"So, what do you think?"

"I don't know, Baa-chan." I caught the soft wistfulness in my tone too late. Even Tsunade could see that I was intrigued. I chuckled lowly, "You hardly seem like someone who needs protecting, but...I'll think about it."

She nodded, a sad smile appearing on her face. "I'm sorry it came to this. But if there's a way to protect your rights as a human without you leaving the village and living the dangerous life of a rogue, this was all I could think of."

I nodded, not even realizing the wide-eyed look of awe on my face. "I'll have to talk it over with...Kyuubi."

Tsunade nodded. "Of course." 

The acceptance she showed over that fact was enough to break my defenses and bring a small grin to my face. Kurama was shocked, but I could sense the softer side of his emotions emerging. He was happy. I knew it. Deep in his kind heart, he cared about Tsunade.

"Take all the time you need. Please, consider it...I can't lose you too." 

I nodded, the weight of those words hanging heavily over me. As Tsunade turned to leave, I called out, "Baa-chan."

She stopped and looked back. I smiled at her.

"Thank you."

The sincerity in those two words made her turn right back around. Before I knew what was going  on, she reached through the bars and pulled me closer. She leaned both our faces closer to the bars and landed a gentle peck on my forehead. In her strong arms...I was happy. Happy to have someone like her looking out for me.

I smiled wider. "See you later, Baa-chan."

She flicked me on the forehead, causing me to yelp. "Later, gaki."

When she was gone, leaving me to rub my forehead with a sheepish grin plastered on my face, Kurama growled in approval. 

"As much as I hate this village...this seems to change the tide of things quite a lot. A position as some sort of bodyguard for Tsunade would be good for you."

'You're right, but...there's still much to consider and think about.'

Kurama snorted, "I know that. But I've taken quite a liking to that Hokage of yours. Consider it."

I smirked at the confession. 'You know I will.'

Tsunade POV~

"I've decided that Naruto will be my personal bodyguard. He will stay at my side and serve directly under the order of the Hokage."

Danzo frowned. This wasn't what he wanted, and I knew it. No matter what, I wouldn't let him get his filthy hands on Naruto.

"Are you sure that's a wise decision?" Koharu said.

"I propose that you leave him to Danzo." Homura nodded, "You know how good he his at spinning out obedient soldiers. And an obedient soldier is what we need this boy to be if we want to keep the Kyuubi's power under our command."

"NO." I sent them a deathly glare, "This will be it. No matter what, I forbid you, Danzo, from doing anything to Naruto to try to get him to follow you. If any of you hags attempt anything with him, then I'll see that you're the one in a jail cell this time. Understand?"

They scowled, none too pleased with the idea.

"If the brat throws a tantrum and tries to go rogue again, would you be able to stop him?" Homura attempted (attempted) to counter.

"It's like you said," I stood, "He trusts me. And I trust that he will do nothing to oppose Konoha because he knows that it will harm me. This is the best way to earn his loyalty, which will ensure that he serves the village of his own will and power and therefore make him a loyal shinobi. From a logical standpoint, it makes sense."

The elders had no argument. After all, I was the Hokage. They could say whatever, but in the end,  my word is what counts.

I smirked at myself triumphantly. 

They could say whatever.

But nothing they said would ever stop me from protecting Naruto.

Naruto POV~

A couple days passed. No word from Tsunade.

I was bored.

'Kuramaaaa, when is she going to come?'

"I could ask her the same thing!" he growled, "The more time you spend in here the more you start acting like a spoiled brat. Shut up for once."

'But I'm boreddd.'

"Get used to it!"

I smirked to myself.

"Anyways, are you sure about your choice?"

I shrugged, 'If it means getting out of this prison cell, then yes. I don't see any other possibilities right now. Besides, if we're going to find a way to be free for once, this is the best first step.'

"Hm. We might end up staying in Konoha after all."

'As long as it's guaranteed that you and I won't be used as weapons, I don't mind staying in Konoha.'

"Well, I wouldn't put it past that little bitch, Danzo, to try something."

I sighed. 'Are choices are limited.'

Kurama huffed. "Well, as long as you're happy and we're somewhat free from Konoha's control, I don't care whether or not you stay in the village."

'Well, Tsunade is Hokage and I'll be working under her direct order...'

"Hmph. From what I know, that's not an issue."

I smiled. 'Tsunade would never use me as a weapon. That's all I need. And if I'll only be taking direct orders from her as a personal bodyguard, then Danzo will have no command over us.'

"People will protest. That's for certain."

I sighed. 'That'll happen no matter what. But Tsunade, as the Hokage, can prevent them from harming me. I'll be with her almost all the time, anyways.'

Just then, an ANBU appeared in front of the cell. I glanced over to him from where I lay on the cot.

"Tsunade-sama has ordered your release." the ANBU said, "She has told me to inform you that you will be leaving this cell by tomorrow morning."

I smiled and thanked the ANBU, for which he gave no reply. As always.

"There's your answer."

Timeskip to next morning~

I didn't sleep much while I waited. Ever since that ANBU brought the news that this would be the morning of my release, I was awake on and off throughout the night, mostly just talking to Kurama. 

I was getting restless. At the mouth of the cave, I could see light starting to filter through, meaning that the sun was rising.

At last, Tsunade herself came striding in with that purposeful, authoritative aura she brought about, followed by Shizune and the pig, Tonton. I sprung up from my cot and stood at the front of the cell eagerly.

"Hello, Baa-chan." I chirped.

She gave me an exasperated smile, though she looked relieved as she got out the keys and unlocked my cell. "Come on, gaki. Call me Hokage-sama or Tsunade-sama when we're around the others."

I stepped out of the cell and stretched. Finally, I was out of this gloomy cave.

Shizune chuckled, "Good to see you again, Naruto."

"Yeah. You too."

"At last." Kurama yawned, "At least now my chakra isn't completely contained."

'Yeah. I wonder what happened while I was in there.'

"A fantastic dilemma on what to do with you, I bet. Plus, I'm sure a few people are having little pity parties around here."

'And some who'll end their celebrations as soon as they find out that I was released.'

Tsunade glanced over at me. "Say, Naruto..."

I glanced over at her. She raised an eyebrow. "Those moments when you would zone out temporarily - I thought you were just daydreaming or something, but that's not the case, is it?"

I frowned. It was that noticeable? All this time?

"Of course, baka. Back when no one knew you were talking to me, it seemed pretty insignificant."

"No..." I said softly. I still wasn't happy about the idea that I told them, but I figured they would find out sooner or later, in a worse situation. This was the safest way to play things.

Tsunade was silent for a second. "It's the Kyuubi, isn't it?"

"His name is Kurama." I mumbled, something I'm itching to say every time someone calls him "Kyuubi" or "Nine-Tails."

Tsunade nodded. "What's he like?"

I looked at her out of the corner of my eye, shocked. She asked that? She...really asked that?

Kurama hummed, and although he didn't say it, I sensed the surprised warmth of his delight.

"Well..." I started, fumbling for an answer that I never thought I'd have to give. "Uh, why don't you ask him yourself?"

She looked taken aback, but managed a quiet "Okay."

'You take over?"

"If it's Tsunade I'm talking to, then I guess I don't mind."

'That translated to "Absolutely, Tsunade is the best."'

"Gaki."

I felt the surge of Kurama's chakra and I closed my eyes, letting him take control of my body. When I opened them, they were red. I watched through them, the way Kurama does through my eyes all the time.

"Hello, Tsunade." Kurama started. I stifled a laugh.

"Ky - Kurama." Tsunade fumbled. She wasn't used to seeing me and Kurama like this.

Kurama just chuckled at the two women and the pig, all seeming quite freaked out. "I wanted to thank you, Tsunade. For looking after my fishcake. I don't know where this brat would end up if it weren't for you."

'Wow. Thanks a lot...'

Tsunade nodded, "Well, I'm glad you feel that way..."

Kurama just humphed, his voice growing deadly serious, which could be scary for someone who didn't know him well. "Don't worry, I won't attack this pathetic village of yours. So take care of Naruto. I might change my mind if your villagers do anything to him."

Shizune shivered and they both tensed noticeably. 

'Stop scaring them, Kurama...'

Kurama sighed, "Fine, then. I suppose it would make Naruto unhappy if I attacked Konoha. But I don't plan on it so wipe that look off your faces. It's weird."

Tsunade and Shizune immediately got rid of their panicky expressions. Tsunade cleared her throat and asked, "So, Kurama..." as if testing out the name. 

Kurama hummed in response. She continued, "Why did you attack the village all those years ago?"

Kurama narrowed his (well, my) eyes. "I guess it's time I told Naruto about this too."

I was confused but intrigued even more. What did he not tell me all this time?

"At Naruto's birth, he and his parents were attacked by an Uchiha. Hold on, let me finish first!" he snarled when Tsunade opened her mouth to interrupt, "I was wrenched out of the seal and forced to attack the village. When I found out that Minato was attempting to seal me again, and in a baby nonetheless, I panicked and attacked him. And Minato and Kushina jumped in front of him, saving him while getting themselves killed and me sealed." he rolled his (then again, my) eyes and growled. "Now this gaki made me soft."

'Aw. You're welcome.'

"Shut up, idiot." Kurama grumbled, although this time, Tsunade and Shizune could hear him.

"I have a question." Tsunade raised an eyebrow at our little exchange, "Who forced you to attack the village?"

Tsunade POV~

When I came to free Naruto, I didn't expect...this.

It scared me (yes, scared me) to see Naruto like this. His eyes gleaming-red and slitted, his whiskers dark and thick, his voice deep and even demonic...

Except this wasn't Naruto. This was Kyuubi.

Or should I say, Kurama?

And the way Naruto and the fox bickered, it was like they were old friends or something. Well, from what I know, that is what they are.

And this new information...An Uchiha? The whole time, it had been an Uchiha that forced the Nine-Tails attack on the village all along?

When I asked, Kyuubi just stopped and growled. It was a menacing growl. He stopped, and I guessed that maybe Naruto said something to him? I don't know.

Then, he blinked, and Naruto's eyes turned their usual bright blue.

He rubbed the back of his neck, a familiar action when it came to Naruto. "That was getting frustrating, not being able to put input..." apparently, Kyuubi said something to him because he stopped and pouted, mumbling, "Jeez, alright, alright."

"Naruto?" I squinted, wondering what the hell he was doing.

"Okay, I'm going to summon a small amount of Kurama's chakra into the form of a fox so that he can talk to you. I don't do this much because I didn't want to draw attention to him, but this way, we can both talk."

"You can do that?" I wondered aloud. I had no idea that he trusted the Kyuubi so much that he was willing to let him take over his body. And now, I find out that they're so acquainted with each other that Naruto can use the Kyuubi's chakra to make a mini temporary version of the Nine-Tails?

I watched intently as Naruto placed a hand on the ground and closed his eyes. A small amount of red chakra began trickling out of his palm, and he furrowed his brow in concentration. The red chakra gathered together and gradually took form. In a flurry of fur, there stood a little orange Nine-Tailed fox.

"At last, we can do this." Kyuubi stood and shook out his fur. "It's been a while since I could move around."

Naruto chuckled, "You know this form is only a tiny manifestation of your chakra, right?"

"Whatever. At least I'm not in your body."

"You love staying in my body." Naruto crouched down and poked the little fox gently, "You said so yourself, you lazy fox."

The tiny Kyuubi swished his tails in annoyance.

"Um, can we get to the point?" I asked, "Who was the Uchiha that made you attack the village?"

"To be honest I don't know." Kyuubi sat back on his haunches. "He was wearing a mask, and I didn't get a good look at who he actually was since I spent most of that night being manipulated into smashing houses."

"I guess it can't be helped, then." I sighed.

Naruto shrugged, "Anyways, Kurama's chibi chakra form can't last very long, so if you have anything else to ask him, do it now."

"Shut up, gaki." Kyuubi snapped. Although his voice sounded so menacing and demonic, Naruto didn't seem scared in the slightest. He just crossed his arms and pouted.

Actually, in his mini form, he looked kinda cute. Still, it was hard to forget that this was the Kyuubi, the most powerful of the nine Bijuu, with chakra powerful enough to destroy the village in a night. The fact that Naruto trusted him so much...

I suppressed a shiver when Kyuubi flicked his gleaming red eyes toward me, observing with sharp, discerning eyes. Power like that, left unchecked...

"No, there isn't anything else." I said. "Kyuubi -"

"Kurama." Naruto said firmly with a harshness that surprised me. His change of mood was drastic, the kind of reaction he'd give as if I'd insulted a friend, "His name is Kurama."

I frowned and cleared my throat. "Er, Kurama. Thank you for not destroying the village."

"Whatever. I never planned on it in the beginning, anyways. Anyways, I can't hold this form for long. Goodbye, Tsunade. And you, Tsunade's assistant and pig."

I nodded, the most polite thing I could think of, and the mini fox faded back into red chakra that got absorbed into Naruto's hand.

What a strange day.