Synopsis: Nine-tails shares his point of view on what happened 13 years ago. In the end, they both reach an understanding.
"Nine-tails, you knew about who my parents were all this time, didn't you?"
"Didn't matter to me whether you knew or not," Kurama said in a bored tone.
Naruto crossed his arms, unfazed.
"Did you attack the village immediately when you released from my mom's seal?"
The nine-tails looked at Naruto suspiciously.
"What's your purpose for the asking?"
"Please, answer the question," Naruto said calmly. "There is something I need to figure out."
The nine-tails surprised by the calm exterior found himself reluctantly answering.
"I wasn't able to attack it since I was controlled."
Naruto narrowed his eyes.
"So the suspicion is right," Naruto murmured then looks at the fox. "Do you know who controlled you?"
"Why should I answer?" The nine-tails responded with hostility in his voice. "Besides, you won't even believe me, if I told you."
Naruto sighed.
"I guess you do have a good reason to hate the village," he murmured. The Fox looks at him. "It must have been lonely and tough, having to be sealed in three people against your own will."
"I don't need your pity brat!" The nine-tails roared.
"It's not pity," Naruto protested holding his hands up. "I don't blame you for trying to kill me as a baby, since you knew you were going to be sealed again, against your own will." The fox looked at him surprised.
"What do you want brat?"
"I want to understand you nine-tails," Naruto said.
"What?" The Fox asked in disbelief. "You think YOU can know a demon?"
"I want to understand who you are and where you came from. Why you were sealed in the first place? What actually happened 13 years ago? I want to know from your point of view."
The fox stared at him stunned. No human has ever tried to understand him or ask for his view on events. He sighs and lies down on the floor.
"Sit down brat," He told Naruto. The said boy looked at him surprised, causing him to roll his eyes. "It's a long story, so you might as well get comfortable." Once Naruto sat down, the nine-tails begins speaking. "I'm not ready to tell you where I come from, but I will answer all your other questions." Naruto nods his head. "The person that attacked your parents and took me out of Kushina's seal was Madara Uchiha."
Naruto eyes widen.
"Wait a minute, the Madara Uchiha that was defeated by the First Hokage? He's alive?! How?!"
"I'm not sure how it's possible either." The Fox admitted. "I thought he was dead too."
"You knew him?" Naruto asked.
"Yes," the fox replied with disgust his voice. "That man controlled me with his Sharingan, using me as a weapon against the First Hokage."
Naruto narrowed his eyes.
"That's horrible," he murmured. "How did you break free from his control?"
"The First Hokage somehow was able to release me from Madara's power during their battle."
"Why have you been sealed away then?" Naruto asked confused. "I mean if the First Hokage knew that you were controlled…"
"The First Hokage thought I was too dangerous, so he had me sealed in his wife, Mito Uzumaki." The fox explained with bitterness in his voice.
Naruto narrowed his eyes.
"So you had no say in the decision," he stated sadly. "That's just wrong."
The Fox decided to continue since he didn't know what to say to that statement.
"When I released from Kushina's seal 13 years ago, my body immediately. It felt so familiar. That's when I knew it was Madara."
"Did anyone try to free you from his control that night?" Naruto asked curiously. He was surprised by the answer.
"Your father was able to free me from his control."
"What happened afterward?" Naruto asked. "I know my mom trapped you with her chakra chains, and you tried to kill me, but what about before?"
"Once I was freed from his control, I continued to attack the village with a vengeance with no remorse."
Naruto narrowed his eyes.
"I see."
"Alright boy, I answered all your questions. What are you going to do?"
Naruto lifted up his head, looking straight at the Fox, with a smile on his face. The Fox was not expecting his reply.
"You and I are so much alike."
"WHAT?!" The nine-tails shouted incredulously. "ARE YOU MAD?! I just told I killed your parents and I tried to kill you!"
"You and I have been hated for something that was out of our control." He pointed out, ignoring the last statement.
"So, that doesn't mean anything."
"Nine-tails, from the very beginning, the village was wrong to seal you into humans," Naruto said seriously. The Fox looks at him surprised. It was wrong for Madara to use as some powerful weapon and for the first Hokage to consider you dangerous to roam free in the world and decided your fate. I can't imagine how tough it was for you be sealed against your own will. Both of them should have tried to understand and consider your feelings." He looked at him with a smile. "I should say what my father did was wrong, but that would mean we would have never met."
The last statement confused the fox.
"Are you saying you are happy I'm inside of you?" He asked in disbelief. "I'm the reason your childhood was miserable, remember? Or are you just glad that you can gain access to my chakra?"
"I won't deny the moment I learned the truth, I blamed you for how I was treated," Naruto admitted. "And you're right, I was happy when Pervy Sage told me I could use your chakra." He bowed his head to a shocked nine-tails.
"What are you doing?!" The Fox yelled feeling uncomfortable.
Naruto kept his head bowed.
"I'm sorry, for blaming you and taking your power for granted."
"Stop that! You're creeping me out!" The Fox yelled flustered. "Besides, there is no reason to apologize. I'm a demon crying out loud! So, of course, you should blame me! Also, I gave my power willingly because I didn't want to die and was bored."
Naruto lifted his head.
"That doesn't matter," he stated. "It doesn't matter if you are a demon or not. You deserve respect just like any human being."
The nine-tails stared him stunned. No person has ever told him that. He looked at Naruto suspiciously.
"I'm not going to ask again, what do you want from me?"
Naruto closed his eyes then opened them.
"I want your friendship. I want us to work together as partners, not enemies."
The nine-tails stared at him for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"Bah hahaha, good one kid! Now be serious, what is it really?" Naruto just stared at him calmly. "Wait, you're serious?!" The nine-tails asked incredulously.
Instead of answering, Naruto asks him a question.
"Hey nine-tails, is there a way I could free you without dying?"
"You want to free me?" The nine-tails repeated shocked. "Why?"
"I told you, it was wrong for you to get sealed in the first place," Naruto said firmly. "Look, I said we both are alike. You say you don't care, but I don't want to think of something inside me as a burden. I know what it's like to be alone, and I don't want you to feel that way. I want to use to be able to talk and share things. We can understand each other if you gave me a chance." The nine-tails just stared at him. Naruto, feeling uncomfortable under the stare, begins to babble. "So is there a way? I mean, I have no plans dying until I become Hokage, so I don't want you to wait too long, you know? I guess you used to live in the forest, right? I mean if there isn't a way, maybe I can change the mindscape somehow?"
The nine-tails continued to listen. This kid was serious. He really wanted to be friends.
"Naruto," the Fox addresses stopping his babble. "There is no way to free me without you dying." Naruto looks down. "But, there is a way to get rid of these bars, giving me more leg room inside here."
"Really? How do I do that?" Naruto asked excitedly.
The nine-tails shook his head.
"You still have a lot to learn before you can control my power."
Naruto stares at him surprised.
"I thought you didn't want me to…"
"I rather you control my power, than some Uchiha." The nine-tails growled.
"But, I don't want you to feel like you are being used as a weapon by me!" Naruto protested.
"I won't," the nine-tails assured him. "I get bored being stuck in here. So I'll be fighting by your side, willingly, as your partner."
Naruto's eyes widen and then smiles.
"You really mean it nine-…" Naruto starts to ask then pauses. "Hey, do you have a name? I mean, you can't just be called by your tails. That would be like villagers just giving the name demon brat because you are sealed inside me."
The nine-tails smile genuinely for the first at the blonde.
"My name is Kurama."
"Nice to meet you Kurama," Naruto says saluting him. "My name is Naruto Uzumaki! My dream is to become Hokage one day, so I can help and protect people close to me." The said Fox raised his eyebrows at the change in the dream. "I also have a goal to prove to the villagers that I'm not a monster, and neither is my partner Kurama."
Kurama frowned.
"You know that's not going to be easy. I do believe you could prove that one day. But as for me…"
"I'm not going to give up!" Naruto shouted. "And neither are you!"
"Naruto, don't you think you are putting too much on yourself?" Kurama questioned with concern in his voice. "Especially, how you are planning to deal with the vengeful villagers tonight?"
Naruto sighed, forgetting the Fox could read his thoughts.
"Kurama, I know it seems crazy."
"That's an understatement!" Kurama retorted sarcastically. "Your plan not to fight back or defend yourself could get you killed!"
"I know that," Naruto snapped. "But it hurts more to be seen as a monster, compared to getting hurt physically."
"But what if it's bad like the time you were five?" Kurama questioned. "We both know you only survived that's to me healing you and…"
"I know the other reason," Naruto cut him off annoyed he brought up a buried past memory. "You don't need to remind me."
"But what if they put chakra blockers on you?" Kurama asked sounding worried. "My chakra will also be blocked, keeping me from healing anything fatal."
"I don't plan on dying Kurama," Naruto replied crossing his arms. "But if you worried about going down with me, I promise, if it comes to that, I will release the seal."
Kurama shook his head.
"I'm not worried about that. I rather go down with you, since I doubt anyone would accept me as a partner or friend…well, maybe the Hyuga girl."
"Then what are you worried about?" Naruto asked confused.
"One, I don't like that fact you are taking responsibility for my actions. If it weren't for this stupid seal, I would have been able to switch minds with you." Kurama informs Naruto. "Two, is proving you are not a monster really worth it? I mean what about the promises you made to so many people? You can't fulfill them when you're dead."
Naruto smiled sadly at the Fox.
"One, I'm glad I will endure the pain instead of you. I think you've been punished enough being sealed for so long."
"But!" Kurama protested.
"Two," Naruto continued brushing him off. "As I said to Hinata and Neji, I can't become Hokage hurting others in the village. I will endure their hatred and anger. My responsibility isn't protecting the village from you anymore. Instead, my responsibility now is protecting you. I won't sell my partner out to anyone."
Kurama sighs.
"I really can't change your mind," he said exasperatedly. Naruto stares him. "Very well, I will respect your decision. But I don't like it."
"Thanks, Kurama," Naruto said softly.
"Now get out of here! Your friend should be coming very soon. Let me rest, so I'll be prepared for this very long night."
"See you later Kurama!" Naruto shouted before leaving his mindscape. Once he opens his eyes in the real world, he picks up Jiraiya's book, lies down on his stomach, and begins to read.
Author's Note:It wasn't easy to keep Kurama in character. It was a relief when he finally told his name to Naruto. I tried my best to make sure it wasn't rushed. The other reason why Naruto survived what he was put through at 5 years old, will be revealed in a later chapter.
Next chapter: Hinata and Neji finally join Naruto for his birthday.
