Chapter 3: Unnamed

"What you lookin' at, baka? I thought the ground would interest ya, seein' as you're scum."

The snotty voice rang out from the tallest of the three boys, above the continued laughter of the other two. Naruto's eyes narrowed as he realized exactly who had spoken, and apparently tripped, him.

"Makoto," Naruto spat, heaving himself up from the floor. The older boy sneered.

"That's Makoto-sama to you, freak.

Fujiwa Makoto had been a torment to Naruto's short life. he was taller by at least three heads, and bigger to top that off, it seemed as if when misery met Naruto Makoto was involved.

Stealing his spending money, ruining his lunch, blaming trouble on him—you name it, Makoto could do it. Sometimes he got caught, but most of the time it just seemed like none of the adults cared what happened to Naruto, even if it was happening in plain sight.

The fact that Makoto had a boyish, round face that could turn charming in an instant, deep brown eyes that could look innocent within a moment, and a crooked grin that matched his bed-head of messy brown hair in a perfectly "sweet" way did NOT help Naruto's side of the story at all.

Also not to mention Makoto's two henchmen, Houstu Akira and Jouga Sano, who followed him around everywhere. Both had well-known fathers in the village, and so most people showed the little gang of boys respect if not favoritism.

Naruto didn't really know why Makoto picked on him so much; maybe it was because he was an easy target, and Makoto rarely got in trouble for doing it.

one thing Naruto always did that, amused makoto to no ends, was fight back, no matter the chance of him actually winning. Naruto was never afraid to take a swing, even when he missed.

Today, however,Naruto's fist had been tightening into a ball while Makoto spoke, but he knew he couldn't get into a fight right now…he still needed to get to the Academy quickly.

Naruto was smart enough to know that if he started something with Makoto, more likely than not he wouldn't make it to the Academy in time enough.

Naruto swung around and started down the rest of the stairs while Akira and Sano were still snickering at Makoto's last comment. Later, Naruto promised himself:

"I'll find Makoto later, a shinobi mustn't show his feeling to anyone."

He nodded with satisfaction as his sandals clanked on the metal stairway. Makoto, though, wasn't about to let Naruto get away that easily.

As soon as Naruto had turned his back, the smug look on Makoto's face transformed into an ugly, brutal one.

"Where do you think you're going?!"

Makoto called fiercely as Naruto disappeared down the flight of stairs. His friends halted their laughing when Makoto took off after the blonde orphan.

"I'm not done with you yet, Naruto!"

Naruto paid no heed to Makoto's shout; his thoughts were already occupied with mapping all the shortcuts to the academy.

 As he clattered down the remaining steps, Naruto glances around at the street. There weren't many people out yet, just a few errand runners and the like. Most windows were still shut and curtains still drawn. That was good, it meant Naruto could probably run most of the way and not get yelled at or stopped…

Suddenly Naruto heard a small giggle to his left, and turned his head in reaction as his feet hit the dirt-packed path below the metal stairs.

Naruto stopped at the bottom of the stairs, holding the rail while he observed the sight that met his eyes.

The giggle had some from a girl, who looked to be around Naruto's age. Skipping down the walkway to Naruto, she wore a light blue sundress with red shorts underneath, a small canvas bag swinging in her grasp and her pink hair flopping across her aqua eyes as she bounced up and down, an excited smile on her lips.

Further behind the girl two women strolled, laughing and chattering—one of the women had aqua eyes identical to the girl's. Naruto cocked his head slightly, recognizing the head of sakura-bloom colored hair; he had seen the girl before, playing with some of the other village children at times.

But he had never actually met her, and didn't know her name. She was probably headed to the Academy right now. Naruto's brow furrowed: he knew the other kids had a nickname for her, but he couldn't remember what—

the girl slowed her steps and turned her gaze towards Naruto, who was still standing at the bottom of the apartment complex stairs

the girl was standing there and now watching him. Naruto began to give a tentative smile when the girl's eyes went wide. Naruto had a second to be confused before what felt like a freight train slammed into the mall of his back.

Naruto sprawled forward and landed face-first in the dirt, dust filling his nose, mouth, and eyes. Makoto landed with a resounding thud from the jump-kick he had just used to nail Naruto, a surprising brutality shining in his boyish, deep brown eyes.

Naruto starts lifting himself up from the ground only to be tackled by Akira and Sano. Naruto was too shocked by the kick to do anything but look up stupidly at the wickedly-grinning Makoto while Akira and Sano pinned each of Naruto's arms to the ground so he was stomach-up towards the sky.