A Fox Among Cats
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Naruto x Cheetara
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Story Start
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The staff-head glides through the air, only to be wrenched back by a firm callused fist. It was awkwardly spun, a few seconds stopping in the hand of its user as the weapon was spun, an attempt to pick up speed before coming to an awkward stop upon hitting the ground.
With a sigh, the holder picked up the weapon and attempted it to spin it with a swirling rhythm only to drop it. He could not keep up the rhythmic beat like its rightful owner. He always put too much power into it, though at least he didn't send it flying into some noble's house like last time. A thin sheet of sweat mixed in with his crimson-orange fur.
With a frown he stopped as he looked up at his companion. The rose-colored mask hid bright crimson eyes. Those eyes held encouragement. ''It's going to take some time. Don't give up too quickly.'' the young cheetah cat encouraged.
''I'm hopeless with a staff. It's not my weapon.'' the kitsune dejectedly remarked as he handed the wooden boken back to his friend.
''Nuh huh, you don't get off that easy.'' she remarked, going over to where another wooden boken laid. She picked it up and tossed to him. The kitsune reached out, fumbling the weapon slightly as he grabbed it with a sigh of relief.
''Try again,'' she simply said. ''If I win you have to get me a whole basket of Lichee fruit.''
''W-What? H-Hey, how am I supposed to get that?'' the kitsune asked, wondering how Cheetara expected him to get such highly sought after fruit.
''Don't you want to hear what you get when you win?'' she asked in a sing-song tone.
''Okay,'' he was curious. ''What would I win?'' he highly doubted he could beat Cheetara using a boken.
''Something...sweet.'' she teased with a wink. ''Is that okay with you Na-ru-to?''
The kitsune looked away; he could feel his form heating up. Why did she feel the need to always tease him? Regardless, no way she was going to swindle some Lichee fruit out of him.
They both moved to their designated places on the field. Both shifted into stances their respective fighting stances.
"Begin!" she snaps. And he does.
They both started with basic attacks. Naruto went full on aggressive, using high attacks. Cheetara was quick, but he was no slouch either. He needed to make sure she was given no quarter. He could not leave any openings for her to maneuver around. He steps forward while she retreats a step and attacks again meeting her guard. It was a matter of tiring her out or maybe causing her hand and arms to grow sore from repeatedly doing the same blocking motions.
He would have to be subtle. The last time he tried this tactic she was able to pick up he was slowly increasing his speed and reacted accordingly. This time he would fluctuate between speeding up and slowing down in an attempt to throw her off. Apparently he wasn't the only one who decided to be spontaneous as Cheetara went on the offensive, different then her usual defensive stance of blitz attacks.
Naruto was forced on the defensive. ''I can smell that Lichee fruit already,'' she playfully taunted in between strikes. Suddenly she moved back and made a downward, overhead strike that left her rather open. Naruto stepped back, swayed to the side and attempted to catch her by the side, but was called back when Cheetara suddenly yanked her boken back so she was gripping it halfway, twisted her body to the side and struck Naruto in the gut with the edge of it.
Though, Naruto was not going to give up so easily. He pressed the attack again, a series of strikes that left a multitude of openings. He was not the most patient or disciplined of people. But there was also the fact that he was gaining a reputation for being a surprising person. So he did the one thing a Boken user wouldn't typically do. He flung the staff with all his strength at Cheetara.
Caught off guard, she found herself unable to dodge Naruto's follow up attack, which consisted of him tackling her. ''I've won.'' the kitsune boasted, before coming to realize the position they were in.
''I guess you've won that something sweet.'' Cheetara replied, batting her eyes lashes. Naruto's form began to heat up and he became tongue tied. Cheetara raised her head and puckered her lips. The action caught the blond completely off guard and left him vulnerable. As a result Cheetara drew back her powerful legs and with a heave sent the blond flying a few feet, resulting on him landing on his back.
He groaned, realizing that his playfully friend had tricked him. She then straddled his stomach with her knees and cheekily grinned at him. ''No...I win.'' she stated before hopping off and sauntered off.
Suddenly a jolt awakened Naruto, causing him to take a few seconds to collect his wits and remember that he was in the Thundertank. Currently the group was still continuing their journey to find the Book of Omens. He yawned and looked around, realizing that Cheetara was still asleep. He began wondering what was on the sleeping she-cat's mind.
Cheetahana was everything Cheetara wanted to be. She was fast, graceful, an all-around proud Cheetah warrior. Her mother was a grand Cheetah maiden that helped protect the Cheetah clan from invaders. And to her dying breath, Cheetahana fought to protect both her people and her daughter.
The little cheetah girl sprinted through the forest with her face pinched with remorse. Branches slapped her in the face in the darkness, but still she ran on. She was lost and she didn't know where she was. The child tripped over a root and landed flat on her stomach knocking the air out of her lungs.
Tears streaked down her cheeks as she slowly pushed to her feet. In the darkness she whimpered, the sound of creatures shuffling through left her terrified. She was cold, hungry, and terrified. In fact it had been night when that creature had attacked.
With trembling paws the girls wiped away the tears and continued on, at a slower pace. It was far too dangerous to run. The last she needed was to alert predators to her presence. She had to get to Thundera. She was told stories if something ever happened than seek out the Lord of the Thundercats and that the King cared about all his subjects.
That was when she saw a light. Someone was here, someone could help her. She carefully thread closer. After a few more steps she heard the shuffling of something. The next thing she knew something impacted her head and she was rendered unconsciousness.
A powerful Yoko with deep russet colored fur was surrounded by a table full of council members.
"Lord Kitsuo, the other species are demanding reparations for the attacks by the rebellious ones. If something isn't done soon, we could be risking war.'' Fennecus, a rather small, sandy colored fox stated.
The large Kitsune leaned forward and braced his paw-like hands on the table before him. "I am well aware Fennecus, though it is not as simple as that. Tell the other species we Yoko will take care of Yoko problems, as it always has been.''
The meeting was interrupted as one of the servants knocked on the council room door and burst in without waiting for a summons. "Lord Kitsuo," a young Urocyon called with excitement, "you're needed in the courtyard. A child has been found. A young Cheetah cat.''
Kitsuo brow crinkled in thought. "A cheetah?" he queried. He followed his guard and found the state of the child. He couldn't help but wonder why a fragile little thing like her was wondering around such dangerous woods. The woods that formed a Southern barrier to the providence were full of dangerous creatures that only the stealthy Kitsune could easily avoid.
"Send for the doctor," he told one of the guards as he ordered another to bring her to the medical. The last thing that was needed was for an incident to break out with the cats. ''Once the child is tended to, prepare a caravan for travel. Once we learn why this child was traveling in our woods we'll drop her off near the nearest cat providence.''
Before the memory could continue Cheetara was awoken. The Thundertank came to a stop so everyone could take a rest break and stretch their legs. Tomorrow they would start anew of their journey.
''Yahoo!''
''Cannonball!''
The twins jumped into the lake. They began swimming around, laughing and giggling. ''Don't swim out too far!'' Cheetara called to them.
''We won't!'' they called back.
Naruto took notice of the others setting camp so he decided to explore. They wouldn't notice him skulking away. With Panthro working on the Thundertank, not to mention Lion-O and Tygra were gathering supplies. Cheetara seemed to be lost in her thoughts, a rarity for the usually attentive Cleric so Naruto merely lost himself among the trees.
He continued his way until he came to lose, haggard ground. He attentively grazed his feet around the unusual surface. Something felt off around the ground, but he kept on with deft steps until he heard the sound of something shuffling among the trees. He quickly spun around, his claws prepared as he crouched and readied himself to attack whatever was following him.
"Naruto, relax it's only me," Cheetara called before stepping out of the foliage.
Naruto let out a breath of relief. "Shouldn't you be with the others?"
"I should be asking you the same thing." She replied with a smirk. "What's going on with you. You've been so quiet."
"Nothing, I was just scouting around the area, that's all." He answered.
"You should have told someone," she admonished. "It's dangerous to go out alone."
"I'm fine; I can take care of myself." He gently assured her. "Well since we're here want to go and try to catch some fish. I saw a lake teaming with fish earlier."
Cheetara's stomach let out a loud rumble. "Sounds like a good idea," she agreed, her cheeks flushed as the Kitsune grinned up at her. The two of them settle at the edge of the river as Naruto set up a rock formation around the makeshift pole he made to keep it in place.
Naruto looked into the lake, his attention to the rather large, dark shape. He could barely make it out, after a few seconds dismissing it. Must have been rocks or something of that nature he simply concluded. His attention then settled on Cheetara. She was bent over on the edge, cleaning her hand and face in the river.
A certain childish desire overcame him. He snuck up behind Cheetara and bumped her into the water. The she cat gave out a yelp as a splash echoed around the clearing. Naruto roared with laughter as an angry Cheetara rose from the water.
"NARUTO! I can't believe you did that!" she roared, indignant and looking scarier than Naruto had ever seen her.
"H-Hey. Consider that payback from when you did that to me." He answered with a cheeky grin. Then the part of his mind big on common sense commanded him to run, but then again, running from someone who's gimmick was super speed was doomed to fail from the start.
Despite that Naruto tried to flee only to find himself tackled to the ground. "No! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" he squealed before he was unceremoniously tossed into the water. Seconds later he emerged, hacking and shivering. "Hey, totally uncalled for."
"Consider us even." She remarked with a mirthful smile.
"I never forget!" he declared as he tackled her to the ground. The two of them wrestled around until the blond found himself wrestled to the ground, Cheetara straddling his stomach.
"Remember all you want, I win." Cheetara couldn't remember the last time she felt so free and inhibited. It felt great to be able to smile in these dark times.
"Nope, I refuse to give up." He remarked as he found his hands pinned above his head. "The only reason your winning Is because I 'm letting you." His voice cracked slightly as he prayed she wouldn't notice the effect she was having on him.
"Oh really," she challenged, her face dangerously close to his.
Naruto felt his mouth go dry. Their eyes met and they both began to lean forward when Cheetara was suddenly yanked away. "CHEETARA!"
Before he could react Naruto found himself snapped into the mouth of the serpent. Thinking quickly he stuck his arms out in opposite directions, his nails digging into the flesh of the creature that threatened to swallow him whole. He could hear the sound of his bones threatened to snap as he was coated by saliva of the creature. "No, I can't die, not here. He couldn't die here." He could feel the air leaving his lungs. 'I…I can't believe this is it. I can't believe I'm going to become snake food.' He thought as his death creaked closer with each second.
"Pathetic! I won't allow us to die to something like this." A dark energy surged through Naruto as his mind went blank. A burning orange chakra radiated from the blond, causing the creature to open his mouth and expel his captive. The serpent hissed as the injuries threatened to choke it.
"Pitiful creature." Naruto remarked as he was covered by flame orange chakra in the silhouette of a Kitsune. The serpent attempted to attack again when Naruto formed a massive Kitsune hand to slash at the face of the creature, forming a scar along the left side of the creature's face. "I will end you now." He remarked as he began forming tails.
The Serpent's eyes widened, he seemed to recognize something of the kitsune's state. "To think I see his power again.
"Uzumaki Naruto, are you going to give in to this darkness. Do you not remember the promises you made." Another voice spoke as Naruto clutched his head in pain.
"No, damn you Kyuubi!"
"Remember who you're fighting for. If you let your other take control your vixen is as good as dead."
The struggling Naruto opened an eye at the Serpent who was watching, waiting for the perfect time to strike. At this point if he didn't do something in the next few seconds it would strike. As he continued to look on he noticed Cheetara was unconscious, wrapped up in the creature's tail. "Chee-ta-ra. " A tense pain coursed through his head as a series of images coursed through his mind. Speaking to Kakashi. Standing his ground against Ibiki. Facing off against Neji and confronting Gaara.
"And my future dream is to be the greatest Hokage! Then the whole village will stop disrespecting me and start treating me like I'm somebody. Somebody important!"
"My dream?"
"Don't underestimate me! I don't quit and I don't run! You can act tough all you want! You're not gonna scare me off! No way! I don't care if I DO get stuck as a genin for the rest of my life! I'll still be Hokage someday!"
"T-That's right. I wanted to be someone."
"I'm not gonna run away, I never go back on my word! That's my nindō: my ninja way!"
"Never running away. That was the promise I mad."
"It's almost unbearable, isn't it… the pain of being all alone. I know that feeling; I've been there, in that dark and lonely place, but now there are others, other people who mean a lot to me. I care more about them than I do myself, and I won't let anyone hurt them. That's why I'll never give up. I will stop you, even if I have to kill you! They saved me from myself. They rescued me from my loneliness. They were the first to accept me as who I am. They're my friends."
"And I was never alone. I had friends."
One by one faces that felt familiar and names who were on the tip of his tongue.
Jirayia, Sai, Nagato, Sasuke, Kushina, Iruka, A, Killer B and Itachi.
"If being smart means what you say it does, I rather be a fool my entire life!"
"Giving up on my comrades. That wasn't my way."
"I don't care who I have to fight… If he rips my arms off, I'll kick him to death. If he rips my legs off, I'll bite him to death. If he rips my head off, I'll stare him to death. And if he gouges my eyes, I'll curse him to death… Even if I'm torn to shreds… I will take Sasuke back!"
"I was stubborn."
"You should give up… on me giving up!"
"And I never let anyone put me down."
"Then I will break that curse. If there's such thing as peace, I will find it. I won't give up!"
"War, such a detestable thing. I hated it and even now I will fight to bring peace."
"If you attack Konoha, I will have to fight you… So save up your hatred and take it all on me, I'm the only one who can take it! It's the only thing I can do! I will shoulder your hatred and die with you! Because I'm your friend!"
"This is…this is who I am."
"Don't apologize… I had a lot of hard times growing up as a jinchūriki, but I never blamed you or Dad. I couldn't understand what a parent's love was like because you guys were never there… so I could only guess… But now I know… I live because you and Dad gave your lives for me and filled me up with love before the Nine-Tails was inside me! So here I am, happy and healthy! I'm glad I ended up being your son!"
"My parents never abandoned me. They've loved me."
"I am Naruto Uzumaki, ninja of Konoha. My dream is to become Hokage! One to surpass all the previous Hokage. To become a bigger badass than my father! To become stronger shinobi than my mother!"
"I won't disappoint them."
"I'll end this war myself! I'll endure all the hate and pain on my own! That's my role!"
"I haven't given up."
"Yes, he might have died… but together, he and my mum protected Konoha from the Nine-Tails! They protected me! It may have only been for a second, but in that second, they gave me so much… their faith! Faith that I could finish their jobs! Faith that I could fulfill the role of a "savior!"
"I won't let myself die here. I will continue to honor their sacrifices."
"You're right! I guess I was too obsessed trying to do something!"
"I'm not alone. I can depend on others."
The three last images seemed to hold the strongest impact. A beautiful young woman with Dark hair. 'Hinata.'
"It's all in your eyes, stop being so hard on yourself… You're strong!"
"I won't let others suffer alone."
A masked man. 'Tobi'.
"You can call yourself no one, you can start a war, but even in this world you think of as "nothingness", no one's falling for your stupid lies! You can change your mask, you can take on as many names as you want, but you're still you, and you're just one guy! I've had enough. I'm gonna tear that mask right off your face!"
"I won't let madmen do what they wish anymore."
Naruto found himself in front of an open catch where a massive orange kitsune were. Those crimson eyes and those nine long tails, it was him. "You've been here, all along haven't you? Helping me, you're…you're Kurama?"
"There is still much for you to remember, but now is not the time to reminiscent. You're not ready to handle my chakra yet, but the Sage's training, can you remember?"
"I…" images coursed through his mind. Images of toads, of oil, and his answer filled his head. "Yes!" he decisively answered. For the first time in a long time the confident Uzumaki Naruto was rising.
"The Uzumaki trait may have been body, but you've always had an unbreakable spirit and mind. Save that vixen of yours Naruto and we will talk later."
Time moved so much slower on the outside as the Serpent moved to strike. The blond had left his guard down meaning the Serpent can nail him with just enough strength to break his body, but not to kill him. He never expected the blond to escape his mouth where he would render him unconscious, so he would not make such a mistake again. At the last possible second the blond disappeared and something collided with the tough of his mouth, driving his head into the ground, causing a crater into the ground and greatly injuring the massive creature.
It was none other than the Kitsune, but he no longer had that flame orange aura. He was back to his natural state. The kitsune opened his eyes to reveal toad like yellow eyes. "You're out of luck Hebi-Teme, Uzumaki Naruto is back and no one fucks with his precious people!" the blond declared, this time, he won't let a snake take someone precious to him.