Chapter Text
The sound of a body hitting the ground echoed in the orphanage. Toys clattering all over, making more of a mess than what was there initially. A plastic doll bouncing off of the red headed boy’s head. Landing on the ground with a loud thunk.
“No one wants to play with a fox like you! Freak!”
Naruto huffed as he placed a hand on the red bump on his forehead. Glaring at the boy, he got up and pounced on him. Claws dug into the sides of his face as the two tussled around. Neither one giving up the fight. The boy was older than Naruto, thus, making him larger. It was an incredible advantage to have.
Naruto’s face was squished into the pads of his hands, shoving him away from himself as Naruto desperately tried latching on once more. Growls fell past his lips, the warnings lasted short as the Uzumaki pressed his sharp, little teeth into those soft pads pressed against him. The boy yelped, clutching his hand back to himself.
“I’m not a freak!” He snapped, clawing at the boy’s face. It was then that the boy gave up the fight and resorted to tears but Naruto did not stop.
“Get off of him!” It was the caretaker that screamed. She stomped over to where the two boys were. “I’ve just about had it with you!” She snatched Naruto by the collar of his shirt. A choked gasp for air left Naruto’s throat as he fell limp, soon feeling the dusty earth hit him.
“And don't come back, you freak!” And just like that, the door was shut. The third one in a row.
Naruto coughed as he heaved himself up. Shaking of the dust clinging to his fabric, he gave one last look to the orphanage before marching off. Making sure to stick his tongue out just as it left his field of view.
“Hey, isn’t that him?” A hushed murmur.
“Hm? Oh, that fox boy?”
“I thought he wasn't a fox at all and that was just a rumor?”
“Of course it isn't! Just look at that red hair of his!”
“Right? That’s a telltale sign if I ever seen one,”
“Just don't let the children get too close. Who know what might happen,”
Maybe this was better than last time. Getting kicked out for bringing in a dead rabbit was definitely hard to explain. Not that it was particularly hard for him to comprehend but for the old man, that was certainly another story.
“Quick, the talismans,”
“Don’t speak so loudly! You know those foxes have incredible hearing!”
“I heard they have a taste for blood,”
“A monster if I've ever seen one,”
“Parading around in that skin…”
Quickly slipping into an alleyway, away from the stares, Naruto collapsed. He sat curled up thinking about how he was going to explain this to the old man. Before he knew it, tears were streaming down his cheeks. Sniffling all while trying to wipe away at his wet cheeks.
He got kicked out again and now the old man would have to beg another orphanage to let him in. Despite what everyone thought, Naruto wasn't stupid. He knew that no one liked him. He knew that was why it was so hard to get others to care for him. They wanted nothing to do with him.
And all because he was a fox.
Slapping his cheeks, he felt the tingling pain ripple across his face. That's it! He wouldn't cry anymore and he was done with orphanages! He would just have to fend for himself from now on. But there's still hope for a future where he was loved.
Running out of the alley with a newfound determination, Naruto went to the nearest paint shop. As much as he would like to pay for them, he had no money. But so long as he touches the buckets he would be okay. The owner of the shop believed him to be cursed and would part with anything he came in contact with.
It wasn't a preferable thing he wanted to happen but it did. He might as well use it to his advantage.
—
Sitting on top of the orphanage that kicked him out with buckets of paint, Naruto set his plan in motion. Dousing the entire roof with all the paint he could get. He watched it drip onto the door, the windows, even some splashing into the chimney. He couldn't suppress the chuckle that bubbled up into his throat. Serves them right!
The fox grabbed his paintbrush and got to work on using the freshly poured paint to write. Things like ‘shitty’ and ‘dumb’ along with his trademark ‘the fox was here’. The swirl of the Uzumaki placed right next to it. It could be considered one of his best works yet, but he wasn't sure if it could top the hokage monuments. Or even painting a whole street.
As if sensing his mischief, the caregiver ran outside and screamed to the top of her lungs at him. Yelling all sorts of insults he didn't care for. He stuck out his tongue and swung the leftover paint at her. It coated her in an instant. The absolute look of shock froze her in place, Naruto couldn't help but just keel over in laughter.
“Take that for a freak!" He shouted back, hopping away from that stupid place. Now back on the streets, a smile plastered all over his face just like the paint that smeared his clothing. But it didn't matter. He got back at that stupid orphanage and that's all he cared about.
“Oh, dear,” a soft voice piped from behind him.
Naruto turned around, he was a little skeptical towards the woman who had approached him. He tried to keep the growl that was bubbling up in his throat suppressed. The woman was very beautiful, with pale skin and dark, raven hair. She carried a basket full of fruit, it reminded Naruto of how he hadn't eaten at all today.
He was very hungry indeed. The fox wasn't too sure on how to secure food though. The shopkeepers always chased him away or threw the rotting fruits and vegetables at him. If they did let him in they were sure to let him know how displeased they were of his presence. Muttering on about him cursing the food.
She bent down to Naruto’s height, offering a kind smile in return before gently reaching for the apples in her bag.
“Would you like some? It seems I've bought too many,”
For a brief period, he wondered if this was a trick. It wouldn't be the first time he ingested something he wasn’t supposed to. He gave the apple a little sniff then took it quickly after not smelling anything off. The woman’s smile never ceased, she only got up and left him with more apples before disappearing.
Naruto never took his eyes off of her, only taking a bite out of the apple once she was out of sight. He lit up at the sweet nectar that shot on his tongue. Hurriedly chomping into the apple until he was only left with the core, the fox kit grabbed another, then another, and another and another and another until—
They were all gone.
Naruto decided he liked that woman.
—
Instead of another orphanage, the old man had decided it was best for him to live on his own. Which meant his very own apartment. Just like a real shinobi. It was quite spacious and all for him! He couldn't be happier. No more sneers, no more being excluded, no more things being thrown at him and certainly no more being called a demon fox.
Yes, it was certainly incredible. However incredible it was, it still did not provide food. Naruto didn't feel like having something thrown at him today. So here he was, in the great wilderness. He had come across some red berries along his way, though bitter, not poisonous. Naruto made a mental note to remember the scent on that one. As well as the shape of the leaves and blooming petals.
But out in the forest was where he could be his true self. For it was true what they said about him. Fox demon, freak, monster, mutt, beast— he was all of them and more. Nine tails whipping behind him as his paws pounded to the beat of his sprint. Long, pointy ears on top of his head, gliding through the forest bed. He wasn't quite sure what he was. As far as he knew, he was the only one out there.
Naruto had never seen anyone that looked like him. The foxes here sure did but they only had one tail— not an extra eight. It's not like it bothered him much as he never really thought about the specifics of what that could entail. So with a powerful leap from his legs, the rabbit was no more as it squealed between his teeth. The thick taste of iron coated his tongue. Limp and lifeless as it dangled in his jaws.
Perfect catch!
Dinner has been served!
Just as quick as he was in the chase was just as quick as he was to weave his way out of the forest. He was learning the ways in which it worked here ever so slowly. Like a wild animal would.
—
It was a hot day. The sun seared onto his skin. Feeling the stickiness of sweat cling onto his clothes. Naruto took refuge underneath a shady area of a plant shop. He had his eye on one in particular but one glance at the talisman outside the shop made him change his mind about entering. He was content to watch from outside.
“Hey! Get outta here! You're scaring off my customers!” The man who ran the shop hopped out his chair from inside with a newspaper in tow.
Naruto was too hot and tired to care for his threats, a simple yawn escaping his maws as he stared at the newspaper in his hand.
“You deaf? Get out of here!” This time the man threw a talisman at him. It had been wrapped around something so carefully Naruto unfolded it to check what was inside.
Inside were vibrant, pink flowers. Shaped just like bells. He gave it a whiff though not finding much of a scent. But it was certainly there. Now back in the unwavering heat, he made his way back to his apartment. Setting the flowers on the windowsill and watching them glow in the sunlight. A pink shadow cascaded from where the petals covered. It was pretty.
It reminded him of the old wives tale surrounding these flowers. It involved a beautiful vixen, adored for her vibrant red fur. She knew of her beauty and flaunted it to many. The humans coveted it, wanting her beauty all for themselves.
So they placed the pink bell flowers onto the grass near the river she always walked to. Waiting in the shrubbery for her to show up. She wore them, adoring how pretty they looked on her paws. But the toxins quickly encapsulated her legs.
Making her unable to walk and soon, the humans had possessed her beauty. Of course, none of it was true. It was a good tale to scare young fox kits however. The old man had told him of such a tale, he thought it was stupid. How could flowers even latch onto your feet anyway.
That is when Naruto decided to learn more about these flowers and maybe a little bit about other plants too.
—
Starting the academy was not what Naruto thought it would be. He thought that this would finally be where he could prove himself and show everyone that they're wrong about him. He isn't just some rabid mutt the hokage kept in the village out of pity, but that he deserved to be here. But it was hard. The lessons bore him to death, not to mention all the kids kept picking on him. A fox could care less about practicalities.
Entertainment and thrill was what he lived for. Not this. That's what a shinobi should be. Not only that, but once he was a shinobi everyone would start taking him seriously. They would listen when he spoke and stare at him when he walks but not out of fear and hate, but out of awe and admiration. This fox was sure of it.
Though, he wasn't so sure of how he was supposed to accomplish such a feat when he slept in class all the time. It's not his fault really, the teacher just sucks at teaching! It’s actually quite easy to grab a fox’s attention span. You just had to be some sort of idiot to not have anything good enough to offer to keep it.
He huffed.
What a day this has been.
—
Staring at the paint shop, Naruto wondered how he was going to get in. The shopkeeper's wife had enough of his cowardice, placing talismans on the doorframe herself and keeping watch. It would be much harder to get in now, that’s for sure. It was nothing the great Naruto Uzumaki couldn’t handle.
“Thinking about mischief are we?”
A sneak attack.
Naruto jumped back at the sudden voice, pinning down the woman with a glare before recognizing her immediately. His guard was lowered slightly but not enough for her to notice. She turned her head to where he had been staring at initially.
“I’m not surprised. It’s what you foxes do after all,"
The way she said it however was a surprise. There was no contempt in her voice only… a soft fondness for something missed.
“I’m not a fox!” He's a fox of his word. The old man told him to never reveal this side of himself and it is what he will do.
“Right! Sorry!” She ushered an apology. Smiling gently, she gave a mischievous look herself, looking at the paint shop then towards Naruto.
“Can you keep a secret?" She whispered.
A secret?
Wasn't that like.. a thing friends shared between each other. Suddenly feeling a rush in his heartbeat, Naruto nodded eagerly as he leaned closer. The woman placed a gentle hand in his red hair and got up from her crouching. He watched as she disappeared once more. But unlike before, she came back. With giant buckets of paint.
—
Up on top of the hokage monuments, Naruto could taste the colder air. The blue sky so cloudless and endless, it felt a lot closer than it actually was. Up here he could contemplate on what he would do next with these massive paint buckets. Oh well, no use in dwelling on it any further. With a heave, he swung the bucket and watched it splatter on the fourth hokage’s nose.
Perfect.
A hearty laugh left his chest as he flew down to paint on the cheeks next. He was going to need a lot more paint though if he was even going to make a fraction of a dent as he wanted. Everyone would take note of his abilities after he did this. It took courage and bravery to even step foot up here. Naruto was both and much more.
He should probably get that stingy teacher back for failing him on a test. That teacher was next on his list. A sly chuckle left his lips.
—
He thought shinobi were supposed to be elite ninja. Able to hunt down and track even the most faintest of tracks. But a fox like him was much too difficult for these shinobi it seemed! A cocky smirk filled his face as he trotted off from his place behind the dumpster.
“Where’d that little runt go?!”
“That fox is such a piece of work.”
Naruto felt his feet leave the ground as he was held up by the scruff. Automatically going limp, he glared at the offender from behind him.
“Gonna talk your way out of this again?” Naruto didn't bother responding.
Just like that, he was back in the hokage’s office. Definitely-not-pouting-but-pouting and seated on the floor crossing his arms.
“When will you outgrow such childish tricks?”
No answer.
—
A festival.
Naruto’s never been to a festival before. It was exciting. The night was young and overflowing with lights. Stalls littered the streets with yukata’s and masks. Naruto had neither. But he wanted to go. He looked down at his raggedy, torn clothes in embarrassment. He couldn’t go. Not like this.
Just as he was about to leave, he was flushed against soft fabric belonging to a yukata. It was a dark blue with blooming flowers at the bottom. He yelped as he jumped back, wary of the stranger before a familiar scent hit him. The stranger lifted up her mask, dark eyes greeting his in return with a wink. She placed the mask back on and knelt towards him.
“I brought you something,” she offered out a black yukata with an unknown symbol on the back.
“Let me help you put it on,” he followed her lead, slipping into the piece of clothing. A cat mask was tucked underneath her arm, drawing it from its place and putting it on his face. Now he matched with her.
She took his hand in her own and together they walked down the street. The scent of grilled food and sweets was almost overwhelming with the loud cheers and chatter of the people around him. It was almost too much before the raven haired woman sat him down in a quiet area, away from the bustle of the street.
A grilled squid was placed in front of him, eagerly he took it. Sniffing it with vigor, he felt the squishy texture hit his tongue. It was nothing like he tasted before. The things he ate were a crunch or a pull, even a stickiness. This was a squish with more chew. It was different. But not bad.
He felt special being offered something new.
“Mother! Mother! Look at what me and Itachi got!” A girl with hair just as dark as the woman’s screamed. Her mask placed on the side of her head.
She held up a teddy bear with pride as a boy older than Naruto came into view along with another girl who was also older than him.
“Amazing, dear! Did you get it yourself?” The girl nodded.
“Naruto,” this was the first time she spoke his name. It took him by surprise, immediately paying attention.
“My sons, Itachi and Sasuke. And that's Izumi over there!” She pointed to the elder girl. Wait.. did she say sons?
“You’re a boy?!” He shouted before he could even think. Immediately, he tried covering up his mouth, forgetting that the mask was there.
The elder pair muffled their laughter as the young boy puffed his cheeks. Eyebrows furrowing in distaste.
“Of course I am!” He shouted.
“Could’ve fooled me…” Naruto muttered and he had.
“I hope you two can become good friends!” Naruto looked at Sasuke. The boy was scowling at him and Naruto wondered if there was even a chance to be friends with that.
—
Now that Naruto has successfully failed the academy three times, he thought he would be off the hook at least. But no. The old man was still insistent on having him pass. He preferred it out here. In the forest with traps he slowly learned to navigate through. Not in some stuffy classroom. He witnessed how the animals sometimes got caught in said traps.
He felt bad that most of them died or ended up dying later on because of them. But it gave him an idea for a new set of pranks he could pull. As well as a sure way to secure food. He examined the traps that had been set off already. Trying to recreate them with what he saw. Just like the academy, he wasn’t successful the first couple times around.
Naruto noticed the improvements with each time he tried. When it was time for him to return to the academy in his fourth class with a completely different teacher, Naruto entered the classroom with a smile. There were plenty of students already there that he recognized. One in particular that had a set of raven hair with eyes to match. Their eyes locked onto each other, each suited with their own expression of shock.
Naruto bolted up to the desk much to the dismay of the other students. On top and in front of the boy, a clawed finger was pointed directly at him.
“It's you!” They both exclaimed.
“You go here too? What a bummer..” Naruto huffed. Now in a squat with his head rested in his hands. Sasuke, if he remembered correctly, grumbled in response.
“I could say the same thing!”
Naruto was about to snap a reply when he remembered his mission. A sly grin overtaking his features, only mildly disturbing the other boy.
“Watch this!” He whispered. Hopping off the desk and back to the floor.
Naruto laced the door with a tripwire, pulling it back with his fingers to test its strength. Chuckles escaped him as he placed another trap. This one was going to be so good. He could feel it in his bones. The fox waited in front of the trap, eager for the moment when their teacher would show up.
Announcing his presence with the slide of a door, his foot caught on the tripwire. The other foot getting caught in the next trap. Pulling him off balance, off the floor and into the air, upside down. The teacher didn't say anything for a while, must've been processing what had just happened to him.
“Alright, who did this?!” He cried, Naruto facing him head on.
“I'm serious! I want to know who did this!” Naruto didn't budge. A foxy grin baring his fangs. He sure did get him good!
“Do you want me to get you down from there?” Naruto piped up. The teacher spared him a glance before focusing on all the other students.
He scowled.
He cut the rope holding the man up, taking great satisfaction in hearing the heavy thump behind him. Naruto headed towards the hallway, already prepared for the scolding and lashing out. What he wasn't prepared for, however, was the eerily calm voice coming from the man telling him to sit.
—
Naruto had decided he did not like Sasuke.
All the girls absolutely lost their minds whenever he showed up. What was he doing that Naruto wasn’t? He wanted that kind of attention. His pranks were much better than that jackass. It was recess but instead of chasing other students, Naruto could only stare at the other boy from his place on the swing.
After seeing the fifth girl approach him, Naruto had enough. All he was doing was sitting there?! What was so cool about sitting?? Naruto could do that too. In fact, he was doing it right now!
“I challenge you!”
Sasuke peered up from his spot on the ground. Eyes twitching slightly from recognition.
“What are you doing, idiot?”
While they’ve met before, they never took the time to get to know each other. It seems that comment about looking like a girl really stuck with him.
“Yeah, Naruto!”
“Go back to the woods like a real fox!”
“A fox can't beat Sasuke!”
The girls all shouted in unison. Naruto even spotted Sakura amongst them. Of course she had been there, when has she never been seen at Sasuke’s side. The sight of the kunoichi in training made him blush. He heard the girls talking about who they liked in class once. Most of it obviously being Sasuke resulting in many cat fights.
They all talked about how good looking he was. So calm and collected and cool. Naruto could be all those things too! When he looked at Sakura those were the things he felt. He thinks so anyway. He isn't quite so sure what he felt but it aligned with what the girls had said. He was just happy to have his first crush like a normal kid.
“You and me! Right now!” He snapped, the girls pulling back fearfully at the sight of his teeth. For a second he backed off, he didn't mean to scare them. Especially Sakura.
“No thanks,” Sasuke got up and walked away.
But Naruto was never one to take no for an answer.
With the same pounce he uses to kill prey, he pounced on the boy. Both of them entering a scuffle of dust and limbs. Skin flushed against teeth and claws dug into hair, a foot flew into the air. Landing on Naruto’s spine causing a sharp yelp from his throat. Kunai’s were thrown messily (mostly from Naruto), scraping his cheeks. The thick copper scent oozing from the wound.
Sasuke’s shirt clutched into his fists as he desperately tried to grab whatever he could in this frenzy. His own shirt was being pulled by the raven haired boy, the two continuously tussling in grunts and growls. From the distance, Naruto could hear the shrill cries of the girls. Someone yelling for a teacher, others wanting to intervene but not get caught up in the feral mess of what was happening in front of them.
Others cheering them on with zero remorse. His scruff was pulled on roughly causing him to go limp watching as Sasuke also got pulled back. Naruto was in for it now. But he could care less. Nothing he hasn't been through before. He was too busy looking at Sasuke to hear any of the words coming from the teachers’ mouth. Because no matter how loud and hostile he acted to him.
He still wanted to be his friend.