It might seem like a pointless chapter, but it is pregnant with importance.

Sorry my updates come late at night for some of you, but I'm busy during the day, watching Yo Gabba Gabba or listening to Panic! At the Disco.

hahaha...I have no life.

-Junko

NEXT UPDATE: 12.16.08 AHHH! TWO DAYS!

Naruto woke up to the smell of frying eggs. He stretched and rubbed his eyes lazily. He walked to his bathroom and started to get ready for his upcoming day. He remembered every detail of yesterday, and he remembered his new found love for Koretto. It hit him like a burst of cold air, and he felt suddenly awkward. Would he look at her differently when he walked in the kitchen? Should he skip breakfast and just run outside? He spat into the sink and walked slowly to the kitchen. He sat down, looking at the table, trying to avoid Koretto.

It didn't work. He had to look at her. And when he did, emotion burst into his heart.

"Koretto,"

"Yeaaaaaah?" :)

"…Thank you for coming back,"

Koretto went stiff for a minute. Her muscles relaxed and she walked over to Naruto, putting his breakfast in front of him. She sat across from him, and watched him eat.

"Aren't you eating?"

"Already did,"

Koretto was smiling at him, her chin in one hand. Naruto smiled back, mouth full of food. Koretto let out a giggle. She stood up and walked to the bathroom. Naruto could here the water running as she brushed her teeth.

"Eat fast, Naru-chan, you've got a mission today and I have to go register,"

Naruto shoved the reminder of food into his mouth and ran into his room. He picked up his jacket, which was lying haphazardly on a chair, and took a glance at the picture on his nightstand. He looked away, but a flash of blue and orange caught his eye just before. He went over to the picture, and picked it up gently. He examined the background. Behind Koretto was a small couch, and lying across it, almost as it had been a few seconds ago, was Naruto's jacket, white collar, red swirl and all. He looked at the jacket in his hand, examining it carefully. He turned it inside out, looking over every inch. He found what he was looking for. There, written in small, neat handwriting on the inside of his cuff was the kanji: Uzumaki Koretto. How had he not noticed it before? How could he be so careless with a connection to his past; to his mother, father and Koretto? Why was it with him? Had she left it with him purposely?

Koretto walked in and saw Naruto looking at the writing, the picture in his right hand.

"You left it for me?"

"I had to cover you with something. It was October; you were hardly an hour old. Did you think I would let you freeze?"

She smiled and walked to the door.

"Come on, we gotta go!"

They walked out of the building, smiling at each other, that was until they saw the door. Koretto had closed the door behind her, and there, in black writing, was a message:

BURN IN HELL, MONSTER

Koretto nearly screamed with rage. Obviously, they had done it last night. She ran to the rail that surrounded the hall leading to the apartment and screamed to the air over Konoha. It took Naruto a second to realize she was yelling at the people of Konoha, like a public safety message.

"I'LL KILL YOU, BASTARD!"

Naruto sighed a dragged the screaming teenager by the wrist. This kind of thing happened every year. He was used to it. Koretto fumed on the way to the Hokage's office. Her voice was stern, with a note of sorrow.

"Do they blame you for things you didn't do?"

Naruto thought. Yeah all the time. But they were for usually minor things. Stealing, vandalism, etc.

He remembered one incident in particular. He was only 7 years old.

There seemed to have been a massive massacre of people in the village. There was no murder weapon, the victims were randomly selected. Apparently, the victims started bleeding randomly and relentlessly, as if attacked by an invisible enemy. Naruto was at school. Still, everyone thought it was him. 'The Kyuubi was breaking loose', they had said. They couldn't prove that it was him, but they blamed him anyway. He was their scapegoat for everything. 'It's the Kyuubi's fault'; 'The demon child did it.' Only the Hokage had seemed to defend him. After all, he was only a child, the Kyuubi was safely sealed, and there was no way he could tap into his power. None of this was ever said to his face of course, they would only mock him, and call him a problem child. Behind his back though, when he wasn't present, they felt they were free of their law. Eventually, the case was dropped, Naruto confused as to why the villagers had accused him. He knew now, of course.

"Not so much anymore," He said, after a long pause. Koretto stared at him suspiciously. He smiled at her. "When they do accuse me, it's usually true. I'm a troublemaker," Koretto laughed and ran the rest of the way to the Hokage's. They entered the room causally, but a few shinobi couldn't help but stare at Koretto. She not that pretty, thought Naruto. She was beautiful, but she couldn't make all these men gawk. Then Naruto noticed the looks on their faces. Fear. Not beauty. They were afraid of her. He felt a sense of protection towards her, and he shot them a nasty look. Naruto ran up to Tsunade.

"What's today's mission, Grandma?"

"Did you forget already, Naruto?" She pointed behind him. He turned around and snorted with angered. There stood Ino, Kiba and Asuma.

"Noooooo! I forgottt… "

He walked over to the group.

"Geez, Naruto! Way to be late!" Ino yelled.

"Yeah, whatever," he hissed. He walked back over to Koretto. She was talking to Kakashi while waiting in line. He noticed the way he looked at her. It was the same look he'd been giving her all night. Naruto felt a little sensation of anger; Kakashi probably has a crush on her. Naruto grew steadily angry; he didn't want to have to share Koretto. With anyone. That's how strongly his love had grown for her. He pulled Koretto on the arm, breaking off the conversation.

"I'm gonna be gone on a mission for a few days," He shot a look at Kakashi.

Koretto caught it. She smiled and laughed.

"Naruto please," She said, almost crying. He felt a little better. Her smile gave him that, warm fuzzy feeling. They stood there awkwardly for a moment, and Naruto tried to make this as comfortable as possible. But he couldn't take it. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, squeezing her as hard as he could without injuring her. He tried to make the moment last forever, but that fiery burn in his stomach started to rise rapidly. Koretto noticed it first and pushed him gently away. He could see her eyes, a little stern, just the slightest bit of red started retreating from her irises. Her mouth was clenched tightly, as were her fists. She finally relaxed and kissed his headband.

"Be good, okay?"

"Okay," he smiled. He started to walk away.

"I'll be here when you get back!" She called.

Naruto laughed. He smiled all the way to the gates of Konoha. Then her last sentence finally hit him.

I'll be here when you get back.

His heart filled with an unknown emotion. Like a mix of excitement and a feeling of being loved.

I'll be here…

She would be there.

Someone was waiting for him; someone who loved him.

He smiled widely, a new burst of energy in his step.

He kept repeating the phrase in his head.

I'll be here when you get back.