the second chapter is finally here!! as always i like to thank Akimoto sensai and read some of her stories, i gaurantee you'll love them!

Yearning for Comfort

the first day

Author: tsubaki uchiha

Beta Reader: UchihaAkimoto

Early the next morning, Naruto was feeling awful. He quickly got ready for school. His father yelled at him whenever he crossed his path. Naruto bit his lower lip to keep from retorting back insults, and continued to get ready.

"Worthless son of a bitch! You're a disgrace. I ought to–" Minato swung and landed a hit on the back of Naruto's head. Naruto gritted his teeth hard enough to draw blood. Minato always started this at the beginning of a new week, seeming to think that Naruto was the cause of another terrible week at work.

Naruto was tying his shoes when the doorbell rang. Minato went to the door and looked through the peephole.

"Just great. It's that doctor again." Minato opened the door to greet a grey-haired, yet young man. "Kabuto-sensei."

"Good morning, Minato-san." Kabuto smiled at the older man. "Just thought that I would drop by with your monthly medication." Kabuto handed the blonde man an orange medication bottle labelled Stavzor. Kabuto leaned a little forward to spot Naruto there, in the hall. "Good morning, Naruto-kun. I hope you don't forget that you have a check up on Friday."

Naruto looked at the young doctor, a bit surprised to see Kabuto smiling at him. "Good morning, Kabuto-sensei." Naruto stood up, having tied his shoes properly. He bowed as he was expected to do. "Don't worry, I haven't forgotten. I'll see you on Friday, then?"

Kabuto nodded once, and Naruto walked past him out in the morning sunshine.

TUTUTUTU

"Aw, man, I'm gonna be late," Naruto complained as he ran around the corner. Normally, Neji, Sakura and Hinata would walk with him to school; but it seemed that they had gotten rides from their parents to school – it was their first day after all.

Naruto sighed in relief when he spotted the top of Senju High from behind the high buildings before him.

Just a few more blocks, Naruto thought. He checked his watch, only to notice that he had about ten minutes before the first bell rang. He picked up the pace, dodging pedestrians and cyclists. He was just about to round a corner, possibly the last before he reached the school, when he heard small cries close by.

Naruto stopped, forgetting that he was running late. He followed the source of the cries, only to find a small boy with dark brown hair. The boy, younger than Naruto, had his face buried in his lap to hide his tears.

Cautiously, Naruto approached the crying boy. "Oi, kid, are you okay?" He carefully watched to see if the boy was injured. The boy looked up, wiping the tears away furiously in embarrassment.

"No. I'm not okay," the boy sniffled.

"Then what's the matter?" Naruto asked, concerned.

"I…I got lost on my way to school," the boy admitted. "It's my first time going to school by myself!"

Naruto knew that he would be late if he decided to stay and help the boy. But his hero complex was kicking in. "What school do you go to?"

The boy managed to stop his crying after swallowing some much needed air. "Konoha Academy. I'm new there."

"That's not too far. I went to that school when I was little," Naruto said. He stood, turning to look in a different direction. "Would you like me to take you there?"

The boy's eyes widened with hope. "Really?! You w-would do that?"

Naruto nodded, smiling down at the younger boy.

"Thank you…uh…uhm…"

"Naruto," the blonde informed. "You can call me Naruto."

The boy gave a grin. "Thank you, Naruto-kun! I'm Sarutobi Konohamaru!"

"Yeah? Well, then, Konohamaru-kun. Let's get you to school before you're late!" Naruto offered his hand to the boy. At first the brown-haired hesitated, as if he was unsure if it was okay to hold hands in his age. But he caved in and gripped Naruto's hand and the blonde heaved him up easily.

"Oi, Naruto!" Konohamaru spoke up after a few moments of silence as they continued to walk in a fast pace towards the younger's school.

"Yeah?" Naruto answered.

"Are you in middle school?" Konohamaru asked, after having observed Naruto. Naruto gave the boy a surprised look.

"Why?"

"You have big eyes and your voice is squeaky."

Naruto didn't know whether to hit the kid or to let it pass. "No. I'm actually a freshman at Senju High." Naruto frowned. "I guess I haven't grown as much as the others, but…oh. We're here."

They were now standing by the gates of the elementary school in this part of town. Kids were piling in, laughing cheerfully.

"Thank you, Naruto-kun!" Konohamaru grinned before he ran inside with the rest of the children.

Naruto waved, realising that he was going to be very late.

TUTUTUTU

"Uzumaki-san…Well, I'll forgive you this time – since you're new here," the young teacher said.

Naruto bowed slightly and went to his seat, waiting the last few minutes of homeroom in silence.

When Naruto got out, the hallway was full of freshmen, seniors and every grade in between. Most of them sporting new outfits and hairdos to make a better impression in the new school year.

Naruto, with his head down, went quietly to his locker, putting his books and tattered jacket inside.

So far, Naruto hadn't seen Neji, Hinata or Sakura. It felt kind of awkward to be without them. His friends were exotic looking, just like him. Sakura with her pink locks, Neji and Hinata with their pale eyes. He was one of the very few blonde-haired boys and his blue-eyes stood out quiet a bit. Yet he managed to hide this exotic features and he let attention to his friends.

He closed his locker and turned, leaning against it. He saw a familiar brunet, sporting a smug look on his face.

Kiba, Naruto thought. He turned to walk away, when he realised that Kiba was looking in his direction. He grabbed his algebra textbook and binder. Naruto was just about to walk another way when someone stepped in his way.

He managed to drop his books when he walked into the muscular chest. The books lay forgotten as Naruto looked up on the tall student. As soon as his eyes met onyx orbs, he was shoved up against the lockers.

The raven-haired teen let him go just as suddenly as he had shoved him away. The tall teen walked away, several glances thrown his way.

Naruto's silent questions were disturbed when a confident voice spoke up.

"Naruto! My favourite girl!"

Naruto gave Kiba an angry glare, but Kiba and his friends only laughed.

"Uh-oh," a chubby boy said, his mouth full of chips, "I think you struck a nerve, Kiba."

"I think you're right, Chouji," another teenage boy spoke. "He might start PMSing on you."

Naruto made a move to walk away, when Kiba pushed him to the floor harshly. "He hasn't changed a bit!" Kiba was rewarded with a haughty laugh from the students in the hallway. "Dork."

Naruto bit down on his lower lip, holding back curses as Kiba and his friends walked away. He was picking up his textbooks when a pair of pink tennis shoes stepped in front of him. His eyes travelled upward to see a green-eyed girl staring down at him in light annoyance.

"Are you going to let them do that this year too, Naruto?" The pink-haired girl questioned.

"Sakura-chan!" He gleamed as he jumped up, all thoughts of Kiba forgotten. He knew how much she hated it when someone changed subject on her, but she wasn't given any room to argue as Naruto embraced her in a tight hug. "I missed you so much!" He loosened his grip a little.

Sakura pushed away lightly. "You're not going to compliment my outfit?" She made a pose. Naruto gave her outfit a second glance, giving it an appreciating nod. He wasn't so sure that he liked it though.

She wore a green body-hugging suit, a tank top and skirt in pink over it. Her hair had grown longer, now reaching the small of her back.

"It's cool, isn't it?!"

He stared a little longer, before answering. "Umm… It's alright, I guess."

Sakura gave him a look. "Naruto, you have no sense in style." She eyed his choice of clothing with a frown, before speaking up again. "Do you have algebra too?"

"Yes," he answered.

"Great! Let's sit together!" She pulled on Naruto's arm. "That way I'll have someone to talk to!"

TUTUTUTU

It was lunch time when he and his younger cousin sat down by an unoccupied table in the cafeteria. The caf was almost full by this time. Hinata, his cousin, searched nervously through the students for any signs of Naruto and Sakura.

Neji hadn't checked on Naruto since the argument they had while unpacking Naruto's things. He just wondered if Naruto would forgive him. After all, he had broken their only rule.

Never mention Naruto's mother.

To Be Continued

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