The smile slowly dropped from my face.

What was he doing here?

I strained to remember how I'd been admitted into the hospital but couldn't recall a thing. And exactly why was the sobbing mess at my beside Sasuke?

Of all the people in the Hidden Leaf Village, the last Uchiha was the one to visit me...and he was crying?

My mind was reeling from the sheer complexity of it.

"I never thought I'd say this..." murmured Sasuke, "but I'm really, truly sorry Naruto."

That one sentence brought back everything. The memories hit me like bullets:

"Give it up Naruto! Everyone, even you, knows that you'll never amount to anything!"

"How does it feel, Naruto, to be the most worthless shinobi-no person, to be alive? Have you figured it out that if by some miracle, one-in-a-million chance that you became Hokage, that everyone would still hate you? We'd all be better-off - no! a hundred times better-off if you would just leave! Believe it Naruto! You are the most pathetic, stupid, and downright hated person I've ever known!"

I remembered falling asleep under tree in the nameless meadow, how the chill from the ground set into my very bones, and then the darkness.

The recollection numbed my innermost core but somehow still managed to make my heart ache painfully.

Why couldn't I do anything right?

I slowly closed my eyes. There was no way I could face Sasuke yet; even though he seemed desprete to tell me he was sorry.

His words only fell on deaf ears as I drifted into another deep slumber.

(AN: Naruto does not remember anything from his comatic state)

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The second time I awoken, there was no one. The only noise was the beeping of the heart monitor beside my bed.

I sighed upon looking at my bedside table; it was covered with brightly colored cards. Rolling my eyes, I grabbed one off of the top layer. Inside, it read: Get well soon Naruto! I miss seeing my number!" one customer!

In response, I snorted. Of course the Ramen shop owner would miss me! He probably had to shut down without my business.

I glanced briefly at the others on the table before chucking the one in my hand back on top. The only reason anyone gave me a card was for their own benefit. Whether it was Choji, because he wanted to get a free meal from me, or Kakashi-sensei, because he wanted to repair his team's bond. There never was a simple "Get well Naruto, I miss you!"

Yet, I wasn't angry; not in the least.

Instead of frustration or sadness, I understood. All I was good for was for use. No one wanted to be my friend, unless they could get something out of it.

But maybe that's all friendship really was in the first place.

Then why had I tried so hard to make comrades? Why had I sacrificed my well-being on more than one occasion in order to create a bond of use?

"Perhaps, I'll be better off without friends."

So struck by the truthfulness of my own words, I didn't notice the nurse who entered my room.

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Ummmm...long time no see? I just got a new laptop since the death of my last one; which shortly after the publication of the last chapter of this story :(

But, I'm back now! and hopefully I can get this story rolling again :D

This chapter was really difficult for me because it redirects the rest of the story but I hope you guys enjoyed it. Thanks again for all the reviews!

Ja ne :)