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A Single Act of Kindness

Ichiraku Ramen

"How many times do I have to show you?"

Sasuke couldn't help but to sigh at his frustration. Naruto never listened. No matter how many times he told the blonde to straighten up his posture, to calm his body, to freakin' breathe instead of talk, he still was sloppy, his limbs moving in directions that he didn't even know limbs could move in, and he just didn't know when to pause, think, and try again.

Naruto threw the kunai on the ground, "I just don't get it, ya know! I am doing everything you are saying and I still can't throw it as good as you!"

"You aren't getting it, clearly," Sasuke picked up the kunai from the ground, straighten his back, bringing his left leg to his back and leaning more pressure into his right, brought his hand back, using his right hand to point where he wanted to throw, and threw the kunai with his left. It hit the target dead on.

He turned back to face Naruto, seeing the blonde starch the back of his head and titling his head to the side, "Can do it on the other side?"

Sasuke rolled his eyes, knowing what he meant Sasuke threw the kunai again, using his right hand to throw instead of his left. Going to the left was always more natural, but the Uchihas were known to be ambidextrous so the change in position was no big deal. After completing the throw he turned back to Naruto, who was mimicking his position.

Right before he threw the kunai, the blonde's stomach made a loud roar, causing Naruto to drop the kunai, "Man, I'm so hungry!" He grabbed onto his stomach and fell to his knees clutching onto his stomach in a dramatic fashion, "It's been fooooooooooreeeeeeeever since I've eaten, ya know!"

Sasuke watched this, starting to become mildly annoyed. Naruto was always putting on some kind of show, always emotional, and way too talkative. Although he had been spending a great deal with the blonde, he still couldn't get completely use to it.

It had been about two weeks since they agreed to teach each other their skills. Sasuke was able to pick up cooking much quicker than Naruto was at improving his aim. They have moved from fishing to setting up traps to hunt for smaller animals.

Although Sasuke could easily hunt using a bow and arrow (he had brought his old bow with him just the other day when they had agreed to move on from fishing, and his classmate had looked at the bow like he had never seen one before. Of course he wanted to try to use it, but Sasuke knew better to hand over his weapon to the hasty blonde). Naruto had convinced him not to use the bow however, stating that sometimes Shinobi didn't have the luxury to wait around for their prey. Setting a trap allowed them to set up camp and do other things as they waited for their prey to come to them.

Sasuke would have never thought about this reasoning, and was quickly seeing that Naruto had a round about way of thinking that gave off the impression that he could be smart if you were able to detect it. It came at strange moments that sometimes it threw Sasuke off. If he had the potential to be smart, then why was he dead last in everything that he did?

Sasuke crossed his arms at Naruto's hunger pains, "Stop complaining and just throw the kunai," he looked down at the blonde's wide eyes looking at him with mock pain, feeling himself cave (he was getting hungry too), he waved the blonde off, "If you actually hit the bull's eye we can stop and I'll even treat you to dinner."

Sasuke had said it off-handily, not even paying attention to Naruto at that point and glanced over at the target they have been practicing on. Sasuke's kunai was still at the center of the target, he thought about getting it as he made his way towards the target. Before he was able to take a step however, he felt a small gust of wind and a whooshing sound fly past him that caused him to stop. He saw a glimpse of a kunai from the corner of his eye. It zoomed right past him and towards the target.

It hit the center.

He didn't even have time to blink or react, that kunai almost killed him! He slowly turned over towards Naruto, eyes wide, and saw the blonde cheering and jumping around.

Two weeks… two weeks they were practicing on his aim, and all it took was an offer of dinner to get him to improve.

"Yay! I did it! I did it Sasuke! Now you owe me dinner, ya know!"

Sasuke fell over.

"I can't believe you have never had Ichiraku Ramen!" Naruto could not believe what he had just heard. Ichiraku Ramen was like the best thing ever, and he was sure that once Sasuke had a bowl of Miso Chasu Pork Ramen, his whole life would change! "Its like the bestest, yummiest, more delicious bowl of ramen you'll ever have in your whole life, I promise, I swear on my life, ya know!"

"It's just a bowl of ramen," Sasuke responded flatly.

He'd be singing a different tune once they made it to the ramen stand, Naruto was sure of it!

"There's that kid again," Naruto heard mumbling as he walked down the street with Sasuke. He hoped this wasn't going to happen today, he didn't want Sasuke to hear the things people were saying about him. It was always like this, and he always tried his best to tune out the comments of the villagers around him. However, this was the first time he had been seen in the village with a friend. He didn't want Sasuke to hear any of this. If Sasuke heard what the others thought of him, then maybe he would think the same things that they all did and then he would lose his only friend.

Panic at the thought rose in his throat, he spoke louder, hoping that would muffle the sounds of those around them, "I'm telling you, I promise you Sasuke. IT'S THE BEST! You won't regret it, I promise."

"You already said that," Sasuke was annoyed now, Naruto knew, but…

"Isn't he with the Uchiha boy?" Naurto heard another whisper around them, "That poor boy, losing all this family like that."

"I know," Naruto hated his hearing, because he was able to hear all their whispers, "He should really stay away from that boy, the poor soul has already been through enough."

"Sasuke!" Naruto spoke louder, he just wanted all the whispering to stop, "Make sure you order the Miso Chasu Pork Ramen, it's the best one on the menu. I give you my word you won't regret it, ya know!"

"Can you stop talking so much about this damn ramen?"

"I just want to tell you it's the best!"

"I don't understand why the Hokage puts up with it."

"You're annoying! If you stop talking I'll try your stupid ramen."

"HEY! Don't call Ichiraku Ramen stupid!"

"The whole village would be better off without him. Heaven forbid he—"

"—Shhh, we can't talk that."

"I can call anything I want stupid. Like you. You're being stupid right now."

"I told you to stop calling me names!"

"Honey, make sure you never play with that boy. He's nothing but trouble."

"Then stop being so stupid!"

"Someone should tell Sasuke-kun to stay away from that thing."

The moment Naruto laid his eyes on the Ichiraku Ramen stand, he internally felt his muscles relax. This was his safe haven. Pops and Ayame-nee-chan were the best two people in the world as far as he was considered. The only two people that never said anything bad about him or anyone, ever!

Walking in, Naruto couldn't help but to give out a big smile. Ramen was heaven, and he was about to be in heaven!

"Hey Pops!" Naruto called out with Sasuke following behind, "Two bowls of Miso Chasu Pork Ramen!"

"Naruto, hello!" Teuchi turned around and gave the blonde a wave, "Looks like you brought a friend? Hello there!"

Teuchi turned to look at Sasuke, Naruto couldn't help but to grin from ear to ear. He never had brought anyone to Ichiraku Ramen before, "This is Sasuke, he's treating me to some ramen tonight!"

"Oh Sasuke, it's nice to meet you!" Teuchi smiled, gesturing to the two seats at the bar, "Please, have a seat. I'll bring your ramen right up!" Teuchi walked into the back as the boys took their seats.

"I'm dying for some ramen," Naruto couldn't stop the smile from his face. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see two Shinobi glance over at them, before placing their money at the bar and walking out of the stand. Their ramen barely touched.

It had happened a few times, customers leaving when he had come into the shop. The first time it had happened Pops and Ayame-nee-chan were so nice to him. Their smiles didn't waiver, they just dumped out the uneaten ramen and collected their money as if it had been a normal thing. Naruto had known though that it was not normal when every single customer got up and left the moment he sat down.

He didn't know why Pops or Ayame-nee-chan were so nice to him, and that is why he came here every chance he got.

Well, that and also that Ichiraku Ramen was the bestest, yummiest, more delicious ramen ever!

Ayame came out from the back; she saw Naruto and gave him a warm smile, "Naruto-kun, welcome!" She looked over at Sasuke, "You brought a friend with you?"

"Yep!" Naruto smiled, "This is Sasuke! Sasuke, this is Ayame-nee-chan. The best girl in the whole village, believe it! Her and Pops own Ichiraku Ramen, the best ramen in the whole village, no, the best ramen in the whole WORLD, ya know!"

"Oh Naruto-kun you're too much!" Ayame smiled, she turned over to Sasuke and extended her hand, "Its nice to meet you Sasuke-kun. I'm happy to see Naruto-kun with such a nice friend."

Sasuke didn't like small talk and he didn't like people. Most people were fake after all, and even though he was still a child he was very keen in knowing when people were fake around him. Most people were this way, people were very selfish, self-centered, and he didn't have the patience or the need to ever put up with it. Maybe before he had been more of a social child, but he wasn't anymore. He didn't even like children his own age, no matter how much they fawned over him- especially the girls-it didn't matter. All of them. Everyone in the village. They were all lairs.

So when someone was not fake, when someone in front of him was sincere and kind, and he could tell by her smile and her eyes, he didn't know how to react. He stared at her hand extended towards him, he felt the kindness radiate off her, and for some reason he didn't know what to do.

She withdrew her hand after a moment as if nothing happened and very sweetly said, "I'll get you both some waters, okay?"

When Ayame walked out of the room he felt someone grab him by the shirt. His eyes darted over towards a fuming Naruto.

"You be nice to Ayame-nee-chan," Naruto growled at him, his eyes staring back at him with hard, angry eyes that it made Sasuke look away.

He pushed the blonde away from him, "Whatever," he mumbled.

Ayame and Techi came back together, placing down two glasses of water and two sets of ramen in front of them.

"Geez Pops and Ayame-nee-chan, you're the best!" Naruto put his palms together, his tongue practically drooling, "Thank you for the food!" In an instant, Naruto grabbed his chopsticks and began to stuff down his food.

Sasuke had never seen anyone eat so fast before. How could even taste anything eating like that?

It was almost too digesting to look at, as Sasuke looked away and stared down at his own food.

He must have been staring for a while, because suddenly he heard Techi ask him, "Is everything alright Sasuke?"

"Did you want something else?" Ayame asked him.

He looked back up at them, almost unsure how to respond. These people, they were so… nice. When was the last time he had meet someone who was nice to him? That seemed like the cared about his wellbeing? Adults never cared about him before.

They only pitied him, looked down at him, but… They never cared.

"Sasuke, 'hat mrong wit' 'ou?" Naruto asked with half of his food in his mouth, the other half hanging from the corner of his mouth.

All three of them were staring at him now. Concern laced in their eyes as they waited for him to respond. He looked at each of them, trying to think of an answer but nothing came to mind.

No… He didn't know why, but right now in this moment, it made his heart warm. He didn't want to feel this. Not ever again.

"Nothing's wrong with me!" Sasuke shouted, jumping out of his chair and ran out of the shop.

He heard Naruto shouting after him but he didn't turn around.

Their kind eyes and their warm smiles… It was the first time since it all happened. He tried to not think about it, and he was doing just fine until then, until that moment when for some reason those three reminded him…

… Of his family.

He didn't want to remember.

Sasuke thought about ditching his classes today, but he wasn't going to let someone like Naruto cause him to be behind on his studies, no matter how mad knew the blonde would be for ditching him last night.

Walking up to the Academy, he saw Naruto sitting on the swing set, alone and far away from the rest of the students who were talking with one another before class started.

Sasuke watched the blonde for a moment, eyes looking straight ahead, not really focused on anything, his legs slightly moving the swing back and forth. He looked like he was deep in thought. He looked so small and alone.

"Sasuke-kun…" Sasuke heard someone whisper his name and his eyes were caught looking down at a girl with short black hair and white eyes. He couldn't think of her name, but by the eyes he knew she was a Hyuga.

"What." He didn't want to talk to the girl. Girls were too much trouble.

She must of recognized this, because she looked away from him, bowing her head slightly, "I, um… I—I—I've noticed, that you've…" she was whispering, fidgeting with her hands. It was annoying him. In the same way that Naruto was overly dramatic, this girl was sort of like that too, but in a completely different way, "…Are you friends with Naruto-kun?"

"Not really." Sasuke answered quickly, maybe almost too quickly. Sure they have been hanging out lately, but Sasuke didn't have friends. He didn't need friends.

"Oh! I'm sorry I-" The girl still couldn't look at him, stumbling on her words, "-I've, um, saw that you have-"

"SASUKE!" Sasuke looked up at the sound of his name to see Naruto walking up to him. He looked back over at where the Hyuga was standing, but it seemed like she took off the moment he got distracted.

By the time he looked back up Naruto had already reached for his collar, clenching his shirt and pulling the Uchiha towards him, "What the hell Sasuke!"

"Get off me!" Sasuke pushed Naruto away from him.

"What if the Shinobis would have been called on me!" Naruto took a step forward, fist clenched, "I've would have been in deep shit, ya know! You can't say you are going to do something and not do it!"

"I can do whatever I want!"

"No you can't!"

People were looking at them now. Sasuke saw Iruka walking towards them.

"Yes I can!"

"NO YOU—" Naruto pulled back his fist, but Iruka caught it before anything further happened.

"Naruto," Iruka held onto Naruto's arm, "What do you think you're doing?"

"Leave Sasuke-kun alone!" One of the girls shouted, Sasuke didn't know which one.

"Yeah, don't you dare lay a hand on Sasuke-kun!"

"I'm not doing anything!" Naruto ripped his arm out of Iruka's grip. Without looking at him, the blonde took off out of the gates of the Academy.

"That weirdo was trying to hit Sasuke-kun!"

"Sasuke-kun could have taken that punk."

"No way the last in the class could go up against Sasuke-kun."

All these people were defending him. Why?

He might be number one in the class and Naruto might be last, but that was no reason for all these people to pretend to like him. They didn't know a thing about him.

They didn't know a thing about Naruto either.

"What a loser," one of the girls, he didn't know any of their names but they all just kept talking, "Good riddance he's gone."

"SHUT UP!"

Everyone stopped talking and stared at him. He had enough. They all stared at him like he was the one who didn't get it. He hated this. He hated the way everyone looked at him.

He turned and ran off as well, he didn't know why, but his feet were following the footprints left in the dirt in front of him.

Naruto didn't have the money to pay for both bowls of ramen last night. He was planning on going to Ichiraku Ramen last night anyway, but he had never thought that Sasuke would have suggested coming and even paying for his food.

It had warmed his heart; no one had ever offered to do anything for him, ever.

He wanted to chase after Sasuke to see what was wrong with him last night, but he wasn't about to leave Pops and Ayame-nee-chan without paying for the food. He had given them what he had, apologized profusely, while in his mind praying that they wouldn't call the Shinobis on him.

The trouble he got in around the village was one thing, but Naruto had never committed a serious crime before. If the Shinobis punished him in the way they did over some pranks, he didn't know what they would do if he actual broke the law by not paying for his meal.

Thankfully, Pops and Ayame-nee-chan told him no to worry about it. Naruto had given them what he had, promise to stop by tomorrow to pay for the rest, and tried to chase after Sasuke.

He didn't know where the Uchiha lived, and he didn't have any means to find his friend. Naruto had looked for about an hour for him, before giving up and going home. He figured he would talk to him at the Academy the next day.

Yet, seeing him there, not even looking at him and talking to Hinata… A good friend would have came up to him and apologized for leaving in the middle of dinner.

It just made him mad that Sasuke just didn't acknowledge or care about him.

This morning when he went to pay for Sasuke's bowl and Ayame-nee-chan said that Pops told her to tell him not to worry about it. That the way they could pay him back is to actually have a meal together at Ichiraku Ramen. Naruto tried to leave the money for Ayame-nee-chan but she just would not take it no matter what he did.

He felt bad for not paying, but secretly he was relieved. Naruto didn't have any extra money, and didn't want to waste his Ichiraku Ramen Fund on ramen that was not eaten.

When things were just a little too hard and he didn't feel like going too far, Naruto would make his way to the Hokage Stone Faces. At the foot of the mountain, Naruto looked up at all the great Shinobis before him. The Hokages, they were deemed the best in the village. They were everything he wanted to be.

He wanted to be strong. He wanted to be brave. He wanted one day for people say his name and be proud to say it.

He wanted a family.

"Naruto." He heard the sound of his name and turned to see Sasuke walking up to him.

They stood in front of each other, and Naruto didn't know how to respond. He wanted to apologize for overreacting. Naruto knew he was being foolish. Something had clearly bothered Sasuke enough to take off the way he did last night, yet he only was worried about himself.

That's not how friends were suppose to be.

Sasuke reached into his pocket, grabbing something from it he walked up to Naruto and extended his hand out.

Naruto reached out his hand as Sasuke handed him money.

Naruto looked down at his hand, surprised to see the money in his hand. He looked back up at Sasuke and he was sure he looked confused because Sasuke had answered, "The money for the ramen."

"Oh, right," Naruto counted the money in his hand, keeping enough for one bowl of ramen and handing the rest of the Ryō back to Sasuke, "I only paid for one bowl last night, Pops said if we come back and eat then that will make up for the other one."

"You can just keep it." Sasuke glanced back at the money that Naruto was trying to hand back.

"No, I don't need it," Naruto took a step forward with money in hand, "You can just treat me to a bowl of ramen at Ichiraku Ramen instead."

Sasuke reached back and took back the remaining Ryō, "Okay."

There was an awkward pause.

Naruto had to ask, "Are you okay? Last night—"

"I'm fine," Sasuke answered a little too hasty.

Naruto looked slightly away, "You didn't seem okay…"

"I'm fine, alright. If I pay for two bowls of ramen can you promise never to bring it up again?"

"Two bowls?!" Naruto couldn't help but to break out into a smile, "I'll do anything for two bowls of ramen, ya know!"

"Fine," Sasuke turned around and started to walk away.

Naruto watched him as he went; he looked back down at the Ryō in hand. He stilled worried, Naruto always worried although he did his best to hide it. Whatever was going on with Sasuke, he said he was fine now, and friends had to believe each other.

Didn't they?

"Are you coming?"

Naruto looked up to see Sasuke turned around, hand in his pockets, a look of annoyance (Sasuke always looked annoyed) as he stood and waited for him.

Naruto shoved the money in his pocket and ran up to catch up to Sasuke, they started to walk side by side, "This time you got to actually try the ramen, ya know! I'm telling you, Miso Chasu Pork Ramen will change your life!"

"Stop talking so much about this damn ramen."

"I can't help it, it's the bestest, yummiest, more delicious bowl of ramen in the whole village, or better yet, the WHOLE WORLD!"

"Fine, I promise I'll try the stupid ramen."

"Don't call ramen stupid!"

"I'll call whatever I want stupid!"

Naruto couldn't help but to laugh, and it was nice to hear Sasuke laughing too.