CHAPTER FIVE
Neji watched, nearly paralyzed, as Naruto ran the blade down his arm. It left a trail of blood as it moved and Naruto was wincing. He didn't know what to do… after a few minutes Naruto had stopped, both arms now having two new cuts in them, and he pulled his jacket back on. Neji shook his head and tried to clear his mind. But the memories of the Chuunin exams kept returning to his mind. How strong Naruto was. He walked towards the Hokage's office slowly. And as he walked the more he told himself he had imagined it. He kept telling himself Naruto wouldn't resort to that. That Naruto was stronger than an emotion. He had been so powerful then…
When Neji arrived at the Hokage's office he asked to speak and she was woken up. Although she was not very happy about being woken up so early.
"Couldn't this have waited?" She asked sleepily. Neji hesitated then came to a decision.
"It… could have." He said. "But I think it's best to get it over with." He sat down and looked at the Hokage. "Aside from sleep troubles I have noticed… no … new changes." He spoke slowly trying to make up his mind of whether or not to inform her.
"So Kakashi's fears were just the fears of an old fool?" She asked, smirking. "I figured as much." She was half asleep and not even realizing what she was saying though so Neji didn't know if he could believe what she was saying fully. Surely she was talking about someone else. Kakashi was not usually a fool.
"If that is all you wanted Hokage-Sama?" he asked. "I'd like… to return home." He had paused for a second, feeling guilty about not saying everything. But he shook off the feeling. Naruto was strong enough to get over this alone…wasn't he? (A.N.1)
The next day Naruto didn't feel any better. While he prepared breakfast he couldn't stop but staring at the picture of his team. For some reason he felt that it didn't represent the team anymore. Usually they were all close friends, nothing more, but as Sakura and Sasuke got more interested in each other they had left Naruto alone. They hadn't even realized it but the team was split in two. One half consisted of Sakura and Sasuke and the other Naruto. Kakashi didn't even notice due to his book. All he thought was that it was cute that Sasuke was noticing Sakura. When they arrived on the training field Kakashi told them there was to be no instructions.
"Fight your hardest," he informed them. "But don't kill each other. I can't be here to watch because I have a meeting." He disappeared in a burst of smoke.
At the Hokage's office Kakashi reappeared in the windowsill.
"Yo!" He said, starting Tsunade. She let out a yelp and slammed her fist at him. He avoided it, just barely.
"Why don't you come in the normal way?" Tsunade asked him.
"Because the road of life has many paths. Why take the main one?" Kakashi asked.
"Enough of the road of life crap! I hear it every time you are late." Tsunade groaned. "We have a report on Naruto. No suspicious activity aside from the same lack of sleep." Kakashi nodded.
"That's good to hear." He said. He leaned back and sighed. "He just seems so distant lately. He still makes his little jokes but it sounds like his heart isn't in them."
Training was not much. Naruto slipped up a few times due to his arms and Sasuke properly teased him about not being strong enough. So as soon as Kakashi returned and told them training was done he took off for home! Kakashi sighed, having no chance to tell Naruto that he wanted to talk to him. Naruto ran home and locked the door. The first thing he did was look in the bathroom mirror at his arms. Sure enough he had pulled one cut open, and they were bruised from the fighting with Sasuke. He sighed and walked into the other room of his apartment. He sat down and lay there for a while. Knock! Knock! He heard. He looked up, wondering who'd be visiting. When he opened the door his jacket was on but he hadn't zipped it up. Kakashi was standing there with a happy face.
"Yo!" He said. (A.N. 2) "You ran off a bit quickly."
"I had something to check on." Naruto replied. "So why are you here?"
"Well," Kakashi said. "I wanted to talk to you." Naruto sighed and let him into the apartment. Kakashi sat on the chair and faced Naruto while Naruto sat on his bed.
"So…" Naruto started awkwardly. "What did you want to talk about?" He didn't really care at the moment; just happy someone was there who didn't want to ignore him. But he still was afraid Kakashi would bring up something that would lead to him revealing his past offenses.
"You haven't been sleeping, Naruto." Kakashi said. "Anyone could tell just by looking at you." He chuckled. "So why haven't you been sleeping Naruto? Are you idolizing Gaara or something ?" Naruto laughed.
"Yeah." He joked. "I am going to kill you." He said in the most serious, yet hilarious, tone that he could find. Kakashi laughed.
"But seriously, why haven't you been sleeping?" He asked. Naruto looked at the ground.
"I…don't know." He lied. "I just don't find myself tired anymore." Naruto felt a stab of guilt for his lie. This was the perfect opportunity to spill his worries and feelings out. Why was he avoiding it?
"Hmm… Maybe we should ask the Hokage if she knows anything?" Kakashi suggested. Naruto shook his head.
"I'll just live with it." He said. "I'll sleep on my own time." Kakashi sighed.
"I hope you aren't hiding anything, Naruto." He said. "You don't have anyone to talk to more than half the time so it'd be more than okay for you to come find me…." He stopped for a second. "We are a team. And team members support one another."
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
(1): Before you tell me that Neji wouldn't be stupid enough to try and forget what he saw, I know that. But he is also the only character who I believe could come to that conclusion.
Shikamaru is a genius so he'd know not to hide it.
Ino would probably tell all of Konoha.
Chouji would probably throw a tantrum from being asked to watch because he couldn't eat and make noise could he?
Kiba would have Akamaru who would probably whine until he informed the Hokage even if he wanted to keep it a secret.
Shino is too smart to not tell regardless of how quiet. Plus he has around a million bugs to talk to who'd probably demand it.
Hinata would probably faint a few times if she saw Naruto acting that way.
Sakura and Sasuke were on his team so being asked to watch would probably be awkward plus it'd end the story.
TenTen would go straight to the Hokage.
Rock Lee would break into Naruto's house screaming about how he can't ruin his youth… I think.
Neji probably would be smart but he wouldn't overreact like most others would. Plus he is the one I have seen Naruto hanging around the least.
That is just what I decided. Shino and Neji were the only ones who probably wouldn't overreact so I chose one of them.
(2) Maybe Kakashi should start saying something else…
(3) Review Replies:
Maiyuko-chan: The pairings are now in the description.
The Happy Stalker Ball The uploading doesn't really make it any better ;).
