I'm so sorry and no I didn't fall off the face of the earth. So I guess there is no way to justify my absence, but as a way of explaining I've been in and out of the hospital from being really sick and should have died. So I didn't and I'm sorry that my health has affected you and my story and I hope you will continue reading. This chapter is one of my favorites out of all my stories and longer than the last so I hope it at least sort of makes up for it. Please give me some feedback so I know if I doing ok seeing as I've been out of the game for a while.

"Naruto can I see you for a minute."

Naruto looked up from putting away his papers surprised. He quickly pasted a big smile on his face while mentally trying to figure out what he was in trouble for. He finished gathering his papers and sighed silently before laughing loudly. "I promise it was an accident Sensei, I didn't mean to" he protested when he got to the front of the classroom.

"Hinata can you shut the door please" the man asked seeing that quit girl was the last to leave. Naruto raised an eyebrow, but covered it quickly with a large grin. As the girl left the room his sensei moved to lean against the front of his desk to where he was directly in front of his student. Seeing this Naruto plopped himself on top of one of the front tables only to receive a sigh from his sensei, but otherwise the man said nothing.

"I didn't do it sensei I swear, it was just …" Naruto began again.

"Hold on a minute, you didn't do what" he asked patiently causing Naruto to stop cold.

"Um never mind" Naruto laughed.

"You aren't in trouble, at least not from me. I wanted to ask you about something." Naruto again raised an eyebrow, his smile slipping slightly. His sensei brought out the letter Naruto had written two days prior. Naruto began to silently panic while putting on a big Cheshire cat grin. "I'm a little concerned about some of what you wrote to me the other day."

Naruto mentally started to hyperventilate. "Oh that! Come on Iruka Sensei you didn't really take that seriously did you? It was a joke, come on" Naruto quickly countered, his voice raising an octave.

Iruka gave Naruto a hard look before questioning him further, causing Naruto to gulp. "Really Naruto? It doesn't sound like you were joking? You actually sounded a bit sad if you ask me. I know you may not believe me, but I'm here for you. I care about my students and you are no exception" Iruka said giving the boy a warm smile.

Naruto was starting to sweat, his grin faltering for a moment before he corrected himself. "I just wanted to see if you actually read those" Naruto laughed. "I know most of you teachers don't bother with those introduction things at the beginning of the year. I guess you do huh?" When Iruka didn't respond Naruto began to get even more nervous. "I guess it was a pretty lame prank, sorry sensei" Naruto said trying again to create a cover.

"Yes, lying about what's going on is pretty 'lame' Naruto." Iruka responded after a moment still looking intently at his student. "OK then, you are free to go. Just remember I am here if you ever need anything."

"Sure Sensei, whatever" Naruto yelled a he bounded out the door, his smile still firmly in place.

Naruto slowed his pace, his smile failing as he exited the building. "That was close" he murmured to himself. He approached the swing outside of the academy and sat down on it heavily. He loved that old wooden swing, always had. No on one else every really used it and it was a game for just one person, so it never mattered if no one would play with Naruto. He started swinging slowly as he replayed the recent conversation in his mind, his frown deepening. "Stupid Sensei" he grumbled after a while getting up from the swing and grabbing his tattered backpack. Naruto walked to the nearby training grounds that were reserved for academy students planning on taking out some of his frustrations by practicing his taijutsu on a log used for training. He attacked the log mercilessly for many hours, his knuckles and shins becoming bruised and bloodied, but Naruto continued his assault. The sun was beginning to set by the time Naruto ran out of steam. Breathing heavily he dropped to the ground resting his head on the log he was attacking only seconds before. He continued to sit there, catching his breath, as the sun melted further into the horizon. His stomach growled loudly breaking the silence. "Food" he stated matter of factly as he got to his feet.

Naruto walked along the back streets that were less frequented until spotting the ramen stand opposite the ally he was in. He quickly looked along the main street before taking a deep breath and hurriedly making his way across. "Ramen Please" Naruto called as he bounded up to a stool.

"Oh Naruto your late." The owner of the shop said turning around and smiling fondly at the boy. "What kind are you having tonight?"

"Um how about pork" Naruto asked excitedly. "Yeah, sorry about that. I got caught up in my training."

"One pork ramen coming right up. You didn't go overboard again did you?" He asked caringly as he made the ramen. "I can have my daughter take care of those hands for you" He added mournfully as he glanced back at the boy to see blood on his counter.

"Oh I'm so sorry" Naruto apologized jumping away from the counter as he two saw the blood. "I'll clean it up! Oh man I'm so sorry! I'll clean it please don't be mad" Naruto rambled worriedly.

"Naruto Calm down" he said sternly causing the blond to quite. "Don't worry I can do that. Now then are your hands alright" He asked as he wiped the blood up with a wet rag before grabbing a bottle of disinfectant.

"Yeah they are fine, no need to trouble Ayame" he mumbled embarrassed.

"You are never any trouble Naruto" Ayame said coming to stand beside her father. "What is it" she asked her father in a serious tone.

"Can you look at his hands before he eats? I'll go ahead and fix you an extra bowl tonight" he added seeing Naruto was about to protest. Naruto begrudgingly followed Ayame into the back were they kept the first aid kit. Ayame gently washed his hands free of blood and dirt before allowing him to go back to his dinner seeing all of the wounds were already closed. "Now isn't that better" the man asked seeing Naruto return to his stool. Naruto simply nodded as he dug into the bowl of food in front of him. Naruto was finished with his second bowl before it humanly possible and was left beaming at the cook.

"Thanks it was great" Naruto said preparing to leave.

"You say that everyday" the man laughed.

"Well I mean it every day! I'll pay for tomorrow's, sorry I can't give you any money for today's dinner" Naruto apologized

"You know you don't have to pay Naruto. Are you sure you don't want to stay here tonight" the chef offered.

"No thanks I need to get home and sharpen my kunai" he said slightly forced.

"Alright, just remember that the offer is always open." Naruto left the ramen stand with a big smile on his face before darting into a side alleyway. He wove through the alleys of Konoha venturing into the condemned part of town. The buildings changed from nice apartments and restaurants to barley standing buildings and strip bars. He slipped behind an old dumpster in the back of an alleyway taking off his backpack and changing into cloths from it. He was now wearing solid black civilian cloths instead of his usual orange ninja attire. He pulled up the black hood to hide his bright blond hair and covered the whisker like marks on his cheeks with bandages before storing his backpack under the dumpster and heading across the street to an old abandoned warehouse. He boldly walked in to see a man in his mid-forties leaning casually against the wall. Upon seeing the boy the man pushed off the wall and stormed toward him.

"I told you not to be late boy" the man shouted at the blond. "You aren't getting any money from me tonight."

"I'm really sorry sir I didn't mean to. Please I really need the money" Naruto pleaded.

"Don't give me lip brat. You were late and you know the punishment" the man said smacking Naruto hard in the face. "Now get a move on we don't have all night." Naruto mutely obeyed the man, not wanting to be punished further.

It was many hours later and the moon was beginning to set by the time Naruto wandered into a park on the other side of town. He stumbled to an old oak collapsing underneath its shelter. "No need to go home now" he said knowing in just a few hours he would have to wake up for school. The blond quickly fell into a fitful sleep.