How Much Can A Smile Hide

Chapter Seven

Taina: Hey guys! I haven't updated in so long. Oh my god. I'm such an ass. I'm so sorry. Starts to break down in tears.

Naruto: Shh...shh. It's alright Taina-Chan. I know they'll forgive you as long as you write a nice, long, exciting chapter.

Taina: Oh I will! I'll make the best damn chapter of this book in the history of the chapters that I've written! Flame bursts in her eyes showing a huge amount of determination.

Naruto: That's the spirit! Oh! By the way, Taina-Chan owns nothing but the story line, believe it! Now on we go!

Iruka's POV
My eyes widened as I continued to listen to Naruto playing the piano without missing a single note and my sang such a heart wrenching song. Is this how he really feels?

As he finished the song the piano slowly disappears into the floor but the stick crown was still there and his eyes were closed. I started to slowly move towards him so I wouldn't startle him but one of the floor boards creaked and his eyes shot open.

"No! No! No! I didn't do anything! Please don't hurt me! I didn't!" He yelled as his back hit the wall and he slumped down into a hunched position. He was shaking.

My eyes widened in surprise. The number one prankster, troublemaker, and happy-go-lucky kid in the school was crying with his back pressed up against the wall 5 hours before school was supposed to start.

"N..Naruto? What's wrong? Why would I hurt you?" I said worryingly.

He slowly looked up at me and I could clearly see the tears steaming down his face. "S...sen...sensei?" He asked nervously.

"Yeah. It's me. What's wrong Naruto? What makes you think that I would ever hurt you? What happened to make you act like this?" I asked. He turned his head towards the ground and stayed silent.

My eyes widened in realization. "Do you perhaps, know about some things that your not supposed to know yet." He asked slowly. Naruto nodded.

I sighed. 'Well that explains that but why would I hurt him?' I looked at him questioningly as he stood up slowly and then he walked over to me and wrapped his arms around my waist, hugging me tightly.

I hesitated before wrapping my arms around him, hugging him back.

I heard quiet sobbing and it took me a second to realize that the crying was Naruto. I rubbed his back in comforting circles and asked "What's wrong?"

"It's just...it's really hard. You know? With the villagers and the beatings going on non stop it's just hard to deal with it all sometimes. I didn't want you to see me like this but I guess it's too late now." He answered,
calming down a bit.

The information processed and I gently grabbed his shoulders so that I could look at his face. His eyes were red and puffy and they had this dead, cloudy look to them. His skin and hair is paler than usual. And when I took a really good look at him I can clearly see that he's skinnier than he should be. He was also limping when I first saw him.

"What do you mean by beatings and is something wrong with your leg?" He visibly flinched and then gave an almost inaudible sigh.

"You see, since I have the 'you know what' inside of me the villagers don't like me very much, they hate me in fact. So every chance they get whether I'm just lounging in my apartment or walking by they'll attack me. Weapons, fire, poison, random objects. They'll use anything and everything to hurt me by any and all means. Even if it's just one of the villager's kids throwing a rock at me. A lot of the time they like to sneak into my house and steal any and all food I have and destroy everything. That's why I keep everything important to me hidden."

"And yes, yesterday on the way home from school, I got attacked and they broke my leg. But that's something that I can deal with. It can get really bad sometimes. A few years ago they stole something that I can never get back." He said with tears starting to run down his face.

"What is it?" I asked softly. He placed his head on my chest and took a shaky breath. "They took my virginity. And I can never get that back." He whispered. My eyes widened in anger and I unconsciously hugged him tighter. 'How can someone do that to such an innocent child?!'

When I heard Naruto start to sob I looked at him and he started to speak again. "It's really hard, you know? Dealing with it all and pretending to be happy so that everyone thinks your okay. But it's not and that's the reality. Sometimes I wake up in the morning and think 'Why can't I just die?' "

I started to cry to as he clung to me and I held onto him in a safe embrace. We stayed there for a long time, and crying and hugging.

Author's POV

Before they knew it children were starting to walk into the classroom. It was an unnerving sight to see. The happiest student there was sobbing into their crying teachers chest.

All of the students watched quietly. Observing their teacher and classmate cling onto each other and cry.

A little while after the last student silently walked in Naruto fell asleep in Iruka's arms and you could hear his quiet snores.

Iruka wiped his tears with the back of his hand and chuckled before gently picking him up bridal style and walking to the door.

But he stopped in the doorway not even looking back and said "I'll be back in a few minutes. I need to take Naruto home. He's been through a lot and needs his rest." Then he walked out of the room.

The one thought going through the student's heads when he left was 'What was that all about?'

Taina: It's not very long. Hangs head low in disappointment.

Naruto: It's okay Taina-chan. It may not be very long. But I think it's a chapter worthy of appreciation.

Taina: Wipes her nose and looks up with hopeful eyes. You really think so?

Naruto: Happily nods his head. Believe it!

Taina: A grin pops up on her face. Thanks Naruto. I needed that. Anyway thank you for reading and sorry I haven't updated in so long. I've been super busy and couldn't think of what to write.

Both: Stand side by side and bow before standing up straight again and waving to the reader. See ya in the next chapter! Bye!