Italics: Emphasis on a word.

"Hey" : Speech

'Hey' : A thought or memory of speech.

Italic Bold: Kyuubi's Speech.


Broken Whispers

Chapter Two: The Year Anniversary.

He woke up screaming and panting. His body was sweaty and his sheets clung to his exposed skin. He breathed heavily, his eyes closing painfully. His hand was resting on his knee, which supported his head. He occasionally combed his bright blond hair back with his broad, tough hands, but they would always return to supporting his head. He tried to remind himself that it was just a nightmare. But it wasn't; it was a memory, it all happened. His heart ached as it dawned on him that, yes. This was real. She was still dead; gone.

He just sat there for a while, panting and occasionally contracting in pain letting out a whimper at a memory which his brain would torture him with. He was letting the breeze which came from his window of the morning to ease his mind and he sat, and basked in the sun rays which flooded his very bare room.

With tired eyes and blag bags under them, he slowly got up and walked the length of the room, lazily before opening a door which led to his living room/kitchen. The room wasn't very special; it had a couch and table with a television on top of it. His kitchen was fairly messy, with plates laying on counters. His living room/kitchen was very disorganized; there were clothes and scrolls laying across the floor everywhere. There were a couple of plain-looking books on the table next to a coup of the empty meal he couldn't even manage to completely eat the night before, even if it was only one bowl of his favorite meal; ramen.

He signed as he made his way across the mess into his open kitchen. Opening the fridge, he reached for the milk, which was half-empty and just about the only edible food in the mini-sized fridge. He drank the milk straight from the jug, some of it running down his chin. Once he finished his beverage, he let out a large sign in contempt and placed it back in the fridge.

Before he could sit down, stare into space and slowly torture himself with her memory, the doorbell rang. He dragged himself to the door. He didn't bother to look through the peephole, he just unlocked the old door and opened it. He didn't care anymore; the only person he wanted to see was her, the one person who's giggle was like a beautiful bell and who's smile was envied by the whole village. She was always the cutest when she was younger, but when she grew up, she blossomed into a beautiful goddess. And even though she was the only person he wanted to see, she never came.

He opened the door slowly and looked at his visitor. She was tall, for a woman. She wore black trousers which reached her ankles and stuck to her skin like a second skin. She wore a long red top with a zip coming down the whole length. The shirt just reached passed her butt and showed off her skinny figure. She wore black leather gloves and her hitai-ate was around her right arm. Her long, pink hair was in a pony tail and her green emerald eyes glared dangerously at his sky-blue ones. But even so, he could still see small black bags under her eyes.

He stared blankly at her before addressing her. "Sakura..." He said simply, letting her know he still remembered her. She signed, how long was he going to lock himself in his apartment? How long was he going to torture himself with her image, her touch? He only came out of his apartment for missions which were often and dangerous.

Naruto had changed; he no longer smiled. He was a killing machine, his only goal was to be to some purpose to something. The village and its people were the only thing he cared about anymore. Without her, he was nothing. Without her, the village seemed like a less brighter place. No one had truly moved on. The scars were still there and aching. Even Sakura was still upset over her death. After all, she was the one who couldn't revive her. And even now, a year later, she could remember her lifeless face and Naruto's pleading eyes.

"Naruto... C'mon, we need to go soon..." She said quietly, sympathetically. Today was going to be hard; it was exactly a year today, and Sakura was going to take Naruto to the memorial stone whether he liked it or not. Because he never visited. Nearly no-one did for her; some people went for their husbands but there were only a handful of people who would visit her, remember her. She must be so sad, in heaven, thinking no-one cared. But in reality, no-one could stand or accept her death. We did care. Too much.

"I don't want to" He said simply, walking away, but not closing the door. She signed and walked inside, closing the door behind her. Naruto walked to his couch, sitting down and just staring out of the window. That's when she realized how much weight he had lost. He looked malnourished. She nearly started crying; she was sad, maybe even depressed, but she just couldn't imagine his pain. What he was doing to himself...?

"Naruto, please... please, for her?" She asked, quietly getting closer. She nearly started chocking when she saw him; he just sat staring, but tears were escaping his eyes. He never cried from pain. She had seen him cry for happiness, but not pain. He didn't even seem to notice himself that he was crying. Only one thought ran through her head; despair. He was in despair. How he had kept alive, she didn't know. She thought that she would one day come to his apartment and find that he had committed suicide. It was a horrible image, but she could see him wanting himself to do this. It scared her so much.

"Just... just leave" he finally answered, noticing he was crying, and wiping them off with his sleeve. She just stood there for a few seconds, looking at him.

"No" She backfired suddenly. "Don't you want to see her? Don't you think she wants to see you?" She was becoming slightly angry; she understood that he was sad, angry, upset and even depressed, but couldn't he think about her? He was just being selfish. "Don't you think she is lonely? You never visit her! Ever" She commented angrily, her voice rising. She was about to continue, but he interrupted her.

"Don't you dare" He said threateningly, turning around, facing her. His eyes were as hard as steal and she actually could feel his killing intent radiating off of him. And suddenly she lost her voice. "She is dead. She cannot 'see' me. I cannot 'see' her. And I'm the lonely one. Not you and not her; she's in heaven with her parents... I'm stuck here" He said angrily with a growl "...I'm lonely..." He repeated. "She left me... all... alone" He said as he cried again. "You have no idea... no idea what I'm feeling..." He said, looking straight at her, accusingly, tears streaming down his cheeks.

Sakura visibly twitched; he was right. She had crossed the line. "I...I-I loved her, Sakura..." He said, crying more, his eyes narrowing in pain. Sakura, looked at the floor, crying too; knowing he was suffering, officiating in his pain. "I loved her... and I still do. But she's not here. She's dead, and I'm not" He said, slowly, drowning in his own words. His tears began to choke him and he coughed as he cried more. But before she could say anything or comfort him, he was gone.

Her knees went weak and she collapsed onto the floor, as she sobbed uncontrollably.

She cried for Hinata and how she died at such a young age. She cried because Hinata was beautiful, anyone could see that and she had her whole life ahead of her. Sakura cried because Hinata was the kindest person in the village; she was like an angel sent from heaven. Sakura cried for the village because when she died, a part of the village did too. She cried for herself, because she missed Hinata, her friend, her fellow ninja.

But most of all she cried for Naruto. Because young love so pure... so beautiful...should not have been ripped from him, leaving him empty...

She cried for hours, letting the tears loose which she had previously not allowed herself to let fall, for his sake. And for hers too... for everyone's. She had wanted to be strong, but the pain was unbearable. So she cried until she could cry no longer.

Naruto P.O.V.

I ran. I just ran. Anywhere but that apartment. Anywhere where I could be at peace, anywhere which didn't remind me of her. I needed relief. I wanted relief. I knew the answer was death, but I kept on fighting the pain. I knew that the village needed me, and Hinata wouldn't have wanted me to do such a thing. Such an act of cowardice.

Why don't you let me out, Kuso? Asked the Kyuubi. He let out a hearty laugh before continuing. I can make you feel better. The pain will go away, I promise. He said with a toothy grin.

I scoffed at him. "Yeah, because that's such a good idea" I murmured sarcastically, drying the rest of my tears as I continued running. I herd Kyuubi rant that he couldn't understand humans and their emotions, but I ignored him, trying to concentrate, but my mind just kept reminding me of her. I didn't know where I was heading until I arrived; I was at the memorial stone. I signed; this was the last place I wanted to be, but sakura´s words echoed in my mind. I was being selfish; I did not want to be here for my own happiness, but I hadn't really thought about Hinata. And Sakura was right; she must be lonely.

I walked over, slowly, almost afraid of the big stone in front of me. I sat down at the foot of it and shut my eyes. I knew if I saw her name on there, I would break down. After all, I had not even been strong enough to go to her memorial service a couple days after her death. I just couldn't. Not hers.

I didn't think. I just closed my eyes, trying as hard as I could to prevent thinking of her. After a couple of minutes, I got up, not even saying one word. I was sure that if Hinata was watching, she would be happy even if I didn't say anything. She would be happy just to see me. Because it was Hinata and she understood me. Understood how I worked.

I left quickly, not looking back, still not letting my brain think. I ended up walking to the gates of Konoha and decided that it would be best if I was alone, and besides I didn't want to talk to anyone. I wanted to be alone. I wondered whether people understood, because despite me saying 'I want to be alone' they kept coming, trying to comfort me, trying to make me forget her, but I didn't want to forget her. But then again, I guess I really didn't understand myself what I wanted anymore; live or die. Leave or stay. To forget or remember. I didn't know...

I lightly brushed off the guards questions, saying "I'm going for a walk, I'll be back"...I don't think they believed me, but they let me through anyways, knowing that either way, I would get out of the village, even if I had to force my way out.

I walked for a couple hours, not thinking and taking in the calm atmosphere and the smells of the summer. But of course, thinking of summer always reminded me of Hinata; she used to love summer. Actually, I don't think Hinata did not love any of the four seasons; she always had a talent to see the good in everything. But walking like this, reminded me of one of our first dates. We had just finished eating at Ichirakus and we were just walking around the training grounds, talking about everything and nothing at the same time. I loved our conversations. I miss them so much.

We had walked for a while and finally I decided to take her home. Our fingers were intertwined, and we were both grinning, loving the warmth and the feeling it was giving us. I remember thinking that her hands were soft and small and they fit perfectly into my rougher hands. As I stopped outside the Hyuga Residence, Hinata had taken her small hand out of my grasp. I missed her warmth, but when she kissed me. Her kissing me. I didn't mind anymore.

My mind let me wonder to her lips and how soft they felt against my own. I felt my sanity slip that little bit more, and I let a tear escape; thinking that I would never be able to kiss those lips again. But as my tear traveled down my cheek, I herd Kyuubi's laugh.

"W-What?" I asked, my voice breaking. I again, dried my tears with my sleeve. I knew Kyuubi could tell I didn't want to talk, but I suppose that made him even more inclined to want to, after all, he did enjoy my torture.

Tch. Is little Naruto angry? Laughed a mocking Kyuubi. Just wanted to tell you someone is following you, might want to be careful unless you want us to die... or worse. He laughed again.

I turned back, looking behind me. There was a person who was cloaked. The cloak prevented me from seeing its face or even gender, so I just glared at the figure, waiting for the figure to show their-selves. A minute passed and we continued to just stare, neither moving or speaking.

I was about to turn back and continue; I didn't want to talk to anyone, especially a stranger like that figure. Besides, he wasn't even talking. But as I turned, I herd a voice call my name;

"Naruto Uzumaki?" The figure asked. By the voice I could tell it was a man, an elder man. I raised an eyebrow at his question and turned back to face him. I decided it better to answer and see what happened, so I mustered up all my strength to make sure my voice didn't break and so it would sound threateningly.

"Who are you and what do you want?" I asked my voice dark. I was slightly relieved my emotions didn't show in the tone of my voice, and I was definitely not in the mood to fight.

"Who I am is not important" He answered, getting closer. I took out a kunai, warning him. He stopped when he saw it. He took his cloak hood down revealing his wrinkled, old face. He was tanned and had small brown eyes. He had grey hair tied in a pony tail. He had a long beard and mustache, both grey from old age. "The only thing that matters is that you come with me" He said, walking closer.

I was starting to feel nervous; how did he know my name and why did he want me to go with him? I voiced my questions. "Why? And how do you know my name?" I asked as loudly as my voice could go; I hadn't really shouted or talked much at all in the passed year. He scoffed at me and murmured something quiet enough so I didn't hear him. I gave him a questioning glance, but he ignored it.

He got closer and told me, or more like ordered me to put my kunai away. I did, thinking I could probably beat the old man in a taijutsu fight if absolutely necessary. As I put it away, he motioned me to bend down with his finger. I did and then he whispered something into my ears. Something I did not expect to hear;

"Does the name Hinata Hyuga mean anything to you?"

...To Be Continued...


Hello dear readers! :D

This chapter is a classic case of Cliffhanger-no-jutsu! Muahaha :D I updated the story so early; I had originally planned not to update until next week, but I just love this FanFic so much, I've been writing like crazy! So I thought I'd treat my little readers 3 :D

Like I've said; the chapters for this story will get overall, gradually happier! So don't cry... TT_TT

I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it! :P I'm really excited for this FanFic, and I'm glad that I've already got some really encouraging reviews! It made me really happy, so thanks for everyone's support! xD

Next Chapter will be up soon, thanks for reading and please review I really appreciate it! :D

~Heavy D. Friky 3