Hey! I'm back. I'm sorry it took this long, but I started school, and things have been hectic since then. Please tell me what you think! I'm sorry I had to end it like this, but I'll try to update soon. Love ya, Peeps :hugs:

baka-m3-l33t

The Meaning of Loneliness Ch. 5

Tsunade's eyelids fluttered open as she woke up and straightened in her chair. She stretched to work out the kinks in her muscles from sleeping in a chair all night, and then quickly looked toward Naruto. Naruto laid still in his bed, except for the rise and fall of his chest indicating his breathing was steady and restful. She sighed and relaxed, and then noticed there was someone else beside Naruto. Neji was resting his head on the side of the bed while cradling Naruto's hand in his. He was still asleep, and she didn't wish to wake him. She turned and noticed Jiraiya was watching her from the corner of the room, and went to go talk to him.

"How was Naruto's condition during the night?"

"Passable. He's not in the best of conditions, but he's a fighter. He'll fight to live and Kyuubi will back him up."

"Has the Hyuuga been here all night?"

"Yes. I think there's something to that, but I'll keep things to myself for the time being."

"Since I've rested all night, my chakra level is up again. I'm going to search through his recent memories and see if I can find out what made him do this to himself."

"Just be careful. If you feel the strain coming on, quit immediately!"

"Alright."

Tsunade pulled a chair over to Naruto's bed and sat down. She then leant over Naruto and placed her hand on his brow. It immediately started glowing green and it looked like Tsunade had gone into a comatose state. Neji woke when he felt chakra that close, and gazed in horror at the sight. He got up suddenly and was about to push away Tsunade when two arms clamed down on his torso and made him immobile.

"Don't. The Hokage is searching through his memories right now. Don't disturb her, for it isn't hurting Naruto."

Neji calmed after hearing this, and Jiraiya slowly let go of the Hyuuga. Neji then went over and held Naruto's hand again. He watched and waited through the examination.

.:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:.

Tsunade was suddenly on the bridge at mid-day, watching Naruto eat his lunch in his normal, unmannered way. She glowered when Sakura started yelling at him for arguing with Sasuke. Was this what his everyday life was like? Always being put down and ignored? Why didn't I notice and change things for him!

Everything blurred and then she was in the same spot, but this day Naruto was more haggard than before. Sakura started in on him, and then mentioned the Demon. She stared in horror as the rest of practice continued and he was either ignored or sent scathing looks and replies. She'd about had enough when even Kakashi wouldn't teach him. She watched as he went home and was crushed by the comments thrown at him. She smile in a melancholy way when Neji called him, but then cried silently as he himself cried himself to sleep. She proceeded to watch him wake up and train himself hard the next day.

Then came the party. That was a total disaster, but she was happy the Hyuuga stood up for him. She watched with concerned eyes as he trained through the night and into the next day. She felt the presence of the other ninjas way before Naruto, but watched in horrific fascination as he proceeded to fight for his village and killed all eight men, before falling into Neji's arms. She had also noticed that Neji had seen how the last attack worked, and made a mental note to interrogate him as well. Since she knew from that part on, she was about to pull back, when she heard a small sound. The world blurred, and she was inside the room with the Kyuubi. The first thing she noticed was the way the Kyuubi was growling at her, and she seemed to be protecting something. When she looked down, she gasped as she saw Naruto curled in the fetal position crying out as he slept. Rivers of tears were running down his face unchecked. The Kyuubi curled her tail around Naruto and watched Tsunade closely as she stared at them.

"What are you doing here!" She growled.

"Trying to help Naruto to have a better life."

"And how are you going to do that? By making him relive everything you just saw? What have you done to improve anything!"

"He relived it! That never happens! I'm just trying to find out what made him so close to death…"

"As you already know, Naruto isn't like any other, and he has a lot more ability than you've ever had and ever will. Now leave before I lose my temper. Oh, and be sure to make his life better, for I don't want him hurt again like this."

Tsunade stared solemnly at the Kyuubi. "I will. I don't want him to ever have to deal with that again." As she turned away, tears overflowed and ran down her face. The Kyuubi saw this and commented, "You might wish to keep him away from those who hurt him, and keep him close to the ones whom hold him dear. Remember what you saw, and make decisions from there. Good luck, mortal."

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The next thing Tsunade knew, she was sitting in her chair, staring into Jiraiya's eyes. As soon as she saw him she came apart. She started to cry silently and said, "He's been through so much. Kami, if only I had known…" She pulled herself together and sat back. She sighed and turned to Neji. Before she could say anything he spoke.

"You wish to search my memories to piece together more information, don't you?"

"Actually, I just would like to talk. Why are you so nice to Naruto?"

"Because he brought me out of my hole and gave me something to believe in."

"And how did he do that?"

Neji stayed silent for a while, and then finally whispered, "He made me fall in love with him."

Tsunade smiled tiredly and relaxed slightly. But immediately tensed with his next question.

"Can chakra smother other chakra by reaching the heart?"

"Why do you ask?"

"I studied that final move Naruto made on the Akatsuki member, and he injected his chakra into the man and it sought his heart and smothered all energy and life in it."

Tsunade looked at Jiraiya in surprise, "That's not… Then could he be…"