Thank you for the reviews. I see that my fic confuse some of my readers because of my habit of alternating Nippon and English, I would refrain using the Japanese language from now on and would stick to English.

Please read and review.

Summary: There's a certain blue eyed blond who always did have a soft spot for underdogs.

Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine

Orange and Lemons

Chapter III

"But he killed my husband and my children! He's a monster!"

"Don't you dare call him that!"

His hands clasped tightly among the soft white cloth, he flinched when he heard something crash. He remained his head down as he edged closer at the old man in robes, hiding behind his legs. He could feel the muscles tense.

"You have broken the law Haruko-san. Escort her."

Suddenly clouds of smoke bursts and two forms clad in black and white appeared at the messy room. A few seconds later both the black clad figures and Haruko, Naruto's 27th guardian disappeared.

Naruto didn't bat an eyelid.

Boys don't cry. Boys don't cry. Boys don't cry. Boys don't cry…

The old man sighed and gently pried the boy's hands off his robes and held them with his own. He led young Naruto to the couch where he sat down wearily facing the boy.

"Grandpa…"Naruto sniffed. His eyes burn and he refused to blink in fear that the tears would fall.

Boys don't cry. Boys don't cry. Boys don't cry…

"Did I do something wrong?" He peered his watery eyes through his bangs to the wrinkly gentle grandpa.

The old man smiled sadly. "No. You did nothing wrong Naruto-kun."

Liar. If I didn't do anything wrong then people wouldn't be blaming me for something.

His hands clenched, clearly disbelieving. He wondered why he would lie. Do adults always lie? Is… Is grandpa always lying to him? Suddenly he felt arms wrapped around him, he stiffened. "What are you doing?" He received no response. Feeling awkward at the position, he didn't budge and remained tense. "Ne, grandpa?"

"Hm?"

"Why are they always angry at me? Am I really a monster?" he asked timidly.

"…"

"…" boys don't cry. Boys don't cry. Boys are not allowed to cry…

"No, they are just blind Naruto-kun."

He felt his eyes burn as salty tears escaped him. In the end he wasn't able to stop himself from crying. Unknown to Naruto silent tears was falling from the older man's eyes as well.

……………………….

The third Hokage entered the room, his face serious and grim. The two elderly people waiting took note of his state, their vision landed at the small bundle he carries at his back. A boy not more than four with sunshine hair sleeping peacefully with his head resting at the older man's shoulder.

"I'm sorry for being late. I had something to take care of as you two could see." The third offered a tired smile. "Nevertheless, it's no excuse to make the council wait."

The elderly man made a nod as he regarded the boy at the Hokage's back. "Again?" He asked, the question coming more like a statement.

"Yes."

The old woman sadly ruffled the boy's hair careful not to wake him. "We understand Sarutobi. I only wish we could do more for him." The third carefully deposited his burden at the nearby couch. He shook his head but remained silent.

The woman continued, "Look at us, we're pathetic. We hold the highest positions here in the village and yet we could not even help one boy."

The old man from the council laid a comforting hand at the only female in the room as if to bring her away from her sad thoughts. "We may be the leaders of many, yes, we hold power but we are just humans. We could make them follow our wills but we could never change their hearts. To do so would be impossible. If they are to see him as the same as everyone else, the boy must make an effort to do it himself with their eyes watching him. Even with our words they would not believe. In the end, it's the boy's burden."

The third removed his hat and placed it at his table. "And what heavy burden it is. But enough of that, now, we have things to discuss."

"Yes, a new village has risen and negotiation seems……."


Mrs. Yamanaka watched her daughter play dolls happily by the corner. She sighed as she tweaked and manipulated the flower stems at her hands. A mug of coffee was placed in front of her making her blink, startled out of her reverie. "Inochi?"

Her husband nodded and sat down besides her nursing his own cup of coffee. He joined her as he similarly watches their daughter. He took a sip. "It's about him isn't it?"

She nodded. Though she has no personal vendetta against the boy, she had to restrain herself from going to her daughter and forbidding her from ever seeing him again. Yes, she knew better. Normally it was the case for almost all ninja families that have witnessed the fight against the nine tailed fox demon up close. She knows that the boy was just that. A boy. But she could not help herself. "I'm worried. Ino lives and breathes the society. She is a natural social butterfly and though she seems confident, I know that when reality sinks in and the same society she adores would turn against her, she would be hurt. I'm afraid she would break."

She's not the only one with the same troubles, she knows a lot of parents coming from the ninja families who neither encourage nor discourage their children from befriending the boy. It's a pity that none of their children actually made a move to do just that but the exact opposite.

She felt a warm hand cover her own. Inochi smiled. "Ino is a strong girl. She could handle herself and when she can't, we'll be there for her."

She bit her bottom lip and returned back a hesitating smile. "Yeah…"


"So you don't have mama or papa too?" Naruto is currently squatted down facing the wall of an alley rubbing soft damp fur at his hands. Five kittens, maybe born just a few minutes earlier mewled and licked his skin all the while their mother's carcass beside them.

"I'm sorry. But if it would help I don't have parents too." He said softly. Earlier he had chased a dog away that was picking on the pregnant kitty cat. Because of it he wasn't able to witness how the kittens were born but he did hear them mewling pathetically and loudly at the rain. Their noses prodding the bloody stomach of their mother, he realized that the cat received wounds from the bully dog and it cost's her the untimely death.

Naruto is soaked to the bone; he watched how the kittens would bump their heads together just so they could rub themselves at his hand and fingers. "At least you guys have each other right? Me? I… I don't have any siblings."

It's not fair.

Life is so unfair. He put a finger under one kitten's neck. Its eyes are closed, they haven't opened yet.

How easy it is to end it.

The lives currently at his hands are so frail, so easily taken away. A mere squeeze and … He shook his head; droplets of water flew from his now dark gold nearly bronze wet locks. He is a bad boy.

Life is really unfair. The kittens would survive but they would have each other, he petted them absentmindedly. He would have to survive being alone. Grandpa wouldn't be always there. How unlucky…

He noticed the rain beating his back grow softer. The doors of the houses are starting to open again. A few moments later children would start running and playing with their peers, women would meet each other and gossip and he… he would hide.

"OI! FISHCAKE!"

He nearly fell forward in surprise. He looked over his shoulder to see the same bossy girl he saw a few days earlier.

Ino. His mind supplied.

She waved her hand and closed her small blue umbrella. "NARUTO-KUN! What are you doing over there!"

Guess it stop raining. I didn't notice.

He stood up and faced her cradling the newly born kittens at his arms. She ran towards him, her feet splashing the puddles on the street. She bent her head down and cooed at the mewling creatures before his chest. He looked down at her though she seems unaware of his stare.

A secret smile blossomed at his lips as the rays of sunshine pierced through the clouds making the shadows flee. As fast as it came, the smile was hidden. "Hey Pupil-less." He returned back the greeting.

"EH! What did you call me! What did I tell you huh fishcake! Boys don't call us girls' names! Are you purposely ….blah, blah, blah…"

He mentally plugged his ears and merely nodded at the expected pauses. He lets out a few smiles slip but all the while remained thoughtfully silent.

Guess that… life isn't so bad after all.

He stroked one of the kitten's undersides with his free fingers, watched and partially listened at the ranting bossy, loud girl in front of him stomping at the puddles time to time.

"HEY! Are you even listening to me fishcake! Naruto-kun!"

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say pupiless."