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July had arrived with an almost oppressive haste, catching Naruto, as well as the rest of the village off guard. The sweltering heat that suffocated the village felt more intense than ever before, as if the sun itself was pressing down on everyone with relentless force. The usual cooling rains that marked the mid-summer months were nowhere to be found, leaving the skies perpetually clear and devoid of clouds. The parched air seemed to stretch the days out, making each one feel longer than the last.
Yet, for Naruto, the real reason July felt different was simpler — it was the month he had found his first true friend; Sasuke.
But Sasuke was a hard friend to have, and Naruto learned that very quickly.
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“Naruto, are you coming or what? We don’t have all day,” Sasuke called back, his voice dripping with irritation. It was a level of frustration that was rare for the usually composed boy, but Naruto had a unique way of testing his patience. And today, that limit was rapidly vanishing—like a snowflake in the sun.
“I told you—give me a second!” Naruto whined, still a few meters behind, hunched over like an old man as he fiddled with his laces. His small fingers moved meticulously threading the little strings into knots, tying laces wasn’t his specialty; not by a longshot.
Sasuke exhaled through his nose, the way he’d seen his father do when something—or someone—was trying his patience. He didn’t know what possessed his mother to think this was a good idea. Sasuke's mother, Mikoto had been absolutely overjoyed when she had heard that Sasuke had made a friend at school. So much so, that as soon as the opportunity came, she invited Naruto over for ham sandwiches at the Uchiha compound.
What she didn’t account for was the sheer marathon it would take to get Naruto from his tiny, cluttered apartment to the compound. What should’ve been a simple walk had turned into a full-blown scavenger hunt. Naruto had stopped to gawk at shop windows, press his nose against a bakery display, and—on three separate occasions—chase after a particularly large dragonfly. Sasuke had tolerated it all with a patience he didn’t think any eight year old was capable, even himself. But now, watching the blond redo his laces for what had to be the fourth time, he officially reached his limit.
"Come on, Naruto!" Sasuke snapped, his arms crossed tightly against his chest. “You're such a doofus, you're lucky the suns still up with how many shops you begged to go inside.”
“Hey!” The blonde protested, rising from the ashy concrete, “You wanted to go inside the mask shop too!”
Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he shot Naruto an incredulous glare. "That was once," he grumbled, his voice clipped. "And I only went in because you were already dragging me in there."
Naruto stuck his tongue out in retaliation, his expression a mix of defiance and embarrassment. "Well, it was cool! You can’t tell me you didn’t like that one mask with the weird eyes! You were totally into it."
Sasuke huffed, his cheeks flushing slightly as he quickly looked away. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Naruto rolled his eyes, “Whatever. I'm hungry, I want lunch.”
Before Sasuke could say another word, Naruto started marching forward with all the confidence in the world—completely in the wrong direction.
Sasuke pinched the bridge of his nose.
“You don’t even know where you’re going,” he deadpanned, reaching out to yank Naruto’s hoodie and steer him in the right direction.
“Pfft, I was totally going this way,” Naruto insisted.
Sasuke sighed, finally resigning himself to his fate. At the very least they were no more than five minutes away, including Naruto’s pit stops.
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Approaching the Uchiha compound, Naruto felt an odd sensation, something close to awe—and maybe even a little love. It was strange to admit, but he couldn’t help it. The Uchiha compound wasn’t just another cul de sac in the village. It was... different. In a way, it was breathtaking.
But it wasn’t just the roof that captivated him. The entire structure seemed to radiate a quiet, almost regal beauty. The wooden eaves of the buildings were adorned with intricate carvings—delicate patterns of swirling clouds and mystical animals, each line cut with an artist’s care. The banners hanging from the doorways were a rich array of colors, each one bearing the Uchiha crest with the boldness and pride that seemed to define the entire clan.
His eyes floated to the groups of people- no families that were dotted on the wide, smooth porches, chatting together in the shade, some seated on mats while others were playing ball in the busy streets. The laughter of children rang in the air, blending with the soft murmurs of conversation, as parents shared a quiet moment while keeping an eye on their young ones.
Naruto couldn’t tear his gaze away. Everything felt so... alive here. The warmth in the air, the hum of daily life, the undeniable sense of belonging that the people here seemed to have. It was a stark contrast to his own apartment—a place that was, at best, functional to a degree, and at worst, empty.
"Woah" Naruto ogled, his voice almost reverent. "I didn't think a place like this even existed. It’s... perfect."
He didn’t realize he had spoken out loud until Sasuke shot him an amused look.
“Really? I didn’t think you’d be so impressed by a bunch of old buildings and boring banners.”
Naruto shot him a questioning look, but hardly cared enough to elaborate on his thoughts. Instead, he resorted to following Sasuke into one of the larger, more prominent buildings to their left. Sasuke didn’t bother knocking or ringing a door, rather he walked in as if he owned the place, which upon further investigation it became clear to Naruto that he did.
The sound of metal clattering drew Naruto out of his thoughts, and before he could process it fully, a dark-haired woman came rushing into the room to greet them. “Sasuke, dear, what took you so long? It’s practically been an hour since I asked you to be here!” she scolded, her voice both sharp and familiar.
She turned to Naruto, her eyes lighting up with what seemed like recognition. For a moment, he felt like he might have seen her before, but he quickly brushed it off. “And you must be Naruto!” she exclaimed warmly, her tone shifting instantly to something softer. “Ah, Sasuke has told me so much about you.”
Naruto blinked, unsure whether to feel flattered or nervous. She didn’t seem angry, but there was something maternal in her gaze that made him feel like he was being sized up for something—like an examination, but one that was mildly welcoming.
“Well, I’m Mikoto,” she said with a smile, wiping her hands on the apron she wore as she stepped closer, as though to properly greet him. “I’m so glad you could come. You’re practically the first friend Sasuke’s ever made.”
Naruto didn’t know how to respond to that, but his stomach rumbled loudly, cutting through the awkwardness. Mikoto let out a light laugh.
“Sounds like someone’s hungry. Come, come, I’ve already prepared lunch!” She turned, her movements graceful as she gestured for them to follow her into the dining area. “Let’s not keep your stomach waiting any longer.”
Naruto exchanged a glance with Sasuke, who only shrugged.
They made their way into the kitchen, which was surprisingly underwhelming considering the detailing to the outside of the building. Yet, it was refreshing to have a house where at least one room felt ‘roomy’.
Both the boys sat on the same side of the kitchen table, surprisingly without any argument while Mikoto brought out a few trays lined with various foods. “Now, I believe Itachi and Sasuke’s dad have already taken off for their work. So there's plenty of food to go around!” She frowned as she placed the last tray on the oak table, “Naruto, I wasn’t sure- are you a fan of tuna? There's some on the platter.”
Naruto's eyes widened as he stared at the food in front of him. His mouth went dry, not because he wasn’t hungry, but because it was almost too much. Perfectly grilled fish, rice that wasn’t overcooked or scraped together from the bottom of a pot, miso soup that smelled fresh instead of something rehydrated from a pouch. He was used to rationing every meal, stretching what little he had so he wouldn’t go to bed with his stomach growling. But this?
This was a feast.
His fingers twitched slightly as he forced himself to nod at Mikoto’s question. “Uh—yeah! I like tuna.” Truth be told, he hadn’t ever had tuna. Though, he assumed it was edible, so he would like it just fine.
Mikoto smiled warmly, seeming satisfied with his answer. “Good! Eat as much as you’d like.”
Naruto hesitated for just a second before reaching for his chopsticks, a part of him still not entirely convinced that this wasn’t some kind of mistake—that he wasn’t about to be told he couldn’t have this after all. He glanced at Sasuke, who was already picking at his food with practiced ease, completely oblivious to the inner turmoil Naruto was going through.
Sasuke set down his chopsticks, which clattered to the napkin with an elegant thump. “Come on Naruto, haven't you ever eaten anything before-?” He said, glancing at Naruto’s still intact gaze of awe.
Naruto smacked his arm in retort, which gained a quizzical brow from Mikoto- who was most definitely deciding on whether to educate the blonde on table manners. Nevertheless, Naruto seemed to get the hint and resorted to stuffing himself with finger sandwiches and edamame.
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The feeling that swelled in Naruto’s chest after a day spent at Sasuke’s house was unlike anything he had ever known. It wasn’t just the warmth of a full belly—though that alone was a rarity. It was something deeper, something he struggled to put into words. For the first time, he had eaten until he was satisfied, stuffing his face with something far more valuable than the stale instant ramen he usually dug up from the discount bin at the shinobi supply store. And for the first time, he hadn’t eaten alone.
It was strange how easily he had slipped into it—the laughter over a shared meal, the casual bickering with Sasuke that Mikoto had only smiled at, the way the house had just felt alive. It was warm in a way that had nothing to do with temperature, the air filled with the hum of daily life, the comfort of people who just… belonged.
Walking back to his own apartment, however, felt like trudging uphill with weights strapped to his legs. The sun had begun to dip behind the village skyline, casting long shadows across the overlapping energy wires as he climbed the greenish-grey metal staircase that wrapped around his building. Each step groaned beneath his feet, as if protesting his return. The air here was still—too quiet, too empty.
His fingers brushed against the chipped paint on his door as he unlocked it, the familiar sight of cracks running along the walls greeting him the second he stepped inside. The room was the same as it had always been—bare, impersonal, a space that served as shelter but never quite a home. The contrast was suffocating.
As he dropped onto his old mattress, the springs creaking and squirming beneath him, Naruto let out a quiet sigh. He had only spent a single afternoon at the Uchiha compound, and yet, somehow, it had felt more like home than this place ever had.