Authors note: Thank you so much for the reviews. So here's the third chapter of Heart of Winter.

Enjoy, Ja-ne!

Forgotten but not lost

'Stay away from him',' Monster!' , He stood feet away from the crowd and looked at them in confusion. Why was he so different from everyone? Why did they hate him so much? It tore him apart inside as he searched for the answer , but he never could find it.

"Iruka sensei why am I so different ? Why does everyone hate me?" the young boy asked. His teacher smiled then replied "They don't understand you that's all. Theres something no one can understand about you and it scares them, but that's okay. You just be you Naruto with a little less pranks please."

It was always the same everyday people would whisper as he walked by people would yell at him but no one ever told him why. Why? That was the biggest question. He would search for acceptance but could never hold it in his grasp. He tried so hard ,but it was never enough. Was there really something more for him, something that could make him feel loved, like he belonged.

He could feel it, but couldn't place it, couldn't touch it. It was there yet it was not. It was as if something had been missing and was never found.

"Why do you even come here, your such an idiot you shouldn't even bother coming to school. You'll never be a ninja" Someone would say.

"That's not true because I'm going to be the greatest ninja of all, I'm going to become hokage and then everyone will know how great I am " He'd always reply with a big goofy grin. It was what kept him going, it kept him alive and gave him hope. Yet the person would always laugh at him and say he'd never achieve it.

What was there for him. Wouldn't it just be easier to forget it all and start over. Maybe just maybe he could finally grasp the one thing he wanted the most. Love and and to be understood to have something to live for forever.

It was so quiet without Naruto with them sitting beside the fire. She almost missed him hogging all the marshmallows and letting he fire go out. She'd endure it all if only to have him back, they all would. Even Sasuke felt that something was missing in himself without the idiot around. Sakura sat in front of the fire crying after the day went by without a sign of the hyperactive boy.

"It'll be alright Sakura we'll find him I promise" Kakashi calmed the girl. She knew they would find him but what bothered her the most is would he be alive or dead. She could only imagine what he could be going through. Alone wandering in he cold snowy forest with no place to hide from the harsh weather. It tore her to pieces to think about what might have happened to her teammate ,but she couldn't stop from thinking about it.

Sasuke prodded at the fire as it slowly began to go out. "I'm going to get some fire wood, I'll check in on the com unit if anything happens." He stood up and waited for his sensei's reply. "Be careful Sasuke and dont wander to far away.We dont need you going missing also"

She watched the boy rest in a deep sleep. She still did not understand what it was about this boy. Why was he so different from any other person. She had looked into him and found pain that was unimaginable yet he was somehow happy. She could tell he was searching for something but what. Was it power or maybe even attention from someone.

What made this boy so different from others. She could feel he had something inside locked away but was that what made him so strange to her. Whatever it is she would find it some how maybe it was the same thing she looked for.

The snow had finally stopped but the clouds still hide the stars from sight. The woods were dark as Sasuke continued to search for wood for the diminishing fire. he looked up at the sky as his cold hands clenched into fists.

"Naruto what could have happened to you"He thought as he pressed on and continued to scan the forest floor for branches and twigs. It wasn't like he cared about the annoying idiot he only wanted Sakura to stop her whining. Or so he thought. He kneeled down onto his knee and picked up to small pieces of wood. The sky was beginning to brighten somewhat meaning the sun was about to rise. He stood up and turned around back towards camp. Sakura would probably still be crying when he would be back in camp.

Something was wrong besides Naruto being lost for three days now. He still had that same feeling he had before when he was with Sakura.

"Did you feel it also"Sakura had asked him. He couldnt deny that he had also felt the strange sensation as if something had been erased.

Naruto slowly opened his eyes and looked over at the woman that sat beside him. "Who are you?" he asked.

She smiled at him then replied "Your finally awake. Do you remember anything." He gave her a blank expression and thought to himself. He shook his head. He couldnt remember anything it was all blank, everything was gone lost in the darkness. "I-I can't remember. Do you know why i'm here?"

"You were lost and I found you lying in the snow. I'm so glad you okay."She replied as she hugged him. "I'm so glad your okay my sweet child. My sweet little Naruto" he couldnt remember who the woman was let alone himself ,but it was nice being in this womans arms. It was almost like a sensation that was new to him.

"Mom"he whispered and closed his eyes. 'Yes, just stay here, stay with me. You'll never have to worry about anything your past, your enemies, nothing. You'll be happy' the woman thought. "Um, do you have anything to drink I'm so thirsty"Naruto asked.

She smiled and let the boy go. "There's a stream about a mile from here. Go on but dont forget to come back. I'll stay and wait fro you"

He smiled then ran off into the direction she told him.

The sun had come up and the clouds had dispersed. He had found enough fire wood to sustain them for the next night and now walked back to camp. He looked over his shoulder to the right after thinking he'd heard something. It was a rustle like leaves in the wind. He placed the firewood down and walked slowly but cautiously toward the direction the noise came from. He was almost there and a small figure was now in sight but what was it. It moved quickly and was somehow now behind him. He turned around in a quick fluid motion and faced whatever it was. His eyes widened at what he saw.

"Naruto?"he muttered.

The boy stared blankly at Sasuke and replied. "Who are you? And why do you know my name?"

I hope you like it.