Chapter 5:

Naruto tried his best to stay awake while they questioned the people in town for a second time. Now that he was up and moving around, it was a lot easier to stay awake.

Still, he caught himself daydreaming about the foxes several times. He looked up towards the waterfall where he had his training and wondered how they were doing. The kitsune told him that they were nocturnal so they must have been sleeping by this time. He couldn't wait to see them again. He wanted to learn so much more. It was a lot of fun.

Naruto looked down at his hands. Just last night, they were paws. Paws manipulating flames.

A thought occurred to him. If he could use fox fire last night, maybe he could do it now. He waved his hand in front of him, trying to conjure up a flame. Nothing happened. He tried again and again, using different movements and gestures. Still nothing. Apparently he could only do it in fox form.

"What are you doing?" Sakura asked him.

Naruto stopped at once and folded his hands behind his back. "Uh, nothing."

Sakura gave him a strange look. They had to go to the next house and ask them the same question they were asking everyone else. Sakura knocked on one of the doors and waited. An old man answered; the same one who glared at them when they first arrived the other day.

"What do you want?"

"Sorry to bother you," said Sakura politely. "We just had a few quick questions for you and it would be a big help if you could answer, please."

The old man looked very annoyed and started to retreat back into his home. "Is it about the prince? I thought I gave you ninja my answers the other day. Can't you leave me alone?"

"Sorry, but we didn't ask everything that was needed. I'll make it quick."

"Then speak, girl. Don't keep me waiting."

Naruto could tell that Sakura wanted to yell at him but she forced herself to remain calm and polite. "Do you know of anyone who would want to harm the prince? Even in other lands."

The old man scoffed. "The prince is a brat, not that much older than yourselves. He isn't fit to rule, not even a land this small. Of course people from other lands won't take him seriously."

"So you do know something."

"Silly girl, don't you use your brain? Think! That prince is not fit to rule. He has much to learn."

Sakura's eye twitched at his remark about her but she let it slide. "In ways of what?"

The old man folded his arms. "To be perfectly honest, I don't think he's too bright. He has to know how to put his foot down and do what's best for his people. There's no room for a kindhearted prince."

"I have to disagree."

He frowned at Sakura. "He, like the rest of his family, loves animals. He's an animal-lover. Won't hurt them, but he won't turn down bacon on his plate. He hates cruelty to animals in all forms. Even hunting is restricted on this land."

"Is that an issue for you?" asked Sakura. "Are you a hunter?"

"No, but my family is. If an animal becomes a problem, I see no reason why we can't put it down. If a dog is barking at night, keeping you up at all hours, I say muzzle it and kick the damn thing until it learns to stay quiet."

"That's cruel!"

"You sound like the prince." The man started to turn into his home. "Mark my words, ever since that prince came into power after his parents died, this place has been going to the dogs. He's letting the animals rule rather than the humans. That's why they run amok. Animals are free to do what they want because he's too timid to do something about it." He slammed the door in her face.

"Isn't he friendly," Naruto muttered.

"That jerk!" Sakura turned away in a huff. "The next house better be better." Now she was in a foul mood. Naruto shouldn't get too close.

Once they were finished going from door to door, Naruto sneaked back to the palace and hid under the covers for a quick nap in his room. This was just what he needed. He was starting to get a headache from going without sleep. He was right in the middle of a good dream when he felt someone tugging on his jacket. "Nugh..! Whaaat?"

"Are you kidding me right now?" Neji was standing over him and he didn't look too pleased. "What did I tell you? Sleep tonight so you can get some rest. Now you're going to be up all night again."

Naruto rolled onto his back and pouted sleepily up at Neji, which only made him look adorable rather than threatening. "I just wanted to nap for a few minutes."

"When did you sneak in here?"

"You're the one who can see through walls. You tell me."

"No snide remarks!"

"I don't know. Before noon, I guess."

"It's 3:30 now."

Naruto didn't care. He wanted to get some more sleep before tonight.

"Get up, Naruto."

"What's the point? We're not doing anything. I interviewed those people with you guys. Now can I rest?"

"I told you to rest tonight so you can sleep properly. Do you ever once listen to anything I tell you to do?"

Naruto threw a pillow over his face and tried to tune him out.

"Naruto!" Neji pulled on the pillow. "I said get up this second!"

"And do what? What are we doing that's so important that I have to get up right this second? Tell me that."

"I gave you an order."

"So you just have to be the boss and bark orders, is that right?"

"We're also discussing the information we gathered from the people in town." Neji pulled Naruto into a sitting position. "Look, I'm not doing this to be mean or anything. I'm trying to help you but your problem is that you never listen and do your own thing. In order for you to get some rest, you have to stay awake until this evening. Otherwise, you'll be up all night again. Understand what I'm saying?"

Naruto grumbled. He understood perfectly. That wasn't the issue. The issue was that he wanted to be up all night so he could continue his kitsune training.

Neji stood up and left the room, promising to return if Naruto wasn't up in the next five minutes.

Naruto flopped back onto the bed with a groan. He thought of a way around this. If he made a Shadow Clone, then he could send the clone out in his place while the real Naruto slept. Then he put his plan into action and summoned up a Shadow Clone. Finally he could get some rest.

Until he felt something crawl into bed beside him and yank the covers away. "Good night."

Naruto looked at his clone. "Uh-uh! No, no. You go pester Neji so he'll get off my back while I finish sleeping."

"No way!" said his clone. "You go out there and I'll stay here."

"No! That's not what I brought you here for." Naruto pulled the covers away.

"I'm tired, too!" His clone yanked them back.

"I'm more tired than you are!"

"Wanna bet?"

Now they were in a tug-of-war over the covers and the bed. His clone kicked and shoved him off the bed several times which only provoked him into pushing his clone back. Now they were wrestling each other over the bed. They both wanted it.

Neji poked his head back into the room and watched Naruto attack his own clone. "Are you really that stupid or did you not think this plan through?" he asked. "When you make a clone, your clone is going to be your exact self from the moment you conjure it."

In other words, if Naruto created his clone when he was tired, then his clone was going to to be just as tired, too. It was a clone of him, after all. They were going to be the same.

"What the hell was I thinking?" He punched his clone in the face.

After the clone issue was settled, Naruto did manage to squeeze in another hour of sleep before leaving his room. He joined his team for an early dinner. To his dismay, the prince was there, right beside Sakura. Glaring, Naruto took his seat and watched them carefully.

"What?" said the prince, looking surprised. "The man in town said that?"

Sakura nodded. "He says he can't take you seriously. He also said that he's not the only one to think so. Other lands you trade with say the same thing."

"I know I'm young, but that shouldn't matter. My parents raised me to be the ruler of this land. From a very young age, I was taught a great many things. I'm familiar with laws and trade and money and so much else. I know what I'm doing. But if it's my age that has everyone concerned..."

"We spoke to your servants as well, but none of them feel the same way. They all think you're doing a great job."

"So far, only that one man seemed to voice his negative opinion," said Sai. "Everyone else had little to say on the matter. If they could think of anyone who would want to do you harm, it's in another land. Not here."

"I see." Prince Akio looked down at his plate, bottling up his feelings so no one could read him.

"Personally," said Sakura, trying to cheer him up, "I think you're doing a great job. Out of everyone, only that one man seemed to have anything really bad to say about you. You're clearly well-liked."

"Uh-huh, sure." Naruto poked at his plate, keeping his head down.

Akio smiled at Sakura. "You're such a charming girl. So caring and kind. I'm honored to have you in my company."

Naruto narrowed his eyes at the prince. This guy was getting on his nerves.

The prince waved a servant over to the table once they were nearly finished with their plates. "Please bring out the dessert I requested."

"Of course, Your Highness."

The servant went away and returned with a small cake in the shape of a lotus flower and placed it in front of Sakura. She stared at the detailed dessert with sparkling eyes. "Oh, wow. It's beautiful!" She almost didn't want to cut into it. It was truly a work of art.

"I had the servants make you this special dessert. I hope it's to your liking," said the prince.

"I love it. It's so pretty." Sakura held the plate up to her face to examine it from every angle. She couldn't keep herself from smiling.

And the prince couldn't take his eyes off her. His smile deepened as he watched her admire the dish he had prepared for her.

Naruto gripped his chopsticks so tightly they snapped in half. Who did this guy think he was?

After dinner and once Sakura had finished her dessert, the group went back to their rooms for the evening. The sun was just beginning to set. Naruto didn't have long. However, he had other things on his mind at the moment that had nothing to do with his transformation.

"Who does that guy think he is?"

"Are you going to start that again?" Sakura asked, putting her hands on her hips. "I told you, he's just being nice."

"He's hitting on you! Even Sai sees it and that's saying something!"

"Please leave me out of this."

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Hey, the guy's a prince. You heard him. He was taught how to treat certain people. Since I'm the only girl in the group, it shouldn't be that surprising that he'd treat me a little differently."

"A little?!" Naruto forced himself to laugh. "You're the only one who got a dessert at that table."

"You guys didn't ask for one."

"Neither did you!"

"I'm a girl. He must see that and think-"

"What do you see in him?"

Sakura stopped to take in what he had just said. "What I see in him?"

"Yeah!"

Sakura folded her arms. "Well, maybe, that he's kind and generous and thoughtful."

"He didn't even make you that dessert. His servants did!" Naruto pointed out. "If he really cared, he would have made it himself instead of having someone else do it for him. Yeah, he totally cares."

"When was the last time you did something that nice for me?"

Naruto didn't have anything to say to that.

"Ah-ha! See? Don't point out someone else's flaws before your own. Make me a cake and then we'll take."

"I offered you out on a date I can't tell you how many times!"

"Yeah, and then you ask me to pay! That's not a date!"

Neji and Sai's heads moved from left to right as Naruto and Sakura exchanged words.

"He's just being nice! He's just being nice, you keep saying," whined Naruto in a high voice, mocking her. "You know, he's hitting on you and I don't like that. He's a jerk. A total pervert."

"He hasn't said a single thing wrong to me since I got here and he never once made a move! Some pervert! You on the other hand!" Sakura shoved Naruto roughly into the wall and stormed down the hall. "You know," she said turning around briefly, "it wouldn't kill you to act more like a prince, Naruto!"

"Why would I act like that play-boy?!" Naruto shouted down the hall. "He's a perverted jerk, but I guess you're too dumb to see that!"

Naruto realized what he had just said a little too late. Neji and Sai backed away as Sakura came charging back down the hall with her fist raised high.

"You stupid... CHA!"

"Ahh!"

Naruto limped back to his room with a swollen face and a whimper. Neji shook his head. "I keep telling you to think before you act," he said. "Get some rest tonight. I don't want to drag you out of bed again like a stubborn two year old."

By the time Naruto turned his head to acknowledge him, Neji had already gone into his room and closed the door. Sai grinned at him and said, "I suppose this is the lover's quarrel I've been reading about for some time. Interesting."

Naruto pouted, which was difficult with his swollen cheek. "Any chance you know a book that tells you how to deal with girls?"

Sai thought. "Well, I did read in a magazine that flowers and candy are a good way to go. Then there was a mention of something else. But I wouldn't go there."

"Why not?"

"When I mentioned it to Sakura, she hit me."

Naruto went into his room. "Thanks a lot." He closed the door and crossed the room to open the window. Once it was open, he sat down on his bed and put a hand to his cheek. "Ow!" He took his hand away. He looked back out the window. The sun was just peeking out from the tops of the trees. Just a few seconds more.

The sun was gone.

Naruto squatted down on all fours and gave his body a shake. He looked down at his paws and felt his tail swishing from side to side. He was a fox again. Now he could have some fun. He couldn't wait. He jumped out the open window with ease and scampered off into the night.

The forest was alive, even at this hour. There were people still walking the streets outside their homes so Naruto had to be very careful not to be spotted. Once he reached the trees, it was smooth sailing. He met up with the foxes at the base of the mountain. Sonar, Lunabell, Aurora, Sammi, Egao, Superu, Ishi, and Seki were all there waiting for him with Ryosuke. Naruto was so happy to see them.

"Ready for tonight?" Ryosuke asked.

Naruto nodded his head. "What do I learn tonight?"

Aurora answered for him. "It's not enough to simply use fox fire. You must also live as a fox. Otherwise, this is all pointless."

Naruto grinned at her. "That sounds like fun. I'm up for it."

She shook her head from side to side. "You won't be saying that after what we'll be doing tonight."

"Why? What are we doing?"

"The same thing we do every night," answered Lunabell. "Find food."

Naruto cocked his head. "That's part of my training?"

"It should. After all, it's not enough to simply use fox fire. There's much more to it than that."

He looked to Ryosuke who seemed to agree with the other foxes. "There are still humans up and about so it will have to wait until later this evening. For now, we'll continue with your other training. Let's start with racing."

Racing again? Naruto thought he was good at that already. He didn't complain and joined them all in yet another race up and down the mountain. This was his third night doing it and he was even swifter than the first time. He was faster, too. He was able to keep with with Ryosuke. But still, he couldn't beat him.

When the insects of the night started chirping, Ryosuke switched things around. Now it was time to find food.

Ryosuke, Sonar, Lunabell and Seki took him down a different path from the others insisting that they would find food in this direction.

It was no wonder. They led him right to a farm where rows and rows of crops were growing in fresh soil. Naruto looked in different directions. Were they actually going to raid this field while the farmer was in bed?

"Hey, Ryosuke."

"Yeah?"

"We're not really going to take food from here, are we?"

"Sometimes we have to. There's very little to go around." Ryosuke led him into the field. "Don't worry. We only take what is needed and leave nothing behind."

"Nothing behind?"

"That means don't start to eat something then leave it on the ground," explained Seki. "Either finish it or take it with you."

"Oh, I see. Don't waste." Naruto thought that made a lot of sense.

Naruto stayed close to the others at the beginning. Once they started to fan out, he chose to remain close to Ryosuke. At first, he wasn't comfortable with taking from this field, then he thought about helping out his new fox friends and decided to do his part. They ate whatever they dug up and tried hard not to mess up the farmer's work.

"How often do you raid the fields?" asked Naruto.

"Only when we have to," he answered. "We usually dig through trash cans but that isn't always enough. Even with our diminishing numbers."

"Oh." Naruto lowered his head. How could he forget about the other kitsune who were cursed by Reevo? They must have had a lot of foxes to feed at one time. Now it was just the nine of them. Or ten if Naruto could be counted as one of them. It must have been difficult for them.

Naruto wandered further away without realizing it and found himself in front of a wooden building. From this angle, he couldn't tell what it was until a horse leaned its head out the opening. Naruto moved closer to it. It was a large brown horse with dark eyes. Even in the lack of light he could still see it quite clearly.

"You new?" it asked.

"Wah!" Naruto jumped back in surprise.

"Sorry!" said the horse. "I didn't mean to spook you."

Ryosuke lifted his head from the row of carrots and smiled. "Hello, Jack. Still up, huh?"

"With all the scampering you guys do, how can I sleep?" The horse laughed. "This one new? He's jumpy."

"Yeah, this is Naruto. Naruto, this is Jack. He's a good friend of ours."

Naruto looked from Ryosuke to the horse. "He can talk? Since when?" He had never seen a ninja horse before and he doubted this was one, which only made him wonder even more why it could talk. That took him by surprise. He wasn't expecting it.

"We're kitsune. We can understand what animals are saying," said Ryosuke.

"We can? I can? Sweet!"

Ryosuke dragged over a carrot from the field and tossed it up to Jack. "We're training Naruto how to be a kitsune. He was cursed, you see."

Jack finished the carrot and gave Naruto a sniff. "I see. Well, of all things to be cursed into being, this one isn't that bad."

"So you know about the two-tailed fox?" Naruto asked.

"Yup. These kitsune are friends of mine. We share and chat from time to time."

"Do you happen to know who the fox is? Who it's hiding as?"

Jack shook his head. "No. I spend most of my time here. I never travel into town. I stay here in the fields. I wouldn't be able to answer that."

"I see."

Ryosuke nudged him with his paw. "If it were that easy, we wouldn't have a problem, would we?"

"I guess you're right."

The foxes continued to gather what little food they could. First they fed themselves, then they tried to gather up leftovers in their mouths for the other foxes. Naruto watched them for a while, then came closer to help. One or two missing potatoes wouldn't be so bad. This was a large field. From this new perspective, it seemed to go on for miles. It was strange being this small.

Jack's head picked up and he thumped the wooden gate on his stall to alert the foxes. "Someone's coming! Hurry!"

Sonar picked up a cabbage in his teeth and took off. Seki grabbed a tomato and carried it away in his mouth. Ryosuke scooped up one of Naruto's potatoes. "Hurry, Naruto! Run!"

"Run?" Naruto looked straight ahead, a man was coming right at them with a shovel. Naruto had nearly forgotten that they were stealing from this man's field. He had better get out of the field before getting a scolding.

"Dirty pests!" The man swung the shovel which nearly hit Naruto in the head. That's right! They were foxes. Even Naruto. This farmer would kill him if he was given the chance. Naruto bolted. "Stay out of my field!"

Naruto looked back. The farmer was chasing them. He looked forward and saw the foxes scattering into the night. Naruto tripped over his own paws and tumbled. When he recovered, he saw the farmer standing over him with his shovel. Naruto rolled out of the way just in time and ran for it. The farmer was still chasing him! He ran as fast as he could, zigzagging across the grass and into the trees. He jumped over one bush then another and twisted around the trees in his path and around again. Before he knew it, he had backtracked back to the field. He stopped and looked around. There was the farmer, standing at the gate to his property, peering into the trees where Naruto had vanished. He still had that shovel, resting on his shoulder as if prepared to bring it down hard on anything that scurried out of the darkness. Naruto watched him carefully from where he crouched. After another minute, the farmer gave up and walked back to his house, shovel still on his shoulder.

Naruto breathed a sigh of relief. That was a close one. He turned and went back into the woods, taking a different route. There he rejoined the other foxes who had dumped all their food into a pile on the grass. Ryosuke came over as soon as he saw Naruto.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Naruto suddenly realized something. "I think I know why you had me race before heading out to get food. You have to be fast in order to escape and not get caught. If you're caught, they kill you."

Sonar nodded his head. "Yeah. A couple of us were killed that way in the past."

"So what did you bring back, Naruto?" asked Lunabell.

Naruto was at a loss for words. In his haste, he had forgotten to grab something and put it in the pile. "Uh..."

"You didn't get anything?"

"Sorry."

"It's ok," said Seki. "As long as you're alive."

"Let's get some food in us and we can get back to training Naruto," said Lunabell.

Naruto approached the pile and counted everything that was brought back. One small cabbage, one potato, one tomato, five bean pods and a half eaten peach with dirt on it. This was supposed to feed nine foxes? This was barely a snack for Naruto.

The foxes sat in a circle and started to divide up the food. The potato was bitten into thirds and so was the tomato. The peach half was halved again and given to Lunabell and Aurora. The beans were split among the males. The cabbage was saved for last and was pulled apart by their teeth. Whatever was bitten off was that fox's share.

Ryosuke dropped a piece of potato at Naruto's feet. "Here. Eat."

"I'm fine."

"Just because you didn't manage to bring anything back doesn't mean you go without. This is yours."

So they all shared. It wasn't a finders-keepers rule. Even if some failed to get food, the others still shared with the one who didn't bring anything back. They hunted for each other.

"I'm not that hungry. I ate before coming here." That was true. Naruto had eaten dinner not too long ago with his friends in the prince's dining room.

"Are you sure?"

"You guys need it more."

Naruto's share was given to Sonar.

This was how they lived? Was there really that little food?

"Doesn't this forest have anything to eat in it?" he asked.

"Very little," said Sonar. "There are other animals that live here besides us. Most of the time, they get to the food before us. Other animals are too big for us to hunt down and eat. It's hard. Which is why we needed those offerings."

"I see." This was a hard life for the foxes.

"Well, let's continue with your training, Naruto." Seki stood up and walked away from the others. "I'll help you out tonight."

"What about Ryosuke?"

Ryosuke looked down where the pile of food used to be. "I should help the others find some food. I'll train you later after that."

"I'll go, too," announced Aurora. "I'll make sure Seki doesn't do anything stupid."

"I'm careful!"

The group split up again. Naruto went with Seki and Aurora. At first, it was more fox fire manipulation. Naruto had excellent control over it. Partway through his training, Seki asked him a question.

"So how is your group doing? Is the prince alright?"

Naruto scoffed. "Sometimes, I wish he wasn't. He's hitting on Sakura. No one else seems to see it."

"Is she your mate?"

Naruto's blue flame disappeared. "Say what?"

"Is she your mate?"

"Uh..." If they meant 'girlfriend' he may have been able to give a good answer. Then again, maybe not. They weren't really dating. Then again, he really wanted to. Sometimes, he did say that they were an item. "Well, I guess you can sort of say that."

Seki grinned.

"What?"

"Foxes mate for life. Did you know that?" he said. "Once you've picked your mate, no one else can have her and you can't mate with anyone else. Only hers and only yours. Get it?"

"So make sure she's a good one because you're stuck with her forever," added Aurora.

That was something Naruto didn't know. So foxes mated for life. That was interesting.

"What about the others in your group? Do they know you're leaving at night?"

"No," he admitted. "No one knows anything. And because I'm doing this at night, I'm tired during the day. And because no one knows, they don't get why I am so tired. Neji's being a real pain in the ass about it, too."

"Neji? Who's that?"

"One of my friends. He's also leading the team."

Seki started grinning again. "Hey, Naruto... want to have a little fun?"

That peaked Naruto's interest. "What kind of fun?"

"How do you feel about messing with your group? You know? Pulling pranks."

"I did so many pranks when I was younger. I still love them!" Naruto was getting excited. "Sure! I'm fine with that. What did you have in mind?"

"Follow me."

Seki took Naruto back into town with Aurora not far behind. It was late now. All the humans were inside their homes and most likely all in bed. Now everything was quiet and it was easy to sneak around without being noticed. Seki led the way down the road and back into the trees. It seemed they were trying to keep out of sight. This path took them uphill. Naruto found it easier to walk uphill on four paws than on two feet. Then Seki came to a stop and waited for them.

"What is it?" Naruto asked when he caught up.

Seki pointed with his nose. "Take a look."

Naruto peered through the trees and noticed the large wall which surrounded the Prince's palace. From where they sat on the hill, they could see over the top of the wall and into the yard. It was just as Naruto thought. Part of the palace was built into the hill. No wonder he could see the grass from his second floor window. The steep hill went up to their windows on one side of the palace.

Seki moved forward slightly and then jumped, landing on the wall. It looked so easy. "Come on," he pressured.

Naruto bent his knees and sprang. His front paws made it to the wall but not his back legs and was left dangling over the edge. His paws slid on the smooth stone, making it difficult to climb up. Seki grabbed Naruto's scruff with his teeth and helped pull him up. Aurora jumped last and offered her assistance as well. Once Naruto was sitting on the wall, they moved back to let him move freely.

"Thanks."

Seki was looking into the yard.

"What is it?" Naruto asked.

"Them." Seki was pointing into one of the windows of the mansion. "Is that one of your friends?"

Naruto looked. Someone was moving inside the room. They were sitting in the middle of the floor, drawing something on a sketch pad.

"Is that Neji?" asked Aurora.

"No," said Naruto. "That's Sai."

"Then who is Neji?"

"He's got long hair. Can't miss him."

Aurora nodded. "Alright." She moved further down the wall, walking in a very cat-like manner.

Naruto and Seki watched Sai draw for a few more minutes. Naruto was getting bored.

"So he's an artist, is he?"

Naruto glanced up. "Yeah, I guess." Naruto lowered his head. "I wonder why he's drawing this late at night? Shouldn't he be in bed or something?"

Sai's hand was moving slowly across the paper, making fine details in his latest creation. Then the pace would pick up and the lines would appear faster on the paper. Then his hand slowed again. Then it stopped and he leaned back to admire his work. Then he would start up again. To Naruto, this was boring to watch.

Then Seki startled smiling. "We're in luck. He looks tired."

"Hm?" Naruto looked back into the room. Sai's hand was staying still longer and longer. Then Naruto noticed his head bobbing. "Oh, yeah. He does." Naruto turned his head to look at Seki. "Why's that good luck?"

"Because it makes it easier for us to do some of our tricks."

Inside the room, Sai's head picked up again and he lowered his pen. He started to pack up his sketch book. It looked like he was finally ready to go to bed.

"Now's the perfect chance," said Seki. "Fox fire."

Blue wisps spread from his tail and his paw. Then they leapt forward and into the room where they hovered in front of Sai's face.

"What are you doing?" Naruto hissed.

"Watch." Seki directed the flames with his paw.

The wisps of blue flame started to change shape. They morphed into butterflies and danced around Sai's head. Sai looked surprised and a bit confused. He kept track of their movements with his eyes. He started to stand up. Then he lifted his hands and whispered the word "Release."

"What's he doing?" asked Seki.

"I think he thinks it's a Genjutsu and he's trying to dispel it."

The butterflies didn't go away. They remained in the room, as stubborn as could be. Now Sai really looked confused.

Seki snickered and moved his paw again.

The butterflies drew closer together and formed a large butterfly which flapped its wings up and down, sprinkling light into the room, like fairy dust. Sai moved away slightly. When the wings slowed he moved forward and reached out his hand to touch it. The giant butterfly melted away and now Sai was staring back at himself. The butterfly had changed into Sai. It was a perfect clone.

Seki was snickering again. "Their faces are priceless, don't you think?"

Naruto had to admit that the confused look on Sai's face was pretty amusing. "So why is it the perfect chance again?"

"Because if a human is tired, they are easier to fool. Not only that but it helps hide our presence."

"How?"

"Well, usually we do this trick to humans who are just going to bed or are already nodding off. That way, when they see our illusions, they assume it's a dream they're having. If a human thinks they're dreaming, they won't bother to go and look for us. It makes it easier on us."

"Oh, that makes sense, I guess."

Inside the building, Sai was staring back at his reflection, very confused. It was as if a mirror had been placed before him. In fact, his reflection copied everything he did. Was this a mirror? He reached out to touch it and the clone pulled away. What in the world was going on? This couldn't have been a genjutsu, could it? No, he had just performed several removal techniques to no avail. This wasn't a genjutsu. And nothing was happening. If this was an enemy's doing, this clone would be attacking him or something. Instead, it was just standing there.

"What is going on?"

The clone smiled at him. Was this how he looked when he smiled at people? He looked pretty friendly, he had to admit. Then the clone pointed down.

Sai looked at the ground. The floor opened up and the floorboards fell into a dark abyss. Automatically, Sai flinched and threw his arms out, expecting to fall into this seemingly bottomless pit. But no such thing happened. He was standing in mid-air. He wasn't falling, even though the floor was gone. Sai kept his arms out and kept his knees bent, just in case. He felt as if he could fall at any minute.

His clone walked over to him, still smiling. It stopped in front of him and held out his arms so his body formed a T. Then the clone willingly fell backwards and fell into the darkness below. Sai watched his clone disappear, swallowed up by the nothingness, and felt even more confused than before. What in the world was happening? What was going on?

He didn't want to move, fearing he would, too, fall into the floor and become nothing. He looked around the room, hoping to find something that would help him. Perhaps a rope or a table he could jump to and hold on.

The ground began to move and squirm. Something with large eyes was looking back at him. Without thinking about it, Sai quickly moved his feet as it came closer. Sai was running in the air. The creature swam in the darkness, coming closer and closer. It leapt from the ground and went straight for him. Sai lost his balance and fell onto the bed behind him. Sai quickly pushed the blankets away and drew his knife.

The creature was gone and his room was back to normal. "Huh?" He looked around. Everything was in its place, just as he had left it. He was sitting up in bed with his knife drawn, staring around his room. "Was... that a dream? Did I dream that whole thing?"

While Sai racked his brain to figure this out, Naruto and Seki were laughing their heads off on the wall.

"That was great!" laughed Naruto. "Did you see his face?"

"I know! Great, huh?" Seki started walking across the wall, jumping over Naruto to take the led. "Come on. Let's find Aurora and get out of here before we're caught."

"Yeah, ok." Naruto walked behind him, still thinking about Sai's reaction. That was great! Naruto hoped he could pull off an illusion like that soon. His kitsune training was going so well, he had a feeling he could master it pretty soon.

Inside the palace, Sakura was pacing her room, dwelling on the events that transpired at dinner. "I can't believe Naruto can be that stupid! Does he really think that..?"

Sakura turned the other direction, pacing faster. She couldn't sleep, she was so upset. Muttering and pacing seemed to be the only thing keeping her from going to Naruto's room and beating him senseless. She would probably sleep a lot better if she did.

"Who does Naruto think he is, butting into my life, huh? Since when is he my keeper? Hmph! What a jerk! The prince is nice to me and he starts calling him a pervert! Stupid jerk! If Naruto's so jealous, why doesn't he try being nice to me like that? Yeah! He could treat me like a princess for a change and maybe say nice things to me like that. And he turns around and finds fault with the prince? Ha! The guy's been nothing but the perfect gentleman. Naruto, you're such an idiot! A stupid jerk!"

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She saw Naruto's face right in front of her, yelling about the prince and how she was too stupid to see what he truly was.

"I'm stupid?! Me?! He's the stupid jerk! At least the prince has never called me stupid! Who does Naruto think he is? Stupid jerk! Stupid jerk!"

The image of him came back into her mind and heard him say those words loud and clear. She couldn't take it anymore. She was so angry. Sakura picked up the closest object she could find, a bookend, and threw it out the open window and into the yard. "Stupid jerk!"

From out of nowhere, a bookend came flying and beaned Naruto in the head. He yelped and fell off the wall and landed in the yard.

Inside the house, Sakura saw the fox fall and gasped. "Oh! Oh, my gosh!" Thinking she had just killed an innocent animal, she ran out of the room and into the yard. "I'm so sorry! Are you alright?"

Naruto whimpered.

"Poor thing..." Sakura picked him up and carried him into the building where she could treat him. She set the animal down where the light was better and started to heal the bump on its head. Now that she got a good look at it, she realized what she had just injured. "A fox?"

Naruto opened his eyes, the throbbing going down. He looked up and saw Sakura kneeling over him. He yelped again and started to back away frantically.

"No, no! It's ok. I'm not going to hurt you."

Naruto remained silent and kept himself low to the ground. If Sakura discovered the curse, she would receive it, too. He couldn't let on that he was her teammate. He couldn't let her know who he was. He had to get out of here before she found out.

Sakura lowered herself to the floor and clicked her tongue. "It's ok. Come here," she called sweetly. Sakura had never spoken to him like that before. It was almost impossible to refuse. "Come on. Come here."

Naruto moved very slowly over to her, dragging his belly along the floor. Sakura reached out and stroked his head. It felt so good. Naruto moved closer and she picked him up. Sakura held Naruto in her lap and finished healing his injury.

"Good boy, good boy," she kept telling him while she stroked his fur. "Wow, your fur is so soft."

This was a dream come true! Naruto had fantasies of Sakura petting him and holding him in her lap like this. Only he wasn't a fox in any of those fantasies, but a human being. Maybe in a fancy robe while she also fed him grapes, but that was beside the point. He had always wanted this. Finally, some attention from Sakura. And it was positive! For once she wasn't beating him up when she touched him. He loved having her stroke his fur and coo sweet things in his ear.

She picked him up and scratched behind his ear. Naruto grinned happily at her. It felt great! "What a good boy, you are," she told him. "Amazing. Usually foxes aren't this tame. I never thought I would get so close to one like this and be able to treat you like a pet."

Naruto couldn't help it. This may have been his only chance. He leaned forward and tried to give her a kiss.

She wouldn't let him. Suddenly, Sakura was holding him close to her face, no longer smiling. She was looking in his eyes. His familiar blue eyes. "Wait a minute..." She moved closer, frowning. "Naruto?"

He gulped. He tried to look innocent. She still didn't know for sure. She was just guessing. As long as he didn't say anything, as long as he didn't do anything that would give himself away, he would be fine. Nothing would happen.

"Hmm." Sakura didn't look too pleased. She must have thought Naruto had transformed himself into something cute so that he could get some affection from her. Then she tapped his forehead. "Release!" When nothing happened, she yanked on his tail and pinched his skin. Naruto yelped in pain. "Sorry!"

Now convinced this couldn't have been Naruto, she went back to rubbing him. She was so sure it could have been him. Those looked like his eyes. When he didn't change back, no matter what she tried, she knew it couldn't have been him transformed. She must have been mistaken.

Sakura turned and looked out into the yard. A second fox was standing there watching them. "Is that your friend?"

Naruto stood up and moved closer to the yard. Seki was waiting for him.

"Ok, go on. Go with your friend."

Naruto looked back at Sakura then quickly went outside and followed Seki as he ran from the yard.

Sakura watched them go, convinced it couldn't have been Naruto. Seeing a second fox watching them proved to her that it must have been a normal fox. The second one didn't go inside nor did it attempt to approach her. These must have been wild foxes and that second one was looking for its friend but was too fearful of humans to get any closer.

"I guess it's just a regular fox."

On the plus side, Sakura had gotten over her anger and could get some rest now.

Once they were off the grounds, Seki turned to Naruto and asked, "What were you thinking? You can't get near humans."

"Sorry. But she-"

"Even if she's your friend and teammate, she's still a human. What if you gave away any hints of who you really are? She could get cursed, too. You can't risk it. Even if she's your friend, you can't get near her when you're in this state. Got it?"

"Uh-huh. Got it."

"Not only that, but if you're quiet, she'll think you're just an animal and she might try something or hurt you. She could have called for help thinking you were wild and dangerous. You have to be careful, Naruto. Avoid humans while you're a fox, ok? Please."

"I got it, Seki. I won't."

Seki came closer and nuzzled the side of Naruto's head, trying to offer Naruto some comfort. "I'm just looking out for you and your friends, ok?" When Seki pulled away, Naruto could sense a deep sadness inside him. Even Seki's gold eyes looked sad and full of pain.

This wasn't just a simple warning. Something must have happened to Seki. Something awful.

"Come on." Seki looked back and saw Aurora bounding up the road after them. "Let's get back."

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