It was exhausted, worn, sore, and hungering that I found myself returning back home -or rather, what I had begun to call it at this point.- To Sakumo-san and Kakashi-chan's place, as it had become warm and comfort unto him. Though not as embracing without Kakashi there to bid him well, even if it was an understandable absence. While I know that I am not truly alone; being monitored by ANBU or elite Jounin in constant while my Hatake guard is away. I still have a wish for some form of actual company, a feeling remains within me that holds a familiarity I cannot explain. As expected my own mentality only confuses me, not differing from that which I had come to anticipate over the past few weeks.

In making dinner, I hope for Kakashi-chan's happiness, his Mother seemed a stale woman, and unpleasant in comparison to Sakumo-san. Though, I know nothing of her, I might only hold judgement based on my own bias.

Today I am making a stew that cannot go unstirred for long. Despite that, the knock disturbs me, leaving it be for now as I answer the door instead. Something has me distracted.

There at the threshold stands two persons, a Yamanaka, the very same one who had found me. Along with one other, one man I do not know. With long spiking brown hair and darkened eyes and a slight goatee. "Sorry guys Sakumo-san left this afternoon, he had a mission." Hatsuhana grinned briefly.

"Actually we were looking for you Naruto-kun. Sakumo gave us good word on your cooking, and we were hoping to have a taste. If it isn't a bother." Mainly my response was surprise at the company so clearly offered. Has Sakumo-san spoken to them to come and see me? Or was it merely coincidence? Either way, it didn't matter now with the comfort provided. I found myself opening the door wider and moving to the stove.

A grin had settled onto my face that stretched my cheeks.

I could not think back to any reasoning I may hold for being so warmed inside by such a simplistic gesture. Even so, it feels large in scale unto me, a way that I know hasn't happened before. Somehow.

We all end up speaking, many topics passing by us as Smalltalk, laughing to some stupid jokes made within the conversation. Non-important, and forgotten as soon as they are spoken, though while I brought forth a small desert I had prepared: We all managed to transition into something serious. It had to have been Shikatsuno-san who began it, for while he laughed along with the rest of us his demeanour gave me a stern impression.

"Naruto-san, I'm sure you understand the situation the village is presently struggling in with this war. I'll put it bluntly. You are measured as both an asset and a risk." This made me pause, putting a sour taste to the desert I'd made even while it was still in my mouth. Hatsuhana stopped eating, but the change in subject seemed to have been planned. "An asset for the fighting skill you possess, Jiraiya-kun mentioned to me you have an exceptional natural affinity for ninjutsu and taijutsu. That kind of ability would be more then helpful while fighting in this war." There he gripped the tea I'd made him, the compliment I felt flattered by, now slipping away from the knowledge bad news or insult was coming. "A risk for varying reasons, many I'm sure you are aware of. Mainly, your lack of memory, alongside our missing files regarding just who you are. We cannot be certain as to your loyalty towards the village." For some reason, his final sentence sparked something in my mind, nothing particularly clear but it felt familiar, and it put a sensation over me. This was pained, I don't know why, but it hurt as a memory.

I push it down, I have no intention of remembering something so painful. "So, what do you intend to do?" I say instead of mentioning it, there would be no point in speaking out about a memory that wasn't even poignant. I have to focus on the here-and-now as it is. Continually trying to force myself into remembrance wouldn't work. Regardless of what my past my have hidden.

I want to have a life here. Knowing or not; I am happy where I am, my life before now, something inside tells me that it was painful. I don't want to focus on my memories, I don't care about them... I want to build new ones here...

Maybe with Sakumo-san, and Kakashi-chan? If that would even be possible.

The conversation before me seems less important then my own selfish thoughts. Neither of them seem to be saying anything either, Shikatsuno-san has gone quiet. Wearing on him a pinched contemplation, while his friend turns himself away in uninvolvement.

"I couldn't say yet Naruto-san, some of the council say that you should join the shinobi forces. Others are on the fence and believe it would be safest for you to remain out of the fray until we know more. The majority has yet to be decided, and there is no clear decision for any of us. You put us in a unique position." He rose himself, Hatsuhana-san following his guide, even with such a stern conversation he threw me a very miniature smile. "I'll inform you when a decision has been made... Thank you again for the meal, it was lovely." Then he began to put on his sandals, as I saw them both to the door.

Still, Hatsuhana turned to me, "Don't worry Naruto-san, nothing bad will happen to you. We may be on the fence, but no one definitively distrusts you at the moment. Most are just wary and cautious."He patted my shoulder, then he too took himself out.

I almost closed the door after they left.

But, I think, maybe I need time to myself for a bit, and while the house is a splendid place. The outdoors needs me more at the moment, or visa-versa. So a simple walk sounds like a good idea. It is nice out anyway.

I end up considering myself. Rather then anything of significance, there's a mind going to selfishness. Thinking of my own mentality, body, self, past, and all everything that I knew, what could be wanted within reason, and why I had been found in a forest of all places. All of it is a depressing thought unto myself, because of all the blanks involved in the lack of information, almost blinding in just how white the spaces within me are. Blaring in such a way that my pupils are as small as possible and my teardrops are attempting to react as protection. A confusion by my own nonchalance towards self, yet the frustration and mounting ire at not knowing anything even of note.

Some names that meant nothing apparently, at least not inside Konoha. When the names had been run I'd had a hope that perhaps something would be revealed, a clue of sorts as to my origins or identity. Nothing had happened, and no one had known what to make of that, least of all me.

With thoughts clambering for some predominance in my thoughts I take the book hidden in my pocket out. There isn't much I can to for distraction, but if nothing else I'd brought something for myself for an aid towards that vein. I had told Jiraiya-san I would take a look into his new novel, it was some type of romance thing I believe, and that sounds sappy enough to take me away from the dim reality I am currently feeling.

The start grips me well enough, though continuing on I found myself flushing for the sake of the characters. Not particularly bad, but it is certainly not what I'd expected. I find myself reading while walking, a relaxing sensation filling me at the mindless prattle on the pages, the stupidity of the characters and their lack of realism. Soothing, if nothing else. I could see this being much the same for a shinobi with a strain, or a commoner with a simple life and difficult money problems. Teenagers with romance questions and a want for more excitement, though not for kids thats for sure. Still, it had a vast audience.

So distracted, I don't focus about pay attention to what is around me. "Naruto-san." A sudden recognizable voice has me with a bolt of happiness, a little bundle of silver and drab persona, that I find myself cuddling him in an inappropriate hug. Though to my defense, Kakashi-chan does not seem to have an issue with it as I get a tight hug back. Finally taking note over his shoulder that I am by the park. Not having to realize it with my nose deep into the book I'd been reading.

Naturally, it does not surprise me to see Horonigai-san nearby with a scowl defining sharply her features. I am fixated by an expected glare of maternal protection. A older man stands next to her who I have never seen before, plain in appearance, though he looks less pleased at my association with Kakashi-chan then his own mother. He is the one who comes towards us, leading my mind to think he is going to strike me. As he does so, the child before me creeps instead to position himself in safety behind my legs.

This provokes in me an instinct, the situation feels unstable at minimum, though a more true assertion would be to declare it unsafe. For both me and the young boy behind me. This stranger stands proudly and tall before me, his hand twitches as he glares one directed not only to me, but to Kakashi-chan. Giving me the inclination to believe the circumstance I have found myself in is both dangerous, and unstable.

While she, the Mother of the precious child hiding by means of my legs, says nothing as her companion reaches around me to clasp onto the arm of her son. Earning a sheik, and flaring within me a fighting response to abruptly punch him. So I do so, there is no reproach active within me for this action. Some type of sound escapes from her, though I couldn't put it to anything a normalized shinobi would make, this, ignoring her civilian status. Already a dislike had arisen, though it had begun to border on a true hatred of Nigai-san's person.

To me, there was an obvious indication of intent, not a mere want to snatch Kakashi-chan from a dangerous positioning. No, indeed, this man whoever he may be, wanted to strike the child in punishment. Which is an act -although I bare nothing in relation, or in responsibility, I cannot allow it. For a moment, I find myself forcing a fight until my fist seems to realize first that this man is not a man of battle. Withdrawing from the confrontation as fast as possible, still my arm repositions itself in a guard in front of Kakashi.

"Kakashi! Come here!" Horonigai-san seems irate, and that for reasons I can only label as 'protective instinct.' The understanding that should I allow it, this young boy whom I have grown so fond of will merely be subject to her whims. This, feels wrong, and I wager: that this man before me being so demanding and angry, is a romantic partner of hers, to who, she allows full reign of her son. Disgust so poignant creeps on me, because my fathom, is that she lets him hit her son without reprimand. I have no proof of this, but the scene I am witness to now its familiar, delicate and harmful.

Many options scatter through me, and I know not which to follow. In the better for the child? Or for myself and everyone else? If I take too drastic an action, then it could affect all involved negatively. Yet, if I do nothing, then there is the possibility of Kakashi being harmed by a man I know not and therein, his own Mother's neglect.

The small hands clinging to me make the final decision. Despite this, in order to affirm myself, i bend to his level while keeping eyes on the two villagers in front of us. Minimizing the words they might hear, I whisper as delicately as I can manage: "Kakashi-chan, do they ever hit you?" I don't want to be so blunt, but in circumstance, I have to be. His small eyes widen at the question, and fearfully he glances very briefly to them, very slowly he nods, and with an unusually small voice he adds:

"Okaa-sama doesn't, but Hiko-san- h-he scares me.. He, he hurts-" Then come tears, though they only escape rather then follow with bawling.

With this, I have enough of an answer that I need, as a responsible adult I cannot allow Kakashi-chan to remain. Even if I were careless, I should hope any person of good heart would see their way clear alongside me. With a small hand grasping my own, I make to leave. Of course, nothing comes that simply and a loud shout of protest from his Mother has me turning back. "I don't care what you think, he is my son! You cannot, and will not, take him from me!" Without a pause for thought on my end, with conviction and strong detest controlling me I spout out a primal response:

"If he's your son, act like it! Protect him! You have no right to call yourself his Mother!" It angers foaming at a breaking point for something I cannot name, but I want to hurt her, and yet consciously I don't. Spitting venom is the best option I have in this moment unless I want to punch her direct in the face with a young child watching, her own. That is an experience I should not force onto him at such a fragile age -no matter how much it appeals.-

Again, a pain comes through, a likened to the blank feeling drawing me into the bookstore previously. However, there is a differing burn inside.

Horonigai screams, stumbling back away from me, her boyfriend doing similar, trying to clamp his mouth shut.

I don't know what could cause such a drastic change of their auras. Then: "Demon! A demon!" She cried out. While her son looked wide eyed up to me, not fearful but curious.

"Naruto-san, your eyes are red."

-------------------------------------------

Listen list:

Justin Timberlake: What Goes Around, &

JT: Say Something (ft. Chris Stapleton)

Eminem: Not Afraid

Taylor Swift: Safe and Sound