Exiled Innocence

Chapter 1: Emotion Erupts

Naruto slowly made his way back to Konoha. Once he made it to the gates, he felt his legs buckle beneath him, blood oozing from the hole in his chest. The last things he heard before falling unconscious were gasps made by the person guarding the gate as he shouted, "Get an emergency medical squad, now!"

He woke up in the hospital to see Sakura's face. "Are you okay?" she asked gently as Naruto opened his eyes and sat up, attempting to ignore the pain.

"Yeah, I should be fine," he replied wearily.

"Hey, Naruto, do you know what room Sasuke's in?"

Naruto's eyes told her the whole thing, but he spoke his mind anyway. "I couldn't bring him back. I'm sorry."

Sakura gasped, and Naruto thought she was going to cry before she slapped him. "You promised! You demonic freak!" she cried out. "You didn't even try! You let him beat you up! You hate Sasuke, don't you?"

"Sakura, I'm sorry…" Naruto murmured guiltily, a tear sliding down his face.

"SORRY ISN'T GOING TO BRING SASUKE BACK, YOU JERK! YOU THINK AND ACT LIKE A…" She paused, not knowing what to say, and then continued. "Demon."

Naruto gasped, the pain of it hitting him like a tidal wave. What caused her to think like that? Surely she didn't know! "Sakura, I already told you! I'm extremely sorry! I'll go after him again if that's what it takes! Just forgive me! Please!" Tears were beginning to stream down his face now.

"Why should I?" she asked bitterly, beginning to cry. "You won't keep your promise! How could I have even thought about trusting a monster?" She stormed out of the room.

"S-sakura-chan…" Naruto gasped. He got up, his wounds already healed because of the demon chakra, however, he still limped because of the powerful ache he now had. Naruto walked to the door before sighing and walking towards the window. "Why? I'm telling the truth…" Tears still fell to the floor. "It isn't fair… No matter what I do, everyone hates me." He kicked the wall, which only stayed in tact because of his weakened state due to loss of blood. "As if I got a Chidori-inflicted hole in my chest for no apparent reason!"

He closed his eyes as tight as he could, now suffering from more pain mentally than physically, before sitting on the bed. "Why?" he asked himself again. "Why must I suffer the consequences to a crime I didn't even commit? Why am I treated as if I'm a demon? Why can't they just treat me like a normal person?" He buried his face in his hands, before beginning to cry, which he hadn't done in years. Well, yes, he had cried, but not like this. Crying from having Sakura playfully hit him on the head was different.

He couldn't help it. "All those Jinchuuriki… People act as if they became hateful and spiteful on their own," Naruto mumbled angrily, not realizing that Tsunade had been just about to open the door, before stopping and deciding to hear what he was saying. "It's their own fault for hating them in the first place. Am I the only one who hasn't grown up to be like that?" He paused. "If so, then why am I treated even worse? Sakura hates me. She even called me a demon. It isn't fair. It isn't right!" He gave another sob before Tsunade entered the room to find Naruto with his face buried in his pillow, crying.

"There, there," Tsunade comforted unexpectedly. In truth, Tsunade didn't know why she was doing it, either. She closed the door. Maybe it was just the sight of a boy that had endured hardships and suffering as if he were a criminal, had sealed up his hatred and regret to become Naruto, the number one hyperactive knucklehead ninja, and then had finally taken all the pain he had suffered in that long time and comprehended it, due to a single jeer. The suffering he must have been going through at that moment was possibly enormous.

Rage suddenly filled Tsunade as she realized the truth of what he said, though she didn't show it. Why had an innocent child been treated like a criminal? What harm did anyone expect to come from him? Did they really and truly doubt the power of the Fourth Hokage's seal?

A/N Did I win the record for the shortest chapter in a Naruto fanfic ever written? No? Oh, fine. I promise they'll start getting longer by the fourth chapter or so. By the way, in case you're wondering why the chapters will only start getting longer by the fourth chapter, it's because I've already written most of them. Most likely I will upload them all extremely fast so people can get a genral idea on the plot, and then I'll start taking time in between uploads. Happy now? Oh, and this is my first story that I've ever submitted to a site! If this is at least somewhat of a success, I'll begin writing one that has to do with Akatsuki, Inari, Naruto, and some made-up guy. See you in the next chapter, "A Taste of Blood."