Sorry for the delay in updating this story. I have been very busy with my work and school, as well as tending to my 3 year old daughter's needs. I finally finished finals for my networking class, and my next class is just a filler class, so hopefully I can manage more frequent updates as my inspiration will allow. Anyhow, without further ado, here is the next chapter of inferno.

It had been a few days since the apartment fire… A few days since he held the pink-haired Haruno in his arms… A few days since that uncomfortable discussion with Ino. Naruto didn't like where that conversation was going. The last thing he needed was people thinking he was some kind of freak, or trying to pull him into labs for experimentation. Hell, he didn't even know what was going on himself, and that scared him. He was off work today and enjoying a bit of sunshine on his way to the market. He was running dangerously low on ramen and needed to restock his apartment.

His apartment was actually the old Chief's Quarters, a remnant of another time when the fire department used to actually live at the fire station with their families. It wasn't much, but it was a place to stay.

As he walked he thought back to the ay when he joined the department, and asked Kakashi one of the hardest questions he ever asked.

*FLASH BACK*

A few years ago – Naruto's high school graduation

Naruto was waiting patiently in line. Today was they day he graduated and moved on to college. He was so excited. His eyes passed over the guests in attendance, trying to pick out the faces of his mother and father in the crowd. He noticed that quite a few of the other parents were on the stage waiting to congratulate their child on their accomplishment. Naruto figured they were probably already behind the stage waiting for their turn to come out. As he heard his name called he grinned as bright as the sun. As he walked across the stage, his dad's friend, and surrogate uncle, Kakashi was waiting for him. Even though this was a happy day, however, Kakashi was not smiling. Naruto's smile withered as he walked closer and noticed Kakashi's expression never changed. He looked… broken. Naruto finally reached him and Kakashi bent down, whispered something in his ear, then he placed a hand on his shoulder. Naruto just stood there dumbly. Then slowly, one by one, tears began to mar the boy's face. Kakashi directed the boy off stage. Once backstage, Naruto, finally understanding the gravity of what he was just told, broke down and began to cry uncontrollably; the memory so fresh still replaying over and over in his mind.

'Naruto,' Kakashi whispered to him. 'I'm so sorry, but your parents were killed in a car accident on the way here.'

For the first year after Naruto tried his best to find work and support himself and his parent's house, but it just proved to be too much for the young boy. The bank foreclosed on the house since Naruto couldn't pay the steep mortgage notes his parents used to take care of. That is how he found himself at the steps of the fire station, asking Kakashi for a job and a place to stay.

*PRESENT*

Naruto was filling his shopping cart with the essentials he needed back home. Currently he was in the frozen desert section, trying to find another 'essential' he 'needed'. Icecream. He reached into the cooler and selected his tasty necessity. As he turned back to his cart he bumped into someone.

"Oops, sorry sir!" he quickly said.

"What the hell dobe! Why don't you watch where you are going, eh?" A raven haired man glared at him, eyeing him as if he wasn't even good enough to be the dirt on his overpriced shoes.

Naruto, clearly not liking the tone of this man, or being treated like that replied in kind, "Oh, sorry teme, I didn't know there were kids running lose in the store. Where is your mommy at?"

The retort clearly irked the raven-haired man as his face turned red from anger.

"Do you know who I am? I am an Uchiha. When I walk, people get out of my way!" The angry man gestured to the side as he yelled.

Naruto, not to be out-done was already on the next comeback, "Well do you know who I am? I am a fire fighter, and when something gets in my way, I usually just punch a hole in it or destroy it completely." As an afterthought he added, "By the way, you are in my way."

Naruto smirked at the Uchiha man clearly steaming in front of him. He left his arms at his side, ready in case the man tried something funny.

The Uchiha sized up Naruto, who was a whole foot taller than him, and much wider in the shoulders, then at all the other customers watching this little scene unfold, and decided now wasn't the time for a fight.

He looked back at Naruto, "What's your name?"

Naruto, after realizing the man wasn't going to make a move, couldn't resist one more jab at the man. He placed his hand out for the other man to shake it.

"Naruto, Uzumaki Naruto. Pleased to meet you!"

The Uchiha looked at his hand, then back to him. He walked past Naruto. As he rounded the end of the aisle, he turned back.

"This isn't over Uzumaki. Not by a long shot. I'll be seeing you again real soon."

With that, the raven-haired man left.

Naruto let out a sigh. He looked at an elderly couple who had been drawn into the 'drama in aisle 5.'

"Great day for shopping ain't it?" He smiled and went about his business.