Hello there! I'm probably the only one happy about the new filler....((Bricked))

Aha! I see what ya did there; thought you had me didn't you? Anyway with the new filler, hold your applause, ((Chirp, chirp, chirp))

there's usually a new girl, so buck up people. We can see Naruto go sage any old time, and besides it just switches back to Sasuke's angst anyway... Besides that NarutoXHotaru looks rather promising; she vaguely reminds me of Natsuhi. (Don't ask)

Plus I rather enjoyed the raining mountain leeches.

Let's get started, shall we?

The sun rose to an all time high; as minuscule rays of light filtered through the near translucent blinds, illuminating the hospital room in a sleepy noon day-glow. Even so, the two shinobi did not stir from their slumber, save for snuggling deeper into contours of the other's body; for additional warmth of course.

Outside on the ledge of the window sill, a few sparrows chirped merrily, causing both bedfellows to groan in slight protest.

"No...Five more minutes..."

"Ding...Ramen's done...Mmhm....."

Despite, the plea and the....Statement, the birds continued on with their insistent chirping; finally succeeding in waking one of the room's occupants. The blond flinched at the sound as a feral yawn escaped him; his eyelids slowly creaked open; his vision landing on the blindingly white ceiling above him.

'Errr...What......Where am I?' Naruto pushed a little bit of chakra into his eyes; hoping to help clear his vision from the remnants of his slumber. '...Here I am again, in the hospital. I guess the reinforcements or whoever found me...'Naruto smiled but as soon as it appeared it had all but vanished in an instant. He scowled as certain memories began to flood back.

'Mmhahaha.....'

The early morning events from the battle replayed in his mind.

'You're nothing without me....'

Naruto felt his neck snap upon impact.

'Nothing more than a weak...'

The blond was sent tumbling into a tree, where he landed in a crumpled, broken heap.

'Pathetic.....'

Naruto watched helplessly through clouded eyes as the bear quickly closed in on his feathered companion.

' Brat....'

Red, hot, scorching pain filled the entirety of his being.

'Be grateful to me for this.....'

Blood...His hand...So much blood.

Naruto fastened his eyes shut; as he fought back his tears.

His angry, bitter tears.

It had been no difference, whether it be Bear country, the Crescent Moon kingdom, Sea country, or even at the Valley of the End, it didn't matter, all of those missions had the exact same outcome. Naruto would take a chakra tithe from the Kyuubi, and in turn the fox would make his host revisit these memories. This was what would be daemon's amusement; replaying these memories over and over again, creating feelings of self loathing and disgust within the blond; hoping that one day the boy would finally crack and release him from the seal.

Hell, the Kyuubi even went as far as to tamper with the memories that had a happy ending to them, creating dozens of dopple-memories in their place. Recreations of his triumphs and turning all into tragedies. Most of the time, these fake copies would be dispelled by the boy's natural will. Lately however...It was becoming easier and easier for the fox to access these memories and warping them into horrible, terrible nightmares. Imprinting them forever in Naruto's mind's eye; continually playing the visions over and over again.

These nightmares were inconsistant at best; occurring without warning, with or without Naruto laying in comatose. Worse yet, they began to happen while he was out on missions. These visions appeared out of no where, and more often then not caused the boy to stall out all together. In fact these grew bad enough that Lady Tsunade had approached Naruto, to question him about his recent mission performance. When questioned the blond merely shrugged her off stating that it was really none of her concern.

Flashback

The older blonde was taken aback at the sudden snippy display given. It was so...His response was....So un-Naruto like. Her brow furrowed slightly as she tried a different method. "Say...Naruto, perhaps we can discuss this over some ramen, my treat." Tsunade glanced the blond over; her eyes tracing over his features just waiting for the explosion of glee to present itself.

It never came.

Naruto closed his eyes and slowly shook his head in the negative, as he got up from his seat and left the office without a single word. Tsunade leaned back in her chair with exasperated sigh, as her fingers ran through her hair. 'He not only turned down ramen, but free ramen nonetheless.' For some reason, that didn't sit well with her. Just as she began to ponder more on this, a soft 'knock' came at her door. He came back?

Tsunade quickly straightened up; as she interlocked her fingers and stared levelly at the door.

"Enter."

The slug Sannin fell back into her seat as Shizune entered the office, with Tonton nipping at her heels. "Here are the mission reports as you requested, m'lady."

Tsunade arched a brow, at her apprentice's sullen tone. "Something troubling you, Shizune?"

"Oh! Well it's just that I ran into Naruto-kun in the hallway, and he just seemed so..."

"Distant?"

"Exactly, erm....Tsunade-sama did something happen?"

"As far as we both know, then no, but as far as Naruto goes then yes."

"Tsunade-sama?"

"Whatever Naruto is going through, is something he isn't willing to share with us quite yet. No amount of threats, force, or bribery will change that."

"What do you think it could be?"

"It could be something as simple as growing pains, or something more sinister then that." Shizune's eyes widened then downcast-ed; immediately understanding the implications.

"I see..."

End

The blond composed himself to the point where tears failed to fall. However he unintentionally woke someone in the process as his body continued to shutter; shaking violently from grief, sadness, and sorrow.

"...Naruto?"

I can't believe I had rewrite the beginning 5 times, atleast I'm semi-happy with this now. Well, considering that I had finished Assassian's Creed II before I started work on this, my mind was a little screwed up due to the mind-fucking ending, so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised afterall. Feel free to critique this one, I'm going to bed.

Later...