"Sasuke!" The black haired boy turned his head up as he saw a familiar blonde boy approach him. They and their kindergarten class were outside for recess, and most of the children stood with their stubby hands on the fence on the west side of the playground. Not too far from the outside of the fence was the open grassy site all the children were intently watching and talking about. Sasuke wasn't about following the crowd nor grassy fields, so he sat on the opposite side of the playground underneath a tree by himself.
Well, by himself until Naruto came along.
"What?" Sasuke demanded once the blonde came in close enough proximity. Blue eyes opened wide as Naruto paused his movements, looking in surprise at Sasuke. Then, Sasuke turned his head to the side, patting the ground next to him to invite his friend to sit. Naruto smiled widely as he took his seat next to Sasuke.
"See? We are friends," Naruto said with a giggle. Sasuke simply looked down in pride, not willing to push Naruto away, nor wanting to hurt his ego by saying that the blonde was right.
"What do you want?" Sasuke repeated, and Naruto's smile faltered.
"Nothing," Naruto replied quietly, pouting as he looked down. "You're just always alone..." Sasuke glanced at Naruto before looking down again.
He felt guilty, but he wouldn't admit that. Instead, he did something that Naruto wouldn't exactly know the meaning of, and no words would have to be spoken, but Naruto would come to have his own understanding of it. Sasuke again looked at Naruto before poking him in the forehead with his middle and index fingers. Naruto looked up in surprise.
"What was that?" Naruto asked, but Sasuke just looked at him blankly. "Anyways," Naruto continued after a few moments of silence, "have you seen the field?"
"What field?"
"The one! Every one is talking about it."
"I'm not." Naruto paused before continuing.
"It's right over there. Choji and Lee said that if you walk on the grass of the field, then aliens will come and abduct you, but Sakura and Ino said that a ghost would get you instead."
"Aliens and ghosts aren't real."
"I know."
"Then why are you telling me?" Naruto looked around as if someone might be listening, then leaned in closer to Sasuke before speaking.
"Something is weird about the field," he said in a hushed voice. "It's not like regular grass. I think... you might disappear or go through time if you go on the grass." Sasuke scoffed.
"You know that's impossible?" Naruto opened his mouth to rebuttal, but the noon duty blew her whistle before he could speak. Naruto and Sasuke looked up as the other children began walking towards the building, lining up in front of the door, and Naruto looked again at Sasuke before getting up.
"Something is weird about that field," he said. "That's all I know." He watched Sasuke stand up, then smiled and playfully shoved him before running off, Sasuke running after him.