Disclaimer – Don't own Naruto or profit from this.
Lost
There was a silence as the boy sat staring down at the city. A few hours ago his release from the academy had only given him admission to the emptiness which had already filled him before, as he watched his 'classmates' leave the building to their families and receiving gracious hugs and smiles. While he snuck out the back door and standing by himself, staring at them. It was strange, he never understood what he felt as he stared at them, sometimes it seemed like envy…like not having someone to go to after the long day…while sometimes it made him feel stronger, as if he didn't need anyone, at the same time he couldn't help but wonder if it could just be his mind trying to please what his emotions wanted.
Though from what he could remember…it didn't always seem like things were that way. It was strange how all of it developed in the first place. A few years ago he remembered playing tag or hide and seek at the park with Kiba, Chouji and a few other classmates, but those days then seemed so far away. As time passed by it seemed things only faded, the friendship which was held became distant as he drifted away himself. The strangest part itself was the fact that…he couldn't identify what was wrong…or what went wrong. Things happened so suddenly, so instantly, that he couldn't even process what had changed.
But…that's just a problem among many others that Naruto faced at the moment…the most important of course being…his ramen feast. He slowly dragged his feet along the ground as he was heading to his favorite (and sometimes only) meal of the day.
"but I can pay for this!" the raspy noise coming out of Naruto's mouth, along with a few bits of ramen, "come on, I don't feel right about it, you let me get this for free last time too"
"It's on the house," chuckled Ichiraku as he removed the receipt before tossing it away, "don't worry about it Naruto"
"But…" He sighed as he slowly looked down at his bowl in defeat, "fine, next time I'll pay for it"
"Of course!" Chuckled the old man "but next time you also owe me something else"
Naruto raised an eyebrow as he looked up, "something else…?"
"Yes! I'm expecting a smile the next time you come here, no more frowns….you might scare off the other customers with that sad face" He chuckled as Naruto let out a small relieving laugh before downing the last bits of meat and broth left in his bowl. As the bottom of the bowl reached the table an unexpected frown was on the young man's face before the words slipped passed his lips, "How come…you're the only one that ever tells me you want to see me happy?"
A silence filled the air as Naruto looked emptily at the Chef, hoping for an answer, only to see a hopeless expression on his face, "I'm not sure Naruto," he lied, "I guess…some people fear what they don't understand…and a lot of the village doesn't understand you…"
A sigh was let out by the boy before he looked outside the restaurant, "I don't get why I'm always alone…it's like nobody wants to be near me…or even talk to me anymore" His words echoed through the old chef's ears, only to have him turn back towards the boys seat to find an empty bowl with a small tip left for the meal.
A/N – That's all I got at the moment…R&R Please! Tell me how you like it :D Any sugguestions will be taken into consideration, I don't have anything planned atm, lol xD just kinda came out randomly.