Path Of The Broken Fox
Chapter One: Beginning Of the Broken Fox
Summary: What happens when Naruto breaks down at the Valley of the End and tries to commit suicide as a result? What happens when Sakura is the only one who can save him from an asylum and set him back onto greatness? What if the only way to accomplish that is to marry Naruto and strike a deal with Kyuubi? Warning: dark and violent beginning!
Arthur Note: I had remade my story from my old account, Fox Anbu Assassin. I had medical issues and other personal things that kept me from writing for the last four to eight years. I still have medical issues though, anyway I will be reworking on old and new stories. Furthermore, I had also improved my grammar, spelling, as well as made my stories longer. Every chapter after the first chapter, I will be answering questions. If you have any ideas or want to give me your advice about the story, I will accept it and maybe add it to the story. Also, Naruto will not have the toad summon contract, instead, he will have different ones.
Arthur Note number two: I also want to recommend a story. Broken Fox by Triforce Guardian. He had permitted me on my old account to write my version of his story, He did say I can use the First Chapter and half Of his Second Chapter. Kurama is a boy and doesn't have a human form in this story. Orochimaru, Danzo, Kabuto, Sasuke, Council, and Akatsuki will have bigger roles. The Five Great Villages and The Sound Village will have a bigger role.
Arthur Note number three: Konoha Twelve will be 18 and older. Everyone is older in this story.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: IF YOU WANT PROOF THAT HE GAVE ME PERMISSION TO DO HIS CHALLENGE AND NEED PROOF THAT HE HAS PERMITTED ME TO USE THE FIRST TWO CHAPTERS OF HIS STORY, WRITE ME THROUGH THREW FANFICTION APP SINCE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY I CAN SEND PICTURES OF THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN TRIFORCE GUARDIAN AND ME.
Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Naruto. What I do own the rights are my original characters, Justus, and other things I made up for the story.
At the Valley of no end, Sasuke Uchiha is facing the opposite of his friend and rival Naruto Uzumaki, similar to the two giant statues. One is Madara Uchiha, the other is his friend and rival Hashirama Senju.
Naruto was panting heavily as he stood there staring at Sasuke. Sasuke was also panting, as they had been fighting each other for an hour already. You can see the blood dripping from their mouths. Their faces are swelling up, Naruto's left eye is black and blue, while Sasuke's left eye is black and blue. Both boys' clothes had holes and rips from their fight.
The sounds of the waterfall crashed around them, the wind blowing, which caused a cold chill down their backs, the two statues almost seeming like they were staring down at the two as if this battle was more than just a simple fight. It was a contest of wills, a fight to see who was right in their beliefs.
Naruto, with his belief that the village was your family, your home, and that your loyalty should never be shaken.
Sasuke, whose mission of vengeance, honoring the dead had driven him to try to run to Orochimaru, who holds promises of power that will help him end Itachi once and for all.
Both boys believed heavily in their precepts, and neither could be shaken from them. Or, at least, that's what each other always thought.
Some birds flew by as the two boys just stared at each other. Neither of them had blinked an eye as one of the birds flew down and grabbed a fish before flying away.
Sasuke ran at Naruto and swung his fist at him, Naruto dodged it, before he brought his knee to Sasuke's chest, which caused Sasuke to lose his breath for a second. Naruto then sent a kick to Sasuke's head, which sent him a few feet away.
Both boys started to go through hand signs.
'Fire Release: Fireball Jutsu.' Sasuke thought before he sent a big ball of fire at Naruto.
'Water Release: Water Dragon Jutsu.' Naruto thought before he sent a dragon made from water to stop the fireball.
"Why can't you just give up, Sasuke?' Naruto asked as stared at Sasuke.
"You won't understand, you never had a family, you don't know what it's like to lose everything because of one person, the one person you looked up to." Sasuke said.
Both boys ran at each other, Sasuke punched Naruto in his jaw, while Naruto knee Sasuke in his stomach. Naruto then did a kick to the back of Sasuke's knee, followed by grabbing Sasuke's shoulders and throwing him. While in mid-air, Sasuke threw four to five Kunais at Naruto, which Naruto had to dodge.
The next thing Naruto knew, Sasuke had sent a ball that was made of fire at him which forced Naruto to jump out of the way, both boys landed in different directions from each other.
Sasuke started to do some hand signs to make a Chidori, while Naruto had summoned a shadow clone to help him make a Rasengan. Both boys had begun to stare at each other. The wind started to blow a little harder, which is causing both boys' hair to move in all different directions. A leaf fell from a tree, as it landed on the water both boys started to run at each other with their jutsus.
"Naaaruuuttoooo!" Sasuke yelled as he swung his lightning-covered hand at his friend.
"Saaaasuuukeeee!" Naruto yelled as he swung his hand with a blue orb at his friend.
Both boys' jutsus had connected, which had caused both of them to throw in the opposite direction of each other.
Naruto's right arm sleeve isn't there anymore, you can see blood dripping from his right arm. Naruto has to pop his arm back in place.
"Ahhh." Naruto screams from the pain.
Naruto noticed that Sasuke's left arm is dripping blood but unlike him, Sasuke has a bone sticking out of the skin of his left arm, no doubt it's from the crash of both of their jutsus.
Naruto glanced around, his face never betraying anything but his mind reeling and somewhat nervous from the presence he felt.
'Damnit, Orochimaru must be desperate to get Sasuke there. I guess the snake is still hurting from the old man using the Shinigami to cut off his soul's arms.' Naruto thought as he closed his eyes, sensing at least fifteen people.
Naruto had reopened his eyes, seeing Sasuke grabbing a Kunai with his good hand.
' I wonder why they haven't made a move yet, unless…ah, there you are, Kabuto. Come here to see just how powerful we both are? You're a pathetic traitor, getting your kicks from watching this. At least with Orochimaru, he only plays around with you when he wants to test your limits, but your joy is watching people's pain and suffering.' Naruto thought as he grabbed a Kunai from his pouch.
Naruto keeps trying to come up with a plan, but unfortunately, Kabuto has the numbers on his side and none of the leaf Shinobi are nearby.
'Even if I do beat Sasuke, you'll prevent me from taking him back to the village.' Naruto thought as he looked at Sasuke, who was reaching into his shuriken pouch.
Sasuke threw two shurikens and Kunais in the air and started going through hand signs with one hand.
'Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique' Sasuke thought with a smirk before the two shurikens and two kunai turned into forty shurikens and kunai that were heading towards Naruto.
Naruto didn't have anywhere to dodge them, so he took them head-on, using his kunai to reflect as many as he could.
"Ahh." Naruto screams as he gets hit by the kunai and shurikens.
The kunai in Naruto's shoulder and right leg were aching, though it's not like the wounds were too serious. However, the one in his side was getting to be excruciating and making it a little hard to breathe from the pain. Thankfully, they had missed any major blood vessels or organs, though they were still impeding Naruto's movements. It was odd that Kyuubi wasn't healing his wounds immediately, but then again, he was just probably being spiteful about Naruto being his jailer.
Sasuke started to go through hand signs, as he bites his lip, to help deal with the pain from his broken arm.
'Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique.' Sasuke thought before he spits a volley of small fireballs at Naruto.
Naruto started going through hand signs before he slammed his hands down to the lake.
'Water Release: Great Water Wall.' Naruto thought as a wall of water came out the water from their feet and blocked the fireballs.
As the wall of water came down, Sasuke was in the air, sending four kunais at Naruto. Naruto jumps out of the way and sends a set of kunai at Sasuke which one hits Sasuke's broken arm.
"Ahh!" Sasuke screams from the pain.
The kunai in Naruto's hands slipped to the ground, and Naruto fell to his knee while lowering his head, confusing Sasuke a little.
'Why do I keep fighting? I mean, seriously, what's going to change? Even if I do get Sasuke back, everything will just go back to normal. Kakashi will just keep on being a lazy pervert. Sakura will just keep fawning over him while calling me an idiot and hitting me across the head. Grandma will just slap Sasuke on the hand and give him some sort of punishment while trying to keep the council happy. Perverted Sage
will keep on peeping on girls while barely training me.' Naruto thought as he wiped the blood that was coming into his eyes.
'I'll still be scorned, regardless of what I do. People will just keep ignoring me or whispering behind my back about the furball. They'll keep on wanting to see how far I'll go before I'll eventually fail. They'll never respect me. I'll never become Hokage, the council will make sure of that. This is all just so…pointless…, I will be hated, no matter what I do.' Naruto thought.
Naruto finally raised his head again and looked back at Sasuke, his brother in everything but blood, but his eyes looked almost dead, which unnerved Sasuke greatly.
Naruto was one of those people who was always so full of life and energy. No matter what the situation, he never lost hope in himself or his comrades and tried his hardest to make things right. But now, he just seemed so broken.
'Come on, Naruto. This isn't like you. Get up and fight! Prove to me your strength!' Sasuke thought.
Sasuke put on a sneer before he said, "What's the matter, Dobe? Giving up already? I haven't even got the chance to use the Cursed Seal power yet. Maybe you are weak after all!"
Naruto would have normally risen to the bait, but now he just looked at Sasuke with those eyes before sighing and lowering his head again.
"What's the point, Sasuke? What does any of this prove in the end? It's not like if one of us loses, it's going to say that person is wrong. Besides, even if I did go all out and possibly defeat you, it's not like I'll get that far in taking you back." Naruto said.
Sasuke looked confused for a second, and Naruto sighed again. "Can't you sense them? The Sound ninjas, all waiting in the forests on their side of the river? The moment I defeat you — if I could find it within me to do so — they'll just pop out of their hiding places and take you away while killing me. I guess Orochimaru wants to make sure you make it to him."
Sasuke stretched out with his senses, and his eyes widened when he realized Naruto was right. He growled a little and angrily gestured towards them.
"What does it matter, Naruto? If they were going to interfere, they would have done so already! All that matters is we prove once and for all who is the strongest between the two of us!" Sasuke said as he ran up to Naruto and sent a kick to Naruto's head, surprised to see that Naruto didn't block the kick.
The kick had pushed Naruto back a few feet while he was still on his knees.
Naruto chuckled mirthlessly, his empty laughter stinging Sasuke a little, before asking, "And then what? If you win, you'll kill me to get those eyes to defeat your brother and carry out your vengeance. Subsequently, you'll realize that you've spent so much time chasing after power, you've forgotten other important things like finding love and happiness. Does Itachi need to die? Sure, I'll agree with you on that. But don't you think that if you just asked me, I would have helped you?"
Sasuke scowled and said bitterly, "Only I can be the one to kill Itachi! I can't have anyone else getting involved, or else the honor of our fight would be sullied. Two or three on one is not the way I want to end this!"
Naruto's chuckle now turned into a hollow laugh. "You forget that even Uchiha need teammates to watch their backs. Hell, even Itachi did when he was still in ANBU! Do you think that Itachi had reached the peak of his power that night? That he'll stay at that level just so you could catch up? If you believe that, then you are not smart like people think you are." Naruto said.
"You may be a prodigy, Sasuke, but don't forget he was too. And don't forget that he probably won't be alone either when you find him. Even if it's only one guy, no doubt he would be strong too. Suddenly, your one-on-one battle has become two-on-one, with you alone. Think you could become so strong as to fight two S-class missing-nin and still alive after the battle? You have a better chance of becoming the next Fire Daimyo." Naruto said as he wiped the blood from his broken nose.
Sasuke was starting to get furious. "Don't act like you know everything, Dobe! You're just trying to use words to deter me from my path, but they don't mean anything!"
Naruto's laugh this time filled the valley, a mad cackling that screamed pain and loneliness to those who could hear it. "You're right! It's all meaningless because nothing matters, regardless of what I say or do! Even if I did manage to drag your ass back to Konoha, I'll just get shunted off to the side again! And if I don't? I'll probably be even more hated than before, this time with our team turning their backs on me — AGAIN! " Naruto said as he started to stand up.
"You would think that while Kakashi was training you for the Chunin Exams, he could have just pulled me off to the side and used a Kage Bunshin to train me as well. But, no! He didn't! And why? Because he seriously wasn't concerned about what happened to me! Hell, he was probably hoping you would use his ultimate technique on me when we faced each other so that he could be rid of me!" Naruto said he was starting to pull out the kunai.
"So, he just shunted me off to the side with some piece of shit of a teacher and taught you everything he could! I know he taught you more than just the Chidori and how to move faster! Hell, if all three of us had managed to get through the Exams, I know he would have still made the same move. Only then he would have taken Sakura along while spouting off some bullshit about her needing some intense training to ensure her survival and needing to concentrate on just you two!" Naruto said as he threw the kunai away from him.
"Sakura? She probably would have just agreed with anything that was said, just so that she could be with her precious 'Sasuke-kuuuun'! Because let's face it, I don't have a snowball's chance in hell of ever getting her to like me, regardless of how many times I try to help her! Hell, I never even have friends. You all treated me like shit." Naruto popped his nose back in place.
Naruto laughed the same laugh again, which was starting to tear at Sasuke as little as he watched his normally exuberant brother give in to his grief and frustration. He did this for a few more seconds before continuing his rant.
"You think Neji wouldn't have tried to kill me? I can damn sure tell you that if he hadn't underestimated me, he probably would have! That's because even when Jiraiya taught me, I still learned next to nothing except for summoning! Where was that mighty Rasengan technique when I could have needed it, instead of it being something to keep me occupied and out of his hair when we were looking for Grandma? What about some sort of taijutsu that could have helped me evade those Jyuuken strikes that hurt like hell?" Naruto said as he gave Sasuke a smirk that sent chills down his spine.
Naruto disappears then reappears in front of Sasuke. Naruto sent a knee to Sasuke's stomach before he threw him in Madara's statue.
"Hell, even if I had tried to summon one of the toads to help me, they probably would have blown me off because the Boss Toad would have claimed I wasn't ready to use them yet! The only reason he helped me in that fight with Gaara was because of the Ichibi and probably had some sort of duty to Konoha to help protect it, not because I needed the help!" Naruto said as he started to walk up to Sasuke who started to pick himself up from the ground.
The dark clouds were starting to form, a few droplets of rain falling from them every here and there. A few tears were falling on Naruto's face, but he hardly noticed them nor the broken smile on his lips.
Naruto gestured wildly to the sky and yelled, "It's all because it's meaningless! Every. Single. Things. I. Do. Is. MEANINGLESS! All I am is just some weapon for the village to use and then put aside when they're done with me because MY happiness and MY dreams don't matter!" Naruto said as he sent a kick to Sasuke's ribs, which caused him to cough up some blood.
"Get up Sasuke." Naruto yelled before he sent another kick to Sasuke's ribs.
"Naruto, I-" Sasuke didn't get the chance to finish because Naruto kicked him in his jaw, which sent him a few feet away from Naruto.
"I am not done talking." Naruto said as he started to walk towards Sasuke.
"I'm not a person to them; I'm a TOOL! A THING! And 'things' don't have feelings! They're just meant to be used! What's even better, the power that I'm encouraged to utilize for the 'good of the village' comes from the Kyuubi — the very thing that the very village despises and hates because it attacked our home the very day I was born! So suddenly, I'm not only the person Kyuubi was sealed into, I've suddenly become the Kyuubi, which gives them the excuse to pile on the hatred and misery because they somehow feel justified in doing it! Did I ask for this? Did I say that I wanted to live this life? Did I want some fuzzy murdering chakra entity put inside me? NO! Because it's all just some big, god-damned cosmic JOKE that's being played, and I'm the god-damn punchline!" Naruto started to laugh again.
"Come on, Sasuke, laugh. You all laughed at me before, why are you not laughing with me." Naruto said as he went to send a kick to Sasuke, but Sasuke hurried and got away from the kick.
His grin was starting to turn more and more insane, his eyes widening to match, and he raised his arms and head towards the sky and screamed, "So, come on! Laugh with me about my pointless life! Laugh with me at the gods' cruel jokes! COME ON! LAUGH WITH MEEEEEE!"
His broken laughter sounded through the air and seemed to travel for miles, cutting through the rain and reaching the ears of everyone nearby. The Sound Ninjas, even Kabuto, could only stare wide-eyed at this child who exuded such misery and loneliness that it had broken him in so many ways.
'This boy is scaring me, more than Orochimaru.' All the Sound Shinobi thought.
'The Leaf Village has finally broken another Shinobi or created another monster like me.' Kabuto thought.
Kakashi, and Anko, having finished their A-rank and were going to help Naruto's team secure Sasuke, had arrived just in time to hear Naruto rant and were staring wide-eyed from the treeline as well.
'If only the brat had asked me, I would have trained him, I should have just offered. We are alike in so many ways.' Anko had thought.
'Does Naruto really think that I'm not concerned about what happens to him? I only got Ebisu to teach the boy because I thought Naruto's chakra control needed a little work before being taught anything new. I hadn't known it was because of a seal until later, and by the time that had been discovered, Jiraiya was teaching him, so I just figured it all worked out in the end. How was I to know the famed pervert would ignore him? He's the kid's godfather, for crying out loud!' Kakashi thought as he saw Naruto kick Sasuke in the ribs.
Yet, Kakashi knew that Naruto's words were ringing true. He could have taken Naruto along for training and done just what Naruto had said. In fact, he should have taken all of his team on the trip so that Sakura would have been able to get her skills up while Naruto and Sasuke prepared for the Finals, but he had focused so much on Sasuke fighting Gaara that he'd forgotten that Neji was a dangerous opponent as well.
Kakashi lowered his head in shame and thought, 'Minato-sensei, Kushina-sama, Obito, Rin, Father — I've failed all of you…'
Sasuke just stared wide-eyed at his broken friend before him before looking away. Both of them had suffered, but Naruto had suffered more — that much Sasuke could tell. To kill him just so Sasuke could get the Mangekyo Sharingan wouldn't prove anything. In fact, killing Naruto probably wouldn't grant him anything except guilt, as he didn't truly understand the boy before him.
He had only seen the mask Naruto wore, not the boy behind it, and therefore, how could he call Naruto his best friend when he didn't really know him?
Naruto's laughter finally began to die down before turning to sobs as the boy fell to his knees. A few minutes of this passed, before Sasuke looked back at him and asked, "What now, Naruto?"
Naruto didn't look at him, but he chuckled darkly through his tears. "As I said, whatever I do is pointless. Return you to Konoha or lose you to Orochimaru — I still lose in the end."
Still, he chose this path, and he was going to see it through the end, damn the consequences. Sasuke slowly walked to Naruto and knelt down to lay a hand on the boy's shoulder, causing Naruto to raise his blank eyes towards the Uchiha.
Sasuke stared into those eyes for a few seconds before growling out, "You'd better get stronger, Naruto. The next time we face each other, I want a battle worthy of both our skills.
"Hang on to that for me." Sasuke said as he quickly undid his headband, slashing the metal plate before shoving it into Naruto's pocket.
Before Naruto could say anything, Sasuke then chopped the blond's neck, sending him into unconsciousness. He stood on his feet as the Sound Shinobi surrounded them.
Kabuto looked at Naruto's prone form before turning to Sasuke and asking, "Well? Shall we just kill him now and be done with it?"
Sasuke shook his head and started walking towards Rice Country's border. "No, It's not worth anything to kill a broken person."
Kabuto nodded his head slightly and said, "As you wish. Come on. Orochimaru-sama is waiting for you."
Sasuke nodded, and they all body flicker away, leaving Naruto alone in the valley.
Kakashi and Anko chose this moment to come out of the trees, Pakkun following closely, and the little pug examined Naruto's injuries for a few seconds.
He then looked at Kakashi and said, "The boy's injuries aren't too bad, though I wonder why his tenant isn't healing him. We could still catch up to Sasuke if you want."
Kakashi looked to the borders and then shook his head before he began to speak, "No. They were jounins in that group, and Kabuto is almost ANBU level or stronger. Fighting them would be suicide, even if We weren't only at half strength. Immediately, we need to secure Naruto and his team and get them back to Konoha. Hopefully, when I debrief Tsunade-sama, we can figure out a way to fix this mess with Naruto. Kami, what have we done?"
"A few of them had cursed seal marks, just like the six others that helped the Uchiha brat get here." Anko said as she picked up Naruto and put him on her back.
Pakkun nodded his head and dispelled, intending to go to Konoha to inform Tsunade of the wounded. Kakashi and Anko started to rush off towards Konoha.
'We'll fix this, Naruto. We'll fix everything.' They thought as they began jumping from tree to tree.
Several hours later…
'Curse the old man for taking away my arms, I need to find a way to get my arms back soon.' Orochimaru thought before he took over another person's body.
Sasuke has just arrived with Kabuto. Orochimaru smiled when he saw Sasuke.
"Glad that you can make it, Sasuke. Kabuto takes care of Sasuke's broken arm and wounds before you show him where he will be sleeping." Orochimaru said before Kabuto led Sasuke to a room to take care of him.
'Soon your eyes will be mine." Orochimaru thought with a smirk.
Meanwhile at the Leaf Village….
Tsunade sighed as she leaned back into her chair. She and Shizune had spent the better part of the day trying to repair the damage that had been done to her Shinobi.
Chouji Akamichi suffered from extreme muscle loss and chakra overdose thanks to his family's special pills. Neji Hyuga had multiple arrow wounds, with the one in his shoulder going straight through and nearly hitting his heart. Kiba Inuzuka's injuries were lighter, but his partner Akamaru had been injured protecting him, and it wasn't clear if the dog was going to make it.
Results were good so far, but it would be a battle for the puppy for a few days. Shikamaru Nara, the Chunin team leader for the mission, only suffered from a couple of broken fingers from his family's jutsu but was otherwise fine and currently sitting in her office with Kakashi and Anko to be debriefed. It was thanks to the Sabaku siblings, Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro, that she even had Shinobi coming back alive instead of in body bags.
Shikamaru had currently informed her of everything he knew regarding the mission, thanks to his questions to the Suna Shinobi, but there was still one glaring hole in the story regarding Naruto and Sasuke's fight, as Naruto had gone on alone to try to get Sasuke to come back.
She turned to Kakashi and Anko, who hadn't spoken a word since coming into her office and was instead staring off into space with a look that something was on their mind.
Wondering what was bothering the man, she nevertheless asked, "Kakashi?, Anko? You were the only ones aside from Naruto who could know what had happened in the Valley of the End. Can you please tell me what you saw?"
Kakashi turned his head towards the Fifth Hokage and sighed a little before saying, "After Anko and I had left Konoha, We started to push a little more chakra into our legs so we could reach Naruto in time to aid with Sasuke. For that reason, We got there just as the two of them had a pause in their fight. Both Naruto and Sasuke were wounded, Naruto the most, but not heavily. I was about to join in the battle until Naruto started talking. I think he was trying to get Sasuke to see his side and explain to him that he wasn't alone. Unfortunately, I think the message struck too close to home for Naruto, and he seemed to start breaking down at a massive rate. I mean, Kami, just listening to the boy's voice as he ranted about everything…"
He ran a hand through his hair as he looked down., then Anko had spoken up, "I've never heard anyone sound that broken, and the Third Shinobi War broke countless people."
Tsunade frowned at their words. Naruto, sound broken? Those words didn't exactly mix, what with Naruto being the bundle of energy he was. She needed to examine this further.
She pulled out the Sandaime's orb and gestured to it. Before she began to speak, "This orb my sensei made not only makes it easier to see things within the village, it allows a person to project their memories for all to see. If you'll just put your hand on the seal, we'll be able to see and hear just what Naruto was talking about."
Kakashi looked at the orb and sighed after a few seconds. As he started to move his hand towards the seal, he said, "Believe me when I say this. On the one hand, you'll want to hear this, but on the other, you really don't."
He placed his hand on the seal, and the orb lit up and showed the image of Kakashi and Anko arriving at the valley. Not one thing was missed, showing Naruto ranting about his life being meaningless, Sasuke knocking Naruto out, and the Sound Shinobi showing up with Kabuto before leaving with Sasuke.
When the orb was done, Tsunade was staring at the orb in shock. That couldn't have been Naruto. There's no way he would have given up like that. Shit, the kid faced down Orochimaru twice, fought Kabuto, for Kami's sake, and still couldn't be beaten down. I need to look into this further.
The female Hokage turned to the jounins and asked, "Where is Naruto now?"
Anko just shook her head. "I got him to the hospital, but with his injuries as they were, he didn't need to stay there. For all I know, he could be anywhere in the village now."
"Find him. We need to get him to Inoichi to ascertain if he is a suicide-risk, or he's just playing lost it, and do it quick. The last thing we need is some idiot civilian deciding to make this worse."
Kakashi and Anko nodded their heads slowly, Kakashi's mind going through a few of Naruto's familiar haunts until a glaring problem popped into his head.
A glaring, pink-haired, green-eyed, female problem.
"SHIT! SAKURA!" Kakashi yelled before he jumped out of the window.
Sakura was currently striding quickly through the village, hoping to find her wayward teammate. She had heard through the grapevine that Naruto had failed to bring Sasuke back to the village — not that she was really surprised, as Sasuke was on a slightly higher level than Naruto was — but she wanted to hear the words straight from the horse's mouth. Besides, she wanted to check and make sure at least one of "her" boys was okay since she knew the two of them would have fought pretty hard.
'Naruto had better not have hurt Sasuke-kun too badly in the fight, though. If he did, then he is going to get a piece of my mind.' Sakura thought.
"CHAAA! MAKE SURE THAT BAKA KNOWS HIS PLACE!" Inner Sakura said as she punched her fist.
She cracked her knuckles without thought and continued to look around the area. She was rewarded for her efforts when she saw him sitting on a bench in the park. Not only that, but she found it rather odd that people were shooting him weird looks and walking around him to keep a distance. But then again, he just seemed to be giving off this odd aura of gloominess and depression.
His entire body seemed to slump forward, his head lowered so she or anyone else couldn't see it. His hands lay limply in his lap as he stared at them, his orange jacket is in a trash can that is near him, leaving him only in his orange pants with dry blood, black shirt, and navy ninja shoes. Sakura showed a little sad frown and slowly walked over to him.
'Poor Naruto. He's probably taking Sasuke's betrayal pretty hard. Oh! well. Once I tell him everything will be alright and reassure him I'm not angry, he'll come back around in a few days.' Sakura said as she got closer to him.
When she got to him, he didn't make any movement to show he knew she was there, and Sakura wondered if maybe he was asleep. As she debated whether to wake him, she nearly jumped out of her skin when Naruto said quietly, "Hello, Sakura."
Sakura tried to calm her rapidly beating heart, but she put on a soft smile and said, "Hello, Naruto. I've been trying to find you for a little while now. I wanted to see if you're okay."
He made a lackluster shrug and mumbled, "'M fine."
She frowned again and wondered, 'What the hell? Seriously, Naruto's never this depressed. What happened out there?'
Making the frown go away once more, she smiled again as she sat next to him, then she began to speak, "Be that as it may, I still want to make sure you're alright. Now hold still."
He barely even twitched when she laid a hand on his arm and started to gently run a hand along with him, a steady stream of green chakra flashing from her palm as she ran a diagnostic jutsu she'd picked up in her spare time. Still, she didn't need to use the jutsu to see the areas where he was most injured, as the slashes in his shirt showed where the bandages were hiding. One deep stab wound on his leg, another on his shoulder, and one even deeper than those in his side, though thankfully it seemed to miss any vital areas.
'Sasuke, what did you do to him? And Naruto, did you really respond in kind? Would you two have really tried to kill each other?' Sakura thought as she looked at Naruto.
Anko and Kakashi run around the village trying to find Naruto and Sakura. Hopefully, they can find Naruto before Sakura can say anything that can cause the boy to snap.
"Guy, Lee, have you guys see Naruto or Sakura?" Kakashi asked as he landed in front of them.
"I am afraid not, I tell you what, if I can't find Naruto or Sakura, We will do four thousand sit-ups and push-ups," Guy said before They left to look for Naruto and Sakura.
Anko arrived in front of Kurenai and Hinata.
"Have any of you two seen Naruto?" Anko asked.
"Not since he to get Sasuke." Kurenai said before Anko left to try another spot.
She narrowed her eyes when she looked at his clothes again.
'Is he trying to make himself sick? Why didn't he get a change of clothes before wandering around? Just because he heals really well is no excuse to not take proper care of his bandages.' Sakura thought as she check his other wounds.
Her expression turned thoughtful, and she turned her head a little away from the boy.
'Actually, I wonder if anyone's ever tried to test him for a kekkei genkai. I mean, having some form of super-accelerated healing without any form of damage to the user would be' Sakura thought before her Inner Self interrupted her
'FOCUS, YOU DAMN IDIOT!'
She snapped back to the present and focused on the boy before her. Even before she had approached him, she knew something was off, but now she was getting more and more concerned about his behavior.
Sure, missions could be stressful and make the Shinobi need some downtime to get their head back on straight, but this mission shouldn't have caused this much damage to a person's psyche, even if it involved a person's best friend betraying them. Sakura needed to find out what was causing her boy such distress, and damn it, she was going to find out and fix it!
Sakura had begun to speak as she was finishing checking on his wounds," Naruto, listen. I know you're probably sad that you failed to bring Sasuke back, but it'll be okay, alright? I mean, at least we know that Orochimaru wouldn't go through this much trouble just to kill him. And if you think that I'm angry that you didn't keep the promise, I'm not. You tried your best, and that's all that I wante-"
She was cut off by a hollow laugh, and when he raised his head to look at her, she jumped back at his eyes. They were dead as if his soul had decided to leave his body and leave behind a husk that moved and spoke.
He just stared at her with mirth that would have been nice to see if it didn't look so creepy and sad at the same time.
"My best, Sakura? I'll admit I tried my best at first. I really wanted him to come home, and damn it if I had to break both of his arms and legs and knock him unconscious to do so." Naruto said with a broken smile.
He shot to his feet, causing Sakura to jump again, but he didn't seem to notice as he waved his arms erratically, making random gesturing as he continued, "But you know what I realized as the battle wore on? What hit me after an hour had passed of the two of us beating the crap out of each other? Huh? HUH? Do you really want to know?"
Sakura was reaching for him, her tone frightened when she said, "N-Naruto, please calm down. Your wounds-"
He ignored her, his eyes far away now as he
continued, "It's all just so fucking pointless! Everything that I do will be meaningless to this village, no matter if I give my absolute all or my piss-poor worst! And it's all just because of what I hold inside me! No one wants to care about the Kyuubi brat because, after all, since that's what he holds, it must be what he's become! Ooooooo, he's now become the very thing we hate! Well, I guess we don't need to care anymore! Let's chase him down in the streets and beat him into the ground! Let's throw stones! Hell, let's even starve him and overcharge him so that he's dirt poor and hungry no matter what! After all, he'll heal from it all and be good as new, all happy and shit like some god-damn retard!"
Sakura had frozen as she listened to the boy.
'Naruto holds the Kyuubi? I thought the Yondaime defeated it, not sealed it away! And what's he talking about? Surely, no one would be as cruel as do that to a child? Would they?' Sakura thought as she saw a small crowd begin to form.
All of them were wide-eyed and fearful of the crazed boy. Many of them whispered things about the Kyuubi breaking free or Naruto finally losing his mind, and they all wondered why the ANBU weren't trying to restrain him before he hurt anyone. The fact was, the ANBU were watching, but they were, for once, as stunned as the crowd as they watched the boy.
Anyway, it's not like he had pulled a weapon or done anything threatening, so it's not like they could just tackle him to the ground just because he had decided to start screaming in the middle of the park.
Naruto had now noticed his little audience, and he smiled a crazed smile as his dead eyes took all of them in.
He then cackled and yelled at them, "Yes! Yes! Come and stare at your handiwork! Let's all just stare at the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki like he's just some circus freak behind bars! In fact, let's just put him behind bars because we can! We can then spit on him and throw things at him more easily when he's no longer a moving target! Ten points if you can hit him in the heart! Fifty if you can hit him on the head, with bonus points to anyone who can knock him out, so we don't have to hear his screams of pain."