Thanks to Inanari and Weirdnfreaky for the reviews!
Naruto – Ramen time
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams (Eleanor Roosevelt)
"You little runt! Clean this mess up right away!" the man yelled, holding him with one hand by the collar of his shirt while pointing at the red face with the stuck out tongue that was painted on the front of the man's shop.
He just grumbled, trying to squirm out of the man's grip. The pot with the red paint stood on the ground, traces of the paint were on his cream-colored shirt with the Uzumaki swirl on the back as well as on his green pants.
"Stop squirming and clean this mess up kid! You won't escape this time!" the man yelled and shoved him harshly to the painting. A bucket of water and a sponge were already placed there.
Angrily he turned around and glared at the shop owner who stood there with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face.
His blue eyes wandered then to the crowd of people who already had gathered in a semi-circle around them. They all stared at him with cold eyes and with wrinkled noses while whispering to each other.
He hated it. Hated it how they looked at him like they'd be better than him, looked at him like he was an abomination, looked at him with hatred and distaste even though he didn't even know them! He just wanted to throw the pot with paint right into their stupid faces!
"What are you glaring at?! Start to clean up! After all you have the whole street to do afterwards!"
"That stupid kid, if he would be my brat I wouldn't let him behave like that."
"Yeah… But what to do if he hasn't even parents who can punish him? I just wish the Hokage would finally do something about that kid."
"He should be locked away."
"I heard that he is about to enter the academy. I don't want to imagine if he is in the same class like my girl. In the end his bad behavior rubs off on her!"
"Not to mention that he is a danger to all children. I really don't understand the Hokage, exposing all the normal children to such a risk."
"I wish he would have died during the fox attack then we would have a bunch of less trouble to deal with."
"Shut up!" he yelled, glaring at the whispering adults. "Shut up! You don't know anything!" No one of them looked shocked or sorry because of his outburst. They all just stared at him with cold judging eyes.
"Stop it…" he mumbled, taking a step back, stumbling over the bucket, knocking it over and landing in the soaped water. They didn't laugh at him but only continued their staring.
"Stop looking at me like that!" he screamed and scrambled on his feet, pushed through two adults and ran down the street.
"Come back here and clean up!" Ignoring the man's furious yell he continued running and running through Konoha, his head lowered, his teeth gritted in anger, blinking away the tears.
"Hey wait!" a voice suddenly called out behind him but he didn't listen to it and only sped up. He would take revenge this night, messing up their houses with even more paintings.
"Dammit stop! I want… to talk… to you!" the same high voice from before called out, seeming out of breath. That was good, whoever that person was he soon would lose it as he wasn't even tired one bit. He was to become a ninja after all; he couldn't get tired from such a short running.
"Naruto!" His eyes widened in shock, he oversaw a rock and fell face down on the ground.
"Ouch" he mumbled, rubbing his sore face while turning on his back and glancing up. A girl around seven years old with blonde hair shining in the sun light, blue eyes and in a white dress bent down on her knees panting heavily.
"Damn you're really a good runner" she gasped. He eyed her suspiciously.
"Who are you?" He never saw her before. "And how do you know my name?"
"I heard it somewhere." People usually never called him by his name but only called him kid, runt, brat or idiot.
"What do you want?" he growled while he pushed himself up, eyeing the environment in case these adults would show up again.
"Are you okay?" the girl asked him instead and pointed at his face. "It looked painful when you fell." She looked concerned, or so it seemed. The only ones who were at least a little bit concerned about his well-being were the old Hokage and the guy from Ichiraku's. Thinking of which he noticed that he was hungry.
"Leave me alone" he grumbled and pushed the dust off his clothes.
"Are you the one who painted all these shops, houses and walls red?"
He narrowed his blue eyes at her and looked at her challenging. "Yes what about it?"
Suddenly the girl laughed. "I like it!" Now he was completely stunned.
"Uh… uh… thanks. I guess?" She grinned widely at him. In that moment his stomach decided to growl.
Sheepishly he laughed and rubbed the back of his head. "I actually wanted to go to Ichiraku's and eat some ramen. The painting and running made me really hungry."
"Can I join you?" she asked beaming at him.
He looked at her surprised. Nobody had ever asked him before to accompany him at Ichiraku's. But then he grinned widely. "Sure! Come on, follow me!"
From where they were it was only a short walk. Unconsciously he had automatically run into the direction of the ramen stand. Well his legs knew what his stomach wanted!
The delicious ramen smell hit him when they were only a few meters away and immediately his mouth started to water. The girl laughed when she saw him drooling already and together they ducked under the sheets and sat down on the chairs.
"Hey old man, I'm back!" he greeted the owner of Ichiraku's. The man smiled warmly.
"I can see that Naruto. The same as usual?"
"Yes!" He then turned to the girl. "What do you want?"
"What does who want?" the old man asked confused, staring at where the girl was sitting.
"My companion of course!"
"What companion? I can't see anybody beside you in here."
"They can't see me" the girl explained shrugging while smiling sheepishly. "You're the only one who can."
His eyes widened. "Really?! But you still have to eat a ramen; I tell you they are the most delicious best in the whole world!"
The old man laughed. "Well I don't know what's going on but thanks for the compliment."
Suddenly the girl looked downward depressed. "I wish I could eat it but unfortunately I simply can't!" she whined. "With this body it's like I'm made out of smoke. I can't even touch anything."
"That sucks, seriously!" Sobbing she nodded. "Isn't there any way you can change it? Having to live without even once tasting ramen… I can't even imagine it! That must be horrible!" The simple thought was horrifying.
"Sadly no… I've been like this for a very long time and didn't find a way to touch anything yet."
"I'm sorry."
She laughed suddenly, the earlier depression completely gone. "Ah you don't have to be Naruto."
"By the way what's your name?"
"Hope" she introduced herself with a smile which he returned.
"Nice meeting you, I'm Naruto Uzumaki the future Hokage believe it!"
She started laughing, holding her belly and having to grip at the counter to not fall down the chair.
"What's so funny?" he asked suspiciously, almost anticipating that she was about to make fun about him too like everyone else.
"Haha nothing… I just like you. And you have a very cool dream. I hope you'll reach it someday. But why do you want to become Hokage?"
"If I'm Hokage then the people will finally acknowledge me! They will stop looking down on me, believe it!"
"Then I wish you good luck on your way. I'm sure that the time will come when everyone will respect and acknowledge you. You just have to never give up and never lose your dream out of your eyes. Follow it no matter what obstacles may be in your way. Fight for it no matter how hard it is. Promise me that you will never stop until you get there."
He looked at her a little confused while she told him that but then grinned. "I promise!"
"Well but for becoming Hokage you first have to become strong, Naruto" the old man said and put down the first bowl of ramen in front of him. His mouth instantly started to water again. "So dig in!"
"Thanks old man I sure will!" He rubbed his hands in anticipation, picked up a pair of chopsticks, separated them and then took the first bite.
"And how is it?" Hope asked beaming at him, gazing at the ramen.
"Delicious!" he answered with full mouth and noodles hanging out of his mouth, making her giggle. He slurped the noodles into his mouth and grinned at her.
He just found his very first friend.
I know Sasuke is Naruto's first friend, but at that point they haven't meet yet and let's say Sasuke was Naruto's first "real" friend.
If you have an idea about who I should write, or in which situation, just tell me! I'm always open for suggestions.