Chapter 28

"Hey Sasuke!" shouted Naruto, he plopped down next tot he depressed boy, "How are you?" 

A group of girls swarm Sasuke immediately, pushing Naruto aside. Naruto glared at them and pushed his way back in. "Leave him alone!" 

"Shut up," said Ino, who was standing right behind Naruto. 

PFFFT! Naruto made a farting noise and all the girls screamed. "You're gross," said Sakura, glaring at Naruto. "Sasuke, you should stay away from him. He's stinky." 

He girls left, leaving Sasuke. "You're welcome!" said Naruto, wrapping his arm around Sasuke's shoulder like they were best friends. "For the record, I didn't actually fart, that was me faking it." 

Sasuke looked at him and Naruto smiled when it wasn't a glare or a look of annoyance. 

… 

"Now do the Seal of Reconciliation," ordered Iruka. 

Naruto offered his hand to Sasuke who was sitting on the floor. Sasuke glared at Naruto and swiped his hand away. "I don't need your help… Dobe." 

Naruto glared at Sasuke, "Teme!" 

Iruka slammed his fist into Naruto's head. "Both of you, do as I say… NOW." Sasuke sighed and struggled to his feet, wincing at the pain from the blows Naruto had dealt. 

Naruto reached out his hand to Sasuke. Sasuke glared at him then reached his hand out. Naruto grinned. His brightness caused Sasuke to crack a smile. They were rubbing off on each other! 

They finished the seal and left the circle. "Next, Choji vs Kiba," said Iruka. 

A group of girls surrounded Sasuke. Naruto stared at them. "Come on Sasuke," said Ino "Don't feel to bad that Naruto beat you…" 

"Yeah," said Sakura, "He's just a kid that no one wanted." 

"I am not!" said Naruto. 

"Oh yeah?" asked Ino, "Then where's your mommy?" 

"I forgot," laughed another girl, "You don't have one~ No one wants you." 

Naruto's face fell and he ran off, his blue eyes filling with tears. Sasuke looked at Naruto, then at Sakura. He pushed Sakura away, who was clinging to his arm. "Naruto!" shouted Iruka, "Come back this instant!" 

Sasuke looked at Naruto then ran after the blonde. He felt a tug on the back of his shirt and he was pulled backward. "Oh no you don't," said Iruka, "I'm not letting another person run away! Everyone back into the classroom." 

Sasuke watched as Naruto's figure disappeared. 

… 

"Naruto?" asked Sasuke, walking through the small forest. 

He could hear Narutos quiet sniffling. He walked into the clearing and spotted an orange jacket. He walked up to Naruto and sat down next to him. "Are you…" Sasuke was not good with other people but for some reason, he felt drawn to Naruto. Maybe it was those times Naruto chased away those fan girls, or the times they fought together. Maybe… maybe they were already friends. 

"Go away, Sasuke," said Naruto. 

Sasuke did not. They sat in silence for a few minutes, not knowing what to say. "You know… if you need to talk… maybe I know what you're going through?" great, he just screwed things up and made it awkward. Sasuke sighed. 

"You…" Naruto glared at him through teary eyes, "You don't know what it's like… for everyone to call you a monster. To not have parent-" Naruto stopped, remembering what had happened to Sasuke's clan. "Sorry." 

"It's okay," said Sasuke, quieter now. "You're right, I don't know what it's like to be called a monster, but I do know how it's like to not… to not have a family. Or… friends.."

"Friends?" asked Naruto skeptically, "Aren't those fangirls your friends?" 

Sasuke shook his head, cracking a smile, "They aren't real friends." 

"I'll be you're friend," declared Naruto (suddenly filled with YOUTHFULNESS jk), "Well Guy-sensei said that you're best friend is also your eternal rival. If you… if you want one… I'll be yours…" 

Sasuke nodded, "Sure." he held his hand out to Naruto. "I would love to become your eternal rival." 

Naruto grinned and they shook hands. 

"Ummm…" said Naruto, "Maybe… not tell anyone this happened?" he asked. 

Sasuke shrugged, "Who can I tell?" 

"You're so funny Sasuke!" Naruto punched the Uchiha in the arm playfully. 

And thus, another eternal rivalry was established within the Hidden Leaf Village, just less… intense. 

…

"Naruto," I said, looking into his puffy red eyes, "Have you been crying?" 

"No," he lied. 

I glared at him, "What happened."

"It's just…" he whispered, "Someone… someone said my parents didn't want me." he started tearing up, "Am I really a monster, Big Sis? Did my mom really not want me?" 

I looked at Naruto, unsure how to answer. "Big Sis?" 

I shook my head, "You're mother loved you. So did your father. They named you Naruto after a character from a book your godfather wrote." 

"Godfather?" asked Naruto, "I have a godfather? Who?" 

I nodded. "You do. But… I'm…" 

"You're not allowed to," said Naruto, dejectedly. 

I frowned. Since when did I actually listen to Sandaime? I could… It wasn't hard to sneak into the hospital… I did have a Flying Thunder God imprint in her room just in case… Maybe… Just a few seconds… Naruto didn't deserve to never meet his mother… maybe she would wake up soon… if only… 

"Big Sis?" shouted Naruto. 

I flinched, "What?" 

"Big Sis, are you dreaming? I called your name like one hundred billion times!" exclaimed Naruto. 

"Naruto," I said, "Want to go see your mom?" 

"Mom? I have a mom?"

…

"She has red hair," said Naruto, "So cool! I wish I had red hair!" 

I patted his head, "Her name is Uzumaki, Kushina. She's your mother. Many years ago, during the Kyuubi attack, she sacrificed herself to protect the village… to protect you. She survived but-" 

Naruto hugged me, "Thank you Big Sis!" then he leaned over the bed and hugged Kushina-nee. 

I smiled but it faded. "Naruto," I said, "We have to go. Someone is coming."

He nodded and grabbed my hand, knowing how my teleportation worked. We reappeared in the training field. "Big Sis," he said, quietly, "One day I will become a super duper awesome shinobi and make you and my mom proud! Okay? Then I'll be Hokage and when she wakes up, she'll see me and be proud!" 

I hugged him, silent tears rolling down my cheeks. "You don't need to, Naruto. She's already proud and so am I."