Chapter 1
Friends
It had been ten years since Satomi had been brought to the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Through all that time however nothing had been easy. The Hokage was nice and so were many of other adults. The could not be said of the children though. As many teased him for his strange ears and appearance. Nonetheless this was his home, his Village and he loved it.
It was around four a'clock when the Academy had let out the rambunctious children. Satomi left in a slightly better mood today than normal. As he recalled Naruto placing tacks in Iruka sensei's chair. He giggled to himself, remembering Irukas' strange yet hilarious yelp as the tacks did there intended job. Although Naruto found it less so after he was forced to clean the board after class. Satomi wandered what it was that Naruto did when he wasn't playing pranks or in class. He could never recall him playing with the other kids nor could he remember him doing anything else. This puzzled Satomi. "There must be something he does when he's bored besides pranks."
It was at this time when Satomi was so rapped up in his thoughts, that he was no longer paying attention to where he was going. Satomi not looking forward but down was completely caught off guard when he ran head first into something. That something just happened to be Genji Hatsuto. One of the meanest kids in the Academy this year. "Watch we're your going freak." He snarled as he pushed Satomi to the ground. Satomi fell with a slight thud. Less worried about the slight pain in his bottom and more worries about the future pain in his stomach he got up and quickly apologized. "S-sorry Hatsuto I didn't see you there." He said meekly trying to escape his glare. "Couldn't see me!" He practically spat. Genji was not what would be considered tall in fact quiet the opposite. Genji was short, with brown hair and muddy brown eyes. Genji stared at Satomi as if deciding what to do. "I really didn't mean it I just wasn't paying attention." Satomi pleaded. Genji smiled his his slightly crooked teeth showing behind it. "If your really sorry then, give me some of that money the Hokage gives every month." He cackled his sickening smile only growing wider. "But that's all I have." Satomi cried. "We'll then I guess I'm gonna have to take it by force." He remarked snidely as he marched over to Satomi. Wickedly he grabbed Satomi's ears. The ears had only grown with him making near impossible to cover them up. Genji found the softest part he could with his fingers before pulling hard. Satomi screamed loudly as his ears were pulled by the small bully. "These ears are real soft." He remarked sarcastically. "Maybe I'll tear them off and use them as a key chain." The child laughed horribly as Satomi let out small whimpers. It was then that a fist seemed to come out of no where hitting the bully in the face. Forcing him to let go and plummet to the ground and land on his butt.
There stood Naruto Uzumaki as Genji got ready to stand back up Naruto tackled him to the ground. Easily pinning him with their size difference. Just as Naruto got ready to let another punch fly as he was pulled off of him by teacher. "Naruto just what do you think your doing!?" The teacher yelled. "Thank goodness your here, he just showed up outa no where and started hitting me for no reason." Genji sobbed in unconvincing manner. "What!? that's not what happened you were picking on Satomi!" Naruto yelled in frustration. "I don't want any of your excuses Naruto." The teacher declared in a strict tone. "But you can ask Satomi!" Naruto yelled. The teacher looked down at Satomi with an expecting gaze. Satomi lowered his head he couldn't look Naruto in the eyes nor could he the teacher. Satomi stayed silent as he stared at the ground. "Just as I thought." The teacher said with what seemed to be pride. Naruto became silent and simply stared at Genji in defeat. The teacher then carted Naruto off to who knows where leaving Satomi with Genji. "Good job not ratting me out, but giving up the guy that helped you man that's low." He said with a smirk of satisfaction. With that Genji wandered off to find something else that would be of interest. Satomi stared at the ground for awhile not knowing what to do. He slowly reached up and tenderly touched his still stinging ear. "Hatsuto is right Naruto was helping me and I still let him get in trouble." He thought to himself. With that Satomi stood up to look for Naruto.
Meanwhile Naruto was getting an earful from Iruka. "How many times have I told you not to pick fights." Iruka scorned. He believed in Naruto, but sometimes he swore the boy looked for trouble. "But I'm telling Iruka sensei I didn't start it." Naruto argued. "But there is no one else to say otherwise Naruto." Iruka replied getting annoyed. "If you ask Satomi he'll tell you." Naruto said hoping that not having Genji around would change things. "N-Naruto is telling the truth." A voice stuttered quietly from the corner. Iruka slowly turned the corner and saw two small fuzzy ears ears pointing out from behind the wall. "Satomi that you?" Iruka asked assuredly. Slowly Satomi made his way out from behind the wall. "See, see I told you." Naruto exclaimed triumphantly. "We'll all right." Iruka spoke looking down with a slight red face for ever doubting his student. As the two were dismissed Naruto came up to Satomi with a wide grin. "Whew if you hadn't shown up when you did I'd be in hot water." Satomi stared in amazement. "Your not mad at me for not saying anything the first time." He said quietly. "Nah! You were just scared, besides you came in for me in the end there." Naruto said as he scratched the back of his spiky blond hair. "Your a real friend coming through for me like that." Naruto spoke holding out his hand. "Fr-friend." Satomi stuttered. "Yeah." Naruto assured as Satomi slowly took Naruto's hand into his own.
"Friend." The sound seemed to resonate throughout Satomi's being creating a strange feeling in his chest. "Friend." He said aloud. "Yeah." Naruto said back happily feeling the same growing excitement. As the two shook hands the friendship was solidified. And Naruto's warmth began to envelope Satomi. "A real friend."