"Talking"
'Thinking'
Biju talk/think/Jutsu
Flashback
"Sage Tongue"
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Warning: Gay Coupling, Timetravel, Alternate Universe
Snow white hair.
Ruby eyes.
Sharp canine teeth.
Sharp nails. Pale skin.
Red, sweeping lines covered her body.
One on her chin.
Three on each cheek.
One down her forehead.
Her senses were incredibly strong.
Red eyes blinked open and saw two other pairs of eyes staring at her without blinking.
"You lived," Okami grinned.
"Shall we start, Arisa?" Kitsune yipped.
Arisa... Ōkami Arisa. Knowledge flooded the kunoichi's mind easily. Knowledge she now understood and knew she needed to practice. She had been given this knowledge and a body that could handle it. But her body wasn't used to using it yet, wasn't used to her changed chakra.
"Yes," Arisa hummed and stood up. A quick look at the nearby shore showed her new features. The red lines reminded her of the Second Hokage, even though she had three extra. She knew that one day she would be a part of that man's life. For now, she focused on her new trainers.
Arisa growled, clenching her fists as she focused on pushing. Her head went back, and a howl escaped her throat. Relief washed over her when the tiny body finally came out. Instead of collapsing, Arisa curled up and carefully, mindful of her claws, picked up her firstborn.
Tears streamed down her already wet face, but she just wiped them away and cleared any fluids from her daughter's mouth and airways. A gurgling cry came before her daughter wailed her unhappiness to the world.
Humming softly, her white-haired, red-eyed daughter slowly calmed down and began to nurse.
A familiar presence came closer, and ruby eyes looked up to meet Okami's. He dropped a scroll from his mouth and nudged it toward her.
"Amaterasu-sama lost to Inari-sama. Inari's children are yours to bond with," Okami grumbled, almost pouting.
Arisa gave him a gentle, tired smile. "Your pups are tied to the Hatake. It would look strange. Plus, we both know I'm more fox than wolf now, especially after the change."
Okami grumbled but lay down beside her again. "Kitsune doesn't need to brag about it though."
Arisa rolled her eyes. "You still spoil your mate if you let her get away with things like that."
Okami shrugged his massive shoulders. "What do humans say? Happy wife, happy life?"
Arisa choked on her laughter before a displeased hiccup-snarl came from her baby. Her gaze softened on her tiny child.
"Amaterasu-sama sends her blessings to you and little Karimi-kit. You were blessed to be the hearth. Karimi is blessed to be the huntress."
"Thank you," Arisa hummed, pleased.
"Easy now," Arisa murmured to her daughter, who was crouched low beside her. Whispering a count into her daughter's ear, the child slowly began to coil, then sprang forward, landing perfectly on her prey. With a snarl, the ten-year-old landed on the back of the deer. Small but strong hands quickly locked its head in place, and her teeth, strengthened and sharpened with chakra, bit into the deer's throat.
With a final sound, the deer fell. Karimi did as she'd been taught and quickly snapped its neck to make sure it was gone. Covered in the deer's blood, she pulled out the knife she'd made herself earlier in the year and began to gut and skin her kill.
Arisa rumbled with approval as she walked into the small meadow where the deer had been grazing. She had waited until her daughter had finished her hunt, watching as small fingers worked slowly but well. Arisa kept watch while her daughter finished up.
They had been on the mainland for seven years. Seven years since her daughter had started to run and climb. Arisa knew it was time to leave the safety of Kami Island, an island she had left protected by the ancient seals Amaterasu and Inari had given her the knowledge for. Seals she had practiced until they were second nature. Seals she had started teaching her daughter a couple of years ago. Karimi was proving to be as smart as her father. Yet, she looked almost nothing like him, except for that one annoying mole just below her lip.
In those months while her daughter nursed, Arisa had planned out her new Clan using the knowledge she'd been given. The Ōkami Clan would begin. A clan that was wild and only took what they needed. A clan that was loyal, protective, full of hunters, and never held back their feelings. They could still control their emotions, but they also took pride in being unpredictable. (How else was she going to mess with the darkness in Amaterasu's weaving?)
Ruby eyes narrowed as she felt the familiar canine presence nearby change direction and head straight for Arisa and her daughter.
Karimi was halfway done sealing away their kill before she too stood up, her claws ready.
Arisa made sure her daughter's hood was pulled down to hide her face and did the same with her own. Their cloaks were made from the fur of their pack members, making them smell more like foxes than humans.
Slowly, the other canine approached from downwind before realizing it had already been sensed. Arisa bared her teeth, letting out a low growl as a warning when it kept coming closer. It wasn't a normal canine then.
Finally, a large grey wolf stepped out of the bushes, freezing when it saw them. Intelligent dark eyes looked them over, then their prey, before sniffing the air again.
Arisa snarled louder, stepping in front of her daughter and their kill, her cloak shielding them. Her killer intent was sharp, filled with alpha pheromones.
The wolf lowered its head and slowly backed away, its tail tucked between its legs. Arisa didn't relax her stance until it had turned and run far away.
"Mama?" Karimi murmured.
"Finish up, kit," Arisa grumbled back. "That wasn't a normal wolf."
"Was he one of Okami-oji's pups?"
"Yeah," Arisa grunted. "His pack will probably follow soon. The Hatake can be a curious bunch."
Karimi stared at her mother, blinked once, and then went back to preparing her hunted prey for sealing as quickly and efficiently as she could. A few minutes later, she was done, and both vixens were gone like the wind.
Arisa observed with a widening smile as Karimi's meticulously crafted traps worked flawlessly. The Hatake pack had been ensnared, their summoned partners dispelled, returning with merely embarrassment instead of genuine harm.
The individual oozing the most potent alpha pheromones produced the most fervent resistance, struggling with considerable effort until one arm was extricated, where upon he attempted to execute a ninjutsu to release himself entirely.
Arisa could not permit such an eventuality. For three years, the Hatake had pursued them relentlessly. For three years, this lengthy game of evasion had persisted. While it had served as valuable training for Karimi, Arisa's patience was wearing thin. She could not effectively pursue her own objectives with a persistent tail tracking her movements.
She cast her daughter a significant glance to remain concealed, and the younger vixen exhaled audibly in displeasure but complied. Arisa descended from their concealed vantage point, and all struggling ceased immediately.
Syuntoshi Hatake's gaze flicked upwards with keen awareness as a subtle movement disrupting the surrounding greenery. His dark eyes then became fixated upon the figure draped in crimson furs, who remained crouched before his ensnared tracking party. Never before had the vixens they had been pursuing condescended to reveal themselves. Their patterns had consistently involved the placement of cunning traps, leaving him and his trackers to endure the shame of their capture.
However, at this juncture, he could finally discern her presence. Her frame was petite, her overall size small. Nevertheless, the acute sharpness of her canine teeth and nails did not escape his notice. Curiously, he detected no discernible chakra emanating from her. Furthermore, her scent remained elusive while she positioned herself downwind.
Arisa experienced a growing problem as she surveyed the bound group. One of them... one of them had an aroma that was extremely enticing. It was clouding her thinking, accelerating her thoughts, and eliciting primal instincts accompanied by a sharp ache within her core.
Moving with a deliberate way of walking, she began to walk around the ensnared Hatake pack, trying to figure out the source of the mouthwatering scent. Simultaneously, her mind raced, swiftly processing the implications... Inari had given upon her yet another gift.
Her ruby irises settled upon eyes of a deep, coal-like hue as she now crouched before the Hatake who gave off such an alluring smell. His own pupils were already dilated, his body's response she readily recognized and had come to learn through her initial mate. He had habitually worn a mask to prevent accidently scenting a mate. Nevertheless, he had known she was his for an along duration, having desired to commit her scent to memory so as to always locate his sensei's ward. It was an oversight he had not repeated until she had reached an age where she could say her own preferences about such matters.
"Mate," the Hatake emanating potent alpha pheromones practically purred, his gaze irrevocably fixed upon her.
Arisa hummed softly as she extended a hand, grasping his face to forestall any impulsive marking with his sharp teeth, while she leaned forward, inhaling his scent more profoundly.
He rumbled with displeasure at the submissive gesture yet emitted a low hum of contentment at her proximity. Arisa rested her nose against his throat, taking a slow, deep breath. It... ached. She yearned for her Kakashi. However... she also recognized the need to grow her clan. She cherished Karimi, but she required a larger skulk to assist her in safeguarding not only the Fire Nation but the others as well.
She was tired of being alone. She missed the companionship of a mate.
"Mate," she rumbled, using the new language Amaterasu-sama had gifted her the knowledge of. She still understood the Elemental Language, but this new one... it was nice for her and her own skulk to speak without little pests understanding.
Syuntoshi didn't understand her word, but he understood her scent. Snarling, he fought his restraints again, and in a flash of lightning, he was free, lunging straight for his cunning mate. But of course, she had anticipated his maneuver. Lips stained with blood curved into a smirk, and ruby eyes, shadowed by her vixen mask, twinkled with challenge. A challenge Syuntoshi was more than willing to accept.
Arisa recalled from her first mate what typically ensued in such situations, albeit with likely variations. Kakashi's clan traditions had been diluted by the passage of time, but she remembered their Hunt.
Oh, she was eager for a hunt, but it appeared her new mate needed a clear understanding of who would be the initial quarry.
Evading his aerial assault once more, she twisted and swiftly seized his ankle. With strength augmented by Nature Energy, she forcefully yanked the fully grown man back towards her and slammed him onto the earth. Stunned, coal-colored eyes merely blinked up at the canopy as the vixen leaned over him and flicked his nose.
"Listen here, wolf," she stated firmly. "You are the prey in this hunt. Now... run."
Syuntoshi might not have comprehended her precise words, but he unequivocally understood her intent. He vanished in a blur of motion. Arisa chuckled with satisfaction and gave chase.
"Uh..." Komugi Hatake murmured, still caught in the trap. "Did our Alpha Heir just leave us for a mating hunt?"
"Yep," Kyuri grumbled.
"Did the female just... turn the tables on him?"
"Yep," Kyuri sighed.
"So we're stuck here until they're done hunting and, you know, bonded, right?"
"Yeeeeep~" the female sighed, trying to get comfortable.
"Okami-sama save us," he whined.
A few snorts came from his fellow trackers.
Syuntoshi was running on fumes, his chakra reserves dwindling. Kami, she was incredible. Slippery, fast, and utterly unpredictable. It took every ounce of his skill to evade her traps and dodge her jutsu, which she seemed to cast with barely a single hand sign.
He was finally grasping the meaning behind one of their summons' cryptic warnings. She was a formidable Alpha. He also understood Riko's earlier remark about her feeling akin to a Hatake yet distinctly different. Their chakra blades had clashed, and her chakra made his own silver hue appear dull in comparison. Hers was pure white, like her hair. Hair he had finally glimpsed when he'd landed a lucky strike, revealing porcelain skin adorned with red markings and tight-fitting leathers that were doing absolutely nothing to alleviate his... current predicament.
With a final, swift sweep of his legs, Syuntoshi found himself once again flat on his back, a snarling female looming over him. Panting, he did the one thing his parents had drilled into him never to do. He bared his neck in submission to the female.
The snarl transformed into a pleased rumble, and her body lowered, aligning with his. He groaned as her heat pressed against his burgeoning arousal. A shiver coursed through him as her tongue flicked out, tracing a searing path up his exposed throat.
"Mate," he grumbled, his voice thick with desire, his hands slowly ascending her powerful thighs to her hips, where his fingers met bare skin.
"Mate," she rumbled in his ear, the word vibrating with possessive heat before the raw intensity of lust consumed them both. He was tearing away the leathers from her body as rapidly as she was divesting him of his own clothing. Their teeth and lips crashed together in a fervent kiss, and it took every fiber of Syuntoshi's being to resist the urge to roll them over and reassert dominance. A primal instinct deep within him, however, knew that such an action would be ill-received by his newfound mate, language barrier notwithstanding.
18+: Skip if 13 or younger, read at your own discretion:
The wolf gasped as a tight, wet warmth suddenly gripped his cock. His mate whimpered, but with his hands guiding her to keep the rhythm slow, the heat quickly returned, and Syuntoshi was lost in sensation.
He howled when her sharp teeth sank into the side of his neck, marking him with potent chakra even as her cunt contracted around him in her release. His own orgasm ripped through him moments later.
Lying there, panting, Syuntoshi tried to figure out which way was up. Gentle licks on his throat revealed a tender side to his mate. Yet, that only fueled his own instincts. Snarling softly, he rolled them over, and the female vixen didn't resist, remaining pliant beneath him as he took his turn in pleasuring her. He memorized every catch in her breath and how beautiful she was with her snow-white hair spread out, ruby eyes glazed with passion, and pale skin flushed. Those beautiful red lines across her skin seemed to dance. And kami, they were everywhere, tracing over her breasts, her hips. Syuntoshi paused to trace them with his tongue, feeling her chakra practically sizzle on his taste buds.
Finally, he couldn't hold back the tingling in his spine. Teeth gently latching onto her neck, he drew upon his chakra reserves to give her his own mark, biting down just as pleasure surged through him and her inner muscles tightened around his cock. He bonded his mate to him and almost choked on the sheer magnitude of her chakra, even after their fight. Yet, her chakra felt like the bloody, burning sun. His orgasm intensified as his senses were overwhelmed by her chakra and the profound beauty he felt within and without her.
End of 18+
Syuntoshi regained awareness sometime later, not even realizing he'd lost consciousness. Yet, his mate was nestled in his arms, a stark reminder of her diminutive size. He chuckled inwardly at how incredibly deceptive her small stature was.
Reaching out through their nascent chakra bond, he was gratified to perceive the initial stages of their mental connection taking root. Already, he could sense faint echoes of her emotions: a serene calm born of sleep, gradually giving way to awakening.
He rumbled contentedly and pressed a kiss to her shoulder, trailing upward along her neck to her cheek, where the crimson markings accentuated her foxlike features.
"Wake up, mate," Syuntoshi murmured, knowing he needed to locate his packmates and ensure their well-being during his lapse in awareness.
With movements more feline than canine, his beautiful, snow-haired mate uncurled and stretched, her fingers and toes wiggling before she gave a full-body shake and blinked sleepy eyes at him.
"I have a pack to check on," he said, attempting to convey his worry through their bond. She snorted softly and nodded, rising to assess the state of their discarded clothing. Thankfully, Syuntoshi's attire wasn't completely ruined—well, not his pants, at least. His shirt was beyond salvation. His mate's leathers, however, were in considerably better condition. She had even used chakra to perch her mask atop her head instead of concealing her face.
Extending his hand, she took it readily, and together they bounded back toward the location where he had left his packmates.
They landed in the clearing, and Syuntoshi snorted in amusement to see that only Kyuri had managed to free herself. His cousin possessed a sadistic streak sufficient to leave the others to their predicament.
"Syyyyyuuunnnnttttttoooossssshhhhhiiiiii~" Komugi whined, wiggling and bouncing in his wire cocoon. "Help me!"
The Alpha Heir snorted, glancing at his mate, who just looked proud and smug.
Helping Komugi down, he then moved to the packmate who was still lightly snoring. Kicking Tatsuo gently in the side, the man snorted and blinked sleepily up at him. Then, Uma wrinkled his nose.
"You smell like sex and fox."
Syuntoshi raised an eyebrow. "My mate is a vixen." Cutting away the wires, he watched the other three check their gear before a sharp whistle drew their attention.
The Hatake then watched as a second vixen dropped down and tackled the taller of the two. Syuntoshi blinked as they nuzzled each other, murmuring softly.
Then, the shorter female also removed her hood, revealing a face nearly identical to his mate's. The only difference was the missing tattoo on her forehead. The other five red lines were the same.
Hand in hand, the two snowy beauties walked toward Syuntoshi, the younger one starting to shyly hide behind the elder. Syuntoshi knelt down, offering his hand for the pup to scent him.
Slowly, she leaned out from behind her mother and took a sniff.
"He smells different, but he smells like you now, Mama," Karimi said softly, looking up at her mother.
Arisa hummed. "He is my new mate. Inari-sama has blessed us with the ability to scent out our mates. I love and miss your father, Karimi, but I long for companionship."
Hand in hand, the two snowy beauties walked toward Syuntoshi, the younger one starting to shyly hide behind the elder. Syuntoshi knelt down, offering his hand for the pup to scent him.
Slowly, she leaned out from behind her mother and took a sniff.
"He smells different, but he smells like you now, Mama," Karimi said softly, looking up at her mother.
Arisa hummed. "He is my new mate. Inari-sama has blessed us with the ability to scent out our mates. I love and miss your father, Karimi, but I long for companionship."
"Is he going to take you away?" Karimi asked, her voice small.
"No. I'm going to do everything I can to bring him with us. He's Ōkami now. He just needs to learn what that means."
Karimi saw the twinkle in her mother's eyes and the small smile playing on her lips. She snorted a little giggle before looking back at the man and taking his hand again to shake it. His eyes were kind as he looked at her, confused but gentle.
Syuntoshi shook her hand back before pointing to himself. "Hatake Syuntoshi."
He waited for the language barrier to be a problem again, but instead, the young girl just beamed. "Ōkami Karimi," she said, pointing to herself before pointing to his mate. "Mama." She spoke in the language he didn't understand.
His mate hummed happily, looking down at the child—young teen?—with loving eyes before meeting his dark gaze and pointing to herself. "Ōkami Arisa."
Syuntoshi rumbled with pleasure as he took Arisa's hand next and then surprised her by kissing her palm. "Arisa."
Ruby eyes heated before she narrowed them slightly. "Behave, wolf." Syuntoshi chuckled when he felt the warning in her tone, even as she visibly fought down her own rising desire.
Through a combination of gestures and gentle reassurance conveyed through their newly formed bond, Syuntoshi soon found himself escorting his mate and the pup at her side toward the Hatake clan's territory. They attempted further communication, but the language barrier remained a significant obstacle, though his mate displayed remarkable patience.
However, midway through their journey, the pack discovered that it was not Arisa's traps they had fallen victim to, but Karimi's. The young girl proudly strutted about, playfully poking Yoshi and teasing him about his capture.
Finally, they arrived home, and with a resonant howl that pierced the evening air, Syuntoshi announced his tracking party's return.
Pack members responded with howls in both human and canine voices. Their group continued through the cluster of huts until they reached the Alpha's dwelling. Syuntoshi felt a knot of apprehension in his stomach. He knew that mating outside the pack was an uncommon occurrence. Being of his age, Syuntoshi was aware that he risked forfeiting his position as Pack heir if he hadn't found his mate by the next winter solstice. He was nearly twenty, and it wasn't until Arisa's appearance that he had finally found her.
Standing at nearly seven feet, Hatake Nobumoto stood beside his six-foot mate, Hatake Zaira.
Kyuri, Komugi, and Uma had already dispersed to join their respective families, while Syuntoshi approached his parents and offered them a respectful nod.
"Greetings, Alpha, Luna. My Pack has returned from a successful tracking hunt for the curiosity Riko discovered three years ago."
Nobumoto's gaze shifted to the masked female, whose features bore a resemblance to a fox. He noted the smaller figure partially concealed behind her and grunted. Slowly, he inhaled their scents as they stood upwind, his posture stiffening.
A low snarl rumbled in his chest as he fixed his gaze on his son. "You Mated."
Zaira kept a watchful eye on the two vixens, the fine hairs on her arms rising instinctively.
"Yes. We were caught in one of the vixen's traps, and when the wind shifted, I scented my mate in the elder vixen. We completed the bond."
"She is not our clan," Nobumoto snarled, his chakra surging with anger and disgust. "And she's a Fox!" He spat, his gaze fixating on the mark on his son's neck. "You even bared your throat to her."
Syuntoshi flinched. "She is more Alpha than I am. If I wanted to keep my mate, there was no other choice—"
"You don't mate an unknown Alpha, period!" Nobumoto barked, his voice sharp.
Syuntoshi recoiled slightly.
A snarl rumbled through the gathered Hatake, and all eyes snapped to the vixens. The taller female stood bristling, claws extended, lips curled back to reveal sharp teeth, her ruby eyes practically glowing as they narrowed on her mate before shifting to the Hatake Alpha.
Syuntoshi surprised everyone when he turned his back on his father and quickly moved to his mate, stepping between her and Nobumoto.
"Arisa, wait, he's—" A wave of protective fury washed through their bond, and he met his mate's gaze through her mask. Syuntoshi swallowed, realizing how easily he was going to fall for her. "He's still my father."
"He harms you, physically or verbally, and I will not be held responsible for my actions. You are Mine," Arisa growled, her voice low and possessive.
Syuntoshi didn't need to understand her words. He felt their weight sear his soul as her chakra enveloped him protectively. He leaned forward and kissed her mating mark, quieting the rumble in her chest.
"She's a sage," Arisa confirmed softly for her daughter before she too stilled, and nature responded to her even faster than most sages could ever hope.
Zaira choked slightly but watched as the red markings on Arisa's skin seemed to deepen, and golden fox-like eyes watched her just as intently.
"You are—" Zaira began before Arisa interrupted.
"I wasn't aware another Sage walked the Nations," Arisa said easily and calmly in the Elemental Tongue. "You are a female who earns my respect just for having the patience and stubbornness to learn the Sage Arts. Your Mate needs to learn to respect his fellow Alphas and Clan Heads."
Zaira stared for a moment before huffing, amused. "I've gotten this far with him. But it's not every day we meet a female Clan Head."
Arisa just grinned sharply. "I look forward to opening the way for other females to take their places as leaders."
Zaira chuckled and held out her hand again. "Hatake Zaira, Luna of the Hatake Pack. Mate of the Hatake Clan Head."
"Ōkami Arisa, Alpha and Clan Head of the Ōkami Clan."
Zaira looked down at the young girl who was slowly peeking out again. "And this little one?"
"Ōkami Karimi. Heir of the Ōkami Clan," Arisa's voice softened. "My firstborn. My... My first mate died fourteen years ago."
Zaira and Syuntoshi both jolted, but Syuntoshi was still reeling from the realization that his mate had outmaneuvered him once again.
"You look very young to already have a teenager," Zaira observed cautiously.
"I had her young," Arisa sighed, stroking her daughter's head. "My Clan also has a bloodline that keeps us looking youthful. Karimi, introduce yourself."
The little snow-haired girl stepped forward and offered her hand. "Ōkami Karimi... Zaira-oba-san."
Zaira cooed as she knelt down and exchanged scents with her new granddaughter. "You are adorable. And you already feel strong. I bet you make your mother proud all the time, little pup."
Karimi's cheeky smirk was answer enough. Zaira snorted softly and stood back up. Her dark eyes slid to her son, Syuntoshi, to see him staring at his mate with resigned frustration.
"You understood me the entire time?" he finally blurted out.
Arisa just grinned like the fox she was. "Well, of course, my mate. I couldn't let the game end that quickly, now could I? It was quite amusing watching you and your little pack try to explain things to me."
Syuntoshi groaned, and Zaira snorted. "You mated a vixen. You should have seen that coming."
Syuntoshi just growled and muttered under his breath.
"Ah, speaking of which. That needs to be discussed," Arisa interjected. "Syuntoshi is now Ōkami. I do hope you have another heir, as we are only here to visit and gather his belongings."
"What?!" More than one voice exclaimed in varying degrees of surprise.
Arisa cleaned out her ear, wincing slightly at the sudden noise. Karimi clapped her hands over her own sensitive ears.
Twenty minutes later, Arisa sat on Nobumoto's back as he remained unconscious from the last punch she'd delivered after he had the nerve to try and challenge her alpha status. Zaira, she was quickly growing to appreciate as a good female friend to have around. Syuntoshi had simply surrendered and was learning how to braid from Karimi so he could help manage their long, white hair now.
Syuntoshi paced outside the cavern, his nervousness palpable despite his parents' reassurances.
"Your mate is stubborn and has already had a pup," Nobumoto grunted, leaning against the cave wall. "She'll pull through. Besides, your mother is the best healer the pack has ever known."
A piercing scream tore through the air, and Syuntoshi's heart clenched. He disregarded his mother's explicit instructions and rushed inside. Bursting into the cavern, he skidded to a halt. There, more exhausted than he had ever witnessed, Arisa lay resting on their bed of furs. A tiny infant with a tuft of white hair lay nestled on her chest. Karimi was assisting Zaira in cleaning the newborn, but with a subtle manipulation of chakra, all the blood, mucus, and fluids from the baby's airways coalesced into a floating sphere. With a mere twitch of her fingers, Arisa directed the viscous blob into an empty clay bowl. Zaira chuckled, amused by Arisa's display of control despite her evident exhaustion. Her dark eyes then met her son's and softened into a fond smile.
"Come here, pup. Meet your new daughter."
Syuntoshi swallowed, moving closer until he met his mate's gaze. She was weary, but a profound happiness shone in her eyes. It had taken time, but he felt a surge of pride watching their bond mend her old wounds. Rumbling contentedly, he curled up beside Arisa and their newborn pup, gently drawing Karimi closer so she could also see her little sister.
"She's definitely Ōkami," Syuntoshi chuckled softly, stroking the faint pink lines already beginning to trace patterns across his daughter's delicate skin.
"Syuntoshi! Arisa!" Nobumoto barked, rushing into the cavern Arisa had declared as her birthing place. Only his parents had been permitted to follow them to the desolate, rocky island. Yet, within its barren landscape lay a deep, man-made cavern where they now rested.
The Alpha of the Hatake clan burst in, immediately adopting a defensive stance, Zaira mirroring his posture to shield her daughter-in-law. Syuntoshi instinctively joined his father, his chakra flaring and teeth bared.
Then Syuntoshi saw it. A massive, horse-sized fox with nine tails. Its fur was as white as snow, and yet... those markings. His eyes darted to his mate, only to see her completely ignoring the enormous creature.
"You have the nerve to not let us know sooner?" the Kitsune barked, her voice echoing through the cavern.
"Fuck off, Kitsune," Arisa growled back, her tone sharp. "Do you think I enjoyed the last months of pregnancy and had a clear enough mind to let you and Okami know?"
A deep chuckle resonated in the cavern, and Syuntoshi turned to find himself face to face with a wolf straight out of their legends.
"Ōkami-sama," he whispered, awestruck.
"A strong mate, and a pup that will be another strong Ōkami," Ōkami rumbled, moving forward to nudge heads with Karimi before looking over Arisa's shoulder to sniff the newborn pup.
"Amaterasu-sama and Inari-sama send their blessings," Kitsune yipped, completely disregarding the frozen Hatake clan as she also peered at the new kit. "Awww! She's adorable. She'll be up and wrestling Karimi-chan here soon! Oh! Maybe you'll let me raise this one with the skulk—"
Arisa snapped her teeth at the Fox. "My pup. You have the skulk. Leave my two pups alone."
Kitsune huffed, not offended. "Spoilsport."
"What blessings do your masters give?" Arisa steered her friends back on track. "Karimi is already blessed as the Hunter."
"Amaterasu-sama has decided to bless your second pup to be the Winds of your pack," Ōkami rumbled.
"Inari-sama has blessed her with her name. Ōkami Ryōka," Kitsune purred. The winds picked up and swirled around mother and daughters before settling into the red lines of the newborn pup, the once-pink lines now a matching red.
"Thank you," Arisa nodded to the Kamis' messengers.
"May your journeys be fruitful," Ōkami rumbled before disappearing as swiftly as he had arrived.
"May your hunts be plentiful," Kitsune yipped and disappeared with a howl.
Silence fell upon the cavern before Karimi started bouncing excitedly beside her mama.
"Ryōka! Does that mean she's gonna be strong like the wind, Mama? Or-or does that mean she'll be swift and fast?!"
Arisa chuckled softly and placed a comforting hand on Karimi's head. "Everything in its own time, little one. Just as you learned to be a huntress of the night, so too must your sister discover the meaning of her blessing. Just as I did when I was given my own name."
Karimi sighed, then nodded, glancing at her grandparents and her dad. While Syuntoshi wasn't the papa she never got to meet, he had been everything she had ever longed for in a father whenever her mama shared stories of her first mate.
Syuntoshi was the first to recover from the surreal encounter, letting out a bemused smile as he practically collapsed beside Arisa. Her ruby eyes met his dark ones, and a silent understanding passed between them.
"You have a story to tell my mate," he mumbled before kissing her gently. "But first, I want time with our pack."
Syuntoshi stood gazing out over the precipice to which his mate had led him. It was a cliff that lacked the towering height Arisa recalled, the relentless erosion of time yet to sculpt its form.
The realization that his mate—his beautiful, loving, protective, kind partner whose heart seemed too vast for this world—would outlive him settled heavily upon him. Even with the extended lifespan bestowed by her bite, he would still be unable to remain by her side for all her future, nor for their current daughter and any children yet to come. That very daughter was sound asleep in his arms as he processed the weight of everything he had learned. His mate, a leader of a village teeming with Clans currently locked in conflict, a cycle of war destined to persist for centuries.
"What a cruel burden she has taken on," he murmured, his gaze softening as he looked down at the too-sharp ruby eyes watching him intently. "What a cruel life she has given you and your sister." Yet, a swell of pride resonated within him. "Yet, I can't help but be proud of her, of you and Karimi. Destined for greatness. Destined to protect this world we mere mortals, in our ignorance and abuse, scarcely deserve."
"Human life is precious," Arisa countered softly, joining him at the cliff's edge. He sensed the subtle shift in her chakra, a calming wave of understanding mirroring his own acceptance. He met her wise, red eyes, eyes he now knew were blessings from the mother of Kami and her sister.
"Then I shall work alongside you for as long as my mortal form allows," he declared, a fond smile gracing his lips. "You spoke those words yourself shortly after our mating. I am an Ōkami now. I will stand with you on this journey you have chosen, this path to bring peace to this world."
Arisa swallowed thickly, her voice catching. "Thank you, mate." She reached up and brushed her lips against his. "Once more, you have not only proven to be a good mate, but you have made me fall in love with you all over again."
Syuntoshi rumbled with pleasure, pulling her close. "I'm always falling for you, my mate. Come, I have another daughter to reassure that she will not be losing me until I am ready to depart."
Syuntoshi cradled his second child, another daughter. Ōkami and Kitsune had already paid their respects. Blessed as the strength of the Ōkami Clan. Hiroka.
"Papa?" little four-year-old Ryōka asked, her curiosity piqued as she tried to get a better look at her baby sister. Karimi, eighteen and possessing her mother's striking beauty, gently lifted her younger sister higher so Ryōka could see the newborn pup.
"Be careful, Ryōka. Hiroka is still fragile," Karimi instructed as Ryōka reached out a small hand to stroke the downy soft white hair. Her own long white braids swayed with her movements.
"I'm a big sister like you, Karimi-nee!" Ryōka exclaimed with delight.
"Hm," the elder hummed, a calm smile gracing her lips. "Come, little one. Dad and Mama need more time to bond with little Hiroka. Let's go see how your chakra control is progressing."
"Okay!" Syuntoshi smiled fondly as both snowy-haired girls left the cavern. Turning, he made his way to where his beloved mate was fast asleep after Karimi had helped clean her up.
"Mate," Syuntoshi called softly, his gaze fixed on his wife who was observing the sleeping fox. "Are you sure this is a wise endeavor?"
The foxy grin he received in return sent a shiver down his spine. Nevertheless, he suppressed his apprehension and joined his mate and daughters as they began formulating a rather... intriguing game involving the legendary Kyuubi no Yoko. Hiroka possessed an unsettlingly persuasive nature; for her sixteenth birthday, she had somehow convinced the entire skulk to embark on a Bijuu hunt, inspired by her mother's tales. Arisa had never concealed the true nature of the Tailed Beasts from their children once they reached that age.
Hours later, Syuntoshi leaned against a tree, panting, his chakra thoroughly depleted, as he watched Karimi and Hiroka engage in yet another wrestling match. Even after hours of intense combat against a Bijuu, their energy reserves seemed inexhaustible.
He groaned and rested his head against the rough bark. He didn't need to look to know Arisa was sitting with Ryōka, patiently rebraiding the younger girl's hair, which had come undone during the fray. The sudden shouts of anger as the eldest and youngest kits tumbled into a nearby thicket only escalated into a full-blown pack brawl.
A soft chuff of amusement barely startled Syuntoshi as the Kyuubi no Yoko shrunk to a more manageable size and settled down beside him.
"I am surprised she hasn't killed you yet with her stamina," the fox mumbled.
"It's come damn close," Syuntoshi snorted.
"And did I hear correctly? This entire escapade was initiated because the youngest desired to test her abilities against my own?"
"Yeeeep~" Syuntoshi drawled out, his exhaustion evident.
"Humans are strange," Kurama rumbled, his massive form settling more comfortably on the forest floor.
Syuntoshi chuckled softly, leaning back against the tree trunk. "Tell me about it. But you've gotta remember, we're not your average humans. I married into the Ōkami."
"Yes," Kurama conceded, his massive red eyes blinking slowly. "I can sense your Hatake chakra. Theirs... it's similar, yet possesses a greater potency."
"That's the blessing of the Kamis for you," Syuntoshi said with a fond smile. "Nearly gave me a heart attack when Ōkami-sama and Kitsune-sama just appeared in Ryōka's birthing chamber."
Kurama's ears twitched at the names. "Hmm... I've heard whispers of the Original Kamis. Do you know much about them?"
Syuntoshi shook his head. "Not really. We primarily revere Ōkami-sama; he blessed us with his chakra and the pups who become our partners. Arisa is the one directly blessed by Amaterasu-sama and Inari-sama."
Kurama hummed thoughtfully and lay his massive head down. "Then I shall remain and listen to her tale. There's something... intriguing about her. She knew how to fight me in a way no human ever has. Then again, not many possess the audacity, or perhaps the foolishness, to challenge me."
Syuntoshi was silent for a moment before a hearty laugh burst forth, tears even pricking at the corners of his eyes. He wiped them away with the back of his hand. "My wife has to remind me every now and then that she's considered the most unpredictable kunoichi in the Elemental Nations. Unpredictable enough that even the Kamis can't fully foresee her path. They can only guide her in the general direction they hope she'll work her magic."
Kurama snorted, a sound of surprised amusement, but settled down to wait for the boisterous kits to finally quiet down.
Syuntoshi felt a profound tranquility as all three of his daughters nestled around him, drawing as close as their small bodies would allow. His beloved mate still cradled his head gently in her lap.
"Let me go," he whispered, his voice raspy. Tears welled in those jewel-like eyes he so adored.
"Syun..." Arisa choked, her own tears flowing freely.
"Next life, my mate. I will return to you," he promised, his voice bearing the weight of nearly two centuries, long since unable to accompany his skulk on their hunts. "Until then, keep your promise. Live, protect our children. Protect this world."
"Y-Yes," she choked out, lowering her head to kiss his dry lips one last time. "May Amaterasu-sama and Inari-sama guide you safely to their embrace."
With a final, loving smile, Syuntoshi's breath faded, and his chakra flickered and died. The kits clung tighter to him before their mother released a heart-wrenching howl of mourning, Karimi, Ryōka, and Hiroka joining in, lamenting their lost packmate. Even as their sorrow echoed across their island, Amaterasu's light bathed the land, causing it to flourish. Syuntoshi's body became one with the Kami's domain.
Arisa felt a profound stillness settle over her as she watched the sun dip below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and violet. The gentle sea breeze carried the scent of salt and the faint echo of her daughters' laughter as they played near the shore. Syuntoshi had been gone for many years now, yet his memory remained a vibrant ember in her heart, a warmth that time could not extinguish.
"Mama," Karimi's voice called, breaking through her reverie. Her eldest daughter, now a formidable huntress with eyes that mirrored Arisa's own, approached with a grace that spoke of her lupine heritage. Ryōka, ever the embodiment of the wind's swiftness, darted around Karimi, her white braids trailing behind her like wisps of cloud. Hiroka, the youngest, her strength already apparent in her sturdy build, trailed behind, her gaze fixed on a seashell she held in her hand.
"What is it, my kits?" Arisa asked, her voice soft with affection.
"Ryōka found something," Karimi explained, gesturing to her younger sister.
Ryōka held up the seashell, its intricate patterns swirling with shades of pink and white. "It whispers secrets, Mama."
Arisa smiled, a familiar ache tugging at her heart. Syuntoshi had always been fascinated by the sea. "Perhaps it does, little wind. Perhaps it carries stories from far away."
Hiroka, ever direct, piped up, "Did Papa hear the secrets too?"
A shadow of sadness flickered across Arisa's face, but she quickly masked it with a gentle smile. "Perhaps he does, little strength. Perhaps the wind carries our whispers to him."
Karimi placed a comforting hand on Arisa's shoulder. "He knows we remember him, Mama."
Arisa nodded, her gaze returning to the horizon. The burden of her longevity was heavy at times, the ache of loss a constant companion. Yet, the vibrant life that surrounded her, her strong daughters and their growing skulk, was a testament to the promise she had made. She would live, she would protect, and she would carry their memories with her until the very end. The world still needed the Ōkami, and she would not falter in her duty.
