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Bared Naked	By : AkashaEmily Category: Naruto > General Views: 1401 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
Chapter Nine: Walk on the Wild Side

�� Kyuubi leapt from branch to branch at lightning speed,
ricocheting off trees recklessly as she made her way through the forest
surrounding The Village Hidden in the Leaves. Occasionally she would miss her
target but before she could plunge to her and kit�s doom, another branch would
simply appear in her path, allowing her to grab on and swing back up to her
original altitude. The resulting free fall from these little detours did little
to soothe the restless kittens safely ensconced within the bag strapped to her
chest.��
�� Her mood was sour, making it hard to keep her temper in
check as she traveled. She wanted to destroy something, wanted to sink her
claws into warm flesh and tare and rend until nothing living remained anywhere
in her vicinity. Damn this insignificant village and its moronic occupants!
Damn the Sand siblings! Damn everyone! She realized she was screaming it over
and over, realized that she had stopped heedlessly throwing herself through the
woods to bang her fists down repeatedly on the tree branch under her knees.
�� How could they do this?
�� Damn them- damn them all!

�� You�re Omai-toh
are outside!� Kyuubi finished reading the note in her hands and teased the
clone, smirking as the clone�s cheeks turned bright crimson. �They want to take
care of you, to fulfill their obligations as your...�
�� They�re
not! I mean- they can�t! I mean�� The clone floundered, momentarily turning its
back on the large male falcon digging it�s talons into the window sill. �I�m human!
I can�t have Omai-toh!�
�� Kyuubi
had stared at the clone, her grin vanishing. �You sound as prejudicial as the
rest of this village.� She said sternly, glaring at the blonde until it looked
down at the floor. Sure that it was sufficiently cowed, she continued. �You
have human Omai-toh, you just choose not to make them officially yours.�
�� Leave
Neji, Hinata and Sasuke out of this.� The clone growled, glaring right back at
her. �They�re not my Omai-toh or my girlfriend or my boyfriends for that
matter! They�re my� friends�� The clone�s shoulders slumped for a second and
its defiant expression crumpled into something far more heartbreaking. But then
it bounced back, expression becoming stern so fast that Kyuubi was left to
wonder if she had imagined the previous one. �Gaara�s coming so there�s no need
for them to feel obligated about anything!�
�� The
fox blinked at him mildly. �You should ask him to be one of your Omai-toh. I�m
sure he won�t object, in fact I think he�d be quite grateful! The others like
him too and get along with him...Well, Sasuke doesn�t but he�s not worth your
time��
�� KYUUBI!�
The clone nearly shrieked, remembering at the last second to merely hiss the
word at her. �No, damn it! How many times do I have to say this? They�re not my
Omai-toh! I don�t have Omai-toh! I can�t
have Omai-toh!�
�� You can have Omai-toh, this village just
makes you think you can�t have any.� The fox said quietly, petting the kittens
again. The trio had roused and was now crawling up to take seats on her
shoulders as they looked back and forth between the two �humans.� �We should
leave this place permanently.� She added absently as she began picking the
items she would need while out and about up off the floor where they lay
scattered.�
�� The
clone shot her a sad look over its shoulder as it greeted the patient falcon
and untied the note tied to the bird�s leg. �I think it�s a bit too late for
that, don�t you?�
�� The
blonde was right but a fox could still dream.
��
�� The stinging in her barrowed hands helped ground Kyuubi
and get her back on track. After taking a brief moment to work her swelling fingers,
the fox turned in the direction of the disturbance she had been following and
continued on.

�� You
have to go!� The clone said suddenly, startling both the fox and the kittens.
Eyebrows in her hair, Kyuubi looked up from buckling her small pack and spotted
the crumbled remains of the note by the clone�s feet. When she didn�t move, the
clone ran past her into the bedroom.
�� The
sounds of hurried footsteps and crashing reached her ears shortly there after.
�� What
the hell are you doing?!� Kyuubi asked, shooing the kittens from her shoulders
and rising. �Weren�t you just telling me how much I should-�
�� I
was wrong!� The clone said, panting as it returned to the main room, a larger
pack dangling from its hand. It was Naruto�s mission backpack, the one he took
when he expected to be gone for a lengthy amount of time, and the clone seemed
to have packed it full. �You need to get out of the village and to the others!�
�� Kyuubi
frowned as the bag was thrust into her hands. �Gaara is coming...�
�� It
was then that the clone turned to her, frantic, its fear for her evident. �He
isn�t! We�re on our own again.� It had grabbed her then by the upper arms,
expression solemn. �No one is coming.�
�� They
had been abandoned.

�� With one last leap, Kyuubi cleared the tree line and
stumbled to a stop on the uneven forest floor. Warily, she scanned the area,
unconsciously rolling her shoulders to resettle the straps of both the heavy pack
on her back she wore and of the second smaller bag strapped securely to her
front. Inside the latter were the kittens, the trio moving around anxiously,
and Kyuubi absently reached a hand up to pet them through the fabric of their
carrier. ����
�� In a decidedly unwise decision, the fox had not headed
directly for the kitsunes waiting for her. Once she had left the village via
leaping over their beloved protective wall �something she hated with a passion-
Kyuubi had made a beeline for another target several miles away. It was stupid,
surely, but with her anger mounting over Garaa�s betrayal, the fox needed
something to destroy before she exploded and did something both she and Naruto
would regret. Kneeling beside one of the larger trees, Kyuubi let the backpack
slide to the floor behind her as she undid the straps securing the kitten�s
carrying case and set it gently next to one of the tree roots. �
�� As soon as she had loosened the tie keeping the top shut,
three furry heads popped up and began nosing themselves free. The blue kitten
was in such a hurry that she actually leaned too far out and tumbled out of the
bag before the fox could reach out and grab her. As she picked the kitten up
and dusted the forest debris from its fur, Kyuubi couldn�t help but smile at the
feline, a smile that widened once the kitten noticed the fox�s expression and
began purring loudly. Once all three kittens were out of their carrier and
safely on the forest floor, Kyuubi gave them each a brief cuddle before biting
her thumb hard enough to draw blood.
�� Listen,� Kyuubi said, pressing her bleeding thumb to
each kitten�s forehead and leaving a crimson strain, her other hand hovering
close by in case they tried to run. �Please don�t lick this off. It�s messy but
it�ll protect you when I can�t. Now, please stay here until I come get you.�
�� Licking the bleeding digit clean, Kyuubi stood and walked
several meters away heading deeper into the wooded area. When she believed that
there was sufficient distance between herself and her charges, she kicked off
her sandals and pulled off her bandana, letting her feet be caressed by the
cool grass while the wind ruffled her blonde mop, pulling loose hairs free to
blow away. She ran a hand through her hair and watched strands fall from her
fingers mournfully, knowing that in a few days most of it would be gone and
that whatever remained would exist only in scraggly tufts.
�� Kyuubi felt her lower lip tremble as she looked at the
forest floor.
�� Kit was going to be in so much pain, so much pain, and now he was being forced to go through it alone. She
had thought such days were long gone once the Sand siblings had gotten involved
but she had been wrong and her bitterness and anger over their betrayal fanned
the flames of her rage. The kittens were safe in their hiding place, protected
by a crude but effective spell that would redirect her attacks should any of
them come within striking distance of the felines. Kyuubi could let loose
without fear, could give into the desire to destroy all over the target headed
right for her. She felt the pure heady pleasure that only came from imminent
violence bubble through her barrowed form�s veins.
�� Someone was going to pay for this! Someone was going to
pay for Naruto�s pain, for Kyuubi�s pain. Someone was dead and, as two individuals wearing familiar cloaks rounded a
corner two hundred yards ahead, running as if Hell itself were right behind
them, the fox just smiled in surprised amusement.
�� Kyuubi absently wondered briefly if Itachi and Kisame had
rockets hidden under their Akatsuki cloaks, they were going so fast. Well, she
amended, the missing Mist ninja could run at any rate- the missing Uchiha was
just being dragged along beside the taller of the pair. Inhaling, Kyuubi detected
a distinctive scent and frowned as she watched the slumping brunette be picked
up and slung over a blue-skinned shoulder.
�� Then the thing chasing the pair came into view and the
fox forgot about them as she began her attack. Since neither of the Akatsuki
members would be relevant to the fight, she removed them from the battlefield
with a thought, watching as the tree Kisame was running past suddenly lashed
out with its branches. The attack caught the former Mist ninja in the right
side and sent him hurtling several meters to the left into another tree where
vines wrapped around the slumped pair. Unsurprisingly, Kisame had automatically
shielded Itachi from damage, using his own body to protect the fallen Uchiha
and thus making them both easy targets for the rope-like plants that now held
them hostage.
�� Kyuubi shrugged. She would see to them later- right now
she had to deal with the beast heading for her.
�� The fox sneered then wrinkled her nose in disgust as the
monstrosity flowed in and out of vision, its shape appearing and disappearing
with the shift in light dappling the forest floor. The overall shape remained
obscured but Kyuubi estimated its height at around forty feet and the fox knew
from past experience that the animal was not to be taken lightly. Four stories
of hulking, growling muscle walked toward her on four feet, the beast�s wide
strides eating up the distance between them in only minutes.
A Hound
was loose. Some stupid moron had actually found a gateway and let loose a Hound.
She sighed tiredly and shook her head over the depths of human foolishness.
Really, it never ceased to amaze her- you would think they would learn after a
while! The world had been razed to ash twice already that she knew of but that
apparently was not enough of a record.
�� The term �Hounds of Hell� was more than an expression. They
were, in fact, real hounds that served perhaps not a hell as humans would
think, but a very nasty place that wasn�t too different than the imagined home of
the damned. There were gates- doorways- scattered globally that kept that place
sealed away and separate from the normal world but, as with any portal, there
were always cracks and gaps that some of the less powerful beings of that other
place could crawl through to crossover especially if they were let through by some power hungry twit.
�� So, of course, someone had released a Hound and now
Kyuubi, as was her job description, had to deal with it.
�� Typical.
�� Alright, Motherfucker!� Kyuubi screamed, clapping her
hands together and holding them there as she lifted her foot high in the air
then slammed it into the ground. �It�s time to send your sorry ass home to your
Master!�
�� As soon as her foot hit the grass the ground began to
rumble, the vibration gaining in intensity until several tons of solid rock had
been disgorged a few feet in front of Kyuubi. In the blink of an eye the mass
broke apart into smaller, lethally sharp-edged chunks and the possessed blonde
held her hands toward it, palms out as if in a �stop� motion.
�� Wind gusted, gently at first but then with more force as
she summoned it and bent it to her will. The air flowed over Naruto�s form,
caressing his body like a lost lover, tickling, teasing as it gathered before
his tan hands. This was not the same as forming a Rasengan attack- Kyuubi did
not force the air to submit with her chakra as Naruto had to do in order to
form the sphere- it was much simpler. Kitsunes were part of the forest and, to
an extent, the Nine tails could command the forest as a swordsman could command
their blade. Kyuubi called to the wind as she had to the pile of rock beginning
to levitate in front of her and they answered as extensions of her will.
�� Attack.� Kyuubi said quietly, lip curling up as she
sneered, adrenaline singing through her veins like a drug.
The
jagged pile of stone rose higher into the air until there was a large wall
hovering in front of her. For maximum damage, Kyuubi made them spin before
sending them hurtling forward toward their target, watching warily as the
projectiles flew straight and true, smashing through trees but not slowing in
the slightest.
�� The Hound screamed, shrieking as it was pelted and
stabbed, as the sharp corners buried themselves deep inside it�s flesh, and
Kyuubi couldn�t help the satisfied sigh that escaped her lips as she listened
to the awful cacophony. Eyes closed in appreciation, the fox tilted its head
back and continued to listen for several more moments, sharp ears automatically
tracking the wounded beast�s progress as it charged her. Then she smiled, eyes
opening slowly as she sucked in a breath and answered the Hound�s challenge
with one of her own.
�� She screamed her defiance, her body already in motion,
charging forward as she flexed her hands, pleased with the chakra crafted claws
now encasing them. Kyuubi launched herself into the trees, jumping from branch
to branch at high speed as she raced to meet the Hound, anticipation of the
kill already flooding her body as the stench of acrid Hound blood filled her
nose and burned her lungs.
�� Heavily wounded, sensing its attacker approaching, the
Hound roared again, exposing monstrous teeth, the smallest of which was larger
than Naruto was tall. Its eyes, previously grey, were now as crimson as the
sheen of the liquid oozing out of its wounds, the barbell shaped pupils
contracted into slits. It was breathing heavily, putrid breath fanning out in
moist puffs that scalded the dying grass under it and the fox inwardly cheered
because her first attack had apparently hit a vital spot. Enraged, it drooled
excessively, the pools of saliva eating into the ground, making it sizzle, and
Kyuubi knew from personal experience that the jell-like substance was not acid
but extremely basic. Even after all these years, the fox demon wasn�t sure
which was worse since both would eat through bone and flesh with equal
proficiency and pain.
Knowing
that Naruto�s body would not be able to handle a drawn out battle, the fox
struck hard and fast. Using a simple distraction tactic, Kyuubi paused for
several heart beats on a large branch in front of the Hound, deliberately
making herself an easy target. For good measure, she let her expression become
pained and clutched her chest, falling to one knee. I�m weak, injured. I�m no match for you� The demon thought, milking
her �wounded bird� act for all she was worth. If a Hound was angry enough and
injured enough, then it would charge blindly after its attacker but this one
was slowing its charge, hesitating as it watched her warily, much to Kyuubi�s
irritation. Come on, Stupid, I don�t have
all frickin� day!
And
then she paused as one of the chakra signatures in her vicinity flared weakly
before beginning to diminish, the demon�s eyes widening as she recognized it
with a curse. Knowing that more people than Kit would have a fit if she let the
person die, Kyuubi inwardly sighed as she debated the best way to deal with
this new problem. As if the Hound wasn�t-
The
beast struck. Taking advantage of her lapse in focus, the Hound lashed out with
one massive paw, bringing it down on the branch she stood on and shattered it.
The move forced her to jump to another perch for safety but, as she launched
herself into the air, she found massive jaws blocking her way.
Oh shit.
Even in her head the comment was spoken in a small voice, as if to underscore
the simple exclamation and the given circumstances.
Kyuubi
tore off her coat and threw it at the teeth about to impale her, watching as
the blade like constructions slammed shut upon the fabric. It bought her the
time she needed and as she let herself free-fell down, she unsheathed her claws,
angling her body into position.
Oblivious
to its error, the Hound was shaking its prize in a frenzied fashion above its
head, baring its throat, and the fox smirked as, seconds later, she swiped her
claws at the arteries so nicely being presented. Once again summoning the air
to surround her hands, Kyuubi formed it into arched blades so that when she attacked
she not only severed the precious blood supply to the Hound�s brain, but the
beast�s neck completely. The flesh split, opening horizontally like a second
mouth as the weight of the Hound�s head falling backward onto its shoulders
pulled it apart, and blood poured from the wound like a miniature ocean.
�Kyuubi frowned, unhappy as she looked over all
the torn muscle and tendons. An over-stretched ligament snapped like a rubber
band and beyond that the fox could clearly see the Hound�s severed spinal
column but still the head and body remained connected. Damn it- I was hoping to sever the head completely. She sighed. It�s messy but it will have to do.
Unable
to enjoy her victory and pissed over that fact, the fox back-flipped in
mid-air, somersaulting to land safely on the ground as blood sprayed over
everything in the vicinity. Kyuubi quickly found herself drenched in the
crimson liquid as she walked angrily over to the tree whose vines held the two
Akatsuki members bound and gagged.
As
the pair was lowered to her level, the fox shook her hands until they were
reasonably clean, using her fingers to clear her eyes and nose. Naruto�s
normally sunshine yellow hair was now as red as Gaara�s, his tan skin almost
black from the red coating it. Ugh! Kit�s body looked as if it had been dipped
upside down in a bucket of red paint except this particular hue could never
come from a bottle.
She
wanted- no, needed!- a bath and even as she thought it, several yard away the
ground began to form a shallow depression that quickly began to fill with water
as the clear liquid burbled up from an underground source.
�Well!�
Kyuubi said loudly once she was eye to eye with Kisame, the ex-Mist ninja
hanging upside down from his constraints. �Fancy meeting you here!�
She
licked her thumb clean, turned her head to spit the foul Hound�s blood out of
her mouth, and bit the newly cleaned digit until it bled freely. Shooting a
smirk at Kisame as she tore off his forehead protector, she caught his angry pale
blue eyes and maintained the contact as she pressed the pad of her bleeding
thumb against the blue skinned forehead.
��Now, now, Kisa-chan!� Kyuubi admonished
quietly as he began to struggle, consequently smearing the lines she was trying
to carefully draw over his brow. She paused in annoyance and roughly grabbed a
handful of his short spiky hair, using her handhold to pull his head back
sharply while forcing it upward. She was perilously close to breaking his neck,
she knew, and though it would have been a minor irritation to her plans, the
thought of killing him bothered her for no longer than a second. She made sure
to let this show in her eyes, let him see how much she didn�t care, and she
growled at him.
�If
you don�t hold still, I can�t draw the seal correctly.� She tightened her grip
on his hair and shook him slightly, leaning down so that her displeased expression
dominated his vision. �You don�t want me to mess this up, Kisa-chan. I don�t mind
a blank slate, really, but I believe you would have a slight aversion to me
frying your brain.�
He
glared up at her defiantly and she watched his jaw work as he attempted to use
his sharp teeth and chew though the vines covering his mouth. He wiggled, straining
against his bonds.
�Itachi,
your partner, is dying, you know.� Kyuubi said conversationally, letting him go
and watching him swing back and forth. She began to walk toward her new bathing
area, pulling off her sticky shirt. �Until I am through with you, I cannot see
to him. You can feel him slipping away just as I. You can�t save him but I can,
and I will, once you stop being a pain in the ass.�
Concentrating
on undoing her pants, she heard the ex-Mist ninja make frustrated sounds as he
again tried to break free and failed, and she took her time as she shimmied out
of the ruined clothing. Looking over at the Hound�s corpse, she pouted,
mourning the loss of her brand new jacket. It wasn�t until she began to walk
away, intent on retrieving the article, that Kisame finally slumped in defeat,
indicating his submission.
Smiling,
Kyuubi waltzed back over to him. ��
When
she was finished inscribing the design she had started previously on the blue
skinned brow, Kyuubi stepped over to Itachi�s unmoving upside-down form,
directing the vines to slowly lower the unresponsive brunette and place him
gently on the ground.
The
missing Uchiha -well, the elder
missing Uchiha now- didn�t react to her presence at all, even when she knelt
beside him and began to open his cloak. Kyuubi leaned forward over his chest
and inhaled deeply, frowning at the exposed skin, at the cloying reek of burned
flesh and coppery sweetness that slid over her tongue and coated the back of
her throat. There was something else too, something sickly sweet and bitter, a
scent with a texture that was almost tar-like as it slid over her senses.
The
scent of deep rooted sickness.
�Oh,
Ita.� Kyuubi murmured mournfully, discarding the red and black Akatsuki cloak
as well as his forehead protector by tossing it carelessly over her shoulder.
�What has become of you in your quest for vengeance?�
She
heard a quiet mew from beside her knee and tore her gaze away from the red ruin
of Itachi�s chest to look down at the kitten, reaching down to pet the blue
female automatically. The fox glanced around for the other kittens and found
the two males fighting several feet away, rolling around as they hissed and bit
one another. Of the pair, the tabby suddenly seemed to be the most wild,
frenzied as he tried to approach Kyuubi and her captive only to be literally
smacked away by the brown kitten.
The
fox frowned at their behavior but didn�t have time to dwell as Itachi�s remaining
life began to slip away. She felt his chakra flare weakly again, heard and saw
his heart hesitate through the hole in his chest and knew that chakra healing
wouldn�t be enough to repair the damage. Flexing her bleeding thumb, she
quickly drew a seal over Itachi�s pale exposed brow much as she had with Kisame
though this one extended down the Uchiha�s temples and around his eyes. After
placing a drop of blood on each closed eyelid, Kyuubi slit her wrist and flexed
to make more blood flow.
��This might sting a bit.� Kyuubi told him
before shoving the crimson coated fist into the mess of his chest while her
other hand splayed over the ground next to her. �
Shifting
her legs, the fox sat down as if she was preparing to meditate. Kyuubi took a
deep breathe, held it, and released it as she began to focus both her chakra
and the magic at her disposal. Of the two, the latter was what required the
most concentration- she had been long out of practice in handling such
involving healing even before she had died and knew that if she wasn�t careful
she could just as easily blow Itachi to pieces as heal him into a whole.
Reaching
out with her magic, Kyuubi thought of the earth below her, feeling it beneath
her hand like some great slumbering animal that stirred at her metaphysical
touch. She called to it as one would a favored pet, feeling the energy rise,
eager to help now that it had been summoned. It flowed upward through the
depths of all that stone and dirt, gaining momentum as it did so until it
simply burst from the ground like some invisible beast that only the fox could
sense. The power rubbed against Naruto�s bloodstained skin, causing goose bumps
to appear in its wake, the feeling making Kyuubi shudder pleasantly at the
fur-like sensation.
Distantly
she heard Kisame fall and curse as she released him, dropping the missing Mist
ninja unceremoniously on his head.
The
fox felt calm, more secure and confident in her abilities as the earth�s power
continued to rub itself against her skin in greeting, and continued to call
forth the other needed elements. She thought of water and instantly she could smell
it, pure and clean in her nose, a slightly heavy cool presence against her skin
like the air before a rainfall. Far away, as if a dream, she heard the ocean,
felt the salty liquid�s advancement and recession as clearly as she felt the
blood moving through Naruto�s body with every beat of his heart. The fox
summoned water and the small depression she had been planning to use for
bathing smoothed out, spilling its contents over the ground to pool around both
her body and Itachi�s. The liquid lapped at them, lapped at the kittens near
them, lapped at Kisame�s feet until the ninja moved out of range, and Kyuubi
could feel other things moving in that clear substance. Just as the energy of
the earth had a form, so did water and the sensation of smooth slicked rubber
teased against her wet skin, soft enough not to hurt, but strong enough to
cause the dried blood coating Naruto to slough off.
Wind
came next and answered like the others, ghosting over her skin and chilling it,
a barely there presence but one not to be taken lightly. The air turned crisp,
not cold, but crisp as it filled her lungs, as it tousled the thinning blond
hair. Unlike the earth or water, the wind energy did not manifest in the form
of an animal; instead the fox felt it like one would hear distant joyous
laughter or soft chimes. It caressed tanned skin as a lover would, light and
gentle but firm and hard all at the same time. Wind wanted you to know it was
there, all the time, wanted you to know that it had the potential to either rip
you to pieces or be soft enough to simply help you clear your head. Kyuubi
thought gentle thoughts and called that dynamic energy, summoned it, quite
relieved when it came and merely swirled about her body, occasionally reaching
out to touch her and the other elements.
Last
came fire, the most dangerous element in Kyuubi�s opinion, though usually the
most useful. Though you could not hold a conversation with a flame you could
bet that, if you pissed it off enough, fire would most assuredly let you know
that you had angered it. With a healthy amount of wariness, the fox thought of
fire and instantly the air around them all became stiflingly hot. It was as if
she stood before the open door of a gigantic blast furnace working at full
capacity. It was not simply hot air- it was a veritable wall of heat that scorched her lungs as she breathed. Kyuubi felt
herself burning, her body shriveling as its precious moisture was stolen away,
but the fox forced herself to push past that god-awful heat to the molten core
of the planet itself and draw out a dollop of that power. She reeled it inside
her, swallowed it down and felt it burn in her body like a great flame ready to
consume her if she mishandled it.
Kyuubi
fought down the urge to pant harshly, forced herself to keep her breathing even
though it was very hard not to let her thoughts narrow down to that burning
pain. Her concentration kept slipping.
She
felt fur rub against her, fur both real and not real, the latter making goose
bumps breakout over her skin. She heard soft chimes and distant laughter, the
quiet sounds seeming to swell in her ears as her cheeks were brushed with
feather light strokes. Liquid washed over her, cooling her down and helping to
draw the heat away safely as it replenished her strength. Kyuubi felt her
concentration steady as the dreadful heat receded into a small manageable fire-
if one could call a bonfire in your stomach �small� or �manageable.� She smiled
and thanked the other elements for the aid before proceeding.
She
took another breath and held it, visualizing what she wanted to happen as the
fist inside Itachi�s chest relaxed, the fingers splaying out and moving until
they gripped the Uchiha�s failing heart. The fox felt the brunette�s body arch
reflexively, instinctively trying to get away from the foreign sensation even
as he lay unconscious. Kyuubi ignored the movement and began directing the
energies at her command.
Connected
as they were currently, Itachi belonged to her and his wound was now her wound.
She felt his heart stop completely but did not let herself be bothered by it,
already converting her demonic chakra into healing energy and pumping it into
his body through her fingertips. The damaged organ needed to rest anyway while
she worked and the fox felt a slight heaviness envelop her as Naruto�s body
began to work for both humans. Every time the blonde�s heart beat, it pushed
blood through both bodies. Every time Naruto�s body breathed, it drew breath
for two. With the exception of the two kittens still fighting nearby, all was
silent as she worked, and slowly, oh so slowly, Itachi�s body began to close
around her wrist.
�Kisame!�
She called, eyes shut, clearly sensing the angry missing ninja as he warily drew
closer, his sword already drawn. The larger male oozed malicious intent, his
anger permeating the air around him, wafting ahead of his body and pricking
against her skin like hot pins. He wanted to hurt her- wanted to hurt her so
badly she could taste it in the air-
but knew he couldn�t because Itachi�s life was in her hands.
Perfect.
�She smiled and there was nothing pleasant in
the action. She raised her face in his direction, showing him her smile as she
opened her eyes and looked at him coyly. She let her voice purr as she spoke,
her accent thickening as a hint of something ominous entered her voice- something
that spoke directly to the violence Kisame so enjoyed practicing and held a
world of promise.
�I
have a mission for you.� The fox said simply then proceeded to explain it very
quietly to him.
When
she was through, it was the blue-skinned man who was smiling.

�Nine
Tails, Chosen by the Deity Inari, Living Seal
of the Final Gate, Keeper of All That Exists From Beginning to End��
The
list continued on, the tone respectful throughout- somebody wanted something
from her pretty badly if they were willing to list all her titles. She kept her
eyes closed, her breathing even as she continued to work on the brunette�s
body. It figured- just as she managed to get rid of her noisy distractions,
another popped up. Typical. Maybe if she ignored the intruders, they�d all go
away�?
��Recorder
of Stories and Memory, Commander of the Elements, Embodiment of Ancient Magic
Come Alive-�
�Shut
up already!� Kyuubi commanded, flexing her hands automatically in irritation.
Beside her, Itachi�s still healing body twitched sharply as the grip around his
heart became a little too tight. �You may have time to waste reciting all of my
names but I do not!� She gestured at the fist lodged deeply inside the Uchiha
as her eyes flew open to pin the visitors with a very unfriendly glare. �What
do you want?�
Oh fuck.
Though her face remained impassive, the fox grimaced inwardly as she recognized
just who was kneeling a respectable distance in front of her. Don�t say it. Don�t say it! Just get lost
and don�t request a-
One
of the kitsunes raised her head and blinked large pale green eyes nervously. A
tongue flicked out to wet her human shaped lips. �We have come to request an audience
with you, oh great and wise Kyuubi.�
Inari curse it! �You have caught me at a most inopportune moment, Moriko, Lady of the
Land That Swishes in the Breeze.� Kyuubi told the eight tailed kitsune and,
though her words were formal, she didn�t bother to hide the annoyance in her
voice.
Moriko
was dressed in green, the color going well with her human form�s overall brown
pigmentation. Brown skin, not just deeply tanned but the color of top soil in
the sunlight, combined with hair the same shade of freshly turned earth, truly
marked Moriko as a forest child and when she flattened herself to the ground to
take an extremely submissive stance, she very nearly disappeared into the
ground she knelt on. Kyuubi was actually surprised to see the dark female since
she was known not to enjoy the spotlight. Beside Moriko, the other kitsunes
also became prone as they showed reverence.
But
they weren�t leaving.�
�Selene,
Lady of the Land that Ebbs and Flows with the Phases of the Moon, what brings
you to my lands without proper notification?� Kyuubi asked, turning her
barrowed blue-eyed gaze upon the only other feminine body in the small group.
There were only five of them, the fox noted sadly; five rulers where not long
ago had existed thirty.
Damn
the humans- the kitsune race was on the brink of extinction.
Selene
raised her dark head and blinked large dark eyes. Unique among the kitsunes,
Selene was the only completely black fox when fully in her natural form. From
nose to tail, her fur was as dark as the night itself. In contrast to her
darker features, in her human form Selene was as pale skinned as the moon
itself, a beauty carved of light and shadow that seemed to glow faintly in the
sunlight.
Kyuubi
knew from personal experience that all of Selene�s human skin would appear to
glow at night, surrounded by darkness, just like a full moon at night.
No
wonder the Greeks had named her the Goddess of the Moon.
Just
like every time when meeting Selene, Kyuubi caught her breath and swallowed
hard as the other female gazed at her.
�I
know that you loath formal speech,� Selene said, briefly bowing her head
respectfully at Kyuubi. As they faced one another, her expression remained
grave and carefully blank but the nine tails could swear that the pale skinned
female was fighting not to smile. �So I will not waste your time with pretty
words.�
With
Kyuubi�s nodded permission, the kitsunes before her sat back on their haunches,
tails flaring behind them as they settled, grim faced.
�Great
and powerful Kyuubi,� Selene intoned and part of the nine tails noted that the
other�s voice was still as melodic and pleasant as Kyuubi remembered. �We have
come seeking your protection.�
For
several moments, silence reigned thick and ominous between the two parties as
they stared at one another.
�Are
you asking me to do what I think you are?� The nine tails breathed at last. She
froze in place, body absolutely still as she stared at them, incredulous.
Beside her, Itachi�s body twitched as his consciousness woke and automatically
began trying to force her influence out of his body. She poked his heart with
her thumb, a quick firm press that made his motions cease immediately. He lay
still, listening, and Kyuubi promptly resumed ignoring him.
�Nine
tails.� One of the kitsunes, a chestnut haired male began, his voice rough and
painful to listen to- as if he had eaten ground glass. Kyuubi thought his name
was Kuri but wasn�t sure. �We request safe passage for our Families into your
lands without the threat of war. The humans have begun tampering with the
seals- one village has even opened a gate! The Hounds are loose, as you have
already seen, and there are too many for our numbers to fight! We face
extinction if we do not act-�
�We
ask that you use your powers and open the Fortress.� Selene interrupted, her
soft voice cleanly drowning out the louder male�s. She put a hand on his forearm
to stall any other comments then looked at Kyuubi. �I beseech you not as a Lady
but as a friend and former lover! Save us! Save your people! Do not abandon us
again!�
They
were so afraid, so very afraid. Kyuubi could smell it like some sour wine,
could feel it try and wash over her. It tried to drag her down, tried to
dominate her will, and if she had been in her actual kitsune body, she may well
have caved into their demands. But as it was, though her spirit was in control
of this body, it was still Naruto�s body. His very human body.
The
ground began to rumble beneath them, the vibration becoming more and more
pronounced as Kyuubi became angry.
��Abandon�
you? Abandon
you?!� The nine tails growled, her fury lashing out and causing the
ground nearby to crack open and vent scalding steam. �After being blessed by
Inari, my kits were slaughtered and I sought vengeance on those responsible as
was my right! Never once did I �abandon� you!�
��You attacked Konoha!� Selene screamed, coming
to her feet in a blurred rush, the air beginning to shimmer around her, taking
on a vague liquid quality. �You knew better than anyone that they were not to
be trusted! You believed in the fairness of their new leader and look what
happened!� The black haired kitsune shouted, tears streaming down her reddened
cheeks. �When you were sealed so was your power! You left us with no leader and
your death doomed us all!�
The
good thing about being a ruler was that you could actually do something-
anything really- to the person pissing you off for no other reason then that
they were making you angry. Selene- for all her beauty, for all the love and
respect that Kyuubi had for her in the past and now in the present- was pissing
the nine tails off. In fact, all of the visiting kitsunes had violated protocol
in coming here without asking her permission before hand as they were supposed
to. She was well within her rights to declare their actions a war-time invasion
and slaughter them all.
At
that moment, Kyuubi was angry enough to do it.
�Be
gone from my lands.� She ordered, forcing all that rage back down into her
core, compacting it tightly into a small ball that sat like a hot lump of lead
in her stomach. She swallowed her anger and the ground stilled. Proud of her
restraint, Kyuubi continued to speak. �Leave my territory immediately or I will
give orders to my Family to have you killed on sight.�
�An
empty threat.� Atarah scoffed, snorting softly as he folded his arms over his
chest. Kyuubi felt the fire magic in her gut flare from her sense of
indignation. She remembered meeting the male when he was but a kit hundreds of
years ago and again when he gained leadership over the Lands that Lie Barren
but Plentiful Underground. It seemed that Atarah�s crown and name had gone
straight to his head.
�You
can not issue orders to people who are no longer around.� The red haired male
continued, completely insolent and not caring one iota- not even when the sky
over head flashed with lightning as Kyuubi�s anger came back full force.�
�Get.
Out.� Kyuubi hissed, the ground rumbling violently. With a pronounced sucking,
wet sound, she pulled her hand out of Itachi�s chest and shook the stiff
fingers out. Her anger was making her lose her focus on the elemental magic and
the situation could rapidly degenerate into something messy if she completely
lost control- after all her hard work healing him, it would be a shame to
inadvertently set the Uchiha on fire. Though they were now physically
separated, they remained mystically connected, and Kyuubi acutely felt the
drain of his still healing body. She felt weak but forced herself to remain
focused on the kitsunes in front of her and in reining in her magic before she
completely lost control.
Atarah
sneered. �They lost confidence in you and fled like rats deserting a sinking
ship...�
It�s not true! They wouldn�t leave without telling me! She tried to calm the panic clawing at her heart and
failed.
�I
think you sound like a certain snake I�ve met!� A cheerful voice rang out
seconds before a large form fell out of the sky to land gracefully on the
ground between the two groups. Two more thumps followed a heartbeat later as
two more kitsunes joined the gathering, making sure to land closer to Kyuubi
than to the others.
Kyuubi
blinked and held back a relieved smile at the timely arrival of Naruto�s omai-toh. All three of them were dressed
as members of The Village Hidden in the Leaves AMBU squad, the distinctive
white masks pushed up and revealing their faces.
�You
hiss poison quite well!� Eiki continued, arching blond brows that disappeared into
the short dark hair nearly completely hidden under his AMBU mask. Pale skinned,
tall and lithely muscled, Eiki didn�t look like much of a fighter, eight tails
aside, and Kyuubi had expressed serious doubt about the potential mate,
unconvinced that the younger kitsune would take his duties seriously or be able
to protect Naruto should the need arise. She supposed that if this meeting
broke out into a brawl then she would be able to either confirm her opinion or
refute it. Warm burnt orange eyes blinked innocently but the grin below them
was more a bearing of teeth than any type of smile that the nine tails had ever
seen. �Are you sure you�re a fox, my fanged friend? What do you say Kazuki?�
�I
think that they should pack the fuck up and get lost.� The kitsune known as
Kazuki said bluntly. The darkness of his outfit seemed to enhance his physical
features rather than dim them, drawing attention to his caramel colored skin
and olive colored eyes. His hair was dark brown with blond highlights randomly
sprinkled in. Normally he let the heavy mass flow around his shoulders as it
wished but today he had tied it back into a low ponytail, the end of which
touched the middle of his back several inches shy of the eight tails nestled at
the base of his spine. Instead of being slim and willowy like most kitsunes in
human form, his frame was large and muscular though not overtly so. Kazuki was
big, yes, but strangely he usually gave the impression of being quite small
since he was so mild-mannered and gentle. Plain spoken, unobtrusive and quiet,
unless he was angry- like now- the kitsune didn�t use his size to intimidate.
�I
love it when you�re blunt!� There was a short bark of noise as Shinju, the third
kitsune, laughed and swished eight long tails the same color as the silver hair
he flipped back over his shoulder. Much like Eiki, the pearlesque kistune
didn�t look much like a fighter but Kyuubi had seen Shinju work under pressure.
When everything was going to hell in a hand basket, you wanted Shinju on your
side- he could be extremely�sensible when he wasn�t indulging his sense of
humor. He took his duties as an omai-toh
very seriously but usually ended up being hamstrung by Naruto on many issues.
Shinju loved the little blond despite this and made sure to follow all of
Naruto�s orders to the letter no matter how much trouble it caused for himself.
Predictably, the fox winked one lavender eye at Kyuubi cheekily as he wandered
over, tall body falling easily down to all fours. He pressed his forehead to
the ground in a show of abasement to her.
�Greetings
beloved Tenko, Celestial Fox Divinely Chosen. Greetings Naruto, Son of the Forth
Hokage and beloved vessel of our Tenko. It is a pleasure to see you both once
again.� Keeping his position, Shinju slowly held out a hand, letting it hang in
the air until she took it and squeezed it reassuringly. The silver furred male
squeezed back and Kyuubi felt her blood pressure fall, her anger and fear
easing away.
�Get
out of my territory and do not return.� She said, voice low and deadly. She was
calmer now that Naruto�s omai-toh had
shown up but she could not allow herself to completely relax until the threat
was well and truly gone.
�You
heard the Lady!� Eiki cried, rubbing his hands together in pure glee. �You have
been rejected from our home- that makes you enemy combatants!� Sunlight glinted
off his AMBU mask as he leaned down toward the five Lords and Ladies. His voice
lost its teasing quality and became low, menacing. �If you do not leave, it
means that you are food by forfeit.�
Kazuki
rubbed at his jaw, the skin bunching slightly as he did so. He made a
considering sound. �You know, Naruto needs a good kill. I bet he�d feel pretty
good afterward and, being human, he probably wouldn�t be able to tell what he
was eating.�
Brows
arched over the cannibalistic turn the conversation had taken, Kyuubi blinked
as she wondered if this may be true. She supposed that if they added it to his
ramen, Naruto would never notice and they could all be happy- he�d still get to
eat his beloved noodles and she wouldn�t have to nag him about eating something
nutritious. She shook her head to rid herself of such morbid thoughts and
turned her attention to Itachi again.
She
reached out and cupped the cheek furthest from her, stroking his forehead
gently with the pad of her thumb. Concentrating, she channeled chakra through
the digit and into the blood seal still staining his brow, watching as it briefly
flared with red light before being absorbed by Itachi�s pale skin. Seconds
later, dark eyes fluttered open and immediately narrowed. He remained still but
continued to glare even as she smirked down at him.
�You
are my servant.� The nine tails told him absently, her gaze already settling on
his smooth chest. She tapped the center of his chest twice, hard, then moved
out of the way as he sat bolt upright. He inhaled raggedly, hands at his throat
as he drew breathe. He began coughing, the dry sound quickly becoming wet and
thick as his body began to purge itself of the disease that had been eating him
from the inside out.
Now
that her task was finished, Kyuubi sighed, sagging as she released her hold on
the magical energies she had been controlling. As they swirled around her,
reluctant to leave, she thanked them for their aid once more then let herself
slump, exhausted. Using her own chakra, she sent out another call and felt a
distant tug in response.
�That�s
disgusting.� Shinju said dryly, watching as the brunette turned over and
climbed to all fours still hacking and coughing. Thick black liquid began to
dribble out between pale fingers and puddle on the ground beneath the Uchiha.
The silver haired kitsune winced and, after a quick bow to the nine tails, rose
to kneel beside the human. Grimacing in sympathy, the kitsune began patting the
other�s back lightly to help dislodge more of the substance. Itachi was too
busy being sick to push him away.
Kyuubi
shrugged, putting her hands in the air to either side. �He was very sick. I
promised that I would save his life and that meant healing him all the way.�
She looked back at the group of visiting dignitaries, taking satisfaction from
the looks of horror on their faces as they watched Eiki. If she wasn�t
mistaken, it looked as if he were miming skinning a large animal while quietly
reciting a very gruesome recipe. She frowned and then sighed. �Someone better
put a stop to this.�
�My
thoughts exactly.� The voice was very quiet and came from right behind her left
shoulder. Eyes widening, her heart suddenly in her throat, Kyuubi turned,
knowing that she wasn�t going to be fast enough to block with the kunai suddenly
in her right hand. By reflex she had pulled it from Naruto�s weapons pouch but
for all the muscle memory at her fingertips, none of it was going to help.
Distant,
as if in a dream, she heard yelling but she couldn�t make out who was speaking
or what they were saying, her focus solely on blocking the sword heading for
her heart. Time seemed to slow and as she watched her kunai heading up to
deflect the blade she knew it wasn�t going to get there in time. She was just
too weak, too slow, too human to defend herself.
Blades
flashed and the world exploded in crimson.

�
More�s Moment:
�� First off, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who offered
name suggestions and/or name translation websites! I truly appreciate your
thoughtfulness and, if your feeling a little hurt because you don�t see your
suggestion, be patient because there are still other characters to be
introduced later.
�� Speaking of characters, we had a bunch introduced in this
chapter. Though some writers may have an easy time designing a character, I
don�t and it took me forever to get every one pinned down
in appearance. It drove me crazy and I spent a very long time simply staring at
my computer screen willing the characters to �speak� to me.
�� Don�t ask- its weird and even I don�t understand it. I
just know it works so I don�t examine it too closely.
I
beat my head against the wall something awful while writing this chapter
because juggling so many characters is, quiet frankly, exhausting when you are
trying to make them more than one dimensional. Honestly, it�s like trying to
juggle cups of scalding water without spilling. (Btw, �Sanctuary� fans, expect
a new chapter any day now.)
Anyway,
thank you very much for reading and please let me know what you think!

FYI: Name Translations!
Each has been chosen with care and will be explained later.
�� Moriko-
Forest child
�� Kuri- chestnut
�� Selene- Greek goddess of the moon
�� Atarah- crown
�� Shinju- pearl
�� Eiki- courage, ardor, high spirits
�� Kazuki- one or harmony, radiance or shine, hope
�� Inari- Inari is the god of rice and kitsunes are his
servants. On a side note, Inari is neither
male nor female.
��
��
- 9
- 10
- 11
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