A/N: Naruto is 16, so is Sasuke, etc. This actually started as something else, then changed to something different, then back to the original idea, and then this happened. I still have to do those other ideas that made this blossom. I hope you like it, oh, and no killing me if you don't like something that happens. I have found that I quite enjoy harming the characters, and generally pissing off my sister with it. And so it begins, enjoy.

By the way, I have no idea when Naruto's actual birthday is.

Naruto hated this day, he always had, but today had to be the worst one yet. It was his birthday, and the day the villagers openly, and I mean completely openly, scorned and shunned him. Normally, they would only glare, and maybe try to drop things on him when he passed at most. Not today though, no, today they would glare at him, yell at him, beat him if they could, throw stuff at him, destroy his stuff, anything they could to make him miserable. And he took it, every single time. He didn't yell back; he wouldn't attack them at all, so he couldn't very well defend himself. He had tried to get a mission so that he wouldn't be here for this day, but there was no luck. And judging by the last few years, this treatment was going to last all week, instead of just today. He sighed as he dodged another flowerpot. He always tried to hide away on these days, but Kakashi had told them all to meet today for some training, unless they get some mission. Naruto sighed, and ducked into a back alley, deciding to not take the main roads. He got to the training grounds and greeted Sakura and Sasuke in a cheery manner. Apparently, it wasn't cheery enough though.

"Is there something wrong Naruto?" Sakura asked.

"Of course not! Why would you think that?"

"You're just acting a bit different is all. Oh well, Kakashi-sensei should be here soon."

"Yeah." Sasuke stared at Naruto, but he didn't notice.

"Well, it looks like you're all here. Good."

"Good morning Kakashi-sensei."

"Hi. We have a D-rank mission today, so come on. We're going to clear some land for a Mr. Tanozoki. Let's go." They all follow Kakashi to a large area that was fenced off and a house at one end. Kakashi knocked and introduced them as the ninja hired to help him with the land. Mr. Tanozoki looked them over, his eyes landing on Naruto with obvious disapproval. He motioned for Kakashi to enter and then shut the door behind them. Kakashi returned a minute later and told Sasuke and Sakura to start clearing the land, and that he needed to talk to Naruto. Once Sasuke and Sakura had started, Kakashi went over to Naruto.

"Naruto?"

"Yes?"

"Mr. Tanozoki doesn't, um, need three ninjas to help, so it was decided that you wouldn't help. Is that okay? I'll go with you to see Tsunade and we can get you something to do and explain the situation."

"That's fine, I didn't think he would want me to help anyway."

"Why's that?"

"Well, because… I could just tell." Naruto grinned, but for once, the grin didn't reach his eyes at all.

"I'm sorry Naruto. I'll be right back and then we'll go to see Tsunade." Kakashi went to tell the others that he would be right back. Sasuke glanced over to Naruto, but didn't say anything. Naruto didn't react to the questioning stare. Kakashi came back and they went to the Hokage's tower. As soon as they entered the room, Tsunade looked up at them in surprise.

"What are you two doing here? You can't be done with your mission all ready!"

"We ran into a little problem." Kakashi answered her. Naruto stayed silent and stared at the floor. Tsunade looked at him, then back at Kakashi.

"What happened?"

"Our client, Mr. Tanozoki, doesn't want Naruto to help. Sasuke and Sakura are still there, doing the mission as ordered, but he wouldn't let Naruto." Tsunade was silent and then looked at Naruto.

"I'm sorry Naruto. I'm sure we can find something else for you to do."

"It's fine! I'm okay! He doesn't know what he's missing! The baka should've been honored to have the future Hokage help him, dattebayo!" Naruto grinned at her.

Tsunade sighed and smiled, "All right then. You still get credited for this mission, since your team is still completing it. Why don't you go home?" Naruto nodded and left, "Kakashi, I want you to make sure nothing happens to him. This day isn't a good time for him."

"Why's that?"

Tsunade looked sadly at him, "Because today is his birthday, as well as the anniversary of the Kyuubi's sealing." Kakashi nodded and left. He created a clone to watch over Naruto and then went back to the rest of his team. Sakura and Sasuke were almost done when Kakashi returned. When they had finished, Sakura asked what happened to Naruto.

"I don't know what you mean."

"He was supposed to help us with this! It was his mission too!"

"Oh, well, Mr. Tanozoki didn't need three Shinobi to help, so the Hokage said that he could go home."

"Oh, well, could you give this to him then?"

"What is it?"

"I found out it was his birthday today, so I got him a gift, but I was told to go straight home after my mission, so could you give it to him?"

"Sure. You two can go, I'll tell the Hokage that you completed the mission."

"Thank you Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura ran off, waving.

"Kakashi?"

"Hmm? What is it Sasuke?"

"Where does Naruto live?"

"Why? Did you get him a gift too?"

"I was going to take Sakura's gift to him, while you went to see the Hokage. Besides, I thought you wanted to go see Iruka-" Kakashi covered Sasuke's mouth.

"Sh! No one needs to hear that. Fine, here. Naruto lives in the southern end of the village. The only Apartment complex there. You can't miss it." Kakashi uncovered Sasuke's mouth and shoved the package into his hands before disappearing. Sasuke looked at the brightly wrapped gift and headed off to Naruto's apartment.

Meanwhile, Naruto had ducked and dodged his way back to his apartment, avoiding people at all costs. Once he got stuck in an alley and a group of people cornered him and threw stuff at him as well as beating him. He couldn't even defend himself. As soon as he got safely inside, he wrapped up his new cuts and got out of his jacket, deciding to wait until tomorrow to wash it, or until later tonight. He plopped down on his bed and stared at the ceiling. He didn't realize he was crying until he felt something slide down his cheek. He turned over and let himself cry, not caring if he shouldn't show emotions. At that moment, he didn't even care if he lived anymore.

"Why? Why do they all hate me? I never chose to have the Kyuubi sealed inside me! I never hurt any of them! So, why? There's the flaw in becoming Hokage, they still would hate me, maybe even more. To have the Kyuubi vessel leading them. It's not my fault. It's not!" Naruto let all his memories as a child resurface. All of the hate, the pain, even the times they would beat him and he wouldn't know why. Every time he walked into a store, only to get kicked out. Every time he tried to make friends and their parents told them to stay away from him. Every single night that he was woken up because someone had broken in and destroyed some of his stuff. Every time they would break in and hurt him. Every time that he was hated and shunned. And then, finally, the night he found out why. He eventually fell asleep, feeling the hands as they beat him. He woke up to the sound of knocking. He slowly sat up and debated about whether or not he should answer it. He shrugged and got up, splashing some water on his face as he went to the door. He peeked out to see Sasuke there, with a brightly wrapped box in one hand.

"Open the door dobe! I know you're there!" Naruto shook his head and opened the door. He couldn't even muster his usual grin.

"What do you want?"

"Hn" Sasuke pushed past him and went into the living area, sitting down on the couch, "This is from Sakura." he pointed to the gift he had set down on the table.

"Why? What's it for?"

"Because it's your birthday dobe." Naruto's face paled slightly. He had never told them.

"So?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow, "What is it then?"

"How would I know? Open it and find out." Naruto didn't move.

"Why did you bring it here?"

"She couldn't."

"What about Kakashi-sensei?"

"I'm assuming you don't want me here."

"I didn't say that."

"Of course. I should've known by your pleasant demeanor that I was welcome." Naruto didn't answer him. He went and picked up the gift, eyeing it warily. He slowly unwrapped it to reveal two vouchers to Ichiraku's. He smiled slightly and went to put them away. Sasuke watched him as he left.

"Did you need anything else?" Naruto called from the kitchen.

"No."

"Then why are you still here?"

"You never kicked me out before, what's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong. It's just if you don't need anything, then there is no reason to stay." Sasuke was about to answer when there was a knock at the door.

"Who's that?"

Naruto sighed, "Please stay quiet." he went to the door and peeked through to see someone he didn't know.

"Open the door monster! We know you're there!" Naruto shuddered, "We saw you come in here! And you never left! Open the door, or we will!"

Sasuke listened to all of this, wondering why they wanted to see Naruto, and why they were calling him a monster. He was about to ask when he heard Naruto open the door.

"Is there somethi-" he was cut off and the next thing Sasuke heard was a thud.

"Yeah, there is something we want! Something you took from us!" he heard many more shouts, hits, and crashes as he sat frozen on the couch. His mind finally registered what was happening.

"They want to kill Naruto!" he got up and went to stop them, and most likely kill the offenders. When he got there, he was met by a sight his mind couldn't register. Naruto was on the floor bleeding, with three men standing around him and broken glass as well as other objects was littered around him. And Naruto, Naruto wasn't doing anything to protect himself, all signs of life had left his eyes. The three men looked up at Sasuke and all but one sneered. The other's eyes widened slightly.

"You want some too brat?!" Sasuke didn't answer, only watched as Naruto looked at him and slightly shook his head before becoming still once more. He looked up at the obvious leader when he was grabbed roughly by the front of his shirt.

"Well?"

"Let. Go. Now."

"And why should I listen to a brat like you?! Especially since it looks like you're a friend of it." he kicked Naruto in the gut, making him wince slightly.

"Sir, we should go." the one in the back spoke up.

"Scared?! I can't believe you!"

"But sir! That's Uchiha Sasuke! The last Uchiha?" the guy let go of his shirt.

"Not much of him, is there? No wonder he was left alive, it wasn't worth it to kill him." Sasuke clenched his fists, ready to kill this man. If it wasn't for the obvious fact that he was drunk, he would've been dead all ready. When the man looked back and smirked at him before turning away and kicked Naruto as hard as he could, Sasuke snapped. The next second and the man was lying on the floor in the hallway, unconscious. The other two standing beside him with shocked looks as the door was slammed in their faces. Sasuke turned to Naruto, all fury leaving him as he looked at his motionless friend.

"Naruto? Naruto, are you okay?" he knelt beside him, avoiding the small pools of blood that had started to gather, "Naruto?" he looked at his face and paled at the sight. Naruto was breathing heavily and uneven, his eyes were closing, and his skin was extremely pale.

"What did they do to you?!" Before he could do anything, another knock was heard. Sasuke pulled out a kunai and yanked open the door. He had the kunai to the intruder's neck before he realized it was Kakashi and Iruka. He slammed the door in their faces.

"Sasuke?! Sasuke, what happened?!" he could hear Iruka calling him, but he didn't care, all that mattered to him was Naruto, and getting him better.

"Sasuke, open the door; we'll get in either way." he ignored them. If they came in and wouldn't help, then he would force them to leave. He carefully turned Naruto over so that he was lying on his back and became to check him over. He didn't look up as Kakashi and Iruka poofed in.

"What is going-"

"NARUTO!" Sasuke scowled at Iruka's outburst, but was silently thankful for the help. Iruka had immediately dropped to Naruto's side, healing cuts on his arms, legs, face, and even neck.

"We need to move him somewhere else. We need to take him to the hospital!"

"No."

"What do you mean No?! He-" Iruka was cut off by Kakashi covering his mouth. Sasuke continued to gingerly pick Naruto up and put him on his own bed.

"Let him be Iruka. Do you really think Naruto would want to go to the hospital? He probably wouldn't want anyone to know of this at all. I'll go get Tsunade-sama if it makes you feel better?" Iruka glared at him, but nodded nonetheless.

"Fine." he went to see Naruto again. Kakashi disappeared.

He poofed himself into the Hokage's office, not even startling Tsunade.

"What is it?"

"I need you to come with me. It's Naruto." she glanced up sharply.

"What happened?"

"He's been hurt. He's probably lucky Sasuke was there. He has many injuries and is unconscious. Iruka is there now with Sasuke."

"What is Sasuke doing there?"

"He had went to see him and deliver a gift from Sakura, he volunteered. Can we go now?"

"Of course! Move it!" They both disappeared, ending up outside Naruto's door. Tsunade wasted no time in getting through, knocking the door down and striding in.

"Naruto?"

"We're in here." she heard Iruka call out from an open doorway, "He doesn't look good." Tsunade and Kakashi walked in and gasped. They had taken off Naruto's shirt, revealing numerous cuts, bruises, scars, gashes, and even a few ribs poking through, He was still bleeding.

"We tried to stop the bleeding, but couldn't. I'm sorry, I'm out of chakra." Iruka looked close to tears.

"Does he respond at all?" Iruka shook his head, Sasuke still leaning over Naruto, trying to stop the bleeding like Iruka had showed him. Tsunade looked over to him.

"Who did this?" Sasuke shook his head slightly, still concentrating. She turned to Kakashi, "Did you see anything? Anyone leaving when you arrived perhaps?"

"Yes! I did! I saw two men carry another into a room one floor down. Room 117 I believe." Tsunade nodded, "Good. Go get them. Perhaps they can tell us something." By the way she looked; they'd better. Kakashi left and soon found the room. He knocked loudly and waited. Soon, he heard someone come to the door and open the peephole.

"What do you want?"

"I need to speak with you."

"For what?"

"By order of the Hokage."

"I'm busy, I'll come out in a bit."

"No, now. And bring your friends with you." he heard the man quickly walk away, speaking quietly to another person. Kakashi was running out of any patience he might have had.

"Open the door now, unless you want me to come in without it."

"Coming!" he heard some scrambling, and another door opening. "Shit! They're going out the back!" And there went all patience. He made a clone to go after the two leaving, and continued to wait at the door. It soon opened.

"Sorry for the wait. I don't know what you mean by my friends though, they left hours ago."

"Is that so? I was under the impression that they were here, and you just let them out."

"I don't know what you mean."

"Really?" his clone appeared, holding onto the two others, "Now, what were you saying about 'they left hours ago'?" the man paled.

"What do you want anyway? We've done nothing wrong."

"That's for me to know, and you to talk to the Hokage about." Kakashi grabbed onto the man and "led" him upstairs to where Tsunade was waiting.

"Here they are. These two tried to sneak away." his clone disappeared, releasing said two.

"Is that so." she glared at them, "Go check on the others, I'm sure they could use your help." Kakashi almost felt sorry for the poor souls that were about to face her wrath, but it was their fault. They shouldn't have hurt Naruto. He went back in and found Sasuke almost collapsing by Naruto, his chakra drained. If he used much more, he would pass out, and maybe even die himself.

"Sasuke, you need to stop. I can heal some, and then Hokage-sama can heal him." Sasuke had managed to stop the bleeding, but there was still much more to do.

"No." Kakashi grabbed him, attempting to pull him away, but Sasuke refused to leave.

"You can't do anything else for him! Just stop already!" Sasuke shook his head.

"I can't. It's my fault he got hurt this much." Kakashi let him go and went to find Iruka.

"Iruka?"

"Yes?"

"I need your help. Sasuke won't leave Naruto, but he can't do anything else. His chakra is nearly completely gone." Iruka nodded and headed back into the room.

"Sasuke? You have to rest. Wasting your chakra isn't going to help anything." Sasuke shook his head again.

"If you must do something, you have complete permission to beat on these three!" They all turned to see Tsunade in the doorway, pointing to three figures on the floor, "Just don't kill them. I'll handle the rest. Move out of my way." Tsunade pushed Iruka and Kakashi out, and went up to Sasuke and Naruto. She grabbed him and tossed him out, making the door close as well. Sasuke didn't move from where he landed until he heard movement. The three men were trying to get away. All his anger returned full force when he saw them.

"Where do you think you're going?" he glared at the three and cracked his knuckles. They froze.

"We're sorry!"

"Sorry? Sorry doesn't make Naruto better. You should've thought of that earlier." They didn't move, afraid of what he was going to do.

"Sasuke? Hurting them won't help."

"It'll make me feel better. They can feel what happened to Naruto." their eyes widened, Iruka shook his head and went to sit down in the kitchen instead. Kakashi followed him.

"What do you think he's going to do to them?"

"I don't really want to know. I just want Naruto to be okay." Kakashi wrapped his arms around him.

"He'll be fine-" they heard thuds and muffled cries of pain coming from where they left Sasuke, "Hm, first they had to deal with Tsunade, and now Sasuke. I'd bet they won't be hurting anything ever again." Iruka nodded slightly, leaning back into Kakashi until they heard screams coming from Naruto's room. And they weren't happy kind of screams; they were pained.

"Naruto?!" Iruka cried and rushed towards the room. Sasuke was all ready trying to open the door, without success. The door was sealed.

"Naruto?! What's going on?!"

"SHIT!" they heard Tsunade yell and saw a reddish light, and could feel immense chakra coming from the room.

"Kakashi! Get in here! Iruka, Sasuke! Get Shizune and some seal specialists now!" Iruka and Sasuke looked at each other before running off. Kakashi opened the door to see Naruto engulfed in Kyuubi's chakra, and screaming.

"What happened?"

"He was hurt a bit too much, almost died. I was healing him when the Kyuubi started to help. Then I started healing his stomach. Apparently, being hit and cut and everything else there, weakened the seal slightly, which was a good thing in terms of healing. When he woke up and could feel everything, he screamed and the seal pretty much broke. He still seams to be in come control. I'm hoping the Kyuubi is just trying to heal him, and not take him over." Kakashi nodded and tried to help restrain Naruto, until his head swung around and his eyes turned completely into Kyuubi's. He stopped thrashing about and looked and Tsunade.

"I have no need to take the kit over." Tsunade and Kakashi froze, staring at him.

"Kyuubi?!"

"Heh, you seem so surprised. The seal has been slightly broken for quite some time now. The kit and I merely have an agreement."

"What type of an agreement? He would never let you destroy the village like you tried to last time!" 'Naruto' glared at her.

"I did not attempt to destroy your precious village. I was, in fact, looking for something. If I truly wanted with damned place destroyed, it would be by now. And if you try to redo the seal, it will most likely kill us both. Either that, or just kill the kit."

Tsunade clenched her fists, reminding herself that she would be hurting Naruto if she punched him, "Why do you care if he lives or not?! You would probably rejoice if he died as long as you were set free! Then you could just go and destroy everything like you want to!" Kakashi was taken aback by her outburst. She was shaking with rage and worry over Naruto. He turned and glared at 'Naruto' when he laughed.

"Quiet young one, the kit will be fine. I could even suppress his memories of this, but it would be best not to. And if you must know, I happen to like him. Now, I have an offer to make you."

"And why would we trust you?"

"Because of the kit."

"STOP CALLING HIM KIT! Leave him alone!"

"I can not very well do that, seeing as how I'm sealed inside him. If it helps, I never intended to destroy this village."

"Yeah right."

"Lady Tsunade!" Kakashi and Tsunade turned to see Shizune, Sasuke and Iruka enter the room, "I'm sorry Lady Tsunade, the specialists were busy. Iruka told me Naruto had been hurt. What's going on?"

"He is hurt you fools."

"Is that-!"

"The… Kyuubi…"

"A bit slow, are you not? We were just having such a lovely conversation, so why don't you be quiet." Shizune and Iruka took a step back.

"Why should I listen to you? What has happened to Naruto?"

"Of course, the pup had to be here. He is fine, as I have said before. Or he will be at the very least."

"Then what do you want?"

"Hm, perhaps it would be better to talk to you instead of these two. You seem more willing to help."

"Then talk." Kyuubi grinned.

"Wonderful. I wish for some help in finding something of great importance to me. To do so, I will need out of this village, as well as someone to come with me on my search. The kit has already agreed."

"Just what are you looking for? And how can we be sure it's safe for the village."

"There has never been anything against this village, other than my hatred for that snake. Since he is no longer here, you have nothing to worry about. Unless, of course, the villagers continue to harm the kit."

"You still have not told us what you're looking for."

"My own kit. The same one I was looking for sixteen years ago on this day. The one that snake had taken from me." Tsunade's eyes widened.

"So the only reason you attacked, was because of Orochimaru?!"

"Yes."

"That makes sense. Unfortunately, we don't know where he is."

"I will find him. Is there a deal?"

"Wait, what's in it for us?"

"The snake will be killed, as well as his minions. I will make sure the kit is fine, and we will come back. If there is something else you want, state it."

"I want to speak with Naruto. He is healed, correct?"

"Physically, yes. I wouldn't know about his mental state. Here" The crimson chakra dissipated, leaving Naruto slumped on his bed.

"Naruto!"

"Nnng. Ow!" he cried when Sasuke touched his shoulder. Tsunade came up and checked it over.

"It's dislocated, here." she popped it back in.

"OOOWWWWW!!!!!!" What was that for Baa-chan?!"

"Naruto."

"Huh? What is it Sasuke?"

"Could you hear us earlier at all?"

"Huh? Oh, when you were talking to Kyuubi you mean? Yeah, I could hear you. What about it?"

"Naruto, did you really agree to help the Kyuubi?"

"Of course I did Baa-chan, why would she say that if I hadn't?"

"To trick us into helping."

"No, she just wants to find her kid, and kill Orochimaru. So do we, so what's the problem?"

"We need to be sure that the Kyuubi isn't lying, and that you'll be safe."

"She's not lying."

"How can you tell?!"

"Baa-chan, she doesn't lie to me, she can't."

"You never know that Naruto. I can't trust it, especially with your life."

"But, you all ready have. She's been trusted with my life for 16 years." Tsunade was silent. She just looked at Naruto before turning and walking out of the room.

"Baa-chan…" He was about to go get her when something crashed through the window and landed on the floor. Sasuke grabbed the piece of paper that had come off it and read it aloud:

"To the demon scum,

Here's a little present for your birthday. Hope you enjoy it you bastard."

Sasuke crumpled it up before turning to the window. The thing they threw through the window caught his eye.

"SHIT!" and that was all he had time to say before the bomb exploded.

Well, I hope you all enjoyed reading this! Remember now, no harming me for anything you didn't like. Although I would love to know which parts made you mad, sad, happy, etc. Reviews welcome, I'll even accept flames for this. Please, feed my sadistic and creative little mind.