Author's Note

Alright I'm back with chapter 20. Wow, I never expected this story to grow so large, nor did I expect it to gain so much traction. I can't believe it's already over one hundred thousand words. We've also got over sixty two thousand views, which for me is insane.

Uploaded

12/05/2022

LEGEND BELOW

"Don't push it..." = Normal speech.

''O-Oh gosh, this is too embarrassing!'' = Normal thoughts.

"Someone has a death wish." = Bujuu/beast Naruto talking.

''Please make it end...'' = Bujuu/beast Naruto's thoughts.

Chapter 20

A small reunion with lost friends/The first part of the Chunin exams gone awry.

Rated-M

For the first time in a while, Uzumaki Naruto, the Kyuubi No Kitsune had nothing to do. Now, suffice it to say that that explained many of his days, but he always had the option to associate with people he knew. If he couldn't stay home with Hinata, join her on missions, or do anything with her, there was always the option of joining a friend.

However, everyone he cared to associate with this morning was either taking part in the exam, or was a proctor of the exam.

So, speaking clearly, that left him alone for the day. Usually he'd go home now and loaf around, but, now his mind was preoccupied with worrisome thoughts. He couldn't help but feel useless, knowing that she was to be without him.

He sighed, tails flickering about behind him nervously. He knew he shouldn't be as concerned as he was, but he couldn't help it. He had already been very defensive for her, but now that their relationship had extended to where it was, it felt more personal.

He needed to calm down, take his mind off of these stresses that plagued him so thoroughly. The idea of once again hitting the hot springs was a nice idea, but maybe this time he could get a massage…

"Thank you! Come again!"

He stopped in the middle of the road, ears inclined towards the sound of a voice. He turned, finding a few ninja leaving a small food stand. He stared at it for a moment, before deciding to attend it himself.

A few strangers left the establishment, passing by him silently. He ignored them as their pace quickened, eager to get away from such a close proximity. He raised a red painted claw to the curtains, parting them as he stepped through. The smell that hit his nose was like a blast from the past.

Without saying anything, he took a seat. Just behind the counter was a cute looking brunette, who was busy cleaning. She must not have heard him enter. To keep his mind busy, he grasped one of his many tails, holding it in his lap as he gently ran his claws through it.

It took him sitting there for a while before she took notice of him.

"Oh! I didn't hear you ent-… er…" She spun around, eyes sparkling with a happy smile on her face. But everything trailed to a sudden stop when she took in his presence. Her eyes widened, as if she were looking at a ghost. He stared at her in confusion, shining golden eyes crinkled in thought.

Slowly his eyes widened, mouth opened in surprise.

"N-N-Naruto-Kun…?" She whispered, her voice suddenly soft. "I-Is that really you?"

"Ayame-Chan! Is something-! Wha-?! I-Is that-?! Naruto-Kun?!" Coming from somewhere deeper in the stall was an older man, who too stopped in surprise at seeing him. "It's you! It's really you, isn't it!?" The man exclaimed in surprise, rushing over to him. His elation led to surprise when he noticed the large furry appendage laying in the young man's lap. His eyes widened further when he noticed the other eight tails taking up much of the space behind him, pooling out into the street outside the stall.

"W-Woah you've got a few more… uh, additions to you since we last saw you…" Ayame muttered with a nervous laugh. In response, the two fox ears atop his head flicked in her direction. "A-And wow… you really grew up… huh.."

His stunned face eventually smoothed into a happy one. He couldn't believe it. It had been so long since he last saw the Teuchi family, he'd all but completely forgotten about them. With his body not requiring sustenance of any kind, he'd no need to go out for food. And being forced into staying inside the Hyuuga compound for so long due to the hostility he'd faced anywhere else, the Raman stand family had been pushed to the back of his mind over the years.

But apparently they hadn't forgotten about him, and even recognized him through his new body.

For some reason that pleased him more then he could express with words alone.

"Hello, Ayame-Neechan, Teuchi-San. It has been a while, hasn't it, I wonder?" He greeted with a happy smile, one that made his fangs glint in the light. Naruto gasped in surprise when the woman immediately reached across the counter and pulled him into a soul crushing hug, resting her head atop his.

"Naruto-Kun! I-I can't believe it's really you!" She cried out, shaking where she stood. The fox felt something warm and wet land on his ears, the appendages flicking at the sensation. "I-I thought… We thought that we'd never see you again… We were so worried about you…"

He didn't need to be an empath to know that she was crying. His expression softened as he returned her hug, his presence warming. He didn't push her away, waiting for her to let go. She pulled back, holding onto his shoulders. He blinked in surprise when she stuck her thumb in his mouth, pulling his lips up to expose his rather imposing fangs.

"Where'd you get these? And your eyes, they used to be blue not gold. A-And your ears and these tails." She exclaimed in question, snatching up one of his many tails. "It's so real! What did…?! How'd this happen? And you, y-you're so handsome now! How'd this happen?!"

To her surprise his tail moved, tickling her nose, before returning to his lap.

"My boy… You look like a-" Teuchi started, before stopping himself. Naruto raised an eyebrow his direction.

"I apologize for the confusion, in fact." Naruto started, offering the man a wink. He held a hand to his chest, mimicking a royal's manners. "My name is Kurama, the Kyuubi No Kitsune in loving service to Hinata Hyuuga, heiress to the Hyuuga Clan. It's a pleasure to meet you for the first time, in fact." He said with a smile, eyes sparkling.

"T-The Kyuubi? You can't let the words of-" Ayame started, but Naruto held up a finger to stop her.

"Oh, but I'm not. In fact, this transition happened quite some time ago. I have been living with Hinata ever since." He said with a smile. He stared at her, eyes shifting from their soft gold to a vile slitted red, a look that would send many running. He tilted his head to the side, ears twitching. "Do you still not believe me, I wonder?" He asked, in his usual odd manner of speaking. "I believe you would like to think differently, many do, but it is not hurtful words that lack backing. As it just so happens, those that ridiculed me as a child were, in some cruel way, right." He concluded with a disassociated sort of tone. Ayame chose not to dig too deeply into that, knowing that her talking about it wouldn't help fix anything.

"Oh I think she believes you son, she's just being overly protective." Teuchi laughed, rubbing the back of his head. Ayame flushed.

"Daaaad!" She whined. The man only laughed harder. She sighed, deciding to ignore his teasing in lieu of doing some of her own. "Whatever…" She coughed, eyes gaining a teasing glint. "So, the Hyuuga princess huh? You sound like you're a little close to her." She leaned in across the counter, wiggling her eyebrows. "She's quite the head-turner, isn't she? I'm not afraid to say I'm jealous of her body." She said openly, checking her nails as if to pretend she wasn't that interested. "Where does she get off having boobs that big so young… or at all." She grumbled.

Seeing a conversation he probably wouldn't be too good a part of, Teuchi stepped into the back to prepare some more ramen.

Naruto laughed, the sound almost surprising, especially to himself. "Oh, she'd have a fit if you brought the topic up to her. She finds her… err, situation a struggle to deal with." He explained lightly, a small dusting of red marring his handsome cheeks. Apparently, that let on a little more than he meant it to.

"Y-Y-You?! A-And her…?!" Ayame nearly tripped where she stood, eyes wide. She was just teasing, but she didn't know how serious they actually were. His eyes widened in surprise at the revelation she'd reached, having not necessarily intended to announce that.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so proud of you!" She tried not to coo, but she couldn't help herself. "You're like my little brother, I can't help be proud!" She gushed, reaching across the counter to pull him into another hug. "Gah, you can't just go away for years then return looking like this, bragging about your hot girlfriend! It's too much to catch up on!" She ranted, much like a doting older sister would.

He smiled bashfully against her chest, letting her get out her mild frustrations. It was nice to have someone to talk to that didn't treat him differently since he'd become the Kyuubi. He could handle the hatred, the spiteful words, and the mistreatment. But he hated the way some would look at him, fear filling their eyes.

"So what happened? Why'd you take so long to show up again?" She asked softly, still cradling his head to her chest. "We.. you know… we thought you'd been killed…" She muttered quietly, struggling to not become overwhelmed with emotions.

"I'm sorry to have worried you so. After what happened to me, I'd become so caught up in dealing with everything that life outside the compound faded away for the longest time. I had so much to deal with, I was afraid to leave, in fact." He muttered into her bosom. She sighed, absentmindedly petting his head. She wasn't sure when she started, but after she did, she couldn't stop. It didn't help that he was nuzzling up to her like a purring cat. An oversized, handsome, big boob loving, purring cat, that was actually a fox.

It was confusing to think about.

"You were afraid to leave looking like you do now?" She asked with a tinge of amazement. He shook his head, not that she could really see.

"No. It took me a long time to master maintaining this form, in fact. Before that, I was stuck in the form of the original Kyuubi." He sighed. Before she could ask what he meant by this, a white light filled the small food stall. The next thing Ayame saw was a small nine tailed fox sitting on the counter, licking her cheeks. It had golden blond fur, glowing slitted gold eyes, and large almost bunny like ears lined with jet black fur. Sticking out from the front of his maw was two vampire-like fangs, lining his black lips.

"Oh… my god…" Ayame breathed. Naruto sighed, expecting this reaction- "You're so cute!!" Ayame cooed, unable to control her excitement. Naruto suddenly found himself scooped into her arms, squished to her chest as she cooed loudly. "How?! How are you allowed to be hot and cute?! It's not natural!"

"Are you seriously worried about wandering around like this? That's why you hid for so long." She asked, stunned. She held him out in front of her, holding him up by his furry armpits.

He stared at her, his imposing form rendered nothing but cute and furry in her eyes. "It wasn't out of some form of arbitrary concern, mind you…" He spoke, his words clear despite being a fox.

"Then what was it? Why had you hid yourself away from everyone else?"

His eyes softened, his golden stare filling with a great grief she hadn't ever seen in him before. Before her very eyes he began to change, his smooth fur sharpening, turning a baleful dark reddish orange. His eyes changed to that of the demon of legend, red and spiteful. His teeth sharpened, and though he was still small, nothing about him screamed calm, collected, or safe.

Nothing about him told her that everything was going to be alright, that everything was fine, that he'd be there to warm and comfort her.

No…

Now, everything in her very blood was screaming at her that her time had come. The days of doom were here, and she'd never get away. Her only choice was to get down on her knees and beg for mercy, hoping that this god of death would spare her…

"Because, if I had left the safety of the walls back then, I would not have been able to control myself. It would've taken far too little to make me explode, and everything would die. Including you." His voice had changed, the sound sending shivers down her spine. Sweat beads formed on her forehead, her heart rate spiking wildly. For just a brief moment, the sensation of death and endless pain had engulfed her.

But it lasted but a moment, and in a blink of an eye he had returned to normal, escaping her grasp as he took his seat as the golden nine tailed Kitsune the village had come to know.

"Even now, I struggle to keep my composure in the face of retaliation." He said gently. He looked up from the table, locking eyes with her. Her face was flushed, still getting over the moment he had let himself go.

"W-…. W-What was that?" She breathed, hands shaking as she braced herself against the table. "I… I-I felt like I was going to die…" She muttered, seemingly struggling for air.

"That… was the hate that the Kyuubi No Kitsune has for humanity. That is the feeling inside my heart, screaming at my mind, and filling my head at all times. The sensation that has never gone away, but that I have only become better at holding at bay." He explained quietly. "It is all encompassing, and if I let it go, it will consume me and those around me…"

"S-So… like seventeen years ago…." She whispered, eyes wide. He nodded.

"History would repeat itself, and the hatred inside of me would burn this land to the ground…. That is why I do not enjoy leaving… I've spent most of my recent years sleeping in Hinata's bedroom, or in her garden. Because it is there where I am left alone, and am at peace…" He sighed. "As I am, some-… well, most of the time, I find it hard to not agree with the thoughts raging in my head, in fact."

"The people of this village call me a demon, and I suppose they are correct…"

"Then… How do you stay sane? How do you stop yourself from thinking that about yourself?" Ayame asked gently, leaning across the table. He shook his head, hair fluttering in the gentle breeze blowing through. For a moment, she saw the hesitation in his gaze. She saw that, he did, in fact, think along those same lines before. And he wasn't proud about it.

"I don't. I have just… found someone who accepts me for who I am, and has convinced me that I am what I am, and she loves me regardless."

She couldn't find it in herself to say anything to him, her heart touched by the small and gentle smile on his face. She watched his eyes sparkle when speaking about her, and knew that she meant the universe to him, in ways that she would probably never understand. In that moment, when he became distracted by speaking of her, she saw a light fill his eyes, shoving that darkness deep down into the pits of his heart.

She also knew that with that level of love and respect between the two, any threat or disrespect poised towards her was also pointed at him.

"She's really something, huh…" Ayame smiled, sighing as she leaned against the table.

"You don't know the half of it, in fact" He sighed happily. The thought of her had been enough to temporarily mull over his worries, but at the same time had only served to make him dwell on her more. "Right now she's undertaking the Chuunin examination. And I can't help but worry about her…"

"You don't think she'll pass?" The ramen cook asked.

"That isn't my concern, in fact. I know she's plenty strong enough to do so… I just worry that there are those that might try to hurt her to get back at me." He sighed, head held up by his hand, elbow propped up on the table. Absentmindedly he checked his red pointed nails, watching as they gleamed in the light.

"You… You don't really think they'd do that? Do you?" She asked in worry.

"There are many that know who I really am, seeing right through the obvious lie that I am somehow not the Kyuubi that this village has come to hate. And those that have figured that out, have no doubt tried finding ways to get back at me, in fact." He said seriously. "My Princess is always by my side, always under my protection. But this is somewhere where she is not, and that is why I'm so worried…"

"Hey now, give that young lady some credit!" Appearing from the back was Teuchi, holding a bowl of fresh ramen. "I know you're worried about her, believe me, I'm a father, I understand." He said, tone mixed with the wisdom that came with age and experience. "But if you treat her like she's a glass figurine, then she'll start to believe that you see her as weak."

"But she is very strong, in fact. She has trained against me for years." Naruto responded quickly. Teuchi nodded.

"Exactly. So why do you treat her like she's not?" The ramen chef asked, eyebrow raised. Naruto opened his mouth to respond, but found himself lost for words. The all powerful Kitsune glanced down to the table, staring at his hands in silence.

Was what Teuchi said right? Was he really treating her like she was frail?

Did he not believe her strong and competent on her own?

Before now, he'd never seen it from that perspective…

"Excuse me. Pardon our interruption." Naruto sat up a little straighter, eyes widening in surprise at the soft spoken voice. He turned to the side to find a familiar looking brunette take a seat beside him, and beside her a tall built man that looked a lot less imposing without his massive decapitating blade.

"Zabuza? Haku?" Naruto blinked in surprise, eyes widening at their surprise presence. "What are you two doing here, I wonder?" The Kitsune asked in open bewilderment.

"What? No hello?" The tall man asked in mock offense. Naruto's expression fell.

"The last time we spoke I was moments away from doing to you what I'd done to Gato's henchmen…" Naruto explained dryly, staring unblinkingly at the man.

Zabuza's face paled slightly.

"Oh? And what might that be?" The member of the seven swordsman asked.

"I have a rather bad tendency of putting large holes in those perceived as a threat to those important to me."

"How large?" He couldn't stop the words as they escaped his lips, regretting them almost immediately.

In response to the mist ninja's question, he felt one of the fox's golden tails snake up his legs, poking him in the chest. He made note of its apparent size, easily ten inches in width at its widest. He remembered, with a cold sweat, seeing said tails slice through the stone of the great bridge in wave with terrifying ease.

He swallowed thickly. "Point taken…" He coughed, hiding how it had shaken him.

"Please quit scaring Zabuza-Sama, Kurama-Sama…" Haku sighed, getting the fox's attention. "We actually came here to speak with you. And Zabuza-Sama, quit irritating the Kyuubi!"

"Tsk..." The man grunted.

"Alright maggots! Listen up! This is your first test of the exam, and those that can't even pass this won't ever be Chunnin!" A man in dark black spoke, addressing a class. "This is a ten question exam, with the final question more difficult than the first nine. Those you refuse to answer to the tenth question will fail and simultaneously fail their team."

Hinata sighed, slinking into her seat with an almost unladylike snort. She alongside probably thirty other Genin of different ages, genders, and village backgrounds, had all been shuffled into a room within the Ninja Academy. This room definitely wasn't the only one being used, but it was the one she was occupying.

After a short talk with a few strangers, and some friendly faces she'd grown up alongside, they were all ordered to take a seat.

Kiba-Kun was on her right, the loudmouth mutt grinning widely as if he wasn't at all concerned with the man standing at the front of the room. Some of that confidence was likely him showboating to the cute murderous redhead on his right, Gaara of the sand, who he had his arm around as if they were good friends.

For the girl in question, she couldn't understand why A, the rest of the class around her had all moved away from her the moment they saw her, and B, why she hadn't killed the mutt for touching her.

"I'll kill you." A smile, a promise. Nine tails poised to end life in an instant...

She started sweating…

Ah…

That's right…

Kurama-San had made mother go quiet, and she was aloud to think to herself for once. He also said that if she hurt anyone, he'd hurt her. She supposed it wasn't all that bad, a small voice in her head said.

The dog boy was very nice, and he was strong enough…

Mmm...

''He is strong, stronger then brother, maybe even sister...''

The rest of the class looked on in horror as Gaara leaned in just a little bit closer to the Inuzuka, almost, dare someone say, snuggling up to the younger man.

Hinata smiled to herself, almost tuning out the words the man at the front of the class spoke before he shouted, gaining everyone's attention again. The man was fuming at being ignored, his killing intent scaring half the class shitless, and the other majority scared silent.

Hinata couldn't help the cruel smile that crossed her face the moment she and the man locked eyes, absolutely no part of her backing down. The man's eyes narrowed, focusing the full intensity of his killings intent onto the young woman. Any other man would probably be driven to kill themselves just to escape the feeling, yet Hinata only grinned wider, a dangerous glint entering her eyes.

She'd lived with Naruto for the past five or so years now, and his killing intent was so far beyond what this man could have that it was almost funny.

Hinata snorted, covering her mouth as a small laugh escaped her lips. She blushed lightly in embarrassment, the entire reaction making the man begin fuming murderously. She cleared her throat, facing the man to address him.

"Instructor-San, do you plan on continuing the test? Or shall I explain to everyone why you're going to make this take longer then is necessary?" The lavender haired young woman spoke, checking her nails absentmindedly. "Also, if it is not too much to say, you shouldn't let the words of a mere Genin such as myself dig so deeply under your skin. It's not becoming of one in your position." She said innocently, a smile on her face.

The man looked like he was about ready to explode, before he relented with a cruel grin. "Well then, perhaps I was wrong about some of you." He said darkly. "One more word out of you and you'll never be a Chunin." He threatened. But he wasn't expecting her to begin cackling lightly to herself.

"That's funny, Instructor-San, you threatening such things to me." She smiled. "Try to go through with your words and I won't be responsible for Kurama-Kun deciding to eat you. He gets very… testy about such things." She trailed off, shaking her head with a smile. "I mean, it's not like I could stop a Nine Tails if I wanted to. But the choice is yours." She said, eyes gaining a dangerous glint.

The man was suddenly hit with a realization, forcing him to look the busty lavender haired girl over once more. He noted with a suddenly dry throat just who she was, her lightly purple tinged eyes practicing glowing within the dimly lit room.

It was Hinata Hyuuga, Hyuuga clan heiress, and also the only one in the world that had a leash around the strongest Yokai to walk the land of fire.

And he'd been poking at her since he got in the room. Now he understood why she was so cocky.

She'd lived with far more dangerous people than him. And more than that, she had him at her every word.

He was proud that he didn't let the reality show on his face.

"Your response to the tenth question?" He asked slowly. She looked up from where she was examining her purple painted fingernails.

"I'll take it."

"Hinata Hyuuga passes." He relented with a sigh.

The Hyuuga Heiress simply stuck her tongue out cutely, taking her seat next to the Inuzuka. Kiba grinned up at her, finding the whole situation amusing, especially how she'd practically ruined the man's carefully articulated first exam.

Gaara glanced over to the Hyuuga's face, studying it for a long moment, before turning back to the fanged grin of the boy who she'd been sitting with. She studied his for a long moment as well, a question burning at the forefront of her mind. "Kiba-San, will you take the last question as well?" She asked blankly.

Perhaps others were terrified of her monotone speech, but he couldn't help but find the way she hung off of his every word adorable. That and the fact that she posed her newfound interests in things to him first, as if for approval, before expounding on them. He grinned that large fanged grin at her, gaining the tiniest increase of red to her cheeks, her expression unchanging.

"Hell yeah I'm taking this thing!" He exclaimed with a blazing determination. Gaara made a tiny noise of thought, before facing the proctor, raising her hand.

"I will take it as well." She muttered slowly, her voice devoid of emotion.

The man felt like palming his face, his whole tough guy shtick ruined by the Hyuuga Heiress.

Chapter

20

End