Time to delve into a muchly neglected character.

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Naruto's feet didn't lift very high. The ground was wet, covered in a couple of inches of lukewarm water. The air was damp, moist, humid almost. He felt calm as his feet sloshed in the water, following the large corridors. He seemed to have a predetermined path, ignoring certain turn offs. After a long while, he found the light dimming as he advanced, and a small sense of dread tingled at the back of his mind. He continued however. He came to a giant room, a room he was very familiar with now. The gargantuan gate infront of him was parted, hanging loosely on its corner, the paper strip that said 'seal' on it had long ago been broken and unleased the monster that it had held, freeing it to run rampant inside of the growing boy.

It had not, however. Sometimes at night, when Naruto had gone to shut off his mind and body, he would find himself in this room, confronted by the inner demon of his soul. She rarely said much but the little she did was typically haughty and demanding. She was curvey and slender in a sense that rivaled Tsunade. The long haired orange-red head had nine tails that were longer and almost wider than she was sprouting and fanning out from her tailbone. Despite her freedom, the Kiyubii typically stayed in this dark corner of his mind and soul, hiding in the dark it was so familiar with. Infront of the opening was a soft, red, comfortable couch, large enough for Naruto to stretch out on and more. He sat down on it, waiting for the fox to make its appearance. From the dark, as he had known it would, two red eyes opened, glowing at him. The slits were animal like, their size was that of a woman's.

"What is it, Naruto-kun..?" The mature woman's voice called out to him in the dark. "Why have you come to see me?"

The blonde looked at his feet. When he gave no answer, Naruto felt her slink through the darkness on her hands and feet, her posture like an animal's. Fearful of the light, but braving into it hesitantly, timidly, the creature slunk around the gigantic bars and curled on its side, next to his seat. Its eyes glowered up at him with an expressionless face. Some time passed as the two stared at each other. For the first time, Naruto was not uncomfortable with the immensely powerful entity.

"Why haven't you taken control after all this time? I've left the door open for you when I managed to unlock the first gate and grow my fourth chakra tail, never locking the gate again," he said almost sadly. The entity stared up at him, then curled one of its long, soft, almost feathery ended tails around and caressed the young boy's cheek.

"You've grown on me, Naruto-kun," it simply stated. He felt himself smiling softly, not sure why.

After a long pause, he pressed. "Still..it means your freedom. You could return to destroying everything like before, doing what you want, being free of this place again." He cast his blue eyes over to the fire like red ones.

Without much delay he was answered with, "I'd rather not."

"Why?"

"I've seen beauty as you've grown. I might be trapped here, but I was always able to see and experience the things you have, remember?"

Naruto blinked in surprise at the Kyuubi(1). "R..really?"

"Yes. At first I was hateful and angry, vindictive and inclined to kill without remorse, but that's because it was all I ever experienced from people when you were a small boy. You never held it against them though, you ignored it and clung to the opposite emotions. I didn't understand at first, it didn't feel correct. I tried to push you to retaliation many times, but you wouldn't. I was confused for a long time. However, I was eventually able to find peace as you did. Find wisdom as you did. Find love as you did. Respect determination and yearn for softer, cherishable emotions you had held dearly since your earliest memories. I'm sure you've always wondered why I first attacked and tried to destroy Konohagakure?" It let out evenly. Naruto nodded, stunned.

"When I came into existance, I didn't know why. All I understood within myself was I had power. The first things I experienced in this world was light, pain, the cold air in my lungs and on my skin and fur, confusion and then hate. I felt hate and fear, not knowing what they were, but they angered me. I didn't understand my feelings, I couldn't control my body, I had no train of thought. I went towards the highest concentration of these feelings that sparked a reaction from my being - it was Konoha. Not because everyone was like that, just it had the highest concentration of advanced life forms and thoughts, energy patterns than anywhere else and therefore also the highest concentration of those sorts of emotions that I was so keen to." The Kyuubi inclined her head, her eyes closed.

Naruto blinked on, stunned. "You..you couldn't help yourself?"

"No. I was only reacting. I was like a newborn, only I was capable of actions and feeling the emotional waves projected from people. I attacked Konoha because the sensations that welled up inside of myself told me to on an instinctive, mindless level. I was drawn to a flame I wanted to put out desparately but not knowing why," it said, almost sadly.

"But still..you don't have to destroy, you could live on..if you just took control."

"I could, but I don't want to. I want to see you grow old and happy. I've watched you grow up all this time, remember? I've seen your heartfelt trials and accomplishments. I saw you never give up. I've seen you grow up under Jiraiya and Shirasei, and on your own for so long. I've seen you falling in love with the adorable Hyuuga Hinata. And I want you to live a full life, even if it means I can't leave. It's why I helped you when you needed it most just now," the entity admitted. "I wanted to help protect what beauty you had found, that you helped me to find and understand. I know sometimes this was a bit rough, such as when I forced myself upon you, made love and experimented with pleasure," Naruto's cheeks flushed. "But for a long time now I've not been just a creation and sensation of hate, anger and fury. I've been curious and learning, and appreciating all these different facets of life that I've been discovering through your eyes."

Naruto smiled softly, truly thankful inside. "Kyuubi-san, thank you.." He said, looking at her. The curled, voluptuous, grown woman smiled at him from her low laying position.

"At first I was hesitant about giving you my strength. I remembered the rampage I had gone on fifteen years ago, and all the destruction I had caused. All the beauty I had taken from the world. I didn't even understand the strength myself up until just now - when you balanced it out with loving memories. I had been hesitant all this time to grant you my power, until on the path to Konoha you showed me why you needed it. And now I feel I can grant you my strength when you need me, safely, because you won't lose yourself to the hate. Because you would only want the strength to protect the precious things in life," it said soberly. Naruto nodded once, not knowing what to say. "I'm grateful I was placed inside of someone like you. If I was in someone else, I may never have seen these things, changed, found appreciation in existance. I might not even be able to form a sentence, as sad as it sounds," The Kyuubi theorized dejectedly.

"Thank you.." Naruto said softly.

"Thank you, Naruto-kun," Kyuubi returned. The two smiled softly at each other. "Naruto-kun," it hesitated.

"Yes, Kyuubi-san?"

"..please..no matter what happens..don't summon the power I've bestowed upon you out of anger again.." she pleaded. "You may turn into what I was once...and never return. It's a sensation that blanks out the rest of your personality."

"I won't," he promised without a moment's thought.

"Okay..I am just worried about losing you after the last time you summoned so much of my strength. You almost didn't return to normal because you began the process angered. Though you were able to let go of your hated prey and return to your friends, and I'm a bit relieved that you have that kind of control..just there is one more level of strength and with it, nearly irresistable madness that you have not experienced yet.." She looked up at him both with respect and a mournful look. "I don't want to lose my Naruto-kun. You were the first person I ever cared about in this world.." her tail that had been placed on his whiskered cheek petted his upper arm and neck.

"You won't. I..I hope I never have to ask that much power from you..but..I think if I ever did, I could handle it.." Naruto said while staring at the calm, murkily glassed water at the foot of the couch. She sighed from his side.

The Kyuubi winced tensely as if in great pain, then abruptly said in a near sob, "Naruto-kun, you have to return to the conscious world now. You're needed. But I will see you when you fall asleep tonight - I know you will need me in one way or another.." she said knowingly, mysteriously, and he thought maybe hinting at something that involved wrestling. Naruto gave a wry smile.

"Okay..and thank you again, Kyuubi-san. See you.." He stood up and the dim, wet world around him swirled away.

Naruto awoken to the simple and unfortunately familiar setting of a simple hospitol bed and room. He felt excessively heavy on his chest, and sat up a little. He saw the indigo top of Hinata, leaning over from her chair with her heavy chest and slender arms thrown out lazily across his body with her small hands on his shoulders, breathing softly. He was surprised to see the tall form of the curvey, blonde Tsunade, orange eyes glistening as she looked out his night-time window. The dim light showed him she was leaning against the wall, arms folded across her huge, straining bust, lost in troubled thoughts.

"Obaachan..?" Naruto blinked, looking over from his bed to her. Her eyes portrayed the look of her heart skipping a beat, and that she was unsure what to do or feel. She looked over at him numbly.

"Naruto.." she began, still not sure what to say or do, as if she had been dreading this moment.

"Where is everyone?" He managed to say slowly. "How long has it been? Is everybody okay..?" He asked slowly enough for her to cut in any time she wanted, but she didn't do so. She only gave a pained look from her large, orange eyes. "Obaachan? What's wrong?"

She closed her eyes, shuddering softly. "Jiraiya's in a stable condition. Hanshoumaru needs rest but is fine. Blunky is up and about, so is Jazlyn, to an extent.." Naruto sat up, causing Hinata's limp form to slide down his front and into his lap.

"What do you mean by that?"

"She's..she's in shock..a..a bit.." Tsunade said, stumbling on her words.

"From what?" Naruto's heart was thundering in his ears.

"...your friend passed away - her husband, Shirasei Fang.." Tsunade said slowly, trying to find the safest way to say it. "Hey, hey! Is that Naruto? Watch over that shinobi while he stays in our country, understood?" Tsunade said quickly, almost getting up from her seat at the back of the black and blue checkered shirt across the room from her, trying to see if a certain shorter, blonde nin was on the other side. "Yatta!" Naruto jumped for joy, pumping his arm. How unexpected, but then again it was Naruto. It's what he was known for. Tsunade trembled at the memory with her large eyes closed. She saw the blonde nin animatedly poking for attention at the older, quiet, young man as they walked. It seemed like they were nearly opposites. He was irritated, but didn't yell at the hyperactive kid. She could tell they were good friends.

Naruto's eyes twitched into shaking and watered, his heart clenching inside of him. The Kyuubi winced tensely as if in great pain, then abruptly said in a near sob, "Naruto-kun...I will see you when you fall asleep tonight - I know you will need me in one way or another..." Kyuubi told him again in his mind. Did..did you know that his life force went out, Kyuubi-san..? Naruto felt his heart's pain flow from his eyes. Naruto shoved Hinata aside, sitting her upright roughly in her chair. She stirred, the action waking her. He forcefully threw himself out of bed and to the taller woman infront of him. "How could you just let him die like that? I thought you were the best medical ninja in the world! Why? Why did he have to die?" His voice choked with emotion, one hand clenched near his chest, the other thrown out from his shoulder. When she wouldn't open her eyes, keeping her head tilted and arms folded across her straining chest, the teenager grabbed her upper sleeves and shook her, forcing her large eyes open from the shock of it. She shuddered, her breath quavering.

"Naruto.." Tsunade said softly, compassionately, shaking as her orange eyes shaking with moisture at him. Hinata's eyes fluttered open softly. "..when Hanshoumaru brought him to me, he was dangling by a thread. He hung on like that for an hour or two, then finally gave up. He wouldn't return. It's as if he had a choice to make and decided it was his time in the end," she said, light flickering in her eyes from them welling up more with tears. "..I'm so sorry, Naruto..if he had come maybe twenty minutes earlier...ten even..I could've saved him..his wounds were not fatal but had gone untreated for so long, and...he had strained himself so much...I'm sorry..I'm so sorry..." She shook and sobbed quietly to herself as she leaned against the shadowed wall.

Naruto trembled. This is a bad dream, right? It can't be real. I don't believe it! It couldn't have happened! Why am I not waking up? Wake up, Naruto! But he knew he had just came from the dream world. He knew this was reality. He felt hot streams trace down his whiskered cheeks. "I told you about shirking your responsibilities coming back to bite you in the ass, Naruto. You don't gamble with your life when you avoid training." Jiraiya said with a frown at the blonde nin from down his broad frame. He turned to leave down the dirt road and his scolding expression instantly changed to desparate surprise.

"Naruto-kun.." Hinata's soft voice came out hesitantly to him, akin to a coo so much that it helped ease some of his pain away, but not much. He turned to her, grief stricken. She got up, reaching out to him a little, slowly as she took a step towards him. But he didn't want that right now, did he? He wasn't sure honestly. He turned and stormed out of the room, the visions blurred, not really knowing where he was going, not knowing why he didn't want anyone's comfort, especially her's. He eventually found himself on the cool, breezy roof. He cried and cried, not even being able to think coherently. It was a long time before he realized he was numb and cold, hugging his knees and sitting on his bottom, rocking himself as he grieved alone. Below his hanging face, the cement of the rooftop was heavily coated in salted drops. He felt empty inside his head, his heart, his stomach, but didn't want to do anything about it. He didn't want to do anything. "Naruto-kun.." Hinata's gentle voice reached his ears and he looked at her, pain all over his face. She approached him and pressed her small, warm, soft body against his side, enclosing her slender arms around him. When he gave a silent hiccup from a sob, her arms slid around him tighter a few more inches.

She didn't know what to say, but hoped that nothing needed to be said. Naruto trembled underneath her for a long time, until he eventually stopped shaking. He was still cold though as she helped him up and lead him back to his room. Tsunade was gone. Naruto didn't want to stay, but if he wanted to see his friend one last time, he had to since he had no idea where to go to see the lifeless body. He wanted to say 'good bye' for once. He got back into bed as Hinata watched him, her pale, jewel like eyes glittering softly in the dim light.

She stared at him for a long time, and he returned the gaze, mind numb. "Naruto-kun..can..can I stay here..with you tonight..?" She said softly. He nodded after a pause, and layed his head back down. The teenage girl sat herself back down how she had originally, and scooted the chair up to his bed, sprawling her soft, warm, comforting heavy chest over his and spreading her slender arms across his body. He still felt the warm water drain from the sides of his eyes and roll into the pillow. He didn't know how long it was until the dim ceiling blurred away.

On the couch infront of the giant bars, he found himself cuddled by the warm, fluffy body of the Kyuubi. He buried his whiskered face in her many tails, weeping all night as he clutched the puffy orange cloud to his quivering body.

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Author's Notes

(1) 'Nine tails'