Ch. 30

--Zach POV--

Hanging out with Naruto wasn't as bad as I thought, he's surprisingly mature. But I guess that's what you get when you have to grow up fast. As the day went on, we sat there chit-chatting about everything we could think of. He told me all about how great being a ninja was, and about his rivalry with Sasuke and how much of a jerk he is. The best thing to do is let the kid talk, even though he's probably running from the earlier issues. You can't expect someone to immediately come to terms with all that he'd just learned.

It was around dinner time when I placed my hand on his head and ruffled his hair.

Zach: "Hey bud, I'm starting to get a bit hungry. Usually, I cook for us at home, but I'm pretty sure they've already started dining. Do you know any good places to eat, it's my treat."

Looking over at him, I wouldn't say I could see stars in his eyes. It was more like I could see ramen bowls in his eyes and drool coming out of his mouth. That was a great sight, and all you could do was thank the gods for how simple kids can be.

Naruto: "PROMISE?!"

Zach: "On two conditions though."

Naruto: "Awwwwww come on! What are the conditions?"

Zach: "First, I want you to keep who your parents are a secret. You can be proud of them all you want, but some people would hurt you just for being their child. The second condition, I want you to think about what I'm about to say."

Naruto: "HURRY UP!"

Zach: "You do not have to prove yourself to anyone but yourself, I know that your parents will always love you for who you are."

That gave the bottomless pit of a boy pause before he impatiently agreed to the conditions. As we jumped back up to the top of the mountain to walk down, I stopped Naruto and squatted down.

Zach: "Hey, it might sound silly, but I want you to do something. Hop on my shoulders and I'll give you a shoulder ride. It's something you probably haven't experienced, and you should. You may be a shinobi, but in the end, you're still a kid, and you should at least have fun."

Naruto looked at me sideways and like I was stupid. So what if I want to practice father-child bonding! I want to become an expert before the twins arrive, and what better way than to mentor a kid who needs so much help.

Naruto: "You sure? You know people don't like me, and they'll give you hateful looks for even being around me."

Zach: "Let them! The only ones who can judge me are my Wife and the Gods. At the end of the day, the only person I answer to is myself, and my heart is telling me to give you a ride on my shoulders so you can say you experienced it for once."

Naruto just sighed as he could see that he couldn't talk me out of this. That's right Naruto, I've already made it my mission to take you under my wing. Tsunade and I have talked about adopting you before, but we were hesitant because of your temperament. But after seeing through all the bluster, you're just a good, goofy kid.

He then clambered up on my shoulder and I stood up.

Zach: "Hold on tight and give me directions to this yummy spot!"

Before he could answer, I activated my leg enchantments and sped down the mountain as fast as I could. At first, all Naruto was doing was yelling, and after he got used to the speed started laughing and telling me when to turn. I missed a couple of the turns because of either the speed I was going or a late call out from the little guy, that just sent him into more laughing fits. As we arrived at a little shack that I could smell delicious food coming out of, I was panting from all the exertion. Letting Naruto down I just gave him a smile and thumbs up, he returned it in kind and started laughing up a storm.

Zach: "Hu-huh-hu So why this place Naruto?"

Naruto: "THEY HAVE THE BEST RAMEN!"

Zach: "Oh? Is that the only reason?"

Naruto: "Maybe also because it's the only restaurant that lets me buy from them."

With that, I just laughed and ruffled his head and thanking the gods that he didn't remember me talking about Teuchi and Ayame. Placing my hand to the back of his head I led him between the curtains that read Ramen Ichiraku. Sitting down next to each other, I looked at the menu on the wall, trying to decide what I want.

Naruto: "POPS! Extra-Large Miso with pork cutlets and the works on the double!"

Teuchi: "NARUTO MY BEST CUSTOMER! Coming right up!"

Zach: "What do you think I should get, Naruto?"

Naruto: "MAKE THAT TWO, POPS!"

I just laughed as Naruto took charge and ordered me what he thought was best. We started to chat more as we were waiting for our food. I find it funny that kids can talk all day, but as adults when you talk for over 30 minutes you run out of things to say. Unless it's with your wife, and she'll chat your ear off until the sun comes up the next day. Shit, please don't let Tsunade be reading my thoughts.

After Naruto's 12th bowl of ramen, we continued to chat with each other and me with Teuchi. Seeing Naruto nod off after I was complimenting Teuchi on his fine craft, I decided it was time to pay up and take Naruto home. The Anime shows everyone freaking out when they have to pay for Naruto's bill, but to me, it was worth every Ryo. I picked the kid up and carried him on my back and made my way home.

Entering the front door I saw that most of the lights were out, so I snuck up to the second floor and into a spare bedroom. Tucking the kid in, I just looked at his peaceful sleeping face and thought of all the trials he would have to go through. It was time to do something important, and maybe make life a little easier.

Placing my hand on his forehead and closing my eyes, I entered my mindscape. Everything was the same as I had left it. Noting to myself that I'd need to take time and go over it, even more, to keep myself safe. Imagining a door that would connect mine and Naruto's mindscape was harder than I thought but managed it after some time. Taking a deep breath I opened the door and walked into it.

The first step I took landed me in what looked like a damn huge puddle. The water only came up to my ankles but it filled the room. Looking around it was like a generic dungeon you would see in fantasy movies, except for the big ass gate that had a fuinjutsu seal holding it together.

As I walked closer to the gate I could feel a predator's eyes following me. Upon reaching the gate I started inspecting it, marveling at the craftsmanship of the seal. Before I knew it I saw a row of sharp teeth appear behind the gate accompanied by a deep growl.

Zach: "Kurama, tone it down, the kid is sleeping."

Kurama: "How did you know that name?!"

Zach: "I know a lot of things, keep it down so you don't scare the kid you're inside."

Kurama: "LET ME OUT OF HERE!"

Zach: "You and I both know that isn't going to happen. You may be pissed off at everyone in the outside world. But you're not an evil being that would kill a kid for your escape, or you would become what you hate."

That earned me another snarl, all bark, and no bite. But still, his teeth are huge, I wonder if I can pull a Monster Hunter and make some badass weapons out of them. Ignoring Kurama's hissy-fit I started to think of upcoming projects until he tired himself out. The best way to end a temper tantrum is to not feed into it, they get tired of not getting a reaction and will tire themselves out. After about 30 minutes in the mindscape, Kurama tired himself out.

Kurama: "What do you want?

Zach: "I know what happened to you. When you were freed and controlled by the Sharingan."

That set him off again, damn, is Sharingan like a no-go word with him or something? Well, time to wait it out again, at least I have enough things to sort out that I can waste time on this mess. This time it only took him 5 minutes after he saw me not reacting at all.

Zach: "You done?"

Kurama: "Yes, now speak.���

Zach: "How much do you want to know?"

Kurama: "Everything."

Zach: "Fine, but I have 1 condition."

Kurama: "What?"

Zach: "You can't tell the kid ANY of this."

Kurama just nodded his head, and I began to tell the story of Naruto that was relevant to him. Telling him about the Black and White Zetsus, how the Black Zetsus is using Madara Uchiha, who is, in turn, using Obito Uchiha. How it all tied into Kaguya's will and the plans for the other tailed beasts. He took it fairly well, growled a couple of times about the Uchiha's. I told him what happened to the clan, and the smug big bastard laughed and said they deserved it.

After a couple of hours passed my story was coming to an end. Watching Kurama mull over the whole info dump was interesting. He became a lot more docile once I started talking to him like an equal and not like he was a monster.

Kurama: "Is there anything else? If not, please leave me to my thoughts, I need to mull this over."

Zach: "There is one thing I want to try with your permission."

Kurama: "Please explain."

Zach: "I know you're a sentient being, but with this seal, in place, you cannot access your mindscape. I want to plant a door in your mindscape that connects to mine, so that way your 'body' will still be here, but your mind doesn't have to be locked in this cage."

Kurama mulled it over for a bit before agreeing. Anything would beat this pit-hole. Reaching my hand through the gate and placing it on his head I repeated the process that I did with Naruto. With the door appearing in Kurama's head I followed through it with Kurama following right behind me.

As I stretched and breathed in the fresh air of my mindscape I turned around to ask Kurama how he liked it and was shocked to my core. Standing where Kurama would be is a 5 foot nothing red-headed loli with fox ears and bushy tail, luckily she was clothed and wearing a red kimono. Her eyes were wide and looking all over the place in amazement, but before I could say anything she darted off into the wheat field. Watching her go, I could only think of how she was literally frolicking around in the fields. I guess that answered my question if he, I mean she, liked it.

With one more thing in mind before I left the mindscapes, I returned to Naruto's. Seeing the sleeping Kurama was awfully cute, especially knowing how she sees herself. But I wasn't here to watch the big softy, getting down on my knees I cupped my hands together and prayed. Not to Hephaestus, and not to Dionysus.

Zach: "Lady Hecate, Lady Hestia, I pray to you for a favor that I will in turn repay. Please come to me to help brighten the world of this little one."

As soon as I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was a big tittied goth, and looking next to her was a familiar big tittied loli. Well, shit, this is going to be interesting.