Disclaimer: The characters and places in this story are not mine. Any similarities to other stories are completely coincidental. Naruto and Digimon belong to their respective creators.

I also want to thank everyone for their amazing reactions to my story.

Difficult Lives

Naruto ran through the forest tears spilling down his cheeks. He could hear the villagers following him. It had started after he brought Sasuke back. The fight had been tough and both boys had taken a fair amount of damage. Of course, no one had cared that Naruto had been more injured.

As soon as he had entered the village with Kakashi, Sasuke on Kakashi's back, the villagers had taken one look and blamed Naruto. Kakashi had already left to bring Sasuke to the hospital. Naruto saw the glares and somehow knew that the villagers wouldn't let him live this time. After the first two stones, Naruto ran.

He hadn't paid any attention to where he was going because before he ran, he had seen Sakura glaring at him from the crowd. As the stones had hit, she made no move to help him. That was when Naruto had lost all hope. He had run, never noticing Gai's team, the remaining Rookie Nine, or the Sand team looking at the scene with anger and confusion.

Naruto collapsed, his stomach injury (from Sasuke's Chidori) getting to him. Kyubi's chakra would heal it quicker than it would on its own but it would take time and rest. His running kept reopening the wound.

He heard footsteps nearing him so he stood up and attempted to move forward again. He soon collapsed and before he blacked out, he felt a pull on his body that he couldn't fight.

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The Sand team, Gai's team, and the remaining Rookie Nine ran after Naruto. They had noticed some Anbu headed after the boy with murderous intent and most had noticed Naruto's wound.

The scene after Naruto's return with Kakashi confused most of them. None, except the Sand siblings, had any idea why the villagers hated Naruto so much.

They had, of course, seen some examples of the villagers' dislike. In fact, many had followed and believed their parents before they got to know him.

Naruto's denseness and happy, carefree attitude weren't good enough reasons to hate him in their minds. His pranks had been annoying but he had stopped doing them after graduating the academy. That was still no reason to feel such malice toward the boy as in the scene the group had witnessed moments before.

"We have to reach Naruto before those Anbu." Neji said, causing the group to speed up. They hid behind some trees upon hearing the Anbu arguing.

"Where did that brat go? We've tolerated that demon long enough. After what he did to the Uchiha child, he needs to be punished again and this time, the punishment will be permanent." They heard one of the Anbu say. They were disgusted to hear such satisfaction when the man spoke of punishing Naruto.

None of the group paid attention to when he called Naruto a demon. Any who did just thought it was a simple insult and none who didn't already know made the connection.

"Let's try this way. I can't wait 'til we catch up with that brat. He'll pay." The second Anbu said and luckily the two men headed off in the wrong direction.

The group jumped down. Shikamaru looked over to Neji who nodded and activated his bloodline limit.

"North, an eighth of a mile," Neji said and the group continued their pursuit of Naruto.

They caught up with him when he stopped running. They walked towards him in relief but as they got nearer, he stood up and moved forward a few steps before finally collapsing. It was only then that they saw the dark opening beside the passed out teen. They were too late to stop it from pulling Naruto in.

The young ninja remained there, completely stunned. The hole had closed, taking their friend with it to an unknown place. They had lost Naruto.

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The group had just returned from the forest. They headed straight to the hospital where the Hokage would be healing Sasuke. She needed to know what had happened to the young boy she was so close to.

Kakashi was waiting outside of Sasuke's hospital room when they arrived. He looked up in surprise when he noticed the large group but Tsunade, the Hokage, came out before he could comment. She looked as surprised as the one-eyed jonin to see the visitors.

Shikamaru stepped forward and explained the earlier events. Kakashi paled when he heard about Naruto's flight and both looked angry but unsurprised by the Anbu's behavior. When they were asked about the hole, neither adult could answer what it was or where it had taken their friend any better than the ones who had witnessed the taking. After a brief discussion, it was decided to change Naruto's status to dead until he was found so he wouldn't be classified as a missing nin and hunted down.

The funeral was held three days later and the village celebrated it heartily to the disgust and anger of those who had also come to know and care about Naruto but his friends hadn't given up. They continued searching for their friend but they would have no luck for many years.