"Maybe I took advantage of you. I loved your green eyes and red hair. Even in this blood red place, only echoes of our voices be heard, I never felt lonely when I was with you. But the day you disappeared, I began hating that place filled with red and echoes."

Chapter 4:

Kindness

Things have been awkward ever since that day happened with Naruto. For a while now they haven't had any chance to meet up again. With things right now, no one would dare talk to Naruto. Rumors spread fast. Rumors that Naruto turning gay, seducing Sasuke, and all sorts of rumors spread like wildfire. Though some didn't really believe such rumors, however when they see the real thing they believe it fast.

That was not only the only thing being talked about. It was about time for the annual skill fest. Mighty like an olympics held during every fall season. It's a showcase of skill as a reenactment of the long battle during the war.

"It's about time for the Skill Fest." Iruka said with a smile.

"..."

"Um..."

The room was filled with tension. Naruto's absence made it more gloomy than it already was.

"Do any of you know... where Naruto is?" He asked not knowing anything though he could feel the mood alright.

"Ditching... probably." Shikamaru said with his mouth hidden under his wooly collar.

"Oh, is that so. I'll go visit him later then." The others still looking a bit anxious, "You guys group together by threes, okay?" He left.

The people left in the room sighed in unison. Grouping themselves, almost like a child's game. Naturally, Hinata, Kiba and Shino got grouped. Ino, Shikamaru and Neji got grouped together since Ten-ten and Choji are sitting this one out and Lee is still shaken from Naruto's beauty and is unable to concentrate ever since. Looking at each other, Sakura and Sasuke looked really troubled. Thinking of patching things up with Naruto made them nervous.

Iruka was particularly happy about having to visit Naruto. It had been a while and he's never had the chance to welcome him back home. He asked Sasuke for Naruto's new address and once he was given the address light shown through his eyes. Yet, deep inside, Sasuke felt bad not saying what was really happening.

Iruka arrived at the front of the huge gates, he felt so proud. His former student, so capable to purchase his own place not to mention it's a mansion. However even before trying to knock, he noticed a note attached right beside the doors.

'Come right inside.'

Iruka chuckled. He guessed the boy was too lazy to welcome anyone, though he was feeling a bit betrayed at how he would just let anyone in. He continued on, walking through long hallways, guessing which room is he in. Feeling a bit lost, he'd open about 10 doors now.

Finally he was using his mind, he had an idea.

"Narutooooo!" He shouted, hoping for a reply, he heard a faint voice.

"I'm in the second kitchen..!" Iruka happily thought that he was near as he just passed by a kitchen. He walked, and walked about 5 minutes after he passed by the kitchen. Went back and his eyes widened.

"Naruto!" He couldn't hide his happiness, patting his and stretching the kid's cheek.

A scent of tobacco spread throughout the kitchen. It took Iruka a few seconds before he finally realized that Naruto was smoking through a pipe. It was then that he noticed Naruto's appearance.

"Hey, are you..." Iruka's hands travelled to his students's hand. Naruto guessed he didn't like seeing him smoke so he put it down and extinguished it with a drop of his tea.

"I'm sorry, is the smell bothering you?" He asked ever so politely. Iruka was stunned. This was unusual for him.

"No... not that but..." Iruka scanned his student's body. He didn't care about the girly kimono or his long hair.

"Are you... alright? Are you ill? Do you not feel well? Is something bothering you?" Naruto didn't know which to answer first he was just blabbering about his worries.

Though Naruto felt it was bothersome, a small spark in him felt a bit of hope.

"I'm... just feeling tired." He failed to be honest when the reality was that he was depressed and hurting himself.

Iruka's happiness felt short when his concerns took over him.

"Get well, okay?" He patted the top of his head again while Naruto pouted. "It's skill fest. I guess you aren't attending?" Naruto shook his head with a small smile. "It's alright, I'll relay to Tsunade that you're not feeling well enough. So you better get well during the fest, alright?" Naruto's stomach churned.

The guilt of lying and desperately wanting to tell him the truth was making him nauseous. But then the pain kicked in. Now he was just confused, he couldn't tell if he was ready to barf or cough out blood.

His eyes were blurry, Iruka noticed Naruto was in a dazed. Trying to call out to him he was cut off when Naruto started to have a coughing fit.

"Naruto!" He was holding onto his stomach, ready to barf any time he forced his way to the sink.

Staggering a bit, Iruka helped him in a blink of an eye. Holding him by the shoulder, he guided Naruto to the sink as he let out the only food he ate in two days. However for Iruka he merely assumed he's been drinking just like any other adult there.

Sighing, he patted the boy for the third time. Naruto did his best not break down and luckily Iruka didn't suspect a thing.

"So out of your batch Tenten, Choji and Naruto aren't joining... So Sasuke, Sakura, look for a replacement, okay?" Iruka as clueless as he is smiled joyfully while announcing.

"What? Sasuke stood with an obvious expression saying doubt all over.

"I bet he's just slacking off, does he even have a valid excuse?" Sakura glared at Iruka.

Not only does she think he's ditching but the fact that they'll have to trouble themselves by looking for a replacement. Iruka was pretty surprised with the negative remarks.

"Hey, when I visited him he was sick." Trying to make point, he guessed they were joking.

'How oblivious.' They all thought. Thinking there was no point in trying to persuade the idiotic teacher, they gave up.

"He's sick again? I doubt that." Sakura said marching out with her friends. Sasuke followed silently.

"You think Naruto did something to Iruka?" Kiba said though he noticed Hinata looking concerned.

"I think so..." Ino bit her nails.

"I don't think he'd go that far." They could sense her getting annoyed even just by a bit. Just that hit them, Hinata was actually getting irritated.

"Well, it's their problem now."

"Sick the second time?" Sasuke just had to point that out.

"And he's a jinjuriki too." It all seemed too odd.

There could only be two possible reasons; one, Naruto was lying and the other is, he's actually sick which is almost impossible. But the words that came out of Tsunade's mouth were true. He could get sick, but highly unlikely.

"What do you think should we do, Sakura?" For Sasuke following what she likes is his first priority. Especially after what had happened between him and Naruto.

"Forget that fool. Let's look for a replacement."

Naruto decided to step out of his mansion for once. Walking at a slow pace, it took him a whole 10 minutes just to return to the village itself since his home was actually outside residential area. He would receive a greeting here and there while some people would give him strange looks for his feminine appearance.

'Disgusting.'

'How can a person change to much?'

'What happened to that boy?'

'He's tainted.'

'Unfortunate.'

It irked him, wanting to leave as fast as he could, he rushed his way out of the busy street. But the strands of a man with crimson red shade caught his eye. It was Sane.

Sane who had felt someone looking at him tried to find the eerie source. Looking around, he met eyes with a pathetic looking man with long golden hair.

"Wandering, huh?" He mocked Naruto.

"So it seems you're an outcast once again." He stuck close to him with a daring tone. Naruto stood silent.

"Even after saving the world from what was going to be a war of the century, and you're still alone." Sane smirked and patted Naruto's head.

"Do I still look like him?" Tightening his grip on Naruto's head, he winced.

"L-let go...!" Whimpering while he reached for Sane's arm.

"I'll let go if you let me fuck you." He was sick. Naruto felt nauseous.

"...I-I won't."

"Naruto!" Iruka shouted after spotting the boy.

"Ah!" He noticed Sane. "Oh, are you busy?" Naruto shook his head immediately.

"Nope, I'll be on my way." He smiled at Iruka, he seemed like a polite man. "Well then, good bye." Another pat on his head and he's off. Naruto thought he was done for. Doing rounds for that guy.

"Who was that, a friend?" Iruka asked, however Naruto couldn't speak. They couldn't be even called as "sex-friends", they weren't even friends in the first place. With a forced smile, "He's an acquaintance." The safest answer he could think of.

"Wait- You seem a bit pale, are you alright?" Iruka can't help but rest his palm on his student's forehead.

"You're quite hot. Shouldn't you be resting?" He scolded Naruto with a humble slap on the forehead.

"Y-yeah... I just wanted to take a walk. That's all..." With an uneasy answer Iruka wanted to hug him so much.

"You've been unwell recently." He held his hands that were clasped within his and looked at him with a gentle gaze. "I don't want to see you sick again, alright?" Naruto nodded with guilt consuming him.

"Should I walk you back home?"

"Ah-no! It's alright." He said waving his hands frantically.

"Hmm, alright." He gave him a wave good bye but was stopped half way. "Get better, okay?" He hugged him ever so tight.

Naruto hasn't felt this kind of warmth for ages. Almost like that 'man'. And with that he actually left. Naruto smiled. He actually smiled from the bottom of his heart. Naruto couldn't remember how long was it that he last smiled, actually feeling happy. But that shot of happiness disappeared when he was brought back to reality.

'What would Iruka say when he find out what was really happening?'

'That he was sleeping with almost anyone who had red hair, that he was hurting himself as a 'punishment.'

Meanwhile, a man of excellent height was watching over Naruto. His stern face and cold eyes was glued on the boy.

"Naruto."

He disappeared.

Author's Notes:

Oh lol if you're like "Who the fuck is this Sane dude?" Well sorry, he's just a handsome dude I made up kekeke. He's not really a crucial part of the story but he does make it seem evident that Naruto DID turn gay. Actually, he is crucial. Lol. If you have any questions just hit me up and I'll answer them in a jiffy.