Chapter 9: An Invasion of Privacy
The third Hokage grimaced as he looked at the notes scribbled onto the paper.
It would've been crazy to not search the apartment but he still felt somewhat guilty. So much of what should be his personal life was ripped away from him. So it seems almost like he was taking that away on top of it all.
The longer he stared hadn't made it any easier to read. It was the overview of what they'd found in Naruto's apartment. To say the least, it was unpleasant.
For a start, his window was broken and had cardboard placed over it. Which wasn't too surprising because of what they found next.
A dozen notes, each with bricks to accompany them, all telling him to leave the village and to not come back. The writing seemed rushed and scrambled, most likely trying to avoid punishment.
More investigation led to them discovering a bloody kunai lying in the farthest end of the closet. Bloodstains seemed to cake the floor in an unnatural, unnecessary way.
Foundation in the bathroom, blood soaked cloths; you couldn't deny it.
But by far the worst thing they'd found was the muzzle. It had some dried blood and had been in the closet, like most of the other items discovered.
It looked like it had been ripped off.
Bullying.
And from the looks of it, for months, maybe years.
The Third Hokage sighed and rubbed his misty eyes. He wished this was all a terrible and brutal surprise but it really wasn't.
He knew that people hated the Nine Tails. Just mere association with the beast would lead to misery. Let alone being the jinjuriki of it.
He had wished more than anything that he could have hidden it. That he could have prevented this from ever happening.
It was his responsibility. Naruto was a child of the government, he was his legal guardian, entrusted by his father. That he would be a hero.
He couldn't imagine a child, let alone and eight year old digging into their skin as some sort of self inflicted punishment. Or as an escape from emotional turmoil.
This can't go on. He won't let it. Not when it almost made them lose a little boy. The village was filled with too much hate and fear.
None of them were bad people but none of them were completely innocent.
He wasn't innocent.
The Third Hokage ruffled his brow and took a long deep breath.
He had to talk to him.
…
When the Third Hokage entered the room, Naruto didn't look up. He couldn't look him in the eyes. Not after causing all that trouble and excess stress.
Naruto respected the Third Hokage, even more than most. He was so strong but incredibly kind. He always seemed to be taking care of everyone, or at least, the kids like him. The ones without parents. He was kinda like a big old grandpa. Someone everyone loved and who reciprocated the same love.
He wished he could be like that.
But he was a jinjuriki.
You don't deserve love.
It was wishful thinking.
He sat down, by his bed frame, facing the seat towards him.
He didn't speak for the longest time, instead deciding to look around the hospital room. The amount of white in hospitals was a tad alarming. It usually felt cold and uninviting, like nothing could ever truly live or even function there.
He hated hospitals. It reminded him too much of the hostile, cold nursery where he'd spent the majority of his early years.
You're so dramatic. No one cares, worthless little street rat. You better not mess things up more or you're going to regret it.
There was a single vase of flowers by the bed stand. Iruka had been refreshing the flowers every now and again.
Naruto wasn't sure why he bothered. He wasn't worth the flowers.
The Third Hokage was waiting for him to face him.
Naruto still didn't look up.
"We searched your apartment."
Naruto winced but tried to hide as best he could.
Shouldn't be too hard considering you're always hiding everything, useless little coward.
"I have a couple of questions for you. I need you to answer truthfully. For your sake and for others."
Who's been harassing you?"
That was gonna be harder to tell. He'd sworn to himself that he would never tell anyone or blame anyone other than himself. He wasn't going to let their justified anger end them in hot water.
He couldn't do that to them. Not after everything else he did.
Naruto shrugged and mumbled "I don't know their names…"
Ahh, clever little trash, aren't we?
The Third Hokage raised his head up slightly and took a mental note.
Naruto didn't know why the Hokage cared either. He was the Hokage after all. He was important.
He took a deep breath and continued.
"Alright. How long have you felt this way? And how long have you been cutting?"
The last question stung him with a fiery punch to the gut. He didn't like that question. He really didn't like it.
Yeah, like we're going to stop.
Naruto took his time, slowly forming a plan within his head.
"I dunno, I guess I've kinda always been like this?"
"And the cutting?"
"I don't know what you're talking about when you say 'cutting'."
"I don't believe you."
Naruto paused and closed his eyes, breathing before replying, "I don't wanna answer that."
"Fair enough," the Third Hokage said. genuinely surprising Naruto. He hadn't thought that he would actually drop it.
This was going fine enough, considering how many questions he was managing to avoid.
If it continued like this, he could completely skip over-
"Why?"
Tsk. Really thought you could get away from it?
Naruto opened his eyes and looked at him.
"That's the only question I wan- no, I need to answer truthfully. I need nothing but the truth, even if you think I might not like it."
Naruto could feel his whole body shake, but did his best to suppress it. He squeezed his eyes shut, breathing in and out.
Go on, trash. Tell him why.
He never thought he'd have to tell anyone. He never wanted to tell anyone ever.
"Why?"
Naruto breathed mustering all his tears down his throat and tried to speak in his most controlled voice.
"I thought I could take him with me."
…
The Third Hokage sighed and fiddled with his hands. Even though he was expecting an answer like that, or at the very least something similar, it was still awful to hear. And from a child… he had failed Naruto.
He could've done more.
He should've done more.
He was supposed to be recognized as a hero. But he only saw himself as a villain. Someone who wasn't worth life.
The Third Hokage had seen many good men and women take their own lives for one reason or another.
He wished he didn't have to push him further but he needed to confirm his suspicions.
"Who's the he?"
No response. Naruto still hadn't opened his eyes, gripping onto the blanket like a lifeline.
"It's him."
"Do you mean the Nine Tailed-"
"His name is Kurama and yes. He is the one I was talking about."
He processed the child's answer slowly, a thousand questions forming in his mind all at once.
"How do you know his name?"
Naruto sat silently on the bed, staring absentmindedly at the coverings of the hospital bed. Machines tinked quietly in the background, the silence thickening with each second.
This seemed to be an even harder question. He hated doing this, especially since the wounds are still fresh and tangible but he needed to know. The Third Hokage had a sinking suspicion that he was hiding a lot more than he'd like.
"He told me."
Told him? It shouldn't be possible. That shouldn't be possible. How could he be able to? Why on earth didn't he tell anyone?
The Third Hokage furrowed his brows. How much had the Nine Tails told him? What was that beast telling him?
They were name to name basis so it's not occasional, 'hey there'.
As if it wasn't already impossible enough, his anger for the fox grew at an alarming rate.
"Are you saying that-"
"Yeah. I'm tired, can I sleep some more?"
"Of course, of course…" the Third Hokage mumbled, getting up from the chair.
He got ready to leave the room, placing his hand over his mouth.
He silently left the room and leaned on the wall.
Oh go*.