It is often said that our lives are defined not by Big Moments, but by the little ones... moments so inconsequential that we often forgot they even happened. For Naruto Uzumaki, one of theses Moments should have been Meeting the Ichiraku's... their kindness would have taught the boy compassion, kindness and the Value of Friendship... it would make him yearn for others to accept him as the Ichiraku's did... but what of that didn't happen? What if that simple, but vital part of part of his life Never happened...
This is that Story...
Six years before canon
Horrible aches of Pain wracked Naruto's body as he stumbled down the Street. He needed food, now, but knew that everyone would just overcharge him like they always did. The Old Man didn't give him enough for that... well if everyone was nicer then maybe, but they were all super mean and made him pay three times as much as everyone else. It wasn't fair.
He had considered going into that Ramen place, it smelled really good, but it was full and he didn't like the glares he got around lots of people. It was scary some times, how much they looked like they wanted to hurt him... but he was So Hungry...
" Shit !" Naruto flinched as a man screamed, his Push cart's wheel breaking and fruit tumbling out onto the floor. On Pure instinct, Naruto wanted to help the man but remembered how mean he had been before... so he stopped and went to walk away. The Smell of the fruit, a sweet acidic smell made him stomach Ache...
" Maybe just one... "
Before he could change his mind, Naruto was in an alley, stuffing his face with the Fruit. " Ahh.. that is so good..." For the first time in a month, he wasn't feeling hungry... he liked this feeling... why did everyone say stealing was bad? Unlike when he asked the Old man for Help, this actually worked? " Maybe... but I don't think I should tell the old man about this... he might get mad..."
Six Months Later
BURRRRP, Naruto whipped his mouth, chuckling at the sound " Hmmm... this s yummy... I think I need some more Kunai...Kemi tossed me out a few weeks ago, maybe I should prank him, then take some of his Kunai... "
It was funny, how much he didn't care about Stealing at this point... but honestly this was so much easier. He didn't to worry about someone telling him no, hitting or glaring at him, or making him pay all of his money. It was easy too, sneaking into their shops and getting his stuff. Sure he had been sticking to food, but still...
He was never going to stop... he had to take care of himself since no one else would. He couldn't get a job, and the old man was useless, this was all he had.. .and that was okay with him.
Chapter End, Tell me what you think in the Reviews,
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.