Author's note: Ok, I forgot to tell you guys last time that I'm going to separate the meeting into a couple of chapters. It's a very big canvas for me to develop each character and stuff. So yeah. Anyway, no more funny stories, or anything like that, till all this is over, k? On to the story!

Chapter 10

Naruto and Kiba woke up to Sasuke, Sakura, and Ino staring down at them. Immediately, the two got off each other, stuttering words like, "It wasn't what you thought," or "I was just falling asleep."

Ino snickered and eyed the pair curiously. "Yeah, yeah, that's why you were cuddled on the couch."

Kiba spluttered, "wh- we were not cuddling!"

Naruto agreed, "yeah, we were just tired and he fell on me!"

Ino just laughed and looked at her two companions. "Ha, you've gotta be kidding me! I saw what happened, I came in 2 minutes after you did, Kiba. You had your hand on his back, then after a couple of seconds, you just leaned over him and stayed there."

Kiba and Naruto looked at each other.

"That must have been when I gave you the drink."

"Yeah," Kiba thought, "Naruto, can you hear me?"

"You know I can Kiba!" Naruto happily thought.

"Should we tell them," Kiba thought.

"I want to keep it between us, if that's ok with you?"

"Sure, I was hoping you'd say that," Kiba thought.

Ino watched as the two stared into each others eyes, until she could take it no longer. "Ughhhhhh! I can't take it anymore!"

Sakura finally spoke, "Ino, we should just let-"

"NO! There is something going on here and I want to get to the bottom of it!" She jabbed her finger at the two boys. "I want to know what Naruto is hiding."

Sasuke had enough of her annoying comments. "Ino, you can get on my nerves. Maybe Naruto wants to share whatever it is with Kiba and only him. You have to learn that we're your friends, so we may not keep everything from you, but that doesn't mean we tell you every little thing about us. Just give it a rest. He'll tell us what he wants to tell us in about 5 minutes. Just be patient."

"Is Naruto here?" Shikamaru was the last one to arrive.

"Of course," Ino said, "when is anybody here after you?"

"Hmmm, you're right."

"Soooo, anyways, since everyone's here, let's get the meeting started!"

Sasuke stood up and told the group, "you all know why we're here. So let Naruto take the wheel, and let his story here unfold!" This was the speech Sasuke always made before someone was inaugurated into the group.

Naruto, having relinquished his mental connection with Kiba for now, stood up as a slight blush danced along his cheeks. "Ummmm, well I really don't know where to start, so I'm going to work in reverse. You guys ask me questions and I'll answer them." Naruto then sat down; on his right, Sakura; on his left, Sasuke; and behind him was Kiba, leaning forward against the couch, with his elbows on either side of Naruto's head.

Immediately, Ino's hand shot in the air, determined to beat Lee's. She won. "So Naruto, can you just get it done and over with, and tell us about your life, how you met Sasuke and Sakura, blah, blah, blah."

"Well, I guess I'll start with my parents, my father is Minato Namikaze, my mother, Kushina Uzumaki. Until about 2 years ago, they were the perfect couple. But it was because of that perfection that caused them to divorce. Because they were so well matched, like two puzzle pieces, my mom's so-called "friend" soon came to dislike her. Eventually, my mom and dad grew apart and had many fights. That was about the summer before 8th grade. As luck would have it, my dad... he divorced my mom. I remember talking to him that night, he was telling me that no matter what, as long as you have people who trust you and love you, you will never be alone. I didn't know what it meant back then, but I do now. Those were the last words he said to me, before he left. He left my mother heartbroken, and even to this day, she still cries about him." Naruto began tearing up. "Those words mean more to me than some stupid trophy or medal. Those words are what I live by, that's why I treasure those closest, in fear of them leaving like my dad did. I know that some day he'll come back, because my dad... he never gives up! And neither do I!" Naruto sobbed into his sleeve before looking back up.

"Next question please." Naruto looked around the room, and when not one hand was raised he continued to speak. "I met Sakura and Sasuke at pre- school. We were the best of friends. My mom dropped me off one day and noticed Sasuke's mom and they became friends. Luckily, Sasuke's mom knew Sakura's mom, or I may never had been her friend. We were always getting into trouble." Naruto chuckled. "We stayed as best friends the whole time since. These guys," Naruto wrapped one arm around Sakura's shoulders and one arm around Sasuke's, "are my best friends and they're the ones I trust the most." He smiled before retracting his arms and laying them at his sides.

Ino reluctantly raised her hand once more. "Naruto, this is my last question, wh- just what are you hiding from us?" Gasps came from everyone, but along with Ino, chose to look back at Naruto.

"Why do you care so much?"

"Because, I may not get to know everything about you, but everytime you tell more, everyone in this room feels closer to you as a person. Why do I care? It's because I want to be your friend, just like everyone else in this room. We also want to be those that you can trust so easily."

"You don't ask for trust, you earn it. I'm sorry, what I'm keeping from you is something that should be hidden until the time is right. Please, if you want to be my friend, then you need to get to know me, not just my life. That's all. Thanks for your time everyone. Unless there is anymore questions, you can go."

Kiba began the mental connection once more, trying to reach his blond friend. "Hey Naruto," Kiba thought, "are you alright?"

"Yeah. I'm fine. I just didn't want to scare them off before they even got to know me as a person, not just some kid who needs his friends to protect him."

"I know, but you know that means I need to get to know you as a person too right?"

"Of course, but for you it'll be easier. You made a promise."

"Yeah I know, I hope we both can learn from all of this."

"I hope you're right, Kiba. Hey, do you wanna help me by staying here when I show Sakura and Sasuke?"

"Of course."

Most people had filed out, Sasuke, Sakura, Naruto, and Kiba were the only ones still in the house. Naruto looked at Kiba, who gave him a reassuring smile.

"You ready Naruto?"

He grinned. "As ready as you are."

"Then let's get this over with."