Okay...so, I don't have an exact title for this story, nor a real plot besides Naruto being down in the dumps and contemplating suicide after Sakura marries Sasuke; two years after he left the village. Sasuke killed Orochimaru, Kabuto and Itachi, finally settling his vengeance. Obito and Madara are dead, and the Akatsuki are intent on capturing the jinchuriki and brainwashing them into powerhouse slaves. This is my first time doing a type of angst, hurt depressing Naruto. And who should come help him? Well, it'll be made obvious in this chapter. Uhm...enjoy?

-V

'Of course it would be him.' Naruto thought bitterly, watching Sakura walk down the isle and towards him and Sasuke. He couldn't but help admire the beauty of her white dress, the way it flowed behind her. Cherry blossoms littered the ground, Sakura's green eyes filled with nothing but love and admiration for her soon-to-be husband. 'It's been Sasuke since before the Academy. I don't even know why I bothered chasing her all this time. In a sick way, I thought that it would be I standing up there, and not him.' He forced himself to smile and clap as their lips connected, watching the two be swarmed by happy guests. He caught Kakashi's eye, giving a pained smile. Kakashi merely nodded sadly, his eye flickering to the exit. Wordlessly, Naruto refused. He couldn't. Not when it was Sakura's happy day. He wouldn't allow her to be unhappy; especially not today. Not after all the effort he put into bringing Sasuke back.

Two years. It took two years to finally get the bastard back and in that time he had gained enough power to kill Orochimaru, Kabuto and his brother, Itachi. When he and Team 7 encountered one another, he started down the path of redemption, Sakura and the rest of the village helping him along the way. Kakashi and the rest of Konoha 11 kept their distance, and Naruto could only watch from the sidelines as Sasuke finally returned Sakura's feelings. For Naruto, it all went down the shitter from there.

He watched hopelessly as they grew closer and closer, until Sasuke finally popped the question. It was at the Akimichi BBQ, everyone was gathered. On that day, Naruto forced himself to smile and congratulate the two, shaking Sasuke's hand before excusing himself to go to the restroom. The blonde headed prankster then left the restaurant out the back, heading home to bawl his heart out. In his place was a shadow clone, while the original wept.

Naruto shook his head, pushing away the thoughts as he observed everyone at the party. Sasuke and Sakura were having their first 'wedding dance' together. Shikamaru and Temari lazily held each other and shuffled their feet. Kiba and Hinata were off in their own little world. He smiled fondly, remembering when Kiba finally got the courage to ask out Hinata, the indigo haired kunoichi saying yes. It seemed she had finally viewed Naruto as family, instead of a love interest. He swallowed the lump in his throat as he walked slowly over to the refreshments, pouring himself a glass of tea. He swirled it, watching the ice cubes rotate. He desperately wanted to go get hammered, but he wouldn't. Not now, anyways.

Suddenly a pale hand holding a cup thrust itself in front of his face, causing him to blink owlishly. "Well," a feminine voice softly stated to his right, "you gonna pour me a drink, whiskers?" He turned to see the blue eyes of Ino Yamanka, who merely smiled sadly. She had to hear rants of how 'stupid' Naruto was for asking Sakura out on a date, plenty of times. Now, instead of a immature child, was a damaged man who seemed incapable of repair. He poured her a drink in silence, making an attempt to walk off. She grabbed his wrist, "Hey now, wait a moment."

He turned, raising an eyebrow before quickly attempting to put on his mask. "What is it, Ino?"

She smiled softly again, her lips curving up but not quite reaching her eyes. She set her and his drink down, tugging him out onto the dance floor, before wrapping her arms around his neck. "Dance with me, before the night's over?" Naruto blushed lightly, before his hands grabbed her hips, the two beginning to sway. "So Naruto." She began, "How do you feel?"

"I feel fine-" He started, but upon seeing her gaze, the lie died in his throat. His eyes became downcast, hidden behind his bangs. "I'm dying inside, Ino. I mean, I know I should've given up on her long ago...but I just couldn't. I had to keep my promise." He whispered.

"And now that you kept it, what's stopping you from living? From giving up on her, now that she's married?" She whispered back, meeting his gaze.

"I don't know. Perhaps it'll just take time." He shrugged, however even as he said it, he knew it wasn't true. His heart was damaged due to the feelings he harbored towards the pinkette; damage that wouldn't heal over time by itself. It would need a nurturing love, one that a mother would give to her child. One that he wouldn't receive.

The dance over, Ino and Naruto stood in the same fixed position for a moment, before his hands dropped lamely to his sides. Her hands retracted from his neck, as he repressed a shudder. They were so warm and small, delicate like a flower. "Perhaps." She pursed her lips for a moment, in thought. "If you ever need to talk, I'm here for you, alright?"

He blinked for a moment and in a whisper he asked, "Why? You weren't ever offering before."

She smiled sadly, her eyes glimmering with unshed tears. "Because...I was blind to how hurt you were. How none of us offered to help you. Ever. I'm here now, though. I'm offering now. Whenever the pressure on your shoulders get too much to bear, come find me and I'll help lift the weight of the world off of you. I want to atone for my past mistakes as a friend." Naruto was left speechless as she leaned up, planting a kiss on his cheek. "Goodnight, whiskers. Please don't do anything reckless." With that, the platinum blonde haired kunoichi brushed past him, disappearing into the crowd. Naruto stood there in a stupor, a hand reaching up to touch his cheek for a moment. He swallowed and quietly made his way out of the crowd, making his way towards Kakashi.

The one-eyed jounin saw him and nodded slightly. "Naruto."

"Kakashi-Sensei." Naruto greeted back, his hands in his pockets.

"Need to talk?" His teacher offered, inclining his head slightly.

"No. Just wanted to tell you that I'm retiring for the night. I've had enough fun." He forced the grin upon his face, waving as he turned away. "See ya!" Kakashi said nothing, merely watching his student walk out the door. He turned to the couple of the hour, watching them dance their hearts out, neither of them noticing the third member of Team Seven vanishing. A pair of blue eyes noticed, twinkling with sadness.

Once outside, Naruto walked a block away before jumping up to the rooftops and rushing off. He felt like he was suffocating, felt like he was trapped. It was difficult to breath, and the damned suit made it so hot. He continued to run, headed for the spot he always went to when he was down or alone. Arriving, he panted slightly before taking off his tie and jacket, throwing them to the ground. He sat down upon the Fourth's head, the intense feelings of sadness overwhelming him. He didn't know when the tears started to roll down his face, stinging his eyes, but he didn't care. He sobbed, weeping his heart out once more. He felt like he should just crawl in a hole and die. His tears slowed down, as he slowly got an idea. 'Don't even think about it.'The fox warned from within.

'Shut up, Kurama. Think about it. Before I die, I can set you free.' Naruto reasoned, trying to make the fox see that death was his only escape.

'No. You've been through beatings, Pain, the Akatsuki, well some of them, Orochimaru, and tons of other shit! I refuse to have you die like a coward!'The fox raged.

'FUCK YOU, YOU BAKA FOX! HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE AND LOST THAT PERSON?'

'YES I HAVE, YOU INSOLENT CHILD! IF YOU REMEMBER, I HAD A WHOLE FAMILY BEFORE THEY WERE SLAIN.'Naruto had no retort, I mean, how could he. He looked down at his shaking hands, before pulling out a kunai. 'Naruto, I will heal you each and everytime! There's no way you'll die with me around.'The fox persisted in a somewhat smug tone.

'Do you ever get tired of healing me? Just this once, let the blood flow. Let the wounds not close up. Let the suffering end.' Naruto whispered mentally, dragging the blade against the cuff of his shirt slowly, watching as it tore into the thread. Hearing no response from the fox, Naruto figured that was the 'go ahead and do what you want'. He swallowed, shakily dragging blade across his wrist, watching as it cut into the flesh, the blood pooling up and spilling down almost immediately. He frowned slightly, the cut wasn't deep enough to cause bloodloss yet. So, with a deep sigh, Naruto slid the blade across his skin once more, watching as blood flowed down his arm like a red river. He must have hit a vein, for he was beginning to feel woozy. He swallowed and laid back onto the grass, bleeding out slowly onto the Fourth Hokage's head. He smiled, his lips curving up as he let out a weak chuckle. "Heh. At least I got to dance with a beautiful girl before I died. Sorry, Ino, looks like I can't not do anything reckless, ne? Thank you though, for making my sorrows go away for the time being." With that said, he closed his eyes and let the sweet darkness embrace him...only to wake up in the hospital. He blinked and immediately shut his eyes, groaning. Hearing movement to his left, he tilted his head and squinted open his eye to stare at...

...the pissed off and hurt expression of one Ino Yamanaka. "What were you thinking?" She hissed out. "Trying to leave all of us?" She leaned in close, poking a finger to his chest. "Do you know how terrified me and Kakashi were when we find you passed out on the Hokage Monument with blood pouring out of your wrist from a very stupidly placed cut? Do you know how terrified Lady Tsunade was when I had to go tell her that you were in the ER and needing a blood transfusion? What the fuck were you thinking, Uzumaki?" She growled out. "Choose your words carefully."

"I..." He swallowed, sweating bullets at the female. Why were women so scary when angered or scared? He let out a sigh and closed his eyes. "I wanted to die because I'm selfish. I've been hurting all my life and this was the last straw. I just wanted to end it all, so that I wouldn't get hurt and so no one would have to deal with me anymore." He whipped his head to the side, his cheek stinging from the slap Ino just delivered. His head was violently ripped back to face her, tears streaming down her face. He for one, was confused to the nine circles of Hell. Why was she crying? Why over him?

"You idiot." She whispered out, clenching her eyes shut. "You stupid, neglected, abused idiot. You may have been hurting all your life, and end it all. But we love dealing with you. With your loud, boisterous voice, your obnoxious attitude, the way you never give up and fight for what you belief in...and even that horrendous orange jumpsuit." She let out a strangled giggle, wiping her eyes. "We love you Naruto. Everyone in the village. We don't want you gone. I don't want you gone." She whispered, looking into his eyes.

"I...what are you trying to say?" Naruto choked out, blushing.

"I think you know, Naruto Uzumaki!" She slapped his chest playfully, her tears drying up. "I've felt this way about you since you defeated Neji in the Chunin exams. I just...I never came out about it because of the invasion, Sasuke's defection, and you leaving. And then, when you finally get back and I have the chance to, you go after Gaara. And now, after all this time, Pain's invasion and the wedding, I had a chance and you nearly kill yourself?!" She crossed her arms under her chest, 'hmph'ing with her lower lip out in a pout.

Naruto was speechless, eyes wide as he stared at the female in front of him. Ino Yamanka, loud mouth blonde who loved purple and flowers, the kunoichi who he has known since the academy, loved him? He couldn't wrap his head around it, and unfortunately for him, he wouldn't get the chance at that moment. The two blondes looked up as the door slammed open, a crack appearing in the wall. Honey brown eyes met cerulean blue and Naruto managed to let out a girly scream before Tsunade stalked closer.

There. I...there. Have some comedy to lighten up the depressing shit of this chapter. I dunno how long it'll be. *shrug* R&R, folks!

-V