Chapter 4

'Sasuke-kun is going to make friends with Naruto,' Hinata wondered to herself. In her heart she was slightly envious of Sasuke's courage, because she always wanted to make friends with Naruto as well.

Hinata's face turned into a red tomato when she thought about making friends with Naruto.

"You want to be my friend!??" Naruto was taken back by Sasuke's offer. Since the day he was aware everyone around seems to be avoid him. Growing up alone without parents.

As a young kid he would watch as the other kids get picked up by their parents from school. He always had to walk back home alone to a dark place without warmth.

When he asked to play with other kids or try to make friends the other children would be scared. Running away from him as though he was a monster.

So he always found himself being called a 'monster' by others. 'Maybe that's why,' he thought, 'maybe that's why people avoided me because I'm a monster.'

Though he always cause trouble among other things that annoy the town's people what he deeply want inside his heart was to be liked. Also to find true friends to hang out with.

"Of course I want to be your friend," Sasuke grinned as he heard that dumb question.

"Do you really want to be friends with me," there were doubts in Naruto's eyes as he looked to the ground. Questioning himself. Wondering whether he can ever be someone worthy to be friends with Sasuke.

"Do you really need me to repeat?" Sasuke asked him with a look of peculiarity, "From now on we're brothers."

Sasuke extended his hand out to Naruto in welcome. Which Naruto slowly extended his own hand as the two hands clasped together in a vow of eternal friendship.

Naruto found himself deeply moved by this new Sasuke. On his face was a happy smile as he finally made a true friend.

Sadly this momentous moment didn't end as expected as girls from the class begins to crowd around Sasuke. Their eyes with popping heart signs.

"Sasuke-kun can we also be your friend?"

"Can I also become your friend Sasuke-kun?"

Looks like Naruto can only sulk in the corner again as he watches how popular Sasuke is with the ladies.

'Being too popular is also a problem,' with an awkward smile Sasuke thought to himself as he tries to calm down this crowd of girls.

….

After school ended Naruto walked out of the academy's entrance doors. The sky was getting dark. It's sometimes strange how each day can pass by so fast without our notice.

Naruto's eyes glanced afar at the tree with the wooden swing. He remembers the times which he would be sitting on the wooden swing as kids play with their friends and with their loving parents.

At that time he was envious of their happiness. Don't really know what makes him so different than them all. That part of the memory was filled with darkness reflecting the loneliness he felt at that time.

As he was still ensolved into the past Naruto feels a small tap on his shoulder. There was a new presence that walked shoulder to shoulder next to him.

Sasuke glanced at the direction which Naruto was looking at. Quickly he was able to guess what Naruto was thinking about.

Smiling at his new friend Sasuke saids to Naruto, "Let the past be the past Naruto. From now on I will help fight the darkness with you."

Naruto only looked at him with a confused face. Scratching his head like he doesn't understand what the heck Sasuke just said. Deep down though he felt a sense of warmth from this newfound friendship.

"Never mind," Sasuke giggled at that Knucklehead, "Let's head to Ramen Ichiraku, the ramen is on me!"

Hearing that Sasuke is inviting him to eat at his favorite ramen place Naruto immediately brightens a smiling face. "Yeah lets go!!"

Naruto jumps excitedly into the air in celebration as he puts his arm around Sasuke. Walking away amidst the darkening sunset with glowing happiness.

Sakura who just came out of the academy doors watched the pair of buddies enjoying themselves.

'Can't believe that knucklehead became Sasuke-kun's friend,' Sakura pouted her small mouth in annoyance. In her hand she was holding a tiny gift box beautifully wrapped.

As they were walking there Naruto talked on and on about how wonderful this noodle place. Sasuke listened and simply nodded along with whatever he says.

He wasn't really paying attention. Sasuke was more interested in how animated Naruto's face was as he described the ramen.

Quickly the duo arrived at Ramen Ichiraku as Sasuke got himself seated on their chairs. There was a delicious smell of ramen noodles thet wafted in the air.

The atmosphere was quite welcoming filled with warmth. A man that looks like he's in his 40s turned around from his cooking to greet them:

"Hello Naruto! Oh you bought a friend with you today!"

Usually Teuchi only see Naruto ordering ramen by himself. Sometimes his teacher Iruka might come with him. This is the first time he had brought a friend over.

"Yes, this is my new friend Sasuke-san haha," Naruto introduces him to the chef. "Today I'll have extra large miso with pork!"

"I'll just have whatever Naruto is having," Sasuke put down the menu and simply decided to go alone with Naruto since he's a regular.

"Okay coming right up," Teuchi answered as he hurried to make the ramen.

"Here's your water," Teuchi's daughter Ayame said as she puts down a cut of water in front of Sasuke.

"Thank you-," Sasuke was stopped mid sentence as he noticed the waitress observing his face really up-close. Moving himself back in the chair to maintain personal space.

The waitress seems to be in her teens with brown hair and black eyes. Except now her eyes looked similar to heart shapes of Sasuke's fans.