Happy Wednesday Morning everyone!

Glad to have finished this. Pulled an all nighter (Kind of). Another chapter with more of Kyuubi's background. Also fleshing out Iruka a bit more. Hope you enjoy~

"Kyuubi Speech"

"Midnight Speech"

"Everyone else's speech"

"Thought Speech"

Chapter 32
On with the story

Iruka stood in front of the closed door to the Hokage's office. He stared into the wood with an expression of deep contemplation. He'd been standing there for a while trying to think of the best way to broach the topic that was on his mind. After a heavy sigh the chunin lifted his fist to knock but before his knuckles hit the wood a tired voice called out from behind the closed door.

"Come."

Iruka paused before reaching down to the handle, opening the door as he was instructed. When Iruka entered the familiar hokage office he was greeted by the sight of the third hokage sitting at his usual spot behind his desk, and another person that Iruka didn't recognize.

Sarutobi had a larger desk from what Iruka remembered since last he'd been in the office. The hokage's desk used to be horizontal and straight. Now it was shaped like a large U, wrapping around the hokage and extending past his side. The new desk was the perfect shape to allow a foreign woman to lay across it. Iruka stepped up to the hokage's desk, his eyes on the red headed woman so boldly sprawled out along Sarutobi's desk. She was laying on her side, the side of her head resting atop her own forearms. The woman's purple eyes stared intensely at Iruka. Iruka immediately noticed her resemblance to Naruto but didn't speak up.

"You wanted to see me Iruka?" Sarutobi spoke up, grabbing Iruka's attention.

Iruka had been staring at the woman for probably longer than he should have. She wasn't exactly a common nor expected sight. Who would have the gall to lay across the hokage's desk? And why did she have the same type of ears as the person that was giving him trouble?

"I...yes Hokage-Sama. I wanted to speak to you about the student you put into my class." The man spoke up with a small bow at the waist.

Sarutobi nodded in understanding.

"Of course. Speak freely Iruka."

Iruka stood up straight with a hesitant look, a frown forming across his brow. He tried his best to ignore the constant staring of the woman and focus on the task at hand.

"She attacked another student today. Nearly put that student in the hospital. When I attempted to reprimand her she threatened me. I know you wouldn't have put her into my class without reason so I have delayed any kind of major action, but I need to know more about this girl if I am to properly guide her. Why did you put someone of such strength in my class? Who is she?" Iruka ranted, clearly distressed.

Sarutobi nodded in understanding. As Iruka spoke a sly smirk crossed the face of the foreign woman. Iruka stole a glance to the woman's smile quickly before focusing back on the hokage.

"Why did she attack?" Sarutobi questioned after a brief pause.

"What?"

"The girl. Why did she attack the other student?" Sarutobi reiterated.

"She...another student was having an argument with Naruto. The girl came to Naruto's defense. But..." Iruka tried to explain before being cut off by Iruka.

"I see." The hokage spoke up, rising to his feet and turning his back on Iruka to look out of the window onto the village.

"With respect Hokage-sama that's no excuse for what she did. Sakura lightly poked Naruto and she was nearly put in the hospital for that. Then she threatened me in front of the entire class. I can't have someone in the class who can question my authority without consequence." Iruka stated in alarm.

"It is as I thought. She came to the defense of Naruto." Sarutobi spoke out thoughtfully.

He took out a pipe and puffed on it for a moment, blowing a plume of smoke from his nose.

"That girl, consider her royalty. I can't fully explain the situation but it is imperative that we integrate her and allow her the best chance to befriend the members of this village and the students of that class." Sarutobi explained in a dull tone.

Iruka gritted his teeth.

"Just how am I supposed to do that? With respect Hokage-Sama, we both know this is no ordinary student. How am I supposed to guide someone who I know so little about, who doesn't respect my authority!?"

Sarutobi turned around to face Iruka, making the chunin flinch and bow his head. He didn't realize he was screaming.

"What do you need to know exactly?" Sarutobi questioned calmly.

Iruka was a bit taken aback by the hokage's poise. Iruka stared down at the ground in thought.

"Who is she? Where does she come from? What is her relationship to Naruto? Why is it so important that she integrates? How can I understand her? Maybe if I knew where she came from I could figure out a good strategy for approaching her. If I knew the ways of her people." Iruka rattled off that list in a much more quiet voice.

Sarutobi walked around his desk to stand in front of Iruka, looking the man in the eye.

"I'll reiterate that much of the information about the girl is top secret. I'll tell you what I can. She is the relative of a powerful foreign power. I can't tell you where. How we treat her, how she perceives her stay in the village will help determine whether or not a peace or alliance can be brokered with this foreign power. Her and Naruto are very close. She will not hesitate to kill anyone that threatens him. Despite their age it may help to think of them as lovers. As for how best to understand her? From the interactions I've had with her people, they respond well to empathy and respect. We must respect their ways but not impose our will upon them. They don't respect our ways. In their eyes we haven't earned their respect. We must first show that we are willing to understand them even if it's inconvenient." Sarutobi went on.

Iruka had to take time to process all of this information.

"If it is as you say...if this task is so important...then why entrust it to me? Surely there are others better suited. I'm simply a chunin. I cannot control her. A responsibility so great should be placed on someone with more experience, someone with more power who can command respect." Iruka stated with a shaky voice.

The chunin bowed his head and closed his eyes, balling his fists in frustration. His eyed opened in surprise when feeling a gentle grip to his shoulder. Sarutobi was looking at him with an empathetic gaze.

"Someone with more power isn't what is needed. Didn't you ever wonder why it was you specifically who was entrusted with training the next generation of shinobi?" Sarutobi questioned.

Iruka paused, hesitating to answer.

"Despite being a chunin you've never taken a life. You show unparelled empathy and compassion. In a world full of hate, war, strife, where individuals of immense power reside, the care you show towards those close to you and even towards those we would deem enemy is irreplaceable. That is why we entrust the next generation to your leadership. To instill in them a sense of empathy and humanity despite the task they are being trained for. We train children as murderers, thieves, and liars. Solders who will kill if ordered to. I placed you at your station because I trust you to make them more than just a gang of killers who follow orders. I placed you in that position to show them that despite their duty, they should never forget their humanity, their compassion and empathy. That is what is needed right now. That lesson taught not from someone with the exceptional ability to destroy, but the exceptional ability to bring people together."

Iruka looked at Sarutobi with aw, giving an understanding nod. He straightened up, a look up determination showing across his face.

"I'll do my best Hokage-Sama. Thank you." He said with a quiver in his voice, clearly moved by the speech.

Sarutobi nodded, watching as the chunin turned to depart. When the door to the room was closed Kyuubi had that devilish smirk still plastered across her painted lips.

"And I thought I was the master of the pep talk." The woman commented in amusement.

"You always have a strange way of giving compliments." Sarutobi said with a soft chuckle while returning to his seat and picking up a stack of papers. "Thank you."

"You're welcome Darling. You've placed quite the burden on his shoulders. Do you think he'll be able to handle it?"

Sarutobi huffed another cloud of smoke from his nostrils.

"I wouldn't have given him the task if I didn't think he was the best suited for it. You know that."

Kyuubi shrugged lightly.

"For Naruto's sake I hope you are right. I'd prefer she not slaughter any of the students but you know, demons will be demons." The woman commented playfully.

Sarutobi glanced over to her out the corner of his eye.

"I did want to ask you about that as a matter of fact." Sarutobi questioned, intentionally ignoring the part about the potential for Midnight to slaughter Naruto's classmates.

"Oh? Ask about what exactly?"

"Your people. Demons. Is that how you refer to each other? Tailed beasts? Isn't there a name for your people among each other?" Sarutobi questioned in interest while flipping through another stack of papers.

Kyuubi raised a brow at the question, the woman sitting up and letting her legs hang off of the desk.

"Oh how fun. This is probably my favorite part of being your consultant. I do love talking about my people. And yes, we refer to our kind by another name. Though it's not something that most humans would care about. We have embraced this label you've put on us. Demon. I find it rather charming after all this time." Kyuubi mused.

"What are your people to each other? Why have you embraced this label? You clearly realize that "demon" is a negative term used to dehumanize you. To paint your kind as evil and vile."

Kyuubi waived a dainty paw dismissively.

"What we call each other is a secret we keep among ourselves. We, the tailed beasts, demons, have embraced the term for a multitude of reasons. I even raised Naruto to refer to himself as a demon, to internalize it because that's how the world sees him. As separate from humanity. That label is a symbol of how close-minded humanity is as a whole. Naruto knows the true name of our people but we never use it. We've embraced the label of "demon" because we live in a human world. When humanity no longer exists, neither will that label. But for now we embrace it gladly. It constantly reminds us who you are." Kyuubi explained with her intense, violent gaze barring down on the hokage.

Sarutobi looked up at her with in understanding.

"Will you at least tell me, Kurama-chan?"

Kyuubi paused for a moment, staring the man down. To Sarutobi's surprise Kyuubi turned her head away, breaking her gaze and staring off to the side.

"Not yet. Not until everything is done."

Sarutobi frowned in disappointment.

"Why not? Can't you see I just want to get closer? Yet when I try you push me away. You talk about how close-minded we are but you refuse to let me in." Sarutobi stated in frustration.

Kyuubi returned her gaze to him, showing a solemn smile.

"Your people are close minded as a whole. I wouldn't place you on the same level as them. Yet, I can't afford to open myself up to a humans. Not again. Not until I'm sure I can protect you from the consequences of that. I've done it before...and I've paid the price. No, you'll just have to wait." Kyuubi insisted.

Sarutobi let out a deep sigh while leaning back in his armchair. He set a stack of papers down and just stared up at her.

"My people, humans, us. How can we be so alike but yet so different? How is it that your kind have come to such peace and harmony? How have you solved the problem of hate, greed, and lack of empathy? How can you be so much better than us?"

Kyuubi tilted her head to the side as that amused expression returned to her face.

"Better is a matter of perspective Darling. Though I won't nitpick your question too much. If you have a few minutes then we can go on another adventure." Kyuubi said while reaching a hand towards Sarutobi.

Unlike before, Sarutobi did not hesitate in taking her hand. He expected his mind to immediatley be wisped away like it always was when Kyuubi showed him her visions. Instead their embrace lingered for a moment, Kyuubi eyes staring into his. He stared up at a her silently. Without thinking his grip tighten around her delicate hand, squeezing affectionately.

Kyuubi watched him with a gentle expression before rising from her seat. Slowly she settled atop his lap, her legs laying horizontally across his thighs. She leaned in and sent her free hand up to slide across his cheek. Sarutobi gave no resistance, staring unfalteringly at the demoness. They stayed that way for a long, lingering moment before Sarutobi's vision finally went black, his dull eyes glowing purple.

Sarutobi found himself in a familiar place. That hellish, demonic world with a red sky and black city. Kyuubi stood by his side, holding his hand. They stood high in the sky, looking down on the black city full of demons just like Kyuubi.

"There are many things that lead to our current harmony. Let's start from the beginning." She said while flying forward with him in tow.

As Kyuubi flew the scene changed to a different setting. They stood in front of a creature that was completely alien to Sarutobi. It seemed to have multiple characteristics of different species of animals that he was familiar with. The ears of a raccoon, the snout of a fox, the horns of a bore, and so on.

"Most species of demon that you know hail from this creature. Our ancient ancestor. No more intelligent than your monkeys, but strong enough to survive the harsh conditions of our home." As Kyuubi explained that the area around them suddenly erupted into a lake of fire.

There were many jagged cracks along the ground. The land for miles in all directions was molten, random eruptions springing up periodically. Despite this the creature was unaffected by the heat. In fact that lava splattered on it's form and simply dripped off of it. It went along it's business, sniffing along the ground on all fours, seemingly searching for food. Eventually the creature came along others that looked just like it. Some were standing on two paws, others on four. Others were supporting themselves on the tentacles that sprouted from it's back. The creature was truly something straight out of a hellish nightmare.

"It survived by working together with others. It became one of the first hunter/gatherers on our world, spreading further than any other species. Eventually, every demon you know would evolve from this species as they migrated to different environment. Based on where the particular group settled some traits would be prominent, others dormant. The most notable characteristic of demons is their ability to quickly adapt and evolve. Our people, most closely resembling what you know as a fox, settled in a region of fire."

As she said this the scene shifted to another region which was essentially a volcano. Except their were plant sprouting from the ground. They looked completely different than anything Sarutobi had ever scene. Black, almost looking as if they were made of iron. The primitive fox people ate from the trees and a dark fruit it sprouted.

"This was millions and millions of year ago. If not billions. Our people are old though no one actually was alive to remember those times. Because of THEM. The titans." Kyuubi stated with a narrowed gaze.

Sarutobi noted Kyuubi's change in demeanor. He noticed something in the distance. It was absolutely enormous. Kyuubi moved them closer.

A creature that was the size of a mountain lumbered towards the ancient foxes. It looked like a walking volcano with eyes of fire and skin of steel. It moved on four limbs, it even had a huge tail. Despite it's hulking size it bounded forward at an amazing speed, attacking the ancient foxes, consuming them.

"These Titans are forces of nature. Every clan they'd encounter would be completely wiped out. They are the apex predators of our world. For ages we survived by running from them, by hiding from. All those that stood up against them died. They'd always find us when they were hungry. The only reason we survived is because they're hunger could be satiated by enough of our blood. We had enough numbers to not be hunted to extinction. It was primarily our interaction with these beasts, no more intelligent than an elephant, that bred harmony in our society. We tried sacrificing our own to it, tried multiple ways to appease it, but there was no negotiating, no peace could be made with these monsters. Those were dark times." She explained as Sarutobi watched the ancient foxes fail over and over again.

He witnessed entire populations being crushed and consumed by the beasts. Families were destroyed, separated, populations obliterated.

"No matter how strong each individual got, how much we advanced, no one could defeat them. Until, one day one particular clan stood up as one." The woman explained with a solemn smile.

Sarutobi saw a huge army of foxes as large as the eye could see surrounding one of the titans. This one looked different. This one looked like an ox made of stone. He watched in amazement as a huge battled commenced. The foxes fell in droves but continued to throw themselves at the titan. The size difference was palpable. Like an army of ants fighting an anteater. The foxes fought it with just their claws and teeth, engulfing the behemoth, clawing at it's eyes, battering it's thick hide with their tails.

"That clan was nearly wiped out from the battle. Over 90% of the population died that day, but some of us survived. We killed it. The first clan to ever kill one. This is when we discovered Chakra in our realm. These beasts, they held an enormous amount of chakra. We estimate that just one of these beasts holds around the same amount of chakra as the God tree which was the source of Chakra in your realm. We're not sure but we think that these beasts were some how conduits for chakra, drawing it like sponges from the surrounding universe. Maybe even other dimensions. Some of our most brave individuals study they to this day. When we killed it chakra released throughout our world. Every being in the world gained chakra. The foxes that survived that day, that were closest to it's death, gained the most amount of chakra. This is where our reign truly began. Where my reign would begin. I was one of the few who survived that day. Through my accomplishments and leadership I was named Queen." She went on with a triumphant voice.

The scene shifted again for Sarutobi, moving from battle to battle. Each battle was more intense than the last. Now it wasn't just the fox clan that were battling the titans, it was every clan of demon having their own battles.

"Fighting them was the only way to resist being destroyed by them. It didn't get easier after that. If anything those fights got harder. Our clans grew stronger but so did the titans. It's as if the stronger we got the stronger they became. In the millions of years of recorded history only three titans were ever recorded killed. Two were killed by the fox clan. The other by the Octopus clan. Which is why they are the second strongest among us. But understand, there are hundreds, if not thousands of these titans that roam our world to this day. They have become too strong to kill. It's like the death of the three titans empowered the rest."

Sarutobi saw a titan in the shape of a gorilla, literally oozing dark red chakra rampaging towards a more technologically advanced fox clan. The way these foxes battled was much more organized, more sophisticated. They battled like shinobi. Each of them using various jutsu though they didn't need to make hand-signs, Sarutobi recognized the attacks they used as different forms of human jutsu. Except the jutsu was darker, channeled through red chakra.

"How we've progressed is attacking them in a united front. Every member of the clan must be willing to die for the rest. If even one person runs, or refuses to fight, or looks out for only themselves, then the entire clan dies. Even the children fight. Every single person who is able to walk and gather chakra fights. That way we are able to repel them. We fight them to a stalemate, make it so it's no longer worth it to hunt us. Over time less of our population died from the attacks. The attacks would happen every few hundred years. Sometimes they'd group up and multiple titans would attack us at once. We'd repel them all the same. Though they'd end up fighting each other as much as they fought us. Titans don't work very well together." Kyuubi stated with a small chuckle.

Sarutobi was surprised by her light hearted demeanor given the tragic nature of how her species evolved.

"During the most recent Titan attack not a single person in our clan died. It's been that way for the past...I'd say...hundred thousand years of so. We are no longer strong enough to really threaten each other. It's kind of sport at this point. A game to see who can cause the most damage. Our children have the most fun. The titans are far too slow now."

A huge grin plastered Kyuubi's face as a scene showed a bunch of fox children darting about around a titan's head at blazing speeds. They were laughing as if it were a game as the lion shaped titan swiped at them with it's claws. Each claw was the size of a whale but the children managed to evade all the same.

"When they attack now they do a bit of damage to our infrastructure but nothing that can't be repaired. Maybe some few careless are crushed but even that hasn't happened for quite a while. We've started fighting them further and further away from our cities. They are still forces of nature to be respected but through our togetherness we've achieved a state of being that was unimaginable at one point. It's hard to war among each other when these things loom over everyone's heads. We didn't have room for disharmony. The clans that weren't in harmony were wiped out, leaving only the clan who was willing to die for each other, to live for each other. Every living fox clan member descends from that one clan. My clan. We survived because we were in perfect harmony. We remain because we are in perfect harmony. Now that harmony is in our blood, in our soul, in our very being, it's who we are. Even if all the titans were to disappear tomorrow, this would still be who we are. Harmony is as much a part of us as hate and greed is a part of you."

Kyuubi finally finished. Sarutobi's vision went hazy, the man fluttering his lids open to see that he was back in his office. Kyuubi was still sitting atop his lap, staring into his eyes. She was lightly caressing his cheek with her thumb.

"If your species lived in our world you would have been destroyed by the titans ages ago. You only survive because this planet spoils you with it's bounty. But you will never change. Not unless we change you. So that's what we'll do." Kyuubi stated as a matter of fact while laying her head against the old man's chest and looking up at him to gauge his reaction.

Sarutobi craned his head back, staring up at the ceiling, thinking about everything he'd just learned.

"The world, the universe, it has so much diversity. Yet still so much of the same pain in so many different places. Who is responsible for this? What kind of malevolent God would place us in such a terrifying existence." Sarutobi questioned with a far off gaze.

Kyuubi drew circles in the man's robed chest.

"Who knows? Who's to say there is a God? We know there are different levels of existence but beyond that it's anyone's guess. Either way, it's up to us to make things better. We can only play with the hand we are dealt." Kyuubi mused.

Sarutobi lowed his head to look down at her, the man going silent for a long moment. He then gently patted the woman's hip. Recognizing that sign Kyuubi rose up from his lap and returned to her spot laying along his desk. The old kage relit his pipe and went back to his paper work.

Kyuubi scanned him carefully, her hawkish gaze ever watching, seeing the wheels turn in his mind.

"Only a matter of time."

Thanks for reading. Please review~

I actually intended to go into more plot points but after describing this aspect of Kyuubi's background I realized I already wrote a ton. Crazy how much detail there can be in just one scene. Well, two scenes. Anyway hope you enjoyed. Tell me what you think! I've been thinking about Kyuubi's background for a while and this is me finally getting it on paper.