I appreciate all you guys for the follows and favorites, I'll probably do seporate chapters for questions in the reviews and stuff if you guys would like. Keep reviewing and reading!

Anyway, onto the story!

-xXstarryxnightXx

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Naruto sat at home later in the afternoon on his bed. He didn't feel like getting up or doing anything at all. He could only revisit his nightmares. Only one thing seemed to calm him or make him feel human when the rest of the world didn't. Naruto looked at his special Kunai on the table beside his bed next to his alarm clock. He picked it up slowly and looked down at the smooth edges of what kept his greif and guilt at bay when nothing else did. He took a deep breath and looked down at his arms. He could've sworn he felt someone watching him, but he didn't feel like getting up to go hide and relieve his agony. He lifted his shirt up and began to dig into his skin. He felt the smooth edge go across his stomach, but he felt nothing. Normally, he tried to avoid cutting his arms in case something happened to where his jacket needed to come off, but it seemed it would be the only way to satisfy the need to feel pain.

Naruto held out his wrist and slid the Kunai across his flesh. He let out a sigh as he continued to do it over and over again. After about 15 cuts varying from scratches to bleeding cuts. He put the Kunai back on his nightstand and laid back on his bed and looked up at the ceiling.

Why do they have to do this to me? I've never done anything to them... So why? Naruto thought to himself grimly. There was no reason for any of it. Naruto was trapped in a world that didn't want him and clearly hated him. He felt there was no need for him, that there was no reason to hang around anymore. He was trying to see just how things would turn out, and he was finally deciding once again that it was almost time for him to leave. He didn't want to burden anyone anymore.

Naruto wasn't quite ready yet; part of him still hoped there would be at least one reason to stay. Just one would be enough to keep him going, or so he hoped at least. In that moment, there wasn't a whole lot for him to be happy about. He was slowly starting to lose his faith in finding one thing to keep him going. Naruto remembered the dream he had about Iruka and remembered Iruka saying if Naruto didn't try hard enough, he'd never graduate. The other teachers would laugh at Iruka and tell him he was a fool for believing in the boy.

At least Iruka cared enough to encourage the boy to try harder. Iruka was proud when Naruto graduated and still talked to him from time to time. Naruto also remembered the few times Iruka would see bruises and scratches from the villagers and from training so hard. Before he graduated, Naruto also started hurting himself to feel anything at all. Iruka noticed and Naruto made him believe it was from training or some freak accident. Iruka would hesitate and leave the boy alone at that. Naruto knew to be careful around Iruka; he'd tell Lord Hokage in a heart beat. Before long, Naruto was asleep once again.

Soon after he fell asleep, his window opened. Natuto didn't even stir. Kakashi suddenly appeared right beside where Naruto was sleeping. He walked over to the young blonde and saw the Kunai beside his bed, which at the moment, didn't seem odd. Kakashi then noticed Naruto's arm was exposed. He knelt down and saw the damage for himself. The scratches seemed a little too straight and clean for them to be accidental injuries.

Kakashi looked at his student with a bit of guilt and sympathy. He should've seen this coming sooner or later. Kakashi took out the medical kit Tsunade gave him in case Naruto needed it. Kakashi dug around and found bandages and rubbing alcohol. Kakashi somehow cleared the injuries and watched them disappear with every rub of alcohol. He put up the bandages and rubbing alcohol, seeing that they weren't needed anymore.

It surprised him that Naruto didn't even budge; he must've been exhausted. Kakashi knew he'd have to tell Tsunade what he saw and he wasn't looking forward to this conversation. He already knew she'd freak out and Naruto would do the same thing. Kakashi went over and turned the lights out in Naruto's room and then heard him moving.

"No... Stop it..." Naruto muttered in his sleep.

Kakashi moved closer to the boy and heard him mutter, "...Don't understand... Never did anything to you... Why?"

Kakashi felt his heart drop a little when he heard that. He cut the light back on and walked over to Naruto. He looked at him closely and noticed he was sweating. Kakashi went to touch the boy and Naruto curled into a ball. Kakashi opened the medical box again and looked for anything to help. He found the sedative Tsunade was talking about that helped with sleep and anxiety.

Kakashi found the needle and gave Naruto the sedative. The boy jerked in his sleep, but then relaxed a little bit after a few moments. Kakashi put everything back in the box and put the box in a seal for storage. He went back and turned off the lights before he departed.

He then appeared in Tsunade's office. Tsunade looked startled and she said, "Kakashi! What the hell?"

Kakashi rubbed the back of his neck and said, "Sorry, I just went to see Naruto."

Tsunade forgot his sudden appearance and focused on what he just said. She asked, "What did you find out?"

Kakashi answered, "He was asleep, so I entered his apartment. His arm was covered in numerous cuts that seem too orderly to be accidents. I gave him the sedative and left since he was talking in his sleep."

Tsunade nodded and said, "Alright then. We'll evaluate the situation over time and see what happens. Hopefully, the sedative doesn't make him suspicious of our monitoring. Anyway, good work Kakashi. When you see Naruto tomorrow, tell him to come to my office at once."

Kakashi nodded and said, "Yes ma'am."

He turned to thin air. Tsunade laced her fingers tightly together and she asked quietly, "Why, Naruto? Why do this to yourself? It's not like you..."

She drifted off into another thought about finishing up her work so she could have the time to meet him the next day and she even gathered another sedative in case he tried to get away from her during their meeting the next morning and that was no ideal, but it would have to do. Tsunade prepared for all possible outcomes and then finished her work for the night.

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The next morning, Naruto woke up feeling as if he'd been drugged. He slowly sat up and rolled down his sleeves. He woke up just in time for the alarm clock to go off and he shut it off. He got up and went to the bathroom to check on his injuries from the other night. The cuts where healing just fine and they'd be gone by the end of the day at the latest knowing his ability to heal. For some reason, his body healed slower when he injured himself intentionally, but otherwise, healed super fast.

That's weird... Normally, they would be healed by now. I wonder what's going on, Naruto thought to himself.

After a few minutes, he got dressed for the new day. He went to his kitchen to get some ramen when he noticed a note by the front door. Someone slipped it under the door and it was addressed to Naruto.

Naruto, Lord Hokage wants to see you ASAP. Go straight to her office when you read this. No missions today or training.

-Kakashi

Naruto scratched his head and wondered what was going on. He decided to make his instant ramen and quickly ate so he could go see Lady Tsunade. Something about this meeting didn't feel right. Something was not normal, and Naruto knew it. He tried to push the thoughts aside that they were probably mad at him for something or may have been onto him and his habits. No, there was no way; they were too dense to notice thanks to his mask he hid behind. There was no way... Right?

Naruto finished his ramen and left his apartment to go see Lady Tsunade at her office. He walked down the street as people glared and watched him. Some paid him no mind and the rest, well, weren't so happy to see him at all. He tried to ignore the whispers and sneering, but it was hard to do. Still, he kept on his way.

When he finally made it to the Hokage's office, he knocked on the door.

"Come in," someone shouted from the other side of the door.

Naruto opened the door to see Kakashi, Lady Tsunade, and Iruka. Tsunade stayed behind her desk as Naruto walked in silently panicking inside.

"You wanted to see me, Granny Tsunade?" Naruto asked in a normal tone.

She nodded and said, "Yes, I do. Have a seat."

The blond did as told and sat near Iruka and Kakashi by her desk. Tsunade tilted her head and asked, "How've you been doing?"

"Fine, same as always," Naruto answered with a confused look on his face, "Why do you ask?"

Kakashi asked abruptly, "How'd you sleep last night?"

"F-Fine... Why are you guys asking me weird questions? Also, why is Iruka-sensei here too?"

Iruka sat beside Naruto and sighed. "Roll up your sleeves."

"W-What? Why?"

"Just do it," Tsunade growled with irritation.

Naruto shook his head, "No."

Before he knew what was going on, Kakashi yanked up his sleeves and exposed the lacerations on his arms that had yet to fully heal. Moments after, Iruka and Kakashi held Naruto's arms down so Tsunade could look at them. She got up from her desk and examined the damage.

She sucked in a deep breath and said, "Naruto, look at me."

He put his head down when his arms were exposed and he didn't lift his head when she asked him to. Tsunade knelt down in front of him and hugged him.

"Why didn't you ever say anything?" Iruka asked softly.

Naruto felt the tears start to flood from his eyes. He wasn't sure how to feel at that moment; scared or upset.

Tsunade let go if him and made him look her in the eyes by lifting his chin to level their eyes.

She said quietly, "I know you don't like being alone, nobody truly does. Just understand we're here for you even if you feel like nobody is. We're worried about you."

Naruto just nodded, unable to come up with anything to say. Kakashi had a sad look in his eye when he saw Naruto's mask fall. Naruto reminded Kakashi of himself when he was not much older than Naruto.

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Sorry it took forever to update, guys. If you like this story, don't forget to check out my other Naruto fanfics and so much more on my page. Review and favorite down below. Thanks for reading!

-xXstarryxnightXx