Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Tails of a Fox, Claws of a Tiger ❯ Kidnapped ( Chapter 1 )

Tails of a Fox; Claws of the Tiger

 

Summary: Hinata wasn't the only target of the Hidden Cloud kidnap attempt and as a result both she and Naruto were almost whisked away from Konohagakure if not for the intervention of someone who will change the fate of the ninja world as we know it.

 

Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine and belongs to its wonderful creator across the Pacific. Zenith Lazurus is my character and can only be used with permission or at least letting me know about it.

 

Ch. 1: Kidnapped!

 

The so called emissary from Kumogakure chuckled heartily as he and his partner made off with their prizes taken right under the senile Hokage's nose intact. The one gaki's father had almost blown the whole thing and nearly Jyuukened his ass if his partner hadn't taken him out as quickly as he did. The pair was now safely out of Konoha and making for the Lightning Country boarder and with the cover up job they did it would be dawn before a SAR team was sent out to reclaim their property. “Ry, I think it is safe to slow down and set camp for the night before we cross the border tomorrow, especially if they alerted border patrol before we reach it,” said the Cloud Nin to his partner who nodded in agreement before they headed for a suitable clearing to stop for the night.

 

“This spot will work Kai, good cover and clear line of sight in all directions,” said Ry as he dropped his pack unceremoniously to the ground.

 

“Good choice, set camp while I check the `cargo',” said the Cloud Nin known as Kai coldly as he too tossed his bundle down with an unceremonious thump as he pulled back the covering of his `cargo', revealing the purplish black hair of the Hyuuga heiress. Kai checked the Genjutsu he had placed on her to keep her unconscious and her chakra suppressed. He then lifted one eye lid and smiled as he saw the usual lavender eyes of the Hyuuga clan and the lack of the Cage Bird Curse Seal found on the Hyuuga branch family members. He smiled broadly; the examination of her corpse would prove most insightful in reproducing the Byakugan for the village's own purposes. The only reason she was still alive now was because they wanted as fresh a body as possible for examination and had several candidates in line to potentially receive her eyes.

 

He then moved to the second bundle revealing the sleeping blond haired form of one Uzumaki Naruto. A Konoha orphan who for some strange reason instilled fear in even some of the most feared Konoha Nin. It was for that reason that the duo had been instructed to capture the gaki. He had been disturbed when Ry told him that the boy lived in apartment alone and not in the orphanage, even more disturbed when he learned that the Hokage himself paid him a weekly stipend for food, cloths, and other normal odds and ends, but what got him the most was the resemblance to the revered, and if you were from Iwagakure, feared, Yellow Flash of Konoha: the esteemed Fourth Hokage. If this brat turned out to be that bastard's illegitimate son or some other relative then the information that could be gleamed from him would be more valuable then even the Hyuuga girl's eyes, no matter how powerful they were.

 

He let a satisfied smirk cross his face seeing as the Genjutsu was keeping their cargo asleep, Kai plopped himself down against a tree facing his partner. “The resemblance is uncanny isn't it?” asked Ry motioning to the boy.

 

“If the kid really is some how related to the Yellow Bastard of Konoha, then the pay for this mission just tripled if only because of the potential information we could get from the brat,” responded Kai greedily. “Once those ME's back home get their hands on those two soon to be corpses, the money will just roll in and we can retire in style.”

 

The pair let out good hearty laughs at the thought but they were soon drowned out by an angry and fierce roar that emanated killing intent so strong even a Kage would wet his/her pants when faced with it. “What was that Kai?”

 

Kai looked to his partner. “Sounded like a tiger or something but there are no tigers north of Konoha. We should check it out, but stay in sight of each other,” said Kai pulling out a kunai before heading out to investigate. Ry stayed behind momentarily before pulling out a couple of his shuriken and headed out in the opposite direction.

 

The younger ninja had only gone a short ways when the sound of a snapping twig caught his attention. “ Who's there?” he called out. “You already gave yourself away, give up now and I'll be merciful.”

 

“As merciful as you will be to those two children you kidnapped,” said a harsh growling. “If that is your definition of mercy, then no thanks. I'll take my chance at besting you.”

 

“Obviously you aren't a shinobi, otherwise you wouldn't banter with me, giving me a sound to use to track your location,” said Ry as he moved closer to the source of the voice.

 

“Yes, I'm not a shinobi, but just because I'm not formally acknowledged as one doesn't mean I can't beat one. Contrary to belief there are things out there more powerful then you ninja,” said the voice with a cold mirth.

 

“And you are one of those things,” said Ry with a confident smirk as he pounced a bramble thicket tracking the source of the voice to that spot only to find it empty. He looked at the spot confused when he felt hot moist breath on the back of his neck when the cold growling voice whispered into his ear.

 

“Yes I am,” and with that a clawed hand struck ending Ry short career as a Kiri Nin.

 

 

Kai returned to camp having found nothing and discovered that their precious cargo was now gone. At this point Kai heard a cold mirthless growling laugh, “Poor little shinobi, lost your little victims.”

 

“Who are you, where's Ry?” the elder ninja demanded. At that point there was a thump as a shuriken holster and hitai-ite with three heavy claw marks on it landed at his feat.

 

“Ry sends his regards from the next life and hopes to see you soon. Luckily I plan to grant his wish and will be sending you to meet him shortly,” said the voice with cold venom.

 

“BASTARD! What the hell are you?!” demanded Kai as he gripped the hitai-ite and pulled out a kunai.

 

“Someone who doesn't tolerate kidnappers and child killers, even if they are shinobi” said the growling voice. T hen with a blur of speed something darted from the trees above him and connected with a hard kick causing him to land on his back. Kai looked up and saw his attacker standing before him. His attacker had a mop of short brown hair and wore a blue sleeveless tunic with black pants and heavy black leather boots that had heavy black buckles on it. He had twin silver manacles on his wrists and a jade stone pendent cut in the shape of a tiger's claw. But instead of skin he was covered in coarse black on white striped fur, like a white Bengal Tiger, his hands were clawed, and most fierce some of all where the pale yellow-gold slitted cat's eyes that looked back at him, each eye had a black tome mark on either side of the pupil like the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan.

 

“I don't know who you think you are freak but the only person going to meet the afterlife is YOU” and with that Kai leapt up and charged him, kunai drawn and ready to make an instant kill. But in another blur of movement he found himself slammed into a tree trunk the beastman's hand pressed on his throat.

 

“Who am I you ask? I am the servant of Lunanara, Cat goddess of the Moon, Wife of Cainus, Protector of the innocent, and bringer of justice. I am a Watch-Were and you shinobi are dead” with that the Watch-Were crushed the life out of the Kumo Nin.

 

 

Lazurus Zenith was a peaceful man and hated killing, but had long ago accepted the fact that for goodness and justice to thrive evil deeds must be done. It was with the gravest respect that the Watch-Were buried the bodies of the two Kumo ninja. He said a brief silent prayer that the two would find peace in the next life.

 

With his duty done the Watch-Were closed his eyes and focused his mind. His jade pendent soon cackled to life with energy that emanated outward from the charm across his body. Slowly the coarse black and white fur gave way to peach colored flesh, nimble clawed hands became weather worn and callused and yellow gold cat's eyes became normal blue-gray. With a relived sigh, Zenith opened his eyes and embraced his human form. With a smile, he looked up at the almost full moon and gave a small bow of respect before looking up towards the tree tops. “Tela! Shar'rei! The coast is clear you can bring your charges back,” he called.

 

Quicker then the eyes could see, a pair of tigresses appeared before him. Perched on their backs were the forms of Hyuga Hinata and Uzumaki Naruto who were still asleep. “The Genjutsu still affects them Zenith-sama, the Kumo Nins knew their art well to have the jutsu fueled by the victims own chakra then their own,” said the tiger known as Tela who was carrying Hinata.

 

“Yes the illusion holds, but I sense the effects slowly weaken on my charge, a great will is slowly unraveling the spell. This boy holds a great power within him, but it is primal and untapped and at the same time disturbingly familiar,” said Shar'rei.

 

“I noted it when those shinobi crossed my path carrying those two, it was the reason I trailed them for so long. Something with that much power could only be a tailed beast, the question though is which one,” said Zenith to Shar'rei. The Watch-Were quietly approached the sleeping boy and placed a hand on him and closed his eyes as he mingled their chakra. Immediately a wave of terrible power washed over him and forced him to break the connection. Zenith had seen enough. “So you weren't defeated eh Kyuubi? Fitting justice I say for all the damage you caused to be bound to one of the meager flesh bags you so hate. Justice and irony once again go hand in hand,” remarked the Watch-Were with cold mirth realizing that beast that had caused so much destruction for so long was now in a position to be the greatest asset in the shinobi world.

 

“This boy is the vessel for the Nine-Tailed Fox,” remarked the two tigresses astonished. “The boy must have a will of iron to be able to withstand the power of that fiend, I heard that the vessel of the one-tail barely lasted five years before succumbing to it's influence,” said Tela rather proudly.

 

“The boy has a strong will, I could sense that much, but the one who sealed the fox was a master of the sealing arts. The seal was done in such a way that the demon's chakra would leak out and add it to the boys own, but would keep the demon's influence contained. But if the boy draws on too much then he could become overwhelmed by the beast's influence and it was also designed to dissolve over time and if the boy isn't yet ready to contain the Nine-Tails on his own…” said Zenith thoughtfully, a hand still placed on the boy head. The young man could definitely relate to the child's situation. Watch-Weres had the blessing of having the strength of both man and beast, but that blessing was only allowed so long as they wore their moon gem pendants, should the pendent ever be removed or destroyed then a Watch-Were ran the risk of becoming an uninhibited beast of emotion and rage. Zenith then smiled to himself realizing the decision his train of though had already brought him to. He made a quick hand sign and called out “Kai!” before lightly tapping both the boy and the Hyuga girl, releasing the Genjutsu placed on them.

 

“Watch over them while I gather some firewood,” said Zenith. The two tigresses gave him a look that said “You have ask?” The Watch-Were smiled seeing the two females becoming rather attached to their human charges before heading out to collect wood.

 

 

Uzumaki Naruto was known as a heavy sleeper. Every student in Naruto's class had heard the verbal berating the boy took from some of his teachers for his chronic tardiness. Most said he was becoming as bad as the Copy-nin Hatake Kakashi. So it was a rather new sensation when Naruto woke up to find that it was still dark out. He realized that he still had some time sleep yet and he snuggled back up with his furry pillow. 'Hold up, since when do I have a furry pillow, and since when does my apartment have a skylight?' thought the hyper active prankster. At that moment, he realized the warm mass he had been using as a pillow earlier was moving. Very slowly, Naruto opened his eyes and stared straight into the blue eyes of the white tiger that he was currently sleeping against.

 

“Up so soon are we cub,” said the tiger warmly. Unfortunately instead of calming the already scared Naruto, it had the exact opposite effect. The young boy screamed causing the young Hyuga heiress to wake up. She was confronted by another tigress. The young child let out a soft “eep” before fainting dead away. Naruto quickly grabbed the girl's unconscious form and leapt away, unknowingly calling upon the demon fox's chakra to do so.

 

“Stay back you over stuffed fur balls! You'll not have us as midnight snacks!” yelled Naruto as he slipped into a rather sloppy taijutsu stance.

 

“Kawaii! That is such a cute scene, the valiant hero defending the damsel in distress,” Shar'rei in motherly like voice. Tela just rolled her eyes.

 

“I hate to tell you this cub, but you two would make too small a meal to even qualify as a midnight snack for them,” said a voice from the trees above.

 

In a blur, Zenith leapt down from his tree, a heavy bundle of wood strapped to his back that he quickly set down before turning towards the young boy. “Besides these tigers are mine and don't eat humans, not unless I tell them to,” he said with a roguish smile.

 

“Your's?” remarked the two tigress with what would be the human equivalent of a raised eyebrow.

 

“You know what I mean,” responded Zenith exasperatedly. “Anyway, I suppose it's my fault that you got scared. I should have made sure you stayed asleep while I went to get firewood,” he said with a sigh. He made a move to check on Hinata, but Naruto moved to block him.

 

“I don't know who you are mister or why you kidnapped us, but you take one more step and you'll have to deal with me,” said Naruto seriously.

 

“Forgive my rudeness oh great master shinobi,” said Zenith sarcastically with an over exaggerated bow that covered the shuriken he had pulled out and quickly flung, pinning the back of Naruto's shirt to a tree. “But you should never make threats that you can't follow up on,” he said with a hearty chuckle. He then moved to check on the fainted Hyuga heiress. Thankfully the ground was soft and nothing was broken. He would hate to have to deal with a pissed off Lord Hyuga. He was a powerful Watch-Were, but that didn't mean he wasn't susceptible to the effects of the Gentle Fist. Nodding approvingly he reached into a small pouch on his belt and pulled out a small bottle that contained what appeared to be rock salt. He took a deep breath and opened the bottle and wafted it under the girl's nose. She sneezed before her eyes shot open, looking nervously up at Zenith. “Now if you two have calmed down enough, perhaps we can get the proper introductions out of the way,” he said with a smile. He made a quick gesture with his hand that recalled the shuriken that pinned Naruto to the tree causing the young boy to fall to the ground.

 

“Okay buddy, just who the hell are you?” yelled the blond as he stomped over next to Hinata. The girl quickly realized who was next to her blushed deeply before she began fidgeting with her index fingers. “Hmm, interesting,” thought Zenith to himself.

 

“I'm the guy who saved you two from becoming dead corpses that would become the subject of Kumo's medical examiners, had those Cloud Nin gotten away with you. As for my name, I am Lazurus Zenith but most people just call me Zen.”

 

 

Zenith spent the next hour getting a fire started and explained who he was to the pair of cubs as he had come to think of them. How he had sensed their chakra being suppressed, the malicious intent of the pair of Kumo Nin, and how he had `taken care' of their would-be captors. Of course he had chosen to edit out the little fact of him being a Watch-Were, which of course did not escape the watchful eyes of the shy young Hyuuga, who of all people pointed out only trained ninja had sufficient chakra control needed to perform anything but the most basic of jutsu let alone an animal summoning.

 

Zenith's features remained impassive, but inside he scattered about trying to come up with a decent excuse. Even his usual “my parents were shinobi and trained me” excuse couldn't work and unlike most other villages where he could claim to be an Uchiha, he couldn't use that bit because they where from the same village as the Uchihas. Fate however seemed to want to intervene, at that moment a strange scent hit his sensitive nose. It was human and had the scent of blood along with a common scent of trees that the two cubs shared. Guess those Kumo idiots were wrong about Konoha not being able to get a SAR team together before dawn.

 

“Shar'rei! Tela!” he yelled calling the two tigresses over to protect the cubs. He then quickly gathered his chakra and focused it around his eyes called, “Eye of the Tiger!”

 

The two children gasped as the irises of Zenith's eyes seemed to collapse in on themselves before expanding outward again now in their yellow-gold cat's eye form with the two tomoe marks on each side of the pupil. Zenith quickly scanned the tree tops with his enhanced vision and quickly caught sight of the offender that had snuck up on them.

 

It was an ANBU black ops ninja. That much he was sure of, the tell tale animal mask and battle garb was enough of a giveaway. His target was in sight and Zenith focused on dispelling the minor jutsu that most ANBU cast on their mask to help shield their identities. Once he did get past it, Zenith could only smirk. The Lord Hyuga must have made quite a stink in order to get him sent out ahead of the main SAR team. “I don't know whether I should be frightened or honored that you of all shinobi were sent out for this mission, Hatake Kakashi!” he called out.

 

“I see my reputation precedes me as does yours Lazurus Zenith, noted mercenary, vigilante, and over pain in the ass to villains the world over. I must say that I'm impressed, I thought that the Watch-Weres had died out long ago,” said Copy Nin as he dispelled his invisibility jutsu and leapt down to the clearing below.

 

“I take it that you've read my bingo book entry,” said Zenith as he dispersed his Dojutsu.

 

“Hmm, at least seven bounties posted for your head, all large enough amounts to attract the greediest and most dangerous bounty hunters and ninja around. And yet here you stand alive and with two of Konoha's citizens in your midst,” deadpanned the ANBU captain.

 

“As you no doubt heard I saved them from those Kumo bastards that wanted to take them back for examination and possibly transplant the Hyuga girl's eyes,” said Zenith quietly as to not to scare the children. “As for those bounties, life isn't worth living if a certain amount of risk isn't involved,” he said in a much louder voice. He then turned towards the two tigresses. “Take the cubs and have them try to get some sleep, we head out for Konoha at first light.”

 

“As you wish Zenith-sama,” said the pair. The two tigresses quickly turned toward their respective charges as nuzzled them over to the far side of the fire.

 

Once he thought they were far enough out of earshot Kakashi spoke up, “How were they when you found them?” he asked seriously.

 

“Asleep, a strong sleeping and chakra suppression Genjutsu was on them. The Kumo ninjas wanted them as intact as possible and save for a minor bump or two, they are completely healthy,” said Zenith.

 

The ANBU captain nodded looked over at the pair who had just snuggled down with the two tigresses coiled around them protectively. “Good to hear, now care to tell me the real reason that you went out of your way to stop them, I always thought your kind stayed out of the affairs of shinobi?”

 

“You care to tell me why that young boy has the Kyuubi no Kitsune sealed within his body?” asked Zenith fiercely, his pendent flaring with energy as it kept the tiger in him contained.

 

“Shouldn't be surprised that you sensed it within him, and why should I tell you the reason he has that beast locked within him?” asked Kakashi coldly.

 

“Because I need answers, why did the Yondaime seal that thing with in his own son? And be careful of your answer, I heard what Suna did with Shukaku, the One-tailed, and what happened to that vessel because of it. So tell me right now, did the Fourth seal Kyuubi with the intention of using his son as a weapon?” Zenith asked coldly.

 

The air was silent for what seemed like eternity, then it happened with a speed that not even a Watch-Were could track. Kakashi hit Zenith so forcefully that a lesser man would have been killed from the blow. “How DARE you suggest such a thing?! The Yondaime would never have done something like that. The beast attacked without warning. Arashi-sensei would never have risked anyone let alone his own child like that!” yelled the normally stoic ninja.

 

Zenith groaned and rubbed his jaw, he then gave off a hoarse chuckle. “Your reaction was all the assurance I needed,” said Zenith and got back up to his feet.

 

Kakashi looked at the Watch-Were incredulously, “You mean that whole outburst of yours was nothing more then a damn test?”

 

“What do you expect my dear shinobi, you lot are all trained to `look underneath the underneath' and all that. I would figure one as capable as yourself would be used to something like this by now?” said Zenith with a smirk as he dusted himself off before setting himself down against a large log near the fire.

 

“And what would you have done if I had not passed your little test?” asked the Jonin curiously.

 

“Would've knocked you out, taken the boy, and made sure you never saw us again,” he said casually.

 

“You mean you would've tried,” said Kakashi with a roguish smile.

 

Zenith just smirked, “Yes, I would have tried.”

 

“So with no need to do that what do you plan to do now?”

 

Zenith looked at the Jonin with a pensive smile. “The life the hunted is fun and certainly keeps one on their toes but lately I've been getting tired of it. Constantly looking over my shoulder, keeping one eye on everyone around me and another on where I am. To be frank, I need a vacation. I thought maybe, taking up residence in one of the Hidden Villages. One whose Kage, won't mind having someone like me around. Maybe even taking on an apprentice train,” he said looking over at the now sleeping Naruto.

 

“Naruto, as your apprentice? Why?” Kakashi asked now thoroughly confused.

 

“Lets just say, I have more of an idea what the boy is going to be dealing with in the future then most would,” said the Watch-Were cryptically. He then looked over at the Jonin smugly, “You know any villages like that by any chance?”

 

The ANBU captain just shook his head and chuckled. “I may, but that is not up to me to decide. Your being allowed to stay in the village and train Naruto is up to the Hokage.”

 

“That's the way things like this usually roll, anyway you can bunk down and get some sleep; I'll keep watch for a little while before I wake you to take over,” said the Zenith. Kakashi nodded gratefully before heading over next to the two kids. Their respective tigers watching him carefully as he pulled off his flack vest and bundled it up as pillow before resting his head on it. The two didn't take their eyes off him until he was asleep. Zenith smiled at the scene. It was going to be a whole new world come morning he could only hope he was ready for it.

 

A/n: So ends chapter one, yikes look at the sizes of this monster. My largest initial chapter to date. Any way like it, hate it, doesn't matter just review it.