OK pplz! This is my first story...like EVER so be gentle....pretty please?

DISCLAIMER: um, i totally DO NOT own Naruto. If i did, Ino would be DEAD! (i really don't like her) and so would Sasori(creepy little freak)....So please don't sue me.....

___________________________________________________________chapter 1 ________________________________________________________-

The arm moved with lightening speed, striking the small boy's left cheek and sending him crashing into the wall. The momentum had his head snapping back with a loud crack as the scent of blood,alcohol and something not familiar invaded the child's senses.

"Na...ru...to" The man growled as he neared the fallen boy.

The voice sent a shiver of icy fear down his back. He couldn't quite stop the tremors that the voice had brought. Barely noticed the tears leaking from his eyes as he tried to stay conscious. This was bad... really bad. He knew what was coming and it terrified him.

The man laughed at the fear so obviously shown on the blonde's face. He loved it. Loved making him cry and scream in pain. Loved knowing that he could have anything he wanted and the child could do nothing about it.

A dark chuckle sounded in the darkness of the room as he grabbed a fistful of blonde hair and jerked the child up, grinning at the wail of pain he was given.

He couldn't explain it. The sense of pleasure he received with each cry and sob that the boy made. It didn't matter. This little addiction he had. The euphoric feeling that no drug could ever copy. No one knew. No one would ever find out. He smiled.... Oh yes, this was going to be fun.....

His thoughts were cut off as the boy screamed and tried to free himself. It was beautiful, he decided while he stared at the child. Golden locks, partially covered in the crimson blood. Large impossibly blue eyes filled with fear. The too small of a body trembling uncontrollably.

He laughed.

------{*}-----

A panicked scream echoed through out the empty silent house as the young man bolted upright on his palet on the floor. Trembling, he ran a shaky hand through his messy,sweaty blonde hair and stiffled a sob. This was the third time this week that he'd had that.... nightmare.

Frowning, he eyed himself with disdain. The single sheet he had been given was twisted impossibly around his waist and legs. Sweat clung to his tan skin even as chills raised along his spine. Scars marred his partly visible legs and arms, as well as most of his chest.

Shaking his head to try and clear it from the unwanted images, the boy struggled briefly to untangle himself before walking on shaky legs to the only window in the room.

'Eight years....' He thought, frowning into the darkness. ' Eight years and I still can't forget. I still end up right back in the same situation. Forgive me....Sensei....'

A sigh escaped the broken,bloody lips of the blonde teenager as he leaned his forehead against the window. The glass was comfortingly cool and seemed to help slow his racing thoughts.

It had happened....again.

Reaching up to touch the rather obvious bruise on his right cheek, Naruto Uzumaki turned away from the city lights and fell, exhausted, onto the floor. It was cold and hard; but it was the only thing that was his in the entire house he now called home.

No. That wasnt quite right. 'Home is where your heart is'....or at least that was what he'd been told. And his heart was definitely NOT here.

Another sigh.

Sapphire eyes roamed the crumbling room and he stiffled another groan. The walls were cracked and peeled and the ceiling turning a dark brown and black in certain places where the rain had begun to leak through. The carpet had once been an almost pretty shade of gray, but now looked molded and tattered. It even smelled old. And no amount of scrubbing on Naruto's part could ever return the room to looking anything near livable. But he lived here anyway...

But he didn't have to....Did he? He could change his life, right? Make his own path? Familiar brown eyes flickered to life in his mind, calling up the echoing words that he needed to hear....'Anything, Naruto. I mean it. You call me and I will do anything in my power to help you.....'

Making the decision suddenly, he reached for his cell phone. A gift from his overly naive and protective sensei. He refused to second guess himself as he dialed a familiar number and raised the phone to his ear.

A small smile was allowed to grace his usually solemn face as a much welcomed voice echoed through the speaker.....

"Hello?"

He turned empty eyes to the ceiling. "Hello, Iruka-Sensei...."

"Naruto?! What's wrong? Are you alright?"

The tan fingers tightened their grip on the small peice of technology until he heard it crack. And for the first time in eight years Naruto Uzumaki told the truth...." No."

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Thanx for reading! please review!