Chapter 9: 9. Nightmare
In the house, Naruto washed up anymore stains as he felt like he didn't want to leave any room for error.
Drying his hair, he walked out into his small balcony ad looked at the trees, the Anbu's hiding in the trees and in the surrounding had thought they were found out, so they became alert.
However to their relief Naruto just seemed oblivious as he sneezed and rubbed his nose, after eating his fish Naruto went into his bed as he drifted into his mind.
Today for some reason he especially felt like the world was even duller than normal, looking around the house, all Naruto could see was a colourless world testimony to his lack of emotion.
Closing his eyes he sighed.
——-
Mark, a young and vulnerable child version of himself, stood alone in the dimly lit street of Heaton Park. His parents, John and Catherine approached him with unsettling smiles of their faces.
Mark confused tearfully asked "mom? dad? What's happening?".
His dad John smiled unnaturally. "Oh, Mark, don't worry. We've found a much better place for you."
Catherine grinned, "yes darling. A place where you'll be happier, with people who can give you everything we couldn't."
"But… but I want to stay with you. I thought you loved me?" Mark said struggling to comprehend what was happening.
John waved his hand dismissively "oh Mark, love isn't enough. We're doing what's best for you son".
Catherine tried hiding her smile as she nodded with false enthusiasm, "yes dear. You'll meet so many new friends and have so many opportunities, it's for your future".
Hearing that Mark's eyes welled up with tears, seeing his parents walk away leaving him behind in the middle of a park.
Desperately reaching out Mark screamed "please don't leave me! Mom, dad, I need you!".
John looked back with fake sympathy as his voice was laced with melancholy "it's time to be strong, Mark, you'll understand one day".
Marks mother also fake smiled "we love you, remember that."
"NO! I'm not strong!, I'm just six!, please p-please don't leave!" Mark's legs shaking from the amount of fear and uncertainty collapsed, looking up he saw both his parents walk away with devilish smiles, the darkness of the night added to their ungodly smiles.
Mark sat in the middle of the park, the street light shined on him as tears fell from his eyes, he sobbed for an hour, tears of regret and sadness rose, the neighbours if awake would be able to hear a young boy, lost asking for help in his cries.
However no one came, he slowly got up and walked away into the distance.
Broken.
———
Naruto jolted awake as he rose from his bed, his clothes drenched in sweat. Tears were streaming down his cheeks as he was catching his breath.
Recalling that nightmare, he trembled but quickly wiped away his tears.
Naruto spoke with a choked voice "n-not again, please stop haunting me!".
Getting up he took off his clothes as he went straight into the shower, looking at the floor tiles, remnants of the nightmare kept playing in his thoughts.
Clenching his fists, Naruto wondered what he had done for his parents to abandon him ruthlessly.
"Why… why did they leave me?".
Kurama hearing this, thought Naruto was sad about his parents Minato and Kushina, feeling guilty he just shut his eyes.
After sorting out his emotions, Naruto quietly made himself breakfast, feeling these negative emotions increase Naruto decided to walk along the street to cool his mind down.
As Naruto walked through the quiet street, he could see the store owners quietly opening up for a new day.
Seeing him, the store owners felt a loathing even they didn't understand, feeling the negativity hurdling his way, Naruto hurdled towards ichiraku ramen.
The aroma of freshly cooked ramen hit his nose as a small smile creeped onto his face. Finding an empty seat at the counter, Naruto sat.
Teuchi seeing Naruto smiled kindly.
"Same as usual?".
"Yes", Naruto nodded looking the counter.
"Ok", Teuchi nodding got to work, he skilfully prepared the dish. As he worked, he observed Naruto, he felt that today Naruto's emotions were out of control, concerned he struck up a conversation.
"You know son, I have a token in which you can eat here for half the price, and I'm willing to only give it you since your my most loyal customer!".
Waking up from his thoughts, Naruto looked up at Teuchi, the negative feelings that was thrown at him constantly was no where to be found.
His heart throbbed seeing the kindness in Teuchi's, his lips trembled as he grabbed the coupon.
"T-thank you", seeing Naruto's face full grief and loneliness, Teuchi's heart felt like it was being stabbed by needles.
Having a daughter he knew how it would feel for a child to have no parents, along with being hated by the whole village, so he has made it his priority to make this a safe haven for Naruto.
A place in which he'd feel safe. After finishing his food Naruto got up as he said good bye to Teuchi.
Ever since that dream, Naruto's hatred deepened, he hated everything and everyone, sitting in that park no one had come to help him, each face he walked past towards his home irked his killing intent, he wanted to cause destruction.
'This world is an endless abyss of disappointment and heartache'.
'No matter where I am, I incur hatred, I never wanted this, all I asked for was a loving family, but that seems impossible'.
Arriving back home Naruto took off his top as he trained to release all the accumulating hatred.
Doing push-ups Naruto's eye looked sharp, even if he had so called 'friends', due to feeling their emotions he knew they still had some hatred towards him.
No matter how much they tried to hide, it was still evident that they thought of him as nothing but a demon fox.
After finishing up his daily training, Naruto replaced himself with his shadow clone, to further continue honing his techniques out in the forest.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone