Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto…this is FANfiction

Sakura: Fanfiction: noun; a story in which a writer creates a piece of work where the plot and execution thereof is the sole property of the writer. It is important to note that the writer of said story is not the owner of the environment, characters, or dogma/mythology of the world used.

Ino: Finished being a smart-assed brown noser, Forehead Girl?

Sakura: What'd you call me, Pig?

All of the male characters of Naruto: Chickfight! (pulls out popcorn and beer and starts with the munching)

blacksyryn: (sigh) My insomnia is still on…WHY CAN'T I SLEEP? And this time, it's not even the computer's fault…I turned it off for a whole twelve hours and still no sleep.

Lee: Ever try sleeping pills?

Tenten: I KNEW it! (points at Lee accusingly) You're on drugs! That's why you act the way you do!

Lee: AM NOT!

Tenten: ARE TOO!

blacksyryn: Are so…now let's get this thing going.

Background Music

"Nobody likes you
Everyone left you
They're all out without you
Having fun."
—Letterbomb by Green Day

The song blasted through the headphones resting on the boy's head, hiding underneath his shaggy brown hair. He sat on a bench on the roof of his old school and sighed. Leaning back he stared at the clouds and wondered what made them so appealing to certain people. But the thought didn't last more than the time it took to create it before it was dismissed by the boy who thought it in the first place.

Everyone had his or her quirks and ideas of what was worthwhile.

He was the last person who would judge another based on one quirk.

The boy leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees. He linked his fingers together and let his hands hang limply below his bent head. His back hunched over and his eyes closed in contemplation. He was thinking about his place in the world and the life he chose to play in it.

He just got out of the hospital; a little introspection is only natural.

At least, that's what everyone kept telling him.

What everyone didn't know, is that he always was and always will be introspective. What else could he be when his only friends were his family, his teammates and one loudmouthed blonde idiot?

Of course, said idiot could befriend and change the heart of a cold-blooded killer in the space of one colossal fight, but that didn't give him any more points on his IQ card.

The song in his mp3 player switched to another, slower one, but the boy barely noticed. He was stuck in his thoughts now and the music he started now became part of the background noise in his life. It didn't exist for his enjoyment anymore. It simply existed; without purpose or meaning. Every now and then, a blast of drums or a guitar solo would gain his attention and remind him that the music was still playing. But for the most part, it was something he could ignore.

A bitter smile crossed his lips as he drew a parallel concerning his life and the music he wasn't paying any attention to.

"That's me," he sighed. "I'm background music. Easily forgotten and easily replaced, that is my role in life."

Songs played into his headphones and into his mind, but the words were gibberish. Everything blended together until it meant nothing. Finally, the last song ended. The peaceful quiet of the afternoon assaulted his ears and jarred him. He felt a presence next to him and another leaning against the ladder that led to the roof.

"Y'know, Chouji," Shikamaru said from his position next to the boy. "Even if you are background music, you're still a part of our lives."

"And we'd rather have you there than deal with the silence that not having you would leave," Ino whispered, staring at him with sad blue eyes.

"Besides," Shikamaru added. "You're not background music. You're our drum man. You keep us on track."

"You're our heartbeat, Chouji," Ino said.

Chouji stared at his best friends and gave a small smile. "Thanks guys," he said. "But even to me, that sounds like a load of crap."

"Oi, Chouji!" Shikamaru yelled as the other boy walked to the edge of the roof. Chouji turned around.

"I know what you're trying to do, but don't okay?" he said. "I'll deal with my pain in my way. It's my own. We're shinobi, pain's a way of life. I don't have to share this with you guys. Try to understand." They were surprised when he turned and pressed 'play' on his mp3 player once more.

Before they could do anything, Chouji was jumping from rooftop to rooftop, heading for who knows where. Shikamaru dropped his arm from where he raised it when the Akimichi left. Ino looked down at her sandals and frowned.

Ever since he got out of the hospital, he was a little different. But as he said, they were shinobi. What right did they have to bother him at this moment?

Chouji ran to his second "hideout" on the bottom lip of the Shodaime's face on the Hokage Mountain. He appreciated his teammates' efforts, but he just needed to be alone for a while. He knew he would rebound from this mood soon enough. It was a cycle he went through every few months, anyway.

Music blasted through his headphones and this time, he took extra care to listen to the song.

"Nobody likes you
Everyone left you
They're all out without you
Having fun."