Ali: I've got the next chapter up!

Shizune: Great, say the disclaimer.

Ali: I own nothing!

Shizune: Review... *snaps on gloves* Time to examine you.

Ali: *backs into a wall* What? I don't do needles!

Shizune: Too bad *pulls out gigantic needle*

Ali: Noooooo!*runs away*

Shizune: Review. *follows Ali at leisurely pace*

Naruto had been beaten repeatedly for two full months and he'd never felt so alone. Everyone hated him, his precious people tolerated him, and Shadow (the jonin) kept beating him because he was too weak to stop him. Naruto didn't eat unless he was asked to or he needed to, he stopped going to Ichiraku's unless asked. He easily avoided any questions and any time bruises or cuts came up he'd brush it off as something casual and moved on to another topic. Missions here a relief because he was away from the village. He was jumpy, always looking over his shoulder and he kept seeing Shadow. He was a wreck. The only thing keeping him sane was the Kyuubi who kept encouraging him to tell someone, but Naruto kept refusing. Currently he was having another argument while walking to meet with the others at Kakashi's house. He moved quietly, seeing Shadow everywhere he looked. He hardly got any sleep so he suspected everyone, but never showed it. He didn't feel safe in his own home.

I won't get him in trouble, Naruto thought to the Kyuubi for the millionth time that day.

He's hurting you, separating you from the pack, don't you see? A loner is easier to kill than when they're with the pack, the Kyuubi said, using his knowledge of packs to make a point to the young blond. Tell someone!

Shut up! You're wrong, the blond said.

The demon growled in frustration as Naruto knocked on Kakashi's door. Sakura opened the door and put on a smile for Naruto. "Hey Naruto, come on in."

Naruto smiled and walked in, seeing everyone there. He felt paranoid, Kakashi said it was only a few people, not everyone they knew. It was a trap to kill him, finish him off because Shadow told them everything. Naruto backed up a step when suddenly pain pounded through his body, not physical, no one had moved, it was the Kyuubi taking control of him, but Naruto's eyes didn't turn red. The Nine-Tails made him sit down and sit like Naruto normally would.

"What's up?" the fox asked through Naruto.

Naruto fought desperately to take control, but the fox had a firm grip. Tsunade sat beside Naruto and despite the fact that Kyuubi held him still, Naruto flinched hard mentally and relaxed slightly when he realized she'd done this with kindness before.

"Listen, we're worried about you," she said gently.

A little too gently, Naruto thought to himself.

Quiet, the great fox growled.

"What's there to worry about?" Kyuubi asked slyly, his head tilting slightly.

"You seem distracted, spaced out all the time," Kiba said.

"And you've stopped reading, which is the only thing normal that's happened this entire time," Shikamaru said.

Naruto seized control of his voice and mouth and that was all. "Just thinking of a way to get Sasuke back, that's all."

The Nine-Tails growled in Naruto's heart and made Naruto's body tense only in the slightest so no one else would notice. Sakura sighed and crouched in front of him, looking into the blond's blue eyes with her green ones. "Listen, it's good that you're planning for the future about finding Sasuke, but we're worried it's taking a negative effect on you."

Naruto got control of his body and her got up with a grin. "I'll try my best to not do that again... I've got to go clean my house and get some sleep."

He turned, knowing it was far too early to get any sleep and that when he got back Shadow would beat him, but he couldn't take being near the people he loved when they "worried" about him. More like plotting against him. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and walked home, locking the door and going to the bathroom and locking that door. He knew what would happen as he set, his back pressed against the wall farthest from the door. First Shadow would taunt him outside the house, then get inside and mess up his house, then beat Naruto and leave for however long before coming back and doing the same again. Naruto flinched hard when he heard his front door burst open and slam close, the Shadow whispering something. Naruto curled tighter and his wide blue eyes shut as the bathroom door opened. He could already see the sadistic smile of Shadow, the weapon in his hand, the blackness of his hair, the crazed delight in his eyes. Naruto was picked up and thrown into the wall he was pressed against and he whimpered, his bruises sending new waves of pain. He wondered if there would be an end to this suffering. Blows rained down on his body and suddenly another pair of hands joined.

Shadow has a friend, Naruto thought.

Naruto gritted his teeth and didn't allow his tears to shed. Suddenly he felt the Kyuubi's chakra envelope him, protect him. He panicked, if he hurt them he would only be hurt more, hated more. He tried his best not to let the Kyuubi seize control, but he was soon no longer able to do anything. Naruto's eyes opened, not sapphire, but crimson. He leaped at one of the jonin and let his claws sink into their body. One hand wrapped around his throat and he ripped it out. The Kyuubi whirled around, prepared to take out the real threat, but Shadow was gone. Kyuubi saw no danger so he saw no reason to have full control. Naruto looked at the body with crimson eyes and backed away, his bloody hands staining his bathroom floor. He pressed his back against the wall and suddenly he heard calls. He couldn't comprehend who's voices it was, but he didn't want them calling now.

He's gonna kill me, he's gonna kill me, he's gonna kill me, Naruto thought repeatedly, but he also thought the people coming for him would kill him. He slinked into his bathtub and curled in it after closing the curtain. He quietly waited for the people to come. To find him and kill him. He heard the door open and a gasp.

"Naruto! Where are you?!" a voice cried. Again, he couldn't tell who it was, male or female, all he could comprehend were the words. "Guys... you might want to take a look at this."

He heard multiple gasps and finally someone else spoke up. "What happened?"

"Only Naruto can tell us," someone else said.

"Where is he though?!"

Naruto whimpered unwillingly at the tone and the curtain was ripped open. His crimson eyes stared at the bathtub wall and he begged them silently to kill him quickly.

"N-Naruto... what... Who did this to you?"

He stayed silent, his eyes unseeing with fear, his body clenched. He didn't want to get hurt anymore, didn't want people to hate him, and look at what he got, both. He finally found his voice to try and explain it. "I-I didn't mean to, I didn't want to."

"What happened?"

"Please don't hate me, I didn't want to hurt him," Naruto begged, flinching from someone's touch.

"What did he do to you?"

Naruto squeezed his eyes shut. He only wanted one person. "J-Jiraiya..."

"I'm here kid," Jiraiya said.

"I'm sorry," Naruto said, his voice broken.

"I don't blame you," Jiraiya said.

Naruto suddenly realized he wanted another person, the one that was like a (grand)mother to him. He mentally winced. He really wanted Sarutobi, the old man would've known how to comfort him. "Tsunade, I didn't mean it... don't kick me out."

"Never," she promised. To Naruto's ears it was only an empty promise.

"I'm so sorry," Naruto said, his voice cracking. "I tried to stop it, I really did, but the Kyuubi ended up killing him."

Kyuubi took hold of him gently and took control of Naruto's speech. "He was trying to kill the pup."

"Is this the Kyuubi?" someone who Naruto couldn't comprehend said. It was obviously not Tsuande or Jiraiya.

"Yes. You act like I'm going to kill you... No, this man tried to kill the kit and I killed the threat, b-" Naruto gained control and breathed deeply. "But I didn't want him to."

Damn it Kit, the Nine-Tails cursed.

"He was trying to kill you, we're grateful for the fact that he saved you," Tsunade said, bringing the boy gently closer.

He's gonna kill me, Naruto thought.

Ali: If you read it before, this is where it gets completely changed from here on out. The big bad fox is turning out to be a softy for the boy huh?

Shizune: It's pretty good so far.

Ali: *rubs arms* But may arm isn't! I mean, what the hell?! A needle two feet long shouldn't fit in my arm!

Shizune: *rolls her eyes* REview... Now ALi *lectures ALi to sleep*