Disguised Curses

CH 2

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He cleared Konoha gates and jutsu- ported himself to the tower. Making his way to Tsunade’s office, he looked at the two ANBU guards and managed to summon a smile. “Reporting in to the Hokage.” He knew he was being short on the guards, but he was tired after the extended mission and couldn’t wait to get this over with. When he was finally let in, the woman took one look at him before ordering the guard out and making sure no one else was in the room. “You’re back.”

He glanced down, not meeting her eyes. “I’ll write out my mission report and get it to you tonight. I just had to let you know I was here in one piece.” He fidgeted, watching the walls and glancing occasionally at the window across from him. Tired as he was, energy swirled tight in him and he just wanted to go home, where it was safe and he was alone….

“He’s bothering you again, isn’t he?” The concerned voice brought him back to the room. Noticing he must have missed something in the conversation, he shrugged. “Sorry. I’m tired. What was it?”

“He’s bugging you again, isn’t he? Like he has for a while now.” A knowing look filled Tsunade’s eyes as she observed the complex ninja before her. Only this boy- no, he was no longer really a boy- could be considered like one of her own. Blue eyes lifted to finally look at her, and she caught the haunting edge of red that almost constantly tainted the orbs. “I want a full mission report, and then I want you in here tomorrow to get your seal checked. I won’t risk you losing control of him.”

He lifted his head, an almost snarling face smoothing into a smile. “No more than he ever has, Granny Tsunade. It may be hell to keep the balance, but I can’t let him loose either.”

She was unconvinced but waved him out. “Get some sleep, Naruto. Settle him down and write your report. After that, we’ll talk again.”

“And my next mission?” The half- dead voice unnerved her. “You’ve been gone for well over a month. I’ll give you what down time I can, ok? Nothing for at least a week.”

He blinked, and when he peered back at her, the red was more intense but nothing else had changed. “I need to go. Thanks.” He bowed, and a second later a small puff of smoke showed where he’d ported out of her room. Knowing she couldn’t really help him at this point unless the fox demon tried to fully emerge, she tried to get back into her duties as Hokage. She just had lots of worries about the boy.

Naruto sat down heavily onto the head of the fourth Hokage. The mountain provided a great view of the village, and as he watched the village he turned his mind inward, into the dusky tunnel of his mind. “You’re not usually this active, Kyuubi, unless we’re in battle. Why are you awake like this, right now? This is our safe zone.”

The heat and red fur peered out between the bars. “This is your safe zone, kit. And some scents here have changed.” The awareness the fox had poured over the vessel and suddenly Naruto was sharing the fox’s sensitivity, scent and hearing soaring above anything he had normally. “There is something here that smells… weaker. This scent is a prey scent, carefully masked. I am not yet sure who it is, but it had to be one of the ninja. It is strong enough in the village but even more potent in that thing you call her office. It is not the woman, but someone who has seen her a lot recently.”

Naruto inhaled the scents of the village. There was the overwhelming smells of humans, but also the dirt, the trees… he focused toward the area Kiba lived in. The Inuzuka clan’s smell should be easy for this nose, he figured, and after a moment of focusing, he caught the pungent odor of canine. It was not unlike the fox’s own scent. “Your friend isn’t there. I don’t think he’s even in town, his scent is very weak.” He sniffed the air for several more moments, easily catching the tainted scent Sasuke gave off from his time with the snake- sannin. He was bounced forcefully to himself as a dry, strange smell flooded his senses and he heard footsteps behind him. He turned, trying to coax his iris to turn away from the red orbs he knew he’d have from sharing that connection with the fox. Shino stood a short distance away, face expressionless as ever. He made a mental note as to the scent likely belonging to the ninja’s bugs and rose to greet his friend.

“Hey Shino. Ya need anything?” The grin plastered itself on with ease but he was much subdued than normal. He’d grown up over the last couple years and the happenings of the last few months had calmed him tremendously, and with the stress of the last month, he didn’t have the energy right now. He noted the other boy’s head shake.

“You should check on your friends occasionally, you know.”

He could barely stop the growl in his throat from becoming heard. “Sorry. But I was on an extended mission. Couldn’t exactly stop to say hi when I’m not here, can I?” He felt the slide of Kyuubi within his mind and forced himself to get under control. There was no way he’d risk Tsunade kicking him out or planting permanent guards on him. She would do it in an instant if she only realized how much freedom the other got.

Shino walked to him, stopping right outside his personal space. “Your chakra betrays you, Naruto. My bugs tell me that you are radiating the demon’s chakra yet you’re holding it just within check so that I can’t see it.” Watching the red star-burst form behind a changing pupil he shrugged. “Just watch yourself. I won’t say anything now, but don’t dare let it get out of control. I’d hate to be among those hunting you down.” He turned away and as he held his hands up to start a jutsu, he called back. “Go see your friends, Naruto,” then disappeared.

Naruto spent a long minute getting himself under control before heading home to write his report and getting some sleep. He’d visit his friends tomorrow.