Naruto's so called IMAGINARY friend
Why did Naruto have to cause so much trouble?! Isn't that blasted Jutsu enough of a problem? This is what many of his teachers and classmates thought when Naruto got into trouble. He seemed to be a TROUBLE-MAGNET in a literal sense!
They'll never catch me this time! Naruto grinned.
Depends on who you ask. I think you need a new hobby, boy.
Naruto stopped short. He searched for the owner of the voice that seemed to come from inside his head.
"Where are you? Show yourself!" he growled.
At tad hard to do that without getting you into even more trouble. And believe me kid, that kind of trouble is what you DON'T need at any time!
"Who are you?"
No time to explain. The people chasing you are closing in fast. I'd recommend the forest. It has more hiding places than here.
"True, but the forest is too far away. How can I get there without getting caught in the process?" said Naruto upset.
For now you need to concentrate on being quiet for a change. And may I suggest that you stop speaking to me out loud? I can hear your thoughts just fine. Don't ask how, you don't have enough time.
"But who are you?"
I'll tell you later after we escape those adults.
Naruto broke into a dead run. His shinobi teachers were beginning to close in on him. It looked as though he would be caught for sure. Which meant only one thing for Naruto and that was menial chores. He did not look forward to that!
Looks like you need more help than I thought. Need some directions for the short cut to the forest?
If you wouldn't mind! I wouldn't have them so close to me if you hadn't said something!
Turn left and don't blame me for your foolishness! I'm not the one who painted five stores orange and pink!
The voice proceeded to give Naruto directions. It took him 2 minutes to ditch the other ninja. As soon as he found a place to hide, he decided that it was time for some answers!
Very well. What do you want to know? And please remember that I can hear your thoughts this time. You were nearly caught after you complained about the directions!
Fine, why don't we start with who YOU are!
I'm the thing that your last Hokage died fighting. That guy always was too arrogant!
You mean you're the Nine-tailed FOX?!
Grr, I have a name too boy! Sheesh, you humans come up with the WORST names for me and my kin.
What's your name?
I can no longer go by my original name as it has been passed to my eldest KIT. You may call me your imaginary friend. Or you could come up with something original as my name.
Really? Why did you say imaginary friend?
Because I'm inside you. Don't ask why or how, the memories are too painful. That and they put me in a foul mood.
Naruto couldn't think of anything to call the fox, so he called him Tails for now. He spent well over three hours talking to 'Tails' and by that time the shinobi had given up a long time ago. By the time Naruto came out of hiding, he was too sleepy to head home. Tails helped him with that part, as he gently took over his body and took him back home.