Chapter 2 Pink Savior

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto but it's been my dream to own the series.

Bold letters inner Sakura

Naruto was walking the streets of the village happy, since he was now living in a apartment he was able to sleep in a bed and he has the best sleep in a while since he usually sleeps in the cold ground of an alley. It seems his life was getting a little better, he was happy enough to have his own place to live now if just finds some friends than maybe his life will finally be shinning bright. As he walks to the streets of the village, he was getting the usual glares from the villagers and as usual he ignored them while not knowing why they hated him so much. He was now on his way to the grocery store to buy some food, thanks to the daily allowances that Sarutobi gave him he can buy food and prevent from dying of hunger.

He finally arrive at the grocery store looking for his favorite meal in the entire world, the owner of the store who was next to the cash register set his sights on the small blond and started glaring at him with a huge killer intent. Naruto ignore him and went to where the ramen cups were, he picked over twenty of them putting them in the small basket seeing that the price was very moderate and it was enough for the money he has. With cups of ramen in the basket he went to the cash register, the owner was still glaring at him and holding the urge to beat him to a pulp while Naruto put the basket in front of him ready for him to tell him how much he has to pay. The owner of the store started checking the prices of the ramen cups, pressing the keys of the cash machine Naruto took his toad wallet ready to give him the necessary money.

The owner gave him another glare" is that all you're going to buy?"

The little boy nodded" yeah I'm only buying the ramen cups ramen it's my favorite food"

He snorted checking the price in the cash register" that will be five hundred ryou"

Naruto gasp" what but that can't be I mean I saw the price for the ramen cups and they 10 ryou each I only pick twenty I don't think that's the right price mister"

He glare at him again" listen you demon brat I don't need you telling me when I'm right or wrong this is my store and if you have a problem with my prices then you can leave there's the door, now are you going to pay up or should I gladly kick you out"

He gulp he really wanted to buy the ramen cups so he just paid the wrong amount of money, the owner did it on purpose since he hated the toddler. He gave him the right amount of money; the owner pulled a paper bag and put all of the ramen cups inside.

The blond took the paper bag while smiling at him" thanks mister"

The owner sneer at him" get out of my store you monster I don't want you to in my store ever again"

Naruto left the store running the he was really mad, the owner started picked a broom and started sweeping the floor he growl thinking of Naruto.

(That demon brat should be dead why the hell he's allowed to live)

Naruto sighed in relief when he was far away from the grocery store, oh well at least he has his ramen cups now he had food to last him for a couple of days. Since the owner of that store didn't want him to come again, he will have to go to another store to buy food. When he reach a corner he saw an older man who seems to be drunk, he had a bad feeling about this he could feel another beating coming to him so he decided to turn back and leave. When he turned around he saw another man who also look drunk, looks like he couldn't escape, he could feel the killing intent coming from the two adults this wasn't going to turn pretty.

"Hey what do we have here it's the demon brat and look he has some groceries" one of the men said with a mock tone.

"I didn't know monsters knew how to buy groceries what an amusing sight"

"These groceries don't belong to you monster now hand them over or else"

"They are mine I bought them fair and square with money" Naruto said.

"You have money yeah right you must've stole it from someone"

"I didn't the old man Hokage gave me the money it's my allowance"

Suddenly he was punched in the face dropping the bag of groceries a few of the ramen cups fell out of the bag, he try to get back up but he was kick by the same man who punched him.

"Shut up you demon there's no way the Sandaime Hokage would give money to a monster like you"

"Let's take these groceries and return them to whoever he stole them from"

Before they picked the bag, the two ANBU Itachi and Kakashi appeared and if it wasn't for the fact that they were wearing masks anyone could see that they were not happy.

"Leave immediately before we do something that we might regret doing" the young captain said (AN Itachi is seventeen and Kakashi is eighteen)

"He paid for these groceries with money that the Hokage gave him so yes he was telling the truth now leave" Kakashi said.

The two men growl, even if they were drunk they knew better than to mess with two ANBU they left while Kakashi started picking the ramen cups that fell from the paper bag.

"Are you all right Naruto-kun?" ask Itachi.

"Yeah I'm fine don't worry"

"Kakashi-kun why don't you take Naruto-kun's groceries to his apartment" itachi said.

"Yes it's not safe for him to be walking in the village with groceries don't worry I will take them to your apartment" Kakashi said as he vanished.

"Thanks"

"I'll see you later Naruto-kun" Itachi said as he vanished.

Naruto sighed was it going to be like this every time he enters a grocery store or ran up to people, why would they called him monster or demon he look normal like everyone else at least that's what he thought. He checked his wallet and notice that he had plenty of money left; he suddenly got an idea he went to a hardware store and found what he was looking for. He went to the cash register carrying a can of pain and a brush, as usual the owner of the hardware store glare at him and overcharged him for the paint. He took his newly bought can of paint and went to the groceries store; he took a brush opening the can of paint and started painting the front of the store.

When the owner left to go on his break he gasp seeing what has happened to the front of his store, the store was cover in red paint letters it was written and said Uzumaki Naruto was here there was also a small drawing of him making his fox grin.

He growl" AH THAT DEMON BRAT DID THIS I KNEW IT HE'S NOTHING BUT TROUBLE"

Itachi who was watching along with Kakashi were quite impressed by Naruto's drawing skills.

"I didn't know Naruto was good at drawing for his age" Kakashi said.

"Yes but I'm actually impressed that he actually pulled this off the owner had it coming though"

Naruto ran until reaching a dead end in the street, he was running making sure no one has watched him do it his small prank, since the village hated him might as well find a way to get their attention and looked at him without showing any hatred towards him. He found out that some of the villagers actually like his pranks, some of them laugh mostly were children others just saw that he was annoying or a nuisance but he didn't minded at all it was better than be hated. He laugh remembering what he did he really loved his job as a prankster, the feeling of making a simple prank always makes him feel better forgetting the feeling that he was hated by the entire village along with his loneliness.

When he was done laughing he left the dead end back to the streets, until he felt a hand on his right shoulder. He turned around to see a young teen he looks like he was eighteen with brown hair on a short pony tail and black eyes with a scar on his nose, he had a Konoha headband on his forehead and he was wearing a chunin uniform. Naruto already knew about the uniforms of the ninjas from their ranks, well he only knew a little about it since he has seen them. He gulp seeing that the chunin was giving him an angry look, he couldn't believe it did he saw him when he pulled the prank no one has ever caught him pulling a prank before. The only thing he could do is pretend that he didn't do a thing, like he was the innocent little boy.

"Yes mister is there something you want?"

The chunin raised an eyebrow" mister I'm not that old I'm only eighteen but don't change the subject, I saw you when you painted that store"

Naruto gasp in shock (no way he really saw me pulling the prank oh no I am in so much trouble now)

The chunin continued to stare at him and felt some anger towards him (so this is him, the container of the Kyubi the demon responsible for killing my parents but he looks so normal like a regular kid, is it right for me to hate him when he has nothing to be blame for what he did to the store was wrong but it was a lot better than destroying it to rubble and killing the worker)

Naruto gulp at the way he was looking at him, he knew that look in his eyes he has seeing it plenty of times when they want to beat him up. He panicked he didn't wanted to be beat up again, he will obviously end up in the hospital and he has ended up the place because it always brings him the memories of the beatings.

He was about to leave when the chunin took a hold of his arm" wait you are not going anywhere"

Naruto looked back at him with tears in his eyes" please mister don't…..don't hit me please I beg of you I don't know why but everyone always beats me up……if you're going to hit me then please make it quick"

The chunin sweat dropped" I told you not to call me mister I'm not that old and my name is Umino Iruka I'm the teacher at the ninja academy and I'm not going to hit you so don't be afraid" (look at him he's trembling and crying I knew it, the rumors are not true he can't be the Kyubi if he was he would've killed me by now)

The small blond calm down hearing this he started drying his tears, he felt so relief at least he wasn't going to get beaten today" thank you Iruka-san it means a lot to me I'm always hated by the villagers but I don't know why…."

"I see" he said solemnly (how horrible to live alone with no friends and the entire village hating him he must be so lonely, just like me when my parents were killed by the demon fox) he smiled at the blond" don't worry about that can you tell me your name"

Naruto gave him his fox grin" my name is Uzumaki Naruto future Hokage of Konoha remember it believe it"

"Really" he said with a smile (so he's dream is to become Hokage he has a lot to go for that to happen) "that's really nice Naruto you know I'm glad I actually met you and don't be so formal but if you want to you can call me Iruka sensei well you will become student soon, when you turn six you will be able to enter the academy and it will be up to me to prepare you to become a ninja of Konoha"

Naruto smiled" thanks Iruka sensei I will enter the academy and become the best ninja there is"

"Glad to hear it you can't become Hokage if you don't become a ninja first right, well I have to go I'm needed back at the academy see you later Naruto"

"Bye Iruka sensei" the blond said while waving goodbye.

Iruka turned around to give him a quick glance he smiled (maybe next time I will invite him to Ichiraku's to have some ramen with me)

Naruto was walking the streets with a big smile on his face, he was so happy to meet someone that didn't hate him apart from the Sandaime and his two ANBU guardians maybe he will start having a better life. He started thinking what Iruka told him about the academy, now he couldn't wait until he was six to start the academy year and become a ninja that is if he graduates from the academy. While walking he heard voices, they all sound like they were girls he walked ahead and he saw a group of girls they look like they were the same age as him. Then he caught a glimpse at one little girl who was being pick up by another girl.

He couldn't see her face clearly; he could tell that she being mistreated by them for no good reason at all, he decided to stay and listen to find out what was going on.

"You are so ugly" one girl said while pushing the poor little girl.

"Stop it leave me alone you meanies" she cried trying to get away from the girl bullies.

"Yeah you're so ugly with that huge forehead"

"Forehead girl"

"I have a better one she's billboard brow"

The girls started laughing while the poor victim started crying"

"Aw she has a huge forehead and she's also a cry baby"

"Yeah she's nothing without that girl to defend her"

"Take that forehead girl" one of them said while pushing her to ground she continued crying.

"Serves you right billboard brow"

Naruto growl in anger he had about enough of this, it reminded him so much when he's being beaten by the villagers he went to the group" HEY leave her alone right now"

The girls turn to see a very angry Naruto heading their way they all recognize him when they saw the whiskers on his cheeks, their parents have told them to stay away from him because he was a monster they obviously obey their parents and eventually believe that he was a monster.

"It's him let's get out of here"

They all left to return to their parents while the little girl they were picking on she was still sobbing, Naruto went to her trying to calm her down. He notice that she had pink hair like the cherry blossoms petals, she was wearing a red bow tied around her head, she was also wearing a red dress and white sandals.

Naruto didn't know why would those girls be picking on her, even if he still hasn't seen her face because she was hiding her face with her hands she look pretty" are you okay?"

Finally the little girl with pink hair lifted her hands revealing her face full of tears, Naruto was stun at the sight of the little girl his heart skip a beat she was gorgeous. She had an angelic face that reflects only true beauty and jade eyes; he stood like he was in some kind of trance and he felt his cheeks heating up.

The little girl looked at him while drying her tears while she took a long look at him, seeing his blond spiky hair and cerulean eyes, she thought he was adorable and the whiskers on his cheek made him look more adorable" yes I'm okay"

"I can't believe those mean girls were picking on you they shouldn't treat others like that" Naruto said worry.

"It's all right I'm used to it I'm always picked on by bullies"

"Why I don't get it" he said honestly he didn't know why, even if she was pretty she didn't look like she was a mean person she seems pretty nice.

The little girl with pink hair looked at him shocked he couldn't see the reason why she was always picked" can't you see take a look at my forehead"

Naruto gaze at her face and notice that her forehead looked rather large in size, the little girl was afraid expecting that he will pick on her too after saving her from the bullies, she felt very thankful for his help.

Naruto only smile" so what if its big I think it looks nice, it goes well with your beautiful face"

The girl with pink hair felt herself blush at the comment while her heart skip a beat, apart from her best friend this was the first person who has complimented her for her forehead and saying that she was beautiful.

She gaze at him with a blush on her cheeks" you really mean it…you think I'm beautiful?"

Naruto gave her his fix grin" of course you are the most beautiful girl in the whole village"

That comment was enough to make the little girl's face turned completely red, she was so embarrassed to be complimented like that but she like it. She was still looking at him, he really looks adorable she started twiddling her fingers a little, she was acting like a shy girl she always act nervous around others because she's afraid that they might tease her forehead. But this was different, the boy thought she was beautiful and her forehead went well with her face she was acting shy because she was feeling butterflies in her stomach while talking to him.

She was still blushing while giving the blond a warm smile" my name is Haruno Sakura what's yours?"

"It's Uzumaki Naruto"

"It's nice to meet you Naruto-kun I better go my mommy must be looking for me thanks for saving me from those bullies"

"No problem Sakura-chan I'm glad I was able to help"

Then the unexpected happened she gave him a quick peek on his cheek, he blushed bright bed while she giggle" thank you Naruto-kun and thanks for not making fun of my forehead my best friend gave me this red bow she told me if I wear it they wouldn't tease me but it failed I will always be picked on"

Naruto smiled" there's no reason to make fun of your forehead as long as I'm here I won't let them picked on you"

She smiled before leaving" bye Naruto-kun"

"Bye Sakura-chan" he wave her goodbye feeling very happy he has met his first girlfriend.

He left while in the shadows Kakashi and Itachi have witnessed the entire event.

"Well looks like Naruto has made a friend" Kakashi said amused.

"This is a new beginning for Naruto-kun lets us hope that from here on his life will be a lot better" Itachi said.

Naruto arrived at the park; he passed through the playground area where he saw a couple of kids his age. One of them had spiky brown hair and black eyes he was wearing a simple grey shirt with blue pants and blue sandals he was playing with the slide, the second was a little fat with brown black eyes wearing a green shirt white pants and blue sandals, he was eating a bag of chips. The third kid had black hair tied to a pony tail in the shape of a pineapple; he was wearing a black shirt with grey pants and blue sandals he was yawning and lying down on the ground looking at the sky. He gulp as he went to the group, he was never good in making friends because the villagers hated him none of their children got near him.

Finally the boy that was playing with the slide looked at him" hey want to play the slide with me is so cool"

Naruto smile while nodding his head they starting sliding down the slide, after a couple they went to the other two kids.

"I'm Kiba from the Inuzuka clan this is Chouji from the Akimichi clan" he pointed to the fat kid eating chips who only nodded to him as saying hello" and the lazy kid over there is Shikamaru from the Nara clan"

"Nice to meet you all I'm Uzumaki Naruto" he gave his fox grin.

"Would you guys keep your voice down I'm trying to sleep here" the lazy kid Shikamaru said.

"You're always sleeping and looking at the clouds Shikamaru" Kiba whine at the lazy boys behavior.

"Well yeah my mom is always nagging me that I should go outside and play more instead of sleeping she's very troublesome but at least I can look at the clouds here" he then look at Naruto he got up and went to him" hey it's you"

Naruto blink not knowing what he was talking about.

"Yeah it's you I heard rumors that you're a bad person but you don't look like one I trust you" Shikamaru said.

"You mean it?" ask the shock Naruto.

"Yeah I have no problem with hanging with you just don't bother me when I'm sleeping" he yawn.

"Nah I don't listen to those rumors you look like a nice person" Kiba said.

Chouji finally finished eating his chips" hey I don't mind having another friend some of the kids were always picking on me because of my weight until I met Shikamaru so you're welcome to join us"

Naruto felt like crying how he always wanted to have friends, today he had gotten his wish come true he started playing with his new friends of course he was still thinking about the pink hair girl Sakura. They started going to the slide over and over again, Shikamaru yawn as he went to look at the clouds again muttering troublesome about the slide. After they finished with the slide they went to swings, they started playing a game of whoever can reach high into the sun with their swing wins and they all took that challenge. Of course nobody won, minutes they all got tire and decided to join Shikamaru watching the clouds.

None of them notice the two ANBU that were watching, both Kakashi and Itachi were smiling underneath their masks they were glad that Naruto was finally making friends.

"Wow the clouds look so pretty" Naruto said in awe.

"I'll say no wonder you like staring at them Shikamaru" Kiba said.

"Yeah they are so calm and quiet they help me sleep quicker" the lazy kid said.

"Oh wow look that cloud over there it looks like a piece of bbq pork" Chouji said while drooling.

"Chouji is that all you can think about?" ask Kiba with a sweat dropped.

"Hey that one over there looks a lot like a ramen cup" Naruto said pointing at the cloud resembling the cup.

"Great you also talk about food too Naruto" Kiba said.

Shikamaru sighed while getting up" well looks like I'm leaving how troublesome" he saw an adult that looks a lot like him but he had a bear on his chin.

"You're dad Shikamaru and my dad too" Chouji said seeing his father which was a large man with red hair.

"I don't want to go back yet" Kiba whine seeing a younger woman with brown hair tied on a pony tail wearing a chunin uniform" my sister really knows how to spoil my playtime oh well looks like I'll see you later Naruto"

"Yeah bye Naruto" Chouji said leaving with Kiba.

"See you later Naruto" Shikamaru said following the two.

Naruto watched as his new friends left the playground with their parents, he felt so jealous of them they had a family to go home to while he didn't have any he was living alone in a apartment. He didn't let it get to him and left the playground, things weren't so bad he has actually made friends that is enough for him. As he walk the streets he gasp seeing another mob of angry villagers, he didn't think twice he started running he trip falling to the ground hard. He was now surrounded by the mob, this time they were going to kill him for good some of them started kicking him while others spit on him.

Kakashi was about to face them but Itachi stop him" what are you doing Itachi?"

"Wait" was he's only reply seeing that there was someone who was heading to the mob, someone familiar.

Suddenly a bee hive fell on the mob and the villagers started screaming, they were all yelling for their lives seeing the angry bees attacking them. Naruto got scare he was about to get caught in the bees, until someone took his hand and lead him away from the mob.

Kakashi smile seeing the person who rescued the blond (well well who would've thought) he could tell that Itachi was feeling the same way.

Naruto and the stranger that helped him were now in a corner of the streets, he was safe now that they were far away enough from the angry mob. When he saw who was the one that rescue him he smiled brightly, standing next to him was his new friend Sakura who was smiling back at him.

"Sakura-chan you save me"

The little girl with pink hair giggle" of course silly I wasn't going to let those meanies hurt you, so I hurt them with that bee hive"

Naruto's eyes widened" what it was you, you were the one that threw that bee hive I never thought you were capable of doing such a thing"

"For my friends I will do anything for them you're my friend too, well my mommy told me that I shouldn't hang out with you that I should just ignore you and hate you but I won't do that you save me from those bullies and that's makes you my official friend" she smile at him while he blushed a little a few tears falling from his face.

"Thank you Sakura-chan you don't know how much this means to me, is there anything you want me to do for you just name it and I will do it" he gave her his fox grin.

Sakura cheer" really, well there is something you can do for me come on let's go to the playground I will tell you on the way there"

A couple of minutes later they arrived at the playground and Naruto couldn't believe what he just heard from his pink haired friend, Sakura gave him a box containing mud balls she has told him her plan to get even with her bullies. At first he was shock that such an innocent girl like Sakura will have the guts to do something so diabolical so unexpected so….cool, he grin he actually like her idea and the way she thinks it's like she was a prankster like him. He saw the same group of girls that were picking on her before, he smirk he was going to enjoy this a lot, well not as much as Sakura.

"There they are Naruto-kun you know what to do" Sakura said as she glare at the girl bullies.

Naruto took the box containing the mud balls and smirk" Sakura-chan you are such an evil genius"

She giggle at his comment" no I'm not its simple when bullies picked on me I get even"

(CHA REVENGE IS SWEET) the five year old inner Sakura said while raising a fist.

"All right then here I go" he left heading to the playground.

(Good luck Naruto-kun) Sakura thought while giggling.

(CHA TEACH THOSE MEANIES A LESSON THEY WILL NEVER FORGET)

The girls saw Naruto heading their way, they frown seeing the blond they were about to leave the playground when they saw Naruto taking the mud balls from the box.

(It's payback time) Naruto thought with a smirk.

Naruto threw the mud balls one at a time hitting the girls; he continued his barrage until all of the girls were cover in mud. Eventually the bullies ran away from the playground crying returning back to their mothers, Sakura was cheering she went to the blond and gave him a big hug making him blush.

"Naruto-kun you did it you were amazing that will teach those meanies not to mess with me"

"Well I couldn't have done it without you Sakura-chan you were the one who come up with the plan it was so cool, you're very smart" he gave his fox grin.

Sakura blushed slightly" nah I just come up with these kinds of things, sometimes they are a lot of meanies who deserves these kind of things"

They laugh together as they made their way out of the playground, when they reached the entrance to the park they saw an adult woman with the same pink hair as Sakura. Naruto was stun the woman look like an older version of Sakura, he notice that Sakura gulp like she was afraid of her he got worry for her.

"Sakura-chan what's wrong?"

"It's my mommy and she doesn't look like she's happy she has a bad temper"

Before Naruto said a word the older woman saw them, and she glare at the blond while looking at her daughter" Sakura what are you doing?"

"I'll see you later Naruto-kun bye" she left heading to her mother.

Naruto stood there watching the reunion of his friend with her mother; he got worry seeing that the woman was scolding her.

"What do you think you're doing Sakura" Ms. Haruno said in an angry tone.

"Nothing mommy I was just playing"

She growl" don't lie to me you were with that monster I told you not to get near him if you see him then hit him or pushed him aside he's nothing but trash"

Naruto heard that from the distance and felt like crying, he was afraid that Sakura might listen to her and obey eventually she will start hating him like everyone else in the village. After becoming a good friend to the pink haired girl, he was about to lose her for good he didn't wanted that to happen.

He continued to listen to the conversation.

"Sakura I want you to promise me that you won't go near that boy ever again"

Sakura sighed" yes mommy I promise you that I won't go near him ever again"

"Good now that we have that settle let's go home I made dinner"

Naruto smile when he noticed that during the entire time Sakura had her fingers crossed on her back, luckily her mother didn't notice. Sakura turned to look at him before she was out of sight, she smile at him and he smiled back feeling happy that she was going to keep on hanging with him.

Kakashi and Itachi that were watching the whole thing were happy for the blond, Kakashi started chuckling when he saw Naruto throwing the mud balls at the girl bullies it was fun to watched bullies get a taste of their own medicine. Itachi was feeling proud for the blond, seeing that he was slowly making friends pretty he was going to be accepted by the village.

Kakashi chuckle" you know I never thought that there will be another prankster like Naruto around"

"She's perfect to be with Naruto-kun at least he won't be feeling lonely anymore"

Kakashi nodded and they both vanished as they continued their mission to watched over him, little did they knew that they were being watched.

At the Hokage's office Sarutobi has watched the entire set of events with his crystal ball he smiled seeing how interesting Naruto's life has become.

(I knew it little by little Naruto is making friends and little by little he will be accepted as one of their own as a citizen of Konoha)

To be continued

Naruto has made friends that is so cute and wow who would've thought that Sakura is a prankster what will happen next. Please read and review also for those who are fans of my other new story am I worthy to love you look forward to a new chapter soon farewell.

Next chapter: The mastermind of pranks