Ok, must admit something. I know last chapter probably felt rushed (honestly wasn't my best work, shoulda worked on it more), especially since I posted it a couple days after the last one, so ima just say this now.

I didn't try to rush. In fact, I didn't rush. I've had it written since I published chapter One. It was a kinda a filler chapter but it was important cuz I had to set up quite a lot of things.

Since this is an AT, (alternate timeline), I wanted to establish what was still the same. (I also wanted to write Iruka boi, cuz I loike himmm). Sorry that tha last one was a bit disappointing to mi first one. The next chapters will most likely be much longer and stronger. And don't worry, we have a lot more page time with our depressed uwu bean (why am I typing like this, I never type like this).

Also no, mi author more's are not professional btw.

Soo, making things simple, ima post every Saturday til da story's over. Currently, me only working on another one after dis (despite what my library tell u). I apologize for my carnal sin and ima try to make each chapter as long as the first (wish meh luck).

Last thing, I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MANY PEOPLE LIKE THIS?! I WAS ON CLOUD NINE WHEN I GOT ALL THE EMAILS. IT STILL MAKES ME BUBBLE INSIDE! THANK YOU SOO MUCH FOR ALL THE FEEDBACK! I COULD USE SOME! THANK YOU YOU SOO SOOOOOOO MUCH!

Chapter 3: The Advantages to Having a Demon in Your Head

Beat up again? You DID do what they asked you to.

"I don't care…"

No, no you wouldn't filth.

Naruto walked home, limping slightly. Apparently, they had turned in the scroll too late and they were pretty mad at him for him not being faster.

Naruto wasn't the one to fight so he just took the beating. Besides, the pain might knock him out faster. Naruto picked up his pace, the cold stinging at his bruises. It howled furiously and aggressively. It was gonna rain soon. Now he HAD to get there faster.

Naruto reached the apartment complex as the rain began to fall. Naruto swiftly unlocked the door and shut it behind him, locking it tight. The cardboard had been blown off the remaining window and onto the ground. Rain lightly poured through the hole.

How unfortunate.

Naruto groaned and grabbed the cardboard. He held it over the hole as he took off his blanket and sheet. He shuffled through his closet, pulling out a covering and put it over his bed.

He'd have to deal with the window tomorrow. Naruto gathered the blankets and dropped them down onto the floor.

Pretty chilly tonight. Isn't it getting close to your birthday?

"Does it matter?"

Of course it does! It means that you've been breathing for nine pathetic years! It's also the night that I slaughtered dozens of people including your parents!

"I'll get the party favors if you can handle the invitations."

Naruto covered himself further into the blankets and just as he was hoping, began to feel woozy and sleepy.

Pain, the best sleep medicine. He'd have to thank those guys later.

Naruto smiled slightly as fell into a deep sleep, something he hadn't had in the last two weeks.

...

Naruto felt sunlight prick at his face. He looked around confused. His room. His bed. His clock…

No! He was late!

Took you long enough.

Naruto scrambled, flinging things all across the apartment. Breakfast was out of the option for today.

Naruto scrambled everything and burst out the front door. He raced through town. Let them stare, he didn't have time. The sound of shoes hitting pavement was loud, especially at the rate. Naruto felt their eyes in his back. While this had happened many times before, it still bugged him. And sacred him.

Crap, no. Focus, you need to get there. You need to get there. You need to get there. Naruto barely made it to the door as others shoved and pushed their way up.

He got trampled as several different kids pushed their way into class.

For the first time in who knows how long, he was actually the last person standing in class.

"Demon kid was late. What, had a bad dream?" He heard someone snicker.

"Enough, no more talking, we have notes today."

Notes. I wonder what? Wouldn't matter now, would it? Since you're too idiotic to learn anything anyway.

"Today, we'll be learning some new kanji pertaining to missions and be writing full reports on a fake mission each of you will be given."

Ahh, writing. You're horrible at that, aren't you? Bet your father would be so disappointed.

Naruto rolled his eyes. He was used to Kurama's constant jabbing.

The clock ticked rhythmically. Naruto took notes feverishly, drowning out anything he might say by reciting the words in his head. By the time everyone had turned in their assignments, Naruto had completely spaced him.

They practiced more outside. Push ups, running, throwing kunai, the usual. Naruto did good enough to pass, even though he was trying as hard as he could.

Absolutely pathetic.

...

By the time school was out, Naruto was ready to go home but he HAD to stop by the repairman today. The clouds were already coming back and threatening a horrible downpour.

The repair shop was near his apartment so he could just stop by there on his way back. The solid ground reminded him that he was, in fact, not asleep. Sometimes, it was really hard to tell what was real and what wasn't.

Good thing you have me, right? Tell you what's real because you can't anymore, pathetic little whelp?

Guess that was a positive.

"Well, if it isn't Naruto Uzumaki. What can I do you for?" Kente Tanaka said, with an edge in his tone. He was very polite with him but Naruto could still tell that he hated his guts.

No wonder. After all, we did murder his poor wife.

"Another broken window."

"Tsk. That's a lot of glass there. You need to be more careful with your kunai."

Naruto shrugged. He should be more careful. He should invest in a beware sign.

"Well, I can look at it tomorrow if you'd like, but I'm booked tonight."

He's lying, see how he fiddles with his middle finger whenever he doesn't tell the truth?

Naruto had to admit that Kurama was very smart and incredibly observant. Though, he could use a little more privacy and not a constant string of replying to his thoughts.

He didn't need to know if someone was lying to him. Scratch that, he didn't WANT to know if someone was lying to him. Made it harder to pretend.

"Sure, that works."

Naruto was halfway home when he stopped. As much as sleep was calling him, he can't afford to sleep in like that again.

...

Sasuke's mind kept circling back to those words.

"Run… keep running… and cling to life."

Cling to life. Cling to life. Cling to life. Cling to life. He was mocking him. He was mocking him.

Of course he was.

Itachi was stuck in his head, like a permanent scar across his mind. His words that night were still fresh, heck, he'd memorized every single line of his little speech. He remembered the cold sting of that night, the breeze. How every single lantern was unlit.

The long trail of blood.

The blood on his face.

The fact that everyone was dead.

The fact that he lived, and his parents didn't.

The fact that they meant nothing to him.

Sasuke has barely spoken to Shikamaru and Choji after their assignment. He didn't have time. The only person that kept sneaking their way into his thoughts was that demon kid. He was quiet and non-responsive. Almost like a statue or a puppet.

Or a weapon.

He didn't know much about the Nine Tailed Fox, other than that it was very dangerous and very powerful. Sasuke couldn't help but imagine the kind of power you could have if you could wield it. Wield a demon.

Maybe the kid already knew how. Maybe they were just waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Sasuke punched into the tree again, splinters scattering from the point of impact.

Sasuke heard something from behind him and jerked around.

Speak of a yokai and they appear.

He hadn't noticed him yet. He seemed to be training, hard. The yellow hair stood out in strange directions. If the kid had ever tried to brush it then that have obviously failed. His skin was tanner than Sasuke's or most of the other kids, but his face was the weirdest part. Not that face markings were uncommon since about two other kids in his class had them, but his looked more like scars. They weren't indented but it still sorta looked like it, but they sorta looked like whiskers. Not unsettling at all.

Not much scared Sasuke anymore. The memory of that night trumped most others things that a nine year old could be scared of. But there was that kid. Sasuke didn't say anything. The kid really freaked him out and he didn't want to talk to him ever again.

...

Naruto opened the door and shoved it tight. It was already raining so he'd have to work fast. Naruto shuffled through his closet for an old cardboard box. He picked it up and emptied the contents. Only one thing fell out. A stuffed bear.

It was the only toy he'd ever owned.

It was incredibly old and hadn't been washed in years. He vaguely remembered having it when he was still at the nursery but only slightly. Whatever, it was useless now. Naruto picked up the cardboard, leaving the bear where it was, sitting alone in the dark.

How heartless.

Naruto tore the cardboard box up into three pieces. He laid them on top of each other. He knew he didn't have tape so he'd have to think of something else.

He'd remembered a sticking seal in a scroll somewhere but couldn't remember where.

Ugh, it's name is A Comprehensive Guide to Jutsu Seals.

Naruto smiled slightly and grabbed the scroll. He copied it four times and began to apply it the edges. Finally, it looked like it might hold. Now all he has to do was clean up the water.

Naruto smiled and quickly frowned at his handiwork. He shouldn't be proud of this. Well, he shouldn't be proud of anything really.

Yes. You shouldn't.