Hey guys,

Thanks a lot for the Reviews and Favourites and follows as always. Finally got to write the next chapter ;) Have a good read.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto

XXX

Chapter 17: Lacking

Kitsune shifted in his position as Koyuki was about to fall off his back. The girl grew more and more nervous as they got closer to Konoha, and Kitsune's senses were concentrating on as much on their surroundings as possible. He looked to the front, where his mother had taken the lead, next to her K. B and Takuya were in the back, and the rest were spread around him and Riku, who were in the middle. Kitsune carrying Koyuki on his back, and the clones he'd once again created carrying the carriage. Riku, who was next to him, was carrying the old man.

They weren't moving at a fast pace, since with the carriage, it was rather hard. They would have to stop for the night again, but they would make it back to Konoha by the next day. A bit later than originally planned, but they would make it.

"Nee… oni-chan…"

"Yes?" Kitsune asked kindly.

"Can we stop real quick? I… I need to… uhm…" Koyuki tried.

Kitsune looked up towards the front, where Kushina had already turned around her head, and was nodding at him, having heard the conversation. She stopped as they entered a small clearing, and raised her hand. "Let's put up our camp here." She said. They had been going for a few hours, and although they could have gone on for longer, no one was complaining.

Kitsune put Koyuki to the ground, and Riku put down the old man. Koyuki then quickly ran towards the forest, while the rest started to put up the tents again. Koyuki came back a short moment, and the group slowly started to gather some food for dinner.

Kitsune noted how Koyuki kept looking around, as if expecting something. She stared towards the part of the forest she had gone to earlier, and Kitsune, who had a really bad feeling, concentrated all his mind on that part of the forest. Faint. Really faint, he felt chakra. But he couldn't say what it was. He walked forward. Towards where that chakra came from.

"Kitsune?" Came Takuya's voice.

He ignored it, and kept walking. Something. Something was wrong. He walked past the trees. And stopped in shock as he saw the tag on the tree. He stared at it in horror, and reached out to grab it. He didn't recognize it completely, but one part of it was definitely a chakra suppressor. But why here? Why on the tree. He grabbed it, and yanked it off the tree, cancelling the seal. And then he stiffened. "Shit!" He thought a moment later. But before he had any time to shout something to his comrades, hell broke loose. The sixteen shinobi, whose chakra had suddenly appeared the moment he took off the seal from the tree, jumped in to attack.

Kitsune turned on his heals to head back, but a Shinobi with a white mask suddenly stopped in his path. Kitsune gritted his teeth. He heard Kushina and Takuya barking out orders. He was only a short distance from them, but the trees made it impossible for him to see them. He swallowed the fear that rose in him, and readied his position. Without a second thought, he cancelled the gravity seals on his legs, and jumped at his opponent. Kitsune gathered the force in his arm, and threw a punch. Only for the Shinobi to catch it easily. Kitsune's eyes widened in shock, but he quickly caught himself again, and turned, trying to hit him with his leg. Again. The Shinobi just blocked.

Kitsune cursed under his mask. His physical strength was his weakest skill. He knew that. Because he was only ten, he couldn't, for the better of his body and health, train his physical body like an adult would. Because he was still growing, he had instead learnt and perfected Jutsus, and had concentrated on his speed. Even if he looked like a teenager with the mask, his body was still, in reality, that of a ten year old. And right now, he noticed just how much of a disadvantage that was. Although the enemy shouldn't be able to catch his punch as easily as he did… Kitsune tried to get out of the grip of the Shinobi, but he held onto his fist with too much strength. The Shinobi pulled back his fist, and hit Kitsune right in the gut. Kitsune coughed up blood at the impact.

Kitsune breathed heavily, and braced for the impact of the next hit that the Shinobi was preparing for. But before the Shinobi's fist connected, his fist was caught by Akira, who suddenly stood behind the enemy.

"That's my Kohai you bastard." He spat out, and in a fluid motion had the shinobi release Kitsune's fist and then hit him with so much force, that the shinobi flew back and hit one of the trees to his side. The shinobi got up again after a short moment, and readied himself for a fight. "Kitsune, I got this. Go back to the camp and give support." Akira said in commanding tone.

Kitsune nodded, and moved towards the camp. As he passed the last tree, he took a few seconds to take in the situation. Everyone was positioned in a circle around the camp, were Koyuki was hiding, and Riku and Tsubasa were lending support from the middle of it. Koyuki crying as she held her head in between her knees and her hands over her ears.

He saw that three enemy Shinobi were already down. Kushina was fighting two opponents at once, as was Takuya. One of his opponents being the old man. Hayate was fighting one opponent, but he was already sporting a large cut on his shoulder. Then again, so was his opponent. Neither Genma, Shisui, B nor K could be seen, but Kitsune felt them a short distance from them. B fighting two, and K, Shisui and Genma each one opponent. Z and G were also each fighting one opponent, but were trying to bring them away from the support group.

Kitsune saw how a stray lightning Jutsu made its way towards the support group, but they were all concentrating on one task, not noticing the Jutsu. Kitsune quickly went through some hand seals, and sent a wind blast towards it, disrupting it. He then took his position in the support group, and Koyuki, who saw Kitsune arriving, moved towards him, grabbing onto his leg pant. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry." She sobbed.

Kitsune looked at her in pity, already guessing what the situation was like. He would have to find out for sure later, but for now, he only patted her head slightly. "It's okay. Hide behind me." He said as he pushed her behind him. She was now surrounded by him, Riku and Tsubasa, who had moved to stand back to back to him. Each ready to support the fighters. Kitsune saw how one of Kushina's opponents fell, killed by a slash of Kushina's katana. And the last fighter was already looking pretty bad. Kitsune only took a moment to be in awe at his mother's strength, before he saw that G needed help. He quickly sent wind shuriken at the opponent he was fighting, helping in deflecting the shuriken that had been sent G's way. G took a short moment to turn his head and nod in thanks, before turning again and concentrating on his opponent again.

Kitsune noticed that they were winning. Hayate had just descended his katana on his opponent, ending him, while he felt that B had moved to help K with his opponent. Takuya had just taken down the other Shinobi he was fighting, and was now left with facing the old man.

Akira also came back from the forest, but instead of joining the others in fighting again, he moved towards Riku, who at seeing the large gash on his chest, quickly moved to give first aid. He nodded to Kitsune, telling him he was alright.

Tsubasa was none-stop sending different combinations of water Jutsus at the enemies, and took down the enemy Z was fighting as Z managed to capture the attention of the shinobi long enough for Tsubasa to kill him with a Kunai. She sent Tsubasa a thankful nod. At the same time, G took down his own opponent.

Z and G then exchanged a glance, and moved in the direction where the others were. Ready to lend a hand if need be.

Kushina and Takuya were now the only ones left fighting, and the two enemy shinobi seemed to understand that they had lost. The one Shinobi Kushina was fighting jumped back a bit, and looked straight towards the support team. Or more precisely, at Koyuki.

Kitsune wondered for a moment what he was trying to accomplish, when he suddenly felt pain spread through his body. He looked back towards Koyuki, who was sobbing, a Kunai embedded into Kitsune's back, held shakenly by the young girl. "I'm sorry…" She sobbed. "Oni-chan. I'm sorry…"

Kitsune reached out to her, and she flinched. Kitsune put his hand on her head. "It's okay." He said, feeling dizzy. And before she had time to say something else, he knocked her out quickly. She fell limp to the ground, Tsubasa just turning around quickly enough to catch her. She looked at Kitsune in worry. Kitsune just shook his head, and fell to his knees. The blood was flowing out of his body quickly. Koyuki had hit his kidney, he noted. Riku was now taking care of Shisui who was some distance away, and couldn't come right away. Kitsune put his hand to his side, and started the first aid. While he couldn't quite reach the puncture he could still stop the bleeding. And once Riku was available again, she could take care of the rest. The Shinobi fighting Kushina cursed.

"To use an innocent child. Despicable." Kushina spat, and then proceeded to crush him into the ground. She gave Kitsune a worried look, but as he signed her that it wasn't life threatening, she sighed in relief. Then she turned to the old man Takuya was fighting. "It's over. You lost." She said. Tsubasa had meanwhile risen and was carrying Koyuki. She stood with her back to Kitsune, and joined the group where Riku was, to notify them of Kitsune's injury. They hadn't noticed as they were concentrating on Takuya's fight.

The old man then started to laugh. "Did I?" He asked and grinned maliciously. He, took out his jacket, and showed everyone the exploding tags on his body. Everyone started to jump back, readying for protection as the old man moved his hands to make a sign. Everyone knew just how bad this explosion would be. Kushina landed next to Kitsune, and was about to help him up, when the old man finished his seal. His grin widened. "At least I can take you all with me." He said, and activated the Jutsu.

Kitsune acted on instinct as he hastily pulled out four Kunai, and threw each one of them away from him, making a square. Each Kunai had a sealing tag attached to it. "Activate." He said, voice laced with pain.

The seals on the tags started to glow, and connected with each other, creating something like a large, blue coloured wall between the old man and the Shinobi. It activated just in time to stop the explosion from reaching them. It held on quite well, but didn't hold all of it, and shattered after a moment, hitting everyone with a shockwave. Smoke and heat engulfing them. But thankfully, no fire reached them. As the smoke stopped, the old man had disappeared, and Kitsune breathed out heavily as he fell to his knees. His seal hadn't worked perfectly, but it had done its job. A prototype he'd been working on. He hadn't tested it yet, so he was glad it had worked to some extent.

The other Shinobi stared in shock at what had just happened. Kushina staring at the Kunai that had fallen to the ground the moment the attack had stopped.

"What the hell just happened?" Came Shisui's voice as he returned to the group. He was followed by the Kumo Shinobi and Genma, who were also looking curiously at the scene. K, J and G were all sporting minor injuries. Bruises here and there. Genma though was being supported by G, and looked pretty bad with a large gash on his shoulder, and his leg bent in an unnatural way.

Riku looked at Kitsune, who quickly signed her to take care of Genma first. She nodded, and moved over to him.

Akira moved over to Takuya, saying something in a quiet voice, while Kushina turned to say something to Tsubasa. Kitsune was the only one to notice how Kushina's second enemy suddenly rose again on shaking legs, and jumped at Kitsune, who in that moment was the closest to him. Kitsune looked in shock, as he saw the man coming closer and closer to him, without having the time to react. He couldn't move. The blood loss kept him barely conscious.

The Katana the man held in his hand descended towards him. Coming closer and closer. Kitsune closed his eyes, waiting for the impact. But it didn't come. He opened his eyes and stared right into the eyes of his mother. "Really, Kitsune. You need to blocks something like that." She said with difficulty and pain in her voice. But she smiled nonetheless. She then slowly rose again, turned towards the opponent.

Kitsune stared in shock as the blood flowed out of his mother's injury. A large gash on her back. Kushina moved at a speed he wouldn't expect someone with such an injury to move, and killed the enemy with a quick move. Kitsune couldn't tear his eyes away from the injury on his mother. He felt his eyes sting, as tears made their way down his cheeks, unseen because of the mask. He'd just caused his mother to be injured. He watched as she slowly walked back towards them, breathing heavily. The blood loss occurring so fast, and the fight from before taking its toll on her. She crouched down next to Kitsune, and smiled at him. "It's okay. It's not so bad." She tried to reassure him. But Kitsune was shaking, as his eyes didn't focus on anything. He didn't see anyone. He just had the image of his mother in front of him. Injured, because of him.

"Kitsune! Get a grip!" Came suddenly the voice of Riku. "Kitsune!" She shouted again as Kitsune didn't react.

Finally, Kitsune came out of his trance, and looked at the scene around him. Riku was now kneeling beside him, looking at him in worry, as were Takuya and Akira. His side was already bandaged up, so he must have been out of it for a moment.

Both Genma and Hayate's injury were meanwhile also bandaged up, Genma's leg being stabilised with some wood, but they seemed to be alright. Shisui, B, and Takuya were the only ones who had not been injured at all during the fight, with the exception of Tsubasa and Riku.

And then his eyes fell on his mother. She was leaning against a tree, asleep, a large bandage across her torso. He wanted to shout out to her, but no word came from his mouth. He closed his eyes, pushing back the tears.

"How long…" His voice broke. "How long was I out?" Kitsune asked once more.

"About half an hour." Riku answered kindly. "How are you feeling?" She asked.

Kitsune nodded, telling them he was fine. Although that was a lie. "Kushina-sama?" He asked, and had to use all of his concentration to call her like that.

Riku exchanged a glance with Takuya, before looking back at Kitsune. "She'll need some rest. But she'll make it. It wasn't too bad" She said.

Kitsune nodded. "Sorry." He said after a while.

Takuya sighed, and put his hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. No one is injured to a point where they'll die. These things happen." He tried to reassure Kitsune.

"Koumori-san." Came K's voice.

Takuya looked up. "Yes?"

K gave Kitsune a short glance before looking back at Takuya. "I hope you will agree that staying here for the night would not be smart. We should rest a bit longer, and then head straight to Konoha, to ensure proper treatment for the injured." He said, and sent Kushina a glance.

Takuya nodded. "I am glad you think so as well. We shall leave in half an hour."

K nodded, and moved to tell the rest of his team, while Akira went to tell the rest of the Konoha shinobi.

"Do you think you can run?" Asked Takuya towards Kitsune.

Kitsune nodded, and stood up, proving his point.

"He shouldn't walk around. He lost a lot of blood." Riku protested.

"I'm fine." Kitsune said and looked straight into Takuya's eyes.

Takuya nodded. "Let him run." He said towards Riku.

"Koumori. He's injured."

"And yet he says he's fine." Takuya rebutted, and gave Riku a pointed stare.

Riku glared at him, but then sighed. "Fine. Don't blame me when he collapses." She said with a huff and walked away.

Takuya turned to Kitsune again. "Koyuki-chan is uninjured. We'll have to find out more about her situation once we're back in Konoha." He said.

Kitsune nodded, not trusting his voice. He looked once more towards his mother. Riku was once more treating her. Kushina's pale frame, swallow breathing, was now deep engraved into his mind. He didn't notice as Takuya left his side to see to the rest of the team, getting ready for the run back to Konoha.

XXX

Minato was just reviewing the report of a mission, when he got notice that the escort team had returned. He hadn't been overly worried when they were a day late. But it was now in the middle of the night. And that was something he worried about. He waited only a short moment until the group entered the room. And the first thing he noticed was Kushina's absence. Although he did notice that more than half of the team wasn't in the room, Kushina was the first on his mind. He feared for the worst as he shot up from his seat and looked at Takuya with worried eyes.

"Kushina?" He brought out.

Takuya nodded. "She is injured, but in no danger of losing her life." He said, and Minato sighed out in relief. "The same goes for Genma, Hayate, Tora and Kitsune." He added, which made Minato look up apological for not asking about them as well.

Minato then moved his eyes to look at the remaining team. The Kumo-Shinobi were nowhere to be seen, but Minato assumed that they were being taken care of by Kana. She would lead them to the Inn, and he would talk to them the next day. As for the rest of the Konoha Shinobi, Riku had most likely brought the injured to the hospital. Shisui and Takuya were uninjured. Tsubasa was standing at attention, also no injury on her.

Minato nodded. "What happened?"

"We're not one hundred percent sure." Takuya started. "The Kumo-envoy was late, and so we sent a few members to meet up with them. They were travelling with a young girl and an old man. Merchants, so they said." Takuya continued. "It was decided that we would help them."

Minato sighed. "They were no merchants then."

Takuya nodded. "We noticed right away that the old man in the group was suspicious, because of the young girl's behaviour. We expect her to have been threatened somehow."

Minato nodded. It wasn't a rare occurrence.

"We had already put up our camp, when we were attacked." Takuya finished.

Minato nodded once more. Somethings were left unsaid, but a more detailed report would have to follow later. For now, this would do. "The Kumo-envoy is uninjured?"

Takuya nodded. "Mostly. Only minor injuries. On our side, the worst injured is Kushina."

Minato looked shocked at this. For Kushina to be injured was one thing. But the worst injured? "How did she get injured?" He asked with furrowed brows.

"Kitsune was unable to block an attack, and she protected him." Takuya said, feeling bad at having to put it like it was Kitsune's fault.

Minato furrowed his brows. Anger flaring up in him against his better judgment. Anger at Kitsune and Hiruzen. He started to regret the decision to let him enter. He was silent for a moment, before he came to a decision. "Alright. Everyone dismissed. Koumori, I'm awaiting a detailed report in the morning." He said, and got up from his seat. He would go and see Kushina right away. The rest would have to wait.

"Hai, Hokage-sama." Came the answer of the Shinobi.

"Then, if you'll excuse me, I'll go to the hospital." He said, and walked past the Shinobi.

"Ah, and Hokage-sama." Takuya said as he followed Minato out of the office. Minato sent him a questioning gaze. "The girl that was with the old man is in the hospital as well." He said.

Minato stopped in his tracks. "Is she dangerous?" He asked seriously.

Takuya shook his head. "No."

Minato nodded. "I'll see to it."

XXX

Kitsune was sitting on one of the beds, watching Kushina breath in and out in the bed next to his. After they had arrived in Konoha, Koumori had ordered him to get treated at the hospital, even though he'd wanted to go see his father as well. Tsunade had come in looking really pale, and after taking care of Kushina, had tended to him in a separate room.

It had been really silent. Kitsune hadn't spoken a word, and Tsunade, knowing Naruto was underneath the mask, didn't know what to say.

He remembered when he and Hiruzen had gone and told her about him entering ANBU, and how she'd been so against it. Both had needed a long time to have her, while not agree, accept the situation, and promised to keep quiet, while also tending to Kitsune should the need arise.

And now, after his first mission, he came back injured, together with his mother, who was also rather badly injured. She kept telling him that his mother would be alright, but Kitsune had just stared ahead, not looking at anything. She'd left him in his mother's room afterwards, realizing that he needed time to think.

Kitsune didn't notice as the door opened and Minato came in, followed by two young boys.

"Who are you?"

Kitsune looked to the side in surprise as his little brother talked to him. Kei, now being 7 years old, was standing at 4 ft. His red hair was as spiky as his own, but slightly shorter. Since it was in the middle of the night, he was wearing his blue pyjama. He was staring at him with curious eyes. Kitsune looked up to see his clone looking at him with wide eyes, Daiki next to him, and Minato glaring at him from behind his clone.

Kitsune shot up from the bed, and crouched down. "Hokage-sama, I-"

"Kitsune." Minato said and his tone made Kitsune stiffen. "You should go rest." He said, but his voice was laced with coldness.

"Otou-san?" Asked his clone to his father.

Kitsune bit his lip, but nodded. He quickly performed a Shunshin. Disappearing from view.

He arrived a short moment later in the middle of an underground ANBU training hall. It had been shown to him two weeks ago by Takuya. Apparently, ANBU used this space only rarely, preferring the ones with more light and better training facilities. The hall was just that. A large hall, with a small balcony where the door was, and where people could watch from. Under normal circumstances, Kitsune would have gone to his and Itachi's training ground. But right now, he didn't want to talk to even Itachi, who would try to look for him the moment he would find out what happened.

He was tired from the mission, but whenever he closed his eyes, he saw his mother. With shaking arms, he formed a cross with his fingers. "Kage-Bushin."

Shadow clones appeared in front of him, and without waiting any longer, he charged.

XXX

Minato stood there looking at the space Kitsune had just disappeared from a bit longer, before he moved to Kushina's side. He took her hand, and watched as she slept peacefully. He was joined moments later by his two sons. He smiled at them kindly, but looked in confusion at Naruto's troubled expression. "What is it, Naruto?"

Naruto looked up. "Ah… It's just… That ANBU. Why were you so angry at him?" Naruto asked.

Minato looked at him in surprise, but then relaxed his face and smiled once more at his son. "Because I care about your Kaa-chan." He said.

Naruto looked at him confused, an expression mimicked by his youngest son.

Minato chuckled and ruffled Naruto's hair. "Don't worry about it." He said.

"Will Kaa-chan be okay?" Asked Kei from the other side of the bed.

"Of course. Your Kaa-chan is strong. She'll be fine." Minato assured them.

Kei nodded, and climbed onto the bed, cuddling up to his mother. And then slowly, he fell asleep.

Minato smiled at the sight, and looked down once more towards Naruto, whose brows were furrowed in concentration. "Naruto? Is there something bothering you?"

"Eh? No… It's nothing." Naruto answered.

"Hmm… You know you can talk to me about anything right?" Minato felt a twinge as Naruto looked at him with surprise. Like he hadn't considered that.

Naruto bit his lower lip and lowered his head, nodding slightly. He looked up as Minato put a hand on his head, and brought his forehead to him. "You're my precious son. Don't ever forget that."

Naruto nodded, and Minato pulled back. He had been a lot closer to Kei lately, he realised. He would have to somehow make some time for Naruto. He looked like he could need it.

They spent the rest of the night in relative silence, as they watched over Kushina and the sleeping Kei. Somehow, the silence having a calming effect on both of them.

Morning came way too fast for Minato's liking, and as the first ray of sun reached the hospital room, he got up from his seat, drawing Naruto's gaze on him. "I have to go to work." He said.

Naruto looked to the ground. "Can I stay here?" Asked Naruto.

Minato smiled at his son. "I'll notify the academy on both of your absence." Minato said, drawing a smile from his son. The first one in a while, he noted.

He ruffled his son's hair once more, and then walked out. He signed in exhaustion at what would be coming today.

He arrived at his office a short moment later. Kana was already writing on documents as he arrived. She looked up and smiled at him. "Good morning, Hokage-sama. How is Kushina-sama?" She asked.

Minato smiled at her. "Good morning, Kana. Kushina is still unconscious, but should wake up sometime during the day." He said, and walked over to her desk. "How did the Kumo-envoy seem yesterday?"

"Calm. It was to be expected that they would be attacked. They also didn't mind not seeing you right away. I made an appointment for them today at three in the afternoon, and have arranged for Asuma-san to take them around the village.

Minato nodded. "Thank you. Anything else?" She shook her head. Minato smiled at her once more. "Alright. Then I should probably get to work." He said and walked into his office.

He seated himself on his desk, and only moments later, Takuya and his team, minus Kitsune, arrived in the office.

Minato furrowed his brows. "I believe only you would have sufficed, Koumori." Minato stated.

Takuya stood up from his crouched position. "I believe my teammates can add some own details on the report, Hokage-sama." Takuya said.

"And the fact that your last teammate is missing is because?" Minato asked, his anger to the new ANBU at getting his wife injured had subsided over the night. He didn't know the details, so he would wait for the report.

Takuya exchanged a glance with his teammates, before answering. "Well, it was Kitsune's first mission. We were hoping to give you our report on this as well."

"And?"

"Kitsune is…" Takuya started and furrowed his brows. "Currently unavailable." He finished.

"Unavailable? What do you mean?" Minato asked with furrowed brows.

XXX

There we go, another chapter. Hope you liked it. All the best.

See you soon, your PurpleShadow95