Smile Like You Mean It

Disclaimer: Naruto is owned by Masashi Kishimoto, not I. And I don't own the title either, that is owned by The Killers

Summary: What would happen if Naruto stopped smiling?

Sometimes, it's easy to see that Naruto's smile is too big, too toothy, too convenient to be real. Too easy. Sometimes it's so obvious, that people truly believe that he is going crazy. Nobody smiles like that. Nobody can be so happy. And that's the truth, because Naruto isn't happy. He hasn't been happy for a very long time. He hasn't lived very long, but he knows that his life has been too short to not know what it's like to be truly happy. So he smiles. If he smiled, or made an expression reminiscent of a smile, he would at least feel happy.

The smile just makes his face hurt.

"Naruto, there's nothing funny about that! Why are you always smiling about stupid things you shouldn't be smiling about?!"

Because if I don't smile, I'll surely break

"Naruto, when will that irksome smile just leave your face? I mean, the kid just spit on you, and his mother called you a nasty word! Why are you smiling?"

Because if I don't smile, I'll surely cry

"It's not good news, Naruto. Iruka is in a very deep coma. We don't think… Naruto, why are you smiling about that?"

Because if I don't smile, I'll surely lose my reason for living

Sasuke left. Sakura hated him. Kakashi told him it was all his fault. Naruto never smiled so wide in all his life.

"Naruto, what's wrong? Why aren't you smiling?"

Because if I smile, I'll surely lose my mind

END.

Yep, another angsty one by yours truly.