Naruto No Kitsune

Chapter 7 - Unchained

Chapter 7 – Unchained

“Naruto!” Sakura called fruitlessly. She and Sasuke had split up with her going to check the ramen stand, and him Naruto’s apartment.  So far no luck, and Naruto hadn’t left a trail to where he’d gone.  They had no idea where to look next.  “Where could that baka have run off too?”  Of course Sasuke didn’t answer; even if he wanted to he didn’t get the chance.

“Nee-Sakura, what’s going on?”

“Wahhh-don’t scare me like that sensei!” The girl spun around to face the Jonin and he waved his hands.

“Woah Sakura, I was just wondering what you two were doing.”

After her initial shock Sakura burst.  “Naruto’s not at the hospital.”

“Eh, did Tsunade move him?”

“We found the window wide open.” Sasuke said in an obvious tone.  That was all Kakashi needed to know.  He sighed.

“Right then, come on we better find him.”

“We’ve looked everywhere we can think.  His home, Itchiraku’s…”

“How about the training grounds?”

“He wouldn’t have gone off just to trai-” Sakura stopped and Kakashi eye smiled.  If anyone could be that brawn-headed it was Uzumaki Naruto.  A throbbing pulse mark showed up on her head and she spoke with shaky calmness.  “I’m gonna kill him.”

“That might not be necessary if someone else finds him first.  Let’s go.” Kakashi motioned and they followed after him.

***

Naruto breathed in the fresh air from the ground.  He was laying in the shade of a tree after a bit of hard training.  He loved it out here!  Being inside was miserable-he had to get the Old Lady to let him out!  After being outside again he knew he wouldn’t survive if he was trapped in there again.

‘You know they’ll be looking for you.’

‘Heehee-let ‘em try!  Nobodies gonna catch me.’ He grinned not bothering to ignore the fox demon.  It was more fun to have someone to talk to.

Fluttering over head, Naruto notice a red butterfly glide just above his nose.  For some reason it was so pretty he just had to play with it.  Sitting up he followed after the shimmering bug, not noticing he was using both his hands and feet to do so.

‘What are you doing kit?’

‘Just a game.’

He could feel Kyuubi raise his eyebrow but ignored it.  This was his hunt, he didn’t want any distractions.  With a soft growl he crouched down and narrowed his eyes playfully.  Just a little bit further… he leapt forward.

He groped for the creature and almost had it, before he caught his foot on an uplifted tree root.  He tumbled forward.  There was a deep rumbling from inside his mind as Kyuubi laughed.  Indignantly Naruto sat up again.  No way a bug was going to get the better of him.  “Just you watch-I’ll get it this time.”  Once again he crept up on the insect. 

‘Now I’m gonna get ya’!’

He sprang, but before he could catch the little creature something whizzed past his ear scaring it away.  Disappointed his sharp ears picked up the sound of a kunai sinking into tree bark.  He looked up at the one who had thrown it.  Sasuke glared at him.  Kakashi, Sakura and him, had broken up at the train grounds so they could cover more area.  This was the one he’d volunteered to look through.