Chapter Text
Walking home with his head down and the corners of his lips turned down into a frown was getting more and more familiar these days. Jiji said that he could come see him today, he said that he had time for him and he lied. He barely got inside the Hokage building before some ninja told him that the Hokage was busy. They didn't even let him ask why, they just forced him out of the building.
This was the fifth time. The fifth time that he needed him, the fifth time that JIji told Naruto he had the time and they could meet in his office, just for Naruto to get turned away at the doors. He was over it. Why did he have to get his hopes up so high that he would finally be able to see the old man, just to have them crash back down minutes later.
He could feel his bottom lip trembling with the effort he put into holding his tears back. On top of it all, just to make his bad day a little bit worse, he could hear the villagers. Their harsh whispers stabbing into him like senbon. With each step he took it felt like the whispers just got harsher, and more aggressive. Words being spit out like blood, some even confident enough to yell directly at him.
He knew something was wrong when it suddenly got quieter, and damn him for taking an alley, hoping to get out of there sooner. Now he was just alone in this dark alley, with the ominous quiet that never followed him outside. He heard their footsteps before he saw them. Turning around and coming face to face with a mob of people. Shinobi and civilians alike, a murderous glint in their eyes and killing intent leaking from the crowd.
He turned around hoping for an escape, only to see more people had crowded him. Forming a circle, throwing jeers and beer bottles his way. He brought his arms to his head in an attempt to shield himself from the flying glass. No words were spoken, at least not to him. The only things he could hear were the sounds of breaking glass and the familiar insults of “demon” “murderer” “you should just die” “kyuubi brat” “monster” .
One man stepped forward, the bravest in the crowd he mused. He didn't say anything before swinging his fists immediately. Naruto didn't have time to react, much less block the barrage of blows raining down on him. He fell to the floor under the weight of the man's fists. Apparently, the man's show of bravery to actually touch the demon, inspired others too. Shinobi threw kunai and shuriken as precisely as they could to ensure damage, villagers kicking him so hard they broke his ribs, his head getting knocked against the pavement over and over until he could see the blood pooling on the ground next to him, slurs thrown from every direction, the last thing he saw before passing out was the man's fist coming down again.
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Naruto's head was throbbing. He couldn’t feel the familiar springs of his bed stabbing into his back like they usually did. He tried prying his eyes open, only for them to feel as though they were glued shut. The first thing he felt was panic. Bubbling up in his chest making it hard to breathe. He shot up and registered the sticky concrete below him; he brought his hands to his face and forced his eyes open. Looking around he realized why his body hurt. The blood coating the floor and his clothes, seemingly also gluing his eyes shut. He looked around trying to spot if he had left anything in the alley, noticing nothing besides the weapons left behind, he shrunk in on himself, turned around, and continued his trek home in the dark.
He could tell he was nearing his apartment because of the smell; alcohol, piss, and vomit mixed together doesn't exactly make a pleasant scent. He could see the women in short skirts getting led into alleys by stray men on the streets. He weaved through the drunks and the people begging for money. Walking up the stairs on over-exerted and wobbly legs, he trudges to his door and unlocks it. As soon as he entered he kicked his shoes off and collapsed onto his bed. In desperate need for a nap after the kind of day he had. His eyes were drooping, breath slowing, and then- he was falling.
He opened his eyes as quickly as possible, he saw the ankle deep muddy water and remembered. Kurama. He smiled softly and ran to Kurama’s cage,
“Kura!! I haven't talked to you in a while, ya know. You'll never guess what happened today Jiji said I could come again and guess what he di–” Naruto started rambling before being cut off with a growl.
“Kura..? wha- whats wrong? did i do somethin? ‘M sorry ya know…” Naruto's voice lowered with shame, confusion and guilt swarmed him because he didn't know what he did.
“No kit, it's not you. Your injuries kit, how did you get them? I go to sleep for a couple hours and when I wake up you're horribly injured; even my chakra that you can access can't heal it all.” Kurama replies with a deep scowl on his face.
Naruto crosses the threshold into the fox’s cage and immediately sits down on his front paw. “‘M sorry kura… i don't know what i did i was just walking ‘m sorry” Naruto's voice wavered and he sniffled softly, trying to hold back tears.
“It’s okay kit, it's not your fault it's those malevolent villagers. I'm sorry this has happened to you, my kit. I fear the only solution that would avoid you going to the hospital to care for your injuries, would be further merging our chakra.” Kurama said, attempting to make his voice comforting.
Naruto's sniffles paused, he looked up with wide teary eyes and tilted his head similar to a confused puppy. “H-how da we do that? I wanna, ya know. I don't like hospitals.”
Kurama brought the boy on his paw closer, “It’s alright kit I can handle it, you just need to get some rest.”
Naruto nodded his head and closed his eyes, curling closer to the welcoming heat of Kurama's fur. He could feel himself drifting off, not wanting to leave without saying goodbye, “g’night kura, i'll miss ya” he mumbled, hearing a comforting purr before fully drifting off.