A/N: Kind of a sad one again, but I can honestly say I have no idea where it came from. I just started writing with an idea of "What if Naruto didn't talk all day? What would they say?" running through my mind. I'm not sure if I really like it, though. And I'm really afraid Sasuke's a little OOC. But, hell, I hope you like it!


One-Shot #31
Speechless

There was nothing that would prepare Sasuke Uchiha for the day he experienced. No amount of ninja training would have helped him handle it. It was the most horrible experience of his entire life, because he was not ready for it. It was something that had never happened to the Leaf village before.

Naruto Uzumaki was quiet.

No, wait, quiet wasn't the word. Naruto had not said a word all day long. Quiet was an understatement. No, Naruto was speechless. The entire situation was devastating, to all of Team 7. Why would their favorite ball of endless energy and comments become suddenly quiet; suddenly speechless?

It was as if the other part of Team 7 were trying everything they could think of; anything that would get the ball of sunshine to shine again. Kakashi and Sakura were trying to say anything that would usually get a rise out of the blonde, while Sasuke just stood there, studying him.

Naruto was standing by the bridge's railing, leaning back against it. His hands were hanging limp at his sides, his head cast down. The bright blue his eyes normally were was gone; it was replaced by a darker, sadder blue. Even his hair seemed less bright, seemed to not be standing as tall and spiky as it normally was. If they didn't know any better, they'd think he was made of glass. If you touched him, it seemed as if he'd break. He looked so fragile…

Kakashi, short of anything else to do, decided that training should commence tomorrow. He poofed off to talk to Iruka, in hopes the Chuunin knew what was wrong with Naruto. Sakura, not sure of what to do, walked over to stand beside him.

"Hey Naruto, you okay?" He made a sort of half-shrug, not even making a sound. "You want to talk about it?" He shook his head slowly.

Sakura looked from Naruto to Sasuke. The raven-haired teen just shrugged his shoulders, but the worry was present in his eyes. After a while of trying to get something out of Naruto, she gave up. Sakura closed her eyes and sighed, opening them again, she saw Sasuke looking at her. He motioned with his head for her to leave, and figuring he couldn't do much more harm than was already done, she decided to leave. Walking away, she turned her head back once more. It was really hurting to see the blonde that broken and sad, but she was at a loss of what to do.

Sasuke watched as Sakura finally got out of visual range before turning to the broken boy in front of him.

"Dobe, what's wrong with you?" No answer, but he did get something that barely qualified as a shrug.

Sasuke, still not sure what was wrong, or why the kid would look so sad, took a couple of steps toward him.

"Ichiraku run out of ramen?" Sasuke honestly meant it as a joke, but it didn't have any effect on Naruto, especially not a smile or a laugh. "Dobe, can you at least acknowledge I'm talking to you?"

Naruto's head raised a fraction, but his eyes didn't leave the ground below him. Sasuke took another couple of steps toward the blonde. He was less then two feet away from Naruto now, and from this distance he could faintly see dried tears on his cheeks. Naruto had been crying.

Sasuke wasn't sure what to do. He'd seen Naruto cry before, that being something else the blonde wasn't afraid to do around people. But this was different. He'd never been completely quiet, sad, and crying. He'd never been this fragile before. Sasuke's body moved of its own accord, for the second time since meeting Naruto, and placed a hand on his shoulder. The blonde's body froze at the touch. Sasuke tightened his grip and took another step forward. He was less than a foot in front of Naruto; Sasuke could feel him trying to hold back another round of tears.

Sasuke loosened his grip and slid his arm around the younger boy's shoulders, pulling Naruto into an awkward hug. They stood there for a few seconds, Naruto's arms still limp at his sides, before Naruto suddenly gripped the back of Sasuke's shirt and buried his head in the crook of the taller boy's neck. Then, Naruto cried, his tears seeping through Sasuke's blue shirt and onto his skin. Sasuke rubbed Naruto's back softly, trying to soothe him anyway he could.

Once the boy settled down, and the tears slowed to a stop, Sasuke whispered, "What happened, Naruto."

The boy pulled away, wiping tears off his face with the back of his hand. It made him look small and childish. His eyes never meant Sasuke's, still focusing on the bridge they were standing on. "It's stupid."

"Well, it can't be that stupid if it made you feel this way." Naruto's eyes rose to briefly glance at Sasuke's before returning to the bridge. "Tell me."

Naruto stood there for a little while, his breath hitching like he was going to speak before letting it out once again. Finally, after several moments of this, his mouth opened and words actually came out. "There was a boy getting beat up. He was so small, maybe three of four. Those bigger kids were just smacking him around and throwing things at him. It was horrible," Naruto paused, wiping a tear from his face that snuck out, before continuing, "It was as if I was seeing me all over again. Like watching a memory play out. I tried to help, really I did, but he didn't want my help. He said he was used to being alone…just like I used to say." Naruto's head dropped again as a fresh bout of tears began to flow.

Sasuke didn't really know what to do, or say. He'd never experienced that in his childhood. Yeah, sure he was alone and sure he'd known fear and hate. But the hate and fear was never directed toward him. People didn't hate him or fear him, and they never beat him up.

"Naruto…" Sasuke started, trying to help, but not knowing how.

"When I become Hokage, I'm going to fix the orphanage. I'm going to make it so children like that won't be treated that way. Orphans are just like other kids, we don't deserve to be treated any different. I won't let them become hated!" Naruto's hands were fisted at his sides, his knuckles turning white. His body was shaking from the pent up emotions he was feeling.

Sasuke smirked slightly and breathed out, "This village won't deserve you, Naruto." And, upon seeing the confused look on Naruto's face, continued, "You truly will be the greatest Hokage we've ever had…"

As Sasuke walked away, Naruto just gaped. Had Sasuke actually complimented him? Had the last ten minutes actually happened? Was the Uchiha standing at the end of the bridge as if he's waiting for him? Deciding not to ignore fate, Naruto ran up next to him. This day went from horrible to strange, but he wasn't complaining. He hadn't spoken all day, but now he was speechless for a different reason.


Hope you liked it! Luv ya all!