Chapter 5

"There. How does that feel?" Hazel eyes inspected the tightly bandaged abdomen carefully.

Naruto smiled playfully at the woman. At this point, he's almost tired of seeing her. "Not much difference."

The nurse frowned as she folded her arms. "Obviously not. Your ribs are bruised badly." She scooted back in the wheeled chair, removing the latex gloves from her thin hands. "You need time to let it heal."

Naruto groaned tiredly. "I know."

He began to button his school uniform shirt. He suddenly stopped and gazed up, meeting the worried gaze of his school nurse and for the past few months since his third school year began, his only friend in the school. He wasn't sure if he should pity himself or congratulate himself for at least having one friend.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

The middle aged woman struggled to read the emotion behind that blank stare. One thing Naruto failed to do was hide the sadness in his eyes and it was achingly clear to the nurse. She wondered how she would handle this if her son who was around Naruto's age, had those same eyes. It scared her to a certain degree. It was even more scary seeing as this is the first time she's noticing those eyes.

"Naruto this can't continue." She began. She's immediately cut off by a humorless laugh.

"Geez, I'm not dying. Don't be so dramatic." His tone has regained its usual playful nature. The sarcasm that he used to mask his emotions so well.

The nurse folded her arms. "You refuse to admit your bullied.."

"I'm not being bullied!" He interrupted hastily. "I'm just entertaining them for now until they grow the fuck up."

"That isn't normal, Naruto."

Said student scoffed in humor. "Nothing about me is normal." He swung his blazer on, his eyes wondering everywhere else but the woman's concerned gaze.

"I think it's time we bring your brother into this." She scooted herself to the computer. "If you could give me his number, it'd be easier to reach him this way than pulling up your file."

Naruto's expression hardened. "He's out of the country. On a business trip." His tone had become softer.

The woman turned to gaze at him, a notepad and pen in her hand. "So who's home with you?"

"I'm okay. There's really no need to bother.."

"Naruto your visits here are becoming too frequent, each incident worse than before." She inhaled slowly, exhaling as she gathered her thoughts. "You being unfazed by this is scary. How far do your attackers have to take it until you.."

"Please, I promise this is the last time. I won't get into anymore fights please." He stood up quickly and walked over to the nurse. He lowered himself down to his knees, false sincerity held in his gaze. "Please, I promise this is the last time."

The nurse pressed her lips tightly together, her expression stern as she folded her arms. "Naruto…"

He smiled charmingly. "I've seen the errors of my way." Taking a hold of the woman's soft hands, he continued. "Please allow me to tread a new and better path of life."

Naruto hastily avoided the notepad that intentionally swung to smack him away. He laughed playfully, bowing in the process before he hastily turned and left the nurse office. He ignored the nurse calls for him to co,me back and he hoped in his leave, the woman wouldn't pull up his file and inform his only emergency contact of his recent escapade. He had faith in his friend that she'll truly give him one more chance, a chance he knew damn well he wouldn't be able to uphold. The thought of not receiving a beating was probably the funniest joke in the world.

The moment he entered the classroom, all eyes were on him. The freak had returned. He bowed respectfully to the teacher, ignoring the intriguing stares he received from his peers as he walked towards his seat. He sat down and finally looked up to the quick motion of students averting their gaze from him. He chuckled at the amusing act.

As the teacher carried on the lesson, he found himself tuning out the current discussion of the best efficient way to solve some sort of algebraic equation. Suddenly, he wondered if the classroom lights have always been that bright. Bright enough to give him a raging headache, or perhaps was it a result of the beating he received not too long ago. As his head slid down to his desk, he blankly gazed at the four boys sat three seats away from him. He wasn't surprised to find them tuning out the teacher as well, their eyes focused on their cellphones. If he had his own, he would be doing the same too.

Naruto watched silently. Neji had shown the rest of the boys something that had their eyes going wide and gawking at whatever was on Neji's phone. Whatever it was, it must've been interesting seeing as Kiba who was rarely interested in anything was also captivated as well. If he concentrated well, he could hear their discussion. It helped that they didn't know how to whisper as well.

Neji scrolled through the article on his phone. "What is.. doing here?"

Naruto blinked in response for missing the name of whoever Neji was inquiring about. The weird one who always wore green sweats as his uniform bottom spoke next. Naruto rolled his eyes. How can he let someone like that bully him, especially with eyebrows the size of Japan.

"Woah, look at that jacket." Said student leaned in closer over Neji's shoulder. His eyes nearly bulging out of his head. "Woah, he has no shirt under!" His loud outburst is punished by a slap to the head from Neji.

"Dumbass." Naruto laughed quietly to himself, currently entertained by the four idiots.

"Oh man, life just isn't fair. How can he be rich, good looking and smart."

"I heard he's living in the States and that he got accepted to one of the major universities."

The weird eyebrow dude can't seem to control himself, his eyeballs nearly falling out of his head again from Neji's comment. "Wow, what a cool guy."

Naruto's eyes followed Neji's to Kiba who hadn't made any comments but was also mesmerized by whoever was on the phone as well. "You think you can pull off that look, Kiba?"

Kiba sucked his teeth as he sat back in his seat in evident annoyance. "That's Sasuke Uchiha, what chance do I have?"

The boys laughed at their friend's shocking honesty. Neji opened his mouth to tease his friend when a flash of blonde hair passed by his eyes and his cellphone is suddenly yanked out of his hands. He hastily stood up and retrieved his phone back. His eyes are hard as he shoved away the blonde that looked as if he'd seen a ghost.

"The fuck is your problem freak?"

Naruto is silent. His mind is elsewhere and the threat before him is ignored.

Kiba rolled his head back in annoyance. "Neji, sit down."

"I'm talking to you freak." Against the warning he received, Neji swung his arm back to land a hard hit to the Uzumaki's jaw that sent him landing on the ground.

Naruto is brought back to his senses. His hand cupped his now tender jaw gently. As he gazed up to look at his attacker, he's faced with a shocking sight.

"Are you deaf?" Kiba questioned with a hard shove against Neji's chest. "I told you to sit down,"

Neji is a bit taken back but that doesn't stop him from retaliating with his own hard shove. "The fuck, you defending the freak now?"

Their two friends are in between them quickly before the altercation could escalate. The teacher is now by the students, his expression stern as he instructed Neji to sit in the vacant seat in the front starting next class. Neji protested heatedly but the unnerving gaze from the teacher has him rolling his eyes and plotting himself down in his seat in defeat.

Naruto did the same. Going against the teacher's wish for him to go to the nurse, he returned to his own seat He's dealt with worse than just a punch. He also didn't feel the need to deal with breaking his promise with the nurse. Besides, at the moment, he only had one person on mind and just the thought of that person was enough to have his body becoming numb to the pain.

"What are you doing?" Jay stretched his words cutely. His head peeked through the slightly cracked door, watching the owner of the room who was currently sprawled out on the bed.

Naruto's eyes remained on the ceiling. "Contemplating the purpose of my existence."

Jay nodded as if he understood the words. "Why?" Perhaps he did understand.

Naruto finally turned to meet his nephew's curious eyes. He ushered the boy in and sat up to provide space for the boy beside him. "Did you finish your homework?"

"Did you finish yours?" Jay giggled cutely when his nose is squeezed in a playful manner.

"You're not allowed to ask me that." Naruto smiled genuinely. He only seemed to do that when this precious angel was around. He suddenly sighed and threw himself back on his bed, his limbs sprawled out and his eyes once again gazing at the uninteresting ceiling. He smiled when his nephew imitated his actions.

A comfortable silence lingered between them. Rejecting the boredom, Jay finally spoke.

"Why are we staring at nothing?"

"Naruto sighed. "I'm waiting for your mother to come home so I can get my phone back."

Jay nodded. He then looked around in confusion. "But mommy's home. He's in the kitchen."

Naruto sat up abruptly. "Since when?"

Kyuubi was currently standing in the kitchen, moving back and forth, he laid out all the meals he had gathered that evening. There were various traditional Japanese dishes, dishes he hadn't eaten since his parents died. Dishes he knew Naruto would absolutely love and would bring back happy memories. As he finished setting up the table, he hoped this idea of his wouldn't blow up in his face. He never knew what to expect when it came to pleasing his brother.

"I need my phone." Speak of the devil.

Kyuubi looked up from the table to see his brother approaching him with his usual blank expression. He smiled to greet him. "Come eat with me first then I'll give it back to you." He insisted.

Naruto looked around at the fancy set up. Flowers in a vase stationed in the middle of the glass dining table and numerous dishes scattered around in a buffet setting.

"What's all this?" He looked at his brother skeptically.

Kyuubi wiped his hands with the kitchen cloth he previously had over his shoulders. Habits of a part time waiter. "There's been a lot of tension between us lately and I was thinking for once we could eat together and you know just talk like how we used to do." He smiled and sat down near his son who had already began to eat his portion that his mother had set out for him. "That's why I asked you to pick up Jay today."

Naruto scoffed and turned to head back to his room until his brother's words stopped him.

"Naruto please, do this one thing for me."

Naruto didn't budge. "Or what? You'll hit me again?"

Kyuubi bit his inner lip, the feeling of guilt leaving him momentarily lost for words. "Just this once please."

Naruto debated the idea for a moment until he finally gave in. He sat opposite his brother and silently served himself. He gazed intensely at the dishes before him, a sense of nostalgia gripping his entire body and the memories that hurriedly rushed through his head ensued within him a feeling of warmth that had him lifting up his spoon and bringing a spoonful of soup into into his mouth. As he ate the food he was silent, his heart clenching at the memories that resurfaced from the familiar yet long forgotten taste of his favorite dish. The dish his mother always to use make.

"I had to take the cab all the way out of the city just to find a restaurant that made that soup." Kyuubi tried to ease the emotional tension but he could only do so much as he watched his brother eat the soup and struggle to swallow the content while trying to hold in his tears.

Naruto dropped his spoon and sat back. His hands wiped the tears from cheeks as he sniffled. He exhaled silently and simply stared at the dish.

Kyuubi stared at his own dishes and noticed he hadn't eaten any of it. He ate a spoonful of plain rice. "So, I was thinking we could ask each other questions you know so we can begin to communicate and really get to understand one another."

"How are we living so well?"

Kyuubi is a bit taken back by the immediate question. The spoon of rice half way to his mouth is dropped back into the small bowl. Kyuubi gazed up and is met with a hard stare.

"Inheritance from Mom and Dad."

"That you inherited just recently." Naruto countered strongly. "We moved to this apartment when you were just nineteen. Where did you get that money from?"

Kyuubi sighed. "I can't tell you."

Naruto shook his head in disbelief. "The fuck did you do?"

"I did what I had to do." Kyuubi retaliated heatedly, feeling insulted from his brother's judgmental tone.

"Which is exactly what?" His harsh tone still remained, unfazed the least bit by his brother's hurt expression.

Kyuubi sat back and folded his arms. "I sacrificed a lot to give you this good life." He laughed when his words did nothing to ease the judgmental glare he received from Naruto. "You're so ungrateful."

"Should I be grateful to a brother who probably robbed a bank or worse to get money for a good life?"

Kyuubi stood up abruptly. "You think I'm capable of that?"

"You nearly killed a man. Who knows what you're capable of." Naruto's tone at this point is mocking. He's almost getting a high from watching his brother squirm.

Kyuubi furrowed his brows as the rest of his facial features tensed. "He was hurting you."

"And going in a rage and beating him to a bloody pulp was better. You're just like him if not worst."

"Don't you ever compare me to that sorry excuse of a human being. " Kyuubi shouted furiously, his fists clenched and his eyes glazed over with tears.

"What, you're going to hit me again?"

In a swift moment Kyuubi is walking away from the dining table and his brother to the living room in a quick stride until his path is blocked. "Move." His voice is hoarse and it's obvious he's about to combust into tears any moment.

Naruto is getting a kick from this. His smile is almost maniacal. "Look at you. No wonder Itachi left you. You're an emotional, impulsive overbearing psycho." He smiled seeing the first tear drop leak from those emerald eyes. "You thought acting like some role model now would change anything?"

"Why do you hate me so much. I'm your brother, what have I done to you?"

"The fact that you do not know is what pisses me off." Naruto spoke the words so bitterly. He moved closer until he was mere inches away from his brother's shocked face. "You're a selfish prick, you know that?"

In the next moment, Naruto is on the ground, his hand cupping his cheek that ached horribly. His teeth are gritted and his eyes are fierce with incredible hatred. He swiftly moved off the ground to retaliate when his body is pushed back and small arms are wrapped around his waist. He gazed down with wide eyes.

"Please stop fighting. Stop being mean to each other!" Small Jay is crying hysterically, his small arms gripping his uncle tightly as his little body struggled to push him further away from his mother.

The room is engulfed in complete silence. The atmosphere is tensed and the soft buzzing from the cartoon show is the sound that suddenly becomes audible to both brothers. Kyuubi is the first to move. In his current state of anger he stormed over to the dining table that displayed the various meals he had gathered and began to act without thought.

Naruto watched silently as Kyuubi swiped the dishes on the table to the ground, the sound of glass shattering filled the apartment along with Kyuubi's angry incoherent shouts. The beautiful vase of flowers are hurled to the kitchen wall shattering into pieces at the moment of contact, the utensils scatter the wooden floors along with broken classes.

"Being a little dramatic don't you think?" Naruto yelled to his brother. His right hand consciously kept the five year old pressed against his body to keep him from witnessing the current state of his mother.

"Fuck you!" Kyuubi glared at his brother as he hastily walked away from the kitchen.

"Yeah, do what you do best. Make a mess and leave me to take care of it after." Naruto sighed as he finally released his hold on his nephew. He doesn't say anything and instead walked over to the kitchen to observe the chaotic scene closely. He's finally got what he wanted, a rise from his brother. So why was he not as happy as he always dreamed he would be during that moment.

As he approached the small closet within the living room, he gazed at his nephew who had curled his little body over the couch. Naruto's heart clenched at the sight of the boy who buried his head in his arms to cry softly. He had focused so much on causing his brother the pain he had felt for all these years. He never thought a second about the innocent five year old who would be witnessing all of it.

There's been frequent times where he absolutely hated his existence but he never hated himself as much as he did now. The broom remained in his hand as he watched his nephew with apologetic eyes. The boy still cried and he has reached out numerous time to comfort the boy but always found himself afraid to even touch him. Afraid one touch would break the fragile child. All he could do was stare in pure pity while he punished himself inwardly.

He finally got up to begin cleaning when the doorbell had him sucking his teeth and reaching for the door knob. His annoyed expression faltered and the shocking presence before him have the broom tumbling to the ground in slow motion as seconds turned to minutes and his breathing struggled to find the right pace to match.

"I finally found you." A gentle smile accompanied the delicate tone.

Thank you for reading