Surviving Konoha High

Chapter 1

Naruto needed to stop getting attached.

The funeral should have come as no surprise. He should have learned by now, sooner or later everyone who grows close with him gets hurt. It was a numbing experience as he stood there stoically watching the coffin lowered.

It was a forgettable experience when social services came to get him, afterall he couldn't even remember how many times he'd been transferred. So he didn't cry, crying meant admitting it was real. Admitting this was all just reality reminding him people like Naruto didn't deserve nice things.

All he could do was ponder if his new town would be the same as Shibuya, or if he'd spend the rest of his teen years being avoided. Jiraya would call him stupid for thinking that,

"Who wouldn't love 170cm of pure joy, honestly Naruto sometimes you laugh so bright I think you're going to puke rainbows".

It was laughable how optimistic the old man could be. Even when he was considered a bastard child, abandoned by his parents, Jiraya took him in. And now he was gone. Forever.

Naruto flopped down on his bed face first thinking of how easy it would be to slip back into the invisible figure he was before Jiraya.

Unmemorable everywhere he went, maybe that was his power, to slip away from everyone's memories, doomed to be alone and forgotten forever. If soulmarks came as words he can guarantee what his would read out,

"I don't remember you"

It was easy to laugh it off even as it hurt. After all he's the wonder boy; always happy, a golden retriever with an innocence the world has yet to taint. It was easy to tell that's what everyone thought of him. Yet as he infinitely cherishes the memories they make together, forever never seemed to matter to others. That doesn't make him cry either, it's been that way for as long as he could remember, it's expected of him to always be happy no matter the situation.

If you ask him when was the last time he truly felt happy it'd be his 13th birthday. When Jiraya took him in and gave him something worth living for. Now realizing that was the calm before the storm he hates himself for ever going with Jiraya. You can't miss something you've never had; but he's had a taste of love and kindness. The warmth that met his meltdowns, the calming voice that battled the insecurities he would scream, they were no longer there.

They were gone forever.

"October 10, 2020, Naruto Uzumaki's sweet sixteen and the 6th anniversary of his parents' death."

That would have been a grand title for the birthday invitations. It's not like he had anyone to invite, and those who he would consider asking would definitely not show up. The time 00:01 stares at him from his phone. Sleep comes easily once he realizes there's nothing worth staying awake for after all so after Naruto releases a deep sigh and mumbles,

"Happy birthday to me."

...and dreams of giving cheers to getting older and unhappier.