A/N: As I promised, here's this week's update!

Thank you so much for all the favourites and follows and reviews - especially reviews; some of them had interesting ideas/questions that I hadn't even thought about/had completely overlooked (oops).

Hope you enjoy this chapter, and I'll post another one next week!


(812)

Kurama promises to kill Kakashi in the same breath as he calls Naruto a kit.

The boy is understandably confused, so Kurama explains that 'kit' is what foxes call their young, and that Kakashi should have protected Naruto and not let him be cut with a poisoned kunai. Naruto protests, then, and tells Kurama that he can take care of himself. The Kyuubi knows that, but the boy's teacher is still supposed to look after his students.

Neither of them say anything more about Kurama calling Naruto his kit, and the Kyuubi continues to do so. (He is secretly happy that the boy seems to be okay with it, just as Naruto is secretly happy that Kurama seems to consider him close enough to warrant fox-titles.)

It's also on that same mission that Kakashi gets around to teaching them something new, but unfortunately Naruto already knows chakra control exercises like the back of his hand. (When Kurama commented on that, the boy raised his hand and pretended to find a new mole on it.) Kakashi doesn't see it necessary to teach him something else, though, and simply tells Naruto to hone his skills. Kurama's estimation of the jounin drops even further.

(808)

Naruto has never been one to sit still, and he often suffers from nightmares. (Kurama doesn't know what the dreams are about since the boy refuses to tell him, but he suspects they are either of the boy's kidnapping or impending death.) It's no surprise, then, that Naruto is wandering around the forest at night.

He runs into Haku there. Naruto knows, thanks to Kurama instructing him on sensing chakra, that the other boy is a ninja, and the same one who helped Zabuza at that. He doesn't do anything about it because Haku seems genuinely nice, and they just talk for a while. (Kurama would probably have insisted that he attack the other boy when he didn't expect it, but Naruto never felt comfortable with starting fights. He can finish one, sure, and even kill, but he doesn't like making the first move when the other doesn't appear hostile.)

They part in good terms. (And Naruto learns the expression 'precious people', but doesn't like it much because the only human dear to him is Iruka-sensei, and Naruto cares the most about Kurama, so he decides to use 'precious beings' instead.)

Because of Naruto's clones' help, the bridge comes along quickly. The boy enjoys his time spent in the town as no one glares at him, and Kurama likes the place simply because Naruto does.

It doesn't take long for Kurama and Naruto figure out how using clones affects Naruto. They had been worried that it'd increase the damage being done since Naruto was using chakra to create them. On the other hand, they had wondered whether the clones would slow it down since Naruto was lessening the chakra inside him – his chakra is divided between the clones and the original, after all.

But in reality, using clones does absolutely nothing. No matter how much chakra Naruto has in him, there is always the specific amount floating down his pathways. Creating the clones causes normal spikes in the deteriorating; in other words, the technique doesn't affect Naruto's body and health any more than any other technique would.

With that concern laid to rest, Inari is the only problem that arose between the fights with the missing nin.

Naruto has never been too good at controlling himself, so it's no wonder that he blows up at the kid when he insists that they are all going to die. (Naruto knows it, dammit, he knows that he doesn't have much time left, but that doesn't mean he will just give up.) So he gives the boy a speech about true heroes, and how they don't stop being heroes simply because they die. (When Kurama hears about this, he feels like suffocating the boy in a hug. The Kyuubi knows that Naruto wishes to be remembered as who he really is and not just 'the demon container', and hopefully as a hero too.)

Inari then tells Naruto that he knows nothing about loneliness, which makes Naruto burst out in laughter. He knows that his teammates are confused, and that Kakashi doesn't understand how he can laugh about it, but he can't help but chuckle when he explains to the little kid that he has in fact lived his whole life alone. (He doesn't mention that he has a Kyuubi he sees as family inside him.)

Later, Inari is subdued, and Naruto isn't sure whether it's because of what he said or because of the chat Kakashi had with the kid.

(804)

Zabuza and Haku show up a week from their previous fight, just like Kakashi predicted. Naruto had left some clones to guard the house like he did every day because Kurama told him that family members are easy to use as leverage. (He gets a report from his clones after the fight and feels thankful that Kurama is so pessimistic about human nature.)

Naruto ends up fighting Haku alongside Sasuke, and the two of them manage to somewhat work together. The blond is not as surprised as he probably would have been had they not also pulled off teamwork when they distracted Zabuza a week prior.

Haku outmatches them, and Sasuke dies.

Naruto sees red.

He attacks Haku, snarling and with claws growing from his hands, eyes the colour of blood and the whisker marks on his face standing out. Kurama is shocked when he feels the boy drawing on his power, and he slips to Naruto's conscious mind along with the chakra.

The Kyuubi tries to calm the boy down, but it doesn't work. Not until Haku is laying down, at least, and telling them his story.

Naruto doesn't want to kill him. Kurama doesn't want Naruto to do something he will feel guilty of.

It's a moot point, however, when Haku suddenly springs up and in one second is in front of them, in the next between Kakashi and Zabuza with a chidori through his chest.

That's the first time Naruto feels actual hate towards his teacher.

Then Gato and his men show up, get killed, Inari comes with other villagers, and Zabuza says his last words. Naruto doesn't cry until much later, in the safety of his mind, but he does make sure that the two missing nin get a proper funeral.

Kurama understands Naruto's sadness, and listens to the boy rant about how it's not fair that Haku died when he had a long life in front of him, and how even that bastard Zabuza would have deserved more than a cold grave and the masses remembering him as a mindless murderer. The Kyuubi comforts his kit, and when Naruto slips by the bars again, he lays down his head and lets Naruto sleep resting against it.

They leave for Konoha before hearing the name of the bridge (and learning that it was Naruto's first accomplishment).

(801)

When they get back home, Kurama and Naruto discuss Naruto's future. They acknowledge that he probably won't even make jounin in the time he has left, and most likely won't manage to save the village, a princess, or something else equally important either. This means that Naruto won't die as a hero since he doesn't have enough time to become one.

They talk about what else Naruto could do, but Naruto is dead-set on becoming someone people will admire. Kurama is regretful when he tells the boy that he will probably only be able to do small 'heroic' things, and as such only those he'd come across would look up to him.

Naruto is upset, but soon remembers Haku and his words on helping his 'precious person'. The Kyuubi is confused as to why Naruto brought it up until the boy tells him that just gaining the appreciation of those closest to him would be enough.

Kurama reminds the boy of how only Iruka cares about him, but Naruto's enthusiasm doesn't fade. He's convinced that he can befriend more people now that he isn't so focused on simply becoming stronger, and even if the others continue to be jerks and refuse to be friends with him, simply having Iruka-sensei is enough. Other people would just be a plus. (He doesn't mention that Kurama's acknowledgement of his skills is the most important thing to him, but he's pretty sure that the Kyuubi knows it anyway.)

They talk about practical plans for a while, but eventually come to the conclusion that it's pretty much impossible to predict people's reactions, so Naruto will just have to improvise. Kurama, at one point, suggests telling at least Iruka about his short life-span so that the man could help Naruto in his self-appointed task. The boy hesitates before refusing, and Kurama can't help but feel slightly glad as he isn't sure what would be done to them if someone found out that Naruto is in contact with him. His kit's happiness is more important than some hypothetical situations, however, which was why the Kyuubi suggested it.

But Naruto doesn't want others to know he's slowly dying; partly because he knows they will demand an explanation and he doesn't feel like telling them about his relationship with Kurama, and partly because he's worried that they wouldn't care at all. (Kurama sniffs at the boy when he hears the latter part, and demands to know why the concern of a mighty Kyuubi like him isn't enough. Naruto grins and laughs, then, and Kurama feels like he accomplished something great.)

In the end, Naruto feels slightly better about his impending death, and they decide that the best course of action would be to simply look for opportunities to help other people and befriend them. The boy also plans to reduce his pranks, since while they serve the dual purpose of having fun and practising his ninja skills, they also piss people off. Kurama mutters something about pranks being better than people, but doesn't try to change Naruto's mind.

(795)

Helping others is easy, but earning thanks for it is not.

No matter how many D-ranks he does (and he does many. Far too many for a single person, but considering his shadow clones they all get done rather fast), with or without his team (he's glad the Hokage agreed to let him do missions on his own at the excuse of needing more money), the citizens all just glare at him. It doesn't show, but all the hostility has slowly but surely been snipping at his excitement, and in little over a week he's just a shadow of his old self. Kurama is snarling in rage when the moronic humans let his Naruto down – again.

Yet Naruto continues to put on a fake smile and reassure Kurama that it's fine, he should have expected this. But the Kyuubi knows that the boy had truly gotten his hopes up this time, thinking that now that he made an actual effort people would start to like him. (He hasn't done that before because of the fear of getting his hopes crashed, and the child quietly weeps within his mind when he is proven correct.)

Naruto's depression is going pretty much unnoticed by others, however. That, or ignored. The boy isn't sure which would be worse, but figures that it actually changes with each person so it doesn't really matter anyway. Kurama tries to comfort his kit, but it's difficult after such a let-down. Finally, the Kyuubi convinces Naruto to go see Iruka.

His old teacher is the only one to openly express concern over Naruto's dejected mood, and when he asks for the reason, the boy spills everything – well, except for the part about his being friends with Kurama and dying, which basically leaves his trying to gain the citizen's approval and failing. Iruka's expression darkens, then, and Kurama feels his respect for the man growing at the slight yet dangerous killing intent he releases.

Iruka tells him not to care about them, because they're blinded by their sorrow, and simply keep in mind that he is worth much more than any of them. Naruto doesn't feel inclined to agree, but still nods since Kurama murmurs his agreement.

That's another thing: they have been able to talk freely while Naruto is conscious ever since the battle with Haku when Kurama connected his mind with the boy's. If it was anyone else, they would probably be concerned when learning that a tailed beast had straight access to their mind, but Naruto simply feels glad and pleased at the knowledge. Sometimes the Kyuubi has to wonder whether he had completely messed up the boy's mind by communicating with him when Naruto was so young, but then he realizes that he wouldn't give up their relationship for the world. (He has a right to be selfish; he's the Kyuubi, it comes with the deal.)

So Naruto's project ends up being cut short. Sure, he still tries, and does the occasional extra D-rank – money is never unwelcome to him since he has so little of it – but he stops spending so much energy on trying to earn even a simple 'thank you'. If his teammates or teacher have noticed the yet another switch in his behaviour, they don't comment on it. (Naruto complains to Kurama about it, saying how it's not fair that the three people he's supposed to trust with his life don't seem to care about him at all. Kurama curls a tail around the boy then, yet offers no other consolation; he knows any false platitudes would be unwelcome.)

(755)

It's a few weeks after Naruto lost his enthusiasm about working hard for the villagers when he has a run-in with Konohamaru. He knows the kid – obviously, since he's the Hokage's grandchild – but hasn't spent much time with him. For some reason Konohamaru has chosen Naruto as his rival, though. (It is Kurama who figures out that it's because of his 'defeat' of the Hokage, and Naruto snickers at the memory before groaning at gaining a stalker. The Kyuubi doesn't have the heart to remind him of his older stalker, Hinata, but chuckles quietly anyway.)

Then Sakura shows up, and everything goes wrong. Naruto can't understand why the girl thinks that 'playing ninja' is stupid, since it's kind of a training method. (Kurama is just glad that Naruto has gotten over his crush and stopped asking the girl for dates and thus getting hit on the head. He inwardly growled each time Sakura abused the boy, but couldn't get Naruto to understand why it was so wrong. He also felt like destroying something when he realized that Naruto was simply so used to that kind of treatment that he sees nothing off about it.)

Naruto can't really understand why Konohamaru must insult Sakura, either, but he figures it's because the boy hasn't known the wrath of women yet.

They're running soon enough, just like Naruto knew they'd be; it's sad how predictable people become when you actually take the time to think about and analyse their previous behaviour. Kurama, of course, was the one who told Naruto to start doing so and taught him how to do it, and the boy can't help but be thankful towards the Kyuubi for yet another thing.

Konohamaru runs into a Suna nin. When the oddly dressed ninja threatens the kid, Naruto steps in. Unsurprisingly, his threats don't achieve much; he is still rather on the small side, and due to his orange jumpsuit, he doesn't look very professional either. (He wears the jumpsuit just to cause everyone to underestimate him, actually. Well, that and it's a good training method: if he can hide and escape from Anbu wearing a blinding colour, imagine how much better he'd be at those things when dressed appropriately.)

The guy's teammate – a female who carries a huge fan; a wind user? – tried to get the ninja to stop, but it didn't work either. Naruto wonders then whether Konoha women are the only ones with violent tempers, or if the Suna guy just has so little self-preservation.

Due to some odd chance, Sasuke shows up then. (Naruto is pretty sure the fate's just messing with him now, and Kurama feels inclined to agree.) And of course he manages to get the guy to back off and let Konohamaru go. The jinchuuriki feels slightly disappointed at the kid's criticism of him, but what the hell was he supposed to do? Start a fight with a ninja from another village and cause an international incident?

Between Sakura's gushes about Sasuke and the two Suna ninjas' glares, the Uchiha tells the third Suna ninja to get down there. The others are all very much surprised that he was there and Naruto can pretty much feel Sasuke preening arrogantly, but he figures telling them he sensed the guy's chakra earlier as well wouldn't do much good. Mostly because he's sure no one would believe him.

There's something wrong with the third, and youngest, ninja's chakra. Naruto can't quite put his finger on it until Kurama stiffens and then groans audibly, and when the boy questions his Kyuubi about it, he answers: "I'm sure the fate's messing with us. He's another jinchuuriki; has the Ichibi sealed into him from the feel of it. Well, based on that and the fact that Shukaku always favoured the desert." So Naruto almost groans out loud, but manages to keep it in his head and just continues staring at the other jinchuuriki blandly.

Unsurprisingly, it's not Naruto the Suna ninjas are paying attention to; it's Sasuke. Naruto wonders whether the Ichibi jinchuuriki can sense chakra, and if he can differentiate between different types. He also almost feels glad when Sasuke demands an introduction, since now he can actually call the guys something else besides "Suna ninja".

Naruto doesn't draw any more attention to himself in the hopes that he'd manage to avoid the Ichibi's host, Gaara. No matter how much better he is than others assume (because he's had to learn everything on his own since Iruka-sensei didn't have time to teach him and Kakashi hasn't bothered to do so; well, Kurama has helped him a lot but Naruto doesn't really count him because the Kyuubi is inside him anyway and they're family) he doesn't feel like testing his strength against another jinchuuriki. Especially one that looks insane.

Apparently Sasuke doesn't share his reservations, however, and Naruto wants to groan at his teammate's obvious overconfidence and arrogance. Sure, he might be better at taijutsu than the other rookies – including Naruto, because Kurama couldn't really teach him physical fighting as he'd never had a need for it – and know some fancy fire jutsu, but that doesn't automatically make him super strong. Naruto, after all, knows more ninjutsu than the Uchiha; clones come really handy for learning things quickly.

Of course, there's also the Sharingan, but Naruto is pretty sure it wouldn't do much good against a jinchuuriki who's probably pretty much controlled by his tailed beast and thus doesn't have the same inhibitions as Naruto does. (Kurama is proud of the boy for using his own powers rather than the Kyuubi's, except for some notable times when Naruto was really upset and lost control. He's hesitant about the boy using his chakra, because even the small amount imbedded in Naruto's pathways is causing the deterioration, so what would a large amount do?)

The chuunin exams come as a surprise for Naruto. He, at first, feels gleeful and hopeful at the news, but becomes downtrodden when realizes that there's no chance of Kakashi actually signing their team up for them.


A/N: As always, reviews are very welcome; I'd love to know what you think!