Ninetails 43

"You want my opinion on this thing?" 

Kakashi shrugged. "You are one of the best at kenjutsu in Konoha."

Yugao hummed as she held the heavy weapon experimentally before putting it down against a tree. "It reminds me of some of the legendary blades used by the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. Very large and unwieldy at first. It will take considerable strength to use this as more than a club."

"That was about what I was thinking," Kakashi mused before looking off in the distance.

Across the training field, Sakura was practicing basic sword techniques that Kakashi had already shown her. Occasionally, she would stop to study a scroll on the ground before returning to her training.

"You might have better luck asking Guy for help, for the start at least," Yugao suggested.

"I thought about it, but I think it's better to lean into Sakura's talents to help with this," Kakashi retorted, getting a head tilt from the anbu. "She has excellent chakra control and has displayed a talent for using it to enhance her strength. I wonder if Lady Tsunade or Shizune wouldn't be willing to give her some tips on refining it."

"Hmm. Perhaps. And perhaps she'll pick up some medical techniques. Ninjas with decent medical jutsu and knowledge are always in short supply," Yugaore marked.

"I imagine Lady Tsunade will correct that a bit before her time as Hokage is up," Kakashi said. "How are things?"

"Among the anbu? As fine as they can be," Yugao answered. "Have you ever thought about going back?"

"Not really," Kakashi answered absently. "And beyond the anbu?"

Yugao frowned. "When your student came back as the Kyuubi, the rest of the nations were shocked into inaction. Now, they've been growing more and more active again since the Hakaju incident."

Kakashi hummed. He wasn't surprised. All eyes had been on Naruto, and his fight with that undead beast had given the other nations a better idea of his current ability. His power and his limitations. Pieces were moving, both foreign and at home. And he was sure that Naruto was more aware of that than many believed.

"I'm here for another reason," Yugao remarked evenly.

"Oh? So you didn't come to help out an old friend? I'm hurt," Kakashi said rhetorically. "What is it?"

"You're going to be given a short-term mission very soon. The time span will be less than a week," Yugao informed.

"And there are some details that are left out of the official mission," Kakashi said knowingly before side-eyeing Yugao suspiciously. "And if you're telling me instead of the Hokage herself, that means either this doesn't come from the Hokage, or the Hokage is worried about who might overhear. Even in her own office."

Yugao narrowed her gaze sharply. "I serve only the Hokage, Kakashi. Not the Elders, certainly not Danzo." 

Kakashi hummed. "Well, if I'm going to be missing for a week or two, would you mind checking up on Sakura's training?"

Yugao nodded. "Of course. Now, as for the details....."

Meanwhile

"And that is what I found, My Lord," Sokyoku finished while sitting on the beach near the massive kitsune.

Naruto hummed in thought, feeling like there was something off about this. This might be something important, but it was hard to be sure. He glanced back up at the plateau. "Hey, Igaro! Do you know anything about boats?" he called up to the chunnin.

"Huh? No, not really!" he called back in confusion.

Naruto figured as much, but it was worth a try. Maybe he should head out and investigate himself? But Sokyoku described them as being fairly far away. Then again, he could just get "lost" if a storm rolled through, but that might make the search even harder.

He glanced his head to the north with a considering look. 

Naruto suddenly sat down on the beach, curling into a comfortable position. The world faded away, the echoing noises of nature cascading in his ears until they too were tuned out as he reached out to search for something he couldn't sense ordinarily.

Suddenly, he found one.

"Lord Kyuubi?"

He opened his eyes at the trembling voice, lifting his head to gaze down at the red head sitting amongst the field of a mindscape. "Oh. It's you," he said idly.

Karin swallowed thickly at him with a fearful yet exhausted look. "What do you want?" she asked in a small voice.

"Nothing you can give me would be my bet," he answered with disinterest.

Karin flinched for some reason. She looked like she was about to cry as she curled up and looked down. "Just...please, do or ask whatever you want. I need....I need...."

When she didn't say more, Naruto peered down at her with a head tilt. He could sense a lot of frustration and pain from her, and it wasn't just directed at him.

As he stared intensely, he saw strange markings form all over her body. Or her spirit? Her mind projection? There were marks on her form, in any case, red circles that glowed through her clothes with scarlet whips angrily rising from them.

Naruto blinked in bewilderment as he was treated to the image of people biting this girl. Many, many people. "I take it those aren't love bites?" he asked, trying not to sound awkward. He knew some people were into "rough" kinks like that, but this didn't seem like that kind of situation.

Karin looked up sharply before examining her body, noticing the marks were glowing for the first time. She stared bitterly at them. "I....can heal people when they bite me."

Naruto stared. That was a rather...interesting ability. He opened his maw to speak again when he felt another rush of images. A woman, covered in bite marks, dead or dying after being drained of chakra. And then people come for a girl to bite her instead.

Naruto's mood darkened in sympathy and frustration. "You don't get much of a say in it, do you?" Naruto asked, not willing to pry into her painful past more than needed. 

Karin didn't respond, and that was answer enough.

"....I'm sorry," Naruto offered solemnly, eyes closed.

Karin blinked, slowly looking up. "What?"

"I guess I've been making your life harder than it already was," Naruto admitted in apology, gazing down at her with a softer look. "I'll leave you be."

With that, the imagery faded, and Naruto found himself in blankness as the connection began to end. He wished he could help her a bit, but what could a bijuu half a continent away do?

He opened his eyes and found himself on the beach once more.

"Did you have a helpful nap, My Lord?" Sokyoku inquired, having sat nearby for a rest of his own.

"Unfortunately not," Naruto admitted to Sokyoku's confusion. He said nothing more and rose to his feet. "I'm going for a walk. Maybe catch a whale while I'm out. Sokyoku, you can stay here if you want. I'm sure Igaro will enjoy the company."

"I feel like I was volunteered for something," Igaro said warily.

"As you wish, My Lord," Sokyoku replied, waving him off. "Do your best to not make any more aquatic rivals!" 

"I doubt the one I got would let anyone else move in," Naruto remarked with a headshake as he headed out to sea, walking along the surface.  

Meanwhile

Karin sat numbly on her bed. Not an uncommon situation for her after the Kyuubi invaded her mind, even if there was a wave of comfort that came with his departure now. But her drained and troubled eyes were now wide with disbelief and awe.

The bite marks that once littered her body...   

They were healed!

"What did....?" Karin whispered, her voice trailing off as she saw it. A faint wisp of golden chakra flowed off her before vanishing, as if to answer her question. "....How The Hell....?!" she silently cried out.

He healed her from that far away? How was that possible?! Was he a god!? Were Bijuus actually gods!? Was that why he sounded so amused and disappointed with that guy from Rain calling himself a god!? She was so confused!

"Okay, breathe, Karin," she said to herself as she tried to calm herself down. "The Kyuubi just did something nice for you instead of just leaving you to feel like he vandalized your mind for the fun of it. He's stared through your eyes and listened through your ears in the past; this shouldn't be that surprising, right?!"

She was trying to convince herself more than anything. Long-range jutsu weren't unheard of, but this was a bit absurd.

"Keep it down, you bitch! We're trying to sleep!" someone in the room over yelled.

"Fuck you!" Karin yelled back. There was a growl, but neither side tried to keep the fighting going.

That poured some cold water on her mood. She was healed, yes, but it wouldn't last. Shiroyasha was kinder to her than the previous leader of Grass, but the arrangement was ultimately the same. Karin had to provide her healing ability to the other ninjas of the village.

If anything, Shiroyasha's kindness made it harder. Karin had long since contemplated leaving Grass, to get away and try to find some place where she wasn't just a literal chew toy for healing everyone on demand. But where would she go? If she defected, it'd probably just be the same situation, right? And if she just went rogue, she'd just be living on borrowed time until she was hunted down by someone.

"I guess I've been making your life harder than it already was." 

She sighed as those words reverberated in her mind, as did that look he gave her. Almost as if he didn't just feel sorry for her, but that he understood her on some level.

....Perhaps he did. After all, he hadn't always been a force of nature. He once was a jinchuriki, something most villages regarded as weapons at best.

She had known it as a fact, but the notion that he had been a human never really sank into her after her first mental encounter with him. Let alone that this Kyuubi was supposed to be around the same age as her, and had even been in the same chunin exam as her.

This was the first time she felt like the Kyuubi, in some ways, was still just....a person. She could only wonder what troubles came with life as a bijuu.

Karin laid down and stared at her roof with a frown. "Don't get any stupid ideas, Karin," she murmured to herself.

Meanwhile

A few days later, Naruto sat on the beach with a smirk as he sensed the replacement watcher sent down to his beach. He didn't say a word as he heard him send off the old one back to Konoha.

"So, finally come to pay me a visit, Kakashi-sensai?" Naruto asked with a chuckle.

Kakashi eye-smiled from the top of the plateau. "Well, everyone has such interesting stories when they come back from here. Gifts, too, sometimes."

"How's the sword treating Sakura?" Naruto couldn't help but ask.

"Pretty good. We had a few practice duels, but she's still working on her strength and stamina. I left her with some instructions and some scrolls while I'm down here," Kakashi remarked. "I see you haven't destroyed the entire beach."

"Of course not! Where would I keep my ship collection?" Naruto joked, waving to the various sunken crafts he had brought ashore. 

Kakashi eyed the field of shipwrecks curiously. A lot of interesting things had already come out of there, including Sakura's weapon. "One of these days, you're going to have a problem with people sneaking in to search for treasure in those."

"What do you mean, one day?" Naruto countered with a snort, glaring off to the trees. "Apparently, spying on a bijuu doesn't pay too well."

Kakahi could imagine several very nervous spies shivering in the trees. "Well, you'll be happy to know the Fire Daimyo’s aid has officially arrived to help Hanzo's side of the civil war."

Naruto grunted in remembrance of that Pain fellow, the Akatsuki member that almost put him in a damn moon of all things! He hoped that the bastard was out of his fur for the long term, but he had a feeling they'd have a rematch one day.

He glanced up slightly as something caught his eye. Or rather, someone. "Ahh, Kakashi-sensei, there's someone who'd like to meet you." 

"Oh?" Kakashi asked, despite having expected this.   

"Indeed!"

Kakashi looked up at the strong voice as a certain avian descended to his side. "So, you're the famous goose I've heard about."

"Indeed! I am Sokyoku, as my Lord has graced me with that name," Sokyoku introduced with a bow, folding one wing over his chest. "And you are Kakashi Hatake. It is a pleasure to meet the man Lord Naruto calls his teacher."

"Huh. You really are as polite as they say," Kakashi noted with an eye-smile.

"You flatter me, Man of a Thousand Jutsu!" Sokyoku said with a honking-chuckle.

"If only the same could be said for my fluffy student," Kakashi teased with an overdramatic sigh.

"I have the Daimyo himself vouching for me! I've proved I can be proper and polite if I want to!" Naruto retorted, crossing his arms in mock-indignation.

Sokyoku observed the exchange with silent amusement before moving on. "Still, I am surprised to see you here, Kakashi Hatake. I did not expect such a valued Jonin would be relegated to the role of a simple watcher on my Lord's shores," he said with a rather pointed look about him.

"I suppose I earned a small vacation," Kakashi said nonchalantly.

By Naruto's unimpressed look, he wasn't buying it either. 

"Nothing gets by you anymore, eh, Naurto?" Kakashi asked nostalgically. He was proud, but he also kind of missed it when Naruto was a bit more oblivious to these things.  

"Yes, yes, nothing ever possibly gets by my Lord's sharp senses," Sokyoku said, glancing away with a mysterious tone.

Naruto gained a tickmark. "Sok, I swear, if you bring that up one more time, I will eat you again!"

"Again?" Kakashi asked with a raised eyebrow, looking at Sokyoku with interest. "I feel like that's a story I want to hear."

"Unfortunately, I am forbidden to talk about the incident at sea involving-"

"Sok, I will come up there," Naruto warned firmly. "I don't care if I bring the whole thing down."

Soyou cleared his throat, almost coming out as a low screech. "Yes, perhaps it's best for the landscape if I stopped speaking," he said, still clearly amused by something.

Kakashi tilted his head. "Igaro mentioned you've been spending a lot of time on the sea. Which is apparently strange, since you usually just walk along the seafloor. Is this connected to that?"

"I do both, but yeah, I've been doing a lot of water-walking strolls," Naruto explained with an eyeroll, not really providing an answer. Eventually, he cleared his throat to change the subject. "On that note? Kakashi-sensei? You got any idea how far out the ocean borders are for Fire Country?" 

Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "Ocean borders?"

"Look, I may not have exactly been a great student in the academy, but I know how there is some point from their shores where countries claim the ocean as their waters," Naruto grumbled in annoyance that was likely more genuine than feigned. 

Kakashi hummed, realizing Naruto's intent. "Well, let's take a walk, shall we?"

Naruto nodded before looking towards the goose. "Sokyoku, since you've turned into a chuckle bird, you can stay here and guard the beach."

"As you will, My Lord. I will try to exercise my mirth before your return," Sokyoku promised sincerely.

Naruto grumbled his thanks. "Well? You coming, Kakashi-sensai?"

With that, Kakashi ran down the side of the plateau, leaping off to land on one of Naruto's outstretched tails before jumping to Naruto's head.

Naruto proceeded to turn and head out to the sea, walking along the water's surface.

"I see you've gotten this down rather well," Kakashi noted in praise. "Have you tried water walking in a storm?"

"A few times," Naruto answered, his ears twitching. "So, has anything else interesting happened? Granny drank herself into a coma yet?"

"No, but Asuma said something about Ino being obsessed with finding a different shampoo," Kakashi said knowingly. "Something about the last one making her smell like a goose."

"That was all Sokyoku, I had nothing to do with it," Naruto said honestly, but grinning massively at the memory.

"I see he did inherit some of your qualities,' Kakashi said as he gazed up at the sky. "Heavens help us if we have a legion of prankster beasts."

Naruto chuckled, pausing as his ears twitched. His smile fell away as his mood turned serious. "Alright, we're far enough away."

"Good. Now, what do you want to share that has you so secretive?" Kakashi asked with interest. "Someone new intruding on your beach?

Naruto grunted. "Sokyoku has been keeping an eye on some strange ships he spotted way out at sea. We didn't mention it to Igaro since, well, it didn't seem like really anything to report. Just some ships on the open sea."

"And you figure I might be able to help you figure out if it's something to actually be concerned about," Kakashi summarized before tilting his head. "Do you actually need me to tell you how far out Fire Country's territorial waters are?"

"Nah, the daimyo helped me get a rough idea of that," Naruto said dismissively. "Sokyoku last spotted them heading around the tip of Tea Country. It might take a while to find them again." 

"I can enjoy a good walk on the waves," Kakashi retorted with an eye smile.