Summary: The story behind the oneshot of "The Reason I Stayed" by rageofkyubi.
Chapter One
"NARUTO!"
The voice of Iruka-sensei was projected loud and clear throughout the whole village.
Naruto grinned widely and turned around, preparing to run as fast as his legs could carry him.
The chase had begun.
The brunette, fast on his trail behind him, never knew of the look on his face that spoke volumes.
His eyes had lit up, bluer and brighter. There was a source of fire in his eyes that burned in a way that no one ever saw.
It completely changed him.
His eyes weren't closed, didn't hide the pain he tried to keep away from the village and his smile was genuine.
His smile wasn't wide or goofy, like people were used to seeing. There was no exaggeration in the curve of his lips. It was soft and sweet, full of sincerity.
The contours of his face were completely different, which would have reminded the village of a certain someone of the past he resembled.
While Naruto ran, leaving the scene with Iruka-sensei chasing him, a sweet and melodic voice rang with laughter and floated in the wind to his ears as he left.
His heart was pounding and it soared with the sky as he continued leaping from one roof to another.
The person who was always around him, supporting him in the shadows, was happy, if only for a moment.
Because her laugh was filled with joy, something he knew that didn't happen as often as it should.
A small hand tried to cover the giggles that threatened to spill out of her lips, but it was futile.
She never knew that he had always heard her.
Pulling pranks and being chased was a routine that was continuous, but never tiring. It was fun to see the looks of people's face when he took them by surprise, but the main reason of those pranks were always for her. It always made him happy that he could make one of the few people he cared about laugh and smile, especially her.
She was the reason for everything he did when he found out about her presence years ago.