Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, its characters, or its OSTs in any way. Those rights belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I do own the techniques I add and any OC I may choose to create for the betterment of the story.

A/N: I apologize for being gone for not updating for so long and then coming back with such a short chapter, I'll make it up to all of you. If you're looking for something to read while waiting (Who am I kidding, it's not that long really) you can read my other fanfiction AUTUMN WINDS (An Izuku x Nana fanfic that I'm sure you'll enjoy!

NOW ON WITH THE SHOW!!

Chapter 5: Childhoods Come To An End- Part 2

"Tenten." It really was her. Naruto would've smiled, under different circumstances.

"What, not going to let me in?" Tenten was smiling when she asked.

Naruto looked down. "You shouldn't be here." He spoke just loud enough for her to hear.

"Where should I be then?"

"Home, with your mother."

"Aren't you forgetting yourself?"

Naruto finally looked up. "What?"

Tenten rubbed her shoulder awkwardly. "Am I the only one who feels that we became friends?"

Friends. The word was familiar to him. He spent years trying to make friends, and failing each time, but now that an opportunity had presented itself, it felt unfair. It was unfair how they would suffer because of him. He couldn't allow that to happen. Not to the only people who accepted him.

He looked to the side when he replied. "Yes, you are the only one." It killed him to say it. "Now please leave." He pulled the door to close it.

Before the door could be closed though, Tenten stuck her foot on it, then she kicked it open. Naruto was not expecting that to happen, so when it happened, he tripped and fell on the floor.

(OST Plays: Sadness and Sorrow)

Tenten strolled into the room with a murderous look in her eyes. "If you're going to reject me, at least have the decency to look me in the eyes."

Naruto picked himself up from the ground. He just looked at her then he shook his head. "I don't have to explain myself to you. Now leave!" He shot a glare of his own at her, barely managing to hide how much it hurt to push her away.

"I'm not going anywhere!" Tenten shot back.

"Then I guess I'll have to throw you out." Naruto went to grab Tenten but she swatted his hand away.

"It's not going to be that easy!" She ran at him.

She threw a punch and it landed on his stomach. Naruto absorbed the blow with gritted teeth before he threw a punch of his own that landed at the side of her face.

Tenten staggered back a few steps before she spit out blood. "You've done it now." She wiped her cheek. "haaaaa!" She charged.

She pushed him and Naruto tripped on the couch and they fell over the old piece of furniture together and tumbled on the other side with two audible thuds of the wooden floor's dismay.

Tenten was the one who got up first and she jumped on Naruto before he could get up, straddling him. She sent a punch that landed cleanly on his face, then she sent two more punches to his defenseless face.

Naruto could nothing to defend himself, trying desperately to get out of her grip. A hand managed to slip out and he was able to grab a punch before it landed. He pushed her back just enough to get space to get up and heabutt her, stunning the girl, then he kicked her in the chest.

Tenten fell on the ground, skidding back until she crashed against the door.

Naruto picked himselff up slowly. "S-Stop t-this, T-Tenten. G-Go h-Hhome."

"N-No." She pulled herself up using the wall for extra balance. "N-Not if y-you're not by m-myy side."

"I got used to the loneliness." He chuckled bitterly. "So just go back home and enjoy being with your mother. They don't stay around forever, ya know?"

"That's the thing Naruto." She charged at him again. Naruto also charged. Tenten sucker punched him in the gut. "I don't want loneliness to be all you know." Then she kicked him at his side.

Naruto couldn't see the punch coming but he managed to catch the kick. He yanked her foward and sent a punch at her left jaw but Tenten put her arms up to block, the blow landing on her forearms. Which was why she did not see that punch that landed on her stomach.

Tenten doubled over but Naruto caught her and they fell on the ground together. They gulped in deep breaths as they lay on the floor next to each other, now completely exhausted.

(OST Plays: To Reach A Person)

"I... huff... never had friends... huff, you know?" Tenten cut throught the tense-filled silence. "I've never been like other... huff... girls either. They want to play dressup... huff... comb dolls and p-pick flowers... huff... I want to be a strong ninja like my mother... huff... I see myself on the battlefield, fighting for the glory of my village... huff... girls our age don't understand that." She took in a deep breath and gulped it down, now managing to even out her breathing. She was giving him a side glance as she spoke. "So I know a bit of the loneliness you feel. If it hurts so much for me, I cannot even begin to understand how it's like for you." Her hand snaked over his own and Naruto allowed their filanges to intertwine. She smiled at him. "Naruto, you are not alone anymore."

Naruto had been able to hold himself back from crying the moment she started talking, but the last words that left her mouth broke the dam he had been holding back and tears cascaded down his bruised face. They hurt, but he was too happy to mind the injuries. He wasn't alone. He had someone by his side. He had a family.

"T-Thank y-you." He started wiping the tears off his face but it wasn't making much of a difference since he was releasing more tears than the ones he was wiping away.

Reiko watched it all from the rooftop of the that was opposite Naruto's apartment with a grin on her face. "Welcome home, Naruto."

(OST Ends)

A/N: WELCOME TO THE FAMILY NARUTO! And I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. Please let me know what you think in the reviews. I look forward to hearing from you guys! See ya next time!