Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Naruto sat on the hill, staring at the clouds.

It was time.

With a tired sigh, he closed his eyes. He didn't want to go. He liked this place, the cool air, the soft breeze.

He still needed to save Sasuke, to bring him back from the snake bastard. He promised Sakura that he would bring Sasuke back.

He was a fool to accept the deal.

A fool.

Naruto sat up, his eyes dark, downcast. His cheery mood was dampened by the thoughts of what would occur.

He closed his eyes and pictured the dark sewers of his mind. He imagined the dank and dark corridors. He imaged closed doors. When he opened his eyes he found himself in his mind.

With a weary heart he walked to Kyuubi's cage. He walked slowly, as if to slow down time and savor his time, his memories.

Naruto stood in front of the cage.

" I'm ready." He said loudly. He didn't fear Kyuubi. The big fur ball wasn't that scary when you're his jailor for the past twelve years.

A small dark shape moved to the bars of the cage. Kyuubi strode forward, a wide smirk on his face.

"Finally, you're here brat." In his human form he clutched the bars. "Can I convince you to rip the seal off?"

Naruto scowled at Kyuubi. "No chance in hell fur ball. Fool me once, shame on you fool me twice shame on you."

Kyuubi laughed. "That is a human saying."

Naruto glared at Kyuubi. "It wasn't a fair deal." He protested.

Kyuubi laughed again. "Too bad."

Kyuubi placed an arm through the bands. "Shall we start?"

Naruto stepped closer. "What would happen if I back out?"

Kyuubi rolled his eyes. "You would die."

"Ah." Naruto nodded in understanding. "Stupid fox." He growled out.

Kyuubi impatiently stamped the floor with his foot. Naruto noticed and started using baby steps to walk towards the cage. Kyuubi growled and grabbed at Naruto with his red chakra, dragging the boy closer to him.

Naruto yelped in surprise. Kyuubi grabbed Naruto by the front of his shirt, and shook him.

"I did not wait six years to look at your idiocy." Kyuubi spat angrily.

He calmed down and released his grip on the shirt. "Grab my hand."

Naruto stared at the hand. "Can we talk about this?"

Kyuubi's venomous glare was answer enough.

Naruto extended his hand and clasped Kyuubi's. A roaring sound filled his ears and a strange sucking feeling appeared.

A bright light filled the sewer like room. The seal glowed fircely before subsiding.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

The next morning Sakura went to Naruto's apartment. They had an appointment with Kakashi to do the bell test again.

She knocked several times before opening the door. She walked inside and carefully stepped over the discarded clothes and empty ramen cups.

Sakura opened the bedroom door. She peeked, gaped, blushed red and hurriedly closed the door.

"I'm so sorry, Naruto." She shouted, trying to scrub the image from her mind.

Sakura heard the door open. "It's okay Sakura, I'm dressed now."

Sakura blushed deeper. "We have an appointment with Kakashi-sensei. I came to make sure you're not late."

" Thanks." Came the reply.

Sakura nodded. "It's the same training area, you know where it is right?"

"Yeah. I'll meet you there."

"Okay." Sakura ran out of the apartment. She hoped from building top to building top. She was never going in a Naruto's apartment without announcing herself.

It was too dangerous.

As she hoped, she never noticed that Naruto didn't use the suffix chan on the end of her name. She was too busy scrubbing the image of his naked body from her mind.