Ascension of the Kitsune by Wandering Maverick

Chapter 7: Training: Year 4

Naruto Age: 30 (Immortal)

Naruto Mental Age: 12

One Month Later,

A month had passed since Naruto's duel with Raiga, and for the most part everything was as it had been for the last three years. Naruto continued on with his training, while getting a bit farther in his mastery of his Tou-san's jutsu. He was also taught about and later mastered 'Shinku Kaijin' and it's untapped power while in it's released form because of it's sentience and origins.

- FLASHBACK -

"So you are telling me that it has another form then the one I'm holding?" Naruto asked slightly puzzled at the revelation that Natsumi just told him about his sword.

"Hai...as I've said because of it's sentience from my fur your blade has another more powerful form. But to be able to control it's 'released' form you must summon 'Shinku Kaijin' itself to this plane. To do so simply allow your blood to run down the sword and then thrust it into the ground."

Naruto eyed his sword carefully before doing as his sensei instructed and nicked his finger along the blade, driving it into the ground. No sooner had the sword hit the earth did a seal looking much like a summoning seal appear on the ground, only this one was in blood as a plumb of smoke erupted. The plumb of smoke soon gave way to a silhouette, which then later gave way to an identical looking Naruto only this one looked...evil. Everything that Naruto wasn't was personified on this 'doppleganger', from the opposite colors of clothes, to his jet black hair and eyes.

"What is this and why does it look like me?" Naruto asked in agitation, looking at Natsumi.

"I am...'Shinku Kaijin'" The doppleganger said in a deep almost regal tone.

"No...you're me!" Naruto retorted "Before I blow this thing away, tell me what I need to do to control the 'released' form Kyuubi-sensei"

"You...Namikaze Uzumaki Naruto...must defeat me in battle in order to wield my power...that is all that must be done" The Dark Naruto spoke while raising his sword, pointing it at the original.

"There you have it Naruto" Natsumi said in a singsong voice while moving out of the way.

"Your kidding...no...you never kid when it comes to this sort of thing do you sensei?" He retorted before getting into his 'Kitsune Issei Ryu' stance.

Not another word was spoken as both Naruto's just stared at the other, until they phased out of place and reappeared with their swords clashing against each other. The duel had lasted close to an hour, neither Naruto gaining an upper hand. Of course the real Naruto could have easily won had he used jutsu...but it was silently understood that it was to be kenjutsu only.

"Kitsune Issei-Ryu: Kitsune Tsume no Mai!" Naruto shouted, releasing his attack...while dark Naruto simply parried all of the strikes.

"Not bad Naruto-san...but you'll need to do better then that" The dark version smirked, while chipping away at the man's pride.

"DAMMIT I can't hit him!" Naruto yelled in his mind. "This guy...why did he take my form for? He could had taken anyones so why mine...wait...WAIT!" Naruto's expression took a shocked turn before he jumped away from his other half.

"We'll end this in one blow...this is tiresome and I need to get back to REAL training." Naruto said smuggly.

The dark Naruto only smirked. "Oh? Is not getting a single blow on me not enough of a work out for you then?"

Naruto's face took an impassive expression before he sheathed his sword and settled in a Battoujutsu stance.

"Hm...seems he figured out his dilemma" Natsumi mused silently cheering on her friend and student.

"Oh...you want to end it in one sword strike then? Well it certainly is a change of pace to fight like that but very well." Dark Naruto said before setting himself in the same stance.

Both Narutos stood there for a second, before once again phasing out of existence. Soon a clash of swords could be heard but not seem, before a loud crash resounded throughout the clearing. Natsumi looked at the mountain where dust and rock was kicked up from the impact of one of the Narutos being flung into it in anticipation to see who was the winner. The dust soon settled to show the point of Naruto's sword at the throat of his doppleganger who was lodged inside the crater of the mountain.

"I win" Naruto said in an emotionless tone.

"Hai...that you do and have earned the right to wield me at my full power. I will obey you and only you Naruto-sama." The dark Naruto said before puffing out of existence.

After a moment the sword Naruto held pulsed once before bursting into flame. Naruto stared in amazement of his new weapon before Natsumi tore him from his thoughts.

"Congratulations on your win Naruto-kun" She said happily. "I must admit I was rather impressed with your ingenuity on how you defeated him."

"Arigato Natsumi-chan...well after I fought him for as long as I did I began to wonder why he took my visage and not his own or someone else's. I realized that the duel was really a test...to see if I could defeat my greatest enemy...myself. Had I kept fighting as I had I'd have lost because he knew all my moves and how to counter them. So I just went with a move I just thought up on the spot. Granted using my sword as a defense to block his sword instead of offense like Battoujutsu relies on and using my scabbard as my actual attack instead was dangerous...but it did the trick."

"Hai very good Naruto...however now we should get moving to Snow. I'm sure by now people from Konoha heard the commotion you've made." She said in her 'sensei' tone again.

"Hai" He responded packing his things and jumping off back on route to snow country.

- FLASHBACK END -

Continuing on his path to Snow, Naruto had helped Hana a Chuunin defeat a traitor from both killing her and stealing a valuable scroll from Konoha. Soon after he made it to the port that would bring him to Snow Country. The boat trip itself took almost a week mainly due to unforeseen weather, but the pair were finally able to make it safely.

"Lets try to find some lodging Naruto-kun" Natsumi said slightly shaking from the cold.

Naruto dispelled 'her' shadow clone discretely and resummoned one with more clothing on, before nodding at her statement traveling into the small village near the port.

"Doesn't look like much." Naruto said absentmindedly, while looking at the village.

The village was quite small, only a few dozen houses were erected it seemed. The town was completely engulfed in snow hence the name of the country, but the snow gave the village a cozy ambiance to it. There were at least provisions that any town needed, lodging for tourists, restaurants, clothing stores, anything that someone would need to be comfortable there. Even the few people that the pair had past along the way seemed nice, with gentle smiles and polite nods before they went on their way.

"Its an isolated country Naruto-kun...of course it isn't going to be as 'lively' as say Konoha or Suna." She responded back while also observing the village, though she enjoyed the scenery mother nature had provided the small town.

"Hai...your lady friend is right...we might not be much but we do what we can." An unknown voice warmly called out to the pair.

They both turned towards the sound of the voice to find an old woman carrying some logs in her arms as she looked at the pair with a warm smile. The woman had light blue hair with streaks of gray running down to her neck. She had green eyes that seemed to lie about just how old she was...if either of them guessed she had been a shinobi in her youth the way she held herself, but dismissed it after a glance. She wore a simple parka, and sweat pants with gloves and a hat.

"Gomen...but I couldn't help but over hear your comments..." She said her smile growing larger. "...if its lodging you are looking for...I can supply some for you two."

"Arigato...but we don't exactly have...money to pay for it." Naruto said a bit sheepishly.

"Oh? Well thats fine then...I'm sure you two could help an old woman with some chores around the house as rent ne?" She offered cheerily.

"Hai!" Naruto said happily, before helping the woman with the logs.

"I'm Kaname" She greeted.

"I'm Naruto and this..." He said poking his head towards the vixen. "...is Natsumi"

"Ah nice to meet you Naruto-san and Natsumi-san."

"Nice to meet you as well Kaname-san" Natsumi greeted

The trio remained silent through the rest of the trek towards Kaname's home which was on the outskirts of the small village. It was a lot bigger then the pair expected, but once seeing it realized why the old woman granted them vacancies. The house was three stories, and was made of old but very sturdy wood. They entered the house and it surprised them even more on how cozy and warm it actually was inside.

"You can just put the wood near the fireplace Naruto-san" She ordered.

"Hai" He moved over towards the fireplace and set the wood down before going back towards the women.

"Now...I know it isn't my business but are you two...lovers? I only ask to determine which room you'll need." She asked innocently, though getting a rather amusing answer via tomato red blushes from the young pair.

"N...no we aren't lovers...she is just my shinobi sensei and good friend" Naruto stammered out, Natsumi only nodding in agreement.

"Its so fun to mess with the young...but I swear sometimes its not even a challenge anymore...I could tell these two had feelings for each other just by their body language while they were walking close together" The old woman thought with a snicker.

"I see...well I do have a double-bed room if you want that or would you like two separate rooms?"

"The double is fine Kaname-san, It'll be easier to wake him up for training if I'm already in the room." Natsumi answered with an evil glint in her eye, that Naruto knew meant trouble.

"Crap...I should have answered sooner" He thought regretting his hesitancy.

"Alright then...your room will be up the stairs and two doors to your left?" She informed, getting a nod from the pair as they walked up the stairs to get settled in.

Once Naruto and Natsumi put their stuff away, they decided to help Kaname cook dinner. Which was just a simple soup with some beef and a side of rice. They sat down and ate most of their dinner in a comfortable silence, the cracks and sparks of the burning wood the only sound as they ate, until Kaname decided to start a friendly conversation.

"So tell me about you two...how did you meet? Or why are you training for Naruto-san?"

"Well...I have known Natsumi-chan since I was six years old...she helped me through a tough time in my life and has been my constant friend and companion ever since...we're in-separable you might say." He answered wary of his words, but smiled at the end from his inside joke between the demon pair. "As for training...I just want to get stronger to help protect the people that matter most to me like Natsumi-chan and my Ojii-san back where I used to live."

"Ah that is a good reason Naruto-san I'm glad you picked the right path of the shinobi. If I may inquire...is that why you are here? To train or learn Hyoton jutsu or the like?" Kaname's eyes hardened and focused on the pair when she asked but kept it so subtle that neither of her guests seemed to notice.

"Hai...Natsumi-sensei thought it would be good for me to learn some Hyoton jutsu since not many shinobi come here Speaking of which...would you happen to know of anyone who could teach me or where I might find someone that could?" Naruto inquired after answering the woman's question.

Kaname took on a thoughtful expression for a moment before smiling at Naruto and nodding in affirmation.

"Hai...the Snow Daimyou, Kazahana Dotou would be able to help you out. His entire bodyguard staff and special army division are all snow shinobi. Your problem will be convincing him to let someone teach you however. Our Daimyo isn't exactly trusting of outsiders...we are in a civil war with 'freedom' fighters who believe that the true heir of the throne is still alive out in the world. But there has not been any proof of it being true and Dotou is the next in line so he automatically took control since his brother was assassinated some years ago. However if you wish to test your luck...Dotou can be found in his castle on top of the mountains a few miles north of this village."

Naruto nodded in understanding and thanks. "Arigato for the information Kaname-san. We will go and try to convince this Dotou to allow me a sensei tomorrow."

After they all finished dinner, Kaname retired for the evening...leaving Naruto and Natsumi to train with what little light they had left outside. The training didn't last long however...as the two came back after only a few hours.

"Do you think he'll give me a sensei Natsumi-chan?" Naruto asked, plopping himself on his bed.

"I don't know Naruto-kun, things seem...off in Snow Country" She said in accusing tone. "Something just isn't sitting right with me and it has to do with what Kaname-san told us about Dotou and that supposed heir out there."

"Well...I suppose things would be like that with a civil war going on. But still I hope he allows me to be taught I'd have hated to waste the time to come all the way down here for nothing."

"We'll just have to wait and see Naruto-kun...get some rest you'll need it for tomorrow" She responded with a slight yawn

He yawned as well. "Hai"

Next Day,

The demon pair woke up early in the morning and helped Kaname cook a quick breakfast and wished her a good day before leaving for Dotou's castle. Being a shinobi and an all powerful demon it didn't take them long to trek up the mountainside to get to said castle. They reached the front gates, realizing that the easy part was over they steeled their expression and asked to see the Dotou. After a rather heated argument with the gate guards Naruto and Natsumi were told to leave before they were arrested.

"Damn...what should we do now?" He asked annoyed.

"Well...Dotou is probably a busy man, and can't see everyone that wishes to speak with him." She responded before an idea came to mind that make her smirk. "Well...I suppose that if you want to make a good impression to get you a sensei, the best way would be to show a little of your skills ne?"

Naruto looked at her wondering what she meant...repeating her words and looking for the hidden meaning he soon found his answer.

"Clever Natsumi-chan clever...but you know it could get dangerous if it backfires." He said smiling liking her idea even with the possible danger involved...after all foxes were known for being tricksters.

She shrugged. "Meh...won't matter much, if worse comes to worse you can just summon me and we'll leave" She said nonchalantly.

"Alright...you want to stay out?"

She shook her head slightly. "I'll leave this one up to you...think of it as a test Naruto. Oh and no using Onipou jutsus other then to hide your appearance" She stipulated with a leer, making him sweat lightly.

"That look always scares the crap out of me...yet she always looks so sexy when she does it." He thought feeling his body heat up before schooling himself.

Natsumi puffed back into the seal and watched as Naruto prepared a plan to meet to Dotou.

"If Daimyou are anything alike...their throne room would be in the largest tower in the back of the castle. Problem is that I don't know how many guards he has or where they are located...and knowing that Snow is in the middle of a civil war, there will probably be more guards then normal. Hm...a diversion wouldn't be a bad idea usually, but I'm not trying to kill the guy. Tsh I guess stealth is the only way." He mused before getting up and stretching slightly.

"Let's get wild!" He said with a smirk while cracking his neck, before disappearing.

If there was one thing Naruto was glad about, it was all the chakra control exercises that Natsumi had hammered into his training. Being completely silent in a place that echoed is nearly impossible without good control. So climbing the wall of the fortress and getting into the first level was thankfully uneventful. However now came the hard part...he had no idea where he was and was stuck with a fork in the hallway.

"Damn...I was hoping to not have to use jutsu till later." He thought with a grimace before nicking his thumb.

"Kuchiyose no Jutsu (Summoning Technique)!" He whispered as a puff of smoke arose and then quickly left, leaving two midnight black foxes about the size of small dogs sitting elegantly as each of their three tails waved around.

"You called us Naruto-sama?" The fox on the right questioned with a 'yip' that no human could understand.

"Hai...I need you two to check out what is through both these hallways. Stealth is the key...when you know, come back and tell me, understood?" He commanded softly.

"Hai!" They both 'yipped' before running off down both corridors.

Only a few minutes later did the pair come back and report what they had seen, the right path lead to the armory with a pair of shinobi guarding the room, inevitably led a dead end. While the left lead to another fork in the road, but deeper into the castle.

"Hm...I might still need your assistance if you're up to it" He asked while getting ready to go.

"Hai...whatever you command Naruto-sama!"

"Remind me to give yo two a reward after this is over." He commanded with a laugh at their 'can do' attitude, getting a happy 'yip' from the pair, before all three of them quickly but silently went along the left corridor.

Once they hit the fork, the foxes repeated the process, and they took the right corridor. To both the annoyance of Naruto and the foxes, they had to repeat the process another two times before they got to a single room...which seemed to be the prison section of the castle though it had three floors to it.

"Arigato for your help, I'll give you your rewards the next time I summon you ne?" Naruto offered warmly as he stroked them behind the ears, before they 'yipped' in agreement and puffed out of existence.

"Now." He said absentmindedly before jumping on and then running up the wall silently reaching the third level of the prison with ease.

"Tsh...I don't like this...I haven't seen but more then six guards so far." He thought to himself as he ran along the corridor that led farther back into the castle.

To Naruto's surprise there weren't many side paths along this one, so it was much easier to transverse then the one he was in with his summonings. As he continued to run, a light in the distance told him he was getting closer to the next room, but he quickly stopped when he heard rather loud sounds. He braced himself against the wall, and concentrated on his hearing, quickly discerning the sound into voices, metal, and glass.

"Voices, metal, and glass?" He thought trying to figure out what kind of room it was, before the mathematics hit him. "Oh you have got to be kidding...I swear if it is...I'm going to have a good laugh over this once this is over." He thought with a dumbfounded look on his face before starting a set of hand seals.

"Suiton: Nemuri Kiri (Water Style: Sleep Mist)!" He whispered before, opening his mouth and allowing a fine unseen mist to quickly flow out and move towards the room.

Once Naruto thought enough mist was out he closed his mouth and waited for the tell tale sounds of his jutsu working. He didn't have to wait long however as his heightened hearing picked up groggy groaning, metal hitting metal and the floor, as well as class shattering, and a rather loud proclamation.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING?!" A voice screamed out inside the room.

"Hm...nows a good a time as any" He thought while grabbing a handful of senbon needles, and then speeding down towards the entrance of the room.

Naruto crossed the threshold, and with his heightened senses launched his needles at the barely on guard shinobi. Problem was that the ones that didn't succumb to the mist were all Jounin level. Naruto was however able to get nine out of the twelve, so he only had to deal with three, a man with glasses, a bald man and a woman. The two remaining males launched an attack at Naruto while the female ran to the alarm on the wall.

"Shit!" Naruto thought, throwing the rest of his needles at the woman to stop her.

The males tried to intercept the needles, and succeeded except for a lone one which hit the women in the neck forcing her to sleep.

"You'll pay for that!" The man with the glasses said, however he paid so much attention to saving the woman that when he turned around he failed to notice that Naruto has summoned 'Shinku Kaijin' and was already in full swing, with the blade reversed.

The man with glasses was hit square in the chest causing all the air to leap out of his lungs as he was sent into the far wall unconscious. Naruto landed from his air-born strike without a sound, before rushing the last Jounin who was just finishing a set of hand seals.

"I can't have him alerting the rest of the castle." He yelled at himself before summoning chakra to his feet increasing his speed

"Suiton: Mizuame..." The Jounin began to shout but was cut off when Naruto smashed the hilt of his sword into the man's stomach with such speed that all the air left him and he was sent head first into one of the metal tables causing him to be knocked out.

"Dammit...by now the guards probably know something is up." Naruto cursed before climbing the stairs to the next room.

"Tsh...I still can't believe my luck...to catch most of Dotou's troops while they were eating in the mess hall? Must have some kind of luck today." He thought with a smirk climbing the stairs.

Naruto knew he was getting close to the throne room, since every room he passed seemed to grow larger and more intricate with it's door designs. After some time of running, he came to a set of humongous double bolted doors.

"Hm...if someone needs a place to be protected this would probably be it." Naruto surmised, before connecting their mental link. "Natsumi-chan! I'm about to meet Dotou, you should come out so we can corroborate my story and reasons for training."

"Hai hai Naruto-kun...it was getting boring watching you beat up those shinobi anyway. But you're just lucky you got to that man before he used that jutsu...or else the whole place would be on red alert if they aren't already." She scolded with a small laugh.

"Kage Bushin no Jutsu!"

"Ah its nice to be out"

he rolled his eyes at her comment. "You were only in there like two hours." He retorted disbelievingly.

"True...but watching you sweat while training certainly keeps me occupied enough to not notice how long I'm in the seal." She teased with a hungry, playful leer, making him blush.

"He is still so easy to embarrass" She mentally laughed, after finally realizing that he had actually hit puberty several months prior to his sosei.

"Lets just get my sensei and get out." he snipped back getting control over his pink cheeks, while she just nodded holding back a snicker.

Naruto pushed the double doors open and they both just strode in the room. Luckily Naruto had guessed right, the largest room WAS the throne room. The room was huge, even though there wasn't much to it. A long red carpet which led to the throne itself, some columns that ran along side the carpet...and a raised up monument with stairs that also lead to the throne with Dotou currently sitting there.

"And what do I owe the pleasure of this sudden company?" Dozou asked with a bored smile on his face, while snapping his fingers before three snow shinobi appeared in front of the base of the stairs.

As the demon pair walked closer towards the monument, they took in the features of the Daimyou and his shinobi. Dotou was a tall man, with a long Frankenstein-ish face, he had brown eyes and brown hair with a few strands falling over his forehead and eyes. His voice, and articulation gave away his rather dark demeanor, Naruto and Natsumi already deciding he wasn't a 'good' man. But held off full judgment until proven either way.

The three shinobi standing below him seemed to be his most trusted personal bodyguards. The one on the far left was the tallest of the three, he had dark purple hair and eyes that appeared to be almost black. He wore a light blue shirt with dark shinobi pants, and wore some strange armor that neither Naruto nor Natsumi recognized on both his arms. The female of the group who was on the far right...had pink hair in two small pigtails that stuck out of the top of her head, and green eyes. She wore a slightly darker blue shirt then the first man, also with black shinobi pants and odd armor on her right arm and on her upper back. The last of the trio and probably the strongest one since he was in the middle was of medium height, with light purple hair in a pony tail with cyan colored eyes. He too wore a light blue shirt with black shinobi pants and his armor only surrounded his left arm. The pair finished their trek stopping a few yards from the trio as to not raise suspicion more then they already had.

"I had hoped to have an audience with you Dotou-sama" Naruto said with slight bile in his tone when addressing the man but covering it up with a bow.

"Oh? And who are you and what prompted you to sneak into my home as you did? I do make appointments you know." He retorted his smile widening slightly.

"I am Kazama Arashi and this is Natsumi, and I had asked the gate guards if I could meet you they said no. I didn't really feel like waiting...and my sensei here thought it a good idea to give you a demonstration of my skills for the exact reason I'm here."

"So this is your sensei is it? I would have thought it your lover at first but sensei, thats just...lovely." He mused with a hidden lecherous undertone, though not well enough since both demons noted it as he eyed Natsumi, making Naruto's hands ball into fists. "And a demonstration of what? Why exactly are you here?" He asked now curious turning to the hanyou.

"I wish to ask your permission to allow one of your Snow shinobi to teach me Hyoton jutsus."

Dotou quirked a brow. "Oh? Well I see where that demonstration comes in handy then. To be able to enter my fortress undetected and reach my throne room without even a single scratch is certainly a feat of great shinobi ability..." He answered absentmindedly while going into an exaggerated thinking pose. "...well...if you don't mind I do have a few more questions to ask before I make a decision. You may know this or not but, we are in the middle of a civil war so I can't be too suspicious." He finally answered, getting a nod of understanding from the pair. "First off where do the pair of you hail from? You're clearly competent shinobi yet you wear no headband of a hidden village why? Also what do you wish to learn this country's jutsus for exactly? Lastly what do you plan on giving back as payment for the lessons you would be taught?" He shot back, leaning back in his throne waiting for the blond's answer.

"We hail from Konoha in Fire Country. You are correct we ARE shinobi but we wear no insignia because we're NOT recognized as shinobi by any governing body. We left Konoha as civilians because I wished to learn jutsu from other countries without being labeled as a missing-nins in the process, nor cause any political backlash for me learning from other countries. My reasons for wishing to learn them are my own I'm afraid...however on our word as shinobi any jutsu I'm allowed to learn here will not be shared outside of this country without express permission. As for payment...gomennasai to say we don't really have anything of value to give...we're wandering shinobi so we only keep what we must to survive traveling."

Dotou listened to his explanation, while rubbing his chin in seeming contemplation. "I see...well considering you aren't shinobi of any village and more importantly any enemy villages...I don't see why I can't spare someone to teach you a few jutsu." He said with a facial expression that made him look deep in thought. "Although I do think I have something that I could ask for in return for your lessons..." He paused as he looked at Natsumi and smirked. "...she isn't your lover so you've stated. And since she is traveling with you I can safely assume that she has no significant other in Konoha. So I humbly ask in return for the lessens you receive, the pleasure of her company tonight for dinner." He requested, his voice almost oozing the same amount of lust that radiated off his eyes.

Naruto's fists began to shake in rage at the audacity of this Daimyou, a few drops of blood falling to the ground from the force of his grip.

"To ask a woman to dinner with his intentions so clearly singing off his tongue...how disgusting! And to ask my Natsumi-chan this no less...if I didn't need to ask this bastard I'd kill him here and now for showing such disrespect! At least knowing she'll definitely say no to this asshole is the only solace I'll have since I can't rip his balls off." He thought his teeth gritting against each other. "Dammit I'm so riled up I even called her MY Natsumi-chan!"

"N..."

"Alright" Natsumi answered quickly, cutting off Naruto's protest ot the 'exchange'.

"WHAT!?" He mentally screamed before looking at her in astonishment, but she kept herself facing Dotou not giving Naruto a chance to question her.

"Excellent! Excellent! Fubuki!" He called motioning to the pink haired shinobi in front of him. "...please take Arashi-san here and teach him some basic Hyoton jutsu to start off with. Natsumi-san please follow Nadare to my guest room so you may get into something more comfortable, and wash up for tonight if you wish. I will have my cooks begin dinner immediately!" He finished excitedly, before quickly exiting the room to prepare himself.

The woman named Fubuki was more then elated to complete this mission. After all how often do you get to personally train an exotic 'hottie' such as Naruto was her opinion on the matter.

"Come Naruto-kun, the training grounds are outside the castle walls!" She said nearly purring while grabbing his arm and pulling him towards the doors.

Naruto was still in a state of shock while he was being dragged away by Fubuki and just stared at Natsumi who was walking away behind Nadare who was the shinobi in the middle of the trio from before. Soon the throne room doors closed and the day rolled on as Naruto trained with Fubuki and Natsumi had her 'date' with Dotou.

Later That Night,

"Damn that pervert! I should have just let Naruto-kun say no for me or better yet gut the bastard and I just teach him the Hyoton basics myself! It would have been worth it to save me the anguish and stress of leaving him alive from all his damn advances on me!" A quite agitated Natsumi thought while storming up the stairs of Kaname's house after her 'date' with Dotou. "Hm...maybe I should tease Naruto-kun a bit...that always gets me back in high spirits. After all its the least he owes me after having to endure that so he could learn from that kunoichi." She mused while at the threshold to the door of their room.

She schooled her annoyance, and put on a fake smile before turning the knob and entered the room. The room was completely dark save for the moonlight that lit up patches of the darkness. Her superior eyesight immediately noticed Naruto with his back to her sitting at the small table close to the window, his form outlined by the moon. As her eyes got used more to the darkness she came to see that Naruto was sharpening and cleaning 'Shinku Kaijin' on his lap...well before he stopped and spoke.

"Welcome back...I guess you had a good time with him considering you're just getting back now." He responded, but didn't turn towards her.

She heard a slight sadness in his tone, but just chalked it up to him being tired and not liking Dotou...the latter she couldn't agree with more though.

"Yea I had a nice time actually...he isn't so bad once you get to know him. I was actually thinking about going out with him again some time later." She lied through her teeth in a sickeningly happy tone, still hoping that her teasing will get a funny reaction from her friend that would cheer her up.

"Ah I see I'm happy for you then..." he paused as he stood up and sheathed 'Shinku Kaijin' in it's scabbard and let it poof out of existence. "...I'm going to go to sleep, good night." He finished in a rather emotionless tone before plopping himself on his bed still facing away from the vixen.

"Oh...ok...good night then Naruto-kun" She responded back in a perplexed tone.

Her fake smile, and happy glint in her eyes died after seeing his movements. "Maybe...it was a bad idea for me to tease him about the 'date'..." She confessed, noting that Naruto had been rather distant with her since her return, and something else that began to eat at the back of her mind but never realized what it was trying to tell her...that Naruto was jealous.

She set her things down on her bed and forced herself to disappear back in the seal, and simply waiting for Naruto to come and begin his mental training. It had been almost two hours in his mind before Natsumi tried to contact Naruto but found that either he wasn't responding or he couldn't hear her.

"Whats going on?" She wondered beginning to get worried.

What she hadn't realized was that Naruto hadn't fallen asleep yet...he was wide awake with only one thought on his mind...that thought was ironically her.

"Why did she agree to go out with him!? I know she could see the same things that I could see about him if not better then me...so why the hell did she say yes!?" He thought turning over in the bed. "DAMMIT! I don't understand...does she like mates like that!? Ones who are more forward with her!? Or maybe she likes mates with power!?" He cynically laughed at this thought. "And some small part of me actually thought that becoming part demon might have made us grow closer. Back then I thought maybe it was because I was a mere human that I'd never have a chance with her. But even after I turned into a hanyou, nothing changed between us. And now she decides to goes out with a human and someone like HIM no less!? Tsh...I was an idiot to think anything would change between us with both of us now being demons. But now...now I realize that no matter what I do I'll always be out of her league. DAMMIT TO FUCKING HELL! I'm her damned jailer for Kami-sama's sake!" He paused to loudly laugh at just how pathetic he really was. "All this training must have fried my brain, cause what the hell was I thinking to believe that she and I could ever work. She is a Queen and should only be with a mate in the same standing. Not some stupid male who is both no longer human nor demon. A freak that not even his own Kaa-san wanted, and is even her jailer no less...Kami-sama I'm pathetic." He sighed lightly before coming to a conclusion with himself. "Well if that is her wish, I have no right to stop her. She is already in this seal unfairly, it would unthinkable for me to hold her back from possibly finding happiness if she still can just because I have feelings for her. Its not something a friend would do and its not something I would even if I wasn't either, even an abomination like myself. But still...why does it have to hurt so much to let her go?"

Naruto continued to rant to himself while he tossed and turned throughout most of the night, until exhaustion finally took over. Natsumi herself had waiting for him to come into his mindscape, but after a few more hours decided it was a lost cause and went to sleep against her favorite tree, wishing she knew what was going on with her friend and crush whom she now worried for.

The Next Morning,

The next morning Natsumi awoke to the sun's rays hitting her eyesight, she groaned and turned over only to notice she wasn't in the seal anymore but in her bed in the pair's room. She slowly leaned up on one arm and wiped away the sleep from her eyes as she searched the room for Naruto.

"Naruto?" She called out, but got no response.

She looked to his bed thinking maybe he was still asleep but noticed it was fully made. What had caught her eye though was a piece of paper on his pillow addressed to her. She got up noting she was fully dressed in her usual kimono, before walking over and read the note.

Sensei,

Thought you'd appreciate the bed, so I made your bushin. I went out training.

-Naruto

She frowned. "He could have woke me..." She thought forlornly that Naruto didn't wake and bring her with him to train like he had always done before.

After a moment she shook her head of her thoughts, and jumped out of the window heading towards where she heard grunts, and cries, evidence of someone fighting thanks to her advanced hearing. She soon reached a snow filled clearing with a quite ragged looking Naruto who by any indication of the war-zone that was once called nature around him had been doing some seriously intense training while holding 'Shinku Kaijin' in it's released form in his hands. After another elegant but deadly set of sword thrusts and swings, Naruto lowered his sword and looked over at Natsumi.

She gave him a sweet smile. "Ohayo Naruto-kun" She greeted, before surveying the area. "By the way remind me to never get on your bad side while you have your sword out." She joke with a small laugh.

"Gomen...I just thought that I could use some training with him in his released form." He responded with a lie.

Truth be told the moment Naruto saw the beautiful vixen in the clearing with the sunlight giving her an almost angelic glow thanks to the reflections from the dew that collected on her persons from the morning air, he wanted to just march over there, grab her into an embrace and kiss her with all of his being. He knew however that he didn't have any right to because of what he was. Hell that was the whole reason he was out here int eh first place, he needed to release all the stress and tension, frustration and loneliness.

"Always the workaholic ne? You know you won't ever find a mate with that kind of attitude." She teased before strolling closer to him, though having no idea that her words caused Naruto's heart to feel like it just fell down into his stomach, especially since he put up a fake smile at her teasing. "Your form has gotten better, even with him released...I'm impressed. Oh and arigato for your thoughtfulness about the bed." She thanked with a warm smile, making him want to kiss her even more now.

"Kami-sama...I think I'm in the ninth circle of hell!" He mentally groaned, squeezing Shinku Kaijin's hilt in an effort to subdue his chaotic emotions.

"It wasn't a problem just thought I'd make you more comfortable. And gomen about not going to mental training last night...Fubuki is a rather harsh sensei, and I needed to sort some things out." He confessed with a small half smile and rather distant tone.

Seeing his expression, and hearing his words and inflection in which he spoke, she couldn't help but frown. "Is everything ok?"

"Hai...I...just figured out a solution to a problem I was having...its nothing you need to worry about." He smiled back at her, though she easily noticed it was a 'fake' one like he used to used in the village, but decided not to press the issue even if she was disturbed by it's use on her.

"Alright well you know the drill by now...I'll be here to watch, once you are up to par with my expectations you can go with Fubuki-san for your Hyoton training." She commanded before moving towards a tree and sat down, a slight frown adorning her face. She disliked telling him to go see another woman for any reason but it couldn't be helped.

Naruto did as was told, and sent his bushins to do their job, before he grabbed his Father's kunai and continued on with his practice of the 'Hirashin no jutsu' for the remainder of the morning and afternoon, before going to see fubuki.

Six Months Later,

Half a year had passed since that day, and things on the surface were fine between the demon pair. Naruto's training excelled as usual, he finally gained a better understanding of his Father's technique, and was actually able to use it a few times though was still far from mastering it. His other skills grew as well...even his Hyoton training with Fubuki was going well. He was already up to learning Chuunin level jutsu from her, which surprised the Snow kunoichi. In her opinion Hyoton was a rather hard element to learn, yet he made it look easy, which repeatedly infuriated her...though mostly it being her pride.

While not training the demon pair befriended Kaname more and the trio quickly became good friends. Doing many non-shinobi things together in the village, causing Naruto and Natsumi to become well known and favored in the little town. Unfortunately for the pair, because they had gotten so close to the old woman they found out that she was living with a terminal disease that caused her many violent coughing fits at random times and would eventually kill her. They had suggested bringing in a medic-nin to check her out, but she declined knowing that even if there was a cure she was an old woman... and it would only give her a few more years anyway so might as well leave things be.

However underneath the surface things weren't quite as serene as it appeared between the demon pair. Along with Naruto and Natsumi growing closer to Kaname and she to them...she noticed a definite rift between the pair. Mainly on Naruto's side, which she knew Natsumi realized too but chose to never verbalize her concerns. The rift was most evident to her when at the beginning of their trip to Snow Naruto used to always laugh and play along with Natsumi's little sexual innuendos or fake advances towards him. But now he deftly averted himself anytime Natusmi got that oh so infamous glint in her eyes that always used to make the two laugh. Though Natsumi never stopped with the teasing, Kaname still noticed the two weren't as close as they used to be, and getting to know them as well as she had...it bothered her to see her friends, well mainly Naruto acting like this.

Its was currently a cool day in august and the trio were doing their own things around the house. Kaname had wanted to clean up the house before the village's yearly festival at the end of the week which celebrated the founding of Snow Country, the festival itself being quite a tourist attraction. Snow was never a common thing in the main elemental countries so when the festival rolled around many people came to see the beautiful country and have fun during the festival. She was currently cleaning up the kitchen when she looked out the window to notice Naruto cutting fire wood. She just watched the main autonomously cut the wood, until the pair's dilemma rose to the surface of her thoughts. She simply lost her patience with the man's attitude towards his friend and decided that if Natusmi wasn't going to say anything...she'd have to be the one to knock some sense into him with a stern talking to. And with Natsumi currently in the village it would be the best time to talk to him one-on-one.

"Kaname-san I finished chopping the wood!" A slightly winded Naruto called from outside the house.

"Alright Naruto-kun! Oh would you mind coming in here for a minute there is something I need to ask you!?" She called back, grinning at her luck.

After a minute Naruto emerged in the doorway of the kitchen and saw the old woman sitting at the dinner table with two cups of tea set up. Naruto got the idea and sat himself where the tea was before taking a small sip to warm himself up.

"Mmm...good tea as always Kaname-san...so what did you want to ask me?" He sighed contently after taking another sip.

"I'm sure you don't want to talk about it...but I'm rather worried about Natsumi-chan and yourself..." She paused with a stern look making just what she was asking quite clear to the orange-haired hanyou. "...why exactly have you been acting distant to her? Especially at times when she tries to 'play' with you...I know for certain you aren't gay and that if I were to guess you have some rather deep feelings for her. I have seen the times when you just stare at her. I could seriously bet money that I could stab you with a kunai and you wouldn't avert your gaze from her during some of the times I've noticed you watching her." She finished with a smirk, noting the man's slight pink cheeks.

What the pair didn't know was that a certain red-haired demoness had just come back from the village's market. And a moment before entering the same doorway to the kitchen Naruto used heard what Kaname just asked Naruto. Hearing the woman's statement Natsumi quickly and silently pressed her back against the wooden house unconsciously pressing the grocery bags against her chest, her face completely flushed like she had just been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

"Wh...what are they talking about me for?" She mentally questioned, while straining to hear the rest of their conversation.

Despite the awkwardness at her being the topic of discussion, the questions Kaname posed had also been plaguing her for the last few months as well, and wished to finally know the Naruto's reasoning.

"I should always be wary of the elderly...they can always seems to see past my defenses." He responded with a light laugh. "Gomen Kaname-san...I don't mean to act that way I really don't...its just...complicated." He admitted lowering his head, his bangs now slightly covering his face.

"Well we have a lot more worldly experience then you do Naruto-kun..." She answered with her own laugh. "...and its NOT me who you should be apologizing to...Natsumi-chan may not have been verbal like me but she is just as worried about you as I am. And what is so complicated about it? You have deep feelings for her, as I can see she does you...the only thing I think I can see thats complicated about it is that she is the Kyuubi no Kitsune and you are her Jinchuuruki." She finished with a smirk.

Both Naruto and Natusmi were shocked, Natsumi nearly dropped her bags and Naruto's head shot up almost causing him whiplash.

"Wha..." He began to lie, before examining her face and he schooled his emotions. "How long have you known?" He asked realizing there was no point in hiding it.

"For a few months now...not as long that I've known you've liked each other mind you. I mean honestly do you think its possible for a 'real' human to hold that much beauty? Her tan flawless skin, her almost regal features, her beautifully hellish crimson hair and eyes? For lack of a better word she is physically 'perfect'. Someone like Natsumi-chan just cannot be human and look like that. A rather shallow way of looking at it but it did the job. And whether you say it or not I know you agree with me about her looks...if not more so especially since I've seen you staring at her ass on more then one occasion." She explained with another smirk, knowing she was making Naruto hot under the collar. "Now with that said and done...why have you been acting the way you have towards her? When you both clearly have deep..." She tried to questioned, but a hand slamming on the table interrupted her, making both women who heard it slightly jump.

"Gomen for that Kaname-san...and while I both don't mean to and regret acting the way I have towards Natsumi-chan. The feelings I have for her don't matter anymore...she is who she is and I am what I am. That being said it's impossible for there to be an 'us' no matter who much I wish there was. So please stop mentioning her having feelings for me because its like you're stabbing me in the heart every time you say it, since I know that isn't possible so just please stop Kaname-san." Naruto pleaded sullenly, his head hanging low with his face hidden again.

Outside the house Natsumi felt like she was on both cloud nine and the ninth circle of hell at the same time. While her eyes were streaming out tears of sadness, she had a full blown foxy smile.

"NARUTO-KUN LIKES ME!" She screamed joyously at the top of her mental lungs, before coming down off her giddy high, and was now worried about his words. "But...why hasn't he said anything to me? And why does he think that its impossible for me to have those kinds of feelings for him...when I do?" She questioned, confusion now clearly written on her face, before she heard Naruto yell.

"KANAME-SAN!"

Natsumi slightly jumped from the scream before jumping into the archway of the door to see Naruto standing over Kaname who was slumped over the dinner table coughing desperately. Natsumi quickly schooled herself and ran to the table to see what was wrong. Naruto helped Kaname out of her chair when the young pair noticed a small pool of blood where the old woman had just been coughing. Though the trio didn't want to admit it, Kaname has been steadily getting worse as the days began to get colder. Kaname continually played it off to not worry her friends, and while the pair didn't say anything because of Kaname's stubbornness to see a doctor...they knew she wasn't long for this world.

However this was a new and more dreadful turn of events, never before had she been so bad that she coughed up blood. Naruto immediately brought her to the couch, while Natsumi got another cup of tea and some towels. After they cleaned up the blood, Natsumi and Naruto just sat close by Kaname as she slowly drank the tea.

"Gomen for the trouble you two" She said weakly.

"Its no trouble Kaname-san" Natsumi responded with a warm smile. "Just promise me you aren't planning on leaving me here with Naruto...he may be my student but he still doesn't listen to me like he does you." She finished making Kaname laugh.

"Hai hai...though I wonder if for you two that would be such a bad thing." She teased making both of them look away with a blush understanding her meaning, before she began into another coughing fit...sadly with more blood coming out. "Guess *cough* that bastard is finally *cough* gonna get me ne?" She joked, receiving worried looks from both her friends.

"Dammit Kaname-san let us take you to a doctor...or better yet we'll bring one here." Naruto suggested in a pleading tone.

Kaname took a sip of her tea and shook her head slightly, before smiling and looking out the window to watch the snow that had just begun to fall.

"No no...I can feel it...its already too late, its simply a matter of time...I probably only have a few hours left." She confessed.

"But why..." He began before he stopped when Natsumi grabbed his arm and slightly shook her head.

"Well...I suppose with how ever long I have left I should tell you both everything..." She said leaving the sentence hanging there to get the full attention of the two. "...I used to be a shinobi...in my younger years anyway." She laughed lightly before continuing. "More to the point I was a Jounin level medic-ninja in the Hidden Sound Village based in Rice Country. Hence why going to a doctor was pointless since I am one...a damn good one too! Anyway...because of who you two are, you both deserve to know this is probably the main reason I'm telling you. The Otokage is...someone at least you Natsumi...or should I say Kyuubi know very well...Orochimaru." She paused to let this sink in, she wasn't disappointed in the pair's reactions...Natsumi's elegant features took on a bestialal look ready to kill anyone who dared cross her, while Naruto's KI made the house slightly shake with his expression the same as his sensei's.

"You KNEW Orochimaru!?" Natsumi said with rage filling every word.

"Hai...I was his top medical researcher actually...well before he found me of no more use anyway. And...Gomennasai Natsumi-chan, Naruto-kun...I didn't want to keep this from you, especially after learning who you two were. But I couldn't tell you et because I didn't think you'd trust me enough to believe me...or would probably kill me before I was able to finish my story." She confessed, guilt written on her face.

The pair's expressions died down soon after, leaving only solemn ones instead, knowing that she was probably right with her assumptions..

"Arigato for telling us Kaname-san, please continue your story." Naruto responded.

"Arigato both of you...anyway the next part of my story is actually rather important for you both. Though its up to you to decide if you wish to use what I have to say or not. As I mentioned I was one of Orochimaru's top researchers. My division was given the mission to develop an immortality jutsu for him. After many years of testing and failed experiments, we finally came up with something that looked promising...well to us at least. It was a Kinjutsu I later dubbed "Kon Suikomu (Soul Inhale)", it basically allows the user to put a soul into a corpse. The catch was that it could only be a living soul. Although we made a great breakthrough with this jutsu...Orochimaru disliked the idea of putting his own soul inside the body of a corpse, saying he wouldn't be 'beautiful or youthful then'. And for our failures killed all of those involved save for myself who escaped and fled here to Snow Country. From what I've heard from one of my spies in Oto...the bastard used my jutsu as a foundation for another Kinjutsu he created called "Edo Tensei (Resurrection to the Impure World)", which allows him to summon a dead soul into the living world once more, however using a living host in this case as the sacrificial medium instead...how utterly barbaric...even for me." She explained, before spitting on the floor to curse the snake sannin.

The pair's reactions were the same as before both looking feral, with Naruto releasing his KI. They both silently promised that the snake's death would be painful and slow when it was his time to die by their hands.

"Maa...maa...calm down you two I'm sure you'll both get your revenge on that man." She said with a smile. "But other then to confess my past connections with that snake. I told you that story because I want to give you something before I pass on to the next world...my justu: 'Kon Suikomu'". She finished and had a small laugh by the shocked expressions from her friends.

"But...Kaname-san what could we possibly use that jutsu for?" Naruto asked being the first one to regain his bearings.

"Its quite simple...Natsumi-chan there is only a henged Kage Bushin with her soul summoned in it correct?" She said smugly with another smirk, noting yet again their surprised expressions. "Oh come on now...did you honestly think that I wouldn't notice or hear all the poofing of a Kage Bushins being initialized in this house? Or the lack of chakra Natsumi-chan has while being the queen of demons? I wasn't the head of an S-rank criminal's research division for nothing you know. Anyway...the use for the jutsu is simple...I want to give Natsumi-chan back the one thing she can still get back that Orochimaru stole from her...her real body...well her real hanyou body anyway. I know from doing research that demons especially powerful ones have not only a demon form, but also a human, and hanyou form...despite still being under the category of 'demon'." He finally explained her reasoning for the jutsu.

"I swear...flies could shoot into their mouths and they wouldn't notice." She thought with a snicker, seeing the slack-jawed expression on the demon pair's faces.

"Wha...how?" Was Natsumi's intelligent retort, still flabbergasted at the fact she might finally get her real body back...only her human body yes...but her real body nonetheless.

"Well I already told you what my jutsu does...so all you need now is to learn it, and get yourself a corpse...though I already have one for you so you don't need to worry about that." She answered with a smile.

The pair took a few moments to think about their friends wish, and soon decided that if that was really her wish then they couldn't say no. As soon as they agreed, Kaname began to teach Naruto the necessary seals and hand signs for the kinjutsu. In the few hours time that Naruto took to learn the jutsu, Kaname's condition worsened so much so that she could no longer move except for her head by the time she had finished describing the jutsu to him. The demon pair just made the old woman as comfortable as possible for the last few minutes of her life, and after a rather large coughing fit she wanted to speak to both of her friends with her final words.

"Naruto-kun."

"Hai Kaname-san?" He answered sadly.

"I don't want you to change who you are...you are strong, compassionate, and an honest man...well honest about most things..." She said with a small smile. "...stay true to yourself and your reasons for becoming the shinobi that you are today. Protect the people important to you and you'll never go wrong on your path. And please for me...keep Natsumi-chan happy, I know you are denying whats going on between you two but something will eventually get you two together and when that happens I want you to promise me that you'll always do your best for her." She requested.

Naruto hesitated, looking forlornly at his friend repeating her words in his mind, but thought that even though it would never happen that he should make that promise anyway if for nothing else then to make his old dying friend happy.

"I promise Kaname-san, and arigato." He answered with a smile while squeezing her hand gently.

"Oh and one last thing...I want you to take her to the Snow Festival tomorrow. I know for a fact that she has been looking forward to it ever since she heard about it and I'm sure it would make her happy if you brought her, can you do that?" She asked sweetly.

"Hai...I can do that." He answered in a low warm tone, before getting up to let Natsumi sit to talk with her.

"Natsumi-chan."

"Hai Kaname-san?" She answered sadly.

"Gomen...for not getting the answers that you sought after from Naruto-kun...he is a stubborn one." She said with a smirk, seeing her friend lightly blush.

"Wha...what do you mean?" The vixen stuttered.

"Oh please you thought I didn't notice your presence outside the door? Why do you think I asked Naruto what I had in that specific language ne?" She retorted, getting a small but happy smile from her red-haired friend. "Anyway...gomen as I said, but don't be disheartened over it. He knows his feelings, it'll just take a while to get over what is holding him back, just be patient with him. And please...take care of him ne? He is powerful yes but not invincible, even the tiniest chink in one's armor and you can still be hurt whether physically or emotionally. But with you there with him I know he'll be just fine." She finished, squeezing the demoness's hand.

Naruto took a seat next to the pair of women, when Kaname called him over again.

"Now before I forget to warn you two...my jutsu will work just a little differently because of your 'seal' situation. Normally the living soul would take over the corpse host allowing it to change into the soul's original appearance...that will not change for you Natsumi-chan. However the difference will be that, originally if said person was killed it would be like any other death just that the corpse would take it's original form after the soul leaves. But with you two its a bit more complicated...even with Natsumi-chan having her own body and soul completely out of the seal, the seal still being active will link you two together. Meaning that her chakra will continue to fuse with yours Naruto-kun. It also means that because of the link that if EITHER one of you die Naruto-kun at any time or Natusmi-chan while using 'Kon Suikomu'...the other will automatically die with them, just as the seal originally intended. The last thing I remind you is that when Natsumi-chan isn't using my body...you should keep me in a storage scroll. My body won't decompose while sealed so its just practical..." She paused with a long coughing fit, a bit of black blood appeared in her hands before she continued meaning that her organs were giving out and she only has seconds more to live. "...well I guess *cough* its about that time...Naruto-kun, Natsumi-chan you *cough* both are very special. I don't want you to take the things *cough* other people dish out to you for that. Be strong...keep each...other safe and...I'll be wat...ching...y...o...u..." She finished breathing her last breathe with a smile towards her good friends.

Natsumi cried as Naruto held her as they grieved for their friend who had done more for them then anyone else had outside of Konoha. They were truly grateful to know such woman and be able to call her their friend. After some time they finished their grieving and began their friend's final wish, as Naruto picked her up and placed her in the middle of the seal that was drawn on the floor of the room. Naruto set her up in a respectable position, before looking towards Natsumi.

"You ready?" He asked quietly.

The demoness just nodded and dispelled herself back into the seal. Naruto only waited a moment before kneeling down and began the long series of hand signs necessary for the kinjutsu. After almost thirty minutes of sealing Naruto cast the last seal, slammed his hands on the seal, and yelled 'Kon Suikomu' making it glow light blue. The blue light soon encompassed Kaname's body before the light exploded outwards blinding Naruto before settling back down into nothing. Naruto looked back after rubbing his eyes in vein to get the light circles out of his eyes, when he saw Natsumi standing in the middle of the seal with Kaname's corpse no where to be seen, now with red fox ears with black tips and six swaying fox tails of the same color adorning her persons.

"Did it work?" He asked hesitantly, as he watched her test out her body the same way he had after his 'sosei'.

"Only one way to find out." She retorted, using her demon technique to hide her tails and ears before walking to and past the door of the house.

The pair walked out and into the forest far enough away from the village since they didn't want any unwelcome eyes.

"A simple jutsu should be a good enough test..." Natsumi said before flashing through a set of seals even Naruto has trouble keeping up with before shouting her jutsu. "...Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu (Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique)!"

A humongous ball of flame jutted out of the vixen's mouth, and to say Naruto was impressed was an understatement. He had never seen that jutsu conjured up like he was witnessing not even when he used the Uzumaki's style. The ball of flame rose higher then the trees themselves, the flames were so hot the jutsu was actually white. Naruto was standing behind Natsumi and he was still sweating from the sheer heat radiating off her jutsu. She released her jutsu after a full minute, and took a small breath.

"Hm...not bad, though I remember I could make them bigger in the past. Then again I'm only working with six tails worth of power so thats to be expected." She mused with a thoughtful but cute expression on her face. "But still...IT WORKED I HAVE MY REAL BODY BACK!" She suddenly screamed before jumping around happily in the snow.

"You did THAT...and you were expecting to do better!? Well its not wonder you are the Queen of demons...but still damn Natsumi-chan!" Naruto said still slack-jawed.

"Hai...I'm pretty bad ass I know." She retorted with a smug smirk after calming down a bit.

"Hai hai...but what did you mean only six tails worth?" He questioned

"Well remember how I told you about you needing more chakra to be able to summon me with more power and tails via 'Kuchiyose no jutsu'? Its the same concept here. The more control of my chakra you have the more tails you get, and the more I lose. You can only control 3 tails worth of power right now, so I still remain in control of my last six." She answered matter-of-factly.

"Well that makes sense...but what happens when I gain control of all nine? Will you have no chakra left to control on your own?"

"Well...think of our link as a chakra road Naruto-kun, there is a ebb and flow. For example if you held all nine tails worth of power, then yes I wouldn't be much of a threat. But at any time you can transfer chakra over to me. Which would then cause you to lose however many tails worth of power you gave me and me gain them. Another example though, if you transfered all three tails of power to me, I'd get all nine but you'd still have your natural 'human' chakra reserves so you'd still be in fighting form get it?"

"Its a little confusing but yea I get it...basically these tails are...well other then for looks sake, a portion of your overall demonic chakra. And can be shared amongst us depending on how much I myself can control and decide to use. But even if I held none of your chakra I'd still have my natural chakra reserves from my Kekkei Genkai, as well as the initial increase just from me having you sealed in me as a baby. Actually the tails kind of remind me of the 'Celestial Gates' you taught me about with the types of kinjutsus for taijutsu in our first year out here." He said thoughtfully.

"Hm...yea I suppose in a certain sense my chakra can be related to the gates if you put them in the context of number of tails. Though there are differences, mainly being that its purely demonic chakra, until its get filtered by the seal turning it into regular chakra fro you, and vice versa for me. But also that instead of your body being torn apart because of the stress...if you go over the amount of tails you can control, because you're part demon your demonic blood lust will kick in and you'll go on a rampage only wanting to spill the blood of ALL those around you."

He quirked a brow at that. "Well thats news to me...you could have told me this before." He scolded.

"And what ruin all my fun? I gotta keep a guy on his toes after all." She teased.

"Tsh...you and your fun." He said shaking his head, never noticing Natsumi quickly move up to him and lean up so their faces were now only inches apart.

"Aw...you don't want to have 'fun' with me Naruto-kun?" She cooed seductively, making him shiver from her close proximity, and hot breath hitting his lips.

"Kami-sama...why does she do this to me?" He mentally groaned...being able to smell her intoxicating scent from so close

"For not telling me you had feelings for me dammit." She thought smirking as if reading his mind, seeing the blush on his cheeks. "But I'm not going to make it easy on you MY Naruto-kun. You're going to have to tell me yourself how you feel about me. You need to let yourself become completely vulnerable...causing you to have complete trust in me. ONLY then will I tell you my feelings and give you that kiss and other...things that we both so crave" She finished now with her own blush from where her final thoughts were leading her imagination at that moment.

"Lets go to bed...its been a trying day ne?" She questioned innocently, only getting a slight nod in return from her still dazed crush.

The pair went back in to the house and went to bed, each of them looking back at what the day had held for them and thought hard about the future problems that it will hold for them both now.

Day of the Snow Festival,

It was the day of the annual snow festival in Snow Country and the village was abuzz with preparations, decorations being strewn over the buildings to make them more festive. The streets were alive with the hustle and bustle of both village natives and visiting foreigners. As for the demon pair, after awakening Naruto began his usual physical training while Natsumi just lounged and enjoyed her new freedom and power again.

"I still can't believe I have my real body back." She thought happily while watching Naruto train, making her flush slightly as her body began to heat up. "I...forgot how these kinds of feelings feel with a real body, dammit Naruto-kun how can you have feelings for me and not tell me you bastard." She mentally screamed.

Naruto on the other hand was having a similar conversation in his head while doing his exercises.

"Damn...why did Kaname-san have to say things like that about Natsumi-chan and me...didn't she realize I'm not someone that could make her happy as a mate?" He thought with a light sigh. "Well it doesn't matter...even if she does its probably because I was the only approachable male she's been with for past the few years." He concluded just finishing his last set of push-ups, and walking back to the house.

"Hey Natsumi-chan, shouldn't you be getting ready?" He questioned to the vixen who was still watching him.

"Hm? Ready for what Naruto-kun?" She asked perplexed.

"Well Kaname-san told me that you had been looking forward to this festival for a few months now. So I just figured I'd go along to keep you company. But if you aren't going to I can just continue with my training." He said just reaching the porch of the house.

She frowned. "Well...hai I had wanted to go but with Kaname-san's death I would think it rude to go out and have fun so soon."

"I can see your point...but she was the one who told me about you and the festival so I'm sure that she wanted you to still go even if something happened to her. She wanted us both to be happy in our lives, and her soul wouldn't be able to rest in peace if you grieved for her instead of trying to make the most out of your life." He reasoned with a small smile.

Natsumi took a moment to think over Naruto's words, and though she still felt a little guilty for it decided that Kaname was the kind of person to say something like that. She smiled at her orange-haired friend and nodded agreeing with his words before she stood up and went into teh house to get ready with Naruto following behind.

Naruto had been waiting patiently for Natsumi to finish getting ready for the past two hours. Now most men would have yelled at the woman for taking so long, but thanks to Naruto's kenjutsu training, he had built up a rather high level of patience for most things. Of course there were still certain things that just ate at him and he lacked patience for, but you could literally count them on one hand. He was currently sitting on the couch in the living room wearing a tan kimono with a heavy brown jacket on top. He was knocked out of his random thoughts when he heard descending footsteps on the stairs and decided to meet Natsumi at the stairs. He waited around the corner for her when he heard the last footsteps hit the stairs and the vixen turned the corner standing right in front of him.

"Oh my Kami-sama...shes...shes...breathtaking" He thought slack jawed as he looked at her.

She was wearing a Kimono that she found in Kaname's closet, it was a shade of exotic emerald he had never seen with gold trimmings that had dragons engraved in them which ran across her chest and hips. She wore a bit of make-up which only consisted of some very light red lipstick and lavender eyeliner that only seemed to accentuate her beauty more.

"So...how do I look Naruto-kun?" She asked with a small smile twirling in a circle for him.

"There are no words that could possibly hope to describe you..." He thought but paused quickly.

"You look great Natsumi-chan." He responded with a smile, which she returned before taking a scrutinizing stare at him before leaning forward so she was looking up at him.

"You're not too bad yourself there Naruto-kun..." She said in a seductive voice, as she placed her single pointer finger far under his chin and sensually slid it back towards her, before turning to walk to the door, leaving a VERY dazed Naruto. "...coming Naruto-kun?" She cooed sexily, shaking him out of his gaze and made him nearly trip over his own feet while rushing to her side.

Naruto grabbed another coat and put it around her shoulders before they both left the house to go to the festival. As they headed out both of them were thinking the same thought about what she just did in the house: "I'm/Shes going to be the death of him/me".

That Evening (Daimyou's Castle),

The festival went off without a hitch, the demon pair enjoyed the town's celebration very much. They went throughout the town visiting the different concession stands that were stationed along the streets, ranging from antique jewelry, to exotic foods, to even games for both children and adults. After spending the afternoon in the town and just enjoying the sights, the pair as well as the rest of the town traveled up the snow covered road that lead to Dotou's castle for the snow festival ball that he hosted for every year for the festival. The castle itself was decked out with of every kind of decoration for a formal ball that you could think of. Naruto himself was surprised because he couldn't really recognize the castle anymore with the decorations up.

The ball was close to starting as the last group of people entered the large doors of the castle before the guards closed them so the cold wouldn't bother the guests. Said guests ranged from every form of society you could imagine, from little urchins to the most refined aristocrat. For this singular day, social status meant nothing. Everyone was equal in the eyes of everyone else. That was the real celebration of the Snow Festival...the gathering and togetherness that everyone shared. Which was the epitome of this day, and everyone happily accepted it.

Finally the ball was soon underway, as the guests mingled with other guests telling life stories or just becoming acquainted with one another through small talk. Although the guests were allowed to travel throughout the castle most of the party was stationed in the mess hall that Naruto had sneak into when meeting Dotou for the first time. However the room was turned into a ball room, with the dance floor in the middle of it, and the white clothed dinner tables surrounding the floor, with a full buffet of foods against the walls for the guests to eat at their leisure. Both Naruto and Natsumi took their time to mingle throughout the crowd to find people that she had become acquainted with in the village, and had little chit-chats with them before moving on.

A few hours had passed and most of the guests were either sitting at the table having small talk with those around them, quietly eating, or dancing to the music that an orchestra that Dotou hired for the occasion played. Currently the demon pair had just finished eating their dinner in a peaceful silence they both enjoyed, and were just having a small chat with an elderly lord from Wind Country, before a trio of young, dignified, and very handsome men politely interrupted the trio's conversation.

"Excuse me?" A blond man in the middle of the group asked, getting the attention of the trio. "Gomen for the interruption...but I would like to ask this beautiful young lady for a dance if she would grace me with one?" He said bowing, while placing his hand outward towards Natsumi in a polite gesture.

Natsumi herself was quite taken aback by the offer, she had stayed with Naruto the entire night thinking it would deter any man from scoping her out and trying this...plus she just enjoyed being close to Naruto. She had hoped his presence with her would work...but she guessed that at least some men here would still attempt it, and sadly she was right. However now she was stuck in a sticky situation, either she could say no and give a lie as her reason, which she didn't want to do. The man after all asked with the utmost respect and manners and didn't deserve it. Or she could say yes and inadvertently take one more step away from Naruto admitting his feelings.

"Damn..." She mentally swore. "...of the men here why did it have to be a handsome one with great manners? Instead of an ugly pervert who would just walk by and slap my ass? Of course I doubt Naruto would let the guy live but, it would have at least been easier to handle." She finished in a defeated tone before looking towards Naruto, her eyes almost pleading for him to tell her what to do.

She just looked at Naruto and awaited an answer, which she soon got as a broad smile.

"Why not Natsumi-chan? Go have some fun." He answered in a warm tone, a tone that nearly crushed all of her hopes of him ever confessing.

Her pleading eyes soon returned to normal though the usual spark of liveliness they held were extinguished and replaced with a dim one. She gave him a small smile and a slight nod before taking the man's hand and got up from her seat heading towards the dance floor. The moment she turned Naruto's happy expression took on a sad and utterly defeated one, as he sighed and took a sip of wine before turning to face the lord he had been speaking with.

"You're a fool you know Arashi-san..." The old lord said in a sage-like tone. "you're really going to allow other men to get that close to Natsumi-san?" He asked with a raised brow seeing Naruto's current expression.

He frowned deeper at t he man's words. "It really can't be helped Akira-san...there is a long and difficult history between us, but more importantly...I know that I'm not the man that can make her happy like she deserves to be. I'd only get in the way of her happiness if I ever told her what I really thought." He replied taking a long gulp of wine.

"Tsh...its figures that the youth of today don't know what they really want. Arashi-san I have some advice for you that you should take to heart, and being a shinobi yourself should only promote what I say: 'You should never let fear hold you back from the things that you want in life. Fear is the epitome of failure. Those who fail in life, fail not because they didn't try hard enough...but because their fear held them back from trying at all.' If you want something in this world...you have to have the courage to take that leap of faith to attain it. In your case...how do you know that you aren't good enough for Natsumi-san over there...unless you take that leap and tell her? I mean if you don't tell her...you've already failed even before you began. Are you really that much of a coward?" Akira finished in a tone that spoke of knowledge that only someone who had lived as long as he had could know about the world.

Naruto thought deeply about what Akira had said, and now his conviction had been slightly cracked about never telling her. What Akira had said was absolutely right...nothing in this world you want will be free, if you want it you have to take that leap and grab it. As Naruto was thinking, he unconsciously gazed over at the dance floor to see Natsumi slow dancing with the man who approached the table. He looked at the couple and in the back of his mind wished it was him that was holding her as close as that man was. However his conviction was still strong and soon shook that thought out of his mind before standing up from his chair.

"Arigato for the talk Akira-san...I...I need some time to think" He said as Akira nodded and let Naruto leave.

Naruto was still conflicted and didn't know what to think...the seed of doubt in his decisions was planted by Kaname. And was now even more deeply rooted thanks to Akira's words. He needed some time to think away from Natsumi and some fresh air to clear his head. He quickly walked by the buffet table and grabbed a full jug of expensive and quite strong sake that he took a liking to during the ball, before heading towards one of the exits that lead to the second level of the castle.

"Arashi-san...I hope you realize that keeping your feelings from Natsumi-san will be the worst mistake you'll ever make." Akira thought sadly as he watched the orange haired man leave the ballroom with sake in hand.

Nearly ten minutes had passed and Naruto was standing at the edge of the balcony that he had traveled to after leaving the ballroom, still contemplating what both Kaname and Akira had told him about Natsumi and himself.

"I really don't know what to do anymore...these feelings I have for her are so strong and I don't want to bottle them up. I want to tell her how I feel so badly. and yet I know I can never be what she needs me to be to be a good mate...so what should I do? I'm stuck at a crossroads with no clear answer in sight. I've never had such strong feelings for someone in my entire life...I've never felt this close to even Ojii-san. Natsumi-chan is more then just an important person to me I know that much...but..." He thought not even being able to finish it before taking a large gulp of sake and sighing loudly, before looking forlornly over the wall towards the snow-capped mountainside.

"I know that look..." A soft voiced called out from behind him. "It seems Naruto-kun has finally grown up and even grew feelings for a woman but not sure what to do about it ne?" The voice asked with a small hint of humor behind it.

Naruto know that voice immediately and didn't even look back, taking another gulp of sake, waiting for her to come up next to him.

"What are you doing all the way up here Natsumi-chan?" He asked, as said vixen appeared right next to him taking the same position as him against the wall.

"I could say the same for you Naruto-kun...but I just came to see you. Akira-san told me that you left to get some air after my dance with Kiro-san ended. Although now after seeing you I'm curious and concerned about exactly why you are up here..." She explained never taking her gaze off of the mountain. "...though as I already said I know its about a woman. So now the question is who and why? But if I were to guess it is Fubuki since she is the only woman you've been in contact with for a long period of time...so now its just why." She continued in a matter-of-fact tone.

"If is was only that simple." He thought offhandedly while looking at the profile view of the demoness next to him.

"Well gomen to burst your bubble but its not about Fubuki..." He retorted leaving the sentence hanging in the air after realizing his mistake of actually saying the truth.

Natsumi slowly turned towards Naruto and a raised eyebrow, though inwardly her heart was beating a mile a minute.

"Is...is he about to confess?" She thought, feeling her heartbeat grow even faster.

"Oh? then who is it about Naruto-kun?" She asked trying her best to keep her voice to not betray the excited panic within herself at the moment.

Naruto now looked at Natsumi and was completely captivated by her. He had truly never seen anyone more beautiful in his life, and it was tormenting him. He wanted to look away and just say it was nothing to worry about. But something in those crimson eyes of hers asked...no BEGGED him to tell her the truth of his problem. He couldn't stand this...he was being ripped in two, and hated every moment of it. He was being bombarded with thoughts, words, and images of the recent past that involved the two. After a long time he finally came to a decision thinking his final thought: 'Sometimes if you really love something...you have to let it go'.

Naruto smiled warmly towards her, before he turned around and started to slowly walk back to the entrance he came from.

"Its nothing important Natusmi-chan...lets just enjoy the rest of the ball ne?" He offered softly.

Natsumi for her part...was almost convinced that Naruto would tell her the truth about his feelings. But the moment she saw that smile she knew he was too afraid to...not that she could really blame him but it still pissed her off. And that sadness and rage finally came to a boil within herself, as tears slowly drew down her flawless face as she balled her fists and gritted her teeth.

"ARE YOU REALLY SO AFRAID OF MY REACTION THAT YOU WON'T EVER TELL ME THAT YOU HAVE FEELINGS FOR ME!?" She screamed, as even more angry tears smeared her face.

Naruto immediately stopped cold at her tone but more importantly her words. He slowly turned towards her with a dead-panned look on his face, his heart feeling like it stopped the moment he saw her tears, but was having trouble forming his question.

"Y...you knew all along?" He asked a bit shocked. "H...how long have you know? And why is my confessing to you really that important?"

Natsumi paused and thought for a moment over his words, before her face changed from that of rage to deep sadness, as her angry tears also changed emotions.

"Hai I knew. As for how long, ever since when you and Kaname-san were talking about me while I was away. And its important to me because...I don't want to hear about your feelings from someone else. I want to hear them from YOUR lips...in YOUR voice...from YOUR heart." She confessed in a low voice that only Naruto could possibly hear between soft sobs.

Naruto was taken aback from her confession...he honestly didn't understand why telling her in his own words meant so much to her...if she'd only find them ridiculous in the end anyway. However he still couldn't help but now feel ashamed that she had learned of his feelings through someone else and not directly from him. He took a step towards her but stopped, and straitened his posture...it was now or never, he had been called out...no more lying no more deceit.

"Gomennasai Natsumi-chan...I never meant to hurt you like I obviously did..." he paused to make sure he had her attention which by her facial expression he fully had before continuing. "...I...never told you how I felt for a few reasons actually. But please believe me none of them were to purposely hurt you. Honestly it was to do the opposite...I...your my best friend Natsumi-chan. And because of that...and especially now that you have your real body back...I want you to live as happily as you can. I...realize that you're the Queen of all demons and with that title comes certain...expectations of you. The main thing being that when you pick your mate...they have to be worthy of you. They must be strong, smart, powerful, and pure..." He paused once more to let out a cynical laugh, while Natsumi just took on a whole different expression, one of complete shock. "...and I'm, none of those things. I'm the son of the very man who sealed you away from the world...and worse your jailer for the rest of eternity. But more so then that...I'm not even a full blooded demon, hell I'm not a full blooded anything anymore I'm not human nor am I a demon...the most accurate thing I can be called is an abomination. And thats why I never told you how I felt, I mean how can something like me ever be worthy of you..." He stated before setting his gaze on the ground not being able to look at her anymore. "...you're a goddess in my eyes Natsumi-chan. You're funny, a genius in your own right, you're drop dead gorgeous, one of the kindest beings I've ever met...plus you're sexy as hell. You honestly don't know what you do to me when you tease me like you do. And for being your jailer you should hate me...and have every right to. You can't honestly think something like me can measure up to what others can provide you with like Dotou, Kiro-san, or other demons can. You're out of my league...and I'm certainly not worthy of ever calling you my mate." He explained, sounding completely emotionally beaten, never chancing a glance back towards her..

A silence fell on the balcony, with only the wind being heard for a time before a voice broke through.

"Na...ru...to..." Natsumi called out, making him pick up his head only to see a fist impact his face sending him flying into the wall of the castle making a crater, before falling to the ground.

In pure shock, confusion, and slight fear Naruto looked back up towards the vixen who was walking towards him with rage etched in her face.

"I was right after all...I guess this is goodbye Natsumi-chan...I wish I could have made you happy." He thought forlornly wishing that his friend wouldn't leave, as she just reached where his outstretched feet lied.

"Namikaze Uzumaki Naruto...just who in the hell do you think you are!?" She questioned with an almost uncontrolled rage while looking down at him.

"Huh?" Was his intelligent and fearful answer.

She growled. "I said who fuck do you think you are!? To tell me who or what I can or can not have feelings for!? Last time I checked...I was still the Kyuubi no Kitsune the fucking Queen of all demons, so who do you think you are to tell me that I can't have feelings for you...when I already love you huh?" She questioned, with blood slowly dripping off her shaking fists.

Naruto opened his mouth but then closed it...not really sure what to make of the situation. First he confessed to her, then she punched him into the wall and now she questioned him on why he says she can't possible have feelings for him when she does.

"Wait...WHAT!?" He mentally screamed, as his eyes visibly widened.

"N..natsumi-chan...did you just say...that you love me?" He stuttered, out of bewilderment, fear, but most of all hope.

She said nothing while bending down, picked him up to his feet by the collar of his kimono, before pulling him back down into the most passionate kiss he had ever gotten. Granted it was only his second kiss but still. Naruto was too shocked to react at first...so many thoughts were going through his head he already felt the beginnings of a headache coming on. But ignored it and his thoughts as much as possible concentrating the soft lips that were connected to his own at the moment. Naruto was still a beginner to the physical things when it was to this kind of stuff but he was determined to learn quickly as he closed his eyes, kissed her back and snaked his arms around her waist resting them on her lower back. The kiss itself was quite short, which both participants lamented...but it expressed something much deeper, the true feelings and intentions of them both. As they moved only slightly apart but still in each others grip, Natsumi rested her forehead against his chest with a heavy blush on her cheeks.

"I did and do...love you Naruto-kun." She finally stated in a soft tone.

Naruto was still shocked over everything that had happened in the last few minutes, but tried his best to keep himself in check.

"I...need to know if she really means it, or if this is some kind of dream." He thought, before pushing her slightly away so he could look into her eyes.

"Natsumi-chan...do you...do you really mean that? I mean how can you love me when when you know what I am and that I'm not worthy of such affection from you?" He questioned.

Natsumi once again leaned up and kissed him, sending a chill down his spine, before moving away to answer him.

"The kiss should be enough proof...but I know that you have a hard time trusting especially when it comes to your feelings Naruto-kun..." She said warmly. "...but I do Naruto-kun...I truly love you. As for the how...I don't really need a reason to love someone. But if you want to know the why, its because its you Naruto-kun its the best way I can describe it. You have all these negative notions about yourself, that just aren't true...you AREN'T an abomination, you're a compassionate, strong, intelligent man. You say that Dotou or Kiro-san would be better mates for me? Well even if they were which they aren't...love is the most important thing for me when it comes to a mate...not his status or power. I love you for who you are...you're my best friend too Naruto-kun. And I honestly don't know what I would do if I ever lost you as my friend. And for the its MY choice to determine who is worthy of any affection I give them...and you ARE worthy Naruto-kun." She confessed, as she raised a hand from his collar to caresses his cheek.

After hearing this Naruto could feel tears forming in the corners of his eyes. He never thought that this could or would ever happen. To him, Natsumi was a star that he couldn't ever hope to touch... he was only allowed watch from a distance. Yet here she was in his arms telling him that she loved him...not anyone else in this world...HIM.

"If this is a dream...I really don't want to wake up." He thought, while unconsciously leaning in and rubbing against the vixen's silky touch.

"Ano...Natsumi-chan...can...can I kiss...you again?" He stuttered out still fearful that all of this was a sick trick or genjutsu.

The vixen just giggled lightly and nodded, before Naruto gathered his courage and leaned down pressing his lips against hers. Its was a soft kiss and one they both enjoyed greatly, that is until Naruto felt a tongue race across his lips. He was sightly startled, but a soft moan from his partner calmed him. And before he even realized it his hands had begun slowly roaming Natsumi's back. A few moments later he realized what she was silently asking him, and allowed her entrance. Soon their tongues were doing a dance against each other much like the people were doing on the ballroom floor. The kiss only deepened from there, and the two seemed to became slightly more heated when their hands began to roam each other's bodies with more zeal. It seemed that the dams that held back the years of sexual tension and hidden feelings between the two began to crack, as Natsumi moaned from Naruto's touch, and taste, while he groaned from the same.

After another minute of making out the two broke apart breathing heavily, enjoying the taste of the other in their mouth. Once they regained their normal breathing, they just held each other, his hands on her back with her arms around his neck, their eyes just gazing into each other's only reflecting the deep love and the lust they hid for years. For some time they just stared at each other...seeming to only communicate through their eyes. Finally as if an agreement had been decided between the two demons, they just smiled happily to each other, and kissed again before a red translucent flame engulfed them both and when the fire died down they were both gone. The only evidence they were there being the broken sake jug and crater in the wall.

The Next Morning,

Naruto awoke from the one thing he despised in the morning...sunlight. Small rays of it were hitting directly into his eyes and he couldn't shake them away, and gave up on getting anymore sleep. With a heavy yawn, he attempted to get up to only feel...heavier then usual. He looked down to see what was wrong when he saw a quite naked and rapturous Natsumi half resting on and next to him. She had one leg straddled across his waist, with her body pressing against him. While her chest, shoulder and head rested on top of his chest, and her arm draped across his shoulders, while his own snaked itself around her back and shoulders too.

"I must be dreaming." He thought seeing the goddess on top of him slowly rising and falling as he breathed. "Wait..." Could only escape him before flashes of last night ran through his head like a movie.

Naruto's face was now unreadable, so many emotions raced across his visage, until finally his face relaxed into a state of euphoria.

"I can't believe all that really happened...it seriously feels like a dream." He thought once more just continuing to stare at the vixen and for the first time in his life was utterly happy, until a thought and evil smirk raced across his lips. "Well I suppose I should check if it really is one ne?" He rhetorically questioned.

Naruto as silently and stealthy as possible placed his free hand on the hip that was resting above his stomach and with a swift motion completely turned their positions around. With her now on her back with him on top but just hovering above her with his arms holding him up. For a minute he waited to see if he woke her. Until a mumbled groan escaped her saying she was still asleep, he smirked before leaning his face down.

"Wakey wakey" He whispered in a jovial tone, before lightly licking the deaconess's lips.

"Man she is going to kill me if she wakes up." He thought while dragging his tongue sensually across her jawline.

As he started to kiss her along her jaw, she began to figit with herself feeling something on her, though still not waking up. Naruto simply smirked again, and adventured farther south softly attacking her prone neck. After some time he began to hear soft whimpers from her, and just continued his assault adding little bites and licks here and there.

"Mmm...what is that?" A groggy Natsumi thought her mind still fuzzy from just waking up to a weird, but quite enjoyable sensation.

She slowly opened her eyes to see a tanned muscular body hovering above her, with said person's head just out of her peripheral vision in the direction of where the sensation was coming from.

"Whats going on?" She mentally thought before her brain jump started and just like Naruto, images of the night before unraveled before her. "He he oh yea..." She commented absentmindedly, with a warm smile, before failing to hold back a sudden moan.

"I see you're finally awake my Beni-kisai." A strong voice whispered against her neck, after releasing his fangs leaving a rather deep but enjoyable love bite.

"Mhm..." Natsumi purred out dreamily, before seeing Naruto's face come into her line of vision. "...you didn't have to stop on my account you know." She smirked.

"Gomen Natsu-chan...I just had to be sure last night was real and I just got a little carried away. Although consider this your punishment for teasing me before." He replied with a soft chuckle.

"It certainly was real I assure you Naru-kun. Although if I am feeling what I think I'm feeling, you're quite 'up' for round two yourself." She smirked, seeing Naruto's confused expression from her statement.

"What you do..." He was about to ask before a low groan interrupted him when as he felt a warm pressure against his lower torso.

"That." She simply responded, placing her hips back down on the bed so her lips weren't pressed against his 'awake' member any longer.

"Ah gomen..." He responded sheepishly, before kissing her softly. "...did you sleep well last night?"

"More then alright Naru-kun and hai was one of the best slumbers I've had in a long time actually." She answered back, with another kiss. "And despite how much I'd like to stay like this with you...your training isn't going to do itself."

"Hai hai" He answered, pushing himself off her, but felt himself pulled back down against the beautiful demoness.

"There is something you should know Naru-kun" She said in a whisper.

"Hm? What is it Natsu-chan?" He asked a bit worried at her tone.

"Well since we are mates...you should know..." she paused looking away from his face, fearful of his reaction.

"How will he react to this? I know he loves me, but this is something I know he wants in the future." She thought, until a calloused but soft hand cupped her face and brought it back to face him.

"Whatever it is, you can tell me Natsu-chan, please whats wrong?" He asked in a reassuring tone only inches from her face so they were looking into each other's eyes.

She bit her lip still worried, but Naruto's reassuring tone and concerned eyes broke down her defenses and before she knew it she began to speak in a low tone.

"I...am unable to...conceive in my non-demon forms Naru-kun. I was born a demon and can only birth kits as one, therefore I will be unable to bare you any kits. Gomennasai! I know how much you wished to have a family in the future, and your mate can't even give you one!" She finally answered with her eyes closed tightly, just barely holding back her tears.

Naruto was quite surprised at her revelation, truth be told she was right on the money. Naruto had often thought about the future and whether or not he'd ever have a family of his own. His hopes were raised to another level with Natsumi becoming his mate and he hers. But what she just said dashed them to pieces. Even so however, seeing his vixen in this state tore him apart more then knowing they couldn't have a family together, and the moment a single tear fell down her face he reacted. He quickly leaned down the last few inches between them and softly trailed his tongue across the tear stain on her face. Natsumi gasped when she felt him do such an intimate act and quickly shot open her eyes to see a large warm smile across Naruto's face.

"Kami-sama do I love her." He reaffirmed before leaning down and kissing her gently, while cupping her cheeks with both his hands.

"Please don't cry Natsu-chan, you're way to beautiful to be so sad." He cooed making her slightly shiver from his warm breath hitting her wet lips from their saliva and her tears. "Although I do admit that I want to have a family, as long as I have you I could never complain about wanting more...you're all I truly need. A family with you would have just been a bonus." He reassured her while caressing her cheeks softly.

Natsumi was slightly shaken by Naruto's words, she never imagined him to say such a thing even if he did love her. There were times in his past when she heard his thoughts, and most of the more intimate ones were with him, his kids, and wife. And yet not a moment ago he told her that all he needed was her. She wanted to cry all over again, but held it back by smiling so wide her eyes slightly closed.

"Arigato Naru-kun" She said warmly.

He leaned down once more and kissed her passionately this time.

"Anything for you my Beni-kisai" He whispered back, before leering with a distant look on his face. "Ano...are you sure there isn't anything we can do? Maybe with me becoming a hanyou I can transform into a fox? If I can I could maybe say...use Kuchiyose to summon you and could take you 'foxxie-style' while we are both foxes." He offered with a chuckle that was laced with innuendo.

Natsumi understood his meaning, and was happy he wanted to change the mood so she played along, placing a clawed finger on her chin looking off in a thinking pose, before smiling.

"Although I do love your ingenuity Naru-kun, I'm afraid hanyous have no transformation abilities, only full blooded demons do." She said thoughtfully. "Mmm...however that doesn't mean we still can't try that idea out...'foxxie-style'...how kinky." She finished while lacing her final words with a seductiveness that only she could create, making the hanyou above her blush quite deeply.

"Didn't know you were into 'that' Natsu-chan." He joked thinking she was just teasing him.

"Thought never crossed my mind until you mentioned it...besides it wouldn't be like the crime of bestiality is in human society. It would still be me, just in my more primal form thats all...and who knows maybe if we like it it could become one of our frequent 'positions'." She said with a husky purr at the end while leaning up and capturing Naruto's bottom lip between her teeth and sucking on it before letting go.

"Kami-sama you really have no idea what you do to me sometimes do you?" He inquired trying to clear his thoughts from the rather erotic images that raced across his mind wit what she had just implied...and he had to admit the images weren't looking half bad if the pleasurable faces he and Natsumi in her fox form seemed to express were any indication.

"I am to please my Naru-kun..." She replied with a smug smirk. "But now that you know about my 'condition' there IS something we can do about it..." She paused immediately getting Naruto's full attention. "...well I may not like it but I'm willing to share you with another female so that you may have a family."

Naruto was shocked at her idea...he honestly didn't know what to say. He took a moment to collect his thoughts before he opened his mouth to answer.

"Although I love you for doing this for me...I won't do that to you. I already told you have you are all I need Natsu-chan." He answered, but saw her shaking her head negatively.

"Listen Naru-kun...I've had a family once, and I can honestly tell you that it was the happiest ears of my life when I was when them, other then right now of course. And because of that I don't want my 'condition' to keep you from that happiness yourself especially with what happened to you in the past, I couldn't bare that. I'm not saying to have sex with a random female just to have kits, what I am telling you is that I want you to find a second mate that can bare kits for you and raise a family." She reasoned while caressing his own whiskered cheeks.

Naruto listened intently to her words, and when she finished he thought hard about what she said. Although it was still shocking to hear that from someone you loved, he couldn't deny the little voice in the back of his mind that agreed with her. After a few minutes of dead silence between the two Naruto let out a sigh, before kissing her again.

"You really are unbelievable you know that?" He rhetorically questioned with a smile. "Alright Natsu-chan I agree, however I have some conditions." He paused to see her quirk an eyebrow before he smiled more. "My first condition is that I won't go out of my way to look for a mate, you are my first mate and love and I won't take that lightly by purposely looking for another one...if I happen to find a female and we begin a relationship then so be it. My second condition is that I will not make a female my second mate without knowing I love her. The only female that I will make my mate is one I love with all my heart and soul like you. My last condition is that if I ever do find a second mate and we decide to have kids...I'm allowed to control which part of me is the father, my human side or demon side. Just because you can't have children of your own doesn't mean you don't deserve to be a Kaa-san again, so if I use my demon side we can say you're the Kaa-san. I want to have a child with you Natsu-chan no matter what. Of course my last condition will have to be discussed by all three of us but it still stands if you two agree." He finished with a chuckle.

"I can consent to those conditions my Naru-kun" She replied, happy that her mate was so considerate of her feelings. "Now Namikaze-san...I believe you have some training to do don't you?" She questioned with a smirk.

"Hai hai" He responded back before kissing her passionately, rolling off the bed to finally begin the morning with his mate.

The demon pair took turns taking a shower, before having breakfast in a peaceful silence. Once they finished Naruto began his usual Kage Bushin training with a hundred Bushins working on his Kitsune Issei Ryu. Another hundred on the 'Hirashin no jutsu' which he was now able to successfully execute but was simply training to use it multiple times in a row. And a last group of a hundred Bushins working on the first of the three steps to mastering the 'Rasengan', which Natsumi finally allowed him to begin to learn that day. Meanwhile the real Naruto was completing his physical training and advanced chakra control exercises.

Five Months Later,

Several months had passed since the night that the demons finally consummated their feelings for each other, and things couldn't be better. Naruto's training commenced on schedule, and thanks to his Bushins was able to both learn and master another offensive and defensive technique of the Kitsune Issei Ryu making it four offensive and three defensive he knew. He also completely mastered the Rasengan. Though he still needed to figure out strategies of how to use it in battle scenarios...no point in a mastering a jutsu if you don't know when and where to use it. He was now also able to harness the 'Hirashin no jutsu' up to ten times in a row before he lost his concentration on the 'pull' and needed a rest.

Even though it was literally in his DNA to learn and master, Naruto figured out that the key to utilizing the 'Hirashin no jutsu' wasn't based on the amount of chakra the user had (though the more chakra the better) but the level of concentration the user could keep up. When his father's scroll said "let yourself go when you feel the pull" it wasn't exaggerating. When Naruto felt the pull of the jutsu he simply let his muscles relax, but concentrated on the 'pulling' effect and that is where the skill of mastering the jutsu lied. The longer you could concentrate on the 'pull' the longer the jutsu would last. And with Naruto's not only normal chakra reserves as large as they were currently and would eventually end but then delving into Natsumi's even larger reserves...him using the 'Hirashin' literally non-stop for an entire day would be child's play as long as his concentration held firm.

As for their personal lives, the demon pair were as happy as could be. They now always used their non-intimate pet names for each other no matter where they were. Their teasing episodes however now tended to get a bit heated sometimes because they could finally express their feelings as mates... Naruto's training was occasionally put on hold to get rid of some 'tension'. After all foxes, especially DEMON foxes were well known for their rather 'frisky' natures, and these two were no exception hanyou or otherwise and who could blame them...they were in love. Other then that, they each just loved the company of the other so much so that if a villager saw one of them they knew the other wouldn't be too far off. They especially enjoyed each other's company on the colder winter nights when they just snuggled in bed happy to be in the arm's of their lover, love and mate.

While their relationship was going well...the relationship in Snow Country couldn't be any different. While the pair mainly stayed in their own little world in the woods now that Kaname passed away and just going into the village to get supplies or visit friends...they did notice the shift of behavior of the commoners and those in the military and shinobi. Rumors even began to circulate in Snow Country about the long lost daughter of the original Daimyou, Dotou's brother finally being found and that being the reason Dotou is mobilizing. After all a 'king' never wants to be dethroned. Despite it being only a rumor, Dotou's forces could be seen beginning to gather near the capitol for something. For what no one knew exactly, but everyone knew somehow whatever 'it' was, was going to be big and would probably effect all of Snow Country.

Although the demon pair were slightly interested in the true reasoning for the military's mobilization, they decided it was best to stay out of it and just continue with Naruto's training since it really wasn't any of their business. That is of course unless it began to endanger the lives of their friends in the village. And until the end of December of that year, which also made it the anniversary of their forth year out of Konoha, it seemed like nothing of the sort would happen. That is until an old man arrived at their house one day, begging them to help fight in a civil war that would soon rip Snow Country asunder.