Fangs, Fur, and Family

“NXCRE & The Villains - Indigo”

The streets of Konoha were quiet in the fading light of dusk. Too quiet. The only sounds were the rapid footfalls of small feet against cobblestone and the steady panting of two runners — a young girl and her faithful companion.

Shoulder length blond pigtails adorned the little girl that looked to have bright red highlights in the right light. Hair fluttering behind her and whisker-like birthmarks on her cheeks with piercing blue eyes.

“Come on Keiji-kun!”  *gasp* *pant* “We can't let them catch us!”, The girl said to her companion. He barked in affirmation at the girl’s words. Keiji-kun was a stray dog that the girl had befriended many months ago. Keiji appeared to be a mix between a beagle and a pitbull. Stocky frame but adorably floppy ears, with brown fur and white and black patches. Keiji, as she called him, was no ordinary stray — he was her best friend, the only one who'd stuck by her through everything. They'd found each other months ago, two outcasts who'd formed their own little family.

“Come back here you demon bitch!”, yelled one of the men in the mob that was chasing after them.

“You still have to answer for what you did!”, then from one of the women in the group that was after them.

The two were running from a mob of drunk men and women. It was the most recent in a long string of attacks that had been perpetrated against the little girl, who had no idea what they were talking about. Or why they would attack her and say she had done things that she knew she hadn’t. “I didn’t do anything you stupid bastards, dattebayo!!! Leave me alone!!!”.

The girl and Keiji-kun rounded a corner in the alley they had just turned down, attempting again to lose the mob by going down a nearby alleyway. But what they were met with were 2 men and a woman, blocking their continued escape. “Got you now you little bitch.” Said one of the 3. Keiji-kun started growling and barking at them. The intent, readily apparent in the body language of the people facing him and his friend.

“Nice job you guys, we got her now,” a creepy grin plastered on the face of the man that appeared to be the leader of the current mob. He looked down at the girl, “You still have a lot to answer for girl, or whatever the hell you are.”

“I didn’t do a damn thing you idiot, dattebayo! How could I do anything, you jerk?!” The girl said, trying to defend herself, but they didn’t listen… they never listen to her pleas to be left alone. She was only six years old. Six years old, and already intimately familiar with the weight of hatred. 

*bark* *bark* *bark* *Arrrrrrrrrr* Keiji-kun barked and growled at the man as he approached the two of them. “Shut up you damn mutt!!!”. The man attempted to kick the Keiji but the dog was quicker and lunged at the man and was able to get a mouth full of the man’s twig and berries. Keiji pulled and thrashed and pulled and the mans jeans gave way and as he pulled away there was bloody flesh hanging from the dog’s mouth.

The young Uzumaki girl seized her chance, delivering a swift kick between the legs of another man that was stunned at what Keiji had done. "AAAAGGHHHHH!" the man howled, dropping to his knees. "Get them, damn it!"

The mob's fury exploded. They surrounded the pair, unleashing a storm of kicks and punches. A well-aimed boot caught Keiji in the throat, sending him crashing against the alley wall with a heart-wrenching yelp. "Keiji-kun, NOOOOO! You bast—"

Her cry was cut short as beer bottles shattered against her head. "Take this, you little shit!" Someone's leg connected with her midsection, launching her into the opposite wall. "This is for my brother! He'd just made Chunin before you killed him!"

Blood spattered the ground as the beating continued. The mob knew their limits – they couldn't kill her outright, not with the Hokage's protection, but they could make her suffer. They'd learned from experience that as long as they finished quickly and dispersed before certain ANBU showed up, most would escape punishment. The few who were caught weren't enough to deter the rest.

When they finally stepped back, satisfied, Keiji mustered his remaining strength to drag himself toward his packmate. His own injuries were severe, possibly worse than hers, but instinct drove him forward. Pack protected pack, even in death's shadow.

The girl drifted in and out of consciousness, her breathing ragged and shallow. When awareness finally returned, every movement sent waves of agony through her swollen face and battered body. Her eyes found Keiji beside her, and horror gripped her heart.

"KEIJI-KUN!" she screamed, tears streaming down her face. "Those bastards, what did they do to you!" Despite her own injuries, she gathered him into her arms. He was heavy, but adrenaline gave her strength. This was her best friend, her protector – she had to save him.

She remembered the Inuzuka veterinary clinic she'd discovered during her village wanderings. The dog clan would know what to do. Ignoring her own wounds – she knew from experience that she healed unusually fast, though the doctors never explained why – she stumbled through the streets. Each step was agony, but she pressed on, disregarding the hostile stares and shocked gasps from passersby.

Luckily, it took her only a few minutes of agonizing pain to limp her way to the clinic. Sadly what was only a few minutes felt like hours to her as she hobbled along. She barged in the door of the clinic and the swelling of her jaw had really taken hold. 

“YUHH GOTTA HAAPP!!! MUUHH FEENNN IIIII HUUURRR!!! HAAPP HIIIINNN!!!” her mouth was severely swollen and making it hard for her to clearly articulate her words.

A girl with brunette hair and red fang-like marks on her cheeks, behind the counter looked up and gasped at the sight she saw. “Oh Kami…” , she said as she got up from her seat. “I’ll take him, you come with me,” the brunette said as she got up from her seat, ran over and scooped the Keiji-kun out of the girl’s arms. As the brunette ran toward a hall, she yelled, “I need help in Room 2!!! I got a dog and a girl that both look like they’ve been beaten nearly to death!!”

The girl managed to follow them to Room 2 before her legs gave out. She crumpled to the floor like a puppet with cut strings. The Inuzuka woman placed Keiji on the examination table, her hands glowing green with healing chakra. After a few moments, her eyes widened in shock, then filled with sorrow. She shook her head slowly – mercifully, the girl had already lost consciousness. There was nothing anyone could have done. Keiji was gone.

POV Shift

“Tsume-sama!!! It’s the fox girl! She’s been badly beaten and is at the vet. clinic!!”

“What!?! Let’s go, now!!!” Tsume had long been angered by the way the Yondaime’s legacy had been treated. That girl was a hero, and should be getting the hero’s treatment, but what did she get for it? Abuse. Neglect. Hatred. Indifference. Fucking cowards and imbeciles the lot of them, Sandaime-sama included, though she would never voice that… normally.

When Tsume made it to the clinic she growled, “Where is she?!”

“Room 2 at the moment Tsume-sama,” said one of the Inuzuka clansmen. Tsume made her way there and what she saw made her start to leak Killing Intent. Her daughter Hana gasped as she realized what was happening. She was attempting to do what she could for the girl.

Tsume realized this and reigned in her intent. “Keep going Hana, tell me what you know so far.”

“Well Kaa-san, she has 5 broken ribs, has some internal hemorrhaging. She's lost a LOT of blood and has severe bruising and blunt force trauma all over. I…” she stopped short for a second and sighed. “I’m not sure what to do. She needs a hospital Kaa-san, there’s only so much I can do.”

“I’m sure the Hokage will have her moved when he arrives. Keep doing what you can.” She looked over on one of the other tables and saw the carcass of a dog. This made her grimace and narrow her eyebrows. “What’s with the mutt?”

“From what the girl said, he was her friend. I imagine he probably got the same beating that she got. She’s going to be devastated when she wakes up.”

Tsume was now enraged. This is unforgivable. You don’t kill someone’s companion… 

…

EVER

… 

Tsume tried her level best to keep her rage and killing intent in check. Not wanting to interrupt Hana looking after the girl. But this was the last straw, something had to be done and she had had enough of just letting the Sandaime’s lacking protection detail continue. As she seethed, the girl started to groan and move a little. 

“Whoa, whoa whoa. Easy now, don’t move around too quickly there pup,” said Tsume as the girl’s eyes opened what little they could. The girl slowly sat up and Tsume said, “My name is Inuzuka Tsume, you’re at the Inuzuka Veterinary Clinic right now. Hokage-sama should be here any minute now. We’ll get you to the hospital soon.”

“Wah abou Keihi-kun. II Heh gouh ee ohay.”

Tsume sighed, not wanting to hurt the girl even more. She said, “I’m sorry Naruko-chan… he didn’t make it.”

Naruko was immediately in shock. She looked around and saw the table Keiji-kun was at. She didn’t want to believe it… How could this happen? Those bastards… She was both furious and sad. Tears just started to free flow and she started to wail and cry. Not at the top of her lungs but loud enough.

Tsume saw this and every instinct she had triggered. That of a mother, wanting to comfort a child that was in pain and filled with sorrow. A pack leader, wanting to be there for a member of her pack, whether that member knew it or not, that was hurt. A kunoichi, who’s future comrade had lost her companion. And that of a friend, wanting to look after her friend’s pup, because it looked like someone was going to have to step up. She immediately embraced Naruko offering her comfort in one of her lowest moments.

She shushed low and cooed, “Shhh, it’s going to be ok pup. The ones who did this are gonna answer for this… One way or another. Kuromaru!!”

“What do you need, Tsume?”

“Get a few clan members and let’s get the scents off of these two. We got some trash that needs to be taken out. They hurt a member of the pack.” Naruko’s eyes widened at that, she had never had anyone go so far for her before, that she knew of.

“My pleasure~” Kuromaru gave a big toothy grin and he darted off to carry out her wishes. All too eager to do so. When you hurt a packmate, the rest of the pack will rise to punish the guilty.

“Why are you going so far for me?” said Naruko. She was still grappling with the fact that someone other than her Jiji or the Ichiraku’s were going out of their way for her.

“I was a good friend of your mom’s pup. And before you ask, I can’t tell you who they are.” Tsume stopped Naruko in her tracks before she asked. Naruko looking deflated again, Tsume said, “What did the Hokage tell you about them?”

“That he didn’t know who they were. That it didn’t matter cause it wouldn’t bring back the dead.”

Tsume was enraged at this, “I think it’s about time I had a chat with our beloved Hokage about that. Some changes are gonna happen in the next few days.” Tsume was so frustrated, Sandaime was a good man and extremely intelligent but sometimes the most intelligent people could be so absolutely and abundantly stupid. “Now, tell me about what happened.” Kuromaru had made his way back with a few members of the Inuzuka clan.

“Well, me and Keiji-kun were playing together at the park when those bastards came after us, dattebayo. We ran and ran and ran, trying to get away from them–” Naruko’s words stopped in her throat as the sorrow crept up again.

Tsume hugged and shushed her again, trying to provide what comfort she could to the little girl. “It’s ok, go on when you're ready.”

It took a few seconds and then Naruko continued, “We ducked down a few different alleyways trying to lose them and get away but we were blocked off. Keiji-kun defended me. He got a good mouthful of one of the men’s private parts and I think he ripped some of it off, dattebayo. He bit another guy on the arm and was kicked into the wall. I kicked that guy in his balls and he went down… That’s when… that’s… when.” Naruko started to cry again.

Tsume comforted the little girl again and was amazed. She really was her mother’s child, stubborn to the end and even had her verbal tic. It really was a shame that the mutt had died from his wounds. He would have made a fine companion for Naruko. “Don’t worry pup, we’ll make it right for Keiji-kun. He was one fine dog. We will find a way to honor the sacrifice of one so honourable.” All this while Hana had been doing what she could for Naruko. Naruko had seen this and had noticed what it was doing. Making her not hurt as much.

“What’s that she’s doing?”

“It’s medical ninjutsu pup. An ability that she has been learning for a long time, but she is still learning. We believe little Keiji-kun died before you made it to the clinic though.” Naruko nodded at this with wide eyes. This was something that you could learn? ”Wow. That is so cool.”

Then the Hokage made his way in followed by 4 ANBU agents. “Jiji!” Naruko exclaimed. “Naruko-chan, let me look at you.” He was incensed, he knew there was only so much he could do himself and had more ANBU members that needed to be dealt with. “Hmm, let’s get you to the hospital child. Inu.” the Sandaime said. A silver-haired ANBU agent with a dog-like mask walked over to Naruko and scooped her up and he immediately headed out of the clinic toward the hospital.

The grizzly and old Hokage looked at Tsume and asked, “What happened?”

“She was playing with her furry companion in the park and some villagers attacked them. They killed the dog over there on the table. Not before he ripped one of the men’s manhood off.” Tsume grinned as the Hokage flinched a little at that. “Looks like Naruko-chan made her way here trying to save her companion. This has got to stop Sandaime-sama.”

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed at this, “There is only so much I can do Tsume-san. This time it seems the ANBU detail that had been placed with her intentionally neglected their duties. They will be dealt with.”

“With a 2 foot blade I hope.” Tsume growled.

“What do you mean by that?”

“What the hell do you think it means!? They committed treason, they endangered the life of our jinchuriki and by proxy the safety of the village!! Sandaime-sama this has to stop. The way things are going, she will hate the people and the village that she grew up in.”

Hiruzen knew she was right, but politically there was nothing he could do. He had exhausted almost all of his options. He just sighed, “You know I don’t want that, but my hands are tied at the moment. If I intervene too much I could be deposed from my position. I’m sure you don’t want Danzo running the village. There is a council meeting in about an hour. I’ll see you then.”

“I want to talk with you after that meeting… privately,” Tsume said in a growl as she walked out of the room she motioned to her clansmen toward Keiji-kun on the table. They knew what to do. “Enough is enough Sandaime-sama.”