AN: Helllllllooooooo Allllllll I'm baccccck! Yes yes I know its been so long. Far far too long. And I apologize, I want to say that I got lost on the road of life, but I believe that I would have to fear for my life if I said that. So all I will say is that I apologize. Things have gotten hectic, and by hectic I really do mean it. II cant promise updates every week, but I can promise that I will be posting as soon as I can. I know its not much, and I do believe that I have lost a lot of my readers...

That wont stop me however, no matter how long it takes, I will finish this story. I also apologize if my current writing style has gone...shall we say...into the shitter haha. But we'll see what reviews I get and see how many flames I get. If you guys tell me to stop writing, i'll laugh and just post another chapter regardless. I still respect your reviews and comments though. Its what fuels us writers. Well at least it fuels me.

Rise and Fall

It was the day after his so called "test" and even though he had passed, the two women's training had taken its toll on the ten year old blonde. Even with his insane stamina, Naruto was still tired beyond belief, hell, even his hair hurt. He didn't let that get to him, however, as today was too important to him. Today was the day he finally got what he has wanted since the beginning of his training, the chance to use REAL metal weapons. He had passed their damn test, even if he had done so with flying colors, he had to pull out every single card he had.

Damn, I guess I have to get a little stronger ne? A ninja can't just sit there and give out all of his tricks in one fight.

You are correct Naruto-kun, you'll have to learn the term "hold back" soon enough.

I know Katsumi-chan, but YOU try holding back against those insane women. I mean I love them and all, but good god they know how to make a hard test when they want to. Sure, I tried making it look easy, but there were some points where I thought I would fail, they pushed me THAT hard.

Would you rather them go easy on you? You wouldn't be nearly as good otherwise.

Heh, wouldn't dream of it. I've made it this far, nothing is going to stop me from achieving my dream. I may be young, but I do have goals…

Oh? Do tell Naruto-kun, what are these goals a ten year old boy has? Do you wish to become hokage like the old man Sarutobi? Katusmi smiled to herself, genuinely curious as to what her young container could have in mind.

To become strong enough to protect everyone precious to me. Kp-chan, Nai-chan, Jiji. Hell even Ayame-chan and Old man ramen. My dream is to simply show them how much I care, by keeping them safe for the rest of my life.

Katsumi's smile dropped, and in exchange, her face took on a look of shock. She let the look fade and smiled again, impressed by this young boy. Other boys his age would be concerned only about what cartoons they were going to watch later that day, or what their parents would make for them to eat, even if they were ninja in training, they were still children. Yet here was this boy.

No, she shook her head slowly, her smile growing by the second as she watched him do his morning exercises. He may be young and immature at times, yet there are times where he acts more mature than most of the village elders. Heh, those old crones could learn a thing or two from him.

"Forty-nine…Fifty!" Naruto counted out as he did his last sit-up. Kicking himself up to his feet, he pulled on his clothing for the day. A simple white hoodie with a blue and black flaming leaf symbol in the middle, signifying that he was from the fire country and the village hidden in the leaves. His pants were his normal black cargo.

Snapping his fingers, he stretched out his arm. Instantly, Naomi was perched on his shoulder, nuzzling his neck and face gently. He smiled at her and handed her a treat from his right pocket.

"Oh poo…You're already awake Naruto-kun…I wanted to wake you up in a special way today…" A voice called from his doorway.

Sweatdropping, he looked over towards the woman. "You do know that sounds absolutely wrong Anko-sensei, don't you think I'm a little young?"

Katsumi sighed to herself. She hated the fact that her little Naruto had begun to think like that. He was only ten after all, but it couldn't really be helped. Living with a woman as…open as Anko, really made the boy learn to grow up quickly.

"Hehe so it does gaki…So it does, but I was talking about this! Now who will I use this bad boy on?!" She raised her hand, and Naruto thanked Kami herself that he had woken up on time for once. In her hand was one of her custom made exploding tags, complete with the words "Naruto-kun" with little hearts surrounding them.

Naruto placed his finger against his chin and adopted a thinking pose, before gaining a predatory grin…

"Nai-chan is still sleeping…isn't she?"

Anko's jaw dropped as she contemplated his words, before she gained her own sadistic grin.

"You must have a death wish gaki…I knew there was a reason I liked you, kukukukuku…" She let herself let out a giggle as she slowly turned and walked down the hallway towards her friend's room. Naruto watched as she slowly opened the door, turning towards him, she winked and walked in. A few moments later, she came out, closing the door behind her.

"T-minus ten…" she started, her smile reaching epic proportions as she turned towards her partner in crime.

Naruto's grin grew wider as well, "Nine…"

"Eight…"

*BOOM* "AHHHHHHHH! ANKO! NARUTO! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"

Both pranksters balked at the sound and looked at the door to Kurenai's room, watching white down feathers fly from the crack under her door. The sound had been deafening and the amount of feathers had been, to use the term lightly…a bit much…

"…You messed up the timing and amount of black powder again…didn't you…" Naruto said shakily, not looking away from the carnage down the hall.

"I…mayyyy have…just a teeny weeny bit? Boy she is going to kill us isn't she…" Looking to her side, her eyes opened wide as she saw that he was no longer next to her. She heard him screaming from the top of his lungs. "It was all her idea! The powder, the feathers, the peanut butter! ALL OF IT!" as he ran away for his life.

"How did he know about the peanut butter…" She said aloud to herself, before her whole body tensed as she heard the sound of cracking knuckles coming from behind her.

"Yes…How DID he know about the peanut butter?"

Anko turned her shaking body towards her doom and smiled. "I-I like your new look Kurenai-chan…"

Said woman was covered head to toe in feathers, complete with a red rubber glove on her head and yellow paint on the lower part of her face.

"DIE!" Kurenai's voice reverberated around the house.

-= One beating later =-

Kurenai, now cleaned of her new look, sat at her kitchen table, a buffet of all of her favorite foods in front of her. She smiled as she looked at her cook, who was covered head to toe in bruises and lumps.

"Thank you for the meal Anko, you didn't have to do all of this." She said with a sweet smile on her face. "And Thank you Naruto, for being so good at giving massages!" Smiling, she took another bite of pancakes, making a little capu-chu, noise as she ate.

The boy laughed nervously, his own head having only one, yet large lump on his head. Both pranksters moaned and mumbled. "No problem…"

After cleaning up and tending to their wounds. The trio made their way into town, Anko was chomping on some dango. Where she got said dango, Naruto and Kurenai would never know, yet would always wonder.

Naruto was shaking with excitement, his dream was coming closer with each step. Sure, they were just weapons, but with real weapons, he would be closer to being able to protect his loved ones. Once they got inside the weapon shop, the two women looked towards where the boy had been, only to see a dust cloud in his place.

I'll never get over how fast that boy is…Both women thought to themselves.

Naruto found himself darting through the aisles, stars in his eyes as he looked at each and every impressive looking weapon. There were weapons ranging from staffs all the way to giant wind shuriken. His eyes landed on one thing in particular. He picked up the strange weapon and twirled the chain slowly, noticing that it was weighted at the end. Looking at the sharp looking sickle on the other end, he knew that this was the weapon for him. It just felt…right. Like this weapon was made for him, and him alone. For one thing, it practically SCREAMED unpredictable, he could already think of what he could do with something like this.

"It's called a kusarigama." Spinning on his heel, he turned towards the voice that came from behind him. He saw a young girl, probably only a year or so older than he was. Her hair was tied into two small buns on top of her head, making her look like a little panda bear, which he thought suited her for some reason.

"I'm Tenten, and that weapon is dangerous. It tends to be very unpredictable, especially in the hands of a master. May I?" She held out her hand. Naruto handed the weapon over hesitantly. His eyes widened in shock as he watched her spin the weapon and chain around her body, surprised that such a young girl could handle such a weapon so expertly.

"A kusarigama ne? Thank you for the help then! It is so nice to meet you, my name is Naruto Uzumaki. And you are?" He held out his hand in a friendly manner. She smiled at him threw the weapon in the air, bowing in a grandiose manner, catching it behind her back and holding his hand at the same time.

"I'm Tenten Higurashi! The daughter of the owner of this weapons shop!" She handed the weapon back to the blonde. "This is yours, free of charge. As soon as I grabbed it, I could tell it already chose you as its weilder. Call me weird if you'd like, but I just have a feeling about these kinds of things."

"Why the hell would I think you're weird?! You just literally handed me badass on a platter! By my honor, I will now be your servant for life!" The over-zealous boy said in a loud voice.

"R-really? That seems a little extreme ne?!"

"Yea you're right…Guess that just makes us friends for life then huh?" The boy stuck his tongue out to the side and smiled while holding a peace sign up with his hand.

Knowing that she had just been pranked, Tenten scowled. Smoke poofed out of nowhere and in her hand, there was a five foot long bo staff. Twirling it around her head, she brought it down on Naruto's. "Baka!"

-= Later that night =-

"I still can't believe you got that dangerous of a weapon Naruto, and would you put that away already?! It's freaking everyone out Naruto-kun." Kurenai yelled at the young blonde that was twirling the sickle end of his weapon of doom around his head.

"Aw come on Nai-chan, let the boy have some fun. He finally gets to play with pointy objects. Remember when you first got your weapon? What did you name it again?"

Kurenai stopped walking and pointed an accusing finger at her lifelong friend. "You leave Mrs. Pointy McStab-stab out of this!"

Naruto, Naomi, and even Katsumi all sweat dropped at this.

Pointy…

McStab-stab?...

"What a lame name…" Naruto let his thoughts be heard without thinking.

"What was that Naru-kun?" Said a sickly sweet voice. Naruto immediately turned towards Kurenai. Behind her, he could see the form of an oni mask appearing behind her. Without thinking, he dropped the weighted end of his new weapon towards the ground. Before it hit, he kicked the weight towards Kurenai's head, dispelling the illusion while also freaking Kurenai the hell out.

Both women froze, shocked that the boy could use his weapon so easily so soon after getting it. They watched as Naruto pulled the chain, causing the weight to fly back towards him. The chain somehow wrapped itself around his arm, ready to throw the weight at a moments notice.

"W-what the hell was that…That thing behind you!" Without waiting for an answer, he disappeared from view, screaming his head off. "Everyone run! A demon has appeared in our city! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES"

Everyone on the street literally froze, every citizen watching as Naruto ran in a random direction. A couple pedestrians looked at each other.

"Sounds like the Kyuubi has escaped ne?" One man asked another.

The other man nodded sagely, "It does indeed my good sir."

"Time to run?"

"Time to run." Both men started booking it in a random direction, opposite of Naruto of course.

-= Fifteen moments of pandemonium later =-

"Dammit, when is the author going to get to the good bits. I swear, lately it's like he's going insane, don't you think so Nai-chan?"

"Anko! Don't break the fourth wall! Too many stories do that nowadays!" she scolded.

"Bah, what are the readers going to do? Flame us? Come on, most of this stuff is gold! Pure, insane gold! What do I always tell you gaki?" She looked over at her captive, who she had caught minutes ago.

The blonde was currently enveloped in over a hundred snakes, a giant yellow boa wrapping itself around his throat, cutting off his supply of life giving oxygen.

"Air…" he managed to squeak out.

"That's right Naruto! Sanity is for pussies!"

"A-Anko…" Naruto squeaked again, Naomi trying desperately to gnaw at the abusing snakes choking him.

"Naruto…" Anko looked back at him, a pink aura surrounding her as she inched closer to him.

"Anko…"

"Naruto!"

"Anko!"

Anko wrapped her arms around her captive, squeezing him even harder, causing his face to turn purple then blue, little x's appearing in his eyes. Suddenly a sunset appeared behind them, complete with a beach with waves crashing against its coastline.

Kurenai held her head in her hands, shaking it slowly. "Idiots…I'm living and breathing with idiots…Why me…"

-= Elsewhere =-

"Gai-sensei…" A young boy in a green spandex suit, errily similar to the one Naruto held up when he was looking for clothes, looked at his trainer.

"I know Lee…Someone has stolen our thing…"

"B-but that was our thing…" The emerald beast in training said in despair.

"I know my youthful student…I know…"

"Gai-sensei!" The boy cried out, anime style tears falling down his face.

"Lee!" tears falling down his own face.

A pale-eyed boy looked at his teammate, shaking his head while pinching the bridge of his nose. "Tenten?"

"I know Neji-kun…We live, breathe and train, with complete and utter idiots…why us…."

-= Back with Cadaver and company =-

Naruto found himself on the ground, gasping for air after the snakes had dispelled. Anko stood over him, leaning down to be face to face to him. He looked up at her upside down face and barely heard her through his oxygen deprived delirium.

"So…What have we learned?"

"You are an evil evil woman and I should fear for my life around you?" He gasped and coughed every couple of words.

"Yup!"

-== Time Skip: Three Years Later: October tenth ==-

Naruto's eyes snapped open as he literally jumped out of bed, getting an annoyed growl from the fox that had been sleeping on his chest. He scratched his head nervously as he scratched he rubbed her belly, trying to gain her forgiveness.

"Hehe…Sorry about that Naomi-chan…But you know what today is don't you?" He smiled as he saw her ears suddenly perk up. She began to bark excitedly, running around in circles on the bed. She pounced, attacking her master with face licking and puppy love…okay…foxy love, for god sakes get your minds out of the gutter.

Happy birthday Naruto-kun! He heard n his head. Instantly, he sent his chakra towards her, causing her to feeling like she was being hugged and lifted in the air, spinning slowly.

Thank you so much Katsumi-chan. I'm so glad that I got saved by Kurenai. It gives me a reason to actually enjoy my birthday. These days have been the best in my life so far. Living with them, loving them, and having them love me in return. The blonde smile outwardly as he continued to try to get Naomi to calm down and stop licking his face.

Kurenai and Anko opened the door and smiled at the scene in front of them. Here was their life, their love and happiness in the world. Before he came into their world, their lives had been rather dull. Kurenai had always been alone in their big house, as Anko had always been on missions, and if she wasn't on missions, she was usually passed out on her bed from being nearly brain-dead from exhaustion. Ever since he came into their lives, Anko had left the ANBU, much to their dismay. She spent most of her time nowadays helping her old trainer, Ibiki, in the interrogation department. Kurenai thought it was rather strange how Anko always said she loved her job, only to get the retort.

"If my village is safe, Naruto is safe Nai-chan." She always said with a smile on her face, her eyes full of conviction.

Honestly, she was speechless when she first heard this, but she knew that it was true for her as well. She had begun training chunin hopefuls in genjutsu detection and creation. She had just made jonin this last year, but only barely. While her genjutsu skills were amazing, all her other techniques were rather lacking.

In terms of skill, she marveled about how Naruto and Naomi had grown, their bond being as close, if not more, than most of the Inuzuka clan. Their teamwork was amazing to say the least, over the years, their cooperation in battle and out of it, were as if they were both human. To this day, She had no idea how Naruto learned to speak to Naomi normally, hell, they could hold whole conversations to themselves, although it would normally sound like a conversation that Naruto was having with himself. However if one listened, they would hear the little fox's yips, barks and whines, indicating that she was responding as if she were speaking English. Who knew? One day she might actually achieve that, if Tsume's partner was any indication.

He may have grown to the point of surpassing both of us…For one so young to achieve so much so fast…What are you working towards Naruto-kun…

Her musings were cut short, as she saw the blonde that had been plaguing her mind had noticed her and Anko. She gained a smile as she saw his grin. No matter what mood she was in, if he smiled, then she smiled, and she knew that it was the same for Anko.

"Happy birthday Naruto-kun!" The two women said at the same time.

Naruto smiled warmly and walked over to the two women he loved, his arms outstretched. The two women walked forward and wrapped him in a loving embrace, their heads barely touching his chin. Even for a thirteen year old, he now rose above their height, standing at five foot seven, tall for his age.

You're welcome…Katsumi thought to herself, she just couldn't stand to have a short container. She loved Naruto with every fiber of her being, but she just couldn't stand him being a shrimp. So I altered his height a bit…Sue me…Please don't, I'm broke…

"Thank you, my beautiful angels. I love you both so much. You have done so much for me, you have no idea. First you take me in when I was a sniveling little brat, crying at everything. Then you trained me to be the complete badass that is Naruto Uzumaki today. Future Hokage!"

Both women giggled at his antics, yet both also squeezed tighter when they heard the word angel. Both had different reasons however. Kurenai had been called an angel before, but mostly from men trying to get her to go to bed with them. Even Hokage-sama's son had tried to woo her. Anko had different reasons however. Naruto had been the first one in her life to shower her with kindness no matter what she did. She could wrap him in snakes, which she did often, and he would still give her anything she wanted. Showing such kindness was knew to her, but she could grow accustomed to it.

We have plenty of time to be showered in love. She smiled to herself, basking in the warm feeling that permeated her body once he kissed her head.

"Trust us Naruto-kun" Kurenai started.

"We have to thank you as well, you're our ray of sunshine on a cloudy day." Finished Anko as Kurenai smiled and nodded, looking at the ball of energy that was Naruto.

"So what's the plan for today? Anything special?"

Both women smiled at each other then at the boy, "Oh…nothing special." Anko started.

"Just an all you can eat buffet at Ichiraku's ramen shop. You know, nothing big really. Oh, did we also mention that 'Old Man Ramen' said it was on the house?" The red eyed beauty smiled at the face Naruto had given them both.

"Angels sent from heaven itself…I've been given angels…."

Anko giggled, only to stop as she had noticed the look Kurenai had given her, "What?"

"Y-you just giggled like a schoolgirl…you're so out of character…it's just plain…weird…."

Anko faltered for a moment, contemplating Kurenai's words in her head. "S-shut up, he just brings that out in me I guess…"

Naruto had had enough, holding his arm out, Naomi was instantly on his shoulder. Having gotten much bigger, she gave him a soft lick before hopping off and nuzzling his leg. She had grown as well, towering over most foxes and even dogs, her head stopping at Naruto's mid-thigh.

"Enough talk! My savior thy name is ramen is calling me!" He grabbed both women and lifted them onto his shoulders. Five seconds later, they stood outside of Ichiraku's, the women's hair blown back and looking disheveled.

No matter how many times I try to think it's a shunshin, I know it's just his physical speed…

Damn gaki and his speed, he could at least have let me button my trench….aw who am I kidding I wouldn't have done it anyway…

Both women thought as they tried to make their hair look more presentable.

-== Later walking home ==-

The trio were walking home, both women smiling happily, their source? A very plump Naruto, holding a just as plump fox. Who knew that foxes liked ramen? They sure didn't. As they walked down the road, Naruto let out a contented sigh, tapping his belly with his free hand.

"Thank you so much guys, you have made me love my birthday. More than I ever could have if I had never med you."

Both women smiled at this, but were torn. So many emotions were running through their heads. They had no idea whether to be happy that they had made his life better, or sad/angry that the poor boy had used to feel so terrible, even going as far as hating the day he was born. Their musings were cut short as they suddenly heard a bark from Naomi. Her plumpness suddenly disappearing, her eyes had the look of worry in them.

Naruto suddenly tensed…"No…please no…" was all the two women heard before their blonde had disappeared. Looking at each other, the two women nodded and suddenly disappeared, leaving only leaves floating in the wind, indicating they had used a shunshin, knowing it was the only way to catch up to the distressed boy.

When they finally caught up to him. They saw him on the ground, his arms at his side. Immediately they could tell that he was in tears, the first time they had seen him in this state in years. Naomi was tugging on his sleeve, trying to get him to respond to her touch, futilely trying to comfort her master. They walked over to him and both knelt down, Kurenai on his left and Anko on his right. Wrapping their arms around him, they both started whispering into his ear, trying to soothe the poor boy's pain.

"Why…She did nothing wrong…" They heard him say. They knew at once that he was talking about his tenant. Yes, he had told them about the voice in his head, how could he not? They didn't blame her for the attack on the village, nor did they blame her for what had just happened.

No matter how much they tried. They couldn't pry the boy's eyes away from the scene in front of him. Where their house once stood, was only a pile of ash….

Slowly, Naruto rose, walking zombie-like towards the rubble. His hand reached out and pushed the gate open, the fence and it being the only thing left standing. Feet shuffling through the piles of ash that had once been his first real home, he finally collapsed again to his knees. Head shooting up towards the sky, he let out an unholy scream, unconsciously tapping into Katsumi's chakra system. His scream echoed throughout the village, showing his pain and loss. Every single living thing in the village heard his cry to the heavens, and it shook them to their very core. Not only could they feel anguish, regret, anger…They could also feel a primal feeling. As if someone had just poked a sleeping bear…Or in this case…Fox.

A few drunken villagers were driven out of their drunken stupor. The feeling of absolute dread coming over them. One looked at their leader, shocked as he saw the man literally quaking in fear.

Plain as day, what he heard shot to his very soul. "We have just unleashed a demon unto our village…" The leader looked towards his group of men and women, both shinobi and not.

"I fear that our actions have just killed us all…"

AN: And there we have it. Not really a long chapter per say, a lot went on though, granted a lot was just random mischief and mayhem, but hopefully you guys like what happened. Even the things that happened at the end. Yes yes I know i'm evil, leaving a cliff hanger there.

And before anyone says anything. Yes I got my ideas from different stories. The mayhem from one of my favorites Yet again with a little extra help, by Third Fang If you haven't read his stories, I would really recommend them! They're utterly and absolutely fantastic.

Alright, fanboying aside...

Let me know what you guys think! Bad? good? I really do want to know. Until next time FanFiction.

FNG out