Chapter 9

Naruto's a mess as he approached the familiar building. He pretended to be a stranger to it, hoping his brain would get the alarm and force him to turn around. His legs determined otherwise. He's before the front door with a heavy conscious, the chill of the growing night causing his body to shiver. His hand outstretched to ring the doorbell. Few minutes went by and the door was unanswered. Impatient, his hand knocked heavily against the wooden exterior. There's a muffled voice that can be heard inside nearing closer. The door was wrenched open and the cool air of the night immediately invade.

Kiba was at the door. His toned arms are exposed in the tank hoodie he wore. "What the hell are you doing here?" His eyes are fearful. The door is closed partially behind him as he stepped forward.

Naruto stepped back instinctively. His voice is meek as he asked. "Can I come in?"

"Get the fuck out of here, my friends are inside." Kiba shoved him back. He's looking back and forth in panic.

Naruto can't say he's surprised, yet he's still rendered speechless. His eyes watched the ground, the tears fall down like silent raindrops on a summer's night.

Kiba's tensed shoulders suddenly relaxed, his angered expression falter to a softer gaze. "What the hell? Are you crying?" This was the first time he's seen Naruto in such a vulnerable state. He's unsure what to do.

Naruto swallowed back the sob that threatened to escape and turned to leave. He's walking away with heavy legs when his shoulder is gripped tightly and he's turned forcefully around.

"Hey, talk to me! Did someone do something to you?" Kiba's scared when he doesn't get a reply. "Did someone hurt you?" The thought of it has fire raging in his eyes and his grip on Naruto's shoulders tightening unbearably.

The urgency in Kiba's tone was almost enough to have Naruto believing he truly cared about him. He shook his head, ridding away protruding false hopes that someone genuinely cared for him. He pried himself from Kiba's aching hold. Without so much of a glance back, he's trudging down the street. His stride wavering with each step.

Kiba watched him helplessly. He's conflicted. He wanted to run after him, his pride forbade him to do so. He's gazing back and forth. His friends are inside probably growing suspicious as to why he's been out so long. His conscious also scold him to go after Naruto. Just yesterday, he professed to Naruto that he sincerely cared for him. Where was the evidence?

"Yo!"

Kiba looked up to find Neji staring back at him oddly.

"The fuck are you doing?" Neji's eyes are squinted, it often was when he was confused.

Kiba glanced down the street. Naruto's no longer in sight. With a burdened mind and a guilty conscious, he's approaching Neji. "Someone was just asking for directions." A convincing lie.

"Why the fuck you look like you about to attend your own funeral then." Neji jeered, laughing at his own joke as he followed Kiba inside.

Naruto's not sure what time it was. All he knew was that he was walking around aimlessly, his eyes refusing to leave the ground. The chill of the night has his hands tucked deep in his pockets, the hood of his sweater keeping his ears warm. It's quiet, the faint sounds of residents conversing can barely be heard.

Sasuke's words replayed over and over in his head like a broken record. He's doing what he often does when he's hurt, seeking the part where he was at fault. Perhaps if he didn't follow Sasuke everywhere like a lost puppy, Sasuke wouldn't have been so eager to get away. He wouldn't have had to live with that woman. In that house.

Suddenly he's there. It was a calm night just as tonight. He can practically smell the strong scent of the alcohol. Little Jay was just a few months old. He's a happy carefree baby crawling around the living room without a care in the world. Every now and then he's giggling over nothing in particular. Naruto's in the kitchen warming up his formula. Ever now and then he would make incoherent noises to let Jay know he's near by.

The timer of the microwave lets him know the formula is ready. He's reaching over the counter for a towel when suddenly there's a presence behind him. Naruto hastily turned around and he's eye to eye with his aunt's drunk boyfriend. The man is large and intimidating, he reeked of alcohol. Naruto's eyes grew wide with fear.

"Where's your brother?" The man's voice is gruff and unpleasant to the ears. "Or should I say your sister." His lips are tugged into a twisted smirk.

Naruto's uncomfortable by the closeness of the man. He's tall for a thirteen year old, puberty having had hit him fast. He tried to maneuver away from the man when his face was gripped tightly.

"I asked you a question?" His words are sharp and slurred. His body moved closer, trapping the young boy beneath him.

"He's at work." Naruto could feel the man's weight on his chest as he pressed against him. He's shaking vigorously in fear, his breathing halting as the man neared his face.

"How old are you are you anyway?"

He's so close Naruto can feel his breath on his face. He answered softly, very softly. "Thirteen."

"Thirteen." There's an unsettling way in which he said the word, as if convincing himself of his next actions. His cold hand invade Naruto's lose T-shirt and massaged the warm skin beneath. "How about we play a little game?"

Naruto gulped loudly. His eyes stare everywhere else but the man before him. "Tsunade will hear us." He hoped the man would have some decency to consider the fact that his aunt was just a few rooms away and let him go.

"She's asleep." His stubble is rough against Naruto's face. "If you're quiet she won't know." His hand fell from Naruto's face, his other hand came up and gripped Naruto's side tightly while his other hand spun the boy so now his back faced him.

Naruto's breaths were short as his eyes began to water. He's mumbling something to himself in a haste in an effort to ignore the unwelcoming hands around his waist. He's able to channel some bravery within him and maneuvered his elbow back to deliver a powerful blow to the man's neck. A defensive move he's thankful his brother taught him. He's able to escape the kitchen and into the living room. He's frantic as he lifted little Jay into his arms. He's reaching for the blue blanket laid over the couch when a frightening voice has him turning around and backing away in fear, his baby nephew tucked into him and sheltered in his hold.

"You're going to regret what you just did." His jaw is tightened, his eyes rimmed with red. In his hand, a empty glass bottle of what seemed to be whiskey.

"I'll scream." Naruto's last attempt of a threat. He's backed into a corner of the living room, completely exposed and defenseless.

"I'll make sure you do more than scream, you little shit." His smile is almost cannibalistic, his approach slow like a predator seeking out it's prey.

Naruto tightly closed his eyes when the object of harm is lifted in the air. His back is turned to protect his nephew. The anticipated strike doesn't come, the noise of a loud thud the only sound invading his ears. He turned slowly to find his brother standing above the man, a wooden bat in his hand. He's never been as grateful to his brother as he was in that very moment.

Kyuubi had hit the man with enough force to have him on the the ground but conscious. He threw the bat aside, anger evident in his eyes from the scene he had just walked up on. He moved around the writhing man on the ground.

"You fucking bitch." The man's words are forced, his voice breaking with each syllable. "I'll kill you." He's attempting to get up but could barely manage to sit up. His torso was lifted of the ground, his hands placed beside his head supporting him.

Kyuubi's back in the living room with a opened bottle of an alcoholic beverage. He stood beside the man and tilted the bottle, the substance pour freely over the man, drenching and staining the white shirt he wore. The glass bottle strikes him over the head painfully before rolling to the side.

Kyuubi's foot delivered a harsh kick to the man's exposed torso. He was silent as he continued to relentlessly kick the man over and over again, each kick harder than the previous one. His anger for the past year of living in the wretched house expressed fiercely in his assault. Naruto's yelling and begging his brother to stop, little Jay crying and startled by the commotion. Naruto's afraid to near his brother and physically stop him. He's afraid his brother would redirect his anger on him.

He has never been close with his brother. Mainly, for the reason that Kyuubi was aggressive, hot tempered and very matured for his age. He never felt a connection with him, being that he was everything opposite his brother was. Even as children they never really got along.

Naruto's yelling and pleas had managed to reach Tsunade's room. Their aunt is sauntering in the living room, tired and groggy. Her blonde hair is disheveled, her robe opened partially. She's staring in shock at her boyfriend lying on the ground, barely holding onto consciousness. Her eyes are averted to Kyuubi, her veins popping out of her neck.

"What the hell did you do?" Her voice was high and shrill, her gaze harsh.

Kyuubi glared back at her. "Get control over your fucking boyfriend. He almost hurt Naruto." He's walking around the man laid on the ground, coming face to face with his aunt. "I told you I don't want him around the fucking house. Do you have any idea what he would've done if I hadn't gotten home when I did?" He clenched his jaw as he waited for an answer. "I asked you a fucking question!"

Silence filled the room. Kyuubi's head faced the side, Tsunade's hand print ripe on his cheek from the hard slap he was dealt with. "You're the one who called me, begging me to take you both in." There's a deepness in her tone that's foreign to the brothers. "You, your brother and your bastard baby can get the fuck out of my house right now."

Naruto's near his aunt in an instant with pleading eyes. "No Tsunade please, he didn't mean what he said. He's just angry. Please."

Tsunade knelt beside the battered man. She tenderly lifted his head so it laid over her lap, her hand running through his wet hair. Her anger was still ripe as she shouted once more for the brothers to leave her house.

Kyuubi was on his knees the next moment. It doesn't seem to faze Tsunade who deliberately ignored him. "I'm sorry. I spoke out of line. Please forgive me." Kyuubi's tone was convincingly remorseful.

Tsunade stood up and left the living room. She's coming back again throwing out the boys belongings in the living room. It was evident she had no intention of retracting her previous statement or forgiving Kyuubi.

"I'll go." Kyuubi said. He sighed when the woman watched him blankly. "I have been very disrespectful to you even after you were generous enough to take us in. I'll go. Please allow Naruto and my son to stay. Please."

"No, if you're going, I'm going too." Naruto eagerly chimed in, fear of being alone gripping his entire body.

"Get the hell out of my house." Tsunade said lastly before proceeding to her room. She doesn't return and Kyuubi has a moment to breathe since he's arrived.

Jaron had settled but Naruto continued to rock him as he swayed back and forth. "You're not leaving." His expression was stern.

Kyuubi outstretched his arms and brought his son to his chest. "Hey baby boy. I'm sorry I made you cry." His words are soft in whisper. He pressed a kiss to his son's chubby cheeks.

"Kyuubi you're not leaving." Naruto said once more, sterner than before.

Kyuubi looked at his brother, whose now almost as tall as him. He's guilty. He wished he could say he was a good brother. "You'll be okay."

"No, I won't. You can't leave me here alone with them." Tears cascaded down his cheeks. "Besides, where would you go anyway?"

"Don't worry about me. I'll be close by, okay? Don't worry about them, they wouldn't dare touch you. I'll make sure of it." His words are convincing.

Naruto was young so he remained skeptical and afraid. Afraid to be alone. He had already lost both of his parents, he lost his friends and now he was losing his brother. He's also going through physical changes he can't explain. There's no one he can go to for advice or an explanation. He's left wondering why he's becoming curvy like a female, why he's not as strong as the other boys in his class and why he's bullied and teased by his peers.

"Naruto, you have to promise me you'll take care of Jaron for me, okay?" Kyuubi hugged his sleeping child to him. He's fighting back tears. "I know it's not your responsibility but I need you to do this for me, okay?"

Naruto nodded. Nothing else he could say would convince his brother to stay so he stopped. He couldn't fathom why people were so quick to leave him. Kyuubi was saying other things, he's nodding along but not listening. He just wanted this night to end. He wanted to wake up and find out it was all a nightmare.

Unfortunately it wasn't so. The next day he woke up to find Kyuubi gone. His things still remained but he was gone. Jay was asleep so he gathered himself for school. After that he woke up Jay and did the same for him. He fed him his formula and packed his daycare bag. He did that routinely for the next months. Kyuubi would come by here and there to check up on him. True to Kyuubi's words, Tsunade's boyfriend never bothered him again. He wasn't sure what Kyuubi did but whatever he did, he was thankful for it.

After a while Kyuubi just stopped showing up. A year or so later, he returned. Without even packing up anything he brought Naruto to a new town, to a large apartment building, furnished expensively. Kyuubi never told him where he was or what he did to acquire such wealth but this was his new start and he'd take advantage of it. Living alone in that home, playing parent at just thirteen while also trying to figure out his own life had Naruto maturing quickly. There were countless times where he felt lifeless and just wanted to give up. The thought of seeing Sasuke again one day kept him trying when he felt like dying. After all, Sasuke promised him they'd always be together, always. Sasuke would find him soon, he would.

He wasn't even searching.

The metallic object in Naruto's hand was cold. The feeling has him escaping the past and embracing the present. His eyes struggled to focus on the new setting, the bright light of the cafe harsh compared to the darkness of the night. He's a usual here. Often here when he had had a fight with his brother and couldn't bear to stay in the apartment.

He looked around, welcoming the familiar setting. The smell of pastries and coffee were strong and delightful. It's cozy and relaxing. He's in his usual seat, the isolated booth in the back. This particular night it was fairly vacant, a few people lingering here and there.

Entranced in nothing particular on the table, mind once again lost in thought, Naruto's brought back to reality by the call of his name. His math teacher is beside him with a wide smile. Naruto stood respectfully as he greeted him.

"I thought it was you."

Naruto mustered a weak smile. He wished he could remember his teacher's name. He has always called him Sir, never bothering to learn his actual name, and too unfocused in class to hear one of his peers say it.

The young teacher invited himself to sit, a companion of his followed suit. "I see you have a thing for wolves."

"I'm sorry?" His mind is restless. It's clear in the dazed look in his eyes.

"Your necklace." He nodded to the object in the teen's hand. "Also, you made quite an interesting analogy with wolves the other day in class."

Naruto mentally scolded himself. He was just talking to talk. He had hoped the teacher would've forgot about it by now. "I was just talking crap."

The teacher isn't so easily convinced. "You sounded very passionate for just talking crap."

Naruto molded his lips together. His fingers played with the silver trinket around his neck. It's an antique design, a crafted wolf pendant on a silver chain. It's the last gift he received from his late father.

"It gets better, you know." The teacher's hands are laid over one another on the table. "You just have to learn to accept yourself for who you are."

"I said it meant nothing!" Naruto's standing up, his voice raising with his action. His eyes are glaring at the man he'd shown nothing but respect to until now. "Don't try to read me."

"I'm not trying to read you." His voice was calm. "I'm saying this because I was in your place once and I went through exactly what you're going through. Not looking like the other boys, being bullied, trying to be something I wasn't. I felt alone. Why me? Why not anyone else?"

"You don't know what the hell I'm going through." Naruto can't bring himself to accept the condoling words.

"Iruka, we should go." The man has his hand over the teacher's smaller one. His silver dyed hair made him look older than he was.

Iruka, so that was his name. From the loving gesture and warm stare the other man gave him, Naruto figured they were together romantically. Either way, he didn't give a damn and he wished nothing more than for them both to get up and leave him the hell alone.

"I know you're probably thinking I'm just a teacher who's way out of line but I just want you to know that you are not alone." Iruka's voice wavered. He's unsure if it's his place to say all of this, especially to a student. "I was in your shoes too. Because I wanted someone to desperately love me, I allowed people to treat me horribly because at least I had their attention. Once you accept yourself and start loving yourself for who you are, you start to realize just how much strength you have on your own."

There's a moment of awkward silence. Neither people speak, the air is thicker than before. Iruka's not sure this is when he should make his exit, having had said all he wanted to say from the moment he met Naruto. Now that it was all said and done, there was a feeling of regret he' couldn't fight off. Had he crossed a line?

Naruto sat down. He refrained from making eye contact with either men across from him. "Thank you." His words seemed distant, his body slouched against his seat.

Iruka was smiling from ear to ear. He'll take it. His words would mean something to the student later on. He's hopeful it will. His fingers were intertwined with the man beside him as he bid farewell to his student.

Naruto sat up, his hands run over his face tiredly. He's tired, the ongoing war in his head affecting him physically. He stood up, ready to take his leave when Iruka was next to him again with the same wide smile on his face.

"Oh by the way, this is my husband, Kakashi. It was rude of me not to introduce you to him."

Naruto admittedly hadn't noticed. Even if he had, it wouldn't have bothered him the slightest. He's smiling as he shook the hand offered to him.

"I'm sorry about this by the way. You probably deal with him enough at school." Kakashi's dealt with a light punch to the shoulder for his sly remark.

Naruto chuckled courteously. They're disgustingly kind and adoring. Their slight banter reminded him of his parents, they were the exact same. He's lost in the memories that rush in his head without warming. His hand found the necklace around his neck to once again pull him back. Iruka and Kakashi are long gone, Naruto hoped he had bid them farewell and did not simply stand there like a statue.

Outside, the sky has darkened and the air still withheld its chill. It's a good feeling against his warm skin, the hoodie over his head was discarded exposing his blonde locks. It's messy but he doesn't care. His step was halted at the sight of Kiba who's standing just a few feet from the cafe. He stared in disbelief as Kiba approached him.

Kiba's in a black jacket and grey sweats, a shade darker than Naruto's. His eyes were focused on Naruto, now only a few inches from him. "I'm sorry." His tone was tender. He has a gentle smile on his face while his hand caressed Naruto's cheek softly.

Naruto leaned into Kiba, his shorter stature allowing his head to lay comfortably on Kiba's chest. He's embraced warmly, Kiba's arms forming a protective and warm barrier around him. He's in need of some sort of affection, even if it's from Kiba. He wanted to yell, curse Kiba out for choosing his friends over him, like he did over and over again. But he's here, for once Kiba actually chose him. It won't last though, it never did. But for now, he's happy, and right now, all he wanted was to be held and embraced. Even if it was just, for a moment.

Leave some reviews guys. Thank you for reading. I'll try to update next week.