The Kitsune Demon

The next month Naruto, Hinata, Sakura, and Ino fell into a pattern every day the four would walk to school together discussing how Ino and Sakura could improve their strength. After school, they would train until nightfall. Sakura and Ino proved to be extremely stubborn and would often have contests to see who was better. They also adopted the habit of seeking Naruto's affection, he eventually broke and would give the girls head pats to appease their insatiable thirst for attention.

At first, Naruto did it because the two girls would keep bugging him until he did, but he eventually came to enjoy the action of making the girls feel good. Of course, once Hinata saw this she also forced him to pet her much to the chagrin of Naruto. Sakura and Ino quickly adapted to the training and their strength had increased marginally from where it used to be. The two girls were actually able to force Hinata to a tie when they worked together, but they could both tell Hinata was holding back. Their jutsu had also improved as well, when Naruto had them stand on rapid water for an hour straight, they both failed but Ino failed twice as much as Sakura.

This didn't escape Naruto's eye so later when there training was done he gave Sakura a book on medical ninjutsu in the hopes she would somehow incorporate it into her fighting style. Sakura then spent all night studying the human body and medical Jutsu. After a week Sakura had some success when her blow had landed on Ino and fractured her arm, stopping the fight Sakura used medical ninjutsu to heal the small hairline fracture.

That had ended the training for today but Naruto rewarded Sakura with more head pats making the pink-haired girl blush. As the day till the tournament drew closer, Sakura and Ino put more and more effort into their training, their original goal was only to spend time with Naruto but that changed when they saw how much they had improved the devoted themselves to get stronger. Three days before the tournament Naruto had Sakura and Ino train without the weighted and fight against him. He didn't attack them Naruto only blocked their attack to get a sense of how far they had come. That was also the day Sasuke Uchiha had returned to school, there was tension in the air when Naruto walked in to see he had thoroughly beaten.

Besides Sasuke sending death glances at Naruto nothing else happened and class went as normal. When Naruto was leaving the class with his entourage for training Sasuke stopped them in the hallways. Sighing Naruto looked at him, " What do you want we have somewhere to be. " Not responding Sasuke just stood there staring at Naruto. Sasuke turned around, " I will beat you and humiliate you in front of everyone" and left leaving Naruto extremely perplexed.

Sakura touched Naruto's arm, " Don't waste your time on him I don't know what I saw in him before. You actually helped us without asking anything in return " Sighing Naruto pet Sakura's and Ino's heads making the both of them blush. Seeing this Hinata started to pout but stopped when Naruto also gave her head pats. With an idea forming in his head Naruto told Sakura and Ino to go ahead of them, without questioning him the two left Naruto and Hinata alone turning to face him Hinata raised an eyebrow, " You want to take them to see Xua and Yua don't you "

Rubbing the back of his head Naruto smiled, " Yeah you caught me. I just don't feel like hiding what we are from them " sighing Hinata smiled at Naruto before hugging his arm. Closing her eye and muttering, " I know you mean well and I don't mind. They're good people so I don't see why not " Smiling down at her Naruto hugged her into his c.h.e.s.t, " You're too good for me "

Hinata laughed, " I say the same thing every time I see you "