Chapter Two :Bonds

Kurama drummed his nails up and down staring at Naru who was now in his ball of chakra healing the damage and keeping her nutritious and healthy while she was basically stuck in a coma.

A quick knock on the apartment door made him tune back in sensing Hiruzen's chakra outside the apartment. 'You're already informed huh….' He thought heading to the door and opened it looking at the elder who gave a small smile.

"Evening Naru-chan, may I come in?" He said and walked in as she stepped back.

"What's going on?" She questioned as he sat at her kitchen table.

"I wanted to come speak with you, I had an interesting conversation with Iruka earlier." He said.

Figures…

"About what?"

"He informed me of your change, you have excelled in a short amount of time." He said, she gave a tiny shrug. "By the looks of your grades and the score on your practice…" He said, eyeing her closely looking for any kind of sign that something was different about her.

"I just figured it's time to stop playing and get serious." She replied. "I can't depend on anyone else to save me."
"You can always come to me, Naru. I will do what I can to help."
"While I appreciate that Hokage-sama, you have a village to run and keeping your eye on the jinchuuriki is pointless."

Hiruzen jolted as she stared at him with a deadened stare. "Where did you learn that title Naru?"

"Books, people, knowledge." She vaguely answered. "As I said I can and will protect myself from now on. I'll see that nothing will happen to Uzumaki Naru from this moment on." She said, "I'll prove that these humans are blind and wrong." Kurama shook his head, finding himself responding more in his voice than Naru's.

"Well Naru-chan, I will do what I can to aid you in your journey, I'll always help." He stood and walked to the door.

"I'm sure you will." She muttered.

Hiruzen walked from the apartment, giving a small signal to the anbu. "Keep watch on her, report any suspicious activity." He said watching the anbu disappear. 'That's not Naru in there.'

o0o

"Hey Uzumaki!" The girl turned at the call seeing a group of familiar bullies walking up, all with cocky and almost devious smirks. Kurama sneered as his senses picked up the dark intent that they were giving off.

"What is it you want Hibachi?"

"We were talking, with the way your skills improved, you can join our group. If you want.."

"Why the sudden interest? Just because I got some skills?"

"Well it's not gonna be that easy, you gotta do a courage quest. Do it and you're in."

Naru squinted at them waiting. "In the backwoods, my father said enemies were holed up, a battle ensued driving them out of the village, if you can bring some kinda souvenir, we'll let you join us."

"I'll think about it.." She said as she turned and walked away. 'Obviously they're up to no good, but she needs some bonds for the future and this is about the only way…' Kurama deduced, leading his host away to prepare her for what may happen next.

"Really Hibachi? We're gonna let her in the group?" Unagi whispered as they watched her go.

"No you moron! Dad said those enemies are still out there, if she goes out there … they're gonna kill her, she'll never make it out alive." He chuckled darkly.

"You're so evil." Unagi laughed, not seeing the figure behind them leaving quickly.

o0o

Naru slipped through the thick brush of the Backwoods, avoiding Daikoku's watch as he tried to see the class away from the brush and danger. Truly because of the feelings this chunin had for her she could have simply walked up and said that was where she was going, but it was much better this way.

She took in deep breaths as she trekked deeper and deeper into the woods, avoiding traps and dangers and soon came upon the signs of a battle, she took another sniff that was unmistakably the smell of blood.

As she continued to search for nearly hours only finding traditional Konoha weapons. She flinched as a ray of sun reflected off metal hidden high up in a tree, she quickly climbed the tree finding the odd shaped kunai with a small scroll with faint writing on it, wrapped around the handle.

She jumped down the tree pocketing the weapon and turned back to get out before it was too late.

A katana slammed in the dirt by her feet making her fall back and looked up as four masked ninjas landed on the branches above twirling shuriken around their fingers. "Hand over that kunai kid, it belongs to us." The obvious leader of the group said.

"Tsk, I found it, it's mine. If you want it, come take it." She said, ripping out a kunai with a paper bomb, they jumped back in fear as the paper sizzled before going out.

"It's a dud!"

"She's gone!" They cried out seeing Naru disappear.

"Grr fan out! Find her and get that kunai NOW!"

Naru slid through the tall grass as quietly as she could, quite happy it was still a good foot over her head. 'Didn't plan for four enemies.' Kurama cursed as he led Naru through the woods. She froze as quick multiple steps sounded coming right at her from the left, she quickly spun around giving a rounding kick connecting with her followers face sending them tumbling back with a pained yelp before a familiar yapping of a puppy, she pushed through and found Kiba laying back with his puppy yapping.

"OW!" He whined holding his bruised and swollen jaw.

"What the hell Inuzuka?!" She snarled, making Akamaru yap at her.

"I hear something!"

"Shut your puppy up!" She hissed.

"What's going - mmph!" He yelped before Naru slapped her hands over his mouth and Akamaru's muzzle as the enemies passed above them quickly. "What's going on?" Kiba whispered.

"Go back to the class, find Iruka-sensei, tell him there are enemies here." She said in his ear looking before rolling her eyes at the pink hue on his cheeks as he stared closely at her. "GO!" She barked, he nodded, scrambling away quickly through the trees.

'Stupid humans.' Kurama cursed as his movements drew the enemy's attention. He launched her body forward in front of the enemies and led them away from Kiba.

She grunted as an enemy tackled her forward, sending them tackling down a hill causing her to smack her head on the dark ground.

'Shit! Not as indestructible as normal! Gotta keep that in mind.' Kurama cursed as a headache ricocheted through her head giving him the same pain.

Naru circled the enemy as they stumbled up disoriented like her, Kurama let his chakra cover Naru's hand creating a large clawed hand of pure burning chakra. The woman dodged as Naru swiped at the woman who dodged and threw her own defense moves.

"You're talented for an academy student." She commented as she kicked Naru's thigh.

"Naru! Naru, where are you?!" Iruka's voice echoed closer, Kurama groaned letting Naru take the image of helpless, letting the woman deliver some painful hits followed by a deep cut on her side.

'You're one lucky bitch I can't properly fight, I'd rip your head off with my teeth.' Kurama growled deeply and used all his control not to fight since Iruka's chakra was closer. He watched as she drew her blade once more about to kill her.

Iruka launched from the trees landing in front of Naru blocking the blade with a kunai. "Your student is mighty talented, it's a shame to see her potential going to waste pretending for you all."

"You won't hurt anyone in this village." Iruka growled using his might to shove the girl backwards leaving a kunai embedded in her shoulder. Taking the opening Iruka turned yanking Naru to his shoulder and took off quickly. "Are you okay?" Iruka questioned, he watched in mild shock as he saw Naru's hand stained in crimson blood.

"I'm cut…" She replied in a mumble.

"Don't worry the anbu will be here shortly, thankfully I made it in time, Kiba said you snuck out, why would you do this?! You belong in class."

"Why? Because everyone would be so upset by my absence.. no one in that class wants me around, just like in the village."

Iruka looked down at her words, feeling ashamed of the way he treated her. His personal resentment for the beast inside caused him to fail his objective of being a Konoha academy instructor. He was to uplift, shape and perfect the young to one day be a strong proud ninja.

"I'm sorry Naru." He said quietly. "I turned my back on you…"

"She's - I mean I'm used to it." She replied. "They're gaining." She informed him as the ninja gained speed.

"Shuriken Kage bunshin no jutsu!" They called, throwing a few shurikens before they multiplied scratching the duo.

Iruka watched in shock as a kunai from his direction passed him and exploded behind him, stopping the enemies in their tracks.

"Who?" He questioned to see a Konoha jounin land on the branch between him and the enemies. "Kakashi-san!" He said in relief.

"Glad to see you two okay, the young Inuzuka is quite vocal about the danger of 'his girl'..." He said, Naru let out a groan dropping her head down as her ears turned pink. "Stupid…." She muttered and slid from Iruka's arms.

"Hey! We're not done with that kid! She's got something that belongs to us!"

"Feel free to try taking it." Kakashi warned, spinning a kunai around his finger, fixing them with a fierce glare.

"You're mine!" They turned to see the unnoticed enemy shoot towards Naru who stumbled backwards in shock.

Kakashi appeared kicking the enemy in the chin, making her slam head first into the solid ground.

"Kanashibari no jutsu." They watched the enemies freeze in place before being surrounded by anbu.

"What are children doing this far back?" The captain of the team questioned after they bound the enemies.

"She snuck from the group."

"What did you take, kid? They obviously were after you for something." He said towering over her. She huffed, pulling the kunai from her pocket. The captain took the weapon pulling the paper off, reading it quickly before giving a 'tsk'. "The Hokage will want to speak with you child."

"I'll take her, first to get bandaged then to the Hokage." Iruka butted in and led Naru away.

"I can handle this on my own-" She began as they sat in the doctors room.

"Naru, I know I - well everyone treats you unfairly.. I am one, and it was wrong of me. I am responsible for my students and instead of trying, I simply pushed you aside, you could have been killed today."

"Again I'm used to it. Home, out and about, school, stores, my birthday, every night." She shrugged.

"No longer, if you'd let me, I'd like to start over."

Kurama snorted in shock at the so far ease of making some bonds for his host.

"S...sure." Iruka crouched down so he was eye level and smiled.

"From this moment on you can view me as an older brother okay?"

"Okay."

'He accepted me! He accepted me!' Naru's own voice echoed, Kurama looked at his host, a smile graced her sleeping face. 'Seems even in a coma she's experiencing it all.'

"Thanks Iruka-sensei… really you don't know what it means to me. I finally have someone there for me.."

"Trust me when I say this, you have more people with you than you realize, there are people who will follow you to the ends of the Earth…."

"I know, I know Kiba." She rolled her eyes.

"Mmm not just Kiba. Pay attention and show up for class. I can promise you'll be surprised." He winked before he stared into her eyes. "Tell me this, what's your dream?"

"Dunno, kinda a mystery." 'Especially since she won't wake up.'

"Well with your charm and determination I think you could become Hokage…" He said with a smile. "One that leads us into a new future. But you have to work hard and no more skipping class. I'll drag you in if you skip." He said ruffling her hair, she chuckled with a nod as a tear slid down her cheek.

-o0o-

The next school day Naru walked through the academy early in the morning hoping to avoid everyone. Her lip curled as Hibachi and his followers stepped in front blocking her path. "Move." She warned.

"What happened Naru? Thought you'd bring us something from the backwoods." He said with a sarcastic tone.

"Sigh…..Hibachi leave me alone, this is your only warning."

"My only warning? Hah! Get her!" He barked, Naru dropped her bag watching as the two ran around reaching to grab her arms, she jumped up making them run face first into one another.

"If you wanna fight, you'll fight properly." She said staring the boy down, he threw a punch which she dodged and punched his jaw. He continued with punches which she dodged until she grabbed his arm throwing him into the wall twisting it behind him and pressed closer.

"Get off!" He barked and wiggled around. His followers sprang up tackling her to the ground getting two punches on her before Kurama used his chakra to throw them backwards, she threw Hibachi down punching and gave him a bloody nose. Kurama leaked killer intent, making the boy shake in utter fear as he stared deep in her burning red eyes.

"Come near her again and I'll make your death slow." He rumbled, the boy scrambled away with a cry of fear as she pulled away.

Naru huffed, yanking her bag up and paused as she spotted Sasuke leaning against the wall watching.

"What are you looking at Uchiha?" She sneered and brushed past him and headed to her room. Sasuke followed behind sitting next to her.

"It was cool what you did…" He muttered, she looked at him with a smirk before she leaned back and kicked him from the seat. He blinked in shock and confusion as she glared at him.

"Who said you can sit next to me?" She spat.

"Yeah Uchiha! I'll be sitting here, you be a good boy and sit somewhere else!" Naru groaned as Kiba entered smelling of wet dog and men's cologne that was obviously poured on.

"No you won't. Either of you." She said tossing her bag next to her and stared out the window.

Both boys sat in front of her, both looked at her and shot malicious glances at one another.

"Leave me alone." She growled.

"Tsk Uchiha, since when have you cared about anything other than yourself?" Kiba taunted the boy, making him blush faintly and shift slightly.

'Since she came in…' He answered in his mind.