Once a Wizard, Always a Shinobi Ch 25-28
Rating:: M (to be safe)
Warnings:: Slash/shounen ai (maybe YAOI), Het, blood and stuff, non-con (though I'll warn you so you can skip), mentions of underage (I guess) HarryOC (OC dies so don’t get in a twist) ShuraHaku (yes, he WILL be a HE)
Diclaimer:: Well I challenged a chap from Japan to a break dancing contest and got broke. I then challenge a chick to a drinking contest and ended up under the table while she laughed at me. So now I’m broke, vomiting, and have nothing but last nights dinner to show for it!!
Note:: SORRY THIS IS LATE, though I don’t really set an update deadline for myself. I’m seriously spazzing out right now though guys, Siriusly. This is the last completed chapter, ignore the blatant rape of cannon in it please, and you all have Lyn908 to thank for it and the stuff that’s coming up after it as she viciously spat me out of my funk.
I’m kind of nervous about this chapter, so let me know how bad it was. Also, for those of you on LJ, this is last weeks update attached to this weeks update. I put it up on fanfiction.net and forgot to put it up here. SORRY!!
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A slow grin spread over Shurachi’s face as he slowly opened a letter from the Academy. He vaguely remembered his mother opening a similar letter all those years ago and couldn’t help feeling warm at the thought of sharing such an experience with her. An official invitation to watch his younger brothers graduation.
The wording was something that made him smile even more considering it was his uncle that headed the Academy.
Dear Inuzuka-sama,
It is my great pleasure to invite you to the graduation ceremony of your pup for this years genin exams. The exam will be held during normal school hours and festivities will begin as soon as the last student is tested. Formal dress is not required and all Inuzuka dogs that attend will be provided with food for the evening.
He would have to find a more festive kimono to wear, or perhaps just a yukata. Either way he was going to dress up for this occasion just like his mother had done for his sister. His father hadn’t come to his graduation, to caught up in the grief of his wife’s death, but his sister had come along with one of his aunts and they’d both dressed up for it.
A brief tapping on the kitchen window had him looking up. Hajime was waving at his through the small window, an envelope just like the one he held in his hand. Shurachi motioned toward the back door with a small smirk and waited for Hajime to come through and into the kitchen.
“I take it you’ve already read your letter?” Hajime asked, noting the torn envelope and the partially folded piece of paper on the counter.
Green eyes sparkled as Shurachi smiled softly at the Aburame. “Yes I have Hajime-nii, have you?” The bug user nodded with a grin much more exuberant than Shura’s and darted forward to sweep the smaller male into a tight hug.
Fake sobbing noises made his ear twitch a little as Hajime dramatically wailed that his baby was growing up until Shura firmly planted his knee in the others groin. “That’s what you get for shouting in the ear of an Inuzuka. Now, what are your plans for after the festivities at the school?”
Hajime gave him a wounded look, silently thanking his forethought in wearing protective gear that day. “I figured that Shino would probably want to celebrate with Kiba and I knew you would already have something planned so I just figured I’d go along with whatever you wanted.” He shrugged and stuffed his hands into his pockets.
Shurachi laughed quietly and moved passed Hajime, briefly touching his arm in apology for kneeing him. “I thought we could take them and whoever their teammates are out to eat. I know my cooking gets old after a while.” He winked at the Aburame and tossed him an apple, biting into his own seconds later.
The playful atmosphere dampened slightly when Hajime caught his fruit and red eyes focused on the serious looking Shurachi. “You don’t mind Uzumaki Naruto coming along do you? I know you dislike that I’ve taken him under my protection, but you won’t be rude to him if he comes out to eat with us will you?”
Usually smiling lips pursed and red eyes looked away briefly before the languid frame stiffened. “I will be polite, but I can’t promise that I will be nice. My wife died in the Kyuubi attack, leaving me alone with Shino and the prospect of leading my clan. I can’t help but dislike the idea of being in the same room as the Kyuubi and not killing it, but I’ll refrain from being mean.”
A young face seemed to age and the braids left loose around his head seemed to droop somehow. “He isn’t the Kyuubi, Hajime-nii. No more than I am a missing nin or Shino is a kikaichu. I know you don’t want to think about it, but if you just got to know him you wouldn’t think he was the same as that fox.” Hajime opened his mouth and protest and Shura quickly snatched up Hajime’s apple and stuffed it in his mouth.
“I know you won’t do that though, so I guess I’ll just have to content myself with you being reasonable for once.” He smiled a little sadly and took another bite out of his own apple. “Now, you were planning on dressing up nicely for their graduation weren’t you?” The glint in his eye made Hajime gulped hesitantly and nod. He knew that look, it was the same look that said ‘Do-what-I-say-or-I’ll-carve-out-your-kikai-with-a-rusty-spoon’ and he rather liked being in one piece thank you.
Several days later found Shurachi decked out in his most festive appearance yet. His long hair had been left unbraided for once and was styled in a sloppy, yet somehow elegant bun like structure at the back of his head with random wisps floating about his face. He wore gold a gold yukata with a festive red kimono over it and a complicated obi that had taken Hajime nearly ten minutes to figure out.
He’d decorated his eyes with sweeping gold and red paint, smiling as he thought of what Kiba’s reaction to his mother actually taking the time to make himself look like a noble woman would be. His little brother was always trying to make him look feminine when he let him pick the festival wear and this would hopefully dissuade him from continuing that practice as well as make it easier for the parents who’d never met him to accept that he was Kiba’s ‘mother’.
Hajime had dressed similar to himself, only in the men’s counterpart. His also had the red replaced with black. They looked very much like a lord and his noble wife, as a laughing Hana had been quick to point out. It just sucked that his death glares didn’t affect her.
He settled in a chair and smiled as the Hokage blinked at him from the stage. It was well known he viciously disabused people of any thoughts about him being anything but masculine as soon as they showed themselves. Anyone outside of his pack that was. Several other shinobi he knew from various missions also gave him surprised looks, but he mostly ignored them.
A few seats down from him, Remus was looking up hesitantly and then fixing his gaze to the floor as soon as it caught Shura’s attention. It had been a few months since his sentencing and Shurachi was slowly giving him back some of his privileges. Just the other day he’d been allowed back into the family library when he’d needed to do some research on the process behind dog summons.
Apparently he was concerned that there could be a way for enemy shinobi to summon werewolves if any of them ever found out about them. He wanted to make sure there was a way to prevent that from happening before it ever did.
Shurachi kept his impassive gaze on the older male for several long seconds before turning back up to the Hokage. Doku huffed a little at how long it was taking for the parents to settle, making Shurachi chuckle at his impatience. He smoothed his hand over the dogs head nonetheless and shared a small look with Hajime. The Aburame was already playing some bizarre form of hide and seek with his kikai. He’d hide a piece of lint somewhere on his body, making sure they couldn’t see, and they’d find it.
He was just beginning to contemplate starting his own game when the Hokage cleared his throat and everyone’s attention turned to the stage.
Sarutobe smiled out at all of the people who had come to support the next generation of shinobi and began to speak. “Of all the hopeful young shinobi that enter the academy, very few actually make it to this point in their career. Not everyone is cut out to be one of Konohagakure’s shadowed protectors, but tonight we honor those that are.”
His smile widened as Shurachi felt the excited chakra in the air thicken. “All of the young men and women that cross this stage tonight have studied hard and earned their rightful place among the ranks of the genin.” A deafening cheer rose and Shurachi winced at the abuse to ears, carefully covering them with his hands until the enthusiasm had dwindled.
Various names were called as the official papers that they would need as shinobi were handed to them once they’d reached the Hokage. All of them wore their newly awarded hitai-ate and all of them had some sort of pleased expression on their face.
When Shino was called Shura sat up straighter and threw a wide smile up at the younger male. He saw red eyes catch on himself and Hajime and his smile widened into a grin as he clapped energetically. Kiba’s entrance onto stage was a little more violent than Shino’s. Considering Iruka was trying to get Akamaru to stay back stage and Kiba was running from him with the pup held tightly in his arms.
He barely paused long enough to snatch up his papers and bow respectfully to the Hokage before jumping off the stage and scrambling to dump Doku in his mothers arms. When Shura leveled a somewhat amused, but mostly stern, look at him he merely smiled and waved a little before darting backstage once more. Iruka stomped off the stage as well; the Hokage having had to pause in calling out names in order to get his laughter under control giving the teacher enough time to escape and probably hunt Kiba down.
Sasuke came on stage, and though he was very discreet about it, Shura noticed his small glances out at the silent crowd. His dark eyes landed on Shurachi, widened a little, and his posture became a little more formal as if he were trying to prove that the lessons he’d gotten hadn’t been wasted. He accepted his papers from the Hokage, bowed gracefully, and walked calmly off stage.
Afterward, when all the parents and children were meeting up outside, Shurachi made sure to settle his hand briefly on Sasuke’s shoulder to show his approval before Kiba jumped on his back and knocked his balance off enough to stumble into Hajime.
“I did it Kaasan! I passed the test and became a shinobi just like you and Hajime-nii!” Shurachi laughed openly, causing several people to paused and look at him oddly for his decidedly male voice. “Me and Shino, we passed and can go on missions now so you don’t have to worry about us so much. We can take care of ourselves!”
He beamed proudly at his mother from his position on Shura’s back and reached a hand down to help Shino clamber onto the small male. The Aburame declined, but he did come up and hug Shurachi tightly while murmuring something about how Shura couldn’t attack them for grades anymore.
Through the entire after ceremony gathering, green eyes kept a look out for a flash of orange. He didn’t see it and worried that Naruto was alone after having failed the graduation exam. Hajime noticed his agitation, but he didn’t offer any ideas to help as he was rather relieved he wouldn’t have to put up with the Kyuubi brat.
It wasn’t until a messenger dog woke him in the middle of the night that he got an idea of what might have happened to his little blond pup. Said idea was confirmed when the Hokage gave his orders and Shurachi found himself desperately hoping someone friendly would find Naruto if he didn’t manage it in time.
When the search was called off he met up with everyone else in front of the Hokage monument. The flash of bright sunshiny color next to Iruka drew his attention immediately and, without care to who was watching, Shurachi immediately swept forward and pulled Naruto into his arms.
“Uzumaki Naruto! How dare you disappear and make me worry like that? What if you’d been hurt? What if you’d been brat snatched?! Doku couldn’t pick up your scent anywhere and creepy old men roam the village at night! When I get you home you’ll wish you’d NEVER even THOUGHT about vanishing like that when I have plans to take everyone out for a special dinner! So help me, not even an Aburame will be able to find all your pieces once I’m through!”
He paused to take a calming breath and continued to squeeze the air out of Naruto. Various jyônin and chûnin watched with amused faces as the blond slowly turned blue under Shurachi’s hug-of-doom. “Now then Naruto, are you alright?” A weak nod from Naruto and Shurachi released him from his death grip. He still kept a firm hold of his shoulder, but at least he could breath now.
“Now we’re sure Naruto-kun is safe and sound, why don’t you explain to us why you took this scroll.” Sarutobe turned questioning eyes on the blond who was frowning at the ground. “Naruto-kun?”
Blue eyes glanced up, then looked back down as something akin to shame filtered through Naruto. “Mizuki-sensei said that if I memorized one technique from that scroll then I would automatically graduate. I didn’t know that it was a forbidden scroll, he just described to me what it looked like.”
Shurachi’s hand tightened on his shoulder and Naruto glanced up briefly to see that green eyes were narrowed and thin glasses had fallen down Shurachi’s nose. It was obvious he was very angry, but Naruto was afraid to ask if that anger was for him. Shurachi was the only adult that really liked him. Even if all the Inuzuka’s were nice to him it was still obvious they wouldn’t bother if it weren’t for Shurachi.
Most everyone could feel the angry chakra pouring off of the Inuzuka alpha and sent almost pitying glances at the suddenly fearful Mizuki. “Naruto-pup, do you mean to tell me that Mizuki, a man entrusted the safety of our young shinobi, the man my uncle only hired because he was ‘Good with Children’, tricked you into stealing a forbidden scroll filled with techniques held close to Konoha?” Naruto nodded a little hesitantly.
Wind picked up around the group and various sticks, rocks, and leaves began to pelt into Mizuki with unfailing accuracy. “I request permission to be on the interrogation team for the traitor Mizuki, Hokage-sama. As his former clan head I feel it is my duty to make sure it was not the clans doing that prompted him to betray the village.” The silent ‘ and no one hurts my pups without feeling my retribution’ went unsaid.
No one felt any pity when the Hokage agreed.
Naruto continued to watch the ground as Shurachi lead him toward the Inuzuka part of town. He didn’t look up when a sleepy Kiba and slightly more awake Shino peered out of Kiba’s room in question. He didn’t even look up when he gently settled onto Shurachi’s futon in the older males room.
He was forced to lift his head when Shurachi place a hand under his chin and lifted it though. Suspiciously glassy blue eyes made every effort not to meet concerned green. “Naruto-kun, what were you thinking? You know stealing from the Hokage’s office is usually considered treason. If I hadn’t talk to Sarutobe-sama before the search began you would have been locked away for interrogation along with Mizuki.”
Naruto flinched and finally met Shurachi’s gaze. The second he did hot, fat tears began to cascade down his cheeks and he sniffled quietly. “I’m sorry Shurachi-kun. It’s just, I’ve failed the graduation exam every time I’ve taken it and they always choose my worst jutsu to make sure I can’t become a genin. When Mizuki-sensei offered a way for me to finally graduate I couldn’t help but want it.” He sniffled a little and wiped at the tears streaming out of his eyes.
Shurachi lifted the sleeve of his house robe and gently wiped his cheeks dry. “You would still be welcome in my home even if you were a civilian Naruto, you don’t have to prove anything to anybody, especially not those jerks who think up the exam.”
Naruto gave him a watery smile. “I know Shurachi-kun, but you’re always so nice to me I felt like I had somehow let you down when I failed again.”
Doku whined a little and scooted forward to licked at Naruto’s cheek, barking that they would love him like their own pup even if he never became one of the hunters that protected the den. Shurachi didn’t translate, but he didn’t really have to. Naruto understood what Doku meant by that bark and smiled brighter, throwing his arms around the large dogs neck to hug him in thanks. “I love you too Doku.”
The blond yawned widely, his jaw popping. Shura chuckled and gently pulled Naruto’s shoes off his feet, tugged his jacket off his shoulders, and picked some twigs from his hair. “You may have managed to make genin with this little stunt, but you’re still just a pup and you need your sleep. Rest here tonight and tomorrow we’ll have a proper graduation celebration for all of my new little genin.”
He winked at a giggling Naruto and settled him on the futon, tucking the blanket around him tightly and watching the usual pack of younger dogs settle around the boy on the bed for sleep. “Sleep tight Naruto, and rest easy.” A sleepy smile was his only answer and he moved to tuck his other two pups in as they’d fallen asleep sprawled on the floor of Kiba’s room once he’d gotten home.
He wasn’t looking forward to his next meeting with Lupin Remus. Now that Kiba was officially a genin he didn’t have any reason to deny the long term mission the werewolf wanted to hire him for. With any luck it wouldn’t take him to long to do whatever it was he was supposed to do. The thought of leaving all of his pups alone and at the mercy of the village was enough to keep him up for the rest of the night.
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It took a week, but Shurachi was finally standing in the Hokage’s office with Lupin Remus in a chair in front of the desk and three other shinobi standing patiently behind him. The thought of taking a mission outside out his world rankled on him, knowing he wouldn’t be able to rush to his pups aid raised his hackles, and Lupin’s excited scent didn’t help at all.
“So the payment is settled. You only have them as long as they are willing to stay and any deaths will be taken into account when you are charged.” The excited scent faded a little, replaced by anxiety.
“Deaths?” He asked, a little hesitant.
Sarutobi smiled sharply, enjoying his revenge on the Inuzuka clan leaders behalf. “Yes. Many shinobi are the soul income for their families. The village gives the family of any lost shinobi a monthly stipend that is directly proportional to any and all missions the shinobi took during life.”
More nervousness peppered the air and Shurachi smiled a little at the Hokage. “If a shinobi mainly took high risk, high paying missions then that is the income the family will receive. For long term missions this income falls on the customers shoulders. Failure to pay this monthly support will result in retribution on the customers entire family.”
There was a spike of fear, but also relief. Almost as if he wasn’t worried about not being able to pay should one of them die.
This irritated Shurachi slightly, but he ignored it in favor of getting things over with. “We will leave immediately, I don’t want to be away for to long.” Understanding shuffling came from the shinobi behind him and the office quickly emptied.
Two days into the journey that would take them to the gateway between the dimensions they had to stop for the night. When they’d done so before it had always been for a few hours in the daylight so they wouldn’t be caught unawares in the dark. Remus couldn’t keep such a schedule however, and so they set up camp for a proper night of rest; at least, a proper night of rest for their client.
Shurachi was switching his post as watcher with Hajime when an enticing scent wafted over his nose. It was enough to cover the ever growing stench of wolf that filled the camp and he tilted his head to catch more of it. Hajime took notice, and recognized the move from when his brother had still been alive.
“Something smell good Shura-chan?” He murmured, careful not to wake any of the others.
His companion shot him a mildly annoyed look and motioned for him to be quiet. The scent grew stronger in his nose and he took a step toward it. “I’m going to check out what it is, if anything happens at camp while I’m gone send Doku for me.”
The dog whined quietly, not liking the idea of being left behind, but a look from Shurachi quieted him. There would be much petting to make up for this, but he would let his human go without him this once.
Hajime merely nodded, knowing he wouldn’t be able to stop him anyway, and Shurachi was off. His form flitted through the trees as if he were on the ground and that tantalizing scent thickened until he could hardly smell anything else.
Something was wrong with it though; was trying to cover it from him. He could smell another on the wind. When he came upon the clearing that held Haku and an unknown boy, Shurachi was less than coherent. The instincts screaming in him were just barely kept in check by his uncertainty toward the smaller male.
When the quiet grunt of whoever that other boy was reached his ears, followed closely by Haku’s loud moan, those misgivings fled his mind quickly. The scent of quickening arousal and another male on what was his was enough to trigger the mating reflex all Inuzuka men carried thanks to the family jutsu.
Without thought to what he was doing, Shurachi dropped silently into the clearing and stalked toward the pair. Haku opened his eyes in time to see Shurachi looming menacingly over them and found himself unable to even call a warning before the boy atop him was roughly removed by the scruff of his neck.
“What,” snarled Shurachi, flashing sharp canines, “did you think you were doing, exactly?” Haku shivered at the menacing voice and pulled his decorative kimono closed enough to appear decent, if not coy.
Urine scented the air as the boy wet his pants, which Shurachi was satisfied to note had barely been undone. “W-we were just-!”
He didn’t get a chance to finish his plea as Shurachi shook him once roughly and shot him a look of disgust. “I wasn’t talking to you boy, I was talking to him.” Again, green eyes pierced Haku.
Red stained pale cheeks as he looked away, feeling suddenly ashamed. “I was just curious Inuzuka-san.”
If it were possible, the boy held tight in Shurachi’s grasp paled further and mouthed the name at Haku, who refused to look in his direction.
“And you didn’t think to ask Zabuza about it? Go to someone who wouldn’t be such a…disgrace?” He sneered at the reek of more unpleasant things leaking from the boy and tossed him to the side. He didn’t waste any time in scrambling away from them and into the forest.
Neither really noticed as they were to focused on each other. “I did talk with him about it, he said to find a village boy and test out my seduction skills.”
Goose flesh crawled over Shurachi as the scent of Haku’s arousal spiked suddenly. Brown eyes had flickered to his form briefly and he had to bite his tongue to keep from dropping atop the younger man.
“Besides Inuzuka-san, it isn’t like I belong to you.”
There was hurt in those words, longing so obvious that not even Shurachi could miss it. The need to claim this willing sacrifice flared sharply, calling to him more than the memory of Koishi ever had. He could feel the old spark igniting, blazing hot and bright in wait for the fuel it craved.
Before he knew it he’d taken that extra step and straddled the prone form below him. He kept his hands clenched at his thighs, desperate to gain some sort of control over himself.
Teary eyes turned up at him, pleading quietly. “Why are you so reluctant Inuzuka-san? Am I so unappealing to you?” Haku sniffled quietly and raised a silken sleeve to wipe at the tears slowly trailing down his cheeks.
He shattered, falling into a million razor edged pieces that cut his skin until he bled. Slicing everything that made sense, everything he should have considered, in favor of the pliant body beneath him. The tight seal he’d had on his hands, his lips, was violently ripped open on the pieces of his mind.
Fingers lightly trailed over wet cheeks, gently wiping the moisture away, and pink lips parted to utter those damning words. “You can’t be with another, not for a mission, and certainly not for pleasure. You will be mine alone to hold and touch.”
Haku’s breath caught at the implications of the words, but Shurachi continued heedless to the gasp. “Inuzuka do not share and even the scent of another on you will be intolerable. I cannot take you back to my pack just yet, but if I find you have let another touch you as I will…” He trailed off and let the threat hang in the air.
Green eyes softened as a choked sob escape the smaller male and pale arms lifted to wrap around his neck. “Please Inuzuka-san, please?”
Calloused fingers ran through mussed hair, tugging briefly. “You have no need to be so formal with me lovely one.”
Chapped lips caught moistened pink in a promising kiss and the scent, while still strong, loosened its hold on him enough that he could pull himself back to reality. The warm glow in his eyes remained, but the intense feeling about him lessened back to the gentle feeling Haku had always gotten around the Inuzuka clan leader.
“I must go, but I will return for you.” Shurachi removed himself completely from Haku and stood back up. “No more village boys.” Haku could only nod, small sniffles escaping him as he watched his lover? Boyfriend? Lord? Walk away from him.
Zabuza and Shurachi passed each other and the message that passed between them, silent as it was, was understood. Shurachi would entrust Haku to Zabuza until he could claim him properly.
The rest of the trip was uneventful, not even the attack of some bandits really stirred the shinobi from their indifferent feelings toward this mission. When they reached the land of ice, and the gate, it was only a little trepidation that made each of them pause, look about their home world, and then step through.
On the other side of the portal was a place full of bustling people, screeching pets, chattering children, and the whistle of a candy red steam train. Remus relaxed for the first time in over a year and smiled widely at the tensed shinobi.
“Welcome gentlemen, to wizarding Britain’s finest method of muggle travel. Platform Nine and Three Quarters.”
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Shurachi held back the choking noise he wanted to make and pulled up the filtering cloth around his neck as quickly as he could. Beside him, Doku whined and whimpered, burying his nose against Shurachi’s leg until the shinobi crouched down and pulled the canine version of the filtering cloth down. It wouldn’t pull air through a blend of spices, but it would dull the scents enough to ease his canine partner.
Hajime reached a hand down to touch Shurachi’s head in concern but the younger male merely stood back up and faced the platform with a blank expression, his mission face. Remus looked away, feeling a little guilty for not warning his companions of the platform.
“Um, well, my employer has asked me to bring to the castle via the train. It’s traditional for the first visit to go by train.” He tried grinning, but the shinobi’s discomfort had dampened his excitement about being home again. It wasn’t obvious, but he’d been living with them for nearly five years with very few trips to England. He was used to finding the little signs in the shinobi that let him know if he should just finish his shopping another day.
The four shinobi followed after him silently, Doku only whining a little when he came to close to something that spewed smoke and steam. They settled into a large compartment, the four shinobi taking up strategic places so they could easily defend or escape. Remus merely sat on one of the cushioned seats and pulled out a scroll he’d bought on the various creatures that roamed the Forest of Death.
The ride was uneventful with Hajime and Shurachi being the only ones that relaxed enough to sit down for any period of time. Students tried, multiple times, to open the compartment and see who was in it, but Remus had already locked the door with some spell that Shurachi recognized from the very first few lessons on practical ‘magic’ as he liked to call it. None of that conjuring birds nonsense.
The welcome to the castle was rather anti-climatic. The shinobi refused to go to the great hall the first night, preferring to scout out the area before they displayed themselves so publicly. The stern woman and greasy man that had met up with them had not looked happy, but Remus managed to convince them of how tired the four shinobi were.
They’d then been shown through the castle to a common room on the second floor that had five rooms leading off of it. They’d thoroughly checked the whole place for bugs, Shurachi doing so the magical way, and removed any paintings.
It had taken nearly an hour to be sure they were secure before they all settled on the soft couches to relax as much as they could. “So, does anyone have any idea how that portal works? From what I understand the last time it’s use was recorded I fell into an Anbu meeting and nearly got killed.” Shurachi grimaced at the thought of the reason behind the small scar on his hand.
Hajime chuckled at the thought of Shurachi falling into an Anbu meeting and Kita Mimiru cleared her throat. “The portal works about the same as the ‘accidental magic’ that Lupin-san was telling us about. There are designated entry points, but they will deposit you anywhere you wish on the other side. Most entry points appear randomly, that’s where that colony of giant spiders from Grass country vanished off to.”
Shurachi hummed and tilted his head back to watch the uneven ceiling. “Anyone want to volunteer for first watch?” Doku perked up and Shurachi smirked down at him. Totsuke Chiaru beat the dog to the punch though, and murmured a soft request to have first watch. Hajime quickly claimed second and Mimiru exasperatedly offered to take last watch, leaving Shurachi as third.
With that established, they all spread out to their various rooms and then sent out shadows clones to explore the grounds. It was a tactic they’d all learned during various guard missions when they couldn’t leave their charges vicinity. Now they were using it so they could catch up on rest before the craze of their new environment caught up with them.
Shurachi left his room, two dogs hot on his heels, and settled on the couch beside Hajime. The Aburame glanced up, snorted at the cerberus puppy that wasn’t really a puppy anymore, and slipped his katana back into it’s sheath.
“I’m not even going to ask how you managed to get that thing here without anyone knowing. I have a feeling the answer will only annoy me.”
Shurachi grinned a little behind his mask and scratched the huge dogs side. It was now larger than Shurachi, almost as big as his animagus form, and easily ride-able if Shurachi was so inclined.
“Get some rest Hajime, I’ll keep watch.” Hajime grunted, obviously tired, and shuffled into his room.
As soon as the other had left, Shurachi’s smiled vanished. He seemed to sag a little in the couch with the weight of whatever was on his mind. Doku and Kinobu whined worriedly and a massive head settled in his lap.
Green eyes flickered open and a small smile stretched over Shurachi’s lips. “I’m fine guys, I just miss my pups.” His smile faded a little. “There’s also Haku. I’m not sure that he really knows what he’s getting himself into. He’s been a missing nin all this time, switching to a citizen or even a shinobi of Konoha is going to be a very large change for him.”
He didn’t say it out loud, but he was also worried about how the younger man would interact with his pups on a day to day basis. They’d interacted briefly before, but once or twice during celebrations was different than everyday for long periods of time.
With a quiet sigh he pulled out a rather oddly shaped shuriken and began to carefully sharpen each blade. There was no point in thinking about it now, he’d already agreed to give Haku a chance.
Pushing the thoughts far from his mind in favor of the reports from his clones, Shurachi settled for a long watch.
When the shinobi emerged from their common room the next morning, the greasy haired man from before was waiting for them. He sneered at the four, obviously deciding they weren’t worth his notice since they had children in their group. Doku took one sniff of him and snorted his dislike; Shurachi grinned behind the mask he’d yet to remove.
“The headmaster wishes to introduce you to the school this morning since you weren’t ready last night.” They all glanced at Shurachi, Snape frowned as he noticed the act of deference. “If you would follow me…?” He raised an eyebrow and Shurachi narrowed his eyes, but nodded his agreement.
The entrance into the Great Hall wasn’t exactly spectacular. Snape swooped in like a great, frightening bat, and in his attention grabbing way made it easy for the shinobi to slip inside unnoticed. Only a couple teachers noticed their entrance.
Shurachi glanced around, his hand on Doku’s head, and finally locked eyes with Remus. The werewolf was beaming at him, obviously excited about the whole thing. He frowned behind his mask and flickered his eyes to the now standing old man in the middle of the table.
Sound seemed to muffle, then silence altogether as people noticed the headmaster standing at the table. “Uh-hem! Good morning and good eating children! I’m sorry to interrupt everyone’s breakfast, but I have a few more members of staff that I would like to bring to your attention.”
Young eyes searched the head table first, then moved to the door where the shinobi were casually standing. Shurachi threw and uninterested look at all the small faces. They were pups, but they didn’t need him like his own pups did.
Hajime noticed his younger friends sudden tensing and smirked a little. “Your pups are fine Shura-chibi. Shino will keep Kiba in line.” He bit his tongue briefly then continued with a small grimace. “And I’m sure your clan has protected the Kyuubi child as well as any tiger defends her cubs.” The green eyes flickered to him, down to Doku, before the tense line of his shoulders eased.
“These are shin-o-by from cone-a-hag-ake-ra. They are here for the schools protection and possibly will be taking over a few of the classes that have been professor less this year.” Blue eyes sparkled hopefully at them, but Shurachi ignored the look in favor of scanning the pups again.
It made his heart twinge to think of his own pups, left behind and fending for themselves. There was a smattering of polite applause, then everyone went back to eating and the shinobi slipped from the hall.
Several weeks later, Shurachi was sitting unhappily behind the desk in the Defense Against the Physical Arts class. It had apparently been added specifically for the shinobi to teach Hogwarts students how to defend themselves without a wand.
None of the shinobi had agreed to it, but they’d been told that it was the only way they’d be allowed to stay without interference from the wizarding government. Doku was sniffing every student as they walked passed, though he wasn’t expecting to really find anything on first years. He and the other shinobi had quickly learned how incompetent these children were compared to their own village.
Once they were all inside Doku pushed onto his hind legs and closed the door with a resounding thud-click; the lock had engaged. The dog barked quietly and Shurachi yipped back at him, letting the animal know it could come stand beside him in front of the students.
Both dog and Shinobi settled in front of the teachers desk and eyed the children critically. Most of them were excited, this was a class that had only become open after the first week of school and it’s first lesson had only been about two weeks ago with Professor Mimiru. She’d quickly gotten frustrated with them and passed them off to Shurachi though.
“I am Inuzuka Shurachi.” The quiet voice startled several students up front, they’d been expecting something louder. “Is there anyone that doesn’t know what this class is about?”
No one raised their hands and Shurachi let his green gaze flicker around the room before settling on a nervous looking child in the far right corner. “Is there anyone who has any questions before we begin the lesson then?” Immediately the child’s hand shot up and Shurachi nodded at him.
The boy swallowed, shifted in his seat, and cleared his throat. “Not to be rude Professor Shurachi, but why are you wearing a mask?”
Doku sat up straighter as his human grunted a little. “My proper title is Inuzuka-sensei, please use it. Shurachi is my first name.” There was some twittering and the child flushed bright red. “But to answer your question, why do you think I wear a mask?”
Immediately wild speculation broke out. Everything from a horrible deformation, scarring, and missing pieces; to imitation of a lost brother, and the need to look cool flew through the room until Shurachi barked. Loudly.
Doku sprang to his feet at the sound, to used to obeying that particular command without a thought. The canine was confused, and slightly alarmed, to see that these puppies weren’t doing the same for the alpha. They continued to chatter back and forth between each other, only paying half a mind to the alpha standing before them.
Shurachi barked again, this time sounding more vicious, and all talking stopped. They stared at him, obviously shocked that he’d made the canine sound. “Now that I have your attention, we will be starting this lesson with a review on what you know of the human body.”
A hand raised itself and the only pureblood in the class, a snooty looking child that had only taken the class because his father wanted to know about the shinobi, didn’t wait to be called on before speaking. “You didn’t tell us why you wear the mask though Professor.”
Shurachi bit back a harsh reprimand, reminding himself that these children weren’t raised to fight and kill like he had been. “I wear it because this country stinks. The scent of pollution and fatty bodies does not appeal to my senses.” Doku barked his agreement, wishing that he could have worn his own mask. He’d wanted to look intimidating though, and walking around with a cloth covering his nose and upper jaw was hardly frightening.
From there the lesson continued, Shurachi asking questions and the students answering as best they could. Despite this rather easy start to what would probably prove to be a very difficult class, everyone was glad to leave when the bell rang.
Shurachi glanced down at his canine partner with a quiet sigh. “This is going to be a long year Doku.” The dog whined in sympathy and rested his head against Shurachi’s thigh. “I wonder what Kiba is doing? I didn’t even get to properly meet his genin team.”
Doku silently nudged his human, then padded over to the door in order to inspect the fourth years that were slowly starting to trickle in. A very long year.
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Shurachi glanced up from the mission report he’d gotten on his younger brothers progress. The Hokage had been very generous to offer the monthly report, especially considering the difficulties of getting such a thing to him. But Inuzuka were notorious for their ardent dedication to their pups; and Shurachi especially was rather infamous for it.
So what could have caused him to look away from the report? An owl was hovering just above the table he was using, a creamy envelope clutched in its beak. He took the message from the bird and gently petted it’s soft feathers before opening the missive.
Please come to my office. The password is ‘Rainbow Ranchers.’
Headmaster Dumbledore
Shurachi blinked at the rather abrupt note. A personal summons to the headmaster’s office? He should probably bring someone with him incase it was a trap.
With this in mind, Shurachi turned to the napping Doku and whistled sharply. The dog lifted his head, wuffing softly in question. Shurachi wuffed in kind, followed by a series of barks, yips, whines, and growls. The dog yawned widely, but stood and made his way over to the now standing human.
Shurachi pulled on his jyônin vest and tucked the report into one of it’s pockets. Sure that he hadn’t left anything behind, the pair wandered out of the library and toward the headmaster’s office. Various students called out polite greetings, a few of the braver first years even reaching out to pet Doku.
The dog ignored the attention and they made it to the stone gargoyle with little delay. The password was softly spoken, the staircase was just as spirally as always, and they were declining sweets and tea in no time.
The headmaster twinkled from across the desk and Shurachi watched him with a slightly indifferent wariness. While the shinobi hadn’t really interacted with anyone outside of the classes they taught, they knew enough to not underestimate this ‘kind, old, feeble’ man.
“Shurachi my boy! How are you enjoying Hogwarts? It must be very different from your village!” The old man practically beamed at the Inuzuka, completely disregarding Doku.
Shurachi didn’t answer, deciding instead to reach a hand down and absently stroke his canines head.
“Remus tells me you have an interesting scar on your forehead. Tell me, Harry, has it ever hurt? Twinged even a little?” Again no answer, though the younger man’s petting had stilled.
Dumbledore’s smile became little wider, his twinkle a little less pronounced. “Haven’t you ever wanted to know about your parents Harry? Wondered what they were like? They certainly wouldn’t have wanted this sort of life for you; a hired killer.” Shurachi stood with narrowed eyes and flashing fangs, his cloth mask hiding half of his anger.
“I know who my parents were Headmaster. My mother died protecting our village and my father has gracefully shifted to let me care for the family in his mourning. You have no right to say they wouldn’t want this life for me when they, themselves led it! Make no mistake Dumbledore, you are simply the employer of Lupin Remus, the person who holds our contract.”
With that said, Shurachi stalked from the office, obviously agitated. Even Hajime avoided getting in his way until he’d calmed down some.
It took only a few days for Shurachi to notice the whispers that began to follow him in the halls. The team of shinobi tended to do all of their moving around at night, but he’d been chosen to be the face, so to speak, of their team when it came to the school in general. Hajime had muttered something about children being the same as puppies and a collection, but he’d already tuned the snickering man out by then in favor of arguing.
Obviously he’d lost, Mimiru was very much persuasive when she wanted to be. As a result, Shurachi was now the main teacher for their shared class as well as the representative of the shinobi team stationed at Hogwarts. Doku had also developed the bad habit of tucking his tail between his legs and hiding behind Shurachi whenever Mimiru was in the room.
It was until a week later that the wizarding newspaper printed the official story. Shurachi hadn’t bothered to read it, Hajime’s angry dialogue on the article the morning it came out was enough to give him an idea of what they were dealing with.
Shurachi left their room, expecting the quiet whispers and hesitant glances. What he got was a chest full of fifth year and a stern looking McGonagall.
“I’m really sorry Inuzuka-sensei, but she’s a teacher and…” The girl trailed off with tears forming in her eyes. The shinobi had chosen one student from each house and told them where to go if they ever needed to get a hold of someone in an emergency. Apparently McGonagall hadn’t known where their rooms were though.
Shurachi softened his features, or what you could see of them behind his mask. “It’s alright Renaute-san, I’m not angry with you.” He had to remind himself that while she was as old as some jyônin, she certainly wasn’t half as competent as even civilian children.
“Mr. Potter I presume?” Rachel Renaute bit her lip, obviously trying not to comment on the name. Inuzuka-sensei had ingrained it in them that he was to be called by Inuzuka-sensei or Inuzuka-sama and no other name, especially not Harry Potter. Some third year had made that mistake not to long ago and was still ducking his head in embarrassment whenever he entered class.
Shurachi’s face hardened and Doku stiffened beside him. Green eyes watched the deputy headmistress through silver framed glasses, obviously mistrustful. “My name is Inuzuka Shurachi, McGonagall-san; please use it.”
The old woman pursed her lips and crossed her arms impatiently. “I will address you by your proper name, now why didn’t you tell us when you arrived who you were? It certainly would have saved us some worry!”
The shinobi neatly sidestepped the old woman and the fidgeting student in order to continue down the hall. “I told you exactly who I am McGonagall-san, it is not my problem if you refuse to acknowledge that. Now, I believe I have a class to be teaching, if you’ll excuse me?” He took a step forward and suddenly disappeared, preventing McGonagall from following him.
Rachel bit her lip again, this time to keep from giggling, and scurried toward the staircase. She had to get to her Ancient Runes class and hope the teacher was late again.
When Shurachi entered his classroom he was surprised to find it already half full. People tended to loiter outside as if the room had some sort of horrible disease crawling through it. Then again, the first years seemed to have taken a special liking to him since their first lesson when he’d let them gossip about himself.
Jonathan, who had been the one to ask about his mask, timidly came to the front of the classroom from his seat in the back. He looked down at Doku, up at Shurachi, down at Doku, then up at his teacher again; before making up his mind.
“Inuzuka-sensei? Would it be alright if I petted Doku?” Shurachi raised an eyebrow and the child flushed bright red. “It’s just that he’s always at your side and my mother never let us get a dog and he looks so nice.” Never mind that Jonathan had been in the hall when Doku had bared his fangs viciously at a seventh year Slytherin for tripping someone.
A sparkle flashed through Shurachi’s eyes briefly, but he nodded and murmured that it was okay if the child wanted to pet his partner. Jonathan’s face lighting up and the happy little sound he made was certainly enough to relax Shurachi again after his confrontation McGonagall; if it could be called that.
The boy stayed up front, petting Doku quite splendidly, until the bell rang. He gave the dog one last pat, hesitantly smiled up at Shurachi, and then scurried to his seat in the back. Shurachi looked over the small sea of faces, noting all four house colors, and began his lesson for the day.
“Pull out quill and parchment-” here he wrinkled his nose behind his mask. Who honestly still used such ancient writing utensils? “-and number it from one to twelve. I want you to list twelve points on the body that could incapacitate someone if hit properly then tell me how to hit them and why they work.”
A groan swept through the room and Shurachi smiled behind his mask. It reminded him so much of his little Kiba when they complained about the work he was telling them to do. He remembered complaining, but only Koishi, that it was boring learning about the various parts of the body as well.
It was towards the end of the lesson that he got his first question about the article from that morning. It was one of the Slytherin girls, a pureblood who was spying on him for her parents, that asked. “Sir? Is it true that you’re Harry Potter?”
Her question was asked in such a snooty, huffy, Hyuuga-esque tone that Shurachi couldn’t help but take feel a sense of satisfaction annoying her. He promptly felt a little bad afterwards, it wasn’t her fault she’d been raised that way after all, but he purposely made his answers frustrating anyway.
“What is the name I gave you on our first day?” Several people gave him confused looks.
Someone in the back cleared their throat and all eyes turned toward a ferrety looking boy. “Inuzuka Shurachi?” He called and the whole class turned to see what Shurachi would do in reaction to his full name.
The Inuzuka smiled behind his mask. “Well, that’s who I am then isn’t it? Now, back to the lesson. Can anyone tell me why the thigh isn’t a good place to hit when you are trying to quickly incapacitate your opponent?”
“But Professor! You didn’t properly answer my question!” The girl huffed and Shurachi frowned at her. Not that she could tell or anything, but it was the thought that counted, right?
“Greengrass-san, I believe we are talking about ways to cause severe bodily harm to another human being, not my name.” She opened her mouth to argue again and Shurachi leaned back against his desk.
He crossed his arms and waited for her to finish with another protest against her question being ignored.
“Are you quite done then? Yes? Since you are so interested in my name, we’ll have a mandatory note check. If you haven’t taken notes on what we were discussing then you automatically fail any assignments due or issued today.” There was much scrambling as people hurriedly jotted things down and Shurachi snorted.
“As for my name,” the scrambling stopped and all eyes turned on him “it was originally Potter Harry, but I do not recognize that as my name anymore. I have gone all my life as Inuzuka Shurachi so why should I change that?”
In the corner Jonathan raised his hand, obviously concerned for the consequences but to curious to put it back down. “But Inuzuka-sensei, why don’t you want to use your original name?”
Green eyes closed briefly, trying to keep down the annoyance that had been building for nearly a week. “Lets say you find out tomorrow that you aren’t really a member of your family. That the name you’ve known your whole life isn’t originally yours.”
Several people began to shift uncomfortably. “This doesn’t bother you because you know your family loves you anyway. But then people start insisting on using a name you haven’t heard before when addressing you. Would you not be annoyed?” He glanced at the clock on the back of the wall that now read “time for homework.”
“Write your name on the top of your notes and leave them in a pile by the door. Your homework is to write an essay on the importance of a name and what yours means to you.” A shrill bell echoed through the corridors and the children quickly piled out of his classroom. Doku gave a small whine of sympathy as his human pulled off the slim glasses and rubbed at the bridge of his nose.
The Inuzuka didn’t open his eyes, but he did mumble a little yip to reassure the dog. “More an animal than I though Potter.” The name was spat with such hatred that Shurachi had to look up.
He was quick to put his glasses back on when he realized that the mans scent was full of anger, bordering on homicidal rage.
“Snape-san? Can I help you with something?” he asked calmly. It would have been obvious to anyone that he wasn’t in the best of moods, so of course Snape didn’t notice.
The tall man sneered down at Shurachi, taking in his appearance. From the multiple braids pulled into his customary tail, the jyônin uniform vest and pants, to the yukata left open to give a more ‘wizard-y’ appearance over all of it. His eyes paused obviously on the only visible weapons he had before moving on the curl his lip at Shurachi’s painted nails.
“Absolutely barbaric.” He hissed nastily and Shurachi felt his fuse burn out.
Chakra building in his system and magical wind picking up, the Inuzuka had to bite hard on his tongue to keep from barking an attack order at Doku. The dog shifted in anticipation of the order anyway, and Snape’s eyes immediately flicked to the snarling canine.
“And such a disgusting beast completes the picture.” The candle melted and Shurachi barked a quick restraining command even as he was fisting his hand in Snape’s robes and smacking the man back against the wall.
The mask was ripped away in order to expose dangerous teeth and canines flashed uncomfortably close to Snape’s hooked nose. “I don’t know what your problem is with me Snape-san, but it stops now. I am by your employers request, I am being paid to keep your sorry ass safe, but I am not about to put up with shit on a voluntary mission.”
He smacked the man against the wall again when it looked like he was going to start talking. “I don’t go to meals, I am rarely in the halls, and unless you come to my rooms or this classroom you have no reason to interact with me. I suggest you suck up whatever fucking problem you have and keep it in, because next time I’m going to show you why your newspaper calls my people bloodthirsty!” Doku growled and Shurachi snarled at him.
The dog huffed and moved to sit by the open door, keeping an eye out for possible witnesses. Shurachi turned and stalked toward the same door then shoved Snape out of it. Before the wizard could regain his wit’s the door was snapped shut and the click of a lock was very obvious in the deserted corridor.
After that people tended to avoid him unless they absolutely had to speak with him and they never brought up his name, at least his students didn’t. Snape also made an effort to avoid the corridor that held the muggle defense classroom.
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Better late than never right? I know this is long, it's over 40 pages in my word document! I update a little better on fanfiction.net, so look for kingofloosepages there if you really want updates. It's usually around once every weekend or something. Also, I would love it if you guys would leave suggestions for RPG's or stories that are slash. Review and comment! Thanks!
Taku
Previous:: Chapter Twenty Four First Chapter Next:: Chapter Twenty Nine
Warnings:: Slash/shounen ai (maybe YAOI), Het, blood and stuff, non-con (though I'll warn you so you can skip), mentions of underage (I guess) HarryOC (OC dies so don’t get in a twist) ShuraHaku (yes, he WILL be a HE)
Diclaimer:: Well I challenged a chap from Japan to a break dancing contest and got broke. I then challenge a chick to a drinking contest and ended up under the table while she laughed at me. So now I’m broke, vomiting, and have nothing but last nights dinner to show for it!!
Note:: SORRY THIS IS LATE, though I don’t really set an update deadline for myself. I’m seriously spazzing out right now though guys, Siriusly. This is the last completed chapter, ignore the blatant rape of cannon in it please, and you all have Lyn908 to thank for it and the stuff that’s coming up after it as she viciously spat me out of my funk.
I’m kind of nervous about this chapter, so let me know how bad it was. Also, for those of you on LJ, this is last weeks update attached to this weeks update. I put it up on fanfiction.net and forgot to put it up here. SORRY!!
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A slow grin spread over Shurachi’s face as he slowly opened a letter from the Academy. He vaguely remembered his mother opening a similar letter all those years ago and couldn’t help feeling warm at the thought of sharing such an experience with her. An official invitation to watch his younger brothers graduation.
The wording was something that made him smile even more considering it was his uncle that headed the Academy.
Dear Inuzuka-sama,
It is my great pleasure to invite you to the graduation ceremony of your pup for this years genin exams. The exam will be held during normal school hours and festivities will begin as soon as the last student is tested. Formal dress is not required and all Inuzuka dogs that attend will be provided with food for the evening.
He would have to find a more festive kimono to wear, or perhaps just a yukata. Either way he was going to dress up for this occasion just like his mother had done for his sister. His father hadn’t come to his graduation, to caught up in the grief of his wife’s death, but his sister had come along with one of his aunts and they’d both dressed up for it.
A brief tapping on the kitchen window had him looking up. Hajime was waving at his through the small window, an envelope just like the one he held in his hand. Shurachi motioned toward the back door with a small smirk and waited for Hajime to come through and into the kitchen.
“I take it you’ve already read your letter?” Hajime asked, noting the torn envelope and the partially folded piece of paper on the counter.
Green eyes sparkled as Shurachi smiled softly at the Aburame. “Yes I have Hajime-nii, have you?” The bug user nodded with a grin much more exuberant than Shura’s and darted forward to sweep the smaller male into a tight hug.
Fake sobbing noises made his ear twitch a little as Hajime dramatically wailed that his baby was growing up until Shura firmly planted his knee in the others groin. “That’s what you get for shouting in the ear of an Inuzuka. Now, what are your plans for after the festivities at the school?”
Hajime gave him a wounded look, silently thanking his forethought in wearing protective gear that day. “I figured that Shino would probably want to celebrate with Kiba and I knew you would already have something planned so I just figured I’d go along with whatever you wanted.” He shrugged and stuffed his hands into his pockets.
Shurachi laughed quietly and moved passed Hajime, briefly touching his arm in apology for kneeing him. “I thought we could take them and whoever their teammates are out to eat. I know my cooking gets old after a while.” He winked at the Aburame and tossed him an apple, biting into his own seconds later.
The playful atmosphere dampened slightly when Hajime caught his fruit and red eyes focused on the serious looking Shurachi. “You don’t mind Uzumaki Naruto coming along do you? I know you dislike that I’ve taken him under my protection, but you won’t be rude to him if he comes out to eat with us will you?”
Usually smiling lips pursed and red eyes looked away briefly before the languid frame stiffened. “I will be polite, but I can’t promise that I will be nice. My wife died in the Kyuubi attack, leaving me alone with Shino and the prospect of leading my clan. I can’t help but dislike the idea of being in the same room as the Kyuubi and not killing it, but I’ll refrain from being mean.”
A young face seemed to age and the braids left loose around his head seemed to droop somehow. “He isn’t the Kyuubi, Hajime-nii. No more than I am a missing nin or Shino is a kikaichu. I know you don’t want to think about it, but if you just got to know him you wouldn’t think he was the same as that fox.” Hajime opened his mouth and protest and Shura quickly snatched up Hajime’s apple and stuffed it in his mouth.
“I know you won’t do that though, so I guess I’ll just have to content myself with you being reasonable for once.” He smiled a little sadly and took another bite out of his own apple. “Now, you were planning on dressing up nicely for their graduation weren’t you?” The glint in his eye made Hajime gulped hesitantly and nod. He knew that look, it was the same look that said ‘Do-what-I-say-or-I’ll-carve-out-your-kikai-with-a-rusty-spoon’ and he rather liked being in one piece thank you.
Several days later found Shurachi decked out in his most festive appearance yet. His long hair had been left unbraided for once and was styled in a sloppy, yet somehow elegant bun like structure at the back of his head with random wisps floating about his face. He wore gold a gold yukata with a festive red kimono over it and a complicated obi that had taken Hajime nearly ten minutes to figure out.
He’d decorated his eyes with sweeping gold and red paint, smiling as he thought of what Kiba’s reaction to his mother actually taking the time to make himself look like a noble woman would be. His little brother was always trying to make him look feminine when he let him pick the festival wear and this would hopefully dissuade him from continuing that practice as well as make it easier for the parents who’d never met him to accept that he was Kiba’s ‘mother’.
Hajime had dressed similar to himself, only in the men’s counterpart. His also had the red replaced with black. They looked very much like a lord and his noble wife, as a laughing Hana had been quick to point out. It just sucked that his death glares didn’t affect her.
He settled in a chair and smiled as the Hokage blinked at him from the stage. It was well known he viciously disabused people of any thoughts about him being anything but masculine as soon as they showed themselves. Anyone outside of his pack that was. Several other shinobi he knew from various missions also gave him surprised looks, but he mostly ignored them.
A few seats down from him, Remus was looking up hesitantly and then fixing his gaze to the floor as soon as it caught Shura’s attention. It had been a few months since his sentencing and Shurachi was slowly giving him back some of his privileges. Just the other day he’d been allowed back into the family library when he’d needed to do some research on the process behind dog summons.
Apparently he was concerned that there could be a way for enemy shinobi to summon werewolves if any of them ever found out about them. He wanted to make sure there was a way to prevent that from happening before it ever did.
Shurachi kept his impassive gaze on the older male for several long seconds before turning back up to the Hokage. Doku huffed a little at how long it was taking for the parents to settle, making Shurachi chuckle at his impatience. He smoothed his hand over the dogs head nonetheless and shared a small look with Hajime. The Aburame was already playing some bizarre form of hide and seek with his kikai. He’d hide a piece of lint somewhere on his body, making sure they couldn’t see, and they’d find it.
He was just beginning to contemplate starting his own game when the Hokage cleared his throat and everyone’s attention turned to the stage.
Sarutobe smiled out at all of the people who had come to support the next generation of shinobi and began to speak. “Of all the hopeful young shinobi that enter the academy, very few actually make it to this point in their career. Not everyone is cut out to be one of Konohagakure’s shadowed protectors, but tonight we honor those that are.”
His smile widened as Shurachi felt the excited chakra in the air thicken. “All of the young men and women that cross this stage tonight have studied hard and earned their rightful place among the ranks of the genin.” A deafening cheer rose and Shurachi winced at the abuse to ears, carefully covering them with his hands until the enthusiasm had dwindled.
Various names were called as the official papers that they would need as shinobi were handed to them once they’d reached the Hokage. All of them wore their newly awarded hitai-ate and all of them had some sort of pleased expression on their face.
When Shino was called Shura sat up straighter and threw a wide smile up at the younger male. He saw red eyes catch on himself and Hajime and his smile widened into a grin as he clapped energetically. Kiba’s entrance onto stage was a little more violent than Shino’s. Considering Iruka was trying to get Akamaru to stay back stage and Kiba was running from him with the pup held tightly in his arms.
He barely paused long enough to snatch up his papers and bow respectfully to the Hokage before jumping off the stage and scrambling to dump Doku in his mothers arms. When Shura leveled a somewhat amused, but mostly stern, look at him he merely smiled and waved a little before darting backstage once more. Iruka stomped off the stage as well; the Hokage having had to pause in calling out names in order to get his laughter under control giving the teacher enough time to escape and probably hunt Kiba down.
Sasuke came on stage, and though he was very discreet about it, Shura noticed his small glances out at the silent crowd. His dark eyes landed on Shurachi, widened a little, and his posture became a little more formal as if he were trying to prove that the lessons he’d gotten hadn’t been wasted. He accepted his papers from the Hokage, bowed gracefully, and walked calmly off stage.
Afterward, when all the parents and children were meeting up outside, Shurachi made sure to settle his hand briefly on Sasuke’s shoulder to show his approval before Kiba jumped on his back and knocked his balance off enough to stumble into Hajime.
“I did it Kaasan! I passed the test and became a shinobi just like you and Hajime-nii!” Shurachi laughed openly, causing several people to paused and look at him oddly for his decidedly male voice. “Me and Shino, we passed and can go on missions now so you don’t have to worry about us so much. We can take care of ourselves!”
He beamed proudly at his mother from his position on Shura’s back and reached a hand down to help Shino clamber onto the small male. The Aburame declined, but he did come up and hug Shurachi tightly while murmuring something about how Shura couldn’t attack them for grades anymore.
Through the entire after ceremony gathering, green eyes kept a look out for a flash of orange. He didn’t see it and worried that Naruto was alone after having failed the graduation exam. Hajime noticed his agitation, but he didn’t offer any ideas to help as he was rather relieved he wouldn’t have to put up with the Kyuubi brat.
It wasn’t until a messenger dog woke him in the middle of the night that he got an idea of what might have happened to his little blond pup. Said idea was confirmed when the Hokage gave his orders and Shurachi found himself desperately hoping someone friendly would find Naruto if he didn’t manage it in time.
When the search was called off he met up with everyone else in front of the Hokage monument. The flash of bright sunshiny color next to Iruka drew his attention immediately and, without care to who was watching, Shurachi immediately swept forward and pulled Naruto into his arms.
“Uzumaki Naruto! How dare you disappear and make me worry like that? What if you’d been hurt? What if you’d been brat snatched?! Doku couldn’t pick up your scent anywhere and creepy old men roam the village at night! When I get you home you’ll wish you’d NEVER even THOUGHT about vanishing like that when I have plans to take everyone out for a special dinner! So help me, not even an Aburame will be able to find all your pieces once I’m through!”
He paused to take a calming breath and continued to squeeze the air out of Naruto. Various jyônin and chûnin watched with amused faces as the blond slowly turned blue under Shurachi’s hug-of-doom. “Now then Naruto, are you alright?” A weak nod from Naruto and Shurachi released him from his death grip. He still kept a firm hold of his shoulder, but at least he could breath now.
“Now we’re sure Naruto-kun is safe and sound, why don’t you explain to us why you took this scroll.” Sarutobe turned questioning eyes on the blond who was frowning at the ground. “Naruto-kun?”
Blue eyes glanced up, then looked back down as something akin to shame filtered through Naruto. “Mizuki-sensei said that if I memorized one technique from that scroll then I would automatically graduate. I didn’t know that it was a forbidden scroll, he just described to me what it looked like.”
Shurachi’s hand tightened on his shoulder and Naruto glanced up briefly to see that green eyes were narrowed and thin glasses had fallen down Shurachi’s nose. It was obvious he was very angry, but Naruto was afraid to ask if that anger was for him. Shurachi was the only adult that really liked him. Even if all the Inuzuka’s were nice to him it was still obvious they wouldn’t bother if it weren’t for Shurachi.
Most everyone could feel the angry chakra pouring off of the Inuzuka alpha and sent almost pitying glances at the suddenly fearful Mizuki. “Naruto-pup, do you mean to tell me that Mizuki, a man entrusted the safety of our young shinobi, the man my uncle only hired because he was ‘Good with Children’, tricked you into stealing a forbidden scroll filled with techniques held close to Konoha?” Naruto nodded a little hesitantly.
Wind picked up around the group and various sticks, rocks, and leaves began to pelt into Mizuki with unfailing accuracy. “I request permission to be on the interrogation team for the traitor Mizuki, Hokage-sama. As his former clan head I feel it is my duty to make sure it was not the clans doing that prompted him to betray the village.” The silent ‘ and no one hurts my pups without feeling my retribution’ went unsaid.
No one felt any pity when the Hokage agreed.
Naruto continued to watch the ground as Shurachi lead him toward the Inuzuka part of town. He didn’t look up when a sleepy Kiba and slightly more awake Shino peered out of Kiba’s room in question. He didn’t even look up when he gently settled onto Shurachi’s futon in the older males room.
He was forced to lift his head when Shurachi place a hand under his chin and lifted it though. Suspiciously glassy blue eyes made every effort not to meet concerned green. “Naruto-kun, what were you thinking? You know stealing from the Hokage’s office is usually considered treason. If I hadn’t talk to Sarutobe-sama before the search began you would have been locked away for interrogation along with Mizuki.”
Naruto flinched and finally met Shurachi’s gaze. The second he did hot, fat tears began to cascade down his cheeks and he sniffled quietly. “I’m sorry Shurachi-kun. It’s just, I’ve failed the graduation exam every time I’ve taken it and they always choose my worst jutsu to make sure I can’t become a genin. When Mizuki-sensei offered a way for me to finally graduate I couldn’t help but want it.” He sniffled a little and wiped at the tears streaming out of his eyes.
Shurachi lifted the sleeve of his house robe and gently wiped his cheeks dry. “You would still be welcome in my home even if you were a civilian Naruto, you don’t have to prove anything to anybody, especially not those jerks who think up the exam.”
Naruto gave him a watery smile. “I know Shurachi-kun, but you’re always so nice to me I felt like I had somehow let you down when I failed again.”
Doku whined a little and scooted forward to licked at Naruto’s cheek, barking that they would love him like their own pup even if he never became one of the hunters that protected the den. Shurachi didn’t translate, but he didn’t really have to. Naruto understood what Doku meant by that bark and smiled brighter, throwing his arms around the large dogs neck to hug him in thanks. “I love you too Doku.”
The blond yawned widely, his jaw popping. Shura chuckled and gently pulled Naruto’s shoes off his feet, tugged his jacket off his shoulders, and picked some twigs from his hair. “You may have managed to make genin with this little stunt, but you’re still just a pup and you need your sleep. Rest here tonight and tomorrow we’ll have a proper graduation celebration for all of my new little genin.”
He winked at a giggling Naruto and settled him on the futon, tucking the blanket around him tightly and watching the usual pack of younger dogs settle around the boy on the bed for sleep. “Sleep tight Naruto, and rest easy.” A sleepy smile was his only answer and he moved to tuck his other two pups in as they’d fallen asleep sprawled on the floor of Kiba’s room once he’d gotten home.
He wasn’t looking forward to his next meeting with Lupin Remus. Now that Kiba was officially a genin he didn’t have any reason to deny the long term mission the werewolf wanted to hire him for. With any luck it wouldn’t take him to long to do whatever it was he was supposed to do. The thought of leaving all of his pups alone and at the mercy of the village was enough to keep him up for the rest of the night.
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It took a week, but Shurachi was finally standing in the Hokage’s office with Lupin Remus in a chair in front of the desk and three other shinobi standing patiently behind him. The thought of taking a mission outside out his world rankled on him, knowing he wouldn’t be able to rush to his pups aid raised his hackles, and Lupin’s excited scent didn’t help at all.
“So the payment is settled. You only have them as long as they are willing to stay and any deaths will be taken into account when you are charged.” The excited scent faded a little, replaced by anxiety.
“Deaths?” He asked, a little hesitant.
Sarutobi smiled sharply, enjoying his revenge on the Inuzuka clan leaders behalf. “Yes. Many shinobi are the soul income for their families. The village gives the family of any lost shinobi a monthly stipend that is directly proportional to any and all missions the shinobi took during life.”
More nervousness peppered the air and Shurachi smiled a little at the Hokage. “If a shinobi mainly took high risk, high paying missions then that is the income the family will receive. For long term missions this income falls on the customers shoulders. Failure to pay this monthly support will result in retribution on the customers entire family.”
There was a spike of fear, but also relief. Almost as if he wasn’t worried about not being able to pay should one of them die.
This irritated Shurachi slightly, but he ignored it in favor of getting things over with. “We will leave immediately, I don’t want to be away for to long.” Understanding shuffling came from the shinobi behind him and the office quickly emptied.
Two days into the journey that would take them to the gateway between the dimensions they had to stop for the night. When they’d done so before it had always been for a few hours in the daylight so they wouldn’t be caught unawares in the dark. Remus couldn’t keep such a schedule however, and so they set up camp for a proper night of rest; at least, a proper night of rest for their client.
Shurachi was switching his post as watcher with Hajime when an enticing scent wafted over his nose. It was enough to cover the ever growing stench of wolf that filled the camp and he tilted his head to catch more of it. Hajime took notice, and recognized the move from when his brother had still been alive.
“Something smell good Shura-chan?” He murmured, careful not to wake any of the others.
His companion shot him a mildly annoyed look and motioned for him to be quiet. The scent grew stronger in his nose and he took a step toward it. “I’m going to check out what it is, if anything happens at camp while I’m gone send Doku for me.”
The dog whined quietly, not liking the idea of being left behind, but a look from Shurachi quieted him. There would be much petting to make up for this, but he would let his human go without him this once.
Hajime merely nodded, knowing he wouldn’t be able to stop him anyway, and Shurachi was off. His form flitted through the trees as if he were on the ground and that tantalizing scent thickened until he could hardly smell anything else.
Something was wrong with it though; was trying to cover it from him. He could smell another on the wind. When he came upon the clearing that held Haku and an unknown boy, Shurachi was less than coherent. The instincts screaming in him were just barely kept in check by his uncertainty toward the smaller male.
When the quiet grunt of whoever that other boy was reached his ears, followed closely by Haku’s loud moan, those misgivings fled his mind quickly. The scent of quickening arousal and another male on what was his was enough to trigger the mating reflex all Inuzuka men carried thanks to the family jutsu.
Without thought to what he was doing, Shurachi dropped silently into the clearing and stalked toward the pair. Haku opened his eyes in time to see Shurachi looming menacingly over them and found himself unable to even call a warning before the boy atop him was roughly removed by the scruff of his neck.
“What,” snarled Shurachi, flashing sharp canines, “did you think you were doing, exactly?” Haku shivered at the menacing voice and pulled his decorative kimono closed enough to appear decent, if not coy.
Urine scented the air as the boy wet his pants, which Shurachi was satisfied to note had barely been undone. “W-we were just-!”
He didn’t get a chance to finish his plea as Shurachi shook him once roughly and shot him a look of disgust. “I wasn’t talking to you boy, I was talking to him.” Again, green eyes pierced Haku.
Red stained pale cheeks as he looked away, feeling suddenly ashamed. “I was just curious Inuzuka-san.”
If it were possible, the boy held tight in Shurachi’s grasp paled further and mouthed the name at Haku, who refused to look in his direction.
“And you didn’t think to ask Zabuza about it? Go to someone who wouldn’t be such a…disgrace?” He sneered at the reek of more unpleasant things leaking from the boy and tossed him to the side. He didn’t waste any time in scrambling away from them and into the forest.
Neither really noticed as they were to focused on each other. “I did talk with him about it, he said to find a village boy and test out my seduction skills.”
Goose flesh crawled over Shurachi as the scent of Haku’s arousal spiked suddenly. Brown eyes had flickered to his form briefly and he had to bite his tongue to keep from dropping atop the younger man.
“Besides Inuzuka-san, it isn’t like I belong to you.”
There was hurt in those words, longing so obvious that not even Shurachi could miss it. The need to claim this willing sacrifice flared sharply, calling to him more than the memory of Koishi ever had. He could feel the old spark igniting, blazing hot and bright in wait for the fuel it craved.
Before he knew it he’d taken that extra step and straddled the prone form below him. He kept his hands clenched at his thighs, desperate to gain some sort of control over himself.
Teary eyes turned up at him, pleading quietly. “Why are you so reluctant Inuzuka-san? Am I so unappealing to you?” Haku sniffled quietly and raised a silken sleeve to wipe at the tears slowly trailing down his cheeks.
He shattered, falling into a million razor edged pieces that cut his skin until he bled. Slicing everything that made sense, everything he should have considered, in favor of the pliant body beneath him. The tight seal he’d had on his hands, his lips, was violently ripped open on the pieces of his mind.
Fingers lightly trailed over wet cheeks, gently wiping the moisture away, and pink lips parted to utter those damning words. “You can’t be with another, not for a mission, and certainly not for pleasure. You will be mine alone to hold and touch.”
Haku’s breath caught at the implications of the words, but Shurachi continued heedless to the gasp. “Inuzuka do not share and even the scent of another on you will be intolerable. I cannot take you back to my pack just yet, but if I find you have let another touch you as I will…” He trailed off and let the threat hang in the air.
Green eyes softened as a choked sob escape the smaller male and pale arms lifted to wrap around his neck. “Please Inuzuka-san, please?”
Calloused fingers ran through mussed hair, tugging briefly. “You have no need to be so formal with me lovely one.”
Chapped lips caught moistened pink in a promising kiss and the scent, while still strong, loosened its hold on him enough that he could pull himself back to reality. The warm glow in his eyes remained, but the intense feeling about him lessened back to the gentle feeling Haku had always gotten around the Inuzuka clan leader.
“I must go, but I will return for you.” Shurachi removed himself completely from Haku and stood back up. “No more village boys.” Haku could only nod, small sniffles escaping him as he watched his lover? Boyfriend? Lord? Walk away from him.
Zabuza and Shurachi passed each other and the message that passed between them, silent as it was, was understood. Shurachi would entrust Haku to Zabuza until he could claim him properly.
The rest of the trip was uneventful, not even the attack of some bandits really stirred the shinobi from their indifferent feelings toward this mission. When they reached the land of ice, and the gate, it was only a little trepidation that made each of them pause, look about their home world, and then step through.
On the other side of the portal was a place full of bustling people, screeching pets, chattering children, and the whistle of a candy red steam train. Remus relaxed for the first time in over a year and smiled widely at the tensed shinobi.
“Welcome gentlemen, to wizarding Britain’s finest method of muggle travel. Platform Nine and Three Quarters.”
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Shurachi held back the choking noise he wanted to make and pulled up the filtering cloth around his neck as quickly as he could. Beside him, Doku whined and whimpered, burying his nose against Shurachi’s leg until the shinobi crouched down and pulled the canine version of the filtering cloth down. It wouldn’t pull air through a blend of spices, but it would dull the scents enough to ease his canine partner.
Hajime reached a hand down to touch Shurachi’s head in concern but the younger male merely stood back up and faced the platform with a blank expression, his mission face. Remus looked away, feeling a little guilty for not warning his companions of the platform.
“Um, well, my employer has asked me to bring to the castle via the train. It’s traditional for the first visit to go by train.” He tried grinning, but the shinobi’s discomfort had dampened his excitement about being home again. It wasn’t obvious, but he’d been living with them for nearly five years with very few trips to England. He was used to finding the little signs in the shinobi that let him know if he should just finish his shopping another day.
The four shinobi followed after him silently, Doku only whining a little when he came to close to something that spewed smoke and steam. They settled into a large compartment, the four shinobi taking up strategic places so they could easily defend or escape. Remus merely sat on one of the cushioned seats and pulled out a scroll he’d bought on the various creatures that roamed the Forest of Death.
The ride was uneventful with Hajime and Shurachi being the only ones that relaxed enough to sit down for any period of time. Students tried, multiple times, to open the compartment and see who was in it, but Remus had already locked the door with some spell that Shurachi recognized from the very first few lessons on practical ‘magic’ as he liked to call it. None of that conjuring birds nonsense.
The welcome to the castle was rather anti-climatic. The shinobi refused to go to the great hall the first night, preferring to scout out the area before they displayed themselves so publicly. The stern woman and greasy man that had met up with them had not looked happy, but Remus managed to convince them of how tired the four shinobi were.
They’d then been shown through the castle to a common room on the second floor that had five rooms leading off of it. They’d thoroughly checked the whole place for bugs, Shurachi doing so the magical way, and removed any paintings.
It had taken nearly an hour to be sure they were secure before they all settled on the soft couches to relax as much as they could. “So, does anyone have any idea how that portal works? From what I understand the last time it’s use was recorded I fell into an Anbu meeting and nearly got killed.” Shurachi grimaced at the thought of the reason behind the small scar on his hand.
Hajime chuckled at the thought of Shurachi falling into an Anbu meeting and Kita Mimiru cleared her throat. “The portal works about the same as the ‘accidental magic’ that Lupin-san was telling us about. There are designated entry points, but they will deposit you anywhere you wish on the other side. Most entry points appear randomly, that’s where that colony of giant spiders from Grass country vanished off to.”
Shurachi hummed and tilted his head back to watch the uneven ceiling. “Anyone want to volunteer for first watch?” Doku perked up and Shurachi smirked down at him. Totsuke Chiaru beat the dog to the punch though, and murmured a soft request to have first watch. Hajime quickly claimed second and Mimiru exasperatedly offered to take last watch, leaving Shurachi as third.
With that established, they all spread out to their various rooms and then sent out shadows clones to explore the grounds. It was a tactic they’d all learned during various guard missions when they couldn’t leave their charges vicinity. Now they were using it so they could catch up on rest before the craze of their new environment caught up with them.
Shurachi left his room, two dogs hot on his heels, and settled on the couch beside Hajime. The Aburame glanced up, snorted at the cerberus puppy that wasn’t really a puppy anymore, and slipped his katana back into it’s sheath.
“I’m not even going to ask how you managed to get that thing here without anyone knowing. I have a feeling the answer will only annoy me.”
Shurachi grinned a little behind his mask and scratched the huge dogs side. It was now larger than Shurachi, almost as big as his animagus form, and easily ride-able if Shurachi was so inclined.
“Get some rest Hajime, I’ll keep watch.” Hajime grunted, obviously tired, and shuffled into his room.
As soon as the other had left, Shurachi’s smiled vanished. He seemed to sag a little in the couch with the weight of whatever was on his mind. Doku and Kinobu whined worriedly and a massive head settled in his lap.
Green eyes flickered open and a small smile stretched over Shurachi’s lips. “I’m fine guys, I just miss my pups.” His smile faded a little. “There’s also Haku. I’m not sure that he really knows what he’s getting himself into. He’s been a missing nin all this time, switching to a citizen or even a shinobi of Konoha is going to be a very large change for him.”
He didn’t say it out loud, but he was also worried about how the younger man would interact with his pups on a day to day basis. They’d interacted briefly before, but once or twice during celebrations was different than everyday for long periods of time.
With a quiet sigh he pulled out a rather oddly shaped shuriken and began to carefully sharpen each blade. There was no point in thinking about it now, he’d already agreed to give Haku a chance.
Pushing the thoughts far from his mind in favor of the reports from his clones, Shurachi settled for a long watch.
When the shinobi emerged from their common room the next morning, the greasy haired man from before was waiting for them. He sneered at the four, obviously deciding they weren’t worth his notice since they had children in their group. Doku took one sniff of him and snorted his dislike; Shurachi grinned behind the mask he’d yet to remove.
“The headmaster wishes to introduce you to the school this morning since you weren’t ready last night.” They all glanced at Shurachi, Snape frowned as he noticed the act of deference. “If you would follow me…?” He raised an eyebrow and Shurachi narrowed his eyes, but nodded his agreement.
The entrance into the Great Hall wasn’t exactly spectacular. Snape swooped in like a great, frightening bat, and in his attention grabbing way made it easy for the shinobi to slip inside unnoticed. Only a couple teachers noticed their entrance.
Shurachi glanced around, his hand on Doku’s head, and finally locked eyes with Remus. The werewolf was beaming at him, obviously excited about the whole thing. He frowned behind his mask and flickered his eyes to the now standing old man in the middle of the table.
Sound seemed to muffle, then silence altogether as people noticed the headmaster standing at the table. “Uh-hem! Good morning and good eating children! I’m sorry to interrupt everyone’s breakfast, but I have a few more members of staff that I would like to bring to your attention.”
Young eyes searched the head table first, then moved to the door where the shinobi were casually standing. Shurachi threw and uninterested look at all the small faces. They were pups, but they didn’t need him like his own pups did.
Hajime noticed his younger friends sudden tensing and smirked a little. “Your pups are fine Shura-chibi. Shino will keep Kiba in line.” He bit his tongue briefly then continued with a small grimace. “And I’m sure your clan has protected the Kyuubi child as well as any tiger defends her cubs.” The green eyes flickered to him, down to Doku, before the tense line of his shoulders eased.
“These are shin-o-by from cone-a-hag-ake-ra. They are here for the schools protection and possibly will be taking over a few of the classes that have been professor less this year.” Blue eyes sparkled hopefully at them, but Shurachi ignored the look in favor of scanning the pups again.
It made his heart twinge to think of his own pups, left behind and fending for themselves. There was a smattering of polite applause, then everyone went back to eating and the shinobi slipped from the hall.
Several weeks later, Shurachi was sitting unhappily behind the desk in the Defense Against the Physical Arts class. It had apparently been added specifically for the shinobi to teach Hogwarts students how to defend themselves without a wand.
None of the shinobi had agreed to it, but they’d been told that it was the only way they’d be allowed to stay without interference from the wizarding government. Doku was sniffing every student as they walked passed, though he wasn’t expecting to really find anything on first years. He and the other shinobi had quickly learned how incompetent these children were compared to their own village.
Once they were all inside Doku pushed onto his hind legs and closed the door with a resounding thud-click; the lock had engaged. The dog barked quietly and Shurachi yipped back at him, letting the animal know it could come stand beside him in front of the students.
Both dog and Shinobi settled in front of the teachers desk and eyed the children critically. Most of them were excited, this was a class that had only become open after the first week of school and it’s first lesson had only been about two weeks ago with Professor Mimiru. She’d quickly gotten frustrated with them and passed them off to Shurachi though.
“I am Inuzuka Shurachi.” The quiet voice startled several students up front, they’d been expecting something louder. “Is there anyone that doesn’t know what this class is about?”
No one raised their hands and Shurachi let his green gaze flicker around the room before settling on a nervous looking child in the far right corner. “Is there anyone who has any questions before we begin the lesson then?” Immediately the child’s hand shot up and Shurachi nodded at him.
The boy swallowed, shifted in his seat, and cleared his throat. “Not to be rude Professor Shurachi, but why are you wearing a mask?”
Doku sat up straighter as his human grunted a little. “My proper title is Inuzuka-sensei, please use it. Shurachi is my first name.” There was some twittering and the child flushed bright red. “But to answer your question, why do you think I wear a mask?”
Immediately wild speculation broke out. Everything from a horrible deformation, scarring, and missing pieces; to imitation of a lost brother, and the need to look cool flew through the room until Shurachi barked. Loudly.
Doku sprang to his feet at the sound, to used to obeying that particular command without a thought. The canine was confused, and slightly alarmed, to see that these puppies weren’t doing the same for the alpha. They continued to chatter back and forth between each other, only paying half a mind to the alpha standing before them.
Shurachi barked again, this time sounding more vicious, and all talking stopped. They stared at him, obviously shocked that he’d made the canine sound. “Now that I have your attention, we will be starting this lesson with a review on what you know of the human body.”
A hand raised itself and the only pureblood in the class, a snooty looking child that had only taken the class because his father wanted to know about the shinobi, didn’t wait to be called on before speaking. “You didn’t tell us why you wear the mask though Professor.”
Shurachi bit back a harsh reprimand, reminding himself that these children weren’t raised to fight and kill like he had been. “I wear it because this country stinks. The scent of pollution and fatty bodies does not appeal to my senses.” Doku barked his agreement, wishing that he could have worn his own mask. He’d wanted to look intimidating though, and walking around with a cloth covering his nose and upper jaw was hardly frightening.
From there the lesson continued, Shurachi asking questions and the students answering as best they could. Despite this rather easy start to what would probably prove to be a very difficult class, everyone was glad to leave when the bell rang.
Shurachi glanced down at his canine partner with a quiet sigh. “This is going to be a long year Doku.” The dog whined in sympathy and rested his head against Shurachi’s thigh. “I wonder what Kiba is doing? I didn’t even get to properly meet his genin team.”
Doku silently nudged his human, then padded over to the door in order to inspect the fourth years that were slowly starting to trickle in. A very long year.
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Shurachi glanced up from the mission report he’d gotten on his younger brothers progress. The Hokage had been very generous to offer the monthly report, especially considering the difficulties of getting such a thing to him. But Inuzuka were notorious for their ardent dedication to their pups; and Shurachi especially was rather infamous for it.
So what could have caused him to look away from the report? An owl was hovering just above the table he was using, a creamy envelope clutched in its beak. He took the message from the bird and gently petted it’s soft feathers before opening the missive.
Please come to my office. The password is ‘Rainbow Ranchers.’
Headmaster Dumbledore
Shurachi blinked at the rather abrupt note. A personal summons to the headmaster’s office? He should probably bring someone with him incase it was a trap.
With this in mind, Shurachi turned to the napping Doku and whistled sharply. The dog lifted his head, wuffing softly in question. Shurachi wuffed in kind, followed by a series of barks, yips, whines, and growls. The dog yawned widely, but stood and made his way over to the now standing human.
Shurachi pulled on his jyônin vest and tucked the report into one of it’s pockets. Sure that he hadn’t left anything behind, the pair wandered out of the library and toward the headmaster’s office. Various students called out polite greetings, a few of the braver first years even reaching out to pet Doku.
The dog ignored the attention and they made it to the stone gargoyle with little delay. The password was softly spoken, the staircase was just as spirally as always, and they were declining sweets and tea in no time.
The headmaster twinkled from across the desk and Shurachi watched him with a slightly indifferent wariness. While the shinobi hadn’t really interacted with anyone outside of the classes they taught, they knew enough to not underestimate this ‘kind, old, feeble’ man.
“Shurachi my boy! How are you enjoying Hogwarts? It must be very different from your village!” The old man practically beamed at the Inuzuka, completely disregarding Doku.
Shurachi didn’t answer, deciding instead to reach a hand down and absently stroke his canines head.
“Remus tells me you have an interesting scar on your forehead. Tell me, Harry, has it ever hurt? Twinged even a little?” Again no answer, though the younger man’s petting had stilled.
Dumbledore’s smile became little wider, his twinkle a little less pronounced. “Haven’t you ever wanted to know about your parents Harry? Wondered what they were like? They certainly wouldn’t have wanted this sort of life for you; a hired killer.” Shurachi stood with narrowed eyes and flashing fangs, his cloth mask hiding half of his anger.
“I know who my parents were Headmaster. My mother died protecting our village and my father has gracefully shifted to let me care for the family in his mourning. You have no right to say they wouldn’t want this life for me when they, themselves led it! Make no mistake Dumbledore, you are simply the employer of Lupin Remus, the person who holds our contract.”
With that said, Shurachi stalked from the office, obviously agitated. Even Hajime avoided getting in his way until he’d calmed down some.
It took only a few days for Shurachi to notice the whispers that began to follow him in the halls. The team of shinobi tended to do all of their moving around at night, but he’d been chosen to be the face, so to speak, of their team when it came to the school in general. Hajime had muttered something about children being the same as puppies and a collection, but he’d already tuned the snickering man out by then in favor of arguing.
Obviously he’d lost, Mimiru was very much persuasive when she wanted to be. As a result, Shurachi was now the main teacher for their shared class as well as the representative of the shinobi team stationed at Hogwarts. Doku had also developed the bad habit of tucking his tail between his legs and hiding behind Shurachi whenever Mimiru was in the room.
It was until a week later that the wizarding newspaper printed the official story. Shurachi hadn’t bothered to read it, Hajime’s angry dialogue on the article the morning it came out was enough to give him an idea of what they were dealing with.
Shurachi left their room, expecting the quiet whispers and hesitant glances. What he got was a chest full of fifth year and a stern looking McGonagall.
“I’m really sorry Inuzuka-sensei, but she’s a teacher and…” The girl trailed off with tears forming in her eyes. The shinobi had chosen one student from each house and told them where to go if they ever needed to get a hold of someone in an emergency. Apparently McGonagall hadn’t known where their rooms were though.
Shurachi softened his features, or what you could see of them behind his mask. “It’s alright Renaute-san, I’m not angry with you.” He had to remind himself that while she was as old as some jyônin, she certainly wasn’t half as competent as even civilian children.
“Mr. Potter I presume?” Rachel Renaute bit her lip, obviously trying not to comment on the name. Inuzuka-sensei had ingrained it in them that he was to be called by Inuzuka-sensei or Inuzuka-sama and no other name, especially not Harry Potter. Some third year had made that mistake not to long ago and was still ducking his head in embarrassment whenever he entered class.
Shurachi’s face hardened and Doku stiffened beside him. Green eyes watched the deputy headmistress through silver framed glasses, obviously mistrustful. “My name is Inuzuka Shurachi, McGonagall-san; please use it.”
The old woman pursed her lips and crossed her arms impatiently. “I will address you by your proper name, now why didn’t you tell us when you arrived who you were? It certainly would have saved us some worry!”
The shinobi neatly sidestepped the old woman and the fidgeting student in order to continue down the hall. “I told you exactly who I am McGonagall-san, it is not my problem if you refuse to acknowledge that. Now, I believe I have a class to be teaching, if you’ll excuse me?” He took a step forward and suddenly disappeared, preventing McGonagall from following him.
Rachel bit her lip again, this time to keep from giggling, and scurried toward the staircase. She had to get to her Ancient Runes class and hope the teacher was late again.
When Shurachi entered his classroom he was surprised to find it already half full. People tended to loiter outside as if the room had some sort of horrible disease crawling through it. Then again, the first years seemed to have taken a special liking to him since their first lesson when he’d let them gossip about himself.
Jonathan, who had been the one to ask about his mask, timidly came to the front of the classroom from his seat in the back. He looked down at Doku, up at Shurachi, down at Doku, then up at his teacher again; before making up his mind.
“Inuzuka-sensei? Would it be alright if I petted Doku?” Shurachi raised an eyebrow and the child flushed bright red. “It’s just that he’s always at your side and my mother never let us get a dog and he looks so nice.” Never mind that Jonathan had been in the hall when Doku had bared his fangs viciously at a seventh year Slytherin for tripping someone.
A sparkle flashed through Shurachi’s eyes briefly, but he nodded and murmured that it was okay if the child wanted to pet his partner. Jonathan’s face lighting up and the happy little sound he made was certainly enough to relax Shurachi again after his confrontation McGonagall; if it could be called that.
The boy stayed up front, petting Doku quite splendidly, until the bell rang. He gave the dog one last pat, hesitantly smiled up at Shurachi, and then scurried to his seat in the back. Shurachi looked over the small sea of faces, noting all four house colors, and began his lesson for the day.
“Pull out quill and parchment-” here he wrinkled his nose behind his mask. Who honestly still used such ancient writing utensils? “-and number it from one to twelve. I want you to list twelve points on the body that could incapacitate someone if hit properly then tell me how to hit them and why they work.”
A groan swept through the room and Shurachi smiled behind his mask. It reminded him so much of his little Kiba when they complained about the work he was telling them to do. He remembered complaining, but only Koishi, that it was boring learning about the various parts of the body as well.
It was towards the end of the lesson that he got his first question about the article from that morning. It was one of the Slytherin girls, a pureblood who was spying on him for her parents, that asked. “Sir? Is it true that you’re Harry Potter?”
Her question was asked in such a snooty, huffy, Hyuuga-esque tone that Shurachi couldn’t help but take feel a sense of satisfaction annoying her. He promptly felt a little bad afterwards, it wasn’t her fault she’d been raised that way after all, but he purposely made his answers frustrating anyway.
“What is the name I gave you on our first day?” Several people gave him confused looks.
Someone in the back cleared their throat and all eyes turned toward a ferrety looking boy. “Inuzuka Shurachi?” He called and the whole class turned to see what Shurachi would do in reaction to his full name.
The Inuzuka smiled behind his mask. “Well, that’s who I am then isn’t it? Now, back to the lesson. Can anyone tell me why the thigh isn’t a good place to hit when you are trying to quickly incapacitate your opponent?”
“But Professor! You didn’t properly answer my question!” The girl huffed and Shurachi frowned at her. Not that she could tell or anything, but it was the thought that counted, right?
“Greengrass-san, I believe we are talking about ways to cause severe bodily harm to another human being, not my name.” She opened her mouth to argue again and Shurachi leaned back against his desk.
He crossed his arms and waited for her to finish with another protest against her question being ignored.
“Are you quite done then? Yes? Since you are so interested in my name, we’ll have a mandatory note check. If you haven’t taken notes on what we were discussing then you automatically fail any assignments due or issued today.” There was much scrambling as people hurriedly jotted things down and Shurachi snorted.
“As for my name,” the scrambling stopped and all eyes turned on him “it was originally Potter Harry, but I do not recognize that as my name anymore. I have gone all my life as Inuzuka Shurachi so why should I change that?”
In the corner Jonathan raised his hand, obviously concerned for the consequences but to curious to put it back down. “But Inuzuka-sensei, why don’t you want to use your original name?”
Green eyes closed briefly, trying to keep down the annoyance that had been building for nearly a week. “Lets say you find out tomorrow that you aren’t really a member of your family. That the name you’ve known your whole life isn’t originally yours.”
Several people began to shift uncomfortably. “This doesn’t bother you because you know your family loves you anyway. But then people start insisting on using a name you haven’t heard before when addressing you. Would you not be annoyed?” He glanced at the clock on the back of the wall that now read “time for homework.”
“Write your name on the top of your notes and leave them in a pile by the door. Your homework is to write an essay on the importance of a name and what yours means to you.” A shrill bell echoed through the corridors and the children quickly piled out of his classroom. Doku gave a small whine of sympathy as his human pulled off the slim glasses and rubbed at the bridge of his nose.
The Inuzuka didn’t open his eyes, but he did mumble a little yip to reassure the dog. “More an animal than I though Potter.” The name was spat with such hatred that Shurachi had to look up.
He was quick to put his glasses back on when he realized that the mans scent was full of anger, bordering on homicidal rage.
“Snape-san? Can I help you with something?” he asked calmly. It would have been obvious to anyone that he wasn’t in the best of moods, so of course Snape didn’t notice.
The tall man sneered down at Shurachi, taking in his appearance. From the multiple braids pulled into his customary tail, the jyônin uniform vest and pants, to the yukata left open to give a more ‘wizard-y’ appearance over all of it. His eyes paused obviously on the only visible weapons he had before moving on the curl his lip at Shurachi’s painted nails.
“Absolutely barbaric.” He hissed nastily and Shurachi felt his fuse burn out.
Chakra building in his system and magical wind picking up, the Inuzuka had to bite hard on his tongue to keep from barking an attack order at Doku. The dog shifted in anticipation of the order anyway, and Snape’s eyes immediately flicked to the snarling canine.
“And such a disgusting beast completes the picture.” The candle melted and Shurachi barked a quick restraining command even as he was fisting his hand in Snape’s robes and smacking the man back against the wall.
The mask was ripped away in order to expose dangerous teeth and canines flashed uncomfortably close to Snape’s hooked nose. “I don’t know what your problem is with me Snape-san, but it stops now. I am by your employers request, I am being paid to keep your sorry ass safe, but I am not about to put up with shit on a voluntary mission.”
He smacked the man against the wall again when it looked like he was going to start talking. “I don’t go to meals, I am rarely in the halls, and unless you come to my rooms or this classroom you have no reason to interact with me. I suggest you suck up whatever fucking problem you have and keep it in, because next time I’m going to show you why your newspaper calls my people bloodthirsty!” Doku growled and Shurachi snarled at him.
The dog huffed and moved to sit by the open door, keeping an eye out for possible witnesses. Shurachi turned and stalked toward the same door then shoved Snape out of it. Before the wizard could regain his wit’s the door was snapped shut and the click of a lock was very obvious in the deserted corridor.
After that people tended to avoid him unless they absolutely had to speak with him and they never brought up his name, at least his students didn’t. Snape also made an effort to avoid the corridor that held the muggle defense classroom.
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Better late than never right? I know this is long, it's over 40 pages in my word document! I update a little better on fanfiction.net, so look for kingofloosepages there if you really want updates. It's usually around once every weekend or something. Also, I would love it if you guys would leave suggestions for RPG's or stories that are slash. Review and comment! Thanks!
Taku
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