Chapter 1 : Friend
In the dim light of the early morning, the orphanage stood as a sanctuary amidst the quietude. A solitary figure, barely visible in the faint dawn, approached the weathered wooden doors. His steps were hesitant, uncertain, as if the weight of the world lay upon his shoulders.
The creak of the door echoed through the empty halls as the orphanage director appeared, a stern yet compassionate figure. With a quizzical gaze, the director ushered the boy inside, his pen poised over the entry ledger.
"What's your name, lad?" the manager inquired, his voice carrying a hint of warmth amidst the formal questioning.
"Naruto," the boy replied softly, his voice betraying a mixture of apprehension and resilience.
The manager scribbled down the name before proceeding with his inquiries. "And your age?"
"I don't know," Naruto responded, his eyes fixed on the scuffed floorboards beneath his feet.
"Where do you come from, Naruto?"
"From nowhere," came the murmured reply, accompanied by a faint shrug.
The manager paused, sensing the weight of the boy's words. "Do you have anyone you know? Family, friends?"
Naruto's silence hung heavy in the air, punctuated only by a slow shake of his head. The orphanage manager, completed the entry with a sympathetic glance towards the lost soul before him.
In the bustling orphanage dining hall, the clatter of plates and the murmur of voices blended together in a symphony of shared moments. Naruto joined the line for food, his steps somewhat hesitant amidst the liveliness that surrounded him. His gaze shifted from the trays of food to the animated faces of the children already seated, relishing their meals.
With a tray in hand, he found an empty spot on a worn wooden bench. As he settled onto the seat, Naruto couldn't help but observe the joyous interactions among the other children, their laughter like music to his ears. A sense of longing tugged at his heartstrings as he watched them, wishing for a similar companionship.
Amidst bites of his meal, Naruto's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. He reached into his pocket, retrieving a weathered notebook and a pencil. The scratches of graphite against paper echoed the yearning within his soul. His hand moved with a quiet determination as he etched a simple yet profound message onto the page:
"I need a friend."
The words, written in Naruto's handwriting, carried a weight that transcended the ink on the page. With each stroke of the pencil, it was as if his silent plea for companionship echoed throughout the orphanage, a whisper amidst the chorus of laughter and conversation.
Finishing his meal, Naruto closed the notebook, slipping it back into his pocket. His gaze lingered on the children around him, the longing for connection etched in his eyes.
In the orphanage's sunlit hallway, the atmosphere buzzed with the energy of children enjoying their afternoon. Naruto stood by the staircase, a hint of anticipation dancing in his eyes. His gaze fixed on the small, innocuous bubble of gum he'd strategically placed on one of the steps.
As the children cascaded down the stairs in a whirl of laughter and playful banter, Naruto's heart raced with the hope of finding a friend among them. His attention focused keenly on the chewing gum, a clever ploy to identify someone who might share his desire for companionship.
A boy, with sleek, dark hair cascading just enough to reach his chin, descended the steps, his movements deliberate and measured. His foot came to rest squarely on the gum, a slight squelch indicating its stickiness. Sensing Naruto's gaze fixed upon him, the boy turned, meeting Naruto's eyes with a mix of curiosity and confusion.
Caught in this unexpected moment of eye contact, a myriad of thoughts raced through the boy's mind. Why was Naruto staring at him so intently? What was the reason behind the strategically placed gum? And why did Naruto wear that enigmatic smile?
With an inquisitive expression, the boy continued down the stairs, leaving Naruto contemplating the unfolding of this curious encounter. The silent exchange between them, laden with unspoken questions, hung in the air like a story waiting to unravel its mysteries. As the bustling sounds of the orphanage enveloped them once more, Naruto's hopeful smile remained, a silent invitation for the curious boy to decipher.
The serene beauty of the lake offered a tranquil backdrop as Naruto sat on the weathered seat, his gaze lost in the gentle ripples of the water. The boy he had observed earlier approached silently, his footsteps almost hesitant as he stopped behind Naruto.
"Hey , Why are you sitting here? This is my place" the boy questioned, his tone laced with a hint of detachment. "And who are you?"
Turning slightly to meet the boy's gaze, Naruto regarded him with a soft smile, a glimmer of determination in his eyes. "I'm your friend," Naruto replied earnestly, his voice gentle yet resolute.
The boy's brow furrowed in puzzlement. "Friend? How can we be friends? Friends help each other."
Naruto stands up and comes to stand beside Sasuke
Naruto glanced out across the tranquil lake, a thoughtful pause hanging in the air. "Do you know how to swim?" he inquired, breaking the silence.
A flicker of uncertainty passed over the boy's face as he shook his head. "No," he admitted quietly, his eyes averting Naruto's gaze.
Then the boy suddenly felt two hands push him into lake , he falls into lake and looks behind it was Naruto who pushed him.
"Help!" the boy's muffled cry echoed across the still surface of the launched himself into the water. The cool water slapped him in the face, but he ignored it, focusing solely on the dark form struggling beneath the surface.
He reached the boy just as he was about to go under again, grabbing him firmly around the chest. He hauled him back to the shore. Coughing and sputtering, the boy collapsed onto the damp grass, gasping for air.
"Wanna be friends now? I saved you from sinking in water".
Naruto extended his hand forward, offering a fist bump—a simple yet significant gesture of friendship in his eyes. The other boy hesitated, uncertainty dancing in his gaze, but after a brief pause, reluctantly mirrored the motion, meeting Naruto's fist in a connection that signified more than mere touch.
With an eager enthusiasm, Naruto bumped his fist against the other boy's with a tad more force than perhaps intended. To Naruto, this shared contact cemented their bond, branding the other boy as his newfound best friend. However, for the boy with the silky hair, the sentiment didn't quite resonate in the same way.
As the droplets of water slowly dried under the warmth of the sun, an unspoken disparity lingered between the two. Naruto's heart swelled with the excitement of finally having someone he considered a friend, while the boy, though unsure, was caught in a moment of conflicting emotions.
In the space of the orphanage courtyard, the children assembled for their daily ritual, offering their prayers with hands outstretched, palms facing forward. Among the gathering, the boy with the silky black hair stood amidst the congregation, his face a picture of curiosity as he mirrored the actions of his peers.
As the prayers continued, a sudden flurry of movement caught everyone's attention. Naruto hurried into the assembly, his steps hurried yet purposeful. With a swift motion, he joined the assembly, extending his left hand forward, a deviation from the customary right-hand gesture.
Curiosity piqued, the boy with the black hair turned to Naruto, questioning his delayed arrival. Naruto, hesitating for a moment, revealed his left hand, where a tattoo adorned his skin—a name etched in ink: "Sasuke."
Surprised by the unexpected display, the black-haired boy couldn't help but voice his astonishment. "Why did you do this?" he asked, eyes wide with a mix of confusion and curiosity.
Naruto, catching the surprise in the black-haired boy's eyes, held a determined gaze as he responded to the question. "I am your friend, right?".
Naruto reached out, grasping Sasuke's left hand in his own. Naruto's voice took on a commanding tone . "You are also my friend, right? Tell me, you are my friend, right?"
Sasuke's eyes widened with a mixture of realization and apprehension. Understanding Naruto's unspoken desire, a hint of panic flickered across his face. Before Naruto could even comprehend Sasuke's reaction, the black-haired boy bolted, sprinting away from the assembly with surprising agility.
Naruto, fueled by a determination to solidify their friendship, didn't hesitate. With a spirited determination, he chased after Sasuke, their footsteps echoing in a comical chase around the courtyard. "Sasuke, wait! Come back!" Naruto called out between breaths, his voice echoing through the orphanage grounds.
The sight of Naruto chasing Sasuke, arms outstretched, resembled an absurd game of tag. Despite his best efforts, Sasuke evaded Naruto's pursuit, maneuvering through the obstacles of the courtyard.
Finally catching up to Sasuke, Naruto managed to corner him against a wall, his breathing slightly labored. "Wait, Sasuke, hear me out!" Naruto yelled, trying to catch his breath.
Sasuke, slightly out of breath himself, eyed Naruto warily, anticipating his friend's next move. "What do you want now?" he asked, his tone a mix of exasperation.
Sasuke sat, his jaw clenched in discomfort, as the tattoo artist meticulously etched Naruto's name onto his left arm. Each stroke of the needle sent waves of pain through Sasuke's body, his face contorted in silent agony.
Amidst the discomfort, Naruto stood by Sasuke's side, his presence a pillar of support. Gazing upon Sasuke with a mixture of joy and relief, Naruto reached out, grasping Sasuke's right hand firmly in his own.
As the tattoo needle continued its work, Sasuke's grip on Naruto's hand air in the room was thick with the scent of ink and the sound of Sasuke's suppressed discomfort.
(after 2 years)
In the quiet gravity of the orphanage's gathering room, a well-to-do couple sat flanked by Naruto and Sasuke, both boys standing before them. The orphanage director, a mix of hope and sorrow reflected in his eyes, explained the couple's intentions—to adopt only one child.
The couple's fondness for both Naruto and Sasuke was palpable, their hearts seemingly torn between the two boys. The director turned to Naruto and Sasuke, leaving the daunting decision to the boys themselves.
Rushing to their respective spaces within the orphanage, Naruto and Sasuke began to pack their belongings. But as they crossed paths on their way back, a heavy silence hung between them, each reluctant to be the one to leave.
In a spontaneous moment, Naruto halted Sasuke with a simple question, producing a coin from his pocket. "Heads or tails?" Naruto asked, offering Sasuke a chance to decide their fate. Initially choosing heads, Sasuke hesitated, reconsidering his choice and switching to tails in a moment of confusion.
With a flick of Naruto's thumb, the coin spun through the air before landing with a definitive answer—heads. Naruto had won the toss, but instead of jubilation, a sense of sadness clouded Sasuke's expression.
Seeing Sasuke's dismay, Naruto's heart ached. He gently explained, "We are friends, right? The things you win are mine, and what I win are yours." It was a selfless act, a gesture of their unspoken bond that transcended material possessions.
As Sasuke gathered his belongings, he put on a façade of mixed emotions—projecting a mournful expression while packing his things, yet internally feeling a sense of immense relief at leaving Naruto behind. With a feigned sigh and a dramatic glance towards Naruto, he conveyed a semblance of sorrow.
"Goodbye, Naruto," Sasuke uttered in a contrived tone, his glance toward Naruto a mixture of apparent melancholy and an underlying sense of liberation. "I'll miss you."
As the car pulled away, Sasuke kept up his act, giving Naruto a lingering glance filled with apparent sadness, while inwardly feeling a wave of freedom wash over him. Once out of Naruto's sight, Sasuke's expression shifted instantly, his solemn facade melting away to reveal a grin of relief.
"Phew, finally out of there," Sasuke muttered to himself, leaning back in the car seat with a smirk. "No more clinging onto me. Time to level up!"
Meanwhile, Naruto stood there, watching the car fade into the distance. A hint of sadness could be seen on Naruto's face as the car disappeared from view.
Author's Note: So hello guys , this is my first time writing story on fanfiction(or any other platform haha) . This will be no doubt a NARUSAKU story. I am a huge narusaku fan. Please Leave a review so i could improve my writing(English is not my first language). Next chapter we will see our character grown up. Also you guys are free to suggest any changes you would like to see. I will update this story every week and also will try to publish some oneshots. Till next week bye :)
