To the person that asked how a fox can eat a bowl of ramen sit in it and then have the bowl and itself not weigh as much as it did before is…uh…Naruto's metabolism turns food into chakra at a fast rate so when he gorges himself on Ramen or any food its turned to chakra. There is no more weighty food after he turns it to chakra. That's a good excuse, eh?

As usual I don't own Naruto or its characters.

Naruto's Fox

Chapter 8 - The Assigned Mission

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"Hyuuga Neji, Tenten, Rock Lee. You have a special mission. You are to watch over this Fox named Ramen" Tsunade ignored the glare she was receiving from Naruto for being called a stupid name. "And report anything unusual about it or what it does."

"You mean like that fox having nine tails?" Tenten pointed out watching them wag back and forth.

"Yeah…stuff like that but be sure to take care of it. Feed it, groom it whatever you have to do to keep it alive and healthy." Tsunade finished giving out Team Gai's new mission.

"Why are we assigned a mission like this, Hokage-sama?" Neji wasn't one that like simple, childish, waste of a genius's time missions and wanted a damn good reason or he'd hurt something(Rock Lee was being eyed for that very situation).

"Oh right, your….Sensei is currently unable to go out on missions due to his broken leg, so your team will have to do something like this." Tsunade didn't want to mention she was passive aggressively getting back at Gai for annoying her by making his Genin really angry at him for causing their suffering so they would put him through hell for her and she wanted someone who could handle Naruto as well.

"Where did this fox come from and why does it have so many tails?"

"Uh…" Tsunade wasn't sure how to answer the question without revealing it was naruto stuck in that form thoroughly freaking people out and causing unknown havoc but being the quick witted person she was she came up with another answer.

"Shizune explain to them how this fox got here and why it has so many tails" Ahh, nothing like having a good scapegoat when I'm in a tough spot. Tsunade smiled happily in here mind.

"ME?! Uh….well it…the fox was a gift… To Naruto for…Beating Neji"

Neji visibly twitched at that part.

"In the Chunin exams by….a feudal lord from Grass country." "Apparently he won lots of money by betting on Naruto in the fight between Neji and Naruto. It was obiously a special fox with all its tails and the Lord gave it to Naruto but Naruto is on a special mission and cannot take care of it so we decided to let you keep it till he gets back."

That's a good story Shizune. Tsunade was impressed Shizune came up with something plausible in a second flat though the Spike in killing intent given off by Neji made her wonder if Naruto was in trouble.

"YOSH! Hokage-sama we shall complete this mission perfectly!" Lee performed his Nice-guy pose and picked the fox up off the desk

Naruto suddenly grasped the gravity of the situation. He was going to be taken care of by these people…. An arrogant prick, a clone of a guy that's weirder then Kakashi and….some girl he doesn't know very well but has a great talent for sticking pointy opjects into other objects. Naruto struggled to get out of Rock Lee's grasp. There was no way in hell either of those guys is going to take care of him. Naruto got a footing on Lee's hand and jumped onto Tenten's shoulder wrapping his tails around her arm holding on for dear life.

"Hm, I guess he likes you Tenten-san." Tsunade smirked as the Fox glared at her once again and barked disdainfully at her.

"Lets see who you would choose if you were me!"

"Um it won't let go" Tenten was trying to shake the fox loose but it wouldn't budge.

"Whatever lets go." Neji walked out the door after a curt but respectful bow followed by his teammates.

Tsunade leaned back in here chair giving out a sigh.

"They should be ok."

…………………………………………………………….

Outside near Team gai's training grounds.

………………………………………………………………….

"So what now?" Tenten had managed to pry Ramen off her shoulder and was fiddling around with a stick with Ramen sitting beside her.

"Well it's still early how about some training?"

"Do you ever think about anything besides training or Youth?"

"Ah, yes I also think about poems I can recite to my dear sweet Sakura-san. Would you like to listen to some of them?"

"NO!" Came two cries from his companions and a bark from the fox to accompany them.

"Roses are red

Violets are blue

Sakuras are pink

and your hair is also the colour pink as well"

Everyone had tears in their eyes. Lee, because he thought his poem was so romantic and emotional. Everyone else was crying because it was painful to listen to that poem.

"And this one goes like-"

"Lee you say another poem and your dead!" Tenten shouted while hitting the ground with the stick to emphasize her threat. Unfortunately for Naruto one of his tails was in the way and was smacked by the stick. A loud yelp came from the fox. The fox turned and attacked the offending stick with his jaws and attempted to break it in half like a child's leg in a bear trap.

Tenten watched as the fox struggled to tear the stick to pieces before shaking the fox off the stick. Ramen attack once more this time trying to tackle the stick out of Tenten's grasp.

"To slow" Tenten moved the stick out of the way and gave the fox a quick but light poke in the tails.

Ramen looking angry with her now stared Tenten down for a few moments and the duel was on. Ramen attacked moved in zigzag leaps and attacked the stick from Tenten's left. Tenten merely moved the stick further right to avoid the assault before turning the stick on its other end where leaves were still attached. Tenten began shaking the stick on the ground causing the leaves to make a swishing sound and the leaves moving back and forth made it difficult to see which direction the stick was actually moving. Ramen was staying at a safe distance but seemed mesmerized by the movements of the leaves.

"This is the end!" Tenten moved to quickly strike Ramen with an overhead strike a gentle strike but a strike none the less. Tenten smirked as she pulled the stick away before realizing the stick had more weight to it then before. She let go of the stick to avoid getting her hand bitten by ramen. The stick was carried off to its fate of being chewed on for a while to prove who won the duel.

(Flashback….of 5 seconds ago…)

After some moments of watching the leaves swish back and forth and knowing Tenten can move the stick faster then he can move himself Naruto new he couldn't avoid the next attack so he waited till Tenten attacked. Using his tails to block the attack he quickly wrapped them around the stick and once Tenten lifted the stick away he attacked her hand forcing her to relinquish her weapon thus winning the epic duel.

(Present time)

Ramen looked proud of himself while Tenten just rubbed his ears to show there were no hard feelings.

"Yosh Neji-kun let us follow Tenten-san and Ramen-kun's example of youthful training!" Lee broke a large stick off a tree and began twirling it around staring Neji down.

"Lee don't you dare-" Neji was cut off by Lee doing his damnedest to strike Neji with the branch. Neji could easily block lees strikes if Lee used his hands or feet but a tree branch could leave a nice bruise if it landed a hit…just like it did now. Neji used his arms to block a strike to his face but Lee kept on swinging.

"Lee you idiot, stop this right now!" Neji was deftly dodging and occasionally being forced to block the strikes before finally being angered enough by Lee's training method. Neji used his "attack Lee's wrist and knocked the branch from his grip just as fate intended strike" effectively disarming Lee.

"Neji-kun that was an excellent display of your youthful fighting skills!"

"Yes. As fate had decided you are now weaponless." Neji picked up the branch "Now that I have disarmed you it is now your turn to dodge the attacks…" Neji said with a sadistic looking grin. If there was one thing Neji liked more then fate, it was Karma.

Some time later Team Gai(minus Gai) was walking through the streets of Konoha. Lee was looking much worse for ear with bruises and scraps to go with his arm in a sling. Neji walked with a smug smirk on his face, perfectly happy for being able to do fates work and hurt Rock Lee with extreme prejudice. Tenten walked casually along with her team mates. Such things as severe physical abuse have become a natural occurrence long ago. Tenten has also gotten used to the way Ramen wraps his Tails around her arms in a surprisingly strong death grip for some reason.

Don't go home with Lee. Don't go home with Lee. Don't go home with Lee Naruto chanted in his mind making damn sure he wouldn't be taken to whatever cave Rock Lee dwelled in. On a side note Naruto did not want to go home with Neji either but of the lesser of two evils he'd go with Neji in a heartbeat if having to make a choice.

"So what do we do with the Ramen-kun?" Lee asked before coughing up some blood.

"Someone has to take him home for the night. I'll let you two decide the fate of the fox since it his destiny to not be taken home by me." Neji's matter of fact statement however truthful or untruthful it was made it clear he didn't want to keep the fox.

"AHH!" Tenten gasped before looking at the fox whose grip on her arm suddenly gained in strength to a point where her arm was turning white. "I'll take it home for tonight all right?" Tenten looked over to Lee who just shrugged and wished her well on her mission. More was said but after being on a team for so long Tenten and Neji have gained the ability of "Selective hearing" so they can skip the talks of youth and the like. Generally used about the time when Lee or Gai start with their odd poses much like the one Lee was doing right now.

Neji and Tenten turned their hearing back on when Lee started to wave and just caught his "Goodbye" After their respective goodbyes they parted ways to go to their homes.

Tenten was on her way home when she noticed a strange cat following her for the third time. Tenten quickly grabbed a rock and threw it straight at the cat's forehead. The cat ducked the rock and ran off into an alley.

"hmm….good reflexes…" Tenten muttered a little disappointed she didn't land the hit. Naruto had no idea what just happened but there was no one but some shop workers and average looking people were around and nothing trying to kill him so he continued staring at the buildings they passed by.

Naruto figured this must be the industrial part of Konoha with all the metal working and carpentry buildings that were around. He never knew Tenten lived this far away from everyone else. After a second thought Naruto realized he knew practically nothing about Tenten other then her name, gender and teammate's names. Then he wondered if Tenten's name was just Tenten or if there was more too it.

Tenten reached her house opened up the door and waked in all without Naruto getting a good look at anything.

"I'm home!" Tenten yelled out to whoever else was in the house.

"Welcome home Tenten" someone in another room called back

"Mom I have a take home mission!" Tenten yelled out walking through the house carrying Ramen with her.

"What is it? Multiplication?"

Naruto could hear something strange in the background, like something getting beat or something.

"It's a mission not homework." Tenten responded walking through an open door.

Naruto looked around the room seeing weights some weapons decorating the walls and in the corner a punching bag being kicked to death by a woman in a blue Chinese style top and black pants.

"It's this" Tenten said holding Ramen up a little. The woman stopped her merciless assault on the poor punching bag and turned to see her daughter's mission. The woman's hair was tied in two buns like Tenten's. They two looked almost the same though Tenten was smaller and her hair was much lighter then her mother's.

Tenten's mother's eyes drifted from Tenten two the fox she was carrying. A look of either shock or fear washed over her face when she saw it. Tenten's mother got a hold of herself and looked back at her daughter

"What is that and why are you keeping it?"

"It's a Fox. I know its weird with its tails but it is very tame.

"The Hokage herself gave you the mission?"

"Yeah it's actually Naruto's-"

"Uzumaki Naruto's?"

"Yeah it was a gift from a feudal lord from grass country cause he won lots of money betting on who would win in Neji's and naruto's fight." Tenten, explained rubbing Ramen's head.

"So why are you keeping it?"

"Naruto is on a special mission somewhere and since my sensei can't do anything till his leg is healed we are doing this." Tenten's Hand rested on Ramen's head as if making the final point in a debate.

"I see…" She looked at Naruto as if she were translating a foreign text.

Though Tenten's mother's look wasn't cold or mean it was uncomfortable being looked at that way by someone who made that punching bag seem as if it was begging to be put out of its misery. Naruto figured the best course of action was keep out of trouble and stay well clear of that woman's High kick.

"Well…I made supper for us." Tenten's mother announced getting her towel and whipping her face.

"Really? Great I'm starved. What are we having?"

"Whatever you bring home." Tenten's mother handed Tenten so money and walked of to another part of the house."

Tenten growled quietly. "I thought you said you made supper."

"I did. I poured some water and put plates on the table. Be sure to get something for the fox your keeping to" Tenten's mother called back.

"I think I'll go get some Vegetarian dishes for us for making me get the food." Tenten yelled out walking out the front door after putting the fox down.

"You do and I'll disown you…besides you hate vegetarian food as much as I do!" Tenten's mother parried Tenten's threat in a great display of figurative swordplay.

(Later that night)

Naruto happily lay on the couch next to Tenten as they recovered from eating their meal. Though there was no Ramen the meal was still very good. Tenten and her mother were surprised at how much the fox ate. By all accounts the Fox should have either exploded or have its belly grow twice its size.

"I got a letter from your father today."

"OH? What did it say? What did it say?" Tenten got excited

"Your Dad won his fighting tournament in the Swamp country"

"Tenten's mother handed her the letter and envelope"

Tenten read the letter and laughed that at the end. There was an apology and "It wasn't my fault they snuck up on me" in smaller letters. Tenten looked in the envelope to see a picture of her dad in his usual white karate outfit and red bandana he wears during tournaments. What made Tenten giggle was two good looking women in skimpy outfits were holding a trophy and a first place sash up to her father while giving him each a kiss on either cheek. Her father looked very uncomfortable and shy. Her father's blush was clearly visible on his face.

"It looks like dad was enjoying himself, hm?" Tenten teased. Her mother's indignant snort made her smile. She knew if her mother was there to see that those two women would get the beating of their lives and her father would get it twice as bad. Her mom can get a little bit jealous sometimes.

Tenten got up from the couch handing the letter and picture back to her mother and leaving up the stairs somewhere.

"Big dumb…womanizing jerk…" Tenten's mother said looking at the picture again. She new it wasn't his fault but still it irked her a little. Tenten's mother looked over at the fox lying on the couch staring at her then the picture on the wall then at her again. Tenten's mother moved from the chair she was sitting on to the couch beside the fox and showed the picture to him. "Can you believe those hussies?" "I can't believe they would act like that." Naruto looked at the picture to see indeed there were to scantily clad women kissing a guy in a white karate outfit. Naruto's jaw dropped when he saw in the background in the audience a very familiar old guy with long white hair drooling at most likely the women kissing the other guy.

Ero-Sennin?

"At least my husband had the decency to look ashamed unlike this other guy in the background" "You can even see him drooling of those girls…strange people huh?"

Tenten's mother took the picture back and put it in the envelope. "Guess I'll call it a night. Early mornings come fast ya know." She walked out of the room to her room Naruto guessed.

Naruto heard someone down the stairs. Tenten walked into the room looking much different then before. Her hair was tide in a ponytail and she had a simple grey t-shirt that looked like it seen better days.

"What? This is my favorite sleeping shirt, leave me along." Tenten defended her attire. "Anyway I'm going to sleep. Have to get up early for our meeting with my team tomorrow." Tenten picked Ramen off the couch and carried him to the back door leading into the backyard. Tenten put him down on the grass and looked unsure of what she was going to say but wanted to say something. "Uh…need to use the bushes?" Tenten looked uncertainly at the Ramen as he stared back at her.

Naruto was going to tell Tenten he was very capable of using the human toilet but remembered she'd never understand him. He decided running behind a small bush and pretending to use it was the best action to take. After cleaning his claws to pass some time he ran back to Tenten who began to juggle kunai to pass time. When Naruto walked back to Tenten she picked him up and carried him up the stairs to her room. Naruto was a little shocked to see a big framed and signed poster of Tsunade Hanging up on Tenten's wall.

Must be a fan or something. Naruto thought looking around the room as Tenten put him on the floor. Tenten's room seemed nice. There was nothing really girly at all in the room. Naruto saw a bathroom connected to Tenten's room. Some weapons littered a desk in the corner and various scrolls accompanied a shelf hanging off the wall at the end of the room.

"Ok, this is my room so don't pee on the floor please."

Naruto tried to look insulted at the notion that he would do such a thing. Tenten took a pillow off her bad and put it on the floor

"Here is your bed Ramen" Tenten explained putting Naruto on the pillow. Naruto didn't really mind since the pillow was soft and comfy. Tenten got up and made her way(a whole 2 and a half steps) to here bed and start throwing various things off onto either the floor or the basket of clothing. Naruto then realized Tenten was wearing just her old shirt and some green boxer shorts. Upon further inspection the words "Quit staring" was written on them in yellow letters. Naruto twitched and looked down at his feet.

Stupid shorts I wasn't staring Naruto defended himself. He felt like a pervert for a second but blamed everything on his various sensei's for it, with the exception of Iruka.

Tenten got into her bed and settled in for the night. After a quick goodnight Tenten threw a rubber dart at the light switch turning the lights off. Naruto lay on his back and settled in for a good sleep.

-In the morning-

A loud, annoying and very monotonous beeping woke both Naruto and Tenten from their slumber. Using another rubber dart from under her pillow Tenten banked it off the ceiling to hit the snooze button. Nine minutes later the buzzer beeped again and this time Tenten got up and shut the Buzzer off before going back to sleep. A cold splash of water on both Naruto's and Tenten's face made them jump a foot in the air.

"Rise and shine! Time to embrace the Youthful morning in youthful Youth! Tenten's mother exclaimed in a very Gai-ish tone.

"Don't do that! It's bad enough I have to here that with my team I don't want to hear it here too!" Tenten was infuriated by her mother's antics.

"That's what you get for threatening me with vegetarian meals young lady". Now you and him" Tenten's mother lifted the fox by the scruff of the neck up to her daughter. Naruto managed to fall asleep again while being held by Tentens mother. "Are going to be late if you keep sleeping like that."

While Tenten was getting ready doing whatever she does in the morning Naruto went down the stairs to see if there was any ramen to eat. He still couldn't believe how early they wake up. It's like some ungodly new evil hour of torture or something Even though it was 5:30am, to Naruto that was so early it must be hell to wake up so early. Naruto heard a familiar pounding sound and went to see Tenten's mother killing the punching bag with a flurry of fast and powerful kicks.

Never anger Tenten's mom Naruto wisely decided before going off to find something to eat. Naruto's meal came in the form of some strips of bacon and an egg(sunny side up). Naruto mostly just licked up the egg yolk but devoured every bit of bacon that was on the plate Tenten put on the floor for him. After the morning meal and other tasks like cleaning the dishes Tenten gathered Naruto up and was leaving.

"Bye Mom! See you later!" Tenten called out.

"Bye Hun, Say high to your boyfriend Lee for me!"

Naruto thought his ribs were going to break the way Tenten suddenly squeezed him. Tenten's mother loved teasing her daughter with Lee and having a closer then Teammates relationship with him. Tenten wished she never introduced her team to her family. It just gave her mother and father ammunition to use against her when they wanted to annoy her. After realizing she was squeezing Ramen with her arm out of anger she said a quick "Sorry" and walk out the door to start the mission for today.

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I bet you guys and girls have a guess on whoever Tenten's parents may or may not be. Tenten has almost no back story whatsoever other then she wants to be a strong kunoichi like Tsunade. So I decided to have fun with it and put something like that in there, eh.