Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Okay, readers. I'm sorry about not updating for so long :D This time, I wrote a rough draft, I hope this chapter will be better :D

Mikotsu POV

"Well, I'm busy and sweaty from the work on the bridge, but construction is almost complete!" Tazuna said excitedly.

"Father, you and Naruto are two of a kind. Don't work yourselves to death!" Tsunami said walked over to the table with a pot of tea.

Naruto collapsed onto the table, exhausted. I laughed, and patted him on the shoulder.

"Tsunami's right, don't over exert yourself, Naruto! You too, Sasuke, Sakura." I took a seat next to Naruto. Sasuke sat across from Naruto, and Sakura sat next to Sasuke.

"Mm-hmm," Kakashi-sensei agreed.

After a few seconds of silence, Inari had tears dribbling down his cheeks.

"What's wrong?" Naruto and I asked at the same time. He blinked his eyes open.

"Why do you wear yourselves out trying? No matter how hard you train, you'll never be a natch for Gato's thugs!" Inari cried out. "You act all cool, and you talk all tough...but big strong guys like that are always too much trouble for people weaker than they are. They'll destroy you!"

All of us looked at Inari in surpirse, wonder, or a mixture of the two.

"Shut up, I'm not you and I'm not gonna lose!" Naruto replied.

"Yeah, he's got guts!" I concurred.

"Just watching you ticks me off!" Inari continued, as if Naruto and I hadn't interrupted. "This isn't your town! And you don't know a thing about me. You're always clowing around, having fun. You don't know a thing about suffering or lonliness, or what my life is like!" At this point, I snapped. This little brat is worse than Sasuke!

"Please excuse me," I growled out through clenched teeth. Better get out before I break something, or someone. I stalked away from the dinner table and into the bedroom. So I don't know anything about lonliness, huh? Brat. I've been alone since I was old enough to realize it. I've never had any family; Naruto was the only person who was close to me. True, I've had friends, but look at Naruto, he's been alone, with no friends. Well, except for maybe me. But everyone else treated Naruto like he was some kind of germ, or monster, and no one was willing to even talk to him in a conversation. Inari, you've had a father. You've even spent time with him. Be glad for what you have, Inari.

I headed for the bed and plopped down on it. I heard Naruto's voice downstairs: "So...you figure it's noble to star in a melodrama and treat everyone around you like guests at you pity party? It takes a really big man to sit around and cry...you brat! You big baby!" I heard Inari gasp.

After a few seconds of silence, I heard Sakura exclaim: "Naruto! You went too far!" Yeah? Well, suck it. You wouldn't know what it feels like either. At least Sasuke kept his mouth shut; he's HAD parents as well. But not anymore.

"Hey, Mikotsu," Naruto said, entering the room. I was too engrossed in my thoughts to hear him enter.

I sat up. "Hey."

Naruto sat down next to me, his head in his hands. I could tell he was thinking really hard, and I knew exactly his thoughts. We knew each other too well for words.

After a few minutes, Sasuke and Sakura entered the room as well.

"Hey Sakura, Sasuke," I said, a bit more calm than I was feeling. I was replied with a "hn" and "hey".

"Naruto, Mikotsu, I understand what you've been through, but please don't take it out on little Inari. He's young, he doesn't understand yet." Sakura came over to sit next to me. "Kakashi-sensei is giving him a talk right now, Naruto."

Naruto made no reply. Instead, he left the room. Sasuke took his spot as soon as Naruto exited the door.

"Did I upset him?" Sakura asked, worriedly. Finally, she's starting to care about Naruto.

I shook my head. "No, he's just thinking about his actions." I hope.

"Naruto, thinking? Psh," Sasuke scoffed. My anger level rose up again.

"Dammit, can't you be nice to him at all?" I stood up to face the Uchiha, glaring. I slapped his face. "Naruto's been trying so hard for acknowlegation! He has determination, and a strong will. He WILL be a better ninja than all of you guys someday." I stalked away, fuming.

It's a bit short...But I was trying out what it'd be like, typing from a rough draft. Hope you guys liked it :D

Review! Please tell me what you thought about this chapter, I want to know if I should keep writing drafts first. Oh, and I'm getting an idea for a new story :D