So this is kind of a special group of updates because it's Oro's birthday and Naruto and Hashirama's birthdays have just passed. I'm not sure if anyone else from Naruto is born in October, but even so. Then again I guess any update we do each month can be dedicated to the people born in that month, but we don't like all of them so oh well :D. I was going to say more, but can't think of anything, am much sick right now. Though Jess misses talking to you guys so send her a hello while I post up her stories and she gives me all the previews for these stories.

Chapter 5

Naruto

Another roar echoes through the room making the water crash against the sides and spray our faces. What I think is chakra moves towards the five of us.

Obito stands in front of the four of us. "Calm yourself. I'm not here to play with you, so stop getting your chakra worked up. Then again you seem like you have less than last time. That explains a lot."

"Get in here, and I'll show you how much I have."

"No, I'd rather not if it's all the same. It's not my fault you want to have a hissy fit. You could have just stayed quiet and you wouldn't have had to see me."

"Why you?!"

"Obito, stop it," I say grabbing his arm. I don't think you should be provoking him."

Obito looks down at me. "Maybe you're right, kid."

"So… umm… where even are we?" Rin asks looking around.

"This is a part of Naruto's mind. You three only came along because you had chakra shared between you."

"But isn't that the Kyuubi that attacked Konoha years ago?" Sakumo asks.

"Yes."

"But I thought the Fourth Hokage killed it."

'If you kill one of the Biju they will only manifest again."

"Really?"

"Yes, it's just part of what they are.

"Okay, but that doesn't explain this," I say looking around. For some reason, my clothes don't feel all that wet despite the water going up to my ankles.

"You're really not supposed to know about any of this."

"Yeah, cause adults always want to hide things from me and-"

I stop talking as he presses his fingers against my forehead again. "Hey!"

"Have you ever considered that some secrets are kept from you in order to protect you?"

"I…"

"I suppose you can't be blamed for not thinking about that. You are still children. In this day you can afford to be children for longer, and it's a good thing, despite that you don't consider the fact some secrets can be made to protect the one it's being kept from."

"Okay, but how is not telling Naruto about the Kyuubi supposed to help him?"

"No one ws supposed to know so that no one treated him different. They didn't want Naruto to be different. Lord Third believed if the kids didn't know the truth then they wouldn't act differently. They would be left to make their own choices about whether to be your friend or not."

"Well it didn't really work well, and that still doesn't explain why I couldn't know."

"What would you have done with the information? It was easier for you to work with what you had instead of forcing you to worry about something like this. If you knew you might focus so much on how you can't control what's inside you that you would be too focused on that. You were being taught to meditate to control your chakra and sort out what's yours and what isn't."

"Oh…" Maybe I should have tried harder if that was the case, but if I was told why then I would have focused more… then again maybe Obito is right. Maybe I wouldn't focus. I'm not sure anymore.

"Well now we know, but…"

"But what?"

"What's with this place?"

"Yeah, that's what I want to know too?"

"And how it happened."

"Why don't you ask him?" The fox snarls from within the cage. Obito looks over his shoulder at it.

I walk forward a bit looking up at the great creature. "Hi, I'm sorry you have to be stuck in there. I know it can't be fun. I'm Naruto Uzumaki… but I guess you already knew that. Do you have a name or is it just Kyuubi? I mean if you don't have a name that's kind of lame, you know?"

"You stupid brat," he scoffs turning around.

"Well, it was worth a try… what did he mean, Obito?"

He sighs. "It's complicated. Simply put the Fourth Hokage sealed it inside of you."

"But why me?"

"I don't know. I'm trying to figure that one out."

"Oh… well, I was serious about this place is stupid."

"Well, it is a sewer."

"Naruto, why do you have a sewer in your mind?"

"Parts of your mind can reflect parts of your mental state. It's an interesting thing. My mind used to be my favourite part of Konoha's forest at night."

"Used?"

"Most if not all the trees are burned at this point. It's a wasteland at this point."

"So wait!" I say. I do feel sorry for him, but I feel like he doesn't want us to dwell on it. I guess he doesn't want to stay sad.

"What is it?"

"I mean… if it's my mind can I do things to it?"

"I suppose in theory you could. I don't know. I haven't really thought about it much. Then again you can set up mental barriers so in theory you should be able to alter parts of your own mind."

"How?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Because it's not fair. Like okay, it's all well and good, but this water is annoying. I mean Kyuubi at least deserves to have somewhere nice to live. I mean I guess it's not the best but… anything is better than this."

"I suppose you could try meditating on what you want it to look like, but you know you have trouble focusing."

I groan. "I know!"

"It's probably too advanced for you honestly."

"But… but…"

"I want to help too," Little Obito says.

"It could be fun."

"I think it's a nice idea."

"Sure, but do any of you know how you would even go about doing it?"

"Well, I mean… if you do the thing, but you concentrate on something and then poof!"

"I suppose you could do that."

"You understood that?" I ask raising a brow. No one really understands what I say.

"If you can picture something in your mind then you may be able to manifest it into existence by imagining it."

"Yeah, but as you said I suck at meditation, so really it won't work. I guess you'll have to wait, Kyuubi."

"What if we helped?" Rin asks.

"You guys would?" I ask them.

"Of course. We're in this together."

We look at Obito.

He closes his eye. "I suppose it's worth a try. It can't hurt."

"Yay! Maybe if we all think of the same place it'll make things easier," Little Obito suggests.

"So what should we think of?"

"Naruto, do you remember the place the three of us met you?"

"Oh yeah! I remember it! We should go there again!"

"We should, but what if we make this place like that?"

"That sounds great!"

"Think we can do it, Obito?"

"Maybe, as I said it can't hurt to try. Though you're going to have to meditate and focus."

"On breathing?"

"Not exactly. You have to start there, but you actually have to take yourself back. This is why this is a lot harder. Meditation in its simplest form is a way to calm the body and be more in tune with your bodies function, but it has greater functions. Though it's unusual to skip the first step once you haven't even mastered it."

"Can't you help us with it?"

"I don't know the place you're talking about, and I think you four need to do it. Though I suppose I can lend a hand in some other ways."

"What do we do?"

"First of all sit in a circle. Make sure you're comfortable. You may want to take each other's hands It may help with the flow of chakra between the four of you."

We sit down. I take Obito and Sakumo's hands as they take Rin's. I can't help but be excited.

"Close your eyes and breathe, if you can't get into the rhythm then this whole thing is pointless for now.

I close my eyes trying to breathe while ignoring everything else around me.

I just hope I don't fail this time.

Obito

I look at the four children in the middle of the room. Maybe it was wrong to bring them here, and get their hopes up, but then again… they are…

I put my hand gently on Naruto's back. "Relax, and go back, remember the place you've been. Go back there, all four of you. You need to remember and take yourself there. Naruto, this is your mind, you need to lead."

Is it wrong that I'm giving them a bit of a push?

"You shouldn't get their hopes up."

"And you shouldn't underestimate them."

"In the end, all humans are the same. I don't see why you think any differently of them."

I laugh. "Look, I may be Uchiha scum, but that doesn't mean I don't know the difference between people like me, and this child."

"I should eat you."

"You should, but then you're also curious. I think you already know he's not the same, you just don't want to admit it, because you've convinced yourself all humans are the same."

"No matter what words they use, the meaning is the same," he scoffs licking a paw.

"Is that so? I suppose you are far older than me, so I shouldn't really argue with you about that one. Even so, I think you'll find you're wrong. He is Naruto after all."

"Are you planning on telling him the whole story, or are you scared?"

"Hardly. I just don't want him to get hurt for who his parents are, and even so. He has no need to know the full story yet. Maybe I could play with the darkness within him, but… where would be the fun in that? He's a wild card, and those are always entertaining."

"If you think you're going to control me again you have another thing coming."

"Don't worry, I have no intention of controlling you again. No, that would serve no purpose right now."

"How can I trust your word on anything?"

"You can't," I shrug. "And that's not my problem."

"You really are a brat," he snarls.

"Yeah, so I've been told. Though I prefer trash myself," I say.

I watch as things start to change around the place. YThe water starts to fall back as the walls start to change shape. Maybe this really will work.

"You didn't tell them what this could do."

"I'll let them figure things out on their own. It's not my job to tell them everything, and besides it shouldn't be too bad."

"Things like this could change them forever in some aspects. Especially because of what they have."

"For someone who wants to eat me, you're awfully chatty you know," I scoff.

"I get lonely," he snorts. "I just thought maybe you could at least be a little entertaining."

"Well you haven't brought up shit yet so you're already better than the company I had for years."

"Why would I want to talk about that?"

"Don't ask me," I scoff. "I don't want to talk about it either."

Hard stone turns to grass as the place starts to form. A waterfall rushes down one side forming a river rimmed with rocks. Trees sprout and grow shielding the river for the most part. The four sit on a rock face that gives a good view to the star-lit sky. I look over that the Kyuubi. The usual cage was replaced by a large fox den in the side of some rocks. Granted it still had bars blocking the entrance, but it was more akin to a fox den.

After it fully appears and I'm sure it's all they want to add I help them come back.

"We did it! Naruto cheers running around. His mind may be active, but his body will be tired. I'll let him figure that out later.

"We made that cave based on a cave we saw a fox family live in once when we were there, so I hope you like it," Obito says.

Kyuubi doesn't reply to the kids.

"I… don't think he likes it," Naruto says getting upset.

"If he didn't you'd know."

"Well, you're welcome."

I look over at the fox. I have the urge to say that I'm sorry, but I still don't feel sorry, and he probably would be able to tell that I'm lying to him about it.

"Obito."

"Yeah?"

"Want us to help you too?"

I shake my head. "Don't overdo yourself. Just because you can think normally doesn't mean your body isn't tired."

"But we've just been sitting here."

"Maybe, but you've been using your chakra in order to manifest this place. Because of that, you have drained a lot of energy. The best thing to do is rest."

"Yeah, plus we have the academy tomorrow," Rin points out.

"Darn it! I forgot!"

"Uhh… how do we get out of here anyway?"

"Come here," I say. I take their hands pulling us back.

They blink a while getting used to being back out of Naruto's mind. I'm used to it at this point since I spend time hiding in my mind even if my mind is trash too.

"Next time you should be more careful and listen when people tell you that you should wait to find out."

"I will," Naruto says. "Thank you, Obito."

"Don't thank me." I get back on the bed staring that the ceiling. These children…

I feel the bed move slightly, and I look at the four children. "What are you doing?"

"We're sleeping here tonight," Obito declares.

"Are you?" I ask raising a brow.

"Too sleepy to go all the way there, and we like you," Naruto says snuggling up next to me.

I'm surprised they all manage to fit on the bed, but hey somehow do without being too crowding.

I look down at the four of them. They're so different and yet so similar. They have a lot of potential. At the very least I should play Itachi's game. That way I can see where they take their lives. Sure I could play with any doubt they have, but… where would be the fun in that?

"Hey," Obito whispers and I look down at him.

"What is it?"

"Will I be as strong a ninja as you one day?"

"Maybe you will."

He smiles cuddling up to me. They all drift off to sleep after a while.

At some point in the night, Kakashi comes in. I assume he wanted to know where his kids were. Even behind his mask, I can tell he's smiling at the sight.

I glare at him, though I know he can see through that as well.

"Thank you."

"Shut up."

I'm not sure if that's really anything or just something my mind things is going on between us, but than again…

Maybe Kakashi…

Maybe we still have a bond, a bond that we can't break.

Yes, this is far more interesting than Zetsu.

Kurama

I walk around the new cave for a while. It's oddly bigger than the cage I had before. I have to admit those brats did a good job, but that doesn't mean that I'm going to accept that brat.

He's still just a human.

And as for that Uchiha…

One day I will tear him to pieces. I'm not sure why I didn't try, but whatever stopped me won't stop me forever. Perhap I was just curious because of the lack of bad intentions, but…

No matter what he's an Uchiha, and they can't be trusted.

One of those children take heavily after their Uchiha blood, he'll be another one to watch.

And of course this human kit I was sealed into. Or half of me was sealed inside him. The other half was sealed inside the Fourth before he died. How annoying.

I'm not at my full strength, this child couldn't handle my full power at his age. I wonder if he's meant to get the other half at some point.

Not that I'm going to let him have my chakra for free.

Something that does bother me though is… when he spoke there was no intention. He didn't act like he wanted anything from me for making this place.

I have to admit ti is a nice place. The stone feels nice under me, and There is a hole in the roof so I can see the sky. I know it's not real, but even so it's far better than before.

Just maybe I won't destroy him that much. I'll be a bit nicer to him than some of the others.

Though if he's going to try to control my powers I'm not going to make it easy on him.

Just because Nibi and Hachibi lie down, and let their human containers give them a belly rub doesn't mean I have to do the same for this little human.

He's loud, impulsive and a total brat. There is no way I'm going to allow him to have my power freely. He'll have to earn it.

I wonder though. The Hatake blood runs through one of them very strongly. I suppose that does help this pace feel more real.

Then again I keep thinking back to…

Why does Naruto remind me so much of the old man? The old man was wise and powerful. This human is just a small fool.

There is nothing they have in common…

Part of me knows that's harsh, and maybe it is, but I don't really care. The kid isn't anything to me. I want out, and if I'm extracted then this kid dies, so there isn't much of a point for me to care.

I won't eat him or his little friends right away. I'll just let them play for a while longer. Yes, that's the best plan.

I wonder when he'll find out that because of chakra this place will take a bit to maintain, and that he'll need to keep it up. If not it won't work as well. When he finds that out, he'll likely give up.

Even as I think that part of me thinks that perhaps he won't give up like countless have done before. They just turn around and act as if it's our fault they drag us into their issues.

I wonder what the old man would think if he saw what has been going on in the world. Could have foreseen thing and thought ahead, or is it all just blind luck? Who can really say? Such thoughts aren't really things I'm good at.

I've been thinking too much lately, but I think it doesn't help that I have no one to talk to. Not that any human would want to talk to a beast like me either. So really what does it matter?

I must be bored because I find myself wondering what the others are up to right now. How annoying.

Knowing Ichibi he's sleeping somewhere. Or being an idiot with his stupid sand. He's the weakest one of us. He knows it too, but he doesn't want to admit it.

Nibi and Hachibi are probably playing with their humans. Just exceptions to the rule.

Sanbi and Rokubi I suppose are playing in the water. Splashing around those islands like they have no cares.

Yonbi and Gobi, are probably playing with rocks. Yonbi is probably acting like he's so special, and Gobi is probably running around like an idiot again.

I wonder where Nanabi is though. He never went to any of the villages. I suppose one of the smaller ones. Stupid bug.

They're all stupid, but even so, I sigh. I almost wish one of them was close enough that I can actually have someone to talk to.

I suppose I could try talking to my human, but then again…

He doesn't even know my name.

"Shukaku, Matatabi, Isobu, Son Goku, Kokuo, Saiken, Chomei, Gyuki, Kurama. One day you will meet a blue eyed boy will be able to play among you, and will show you the better path when you are different than you are now."

Those words echo around the cave, and I look up the sky.

"Just maybe... but don't hold your breath, old man."

Preview

Sasuke:

"The very same. He knows it too, but he won't admit it."

"Why would an Uchiha be like that dumbass?"