Kurama could sense each and every one of the shinobi. They really have no idea about my power. He smiled, confident in his ability. He passed over an open area and felt the pull of chakra. It threw him off balance and he landed in the middle of the clearing.

As soon as he hit the ground dozens of arrows shot toward him. He easily deflected most of them but a few sunk in. He felt the physical pain for a moment and then realized he could feel a familiar chakra flowing through the arrows. Several ropes flew out, wrapping around his arms, legs, and torso. Each charged with the same chakra.

Sakura, Shikamaru, Kakashi and the rest of the shinobi dropped down in front of the Kyubi.

He snarled at them, "Don't think this will hold me for long."

Suddenly the chakra in the ropes and arrows started increasing and then flowing into Naruto's body.

Kyubi smiled. "Thanks for the power-up."

"It's not for you." Kakashi said and then signaled again.

Sakura and Ino approached the Kyubi.

"Don't think it will be as pleasant as last time little girls." He snarled. His eyes landed on Sakura's and his grin turned evil. "You know he's already gone."

The pink-haired shinobi hesitated. She wanted to believe there was still a chance to get her friend back but looking into the red eyes of the boy in front of her, she just couldn't.

Kyubi laughed at her despair. "Yes, you know the truth."

She was about to respond when Hinata came running up to them. Ino tried to stop her, "No, not yet."

But Hinata shrugged her off. She walked up to the Kyubi and stared hard into his red eyes and thought she saw some blue dancing around in them.

"I do not and WILL not believe that he is gone." She gathered her chakra at her left palm and put it over Naruto's heart. With all of her emotion, she started to push her chakra into his body and call out his name in her mind.

The Kyubi grunted and then closed his eyes in an effort to push Hinata out.

Ino looked at her, then looked at Sakura. She gave a firm nod then she also gathered her chakra into her left palm, placed her hand on Naruto's chakra core. She also pushed her chakra into her friend while calling his name.

Sakura bit her lip.

Shikamaru came up behind Naruto. "Sakura, believe in him." He followed the girls' examples, pushing his chakra into the blond.

If they believe in him, I should too. She closed her eyes, focused her chakra, and pushed it into the seal, also calling for Naruto.

Each of Naruto's friends came up and placed a hand on Naruto, his shoulder, his arm, his leg, anywhere they could touch him - Choji, Shino, Kiba, Neji, TenTen then Lee. Kakashi smiled and joined followed by Asuma, Kurani and Guy.

Deep in the cage voices could be heard calling out for Naruto. He stirred and slightly opened his eyes and tried to stand up from the tail he was laying on but another tail came over him and held him in place.

"No, kit, stay put."

"They're calling me."

"Into a world of hurt. Stay here."

Naruto fully opened his eyes and looked at the face of the Kyubi looming over him.

"I can let you have everything you have desired, everything you deserve." Kurama blinked as Naruto gently lifted the tail off of him and stood. He came over to the Kyubi and did something totally unexpected, he hugged the fox's muzzle.

"Thank you for the second childhood, but it's time for me to go back to reality."

"Are you sure that is what you want?"

The calls of friends got louder as more and more voices were added. Naruto cocked his head to the side to listen to them. "I earned their friendship. I can't just leave them now for the easy path." He faced Kurama again. "It's not my ninja way."

"Once you leave, you'll forget all of what happened. Think hard before you make your choice."

"I don't have to." Naruto stepped back from the fox and smiled.

Kurama closed his eyes. "Very well then … leave." He crossed his paws in front of him.

Naruto turned and walked to the cage but paused right before exiting. He looked over his shoulder at the tailed beast. "Hey …"

One eye opened.

"I'll never be far." Then he stepped out of the cage.

When he was gone, Kurama smiled, "Neither will I, kit. Neither will I."

Naruto opened his eyes to the outside world; they were back to their normal brilliant sparkling blue. He looked around at his friends all surrounding him and sharing chakra with him. He smiled, brought his hand up to cover Hinata's.

She looked up at him and smiled, "Naruto!" Her eyes watered.

He stared into her eyes and smiled. "I'm okay."

All of his friends withdrew and released the trap but stayed by him.

Sakura shakily asked, "Are you really okay?" Her eyes also had tears in them.

Naruto looked at each of them. "Yes, I'm fine, just a little confused. What's going on?"

Kakashi clasped Naruto's shoulder. "Come on, we'll fill you in."

Naruto sat at the campfire staring at his hands. Sakura was on his right, Hinata on his left. Neji and Lee stood behind him. Everyone filled in around him, they all had to be close to him.

"They're really dying?"

"We can only take their word for it but with that level of desperation, probably." Kakashi stated.

Naruto sighed.

Sakura reached out and touched his arm. "You don't have to feel bad for them" She realized she had been touching him more since he had come back to them. It was as if by touching him, she could make sure he didn't disappear again.

The blond touched his chakra core. "I remember how much it hurt, even though I was unconscious." He closed his eyes, "It was like my veins were being set on fire then being slowly pulled out of me."

"That's a pretty accurate description of what they were doing to you." Kakashi stated. He made sure to keep an eye on Naruto for any side effects from having all that chakra shoved back into the hyper-active ninja.

Naruto opened his eyes. "But I can't hate them. All they were trying to do was save their people."

"It's one thing to not hate them but …" Shikmaru started.

Naruto looked at him. "If we helped them, then they won't have to steal from anyone else." His eyes were starting to droop.

"Kakashi sighed. "Their fate is up to the Hokage and the council now." Figures he would think more about their situation than himself. "For now, let's get you back to Konoha to have you checked out."

"I'm fine, really." He said as he leaned to his left and put his head on Hinata's shoulder. She blushed furiously but didn't move.

Kakashi stood and walked over to blond. He smiled and his eye crinkled. He squatted down in front of Naruto and put a hand on the boy's shoulder. He could see Naruto was losing his fight to stay awake. "Well, let's be one hundred percent sure, just for our piece of mind, okay?"

Naruto nodded then yawned, "In the morning?"

Kakashi chucked. "Yes, we will set out first thing in the morning."

Naruto's eyes closed and he was out before Kakashi helped him lay down right at fireside. A soft snore left the blond's lips.

All of his friends stayed by his side the entire night.

The Kyubi grinned as a new sparkling chakra diamond glittered in front of his cage. He flexed his chakra and the diamond floated inside. He brought the other diamond made from the tailed beats and compressed both between his paws, fusing them together.

He laughed. "The boy thinks he is fighting destiny; however, he is running full force into his."

The now single diamond glowed brilliantly.

"One will come that will be able to control both beast and human chakra." Kurama grinned even wider. "I can't think of anyone better."

He let the diamond drift to his middle tail where it embedded itself. "Yes, this will come in very helpful to kit, very soon."

He crossed his paws and rested his head on top of them knowing the time was soon approaching where Naruto would change the world.