Prologue

"It's so lonely in here…" A six year old blonde haired boy mumbled quietly as he scrutinized his new apartment. He told the Hokage that he wanted to get out of the orphanage because of how hard it was for him to fit in, to socialize, to belong.

But as Naruto looked at the dark space that serves as his new haven, he is having second thoughts about moving out. Usually orphans can only move out of the orphanage if they were adopted or labelled as an adult; and neither was Naruto. The only explanation he got why he was even allowed was that the Old man said he was special.

For Naruto, he was horribly special.

The statement sounded so sweet in his six year old ears.

He always gets glared at, but no one dared to unleash physical harm upon him. Naruto knew that that was it. That was the limitation. It means that it never stopped anybody from badmouthing him whether behind his back or in front of his face. The reason he even learned how to swear was because drunken people always swear at him, and that Kami should send him to the deepest pit of hell soon.

So imagine the Old man's surprise when Naruto accidentally tripped over his feet and scraped his knee, the child cursed loudly. The Hokage always told him that it was bad to swear, and that he should never do it.

No one cared about him except the old man, so why should he care what they think of him? He swears all the time he wanted, no parents to tell him off, no relatives to be horrified at his vocabulary, nor friends to tease him about it.

Naruto didn't care what they think about him. Until one day.

The Old man invited him to eat outside. At first, he was reluctant. He didn't want to go outside because he was then safe from their cold eyes. Naruto saw how people respected the Hokage, how their faces would light up as soon as the large red hat came into view, or how their faces shifted to that of awe when they saw a ninja.

Something changed in him that day.

A sparkle of hope entered him, that maybe when he became one, he might get those warm, caring, and understanding eyes. Acknowledgement. Respect. Trust.

Naruto then learned the necessity of masks.

Not the usual mask that hides your physical visage, but the mask that hides who you are…who has nothing to prove but be himself. His emotional masks strongly held that few people saw through them. Mostly, the old man. Naruto learned to adapt in using one, because for all the struggling and suffering he has gone through, he won't give them the satisfaction of seeing him falter, seeing him affected, and seeing him weak.

If they wanted to discourage him, then he isn't going down without a fight.

Then maybe, when he has someone he could call precious, someone he could call his family, his friend, or his comrade…he would eventually learn to ignore the glares.

Naruto's only a six year old boy. He was once a happy child. No need of the masks. No need to shy away. He was just so naïve back then. But it was so unnerving to hear such thoughts from a six year old, whose mind is more complicated than an average 30-year old individual.

He just realized how juvenile he was being.

Trying to be a child when he was denied by that very thing. It's such a foolish thought for someone like him.

He tried every day. He struggled every hour. He suffered every minute. But no one can ignore the fact that he came out strong, that he survived.

As he surveyed the empty room, his small feet padded the carpeted floor slowly. Naruto was at least thankful that although the apartment was located at the dark neighborhood of Konoha, the Hokage managed to get him a decent if not a little worse for wear place to sleep in.

It's actually better than the streets. He could still remember the matron threatening to throw him out if he didn't follow their orders.

A childish part of him was tempted to show off his apartment to the matrons, showing them that he didn't need them pushing him around. The logical part of him, that just recently sprouted, said that he was finally out of their clutches and be just grateful.

He sat down at the edge of the bed and ran his small chubby fingers through the mattress. He just sat there for a while, contemplating his new predicament.

He should be happy.

He was finally free from their abusive environment. But the thought didn't make it feel any less lonely.

Naruto laid back on his bed as he stared at the dark ceiling, only illuminated from the glow coming from the moon through his window. A small bitter smile found its way onto his lips, he may be alone but he will strive to change that.

Maybe, he could learn what love is. He usually hears parents tell their children that they love them. It doesn't matter if it was parental love, friendship love, romantic love or familial love. Naruto knew, from what others say, that love can cure even the most painful wound.

Then, if he found that love, it could cure his wounded spirit.

Broken. Destroyed. Shattered. It can cure.

Or at least, that's what normal people around him say. And he wanted to be normal.

The blonde haired boy didn't even realize it. He had already fallen asleep before he knew it.

"I'm always here…never fret, never shy, I'm always here…I'll stay, I'll stand, you're always mine…" A voice sang its way to Naruto's ears, as the boy's shoulders eased out the tension without him noticing. He will never know that this is just the beginning…

…as warmth cloaked his figure, protecting, sweet, loving…