(Just to let you know, I got a new tablet for Christmas and it will allow me to open files. So, sorry I took so long, but I just need to get use to me new tablet. Anyway, on with the Story!)

Bond between Fox and Lizard

Chapter 3

Half a day since they left the village, Team 7 is camping while Hana is collecting firewood.

Hana sigh as she pick up some woods.

"Something going on with Naruto?"

Hana turn to see Kakashi reading his book as usual, "Why are you here, Kakashi? I thought you're with your students."

"I left them to finishing up the tents. Now, I notices Naruto glare at you once a while. What happen?" Kakashi asked as he turn the page.

"Just something that should never happen in the begaining. That's all I allow to tell you." Hana said.

"I see..." Kakashi said.

Suddenly, a pine cone land on Kakashi's head, "Ow! Hey!"

Kakashi and Hana look up and see laughing black bear cub on the tree. Then the cub grab another pine cone and throw it at Hana. The cone land on Hana's head.

"Ow! That hurt!" Hana said.

Hana charge towards the tree the bear cub is on, and with Chakra, climb the tree. The bear cub got scared and jump to the next tree. Then it climb down and run off.

Hana jump down and give chase, "Get back here!"

The bear cub jump in the hole on the ground before Hana could grab it. The cub pop it head from another hole behind Hana, then pull out a hollow branch before the cub blow it, shooting a round pebble at Hana's butt, "Hey!"

Hana turn to grab the bear cub but it went down the hole. The cub pop its head out of other hole next to other, blowing raspberries at Hana who try to wreck it, only miss again as the cub duck in the hole. Kakashi walk to Hana while reading, "Hana, maybe you should leave it alone. The mother bear might be nearby."

Suddenly, the cub pop out in front of Kakashi and grab his book, "Hey, my book!" Kakashi then, try to grab the cub from the hole behind Hana.

They have been doing this for the while till Hana and Kakashi got tangled together. The bear cub suddenly, shoot up from the nearby hole and blow its hollow branch again, shooting lots of pebbles around them, which cause them to collapse….

"If anyone ask, there were 20,00 adult bears." Kakashi said.

The bear cub laughs from few feet away.

"YOU LITTLE WEASEL!" Hana said in angry.

"It's actually a bear cub." Kakashi said which Hana glares at him.

The cub turn and shake its rear end.

"That's it!" Hana said before run towards the cub!

The cub got scared and run away as Hana gives chase, "I'm going to turn you into bear-skin coat!

(Meanwhile)

In the watchful eye of Hana's dogs, Team 7 finish up their tents and wait for their Sensei and helper to come back with firewood.

Hinata then went to Naruto, "A-are you d-doing OK?"

"Not sure. I'm still mad at Hana for betrayed me. And I lost those who are like a family to me." Naruto said, sadly.

Hinata look at Naruto while thinking, 'Poor Naruto…. I hope I can cheer him up.'

Suddenly, something or someone, fall between Naruto and Hinata, causing them to jump back in surprise. Then they, Sasuke and Hana's dogs gather around to look at what or who fall.

It is a girl, close to Team 7 Genins' age, has long sliver hair and wearing black dress like loincloth but the most surprising thing is her eyes; they're same as Hinata's!

"So, the Leaf Village isn't the only one." Naruto said.

"Of course. No one can be perfect." Girl said.

"Huh?" Genins of Team 7 asked in confuse.

"Well, you can't expect someone not to fall. I mean, only birds and bats flies." Girl said as Genins and Hana's dogs, look up at the tree with a broken branch which is where the girl fell from.

"And you were up in the tree, because?" Sasuke asked.

The girl starts climbing up the other tree as she answer, "I was looking for my little brother who no doubt, pulling pranks again."

"Brother? Y-you mean t-there are o-others?" Hinata asked in surprise.

"Of course, silly. There lots of us." Girl said.

"W-where?" Hinata asked.

The girl lost her grip and slip off then land near the Genins and dogs before answer, "Everywhere. You know, through the forests, in the caves and all that sorts." The girl then got up while dust herself, "You know, we have to wait till Summer for salmon season so we can eat as many as we can before Winter so we can sleep well without going hungry."

"I'll ask again; 'huh'?" Sasuke asked in confuse.

Suddenly, they heard a baby bear cries before that same black bear cub arrives with Hana right at its tail. The cub hide behind the girl as Hana and just arrived Kakashi, stand near Genins and dogs.

"Well, I see you three have found a spy and with the Hyuga eyes." Kakashi said.

"Spy?! Where?!" Girl asked as she look around before she sudden turn towards Team 7 and helpers, "Hold on, I just remember what my Mama said; 'Be wary around humans. They are bad news to us'. I didn't have any idea what she meant. I think she saying that humans are dangerous."

Team 7 and helpers look at the girl in confuse.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Girl asked.

"It just that, you're a human." Naruto said.

"Don't be silly. I'm not a human, I'm a Bear." Girl said.

"Right…." Kakashi said, not believing, "Well, I'm the Wolf." Kakashi then point at Hinata, "This is Rabbit." Then point at Sasuke, "This is Badger." Then at Naruto, "This is Fox."

'Very funny….' Naruto thought.

"And that is miss Doggy and her pack." Kakashi said. Point at Hana.

The cub then grunt and growl to the girl.

"No, they not bothered me, little brother. In fact, I think they are harmless." Girl said to the cub.

"Little Brother?!" Team 7 and Hana asked in surprise and confuse.

"That right. This is my little brother." The girl said as she points at the cub, "Kopa the Bear…." Then points at herself, "Tara the Bear."

Team 7 and helpers just stare at them for the moment before Naruto asks, "Excuse us for the moment."

They move few yards away from Tara and Kopa before huddle up.

"That girl is strange, even more than Might Guy." Kakashi said.

"How can Tara believe that she's a bear?" Sasuke asked.

"Not sure. I was raised with the dogs and I never act like a dog or believe to be a dog." Hana said with her dogs nodded in agreement.

Naruto had a deep thought for a while before reailze something, "What if she wasn't raised by people?"

"What do you mean, Dope?" Sasuke asked.

"I mean that Hana and Kiba was raised by their human mother. But what if Tara was raised in the wild by a bear mother?" Naruto asked.

Hana and Kakashi turn to see Tara and Kopa playing together.

"I see what you mean, Naruto." Hana said.

"But why would a bear raised a human child?" Kakashi asked.

"Dr J told me that there's something about the animals we're not mean to understand." Naruto said.

"T-that does m-make sense." Hinata said.

Naruto then turn to see Tara and Kopa playing a bit, "Why don't we take them with us?"

"Naruto, we can't just take anyone we meet. What if she really is a spy?" Kakashi said.

Naruto sigh, "Fine…." Then the group break up and Naruto step follow towards Tara and Kopa…, "My Sensei said you should come with us."

"What?!" Kakashi asked.

"Really?" Tara asked as her brother bear growl at Team 7 and helpers, "Could you excuse us for a while?"

Tara and Kopa move away a bit.

"I don't trust some of them either, but what else can we do. We can't survive without mama after she was killed by big mean Grizzly Bear." Tara said.

Meanwhile, Hana slap Naruto on the back of his head, "What was that about?!"

"I thought since she has no human family, she can live with me or something. Plus, if she can talk to any animals, it might be useful for missions that anything to do with them." Naruto said.

"N-Naruto does h-have a p-point." Hinata said.

Tara and her brother join up, "Kopa and I have agree to join your pack."

Kakashi sigh before say, "Fine. Let's prepare dinner."

Nearby, A figure is watching Team 7 and their helpers, "Excellent, all the pieces are together. Soon, they'll awake the Titans and when they do, old friend, you better be ready for them." Then the figure went off while saying, "Although, two out of five were awaked earlier than I thought."

(Few days later)

There's a knock on the door and a long blue-coloured hair woman name; Tsunami, went to answer. Tsunami open the door and see group of people and animals.

"Can I help you?" Tsunami asked.

"We are the back-up team that Team 8 requested." Kakashi said.

Tsunami sigh in relief, "I'm glad you're here. Please, come in."

"Thank you." Kakashi said as he and others enter….

With Tara and Kopa slowly walk in and sniff around, causing Tsunami to be confuse.

Naruto stand close to Tsunami and whisper to her, "She thinks she's a bear. Just play along."

Tsunami nodded before lead Team 7 towards the living room where Team 8 are.

"You look like you have a tough trip." Kakashi said, seeing how beat up Team 8 are.

"We have. On our way towards Tazuna's place, we've run in to Zabuza." Kurenai asked.

Kakashi's single eye widen, "Zabuza?! As in Zabuza Momochi; the S-class Rogue Ninja from the Land of Water's Hidden Mist Village?"

"That will be him and he might have some help from what we thought to be a Ninja Hunter. We were barely got out of this alive. And that's not all." Kurenai said as she lead Team 7 and helpers to the kitchen, "According to Tazuna, Gato has someone created something." Kurenai then lead them towards the table with something under the big cloth, "We haven't seen one yet, but we did found this on the way."

Kurenai pull the cloth off, revealing a giant pincer. Team 7 and others were surprise.

"Judging the size of this pincer, we believed it somewhere man size." Kurenai said.

"This Gato guy has one pet, so what? It's no match against Uchiha like me." Sasuke said with pride.

"One? Try 500 of them." Tsunami said, surprising everyone.

"500 of them, an S-Class rogue Ninja plus his helper. Our students are way out of their league. We need to leave at once while we have a chance." Kakashi said, causing Tazuna and his daughter to be sad as their only hope might be gone.

"Leave?" Everyone jump in surprise before they all turn to see a figure by the table, drinking tea, "But you just got here. Can you just stay for nice tea?"

Naruto's eyes widen, "Madam Tree?! How did you get here?"

"The same way you did, child. I walked." Madam Tree said.

"You know this lady?" Kakashi asked.

"Sort of. I only met her once, during the Bell test." Naruto said.

"Nice to 'hear' you as well." Madam Tree said with a smile before drink her tea.

"Look, we're dealing with very dangerous Ninja. Our Genins are not ready for this battle." Kakashi said.

"Wow. I never believe Kakashi Hatake turn out to be chicken." Madam Tree said.

"Very funny…." Kakashi muttered before say, "Our students are not ready for this."

"Tara!" Naruto call out as he see Tara and Kopa knock over few things, "I'll be right back." Then Naruto went off.

"Then, you don't want the child to get his cheerful personality back or something?" Madam Tree asked right after Naruto left.

Before Kakashi or Kurenai say anything, Hinata push pass them and run towards Madam Tree, "We can do that?! How?!"

Madam Tree giggle, "Sounds like a caring girlfriend…" Hinata's face glow red, "Well, in few days, they'll be a battle at the unfinished bridge. Bring the child there and the one he thought to be dead, shall return and his personality will be restore."

After finish her tea, Madam Tree got up and bow towards Tsunami, "Thank you for a nice cup of tea." Madam Tree heads to the door, "I hope your father compete his bridge." Then she open the door and went through it before shut it….

"That's a kitchen closet!" Tsunami said before went to her closet.

Tsunami open the door and look inside…

"Wha-?!" Tsunami muttered in surprise before turn towards Kakashi and others, "Hey, she's gone."

"Impossible!" Hana said before went in the closet and look around.

"Who was that strange woman?" Kakashi asked.

"And what did she mean 'the one he thought to be dead, shall return'? Who was she talking about?" Kurenai asked.

"I bet she was a spy and try to confuse us." Kakashi said.

Just then, Naruto join others, "Hopefully, Tara will learn that she's a human, not a Bear. Where's Madam Tree?"

"She just left…." Tsunami said before mutters, "I think…."

"I see." Naruto said.

(A while later)

Kakashi, Team 7 and Team 8 are in the forest near Tazuna's place.

"Alright. Does anyone know about Chakra control?" Kakashi asked.

Sakura step forwards, "In order to have good chakra control, a ninja should only mould as much chakra as they need to perform a given ability. If they mould more chakra than is needed, the excess chakra is wasted and they will tire out faster from its loss. If they don't mould enough chakra, a technique will not be performed effectively, if at all, likely creating problems in a combat situation."

"Correct. Now, let's get started. We'll start with Tree Climbing." Kakashi said.

Meanwhile nearby, Tara and Kopa bear-climbing a tree to get some honey from the beehive.

(Day later)

Everyone are at the table after training, eating dinner when Tazuna's grandson; Inari blurted out, drawing everyone's attention to him, "Why do you guys try so hard? You'll just die like all the rest. Gato is too strong!"

Naruto shaking his head, "No one gets strong with money."

Inari scowling at Naruto, "What do you know? You don't know what suffering truly is! You don't even know what it's like to lose someone you cared!"

"I wish he didn't say that…." Hana muttered.

Naruto's eyes narrow dangerously with his eyes flashing from blue to crimson red.

"What...did you just...say?" Naruto asked, before appearing in front of the boy and picking him up by his shirt, "I don't what is like to lose someone?! I lost my parents when I was a baby! I lost my mother figure and grandpa figure by the one I also looked him as my grandfather! I lost my brother figure by a friend who betrayed me! At least you still have a real mother, real grandfather and a roof over your head." Then Naruto release Inari.

"Mother figure? You mean Dr J?" Kiba asked.

"Dr J? My mother told me she was sent to jail for caring a demon or something like that." Sakura said, not noticing Naruto is shaking in anger.

"The other person I know Naruto hang out with is that wacko guy; Billy. At least he was finally sent to the madhouse." Sasuke said.

Suddenly, Naruto whack the table, break it in two!

"Naruto!" Kakashi, Kurenai and Hana call out in surprise while the students minus Hinata, and others back away in fear.

"I'm heading out…." Naruto said as he went to the door.

"Poor Naruto…." Hinata muttered.

(The day of the battle)

Naruto was walking through when he sees a dead wild boar and figure that something was not right. So, he rush back to Tazuna's house. A while later, Naruto see couple of Gato's thugs hold Tsunami hostage while smirk at Inari, outside of the house. But what got him a bit scared are few half the size of house lobsters.

The Giant Lobsters are crimson with black strips and golden pattern. On their left arm, is a really big pincer that could crush anything, and on their right arm is a hand like claw that can grip things.

Naruto after snap out of it, made few hand signs, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

The thugs laugh till something whack them on their head, knock them out. Naruto got Tsunami while his clone grab Inari and the run inside as one of the Giant Lobsters charge at them. It smash through door and wall and try to reach its hand-claw towards Naruto, Tsunami and her son as they move back as the can.

The Giant Lobster almost get Naruto when suddenly it jet back. The Giant Lobster screech as it try to grab something as it seem to be pull out. It was eventually pull out and then lift up. Naruto and others then hears a crunching sounds as few bits of Giant Lobster is felling in front of Tazuna's home. Then after tat, there was nothing.

"Wh-what's going on?" Inari asked.

"I'll check it out." Naruto said as he slowly made his way towards a hole.

Naruto look around but can see any Giant Lobsters but their bits. Nearby are the thugs who're awoke and now shaking like a leaf, mumbling 'Mo…Mo…Mo…'.

"I think it's safe enough." Naruto said.

Slowly, Tsunami and Inari exit their house as neighbors arrive.

"What happen?" Man asked.

"No idea. But something tells me I need get to the bridge at once." Naruto said before rush off towards the bridge.

(And done! I know you were hoping for something, but it going to be a long chapter. But don't worry, next chapter will have a BIG battle. So, see you all next time!)