Title: Nothing in This World Is Easy

Author: Random Facts

Pairing: Naruto x OC!Mina Chinoike (slow burn)

Word Count: 2,575 (give or take)

Notes: Heyy! Sorry for the sort-of-hiatus, I've been in a… not so good spot mentally, so I've been really trying to focus on getting myself better. But I also don't like handling my mental health head on so I try to distract myself with literally anything else so I don't have to face it. So yeah, that's been what's going on for me! Hope everything's been going well for you guys.

With that out of the way, here's the new chapter! I hope you enjoy it. The chapters will be showing the beginnings of Mina's and Naruto's friendship, which will kind of come across as kind of flashback-y, but I promise it'll eventually lead up to the start of the series. If my writing could use improvement, or you notice any spelling/grammatical errors that I missed, any ideas that you'd like to see added to the story, please let me know! I'm open to anything. Thanks!

One more thing, I will probably come back to these chapters to fix anything I catch. Again, if there's anything you guys see that could use improvement, please let me know. I'd love to know how I can improve my writing and the story.

Rating: T — mentions or possible semi-descriptions of canon and non-canon violence, language, spelling/grammatical errors, etc.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of its characters. I only own my characters and any changes I make.


Chapter One

Enter… Naruto Uzumaki!


Once I'd been found in the aftermath of the Nine-Tails' attack, I was swept together with all the other orphaned and unclaimed children, and promptly placed in the village's orphanage. Even back then, I was treated differently than the other children. As an infant, I was isolated, often left alone for hours on end without any of the staff caring for me. It was around that time the rumors of my parents' alleged involvement had begun spreading, and as a baby I was being punished for something that was out of my control.

If I was crying, I'd be ignored until someone from the staff got annoyed with me or I woke someone from their nap.

I was the last to be fed, the last to be cleaned, the last to be given any new clothes — which were always old, worn out hand-me-downs. I had to teach myself things the staff typically taught the other younger kids. I had no one else to rely on but myself. I had no one else to trust but myself.

Unfortunately, the children were just as bad as the staff. They were mimicking the adults' behavior, not really understanding what they were doing or why. But it didn't make it hurt any less.

It wasn't so much the younger kids who bullied me, they were typically herded away when I entered a room or went into the yard. It was the older kids who came after me. They called me names, which usually left me crying. They threw things at me, sometimes rocks or balls when outside, food or garbage if we were eating, or whatever else they could get their hands on. I was tripped, shoved, hit, and slapped. And I let it happen. Why would I try and stop it? I would get in trouble if I did anything. I would even get in trouble if I didn't do anything. But that was because my bullies would play the victim and make up lies about me. The most common form of punishment, aside from yelling and hitting from the adults, would be me getting locked in my room.

That was when I realized something; I was safe in my room. No one bothered me. None of the kids came near my room, and the staff usually ignored me until it was time for dinner. I wasn't allowed out of my room for dinner, or for anything for that matter, but someone usually came with a plate with a minuscule amount of food on it. I learned early on to save some of the food for later, so at least I would have something to snack on in the future. I had also learned that there would be days, weeks even, where I would only get dinner and not breakfast or lunch. Saving what I could got me through those times.

My room became my safe haven, my safety net, and over time I rarely left my room at all if I could help it. I'd only ever leave if I really needed something, and only felt it was safe to go out. No one seemed to complain, and I was allowed to do what I pleased in my room. I practiced my reading and writing, I drew, I cleaned and sometimes even did some rearranging. Only little things though, I wasn't strong enough to move the bigger furniture. I had fun. I was safe. I was happy… and also lonely. But being alone seemed better than being hurt. Being alone was the price to pay so I could feel safe. I would tell myself I didn't mind being alone, that I didn't need anyone else.

And I was wrong, because I hadn't met him yet.

It was the middle of summer, in the mid- to late-afternoon, the day I first met Naruto Uzumaki. The truth is, I had no idea who he was. We were never really in the same locations at the same time, whether or not that was intentional I don't know. I certainly heard of him though. I'd hear some of the staff gossiping to each other and I'd hear his name slip out. I would even hear, in some other part of the orphanage, someone yelling at him and then the soft sounds of crying. The other kids said his name as if it were an insult. His name was always said with such contempt, with such sour looks on their faces, and it made me wonder what he did wrong.

Part of me felt bad for him. What did he do to warrant being treated so badly? Deep down, I hoped to be able to meet him one day, maybe to comfort him, let him know he's not alone. But I also knew that would probably never happen. That had been my truth, and I stuck by it. Until that first encounter proved me wrong.

I was a little over four-years-old, and I'd managed to sneak out of my room in hopes of quickly grabbing something to eat. No one had come by to give me lunch, and I hadn't eaten since morning. I had finished off my little food stash for breakfast, but my stomach was still grumbling. I knew that after lunch, the kids would be allowed some time to play outside.

From the sounds of it, everyone was being let out into the yard, and I could quickly sneak into the kitchen to grab something to eat, and hurry back to my room. Reaching for the doorknob, it felt as if I was moving in slow motion. My heart was beating painfully against my ribs, my breathing becoming quick and shallow.

I'll be fine, I thought shakily, if I just move quickly I'll be fine.

When my hand finally grabbed the cool metal of the doorknob, I let out a shaky breath as I turned it, flinching when I heard the slight creak in the hinges as the door opened. Poking my head out of the opening, I checked the hallway for anyone. It was empty.

I couldn't help but feel relieved, but my fears and anxieties were beginning to tear down what little confidence I had in this mission of mine.

As I stepped out, a little voice kept repeating "go back in your room, you're safe in there" in a desperate attempt to change my mind. I couldn't let it win. I was hungry, and I probably wouldn't be fed until dinner. I didn't want to wait until then. So I started walking, looking over my shoulder, peering over every corner and doorway. I didn't want to be seen. I didn't want to be punished. What would I be punished for? Who knows? They always find something and that only heightened my anxieties.

Once I made my way into the kitchen, still unnoticed by staff and children alike, I let out a sigh of relief.

Now all I have to do is grab something and go, I thought. I went in the direction of the cabinets, hoping to find something, anything, but I froze when I heard a door open, then voices. It sounded like the backdoor leading to the yard, and the voices belonged to a few of the older kids. Their voices were getting closer to the kitchen, and I knew I needed to run, but I was frozen in spot. My heart was beating so fast it made my chest ache. My breathing had quickened so much I felt lightheaded. Every nerve and muscle in my body was screaming at me to move, but I couldn't. I couldn't.

My blood ran cold when I heard them enter the kitchen, and my mind went blank when their voices suddenly stopped. I could see them out of the corner of my eye, Hiroshi Otonashi and Toma Watanabe, standing at the entrance of the kitchen. They bullied me the most out of all the other kids. While some of the other older kids put their two cents in on making me miserable, Otonashi and Watanabe were more dedicated, more relentless. They took pleasure in my suffering.

"Hey look, it's the village trash," Toma snickered, a smirk on his face. My eyes flickered to Toma's hazel ones, and I felt a shiver run up my spine. The look in his eyes made me uncomfortable, made my chest tighten painfully. If there could be one way to describe Watanabe, it would be this: he was Hiroshi's shadow. Whatever Hiroshi said, Toma repeated. Whatever Hiroshi liked or disliked, so did Toma. But in my mind, that made him just as terrifying. "Looks just as disgusting as ever," he exclaimed, his nose scrunching up as his eyes narrowed slightly. "Smells just as bad too. Don't'cha thing, Hiroshi?"

Otonashi snickered before replying, "Y'know, I think you're right. But I think it's hungry too. Why else would this traitor be here?" A malicious smile spread across his face. "And I know exactly what to feed it." Hiroshi walked over to the kitchen trash can and took a handful of old, rotten food out before walking in my direction. I felt my heart drop. That's when my body started to move, stumbling back until I felt my back hit the cabinets. I put my arms up, a desperate attempt to protect myself. Hiroshi tried yanking my arms down, but he struggled with only having one hand available. "Toma, help me," he snapped.

Toma jumped in, one of his hands yanking one of my arms down while Hiroshi's free hand yanked down my other arm. When Hiroshi tried shoving the trash in my mouth, I'd move my head, which ended with Toma using his free hand to grab my hair and pull my head back, giving Hiroshi an easier access to shove the trash in mouth, using his hand to cover my mouth to keep from spitting it out. I immediately gagged, my eyes watering as I struggled to free myself from their grasp. The taste made my stomach twist, causing bile to quickly rise in my throat, and I knew the longer Hiroshi kept my mouth covered, the more likely it'd be that I'd vomit on them, myself and everywhere else.

"Hey!" The voice caught us all off guard. I felt Hiroshi's hand drop from my mouth as he and Toma turned to see who called out to us. At that moment, vomit spewed from my mouth, hitting my bullies as they jumped forward, a little too late as their clothes were ruined. I knelt forward, gagging and coughing, I could hear Hiroshi's and Toma's cries, their displeased exclamations, but it sounded almost distant. It felt as if my ears were ringing. I could also sort of hear the other voice, though it sounded just as distant; the voice sounded almost like a boy's but I couldn't say for sure. My mind was running a mile a minute, my stomach was hurting and tears were spilling from my eyes.

I let out a surprised yelp when I felt myself falling to the floor, skidding slightly in my own vomit. I'd been grabbed by my upper arm and shoved to the ground, landing on my side as Hiroshi and Toma hovered over me. Who threw me on the ground, I can't say. I wasn't paying attention. But as I looked up at them, I could see them glaring at me, their mouths moving but I couldn't make out what they were saying. My ears were still ringing, my brain not keeping up with what was going on. Everything was happening so fast, and I saw their legs rise to kick me and then…

A small blonde, maybe around my age shoving Toma with all his might, trying to stop them. I could see the look on the blonde's face, the fierce determination in his blue eyes. The way his lips curled into a scowl, the way the three whiskers on his cheeks seemed more prominent in his angered state. Just like that, I was all but forgotten as Hiroshi and Toma ganged up on the blonde. They hit him, punched him, shoved and kicked him. I was trembling, feeling anger bubbling deep within me as the backs of my eyes started to burn. Why were they doing this? Why did they enjoy hurting others? What did they hope to gain?

"Stop it," I whispered, my voice trembling. I knew they didn't hear me, so I spoke louder. "Stop it!" The burning sensation in my eyes intensified, and I doubled over as I squeezed my eyes shut. I felt moisture build up in the corners of my eyes, burning my eyes even more before falling down my cheeks. After a moment, I raised my head and opened my eyes. As the sensations began to dull, all that was left was a pulsing behind my eyes, the rhythm matching my heartbeat. My vision seemed off; everything seemed clearer but… not at the same time. It felt as if something was being continuously pumped into my eyes. I blinked a few times, both confused and fascinated as I tried adjusting my vision the best I could.

Not even a minute later, my attention went back to Otonashi and Watanabe, who were still attacking the blonde. In that moment, I snapped. Standing up, I called out to them. My hands curled into fists, my muscles tense as I readied myself to charge at them. When Toma and Hiroshi turned to look at me, their eyes almost immediately glazed over, their bodies going limp, as they fell to their knees, staring blankly at nothing in particular. They seemed to be in some kind of daydream. My brows furrowed in confusion, but the tension remained, my hands still curled into fists. Were they tricking me? Did they want me to lower my guard so they'd have an easier opportunity to attack? But the longer I stared at them, the more I realized this wasn't a trick. They weren't moving from their spots. All they did was breathe and stare straight ahead. I can't recall them even blinking.

The one thing that did stick with me though, were their eyes. Toma's and Hiroshi's eyes had an eerie red glow to them, and made me more uncomfortable the longer I looked at it.

I had no way of understanding what happened to them, all I knew was that they finally stopped. My gaze found the blonde boy, laying mere inches from where Otonashi and Watanabe were kneeling. He wasn't moving and panic began to settle in the pit of my stomach. I hurried over to check on him, and I saw the bruises starting to form on his face, arms and legs. I saw his chest rising and falling, and I felt some of the tension leave my body. He was still breathing at least. Looked like he was just unconscious.

I hung my head, closing my eyes as I took deep breaths. No doubt the staff would be coming to see what all the commotion was, and I knew I couldn't explain my way out of the scene in front of me.

That's when I felt the burning sensation in my eyes again, and I let out a whimper. The sensation didn't last long, but I didn't dare open my eyes. Not yet. I just… I just needed a moment to truly understand what had happened.

But then I heard movement.


This is a long and kind of sloppy chapter in my opinion, but I'll come back to it every now and again to do some edits. But if you guys have ideas on how to improve this story, please let me know! I'm always open to constructive criticism.

**I did change the bullies' names, so instead of Mitsuki and Ryoji, their names are going to stay Toma and Hiroshi. Sorry for any confusion.**