A/N: I relapsed, guys. Pretty hard. Like... hug-me jacket hard. I was making real progress, apparently, but I had a... "psychologically taxing hypersensitivity episode that resulted in extreme distress and a near-terminal act of self-destruction," as the shrink put it. Basically I started disassociating so hard I forgot who the fuck I was, and tried to kill myself, thinking I was a threat to myself, even though I had no sense of who I was. It happened suddenly, so sorry for that.

Axolotl-Hime: yes, I did say that. But things have changed a bit. But, I understand where you're coming from. I am by no means done, but right now, life is making me it's bitch and punching me in the balls repeatedly. I'm trying, I promise.

Monark: please do keep in mind I usually finish these chapter just before dawn, groggy as shit, hyped on my tenth cup of coffee, and about to crash so hard into my bed, my house becomes a crater. And then I post them as soon as they're done. I work on these for a while, but there's only so much I can catch when I'm tired.

Thank you for bringing that up for me, though. And on that note.

I AM NOW LOOKING FOR A BETA READER WHO IS WILLING TO NOT ONLY PROOF-READ AND CORRECT MY MISTAKES, BUT ALSO TO MAKE SURE I POST REGULARLY ENOUGH THAT PEOPLE WILL STOP THINKING I DIED. PM ME IF INTERESTED.

Lara5170: no, but think about how quickly Naruto can learn something when he really sets his mind to it. He mastered the Rasengan in A WEEK AND THREE DAYS from the time he started with the first step.

Other than that, just wanna say 'hi' again, give shout-outs to those of you lovelies who have been with me forever.

Darkhuntressxir

Tigrezztail

HeroCrafter (yes, hi, I notice your comments)

Saya the Jet Black Devil

Thank you guys for sticking with me. I know there's more of you out there who deserve just as much recognition, but these guys here have had the biggest impact on this story. They'd always poke, and prod, question, comment, gripe and complain. They're the ones who would pm to make sure I remember to explain something in the next chapter, or comment their thoughts and let me know how I did. So please, give these great people a round of applause.

And a round of applause, for you, the rest of the audience.

56 chapters, 2288 follows, 1887 favs, and 26 communities.

A little over 3 years of my life devoted (on and off) to this story. Let's see how far we can go, you guys.

Chapter 57: Story Time

"The young man waving at the crowd slowly with that vapid, empty smile wasn't Naruto. Naruto's smile showed all his teeth, so great was his joy. But Naruto rarely smiled. He usually grinned, and this was no grin. This was the empty smile of a man who thinks he has nothing left. This was a puppet's smile when it's strings were cut. This was the smile of one who had given up.

I just couldn't understand it at the time. I knew he'd lost his father, but he still had his cousin. He still had his aunt, and his friends. Surely he could not believe that his ties to them were cut when his father fell? This was an opportunity.

I pushed my way slowly through the crowd, following him at a slight distance. He wouldn't notice me. He was too broken at the time. But his guards? They were already watching me, unaware of my plans.

He was broken, and almost begging for someone to fix him, glue him back together and hold the pieces in place. But that couldn't be me. He'd made that abundantly clear.

And I understood. I knew his reasoning, and I knew his heart. He wanted only the best for me, and believed himself to not be worthy of that role. I disagreed, and always will, but it was ultimately his choice. But that doesn't stop me from loving him. And that didn't stop me from trying to find ways to help him. So long, I tried to help him. Even as he fell in love with another woman, I helped them along. Even as I married, and had my children, I loved him. And my husband understood. He too loved Naruto, the same as me, but in a different way.

That's not to say I don't love my husband, sweetheart, but that was an acquired love. No, I could never love anyone like I loved Naruto. No-one could. You had to love Naruto in a special way, unique to you and him. And everyone understood that in those days. Oh, we were so young and full of hope for Uzushio.

Oh, but I've gone off track, where was I?"

"Grandma! You always do this!" came the indignant reply. The elderly woman chuckled and pushed her rocking chair once more, listening to the waves and the sound of her family.

"I'm sorry, but I am an old woman, you know! Anywho, where was I?"

"You were sneaking up on him when he first showed up in public after the Founding!"

"Ah, yes, thank you dear. Now, as I was saying..."

The actual story we are all waiting for

I pushed my way slowly though the crowd, following his progress, waiting for him to become separated from the crowd. The masses were crying and cheering, and he played along, but it was obvious his heart wasn't in it. He looked like a puppet holding on by half a string.

I continued to trail his procession through the tent city outside of the main square, when I bumped into someone. I blinked and looked up to see Nagato-sama standing in front of me, his arms crossed and a scowl on his face.

"He's not feeling up for visitors."

"I know that, but you and I both know he needs someone to help him right now. Look at him," I said with a gesture towards the blond. "He has no spark anymore, Nagato. Naruto needs a friend right now to remind him that he still has things to live for. He lost his father, and his grandfather in such a short time. He needs me." Nagato sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, a habit he'd picked up from Naruto, it seemed.

"Fine, but wait until he gets back to the Uzukage Office, and don't say I didn't warn you when he gets mad."

"Please, I can handle Naruto when he's mad." Nagato scoffed, but said nothing. I continued after my blond target, trailing him at a fair distance. He walked through the Village that was being rebuilt for an hour or two, before he returned to his office. I waited ten minutes, then went in and knocked on his door.

"Go away." I knocked again. I imagined I could hear his growl through the door, before it was wrenched open by a furious looking Naruto. "I SAID LEAVE!"

Without hesitation, I reached out and smacked him across the face, causing his cheek to turn red and shock to split his stormy expression.

"Last time I checked, we were still friends, Naruto, and friends don't yell at friends when they're trying to help. Now are you going to invite me in for tea, or are you going to continue being an ass?"

Naruto opened and closed his mouth a few times, before stepping aside to allow me entry.

"Thank you," I said primly as I flounced past him and looked around for his tea set. Naruto always had a tea set nearby. He loved tea. Not as much as Ramen, but still. Once I found it, I used a low-powered water jutsu to fill it, and put the tea into the strainer. "do you want the leaves in during the heating, or poured over after?"

Naruto scoffed from his chair, which was facing away from me, out the window.

"You know me well enough to know the answer."

"Just thought I'd ask, in case you wanted to change it up," I replied as I set the strainer into the water, and started heating it with Chakra. Such wonderful things Chakra can do.

Naruto waited in silence as the tea boiled, and I said nothing. He would talk when he was ready to talk. When the tea was ready, I poured it into two cups, and held one out to Naruto, being sure to hold it on his left side. He took it silently, still staring out his window, and took a small sip. After he lowered the cup from his lips, he sighed softly and seemed to sag inwards.

"Why are you here?"

"You need a friend right now."

"For what?"

"To remind you of everything you still have to live for."

"Like what? A Village I don't deserve to lead? A family I don't deserve to have? Or friends I don't deserve to call as such? I can't keep my emotions in check, and I can't protect anyone. Why should I stay?"

"Because we both know that's bullshit. You're the only one who could lead this Village. Your family loves you. Your friends love you, and we all miss you. I know you're hurting right now, but Asuma-sensei knew what he was signing up for, and he went anyway. He made the choice to fight for you, and to die for you when he left Konoha. Don't dishonor his memory by wallowing in self-pity and letting your dream die in it's infancy. Now finish the damn tea, pull your shit together, and get the fuck out of this room. You have people to visit, hearts to win, and a Village to run."

Naruto remained silent for a moment, contemplating my words.

"You know... if anyone else said that to me, I'd probably hit them with a Chakra Chain and tell them to go fuck themselves."

"Then it's a good thing I'm not anyone else, isn't it?" Naruto chuckled softly, the first real sign of life I'd seen from him in days.

"Yes, I suppose it is," he grew somber again. "I'm not ready for this. Tou-chan was right, I never should have joined the ANBU."

"But you did, and you can't change that. You have the training, now you have to gain the experience, especially with people. I'll help, but there's only so much I can do if you don't try."

He sighed again.

"I know... I just... I hate that I'm human sometimes. Feelings are annoying and they make me feel like crap."

"Get used to it, you're going to be around for a long time if I have anything to say about it."

Another humorless chuckle, and Naruto lifted his cup to his lips, draining the rest of his tea. He set down the empty cup, then stood up and headed toward the door.

"Thank you. You're a good friend."

"I know. Are you alright now?"

Naruto paused as he grabbed the door knob. He seemed to be contemplating his answer.

"No... but I think I will be, with time. And help. Lots and lots of help."

"At least you admit it."

Naruto said nothiing as he left, but in saw the small grin on his face. Not nearly as prominent as his usual grin, but it was a start.

An elderly man's voice cut her off.

"You never told me you slapped Naruto-kun that time, dear."

"Oh, didn't I? I could have sworn I did."

"No, you never did."

"Oh, I'm sorry about that Lee-kun. That is my mistake."

"Yosh!" he gave a shakey thumbs up. "It's noproblem, Hinata-chan."