I quickly realized that things weren't as great as I thought. 

To be honest, I didn't expect news to travel so fast, but it wasn't surprising. The villagers are world-renowned gossipers after all, and the habit of judging people based on the smallest preconceptions is something I realized they do a lot. 

I was used to the hate they sent my way, but this time, it was different. Stronger.

"They probably know what happened to Sasuke."

'And they blame me.' I sighed, 'As usual.'

Kurama harrumphed at this. I chuckled, 'Ah, lighten up, you dumb fox.'

"I wouldn't lighten up if I were you. Watch your back. You don't know what they'll try."

'Hell, what do they think I did? From what I know, no one in the village aside from some stupid fangirls in our class really care about Sasuke as anything more than "the last Uchiha." Besides, I saved him. And I got hurt too!'

Kurama growled, "You know they don't care. In fact, just the notion that you and Sasuke, a Konoha shinobi and the last of his clan, had a fight is enough for them to label you as a monster. They'll jump at any chance to bring hate upon you."

I sulked. 'Jeez. No need to be so harsh...'

"Just giving you a reality check. It's the truth and you know it. If you aren't careful, these villagers could be the death of you. I'm trying to keep you alive, dammit!"

I smiled softly at him, keeping that rare smile to myself. It was a smile I only gave to Kurama and a few special people. Nothing like my big signature grin. This smile was real.

Suddenly, I heard the whiz of an object being thrown, and I just barely managed to dodge a wooden spoon that had been thrown by one of the shopkeepers. 

I was just passing by...

The man yelled at me to get lost, nothing I hadn't dealt with before, but then, most of the other people in the vicinity joined in. Soon I was dodging flying objects left and right, before I had to take to the rooftops to avoid them. 

"That was a bit overdramatic."

'Tell me about it...' I glanced back. They were screaming insults at me, things like "monster" or "brat." But only one word caught my attention.

Demon.

I gritted my teeth and kept leaping across the rooftops, but soon, more and more people were chanting it. Then everyone was saying it. Every time I passed by, every turn I took, more and more people were saying over and over.

Demon.

You're nothing

but

a demon.

That word. Did they have any idea what they were saying? Just how deep those two syllables could cut?

They labeled Kurama a demon. Sure, he may have attacked the village, and there was no way of anyone knowing he was being controlled, but it was because Madara Uchiha controlled him and the the First Hokage imprisoned him that he was even a threat in the first place. No one had ever given any thought about the Bijuu's feelings. Then they got mad when the Tailed Beasts fought back. Idiots.

They labelled me a demon. Had no one ever told them that I was the Kyuubi vessel, not the fox himself? No one bothered. No one.

The villagers are the ones who relentlessly harassed a boy who had done nothing to them. The villagers are the ones who never gave a second thought about what they were doing, or that it might be wrong. The villagers, who immediately decided that they knew exactly who I was because of a couple rumors and accusations.

It was the villagers who were acting like demons, not me. Not even Kurama, who was only doing what made sense of someone who was wrongly imprisoned without a care.

Kurama was silent again. He'd been doing this a lot, and I found it strange, but I decided not to pry. Not unless it got annoying. Whenever Kurama was in deep thought, he would never reply to me, so I didn't want to interrupt him if that was the case. 

Still, I wondered what he was thinking about.

At last, at the end of the day, I got to my apartment. 

'As shaggy and drab as ever.'

"Hm. Home sweet home."

'Hey, grumpy. How was your nap?'

"I wasn't napping..." he grumbled.

I pursed my lip in confusion. 'Why were you so quiet, then?'

"I'll tell you later."

'Okay.' If Kurama said wasn't telling me, then he wasn't telling. But I trust him, so I put the thought in the back of my mind.

As soon as I stepped through the front door, I could tell something was off. Firstly, the door was much looser than usual, and I could see a couple hinges broken. Second, the air had a slight chemical smell to it. 

And third. Well, third I saw as soon as I entered.

My cabinets were emptied and all dishes and objects were on the floor, many of them broken. The smell of paint was from the graffiti all over my walls, saying things like "monster," "you should die."

"Demon."

Other than my few valuable objects, everything else was a mess. 

"Fuck."

'Fuck.' my eyes landed on the various "demons" written along my wall. Someone even spray-painted it in huge letters on the ceiling.

My heart clenched as the weight of it all came crashing down on me at once. I dropped to my knees, eyes burning and chest heaving.

"Naruto."

No response.

"Kit."

'...Yes, Kurama.'

My voice sounded so...weak. I felt weak, under the weight of all those insults, all that hatred. 

To think they would go as far as raiding my apartment...

The weight of the hatred was heavy, almost too heavy. 

My gaze landed on the words, "you should die," written in red paint.

After everything I did for this village...

They want me dead.

It was almost too much to handle.

Almost.

"Kit." Kurama's deep voice came into my consciousness. I could feel his anger in his chakra, but his voice was soothing. Letting me know that I wasn't bearing the burden of this village's resentment alone. "Stand up."

His voice was like a commander's to me. At least, with my mind a wreck, it was. I obeyed, slowly pushing myself to a stand on wobbly legs.

"Now, go to our favorite training ground."

Slowly, I made my way out the door. I hesitated in the hallway, turning to look back.

"Not now, Naruto. Not when you're in such a state. First, we need to calm down. Both of us."

I lowered my eyes and started to leave again. 'Okay...'

Kurama rumbled in agreement. His presence was what grounded me most of the time. He was there, as the only friend I was absolutely sure wouldn't leave me. He was there to help me when the pain was too much to handle.

I made it to the training ground and laid down on the grass. The blades of grass tickled my cheeks as I lay my head on the field. The deep purplish-black night sky stretched out above me, a blanket of twinkling stars scattered endlessly across the vast expanse. The moon was like the guardian of it all, a single spot of brightness that brought its gentle glow down in a soft blanket of light.

I don't know how long I lay there, flat on my back, staring at the wonder that was the night sky.

'....Kurama?'

"Hm?"

I closed my eyes and smiled. 'Thank you.'

I must have fallen asleep last night...

Slowly, I cracked open an eyelid. The mid-morning sun was casting its light down on me. 

Kurama was the second one to greet me. "You drifted off while stargazing."

'Yeah. I figured.' I pushed myself up on my elbows. I sighed, 'I should probably go clean up my apartment.'

The back-stabbing pain I was feeling the night before was a little calmer now. Not gone, but subsided enough to allow me some rational thinking. Kurama knew me too well.

Speaking of Kurama, he was quiet again.

'Kurama?'

"Hey Naruto." Kurama said suddenly. I paused in confusion.

'Yeah?'

"I was thinking. You don't have to agree, but maybe...you should leave the village."

For a moment, I didn't reply. It took some time to process what he was saying.

'What?' I asked stupidly, 'Leave...the village?'

"Think about it. It might be for the best."

The way he said it, it was as if he was expecting me to argue. But, to both his and my surprise, I found myself agreeing instantly.

'Honestly...I considered it too. The only thing that stopped me was the thought of how sad Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Kakashi would be.'

Kurama let out a small growl in understanding. "If you manage to slip out unnoticed, I'm pretty sure they would understand why you left."

Naruto nodded. 'It's an idea worth thinking about. As the Leaf's only Jinchuriki, those stupid council members want us a weapon under their command. It's the only reason they keep me around. And the villagers and pretty much everyone except for a couple people hate me so...'

"Hm. You don't have to leave. I'm not forcing you."

'I know, Kurama, but...' I sighed, sounding kind of defeated. Memories of my torn up apartment flashed through my head. 'Even if you hadn't suggested it, I would probably think about it anyways.'

"I know, Kit. That's why I brought it up."

I chuckled. 'Just imagine what someone would say about this situation. They'd think I'm being manipulated by you.'

Kurama growled. "That's what they'd think. They'd think the big bad demon fox had you under his control."

I smiled. 'They don't know you, Kurama. They don't know how kind you really are.'

Kurama spluttered. "Pff. I'm a Bijuu, the Kyuubi! Don't go around calling me kind...it's weird...."

I rolled my eyes. 'Kurama. You love me. Admit it.'

Kurama sat back on his haunches in my mindscape. I was currently sitting on the grass in a meditative pose so I could talk to him properly.

"Well...you are the nicest Jinchuriki - no, the nicest human - I've ever met. You're the only one to ever see us Tailed Beasts as something other than weapons or monsters. The only one I've met, anyways." Kurama softened his gaze, his red slit-pupil eyes half closed as they peered down at me. "For a long, long time, Tailed Beasts were imprisoned, denied freedom, all because people were afraid of our power or wanted to use it for their own selfish desires. Our Jinchuriki were like wardens, either keeping watch over our imprisonment to make sure we would never escape, treating us with hatred or distaste, or trying to use our power as their own. You were the first to ever ask my name." he leaned down until his head was level with mine. "You were the first to ever even attempt to become my friend."

I was in shock. I knew this, obviously. I knew how Kurama really felt about me, deep down. But I never heard him so earnest and open before. He was such a stubborn, prideful fox, never to admit his true feelings out loud.

Kurama huffed. "Look at you. You even got me to spill my emotions. You're one interesting brat, I'll give you that." he chuckled, his deep laugh bringing a grin to my face. "That's why I want to help you, Naruto. I owe you. There's nothing for you here."

I nodded. 'Thank you, Kurama. You were my first friend, too. So I'm grateful as well.' my mind drifted to other things, 'I remember when you told me about the other Bijuu. I don't like how they're all trapped like that.'

"Some of them have befriended their Jinchuriki, too. I never understood why. Until you came along. You proved that not all humans are complete shitwads."

I smiled. 'Yeah. Not all are.'

Kurama nodded. "So? What's your decision?"

I opened my eyes, leaving my mindscape as I replied.

'Let's go then, Kurama.'