That was now more than a thousand years ago. Many times while Naruto was trapped in the crystal, he tried to just give up and stop breathing, but the Kyuubi held too much pride to let that happen and die so easily. So Naruto Lived.

The time before the crystal shattered had been a blur and meant nothing to the boy. How could he manage to care? The girl he loved was dead, his best friend had betrayed him too many times to count now, and he had no way of knowing how the rest of his friends were. Or if they were even still alive.

Finally, after a thousand years, the crystal fell, dropping Naruto to the cool cave floor. For what seemed like days, he just lay there, barely breathing and eyes half closed.

"Get up kit." The fox growled from his prison.

"What's the point? What more is there for me to live for?" Naruto argued without an ounce of any emotion.

"To get out of this cave."

"Why?" He rolled over, as if that would make the kyuubi leave. "There's nothing left of my world. My life."

"Kit," He growled, losing his temper. "You've never given up before, why now? Just because that girl died? Everyone dies eventually, I thought even your thick head could wrap around that!"

"Shut up!" Naruto sat up, snarling. "I should have just died when I had the chance!"

"You're just feeling sorry for yourself."

"I am not, it's just..." Naruto trailed off, dropping his eyes.

"Loneliness? Kit, you were alone your whole life, why now? Why suddenly care if you have anyone?"

"Because I had friends back then!" He threw his hands up against his face, fighting the hot tears that threatened to spill. "And now they're all dead! Just kill me!"

"And you aren't important to yourself?" The demon asked, beginning to prowl in his cage. "Do you really think they'd be happy with you just giving up like that? You don't have anyone else, so why not keep the one thing you have left?"

Naruto knew the kyuubi was right, but that didn't help the pain in his heart. He stayed silent and didn't move, then felt the fox's anger flare.

"If you don't get up in the next three seconds, I will take over your body and make you!"

The boy sighed and rose to his feet, wavering slightly as his unused muscles quivered under his weight. He took a step forward, towards the mouth of the cave, pausing by the scattered remains of his prison. On the floor near it was a large patch of blood, staining the stone permanently.

"Sakura..." Naruto kneeled, running his fingers over it. New tears sprung to his eyes and the hopelessness once again grew in his heart. But a mental push from the kyuubi sent him forward, face dark.

Naruto followed the path as if it were just yesterday he was going in. Everything about this place reminded him of that day, a thousand years ago. "I know why I have to get out of here now... This hurt is about to tear my heart in half."

"That's what I've been trying to tell you this entire time, kit!" The kyuubi growled, pacing in his cage while Naruto continued through the corridor of stone, trying to force the unwanted memories that continued to resurface away. After about an hour of walking, Naruto stopped in front of an obvious cave-in where boulders were piled to the top of the cave.

The ninja's mind raced for a solution and an idea sparked. He took a stance and began to push his chakra into normal circulation. The new energy that flowed through him seemed to wear cobwebs away from his organs and he almost felt normal. The adrenaline rush also gave him heart to face the world, no matter what it was.

"For Sakura," He whispered, and then his voice rose until it echoed through the cavern. "Kage Bunshin No Jutsu!"

There were too many clones to count, but as soon as they appeared, they set to moving the boulders and eventually, a few clones moved one, which set loose a rock slide. Almost all of the clones disappeared, and the few that remained were called back as Naruto made his way across, almost swaggering with pride. A half-smile pulled at his lips as he thought of the days before Sasuke left. Sakura would be fawning over an indifferent Sasuke, who just accomplished some feet on his first try, Kakashi would be in the background, his book in hand, and Naruto would still be struggling with even beginning his task.

He continued walking until he came around a corner where light began to pour in.

"Well done, kit." The kyuubi congratulated him and Naruto bolted into the blinding light, blinked a few times and looked around.

"Oh my God!" A woman screamed. "Call an ambulance!"