In the ancient times, there existed a demon fox with nine tails of fiery fire. One swipe of its tail was enough to crumble mountains, its paws large enough to create lakes upon its wake. It had the eyes of blood, cruel teeth of razor, craws that could cut a person in half with a mere swipe. Nine of the strongest magicians stood up against this monstrosity—and only one lived. Taking the lives of eight men of a humble mountain village, the fox finally expired, cursing all humans with its dying breath. And it left behind it a kit, a tiny helpless kit that was raised by hands of humans. And this kit was destined to be the bridge between the humans and demons, for this kit—

"Ha. What a bunch of bullshit."

Crystalline blue eyes narrowed in annoyance. A young boy who couldn't be older than a late teenager rubbed his nose with his knuckles, his left hand in a loose fist. A cocky smirk graced his lips, his dimples marring whisker-like scars upon his cheeks and making the scars crooked. He pulled his blond bangs out of his eyes, his smirk deepening.

"Please. Ancient times? Destiny? Don't give me that bunch of boring crap. We aren't living in the past anymore, you know. What's important is right here, right now." The boy turned around and looked back, tilting his head slightly. His canines slightly protruded from his lips as he locked his fingers together behind his back. "My life, you know—it has nothing to do with my past. I'm more interested in creating the history than reading about all the old shit."

The boy shifted the goggles sitting on top of his head, adjusting the dark blue rubber to secure around his head. He completely turned around, leaving behind him a flash of smile that showed his sharp canines.

"Well then. Let's go."

Dai 1 Wa: Fight, Run, Protect!: -The Encounter of Young Lord and Fox Kit-

The dimly lit forest stretched out endlessly. The air was humid and warm. The sunlight, which failed to filter past all the thick green foliages of the top canopy, made everything glow bright green. Years of fallen leaves made the forest floor thick with fertile soil, mingled with leaves that were either rotten or were in the process of rotting. There was certain serenity about this forest, despite inhabitants of the forest that darted here and there at their will. And that serenity completely shattered when a golden streak charged through the forest floor, kicking up leaves in its desperate attempt to escape.

"Don't let it get away!" A deep voice commanded. Shower of arrows accompanied the command. A young boy with hair the color of midnight skies and eyes color of the deepest part of the sea lead the troops of what seemed to be soldiers. As his black stallion furiously galloped after the golden streak, the boy leaned forward, his arrow cocked on his bow, his eyes narrowed in concentration. His rather long bangs whipped around him, flashing bright blue here and there when the green light of the forest hit them just at the right angle. He tilted his head to the side, his eyes narrowing further as the wind rushed past him in sticky, humid breeze, and then the arrow sang out as it escaped the bow and flew towards its target.

There was a dull thud, followed by a sharp yelp. The golden blur tumbled, kicking up more leaves and soil before it stopped and lay on its side, panting heavily. The fox kit lifted its little head, its sharp blue eyes narrowed in hatred toward the humans. Its nine tails whirled around it, flashing in color of fire despite the lack of sunlight to illuminate the silken fur. The kit licked its chops, then bared its fangs as humans skidded to a stop nearby.

"Be cautious. Despite its young age, demons are capable of powerful magic," the boy who had managed to immobilize the fox kit gravely said. He frowned disapprovingly when the men continued to aim their weapons towards the kitten. "And please don't kill it unless commanded to do so, or the necessity arises. Aniue(honorable elder brother) shall be most displeased if you do anything reckless."

A man shifted in his horse, his eyes softened in pity for the fox kit unlike the others. "Is the wound fatal, Sasuke Obousama(young sir)?"

"I believe the arrow only hit the tender muscle of its back leg, Iruka-dono," the boy named Sasuke replied. He gracefully leapt off of his horse and walked towards the fallen kit, only pausing when the kit struggled to stand, all of its furs bristling and its little fangs bared. Sasuke slowly lowered his body and held out his hand towards the fox so that it would not be alarmed.

The fox trembled as the human approached, its tail swishing around it nervously. A growl started from the back of its throat as Sasuke's hand came nearer and nearer. Then the fox kit jumped forward, digging its little teeth into Sasuke's fingers. The men around Sasuke immediately tensed, picking up their weapons again. Sasuke flinched, but he turned around and gave a firm shake of his head to the men before turning his attention back to the fox. With his other hand, he gently patted the kit's head. The kit's hold on Sasuke's finger lessened, but it still suspiciously glared at the human in front of it.

"I give you my word that I shall not harm you," Sasuke softly said. He grasped the kit by the collar of its neck and pulled it away from his fingers, holding it snuggly in his arms before he slowly stood up. The kitten struggled, displeased mewls escaping from its throat. Iruka jumped down from his horse and rushed towards his young master.

Sasuke looked up when Iruka approached him. "Are you seriously wounded, Sasuke Obousama?" Iruka asked. Sasuke shook his head before he released his hold on the fox kit in his arms and showed the kit to his men. Gasps and surprised murmured rippled throughout the group.

"But that can't be." Iruka curiously looked at the kit, counting its tails to make sure that it was, indeed, the rare kyuubi no youko (nine-tailed demon fox). "I thought nine-tailed foxes have vanished from this world already."

Sasuke chuckled, turning away to mount on his horse. "The lack of evidence does not signify the evidence's lack. Just because we did not confirm with our own two eyes does not mean something does not exist." His face fell slightly. "…Do you think aniue will kill this little one? It may be the last one left of its species."

Iruka's face also darkened. "Most probable, sir. After all…" He turned around with a sigh, climbing back on his ride. "Such dangerous demons are instantly killed."

Sasuke bit into his lower lip as he adjusted his grip on the leather rein, the baby fox sitting snuggly on his lap. He wordlessly turned his party around to head home.

Sasuke watched, fascinated, as the fox kit licked the milk away from his digits with flick of its little pink tongue. He dipped his finger in the bowl of milk he held on his lap and offered the finger to the kitten again, who lapped all the liquid off of his finger quite eagerly. The tongue was warm, wet, and surprisingly rough. It felt ticklish when the kit licked his finger, and Sasuke almost smiled when it attempted to clean its snout with its little paw.

Sasuke reached out his free hand to rest it among the soft furs of the fox. "What happened to your parents, little one?" The kitten ceased licking at its paw and stared up at Sasuke with its solemn blue eyes. Sasuke ruefully smiled. "Were they killed by bad humans like us? You're too young to be by yourself, aren't you?"

The kit turned its head away and continued to clean itself. Sasuke sighed, drumming his fingers against the bowl that contained the warm milk. "I'll do all I can to spare your life, little one. I'm so sick of all the blood that has been shed between the war between humans and demons…"

A man approached the cell that contained the demon fox, his head lowered respectively. "Sir, Uchiha-sama requires the presence of the demon. Will you be bringing the fox for the trial?"

"That I shall do," Sasuke replied. He set the bowl of milk down and gathered the fox into his arms and stood up. His silk robe made barely any sound as he turned around and headed to the courtyard, where various low-class demons and half-demons were gathered for the trial. Sasuke kept his face expressionless, despite his urge to vomit at the scent of heavy blood that hung in the air. Executions were usually taken place right after the trials. He slowly walked across the courtyard and approached the man sitting upon the dais, lowering his head to give a respective bow to the older man.

The man was beautiful, his dark hair and eyes glistening softly, his lithe body covered in fine robes of light blue. He held a striking resemblance to Sasuke, but his eyes were hard and cold, unlike Sasuke's soft ones. He tilted his head slightly. His long hair fell down to his shoulder, flowing smoothly like black waterfall before resting upon either side of his shoulders. "Sasuke," he acknowledged. Then: "Whatever is that entity in your arms?"

"The demon fox that I have reported to you right after I returned, Aniue," Sasuke said, his body immediately stiffening at the mere voice of his older brother. "He is yet young, and wounded. I believe it will calm it down if I hold it, instead of chaining it down."

The elder Uchiha regarded the golden-colored animal in Sasuke's arms, then dismissively gestured to the chair next to him. Sasuke bowed again and settled down to the indicated chair. He wordlessly watched as Itachi condemned most of the demon prisoners to be destroyed, while stripping powers and sanity of those few who remained. He felt sick. The scent of blood in the air thickened. Surprisingly the fox kitten in his arms silently watched as its fellow demons' blood freely flowed, staining the courtyard crimson and spreading the scent of death.

Then it was the fox's turn.

Itachi's lips curled up into a cruel smile as he scrutinized the kitten in his brother's arms. He softly snarled, "The nine-tailed fox is known as one of the most dangerous demons in existence. Luckily, this one is still a kit. We shall take its blood and marrow sample for future references, and then kill it."

Sasuke's hold on the fox tightened. "…Aniue. Will you grant me a boon?"

Itachi lifted his eyes to look at his younger brother. "State your wish, and then I shall consider it."

Sasuke lowered his eyes. The smallest of tremor ran through his body. He was terrified of this man. But yet, to watch as such a young, innocent life was destroyed… "Will you give this kitten to me? I shall crop its nails and teeth, and if it becomes dangerous, I shall kill it myself."

"Sasuke." Itachi's voice turned icy, his lips pursing with displeasure. "What is this? Compassion for a demon? Is this a weakness I see?"

"No, sir," Sasuke hurriedly said. The kit sensed his fear and gently nipped at his arm to reassure him. Sasuke took a deep breath. "It is a very rare specimen, Aniue. It might be of a valuable hostage later. And properly tamed—after all, it is only a foxling right now and it is already quite well behaved—it might help us sniff out more demons. A hunting dog, so to say."

Itachi was still not pleased, even though he seemed to consider Sasuke's words carefully. He closed his eyes. "It is too dangerous to keep as a pet, young one. Too intelligent, too powerful. Who knows what it may grow up as?"

Sasuke bowed his head. "I beg of you, Aniue. I did everything you have asked of me, did I not?"

Itachi sighed and stood up. "Do as you please."

Sasuke tried his best not to let his happiness be shown, but he couldn't help that his eyes lit up. He cradled the fox closer to his chest as he also stood up. "It is time for my lessons now. May I be excused?"

"Certainly." Itachi adjusted the folds of his robe, his eyes still cold and expressionless. "One foul deed from the vixen, Sasuke, and the kitten's fur shall grace the foot of my bed. Is that understood?"

"Yes sir," Sasuke replied. He rushed away from the courtyard before his brother changed his mind. Itachi watched his brother's retreating form before covering half of his face with his hand, heavily sighing.

"And yet you are too gentle, little one. You shall suffer if you do not loose that kindness soon…"

Sasuke strode back to his room after his lessons with Iruka. Iruka specialized in healing. While healing spells did not suit well with Sasuke, many spells started out the same way that basic healing spells did, and the botany of usable herbs and flowers was undoubtedly useful. Iruka had chastised him during the lesson for not paying much of attention today, but Sasuke couldn't quite help it. Itachi had actually allowed him to have ownership over something, sparing life of the fox kit.

'I wonder what I should name it,' Sasuke wondered to himself, his heart fluttering lightly. The thought of a live being greeting him at his room filled him with warm and fuzzy feelings that he was not quite familiar with. The day was closing to an end, and it was starting to get quite dark. Sasuke wondered if the kitten was asleep yet. He hoped that it wasn't; he still did not have the change to bandage up the wound he inflicted earlier this morning on its leg.

Sasuke gently eased the door to his room open, not wishing to wake the kit if it was indeed asleep. His eyes scanned the room for the kitten, but they rested instead on something entirely different.

"Wha-- Who are you?!" Sasuke snapped, stepping into his room. "State your name and business!"

The boy sitting on his bed lifted his lowered head, smirking. "Oh, hey. You came back."

"Don't give me 'Oh, hey'!" Sasuke reached into his chest for the scrolls used for magic spells. "What are you doing in my room?"

"You're the one who put me here," the boy said. He hopped off of the bed and stood up, stretching like a cat. He turned his head to look directly at Sasuke. Sasuke gasped as he looked into bright blue eyes of the other boy. The boy had the same eyes as the fox kitten. His smile was wide and cocky, yet incredibly honest and warm. The smile showed just the hint of tiny canines over his lower lip. Whisker-like scars made depression upon the soft, yet baby-like cheeks. His golden hair, the same color as the fur of his fox kitten, tumbled messily over his eyes. It was slightly kept in check by the goggles he wore, but the blue goggles crashed horribly with bright orange jumper suit that the boy wore.

"You're-- you're that fox kit," Sasuke choked out, his eyes widened in disbelief. "You are capable of transforming into a human being?"

"Sure am!" The boy said, grinning widely. "I didn't eat for few days, so I just didn't have the energy to. I can transform into just about anything, but I always mess up on the tail part if I'm not transforming into a human boy."

Sasuke stared at the boy as if he had grown another head. Then he finally asked, his voice low and quiet, "Do you have a name?"

The boy nodded, flashing his canines in a wide smile. "Naruto," he said. "My name is Uzumaki Naruto!"

To Be Continued

[bows] Hello, this is Shirohane. Welcome back and/or nice to meet you! After horrible, bloody stories like Ano Toki and Chi, it's finally fun, happy, and bouncy story among the lines of Manazashi again! (Liar, Manazashi was very angsty, too…) Ookami to Kitsune no Monogatari means The Tale of Fox and Wolf, or the Wolf and Fox Story. This story is based on the prototype Naruto, the pilot chapter or chapter 0 of the Naruto graphic novel. I personally like the prototype Naruto better than the real Naruto, because… Foxes are cool. [laughs] I'm desperately in love with canines; my favorite animals are wolves and foxes come in close second.

I hope I captured prototype Naruto's personality well. Since I only read one chapter on him, I'm not as familiar with this Naruto as the version 2 Naruto, but I think I like the version 1 Naruto better. He was malicious and bitter yet lonely, almost exactly like Gaara. And I'm actually going to make Itachi play a big role in this story, so I'm very nervous! I really hope I do not mess up characterization of my favorite character! [doki doki]

Ah! If you've never read the prototype of Naruto comic, you can either go to toriyamaworld dot com to download it, or you can come to the yahoo group and download it from the files section. The link to the yahoo group can be found in my profile. It's only one chapter, so please be sure to download and read it! I think it's a necessity for all Naruto fans! (Granted, neither Sasurin nor Itachi is there, but… X3)