The darkness was welcoming. It enveloped him like the air around him.

As Naruto ever so slowly gained consciousness, he was made aware of the sound of a beeping machine, which seemed to be located on his left. As the feeling came back to him, starting from his toes and slowly moving up his body, until he could feel the weight and texture of the cloth that was covering him. His eyelids slowly peeled back, revealing a white ceiling. He tried to move his eyes, his vision slowly coming back to him. When he felt like he had the ability to, he tilted his head to the right, and was surprised to see outside the hospital window. He could see the academy from his window, and by the looks of it, everyone was going inside.

Have I been unconscious? For how long…?

He tried and tried to remember, and finally the memories floated up to the surface of his brain, like the debris of a sunken ship. That's right… that genin and his friends hit me unconscious… Naruto felt anger boil up inside him, then slowly, the anger seemed to melt away, quickly replaced by self-loathing and shame. He had allowed himself to become victim to the genin's punches. Either that, or he was so weak he couldn't even block a single blow. Neither of those seemed appealing to the jinchuuriki boy. Naruto lifted himself into a sitting position, and inspected his body. It seemed like the medical-ninja had done their job, for he was healed and patched up. Just as he was about to attempt to get off the bed, the door to his ward opened.

"Yes... two of the academy students informed Iruka-san…"

Naruto heard a feminine voice, which he soon discovered to belong to a medical-kunoichi, explain to someone. As the kunoichi made her way towards Naruto nervously, she was followed by the Third Hokage.

"O-Old man hokage?!" exclaimed Naruto in surprise, as the medic-nin detached any needles or tubes connected to Naruto. "what are you doing here?"

"Naruto… I've spoken to the genin who out you in such a state. He and his friends are to re-attend the academy, of course, in a different class. Those who take advantage of someone - not to mention - someone of lower rank, un-armed, and yet to become a ninja – are not worthy to become Konoha shinobi. I have spoken to the jonin in charge of them." The old man explained, making sure to keep eye contact with Naruto.

With a stubborn look, Naruto told the Third, "Look here, old man. I don't care if they've been sent back to the academy. I want to rip their throats out and shove it up their fuc-"

"Such language will not be spoken in front of me!" declared Hiruzen, who shot Naruto a stern look. Naruto shut his mouth and looked away.

"Hmph. Well, if that's all you got to say to me, fine. I heard it." Naruto didn't look back towards the front until he heard the door open and close again. I don't need to know what happened to them douches. It's not like I care, anyways, he thought to himself, as he laid back onto the bed and glared at the ceiling. With a sigh, he rolled onto his side, ignoring the pain in his ribs, and fell into an un-easy sleep.

It had been two days since Naruto was released from the hospital. He had been told – more like, ordered – to stay home for two or three days to recover. And strangely, Naruto followed the orders. He had stayed home and eaten ramen. He had had no visitors to wish him a quick recovery, and he wasn't surprised.

At this present moment, Naruto was changing into his signature orange outfit. He needed to go and refill on his ramen storage. As he slipped his goggles onto his forehead, he walked out the door, and almost yelped, because standing at his door was the least expected person.

"S-Sakura-chan..?" Naruto, dumbfounded, stared into the pinkette's emerald orbs. The shade of green was so mesmerising, that Naruto almost didn't register the presence of the other three kids standing behind her.

"Hey… you do realise Sakura isn't the only one present, right?" came a tired voice. Snapping his eyes behind Sakura, he was even more surprised to find Shikamaru, Ino, Choji and Hinata, Kiba and Akamaru.

"W-What are you all doing here…?" he asked the small group.

"N-Naruto-kun… W-We all wanted to come and wish you a g-good recovery…" Hinata mumbled.

"A-All of you?" Naruto asked in awe.

"Wishing you a good recovery isn't all we came here for!" exclaimed Ino, smiling at the jinchuuriki boy.

"Do you want to go on a picnic with us?" asked the brown-haired Akamichi. "There's going to be lots and lots and lots of food!" Choji said, spreading his arms as wide as he can, as if to show the amount of food that will be present.

"A-A picnic…? I-I don't know guys… It's really nice of you all to invite me but…"

"But? What is it, Naruto? We didn't plan to meet up and walk all the way up to your apartment to hear you tell us that you're busy!" said an exasperated Kiba, whose best friend, Akamaru, gave an agreeing yap.

"Are… Are your parents ok with it?" asked Naruto, awkwardly. "I mean… I thought everyone hated me…"

The whole group stared at Naruto as if he was crazy.

"Of course they'll let us!"

"Doesn't matter anyway!"

"Y-Yeah! We want N-Naruto-kun to come!"

They all burst out different comment to reassure the blond. Even Akamaru, who had no ability to talk, barked.

"R-Really…? This isn't a joke or anything?" asked Naruto, as it dawned upon him that this might as well be a big prank.

Ino sighed, and placed a hand on her hip. "Look here, Naruto. We didn't come all the way up here with three baskets of food-" she, Kiba and Shikamaru all picked up a basket at their feet, "- to argue with you about this. Now, are you coming or not?" she asked, trying to soften her voice.

"Y-Yes! Yes, I'll come!" Naruto felt a smile force its way to his face, as he watched his classmates face's beam back at him.

As the group walked through Konoha to make their way towards the park, Naruto tapped Sakura on the shoulder.

"Sakura-chan… does this mean that everyone... is willing to be my friend?" he asked the pink-haired girl.

Sakura looked at Naruto, and shared with him a heart-warming smile. "Yes. Yes it does, Naruto. We are all your friends."

With those words, Naruto felt something he hadn't felt in a very long time. Joy.

I have friends… I finally have friends.

The End

Well, that's it, guys!

I'm sorry if this story was kinda crappy…

I haven't been feeling well lately, so I don't know when I will upload a new story. I have an idea, and it's going to be a Naruto fanfiction, but I just don't know when I'll be uploading.

Anyways, thank you guys for reading, reviewing, and adding this to your list of favourites!

Sayonara, mina!

~Shadow