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Kyuubi the Bitch	By : Lechan Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 3775 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 3
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
- 14
- 15
- 16
A.N. Well, to make up for lost time, here is chapter 15, ^-^ Hopefully its what you all are waiting for. A lot had to happen here so I hope it isn’t too rushed. If it feels that way please let me know so I can attempt to fix that.

Kyuubi the Bitch
Naruto
Chapter 8: Confused, Emotional, and Knocked Up

            “I love you…”
            The words echoed like some kind of taunt and rolled back and forth over his mind until Naruto swore that the words weren’t really words at all, but an angry howl of constantans and an odd vowel or two determined to drive him mad. Flopping over on his side didn’t dislodge the sound so much as awake a new screaming, this one of pain that promptly threw him into the waking world and to an eyeful of sunshine.
            “Gah! Dying…” Naruto grumbled yanking the bed sheets up to stop the mutiny that the light seemed intent to see through and nearly choked on the heavy scent of musk and sex that permeated the bedding. Feeling his stomach fall to somewhere near his colon—an area that now made sense to be throbbing and aching—Naruto grew stiff as memory returned.
            I let Sasuke fuck me… Naruto swallowed down the initial whimper that caused, and then the bile that tried to race up his throat as more intense memories swamped him. I offered myself to him! My god, I was worse than a slut! On my knees and… and then… Naruto’s mind fell deaf then as the low tingle ran through him.

            Heavy breaths, clinging hands, an insistent pressure and constant motion. Full, full to bursting, and then those repetitious, loving hands. But it wasn’t love it wasn’t anything like that, and why should it hurt so damned much that it was not so?! And… and…
            Needy understanding eyes, a warm embrace, hips trapped by his thighs and a completeness that was so utterly wrong, and so desperately needed.

            Naruto wanted to die.
            I wanted him to… to screw me like a girl… like a l… lov… He shook his head harshly to deny the thoughts any real form and glared across the empty room.
            He knew the house would be just as empty of a brooding, perverted bastard, just as he knew the ache in his back side and spine was entirely his fault and the fact that in the end, he had practically begged Sasuke to love him.
Not with words, thank god, but with his body.
            Was he that starved for affection he would delude himself into taking it from his best friend while the other was desperately looking for a way to secure his legacy? Fuck, I practically emotionally raped him… Naruto thought with a conflicted twist of his lips, feeling disgusted with himself. I really am a bastard.
            Naruto wallowed in his guilt another moment, just because he knew the minute he moved and would be reminded of how completely Sasuke had fucked him, and then he would feel his loathing rise again for even wanting that moment to have meant more. It was so wrong of him to have felt that way. Neither of them really loved each other like that, though love was there, otherwise Naruto would have ripped his dick off and fed it back to him cooked in Ramen broth, but it wasn’t that kind of love. Still, Naruto had forced them to experience something only lovers should, and that was as underhanded as Sasuke’s silence about his mission had been.
All the same, Sasuke had given it to him.
            Like always… Naruto realized with a sharp shudder and hugged himself, much the same way he’d held Sasuke after his collapse, shaken by the extent of the emotions that their actions had caused. He always gives me whatever I want. Whenever I ask… even when I don’t outright request it… he gives me, all of him.
            Naruto felt his eyes burn and promptly shoved his face into the pillow before pounding his fists into the mattress as though he could rid himself of his nasty selfishness, and the pain he’d caused Sasuke.
            “I don’t even love him that way!” He screamed into the pillow and clinched his teeth hard enough to hear them grind unpleasantly. “..Damn it!” The trembling was back, and this time Naruto was aware that he had no one to blame but himself.
            Taking several big gulps of air, Naruto forced himself to calm—Sasuke’s lingering scent helping far more than it should—as he stared out and around the room. “I knew he wasn’t staying.” He spoke the words aloud so that they would ring painfully in his ears and force him to remember them. Hopefully, it would force him to remember why it mattered, and why he couldn’t let himself grieve, grieving lead to self-pity, which turned him to Kyuubi, which only made Sasuke disappointed.
            “… he didn’t leave because of me. He left because of Itachi. He came back because of me…” Naruto shook his head refusing to put words into Sasuke’s mouth that hadn’t really been said, “No. He came back to fulfill his goal, and to tell me the truth. To task me with his final goal…” Naruto swallowed hard, too afraid to touch his stomach or to really search his chakra for any changes, and felt his face turn bright red. He had to clear his throat several times before he could speak again without choking.
            “He trusts me to protect everything here.” That phase, more than anything, suddenly gave him strength. “He needs me here.”
            Those words were true, even if he was a manipulative ass-hole, Sasuke still trusted him, and needed him to keep things alive for his return, and Naruto believed the bastard would come home. Everything else could wait until then, even if Naruto desperately wanted to help kick Itachi’s ass. He’d given his word to stay put, and he’d do so.
But that in no way meant he’d sit around moping and waiting for Sasuke’s return like some girl.
            With a final exhale Naruto nodded, finding the strength to smile as he rolled over and stretched.
            Oh yeah, that hurts… Naruto grunted when he felt every inch of him protest. Suddenly he understood what the perverts meant when they expressed being ravished. He certainly felt ravished, whatever that word really meant, and he had been completely used if the gritty feel to his skin, and the chapping feel of dried semen on the bed spread was anything to go by.
            “That’s just gross…” Naruto complained finally rolling out of the bed. His thighs quaked and for an instant he worried that he’d collapse, which was confusing considering Kyuubi should have healed him by now, but in the next minute, he felt the slow, sluggish burn of Kyuubi’s chakra and then he was standing, the ache between his legs hardly there, and the tremors gone. “Better.”
            Naruto nodded sharply to himself and then looked at the bed.
He really shouldn’t have done that.
            There was blood from their scuffle there, and off colored stains that Naruto couldn’t tell from which of them they were made. The fitted sheet was pulled up from the bottom and bunched up halfway on the bed, the sheet was a knotted mess in the center and half on the floor, and the comforter was in a pile on the other side, just as stained as the rest. It looked like the bed had been the scene of a war, a very erotic war. And now I’m sounding like the plot for Jiraya’s next dirty novel.
            Shaking his head, Naruto pulled the bedding the rest of the way off and carried it—still naked, he knew he was the only one there so why bother dressing—to the laundry room, starting the load swiftly before he made his way to the shower. Today was bound to be busy, and he intended to make certain that Sasuke’s name was cleared. He owed the bastard that much at least.
            Though, really, he was having the bastard’s child—a violent shudder consumed him and Naruto tried not to think of it again as he started the water and let his hand rest under the spray—really this should make them even.
            “Enough thinking Naruto!” He said in a boisterous voice when it felt like his mood was falling again. “Shower, eat, and go see the old Hag, she has some major explaining to do!”
            Stepping into the spray Naruto gasped, enjoying the cleansing feel and let the jets of water massage his scalp and free him from the lingering smell of sweat, and sex that clung there. He was not disappointed to be washing Sasuke’s scent away and if anyone asked him he’d deny it, and he did not grab at Sasuke’s old shampoo because of that reason. It was just there, that was all.
            As the suds ran down his body Naruto let his hands wander. Somehow, his body felt new, different and changed. It was eerily reminiscent of the morning after he had consciously used Kyuubi’s powers and had to face the facts that he shared his body with a demon. As he’d done then, Naruto traced himself, from his scalp to his face, his neck, his shoulders, chest, stomach and seal there on it, his hips, butt, legs, ankles and feet. As he went he took note of all the changes there on.
            He had bruises which was odd, places that he knew Sasuke had bitten and sucked and they made him feel funny inside, and thus he didn’t dwell on them. His Seal didn’t crackle with energy the way it usually did in the mornings, but with the sluggish response from Kyuubi, Naruto just assumed that long sessions of sex wore her out like it did him and pressed on adding that oddity to the same category as the bruises. His thighs felt tender and his butt felt like he’d been thrown from Gamabunta. Otherwise he was the same.
            After coming to terms with the changes, Naruto grabbed the soap and scrubbed himself down. Less harshly than he had the time he’d come to terms about Kyuubi, but still more thourally than usual. Then again, he usually wasn’t covered in sex residue. Shaking his head, Naruto was surprised to find he felt lighter than he had in a while, which was odd, considering he had far more things to worry about—possibly being a pregnant man up near the top of that list—but decided that he must still be in shock, and was dealing with the fact that Sasuke was not the back-stabbing betrayer he had feared because it was the one optimistic thing he could cling to at the moment.
            Feeling the smile stretch his face, Naruto took a deep breath and began singing obnoxiously to himself, as loudly as he could while finishing his shower, and felt a bit more of the guilt slide uselessly down the drain with the suds.
            “Mr. Froggy full of coins, what’s your secret tell the boys! ‘Oh, good luck and lots of tears,’ Mr. Froggy says, ‘Through the years!’ Mr. Froggy—“
Yeah, he was feeling better.
            So much better in fact that he didn’t hear the incessant pounding on the front door, or even when the door was thrown open. He didn’t hear the calling of his name or the hurried footfalls. No, it wasn’t until the door to the bathroom was flung open and Sakura burst in interrupting his made up song that he became aware that he was no longer alone.
            “Mr. Froggy full of —GAHHHHHHHHHH!”
“Naruto! You won’t beli—Oh my god!”
            Sakura whipped around to cover her eyes as though she hadn’t realized he was showering and would thus be naked, as Naruto jumped and awkwardly tried to cover his entire body with his hands, well aware of the bruising that would be oh so telling. “Sakura, what the hell?!”
            “Sorry! I—I didn’t think—I wasn’t listening because—oh god where are the towels?”
            “Doors, Sakura! Knocking, don’t you know what that is?!”
            “Shut up! I was distracted! And—gah! Will you cover yourself up?!”
            “With what?! I’m in the shower!”
            “A Towel?!”
            Naruto made a show of looking around. “I didn’t grab one.”
            Sakura made an impressive growling sound as she turned and zipped back out of the room to find one, her face as brightly colored as her hair, and nearly ran into the other figure standing in the door way. Naruto hadn’t noticed him at first but now he felt himself go ridged as that placid smile was aimed his way.
            “I didn’t realize you were that tiny.” Sai began, his voice as perfectly fake as always though Naruto was beginning to think that Sai was using that to mask his humor. No one was that blank. “Tiny penis.”
            Naruto dropped his hands to cover his privates and glared at the dark haired male. “Shove it, Sai. Just admit that you’re jealous that I at least have one.” Naruto bit back with a smirk feeling proud of himself for not flying off the handle and killing him.
            After a fight with Sasuke this guy was child’s play. Yep, he has nothing on Sasuke. His insults are pathetic and nowhere near as intelligent. Naruto preened internally, feeling much better about everything, now that his defense of Sasuke had proved valid and worth it in the end.
            Sai’s smile turned just a fraction larger and those eyes raked his body slowly. Enough so that Naruto felt the urge to curl away and he stammered out a quick, “Wh—what?!”
            “Seems that it is true.”
            “Huh? What is?”
            Sai’s expression turned irritatingly blank once more as he replied as calmly as if he were discussing migratory instincts of birds when he next spoke, belaying the horror that ran through Naruto’s guts like ice water. “That sex does wonders for one’s mood.”
            Naruto could do nothing but gape for a whole minute, and before he could properly deny it—and the blush rushing to his cheeks—Sai had continued. “From the size and shape of the bite marks and hickies I’ll assume that it was our dear Sasuke who ravaged you—since it is obvious you lack the equipment to properly ravish him—and not our resident fox. Am I correct?”
            If Sakura wondered why Naruto was sitting naked on Sai attempting to choke him with a bar of soap, yelling curse words he doubted Jiraiya even knew, she didn’t ask. Which was for the best since Naruto was purple with his rage and spluttering half-phrases as Sai smiled at him and casually dodged his attempts to kill him while washing his mouth out, which only proved that he was humoring Naruto by letting him attack in the first place.

-3-

            “Okay, I’m going to assume I don’t want to know.” Sakura started when Naruto—currently wrapped in a towel and bathrobe Sakura had found somewhere—had lead them down to the sitting room to talk.
            Sai beamed and made to open his mouth. He didn’t react when a sock was shoved unceremoniously in it, yet more proof that he was again baiting and humoring Naruto, which just served to piss him off even more.
            “No. You really don’t.” Naruto watched as Sakura’s interest seemed to perk up a moment before she pushed it aside in favor of her news that had caused her to interrupt his shower in the first place.
            “Right, anyway… I came to tell you something important.” Her eyes and face lit up like a Christmas tree, and Naruto found himself leaning closer interested just because of her excitement.
            “Well? What is it?”
            Sakura reached out to grasp his hands then, her eyes curiously wet and lips trembling. That was never a good sign and Naruto stiffen in fear. Oh god, what now? Is Ino alright? Did she steal Sai’s heart? A quick glance at the silent third member proved it couldn’t be that because Sakura wouldn’t have come with him if that was the case. Maybe she had won and they were starting a relationship. But why would she cry about it unless…
            “Oh my god, Sakura, are you pregnant?!”
            Green eyes widened comically and she blinked several times as Sai gave a snort in response to the question. “I know she’s gained weight but it is not placed properly for conception to be the cause.”
            Suddenly, Sakura’s face darkened over and Naruto felt his stomach drop again as he quickly tried to get away. As always he was far too slow, when her fist crashed his face straight through the coffee table.
            “Do I look pregnant to you, you insensitive Neanderthal!?!”
            “Ouch! Look who’s talking, you barbaric cave-woman! That hurt!” Naruto snapped back, jumping to his feet and pointing a finger dramatically in her face.
            “Cave-woman?! At least I lock a bathroom door when I’m inside naked!”
            “I live here alone! Why should I have to lock the door?”
            “Because it’s common courtesy, moron!”
            “Sasuke never cared!” Naruto blurted out and both he and Sakura flinched and looked away, though Naruto was certain it was for different reasons. Damn… how am I going to explain this?
            “That might be because he liked seeing your naked ass.” Sai interjected, smoothly shattering the tension and making Naruto blush sixteen shades of red.
            He knows! He knows WAY too much! While Naruto ran mental panicked circles in his head, while Sakura laughed a little and shoved Sai as though he’d made a colossal joke.
            “Which reminds me, Naruto, Tsunade-sensei just informed me that Sasuke isn’t a missing Ninja at all!” Sakura began, once again gripping his hand and giving him that odd look, waiting for him to react.
            “Huh?” Naruto blinked, wondering what her point was. His mind was still busy dealing with the fact that Sai knew Sasuke had taken him up the ass the night before. Finding the relevance in Sakura’s words was a bit beyond him at the current moment.
            Sakura rolled her eyes and tugged on him a bit to make him focus on her before she tried again. “Sasuke was on a mission in Sound all this time. He was undercover as a missing Ninja but he wasn’t really. You know what this means?”
            “Uh… that we just wasted a lot of time?” Naruto asked, trying to figure out why she seemed so excited about Sasuke not being a evil bastard after all, when their were more important issues, such as finding a way to keep Sai quiet.
            “Naruto! Sasuke is innocent! He’ll come home, team seven isn’t broken!” When her words failed to get a response she slugged him hard on the head again.
            “Ow! Damn it Sakura why do you always do that?!”
            “Because it’s the only way to get your attention! I just told you that—“
            “—Sasuke is back and not evil yes, I already knew that! Now tell me why you felt in necessary to hit—“ Sakura’s sudden jerk that brought him nose to nose with her cut him short and reminded him of just what he’d been saying and he swallowed hard when those calculating green eyes bore into his own as she held him stretched across the coffee table.
            “What do you mean, you already knew?” She asked suspiciously, and Naruto felt like squirming.
            “Uh…”
            “Naruto.” Her tone was two steps shy of being murderous in a way he hadn’t heard since Sasuke last turned her down and he pointed it out to her. Swallowing Naruto quickened to respond to her.
            “I, uh, sort saw him.” Naruto replied, scratching the back of his head. He nearly toppled over when she dropped him. “Gah! Sakura, make up your mind, are you going to man handle me or drop me?”
            “When?”
            Naruto blinked at her. “Uh, just now when you had me practically sprawled across the table—“
            Sakura smack him upside the head. “Stop being intentionally stupid, Naruto! When was Sasuke here?”
            Naruto rubbed his head, not sure if he should feel uneasy with the fact that she just assumed Sasuke had been here when Naruto had seen him. Everyone is far too perceptive about this… Naruto tried not to show his unease when he asked, “What makes you think I saw him here?”
            Sakura rolled her eyes as Sai smiled once more, this time the underlining menace was clear.
            “Because, this is his house. Where else would he go?”
            Naruto felt so relieved by that statement that seemed to imply that Sakura thought him mental for thinking she could mean anything else that he couldn’t stop his sudden laughter as he rubbed his head and sat back. “That’s right, I almost forgot.”
            Again, Sakura gave a huff and flopped back into her own seat. “So?”
            “So, what?”
            “Naruto so help me god, I will drown you in the lake if you don’t start answering me.”
            “Geeze, no need to get violent…”
            “Yes, he’s had enough of that already.” Sai, again interjected causing Sakura more confusion and Naruto to wish he’d just locked the fucking door to the bathroom.
            “What do you mea—“
            “Last night. Sasuke dropped by and I ran into him.” Naruto felt vile for the near lie. It wasn’t really a lie, he had sorta tackled him when he saw him, and then Sasuke did drop by that evening so it was just a reordering of events. Let Sakura come to her own conclusions. Still he felt like a major bastard for not telling her.
            “… where’d he go?” Sakura asked slowly, her reaction far too calm to mean anything good, and Naruto stared down at his hands as he tried to think of what to tell her. A part of him desperately wanted to confess it all and tell her what he’d done while the larger part of him recoiled at the very idea.
He just, couldn’t share this with her. It was too intimate.
            “Tsunade promised him that he could hunt down Itachi after his mission was completed. So, he left to do that.”
            “Alone?!” Sakura leaped to her feet as though she planned to run after him and stop him herself. “What was he thinking—what were you thinking letting him go alone—“
            “He didn’t want me.” Naruto snapped harshly, trying to get through to her before she could build herself up anymore, and was shocked when she jerked as though she’d been physically struck and turned to him with the most compassionate, and pitying eyes he’d ever seen.
He hated them instantly.
            “Oh, Naruto…” She reached out as though to embrace him, and Naruto stepped to the side to avoid her and glared out the shoji door he’d opened when they had entered the room. He didn’t like pity, and this was the first time he’d ever received it so blatantly from his friend. It hurt, but that wasn’t really why he’d stepped away from her. He could still recall the feeling of Sasuke’s arms around him, and though the memory brought up conflicting feelings it was important to him to retain it for as long as possible. Sakura’s embrace would cause him to forget.
            “He’ll be fine. He promised to come back this time. Besides, with all the new shit he’s learned, I pity Itachi.”
            Sakura was quiet for so long that he wondered if she had left and turned to look at her and was met with somber eyes. The pity was missing finally, and so he mustered up a wide grin. “Besides, he needs us here to make sure he doesn’t get mobbed when he returns a hero. You know how his fan club can get.”
            Sakura let out a waterlogged giggle and rubbed at her eyes. “Yeah, they are ravenous.”
            “What do you mean, they? Aren’t you the president of the group?” Naruto laughed as he dodged her fist as it swung his way. “Oh, that’s right, you’re a Sai groupie now aren’t y—AH!” Naruto cried out when Sakura picked up the whole coffee table and began to chase after him with it.
            “Take it back, Naruto!”
            “Fuck, Sakura it was a joke!”
            “Take it back!”
            “Sai, help me!”
            “I prefer to leave crazy people alone.”
            “What was that?!” Sakura cried dropping the table as she swung around to face the stoic brunette still seated. The table made a harsh sound that Naruto winced from, desperately hoping it wasn’t an antique. Sasuke just might kill him for that. Mother of his child or not.
            “GAH! Why are you hitting me?! He said it?!”
            “Shut up Naruto!”
            “This is so not fair!” Naruto complained though he was grateful for the relaxed atmosphere in the room and the sense of normality that invaded with it. Perhaps, things were changing for the good this time.

-3-

            Fully clothed and clean, Naruto ambled through the front door to find his shoes. After Sakura and Sai’s departure—to inform Ino and the rest of the town via her of Sasuke’s return and subsequent departure—he decided that he could stop by Ichiraku’s on his way the Hokage Tower that way he could accuse Tsunade of being a secret-keeping sadist on a full stomach. He paused when he saw the blue footwear neatly placed by the entryway. He knew for a fact he never did anything like that, especially after the fox started spraying his shoes, luckily the stuff didn’t affect him after it had dried still it made him less concerned with how he treated them.
            Blue eyes narrowed when he realized that the shoes looked too clean, and they seemed almost too new to be his. Slowly, as though coming out of a Genjutsu, Naruto realized what he was seeing. The scowl tuned into a grimace and his fists clenched and he trembled with the urge to stomp his foot.
            “Teme! You Fucking Kleptomaniac! Leave my shit alone!” When screaming didn’t seem to be enough he kicked the offending shoes across the yard and continued to yell. “My hitai-ate, my shoes… my fucking virginity! Give those back you son of a bitch!”
            “I see this is a bad time.” Kakashi’s low drawl was met by a flung Kunai that missed its target but still managed to prove his point.
            “What do you want.” Naruto growled, reminded again that his so called teacher had once again duped him. He really should be used to it by now, and honestly he wasn’t as mad at Kakashi as he was Tsunade, because he half expected it from the Scarecrow, still, he wasn’t about to let the other off the hook.
            Seeing his expression, and probably seeing it for what it was, Kakashi snapped his book shut and pocketed it, facing Naruto fully, though his tone was still mockingly light. “Tsunade wishes to talk with you, though if you want I can tell her that you are currently mourning your lost innocence and cannot—“
            “You tell her and I’ll spread the rumor that your dick is diseased and we’ll see how much action you get then.” Naruto said just as flippantly, and watched as Kakashi’s eyes crinkled with amusement.
            “That would hardly affect those currently in my bed.”
Naruto wanted to gag.
            It was one thing to assume his teacher had a sex life another to actually know.
            “Uhg, I did not need to know that…”
            Kakashi chuckled, and Naruto promised himself that he’d get his revenge. Perhaps Konohamaru would help him learn that disturbing Jutsu of two men and he’d spread and visual rumor of Kakashi’s hidden orientation. That might damage his reputation.
Then again… maybe not…
The bastard did lead a charmed life like that.
            “So, you going to make an appearance?”
            “Like I have a choice.” Naruto grumbled, wondering if there was a way to humiliate both Kakashi and Tsunade at the same time.
            “Great.”
Naruto was a little irritated that his idea of lunch first was thrown out the proverbial window, but at least he had a reason to meet with Tsunade now. That gave him a right to let her know exactly what he thought of her choices.
            “You need a moment to finish up with the shoes?” Kakashi asked with an annoying tilt to his head in the direction that the footwear had gone. Naruto scowled and stomped his way over to the offending shoes before shoving them on. He doubted he’d be allowed inside without shoes now. He was no longer the child from three years ago when he’d burst into the tower a sobbing mess because Sasuke had gone missing.
            Great, now I’m going there to complain about being the only person who didn’t know he was leaving after being the only one to know when he left last night. The parallel left him slightly queasy when he realized that in a very short amount of time he’d be a blubbering mess of hormones 24-7 if things had been successful.
His cheeks went bright red.
            Kakashi remained silent but Naruto could feel the mocking stare and he shoved passed him taking to the roofs to cut time in half. The last thing he needed to think about before going to confront Tsunade was his possible pregnancy. He’d have to inform her at some point he knew, he’d just rather it not be while they were arguing.
            The tower was oddly dull in his eyes as he approached it. It wasn’t the glorified place he aspired to reach, nor was it the place he felt he could trust as it had been before Sasuke’s second departure. Yet, it wasn’t the despised location of yet another betrayal anymore either. It was just a building, like any other, but it just so happened to be where the leader of the village resided and worked. Naruto felt himself smile a little when he realized it. He really was growing up it would seem, if the coveted Hokage Tower no longer dazzled him.
            He took the stairs this time, more to prove his anger, than to be polite, or as Kakashi would assume, to delay the meeting, and when he knocked politely upon the door waiting until he was called into enter, he was pleased to see the barely covered wince Tsunade gave. Kakashi might not have understood his actions, but it was clear that the Godaime had.
            “Naruto.” She said, in the calm voice she reserved for handing out orders or dealing with the council. Naruto frowned and executed the low bow that was customary in response to her tone and watched her expression darken. Funny, she always complained when I didn’t do this before.
            “Hokage.”
            That was it. No questions, no accusations, no extra diatribes that burned inside his mouth begging to escape, but he wouldn’t let them. He had a point to make, and Tsunade was going to listen well to it. She knew he’d placed her in a position close to his heart. Iruka and she were something close to family—never as dear as Sasuke perhaps but close all the same—and she had discarded him. Worse yet, she had not attempted until this moment to smooth things over. He couldn’t just let go of that, and he wouldn’t, but he wasn’t the same child that painted graffiti on the monument when he was upset—sure that part of him still lived strong and motivated most of his more wild accusations, but he had grown past the need to act as such—and he would prove his anger another way.
            “Naruto, sit down.” Tsunade bit out when he’d resumed his stance at the door like any other proud shinobi. He waited just long enough to edge the line of disrespect before moving to comply, but even then, he sat at attention until the other blonde let out an exasperated sigh, cradling her head in her hands. “You’ve made your point brat, now will you talk to me?”
            “Why?” Naruto asked through his teeth, his posture hunching forward, his fingers digging into his knees.
            “It was the only way to keep you and Sasuke safe.” The ‘from both sides’ was a silent addendum that he didn’t miss, and it caused him to grip tighter and ground his teeth harder.
            “Naruto, there was no other alternative available, given the heavy circumstances, many of which you are still unaware of.” Tsunade began, and Naruto found it interesting that Kakashi tensed up a bit at her words. Not noticeably so, but enough that his scent altered slightly.
            For a moment, he wondered when it was his nose became that sensitive but decided he really didn’t want to know the answer, what with everything else happening. Maybe it’s a side affect of Kyuubi waking back up or something… Naruto told himself and focused again of the conversation, putting it and Kakashi’s reaction away for another time.
Really, with the silver-menace it could have been anything.
            “This took care of most of the issues and complications. Sasuke needed your reactions to stay hidden, and you—“
            “I needed his protection, is that what this is about? His sacrifice for my freedom?” Naruto snarled, unaware that it still hurt him as acutely as it did. Tsunade closed her eyes slowly, as though fighting to control her own temper.
            “No. You needed a goal to keep you moving, to keep you out of the village. Sasuke would serve that purpose well, and Jiraiya would be the best teacher for you.”
            “And why would that be exactly?” Naruto asked, well aware that she was avoiding several facts in her explanation. Why he needed a goal, why he needed to be out of the village—though he assumed it was to keep him from the council—and most importantly, why Jiraiya? Sure the perv was a great ninja, and he did teach Naruto several important things, but she had implied that he was the only one who could have done the job.
            “Because he is not bound by the village walls.”
Of course.
            Naruto crossed his arms and pouted at her, not quite ready to start the real discussion and move past the whole issue and asked the final question, the one that had kept him up most nights before Sasuke’s return trapped in thought. “What else have you kept from me, for my own good?”
            Both of their scents changed so drastically it almost made his head spin.
            “You’re both keeping secrets.” Naruto hissed out as the hurt caused him to suck in a breath. “What are you hiding now?!”
            Both faces turned blank before him then, neither giving away a single hint of what it was they were denying him for his supposed better good, though their scents reeked, and Naruto felt his lip curl up in a snarl. “Does it help you sleep better at night, knowing that you are lying to me? Because it might be for my better good?”
            “Naruto.” Kakashi’s tone was a warning, one that Naruto blatantly disregarded as he slammed to his feet to turn on him.
            “No! I’ve had enough of this bullshit!” His voice rose as slowly as Kyuubi’s chakra responded to his pull and he felt his eyes focus sharper and his nails bite into his palms with a sluggish roll that increased his irritation. “How am I supposed to trust any of you when all you do is lie to me?! You lie to my face about my best fucking friend, and allow an assassin to join our recovery mission of him! You let me believe that I cannot trust a single person but myself, but perhaps that was right since I can’t!”
            “Uzumaki! Sit down now!” Tsunade’s voice was thunderous, and Naruto matched it with his own.
            “Why should I respect someone who would let me kill what’s left of my human self because she was too busy hiding things from me?” His voice, or perhaps his words, cut through the haze of anger in golden eyes, and he watched as they widened in shock, the color draining from her face.
            “…you knew.”
            Naruto nodded with a cruel smile. “Hard not to notice when I ask her to do it.”
            Again, Kakahsi’s scent changed—it might have been odd but he could get used to the perks and insights this new ability was giving him—and Naruto glanced his way to see the strained, disappointed expression on his pallid face. At one time, that disappointment would have crushed him, now it only matched the one he felt toward his teacher and Hokage.
            “Why on earth would you do something like—“ Tsunade broke off at the look Naruto directed at her. For long moments there was silence as he allowed her to realize her blunder herself. When she continued to wait for a response, he took a slow breath and explained as simply as he could.
            “For the same reason you didn't kill the snake bastard. I couldn’t trust anyone else, no on apparently gave a shit, and I simply wasn’t strong enough.” His words must have rung eerily similar to Sasuke’s then when the two looked at one another and Tsunade sagged back into her chair rubbing at her temples.
            “Ignorant fools…”
            “Only ignorant because of our superior’s secrets.”
            Tsunade’s glare wasn’t harsh anymore, it was more like that irritated look she often gave him, and it was still filled with endearment. The look crackled through his senses and made him want to forgive her. Almost… I just need them to understand… just a little more…Naruto wasn’t aware that he was holding his breath as he awaited that moment, fearing that perhaps it would never come, as so much he’d hoped for had been denied.
            “Fine. I get it, brat, but there are things I cannot tell you, things, decisions made as Hokage that are difficult and wrong, but they still must be made.” She met his stare and held it with her own. It was clear she would not tell him the secrets she was with-holding—either they were not her secrets to tell, he’d heard of the secrets passed on from Hokage to Hokage, or she felt that they were important enough to lose his respect over—and she was aware that he refused to be used in such a manner, and that she should tread cautiously before attempting to control him again.
            Slowly he nodded and relaxed, quickly followed by Tsunade.
            “So, are we done? I haven’t eaten yet and I’m starving!”
A hesitant smile and a roll of her eyes.
            “I had requested you here to inform you of Sasuke’s plans, but it would appear that he has already informed you of them.”
            “Naw, you know I was listening yesterday. You just wanted to calm me down before I went tearing off after him again.” Naruto said, this time with his usual joking tone and watched as Tsunade relaxed further. It was a rocky start, but it was none-the-less the first step toward healing.
            “Well, since you already know everything,” She paused to imply that she doubted that statement highly encouraging a chuckle from him, “I will assume that I will not be getting any surprises from you.”
            “Don’t hold your breath.” Kakashi muttered, his scent finally back to normal.
            “Hey! I can listen when I want to!”
            “Ah, and the key phrase is mentioned. When is the important particle in that statement.”
            Naruto rolled his eyes and slouched in the chair, trying desperately not to laugh hysterically. There’s a very little chance that it worked… Naruto tried to tell himself, but with the way his life usually ran, he would get pregnant on the first time.
And boy, oh boy, would that ever be a surprise for the hag?

-3-
            “I still say he’s a selfish bastard.” Kiba grunted out as he parried Naruto’s kunai and used the pressure to push off and allow Akamaru a chance to dive into the fray. The dog dove straight for his middle, and Naruto had to move fast to avoid the collision that was meant to lose him his footing.
            “Never said he wasn’t.” Naruto returned, flipping over his second training partner and deflecting the projectiles Kiba sent his way while he was air born, returning a few of his own before attempting his own bodily attack.
            Kiba easily tossed him back with a casual roll of movement that was impressive for the boy, and Naruto found himself grinning instead of feeling slighted at the casual toss. “Been taking dance lessons with Hinata, dog breath?”
Impressive or not, didn’t mean he wouldn’t tease him for it.
            “Piss off, Naruto.” Kiba growled, though his mouth was lifted in a half-smile of his own, showing off some of his teeth—probably to cover the blush on his face—as he casually flipped Naruto off. “Least I have enough skill to learn it.”
            “I could so dance!” Naruto returned, blocking Akamaru and Kiba as the two charged him at once. He was well aware that the ‘No Chakra’ rule had saved him at that point. That move hurt when done with the intent to wound, he would know, and with the odd way his chakra had been reacting to shit lately, he didn’t trust it to heal him fully.
            I’m blaming Sasuke for it. His sperm gave me some rare chakra disease… bastard. His inattention sent his sprawling to the mud when Kiba threw a kick to the back of his head, and Naruto felt a flare of heat ripple just below his skin. His hand glowed slightly with the beginnings of the rasengan. Shaking his hand out violently, Naruto flipped and kicked Akamaru back before throwing a fist Kiba’s way.
            “I doubt it! You’re far too clumbsy—“ Kiba began, dodging the punch and angling his knee at Naruto’s exposed stomach.
It happened in a moment.
            Naruto realized that he had no hope of avoiding the blow and was bracing himself for the impact, when his chakra simply exploded. No… not my chakra… Kyuubi’s… Naruto watched in mild horror as a burst of red—shaped suspiciously like a tail—whipped out from his middle and threw Kiba back several feet. Naruto couldn’t even find the will to blink as Kiba rolled to his side coughing and holding hismeslf as though protecting a wound.
            “Damn, man, didn’t realize dancing was such a touchy subject…” Kiba was attempting to make light of the incident, but Naruto could tell it was a cover for his confusion on what had just happened.
            “I… I… I didn’t…” Naruto swallowed hard unable to continue. He had no excuse for his actions, especially because he couldn’t account for what happened. He wasn’t even angry, it had just happened.
            “Shit, I think you fractured my rib.” Kiba continued, sitting up gingerly and looking over to where Shikamaru had been resting—supposedly keeping tally of the times they landed a blow—and met the calculating eyes of the Chunin.
They had been practicing to rid themselves of the tension that had been building over the last week. Something in the air was just off, Naruto was certain of it, and with his heightened senses he had no room to doubt. The wind felt thick and smelled like death, dirt, and rot, but he hadn’t been able to explain that to anyone. Luckily, though they couldn’t explain it, the rest of Konoha felt it as well, and Kiba had been easily conned into this impromptu training session. Same with Shikamaru, and yet now it had all gone sour. “You’re the one who said no chakra. I think I should win by default.”
            Kiba’s laugh was brittle, and Naruto felt the sick race up his throat. Ever since the incident with his problem, Kiba had been careful of how he worded things with him. Not to the point where it was annoying, but enough so that Naruto was aware of his effort.
            It had never hurt him before.
It did now.
            “… Sorry Kiba, it was just….”
            Just what? An instinctive reaction? Lack of control? Naruto felt himself go cold inside, and wondered if he should seek out Jiraiya and beg the pervert for more training. Or perhaps I should get Tsunade, she would know what to do… Naruto’s mind was racing when Kiba stood, brushing the dirt from his clothes with his free hand as he approached him with an easy gait.
            “Naw, its fine. We are ninjas after all. Though that particular knee-jerk reaction will hinder your dancing. You have to sorta be close to do it right.” Kiba clapped him on the shoulder, straightening as though to prove all was well, but all was terrifyingly not well.
            He was losing control of the fox, and if that continued, he’d have to leave. … and if I continue to lose myself I’ll…
            Naruto wasn’t aware that he’d started to breathe shallowly and like a trapped animal until Kiba had grabbed both his shoulders and shook him harshly. “Snap out of it!” Kiba’s command brought Naruto’s eyes up to his own and he blinked owlishly a moment as things settled temporarily and then he felt Kyuubi stir in his mind, and he was abruptly ripped out of consciousness.

-3-

            “You insufferable stupid human!” Kyuubi’s angered growl was the first thing he was aware of when he opened his eyes to find himself standing ankle deep in sloshing, dripping water. “Taking what is not yours and using it without care… your species has no respect for the rules of nature and then you go and piss upon it because you have no thought—“
            Naruto shook his head watching as Kyuubi ranted and paced within her cell, her chakra bubbling over and through the bars in her anger, and yet they remained almost controlled, or at the very least subdued. Kyuubi was never subdued, especially when she was upset, and yet the leaking chakra seemed to be absorbed before it could truly manifest beyond the first pathetic little bubbling.
            “… what’s wrong with you?” Naruto asked, head cocking to the side in honest curiosity.
            “What’s wrong with me? I am trapped inside of you and your flimsy body, mind, and convictions! That’s what’s wrong with me you chakra-sucking insect!” Kyuubi’s agitation was causing her hackles to rise and Naruto felt amazed that she had lost the bored, conniving tone she usually used and felt himself start to fear for the parasite.
            “Shit, you aren’t sick and dying are you?” his complaint made her eyes bore into him as though she could destroy his control over her and her cage through that alone. “That’s not fair! You finally become useful and now you’re sick and dying… you going to kill me too? Fuck I hate you!”
            The wild chakra spiked and slowly it started to respond to her rage and became the recognizable threat that it usually was. “This illness that we are afflicted with is entirely your fault.” The words were low and quiet, quite the opposite from the red that was heating the water quickly.
            “Huh? What’s wrong with us? What did I do now?” Naruto crossed his arms in defiance, daring the bitch to pin this on him. Her eyes flashed and she pushed against the bars, her image appearing to ease through them and escape. Naruto narrowed his eyes and held his ground.
            She had only gotten this far because he had allowed her too; he couldn’t let her do that anymore. He was the one in control of this body, and he could not allow her to gain anymore ground.
            Concentrating on the bars, Naruto tried to will her back. A crackle of blue chakra became visible momentarily and stopped Kyuubi’s progression, but it did not pull her back into the cage.
            “You dare to insult me?” Her teeth were bared in a cruel grin and he returned the sneer with one of his own.
            “You do that well enough yourself. I mean, you’re trapped by my ‘pathetic’ and ‘weak’ human body.”
            “Yes, and due to your ineptness we shall die a painful, unworthy death.”
            “What are you talking about?” Sudden wariness filled him at the words and suddenly her condition was less humorous than before. For her to force a confrontation instead of merely talking in his head… to allow herself to be seen in such a weakened condition, they must truly be dying.
            “You should not use that which you do not understand, nor own!”
            “What—“
            “Those are my reproductive organs you insist on filling with such filth!”
Naruto felt himself blush.
            Quite the feat, actually, when he had no physical body here, and he stuttered as he attempted to regain his equilibrium. “B… But you…”
            “Leave it to the male to use them incorrectly…”
            “Excuse me! You’re the one who kept telling me to do it!” Naruto yelled pointing his accusing finger at the massive head before him. “Saying all that embarrassing shit about tying him down with his kits!”
            “And how well did that work out for you? Now you have his foul seed swelling in our womb and sucking all of my chakra to your existence, and you still cannot control your mate.”
            Naruto couldn’t find a response to that and so kept his mouth shut, just glaring at his parasite for several long minutes. “Is that the only reason you dragged me here?”
            “This will kill us.”
            “Oh, so now it’s us?” Naruto asked, tilting his head again, this time in a mocking way. “Funny, so why did you suggest it in the first place?”
            Kyuubi growled low and snapped her jaws once or twice at him before responding. “You have no method to give birth and until your pregnancy stabilizes you cannot use my chakra properly, nor your own as it is currently protecting your weak offspring from the potency of mine. We are a sitting target.” Obviously she didn’t much like that position or answering any of his questions. It was apparent that she had only mentioned it before as a means of tormenting him.
Like that was anything new.
            “… Well that would have been nice to know.”
            “Stupid degenerate…” Naruto blocked the new list of insults tied to him and attempted to think of a way to resolve this issue.
            Well, at least now he knew for certain why his senses were so sharp. An influx in Kyuubi’s chakra to him while his chakra supported his children would result in his instincts sharpening. And that would account for my chakra’s instability and the chakra backlash… Naruto looked at his stomach—still flat and taunt under his shirts—and felt himself grow still. Instinctive reaction… to protect my children… Kyuubi’s chakra would know better than mine…
            “Wait, why was it so hard to get your chakra moving before?” Naruto waited for a response as her ranting came to a close.
            “Because conception is a tricky affair in demons and it is taxing upon our bodies. Your inadequacy made it far more irritating than I would have liked as the embryo wasn’t certain weather to take my chakra or yours.” Kyuubi paused to sneer at him. “Proof that it is yours. My offspring would have a least a small amount of intelligence.”
            Yeah, because it would so notice the difference between us… Naruto thought with a roll of his eyes. She didn’t even notice I was attempting to get pregnant in the first place.
            Kyuubi surged up then, having read his mind, as she had a tendency to do, and snarled. “Of course I noticed the stupid actions you make.” She paused to let him know she had meant the incident with Sasuke as her next statement reffered to his callousness with his actions moments prior. “Though a miscarriage would be nice, it is against the laws of nature to allow it. That insult would reflect not only upon you and your inane ineptness, but upon myself as well.” Kyuubi’s irritated rumble made it clear that that sort of insult would not be tolerated, even if it meant allowing his idiocy to be passed on to further generations.
            “Great. Wonderful. You nearly killed my friend!”
            “Then watch your actions.” Kyuubi turned from him, her grumbling turning inward and not meant for his ears. “More damned Uchihas… from my own womb no less… disgraced by those accursed eyes from within…”
            He would have turned to leave her to her sulking, having much more to worry about now than he did moments before, when his mind caught on a phrase and refused to budge. “… Wait a minute… you complained about this before.”
            “Your presence is a constant complaint for me, Kit.”
            “No! You mentioned the Uchiha clan before. Several times!” Naruto felt certain of his claims when Kyuubi’s head rolled his way and the feeling of smug satisfaction was nearly overwhelming.
            “Of course I have Kit-ling. What else would I find more distasteful than you and your sire?” That statement could wait until he’d had more time to disassemble it, and so Naruto charged ahead, walking slightly closer to the cage. Kyuubi’s eyes flashed with something malicious and Naruto made sure to stop shy of touching the bars, and watched it flicker and fade.
            “Why do you hate the Uchiha clan so much?”
            “Why indeed.”
            “Damn it, you stupid parasitic bitch! Answer me, for once in your miserable existence, be useful!”
            “Useful. I have been far more than that. Compliant too, and look where that landed me; trapped in a temperamental, irresponsible kit with no respect for anything outside his fragile and stunted view.” Kyuubi snarled once more, but it somehow seemed far more bitter and wounded than he had ever given her credit to feel.
It almost made him pity her.
            “What’s that supposed to mean? And how does that answer my question about the Uchihas?”
            “It doesn’t.”
            His frown was harsh, but did little except make the beast preen before him, her cool demeanor returning smoothly. “Better wake up now, before your little secret is found out. The old one will be poking around here soon if word of your little lack of chakra control gets out.”
            He wanted to argue, to demand that she answer his questions and stop driving him mad with her looping comments and half-answers, but she was right, and he really didn’t want anyone knowing just yet. Sooner or later, he’d run out of time, but until then, he’d rather not let it be known.
            “I’ll be back for some answers.”
            “I know.” Her grin was vicious.

-3-

            The world was a blurred mass of colors for several seconds before his vision focused and Naruto was able to make out the worried, bored, and confused looks on the people around him.
            “When the hell did you get here Sai?” The dark haired male shrugged his shoulders slightly, his expression pleasant but unresponsive. That could mean anything, and of course, he didn’t get a chance to press for further information.
            “Oh, thank god you’re awake.” Kiba said in a rush looping and arm around his shoulders to help him sit up and kept it there in a companionable hug. “Thought you’d died for a moment there.” His relief was obvious in the way he was laughing now, and Naruto felt his guilt return.
            “I’m the one who should be worried. You okay?” Naruto asked, poking Kiba in the side gently. As he suspected, Kiba let out a hiss and shifted away from him.
            “Ouch. Don’t poke at it!”
            “We should have the Hag take a look at that.” Naruto began, hoping to shift the attention away from himself and his sudden swoon. Kyuubi had brought up several interesting facts that he knew needed to be dealt with, they simply didn’t need to be divulged with most of his friends at this exact moment.
            “So troublesome. At least attempt to actually have an injury if your going to cause a commotion.” Shikamaru muttered, turning away from him and looking off into the distance, as though searching for something Naruto was unaware of.
            “She should be here any minute now, we sent Ugly after her.” Sai said with a smile and in a way answered Naruto’s first question—he was likely with Sakura and came over with her when Kiba ran to get help, because god knew Shikamaru didn’t—though the look was actually almost forced looking. He wondered if Sai had gas before Sakura popped back into existence and ran up to them looking flushed.
            “She’s in a meeting right now, but I told Shizuna—you’re awake!”
            “Yeah.” Naruto agreed with a lopsided smile, rubbing the back of his head. “Sorry for worrying you all.”
            “What happened? Are you okay? Should I get Yamado-sensei?” Sakura asked quickly, falling to her knees before him without any sense of tact and Naruto fought the urge to hide.
            “Sakura…” He whined looking around at the curious faces that surrounded him. He wasn’t sure, but he didn’t think anyone besides Sakura, Sai, and probably Neji knew the truth about Kyuubi. All of them also knew from accident or default, and he really wasn’t looking forward to letting more people know. It was bad enough trying to explain his random reproductive capabilities and dealing with the fact that he will soon have to explain his pregnancy issues with them. Adding Kyuubi to the mix would be too much like suicide.
            “—but Kiba said he saw—“
            “You pass out like a little girl.” Sai interrupted again, smoothly as can be and Naruto was eternally grateful he had the Anbu on his side.
            “I did not pass out like a girl!” Naruto yelled out, taking the opening Sai had created and running with it. Sorry Sakura, but I really don’t have time to be explaining this to you right now… Naruto sent silently as he jumped to his feet, fighting the momentary vertigo and cursing Kyuubi’s horrid reproductive skills. Really, no wonder demons never seemed to have babies; it was too damn risky for them.
            “Whoah, I didn’t say anything like that!” Kiba defended with a half-smile as Naruto jumped into Sai’s space still arguing.
            “I slipped! You got that?”
            “Yes. You do that often.”
            “I do not! Keep that up and I’ll show you who’s slipping!”
            “I fear for your delicate constitution. Perhaps that is the cause for your petite genitals.”
            “That’s it!” Naruto cried, ready to actually start fighting with the irritating boy when the ground literally shook beneath their feet, quaking and rumbling in a manner unnatural. Naruto glanced at Sakura wondering if his brush-off had irritated her so much to warrant her creating that disturbance, but her expression was just as shocked and worried as his own.
            Blinking once, Naruto turned to see if Tsunade had arrived, but she was not there, and then his insides shivered as the wind kicked up and hit him with the rank odor of decay. Cringing, Naruto turned to look at the group and as though communicating silently to each other, they nodded and took off back to the village.
            They split ways quickly, each having their own method of seeking and retreving information, and Naruto wasn’t too shocked to see Sakura racing towards the Hokage tower. He was going to follow her lead but was distracted by the chaos surrounding the main streets. Seemed the quake had startled more than just them, either that, or something had changed in the time that they had been out training. Sakura had mentioned that Tsunade had been in a meeting… an important one from the sound of it… wonder what it was…
            Anxiousness ran through him suddenly at the thought that maybe something had come up and he could stop sitting around. It had been three weeks since Sasuke’s second departure and he had been restless even before the odd aura had arrived. This could be fun, or at least a distraction, and then he remembered what Kyuubi had just said.
            His chakra was unreliable. He could probably force it out, and even control it to an extent, but it wouldn’t be wise or safe, and using too much of hers could result in another backlash reaction, or his accidently releasing her. There were too many variables which made using his skills to their full potential impossible.
            In the chaos a little girl stood looking around appearing confused and lost. She stepped a little ways out from the tiny corner of calm she had found and was instantly bowled over by another person hastily making their way past. Using reflexes he long ago honed, Naruto dove to catch the tiny child before she hit the ground.
            He had no sooner landed than he was air born again, darting between the buildings closest to him before landing gracefully in a crouch upon a water tower. The little girl had remained unusually silent for the trip, probably still rather shocked by the sudden movement—she couldn’t have been much older than five—and he released her gently, meeting her curious brown eyes with a soft smile.
            She met his gaze with a steadiness he hadn’t quite expected and felt himself smile. She was a cute little thing in her small pink dress. Innocent and tiny, un aware of what the chaos could mean, and the repercussions waiting just ahead, and in that moment he knew he’d be going out there to help. Because this was what he had promised to protect, all those years ago in the Land of Waves.
            “There you go.” He murmured, stepping back and standing his full height. The girl continued to stare up at him, unresponsive to the whole ordeal, and Naruto decided that she would most likely be fine for the moment. He could sense the woman in the house below him and with all the movement from roof to roof, someone would be able to get her down in short order. The kid would be fine. So, with a swift nod he darted away again and into the fray.
            The rushing had not ceased, and neither had his anticipation, and Naruto was further convinced that if he was called he would be going into battle regardless of his condition. It was foolish, but he could not stay on the sidelines if he was needed, it just wasn’t his way.
Sasuke should know that best of all.
            “Naruto! What are you doing?” Sakura was below him, once again looking flushed, and he couldn’t help but appreciate her speed. To have made it to the tower and back by now was no little feat. “Team Seven has been called in!”
            Naruto grinned, liking the sound of that, aware—just as she was—that the name was no longer a flimsy memory of hope, but a true title with a full three man team once more. Sakura returned the smile and took off again, Naruto close on her heels.
            Entering Tsunade’s office, Naruto nearly jerked to a halt when he found Neji and Lee already standing before the large desk. For a second he wondered if they had interrupted a separate meeting, but with the lack of Tenten and Maito Gai, it didn’t seem so.
            “Uh… did I miss something? Why are fuzzy brows and Neji here?”
            “Ah, Naruto, I see you are well.” Tsunade began and Naruto met her gaze, well aware that she was assessing him, and as such, made a show about being irritated when it became apparent that Kakashi was also missing, and with Sasuke on his own mission, that meant that Sakura and he were teaming up with Lee and Neji.
            Nothing to actually be upset about, they were both great at what they did, but it was expected of him to throw a fit about being placed under someone his own age, and having his team further disassembled so shortly after it had finally become whole.
            His ranting did the trick, as it always did, and caused Tsunade to roll her eyes and lean back in her seat. “Listen, last night we received a missive which revealed that someone has infiltrated the underground palace and broken the seal on Mouryou.” (1) Tsunade’s voice was grave, as was the mission she was detailing.
A current of unease ran through those gathered.
            The story of that demon was almost as well known as that of Kyuubi, one known more as a horror story told to bad children, but still, almost everyone knew what this statement truly meant. Especially Naruto.
            Well, this won’t be pretty. He was certain of that. Hell, if Kyuubi was anything to go by, this Mouryou would be one pissed off evil entity. And that meant they would need him, the Kyuubi container, on this mission.
He really didn’t have a choice.
            Naruto was well aware of the risks he was taking, both with himself and his team as he continued to remain silent about his condition, but if there was one thing he was certain of, Neji, Lee, and Sakura could all pull off a simple protection mission without him having to be at the top of his game. He could rely on them to do their part, and he could focus on doing his. If it became necessary, which would probably be the case if this Priestess Tsunade insisted they had to protect had a weak sense of self, Naruto knew he could pull off a miracle. It was what he was good at.
            Kyuubi rumbled in the back of his head, but she was either aware of his ingrained stupidity, or simply decided to work with him for once, as he felt a flush of warmth flood his chakra channels. She’d help him, if for no other reason than he instinct to survive.
And that was all he really had to do.
            Unconsciously, Naruto placed a hand on his belly as Tsunade finished the details of their mission, and made a promise to himself as well as the child Kyuubi had just confirmed.
I will not die.

A.N. Yes, Naruto is very contradictory in this chapter. Sorry about that, he’s rather messed up right now, but all in all I’d say he’s doing pretty good. He’s always been quick to forgive once the initial anger has passed, so hope you aren’t too disappointed with him. And yes this ending was a direct opening for the Shippuden Movie one. I had to tie it in somewhere, I very much enjoyed it. Well, please review!
(1) The Evil Monster from Shippuden Movie One. At least according to the Subbed version I have. If I am incorrect please let me know. Thanks.
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Kyuubi the Bitch