Hello everyone, before we get started I would like to give a shout out to Chue19 as well as a Guest for pointing out an error that has been fixed within Chapter 1. Thank you so much for pointing that out so it could be corrected.

Naruto was sitting in apartment. While the place was really new, it was lonely with no one but himself in the apartment. He was seated at his kitchen table looking out the window sadly at the village. "It's been lonely without Samui" a saddened Naruto said. Since she left, he had tried to make more friends at the park but no one wanted to play with him. Most of the time their parents told him to leave their kids alone like that lady who first saw him playing with Samui.

There were a few times he almost talked to some kids but he would either be driven off by their words as they walked away from him or their parents threatened him as they chased after him as if he were an animal. Afterwards he would either sit under a tree and watch longingly or he would go to Ichiraku and stay with Teuchi and Ayame even if he didn't order anything. Sometimes he would wander closer to the walls of Konoha just to get away from the glares and mean people.

Naruto was pulled from his thousand-yard stare by a knock coming from his door. Curious Naruto got up from his chair and went to see who wanted him.

Opening his door, Naruto was surprised to see it was the clerk from the postal service. The man still had a flat look, aided by his thick mustache and unibrow. "Um hello" Naruto said nervously as he gave a small wave. The man said nothing, instead reaching into his parcel for something. Naruto was now scared. He was hoping the man wasn't going to be mean to him or tell him he lost his mail. Tears began to well up in the boys eyes as his sad thoughts began to overwhelm him.

Suddenly the man produced an envelope from his bag causing Naruto's thoughts to stop. The man gently held out the envelop to the blonde as he said. "A letter for you Mr. Uzumaki." Naruto was silent as he gingerly took the envelop. Tear slowly flowed from his eyes as he held the letter close. Without thinking, Naruto hugged the big man's leg shocking the mail courier.

Nervous about what got the boy so affectionate, the man gently patted Naruto on the head. When Naruto let go of his leg, he waved goodbye as he said "Thanks mister!" The courier smiled slightly beneath his unmoving mustache before waving goodbye himself and leaving to continue his rounds.

Naruto hurriedly closed the door and ran to his kitchen table so he could read his friend's letter. As soon as he sat down, he excitedly but gently opened the letter and began to read it. He was curious about what flowers she saw. He was excited to receive a gift from his first friend. So excited he didn't finish reading the letter before running from his apartment to Ichiraku.

Ayame was cleaning the counter as her little buddy came running into the stand shouting "Ayame! My letter came!" As he ran under the flaps, he jumped on to a stool so he could show his big sister. Ayame stopped what she was doing a stood before Naruto and smile happily. "That's great Naruto! So what does it say?" she asked eagerly.

Naruto looked a little sheepish as he scratched the back of his head. "Um I didn't finish reading it because she sent me a gift but said you could open it for me!" Ayame looked a little confused. "What do you mean Naruto?" 'If she sent a gift, surely he could open it himself if it was included with the letter. Unless he needed to use a sharp object like a knife to open it then she could see why he would need her help.' As she was pondering this, her father, Teuchi, came out from the back and greeted his favorite blonde. "Hey Naruto! What are you doing here?"

Naruto smiled at Teuchi as he responded. "My letter from Samui came! She said she sent me a gift and that Ayame could get it for me!" he cheered. Now Teuchi was curious too. "And how can she get it for you?" asked the owner of the ramen stall. Without his smile breaking Naruto held up his letter as he said, "Samui said there was a seal that holds at the bottom of the letter," pointing to the seal at the bottom of the page, "and that Ayame could open it!"

Ayame took the offered letter and looked at the seal on the bottom of the page. Placing a finger on the seal, a small poof of smoke was released before being swatted away by Ayami showing off the necklace Samui included in her letter.

It was a gold necklace with a matching pendant holding a glass case that held the flower Samui described in her letter. Ayame was in awe of the flower encased in the glass case as she handed the necklace to Naruto. "Wow!" spoke an awed Ayame, "It's really pretty." Naruto eagerly put it on and smiled brightly at the first gift he had gotten from his first friend.

Ayame made a suggestion as he awe of Naruto's gift died down. "You should get her a gift in return Naruto." Naruto started to panic, nearly running out of his seat to pace around. "But what do I get her? I don't know what she likes!" Teuchi knelt down in front of Naruto, placing his hands on the boy's shoulders, "Don't worry about that too much Naruto. Sometimes getting something rare or something you find interesting from an event can be an amazing gift, like the flower in your new pendant" the ramen shop owner advised.

"Also be sure to send her a thanks in your next letter" advised the older man. Naruto nodded excitedly in affirmation at the older man's words. "How about a picture of you wearing your new pendant?" suggested Ayame. Naruto cheered at the ramen waitress's suggestion before adding his own two cents, "And you and Teuchi can be in it too!" commented Naruto. "We can take the picture in front of the stand!"
Ayame finishes, getting an excited nod from the blonde. Ayame then turned her attention back to the letter, reading it aloud for the group.

Naruto laughed at the how Samui called her brother uncool while Ayame fist pumped at being called cool causing Teuchi to laugh. When it got to the part of meeting her dad Naruto got nervous. He didn't want to be told he couldn't be her penpal anymore. Seeing his look of apprehension Teuchi put a hand on his shoulder and assured him that he had nothing to worry about.

When it got the part of food Ayame stuck her tongue out as she teased Naruto about eating his vegetables. "See! I told you, you should eat your vegetables!" Naruto merely crossed his arms and pouted. "But I don't like them!" Teuchi then hit with Naruto with a question the blonde. "Oh? So you want your friend to grow up stronger than you?" Naruto was silent for but a moment before he answered. He shook his head. "Well then you are going to need to eat your vegetables" said Teuchi causing Naruto to reluctantly agree.

"Hey do you think I can try oyaki?" asked the blonde. Ayami and Teuchi thought about it for a bit, thinking if there were any shops in Konoha that sold oyaki. "Um you might. I think there is a shop further into the market district that sells food from Kaminari no Kuni." Naruto got excited at that. "Do you know the name of the shop?" he asked eagerly. Sadly all he could do was a shake of the head. "Sorry Naruto but you're gonna have to look around" apologized Ayame, Naruto looked a little down cast but at least he had a chance.

After the group had their fun Naruto wrote another letter.

Dear Samui,

I was really excited to get your letter! I was feeling bad when I was waiting for your letter but when I got it, I was super happy!

Also I really love the necklace! Even Ayame liked it. I'm gonna find you something just as great! That's a promise!

Kumo sounds really cool! All we have are trees here but you saw that. Ayame and Teuchi said there are mountains in Hai no Kuni but they are far from Konoha. Hey maybe if I go to Kumo I can see all the mountains? How does that sound? Would you like to come with me?

Oh yeah I didn't tell you! Teuchi is Ayame's dad and he owns Ichiraku and makes the ramen! He also told me there is a place in Konoha that makes oyaki! I'll tell you about it when I try some! Ayame says she would like to meet you and I should meet your dad. So when you come back we can meet at Ichiraku and you can meet Teuchi and Ayame and I can meet your dad.

Your brother sounds mean. I mean I said I would write you and I did so blegh! Next time you can tell him that he's a meanie and he can't be mean to my friends!

Also I can't do that seal thingy you did with your dad but Teuchi and Ayame helped me take a picture and we put it in the letter. This way you can always see me and you know what they look like!

I can't wait for your next letter!

Naruto Uzumaki

The next day Naruto immediately ran to the postal service to get his letter mailed to Samui, being sure to have his money bag so can pay for the postage. When he reached the door he hesitated. It was open, Ayame was sure to point out to him how to tell if a store was open. He was just nervous. Last time he did this he had Ayame with him. Now … now he was alone. The man who ran the postal service seemed nice. He wasn't mean like many of the other shops he went past or visited. Still being beyond nervous Naruto opened the door to see the same man sitting behind the counter, his bushy unibrow covering his eyes as his mustache left him expressionless.

"Umm hello" Naruto waved nervously. The man was silent as he waved back. Hesitantly Naruto approached the counter, his letter in his hands. The man looked down at Naruto, waiting from him to tell him what he wanted. After awhile Naruto spoke, "Um I would like to send this letter" he said nervously as he got on the tips of his toes to put his letter on the counter. The man took the letter and inspected the address.

Seeing it was the same as last time the boy was in his shop, asked for the same price of 150 ryo. Naruto handed over the money and watched as the man handed over the receipt. Thanking the man profusely with many bows. The man merely said it was nothing and returned one of the bow's before the boy left his shop.

When the shop was empty the man spoke, "Nice boy."

It would be a few months before Samui got her next letter. In that time Atsui made it a habit to tease his sister about her giving Naruto cooties since his best friend is a girl. Only for to call him uncool in her monotone voice. When Naruto's letter came, Samui excitedly ran to her house to read it. When she got the picture of Naruto she went over to her parent to show them.

"Mom! Dad! This is my new friend" the blonde girl said happily as she held up the picture for her parents. Her mother, Rina, gingerly took the photo and began to look it over. Rina is a beautiful woman with pale blonde hair that reaches her mid back and was tied up in a bun with a simple looking ji holding the bun together. She was wearing a snow white, long sleeve blouse with a pale blue pleated skirt. All of this was worn under a bright pink apron she occasionally wore around the house. She seemed to have her eyes closed so it was difficult to decern the color of her eyes.

"Awe he looks so cute!" she gushed. Her father, Muzan, meanwhile nodded at the photo. Muzan has short and scraggly dirty blonde hair along with pale blue eyes. While on duty he would wear the standard Jonin attire of Kumo, off duty he wore an eye-catching grey shirt with the design of lightning strikes falling across the garment. He also wore mud brown pants with hidden pockets where he kept throwing knives and senbon in so as to always be armed.

"Ah, I'm glad we get to a face to a name" Muzan said with a smile. 'So this is the boy J told me, B and Lord Raikage about' thought Muzan to himself. 'A blonde Uzumaki indeed. Sadly we did not have a sensor with us while we were in Konoha to confirm his theory but if the woman's words and actions are anything to go by the boy may very well be like B and Yugito.' His expression dipped slightly, going unnoticed by his family. 'It's sad that one so young must go through such torment but at least he has a friend now' Muzan thought happily.

He turned toward his son and called to him as the boy seemed to show no interest in his sisters penpal after the first letter. "Hey Atsui!" The boy's attention shifted from his toys to his father. "Come see a photo of your sisters friend!" Atsui walked over with a huff. After looking at it he asked, "Is there something wrong with him? Muzan raised an eyebrow at his son's question. "I don't think so" he responded. "Why do you ask?" Atsui looked at his father confused as he spoke. "I mean his best friend is a girl!" he said exaggeratedly as he shook his head. "That's so weird!"

Muzan smiled at his son's words while Rina giggled behind her hand as Samui frowned. Not understanding his parents' reactions, Atsui asked "What?" Muzan just patted his son's head as he told him "Don't worry, you'll understand when you're older."

Atsui looked on, confused at his father's words. Samui for her part scowled like any three-year-old could. "So what if he's best friend with a girl?" she asked hotly getting the attention of the others in the room. Acting quickly, Rina changed the subject before any words could be said between the siblings. "Oh would you look at the time! I do believe it is time for lunch! Who wants oyaki and soba?" she asked, using the kids favorite foods to quell the argument. "Me!" they both shouted in unison. Rena smiled before heading into the kitchen to make the food, the last this she heard before the family separated was Samui calling her brother a meanie which she could only shake her head at.

Dear Naruto,

Thank you for the picture! My brother says you look like a wimp but I called him a meanie like you said I should and told him you said it. He was very uncool after that.

I went to a ramen place with my family after I got your letter and I liked the warm … my dad said the were nudls. It was fun to slurp them and see my brother act uncool when he spilled some on himself!

Of course I will join you Naruto! But then we got to see the other flower areas in the forest! If they are pretty like the one I got that flower from then it will be fun!

Also J came by. He wanted to know how you were. I told him you were good which he smiled at. He asked me to share my next letter from you. I hope that is okay?

I got to go! Mom is calling for dinner! She told me to tell you to eat your vegetables and she will make you ramen if you ever visit. She said um … that my boyfriend should be big and strong to protect me. I told her I can take care of myself but my boy friend is strong because he eats his vegetables.

I can't wait to get your next letter!

Samui Mori