Becoming

Part 8

 Naruto took a deep breath and took a step forward. Everyone hushed immediately,waiting for the blond to say something. They waited as he took the time to glare for a minute at each person. Then he looked directly at Jiraiya. The two shared a look for a long moment, and then both firmly nodded.

"I will admit that I did go out last night," Naruto said. "But what I did was important for the job Jiraiya and I are here to do. There are some things that I am still unable to tell you all about, but tell me, if ever someone sees the person who did murder them, someone who witnessed it, tell Jiraiya and I. Not just Jiraiya. Me too."

"In other words, we're saying this kid is innocent," Jiraiya said, patting Naruto on the shoulder. "So, let's quit accusing the kid of murdering people when it was I who told him to work on our mission."

Naruto just ignored everything anyone was saying and walked out of the house, feeling a bit hurt that they immediately accused him of being the murderer. Especially Tsunade. Naruto knew he had changed in the last few years, but hopefully not drastically enough to make her think that. Whatever, he didn't want to think of it anymore.

"Naruto!" Sakura yelled after him. Though that might normally have annoyed him, Naruto welcomed it this time. A reprieve from his thoughts.

"What?" Naruto asked as he turned, and instead of just finding her, he found Sasuke and Shikamaru there as well.

"Are you really Naruto?" Sasuke asked suddenly. "Our Naruto? The one we knew as children?" Naruto debated on that for a minute. In a way he was, but not really. He wasn't the little innocent Naruto that knew only hardships. When he was little, he'd thought he was so grown-up like, since he'd lived through everything the people gave him. But now, that Naruto seemed so young, so innocent. So, no, he wasn't really that Naruto.

"I'm the same person, at least," Naruto answered after a moment. "Oh, and don't worry, I'll be leaving Konoha again soon, so you won't have to see this monster anymore."

"Monster?" Sakura asked. It seemed pieces clicked and her eyes widened. "Oh! Naruto we're so sorry! We didn't want you to hear that!"

"Didn't want me to hear it?" Naruto laughed humorlessly. "No, because I thought you really wanted me to hear you call me a monster, an it, and troublesome."

"We're so sorry about that, Naruto! We were just following our parents and-" Sakura was interrupted.

"Save it, Sakura. I've heard that speech a million times. 'Oh, I'm so sorry Naruto, we were just following our parents examples! Can you blame us?' I'm tired of it." Naruto glared at them again and turned to walk away.

"Naruto!" It was Tsunade that yelled this time. "You told me you would at least watch their reactions! Listen to them! Can't you tell anything? Naruto, you're not so thickheaded."

"Thickheaded?" Naruto asked. He smirked at Tsunade. "Oh, I watched their reactions all right. They were just the same as the last 25 I've heard. And you know what? Those last 25 betrayed me."

"What's wrong with you, Naruto? You're not like this! When did you become so stubborn and hateful?" Tsunade looked angry. In fact, she looked like she was going to walk over and pound Naruto. Then Jiraiya appeared and grabbed her arm.

Naruto nodded his thanks. "Tsunade, what do you really know about me? What do any of you know about me? You weren't there through everything! The ones who know me most would probably be Jiraiya and Shino, and maybe a few others. Keep your mouths shut when you know nothing that went on. And Tsunade, you did just accuse me of murder, remember? Why should I listen to you?"

"What a nice speech, Naruto," a female voice said. From behind the blond, three people appeared. A girl with buns, a guy wearing green. Ugh, so much green. And then a guy with sunglasses.

"Oh! Hey, Tenten, Lee and Shino!" 

This part was a bit shorter-sorry about that. I was having difficulty writing it, so it took a bit of time. Anyway, thank you all soooo much for reading it, and I love all the comments! Thanks so much! You have no idea how happy they make me.