Disclaimer:

This story was not written by me, it was written by Etalfni on DeviantArt and writing(.com) and Benji-Blacksky on DeviantArt. The only changes to this story that have been made by me are minor grammatical changes and nothing to change the story in any dramatic way. This is a fantastic story written by several writers on DeviantArt and writing(.com). I am uploading this with the permission of the original authors, so please go support them.

The original version of this chapter can be found here DeviantArt(.com)newest/d2zx7it

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Hinata, Vulpes, and Kohana all then went to the bound man who was still unconscious.

"Kohana, would you do the honors?" Vulpes asked.

The little girl smirked and delivered a kick to the man's stomach.

"OHH!" Yasuo gasped in pain as he awoke. He was about to swear, but the sight of a huge fox and the white wolf from before really scared him.

"Tell us...Do you know the location of the hag Xana? Vulpes growled.

Usually when one is tied up and threatened by wild animals, they'll comply with what you ask. But when it's by magical, talking foxes and wolves, they'll sing like birds.

Yasuo was one of these usual people.

She-lives-in-tent-in-an-abandoned-village-that's-a-half-day-away!" He blurted"She-told-us-not-to-come-back-without-that-kid-and-"

"Enough!" Vulpes growled. "That's all we need to hear."

Just then, to everyone's surprise Yasuo began to shrink and was engulfed in brown fur. His eyes turned dark, his teeth sharpened, and he grew a worm-like tail.

The brute had become a simple rat, still bound by the shrunken ropes.

Vulpes sighed. "Must be another wretched curse by Xana. Please untie him Kohana."

The girl nodded, thou she looked annoyed with being bossed around.

The fox then cast his gaze upon Hinata. "We now know the hags location, but I know she's expecting you. We should wait until the start of the new moon next month. It will give you time to prepare and get properly trained in your new form. I will be teaching you alongside Aerore."

Hinata nodded gratefully. "Thank you Vulpes...Vulpes-sensei." Hinata added.

The wolf looked to the sky. It was the last night of the new moon, so it'd be two weeks before she could see Naruto again.

'I'll see you soon...Naruto.'

Hinata had a very restful evening. With the knowledge of the witch's location, her mind was at ease for once. She didn't even care that both the cubs and Kohana were jumping on her to wake her up the following day, despite it being four in the morning.

"Ms. Hinata! Ms. Hinata! Ms. Hinata!" They all chanted at once.

"Mmf? W-what is it?" Hinata yawned sleepily.

"We're going to play tag! You have to play, Ms. Hinata! Promise you'll play!"

"Huh? Alright, alright...Let me just get some breakfast from my pack..." She hadn't eaten since lunch yesterday.

Kohana grinned and held up a brown backpack. "You mean this?"

Before Hinata could respond, Kohana and the cubs took off in separate directions into the forest. This left Hinata sitting confused in the middle of the cave. No pack meant no food. Her brain finally jump started, and she chased after the children. As she ran off into the forest, Vulpes stood smirking on top of the cave entrance.

"Did you know Hinata," He said to himself. "That children games are actually physical tests for situations in adulthood? Even a game so simple as tag teaches fundamentals of hunting and tracking..."

Normally Hinata would have just relied on her Byakugan to track the children. But her wolf form did not grant her use of her previous skills. She was virtually running blind through the woods. A smoothing voice whispered in her head. "Just relax Hinata and think, what are the strengths of a wolf?" She galloped down the forest path while thinking, something in the air made her realize the answer. Tracking! She could smell where they were. Kohana had the smell of fresh daisies, Hinata locked onto the scent.

Kohana was hiding up a tree, looking down the road for Hinata. Hinata was easily able to get the jump on her by leaping up the trunk and stealthy sneaking up behind her. She put one paw on the girl's shoulder and said.

"Alright! I caught you...Now please, can I have my breakfast? I'm starving."

Kohana grinned and showed Hinata empty hands. "Hehehe, I don't have it. I gave it to one of the cubs."

Hinata sighed. "Which one?"

"I forgot...Maybe Luna...or was it Yumi?"

It wouldn't have made a difference to Hinata, she couldn't even tell the wolves apart. She just groaned and let Kohana climb on her back. "You're coming with me then...We need to find them."

Hinata sniffed in the air. She was trying to detect the smell of a wolf. However, she could not tell the difference between another wolf and herself. She almost lost hope but then thought of something else. She homed in on the smell of a nice box lunch...that did it. The smell was coming from a clearing south of her. Jumping gracefully from the tree, with Kohana cheering, she took off to find the cubs.

Slowly, she approached the opening in the forest. The last thing she needed was the cub to notice her and run off. She took cover in a bush and peaked out, she was in for a surprise. Naruto was there, holding up the cub by the foot with one hand and looking at her backpack with the other.

"This is Hinata's backpack...Where did you find this little guy?"

Thankfully, the cub never said anything besides several yips and growls. He even pawed Naruto in the face when he tried poking the young wolf. Kohana pulled on Hinata's fur and whispered in her ear.

"Who's that Ms. Hinata? He's pulling Yumi by the tail!"

"H-he's a close friend of mine. Listen Kohana, he can't see me like this. If he does I could never face him again."

"Ohhh. I get it. He's your boyfriend."

Hinata blushed. "K-Kohana...please..."

"Why not pretend to be Aerore then? You look just like her..."

That gave Hinata an idea. "I have a plan. Just play along, please..."

She then nudged Kohana off of her back and took a deep breathe. The biggest give away would be her voice, she had to disguise it. Aside from that, Kohana was right. There was no way he could recognize her as anything other than a wolf. With as much calm as she could muster, she quietly walked out of the bushes to confront her lover.

"Would you kindly release him, Mr. Ninja?" Hinata tried her best to mimic Aerore's voice.

Naruto fell down in shock. "Gah! A talking wolf!" The wolf child in his hand was able to break free and happily hopped over to Kohana.

"Thank you for finding my...brother. I'm sorry if he caused you any trouble."

Naruto dusted himself off while Kohana and the young wolf chanted, "Yay! Sister! She's our sister!".

"Umm...It's no trouble I guess. He sort of found me actually. I'm Naruto, and I'm going to be the Hokage! Who are you? You look kinda familiar..."

Hinata turned to Kohana and the cub and gave a look that said 'Play along'. "My name is Aerore. And you're in our territory. What business do you have in these woods?"

"I'm looking for someone. Yea, have you seen a pretty girl out here? Look, this is her backpack I found it in that little wolf's mouth."

Hinata blushed. "Um, if he found it...It must have been here awhile. I doubt Yami would steal anything from anyone." The young wolf whispered to Kohana behind her "Yes I would..."

"Aw, well. You're sure you didn't see anyone then? I've been looking for her for days. Isn't there someway you guys can help me track her?"

"If it's been lying in the forest for a few days I don't think we can help you. Sorry Naruto."

Naruto sighed. He then took a good look at Hinata with a furrowed brow. "You do look familiar though..."Anyway do you mind if I stay with you guys for awhile?" Naruto asked. "I'm out here alone and I just can't go back to Konoha without her..."

Hinata blushed even more, fortunately her fur hid it. "W-well, I do not see it as a problem, but I must confer with my father."

Naruto smiled happily. "Thank you Aerore, I won't forget this!" Naruto said as he followed behind her.

"Yami, would you mind finding Luna?" Hinata asked the gray and orange wolf.

"But she's already here 'sister'." The cub said, and his real sister emerged from some bushes.

"Yay you didn't find me!" Luna bragged giggling, "But don't worry, I heard everything 'Aerore'." she the whispered to Hinata.

Naruto then looked at the two identical wolf cubs in awe. "Wow, so the two of them are twins?"

"Yup!" Luna exclaimed.

"Yup!" Yumi exclaimed.

Naruto then looked at Kohana. "But why are you here?"

The 8 year old smiled. "I'm their friend silly!" she said before getting a clever idea. "So...what was your friend like?"

Both Naruto and Hinata blushed simultaneously.

" Well...she used to be shy and quiet when I met first her, sometimes she'd faint too. But a few weeks ago she changed..."

"How so?"

"...She was more outgoing and more confident, I felt like she had changed herself for some deep reason. That's when I finally realized that...she was more than a friend to me..." he said on the verge of tears.

Hinata herself had to try and stifle a few pained cries. Kohana realized that her joke was hurting Hinata so she tried to console him.

"I know that you'll find her soon. I'm sure she's thinking of you as well."

"Y-yeah." he sniffled.

Soon they were at the cave where Vulpes looked on edge.

"Where is he?!" snarled the great fox.

"Where's who father?" Asked one of the wolf twins with concern.

"Silence pup! That menacing aura...Tell me one of you sense it! I haven't felt it since..."

"Wait a minute." said Naruto. "Your dad's a fox? I have a fox spirit inside of me." Naruto lifted up his shirt to reveal the seal that held the nine-tailed fox.

"T-the nine-tailed fox?"

"Yeah. Why? Are you okay?"

For the first time since Hinata had met him, Vulpes looked completely shaken. He lay on his stomach with his paws over his head. Muttering to himself.

"The fox lord...unbelievable...Let me tell you all something right now. The nine tailed fox is in fact...my own father." This of course had everyone in the entire cave yell 'WHAT?!' Vulpes continued with the story. "Back when I was to marry...my mate, he opposed us. In fact, the reason why our union was so strong was because we only had each other. Both of us were banished from our packs. Needless to say, my relationship with him has been...complex."

Naruto looked worried and waved his hands. "H-hey don't worry! I'm not like him!"

Vulpes got to his feet. "I know you aren't boy. In fact, I see something of myself in you. But enough storytelling. You were looking for someone correct? Who might that be?"

"Oh, right! Have you seen a black haired girl around these forests? She has somewhat short hair and pale eyes. Her name's Hinata."

"Hinata, huh...?" Vulpes thought for a moment, Hinata was mentally begging him to play along and not give her away. "No sorry. No one besides Kohana has come through these forests in a while." Naruto groaned and looked depressed again. "You're welcome to stay though, my daughter Aerore can show you to a crevice in the cave where you may sleep."

"Thank you Vulpes-sensei for covering for me." Said Hinata a few hours later when she had a moment alone with the fox.

"Aerore's spirit came to me and told me everything just before you arrived. You can thank her." They were both on top of the cave entrance, looking down at Naruto and the twins below. One of the wolf cubs had Naruto's headband in their mouth and was being chased around.

"He's an odd lad..." Continued Vulpes. "But I wasn't joking when I said he reminded me of myself. I don't think it's any coincidence that you came across Aerore's pelt. You do look so much like her...after all."

"Y-you think this was meant to happen then?"

"I honestly don't know Hinata. Something like this has never happened before. I do know one thing though...you're going to have to act like a real wolf while that boy's around if you want to keep this act up."

Hinata's stomach growled. "I am painfully aware of that..."

Eventually it was lunch time, Hinata was forced to eat raw deer with the wolf cubs while Naruto enjoyed the box lunches from her pack. Deer wasn't that bad actually, still Hinata would have preferred it cooked. She could only take a few bites before having enough.

"What's the matter Aerore?" Asked Naruto between mouthfuls of sushi. "Not hungry?"

"N-not exactly..."

"Want some of my food then? There's enough here for a week."

Hinata was about accept, but Vulpes gave her a look from across the cave. "No...I think I'll be fine."

Naruto shrugged and went back to eating. The twins were snickering amongst themselves.

After Lunch Naruto realized that he needed more supplies. He was nearly out of toiletries and water, not to mention Ramen.

The blonde shinobi then put his bookbag back on and looked to Vulpes and Hinata, as the cubs and Kohana had fallen asleep.

"Sorry you two, but I need to go home really quickly, but I don't think I'll be able to remember how to get here..." the blonde said.

"Well, what if Aerore accompanied you?" Vulpes asked, ignoring Hinata's shocked expression "She'll know how to get you back here, provided you show her the way to your village."

Naruto looked at Hinata, excited "Really?"

Hinata nodded meekly, but tried to sound as confident as she could. "Y-yes, I c-could."

"Gee, thanks Aerore. But you'll have to pretend to be my dog, otherwise some of the villagers might be scared."

"A-alright, I'll do my best." She said, before they left.

Vulpes looked at them "Now we will see how well she can keep her guise under pressure."

An hour or so later Naruto and Hinata were in the leaf village, buying supplies.

Overall Hinata enjoyed the trip. She talked to aruto as casually as she could, and actually found herself relaxing.

After that it was pretty much basic ninja training, like disguising oneself as an enemy shinobi with transformation jutsu.

Hinata managed to play the role of a dog well without degrading herself, and Naruto seemed to really enjoy her company.

Soon they had all the supplies except Naruto's Ramen. When they went to get it...

"Yo, Naruto!" Shouted a familiar voice.

Running up behind them was Hinata's teammate Kiba! Under normal circumstances Hinata would have been glad to see him. But if anyone knew the Inuzuka clan, they would know how close they were to canines! Kiba could even talk to his pet dog Akamaru. If there was one person in Konoha who would be able to see through her wolf form, it would be him.

"What do you want dog-boy?" Muttered Naruto.

"Is that anyway to greet someone after they've been worried about you? Honestly, I go off to look for Hinata and come back to find you coughing up blood face down in the dirt. Then you go running off into the forest! I thought you were dead." Kiba suddenly noticed Hinata. "Hm? What's with the wolf?"

Naruto shrugged. "I guess there's no harm in telling you. Her name's Aerore, she's from a pack of foxes and wolves I'm staying with while out in the forest looking for Hinata."

"You're still on that, idiot? I'm worried about her too, but she even sent Lord Hyūga a letter explaining that she was doing some important and secret training."

The blond shook his head. "You just don't understand..."

Suddenly, Kiba started sniffing in the air, like he had just got the scent of something. He looked around and began sniffing close to Naruto, who gave him an appropriate weirded out look.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"I smell Hinata...like she's standing right next to you."

Hinata felt a cold shiver down her spine but keep quiet, hoping Kiba would overlook her. Naruto held up her old backpack.

"Is this it? It's Hinata's, I found it in the woods."

"No, no...It's much stronger like..." He paused and stared directly at Hinata. She gulped.

"Crap! I'm dead! I'm dead! I'm dead! I'm dead! I'm dead! I'm dead! I'm dead!" Hinata thought to herself as Kiba glared down at her.

"So...What's your story, 'wolf'? I've smelled you somewhere before..." Muttered the dog lover.

"Hinata." Spoke a soothing voice in her head.

"A-Aerore?"

"Just relax...Let me handle this. I just you to lend me control for a few moments..."

Hinata felt a calm breeze over her, like she was standing in a cool gust of wind. She couldn't move anymore, yet her body seemed able to move on its own. Aerore was in control of her body. She could feel herself smile slightly.

"Please to meet you! I'm Aerore!"

Kiba looked annoyed, strangely not surprised that a wolf just said something in human language. "Don't change the subject you damn wolf...You smell just like Hinata. Spill it, who are you really?"

"Naruto told you. I'm from a clan of foxes and wolves in the forest. Really, your nose must be deceiving you. I assure you, I've never seen this girl Hinata."

"I don't buy it."

"Well I can't exactly prove it to you...but then again you can't prove me wrong either. Right?"

Now Kiba looked ticked. "You little mutt..."

"Naruto, we should go right? You needed ramen and we need to get back to the cave before nightfall. Plus, we're kind of drawing a crowd."

People walking by stopped what they were doing to see Hinata talk like a human. The ninjas were indeed causing a commotion. Naruto seemed eager to go but Kiba grabbed him by the collar and pulled him aside out of hearing from Aerore/Hinata. He whispered to him.

"She's hiding something Naruto."

"What makes you say that dog-breathe?"

"My nose never fails me. Just be careful, okay? I've never heard of this pack before."

"Look, whatever alright? They've all been kind to me. Mind your own business."

Aerore had returned control to Hinata. Still, the shy ninja was immensely thankful for her help. She could not help but feel Kiba suspected her, but even so she had at least postponed the issue. Naruto didn't bring up their encounter around as they walked back, they continued to pleasantly chat with each other same as before. Vulpes was there to greet them when they returned to the cave. It was already turning red in the sky.

"Sorry we're late ." Said Naruto. "We ran into a friend of mine and got held up some. Where's the girl?"

"Kohana is hunting with my children in the forest for their dinner. Since you were with Naruto all day Aerore, I took the pleasure of hunting an extra rabbit for you." He pointed to the crumpled mass of fur on the ground behind him.

"Lovely..."

Dinner was uneventful. Naruto spent the meal telling Kohana several tales of his missions. The twins continued to giggle amongst each other at Hinata's eating habits. But she did manage to finish half of the rabbit this time, so at least she was improving. After dinner, Vulpes told the group a fireside story to prepare everyone for bed. Hinata had to pretend she knew most of it already, but Naruto and the children were all enraptured by the tale.

"And so...The maiden perished instead staying with her lover. All of the armies dropped their weapons at such a sad sight. Her sacrifice ended the great war, 'tis a lesson we all can learn. Sometimes for the greater good we must all give up something. But enough tales, time for bed."

"Awww..." Muttered the twins and Kohana.

They put up a slight fight but eventually tired out. The twins collapsed on top of Naruto as he snored a way. Kohana decided to use Hinata's stomach as a pillow and was fast asleep. Despite having only met everyone (besides Naruto) less than a week ago, she felt at piece. Like they were a real family to her. She closed her eyes, tomorrow was another big day...