He Walked Away

{Ahem...I do not own Naruto.}



He Walked Away...



Chapter 10: Opening Up



{Sakura's POV}



I walked into the hospital to do my rounds. My first stop was, as usual, Naruto's room. He was struggling against his restraints. Today he was out of his mind. His eyes were red and he growled like an animal. It hurts to see him this way, even when he is sane anymore he's not all there. I came in quietly. I sometimes can get him to calm down, "Naruto, Good Afternoon. Are you going to calm down? You know who will be coming in this afternoon? Iruka-sensei."



Naruto looked at me for a short few seconds. Then he growled, and snapped. I knew this was an empty threat because he was no longer fighting against his restraints. I stroked his hair and he settled down to a deep rumbling purr. If it weren't so tragic that purr would be really cute.



"Listen, please be good for Iruka-sensei. He is really worried about you. You know he's been bringing Ramen for you every Saturday for a year." I rubbed my thumb across his whisker marks. Naruto seemed to like this he pressed his face against my hand, like a cat would. His eyes closed, his whole body tensed for a second then he seemed to relax fully.



"Saku, Saku-ra, Ruka-sen?" He opened his eyes they were no longer the red slits of the demon, but the deep blue oceans I had began to love so much, "How-long? D-don't 'member."



"You were in a coma, he never missed a week, sometimes he came twice a week," I rubbed the crease in his brow, "You were sleeping for a year."



"Saku, Ah-ah," His face distorted painfully, "Gone."



'I wish he could communicate better,' I thought.



"H-hey, Naruto!" Iruka chose that moment to walk in holding his traditional bowl of Ichiraku's ramen, "I brought the house special ramen for you today. You hungry?" Naruto made an attempt at a smile.



"Ruka-sen," He reached his fingers toward the man. I had to choke back tears it broke my heart every time he did that. He was back physically, but he was still not quite here mentally. Iruka gave a rather forced smile. Naruto frowned in rebuke, "Ruka-sen, no f-fake sm-alls 'loud." Naruto shook his finger, I laughed at his scolding. Iruka laughed too, Naruto smile a soft, but very real smile. His real smiles make my heart melt. I had to leave and go see other patients. I gave up my chair for our old sensei.



"Please be careful if you see him tense up it usually means the demon is taking over for a while, get clear of his mouth and claws," I whispered to Iruka. He looked confused, "Yes his hands become claw like. He should be good for you I think he's getting better everyday." I smiled at Naruto.



"L-liar," He smirked at me. I gasped, "C-c-can her ya." he stuck out his tongue and grinned, but I saw real worry in his eyes. Iruka looked at me. He couldn't cover his worry half as well as Naruto could, but Naruto had years of practice. He cleared his throat, "Well how about that ramen, I'll help you with it."



Iruka broke the chopsticks and began feeding Naruto. The boy accepted the food, and seemed to savor it like he used to. I left hearing Naruto call between bites, "Bye-bye Saku!"



I ran, I had to make it to the bathroom. Finding a private bathroom in an unoccupied room. I cried. He knows he's not getting better. His communication is getting better, but that damn fox is coming out more often then the real Naruto. He's in a halfway state most of the time. I miss him. I miss the old Naruto, but now I know the old Naruto was never the real one. Still I am willing to accept whomever he really is over this half-there version. At least he's gaining weight.



I go off to make my rounds. By the time my rounds brought me back to Naruto's room visitors hours are almost up, but Iruka is still there. Naruto was sleeping, the man who was closer to Naruto then anyone was stroking his hair and humming a tune that I didn't recognize.



"Visitor's hours are almost over, but If you want to stay late It's alright," He jumped at my words. He turned and I saw that his eyes were puffy and red, "Sensei! Are you OK?"



He sniffed, "Y-yeah, It's good to talk to him, but it hurts to see him so broken. I honestly could not blame him. After the life he has had..."



"Do-do you know about his past?" I pulled the other chair up next to the man who was clutching at the relaxed hand of the boy.



"I think I know everything, but that boy, he hides himself. It's purely for our protection. He's so hurt inside."



"I never knew...Until it was to late," I sighed, "Had I known I would have done everything differently, how can one survive such horrible things.""He's strong, he has to be. Being a living prison and all." I had never thought of him like that, but I guess it is true.



"Why do people blame him?" I looked to Sensei, "It's not like he had a choice in the matter."



Iruka shook his head, "People need him, like we need a hero, we also need a boogie man. Naruto is a perfect boogie man he is easily attacked and he won't fight back. At first because he was helpless, and now because Shinobi are forbidden to attack civilians. You know this too. He would let the villagers kill him before he would raise a finger to them." The man looked disgusted, I felt that way.



"Do you already know how badly they hurt him? What they did to him!"



"Are you referring to the beatings or the rapes?" My eyes went wide, 'so he knew.'

"You knew! Couldn't you do anything?"



He shushed me, "He begged me not to say anything. Anyone else and I would not have promised, but telling the authorities would have done more harm then good for him. I actually believe no good would have come of it for him. In his position; he is always wrong in the eyes of the council. He would be more likely be punished for bringing 'false' charges against 'innocent' villagers." His voice was harsh and the sarcasm was painfully evident, "Hey I guess I'll be going I have taken up too much of your time." he patted my hand.



"You are always welcome here Sensei, please come often he always does better after he has had a visitor. He smiled genuinely at me then at Naruto's sleeping form.



"I'll do that, every chance I get."