Disclaimer: I don't own any of the naruto characters and make no profit from these works.

- - kitten speak

thoughts

kyuubi speak

Chapter five: The Loneliest Day of the Year

Sasuke watched his friend sleep, paying close attention to the way Naruto's chest rose and fell as the blonde breathed. The rhythm was normal, as far as the Uchiha could determine, slow and deep but with occasional interruptions that disturbed the feline greatly. During these brief periods, the blonde's body would tremble- as if trying to restart itself- ad this would continue until Naruto gave a little gasp and breathed normally again.

It was scary as hell as far as the kitten was concerned.

He was curled up on a corner of Naruto's pillow, the blonde busy trying to find a cool section of his sheets. Honestly, until today Sasuke hadn't known that anyone could shift around so much while they slept. Thanks to the blonde's movements, the comforter was half pooled on the floor and the sheets had been pushed down to the end of the mattress. He watched the blonde restlessly toss and turn, dutifully ready to leap into action and do… something… if Naruto had another episode.

Everyone else had gone home about two hours ago, at around ten, and the only occupants of the apartment were now Naruto, Yumi (the package delivery bird) and Sasuke. Shortly after the others had left, Naruto had fed the animals and praised them both for being so good and well behaved with all the excitement going on. While they finished their breakfast on the table, the blonde had begun the all important task of cleaning up the mess left over from having so many guests; gathering up the blankets on the floor and putting them in the bathroom until he could clean them, doing the dishes, resettling the furniture, etc.

Once the chores were done, the blonde had joined the two, finally deciding to take a seat and have a look at his package. He had read the messages covering the outside first before tearing the thing open, petting Sasuke while he read a letter that had been inside. The kitten had watched the blonde make faces as he read, presumably in relation to the subject matter, and it had been interesting to watch Naruto smile and laugh genuinely.

"Hot," the blonde was muttering, curling up on his side into a ball amidst his scattered sheets and pulling Sasuke back to the present. "Hot, hot, hot…" He said it over and over again, each repeat coming closer to resembling a moan. He coughed and clutched at his head.

Whatever virus Naruto had caught seemed to be pretty nasty. Actually, Sasuke thought a minute and then realized that he had never once seen his friend sick. Beaten, battered, and bleeding, yes, but never sick as a dog from something as simple as a cold. Sasuke himself could remember a time or two when he had been ill, but those times had been when the Uchiha was still young and had been able to fall back on family support for care.

Naruto didn't have anyone.

Except Sasuke.

The kitten jumped down from his perch and walked over to his friend, putting a paw on the blonde's temple. Worry coursed through the small feline, voicing itself in a meow as he pushed his way through Naruto's arms and rubbed his head against the blonde's chin. He intentionally let his whiskers tickle the blonde's face as he sniffed, trying to get his friend's attention.

Cats purr, don't they? The Uchiha thought frantically, moving out of the way as the blonde coughed again and turned partially onto his back. How the hell do I purr? I'm a cat- I should know how to purr!

A tremor ran through Naruto's body until he gasped, and Sasuke could only watch as his friend relearned how to breathe. The kitten felt helpless and if there was anything he hated, it was feeling helpless. It made him feel powerless.

Weak.

Just like he had that day years ago when his world had been turned upside down. He had lost his clan then, every person he had ever loved, and the one responsible had gotten away with it because Sasuke hadn't been strong enough to stop any of it.

The kitten shook its head violently. -NO! I'm stronger now! I couldn't help my family but Naruto… Naruto I can help, even if I am stuck in this runty body!-

Galvanized, Sasuke raced to the end of the bed and carefully slid down the part of comforter overhanging the side, using it as a slide to reach the wooden floor. He leapt out of the pooled material at the bottom of the make-shift chute, slipping and tumbling on the hard wood floor in his haste and nearly twisting both of his ankles. Cursing, furious with himself, the young Uchiha untangled his legs and sped out of the room.

Naruto woke up around seven o'clock that evening feeling unrested, irritable, and generally unwell. He shouldn't be feeling this awful this soon! He should have had more time to prepare and get the hell out of Konoha before he became this sick. The symptoms were just progressing too quickly- there was no way he would be able to leave now even if he wanted or had too.

He'd never make it in the forest as he was now. Something would eat him, or seriously hurt him, while he was busy writhing in pain.

Considering what was in store for him at the end of the week, that might not be a bad thing.

No! I will be Hokage! Naruto thought angrily, curling his hands into tight fists. I will survive and make everyone acknowledge me as the greatest ninja!

He draped a hand over his eyes and frowned when his fingers encountered a damp cloth over his forehead. He peered at it, recognizing the spare washcloth he had placed in the bathroom for Hinata to use during her stay.

But, how'd it get here? Who…? There was a sigh from his right and he turned toward it, curious as to who or what was in bed with him.

The kitten he had taken in was stretched out on its side beside him, fast asleep. The feline twitched as it dreamed, its tiny paws kneading the air. It uttered a snort, then stretched, rolling onto its back and arching upward, legs splayed before rolling back toward Naruto. The kitten curled its head under its shoulder in an unconscious show of flexibility and opened its eyes, blinking lazily at the blonde. The two stared at one another for several seconds, Naruto smiling, the kitten blinking, but then the feline started, jerking away from the blonde with so much force that it slid over the edge of the mattress.

Naruto reached a hand out and grabbed the kitten before it could fall, picking it up and settling it on his chest. He put a hand behind his head, replacing the disturbed cloth, before running his free hand down the annoyed looking feline's back. He arched an eyebrow at the cat and it turned away to look out the window, ears back and flat against its skull while its tail twitched pointedly.

"I knew you were smart." The blonde said, cradling the kitten against his chest as he sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. The cloth fell from his head and he caught it, pressing the cool fabric against the back of his neck as he stood and took a few unsteady steps out of the room, finally regaining equilibrium enough to navigate the short hall without ricocheting off the walls.

He put the kitten on the table and disappeared into the kitchen, returning shortly thereafter with a glass of sugar water for himself, a saucer of milk for the feline, and a plate of meat cubes for Yumi, who was currently perched on the back of Naruto's lone kitchen chair. When everything had been set on the table, Naruto sat down, arching an eyebrow as he noticed the way the tabby reacted to his being so close to a large carnivorous bird. When Yumi hopped up and took a careful seat on Naruto's shoulder, the blonde wondered if his new cat was going to die of a heart attack.

"Yumi belongs to a friend of mine." Naruto explained, taking a drink and letting the bird playfully nudge his ear with her wickedly hooked beak. He cooed at her and she cooed back, allowing him to stroke his hand over her feathered chest. He smiled and gave her a piece of meat, careful to keep his fingers out of the way of her sharp talons as she accepted the food.

"I think she's my babysitter for a while." He arched an eyebrow and took another sip of his beverage. "I take it he's going to be late this time?"

Yumi, busy tearing apart a meaty morsel, paused in her endeavors and looked at the blonde sideways with an eye nearly as golden as Naruto's fading suntan.

"I'll take that as a yes." He sighed, making a dismissive gesture. "Does explain what Tamari sent me, though." His hand fished in the open package next to him, pulling out what appeared to be a fox plush toy. Posed to be sitting on its haunches, it resembled its namesake quite well, with red along its back that faded into black over the feet and the tips of its ears, then into white over the stomach and tips of the nine tales. It was soft and furry and very definitely homemade, with a carefully stitched message over its white stomach. The stuffed animal had been tied with ribbon to reduce its size so it would fit in the box, crammed in on top of Naruto's other birthday presents.

Out of all the people he knew, Gaara, Temari and Kankuro were the only ones who gave him presents on his birthday. To be fair, the knowledge of the event had fallen on them accidentally when Naruto had visited at thirteen and the first hints that something may be wrong began to manifest. The trio from Sand, though, had stuck by him, adopting him into their dysfunctional little family as a fourth sibling. After that, to repay them Naruto had done some research on the three, finding out their birthdays and showing up on the appropriate days like clockwork on their doorstep loaded with presents. A bit frigid at first, the siblings had taken to the party idea with gusto, making sure to do something for the blonde even if it was short and simple. But the fact remained that they were also the only ones who ever made a big deal out of it, treating it as a celebration that he was alive- as the joyous event it should be treated as.

Though he did the same for them and for everyone precious to him in Konoha he considered friend or family, Naruto was something of a hypocrite when it came to the subject of his own birthday. No one had celebrated his birthday in the usual sense when he was little and the whole affair had actually become associated with pain and sadness somewhere along the way during the blonde's early years.

He had actually come to fear the event, given the increasing acts of violence he was constantly exposed to year after year around this time.

Naruto had never been invited to anyone else's birthday party, and, in truth, hadn't initially understood why anyone would want to have a party about something like a birthday in the first place, the event being so horrible. Unless they were all closet masochists, he just couldn't fathom why the other kids in his class passed out invitations about parties, why they got so excited, why the invitees asked the person what they wanted for a gift. Why would anyone want to attend such a function willingly when everyone was going to be beaten to a bloody pulp?

After Naruto had learned about what he was though- learned about why the village seemed to hate him so- he began to understand that his thoughts on the subject were wrong. The blonde had then reevaluated the concept, coming to the conclusion that birthdays were fun celebrations where you showed others how happy you were they were born and that they were in your life, a way to congratulate a child on making it another year in the ever dangerous world of being a ninja.

Unless you were named Naruto Uzumaki, of course; then birthdays were bad and gave people an excuse to hurt you even more than normal.

Iruka sensei had asked Naruto once if he had wanted a party for his birthday, a real party, one that befitted a real birthday celebration. The blonde remembered feeling his heart swell with emotion at the gesture. He had wanted one, the gods knew Naruto had wanted one, had wanted to feel all that much sought after love and attention directed at him just once. To be treated as a normal child and wished happy birthday by people who really meant it, who loved him, who were sincerely happy they were part of his life…!

Gods he had wanted it, wanted it so desperately it was heartrending.

But he had said no, and laughed it off, making the excuse that he had too much training to, that his birthday wasn't important to him.

He had even smiled while he lied.

Iruka sensei had put a hand on his head and ruffled his hair affectionately as the man took the boy at his word. The teacher did make a point of trying to visit Naruto on his birthday when he had time, bringing some sort of cake confection for the two to share. It was a pale excuse for the real thing, though, and both of them knew it.

I still don't understand why you said no, Kit. The fox stopped it's restless pacing in the back of his mind, sitting on her haunches to peer at him through the bars of her cage. You wanted it so badly you went home and cried that night. You were depressed for a week after. Why didn't you tell anyone it was your birthday? Why wouldn't you let them celebrate it with you?

Because my birthday isn't a reason for happiness. Naruto told her, feeling a lump form in his throat at the hurtful memories. I didn't want their pity. I didn't want them to feel obligated for something that they didn't want to be at to begin with. I…I don't think I could have taken it, finding out that they had come because Iruka had forced them to show up.

He also hadn't been on the best of terms with many of his classmates, had only just started forming friendships with a handful of them. Underneath everything was the nagging fear of what would happen if Iruka did actually thrown a party. What if, even with all the bells and whistles, none of the invitees wanted to come? Not unable to come, just simply didn't want to attend a function that involved Naruto.

The crushing disappointment that would have followed such knowledge… Of actual confirmation that no one gave a damn about him…

Naruto hadn't thought his heart would be able to take it. Instead he just opted to disappear for the week the festival lasted rather than say anything to draw attention, letting his classmates celebrate and mourn with their families while he camped outside the village's walls in the dubious safety of the surrounding forest or simply went elsewhere until everything returned to normal.

The fox pushed her muzzle through the bars to nudge the blonde's mental form. Is this why you made arrangements to meet up with Shukaku's kit this year outside of the village instead of accepting his offer to stay in Leaf through the holiday? You visit his family because they seem to genuinely care for you while…

Naruto heard himself sob, sightlessly staring at the stuffed fox he was clutching. He swiped angrily at the tears he only just now noticed running down his face, furious at himself for being so pitiful. He stood, sniffling, and set the stuffed fox on the table. The blonde coaxed Yumi onto his arm and walked carefully over to the window, sliding the glass pane up to navigate his arm and the bird perched on it through. With a flap of wings, the hawk took off to go hunt down her dinner.

Naruto left the window open and walked back to the table, pushing in his chair. He set the kitten, which had been staring at him again, on the floor and finished off his drink, putting the empty dishes in the sink to do later. He paused by the package again on his way back to his room, running a hand over the intricately stitched "Happy Birthday, Naruto!" along the fox's tummy. The blonde stood there petting the stuffed animal for several minutes, ignoring the kitten by his feet even when it laid a paw against his leg and mewed softly up at him.

I visit them… Naruto gave in and angrily picked up the toy, hugging it fiercely as if it were the only thing he had left in the world to hold on to. Because I am so pathetic that I'll take any affection shown my way even if I am being a burden. They're the only ones who welcome me warmly, who know what I am- what'll happen- and don't hold it against me! No one here…

That's not true! The fox interjected desperately, feeling the growing storm of loneliness and self-loathing rising in him. That Iruka person likes you. You know he does and you like him too. You've told me that you think of him as a parent…!

But the fox realized that she was grasping at straws; one person, even one considered a parent, could not supply the amount of love and care Naruto needed right now. Iruka was in the village, was present, but he had his own duties to attend to at this time of the year and was not available all the time. On top of that, the sensei put up a barrier between himself and the fox vessel, though the Kyuubi was fairly certain the man didn't mean to do it. The fox bet Iruka didn't even realize that he pulled away both emotionally and physically when Naruto was in the vicinity this time of year, didn't notice that even when he was spending time with Naruto, he wasn't really there.

But you could bet Naruto noticed- boy had he noticed- and had taken it to heart. Any other time and Iruka was a stalwart ally against all threats, dependable to a fault, but not when the blonde needed his help the most, the holiday stirring the sensei's old prejudices to the surface of his subconscious. The fox suspected that the latter was partly why Naruto had refused Iruka's offer of celebrating the kit's birthday the one time the man had offered.

Of course, the fact that the man had only offered to do it once, years ago, spoke volumes all on its own.

The fox knew that her kit was waiting for her to continue but for the life of her, she could not think of anything that would offer comfort. You are not pathetic. You are an extremely strong person and don't ever doubt it, Kit.

Her words though had little effect, did little to stem the tide of ugly emotions flooding Naruto's heart. They poured over her like a thick wave, stealing any warmth she felt and leaving her feeling empty.

Alone.

How anyone in the village could ignore the emotional howl of pain coming from this boy was beyond the demon. How any of the idiots could fall for the happy-go-lucky act Naruto put on in public was mind-boggling. Only a true monster could ignore such evident pain, only something truly evil could accomplish such a feat.

It hurts so much. Naruto said, the admission whispered in a small voice, as if he couldn't stand to say it even in his own mind.

I know. The fox whispered back, unsure if he was referring to the pain in his heart or to what was physically happening to him, but trying to offer assurance and comfort none the less. But it will get better, you know it will.

"How can you say that?" He whispered out loud, clutching the stuffed animal in his arms, voice a mixture of anger, confusion, and hopelessness. He pulled away mentally from the fox's cage, suddenly desperate for some personal privacy. "The seal's breaking- I can feel it so I know you can, too. There's no guarantee I'll be alive next week."

If I die, no one will know.

And, in all likelihood, no one would care, either.

Well, Konoha residents had always been sticklers for consistency.

He wiped at his eyes with the back of one hand while the other dangled at his side with the stuffed fox hanging from it. Naruto looked out the window at the darkening sky, gazing out at it through his own doleful reflection. In the distance he could see the beginnings of the giant bonfire that would be lit at the end of the week and lights twinkled in the gathering dark, providing illumination for the occupied dance floor centered in the festival grounds.

Naruto knew that he could go join in the party festivities. He was a member of the village. He had lost his parents to the battle with the fox. He was the one who had to bear the burden for the village's mistake. The blonde had every right to go down there to pay his respects at the memorial, to go down there and dance on the dance floor, to go down there and play the games offered by the visiting vendors just like every other member of the village.

Too bad no one else seemed to think so.

"Gods, I hate my birthday." He whispered to his dark apartment, crying silently, watching with dull eyes as a firework was launched into the sky from the fairgrounds. It burst into a flower, painting the sky a brilliant blue before disappearing, the dying sparks falling back to the party below.

Naruto pulled the window's blinds, effectively cutting off the sight and retreated down the dark hallway.

"How do you forget to give someone back their wallet?" Neji asked, genuinely perplexed about how one could accomplish such a thing.

"W-well, after wh-what happened," Hinata stuttered, thinking about her episode of paralysis and Naruto's subsequent desire to be as far away from her as possible. "I-I just…"

Neji watched her wring her hands helplessly and suppressed an annoyed sigh. They were hopping from rooftop to rooftop toward Naruto's apartment, periodically stopping to reorient themselves in the unfamiliar area.

The cousins had initially expected to run into the blonde at the festival, figuring that, with his personality, Naruto would naturally be heading there once the party got into full swing. In truth, both Hyuugas had been looking forward to seeing him and spending time with him in the festive atmosphere. But before they had even begin their search they'd run into Sakura Haruno.

"Naruto?" Sakura had asked, apparently surprised that someone was looking for the blonde. The pink haired kunoichi was waiting outside the festival gates, scanning the incoming crowd for- Who else?- Sasuke Uchiha. "He never comes to the festival. That idiot goes off to train or something this time of year."

Hinata had nearly panicked. "What?! Wh-when does he usually leave?"

Sakura had stared at her briefly before returning to the search for her idol. "I think today or tomorrow. Wait, why?" She asked in surprise as the two Hyugas took to the rooftops abruptly.

The night sky lit up in shades of red as another firework bloomed overhead, providing brief illumination of the darkened landscape. Neji landed on a low roof, then hopped to the ground, Hinata landing right beside him. Looking around, he frowned as he realized that they had overshot their target.

This in itself was perplexing, making Neji frown as he surveyed the area they were in. He'd been following what he'd thought was Naruto's chakra signature but obviously he'd been mistake since they had missed their mark.

And here he'd made fun of his cousin for holding onto the blonde's wallet.

Concentrating, Neji could sense the blonde now in a building a little behind them and to the left. The flicker of Naruto's presence was fainter than normal but it definitely belonged to the hyperactive ninja, which made the Hyuuga wonder just what the hell he and Hinata had been following.

"That's the building we want." Neji pointed at one of the larger buildings back the way they had come. He was keeping an ear out as well as his eyes peeled as they walked the short distance to their desired destination. Iruka and Kakashi had validated Naruto's warnings of being in the area after dark, telling the older genin not to be in the area unless absolutely necessary and to always have back up, preferably Naruto since he knew his way around best.

"Th-there aren't any lights on." Hinata noted, indicating the dark windows in their target apartment. "W-we may have m-missed him." She worried Naruto's wallet, safely tucked away in her sweatshirt's front pocket, between her fidgeting hands.

But surely he would have noticed before leaving that he was missing his wallet..? Hinata thought. If you were going on a trip, you would want and need your wallet, right?

"Oh!" A creaky voice gasped as they passed an alley opening. The Hyuuga heiress gasped, startled by the person who stepped out behind her.

It was an old man. He hunched over his wooden cane and peered up at them from under the brim of his moth-eaten straw hat. Tufts of white hair stuck out at wild angles through the gaps in the hat's material, making the man look like he had recently jabbed his finger in an electrical socket. The clothing he wore looked just as moth-eaten as his hat and the two caught glimpses of his skinny frame through the holes. He had some sort of pack on his back, the weight of which seemed to be the reason why he was nearly bent double.

"Are you two youngin's lost?" He grinned at them and the spaces between his remaining teeth were large enough to throw kunai knives through. Two cats, one white and one black, came out of the alley and rubbed themselves against the man's legs, meowing plaintively as they regarded the two Hyuugas.

What the hell was an old man doing wandering around at nine thirty at night?

"No, we are not lost." Neji said, and Hinata took a step toward her cousin as they assumed a back to back position.

One of the cats, the white one of the pair, darted out and rubbed itself against her leg, making the Hyuuga heiress smile as she reached down to pet the animal.

Only to have the feline sink its teeth into her fingers.

"Ouch!" Hinata said, pulling her hand away and cradling it against her chest as the wound began to throb painfully. Neji stepped in front of her protectively, foot flashing out to kick the offending animal.

The other cat, the black one, who had been standing beside its master, leapt into the fight and sank its teeth into Neji's arm. The two felines then nimbly dodged their retaliatory attacks and returned to the old man, sitting down on their haunches.

"What the Hell?!" Neji demanded, clutching his arm, trying to keep an eye on the creepy codger as the wonded appendage began to throb and cramp. Behind him, he heard Hinata give a low moan and drop to her knees. "Who are you?"

"Now, now." The man said, sounding much younger. In a puff of smoke, the genjutsu dissolved, revealing a tall young man dressed in simple ninja attire. The man's face was covered so Neji couldn't see his identity, but the Hyuga male could see the man's eyes and made every effort to memorize them.

Because, Neji thought as pain coursed through his body, I am going to TEAR them OUT!

And that was the last coherent thought Neji had as his body was forced into another shape, Hinata beside him as he screamed and twitched on the floor. Seconds later, the pair mercifully blacked out, their new forms seeming to steam in the cold night air.

Finally triumphant, the three attackers closed in.

More's Moment (of babbling):

Eek! Poor Hinata and Neji! What's going to happen to them?! What's going to happen to Naruto?! So many unanswered questions!

A note on birthdays. I don't know about you but in my family a birthday is a big thing complete with parties and cake and generally a very good time being had by all. My mom used to decorate our dining room with streamers and balloons and these creepy clown things that she'd hang from the lights. She'd shut the doors to the room and no one could go in until the morning of the 'big day,' the day of the person's birth regardless of the day of the party. When I was younger, I remember waking up all excited, eager to begin the day and look in the dining room, ready to be congratulated on being another year older. We usually had ice cream cake and my mom had these heirloom cake candleholders that she used every year. It was the only time they came out and she liked to tell us (every year, mind you) about how special they were, specially made by So-and-so for our birthdays. We were asked what we wanted to do for our parties and my mom would make it happen within reason, whether it was a roller-skating party at the local rink or a sleepover party at home. Meal, dessert, presents, goodie bags, and lots of fun had by all with memories to be rehashed the next school day.

I find it funny, now, that I miss all that, that I miss the corny fuss and bother with my mom saying "Happy Birthday Honey!" first thing and giving me hugs and kisses. My birthday is just a day now, everyone too busy- even me- to actually do anything to celebrate. I miss those damn parties and, in hindsight, I really wish I hadn't been in such a rush to grow up, especially when I catch myself wishing for simpler times.

When I was writing the kitchen scene, I found myself thinking about my earlier birthdays. I thought of all the thought and care my mother put into it, into it being a truly special day and making the most of it.

For the purposes of the story and to give an accurate emotional impact, I tried to imagine myself as Naruto. I thought about what it would be like to be completely ignored on my birthday, about how completely alone I would feel while everyone around me got ready to party at a festival I couldn't attend for a reason no one would explain. Forced to watch as others passed out invitations, wanting one so badly but knowing that I wouldn't get one, having to keep all that hurt tucked deep inside so people wouldn't know that their thoughtlessness caused me so much pain. Covering it all up with a smile and pranks, pretending that everything was okay because I was too afraid to reach out to anyone and ask why I wasn't as special as they were, afraid to ask why they got something wonderful while I was forced to hide under my bed, hoping that no one would break in and hurt me simply because I was there.

Then I tried to imagine what it would be like to have everything I wanted dangled in front of me by the only person who ever seemed to care, and being forced to reject the offer because of the fear in my heart about the possible outcomes.

What would you do watching such a situation from the point of an on-looker, suddenly made aware that this person was hurting so much and that no one had done anything to ease it? What do you say to them? Kyuubi is in this position, wanting to comfort her host but unable to help due to her confinement. Sasuke though… I wonder what he will do with such knowledge or if he will act at all.

As always everyone thank you for reading and please leave me a review about what you think about this chapter and the story thus far. Constructive criticism is always welcome and also kitty names. That's right! I'm having trouble thinking up appropriate feline names and I would greatly appreciate some suggestions.

Happy tales all!