Eyes.
Everywhere.
They were always watching.
Naruto ran headfirst. He needed to get away. To disappear.
The village streets were a blur as he raced. No matter how fast he ran, the corners of his vision were still adorned with the clean outlines of people's faces, their large smiles, their unblinking eyes.
It's a nightmare, he said. He wasn't even sure if he spoke it or whispered it or only thought it. He could no longer differentiate. His entire world trembled and spun. But it had to be a nightmare, right? They were all looking. They didn't all need to be looking at him. That wasn't normally what they did, right?
Please, please, please, please wake up. Shit. Please.
It can't be real.
"Hey, you!" a woman shouted. "You're the Hok-"
But he skirted down a different path and shook her off. He almost ran into an elderly man who, for no reason at all, broke into a grin, "Aren't you-"
No! Naruto tried to shout. He attempted to jump up atop the rooftop but teetered back down. As if he'd been dragged back to the ground. He scanned the street, but there was no one there. Not even the elderly man from a moment ago.
I've gone crazy. I finally let it get to my head.
He pushed himself up from the ground. The feeling of being watched returned immediately. He was almost knocked back down again from the weight of the eyes.
Yes. There were so many eyes. There wasn't a place on this earth where these eyes wouldn't be. There wasn't a place where people wouldn't recognize him, shower him with praise, encumber him with expectations and liken him to his father. There wasn't a place that existed where he wouldn't stop feeling the presence of these eyes.
Oh… Naruto realized, his mouth and throat dry. It's not a nightmare. Tears burned out.
I can't escape.
This is my reality.
His hands grasped at his face as he fell to his knees. "Aahhh," he cried into his hands.
I'm never going to stop thinking like this. I'm never going to stop imagining myself being watched. I'll never be able to make these eyes disappear.
He stared at his quivering palms. "What is this? What is this thing that can't handle a compliment from a stranger? That's afraid of people looking at him?" Shame settled onto him like a shawl made of chains. "I am so worthless and cowardly."
Yeah, Kakashi wasn't joking around… I know it's a short chapter, but I thought the intensity made up for it. I'll post the next chapter right after.
Trivia: Naruto swears outside the vicinity of his parents. Sasuke says 'hell' and 'damn' a lot. Sakura is too cultured (even Inner Sakura - well, most of the time).
As always forgive the grammar, write a review, thanks for your kindness