7 Hinata's Birthday Invitation

Kibo sat down next to Naruto watched as the blond child let out a sigh.

As they looked over the entire village from Hokage Rock, Naruto bowed his head slightly, placed his hands together, and shouted, "Sorry about that! I didn't mean to call her mom! It just slipped out!"

In response to Naruto's apology, Kibo lifted a brow in a confused expression before saying, "You know, my mom was probably happy that you called her that. Naruto why don't you let my parents adopt you?"

"Because everyone in the village says I'm a demon! And if your parents take me in, I'm afraid they'll start calling them demons as well." Naruto replied looking even sadder than before.

"I know why the village treats you in such a way," Kibo said startling Naruto.

"However this information pertains to a secret of mine so I can't tell you here," Kibo responded while pointed with his eyes, showing Anbu hiding in the distance.

Naruto gave an 'Oh, I get it!' expression before saying, "Right..."

"Let's go get some food from, Mom!" Kibo said to Naruto as he jumped off of the rock face and to the nearest scaffolding.

While they were walking back Kibo asked, "Oh yeah who was that 2nd friend you forgot to mention?"

Naruto stuck his hands behind his head and laughed before answering in a cocky tone, "A Hyuga clan girl. I think she said her name was Hinata! Yes, that's it Hinata was her name! A bunch of kids tried to pick on her, so I helped and beat them all up."

Kibo looked at the bruise on Naruto's eye that was slowly fading away.

"More like they owned your ass by ganging up on you." Kibo kept this to himself.

While he held off his laughter Naruto recanted the tale of how he saved a damsel in distress, "Well, anyway, she said we were friends. But then something weird happened."

"Oh, what happened?" Kibo showed genuine interest.

"She got stuck repeating a word," Naruto answered with a perplexed pose.

Kibo looked at Naruto with a serious expression and said, "Think Naruto. What was she saying before she got stuck?"

Naruto put his finger on his forehead and looked like he was trying hard to think. It took him a few seconds before he started speaking, "She said that her birthday was next week, and then all she could do was stutter, woo, whuu, woul."

Naruto then ran his hands through his hair in frustration while saying, "I couldn't figure out what she was saying, so I said goodbye and left."

BAP!

Naruto felt a stinging sensation on the back of his head as he flew face-first into the snow.

Kibo had flicked him, although not as soft as he wanted to. He wasn't lying about adjusting to his body after so long, but it wasn't because of weakness from muscle atrophy, but rather his newfound physical strength.

Oww! What was that for?" Naruto complained with tears in his eyes while rubbing the spot he was flicked.

Once Kibo saw that Naruto was alright, he relaxed and let out a sigh of relief.

"I flicked you because you're a BAKA!" Kibo shouted as crossed his arms!

"She was probably shy, and couldn't get the words out. That girl was trying to invite you to her birthday party!"

[Mission: Accompany Naruto to Hinata's birthday and capture the Kumo Nin alive. Reward: 1,500 points, and a Random Jutsu Relic.]

Kibo accepted the mission as he watched Naruto's face turned beet red.

When the blond hero thought back on the event, the stuttering words Hinata made turned into 'Would you like to come to my birthday celebration?'

"I didn't know! Aw man, what kind of present am I suppose to give her? I don't know anything about her!" Naruto yelled as held his hands on the side of his cheeks.

"Think, Naruto! Was she doing anything before those kids picked on her?" Kibo responded. he knew what Hinata would like as a present, but he wanted to give Naruto a chance to figure this one out on his own.

"I think she was pressing flowers in a book! I noticed a bunch of pure white lilies in her hands." Naruto said as he slapped his fist into his palm with an 'I got a great idea look on his face.'

"So you're going to give her flowers?" Kibo responded.

"Kukuku, No I'm gonna give her something better. Something I learned from a book," Naruto declared, seeming really happy about his idea,

"Speaking of birthdays! I slept through mine. What about you Naruto? When's your birthday?" Kibo asked already knowing the answer.

"October 10th! It was a couple of months ago. When's yours?" Naruto replied.

"September the 21st. It was a month before yours. Sorry, I guess I slept through yours as well." Kibo placed his hand in front of his face and apologized.

"Nah! We can just have a late double birthday celebration at Ichiraku." Naruto responded, making the two share a laugh as they returned to his house.

Niwa ran up to Naruto and gave him a bear hug, "I'm so glad you two are okay. I was a little worried when Kibo hit...I mean, I'm happy your back in one piece."

"How did you know I hit anything?" Kibo questioned with knowing and suspicion-filled eyes.

While Niwa tried to think up a good excuse, a cherry-red-faced Naruto, who was buried neck-deep into Niwa's breasts, was beginning to have trouble breathing.

Kibo laughed, choosing to spare his mother from lying about spying on them, and started to head inside.

Niwa refused to lose to her son, with her pride as a Ninja on the line, she changed the subject and said, "Naruto why don't you let us Adopt you? I won't force you if you say no. But should you want to, you can stay here for as long as you like."

"I talked to the Hokage about your circumstances. . . " Jun looked to his grandson and back to Naruto before continuing his line of speech, "and I believe that if you chose to live here, no one in my clan would care what others say about us. Neither would they dare to accost you. The people can claim were raising a Devil for all I care, but as I see it, you're just a kid, nor more a monster than my own grandson."

"Yep! That's true. After all, Naruto intends to become Hokage and prove them wrong. Right Naruto?" Kibo said holding out his fist to a bawling Naruto.

"Dattebayo!" Naruto said through his tears and let out a goofy snot bubble smile before bumping Kibo's fist.

That dinner was really emotional. Naruto had accepted to be adopted by Niwa and Aka, although Naruto asked to keep his Uzumaki name.

"It's all of what I have left of my real parents. I'd like to keep it if you don't mind," Naruto pleaded.

Kibo sighed on the inside because of that statement, because he knew there was a hell of a lot more than just a name.

Niwa and the rest had no problem with his request.

"Of course you can!" Niwa replied with tears running down her cheeks.

With the mushy stuff out of the way, Kibo had gained Naruto as an adoptive sibling only a month apart in age.

"Since I'm living in this world now, I can certainly give Naruto a better life," Kibo thought as they got ready for bed. They didn't have any furniture for Naruto, and all his stuff was back at his apartment, but he did have a room of his own.

Niwa pulled out a Futon and handed it to Naruto before telling him they would send movers to his place tomorrow and bring all his belongings here.

"Can he sleep in my room tonight?" Kibo asked with a puppy dog pout.

He still needed to talk with Naruto in private, so played the kid card of wanting to sleep in the same room as his little brother.

Naruto, the natural-born prankster quickly caught on to what Kibo wanted and chimed in as well, "I don't want to sleep in an empty room. Can I sleep in Kibo's tonight?"

Needless to say, Niwa was defenseless against their innocent pleas. She broke down hugged Naruto with tears falling from her eyes. "Of course you c~a~n!"

And with that done, the two ran into the room and closed the door. Niwa realized she just got played and chuckled before returning to her room.

They talked about menial things until it was time for bed. Once they turned off all the lights except a single lamp, Kibo sat up and made sure his back was to the window before he began speaking, "Okay where do I start."

He seemed to be contemplating how to explain what a tailed beast is, so he decided to start with Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki. "This man was also called the Sage of Six Paths. He was the one who first taught Ninshu to the rest of mankind."

Kibo could see the look of confusion on Naruto's face before he explained in further detail, "Ah, you see, Ninshu is what eventually evolved into what we Ninja call Nin-Jutsu today."

Naruto nodded his head and seemed fascinated, kind of like a kid listening to a bedtime story.

"One day a particular person did something very wicked. This person tried to take back Hagoromo's and his brother's teachings by unleashing the Jubi, a Ten Tailed Monster that attempted to destroy the world by killing everyone and absorbing their Chakra."

"Woah! Can something like that really exist?!" Naruto said with a bit of fear in his voice.

"Yes. But Hagoromo and his bother, Hamura stopped the perpetrator and sealed the Ten Tailed Beast inside themselves. The mass of Chakra was sealed inside Hagoromo while the husk was taken by Hamura. Hamura eventually left the planet, took his half of the Jubi, and relocated to the moon, while Hagoromo stayed here on Earth to teach the people the ways of Ninshu."

"Cool! So this Hagoromo fella is a hero?!" Naruto questioned with stars in his eyes.

"I'd say so. Now be quiet and let me finish the story," Kibo replied, making Naruto pull his head back in embarrassment.

"Soon after the Sage of Six Paths split the Chakra of the Ten Tailed Beasts using an all-powerful Jutsu, making the Tailed Beast we know today."

Naruto gasped, but before he could ask questions and interrupt again, Kibo continued, "You should know those Tailed-Beast are all intelligent beings. Other than their shape and size they're no different than any other human when It comes to feelings and experiences."

"But then why did the Kyuubi attack the village?" Naruto asked.

"He was forced into it by someone with a powerful Jutsu," Kibo replied.

"There's someone strong enough to control the Nine-Tailed Beast?" Naruto asked with a surprised expression.

"Today, there are only a handful of people on the earth that can do that. But not while it's sealed away inside a host." Kibo looked at Naruto's stomach for a second before speaking again, "Naruto, the Nine-Tailed Fox loved Hagoromo like a father. He used a good, innocent fox, but like you, he was rejected by Hagoromo's descendants and treated like a monster to be sealed away."

Naruto suddenly felt pity for the fox while thinking, "If the villagers make me feel this way, then the fox's pain much be far greater than mine. At least I'm not treated like some caged animal, unable to decide my own future."

"Hagoromo was weakened by the separation but kept alive through Hamura's use of the Jubi's husk. The Sage and his followers then built temples in nine different regions of the world where the tailed beasts could live in peace and be protected."

"What happened next?!" Naruto asked with both anticipation and excitement in his voice.

"With his work on Earth done, Hagoromo eventually sealed the husk of the Ten-Tails within the moon. However, this selfless action led to his eventual demise. On his deathbed, Hagoromo had tested and made a decision concerning his two sons. One that would forever embroil the country in countless wars."

"Wait! That's the worst ending!" Naruto commented.

"The Story is not over yet. Eventually, he chose Asura to be his successor. Because the younger brother had a kind heart and relied on the help of others to eventually rival his brother's talent, Hagoromo thought he would be the best choice to lead his people to prosperity."

"If a peaceful guy like Asura was picked to be the successor, then how did they end up starting wars?! What happened?" Naruto blurted out.

"Indra happened. Overcome by bitterness and envy over the fact Asura was chosen, as well as being manipulated by a remnant of the great evil Hagoromo and Hamura fought so hard to rid the world of, the older fought against his younger brother in an attempt to murder him. Thus began a war between the two that would go on throughout the generations and continued by their descendants. Eventually, to stop the humans fighting, the Nine-Tailed Beasts sacrificed their immortal bodies to become what they are today."

Kibo sighed as he thought of the temple of the Tailed Beast, "The people were supposed to worship the Bijuu's and their Host's as the leaders of their lands. However, in the end, they were betrayed by the people and were used as a tool for war and intimidation tactics."

Kibo looked to Naruto and pointed to his gut, more specifically his Dantian, before saying, "In fact, Uzumaki Clan members were particularly suited for becoming such a host."

Naruto seemed to be putting two and two together when Kibo confirmed his suspicions by saying, "That's right, the Kyuubi is sealed inside you."

Naruto almost jumped up when Kibo stopped him by covering his mouth.

"Before you freak out, remember what I said, the Tailed Beasts are pitiful creatures. And besides, if you make friends with them, they make the best partners." Kibo finished speaking to see Naruto's curious reaction.

"Make friends with them?" Naruto said deep in thought.

Suddenly another quest appeared.

[Quest: Help Naruto inherit legacy left to him at the Namikaze compound. Reward: 5,000 system points, 1 Star Chamber Relic.]

"I can open a second Star Chamber!? Does this mean I can hold another Dao Beast?!" Kibo was getting excited when he thought of Seiryu, "Hey Seiryu you're fully healed right? Can you tell me about the space you are living in?"

Seiryu responded happily, "Yes! I don't know what it is about this space, but it's perfectly suitable for Chakra Souls such as myself to live in. It's filled with an overabundance of natural energy that's perfect for me. Although I'm unsure if I can ever recover a Mortal Shell again, at least in here I don't have to worry about my soul vanishing."

"Navi, can anyone use the Relics?" Kibo questioned with bright eyes.

"If the Host allows it, then yes. However, If Host is thinking of giving one to Naruto, he should help him remove the seal first otherwise there will be . . . complications," Navi replied.

"So we have to wait for Naruto to gain Kurama's trust? Ugh! Can't I just let them start talking now?" Kibo complained.

"If Host allows Naruto to enter his Star Chamber, then Kurama will come with him. Although the Nine-Tailed Fox will still be trapped in a cage," Navi responded.

Kibo gave a sly smile before turning to Naruto and asking, "Hey Naruto do you want to meet him?"

"I can do that?" Naruto responded with a question of his own.

"Yes. But remember, you've been shunned and harassed by the villagers for a few years, Kurama has been bullied for centuries. So I want you to imagine what you'd be like if you were in his place. He didn't choose to be sealed inside you."

Naruto nodded his head before Kibo thought, "Navi activate the link."

With a surge of unknown energy, Kibo and Naruto's souls were drawn into the Star Chamber.

When Naruto opened his eyes, he saw two massive beings standing before him. One a dragon, the other a caged up Nine-Tailed Fox.

"Dragon! The Kyuubi! Kibo, you didn't say I have two different Tailed Beasts living inside me!!" Naruto felt his eyes spinning as he was confronted by two legendary beasts.

Seiryu and Kibo started laughing, "Sorry, Naruto. The Dragon is my partner, and his name is Seiryu."

Kibo then pointed to Kurama and said, "That's your partner!"

A bundle of killing intent fused with confusion radiated from the red pillar cage.

When suddenly, a deep and powerful voice echoed throughout the chamber as the fox moved his mouth, "Well...this is new!"

"Navi, Kurama's not going to recover inside here, is he? Because Minato sealed half of his soul inside the reaper, cutting a chunk of the Nine-Tail's power, this counts as a wounded Chakra Soul, right? He's not gonna power up and escape is he."

"Host doesn't need to worry. When you absorbed Seiryu's fang, the Star Chamber built this place according to Seiryu's specifications. Thus making an environment that solely exists for that particular being live in. Kurama will not benefit from the energy here," Navi reassured Kibo.

He didn't want the Kyuubi suddenly breaking the seal because it suddenly healing and gaining a massive increase in power. With that out of the way, he could breathe a sigh of relief.

"Hey, are you the fox trapped inside me?" Naruto asked when the foxed looked to Naruto's stomach.

"Why don't you come here kid, it's been a long time since I've had a snack," Kurama said while growling under his breath.

Kibo couldn't help but laugh because he knew what Kurama was really like underneath all that angst,

Naruto bravely walked up to him and bowed before saying, "I'm sorry for every human who ever mistreated you, but I promise I won't be one." Naruto looked up to the Kyuubi and said with an innocent smile, "My name's Naruto! What's yours?"

"What's this?" Kurama was genuinely surprised.

"I said, my name's Naruto. What's yours?" Naruto repeated himself with a goofy smile.

"Why should I tell a Kit like you what my name is?" Kurama responded in mockery.

"Hey!" Kibo called out. Standing on top of Seiryu's head, he looked down on the caged Kurama and said "It's only proper manners to give your name once somebody tells you theirs."

Kurama looked at Seiryu in disbelief while thinking, "How can such a being with only one tail rival me in power?"

For a moment, the Fox thought Kibo may be an existence like his father.

After he gave a loud 'humph' he turned back to Naruto and said, "My name is Kurama, squirt. Don't forget it."

Naruto nodded his head and said, "I won't Dattebayo!"

After hearing him say that nonsensical word, Kurama shook his head and thought, "Oh, lord no. Kid's just like his mother!"

While keeping these thoughts quietly to himself, Naruto ran around the prison Kurama was in, inspecting it as he asked, "How can I let you out?"

Kurama looked at him and laughed hard before saying, "You want to let me go free!?" he then became serious after seeing Naruto's straight-laced expression and honest eyes.

It was the first time since Hagoromo's days that he could talk so freely to a person, so although he wouldn't admit it, Kurama actually didn't want the conversation to end just yet.

"Yep! I want you to be my friend and partner!" Naruto bravely declared.

"Kid if I'm ever separated from you, you'll die! Besides, I hate humans! Why would I want to be partners with one?" Kurama said shaking his head at Naruto like he was a dunce.

Naruto's shoulders drooped before saying, "Aww, man. Does that mean I can't get you out of this thing?"

Kurama took another look at the blond-haired kid and widened his eyes as he questioned, "What? Are you pitying me? What's that sad look on your face for? Stop it! It's annoying! Please don't start crying."

Naruto smiled at him, "I guess Kibo was right! You Tailed Beast aren't all that bad! After all, if you were, you wouldn't have asked about my feelings!"

"Did. . . You. . . Did you just pull a prank on me? The Great KURAMA!?" The fox seemed thoroughly pissed behind those bars.

All of the fox's hairs stood on end when Naruto walked up to him right past those red pillars and put his head against Kurama's nose before saying, "Listen up! My name is Naruto Uzumaki! The future Hokage of Konohagakure! I'm one who makes my dreams come true by never giving up. If I say I'm gonna find a way to free you someday, then I will never stop looking for a method to do so. If you have pain in your heart I'll become your family and help heal that scar just as someone else did for me!"

Naruto looked over to Kibo before continuing his rant, "I want to be your friend Kurama. I won't be like those others. I'll treat you like my own brother. We'll be better than friends, we'll be family!"

The fox laughed even louder, "Your even dumber than I thought! I'll never trust a human! You, mortals, are all the same! Lying, cheating, betraying, and killing one another. It's all you ants know how to do!" Kurama fumed.

"What will it take for you to believe me?" Naruto asked, never losing eye contact with the Nine-Tailed Fox.

"Actions! Prove it with your actions! If you release the seal and place yourself in such a vulnerable position. Then I will stay, and I shall trust one last time." Kurama seemed unusually serious.

When he turned to Kibo and said, "How did you know my father?"

Kibo knew the Fox could see and hear everything Naruto did, so the detailed conversation about Hagoromo's history didn't go unnoticed.

Kibo then lifted an eyebrow and said, "I knew of him, and that's all I'm saying."

"You!" Kurama wanted to argue, but Kibo responded by reappearing inside the cage next to Kurama's ear before whispering, "Kurama, listen up. You shouldn't be so mean to Naruto. After all, he's the person your father prophesized about. You know the one that would be able to understand and accept the tailed beast! Not to mention Hagoromo has always been watching over you. Even now he's hoping for you to break this endless cycle of violence."

Kurama's eyes widened and looked back to Naruto. The Fox then hid his turbulent feelings and said, "Keep your word Naruto and I'll keep mine. If you unlock the seal, I will become your...friend."

Naruto jumped up and down happily but then he stopped and replied by saying, "How am I supposed to unlock the seal?"

"God, you're dumb! Don't tell me you agreed even before knowing how to unlock the seal placed on me by that pesky father of yours?" Kurama berated the yellow-haired youth.

"I'm not...Well, I'm not that dumb! And besides, I've been working on it . . . Wait, my Father?" Naruto asked with wide eyes. Everyone knew the tale of how the 4th was the one responsible for sealing away the Nine-Tailed Fox, thus saving the village in the process.

It's one of the reasons Naruto thought the Yondaime was so cool.

"Yes that beloved, Yondaime who keep on yapping about surpassing the tailed beasts, sealed me inside his twerp. You! Shouldn't you have inherited his legacy?" Kurama said, leading Naruto to a path that could make him stronger while disguising it as if Kurama was annoyed by his ignorance.

Naruto was stunned, and so was Kibo, he didn't think Kurama would drop a bomb like that.

Kibo knew full well that Naruto didn't know who his father was, but the fact that Kurama apparently decided to tell him in a round and about way made him laugh, "Hagoromo was right, Kurama does get embarrassed easily."

"But why didn't they tell me?! Why did the village and the Old Man keep me from knowing?" Naruto asked.

Kibo then shook his head before he spoke in a rather harsh tone, "Do you know how many enemies your dad made in the war? While he was alive he acted like a shield from all those outside dangers, but once he died, you were left vulnerable. Do you have any idea what your life would be like if they knew you were the Yondaime son and a Bijuu host?"

"Naruto thought long and hard before he sighed and responded, "They would stop at nothing to kill me before I matured."

Naruto then looked to Kibo and Kurama and asked, "I should focus on the task at hand. How am I supposed to remove seal?"

"We can always make a trip to the Namikaze compound. I'm sure if Minato left any inheritance for Naruto we'd find it there," Kurama said turning his head up.

"Then we'll sneak over tomorrow under the guise of kid's going out to play," Naruto added as he mischievously rubbed his hands together.

Kurama looked at Seiryu, then to Kubo, and lastly back to Naruto. "Aren't you two really children going out to play?" He thought seeing the two joking around.

The spirits of the two boys returned to reality and quickly tried to fall asleep because tomorrow they're heading to the Namikaze's Estate! Or so Naruto thought. But Kibo had some other ideas.