The Fox's Son

Chapter 68 - The End?

Once they were far enough away from the group, Naruto spoke to Uncle. "It's good to see you, Shukaku. I was worried about you and the others when I left." he said as the morning set in.

"Actually, I wanted to tell you about that, Naruto." Shukaku said, feeling the young bijuu's eyes on him. "I've only arrived here a few weeks ago."

"How so?" Naruto asked curiously.

"I do not know." Shukaku answered. "I have yet to figure out." he said thoughtfully.

Naruto's eyebrows furrowed at this. "Do you know where?" he inquired.

Shukaku thought for a moment before he answered his nephew. "I remember awakening in a desert." he said. "It was not far from the seas."

"Was it in Japan?" he asked the tanuki.

"Hai. From what I was able to find out, I was some miles south of here." Shukaku said.

"Do you know how you were awakened?" Naruto questioned.

"No. I do not. The only way I could describe it was a pang of energy. As if it recharged me." Shukaku said before turning to his nephew. "However, I am of the belief that it had something to do with your arrival."

Naruto remained silent, processing everything his uncle was telling him. He nodded in agreement with his uncle's assessment. "So why did you not contact me when you awakened or when you arrived?" he asked.

"Well, you seemed occupied at the moment." Shukaku said with a smirk. "Besides, I wanted to see how well you handled the affairs that concern our realm. I must say that you never fail to surprise me, nephew."

Naruto smirked back at the crazy tanuki. "Hn." he responded. "Well I do have an expectation to uphold." he said.

A black clothed figure suddenly emerged from the trees in front of the duo, causing them to stop. Shakuku noticed that the figure was indeed a clone of his nephew and looked at the real Naruto with a questionable gaze. The clone bowed to Naruto as Naruto gave a short bow back in response.

"Have you done what you were tasked?" Naruto asked it.

The clone nodded in affirmation. "Hai." he answered.

"Good." he said. "You are dismissed." Naruto said as the clone dispelled himself. He then turned to Shukaku who was still looking at him questionably. "Shall we go, Uncle?"

"What was that about?" Shukaku inquired.

"Nothing much. Just a little present I left them." Naruto said as he began to quickly run through handsigns. Suddenly, a portal opened in front them. It looked like a black hole with a red halo around it. Before they could step through, a voice caused them to halt their actions and turned around.

"Naruto-sama!" a feminine voice said, capturing the bijuus' attention.

"Kagura?" Naruto said with a bit of surprise as she caught up to them. He turned around to face with an expression of confusion etched across his face. "Why have you come?" he asked. Shukaku just raised an eyebrow at her.