This story was inspired by people telling me to be nicer to Naruto and me seeing that he really needed something, a friend.
Ren is the most common boy name in Japan, that is why I am using it.
Five years before Canon starts
Moving through the music, Ren mimicked the steps his mother once taught him so many months ago. As always, though it brought him joy, dancing made him very sad. He thought of his unusually perfect mother, her painted face, her soft smile, her warm hugs and the constant dancing that fueled her. Still, he loved dancing. The rhythmic movements, the powerful strides, the strength and dexterity required... and the fans were all sorts of fun!
Taijutsu was much like that, or so the old Hokage had said when he all but forced him to agree to become a Ninja. The old man, who had spoken to him in the hospital, asked him his hobbies and used that to get him to join. Of course, the clincher was Medical ninjutsu, Ren wanted that more than anything to ensure no one suffered like his mom did from cancer brought on by the smoke in the brothel she worked.
BOOM!
"The heck?" Ren stopped dancing, looking to the side. " Who is making that racket?" BOOM!BOOM!BOOM! The sound only got louder. "Oh for crying..." Grabbing his key, he rushed to the next door neighbor and knocked on the door.
"Hello? What do you want?" Was what he heard before a cute blonde haired boy popped out. He had blue eyes and actual freaking whisker marks on his face.
Sighing, Ren asked. " What is that loud nose? I am trying to dance and you are being super loud!"
The boy scowled. " What's it too you, I am training to be the greatest Ninja!"
"Oh your going to the academy too? I start in a week. Iruka's class! What's your name?"
The boy looked hesitant. "Naruto... why are you talking to me, don't you hate me like everyone else?"
"Why would I hate you, we just met?"
"Everyone hates me... I don't know why..."
Ren's heart broke into a million pieces. He hated bullies, he hated meanness, and he like helping. It was partially why he wanted to be a medic. "My mom always said the only people that matter are those that you care about. Screw everyone else... I can care about you if you want? We can train together too, if you are down?"
"Re... really?" The boy beamed.
"Sure. I want to get a heads up before I go to the academy anyway. I read the books and scrolls, I just haven't had the chance to practice throwing weapons or taijutsu. I was going to but I never got the chance. I was going to go after I was done dancing."
"Why dance?"
"My mom, taught me before she died. The Hokage said that dance is similar to taijutsu, I thought it would help."
The boy went sad. " I am sorry she died."
Ren sighed. "It was... and is awful... but I can't change it, so I am trying to stay positive. So...wanna train together?"
"Okay! My name is Naruto, Naruto Uzumaki!
"My name is Ren, I have no last name. I abandoned it when my mom died."
"Come on in!" Naruto said and they entered a messy apartment.
He quickly saw a punching bag Naruto was punching into the wall. "That was the sound. It was hitting my wall... we can fix that. So show me your stance?"
Naruto frowned. " Stance?"
"Your stance, you know how you stand while you fight? The scrolls said it was key to balance." He demonstrated the stance, as he had seen it on the scroll. "Like this, your feet are important."
Naruto mimicked him. "That's what Emi Sensei was screaming at me about, I never got it since she was being mean so I tuned her out..."
That really bugged Ren. "Well, we can work together to overcome people's stupid." 'And maybe I'll figure out why you are hated,... who would hate a kid? He hasn't lived long enough to earn any hate...'
They would train, with Ren correcting Naruto for about two hours before Naruto's belly rumbled. "Sorry, but all I have is ramen and pay day is next week..." He looked embarrassed.
"I have plenty of food, mom taught me to cook. In return for the training session, I'll get you some food today. Come on."
"No veggies, I hate veggies."
Ren just laughed, he was a great cook and despite Naruto hating veggies, he would end up loving what he made...
And so the sparks of friendship were born, ready to be snuffed out or turned into a raging inferno... all depending on the choices of those that carried it.
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was awesome, and much needed.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.