This entire chapter is dialogue. I apologize, but I think you'll be rather please by the end of this chapter regardless. The entire dialogue scene is between Naruto and the Kyuubi. Some parts are gushy and emotional, and there are a couple of those notorious scenes where they bicker at each other.

Anyway, you all better pay attention in this one, because some major plot twisting awaits, and it was kinda hard to explain in words. You'll know what part I'm talking about. I should just let you all get on with the chapter.

The Nine Tails Iris…

What does it do, Kyuubi?

You, of course, are aware of the power of the Sharingan and Byakugan? It is similar to those, but it also has its particular differences. The Sharingan is key to uncovering the secrets and methods of ninjutsu and genjutsu, allowing limited foresight.

Right.

The Byakugan, as well as being able to see through physical objects, can see the paths of chakra that flow in bodies, meaning a very skilled user can tell if something like a Bunshin is fake, or it can see where Chakra is being focused.

So what's your Iris thingy worth?

I'd watch your attitude…

Shut up!

The Nine Tails Iris is by far much more useful of an eye to have. It grants you my mind, first of all, meaning everything I know, while this eye is active, you will know. Battle strategies, knowledge of any jutsus, anything… You know it all when you're using my eye.


Wow! That is great! Wait a minute. If I just know what you know, I'll be pretty dumb won't I?


Sorry, kid, but that insult sucked… Anyway, that's not even what makes my eye so great. As I said, The Sharingan and Byakugan have their special abilites. My eye, Child, is the only thing that can stand up to the Sharingan's foresight.

What! You mean your eye can beat the Sharingan? Even the Mangekyou can be beaten by it?

Kid, the Nine Tails Iris will even the odds and prevent the Mengekyou from taking any power in this battle. Before you go asking questions, it'd be best if I explain. I'm not sure what you've heard of the abilities a Mangekyou user can attempt to perform, but one is called the Tsukiyomi. It allows the user to create the illusion in a victim that they are stuck in another place and another time from reality, and the user is in complete control of what happens in this reality. Usually, it's used to torture the victim for endless periods of time, even though it's only an instant in the real world. Illusions such as this won't even faze you if you've activated my eye.

Whoa. That's awesome. So, you're saying I'm immune to Genjutsu.

Essentially, yes, you are immune to even the most powerful illusions and genjutsus. This gives you a huge advantage. There's more though to the eye. Not only can it prevent genjutsus from taking over you, but the Nine Tails Iris is adept at… 'messing' with the Sharingan.

I don't understand you there.

The Iris will send false signals to the Sharingan eyes, almost like turning genjutsu against its own master. I'll explain better. If you were to fight a Sharingan user, he'd be able to see your actions a split second before they happen, and thus the ninja can act accordingly to counter before you even make the move. The Iris will give you a way to counter it by actually sending your actions to Itachi's eyes a little longer ahead of time than original.

Wait a minute… That just sounds like it's helping the Sharingan.

In essence, it's boosting the Sharingan's advantage for sure, but the Sharingan user won't know it, and will actually try to block a split second before it's time to make the necessary action. You can throw Itachi's timing off completely. He'll make a punch in one direction, thinking you're going to be there, when in actuality, you're not there yet. You can ten get the jump on him by catching him off guard. It actually causes the enemy to lower its defenses. This is best for Taijutsu aid.

Wow, Kyuubi. That's a lot of power. How come you never gave it to me before!

Because, Little Child, the Nine Tails Iris will most certainly mean death.

What?

By using the Iris, Naruto-kun, you will actually be bringing out my power for a time.

Kun?

You will be me, and I will be you. Don't freak out, you'll still be in total control, and you won't look any different. The problem is, the use of the Iris is simply a lot more power than a human can control. I mean, think about it. The Fourth died to seal up my powers. Naturally, bringing out my full potential, even if it is at the container's request, someone has to die as a result of its use.

What do you mean, 'someone'? You make it sound like there's a chance that the user doesn't have to be killed. Bah, what does it matter? I'm going to die anyway, right?

…

Kyuubi?

Hm?

I'm going to die. Right? I mean, it's unavoidable anyway, so I've already accepted the fact that I will be dead at the end of this battle. So I'm not sure what you're saying or I'm not getting the full effect of what you said about 'someone' dying as a result of the Iris. I'll be me that dies here today.

Naruto-kun, now that I think of it, there's a chance that this Iris thing might save your life.

WHAT?

Why, Naruto-kun, will you be dead at the end of this battle?

Because bringing out your power will be the final straw that breaks the proverbial camel's back. It will put too much demonic strain on my body. As a demon, you're nt meant to be holed up in a human body. As just a mortal, physical container, I will wither and die from the stress that bringing you out will result in. As soon as your demon power subsides… when the battle is done and you're not needed any longer… I will die, because, in essence, as soon as I activate you, I should die. I'll live as long as your demon chakra is out and around my body. Is that it?

You got it right on the nail kiddo. You're right. I will be your death. It's hard for me to say it, Kid, but I am so sorry… that you had to pay so dearly for me.

Sorry? Kyuubi?

I don't really understand it myself, so don't ask me to explain. You've… kinda changed my Kid. I mean, I've been in you all your life. Naturally, I am affected I guess. I'm starting to even think like you. Hell, I used to only think about how to escape you. Now, I only think about the best way I can help you overcome your battles and enemies.

Kyuubi.

Anyways, yes, bringing me out will certainly kill you, but… I think there might be a chance that you can be saved by the Iris. Someone will definitely have to die, but the death might be transferable. Your death is supposedly inevitable as a result of my power. Another death is also imminent if you use the Iris, usually the user's death. But that's trying to take from the same cookie jar twice.

How about you try explaining to me why the Iris is fatal to me. You're going to confuse me and a lot of readers pretty soon.

Oh. (The Kyuubi and Naruto casually glance at the audience reading this story. Naruto gives a sheepish smile and waves, and then the two turn back to their business.) The Iris is a great deal of power. It's a great deal of demonic power, actually, as I'm sure you know. Using it is equivalent to all the stress I've put on your body over the years in one shot. You understand that much?

Yeah.

Good. That demon energy needs to be transferred upon the end of the Iris's use. It has to go somewhere. This is unlike normal chakra transference when performing jutsus. In nin and gen jutsu use, when you don't use the chakra you've summoned up, it disappears. That's not possible with my chakra. That's why, whenever you've been able to tap into me and my chakra has been just coming off in waves, it typically burns up your skin. It needs to go somewhere. Fortunately for you, you've been able to build up a sort of immunity to the waves of chakra that freely flow around you and not waste it, giving you even more control. Well, the Iris could follow a same sort of use.

I don't follow you.

Look! If you can find a way for all the demonic chakra and energy I expel for the Iris technique to go somewhere other than back to you, all the demonic strain put on your body by this last battle, regardless of anything else, will go with it, and will undoubtedly survive. Are you getting any of this?

Whoa… Kyuubi, you mean I can live if I can find some place to transfer the negative effects of the Iris?

That's exactly it my boy. It's tricky though. It took a lot of use and getting used to just to be able to stand my chakra flow and to be able to reroute it for better use. This is much more complicated. You can't reroute it to yourself like you've been doing. At some point, before you tap out of my powers, you need to do something to get rid of that negative energy. You need to shoot off the last of the Iris's powers into another living person.

And this other living person will die?

Undoubtedly… But Naruto-kun, it's extremely difficult, and it's only specula-

Alright. It sounds like a plan. By the way I gather it, what I need to do it actually be in contact with my transferee and release all the demonic powers into him or her. Correct?

Yes…

Itachi will be my transferee though.

End Chapter Sixteen

I never imagined this story would be this long. Well, I'm guessing a lot of you were shocked at me pulling this one out of the bag. I'm not even sure myself where I came up with it. The Nine Tails Iris thing I've been thinking about for a while. I knew Naruto's genjutsu repelling skills were terrible, so I had to come up with a plan that would sort of make him immune. I'm sorry it's kinda lame, but I thought it was kinda clever, having a new "Eye" ability. But the thing about it possibly saving Naruto just sort of popped into my head.

Anyways, I've been getting a lot of reviews from you guys asking that I not kill Naruto. Well, that's the only solution I've got for it. I have to actually have the means to save someone before I save them. I wasn't going to just have Naruto live on will power alone. To be honest, I fully intended Naruto to die in this, but I like this method much better, and it's all because of you guys. Thanks for pestering me so much for a better ending. You got what you wanted, and I got a better story.

Oh, and I'm sorry, but I don't think Gaara surviving is in the plans. I'm not going to really be able to fit in another strange plot twist for his benefit. It's not because I don't like him, and I really don't like him much. I just don't think it'll be right. Someone needs to tragically die, and I can't think of any other things to save him. No, Shukkaku can't save him.

If anyone had trouble understanding what the hell just happened, I'll try and explain it better upon request from a reviewer.