Naruto: A Different Life

Chapter 15: Trauma and Drama

After the attack Naruto barely spoke or smiled during his three days in the hospital. He picked at his food and jumped whenever someone walked into his room. The doctors were worried but they understood how traumatic the experience must have been for him. After all, his attacker was a monster in human form who nearly killed them. Kakashi had barley arrived in time to save the poor kid.

Since then Kat was banned from the hospital for trying to strangle Naruto when he attempted to laugh off what he did and where it had landed him. The topic had become very popular gossip in and outside of the hospital. People would talk about it when they thought Naruto couldn't hear, just like what his old village did, but like last time he could hear them as clear as day.

"Did you hear about the new kid, Naruto? Someone told me Gaara and Kat tried to kill him!"

"I guess it is understandable."

"How so?"

"Gaara is a monster in the first place, and Kat has anger issues at times. Especially when her charge tried to wave off his situation like it was no big deal."

"No way!"

"It's true!"

"Oh well, at least he survived the attack, the poor child. The Village should put the monster, Gaara, down for what he did."

"Why they haven't already is still a mystery to me."

That was just one of the many conversations he overheard as people would stop in front of his room or walk by it, forgetting to lower their voice enough. The whispers infuriated him. Not that he was the 'poor boy who was attacked' (that still ticked him off) but that most people agreed that Gaara should be 'put down like the monster he is'. Regardless to say when his three days were up he was nearly sprinting for the exit.

"Slow down, Naruto!" Kakashi called after him as Naruto burst from the hospital and screamed "FREEDOM!" A few of the bystanders laughed openly at his antics and others fought off smiles.

Kakashi strolled out the door and grabbed the back of Naruto's shirt as he was about the start running again. Naruto turned and looked at him quizzically. "Where do you think you are going?" The silver-haired ANBU asked with a smile.

"Uh, home?"

"Try again."

Not wanting to wait around much longer Naruto pondered where else he would go. He had already eaten, been released from the hospital, didn't plan on meeting up with anyone... What else would he be doing at 8:15 in the morning! Wait... eight fifteen... eight... fifteen... eight....

"The Academy!" Naruto announced with a smile. Kakashi did one of his close-eyed smiles to confirm Naruto's answer. "I am so late! C'mon!" Naruto then proceeded to try and drag Kakashi in the direction of The Academy (strangely enough was succeeding, much to the amusement of the bystanders once more) before Kakashi sighed and grabbed on to Naruto and did a teleportation jutsu, landing them right outside of the doors.

"Bye Kakashi!" Naruto called as he ran to the doors before pausing and running back and giving the ANBU a hug. Before Kakashi could react Naruto took off again and ran inside of the doors.

Once inside he dashed to his classroom and opened the door, silencing all conversations and the lesson. The teacher, a strict but kind woman in her twenties, turned and raised her eyebrow. "Your late take a seat."