I don't own Naruto. Or the cover photo.

'Bold' = Naruto talking to Kurama

This was not a good day by Naruto's standards. First he woke up late and didn't have time to get food; before the mission. When he showed up Sakura hit him for being late, and Sai said some shit about Sasuke being a traitor, and Naruto almost punched him before Yamato stopped him.

~several hours later~

'Damnit; why are they acting worse than normal?'

'I don't know brat, maybe you should ask them,' Kyuubi replied.

'Don't be stupid Kyuubi, they aren't going to tell me even if I ask.'

'Then maybe you should get new friends.'

"Naruto what are you thinking about?" asked Yamato. Naruto was too focused talking to Kyuubi to respond.

'That's not funny.'

'Wasn't supposed to be.'

"Naruto... Naruto?" Yamato said trying to get his attention.

"...Yeah?"

"I asked you a question." Yamato said. It was now dark and they were about to decide guard shifts.

"Oh sorry what was the question?"

"I asked what you were thinking about."

"Oh umm... well, I was thinking about the Akatsuki," Naruto lied.

"Why would you be thinking about them Naruto?" asked Sai.

"Why does it matter? I'm going to sleep; don't wake me up till last watch." Naruto climbed into his sleeping bag and faced away from them. Then he went into the tunnels leading to Kyuubi's cage and sat in front of it.

'What you said about making new friends...'

'Yeah, what about it?'

'I would like you to be my new friend.'

'When did you eat the mushrooms?' Kyuubi said rising his eyebrows.

'What do you mean? I hate mushrooms.' Naruto said with a disgusted look on his face.

'I mean you're obviously hallucinating. If you were in your right mind you wouldn't be saying this.'

'What makes you think I wouldn't want to be your friend?'

'Well because you're a human and humans have never tried to befriend me. They always try and uses me for their own gain.'

'Well I really want to be your friend,' Naruto said.

'This doesn't mean I'm going to trust you...'

'But Kyuubi I'm not like the other humans.'

'You didn't let me finish. I know you're not like the other humans; so that means I will let you be my friend.'

'Yeah!' Naruto shouted.

'Remember this doesn't mean I'll trust you fully. I've had too many bad experiences with humans.'

'Okay fair enough, but I'm just glad you let me be your friend.' The last thing Naruto remembered before drifting off to sleep was leaning against Kyuubi's cage.

"Naruto wake up, it's your turn for watch duty," said Yamato lightly touching Naruto's shoulder.

"Already?" Naruto said groggily, "What time is it?"

"About three in the morning."

Naruto becomes fully awake at that, " It's not my turn; you still have an hour."

"Damn, okay I wanted to talk to you."

"About what?"

"Why were you so spaced out when I asked you that question?"

"I was talking to Kyuubi."

"Why would you be talking to it; it's a demon.'

"Just so you know Kyuubi is actually my friend so don't call him a demon. He is a tailed beast. Demon's are incapable of feeling emotions. Tailed beasts on the other hand were created with the ability to feel. We humans are just too stupid to see that even tailed beasts are human to an extent. Sure they may have non-human bodies and my talk without moving their mouths a lot; which is slightly creepy. ...Shit where was my point?"

"Naruto I think I get your point. It's like the saying don't judge a book by it's cover. I shouldn't judge Kyuubi because I know nothing about him."

"Yeah pretty much. ...Now can I go back to sleep?"

"Yeah, I guess," Yamato says and walks away.

'Holy shit brat, where did that come from?'

'I don't know, it just sorta slipped out. I really don't know, maybe because I know how it feels to be hated with no reason.'

'That is true, those stupid townspeople think you are me. Ha... I would never act like you. Except the pranks, foxes love pranks.'

'Oh so is that why you laugh when I pull one off.'

'Yes; but also because I hate the village that has keep me imprisoned for so long.' Kyuubi said with a frightening grin to anyone else, but Naruto was used to it.

'What's your real name?'

'I will tell you one day, but not today. Sleep kit it will be light in a few hours. Kyuubi said turning away.

'Night Kyuu,' I said, soon back asleep.