My steps felt heavy as I stepped past the threshold of my apartment. My exhaustion was nearly debilitating and it showed when I lay on my bed with my clothes still on even though they stunk. The day had been long, rather the week had been long and arduous. My soul hurt but I was able to fend off the pain when I was around people, of course, that meant I took the full brunt of it alone.

I pulled my bag up to me and pulled out its contents one at a time. The first thing I pulled out was a spare change of clothes that were messier than these ones. After that were a few boxes of instant ramen, and finally, I pulled out a mask. It was split down the middle, but I couldn't help keeping it with me. It was the only thing she had that I could keep.

I laid it next to me as I tried and failed to get enough energy to stand, so I fell asleep. Rather I was falling asleep until a knock sounded at my door. I turned over and fell off the bed, pushing my arms under. I was nearly up when I stopped trying and just summoned a clone to answer the door.

Standing in front of my door was Gramps, he was wearing his robes which meant it was business. The clone invited him in before helping me to a seat at my table. My thoughts were slow while I waited for Gramps to say anything but he just sat there for a minute, staring into my eyes.

"How are you, my boy?" He asked kindly. I took the time to think about, my exhaustion interfering in my thoughts, muddling my introspection. Then I felt it, that twist of pain that I had felt since the battle on the bridge. It wasn't sharp but rather a dull ache that remained there waiting for me.

I gave a big smile and nodded my head. I refused to talk, not trusting my voice in this matter. The clump that had formed in my throat constricted my breathing but I tried to smile as convincingly as I knew how.

"Naruto, I have seen many new Genin faced with death," He began before pulling out a small card. "Most will not make it to Chunin due to the mental strain, they begin to lose grip with reality as they force their thoughts away. It is common enough that I can see it in you, I order you to go see a good friend of mine, he will teach you all you need to know to get past this."

"What!" I exclaimed in outrage.

"I will go with you if that is what is needed to get you to go but I will not allow you to continue your career until you have been cleared," He explained. "Your teammates will also be undergoing psych evaluations. Now go to bed, I'll pick you up tomorrow and we'll go together."

He stood, helping me to my feet before walking out the door, closing it silently behind him. Finally, I could sleep and did so with the utmost urgency.

"Wake up."

My eyes opened slowly, slowly focusing on the aged face of my leader. Sharp brown eyes staring down in concern, a single hand resting on my shoulder. His hair was oddly dark and much longer than he had ever seen it. Taking more of his features on I found that his wrinkles were missing, no longer an aged face that had seen more than his fair share of life.

"Why do you look like that?" I asked. He smiled lightly before holding out a hand to help me up.

"Ah, well that is a question I will answer later, as of now we need to get moving," We moved forward, evidently following a small path through the village. Everywhere I looked there were people but they seemed so weird, almost as though they weren't actually there, faces blurred.

"Do not pay them any attention, for now, we must hurry," He guided me forward by my shoulder, an unusual chill spreading from the point of contact. "He will be here soon."

Out of thin air, a severe-looking man appeared. His hair was a pale blonde, slightly less vibrant than Ino's and his eyes were a shade darker than hers but all around the man looked exactly like her. He was wearing a green Jonin flak jacket and his hair had been pulled into a ponytail behind his head.

"Lord Hokage, is he ready?" The man asked. Gramps nodded his confirmation. The man then turned to me, his eyes softening as they looked me over. "Now Naruto, do you know where you are?"

Of course, I knew where I was, this was Konoha but then when I turned to look around the world had changed. Everything was dark, water running beneath my feet with large pipes running along the wall. It looked like a forgotten sewer, one that had been built for Tsunami's.

"No..." I continued searching for any recognizable feature, then my eyes fell upon the pipes once more, noticing their red-coloured glow. They were the pipes for the lake! How ere they here though, was this where they came from?

"We are in your mind Naruto, most are more developed than this but perhaps we haven't gone far enough?" The man mused before speaking again. "My name is Inoichi Yamanaka, I'm Ino's dad."

I was too busy contemplating the fact that we were somehow in my mind, which should not be possible. At least no one else should be able to come in.

"Ah, well most people can't enter your mind but the Yamanaka have a peculiar skill which allows them that ability," Gramps said as though he had just read my mind. "I did not have to my boy, you are thinking it and we are in your mind."

"Wait really?" I asked before telling expressing my excitement quite loudly. "That is sooo cool, is there any way I could learn to get in people's minds. I mean could you imagine if I was able to find someone's biggest fear during a battle. I could easily henge into that fear or maybe..."

"Yes, there are many ways but none that I believe you have an aptitude for," Gramps explained easily. "For now we must continue our way on to the more developed portions of your mind, correct Inoichi?"

The man nodded and began leading us along, following the pipes until only one pipe was left all the other having travelled in different directions. It was quiet, none of the party having the urge to speak.

Finally, we came upon the sounds of light waves crashing against the shore, streams running into some pool. The pressure in the sewer growing immensely as we approached the opening that was barely large enough for an adult to move through.

"We're nearing the center of your mind, hopefully, it's more developed than the rest of you, although..." He trailed off again, leaving me to wonder what he had been thinking which was quite sad seeing as they were allowed to hear my thoughts.

"I apologize Naruto, but this is part of your psyche evaluation," The old man turned young explained. Suddenly light unlike any I had ever truly seen flooded my vision. There were hues of blue, green and predominantly orange light floating around. Above, in the heavens of my mind was a dark black ball surrounded by a brilliant red and yellow glow.

"What...," Inoichi said in awe. His eyes wide, scanning over the large forest ahead of us.

It was a beautiful place, full of trees and fauna. Large blue bushes and purple trees surrounded a yellow lake. The fauna spread out far but had so much further they could grow. Large fields of land surrounded the grove, adding a dark backdrop to a beautiful glowing forest. The fields were dirt or at least felt like dirt beneath my feet, cracking as I stepped forward with Gramps and Inoichi.

The hard dirt gave way to softer soil. It was almost like someone had come through and tilled the ground immediately around the groove.

"...Naruto..." A soft voice whispered to me. "Don't...picky...lots...stay up too late..."

"Motormouth mother..." A deeper voice spoke, "...sorry to...burden."

The wind around us picked up slightly as I tried to organize my thoughts. I didn't know who they were but as they gasped for breath I couldn't help the tears that fell from my eyes.

"This is...Kyuubi container..." Gramps voice cut in, "He is...hero and... How dare...I declare this a S-class..."

"The demon should be... of course I..." The newest voice was that of my caretaker on the day I had run away from the orphanage.

"My name is Sasuke Uchiha and I hope to be good friends." I turned to Inoichi only to find him missing and the world changed. I was now in my old class, the one we were moved from after the Uchiha instructor was murdered.

"Leave me alone," Sasuke said, his voice harder now and heavy bags hanging from his eyes. I remembered having left him alone as he asked, believing he only needed time but I now knew he really needed a friend even if he didn't want one.

"You'll never be as good as Sasuke," Ino screamed at me, my head still ringing fro Sakura's punch. It was the first time she had ever hurt me, only ever telling me off before. She apologized later but after ten apologies she quit, instead, she began hitting me with no remorse.

"Sorry, Naruto but you kinda suck," Kiba's arrogant tone was always grating but on that day he had apologised for his recent behaviour. After having watched me lose to Sasuke, Kiba had stopped talking to me until that day and I ruined it. "Hey stop!"

Kiba yelled at me before hitting me across the head. Stars had filled my eyes and even now I could feel our friendship break, my attack had been the hammer which struck the wedge.

"You fail!" Iruka told me for the first time, although now that I had finally passed I am happy he held me back. It just isn't my destiny to finish early and I'm content with that now but at the time I had stormed off, tears barely restrained.

"Hey, it's ok," Ayame's hand rubbed my back tenderly, a comforting touch as I finished my tale of failure for the second time. She had allowed me to sleep there that night, feeding me a bowl of ramen for supper. That day cemented my loyalty to Ichiraku's, so much so that I had refused to buy ramen from any of the other stands there.

"Boss, are you sure this is a good idea? I mean we're not very good at Taijutsu, wouldn't it be better to have someone else train us?" My clone asked, three days after I had gotten Gramps help in acquiring the books I needed. I had refused my own request, refusing to admit my lack of skill but I learned that it was a mistake.

My eyes landed on Kakashi, preparing my attack. A comforting lie filling my spirits as I took off after him, kunai flashing forward...into the ribs a small puff of air and blood splattering my hand. The man's hand went limp, gauntlet falling to his side. Small gasps of pain rocked his body before he collapsed.

"Hello, I'm Haku. Who are you?" Hak asked, her dark brown eyes gazing down into my own. Her hand was outstretched towards me, I had grabbed it thinking she was trying to help me up but now I think she was going to kill me. I grinned at her, feeling my bad mood lift as she smiled back.

The sky was bright and sunny, not a single cloud in the sky and I found it quite good. The sun was lighting up the two graves, shining off the large cleaver resting behind the smaller cross. I had spent an entire night finding the best wood to make Haku's cross, had even asked Tsunami for help which she obliged after apologizing for her reaction to my attack of the two mercenaries. I had been to busy to care at the time for her apology but accepted nonetheless, removing the weight she had placed upon her shoulders.

Then the world changed once more and I was in a clearing. All around me were frozen blue and purple plants, little flowers made of ice rising out of the ground and in the center was a large frozen dome. Haku was standing in front of it in a pink dress with cherry blossoms decorating it.

"Hey Naruto, took you a while," Haku exclaimed cheerfully before moving over to me. I saw her wrap her arms around me but no matter how much I wanted I couldn't feel it. "How was your day? Did you save the day and get ramen?"

I shook my head, unable to speak. If I had been more observant I would have noticed the world dim, I would've noticed as the winds stopped and Haku froze but I was stuck. My eyes incapable of comprehending and my ears unwilling to accept. In my shock I simply stood and stared, y eyes locked with a ghosts.

"Naruto?" An older voice called, breaking me from my thoughts or rather lack thereof, "Who is she?"

"Ah, sorry Lord Hokage, I am Haku," She replied for me. She bent at the waist, bringing her hands together in a sign of respect.

"I see. She is the one who died correct?" Gramps asked, his hand resting on my shoulder. I nodded, feeling relieved that he was there with me. "Then she is the reason this clearing is frozen? You must not hold on too tightly Naruto, it will only hurt you more."

"It will?" "It will," Both Haku and I spoke at the same time. Haku agreeing with Gramps and I knew then and there that they were right.

"How?" I asked gramps, however, it was Haku who answered.

"She's gone, but you refuse to accept that it was not you who caused it," Gramps nodded along with her, and we both watched as she changed, her clothes turning orange and slowly but surely she became me.

"You have passed your Psyche evaluation," Inoichi said as he approached. I wanted to smile but I just couldn't bring one forth.