Author Note: Okay so this is my first fanfiction and I have no clue if it is any good or not. So feel free to review in any way that you think this small story deserves because good or bad, it will be helpful. I also wanted to say thank you for taking time out of your day to read this story.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything that can be found in the Naruto world and I do not plan on gaining anything from this story besides a clearer brain

The academy had just let out for the day and Choji and I were walking home when we saw a across a crowd of people all staring at one thing. Although we could not able to see what they were staring at it soon became clear as a loud voice that we would recognize anywhere came floating above all the noise of the crowd.

"What the Big idea?! I was only... I was only looking at the masks."Although Naruto's voice had started out as obnoxious as always, as he continued talking his voice became softer and took on a more dejected tone. Pushing thru the crowd I was finally able to see what was going on in the middle. Sprawled on the ground as if he had been pushed, was our classmate, looking almost like a kicked puppy. All around me, I could hear the mutterings of the adults.

"Is that him?"

"What is he doing here?"

"I swear I can't believe the hokage lets that thing live. It would be better for everyone if he had just been put down."

Choji leaned closer to me and asked, "Isn't that Naruto? And why are the adults saying all those things about him?" shrugging my shoulders I turned back towards Naruto to continue to watch the scene unfold

The store clerk who had pushed Naruto turned around and grabbed a fox mask off of his display, then yelled "You want this? Well you can have it. Now GET LOST!"As he said that the store clerk threw the mask. The whole crowd watched as the brightly coloured mask sailed through the air until it connected with Naruto`s head. Even from behind you could see his wince at the impact.

Naruto watched the clerk until he had disappeared into the backroom of his store then slowly stood up. After dusting himself off he picked up the mask that had been thrown at his head for an unknown reason. A reason that I was now determined to find out. As Naruto finally looked at the crowd gather around him, he saw all the glares and uneasy glances being sent his way from the adults.

"What?!" he yelled in anger and then seemed to deflate in on himself. "Why are you all looking at me like that?" Then he turned and ran from the crowd, who all backed away as if he was the plague.

For the second time that afternoon, Choji turned to me with questions in his eyes and asked, "Why did the store clerk do that... and why was everyone else looking as if he was going to start killing people on the spot. I don't get it Shikamaru."

"Neither do I Choji... But I intend to find out." and with that said I continued on home... fully intending on asking my father why the villagers insisted on treating my classmate as if he would murder someone the second that they turned around. As we continued to walk I remembered multiple times that similar things had happened to Naruto. Most Adults stayed clear of him and if any were forced to interact with him they always seemed scared or angry. And with that I also remember all the times that the almost permanent smile on Naruto`s face dropped, and just like today, you were able to see the pain under his mask.

Author note: So now that is officially done and The stoty would then just continue on back into the original story line. Again thank you for reading and if you could review than that would be great to.