Chapter 19

Just a note, I normally don't signify this, but rather let the reader find it out on their own, but this whole chapter is in the past.

"Crow, why does everybody hate me," a young blond boy asked. The little boy was curled up under a blanket on his side. Seated next to the table, was Crow.

Crow waited several moments before answering, "For whatever reason, one person first chose to blame you for what happened seven years ago, and then others followed him. Lies found themselves mixed among truths, and then truths found themselves lost. Then when the truth was lost, the lies prevailed."

The blond scrunched his face before asking, "What is that suppose to mean?"

Crow chuckled before saying, "My apologies, I forgot you were so young. Think of it like this. Many people didn't know what to believe. Then one person let his emotion get the better, and told a lie, and everybody believed that lie."

"Why do people lie like that?"

"It is because they do not understand."

"Why don't people understand?"

"It is because they don't try."

"Why don't people try?"

Crow chuckled before saying, "Ok, this is the last question," to which the blond had a slight pout, "Most people don't like the unknown. It scares them. It scares them enough that they don't want to try. Then they never understand, and they will always be afraid."

The blond sat in contemplation, and Crow started to get up to leave. Before Crow left out the door, the boy asked, "Crow, do you hate me?"

Crow slowly turned around, and then removed his mask, his face smiling, "There is no way I can hate you, after all, I understand. You're a cool kid, and you're strong. Never lost your desire for knowledge, less you not understand someone."

As Crow left, a smile adorned the blond boys face. He then fell asleep.

The Third Fire Shadow did not look pleased. "How is it we were not able to find a cult whose goal it was to kill Naruto?"

All the ANBU in the room shuddered. One then spoke, who was clad in a white cloak and dog mask, "Sir, due to the fact they had a few chunin and genin, they were smart enough to know how to cover their tracks. As of yet, we have found no evidence of jonin involvement. Those who we have interrogated never saw or heard of one. Also, we have captured all but one members of the cult, the last being a chunin currently on a C-rank mission. We will apprehend him as he enters the gates."

Sarutobi let out a sigh, before asking, "How many?"

Dog asked in return, "How many total members, or how many ninjas?" After a few moments of silence, Dog spoke, "Thirty-two civilians, nine genin, and three chunin, five civilians are still alive, in interrogation, as well as four genin and both chunin, with the final one still away."

"Has there been a previous attempt," the Fire Shadow asked.

Dog paused for a moment, before speaking, "Yes sir, one. It was the time Naruto had a bad stomach ache. It was poison. A deadly one. Thankfully, it seems the Uzumaki vitality mixed with the nine-tails healing allowed him no injury."

The ANBU suddenly fell on their knees, moaning, as a result of the killing intent that the Third Fire Shadow Hiruzen Sarutobi bled off. "Dog, as soon as the interrogations are complete, we will have a public execution, and we will fully explain why they are dying, and remind the people of the Leaf Village of a certain S-class secret that was not suppose to be shared. To hell with a few more people finding out," the Shadow stated angrily.

"Hi gramps," a blonde said.

"Hello Naruto, how are you feeling," the Hiruzen asked?

"Okay," was the reply.

Hiruzen let out a sad sigh before sitting in the chair next to the bed. The two sat in silence before Naruto asked, "Gramps, why do people hate me? The way Crow explained it was really confusing."

Hiruzen let off a small chuckle, before his face was sad again. "I'm sorry Naruto, but Crow doesn't have the most experience with children. Naruto, always remember that people are not perfect. No matter what others say. Those imperfections lead to mistakes, which can lead to people making a bad decision. Those bad decisions can hurt others. Those bad decisions ended up hurting you. They ended up hurting everybody in the village, and some people chose to hurt you to make themselves feel better."

"Then why doesn't anyone go to the doctor to be fixed?"

At this question, Hiruzen openly laughed. Naruto had a small look of offense. "Sorry Naruto, it's just that I wish it was easy as that." Sarutobi paused a moment, before continuing, "Naruto, there are two kinds of pain. There are the ones that hurt our body, and the ones that hurt your heart. The pains of the body can be easily remedied. However, the ones of the heart can take a long time to heal. Sometimes they never heal. They wrongly hate you, so what you have to do is prove that you're not worth hating."

"How can I do that," Naruto asked desperately.

"Prove that you are not what they fate you for. Prove that you are not evil. Prove that you can do great good. Prove it by protecting them. Prove it by helping them," the Fire Shadow stated, before finally saying, "Stay strong forever, and always endeavor, In the light and the darkness, in the face of the starkness."