Naruto sat on a stool lost in thought as he played with his ramen...

He was once alone. That was a fact that everyone knew. People would ignore him pretending as if he wasn't there while others would look at him in fear.

Parents would tell their children not to even look at him. Some stand owners wouldn't let him inside their shop. And he always had to go back to an empty room in the orphanage.

Well, at least then he could still hear the sounds of his peers playing or he could play with the babies.

Nowadays he went "home" to an empty apartment. No noises. It was more lonely than before.

"Don't talk to him"

"Look, there's that monster"

"Let's go to another park"

"I don't even know why people let him on the streets"

Naruto's eyes watered up as he clutched the ropes of the swing, "I'm just a kid.." he mumbled to himself

Yes, he was just a kid. He likes to play, sweets and he likes hugs. He hates being alone.

There were no differences between him and other children. And yet why did others treat him so differently? Why didn't they smile at him like they did to other kids? Why didn't anyone pat his head and tell him good job when he does something right? Why doesn't anyone scold him properly?

Naruto watched on as the kids ran to their parents.

Why didn't he have any parents? Why didn't he have a pretty mom and a cool dad? Was that why people treated him differently? Because he didn't have any parents?

No, then the other kids in the orphanage would be treated the same as him.

Then what did he do wrong? If someone tells him, he'll fix it. He was just so tired of being alone. Of feeling like no one would care if he was gone. That his existence is meaningless.

Naruto knew that if he was gone, no one would miss him or even realize. Maybe they would even celebrate and throw a party.

It was sad of him to accept that fact. That he was the wrong in the world.

Was he?

Was everything his fault? The reason why everyone treats him like a street dog..?

Soon after that Naruto stumbled upon a certain ramen stand. It wasn't his fault that he hadn't eaten and that the food just smelled so good.

But the blond didn't enter the stand, too scared of the owner that would probably chase him out.

Yet the aroma of the food made Naruto shyly peek into the stand before ducking away when the chef looked at him.

Maybe he should leave and come back later to see if there's any leftovers? Surely the owner would give them to him instead of throwing it away in the trash. Even if he threw it away in the trash Naruto wasn't opposed to searching for it in the trash can. It just smelled that good.

"Hey kiddo, aren't you going to come in?"

Naruto glanced around, there was no one there except for him. But it was impossible that the chef was talking to him, right?

A small tint of hope made Naruto peek inside again hesitantly. Color him surprised when the owner grinned at him motioning him to come inside

"Even if you're not gonna eat it's not healthy to stand in the rain. You don't want to get sick do you?"

It was raining? Since when? And why did this man care? Didn't he detest him like others did?

Shyly Naruto made his way over to the stool

"Are you hungry?"

"I don't have any money mister..."

"I didn't ask that. I asked if you wanted to eat"

Naruto's stomach growled making the boy look down in embarrassment

The chef chuckled, "I'll take that as a yes. Wait here kid"

Obediently Naruto waited wondering if there was a catch or something. No one was ever this kind to him. No one ever cared. No one ever noticed him.

"Eat up"

Naruto blinked at the bowl of ramen in front of him

"Why?" Naruto asked

"Why what?" The chef asked

"Why are you being so kind?"

"Does someone need a reason to be kind? Besides I couldn't leave a kid like you like that"

Naruto's eyes watered up, "T-thank you..." he choked out

"Eat up kiddo" the chef ordered giving him a pat on the head

Tears streamed down Naruto's face as he began eating the ramen. It was miso ramen.

"Hey Naruto, aren't you going to eat?" Teuchi asked raising an eyebrow

Naruto absently nodded as he slurped on the noodles. They still tasted the same as when he first tried them.

Amazing.

Even though Naruto experienced kindness for the first time it didn't mean his loneliness faded

He couldn't impose too much on that kind chef after all. A part of him was scared that the chef would one day get tired of him

"There he is again"

"Don't play with him"

"Just ignore him"

Naruto's grip on the ropes tightened as for the first time he felt annoyed instead of submissive to those stray comments.

Were they whispering loud on purpose? Naruto knew he was an outcast but they didn't have to be so mean about it!

"Hey, want to play with me?"

Naruto raised his head and saw-

"Oi dobe, why did you start eating without us?"

"Sasuke-kun, it's our fault we're late"

Naruto grinned as Sakura sat on his left and Sasuke sat on his right

"Teme! Sakura-chan!" He greeted happily

The two seemed momentarily surprised, but then Sasuke had a small smile

"What's up with you?"

Sakura smiled at him as well "Good afternoon Naru"

'I'm not alone anymore'