Disclaimer: I do not own any rights or claims to Naruto, this is purely for fan enjoyment.

Warnings: PG-13 Rating might rise later on in the book. Graphic Violence later on, Mental and emotional abuse. So far more warnings might be added. Also, slow updates.

CANON DIVERGENCE: This book is a large rewrite of the original and Shippuden Naruto verses, but I will be adding my own plot twists and such as we go along. Naruto will be more vigilant to himself and the villagers, while not smart he is trusted and can put things together when it comes to emotional and tactical standpoints.

Chapter 1: Meet Uzumaki Naruto

There was a nick on his skin, not deep, not painful, but the fact that it was there was unsettling. It should have healed by now, so why hadn't it? Really it only should have taken a few seconds, and it was annoying him to no end. If he had a scratch he couldn't go shopping, and he needed milk. Well really he could, but then he'd have to deal with that annoying store clerk, who for some reason, always found it funny when he was bangged up. He didn't find it funny, but maybe he just didn't understand it, there was a reason he had the lowest mark in the academy, still as the clerk laughed, he laughed, because that guy thought it was funny, so maybe he should find it funny as well.

Then again, his teacher didn't like him very much either, but he didn't laugh when he got hurt, he did however yell at him a lot, and called him an idiot for not holding a kunai right during practice, the other kids found that funny as well. Honestly, he didn't even know what an idiot was when he was younger, but by the tone of voice in which Iruka-sensei said it, he had guessed it wasn't nice. Or maybe it was, he hadn't known, it had never really been explained to him before.

He could have asked the old man, but he was the only one who didn't throw stuff at his head when he entered the room, and really he didn't want to give the old-guy a reason too, even if it was a friendly gesture, which back then he had already guessed, it wasn't. Most of the day he spent confused, confused of why people stared at him so intensely, or why they'd sometimes throw small pebbles at his head as he walked by. Still he never had the courage to ask them, their stares never felt friendly to him.

Not like Shikamaru's, or Choji's when they played in the park together. They always felt nice. It was strange, but other stares just didn't feel that way. Another thing he didn't understand was the way Shikamaru's older clone held his hand when he picked him up from the park. He hadn't understood it, and when he had asked Shikamaru about it he had given him a sort of bewildered glance.

~Flashback~

"Hey Shikamaru!" Finally his friend was here, he had been waiting all day, of course he did have to go shopping before hand, he need food afterall. Sometimes he wondered what Shikamaru did in his spare time, he imagined it was much the same. Probably working to get a decent pay of ryo, and then going shopping, much like he himself had done the day before. He was slightly tired today so he had chosen to take the day off, to see the brown-haired boy. Even if he did need the income, his rent was coming up soon.

"Hey Naruto." The slow drawl always made Naruto laugh, Shikamaru was so lazy it was amazing he could manage to feed himself, let alone pay rent. Maybe he was currently working on construction jobs, they didn't need many people for that these days Shikamaru could probably find a way to slack off if he was working part-time there. Naruto would never doubt his friends quest for laziness in everything.

Still as he thought of construction jobs and the type Shikamaru might have been in at the current time, it reminded him that his roof needed replacing.

Which meant he would have to do it himself before it rained. Most of the apartment building was covered, and the cost of changing a roof would be handled by the owner, but he had been told that his apartment wasn't covered under that, so he had to do it himself every year. Now he just had to hope that it wouldn't rain anytime soon, so he could get that done. "Naruto, are you okay?" Shikamaru was staring at him now, and Naruto felt embarrassment edge his checks with colour, he hadn't realized he'd retreated into his thoughts for so long.

"Yup, fine! So what you wanna do?" Shikamaru scratched his chin, and stared up at the sky. Naruto looked up as well, and cursed his bad luck, dark clouds were coming in from the east, judging by how dark they were, he knew that they were storm clouds, which meant he'd have to do his roof tonight, and spend less time with his friend.

"A storm? How troublesome." Inwardly Naruto groaned. That storm would be here by early morning, judging by the current wind speed, and despite Shikamaru's words, he didn't seem all that concerned about it. Which made Naruto a bit jealous, he didn't want to have to worry about it either, but Shikamaru probably lived in an apartment that had insurance coverage, unlike him.

Really naruto wanted to move out of that building, into a nicer one, but with his current wages he wouldn't be able to afford that for seven years. He knew, he counted. Not to mention that fact that he could barely keep himself fed the entire week. He was just glad he didn't have to worry about heating expenses anymore, he used to back when he was five or so, but now he just didn't get cold, so if he did pay for it, it would simply be a waste of his money.

Now he really wondered what Shikamaru earned. Then again maybe his clone worked as well, and they combined wages to help pay for everything. Actually he'd been meaning to ask Shikamaru about that, he knew that his friend was a genius, but he didn't know he could make a shadow clone, not even Mr. Perfect Uchiha could do that properly yet.

"Oi, Shikamaru, where's your clone?" The younger boy's eyes widened. Naruto wasn't sure, but maybe it was rude to ask, people were weird about that sort of thing,

"Clone, Naruto? What are you talking about?" Huh, okay, maybe not as rude as he'd begun to think.

"You know, your clone, the one that looks like you, but taller, and has a scar." Shikamaru's face scrunched up.

"Do you mean my Otou-san?" Is that what they call a clone in Shikamaru's cercle of geniuses?

"I don't know. What's an Otou-san?" Here Shikamaru's eyes really widened, which Naruto hadn't thought was possible, he'd always thought they'd been sorta glued like that.

"Well, you know who an Okaa-san is right?" Naruto shook his head no, he'd heard the words before, the other kids at the academy had spoken about such things. But he'd always assumed it was some sort of game that they didn't let him play. Not a who, not a person, or judging by how Shikamaru was saying it, people. And now as he looked at the dark haired boy, there was a look in his gaze, tentative, and pitying. Naruto didn't get why he was looking at him that way? What was a Okaa-san? What was an Otou-san? If they were so common, why didn't he know what they were, what they represented?!

"Naruto…. You don't have parents?" It sounded like a question, but for some reason, Naruto knew it wasn't, it was a statement. It made him angry! He wasn't that stupid was he?! What are parents? Why are they so great, that they made Shikamaru pity him!? Shikamaru never pitied him! He was cold and decisive, pity wasn't even in his vocabulary!

"What are you talking about?! Okaa-san! Otou-san! Parents! Why are you pitying me?! I don't even know what they are! I don't need your pity!" Suddenly it was to much, he didn't get it, he didn't understand, he ran, he ran far away from the park, from his friend. He didn't understand.

~End Flashback~

He had been eight back then, and now he understood a bit more, as far as he could understand it, parents were supposed to take care of you, they took care of the bills, they paid the rent, they bought the food, they cooked the food, they cleaned the house, they retiled the roof, they fixed the clock, they picked you up at the academy when the day was done, they went to work, they got the income.

It was a strange concept to grasp at first, not having to pay for your own living, it sounded lazy.

Which made him slightly vindictive to the other kids his age, they got to play all day and do nothing! How useless! Now whenever he could he painted their desks in the middle of the night, and watched as they tried to clean it off. Usually they gave up after five minutes, which only served to make him more angry, they were so useless! How on Earth were they supposed to call themselves ninja, if they couldn't even clean off some paint or permanent marker?

He couldn't bring himself to respect them, they were all lay-abouts, waiting for everything to be done for them, what was there to respect? Still the other people in the village must have found something respectful in them, because they were always treated with kind smiles, and gentle stares, he'd never been treated that way, and he was starting to realize that, that wasn't normal either.

He hadn't really noticed at first, it was sort of a slow realization, like falling off the bed, but thinking you're still upright because you are in your dream.

Creeping up on you in such a way, that you know that something's happening to you, yet you don't actually know it is. Until you finally wake up and realize, but you're too late to stop yourself from falling. That's exactly what had happened to Naruto as days flew by, until suddenly he realized that he'd fallen so far into resentment for the villagers and their children that he'd actually started to want revenge.

He wanted to hurt them, like they'd hurt him. It was such a revelation that at first he was horrified with himself. He didn't come out for days, he tried to get the horrible loathing feeling to go away, he didn't want to hurt anybody, and he knew, even at his age, that revenge wouldn't solve his problems, and even worse would leave more kids homeless, parentless, and alone, just like him.

He couldn't do that. So he hoped and prayed by the local shrine that these feelings of resentment, and anger would go away. He knew that if he did allow it to consume him, he would be a shell of himself, he'd be what they always claimed him to be, a monster.

He'd prove them wrong, he'd show them he could get over the dark feelings inside of himself, he'd prove that he was stronger than all of them, that he deserved respect. He'd show them all that he worked harder than any of them!

But first he had to get milk.

Three months later.

Once again, he found himself, set into both a bad mood and a bad situation. The rent had once again gone up, as it did every year on the day of the Kyuubi festival, of course he had gotten to work a little bit extra as the Kyuubi festival needed to be set up rather quickly.

Yet his employers paid him far less the usual, for his work, even if he'd done extra. He'd tried to find other work, but there wasn't many people who let him work for them, and even then, his work as always part time, he was a temp, a quick replacement for a woman on maternity leave, or a sick employee, and his jobs never lasted more than a week. Nobody wanted him working for them for long, they always said it was to risky for their business, or that he might steal something. Which he knew he wouldn't do, but sometimes he was tempted.

The Kyuubi festival was in full swing now, and though it looked fun, he knew that for him it would be absolute hell. So he stayed in his apartment. Even now the sound of heavy fists banged at his door, and echoed in his not-soundproof apartment.

He sighed, while really, he should feel glad at the Sandaime had chakra blocked his apartment to anyone but himself and Naruto, he couldn't help but feel some sort of resentment, Even though he didn't want to.

The Hokage, could do that, but he couldn't prevent them from tormenting him on this day. He had tried before, but people were nothing if not persiverent. He hated it, but there was nothing he himself could do either, well he could leave the apartment and go to the festival in disguise, but he didn't have good chakra control, and the hinge would end up failing, and then he'd be exposed, and in even more trouble.

Although the villagers would probably find it thrill-inducing. He still didn't understand why that was. It just seemed sadistic to him, but still he didn't know if there was a reason for it or not. Regardless, it wasn't the ideal way to spend his birthday.

He turned eleven today, and he was glad for it to, just one more year and he could graduate the academy, and not have to pay that expense anymore. Of course that ryo would have to go to such things as weapons, and scrolls, bandages perhaps -but that was a big maybe-, extra food, and then of course he'd have to pay damage taxes.

Normally, only jouin paid that, but that was only because their parents payed the Geuin and Chuin damage taxes until they were old enough to live on their own. Naruto found that notion morbidly funny.

Afterall from what he knew of the next generation of ninja's, none of them would be able to live on their own for long, well maybe Shikamaru, but he was in a whole nother category, and he knew it. Snide bastard. That did remind him though, he hadn't spoken to Shikamaru since that day. It was strange but Shikamaru had always called him, strangely wise, and analytical, yet he hadn't managed to figure out what parents were back then.

Which was strange, considering he'd single handedly figured out how to access his own Chakra. Still even he himself was sort of surprised by his own oblivious nature sometimes.

"Come on out Demon!"

"You filthy animal!"

"You peice of shit!"

"Beg for redemption!"

Once again, he sighed. The unhealthy slurs from drunken locals was always a great way to take him out of his own mind.

Still even as this was true, he stared down at the scroll of responsibly in front of him, which had how exactly he had to spend his money, and when. When he'd have to go off food for a week, or more in some cases. An approximate of how much he'd earn at certain times during the year, not to mention a list of the cheapest food and materials he could find, even the cheapest kunai and shuriken, which he knew was risky as they could break easily in a fight. But if he wanted to be able to eat in the next year, he had no choice.

Not to mention, he had to save some ryo for emergency expenses, like if his roof broke again, or his fridge. Really everything in his apartment was shit. He knew this, but the best he could do was try and repair them, otherwise he'd have to buy a new one, and nobody really let him buy from their stores. Well unless they were ordered to by Sarutobi, but that was a rare occurrence. He was called Konoha's demon, even by passersby.

The question of 'am I less than human' nearly always filled his thoughts the days. Mostly because he didn't understand, it couldn't be because he was an orphan, there were several orphans around the village, and they didn't get scorned like he did. In fact they were doted on, smothered by affection from complete strangers when they asked for food.

Naruto though, he knew he hadn't done anything, he simply existed, and that to the villagers gave them the justification to hate him. Regardless of his innocence. He so badly wanted someone to help him understand, he wanted help, yet he knew right now, in this time, that wasn't possible. No one would help him, he was still on his own, just as he had always been. At least he knew now that he would have to draw strength from that.

Sure he didn't have parents, he didn't have a mentor, and his only friend was pitying him. But still, he knew, he hoped and he knew, that he could make his situation work from him, instead of him working around it. He could grow stronger with his experience.

Already he could live on his own, and sure that set him apart from others, but at least he knew how, that was valuable to being a ninja. He didn't need to be supported by those older than him, he didn't need a shoulder to cry on, in fact he didn't need to cry. Because he knew this was his survival, this was his tactic, his mission.

To be strong, to carry on, never to let himself fall again with even with only a shred of chakra, he would carry on, he would live, and he would battle every step of the way to keep going. He needed to, he had no one to lean on, so he would lean on himself, he would be proud of himself, he would wipe his own tears, he would fight his own demons. Naruto now knew what Sarutobi had talked about so long ago.

His will to live, his goal, his, his will of fire! Was to Keep going no matter what! He promised himself at least that much.

A Year Later

Disappointment was hard to get a grip on, especially if its disappointment in yourself. That sort of wrenching in your heart, it sort of feels like a taring. He had promised himself to keep going, it was his will of fire, but, but what could he do if he failed himself, and his teacher so many times, maybe it wasn't meant to be, The thing was though, if he couldn't be a ninja, then what could he be?

They hated him, he wouldn't be able to support himself for much longer if his pay didn't start to increase at least a little. He'd already gone two weeks without food, and he couldn't afford to not pay rent, it would put him on the street. Yet, he wasn't working right now, no one was accepting his help, he'd be put on the street, and then they'd…

They'd do what they always did, except instead of it being on occasion, if he had to live on the streets then it would be all the time. He couldn't do that, he wouldn't survive. So what? Steal? No they'd know it was him from the jump, and maybe that was their plan, make him desperate enough to steal, and then expose him for it.

He didn't, he couldn't believe that though, he hated people, but he believed in them to, their goodness, and such a nefarious plan, they couldn't possibly have such a thing in their mind and heart, could they? He didn't know anymore. He just didn't know. He just wanted to be able to support himself. To live. Was that, an impossible dream?

He bit his lip, hard, keeping tears at bay, he couldn't cry, the street wasn't a safe place for loneliness especially for him. He didn't know what to do, after failing the test so many times, was their really a chance he could better himself? Was there really any chance of him actually becoming a ninja anymore? Would he die because he couldn't pull of such a mundane task as a hinge or a shadow clone. Was his own downfall going to be his goal in the end? Would anyone care?

No! No, he would care! He would care if he fell down to such a pathetic thing! He could do this! He had to! He had no choice! It's a choice of live or die, and he wasn't ready for the second option yet, and really deep down, he hoped he would never feel so hopeless or alone again that death, would be a preferable option. Even when he was old and grey, he hoped that even then, he would have the will to live, the strive, and determination to go on.

He'd been so alone, so in his own emotional death before, he didn't want that kind of despair again. He couldn't deal with it again. He had to hold himself up, past being a Geuin, past being a Chuin, past being a Jouin, past being an ANBU, even as Hokage, he would hold himself up. He had too, no one else was going to help him, he knew that, to survive he had to push himself. Be his own support completely. He would complete this stupid test, he would show them all he could. He'd become a Geuin, and show himself, that he could do it! He'd prove his own fears wrong! And he'd do it all with a smile!

Believe it, myself! Believe it!

Later that week

He kept his eyes closed, he wouldn't be there if they were closed, he couldn't bare to see what he had caused, yet warmth tickled his cheek, and he cringed, and looked up, knowing that was blood. His eyes seemed to widen at their own accord, because all he could feel was numb, and maybe confused, and slightly terrified.

No one, no one had saved his life before. Now, now there was his sensei, Iruka staring down at him with such a kind look, it nearly reminded him of Choji.

Nearly the dark-skinned man seemed remorseful, It made him squeeze his eyes shut just thinking about it. He shouldn't be, this man, this man who had taken such a dangerous blow for him, he had every right to hate him. The guilt the shame in his own crimes congelated in his gut, and his mind, repeating the horrible truth over and over. His own shame brought tears to his eyes, once more, and in his haste to get away from his own despair, and guilt, he bolted out of the protective coverage of his sensei's battered form, and into the forest, where he was no longer safe.

He knew Mizuki would chase him, kill him, take the scroll from him. He wouldn't let that happen, maybe he deserved to die, but he wouldn't let the scroll end up in a madman's hands. He'd protect it with his life, he'd give it his all, and he had a lot to give this time. Even if the guilt tried to swallow him whole. He'd prove that guy wrong, Kyuubi was sealed within him, but he wasn't the Kyuubi, and he wasn't controlled by the damned fox either, his strength was his own!

Iruka-sensei had saved his life, and he would protect him with everything he had. Because that was the first person who'd ever saved him before.

Focusing his chakra, Brought his strength from his core, and his only real thought was that Iruka had saved his life, that Iruka was special now, that he was a friend, and that made him impossible to touch. Because he had to protect that! His friend!

He felt his own Chakra burst forward, and he smiled in victory, and determination. No one, would hurt his precious people! No matter what! And as he launched into the air, and his shadow clones followed him down for an assault that would destroy Mizuki as a ninja, he saw Iruka smile, a prideful smile, which made him smile for real for the first time in his life. No one had ever been proud of him before, but himself.

His fist collided with skin, and the determination, and urge to hurt came back full force, but for once, he didn't present himself for it, because if he could protect his friend the violence was welcomed.

Two hours later

He woke to sunlight glaring into his eyes, he didn't remember falling asleep. Yet he looked up, only to realize that the sunlight had been reflecting from Iruka's haitai. He also realized he had been curled up on the older mans lap, still he didn't move. Too stunned to do so, because Iruka was smiling at him, actually smiling at him, a fully-fledged teeth-shining smile.

He'd never been smiled at like that before, it felt, nice, it made him nearly tear up in wonder, but he held back. Carefully he looked over the Chuin's shoulder, only to see that the sun was setting, and the beautiful colours were spread upon the leafs. He smiled at the sight, and in turn Iruka.

"I think Naruto, I think you pass."

"B-but you said!" Iruka's brow furrowed, and Naruto immediately regretted saying anything he didn't like that look on Iruka, like he'd troubled him with the worst burden ever. He used to get a kick from it, but now, with all the events that had occurred just mere minutes ago, he couldn't be more remorseful.

"I know what I said Naruto, but you've more than proven yourself today. The desire to protect people Naruto. That's what makes a ninja, not kunai or Ninjutsu, or even skill on the field. What's important as a ninja, is the desire to protect." Naruto felt, both scolded, and encouraged at the same time, he wanted to do that, he wanted to be that kind of ninja.

Before, he had simply needed to be a ninja for his own benefit, but now, now he wanted to, not because he needed the income, but because with being a ninja he could protect Iruka, and Shikamaru, and everybody else who may become precious to him. Because he had too. He'd had nothing for so long, but now, now he had something to protect, something to hold onto. That, that was important to him, more then anything. That was important to him, he had to live to protect his precious people.

His true will of fire.

When he first met Kakashi, he had been confused, but curious all the same, the mask was like a whisper to him to poke and pry, find out exactly what he was hiding under there. Yet with his own experience he stopped himself from asking.

After all he may hide things behind a metaphorical mask, but the urge to keep things hidden from others was something he could understand quite well. He didn't exactly have the urge to tell his new teammates he had the Kyuubi sealed within him, or that he wasn't really as happy as he put out to be. They didn't need to know, besides in his experience, pretending to be happy saved your skin, or at least some of the time.

Sasuke, he knew, had shared some of his pain, yet at the same time Sasuke really hadn't. Their pain was equal, but different. Naruto had never had the love of a family, and Sasuke had, Naruto had never known what it was like to have money enough to eat every week and pay rent. Sasuke had never had to deal with that. Yet even as Sasuke seemed more privileged, Naruto didn't let himself think that he was for a mere second. Sure with Sasuke's wealth he would never have to spend a day hungry for the rest of his life, but was that really worth the sacrifice of seeing everybody you knew and loved with all your heart dead in front of your eyes?

No, no it wasn't, Naruto only had Iruka, and he knew that if the toffee-toned-man were ever killed in front of him, he would shatter, and probably let the Kyuubi roam once more. Sasuke and him were different, but in terms of pain, they were both suffering.

Naruto of course didn't agree to how Sasuke was dealing with his pain, but really that was none of his business, and even he knew that everyone dealt with anguish differently. Sasuke broaded, while he worked, Sasuke trained, while he cleared up and sorted his expenses for the next year out, even though though they fluctuated so heavily every year, that it was impossible to accurately predict his actual earnings each year, not to mention what he could spend it on, but still he tried.

Naruto had wondered the first few days after meeting Kakashi, how the silver-haired Jouin dealt with grief, for it was obvious that he had dealt with quite a lot of it,

During the torturous bell training however, he had regretted even thinking of it. He had tried with all his might and yet, Kakashi had laughed and scorned him. It simply felt like he was actually in the village and not out training with his teammates.

Which made him think about such things, he really didn't want to think about ever again. Being tied to a log didn't help either. It reminded him of the Kyuubi festival when he had been five. He had only just gotten kicked out of the orphanage a couple weeks prior. So he'd wandered around the Kyuubi festival in childhood amazement, and the next thing he knew he had been tied to a log upside down, and begging not to burnt by one of the lantern flames that the villagers had held tauntingly close to his face.

At least this time he was right side up. Still the memories had returned. So instead he tried to focus on something else, which ended up being his hunger, he hadn't ate for two weeks already, and the delicious smell of fried ham, and shrimp from Sasuke and Sakura's lunches made him flinch in need. Even as he tried to withhold any other movements Sasuke had noticed, and after a moment of weighing his options, he raised a piece of ham to Naruto's mouth with his chopsticks. Momentarily he was stunned, Sasuke was risking getting caught because he was hungry, now that was a strange thing indeed.

Still he bent his head slightly, and ate the ham, which was well fried, but Naruto wasn't complaining, he hadn't eaten in two weeks, and that little piece of ham had made him even hungrier. Sakura followed along, which also startled the blond, but as Sasuke had done it first, he wasn't to surprised by her generosity.

They took turns feeding him, and in turn Naruto felt his gratitude grow, and his hunger ebb. Kakashi poofed in half-way through. Sakura had been so shocked her lunch had been spilled everywhere. Sasuke of course hid his surprise well, Naruto hadn't been expecting the Jouin, but at the same time he hadn't been expecting not to be found out either. The gaze Kakashi had given them with only one eye, was near terrifying, and if Naruto hadn't seen worse from the villagers he would have actually been scared. As it was however, Sakura seemed to be the only one intimidated by the look. Of course you couldn't really tell with Sasuke.

"What purpose would it serve if we let him starve? He'd slow us down. Having two completely fed ninja's and energized ninja's and one tired and hungry ninja would be completely useless." Sasuke voiced his opinion, and Naruto wanted to hit him. Still Kakashi looked impressed, well so did Sakura, but she looked impressed by nearly everything Sasuke said or did.

"You all… Pass!" Now no one had been expecting that, even Sasuke's cold and distanced eyes widened. "It is true that those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their friends are worse than scum." While Naruto felt the power within the words, he focused on the dim look in the Jouin's eye as he said it, it had obviously been said to him, probably by a friend. "We all meet at the red bridge tomorrow morning for training at eight o'clock, don't be late." With that he had left, so had Sakura and Sasuke, and Naruto had once again been forced to free himself from a tree trunk, thanking whoever was watching over him that he hadn't been upside down again.

After that he had simply returned home, exhausted, and vaguely remembering that he had actually managed to score a job tomorrow, the pay was only ten ryo for five hours of work, but at least he would be paid, he loved being a ninja, but they didn't pay you for training.

Currently Naruto lay only half-way on his bed, his legs and butt dangling off the end. Which was probably a good thing, since he had to stay awake for awhile longer, as Iruka-sensei was stopping by to ask him how training went, and most probably talk his ear off. Then again that was actually a rather nice thought, no one had ever talked to him so much before, at first it seemed like Iruka was trying to compensate for all of those times he'd yelled at him. It only took a day or so for him to figure out that wasn't the case, Iruka was simply a talkative individual.

Not that the blond minded, actually, after hearing Iruka talk nearly non-stop when they hung out actually made him want to actually talk to him in return. Talk to people in general, apparently he was a very social person on the inside, which came as a surprise to even himself, as he'd been starved of so much human contact for so long, he didn't think he had it in himself.

There was a tentative knock at the door, and of course he knew it was Iruka, not many people came to visit him. It was actually only the second time Iruka was visiting him instead of the other way round, his apartment was old, and black moss grew in the walls.

The only reason he hadn't keeled over was because of Kyuubi's healing chakra. Luckily Iruka wouldn't be staying to long, and even if he did Naruto knew how to influx his own chakra to protect him, and since his chakra had traces of the Kyuubi's chakra it should protect the kind-eyed Chuin. While he himself was sheltered by the far more maliceful Kyuubi chakra. It wouldn't work great but it would make sure no one died at least.

"Come in Iruka!" The door opened, and in walked the smiling man.

"Hey Naruto? How was training?" Naruto wanted to giggle at the man, for being so bad at hiding his excitement, it was obvious he wanted to ask him a lot more then that. But instead Naruto just smiled broadly.

"It was great! Though I did get tied to a log…" For some reason a flush of embarrassment crept up his spine, unconsciously he scratched his neck at the feeling, For some reason it felt really exposing. Not that he was unused to the feeling, he'd been embarrassed at the academy nearly 24/7, he'd always wanted to impress his classmates back then though, perhaps he simply wanted to impress the guy he was quickly beginning to see as a father-figure. He hated being unsure of himself.

"Tied to a log Naruto?" Iruka sounded so baffled, and had this strangely worried expression on his face, that Naruto felt himself turn slightly red at the sight, No one had ever been worried about him before. He felt, honored? Again he wasn't sure.

Still he found himself not really caring, because he felt himself smile, without his own consent, which was strange as well, but in Iruka's company, he had fast learned that it wasn't. In the light of such care and kindness, he smiled so genuinely, and truly, that it sometimes baffled even him. He felt the urge to tell the man in front of him everything that happened today.

"Yeah, well you see Kakashi-sensei had us doing this weird bell-training thing and…" As he told Iruka, he felt like something was lifted off his heart, he felt lighter somehow. Iruka had laughed, and smiled the whole time, Naruto had actually been surprised to find himself doing so as well, even though it hadn't exactly been a fun training session. His memory's of it as he shared them with Iruka seemed to make him think that it truly was. He wasn't complaining.

The next morning

The next morning he was the first one at the meeting point. Smiling broadly, and he could admit to himself, fakely. Still today would be a good day he was sure of it, even if he had to work all night tonight, he had to at least appear to be cheerful.

When really he was thinking of food and how much he could get in the next week. He'd have to go shopping after training today, and that would be around four.

Which meant he had maybe an hour, an hour and a half, to do his shopping, before he had to get to the temporary job in construction, which would be him working all night, and he'd get paid at least fifteen ryo for the work. He was hopping for slightly more, but he could work with fifteen, it would just mean no food for three or so days, which was easily manageable. After all he'd once gone for a full month and a half without food, still back then he had been extremely weak, he knew now that the only reason he had survived that was because Kyuubi had been keeping him alive with their chakra.

He hadn't been old enough to work back then and had more often than not been forced to ask the Sandaime for work, begged was more like it. He was hoping to avoid that happening ever again, it had taken his body ages to get used to having food again, the pain hadn't been pleasant to deal with either. Well if he was ever that desperate again he could ask Iruka for work, but he didn't want to take advantage of the other man's kindness.

Suddenly he pulled out of his musings at the sight of pink hair coming towards him, he smiled wide at the sight, Sakura had always seemed so nice, he'd always wanted to be her friend.

"Ohayō Sakura-chan!" She turned to him, and for a minute he smiled brighter, but the nature of her stare was exactly like that of the villagers, cold, and irritated, before she turned away and looked into the early morning, village streets, he nearly growled at her in anger.

Still he hid his hurt well, after all, he'd grown rather accustomed to doing so over the years, and he wasn't going to get upset over a girl not paying attention to him, he wasn't pathetic. Besides she could just be having a bad day. He knew that was regular for girls, for some reason, he didn't see why though, still he didn't question the logistics of it.

Shikamaru was usually right after all.

There was however, a feeling of complete isolation, once again settling over him, like dust to a surface. Definitely he pushed it down. Sakura, was a nice girl after all, she wouldn't prejudge him like all those other kids did.

Then again, she had barely even talked to him when they were in the academy together, but that was just because she had been focusing, right? Naruto wasn't sure, she talked all the time, but it seemed, that she never talked to him. Vaguely he wondered why, it could be a number of things, but really he didn't want to think on it too hard. Whatever the reason may be, he was sure it was a good one. He would simply have to befriend her the best he could.

He smiled to himself, a large grin, meant to scare away his own most negative emotions. It was surprisingly effective.

"Ohayō Sasuke-kun!" Instinctively Naruto looked up, at the bubbly voice of his teammate, and sure enough the dark-haired male was walking towards them, with a sure set scowl on his face.

As far as Naruto could understand it, he and Sakura had a very tense friendship. Sasuke didn't talk to her much, or at all really, but she always seemed glad to talk to him to try and lift his mood. For this Naruto was glad, after he and Iruka had become close he had figured out that the support of another human being could help you immensely, Sasuke needed that as well, and Sakura seemed to be the one to provide the comfort.

Really it was a miracle Sakura hadn't gotten sick of him yet, he never talked. Still it proved how good a friend she was. As soon as he gained her friendship, they would both help Sasuke with his loneliness, Naruto understood the feeling all too well, and at least that was he would be able to help another person, in a similar disposition.

Yet as much as he wanted to be friends with his teammates, he also wanted to be friends with their sensei as well, but there was a nagging feeling at the back of his gut telling him that might not be possible. Kakashi was after all there on the day the Kyuubi attacked, and therefore it was possible that he would blame Naruto for it.

Inwardly the blond shivered, despite his eternal warmth. He was used to working next to people who hated him, but to be learning from someone who hated him, that was an entirely different story. The sudden urge to go talk to Sarutobi or Iruka overwhelmed him, he wanted to know if Kakashi blamed him, He wanted to know so he could avoid getting hurt, or having his hopes crushed.

Still it was to late now.

Quickly he shook himself out of his thoughts, and turned to look at his teammates, Sakura was busy trying to get Sasuke out of himself, and of course the raven was trying to ignore her. Naruto wanted to be angry, but instead he smiled trying to get his emotions back on track, and away from fear of rejection. Not to mention, he had noticed throughout the years that smiling and acting happy made the villagers mad, and really annoying them was the only sort of revenge he would allow himself to have.

A soft pop sounded above him, and he looked up to find Kakashi there, his masked stretched slightly. Naruto guessed he was smiling slightly, but it was hard to tell, his one visible eye still looked dark and saddened by some sort of horrible burden. Naruto couldn't imagine what it was but he was sure it was a painful thing to carry around on your back all the time. To try and cheer up the man, even if it was futile, he looked up, and played class-clown, something he had found he was very good at doing.

"YOU'RE LATE!" To his surprise the man's eye closed, and his mask stretched even further, was he smiling?

"Ah sorry, but there was this poor butterfly calling for help, and I couldn't just ignore it's pitiful cry, so I had to to save it, you see?" For the barest of moments, Naruto believe it, then he realized that butterflies can't call for help, and that his teacher was actually late. Well he sighed to himself, at least he didn't have to make too much of a fool of himself today. He did that enough in the academy as it was. Still the man had smiled, if only slightly at the display, so it was possible such an act could make him do so again.

"LIER!" The eye crinkled more, and Naruto felt relieved, maybe if he could help the sliver-head smile more, that awful weight in his eye would lift some more.

As they walked to the training grounds just across from them, Naruto made himself another promise. That he would help Sasuke with his loneliness, and lift the weight of burden from Kakashi-sensei's shoulders, even if the man hated him. After all, what sort of ninja would he be if he didn't try to help his own team?