Notes: ~~~ is meant for flashback.

* * *  * * *  * * *  * * *8

The Sand gennin sat at the table when he entered the room.

"Hi..." he greeted.

The other nodded.

Yawning, he lazily covered the distance separating him from the cupboards.

They were empty.

He closed the cupboard doors and sat down.

"We're running out of food supplies," he said.

Gaara nodded absent-mindedly.

"And no one would sell me anything. Last week, the owner of the Ramen shop was reluctant to sell me some noodles." he sighed. "I guess they're still angry at me, heh?" he said with a fake smile.

Gaara didn't say a word.

"Really, sometimes I wish I could leave this village..."

"Why don't you?"

He was startled at the sudden question.

"Huh? I...I don't know...I mean, I've been living here since I was born..." he paused. "I think I got attached to this village and to its inhabitants..."

The other gennin frowned in confusion.

"Huh...well, at least some of them," he quickly corrected with a grin.

Gaara's expressionless face was back again.

"Besides..." he took a resolute face. "...I will be the next Hokage."

A muffled sound rang in the room.

"Aww...I'm hungry." He jumped up. "Let's ask Iruka-sensei to buy us some food..."

Not knowing is better than knowing.

That was what he used to think, not so long ago.

But now he wanted to know.

He wanted to understand why.

Why did all these things happen to him, and only him?

Was he cursed? Was he that detestable?

~~~His ears perked up as a distant voice reached them.

"Hmm..." he mumbled, still sleepy.

Now he could distinctly hear the knock on the door.

Taking a quick glance in the other room, he was relieved to see Gaara wasn't there.

The Sand gennin seemed to be constantly on alert. Unlike him.

Blinking madly to sweep the blur away from his eyes, he dragged himself to the door.

He fidgeted.

Six jounins were looking at him, their faces dead serious.

His face instantly took a bewildered expression.

His lips started to tremble in anticipation.

His eyes widened.

"Naru---"

Iruka was interrupted as Kakashi motioned him not to say a word.

The dark-haired man gritted his teeth and lowered his head.

Panic was slowly making its way to the gennin's racing heart.

"Follow us," Kakashi said.

He didn't know how what happened next did.

He recovered his spirits when a strong flower's scent assaulted his nose.

There were tons of flowers around him. All blooming, but stained with red.

"I hope you realize the extreme gravity of your act," a cold voice said.

He knew that voice. But what mattered to him right now wasn't the owner of that accusing voice, but what that voice accused him for.

He recognized the Hokage's graveyard.

He recognized Third Hokage's grave monument.

What he saw made his heart stop.

A red cross had been painted on the shaped rock, along with bloody words:

'I HATE YOU ALL'~~~

He bit his lower lip.

Instead of him hating them, they were the ones hating him.

He raised his head to inspect once again the little cell he had been put in some hours ago.

All made of iron. Cold iron.

He shivered.

He was still in his pajamas, wearing his slippers.

He lowered his head.

He wanted to talk to Iruka-sensei, but he was in no position to request anything.

Their behavior had made that clear.

They held him responsible for what had happened.

He wanted to shout he did nothing.

He wanted to prove them he didn't hate them at all.

But...he felt he did a little. And it made him feel guilty.

... Maybe Gaara was right.

Maybe he should just forget about them and leave.

He looked up right before him.

Those bars...They made him feel like he was trapped.

They made him feel like he was some dangerous animal.

They made him feel like a monster.

They made him feel like he was the Kyuubi.

He opened his clenched fists, blowing the Chakra floating around it away.

"I don't understand why they are keeping him there."

He jumped up as he recognized Iruka-sensei's voice.

"The Council voted it as a temporary solution," another voice said.

Asuma-sensei?

"What do they mean by temporary? He has been in there for more than half a day. He is still a kid for God's sake!!"

"A kid did you say? What kind of kid would blow up buildings and horribly soil Hokage's grave?!"

"Naruto would never do that-"

"Excuse me? He already did!"

"Well, it's true he used to scribble on the the Four Hokages' monument, but this time it's quite different..."

"What makes it different this time?"

"You have no proof it is him." Iruka's resolute voice snapped.

"We don't need any proof! He already tried to destroy this place once! That boy is a threat to the whole village."

Blue eyes widened in darkness.

"Shut up."

"Hmph. You're too blind, Iruka-san."

"Naruto is not the Nine-tails!!"

"There is no difference. That Demon monster is inside him."

"Naruto has nothing to do with that demon!"

"But it lives in him. Just because it was sealed in his body doesn't mean it can't appear again..."

"What are you talking about?" Asuma asked.

"What if the seal had been partially broken? What if the Nine-tails had taken control of his body? That would sure explain a lot of things..."

"I don't like what you're implying."

"Whether you like it or not Iruka-san, it's the truth. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the Council decided to send him to you-know-where..."

"SHUT UP! I'm going to..."

"Iruka-sensei, calm down!"

"Iruka-san..." another voice called.

Rustling of clothes.

"Such a brutality...it's not suitable for a ninja. Hmph. But again, lower class Ninjas like you are exceptions..."

Silence followed.

The tone had been utterly disdainful.

Naruto clenched his fists, trying to control his anger.

"I may be a lower class ninja, but it removes nothing from the pride I serve this Village with..."

"Hmph. Big words. I heard your parents were proud ninjas too, look where they are..."

"Iruka, stop!" Asuma shouted.

"Don't-!!"

He frowned, trying to figure out what was happening.

He heard several rushed footsteps.

"Iruka-san, Ebisu-san, please stop..." a feminine voice said.

"Kurenai is right. You're making such a racket I wouldn't be surprised if Naruto heard you," Kakashi pointed out.

"Did you come to liberate him?" Iruka asked huskily.

Naruto waited for the answer. But it didn't come.

"Jiraiya-san suggested someone look after him..." Kakashi said "... And he already decided who that person will be..."

Yeah, he had been released, big deal.

It didn't prevent people from glaring at him.

In fact, he would have preferred staying in his dark cell forever.

He sighed.

But there were no trees, no sun and no wind in a prison cell.

Only when he was gazing at the sky could he feel alive.

He wished the old man was still there.

Since he had gone it seemed everything was messed up in the village.

It seemed people hated him more than ever.

He closed his eyes, waiting for the sandman, or whoever would make him take a short peaceful nap.

"I heard about what happened..."

His eyes snapped open.

"...and I believe you."

His eyes widened in surprise.

The newcomer sat beside him.

"I wish everyone did..." He frowned. "There is some freak out there having fun bringing me trouble..."

"That's why we better find him."

Naruto coughed.

"We?"

"You heard me..."

He frowned at his teammate.

"I always thought you were some kind of heartless bastard..."

"I'm not heartless..."

"Yes, of course. No one is heartless."

"...Gaara is."

Naruto's face became serious.

"I said no one is heartless."

"I know he's living with you."

"Yeah, so?" He sat up.

"He's dangerous."

"He isn't. And that's none of your business."

He gasped as a strong hand seized the front of his shirt.

"You are wrong. It is my business." Sasuke hissed.

His eyes widened slightly, for a second fearful, then narrowed.

"Fuck off, Uchiha." he spat.

"We're not allowed to get involved with ninjas from other villages."

"That I know!" he slapped his hands away.

"Then why are you hiding him?" he asked coldly.

"I..." he clenched his fists. "...You wouldn't understand."

Not waiting for more questions, he quickly walked away.

Damn you Uchiha Sasuke, damn you.

He slammed the door shut as he entered his house.

He found himself slammed onto the wall behind him.

He winced as his back started to hurt.

He blinked, realizing whatever had attacked him was still maintaining him against the wall.

A figure appeared in front of him.

Sand started to whirl furiously in the air.

It was an arm made of sand that had assaulted him.

It was a pair of yellow eyes that were glaring at him.

It was Gaara standing in front of him.

The kanji on his forehead spitting blood.