The feelings you give me…

"Blood pressure is stable!"

I can never tell you what I feel…

"Loosen up the straps!"

What I really feel no matter what words I use…

"But Sakura, look at those bruises, they aren't going away."

I hated you for faking those smiles, for hiding your pain.

"We're just going to have to wait for the wounds to heal like normal Iruka, Kakashi."

Just leave it up to me, to suffer for you.

"But those wounds from his past the ones that the fox cured, why did they return from all that time? He felt the pain all over again it didn't heal he was crying…"

So I don't have to see you cry, so I don't have to watch you suffer. Why don't you open up to me Naruto?

Instantly angry he burst through the doorway startling everyone as he turned to his best friend lying on the hospital bed. His flawless body now ripped and discolored. His lips parted in an unsteady breathing as he looked away from him his chest raising then falling halfway rising again painfully. He looked to Iruka who moved the ice from the body and Kakashi who was walking towards him. He asked angrily, "Tell me what is going on!"

Sakura looked to the others then tried to rationalize her years of growth and sensibility coming to work, "Sasuke I don't think this is the best time, Naruto is trying to rest and I don't know if he' d want you to…"

Sasuke asked suddenly provoked, "Are you saying you can know but I can't? That all of you can, if Sakura can know I have every right!"

Kakashi turned to them as Sakura looked down she stated a bit sad, "I was told because Naruto needed a doctor and we were out on the field."

There was a moment as he saw that she was forced to know. Iruka stood carefully looking to Sasuke and then Kakashi who stood aside his hands in his pockets casually. He stated, "It is forbidden for anyone to know…but Sasuke you had no one to tell you the story as it should have been all along but…"

Naruto stirred gritting his teeth whispering, "kami…"

Iruka and Sakura turned suddenly as his eyes fluttered open. He scowled in pain turning his head trying to get up yet fell back. Sakura stated, "Your ribs have been broken all this time, he hasn't been healing you. Something is holding him back."

He looked around carefully then his eyes widened painfully from what Sasuke saw. He was trembling now, Sasuke moved forward asking this time softer, "Naruto what is going on?"

He was still shaking as Sakura looked to his pulse, it was pumping quickly. Kakashi turned asking trying to remain calm ignoring Sasuke much to his dismay, "What's wrong with Naruto?"

Naruto shook as he whispered trying to get up much to the splint attached to his ribs argument, "Why is Sasuke here?"

He was scared as Sasuke saw, he was shaking and he was in pain. Sasuke asked suddenly starting confrontation, "Why shouldn't I be here! Dobe! I want to know what the hell is going on!"

Sakura helped him to sit up while she winced Sasuke stared at him, he never saw him look so vulnerable yet he knew Sakura did. He remembered that very well when he returned from fighting him he was dressed like a mummy in lameness terms and it was because of him. He took a moment and whispered softly, "What are you hiding from me?"

A voice came from the doorway causing everyone to turn, "Naruto I think it is time you tell him."

Shizune took a moment looking downward then looked back up to Naruto. She took a deep breath, "Sakura, you and I should leave them to talk."

Sakura nodded as Iruka moved to take her place leaving slowly. Kakashi directed him to sit, "Sit down Sasuke."

He jumped suddenly angry snapping, "No! Tell me the truth!"

Tsunade looked to Naruto sympathetically asking leaning to look him in the eye though he was still shaking and his eyes were still dilating, "Naruto?"

Setting a hand to his seal he whispered, "Sasuke…"

Sasuke turned to the quivering voice with concern swallowing hard expecting it to be some kind of conspiracy. Tsunade stated, "If we tell you this whether you accept it or not you are not to tell another living soul! Am I clear!"

Now he was really interested. He looked to Kakashi who walked to Naruto's right side for a moment. He stated, "Sasuke do you know what this seal is on Naruto's navel?"

He raised a confused eyebrow to the question then stated, "A seal? I thought it was just some tattoo Naruto had gotten."

He clarified without debate, "it is a seal, a seal to hold in the spirit of the 9 tailed fox…do you remember that?"

Sasuke stopped his mouth agape. He shook his head looking to each of their guilty faces, "But the 9 tailed fox was killed by the Hokage!"

Tsunade moved up carefully, "No it was moved into the body of a child, Naruto's body…haven't you ever wondered why everyone was treating Naruto the way they did?"

He took a moment staring at the ground. Swallowing he stuttered then stopped looking back up to the boy he had known for so long. He asked, "But I thought they just did that because he…he was…so when I fought Naruto that red chakra…what does that have to do with this stuff now!"

Iruka took a moment as Naruto flinched then spoke, "The people have been acting out again Naruto, they don't like him being a police officer this was supposed to be a secret…but parents ended up telling their children and so inheriting their hatred. They are scared of him, there are some people that know and some that don't. Naruto found out the day that he was turned into a ninja."

He seemed to jump suddenly as Tsunade spoke out, "What we mean by acting out is, they've been…attacking him."

Sasuke jumped suddenly asking, "Naruto then why aren't you fighting back! Look at you! Why did you tell me before! All these years!"

Tsunade began to explain yet Naruto whimpered painfully, "Because I don't want to hurt them…that'll prove to them that I am a monster…I wasn't allowed to tell you and if I did tell you I was scared that you would have thought I was a monster and you would hate me…"

Kakashi looked to him, "I didn't tell you for Naruto's safety, with the way people acted towards him before and now…we can't risk it. Now though more than ever people have been acting against him. They blame him for his misfortunes. Try to understand Sasuke."

He looked away he was hurting because he had been lied to yet it also made a lot of sense. Naruto turned away from him, that was why he was shaking that was why he so scared. He didn't want him to hate him, to hurt him like before. Sasuke looked to them for a moment, "I understand."

The adults seemed to sigh as Tsunade turned pressing his lips against his dear friend's forehead turning to the others and speaking, "Lets go now alright, Sasuke and Naruto need to talk. Naruto I'll see you tomorrow?"

Iruka laid him back painfully pulling the blanket over him. Naruto pressed his hand to his chest wincing. Kakashi nodded setting a hand to Sasuke's shoulder and then looking to the others leaving. Naruto avoided looking at him until Sasuke walked over to him carefully looking to him as he sat upright slightly gripping his chest. He ordered, "Look at me Naruto."

Naruto shook still as Sasuke reached his hand out pressing it to the one Naruto had placed on his chest, "Naruto! Look at me!"

He swallowed turning his head slowly to him. He jumped as Sasuke seemed saddened. He bent over him carefully, "How long have they been hurting you? How long have you been forced to try to avoid them and lay on the ground while they spit on you and beat you? Tell me!"

Naruto winced to his words pulling away from him limping over to the closet throwing on his shirt and other clothes. Sasuke stood still whispering to himself, "why don't you open up to me?"

He released the ironic behavior in that and whispered softly, "because of the pain before hand, the pain on inflicted on you before?"

Naruto gripped his leg suddenly walking past he took a moment gaining back his posture and he turned to Sasuke smiling, "Its not big deal…"

Naruto reached for the door knob yet Sasuke appeared in front of him suddenly gripping his hand in his own He looked at him, "You're a fool! Don't smile! Don't smile when you're feeling so bad!"

Naruto froze backing away from him to create some space. He whispered, "You're such a stupid idiot Sasuke! Don't you know there's a magic spell with smiles! I can feel the energy running through me now! See I am going to work hard now and I'll gain there respect! I'll be Lord Hokage and everything will be okay!"

He stopped for a moment as Naruto looked away. He smiled, "Come on Sasuke I thought you couldn't stand me! Now you're enjoying my company! No way!"

Sasuke stopped remembering that and smiling turning away. He grunted, "Yeah right I'm still as sick of you as ever!"

Naruto seemed happy as he passed him out the door. They walked near each other slowly Sasuke turned to him for a moment while Naruto asked, "Are we really friends to you Sasuke?"

A little caught off guard with the question he stopped not being good with being so sentimental. So he scoffed uncaringly of his emotions, "Yeah right just rivals I could never have a dobe like you as a friend."

Looking away he could see through the glass the drain of color from his friend's face. He winced for his stupidity then began to speak yet then grunted, "I'll just walk you home since it's the middle of the day anyway wouldn't want you to get into any trouble or Kakashi and stuff would kill me."

Once again he cursed wanting to cut off his own tongue and stomp on it. Naruto walked past him ,he could swear he saw a tear slide down his face. Naruto disappeared leaving Sasuke to stand still there. He raised his head to the flying papers casually wincing in apology, "Naruto…"

"We're leaving tomorrow at 5 A.M instead alright men."

"Yes Captian!"

I remember now why you don't open up to me, because I hang you out to dry each time. You're afraid that if you do I'll leave again and this time I won't come back.