The late sun began to tilt, its warm light glancing off the walls of Konoha's houses. The village was still bustling, though not as lively as it had been that afternoon. Some vendors were busy packing their wares, children still ran about though many were being called home, and the evening air carried a subdued calm.
On a narrow lane, two figures walked side by side. Naruto led with quick, light steps, while Raftra followed behind with his black bag slung over his shoulder.
They spoke little. All that filled the quiet was the slap of Naruto's sandals against the path and the heavier tread of Raftra's shoes.
Inside his head, Naruto felt a quiet curiosity. 'Who is this person, really? His clothes are strange, his face unfamiliar, and his shoes are odd.'
Yet something about the stranger made Naruto feel different. Normally people kept their distance from him, even children his age refused to walk alongside him.
But now an outsider had greeted him and was walking beside him.
'Weird… but… it feels nice. It's rare for someone to want to be near me. For once… I don't feel alone today.'
Naruto clenched his hands tightly, fighting to hide the small smile that threatened to appear.
Raftra's thoughts, by contrast, were a storm. With every step he took, a darker shadow trailed his mind.
'Why did I dare to approach Naruto? I was so stupid. The ANBU clearly saw me, they must have recorded my every move.'
'And now… I'm walking with him in public. It's as if I invited trouble.'
'I was sure a moment ago I would speak to him—but now my heart is seized by dread.'
He bowed his head, staring at Naruto's small back. In his mind he pictured a ring of ANBU emerging, capturing him, binding him, dragging him into a dark room.
'They'll interrogate me… force me to say who I am… and if I don't answer…' He swallowed hard, his hands trembled at the thought of the possible torments.
Regret gnawed at his chest—an echo of remorse for following his emotional impulse.
Yet he also knew that if he did not approach, he might later regret leaving Naruto alone.
'To be honest, I'm scared. Terrified. But if I back away now, I'll look even more suspicious. All I can do is keep walking. I don't know where this will lead… but I have to keep moving.'
Naruto glanced back briefly, eyes searching Raftra with interest. Raftra, aware of the look, forced a thin smile that was more an effort to calm himself than anything else.
The further they walked, Raftra began to notice something unsettling. Whenever they passed, people's gazes always landed on the small figure ahead of him.
Naruto walked as if used to it, seemingly indifferent, but the villagers' stares said more than words ever could.
There were cold, scornful looks—open hatred on some faces. A few people didn't bother to hide their disgust, regarding the boy as if he were filth. There were whispered comments and deliberately averted eyes, as if Naruto's presence fouled the air they breathed.
"Look, that boy is walking with that man."
"Ugh, that kid again."
"Did no one tell him who Naruto is?"
Raftra froze. He watched the expressions one by one. Regret that had haunted him moments earlier vanished instantly.
'I'd be a fool to regret talking to Naruto. How could I abandon such a small child to bear all those eyes alone?'
He turned to look at Naruto. The blond boy continued with a neutral face, as though he had long since grown accustomed to it. There was no retaliation, no surrender.
Raftra drew a deep breath. 'This child… he's hurting inside, I can tell. Anyone treated like that would be broken. Yet he keeps pretending everything is fine.'
…
At last they stopped in a narrow alley tucked between rows of shops. It was quiet here—only a few discarded barrels in the corner and the faint scent of charcoal from a simple stove.
There stood a small brazier with a large blackened pot used often for boiling water. Beside it was a metal tap, from which a thin trickle of clear water dripped.
Naruto pointed at the stove with a proud, earnest air, as if showing something precious.
'This place is usually used when someone needs to cook in a hurry. Merchants sometimes, or people who can't go home. If you need to boil water or make noodles, this is the spot,' he explained animatedly, gesturing with his small hands. Despite the simplicity, it was clear Naruto took pleasure in being able to help.
Raftra observed the black pot and the tap. He felt a quiet appreciation—and a little oddness.
'Even in a world like this… there are simple things not so different from my own,' he thought.
He nodded and looked back at Naruto. "So this is the place. Thank you, Naruto."
After finishing his explanation, Naruto wiped his nose in his habitual manner and said, "Well, I'll go now. I showed you the place—hope it helps." He turned to leave the alley.
Before Naruto had gone far, Raftra called out quickly, "Wait."
Naruto turned, surprised. Raftra bent and rummaged in his black bag, then held up two packets of instant noodles. "Don't go yet. I have more than one pack."
Naruto froze, blinking. The offer was simple but utterly foreign to him. Few people even sat near him, let alone invited him to share a meal.
'Why would he want to share with me? Doesn't he know the villagers avoid me?' Naruto lowered his head briefly, trying to hide his nervousness.
"Are you sure?" he asked softly, voice barely above a whisper.
Raftra nodded calmly. "Of course. You helped me, if you hadn't pointed this out, I wouldn't have known."
Naruto bit his lower lip, then a small, awkward smile crept across his face. "Well… okay. I'll eat too."
Raftra smiled faintly and set the pot atop the brazier. He kindled a small fire with dry wood left nearby and turned the tap to fill the pot. Naruto watched with wide, bright eyes, clearly fascinated.
Raftra noticed the look but pretended to focus on the water. 'This boy's face changes for something so simple. That smile… it's more genuine than anything I've seen today.'
When the water boiled, Raftra dropped the noodles in. A savory aroma began to drift through the alley. Naruto swallowed audibly, barely able to contain his anticipation.
Raftra stirred the noodles as the scent grew stronger. He glanced at Naruto sitting not far away, the boy staring at the pot like it was a treasure chest.
Raftra smiled and broke the silence. "Naruto, may I ask you something?"
Naruto looked over, puzzled but nodding. "Sure. What?"
"How old are you?" Raftra asked casually.
Naruto straightened, his voice suddenly proud. "I'm seven! I just entered the Ninja Academy not long ago. I'll be a great ninja, you know?"
Raftra nodded. "Seven… you've only just begun your journey. That's admirable." He restrained himself from probing too far, mindful not to touch any sore spots.
Naruto beamed with the approval. He nodded vigorously, his blond hair bouncing. "Yeah! I train hard. It's tough, but I won't give up."
Raftra placed a wooden spoon beside the pot and asked, "Which subject at the academy do you like best?"
Naruto scratched his head and gave an awkward laugh. "Heh… I often struggle. I like physical training—throwing kunai or shuriken. Theory lessons… not so much."
He paused, then added quickly, "But I'll get better! I don't want to lose."
Raftra smiled, a small admiration stirring within him for the boy's spirit. "Your determination matters more than how fast you learn. If you keep trying, you'll succeed."
Naruto looked up, eyes widening. Rarity imbued the moment—few people had ever said such things to him, even at the academy.
Slowly, a genuine smile formed on his face. "You really think so?"
"Of course," Raftra replied with quiet assurance.
Silence returned for a moment, broken only by the bubbling pot. Then Naruto spoke with renewed enthusiasm.
"Oh! I have a favorite place. Ichiraku Ramen. The owner's very kind, he always welcomes me. The ramen there is the best—I could eat bowl after bowl."
Raftra chuckled warmly. "Ichiraku Ramen? That sounds wonderful. Someday I'd like to try it."
Naruto's eyes lit up. "If you have time, I'll show you. You'll love it. It's the best in all of Konoha!"
Raftra pretended to busy himself with the pot but felt a warmth in his chest. 'He's so innocent. Despite everything he endures, he can still get excited over ramen. No wonder he's always a favorite.'
When the noodles were done, Raftra carefully ladled them into two cups he'd taken from his bag. Steam rose, carrying the rich aroma through the narrow lane.
"This is for you," Raftra said, handing one to Naruto.
Naruto accepted it with shining eyes. His hands trembled—less from the heat than from eagerness. "Thank you!"
They sat cross-legged on the alley floor, backs against the wall. For a moment, the world narrowed to the two of them: the scent of noodles and the distant murmur of the marketplace.
Naruto slurped his noodles noisily and savored each bite. After the first mouthful his face lit up.
"Wow! This is good! It's savory… though, hmm…" He glanced at his cup, imagining. "If only it had an egg or some meat like Ichiraku, it would be perfect."
Raftra laughed quietly, warm and genuine. "Yes, that would be nice. But good food isn't always about toppings, sometimes it's about who you share it with."
Naruto paused and then smiled broadly, a weight lifting in his expression. "You're right. I don't remember the last time I ate with someone. It tastes better."
Raftra took a bite and glanced at Naruto. The boy's happiness over such a small thing moved him more than he expected.
'Strange… I was afraid to approach him, then frightened again, and now I feel relieved to be by his side. I'm full of doubts,' he thought.
They ate in companionable silence. Naruto chattered intermittently—about the academy, a teacher's tedium, the scoldings he sometimes received, his love for Ichiraku—words pouring out as if long-held things were finally being unloaded.
Raftra listened, occasionally nodding or offering a small smile. He sensed that the boy had been lonely for so long that once someone sat with him, he couldn't stop talking.
But Raftra did not mind. Not in the least.
'Usually I get bored listening to people ramble,' he reflected. 'But when it's Naruto, I feel calm. Maybe because every word from him is rooted in real loneliness.'
When their cups were empty, they sat back and watched as twilight deepened into night. Stars pricked the sky over Konoha, and shop lamps street by street began to dim.
Naruto patted his belly with contentment. "Ah… I'm full. Thank you. That was delicious!" His voice was bright, eyes gleaming like a child who had just been given a gift.
Raftra only smiled faintly, saying little. He nodded.
Naruto, however, kept talking—once his hunger was sated, his chatter only grew. He spoke of small things and small victories until his words ebbed away into comfortable silence.
Eventually Raftra rose, slung his bag over his shoulder, and Naruto dusted off his dirty shorts. The blond boy looked at Raftra with a wide but tired smile. "Thanks. Today was fun… but it's late. I have to go home."
They paused. Raftra nodded. "I understand."
'If only I could stay with him longer. Maybe I could make him a bit happier. But I must be careful. I don't know how far I can go without causing trouble,' he thought.
Naruto waved his hand in his own spirited way. "See you again!"
Raftra stood for a moment, then returned the wave with a slight smile. "See you, Naruto."
They parted. Naruto ran off toward his home, footsteps light as if he'd been given something invaluable. Raftra watched until the small figure disappeared around the bend.
Now Raftra stood alone beneath the moonlight.
'I don't know what tomorrow holds. But at least… today I made Naruto smile.'
And somewhere on the rooftops, the ANBU still watched.
…
After leaving Naruto, Raftra wandered aimlessly until he reached a small park. Night had deepened, the air was cold and only the moon and a few fireflies kept him company.
He collapsed onto a hard concrete bench, leaning back with his head tipped toward the sky. Above him, a vast vault of stars spread bright and crisp.
'How beautiful…' he thought. 'The sky here is clearer than at home. The stars feel closer and more real.'
Yet the beauty brought no peace. If anything, the more he stared at the stars, the more his questions multiplied.
'How will I survive here? Can I live without a home? Without money? Without work?'
'Do I steal to eat? Do I keep lying to be accepted? Or will I always be a stranger in this world?'
His face tightened, his hands clenched into fists on his knees. Confusion, anger, frustration, sadness, resignation—each emotion collided inside him like a brewing storm.
He buried his face in his hands, his breathing quickened not from fatigue but from anxiety.
'Do my family even know I'm missing? Are they searching? Crying? Angry? Have they declared me gone?'
Moments later, faint footsteps approached through the hush. Raftra looked up as the figure came into view and his heart froze.
There, standing before him, was an elderly man wearing the Hokage's robe, hands folded behind his back. Two ANBU flanked him, alert and silent.
Hiruzen Sarutobi—the Third Hokage—stood there.
Raftra's breath caught. His chest tightened. 'So this moment has come. Soon or later I knew I'd face the village's highest authority.'
His hands trembled violently in his pockets, but he forced them down. Outwardly he appeared composed, inside, he felt as if struck by a calamity.
Hiruzen walked slowly toward him, eyes sharp, measured, fixing Raftra as if trying to pierce through to his very core.
'What is your name?' the Hokage asked, voice deep and unyielding. There was no room for jest.
Raftra swallowed. His chest felt constricted. He knew that showing fear would only hasten his downfall. In a voice he forced steady, he answered, 'My name is… Raftra.'
Hiruzen said nothing at once, he only watched, his gaze analytical, searching for evasion, for lies, for the unspoken truth.
The silence stretched, heavy and long.
Raftra tried to stand firm, but beneath his hands his fingers shook harder until they nearly cramped.
'This is it,' he thought. 'One wrong word… and my life here is over. I could be captured, interrogated, tortured until they extract an answer. I must be cautious. I must choose my words. My future in this world depends on this moment.'