AN: Originally posted November 13, 2006

People think I'm strange. They hate me for no reason or at least use the demon sealed inside of me as an excuse. Really I just think they're just using me to take their frustration out on. No one ever admits their own struggles.

I take step after step, and I can see all their shadows. Long and dark, choking them with pains of the heart. Each person is truly lonelier than I. They turn to me and I can see them glare in hate, but really what I see is distrust and fear. They're afraid to be hurt.

I brush past them and if they wish, they will grab me and hit me until their own anger is quenched. Than they can go home and pretend that things are fine.

To them I am all alone. I am the one hated and beaten as price. But that is not true. I am a tool, and I gladly accept it. I take the beatings in hopes that they may be saved.

I smile only 'cause I am happy. Compared to them I could have it worse. I could be forced into a mold and not be able to escape. But I am free and so I smile.

My eyes have always seen the heavens and so people fear me. They can't understand why I am so free.

Being a monster is not what it really seems. The bruises fade for me but the ones on their souls...they stay. Forever I walk in this bustling village, which in reality is a shattered town, and I smile big and wide at them.

I hope maybe one day they will smile back. I hope one day they too may be free.

I skip down past the Academy, I see Iruka-sensei. Right now he's smiling as he teaches, his shadow is busy hiding at the moment. I flash a smile and bow my head, watching my feet as I make my way to the training grounds.

Sakura will be home today, helping her mom. Her shadow is always clinging to her, her smile is always fake. My face falls slightly...but my lips curve at ways I can help. I vow to help Sakura-chan.

I walk up and there he is, waiting for me. Great dark clouds, thick like a spring fog, wrap around his legs and threaten to move up. I know that they intend to if not stopped. His shadow is the worst of all.

But he's different. He shows his loneliness, he never smiles. He growls and hurts only so he can. He doesn't wish to relieve any tension.

I turn my eyes up and scan the skies, turning them to Hokage mountain. There they rest upon the Yondaime. I close my eyes and remember that he sealed the demon in me. The villagers respect him but hate me. But not enough to respect his wishes.

"Dobe. What are you doing?" I open my eyes and stare at Sasuke, showering him in the glow of my heavenly orbs. He's frowning and I can tell he thinks I'm weird.

His darkness coils tighter around him and I want to shrink away, but I won't. I care too much for him to do so. My mind remembers words once heard, as I follow him onto the field. 'The 4th wished for him to be remembered as a hero, cause if it is wasn't for Naruto's sacrifice we would have all died.'

Yeah...I may be a demon to them but I really am what the 4th said I was. I am a hero, a golden boy and I'm here to save them all. No matter what may come. I promise to be what I was born to be.

Just one step, one skip while following Sasuke and yet I know my heart is right. Soon no one will be lonely...

AN: Old drabble thing. Thought, 'hey, maybe Naruto isn't as sad as people think he is. Maybe he has a different view of the world entirely'. Hope you liked!