Behind the Mask (Naruto fanfiction) Completed

Extra - Naruto's birthday

Guess who's the dumb idiot that forgot to update this yesterday when it was actually his birthday. I am. I can be so dumb sometimes.

I loved life. Maybe I would have thought differently before I woke up in the hospital. I did hate it. Hated the seconds that I spent alive. The minutes that turned to hours and the hours that turned to days. I always hated life. The feeling that made me turn around and check who was behind me. Now I'm still scared of walking down the streets alone but I'm slowly healing. The wound in my heart that was always empty is being filled with memories and love from important people. The members of my team and others that love me.

Today was the 18th of October (I had to make it this date cause guess who's birthday it is.....mine:)) and I was sad that I spent my birthday stuck in a coma. That was a great way to spend my birthday. Note my sarcasm. I missed the only birthday that I was looking forward to. Maybe next year I will actually be able to hold a party and celebrate with my friends.

Today I was spending time with Sakura and Sasuke. We are taking a month break because stuff happened that I am not planning to think about right now. I haven't seen Kakashi sense at all today but I guess that's because he's busy. Everyone seemed busy for the past few days.

"Hey Naruto. Follow us we know a great ramen place." Sakura got me out of my daydream by shaking my body. That woke me up for good. Who knew Sakura was this strong.

"I bet it isn't  better then my favorite but sure I'll follow you two."

The walk to the "good ramen place" was awful for me. Every time I felt someone's eyes on me that weren't Sakura's or Sasuke's, I would hold their shoulders and hide behind their backs. I couldn't stand seeing people look at me. I could see my teammates sad faces as I shivered in fear and whimpered as I hugged them tightly from the back.  I knew I was being a scaredy cat but I couldn't control it.

We reached what looked like a big Hall. Never knew ramen shops had this much space. I turn my head towards Sasuke and raise my eyebrows at

"This ramen place looks too big to actually be a ramen place." I say with a superior tone. Seriously if they thought that this place was a ramen shop they are stupider then I thought.

"But it is," Sasuke stares at me while he tries hard not to laugh.
Me and Sakura start laughing because of his expression and I give him a 'are you serious look."
I suddenly stop laughing as I feel him and Sakura tie something over my eyes and I can't see.
I start to panic as my heart beats increasingly fast.
I knew it.
They want to hurt me.
I knew it.
They don't like me. They tied my eyes so that I can't see where they are taking me. They are planning to kill me themselves.
Why.
In my heart I knew that they would never do that after they spent the whole weeks next to my bed crying. But my head was not agreeing with my heart. After all it's hard not to be scared after the people of my own village treated me the way they treated me.

I started whimpering and shivering as I felt their arms holding me tight. I felt them move me somewhere. This is it. This is what trusting people leads to. I should have never wanted to join a ninja team. I should have stayed home all days. My house is safe. Safe.

My head was a mess. I felt cold shivers run down my spine as I trembled. My knees weak and I felt like they were about to give up on me. Then suddenly I felt hands close to my head. I closed my eyes even though I knew nothing would change.

I couldn't feel their hands anymore. I slowly opened my eyes and I couldn't stop the tears from falling down. What I saw made my heart melt into a warm puddle at the bottom of my tummy.

"HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY NARUTO."

I felt my knees give up as I fell to the floor. Happy tears streaming down my already puffy eyes. All of the People I cared about were standing behind an orange birthday cake. All wearing happy smiles.
Sasuke was there.
Sakura was there.
Kakashi sensei was there.
The old man was there.
Iruka sensei was there.
Everyone was there.

"I'm sorry. I thought you wanted to hurt me. I never thought you would do something like this for me."
I run up and hug all of them tightly.

"Hush. It's fine. We're here so we can finally celebrate all the birthdays that we never have celebrated together." Iruka rubs circles on my back as I soak all of their backs with my tears.

That day was my favorite day. The best day of my life. The best birthday.

I know I have a family.

And I love them.