Again all rights go to Masashi Kishimoto because sadly, I don't own Naruto. v.v

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Some girl tapped her friend on the shoulder and points, "Hey isn't that Naruto?"

"Wow! He's so quiet! Not loud at all!"

Someone laughs, "Maybe he finally got it through his thick skull that he should act his age!"

"Yeah, Uzumaki finally grew up!"

Naruto heard all this and more as he walked down the school's hallway. His head down, his hands balled up into fists in his pockets, 'Idiots. They're all idiots...'

"Hey, Naruto!" A girl's voice called.

Naruto had just opened his locker when he heard her. He slowly turned his head to the sound. Jogging towards him was none other than Sakura Haruno. She wore a simple white shirt and a dark red miniskirt that swayed when she walked. In her arms she held an assortment of books; Typical Sakura. She had been his best friend since Elementary School so she knew him better than anyone. That's why when she saw him, she knew immediately something was wrong.

"Naruto are you—Oh my god! What the hell happened to your hand?! Are you alright?!"

Naruto looked at his mangled hand that was still placed on the door of his open locker. It stung. Something he didn't notice until now. The flesh around his knuckles was torn and bleeding. He wouldn't be surprised if there were still tiny pieces of glass stuck in there.

"It's nothing." Naruto replied shifting his attention back to his locker.

"Don't tell me it's nothing. Let me see it." Sakura ordered, extending her open palm towards him. Naruto sighed and gave her his injured hand.

"You've really got to be more careful." Sakura said as she applied disinfectant on it and wrapped the hand in gauze bandages.

Sakura was planning on going into medical school once she got out of high school. It was her dream, so it was only natural for her to carry stuff like first aid around with her. Naruto watched her tend to his hand in silence. Once she was done, he turned back to his locker.

Sakura took on a worried but serious expression, "Naruto? Are you sure you're okay?"

He shut his locker a little too loudly.

"I'm fine," he answered, a cold edge to his voice.

"Humph," Sakura shifted her books to her right hand as she put the opposite one on her hips. "Why am I not too convinced?"

'Maybe I should try smiling?'

Naruto smiled, though it didn't match what he really felt inside,

"Sakura, I'm fine. Really, don't worry about it."

Not wanting to put on the masquerade any longer than he had to, Naruto turned around and headed towards his first class.

"B-but…..Naruto….." Sakura called weakly.

He kept walking, pretending he didn't hear.

'I'm sorry Sakura. But…..I can't tell you. No matter what, no one can find out. Not even you.'