A/N: Hello my dear readers. I'm so glad you enjoy my work, and the kind and helpful things you left for me to read. I'd like to thank the five readers who left reviews the first night this story was up, you guys are the ones who're gonna be giving me that little push I'll need if I stray from updates. Be warned, this chapter has a very homicidal Inner Sakura, and a LOT of cursing. Anyway, here comes chapter 2. Enjoy! Read on.

BlackChaos, out.

Chapter 2

The Reject's Transformation

Kakashi looked at Naruto with a smile.

"Lord Hokage wants to see me, eh?" He asked.

His student just nodded. "It's about Haku. I think he's finally coming to a decision about what to do with him." He explained.

Kakashi nodded and turned back to the memorial stone. "We'll talk later." He said quietly as he turned and walked away.

Naruto just looked back at the memorial stone and smiled as he deactivated the Sharingan. "I promise you, Sasuke, I'll make your sacrifice worthwhile." He then turned and walked off toward the village.

Kakashi walked up to the Hokage Tower and sighed.

"This is going to be a long day..." He said to himself as he passed by Genma.

"Bout time you got here, Kakashi. Lord Hokage's been looking all over for you. The Council's called an emergency meeting to discuss the Mist Ninja you returned with." He explained. Kakashi just groaned.

"Great, looks like I'm in for a long afternoon..." He sighed out as he walked into the council room, slamming it behind him.

Naruto had spent several hours staring at the monument before him, not moving an inch. He sighed and heard a branch snap.

"Who's there?" He asked in a very unconcerned tone. The Pink Haired Kunoichi of his team stepped into the sunlight with a soft smile.

"Hey..."

Naruto didn't move.

"What're you doing here?"

Sakura walked over and stood beside him.

"I came to visit Sasuke. Not to mention I was hoping to find you." She said with a smile.

Naruto looked over at her.

"Guess you're here to yell at me too, how this is all my fault, how I killed a genius." He said in a swift monotone. As he said this, he turned back to the monument, and when he did, Sakura saw a deep cut in his cheek.

"What happened?!" She asked in horror. Naruto just continued to stare at the monument.

"Sasuke's fangirls, that's all." He said, clearly unconcerned.

Sakura stared at him in terror.

"Fangirls?! It looks like they tried to kill you!"

"They did." Sakura just gasped and backed away.

"They know Sasuke's death was my fault, and one got overzealous and ran at me with a kunai. She got me pretty well, eh?" He asked with a chuckle.

Sakura just stared at him.

"What are you laughing at?! You need to get to the hospital..." As she said this, she saw the cut was slowly closing.

Naruto just continued to look at the monument.

"This isn't the first thing they've done to me. Ino's already started getting people together to try and get me. I've been attacked with kunai and shuriken, not to mention pelted with stones too. I won't be dying any time soon though." He explained.

Sakura looked at him with great sadness. Naruto had always been kind to Sakura, as annoying as she thought he was. He never cared that she insulted him, and he'd always sworn to become stronger. Now here he was, ignoring attempts on his life, making it seem like it was nothing. Sakura was ready to cry. Whether she admitted it or not, she needed Naruto. He was always there for her, whether she wanted it or not.

Before she said a word, Naruto cut off her thoughts.

"I'm fine, Sakura. It seems like the Shinigami himself heard my promise to Sasuke, and he intends to make sure I keep it. Until then, I can't die." He said with a faint smile.

In truth, Naruto had heard the stories of the Nine-tailed Fox, Kyuubi No Yoko. And from what Mizuki had told him, be it illegal or not that he disclosed it, he knew Mizuki told him the truth, and he knew that in all actuallity, it was Kyuubi that kept him alive, not his promise to Sasuke.

He looked over at Sakura and smiled.

"I'm gonna get going. Hopefully I'll be able to buy some new clothes before the fangirls find me." He said with a sigh as he began to walk off.

"Hopefully?" Sakura asked in confusion.

Naruto looked back and nodded.

"Some of the stores mysteriously close as soon as I get near them now. I wonder why...?" He asked with a clearly sarcastic tone as he left.

Sakura bolted after him.

"Naruto wait!" She yelled.

Naruto stopped and looked back.

"Hm?"

Sakura looked over at him and smiled.

"Let me go with you, after all, you've got zero fashion sense as a ninja!" She said with a laugh. Meanwhile, Inner Sakura was pumping her fists with great fury.

"If anyone gets near Naruto I'll CRUSH EM!" The extremely unstable Inner Psychi of Sakura yelled.

Naruto smiled. He always felt more comfortable with more people in his company. "Sure, I'd like that a lot." And they walked off together.

As Naruto entered the village, he recieved a lot of cold glares, and a lot of people began to shut doors and windows when he passed by. Sakura could hardly stand it. Was he such a monster because Sasuke died for him? As far as she was concerned, people didn't understand anything, and she began to feel a little sick inside knowing she was like that less than a month ago.

As Naruto approached a door leading to a ninja gear store, it immediately shut in his face. Yells of:

"Get lost, Monster!" Were heard behind the door.

Sakura twitched almost invisibly to the naked eye.

"Let me at em! Get over here you bastard! I'll kill you! I'LL KILL YOU!!" Inner Sakura roared. Sakura meanwhile, kept her temperament in control, and just smiled at Naruto.

"C'mon, let's go somewhere else."

Naruto nodded and they moved towards another store, which also slammed it's doors shut. Sakura began to lightly growl, which Naruto misinterpreted as a groan.

"It's okay, Sakura, I was expecting this anyway." He said with a smile.

Inner Sakura was attempting to lash out even more.

"Oh come the FUCK on!! This is downright ridiculous! If we can't get into a store soon I swear I'm gonna KILL someone!!"

Sakura kept her composure, and led Naruto to yet another store. Sakura saw the owner draw close to the door, and sneered.

"Oh FUCK NO! Not this time, BITCH!" Inner Sakura roared as Sakura quickened her step, and as the clerk began to slam the door, Sakura caught it.

"Excuse me, but it's still working hours, isn't it? If that's the case, we're coming in, right Naruto?" She looked back and asked Naruto sweetly.

Inner Sakura pumped her fist and laughed.

"In your face, BITCH! CHA!"

The shop clerk backed away, be it in fear of Sakura, or fear of Naruto, neither of the genin was sure, but he grumbled as he walked back behind the counter and sat there, glaring at Naruto and Sakura.

"Whatever, but make it quick, we haven't got all day."

Naruto nodded as he began to look around at the clothing selection. This was actually what he had been hoping for: A lot of black.

Sakura walked over to him and smiled.

"What're you looking for, Naruto?"

Naruto just continued to look through the clothes as he answered.

"Something that actually works for a ninja. Let's face it, I can't be a ninja of Konoha and parade around wearing 'Kill me Orange'." He said with a chuckle.

Sakura smiled as he continued to look at the clothing. She was amazed at how much Naruto had seemed to mature in the last month, even if it was only because of a tragedy.

Kakashi slammed his fist down as he shot a glare up at the council, Sarutobi beside him.

"What do you mean execution?!"

The lead councilman stared at Kakashi.

"You know the rules, we cannot allow Missing-nin into our ranks."

"He isn't even registered in Bingo Books! He's alone and afraid! Have some compassion, Councilman!" Kakashi yelled.

The Councilman stared at Kakashi.

"If such an event were to occur, and then he betrayed us after learning our secrets, returning to the Mist Village..."

Kakashi stomped his foot and glared at the Council.

"He never swore loyalty to the Mizukage! His loyalty was to Zabuza Momochi! The Demon of the Mist, who abandoned the Village hidden in the Mist almost ten years ago!"

"He caused the death of a Leaf Shinobi."

Kakashi glared at the councilman with the intensity of a rabid dog.

"How dare you?! Sasuke Uchiha died from a wound caused by an arrow! If you wish to blame Haku for Sasuke's death, then blame me as well for allowing Sasuke to be in such danger!"

Sarutobi watched with great sadness as one of his finest Jounin stood in defiance of the Council. However, he was saddened not by Kakashi, but by the Council's inability to understand compassion.

"We cannot allow him to be enrolled as a Leaf shinobi."

"I gave him my word!" Kakashi roared.

"I swore to Zabuza Momochi in his last moments that I would look out for and watch over Haku in his absence! Even you, Councilman, have the honor to fulfill a man's dying request, do you not?!"

The Councilman and Kakashi sat deadlocked in a glare for the next several minutes.

"You just don't get it, do you Kakashi?"

Naruto had finally gathered some clothes to try on, and when he came out, Sakura was looking in the other end of the store at some new outfits.

"Well, Sakura?" He asked.

When Sakura turned around, she stammered lightly and began to blush faintly.

Instead of his traditional orange garb, Naruto was now outfitted in a black long sleeved shirt, and a forest green vest bearing the Konoha symbol on the back. His pants were a faded black that hung evenly from his body, not clinging, but not ready to fall off either. He had taken his headband, and was using it to clasp the vest together midway down, allowing his bangs to fall down in front of his forehead.

"Y-you look great, Naruto! It really suits you."

Inner Sakura meanwhile was drooling.

"HOLY SHIT! JUMP him! Jump his sexy ass NOW!!" She screamed.

Sakura's body however, disobeyed, and she just watched as Naruto went over and picked up a few more sets of the clothes he was currently wearing. He then walked to the register and took out his money, when the clerk sneered.

"Sorry, you're going to need more than that. We're low on stock lately, so we've had to double some prices at the last minute."

Naruto nodded and began to go through his wallet when Sakura walked over.

"Oh FUCK THIS!" Inner Sakura roared. Sakura meanwhile took out HER wallet and gave him the rest of the money.

"Here you go. This should be enough, RIGHT?" Sakura asked the clerk threateningly.

"Th-that's fine, Miss. Thank you." He began to pull the money back as Naruto bagged his purchases.

"Thank you, Sakura. I'll be sure to pay you back."

Sakura smiled.

"Don't worry about it."

Inner Sakura was growling.

"That's right, BITCH! Don't mess with Sakura Haruno OR Naruto!"

As they began to leave, Sakura heard the clerk say: "Have a nice day!" But then she heard him murmur, "Somewhere else, Murderer."

At this, she snapped.

"OH HELL NO!" Inner Sakura roared, and for once, Sakura let her out. Sakura charged over to the clerk and snarled.

"What was that?!"

The clerk cowered behind the counter as Sakura shot him a look that could kill ten men.

"D-don't kill me!" He begged.

Naruto then grabbed Sakura by the arm and pulled her out of the store.

"Hey what're you doing?! Let me go!!" She screamed.

"Sakura, calm down, you're making a scene." Naruto said calmly.

After a while, Sakura relaxed, and they began to wander near the Academy.

"How do you put up with that?" She asked, clearly concerned for Naruto.

Naruto shrugged.

"I never really thought much of it, they always treated me like that, now they just do it more." He explained.

As if on cue, a rock was thrown, and hit Naruto in the head.

Sakura flipped and looked over to see Ino, bandage covering her nose, and a large group of girls behind her.

"Hey Naruto! Get over here!" She hissed.

"Yeah! We'll make you pay for what you did to Sasuke!"

"Time for Sasuke's revenge, Asshole!"

Sakura snarled and glared at Ino. However, before Sakura could say a word...

"Excuse me?! What is this?!" All looked over to see Iruka standing outside the Academy door.

"Ino Yamanaka! You should have a bit more respect than that! If you can't set a proper example for the students at the Academy, you shouldn't be here! Now get out of here, all of you!" He yelled, pointing in the other direction.

The angered fangirls, fearful of the angered Chunin, left quietly. Sakura ran over and hugged her former sensei.

"Iruka-Sensei! Oh I'm so happy to see you! If you hadn't done something, they could've killed him!" She yelled.

Iruka looked at Naruto with sadness, and Naruto looked over at Sakura.

"Hey Sakura? Can I have some time with Iruka-sensei? I haven't seen him in a while."

Sakura looked shocked, but nodded.

"S-sure."

"I'll catch up with you later, Sakura." He said with a smile.

Sakura nodded and left, and Iruka looked at Naruto and shook his head.

"You're letting them walk all over you, Naruto."

Naruto nodded.

"I know, but I'm not going to hurt them, they have a right to be angry. I took away something they can never get back..." Iruka walked over and punched Naruto in the head.

"What's the matter with you?! Don't you go blaming this on yourself! Sasuke knew the dangers of Shinobi life, and he died honoring his duty, be proud of him!" Iruka instructed.

Naruto smiled as he heard Iruka yell at him.

"Thanks, Iruka-sensei."

Iruka smiled, knowing his favorite student was still in there.

"Wanna go get some ramen? My treat?" He asked.

Naruto smiled.

"I'd...I'd like that, Iruka-sensei." And they walked off through the village.

Kakashi had just about had enough. The Council wasn't budging in the least, or so it seemed to him.

Sarutobi smiled as he saw Kakashi's anger used for the right reasons. He saw the Council begin to squirm with doubt, and he knew with just a little more, Kakashi could win his argument.

"This is ridiculous! You have no reason to deny Haku entry into our ranks!"

"He's a former member of the Mist village, one of our rivals. We have every reason to."

"You just don't get it, do you?! What's it going to take to let Haku stay?!"

"He can't stay. End of story."

Sarutobi stepped forward.

"The responsibility of the ninja known has Haku will fall on me. If he should betray the village, I will resign at once. How is that, Councilman?" Sarutobi asked.

"Until a replacement is found, the Head Councilman will act as Hokage. Is that fair?"

The Council began to whisper amongst themselves, and Kakashi looked over at Sarutobi.

"Thank you, Lord Hokage."

Sarutobi smiled.

"I have faith in you, Kakashi. I know you make good judgement calls."

The Council fell silent.

"We have come to a decision on the matter of Missing-nin Haku..."

Naruto looked at Iruka as he ate. Ichiraku Ramen was the only place that still accepted Naruto with open arms, and it was where he felt at home, sitting with a bowl of ramen, next to Iruka. He felt now would be as good a time as ever.

"Iruka-sensei..."

Iruka looked up with a smile.

"Hm?"

Naruto looked up at him with a fierce intensity in his eyes.

"Who was Sasuke's enemy? Who was the one he wanted dead?" He asked.

Iruka nearly choked on his ramen. Of all things to talk about, he did not think he would be discussing the Uchiha Massacre, or the Missing-nin Itachi.

"Well, Naruto. You know Sasuke was alone, like you..." he began.

Naruto nodded.

"Yeah, something happened to his family a long time ago, back when we were kids. He never told me, and nobody else did either." He explained.

Iruka nodded.

"I figured as much. You see...Sasuke's family was murdered, almost completely wiped out."

Naruto dropped his bowl and nearly broke it as he stared at Iruka.

"W-what did you say...?"

"Sasuke's family was massacred, it's recorded as the infamous Uchiha Massacre. You should go look it up in the library." Iruka continued.

Naruto just sat and stared at him.

"Who would do such a thing?" He asked, afraid to hear the answer.

Haku sat on his bed that the Hokage had set up for him, while looking at Zabuza's sword with sadness.

"Zabuza...You're really gone..."

Kakashi walked through the door and smiled through his mask.

"Good, you're still awake."

"Yes, Kakashi-sempai?" Haku asked.

"From now on, I'm Kakashi-SENSEI to you, Haku. Get ready, tomorrow you start your first day as a Leaf Ninja under my instruction." He explained with a smile.

Iruka looked at Naruto.

"That's the most disturbing part. The killer was an Uchiha as well. Itachi Uchiha, Sasuke's older brother."

A/N: Well, here's where Chapter 2 ends. I hope you enjoyed it! As for Sakura's behavior, before she falls for Lee, she's gonna have a crush on Naruto. Do I sense some friction between her and Hinata...XD Anyway, please use that button that says 'Review' next to it, it really helps me! Read On!

BlackChaos, out.