Things improved greatly for Naruto over the following weeks. After that first day at the Inuzuka clinic, he'd decided that he liked it there and had asked Kiba's mother if he could volunteer on the weekends, if only to avoid the mobs of bored children looking to have a little "fun" with him. Her only reaction was a knowing grin and a nod. Kiba was elated. It meant he could actually spend time with Naruto without having to look over his shoulder the whole time. When Lee heard about the whole arraignment he ran right over and volunteered himself right up. Naruto would think back on those days years later and smile. The work was hard, the hours long, but he was happy. Safe, warm, no one stalking him; a paradise on earth. It royally pissed off the countless numbers of bullies and jerks out there that spent their weekends until that point doing nothing but beating the living daylights out of Naruto. The parents were in shock about the whole thing. To be able to live up to Inuzuka standards was insane. Plenty of children had volunteered at the clinic before, and very few had lasted more than a few days. That alone was enough for them to stop and reevaluate their opinion's of Naruto. That, and the glowing praise of him by the matron Inuzuka. It wasn't long before they began to caution the children, telling them to back off in their torment, if even a little. The effect was immediate.
Naruto was amazed the first day that he made it through a day of school without getting beaten to a pulp. To say he was a little paranoid the following day was an understatement of the highest order. He was literally checking around every corner, constantly looking over his shoulder. It was so bad that by lunch time Kiba and Lee were walking him to his classes, just so he'd be able to make it on time. He nearly hyperventilated on the way to Iruka-sensei's class. Every little noise had him jumping and ducking for cover. The final bell scared him so bad his head hit the ceiling. Kiba had to practically carry the boy outside. They sat him down under the oak in the school yard and waited there for 10 minutes while he tried to calm down.
"Breathe Naruto," said Kiba in the calmest voice he could muster. "Try and relax. You made it 2 days without a single fight. You should be happy."
Naruto look like a squirrel on crack, "Can't...calm...down. They c-could b-b-be hiding. Waiting f-for me t-ta relax. If I la-let m-m-y guard d-down they'll at-ttack. Gotta k-keep a look out-t. Can't relax."
Kiba sighed and turned to Lee, "We can't leave him like this. Help me carry him to the clinic. He feels safe there."
Lee nodded and grabbed Naruto's feet. They struggled to carry the twitching boy.
"Let me go! Damn it! Let! Me! Go! Put me down! They're going to attack me if they see me like this! Put me down!" Kiba sighed again, knowing full well the boy's fears were probably justified.
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They managed to make it and dropped him in the break room. Lee stayed with him as Kiba went to call his mother. 5 Minutes later he came back, mother right behind him.
"Naruto, it's okay. No one is going to get you here," said Kiba's mother soothingly. "It'll be alright. No one can hurt while I'm here." Naruto nodded and stop the rocking he hadn't realized he'd started.
"Kiba, what the hell happened to him?"
Kiba smiled sadly, "That's the thing. Nothing happened to him."
She blinked, confused, "Then why is he freaking out like that."
Kiba shook his head, "You don't get it. I mean that nothing, at all, happened to him today or yesterday. As in no beatings. No taunting. Not even a death threat. Nothing. Complete absence of hostility toward him."
She blinked again, "Wow...this kid is really messed up. I've never seen anyone freak out like this before. He's been so conditioned to expect torture that he's losing his mind when it doesn't come." She turned to Naruto, "Poor little guy. They've really done a number on him." She sighed, "Naruto honey, I want you to stay with us tonight. Will that help you fell better?"
Naruto's eye's lit up, "Could I? Really?" She nodded. Naruto sighed and passed out, the strain of everything finally catching up with him.
"Poor kid," sighed Kiba's mother. "I'm going to go and have a talk with the Hokage. This whole situation has gotten so out of hand is ridiculous." She turned to leave, "I'm going to call your sister before i go and tell her to expect him. You two finish up up for me." She turned to Lee, "You're welcome to stay over too Lee. Naruto would appreciate it."
Lee nodded, "I will ask my mother if it is okay."
She smiled again and left. "Let's let him rest, "
Kiba grabbed the spare keys, "let's finish up here and get to my house."
Lee nodded and they went to finish the chores.
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"With all due respect sir, it's got to stop," said Mrs. Inuzuka calmly. "The whole situation is so far out of control now that he becomes paranoid and overly-agitated when the abuse is ceased."
The Hokage nodded, "Yes, I've wondered for some time if something like this would happen as he and the other children grew up. The full details of how he has been treated recently have been brought to my attention. I always knew it was bad but, " he sighed, "...I never thought it was quiet so bad. I had asked to teachers to help control the children, but it seems that the parents have been undermining that work."
She nodded and sighed, "I agree. I can't tell you how many times I've seen the other parents encouraging the children to ambush him or something along those lines. I'm not asking for a guard for the boy. All I ask is for someone to put a stop to it." He nodded, "I concur. I shall call a meeting with the parents and speak to them."
Lord Hokage smiled, "I am glad to know that at least you have been able to help him, if even a little. Hopefully, time can reverse some of the damage that has been done."
She nodded, "Thank you sir." She bowed and left.
"Genma," he called after she left. "Yes Lord Hokage?" "I want you to call a meeting with all the teachers and parents..."
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"Naruto...Naruto...wake up Naruto..." Kiba shook the blonde's shoulder gently.
Naruto blinked and sat up, "Wha...? Where am I?" Kiba smiled, "We're still at the clinic. It's time to leave. Remember, you're staying with me tonight?"
Naruto blinked again, "Oh yeah."
Kiba smiled, "How do you feel?"
"Better, " he responded as he stood up.
"Good. Let's get Lee and get on to my house."
"Lee's staying too?" Kiba nodded. "Sweet."
Kiba gathered their things and locked up before they walked off toward his house.
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Hana greeted them at the door. "Hello Kiba, Lee, Naruto. Mom told me to wait for you, just in case."
They went inside and upstairs to Kiba's room. "Wow..." muttered Naruto. "Your room is cool Kiba."
Kiba laughed, "Naw, It's not all that great." Akamaru stuck his head out from Kiba's jacket and jumped onto the bed.
"Whoa, where'd he come from?"
Kiba laughed again, "He's been asleep in there for a few hours Naruto."
Naruto blinked, "I didn't even realize you had taken him to school today."
"Do not concern yourself with it Naruto. I rarely even notice Akamaru myself," Lee smirked.
Akamaru barked once and promptly fell back asleep on Kiba's bed. "Come on," said Kiba. "Dinner's ready."
Naruto blinked, "How do you know?" Kiba just walked passed him. Naruto remembered Kiba's nose and nearly kicked himself. A laughing Lee patted him on the shoulder before following Kiba. Naruto followed behind.
They met Hana at the base of the stairs. "I was just about to call you boys."
Kiba grinned, "I know."
"Whatever ya show off. Anyway, come and eat already. It's your turn to feed that dog's tonight."
Kiba frowned, "Damn. I forgot about that." They sat down and ate.
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Kiba finished quickly and ran to feed the dogs. He finished just as his mother came home. "Well, I talked to the Hokage. He's agreed that the whole situation has gotten out of control and is going to talk to the parents and teachers about the whole thing."
Naruto felt like hugging her. "Anyway, it's getting late and you guys should be getting ready for bed."
Kiba groaned, "Awww, but mom can't we stay up late tonight?"
She smiled, "I never said you had to go to sleep. I just said to get ready for bed. It's not a school night so I don't care if you stay up late."
Kiba's face brightened, "Oh, okay then." They went back up to Kiba's room. Lee's mom had brought him his pajama's and a change of clothes while he was at the clinic. Naruto was kinda stuck though. It was too dark out for him to run home for more, and it wouldn't be very safe to anyway.
"Don't worry, I'll lend you some of my clothes. I have some shirt's that are too small for me that would fit you."
"Thanks," muttered Naruto as Kiba tossed him a shirt. They changed and went back down stairs to watch TV. "What do ya'll want to watch?"
Lee shrugged, "There really isn't very much to watch tonight."
Naruto nodded, "I usually watch movies this time of night." Kiba nodded and walked over to the TV. He opened the cabinet under it and said, "Pick a movie, any movie."
Lee and Naruto sat with their jaws on the floor. "You have every movie ever made in there..." gasped Naruto.
Kiba giggled, "Not every one, but close." The boys ran up and started picking out favorites. They spent most of the night alternating between horror movies, comedy's, and romancey chick-flicks. Why Lee likes chick-flicks was beyond the other two, but they went along anyway. By the third one they were crying right along with Lee, so it wasn't too bad. All in all a good night. It was really, really late (or early) before they finally fell victim to exhaustion and went upstairs to bed.
Naruto lay in the sleeping bag that Kiba's mother had set out for him and said, "Guys?"
"Yeah Naruto," mumbled Kiba sleepily. "Are we gunna be friends forever?"
Lee smiled, "Best friends forever." Naruto smiled, "Good." They all fell asleep with smiles on their face.
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That was the start of a tradition between the best friends. Every other weekend they would have a sleep-over at Kiba's house. They always stayed up as late as they could watching movies. As they got older the movies would change, a reflection of the changing tastes of children as they grew older. By the time they were teenagers, they had narrowed the movie selection down to a few choice favorites. They had also started doing regular movie nights every other week at Lee's house. One week at Kiba's, the other at Lee's. Which suited the boy's just fine. It was a nice break from the action and horror flicks that were the staples at Kiba's house. They weren't afraid to admit that they liked a good chick-flick now and again. It turned out that Lee's mother had much the same attitude toward Naruto that Kiba's mother had before she got to know him. And inevitably she too warmed to the blonde. The long talk form the Hokage had a little to do with it, but not a whole lot. She rather enjoyed the rambunctious blonde, seeing him much as she saw her own hyper-active son. It was still a little odd to Naruto, the idea that he had friends, and that his friend's families liked him, but he didn't dwell to much on it. He was enjoying himself too much to care.