Story: Melancholia Chapter 16
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
A/N: I'm back with moreee (although I'm not really that proud of this chapter and it's super short, sorry...)

Replies to Reviews:

Shippingshoujo chapter 15 . 19h ago

This chapter was good to read! Really hope you continue the story!

Glad you like it! I plan to!

GunBlade2020 chapter 15 . Oct 5

Hi there

Naruto really vented in this chapter, but I think it was for the best to do it in front of Tsunade.

Keep up the great writing and stay safe!

Yes, Tsunade will play a big role in this, so I felt having Naruto finally beginning to unravel and fall apart was the best option, to let both himself and others know he needs help, that he doesn't have everything under control. I also feel like Naruto bottles up a lot of frustration and bitterness from his days as a child into the present that he doesn't let out much, so I wanted some of that to come to the surface finally. And thank you!

The Keeper of Worlds chapter 15 . Oct 4

Man, the sheer scope of pain I can feel for Naruto here is extreme to unreal levels.

Yes, my boy is going through so much... I feel so bad for him, but things will get better, I promise! ;w;

...

ONTO LE STORY~

For Sasuke, the Ninja Academy held a lot of memories, both good and bad. Some in particular that stuck out to him most had to be some of his sparring matches with Naruto. Ever since he could remember, they'd always been at each other's throats. But somehow, it had always made him feel a little… less alone to know that there was somebody out there a little bit like him. And yet, it also scared him, being reminded of his family.

So for so long, he'd desperately tried to push those feelings back.

And then he was put on Team 7, and once again, he was consumed by it; that familiar warmth. The comfort of being part of something important again, having comrades and people who cared about him, who he cared about. Sakura, Naruto, Kakashi… No matter what happened, he never wanted to lose those precious to him, not again. His family was gone now, but he had to do something about what was before him. He knew this.

No matter what he'd tried to tell himself before, Kakashi was right. Even Tsunade had been as well. He needed to focus on what was important right now. His recent encounter with Itachi, even with Orochimaru aside, had made him lose sight for nearly a month, but he couldn't let it consume him. He wanted - needed - to get stronger, but not like this, not the way Itachi or Orochimaru told him to. Least of all as the way things were.

Because of how close Iruka and Naruto were, He had figured Iruka might have some answers about Naruto's possible abusers or at least might be able to get some answers from Naruto about them.

Several children passed him by in the hallways, filling him with a sense of nostalgia. He hadn't even been by this place in months, so it was kind of odd, and yet as he watched the children bantering amongst one another, he couldn't help but stifle a small smirk, but chose to ignore the situation, heading on to his destination.

Upon reaching Iruka's classroom, Sasuke was familiar enough with the academy that he even didn't even bother knocking, instead just sliding open the door without hesitation. He knew that class was still in session, but quite frankly, he didn't care. Naruto was what mattered now.

Iruka was writing something on the chalkboard when Sasuke walked in.

"Oh, Sasuke!" Iruka smiled nervously, taken aback. "I didn't expect you to come by. Is there something I can help you with?"

Barely, the two picked up on whispers from Konohamaru, Moegi and Udon, who were inquiring why Sasuke was there. Sasuke paused for a second, noticing the way the kids were looking at him, but didn't even bother with formalities, jumping to the chase. "There's something I need to ask you… Preferably alone."

Judging by the look in Sasuke's eyes and his tone, this was something that needed to be kept private and Iruka complied. Whatever it was must be important. After all, Sasuke wasn't the type that bothered with such things if they weren't.

"Of course. Do you mind waiting outside for a second?" Iruka urged, and Sasuke did as asked, stepping out of the room. Shortly after, Iruka followed behind.

"Sorry about that…" Iruka apologized, scratching the back of his head, before speaking back up in a low voice. "So what was it you needed to talk to me about?"

"It's about Naruto…" For a long moment, Sasuke kept his eyes down as he tried to think of a way to word his question. "…I was wondering if you knew about the Kyuubi… and how that thing is inside of him…"

He was sure he did. He just needed to make absolutely certain to know they were on the same page.

"…Yes, I do… Why are you asking about it…?" Iruka wanted to know. In all honesty, this was the last thing he expected Sasuke to bring up, and he couldn't help but wonder how Sasuke even knew. Then again, it somehow wasn't really that surprising at this point. Many people did. And he was Naruto's teammate, so it shouldn't be that big of a shock by now.

"What about the villagers…?" He asked. "Do you think it's possible that they could be hurting him? He mentioned something briefly about it the other day, but you're probably closer to him, so I thought you might know something about it…" Sasuke murmured. In truth, he'd once in a while caught sight of what appeared to be bruises on Naruto's skin, sometimes his wrists and other places, even all the way back in the academy, but it wasn't all that often, and he usually just passed it off as training accidents because of how reckless he was. But now, he couldn't get the possibility or the concern out of his mind.

"No, I…" Iruka paused for a moment, pondering it, as similar memories suddenly popped into his own head as well. Just like Sasuke, he had never thought much of it either, since Naruto always claimed it was from an accident, but now that the idea was posed, he looked at Sasuke, suddenly alarmed. "What's going on? Has something happened…?"

"Yeah, Naruto's been-" Sasuke started to say, but was cut off by Sakura's voice.

"Iruka-sensei, Hokage-sama sent me to tell you she needs to speak with you! It's urgent…" Sakura said, before feeling a bit of surprise when she noticed Sasuke there.

"What? Right now?" Iruka was shocked. "I can't just leave. I've got a class to look after…!"

"She said you'll have to cut it short… Sorry…" Sakura told him regrettably.

Iruka shook his head, sighing. "No, don't apologize. It isn't your fault… Thank you for letting me know, Sakura… And you as well, Sasuke. I'll be sure to talk to Naruto later, alright…?"

If somebody was hurting Naruto, Iruka definitely wanted to know about it. And he would get answers.

Sasuke decided there was no point in telling Iruka about Naruto's self-harm anymore himself, because Tsunade clearly already knew by now and would be relaying the information to him herself.

It was just his hope that Naruto would be compliant because the only other person he could think of that might know was The Third Hokage, and he was dead now. And Naruto had already cut down Sasuke before, so getting him to open up to him was most likely impossible, which was the only reason he'd chosen to involve Iruka and Kakashi with his inquiry.

Sakura had a similar notion in mind.

She looked at Sasuke after Iruka and his class left. "What are you doing here, Sasuke-kun? I knew you said you had something important to take of, but I didn't know this was where you were going."

"Yeah, well there was something I needed to ask him… Come on, we should probably get going…" When he said that and started to walk off, Sakura wondered if she should talk to Sasuke about the stuff Naruto told her on the ship. As it was, she was certain she was the only one who knew about it.

"Sasuke-kun, wait…" She called out, catching his attention.

"What is it...?" He looked back, his hands in his pocket.

"There's something…" Sakura looked down. She hadn't even told Kakashi or Tsunade about this nor talked further about it with Naruto himself. But if Naruto left the hospital, then the stuff that had been happening to him would just keep happening. Somebody needed to know.

But… To say that villagers had been…

To say that Naruto had went through something like that…

Naruto had already had so much stolen from him… The choice to open up about it… That should be his to make, just that one, at the very least. And something in her just couldn't take that from him.

She wanted to let somebody know, she wanted more than anything to protect him and stop it from happening again, but the idea of taking the only thing he had left… it tore her heart to pieces.

She couldn't do it, not that.

"Sakura? Is something the matter?" Sasuke inquired for her to speak up.

"No, you're right, we should go. Naruto and Kakashi-sensei were heading to the hospital when I came here, so they're most likely already there by now." She said weakly, before walking on up ahead, receiving a somewhat observant glance from Sasuke.

Even if she did have to wait for Naruto to make the choice to speak up about what he went through, she would stick by his side every step of the way. It was the least she could do for him.

And yet, the same question as before once again nagged at her: What about when Naruto got out of the hospital? What if he still refused to tell them and nothing changed...?

She knew she needed to do something, but she felt so helpless.

…

So this chapter is to put some realism to Naruto's situation from both sides. Sasuke doesn't know the whole story, but just like Sakura, he's very worried, and Sakura is feeling like telling somebody else would hurt Naruto, since she wants it to be his choice to open up, but this concern is realistic. Because she also is aware that not getting somebody else involved could hurt him too, in fact far more. It's a lesson that, even if you're afraid to get somebody else involved, you should still always tell somebody if it's still going on. If it was something of the past, that's a different situation, because that should be a choice, but if it's still going on that's an entirely different matter and is very serious. You can't just turn a blind eye to such things.

Anyway, this wasn't a lot, but I hope you all enjoyed what there was. Next chapter, I'm thinking of bringing in Ino and showing more stuff with Iruka and Naruto, so ye!