The Will of Fire

Chapter 2

Exams of Character

Dr. Thomas Bennett had seen quite a few pokegirls in his life. With female bioweapons as the focus of his research, he was bound the come across a number of rare breeds in his line of work. Thomas had seen Draconas, Vampires, Marionettes, and, once, even a Psynin. Even with all that experience, he was still baffled by the girl lying on the bed. Standing next to the bed in one of the spare rooms, Thomas observed the resting Nogitsune.

Naruto had made quite the commotion trying to get his attention from the front door. When he opened it, the blonde had immediately regaled him with an incomprehensible stream of words that he quickly translated to mean, "She's hurt, please help!" Thomas quickly directed the ninja to take her to the nearest guest room, and he ran to collect his diagnostic tools, and anything else he thought might be useful.

Arriving in the guest room, he noticed Yumi attempting to calm the panicking shinobi as he paced at the foot of the bed. He knelt beside the bed and examined his patient. It was then that he noticed her type, but quickly dismissed the questions it brought up to the back of his mind. Questions could come later; now, his priority was to ensure the health of this girl. Luckily, it seemed that she had no internal bleeding. However, three of her ribs were cracked and the surround area was bruised a sickly purple/black color, though it was hard to tell through her dark fur. Looking at the wounds on her face, he was relieved to notice that they appeared much worse than they actually were; That is not to say the cuts and ugly bruises weren't serious, just not life threatening. With a quick run through a healing cycle, most of the bruising and the minor cuts would heal. The ribs, however, would take time. No matter how many times she was run through; healing cycles could only do so much.

He quickly turned to Naruto and asked if he had her pokeball. At his confused stare, he described the object, and the blonde pulled the red and white ball from the pouch on his belt. Taking the ball, Thomas recalled the pokegirl into it, and abruptly left the room, heading for his lab. Behind him, he could hear Yumi give Naruto a brief explanation of what a pokeball was, and tuned them out as they entered the lab. Plugging the ball into a largish machine, he pushed the button marked "HC" and turned to the two shadowing him and relayed his diagnosis.

"What the hell are you doing to her?" the hopper asked, panic cracking his voice. Thomas replied, "I am putting her through a healing cycle. It'll heal all her minor cuts and bruises, and speed the healing of her cracked ribs. Don't worry. She'll be fine with some rest."

Naruto's face showed his great relief as he thanked the doctor. Presently, the machine chimed and Thomas retrieved the ball and returned to the guest room, releasing its occupant onto the bed. Yumi then pulled the covers up to her shoulders.

Still regarding the prone girl, Dr. Bennett asked, "So what happened?"

Sighing wearily, Naruto recounted the events since he left the complex, and as he talked the scowl on the doctor's face deepened. Abuse wasn't an uncommon practice in Edo League, but excessive force was definitely frowned upon, and the amount of cumulative abuse needed to evolve (or de-evolve, depending on who you asked) a Kitsune to a Nogitsune would certainly qualify as excessive.

"So what're you going to do now?" Thomas asked.

Naruto looked sidelong at the doctor and asked, "What do you mean?"

Thomas turned to regard the taller man, "Well, you brought her here, and you have her ball. That makes her your responsibility. You'll have to have a tamer's license to keep her, or you have to sell her."

"You have a license. You could take her," Naruto retorted.

The doctor frowned at his guest, replying, "No I can't. I have a researcher's license. While I can have up to eight pokegirls, I need a reason to keep them. Because of her type, I can't take her as an assistant, and because of the tenets of my research, I can't keep her as a research subject. It is nigh impossible for a Nogitsune to develop delta bonds, so I couldn't justify giving her to any tamers I sponsor. If I take her, I am obligated to either give her to the local ranch, or to put her down. I refuse to be put in that situation."

Scowling, Naruto looked at the woman on the bed. Returning his gaze to his host, he asked, "So what are my options?"

"You can either give her to the ranch, or be her tamer," Thomas responded quietly.

The ninja chewed on that for a minute. He didn't think he could be her tamer. He didn't know anything about it and the thought of having a girl (let alone two or three!) biologically dependant on his seed didn't sit right with him. Didn't her feelings have any importance in the arrangement? Maybe if he gave her to the ranch, a tamer who knew what he was doing would take her and care for her. But if other tamers were anything like that bastard he saved her from, then he would be condemning her again. That he definitely couldn't do.

"What's the ranch like? How does it work?" he asked.

Thomas looked intently at Naruto, and replied, "Why don't I take you there, so you can see for yourself. It's not something I can explain."

At Naruto's nod, the doctor walked from the room, telling Yumi to watch over the patient, and led the ninja out of the complex. Naruto followed, wondering at the unusual seriousness on Thomas's face, and trying to push down the feeling that he wouldn't like what he was about to see.

They walked down the path toward the main road slowly, and upon reaching it, the doctor led them in the opposite direction of the town. Naruto commented on this, to which Thomas replied, "Ranches need a lot of space so that the pokegirls can exercise."

Down the road a little ways, a smaller side road branched off to the left and the doctor lead them down it. After a few miles, Naruto could make out a few buildings as they approached. The buildings were squat, rectangular affairs made of dull brown brick, and each building had a few small windows, but they where otherwise completely uninteresting. However, he did notice the absence of a fence. Every ranch or farm that Naruto visited to perform one mission or another had one, regardless of whether there were animals present or not. It seemed odd not to have a barrier to mark boundaries, if nothing else. Naruto made his observation known, "There's not a fence. What happens if a pokegirl escapes?"

Thomas sighed, "Where would they go?" Naruto snorted, "Well they could go anywhere they wanted to, right?"

"Every pokegirl in there is registered to this ranch, so if anyone scanned them, they would immediately know, and the girl would be caught, returned, and probably be punished. Not to mentioned that it's standard procedure to wipe all the memories from returned runaways. That makes returning to any town dangerous and stupid if they are trying to escape. All that's left is the wilderness, which is very dangerous, and usually ends with the poor girl fighting off other pokegirls until a stronger feral kills them for food. So I ask again, where would they go?"

Naruto remained quiet, unable to give a suitable answer. More and more, it seemed that these women were slaves to their own biology. In his opinion, no one should have to bend themselves to another's will just to survive. During the war with Hidden Sound, he had seen something similar, only on a much smaller scale: Orochimaru's Cursed Seal. The seal itself granted the Snake's forces a great amount of powerful dark chakra, but it also gave Orochimaru complete control over them. Once they had accepted that bastard's seal, it could not been removed and it forced the bearer's mind to obey the traitor Sannin's command. Even Miterashi Anko, a loyal Jounin of the Leaf, fought against the seal for years, but had succumbed to its power in the end. But, unlike Sasuke, she chose to end her own life before that sick man could force her to attack her comrades. Were tamer's any better than that twisted snake? Naruto didn't know, but had a tamer passed them, he didn't think he would have been able to restrain himself from beating him senseless.

Thomas shook his head ruefully, as he watched Naruto's face. If he was angry now… well, there was nothing for it. Naruto needed to understand that if he chose to bring the Nogitsune here, he was signing her death warrant. If his new houseguest wanted to save the girl's life, he had to become her tamer, and this was the only way he knew Naruto would realize it.

They approached the front building, and the doctor ushered Naruto inside. The door led into a lobby area with a hallway to the left of a reception desk. The desk was a big red wooden monstrosity, with overly elaborate tribal carvings along the edge. The girl behind the desk was another pokegirl of the feline variety, with light green fur accenting the catlike ears on top of her head. Her hair matched her fur, and large jade eyes peered at them over the desk. To Naruto, it seemed she was hiding behind the desk more than manning it. The girl smiled at them, saying, "Good afternoon, Doctor Bennett. How can we help you today?"

"Good afternoon, Aya. Is Jon around? I need to speak with him." Aya smiled, "Yes, Master is here. I'll go get him for you." She stood, and walked down the hallway. When she left, Thomas turned to his companion and said, "Jon is one the best ranchers around, and he knows his stuff. We are going to act as if you're a potential tamer, and are looking to trade. I want you to see how this usually works before we tell him that you have a Nogitsune. And make sure you don't mention how you obtained her, okay? Just say you found her lying beaten in an alley."

"Why do I need to wait?"

Thomas regarded Naruto seriously, stating quietly, "You need experience dealing with the ethics of this world. Technically, you broke the law when you rescued her, but because of the circumstances, no one is going to call you on it, and the tamer has probably already left town. If she had evolved into any other pokegirl, I bet that the police would have arrested you by now. "

Naruto registered his shock. He'd broken the law? But he saved her! How could that be a bad thing? Why did her type matter? The ninja reeled from the doctor's disturbing statement. While chewing on this news, he almost missed the rancher's arrival.

Pulling his emotions in check, he quickly composed himself and observed the man walking towards them. He was short, coming only to Naruto's chest, and rather rotund. His wide cheeks pushed up from the ear to ear smile plastered to his face. He had come across this particular species before: the merchant. He had a head of neatly combed hair, and his eyes glowed with false congeniality.

Jon walked straight up to the doctor, and enveloped the Thomas's hand with both of his rather plump ones. His voice was laced with cheer, and overflowed with benevolence.

"Good Afternoon, Doctor. It's good to see you again. How's your research coming?" he asked, and it seemed as though he had a genuine interest in his query. Thomas smiled and responded, "I still haven't found any tamer able to create strong enough bonds to test, but I'm certain it will occur soon enough. How's the ranch been? Keeping busy?"

Jon seemed to lose a little exuberance. "Well, it's been a little slow lately, not many new tamer's lately, but I'm sure it'll pick up," the rancher proclaimed. He turned to Naruto and asked the doctor, "So who's this strapping young man?"

"This is Naruto Uzumaki. He is here to see about a possible trade. Naruto, this is Jonathan Tenkawa, the owner of this ranch."

Jon's smile seemed to widen a little more, exclaiming, "Splendid! Why don't we go to the showroom, and see if we have a girl that suits you?"

She opened her eyes to stare at a blank white ceiling, and she immediately knew what she had become. Despair washed over her as she wondered what was to happen to her now. She had failed, and in doing so, she had become an outcast. No tamer would want her now, and she was sure Yoshino wou-

That thought brought the recent events crashing through her head. She had been saved by the man with blonde hair. She looked around the room hoping to see him, but the room was empty. Would he really take care of her, or would her give her away once he realized what she was? Did he already know? If he had, why did he save her? Most tamers didn't want to deal with a Nogitsune. She was dangerous now. Maybe he didn't care…

The door opened and a brown haired Catgirl entered, closing the door behind her. The prone girl watched her as she turned around. Noticing that the patient was awake, Yumi spoke quietly, "I see your up. How do you feel?" The Catgirl walked over and sat down carefully on the bed, and observed the Nogitsune as she said, "My chest hurts."

"Master says that you have three cracked ribs, so don't move around too much, okay?" At the wounded pokegirls nod, Yumi continued, "What's your name?"

"Kitsune." Yumi raised an eyebrow, and Kitsune replied, "I don't have any other name anymore." The Catgirl nodded sadly; she understood the meaning of the "anymore." Many times, a pokegirl who went through threshold were put through a level five taming cycle. The cycle wiped all memory of who the girl was before Threshold. Other times, a tamer would take the girls name to drive home the point that she was his property now, and as such, belonged solely to him. She changed the subject, "You're lucky Naruto saved you. He brought you here so Master could treat your wounds. You're safe now, so try to relax."

"Where is he? The one who saved me."

Yumi flinched, "Naruto and Master just left to go to the ranch." Kitsune knew what that meant, but she had to make sure, "Is he going to sell me?"

The Catgirl sighed and looked sadly at her charge, "Honestly, I don't know. He doesn't really know what's going on here. He was banished from his world and arrived here. He's been here just over a day, and he was shocked to see pokegirls. He didn't have them in his world."

Kitsune digested that for a moment. He didn't know what she was; that's why he saved her. The doctor must have told him, and that's why he went to they ranch. He wasn't a tamer, so he couldn't keep her, but he said he'd take care of her. Did he say that and not know what it meant to take care of a pokegirl. Probably. But she wasn't just any pokegirl, she was a Nogitsune: a dangerous and destructive type. That wasn't a very promising thought. Why would he even want her? She was useless. She couldn't fight, could barely cook, and Yoshino told her she was boring to tame. And she was unsafe. What value did she have? None. It was hopeless. He was going to get rid of her. And the worst part was that she agreed that would be the best decision.

Yumi watched as Kitsune's face became a study in misery, and decided to interrupt her thoughts. "Look, we won't know what's going to happen until they get back, so just try to get some more rest, and I'll go get you some food," She declared, standing resolutely and leaving the room.

The room's occupant sighed quietly and closed her eyes, trying to block out the fear that her savior wasn't going to keep her…and the feeling that she had already failed him.

The rancher had ushered them gently down the hallway to a set of double doors at the end. They entered large room and sat down at semi-circular couch stationed in the middle of the right wall. There was a small coffee table in front of them with an intercom in the center of it, and on the far wall were two doors on opposite ends with a floor to ceiling mirror running the length between them. The room itself was painted relaxing beige, and floor was covered in a fluffy tan carpet. The entire time Naruto was looking around, Jon had been talking.

"We only have around thirty pokegirls here at the moment. Most are common types, good for any beginning tamer. However, I do have a few of the more rare breeds: a Dracona, a Succubus, a couple of Ronins. I have quite a few cat types, and also a few of the canine variety. I can also guarantee that each has camping and rudimentary cooking skills to help tamer on the road. I find that most tamers are looking for those skills in particular. All my pokegirls are domestic, so they can speak, making them easier to train. So what exactly are you looking for?"

Naruto shrugged sheepishly, "Uh, I don't know really." Jon continued to smile and said, "Well, why don't I bring a few in for you to look at, and we might find something you like." He leaned over and pressed the button on the intercom, and spoke into it, "Aya, be a dear and come to the showroom."

A minute later, the receptionist entered through the double doors and approached them. Jon stood and met her halfway. They conversed quietly for a moment before Aya nodded and exited through the left door on the far wall. Jon returned to his seat and regarded them both, "They'll be along in a moment. She's also bringing us a few refreshments." Naruto nodded, and waited patiently, as Thomas and their host exchanged a few more pleasantries.

The door on the right opened and a line of pokegirls entered and stood before them. Naruto counted thirteen in all.

Jon stood and walked over to the first pokegirl to enter and began to describe her type, benefit, and other little things he thought might impress them. Naruto's gaped at the blatant disregard the man had for her personal space: stroking her hair while describing its silkiness, motioning to her breasts as he described their quality and plumpness, spinning her around and giving a slap on her rear as he talked on about the fitness of the girl. And she preened at the attention! She enjoyed it as he tried to sell her like a farmer selling a horse!

He continued down the line, and began talking about the next one, doing the same as the first. She just stood there, with a bored expression on her face as if she didn't care that the man before her was attempting to sell her off like an animal. And so Jon continue down the line, as Naruto watched shell shocked as everyone of the girl just took the obvious disregard for their humanity and accepted it. By the time Jon reached the end of the line, the ninja was so disgusted with this place that he just wanted to return to the lab and take a long shower to rinse away the shame he felt for these girls. How could they put up with this?

His thoughts were interrupted, when Jon asked, "So, how about it? Do you see anything you like?" Before Naruto could say anything spiteful in return, Thomas cut in saying, "Before that, I think we need to talk first. You might want to send them back."

Looking perplexed, Jon turned to the girls and nodded. They took the unspoken cue, and filed out through the left hand door. Once they were gone, Jon approached his would be customer and the doctor as they stood. Thomas squared himself, saying, "Look, Jon, I'm sorry for deceiving you, but we didn't come here to buy a pokegirl. We came here to see what you think of a pokegirl Naruto recently found abandoned in an alley nearby. We were considering selling her to you."

Jon sighed, "Oh well, I guess it can't be helped. What type is she?"

"A Nogitsune."

The ranchers face suddenly lost its smile as all pretenses of kindness where dropped. A tense silence swallowed the room.

"A Nogitsune..." Their host's simple reply carried a large amount of distain. Naruto stared at the pudgy man confused, before replying slowly, "Yeah…"

"No."

"Why?"

"I refuse to allow such a dangerous, and not to mention worthless, pokegirl to stay at my ranch."

Naruto spat, "She's not worthless or dangerous!"

"Are you fucking insane! Who would want to buy a pokegirl that's just as likely to kill her tamer, as she is to kill an opponent? Not to mention their suicidal tendency and the random psychic bursts that has the potential to fry your brain. It'd destroy half my pokegirls by the end of the week."

Naruto was angry. No, he was furious. This coward wouldn't even give the girl a chance. He's never met her. He hadn't seen the abuse Naruto witnessed; the utter despair in her eyes before she passed out. She deserved at least a chance. However, before the ninja could say so, Jon spoke again.

"You're better off putting it out of its misery. Otherwise, you may find yourself on the wrong end of its claws."

Naruto took a step forward threateningly, only to have the doctor place a restraining hand on his shoulder. He turned the hopper toward him, and stated grimly, "Let's just go Naruto," and turned to Jon, "I'm sorry about this, but I needed him to hear it himself." The rancher just frowned. "Just leave," the rancher said, looking down his nose in contempt. Thomas nodded and led Naruto out through the double doors toward the entrance. They left the building and walked down the path.

Naruto seethed with barely controlled rage at the fat man's suggestion. What right did he have to condemn her? What had she done? She was the victim. Was that the way it was here? She became inconvenient, and so should be executed! What kind of fucked up place was this? Well to hell with them! He didn't save her just so she could be murdered.

Turning to Thomas, Naruto growled, "I am not giving her to that bastard." Thomas kept his face blank as he replied, "Then you have to be her tamer, or you have to put her down."

"How can you be so cold? Is her life worth so little?" the enraged shinobi yelled. Scowling, the doctor proclaimed, "Look! Like it or not, that's the way it is here. I don't want her to die anymore than you do, but she doesn't have any choice in the matter, and I can't do anything about it. You can. You have a dangerous pokegirl, but it's not her fault she's become that. The only chance she has at life is if you give it to her. I think the question now is if you have the will to tame and take care of a potentially lethal weapon that also happens to be a woman that needs you to survive."

The rest of the trip back was silent, as Naruto tried to calm himself. Upon reaching the complex, they entered and the doctor went straight to his lab, leaving Naruto to himself. The ninja found himself in front of the guest room door. Quietly, he opened the door, entered, and closed it behind him. He approached the chair Yumi had probably set next to the bed and sat down in it. As he gazed at the vulpine's exotic beauty, he wondered how such an angel could have fallen from grace in the eyes of this world. She seemed so fragile, as though she would shatter the moment anything touched her.

Without realizing it, his hand reached out and gently caressed her face. She was just like him. An outcast: unwanted and hated. She was alone. Naruto sighed sadly. He couldn't condemn an innocent. He would be no better than the villagers that had shunned him. He said he'd take care of her, and Naruto Uzumaki doesn't take back his words. Removing his hand, he stood. Decision made, he silently left the room, never noticing the eyes that trailed after him.

Naruto turned right at the hallway and proceeded down to the laboratory. He knocked on the door and shortly the door opened. Entering the large space, he walked directly to the doctor and Yumi standing near the main workstation. As he stood before them, his face set in grim determination, he pronounced, "I'll do it."

Looking intently at his new friend, Thomas nodded curtly. Keeping his face carefully blank, the doctor turned toward the screens behind him. Though he tried to hide it, Naruto could see the relief in the doctor's eyes. He wanted to put the Nogitsune down even less than Naruto did, and Naruto's already considerable respect for the man who had accepted him jumped up a few more notches. Thomas grabbed a folder sitting in one of the few spaces at the workstation that wasn't inundated with various papers and printouts. Facing the potential tamer, he held out a folder, saying, "This contains the test you have to pass to be a tamer, and because you're a hopper, it's also has all of the reference material you'll need to pass. It's relatively simple. Give back to me when your done, and if you have any questions, ask myself or Yumi."

Naruto took the folder and sat down at one of the less cluttered desks. He opened the folder, grabbed a nearby pencil, and soon the lab was filled with the determined scribbling of a man saving the life of a kindred spirit.

Yumi entered the guest room and sat in the chair by the bed. She remained quiet until her presence was acknowledged. Kitsune turned her head toward her visitor, regarding her blankly. Seeing that was the best the Catgirl was going to get, she spoke, "He is going to be your tamer. He is taking the test as we speak, and the doctor and I will make sure he passes it."

Kitsune's expression contorted into such pitiful relief that Yumi had to turn her head. The feline knew that she could've been in the same situation just as easily. She knew how lucky she was to have been given to Thomas. Yumi took that moment to thanks whatever gods might be listening for her good fortune.

Returning her gaze to Kitsune, Yumi smiled. "It'll be okay now. Naruto is a rare man. He'll be good to you," she said adamantly. Rising from her chair, Yumi reached out and gave the Nogitsune's shoulder a gentle squeeze, then quietly headed for the door. She wanted to be available in case Naruto needed any help. She would make sure that Naruto became a tamer. As she reached the door, she almost missed the soft whisper from her charge.

"How do you know?"

Yumi turned back to Kitsune. "It's not my place to tell you his story, but Naruto probably understands your pain better than anyone. That's why I believe it'll be better," she said solemnly. She looked at the other pokegirl for a moment longer before leaving.

Kitsune barely registered the door closing as she scrutinized the ceiling. She wondered if it would truly be any different. It didn't really matter though. Naruto probably would be a good tamer, but the problem lie with her. She was useless. Nothing would change that. She wondered how long it would be before he realized it. When he did, she would either be put down, or relegated to storage.

She hoped her stay of execution lasted for a while. It would be nice to have a tamer who didn't hit her, even though she deserved it. Maybe she could be useful to him. She quickly squashed that feeble hope. She couldn't start believing the impossible; it would only hurt more when the inevitable happened. As she carefully blanked her mind, she let herself fall into a restless sleep, and, despite her best efforts, hoped that everything would be better when she awoke.

As Naruto read further into the test, he tried to fight down the blush that threatened to stain his cheeks. However, the lewdness of the questions wasn't the only problem he was having. The test asked for things completely out of the scope of his knowledge. Which of the following is the best choice to battle against a fire type? What is Edo League's policy on spoils of war? What is the preferred taming position for feline types? The reference material gave a brief overview, but contained very little useful information. Exasperated, he banged his head against the table a few times.

Looking up as the door opened, he saw Yumi enter the room. She gave him an encouraging smile as she approached him. Wanting his frustration to be known, he exclaimed, "How the hell am I supposed to answer these questions? Can you help me out?"

Not even turning from his position at the workstation, Thomas said, "Well… I can't give you the answers, but it may help you to read them out loud. Maybe if your observant enough, the answers might make themselves known to you."

Naruto would never consider himself quick on the uptake. He knew that subtlety was lost to him most of the time, but even he could grasp the thinly veiled hint. The doctor was going to help him cheat. Naruto had no qualms about cheating; he couldn't in his profession. He reflected back to his first Chunnin exam where the first part of it was a written test designed to make the participants cheat in order to pass. The catch had been to cheat with enough sneakiness to avoid notice. He didn't find that out, however, until after the exam. 'Once again, subtlety,' he thought wryly, 'isn't my strong suit.'

Grinning cheekily, Naruto read the first question aloud, "Which is the best choice to battle against a fire type? A Charmelons, an Icemaiden, or a Damsel." Raising his eyes from the paper, he watched as Yumi walked over to Thomas's workstation. He kept watching until a not so subtle cough directed his attention to the doctor himself. After a moment's silence, Yumi sighed and said nonchalantly, "That's a nice picture, Master." Confused, Naruto still continued to watch, waiting for them to give him a hint. Exasperated, Yumi pointed none to discreetly toward the big screen. Following her finger, Naruto had to stop from hitting himself. Sakura was right, he really was clueless sometimes.

On the sixteen foot screen was a full body picture of a human woman with alabaster skin, artic blue eyes, smallish assets, and an odd shade of blue hair. Looking more intently, he noticed absently that blue was her natural hair color. If the picture itself wasn't enough of a clue, the bold lettering, in the upper right corner of the screen was: Icemaiden. Naruto berated himself mentally for a short moment before marking Icemaiden as his answer.

The next question went much the same, as the doctor played a short movie of the end of a pokebattle where the winner chose a random pokeball from his opponent. The next question peaked Naruto's interest as to how the doctor would answer it.

"What is the preferred taming position of a feline? Missionary, Girl on top, or Kitty/doggy style?" Naruto smirked thinking that giving him a hint without crossing the boundary of giving the answers would be difficult for Thomas to do. His thought abruptly halted though, when Yumi slowly lowered herself to her hands and knees looking directly at Naruto with unabashed desire. She let go a sultry purr that tightened Naruto pants. He quickly looked away trying and failing to stifle the yelp that leapt to his throat. His embarrassment deepened as he heard Thomas laugh at his predicament.

He marked the third choice, grumbling curses all the while about sexy women and Jaraiya's influence, which only made Thomas laugh harder.

The test proceeded along without further incident as Naruto read aloud and watched the big screen or Yumi's obvious movements for hints towards the answers. When he finished the first part of the test Naruto stretched his back and neck in his chair and got ready to read the first question for the second part, but before he could, Thomas stopped him.

"The second part of the test we can't help you with at all. There is no right or wrong answers. Just answer with what first pops into your head." Confused, Naruto read the question to himself. Which would you prefer to tame: a Firemaiden or an Icemaiden? Looking further down he read another question: Which would you prefer to have in your harem: a Dominatrix or a Damsel? He read through a few more questions as he begin to sense a trend. The test was trying to determine his personality. He wondered if this meant that you could be too crazy to be a tamer, and if so, is this what the test was supposed to determine. He gave a worried glance at his hosts. They both just motioned for him to continue the test, keeping their faces blank. The ninja decided that did not bode well.

As Naruto read through the questions, he tried think of the sanest answers possible. It would be bad enough to fail the test, but it would add serious insult to injury if the test said he was crazy. He always had a small fear that all the assassinations he had carried out drove him to the brink. With the through-the looking-glass stress he was under added to it, and the pressure to pass thrown in, Naruto's anxiety peaked. He began to sweat nervously as he thought, 'Which answer would be best. Come on…come on, Naruto. Think! Can't fail this test.' Carefully studying the questions again, he found he could not make hide nor hair of any of the pokegirl types on there, and he couldn't decide what sexual positions and practices would make him seem like less of a nutbar.

As the stared as the paper, the feel of helplessness overwhelmed him. If he didn't pass, he couldn't keep his word. He had only broken it once in his lifetime, and he did not want to break it ever again. In this new, confusing world, it was the only thing he had left. He would not fail! He refused to fail! His gaze shifted to a determined glare, not unlike the one he gave to any opponent that underestimated him.

'Fuck it!' he thought, as he began marking thing down at random. He would get through this the same way he passed his first Chunnin exam: Willpower and blind luck. His hand flew across the test as gave a cursory read through of each question, answering whatever his gut told him.

As soon as he finished the test, he slammed the pencil down, stood up, and nearly shoved the test into Thomas's hand. The doctor raised an eyebrow at Naruto's antics. Looking down at the test shoved into his hands, he checked over the answers, and, as he did so, his other brow rose to meet its brother. After a moment, Thomas handed Yumi the exam. Naruto's tension accelerated to critical mass as he watched Yumi's face contort into shock, then horror. He clenched his clammy hands, and felt cold sweat run down his spine, causing him to shiver involuntarily.

"Great Sukebe, Naruto! Do you know what this means!" she exclaimed, gesticulating with her free hand toward the test.

Naruto's head bowed and his shoulders slumped. He had failed. He couldn't keep his word. It was killing him to know that the last thing he had to his name was worthless. He knew what she was going to say. He was too fucked in the head to be a tamer.

Preparing himself for the inevitable words, he mumbled, "What?"

"You're sane! It's a miracle!"

Naruto's head suddenly shot up, and his eyes found hers, as she burst in to hysterical laughter with Thomas soon mimicking her mirth. Shaking the shock from his brain, he scowled angrily. He regaled them his every nasty curse he could think of and creating a few new ones, which only caused the guffawing duo to laugh all the harder. The blonde continued to scream obscenities and rail them with violent gestures, but it was all for show. He had kept his word. Through the shouting and laughing, he felt his chest swell with warmth and relief so profound that even as he yelled, the smile was so obvious that Thomas and Yumi knew he was truly happy.

Naruto stared at the equipment Thomas had set on the worktable in front of him. After finishing his haranguing the doctor and his accomplice for their laughter at his expense, he pouted sulkily until Thomas and Yumi had composed themselves. The doctor had then walked over to a set of cabinets to the left of the door halfway to the wall. He pulled out several pieces of equipment and gear that Naruto could not guess the use of. Thomas then pulled out five pokeballs identical to the one the Nogitsune had been zapped into. Carrying it all over to a nearby worktable, he motioned Naruto over. So here they stood, with Naruto ruefully shaking his head at the foreign equipment.

The belt he could make some sense of. It had six small, round slots positioned in the middle, a customized holster on the right side, a small pouch on the left. Judging by the size and shape of the strange device next to it, Naruto figured it fit into the holster. The device itself was had a small screen on it with a small keyboard below it. Below the keyboard, the device narrowed into a handle of sorts that had a small trigger on the right side. The pouch seemed be for any miscellaneous items he felt should be on his person. The slots confused him though; he thought maybe they were to hold the pokeballs, but the small slots would not be a good fit for the larger spheres. So what were they for? There were other items on the table as well: restraints of some kind, a few drinks labeled Energy+ and Recovery, and a small bag of what looked to be dog food, which read Pokegirl Chow. Naruto raised an eyebrow at the caption beneath it: So good, it'll make your pokegirls beg. 'Somehow, I really doubt that,' he scoffed to himself. Looking from the table to Thomas, Naruto silently waited for an explanation and was not disappointed.

"Everything you see here is the standard gear issued to every new tamer," Thomas intoned. Picking up the screened device, Thomas, continued, "This is your pokedex. It is basically a hand held computer. It already has a database for all the information a new tamer needs, to include: A complete listing of every known species of pokegirl, and full interactive encyclopedia for just about anything you could want to know, fully detailed maps of Edo League, and a voice recognition and interaction system. It also doubles as you personal financial bookkeeper and means of monetary transactions.

Thomas handed the pokedex to Naruto. Gripping it by the handle, the newly minted tamer looked from it to the doctor and back.

"How does it work?"

Thomas chuckled lightly, once again reminded of just how new this all was to his blonde friend, said, "You just talk to it and it will boot up and start the registration process."

Still confused, Naruto nodded slowly before speaking tentatively to the screen.

"Hello, um, pokedex." No sooner than the words were spoken, the screen light up and began spouting words and numbers seemingly at random. Shortly after, a quick electronic melody of some major music scale or another played jauntily as it continued it's starting procedures. Staring fascinated at the screen, Naruto waited for it to finish booting. The screen went blank, and moments later, a low baritone spoke in clear voice, "Hello, user. Please state the name of the registering tamer."

Started slightly by the question, Naruto let out a surprised, "What!"

"Pokedex recognizes Tamer Identification as 'What.' Is this correct?"

Scowling at the machine, he stated, "No."

"Please state the name of the registering tamer."

Shaking his head to clear away distractions, Naruto tried again.

"Uzumaki Naruto"

"Unable to find name in database of common names. Please spell the user's name. Last name first," the device said evenly. The shinobi slowly entered his name, taking care to ensure it's correct spelling.

"Pokedex recognizes Tamer Identification as 'Uzumaki Naruto.' Is this correct?"

"Yes," he stated firmly, added a satisfied nod. The pokedex continued, "Please state name for voice recognition." Naruto repeated his name, and the device went on, "Please restate name for confirmation." Naruto spoke is name a third time. The pokedex beep a confirmation, and then was quiet for a moment.

"Hello Tamer Uzumaki Naruto. How do you wish to be addressed?"

"Um, Naruto is fine."

"Thank you, Naruto. Please hand me to the Proxy for League registration."

Confused, Naruto raised his eyes to the doctor, asking, "Who's the Proxy?" Thomas smiled, "That would be me." He took the pokedex, and walked to the workstation. Opening a small compartment on the left side of the machine, he pulled out two connector cables and attached them to the workstation.

"What are you doing, now, Doc?" Naruto asked.

"I am registering you as a new tamer in the Edo League Database. Once that is done, I have to change the registration of your pokegirl from her previous tamer to you," Thomas intoned. "In order to give you custody of the lovely young lady in the guest room, I have to take said custody from one Yoshino Ashibatta. Seeing as how his pokedex records indicate he still has a Kitsune."

"How did you get his name? Did the girl tell you?" Naruto questioned.

Yumi fielded the question, "No, but she didn't have to. Any pokeball a tamer possesses, whether being used or not, has to be registered to the tamer holding them. Her pokeball won't change registration until tamer Ashibatta changes it himself."

Naruto blanched, "But if he just gave me the ball, does that mean he still owns her?"

Nodding, Yumi continued, "Technically, yes. He could go to the police and report a stolen pokegirl and regain custody, but that wouldn't be too bright an idea."

"Why not?"

"Because he has a registered Kitsune. When the cops arrive and see that she's a Nogitsune, they'll take away custody of her and arrest him."

Naruto frowned deeply in confusion, "I still don't get it. If they see she's the way she is, they'll take away custody. Why?"

Shaking her head, Yumi sighed, "I forget that you don't know what a Nogitsune is." Motioning the blonde to follow her to one of the smaller computers by the workstation, she pulled up a picture of a pokegirl similar to the woman down the hall. Looking at it, Naruto noted some small differences, but, all-in-all, they could be twins. Yumi began with a non sequitur, "The test you took; do you remember the questions about pokegirl evolution?"

"Sort of, but I didn't have clue what the hell they were talking about."

"Well, a Nogitsune is an evolution of this pokegirl," she explained, pulling up another picture. It displayed a hybrid fox/woman mix. She had reddish-orange fur covering almost all of her. White fur started from the bottom of her slight muzzle and spread down her chest, the inner half of her bosom, and continued until rounding out at the bottom of her stomach. Her bushy tail was the same color orange, but the tip appeared to have been dipped in white matching her chest. The fur on her hands and feet, however, contrasted nicely with the rest of her; they were dark black.

Naruto recognized the picture immediately. The girl he saved looked exactly like that before she was covered in the dark chakra. That explained a lot.

"This is a Kitsune, a common pokegirl in Edo League."

Nodding, Naruto said, "That's what she looked like before."

"I would imagine so," Yuki confirmed before continuing, "Pokegirls can evolve into other pokegirls if the right criteria are met. Like a Kitten can become a Catgirl if kept happy, tamed, and gains some fighting experience, or an Eva can become any of six other types if the tamer uses a proper Evolution Stone. However, if the evolution isn't forced with a stoned, it merely takes time and effort, like the Kitten."

Naruto didn't like where this was going. If it took time for an evolution without a stone, then….

Seeing the scowl deepen on his face, Yumi knew her new friend was beginning to understand. She explained further, "Kitsunes also have a few evolutions. Most of them are improvements to their body, natural fire ability, and general demeanor. However, there is one rare evolution for a Kitsune that nobody wants. The Kitsune's tail dissolves, her fur becomes black with one white stripe down the back, and she loses her fire abilities. She also loses almost half her strength and agility. The only gain is a type of telepathic attack. It is very powerful, but extremely hard to control and focus. Worst case scenario, it disrupts the brain's ability send signals to other parts to the body, causing paralysis, brain damage, or death to anyone caught in the psychic blast. Best case scenario, just temporary disruption of motor skills.

Thomas chimed in from the workstation as he continued typing, "There have only been four recorded Nogitsunes in Edo League. All of them committed suicide using there own attack against themselves. But as a Nogitsune is a psychic type pokegirl, they have a strong mental defense. Therefore, a Nogitsune would have to literally put every once of energy into the attack to make it strong enough to destroy their own mental barrier and disrupt the brains living functions. The blasts average about ten miles in diameter, killing any living being inside that range immediately. Every time, the suicide took place in the middle of a town or city. Thousands died instantly. That's why Nogitsunes are hated and feared."

Naruto's jaw dropped. Looking intently at the picture of the Nogitsune dumbfounded, he asked, "They're capable of that? Fuck…" Shaking his head, the blonde snapped it mouth shut. He didn't need to ask why they had done it. Loneliness and Rejection were powerful enemies; ones that he almost bowed to as a child. Naruto's jaw clenched. If you can just hold on, you can fight Loneliness. You just have to find people worthy to be precious to you. And the Nogitsune had him now.

"It doesn't change anything. I'm still going to be her tamer. But why would they arrest this Yoshi guy anyway? She hasn't broken any laws, right? If treating women like property is okay, what did he do? Well, besides beat a defenseless girl like punching bag," he spat the words, "That fucking low-life bastard. I mean, yeah, it would be enough for me to arrest him, but you said a tamer can treat his girls how he sees fit right?" he ventured.

Thomas stopped his typing, and fixed the young ninja with a blank look. "Even here, we have limits to abuse, Naruto. Yes, I said that a tamer can do mostly as he pleases, however, there is a law forbidding pokegirl abuse. Extreme abuse is severely punished. The only problem with enforcing that law is proving abuse has indeed taken place. They would have to pretty much catch them in the act, much as you did. But even that isn't enough sometimes, because certain pokegirls can't be tamed otherwise, such as the Dominatrix. In Yoshino's case, the pokegirl she evolved into is the proof."

Naruto froze. If that meant what he thought it did…. His hands clenched tightly, and small drops of blood leaked from his fists as his growing claws sank into his palms.

"So he... he…," Naruto stuttered.

"Indeed. A Kitsune has to be severely beaten and abused until her spirit is completely shattered in order to evolve into a Nogitsune, a process that take months or years. Yoshino had to abuse her everyday for an extended amount of time to trigger the evolution."

Turning abruptly, Naruto stomped out of the lab. Thomas was rooted to the spot by his friend's last glance: his eyes were blood red, and his pupils were slits. Naruto looked like a rabid beast. Snapping himself out of it, he rose and quickly ran after the incarnation of rage and malice Naruto had become. The footsteps behind let him know that Yumi was right behind. She had probably been as shocked as he had.

As they raced outside, the doctor and Catgirl heard Naruto before they saw him. Or rather, they heard the tree that exploded. Emerging for the complex, they saw Naruto. But it wasn't the same laughing, blue-eyed ninja that, not moments ago, was happily berating them for his being sane. This was something else entirely. Thomas and Yumi could only stand and watch as the figure radiated hate and murderous intent. Shrouded in a fiery aura of dark crimson energy, Naruto directed all that rage and destruction at the surrounding evergreens.

Yumi was rooted to the spot. That power Naruto was loosing on the hapless forest was both awing and frightening to behold. So into her trance, she missed the soft footsteps approaching. A hand gently rested on her shoulder, pulling her attention from the rampage before her. Kitsune was standing between her and the doctor, gazing sorrowfully at Naruto. Before an acknowledgement could be made, Naruto reared his head, and let loose a powerful, enraged roar of frustration that shook the very foundation of the forest. They had to cover their ears as the tortured screamed continued to grow until they could feel the sound vibrate at their very core, reaching that hidden dark place in all hearts where only the deepest pain is hidden. It broke Yumi's heart to hear Naruto's anguish cry, and her legs collapsed under her. She could not withstand the force of a pain that deep; could not fathom such deep rooted trauma. Looking to Kitsune, she saw her standing tall against the maelstrom. She noted that Thomas has fallen before the storm as she had.

After a moment, Kitsune whispered almost too quietly to hear, "Why? Why is he in pain?"

"He just passed his tamer's exam, and we were talking about Nogitsunes. When we told him that Yoshino had to abuse you daily, he flipped," Yumi whispered back.

Kitsune nodded once, never removing her eyes from the devastation before them. Then, sighing sadly, she said, "This is my fault."

Before Yumi could stop her, Kitsunes strode slowly to Naruto. Yumi and Thomas could only watch and hope that she knew what she was doing.

For Naruto, there was only Rage. Rage and a name. Yoshino. His blood must spill. Naruto wanted to rip him asunder, fangs tearing, claws slashing, bloody hands crushing. He wanted to taste Yoshino's still beating heart. His Transgression would not go unpunished.

Even in his frenzied state, Naruto knew that he couldn't find Yoshino. So he had the next best thing: a lot of trees and his rage. Once outside, Naruto let loose all his rage against every tree within reach. He pictured Yoshino's face on every tree he destroyed, but it brought little satisfaction. His frustration built, and more of the grove fell.

Why? It wasn't supposed to be like this. Only he was supposed to know this pain. That was his purpose. He was beaten so that others wouldn't have to be. He had truly believed that. It was the only things that kept him going for so many years. If he could just endure the pain, then no one else would have to. No one else would have to suffer like he had. Why? Why did she have to go through it, too? She didn't deserve it. He did. He had been chosen for this burden, been subjected to it from the moment he was born. She was forced into it. Hurt. Beaten. Yoshino had used her, then threw her away. No one should have to go through that. Only him.

Only him.

Tilting his head back, Naruto roared his frustration to the forest. As he screamed, memories, long locked away, forced themselves to the forefront of his mind. Every beating, every cut, every hate contorted face, every awakening in the trash of some alley a week later after a groups of misguided drunks used him as their stress relief. It all came back and assaulted him. His cry grew in intensity, changed from rage to a pain that threaten to strangle him.

Hearing footfalls beside him, he lowered his head in the direction they came from. He could see Kitsune walking toward him in the ambient light given off from the Kyuubi's chakra. He had saved her too late. He didn't deserve to take care of her. He just met her today, and he had already failed her. His word meant nothing.

As she drew closer, he shrank further into himself. What could he say to her? Nothing. He lowered his eyes, and waited. He didn't know why she was approaching him, but he knew that, whatever she decided to do, he would not stop her. He deserved any harsh words or angered fists. He deserved it because he could not save her. He couldn't even save himself.

He looked at his hands, and, wishing that they were stronger, waited for her to reject him.

Kitsune had to stop this. It was her fault her tamer was in pain. It was her weakness that tortured his soul. Seeing the man in front of her bleed his heart out for her, struck deep in her scarred heart and she couldn't watch him carry her burden. He was in so much pain, but she did not know how to heal it.

As she moved closer, he noticed her presence and turned his head to her. His eyes almost broke her resolve. She knew those eyes; she saw them every time she looked at her reflection. Her heart swelled momentarily with happiness. She wasn't alone. He suffered as she did, but seeing another understand her pain quickly squashed the warmth in her chest. Anguish tore through her as her guilt berated her soul. She should never be happy someone else knew the torture necessary to attain understanding of her pain.

Taking another step forward, she noticed him shrink further into himself as he slumped and lowered his gaze to his hands in agonized contemplation. He seeming to be wilting further as the study of his palms continued. She had to stop this. Now. Before he did something they both might regret. But how? She could think of nothing to say that would not sound pitifully trite.

As her frantic thought continued to go into overdrive, he dropped his arms to his sides and seemed to resign himself to despair. 'NO! I can't lose him,' she yelled in her mind. Forgetting any thoughts of something to say, she threw herself across to final distance, through the almost burning heat of his aura. She crashed roughly into him, wrapping her arms around his middle, and burying her head into his chest.

Suddenly, all was still. The ethereal flames that had engulfed Naruto died instantly. The only sounds Kitsune could hear were Naruto's rapid heartbeat and her own muffled breathing.

Naruto stared at the ground before him, frozen. His hands remained at his sides as he tried to reconcile his sense of reality to some kind of coherency. The rage was gone. The despair stifled. The anguish receded to a dull ache in his psyche.

He had expected any number of actions from the woman who had confronted him, but not this. Anger, hate, pity, loathing, disdain, contempt; all these he could handle. But sympathy? Understanding? It didn't make any sense. He had failed her. Wasn't she supposed to hate him? Maybe she didn't know he had failed her. Maybe she didn't know he was weak.

Slowly, he brought his arms up, and encircled her slight frame. Resting his cheek on the soft hair on her head, he prepared himself to tell her he didn't deserve her sympathy. Then she would rip herself from his embrace.

For now though, he would allow himself accept the comfort until she removed herself from him.

"I failed you," he whispered into her hair.

"You saved me," was her mumble reply.

"Not soon enough."

At his last phrase, Kitsune lifted her head from his chest. She captured his gaze and whispered, "It was the only time you could. You saved me. And now we both have a chance to start over."

"I'm weak."

"So am I."

"I don't know if I can protect you."

"I'll take that chance."

Trembling, Naruto lifted his hand from her back to gently caress her slight muzzle.

He spoke in a low tone, saying, "I don't want to hurt you. I wouldn't survive if I did. I promised I would protect you, but I don't know if I have the strength. Could you live with that? Could bind yourself to such a weak person?"

"You are not weak. You would not have taken me from Yoshino if you were. I believe in your strength. I know you will protect me. And I want to protect you. I may be useless, but whatever I am, I will devote it to you, Master."

Smiling weakly, Naruto nodded. After a moment, he chuckled slightly and said, "I don't even know your name."

"I don't have one. Yoshino took my name. I answer to Kitsune. If you want to give me a new name, I will wear it proudly. It will claim me completely from him."

"Then I will have to think of something worthy of you. Sound good to you, Kit?

Smiling softly, Kitsune murmured, "Kit. I like that."

Once again, Kitsune lowered her head to Naruto's chest, and listened to the now slow beat of his heart and rolling her new name around her head.

Holding her close, Naruto closed his eyes and listened to the wind breathe through the trees as it sang a soothing lullaby.

Thomas felt as through he had stepped through reality into a dream. As the drama played out before him, the forest took on a surreal quality. The trees seemed to pulse in response to the terrible power's ebb and flow. He watched with fascinated awe as Kitsune approached the epicenter of the storm where Naruto paused in his rampage to observe the intrusion into his personal raging inferno. His inspection switched to his palms, and then finally to the scorched earth at his feet.

The doctor gasped quietly when Kitsune threw herself at the young man chests, diving unchallenged through the fiery aura.

The chaos surrounding Naruto died as though some unseen force snuffed the flames as suddenly as a light is switched off. The following silence pervaded the woods with an otherworldly quality. No birds chirped their soft goodnight; no wild Growlies called to each other in the distance and only the softest breeze rustled the leaves overhead. The forest seemed the stand still, an audience captivated by the actors on the stage. Thomas hardly dared breathe, fearful of drawing attention from the main stage, where Naruto wrapped his arms around the heroine, holding her protectively to him.

Observing the pair, Thomas couldn't help but feel as though he was witnessing the beginning of something. He couldn't figure what that something was, but he knew it was important. Something larger than them all was at work here. Some invisible hand was directing this play as they unwittingly played their parts, and was guiding them to Act II.

Seeing Naruto and Kitsune release each other and walk toward him, Thomas stood straighter and prepared to continue his role. Whatever this entity that brought them together had in store for them, he would met it head on, chin up, and determined to be standing with everyone else when the curtain came down.

'May you live in interesting times, indeed,' he thought wryly.