All standard disclaimers apply

Chapter 4

Knowledge over Money

"We need money," Kurama deduced, looking at the sign of a bookshop.

"What for?" Naruto asked. Kurama grinned, showing off fangs left over from Yoko's influence on his development. They actually looked quiet pretty instead of intimidating on her female face.

"Because that is a book store chock full of books that I have never before laid eyes on and if I don't have enough money I'm probably going to fall back on what Yoko taught me since before I can remember and simply relieve them of their stock without asking," she stated point blank. Naruto stared at her blankly for a moment before groaning.

"Do you know how heavy that would be? Why can't you just rob a bank or something?"

That is right. Do not bother to pick at the fact that Kurama was threatening to rob the shop clean of every book, scroll and manuscript, just worry about how it would affect travel.

"We could call it weight training. Knowledge is far more important than money. I can rob a bank any day but books can sometimes be a once in a lifetime opportunity. And when Hiei shows up again he can take the ones that I've read back to my home and we won't have to worry about them," She reasoned, edging closer to the target shop.

"Well, looks like you're going to be stealing a lot, I don't have enough to by anything good. But I can help you figure out which ones will be useful," Naruto shrugged, "But don't anything this time through. Come back when you're under some other transformation jutsu, okay? Don't want to ruin the reputation of that pretty face,"

"Well of course I'd scout out my target before I struck. What kind of professional do you take me for?" Kurama feigned offence.

The clerk greeted the two 'women' with a smile, asking if there was anything they were looking for. They replied that they were just browsing and headed deep into the depths of the shop. Naruto pointed out how to tell the useful from the works that would only interest amateurs. Kurama's trained mind memorized the layout and how the security system was set up.

Of course, the accidental slamming of hips into sharp cornered shelves and desks frequently interrupted this. Kurama was used to slim male hips and now that she had an extra twelve inches or so added on... it was painful.

After scouting out the best of the best and a few more just for interests sake the two beat their retreat, one with a headache and the other plotting with such an intensity that she hardly felt Hiei watching from behind. Hiei sighed, frustrated, and followed, one thought running through his head.

How in the world did Kurama and that brat manage to turn themselves into women?

He trailed the two back to their room at the local inn, slipping in through the window, dispatching the guard-plants set around the edges on his way in. Kurama didn't even notice. He just sat on the window ledge until Naruto spotted him.

"Hey! It's you! You're Kurama's friend!" She exclaimed, pointing. Hiei scowled. Kurama looked up, surprised.

"Oh, Hiei! I didn't sense you," She blinked large green eyes at her temperamental friend.

"Obviously," Hiei scowled some more, "Mind explaining a few things, Fox-boy? Or should I call you Fox-girl?"

Kurama looked confused, them she remembered her currant appearance. "Oh this? Naruto was teaching how the shinobi of this world manipulate ki. Apparently one of the more common techniques is one of transformation. Naruto developed a complete physical transformation into a woman and he and I are in a contest to see who can last longer in the female form," she grinned sheepishly. "I couldn't resist. How long are you staying this time?"

Hiei shrugged. "The brat still hasn't caved under Yuusuke's pressure. Admirable, considering what the toushin is putting him through,"

"I'm planning on doing a job on a local bookstore. Will you stick around for that?"

"I should have guessed you would rob the bookstores before the local banks," Hiei sighed, looking vaguely resigned. Kurama stuck her nose up in the air.

"Knowledge is infinitely more valuable than any amount of money," she sniffed.

"What time?" he asked.

"Around two or three in the morning,"

"Why then?" Naruto asked.

"Because robbing places at midnight is expected. And some people haven't gone to sleep then. If you wait until later there is a lower chance of being interrupted," Kurama shrugged.

"It's darker as well," Hiei tossed in, nodding. "Why do you want me to stick around?"

"Well, it'll be hard walking around with most of the inventory strapped to our backs. It would be appreciated if you would take them back to my apartment for storage," Kurama cajoled with a smile. "I promise to sort them first for easy cataloging,"

"Whatever," Hiei grouched, "The Brat is going to want a report,"

"Tell him that I'm traveling with Chitose-san and the boy she is sealed inside. We're tracking down a shinobi criminal that Chitose-san has claimed Blood Revenge on,"

Hiei lifted an eyebrow but nodded, "And what should I say about your current condition?"

Kurama blushed deep red, "Ah, please don't mention it. I'm working on it as an escape from my various fan clubs,"

"Ah," he nodded. He had seen those rabid fan clubs. They were enough to give even a hardened killer like Hiei pause, fearing for his life if they came in his direction.

"Ah, indeed. So, are you going to stick around today or are you going to come back later?"

"What time is it here?"

Naruto answered, "Just before sunset, so I'd say maybe six-six thirty,"

"I will return after midnight," Hiei promised and disappeared again.

"Is he always like that?" Naruto asked.

"Like what?" Kurama had not noticed anything out of the ordinary.

"Sasuke-like," Naruto muttered. "So angsty, so I-know-I'm-better-than-you-and-I'll-kick-your-butt-to-prove-it,"

Kurama laughed, "That's just Hiei. Believe it or not he's actually gotten much better since I first met him,"

"How?" she sounded skeptical.

"You heard him speak more than one sentence, didn't you?"

Naruto paused. "You mean that that's an improvement? How'd you two meet to begin with?"

"Hiei was looking for his sister,"

"Sister? Tell me she's not like him!" the blonde choked, blue eyes wide as she imagined a small, dark, angsty, red-eyed woman.

"No, don't worry. Yukina-chan is nothing like Hiei. She's a sweet little girl," Kurama smiled. "It's hard to understand how they can be related but it's true. Yukina actually reminds me of a quiet, more timid version of Kagome-san,"

"You know, I've really got to meet all these people you keep talking about," Naruto pouted.

"We'll see what I can do,"

The night was black, thick clouds covered the moon. Three shadows moved along the rooftops to their goal. They watched the street below carefully, wary of the lights lining the road. All three were dressed in shades of black and gray in order to blend seamlessly in with the shadows.

"That's it?" Hiei asked. Kurama nodded.

"Naruto, you stay outside and keep watch. Hiei and I will go in. If we're not out in thirty minutes, wait longer,"

Naruto nodded and blinked in surprise as his companions disappeared without a trace. She watched, fascinated as they unlocked the door and slipped inside. They used no light, relying on their superior night vision and Kurama's detailed memory.

Kurama slipped inside the closed shop, closing the door behind Hiei. This was the first time Hiei had assisted her on a job. When she had broken into the Reikai Vault, she had worked alone, with only Yoko's guidance. They moved swiftly through the room as planned beforehand, disabling every trap and alarm that Kurama had left intact when he left that afternoon.

With the sweep done, Hiei took up watch while Kurama stacked the pre-agreed books into packs that Hiei had 'found' somewhere. One thing that was both wonderful and frustrating about youkai was their sense of property. If you could not protect it, you did not want it. They saw nothing wrong with stealing, as humans saw it. And Kurama had been thoroughly tainted by Yoko's teachings.

With the books stashed safely away in the bags Kurama and Hiei rearmed the traps and alarms and slipped out undetected. Kurama handed Naruto a overflowing pack and the three headed back to the inn.

In the light of their rented room Naruto helped Kurama and Hiei sort through the pilfered material. History books in one pile, genjutsu in another, taijutsu on the bed and ninjutsu by the window. It took a few hours to work their way through all the books and scrolls because Kurama wanted to flip through every one she laid her hot little hands on.

It wasn't until the first rays of dawn peeked over the horizon that Kurama decided they had enough set aside for now. Hiei, no doubt grumbling in his mind, had to make several trips to take the remaining to Kurama's apartment.

"Is that all you are going to take with you?" He asked when he had finished transporting. Kurama looked down at her small pile of books.

"Yes, I think this will do for now," she nodded.

"Good. I'll be back tomorrow unless the Brat has a job for us," Hiei grunted and vanished.

"He reminds me way too much of Sasuke," Naruto groaned, flopping gracelessly down on the bed and pulling the covers over her head.

Kurama just shrugged and crawled in as well, curling up and commanding her plants to turn off the lights.

"Naruto, where are we?"

They had been traveling by foot for several days now through thick, lush forests and now they stood on the edge of a vast sea of dry sand and bare rock. Kurama could already feel the absence of the energy she unconsciously siphoned from the surrounding plants.

"This is the Country of the Wind. A friend of mine is the Kazekage of Sunagakure, the Village hidden in the Sand. I just want to give him warning about what we're getting into just in case he can help. All of my sensei have tried to teach me that it's best to have backup," Naruto explained as she started across the shifting sands. Kurama did not want to, but she acquiesced.

"Fine, but if we have to cross this desert I want to do it as quickly as possible. Run, Naruto, I'll keep up," She said, resigned. Naruto grinned, tossed her long blonde hair over her shoulder, adjusted her pack and darted expertly across the sands. Kurama sprinted after her, one hand on her pack strap and the other trying to keep her bouncing bosom in place. It was awkward. Kurama was glad that no one was watching.

It did not take them long at the pace Naruto set to reach the natural stone fortress that surrounded Sunagakure. Kurama had to admit to herself that the edifice was impressive in such a way that it would probably give him a pleasant workout in order to infiltrate.

They were stopped at the entrance by a pair of loosely robed guards. Naruto showed their passports – the Hokage had had one made up for Kurama to support their story – and stated their business. It did not take too long before they were admitted into the shinobi Village.

"Come one! We gotta go see Gaara!" She prodded excitedly.

"Naruto, why are you in such a hurry?"

"Because I haven't seen him in ages! He's been so busy running this country that the only times he comes to Konohagakure is on official business and the only times I can come here is on missions!" She pouted, a move that was quite effective in her sultry female form.

Kurama rolled her eyes and allowed herself to be dragged towards the central edifice.

"Uzumaki," Gaara greeted, not bothering to look up right away from his papers, "What brings you to Sunagakure? And how and when did you find another jinchuuriki?"

"Ha!" Naruto laughed, her female voice making Gaara look up in shock, "I knew you'd sense it was me!"

Gaara stared at the bouncy blonde woman that felt like Naruto. Beside her, blushing a little, was a exceptionally busty redhead that Gaara had never before met.

"See, Gaara this is Kurama. Kurama this is Gaara," the female Naruto bubbled.

"Uzumaki? Aren't you male?" Gaara cut in, his black-rimmed green eyes narrowed.

"Sure am. This is my Sexy no Jutsu. I'm in a contest with Kurama to see who can last longer in the jutsu," she shrugged fluidly.

"Ah. Who's winning," he asked, glaring down at the papers. There was something he was missing, he was sure of it. But those stupid lawyers had wrapped everything up in so many long and fancy words he could not sort it out.

"Not a clue," Naruto admitted, her pretty face falling a little at Kurama's knowing grin. "Hey! What have you got there?"

"Legal papers that need signing. If I had known that taking on the title of Kazekage also meant dealing with lawyers and their paperwork I would have became a missing nin instead," he continued to glare at the infuriating paperwork.

"Would you mind if I took a look? I might be helpful," Kurama asked, sliding forward. Gaara stared at her hard, glanced at Naruto and handed the papers over. After seating herself in on of the chairs set before the Kazekage's desk Kurama first skimmed through the files to get an idea of what was being said then went back to read them over more carefully. She listened to Naruto's conversation with the other green-eyed redhead with half an ear as she focused. Snatching a pencil off the desk, she wrote notes in the margins and circled a few choice words. By the time she had finished Kurama was sure that Naruto had all but forgotten she was even there. Gaara, she knew, had been keeping a close eye on her as she worked even if outwardly his attention was focused on Naruto.

"Kazekage-sama? What did you not understand about this document?" she asked, placing the pencil back where she had snatched it from.

"There is something about it that does not seem to be right," Gaara admitted, running a hand through his short hair. "I'm a fighter, not a bureaucrat,"

"Well, first off, look here," Kurama pointed to one of the places that she had marked. Gaara scanned the passage and looked at her, confused. Kurama began to explain what the contract was asking and what it entailed, breaking the legal jargon down and explaining the new words to the young leader. Naruto listened in as well, after all he was still planning on becoming Hokage and if he was going to do that then this mini lesson might just come in handy.

It took a while to go through the document but when they were finished Kurama had helped Gaara draw up a revision to be given back to the lawyers that had drafted the first.

"Who are you?" Gaara demanded softly when they had set the papers aside.

"Me?" Kurama smiled, understanding what the boy was trying to say, "I'm Kurama. I used to be Minamino Shuuichi a human with the soul of a kitsune residing in my body. Recently I have been separated from Yoko Kurama, the kitsune, but I have retained all the power and knowledge that he possessed and passed on to me. Everyone who knows of my youkai traits calls me Kurama," she bowed.

"So, you had the soul of a youkai sealed within your body as well,"

"Not sealed," She corrected automatically, "Due to some unfortunate circumstances Yoko was forced to take refuge in my body. He entered willingly even if he could not leave without the aid of an exorcist, but he was not sealed in,"

Gaara nodded. "So you are not a jinchuuriki at all,"

"Jinchuuriki? I'm afraid that I'm not familiar with that term," She shook her head.

"People like Gaara and me," Naruto supplied with a frown, "People who have youkai sealed inside them,"

"Ah, well, no, I'm not a jinchuuriki. I am, sorry, was an avatar. Yoko's spirit was not sealed within my body, it was more like he decided to move in and couldn't get out," Kurama smiled.

"Was?" Gaara seemed unnaturally unaffected by her charm.

"Yes, Yoko now has a body of his own and is happily Mated and married to a young miko, Kagome-san," she nodded and brushed back her long hair.

"I see,"

"I still find that weird," interrupted Naruto. Kurama glanced over at her in surprise.

"Pardon?"

"What?" Naruto paused then blushed, "Oh, sorry. That just slipped out. It wasn't me,"

"Chitose's opinion?" Kurama quirked an eyebrow. Naruto nodded.

"Chitose?" Gaara interrupted.

"Yeah, that's Kyuubi's given name. Sorry, she just feels so strongly about that that it affects me,"

"Well," Kurama sighed grinning ruefully, "At least you don't have her influencing everything you do with thanks to that seal of yours,"

"Hey, that's right, you didn't have a seal," Naruto exclaimed, jumping up from the chair she had perched on. "You never did! So Yoko was right there with you wasn't he?"

"That's right, Naruto," Kurama nodded, "I suppose it was frustrating, but since he had always been right there I didn't bother to notice,"

"At least your youkai could be classified as sane," Gaara griped in his infinite and unending angst.

Kurama was about to comment but he was interrupted by a knock at the door. Gaara called the knocker in and a pretty, petite blonde kunoichi peeked around into the office holding a wrapped lunchbox in her hands.

"Oh, I didn't know you were in a meeting," She apologized. Gaara shook his head and motioned for her to come in.

"Temari you know Naruto and this is Kurama," he introduced. "Kurama, this is my older sister, Temari,"

"Naruto-kun? No way! You're a girl! How'd you manage that?" She exclaimed, ignoring Kurama in favor of her blonde companion. Naruto grinned and waved it off.

"Only for now. This is a jutsu I made up. Kurama and I are seeing who can last longer in it," he explained. Temari cast Kurama a shocked look, her eyes running up and down the extreamly feminine body.

"So you're a guy too?" she squeaked. Kurama nodded serenely, proud that her cheeks did not heat up too much in embarrassment. She just might be getting used to this type of introduction.

"That is correct, Temari-san," she smiled warmly. "I must admit that being in this female body gives me a greater respect for the female fighters I know,"

Temari didn't know how to respond to that so she belatedly turned to her brother. "Uh, Gaara, I brought you dinner. It's late and Kankuro and I didn't know how long you planned on staying here," she placed the wrapped lunchbox on Gaara's desktop. "If I had known that Naruto was coming with a friend I would have packed more,"

"That's alright. Uzumaki and Kurama will be staying at our house for the duration of their stay at Sunagakure," Gaara declared. Naruto grinned, jumping up once again.

"Yes! Thanks Gaara! You rock!"

Kurama quirked an eyebrow at her companion's exuberance. "Yes, thank you. Your hospitality is greatly appreciated," she said politely bowing a little in respect.

"Oh, well in that case how long do you plan on being? Should I wait around for you?" Temari asked hesitantly.

"We will only be a few seconds. I have some papers that need filing and then we shall come," Gaara said, standing, papers in hand.

AN: Well, just look at what I'm putting poor Kurama through. Thanks go out to Splintter ( h t t p / s p l i n t t e r . d e v i a n t a r t . c o m )for hashing out the differenced between the male and female bodies with me! And torture too! (since I was writing the torture scenes in book one the same time I wrote this. Go figure. No one can accuse me of doing these in order) You rock!

And so out heroes have made it to Sunagakure. They haven't met the desert sun yet though. Don't worry, they become intimately acquainted in the next chapter!