Yo back with another chapter! Thanks for all teh reviews, you guys have been great.

Enjoy!

After arriving home, Naruto settled down onto his sofa to read his favourite book. Tales of a Gutsy Ninja. He wasn't all the enamoured by the plot or the character development, but more so the theme that ran throughout the book. It told a story of resilience and endurance, to fight for your dream against all odds. The fact that the he and the protagonist shared the same name may have also played a small part.

Having liked the book so much, Naruto decided a while ago that he would try out another of his series and discovered Icha Icha, which was a country-wide sensation. He was still ambivalent towards the book. It was pervy… however the characters weren't so bad, and it was well thought out in terms of the plot… but the plot did consist mainly of very, sexual, love scenes. Hence his indecision.

The blond was startled out of thoughts by a loud knock on the door. He frowned as he dropped the bought on his kitchen table as he got up and drudged over the entrance, 'probably just Sasuke-teme asking or a late spar," He inwardly reasoned, which was a regular occurrence.

He reached for the door handle and opened with attitude, "Look teme you gotta stop coming round for these late... night…" The boys eyes narrowed at his visiting, "You again?"

Mizuki grinned maliciously, "Oh do finish," He held up a hand to his ear mockingly, "What were you saying? 'Late night booty calls? I didn't know you and the Uchiha were like… that." He laughed hollowly at his joke, "But then again I'm not surprised."

"What do you want?" Naruto managed through grit teeth.

"Oh Naruto! Not going to invite your favourite instructor in?" The man faked being hurt, bringing a hand to his chest.

"What do you want Mizuki?" The boy repeated harshly.

Mizuki's eyes narrowed as they grew cold, "You little demon brat, all this time you've been arrogantly playing the last," He brought his hand up to his face covering a single eye, "You who has caused this village so much pain and death!"

Naruto's heart jumped, a slither of fear working its way into his mind as he took an unconscious step backwards.

"My friends, my family… all gone, all because of that damn fox!" The man took a step forward, his fists clenched and his eyes rabid however he seemed to stop himself, glaring into the blue orbs of the blond. His hands relaxed and he shrugged his shoulders while rolling his neck, "At any rate, I thought you should know that I've taken your ramen friends out for a little chat…" He grinned a psychotic grin, "What were their names again… Teuchi oji-san? Ayame nee-chan?"

"What have you done!?" Naruto snarled as his fists clenched, his mouth forming a thin line.

"Nothing yet," The man held up his hands innocently, "Although I can't promise anything on behalf of my civilian friends," He sighed, "Civilians always do seem more… brutal when it comes to these things." He laughed and Naruto found himself shaking with anger as his vision began to un-focus, "Especially when it comes to young ripe girls."

Naruto couldn't take it anymore. In burst of speed that dented the floorboards he shot forward, his arm poised back and struck Mizuki in the centre of his chest with the face of his hand, a sharp spike of water emanating from his palm.

Mizuki stood still. His eyes wide and face frozen in shock. Slowly, however, the man's features began to droop and deform, while taking on a thick, brown consistency.

"Shit, a mud clone." Naruto internally cursed as he let his small mizukiri (water dagger) disperse and watched as it dropped onto the muddy pile on the floor.

Naruto's eyes grew frantic as he suddenly recalled Mizuki's words.

"Shit! Shit shit shit shit shit!" He sprawled as he clasped his hands together and focused on sensor ability.

One thing Naruto had learnt from the scroll that the Hokage had given him was that his sensory ability relied on using moisture in the air in order detect agents within his perceptive field. Due to his high affinity with water, he was able to sense movements within an area depending on how much moisture he was able to thinly lace with his chakra. He had labelled the ability, Suijin-me (water god eye) mostly because he thought it was cool, he was still a child after all.

The boy grit his teeth as he widened his field of 'vision', stretching it from the rough urban area where he lived to the clan compounds and then the village forests. Once he had done so, it was a matter of actually picking out Teuchi and Ayame's chakra's which would be harder since they were civilians and had smaller reserves.

The veins on the boy's forehead began to show as he strained harder to keep up the technique while searching for their chakras. Beads of sweat rolled down his face and gathered on his chin and his knees began to shake slightly.

Then, with a sudden sigh of relief, Naruto managed to pinpoint their whereabouts in one of the forested areas in the north of the village. He also detected four other chakras, three civilian and one reasonably large.

"Mizuki…" He gritted to himself as he stepped out into his doorway. Then, reaching into his pocket he pulled out his knew hitai-ate and tied it tightly around his forehead, the cold metal gleaming in the moonlight. Mizuki would never know what hit him.

Mizuki yawned as he leant against a large tree. That damn Kyuubi brat is late.

The man turned to the side, watching idly as the civilians he'd rallied played with the ramen chefs. A large man with small beady eyes and a shaved head held Teuchi's face in the direction of his daughter who was surrounded by another skinnier, shaggy haired man and a middle aged lady. Her hair was a dark brown and covered the side of her face, under which a large burn scar could be seen.

The skinny man crouched next to the girl whose eyes were wide and ridden with fear.

He held a dagger in front of her and waved it playfully, "So, you're a demon lover huh?" He spat.

Ayame didn't respond.

The man frowned at the lack of reaction and held the blade to her cheek creating a thin red line, "Well, you know what we do with demon lovers?"

Ayame still said nothing, a terrified stubbornness flashing in her brown orbs.

The man ignored her lack of response and grabbed her cheeks roughly with a single had, covering her mouth, smudging the small drop of blood that was trailing down her face.

He leaned close so that his lips were centimetres away from her ear. His breath felt hot and rank as it scratched at her neck.

"Demon lovers like you get treated like demons, except, a pretty little girl like you might get some special treatment."

Ayame clenched her eyes shut and shook her head tightly in a desperate attempt to get lose.

"Leave her alone you god damn thugs"" Teuchi shouted before the heavy man holding his head smashed the handle of the knife he held onto the man's skull.

"Tou-san!" She shouted before the woman slapped her hard around the face.

"Shut up you little bitch," She hissed as she pushed the skinny man aside and crouched down in front of Ayame.

The girl let her eyes fall to the ground as her shoulders began to shake, silent tears falling down her cheeks.

The woman sneered and grabbed the girls face forcing her to look up at the burn mark that marred her skin as she held her hair to the side, "You see this? You see what that monster did to me?"

"Naruto-kun isn't a monster!" She cried out desperately.

"'Naruto-kun isn't a monster'?" The woman echoed, "That thing is no child, it is no boy, it has no name, it is a demon and that is all it will ever be."

"You're wrong," Ayame wept, shaking her head slightly in disbelief, "He's not a monster."

"You can believe what you want, but it doesn't change anything," The woman snarled as a sinister grin stretched across her lips. She grabbed the girl by the hair and moved within inches of her, "On that day, I lost my husband, my child, my family, my friends, my beauty" Her eyes narrowed, "I was forced to sell myself to live!" She clenched her eyes and laughed mirthlessly, "But who would want to sleep with a burnt old hag like me?"

The girl didn't respond and watched as the woman raised her hand and with a gentleness that seemed beyond her caressed Ayame's cheek, "Do you know how long it's been? Since I've felt the touch of a man?" She suddenly leant forward and crashed her lips harshly into the girl's own.

Ayame let of a muffled cry and struggled as the woman continued to press force her lips onto her mouth. The woman's hand trailed down and lingered over the girl's underwear, playing with her folds through the soft cotton and the girl gasped and intensified her struggle.

All the while Teuchi watched on from the floor, his vision still blurry obscured by the blood that ran from the cut on his head over his eyes and face, drifting in and out of consciousness.

The woman then broke the kiss slowly and removed her hand before bringing lips up to Ayame's ear, "Do you know what I'm gonna do?" She paused and then leaned a little closer, "I'm going to let these boys here have their way with you, for as long as they like. And when they're done using you, you'll be just like me." She brought her head back and looked Ayame in the eyes with a soft psychotic grin on her face, "Another broken girl, with their beauty stolen away from them."

Mizuki looked away. He was used to seeing broken people break others. It came with the job.

Naruto snarled to himself as his he raced through the village. His legs had begun to ache with the speed he was travelling at and his mind was foggy from overusing Suijin-me. Soon, rickety wooden buildings were replaced with large trees and he jumped up into the branches, continuing his search.

A thick blanket of leaves and branches blocked out the moonlight leaving the forest in a residual darkness. Naruto's eyes however quickly adapted and he was able to see with relative ease.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of metal slicing through air and ducked to the down as three shuriken flew over his head. He landed on a large branch and quickly sensed Mizuki stalkingin the foliage nearby.

"Shit." He cursed to himself before jumping down on the forest floor below.

"Well well well, if it isn't the demon brat come to save his-" The man began before he was cut off by a barrage of shuriken sailing in his direction.

He performed a kawarimi and was able to escape the attack with ease.

"You're gonna have to try better than that if you- Shit he's gone," Mizuki quickly cursed before racing in the direction of crunching leaves ahead of him.

Naruto frowned as he sensed Mizuki beginning to catch up with him. Ducking under a low hanging branch, he focused on the area ahead where he could make out Teuchi and Ayame's presences.

The boy jumped over a large fallen tree that easily stood taller than him in its width and landed in a crouch. He stood up slowly and looked out into the clearing in front of him, his eyes widening as a gasp escaped his lips.

A man and a woman lingered by a smaller tree, both now turned around and sneering at him. At their feet, Ayame sat leant against the bark, her hands tied behind her back. Eyes half-lidded she looked barely conscious, blood was smeared on her cheek and her clothes were torn so that she was left in her bra and the remains of her trousers. Teuchi lay to the side unmoving on the floor, his hair matted with red and a man stood looming over him a knife in hand.

Mizuki landed next to him and grinned as he watched the blond.

"I did say didn't I? Civilians are always more brutal." The man almost purred with delight.

"What's the matter demon? Upset with how we've been treated your little friends," The woman called out as she bent down and roughly picked up Ayame's face by the hair, "And to think, we were just about to have a bit more…" She reached out with her other hand and groped the girl's breast, "dirty fun."

Naruto's eyes glazed over as his mind dumbed.

"Let go of her." He said in a whisper that got lost in wind that blew between the trees.

"What's that you little monster?" The skinny one replied as he held a hand to ear his ear mockingly.

"Let go of her." The boy repeated as the winds that rustled the leaves on the forest floor began to pick up.

The man held a finger to his mouth in thought, "Hmm I don't think I'll do that, in fact," He grinned darkly and reached down towards the girl's loins, "…I think I'll do the opposite."

Naruto saw red.

Suddenly the winds that whispered throughout the forest roared and whipped his hair to the side. His eyes took on a ghostly pale red and his hands clenched.

Then he was gone.

The shaggy haired man's hand paused as it touched upon the cotton of the girl's underwear. His eyes suddenly wide as a throaty gurgle ripped through his mouth. He looked up and saw the woman looking at him with fear lacing her purple orbs as she stared at his chest.

His gaze fell and landed on a single hand that protruded from his left breast, covered by a sharp watery casing that was stained with blood. His blood.

He coughed and the thick red liquid dibbled onto his chin and fell onto the limb.

Then he knew nothing.

The woman watched as the man fell forward revealing the boy with his dead eyes.

"No, no, stay back you shit!" She shouted as she stepped back and tripped on a root falling to the ground.

A roar came from behind the boy as the heavier man charged him, his knife raised above his head.

Naruto ducked to the side and let the arm sail past him before bringing up his hand, covered in the bloody watery spear and cut the man's arm off at the mid bicep.

"You killed him." He said as he looked down at Teuchi, "You killed Teuchi oji-san."

The boy ignored the man's screams as he desperately clutched at his shoulder in an attempt to stop the bleeding. He collapsed onto his knees and leant forward, a large pool of blood seeping into the forest earth.

"You monster!" The woman shouted from behind him.

Naruto's eyes drifted to the scarred lady un-empathetically, "Isn't this what you wanted?" He looked at his hand, "A monster?"

The boy turned to face the woman and approached her slowly.

"No… no, no, no," She scrambled back using her hands but struggled to get to her feat.

The boy kept walking. The mizukiri on his hand now vibrating slightly as stream of blood dripped onto the floor.

"S-stay back!" she screamed with a sob.

The boy's hair fell over his eyes and the dark aura that surrounded him like a shadowy haze intensified. He was like an animal stalking his prey, a primal beast. But worse, he was demon.

The woman's back suddenly hit a tree as Naruto stepped to her feet.

Her lips were now trembling and she found no words but could only weep and clench her eyes closed.

"You wanted a monster…" He leant his head back revealing blood red eyes and slit pupils, "I'll show you a demon."

In one swift motion he brought his hand back and launched it towards the woman's heart as she let out one last straggled scream.

"N-naruto-kun!" A quiet voice came from behind the boy and he paused. His mizukiri centimetres away from the woman's chest.

He turned his head slowly and saw Ayame, her eyes still barely open, leaning forward onto both hands while staring at him.

"Don't do this Naruto-kun, don't become what they want you to." She breathed.

Naruto stared into the girl's brown orbs and found nothing but fear and worry and his mind began to clear. Crimson eyes fluttered back to blue and the water splashed down onto the woman's chest as he withdrew his arm.

"Ayame... nee-chan? You're okay." He managed as he took a hesitant step towards her.

The girl nodded in relief.

"And Teuchi oji-san?" He asked looking over at the man.

Ayame's gaze softened, "He's hurt, but alive." She replied simply.

Naruto nodded and let a small smile grace his lips.

His eyes then difted to the skinny man who lay next to the girl and saw the large gaping hole in his chest.

"Did I..." He asked almost to himself as he pointed a shaky finger in the man's direction.

Ayame gave the boy a sorry look and nodded slightly.

Naruto felt bile burn at the back of his throat. He leant forward and wheezed for air as he gagged.

"My my Naruto, I was hoping you'd finish off this pathetic bunch but it looks like you've left one." Mizuki suddenly called out from the side as he walked towards the woman who sat still shaking against the tree.

Naruto quickly hopped in front of Ayame protectively and felt his whole body ache painfully.

"Civilians really are useless," The man stated casually as he stood over the woman who seemed to only just notice his presence.

"You!" She called out as she reached over and clasped at the man's trouser legs, "You have to save me from that demon!" She pleaded.

Mizuki merely frowned at the woman before kicking her off him roughly.

She landed painfully but didn't seem deterred as she immediately began crawling back to the man's feet.

"Please, save me! Plea-" her words were cut short as a kunai implanted itself in her throat. She made a gurgling sound and collapsed to the side as blood began pouring out of her mouth.

"How disgusting," Mizuki commented distastefully.

Ayame let out a small scream as she averted her eyes and Naruto winced as a grimace formed on his face.

"How could you do that? You were working together!" He managed through grit teeth.

"How naïve of you." The man muttered as he walked forwards and pulled the kunai out from the woman's throat. Blood pooled out of the wound as Mizuki wiped the kunai clean of her clothes, "We weren't working together; I was using her." He turned to look at boy, a sick glee in his eyes, "Just like how the village uses you."

Naruto felt the bile rise to the back of his throat again but willed it down, "What are you talking about?" He demanded angrily.

"Have you ever wondered why the whole village hates you? Why you are shunned and ignored? Why you are treated as demon?"

Ayame sobbed quietly as Naruto kept quietly. Part of him wanted to shut Mizuki up for good, but then the other part of him, the part that was still that scared insecure boy who was tormented wanted to know why. It longed to know why.

"It's because you are a demon." He sneered, a twisted smirk on his lips.

"What?" Naruto echoed emptily.

"You are a demon," He repeated, "You remember the stories of the fourth defeating the infamous Kyuubi?"

Naruto nodded slowly, his mind already connecting the pieces.

"Well he didn't he defeat it! He sealed it into a newborn!" He revealed theatrically, "He sealed it into you!" He pointed at the boy with his kunai, his eyes narrowed, "You are the Kyuubi no Yoko."

Naruto's eyes went wide and like near experience his life began flashing before his eyes. Every insult, every beating, every cold distant glance. It all made sense.

"I am… the Kyuubi?" the boy looked down and stared at his hand.

"Yes." The man twirled the kunai he held before gripping it, "Now die like a good little demon." He said as he threw the projectile at the blond.

Naruto watched passively as the kunai approached him. He didn't have the energy to move. He was exhausted, both mentally and physically. He closed his eyes as darkness surrounded him.

He heard a panicked call of his name before the sound of a kunai hitting flesh reached his ears, but he felt no pain.

Opening his eyes, he saw Ayame's kind smile looking down at him, "It's okay Naruto-kun, you're not a monster, or a demon or the Kyuubi," She reached down and hugged him which gave Naruto a view of the kunai sticking out of her shoulder, "You're just Naruto, and you always will be." She mumbled into his hair before sliding down his body and kneeling on the floor, her eyes pained and clenched shut and her breathing ragged.

"Ayame nee-chan…" He mumbled as the girl fell to the side, "Ayame nee-chan!" her eyes closed as a soft smile tugged at her lips.

"It's okay Naruto-kun, it's okay," He quickly dropped down and felt touched her neck as the other lingered over her mouth. She was still breathing.

"You bastard." Naruto growled as he rose to his feet, his legs aching and his arms heavy.

Mizuki watched on impassively, "Are you done with your little show?" he reached behind his back and took out a large wind shuriken and held it the side, "I think it's time I finish you, now that all the nuisances are out the way."

Naruto frowned as he eyed the man. His chakra reserves weren't that low but he was mentally tired from overusing Suijin-me. He would have to finish this in one technique, and there was only one big enough that he could think of, and he hadn't even finished it yet.

Deciding to take the risk Naruto raised his hands into the dragon seal and focused on feeling the wind that blew through the forest.

"You think I'm just gonna let you fire of a jutsu?" Mizuki suddenly shouted as he launched the wind shuriken at the boy.

Naruto's eyes widened and was forced to drop his concentration as he dodged under the projectile.

The man didn't give him chance to recover however as he charged the boy with a kunai in hand slicing at his torso.

Naruto jumped backwards before taking a quick glance at Ayame who lay prone on the ground.

'Hang in there Ayame nee-chan,' he pleaded inwardly before jumping into the bushes.

"Shit," Mizuki cursed as he dived after the boy, "you can't run brat!"

Naruto was already high in the branches as he watched the white-haired man appear through the foliage. Clasping his hands together into the tiger seal, he created two water clones which seemed to seep up from the thick tree branch he was crouched on.

Without speaking a word, they jumped away in opposite sides of blond. He hoped this would work.

Mizuki growled to himself as he stalked through the forest, watching for any signs of the blond. A twig snapped to his left and he span on his heal launching the kunai in his hand in the direction.

Nothing.

The wind that swept through the forest seemed to cry out in a whispering moan as it billowed through the trees.

The air grew damp as he stalked further, following faint trials left on the forest floor.

Suddenly a flash of yellow caught his eye in the distance he lunged forwards, as it lead him into a small clearing.

"Finally decided to stop running?" he taunted as he stepped closer.

Naruto stood in the middle of the clearing, his face hard with worry lingering in his eyes.

He took out a kunai and quickly launched it at Mizuki who sneered and deflected it easily with his own.

"Is that all you've got? No more little tricks up your sleeve?" The man charged forward his kunai raised and Naruto stumbled backwards as a horizontal slash clipped some of the hairs from atop his head.

The man followed up with another in the opposite direction which Naruto brought up his mizukiri to block. The force of the blow dissolved the water blade and knocked his hand back above his head as his eyes went wide.

Mizuki didn't waste a second as he brought up his kunai and plunged into the centre of the blond's chest and pushed him against the trunk of a tree.

The man smirked as he watched the pained wide eyes of the boy as his mouth trembled and felt liquid drip onto his hand, "Well what do you think demon? This is the end."

Naruto's mouth moved wordlessly as his eyebrows arched up in something akin to confusion.

"Y-you, you…" He stuttered as Mizuki leaned forwards.

"What's that brat?" he asked as his eyes narrowed and he twisted the blade slightly within the boy's chest.

Naruto's eyes seemed to wither with pain, before he opened his mouth again his lips stretching.

"You… lose." He finished with a sudden grin.

"Wha-" The man began before the boy burst into a plume of water drenching him, "That damn brat!" he shouted.

Only then did he hear the vicious roaring that ripped through the clearing, he turned and locked eyes with the blond and watched as his mouth moved, the words lost in the cry of the wind.

"Fuck."

1 minute earlier

Naruto observed as his clone confronted Mizuki with a tired smile on his face. All good so far.

Drowning out the sounds of battle, he raised his hands back into the dragon seal and focused on gathering the moisture in the air into a single point in front of him.

Slowly, globules of water began forming in the air in front of the boy which joined together forming one larger sphere.

Naruto's brow furrowed as his concentration increased. A bead of sweat trickled down his forehead.

Smaller droplets of water formed around the larger one and were drawn into it as if it had its own gravitational force, and it grew bigger than the boy's head.

Naruto released the dragon seal and quickly morphed his hands into the bird seal as winds began picking up around him.

Slowly the wind began to rotate around the sphere of water in all directions, chilling the liquid and giving it an icy glow.

"This is for Ayame nee-chan and Teuchi oji-san you piece of shit." The boy mumbled to himself as he opened his eyes and looked at the glowing orb

"Wha- that god damn brat!" Naruto heard Mizuki shout as he looked down into the clearing and saw the man dripping wet.

The blond then dropped the seal before clapping his hands together with a grin across his face.

"Suifuton! (water-wind release)" He began before he brought his right arm back, his hand clenched into a fist.

He saw the man's mouth move, the roar of the wind drowning out the sound but he understood nonetheless.

His grin stretched wider.

"Suzushī ryūsei! (cool meteor)" He shouted as he shot his hand forward with such force his feet lifted off the bark of the branch. A small vacuum of wind formed around his fist as he punched the glowing orb, its surface bending around the extremity.

Then, with a small boom the sphere shot forward towards Mizuki whose eyes were now wide and laced with fear. As it throttled through the air the wind ripped around it propelling icy ball forwards.

With a crash it collided with the man's stomach, his head and feet lurching forwards as the projectile sent him flying back into the tree where it shattered and erupted in a windy storm of cold water droplets and icy winds.

Naruto stared at the raging explosion with half-lidden eyes as his mind quickly grew foggy, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"Cool." He muttered to himself, before a hazy darkness crept into his vision and he fell forwards into the cold wet forest floor that lay below.

Beams of light fell on his face as his eyes twitched uncomfortably in the unwelcomed sun. A groan escaped his lips and blue orbs opened up to white ceilings.

"Ugh, the hospital," He mumbled as he brought a hand up to cover his face. Instead of soft flesh however he was hit with something hard, "What the…"

Naruto sat up as he looked down at his arm and observed the white casting that was wrapped tightly around the extremity.

"Guess I don't quite have the technique down after all." He muttered to himself before falling back into the bed and closing his eyes once more, in an attempt to fall back asleep.

The boy suddenly shot up after images of Ayame, Teuchi and Mizuki crept into his mind. The civilians. The blood.

A shiver ran down his spine.

He'd killed them, in cold blood. They weren't even ninja.

He brought a hand to his head, his fingers laced with his hair.

The kyuubi was sealed inside of him.

He was a demon.

Or was he?

The sound of a hushed argument outside his hospital door drew Naruto from his thoughts as he focused on the presences. A knowing smile crept onto his face as he fell back onto the bed.

"You can't go in there Uchiha-sama, it's not… safe." A voice pleaded.

"And why is it not safe?" A young masculine voice replied.

There was a short pause before the woman spoke again, "They say he went on a rampage last night, killed two civilians." Another pause, "I honestly don't know why we're treating him, it would be better if we just locked him up and-"

"Enough." The other voice silenced, "Will you let me in or not?" Naruto felt the boy's chakra spike as he unleashed a portion of his killing intent, Naruto scoffed mentally.

"H-hai, Uchiha-sama." The boy heard the door unlock and it opened as Sasuke walking in.

"Yo teme." Naruto greeted lamely with a small wave of his good hand.

"Dobe." The boy replied as he stood for a moment at the end of the bed, "So what's this all about?" He asked with a small sigh.

The blond opened his mouth to respond but closed it quickly.

"Well?"

"I umm."

"Dobe, spit it out." Sasuke crossed his arms, glaring.

"You know the Kyuubi?" Naruto asked uncertainly.

"The demon fox that attacked the village and the Yandaime killed?" The black haired boy responded swiftly.

"Yeah." Naruto smiled awkwardly and scratched his whisker marks with a finger, "It wasn't killed…"

"It wasn't?"

"Er no?"

"Well where is it then?" Something akin to exasperation flashed in the Uchiha's eyes.

"It's in me." The blond replied and moved his hand to scratch the back of his head.

"It's in you?" Sasuke echoed, "Don't be stupid Dobe, how can it be in you?"

"It was sealed by the Yandaime inside me, I think." The boy answered.

Sasuke went quiet as his eyes dropped to the floor, his brown furrowing slightly.

"Teme?" Naruto called out, his voice laced with worry.

The boy gave a quiet 'hn' and closed his eyes.

Abruptly, he turned and walked towards the door, placing a hand on the handle.

"Teme! What're you doing?" Naruto shouted as he sat up in his bed.

The Uchiha paused while opening the door, a small smirk on his face, "Ramen." He answered and stepped out of the room.

The blond grinned widened as he fell back onto his, "Fucking teme." He muttered.

Naruto sat in silence for a moment before he swung his legs over the side of the bed, stepped lightly across the cold tile floor and peeked out of the room.

Seeing an empty hallway, he crept out of his room and made his way to the reception.

Behind the desk, sat a bespectacled middle-aged lady, her light brown hair scraped back into a tight ponytail.

"Um…" Naruto began as he looked over the counter.

The woman looked up, and paused as she stared at the blond, then frowned and looked down, "Can I help you?" she asked.

"I'd like to know a room number," He answered tentatively, "Please," He hastily added.

"I can't give out that information." She shuffled the papers she was signing and then moved them to the side.

"Why not? Their names Ayame and Teuchi Ichiraku!" He placed his hands on the desk.

The woman sighed and gave the boy a pointed look, "I can't give you their room number because visiting hours haven't begun yet and you're not family."

"But, there are like my family…" Naruto replied lamely.

"We both know that's not true." She replied blankly.

"Oi they are! Ayame nee-chan and Teuchi oji-san are my precious people, that's basically family!" The boy near shouted as an angry crease formed on his forehead.

"It may 'basically' be family, but it's not family."

Naruto opened his mouth, "I there a problem here?" A calm voice sounded from behind him before he could speak.

"Hokage-sama!" The receptionist greeted with a slight gasp, "Not at all, I was just telling," She gave the boy a quick glance, "Uzumaki here, that visiting hours haven't begun and I can't give him the room number."

"Well, I don't see the problem with that." He replied with a smile as he looked down at Naruto.

"But Hokage-sama, the hospital has rules and-" she tried desperately.

"Miyako-san," He interrupted sternly, his soft tone remaining, "That'll be all."

"Hai Hokage-sama," She replied meekly.

"Now then Naruto-kun, shall we?" The Hokage asked as he took as step forward and looked back at the boy.

Naruto nodded happily and stepped in line as the two made their way down the hallway, "Wait, what about the room number Jiji?" He asked suddenly.

Hiruzen simple tapped his temple with a knowing smile and a small silence fell over the two.

"So, Naruto-kun." The boy looked up at the old man curiously, "How are you feeling?"

He grinned softly, "I'm fine Jiji, you know I heal quick." He said.

"I wasn't referring to your injuries." The Hokage amended quickly, "How are you feeling about your tenant?"

"My tenant." The old glanced briefly at the boy.

"The fox," he replied quietly.

"Oh," Naruto's expression fell as he his gave drew downwards, "I dunno, fine I guess." He shrugged, "I mean it explains a lot of things."

The Hokage nodded as the two entered a stairway and began climbing the stairs.

"But Jiji, why didn't you tell me?" the boy asked, hurt flashing in his eyes.

Hiruzen sighed and his aged showed in his eyes, "I was trying to protect you my boy." Naruto's eyebrows rose in confusion, "I wanted you to lead a normal childhood… But things don't always go the way they're planned it seems." The man paused and looked out a window that stood above the landing between the stairways, "I'm truly sorry Naruto, and I know it has been hard." He looked at the boy.

"It's okay Jiji" The boy gave a sudden wide smile, the boy turned, looking out the window, "My childhood has been shit, but I've made friends and I have people who like me for me, so it's okay." He said simply.

"That's a wonderful view Naruto-kun." The old man started walking towards the stairs again, "Now why don't we go see Ayame-chan and Teuchi-san."

Naruto nodded with a grin and followed the man up the steps and into a hallway. There, they made their way past doting family members and rushing doctors who all stopped and nodded to their Hokage.

The old man stopped outside a door, "This is it." He said with a slight wave of the hand.

"You're not coming in Jiji?" The boy asked.

The man gave a small baritone laugh, "No my boy, I thinks its best you speak with your friends alone." He smiled.

Naruto nodded in acceptance and stepped into the room after giving a small, "Ayame nee-chan?" he called as he spotted the girl sat upright in the bed, looking out the window.

The girl turned and the boy felt a sharp pang through his chest as he saw the bandages attached to her cheeks.

"Naruto-kun! I was wondering when you'd come by." She greeted with a kind smile.

"Are you okay?" The boy asked in a small voice.

"Yes Naruto-kun, only scratches." She answered, her eyes softening.

"And they didn't," The boy paused and the girl's eyebrow rose curiously, "You know, do anything weird to you, did they?" he questioned carefully.

Ayame's gaze fell on her lap where she played with her fingers, "They didn't, erm," she blushed slightly, "Go far." She then looked up with a sad smile, "You saved me before they did anything worse."

The blond nodded and paused for a moment, "And what about Teuchi Oji-san?" he asked.

"He's fine, just resting." She said as she pointed to opposite her where the old man lay sleeping, bandages wrapped tightly around his head.

The blond looked over with worry in his eyes before nodding, his mouth moving wordlessly.

"Narut-"

"I'm sorry! Ayame nee-chan." Naruto suddenly shouted, "I'm really sorry." He repeated slightly quieter, "Because of me, you and Teuchi oji-san got hurt, and I-"

"Naruto-kun." This time Ayame interrupted, "It's not your fault."

"But I-"

"Naruto-kun. It's not your fault." The girl reassured with a smile.

"But what about…" the boy began as his hand drifted down to his stomach.

"Tou-san and I already know about that, we don't care." The girl answered knowingly.

"Really?"

She nodded and rose her arms towards him, "Come here, Naruto-kun."

The boy stared for a moment, his eyes wide before he stepped forwards between the arms of the girl.

Ayame smiled and closed her arms around the boy, bringing him closer so that his head was resting on her chest, her nose tickled by his blond locks.

"It's okay Naruto-kun." She mumbled lightly into his hair, "It's okay."

The boy wrapped his arms awkwardly around the girl returning the hug, and like a bursting dam, his shoulders began to shudder as fresh hot tears poured down his cheeks, reflecting an unfathomable sadness and an overwhelming sense of acceptance.

Techniques:

Mizukiri - water dagger

Suijin-me - Water god eye (i'm not sure this a direct and proper translation however it sounds better and is more concise than others)

Suifuton: Suzushi ryusei - water-wind release: cool meteor (not a kekkai genkai but just a combination technique, i read on that Narutopedia thing that wind strengthens water techniques so created this)

Yo thanks for readin, hope you enjoyed.

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