Just another Day

Discalimer: I don't own Naruto or YouTube (since I referenced it) :P

Heeeyy! Welcome to Falling through Memory Lane :D

This is going to be a Sasuke x Naruto story, so if boy x boy is not your thing then I highly recommend leaving and finding another story. Forewarning, it will have Naruto x Hinata in the beginning. There will also be a side pairing of Neji x Gaara.

This story will be rated T and it will have a badmouthing Naruto.

Let me know what you think :)

*ring* *ring*

A small bell rang as a wooden door opened into a quaint restaurant labeled "Ichiraku: Ramen Restaurant and bar". A single young man stood behind the bar looking bored and deep in thought. His blue eyes widened at the sight of a regular customer, a smile forming on his lips and a tan hand lifted for a wave. "Welcome!" The man chimed, sounding as happy as the bell on the door. His blond hair swayed halfway down his ears as he tilted his head. "What can I get for ya? Your regular bowl of beef soup and a shot of whiskey?"

"Hey, Naruto! How's your day been kid?" The customer asked while setting down his briefcase on the bar. The elder man slid into the bar stool while starring at the television screen blaring some sports match. "That should be fine, it's been a looonng day at the office." He sighed as he turned back to the only staff in the front of the house.

After writing down the request and handing the man his alcoholic drink, the happy waiter headed into the kitchen. "Hey." The blond said. After some time passed, "Hey old man!" He shouted at the cook. A radio sat beside the taller man, blaring a new hit single and blocking the waiter. The cook's high, brunet, ponytail bounced as he bobbed his head to the beat. "Iruka!" Naruto stomped over and yanked the radio's plug out of the socket.

"H-Hey!" The brunet complained, turning around to give the blond an agitated look. "I was listening to that song! It was my jam, man!" With a carrot in one hand and a skinner in the other, he raised his arms in defense.

"You can find it on YouTube later, maybe you'll come across the music video! Right now, though, we have an order and I want a good tip…"

Iruka huffed, pouting and crossing his arms at this reply. He set down the stuff in his hands and started on another vegetable.

"You can listen to your boyband when you get home." Naruto said while wiggling his eyebrow, soon bursting into laughter at the sight of the flustered cook.

"G-get out of my kitchen!" A threatening onion was shoved three inches from the waiter's nose. The juice from the vegetable was starting to make his eyes water, Naruto backed out slowly like he was being held at gunpoint. After leaving, he went to check on his customer and refill his glass.

A few customers came in and went off to finish their day. Never really stopping to enjoy the present, only thinking of the future. Naruto leaned onto the bar, resting his chin on his palm and gazed out the street-facing window. Men and women passed by and an occasional child would walk up to glance into the shop. The blond would smile and lift his free hand for a slight wave as a reply. As time went on, Naruto stood there pondering the varieties of events going on in passerby's' lives. "He is in a rush to get to a business meeting, then he will ask for a raise he knows he doesn't deserve." He pointed at the tall man walking briskly down the street, his obviously expensive tie flapping in the small wind. "You, mam, are heading home to a husband and infant triplets…" A tan finger discretely pointed to the woman with wispy red hair and a paper bag in her arms, a loaf of bread popping out of the top. A child walked up to the glass window and waved at Naruto. "You are a tough, rebellious child but have a secret love for small animals. You can't wait to go home and pamper your new kitten." He waved back to the small boy with buzzed black hair. The young child smiled widely and ran to catch up to his mother who was glancing into a boutique next door.

"People watching, eh?" Iruka interrupted the blond's train of thought as he walked in from the kitchen doorway. "That young man over there is going to ask his boyfriend's parents if he can ask for their son's hand in marriage." The cook added, motioning to an adult no older than twenty-three, a nervous look plastered on his face. The ponytailed man and the waiter continued their time passing game until it was time to close up shop.

Naruto started picking up table chairs and flipping them over to slide onto the table cloth. Once he picked up any left dishes or glasses, the blond went into the kitchen to give them off to Iruka. The older man was stationed in front of the industrial sink and wash scrubbing some pots with a bright green sponge. He lifted his head to at the clink of more plates being set down on the counter beside him. With a sign and a reluctant stare, he reached over and moved the dirtied ceramic into the sink. "So what are you going to do tonight?" Iruka turned away from the sink to grab some glassware.

"You know me, go home and watch some cable." The blond responded while grabbing a carrot from another counter. He fiddled with the greenery at the top before biting the tip.

Iruka stopped his scrubbing and turned to face his coworker. "When are you going to finalize your life? He asked.

Crunching into the orange vegetable again, "Finalize?" Naruto questioned.

"You know, settling down? You're twenty-four and work in a ramen bar…" The brunet gave the waiter a 'come on man' look. "You are single and have no education after high school."

"Why would I want to waste my time going to school? It would take me away from my precious ramen!" He joked, chewed up bits of carrot tried to escape from the blond's mouth. "In seriousness though, I don't know what I want to do, why waste my money?" "On what you said before, I feel no need to find someone. The people around here are always on the go, I want someone who is willing to stop and enjoy the small things."

"I know, I know… You want someone who will stop and smell the roses with you." Iruka teased, pretending to be exasperated.

"Shut up, why don't you finish up so you can go home to your precious boyfriend and listen to your precious boy band?" The blond waved his palms like he was fanning his face, saying the last few words in a higher pitch.

"Leave Kakashi out of this!" A blush spread over the cook's cheeks which he tried to hide with his anger.

After getting kicked in the back, the blond went back out to the front of the shop to finish closing up. He paused at the windows and noted the clouded sky, "Damn, I should have brought my umbrella…" He pulled the cord and caused the shades to tumble down the window frame.

"Oh!" The ponytailed man popped his head through the kitchen doorway. "Have you heard about your old orphanage?" This grabbed waiter's attention.

"Konoha Orphanage?" Naruto turned abruptly to face the older man.

"Yeah! Apparently they closed down and will be turning the lot into a park. The owner, Tsunade I think, is moving to another city. I guess the in-city area isn't a good place for the kids." He shrugged.

"WHAT?!"The younger man exclaimed, "She can't just leave! That grandma, I'll have to go and see her tomorrow after work." Naruto said while flailing his arms around.

"Don't worry about work, take the day off. I'll tell Teuchi you have to deal with some family matters. If he doesn't let you off, I'll give you one of my vacation days." Iruka smiled, and handed the blond his orange hoodie.

"You don't have to do that!" Naruto fretted.

"I know how much that place means to you. It must be hard knowing you are losing the only thing close to a home."

Naruto ran up to him and gave him a bear hug, nearly lifting the cook fully off the ground. "Thanks!" He proclaimed, taking his jacket and bounding out the front door. He flipped his hood up and over his head as droplets started to fall down onto the street. Heading back to his small apartment, Naruto listed all the places within his childhood home to visit. A melancholy smile made its way onto his face.