Chapter 13

"In childhood, I was afraid of monsters. When I grew up, I realised humans are scarier."

Chapter 13A new hokage

The second image is my favourite. The artist succeeded in conveying the emotions of the character to the audience. I still have no idea who the artist is though.😅

No one's pov:

Naruto was out cold for the rest of the day. Apparently, Sasuke and the others brought him back to his apartment. Gaara apologized to Sasuke and Sakura, and it would appear that the Konoha and Sand genins are friends now.

The next day, Naruto arrived at the training ground before anyone. And surprisingly enough, Obito was there reading a book. Naruto decided to turn and walk away. He can't seem to hide his emotions from the calculating eyes of Sasuke and the browless red head from last day. The last thing he wants right now is to deal with an elite jonin.

Unfortunately, as always, luck decided to ditch Naruto.

"Hey... Naruto... Over here!"

'He's energetic as ever.' Naruto's eyebrow twitched in annoyance.

Naruto know if he runs, Obito would surely chase after him and that won't end well. So he decided to face his teacher.

"I have come here to return the form you gave yesterday. I'll leave first. I'll meet the others in exam center tomorrow." Naruto quickly said shoving the paper into Obito's hand.

"Wait Naruto!" Obito said.

"No sensei. I don't want to talk to anyone right now. Just ignore me like you always do." Naruto yelled.

"Kit stop! You'll get emotional again." Kurama said.

"Naruto... that's not true. There aren't many sharingon users left so I had to take it up to myself to teach him. If you felt ignored, I'm sorry." Obito said.

"I don't need your stupid sorry. Once I become a chunnin, I won't have to work with those pathetic excuses of shinobis anymore. I can go on solo missions." Naruto said agitated, tears almost threatening to fall.

"That's enough Naruto! Don't insult the leaf shinobi." Obito yelled.

Naruto's eyes widened. He looked down and chuckled darkly.

'Of course, he won't understand. He didn't even want to know why I hate them. No one ever tries to understand.' He turned around and walked away.

He decided to walk around aimlessly and finally decided to visit hokage's office to see the third.

He walked through the door without knowing. "Hey old man, how ya doin-"

He cut himself off when he noticed a slender woman of curvaceous frame with above-average height and noticeably large breasts, with blonde hair tied in ponytail. She has warm brown eyes and is seated on the hokage's chair.

"Umm... lady..who are you? Where's the hokage?" Naruto asked.

The said lady raised an eyebrow, amused.

"I'm the temporary hokage till the third recovers from the heart attack." She replied.

"Since when?" Naruto asked wide eyed. Why hasn't anyone told him?

"Since last week" the woman replied. "I'm Senju Tsunade by the way."

"Oh... I.. I'm Uzumaki Naruto." Naruto said not wanting to stay there anymore. "I'll leave now."

"He looks just like him." Tsunade muttered smiling while looking at the door through which Naruto left. "I still remember feeding him baby food before I decided to leave the village."

On the other side, Naruto is walking back to his apartment. Tomorrow the Chunin exam will begin. He have to become chunnin somehow.

When he passed the training ground, he saw Sasuke with another ninja, probably jonin. He has long straight black hair which almost reached his waist. His skin is pale like paper and has snake like eyes.

"Dobe", Sasuke's voice brought him back to the living world from staring at the... unique looking shinobi. "How are you feeling?"

Naruto just stared blankly as the jonin came towards them. "Oh Sasuke... Is this your friend?" The man asked.

Sasuke nodded. "He is Naruto. Naruto, he's Orochimaru. He's helping me with my training."

"I see." Was all Naruto said before walking away.

Sasuke just watched as the blonde disappeared from his sight. A hand placed on his shoulder, he turned and looked at Orochimaru who is starting where Naruto had disappeared with a frown on his face.

"Seal of despair, huh?" Orochimaru muttered. "Just what are you trying to do, Jiraya?"

Naruto continued his way back to the apartment. He can hear Kurama trying to start a conversation, but he shut him off.

Naruto felt nothing. He felt numb, detached and restless. His grandfather figure is in death bed, probably in hospital and he can't visit him because he's not allowed there.

And he's got no one to train him. Everyone wants to train Sasuke-sama, the young and one of the few survivors of Uchiha clan. Just thinking about it makes Naruto angry.

'Once you get the taste of true power, you will come to me in search for more.' Jiraya's voice rang in Naruto's head over and over again.

He gripped his head in pain. He felt like dark fog clouding his mind and thoughts. Without him noticing, a thin dark purple aura started to cover his body. 'Destroy Konoha and everyone in it' the dark voices muttered and started laughing.

"Destroy... Konoha... and kill..."Naruto slowly muttered along with the voices.

"to"

"ruto"

"Naruto!!"

Naruto looked at the person who's calling him and saw the red head from last day.

"You must be confused. I'm Gaara from the Sand village." Gaara said.

"What do you want? Why do you keep coming after me?" Naruto asked.

"I just want to be friends with you." Gaara gently smiled. "I can see it in your eyes. Your eyes scream that you want to kill. Your eyes seek complete chaos and destruction. You are in a deep hole and you are hurting. Please let me guide you to light and show you kindness."

Naruto started to laugh. He has heard this type of talk. They always say the kind things before dragging him to the alleys and drew out his blood, rip his clothes away, and release their high.

"I don't want to be your friend. If I do, I will be used for their selfish desires again. If you come after me again, I'll kill you, without hesitation." Naruto shot him a cold look and walked away, completely missing the hurt expression on Gaara's face.

'No you're wrong. Not all people want to use you. I will prove you wrong. I will save you from your darkness and I will make you my friend. My first friend.' Gaara thought with a determined face as he watched Naruto walk away.

Behind him stood Sakura, Sasuke and Temari who looked at each other and smiled.

Somewhere in the shadows:

There stood three people watching the blonde walk away from the red head. They have been following him for last days to monitor his behavioural changes.

One with orange hair and piercings on his face. Another girl with purple hair with a paper flower on it. Another man with bright red hair. They all wore black cloak with red clouds.

The orange haired man talked through the communication seal."We will convince him to leave the village tonight, master Jiraya."

A dark chuckle was the response he got.

Nightfall came. Naruto lay on his bed clutching his head in pain. He's been trying to block out the dark voices but it's getting harder each passing second.

"K-Kurama" Naruto wheezed through the pain. "It hurts so much, please do something."

Kurama didn't waste any time and pulled Naruto into his mindscape. He settled themselves under the shade of a tree and cuddled him.

Kurama is silent like he's in deep thought. He has seen how the villagers hurt and abuse Naruto and sometimes has taken over to protect the boy. But it's getting worse each passing day.

"Kit... I wanna tell you something." Kurama spoke finally. Naruto looked up, indicating that he's listening. "Why don't you leave the village and become rogue?"

Naruto's eyes widened.

Suddenly there was a knock on door. Naruto got out of his mindscape and went to open the door. When he opened, he saw three figures standing there, looking down at him.

"Uh... you are?" Naruto awkwardly asked.

The red head and the violet head continued to stare while the orange head sighed dramatically.

"I'm Yahiko. This violet beauty is Konan and the red is Nagato. We are master Jiraya's apprentices." He said cheerfully. Naruto's hand unconsciously moved to his shoulder.

"Yep! The one who gave you the seal. You see, he really wants to train you and make you stronger. So you can stick up to yourself. And with power, everyone will start to respect you."

"..."

"Besides, everyone admires your raven haired friend and avoid you. If you come with us, we will give you power, and everyone will acknowledge you, even him. If you always stay back admiring that guy, he will never become strong. Abandon them and come with us."

Yahiko is right. As long as he just stay back and idolise Sasuke, he will never be acknowledged. He has to be strong enough to beat him, beat everyone. And for that, he needs a trainer. But no one's willing to train him here in the village. So he will just have to find one outside the village.

And besides, it's not like anyone would miss him if he disappeared. Even if they miss him, it doesn't matter cause in the end 'I will destroy Konoha and kill everyone for what they have done to me." Naruto's thoughts synchronised with the dark voices.

'Kurama, I have made my decision.' Naruto thought.

"I'm coming with you." He said looking at them. They smirked.

"Then come to the front gate of the village before midnight. There will be four people waiting for you there. They will take you to Jiraya-sama's base. We will go ahead and inform him." Nagato said softly.

Naruto nodded as they disappeared into puff of smoke. Strangely enough, Naruto didn't feel regret for deciding to leave the village. His hatred towards the village and especially Sasuke started to consume him. He will get stronger no matter what it takes.

To be continued...