Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Kitsune to Tanuki ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Tsuin groaned, blinking at the harsh light bouncing off the white walls around her. Glancing around, she saw that she was still in the infirmary. “Thank Kyuubi you’re awake!” a blond boy cried, glomping her.
“N-Naruto-nii, can’t… breathe,” she rasped, still not feeling completely better.
“Ah… sorry, sis,” Naruto said, placing a hand behind his spiky haired head.
“Why?” She jumped and growled at that voice. Her ‘brother’ glared at the redhead sitting on the other side of her cot; it was obvious Naruto wanted to murder the Kazekage right there on the spot, but was holding back for her sake.
“Gee,” she spat venomously, “I wonder why I would do that. Oh that’s right, it’s your fault!”
Gaara’s eyes widened in hurt. She had tried to kill herself because of him?! No one had tried to kill themselves because of him, not since that incident with his uncle Yashamaru. It had always been him who’d done the killing. But of all the people he did want to see dead, not once did he ever count the twins among them. He felt a sudden pain in his heart, one he hadn’t felt since childhood. Not sure of what it had meant, the Kazekage said nothing. “I won’t call on you anymore then,” he said getting up to leave. For the first time in his life, Sabaku no Gaara was beginning to feel something new, something he’d never felt before – regret.
At the time he thought he was doing the right thing by setting Shukaku loose. But now, after thinking about it, he saw that what he had done was probably the biggest mistake of his life – one that almost cost him his mate. He had become used to having the equally willful blonde around and the quiet that had been brought on by his actions had begun to unnerve him. The one thought that kept running through his head was, ‘What if I caused her to do this?’ Unfortunately, her words had indeed confirmed that idea. He had royally screwed up and he knew it.
If he had indeed driven her to such a desperate action, then it would be best if he’d stay away from her, no matter how much he had wanted her to remain near. He had reached the infirmary door and was about to go through when he felt a vise like grip on his shoulder.
“Just wait a damned minute!” Naruto demanded, “Get back here and apologize to my sister! Don’t think that sitting by her side and holding her hand is gonna make it all better!”
‘He was… worried?!’ she thought, surprised, ‘About me?!’
“I already apologized,” he said forlornly, shrugging the angry blond’s hand off. “She rejected it.” Gaara then turned back, his back stiffening in anger and regret.
“Get back here you bastard!” bellowed Naruto, running after him.
“Forget him, Naruto-nii,” Tsuin said solemnly.
“B-But!”
“He’s not worth it. Besides, we’re leaving here.”
“But you’re still sick!” he protested.
“I’m well enough to move around,” she countered, “I just need to take it easy for a bit.”
“You sure you wanna do that?” Kankurou asked, coming in upon hearing the yelling.
“You gonna try to stop me?” she challenged.
Kazekage’s brother sighed, “You really wanna leave huh? It’d be a shame. I’m gonna miss getting my ass kicked,” he said, giving a goofy grin in hopes to cheer her up a bit. She did seem to enjoy handing said ass to him.
blinked, doing a double take. “You’re letting us go?!”
“Gaara told me what happened. He’s really hurting you know, told me that if you really did want to, to take you back to Konoha.”
“He said that?!” Naruto asked just as surprised as his ‘sister’.
“He did,” Temari said, joining them. “But you’re not leaving until I say you can.” The Sand blonde then went over to her and began to check her over.
“I’m feeling a lot better, stop it!” Tsuin said, slashing at the older kunoichi’s arm when she went to check her temperature. “S-Sorry,” she apologized, noticing the gash she had made. “I just don’t like medical shinobi, bad memories.”
Temari just smiled in forgiveness. “It’s okay. The runt here told me about you two. Well, if you’re able to do this, then I guess you’re ok. The baby though…”
“I don’t want to know,” Tsuin muttered, “I’m just glad it’s gone.” started to protest again, but dropped it at the shorter girl’s glare. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to have children, in fact she wasn’t too sure if the scientists had even given her that ability – apparently they did – she just wasn’t ready for motherhood just yet. “If I do have a kid,” Tsuin whispered so that only Temari could hear, looking down at her lap, “I want to have it because I love the father, not have it forced on me.” The Sand blonde gave her a sympathetic and understanding look. Temari really couldn’t blame her for not wanting the baby, from what she read about rape case victims most of them had insisted on abortions upon hearing they’d become pregnant afterwards. Apparently she was no different. “Besides don’t you think I’m a bit too young to have a baby?” Tsuin added with a rueful smile.
“Baby?! What baby?!” Naruto asked, confused and looking back and forth between the two girls.
“Forget it Naruto-nii,” Tsuin said, giving him a look that said, ‘drop it or I’ll make you.’ She was dead certain he’d have a blooming fit if he found out she’d just murdered her and Gaara’s unborn child. She could tell he was the type who just adored kids. Either that or kill the redhead for getting his baby sister pregnant.
She didn’t want the Kazekage dead; she did absolutely loathe him right now, but not enough to see him six feet under. Tsuin just wanted to get the heck out of Suna and darned quick!
“B-But…” One look at those angry sapphires, red bleeding slowly into the irises, and he promptly shut his trap.
“If you want to, we’ll help you get ready to go,” Temari said, “Though I wish you’d stay.”
“I won’t,” the younger girl said, bitterly, “I can’t.” ‘There’s no way I’d be able to live with myself if I had to deal with Gaara again,’ she added silently. She still felt sorry for the taller teen, after all she and he had similar childhoods, but the emotional pain from the other night was still too raw and fresh for her to remain in the desert village any longer.
“Ya sure?” Kankurou asked. Tsuin nodded. “Guess you’ll be heading back to Konoha then.”
“No!” she spat, causing them to look at her in surprise at the outburst. “I can’t go back there. Maybe Naruto-nii could, but not me. Anbu will kill me on the spot.”
“There’s no way I’m gonna leave my sister behind!” the blond protested. “I’m goin’ wherever she’s goin’. Believe it!”
“Naruto-nii!”
“I’m not deserting my only family! That’s my ninja way!”
“Suit yourself,” Tsuin said, grimly, “But I am glad I won’t have to leave you, Naruto-nii.”
“So sis, where’re we gonna go now?”
The younger Uzumaki sat silently, thinking as to where two missing shinobi could go without having to worry about running into hunter ninja. “I don’t know,” she said after having come up with nothing.
“Hey, Temari what about that village we were tricked into joining up with?” Kankurou asked.
“Sound?!” the oldest blond answered. “I don’t know about that Kankurou. They’re kinda dodgy if you ask me. Especially since their leader is rumored to be an S rank missing shinobi.”
“This Sound village looks like my kind of place,” Tsuin said, intrigued. She had spent countless hours pouring over information on every village in the five countries and she’d never heard of any Hidden Village of Sound. If she, a former trainee of Anbu hadn’t heard of it, then Anbu themselves hadn’t either.
“Ya sure?” Kankurou queried.
“If sis says it’s ok, then why not?” Naruto replied, “No one’s heard of this Sound place right? Then it’d the perfect spot for us to hide out in, right?”
“As much as I don’t like this,” Temari said, “the runt’s got a point, Kankurou.”
“Then we’re going to Sound,” Tsuin said, getting up, grateful for the sand colored robe she was wearing. She glanced at the older kunoichi. ‘Your doing?’ she asked with her eyes. Temari nodded, smiling warmly. Tsuin nodded back in thanks.
“Naruto,” Temari said, “why don’t you help Kankurou get your stuff and some supplies, I want to double check on your sister.”
“Sure, Temari-nee-chan! Ya can count on me!” An orange and blue blur then dashed from the infirmary. “Hey Kanky hurry up slowpoke!”
“Don’t call me ‘Kanky’!” growled the older boy, dashing after him. “Come back here ya damned kitsune brat!”
For the first time in weeks Tsuin laughed wholeheartedly at her ‘brother’s’ antics, earning another warm smile from the older kunoichi.

“Ya still sure you want to do this?” the face painted Sand shinobi asked, eyeing the gate in the distance suspiciously.
The youngest of the blondes took a deep breath, steeling herself. “I already said it back at Suna. We can’t go anywhere else. Konoha would’ve sent out hunter ninja after Naruto-nii and me to every other village they know by now.”
“Listen,” the oldest of the group said, placing a hand on Tsuin’s shoulder. “In spite of what happened back in Suna, Kankurou and I will always make sure you two have a place there.”
“Thanks Temari,” she said.
“So we’re really gonna do it huh?” her twin ‘brother’ asked staring at Otogakure’s gate.
“You can still go back if you want Naruto-nii.”
“And leave my baby sister behind?! No way! That’s not my ninja way! I’m going with you and that’s it! Believe it!”
Tsuin smiled, relieved at her twin’s reassurance. She knew he’d say that, but she needed to hear him say it otherwise, she’d have a hard time getting herself to cross the last few miles it took to reach the gate. “Thanks for coming all this way,” she said, turning to the Sand siblings.
“Hey, no prob,” Kankurou said cheekily, “Anything for a hot babe.” Both kunoichi glared at him and he carefully took a step or two back. Naruto glanced sideways at his ‘sister’ and smiled, noticing the mirth hidden behind the fiery red of her eyes. She was finally beginning to bounce back from what Gaara had put her through.
“Hey you guys coming or not?!” Naruto shouted from a few feet away, having started for the village’s gate.
Tsuin shook her head before following her ‘brother’.
An hour or so later they stood before the gate of Otogakure. The youngest of the blondes stood nervously, suddenly self-conscious of her appearance, grateful that Gaara had taken their Leaf hitai-ate. “State your purpose here,” one of the guard ninja ordered. Tsuin’s Anbu trained eyes spotted the hidden weapons aimed at them as well as several other ninja hidden around the area.
The blonde kunoichi stepped forward, causing the guards to tense up more and prepare for an attack. “We want to talk to your leader,” she said, defiantly.
“And why should we let you brats in?” the other guard said laughing, “Orochimaru-sama doesn’t have time to play with a bunch of kiddies. Go on home!”
‘Orochimaru?!’ Tsuin knew that name. She’d gone over the Bingo book a hundred times and he was nearest to the top of the list, if not on the top. ‘Orochimaru’s the leader?! This should be…interesting.’
“You can’t talk to my sister like that!” Naruto said barging up to him.
“I can talk anyway I want brat, now get out before you piss me off,” the guard growled.
“You asked for it,” the blond growled back, eyes glowing red and fangs appearing over his bottom lip.
“Let them through,” said a silver haired boy with glasses, having come over to investigate the ruckus.
“Kabuto-san?” the first guard asked.
“The boy is known to me. Besides, I’m sure Orochimaru-sama will find them rather amusing.”
“If you say so,” the other guard replied moving aside to make way for the ‘brats’.
“Guess this is it, then,” Kankurou said. “I’m really gonna miss getting my ass kicked by ya babe.”
Tsuin gave a tiny smile. “You can always come here, I’ll be glad to kick it any day jerk,” she said giving him a hug, surprising the older male.
“You take care of that sister of yours or else, you got that runt?” Temari said ruffling Naruto’s hair.
“Don’t ya worry Temari-nee-chan, Nothing’s gonna get near my sister without my say so! Believe it!”
“I’m going to miss you, you know,” the older kunoichi said hugging Tsuin, “It was kinda nice having another girl around.”
“Same here,” Tsuin said hugging her back, “I’ll see ya around Temari-chan!”
“You bet,” she said, smiling as she and Kankurou headed back to Suna.
“You two had better hurry up,” the silver haired boy said, “Orochimaru-sama doesn’t have all day.”
“Hai!” the younger blonde said going through the gate.
“Hey, wait a sec!” Naruto said, finally recognizing the boy he’d met during the Chunin exams. “What are you doin’ here Kabuto-kun? Ya on some secret mission for Konoha right?”
The silver haired boy gave a wry smile. “Actually Naruto-kun, I serve Orochimaru-sama,” he said rather proudly.
“But ya were wearing a Leaf headband,” he said in confusion.
“Sorry for tricking you, Naruto-kun, but it was necessary. I was on a mission after all.”
“You… you helped attack Konoha!” he growled.
“Naruto-nii, don’t!” warned Tsuin, taking stock of the various ninja watching their every move.
“You seem to be the level headed one, miss,” Kabuto said, impressed she’d been able to spot the hidden shinobi. “You’re related to Naruto-kun I take it.”
“In a way,” she replied, not wanting to reveal anything to the spy shinobi. Something in the way he smiled made her shiver; he reminded her of those scientists from so many years ago.
Seeing that the girl wasn’t in a talking mood, Kabuto decided to try getting information from the hyperactive blond. He had a hard time though, with her constantly interfering and telling him Naruto to ‘keep his trap shut’, that is until they had spoken with this Orochimaru-sama at least.
“Well here we are,” the silver haired boy said, stopping at a large door inside the village’s Kage residence. He knocked softly on the door, announcing his presence to those inside.
“What is it Kabuto?” came a rasping voice from beyond the door. “I’m busy.”
“You have two visitors from Konoha, Orochimaru-sama,” Kabuto replied, “They were quite adamant at speaking to you.”
“Oh? To get me to surrender no doubt,” came the Otokage’s voice.
“We wish to join Otokagure,” Tsuin said.
Inside the office, Orochimaru looked up from the scroll he’d been reading and raised an eyebrow. “Do you now?” he queried, “Well that’s new, show them in Kabuto.” The door swung open noiselessly on well oiled hinges and the two blondes cautiously entered the snake sannin’s office. “Why should I let you join my little village?” he asked eyeing the twins, his golden eyes holding them to the spot, “If I like your answer, I just might let you live.”
Naruto gulped. He recognized this man; he was the one who he fought against in the Forest of Death. This man was dangerous with a capital ‘D’. Tsuin, though just as scared as her brother, called upon her Anbu training to force herself to hold her ground. “He’s a jinchuuriki,(1)” she said finding it hard to look away from those snake’s eyes, “He’s carrying the Kyuubi inside him.”
Orochimaru glanced over to Naruto. “I had thought as much when we last met. I did consider taking you with me at some time. The demon kitsune could be useful but what about you, girl?”
Tsuin trembled slightly, refusing to be intimidated by the snake sannin. “I’m his clone,” she said, quietly. “I may not have much chakra as Naruto-nii, but it’s the same as Kyuubi’s.”
Orochimaru stared at her, with an unreadable expression on his face. “Explain,” he said coolly, “How is it that a mere girl can have the same chakra as the Kyuubi no Kitsune?”
“Anbu,” she replied, “They’re the ones who ordered my creation. When Kyuubi was sealed in Naruto-nii, they took some of his blood and snuck it to some research place hidden in the mountains.”
“So that’s what they were up to,” the snake sannin muttered to himself. “Now that’s interesting. Instead of one kitsune, Konoha offers me two.” He then laughed, sending shivers down both of the blondes’ spines. “I suppose they sent you to get me to back off is that it?”
Tsuin narrowed her eyes at him, trying to glare at the Otokage but failing, for she was still trembling a bit. “Konohagakure has nothing to do with this!” she spat bitterly, “I was nothing but a tool for them, some freak experiment they could play around with! As far as they’re concerned I’m on their hit list! So is Naruto-nii!”
The snake sannin raised an eyebrow at the girl’s outburst. He was getting intrigued by this defiant blonde, very few were able to last so long against his killer intent without messing themselves. “And why would those fools want to get rid of such powerful weapons?” he asked, smirking evilly.
“Simple,” Tsuin retorted, her voice cracking slightly, “I ran away… no escaped from Anbu. They were forcing me to train under them.”
“Did you now?” Orochimaru asked patronizingly, “To escape from those hunters isn’t an easy feat.”
“Duh!” the blonde spat.
Orochimaru laughed genuinely. It had been a long time since he’d been this amused – and by a child no less. “That explains you girl, but what about your Naruto-nii, hmm?”
Tsuin shot Naruto a look, telling him she’d explain. The older blond didn’t like it, but nodded. “We were kidnapped and taken to Suna. We’ve been there ever since your attack on Konoha. There’s no doubt that ‘those fools’ of yours would have considered Naruto-nii a nuke-shinobi by now. Either that or count him among the dead.”
“Quite the level headed one aren’t you?” Orochimaru said, smirking, “A good quality in a ninja. I might be able to use you after all.”
“So ya letting us stay or what?” Naruto asked, getting a bit bored.
The Otokage chuckled. “You two are the most amusing people I’ve seen in ages,” he said getting up and approaching them. “Yes, I think I’ll allow you to join me, but I think a trial period is in order, ne?” he asked, lifting Tsuin’s chin examining her closely. The younger blonde could only nod. “Good. If I find your performance and obedience satisfactory, you may become permanent ninja of Otogakure. Otherwise…” he let the rest hang in the air.
“Don’t let our hitai-ate get too dusty old man,” Naruto said, boldly, though he was shaking inside – he too found it hard to fight against Orochimaru’s killer intent, “We’re gonna be Oto shinobi! Believe it!”
The snake sannin laughed, “We shall see little kitsune. We shall see.” He then opened the door, “Kabuto!” he called.
A few moments later, the silver haired boy appeared. “Hai, Orochimaru-sama?”
“See to it that, these two are given an apartment. They’ll be staying here in Oto on a trial basis for the time being.”
The spy shinobi bowed, “As you wish Orochimaru-sama. Come with me Naruto-kun, miss.”
“You two had better not disappoint me,” the Otokage said as they followed Kabuto from the office.
Tsuin nodded respectfully, relieved that they’d managed to stay alive this far. “We won’t! Believe it!” Naruto called, causing Orochimaru to smile, the first genuine one in years.
‘This should be most amusing,’ he thought as he returned to his work, ‘I can’t wait to see the looks on those bastards’ faces when I set their precious Kyuubi on them. And besides, they may prove useful in taming a certain raven of mine.’

“Naruto?!” a raven haired boy asked when the twins had been shown to their new home. “What are you doing here dobe(2)?”
“That’s what I wanna know teme(3)!” the older blond retorted, “The last time I saw ya, you were flat on your back after getting your ass handed to you by Gaara. And what was up with that weird black stuff all over you?”
“I don’t have to answer to you,” Sasuke grumbled, he still felt ashamed that he had run to the snake sannin. There was no way Sasuke was going to tell his fox that he was ashamed at being unable to protect him, that he had rely on Naruto to protect him. He’d been worried sick when he woke up to find no sign of the blond anywhere. It was then that he realized that he had no choice but to take Orochimaru up on his offer if he were to get the power the raven haired boy so craved. “What I want to know is what you’re doing walking around in Oto with that shadow clone?”
The younger of the twins narrowed her eyes, instantly disliking the so called ‘golden boy’ of Konoha. “For starters, Uchiha – and yes I know who you are – I’m not one of Naruto-nii’s kage bunshin(4). I’m his sister. Second, you’d better treat my brother right.”
“Or what, are you going to beat me up for him?” Sasuke said with his trademark cocky smirk.
“I wouldn’t want to waste my chakra on a brat like you. Besides Naruto-nii can do it by himself.
The raven haired Uchiha glared, his sharingan starting to swirl around in his now red eyes. “Hn,” he said, “That dobe can’t even do the simplest jutsu right. There’s no way he can beat me.”
Tsuin’s eyes became fiery red and the pupils became slits, her kitsune ears and tail appearing. “Says the guy who got his ass totally kicked into next week,” she growled.
“I don’t have time for this,” Sasuke said, walking away.
“Don’t you dare walk out on me Uchiha!” Tsuin yelled, “Get back here, teme!”
“Sis, let him go,” Naruto said, used to the Uchiha’s bratty behavior. “I’m hungry and I need ramen!!” At that moment, the blond’s stomach grumbled in agreement.
Tsuin growled, but backed off. To tell the truth she was kind of hungry herself. “I hate that guy!”
“That makes two of us,” Naruto said, dropping their stuff in their apartment before going off in search for his beloved ramen.

~TBC~

(1)Jinchuuriki – human sacrifice or in Gaara and Naruto’s case, a person with a demon beast sealed inside.
(2)Dobe – dead last. Sasuke has a habit of calling Naru-chan that.
(3)– bastard. Naru-chan’s usual response to being called ‘dobe’. I think it’s kinda become a pet name for him.
(4)Kage bunshin – shadow clone.


Naruto: Don’t tell me you’re gonna have me fall for that damned snake freak again are you?

Sakura: Tempting, Naru-chan. Very tempting. But not this time I’m afraid.

Naruto: Whew! That’s a relief!

Sakura: I’m gonna stick to something more cliché this time.

Naruto: Don’t tell me… not…

Sakura: Yep. Good old Sas/Naru! ^_^

Naruto: Oh joy. -_-

Sakura: Shut it fox! Anyhoo, you all know the spiel, you review; I post quicker.