A/N: Hello! I a back with another chapter. This is happening the same tie that Shikamaru is talking with Sakura. And it has changed a lot from the last time I posted this chapter. So next week will be a new chapter that no one has read yet. I am very excited since the road trip I am taking is happening this weekend. So look forward! I hope everyone is enjoying the story!

As always please leave a question about the story, or a thought, even a comment if you feel up to it!

Chapter 40: The Boil Over

Tooru:

I open the door to Lord Kakashi's office. Only to see Naruto in the room. I look to my side and see Sakura in the room as well. I know there was a meeting, I just don't know what about. I need to focus on what I can do to improve the village. And Lord Sixth thinks this could improve things.

"Ah Tooru, I see you brought the scrolls. Naruto I want you to stay here. You need to start learning something. Sakura wait outside with Shikamaru." Lord Sixth orders.

I step into the office while Sakura slips out. There is no eye contact. I may have talked to her but I don't know if that was real. I don't know if I actually talked to her.

Shikamaru… he stopped what he was doing. He was touching my head and his eyes were soft, I thought that was supposed to be an act of care. But I was wrong.

Doesn't that prove that he is scared of me? Maybe Lord Third was right… I shouldn't be around anyone. I should just be alone, Shikamaru went to business. Business that I was sent on. I know that I should be focusing on it.

Which is what I need to be doing. I had a task and that should be all that matters, not what Shikamaru said. I need to remember that, I am a ninja trained to obey the Hokage, I am not trained in a squad, I am not trained to care about other people in the area. I am trained to protect the village.

"Kakashi, what's going on?" Naruto asks.

I go back. I need to listen and only answer unless I am asked. There is no way I should be letting emotions get in my way. I need to be able to do this.

I must protect.

"Naruto I want you to watch carefully," Lord Kakashi turns to me, "Did you bring them?"

I nod, I walk over to Lord Sixth's desk. I place the four scrolls on his desk, I look at Lord Kakashi and nod to him. Telling him I got all the rules. I walk back to my place. There is a silence in the room.

"Tooru, when did you write these rules?" Lord Sixth asks.

This is where I need to answer his questions.

"6 Lord Hokage." I answer.

I say nothing else. I should not answer anything else at this point. I can only wait for Lord Sixth to ask me something.

I still don't know why Naruto is in here. No one should be in here. The only person that could be in here would be Tenzo. Tenzo lives with me and knows how I am. Tenzo knows about the rules and how they function to an extent. Tenzo has seen this before. The closes person to the Hokage is allowed to see what is going on. Tenzo should be here.

Naruto should not be in here.

Unless this is for him becoming the Hokage. But even then, if Lord Kakashi gets it his way, Naruto won't deal with me like this. Though Lady Fifth thought the same way. And she passed me down to Lord Sixth. Why should this be any different?

"Tooru I want you to sit down right where you are," Lord Sixth commands.

And I obey.

"What the hell?" Naruto mumbles.

Lord Sixth presses a button and the windows close all around us.

At least when Lord Sixth learned about me he remained silent. Lord Sixth just watched me and what was happening. Lady Fifth explained about me and after that Lord Sixth regularly watched the protocols for me. Naruto is loud, he is commenting on everything. I can feel his reactions from here, I know what he is thinking. I don't know what Lord Sixth is planning, but it has to do with the rules.

"Kakashi care to explain?" Naruto asks.

"Tooru, speak." Lord Kakashi states.

"I am a ninja," Is all I say.

Lord Sixth holds eye contact with me. I know there is something else I could say. But that phrase is to tell me I am a ninja. Nothing else. A bland statement. Something that Lord Third made me repeat again and again. Any time, it was to make me focus back. Make me realize that I am nothing more than a tool in the game.

But being a robot.

No, I shouldn't worrying about that. I need to focus on my work.

"Conflict?" Lord Kakashi ponders.

I don't answer. That is not something I should respond to.

But, I am at conflict. I don't know what to do.

I want to tell Shikamaru everything. I want to train with the other. I want to be around people, I want to, since I have been alone. The dream gave me a chance, but people are not worth the time. Only, for some reason I want to be worth someone's time. But I need to protect the village. I need to be focused. I shouldn't be distracted by something like this.

"What do you want Tooru?" Lord Sixth demands.

I don't answer. I don't even know what I want anymore.

I want to be free.

I need to protect the village.

But I want something. I've never wanted anything before. But wanting something is not what I was trained for. I was trained to protect the village, not want other things.

"Tooru, answer," Lord Sixth snares.

"To be free," I answer.

Crap, that isn't an answer I should every say. I should have said to protect the village. He said conflict. It got me off track. I need to show Naruto that I am a tool, a tool that listens and never goes off the path.

But I am not showing him that. I am showing him I don't listen. Which will mean punishment.

"Free from what?" Lord Kakashi growls.

I messed up.

I don't answer.

I can't answer. This is territory I should never be in. An area that if I answer incorrectly I will get punishment. I will be forced to do things, I will be reminded that I should never go out of place. I keep eye contact with Lord Kakashi.

He knows this. He knows I messed up.

Lord Third played mind games too. He forced me to answer incorrectly then forced me to do punishments. The mind games.

I keep my eye still.

But the mind game.

I hated them.

I wanted to run away. I want to run away now. The mind games forced me to keep a shell I never wanted. Forced me to act like I don't care, made me suppress the urge to do anything. Made me go into a set that I needed to not show any emotion. But lately my mind has been racing so much, I don't know how to deal with anything going on.

I shouldn't be acting like this. I need to be the perfect ninja. I need to be the perfect ninja.

"Answer me Tooru," Lord Kakashi growls.

"I want to be free," I answer in a rush.

I have to answer Lord Sixth. I can't stay silent. He asked me a direct question.

Which mean a punishment is going to happen, no matter what I do. I will be getting some form of punishment. Something will happen to me.

I shouldn't make it work.

I need to accept it and move on. No way should this be happening, not now. I need to focus.

But why am I scared of being punished? Why do I want to shake? I want to run home and curl up and never leave again.

No.

Focus.

"I am trying," Lord Kakashi say.

I slow down my breath. I can train with them. But that won't stop anything from happening to me. I need to focus.

I am making a fool of the Hokage, that is not acceptable. I need to make sure that I am the perfect ninja, I am not doing a good job of that. I want to be free, but I need to know my place. My place is to obey.

"Tooru, why did you write the rules?" Lord Kakashi asks.

"Because Lord Third wanted me to be able to physically see them, one day he made me sit down." I answer.

"Did he seal them to you?" Lord Sixth questions.

"I don't remember," I say.

Don't remember the key. Rule one of the big three. There is a key to stop this. Nothing will change it. I know I don't remember where the key is, which I was obeying one rule.

I watch as Lord Sixth opens up the scrolls, one by one. He reads them. He takes some time. I believe he skims a lot. But when he gets to the big three, he takes longer.

Forget, listen and isolate. Nothing in there about anything useful.

"Naruto, come here," Lord Kakashi waves him over.

I watch as Naruto enters the picture he begins to read the scroll with the largest rules that I must never break. Naruto and Lord Kakashi talk for a little. I watch Naruto glance over to me a few times.

I know he is… worried. I don't know exactually what he is thinking. I never know what anyone is thinking, which is why I don't like working with people. But the look is something that I don't like. -

"Tooru, who can touch the scrolls?" Naruto asks.

Do I answer Naruto? I don't know. I look over to Lord Kakashi and see him nod. Meaning I can answer Naruto.

Normally I cannot answer anyone else while I am I the same room of the Hokage.

"As far as I know myself and the Hokage are allowed to touch them." I say.

I don't know what the plan is. But I know it won't be good for me. I watch Lord Kakashi take a pen out and open daily task. The one that hold chores and what I should do on off days. Keeping the house clean and how my room should be organized. That is what makes a good ninja.

I feel scared for what he is about to do. I see Naruto watching me. Lord Kakashi take the pen and crosses out the first rule.

A gash forms. I know it is in my lower back. But I know I cannot react to the cut. I keep an even expression on Naruto. Lord Sixth keeps crossing out the rules. He gets through the first scroll. He moves onto the mission scroll.

I know which rule he will hit. And if this is eliminating rules I know that I will give myself away. All the gashes have been on my back and keep going. On the arm covered by my sleeve there are gashes. On my legs there are. They aren't big, but enough to cause discomfort.

Lord Kakashi marks out one of the last rules and I feel myself whimper.

Lord Kakashi looks up from the scrolls.

I shake my head.

I should have told him. But I cannot question what he is doing. I need to trust what he is doing. I can't say anything.

This process continues. As he marks out more of the rules, I get more and more. I take in some breaths, trying to control myself. But Naruto is watching my every move. He looks at me, I think he knows that something is wrong. But I don't want to let him know.

I can't let him know that something is wrong. I need to hold this in. I will not make Lord Sixth a fool.

Lord Sixth opens the three big rules.

"Rule number 1: Never remember where the key is. Rule number 2: NEVER talk back to the Hokage. The Hokage is there for a reason. One should always stand at attention and never challenge the word of the Hokage. The Hokage knows all. If challenged you will be challenging the foundation that the village runs on, which could be seen as betrayal of the village. Rule Number 3: Do not make friends. As a ninja it is important that you focus on you work, having friends will be a distraction and would not be able to have a successful mission. Nothing should come above this mission, friendship are unimportant. Kakashi ordered the rule to be broken. Do I… No. I cannot question the Hokage."

Lord Kakashi pauses reading the rules out loud. The three that I should never break. Never talk about. I know that. I know that I will be screwed if I break one of those rules.

But rule number one puzzles me still. There is a moment of stillness in the room. Everything now is danger, not only for me, but Lord Kakashi and Naruto. I don't know what is going to happen when the rules get crossed out.

"Tooru, what key?" Lord Sixth asks.

"I don't know. I was ordered not to remember it, and I don't" I tell him.

"Tooru, what do you think will happen when I cross out these rules?" Lord Kakashi pushes.

"Honestly, I have no idea. I believe it will harm me in some way." I answer.

Lord Kakashi nods. He waves Naruto away and watches me. Lord Sixth crosses out one of the rules. I think rule number three.

I feel a flood of emotions come at me. I feel the loneliness and how I felt abandon all the time. How I envied the others for having each other. How much I wanted someone else next to me. Someone to talk to. I wanted someone. And I have a chance, Shikamaru and Kiba, to be my friend.

I don't want to feel like crying alone. I want someone around me. I need someone around me other than Lord Kakashi. I feel like a burden to him and Tenzo. No one should be this alone, no one should resent another person this much. I want friends.

I feel overwhelmed though.

But that comes with a gash going to the right my spin, and I wince at the pain.

"Kakashi, it's just as we thought,' Naruto says.

Lord Kakashi crosses out another rule. Number two.

Everything I wanted to say to the Hokage's where I wanted to question them come to my mind. I know there isn't much for me to do now. But I know I hate the fact I had to be silent, that I had to listen to something that was old, when I saw others doing things in half the time. I was upset.

I don't know how to stop the noise coming out from my mouth. I think it is a growl, or something. I don't want to obey, I want to be able to come up with my own ideas and be free. I hate being on a chain, I cannot go too far away.

I can feel another gash, this time to the left of my spin.

I feel myself go forward. I get on my hands.

The pain is greater though. I don't like this.

"Kakashi, it's hurting her," Naruto states.

Lord Kakashi ignores him. Lord Kakashi crosses out the last one.

And a large gash going right down my spine.

I feel my forehead dripping with sweat. I feel a lot of panic rising.

I remember bits.

But it's too much.

"TOORU!" Naruto yells.

I hear a door open and people rushing in. I don't know what's going on. I have no idea what just happened.

"Tooru?" I look and see Shikamaru.

I feel soothing against my back. I turn around and see Sakura healing the large gashes. I take a moment to breath. What just happened?

I need to answer Shikamaru.

"I'm fine. I'll be…" I stop.

Will I be okay? I don't know about that. I slowly stand up and look at Lord Kakashi. I don't want to be here anymore. I need to leave. I have to get away. I don't understand what I a feeling, but I know that it won't be good for me. I have never lashed out at anyone, only shown a minor annoyance.

But right now I want to scream and cry. I want to tell everyone in this room they all need to leave me alone.

I have to get away.

"I will be going now," I bow and walk away.

I go out of the office and to the outside world. I don't know where to go. I don't want to go home. I don't know where to go.

"Tooru," I turn and see Shikamaru.

"Hey," I say.

"Are you okay? There are gashes all over." Shikamaru states.

I wave him off, "I should be, no use crying over it. They don't hurt that much."

I'm not lying. The healing Sakura gave me helped out a lot. Not to mention I can heal myself when I can sit down and think about it. I just needed to get out of the area. I couldn't be around Lord Sixth any longer.

But what happened with those rules?

I don't feel different, but I don't feel blocks like usual. I guess there were boxes that I had to be in all the time. But now those are gone. I don't know how to explain it, but Lord Kakashi crossing out the rules did something.

Not just physically but mentally to me as well. I wonder what is going to happen in the next few days. A lot could change in the next hour or so as well.

I need to cool off. I feel angry and wanting to yell at Lord Kakashi.

No, my anger isn't towards Lord Kakashi, its with Lord Third. He is the whole reason why I am here. I don't want to place anger where it shouldn't be placed. I know who I need to be angry at, and that is Lord Third. Lord Kakashi was following orders. He had nothing to do with what Lord Third did to me.

I know where I need to go, some place I haven't gone in a very long time.

I turn around and walk away from Shikamaru.