Authors Note: So these next chapters are going to be written in like snippets of bonding. There are going to be a few major events though.

Disclaimer: I obviously do not own Naruto, the world, the characters or any of the situations. All of these belong to the creator Masashi Kishimoto.

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Chapter 23

Kyubi and the Karatachi Family

It had been about a week since the group had initially arrived back at Kirigakure. Yagura had arranged different housing arrangements late at night on the first day. The entire group was located in a semi large house that could independently operate if need be. There would be no security guarding the jinchuuriki, as it was understood that they would be allowed to do their own thing while in the village.

None of the villagers knew about the status of the mysterious new visitors. The only ones who knew about them were Kiri's council and other trusted figures.

They spent their time planning out schedules on the future. Nothing majorly eventful occurred besides that though, and the group's relations to each other didn't change either. Mostly, the jinchuuriki got used to living with each other in the house. Though, it was not hard considering they spent months camping together.

Meanwhile, it was determined who needed the most help with their tailed beast. Naruto had always bugged the older jinchuuriki about the tailed beast, being the only one in the entire group who had not yet even met their tenant.

However, it was unanimously decided that it would not be wise to start the training while gathering the group. Lest something go wrong while in a foreign country and accidentally cause irreversible damage that might start an international incident.

But now that they were in a village instead, the older jinchuuriki relented on the matter and Yagura took Naruto out to an island to start.

The Fourth Mizukage had been working extremely hard to balance out all his duties as a jinchuuriki, Kage, husband and father. Isobu had once had to console their despondent jinchuuriki to keep moving forward after a particular rough day.

So Yagura was tired, but still ready to help the excited young boy with his training.

The duo took a boat across a river to one of the islands with no people on it. Travelling to the centre of said land, Yagura placed a few seals and other precautions before beginning the meditation process to begin speaking to the Kyubi.

If this was almost any other jinchuuriki or tailed beast, Yagura probably would've let them go alone. However, he had heard some, unfavourable things about the Kyubi from Isobu and thus was going to enter the mindscape with Naruto.

From there, depending on how the interaction went he would decide if the kid could do these alone. It wasn't like he didn't trust Naruto, the boy had a very likeable personality if a little bit extreme sometimes. But, he was still a child who didn't even know they were a jinchuuriki until recently, still very susceptible to influence.

So with that in mind the two tried to reach the nine tails.

—

Naruto was anxious to meet the nine tails, he had heard a lot about the tailed beast from all the other jinchuuriki. He had been at first confused about his apparent status as one, even so more when it appeared he was the only one to never have met it either. But the more he learned the more he wanted to meet the Kyubi and do all the cool things the others could do.

From observing alone Naruto was able to piece together how to harness some of the Kyubi's chakra. When he first used it while taking a break, he thought he heard a dark cackle, but it could've been his imagination.

The other jinchuuriki were surprised by this, commending Naruto for doing the feat by only observing them. Afterwards telling him to wait before anymore training, as it could be dangerous if they tried going any further while travelling.

That disappointed the young jinchuuriki, but he obeyed after they explained why. He wouldn't stop asking though.

So when they finally settled in Kiri, he had been ecstatic if a tad nervous to finally meet his tenant.

The boy woke up in a metallic room coloured yellow, it was ornately decorated with long pipes covering the walls. The floor was covered in some water but he didn't mind it too much. The main attraction in the mindscape though was the huge fox held behind bars on the opposite side of the room.

That was the nine tails, the Kyubi.

Curious and only a little scared of the beast, Naruto approached slowly, steps creating huge ripples in the watery floor. The nine tails gave the boy a wayward, loathing look that pierced his soul. It growled as he got closer.

"Hi, you're the nine tails right mister fox?" Naruto cheerfully asked loudly, his voice echoing off the metallic walls.

"Who else would I be you human brat?" The fox snakily replied, scoffing.

Naruto paid no mind to the fox's tone, continuing his energetic introduction.

"I'm Naruto Uzumaki! The next Hokage and your jinchuuriki!" The boy yelled out, as if it was something to celebrate.

The fox narrowed their glare at their host. "I wouldn't be so happy about that brat." The nine tails spat out like venom.

Naruto winced at the retort, about to apologize before he felt a presence beside him.

"Hello there Nine Tails." The Sanbi jinchuuriki greeted curtly as he put a hand on Naruto's shoulder.

"You're Isobu's brat then? Just a bunch of small humans." The nine tails stated with that same growl.

Yagura choked back a verbal response to the insult, but he did think to himself that he was an adult and to not let the fox get to him.

"I am Isobu's jinchuuriki, though I suppose partner is the correct term at the moment." The pink eyed adult replied in a polite tone.

"Isobu's a weak softie, letting a human get close to them." The large orange fox returned with another scoff.

"Isn't that a little rude to say about your siblings." Yagura interrogated with a disapproving tone.

"Most of my siblings are weak anyways." The nine tails returned with an arrogant tone this time.

"How are they weak exactly?" The Kage asked even though isobu began a mental rant.

"That is why Kurama never gets along with any of us! They're always so focused on strength! And they always believe that the ones with more tails are better then the rest of us!" Isobu blabbered with their own anger and disapproving tone.

While the turtle complained about their sibling, the nine tails more or less affirmed the statements confidently and without remorse. Naruto just observed for the moment, but then realized he was being kept out of the conversation.

"Hey! I'm here too you know!" The indigent boy called out.

"Shut it brat." The fox ordered which offended Naruto. A shouting match then began between the nine tails and their jinchuuriki. Sighing, Yagura coughed though it didn't do any good to get either of their attention.

"This isn't good for me after being stuck in that office all day…" The Mizukage tiredly thought as he gathered his composure. "Excuse me? Can we place have a civil discussion now you two?" Yagura commanded in his Kage voice, firm and unyielding.

The two arguing parties gave a look to each other, but were silent for the moment. "Okay, off to a great start." The sanbi jinchuuriki sarcastically muttered under his breath before the fox began talking.

"Why should I listen to you humans? You're all the same, so annoying and arrogant." The fox stated though it was slightly hypocritical.

"I'm mainly here so you and Naruto can meet up, though clearly it's not going well." Yagura explained with a sheepish look to the boy, who was still a little miffed about his tenant displaying rude behaviour towards him.

"Well you can leave then. I have no interest in speaking to you humans." The nine tails waved off darkly.

"While I could still teach Naruto some things even if the nine tails didn't cooperate. It will make things harder in the long run if this type of relationship continues between them." The short Kage noted in his head.

Trying to come up with a solution to get the fox to cooperate with the jinchuuriki, Isobu began speaking.

"Kurama is such a stubborn fool. I apologize for their behaviour." Isobu started to say exasperated.

"Don't apologize Isobu, their actions do not reflect you. But do you think calling the nine tails by their name would make any difference?" Yagura asked his tenant, looking for help from the nine tails sibling.

"No, that would probably make them angry. Kurama would be one to say their name first." The turtle informed with a scoff.

"You were the same Isobu." The Sanbi jinchuuriki reminded with a twinkle of amusement despite the irritating situation.

Isobu ignored this and continued with their advice on how to get the nine tails to cooperate.

"Do you remember when you made Shukaku's jinchuuriki a sleep seal?" The three tails asked.

"It was a chakra suppression seal for one, but I do recall that yes." Yagura answered, sighing when the fox began yelling at them to leave already.

"Well we had an interesting conversation that night, about whose fault it was that we are treated horribly by most humans. Perhaps bringing up a similar topic of conversation with Kurama would at least make them think more, instead of yelling." Isobu explained wisely. "That or they'll just yell more, but it's worth a try." They added soon after.

"I'll try that, thanks Isobu." Yagura thanked before composing his next words carefully. "Nine tails, do you think you deserve to be treated this way, by us humans?" The Kage asked in a wondering voice.

"What kind of question is that human? Of course I don't, neither me or my ridiculous siblings!" The nine tails angrily answered, incredulous.

"But you attack the villages when you are released. You cause so much death and damage to humans don't you?" The sanbi jinchuuriki continued to prod, slowly edging the topic.

"You all deserve it." The Kyubi sniped shortly.

"But most of the humans you kill don't even think about you or your siblings until you start attacking them. Most of us humans do not have a part in your situations." Yagura explained to the fox with his own wise tone.

"You're all the same, you selfish humans." The nine tails shot down.

Sighing again, Yagura decided to try and take a more personal approach to the fox. Looking, he saw Naruto still huffing about his fox being uncool and rude.

"Well when you attacked Konohagakure-" The older jinchuuriki tried to start before being cut off almost immediately.

"They deserved it. And I wasn't even in control of myself that one time, wasn't my fault that one." The Kyubi stated gruffly, mad at the situation them self.

This perplexed the Kage, so he decided to ask about what they meant.

"What do you mean when you say you weren't in control?" Yagura asked in a confused but curious tone.

"Some human in a mask was controlling me." The nine tails muttered angrily, ashamed of that small show of weakness back then.

"Human in a mask?" The short Kage whispered, remembering his own encounter with a masked man. Then, he thought up a new plan to get the nine tails to be more cooperative. "We might have a common enemy then, Kyubi." Yagura called out in a determined voice.

This interested the nine tails despite it's own beliefs about the humans. It gave a sound of interest to the short humans.

"I was once controlled by a man in a mask as well you see. One of the reasons we have been gathering you and your siblings together is to create a defence against the masked man and their allies." The Sanbi jinchuuriki further elaborated upon.

"So that is why we were brought together…" The Kyubi trailed off before realizing something. "Does this mean there is an opportunity to fight the masked figure who controlled me?" They questioned, eager for revenge.

"Well if they attack us, and Naruto specifically then yes." Yagura answered, with a small hint of caution in his voice.

The large orange fox let out a loud laugh. "In that case what do you want me to do small humans?" They maliciously asked with a crazed glint in their eyes.

"Let Naruto use your chakra freely, and don't take him over or try to destroy any of the villages." Yagura stated without stopping. "Specifically not Kirigakure." He mentally added nervously inside.

"Hmm. I accept those conditions if it means I can end that bastard masked human." The nine tails eventually answered without much thought, delighted at the opportunity to take revenge.

"Then we are at agreement Nine Tails. Naruto?" The Sanbi jinchuuriki asked the boy, who after suspiciously glancing at the Kyubi nodded slowly.

"Call me Kurama, I want the ones delivering my revenge to know my name when they slay the masked bastard." The Kyubi stated soon after, a final agreement being formed.

—

Days later, things were uneventful for the jinchuuriki. Most jinchuuriki simply needed to learn how to maintain control during transformations, not having troubles with the tailed beast themselves.

Naruto was proving to be handling his new chakra abilities extremely well, making remarkable progress with Kurama's willing assistance. So far, no major incidents had occurred luckily.

In the present Yagura had finally made good on his promise to bring his family over to visit the jinchuuriki. Of course he went over it with them first, making sure they were okay with meeting the Karatachi family. None of them objected, understanding that kids were extremely curious when they wanted to be.

So the Mizukage brought Yui, Akimori and Asuri over one day in the afternoon, when the other eight were home. He was mainly quiet when making the initial introductions, as he was tired.

The children of the Kage got along best with the other children in the house, animately chatting. It was mostly Yui asking questions about the tailed beast, while Akimori focused more on casual conversation every now and then. The older jinchuuriki made polite greetings to Asuri as she stayed with Yagura who was resting on a chair.

She and Utakata quietly conversed while Yagura just observed with a loopy smile. Asuri was like an older sister to the Rokubi jinchuuriki after all, along with Mei. Utakata had decided to stay in the shared house for now, despite having his own home in Kiri. It would be best for the younger ones he defended in his head.

Meanwhile the two Iwa jinchuuriki were off to the side, separated from the rest of the group. They had made their formal introductions but after that kept their distance still. Han noticed that Roshi had an odd look on his aged face though, different from the jovial and sometimes stubborn attitude he usually carried.

It was a look that he held while looking at Yagura and Asuri, hands intertwined lovingly.

Han was no fool when he observed that look, having had lots of time to contemplate emotions.

"Roshi." Han said quietly, standing next to the older jinchuuriki.

However, Roshi did not react, not hearing the armoured jinchuuriki. He was in his own world at that moment. "Roshi!" The five tails jinchuuriki said again, a little louder this time but not too loud to attract attention from the others.

That time the older of the two reacted, blinking rapidly and snapping their head up. He turned to Han with a surprised look. "Are you alright?" The latter curtly asked with quiet concern.

Roshi turned his head away, moustache drooped. "Yes Han. I am okay. I was just thinking back to better times." The four tails jinchuuriki answered with a fond but distant voice.

Han put a gloved hand on the elder's shoulder, sighing.

"I may be a quiet man Roshi. But I can still guess what you are feeling right now. I am here if you want to talk." He told his fellow Iwa shinobi who gave a small smile in return.

"I'll take you up on that offer Han. Have you ever been in love before?" Roshi questioned with a wise air about him.

The five tails jinchuuriki gave a small blush underneath his armour, though luckily it was hidden beneath said armour.

"A couple of times in my life, I liked a person more then, a friend." Han slowly answered, keeping his voice together despite the embarrassing topic of discussion.

Roshi gave an hearty laugh, which lightened the mood. "I didn't take you for one who involved himself in such things Han." He chuckled to which said person scoffed at.

"Not like they went anywhere." He muttered darkly which went unnoticed by the older jinchuuriki. "What about you? What girl did you hold close?" Han prodded quietly, not joking but more of a comforting tone.

The host of the four tails gave a slight chuckle, though it contained no humour. His eyes were somewhere else for a few seconds, before returning to the present.

"It wasn't a girl for one. He was the one who broke down my walls when I was young, I truly loved him." Roshi simply stated quietly, but it held the heavy weight of lost.

"Oh." Han said in return, ashamed.

"He was murdered while I was in the war, no one even told me until I got back." The four tails jinchuuriki growled though it held no anger. Then he glanced at the awkward armoured man and grew a soft smile once more. "It was over a decade ago though. I still miss him but it hurts less now a days." Roshi explained as he looked at Asuri and Yagura again.

"Watching them just makes me think of what could've been." He said with another distant look.

"I'm, I'm sorry." Han apologized, looking at the floor.

"No don't be, like I said it was a long time ago." Roshi waved off as he forcefully moved the conversation to lighter topics.

The two missing nin from Iwagakure had not had much social experience. But it was the first of many bonds after so long that was beginning to develop then. Even after the Karatachi family left.

—

Authors Note: So I'm sorry if any of the characters seem OOC, but I'm trying to keep them in character as best I can.