Facing the general direction of the girl, Naruto sighed. His lively blue eyes unfocused, despite the fact that they seemed to bore into her very soul. "You forget, I'm blind," he gently reminded her.

Chapter 2

The Secret

"Gomen, Naruto-kun. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

"Compared to the looks I get from most of the villagers, that's nothing," said Naruto with a slightly pained version of his usual fox grin. Then the smile faded as he continued, "but, it's what they think I don't hear that hurts the most."

"Why? What are they saying, Naruto?"

"Kit, it's time they knew why."

"I know, Aiko. But, what if..." Naruto trailed off, not wanting to finish the thought.

"Then it's their loss, Kit."

"Thanks, Aiko."

"Naruto-kun? Are you o.k.?"

"They call me a demon."

"WHAT!" shouted the normally quite Hinata. "WHY WOULD THEY DO SOMETHING SO... So... hateful?" she slowly trailed off.

"Meet me in my room in ten minutes, and I'll tell you."

Ten minutes later, at the Hyuga Estate... (yes, Naruto's been staying with the Hyuga clan)

"So, that's the big secret? Your the jail-cell for some demon and they hate you for it? That makes no sense!" shouted the young Uchiha, glad Naruto thought of using a silencing jutsu on the walls of the room.

"Sasuke, they don't hate me because I'm a Jinchuuriki. They hate me because they're too blind to see that I'm not the Kyuubi, and if I were, they wouldn't be alive now. Too blind to see that I'm the only wall between them and Aiko."

"Aiko? Naruto-kun, who's Aiko?" asked Hinata, a hint of jealousy in her voice, although the boys didn't notice.

"That's the Kyuubi's name, Hinata-chan," was his caring reply.

"Oh," she said, blushing slightly. Then her head snapped up as she caught sight of her father just outside the room with her Byakugan. "Otou-sama is at the door!"

Then, there was a knock at the door. "Naruto, the elders and I have a surprise for you. An early birthday gift of sorts," came the somewhat kind voice of Hiashi.

As Sasuke opened the door, Naruto faced in Hiashi's general direction. "Is it ramen?" was Naruto's response, the same one he used every time some one said they had a gift for him.

"Not this time, Naruto. Let's go to my office, we'll talk about it there."

To Be Continued...