The Nine-Tailed Human [Tail 2 - Naruto Fan-Fiction]

The Nine-Tailed Human: Chapter 9

"Based on the damage to the terrain, I'd say there was a battle here." Shino observed, receiving a few nods in response.

"It looks as though Sasuke's formed a group," Kakashi exchanged a glance with his tracking hounds, looking to where Kiba and Kitsune were for conformation.

"There are conflicting smells, one is Sasuke, one is the Akatsuki member, and the rest I don't recognize." Kiba huffed from beside Kitsune, seeing her nod beside him. I know one of those smells; she closed her eyes, racking her brain for the person that particular scent belonged to...

"He faked his own death to escape us," Kakashi sighed, running his hand through his hair, his frustration almost tangible. "Akatsuki travel in two-man cells, so there are three members left... we need to-"

"We need to track Sasuke's scent!" Naruto interrupted, waving his arms dramatically in the air.

"We can't," Kakashi placed a hand over his face, "Would you let me finish?"

"Why can't we track him?!" Naruto asked, his arms settling by his side.

"His scent ends here," Kiba interjected, taking a step forward and clasping his hands together in front of him.

"Either he was blown up by the explosion, or he used space-time ninjutsu to escape."  Yamato spoke from beside Kakashi, reminding everyone that he was, in fact, there as well.

"Found him!" Kiba shouted, regaining everyone's attention. "My nose is better than that of a Ninja hound." He bragged, giving Kitsune a quick cocky glance before returning to the group. That red-headed girl! Kitsune finally pin-pointed the source of the familiar smell, the group falling silent to her as the realization hit her.

If we find them... and she points me out... she shivered, feeling Kiba pull her back towards Akamaru, the team beginning to mobilize again.

"Hey, are you doing alright?" Kiba asked, patting Akamaru lightly to get him moving ahead of the team.

"Y-yeah, just fine," She smiled, gripping tightly to Akamaru's fur. "Why do you ask?"

"You seemed really out of it, just making sure you're not going to be a burden." Kiba grinned, feeling Kitsune tense up behind him.

"Did I ever tell you that I think you're worse than a dog?" Kitsune sneered, turning her head to the side and angrily watching the trees blur past them.

"I believe it's been brought up before," He laughed, hearing Kitsune scoff from behind him.

"Whatever," She muttered; puckering her lips and hoping their journey would be over soon.

"This way!" Kiba shouted over her, the group following closely behind them. "Judging by his scent he's not on the move." The group was in silent agreement on closing in on them now, but all Kitsune wanted to do was get off Akamaru and walk away. "Not good" He muttered.

"What's wrong?" Naruto shouted from behind them. His hearing is fantastic; Kitsune chuckled, turning to see that Naruto was all but joking.

"They're on the move and Sasuke's scent is going off in all different directions."

"A diversion," Kakashi yelled, taking a few big bounds to catch up completely with Kiba.

"I'm the only one that can track his scent... what do we do?" Kiba inquired, turning his head slightly to catch Kakashi reaction. You're wrong... I can, too. Kitsune looked around, smelling Karins' scent following the one of the dozen scents they were following.

She jumped off Akamaru, hearing Kiba shouting after here, only to hear Kakashi stop Kiba from following. Good, less of a chance my secret will come out, she kept pace with Karins' scent, her snow white tails flowing behind her.

Found you! With a final leap, she flew into the clearing, the group of three turning to face her as he appeared.

"Y-you!" Karin shouted, pushing her glasses up as they tilted. "What are you doing here?!"

"I'd ask you the same thing," Kitsune sneered, holding her hands up in front of her. "But I have a feeling I already know."

"You can talk?" She gapped at Kitsune, completely oblivious to the situation. "W-wait, are you trying to-" Kitsune launched herself at the group, seeing the white-haired boy move away, practically turning into a puddle of water as he did.

The palm of Kitsune's hand connected with flesh, but not the flesh of the girl she was after, but of the bulky orange haired monster standing nearby. Damnit, she cussed, pushing her other hand forward with the force it would take to stop a man this sized.

"Ah," The monster took a step backwards, the force of her strongest hit only pushing him one footstep backwards. "That almost hurt," He teased, grabbing Kitsune hand and lifting her off the ground effortlessly.

"J-Jugo, stop, put her down!" Karin barked, forcing Jugo to simply let go of Kitsune's arm, her heels hitting the solid ground first and sending a wave of pain up her legs. "What are you doing?" She demanded, balling up her fists at her sides and leaning forward as if to intimidate Kitsune.

"If they find you here and you point me out, my life will be over."

"Why would I point you out, I'm the one that helped you escape," She crossed her arms angrily and tapped her foot, waiting for an answer from Kitsune.

"I... I don't know," Kitsune confessed, seeing the white-haired boy return to his physical form from water a few inches from where Karin stood. "I'm just... I don't want to lose my life."

"So, you're doing better?" Karin inquired, a genuine smile crossing her face for a moment before her in-your-face nature took over. "I knew you would!" She turned her head, feeling the presence of another person nearby. "Sasuke, you're back, I thought-" She stopped, seeing Sasuke's sword drawn and at his side.

"You," He greeted Kitsune, his normally cold tone taking on a trace of anger. "You 'disappeared' before I killed Orochimaru."

"I-"

"You promised," Sasuke interrupted, his voice staying the same volume but to Kitsune was the same as being yelled at. "That you would help me... you broke that promise." He took a step towards Kitsune, moving his sword from his side to the front, pointing at her. "I have no use for untrustworthy people."

"Going to try to kill me?" Kitsune taunted, registering the fearful gazes of his companions that had begun to step away.

"But... I do have a use for the monster you truly are."