A new story from me.

And uh… review? Kindly…?

"Hey Naruto, is that book you're reading more interesting than my lectures?"

Literally everyone, except the boy in question, flinches and gulps at the tone that their sensei is using. Several recognizable students like Haruno Sakura, Yamanaka Ino, Inuzuka Kiba and Akimichi Chouji are showing obvious discomfort and fear at the scary aura that their chunin sensei is oozing off his very being. It's not rare for Umino Iruka to get mad at his students, especially the boy in question… but this time, the smile that Iruka has on his face makes his look ten times more terrifying than normal. It is safe to say that the man is pissed. PISSED.

He can only spare the teacher a raise of an eyebrow, nothing more. The students around him cringe when he casually flips the page of the book, as if they can feel the pressure of the punishment that he is about to get just by looking at his nonchalant and I-don't-really-care attitude.

The boy is Naruto, or by his full name, Uzumaki Naruto. He's just an orphan, a quiet boy who sits at the corner of the class, that socially introverted kid who prefers his book more than human contact and apparently… ridiculously good in almost everything. He is wearing a simple but eye catching orange t-shirt with a black flame printed on the front torso area. He prefers short pants instead of long, explaining why he's wearing a pair of maroon colored shorts with a black belt to keep in place. He has a wristwatch on his left wrist, nothing too expensive, just the common type. And if it helps stereotyping his quiet demeanor, he also wears glasses. His blonde hair is unnaturally spiky, and his eyes are unnaturally blue; and the whisker marks on his cheeks are definitely unnatural.

He is also known as The Smartest Fool. By definition, a fool is someone who acts unwisely; a silly person. Synonyms may include words like idiot, blockhead, dope, dunce and others along the same line. But to call him The Smartest Fool… there is a reason for that. First of all, there is no denying that the boy is smart. He is the top ranking male student in class, the first of the entire batch of this year's students. However, he acts ignorant and uncaring about this one huge fact. Quite mean for them to call him a fool, really, because he does not act like one by any means. In fact, he is a well reserved boy, who keeps to himself and rarely talks. To call someone ignorant just because they are quiet and a little bit introverted… who's the fool here? There is also a matter of will. While he does all tasks given without questioning the teacher's authority, he won't hesitate to lay down facts that will make him look like he's going against that certain order. Of course, no one can really verbally argue with him, because every reason he stated has always been logical and true. This sort of behavior garners both positive and negative attention towards him. The teachers approve of his skills in terms of academic, but cannot tolerate the kind of blatant behavior he has. This goes the same for his classmates, some of them at least. His existence seems like a contradiction in itself… just like his nickname.

"Na-Ru-To." With every syllable, students begin to cower on their seats. Iruka's smiling lips are twitching, almost making it look like he's holding in a fart or something while in a conversation with a Hyuuga. "I asked you a question."

The sound of paper being flipped echoes throughout the room.

"Oh I hear you, sensei." That's it. That's the quiet voice of the introvert that everyone rarely hears. Hearing him talk is like waiting for rain in the middle of summer, almost no chance of it happening at all. He closes his book, snapping it shut with one hand. Calmly and composed, he takes off his glass with the other hand while simultaneously placing his book on the table at the same time. With a cloth he obtains from the inner pocket of his shorts, he begins to wipe the glass clear of dusts and whatever smudges that it has obtain after being worn for the day. He does so while closing his eyes, making everyone stare at him in awe at just how composed he is even when being confronted by a close-to-snapping demon teacher like Iruka.

He puts his glass back on. "I just don't think that it's wise for me to answer you."

As if instinctively, Inuzuka Kiba dives under his table, as if he's avoiding a nuclear blast.

If anyone is to listen closely, one can hear the SNAP that echoes within Iruka's cranium. Several more students cower when Iruka shifts his pose, crossing his arms. "Oh is that so?" can already taste the poison stanching the air when hearing Iruka's sickly sweet voice. "Can you explain why it is unwise for you to answer me?" the demon lord appears. "Your teacher, if I may ask?"

Chouji passes out, and Ino follows afterwards.

"Well," the blonde spectacled boy starts anticlimactically. "it's obvious that you thought that I was not paying attention to you."

'YOU MEAN YOU WEREN'T?!'…is what everyone, who is still conscious, are thinking altogether.

"But believe it or not, I was actually paying listening to you, sensei."

Iruka allows his restrained expression to drop, showing a flat look that he rarely shows to people. "Oh really? Then you'll have no problem if I ask you several questions that I had discussed earlier, right? After all, you were listening, weren't you?"

"Sure, no problem." He readjusts his glasses for added effects. And it pisses Iruka even more.

"Alright then." Iruka is quick to get into course. "When dealing with diplomatic relations in a foreign ninja village, what is there to be considered?"

Naruto's flat look is unfazed. "There are three things to be considered. First, is the village's political condition. In making contact with a foreign ninja village, it is important to notice that village's political condition. Aside from the fact that it's the most obvious course of action that is needed to be done, we can also get a glimpse of how their system works. For example, Konoha is a strictly Kage's-order village, every word that the Hokage says is law. Though the Kage may have elders or advisors to, obviously, advise him; the final decision and statement is still up to the Kage. The second thing is the village's economy. If that village is making a lot of money through the shinobi program, it is a likelihood that it has a strong militaristic aspect that acts as a pillar for that village's survival. However, it is also possible for a shinobi village to strive mostly due to normal civilian labors such as trading and services. Konoha itself is both strong in their shinobi side and their civilian side, creating for a balanced income gain, if not with a little surplus. And finally…"

His eyes close.

"…consider the citizens of that village. If their morale is good, then it is a sign of a good and stable reign on the Kage's side. But if it is not… then it is safe to say that complaints are commonly delivered to the Kage, that and competency will need to be reevaluated."

Silence.

Iruka sighs, mentally cursing the Gods for natural geniuses. "…Good work Naruto. Just don't let me catch you reading your book in the middle of my class again, alright?"

"…"

"ALRIGHT?"

"…I promise nothing."

Iruka's chalk crashes right on his forehead.

After that is recess. The final recess of the day.

"Is it really worth the pain?"

Even with the aching and soreness he's feeling on his forehead, not to mention how red it is, Naruto still looked composed and calm. The blonde haired glasses wearing boy slowly averts his eyes from the book he's reading underneath the tree that he's always reading under.

"To be honest, no." He replies flatly. "But the fact that I get to actually finish the chapter I was reading before getting scolded, yes, it was worth it."

Uchiha Sayuri sighs. If anything, she's more worried about her 'childhood' friend's future, instead of his current state. Sayuri's dark orbs for eyes linger upon the sitting boy's form, watching his quiet and pensive expression with flatness on her face. She is several centimeters shorter than Naruto, her grades are only a point below the blonde and her practical skills are slightly more… practical than the blonde's. She wears a black sleeveless blouse with a navy blue collar decorated with white linings, she also wears a matching white tie, there are two breast pockets stitched on the blouse, a thigh length black pleated skirt, a pair of black thigh high socks and a pair of navy colored ninja sandals. Her hair is a long waterfall of darkness, shining underneath the glinting sunlight as if it's made out of fine silk, her skin is charmingly pale with no signs of flaws or whatsoever, but she does have a beauty mark underneath her left eye. Her eyes are wide, naturally black and mysterious. She rarely has a smile on her face, and when she does, it will always be when Naruto's around.

She sits down next to her childhood friend, taking the empty spot on his right side. She stares at the scenery of children their age practicing their kunai and shuriken throwing skills on the training dummies in the back of the academy, on the practice field. She has finished her turn and Naruto finishes his long before her. They both scored a perfect score, twenty out of twenty. The sky begins to get a brighter shade of orange, showing that the time of dismissal is drawing near. But until then, she will enjoy the time she has currently.

"Ne, Naruto?"

"Hm?"

"…Who do you want to have in your team when we graduate later on?"

"You and Shikamaru."

Sayuri blinks at the speed of response. "That quick, huh? Why?"

"We cover all grounds." The blonde quietly answers. "With your physical strength, Shikamaru's brain, and my technique in solving problems; we are covering all grounds that needed to be covered." He then lets out an uncharacteristic grunt. "But the chances of that happening are slim, at least the part where we'll have Shikamaru as our team."

"Oh, why is that?" she knows, but she feels like asking.

Naruto uncharacteristically leaves his book, directing his momentary attention to the girl. "I know that you know, but you only feel like asking, right?"

Sayuri gives off a rare blush, one that she fails to hide from the boy. "S-Shut up…"

Naruto rolls his eyes, before returning back to his book to resume reading. "But if you want to hear it anyways… it's because there's a higher chance for Shikamaru to be placed in the team with Ino and Chouji. There are two reasons for this." He pushes his glasses using the knuckle of his middle finger. "Aside from following the status quo that a Nara is to be grouped with a Yamanaka and Akimichi, their compatibility rate is much higher than ours."

"How so?"

"…I can deal with you being a quiet person, and you can do the same with me." he answers. "No matter how lazy or uninterested Shikamaru makes himself look all the time, he will still need to get used to us being… well… us."

"So are you saying that the both of us are better off without another teammate?"

"…It can be interpreted that way, sure."

Sayuri smiles. She leans her head onto Naruto's right shoulder, a smile on her face. And when she does this, Naruto is not bothered a little bit. In fact, he rather likes it. It's a chilly evening, and he's wearing nothing but a single t-shirt since he left his jacket at home this morning. So, Sayuri provides him with warmth when being so close to him. He's sure that it's the same way for her too.

"Idiot… don't change." Sayuri breathily says, closing her eyes.

"…I don't plan to."

Good, because if he changes… then the Uzumaki Naruto she loves and care will be gone.

"Welcome! Oh, if it isn't Naruto-kun! Where's Sayuri-chan, she's not with you today?"

The quiet blonde takes a seat on one of the stools that the small ramen bar offers before answering, saying, "She needs to train early today, and she wouldn't tell me why…"

Teuchi smiles at his favorite customer's answer, though he's still a little unsatisfied with it. "It's surprising that she wouldn't tell you why, though. You two are literally inseparable; always sticking together like a bird from the same flock… she already ate, though, right?"

"She has." Naruto answers, never bothering to lift his eyes from his book. "I shoved a meat bun right into her mouth before she could object."

The middle aged ramen chef lets out a cheery laugh, finding both amusement and humor is his answer. "That sounds like the both of you! Never gets boring. Anyway, you're here for grub, right? Well just sit right there and read your book, I'll get one for ya' fresh from the pot."

In the middle of his reading, another presence appears from behind the counter, this time, she's the last female that Naruto has associations with. Ayame's expression lightens when her eyes landed on the book reading boy sitting on his usual spot. The older, but nonetheless young, woman squeals.

"Naruto-kyuuun! It's so good to see you!" somehow, using a secret that only women would know, Ayame – despite not being a shinobi or receiving any shinobi training at all – manages to magically appear right beside the reading boy. She begins to cuddle the young boy like a monkey would to a tree, rubbing her cheeks on his own cheeks, neck and even sniffing his distinct male scent into her system.

This nosy, overly attached and downright beautiful young woman is Ichiraku Ayame. She is the daughter of Teuchi, the ramen and head chef of this small establishment, making her a sous chef as well as an apprentice to her father. While ordinary, there's no denying Ayame's charm. Her taller and definitely adult figure makes for a huuuge contrast when compared to a certain younger but, regardless, still beautiful Uchiha. She has a tan complexion, one that she inherits from her elderly father. Her eyes are wide, colored in the color of oak. Her hair is long, kept together by the waitress headdress that she is currently wearing. Her feminine features are at the peak, considering her age.

"Hello Nee-chan." Naruto greets the girl who is literally rubbing her face all over his face with no embarrassment at all, as if the little fuck has gotten used to this treatment.

Ayame sighs in what seems to be pure bliss the moment his voice reaches her ears. "Haaaaah… hello to you too Naruto-chan…" she backs away for a second, staring intently at his face with a lot of love and affection. "So, when will you finally accept my request of being my legal little brother?"

"When pigs fly, Nee-chan."

"I can't wait for that!" the waitress grins stupidly, pumping her fist to the air. "Oh! Where's Sayuri-chan? Isn't she with you?" she finally notices what's missing in the picture, looking around for the presence of the black haired Uchiha.

"She's not here today, Nee-chan." Naruto drones out monotonously. "She said that she wants to train early today, so I'm here alone today."

Ayame puts an effort to think about it…

…before throwing it out the window.

"Oh well!" she resumes her embrace on the boy, holding him even tighter. "More of you to myself then, who's complaining?"

Naruto's eyes flicker with a small and subtle hint of annoyance.

If you do not know the relationship between the blonde and the Ichiraku's, then this sort of behavior and bonding may seem a little odd if not downright strange. But believe it or not, this is how most visits that the boy makes would be like. Even with Sayuri around, Ayame could always sink her claws into the blonde, with the former not showing any signs of displeasure or anything of the sort. This actually bugged Ayame to a point where she asked the girl when she's not visiting with Naruto.

'It's not like he's mine yet anyway.'…is that girl's answer.

That answer is surprisingly mature and irritating for Ayame at the same time. It's mature because it's rare to hear an answer like from a teenage girl like Sayuri and its freaking irritating because of the last two words. There's this small, but cold rivalry going on between her and the Uchiha girl, one that they keep hidden from Naruto. However, as much as Ayame enjoys it, it's an entirely different thing. It's obvious that Sayuri has romantic affections for the boy, and Ayame won't deny hers as well. But instead of romantic, it's leaning on to the sisterly type of love. It's hard to explain, but the closes depiction that she can give is the love a sister has for her hopeless little brother. Instead of romance, it's more of an obligation for her to care and love the boy. As she's said, it's hard to explain.

"Alright, your food's here Naruto-kun." Teuchi returns from the back of the shop, carrying a steam hot bowl of fresh ramen with him on top of a tray. "Eh, Ayame?" the old ramen chef mutters in confusion. "What are you doing here, since when were you here?"

"Since the last few hour, dad." Ayame mutters. "Didn't you see me inside?"

Teuchi shrugs. "Oh well, enjoy the food Naruto-kun and tell me if you want seconds, it'll be on the house."

Naruto snaps his book shut, and with Ayame no longer attached to him she is before, he can finally enjoy dinner at his own pace. Breaking apart the chopsticks he retrieves from the small dispenser, he digs into his steaming bowl of ramen that he calls the food of the Gods.

He enjoys ramen for the reason that it is satisfying. Unlike any other food out there, ramen will always give him that sense of satisfaction that none other can compare. The softness of the noodle's texture is akin to the hair of the angels themselves. The broth is thick and delicious, having been made from boiling pig bones for three days straight. The fine pork belly that are sliced thinly are to die for, their thin layer of fat seemingly capable of melting the instance it's inside the mouth. And the aftertaste is just as good as the first bite, leaving his mouth warm and taste receptors crazy with how wonderful it was.

He wants more.

"Hey, come on in."

"Uhm."

It's not rare for him to visit Sayuri's home. In fact, it's a routine that he does almost every day of his life. Every time school's done for the day, they would always make a trip to her house just to relax and unwind; sometimes they would train together by sparring or having competitions, and even do homework together, even though they're doing their own respective works. Sayuri lives in the abandoned and lonely Uchiha district. Why she's still living here after what has happened here is beyond anyone, but not Naruto. He knows why she's still living here, here in the place where all of her relatives and families are slaughtered by her very own brother.

Entering Sayuri's house is one of the few rarest moments where he would not touch his book at all. Since Sayuri's deceased father was the clan head of the Uchiha's, her house is the biggest and is located at the center most position of the large clan compound.

The door behind him closes when he's finally inside the house. He removes his sandals, slowly and carefully slipping it off from his legs with no trouble at all. He mutely excuses himself to take another step into the house, following after the legitimate owner of the house. As usual, the things here have not change. If he remembers correctly, Sayuri once told him that she hadn't touched anything ever since her family was… massacred. There are still pictures hanged on the wall, vases but without the flowers in them, her mother's old sewing kit placed neatly on the corner of a long table, and a family picture of the Sayuri's family sitting on the edge of a drawer several steps away from the living room.

They reach the tatami matted living room. Naturally, since it has tatami mats instead of traditional wooden ones like the rest of the interior, there are no chairs for them to sit on, making sitting on the floor their only option. Again, the things that are in here are unchanged; even when Sayuri's been living here all alone. She rarely leaves her room, only doing it when she's going to take baths or train at the backyard. She even eats dinner in her room. She cannot bring herself to spend or waste time outside of her old room, because being alone in this place makes her feel miserable. Yet, she refuses to leave, though she's making herself feel miserable.

Of course, she won't feel miserable so long as he's around.

"Hey, must you always do that?" if anyone's seeing the slight pouty expression she's making, then they will have their lower jaw crash through the floor with no doubt.

"Do what?" the composed blonde wonders, flipping a page from a book he has just brought out from his pants' pocket.

"Reading." She says in a displeased tone. "I'm here you know, it's rude to not pay attention to a lady when she's in front of you."

Seeing no reaction from the blonde irks Sayuri to the max. Huffing, she straightens her back before marching towards the boy stiffly. She stands in front of him, standing in full height, her form towering over his seated one. She plans to block the light, hindering his ability to read, but it's no good, she knows that he can still read. Frowning, Sayuri is certain that this calls for direct measures. Brazenly, she grabs and chucks the book that the boy is reading somewhere on the corner of her living room, she plops herself right in front of the blonde, sitting on his lap with her face facing his. Ignoring the rather risqué position they are in, Sayuri actually pays it no mind at all. It's fine if it's Naruto, after all.

"…Really?"

Her pouty face is his answer.

If you look a little bit closely, you can see the corner of the boy's flat lips tugging downwards, making a very secretive frown. Naruto knows that he has not been paying attention to Sayuri the moment he entered the house, in fact, he has just noticed just how minimally dressed she is. Usually, Sayuri would be more clothed and dressed. But right now, she's wearing only a single piece of grey tank top that hung loosely on her form, a very short shorts covered by the excess part of her tank top and she has her normally flowing hair tied to a ponytail.

He shows no reaction, still. Then, he sighs.

"Alright, what do you want to do?"

"Hug me."

Without objecting, or finding anything odd with the request, he hugs her. He wraps his arms around her smaller and feminine frame. Though he's slightly embarrassed to admit it, hugging, holding hands and sleeping on each other's shoulders are things that they commonly do… like… a lot. They just don't show it in front of their classmates, otherwise the attention will be all over them. For a moment, just as usual, he can feel Sayuri's smaller form shivering from the embrace. He does not let go of this, nor does he tighten his hug. He just sits there, giving his hands, body and chest for the girl who is also his childhood friend.

"…Can you stay tonight?"

He blinks once, before answering immediately. "Sorry… I have to do several things at home… I'm sorry."

He can feel her head shaking on his chest. "No, that's fine." Is her muffled response. "Just…" a sigh of content and comfort escapes from her mouth. "Let me stay like this until I'm asleep…"

This is how visits to Sayuri's house would turn out like, usually longer thus making it common for Sayuri to ask if he's free to stay the night. Naruto is anything but dumb, maybe he is, but at least he's smart enough to realize that Sayuri sees him more than just a childhood friend. He's also aware that Sayuri knows this, but naturally, she won't just blurt it out to him like some sort of automated answering machine. It's no secret between them, they are both aware of it. It's just a matter of action and time. Who will be the one to act first and when. Naturally, it should be her who should speak to him, but he feels obligated to do something more since he's the one she's fallen for.

So until then, until the both of them are older and more mature, this is the least he can do for his childhood friend.

…

…

…

"Ah, I brought ramen."

"…baka."

She flicks him right on the forehead for that.

"Ow." His lips turn to a full frown. "That's mean."

Sayuri giggles uncharacteristically. "But seeing you like this is good in its own way."

"Yeah, at my expense…"

Sayuri pokes his left cheek, softly, much to his annoyance. She pulls away from him, letting go of the hug. "So, where's the ramen?" she looks around the room for a plastic bag of some sort, but finds none.

"Ah." The blonde's normally stoic face shows a face of realization. "I ate it on the way here."

Sayuri guffawed, falling to a kneeling position, clutching her stomach due to the aching laughter. "You…! You really…! Hahaha!" her laughter seems to be unending, as she begins to repeatedly slamming her fist on the tatami matted floor. Her reaction of his… airheaded antic is not very pleasing for him, thus the growing frown on his face. Yet at the same time, there's no denying the redness that is slowly creeping its way from the top of his head down to his neck.

"You…! hahaha!" She gasps for air, nearly choking herself from laughing too much. After a little while, her laughter dies down, reduced to giggling and amused chuckles. "You're really an idiot, Naru."

He diverts his eyes away from the girl's stare, not really wanting to look at her. "…"

"Aww… don't get cranky just because you're secretly a klutz, Naru." She pokes his other cheek, doing so with only little resistance coming from the boy. She smiles charmingly, quite a rare sight for others aside from Naruto. "I was just kidding, and don't get upset over it. I ate already."

"…Tomatoes barely count as dinner."

She blushes, the roles reversed. "S-So what? As long as I'm full, then it's fine, right?"

Naruto shrugs, not really knowing how to reply to that.

"Anyway, you want to spar with me?" Sayuri offers. "It's late, but I'm still up for a spar if you want to."

"You took a shower already, right?" Naruto asks, softly. "Won't you get sweaty again?"

"It's fine, I can always shower again." She waves his worry off nonchalantly. "So, what do you say?"

Naruto is in a deep thinking moment, his head tilted sideways while both eyes are looking at the ceiling. He finally answers, "No, sorry. My tummy's hurt because I just ate ramen on the way here."

"T-Tummy…" Sayuri murmurs, feeling something tickling her legs, demanding her to glomp the hell out of the glasses wearing blonde. "He said tummy…" she mutters in an even lower tone.

This is one of the joys of being with Naruto. Childhood friend or not, as long as you stick around, converse with, and interact with him long enough, you will get to see one of his 'moe' side. Despite for having a reputation as someone who's smart and quiet, Naruto still uses childish terms when referring to things. Like… tummy when he's referring to his stomach, or boo-boo when he's referring to a wound. Sayuri does not care what others might think, because for her, it's downright cute. What makes it more special is the fact that she's the only person on earth who gets to see Naruto like this first. At public, he's always shown his introverted and quiet demeanor, making him unapproachable by his peers. Even though it's literally the pot calling the kettle back, her observations are true. At least she has several contacts, but Naruto has none.

That worries her a little bit, no, a lot.

Ever since they were little, Sayuri already notices that Naruto's only friend was her that an he never plays with the other children. She knows that he is an orphan, but even so, that's not a reason for him for not having friends, right? Now that she is already, she recalls how the adults would tell their children to stay away from him as if he's some sort of plague, and it sickens her.

She's about to get deeper into her thought, but Naruto interrupts her.

"…I think I want to go home, I'm sleepy." He lets out a yawn that's far too cute for someone who has a face like his, but it's still cute regardless.

"Guh…!" Sayuri is forced to punch herself right on the gut to prevent her body from launching itself upon the blonde. "I-Is that so?" she says with a rather restrained expression. "Do you want me to walk you home?"

"No thanks…" his eyes then begin to drift, eyelids growing heavier as he begins to sway around like a nine year old who's gone past his bedtime. "On second thought… maybe I'll stay the night here after all… I'm…" he yawns again. "sleepy… already…"

'SCORE!' "Good, let me prepare my be-I mean an extra bed for you then."

Needless to say, sleep is hard for the girl.