Chapter 95: The Crib
"Are you sure you are alright, Kana-chan?" Utakata held her head down while his girlfriend returned the breakfast with her mouth down the drain.
"*Blergh*..." she barfed out and wiped her lips with a toilet paper, "I'm okayish, don't worry about me."
"Wait, are you..." His voice trailed off. Kaname noticed his eyes looking down at her belly.
"Pregnant?" she smirked, brushing her fingers across the brown-haired man, "Hmm, not that I hate your attempts, but are you sure you want to have a baby with me? I am-"
"The most caring and beautiful woman I've ever met, and yes."
Kaname blushed at the compliment, "I'm sorry to burst your bubble... and the unintentional pun, but it's most likely because of overdosing on my little concoction."
"Little concoction? What are you talking about now?"
"Ehh~ What about the academy students? It's their first day on a teamwork training camp, right?"
"*Sigh* Kana-chan, don't change the subject. I'm worried about you - it's not normal for a healthy person to spend several days barfing out everything they ate."
Kaname looked up into his pleading, sharp brown-eyes, "Tsk... I hate that hurtful look you always give me when I try to hide something. Okay, I'm taking in a mix of poisons. Knowing that Orochimaru will attack the village in a year, I may have doubled my intake in preparation."
"Is it necessary? The poisons must have destroyed your stomach already."
"They did, but, as you know, I'm a good medic, Snail Boy. But if you really want me to, I can narrow down my intake," Kaname mumbled.
"Then, yes, please. Do it for me."
"*Sigh*... Okay-okay. Help me, all this puking made me freaking tired." She extended her hands, catching Utakata's neck in a gentle hold.
"Heh, yes, my Queen." He put his hand below her knees and the second one above her waistline, "Where to?"
"Let's go to Training Ground Forty-One. I will lead you."
"Is it the famous Forest of Death, Kana-chan?"
"Nope, Jiji talked me out of the idea - you can't leave a bunch of Academy Students alone in there... Anko-chan would kill them. I reserved a little sibling of the Training Ground Forty-Four, it's called the Kyūbi's Forest."
"Interesting name, can you tell me the story about it?"
"Truth to be told, there is not much to tell. It's the place where Kurama was sealed into Naruto. Forest of Death's flora and fauna mutated after a getting chakra-irradiated by a closeby exploding Bijūdama. Kyūbi's forest is less deadly for young kids, as there was much less chakra released into the air there." she explained.
"And there is no Anko there."
"Heh, true, there is no Anko there," Kaname repeated his words. "Ah right, do you remember the oaf I told you about like five months ago. I kicked his son out from the Academy."
Utakata's eyes moved to his left, trying to remember their conversation, "Hmm, ah, yeah, the round merchant you called him? Has something happened?"
"Yeah, well, he tried to pull retaliation on me."
The jinchūriki's eyes burned in golden light, "Where is he? I believe I have to talk to him about something."
"Hah, easy there. Oaf was dealt with already - I asked Anko for a favor." Kaname smirked, getting comfortable in Utakata's embrace.
"Ouch~ that's brutal, even for you."
"He brought a bunch of mercenaries, but the group was caught before they reached Konoha's gates. With a little torture, they spilled the beans - they were aimed at me, you, and Naruto. The big oaf was found yesterday evening in the village center - naked, bound by leather straps in a crate full of sex toys, some of which were inserted in... Ugh, I'm sick again."
"Hahaha." Utakata patted her back.
"*Gulp* Thanks. From the ANBU report, I know he had a nasty lump on his forehead - the oaf forgot the last twenty-four hours of his pitiful life. Shamed, he and his family fled from Konoha the same day."
------
"Okay, kids! Welcome to the boot camp forty-one." Kaname shouted out, standing in front of a wire-mesh fenced wall entrance. "Now for the rules. You will be divided into the units of four students and left here for four days. I blackmail-... asked some chūnins to keep an eye on you. I want each student to hunt down at least one game during the duration of this camp. Whatsmore your hidden protectors won't act until it's ultimately necessary, that means if the chūnin acts in your defense, the team you belonged to will have to repeat this trip at a later date. Hmm, what else... Ah! In four days, in the middle of the forest, there will be the main quarry - the one that hunts it down gets a B-rank jutsu scroll from me."
"*Yosh* It's mine! Akamaru and I will hunt it down before anyone else!"
"*Yelp*!" the small head of a white puppy barked from inside Kiba's fur-lined hoodie.
"Kaname-sensei!"
"What's up, Shika-kun?" Kaname turned her eyes towards the boy that raised his hand.
"Are the chūnins here only to give us protection? Or are they-?"
"Good thinking - they have other functions as well."
"*Sigh*... Troublesome women."
"Oh, really?" Kaname heard his whisper, "Group One: Sakura Haruno, Ino Yamanaka, Rio Kobayakawa, Shikamaru Nara. Step forward."
The intense training formed a healthy rivalry between the two girls. Sakura stepped out first in her new chestnut-colored clothes. Her outfit was similar in design to what she wore before, but it had additional padded elements protecting her vitals. Noticing her rival step in front of her, Ino jumped into action, attempting to overtake Sakura and stand in front of Kaname as the first one. Brushing around the pink-haired girl, the Yamanaka swiped her hand over the short platinum-blonde hair and smirked at her rival.
Seeing the raging competition, the third hazel-haired girl just stood at the side, giving the two girls a wide berth.
"... It's a penalty, isn't it? My personalized hell..." Shikamaru complained, walking towards the group.
"Hehehe, most men would feel lucky if he was to spend four days surrounded by girls. You're welcome, Shika-kun." Kaname opened the wire-fenced doors, "Have fun, see you in four."
"Ugh..." after a long groan from the boy, the first team disappeared behind the thick foliage.
"Good. Second group. Naruto Uzumaki-" Kaname watched her little brother lightly prodding the sides of his childhood friends with a smirk on his face, "Aoki Inushi, Kuki Naoyasu, and Tani Uchitomo."
"EEEH ~dattebayo?!" the boy looked between Hinata with Sasuke and a group of three classmates of the civilian origin.
"Yes, did you yell something out, Naru-chan? I'm not sure if everyone in Elemental Nations did hear your shout yet." She cleansed her ear, laughing when her foster brother's jaw hit the ground, "I have another plan for the duckling and the princess. The three of you don't need help." she winked, swinging her hand in invitation towards the forest entrance. Kaname noticed Naruto's new teammates looked at him with indifference.
As she closed the doors behind Naruto, her head moved towards the leftover students, "Group Three. Kiba Inuzuka, Hinata Hyūga, Nasu Shigetoshi, and Wakiya Nene." The four quickly stood in front of the doors.
"Hehehe, don't worry, Kaname-sensei. We will lead and protect them!" Kiba pointed his thumb at Akamaru.
"I see. Hina-chan, protect them for me. This forest is more dangerous than you think so."
"Umm~" The black-haired girl played shyly with her thumbs, "I will, and thank you, Nee-sama."
"What the-?" the Inuzuka student's last word diluted when the group disappeared behind the foliage.
...
"*Crunch*" Chōji put a handful of chips into his mouth, "I just can't wait for those long, silent days I have in front of me."
"Affirmative." Shino nodded.
"We have never talked. Hello, my name is Sai." the boy had short, straight black hair and dark eyes, which contrasted with his translucent-looking pale skin. He carried a small backpack with his brush, scrolls, and ninja ink in it.
"Hmph." Sasuke murmured, "Why forcing yourself to smile?"
Sai moved his head towards the Uchiha and smiled at him, "I do not know what you mean by that, Duck Ass."
Kaname clapped her friends, pulling the boys out of their stupor, "Okay! Kids, you're the last group. No infighting or I will have you retake this test."
Sai nodded his head, "As the traitor said, we should work together." The boy's comment was met with three of his groupmates taking a step back from the adult Uchiha.
"Hahaha, oh really, Root-chan? How did you feel when I eviscerated your lord?" when the emotionless little agent clenched his teeth, holding back his anger, Kaname laughed out once more, "Whatever, His High Cockroach of Nothingness is dead already, and I stopped caring. Hokage wants to give you a chance to live, Root-chan, don't squander it."
"Yes... sensei..." the white-faced boy replied with his voice full of venom.
-----
"Shit... It's more troublesome than I ever imagined." Late evening Shikamaru caught a small doe. He held a kunai at the throat of an innocent animal that looked back at him with panic in its deep black eyes.
"Shikamaru, wait!" Ino stopped him.
"What is it now?! If you want to do it, then be my guest..." he presented the kunai's blunt end towards the platinum-blonde girl, pushing the trashing critter to the ground.
She took the blade from his hand. Ino looked between it and the animal on the ground. "Ugh." she groaned, "I will have nightmares."
"Hmm, if it would help you, a single hit to the brain would let it die without pain. I think I know the purpose of it... this training is to desensitize us towards killing. I hate it as you do, but it's our future, Ino."
"Shit, shit, shit!" the girl shouted out when she looked into the eyes of the unfortunate animal. With tears in her eyes, Ino crouched next to Shikamaru and swung the kunai, aiming the strike between the doe's eyes.
"Ino Yamanaka passed." A calm female's voice announced from above them.
"Wait, you are-"
"I think you should take care of your friend for now." Izumi pointed out the trembling and dry heaving girl on the ground. "I'm watching all of you, Shikamaru-kun." Looking up, he noticed a pair of red glowing Sharingans looking down at him.
"*Sigh*... Even more troublesome women." He put his hand on top of Ino's shoulder and squeezed it lightly, giving his support. He did not expect a tight hug from his beautiful friend.
"*Sob* What have I done..." she sobbed into his arm, marring his back with red animal blood.
"Shh, you did what you had to, Ino-chan. You are stronger than I thought. Rest now. I will skin and bleed it out."
'Hmm, Sensei knew what to do... She already helped the kids train their teamwork... Why the heck, no one allowed my age group an exercise like that? Hehe, I can't wait for the big finale.' Izumi watched the boy drag the corpse of an animal.
-----
"Stop smiling, you sick fuck!"
"Yes? Do you want something from me, Duck's ass?" Sai turned towards Sasuke.
"*Sigh* Another fight?" Chōji complained, looking at his new teammates from his improvised bed.
"I know you are a Root spy, and I don't care. But why did you allow your game to suffer?! It was only an innocent rabbit! At least kill it cleanly." Sasuke growled out.
"Deliberate causing of pain to other living organisms is unexplainable to me as well." Shino joined in.
Sai only smiled in response.
"You Root are all sadists! Look what your stupid leader did to my clan!" Seeing only Sai's emotionless smile, Sasuke clicked with his tongue and left their improvised based.
'Damnit, why did I get drafted to watch over this group - their teamwork is atrocious...' Yamato looked down at the quarreling boys, 'Tsk... So the white-faced kid is from Root, should I talk with him? Knowing Kaname-san, this is a test for me.'
------
"Mmh... Slowly now." Kiba, step after step, retreated from an almost five-meter-tall (~16ft) chakra-irradiated brown bear.
'Just my luck, Kiba had to find an apex predator of this forest...' Iruka was getting ready for the fight of his life.
*Sniff-sniff* the bear loudly scented the air. With a low growl, the animal's eyes turned towards the boy in a hoodie.
"*Gulp*. I'm sorry, Akamaru." Iruka's student watched as the predator slowly stood up upon his two massive legs, the top of its head reached the branches the teacher was hiding upon.
'It's... biiig~.'
*Sniff*
*Growl* the bear dropped back upon his forelegs and started to walk towards Kiba. The boy panicked and started running when the massive body started to gain speed.
Flickering upon the animals back, Iruka impaled his own kunai in its nape.
*Growl*
"Iruka-sensei?"
"RUN, YOU FOOL!" the teacher jumped away, dodging claws the size of his palm.
Hinata dropped spinning around from above the animal's head, "<Jūken: Hakke Hasangeki>!" [Gentle Fist: Mountain Crasher] her punch released a lot of pressure, creating a small shockwave, and was met with an audible *CRACK* of the predator's neck.
The creature fell facefirst into a closeby tree, dead. Hinata stood next to a corpse and looked around. Seeing two males with their jaws dropped to the ground, she bowed her head towards her teacher, "Eh~? I'm sorry, I didn't want to disturb you, Sensei!"
Iruka's mind just shut off - his thoughts spun around the shyest pupil he ever had and the power she hid behind her frail visage. The trio stood like that for another minute, 'I need a drink...'
-------
[Day 4 of the camp]
"I'm... We're sorry, Naruto." the trio of his teammates apologized to him.
"Heh? Why?"
"We have listened to our parents' pieces of advice to avoid you." A girl answered.
"Yes, for the last three and a half years, we did not even talk once to you. We were stupid, thanks to you and your clones, the last three days and nights were, hmm... not as bad as I imagined." a boy his age added.
"Yeah, and you were always next to us when it was our turn to kill. Thank you, you're a good guy."
"Hehe~" Naruto tousled the back of his head, "You're welcome, we're classmates. I thought it's normal to help my friends ~dattebayo."
"Friends, huh~?" the girl smiled at the blonde.
"Ah, I need to go! Be right back. I have to meet somebody ~ttebayo!"
"Tehe~, he got shy~." his female classmate laughed out, to her friends' astonishment.
"Tani-chan, if I remember right, you were 'all the way Team Sasuke-kun!'?" her childhood friend questioned.
"Sakura-chan was wrong. Even she, after her defeat, somehow warmed up to our favorite blonde."
...
"Yo, are you here?!" Naruto shouted out loudly. Before he could react, a tiny ninja wire entwined his torso and pulled him towards the treetop, "Wheee~!"
"Screaming after me defeats the purpose of me hiding, Naruto." Torune chewed him down lightly.
"Hehehe, can you do that again? It's like a rollercoaster, Torune-senpai ~ttebayo!"
"*Sigh*... Have you got a request? Our training is in the evening."
"Yeah, can you tell me what my Sis is planning? It's the fourth day already - is it necessary for my group to head towards the middle of the forest, ~dattebayo?"
"Hmm, I did not acquire enough facts to answer your question. I do not know what Sensei has planned for you. From what she said - she arranged a big surprise for all of you. Do you understand that in the center of this forest is the place your parents died? I shouldn't do it, but I assume it's the site of your final test, Naruto-kun."
"Ugh... I hate being left in the dark."
"Regrettably, more than half of shinobi duties deal with half-hidden facts. I got used to it - you should as well. I like what you did out there, four wooden shacks in a span of three days. Mass spam of shadow clones, I reckon?"
"Hehe. I wouldn't be a ninja if I did not cheat a little, senpai. A couple dozens of clones here and there - and the buildings rise before one's eyes ~ttebayo."
"... I see, I can commend you for the unusual use of your clones. Now, down you go." Torune's pinky finger twitched, sending the boy in a spiraling fall towards the ground. The ninja wire stopped Naruto just before his nose hit the ground.
The masked ninja heard his pupil's shout from the ground, "Hahaha! That was cool, again!"
'*Sigh*... An apple does not fall far from a tree.'
...
-----
"<Kuchiyose no Jutsu>!" Kaname's palm hit the ground.
*Puff*
"I thought you forgot about me, Kaname-chan."
"Hi, Matsu, you got bigger."
"Ha! Yes, just you wait, soon I will be as big as my mom." her personal summon bragged, showing off his house-sized red wings, "What can I help you with?"
"Want to have some fun? I have a plan, and I need a volunteer."
"Hmm, can't you do it yourself? Why me?"
"I can't. Matsu, have you ever heard of [Konbi Henge]? I copied the technique from the Inuzuka's." [~tl. Collaboration tranformation]
"I can guess what it is from its name." the butterfly replied.
"Good, I will provide the chakra and technique. Henge requires something of a similar mass of the transformation output for the technique to work - I thought of you."
"Hehehe, I like your idea, Kaname-chan. Will you let me control the new body?"
"Do as you wish, Matsu. But no killing, I want you to scare and bruise some kids. They will fight back."
"Sure, what form have you got in mind, Kaname-chan?" His question was met with a wink from her eye.
------
'Hmm, so this is where it all happened.' Naruto stood above a small red crib lying upon a pavement. 'This is where my parents sacrificed their life for me.' he crouched, touching his first bed.
"Naruto-kun?!" a raven-haired girl jumped up to him.
"Ah, Hina-chan." Naruto hastily swiped the single tear from his cheek and turned towards her.
"Ah, shit! Were we too late?" Kiba joined in.
"No, we just got here." Naruto's teammate replied.
In the next ten minutes, all the teams have shown up. "Dobe." Sasuke's team was the last one - he greeted his rival with a nod of his head.
"Teme," Naruto answered in a similar fashion.
"Hmm, what is this crib doing here? It looks new." Shikamaru inquired.
"This is the place where my parents died." Four heads that knew of Naruto's real parentage instantly turned towards him, "I believe Sis put the crib here for a reason."
"<Byakugan>!" veins around Hinata's eyes thickened as she started to look around the clearing, "There is nothing else around here, but... No, there is a letter below the crib!"
As Shino was the closest one, he fished the piece of paper with his hand. Scanning the front page, he turned it around for everyone else to see. In beautiful handwriting, it was addressed to Naruto.
"That was written by Sis!" The blonde pointed out.
When the Bug Boy, as he was nicknamed by Sai, passed the letter, Naruto opened it quickly.
'Yo Naru-chan.
If you read it, it means that Hinata-chan found it for you :-P. You know what happened here almost twelve years ago. What you don't know is that I was the one to deliver you. Your father and I were the closest ones to where your mother has died. I'm sorry, I was not able to save them. Every time it counts the most, I lacked the strength to protect my family.'
'Baka-Sis, you were my age...' Naruto smiled calmly.
'But no more. I have enough power to protect the village and you, we will talk later, but remember I will always love you. Now to the more pleasant part of the test. You should read it aloud, Shika-kun has enough brainpower to match an experienced jōnin...'
"Okay, this part is addressed to all of us! *Ehem*." Naruto coughed into his hand.
"What's up, kiddos? I hope Root-chan is still alive, Sasuke-kun?" the blonde read.
"Hmph..."
"Don't groan at me, Little Duckling! :-D" Naruto continued reciting the letter, "Girls, are you already missing the warmth of your bed or a hot shower? What about you, boys? Have you forgotten the taste of your home food already?
Worry not! You are going back home in fifteen minutes. Before you stands the toughest test of your life. A test of survival. You have a minute to prepare yourselves. Show us what you have learned during those four days.
The supreme prankster,
Kana-chan.
P.S. I made sure a certain old man won't be able to spy on you, go to town! No holding back.
P.S.S. Look up."
As Naruto finished the letter, everyone turned their heads to the sky. "There!" Hinata pointed at the sun and a small black dot falling down towards the group.
"What's this, ~ttebayo?" Naruto felt his stomach growling as the black blob drew nearer and nearer.
"I don't know, it looks like an animal... the K-!?" *KABOOM* their surrounding exploded in a rain of stone and dust, all students got thrown away from the landing zone.
Naruto landed next to Hinata. Looking at her, he noticed the girl had her hand put in front of her mouth. Her eyes were clearly scared - Hinata was babbling into her hand, "It's... it's-"
*GROWL* Two red eyes glowed from behind the cover of the dust, soon nine orange-red tails rose above the treetops.
"A miniature Kyūbi?!" Naruto jaw dropped.
*ROOOOOAAAR*
"RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!" Shikamaru yelled out.
------
Fifteen minutes later, Kaname stood in the middle of an emergency medicinal camp she created for the injured students.
"What the hell, Kana-chan?! All twenty-eight students ended up wounded!" Hokage pointed at several tents full of children.
"Some bruises here and there, but now their teamwork is spotless, Jiji." Kaname shrugged the accusations.
"Inoichi will have a new crowd of patients. Did the seal weaken? Some of the kids were muttering something about the Kyūbi."
"Ah, it was me, Jiji."
"*Sigh*... Was it truly the best way to do it, Kana-chan?"
"*Wheeze* Yeah, I dealt with three problems at once. Those kids are now able to leave each other's back to another. Whatsmore, each one drew their first blood and experienced the terror of death. *Cough*..."
"Little Butterfly, are you alright? You sound tired." Sachi joined in after she dealt with the most crucial wounds.
"Kana-chan?" Utakata caught Kaname as she started to waver on her legs.
"It's okay, only the vertigo of using too much chakra at once. As a fox, you have much more developed senses - I'm probably feeling the disorientation of them dulling."
"Give her some rest, Utakata. She must be tired." Sarutobi left the two alone.
"You promised, you won't take any more poisons into your body, Kana-chan," Utakata whispered into her ear, leading them towards the closest tent.
"*Ugh* I did *wheeze* not."
"Hello, Utakata," The blind woman put her hand upon his arm.
"Hi, Sachi-san."
"Little Butterfly, are you sure you are alright? I may be blind, but it does not mean I can't help you."
"Thanks, mom. I just need to rest."
"If you say so. And Utakata, from the number of times Naru-chan had to spend the night at my home, I see you're trying to fulfill our promise." the woman smirked, "Keep going like th-"
"*Blergh*." Kaname bent to the side and emptied her stomach.
"Hmm~?" Sachi's hand lighted up in a clear white glow of chakra. She put her palm on Kaname's belly and gasped, "My... my baby." a single tear of happiness dropped down the old woman's cheek as she hugged the life out of her daughter.
"Ahh, shit... I had an inkling why I felt sick..." Kaname breathed out in a tight hug.
"Wait?! I will be a father?! Ha, haha, hahaha..."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
dahnik
dahnik 4k Words for you. It had to happen sooner or later :-)... As always I'm looking for your ideas, comments, and reviews. Some PSs are a nice gift for my work.
The next chapter will be about Kaname's life being pregnant, and no, she is not going to become some kind of housewife - Kaname is easily one of the strongest ninjas in the village.
If you found any mistakes please inform me :-) I don't like mistakes. :-)