Hello everybody! So this is my first Multichapter fic! I think...Ok so anyway a few things before we start.

1.) There will be mentions of drugs and rape, and for my lack of knowing what people do in those situations (Thank god), I will only mention them briefly. Like not even that much. Also same with drugs - I tend to be very ignorent of these sort of things.

2.) As for pairings, I really didn't focus my energy into them, I focused mostly on plot because if I focused on pairings, then I'd end up changing the plot for the pairings and it wouldn't be as good. So excuse my lack of lust.

3.)This is entirely UN-betaed. I am too lazy to obtain a beta, nor am I gonna get one. Just too much stress of sending it to them and then your updates are based off of their sechedual. I am trying my best to fix my mistakes but, sadly I don't like going back that often, so I split it into sections. Organized sections of course, so they make sense in the story.

4.)There will be OCs but I am trying to keep their appearance at a minimum. They each have their backstories that ties into Naruto a lot. So Naruto is a big part of them, but they are a small part of Naruto's past. Sorry, they make it flow smoother.

5.) Team 7, or the members at least, are VERY over protective of Naruto. I like to think of this as Naruto-centric, but you know they also don't know a lot of things that are going on. Most of the characters are slightly OOC because of the events in their lives. This is modern AU so ninja problems don't tend to happen. I'm just being realistic, but due to plot events they will change their personalities. I tried not to change it too much.

So with those comments, um I guess you can enjoy the story, hope you like it. :3

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Chapter 1

He wouldn't move. He couldn't move.

He had a knife to her neck and the blue-eyed boy was terrified, confused and felt pathetic. She was pretty, the blonde couldn't help admire that. Her silky black hair and her soft chocolate eyes. He wondered, if she wasn't terrified, would she look just as soft. Was she just as kind as she would have looked? He had told the young boy otherwise. That this women was sickly - that she didn't deserve to live. And for only a moment he beileived him. But if that was so, how come she had a family. Had … now they were dead. The husband was about to call 911, and the child's screams had died out with the 4 year-old boy that lay in the doorway. He wondered, if he hadn't doubted their morality for that one second, then maybe they could have been saved.

The boy was watching as the black steel blade slowly sunk into the flesh of her neck, and she was too terrified to even scream. Her blood splashed on the floor and mixed with the other crimson puddles.

Another silent death.

Blue-eyes blinked and the dark night was gone. The bodies gone. The blood gone. In it's place was just a deserted parking garage, dull and grey and smelled of gasoline. He wasn't sure what time it was, and he didn't care. The only thing he cared about was the tall figure that was 5 feet away. He didn't look into those red eyes - they gave him nightmares. And he didn't need to look up to know that the man was smirking, his evil smile. He felt it.

The only question that was running through his head right now was: What had he just seen?

He remembered that night, he was only 5. He felt so helpless. That was what made him remember. And that was only the first time. How many times had this man - no this demon - make him witness it. And the words he said after were what echoed in his head for years after they were said.

"You'll do the next one."

He never did. He always froze and that's what made it worse. Every single time it would get worse and worse, til' it got to a point where he was even considering killing the people. They didn't deserve a death like that - no one deserved a death like that. No matter what they did.

Why was he even here. He could fight back. No… that was wishful thinking.

"Do you have the information on those people brat." a deep intimidating, almost amused voice asked, even if he knew the brat had it, he still needed to rub it in. He was shaking as he clutched the paper in his hands. He did. And these people didn't deserve to die either. This guy was just a psycho. And the boy couldn't help think that he was helping him. By giving this information he was killing innocent people. Taking their life away. Putting them into the most painful, and torturous sleep of their lives. And they wouldn't wake up.

He stretched his hand out, and couldn't help but notice it had gotten thinner. Stress would do that to you. It really didn't matter anyway. The man smirked and took the paper.

4 months, he'd been doing this for 4 months. After 3 years of no word from the man, he'd shown up and gave him a choice.

Help them die, or watch them die.

He didn't want to do either, and he knew the man in front of him didn't give him a choice. He would find a way to kill those people anyway, and the blonde boy figured if he just was a little late or a little vague, he could prolong their deaths. He knew they'd die anyway.

He didn't want to see people die.

"Good little fox"

He hated this.

OoOoOoOoOoO

"Uchiha! Uzumaki! Suicides, NOW!" said a stern but not loud voice. Unlike the Uzumaki's that was just about to say 'bastard' to the Uchiha who was calling him a loser. Kakashi sighed, the two always fought, they were like enemies, yet when in games they were like the same person. To Kakashi it was strange but not so much, but as most things go in the KIA (no not killed in action, Konoha Ice Academy, which sounded like a school like Angelina's Ballet School so they named it KIA, cause A) it sounds cooler and B) Hockey was bigger than figure skating here) most things don't.

They obliged grudgingly, but continued their banter.

"Stupid, teme. This is all your fault." the Uzumaki grumbled, touching the first line.

"My fault? This is your fault dobe. And you know I'm right." Uchiha said, skating back.

"No way! It would be better if we practiced without skates. That way we'd be stronger when we do put them on! Ya know." Naruto argued back.

"Idiot, we'd get sick." said the Uchiha cooly.

"Ok guys scrimmage! Team 10 and Team 8 vs Team 3 and Team 7!" Asuma called, the sensei of section 10, one of the 4 teams that composed of Konoha's 15 year old hockey team.

Kiba and Neji lined up eyes in a deadlock of light-almost white- blue and dark chocolate and then they heard the whistle blow. They were off, bumping and sliding against each other. Neji got the puck and passed it to Lee who sped down the rink and drew his stick back to whack it into the goal, but before it got there Shino stole it, gliding expertly down the rink. Tenten sneaked up and twirled to take it.

"What are you teaching her Gai. This isn't figure skating." Kurenai said smoothly. Her red eyes boring into the green clad man.

"TENTEN IS THE FIRE OF YOUTH! YOU'D NEVER EXPECT IT!" Gai said crying his eyes out. God it was too early for this. It was only september, the kids had just got off their school break. Not Hockey of course. They'd train with their individual sensei's the entirety of summer and when Hockey season was about to start they'd train together for the school year.

"It was a good move," Kakashi finalized, he was their leader after all.

"It won't work again," Was the last thing that was said out of the smoker.

It was literally almost the end of morning practice. One more goal and he'd let them go for lunch. Naruto seemed to have the puck. But was slowly being surrounded. Sasuke was by the goal.

"No way Uzumaki can get it through to Uchiha." Asuma said expertly. He knew the two had telepathic communication when it came to winning a game.

Naruto wound back to hit the puck.

"He's not as stupid to try" Kurenai said, though she was on the balls of her feet. Naruto hadn't been the most productive student, that much she knew.

Naruto smirked and with expert accuracy and the 4 teachers on the balls of their feet with anxiety. It slipped through the tiniest opening and the Uchiha caught it and scored it past Chouji who was too shocked to move.

Asuma's cigarette dropped. Gai fell back in tears. Kurenai's mouth was a gape and Kakashi had an impassive if not a bit smug look.

He'd not taught him THAT over the summer. How did the kid do it? Well he certainly wasn't the most unpredictable teammate for nothing.

The children grumbled as Lee and Naruto high fived then skated to their senseis. Tenten and Sakura hugged each other.

"See that, Teme, I'm awesome. Dattebayo! " Naruto said rubbing his pink nose.

"Whatever Usuratonkachi. I scored." he smirked.

Kakashi sighed. He'd been coaching this team for 3 years now, and these two specifically along with their pink haired teammate. They still haven't changed. Sometimes it was comforting and at others it was exasperating. In KIA, the program was, you'd go to practice at regular school hours and then do some work at home, and to play in the game on Friday you'd have to turn in all the work that has been assigned to you (by e-mail) the night before game-day.

KIA's curriculum also centered around teamwork and to make everyone's life easier split the team into 4 groups of 3, each having their own specific sensei that they could come to for help with plays or schoolwork and the senseis would keep them on track and what not.

Kakashi's team comprised of 3 people.

Sakura, A strong willed individual who doesn't take crap from anyone-especially her teammates. She seemed to get off on the wrong start with Naruto, but eventually they've grown close. Sasuke she was A LOT more tolerant of, mostly because of this crush she has on him. In fact, she was so infatuated with him, he was the reason she was here. When she was younger she had a much more fitted body for figure skating, but when she realized the breaks didn't match up for Hockey and Figure skating, she switched into Hockey, out of blind admiration. But eventually, she started to get made fun of, cause she got knocked down so easily. She hated it, not only was she embarrassing herself in front of Sasuke, but her pride took a major hit too. So she worked hard and eventually she grew to love the sport. And be freaking awesome at it. Gai could boast that Tenten had the most raw skill out of all the girls- which he didn't because he believed in hard skill even with a genius on his team- but Kakashi could boast that he had the most creative and strongest on the team. Sakura's punches were brutal. Naruto knew that better than anyone.

Sasuke, was probably the most skilled on their team -meaning he used his skills in the best way possible. Kakashi could tell Sasuke was born for sports, and Hockey suited his cold personality just fine. Kakashi himself has a friend within the Uchiha clan and had met Sasuke multiple times in the past. He could easily say that he wasn't surprised to see Sasuke on the roaster- well maybe a little. Itachi had been a Martial Artist, and - if Kakashi's memory served him right- Sasuke had always looked up to the heir of the Uchiha. Itachi had taught Sasuke a little of Hockey and they played it as a stress relief. So when Sasuke walked in it was a little but not entirely surprising, because at the age of 10 Itachi started to get more and more swamped with clan work and had less time to play with Sasuke. Sasuke had wanted to surprise his older brother so why not make the stress relief into a carrier. Kakashi wasn't surprised, however, when Sasuke was freaking awesome -for a rookie at least- to begin with. Uchiha's always strove for perfection, even if it was just a stress reliever. It was like an inherited trait of always be perfect. But if it was Obito must have gotten a homozygous recessive, because Obito was now a little more than a screw-up. Like now he was a mess-up on the long scale of disaster. Either way it was better than before.

The last and still 14 year old member of the section was, was Uzumaki Naruto. The boy himself was a mystery. I mean in the first 3 months he didn't have his own skates. It was because Genma didn't get paid for giving out skates that he let the small blonde take one pair of size 7 and keep them. He had his own beat up stick when he came in though. First upon seeing him, Kakashi noticed the scars, those scars. 3 whiskers on either side of his face on the seemingly innocent boy. No one wanted him, even if he was good. No body wanted him to have a contract with them. Kakashi couldn't care less, in fact if anything , Kakashi focused more on the small blonde during try outs. He was rough around the edges but he was also pretty damn good. One thing Kakashi noticed is that he's stronger than he looks. The boy pushed through the older and taller boys with such ease. He also didn't once put his feet in front of each other or cross his feet, like so many people slipping up on the rink. That's probably what got him nominated for the A team of Konoha, the rest of the boys were cut except for the other 11 players on the team of coarse. He was the smallest and probably the skinniest but his skating technique was refined, making Kakashi wonder where he learned the game, cause he had a pretty vast knowledge of it.

It was a little rocky start. Sakura hated Naruto- for being good at Hockey but an absolute dumbass. Naruto hated Sasuke- cause he is a 'show off'. And Sasuke hated everyone - just because he could. Naruto and Sasuke got in fights with eachother all the time and Sakura would hit Naruto all the time. Everyone on the team just flat out hated him or didn't speak to him - kept their distance. Sometimes, when no one was looking, Kakashi caught a glance of sadness but understanding. He knew what he was.

"How do you expect to get strong with no lunch, dobe?" Sasuke said with a scoff. He said it in an uncaring way, but section seven knew what it was Naruto you're losing weight again and it's not good tell us what's going on or else you will get a major ass pounding.

Another thing that was anonymous about Naruto he seemed to gain weight incredibly slowly, and lose weight at a sudden almost alarming rate. Naruto never ate lunch, correction he never brought lunch. The boy didn't have parents to make him any lunch and the only thing sustaining him - as far as Kakashi knew - was his hockey contract he had with Kakashi.

With all the Hockey gear off Kakashi could see it under his way to baggy Jersey. Sigh. He was 95 pounds and they didn't even notice him hit 100. Another sigh escaped his lips. Sakura had just got him to 105 at the beginning of the summer. They'd thought they'd gotten him on a pretty stable eating diet that was healthy. When he was 13 they got him on a healthy diet, but it was not working and he kept losing weight so they were desperate enough to give him 2 spoonfuls of chocolate icing before practice and a bowl of ice cream after. Got his weight up and he was smart enough to convert the fat into muscle, but then he started going down again and the up and then down and then a little up and then worse then before the down. Kakashi wondered how Naruto never once gotten sick on- oh wait he did throw up...those few times... maybe 20.

"Hm" Naruto looked down at himself from his work. "I never have lunch teme." he grumbled and continued his work. Naruto always did his work during Lunch, it was an hour and he seemed to have a schedule. English on Monday, Science on Tuesday, History on Wednesday, and Math on Thursday, if he already didn't finish it at home or the weekend. Naruto's English, History and Science were at grade level but that took A LOT of work. But his math was already on Calculus 2 Honors. Higher than Sakura.

It also wasn't until 3 months in that Kakashi noticed he wasn't that good at academics. Sakura was the smartest of the section and rarely ever made a mistake and even if she did, she asked Kakashi and either wasn't far off or Kakashi himself couldn't answer it. Sasuke just did everything with ease, sometimes making a mistake, that was easily remediable and left Kakashi with a little relief he didn't have a perfectionist Uchiha in his charge. Naruto thought … to put it lightly he SUCKED at reading and writing and ...science ...and history- BUT he was REALLY good at math. Like on the simple problems he'd get completely wrong and on the hardest thing (not even Sakura could figure out) he'd get it completely right in two steps with no work. Kakashi also noticed that when he tried to explain it, it wouldn't make sense, not even his work did. But he NEVER asked for help during first and half of second year. When Kakashi had approached the blonde with the subject he got all tight lipped. Kakashi saw it then, in Naruto's amazingly blue eyes, he didn't trust him. He thought he'd give him the wrong answers and such, but when Kakashi reassured him he wouldn't, it took Naruto another month to ask him for help on English - a subject Kakashi thought himself very good in.

Eventually, he asked Sakura and even Sasuke for help when he needed it and fallen into the habit of not disappearing during lunch and just did it in the lounge where all the students went to either do work after practice or eat lunch. Sakura even asked help from Naruto on a few Algebra two problems.

"Naruto don't play dumb with us." Sakura said, they were currently gathered on the floor. Naruto and Sasuke were wedged between a low table and a corner couch that was light blue and in the middle of the room. And Sakura was in front of a circle fluffy chair that was hot pink even if she was on the floor too. Having her lunch in front of her and Sasuke's lunch in front of him and Naruto's Chem work in front of him. Kakashi was on the far end of the couch reading his book/ watching his students out of the corner of his eye.

Naruto blushed as he started the chem equation, just like math. Oh he couldn't wait for Physics. Oh look after he gets done with this one only 3 more. They look relatively easy. Cool and they were equations! Sweet he would be done without Sakura's help. AND with 30 minutes to spare. Yeah let's take our mind off of-

"You've lost weight again." Dead silence...Dammit Sasuke. He didn't think he'd come out with it so bluntly.

"Yeah what else is new, ya know" Naruto mumbled sarcastically and blushed and shrunk in on himself a little as he moved to the next problem. Sakura wouldn't have any of that. Oh no, he is not gonna shy away from this one. That may have worked 2 years ago, but not now. She stood up.

"Naruto this is serious! I thought we told you to follow that weight plan we had for you, and here you are losing weight again! You know your metabolism is a freaking beast and that's good to a certain degree, but if you don't eat it will eat away at you! It's dangerous! You have to eat more than other people, you know that! DAMMIT NARUTO LOOK AT ME!" Sakura nagged/ lectured/yelled. Naruto looked up slowly at the girl's red huffing and angry face. He also let worry slip into his mind and smiled a little at her.

"Don't worry Sakura-chan. I haven't lost that much, ya know. Just a little." Naruto lied. Kakashi knew he lied, he could see it. He might be wearing baggy clothes, but it went inward too much and Gai was a trained fighter, he could tell Kakashi just how much weight Naruto was right now. In fact he would...just not now...he wanted to see his cute students bond, over silently killing Naruto's metabolism.

"Not that much? Dobe you look like a stick figure." Sasuke said coolly, nudging his half eaten lunch over to Naruto. Naruto pretended not to notice it.

"Sasuke-kun is right. Here I brought an extra apple, eat it." It was a command.

"No, it-it's your food, ya know, Sakura-chan." Naruto said meekly holding the apple but looking at Sakura definitely "I'm fine"

Oh and another thing about Naruto…

"You look like a Figure Skater."

He hates to be told what to do.

Crunch

Smirk

OoOoOoO

Naruto unstrapped the velcro to his black shin guards. Sasuke was doing the same next to him. Naruto didn't have that much money, so when he first came to KIA, he had basically nothing but a stick. The only reason he came was...he'd rather not think about it - much less talk about so Sasuke doesn't know. He hoped Sasuke didn't know why he came to KIA, and he trusted Sasuke the most. Yeah sure they got off the a really really really bad start. Ok, so maybe calling him a chicken head upon first seeing him wasn't such a good idea. But eventually they became best friends and then they grew closer and now they're inseparable. Like they needed each other to live. It wasn't a lover bond - because they are both straight- it was more of a brother bond. But sometimes older brothers can be overly protective and Sasuke and Naruto didn't particularly have a nonviolent relationship.

"Dobe, gain weight now." Sasuke said, it was childish to think he could gain a whole 10 pounds back in a day, but he wanted the guilt of not noticing his best friend lost 10 pounds in the last 4 months. Way too much for Naruto to be losing, they saw each other everyday so it might have been subtle. How had Naruto hid it from him?

There was silence, which seemed very very unlike Naruto. Sasuke was wondering if the boy was still even conscious. Finally he spoke. "I will Sasuke… I will…it's..just" he said meekly. When it came to problems Naruto never liked speaking about himself. He didn't have parents that were there for him and on first sight everyone hated him. Hell even Sasuke hated him, and Sakura more so...when they first met him. Now he was someone they worried but cared about. It seemed more annoying, but he never got time to think of it. Naruto would never ever push his problems onto others especially Sasuke and Sakura. He'd grin and bare with it. But when a problem did come up and was said so bluntly, Naruto got really self conscious. Sasuke knew that, but right now he didn't care if it was 1 or 2 pounds, Sasuke could understand - it was the beginning of the school year after all- but 10 pounds. The weight loss scared the Uchiha. The Uchiha. There was something wrong if it scared the freaking UCHIHA. "It's … just"

Sasuke raised a brow and leaned forward. It was exactly like telling Naruto Tell me now, or else your life will be hell. Naruto knew and stood up and walked to his locker to put his stuff away. The Uchiha growled. Now he knew something was up and much bigger than weight loss. Now the Uchiha knew that the blonde knew he was losing weight. Whether the younger boy wanted to or not was unknown but…"Why didn't you tell us?"

"More than three words. I'm impressed." Naruto said not meeting his eyes. The Uchiha growled again. Naruto closed his locker.

"Dobe" Naruto turned to leave and he would have made it if not for… "Naruto!" the Uchiha said a little louder than necessary and slammed the younger, much lighter boy into a locker. The locker made a clang. Naruto shut his bright blue eyes. "You think this is a joke?! Well it's not! It's serious! We're worried about you, so you better shape up, cause you sure as hell can't play hockey like this! Kakashi won't let you and you know it!" the raven haired boy said and then bit out "And that's freaking selfish. The team needs you. You're letting our team down, by not keeping your weight up." Naruto stared wide eyed at the boy in front of him and then his eyes grew angry.

"Back off bastard! I'll get it up on my own! Worry about yourself!" Naruto shot back.

"I would if you weren't such an idiot as to go and lose 10 freaking pounds!" Sasuke growled back.

"I said sorry, I'm fine!" Naruto said pushing back with a surprising amount of force. Sasuke kept him there.

"'Sorry' are freaking kidding me right now!?" Sasuke said angry as ever.

"It was an accident okay!" Naruto said now through gritted teeth to try and push harder.

"Accident!? How do you lose that much weight by accident!? Hell how do you lose that much on purpose?" Sasuke asked. Naruto started to kick.

"I didn't want to!" And as soon as Naruto said that Sasuke analyzed it. And he froze. Naruto kicked and ran out of the locker room. Right into someone.

They both fell down. Naruto rubbed his head.

"Oh ow sorry" he said, his previous problem forgotten. Naruto looked up to see a girl with long dark hair. "H-Hinata!" Naruto jumped up and held out a hand for the petite girl.

"N-Naruto-kun!" Hinata exclaimed and took the hand shyly. "D-Don't ap-apologize. It-It's m-m-my fault." Naruto looked the girl over, if she was a figure skater he would not be surprised, but she had assisted him quite well on many goals. She was graceful and agile on the rink. And she hit damn hard. Naruto had surprised her once and she punched him in the gut as a reflex and he had the bruise for months. If she had a temper like Sakura, he'd be 6 feet under. But Hinata was nice, and gentle. Always the most quiet and courteous of the team. It was hard to get in a fight with her and if you did even then she'd attempt to resolve it peacefully.

"Hinata-sama! Are you okay?" Neji said coming to the now standing up girl. He looked at her to analyze for injuries and then looked at the assaulter. "Uzumaki?"

"Sorry, Neji" Naruto said distractedly remembering the other genius who was on his team "I wasn't paying attention." Naruto knew not to fight back. Neji was always protective over Hinata. Well at least since Hinata went and helped them win a tough match against Ama by scoring the winning goal and sending them to finals two years ago. She worked really hard after Neji smack talked her about almost losing the prelims. It paid off, because now Neji actually wants to protect her instead of acting as if it was some sort of chore. He enjoyed spending time with her. And their sibling bond was close but not too close, just the way Hinata had hoped for because of the branch and main house rules and such.

"Are you ok, Uzumaki?" The observant Hyuuga asked Neji had also gained some respect for Naruto as well. Not only for being a valuable member to the team, but also a valuable member to life. He may look stupid, but when the time is right he knows exactly what to say. And he is Hinata's number one inspiration.

"Yeah, just...gotta go." The blue eyed blonde sprinted down the tunnel and out the door. Not a minute later did the Uchiha come out of the changing room looking left and right and then at the pair of Hyuugas.

"Have either of you seen-"before he could finish the Hyuugas both pointed to the direction of the door. Sasuke gave a nod and Neji nodded back. Hinata sighed as Sasuke walked with his hands in his pocket. He knew he couldn't catch the blonde, and even if he did show up at his house, he wouldn't be there. If Naruto didn't want to be found he wouldn't be found. Everybody knew this.

OoOoOoOoOo

Kakashi sat in the teacher's lounge. He had a feeling none of his cute students would be coming in today to work on homework. Naruto had finished his Chem homework already. And he took a bit of pride for the equations he'd gotten right. If not forgetting a few numbers but Kakashi knew he meant to add them in. He was after all distracted as Sasuke brought up his weight, in which was ironically the opposite of what his reaction should be. He was happy when he gained weight and he was sad when anyone mentioned his weight loss. Kakashi would have laughed if it hadn't gotten so serious. How did lose that much weight in a matter of months? And how hadn't they noticed. Were they being too cocky in their pride for the diet they had expertly come up with, only to have it backfire into dramatic proportion? Or had Naruto not followed it at all? Kakashi already ruled out the use of a drug, because he didn't show any other signs of Heroin or Cocaine or anything like that. There were too many unknown variables about this and so many other problems the whiskered boy managed to keep a secret for years.

So he decided that since the boy wouldn't tell him about his problems, he'd figure them out and solve them. Because obviously this was so much more serious than a 14 almost 15 year old could figure out by himself. He'll start with this one and then get to the next one and if two problems tend to overlap then bring it on. Kakashi wasn't a genius for nothing.

Of course, he'd need help. He didn't expect to do this alone. He knew two people who already are willing to help. But Kakashi highly doubts that two 15 year old kids could do much good. Although Sasuke is Naruto's most trusted person and Sakura is intimidating enough to Naruto to at least get a few answers out of the boy. Even if they were just subtle hints. There is no way that this was an accident. No matter how much you swing it, and Kakashi knew it wasn't Naruto's fault.

Right now, he didn't need Sasuke and Sakura though. He needed some data, not answers. The data would give him answers and Sasuke and Sakura are too inexperienced for this, and he sure as hell wasn't gonna get Naruto on to a doctors table. But he'd prefer that.

God damn, pulling out the last resort so early. But he was sick and tired of letting Naruto fight by himself the entire time. The only thing they helped in is getting his weight up only to have it come down again and a bit of his schoolwork. And even with his weight loss, it...it's never been this bad before. He saw the look on Sakura's and a bit in Sasuke's face. They were worried and would most likely help in anyway they can.

So with a lot of mental preparing he entered the door, without a knock and was greeted with a scent of sweat. Gai was on top of his desk doing one handed handstand push ups. Kakashi cleared his throat to make himself known.

Gai jumped down from his desk. "MY YOUTHFUL RIVAL IN PERSON! WHAT BRINGS YOU TO MY HUMBLE OFFICE! COME TO CHALLENGE ME TO A YOUTHFUL GAME OF HOCKEY!" He gave a blindingly bright smile and Kakashi was sure they were fake.

"What are you one" Kakashi mumbled exasperatedly.

"ONLY THE FLOOR MY YOUTHFUL FRIEND!" Gai smiled.

"Gai, I need a favor." he sighed. A totally normal thing to say, often taken for granted...so when one doesn't say it much especially Kakashi, it would catch anyone off guard. So when Gai literally dropped his water bottle with wide eyes and looked at Kakashi like he'd just grown a second head, it didn't surprise him.

"W-What is it...my friend" Gai asked trying to regain the previous hype but failing as he subconsciously knew this was serious. Kakashi usually had every thing planned out. So to ask HIM! HIM! He knew he wasn't the easiest to bare but HIM! AND it seemed really important.

Kakashi leaned against the door frame, crossed his arms, and sighed. Gai sat on the floor cross legged and stared intently, waiting. Kakashi knew he could wait until practice tomorrow, but he wouldn't have that. He needed to know what to do.

"Have you seen Naruto today?" For a moment this question puzzled Gai.

"Of course, the shot was unfathomable. Why-" Gai was rambling until Kakashi cut him off.

"No, without his gear." Kakashi looked at the look of knowing that crossed Gai's face and his face darkened.

"Kakashi, it is against my code to talk about other students problems to students." Gai said almost darkly. Kakashi was impressed he could go that serious.

"Do I look like a student?"

"He's not taking drugs, he's working out and…" Gai trailed off.

"I know he's working out, Gai. He works out everyday for practice." Kakashi said exasperatedly "Do you want me to have him stop working out and getting the wrong type of fat? That's not gonna sit well with him." Gai furrowed his brow.

"Of course not! Naruto is a very hard working individual, you just might want to ease up on his-" Gai tried steadily.

"And have him complain. Nuh uh. He's gonna find a way to make it the hardest thing. And his pride won't allow it." Kakashi cut in.

"He's working outside of this facility Kakashi. It's malnutrition and stress and a whole lot of other things that caused his loss of weight. He's not eating right, if at all and to top it off he's overworking or stressing himself." Gai said in a tone of authority that he barely used. "I don't know what he's doing, but whatever it is it's not good for him."

Kakashi didn't know what to say to that. Naruto never showed signs of stress of over exhaustion before. Not a sign, or maybe… he'd test it tomorrow. Naruto was not going to suffer what ever this is alone. He may have had to before, but he has to know he's not alone now.

Now the question is: How to get Naruto to believe that.

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Sasuke sat staring up at his white ceiling on his dark blue comforter. The words of Naruto lingering.

I don't want to!

Now he had all the time in the world to think about it. He doesn't want to lose weight. Okay, he got that part. He doesn't want to, but does he have to? Who would have authority over him like that? Naruto knew he could afford to lose weight.

So it maybe he's been having a bad month...or 4. He hasn't been getting enough money from his other job? What is it!? Why isn't Naruto telling him, he would have told him if he couldn't afford food.

Sasuke knew Naruto has some trouble getting by and the fact that everyone hates him is no help either. They just jack up the prices, Sasuke knows. Naruto trusts him more than anyone. So why isn't Naruto telling him if he needs to borrow some money to get by. Naruto knew Sasuke had more than enough. He was a freaking Uchiha. But then again there was his pride, Naruto had to rely on Sasuke's observation skills. But he would have been following Sasuke around usually or asked Sakura for some of her lunch or like 2 dollars for a snack. Why isn't Naruto doing that?

I haven't lost that much weight

He knew he lost 'that' much weight - they weren't blowing this out of proportion. It was a big deal, especially to Hockey players, to be on their strongest game. Or else they'd be thrown around the rink like a pinball machine. Naruto knew that too. He knew, so why isn't he trying to gain weight. When he thinks about it, Naruto didn't seem upset over the fact that he lost weight, more like he's mad that they're asking him to gain weight. No...he seemed more frustrated than angry.

Sasuke could feel himself getting close. He knew he was 'this' close, but it was just out of his reach. Like it was teasing him or mocking. It was annoying and frustrating and had him turning in his bed all night.

Dammit Naruto

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Ok a few things I noticed. I know the pplot is moving a bit fast. Naruto has this problem right off the bat and Sasuke and Sakura notice it. But it's not the biggest problem I can assure you. Yes it will make it's way into the chapters following this, but it won't be as big.