The sun had barely begun to rise, casting a faint golden glow over the Hidden Leaf Village. Naruto's daily routine usually started early, but this morning was different. He never showed up for training with Sasuke and Sakura, leaving his teammates puzzled.

Sasuke, his expression darkening with worry, looked at Sakura. "This isn't like Naruto. He's never late for training."

Sakura nodded, her concern mirroring Sasuke's. "We should check on him. Maybe something happened."

They hurried to Naruto's small apartment, concern gnawing at them as they approached his door. To their shock, they found it slightly ajar. Pushing it open, they were met with a scene that sent shivers down their spines.

Naruto lay unconscious on the floor, battered and bruised. His clothes were torn, and his body was covered in cuts and bruises. It was evident that he had been brutally attacked.

Sakura gasped, rushing to Naruto's side. "Naruto! What happened to you?"

Sasuke's eyes burned with anger as he scanned the room for clues. "It looks like he was jumped by villagers and ninjas."

As they examined Naruto's injuries, they discovered a note left by his attackers. It was filled with hateful words, calling him a demon, a worthless freak, and suggesting that the world would be better off without him. The insults cut deep, and the severity of the attack left Sasuke seething with rage.

Sakura fought to hold back tears as she whispered, "We need to get him to the hospital, Sasuke."

With great care, they carried Naruto to the hospital, where the medical staff immediately began treating his injuries. Sasuke and Sakura remained by his side, their concern etched on their faces. It was a long and tense wait, filled with worry and anger.

When Naruto finally began to stir, groaning in pain, Sasuke and Sakura breathed sighs of relief. They leaned in, anxious to hear his voice.

"Naruto, can you hear us?" Sakura asked, her voice trembling.

Naruto's eyes slowly fluttered open, and he weakly mumbled, "Sakura... Sasuke..."

Sasuke's face darkened with anger as he gritted his teeth. "Naruto, who did this to you? We need to know."

Naruto hesitated, his gaze shifting away. The memories of the hateful words and insults still haunted him.

Sakura gently placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "Naruto, you don't have to protect them. We're here for you, just like you're here for us."

Naruto finally spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "I... don't know their names. They were villagers and ninjas... they called me a monster."

Sasuke clenched his fists, his anger boiling over. "We won't let them get away with this, Naruto. We'll find out who did this, and they'll pay."

The next day, Sasuke and Sakura made their way to the Hokage's office to seek answers and justice. The Third Hokage listened to their account of the brutal attack and assured them that he would launch an investigation. But there was another pressing question on their minds—where was their sensei, Kakashi?

In the heart of the Hidden Leaf Village, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat behind his desk with a heavy heart. News of Naruto's brutal attack weighed on his conscience, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility for the young jinchuriki's safety.

Despite his personal concern for Naruto, Hiruzen knew that he had to prioritize the well-being of the village. His role as Hokage required him to make difficult decisions, even if it meant putting the village's interests ahead of a single individual.

Hiruzen sighed, glancing at the mission report on his desk. It indicated that Kakashi Hatake had been sent on a mission outside the village several days ago. The situation was becoming increasingly dire, and the absence of the team's sensei only added to his worries.

Resolute in his decision, Hiruzen summoned an owl, a messenger bird trained to carry urgent messages. He hastily penned a note, informing Kakashi of Naruto's attack and injuries. The owl took flight, disappearing into the night, headed toward Kakashi's current location.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the village, Sasuke and Sakura were deeply troubled by Naruto's condition after the attack. The memory of finding him battered and bruised haunted them, and they couldn't shake the realization of the pain Naruto had been enduring all along.

As they spent the day with Naruto, they noticed a troubling change in his demeanor. While he was physically recovering, his emotional state seemed to be deteriorating. Naruto appeared detached, almost lifeless, as if he had shut himself off from the world.

Sasuke and Sakura exchanged worried glances as they watched Naruto, who seemed lost in a sea of conflicting thoughts and emotions. They were determined to support their friend but struggled to find a way to break through to him.

Sakura whispered to Sasuke, "We can't let him spiral into despair like this, Sasuke. We need to help him."

Sasuke nodded, his concern mirroring Sakura's. "You're right, Sakura. We won't let him go through this alone."

Together, they made a pact to stay by Naruto's side, determined to help him find his way back to the vibrant and determined ninja they knew him to be.

Meanwhile, Kakashi received a message from the Third Hokage about Naruto's condition. His heart raced with concern for his team, but the mission he was currently on was critical to the village. He faced a difficult choice—abandon the mission to return to the village or continue the mission and trust that the Third Hokage would do what was necessary for Naruto.

Kakashi decided to put his trust in the Hokage and sent a reply via the messenger owl, reaffirming his commitment to completing the mission. He hoped that his genin would find the strength within themselves to support Naruto until his return.

The atmosphere in Team 7's training room was heavy with tension as Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, delivered the news that Kakashi wouldn't be returning to the village anytime soon due to the critical mission he was on. Sasuke's and Sakura's expressions soured with frustration, and they exchanged knowing glances.

In their minds, it was clear that Kakashi wouldn't abandon a mission of such importance. They understood the dire circumstances, but their anger was fueled by the realization that Naruto needed help and guidance now more than ever.

Hiruzen's eyes turned to Naruto, who remained seated by the window, gazing out with a distant and lifeless expression. The Hokage couldn't help but feel a deep sense of sorrow for the young jinchuriki.

Clearing his throat, Hiruzen spoke gently, "Naruto, how are you holding up?"

Naruto's response was delayed, and when he finally spoke, his voice was barely audible. "I'm fine, Hokage-sama. This is what I deserve."

Sasuke and Sakura exchanged worried glances, knowing that Naruto's self-blame was far from warranted.

Hiruzen sighed, his heart heavy with the burden of responsibility for Naruto's well-being. After a moment of silence, he excused himself, leaving Team 7 to grapple with the weight of the situation.

As the days turned into weeks, Naruto withdrew further into himself, buried in a self-imposed isolation. He drowned his sorrow in training, pushing his body to its limits while neglecting the emotional scars that ran deep.

Sasuke and Sakura were determined to help their friend, but they struggled to find a way to break through to him. They had shown Naruto that they cared, but he seemed incapable of accepting their support.

One day, as they sat in Naruto's apartment, Sasuke and Sakura found themselves pondering their next steps. They glanced at Naruto, who was lost in thought, his eyes vacant.

Sakura broke the silence, her voice filled with determination. "We can't give up on him, Sasuke. Naruto needs to know that he's not alone."

Sasuke nodded in agreement, his own resolve strengthening. "You're right, Sakura. We have to show him that we're here for him, no matter what."

Together, they hatched a plan to demonstrate to Naruto what it meant to have a true family—a bond forged not by blood, but by unwavering support and love for one another.

Over the following weeks, Sasuke and Sakura made it a point to include Naruto in every aspect of their lives. They shared meals together, celebrated small victories, and made sure Naruto felt like a part of their team and their lives.

As they continued to spend time together, Naruto began to thaw, slowly emerging from the emotional abyss that had consumed him. He realized that he had friends who cared deeply for him, and his once-empty heart began to fill with hope.

However, Sasuke and Sakura knew that their efforts were only the beginning. Naruto still carried deep emotional wounds, and they were determined to help him heal, no matter how long it took.