11 Chapter 11: Meeting of the Minds VII

[What did you call me?!] She asked incredulously.

"Well I can't keep calling you Kuubi, it's so impersonal. And since you won't tell me your name, I decided to call you Kyu-chan."

Answered Naruto with a mischievous and teasing smile on his face, causing a furious blush to appear on the face of the Kyuubi.

[Don't add 'chan' to my name! I'm the mighty Kyuubi-no-Kitune you insignificant worm! Not your childhood friend! You should be calling me Kyuubi-sama!] Shouted the Kyuubi in anger as she pounded her head against the cage, much to Naruto's amusement.

"Calm down Kyu-chan, you're going to give yourself an aneurism at this rate."

Placated Naruto, but it lost its effect as the Kyuubi shot him a scathing glare for calling her that name again. He just smiled happily at her in return causing her to huff in annoyance.

[I'm starting to regret calling you in here.] She said, causing his smile to widen even further.

"Don't be like that Kyu-chan, we're going to be a great team. But we need to find a way to get your Yin chakra back."

Pondered Naruto, completely missing the look of utter shock on the, mixed with hope, on the face of the Kyuubi.

[What?] She question, just to be sure.

"Well you said the Yondaime split your Yin and Yang chakra apart. Meaning, right now you are incomplete.

Again, considering what happened to me a few minutes ago, I think I understand better than anyone what it's like to be missing a part of yourself.

So we need to find a way to give you back your Yin chakra." Answered Naruto like it was the most natural thing in the world.

The Kyuubi just looked at him carefully before breaking into a smile. This boy really never ceased to amaze her.

[While I appreciate the sentiment, you are a long way away from being able to extract my chakra from the belly of the Shinigami.

You need to be more knowledgeable in Fūinjutsu for that to be possible.

As it stands, you are barely acceptable as a shinobi.] Pointed out the Kyuubi bluntly causing Naruto's shoulders to droop and a small raincloud to appear over his head, causing her to chuckle.

"I know that. I regret not taking my training seriously. I can't help but wonder sometimes, if I was strong enough….would Haku-chan still be alive?" He questioned himself.

The Kyuubi looked down sadly at him. Knowing how painful the girl's death was for him.

It did make her feel a twinge of something, she was unsure what it was though. She decided to put it at the back of her mind and help him out of his funk.

[You can't dwell on the past too much Naruto. Your girl would not have wanted that for you. You have to be strong and face the world with your head held high. It's too late for 'what ifs'.

What's done is done. You need to look to improve yourself from now on.

You already have the perfect tools to be somebody great, you just need to use them properly.] Soothed the Kyuubi, making Naruto smile at her in appreciation.

"That's the first time you called me by my name." He pointed out with a smile on his face causing her to huff in annoyance.

"What do you mean I have the right tools?" He asked quizzically. She just shook her head at him.

[You have the perfect training tool in your arsenal. And you can use in a way that nobody else can due to your unique condition.] She said causing question marks to appear above his head.

She forgot that he was still an idiot when he learned the technique and therefore never truly understood what he was learning.

 [The Kage Bunshin no Jutsu. You haven't realised it yet but they have a special function. When a Kage Bunshin dispels, the memories of its 'lifetime' is transferred back to the original.

This technique was originally designed for recon missions, where you can send in a clone and get the lay out of the place as well as traps without the danger of being caught.

You on the other hand, with your massive chakra reserves, accelerated healing plus me inside of you, can use this Jutsu like nobody ever has.

Imagine it, if you made 10 clones, what would normally take you 10 days to learn can be learnt in 1 day and so forth. What could take most people years to master, you can do it in days, weeks or months, depending on how many clones you spend on it. You can use it to finally catch up on all the important points you missed from the academy and go even further.

The possibilities are limitless.] She pointed out, to his wide eyed amazement.

He thought back to all the times he used the technique. He realised, with a jolt that it was all in combat situations. While in the rush of the battle he never took the time to notice anything off about his clones.

He was an instinct fighter, so he probably did get memories of his clones but he mistook them for his own in the heat of the moment to beat his targets. The Kyuubi was right, the applications of this Jutsu was mind-blowing.

He could accelerate his training by years. While that asshole Sasuke now had his little eye infection, he had a much greater tool in his arsenal.

A wide maniacal grin spread across his face as he started to chuckle in a creepy manner, making the Kyuubi sweat-drop at his behaviour. He snapped out of it though and fixed her with a scrutinising stare.

"Not that I don't appreciate the help, but why are you doing this?" Questioned Naruto with a suspicious undertone in his voice.

Now that he finally whole again, his personality is much more in line to what it should be, as such, years of mistreatment had caused him to have a rather cynical view of things.

[Hmph….regardless of what you hairless monkeys think of me, I'm not some mindless beast filled with hatred.] She said.

"I know that." Interrupted Naruto. "But why are you being so forthcoming with information?" He questioned.

[Because I realise that I'm stuck with you. The seal on this cage binds us together.

If you were to die, I would follow you. Only I would end up in the stomach of the Shinigami, with the other half of my chakra.

It's futile to try and fight you when there are other forces working against us. That accursed Uchiha who manipulated me the night you were born is still out there.

There are others as well that would mean both you and I harm. I have a feeling that you will play a pivotal role in the coming events. Plus, I can have my host be weak. As the Jinchuuriki of the mighty Kyuubi-no-Kitsune, you have to stand above them all as my avatar.

So I have decided that I will aid you as I expect you to aid me. Consider it a mutually beneficial partnership.] She concluded with a fanged grin.

Naruto, for his part broke out into a happy smile.

"So we're friends. I'd be glad to be your friend Kyu-chan!" Concluded Naruto with a satisfied nod, like he just made the greatest deduction.

The Kyuubi just looked at him with a goggle eyes expression on her face. That wasn't at all what she said.

[I'm not your friend, you insolent brat! If you were inside this cage I would flay you alive you worthless flesh-bag! And don't call me Kyu-chan!] Roared the Kyuubi in impotent anger, causing Naruto to smile serenely at her, pissing her off even further.

"You are so angry Kyu-chan. You need to relax every once in a while.

Oooh speaking of anger….I've noticed that in the last few days that I am able to somewhat sense the emotions of people around me.

What's up with that?" Inquired Naruto. The Kyuubi for her part finally calmed down and smirked at him.

[That is a special ability that can be granted to my hosts when they sync with my chakra. It's called Negative Emotion Sensing.

You awakened the ability when you momentarily synced with my chakra on that bridge, when that midget threatened your mate.

You didn't give into the hatred, which would have usually happened, causing a corrosive chakra cloak to appear.

But because you balanced it, either by fluke or on purpose, you achieved the conditions to unlock this ability. It's the highest form of Sensory in the world.

Nothing can ever escape your notice if you learn how to properly control it.] Bragged the Kyuubi in a smug tone of voice as Naruto looked up at her with sparkling eyes of admiration, boosting her ego even further.

"Wooooah….you're so cool Kyu-chan! Imagine how this will aid in my training. I won't have to worry about people spying on me now when we get back to Konoha.

I need to get training quickly if I want to get to an acceptable level. Luckily, I have Zabuza and Haku-chan's equipment to help me out not to mention their scrolls.

Plus with the Kage Bunshin to aid my training, I can progress nicely. I only need to worry about my physical training now. I need to gain some height and weight." Said Naruto.

The Kyuubi at first had a tick mark on her head at the annoying nickname he insisted on calling her, but let it slide for now to address more important matters.

[It's because of all the ramen that you ate that stunted your growth. I don't blame you though as I know it was hard to get other food.

But now that you're a shinobi, you should start hunting for your own meals. It will help your trap setting and tracking skills, plus you get a meal out of it.

And by finally eating a proper diet, I can divert the nutrients where it's needed to be to fix your malnutrition and stunted growth.

Once that is fixed, you just have to keep eating healthily to allow your body to flourish naturally.] Pointed out the Kyuubi.

earning a comically tearful smile from Naruto to show his gratefulness, causing her to shake her head ruefully. 

[Plus, you have an advantage when it comes to physical training as well.

With your Uzumaki heritage and my chakra flowing through you, you have an abnormal regeneration rate. What takes most people weeks or months to heal, you do it overnight.

So when you train your body, constantly tearing your muscles and healing them overnight, you are making them stronger and more durable, increasing your strength and durability to inhuman levels.] Finished the Kyuubi.

Naruto just looked at her with an even stare that gave away nothing, making her a bit nervous at his unnerving stare.

"I love you Kyu-chan." He said with finality causing the self-proclaimed 'Queen of the Bijuu' to splutter incoherently with an atomic blush that could be seen through her crimson fur.

[Whaaa!...what are you saying in worthless monkey?! Stop being a baka! Just get out of here….im tired of seeing your stupid face.] Protested the Kyuubi, in what Naruto thought was quite a cute manner.

'I didn't think Kyu-chan would be a tsundere. It's going to be so much fun to tease her.'

Thought Naruto with an evil grin causing a shiver down the spine of his tenant.

"Fufufu….we've got a lot of work ahead of us. But I know we can rise to the top.

The world won't know what it hit it when we're done with it. Are you with me Kyu-chan?!" Declared Naruto with his fist pumped to the sky.

The Kyuubi just sighed in exasperation, already feeling a headache coming along from dealing with her unpredictable host.

But she grinned to herself regardless, she wouldn't have it any other way.

[Hmph, I knew there was a reason for you being my favourite host…..AND DON'T CALL ME KYU-CHAN!] Roared the Kyuubi while Naruto just laughed at her antics.

Happy that he made another new friend.

His second, behind Haku-chan. He was happy about that. He now had something to look forward to in the future, and a lifelong friend to share it with.