Blanket Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. If you thought I did, that's sad.

Story 4: Kyubi's Story

Once upon a time, there was a cute little fox. Now this fox had nine tails. Many would have deemed him a demon. Since many are ignorant of those that are different, the fox ignored them. His parents told him that many, especially those called humans, were scared of those that they do not understand. It is better to be separate from them.

The fox's name was Kyubi. He was a playful fox. He lived in the realm between Heaven and Hell. He was on earth. Throughout his days, he would frolic and play pranks on various humans and animals. Sometimes he would play pranks on the stronger demons, earning him a real beating from him father, who was one of the stronger demons in Hell and a chastisement from his mother, an angel from Heaven.

One day, after 1,000 years of life, Kyubi ran into a crying little boy, no more than 10. The boy was a mess. His hair was matted with mud and he was streaked with slime. Before Kyubi could run off, the boy spotted him. "Wah, Wait!"

Kyubi stopped and looked at the pathetic creature. His curiosity at what humans were like made him turn around and answer the boy. The little boy looked at the fox who was as large as a bear. He got up and wiped his hands on his pants and walked up to the fox. "Foxie-san, are you lost too?"

Kyubi looked at the little boy and replied. "Kid, my name isn't Foxie. Call me Kyubi. As for being lost, foxes never get lost." He harrumphed and turned his head away from the boy. "What's a brat like you called?"

The little boy clutched at the silky red fur on Kyubi. "Kyubi, I'm Tamahome. I'm lost. Can you help me find my family?"

Kyubi sniffed the little boy and nudged him with his snout, causing Tamahome to giggle. Kyubi finding it an interesting reaction licked the boys face clean. Tamahome laughed. "That tickles Kyubi."

Tamahome looked up at the giant fox with glittering onyx eyes full of happiness. "You wanna be my friend?" Kyubi's only reply was a lick to the face.

Years passed and Kyubi and Tamahome become the best of friends. Kyubi learned much about humans and had found others like Tamahome who accepted him. Tamahome met a girl and the two wed. Seeing the two together, Kyubbi thought that Tamahome became gentler. He thought, if I become a girl in the next life, I will get to experience the same gentleness .It would be interesting to see what that is like.

Several more years passed. Kyubi had beoame part of Tamahome's family. He was the protector of the five children and the wife when Tamahome was on a mission.

One day, Kyubi cam back after a long month of roaming the countryside only to find the sounds of battle. He smelled burnt flesh in the air. Rushing to the village where his friend was, he saw that the entire village was burned to the ground. Several of the villagers were fighting unknown shinobi. Tamahome was fighting against another shinobi. Kyubi was outraged. "You will not hurt my friends or family!"

Kyubi began to fight the unknown ninjas. During the battle, Leaf ninja appeared. Mistaking the destruction as a result of Kyubi's rage, the ninja attacked the nine tailed fox. Fighting purely as self-defense, Kyubi found the newly arrived ninjas. Tamahome tried to protect his friend, but a chest wound from the prior fight ended his life. Kyubi's anger and grief poured out at the loss of his friend and family. The battle raged on for days and moved to the borders of Konoha village.

During the sealing of the Kyubi, the Yondaime noticed that his eyes were filled with grief and sadness. This did not deter the man from sealing the Kyubi. Many lives were lost in the fight, and this was the immediate way to resolve it. With determination and a look of apology on the Yondaime's face, he created the last seal and trapped the Kyubi into the body of an infant boy.