Author's Notes: Alrighty! Finally the fourth chapter… I'm very sorry to have kept you waiting so long. Thank you so much for all the comments and reads this has received…I appreciate all of it very much. X) I'm also amazed that this thing seems to have so much attention…I wouldn't have thought so many would be that interested.

Now then….let's see how little Naruto fares.

----------------------------

Fourth Chapter

It was as if the world had been dipped in dirty, grayish-black oil. With a fiery hell bubbling under it. That's what Naruto thought. He didn't really want to think at all, so he just sat in one place all the time. If he moved, he'd rupture the sticky oil-like surface and the fire would burst out and burn…but he didn't think about it. He didn't want to "explode" and endanger the village, even now. And it hurt.

So he just sat in one place and stared in front of him. They had put him away in a cage like a rabid dog, but it was all fine because like this he had to think less. And sometimes he ate what they brought him. It wasn't ramen, what they brought him.

Yamato was behind the door watching him most of the time. Sometimes he wasn't, but that was very seldom. Maybe he went to sleep then. Naruto could think of that because it didn't matter at all. He could also look at the bleak wall and ceiling and spot a random spider and wonder how it got in, because it had nothing to do with anything. He couldn't tell the passage of time, and he didn't have a window for that, either.

Sometimes he also lay on the bed and buried his face on the pillow and cried. But not too often.

Tsunade came to visit every now and then. Even Sai had come and gone once, too confused to say anything…that was good. And Sakura had come by a couple of times. At her, Naruto couldn't even look at. She had said "it's okay" and "it's not your fault", but she didn't probably believe that herself. Seriously, "it's okay"? Could there be anything more lame, more untrue? And she had started crying and that made it impossible to hold back his own sobs.

Tsunade said Kakashi hadn't come because he was in bed rest again because of using his Sharingan. But Naruto wondered. He hadn't used the Mangekyo in the fight. He shouldn't be in that bad shape, then, right…? He just probably didn't want to see him.

Tsunade also made Naruto think. He didn't like the visits because of it. Tsunade had given him the necklace of the First Hokage…Shizune had once told him its story: she had given it to her little brother and then to her lover who had both wanted to become Hokage…and who had perished. For one last time, she had said, it was now Naruto's. That had made him feel very happy and kind of sad in the same time. He had figured it was her way of showing that she believed in him that much…but…

Yamato had told him it also served as an inhibitor. Kyuubi-inhibitor. And she had known that back then, too, and known about Kyuubi. He hadn't thought much about it at first, he had just been glad that there was the thing and Yamato to make sure he didn't hurt anyone he shouldn't…but sitting here…and thinking…it came to him: was it really a sign of trust, or just a collar and leash to keep the Jinchuuriki in check?

That's why he didn't want to think…

Also Iruka had come once. He hadn't said much. But the crushed look on his face had been terrible. Naruto…hated the visits, really. He just couldn't bring himself to tell Tsunade or Yamato to make them stop. Then he'd really feel no-one cared…no-one really acknowledged him.

There he was, wallowing in self-pity when…Sa-- But. He didn't think that. Certainly not.

Tsunade had said she'd get Naruto out eventually. Was that really a good idea? She had mentioned his dream…but hadn't he himself said: "I can't very well become Hokage if I can't save a friend?"

…

Jiraiya was watching the Akatsuki, she had also said. That's why he didn't come.

…She was oddly persistent.

--

The Fifth Hokage stepped past Yamato, still not in his ANBU gear, into the small room where they kept Naruto. She looked at the boy, who sat on his bed in the corner again. He wore a blank expression and hugged his feet, resting his chin on his knees. He had been like that for days now, always when Tsunade came to see him, but Yamato said he did sleep. Every now and then. If someone had actually seen her face then, they would have witnessed a look she hadn't shown in a long while, or to many. She might regret it, but ever since the boy won their bet and dragged Tsunade back into life again, he had been like a son to him, or another little brother. She had to hold back tears seeing "Leaf's number one loud ninja" like this.

"Naruto, you have a visitor," she said softly. Nothing or no-one seemed to make him better, but she couldn't help but to hope every time. Naruto made no answer, and Tsunade wrestled back the control of her face to turn to her high-ranked quest.

"…He has been like this for a while now," she just said and went back to the corridor. She couldn't really take this and keep up appearances in the same time. With one last wistful glance at the boy she hoped to become her successor, she went back to her duties.

The Kazekage silently watched Naruto.

A moment passed, and only then the blonde glanced at his guest. He seemed surprised, and turned to look more closely.

He looked pitiful. His hair was even more dishevelled than usually, and he was getting dark-rimmed eyes similar to the boy now standing before him. He was wearing his usual orange pants and a dark blue tank top, which were both crumpled and looked a bit unclean. His expression that lacked all the usual energy was still the worst.

Gaara must have let the shock show on his face, because Naruto quickly turned his head again. "…Go away," he said dispiritedly.

The other boy kept looking at him, and his green eyes narrowed like he was in pain. Soon he stepped closer and stood by Naruto's bed. Both of the boys were quiet for a long while, and only the guards' slight movements were heard.

Then, slowly, Naruto's face crinkled and he tightened his grip on his legs. He still refused to say anything. This all sort of made him look more like himself. At least he reacted in some way. Gaara thought for some time. This wasn't his forte, but his way seemed to be working more than others' way, which supposedly was normal. Whatever it was. Most likely talking… He remained standing and looking at Naruto intently.

"This is unlike you, Naruto," he finally said quietly. His voice was low and smooth.

Naruto stayed silent, but pressed his face on his legs. Gaara guessed he was smothering tears. The Kazekage pondered his options desperately. He really wanted to reach Naruto and make him feel better. He felt the pain in his heart very keenly now that Naruto was like this...he couldn't just be if things were like this.

"…Naruto…" he said, but he didn't know how to continue. He decided to try the truth. "…Can't you please get better? I cannot be like this."

Naruto looked up, sniffing and wiping his eyes. He looked surprised. Gaara blinked.

"…You are the man who saved my life. It pains me to see you like this. It is unlike you."

"-I didn't…" Naruto rasped, but Gaara cut him off. His voice didn't sound like him.

"Maybe you didn't save my…being alive, but you saved my life." He looked Naruto determinedly in the eye. "I can't just be if you are in pain." He grabbed the front of his black coat and looked down, smiling very slightly, a bit sad. "I think…isn't that what you call a friend?"

He looked at Naruto with cautious hope and came a bit closer, crouching lower to see his face better.

The blonde let out a pained moan. "I broke my word!" Gaara decided to take a risk and sat on the bed near Naruto, taking a hold of his shoulder.

"You couldn't have done anything better."

"How would you know!" Naruto let the tears fall and raised his voice. Gaara smiled lightly despite the situation and blinked fast. "You weren't there!"

"I read the reports." His voice was relieved and almost a purr.

"Pft! Reports…" Naruto turned away again and ground his teeth. "I did nothing the time before that, or when he left the first time! And it doesn't matter anyway, I still broke my word! Sakura hates me!"

"…She probably doesn't. And Tsunade-sama doesn't. I think most of your friends don't…"

"Sasuke is dead!!" Naruto shouted.

Gaara didn't let go of Naruto's shoulder and faced his angry stare calmly. Only change in the red-haired boy's face was a slight wrinkling of his brow. The guards outside the door looked in worriedly through the small grate in the door.

"…You still shouldn't abandon your life." Gaara said a bit breathlessly. He saw that the whisker marks were slightly spreading on Naruto's cheeks.

"How could I go on? I've failed my way of ninja! Sasuke…is…dead!" Naruto balled his fist and covered his eyes with them, rocking minutely in his place. He kept sobbing, his breathing sounded like he was in pain.

"…That is life." Gaara said with a grim expression, and now he couldn't stop a few tears sliding down his face. He tightened his grip on Naruto's shoulder. "…No-one can always make it…nothing works out always."

Naruto slumped forward and let out a small growl. The guards moved restlessly outside.

"Get a hang of yourself. You cannot let it all go like this…!" Gaara whispered intently and shook Naruto.

"Shut up! I don't care! I'll make it work always! I will!" Naruto shouted and turned to the other boy. "From now on…." He still cried hard and breathed irregularly. His voice, his expression was furious, but the whisker marks slowly receded. "I'll make it so that it always works!!"

Gaara smiled and his insides felt like a billowing mess of relief. "It's impossible," he laughed and took hold of Naruto's arms.

Naruto sniffed and his blue eyes flowed tears. "I don't care! From now on I'll make it work!"

"Idiot…" Gaara breathed and hugged him. That was so like him. The Naruto he knew, the person who saved him from the darkness.

--

Tsunade walked into the room with the two boys hugging each other and crying. She stopped at the door in a shock, and soon her mouth turned into a smile. She had to blink very fast and clear her throat. Naruto was finally reacting… Reacting all over the Fifth Kazekage. She wiped away a stray tear.

"You seemed to be panicking over nothing," she remarked to the guard who had come to get her when Naruto lost his temper.

Now Gaara looked at the Hokage and quickly turned his head to wipe his face a bit more dignified. Naruto sighed and did the same more openly.

"…Have you decided to talk again, Naruto?" Tsunade inquired carefully.

"…I guess so." Naruto said, subdued.

Tsunade tried not to, but in the end she just had to do it. She hugged Naruto quickly and then got up and tried to look like she hadn't done it in front of a fellow Kage and some ANBUs. "I'm glad you realised you still need to live your life," she said softly with a cautious little smile.

Naruto looked away and didn't answer, making Tsunade's expression fall a bit again.

"…I think even Sasuke wouldn't want you to waste yourself cooped up here," Tsunade said looking away.

The boy wiped his eyes again, face contorting. Next to him, Gaara placed a hand on his shoulder and then got up.

Naruto gathered himself again and looked up at his friend. "I guess I need to go now," Gaara said in his quiet way. "I will come again."

The blonde nodded solemnly. He still didn't feel like he could pull his smile.

Gaara was silent for a while. Then he looked at Tsunade and again at Naruto. "…Maybe you should come visit us in Sand, eventually."

Tsunade cocked an eyebrow and seemed to consider this. Naruto looked surprised for a moment, but then a hint of hope crept into his eyes. That was enough to make her want to fight the counsel over the matter, or even kick the old pest Danzou's arse. "Maybe a change of environment would do you good for a while," she stated determinedly.

Naruto finally realised what she was willing to do for him, and that Gaara and others also cared. He felt a bit stupid, and moved. The corners of his mouth ever so slightly turned up before he donned a determined expression.

"…Yeah. I guess that might be good. I don't think I want to sit here for all time."

Both Tsunade and Gaara could have danced of joy, but nothing more than a smile betrayed it. Naruto…was coming back!

---------------------------

Author's Notes: …Now please tell me what you think: did I pull off the angsty Naruto? I'm worried. I think I might have gone a bit overboard... But anyways, I kind of like the result…I hope you do too. Next I'll get back to Kisame again…and it should be faster than with this update, heheh.