AN: Alas, Naruto is still not for sale, so I cannot buy it... I would have updated a day or so sooner, but I was forced to take an unexpected trip over the weekend, and got back only recently. Sorry if I made you impatient, but I will try to update at least once a week from now on. Enjoy!

-demonicnargles

"Speech"

thought / talking in mind

"Demon speech"

Demon thought / talking in mind

linelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelineline

Naruto walked along as the morning sun shone from behind him. It felt weird to wander around Konoha now. Although he was still as alive as he had ever been, he felt more at home in the dark hallways of his mind than he did out here. It was hard to act normal. Especially after hearing about how he had gotten a nine-tailed demon fox sealed into him. Kyuubi had graciously explained how the whole thing happened, although he had refused to say anything about why he had attacked Konoha in the first place. Given all that had happened to him recently, that he was able to act normal was almost a miracle. Especially with Kyuubi talking to him while he walked.

Like I was saying kit, we need to get several different levels of weights, and a few black outfits, at least. That way we'll have a good chance of sneaking up on people when we're on missions.

Yes, you've told me all this already. Once Naruto had figured out how to talk to Kyuubi from within his mind, it was not at all hard to learn how to do it while out here. And what's with the 'we'? I think I'm going to be hanging out in that place most of the time, so...

Yes, but if we ever need to act really convincingly human, you'll need to come out. And so you'll need to train also, so that we won't be sitting ducks whenever we are acting. And there may be other situations where we may have to switch places for a time. So it will be 'we'.

Ah. Naruto walked through the streets of Konoha, looking for a good place to buy clothing. He knew where they would buy the weights, if the owner could be convinced to sell them. Seeing a likely store, Naruto walked towards it, but then remembered the scene that Kyuubi had made here yesterday. He would have to find another place to buy the clothing. Seeing another clothing store, he walked in.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing here, kid! Did I say you could come in!" the store's owner yelled from behind the counter, startling the customers in line.

"I'm very sorry, sir. I only need to buy some clothing. I did not mean to disturb you. I am willing to pay extra for inconveniencing you."

linelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelineline

Kyuubi watched from his cage as Naruto apologized and groveled. It's a good thing I let him do the talking. I wouldn't let anyone talk to me that way. He continued to watch as Naruto bargained with the shopkeeper, who agreed to let him shop if Naruto would pay double price for everything.

When the kit finally began looking through the racks of clothing, Kyuubi began pointing out the clothes that they wanted to buy. Three pairs of those black pants. Two pairs of black boots. Three or four of those black long-sleeved shirts. Yes, everything needs to be black. No, I don't think we'll ever need to hide in anything that is a vibrant orange. No, I don't think orange would intimidate them. They would just think you're stupid.

Get two pairs of those black leather gloves. And two black vests. And three of those black head coverings. I know they don't looked like masks. You have to wrap them around your head. That way only your eyes show. That way you won't have to waste chakra on that jutsu I used to get the money. What jutsu? I'll tell you about it later. What? You dare accuse me of being a petty theif!... And get two black cloaks while you're at it. No, they aren't terribly useful in a fight, but if it's wet or cold, you might need them. What do you mean by that? You don't even know what your mother sounded like, how could you know that I sound like her! Just go buy the stupid clothes. We've gotten everything we needed here, I think.

Kyuubi remained quiet while Naruto bought the clothing. The shopkeeper glared daggers at Naruto, but wasn't going to pass up the profits from double-pricing the clothes.

linelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelineline

Naruto placed the clothes on his bed. Now he was supposed to buy weights. At least Kyuubi hadn't tried to buy them yesterday.

What do you mean by that, kit!

Naruto almost laughed. He hadn't had any friends before, and Kyuubi wasn't the ideal type, and probably only cooperated because he was afraid of losing the body, but a friend was a friend. Naruto was happier than he could recall being in a long time. As he walked along the road, he mused on his former life. Everyone hated him. He couldn't blame them, really. They had lost so much to Kyuubi, and so when it was sealed in him, they just assumed that he was Kyuubi.

He walked into the blacksmith's shop to buy some weights.

linelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelineline

Kyuubi watched as Naruto groveled with the blacksmith. He watched as the blacksmith eventually agreed to make the weights, provided Naruto paid triple the price. The smith told Naruto to come back the next day for the first set, and a week after that for the rest of them. Naruto handed over the money and walked out of the shop.

You didn't have to pay that much, Naruto! They were expensive enough as it was!

He wouldn't have agreed to sell at all if I hadn't agreed to pay that much.

Whatever.

linelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelineline

When they arrived back at Naruto's house, Naruto set the weights onto the bed.

I'm not sure if I can do this, but here goes nothing...

Naruto concentrated on returning to the darkened room. His bedroom became blurry, and he felt like he was being crushed by gravity, but with no pain. When his vision cleared, he found himself in the dark room, still sitting on the strange throne. He got up, and a mass of orange-red chakra moved to fill in the seat of the chair. He was back.

linelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelineline

Kyuubi withdrew back into the cage, and felt around the corner with his chakra. When Naruto rose from the chair, Kyuubi quickly took control. He filled the seat with his chakra, and looked beyond his prison, into the world of mortals. He was back.

linelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelinelineline

End of chapter. Yeah, it was kind of short. Sorry. By the way, what does everyone think about a possible NaruIno? I can either have a NaruIno, or make Kyuubi eat her soul. What do my faithful readers think? Please review!