O.K. this is my first Naruto fic. This has rather dark themes such as rape, violence and such. This warning is here for those who are soft hearted. Please take my warning into account, and if such things as rape, violence, drugs, depression of any level, self harm of any level, suicide or any of the more darker topics affect you badly, please don't bother to read this fic as it is likely to offend. And when I say rape that's exactly what I mean. There's nothing half-hearted about it. Although I hope that I handled it sensitively. Also this is my first Naruto fic. Just thought I'd add that in. Hehe.

Also I do not own Naruto, as awesome as it is and so suing me would be pointless.

A/N: This fic is rather AU in a lot of ways. If you don't like AU don't read please.

Here is the fic. Do tell me what you think.

SUMMARY: Naruto has been scorned by the many adults in the Hidden Leaf village all his life, and just when he thinks that it can't get any worse, it does. On His Birthday? He leaves the village in a bid to escape the pain he feels but he starts to learn that duty is sometimes far more powerful then one's own personal hell.

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Duty over Hell.

Chapter One – It's My Birthday and I'll Cry if I Want To.

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Naruto walked the streets in a more cheerful mood then usual. He ignored people spitting in the street when they saw him. He ignored the snide remarks that some people spat out. After all, today was his thirteenth birthday. Why shouldn't he enjoy it? Of course he knew no one would remember. Except Iruka-Sensei of course. He didn't expect presents, but it was the one day of the year when he was left alone to his own devices. Iruka-Sensei would buy him Ichiraku's Ramen and he'd wish him a happy birthday. That was good enough for him.

He had training of course and as he saw Sasuke and Sakura on the normal meeting bridge he couldn't help but be happy. After all, even though they didn't know it, how could he not be happy to spend some of his birthday with his two best friends? Of course Sasuke gave him a small smirk as soon as he saw Naruto.

"Hey Loser. You're late." Sasuke stated. Sakura rolled her eyes at this.

"Why do you waste your time Sasuke-Kun?" Sakura asked.

They both expected Naruto to rise to this, but they were both surprised at his response.

"I don't actually care Sasuke-kun! Who made you my mommy? Besides I can bet Kakashi Sensei isn't here yet." Naruto said. Sasuke and Sakura stared at him and then at each other.

"Did he just mock me?" They both said at the same time. Naruto just grinned. He wasn't going to let anything spoil his day. Anything at all. Not Sasuke's teasing, not Sakura's constant, stalker-like obsession over Sasuke, not even Kakashi-Sensei being late. His day was going to be great. Well as great as it could be living in the Hidden Leaf Village.

Kakashi-Sensei appeared then and they of course had to start training. But Naruto was happy enough just doing that. He wanted to make this his best birthday ever, and he was determined to succeed without any trouble.

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Sasuke was glaring at Naruto.

"Come on Sasuke-Kun! Can't you land one hit today? I mean did you get out of the wrong side of the bed this morning?" Naruto was teasing Sasuke and he did NOT like it at all.

"Since when does Naruto point out MY faults?" Sasuke thought to himself.

Kakashi was thinking almost the exact same thing.

"Sasuke must have not slept properly last night. Although Naruto's Chakra control has been almost perfect today. He's really been concentrating on training. Could be that it's his birthday." Kakashi thought to himself. Of course Iruka had told Kakashi that it was Naruto's birthday, and had asked the Jounin to go easy on him. Just for today anyways. But actually, Kakashi felt that Naruto deserved a little praise today.

"Hey Sasuke maybe you need to get more sleep, and train less with yourself. Oh and try some Chakra control. You're too mad at me to even bother with it!" Naruto yelled at the raven-haired male, who glared fiercely at his hyper, blonde teammate.

Kakashi put took out his copy of Icha Icha Paradise.

"Good work today guys. Naruto, you're getting much better with Chakra control." Kakashi said. Earning a huge grin from Naruto and a huge glare from Sasuke.

"Ok you guys can go home for today." Kakashi said. Naruto just whooped and ran off. But before they could leave, Sakura and Sasuke had been stopped in their tracks by Kakashi.

"Sasuke, Sakura just a second." Kakashi said. They stopped and turned to look at their Sensei.

"Don't tell me, the loser got off early and we have to train more." Sasuke said.

Kakashi smirked under his mask and closed his copy of Icha Icha Paradise.

"No. It's Naruto's birthday today. I thought he deserved a little praise seeing as he didn't do too badly today." Kakashi replied stoically.

"Why didn't he say anything?" Sakura asked.

"That loser, he probably forgot it was his birthday." Sasuke quipped.

"No he just doesn't usually get to celebrate his birthday for his own reasons. Iruka-Sensei remembered and told me." Kakashi said quietly.

"Wow! And to think Naruto didn't toot his own horn this time." Sakura said. Sasuke just nodded and smirked slightly.

"We should really get the loser a present. After all, he did point out some stuff I need to focus on in training." Sasuke said. He smirked as he walked off. Sakura followed. Agreeing with Sasuke not because she thought it would gain his favour for once, but because she actually wanted to be nice to Naruto. Kakashi smiled under his usual mask as he watched his two students walk away.

"Naruto is sure going to get a surprise today." Kakashi thought to himself as he disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Little did he know just how much of a surprise Naruto was going to get…

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Naruto walked to Ichiraku's, still ignoring the glares and nasty comments he was getting. Of course no one dared say such comments as 'demon' or 'monster' or even 'freak' when he was with other people. It was after all forbidden to speak about the nine-tailed fox in the presence of other children. That and Iruka-Sensei never allowed people to be nasty to Naruto when he was there. Kakashi didn't have to say anything he just had to glare and people shut up. Of course if Naruto was with Tsunade-sama then no one even looked at Naruto funny. After all it was the third Hokage who made the law and so of course the fifth Hokage was guaranteed uphold it in the same manner.

Of course no one was with Naruto at the moment so the insults were nastier then usual. After all, it was the day of his birth. Most people knew about it. Even if the other Genin's didn't know anything about his birthday. The village people always acted like a funeral was happening on his birthday.

Naruto whistled a cheerful enough tune as he decided to stop and look at some fruit on one of the many stalls.

"Get lost you freak. We don't serve demons here." The man who ran the stall hissed out. Naruto just grinned.

"Never mind, you're the one loosing money." He said. He walked off, leaving the man steaming. Of course today was the one day of the year when he didn't give a damn what anyone thought, because for him to be born there had to have been a good reason. So his birthday, despite the lack of celebration, was still important to him.

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Sasuke and Sakura were both glaring slightly as they looked around. They didn't know what the hell to get for Naruto. The only thing they knew Naruto loved was ramen. They both decided to sit down and think.

"Well maybe we should ask Iruka-Sensei." Sakura said quietly.

"He doesn't come out of classes until four today." Sasuke replied.

"Well Naruto MUST have mentioned something he wanted?" Sakura questioned.

"He was complaining about his shurikens and kunais." Sasuke said.

"Yeah I remember that. He said some of them got lost during training and he only has about three shurikens and two kunais." Sakura said.

"It works I guess." Sasuke stated. The two wondered to the weapons shop and while Sakura looked at the small shurikens Sasuke looked at the kunais with slight interest.

In the end, Sasuke settled on a set of twenty kunais that had a unique flower yin-yang symbol on the handles. Sakura decided to get matching shurikens, and as the pair left the shop Sakura saw Shikamaru, Chouji, Neji and Lee.

"What were you two doing in the weapons shop? Isn't it Naruto who usually loses his weapons?" Neji asked. He had a smirk on his face.

"Actually it's Naruto's birthday today." Sakura said quietly.

"Are you serious?" The group looked in the direction of the voice to see it was Kiba who had spoken. Shino and Hinata were also slightly staring as they stood next to Kiba.

"Yes I'm serious Kiba." Sakura glared at him slightly.

"Why shouldn't the loser have a birthday? Everyone else does." Sasuke retorted. He felt the least he could do was stick up for Naruto on his birthday.

"Yeah maybe so. But Naruto has never mentioned his birthday." Kiba replied.

"We know. Kakashi-Sensei told us." Sakura quipped.

"And who told him?" Lee asked. He had his usually dopey grin on his face.

"Iruka-Sensei." Sakura replied.

"Well we might as well make sure that idiot has a decent birthday." Kiba said. Akamaru yipped in agreement. The others nodded.

"There's only one problem." Shikamaru said stoically.

"What might that be?" Neji asked.

"We don't have a clue what to get him. How Troublesome." Shikamaru replied.

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Naruto lay down on the grass happily looking up at the sky through the branches of his chosen shade. It was quite a warm day and Naruto completely relaxed for once. Until a familiar face blocked his cloud-gazing.

"Naruto, Tsunade-Sama wants to see you." Shizune said. There was a grin on her face.

"Okay Shizune Nee-chan." Naruto said. He got up and followed Shizune. Even though he was loathed to be separated from his lazy cloud-gazing.

As he walked along with Shizune, Naruto couldn't help but feel he was being set up slightly. Something didn't seem normal for Tsunade to be calling Naruto to her office. She didn't usually bother sending Shizune. Usually she yelled out of her window. You could hear her a mile away.

"Maybe she stopped doing that. I heard the elders say she might put a crack in the mountain by yelling so much." Naruto thought to himself. Of course that was until he heard the all too familiar yelling of Tsunade.

"KAKASHI GET HERE NOW OR I'M SELLING PAKKUN ON THE BLACK MARKET!"

"Or maybe not…" Naruto thought to himself as he was finally led to Hokage tower.

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As Neji, Lee, Shikamaru, Kiba, Hinata, Shino and Chouji looked around for something for Naruto, they bumped into Ino and Ten Ten.

"What are you all doing?" Ino demanded.

"Looking for something to get Naruto for his birthday. It's so troublesome." Shikamaru replied lazily.

"Wait Naruto has a birthday?" Ino asked incredulously.

"Yes and it appears to be today." Shino replied.

Ino and Ten Ten both shrugged as they joined the search.

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Naruto was finally inside Tsunade's office.

"Hi Tsunade Baa-Chan." Naruto said cheerfully. Shizune left the room.

"I heard it's your birthday today brat." Tsunade said. There was a grin on her face.

"Did Iruka-Sensei tell you?" Naruto quipped.

"Nope." Tsunade answered.

"Then I suppose Iruka-Sensei told Kakashi-Sensei and he told you." Naruto stated.

"Yes and no. I looked it up in your records, and Kakashi-Sensei came and told me at lunchtime." Tsunade said firmly.

"Oh!" Naruto said quietly.

"I have a birthday present for you." Tsunade said. Her voice just a tiny bit awkward. Naruto blinked and wondered what on earth Tsunade would have thought to get him. She went over to her cupboard and opened it. She pulled out a nice looking, black-sheathed katana.

"I was given one on my thirteenth birthday. So I thought it would be appropriate to give you one. Especially since Kakashi plans to start teaching you all how to use a katana." Tsunade said. She smiled happily. Naruto's eyes widened at such a kind gift. He couldn't help himself as he threw his arms around Tsunade's neck and hugged her. Usually hugging anyone was not something Naruto did but he could act weird if he wanted to.

"Thanks Tsunade Baa-Chan. You're awesome!" Naruto exclaimed. Tsunade just grinned and hugged the boy back.

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Shikamaru, Ino and Chouji walked off to training later that day.

"What did you get him?" Ino asked her two team mates.

"I got him a Shogi board. He really needs to get better at strategy and Shogi will help him do it. It'll be troublesome. I'll have to teach him how to play." Shikamaru replied.

Chouji blinked.

"I got him this jacket. I've seen him looking at it a lot lately maybe he's thinking of changing his colour from orange to blue." Chouji said cheerfully.

"Well I got him this scroll on jutsu theory. He does need to brush up on some stuff. I figured I'd try and be helpful." Ino said quietly. The three made their way to their usual training ground to find Asuma, hoping that Naruto would like their gifts.

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Neji, Lee and Ten Ten went to meet Gai-Sensei at their appointed meeting place. They had a D rank mission to complete today, and they wanted to complete it so they could get to Ichiraku's at four. They knew Naruto wouldn't turn up until five, as they'd been told by Kakashi. Neji looked at the book he'd purchased for Naruto. He'd found out a while ago that Naruto actually liked reading a good book. Although Neji had been sworn to secrecy.

Ten Ten had decided to get Naruto a summoning scroll. It was something she knew he would find useful if he did lose anymore of his weapons. Lee had got Naruto some training weights that Naruto could attach to his arms and legs, to train with. They met up with Gai and went off to do their mission without complaint.

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Kiba, Shino and Hinata were sitting under a tree near their usual training ground, to meet with Kurenai. Kiba had bought Naruto a leather bound sketchbook. He remembered that Naruto used to like drawing when they were younger, and thought it might be a good idea. Shino had seen an interesting looking weapon pouch and had got it for Naruto. Hinata had bought a blue beaded bracelet, it had the design of a dragon in the material and attached by string. Hinata blushed, not knowing how she was going to give this to Naruto but she would somehow overcome her shyness and do it.

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At around five, Naruto walked to Ichiraku's where he was supposed to meet Iruka-Sensei. As he walked into the stall he noticed how crowded it was to how it normally was. That was when he noticed that all of his friends were there. They all grinned at him.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY NARUTO!" They all yelled at him. Naruto was so shocked and happy that he almost fainted.

Almost…

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Naruto walked home that night, so happy to have finally celebrated his birthday in a way that was normal. His friends had all turned up and he had spent the whole evening smiling and talking to the people he cared about. He was amazed in himself that he actually had that many friends that had thought about him. As he walked down the dark street to his apartment he whistled a cheerful tune and never noticed the leering eyes following him from the shadows.

His eyes watched lustfully as the blonde whistled his tune. His face half hidden in shadows. His tongue, licked his lips, as though he were about to gain a sweet tasting treat. Naruto however was still unaware of the male watching him. He was only a couple of metres away from his apartment building.

Naruto didn't expect it when someone pushed him into an alleyway. He felt himself pinned against a wall with no hope of escape. He struggled as he felt a pin-prick in the back of his neck and weakness took over his whole body. He couldn't move, it was taking all of his strength to keep himself standing. But the thing he felt most at the moment was fear.

"Who is this guy? What the hell does he want with me?" Naruto thought. Terror filled every inch of his being.

"Don't worry so much Naruto-kun. I can see the fear in your eyes." Naruto widened his eyes at the familiar voice and his terror intensified.

"I just came to give you a special birthday present." The voice quipped. Naruto bit his lip as he felt hands travel up and down his body. He felt a kunai tear his clothes from his body, and tearing his skin at the same time, as he winced hoping that this was some sort of nightmare.

"I'm going to wake up soon. This is a complete and total nightmare…"

Naruto felt hands touch his bare skin that was pin-prickled with cold. He tensed as he felt those hands touching his skin. Travelling all over his body. Even in places he himself hadn't dare touch before.

"This is going to end soon… I'm going to wake up soon…" Naruto was still thinking to himself. He was trying to will his body to move. But it wouldn't obey him. His mind was feeling awfully fuzzy but he dared not close his eyes, even for a moment. He was afraid of what would happen if he did. He felt his attacker bite him hard on his neck. Hard enough to draw blood, as Naruto felt the warm liquid trickling along his collarbone.

Naruto tried to struggle more violently now but still found himself too weak to move properly. It was like all his Chakra had been sucked out of him. He felt the cold metal of a kunai, tearing at his skin, and felt the heavy flow of warm blood, flowing from wounds. Naruto couldn't even tell where the wounds were. His mind was shutting down on him. The shock was taking over, as his brain tried to make him believe he was somewhere else. But he couldn't ignore it when his attacker dropped him on the floor, and turned his body over. He felt his face touching the cold pavement, and yet he was still too weak to move, and he cried as he felt his attacker tugging his pants and boxers from his body.

"I'm not going to wake up. This nightmare isn't going to end…" Naruto thought to himself as he felt his attacker straddle him from behind. Then he felt unbelievable searing pain as he was entered, roughly and rudely. Naruto bit his lip so hard that he drew blood. He didn't want to give his attacker the satisfaction of him crying out in such pain. But the pain only seemed to be getting worse as Naruto couldn't hold his pain in anymore. It seemed to go on forever. The searing pain of his attackers' thrusts, and the burning pain, that for some reason didn't make him lose consciousness. Naruto didn't know when it ended finally, he was in so much pain now it didn't matter when it ended, he just hoped that his attacker would show some mercy and simply kill him. He was in for no such luck.

"Don't worry Naruto-kun. You won't be in pain forever. I'll see you soon." The voice said. He left Naruto, on the floor in a pool of his own blood. And as Naruto slipped into the darkness of unconsciousness he heard his attacker, no his rapist, laughing in his ears.

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Okay I hope you all liked this chapter. Sorry to all you lemon fans, but I didn't feel like being descriptive with the rape scene. After all it's a sensitive subject for some people.

Also, Nee-Chan is big sister. Not to be mistaken for Nii-Chan, which means older brother. It can be used as an honorific like kun or san. Sama is master or another form of title, like Sensei. Oh and Baa-Chan is one way of saying grandmother. Just for reference here.

Also I feel I made Sasuke a little out of character in his defence of Naruto. I apologise if you all thought he was a bit out of character. But I have grown up with a belief that birthdays are rather important and that people should be treated nicely on their birthdays, and I kinda projected that onto Sasuke. LOL!

Please R&R and tell me what you think. I'll update soon.