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- Good morning and evening everybody! Chapter ten is finally here. It's been a hard three weeks for me cause I'm getting ready to move… along ways away. So if I decide to make another chapter, is patient, like you've been! You know the old saying "Good thing comes to those who wait."

Enjoy!

"Speaking"

(Thoughts)

*Other peoples writing*

Flashback

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

Shattered

By: Morgri

Chapter Ten

Today has been… it's been… I can't even describe it. Surrounded by my team and Hinata… it's been so… great! Is this what I've always wanted? Is this what I've always needed? Look at the way there smiling at me… there accepting me, something I've never seen. My heart is racing… I've never felt this way; this is the best feeling I've ever known. Am I happy? Am I just faking my happiness? I don't know… but I have an urge just tell them everything I feel… everything I want to feel.

I feel as if they… will cry with me sometime… or they'll just listen to me when I need them too. Although I feel myself coming to tears… there different. I don't feel regret… I don't feel as if I did something wrong, on the other hand… I feel as if I've accomplished something. But feeling and doing are to different things right?

It's probably just some selfish game I'm playing myself in. It so weird… I feel so different. They said they were going to surprise me… was this the surprise? This feeling that… it must be! It must be this feeling, the surprise… it's everything I ever wanted. More then ramen, more then food; the feeling of friends so defeats that… in fact, it demolishes it. Do I finally have it?

Meeting their eyes it sure seems like it. They don't look disappointed, but rather content. Or so I think… I've never had someone look at me like that; well, I don't think I have. I never imagined… I never imagined anybody looking at me like that! It so… what is one of those words? Wonderful? Great? Awesome? Well, something like that. I've only heard others say it, but… it really does feel… well… it feels weird saying that -- one of those words.

But who cares about words, or tears, or anything right now? I don't… well not as long I there with me. Maybe… maybe I, finally have someone who I can trust. Just for once I can tell them all my problems without having to worry about them being scared away, or without them telling me "I suck" or something like that. That would be so… that would be so… I guess I don't know what it will be. I haven't learned that yet. Happy, sad, who cares as long as I'm with them.

I'm so dumb… talking to myself like this. I can talk with them… I can say anything; well so-I-think. No words come out though. No words, just tears. Hinata… she… her look towards me is so different though… from everyone else's. I almost want to see her more. Is there a reason she looks at me like that? She looks at me with such concern, and yet… her eyes and smile shows… well kindness… I think; but not only that, her smile is beautiful. Whenever I look at her that smile shows comfort around me, as if she trusts me… trusts everything I do.

That's something I've never had either. Trust. I wasn't trustworthy, I always ruined the battles, got my team in trouble; everything went wrong when I was around. Hinata, though, could she possibly… well maybe she does, who am I to judge. If I say yes… then I'm wrong. I'm always wrong, that's how it's been all my life.

It's funny though… why am I always concentrating on the bad? Heh, Sakura… she smiled at me sometimes. Those were my best moments. Maybe I did accomplish something. A smile… from someone else; A real smile… a kind smile… a perfect smile; a smile that – it's one of a kind. One that I saw her only use with me, or well, one that I think she only used with me.

Sasuke's smile though… is so weird. I can never really tell what he's smiling about. Could it be because of a joke, or could be because of a memory, or maybe it was because he was actually feeling good. Who cares though, I've had my moments with him as well. Heh, always was competition. Maybe I will earn his respect someday… maybe… I already have it. I wish I had it though…

I probably would be the talk of the town if I did have it. It would be great! Then again… who really cares about what they think? What about what I think? Can't I be selfish once? Can't I just stay with my friends once? That's my one wish… and maybe… I'll get it…

So let me stop thinking… and let me… enjoy this moment. It could be the first of many, or it could the last. Either way… just this once, I want to try to be "happy", and though I don't really know what a happy feeling is… maybe, just maybe, I'll come across one. Maybe… it really is darkest before dawn… maybe dawn… is just around the corner… for me…

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

Sasuke had excused himself minutes earlier, for though he still wanted to entertain Naruto, once again the hokage had called him in. He didn't really care for what reason she did, for he knew that she probably did it to see how Naruto was doing. He could understand that and didn't really mind going.

Sakura and Hinata had other plans. Naruto was not only smiling… but almost seemed as if he wanted to… talk to them. Not just a few words… but really talk. Something they hadn't been able to do with him for a long time. It seems that everything they had planned was working. Though, they were rather disappointed to see that Sasuke had to leave.

Both girls almost felt tears come to there eyes as they saw the boy smile. It was so much different then anything they had ever seen before. Even the smile they saw when he was cutting himself wasn't the smile they saw today; today it was a beautiful smile. One they would probably treasure the rest of their lives. Both girls could only hope they would see more of this smile. Is eyes… they were also different. They sparkled. They were a different blue color. They shone more… they showed every bit of emotion Naruto had.

It was…

Remarkable.

The change that both girls saw in Naruto. That was remarkable. From the boy who wouldn't even speak to the boy who was smiling right at them at that very moment. How could anybody ever doubt that? The boy who was in front of them – the boy they were looking at once wished death! With his own hands Naruto had almost done himself in. Now… he was right in front of them smiling.

That was…

Truly…

Remarkable.

For them to see him like that… was just awesome. They could only imagine what he had been through. Not even the girls worst experiences combined could even come close to what Naruto had experienced. Both of them were so happy to see him like that. They had been with him since the beginning (Naruto was certainly worth their time) and to see him as he was now was more then just a prize.

Naruto thought he was worthless, both girls knew he wasn't. He was one of the most valuable people they both knew. Why couldn't he see that? How could he think he was worthless? They had to show him that they were his friends, they had to show him that they cared about it. That was why they had made today. The surprise was small, but would it be small to Naruto? Naruto was the one that counted anyway.

"Naruto," both girls said, "We have something for you."

Hinata approached Naruto with one hand in her pocket. Wrapping her arms around Naruto she whispered in his ear, "Naruto… I…I," She smiled to herself and put a necklace around his neck, "I love you," she finished, "And no matter what you can always count on me to be there for you."

She had put around Naruto's neck a necklace containing a fourth of a puzzle piece. Sakura and Hinata had put on two necklaces that looked the same; Sasuke obviously carried the last part of the piece. "Although it sounds kinda of corney," Started Sakura, "This will be a signal of our friendship." She stopped for a second, "Naruto-*Kun*… you… you'll always all ways be our friend… we… I… don't know what I'd do without you." She then smiled at Naruto wiping away a small tear.

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

A sensation like nothing other came over Naruto. What was he feeling? Friends? The word ran through his head. They were his friends? He had friends? He clenched the puzzle piece in his hands… he didn't want to let go of it. Why did it suddenly mean so much to him? He felt relieved… he felt… happy? Sakura… called him his friend? That meant… she… did… like him, which meant… she was actually happy around him.

Love? Hinata said she loved him. He really didn't know what that meant though. Love was love though. Maybe… he could cry with her then. Not maybe… but he could. He didn't have to cry alone any more. He could share his pain. He didn't have to carry a large burden… because… now… he could get rid of it. That was what love was, right? That's what people whom loved did, right?

Who cared about what others thought of him? He didn't. He wouldn't worry about being called a monster anymore, he didn't have to worry about the stares anymore, he didn't have to worry about being a let down, because… because he had them now. They wouldn't leave him; instead they would defend him.

What was wrong? He started sniffling. He didn't know why. He didn't want to cry. This time though he could stop himself… or could he? No he couldn't it… because… because. Why? Why couldn't he stop himself? He wasn't feeling sad… he was….

Tears…

He felt them fall…

Except… they were different.

He welcomed the tears…

Because he felt…

Happy.

Sinking into the chair he was sitting, an array of emotion came over Naruto. He was happy. Digging his face into his arms he cried. He was truly happy. Every bad thought… every worry, every bad emotion disappeared. It was just he and his friends now. It was just he and his happiness. No one… could take it from him… not today. Not this day… and maybe… just maybe… not forever.

Smiling at the boy Hinata whispered to Sakura, "Isn't it wonderful?"

"What?"

"Him."

Sakura smiled. He was wonderful. And the rest of the day… it would be a different day for him… much different, for today, he was just what he wanted…

Selfish.

-End Chapter 10-

Morgri – I realize that I've made some really small chapters lately, but I've been so very busy the last few weeks. I've been helping a friend with geometry; I've been getting ready for graduation… and most of all I've been getting ready to move to another location. Bear with me please. The next chapter will be the finale… however; I'm not sure whether I will have it up soon or not due to moving. I have no idea when I'll have my Internet service back. Don't worry, I'll finish it and it will be the longest chapter. Till the next chapter! TA TA!