A/N: Yeah, so this is a reboot of Naruto's journey in football. Realising how less entertaining my first attempt was at this. After some thorough research I know what to do with this story. So far I can say that Naruto was born in Japan and he grew up in Italy. Thus he will play for the Italian national team when he grows older becoming the beacon of the next generation of Italian football as they enter the 2010s and even become a leader in the 2020s. Does he ever win the World Cup? That is something I debate with myself. Alas enjoy as I am proud to vow that I want to finish this fic. Before the 2026 World Cup kicks off. So yeah. No slacking, just good content more regulary.
Rome, June 17, 2001
Morning of the Scudetto-deciding match
In the sun-warmed courtyard of a quaint Roman apartment building nestled in Trastevere, the vibrant smell of fresh bread from the local forno mixed with the rising summer heat.
Sitting together in an enjoyable moment of a warm morning. The Japanese couple, Minato and Kushina Namikaze, used this opportunity of relaxation with some warmly brewed tea.
They would have stayed in silence if it wasn't for the creak of the door next door. Their neighbors, Giovanni and Rosa De Rossi, stepped out, a warm and lovely couple who had graciously accepted the Namikaze family into the community.
As always their love had them do everything together and today was no different. Decked in full Roma gear — red and yellow from head to toe.
Kushina seeing this just chuckled, gesturing at Rosa's earrings shaped like tiny AS Roma crests. "You're ready for a parade before the match even begins."
Rosa just grinned. "Aren't we always? But today— oggi è diverso. If Roma wins, the city will shut down."
Kushina playfully rolled her eyes. "The city already shuts down. Every Sunday, half the shops close. Today? I imagine even the pigeons will be wearing Roma scarves."
The two women shared a laugh. "Come, let's get something special," Rosa said. "If we don't shop now, addio, all the stores will be locked up by kickoff."
Upon hearing that, Kushina placed her tea on the tray. Giving her husband a quick peck on the cheek, the man couldn't help but feel his heart flutter. "We'll be back." She told him and he hopped it'd be sooner.
As Rosa quickly locked her arm around Kushina's she wasted no time dragging her away towards the market.
Not long the women disappeared out of the courtyard and went down the cobbled street, Giovanni deciding to join Minato took up Kushina's seat. Familiarising himself to the wooden chair, Mr. De Rossi received a gesture from his neighbour if he wanted a cup.
"Camomile?" he questioned "When is it never." Minato joked as Giovanni chuckled. "Then yes, my friend."
Quelching his thirst with the drink, a faint breeze stirred the morning calmly.
Giovanni took a long breath. "I haven't been this nervous since my wedding day."
Minato smiled softly. "You didn't seem nervous when they left for the stadium."
"No?" Giovanni turned his eyes to the sky for a moment. "Truth is, I trust my boy. And your boy too."
Minato's expression warmed. "I still find it hard to believe they're both there today. Ballboys of the Stadio Olimpico."
Giovanni nodded, pride brimming behind his weathered eyes. "Daniele's been dreaming of this since he was...forever really. When they asked for kids to help yesterday, I knew he'd put his name in. But when I he told me he wrote down little Naruto's name with his…"
Minato looked down, touched. "He didn't even ask us."
"He said, 'Naruto's family is Roma now too. He'll need the inspiration to continue working hard'" Giovanni chuckled after repeating his son's words. "Even if he's ten years younger, Daniele treats him like a brother."
Minato laughed. "We've noticed. Naruto follows him like a shadow. He even tried to comb his hair like Daniele this morning."
The two men looked at each other, and something unspoken passed between them — an understanding beyond language, beyond football. A bond built on trust, respect and family.
Just like them their sons, connected through friendship and football easily bridging their cultures without hesitation.
"Today," Giovanni said, raising his cup, "we win for the city. But also… for them. For the next generation of Romanisti."
Minato could toast to that. So gently he clinked his ceramic cup gently against Giovanni's. "For them."
"Forza."
Rome, Stadio Olimpico
Pre-match Warmups
June 17, 2001
The sun beamed down on the green turf of the Olimpico, casting long shadows as the players warmed up in front of the Curva Sud. Already the stands were filled to the of Rome yearned for this day just like they did back in 1983 and sea of red and yellow in the stands roared like a heartbeat, every chant vibrating through the concrete.
Standing stiffly near the corner flag, a scrawny blond barely 8 years old clutched his little towel like a lifeline. As the sun kissed his skin, his eyes were enamoured the enormous crowd. The smell of the pitch's freshly cut grass mixed with the pride every Romanisti exhumed.
Such a sight was something the young Naruto Namikaze, couldn't hope to replicate in his dream. It was truly a day to remember for the city of Rome.
Being left speechless, he could hear his heart pounding like the bass of a drum. Believing that eventually it would beat just like the rhythmic drums some fans were bashing on.
Beside him, Daniele De Rossi, the future of king of Rome stood tall. By next month he will be turning 18. Already the papers needed to confirm he will be part of the first team next season were signed.
Carrying himself with swagger, he laughed and tossed light jabs at his teammates — other ballboys from Roma's Primavera. They were all used to this by now. Not a match of this scale, no, but to them, this turf was home.
"You good, little man?" Daniele finally asked, catching Naruto's nervous glances.
Naruto looked up and nodded quickly, though his small hands betrayed him with a tremble. The voices of 70,000 fans were louder than he'd ever imagined. He'd seen games on TV, yes — but here, the Olimpico was alive. Breathing. Shouting. Chanting.
One of Daniele's teammates nudged Naruto playfully on the shoulder. "Don't worry, ragazzo. You'll be out here with us one day — on the team sheet, not the sideline."
Another added, "That crowd's scary the first time. Second time? You'll miss it when it's gone."
Naruto managed a small, shy smile. "You think so?"
Daniele leaned down and ruffled his hair. "I know so. That's why I brought you with me. I want this day to be your inspiration, ragazzo. You've got more talent than all of us. I want to make sure it doesn't blind you and makes you think you got there…but I don't expect you to understand that now. But when you're older you'll know."
Naruto couldn't do anything but nod. He always listened intently whenever Daniele spoke, he always had these words of wisdom that reminded him a lot about his deceased grandfather, Hiruzen Uzumaki.
Returning to watching the heroes of Rome warm up under the sun, his eyes lit up suddenly, upon seeing his fellow countryman. Across the pitch, warming up just meters away, was Hidetoshi Nakata — the pride of Japan, his hero, in Roma red and yellow.
"Nakata-san!" Naruto shouted, hands cupped around his mouth. "Ganbatte kudasai!"
The Japanese native was caught of guard by this. Turning in the direction where he heard his native tongue, he was surprised for a split-second. The last place he expected to hear it would be today. However it wasn't long that his eyes spotted the tiny figure in a Roma ballboy kit waving enthusiastically. His stern expression softened instantly.
Jogging over to the touchline, he crouched slightly so they could see eye to eye through the ad boards.
"You're Japanese?" Nakata asked in their native tongue.
"Hai! I came here with my parents. I'm playing in the youth team, and Daniele-niisan brought me here today!" Naruto beamed as Daniele smiled and greeted Nakata. "I'm expecting to be seeing you guys next season, yeah?" he quipped as Daniele's friends chuckled.
"That will be him." They pointed to De Rossi. "We've been promoted to the U-19s."
"Well, congrats still." Nakata smiled. "You're all part of the future, anyway. So you must be proud." He stated as the three older boys took his words with grace. "Little man, it's an honor to see you here." He returned to their native tongue.
Naruto with a toothy grin forgot about his nervousness. It was now by the warmth of his hero's presence. "You're why I started playing football back in Japan."
"Then keep playing," Nakata said, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder gently. "One day, I'll be cheering for you."
Just then, a sharp whistle blew from the sideline. Fabio Capello, stern as ever, was pointing at Nakata, waving him back to the warmup drills.
With a respectful nod, Nakata straightened. "Enjoy the match, Naruto."
"I will! Good luck, Nakata-san!"
As Nakata jogged back, Naruto couldn't help but look down at his shaking hands — everything was happening too fast for them to comprehend. Around him, Daniele and the others still had those grins on them.
Leaning in once again, "Still got butterflies?" Daniele asked.
Naruto nodded, but this time, a proud smile was on his face. "Yeah… but I think they're now flying high with the Roma colours." Hearing that Daniele chuckled. "They should stay that way, forever."
Kickoff
Matchday 38: Roma vs Parma
As the referee's whistle pierced the electric air, the Olimpico erupted. From the sidelines, Daniele stood with a steely calm. He'd been raised in these colors — he knew what this day meant. Naruto, however, was frozen in awe, heart thudding as the match kicked off before him.
The sight was very different from tv or any football match he watched from the stands.
The intensity that the players felt could be picked up by the blond. The massive variety of expressions just answered why the rhythm of the chants from the crowd, were angelic.
They all worked as one. Like a second heartbeat as the young boy could feel pressure on his chest. So not wanting to be left behind he too chanted for his side.
"Roma! Roma! Roma!"
It wasn't long the rest of the older boys joined him.
19th Minute – Totti's Goal (1–0)
Daniele spotted it before it even happened — Totti drifting into the left channel, chesting down a pass and rifling it into the net with that signature whip.
"YES! FRANCÈ!" Daniele shouted, pumping a fist in the air.
The Curva Sud detonated.
Naruto's hands flew up in excitement. "That… that was the captain, Totti!"
Daniele grinned, eyes wild with joy. "No, ragazzo! That's the king of Rome!"
Naruto not long found himself screaming along with everyone else, swept up in the tidal wave of joy. He looked back toward the bench as just like him, his hero Nakata was jubilant — even Capello cracked a ghost of a smile, something that was really rare but sweet to catch a glimpse of, since it wasn't long he was barking orders to the heroes of Rome to not think the match was over.
33rd Minute – Montella's Goal (2–0)
The crowd had still not yet settled from Totti's stunner but that didn't stop the supersub of the season Montella to have an impact on the match. Like all season long he was sharp as a blade, snuck in behind for the rebound. With a clean strike.
The Olimpico had another reason to have an assurgance of cheers yet again.
The noise was more deafening this time— Naruto dropped his towel and jumped up and down, as Daniele caught him mid-air, laughing. "L'Aeroplanino! The Little Airplane does it again!"
Trying to imitate Montella's goal celebration— arms spread wide, flying along the sidelines the young blond was egged on by the older boys, as their posts around the pitch weren't even in their minds.
"Don't crash into the fourth official, now!" one teased and the blond couldn't help but subside with the crowd as everyone tried to become composed.
Halftime – 2–0
As the players walked into the tunnel, the stadium still roared. Naruto sat down, breathless.
"How is that no one is tired after all that shouting, is beyond me," he said in wonder as Daniele handed him a water bottle. "It's not just shouting. It's faith."
78th Minute – Batistuta's Goal (3–0)
Then came the moment.
Totti slid a perfect pass into the feet of Gabriel Batistuta. The Argentine forward barely took a touch before hammering it into the net — pure power, pure class.
And Naruto, instinctively, roared from the sideline:
"BATI, BATI, BATI, BATI, BATI-GOL!"
His sudden shout caused the three boys to turn to him in surprise and delight. "Where'd you learn that?!"
"This other commentator kept saying it whenever he scored! He's a legend!"
Daniele threw an arm around the little one's shoulders. "I told you, he has a little Italian in him. You're one of us now, Naruto. No doubt about it." He said proudly.
The Olimpico was now on the verge of exploding. The cheers that resonated were now replaced with tears. Strangers embraced each other, as lovers kissed each other passionately. The promised was definitely fulfilled. The wait for the third Scudetto was finally over.
Full-Time Whistle – La Roma è campione d'Italia.
The whistle blew. And then it was chaos.
Tens of thousands screamed in unison. Flares lit up the sky. The pitch was invaded and not long it was a mosaic of hugs and tears.
Daniele stood still, hands on his head, overwhelmed.
Naruto, eyes wide, clutched his arm. "Daniele… we did it."
Daniele turned to him, the emotion finally catching up. He crouched down to eye level, voice cracking.
"No, Roma did it. We were just lucky to witness it from the front row."
The players rushed the pitch, Totti hoisting the Scudetto above his head. Confetti rained. Fireworks bloomed across the Roman sky.
And there they stood — two boys from different worlds, united by a city, a team, and a once-in-a-lifetime moment. "But one day. We'll celebrate too."
"The Fourth Scudetto?" the blond questioned as Daniele grinned. "The Fourth Scudetto."
From that day forward, whenever anyone asked Naruto about why he loved football, he would always begin with:
"It was June 17th, 2001… and I was at the Olimpico."
Trastevere – That Evening
The city of Rome wasn't sleeping tonight.
The narrow streets of the Trastevere were alive as music, cheers, car horns, and the smell of grilled sausage and fresh bread created the warming celebratory atmosphere.
As Roma flags hung from windows like proud declarations of identity. The adults made sure the wine flowed like fountains.
Lazio fans were truly horrified.
Outside their modest apartment building, the De Rossis and Namikazes gathered In the courtyard. It's open sky now temporarily replaced by the string lights Daniele's father had hastily rigged up with Minato's help.
Plates of food laid across plastic tables — porchetta, olives, fresh mozzarella, sushi rolls lovingly made by Rosa and Kushina, all beside bottles of Prosecco and sake.
The wives jubilant as ever laughed, as with their wine glasses in hand, they continued teasing each other about their pre-match shopping plans.
"I told you we had to beat the rush!" Daniele's mother grinned.
"You said the city would shut down," Kushina replied with mock indignation, "but I didn't think it'd be literally shut down! The supermarket's doors were padlocked! Even the priest left mass early to watch the match!"
Just like their parents Daniele and Naruto had already started dancing in the middle of the street with neighbors, following their academy friends in singing chants about Totti and Batistuta as tonight they were their saints and emperors.
However this did not last forever as the blond slipped away.
Moving through the laughter and the dancing, he moved quietly out of his building's courtyard and onto the busy street. As his sneakers taped against the cobblestones, his direction was toward the gelato shop down the street.
To his surprise, looking out of place as always, his close friend outside of football, Samui stood there. Calm and nonchalant as always, seemelesly being unbothered by the celebrations happening around them.
She was eleven, a Swede with piercing sky blue and almond-shaped eyes, half-Japanese from her father's side. When the blond arrived infront of her he was surprised to see her not smile for the first time.
"Hey, Samui! I thought you'd be dancing. Are you okay, you seem down." the observant blond questioned the older girl, who couldn't help but seem surprised. She hadn't noticed him approach her. She'd been that caught up in her thoughts.
"Naruto! What are you doing here?"
"I thought I'd dance with you throughout the night." He smiled and upon hearing that as always with Naruto her face began to warm up.
"That's very thoughtful of you, Naruto." She stated however it seemed her thoughts seemed to resurface as not long the blond could sense the dread in her eyes once again.
"Are you okay, Samui? You really seem not okay. Like I know there are those days you're just naturally nonchalant and cold but today doesn't feel like it." The blond deduced as the girl just looked at the boy sadly. Her heart could help but ache as her throat began to feel a bit numb. She tried her hardest to put these words in order but she couldn't fathom it.
Naruto had been such a fresh of breath air ever since they met. He'd found a way to get through her cold exterior and somehow make her feel deep fondness for him.
It had been like that for the past few months. He was just so different, from all the many boys that had ever tried to speak to him. If only he could notice that she had a crush on him.
"Well not really…" finally the words began to spew out. "There's something I have to tell you."
Attentive as always, the boy silent, his expression already speaking for him. What's up?
"My mom signed a contract with an agency in Milan," she said softly. "She says I have the look they want. We're moving there tonight — she didn't want to deal with traffic tomorrow. Said it'd be easier while everyone's too distracted celebrating."
Naruto hearing that couldn't help but look surprised. Samui expected him to feel down but he looked but he just had his usual jubilant grin.
"That's amazing! You've always been talking about that opportunity! Congrats, Samui!" the street seemed quieter suddenly, hearing that from the boy made her sigh internally. As always he seemed to understand.
"I didn't get to say goodbye. Luckily I came, yeah?" he grinned but Samui couldn't help but admit.
"I didn't want to say goodbye,"
They stood there a moment, two kids caught in the middle of a grown-up world.
"You don't want to leave?" the boy got a nod. "I told you Rome would grow on you. See how precious it is already to you?" he smirked.
'Not the city you dolt!' Samui thought mentally slapping the boy at the back of the head.
"But you shouldn't worry really, the city's not going anywhere you can always come to visit." The blond beamed.
"What about you?"
Naruto simply patted her shoulder, eyes fierce with determination. "I'll be living in the same building. Know that you'll always be welcomed by my parents." He stated however Samui didn't think she would have the chance to take him up on that offer.
"I don't think there'd ever be time for me to visit you, Naruto. Mother said I'll be too busy modelling and doing home schooling."
" If that's the case then, one day," he said, "you'll see me again. In Milan, maybe. Or on TV. Maybe even at the Milan Fashion Week. Though I don't think I'd ever get an invite for the last one. You think they give famous footballers invites?"
Samui tilted her head. "I read in a magazine that Luis Figo, sometimes shows up for, Helen."
"Then I'll definitely be in the front row cheering you on. I'll score so many goals and make Rome shut down — even worse than today. And when that day happens you'll get to dance with me, okay?"
That just made her smile and blush. Did he ever know what his words implied.
"I believe you'll make do with that promise," she whispered. "Of course, I never go behind my word, believe it-" the boy slowed down midsentence. "Sorry. Force of habit. For somereason I always like saying that."
"It's your catchphrase."
"Weird catchphrase if you ask me."
As the seconds ticked on they didn't hug. They weren't old enough for that kind of dramatic goodbye. But as Samui's mother arrived with her vehicle. Naruto watched as his friend disappeared behind the black door.
Already deciding to head back up the street, he was surprised to see Samui roll down the car window and said:
"Make them scream your name, Naruto." And then she was gone, fading into the Roman night.
"I will." The blond whispered to himself as he turned back towards the music, the dancing, the flags and the joy.
Wipping his nose with his sleeve, he took a deep breath, and ran back toward the celebration — toward Daniele, toward his parents, toward the future.
Tonight belonged to Roma.
Tomorrow?
That would belong to him.
A/N: And yeah that's it. Pairing already decided. Samui and Naruto since I always found it weird trying to write about other real people's love lives. But that's just my opinion, this is fanfiction after all. Anyway the plan for these chapters is simple. I'm going to write two chapters or maybe three to cover one full season. For example Naruto's debut season which will be the 2009/10 season will be broken down into two parts. I want Christmas to be the halfway point (since for me all roads lead to Jesus). Then the second half will be the conclusion of the season with the trophy lifting and all that stuff. Naruto will definitely be interacting with Italian football legends off the field since there's life out of work, you know? But to not spoil you guys any further. Remember to...ALWAYSLUVYOURSELF.