Disclaimer – I don't own Naruto, and I never will, but as long as I have this disclaimer up here, I can right as many Naruto fics as I want. So that's a good thing ^^

Summary – After an incident, the pain, the loneliness, the deceit, the crying, shatter Naruto. Now he wants to make everyone happy, and what better way to make them happy then to rid them of him? After the attempt fails, Naruto isolates himself, thinking a fearing that everyone is against him, that they hate him, and that he is just a pain in there side. How can team 7 and a few others take Naruto out of this depression? Or worse…what if he does something horrible before they can?

Morgri- I understand that the story is going kinda slow, but that is because it mainly consists of what Naruto is going through and how his friends react. I will probably speed it up in later chapters.

"Speaking"(Thoughts)

*other peoples writing*

Flashback

*~*~* Shift in time or scene*~*~*

Shattered

By: Morgri

Chapter three

Huh? What happened? What time is it? That's weird, I just remember some kid coming in just a little bit ago. He looked like a serious person. He had black hair, and black eyes. I know I've seen him before, along with that other girl, the one with pink hair. Why can't I remember there names? My memory goes berserk when I think of them, though, when I do remember them I just get the same thing… the frowns, the insults, it's always the same. Whenever I think of them I get the idea that I let them down somehow, like I always made a situation worse, or I said something I shouldn't of, or worse, I couldn't get them out of danger.

But I guess that doesn't really matter, because soon I'll be gone! I'll make sure of it somehow. I won't be a burden, I won't make people mad, and I won't get hurt. That's a good thing right? I'm just twelve and I'm already a burden, I couldn't imagine when I get older. They'll probably send something to kill me, right? So why not end it already? I could get up right now and just go, go straight to a cliff and walk off it. There's no way they could rescue me there. But then again, knowing me… It would probably turn out just the same way. I would some how hit water and save myself… but if it was water then I could do it too.

Life is so Ironic isn't it? Seems to be for me; someone once said "Life is grand, live it to the fullest." And even though he wasn't talking to me, I thought I had understood that, but in reality it was just the other way. Life isn't great, life sucks! Especially for me, so why should I live with it? When everybody is having fun out there playing with there buddies and leaving me alone.

Who saved me anyway? That was dumb, they wanted to get rid of me right? I guess they just wanted to hurt me some more… they always do. When I was younger they did the same, and what did they do the other kids!? They congratulate them for hitting me, spitting at me, cursing me, and insulting me? Yeah, they were allowed, but if I tried to even defend myself they all were on me! Some even beat me until I could barely move. Nobody would do anything, they would just watch! Some would even laugh!!!

Can't they see I'm a person? I didn't try to do a-any-thing. I-I just wanted them to play with me… to be my friends. But they didn't care! They laughed when I cried, they insulted me when I cried, they even made me cry more! But not anymore, I'm crying right now, this time they can't hurt me like that! I can cry alone, like I always did, like I always have done. But this time, when I cry they won't be able to come to my house to laugh at me. Why? Because I'll be gone! They can go laugh at my grave!!!

All that, all the insults, all the glares… they gave me nightmares. Soon enough I became scared, because I thought everybody was out to hurt me in some way. So I isolated myself for a while. Then that isolation turned into loneliness… because there was no one there. So I decided that if I put only a daily façade of happiness, carelessness and above all stupidity. Of course it worked to get attention… but the insults kept coming and coming. So what could I do? I would just go home a cry. And pretending to be happy in front of others… you know what that did… it showed my little strength. I had no strength to do anything, anything but cry. But what did crying do? It just showed my hopelessness, my hopelessness that nobody could see or didn't want to see.

And even if they did see, they didn't care. I'm sure most of them laughed. They laughed like they do now! I'm sure if they saw me cry right now they would just laugh, or insult me or something. It never stopped them before. So it's good there not here now or they would do that… because I am crying…

B-but I don't want that. I want somebody to cry with me… to comfort me. I wish somebody nice would come here now and make me stop crying. I-I guess I'm just… frustrated right now. Or maybe I'm just frightened, frightened that I'll always be alone. B-but that's MY destiny right? To be alone… forever. Since I was born that was my destiny, but why does it have to be mine? Why couldn't it have been somebody else's destiny?

Can't they here the hopelessness in my voice, can't they see stain on my face caused by my tears? It doesn't make sense… it never did. All I can do is sit here and cry while everyone else enjoys all there petty lives. They consider themselves "nice". That's funny; they never were nice to me, none of the world out there. Sure I had my moments with Iruka-Sensai but then I started to think of something. Did he really recognize me? He said so, but he never said anything when the insults came, he never cared when he saw all the glares...

But again, I guess that's just my fate…or maybe it wasn't my fate, maybe I made it my fate. Maybe my daily façade made it worse; maybe it just made the insults worse. So then, what should I do to stop them? If I stay here they keep comin, if I stay anywhere they come. So then… why should I do? I'm confused…

Everybody is probably laughing at me right now though. There laughing at how I was crying a little while ago when they were here. I guess… I'm just living to be a laughing stock. I still don't know though, Is it me, or is it the fox. Everything points out that it's me… so I guess I was right for once, it is me, and that will never change.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dingaling, the obvious sound of somebody entering a door was heard, a flower shop to be precise. "So Naruto tried to commit suicide, huh?" The dull voice of Ino indicated boredom; which was easily apparent since she was resting her head on her hand and her arm on the pay-counter. "Doesn't seem too logical to me."

"How did you know he did that?" Sakura perked up out of her boredom (apparently she was resting both her arms and head on the table as well) visibly disturbed by the subject Ino had just brought up.

"Why it's the talk of the town, it has been for the last two days," Ino said this with so little enthusiasm that it was almost obvious she didn't even care about Naruto one bit. In fact after a little bit of talk with some people Sakura found that the adults were actually disappointed that Naruto DIDN'T die. This really got Sakura mad, how could people be so… so horrible with him? "What happened anyway? You did visit him didn't you?"

"Yes…"
"So tell me about it! Did he act stupid as usual?"

"No… he almost seemed like… another person." Guilt still stayed with Sakura, It was as if she couldn't get it out of her mind. Even when she was bored it would get to her!

"Wow! What did he act like! I've heard people say he was a demon or something!" Enough chanted.

"Huh? Demon?" Sakura questioned suddenly, "What's a demon have to do with Naruto?" Well, this was something she never heard. Naruto and a demon didn't make any sense to her. But not only did that plagued her mind, something else did as well; she was out calling the people who wished Naruto had died without thinking of herself as well. She sighed; she was just as bad with him.

"Yes apparently they said that Naruto was a demon and stuff like that, so how did he act what, did he do!?"

"He seemed scared; I couldn't believe how he acted. He started to cry right in front of me, and then he hid under the covers as if I was going to do something to him! It didn't stop there, Hinata came in and tried to calm him down… Naruto flinched when she tried to hug him! Then Sasuke came in, he was calm at first, but when he saw Naruto he figured nothing was wrong with him, he went straight over to him and tried to pull him out of bed!"

"Did he get out?"

"No!" Her eyes almost teared, "Naruto started to breath very hard, as if he was having trouble breathing, we had to pull Naruto away, if we didn't Naruto would have died. Luckily he just fainted. Sasuke couldn't believe what he did afterward… neither could I. But what shocked me more was the way Naruto behaved. He would have never cried in front of me. I was so shocked I couldn't move…"

"Wow, doesn't seem too 'Demonish' to me…" She spoke returning to her boreded position.

"Uh… umm… I'm sorry but who is a 'demon'?" A girl inquired putting flowers on the desk to pay for them. Sure enough the girl was Hinata.

"Hinata! What are you doing here?" asked a surprised Ino. Hinata giggled, Ino hadn't seen her come in. "Wow, those are some pretty expensive flowers, who are they for?" she queried with a sheepish grin.

"Umm…" she stuttered with a slight blush, "There for Naruto-kun," she finally managed with a small gulp.

"Awe, how sweet!!" Sakura lit up clasping her hands together excitedly as she watched the young girl pay for the expensive flowers. Apparently Hinata did like Naruto as much as the thought. Though Sakura thought You think she would have known Naruto enough to stop blushing.

"Wow, Naruto is getting so much attention these days," Ino sighed as she put the flowers into a vase and handed them to Hinata.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sakura paced slowly through the town. Everywhere she overheard people talking about Naruto. This bothered her immensely; not only did she feel guilt, but now she was overcome with anger. All people would talk about were things like "Why didn't that demon die?" She couldn't understand it, Naruto wasn't a demon, and he never seemed to be. He could be annoying sometimes; he could make stupid comments, but a demon? Never!

She tried to cover her ears and walk a little faster, but the words kept coming. Naruto was this; Naruto was that… what was wrong with these people? And how long of a walk was it to her house?! Maybe there she could have some time alone, maybe there she could think a little more. She was frustrated with herself, she was angry with the town, and she felt guilty about Naruto. What else would happen?

She arrived at her home and entered. She had not stayed at her home last night; she stayed at the hospital the whole night hoping that Naruto would wake up. He never did so she decided to go talk to Ino. She hoped talking with Ino would ease a little bit of the guilt and frustration… and it did! But going back outside, she had to face the world. All the bad stuff they said, why about Naruto.

"Did that monster die!?" Sakura's mother ran up to her almost smiling, however, when Sakura replied it dropped to a frown. "Darn, I hoped this would be the day!"

"The day for what!?" Sakura screamed in frustration and anger, "What is wrong with you people?" She stepped backwards glaring at her mother, "You're the same as them! Why do you want him to die?" Tears welded in her eyes, "What did he ever do to you?"

"He killed everybody!" Sakura's mother stopped her dead in her tracks.

"Huh?"

"He's that fox, the one who killed all those people long ago. He deserves to die, and I wish he did. That monster… I can't believe I even let you be on his team!"

Sakura took a step backward, all her fear, her frustration, her anger, gathered all upon her. She spoke calmly but rather scary, "No, mother, he's not the monster… you people are the monster!" Tears gave way, "Naruto is a person! He's just like you and me!? You should see him! Now I see why he acted the way he did! It's our fault! The way we treated him, these past two days all I've done is cried for how I treated Naruto! He deserved a lot better" She ran up her stairs and slammed the dear shut, leaving her mother shocked.

"You… would never understand… Naruto...!" She covered her head in her pillow. She didn't even now what she what was happening! In an instant everything went wrong. She was feeling great, she was feeling strong and what had to happen? Naruto had to try to kill himself and suddenly go into depression!? Why did he have to do that? Why couldn't things be normal?

And why… why didn't she and Sasuke now about Naruto being the fox that destroyed there town years ago? Again they had failed in knowing there teammate. Or maybe, Naruto didn't let them know for a reason. But he seemed so… happy. How could someone act so perfect? Never showing a sign that he was emotionally scared; Sakura knew he was never liked as a kid, she even rejected his friendship… many times. But that was because she wanted to be with the others… she wanted to be with the popular group. Never did she once think about his feelings.

Sakura realized how selfish she was. If she could only take it all back! She would be that bad to him, she would have done anything to have Naruto the same as he usually was… anything to make things normal again!

Sakura couldn't help but wonder how Sasuke was taking it all. It was almost 8:00 maybe today Sakura could get somewhat of a good rest…

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The smell of nice hot bowls of Ramen filled the air. The Miso Ramen shop was in practically full. Even the owner of the shop was surprised saying he never had so many people before; it was as if the people were on a holiday or something.

Sasuke however lay his head on counter in boredom… well boredom or misery. Maybe the two days that he missed of training was starting to affect him. Training gave him a sense that he was stronger; it made him belief that he would soon be able to achieve his ultimate goal. OF course, he still felt great, the effects of the unknown "hospital event" (as he now called it) still made him feel as if he had great power. But sure, you can feel great and miserable at the same time. Well, that's the way he felt.

He lazily waved to the owner to make him a bowl of Ramen. Naruto had told him countless times of how good this shop was, so Sasuke thought he would give it a try. Sasuke couldn't help but feel amused at how well the air smelt around. Yeah, but he had been there for the last three hours drinking tea all day long. He couldn't help but think of how he never acknowledged Naruto. He knew that was Naruto's true goal, but even if he tried to acknowledge him, he just couldn't. Why if he did Naruto would slack off on his training, therefore Sasuke himself would slack off, which meant that he would never achieve his goal.

All day the only thing the boy heard was excited voices of the sick grown-ups that were all around. He couldn't understand why the people were lamenting that Naruto didn't die. What was up with them? It's not like Naruto had *committed* some serious crime or anything.

"Ah, your that fox-boy's teammate aren't you?" A wader curiously handed Sasuke his Ramen.

Though, Sasuke really didn't take it to well. "Yeah, what about it?" He said with a small glare. Frankly he was tired of people coming up to him and asking him that same question.

"You think he will try… again?" The wader whispered to him.

"WHAT!? That's it I'm outta here," Sasuke snorted getting out of his seat. What… weird people… what idiots. If Naruto was dead last, then they were dead worst…

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Hinata entered into Naruto's room slowly and quietly. The slow paced breathing from Naruto told Hinata that he was better. From what she heard from the flower shop things got pretty bad in there. She couldn't help but smile a little; Naruto did look cute when he was sleeping.

He was sleeping… though; maybe he had wakened up earlier. She took small steps toward him keeping as quiet as she could… she didn't want to wake him up. It wasn't that she was afraid of him.

She just…

Didn't…

Want to see that face…

Again...

That expression of loneliness, hopelessness, and weakness… she didn't want to see that face again! It scared her! For the past to days she was plagued by that face. Naruto was not that boy… Naruto was the confident and strong boy Hinata knew just weeks before… no *that* boy that was in her sights. Naruto… something about his name made her feel warm inside, it made her heart beat like it never did before! It gave her a feeling she never wanted to end! What happened?

Or…

Maybe… that Naruto she knew was all a lie. Maybe he is just a weak boy… a poor helpless boy…

But!

No! That wasn't Naruto… Naruto was Naruto! Nobody could change that! The boy in front of her was the boy she fell in love with. Even if he was a weak… helpless… scared… boy. She could understand, she *would* understand.

What Naruto needed was kindness; he needed something that nobody had ever given him. Maybe I could give him what he needs Hinata thought, as she slowly inched up to Naruto's ear. "Naruto," She said almost lovingly, "There *is* someone that loves you, and there is someone that will always love you." She slowly kissed him on the forehead put the vase of flowers on small table beside the bed.

She looked at him… one more time.

He was Uzumaki Naruto…

Just Uzumaki Naruto…

Naruto…

The boy she was in love with…

-End Chapter 3-

Grrrrrrr….. I'm sorry this chapter wasn't very good. I have to say it took a lot of thought on what to come up with next. Email me for anything you would like to see! By the way the next chapter will be up soon and it will better, I promise! As always R&R!

By the way, due to school I might no be able to update very soon, but keep in mind that I will NOT fail to update. So keep a look out for my story.