Naruto and its characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto

Thanks to Hatochan she is my beta reader

See me as I am

It was just another day for me; another day to train, to be yelled at ,hit, insulted and humiliated. I sighed as I walked to the training ground, kicking pebbles at my feet. I was tired of wearing my mask. Tired of being happy and pretending to care when I couldn't really give a damn about the whole situation. Pretending to be weak and stupid when I am actually smarter than Sakura.

Smiling, I suddenly decided to NOT wear my mask. Let them see the real me, see what I am really like.

Smirking, I picked up my pace and made it to the bridge. I leaned over the bridge, staring in the stream. I hadn't even bothered to say " Morning" to my teammates. I felt them staring at my back and I ignored them.

"Naruto, are you ok ?" I heard Sakura ask.

I turned and looked at her " No, I am not fine and I haven't been fine for years now ...why do you ask ?" Needless to say, that shocked her, judging by her face. I just turned and looked at the water again. I felt her come up and get ready to touch me. I moved to the left and out of her reach. "Sakura please do NOT touch me, I hate being touched!!" I said with a bit more force than necessary.

She just stared at me and then I heard Sasuke. "Dobe, calm down. "

" You know my name is Uzumaki Naruto. Not dobe, baka, demon or monster. You want to speak to me then either call me Uzamaki -kun or Naruto -kun, Otherwise I will NOT acknowledge you...understand?" Needless to say they looked completely shell shocked. I walked away from them and sat down at the foot of a tree.

I heard Kakashi-sensei arrive with his usual lateness and pathetic excuses.

I walked over and looked at him while Sakura called him a liar. "You know Kakashi-sensei... I really am tired of your excuses and to be honest they are a waste of my time. So what are we doing today ?"

Kakashi had looked at me and narrowed his one visible eye at me and said, "Training is cancelled today. "

I shrugged and walked away. Good, now I can spend some time getting caught up with my reading.

"Except for you, Naruto. " I heard Kakashi say.

I stopped, sighed, and walked back, not even trying to hide my annoyance at this turn of events. Sakura and Sasuke just watched me, waiting for me to jump for joy and glomp Kakashi -sensei. Hell will freeze over long before I do that. After all my mask is gone and I no longer have to pretend...wow, this is such a liberating feeling and for once I am actually ...happy.

"All right, Sasuke and Sakura, you are free to go." I heard Kakashi tell them. I watched them leave slowly. " Naruto, what is wrong?" Kakashi asked .

I looked him right in his visible eye and told him. " Sensei, I am not always happy, stupid, foolish or childish. I loathe being touched and I do not trust easily, in fact I can count on one hand how many people I trust . Kinda sad, huh? For over ten years I have been wearing a mask. I am tired of wearing it. So now you are seeing the real me."

Kakashi just looked at me. "I see. Well, if that is the case, we are going to train and see just how strong you really are. Come on." He led the way to the field. "Naruto, now tell me the truth about yourself; your likes and dislikes, dreams, hobbies, et cetera..."

I stopped and looked at him. " My name is Uzumaki Naruto. I like my privacy, reading, training, learning new things. My dislikes are prejudiced people, and being judged by my looks. My dream is to be seen as I really am and if becoming Hokage will help me in that, then so be it. "

By this time we had reached the grounds and were facing each other. Kakashi smiled and said, "Nice to meet you. I am Hatake Kakashi. My likes are Icha Icha novels and training, my dislikes are people that break the rules, my dream is my own. "

I actually smiled at him. "Nice to meet you, Kakashi -sensei. " I said as I got into my stance. I could feel Sasuke and Sakura in the trees watching and listening. Next thing I knew I saw Kakashi going for his weapons. I attacked with all the speed and strength that I had.

This fight went on for well over two and a half hours and ended in a stalemate. Both of us lay on the ground panting.

"Good job, Naruto. I see that I will have to give you extra training. "

I looked at him and smirked .