In the bright sky of Los Angeles, in the outskirts we see a dirty pitch made up of skewed lines & wooden posts.
Only a few people sat on the stands, however their cheering was able to block out all the doubts of the match being unimportant.
"Five minutes left! We can come back from this!" a blond wearing a checkered football uniform shouted out of his lungs.
It was a Sunday afternoon and not many people would want to run around.
The blond was the captain of his team, the pillar and ace of the whole system. Playing out of his natural position, he controlled the pace of the game at CDM.
Having a black band wrapped on his left arm, the blond scanned the field as he pushed the ball forward.
"Open up! Make runs for Naruto!" on the sidelines, the blond's captain shouted. He was a Spaniard 50 year old man with a bushy moustache, wearing a silk shirt and straw hat.
Being rushed by the attacker and his winger as support, the blond quickly dribbled past both man, as he flicked the ball over a defender that tried a sliding tackle out of no where.
"Ralph!" the blond shouted as looked at the left wing, his teammate had raised his hand up. He had free room to push the ball forward and having always done a pass like this before, for so many times, the ball soared high into the air till Ralph was able to trap it and push upward into the opposition's final third.
Running into the box, as support, Naruto raised his hand up high. "Yo!" he screamed out getting the winger's attention. Naruto was taller than everyone on the pitch and his precision with header's was something of legend.
Sending the ball in, it's trajectory was infront of Naruto, so pushing up with his feet, the blond rushed forward and jumped high into the air. Ignoring the tug on his shirt, he flicked his neck towards the goal. Forcing the ball to head to the top left corner.
"Goal!" Naruto shouted in celebration as the ball rested in the net.
Quickly getting the ball, he rushed it towards the kick-off and gave it to the opposition.
"We got this, guys! We got this!" Naruto told his teammates.
"Naruto!" the blond looked to the sideline as he watched his coach was calling him. Rushing to him, the man hoisted his hand over his shoulders.
"Wassup, coach?" he questioned. "It's time to press…" he began as he looked at his watch. "We have only two minutes to win this match, so tell everyone, to press…and give you the ball once we've got it, alright?"
"Sure thing." Naruto replied, as being taller than his coach, the blond could see a figure approaching them from his blind sight. Looking in the direction, he saw a Caucasian man wearing casuals, was coming from the direction of the under 7's match that was occurring on the next pitch, which was way better than theirs.
'A Soccer Dad.' Naruto thought writing the man falsely. Returning to the pitch as the 'Soccer Dad' arrived at the sideline, the man stood beside the Spaniard coach.
"Good day, sir." The man greeted the coach who returned the gesture. "What's happening here?"
"A match."
"Well I know it's a match but who's winning?"
"It's a draw." The coach replied as his attention was grasped the moment the opposition kicked the ball off. Naruto's team began pressing hard as most of them we're forcing the opposition to only have the ball for a few seconds.
"You don't say." The man replied "Tell me, that blond over there, the tall one. Who is he?"
The coach hearing this just chuckled. "That's Naruto. He's the captain of my squad, why do you ask?"
"Well he's got one heck of a foot that's for sure. That pass he made earlier which led to the goal, caught my interest." The man replied. "What are you, a scout?"
"Yes, but I've been retired for a few years now."
"Retired? You look young to be retired." The coach replied since in truth the man didn't look a bit old at all. He was maybe in his mid 30s. "I get that a lot actually." The man replied as their focus went back to the match.
Naruto's team had been able to make the ball go out of bounds, and as one of his teammates did the throw in. Naruto could feel eyes on him.
He was being targeted and needing to lose his markers in order to get a clear shot at goal, the blond rushed in for support.
The throw-in landed in the chest of Phil, the team right winger, who quickly saw Naruto running towards the right wing side. Quickly turning he chipped the ball over his defender, only for the ball to be first touched nicely by Naruto, who quickly, jumped onto the ball rolling it twice as he paced forward.
"Oh now he's just being cheeky." The man on the sideline commentated as the coach laughed. "You haven't seen anything yet my friend, watch as he does magic."
Being on the right wing, a dangerous spot to have the blond. Naruto's defender,finally caught up to him and tried to tackle the ball away. As he lunged his foot, the blond quickly scopped it with his right foot over his marker's tackling leg, only for him to kick the ball with his right foot, over him. Quickly past the man for the ball, the blond got control over it and did a quick 360 that left a defender trailing.
"Naruto!" the blond looked up to see his teammate and midfield partner, Dave calling for the ball. Dave being at the outside the box, at the apex, of where the semi-circle would be received a clean pass when he did a quick 1-2 for the blond.
Naruto's quick first step, allowed him to cut through the defenders, as the ball landed on his feet, as not wasting time, he struck for the top left corner and as always the goalie was easily beaten.
The team was estatic, the opposition delirious and the Caucasian man was gobsmacked while the coach stood chuckling on the side line.
"That was incredible." The man stated. "I must speak to him, can you introduce him to me?"
"Why, would I do that? Do you plan to scout him?"
"A talent like him doesn't deserve to play his Sundays in the park. No offense."
"None taken. I was expecting scouts to come flocking for him sooner or later." The coach replied as he raised his hand and called for Naruto. The blond arriving was left with the Caucasian man as the coach left to give them privacy.
"I must say, kid. I was impressed by your play. I'm Glen Foy." The man introduced himself taking out his hand. "Naruto." The blond replied taking it.
"What are you a scout?"
"You could say that."
"From which team?"
"You ever heard of Newcastle United?" the blond hearing this was a bit surprised. Glen seeing the glint in his eyes just smirked as the blond was still processing what he had said.
"Who hasn't I follow the Premier League, you know." Naruto added. "That's great…cause I believe a talent like you deserves to play there."
"Really? Me playing for Newcastle?"
Glen nodded. "You have the pace, the skill, touch, I could go on and on about what I saw just know but in short you have all the tools of a footballer. Listen to me kid, you are something special, and if you leave this park and go pro, who knows you could become the next great."
All this information rushed into Naruto's mind, all the promises of glory and opportunities that might a rise from him playing for Newcastle it was very tempting to say the least but there was one problem.
"I can get your trial for the team made, however you'll have to fly to Newcastle yourself." Glen replied.
"No can do, I'm afraid." Naruto replied. "Why not?" Glen stated.
"I don't have a passport."
"How come? Aren't you American?"
"I am, but that's not the reason. I'm sixteen years old."
Two Weeks Later
"You just had to take the highway, Glen…YOU JUST HAD TO TAKE THE HIGHWAY!" Glen shouted out in frustration as he was stuck in LA traffic. It was currently 9 AM and with rush hour having started, he was not going anywhere.
"Come on people, move it!" Glen shouted out his lungs.
"Man, this is one of the reasons I don't like this city." Glen muttered as he turned to the passenger seat, where Naruto was found.
"Aren't you from London, Glen?" the blond asked.
"Yeah, why?"
"Shouldn't you be used to traffic?" Naruto said bringing up a valid point. "Plus why would you take the highway, on a Wednesday morning? You must still be new to the city." The blond added.
"For someone late for practise, you're really calm."
"Practise? What are you talking about?"
"Oh you didn't know I got you a club."
"What?! Newcastle finally called back?"
"No, it's not Newcastle." Glen replied as he remembered the call he made two weeks ago.
"What do you mean your not interested!?" Glen shouted over the phone. "He's a literal wonderkid, the next Alan Shearer mind you!"
"Look Glen, we understand your frustration, but we can't give a trial to the first team no less, to a sixteen year old."
"That's cause you haven't seen him, play! Come on, I give you my word that you won't regret this."
"I'm sorry Glen but I'm going to have to pass on this one."
"They could've gotten you for free. But they said they wanted proof of whether your worth being crossed over the pond."
"So how exactly are we going to get proof?" Naruto asked as Glen smirked. "I got you a trial with a professional team in the MLS."
"The MLS?! No way!" Naruto said ecstatic, other than the Prem, he followed the MLS since…forever. It might've been a different league, but still…he was going to get the chance to go pro.
"Yes way. Turns out you've been getting buzz lately as a promising youngster and turns out surprisingly LA Galaxy has been snooping around you." Naruto hearing this just kept quiet as he tried to savour the moment. Everything was just happening so quick that he opened the passenger window only to poke his head out onto the highway.
"LET'S GO!"
"Sorry for the wait gentlemen, but here it is."
The dream of a lifetime had finally been fulfilled.
Naruto Namikaze watched ecstatically as the manager for LA Galaxy, hold a docket in his hand which he slid over to the pair. "Your trial went well Naruto, and everyone in this organization believes we could use your talent." The man explained as the blond could only keep a professional look, as inside he was bouncing around all giddy.
"You don't mind if I read this Charlie?" Glen spoke up as the man now called Charlie shrugged his broad shoulders. His demenour showed one of patience and his body language was calm.
"Take your time to go through it, Glen. Though I can assure you, there aren't any crazy proposals." Charlie replied as he walked to the right side of his table to look out at view of the Studhub Center.
The glass frame seemed to act as a barrier between the man and his love. Instead of protecting him from immenent death, he saw it as jealousy.
His black suit seemed to have a few wrinkles in the eyes of the agent and player. With a tint of black underneath his eyes, the seemed to haven't been able to sleep last night.
The coffee mug on the coaster, resting on his desk seemed to be the answer to that notion.
"So? Any problems?" Naruto questioned his new agent. "So far nothing." Glen stated as he skimmed through each page like a hawk and eventually after five minutes he spoke with Naruto and once they both seemed satisfied, Glen spoke up.
"Alright Charlie, everything seems to be in order. You can stop worrying now." he broke the awkward silence. Charlie hearing this got a smile on his face and returned to sit behind his desk.
"So I guess Naruto is satisfied with the terms."
The blond just nodded. "3 years worth $10,000 a week. Will take care this golden goose of ours no problem." Glen concluded.
"That's great to here. Naruto, welcome to the LA Galaxy." The man brought out his hand for a handshake which the blond quickly returned. "I'm going to make sure this opportunity isn't wanted sir." Naruto replied much to Charlie's delight.
"Good to hear you say that, because come tomorrow morning, you'll be joining your teammates here for practise, be hear by 9 AM."
"Is it fine if I come early?" the blond asked "I just like putting in extra work, before the real deal." He added as the man chuckled.
"Sure not a problem, I'll tell security about you. Now if you excuse me gentlemen." The man got up and held his phone to his ear. "I need to call the missus."
Both Glen and Naruto walked out of the office into the hallway, the blond brought Glen into a deep hug.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" the blond repeated the phrase over and over.
The shorter man being caught of guard a bit, accepted the gesture quickly as he could see how much it meant for the blond.
"It wasn't a problem, kid. Now you just have to make do with this opportunity you now have." Naruto breaking the hug, quickly landed his hand on the latter's shoulder.
"Don't worry. We're going to make Newcastle regret."
"That's the spirit." Glen replied as the two went to the parking lot. Now having fulfilled first step of his dream, Naruto was just like every other youngster who begins their career.
First he had to make a name for himself and then he had to make a move for Europe.
His goal to one day play with the best in the world was coming into fruition.
"Wait you live here?" Glen stated confused as he offered to give Naruto a ride back home, and to his surprise. He was shocked to see himself pulling up, to an orphanage in South Central, LA.
"Yeah. I'm an orphan." The blond replied "Is there a problem."
"No…there's no problem...it's just I'm orphan as well." Glen declared "Huh…I guess we have something in common."
"Ah huh, both our parents were shit."
"Those are wise words, Glen." Naruto replied as he got out of the car, "See ya." The blond bent at the car window and made a small wave. "Don't be late you hear!"
Glen returning the small gesture with the comment only to watch the upcoming talent cross his heart while he walked through the cruded gate of the derelict building.
'How could people live in such a place.' The man thought to himself. The place had broken windows covered with cardboards, litter on the sidewalk with shards of broken glass scattered all over the place. He was certain he'd seen a rat the size of a cat just scurrying into one of the bushes.
"It's like those houses in the favelas of Brazil."
The place just screamed of poverty and to think his hidden gem lived here…Glen guessed that the saying. One man's trash is another's treasure came true when it came to discussing Naruto.
Not wasting time to day dream seeing as Naruto had disappeared into the building, Glen started his car and rolled away to make a quick right turn out of the street.