Disclaimer: Naruto's characters are not mine.

This is a SasuNaru fic, meaning, YAOI. You have been warned!

A/N: I'm sooooo sorry for the slow update! I tried to write it earlier, but I kept delaying it, and then I just…forgot. Sorry! Anyhoos…this is the next chapter. My apologies now if this fic is similar to any other fics published. I haven't read a lot of Naruto fics so I wouldn't know if this idea has been taken. But seriously…it's so twisted I doubt anyone has!

On with it then, and please excuse the rush-ness involved.

Something Simple: Chapter five

Naruto bid Shikamaru farewell as he got off the train. It was nearly 9:00 and both had decided to call it a night. After eating ramen at Ichiraku's, the boys had bummed around the city all day long doing nothing in particular. Both had enjoyed each other's company and both had had fun. 

Naruto walked down the empty street towards his little apartment. The streetlights were poorly lit during this time, but his mind didn't take in any of it. He reflected on his day, his mind re-playing all the events. Naruto had seriously believed nothing good would come after such an extreme run of bad luck. He had made enemies with the wrong person, his first warning was already out, and the whole school seemed to hate him for a very wrong reason. But as it was, good things come when you least expect it to, and Naruto now believed that, maybe, this year wouldn't be like all those other years. Sure, people still hated him, but he had a friend now, didn't he? He only knew Shikamaru for a day, but he felt that he could depend on the boy. And he definitely didn't seem the type to betray friendships.

He climbed up the stairs to the little place he called home. Fumbling around a moment for the keys, he stuck it in the tiny keyhole when he found it and twisted it in a whole circle before pushing it forward. The familiar smell of his apartment greeted his senses as he walked in, bag thrust to the side. The place was small. It only took one look to see the entire place. A door at the back corner led to the bathroom and only a semi wall separated what was the kitchen and lounge. Naruto never complained about the size. Sure, it could be a bit bigger, but it was the only thing he could afford. Besides, it was already a godsend that someone was willing to lease it to him given that he was an Uzumaki and all. He really shan't complain.

He went to the cupboard and got out his futon. He was getting tired from all that walking and he really needed a rest. There was no homework for him since he only had four classes and the P.E uniform was already folded neatly for tomorrow's class. So, with a content grin still plastered on his face, Naruto fell into deep slumber.

----

He woke up in a reasonable time and noted that he would have exactly one minute to spare when he arrived at school. Naruto closed the door behind him, fresh from the morning shower and, this time, more comfortable in his sports uniform. He had memorised his timetable during breakfast, and seeing that he had Lit first in the morning, he couldn't wait to get there. Shikamaru had said that he was in his class and Naruto was excited about seeing his friend.

He walked down the street in a moderate pace, the happy mood never leaving him. As he entered the school gates, he saw that a number of people had already arrived, all clumped in groups, whispering secretly to each other. Naruto paid them no heed; he was too absorbed in his cheery thoughts. For if he did look around, he would see the dirty looks awarded to him; hear the colourful insults connected to his name. Then maybe, his mood would've changed.

In his oblivion, Naruto didn't see the figure approach him as he reached the entrance door. Didn't see the hand turning him around and the fist colliding with his cheek. The punch was powerful and he fell down immediately from the impact. Naruto looked up, searching for the culprit. His eyes landed on a boy -one he couldn't recognise -slowly being surrounded by other students.

"Fucking murderer!" Naruto's gaze widened. No, it couldn't be. Not so fast! More students joined the circle and he suddenly felt a sense of dejavu. So the boy knew, and, by the looks of it, word had gone around. Naruto didn't get it. It was usually a couple of weeks before anyone knew about him, how could one day…?

The boy bent down and lifted him up. Naruto was awarded with another strong blow to his other cheek and before he could gain his senses, a heavy punch landed on his stomach. He let go of him and he fell on the concrete ground once more. Naruto only vaguely felt the pain as his mind still tried to recover from the initial shock. How?

"Uzumaki, right?" The boy's foot was on top of him, his body leaning forward. "I don't know why they didn't put you in the chamber like all the others. And to think that our tax payers' money has gone to support murderers like you." He scoffed, and spat disgustingly at him. "Don't you ever let me see your face again." A final press at his stomach and the boy left. Others followed suit, some throwing him the occasional spit and snickering loudly afterwards. Naruto just laid there, vulnerable to all the attacks.

He couldn't understand how word had gone so fast. Did rich people really know about everything? The pain in his body slowly attacked his senses and he winced. Perhaps he had been dreaming all along. The day wasn't going to be good for him. He had been a fool to believe that it'd actually turn out nice. Nothing good ever came to him, he should've gotten used to that by now. And Shikamaru? Maybe he should let go of that dream too.

----

For once, in all his years of schooling, Sasuke arrived late. And a lengthy 20 minutes too! He gravely walked towards the office for a late pass, trying not to think of the reason for his bizarre behaviour. The teacher in the office didn't as much as look at him when he approached and systematically did her job. She handed him the pass and he thanked her softly. As he walked past the medical room, he thought he heard a familiar cry of pain. He shook his head, trying to erase the thoughts. You have got to stop thinking about him!

A further distance down, and he reached his Specialist class. He knocked on the door and pushed it open. The class looked his way but he ignored them, in search of the teacher. "His gone to photocopy some notes," he heard someone inform him. He walked to his seat at the back of the room and sat down.

Just as he did, the girl who sat in front of him spun around. "Sasuke kun, why're you so late today?" that annoying girl, Sakura, asked. He gave her an annoyed look, willing her away. But she didn't budge. "Are you ill?" A hand went to reach for him but missed. He cheered inwardly for his good reflexes. A circle of female students soon found their way around his table and he knew that perhaps, his quiet morning wouldn't go as planned. 

The usual chattering ensued while Sasuke took out his needed equipment. Talks of the latest gossip, other people, and what they did the night before filled the air. Sasuke didn't understand how he had gotten into this position. His area contaminated by such annoying species. And yet, he had never told them off, never told them to shut their trap because he needed to do his work and because, really, he didn't care. He didn't care that the girl had a new pimple on her face or that the other had forgotten to bring her comb. Or even how someone had gotten into a fight with another earlier this morning. Couldn't they see he just wanted to be alone?

"Did you see what Kiba did to that Naruto?" His ears suddenly perked up at the name.

"Yeah, poor kid. He couldn't even defend himself."

"What do you mean 'poor'? He deserved it."

"I know. His an Uzumaki."

"So it's true, then? He really is a murderer?"

Murderer?

"Whose a murderer?"

Everyone looked at him, surprised that he spoke. He tried containing himself. There shouldn't be any hint of desperation there.

"Oh, you came late. Then you really missed out Sasuke kun."

"Yeah, Kiba kicked that boy's arse so bad!"

Kiba? Who's Kiba? And who the hell is the murderer?!

He repeated his question again. "Whose a murderer?"

"Haven't you heard? Naruto? His a Uzumaki!

"What about it?" he asked.

The teacher found this time to walk in and the girls went back to their seats. For once Sasuke was disappointed that they left. What about a Uzumaki? Seeing him, the teacher marked off his name and handed out the photocopied sheets. And, perhaps to his luck, midway in his distribution, the teacher had realised that he had run short and excused himself. The teacher exited and he took hold of the chance. He tapped Sakura on the back.

He felt a pang of guilt as she turned around, a look of absolute happiness on her face. He was really using her, he realised, to find out about Naruto; and his conscience was beginning to argue against it. Who cares about Naruto? He's nothing to you, anyway. But he couldn't push aside his curiosity; he needed to know this.

"What about Naruto?"

The girl's smile never left her lips as she answered. "He's a Uzumaki. Haven't you heard the Uzumaki name before?" He shrugged. She spun her body fully around.

"My mum told me that Uzumaki was a family of serial killers."

"Serial killers?" he repeated.

"Yeah.  Naruto's dad was one and his dad's dad and, probably, his dad's, dad's dad. His great-grandfather started it all really. He was married to this weird clairvoyant and, somehow they were cursed. They gave birth to Naruto's grandfather and he grew up to be one of the smartest people. But, somehow, when he reached the age of 25 he went ballistic and killed people at random. Some say it was because of his mother who fed him weird potions but I think that he was just seriously mental. You know, sick in the head?" She pointed a finger at her own head, trying to emphasise the point.

"Anyhows, he killed and yada, yada, yada. I think there was a total of 52 deaths? Some of the noblest men. You know the government at that time? Shizayuka Mizu? He was nearly killed if not for his men protecting him. But unfortunately, all his men died before he was captured. No one knows his motive. But I think he just hates people smarter than him.

"So, yeah. He had another son…"

Sasuke interrupted. "But when did he…? Didn't he get a death sentence?"

"Oh, I forgot to tell you the gruesome part!" Her eyes grew wide. "His dad, who was Naruto's great-grandfather, died when he was about 5 so his mum raised him all alone. And, this is so disgusting…" she stuck her tongue out. "He slept with her mum! Ugh!"

Another girl from his side joined them. "I heard that the child was from a victim that he raped?" Sasuke looked at her and then back at Sakura.

"No," Sakura cried, "That was Naruto's dad!"

"Oh…"

"Anyways, Sasuke. They had a kid, together, and surprisingly he wasn't retarded. Or actually he was, since he took after his dad. Y'see, people tried forgiving him, him being a child and all. His mum, or grandma, or whatever, died after he was born and people felt sorry for him. It wasn't his fault that his dad killed, right? And since that woman wasn't around, no one would feed him potions and make him go all crazy. So, they let him in this orphanage and he grew up very healthy and very smart. People had high hopes for him, but some thought that he would be like his father, being smart and all. And they were right. Because when he left school at 17 with an IQ off the record, he started making weapons. And, like his father, he killed people at random. He killed, like double, what his father killed and he also raped women too. It took them a while before they captured him. 'Cos y'know, the government feared for his life and all. But yeah, they caught him and gassed him. He left a child though, Naruto; through a victim he raped. They couldn't do abortions then –it was 17 years ago. The government wanted to kill it –Naruto, that is –but some objected, saying it was immoral and all. His mother left him because she didn't want anything to do with him. And yeah, that's about it. Nobody really knows why both generations were so sinister. And some still believe that Naruto would be the same; repeat history and start taking innocent lives. I agree with that. Y'know, you can never be too careful."

The teacher walked in again and Sakura quickly turned around. Sasuke sat there, trying to digest what he had heard. So, that was Naruto's past. Was Kiba's family a victim too, then? Was that why he started a fight? Sasuke didn't pay attention to any of the explanations the teacher did, too engross in his own thoughts. Then the meaning of Tsunade? Was that it? Parents were afraid of having their children attending the same school as Naruto because of the chance that he'd repeat his family's actions? But…there wasn't any guarantee that he would do it, right? And it wasn't like it ran in the blood or something…

As those thoughts registered, Sasuke suddenly realised that he was trying to justify Naruto's presence. He really shouldn't now. He had spent the whole night thinking of the boy, he really should get tired already. But, as class continued, Sasuke found that it was the only thing he could do.

God, there was definitely something wrong with him!

TBC…