I didn't make the whole Venom connection when I saw the kyuubi chakra in action... I guess they're sorta alike, though I remember Venom having a lot more fine control over his alien half than Naruto seems to have with his chakra (though we've only really seen gross movement in combat.)

I'm not certain if that's specifically what akatsuki was looking for in the kyuubi but I'm sure they wouldn't turn their noses up at it.