A/N: Hey guys pals and gals! I am apologizing early for this chapter, I don't really remember all that went on with this section of the manga/anime and its a little fuzzy, so I'm just winging it since well... I kind of need to. That being said, sorry for the delays and hopefully this chapter was worth the wait! (Also, I apologize for grammatic errors!!)

Breaking tree line, anxiety rose in Fox's chest. This battle could either end quick or bloody and he can't tell which it will be. It's been awhile since he's been in active combat as tense as this and his muscles ache in anticipation. A thirst for battle  heightens his senses above resting point and every sensation in the air becomes known. Oh, how fun this will be.

"Naruto," Lord Jiraiya called, still running behind the boy, "You and Shizune here can go after Orochimaru's henchmen. I'll take care of Tsunade." The tone of voice was stern, and Fox nodded. 

TonTon, who had been following them, hid behind a rock that would act as a fall back point if needed.

As they got closer and closer Fox's mind salivated at the potential for bloodshed, just as it was trained to.

No, Fox thought to himself, shaking away the sensation. He can be better than that. He needs to have better control over himself in situations like this. Why now of all times his mind chooses to go into this mindset baffles even him. It certainly has the element of surprise, every time it had chosen to make itself known it has never been for good. He can be what Lord Danzo wants him to be.

Determined and engaged, Fox prepared for what Shizune might plan to do. He has never fought with her, nor has he ever truly interacted with her. She is unknown and unpredictable- perhaps that's exactly what is needed in this battle. Slipping a simple kunai in his hand, Fox planned to keep his hands as free as possible for the chance at one-on-one combat with this Kabuto character.

A giant gust of smoke billowed in the air. Three of them erupted simultaneously, showing off a snake, a slug, and what Fox recognized as Gamabunta. 

Sliding across the ground, his feet dug up earth as he reached a quick stop. Snapping his head upwards, Fox contemplated how to get Kabuto down from his pedestal along with Orochimaru. Shizune stood behind him and watched the situation with him, both unsure of how to proceed. 

"Naruto" the name sat as a bitter note on his tongue. Why must everyone call him that? Twisting his sight to meet hers, he listened while she filled him in on what she learned in her brief encounter with the man they are supposed to be fighting. 

Huh, internally interested in this fight, Fox felt himself gain a grip on the situation. He needs control in this situation, and he is wanting that so desperately right now–

*

An uncomfortable ringing was sitting in his ear. His vision swayed and head swam. Dust and debris was kicked up around him.

"Impressive" the nine tails remarked, still sleeping in his cage "I thought 'Lord Danzo' trained you better"

Fox didn't know what the hell the creature was talking about. His senses were dialed to 11 and at the same time were dull and quiet. Attempting to move only invited pain to shoot through his limbs. Looking at where the source has mainly accumulated, he saw his right leg pinned under a rock that must have been thrown his way.

His head hurt, and he groaned in slight pain. Blood trickled down from his scalp and his temple. He didn't know what happened, and fright entered his system.

Sitting up, any attempt at making head or tails of the situation backfired and brought only more pain to his already pounding head. His stomach felt like there was a fire set alight in it.

The dust was settling around him and a figure could be made out off in the distance.

With his sights currently sitting on his pinned leg, he got an idea. He was taught to take pain, so what's a little more? He took a deep breath and began twisting his leg, skin pinching and scrapping against stone, bone creaking with every move. More and more, he twisted the limb under the heavy rock.

How has he become so useless?! So pathetic that he loses to a giant rock! He can feel Lord Danzo's judgement surround him. Is this really all he has in him? From the dozens of jutsu he knows, can he not use one of them?

Overwhelmed with these thoughts, Fox twists more and more, blood marking the boulder that pins him. Just a little more... it's only a leg after all. Quick as he can, he pushes off of the rock with his good foot and gets his other dislodged. His leg was hurt, badly, dripping with blood from where skin was shredded.

He sat there a moment, in awe at the carnage. His bloodlust rose, even at his own pain. Senses returning fast,  he searched for his target, his mission.

Come on...come on, he repeated while he attempted to find it.

Head snapping to his right, he found his target staring down Tsunade who was still as a tree, blood splashed across her face. Why wasn't she fighting? This was to be his new Hokage?

Pushing past the limp, he ran; Kabuto won't get in the way of his mission. Whether he is Fox, or Naruto as Jiraiya calls him, the mission comes first. While in a rush, his mind slipped away to one strange fact: why does he feel so drained? Similar to that battle during the chunin exams, his chakra is simply low. When he blacked out and came to, under that boulder, he wasn't able perform any jutsu because of the exhaustion. 

Where did it come from?

*

A smirk came out of the shadows of candle light. A dark brown eye managed to glow in the darkness, contrasting the one covered by bandages.

The owner of the eyes felt refreshed, recharged, and satisfied. He will never admit, but age seems to be catching up with him with each passing day. Luckily, he has a tool to help him stay alive: his life support only comes in the form of one boy that he was happy to snatch up from a place of misery. Better be put to use than to rot away with nothing but a small corpse, unnamed and without an identity to put with it.

Oh well, he is glad that he stole that jutsu out from Hiruzen's nose. It truly has come in handy; all that chakra, continuing to be put to good use. He really should release the jutsu now, something tells the man that the little Fox is needing it. He doesn't know all the drawbacks of the jutsu, so it is best to not experiment too much. He needs him alive, after all. Be more than just a shame if his life was to end when he still had so many uses.

*

A rush of adrenaline fueled him, strength returning slowly, but it was enough. Only a few short meters from Kabuto, he pushed off with his good foot and launched himself forward, between both Lady Tsunade and Kabuto. 

Sharp reactions caught the kunai that was set to strike the potential Hokage, the blade settling in his hand as it was driven through. Closing his fist, the man wasn't able to release the boy's grip. 

"Hmn, how pathetic. Needing to injure yourself in order to save someone else!" Kabuto mocked. Fox looked down at his empty hand, remembering all that he was working on the night before. What's the harm in trying again? He has to move fast. Before the white haired man attempted to say anymore, Fox drowned him out and focused on building up chakra in his palm. Rotation, concentration, and release. That is all he has to do. Quickly as he could, he performed the jutsu. 

In the blink of an eye, an imperfect rasengan was in his hand. Better than nothing. Driving it into Kabuto's chest, it sent him flying back farther than expected. Breathing heavily, he didn't anticipate for it to take so much out of him. It was only one jutsu. One. He pivoted around on his knee, favouring his wounded leg, and looked Lady Tsunade in the eyes.

"Lady Tsunade," He began, out of breath. "Are you alright?" She gained her composure quickly, but didn't like what she saw. She scanned his face, how his eyes were dark with under eye circles, face bruised and scratched with some marks old and some new. His blond hair was ragged, but short and a touch dull. But his expression fit that of a war aged elder, not a young shinobi who just began his training. 

She stood up, with the boy doing the same. What's his name again? She can't remember.

"What's your name?" She asked.

He pondered the question. He hate's the bitter taste of Naruto on his tongue, but something about the name Fox seems more like a tag, something that you would call a dog in honour of the crafty animal while Naruto feels like a name, something that means more than a tag does.  "Naruto" damn. The word slipped from his lips. Too late to go back now. 

Though she seemed to be talking, the blond zoned out again and listened to the kunai being retrieved from its pouch. His head zipped around and he launched at Kabuto, who had a kunai in hand, with his own; clashing as sparks flew off the metal. 

Lady Tsunade joined Lord Jiraiya with fighting against Orochimaru while he continued to fight against Kabuto. He wanted an opponent to struggle against, but never imagined it would be this snake and that he would be weak doing it. 

The two fought as the trio fought their own battle, both getting increasingly more violent as they progressed. Eventually Kabuto retreated back to Orochimaru, who was struggling without the use of his arms. 

The blood on Fox's leg had begun to crust over, but the pain of expose nerves and flesh still stung. Between that and the training he did the night before, his energy was fleeting. This would have to end soon if he is to stay conscious and still win. But, he may be able to leave some of that responsibility to Lord Jiraiya. Not Lady Tsunade or Shizune (at least not yet). Only Lord Jiraiya. 

Using chakra, he jumped onto Gamabunta and stood beside Lord Jiraiya. The Sanin all exchanged shouts, with Shizune, Kabuto, and Fox all listening quietly. The anbu in children's clothes kept aware of his enemies movements, though dipping in and out of his heavy sensory station in order to stay conscious. His eyes closed for a mere second and he didn't watch them for a millisecond. A puff of smoke exploded in the air, wind knocking them all back.

Fox groaned, head swimming yet again. He let them get away. That's one mission failed. But... at least he didn't fail his true mission.

*

Lady Tsunade returned to the leaf village with them, and shortly after was made Hokage. Fox watched over her under the orders of Lord Danzo. His nights turned long as he kept watch over her, and three days felt like months between all his missions that Lord Danzo gave to him. At least things were back in a state of normalcy over those days. He went back to being Fox, replacing the name Naruto (Short lived as it was) with his original name. 

"Fox, you are to alter your attention off of the fifth Hokage and direct it towards the Uchiha in the hospital." Lord Danzo ordered as he looked down at Fox, who was on one knee, head dipped down in respect. He nodded and used the Fourth Hokage's jutsu to leave to the hospital. 

It was getting late, just past the noon hour. He would perch himself just above the room that Lord Uchiha would be in and simply monitor the movement in a radius of 50 meters. He scampered across rooftops, swift and agile, looking like a mirage of black. Landing on top of the hospital, he stored chakra in his feet and walked down the walls until he perched right above the Ravens room. The pink haired Kunoichi was with him, her feel was both excitement and sorrow. 

All chakra signatures in the building were familiar as people of the village. No foreign or outside people anywhere in the building. The boy, who was crippled by the Jinchuriki of the Sand, was no longer there. That was could be both good and bad. The boy could have been a decent asset to the leaf. Kakashi walked up behind him, prompting Fox to turn around and get up from the crouched position he was in. 

Down below, Sasuke was wallowing in bitterness. Itachi was there and he missed the chance to take him down. He was weak. So damn weak that he had to be saved twice. He couldn't wrap his head around why Itachi was there in the first place. There was some random yellow haired kid there that he somewhat recognized, only with blurry features still present, but that doesn't explain why his brother was there in the first place.

First that damn anbu Fox, then Orochimaru, then Gaara and now Itachi. He has failed to beat any of them! He needs power, like the power that curse mark gave him. The raw strength felt incredible and natural, like he was meant to have that power. With that type of strength, he could take out those four with ease! Now all he needs, is a little more of that power. But where can he get it?

*

Fox found himself pulled away from his station and put on the trail of an enemy, while an anbu with a bird mask was given the task of watching over Lord Uchiha. 

"The sensory team picked up on a few chakra signatures outside the leaf and Lord Danzo asked that we check them out." The anbu stated while they leapt through the tree tops under the cover of moonlight. He recognized the style of chakra his temporary partner spoke of. They are similar to what he picked up on last time he and Lord Uchiha duel, as well as when he and Lord Jiraiya first completed a task together. Fox's arm itched to reach for the sword on his back, but he held back. He wanted to find out why these people were there first. 

*

Fox arrived back at the village, having dealt with the problem. The bird mask anbu took off, only for one with a boar mask to replace him.

"Fox, Lord Danzo and Lady Tsunade ask for you. It's urgent." His ears perked. He performed the hand signs required and disappeared, appearing in the Hokages office without a second spared.

"Fox, you are to go with a team to bring back Sasuke Uchiha." Lady Tsunade ordered. He wasted no time speaking, opting to listen to the isntructions in full detail. "Lord Danzo has requested you go with to ensure that Sasuke returns. We do not know why he left, whether it was forced or willing. But he must be brought back. There is a team waiting for you to arrive at the gate. Go."

Not staying a moment more, he disappeared once more. 

On the rooftop of a home, he searched for the team the fifth hokage spoke of. He found them, and bolted. Jumping from roofs and anything in his way, his mind began coming up with strategies. In the group, there is an Inazuka, Hyuga, Akimichi, and a Nara. His mind put together how best to use the pieces he was put with, planning to leave much to the Nara, as to make full use of the intellect at his disposal. 

He recognizes all of the shinobi. Shikamaru Nara and Choji Akimichi were the two in the hospital when he was there; Kiba Inazuka is the one with the dog, and Neji Hyuga, the gifted Hyuga who is a cousin to the main branch and attempted to kill his cousin during the Chunin exams. This was an interesting group, indeed.

He stopped in front of them in a whirl of leaves, taking a page out of Kakashi's books. They stopped and stared for a moment, confusion and intrigue crossing their features. Lady Tsunade said that they were expecting him, so the looks seemed unjustified. Is it due to him being shorter than the rest of them?

After a moment haste, the Nara filled him in on the plan, placing him in the middle as to be able to react to any surprise attacks. The Hyuga was in the back to watch the perimeter, then the Akimichi, himself, the Nara, and the Inazuka. The formation makes sense, he will give him that. Considering that the young Shinobi knows nothing of Fox's skill set or abilities. The anbu admits, it might work. 

The four shinobi conversed a bit more, but within no time at all they were set foot out of the village and went head on into danger. Fox was becoming annoyed with Lord Uchiha each passing time he deals with him. First it was nothing, now it is pissing him off. 

He watched the area closely as they all ran. Something seemed off. The forest was quiet. No chakra to read. No creatures moving. Nothing. 

Rustling ahead caught the attention of both himself and Inazuka's dog. His ears perked, listening for the spawn point of the commotion. They entered a small and flat clearing in the forest, rumbling growled below them. 

"Get down!" Fox used his right foot to both kick the Akimichi and Hyuga away and tackled the Nara and Inazuka out of the way by moving forwards. The five boys were sent tumbling while the rocks they once stood over vibrated. His leg shocked in pain. Fox thought that he had that healed up! 

A large man with orange hair spawned in between the five of them and before reactions were allowed, brought up the earth and created domes of stone that captured them.

Damn it. His goal is to bring back Lord Uchiha, not save some random kids. He looked around, nearly invisible in the darkness. His eye sight was strong naturally, being able to detect the shapes of both boys in there with him, and his sensory abilities allow him to know the location of all four shinobi without exerting much chakra. 

Strange, he feels like his energy is getting sapped at again. No fire-like sensation on his abdomen like usual, but he can feel his chakra being pulled out of him. 

Tilting his head up, he flooded him eyes with chakra and looked for the source that is stealing their chakra, assuming he is correct in believing that the dome is working as a conductor that take the chakra of one person and gives it to the user of the jutsu. 

All points of contact were even, unable to tell where the actual weak point might lie. This might be a stupid idea. He has no idea if he has worked with the jutsu enough to use it affectively. But he has a mission to complete. 

He is Fox. Lord Danzo is his master. He was given the task of bringing back a shinobi who has left the village with the enemy. Lord Danzo gave him this mission, meaning he must complete it without failure. He has never failed a mission given to him by Lord Danzo, and he doesn't plan to. Losing the only remaining Uchiha, allowing him to be unloyal to Konaha: that is not allowed. It doesn't matter if he is incapable of one singular jutsu, he knows nearly one hundred more! Lord Danzo's plan with the raven haired heir must be allowed to bear fruit. 

Fox unclipped his arm bands, "Hold these" he handed them to the Nara who sat directly in front of him. He removed his gloves next and gave them to the chunin as well. He was grateful for the darkness, this way no one has to see the mess that is his arms. Placing his palms on the ground, he began flowing chakra to them,  a light blue hue creating light in the dome. The shadows cast from his scars were unsettling, reminding him of all those nights he disobeyed and refused to listen to his superiors, all those times he made a little too much noise or did something unsatisfactory to those superiors. He doesn't want to feel what created those scars again. 

This jutsu he is attempting is an earth style one, the type that he hasn't played around with much as nothing he has been asked to master as of late needed the chakra nature. Now though, he needs it more than ever. He has the reserves of chakra to last a long time in a place like this, but he knows that the others don't. The jutsu requires skin to dirt contact and quite a bit of chakra, so he hopes it can work now.

Energy built up in his palm, he eyed the wall that was directly in front of him. The Nara's mind was turning, he could tell. There is a reason that he was made chunin before anyone else, and it's showing now. 

 "Hey Kiba," the Nara began, "You're good at making noise and annoying people, try talking your way out of this one." That is a strange dynamic for shinobi to have. He's noticed that with this generation of ninja, it seems normal to play around and joke, poking fun at one another even during a fight. It's abnormal though, why would you berate someone if you are wanting them to complete a task for you?

"Hey!" 'Kiba' shouted back, offended at the words. 

"Just do it." the other boy countered. Inazuka huffed, annoyed but seemingly willing to do it. These shinobi are strange indeed. 

"Hey! Mind letting us out?" He asked, with the dog barking in retaliation. "We have somewhere we need to be!"

"Do you think I'm stupid?" the man outside asked, laughing and jeering at request. That is all that he needs. The orange haired man was standing directly behind him, meaning that he needs to direct it perfectly opposite his direction.

Lifting up his palms, the chakra was tangible in the air.

Earth style: crushing nature, striking down his hands, a surge of chakra overwhelmed the ground and split it. The dome began to have a gap built underneath and a crack was splitting the dome in two. It worked perfectly. 

The other two in the other dome, Akimichi and Hyuga, picked up on the plan and seemed to have used the Akimichi's jutsu's to bust out. 

Impressive. Fox slid underneath  and through the crack, exiting the stone semi-circle with the others in tow. Running on top of the stones, he reared back and punched the enemy with natural strength only, distracting him momentarily.

"Choji! Turn around and hit this guy!" Nara shouted, his friend listening and ramming into the large opponent.

"I got this guy, go!" He shouted. Fox didn't allow them to waste time with trivial arguments. He doesn't believe that the boy is strong enough to defeat this adversary and make it out on top, but there is a more pressing matter at stake. At least the death would not be useless, as many of this nature tend to be.

"Move." Fox stated, moving along with or without them. With hesitation, the three eventually followed. 

He could sense their shared bitterness towards him, but they do not seem to grasp the gravity of the situation. This is a mission that they- he, cannot afford to lose. The security of the leaf depends on their success. Besides, this is ultimately the job of a ninja: to die for the mission. They are tools, pawns, for the village to use as they desire. That is what they signed up for.

Another chakra signature up ahead, and he has a feeling that another member of their team would be plucked off this round. If that is their role, then so be it. This is the fate of a ninja.

*

Fox ran ahead, sensing Lord Uchiha's chakra near by. All four of the shinobi were distracted and dispersed, fighting in solo battles against four of their enemies. They are fools, all of them. Feeling the need for self sacrifice, and for what? To save a friend? Rage boiled inside him. Annoyed at feelings and decisions he can't find himself comprehending, and angered at the Uchiha who is the cause of all his troubles. 

Red eyes flared under his mask. Blond hair became static and ruffled. An orange aura seeped out in small dosages. 

A pale figure stood still in the distance, and faster than a blink Fox stood before him. Neither gave any sort of expression, not exchanged any form of conversation. His mind blurred, no longer making rational decisions. The anbu charged head on, katana in hand, and struck down against- bone? He leapt back and struck again. He would figure this creature out soon enough.

Evenly matched in his irrational state, Fox was becoming rowdy and unpredictable, but the man stayed calm and collected. The white haired man seemed to be unsure about how to fight this wild animal, but he would not be fighting him much longer: Fox senses a chakra behind him that can take over this battle for him. 

A life for a life, he thinks in a bittersweet tone. Just out of the hospital and he'll be back there in no time.

The boy was coming in fast. Fox performed for just a few more seconds, getting a few good slashed that stayed deep. Leaping backwards when he was just behind him, he allowed the think browed shinobi to strike the white haired man in his place. Fox will remember his sacrifice, should he die. It is worth it though. Lord Danzo demands missions to be completed, regardless of sacrifices. Even if those sacrifices are children.

He is sorry, Kiba Inazuka, Neji Hyuga, Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi and Rock Lee. Perhaps in their next lives they can find themselves able to forgive him. That may sound contradictory and hypocritical in nature, seeing as what he preaches is opposite, but something is telling him to feel sympathy towards the young shinobi who are potentially dying all because an Uchiha is creating chaos.

Running off towards the tree line again, Fox tracked down Lord Uchiha, following a chakra that was bitter, lonely, and lustful.  The forest was dense and a lush green, no different than the ones he has found himself running through his whole life. In both missions and survival, he always finds himself running in a deep forest, either chasing down or running away from someone. 

Throughout this whole battle, the nine tailed fox that lay dormant inside Fox, striking the Anbu as odd. The creature never passes up an opportunity to make a sly comment, remind Fox of his power and strength, or simply antagonize him. Truthfully, Fox prefers it this way. It's like the creature isn't even there.

A clearing was coming up, sunlight blinding the exit of the forest. He knows where he is and where this battle will be taking place. How fitting that it should be here of all places. His feet nearly glided across the grass in speed, slowly increasing as his patience grows thinner. Water flowed down the falls and mist filled the air. 

Fox contemplated his options, weighing them one against the other. Taking the route of stealth wouldn't work, since Lord Uchiha is surely to detect him with his sharingan. Long range attacks are just as futile since half of them are slower. The only option, is confrontation and a head on clash. 

The raven is at his best when he can formulate a plan, as is Fox. But perhaps it's time to listen to what Jiraiya once mentioned and simply dive into the battle. If your opponent needs to formulate a plan and find a way to counter your movements, then make it impossible for them to do so.

"Lord Uchiha!!" He shouted at the top of his lungs. The target stopped, standing still on the water. 

Good. That caught his attention. Pulling out three shuriken-

Shit, he remembered that he never put his gloves back on. Meaning that the Nara still has them. Damn. There went that idea. Now that he thinks about it, his arms do feel bare in comparison to normal. His scars feel exposed. Fox slipped the shuriken instead in between a popped seam on his uniform. 

"Really? They sent you after me?" Lord Uchiha's tone was boastful, proud of the fact that Fox was sent to bring him back. Little does he know. 

"Lord Uchiha, you are to return to the Leaf village. You get to choose whether to be conscious or not for the trip." Finding snarky words definitely isn't his strong suit. 

He laughed while Fox only stood before him. "Lord, hmn? Am I above you? Or are you just going to try and pin me down again like the last time we fought? Unlike you, I've gotten stronger since we last dueled. Maybe this time I'll actually put in some effort."

"I'm afraid I cannot promise the same ." grabbing the three shuriken, he threw them at Lord Uchiha. The raven dodged and rebounded with a fireball. Fox created a water dragon and doused the flames. Smoke bombs were thrown and exploded, leaving Fox's field of vision limited. Fox created a few clones and threw them where he sensed chakra. 

His eyes widened. An idea came to his mind. A painful idea, but it just might have to do.

The anbu flipped back and gained some distance. The Uchiha did the same. Both ran head on towards each other; one with an arm covered in lightning, and the other with nothing visible to the naked eye.

Lord Uchiha's eyes were nearly dripping in enjoyment, seeing his rival with nothing to fight against him with. Fox however, had the same feeling come over him as when he fought the white haired bone wielder in the clearing. His mind was going numb and fuzzy, but his task was just about done. At least, half of it. 

Chirping accelerated. Both ninja reared back their arms and aimed them at each others abdomens. Fox made contact with Lord Uchiha's chest, finger tips glowing for a few seconds. Luckily it went unnoticed by the other. The mark is placed. Lord Danzo will be pleased with that today. His plan can now go on, even if he should fail.

Blood dripped from under Fox's mask. The blond didn't bother looking down, he knows that Lord Uchiha hit his target: his arm run right through the Fox's sternum, leaving a giant whole in his chest. Lord Uchiha removed his arm and looked at his prey.

"Weak." The Uchiha whispered. The word tickled Fox's brain. He doesn't like that word much.

Fox coughed once, blood beginning to seep through his lungs. He didn't make any other noise though. The valley grew silent. Lord Uchiha gave a smirk. He beat an Anbu without any extra power. Maybe he doesn't need Orochimaru's power.

Red chakra sat on the lake under Fox, like fog in a forest. Malice was tangible, anger and bitterness chalky on the tongue. That red aura climbed up Fox, spinning around slowly. Maybe he'll actually put some effort in now. Could make things interesting.

Energy exploded across the lake. Lord Uchiha looked at the focal point in fear, shielding his eyes from the brightness. 

"Just what the hell are you?!" He shouted in fear. Fox didn't reply though. Despite his vast knowledge on most things, that is a question even he cannot answer anymore.

His mind blocked out all of his surroundings, choosing to focus on the singular Uchiha before him. The hole in his chest healed instantly, leaving no visible damage or indication of the wound except for the missing fabric of his uniform. 

The Uchiha watched him intently, creating plans upon plans for this battle. The red chakra settled inside the anbu, leaving it eerily quiet once again. Taking a single step forwards, Fox stopped. 

No plan, only one goal, and a life he is willing to throw away in order to achieve that goal.

In a flash, Fox appeared in front of the Uchiha and slammed his fist into his stomach. Performing a few more actions, he finished by launching his leg into the Ravens chest, sending him flying backwards; skidding across the surface of the water. 

Hitting the rock, Lord Uchiha used the opportunity to climb up the rock and used whatever he could against the anbu, who swatted it all away like they were simply insects. His eyes watched Fox's every move, and slowly picked up on even the fastest of them. Excitement and hope rose up in his chest. His sharingan has finally been completed.

This time, he rushed Fox and brought a Kunai charged with chakra down on his head. The anbu dodged, but the weapon scraped against the right quarter of, cutting that small section off and leaving it jagged. Fox wrapped a wire around the Uchiha's leg and brought him down below the water fall. He fought against gravity and instead used the connected wire to try and bring down Fox. He failed and ended up only bringing him down to an equal level on stone. 

They looked at each other. Red and Black eyes met. But Sasuke knows that eye, even if it only appears black, white and blurry in his memory, he knows it. Why can't he recall who this idiot is? It's strange, and he has asked Sakura about this before, but when they first met Fox something in their shared memories clicked, even if they could not see the anbu's face. They agreed that while the background and everyone else was in colour, the silhouette of whoever the boy in was blurry and in shadow gradients. Who the hell is he?

Fox's fingers twitched, wire still held between them. His mind twitched too, eager to kill this Uchiha despite the fact that he knows he cannot do that. Now, this won't kill the young Lord, but it won't exactly be harmless.

He prepared the stance, channeling lightning chakra nature to the tips of his fingers. As graceful as a Hyuga, he flowed towards him and struck the ravens chakra points quickly, as if he had been taught this ability when only a single digit age. First he shut down the points in the Uchiha's left arm, and moved onto the abdomen and other limbs. As long as the curse mark doesn't attempt to make itself known the jutsu should do the trick. 

A black, flame-like seal climbed up the shoulder and up Lord Uchiha's face, stopping where the chakra points were stopped down. Finding himself a touch too late to finish the job, he backed off and jumped into the air. Fox let gravity bring him down and yanked on the wire when approaching the water down below. Both Shinobi fell quickly, landing on the surface on the great river with ease. One pulled out a kunai, the other a katana. Blade collided in a heap of sparks and eyes glared at each other. 

Fox was getting tired, everything that had happened after his battle with the Sannin, the previous five enemy shinobi he fought prior to fighting Lord Uchiha, and now the Uchiha himself has slowly dragged him down. It's pathetic really, that that is all it takes to exhaust him. He used to be able to perform month long missions without batting an eye, and complete multiple missions at a time without so much as a wink of sleep. What's happening to him? He's also gone soft, not killing people he should and allowing others to do it instead when Fox knows that they can't. Conflict has been brewing inside him and nothing has fixed it. 

The raven struck Fox in the face as he blanked out, causing the mask to begin cracking, a small splinter fell from where the cracks crossed each other. He wracked his brain for certain jutsu he knows that he knows. Unfortunately, he either hasn't practiced with them enough to make them useful or they are used to kill someone. Neither are ideal. Taijutsu it is, though stupid as it may seem to go up against an opponent who can follow your moves with few exceptions. 

He doesn't know. He's tired; exhausted. Burnt-out despite there being no clear reason why. He's only doing what he is told, what's wrong with that?

 Fox grabbed the Uchiha's wrist, twisting it and throwing him aside like a rag doll. 

"You're only here because Danzo sent you, aren't you? You don't actually care about the Leaf Village, you only care about your master, you dog." His ears perked, eyes like static as they watched the prey squeal and mock in front of him. He tilted his head and monitored with a blank stare. During that time, the Uchiha let the curse mark take full control, ignoring the chakra points that were blocked. His final stage was completed, now looking less human and more like a weird experiment. 

"Allow me to help you" the nine tailed fox whispered at the boy in front of his cage who no longer moved. 

"No need." the blond whispered back. 

Back in reality, Fox jumped back to the edge of the lake, and the Uchiha did the same. He doesn't know what happened while he zoned out, but it doesn't matter. Holding out his exposed hands, he began rotating chakra in his hand. Lord Uchiha countered across the lake with chidori corrupted with the curse mark, leaving it black.

When the Raven began flying with the giant wings on his back, Fox started running towards him.

Upon collision, two high concentrations of chakra struck with such might the water gave way. Fox's mind was spinning as he pondered the punishment he would receive should he fail while also dealing the the Fox who decided to wake up from his nap. His senses overloaded as sound, smell, and sight were over stimulated beyond use. His left ear began to bleed from the sonic sound their collision made. 

Body weakening, he let a tear fall from his eyes. Failure meant something he never wanted to find out, but... he simply doesn't have the strength to continue. His stomach burned once again. A whimper slipped from Fox's lips.

He's failed.

*

Rain tumbled down to the earth, washing across Fox who attempted to move, finding pain with every jostle of his muscle. He groaned, vision warbled and swaying. A chakra signature moved through the trees that sat above the valley, but once he found it, Fox only collapsed. His left ear was ringing, despite his attempts to heal it. Standing up, his body went numb instantly. He swayed before falling over. He braced for impact, only to find himself supported by a very familiar vest.

"You rest now Naruto, I've got you." Kakashi said. "You've done enough."

*

Water rushed through a small brook. Dragonflies zipped around while the sun showed the colours in their wings. Fox rested on a rock, leg up and chin resting on his knee. He began picking up a few stones and threw them into the water.

Kakashi walked up beside him and simply gazed into forest that encompassed them. 

"Kakashi, may I ask a question?" Fox inquired, expecting some backlash despite knowing the man fairly well.

"Go ahead." He replied, leaning against a tree.

Fox thought about how to frame the question burning inside him. "Why...Why would people risk their lives for each other?"

"What do you mean?" Kakashi asked, wanting his to elaborate since he knows the kid is smarter than to not know the answer.

"When the team was tasked with bringing back Lord Uchiha, some of the members gave their lives for the others. They planned on dying so that their friends could succeed. Why? Why would they risk their lives for each other? The point of a shinobi is to die, so why were they mad when their friends were threatened with death? They let them make that sacrifice." His voice burned with both curiosity and disgust.

"Well," Kakashi contemplated, "that's what friends do. One friend doesn't want to see their own friend die, and so they believe that they must die instead so that they may live."

"But why? The point of a shinobi is to die." He restated the sentence, confused as to why his question wasn't getting the answer he wanted.

"I suppose that that will be a question you need to learn on your own. That kind of question doesn't have a direct answer, it's more... something that you learn as you mature and gain friends." Kakashi looked over at his late sensei's child. He was joyed that he was asking questions and opening up. Whatever Jiraiya did seemed to work.

Fox was about to speak again when an anbu appeared behind him. He turned around and handed him a scroll before leaving. The blond opened it up, scanning the words quickly before closing it.

"Thank you Kakashi, but I must be going, Lord Danzo has a task for me." Off he went, jumping from branch to branch. Excitement filled his whole system. He failed to bring back the Uchiha and yet Lord Danzo still had use for him!

*

"Sold!!"