Jeanne inclined her head. "Yes, I'd expect the fur to be more golden in color. If he does manifest a hybrid form, it would be when a member of his pack is threatened. Or someone he considers to be of his pack."
"I see," said Tsume, who DID see. The whole bloodline in fact seemed to parallel her own clan's abilities, but from a different angle. Which meant that, depending on how she handled it, this baby might become either one of their greatest allies, an asset to their own pack, or a rival pack. Err, clan. "And his 'beast form'?"
"Was a very cute small blonde wolf puppy with the most lovely blue eyes," said Jeanne with a smile.
"I see," said Tsume.
Four years later:
Kuromaru let out a deep groan as he followed the two pups.
Naruto was not formally a member of the clan. However, much of his training in various ninja arts was best accomplished by the Inuzuka clan and therefore he DID associate with them. Unfortunately, once Naruto decided to do something - Kiba would want to keep up with his friend/rival/pack member.
Kuromaru was Tsume Inuzuka's ninken, or ninja dog. He was big and tough and could speak. He was also missing an ear and an eye, which was testament to his battle experience.
Babysitting was an entirely new experience and keeping up with two four year olds was requiring levels of patience and control that were sorely testing him.
It didn't help that Naruto was physically developing faster than Kiba. How much of that was his bloodline, Kuromaru didn't know.
As to Naruto's bloodline, he'd switched to puppy-form quite a few times. Also gotten "stuck" until he relaxed enough to change back, usually in his sleep. Kuromaru thought he DID make a cute wolf pup, what with his golden fur, large blue eyes, and oversized paws.
Fortunately the boy SMELLED human even in 'beast-form' - so he wouldn't have to worry about the pack females sniffing him too much when he got older.
Kuromaru stopped and sniffed as the two kids ran along a fencetop. What were they stumbling into NOW?
"More brats," said the Kumo ninja, throwing shuriken in a spray at the kids. One of them yelped as the edge cut through his jacket and into the skin underneath.
"BAD GUYS!" declared the blond kid, dodging.
"So I see," grumbled a freaking humongous wolf-dog as he came up behind the two kids. He didn't raise his muzzle as instinct would have had him do, but he let out a series of rapid barks and a howl that carried quite far anyway.
"Get that damn dog!" ordered the person in charge, discounting the two little boys.
"FANG!" said the injured boy, leaping forward, then wrapping himself around one leg.
"Let go of me you, ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" said the head ninja as the little boy BIT him.
As soon as his grip loosened on the bundled up girl, the other little boy was making quick stabbing motions into that arm and then leaping away.
The head Kumo ninja noticed all the little stab wounds, but also noticed the little boy running away with the little girl.
The leg-biter was running away too.
"You meddling KIDS," growled the head Kumo ninja, drawing his sword.
SHIFT
SNAP!
The blond kid became a blond wolf who snapped through the girl's ropes.
Large shapes bounded along in the distance, clearly visible in the nearly full moonlight. At that speed they'd be here in seconds.
"Well, if we can't take the girl and get away, I'll just take her eyes!" declared the head Kumo ninja.
"RRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr," said the blond wolf cub, showing his teeth as he got between the girl and the adult with the sword.
"Hah!" said the other kid, running around and throwing rocks and stones and anything else he could get at the remaining ninjas.
Kuromaru growled and yipped three times, then started stalking forward. Head low, teeth showing, and remarkably like the pose of the blond guarding the little girl.
Then the rest of the ninja hounds were suddenly there.
The little girl looked at the various doggies, then did something very predictable.
GLOMP! "Puppy!"
"Ugh, cooties," said Kiba as he viewed the little girl hugging Naruto, though much later on he would vehemently deny ever having said such a thing.
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(Posted Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:44)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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