*~

Catch me, don't let me fall,

I'm waiting for you

Catch me, I'm falling

The world is slipping away

What I thought I knew

Isn't true

I'm falling, won't some one save me?

They walk right by, they refuse to see me

I'm almost to the ground... no ones going to catch me...

There are bushes and twigs trying to hold me,

But they break...

The ground feels hard against my back

No one caught me, they let me fall...

~*

*~

Sasuke paused before knocking. Did he really have the right to go and demaned to sleep at his house? I mean, Naruto's a moron, he'd believe the 'locked out of my house' story alright, but Sasuke's guilt is whats going to be the problem. He sighed and knocked. At once he could hear the sudden movement of objects. He heard what sounded like, the scuttle of feet, the sound of something metal being placed somewhere hard, the sound of a drawer opening, someone swearing, and three minute pause, then feet heading for the door. I Sasuke's mind, it would have made a very good game of ... you that game were you guess what the person is trying to tell you something but they can't say what it is. I know the word, just can't spell it... But then again, most of the time they don't let you make noise...

" Is that you Master Iruka?" Naruto's said behind the door.

" Strike one." Sasuke said in his cold tone.

" Huh? Why the hell are you here?!" Naruto yelled threw the door.

" I was locked out of my house. The dude that makes keys is gone for the night, staying at Sakura's would give her a heart attack, and I'm not going to stay at a teachers house." Sasuke said sharply. He heard Naruto tut.

" So you rather stay with a fox?" Both boys said nothing, then Sasuke spoke.

" I don't give a damn if your the lord of hell himself. It's frosty out here and I need a place to crash, so open the dman door and let me in." Sasuke said. He heard Naruto's gasp of surprise, and the unlocking of the door. A blue eye showed up in the door crack.

" ... Do you mean that?" Naruto asked. Sasuke could tell that Naruto was trying not to put any emotion into it, but he wasn't doing a good job about it.

" I said it didn't I?" Sasuke wasn't ready for the next thing. Naruto lauched himself on to Sasuke. " What the-? Get off me Naruto!" Sasuke bopped Naruto on the head, whcih made him let go.

" Sorry about that... Come in... Sorry about the mess... I don't like to clean..." Naruto moved out of the way and let Sasuke in. Sasuke could tell that Naruto ment what he said. The house was a dump. A shit load of crap was laying everywhere the eye could see.

" You should at least clean once in every four years... it might help a tad." Sasuke said in a joking tone.

" Sorry, my house was clean five years ago, too bad you missed it." Naruto said in the same tone. My friend as a thing on her door that says, My room was clean yesterday, sorry you missed it. I just HAD to put that in there, it fit Naruto's house just right. Sorry, I'll stopp ranting now...

" Oh well, what another 20 years to wait for the next time?"

" I don't depends on how boring the wait is."

" Good point that."

" Gald I could help, sooo do you what to keep ranting about the house or do you want to help my move around some stuff so you don't sleep on it tonight?" Naruto asked as Sasuke put on a face of deep thought.

" Hmmm... rant about your house... Clean up a part of it... hmmm choices..." Sasuke moved his hands like a scale when he said this. " Well, I would perfer NOT to sleep on a pile of two month old pizza and unwashed underwear..."

" How about a pile of one month old pizza and unwashed socks insead?" Naruto bowed as he said this, making him look like a busboy, showing rooms to people.

" Much better, do i get a mint on my pillow?"

" No, but if you move around alot you might find some Halloween candy from 7 years ago that I lost or didn't eat."

" That'll work."

" So gald."

*~ ~*

Sakura and Hinata left Iruka-sensei's house and headed for Naruto's house. Now he was going to need all the surport he could get. Hinata suddenly stopped and gasped. Sakura turned around and saw that she looked scared.

" What?" Sakura asked.

" You know that evil teacher at the school?" Hinata asked Sakura.

" You mean the one that hurt Iruka-sensei and threw Naruto from the school?" Hinata nodded.

" Don't you think he'll do something to hurt us for taking Iruka-sensei's side, thus taking Naruto's side?" Hinata shook as if seeing the worst thing he can do.

" Like what? Call our parents and telling them that we left school to help Iruka-sensei find and help Naruto?" Sakura shrugged her shoulders as teh two girls sighed. " Well, we're not far from Naruto's house... It's just down the street... I think maybe we should run... just in case..." Hinata nodded and they ran to Naruto's. As they turned the corner, four VERY mad adults came stomping by, heading the same way...

*~ ~*

Naruto and Sasuke had cleaned most of Naruto's room up. Thankful, Sasuke wasn't going to be sleeping on any pizza or unwashed clothing. But, who knows what live under the bed that seemed to hold life. Sasuke would be sleeping very close to it, and he was scared that somethign might leap out and attack him in his sleep. He told Naruto this.

" I think that you'll be OK, I feed Oni last week... but mind you, if you wake up in the morning and find that your limbs are missing, you know were they went." Naruto then bent down and wispered something to something under his bed. Sasuke rolled his eyes.

" Well, i'm so gald that you and Oni are on speaking terms."

" Oh yes, he loves it when we have our daily talks. He find most inlighting."

" As long as you learn something, everythings good... I'll get it." Sasuke said as they heard a knock on the door. He went and opened the door to see Sakura and Hinata standing there, looking lost for breath.

" Mom... Dad... Mad... Looking... For... Us..." Sakura panted.

" Think... That... Naruto... did... something... Hide... and ... you... haven't... seen... us..." Hinata panted as well and they both jumpped in side, closed the door, and ran for the bathroom. Both boys stared for about five seconds when VERY mad voices were heard coming to the door. Sasuke nodded to Naruto and went to the bathroom as well. Sakura, Hinata and Sasuke pressed their ears against the door when they heard many fist pound on the door. They heard the door open and about eight pairs of feet stomp in. Or it could have been 80, they made enough noise to count as such.

" WHERE ARE OUR DAUGTHERS?!!" A mans voice yelled loudly. There was an 'ow' noise, so they guessed that the man had shouted right in Naruto's ears.

" Ya don't need to yell. I haven't seen them. Have you tried at home? You know, the place were you guys live... Bedrooms... bathrooms... livingrooms... I'm sure you have your our house to stomp into without caring about who lives there." Naruto said sharply. Everyone took it as a sigh that ment ' get out of my house or else.' They heard a slap noise.

" YOU HAVE TO RIGHT TO SPEAK TO US WITH SUCH A TONE YOU VILE DEMON YOU! IF WE HAD IT OUR WAY, WE WOULD HAE KILLED YOU RIGHT WHEN THEY SEALED THE DEMON IN YOU! BUT NOOOO OUT OF THE KINDNESS OF OUR HEARTS WE LET YOU LIVE AND TRY TO BE A PERSON OF THIS GREAT VILLAGE, AND THIS IS HOW YOU THINK US? BY TELLING US OFF?!" A woman yelled loudly.

" 'kindness of our hearts' my ass. The reason you didn't kill me is because the Hokage wouldn't let you. Ya don't want me to be a person of this village either. And sure as hell you know that I've got very reason to mouth to you, so beat it. Your breaking and entering." Naruto said sharply. All the adults gasped. The three kids then heard a lot, and I mean A LOT of smacks and cries of pain. They also heard what sounded like breaking glass. Then they heard one last smack and all eight/80 pairs stomp off and out. They waited about four minutes when they heard someone moan. They opened the door and saw what had happened. They had trashed the place. Everything was broken, along with a window. Naruto was laying on the ground, blood dripping from his mouth. he had a few bruises on his sides, from being kicked. And his face wasn't looking too great either. He seemed to be out cold.

" Poor Naruto! How could they do something like else! So what if Naruto as a demon inside him! He's a good person, better then most of the other people in this town!" Sakura said as they ran to Naruto's side. They carried him to his bed, Sasuke took off his shirt to get a better look at his wounds.

" I'll tend to Naruto, why don't the two of you fix the mess. You guys could most likly do a better job then I could." Sasuke hadded so they didn't think he was making them do it because he didn't want to, which is true, but he wasn't going to tell them that. They both nodded and went to see what they could do. Sasuke sighed and got the bandaids out and wrapped Naruto's wounds. Sasuke saw the making on his belly, but figured that was the seal that kept the fox in. When he was done he disided to look at Naruto's arm. Sure enought, Kakashi was right. However, how there was three cuts, not two... and one looked fresh...

" AHHHHH!!!" Sasuke heard one of the girls yell. He turned his head as they came back in.

" SASUKE LOOK! THIS IS A BLOODY SHURIKEN! JUST USED! KAKASHI-SENSEI ISN'T RIGHT, IS HE?!" Sakura yelled as she showed him the shuriken. Once again, Kakashi was right. The Shuriken was freshly used, just like the cut.

" Naruto as a new cut, I think he did it before I got here..." He pointed to the new cut. The girls wimpered. " Kakashi-sensei told me to hide everything sharp, so why don't you guys do that while he's sleeping?" The girls nodded and jumpped right to it. " Naruto... Even I think that you don't need this... hold on... my friend..."

*~ ~*

Naruto couldn't tell were he was. It was dark, and he couldn't see a thing. He could feel a power rising in him, but he could tell that it wasn't a good power. He knew that if this power had it's way, the few people that still believe in him will be lost. He didn't know what to do anymore. He was scared, was there nothing to live for now? It would be impossable to chase his dreams now, they wouldn't let hin near a school to learn basics, how could he show them he was the best if them reused to see him if he ws the worst?

*// ... Should I let go of life...? It's not like I can chase my dream to become the Hokage now... I wish I knew what I should do... //* Naruto thought to himself as he felt himself fall deeper into darkness... further away from what little light he could see...

// Naruto? Can you hear me?// A voice echoed to him.

*// Who are you?//*

// I am someone who can feel your pain... I have come to help... you feel alone, don't you? I pulled you to the dream realm so I can speak to you. If you wish, I can help you find a way to ease your loneliness...//

*//... I don't want to be alone anymore... Is there away? //*

// Go to the forest... you will feel a feeling of... need. Like someone wants you. Follow that feeling. You will meet someone who needs you just as much as you need them... Intill then... we shall meet again... in your dreams... If you need me, call for me while in the realm of dreams...//

*// WAIT!!! //* Naruto yelled, and he felt himself jolt awake. He looked around and saw himself in his bed. Sakura, Hinata and Sasuke ran in.

" Naruto! Are you OK?" Hinata asked as she got their first.

" Yes... But... how you feel for a trip to the woods, just for a moment. I think that theres someone there who could us some help." With that, Naruto jumped out of bed and put his shoes on. The others followed suit. they got outside and saw that a lot of people were running around.

" They must be looking for us..." Sakura said. Hinata nodded in agreement.

" Anyone for some doppleganggers? Naruto asked. Hinata looked puzzled, but Sasuke and Sakura smiled. They knew what was coming. Naruto smiled and made four copies. Three of them tranfromed. Now there was two Naruto's, two Sakura's, two Hinata's and two Sasuke's. The copies ran, making the adults follow. They cheered and ran off to the woods.

~* *~

Iruka sat down on his bed as he sighed. Kakashi said that he wouls stay the night to help him feel better. But the truth was that he wouldn't feel better intill Naruto came and talked to him.

" Iruka-kun are you feeling any better?" Kakashi walked in with some food. Iruka sighed.

" Thank you. I owe you..." Iruka took the food and started eating it. But he couldn't so he put the spoon down and pushed the soup away. " I'm sorry but I..."

" Don't feel like eating? I understand..." Kakashi moved the bowl to the side and placed it on a dresser.

" I just wish that Naruto was fairing any better... At least he as Sasuke and the others with him... I think that might help..." Iruka smiled as he thought about it.

" I think your right. Even though they pretend not to like each other, they really do care about each other. They are good friends, and they wont let something like this put them down." Kakashi smiled and sat down on Iruka's bed. Iruka blushed but shrugged it off.

" Thank you, again. think I can eat know... Maybe rest as well..." Iruka smiled as he layed down on his bed. Kakashi smiled as Iruka slipped into sleep. There was something about seeing him smiling in his sleep that eased him.

************************************************************************

Me: I know, this chapter isn't as dark as the others, but not ALL of them can be. I need some help. I want to but a few couples in here, but I'm not sure who to do... I already know I want some light Kakashi/Iruka, but light. They wont do anything, but they might blush when there around each other... Should I do Naruto/Sasuke ( I like that coupling.) Or should I do Sasuke/Sakura and Naruto/Hinata? I wont do Sakura/Hinata. I don't mean I hate gay fics. it's just that I like shonen-ai, not shojo-ai ( did I spell that right?) It's not that I'm a hater or anything. I have nothing against gay stories.

Naruto: Whos the person in the dreams?

Kakashi: I think that your wasting your time.

Me: Well...

Questions-

I know you want to know who the voice/shadow is. I know you want it to be one of those people that show up later in the story. But I don't know them. You see, I know the story because I read Shonen Jump. I'm barely at the part where Haku started useing his is mirror-jutsu and Naruto shows up at the end of the chapter. Sorry! I only know Hinata because I've seen some of the anime in the part where they first get their teams. Besides that, I have no clue about Hinata. Heh heh, so that person is going to be OC. And I know that Sasuke is kinda OOC, but suck it up!

Sasuke: Wow... she said something about the story without leaving the readers hanging.

Me: Heh heh! Review!