"Naruto, seriously, you really need to take off that silly mask of yours," Shikamaru said, taking a bite of his sandwich and chewing lazily.

"Shikamaru... You usually do not care for these kinds of things," Naruto said in a monotone voice, a barely noticeable hint of interest underneath it.

"Yeah, even I agree with Naruto-sama, and I am not just saying that to be on Naruto-sama's side."

"Danny, please refrain from calling me 'sama'. It is annoying, you know," said Naruto with his lazy attitude, his eyes closed.

"It's annoying to deal with two different Naruto's, you're okay, but, that personality made me do more work than usual. Especially with that prank this morning, right now is also a good example because I'm speaking too much. What a drag," he yawned and laid down.

"I find that personality quite funny and kind, but I'm fine with both personalities," Hinata shyly replied, tapping her fingers together, which is a habit of hers.

Naruto opened his eyes hearing the comment and looked Hinata straight in the eyes. She looked up shyly as usual. "I guess," he replied hesitantly. He looked at Danny, "I suggest you leave before anyone believes we are friends. Do the usual," he said, waving his hand in dismissal.

"Okay, then." Danny put his hands on his hip and fake smirked. Even though he's scared of Naruto - and he doesn't seem to be the kind of person - he really hates doing this, but he takes his orders from his 'master' seriously.

Though Rin and Sam seemed on a different page there...

"You're so pathetic, you know that?" Danny went on, then he shortly left. How could he be so mean to the guy? Really, Naruto-sama has done nothing. How could people do these things to him? He would ask him this very question and Naruto would look at him and say, "None of your business." His tone was always cold, colder than ice.

Naruto often does that. He's cold, simply for the reason. Was he simply raised in an environment where he needed to do that...? Maybe, just maybe, Naruto felt hatred at a young age and was forced to be cold. It could be possible.

The question that always got everyone confused and on edge is a simple one. Why does he act so cruel? Is it simply because he is filled with that much hate?

"It's a troublesome question. What a drag. It's none of our business anyway so I wouldn't have anything to say," Shikamaru had said.

"The guy has gone through a lot. Why wouldn't Naruto-sama's feelings be so? I tell ya' it's because of the stupid villagers doing! Though I should speak for myself..." Danny had explained.

"I think N-Naruto has the right to be angry, but maybe he hides his anger by being silent. You know, in a way, he's using other ways to control himself. T-though I-I'm not saying Naruto would have bad intentions," Hinata has confessed.

Three different answers for the same question and not one of them had answered it.

[-]

"Huh! The guy is just plain old cold, that's why my parents keep saying to stay away from him. Right, Rin?" Sam sneered.

"Hmm... yeah. Sam," Rin said hesitantly. 

Sam looked at him curiously. "Hey, Rin? What's up with you?" He put his hand on Rin's shoulder.

Rin looked down, knowing he might regret this question later on. He fiddled around with his hands nervously. "Why do you think," he trailed off, "Na-- the blondie gets bullied?" he asked closing his eyes, fearful to speak the rest.

"Huh? Don't tell me you're going soft like Danny." He put his hands on his hips and looked at Rin in disgust. "N-no, no it's just... just..." he was interrupted by Sam when he sat down next to Rin,

"Look, everyone bullies him because it's his fault. He wanted to act the fool so let him. It's none of our business. Besides if we were to take his side," he seemed serious and even spoke in a serious tone. He glanced at the nervous Rin. Completely making the atmosphere grow tense. "You know what would happen, you know, I know, and he knows... since he knows he's basically being cruel on purpose to protect us from being despised, by everyone."

That's right, if we were to actually show signs of being his friends, our family members would literally disown us. We would be beaten just because we defend him. He's a burden to be a friend, but... the thing is...

"Sam."

"Yeah, Rin? What is it, still not paying attention to my warning? The guy is dangerous to be around."

"I know you were going to say that, but that wasn't what I meant even before he started putting on this act of his, even then..." Rin looked up at Sam, "Even then, everywhere he went, he was always bad-mouthed... even by my parents and I don't remember or recall him doing anything wrong."

Sam hesitated. "I never really thought about it before, but still, even if he's done nothing, it's none of our business." He shrugged. "Besides, what's a bit of hateful glares going to do. What, are they going to do stare him to death?" He chuckled.

Rin eyebrows furrowed, then he held up one finger. "First, that's creepy." He held up another one. "Second, that's not entirely true." 

Sam flinched at his answer and leaned forward curiously. "What do you mean by that?"

"Well..."

[-]

"Hachoo!" a blond-haired boy sneezed, which was unusual since he doesn't get sick easily and certainly doesn't show it that much. Well, he guessed it was okay since he was in class, playing his role of a fool.

He just recently came back after a prank he pulled off. Someone is probably speaking about me. Then again, that would mean I would be sneezing all day long. So, never really believed in that logic.

"What a drag," said Shikamaru.

"We always have to pay for your screw ups," Ino sneered.

"Like I care." Naruto let some of his personality out at that moment, but it seemed nobody noticed that wasn't normal. It's fine then. He walked in front to do the technique. When he was about to change into something, let's say, strange, he somehow heard a small whisper.

Do your best Naruto.

Everyone heard a sound of the usual transform technique and they saw a girl slightly smaller than his original form. Lavender eyes apparently and beautiful short hair. Hinata... Iruka looked at Naruto suspiciously, no tricks or anything. Just a normal Hinata. That's unlikely.

"Okay good, Naruto," Iruka said hesitantly.

He returned to his normal form and seemed really calm. While the Hyūga heiress was still quite stunned at the moment. He actually thought of her, even if it was by accident. He thought of her at that moment. She felt so honored.

Those blue eyes stared around the class as the rest of his peers finished their transformations. Shikamaru sat next to him, "What was that about?"

He was out of his daze when he looked at the raven-haired boy next to him. "What are you talking about?" He stared again at the teacher, seeing Haruno Sakura cheering that Uchiha Sasuke saw her do something.

"Don't play dumb with me, why are you so calm after what just happened. Accidently transforming into Hinata, I mean.  What a drag," commented Shikamaru lazily.

"I just happened to hear Hinata whisper words of encouragement because of you know what," he said, looking around once again before stopping. He looked at the shy Hyūga herself. He just stared at her blankly with no emotion at all.

"I wasn't asking about Hinata, I was speaking of your silence, everyone will get suspicious... but, while we're on the subject," Shikamaru said, shocking Naruto, but it didn't show.

The Nara leaned closer. "...about Hinata and your relationship with her..."

Naruto wasn't fazed at all, he just stared blankly at her. Then he looked at Shikamaru emotionlessly. "What about it?" he asked blankly, as per the usual.

Shikamaru sighed and said his favorite line in a lazy and defeated tone. "What a drag, he's so dense... maybe he doesn't even have feelings for her."

Naruto just stared at him with an unreadable expression. He turned his head one more time to the future heiress, who apparently isn't good enough in her father's eyes. I will never fall in love, that's for sure. You can't even trust people like her. Everyone will just turn on you. Friends are meant to be made just to betray you in the end. That's' what the guy had said.

[-]

"Are you serious? Rin!" Sam's hands banged on the table. Rin nodded with a serious face. Sam looked horrified. "People... people made him believe... a ninja made him believe... basically brainwashed him to believe..." Sam choked on his words. "That he was a... c-can-cannibal."

Was that a rumor or was it actually true?