Archive of Our Own

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So I'm just putting in some details that you may need to know to understand the story a little bit, nothing big just some HC's and basic information like ANBU names, skills, and Rank. Also If I misspell something please tell so I can fix it.
Gaara didn't lose Shikku, instead they bonded and gained a better relationship. he is also the Kazekage.Naruto has relied on Kurama since he was two and Kurama has basically raised Naruto since then.Naruto has Fox summons and one of the elders names is Tanaka, she sees Naruto as a kit and has had a big part raising him as well, also one of the only beings he respects and listens to, the others are Kurama, Jiraya, Gaara, and Tsunade.No one but the people mentioned above know that Naruto is in ANBU and that he's an ANBU commander, he is also very smart, like on par with Shikamaru, but hid behind walls to mask how he truly felt about everything, after all a dumb demon is better then a smart one in the villagers' eyes.Sasuke never ran away instead Naruto convinced him to stay, and he learned the truth about the Uchaia Massacre. Naruto also has known about his parents since he was around four and most of the village secrets, for example he knew about the Massacre before it happened.Has been in the ANBU the longest.

look at the tags for the ships in the story so far, If you have any recommendations please tell me.Naruto: Fox, Captain, EverythingShikumaru: Deer, Lieutenant, strategies and tactics long range attacksNeji: Cat, Lieutenant, hand to hand combat along with strategies and tactics, assassinationsSaskue: Raven, Lieutenant, assassinations and weaponsShino: Bug,  Lieutenant, intelligence gathering, long range, as well as short range, and trackingSakura: Slug, standard, Medic and strengthChoji: Bee, Standard, hand to hand combat, medic in trainingHinata: Mouse, Standard, Medic, intelligence gathering, hand to hand combat, trapsIno: Pig, Standard, Medic as well as torture and interrogation, trapsKiba: Wolf, standard, tracking, intelligence gathering assassinationsLee: Lion, Standard, hand to hand combat, distracting.Tenten: Bear, standard, Weapons, hand to hand combat, short and long range attacks, and trapsI originally wasn't going to have Lee and Tenten here, but I wanted an equal amount for each house. They are to watch over ALL of Hogwarts, as well as Harry and the other order kids as well.It's mainly going to be the English way an example is:Shadow clone Justu, and not writing the kage no bushin, I think it's called. I will be writing things to the way I understand them.One last time If I do misspell something, please tell me so I can correct it please.Last is that like before only the select few know about Kurama.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Third Person
The Hokage was sitting in her chair looking out the window when she saw a bird come flying in. Birds delivering messages weren't uncommon in Konoha but Tsunade was surprised to see this one. Normally owls didn't come to her windowShe read the letter and was shocked to see that it was a letter from a friend of her late master, the third Hokage.At that moment her top ANBU since he was 12 walked in.He was wearing a fox mask and was turning in his mission report, "I have finished my mission. The target has been taken care of and is in the T&I department with Ibiki.""And the others that were with him?" She asked."I was told to only not harm the main target; I was notified that the others tasted delicious," he told her.She knew what that meant. It meant that Naruto, or Fox, fed them to Kurama, the nine-tailed beast.She sighed and looked at the message again."I have a mission for you. I will explain once I call in a team for you, and Naruto please tell them who you are, they deserve to know," she asked him with a pleading look on her face."I'm sorry Lady Hokage, but I'd rather not reveal that information to them," he said as his team entered. Naruto knew who they were, of course he did, but they didn't even have a guess as to who he was."Alright I have a mission for you. An old friend of the Third's requested it of us. His name is Dumbledore and he is the Headmaster for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He wants our best ANBU team to watch over it for the year and make sure nothing bad happens. He also wants you to pay special close attention to what he wrote about Order kids. I'm sure it will be explained in better detail when you arrive," she told them."If I may, who will be leading this mission?" Cat asked, looking around the room and noticing Fox was there.“As captain, Fox will be in charge. Deer is your second, Cat third, and Raven fourth," she answered."Why is there a fourth in charge? Shouldn’t it only go up to three?" Raven asked her, confused."Typically yes, but this is a year long mission, therefore if someone has to come back or the team gets separated happens there is a back up," Deer explained to him."Are you sure I have to go on a year long mission? There isn't a higher ranking one I could go on?" Fox asked her with a calm voice, but she understood the message. I don't want to be stuck with them for a whole year and are you sure it's a good idea to have all of your best people out for that long."Yes, I'm sure. You have your two normal days off Fox to go to Suna and do whatever it is you do, so you don't have to worry about that," she told him making everyone else curious as to what he did [in suna]."Why does he get two days off?" Wolf half yelled."Because he takes SSS-ranked missions back to back and never asks for a break except for the two days I grant him," She growled back."When are we to leave?" Fox asked her."You are to leave in two days," she told him as he nodded."You are to meet me at the gate two hours before sunrise. If you miss the time, then you will be left behind," Fox informed his team, before disappearing in blaze of fire."What's with that guy?" Wolf asked."Look, I have a side mission for you guys as well. Fox is to not know about this," she told them while glaring at them."What is it? Is he giving out information about us to the other villages?" Raven asked."No, only Suna, but that's not what this is about. I already told him he could tell them everything, they are his therapist basically. No, what I need you guys to do is try to find out what's wrong with him. Look into his eyes long and deep enough and you'll see that he acts like a robot. It's like he takes mission after mission until he dies," she explained with a sad look in her face."So he's suicidal?" Slug asked confused."With the kind of missions he takes and how he deals with them, I bet, but no. It's like he wants to die, but he doesn't plan on going down easy. Everything he does is for the sake of the village, but the amount of people he lets in is so small. If I'm correct, including myself only five people know who he truly is and out of those five he has only let his walls down around three. I'm not one of them," she told them."Why don't you just order him to tell you what's wrong?" Bee asked."I would never use my position to betray his trust like that. Oh, there’s also some things you need to know before going on a mission with Fox, especially a long-term one," she said."Like his name and who he is." Bug stated her with no emotion."No, he doesn't want anyone to know that information. You can go ahead and try to find out, I wish you good luck, but no, you need to know about his quirks and things like that," she said getting out his file from her main drawer, "She's looked at the file so much she'd rather keep it close at hand than have to ask for/retrieve it every time she wanted to see it."He has the fox summons, and they are able to call upon his chakra to come whenever they want. They practically raised him. If you see him zoned or dazed out don't do anything; he might kill you. If you hear him mumbling don't even ask, as he does that to himself a lot as well. Don't try to force him to sleep; it won't be pleasant. Never question his skills or why he's captain. He's not afraid to put you in your place and believe me he can. He has a pen pal in Suna, so if a fox comes to you with a message for him, I recommended not reading it as the last person that did that can't remember who he is and was hanging by his ankles for 48 hours upside-down. Last is his strengths and weaknesses. Strengths: Everything. Weaknesses: None," she informed them. Hearing this they were shocked."What do you mean everything and none?" Lion asked."Exactly that. He has never shown a weakness when he has his mask on and he is good at everything. Oh! I almost forgot. If he mentions anything about humans tasting good don't try to do anything about it. Especially if he tosses a body part in the air for a fox named Kurama to get it. With that I wish you the best of luck on the mission," she said dismissing them. They all exited in a swirl of leaves except for one."What are you still doing here Shikamaru? I told you everything," she asked him as he took off the mask."I want a copy of Fox's file. You can take off the description of him and his name, anything related to his identity. I just want to go through everything we learned about," he said her.She complied and copied his file, making sure there was nothing pertaining to his identity on it. His name description of his face, even his picture, was removed and replaced with one of him in his ANBU mask as both male and female."Lady Hokage there’s a mistake, there are two Foxes here," he told her pointing it out."Nope, that's Fox. You'll understand after being around him enough," she said.Confuse but knowing he wouldn’t get anything more out of her he disappeared... like the others and reappeared at the Uchiha compound.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Third Person
They were all at the Uchiha compound getting ready for their mission and going over what they just learned."What the hell is this side mission about?" Ino yelled as she took off her mask."It makes no sense why we have to watch out for our captain," Lee said.At that moment Shikamaru came in with a file in his hand. "I have all the information on Fox besides his name and what he looks like here. This is to be the only copy. You are to not tell him we have this," he explained holding out a scroll."Anyways, we should hurry up and get ready. Maybe we can have some time left over to hang out with Naruto," Sasuke told them.They all agreed and got ready. Once done they sent Sasuke and Sakura to go out and get Naruto from his apartment.They knocked but received no answer. "Where is he?" Sakura asked."Maybe he's asleep," Sasuke told her as they went in to search for him. They didn't see him and decided that he would most likely be training. With that in mind they left to go and find him.They searched everywhere and finally found him at training ground seven. Naruto was training in his ANBU style, but sensed the two coming and acted like the dead last once again."Hey Naruto," Sakura yelled as she waved to him."C'mon dobe we're all meeting at Ichiraku's for a get together," Sasuke said, grabbing his arm."Nah, you guys go ahead, I'll be fine here," he told them.The two exchanged a look. This has been going on for a while now. It was like a shell of the Naruto they once knew. The old one gone and replaced with this new one."No way are you getting out of this. We're all going on a long mission in two days and we want to spend this time together," Sakura told him dragging him.Naruto just put on a smile and went along with it.
Naruto's Pov

Kit, you should at least pretend to smile.
"Isn't that worse than actually smiling?" I asked him as I sat down at the bar waiting for some ramen with the others.
Kit, you're making them worry. If you don't want them to find out then you have to act like your having a good time, but if it was up to me I would tell them that you're Fox.
"No way, that would only end in disaster. I'm the dead last remember. They don't even think I'm in ANBU, much less a captain," I told him as I threw on that fake smile that everyone always believed in since I was four.After all a dumb demon is better than a smart demon because a smart demon is a dead demon, at least that's my motto.Everyone was smiling and I was trying to get the mission info out of them, and even though they knew that they weren't supposed to say anything they still gave out tiny little bits of information. How much more of an idiotic team could I get.
Don't blame them, Kit. They see you as a friend. They don't want to keep anything from you. You should do the same. It would be good for you.
"I do talk to people. I have Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro, remember," I told him.
Ah yes. Your drinking bud and his siblings. How could I forget?
"No need to be sarcastic."Pay attention, they're talking to you."Naruto!" Tenten said while looking at me."I'm sorry I must have zoned out," I told her scratching the back of my head with that stupid smile on my face.She sighed and looked at me. "I said that Neji, Lee, and I gotta go. We have to get ready for this new mission. We were wondering if you wanted us to walk home with you, or if you wanted to wait for someone else," she asked nicely."Yes, our Spirit of Youth must let us see Naruto home!" Lee said with fire in his eyes."Listen you guys, go on ahead. I was planning on meeting up with Jiraiya for a few minutes. He wanted to talk to me about something," I told them, getting up and walking the opposite direction from them.Once I was sure I was out of sight I went to where the pervy sage was waiting for me."You can't keep lying to them. They're going to find out that you faked everything sooner or later, especially with that year long mission," he told me."I didn't plan on letting my guard down one bit to them. They can try, but they're not going to know it's me," I told him with a serious expression."Naruto, you need friends in your life. They can help you," he said as he grabbed my shoulder. I could see worry in his eyes."I have friends," I told him taking his arm off of my shoulder."You and Gaara are very similar, I can admit that, but you need to have someone here. We let you tell them everything because you help keep our peace with Suna. In reality we don't know how you do it, but we thank you for it," he said looking down."You want to know what I do to keep peace with Suna on my trips once a year?" I asked him.He looked his head up in surprise; I couldn't blame him, I barely tell him or anyone but Tanka, Kurama, and Garra anything. "We get Temari and Kankuro to buy us a bunch of alcohol and we get so wasted that we need to be careful the next day to not punch or kill anyone because we are so hungover, then we send messages the rest of the year," I told him.That's when I saw him smile. Why is he smiling? shouldn't he be worried?
He is happy that you are still able to have fun. You should do it more often, or you might actually kill yourself.
"Humans confuse me," I told him and Kurama.With that he busted out laughing and told me that he would see me later to drop off one of his books.They may be for pervs, but they really are good.
It's also porn.
"Yes, it is porn, but it's actually good porn and not something that is just made out of thin air," I told him laughing as we got home to prepare for the mission.
XXX TWO DAYS LATER XXX

Third Person
All of the ANBU were there except for Fox. He was five minutes late. and they were still wondering where he was, except for Raven, Deer, Cat, and Bug. They sensed him hiding in the tree above them. If they thought about it he wasn't even trying to mask his presence, just waiting for them to notice him.Also one ANBU was late, Lion. They thought that must of been why he hid. A minute passed and Lion finally showed up. When he did they were all surprised when they saw Fox jump down and kick him in the gut."I was told that I was not allowed to leave anyone behind, so instead you took one of my standard punishments. Don't be late again," Fox told him with a glare."That's unfair. You were late as well," Wolf shouted at him."Troublesome. No, he wasn't. He was hiding in the tree above us," Deer told him."You have a nose Wolf, I suggest you use it. Now grab hold of the boot, it will take us to our destination," Fox told them as they all grabbed on and disappeared.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Third Person

It was the next morning, and all of the ninja's were dressed and having a meeting in the girls room. Fox stood up in front of the other ANBU as they sat around in a messed up circle.

"I have talked to Dumbledore. We will be going undercover in Hogwarts. He mentioned that the school and the government are not on good terms at the moment and that it would be better for everyone if that would happen. You are given a choice on if you want to reveal yourselves at breakfast, or if you want to wait until the day before school," Fox informed them.

As one the group, well everyone but Fox, agreed to go down to breakfast with their mask on and formally introduce themselves so that way the wizards would know who they were, the masked figures from the night before. "What about you Fox. Will they get to know who you are?" Slug asked him.

"No, but I will be taking off my mask," he told them as they saw him henge. They couldn't really tell a difference just that he now had red hair and that it was long. They were all wondering who the person that Fox turned into is.

"I thought Tsunade informed you," Fox told them as he saw their confused faces. He sighed and mumbled to himself, "She goes through all of this trouble to inform them of all this information but forgets to mention the slightest details."

Naruto's Pov

"I don't reveal my face to anyone, but a certain few," I told them, not wanting to go into any deep explanations this early in the morning.

Maybe it's because you decided to not go to sleep and instead did the exact thing that I told you not to do and eat a soldier pill.

'Stop nagging me would you.'

I wouldn't have to nag you if you listened to me in the first place.

'I got it. I got it,’ I told him as we all walked down to the dining room.

Third Person

Once all of the ninjas were downstairs in the dining room they noticed that all the kids and some of the adults, but not all, were there. The adults included Sirius, both Weasleys, and Lupin.

All of the wizards took notice of the ninjas just standing there. Once Naruto felt like the rest of the ANBU were ready he got the wizards attention.

"I am sorry to disturb your breakfast, but Dumbledore and I discussed that the best possible way to guard and watch over the school is for us to go undercover as students. In order to do this I have given my men and women permission to either take off their mask and show you their true faces, or to henge into someone else," Naruto informed them.

He saw Lupin raise his hand and already respected the man for remembering his rules from last night. "Yes, Lupin," Fox asked him.

"If I may, who are you? You weren't with the group that came here last night," Lupin asked Fox.

"I am Fox. I henged into a dear friend of mine as I don't want to share my face. My comrades however have agreed to show their faces to you. They decided as a group that they should wear their mask before revealing themselves to you as a way for you to get a hang on fo who is who," Fox explained. "With that said we will once again go around and do introductions, but this time we will state our codename and our actual name if we would like to. I'll go first. You may call me Rama, also known as Fox."

"Troublesome. Deer, also known as Shikumaru Nara."

The next one sighed, then said, "Cat or Neji Huuyga,"

"Tch. Saskue Uchaia or Raven as you have known me."

"Shino Aburame. Bug," Shino explained in very little words.

The next one was when it started to get different. Bee got out a bag of chips and started to much on them as soon as he took off his mask. "Names Choji Akimichi, or well Bee as I told you last night."

"M-My name's H-Hinata Huugya. I'm M-Mouse," the girl with the long bluish hair stuttered out.

"I'm Slug, or as you will get to know me as Sakura," a girl with bubblegum pink hair said.

"Thanks to the Spirit of Youth you may call me Rock Lee! I am also known as Lion," a guy with big bushy eyebrows said with a fiery passion.

"I'm Pig, but you can call me Ino," a girl with long blond hair said.

"I'm Kiba, also known as Dog, and this here is Akumaru," said the one with tattoos on his face.

"I'm Konaha's weapon mistress Tenten, but I introduced myself as Bear," she had her hair in two buns.

Once everyone was fully out of their mask Mrs. Weasley started to panic. "How old are all of you? My, you most of you look like you'll be going to your last year of Hogwarts! Please tell me that Dumbledore did not hire children," she was walking back and forth waving a rag around to help calm her nerves in her rant.

Naruto stepped in front of her and stopped her to explain, "We are all between the ages of 17-19. I can assure you that where we come from we are full fledged adults, we are not children."

"Now that that's been takin care of, would you mind if we had something to eat," Fox asked the people in the room. With that all of the ninjas, order members, and school kids began to eat their breakfast.

As they ate Fox could feel the eyes of the bushy haired girl, ‘Granger, Hermione,’ he reminded himself. He set his small bowl of food down and looked up at her. “You have questions,” Naruto stated, more than asked.

“Plenty,” she stated plainly. “What does hengeing mean? You said that all of you are between 17-19, how old are you exactly? How do you plan on watching over Harry at the trial? As you’ve said you’re ninjas, not wizards. How can the fox that you showed us last night talk?” Her mouth was running with no sign of stopping until Naruto put his hand up to stop her.

Naruto’s Pov

“I don’t have to tell you my age. Unless it is required of the mission I don’t have to give you any details. I plan on sending my two best ANBU who specialize in gathering intelligence along with my standard one. Mouse, Wolf, Bear, that’s you. The fox, as you have taken to calling him, has a name. Max is a summon fox. He’s not a normal everyday fox and his purpose is to help me do my missions and make sure they go successful,” I told her. It would hopefully enough to satisfy her curiosity for now.

You know that Max’s main purpose in life isn’t to help you complete your missions right?

‘Of course I do. His main purpose is to live his life to the fullest, but they don’t need to know anything about Max than what he tells them.’

We really need to work on your trust issues kit. When did they get so bad that you can’t trust the people you call friends?

‘Please, I lost my trust issues around the fourth house break in and was left in an alley for dead. You saved me remember. That was when I met you and you have taken care of me since then, and like I said they’re not my friends’.

They are too your friends. The sooner you realize that the sooner you’ll realize that not everyone out there is bad.

‘Can we talk about this later? I think they know that I’m not listening’

As Kurama and I finished our conversation I heard Sirius shout at my frie-comrades. They’re not my friends.

“Look at that! Your captain isn’t even paying attention to what’s going on around him.”

“I don’t need to know what’s going on around me to do my job. A good ninja might pay attention, but a great ninja knows how to adapt to their settings,” I told him firmly.

“Then I suppose you can answer my question,” Sirius asked me looking smug.

I could already tell that his question had to be about Harry. Every question this man has given me has been about the little brat. Going with the fact that the brat has a trial soon and every one here thinks that someone might kill him if he takes a foot outside. I just added up the facts.

“I do not possess the information that you want. How Harry is protected at his trial is up to Mouse, Wolf, and Bear,” I told him seeing his surprised expression.

“U-m F-f-fox sir. Ya-you, don’t have to call us by our codenames. We took off our masks and told everyone our names,” she said to him, getting braver as she spoke to him more. All she got was a glare in return.

Later that day Harry, along with Mr. Weasley and the three bodyguards, were ready to walk out the door to Harry’s trial. The resulting trial reminded Mouse, Wolf, and Bear why ninjas hated politics so much.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Third Person

Right, when Harry walked into the headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix, the ninjas, and Mr. Weasley not far behind, he received a big shock as everyone surprised him, but one redheaded ninja.

Harry smiled as he saw the sight, ‘I was going back to Hogwarts,’ Harry thought. His peace didn’t last long as Fred and George dragged him away chanting “He won. He won. He won.”

Naruto made a gesture and not a second later Tenten, Kiba, and Hinata was with him in a private room to discuss how the meeting went.

“We got in the elevator with Harry and Arthur, but as we did Kingsley leaned in and informed us that his trial time has changed. We were able to get Harry and Arthur there on time, but it seemed to be planned. The trial was going horrible, but Dumbledore showed up to defend Harry. Turns out the time change was done on purpose to get Dumbledore out of there. Thanks to him Harry will be going to Hogwarts for at least another year,” Tenten told their fearless leader.

“Anyone, we have to watch out for that you noticed?” Fox asked.

“A woman in pink. Her name is Dolores Umbridge. We had a suspicion, so we sent Hinata ahead to talk to Dumbledore about her and she is going to be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts this year,” Kiba told him.

“What happened to the last one?” Fox asked.

“The last one was a dark wizard disguised as a teacher, that’s why Dumbledore hired us this year. The one before that was the best yet, he was Lupin, but he’s a werewolf and his parents didn’t like that. Before Lupin it was an idiot who only knew a forgetting spell. The one before him was part of Voldemort’s crew and had the guy on the back of his head,” Hinata told him firmly. Something about her personality switched when the mission really started to move.

“Once everyone is asleep we will have a meeting to discuss what to do about Umbridge and the rest of this mission. For now, keep an eye on Harry and the rest of the house,” Fox told them and he could see small smiles as they joined the party.

First Person

You let them go on purpose.

‘I have no idea what you’re talking about. The mission is to watch over the people in this house; That’s what they’re doing.’

Whatever helps you sleep at night Kit.

‘Stupid old fox.’

The party was going well for everyone. It was a while later when Mrs. Weasley left for upstairs, but I wasn't really worried. She seemed to be a busy woman. Always trying to do everything herself. She reminds me of Tanaka.

“AAAAAHHHHH.”

That scream was from upstairs. I rushed to get there and when I did I saw Mrs. Weasley on her knees crying. Surrounding her were (what I suspect) all her children around her dead including her husband, Hermione, and Harry. It was weird when I know for a fact that those people are downstairs having a good time.

'Rama what is this?”’ I asked the old fox, hoping he has an answer.

I have no idea, but you best get her out of there.

With that said I grabbed Mrs. Weasley and put her behind me when suddenly the thing changed shape and my eyes widened as I saw it.

There right in front of him are Tsunade and Jiraiya. “I never should have trained you,” his godfather said to him with a look of hatred in his eyes. “You were a disappointment from the start. You always relied on the foxes, guess you're too weak to handle things on your own.”

This is bad. This is really bad. Jiraiya wouldn't say those things to him. . .unless they were true.

Kit ignore him. This isn't real.

Before I could respond Tsunade took one look at me and sneered in disgust. “You really are a disappointment. With how long it took you to learn medical ninjutsu it wouldn't surprise me. Those old coots were right. You are just a tool for the village. You should be locked up for what you did to this village. You're a demon always have and always will be.” I fell to my knees. I can't believe that my own grandmother would tell me that. I guess it is true. I hugged my arms to my chest trying to push the feelings away, but all too soon Garra appeared. He looked down at me with those eyes that had caused so much death.

“You actually thought that we were friends. I hate to tell you this. No. . . I take great joy in it actually, but demons like us. We don't get to have friends. We are just here to be used and thrown away,” Gaara said. It must be true, Gaara has never lied to me before. Why would he now?

I could hear Kurama trying to talk to me, but his voice wasn't going through.

Tanka and Max appeared and a small smile graced my lips as I saw my family. “We should've never let you sign our contract. All you've ever done is cause us trouble. You put our kits in danger and act like you're one of us,” each word Tanaka said hurt more and more than the next. “Never use our contract again,” Max said as the two vanished in a puff of smoke.

Then Kurama shows up in all of his fox glory. “You were never like my son. You were only a means to an end. You broke my seal and let me go free. That's all that you were useful for. I used you to escape and get free and now I don't have to ever think about you again.”

“Rama,” I whispered to him as I tried to reach out for him. He clawed at my arm and looked like he was about to ounce me when suddenly he was turned into a full moon and it popped like a blown and flew around.

“Fox can you hear me?” the man who stepped in asked.

First Person Shikamaru

By the time the boggart changed to Jiraya, I was already there and ready to help fight alongside my captain, but I didn't know how to. All I could do was stare surprised at him as he looked to be in shock. I decided to wait until the wizards got here in hope of them fighting off this creature.

As I was waiting I couldn't help but overhear what was being said. Especially as Jiraiya changed to Tsunade and Tsunade changed to Gaara. It wasn't much longer when the wizards got in here, but they seemed to be shocked as well like they didn't know what to do.

Well, this is just great.

I mean I'm getting information on who Fox is, but this wasn't the way I wanted to get it. Maybe we'll be able to help him after all this goes down since we got all this new information.

Suddenly the thing changed into an orange, reddish fox and I could hear Fox whisper a name. It sounded like Rama. This is the friend that Fox henged into. My eyes widened in surprise. Rama was about to sink his claws in Naruto when suddenly Lupin jumped in front of him and things changed from Rama to a full moon.

Once we were free of the thing all the wizards and a few ninjas who were there were trying to get Rama to speak.

“Fox. Captain,” when he didn't reply to me I started to get worried. It feels like this should be too much work, but at the same time, it has to be worth it. There's a reason Tsunade made this team as she did. I want to know what that reason is.

It took about five minutes and then he opened his mouth as his eyes look into mine, “Shikamaru,” he whispered as he looked at me. My eyes widened I know that voice. That was a soft voice that I heard before Where did I hear that voice?

“I'm here Fox,” I told him as I helped him up. Lupin handed me some chocolate and said he should eat. I could see Sasuke following me, knowing he was there for at least half of it.

Fox was gnawing at the chocolate slowly as I laid him down in a bed and called a meeting for everyone in the other room that the guys were staying in.

I told them about what I saw until Sasuke took over and I took out Fox's file. I'm missing something. I know I am. What do we know about him? He has blonde hair. Only a certain few know who he is. He's friends with Gaara. That's it. That's it. I didn't realize I started chanting the phrase until the others asked if I was okay.

I waved them off with an I'm fine. I'm going to have to have a chat with him about this, but not yet. I need more evidence. I have to be sure about this.

Third Person

After the ninjas left two of them carrying their captain the golden trio made their way into an empty room.

“What the bloody hell was that,” Ron asked.

“Fox didn't know what a boggart was and all his fears gathered around him. He had to confront all of his biggest fears,” Hermione explained.

“That was brutal,” Ron said as he looked toward Harry.

“I don't think having a bodyguard is going to work if a simple boggart can take him down,” Harry said as the two boys high five and Hermione rolled her eyes.

“They are still new to the wizarding world. This must have been his first time seeing a magical creature. You should give them a chance. Maybe they can help us in the end,” Hermione told the two boys as they looked at her with disbelief.

First Person

Once I hit the bed and finished the chocolate that was stuffed in my mouth I had to sleep. Only problem was that I couldn't.

kit you need rest.

'What if what was said is true?’

It's not. Just please go to sleep.

'After I send off a few messages.’

With that said I got out of bed and got out a few things on paper so I could start writing.

Dear Tsunade,

Do you ever regret not listening to the elders when they insisted on locking me up, keeping me inside the village? Do you regret teaching me medical ninjutsu? Am I a disappointment to you? I'm sorry for the emotional questions. It's just that I have to be sure of something and then I'll explain later when I send my mission report.

Naruto

Dear Jiraiya,

Do you ever regret training me? I know you were surprised when I already had a lot of training done thanks to the foxes, but do you ever just regret coming back to the village for me because the third asked you to. I know you don't like being soft on me, but you’re my godfather and I really need to know the answer to these questions. You can ask Tsunade about the why when she gets my mission report.

Naruto

Dear Gaara,

Sorry I haven't written a message in a while. I've been cooped up on a mission. Just something happened and Kurama is trying to get me to sleep, but I can't until I send this out to you. This way I'll at least know that I'm getting some answers. Do you ever regret becoming my friend? I don't regret saving you or helping you become a kage. I mean you’re the leader of the Sand village, which is awesome for you by the way. Just was it a mistake to become friends with me? Aren't we demons who deserve no friends? Isn't our only purpose to be used and then thrown away? I'm sorry. It's just that I really need to know these answers

Naruto

I sighed as I finished writing the last letter. Now I just need to send them out and talk to Tanaka. I made the signs with my fingers as I summoned two foxes. One was Tanaka and the other was Ruffel.

“There's a reason we're both here,” Tanaka said as she looked at me with a knowing smile. She knew something was wrong.

“Yeah. I have to talk to you about something, but first, Ruffle can you take these to Gaara, Tsunade, and Jiraiya please?” I asked him as I rolled each letter separately and tied them with some string. Ruffle shook his head as I put the three letters in the collar on his neck.

He went away in a puff of smoke as Tanaka looked at me. “Now the reason you called me here.”

“Do you regret letting me sign the fox contract?”

“My boy. Where is this coming from? I will admit when you were younger some of us did have our doubts. We let you sign because Kurama vouched for you and all, but as you got older and we saw the young man that you grew up to be we all knew that we had made the right decision. We all love you very much, even if you don't love yourself enough.”

“I- yeah thanks, Mama. I better go to sleep before Rama knocks me out,” I told her as I lay down in the bed. I instantly fell asleep feeling much better today and that I was going to get some answered questions.

Even in my sleep, I could feel Tanaka cover me up in the blankets to keep me warm and Rama keeping my henge up to make me feel secure.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

First Person (Shikamaru)
I walked into the room that we put Fox in and saw him sleeping peacefully; it must be good for him. He's one of those who thinks that he needs no one. That he can do everything himself, but he needs support.I sighed as I sat down next to his bed. Guess I'll have to wait until he gets up. I put my hands in my lap as I closed my eyes to think.Gaara isn't known for having friends. In fact he is known for only one friend who is a blonde loud mouth, but now we know that he has two friends that are blonde with two very different personalities. Either Gaara has a thing for blondes or my assumption is correct.
XXXXTIMESKIPXXXX
A few hours passed when Fox slowly started to wake up; I did my part in making sure that no one bothered him.“Rama what time is it?” he asked aloud as he sat up and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.He turned his head to look at me and he looked surprised.“Deer what are you doing here?” Fox asked me, most likely trying to cover up what he just did.“Me and you need to have a little talk,” I told him as his face grew serious. “What about?” he asked me.“You know this whole mission is just troublesome right,” I told him as I laid down on the floor. “First an overpowered team with our villages best ANBU get sent on a year long mission across the world to a place we have never heard of, then we have to babysit our captain who is known for his suicidal tendencies. Next, we don't even get to know who he is under the mask.So far that's only three things and the official mission hasn't even started yet,” I said. As I was speaking I could tell that he was becoming more confused.“Do you have a point to get to,” he asked and I could tell he was getting worried. “Well why would the Hokage give us permission to investigate her most trusted and skilled ANBU who we have never met, unless of course we have met him before. Several times. In fact we have met him so many times that he went to school with us and became our friend. When we asked if he made ANBU like the rest of he responded with no, but that wasn't because you didn't make ANBU. No, it was because you've been in ANBU for a lot longer than anyone thought. Isn't that right Naruto,” I finished my speech by sitting up and glaring at him as I said his name and the look he gave in return was one of surprise.He brought up his hand to sign two fingers as he said release and he appeared in his fox uniform with his mask on. He lifted up his hand to take off his mask and when he did, I could see a sad smile on his face as I was proven right.“How'd you find out?” he asked me.“Mostly from the thing that appeared last night. He showed Gaara and that he was never friends with you, but for that to happen he would need to at least pretend to be friends with you. I came to the conclusion that either Gaara has a thing for blondes or the ones were two very different people with the same face,” I explained to him.“You're not going to tell anyone. Right,” he asked me.“No. No matter how troublesome it is, I won't tell, but you have a hell of a lot of explaining to do,” I told him.“What do you wanna know?” he asked.“Who's Rama?” I started off with an easy question.“I’d rather not say,” Fox now Naruto said as he put a hand against his stomach.“The foxes.”“Raised me to be one of their own. I would’ve died if it wasn't for them,” he explained. “One more for now, then we have to start the day,” he said with authority that I'm not used to seeing on his face, but couldn't help but to agree with.“Are you trying to kill yourself by going on these dangerous missions?” I asked and I could see the stern features on his face as he thought of an answer.“I don't know anymore,” he said as he looked down, but he looked so heartbroken as he said it that I couldn’t think of a response. “Well are you coming?” he asked me as he appeared near the door, fox mask on as he bought up two fingers and put up his henge again.
First Person Fox Pov
'Happy now that someone knows?’ I asked Kurama as we walked towards the kitchen; it is almost time for breakfast.No. I told you to tell them. It’s different when they figure it out on their own. It gives a different effect,” Kurama said and I could tell he was lowering his head while shaking it.‘What different effects. Either way they find out. Right?’ I asked him as I heard him sigh.“No Naruto, it does not have the same effect. If they find out you might lose the only friends you have”“THEY’RE NOT MY FRIENDS!” I screamed aloud by accident, too into the conversation to notice that I was in the dining room. It was only when someone cleared their throat that I looked up to see everyone staring at me. “WHAT!” I barked at them.Almost immediately they all looked down at their food and continued to eat.I sighed as I sat down next to Lupin and grabbed a piece of toast to munch on slowly. “I'm sorry. Last night has messed me up a little,” I apologized as they all looked at me in surprise. “What?” I asked generally confused.“N-nothing,” Hinata answers for everyone as they all go back to eating.
“Are you sure that they’re not your friends.”
‘Yes, I'm positive,’ I tell him sternly.
“Naruto do me a favor and just think about what a friend is. Think of this as a type of training. I'll get back to you at the end of the day.”
“Stupid old fox,” I mumble quietly under my breath.Suddenly Ruffle poofed into the air and tied around his neck were three letters. I could feel my face light up as I took the letters off of his neck.“Thanks Ruffle. I don't have any treats on me, but remind me later and I'll be sure to give you something,” I say as I scratch his ear.He poof's out as I opened Tsunade's letter first.Naruto,I will never regret not listening to those old cows. They need to get off their high horse and realize that they do not run this village. They are advisors and are there for advice when no one wants it. I could never regret teaching you medical ninjutsu. The Third liked to send you on teams with no medic when one wasn't available. I can't do that to my grandson. To answer your question, no, I do not regret teaching you how to be prepared and take care of yourself on a high raining mission. Naruto I'm starting to be worried about these questions, but if you say you'll explain everything in the report I believe you, but no. You are not a disappointment. I want that mission report before you leave for Hogwarts. Don't turn it in late.I mean it Naruto!TsunadeNarutoKid what have you been drinking that makes you think I regret teaching you or training you. Tsunade must be right in that these high rank missions are going to your head. I know I was surprised, but that just made things easier on me and boy am I glad for the foxes that they were able to get you through the basics. No, if it wasn't for my master I would have never been able to meet my grandson all grown up and responsible. I couldn't be more proud of you kid. Kid, I'm your grandfather, well step grandfather actually or did you forget about the whole marrying your grandmother thing?” Damn straight I'm gonna ask Tsunade's about what's up with you. She said that you sent her a really emotional letter and that one is going towards Gaara. I will find out from her what happened, in the meantime here's the next book, to get your feelings up.Jiraiya.I smiled as the note was taped to the book. Man he really can't stop sending me the latest copies can he; at least he's a good writer.Dear Naruto,Do not apologize for the time frame of the message. I am quite aware of your skill shall we call it to get the Hokage to agree to let you go solo on high rank missions. I expect a message from the Hokage with a detailed copy of your mission report to know what happened. Naruto you were and are my first friend. You helped my siblings and I have a better relationship. I wouldn't be a Kage without you. If I ever start saying that we're not friends beat me to a pulp for I have lost my mind. I used to think like that. You changed my mind. Some still think like that, the elders for example, but the ones who truly believe in you think differently. You have no need to be sorry I'm more worried about you and thinking that. Maybe you shouldn't be in this mission if you’re this bad.Waiting for celebration timeGaaraI smile as I put the letters in my weapons pouch. I'll write them later.“Molly what do we have to do for today?” I ask her trying to distract myself from all the emotions I’m feeling from reading the letters.
Third Person
“Well the children and you ninjas need to go to Diagon Alley. You, what seven, need wands and you all need school supplies,” Molly said as she went around the kitchen waving her wand around to clean up the mess that breakfast has made.“Ah, no need for the wands Molly. Dumbledore dropped them off earlier. Said he got them specially made by Ollivander,” Sirius said as he walked towards a cabinet and came back with boxes. Each box had an animal on it that matches each of the ANBU mask. “Said he got Old Ollie to do that to make it easier to tell whose wand would be whose.”The wands got handed out to all of the ninjas as they each opened their boxes to see a stick of fancy wood and take it out to look at them.“Made to channel your 'chakra’ as you call it. Say the spell while channeling chakra through the wand and you would have done magic. Of course the more difficult the spells the harder it will be to do them,” Lupin explained to them. “Don't forget to add the wand movements,” he added as the wizard saw the ninjas take out the wands to examine then carefully.“Well that's one shop off if the list I guess. Oh speaking of the shops we have got to get going soon. Come now children we gave a busy day ahead of us,” Molly said as she bustled around the kitchen to get everyone moving. “Be ready by the door in ten minutes!” She screamed as the wizards went up the stairs, the ninjas following them.“Cat, Slug, Lion mission briefing,” Fox said as he pointed towards an empty room that the four walked in as Naruto closed the door.“Since such a big group is going all of us are going with them to guard, but you three. You are going to be the main three man squad guarding everyone one in this house at the time, even if it is just Sirius. That is all for now. Dismissed,” Fox said and with a wave of his hand they all walked out of the room.It was twenty minutes later when everyone was ready and heading out for Diagon Alley. “Shame the ministry won't lend us cars this year,” Tonks said as the large group walked around London.“With all of this You-Know-Who talk and fight with Dumbledore can you blame them,” Lupin answered her as they came upon a bar with a sign above it that says the Leaky Cauldron.“Right now through the back,” Molly says as she makes sure that large group makes it into Diagon Alley.Once everyone has made it through Lupin and Tonks takes them off to the side in order to formulate a shopping plan.“There’s too many of us to go to each of the shops as one group. We're going to split up into groups of three. Bear and Bug you’re with me. We'll go with Harry, Ron, and Hermione to get potion supplies. Ginny, Fred, and George will be teamed up with Deer, Dog, and Pig to get books. Last will be Lupin, Tonks, and Molly with Raven, Bee, and Mouse to get anything extra that might be needed. Parchment, quills, ink, etc,” Fox said as ninjas and wizards listened to him. The ninjas all gave indication of understand and left, wizards not far behind their assigned group.“Why did we get stuck with the potions supplies,” Ron grumbled. “Because I do not care for the extra supplies that you will need for the school year, nor do I wish to spend hours in a bookstore. I already have the books that I may need, but I have to pass as a student so Deer can handle that. I have to stick with the main group of troublemakers, you three. Ninjas work together in three man squads except for genin. They work in four man squads, but that fourth person is the teacher. They teach the students how to work properly in a team,” Fox explained as the wizards lead them to the potions shop.“We have to get potion supplies for everybody when we get to the shop,” TenTen says as Harry and Ron groan, but Hermione perked up when she got some information about how the ninja's society worked.“Were you ever in a team of geenie,”Hermione asked looking at Fox.“It's genin and yes. You can't just skip ranks. Everyone starts at the bottom. The only thing you can really skip is the academy, but you have to convince your Kage that you have the skill,” Fox explained to her and he could tell she was getting ready for her next question.“Can we know who you were in a team with?” she asked and Naruto was lucky he didn't flinch.“Classified,” Naruto said so sour that the girl flinched from his tone.“We're here,” Shino said in very few words as the ninjas told the wizards to get everything that was needed, grateful that they went to Gringotts earlier in the day.“We need to get potion supplies for everyone who is going to Hogwarts. Harry, Ron, and Hermione. You three will get supplies for yourselves and Ron's siblings. I'll collect for Raven, Deer, and Slug. Bear will collect for Slug, Dog, and Bee. Last is Bug who will collect for Lion, Pig, and Mouse. Do not forget about yourselves,” Fox ordered as they all split up.It was around an hour and a half later when everyone was done getting the potions supplies. It was another half hour until they meet up with the rest of the group to leave Diagon Alley.“That was strangely uneventful,” Hermione said to her two companies as they walked towards the Leaky Cauldron.“We didn't even see Malfoy. Of course that in itself is a blessing,” Ron said as he and Harry laughed, while Hermione frowned.“But doesn't something feel wrong,” she asked as the two looked at her.“Hermione. You are the brightest witch of our age, but I really think that you're worried about nothing,” Harry tried to reassure her, but all she did was nod and go along with them.
Naruto's Pov

Did you give any thoughts to my question.
'Sort of.’
What kind of an answer is that.
‘I’m still thinking,’ I told him as I could tell he was sighing.
Once we get back go talk to Shikamaru
It was my turn to sigh as Kurama stopped our little chat. What's a friend. What kind of a question is that. I can already hear him mock me about that question. A friend. . .A friend. . .Well Garaa is a friend. How is he a friend? He listens to me and I listen to him. I trust him. He doesn't blab about our conversations to other people. He certainly doesn't use them against the Leaf. Why can't I figure this out? This was supposed to be easy.Before I know it we are back at Grimmauld Place.I got two of my team members to take the supplies and separate it so that way all everyone really has to do is put it in their luggage.“Shikamaru, can I talk to you for a minute?” I ask as he turns to me with those bored and dull eyes, but when he heard my question I could see the curiosity spark in them.“Sure,” he responds to me as we go up to a private room. I lift up my hands and put a silencing jutsu up so no one will hear us.I took off the henge and sat down. As I did this I could feel his eyes watching my every movement.
Shikamaru's Pov
As I watched Naruto take off his henge and sit down I could easily see how truly tired he is. I could see the tiredness in his eyes and his mouth was set in a grim smile.“What did you want to talk about?” I asked him.“What is a friend?” he asked as he looked at me. I couldn't keep the shock off of my face as he asked this.“What do you mean what is a friend. Surely you know?” I ask as I walked closer to him.“BUT THAT'S THE THING! I DON'T KNOW!” He looked at me as he screamed.“Naruto I'm your friend. Garaa is your friend. Saskue, Ino, Choji, Lee, TenTen, Sakura all of us. We are all your friends. You may not think it, but we are. If you told us that you have been in ANBU for sometime we would understand, but for some reason you have to keep everything a secret,” I explained to him.“When I tell people things about me or they get to close they end up hurt,” he says as looks at me and I could see tears threatening to spill out. “Naruto I have to know. Why didn't you tell any of us that you made ANBU?” I finally asked one of the major questions that's been bugging me.“It's just. A lot of shit has happened to me for my whole life. It’s been harder over the years for me to trust people. I would love to tell you all about it one day, but not today,” he said as he was looking at the ground, but when I looked in his eyes they were glossed over. As if he was living in the past.I sigh as I walk out the door. No way am I going to be able to talk to him anymore tonight. I made it to the shared room, happy that it was empty as I took a pack of cigarettes out of my pocket and one to my lips. I didn’t light it, no matter how much I wanted to, but all that smoke in this unvented room would be noticeable.It was calming in its self to feel the smoothness of the cancer stick on my lips as I cleared my mind to think. If I want Naruto to tell me anything I have to fully gain his trust. I can do that by not telling anyone anything I found out about him, no matter how good it would be for him.Suddenly their was a knock on the door and I turned my head to see TenTen and Lee. “Hey Shikamaru. We need to start thinking of a plan and Fox told us not to bother him for a few hours. You’re the next choice,” TenTen told me as I got up and put the cigarette back.“I’ll be down in a minute,” I tell her as she and Lee salute and are out of my sight in a flash. “I’ll figure you out Naruto, That’s a promise.”
Third Person
It was after the meeting that Shikamaru met up with fox to inform him of the plans. “All the trunks have been packed and we are going to be part of an exchange program. Even though we should be placed in seventh year we are being placed in fifth. An excuse that the language and culture barrier might be to much. I’m not fully sure about the excuse of if the old man is lying about our age, it was too troublesome, but I volunteered to tell you.”“Got it. Get plenty of rest Shikamaru. We leave in a week,” Naruto told him as he pretended to fall asleep.
One Week Later
It was a week later and all of the ninja and Hermione we’re ready to go, meanwhile all of the Weasley children were in a frenzy to get everything together, along with one Harry Potter. They all took so long that some of the ninja had a fear that they would miss the train.Right when everyone was about to leave Sirius walked up to Harry as a dog with expectations of going, this allowed Molly to go on a rant about how and why Dumbledore told him no, but she gave into him anyways“It’s about time we leave,” Neji said with a tired tone that told you he was fed up with waiting.It didn’t take them long and the ninja were amazed about both the cars and the fact that they could all fit in them, but eventually they made it to the station and with some direction from the wizards everyone was on the platform and had boarded the trains.They had trouble finding an empty compartment, but they found three compartments next to each other for all of the ninja, Harry,Ginny, Ron and Hermione for later on, and two new people the ninja’s were meeting, Luna and Neville.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Third Person

Neville, Luna, Harry, Ginny, Shikamaru, and Naruto all sat in one compartment as they left room for Hermione and Ron for when they decided to join. Neji, TenTen, Lee, Choji, and Hinata all shared a compartment as Sasuke, Sakura, Ino, Shino, and Kiba shared the last compartment.

The whole ride passed in silence for the last two, but the first compartment seemed to always have something going on.

“Had a good summer Luna,” Ginny asked as everyone got seated in the compartment. Naruto and Shikamaru sat opposite of each other on the floor. Naruto under the window and Shikamaru next to the door.

“Yes it was quite enjoyable,” Luna answered her as she bought the quibbler down on her face to look at everyone in the compartment. Her eyes first landed on Harry, and then the two on the floor.

Luna’s Pov

“You’re Harry Potter,” I said to the boy sitting across from me with the green eyes as he looks at me confused.

“I know I am,” Harry says to me as I look towards the boy who was sitting next to Harry. “I don’t know who you are.”

“I’m nobody,” the boy says to me as Ginny jumps to his defense. Peculiar. “If you are a no body then how do you have a body,” This statement seemed to make the poor boys cheeks turn red.

Lucky for him Ginny introduced us. “Neville Longbottom - Luna Lovegood. Luna’s in my year but in Ravenclaw.”

“Wit beyond measure is a man’s greatest treasure,” I sang to them as the one sitting next to the door nodded in approval.

Third Person

“I’ve for sure never seen either of you around before,” Luna states to them as she stares at Shikamaru, her eyes peering above the quibbler still in her hands.

“I’m Naru Shikamaru, but you can call me Shikamaru,” he introduced himself in a bored and lazy tone, “Why are you reading upside down?” Shikamaru asked her, truly interested in her answer.

“Why the text are upside down of course. If I turn everything upside down then it must be right side up,” she answered as he gave her another nod of approval while the redhead on the other side snorted with a short laughter that made Shikamaru raised an eyebrow.

“Only you Shikamaru would understand that,” was all that he said as he laid his head back and closed his eyes. To anyone else he looks like he was sleeping, but Shikamaru could tell that Naruto was awake and alert.

“That’s Rama,” Shikamaru introduced him to the other two in the compartment as Luna raised her magazine to cover her face once again.

“Does he have a last name,” Neville asked Shikamaru timidly, trying not to wake the fake sleeping redhead.

“You can call me Fox. Rama Fox,” Naruto said as he kept his eyes closed but his voice made no room for argument.

After that it got quiet for a few minutes until Neville started talking about what he got for his birthday. Naruto wasn't paying that much attention to it until he was covered in a dark green liquid, along with the rest of the compartment. Neville immediately apologized as soon as he was able to find his tongue, but Naruto did laugh when a girl knocked on the door and Harry answered it covered in the green liquid, and going by how embarrassed he was it was a girl that he liked.

Ginny was the true life saver as she bought out her wand and twirled it in the air as she spoke loud, clear, and proud “Scourgify!” The sap vanished and everyone was all clean again.

The food trolley came by 30 minutes later and while everyone got some pumpkin pastries, Naruto and Shikamaru decided to just get some chocolate frogs, they seemed like the safest bet out of all of the treats on the kart.

30 minutes after that Ron and Hermione, with their pets, finally walked in and took the last two seats open in the compartment.

“I’m starving,” Ron said as he sat down in one of the two open seats, grabbing a chocolate frog to eat.

“Well there are two fifth-year prefects from each house. A boy and a girl from each,” Hermione said to them in a disgruntled voice.

“And guess who happens to be Slytherin’s prefect,” said Ron with his eyes closed.

“Malfoy,” answered Harry as both Ron and Hermione nodded, confirming his worst fear.

“Course,” Ron said bitterly, eating his chocolate frog.

“And that cow Pansy Parkinson. How she got to be a prefect when she’s thicker than a concussed troll,” Hermione said.

The two ninjas were watching them, taking all of this information for later use, waiting until the gossiping was done to ask questions.

“What’d about Hufflepuff?” asked Harry, not really sounding that concerned.

“Ernie Macmillan and Hannah abbott,” Ron said thickly, his mouth filled with chocolate.

“It was at this moment that the compartment door opened to reveal one blond and his two bodyguards.

Harry tried to insult him, but Draco stopped him, saying that he was prefect and that he could give Harry detention. The conversation didn’t seem to interest the ninja’s until he mentioned something about harry dogging his footsteps.

They all know that he’s talking about Sirius and he knows, but the ninja’s also know that, that was horrible wording for Draco.

Lucky for them the rest of the ride went smoothly. Once the train stopped and they all got out the ninja’s decided to follow the wizards to where they were supposed to go.

They got there just in time, thanks to Luna saving them a carriage and the extra ninja getting in the one behind them.

Their was a small instance where Harry was saying something about seeing the horse and no one else seeing it, of course some of the ninja can see it, but they decided to stay quiet. It was really thanks to Luna that Harry even got on the carriage in the first place.

After a short carriage ride it was finally time for the ninja’s to be sorted.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Third Person

It was after the first years were sorted that Dumbledore stood up to make an announcement.

“This year we have a few transfer students from Japan. They are all a little older, but due to reason of cultural change and different ways of learning they will all be placed in the fifth year instead of 7th,” as Dumbledore sat down he made a motion to Minerva for her to continue the sorting.

“Aburame, Shino.”

Once she called out his name the students saw that he seemed to find a way to wear his uniform in a way that completely covered his face. He gave off a very silent vibe as he walked up to the stool.

“Well, this is surprising. I don’t usually have the joy to sort ninjas at this school, much less such high-ranking ones,” a voice in Shino’s head spoke.

On the inside he was shocked, but he made sure to not let it show on the outside, but he didn’t interrupt and let the hat continue on.

“You are all brave, like all ninjas I would say, but you should be sorted somewhere that suits you even better. Not as much cunning so Slytherian is out of the question. That leaves two left. You’re loyal I’m sure of that, but I feel like your stoic nature would put off a lot of the Hufflepuffs. I guess that only leaves one place for you to go.”

“RAVENCLAW!” the hat shouted aloud.

Without a word, Shino got up and joined the table that was surrounded by blue and silver as they clapped for him.

“Akimichi, Choji.” as the name was called a plump man walked to the hat as he was eating a bag of chips, where he got them, no one knows.

“As I said with the last one, you show great bravery, but when you have the desire to protect your friends so much that you don’t want to hurt them, I can only think of one place for you to go.”

“HUFFLEPUFF!”

With a smile, Choji hopped off of the stool and with a bounce in his step made his way over to the clapping yellow and black house.

“Haruno, Sakura.” a girl with bubblegum pink hair walked up to the hat and with a calm exterior let herself be sorted.

“What do we have here? Not enough cunning for Slytherin, but enough bravery for Gryffindor, yet it still feels like you don’t belong there, but you have the desire to protect your teammates, Saskue and Naruto. Interesting. What has turned into a schoolgirl crush and hatred has turned into a will to protect those you see as your brothers. That is only the will of a.”

“HUFFLEPUFF!”

The same table Choji is at cheered as she made her way next to the one sorted before.

“Heiki, Tenten.” (A/N I couldn’t find a last name for Tenten so I used Heiki which is just weapons in Japanese.)

A girl with her hair in two buns with a bag slung over her shoulder gladly walked up to the hat and sat down.

“You are loyal, but you voice your opinions and are determined to be in Hufflepuff, meanwhile Ravenclaw and Slytherin just don’t suit you. That only leaves one house left.”

As the hat shouted Gryffindor the house covered in red and gold cheered for her as she made her way over.

“Hyuuga, Hinata,” a girl with long bluish-brownish hair and white pupils walked towards the hat. Everyone guessed she wasn't blind by how she made her wait perfectly to the hat, but were still not sure.

Unsurprisingly without hesitation, the hat shouted for Hufflepuff. The girl seemed to be shy as she ran over to sit next to the other two.

“Hyuuga, Neji.”

As a boy with long brown hair and the same eyes as the other girl, the hall deduced that the eyes were probably just a family trait.

“Plenty brave sure, but not right. You love your cousin but want to be separated from her, which leaves two options left. Maybe if you were not saved you could go down the path of Slyhterian. That only leaves one choice.”

“RAVENCLAW!”

The hall clapped as he took the hat off and made his way to the silent to sit next to him.

“Inuzuka, Kiba.”

“Alright! Finally, it’s my turn,” a  boy with a small puppy on his head walked up and sat on the stool, taking his dog off of his head to make room for the hat.

“Slytherin and Ravenclaw are out of the question for you, and no matter how much you would protect your village the only true place to put you IS.”

“GRYFFINDOR!”

Once he put his dog back on his head he walked over to the clapping table to sit next to Tenten.

“Nara, Shikamaru.”

“This is troublesome,’ a boy with his hair up that made it somewhat resemble a pineapple.

“Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Gryffindor are all wonderful traits for you, however, you would not do well in the first two. Much too analytical for Hufflepuff and you would drive the Ravenclaws mad. You’re brave for sure, especially knowing when you should and should not run away in a fight. I’ll admit that most Gryffindors could use more knowledge like that, but it’s not the right place for you. You’re too laid back to deal with that rowdy crew 24/7. This leaves only one option left. Yes, better be.”

“SLYTHERIN!”

All he did was sigh in a slouched posture as he walked to the table covered in silver and green and they clapped for him.

“Rama.”

As the name was called the hall interrupted in muttering at the fact that the transfiguration professor only called one name. As Rama started to walk towards the hat everyone took notice of his strange appearance. Long spiky red hair that went down to his waist with red eyes, not bright red eyes mind you, but red nonetheless, as he sat down, he smiled and people could see sharp canines in his mouth, but they still weren’t sure about that.

“A difficult one here. Hated almost all of your life, but trained and joined ANBU at a young age, impressive. You made friends along the way, but you don’t truly know if they are your friends. I know where to sort you, but before I do that let me give you some advice for that question you’re trying to answer. A friend is someone who’s been there through the good and the bad. They help you get through things and show up when they don’t have to. Friends worry about you. They don’t have to know everything about you, but when you keep a secret like this from them and they hear your reason, a true friend will stick with you. They might need time to sort out their thoughts and figure everything going on in their head out, but they will always come back. Knowing this I should sort you into.”

“SLYTHERIN!”

Once the hat shouted where he should go the greenhouse slowly clapped for him as he decided he should have a conversation with Kurama later, for now, he’ll pay attention to the rest of the feast.

“Rock, Lee.”

A guy with the bushiest eyebrows walked up to the hat with a strained expression, but like with Hinata the hat didn’t even need a second to decide before he shouted Gryffindor, letting Lee run towards the gold clapping table.

“Uchiha, Sasuke.”

“No Hufflepuff and Gryffindor and certainly out of the question. You would give both of those houses a bad vibe. Maybe if you made some different choices then Slytherin is where you would be, maybe not, but for sure right now you belong in.”

“RAVENCLAW!”

Sasuke got up to join Shino and Neji at their respective table.

“This leaves us to our last student to be sorted. Yamanaka, Ino”

A girl with a long ponytail that ended at her waist and her bangs going down to her neck as they covered half of her face.

It was funny as the hat without hesitation said Slytherian to the innocent-looking girl,

“He’s not here,” Harry said to his two best friends, with the three ninjas listening.

“He can’t of left,” Ron said worriedly, looking at his two best friends.

“Of course, he hasn't,” Harry said to reassure his friends, but also himself.

“You don’t think he’s hurt or anything. . . do you,” Hermione asked.

“No!,” Harry said immediately with no hesitation.

“Then where is he.”

“Maybe he’s not back yet - you know -  from that thing he was doing over the summer for Dumbledore,” Harry guessed.

“Yeah! That’s gotta be it,” Ron agreed, reassured, but Hermione was still worried.

If Hagrid was on an errand for Dumbledor, shouldn’t he be back by now? What if something awful happened to him? What if he’s lost? Alone. Scared. Frightened. All of these thoughts went through her head, but to keep her mind off of it she looked towards the staff table and pointed at one of the ugliest people the ninjas had ever seen.

“That’s Umbridge,” Tenten informed the wizards.

“Who?” asked Hermione

“She was at my hearing, she works for Fudge,” Harry declared.

“Nice Cardigan,” Ron said with a laugh, as Kiba joined him.

Hermione repeated to him, “she works for Fudge? What on Earth is she doing here then?” Hermione questioned with a frown.

Hermione decided to move the conversation to the Sorting Hat’s song, it was different from the last few times she’s heard it.

“I wonder if the hat’s ever given warnings before?” She asked.

“Yes. Indeed,” Nearly Headless Nick said as he floated between the table. “The hat feels honor bound to give the school due warning whenever it feels-,” but Dumbledor interrupted him.

“To our newcomers Welcome! To our old hands - Welcome back! There is a time for speech-making, but this is not it. Tuck in!,” and with that food appeared on all 5 of the tables to let both the teachers and students have some nice warm food.

“What were you saying before?” Hermione asked, “About the hat giving warnings.”

“Oh yes,” Said Nick, pleased to be back in the conversation.

“Yes, I have heard the hat give several warnings before, always at a period of time where it detects great danger. Of course, the advice is always the same. . . Be strong from within.”

“Those three can’t be good if they're all in Slytherin,” Ron said as he nodded his head toward the three ninjas.

“You can’t say that about them just for being in Slytherin, or should I remind you two of a rat we all know,” Hermione suggested that shutting Harry and Ron up quickly, while making the three ninjas at their table smile.

As the wizards continued their conversation, the three ninjas who were sitting at the same table next to them continued to listen in on the conversation, gathering as much information as they could.

In fact, all of the ninjas were listening in to conversations and trying to make friends from their respective houses as a way to gather information.

At different times Kiba, Hinata, and Shino felt a tug at their pants and as they locked down it was a fox holding a note. When each ninja grabbed the note they relayed it to the others at their table.

“Meet after everyone has gone to sleep. Follow chakra signatures to find the meeting space,” was all the note said.

With that done Fox tried to enjoy eating his meal with Shikamaru and Ino on either side of him. Trying is the key word in this sentence because an obnoxious blond with his two goons decided to sit right across from them.

“The name’s Draco Malfoy. This is Crab, and that’s Goyle,” the blonde said as he pointed to each respective person. “I saw you two sitting with Potter’s group earlier. I haven’t seen you around though,” he said as he looked toward Ino with a smirk that made her scoff.

“We were staying with the Weasleys for the end of summer, as a way to make traveling easier for us,” Naruto said calmly as he ate his food.

“With the blood traitors! You’ve got to be kidding me,” Draco said as if the world would end. “So what’s your blood status,” he asked all three of them.

“Blood status doesn’t matter where we’re from so none of us truly know,” Shikamaru started to explain.

“WHAT!” Malfoy yelled.

“No one from where we live knows what their blood status is. I mean Neji and Hinata might, but with the way their clan was run not so long ago, their blood should be the same, but Neji was not treated as part of the main branch and instead was treated as part of the side branch until he and Hinata decided to fight it,” Naruto started to explain, but got sidetracked and let Shikamaru and Ino take over.

“That’s right. I forgot about that, that was only a few years ago,” Ino said getting lost in thought.

“Well as I was saying. What determines your stats, where we’re from, is how strong you are. Blood doesn’t matter if you don’t know how to use the power that was given to you,” Shikamaru finished for his group.

“Well, that is utterly ridiculous! Does that mean one of you could be a mudblood,” Malfoy accused?

“So what if we are,” Ino asked him calmly.

“W-what.” Malfoy flattered.

“I said. . .so what if we are. Does blood really determine how we are as a person? Can my blood status really tell you everything that you want to know about me,” Ino asked him with a glint in her eyes as she looked at him for an answer.

When the ninjas didn’t receive one they knew that they had come out on top and gave Malfoy something to think about.

It wasn't long before Dumbledor stood up and the hall became quiet almost instantly.

“Well now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, I beg a few moments of your attention for the usual start-of-term notices. First years ought to know that the forest on the grounds is out of bounds to students - and a few of our older students ought to know by now, “Dumbledore said as he looked towards Hermione, Ron, and Harry.

“Mr.Filch, the caretaker,  has asked me, for what he tells me is the four hundred and sixty second time, to remind you all that magic is not permitted in corridors between classes nor a number of other things, all of which can be checked on the extensive list now fastened to Mr.Filch’s office door.”

We have two changes in staffing this year. We are pleased to welcome Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures lessons; we are also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.”

There was a round of applause for each new teacher, Grubbly-Plank's being louder than Umbridge’s.

“Tryouts for the house quddi -” Dumbledor started to say before he was cut off with a “

Hem Hem

.”

There was a shocked silence as Dumbledore turned around to see that it was Umbridge standing on her feet. Seeing her look at him Dumbledore took that as a sign and with a wave of a hand gave her the room as he sat down.

“Thank you, Headmaster. For those kind words of welcome,” her high-pitched squeaky voice said. “Well it is lovely to be back at Hogwarts, I must say,” she looked around the hall, “and to see such happy little faces looking back at me.”

Kiba almost snorted at that fact when no one was smiling at her.

“I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all, and I’m sure we’ll be very good friends!”

The students looked at each other's faces at this, while the Ninja exchanged looks to tell the others that they were wall listing and taking notes.

“The  Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. The rare gifts with which you were born will come to nothing if not nurtured and honed by careful instructions. The ancient skills unique to the Wizarding community must be passed down through the generations lest we lose them forever. The treasure trove of magical knowledge amassed by our ancestors must be guarded, replenished, and polished by those who have been called to the noble profession of teaching,” she “

hem hem

” as she cleared her throat.

“Every headmaster and headmistress of Hogwarts has brought something new to the weighty task of governing this historic school, and that is as it should be, for without

she finally finished as she sat down at her table.

“That was informative,” Shikamaru said as he looked toward Ino and Naruto.

“She’s going to make our job a lot harder than necessary,” Ino agreed as Naruto kept silent, lost in his own thoughts.

Once the feast and speeches had ended the two prefects from each house led the students to the dorms.

Once the ninjas for the Slytherin dorm were in the common room, they decided to go and find their room.

“Since you’re new here, I’ll show you around,” Draco said walking up to them after he finished his speech. “Ino. Since you’re a girl I’ve asked Pansy Parkison to show you the dorms,” he said as he pointed to the mousy girl next to him.

As Ino was being dragged away, by what the others had to guess, was her new roommate. Draco did the same to the two boys.

“Depending on how many people are in your year will determine how many dorm rooms there are. Each dorm room holds six to a room, and lucky for you that you two are with me, Crab, Goyle, and Blaise,” Draco said as he lead them up the stairs and then through a door that said Year 5 on it.

The door opened to a hallway that then had different letters but the same number on the door.

“Our dorm room is 5-A. The boys can’t go in the girl's room, but the girls can come into the boy's room. 1-4 years have to be in the common room by 8 p.m. - 5. a.m, while 5-7 years have to be in the common room from 10 p.m. - 4. A.m.. The reason is that the older kids have more leniency, but also because some kids have lessons in the morning that don’t start till five, but you can use that extra hour, if you need it, to help you get on time,” Draco explained it to them as he showed them the room.

After both ninjas found their bed with their luggage they decided to stay in the room as Malfoy went downstairs.

It was an awkward silence, since neither knew what to say to the other, and Naruto was trying to ignore the conversation that both Kurama and Shikamaru wanted to have with him.

They were in the room in silence as they organized their things and waited until everyone in their room was asleep.

Once everyone was asleep the two snuck out and into the common room.

“Inos not here yet,” Shikamaru said as the two looked around and checked to make sure she wasn't right outside.

Once they couldn’t find her Naruto summoned a small fox, smaller than Max, so it must have been a few months old.

It gave a little bark as Naruto petted it. “Go up to the girl's dormitory and fetch us Ino please, but be quiet about it okay,” Naruto asked her as the fox gave a quiet yip.

Naruto’s Pov

It didn’t take five minutes that had Ino to walk down the stairs with her ANBU uniform on, including the mask.

“So where are we supposed to be meeting the others,” she asked.

“We don’t know the school layout good enough just yet, but we have to find a place to keep our skills intact, along with a meeting place that no students or teachers can get to, especially that Umbridge,” Shikamaru said.

She really is a bitch isn’t she. . .OH! NARU! NARU! You can all call her Umbitch!

‘You have no shame do you?’

Oh, come off it! You can’t argue with me

‘That’s true, but still, my point stands.’

“For now we’re just going to be meeting up on the roof,” I told them as we got out of the castle through the window and ran up the walls to the roof.

“Did you give my question any thoughts yet?”
Kurama tried to ask me, but I just ignored him. He can talk to me plenty later on, right now I need to focus.

We made it up to the roof and it didn’t take long for everyone else to join us.

Third Person

“Okay, the first thing is that we needed a place to train without anyone noticing. If you happen to find or think of a place then inform me as soon as you can. Next are the different houses. We can’t be with all of the years at once, but from what I’ve gathered and have been informed about it’s mainly the fifth year that we have to worry about and that’s why we’ve been moved two years down. What did everyone find out?” Fox started the meeting.

“Gryffindor is at a tie. Some believe in the rumors that the big bad snake guy is back, while others don’t. The parents seem to play a major part in what their children think as well,” TenTen told the group.

“Ravenclaw debates over if it’s a conspiracy or not,” Neji said as his two housemates nodded their heads.

“Hufflepuff seems to mostly believe in this big bad guy. Their housemate Cedric Diggory died last year, causing them to have no other choice but to believe.

"What about the spooky snake house," Kiba asked as he wiggled his fingers in a snake-like motion.

"They believe in blood status mostly. It's very much the same as Gryffindor. Their parents seemed to have a hand in their children's decision-making. The children who run the house are mostly rich with a big name to back them up. It wouldn't surprise me if some of the kids knew each other before school started because of their parents," Shikamaru stated in a bored tone.

"From all the houses the two that we need to watch closely are Gryffindor and Slytherin. Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff seem to be a precaution. Besides the prefects from those two houses, the only other person we should look out for is Cho Chang, Luna Love good,  and anyone else who was in contact with Harry through his last four years here. Keep an eye on Malfoy and his whole gang, then there's Harry, his friends, and all the Weasleys. I want guards around the castle all day and night. Theirs 12 of us so we will take shifts at night. Use your summons if you have one for day watches. The first person to blow our cover without my permission will be demoted and get D-Rank missions for the next year. Understand," Naruto went through all the information so far, but didn't really ask any questions, despite the heads shaking yes.

"I also want background information on all of the teachers. I don't care what Dumbledore says about trust. I will not fail this mission!" Naruto gave no room to argue as he waited for someone to speak up.

"I'll interview all the teachers before the week is up," Ino said as Naruto gave her a shake of his head to confirm.

"I also with TenTen can take the first watch," Lee said as he saluted and TenTen jumped up to agree with him.

"I'll leave you two in charge of the schedule then. While on watch find out who should be with who and when they have that night. I'll have no more than one shift change per night so if you can't stay up all night or at least have a shadow clone watch for you and go to your classes then talk to Lion. During the night watches one of you will guard the castle and the other will guard the perimeter."

With that being said Naruto turned around to walk back to his room and go to sleep, everyone else leaving the meeting place as well.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Third Person

As the three Slytherin Ninjas walked back to the dorm, Shikamaru stopped Naruto, “Fox, can I talk to you for a minute. You can go ahead without us Ino.”

Naruto just sighed, but knew that if he didn’t have this talk now then he would just continue to avoid it.

The two watched to make sure that Ino walked away and that’s when Naruto released the genjusto to show his true features, not seeing her hide behind the walls to listen in.

“Well you got me here. What do you want to ask me now?” Naruto asked him.

“I want real answers. I want to know what’s going on in that head of yours. I know that you said you would rather not tell me, but think really hard about my character. Have I ever been one to judge,” Shikamaru told him.

“I- you don’t understand! People have hurt me over this,” Naruto tried to fight his logic.

“I won’t hurt you Naruto. You just have to trust me. I’m your friend,” Shikamaru said as he took a step closer to Naruto, until he backed the blonde into a wall.

“How can you be my friend if I have no idea what a friend is?” Naruto asked him.

“But you do know. Think about all the times you and Team 7 trained together and all of those hardships. You made friends with Sakura, Kakashi, and Saskue. You brought Saskue back to the village before he had a chance to ruin his life. You made those people your friends,” Shikamaru tried to explain.

“That was a mask though. The villagers didn’t like that I bought back the last Uchiha covered in blood. They thought that I killed him or something. How can I know that any of these people are really my friends when I’ve just been wearing a mask for so long. I wasn't even supposed to go to the academy, but I was sent to watch over Sasuke. How can I be friends with him if all I was ever meant to be was a bodyguard,” Naruto asked him.

“Naruto I don’t know what happened in your life. None of us do, but I promise that if you just tell us we won’t hate you. We might get mad and angry, but those are emotions that will fade because we know that our friendship is more important,” Shikamaru told him.

“For what it’s worth. I’m really angry that you lied to me, to all of us, but I still want you to be my friend. I want the real Naruto. Not whatever mask that you’ve put up to hide behind,” Ino said as she came out of her hiding space.

“Great is everyone going to find out all of my secrets on this mission,” Naruto asked no one

One can only hope

“I wasn't asking you,” Naruto said to Kurama out loud, just to get weird looks from the other two ninjas.

“So Does this mean that Naruto has been Fox the whole time,” Ino asked.

“Yep. I’ll have to fill you in later on everything. For now Naruto should learn to trust and know that we are his friends,” Shikamaru said once again.

That’s it! If you don’t tell them then I’m gonna take over

‘Don’t you dare.’

Well then you gotta tell them

‘I don’t want to tell them!’

“Hey Naru! Are you good in there,” Ino asked as she was getting ready to knock on his head.

“Yeah sorry. Being in ANBU gear for a while messed up my skills for a few minutes. Guess I can’t just ignore everyone now. I have to actually pay attention,” Naruto said, kinda confusing the other two.

Don’t forget to tell them about me Kit!

“Well look, we aren’t looking for your whole life story yet. Right now I just want to know who Rama is,” Shikamaru asked.

“Rama as in the person who you decided to borrow looks and name from?” Ino asked.

“If I tell you, then you have to swear on your lives to not tell a soul without permission from Me, Tsunade, or Jiraiya. This is one of the Leaf Village’s most kept and guarded secrets,” Naruto told them.

“I swear,” they both said, causing Naruto to sigh.

“Long ago when the Fourth Hokage was said to have killed the nine tailed beast it was a lie. The tailed beasts are made of chakra and can therefore not be killed. Instead he sealed it into his newborn son, me,” When he didn’t get a negative reaction from either one he kept going.

“The villagers didn’t like me growing up. I would be punched, kicked, yelled at. They gave me the worst treatment. As a way of keeping me safe the old man put me in the ANBU. I trained under Dog and Raven. They were both a part of separate teams, but they trained me and helped me build up my skills until I was able to actually be on ANBU level. I have been in ANBU just about all my life to keep me safe from the village that I love. I was trained by the foxes and the nine tailed fox. It took him awhile to like me. That’s not my full story, but those are the basics that you need to know,” Naruto told them as he turned around to head to the dorms, the other two not far behind.

XXXXTHEMORNINGXXXX

“You’ve gotta tell the rest of them about you,” Kurama tells Naurot as they both sat on his bed, the curtains drawn.

“I can’t! I don’t know if I can trust the rest of them,” Naruto told the red head.

“You can trust them. Remember what I told you?” Kurama asked, when he didn’t get an answer he continued, “You don’t have to tell them all at once. Just slowly let everyone know.”

“How am I supposed to do that? I didn’t even want Shikamaru and Ino to know,” said Naruto with a confused look on his face that only made Kurama laugh.

“What’s so funny?” the blonde headed ninja asked.

“I just love it when you get confused Kit. Everytime it happens you feel like you’ve lost all control and then you realize that everything turns out fine; that you worried for nothing,” Kurama told him with a smile.

The conversation would have continued if Naruto didn’t hear someone trip within the room, telling him that people are starting to wake up.

With practiced ease Kurama disappeared back into the seal and Naruto put up his henge once again.

As he drew back his curtains he noticed that the only one still truly asleep was the lazy Nara. All the others are at least half asleep and not paying attention.

“Shika get your ass up,” Naruto said as he shook the sleeping Nara.

“I’m up,” Shikamaru said as he slowly got up and began to get dressed and ready for the day.

“Are any of you dressed and ready for the day?” Draco Malfoy asked as he entered the room, fully ready to start the day.

“Oh come off it Draco. It’s the first day of classes. We’re getting ready now,” Blaise said, you could tell that he could care less about how he looks this early in the morning.

“Be that as it may Blasie, but we still have a reputation to uphold,” Draco said as he said for us all to hurry up and walked out of the room, making Blasie roll his eyes.

It took a few minutes, but the next two out was Crabbe and Goyle, seeing as they had to follow their leader.

“I know that you guys are new here, but don’t let Draco get to you. He can be a big pratt and a pain in the arse, but he really does look out for Slytherian. He looks out for it a lot more than others do,” Blaise told the two ninjas as he walked out of the room.

“Guess it’s time to start our day. We have to meet up with the other’s before breakfast to get a report and then seperate for the day at breakfast,” Naruto told Shikamaru, who just nodded.

“You know,” Shikamaru said as the two started to walk out of the dorms, “I always knew, even when we were kids, that you would be a great Hokage.”

That statement caused Naruto to stop in his tracks as he stared at Shikamaru, thus causing him to stop a few steps ahead of the blonde.

“What? It’s the truth,” Shikamaru said, but didn’t get a chance to say more as Theodore Nott came around the corner.

“Hi! You guys must be the new guys. I’m Theodore Nott, but you can just call me Theo. Draco is getting a little impatient waiting for you, so you might want to hurry,” he said as he walked back.

“Come on you dumb blonde you can think on it later,” Shikamaru said as he grabbed Naruto’s sleeve and pulled him towards the common room.

Once Draco saw that everyone was ready he got up to leave the common room, knowing that the group would be following him.

As they left the two ninjas noticed that the girls also joined them, thus making it their cue to grab Ino.

“I sent foxes out already, but we have to go have a morning meeting,” Naruto told her.

“Are you going to tell everyone?” she asked with hope in her eyes.

“I-uh-No that’s,” Naruto was confused, thinking how she got to that conclusion.

“That’s not what he wants the meeting to be about,” Kurama said as he appeared out of his seal with his arms crossed to glare at the blonde who was stealing his looks.

“You’re the nine tailed fox,” Shikamaur said calmly.

“Yep and this over here is an idiodic kit who chooses to always do the opposite of what I say,” Kurama said as he pointed over towards Naruto.

“You can’t just appear with no warning,” Naruto told him.

“Sure I can. I do it all the time, espically when you try to make stupid or boring decisions,” Kurama said with a smirk.

“If I may, Rama, is it true that you trained Naruto?” Ino asked him.

“Ha! I did more than just train. I also raised the kid. It’s probably why he doesn’t do well with actual people,” Kurama told her, saying the last part kinda to himself.

“I do good with people!” Naruto told him defensively.

“Getting drunk with Gaara twice a year does not count as being good with people,” Kurama said dejectedly.

“I-,” Naruto tried to think of something to say to that, but he really couldn’t think of anything to say to that. Sure him and Gaara are friends, but the only time they really hang out is on each other’s birthdays.

“I’m still not gonna tell them,” Naruto said as his answer to that.

“Kit, you’re never going to find out who your true friends are if you don’t tell them. Don’t make me call in Tanaka,” Kurama said, but also threatened at the end.

“Can I at least have some more time to think about it? We have a meeting and breakfast to get to,” Naruto asked.

“I’ll give you some time,” Kurama said as he disappeared back into the seal, making the other two ninja’s stare at him in awe.

“You know for all of those bad stories, he really wasn't that bad of a guy,” Ino said as she turned to walk to the meeting spot, Shikamaru and a smiling Naruto next to her.

It wasn't long until they made it to the meeting place. It was somewhere that was inside this time, as to not be seen by other students.

“I want reports on the houses,” Naruto said in full on Captain mode.

“The Ravenclaws just mostly talked about their classes, really not much else to tell their,” Neji said calmly.

“Hufflepuff was mostly just catching up with old friends. It was nice to see and meet all the new people,” Sakura said.

“They were really welcoming,” said Hinata shyly.

“That just leaves Gryffindor,” Shikamaru said.

“A lot of people were talking and following up on rumors about Harry,” Tenten informed them.

“Yeah! It seems like everyone is either for or against the guy,” Kiba said, adding his two cents.

Naruto sat their to think for a minute. “What about that song that we all heard last night?” Naruto asked.

“Yeah the trio was talking about it. Says that it means that all the houses should unite to stand as one,” Tenten said, “however, it appears that they already decided to not be friends with anyone in Slytherian.”

“That’s how it seems for Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff,” Neji and Sakura agreed.

“We need to make them listen and understand the sorting hat's song. We need to make all of the houses get along,” Naruto said.

“How are we supposed to do that? Apparently this rivalry goes back decades and always leads back to Slytherian,” Lee asked.

“We have to start uniting the houses. All that these kids know is that we went to the same school. They don’t know that we all know each other,” Shikamaru explained.

“Yeah except for Fox,” Saskue said with a glare. You could clearly tell that he didn’t trust his commanding officer.

“That’s not important. What is important is that we go and sit at each other's table, especially the Slytherians. We have to talk to each other out of classes. Make friends with our housemates and get them to join us. Show the other houses that Slytherian isn’t all that bad and we can unite the houses. It won’t happen overnight, but I think that it might be possible,” Shikamaru explained the plan. “We should start off simple and just go to the houses of our teammates. I think that since Team 7 isn’t fully here Fox can take Naruto’s place for now,” Shikamaru suggested.

Saskue and Sakura agreed, as they didn’t see any flaws in that plan, while Fox just glared at the sneaky Nara.

You should agree to his plan!

‘Of course you would want me to agree to his plan. You two are just trying to team up against me,’ Naruto said to Kurama.

We sure are!

“I, no matter how much I hate to say it, I agree with his plan,” Naruto said as Shikamaru and Ino both gave him a nod of approval.

“Then that’s settled. We’ll put the plan fully into motion starting at dinner,” Shikamaru said and with that they all dispersed and went to their own house tables for breakfast.

“Where have you lot been?” Draco asked as the three slytherins sat down at the table.

“Sorry. I forgot something in the common room and these two offered to walk back with me,” Ino lied smoothly.

“Well you got here just in time. Snapes handing out our time tables,” Blasie said as they looked towards the potions professor walking around the table, towards the fifth years.

After a few minutes of Snape walking around and handing out the pieces of parchment, while glaring at the three ninjas at his table, all of the fifth years got their schedule.

“Snape must really not like you three,” Theodore said as the ninjas looked at him confused. “All I mean is that he hasn't even had you in his class yet and he’s already glaring at you. He usually only does that to the other houses.”

“Look at this herbology with the Hufflepuffs, double potions with the Gryffindors, then a free period, then it’s double defense with the Gryffindors. Not a bad day, it could be worse,” Draco said as he put his time table down. “What about the rest of you?” Draco asked.

“Me and Nott have Divination instead of a free hour,” said Blaise, “I’m not fully sure about the girls.

“Seems like mine is the same as Pansy’s and the rest of the girls,” said Ino as she glared at the girls, already not liking them.

“Rama and I seem to have the same schedule as you Draco. Dumbledore must have put us in the same classes so that way we would be with the prefect,” Shikamaru said, while also boosting the young Malfoy’s ego.

Not too long after the bell rang and they all raced to their first class.

Herbology was interesting to the ninja’s. Shikamaru and Naruto could both tell that all of their medics, in and out of training, were loving learning more about the plants and what they could do. The only thing wrong with the class was all of the stunts the Slytherians pulled on the Hufflepuffs.

Next was double potions. The ninja’s could now see what all the fuss was about with Snape’s class. The man was actually a good teacher, he was just prejudice to his own house. He also took every moment to mock Harry. It didn’t help that the slytherins joined in on the fun with messing up the other houses' potions. Naruto knew that if their plan was going to work something had to be done about their behavior.

Finally it was time for their free period, not fully knowing what to do they followed Draco, Crabble, and Goyle around. He didn’t seem to mind, he actually just basked in the attention and if you asked the ninjas it was kinda annoying.

They would have to try and fix how Malfoy acts as well.

It wasn't long and their small group was grabbing their stuff from the common room to go have double defense with the lions..

When they entered the class Umbridge was already their. She was wearing the same pink cardigan from last night with a hideous black bow on top of her head.

Everyone was joking with their friends as they walked into the classroom, but as soon as they did the mood seemed to drop.

“Well, good afternoon!” she said when finally the whole class had sat down.

A few people mumbled “Good afternoon,” in reply, but many seemed to want to just keep their heads down.

“Tut, tut,” said Professor Umbridge. “That won’t do, now, will it? I should like you, please, to reply ‘Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge.’ One more time, please. Good afternoon, class!”

“Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge,” they chanted back at her, a few not even speaking just mouthing the words, mostly the ninja in the room

“There, now,” said Professor Umbridge sweetly. “That wasn’t too difficult, was it? Wands away and quills out, please.”

At the order wands away students gave gloomy and confused looks to each other. None of them have ever been told to put their wands away before as if they lesson had nothing to do with magic, but they listened and did as their teacher said.

Professor Umbridge opened her handbag, extracted her own wand, which was an unusually short one, and tapped the blackboard sharply with it; words appeared on the board at once:

Defense Against the Dark Arts

A Return to Basic Principles

“Well now, your teaching in this subject has been rather disrupted and fragmented, hasn’t it?” stated Professor Umbridge, turning to face the class with her hands clasped neatly in front of her. “The constant changing of teachers, many of whom do not seem to have followed any Ministry-approved curriculum, has unfortunately resulted in your being far below the standard we would expect to see in your O.W.L. year. You will be pleased to know, however, that these problems are now to be rectified. We will be following a carefully structured, theory-centered, Ministry-approved course of defensive magic this year. Copy down the following, please.”

She rapped the blackboard again; the first message vanished and was replaced by:

Course aims:

Understanding the principles underlying defensive magic.
Learning to recognize situations in which defensive magic can legally be used.
Placing the use of defensive magic in a context for practical use.

Almost immediately the sound of quills scratching on parchment filled the room. The ninja’s were giving each other weird looks, but they all knew how to act undercover so they listened along with the rest of the students and started to write.

When she saw that  everyone had copied down the three course aims she spoke, “Has everybody got a copy of Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard?”

There was a dull murmur of yes throughout the class, but no one fully answered.

“I think we’ll try that again,” said Professor Umbridge. “When I ask you a question, I should like you to reply ‘Yes, Professor Umbridge,’ or ‘No, Professor Umbridge.’ So, has everyone got a copy of Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard?”

“Yes, Professor Umbridge,” rang through the room, the ninja still mouthing the answer. They won’t give her the satisfaction of giving her a verbal response.

“Good,” said Professor Umbridge. “I should like you to turn to page five and read chapter one, ‘Basics for Beginners.’ There will be no need to talk.”

Once she was done speaking and saw that everyone has opened her book she decided to go and sit in her chair behind her desk to watch over her students quietly.

After a few minutes of silence, the ninja’s didn't even open their books. Shikamaru decided that now would be a good time to take a nap, Naruto was having a lovely chat with Kurama on how to torture the old toad, while Ino looked like she was taking a nap, but was really just using her jutsu to gather information on the other students.

Lee was trying to calmly stretch, while not being too obvious about it, Kiba looked to be drawing, what looked to be a not very good piece of art, in his textbook, and TenTen was turning her quill into a lethal weapon, not obviously, of course.

What really was catching most of the students attention in this class though was the fact that Hermione was raising her hand, the book not even open and Umbridge seemed to be doing her best to ignore the ever present hand in the air.

When more than half the class were staring at Hermione rather than at their books, Professor Umbridge seemed to decide that she could ignore the situation no longer.

“Did you want to ask something about the chapter, dear?” she asked Hermione, as though she had only just noticed her.

“Not about the chapter, no,” said Hermione.

“Well, we’re reading just now,” said Professor Umbridge, showing her small, pointed teeth. “If you have other queries we can deal with them at the end of class.”

“I’ve got a query about your course aims,” said Hermione.

Professor Umbridge raised her eyebrows. “And your name is — ?”

“Hermione Granger,” said Hermione.”

“Well, Miss Granger, I think the course aims are perfectly clear if you read them through carefully,” said Professor Umbridge in a voice of determined sweetness.

“Well, I don’t,” said Hermione bluntly. “There’s nothing written up there about using defensive spells.”

There was a short silence in which many members of the class turned their heads to frown at the three course aims still written on the blackboard. The ninjas, or at least the awake ones were starting to find this interesting and wanted to see where it goes before they intervened.

“Using defensive spells?” Professor Umbridge repeated with a little laugh. “Why, I can’t imagine any situation arising in my classroom that would require you to use a defensive spell, Miss Granger. You surely aren’t expecting to be attacked during class?”

“We’re not going to use magic?” Ron ejaculated loudly.

“Students raise their hands when they wish to speak in my class, Mr. — ?”

“Weasley,” said Ron, thrusting his hand into the air.

Professor Umbridge, smiling still more widely, turned her back on him. Harry and Hermione immediately raised their hands too. Professor Umbridge’s pouchy eyes lingered on Harry for a moment before she addressed Hermione.

“Yes, Miss Granger? You wanted to ask something else?”

“Yes,” said Hermione. “Surely the whole point of Defense Against the Dark Arts is to practice defensive spells?”

“Are you a Ministry-trained educational expert, Miss Granger?” asked Professor Umbridge in her falsely sweet voice.

“No, but —”

“Well then, I’m afraid you are not qualified to decide what the ‘whole point’ of any class is. Wizards much older and cleverer than you have devised our new program of study. You will be learning about defensive spells in a secure, risk-free way —”

“What use is that?” said Harry loudly. “If we’re going to be attacked it won’t be in a —”

“Hand, Mr. Potter!” sang Professor Umbridge.

Harry thrust his fist in the air. Professor Umbridge promptly turned away from him again, but now several other people had their hands up too, including some of the Ninjas.

“And your name is?” Professor Umbridge said to Dean.

“Dean Thomas.”

“Well, Mr. Thomas?”

“Well, it’s like Harry said, isn’t it?” said Dean. “If we’re going to be attacked, it won’t be risk-free —”

“I repeat,” said Professor Umbridge, smiling in a very irritating fashion at Dean, “do you expect to be attacked during my classes?”

“No, but —”

Professor Umbridge talked over him, “I do not wish to criticize the way things have been run in this school,” she said, an unconvincing smile stretching her wide mouth, “but you have been exposed to some very irresponsible wizards in this class, very irresponsible indeed — not to mention,” she gave a nasty little laugh, “extremely dangerous half-breeds.”

“If you mean Professor Lupin,” piped up Dean Thomas angrily, “he was the best we ever —”

“Hand, Mr. Thomas! As I was saying — you have been introduced to spells that have been complex, inappropriate to your age group, and potentially lethal. You have been frightened into believing that you are likely to meet Dark attacks every other day —”

“No we haven’t,” Hermione said, “we just —”

“Your hand is not up, Miss Granger!”

Hermione put up her hand; Professor Umbridge turned away from her. “It is my understanding that my predecessor not only performed illegal curses in front of you, he actually performed them on you —”

“Well, he turned out to be a maniac, didn’t he?” said Dean Thomas hotly. “Mind you, we still learned loads —”

“Your hand is not up, Mr. Thomas!” trilled Professor Umbridge. “Now, it is the view of the Ministry that a theoretical knowledge will be more than sufficient to get you through your examination, which, after all, is what school is all about. And your name is?” she added, staring at Parvati, whose hand had just shot up.

“Parvati Patil, and isn’t there a practical bit in our Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L.? Aren’t we supposed to show that we can actually do the countercurses and things?”

“As long as you have studied the theory hard enough, there is no reason why you should not be able to perform the spells under carefully controlled examination conditions,” said Professor Umbridge dismissively.

“Without ever practicing them before?” said Parvati incredulously. “Are you telling us that the first time we’ll get to do the spells will be during our exam?”

“I repeat, as long as you have studied the theory hard enough —”

“And what good’s theory going to be in the real world?” said Harry loudly, his fist in the air again.

Professor Umbridge looked up.

The ninjas might have a lot of bad and good things to say about the school and this teacher, but one thing is right is that the real world is a lot harder than the school.

“This is school, Mr. Potter, not the real world,” she said softly.

“So we’re not supposed to be prepared for what’s waiting out there?”

“There is nothing waiting out there, Mr. Potter.”

“Oh yeah?” said Harry. His temper, which seemed to have been bubbling just beneath the surface all day, was reaching boiling point. The ninjas figured that now would be a good time to intervene but no matter what they did they couldn’t get the attention from Harry to them.

“Who do you imagine wants to attack children like yourselves?” inquired Professor Umbridge in a horribly honeyed voice.

“Hmm, let’s think . . .” said Harry in a mock thoughtful voice, “maybe Lord Voldemort?”

Ron gasped; Lavender Brown uttered a little scream; Neville slipped sideways off his stool. Professor Umbridge, however, did not flinch. She was staring at Harry with a grimly satisfied expression on her face.

Hermione however noticed that when Harry said the name the ninjas gave no reaction. To her it seemed like they either didn’t know who he was or they just weren’t scared of him.

“Ten points from Gryffindor, Mr. Potter.”

The classroom was silent and still. Everyone was staring at either Umbridge or Harry.

“Now, let me make a few things quite plain.” Professor Umbridge stood up and leaned toward them, her stubby-fingered hands splayed on her desk.

“You have been told that a certain Dark wizard has returned from the dead —”

“He wasn’t dead,” said Harry angrily, “but yeah, he’s returned!”

“Mr. Potter, you have already lost you House ten points do not make matters worse for yourself,” said Professor Umbridge in one breath without looking at him. “As I was saying, you have been informed that a certain Dark wizard is at large once again. This is a lie.”

“It is NOT a lie!” said Harry. “I saw him, I fought him!”

“Detention, Mr. Potter!” said Professor Umbridge triumphantly. “Tomorrow evening. Five o’clock. My office. I repeat, this is a lie. The Ministry of Magic guarantees that you are not in danger from any Dark wizard. If you are still worried, by all means come and see me outside class hours. If someone is alarming you with fibs about reborn Dark wizards, I would like to hear about it. I am here to help. I am your friend. And now, you will kindly continue your reading. Page five, ‘Basics for Beginners.”

Professor Umbridge sat down behind her desk again. Harry, however, stood up. Everyone was staring at him; Seamus looked half-scared, half-fascinated.

“Harry, no!” Hermione whispered in a warning voice, tugging at his sleeve, but Harry jerked his arm out of her reach.

“So, according to you, Cedric Diggory dropped dead of his own accord, did he?” Harry asked, his voice shaking.

There was a collective intake of breath from the class, for none of them, apart from Ron and Hermione, had ever heard Harry talk about what had happened on the night that Cedric had died. They stared avidly from Harry to Professor Umbridge, who had raised her eyes and was staring at him without a trace of a fake smile on her face.

“Cedric Diggory’s death was a tragic accident,” she said coldly.

“It was murder,” said Harry. He could feel himself shaking. He had hardly talked to anyone about this, least of all thirty eagerly listening classmates. “Voldemort killed him, and you know it.”

“Professor Umbridge’s face was quite blank. For a moment he thought she was going to scream at him. Then she said, in her softest, most sweetly girlish voice, “Come here, Mr. Potter, dear.”

He kicked his chair aside, strode around Ron and Hermione and up to the teacher’s desk. He could feel the rest of the class holding its breath. He felt so angry he did not care what happened next.

Professor Umbridge pulled a small roll of pink parchment out of her handbag, stretched it out on the desk, dipped her quill into a bottle of ink, and started scribbling, hunched over so that Harry could not see what she was writing. Nobody spoke. After a minute or so she rolled up the parchment and tapped it with her wand; it sealed itself seamlessly so that he could not open it.

“Take this to Professor McGonagall, dear,” said Professor Umbridge, holding out the note to him.

He took it from her without saying a word and left the room, not even looking back at Ron and Hermione, and slamming the classroom door shut behind him. He walked very fast along the corridor, the note to McGonagall clutched tight in his hand.

Before she sat back down she looked up to the rest of her class, “Does anyone else have anything they would like to add?”

“Yeah actually I do. We came to this school because we wanted to learn how people in Europe do magic and was told that Hogwarts would be the best choice for us. Are you going back on the deal that your government made with my country to teach us magic? We're not only here to learn we are also here as a way to make peace and alliances with foreign affairs,” Naruto told her and that statement alone made her skin go white.

“I assure you that you will get the best education of your life here at Hogwarts and you will learn plenty of magic,” she said, trying to please him, as she spoke she walked toward him.

“Oh really cause right now all that I see is this class being taught by a bitch covered in pink,” Naruto said, and that really did make the class gasp.

“Detention Mr.-” she didn’t know what to say as he never raised his hand.

“I said that for now my last name would be Fox,” Naruto answered, and everyone could tell that she did not like that answer.

“Detention! Mr.Fox!,” She screamed at him as he got up, as he stood up she saw the other two Slyhtherian Ninjas.

“I’m not done talking yet,” Fox said and it caused every to look at him surprised.

“This conversation is over Mr.Fox,” Umbridge said, but Narutop was not having it.

“Actually it’s not. You said that their is nothing waiting out there in the real world but I want to fight you on that,” Naruto told her.

“I have already said my peace on He-Who -Shall-Not-Be-Named,” Umbridge spoke confidently.

“I’m not talking about him,” Naruto said and she seemed shocked. “I’m talking about havig a nice day out in the town when someone decides to rob you at wand point taking all the belonging you have on you and if you’re lucky leaving you alive. How about having a night out with your friends and one of you goes to the bathroom and never returns because someone kidnapped them. How about a child that’s to scared to go home for fear of what their parents might do to them. Are you saying that those things only happen in the real world and will not happen as we remain in our school years,” Naruto questioned her.

“I-I-I,” Umbridge triend to think of a response but couldn’t so Naruto just walked up the her and grabbed the pink slip, happy that he said his peace.

“Detention to the two of them as well for sleeping in class!” she shouted as she got out of her shock and went back to her desk and wrote up pink slips for the other two of them to take to Snape, after of course Naruto woke both of them up.

As the three ninjas walked outside of the classroom, each holding a pink slip, they spotted Potter being harrassed by Peeves.

“Oh, most think he’s barking, the Potty wee lad,

But some are more kindly and think he’s just sad,

But Peevesy knows better and says that he’s mad —”

“SHUT UP!,” he yelled as he started to run, the ninjas following him.

A door to the left flew open and Professor McGonagall emerged from her office looking grim and slightly harassed.

“What on earth are you shouting about, Potter? Oh and look at who you dragged with you” she snapped, as Peeves cackled gleefully and zoomed out of sight and Harry turned around to spot the three ninjas.

“Why aren’t you all in class?”

“I’ve been sent to see you,” said Harry stiffly, “I don’t know about them.”

“Sent? What do you mean, sent?”

He held out the note from Professor Umbridge. Professor McGonagall took it from him, frowning, slit it open with a tap of her wand, stretched it out, and began to read. Her eyes zoomed from side to side behind their square spectacles as she read what Umbridge had written, and with each line they became narrower.

“Come here, Potter, and you three as well”

They all followed her inside her study. The door closed automatically behind Ino, as she was the last to enter.

“Well?” said Professor McGonagall, rounding on Harry. “Is this true?”

“Is what true?” Harry asked, rather more aggressively than he had intended. “Professor?” he added in an attempt to sound more polite.

“Is it true that you shouted at Professor Umbridge?”

“Yes,” said Harry.

“You called her a liar?”

“Yes.”

“You told her He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is back?”

“Yes.”

Professor McGonagall sat down behind her desk, frowning at Harry. Then she said, “Have a biscuit, Potter.”

“Have — what?”

“Have a biscuit,” she repeated impatiently, indicating a tartan tin of cookies lying on top of one of the piles of papers on her desk. “And sit down all of you.”

There had been a previous occasion when Harry, expecting to be caned by Professor McGonagall, had instead been appointed by her to the Gryffindor Quidditch team. He sank into a chair opposite her and helped himself to a Ginger Newt, feeling just as confused and wrong-footed as he had done on that occasion.

Professor McGonagall set down Professor Umbridge’s note and looked very seriously at Harry.

“Potter, you need to be careful.”

Harry swallowed his mouthful of Ginger Newt and stared at her. Her tone of voice was not at all what he was used to; it was not brisk, crisp, and stern; it was low and anxious and somehow much more human than usual.”

“Misbehavior in Dolores Umbridge’s class could cost you much more than House points and a detention.”

“What do you — ?”

“Potter, use your common sense,” snapped Professor McGonagall, with an abrupt return to her usual manner. “You know where she comes from, you must know to whom she is reporting.”

The bell rang for the end of the lesson. Overhead and all around came the elephantine sounds of hundreds of students on the move.

“It says here she’s given you detention every evening this week, starting tomorrow,” Professor McGonagall said, looking down at Umbridge’s note again.

“Every evening this week!” Harry repeated, horrified. “But, Professor, couldn’t you — ?”

“No, I couldn’t,” said Professor McGonagall flatly.

“But —”

“She is your teacher and has every right to give you detention. You will go to her room at five o’clock tomorrow for the first one. Just remember: Tread carefully around Dolores Umbridge.”

“But I was telling the truth!” said Harry, outraged. “Voldemort’s back, you know he is, Professor Dumbledore knows he is —”

“For heaven’s sake, Potter!” said Professor McGonagall, straightening her glasses angrily (she had winced horribly when he had used Voldemort’s name). “Do you really think this is about truth or lies? It’s about keeping your head down and your temper under control!”

She stood up, nostrils wide and mouth very thin, and he stood too. “Have another biscuit,” she said irritably, thrusting the tin at him.

“No, thanks,” said Harry coldly.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she snapped.

He took one.“Thanks,” he said grudgingly.

“Didn’t you listen to Dolores Umbridge’s speech at the start-of-term feast, Potter?,” She asked.

“We sure did,” Shikamaru said, making McGonagall shake her head at them in approval.

“Yeah,” said Harry. “Yeah . . . she said . . . progress will be prohibited or . . . well, it meant that . . . that the Ministry of Magic is trying to interfere at Hogwarts.”

Professor McGonagall eyed him for a moment, then sniffed, walked around her desk, and held open the door for him.

“Well, I’m glad you listen to Hermione Granger at any rate and listen to our guest if they do tell you something. Their not here to hurt you their here to help you,” she said, pointing him out of her office.

“Now you three need to go give these to Professor Snape, and here’s a letter from me telling him that I already had a talk to you,” she said sternly as she handed each of them a letter and the pink slips back.

It was when the ninja’s were on their way to see Snape that they got stopped by Draco Malfoy.

“You three stop,” he called out as he ran towards them.

“Whadday want?” Naruto asked him.

“I have a note here from Umbridge to give to Snape about you three,” he says as he holds up the pink slip of paper. “You’re lucky that Umbridge is a good family friend of my fathers. I was able to lessen your detention with her,” Draco said.

“That’s nice and all,” Ino started to say, but was interrupted by Shikamaru, “but why are you helping us?”

“Well because we Slyherians have to stick together,” was the blonde’s simple reply.

“Yeah but you don’t know us. Why would you help us,” Naruto asked him confused.

“You really don’t get it do you?” Draco asked them as all three ninjas looked confused and just shrugged their shoulders. They were starting to get a basic understanding on how the houses worked, but if he was going to offer to explain it fully to them then they weren’t going to complain.

“Alright grab a small snack at lunch and meet me outside in the courtyard, I’ll be with the other Slytherians and we’ll give you a rundown,” Draco said as they all heard a bell ring. “For now though I’ll go and give those slips to Snape,” he said as he took the slips out of their hands.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Third PersonIt was lunch and the three ninjas did as they instructed and grabbed a small snack and found Draco and the group of Slytherins outside underneath a tall oak tree, hiding from the sunlight.“Took you three long enough,” Draco said as they sat down with the group.“Well, we are new here. It was troublesome just to find this place,” Shikamaru says as he lays down and uses Naruto as a pillow without even asking.“You can’t just use me as a pillow,” Naruto said to him as Ino starts to smile.“I think he actually has a right to use you as a pillow, plus you know his favorite thing to do is watch the clouds,” Ino comments, but frowns as she sees him take his pack of cigarettes out of his pocket.“Wha-,” he asks as he looks to see Ino glaring at him.“You know those are bad for you,” she says as he rolls his eyes.“Why do you have those anyway?” Pansy asks him.“Aren’t they just a dumb muggle habit?” Daphne asked.“It’s just a hobby to help me remember and honor a friend of mine,” Shikamaru says as the other two ninjas become quiet. The Slytherins didn’t know what that meant but could tell from the other two reactions that it wasn't something good.“Aren’t you supposed to be telling us how the school works or something,” Shikamaru suggests to erase the awkwardness.“Oh yeah!” Draco says as he starts to explain.”I love what you did in UmBitch’s class, but I would try to keep that to a minimum no matter how right you are, but onto the explanation, I’m going to assume that you already know about Voldemort,” Draco says as he looks towards them.“Old snake face guy. Yeah we know him,” Naruto says as the Slytherins give him crazy looks.“Well a long time ago when he was just a kid he got put into our house. He was a Slytherin and it was thanks to him that we have the bad reputation that we have now. Other houses will try to put us down so we have to show them that we’re not weak. Show them that you’re better, stronger, wiser, braver. If you see someone from the younger years getting picked on we have to stop it. People are going to look down on us for being in Slytherin for the rest of our lives, and now your lives, you might as well get used to it,” Draco tells them.“Can’t be that bad,” Naruto says with a shrug.You can’t just say that Kit.‘Well why not! It’s true!’Yes, but these are only school children. This was the biggest thing they had to worry about until war started to loom over them.‘Alright, I’ll try to be nicer.’“What do you mean not that bad?” Theo asks, confused.“I mean, Theo has a point. Your Hogwarts house is something that everyone is going to judge you on for the rest of your lives. People are mostly prejudiced towards us, and we do nothing to stop it, and in turn, we become prejudiced ourselves,” Blaze added, glancing at Shikamaru who looks to have fallen asleep after finishing his muggle habit.“People already judge me for things that I can’t control. I’m used to it,” is all that Naruto says as Ino gives him a sad look.“Nar-Rama I’m sorry,” Ino spoke suddenly that Naruto turned towards her, his face shocked with surprise.“Why are you sorry?” he asked her confused.“Because I was always so mean to you when we were younger. You were dead last and I did nothing. Now here you are a completely different person from back then and I have to be blamed for at least a little bit of it. Someone should’ve noticed and helped you out, but no one did. I was one of the ones to even ignore you,” Ino told him sadly.“Ino you don’t have to apologize-,” he started to say, not wanting to have this talk in front of a bunch of strangers.“But she does,” Shikamaru says suddenly, shocking Blaze and a few other Slytherins who thought that he was asleep. “We all need to apologize to you all-rookie 9 of us, not to mention Neji and his team, and our senses.”“I still don’t understand why you and them would all need to apologize,” Naruto said back to him.It’s because they want you to understand that their your friends and you can trust them‘Not with this again Kurama.’It’s not me suggesting it this time“Look at you!” Ino shouts as she stands up and glares at him, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.“What about me?” Naruto asks.“You don’t understand that this isn’t you! That’s not your hair, your face, your clothes, or even your name! You’re just putting on a show for everyone, including yourself, but here’s the thing,” she says as she stops screaming her face splattered with a few tears that escaped. “We don’t want you to put on your show alone, so please let us help?” she asked him.Crab and Goyle at this point looked really confused and Draco could tell that they were both about to open their mouths, but he was luckily able to stop them before they got the chance.“Ino I-,” Naruto tried to speak, but she wouldn’t let him.“No! I’m pissed at you right now,” she continued her rant. “I’ve walked by Sakura at least five times today and you have no idea how hard it’s been for me to not tell my best friend that the person she sees as a brother is right here in front of her instead of being left alone at home. She thinks that you're bored out of your mind and torturing home with another prank just so you can write to us with a funny story,” she finished as she marched away to go find her pink-haired friend.“Troublesome blonde,” Shikamaru said as he sat up to release Naruto from his pillow duties. “She’s right you know,” he says as he stares towards the shocked blonde.Naruto just shook his head yes as he got up to walk away and take some time to think. “Don’t forget that you have detention today!” Shikamaru shouts to him as he receives a thumbs up in return.“That was. . . an interesting conversation,” Pansy said as the others agreed and Shikamaru sighed as he was left with the group of clueless Slytherins.“It’s his own damn fault. Ino is just able to get it through his thick skull easier, especially when she's mad,” Shikamaru explains.“Are you okay their pal,” Theodore asks him as he takes note of the frightened look on Shikamaru’s face.“Fine. There's just nothing scarier than when the women from back home are mad at you,” was his response as he continued to eat his food,Naruto was walking in a random direction when Kurama appeared beside him.“You’re quiet,” the demon fox says as they take a left down an empty corridor.“It’s just that, Ino didn’t even know me that well and yet she’s mad and blames herself for the way I am today.”“And?” Kurama asked, knowing that his kit wants to continue.“Well, it’s just. I feel bad. Like it was my fault that she’s upset. She had tears, Rama. Tears! That means that I made her cry,” Naruto mumbled to himself, but loud enough that the fox could still hear.“It’s a part of having friends. You don’t want to make them cry, or be worried,” Kurama tells him, and it makes Naruto stop in his tracks.“Rama?” Naruto asks.“Yes,” Kurama responds to his question, waiting patiently for his sealer to decide on his wording.“I- I think that I’m starting to understand what a friend truly is,” Naruto told him, happy that he has free hours till dinner thanks to Dumbledore, side note is that he has to go and carefully put protective seals around the school without anyone knowing.“Does this mean that you’re going to tell the others?” Kurama asked as the two walked up some stairs.“I want to. I just. I don’t want to make anyone feel what Ino felt today. She was really pissed at me and she barely knew me. Imagine what will happen when I tell Sasuke and Sakura.”“When are you going to tell them?” Kurama asked him.“I’m going to do my detention and then I’ll tell Sasuke and Sakura after our nightly meeting. For now, we got seals to put up,” Naruto said as he realized they walked high up in the castle.Noticing that everyone was back inside he jumped down, using Chakra to protect himself, as he landed safely and went to set up the seals.XXXXTIMESKIPXXXXWith the Seals finished and Naruto showered he met in the Great Hall with the other Slytherins for Dinner.As he sat down he could hear all the conversation going on about what happened in Defense earlier that day with Harry. When Naruto looked over to the table of the lions he could see the angry emotions on Harry’s face and felt sorry for the guy.“What is with school children and rumors?” Naruto whispered to himself, but he was sure as he sat down that a few Slytherins and his two fellow ninjas heard him.“They have nothing else to entertain their lives with, so instead they use it to entertain themselves with other people’s lives,” Blaize answered him as Naruto showed a shocked face that someone answered him.“Blaize despises rumors,” Theo said as he grabbed a slice of fruit to add to his plate.“I can agree with that,” Naruto said as he added some chicken to his plate.“You got something against rumors Fox?” Draco asked as he addressed Naruto in his only known last name.“All they do is tear people down. They turn good people bad, and make people make stupid decisions,” Naruto answered calmly, and Draco seemed to appreciate his answer.“What kind of stupid decisions are we talking about in this scenario?” Draco asked, wanting to see how Fox would respond.“Take for instance Harry over there,” Naruto said as he pointed with his fork to the lone survivor of the killing curse. as he talked he was also sneaking small pieces of meat so one of his fox summonses who was hiding under the table.“What about ‘em,” Crab asked rudely.“Well let's say that Harry commits sucicide over all of these rumors that everybody spreads about him, I don’t think it’s likely with Dumbledore watching over him, but think about if he did. Rightfully the student body and the papers are going to be blamed, but they didn’t control Harry in the moments before taking his own life. Those actions were his own so it would be his own fault for killing himself,” Naruto explained, suddenly getting the Slytherins, and his fellow ninja’s attention.“You think suicide is a coward’s way out?” Theo asked him, in a curious way to see how the redhead will answer.“Cowards leave the fight, but those who are brave will stay and fight till the very end,” Shikamaru said, entering the conversation“That I can agree with,” Blaize said as he knocked his drink with Shikamaru’s.As they finished their conversation, Naruto noticed how the Golden Trio, with its three extras, walked out of the Great Hall"I guess detention is starting soon," Naruto said as he stood up from the table and followed the two out, Shikamaru not far behind him.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Third Person

“You two can go on ahead,” Naruto told his two housemates as they walked to the defense classroom for their detention.

“Are you sure?” Ino asked him, wanting to spend more time with this new Naruto who she hasn’t gotten to know very well.

“Yeah I’m sure. I’ll be right behind you,” Naruto said as the two shook their heads. The Nara mumbling a quite troublesome as he grabbed a cigarette to take a few puffs before they reached the teacher’s classroom.

“You really need to stop that stupid habit,” Ino said as Shikamaru waved her words off, the two walking ahead.

“Why’d you want them to go ahead,” Kurama asked, appearing beside him.

“I just wanted a few minutes to think on what to tell Sasku and Sakura. Their like my siblings and I don’t want to hurt them,” Naruto explained.

“I imagine that Saskue will be at least a little angry, but that’s just how Uchiha's are. You’re gonna have to give him time to let off some steam and then he’ll come back as your friend again. Sakura will be a little sad and mad as well, but she’s grown a lot since you were all placed on a team together. You're just going to have to give them time,” Kurama told him as he stood in front of Naruto and looked him in the eye.

“Thanks Kurama,” Naruto said as the two walked right in front of the door to the bitchy toad’s office.

“Good luck kit. Remember I’ll be here with you,” Kurama said as he went back into his seal and Naruto knocked on the door.

“Come in,” a sugary voice of the toad said as Naruto opened the door. “Good evening Mister Fox. Glad for you to join us,” she said as Naruto noticed that Harry and his two fello ninjas were already there.

“Sorry I was almost late Professor. I got lost on the road to life,” Naruto told her as she gave a sickly smile towards him, clearly she was not happy with his excuse.

“Take a seat Mister Fox. Tonight you will all be writing lines,” Umbitch said as she grabbed a long thin box from her desk. As she opened the box it had red velvet and a place for ten quills that were all still their.

“You won’t be needing your quills, for you will be using mine. Please take oneeach,” she said as she passed the box to each of them.

From the way she acted as Harry grabbed his quill, he must’ve already started this night off bad.

“Now Mister Potter will write ‘I must not tell lies’, Mister Nara and Miss Yamanaka you will both write ‘I must not sleep in class’ and finally Mister Fox you will write, ‘I must not use such language and I will respect my teachers’,” The pink monster said with a smile.

She bent over a stack of parchment that looked like essays for marking. Harry raised the sharp black quill, then realised what was missing.

“You haven’t given us any ink”’ he said.

“Oh, you won’t need ink,” said Professor Umbridge, with the merest suggestion of a laugh in her voice.

“How many times?” Ino asked, not liking where this was going.

“Oh, as long as it takes for the message to sink in,” said Umbridge sweetly. “Off you go. “

They all decided to start writing and after a few scratches Harry started to hiss in pain.

“Did you say something dear?” Umbridge asked cruely.

“Nothing.” Harry said. All the ninja’s understood what he was doing. In that moment they all agreed that they weren’t going to give her the satisfaction of hearing them scream in pain.

After about ten minutes of writing Umbridge started to inspect their hands and Naruto had a problem.

‘Rama you have to let my hand bleed,’ Naruto told the demon within him.

Hell No! I’m not about to let that bitch hurt you!

‘You have to if you want to leave her office. Thanks to Draco, our detention only last one day. Not a week like Harrys. Just let my hand bleed some and you can heal it when we leave,’ Naruto reasoned with him.

Fine!,
The fox agreed, but he did not do it happily.

After she inspected all of their hands she sighed.

“Tut, tut, I don’t seem to have made much of an impression yet,” she said, smiling. “Well, we’ll just have to try again tomorrow evening, won’t we? You may go. As for you three I hope that you have learned your lesson. You may go as well,” She dismissed all four of them.

Harry ran out of there as fast as he could but the three had to catch up to him.

“Will you stop following me!” Harry finally stopped and screamed at them.

“Not till you give me your hand!” Ino demanded.

They saw his confused face but knew that he was in pain. Heck they were all in pain. SUre Kurama even healed Naruto’s hand but he still felt it.

Harry, not wanting to but listening, gave her his hand. He was shocked as her hands glowed green and a warming sensation went through his hand. It sounds cheesy, but like magic his hand started to feel better. It only took a few minutes and it didn’t even look like anything happened.

“I know we don’t have detention with you anymore but we’re going to try to send at least two ninja’s to detention with you every time you have one, so please try not to get anymore. It’s troublesome,” Shikamaru said as he took out the other half of his cancer stick.

“We’ll do our best to make sure that at least one of them is a healer, so that way your hand won’t hurt so much and won’t have that big of a scar once you get out,” Ino told him happily as she grabbed Shikamaru’s hand to start healing that one, worrying about her own hand last.

“The healer’s that we have with us are Ino, as you’ve just seen, Sakura, Hinata, and Choji. Sakura is our best healer as she started first and has the most experience. Hinata, Choji, and Ino, are good as well so don’t feel the need to go right to Sakura unless it’s something truly bad,” Naruto explained to him as Harry shook his head yes.

“Now Ino and Shika will escort you back to your dorm, I have to warn our comrades about these quills,” Naruto spoke as he raced off in the opposite direction.

Once he was far enough away he ran up the walls and found a good spot on the roof. Sitting down and taking in the night air he summoned his current training fox, Max and a scroll, that he started to write in.

“Heyo ani!,” Max shouted as a greeting.

“Hey Max,” Naruto greeted with a smile. “I know it’s late but I need you to do me a favor?” Naruto asked.

“I’m at your command,” Max said happily.

“First I need you to tell Sakura and Saskue that I need to meet them right here in this spot. No one else. Then I need you to bring this scroll to TenTen,” Naruto told him as he finished writing in the scroll and sealed it closed so it can only be opened by her.

“I’m on it!,” Max shouted happily as he grabbed the scroll in his mouth to deliver it.

Naruto didn’t have to wait long before a stoic figure that could only be from an Uchiha approached him.

“You summoned me,” he said, not happy about being out of bed when it was Lee and Kiba’s turn to take watch for the night.

“Not only you. We’re waiting on Sakura as well, but please take a seat,” Naruto offered.

Saskue eyed him wearily, but did as he said. Not even five minutes later did Sakura join them, Max leading her way.

“I bought her, just like you said ani!,” Max said happily as Naruto threw a piece of bacon he had saved in the air for him.

“Thank you. Now go home before Tanaka scratches my eyes out,” Naruto told him as he also offered for Sakura to sit.

“Now that Sakura is here, what did you need us for,” Saskue asked again.

“I need to talk to the both of you about a few things. Let me get through the unplanned things first and then I’ll tell you my true reason for calling you both here,” Naruto explained as they both shook their head in understanding, a small ‘hn’ from Saskue.

“I already sent a scroll to TenTen explaining everything and for her to explain to the other two. Sasuke you will have to explain to your team, the Ravenclaws, and Sakura you will have to explain to your team, the Hufflepuffs. Everytime Harry has detention with umbridge I want at least two ninjas with them and one of them has to be a healer. She is making the students write lines with quills that use your blood causing your hand to bleed and scar with the words that you write and until I know how the other teachers do their detention I want at least one ninja with Harry at every other detention he has. Understood?” Naruto asked them both.

“Understood!” They both said back strongly.

“The other reason, the real reason why I asked you to hear is because I have something to tell you both,” Naruto started, and the way he was saying it picked the other two members of Team seven’s interest.

“I don’t think that there's any right way for me to tell you this so let me just show you,” Naruto said calmly as he put his hand in the sign for release and could feel the genjutsu that he put over himself be lifted. He could feel the two’s shock as they saw his blonder hair and his whisker marks. Naruto opened his eyes and saw his two teammates staring at him with shock and disbelief.

First Person (Naruto)

‘This isn’t going good!,’ I yelled to Kurama as my teammates just stared at me for five minutes without saying a word, just me looking at their shocked faces.

Calm down and give them time to speak first.

“You’ve been Fox all along,” Sakura spoke quietly as I shook my head yes. “You’ve been an ANBU this whole time and didn’t tell us.” I shook my head yes again. I was genuinely surprised when she slapped me across my face.

“YOU IDIOT!” she screamed at me. I knew that she was angry, but I could see the tears threatening to spill down her face. “You didn’t think that you could tell us! We knew that you’ve been off for a while now, but this is what you’ve been doing. You disappear, you never want to hang out, and it’s because you couldn’t tell us that you were an ANBU! I thought that you were bored at home! Did you not trust us!” she shouted at me.

The more she spoke the more ashamed I felt about not telling them, but as she asked if I didn’t trust them my eyes widened. I trust them, that had nothing to do with this. All the years we spent as team seven. All the years. We basically grew up together. I know that I didn’t tell them because I didn’t trust them, because I do. The problem came from my own issues.

As I was shocked at the slap and lost in thought, Sakura was still yelling and crying at me, but now she has fallen to her knees as she looks at me with betrayal and that's when I knew I had to open my mouth. I don’t think I’ll be able to live if I don’t have these two by my side.

“Sakura I swear that the reason I didn’t tell you wasn't because I don’t trust you. I do! I trust both you and Saskue with my life! It was because of my own issues that I had to work out. You two are my family and I’ve been faking a lot of stuff for years, but I’m working past that. I love you! You're my sister and Saskue my brother, but there's always been some things that I’ve never told you,” I explained to her, but as I explained I grew more and more worried about Sasuke, who still hasn’t said a word.

“Sasuke. . .,” I said wearily, trying to not get punched or slapped, again.

“You're telling me that the Naruto I’ve known for years has been a lie?” he asked me, a little too calm.

“No! Not a full lie! My true self did come out quite often, but most of the times of me smiling and being a happy go lucky dork who’s an idiot has been a lie. It was an act that I put on for the villagers to get them to leave me alone. The longer I did it the more it seemed to work, I was only able to put my facade down when I was in ANBU. They and the foxes raised me the more I think about it, so did Team 7. It took me a while and this mission is still helping me find out what true friends are, but I never actually really smiled until I was on team 7,” I explained to them.

“I want a full story, but not now. First I need some time to think,” he said, but he didn’t deny me.

Sakura gave me a hug and said that when I was ready I could tell her the full story as well.

I put my henge back up as I smiled, a true smile. I walked to my dorm and slipped in my bed. For the first time in awhile I felt genuinely tired, but I was too scared of my dreams to sleep.

That’s when Kurama appeared beside me, I guess he could sense how tired I truly was. He laid my head down in his lap and pet my hair, just like how he used to do as a child and he hummed an old song that is probably forgotten

Third person

As Kurama hummed his old song Naruto was on the edge of sleep when he said something that shocked the demon to the core.

“Goodnight Otosan.”

It was barely a whisper but Kurama still heard the young ANBU say it, and thought Kurama would never dream of replacing Naruto’s parents, he would gladly honor them and take pride in raising their son.

“Goodnight watashi no kodomo,” Kurama whispered as Naruto fell fully asleep in the arm of the fox demon.

Otosan - Father

Watashi no kodomo - my child

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

KURAMA'S POV
"Wake up kit," I  murmured as I gently shook Naruto awake."I'm up!" He shouted as he bolted awake, but he just as quickly put his head back under the covers, not wanting to face the world."C'mon kit you have to go to school," I told him, giving me flashbacks to when he was in the academy being forced to watch over Sasuke and all the other clan leaders."Can I just not go today?" He asked and it made me sigh. For such a powerful ninja he's so stubborn. . .and lazy."Kit you have to go. If you ever want Sasuke and Sakura to talk to you again you have to make an effort," I told him as I nudged him with my nose, trying to make him fall off the bed.I swear watching over him sometimes is like watching over a toddler."Can't I be excused for mental health?" He asked me and I had to stifle a laugh as he glared at me."Kit if you were excused for mental health you would’ve never gone to the academy," I told him as he sighed in defeat."I know you're right,” he said as I sat down next to him and he stood up to get ready for the day.“Who all knows I’m me now?” Naruto asked me as he got dressed and we went through the list.“Shikamaru, Ino, Sakura, and Saskue. That leaves Choji, Hinata, Neji, Kiba, Lee, and TenTen,” I told him as he glared at me.“What do you mean that leave? We’re not telling anyone else. At this point everyone is going to know before the month ends!” he exclaimed and I sighed and looked at him in disappointment.“Naruto look at me,” I ordered as I sat upright so we could look each other in the eyes. I’m about to have a serious talk with this boy.As he sat up he seemed to be caught off guard by me calling him by his name, but serious talk time needs serious names.“What is it Kurama?” he asked me, getting serious.“How many people know that you are Fox that are currently on this mission?” I asked him the same question.“Shikamaru, Sasuke, Sakura, and Ino,” he answered me, a little confused.“How many people knew before this mission?” I asked him.“Jiraya-Sensi, Tsunade, Gaara, Tanaka, and you,” Naruto answered honestly, still a little confused, but I’m going to take this question slow until I can get it through his thick skull.“How many did you truly get along with and open up with before this mission?”“Only Gaara, Tanaka, and you. I let Jiraya and Tsunade know the bare minimum. I didn’t want to worry them.“How was your mental health?” I asked him.“Pretty shitty. I took mission after mission after mission, hoping one of them would kill me, but I won’t go down without a fight,” He answered me.“How’s your mental health now that Sasuke, Shikamaru, Sakura, and Ino know?” I asked him as I saw his eyes widen in realization.“I don’t think I would take mission after mission after mission hoping for death anymore. I think that I might be happier,” Naruto answered me with a shocked look on his face.“And that’s all that I’ve wanted for you Kit. For years I begged that you tell someone just so you can be happy and I’ve seen you smile more on this mission, real true smiles, than when you were in the village hiding from your friends.“It’s not like I can just tell the others. They wouldn’t forgive me,” Naruto said as he looked down, a sad look on his face.“Shikamaru and Ino have forgiven you,” I said.“But Sasuke and Sakura haven’t,” he told me, fighting my point.“But they will come around. You haven’t even talked to them since last night. They both just need some time to think. Now get off your lazy ass and get ready for class,” I told him as he laughed.“You’re the lazy one here Kurama,” Naruto grumbled to me, but it worked as he got out of the bed, Shikamaru and Ino waiting for him in the common room.“Hey, I’m gonna go for a run as you go to breakfast,” I told him, as I appeared as a small fox beside him, very easy to hide and conceal myself.“Don’t get into trouble,” he told me with a glare, but I just rolled my eyes as I walked out of the common room, leaving him to answer the questions that the ninjas might have for him.Knowing that Hufflepuff's common room was closer, and Sakura was the more reasonable of the two I decided to visit her, maybe give her a talking-to. Sakura and Sasuke are the only ones I truly have to worry about if they don’t accept the stupid lazy ass kit.With a few hop jump and skips, I was easily able to make my way into the Hufflepuff common room, easily avoiding those who might question a fox walking around.I sensed where Sakura’s bed was and soon found myself sitting on it, waiting for her to return from the bathroom.“Oh great he sent a fox,” Sakura rolled her eyes as she toweled off her hair, sitting on her bed. “Well, where’s the note?”“There is no note. Naru doesn’t know I’m here.”“You’re not the normal summon fox he sends out,” she observed, instantly paying more attention.“No, I’m one of the few who can work outside of his power. I’ve been with Naruto all his life and we need to have a talk. He cares about you. I know you know that and you will easily forgive him, but I want you to understand why he didn’t tell you,” I informed, letting her sit on the bed.“I knew something was wrong with him, but the idea that he’s been keeping this many secrets, that he felt this way. I thought he was my brother, but he just kept lying to me. What does he do run to the sand village of all places,” she complained.“Believe it or not, but I understand how you feel. Naruto didn’t actually trust me as much as he says he did when we first met. He let me heal him, but when I kept trying to train him, he wouldn’t listen to anything I said. I had to fully prove myself and those issues don’t disappear overnight. Gaara was one of the first people he fully trusted with no issue, and that’s only because he could relate so well. They both know what it’s like to walk through their home, their village, and be treated like dirt, like a monster, like a demon.”“Why are you telling me this? I already told him I forgave him, gave him a hug and everything. When he’s ready to talk I’ll be there.”“You’re counting on him wanting to open up. Shikamaru knew since that incident with the boggart and Naruto can still barely tell him anything, and this is him trying.”“Who are you?” she asked.“I’m Rama. I just wanted you to know that Naruto didn’t lie to you when he called you his sister. He was proud of you when you made ANBU. When you got over your crush on Sasuke. He’s proud of you and the journey you went on, just try to give him some slack and maybe talk to Sasuke for him. I’m already going, but with how Uchia’s are they usually need an intervention to get any kind of common sense through their thick head,” Kurama rolled his eyes.“I’ll get Saskue to forgive him, Let Naruto know that I’m happy to hear his story whenever he’s ready, and Rama,” I tilted my head towards her, letting her know she has my full attention as if she ever lost it, “I know you didn’t tell me his story, and that’s okay. I love him and nothing will make him get rid of me. He’s stuck with me,” she ruffled my head before getting up. “Thank you, Rama. Really,” she walked out the door, heading down to meet with the others most likely before going towards breakfast.I wasn’t able to get Sasuke alone till lunch. My guess is that he was trying to actively avoid my attention, but I was able to bite his leg and get him in an unused classroom.“Alright you damn fox I’m here. What does he want now?” he said as if it was poison. As if it would murder him to even mention the kit. I rolled my eyes at him, “Melodramatic much.”“I’m melodramatic. I don’t want to take orders from him, not if he’s been lying!”“He didn’t lie about his skill. Once you started to get better he evenly matched you. I was the one whole told him to hold back so if you want to blame someone then blame me!” I bared my teeth at him.“You say that as if the idiot actually listens to anyone!”“Oh, he listens to me! I worked hard to be where I am in his life. I worked hard to get him where he is and you being a whiny bitch is exactly why he’s afraid to let people in. Shikamaru found out and so did Ino and you know what they're handling it like the adults they are so why do you have to be such a brat!”“Me a brat! I’m not a brat!”“Sure because not letting Naruto explain himself and just wallowing in your own self-pity is definitely not being a brat. He admitted that he’s had a hard life, you’re not the only one who’s had to go through hell at the hands of others! He is fine with you taking your time but when he called you his brother he wasn’t lying to you. You’re actually a lot closer to him than you know and for Naruto that’s big. He wants to tell you about his life, but when he was younger it wasn’t safe. He got used to hiding, he got used to lying, he got used to pretending he was something he was not. This is him trying to open up and be who he truly is. I’ve spent years trying to get him to tell his friends what’s going on with him, but he always feared the negative reactions, kinda like the one you’re giving him now. I’m not saying you have to forgive him right away. I’m just asking to hear him out, let him tell you his story,” I looked at him.“You’re not his normal fox summons are you?” he asked me.“Not at all. I’m the reason he has the summons in the first place. I’m Rama. Whenever you’re ready talk to Sakura. He’s been thinking about what to say and is willing to tell both of you,” I told him before walking outside, giving him something to think about.I easily found Naruto eating lunch with Ino and Shikamaru, a board smile on his face, but a smile nonetheless. “Oh, you’re done with your run. That was a long time,” he said to me as I shrugged and just jumped up on the table, taking the seat beside him, a plate forming in front of me.Third Person“Is that. . .a fox?” Blaise Zabini asked.“He’s mine. Can’t get rid if him even if I wanted to,” Naruto shrugged, grabbing what meat he could to put on Kurama’s plate.“I mean he’s cool looking, but is he safe?” Nott had worry clear on his face.“Safe as a fox can be, just don’t piss him off. I think I’m the only one who can truly push his limits and not get hurt. . .to badly,” Naruto informed them, eating his own food as I growled at him.“What do you want from me you lazy thing,” Naruto matched his growl, as a realization hit him.“Oh yeah. Here’s some water. Sorry Rama,” Naruto filled up a small bowl with some water as Kurama happily ate, the nearby 5th-year Slytherians looking in awe as the ninjas ignored the fox.“Hem hem.”“What now?” Naruto growled, and now that there was an actual fox in front of them, one whose growl matched their classmate, the Slytherians realized how fox-like their new classmate really truly is.“You are aware that animals are not allowed to be at the tables? On the note of animals foxes are not permitted,” Umbridge sing-songed at him.“If you think you can remove him then go ahead. Just be warned that he hates being told what to do,” Naruto shrugged going back to his food, knowing that Umbridge was fuming.It was only because Kurama is a creature of chaos who is also a little shit that he did what he did next. To the amazement of the entire hall, who had gone quiet to watch the exchange, they saw the fox take a big yawn and look toward Naruto. “I’m tired,” and disappeared in thin air.“What happened to him!” the toad shrieked.“He was tired. He left to take a nap if I had to guess. Do you not speak English?” Naruto asked her.“Detention Rama!” she screamed as he sighed, he knew it was going to happen eventually, someone had to be with Harry Potter, but twice in one week. Sighing in defeat he shook his head in understanding. As she angrily marched away the great hall exploded in questions. Naruto made the right decision in running out of there to avoid questions, already on his way to his next class.