Hello everyone! I know I've been behind with my LITC but I just had to write this one down. It's been on my mind ever since I started the other one! Anyways this story will only be 4 or 5 chapters long, so less effort and investment writing than the other story that I want to continuously get better

Oh, before I forget...

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Naruto or any other character from the manga or anime. I am just borrowing them for my plot. I do NOT own the song Hurt performed and made famous by Christina Aguilera.

ON WITH THE SHOW!

Chapter 1 - The Pain

The stage was set. Naruto had been drowning out every word Tsunade had uttered for the last 10 minutes. He felt Shikamaru nudge him in the small of his back. He realized it was his time to offer his tribute for the fallen ninja during the war one year ago. Special highlights were being given to his Master, Jiraiya. A huge statue had been constructed in his honor bearing his likeness.

"Citizens of Konohagakure, our hero Naruto Uzumaki, son of the 4th Hokage, descendant of the 1st and 2nd Hokages and future Hokage would like to offer his tribute to his godfather and mentor." Tsunade said to the crowd of people gathered in front of the Konoha memorial, and then she gave Naruto a pat on the back and stepped off the stage.

A plethora of thoughts flooded through Naruto's mind at that moment. He could think of 50 other places he could be rather than where he was at that moment.

He stood in front of the silent crowd and took a deep breath. He found Kakashi's eyes and the masked man gave him an encouraging nod and a small smile. (When one had spent as much time with Kakashi as Naruto did, one began to learn how to read the slightest twitch of his eyebrow.)

He scanned the rest of the gathered faces and saw the rest of the Iruka and the Konoha 11 in the crowd. They had all survived by some miracle. He frowned a little at the last face he settled on.

He heard the music he had chosen for this event begin to play.

Seems like it was yesterday when I saw your face
You told me how proud you were but I walked away
If only I knew what I know today

I would hold you in my arms (Naruto outstretched his arms and folded them into himself in a hug.)
I would take the pain away
Thank you for all you've done (Naruto turned to the statue and gave a short bow.)
Forgive all my mistakes
There's nothing I wouldn't do (Naruto looked down at the ground as he turned back towards the crowd.)
To hear your voice again
Sometimes I want to call you but I know you won't be there (Naruto rose his head and shook it at the thought)

I'm sorry for blaming you

For everything I just couldn't do
And I've hurt myself by hurting you (Naruto without realizing it rubbed his right arm with his left hand.)

Some days I feel broke inside but I won't admit
Sometimes I just want to hide 'cause it's you I miss (Naruto couldn't help himself any longer and looked directly at the person he was dying to make contact with the whole time he was onstage.)
You know it's so hard to say goodbye when it comes to this(Naruto tore his eyes from the impassive face focusing on the spot directly behind his head and walked over to the statue.)

Would you tell me I was wrong? (Naruto forgot that there were people watching him as he grew closer to Jiraiya's statue.)
Would you help me understand?
Are you looking down upon me? ( He spun completely around and nearly shouted at the Hokage mountain at his father's head.)
Are you proud of who I am? (He pointed at his father's head and then fell to the ground. (The people gasped collectively.))

There's nothing I wouldn't do
To have just one more chance
To look into your eyes (He squeezed his eyes shut)

And see you looking back (And opened them, finding the eyes of his tormentor who was finally watching him.)
I'm sorry for blaming you for everything I just couldn't do
And I've hurt myself (He grabbed his right arm subconsciously and did not notice that Shikamaru's eyes narrowed at the grab.)

If I had just one more day, I would tell you how much that
I've missed you since you've been away (By now Naruto had given up the pretense of singing this song about the fallen ninja and his godfather, and was officially focusing his efforts into singing his heart and feeling out to the one person he loved more than life itself.)
Oh, it's dangerous
It's so out of line to try to turn back time( He shifted his focus to Kakashi as he sang that line.)

I'm sorry for blaming you for everything I just couldn't do (He lightly punched the statue of Jiraiya and the tears he had been managing to keep at bay until that point surged from his eyes.)
And I've hurt myself (Naruto didn't get all the way to his arm as Shikamaru had appeared onstage next to him and forced his face sideways to look into his eyes.)

By hurting you (Naruto looked at the statue, and then into the crowd at the figure that had disappeared as he was led offstage.)

The throng of ninja and regular citizens tried to all shake his hand and hug him all at once. Shikamaru in true friend fashion, laced his fingers through Naruto's, binding them with chakra so that no matter what happened, they wouldn't get separated.

Naruto was being thrown from person to person in hug to hug to handshake. Neji finally caught him and whispered something in his ear that made Naruto smirk and nod. Sakura and Ino kissed him on both cheeks, and Ibiki extended his hand in Naruto blindly smiled and shook his free hand with people and kept his eyes peeled for that one face his wanted to see more than any other at that moment.

There it was. The raven haired, pale skinned man was making a beeline for him. Naruto ripped his fingers from Shikamaru's and ran through the crowd toward the other.

Sai caught the crying ball that was Naruto and quickly teleported them to Naruto's apartment.

Shikamaru was right behind them.

"Naruto, it's okay. I'm here now. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when you got off the stage." Sai ushered Naruto into the apartment and straight through to the bedroom. He sat them both on the bed.

"I thought you left." Naruto curled up onto Sai's lap.

Shikamaru sighed. "Spill it Naruto."

Naruto blinked up at the shadow user and cocked his head to the side. "What do you mean Shika?"

Shikamaru sighed once more. Instead of answering he walked over to the bed where Sai was now stroking Naruto's neck and back, pulled Naruto up into a standing position and forced the blonde man's sleeve up, dispersing the chakra shield around the cuts and bruises.

"Stop the games. The fuck are these Naruto? You think that if you do this sick shit it will make you feel better?" Shikamaru loomed over Naruto as he shouted in his face. Sai slowly got off the bed and clamped a hand down on Naruto's shoulder, squeezing to show his distress at the situation.

"You know what makes me feel better Shika, and it sure ain't this." Naruto wrenched his hand out of Shikamaru's grasp and strode into the bathroom. He came out 10 minutes later dressed out of his new ninja garb, which consisted of tight black pants, and a tight black jacket with orange accents, and into even tighter black jeans, a red shirt and a silver chain around his neck.

"And I think I'm going to make myself feel that way right now." Naruto stared coolly at Shikamaru and Sai, and then walked out of the room. He called back to the two dumbfounded males.

"See you in three hours...maybe."

As we can see I enjoy writing Naruto with the ability to sing! Review if you can!