Never Alone
To the young the simplest of things could hurt. A bruised knee from a fall that could be eased away by a mother's soothing touch. A cut from having practiced throwing kunai that could be healed by a father's callused hands.
To Naruto these small things hurt more than any child could, or should, imagine. There was no mother to kiss his forehead and to tell him everything would be alright, and then send him out to play again. There was no father to teach him how to be a shinobi, to train him as every father should.
The feeling of utter loneliness that grasped the heart in a steel vice, squeezing it agonizingly, was a common day occurrence for Naruto as a child. His smiles were a simplistic mask to hide his pain, and yet everyone fell for it.
To come to the playground to play with other children only to have their parents usher them away in a hurry was perhaps the worst pain; to know that your own village hated you, to not understand why you were a monster in their eyes.
Demon.
Monster.
Evil.
So many hurtful words that made Naruto's heart bleed, and the whispers that never seemed to penetrate more than on the boy's birthday. He was never thought of as a hero, he was never loved, and he was never given a chance. He merely existed, and that wasn't enough for a youthful mind.
To cry, uncomforted, as everyone walks away from you, leaving the park empty as the sun sets was something that Naruto didn't care for. His smiles had faltered, and his heart had skipped a beat at the emptiness around him.
And yet, as he cried, eyes closed and small fists rubbing at his eyes, there was a presence around him that made him feel…wanted. It was as if his father's spirit was kneeling before him, whispering soothing words into the wind. The depleting rays of sunlight were warm hands moving through his hair and rubbing his back.
Chancing a look at the desolate world around him, Naruto opened his eyes, and for a fleeting glance he could have swore he had seen the Yondaime kneeling before him; his smile forgiving, his eyes loving. For once, Naruto wasn't alone, and as night fell the image faded.
That was enough. That was all Naruto needed, and he could continue on with a smile again, heart lightened and spirit soaring.
After all, he was going to be Hokage one day, and Hokages didn't cry.
He was going to make his father proud.
