I'm starting to get used to presenting my stories this way now….

Anyway, let me introduce Love, Cuts and Lyrics. This story I started writing ages ago; I wrote the first chapter of Hypnotism at about the same time as writing this – I think I'm going to have a problem keeping up with all of these stories soon. I know my parent are getting pissed at me for spending so much time writing on here and then writing notes down in my little notebook when I'm not on the computer; what can I say? I love to write.

This story is a bit interesting – I don't know how I came up with writing this. I guess it's just my love for Three Days Grace. All songs sung in this story are their songs; they just have a good way of relating to people I guess. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this story…

Chapter 1

Naruto walked in to his science class one minute late and the teacher, Iruka-sensei yelled at him for at least ten minutes. As he yelled at the poor blonde, many people managed to walk in and sit down and avoid trouble. When Naruto finally sat down, Shikamaru Nara, the class' laziest but most brilliant mind arrived fifteen minutes late and Iruka-sensei just smiled at him. This was one of those things that made Naruto's life unfair.

Naruto was a sixteen year old guy who had just started high school at Konoha after moving schools. This meant that he was late to pick his options. He was stuck in two classes he didn't want to be in but managed to get in his two favourite – music and art. Naruto was an extraordinary artist and a talented singer – though no one had ever seen his art or heard him sing. No one could see him as he was a victim to cruelty; two boys had been bullying him since he got there a few weeks ago. He was still learning about everything that was there but was overwhelmed about being picked on by two of the most popular boys in the year – Neji Hyuuga and Shino Aburame. After all, who was going to go against them to help out some poor blonde boy that was a complete loser? In fact, it made others join in when there were no teachers around.

In fact, Naruto had only one friend his entire life and she had transferred to the same school with him at the same time to help him out some more. Sakura Haruno, a pink haired beauty, she was also picked on by the two boys. However, Sakura was a tough girl who wasn't fazed by the two being rude and calling her insults. She was also friends with Hinata Hyuuga, Neji's cousin, who had authority over Neji as she was from the main branch of her family so the boys had stopped being so mean to her and concentrated on making Naruto's life hell instead.

The pair sniggered at Naruto when he was being yelled at and even more so when he sat down at his desk. Usually he sat next to Sakura but she was away with the flu so it was going to be a whole week of being alone. Naruto drew a picture of himself looking out of the window. He wasn't being careful, he was just sketching randomly. It wasn't a brilliant picture but he loved saving everything he had ever drawn to put in his special folder at home; to check his progress. However he was caught and Iruka yelled at him again. He enjoyed yelling at the blonde as he was the only one with out a respectable family – this meant he could get away with it.

"What does this have to do with anything Uzumaki?!" he yelled, spit flying everywhere. He ripped the picture up right in Naruto's face and threw the pieces in the bin. The bullies at the back sniggered which caused other members of the class to as well – who was going to stand up for Naruto?

To Naruto's relief however, the raven who sat with Neji and Shino didn't laugh or snigger or show any sign that he heard what they were saying. This was Sasuke Uchiha – strong and silent, all the girls swooned after him. He was gorgeously good-looking, rich, and smart although he acts cold and heartless. The girls in the class all looked over at him. Naruto looked over too and then quickly looked away again. He didn't want a rumour of him being gay to spread around even it was true; even more he didn't want anyone to know that he liked Sasuke. He hadn't even told Sakura about it; he hadn't muttered a single word about it at school – a precaution so no one could hold it against him. However, a downside to Sasuke was that he was friends with Neji and Shino but he didn't join in with the bullying. Maybe he didn't even know?

Class finished and Naruto made for his locker to quickly to get his next class books – maths. He reached his locker with out any problems and started putting in his number code when SMACK he was slammed against the locker. Naruto held back the tears of pain and was grabbed to turn and face Shino and Neji.

"Hey Uzumaki, sad your stupid picture got torn up? Gonna cry?"

"Boo hoo. It was a shitty picture anyway".

Neji and Shino looked at each other, annoyed they weren't getting a reaction from him so they pushed him against the locker again. It hurt Naruto's shoulder and he grabbed it hard to try and ease the pain.

"Oh hurt are we?"

Naruto didn't answer.

"I said hurt are we?" Shino slammed Naruto's bad shoulder against the locker again and Naruto cried out, biting his lip to prevent him from doing it again.

"Oh so we did hurt him? A loser like you gets hurt so quickly. You're like a girl". This time they pushed him so hard he fell to the floor, dropping his books. Neji and Shino weren't expecting it and ran as they heard a teacher come through the crowd to see the source of the noise. Kurenai-sensei came through followed by Iruka-sensei.

"What the hell are you doing on the floor boy? Get up!" Iruka yelled.

"Iruka, please", Kurenai said sternly, looking at Iruka as though she couldn't believe his hate. "What happened Naruto? Would you like to speak to me about it?"

Naruto got up and shook his head violently, picked up the remainder of his books, hurrying off quickly. He banged in to someone who pushed him in to someone else, who then pushed him on the floor. He picked himself up and gathered his belongings that had spread on the floor. No one moved out of the way as he tried to pick them up, some of them standing on his stuff, one person even stamped on his hand. He winced in pain and continued to pick up his stuff.

He arrived at the class, five minutes late, nursing his hand. Kakashi-sensei looked at his hand and told him to go to the nurse to sort it out. He walked along, looking down at his hand when he banged in to someone, falling to the floor. It was Sasuke.

"Umm, I'm s-sorry", Naruto stammered.

"What happened to your hand?" Sasuke asked.

"Someone stood on it".

"Well, here". Sasuke handed him his scarf. "Wrap your hand in that".

He then walked off. Naruto blushed, furiously. He got up and started walking again. He looked up to see Neji and Shino walking up towards him on their way to maths class. They were going to get in trouble for being late. But they had a boy to torture so they weren't going to regret it.

"Hey look who it is Neji!"

"Yeah, a stupid blonde idiot".

They pushed him in to the nearest locker.

"What should we do with him? We have to hurry to class like good people".

"Or we could stay and hurt this poor loser".

"I think I like your suggestion better Neji". They pushed him and held him back against the metal locker.

Naruto looked frightened at the thought of them being free to terrorize him with no one else around. He closed his eyes and imagined that they weren't there. He waited for the pain.

It never came.

"What are you two boys doing?"

Kurenai-sensei came out and saw the two boys and the frightened Naruto. She marched over and asked what was going on – even though it was evident. When she got no answer she sighed.

"You boys come with me. Naruto, go to the nurse; she'll give you help with your hand".

The two bullies gave Naruto murderous looks as though he had called the teacher to come and help him.

"We'll get you later Uzumaki", they hissed.

Naruto stood there petrified. Kurenai had unknowingly made the situation worse. He hurried to the nurse, tears pouring out if his eyes in fear.

The nurse bandaged his hand up and said a few comforting words. She looked in to his eyes and saw that there was fear in them instead of pain.

"Are you alright, dear?" the elderly woman asked.

"I…I'm fine, th-thank you".

The nurse looked unsure. She let him go anyway and Naruto returned to the class. He wiped away his tears before he walked in to the class. He didn't pay much attention to what Kakashi was explaining to him and he didn't get a single question right. He was given extra homework to try and catch up on the work he missed.

Naruto ran towards the library; safe refuge for him as Neji and Shino didn't even know the school had a library. It was a huge place, book shelves so high you needed a ladder to reach the top ones. He wondered around the music book section which was at the back of the library, tucked away – wondering if he ever could be as good as his favourite band, Three Days Grace. He knew all their songs and lyrics and he owned a lot of stuff about them. It was then he spotted a familiar raven haired individual. He blushed, managing to calm himself down before Sasuke saw him.

"Hey, how's your hand?"

"Fine, thanks. Here is your scarf back", Naruto said, rummaging through his bag.

"It's okay. Keep it. So…uh…you looking for anything in particular here?"

"I'm just looking".

"Ah, I see. Do you take music?"

"Yes, you?"

"Yeah. So I guess I'll see you there. We have it after lunch".

"Okay then. Well see ya".

Sasuke smiled slightly and left the library. It was at that point that the English teacher, Jiraiya came over to speak to him.

"Naruto, just the guy I wanted to see. Your coursework was brilliant; I've given you an A! And you said you weren't good at English!"

"Thanks Jiraiya, no ones looking anymore".

"Speaking of which, I wanted to check how you are after Kurenai caught those boys picking on you. Have they been doing it long?"

Naruto was silently looking at the white haired man.

"Not going to answer. I should have known. Well, I have some news about Sakura. She isn't going to be in all week as she has the flu and she said to keep an eye on you so if you see me around then you know why. Your aunt Tsunade is worried about your well-being especially and Sakura says Tsunade sent her a letter to her as she feared that if she sent it to your house, your guardian would take it. Here".

Inside was a letter and some money.

"Read it later, not now. Class is about to start. But make sure your guardian doesn't see it".

"I'll just hide it in a school book. She'd never look in there", Naruto mumbled, thinking about his guardian, shuddering.

"Well, I'll see you later. Enjoy your music class".

"Thanks Jiraiya-sensei".

"No problemo!" Jiraiya left.

Naruto looked down to the envelope and took the letter out, wanting to read what his Aunt had put. He was glad she had finally written to him.

Dear Naruto,

Firstly I'd like to say I'm sorry I left you in care. When I come back to Konoha you can live with me again if you want. But for now, I'm sorry you have to live with that God awful woman. She better be treating you right or I am going to personally kill her.

Secondly, I have enclosed some money for you as I know she wouldn't spend a penny on you or your well-being. Spend it wisely though. I know it's not much, but it should get you through some tough times.

I have been fine if you were wondering. Working in this sand infested area has been very exhilarating. I have enjoyed my work, helping the less fortunate. But my time here is coming to an end and I haven't requested any extra time as I know I need to come and help you, doing what I should have done to start with after what happened to your parents – they did request me to look after you if anything had happened to you but my invitation had just come through and I hope you understand that I do care for you very much but these people really need my help after this civil war here. Don't worry, I'll be home to see you soon and we can get back to what we should have done to start with. Maybe you would have turned out a bit happier if I were there.

I also hope you are continuing with you art and music. I know your mother would be proud you inherited her talent for drawing and your father his talent for singing. You are a lucky boy to be so gifted. I also hope you are taking your other studies seriously. I heard Jiraiya was your English teacher so I know you are doing well there. I want you to at least try in your science and maths lessons even though I know you can barely concentrate in them. I may be all the way out here but I can still chastise you if your grades are too bad.

Anyway, I hope you are enjoying high school and I'll be back soon to take you away from that evil woman.

Love from

Aunt Tsunade x x x

Naruto re-read the letter and smiled slightly. His aunt Tsunade left him in care to go and help out in the east after their civil war. She was going to help the injured and ill people who were stuck in the middle of the crossfire. It was nice to hear she was alive at least and she was so very sorry for leaving him. Naruto didn't mind. He was happy she could help out so many people and make a difference but he was ecstatic that he would soon go back to living with her instead of the guardian the care home had stuck him with.

He counted the money. It wasn't much but it was still more than he ever had before in his life. However, he was worried about the money. Someone was bound to steal it off of him, with so many people throwing things and searching in his bag for stuff to nick from him. He went to go and find Jiraiya to see if he could look after it for him. He soon found Jiraiya, reading a dirty book and he agreed to keep the money safe, especially as Naruto jokingly said he would blackmail him if he didn't.

"I have already counted it so I know how much is there!" he said jokingly.

It was then that the bell rung and Naruto headed off to class.

- - - - -

Well, I hope you enjoyed it – I will update soon xx