story along with Black Fox and Animal Within of all the romance scenes. I plan to edit Animal Unleashed within the next day or two in order to I hope fall in line with the guidelines. Some may say I need to go back and remove some of the fighting scenes but I feel M for mature rating is like an R movie and that is the idea I am following. I do not know if my edits will be enough but if I should be banded I will send a message through Demon Hero. I wished the guidelines where clearer since I feel I haven't crossed the line anymore than anyone else. I plan to send a message to fanfiction asking for clearer guidelines of what is and am not allowed and ask respectfully for a rule change grandfathering in the older stories. I thank you for your time and I hope I can keep writing. Thanks Wilkins75