Chapter 11:

The sun lingered in the sky, promising to set within the hour. Naruto sneaked more food into his bag at dinner while Neji made plans for that evening. Convinced that the assassin would appear again, security was increased around the palace and Neji wanted someone from their group to take the night watch.

"I can do it," Naruto offered. This way if he wanted to sleep during the day, Neji wouldn't complain.

"Perhaps I should do it," Neji said. "I think it will be much easier with my Byakugan."

"Don't trouble yourself," said the prince. "You kept an eye on the assassins last night. You deserve a rest. Please, my guards can do it. You have nothing to worry about."

"I thought you would be more concerned having an assassin running loose around your land," said Sai. "You're very good at brushing it off. Either that or you have a death wish."

"Sai!" Sakura scolded.

"All I'm saying is that he doesn't seem too concerned. That's all."

Akio chuckled lightly. "I just don't see what worrying will help in this situation. You all seem very capable. I trust you. And I trust my staff as well. I don't think I have anything to worry about. Besides, I believe that assassin is long gone after seeing you capture his comrades."

"Aren't you worried he may come back for them in that case?" asked Sakura. "If not to finish the job and kill you then to free his friends."

"If he ran away and left them, I don't think he'll be coming back," he answered.

"True," Sai agreed. "It was that way when I trained with-"

"Still. I think you should be more concerned, Prince Akio."

Akio smiled at her. "It's nice that you're worried about me."

"We all are."

Naruto stuffed a slab of ham into his bag. "Well, I'm full. So, I'll just..."

"We're not done talking, Naruto," said Neji.

"Oh. Well..." Naruto glanced around. Sunset was coming fast. He had to leave. He also didn't want to be caught inside again with all the food weighing down his bag. He had to get out of here before the change happened. "I was just... going to... to... uh, go check and see if the place is secure. Yeah, that's what I was doing."

"Shouldn't we come up with a plan about who does what and where?" said Sakura.

"I got this. Don't worry. Hey, the more people on guard the better, right?" Naruto started to creep closer toward the door. "So, I'll just be doing that. And yeah."

Sai looked behind Naruto. "Naruto, why did you bring your bag to dinner?"

"I was lonely."

"Lonely?"

"Yeah. So, bye!" Naruto ran out of the dining hall as fast as he could. "Whew!" He ran back to his room and slammed the door shut, opened the window and climbed out with the bag over his shoulder.

The sun was still out, but not for long. Judging from the long shadows on the ground, time before twilight was short. He had to hurry. He sprinted into the woods and to the clearing where the kitsune met each night. Naruto dumped the contents of the bag on the ground and tossed the bag to the side. As soon as he did so, the transformation occurred and he found himself on all fours.

"Made it."

A few minutes later, the kitsune appeared and greeted him warmly. They all shared in the food he brought and chatted about what they should do that evening. As Naruto looked around, he noticed that two foxes were missing.

"Where's Seki and Ryosuke?"

Ishi pointed his nose back toward the falls. "Over there."

Naruto wandered away from the group and further into the woods. Amidst the trees and roaring falls, he spotted them. They had their backs to him, looking at something on the ground. Naruto moved closer and stood beside them.

They were looking at the grave Naruto dug that day.

Seki turned his head when he sensed Naruto beside him. "Did you do this?"

He nodded. "Yes."

Seki stood, moved closer to Naruto and nuzzled him in thanks. Naruto felt the emotion in every fiber of this gesture. Seki was truly grateful as well as sad and relieved. "Thank you, Naruto. You brought my brother back."

Ryosuke was still eying the grave with a look of sadness and disgust.

Seki moved aside. They watched Ryosuke for a long time without a word.

"Ryosuke?" Naruto broke the silence.

The green-eyed fox didn't look at him. Even as he spoke in a quiet, sad tone. "I didn't want him to go."

Seki looked at him tearfully. Naruto listened.

"That night, I knew. I knew we shouldn't go into town. I told them so. But still, they went. Someone died."

"Ryosuke..."

He lowered his head over the grave. "He did it to protect you and Reki. To me, he was a hero. But the thing is, when it happened, all I could call him was a fool. Not for risking his life to protect his brothers, but for allowing you all to go into town in the first place. He shouldn't have died. Not like this."

Seki moved closer and brushed his head against Ryosuke's shoulder and rib. "It's our fault. It's mine and-"

"It is not your fault, Seki. I told you so the night it happened. I should have been there. I should have done something. Maybe I could have helped him."

"It's ok, Ryosuke."

"Such a thing to do to him. To take his fur and..."

Seki started crying. "I know. I know..."

They knew. They knew he was a pelt. Without even looking into the grave, they knew what had happened. Maybe they had known for a while. All of them.

Ryosuke walked over to Naruto. He lowered his head and touched his forehead to Naruto's. "Thank you for bringing him home."

"Sure."

Now they could say good-bye.

"Ryosuke."

"Yes, Naruto?"

"I want to go hunting again. Tonight."

"You sure?"

"I want to get better. I can do this."

Ryosuke gave him a smile. "Alright."

Naruto stepped tentatively around the large stone separating him from the mouse. He had been trying for a solid hour to catch one but every time he missed. This time for sure.

Don't run. Jump.

Naruto sprang out from around the stone and pounced on the mouse. It slipped from between his paws and started to run away.

Don't think like a human. Don't use your paws. It will continue to slip away.

"Rah!" Naruto lunged forward and caught the mouse in his teeth. It squirmed and squeaked. Naruto wanted to spit it out so much but this was what he had been training for. This was it. He bit down and felt the mouse pop in his mouth. He tasted blood. Naruto dropped the mouse on the ground.

He finally did it. He caught the mouse. He hunted it down and went in for the kill.

"You did it, Naruto!" Ishi hollered from the bushes. "Way to go!"

Naruto stood proudly over the dead mouse and grinned a foxy grin. "Yup!"

"Want to have another go?" asked Sonar.

"Yeah."

He hunted with the kitsune, darting around trees and uphill and over streams. It was hard and tiring work but he had finally managed to keep up with the rest of them. If one missed their mark, another one did their best to catch it. They leapt through the air, snapping at birds. Dove in the water, swimming after fish.

Then the big prize showed itself, scurrying out from under the brush. A rabbit. What a rare and lucky find. Rabbits weren't normally out this time of night and they were hard to catch. This was a team effort.

The rabbit made a dash for its role, but Sonar blocked its path, stepping over the opening. The rabbit then hopped under the safety of a bush, which Lunabell quickly dug up with her paws. Though she was the smallest and youngest of the group, she did her part to help catch their dinner. She flushed out the rabbit which then darted around a tree.

"Hurry!"

"That way!"

This was fun. It was like playing a game of tag. Naruto was enjoying this.

"On your left, Naruto!"

He turned his head. The rabbit had moved closer to his side. He could catch it. He quickly changed directions and sprang, mouth agape. His front teeth just grazed the rabbit's hind leg as it scampered away.

"Superu!"

"I'm on it!" Superu ran after it, keeping low to the ground. The rabbit's body stretched, gaining speed. It was running for its life. The rabbit made a sharp turn and Superu kept going, unable to turn that quickly. His body slammed into the trunk of a tree, his eyes on the prize rather than where he was going.

The rabbit was coming back towards them.

Now!

Naruto blocked its path and before it was able to turn, Naruto caught it in his teeth. The rabbit wiggled and twisted making it difficult to hold onto. Naruto's whole jaw vibrated and jiggled. It hurt! Naruto released his hold. The rabbit fell to the ground but it wasn't getting far with that injury. Naruto's teeth had broken through its stomach and ribs. It was going to die.

As the rabbit lay twitching on the ground, Ryosuke came up to deliver the killing blow.

The kitsune gathered around. The rabbit was just large enough for all of them to get one bite.

Ryosuke held the rabbit in his teeth and offered it to Naruto.

"Me?"

Ryosuke wasn't giving him the whole thing. He wanted him to help divide it up. Unable to use knives, they had to rely on their teeth to do any cutting.

Naruto stepped forward and took part of the rabbit in his teeth. Ryosuke pulled back and Naruto pulled a different way. Ryosuke's jaws were strong. They played tug-of-war over the rabbit until finally it broke in two. Ryosuke then divided the severed half of the rabbit among the other foxes. Naruto held the rabbit's lower half in his mouth while Seki, Lunabell and Ishi each took a mouthful. The only part remaining was the thigh. This was Naruto's share.

Naruto looked at the piece of meat on the ground with a grimace. It was raw meat. From an animal that was just alive moments ago. This was gross!

What it was like to be a fox. What it meant to be a kitsune. What it was to be one of them. Naruto had set out to find the answers. It was one thing to hear about it. It was another thing to live it. All their joys, all their hardships. Everything they had to endure he wanted to understand for himself. He couldn't really say he knew everything unless he did everything. Including this. He refused before. Now he couldn't. He had to do this.

Naruto leaned in and took the meat in his mouth and chewed it. It was so gamey. So chewy and moist. Naruto squeezed his eyes shut as he ate. He had to choke it down. He set out to do this. It had to be done. Naruto swallowed it.

It actually wasn't that bad. Would he want to do it again? Probably not.

Ryosuke was looking at him with admiration. Naruto smiled back with pride.

He was one of them.

He did everything they did. The training, the hunting, the scavenging, the eating. Everything. He felt he understood them a little more than he did at the start.

This was how they lived.

Naruto gazed out at the night sky. Once again, he felt as if he could reach out and touch the moon as he sat atop the mountain. What a beautiful sight. While the kitsune did have their hardships, there were plenty of happy moments. This view was one of the positives.

Naruto stretched out in the grass, enjoying a nice rest after hunting. There was no need to go into town tonight. They all had plenty to eat. Naruto didn't want to practice his fox magic either now that he knew that security had been tightened around the palace. He didn't want to risk running into a guard or one of his friends. That would be problematic.

As he rested, he heard some of the foxes talking. Curious, he got up to see what all the fuss was about.

"The burial was a nice gesture."

"No one said anything against it, Ryosuke. Naruto did a good thing. I'm just saying that it didn't have to happen."

"We've made peace with it. Why are you bringing it up?"

"Seki, he was your older brother. You should be upset about this as well."

"I told you I've made peace with it."

"And Reki? What about him?"

"He's still alive! I know he is!"

"I know you believe that, but it's been over a year since he vanished."

"Sonar, we know he's been cursed. We never caught the scent of his blood. He must be alive."

"Yes, along with Senbon, Tsuki, Rema, Otto... All our kitsune brethren."

"I know that! I'm just saying that things are getting worse. But maybe there's a blessing in all this."

"Like what?"

"Naruto was cursed as well, right? He's not an object. Maybe Reevo's weakening. This would be a great opportunity to try catching him and end this nightmare."

"Or get yourself killed in the process! Reki tried and look what happened to him!"

"Aurora! Seki is right beside you!"

"He's aware!"

Naruto stepped beside Lunabell and Ishi. "What's going on?"

"A touchy subject just came up."

Ishi nodded. "Sonar thinks it would be a good idea to go looking for Reevo. Seems you've inspired him."

"That's great, isn't it? More numbers, the better our chances."

Lunabell shook her head. "It's not that simple. Aurora thinks going and searching all together at once will allow Reevo to curse everyone at the same time, thus eliminating us all. There will be no one left to stand against him."

"I'll help you, though. I promised I would."

"We know. But Ryosuke thinks you shouldn't have to risk your life for our sake. Aurora thinks we should stop looking because every time we do, someone gets cursed. Sonar thinks we have a chance."

"Because his curse on me only made me into a kitsune at night and not an object?"

"Yes. He thinks you're a sign. He's certain we should try."

Ishi whispered, "He's also pissed about the... you know. Pelt."

"Yeah, I can understand that," said Naruto.

"He's pissed off at the human, yeah. But he's convinced that Reevo had something to do with it."

"How's that?"

"Because the offerings stopped around the same time Reevo ran off," barked Sonar. "If the offerings hadn't stopped, there would have been no reason for them to be in town and Seki's brother wouldn't have been killed."

"So, you think Reevo's the one who put a stop to the offerings?" Naruto asked.

"He wouldn't have the means," said Aurora. "All the humans gave offerings. What could he have done to convince them all to stop? He would have had been a very powerful human in order to do that."

"Humans stick together, too, you know! All they need is one human to stop and give a reason as to why and then they'll all do it. Follow example."

"And we were attacked so quickly," pointed out Superu. "Maybe a human made up a story about us being dangerous and attacking someone. That way when we showed up, they would assume we were a threat and attack."

"Exactly!" snapped Sonar. "And who else would do that? Not just a human, but the human form Reevo stole!"

"But why would he do that?" asked Lunabell. "All he wanted was the life of a human. Why would he want to harm us? True, he never did like us, but still. It doesn't make sense to me."

"They can't be connected. We're reaching here," said Ishi. "We have no proof."

"Fine. But even if you put all that aside, he's still going around cursing us. We've lost so many already. Losing someone to a human is one thing, but to our own kind?! He was a part of our group!"

"He's trying to keep us from learning who he really is," said Ryosuke. "That's obvious. We've already concluded that. He's afraid if we find out who he is, we'll tell on him and then all the humans will gang up."

"It's bad enough that he's stolen a human's life and no doubt cursed him to keep him quiet, but he's going after us, too? That's too much!" cried Sonar. "We have to act! With Naruto helping us, I'm sure we can beat him."

"We don't even know where he is!" yelled Aurora. "Haven't you been listening? You haven't got a clue yourself. So, we're just going to charge into town and attack anyone and hope for the best?"

"We don't attack humans!" said Ryosuke firmly. "We never have and never will. Remember what our ancestors told us? We do not give a reason for the humans to find us dangerous. Then what's stopping them from attacking us whenever they want and deeming us a threat? They wanted to prove that we could live side by side. And so do I."

"That ship has sailed thanks to Reevo," scoffed Sonar. "He's giving us a bad name. He's taken a human's place. That trick is to be used for fun, not to take over someone else's life!"

"He's already done so!"

"Which is why I say we put an end to this!"

"We cannot do that!" yelled Eago. "None of us are strong enough. Even if we all attack together, the fact of the matter is that we only have one tail. The lot of us. No one here is a match for him."

Naruto's heart pounded. There was hope. They did have someone who was a match for him. "Except Ryosuke!" Naruto pointed at him. "He's started to grow his second tail. He could take him!"

The kitsune all turned toward Ryosuke whose eyes went wide with fear.

"You... you're getting your second tail?"

Ryosuke's ears lowered.

"When did that happen?"

Naruto looked at Seki who was drawing a line across his throat with his paw. "What?"

"No one's supposed to know that," he hissed. "I'm the only one who knew."

"You told him?!" Ryosuke yelled.

Seki cringed. "Sorry!"

"I didn't know it was a secret!" Naruto felt awful about ratting him out. However, now that it was out in the open, this was a golden opportunity to convince Ryosuke to become the leader they all wanted him to be. "But, Ryosuke, this is a good thing, isn't it? You'll be a match for Reevo. You can stop him. Not only that, but you can become the le-"

"No!" he snapped loudly.

"But..." Why? Naruto couldn't understand. "But they need a leader. You would make a great one."

"No, I won't. Let someone else do it."

"But you would be great! Listen, they need a leader. You can do it. I know you can."

"No!" he snapped again. "I won't do it. I'm not going to be the leader."

Naruto couldn't believe how stubborn Ryosuke was being. Clearly, they needed one and he was the most eligible. "But you're perfect for the job! You're strong and fast and you're caring and you have good ideas. Stop suppressing it and let your tail split already."

"You've been suppressing it?!" yelled Aurora. "How long has this been going on?!"

"You mean we could have been looking for Reevo and attacked him sooner than this? Why did you wait?" asked Eago angrily. "We could have done something by now! How long have you been doing this? We have a fighting chance because of you!"

Ryosuke turned away. "Enough. I said I won't be the leader."

"We need one!" cried Lunabell. "We wouldn't have to argue about everything, no one would sneak off on their own. Things would get done a lot quicker. You could-"

"I'm not going to be the leader. That's final."

Stubborn, stubborn, stubborn! They all had his back but Ryosuke still refused.

"Come on, Ryosuke!" Naruto pressed. "They're all in your corner backing you up. You can do this. They all have faith in you. Just become a two-tails already."

"I said no, Naruto! I won't! I don't want to be the leader so drop it!"

"Is it because you're afraid you'll end up like Reevo?"

The air became so still in that moment. Nothing made a sound. Not even the kitsune who looked the most shocked Naruto had ever seen them. Either it was because they never knew this or because Naruto had the gall to say it out loud to Ryosuke's face.

"Is that why?" Naruto broke the silence. "You're afraid of turning into him?"

Ryosuke turned his head to look at Naruto over his shoulder. He looked as if Naruto had just screamed his deepest darkest secret out loud to the whole world and then ridiculed him for it. He looked shocked and frightened. And angry.

"Just because he's that way doesn't mean you will be." Naruto wasn't trying to get on his nerves. In truth, he was trying to comfort him. However, instead of his voice being gentle, he was stern and spoke as if he were scolding him. "Just become a two-tails already!"

"I won't! I don't want to!"

"Screw that! Why would you hold yourself back like that? That's stupid! I always try my best. I never hold back!"

"There are times when you have to."

"Everyone wants you to be the leader. Just do it already!"

"I said no! I won't do it! Leave it alone!"

"Stop being such a coward!"

"Enough, Naruto! Stop it!"

"Become a two-tails! You can't fight it forever!"

"Stop!"

"If you care about these kitsune as much as I think you do, you'll become a two-tails and get it over with!"

Ryosuke turned where he stood and rushed at Naruto. He stopped an inch from Naruto's face and spat, "Drop it, Naruto!"

"Not until you do it! Suck it up and become leader!"

"I won't do it!"

"For them!"

Ryosuke slashed Naruto across the face with his claws. It stung. "Stop talking about it! Just stop when I tell you to stop!"

"Why?!" Naruto pushed him back with his front paws. "You're not the leader so you can't tell me what to do! Become the leader then tell me what you want!"

"I want you to shut up!" Ryosuke shoved him back.

"You're a coward!"

Ryosuke bit him on the shoulder. Naruto kicked him in the stomach. When Ryosuke wouldn't release his hold, Naruto bit him on the shoulder in turn. Ryosuke planted his front paw on Naruto's gut and pushed down pressing the air out of Naruto. Naruto opened his mouth, rolled onto his back and pushed Ryosuke off him with his hind legs.

"If this is how you are, Ryosuke, then I don't know why they want you to be leader!" Naruto charged and gave Ryosuke a shove with his front paws again and again. "You're not so tough! You stupid! Weak! Baby!"

Ryosuke shoved him back, harder. "You know nothing about it!"

"I know they need someone to look after them!" Naruto slashed Ryosuke across the face, drawing blood. "You can do it, can't you? Or can't you?!" Naruto slashed again.

"Why couldn't you just drop it when I said so?!" Ryosuke slashed him across the jaw and then across his forehead. "What do you know about it?!"

"I know you can do it! And so do they!" Naruto bit him again.

This time, Ryosuke snarled and pounced on Naruto, even as Naruto still held him in his teeth. Naruto was thrown backwards and onto the ground. Ryosuke landed on top of him and started clawing Naruto's exposed underside. One slash after another stung Naruto's stomach and chest and warm blood began to flow. When Naruto slashed back, Ryosuke bit him on his paw. A scream broke from Naruto's throat. Ryosuke's teeth broke through the tender pink flesh of his paw pad. Ryosuke kept him pinned as he snapped his teeth again and again, snarling.

"I won't become a two-tails!"

"What are you so afraid of?! They need you!"

"Not me!"

"They believe in you so why don't you believe in yourself?!"

"Because I never thought Reevo would do this to us! I believed in him, too!"

Naruto bit Ryosuke's muzzle and Ryosuke quickly turned his head to the side and chomped down on Naruto's nose. "Ow!" Ryosuke held Naruto down with his paw and bit Naruto on the neck, tearing off some of his fur. "Ahh!" Naruto kicked Ryosuke in the stomach and tried to get up. Ryosuke easily overpowered him and sent him back down. He bit Naruto's rib and his upper leg as he tried to get back up.

Ryosuke was strong. Stronger than him. Naruto hadn't been a fox as long as Ryosuke had. He had to learn everything that came so naturally to them. No wonder they wanted Ryosuke to be leader. He was clearly strong enough.

"You're not Reevo!" Naruto snapped.

"He's a two-tails!"

"So, you're worried that you'll become like him when you get another tail?! That you'll change?"

Ryosuke gave Naruto one final swipe across the face before stopping the assault. He let Naruto up. Both were panting and bloody. Naruto got the worst of it. He was covered in scratches from nose to tail. Even his back was stinging from scratches and throbbing from being thrown down so many times.

Sonar, Lunabell, Aurora, Sammi, Egao, Superu, Ishi, and Seki all watched from where they stood, helplessly. None of them tried to stop the fight. No doubt this was one of their kitsune ways. If one challenged the other, as Naruto had done, it was a fight between the two of them and no one was allowed to interfere. Ryosuke could have killed Naruto in that fight but he showed restraint. Naruto provoked him but he still managed to control his rage to a point. Now that the fight was over, there was nothing to be said. They continued to watch them in silence.

Ryosuke, though the victor, hung his head and walked away toward the cliff.

It wasn't over. Naruto wanted to finish this. Not with claws and teeth but something else. Something else he was good at without realizing it.

Naruto followed Ryosuke to the cliff and refused to leave. Not until this was done.

"You're not Reevo," he said.

Ryosuke kept his head lowered as he sat by the cliff overlooking the town below.

"You're not Reevo," he repeated. "Ok? You're not. So, you won't end up like him."

"How can you be so sure?" he asked quietly.

"Because you're you." Naruto changed his voice to a more gentle tone. "Just because you get a second tail doesn't mean you'll become like him."

Ryosuke turned away. "He has two tails. He became worse."

"Wasn't he always like this?" Naruto asked. "Didn't you guys tell me that Reevo always hated being a kitsune and living the life of a fox? He always envied humans and wanted to live as one. He was always like that. He never liked any of this. You do and always did. You love being a fox and you love your friends. Reevo doesn't. The second tail didn't make him this way. He was always this way. He used the tail as an excuse."

Ryosuke glanced over his shoulder at Naruto.

"When he got his second tail, then he had the power to do what he always wanted. He didn't change, Ryosuke. He was always that way. He used the tail as an excuse. You see? It's not the tail. It's him. And it's you. He chose to do this."

"How can you be sure?" Ryosuke's voice was sad and fearful. "How can you be sure that it isn't the power or the second tail that does it? When you're capable of doing something... then won't you do it? Just because you could? Maybe it's beyond your control."

Naruto moved closer to Ryosuke. "Let me tell you something. It's about me and a friend of mine, ok? We both had this great power placed inside of us from terrible beasts. It made us monsters in the eyes of a lot of people. I was always alone and hated and no one ever told me why. But eventually I found some friends and I became close to a bunch of people. Some knew about this beast and didn't care. But my friend, he had the same life as me. I kept trying to make friends and do good things even when no one thought I could. With my friend, he gave up. Since everyone called him a monster, he embraced it and decided to be bad because he figured they would hate him no matter what. Not only that but if they called him a monster, then he must have been. There was no way he could be good and no one would ever like him so he might as well do terrible things and prove them right. He gave up, and I didn't."

"What happened to him?"

"Well, we met each other and that's when I found out he was like me. It scared me a little to know that I could have ended up just like him. We ended up fighting and at the end of the battle, I told him about how we were the same but no matter what there was always hope. I told him he could change. That people could like him and that he didn't have to be a monster. That I would be his friend. That way, we could be lonely together. Out of everyone in the whole world, at least we could relate to each other. And you know what? He changed. He turned it all around. He started to protect people and he even became the leader of his own village. Everyone looks up to him and he has a lot of people who care about him. Even the people who were once afraid of him became his friends. It all got better."

Ryosuke lowered his head again.

"It's all about choices. Just because you're capable of doing something or have a certain power doesn't mean it's destiny. I have another friend who thought you couldn't change yourself. That everything was predestined and that fate couldn't be changed. He learned he was wrong and now he's better, too." Naruto lowered his head to look at Ryosuke's face. "My friend and I had the same power but two different things happened. Same thing with you."

Ryosuke still looked worried. "I do care about my friends. I love them all. That's why I don't want to hurt them. I'm worried if I do become a two-tails I'll become like Reevo. But I'm also worried that if I become leader, that I'll lead them to ruin. I don't want to hurt them."

"It'll be fine. You're caring and protective. You won't do anything to hurt them."

Ryosuke lifted his head. "Can you guarantee it?"

"Uh..." Naruto wasn't sure what to say.

"Can you promise that I won't make things worse for them? That I won't become like Reevo? That I can protect them?"

Naruto was still silent. Not because of what Ryosuke just said or how sadly he said it. But because of the tears flowing from his eyes. Ryosuke was crying. He was so afraid of becoming someone else and hurting people he cared about. He was afraid changing into a two-tails would change him.

Ryosuke started to sob. "Can you promise that?" he cried, tearing running down his muzzle. "Can you?"

Naruto nuzzled him in the way the kitsune did when comforting each other. "Anyone who worries that much and cares that deeply for his friends can't become like him. You'll be fine."

Even so, Ryosuke continued to cry. His tears fell from the cliff's edge and mixed in the pool of water below, made by the waterfall.

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