Needed (Hitsuyo)

Summary: I can't take it anymore. This pain… I need to leave. I need… I just needed to be. Left alone.

Rating: Mature, contains abuse, angst, and other content not appropriate for children

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and characters.

~~~~Prologue~~~

Beep! Beep! Smack!

A hand reached out to slam the alarm clock. The morning bright and vibrant entering into the room while a young boy no older than a teenager. Blue eyes slowly opened running a tanned hand through his hair. They recalled that they were going to a new school once again while they sat up holding himself up thinking through things. Slowly creeping off the bed, they began to start getting ready for the day. Brushing the teeth, stripping off the clothes, and turning on the shower water letting it run against his body. He wondered if they will come later that day while he would dry himself ignoring the mirror knowing that it would remind him of the constant nightmare. Black bags under his eyes, pale skin and martyred with small bruises and other needed marks. He placed on his school uniform stepping on unneeded glass.

"Dammit!"

He pulled off the offending glass staring at his blood on the surface. He wrapped his feet in quick motion sighing to himself. He lets his hair stick up in odd messy fashion not thinking of how to style it. He never had a person to teach him how but who cares, he had too much to worry about than styling his hair or buying new clothes. Not since then, he didn't care for the material things. He only cared for one thing, one person, the only person who he can trust no matter what happened. Treading his way into a darkened room with blue curtains, one couldn't help but notice the IV drip and the scattered colored medicines. The mattress was a large one that held his one special person, the only person that he needed to stay there for, to live another agonizing life.

"Mom."

He pulled up a chair making no sound thinking she was asleep. Her hands small and weak but he gently took the hand in his own. The pale hand that was frail unable to hold anything, not even herself. A cough or two was heard in the room before they opened their eyes. The emerald green eyes that he recalled with such love and compassion. Her red hair fell limp against the pillows making her look a bit sickly. He was glad that she did not look so much like skin and bones but one could see that she was bound to make it there soon. A tear fell down his eyes knowing of his mother's condition knowing that she could not take care of herself let alone him. Not since everything crashed. Her mouth slowly opened before letting about another cough or two.

"Naruto…"

She called weakly. Yes he was Naruto, a young teenager boy under the care of a weakened woman. She was strong when he was younger but that didn't mean sickness can change a person, but it did. She was no longer strong and she was always in bed sleeping the day away. He touched her pale face. Her hand touched his own with a smile.

"Mom the nurse will be coming soon. You can just sleep."

He said gently smiling at her. She turned to see he was not in his house clothes nor any other material for that matter. She saw it was a uniform no less from the school. She slowly recalled that her son was going to start in a new school that day.

"Going to school?"

He nodded to her. He remembered despite the room being dark, she can still clearly make out what he was wearing or even what he looked like.

"Yes, I will go to school mom. I need to get going soon."

She nodded her head weakly to him and reached to touch his face but he brought his face to her. She kissed his forehead gently before slowly going to deep slumber for more than likely the whole day.

"Good night."

He whispered gently letting her hand go. A small tear escaped his hand and touched her hand. She opened her eyes slowly once again.

"What's wrong?"

She asked weakly, despite how sick she was she still cared for him more than herself. An act of a mother, more care to those they love. More show of affection, self-less and worried. He noticed her eyes before he wiped his face silently.

"Nothing mom. I will be late if I don't show up."

He said to his mother who nodded before falling back to sleep. He eased his way out of the room slowly closing the door. He took in a shaky breath slumping to the floor. Tears fell down his eyes knowing that this broke him every morning.

"Why?"

Why did this happen? Why is everything falling apart? Why does his mother have to suffer? Why? Why is all this happening right now? Why they don't get help? He pushed himself up using the wall as a support thinking it was time for school. He needed to get his schedule and not to mention settle himself in class. Maybe that will be enough to take his mind off a few things. He grabbed his dark blue school bag letting his white collared shirt leave one button unbuttoned but his dark blue slacks were even and not wrinkled. He had his blue tie wrapped around his neck loosely. He walked to his kitchen leaving a note to the house nurse that was to come by for his mother. He began to gather his materials leaving his home in deep thought.

Screech!

"Watch out!"

The driver screamed out knowing that his brakes were not working properly before Naruto heard his yell. He jumped to the side of the street landing on the concrete harshly before seeing the car finally stop just on the other side of the street leaving tire tracks all over the ground. He ignored the throbbing pain against his thigh and arms from the fall. He was still catching his own breath before seeing the driver run out in panic.

"Are you alright sir!?"

They yelled out rushing towards him to see any injuries. Quickly thinking back to reality he nodded his head standing up patting down his pants. They began to worry over him while other by standers also walked over in concern.

"My car has always been getting car troubles! I was going to take it to the dealer as quickly as I can! Please forgive me! I will pay you for the clothes and if you need anything I wi-"

"No need. I will be fine thank you. Just make sure to repair your car this time okay."

"T-thank you sir! I will!"

He began to push past the people that crowded around him unknowing a young boy his age was watching him before turning away.

Interesting.

"Finally made it."

He stood in front of the gates of Konoha High School also formerly known as Sakura High for many of the other schools in the area. He placed his hands in his pockets pushing past the gates. Like the name suggests there were a lot of Sakura trees blooming around the school pathways. He saw some students beginning to make their way to class while others remained to play around. He slowly trudged his way within the large building towards his destination which was obviously seen as "Main Office" placard was hanging right outside of it. Pulling back the sliding door he noticed a slim woman with glasses and blonde hair sitting behind the desk. She pushed up her glasses to get a better view.

"Good morning. How can I help you today? Rather what do you need?"

She corrected herself while she was bustling through the papers on the desk. He can see registration papers and doctorial notes in regards to specific vaccines. There was also other papers that was scattered around such like appointments along with a hot cup of coffee considering a small wave of smoke exited the cup. The cup was rather dull being white and placed on the corner of the desk with a telephone that had several buttons on the panel. Old fashioned but she seemed to notice his glance.

"Sir? What do you need? If you don't ask right away I believe I have other work to attend to here."

He whipped his head up scratching the back of his neck in slight embarrassment.

"Good morning and sorry for spacing out."

He told politely seeing that the woman was watching him to wonder what he needed. She then began to rack her mind and recalled a student with blonde hair was starting that day.

"I am-"

"Naruto Uzumaki was it? You came from Mizugakure High correct?"

He nodded his head thinking that word got around quickly there. He was from that place which was long ago. How long has it been since he went to a school no less a public school. Maybe months since his mother began to show concern and told him that homeschool will do him no good. He then began to work his way back to paper works and settling back to a school which was remotely close and not that far of a walk without concern of any need of money. Money which was what he needed so badly.

"Yes I am Naruto Uzumaki. I need my schedule."

He said being polite while she saw him rummaging through the papers. She seemed to be the one who was in charge of the office as of that moment. He saw that there was some other several sections of the room being the principal's office, nurse's office and much more. She scratched the back of her head in thought sighing.

"Where is that paper? They turned it in."

She heard her mutter while he stared at the clock. If needed, he had enough time to roam the school to get the gist of the place since he was early for that reason. He saw that the school had just barley opened but some students rather be early than late. He stuffed his hands in his pockets while he waited. The woman finally fished out the proper schedule. It was yellow but the texture showed it was just printed out, maybe yellow paper was the only one viable at the moment.

"Here you go. Do you need help?"

She then turned to the clock and he took the paper from her.

"Never mind you have enough time. Go. I have work to do."

She told him shooing him away with her hand while he bowed.

"Thank you."

He said politely holding the schedule seeing that he had a couple of free periods but that was due that he was ahead. He handled his transcripts from his homeschooling and since he had a lot of time during their transition he stuffed himself in multitudes of classes. He had been intelligent since he was a child but he rather kept it to himself thinking that people hardly cared. He had to take the general classes, however, most classes like electives or languages had already been finished long ago. He noted that he had physical activity with a class and he knew he was behind a year in regards to that during his change of lifestyle. He trudged his way towards the hallways of the school in deep thought looking at all the classrooms. They did not look all that much different and he pushed the door open seeing that there was always a desk with a chair being a large desk in the front for the teacher to teach with. Rather all old fashioned with a chalk board closing the door slowly walking down. He read each sign that was hanged in front of the classrooms getting to know where they are all located in. He didn't notice another walking past him in a rush.

"Oof!"

They tumbled to the floor with Naruto being quick to stand up. He had been use with falls lately that he can easily get up with ease. Each fall was no more than the pain in his heart he mused to himself before he helped the adult.

"Sorry. I didn't look."

He said wondering if he should pat down the teacher to make sure he was alright not thinking of what to say when he heard the man speak.

"Natto?"

He blinked at what the man had said before the man waved it off.

"Sorry. Sorry. Your voice sounded much like my nephew."

He told before he looked up at Naruto who stared at him in shock. Blonde hair and blue eyes much like the small child he helped raised before they had left due to the business of the father. He slowly backed away but the older male pulled him into a hug before he could even say a word or make another action.

"It has been so long! You have grown!"

He pulled away still holding Naruto by the shoulder seeing that he was taller than he was. He was still tanned but seemed to have been a lighter shade than he was which meant to him that he was stuck inside. He was not surprised considering when he last saw the boy he was homeschooled with his mother. Naruto began to think quickly noticing the scar across from the nose and the way that the man held him. The name was only given to him by his uncle that he had not seen for many years and began to put the two together soon making his eyes wide.

"Uncle Iruka!"

He called out and the man nodded enthusiastically. He was overjoyed to see his nephew back in Konoha much less than actually being next to him. It was a good few years maybe more than 5 or less than 10 years. Naruto was just that of an elementary school student and that was so many years ago and now the boy was in high school no less. Soon to be graduating if he can guess the age correctly and match it with his grade. He should be a junior around the age of 16 or 17 years old.

"No one calls me that but you."

Naruto pointed out after the affectionate display while Iruka laughed in thought.

"You used to be obsessed with eating it but I guess you learned now that it doesn't taste pleasant anymore."

He made a disgusted face thinking that once back then that he loved that bitter tasting paste. It was used in common foods especially since it is soy beans that has been fermented over time. Babies were usually given it but once they learned taste it was usually spit out causing the baby to be upset. He learned to actually try the foul thing when he was a child and that taste never left his mouth making him annoyed if anyone who was not his uncle call him under such a name. He rather let it slide for now since they have never seen each other for so long.

"Just don't call me that anymore. It is rather unpleasant."

He said formally being polite and his uncle noticed the obvious change. The child back then was bubbly and hyper. He would always bounce from wall to wall causing hazard in everywhere he walked but the same boy before him was mature and slightly tense as if he was ready for an attack. He was albeit too polite for his taste but what can he do, he was not there and maybe something happened to cause a shock of personality change. He only hoped it as nothing traumatizing to say for the most. He pats the teens shoulder nodding with a smile.

"I am glad to see you after so long. It has been what? 5? 6?"

"10 years uncle."

Naruto said recalling he had not seen the man since he was just 6 years old and starting in elementary school. He was now 16 in his second year of high school but even with that he would seem to have started school early or late. It didn't matter, he was done with school early would mean he had more time to be a child than be an adult. He was backed a year but with his honorable mentioning of his academic standing he was rather just in the right setting.

"10 years. Wow how time flies."

Iruka said in deep thought looking at the boy in front of him since he was growing taller he had to look up at him slightly to see him eye to eye.

"You teach over here uncle?"

He began to relax not looking as tense being that he was near someone he can somewhat trust given the situation. He placed his hands in his pockets but remained in a steady standing position with his school bag hung around his shoulder while he saw the older man nodded.

"English is the main subject I teach here. I might think of doing home economics which is rather silly or even psychology but I wouldn't be able to stomach it at all. Maybe someone else can but I teach here yes. Are you starting here?"

"Yes. My first day I guess."

After so long of not going to school. He thought in his mind while he saw his uncle pat his arm.

"Good, good. This school is rather keen on its academics despite it is a public school. You will learn well here. I hope you can settle in quickly. Do you need help to get around?"

"No thanks. I actually came here very early so I got the gist of the place. If I need help though I guess I can go to you."

Iruka nodded his head again before he smiled and wondered how the family had been these years. He hadn't heard from them but he can get the gist of some things, he heard of the family business and how it tumbled but he saw that Naruto was not as forlorn on losing the wealth considering he was back to school. The family however, seemed to have disappeared from the face of the earth sort of speak but that was news years ago, two years ago to be exact. Those years he had not seen them in the media nor have any word not that they tried to have any contact. It seems that the father was rather a sociable person and rather not talk to those who are below them, however, close relatives knew something was uncanny between the father and son since both of them neither looked alike. They had always coined that the mother had bleached her hair red and was originally blonde but it was all in the past.

"I see. I hope I have your class then."

"You are a junior correct?"

"Yes."

"Then I won't be able to teach you anything till next year sadly but I am always around."

He said and he frowned that he would not be in the same class his uncle was teaching but found it reassuring that he would be inside the school whenever he would need his help.

"How is your mother?"

He stiffened at the question and thought of a rational way to reply to his question but a sadness washed over him like waves. He can't help but try to hold it all in seeing her sickly body in that bed all day long. How her once vibrant hair now has a sudden limpness to it.

"M-my mother… S-she is…. Not feeling well."

He said calmly and tried to hold in his tears but couldn't. A lone tear fell down his eyes surprising the older man who rushed over in worry hugging him close.

"Naruto."

"The doctors said she will be fine. She won't be. She is dying."

He whispered and Iruka can only hold the boy.

"L-let's talk about this in my classroom."

He said gently taking the arm of the boy and led him to his classroom which was not that far at all while the blonde wiped his face nodding. He followed in silence.

~~~End of Prologue~~~

A/N: Hey I know why make a story when I can't even keep up with my other stories. Well for one, I just had a sudden muse to make a story which was stuck in my bookshelf for years. It had been written when I was still in high school which was more than 5 years ago. Maybe had been about 8 years since then. However, I tweaked it and compared how I wrote it on my notebook it seemed to be a lot more detailed and longer. My chapters usually consist of about 4 pages front and back of each sheet per chapter. I actually write big with spaces between which makes it shorter. However, I like this story and I will be updating this one instead of Ame. I will try to update Tsuki Kitsune but it is unlikely as I seem to be having writer's block sort of speak within that story. I have the ending of how I would like it but that would be when Naruto is 25 and Hokage with the Akatsuki dead but that would not make sense.

Notes:

Naruto: I know that Naruto is rather bit OC in this chapter but wouldn't everyone wish that he was a bit mature? Silent especially but not so silent.

School: The school is like it said Konoha High or Sakura High which is commonly used in many anime or manga memorabilia. The grading system is like that of Japan which means they have three years of high school so Naruto is at the set age range since they have a sort of switched up age to grade barrier. Naruto is a second year in high school and in turn to American standards he would be a junior student.

Mother: She is like she is sickly. I am sorry to make Naruto's mother such a character but sometimes a weakened mother helps play out a good proper story. I am well aware that Naruto's mother is a strong determined person but I enjoy this factor.

Other notes:

There will be an introduction to many other characters along the way and yes this is modernized to the millionth degree. I hope you might this as a small break until I make my way to update any more stories let alone keep up with any new ones.

Please review in the end, it would be greatly appreciated.