AN: I have been working on the next chapter, so it will be up soon. You won't have to wait long! I know this fic is extraordinarily angst-ridden, but don't say I didn't warn you at the beginning. ;)

Thank you to uchiha hinata21, shining-dreamer, Frecklefreak, Shiroxcat, 940427, TruthhLies, ColorlessXRainbow, P, IWishIWasACheesecake, sugardash, happysue115, elveljung and kouyo for your comments and reviews. Always much appreciated! :D I love reading each one.

I just found out that I can reply to separate reviews on my stories. Never realised that (talk about not being tech savvy)! So, yeah, I may respond to some reviews from now on instead of answering questions here and taking up people's precious reading time. :)

Cloud Cover

Chapter 24: Who Said Age Brings Wisdom?

"To show resentment at a reproach is to acknowledge that one may have deserved it."
~Tactus

Naruto wasn't sure why he expected things to be better after that day. It was just that after talking to Sasuke he felt somehow lighter. Unfortunately, it didn't stop his cravings. They were as strong as ever, and as soon as he got home from Shikamaru's, he popped a pill, and man, did it feel good. It didn't quite erase the feelings of guilt, but it dampened them sufficiently while Naruto did his homework in a daze. He spent most of the weekend just sitting in his room and eating the odd packet of ramen. One good thing about this pill was it made him less hungry. He wasn't losing too much noticeable weight yet. When school came around the next day, Naruto was feeling decidedly positive. It felt good to know there was someone vaguely on his side, waiting in that ugly, gray building.

Still, when he met Sasuke at his locker that morning, he couldn't quite quash the feelings of guilt creeping in. The pills in his bag felt like a flaming beacon. Did Sasuke know? Did he suspect? He would hate Naruto if he knew. He could never find out.

Naruto swallowed and forced a grin, "Hey, Sasuke."

"Hn." Was the grunt of a reply.

That was normal, right? Yeah, this was all normal. In fact, the whole day passed in a painstakingly normal way, and Naruto was putting on his finest acting performance to date, even laughing and joking with his friends like he used to. Shikamaru joined them for lunch to see how he was doing. Everyone was…normal. As soon as Naruto started feeling the drug wearing off, he slipped away to sneak another. And things continued to be…fucking normal.

The end of the day rolled around and Naruto begrudgingly left the safe comfort of talking with his friends at the lockers for his daily trudge towards his usual meeting place with Orochimaru. If he could just have this life without Orochimaru in the picture, things would be perfect. There was the detestable man as usual. He smiled as Naruto entered, a fake smile on that sickly white porcelain face, so different from Sasuke's alabaster. However, he was not sitting at his desk as usual, but talking to another figure. Kabuto also smiled as Naruto entered. He would have looked welcoming, but for the fact that the smile did not reach his eyes, a coldness that Naruto could now see all too clearly.

"What's he doing here?" asked Naruto, nodding at Kabuto.

Kabuto's smile did not falter. "I'm a medical student. Orochimaru was helping me with my thesis." His acting skills were truly impeccable. If Naruto was a stranger, he would have fully believed him.

"Funny." He said, deadpan. "What are you really doing here?"

Orochimaru's expression turned serious. "You'd be smart to remember that neither of us answer to you, Naruto. You are not paid to ask questions."

I'm not paid at all, you disgusting old pervert, thought Naruto seethingly, but he bit his lip.

Orochimaru picked up a large parcel on his desk. It was big, about two feet wide and one foot high, but it was light when Naruto took it in his hands.

"You'll take this to Apartment 213. He lives in your building. He will be supplying that area from now on." Orochimaru's smile returned. "It seems business is expanding."

Naruto felt sorry for the fresh new sods that had been dragged into this druggy mess. He stood for a moment, holding the parcel. Was he supposed to wait? Orochimaru usually wanted to…

"You may go, Naruto. That is all I need you for today." Said Orochimaru.

Naruto swallowed and nodded, making a hasty exit and almost dropping the box in his rush to leave before Orochimaru changed his mind. The door closed behind him with a soft click, and he breathed a small sigh of relief before walking do the halls and leaving the two men to continue their talk.

"So, tell me the latest results, Kabuto. How are the subjects faring?" asked Orochimaru.

Kabuto smiled. "Exactly as predicted, sir. They are all in different periods of withdrawal. The withdrawal symptoms are excruciating, but our longest living test subject is currently at the three month mark and still showing signs of drug addiction as strongly as the first day."

Kabuto's eyes flashed behind his thick glasses. "It seems we have succeeded in creating the ultimate drug. It's a habit literally impossible to break."

"Perfect." said Orochimaru. "Now we simply need to work on Phase 2. At this rate we shall be more powerful than the Akatsuki ever were. I'll have a city of people willing to grant my every wish for a brief taste of heaven."

Kabuto nodded. "And you'll be able to achieve your final goal, Mr. Orochimaru.

"Yes." Said Orochimaru. He picked up a small jar of the red pills sitting on his desk. "Isn't it amazing how powerful one tiny tablet can be?"

Naruto stepped hastily out of the elevator into the dim hallway. The elevator doors had an annoying habit of closing too quickly on people as they tried to leave. They shut behind him with a ping and made a whirring noise as it travelled away to another floor.

Naruto took a deep breath and walked along the threadbare carpet. He had been so relieved at getting off scott-free from Orochimaru it hadn't occurred to him his destination until halfway home when he checked the address.

He knocked at the faded, gray apartment door. It swung open and there stood Gaara's father, or rather, according to the address on the parcel, Mr. Sabaku. He looked as thrilled to see Naruto as the first time they had met.

"Oh, it's you." He said. "Brought my stuff, have you?"

Naruto simply glanced down at the huge box in his arms and back up at the man. Did he really need to answer that?

"Come in. Put it on the table." Said the man.

Yeah, because Naruto really wanted to enter this house after what had happened last time. Still, it wasn't like he had much choice. Sabaku was a supplier now, which meant more authority in Orochimaru's ridiculous hierarchy. He walked in a put the box on the table, glancing around the apartment for Gaara. There was no sign of life. Sabaku quickly tore open the box. His greedy eyes shone as he saw the stacks and stacks of jarred pills inside. His expression changed to a scowl as he became aware of Naruto watching him. He closed the box.

"I'll be supplying you from now, which means you come to me when you need a fresh supply.

Oh joy, thought Naruto.

Sabaku glowered at the rebellious expression on the teens face.

"You'd better show me some respect from now on, Uzumaki. Cross me and you'll suffer more than losing your precious little pills. Understood?"

When Naruto didn't reply, Sabaku took a threatening step forward.

"I asked you a question." He said, and then emphasizing each word repeated, "Is. That. under. stood?"

Naruto glared dead ahead, not looking in the man's eyes. "Understood."

Sabaku relaxed slightly. "You will also stop hanging out with my son."

Naruto looked up sharply.

"I don't know what lies you've been feeding my boy, but they'll stop." continued Sabaku. "He's been staying out more and more lately. I don't like it, and I know you have something to do with it."

Was this man insane? Naruto couldn't resist opening his big mouth.

"You do know he stays out because he's avoiding you right? I'd do the same if I had to live with you."

Naruto dodged the hand that came flying toward him, but he didn't manage to avoid the second which caught him a stinging blow on the side of his head.

"What the fuck did I just say about respect?" said Sabaku. "You're poisoning my son with your fucking backtalk."

"He needs a friend!" shouted Naruto, backing up as the man advanced. "You're the one who's poisoning him. He's too scared to even speak, and I don't fucking blame him!"

Sabaku snapped. He grabbed Naruto by the collar and pushed him until Naruto's back hit a wooden bookcase, the shelves digging into his spine.

It rattled from the force and Naruto felt some objects fall past him and smash to the ground.

"Don't you EVER fucking talk back to me!" shouted Sabaku, slamming him against the book case again and again, making it rattle each time. "You think a little punk like you can just come in here and give me a lecture on MY parenting skills?" He moved his hands from Naruto's collar to his throat, and tightened his grip causing the boy to choke. He sneered. "I should break your neck right now."

Naruto let out a strangled laugh. "G-go ahead. I dare you."

He was sick of this. Sick of everyone hurting him. Sick of all the manipulation, the blackmail the lies. Hell, it would be a relief.

Sabaku glared at him angrily, the desire to kill coursing through him. His green eyes reminded Naruto of the Incredible Hulk, completely overtaken by anger. Eventually, however, the man took control of himself. He loosened his grip on Naruto and took a step back.

"I'm no fool." He said, breathing shallowly and wiped at his mouth where some spittle had gathered like foam. "I know better than to mess with Orochimaru's things."

Naruto let out a sigh whether of relief or disappointment he wasn't sure. He reached up to massage his bruised throat.

"Still," said Sabaku, "Don't think that I'm just going to forget." He touched the box on the table. "I have your drugs now, boy, which means if you ever want them again, you do as I say, and that means you stay away from my son."

Naruto glared at the man and the box. Before he could reply, however, the door to the apartment opened. In walked the very subject of their conversation.

Gaara looked at his father first, nervous fear evident in his eyes, and then noticed Naruto. When he spotted the box on the table, you could see the pieces being put together in his mind. The look he gave Naruto made the teen almost wish his father had choked him.

It was beyond disappointment. It was betrayal. But Naruto didn't have time to say anything before Gaara rushed over to him…and then past him.

The small boy gave out a strangled cry as he picked up a broken picture frame on the floor. In the picture was a family. Sabaku looked younger, almost happy with a grim smile. Standing next to him was a woman, her face had been cut by the shattered glass, pulling it into two pieces, so that the photo was destroyed. Was this Gaara's mother? Gaara pulled the photo out of the frame and clutched the torn paper to his chest.

"Gaara." Whispered Naruto. "I'm, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." The boy didn't turn to look at him, hiding his face as he held tightly to the photo.

"Good riddance to it." Hissed Sabaku. "I was sick of looking at that face anyway. May she rot in hell, and may you both follow. Now get out of my house, Uzumaki."

Naruto glared at the man. "This isn't over."

Gaara's father smiled for the first time. It was an unpleasant sadistic grin. "Oh, you can rely on that, boy."

Naruto opened the apartment door and walked quickly down the hallway. Hopefully Gaara would be ok. His father wasn't angry at him at least, so maybe he'd leave him alone. Naruto gripped his fists tightly. He hated having to leave that kind of situation.

He'd made it down to his own floor and had his fingers on the handle of the apartment door when he felt a tug at his shirt.

Gaara.

Naruto knelt down quickly. "You ok?"

Gaara just stared back. He was still holding the photo closely to himself.

"I'm sorry, Gaara. I didn't mean for something precious of yours to get broken."

Gaara said nothing…as usual, but his green eyes didn't show anger, so unlike those of his father's despite being the same colour.

Naruto swallowed. "Won't, uh, won't your dad be angry that you came down here?"

Gaara shrugged.

"I..don't want to get you into more trouble you know." Naruto raked his hand through his hair. "I don't get what his problem is anyway. He shouldn't be allowed to treat you like that. By all rights, he should be in jail." Naruto gritted his teeth. "I would put him there if I could."

Gaara shook his head.

He put the torn corner of the photo into his pocket and showed Naruto the picture. The face of his mother was now only a smile. It would have looked carefree were it not for the fact the other half of her head was missing. Gaara pointed at his mum and then at himself.

Naruto frowned. "I don't understand."

Gaara pointed again at his mum, his brow creasing in frustration and then at himself.

"Gaara," began Naruto. "I don't…"

"My fault." whispered Gaara. His quiet voice was hoarse from not being used, but the words were clear. It took Naruto a few moments to understand the meaning as he looked at the photo again and back at Gaara.

"What? What do you mean? What's your fault?"

Gaara looked down, small tears beginning to form in the corners of his eyes.

"My fault." He whispered again.

"Your fault?" Repeated Naruto. "Did she…did she die?"

Gaara nodded and some tears dropped down his cheeks. He put his hand up and scrubbed his eyes quickly. "I was born." he whispered. "She died. My fault."

"Oh." Said Naruto. The realization weighed down on him heavily.

He put his hands on Gaara's shoulders.

"Gaara, look at me."

The small boy lifted his eyes up to meet Naruto's.

"There is no way you could have controlled any of that. Your mother chose to have you because she loved you. Her death is not your fault."

Gaara looked away.

"No, Gaara, look at me." Said Naruto again. Gaara did so reluctantly. "You were a baby. No matter what your dad says to you, remember what I tell you right now. It wasn't your fault."

And as he said those words with such conviction, Naruto felt a weight lift from his own shoulders. Maybe, despite what everyone had told him about the deaths of Konoha, it hadn't been his fault either. He'd always known it…but never…felt it.

"Believe me," he continued, "I know a thing or two about guilt, and there is no point in beating yourself up over something that you had no control over. I bet your mom was so happy she could have you. She would have done anything to keep you alive. That's all a good mom wants." He smiled and stood up. "I bet she'd be proud of you, Red."

Gaara looked up at him and sniffed.

"How about we go get some ice cream, you and me. I think you need some." Said Naruto. "Wait here."

He ran inside to his room. Shunsuke was nowhere to be seen, thank goodness. He dove under his bed. He counted the wooden slats, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. That was it. He felt in the crevice between the slat and his mattress and pulled out a wad of money. His savings from when Orochimaru had paid him. He had made 160 dollars in that short time. It was already down to 100 what with the arcade and food shopping. He'd have to start saving or find a way to make more in time, but right now that wasn't his priority.

He ran out to meet Gaara at the door with a smile on his face, but the little boy was gone. All that greeted him was an empty hallway. Naruto sighed, still holding the money.

"I guess he wanted to be alone." He muttered to himself.

He couldn't blame the kid. Naruto had just been supplying his father with drugs. Who knew what he thought of him now? The teen went back inside, slamming the gray, apartment door behind him.