Tsunade was having a rotten day. Tipping off her glass, she proceeded to gulp back the amber liquid. Naruto stood nervously at attention in front of her desk, shifting from foot to foot. Tsunade noticed absently that he wasn't wearing his Chunin uniform, but instead black pants that were tucked into shin wraps and an orange tanktop. She made a note to scold him on that, but not now.

The Master of the Hidden Spirit stood quietly by the window, glancing out every so often, and the Jounin with her was sitting easily in a corner. Tsunade could practically feel the breath of the Anbu behind her.

"Hey, Tsunade, what's going on?"

"Master Genkai." Tsunade called instead. "Is it safe for you to just let it go like that?"

"Kurama was just caught off guard. He needs a bit to gather his composure."

"And that is why he practically ran from Naruto's presence?"

"Hey, wait a minute, are you talking about that red-headed Kunoichi?"

"Naruto, as much as I am impressed you know that word and what it means, that was a male."

"Jeeze, he looked pretty girly for a boy. So why did I freak him out?"

"Most likely he figured out that you are the Kyuubi's vessel, and ran from you."

"Wha! You mean you told him about me? What'd you do that for, Hag!"

"You know, Naruto." Naruto clammed up immediately, not liking the look on the Fifth Hokage's face. "I bet you scared him. Why don't you go find him and sort things out. Somewhere outside the village walls, if at all possible." The smile on Tsunade's face was beyond scary.

"Uh, okay…" Naruto inched towards the door.

"Hey, you. Vessel." Naruto jumped at the sharp voice and turned. He'd never been called 'Vessel' like a name before. The other old woman in the room was watching him. For a second he wondered if this was how Sakura would look a hundred years from now. The woman let out a snort.

"Don't be alarmed if he attacks you, or if you attack him. Foxes are territorial, after all." And Naruto left, blinking stupidly and trying to puzzle out the weird lady's words.

"Aw, now you've ruined all my fun." Tsunade whined. "I like putting him in situations like that. Helps him learn." Genkai looked to Koenma, who nodded and slipped out the door after Naruto.

"He reminds me of my Dimwit Apprentice."

"Ah." Tsunade said knowingly. "He's not mine, but I have one like that. Too clever for her own good, that girl is." Genkai nodded sagely.

"Power and control like you wouldn't believe, but he just can't figure out ninjutsu is about stealth. He became Genin that way, but I'm not letting him go anywhere until some sense gets knocked into that skull."

"Yeah." Pausing for a moment of nostalgia, Tsunade then straightened up. "With the fox issue out of the way, why don't we look at this treaty."

It didn't take Naruto very long to find the red haired ninja in strange clothes. The guy was on his way back to the tower anyway, from what he could tell. Skidding to a halt on one of the rooftops, Naruto flagged him down.

"Oi! Over here!" The red-head turned to him and smiled slightly, before jumping up onto the roof and joining the blonde. "Hey, about back at the tower…"

"It's okay."

"But why'd you bolt like that? I mean, I'm really not that scary, am I?" Kurama laughed and shook his head.

"No, I was just caught off guard. I had never thought I'd meet another fox in this form."

"Another…wait- huh?" Blue eyes blinked, confusion showing in them.

"You mean they didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"I'm a fox demon."

"What?"

"I'm a fox demon." Kurama repeated with a small amused smile. Naruto looked excited.

"You mean, you're like me?" And Naruto then seized the hem of his tanktop and pulled it up, exposing the swirling blue seal on his stomach. Awed, Kurama leaned closer to inspect it.

"This is a magnificent seal, Naruto." He said finally, pulling away.

"Where's yours?"

"My seal?" Kurama gave a sad smile. "It is not one that can be seen, I'm afraid."

"Oh." Naruto looked put out for a moment.

"Here, why don't you drop by if you want to talk. That's where I'm staying." Naruto examined the slip of paper in his hand, before giving the other guy his biggest smile.

"Thanks! Hey, I never got your name."

"Sorry, my name is Minamino Kurama." Kurama bowed. "It has been a pleasure meeting you, Naruto-san." And then Kurama calmly stepped off the roof and continued walking down the street.

I don't own either Yu Yu Hakusho or Naruto and am writing this for fun, not profit. For those of you that are confused, that might be because I changed the fourth chapter. You'll have to go back and re-read it. Sorry for the inconvenience.

TS