Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

First Chapter

The Best Things in Life are Free

Naruto had always considered himself lucky. No words could describe how eternally grateful he was for everything that he considered to be a blessing in his life. Starting of course, with his family.

Even though his parents died from a car accident when he was little so he could only scarcely remember them, his grandfather's and grandmother's presence that entered his life when he became twelve was more than enough for him. Pervy Jiraiya and granny Tsunade were the best adoptive parents anyone could have imagined.

Senju Tsunade was one of the most sought-out medical doctors in the world. Maybe, even in the whole universe. She was and is the current hospital director of Konoha General Hospital. She was said to be a medical prodigy since childhood. When her first husband, Dan died, she left Konoha and traveled around the world with her deceased husband's niece, Shizune to heal her broken heart.

She developed alcoholism, and made Shizune her medical apprentice who eventually also became her caretaker. Naruto had to applaud Shizune for taking care of his grandmother for years before he and Jiraiya took over. Not only did she had to deal with his granny's nasty temper, but also her nasty habit of drinking whenever, wherever, and her penchant for gambling.

Once she heard the news of the death of Naruto's parents, Shizune still had to plead to her to take care of Naruto-somehow- since she was still nursing her hurt heart. So instead of coming back to Konoha immediately, she wrote to Jiraiya, asking him to take of Naruto first since she knew she still couldn't go back to Konoha without thinking of Dan. That, and she was honestly wasn't exactly in the right state of mind to raise a kid.

Unfortunately, Jiraiya was working on a big project during that time so he had no choice but to adopt Naruto, and bring the hyperactive blonde with him to his work. As a result, Naruto traveled with Jiraiya, transferring schools for twelve years, and he only knew Tsunade from the letters she frequently exchanged with him and Jiraiya.

There was a saying like this in Konoha: you never really knew a person unless you had traveled, lived, and drunk alcohol with that person. Boy did he learn a lot about his new parental guardian during those twelve years when they did travel and live together. It led him to call Jiraiya as pervy Jiraiya or 'Pervy Sage'.

Jiraiya was a famous and at the same time, infamous writer. He wrote anything. Literally. From magazine pieces, newspaper articles, textbooks, poetry, to erotica. Oh, wait. Pervy Jiraiya defended his writer's pride by calling it adult novels. For Naruto, it was obviously an excuse. Granny Tsunade had a good expression for it. What was it again?

Ah! Bullshit.

It was not to say that Jiraiya was not a prolific writer. He graduated with a degree in Literature, specializing in-of course- Japanese Literature. He made his name writing several novels, academic textbooks, thought-provoking editorials, but took his career to the point of no return when he published his first adult novel. He didn't even use a pen name. Needless to say, the Japanese public was in shock for a good while.

The concealed perverted and playboy nature of the author was revealed through the novels, and the reaction was both good and bad. Some praised him while others criticized him. Jiraiya being Jiraiya, didn't care and continued write whatever he wanted to write. Naruto couldn't help but admire his creative and free spirit. Because of that, the two of them got along great almost immediately.

When Naruto turned twelve, he and Jiraiya both decided it was high time for Tsunade and them to come back to Konoha. So they tracked Tsunade with the help of the Pervy Sage's connections in the Konoha Police Force, and finally caught up to her in the Kanagawa prefecture. There, Naruto convinced Tsunade to return to Konoha and take back her place as the rightful hospital director of the general hospital.

Now that his family was complete, the three of them started a new beginning in Konoha.

Jiraiya started to teach Literature again in different universities and would always tutor Naruto when he asked even though it usually took a lot of convincing to do. Although Jiraiya was also stingy, he would always bring back souvenirs and buy him ramen from his travels- and even more knickknacks if Naruto did something or said something right. Plus, Jiraiya would always let him read those erotic adult novels he wrote while granny Tsunade would always punch their heads for it. At least, they would always share the pain together.

If Jiraiya was away traveling and could not do those things, Tsunade would usually also take part in tutoring by giving him reviewers since she was almost always working in the hospital. Tsunade would usually act abrasive, and tough but Naruto knew that deep down, she treasured him greatly and thought that he was lovable. Yup. He was a hundred percent confident about that.

He would always eat those horrible healthy foods she would also leave at home for the whole family to eat even though he hated it with every cell of his being. It was also a bonus that despite granny Tsunade's old age, she managed to maintain her figure and her legendary rack. If he didn't know any better, he would had tapped that. But since he was her grandson, the mere thought of it was more than disgusting.

It was more than safe to say that Naruto couldn't imagine his current life without his grandparents. Seriously, he could not thank them enough for coming back for him, letting him interrupt their previous lifestyle and becoming their son figure. Although he could not promise them to bring excellent grades home, he could only repay them by giving them a reason to smile and be happy every day. He just wanted to be the joy of their life- most especially since they were really, really old but at least, not dying.

Another thing to be happy about was that he was able to meet Uchiha Sasuke, his male best friend when he was in junior high. They were the same age and the polar opposite of the other. At first, they had hated each other with unbridled passion.

Naruto was the known as the class clown, mood maker, and the person with a Jesus complex. With his blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and unique humor, he made everybody's day. He made friends with everybody no matter what age, and made everyone laugh with his antics. Every single person in the school- be it the staff, teaching personnel, or student- knew or at least, had heard of him. He knew everybody in the school, and cared to know them as well.

If Naruto was the all-around nice guy, Sasuke was the dark prince of the school.

With his good looks, broody nature, intellect, and excellent academic prowess, he caught the attention of everyone in school, just like Naruto. Teachers loved him while girls flocked to him like crazy. They were madly in love with him because he was the epitome of male perfection.

He was better than Naruto at everything. Except at making friends. And this was the thing that frustrated Naruto to no end.

He treated his fans like crap, and barely talked to anyone who wasn't a teacher in school.

Naruto just couldn't understand why everyone was going bonkers over that guy.

So one day, he decided to talk to the guy to be able to at least understand where did the guy's easy popularity come from.

When the bell rang for lunch, instead of speedily running off to the cafeteria with his friends, he waited until the classroom was empty save for him and Sasuke. There, he awkwardly lingered at the doorway, talking to his mysterious classmate. It was different experience. Most of the time, he just knew what to talk about to make a person more comfortable but in Sasuke's presence, he found himself speechless and not sure of what to expect.

"Hey! I'm Uzumaki Naruto!"

"Hn." This was the first time Naruto got grunt instead of a worded acknowledgement.

"Like any band lately? I have my eye on Three 'o Clock!"

"Hm."

"Isn't our classroom too hot nowadays? Summer is nearing already."

"Tch."

Not to be deterred, Naruto gulped, his throat dry and continued to nervously chatter away. "Join me and my friends for lunch! You'll like them."

Suddenly, Sasuke stood up, walked towards the door and said to him, "You're in the way, usuratonkachi."

The third world war commenced. No, not really.

The two teens proceeded to battle each other in the corniest and least creative way possible: they pitted their skills against each other in anything that they did in school. Sports, academics, extracurricular activities- you name it. The always went head to head, and toe to toe with each other every time, everywhere.

Naruto just couldn't seriously understand what Sasuke's problem was. He was just trying to become friends with him. He just wanted to understand him. And this was how he was repaid? The blatant disrespect and arrogance the guy treated him with was too much. He couldn't be compassionate with this guy. Sasuke wasn't Konoha Junior High's golden boy. No! He was nothing but a cold-ass prick. That sounded more right.

On the other hand, Naruto was nothing more than a mere annoyance to Sasuke. Ironically, Sasuke also couldn't understand where Naruto's popularity came from. He was just another loud idiot who had a way with people. Well that answered his question quickly.

But things changed for the both of them when Naruto went to Sasuke's house for a school project since Sasuke was his partner. There, he met Sasuke's parents, and Sasuke's older brother, Itachi. At that fate-like moment, it became so clear to Naruto why Sasuke didn't bother socializing with people. Obviously, he was trying too hard to please his father and exceed his older brother's performance in school. So that day, he decided to try to enlighten Sasuke about his idiotic life decision at an early age.

"You do know you are not your brother right, teme? You're supposed to be smart."

Thank goodness, Sasuke understood but the only thing that told Naruto this was Sasuke's surprised eyes, and the small smile that threatened to spill on his lips.

"Dobe."

From that point forward, they became the best of friends.

But it was not the end yet.

With Sasuke's help, Naruto was able to get accepted in a high school in Tokyo with him. Tsunade and Jiraiya were overjoyed and gave Sasuke lots of gifts. But not as many as Naruto's, also counting the ones from his childhood.

Then, came the problem of leaving Konoha. The two teens were too young to live alone, and were reluctant to leave Konoha, their home. Still, they went through with the move while their parents helped them make their living arrangements in the city. It was decided that Sasuke was to live with his brother, living in a luxurious high rise condominium while Naruto was to live in a spacious and cheap one room apartment managed by his grandparent's friends, the Harunos who also lived nearby.

And that apparently, Haruno Sakura, their only daughter would be the one in charge of him. She would go to his apartment, regularly checking up on him. Her name rang a bell; he knew her. He sharply remembered her pink hair and green eyes. In fact, he learned to fear and flee at the sight of them.

When the day of the departure came, Naruto was silent during the whole ride to Tokyo, to his apartment. Even both Sasuke and Itachi vocalized their concern about him since normally, he would usually complement Itachi's car and talk non-stop. He asked Sasuke if he could live with them instead. Being the cold prick he was, he answered no since he knew Naruto would eventually damage the property.

Naruto sighed. The world was unfair. Then the moment he dreaded came: they were in front of the apartment building. Shit. The world became even more unfair in Naruto's eyes.

Outside his window, Naruto could see a familiar petite but curvy physique, glittering green eyes, and long silky strands of pink hair that belonged to one person, waiting for him at the entrance of the building.

Naruto did a double-take and so did the two Uchihas.

"She's a real looker even though she's not that tall. She doesn't look like a high school student," Itachi commented.

Even Sasuke nodded in agreement. Naruto felt his insides wail. If the two bastards who usually didn't notice girls suddenly stop in their tracks to admire her, it only meant one thing.

He narrowed his eyes. She grew up to be more dangerous.

Haruno Sakura, his little sister was hot and popular. She had always been. There were too many reasons to like her. She was kind, thoughtful, helpful, clever, smart, and gifted with many talents. Beloved by all, she was the pinnacle of the ideal female- the title now upgraded as the perfect female student, without any flaws. At least, that was what everyone seemed to think- even the two cold Uchihas.

She was, in her own way, worse than Sasuke. Dammit!