A.N. – Thank you everyone who has visited, viewed, favorited, and followed my story thus far. It makes my heart soar knowing that others read my story. I am hoping that I can get even more readers to read it and let me know their thoughts on it.

Also my thanks to my first reviewer who gave me a short but very nice review. It made my day and helped get me pumped to write this chapter. I hope you enjoy it as much as you did the prologue.

Now, on with the story. :D


Legend

"I'm an outcast." – normal speech

'I'm an outcast too.' – normal thoughts

"And what exactly are we going to do about it?" – italics within a sentence is an extra emphasis on all types of human speech and thoughts

"I DON'T WANT TO BE ALONE ANYMORE!" – yelling

'ME NEITHER!' – yelling thoughts

"WHAT ARE WE GONNA' DO!?" – emphasized yelling

'I DON'T KNOW!' – emphasized yelling thoughts

"You won't be for long." – speech of inner beings and deities

'You will have a companion waiting for you.' – thoughts of inner beings and deities

"Maybe someone will get freaky deeky hehe." – italics within a sentence is an extra emphases on all types of inner beings/deities speech and thoughts

"ARE YOU INSANE?!" – yelling of inner beings and deities

"I HOPE YOU WILL BE HAPPY!" – emphasized yelling of inner beings and deities

'ARG! THIS IS SOO FRUSTRATING!' – emphasized yelling thoughts of inner beings and deities

Bonk – normal sound

Bonk – emphasized sound

BONK – drastically emphasized sound

I revised this chapter as well. I hope you like it.


Chapter 1 – friends or something else

Two children were just finishing up training for the day and were getting their training gear together to head home. "I can't believe it's been four years already. I mean since we met, became friends, and started training and all." Said a now fit 8 year old blonde as he finished packing up and hefted the large, heavy duffle bag over his shoulder.

His companion giggled as she too finished and picked up the twin of the boys' bag also stuffed to the brim. "Indeed it has my friend and to think that we are starting the ninja academy tomorrow." "Yeah, I know right? I can't wait to show them how far I've come since being their punching bag." "Hey, about that, I think that we ought to play dumb while at the academy." "Huh? Why do you think that?"

"Think about it for a minute Naruto. We already out class most of the ninja in the village and none of them realize it. We already seem like baka's to them; so why not keep up the charade? That's one of the reasons that we have been pulling pranks all these years. Remember the lesson on the reason why?"

The boy cocks his head to the side and thinks for a minute before he gaps with recognition in his eyes. "By acting like baka's we mislead others into underestimating us so that we have the advantage in any situation if and when they happen. Deception can be either essential or disastrous to a ninjas' survival. It only depends on which side of the 'fence' one is on to whether or not it is good or bad." He slaps his face with a palm before dragging said hand down his face exasperatedly and says. "I cannot believe I forgot that with how long you drilled it into me to make sure it was thoroughly imbedded in my thick skull."

She laughs. "Well the point was to remind you so that you will remember it when the time comes that you need that knowledge. Now come on lets go. I'm hungry and feeling lazy, so are you up for a ramen eating contest tonight?" "Do you have to ask?" They grin and start to head deeper into the forest towards their home.


-short time lapse-

Rustling was heard as the two friends came through the brush at the base of an old tree. "Okay, now that we are back, we just need to drop off the bags and grab enough cash for our food. After that we can head into town to Ichiraku's Ramen Shop to eat our fill; fore tonight we celebrate on completing the first stage of our training and starting classes at the academy." The girl says happily while standing in a cute victory pose and cheekily grinning at her companion.

He ended up having to hide the light blush that appeared on his cheeks. Quickly turning and jumping up into the tree he replies back. "Sweet. Let's hurry up then so I can finally have some ramen before I pass out from withdrawals again. Don't get me wrong though; I like the food you made me learn to eat because it helped to get me healthy and strong. I feel like I could stand up for myself for the first time in my life. It's just for some reason I can't get enough of ramen." The boy said; scratching his cheek with a nail and looking at her out the corner of his eye as they dropped their bags off.

"You know, I still don't get you and your obsession with that food sometimes." "You got to be kidding me. You and I both know that it's the food of the gods!" He says loudly making his friend laugh lightly while shaking her head as they grab the currency and head into town to eat.


- a bit later -

Fabric was heard being brushed aside as the two friends entered the ramen restaurant. "You know, it still irks me to no end that most people still can't tell the difference between a kunai and the scroll it's sealed in. I just wish that they would stop it already." Grumbled the girl as she, yet again, watched several folks glare, with barely restrained loathing, at her friend as they passed.

"I'm used to it by now ya know. It doesn't bother me as much as it did before we became friends. Now I could care less that they hate me because I plan on proving them wrong. To do that I plan on becoming the greatest Hokage this village has ever seen or will ever see." The blonde said while getting louder and more excited as he went. "Heh, you do that Naruto. Plus you can rest assured that I'll be there supporting you the whole way." The female replied while she smirked at his antics as they sat down on the bar stools to order their ramen.

The flustered kid slaps the counter to get the owners' attention as he exclaims. "Hey old man, would ya hurry it up? We're starving here!" "Yea yea yea. Hold your horses, I'm coming." The cook replied exasperatedly. When he comes out to the front he notices the blonde trying to pull the mad pouty face on him and laughs. "Well I'll be a monkey's uncle. It's you two squirts. It's been a while since you guys were here. What'll it be for ya'll?"

"We are celebrating tonight with a ramen eating contest so some of everything and keep 'em coming till we drop Tuichi-san." The girl said with a wink and a toothy smirk. The big cook laughed and rolled up his sleeves with a determined grin. "All right then. One all you can eat ramen contest coming up. Ayame, I'm going to need some help over here!"

"Coming dad." A feminine voice was heard replying. A young woman comes in from the back of the shop to see the two kids at the bar counter grinning in anticipation while her father gets a huge batch of ramen set to cook. "Oh, hiya guys. Are ya going to have another contest?" "Yep, and we're gonna need a referee on the count of the bowls. Up for it?" The girl replies. "Sure why not. I'll even start the match." She said and gets some paper and writing utensils ready to keep the tally of how many bowls each one ate.

"Nice." The boy suddenly points at his friend and says loudly. "I'm so gonna beat you this time around Tsuki. Believe it!" "Ha, in your dreams Naruto. You couldn't beat me in a million years and you know it." She replies with an air of superiority. "Grr, we will see about that." "Indeed we will. Let the bowl tally do the talking on who beats who. You just make sure the food goes in your mouth instead of on your shirt. Or would you want me to go get Mr. Bibs so you do not stain your shirt again?" She sniggers in challenge. "Oh, why you!" "Ok, you two, no more fighting and get ready to eat. Pops is just about ready with the first round." Just as she says that the man comes over with two trays holding six bowls each and sets them down on the small, turning tables by the kids. "Ok. You're set to start any time." "Thanks dad."


-Focus Change-

A group of travelers walked in during this time and one had overheard about the contest and seen the amount of bowls two kids were going to start with. Puzzled he decided to ask. "Don't you think that is a bit much for a contest between a couple of kids?" The father and daughter duo laugh. "You must be new in town if you don't know about these two. Besides I need that lead if I am to keep up with how fast they eat." Says the chef.

"Yeah. My friends and I just got into town for a rest during our trip. Besides that, what is so funny about what I asked? I honestly do not see how these two pipsqueaks can eat that much." The daughter notices the pair of 8 year olds' eyes twitch and sweat dropped. "Now you've done it. You really must not have heard of them. They end up getting peeved when random people give a pipsqueak remark. They will eat even more just to prove you wrong. Just watch and you will find out." She sighs.

An Akimichi clan member walks by towards a table to eat with his family and says as he passes by. "You're going to wish you hadn't said that. We Akimichi are famous for our large appetites and restaurants. But those two; take it to a whole new level that we didn't think was possible. They put even my clan to shame when it comes to eating contests."

The guy raises an eyebrow. "Really now? I still find that hard to believe. But I'll tell ya what, why don't you and my group make a bet over how many they can eat? Just to make things interesting of course." The Akamichi shrugs. "Sure why not. I just hope that you're not too attached to your money. Let's say…200 ryo?" The guy nods. "Alright. I say that they eat no more than seven bowls." Choza laughs. "I say thirty or more." The wanderer snorts before nodding in acceptance and going to sit with his buddies to bet and watch.


-End of Focus Change-

"Ok. Let's get this started before all this food goes cold. You two ready?" "We were born ready Ayame; just make sure the old man keeps them coming because I want to see that guys' jaw drop with how much we can down in one sitting and still keep going." "I concur with my friend. I too wish to see him floored with how much soup we can ingest during this contest." "Go ahead and get them started. I'm ready and waiting with the next batch." "All righty then. You heard the man; let's begin." The duo nod while breaking their chopsticks apart in preparation of eating.

"On your mark."

They grab their bowls.

"Get set."

They lift their bowls to their mouths.

"GO!"

SLURP! Clink. Clink. SLURP!

The eyes of each of the travelers slowly got wider as the piles of bowls got bigger and bigger. There were only two thoughts going through their minds as they watched two small children down what seemed to be a mountain of noodles. 'Where is it all going? I hope I don't lose the bet.'


-an hour later-

Clink. Clink.

The blonde groaned. "Uhg. That's it. I can't take anymore."

Slurp. Clink.

The girl sat back and burped lightly with a satisfied grin. "Oops, excuse me. That was good. So what's the total this time Ayame?"

"Well that's game, so the totals are….Naruto 30 bowls and Tsuki 35 bowls. Wow, guys I do believe that's a new record for both of ya." "What? She beat me again!? That's so not right." The male youth whined. The girl sticks her tongue out and smirks. "I told you that you couldn't beat me." "What ever." He crossed his arms and pouted. She giggled and looked around the place and smiled as she saw what the travelers' group was doing. Noticing her smile the boy followed her gaze and couldn't help but laugh.


-Focus Change-

The traveler had told his friends what they were going to do and said that it couldn't be that much since they were little kids. The group agreed with him.

So it's not all that surprising when all was said and done that the whole group was gob smacked when the kids not only ate six but 30+ bowls of ramen each. Needless to say they were all speechless with jaws dropped and eyes wide, leaking what seemed like waterfalls. Each one wondering just how they managed to eat that much; let alone where they put it all without gaining any weight from it.

The Akamichi head snickers and gets up to get his winnings. "So, what was everyone's bet?"

The bets were as follows:

Choza – 30 or more

Traveler 1 – no more than seven

Traveler 2 – between 8 and 10

Traveler 3 – between 11 and 15

Traveler 4 – between 16 and 20

Traveler 5 – between 21 and 25

The group looks at the last one skeptically. "What? I had a large appetite myself when I was a kid. I'd eat myself silly when it came to eating my favorite food." The rest sigh and say together. "Whatever." Each one passed the money owed to the Akamichi.

The large boned male chuckles as he takes the cash. "You know, if you had an Akamichi somewhere in your ancestry, it would be normal for you to do so since our kids do the same thing." Tr5 hums. "I don't know but, it might be possible. For as long as I can remember my family has travelled place to place. So I have no clue who my ancestors were." Nodding, the clan head replies. "It's typical. Every once in a great while an Akamichi will become a wanderer and keeps their family with 'em when they do get one. Anyways, it's been great talking with y'all but, I got to get back to my own family. Perhaps we will see each other again sometime." The men get up to shake the guy's hand while Tr5 responds. "Likewise." After shaking each of their hands, the large male walks back to his family.


-End of Focus Change-

Tsuki turns and shakes her head with her smile still in place. "Just goes to show that the old adage is true; you can never judge a book by its cover alone. Oi Naruto, come on its late and we have an early day tomorrow." She gets up and tosses a bag with the amount of coins needed to pay for their food to the owners' daughter then starts to head back home. "I'm coming. Just let me say bye first." The blonde said as he hopped off his seat and waved bye to the woman. "That was great as always Tuichi-san." The whiskered boy said as he patted his stuffed belly happily on his way to the opening of the shop.

"Hahaha, anytime kid. Especially since we make more money than usual when you two stop by for one of your contests; that is despite your surprisingly large appetites for kids your size and age. After all, you both are our favorite customers. Just promise me that ya'll try to come by more often; you hear?" The owner replied good naturedly while he was fixing a batch of ramen for some other folks.

"Sure thing pops." "NARUTO HURRY IT UP BEFORE I COME BACK THERE AND POMELL YOUR ASS INTO NEXT WEEK!" The girl yelled from up the road making the blonde jump with a yelp. "HAI! Cya next time old man." The boy responded with a wave and ran out to catch up with his friend.


-time lapse: back at home-

The duo took off their shoes at the entry way once they finally got home. "Boy am I stuffed and exhausted." The yawning boy said while stretching. "Mhm. Me too. I'm heading off to bed. We do not want to be late for our first day at the academy. So I'll be waking you up in the morning if you're not already up by the time I am so you better get some rest as well. Good night Naruto." The girl said as she walked to her room. "I'm heading that way now. Good night to you to Tsuki." The boy said as he closed his bedroom door.

Each changed clothes and climbed into bed not knowing just what the sandman had in store for them.


--dreamscape-

Darkness was all she could see while feeling weightless like she was floating. 'Where am I? What is this place?' Her thoughts echoed around her almost as if she said them aloud but she knew that she didn't. Soon she could see a bit of color coming closer to her.

Tsuki noticed what it was when it stopped in front of her. 'A dream mirror….so this is a dream. Mr. Sandman, what do they want you to show me?' She thought as the mirror started through the scenes. As she watched she became worried that this might be a future event that is to take place. 'If this is what I think it is, Naru-kun is not going to like it one bit. But, if it is part of the future, it has to happen. Doesn't it or does this mean that I could change it if I am viewing it from the outside? Wait…did I just think of Naruto as Naru-kun? What does it mean?' As her mind was spinning with questions the mirror changed to a completely different scene catching her attention once more.


-Insider's Perspective-

A boy in an orange jumpsuit was heading to the gates with a white haired man. They were packed for a long journey. They were talking about training when they heard a girl yelling for them to wait up. The two turned to see Naruto's best friend huffing to catch her breath.

The boy raises his hand in greeting. "Hey Tsuki what's u—." SMACK! A shocked blonde shakily puts his hand on a reddening cheek. "WHAT'S UP!? WHAT'S UP!? THAT'S ALL YOU CAN SAY IS WHAT'S UP!? YOU WERE ABOUT TO LEAVE FOR THREE YEARS OF TRAINING WITHOUT TELLING ME GOOD BYE! I COME BACK FROM THE MARKET TO SEE A NOTE ON THE COUNTER SAYING BYE…A NOTE! I DIDN'T THINK THAT YOU WERE SUCH A JERK TO NOT WAIT TO TELL ME IN PERSON!" By this time the girls' anger was starting to turn into tears. "I had thought that after all this time you knew that I would worry that you were never coming back when you did stuff like this." She slides down a pole near her and hugs her knees to herself sobbing. "I thought that you understood….how much….you mean….to me."

The boy's shock had worn off by this point and realization took its place as it dawned on him what was happening. He realized that she felt just as strongly for him as he felt for her. His heart started to race faster with that epiphany. He looked at the man with a pleading look. 'Can I have a minute alone with her?' The man nods, understanding what was happening, and continues on to wait for the boy at the gate.

The young male goes over to his friend and picks her up to take her to a park nearby and sat down on a bench with her in his lap. Taking out a napkin, he wipes her tears away. "I'm sorry for making you worry. I didn't mean to make you upset or anything. I wanted to say good bye in person but, Baa-chan and Ero Sennin were getting impatient waiting on me so I could only leave the note. They just want me to believe it's just for training but, I know the real reason they want me to go. They want to keep me safe and keep the fur ball in check at the same time."

She hiccups and sniffs. "Just promise me that you will be careful. I don't want to lose you. You mean too much to me and if something happened to you I don't know what I'd do." He sighs and moves her to sit beside him then lifts her chin so she would look at him. "No matter what happens, you will never lose me Tsuki. You're my best friend and my-." "HURRY IT UP GAKI! WE ARE WAISTING DAYLIGHT!"

"ALRIGHT, I'M COMING! I got to go now. Just remember that you will see me again in three short years." He smiles and goes to get up to leave when he feels a tug on his sleeve. When he turns back to see what else she needed he ended up frozen. She had placed her lips on his in a searing kiss filled with longing and something else he couldn't place. Soon enough he melted into the kiss and brought his hands up to her head to deepen it with a deep appreciative groan in the back of his throat.

A minute later they parted for much needed air while leaving a trail of saliva between them. "Wow. That was intense." He panted as they pressed their foreheads together while trying to catch their breath. "I really need to go now so I'll see you soon ok?" He said after he regained his breath. She grinned sweetly and placed a folded piece of paper in his hand. "Read that when you start to feel lonely." He nodded and kissed her lightly as he hugged her good bye. They were smiling when they pulled back from each other. He started to turn and waved before running off to meet up with his traveling companion.


-End Perspective-

The dream faded leaving the girl once again floating in darkness.


--end dreamscape-

The sun was just starting to come over the morning horizon. The birds were singing good morning to a new day. In a hidden house an alarm went off waking the person buried in the sheets. She yawns, stretches, and turns off the alarm as she gets out of bed thinking over the dream she had last night. 'What kind of vision dream of the future was that? Could it be that they were telling me that Naruto is my-.' "WHAT THE HELL KIND OF FUCKING DREAM WAS THAT!?" 'Well looks like he had a similar if not the same dream I did.'

She giggled as she opened the door to yell. "YOU BETTER BE GETTING READY AND WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE NARUTO!" She laughed when she heard a thump and a yelp before going back in her room to get ready for the day. 'I have a feeling that from now on things will be getting rather interesting.'

Oh if only she knew just how interesting it will get for the two friends.


-A.N.-

Well that's the end of that chapter. I was thinking about continuing it through the school part then thought 'nah I think I'll leave it there and start on the school stuff and the start of canon next chapter.' So I did hehehe. I couldn't show everything that will happen right off the bat so I hope everyone liked the dream fluff. :D What does Tsuki think Naruto is to her? I would like to hear if anyone can get any thoughts or ideas on what is going on. Read and review. Let me know what you think. Is it good or bad? Constructive criticism is accepted.