You can talk to me if you need, Naruto. Kurama said softly to the blond who came for their daily hang out session in the nice peaceful environment Naruto created for the demon fox. It was Naruto's little retreat heaven. He enjoyed the fox's company. "I know, Kurama-san. I will be fine!" Naruto said, with that fake as wide grin of his that Kurama wants to wipe away because it hurts seeing Naruto faking his smiles and happiness. I am serious you know. You need to talk to someone before you explode. Kurama said gruffly. Naruto just reached out a shy hand as if he wanted to pat Kurama but then remembering that Kurama was a thousand-year-old demon that probably does not like pats and will bite anyone who tries to pat him. The fox, seeing the hand, moved forwards and nudged naruto's palm with his nose. It was worth it. A small genuine grin appeared on the boy's face as he stroked the soft fur near the nose.
"I will be fine Kurama-san. You don't have to worry."
I worry because I care, you brat! Kurama growled, Naruto was taken aback by the sudden response. Naruto stared a little before a small smiled appeared on his lips. "Thank you for caring." Naruto said before he left the mindscape when he heard someone banging on his door. "Get your ramen eating fatass out from there, Naruto! We got a mission!" Naruto sighed, why is Sakura being so loud early in the morning. Naruto shouted to say he was coming out soon. He snatched up his little belongings and opening the door, only to receive a fist in the face when he was about to greet Sakura. "Took you long enough, dobe." Sakura sneered, hoping that this would get Sasuke's attention. It did but in the wrong way. Sasuke frowned at her for calling Naruto a dobe. Only he can call him a dobe and he says it as an affectionate brotherly nickname, she says it as an insult. Naruto clutched his face in pain. Sasuke couldn't stand being with Sakura for another second so he began walking away. He looked to Sasuke to see him walking away. Naruto sighed as Sakura screeched after him. Sasuke doesn't even wanna hang around me anymore... I did great, didn't I? Always messing things up for myself, 10/10. Naruto thought to himself, sad.

Sasuke could tell Naruto was sad but he doesn't know why. The blond has been like this for weeks now. Some days, the blond would come to the bridge with cuts and bruises but he always brushes it off as being careless and then grins about it as if it was normal to get a huge gash across his back to his arm just by being 'careless'. Sasuke wants to find out what is going on with the blond but Naruto keeps avoiding the question.
"Aniki, have you seen Naruto lately?"
"No, I haven't. Why?" Itachi asked, looking up from the report he was writing up. Sasuke's frown deepened. "What's wrong? Did something happen to Naruto?" Itachi asked, putting his brush down.
"I just, he's been coming to team meetings injured but he just classes it as being careless which is obviously untrue. Naruto also seems really sad sometimes but when asked about it he just has this weird phase thing where he suddenly becomes really cheerful and all." Sasuke stressed. "And I haven't seen or heard from him for the past few days!"
"Are you sure you're not over-analysing and over-obsessing about Naruto?"
"NO! Of course not! He is my best friend, I know when something is different about my best friend. He is sad and I want to help him but I don't know how to do so." Sasuke said, pulling at his hair. All he can do now is hope that whatever is happening right now passes and Naruto would be okay. Little does he know how wrong he is.