A\N: Sorry it took so long for me to post this chapter.. you see, I had lost the rest of the story, nearly 7000 words, all attempts to rescue the file failed… so I just thought I'd post this chapter before rewriting the ending..

A friend in demand

A.K.A

Choices

"Here" Sakura said with a sympathetic smile, setting a cup of coco in front of the brown haired girl.

Sayuri merely glanced at the white cup, before turning her eyes to the ground, "W-what was that?" she asked.

Sakura froze momentarily, knowing that Sayuri was talking about their blonde friend.. She then sighed, taking a seat on another couch, "It's a long story" Sakura hummed thoughtfully, staring up at the ceiling.

Sayuri turned tired eyes towards the pink haired medic, who instantly got the message, and so sighed again, "I've got time" Sayuri said determinately, reinforcing her point.

That caused Sakura to sigh for the third time, as she chose her words carefully, "You see, Naruto is…"

Shikamaru led the blonde back to his apartment.. Kei walked in, his head hanging low, and sat on the bed..

Shikamaru glanced at the boy sitting in the dark, before extending a hand and switching on the light.

The one light bulb brought only faint light to the apartment, only able to cause the darkness to part slightly.. But a slightly lighted room couldn't help the darkness in the blonde's heart disappear.

The ingenious shinobi chose to lean against the wall opposite of the bed, waiting silently for the blonde to speak first. Utter silence lasted for some time until finally Kei found it in himself to talk, "Who.. am I? … Really.."

The high 'IQ'ed boy stepped towards his friend, pausing for a moment before settling next to him, "You are Uzumaki Naruto.. A genin from the village of Konoha.. Part of team 7" he started, "You were lost in an A ranked mission while searching for a criminal in a forest."

Naruto turned an impatient gaze towards the black haired boy, who calmly continued, "You are also the jinchuriki of the Kyuubi.."

This time the blonde seemed more interested, however the terms the shinobi used was foreign to him.. he aimed a questioning stare to the chunin who sighed, "The Kyuubi is a legendary monster, who ran havoc through the five nations.."

The teen paused, slowly reviewing history in his mind, "After destroying much of the nation, there was only one way left to save what few people remained.. The Kyuubi was sealed by the fourth hokage in a child, roughly 16 years ago.." he glanced at the wide eyed blonde, "And that child, was you.."

Although Kei had already guessed that, it was completely different hearing it out loud.. His breathing quickened, and his heart beats became disordered. "T-then.. before…" The blonde said, but was unable to finish due to his uneasy breathing.

"Yes.." Shikamaru answered assertively, "That was the Kyuubi chakra seeping out of your body.."

Tears filled the blonde's eyes, "B-but.. I didn't mean to hurt that boy so bad.. but Sayuri.. she was… and he… he….." Naruto was unable to finish his sentences.. as an overwhelming guilt came over him.

Shikamaru stared at him silently, reviewing the data he had leisurely.. "I believe you.." he suddenly said causing Naruto to turn and stare, "You had started to come to grips in controlling the demonic chakra before you lost your memory.. But since you didn't know about what lay inside of you, you could no longer contain it.."

Kei stared at him silently, trying to decipher the boy's words.. Shikamaru bit his bottom lip angrily, "It was our fault for not telling you.." he said thoughtfully, "I'm sorry Naruto.. I should've came forward to you with your past.. But you have to understand how this is delicate information.. And since you were no longer a ninja.."

"You couldn't trust me.." Kei interrupted sternly, as his voice regained its steadiness.. Sounding more like his old self.

That caught Shikamaru's attention, causing him to stare at his childhood friend for a few brief moments, "Aah.." he answered straightforwardly.

The blonde teen turned his blue eyes to the ground in thought, his brows creased for a few minutes, he then turned stern eyes towards this friend\stranger, "What else is there that I should know about my self?" he asked, keeping his eyes locked on the boy in front of him.

Shikamaru leaned back, lifting his gray-brown eyes to the ceiling, he let out a long sigh for a few seconds thoughtfully.. While Kei remained silent waiting for his answer.

The black haired boy then pushed himself forward, leaning on his knees with his forearms, "Well, naturally since the villagers knew you had the Kyuubi inside of you they hated and feared you.. you were an orphan your whole life.. you were alone most of your childhood.. you only really started to gain confidence after you joined team 7.." Shikamaru paused, gazing at his former-friend cautiously, "The third member in your team.. Was Uchiha Sasuke.."

The black haired teen paused once more, watching the reaction the other teen upon hearing the name of his former rival, however he had none, "Sasuke.. Was a troubled boy, his entire clan was murdered by his older brother.." he told Kei, "I didn't really have much to do with him.. However you had something like a rivalry and brotherhood relationship with him…"

Kei's brows started curling upward slightly, every word Shikamaru would tell him would have a deep effect on him.. As if he could feel the emotions that were attached to these forgotten memories.. However, at the same time they didn't seem the least bit familiar to him.

"Sasuke left the village nearly 3 years ago.." Shikamaru told the teen, after a short silence, "you went to train almost immediately after his departure, and your failure to catch him.. you came back not too long ago, and had another encounter with him.." Shikamaru said, studying every reaction his blond friend made.

"You also failed to bring him back this time too.." Shikamaru said his final thought.

Kei remained quiet for sometime.. Trying to force himself to remember anything this boy was talking about.. But it was no use, he was simply unable to remember.. He turned his tormented eyes towards Shikamaru, "I.. I just.. Can't remember any of this.." He said in a cracked voice.

Shikamaru stared back at him, thoughtfully, "I can't blame you.." he finally said, followed by an exasperated sigh.

Kei clenched his fists, staring at the ground in deep thought, "So what's going to happen to me next?" Kei asked with a stern look..

Shikamaru turned to him, a blank look on his face, "I am no longer a ninja.. I have no memory of my previous self…" Kei paused to take a breath, "I am obviously not just any ordinary person, that could just be left alone... and what I did will not go unnoticed… there will probably be consequences, I will probably be deemed dangerous"

The black haired teen raised a brow, staring at his friend in thought.. Everything he said was probably true… he was speaking like he understood what he was talking about..

"Aah" Shikamaru hummed in thought, "But I'll try to do what I can.." he added, standing up and stretched.

Kei watched him silently as he walked to the door, "Ja ne" he said, turning around slightly, Kei made no move in response.

Shikamaru slipped through the door, but before he left he turned around one last time saying, "Naruto… I really am sorry"

*click*

The blonde sighed, turning his gaze to the ground once more..

"Enough is enough Tsunade!" The elder women said, her voice only mildly loosing its smoothness.

Tsunade gridded her teeth slightly, "How dare you ask me to lock away Naruto like he is just some beast?" the blonde women shouted unable to contain her anger.

"He has gone too far this time Tsunade!" the elder man said in a stern voice.

The fifth hokage turned to him, "It isn't his fault!" she said, almost waving her fist in his face.

"Maybe so.." Koharu said in her demanding voice, "But he has proven to us once and for all that he is too dangerous to roam freely in the streets.."

Tsunade turned to her with a sharp turn, scarcely compressing a glare inside.. And when Tsunade stayed silent Koharu said, "We've already made our minds, we are putting the Jinchiriki on house arrest until further notice" her tone held clear content.

With that said the women turned away, walking to the door, Homura following silently after. The door slammed shut, leaving a fuming Tsunade inside.

Tsunade, chocked on her anger, was unable to make a sound.. She kept her face aimed at the ground, her blonde bangs covering her eyes.. The council-hag's words ringing in her memory..

She wasn't able to do anything for Naruto, this is when he needed her the most, and she was unable to help him the least bit.. The poor boy doesn't understand what's happening to him, and now he's being locked away like some kind of monster!

"Damn it!" she whispered, crushing the pen in her right hand.

Shizune pressed her ear against the oak door, "I can't hear anything!" she huffed to herself, concentrating harder.

The two members of the council had left nearly ten minutes ago, and she didn't hear Tsunade make a sound since. Lost in her thoughts, Shizune failed to hear her mentor's footsteps walking over to the door.. She didn't notice anything until it was too late..

"Ahee!" The black haired women gasped, nearly falling onto Tsunade, who had suddenly swung the door open.

However Tsunade payed her no notice, simply walking around her frightened right hand assistant. Shizune quickly snapped up, turning to give the Goudaime a concerned stare.

Tsunade her brows furrowed, walked down the long carpeted hall of the hokage mansion, her angered footsteps not even close to showing the boiling volcanoes of anger she felt inside.

"Hokage-Sama?" She heard a voice say, a surprised tone in the boy's voice.

Tsunade was about to ignore the boy, and continue back to her office.. However she quickly decided not to, turning to face the smart shinobi, "Shikamaru" she said lowly, acknowledging his existence.

The black haired teen hesitated for one moment, ".. ehem, I heard that the council was here for what happened with Naruto, is that true?" he asked cautiously.

Tsunade nodded slightly, her throat feeling too tight to speak, "…. W-what happened?" The boy asked concerned, with uncharacteristic hesitation.

Tsunade let out a fiery sigh, "They.. decided to put Naruto on house arrest.. for now" She told Shikamaru, a hurtful tone being undetected in her voice.

Shikamaru's eyes widened slightly, he quickly removed that expression from his face, trying to think of something to say. Tsunade however didn't wait, she simply walked away from the boy..

A\N: I hope you liked the chapter, I'm not sure if there were any lost scenes at the end of it.. I won't be posting the next chapter until I'm completely finished typing the rest of this story.. it's not too bad about 7000 words.. hopefully it won't take too long.. I'm not sure if I got the council members' names right..

So just review, and share your thoughts, and hopefully I'll be back with the next chapter soon..