A/N: The third times a charm. I rewrote the story even more and added more to it. This is just the prologue, but the plot will happen in the next update. Please read and review. I really would appreciate it. Also Sasuke never left the village and all the rookies are 15. Neji, Ten Ten and Rock Lee are going to be 16. I hope you enjoy. Ignore any grammatical errors!

Disclaimer:I don't own Naruto, but I wish I did!

Memories/Ninja No More

October

Naruto was sitting on his bed, he was staring off into space, and memories of the past were starting to flood into him.

"Naruto, you need to remember that we need to work as a team. You can't just keep doing things on your own. We will never improve as a team if you keep making decisions that could harm us," Kakashi said sighing at his student. Naruto looked around at the rest of his team. Sasuke was giving him a disappointed stare. Sakura was glaring at him. They were in the middle of an escort mission.

The team had to escort a couple of villagers to the next village over. They were carrying goods to the next village. They just wanted protection just in case of an attack. Kakashi's team ended up getting that mission. Naruto had been his excited self. When they were attacked Naruto went against Kakashi's orders and attacked them himself. Kakashi wanted them to attack as a team. So they could get more used to working together.

Naruto used his shadow clones until they had defeated the enemy. Sasuke didn't even get a chance to fight and neither did Sakura. They were both annoyed they didn't get a chance to prove themselves to Kakashi.

"Naruto, you have to let us fight too, loser," Sasuke responded in an annoyed tone. Sakura agreed with him and Kakashi just sighed.

"I just wanted to prove myself," Naruto responded.

"We need to work as a team. You got it," Sakura responded punching him in the back of the head as she always had. Naruto looked at the ground and was starting to feel depressed. He knew they were all disappointed in him. Why was he always a disappointment?

Xxx

Naruto was practicing Rasengan while Sasuke and Sakura were training together. Naruto was being excluded from the training because Sakura just wanted to be alone with Sasuke. She would glare at him every time he tried to go near them. Naruto was starting to feel alone. It hurt him on the inside…

Xxx

"Sakura, I want to know if you would like to go out on a date with me," Naruto responded smiling his normal goofy grin. Although on the inside he was depressed. He was still starting to feel even more alone.

Sakura glared at him and he then knew he was going to get the same answer as he normally had. "I'm sorry, Naruto, but no. You ask me all the time and I always give you the same answer."

Naruto felt defeated. He was starting to feel as if the only one she cared about was Sasuke. He knew that he was right about that. He was starting to feel even more depressed and lonely. He started to walk away from her. Naruto then started to realize that he should stop asking Sakura to go on a date with him. He wouldn't have felt as sad or disappointed in himself.

Xxx

Another mission was given to team seven. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were waiting for Kakashi as normal. They were all starting to get impatient. Kakashi then appeared before them. "You're late!"

"Sorry, I'm afraid I got lost on the path of life." That was always his excuse.

"Liar!"

Sakura noticed that she had been the only one that yelled at him. She looked over at Naruto and he shrugged. He was not acting like his normal goofy self. Naruto wondered if anyone had started to notice that he was changing. He felt like he was the only one that had screwed up.

Every mistake he made on the newest mission was starting to eat away at him. He didn't even defend himself against one of the ninja. He froze like a coward. Sasuke had to save him. What going on with Naruto? That was what was running through everyone's mind. He could tell by the looks on their faces.

He looked over at the picture of team seven. What was his purpose in life anymore? That was the only thing that was running through his mind lately. Naruto had accomplished so much for the village, but he realized so many people didn't appreciate it. He also noticed that his own team didn't even appreciate his efforts. Lately because of that he hasn't wanted to stay in the village. Too many things were running through his mind.

Every time Naruto started to make a mistake; he would get yelled at by one of his squad members. It was starting to wear heavily on him. It was hurting him, but he didn't want to admit it to himself or anyone. Naruto didn't want anyone to think of him as a weakling. Kakashi or Sakura were the ones that yelled at him. He figured it was to show that they cared for him. Sasuke would just glare at him in disappointment and call him a loser as normal.

He was getting tired of feeling inadequate compared to his teammates. He had been improving his skills little by little, but they didn't seem to notice or care. He hadn't messed up as much as he used to. He even started waiting for them to attack before he attacked. He didn't rush into battle anymore. He tried harder than anyone on his squad. Why did he feel like he was the only one that was getting yelled at? Everyone made mistakes, right?

The village was no better either.

Xxx

"I dug up your weeds for you, lady," Naruto smiled. The lady looked angrily at him. He had pulled up her plants as well as her weeds.

"Those were special herbs I've been growing and you ruined them," the lady yelled angrily at him. She even began to hit him. Naruto was upset that he made a mistake. He was just trying to do the mission that he was assigned. He had messed up other missions that day as well.

Xxx

"Go away," an older lady screamed. Naruto had stopped to help her pick up something she had dropped. He could see the fear in her eyes. He nodded at her and then walked away quickly.

Why were people still so afraid of him? He knew that the nine tailed fox had been placed inside of him, but he didn't even act like the beast. For the first twelve years of his life he didn't even know the beast existed. Now that he did…he could understand why years ago everyone ignored him.

Maybe he could get some respect from everyone else now that he has saved the village. He didn't need to be looked at in fear. He only needed to be considered a hero. He even changed Gaara to be more like him. Why did people still view him as a beast from fifteen years ago?

They probably thought that he was going to lose control. He was always in control of himself. It shouldn't have mattered to him what they thought, but it did. Sure, the seal had broken a few times, but the nine tails was never able to control him fully. He would never let anything like that happen.

Naruto sighed, got up from his bed, and he knew he had to do this. He was going to make decisions for himself now. Naruto decided that he was going to talk to Sasuke first. Naruto thought of him as a best friend. Even if Sasuke was just as hard on him as everyone else; he would always consider Sasuke his best friend. Sasuke was going to be disappointed in him like he always was. What other choice did he have? He just couldn't take the pain, loneliness, and disappointment anymore.

Sakura was probably going to be happy about his decision. She never liked him in the first place and he knew that. Even though Naruto had been getting stronger; she only noticed Sasuke's strength. That was annoying Naruto more than before.

The last people that Naruto was going to tell were Kakashi and Tsunade. They were going to be the hardest to tell his decision to.

Naruto's happiness came before everyone else. So if not being shinobi was going to make him happier…than he was going to do what he needed to do. His depression was starting to get worse as time went on. He never knew that he was going to feel that badly. If he got away, he wouldn't feel like he was a major disappointment. Naruto grabbed the key for his house and walked out of the door. His squad was going to be meeting in a few minutes anyways. He didn't want to be late. Naruto decided he was going to pull each one of them aside and tell them individually.

A couple of minutes later Naruto arrived at the bridge where everyone always met. He was surprised that he was actually the first one to arrive. Normally everyone except Kakashi would arrive on time. They never understood why their teacher was always late. Naruto sighed and looked up at the sky. He was starting to second guess his decision. Did he really want to give up being a ninja? Was his mind truly made up? Naruto didn't know.

Naruto sighed a second time and he wrapped his mind around no longer being a shinobi. Leaving squad seven and village would probably be the best for him. That way he could make himself feel happier. He was hurting deeply on the inside because of his inadequacy. No one bothered to pay attention. No one bothered to care.

"Hey dope," he heard Sasuke call. Naruto smiled lightly at first, but then his expression turned serious. He didn't know how to tell his best friend that he was quitting. He just stared at Sasuke…trying to think of how to break the news to him. Sasuke could tell that there was something brewing in Naruto's mind. He wasn't sure if he wanted to know what was running through Naruto's mind. He was not used to Naruto being so serious.

"Hey, listen Sasuke; I've decided I no longer wish to be a part of squad seven. I no longer want to be a ninja either," Naruto responded looking at him straight in the eye. Sasuke stared at Naruto wide eyed. He never thought he would hear his best friend say those words. Sadness was starting to rise into Sasuke. What was Naruto thinking?

"W-What? I thought it was your life no long goal to become a ninja. You wanted to prove that you had what it takes to become the future Hokage of the leaf village. You thought that would people would respect you! I will never go back on my word, that's my ninja way. That was what you told everyone…now you are giving up. What made you change your mind so drastically?" Sasuke said with sadness in his tone. Naruto was surprised to hear that Sasuke had thrown his words back at him. His ninja way was to never give up and keep his word, but now he was breaking his own vows. Naruto laughed a bit, but it didn't sound like him. It was cold. Not something Sasuke had expected from him. That laugh didn't even sound right to Naruto. Was he really starting to change that much? Was he really that depressed?

"That dream died a long time ago with the old me. I don't want to prove anything to this village after the way everyone has treated me. The years I suffered alone were hard. No one even looked at me. You all ignored me. No one cared. Even after they treated me so badly I still saved them from Gaara. Not even you or Sakura treat me with the respect I deserve. All you ever did was walk all over me, but I'm not going to let any of you do that anymore. I'm not going to let anyone treat me as if I was the dirt on the bottom of their shoes," Naruto responded in a bitter tone. Sasuke's eyes had widened even further. How long had Naruto been feeling that way? Months? Years?

"Naruto, I know we're tough on you, but we want you to improve your skills as a ninja. We want you to be become the best ninja that you can be," Sasuke responded still shocked at how bitter Naruto's voice had become.

"The thing is none of you have been paying attention to me. I have been improving my skills. I trained until it hurt. I have been cleaning up my mistakes, but all the three of you have ever done was pick on me. I can't do it anymore. I can't handle being your target! My happiness becomes before all of you and this village. How am I ever going to be happy if I am not treated like everyone else? I was alone before I met you all. You were like family to me…until you all started to pick on me. It started getting to me. I just knew that I couldn't take it anymore. I'm not the only one that has to suffer…I know you have suffered! YOU of all people should understand, Sasuke," Naruto said bitterly. He was trying to bite back the tears that wanted to reveal themselves as well.

Sasuke looked down at the ground. How couldn't he tell that his own best friend was hurting that much? How much pain was Naruto in? How long had he been feeling that way? It must have been a long time. Sasuke didn't know how to respond. All he knew was that he had to say something.

"N-Naruto," Sasuke said trying to think of a way to put his words. "Please don't give up on being a ninja! Don't give up on your dream! You are one of the most hardworking people I know. It would be a shame to lose you."

"I have made my decision, Sasuke. I'm sticking with it. I want to be happy. Staying in the village will not make me happy," Naruto said looking down. He was starting to feel worse than he had before. He saw Sakura walking up to them. She had a smile on her face, but it dropped when she felt the tension in the air.

"Hi Sasuke," she turned to Naruto. She smiled at him a little bit. He didn't smile back. "Hi Naruto."

She could see how visibly upset Sasuke was. Sakura glared at Naruto…she knew that it had to be Naruto's fault. Well she could only guess that it was his fault. She didn't have any idea what was going on. Sakura didn't even notice how upset Naruto was. The only thing she cared about was Sasuke. Naruto could see that now.

Naruto started walking away after Sakura glared at him. He didn't even answer her. He just wanted to get away from them as fast as possible. Was it even worth it telling her his decision? He figured that she would just be happy about it.

Sasuke wanted to go after, Naruto, but something was keeping him from moving. What was Sasuke going to do? For the first time in a long time he didn't know what to do. He fell to his knees…still very upset. Sakura's voice broke his thoughts. "Huh?"

"What's going on?" She repeated.

"N-Naruto…has decided that he no longer wishes to be a ninja," Sasuke said still in shock. Sakura's eyes widened. She didn't believe him. How could she? Naruto was not someone that gave up. Sakura knew that for a fact.

"I don't believe you!" She responded in a shocked tone. Sasuke shot her a look to let her know he was being serious. How could she not have noticed that her comrade was changing before her very eyes? She realized that she spent most of her focus on Sasuke. She needed to stop ignoring Naruto and start paying attention to him. Sakura wanted to talk to Naruto at that moment, but he was nowhere to be found.

Xxx

Naruto was walking through town, trying to find Kakashi, but he was having no luck. It was going to be harder to tell Kakashi that he no longer wanted to be a ninja. Telling Sasuke was actually harder than he thought it was going to be. Sasuke probably told Sakura by now. Naruto still felt like she was happy that he was quitting. She didn't have to deal with him ever again. A bitter smile started to rise on his features once again.

Where was Kakashi? Naruto really needed to talk to him and he was getting tired of looking for him. Tsunade was easier to find because she was in the hokage office. Naruto was thinking that she will be more stunned than Kakashi, but he never knew with his teacher. He knew that Tsunade believed in him, but he felt she was the only one that did. He needed more support than that though.

Finally he spotted Kakashi. Kakashi was standing in front of the KIA rock. Was this why Kakashi was always late? Naruto remembered that two of his friend's names were etched into it. At that moment Naruto didn't care. He just wanted to tell his sensei what he needed to. Would Kakashi react like Sasuke did?

"Kakashi-sensei, I need to speak with you," Naruto said startling Kakashi a little bit. Kakashi looked down at the younger boy. He had a smile on his face even though his heart was pounding a bit. He couldn't tell that there was something off with his student.

"What brings you here? I was going to be meeting up with you in a couple of minutes for our next mission," Kakashi asked. Naruto looked down at the ground. Not knowing what he wanted to say just yet. It had been much easier to tell Sasuke he realized. With his sensei it was different somehow.

"I have something very important to tell you," Naruto responded sighing a little. Kakashi didn't like the sound of that. He was trying to figure out what was going through Naruto's mind, but he couldn't. He just knew that whatever it was that it was important.

"You can tell me anything you would like. I am your sensei after all," Kakashi said with a small smile, but he had an uneasy feeling.

"I have decided that I no longer want to be a shinobi. I just can't do it anymore," Naruto responded. Kakashi looked down at his student with shock. He was surprised to hear those words come out of his student's mouth. Naruto had always wanted to be a ninja. He always wanted to prove that he could become strong enough to become hokage. Naruto's voice broke his thoughts. "I have already made up my mind. I just need to be happier than I have been. Being a shinobi isn't making me happy anymore. After all the progress I made…you never seemed to notice. None of you have realized how strong I have become. Everyone just thinks I'm going to become the nine tailed fox again. That it is going to control me. I know that you know all about the beast that attacked the village fifteen years ago. I know that the nine tails is in my body. No one in this village wanted me to know about it, but I do know about it."

"Naruto, think about this! People really don't know you as well as we do. You shouldn't leave because of this. You should see this as another reason to prove them wrong. You are a great shinobi. I know I haven't been helping you as much as I should have. You are probably feeling alone right now, but please remember that you are never alone. We will always be there for you. If we are being tough on you it's because we are trying to help you. Please we need you on this team. You are a great person, student, and friend. Please change your mind?" Kakashi asked feeling down now. He knew that he had to pay better attention to his student. He also didn't want to lose one of his best students.

"Why should I stay somewhere I'm not happy? Doesn't my happiness come first? Should my decisions always revolve around everyone else? I believe I should be able to leave without thinking of anyone else, but myself. I feel like I'm trapped in a sea of darkness. I don't want to be in this darkness. I want to be somewhere where the light is. I should be able to thrive on my own."

Kakashi had never seen his student think this deeply before. What inner demon was he facing in his mind? The lights in Naruto's eyes were beginning to dull. They were growing cold. How couldn't he have noticed that before?

"Naruto, I just want you to be happy. Do what you must," Kakashi responded. Naruto smiled sadly and he knew Kakashi got it.

"Thank you, Kakashi-Sensei," Naruto responded and walked away. One more person he still had to tell. Kakashi broke down after he watched his depressed student walk away. How long had his student been depressed? That was the only thing that was on his mind.

Xxx

Tsunade could not believe a single word that was coming out of his mouth. She didn't know how to feel about this news. She could see the sadness in his eyes. The bright eyes that she had first saw were not there anymore. They were dull, cold, and dark. The Naruto she knew was gone. "Naruto, are you absolutely sure you want to do this?"

"I'm sure, Grandma Tsunade, I don't want to be shinobi any longer. I know this is shocking to you, but I am no longer happy. I really need to be. If this is the only way that I'm going to be happy then that is how it is. I don't want to be somewhere I hate."

Naruto looked into Tsunade's eyes. He didn't like the pain he saw in her eyes. Naruto still was sure about his decision. He needed to leave and needed to leave now. If he didn't he would have probably killed himself. Then he wouldn't exist anymore. He didn't want to lose his life. He still wanted to become something. He didn't know what yet, but he knew that he didn't want to become hokage anymore. Not until he was the same Naruto that he was months ago. "I am not the same as I was before. I have changed over the past couple of years. I know how unhappy I am with myself and with everyone else. I love everyone that has helped in my life. I will always love them, but I need find myself. Please just let me quit. I have never been a quitter before, but I know if I stay…"

Naruto didn't even need to finish the last sentence. Tsunade had apparently gotten the hint…tears started to form in her eyes. "Are you really that unhappy, Naruto?"

"Yes, I am."

"Then I have no choice…you are no longer a shinobi…"

Naruto smiled and hugged her close. After that he walked out of the office and left her there to cry. Why did it have to be that way? Tsunade would never understand.

Xxx

Hinata had just finished her training and missions for the day. She was walking through town to her home when she heard people gossiping. She couldn't help, but hear one word that stuck out to her. Naruto. His name was being spoken about around town everywhere she went. She hadn't heard the news yet.

She saw Sakura walking through the town as well. It looked as if she was searching for someone. Hinata went over to her. "Hey Sakura, what's going on? Why is e-everyone talking about N-Naruto?"

"N-Naruto…is leaving the village…and is no longer a shinobi…"Sakura responded still flabbergasted from all that was going on. She wasn't all that happy that Naruto was leaving which surprised Hinata a little bit. She knew how much Sakura didn't like Naruto.

Hinata ran away from Sakura and started to run in the direction of Naruto's home. Why was he leaving?

"N-Naruto…" she called in a shy tone. Naruto had just locked his door and was picking up his bags. He looked up and saw that Hinata was walking towards him slowly. He smiled down at her. Tears were rolling down her cheeks. He frowned and guessed that she heard the news. He knew it was going to be all around town.

"Hinata, I know you probably just heard the news. Well I am leaving…"Naruto was cut off.

"P-Please t-take m-me w-with y-you," Hinata requested. He stood there in shock at first, but then he nodded. She never made him feel bad about himself. He would be happy to have company on his new journey. They went over to her house so she could pack. Then they took off on their way.