okay just because I can I did. Hoot. Please excuse the pain TT I seem to only be goood for the angstyness of teen I had to edit this though. I thought I had aaarrrgh. Sorry.

Disclaimer: If I owned them would have ze mulah us students' so desperately need...

"It hurts to breathe... I can't even breathe anymore Iruka-sensei... How could he just leave like that? And why aren't I strong enough to cope with it??/" Naruto pleaded, staring at the hapless ninja, as if Iruka held the answers. "And why... was it so easy for him to leave?" Naruto couldn't help himself, tears started leaking out of eyes already red from his previous breakdown. It seemed like the tears would never stop, something Naruto felt was appropiate. He knew crying was pointless. Sasuke was long gone now. He'd been gone for days. And Naruto had been unconcious for day's. Typical me. I missed the most important goodbye. And Naruto had lost the fight anyway. There was no reason for Sasuke to stick around. It's not like I meant anything to him. The blonde didn't even attempt to wipe away the tears. Why should he, all those he'd wipe away would just be replaced . It was all so..pointless. Sasuke had left him behind... again, and this time, it was probably for keeps.

Iruka stared at his former charge in disbelief. This broken down, teary eyed, little boy, was the same genin who had scrawled all over the Hokage's faces'? The same genin who was always rushing around, with a happy-go-lucky attitude and a cocky grin. There always was a sense of fire about the boy. He was always in motion. But right now, the only thing Naruto seemed capable of was breathing... And crying. Iruka had seen corpses with more animation. He embraced Naruto tenderly.

"Hush now Naruto-kun. It'll get better, don't you worry. Time heals all wounds, you'll see. I know Sasuke was like a brother to you. But you still have the others." Iruka soothed smiling sadly. I had no idea they were this close... I never picked Sasuke for the friendly type and after all that rivalry between them too.

"Your going to get over him, Naruto-kun. Friends' always come and go throughout life... It was just his time to leave."

At Irukas's words' Naruto stiffened. That's right... Everyone thinks we were just good friends.. that we were like almost-brothers'. They never did know what we did.. And... Naruto gazed up into the comforting face of his sensei. I can't even tell them. I couldn't do that to Sasuke. If they knew what would they think of him. They'd just add gay to his black marks. Having the village know, would destroy him. They'd keep making Itachi comparisons and.. I just won't let that happen.. Sasuke is not Itachi. He never will be. Besides I don't hate him enough.

"Yes the..others..." Naruto said blankly searching for the words. "Yes I do." He disentangled himself from Iruka. "Don't worry Iruka-sensei I'll be fine. It's just a bit of a shock." He managed a weary smile. "I'll think I'll go wash my face. After all I can't give Sakura another reason to dislike me." Naruto said before running off.. He glanced back, but upon seeing the relieved expression on Iruka's face, he turned right around again and ran faster. They just wanted him to move on, just return to his normal self. He almost spat in digust. Sure he could be normal, If NORMAL was a state of where he felt like his very soul was withering away. If NORMAL was a state where he thought his heart would stop from all the pain. Well that made him the most normal in the village! He had seen all of their face's and those sideway glances'. Every last person thought the same thing. They were wondering why Naruto was reacting this way. We were only friends', right? At least to them we were... Something inside of him snapped. He raise his head determinedly.

"I'll give you all normal, all of you. You'll never know the difference... I'll train and become an elite too. That way I'll cope better. I'll be strong enough to stave of the pain." Naruto almost smiled than "Besides I'll just get over the teme... Yeah, like Iruka said time heals wounds like this right? So I just have to wait it out... The pain will leave me...right...RIGHT?" It just had too.. Naruto rocked back and forth sobbing uncontrollably. "It can't hurt like this forever... I can't let it.." He thought back to Iruka sensei's face. "Or at least I can't show it..."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxYears' laterxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

As Naruto threw the last of his kunai, he knew he had his opponent pinned. He smiled wretchedly. "I would give up this game now ninja. You have lost it. You didn't even have a chance in the first place. Who are you and why did someone as incompetent as you, even attempt to bring me down?" His tone condescending. "I am the "monster" of the Konoha village, known throughout the villages' for my skill. A jonin in my own right. You have barely the skill of a chuunin." Naruto walked up to the cloaked figure with a bitter look on his. He had only spoken the truth. The village viewed him as if he was souless now. He was some sort of freak, now As if he had given himself wholly over to the demon lurking within himself. He hadn't. He was always in control. Sure he tapped into it's power, quite regulary but he was always careful. And he kinda liked the fangs... He turned again to the trapped she-ninja. "You could reveal yourself to me now, kunoichi.. Or I could do it for you. Either which way.." Again a smile which bared his fangs. He reached up and grabbed the hem of the ninja's cloak.

"Damn you Naruto. I had no idea you had gottten this good." That voice... He ripped at the hood. It sounded like Sakura. It was, Sakura He quickly pulled out the kunai.

"What in the world was that Sakura-chan? Why the hell were you attacking me. You know, I could of killed you. You are not as skilled as myself." He almost chuckled than. "I meant what I said about the techniques, how did you ever attain a rank like that with skills like those..." Naruto streched languidly turning his back on hardened eyes, only to be whipped around by a furious and notably free Sakura.

"I did this for you Naruto-kun. Look at yourself, what you have become. You need to come down from wherever the fuck you are. But you seem to like it there so I volunteered." Sakura felt like hitting him. He was smirking again, his slitted eyes alive with contempt, while two fox-like fangs protuded from his upper lip Naruto always seemed to wear his demon traits openly now, just like he always seemed cold and distant.. Every year he had just deteriated. She could no longer see her team mate at all. In his place was a stranger. Sure that stranger was skilled and an elite. But Sakura couldn't detect even the barest hint of compassion, warmth or even humanity from him. "You can't say you haven't changed Naruto.."

"I won't. " I know I have changed. It's for the best though. Look at me, I'm stronger. My name is whispered among the clans and I am the one Konoha sends on all of their most dangerous missions'. I'm capable of anything and I fend for myself." He was irate now. "What give's you any right to judge me Sakura? You are neither my superior nor my teammate...anymore."

"Doe's it take someone, to beat you down, to knock some sense into that fat head of yours? Now you listen Naruto-kun. Is it so great to scare even the very children from your own village? Our yearmate's refuse to speak with you and as for Kakashi, he can barely tolerate you." She spat. Why couldn't he see past it. "I don't care If I never attain your skill Naruto-kun. If it means I end up like you, I'd rather stay this measly rank for the rest of my life. I'm not looking for the pathetic validation you seem to crave."

Her words hurt, but he didn't let his expression change. He'd had a lot of practice at hiding thepain. As far as he was concernedthere was no place for pain in his life. It brought him down. Emotion's were best served cold. He rounded on her. "Oh really. Fear is good for shinobi wannabe's, it makes them cautious, As for the others I was alone to begin with, why should it change now? And you can stay that measly rank for as long as you want, you were always such the parasite Sakura. Why should it change now... And Lee was always happy to oblige." He retorted a cold fury radiating from every core of his being. " If that's my only option, let me stay alone. At least I'll be alive at the end of the day." He crossed his arm's hiding the claws'. Why couldn't Sakura just let him be. He wasn't some charity case. Why couldn't she understand that this was just how he chose to be. She should quit bothering him and run to lee. She was good at that.

"Have you forgotten what Kakashi taught us completely? We are a T-E-A-M! Or we WERE. You are supposed to rely on others." Sakura could feel her control slipping. If this kept up she was going to cry. "I'm sorry if I'm not as socially inept as you. I like having friends Naruto-kun. Weren't we that once?"

Naruto turned heavily and walked away from her.

"We haven't been a team, let alone friends, since Sasuke left Sakura... Do not come against me again.." He warned before vanishing from sight.

"No you just don't want to ba a part of it! " She screamed at his retreating figure. "And put those disgusting fangs AWAY! For Kami's sake. Your not the demon you pretend you are, your HUMAN TOO!.." Sakura couldn't help it, she was crying again. Naruto was slipping away from her, like Sasuke had... Over the sobs that ensued she never heard his reply...

"But I'd rather not be..."

I'm done for now enjoy please tell me if likey cheers