The Lost Boy

Chapter 2

Feeling a hand on his shoulder, Naruto opened his swollen eyes to see his teammates standing in front of him.

"What are you guys doing here?" Naruto asked as he sat up, stretching his stiff muscles.

"The Hokage asked us to find you." Kakashi replied "It's time for your parent's funeral." Naruto's face fell at the mention of his parents. He wanted nothing more than for this whole situation to be a nightmare. But the fact that Naruto's team was sent to find him, told him it was anything but.

Naruto didn't say anything as he climbed to his feet. What could he say? Both Sasuke and Sakura still had their families, the only one who could understand how it felt to lose their family, Naruto didn't exactly feel comfortable with his team leader yet. Naruto had only known the masked man for a couple of weeks, not enough time to build a relationship with him.

"I don't want to do this." Naruto said as tears filled his eyes as his pain came back full force.

"I know" Kakashi said placing his hand on Naruto's shoulder. "But you have too, you won't go through it alone your team and I will be there for you." Naruto gave them a weak smile and pulled away from Kakashi's hand. He might as well get this over with he had been dreading it all day. His parents deserved to be able to rest in peace. With Naruto's eyes on the ground, he started back towards Konoha. His parents had been pretty popular around the village. They always had a word of advice for the younger generation of ninja. Whenever Naruto had a bad day at the academy both always knew what to say to make him feel better. Now Naruto was doomed to suffer without the love of his parents.

As Naruto entered the building where the memorial service would be held. He noticed it was already nearly filled to capacity. How the word of his parent's death had spread so quickly he wasn't sure. But he was sure his parents would be smiling down from wherever they were now.

Naruto kept his eyes on the ground unable to meet the concerned eyes of his classmates and their parents. Naruto made his way to the front row where a seat had been saved for him.

Sitting down, Naruto only raised his eyes when he he sensed someone standing in front of him.

"Iruka-Sensei." Naruto murmured as tears filled his eyes and he looked down at the floor again.

"I'm sorry, Naruto." Iruka said kneeling down in front of him. "I'm sorry your going through this."

"Why'd they have to leave?" Naruto asked brokenly "Why did they leave me alone?" the pain in Naruto's voice was enough to break Iruka heart. No child should have to go through what Naruto was going through right now.

"I'm sure they didn't want to leave you" Iruka said quietly "And I am sure that you don't understand right now but maybe Kami needed them for a higher purpose."

"You mean he had a purpose for leaving me an orphan without friends?" Naruto asked bitterly "I'm a kid what am I supposed to do now?"

"I have no answers for you, Naruto." Iruka answered honestly "and I can only tell you that things are going to be hard for a long time, but you won't be alone. Your team and I will be there for you every step of the way."

"You kicked me out of your class how many times?" Naruto murmured "I always thought it was because you couldn't stand being around me."

"Not at all" Iruka replied "you could be difficult to handle at times but that's normal for your age."

"Thank you Sensei." Naruto whispered his agony filled blue eyes meeting Iruka warm brown ones.

"Naruto." Iruka whispered "If I could I would take this pain from you, I will be there whenever you get lonely or you are missing your parents." Naruto swallowed hard knowing he wouldn't be able to speak without bursting into tears. Iruka seemed to understand because he stood up and and gently squeezed Naruto's shoulder before sitting down beside him, while his team members sat on the other side of him. They might not have enjoyed being around him all that much but they weren't going to let him go through this day alone.

When the service started Naruto tried to focus on the words that the Hokage spoke, however his mind kept drifting off. He could only think about what he had lost. Of all the things he could think about, his parents love was at the top. He had never thought he would lose his parents after all they were among the top Nin in the village. What had been so important that they had lost their for lives for it? What had been so important that they could leave their only child an orphan?

Before Naruto realized, it was time for the flowers to be placed on the caskets. Swallowing hard, Naruto also realized that people expected him to go first.

"Come on Naruto." Iruka spoke gently, placing his hand on Naruto's shoulder. Seeing the boy's blue eyes flooded with tears was almost more than Iruka could bear. He wanted nothing more than to be able to take Naruto's pain away.

"I don't want to say goodbye." Naruto cried breaking the hearts of those around him that heard his plea as Iruka led Naruto towards his parents coffins.

"Stay strong, Naruto" Iruka murmured, keeping a comforting hand on Naruto's back. Kakashi, Sasuke and Sakura approached him from behind, silently offering their support.

Naruto forced himself to approach his parents coffins , each step harder than the one before. The moment he had been dreading was finally here. How could he get through this nightmare?

Tears pooled in his eyes as he lay his head on his father's coffin. How could they do this to him? He still needed them, he wanted more than anything to be able to feel his mother's arms around him and to hear his father laughing at a prank that Naruto had pulled off. None of this was fair, Naruto would have to his days longing for the day when he could finally see his family again.

"Why couldn't you take me with you?" Naruto cried "It would be better than feeling like this!"

Naruto felt Iruka's hand on his back, it should have felt comforting, instead it made Naruto long for his parents even more. Naruto's sobs echoed through out the building breaking the hearts of those around him.

"Come on Naruto," Iruka said quietly knowing that it would be difficult to move Naruto away so that others had a chance to say goodbye.

"I don't want too!"Naruto cried out, trying to move away from Iruka's hand.

"I know you don't" Iruka said gently "but we have to give everyone else a chance to say goodbye." Naruto knew Iruka was right, but it was harder than Naruto ever thought it would be to stand and shuffle back to his seat, his head hung and tears dropping down his face. Sitting down, Naruto turned so that he wouldn't have to see his parents coffins. Squeezing his hands into fists, he fought hard against releasing anymore tears.

"It's a shame that they died so young." Naruto heard someone say.

"She was pregnant too, now we will never see how that child turns out." another said causing Naruto to freeze. His mother had been pregnant? Why had she taken that mission then?

"I even heard that they were killed trying to keep those guys from coming after Naruto." Not wanting to hear anymore, Naruto stood and fled the building. He had lost more than just his parents, he had lost a brother or a sister as well, and it was all because they were trying to protect him. What did those guys even want with him? He was just a genin.

Naruto found himself racing past his home, pausing only to wonder if he would ever feel comfortable there again.

Needing to be alone and knowing that that his house would be the first place that his teammates looked for him, Naruto turned and ran towards the forest right outside the village gates. He wouldn't be in the same place as earlier so it would take some time for them to find him. He just needed time to adjust to the news that he'd had heard. How could his mother take a mission if she had been expecting? Was it really to protect Naruto?

Out of breath, Naruto sat down with his back against a tree. How could no one tell him about why they had died? Did they not think that he could handle it? Closing his eyes, Naruto fought the urge to scream. He hurt so badly and the news he'd just heard only made it worse. How was he supposed to live with the fact that they had died to protect him?

I promise it won't always be this sad. The action is coming soon, thanks for reading and reviewing! Liz