Naruto frowned. Her body ached, its sore muscles constantly screaming in protest. She couldn't attempt to walk let alone move. Her lips quivered and tears escaped. She buried her head into the pillow beneath her.

"...thank you...for that, Naru-kun." Her body began to tremble in fear again as she subconsciously flushed under the person's gaze. It was lustful, filled with horrific glee. "You should cover up, I don't think Iruka-kun would wish to see you like this."

The blonde child sobbed, her lower body burning in pain as the speaker departed from the room. She couldn't believe what occurred, what he did. Her mind swirled in shock, betrayal etched into her eyes, the hurt showing in the racks her body endured. She thought he was her friend. She thought she was another person she could trust. She thought he just wanted to be close to her, to hold her, to cherish her, caress her, to lay with her and allow her to relish in the love he showed. Soon enough, she noticed that this was love. This was just how he showed her, the only way he could.

The forceful kisses were only an act. The extremely painful grabs of her flesh and body were just an accident. Tearing her body apart was too, she supposed. Everyone always did say "love hurts". And this was love, because it hurt. Because he made it hurt, so love was supposed to hurt. Love was supposed to feel this way. It's okay then, to do this. To have this happen.

She knew, she just knew she didn't like it. But, she would ensure it, as long as it meant she would get what she wanted, needed, craved for. Love. That's all she ever wanted. She sniffles as she wiped her eyes and cheeks with her lead-like arm and smiled.

'Mizuki.'

—

It became a regular occurrence. It was routined. She would attend the academy for the day, be a troublemaker, receive detention, receive help with her studies, train, go home. It didn't occur every day, only once a week. He told her it was a review of the week, to see how good she had been.

She wondered, as she sat in class, if it was regular for the other kids.

Maybe they had a different Mizuki-sensei. She didn't like that thought. She knew it didn't happen to them. They all looked normal, they ran and played with other kids. She didn't. She sat, and sat, and sat. She never liked to play. Not anymore at least. It made her tired. It made her sick. She was beginning to fail her physical portion of schooling. She was always too tired, too sick, she told Iruka-sensei. She sighed, her head falling to the desk. Her face sullen, her voice naught as she closed her eyes.

She jumped, a scream bubbling at her throat when she felt a cold and soothing hand on her forehead. Looking up with doe-like wide frightened eyes she noticed her tanned and scarred Sensei standing before her with a concerned expression. "Naruto? Are you feeling well?" She didn't move an inch, too tired to speak, blinking ever so slowly, as if she was willing her conscious state.

"...This hasn't happened before...Maa, maybe I should get Mizuki to help you home."

Her eyes shot opened and fears radiated throughout, well, her. She sat up with great effort and put on a reassuring smile that looked like a grimace. "...Ne, ne...Iruka-sensei I'm fine, see? I just, I just didn't get much sleep last night, you know?"

He stared at the young girl that he'd grown love and see as his own daughter or sister. In the year he'd known her he cannot recall her ever being afraid. Not near him at least. He didn't reply as he glanced out the window, and discreetly shifting his hand through certain hand seals before running them through his ponytail. "Alright," he crouched beside her seat, "how 'bout you tough the rest of the day out? At lunch, I'll get one of the older students to get some red bean soup and tea, and I'll take you home after the academy lets out. S'that okay?"

Naruto sagged in relief, her smile, though weak, coming back full force. "Arigatō Iruka-sensei."

He just patted her head and returned to today's lessons.

She was grateful for Iruka. She knew he'd help her with anything. He once helped her with her pigtails, and her braids. He helped with her homework and class work when he could. But sometimes Iruka was too busy. Iruka was one of the top senseis at the Shinobi academy and she knew he had lots of work time to put in. She just knew she couldn't go to him with her troubles. He was just so busy, he'd become tired like her, sick like her. And she didn't want that. Iruka didn't need that, he didn't deserve it. So she braved it on her own. Who else would she go to? Sandaime-jiichan was all the same. To Asuma-ojiisan? He had tough missions and liked to relax after them. What about her supposed kyofū? Jiraiya, was it? She thought of him a lot. Jiichan said he worked outside of the village but for the village. She understood, he wouldn't always be here. She sort of knew she had a great cousin. But she's never come back. Not ever. After what Jiichan's told her she knew she was too sad to come back to the village that caused her great pain. What about her Aniki? She knew he was alive, too! He had to live in the village of he was her older brother! Brothers would never leave their sisters! But then, where was he? She was aware of her Daibo, though. Her Daibo lived in the village too! And she knew where she lived and who she was! Maybe her Daibo could help. Maybe she could stop the pain. Maybe she could stop the monster.

All the information that she knew of she obtained it inside of Jiichan's office. She didn't mean to. She was just so bored. And she saw something with her name on it. Uzumaki Namikaze Naruto Tomoē it said. She knew her middle and her new last name now, at least. But, who is Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina? And why did they leave her? Why did they let this happen to her? Why did everyone hate her? Why did they glare? Why did the other kids bully her? Why did the adults glare, or stare at her with pity?

Why did Mizuki stare at her like that? Why did he do that? Why did he do what he did to her? Because he loves her. She only had answers for these questions. Because this was how people showed another love. Right? She was so sure, you know? But she was a child. What did she know? How could she know anything about love? Because she's seen it, but never felt it. That's why she let him continue.

—

"Sumimasen, shinobi-san?" She tugged on the man's attire.

He looked down at her and kneeled to her level. She backed up a few steps, her confidence dwindling as she curled in on herself. Shinobi-san noticed this and smiled gently. "Ohayo chibi-chan. Can I help you?"

Her heart beat faster and her voice caught in her throat. She had to do this. She wanted to meet her. And to make it go away. She wanted to stop feeling tired. She wanted to stop always throwing up, to stop getting bigger and bigger. She wanted the pain to leave.

"...Ne, is Uchiha Mikoto-san here? I...I need to see her...please." Her voice croaked. It was becoming harder and harder to speak and stand. Her head swirled, and she stumbled on her feet. She had forgotten what she came here for.

"...where...am I?"

"Are you okay, chibi-chan? What's your name? Kaoru-san go retrieve a medic, now!" Shinobi-san barked.

Before she could drop in a heap on the floor, Shinobi-san caught her. She was too disoriented to protest and panic. "Chibi-chan? Can you tell me your name, what is it?"

She just wanted the question to stop be said over and over again. So she answered.

"Namikaze Uzumaki Tomoē Naruto."

—

"Shisui, how did she get here? Do you know?"

"No, she just showed up while I was on guard duty at the front west gates and said she needed to see Mikoto-sama."

"Okaasama won't be back until tomorrow afternoon, her mission requires her iryō-nin skills."

"What are you going to do?"

Pause.

"...she'll stay here. It's obvious that her living quarters are not up to shape. Just look at her, Shisui. She's gaunt. She's only nine..."

"What about her condition? It screams 'rape'. You know the Hokage-Sama watches her when he has the time. Do we tell him?"

"Aa. How can we not? In legal Shinobi terms, she is to be under either Hokage-sama's, Jiraiya-sama's, Kakashi-san's or Okaasama's ward. Hokage-Sama is technically her Hii-ojiisan. Jiraiya-sama he kyofū for giving her her name. Kakashi-san her Aniki for being Minato-san's student, and Okaasama her Daibo for knowing Kushina-san for so long."

"What are you going to tell Fugaku-sama? And Sasuke-chan?"

"Otousama knows of her heritage and technical family, it is up to Okaasama if she wishes to take her in. As for my little otouto, I will tell him that little Naruto-chan will be staying until she is better. He will understand."

"Mm."

—