Jiraiya POV~

It has gotten to the point where I need a drink. I wasn't even an alcoholic like Tsunade, so I could only imagine how she felt.

I return to the village after an urgent message from Tsunade only to find out 1) the leader of the Akatsuki was one of my former students  2) He's dead  3) Naruto was involved  4) There will be a five kage summit  5) Naruto is willing to meet face-to-face -

The list could go on, but my headache was already murderous. Seeing that Nagato and Konan and Yahiko were dead was enough to nearly kill me, not to mention all that other stuff.(AN~haha I'm so funny)

And Naruto - goddammit I had to take on the weirdest students, didn't I?

That wood-style fellow Yamato had returned to say that he had seen Naruto's face. The same Naruto who was avoiding everyone for years.

Yamato's exact words were: "He showed me his face and the Bijuu chakra, so it was definitely him, but the moment I saw him, his chakra surged and he ran off. I only got a glimpse, but it's him, alright."

Tsunade clasped her hands in front of her face. Her forehead was scrunched up in frustration. My guess was she had a bottle of Sake hidden somewhere in this room, and she looked absolutely desperate for it.

"He took the letter?"

"Yes."

"Good. He needs to be aware of what's happening."

"You told him about the five Kage summit?" I raised an eyebrow.

She closed her eyes and nodded. "I told him that we would not force him to show his face, but if he does, it will be at the summit. It's dangerous for him out in the open, and...well, he's done well hiding from the Akatsuki on his own, but if he's going to reveal himself just to talk to us, he might as well do it in a place where we can protect him if the Akatsuki take advantage of him being in the open and attack."

It was an excuse, but one Tsunade and I could understand. Yamato noticed but didn't comment on it. Smart kid.

Everyone was aware of Tsunade's mama-bear nature. Nobody dared speak against it.

To be honest, I wasn't sure what I felt about Naruto's willingness to communicate. He was taking a big risk, after all he'd fought for his freedom, but that only meant he was truly concerned about the Akatsuki.

I read through his letters. I could see his worry, clear as day. 

If anything, Naruto was not stupid. He had his pride, and he would throw it away any day if it was necessary. 

Tsunade dismissed Yamato, and the moment he was gone, she fiddled with one of the drawers in her desks, sifting through the contents, and drew out a half-empty bottle of Sake. 

I sighed. It was a bit concerning that I wasn't even a little surprised.

Taking a large swig, she slammed the bottle on the desk and dropped her head down, making a tired "Ugh" sound.

I leaned forward, grabbing the bottle out of her hands. "Drinking on the job? Come on, you're the Hokage!" I said lightly as I took a sip for myself. 

She glanced up at my teasing voice, eyeing me with fake irritation. "Give that back." she pouted.

I winked and took another drink, only to have her snatch it back. I laughed, but the sound died in my throat within only a few seconds.

Tsunade, noticing my sudden silence, put the bottle back down and sat quietly. The silence stretched on for the next several minutes, neither one of us willing to speak.

"I'm worried about him." Tsunade said, causing me to snap my gaze back to her. She hadn't had nearly enough alcohol to be drunk yet, so she wasn't just blabbering nonsense. 

After a moment, I said, "So am I."

We were both quiet again.

"Do you think it's a good idea? What we're doing? What he's doing?"

I sighed, "I'm not fit for th -"

"I don't care about that. You of all people knew him best. I know for a fact that you've thought about it."

Whatever argument I was about to make dried up before it even left my mouth. I heaved a deep breath, plopping down on the couch in the room.

"I don't know. I really don't know. At first, I was worried. I know I should want him back but...this village hurt him so much, Tsunade. What they do to Jinchuriki just isn't right. And despite all the Jinchuriki over the years staying loyal and defying the odds no matter what people said about them, that cruelty persisted. Even if one Jinchuriki clawed their way to the top and became respected, earning the trust of the people who hated them, the next one was treated just the same by the same people. It's a never-ending cycle, and someone had to break it." I let out a small, bitter laugh, "They always choose the most loyal people to become Jinchuriki, just to make sure they don't break under the pressure and leave the village. People assumed the same could be said about Naruto, but no one will make him bow in submission. They thought he finally broke and left, but he didn't. He changed what was expected of Jinchuriki. He showed that he was treated wrong, and he thought so. He showed that he wasn't going to tolerate this kind of cruelty." I sighed, "That's why...I'm proud of him. This village sure as hell didn't deserve him. He doesn't deserve to be shoved under its control."

Tsunade was silent, staring down at her hands. The distant noise of the village and bustling shinobi, and the faint, barely noticeable ticking of clock were the only sounds for a while.

"I've met the Kyuubi." she said, breaking the silence. I glanced up at her. I'd heard that Naruto had introduced the Kyuubi to her, but she'd never spoken of it before.

"I heard."

She sighed and drank from the bottle again. "It was like talking to a human. I...I don't know how to explain this. You know Naruto has cooperated with the Nine-Tails, you know they're on good terms and that the Kyuubi lends Naruto his power. It's why he asked for the key to unlock the seal, after all. But, knowing that, versus seeing it for myself..." she shook her head, "The way they spoke to each other, they were old friends. It wasn't a simple cooperation like I thought. They truly care about each other." she took another gulp from bottle, her voice growing higher, "They bickered and talked to each other. They were so coordinated - I -"

I nodded. She just sighed and leaned back in the chair, sake forgotten. 

I understood what she meant. Things so deep, so intimate as a long-term bond of friends...it was something so powerful that words couldn't exactly describe it. Words were fickle.

I was surprised, though. She was right, I knew that Naruto had managed to form a cooperation with the Kyuubi, but I had no idea they were so close that Tsunade have about to have a breakdown just talking about it.

From what I'd been told, Naruto had befriended the fox from an early age. 

I also knew that Naruto had been very lonely at that time.

I didn't know what to think of the Kyuubi. The Kyuubi had killed Kushina and Minato. Naruto knew that the fox was the one who killed his parents.

It was amazing, really, that bonds can form from the strangest things.

Bonds are fickle as well.

"His name is Kurama."

I looked back up in confusion. "Who?"

She grabbed the bottle and took another sip. "The Kyuubi. His name is Kurama."

I stared at her for a moment, then nodded, leaning back.

I was suddenly very interested in meeting this 'Kurama.'

Naruto POV~

"Did he even see you?"

'Yes, yes, he saw me. I didn't want to stay for a second longer than I had to.'

"You took that phrase much too literally."

'I don't like interacting with people. Especially not Konoha.'

"There is no use trying to argue with you, is there?"

'You know the answer to that.'

I paused on a tree branch, now far enough to finally allow myself to relax. I wasn't being followed. That was good. 

It filled me with a bitter feeling, the fact that it took the threat of losing their Jinchuriki to finally get an ounce of decency or respect from Konoha.

I didn't waste any time reading the letter. When I finished, I reread it, then I read it again. I blinked, and once the words registered in my brain, my blood ran cold.

Kurama, reading through my eyes, breathed out, "Holy fuck."

'I'm dead.'

"Jeez, kit -"

'I am dead.'

"Um -"

'I died. Dead. Dead dead dead. I am dead.'

"Calm the fuck down."

I sighed heavily and leaned back against a tree.

'A five kage summit? Really? Just as I was beginning to appreciate the space they were giving me.'

"Damn them. They knew this would happen. Respecting you just enough to make you lower your guard, and now you're in too deep to get out of this."

'I could just leave again. Ya know, disappear off the face of the earth. I'm pretty good at that.' I pointed out desperately. 

"You know that wouldn't be a good idea." Kurama snarled sharply, "Fuck! There isn't anything you can do now but agree, unless you want to risk getting caught by the Akatsuki and losing whatever feeble trust the Hidden Villages have in you."

I dragged a hand down my face, 'I'm in deep shit.'

"That you are."

'Ughhhhhh.' I threw my arms up uselessly, 'I've revealed myself already. There's no getting out of this now. But, dammit. I could request a different meet up with less people, but that would seem demanding and - why the fuck did I do this?'

"Don't ask me. Half the time I have no idea why you do what you do."

I wasn't looking forward to the five kage summit. 'Dammit. All five of the kage from all five of the Hidden Villages, plus some of their highly skilled shinobi and a shit ton of Samurai, will be there. If they make a move to capture me, I don't like my odds.'

"Naruto Uzumaki. The boy with a thousand enemies." 

'Stoppppp -'

"All the world will be your enemy -"

'Nooooo'

"Prince with a thousand enemies."

I groaned, but a small smile wormed its way on my face.

"It's true, gaki. And it's fucking weird."

'Aha...I know.'

Kurama sighed. "Go."

'What?'

"Go to the Kage summit. If they try anything, I'll make sure they can't get you. Is that okay with you?"

I thought on this, 'Are you saying...if they try to attack me, you'll unleash your full power?'

"I'm warning you beforehand. If they attempt anything, I won't hesitate to go all out. At that time, I won't ask for your permission. I'll just do it. So I'm asking now. Is it okay for me to go full Kyuubi at them if they try to hurt you?"

I was silent for a moment. Kurama was powerful, much more powerful than the other Bijuu and capable of a lot of destruction if he willed it. I knew he wanted to protect me. I was grateful for that. But if he attacked with all his might, he could destroy an entire building with a swipe of his tail before anyone could ever hope to stop him. 

But, on the other hand, they had no right. No. Right. To lay a hand on me. I wasn't going to tolerate it if they attempted to catch me. Not after all I'd gone through to get my freedom.

If Kurama bared his teeth at them and snapped his jaws if they tried to attack, they were just asking for it.

So I said, 'You can do whatever you think is right, Kurama. I won't try to stop you. I literally can't stop you.'

Kurama smiled.

AN~

Watership Down reference, if you know what I'm talking about. 

If you have no idea what I'm talking about then...idk. Rabbits, man.