A.N. Hey all, as promised the bonus short chapter - normally i would stick this in my Times Before Trials shorts, but considering the subject it seemed better placed here.

Thanks again for all your support.

INTROSPECTION IS HIGHLY OVERRATED –REFLECTIONS OF THE GREATEST OF THE NINE

MEMOIRES OF KURAMA

Is it not right to conclude that I, Kyuubi, am the greatest of the Nine?

My brethren may like to believe that all are created equal, but reality proves that the difference in our powers is like the gap between the heavens and the earth. Shukaku has always chaffed under this and it is to be expected, after all he is the least of the Nine.

Even so, I have deep respect for my brethren, there is a bond that you mon-keigh could never hope to fathom, not even if you had till the end of eternity could begin to grasp its mysteries.

And yet…these passed years the bond has been silent; for that I will never forgive the humans, these mon-keighs.

My father held such fascination with you; even when you could descend no lower you still managed scrape deeper into the abyss, proving you were unworthy of his admiration. At yet it persisted and endured; he placed hopes and dreams of a future in your hands.

My father only saw the good in men; since his death I have only seen your greed, corruption, darkness.

You lust for power, you covet that which is not yours and when the black fruitage is ripe you take, unbidden. You lie and steal and plot in the service of liars, stealers and plotters; is it any wonder you have not drowned in your own filth? And know that you cannot hide it from me; I can peer into the very depths and bring forth the darkness that dwells deep.

I have been likened to a force of nature; great is the expanse of my power. I do not contest this.

Legend has you believe that where there is calamity and strife, where greed has seeped to the core and the hearts of men have grown cold the presence of the Nine-tails would not be far felt. In this there is truth.

My mind searches out the roots of this darkness, the greater it is the fouler the stench.

And now you tell me. What would you do when a stench becomes too unbearable, the rancour is firmly fixed and the filth can no longer be made separate from a thing?

You would perform a cleansing, by water or by fire it matters not. If a thing cannot be cleansed then it must be done away with. I know not why I have this gift, this curse. But through it I have trudged through the very deepest of shadows in men, I know when their darkness becomes an affront to life, and so it falls on me to cleanse them when their fellows cannot, or would not.

If we follow your crude mon-keigh beliefs that might is right, then my actions are justified.

Even if you say otherwise I will lose no sleep. What I will never allow is that darkness to spread, to infect the sanctity of what my father was determined to build.

You humans stole my brethren; one by one we were sought out and bound, locked away and used to justify your meaningless wars. As each day went by my loathing for your kind grew.

My father has never been wrong, but in you, I am willing to believe he was misguided.

And yet….

There are times where you mon-keigh show exceptional acts of kindness, valour and dignity. You put yourselves in harm's way for the safety and sanctity of those you care for. You even go as far as laying down your very lives, often in a slim chance that it makes a difference.

I have never met a species so contradictory. It boggles the mind.

I hold the First and the Fourth Hokage's in contempt. I hold their wives in contempt. And yet, Mito sacrificed herself for her husband and the people she called family, even now as generations prove they are unworthy of her recognition. The Fourth and the Uzumaki spawn gave everything up, shielding their offspring with their very lives, and using their very essence as the price of my bindings. All for a village and a vague hope, a false dream.

Mankind is a plague upon the world, and yet my father says there is hope in men. He said in time we may find one that would prove this truth and bring my brethren together.

You, Uzumaki Naruto are not this one.

You as well still suffer the frailties and failings that plague your kind. Yet there is courage and strength in you. You are not noble, but there is a subtle…elegance, or grace in your approach. You are efficient and quietly ruthless, yet more so to yourself than your rivals or enemies. And for all your pragmatism you at heart are a hoper, a dreamer.

There is darkness in you, yet it is tightly leashed….no not leashed. You are at peace with your demons, you make no apologies for it and you do not deny it. It has helped shape your views on the world, your actions and interactions therein.

You are no child of light, yet the darkness itself holds no claim to you. You exist somewhere between what is light and dark, the realm of many shadows.

I have come to….tolerate our mutual existence.

You respect and fear my wrath, as you should, yet you do not bend subserviently; you have more pride than that. You do not take what is not yours and you do not expect it to be given either. In turn I will acknowledge your meagre strength and admit that you can grow further still.

For a long time I saw the whole world of men as blight, and in many ways it has yet to prove me wrong. My father claimed someday there will be one to lead us to the light.

You Uzumaki Naruto in my eyes are not that light; but you may just be a step in that direction.

And in some ways, I think I may just appreciate that more.

A.N. Hope you enjoyed that - this time i only have one question it seems.

Guest, Chapter 8 - If you remember from the previous chapter, Naruto had been told Kankuro had been given something specifically meant for him. And knowing it was from Sasori, he wasn't just going to run off, anger or no. Also it's generally not advisable to randomly send out your scouts or ninjas when your Kage was literally body snatched from your village. Hope that helps.

Thanks everyone else and catch up with you soon.