You cannot fix what is broken

Chapter 3

Naruto closed his eyes as he collapsed gracefully on the floor of his small rundown apartment. It has been a few months since they became genin and completed their first A-ranked mission involving an S-ranked rogue ninja who is one of the seven swordmen of the mist. Between that time, Naruto had managed to persuade the legendary sannin Tsunade to return to the village to be the hokage so that Danzo wouldn't take the empty spot since Hiruzen Sarutobi had passed away. Hiruzen had named Tsunade and Jiraiya his heir, and either of them can take it if one declines.
Naruto was utterly exhausted, not sleeping well plus the strain of keeping up with his mask was taking a toll on him. Physical and mentally. It was tearing him apart but the poor boy isn't willing to seek help, thinking he was a burden already.
Naruto was about to try get some sleep when his door was kicked open and it banged harshly against the wall, making a dent in the wall before rebounding back. A mob of villagers stood in his small apartment grinning at the already weak jinchuriki. Some moved to begin beating Naruto and the others begin destroying his house. Finally they left Naruto bloody and on the brink of death to deal with a ecstatic land lord. He can finally kick the demon out of his apartment! "You! What have you done?! Are you gonna pay for the damage? No! Get out!" The landlord screeched, picking Naruto up roughly and throwing him out without even giving Naruto a chance to say that he actually has the money to pay the damages. Naruto closed his eyes as he pushed himself up, pain flaring everywhere. Where can he go now? Naruto sighed and started walking without a particular destination in mind. He ended up in a hiding spot he found 5 years ago. It was a waterfall that covered up a cave that was directly behind it. Once Naruto got into the cave, he curled up into a ball and fell asleep. It will get better... Wouldn't it?
Naruto quickly cleaned himself up and rushed to his team's designated training ground. He was surprised when he was the first one there. He thought he was so late that Kakashi might even be there waiting for him.
"Where is dobe? He is even later than Kakashi." Sasuke grumbled. His brother was there with him because he has no mission and wants to see how their team worked. He was also there hoping to see Naruto and how he is. "Sakura," Sasuke almost spat out the name in disdain. Itachi looked over and saw that Sakura was blushing and she was trying to contain her squeal. Fangirls... When is she going to grow up? Itachi thought as he looked back at Sasuke to see why he called her. "Did you tell Naruto?" He asked, glaring at her as she deflated at the fact that Sasuke wasn't asking her out.
"Tell him what?" Sakura asked, oblivious. Sasuke sighed as he tried to mask his frustration. "Now Naruto is waiting at our other training ground!" Sasuke growled.
"So?! Who cares! He's so useless! He'll just drag us down! And- and he always comes in between us."
"There is no 'us'." Sasuke said before he started to storm away after announcing he was going to get Naruto but stopped when he saw a yellow blur rushing towards him. "Move out of the way!" Naruto shouted.
"What's going on?"
"I was gonna catch Tora but she decided to chase me instead!" Naruto hissed before jumping onto a tree. There was the sound of cat screeching and a thud. Naruto had jumped from the tree to land on the cat. "I got it!" Naruto shouted in triumph and to everyone's surprise the cat didn't struggle with him, it just cuddled with Naruto. "Now, you stop struggling! Damn you cat!" Naruto grumbled, shaking the cat. "I'll bring the cat to the hokage. Be right back." Naruto said as he rushed off with the cat.
Itachi eyed the blond he considers a little brother, the boy has been acting stranger and stranger as the days passed. The boy seem to look smaller and smaller each day.
"I'm back! Now, sensei! What do we do tod- Itachi nii is here too!" Naruto exclaimed and was hit over the head by Sakura for being loud, despite the fact that she herself was screaming at Naruto even louder. "Geez Sakura-chan." Naruto grumbled as he rubbed his head, hoping it would get rid of his headache caused by Sakura.
"Alright, kids! Today we were suppose to have a D-ranked mission but Naruto had already solved that." Kakashi said happily.
"Huh?" Naruto asked, scratching his head in pretend confusion, he knew exactly what Kakashi was talking about. Once you see a cat with a red bow on its ear on the street, you would know some poor genins would have that as a simple D-ranked mission to chase after the Daimyo's precious cat. Tsunade had also mentioned that she would transfer all the money for the mission towards Naruto's account.
"The cat you just caught, Tora." Kakashi stated. "Now, we should head to the hokage tower and see what Tsunade-sama has for us."

"Baa-chan!!" Naruto greeted and was immediately hit by Sakura before Tsunade could move a muscle. "Don't be rude Naruto-Baka!"
"Haruno! How dare you hit him!" Tsunade shouted, banging the table and almost causing it to spilt. She didn't care as much that Naruto called her old, she knows that he is just teasing. She would always respond back just to see the grin that would grace his face. It always cheered her up no matter how bad her day was. Anyone insulting her precious child would face her wrath! Sakura cowered in fear at the angered Sannin. "It's alright Baa-chan." Naruto interfered before things got any worse. Tsunade eyed the blond and caught Itachi's worried gaze.
"... Alright. So your mission is to help at the orphanage today. It's a D-ranked one." Tsunade said, making Naruto flinch and handed Kakashi the mission scroll. The group of ninjas left to head to the orphanage.

"NO!" The caretaker of the orphanage screamed in rage when she saw Naruto. "I'm not letting that- that thing into the orphanage!" She screamed at Naruto, pointed a finger that was shaking with rage at him. Itachi twitched at wanting to kill the woman for calling Naruto a thing. "What did you do, dobe?" Sakura sneered. Naruto blinked as he involuntarily took a step back.
"Oh hey look! It's that demon brat again!" A teenage boy, almost adult, announced. Naruto took as many steps back as he could without being noticed. "You guys continue on with the mission without me. I don't wanna jeopardise the mission for you guys." Naruto said quickly and took off. "Wait!" Itachi called out and looked towards Kakashi for permission to leave before flashing away to chasing after the retreating blond.
I lost him dammit! Itachi thought as he searched harder.
"So what's the reason that this boys knows about the thing?"Kakashi asked, once his team was out of earshot to take care of the kids, the female caretaker who was sweating bullets at the intense scrutiny of the famous copy-ninja, one of the best ninjas around. When the woman was silent, he took that as a sign to speak. "This will be reported to lady Tsunade and I can ensure you, she will send you and those fellow boys to the torture and interrogation department." Kakashi said before walking away from the scarred for life woman to help his team. I hope Naruto is alright... He has been acting strange lately. I've gotta ask Nii-San if he noticed that, he is pretty close to Naruto after all.