A/N: Welcome, welcome to my first Naruto fic! I do hope this turns out good and I say I have high hopes for this in the future. For my other readers, do not worry everything should be updated soon. This is based after chapter 311 in the Naruto Shippuden manga. Thank-you for reading this note and please enjoy the read!

Disclaimer: You would NOt want me to own Naruto, trust me... so there for I don't

Reading Legend

normal

"talking"

thinking

SHOUTING

Expressing/Exaggerating

Blackened Chains

Chapter 1: They Begin to Wrap

Most people would never listen to the whispers of the wind or the cries from the ocean. We only listen to ourselves as we tackle the word called 'life'. For if we are to open an ear to those silent voices we would lose the ability to exist amongst others. So lock the listeners up in a cage and tie the horrible blanked chains on their bodies as they struggle to teach us what's right.

Naruto stretched lazily in his bed as he awoke from another strange dream. He couldn't remember what it was exactly about, only the small memory of chains clattering against each other remained.

Walking into his small kitchen, he prepared a small cup of instant ramen as he tried to wake up. Last night was funny but hectic with Sai's nicknames and seeing everyone again. To say the least he was so happy to see all his friends again, even if they were just quick hello's they meant a lot to the boy. He felt like he was separated from his family for a long time, much longer than two and a half years. But it felt odd, as if the wait wasn't over yet. As if he wasn't back with his family just yet.

Sakura tapped her foot impatiently at team 7's meeting place, the old red bridge. Sai sat on the railing, smiling as usual not really minding the absence of the two other teammates. It was an early morning after all, and Naruto had a way of sleeping in.

"Good morning everyone." Yamato asked lightly as he walked onto the bridge. "Huh? Where's Naruto?" he asked looking around noticing that the loud ninja was not present.

"That what I want to know." Growled Sakura as she tapped her foot angrily. "Oh, Yamato-sensei, where's Kakashi-sensei?"

"He's still recovering but don't worry, I'm sure that he'll be fine in a few more days." Sakura nodded and leaned against the rail by were Sai was sitting.

The group waited another twenty minutes before the sun-kissed ninja arrived. "Morning." He yawned out still tired. He stopped in mid-step as he felt the murderous rage surround Sakura. He yawned again. I'm too tired to think up an excuse…he thought. "Sorry Sakura-chan. I'm just really tired today." Sakura calmed down and yelled out a "Don't do it again!" as she stormed off the opposite way that Naruto had come.

Team 7 wandered around Konoha doing petty tasks for the people and pretty much wasting their day. Sakura wasn't happy in the least and even Sai seemed a little ticked off. Naruto however, didn't complain or yell or anything. He was just too tired. He felt like he had run a billion marathons and then had to run another with each step he took. It didn't make sense, why was he so god damn tired?! He sighed in frustration as he scratched his head. He really wanted to go home and sleep but he knew that Yamato would insist that they all work together and get to know each other better. "To improve our teamwork." He would say.

Yamato noticed how much slower and tired Naruto was today. The boy didn't act like he had had a bad sleep and no bags (1) hanged from his eyes. As far as he could tell, Naruto looked healthy and should have been bouncing around or at least complaining but the silent boy had barely uttered a word, as if he was even too tired to do that much.

Sai had noticed it too, but left it alone. He was still new to the whole 'friends' thing and he felt that Naruto needed some space. Every once in a while, Sai would help Naruto with an easy task, the boy unable to do it. Withier it was painting straight or helping get a cat down from a tree, the blond struggled. The new member was shocked when Naruto hadn't even complained about his help almost allowing him to help with everything. Yes, Sai knew something was very wrong with Naruto.

Sakura, at the beginning was too bust complaining. But as the day pressed onwards, she noticed how she was the only one doing so. She then started to notice her old friend lagging behind in his share and how Sai would help him with easy things. Sakura, being Sakura, began to worry for her friend as he seemed to struggle more and more. The hadn't stayed out to late and even though meeting everyone took awhile they still got to bed at reasonable times. At least she did. The kunoichi asked Naruto if he was alright and he just smiled and answered that he was just a little tired. Sakura just couldn't understand it, how Naruto was so obviously exhausted yet his body showed no signs of being tired. What happening to you?

As the day dragged on, the blue-eyed boy felt more and more tired. Sai walked beside him and the other two in front of him. He could feel the worried glances from Sai. Naruto was, after all, his first real friend ever since his brother's death. The boy wonder sighed as he tried to speed up, only to get a tad dizzy from the quickened pace. The 'root' member quickly grabbed his shoulder to help Naruto stabilize.

"Are you alright?" the boy asked quietly, not wanting to alert the others.

"Y-yeah." Naruto breathed out as his dizzy spell ended. His breaths came out in small pants and his body began to sweat. He shivered as the wind blew at him gently. "Just, a little tired." Sai nodded but kept his hand on Naruto's shoulder as they continued to walk.

Task after task was completed and the sun would soon be setting as the team began to head back to the hokage tower. Naruto was breathing heavily but ignored Sai's offer to lean against him. He was not weak! But even so, Naruto began to have his doubts as the world seemed to swim in and out of his vision. His body felt like it was freezing but all the sweat told him otherwise. The ninja's steps became less certain as he worried if he was stepping were he thought he was stepping. He saw Sai pass him and smiled sadly. At least if he was going to drop, his teammates wouldn't see.

The entire grouped stopped as they heard a soft thud from behind them. They all turned around, hoping that they had heard wrong. But lady luck was not with them today. There, on the hard dirt road laid an unconscious Naruto who was still shivering and breathing unevenly. Sai, being the closest quickly kneeled by the boy's side and picked him up slowly. The orange and black clothes were drenched in sweat and Sai could feel the heat come off of the body. Sakura quickly ran over too him and checked Naruto's pulse. It was quick but slow, always changing its pace.

"We have to get him to the hospital!" Sakura shouted, getting a quick nod from the other two. The pink-haired girl led the way as Sai carried the sick boy.

As soon as they arrived at the hospital, Sakura arranged a room and had Sai make sure Naruto was comfy as she went to get some supplies and Yamato went to alert Tsunade. The once cold member watched the boy's chest as it rose and fell unevenly. His face was creased with worry as his friend seemed to suffer in some unknown way. Yesterday he was just fine, jumping around and laughing and just being Naruto. Why was it that today was so different? Why was it that it had to be Naruto?

He could hear the sounds of something clanging and rubbing against each others. The sound seemed to cool his nerves and warm up his cold body. The sound was so familiar but he was sure he had never heard it before. There was something about those chains that was so different from all the others. Something that wasn't quite right.

He felt pressure being pushed onto him, as if something was trying to enter him. He cried out in pain as the thing rammed itself against him. Over and over he screamed as it tried to force its way into him.

"Please stop!" he cried out, tears streaming down his face. He screamed again as it rammed itself with more force. He felt his body twist and turn, trying to escape the blunt assaults. He ended up in a small ball-like structure. The thing, whatever it was wrapped itself around him, trying to morph its way into him.

In the distance, Naruto could hear a small, sharp sound. It was the chains again. He could hear them as clear as dawn as they rang in the empty void that he was stuck in. His body curled up more as the sounds grew louder. The thing wrapped itself around him tighter, enfolding him like a blanket. It felt so strange to him now. It radiated fear as the chains came closer, Naruto felt like he needed to protect his once attacker. The chains stopped right in front of him. He could no longer hear their beautiful chimes and rattling links. It felt like everything was holding its breath. The thing tightened its grip on Naruto as he felt a presence reach down to him. It hovered over their bodies flinching away as Naruto hummed softly. He heard the chains rattle as if calling something, and the pressure was released from him as the thing slowly left. As he stopped humming, now all alone, he whispered a soft good-bye and fell into a calm, peaceful sleep.

To say that Team 7 along with Tsunade weir freaked out was an understatement. Not long after the other's had arrived and Tsunade had started checking over Naruto had the boy started screaming. His body leached around and pressed into the bed as he screamed in pain. Everyone held their ears at the horrible sounds that escaped the teen's lips. They heard him cry out, asking for something to stop. The screams soon died as Naruto now held himself in a tight ball, blues eyes wide-open and filled with fear. Tears streamed down his face and he looked so, horrible. Sakura couldn't stand to look at his torn face.

His hands had somehow reached up to his face as he cried softly, small mummers and hums escaping his weeping lips. Soon, all movement ceased as the boy let out an audible sigh. Tsunade rushed over to his side and felt his forehead. She drew back quickly. He was on fire!

"Sakura! Get the medicine for dealing with fevers now! He has a really high one so get the good stuff!" The shaken kunoichi nodded and rushed off to do as her master instructed. The sannin checked over Naruto's body, slowly unfolding him. Tears still stained his usually cheery face and he would sniff every now and then. As Sakura prepared the medicine, the older women watched as the boy moved in his sleep. He lay on his back with one hand stretched just a little passed his head, and the other just below it. Naruto looked like a small child who had just had a horrible nightmare.

Tsunade propped Naruto up against her, causing him to stir. Placing the small tea-like cup to his lips she watched as he cool blue eyes slowly fluttered open. "Naruto, I need you to drink this okay?" the boy nodded and she slowly poured the medicine down his throat. Naruto gave a weak cough as leaned up against the woman.

His eyes flickered open and close, Tsunade, being so close noticed the dull shade that had glazed over them. He was well beyond a normal fever. "What happened?" he asked voice hoarse and raw. His grandmother figure hugged him gently. He coughed lightly. "Old lady?" Tsunade nodded as the voice spoke again. Naruto leaned heavier onto her, his already weak body growing weaker.

"Shh, its okay Naruto, just go back to sleep. Okay?" She felt him nod and she slowly placed him back down on his bed. "Make sure to sleep well okay?" she told him, holding back her tears.

Naruto's blue, fever-filled eyes looked back at her with worry. "Are you… okay?" he asked slowly.

"Ye-yes, I'm fine. Just get some sleep okay?" Some tears fell down Tsunade's cheeks. Naruto raised his hand, catching the falling drops.

"Sorry…" he said quietly, falling asleep.

"Idiot! I should be the one to say that!" the women shouted. After all, she had seen him a lot today and never thought about checking on him. "I should be the one who's sorry…"

Story Notes

(1) I believe that is what they are called. It those purple/black circles that form around you eyes when you're tired.

-I apologize for all the scene changes, there won't be as many in the future...

Alright! First chapter down! Hope you guys enjoyed the story so far and let us see where I take us next!