Disclaimer: I do not own naruto, but I wish I did!

Omgosh, its been almost a month sense I've updated! I FEEL AWFUL! (Hides under a rock) please dun hurt me! I was looking through all those reviews and was like THESE PEOPLE DESERVE AN UPDATE!

Anyway...here it is. Oh, and my other fanfiction 'blood cravings' may be discontinued if not many people read and review for it so yah, PLEASE check it out! (begs)

Chapter 14: Short Lived Happiness

"No..." Naruto muttered, as he gazed at the palms of his hands. His senses fully taking in the blood that tipped his fingertips and was dried between them, "I...I didn't...he couldn't..."

A strong hand gripped his shoulder and his muscles tensed.

"It's alright Naruto, we know it isn't your fault, Kyuubi must of been storing his energy and keeping it from you...that's why it took you so long to recuperate.." Tsunade said before she grinned and roughly ruffled his blonde hair,

"I'm glad to hear that voice of your's!" Naruto blinked before he looked up at her before his gaze wondered over to Hinata, whose eyes were directed toward the floor as she rubbed her sore wrists. A pair of arms suddenly wrapped around the girls middle in a tight hug,

"please forgive me...don't call me a monster...don't be afraid of me...don't shun me please..." the teen murmured. Hinata rubbed his back, now feeling horribly sorry for him, he had gone from a terrifying monster into a wounded and innocent boy that meant no harm.

"I don't want them to hurt you..."

Who is 'them'? She thought as she looked at him confused.

"Hinata, how about you take Naruto out for some ramen, I'm sure it's been a while sense he's had a good few bowls," Tsunade said, making it slightly loud to get Naruto's attention. His ears perked up slightly.

"After all, he should be getting his energy back sense kyuubi has already done what he's wanted, he shouldn't be keeping the energy away from Naruto any longer. It'll be my treat, what do ya say Naruto?" Tsunade said in a friendly voice.

"R...ramen?" Naruto questioned sitting up.

xF-Sx

"We should begin the plan soon, Itachi-san, he's gaining control of the chakra again," Zetsu stated, "Plus...I want to see him whimper again...I miss hearing him beg"

"Tch...Zetsu...you truely are a sadist," The Uchiha said, "How is his condition?"

"It seems the demon fox has allowed his chakra to flow through the brat again...it seems he was storing it in order to control the kid long enough to talk to the Hokage...our cover might of been blown...the chakra is healing his wounds as we speak...I'm not sure about his mental stability yet..." Itachi let out a small 'tch' in disapproval,

"I can't believe you let him be able to sense you...you used to be useful Zetsu," Itachi stated. Zetsu lightly glared at him through the strange plant like growth around his head.

"I'll do my best not to make anymore mistakes...and...he's been growing attached to someone again as we hoped.."

Kisame stepped out of the darkness and smirked, twisting his weapon in his hands,

"Really, now? Heheh, this'll be more interesting than we intended...hopefully we'll be able to break him completely this time..." he said, his black, doll-like eyes glittering with excitement. A small cruel grin crept across the Uchiha's face,

"We will...after all...we all know that he like's to protect the ones he loves...its too bad that this time he'll fail..."

xF-Sx

Naruto stuffed a good deal of noodles into his mouth. Hinata smiled at him, he was actually hungry. She was afraid his apatite would never come back. Old man Ichiraku grinned,

"Glad to see our best customer back and as hungry and healthy as ever!"

Naruto took a big gulp and swallowed down some of the delicious miso-pork ramen and he looked down at the bowl as if a god had given it to him, his cheeks were slightly red from eating a tad too much extremely hot noodles way to fast.

"I've almost forgotten how good this ramen was.."

"Oi! NARUTO!" a Familiar voice called as Rock Lee, clad in his forest green spandex sprinted over and slapped Naruto on the shoulder friendly.

"It's good to see you out and about! On your 3rd bowl I see!"

The demon container looked up toward his comrade,

"Fuzzy eyebrows...!" he said almost breathlessly, everything seemed like it was happening all over again, he was beginning to feel at peace again. He was really home.

"Lee stop pestering him...!" Neji said as he walked up, his arms crossed.

"Ah...Nice to see you so healthy Naruto-kun, you've had us worried...I see Hinata-san has taken good care of you," He said with a very small smile and his gaze wandered toward his cousin, she blinked and looked quickly away as usual, swallowing a small gulp. More and More familiar faces began to show, and Naruto's face grew brighter and brighter. Shikamaru and Shino did small warm and formal greetings while Kiba was loud and grinning like mad. Sakura nearly choked the poor boy in a hug, tears threatening to form and fall. Naruto Uzumaki wasn't going to be alone. He was home after years of torture. Kyuubi was quiet and now Naruto was surrounded by friends. He was still weak but old wounds were healing quickly. Chakra flowed throughout his being once more. And Most of all, he was happy.

xF-Sx

Itachi spun a kunai with many strange tags tied to its hilt around his slim finger before swiftly snatching it.

"We'll be ready this time...the nine-tails will be ours...

Okay...wow this was pretty much for the sake of updating...I'm kinda out of ideas but I know wut I'm going to do but not sure how...I hope this was a good update...thank you all so much again..I feel so luved! I'll try to make the next update a good one. R&R PLEASE