Naruto and the Teen Titans ch5

Naruto Rise Of The Teen Titans


Chapter 5: Lesion to be learned


Raven's Dairy:


Dear dairy , I noticed a lot of things around the city are changing. Not only that we made a new friend but new enemies are rising.  This new hero that we never seen before crashed here from another world. His name is Naruto Uzamaki and for some reason I can't stop looking at him. This guy is wild and loud and for some other reason I feel deferent when I'm around him and I think it has something to do with the Nine-tail Fox. Maybe its not the Fox maybe its me I could have feelings for this guy. No I shouldn't think like that it would never workout !  



Titans Tower:


Naruto felt the sun shining in his face through the window. Naruto got up and putted the cloths back on. Naruto ran out his room up stares into the leaving room.
When Naruto got there everybody else was already awake. "Good morning everyone !" said Naruto with a bright smile.

"Morning Friend Naruto !" said Starfire with her bright smile.

"Good Morning Man !" said Cyborg while waving at Naruto.

"Morning Dude !" said Beastboy.

Naruto noticed that Cyborg was making breakfast and Raven was sitting on the floor leaning on the counter. "So whats on the menu Cyborg ?" asked Naruto sitting on the chair.

"Just some pancakes !" said Cyborg.

"Uhhh whats a pancake ?" asked Naruto scratching his head.

"You never had a pancake before ? Man things must be very deferent in your world!" said the shocked Cyborg. "Here try it ?"

Cyborg seated the plate of Pancake in front of Naruto. It smelled pretty good so Naruto took the fork and took a bite out of it. "Hey , not bad ! said Naruto.

Robin was looking at the computer looking at HIVE files. It seems that who ever was Zazzala was one of the best students Brother Blood ever had. There was no picture of her according to the files she left the HIVE and after that was considered missing.  There has many other considered missing from all over the world so it must be Zazzala's doing.


"Calling Aqualad  to Robin ! , Calling Aqualad to Robin !" The screen changed. A person showed up on the screen. The guy had black eyes. he had a nice hair cut and whore blue tights.


"This is Robin what seems to be the problem ?" asked Robin talking to the screen.

"Speedy and Kid Flash have gone missing. We looked everywhere for them we even tried to look for clues but we haven't found a single one. Its like they just vanished from existents." said the fish boy.

"Really ? well it turns out we know whose behind it. A women named Zazzala has taken over the HIVE but according to the files she been missing for years. She could be behind all these disappearances." said Robin scratching his chin.

"I hope your right. I just got note that Hot-Spot , WildeBeest  and Pantha have been missing too !" said Aqualad.

"WHAT ??" said Robin in total shock.

"Hey why is Bird boy talking to the T.V ?" asked Naruto looking a bit confused.

"So anyway Robin I suggest you and your team get here. We really need your help?" asked Aqualad.

"Alright call all the rest of the Titans and tell them will meet them there !" Robin ordered.

"Good Aqualad out !" Then the screen turned back to the channel that was on earlier.

"What you think happened to them? They couldn't of just run away right ?" asked Cyborg. The Titans were worried how could anyone disappear like that ?

"Cyborg, Get the T-Jet up and running." Asked Robin.
"Can't, it's still out of commission from when we used it last time. You know, when Beastboy smashed off one of the wings." He said eyeing Beastboy accusingly.
"What! Dude that was so totally not my fault. I was being chased, it was a complete accident." Beastboy said trying to defend himself.
"But you still broke it." Cyborg said cheerfully.
"DUDE! WHY ARE YOU SO AGAINST ME LATELY?" He cried and stormed away.
"Will you two knock it off !" said grumpy Raven.

"Alright team we have to go Steel City to meet up with the other Titans so pack your things we are leaving at dawn and Cyborg get the T-car up and running !" said Robin. They other Titans went to there rooms to pack all except for Naruto. Well he had nothing to pack.

"Hey Naruto how about you come with use. we could use your help ?" said Robin.

" I would love to but I need you guys to get back home ?" said Naruto.

"Don't worry Naruto I promise we will get you back home but for now we need your help so are you with use ?" asked Robin.

Naruto was a little worried about this. Its been two days since he left and he should have back home by now. But would Konaha would have to wait. Naruto nodded in agreement and gave Robin a thumbs up.

"Excellent !" said Robin.


Later on Naruto was on the roof of the tower looking at the blue sky. Back at Konaha he could always hear birds chirping , the wind blowing even people talking But in this city there was none of that. All Naruto could hear was cars moving and peeping at one another and those metal bird things called Airplanes flying around the sky. It was all new for Naruto.

Naruto was worried about his friends what if the Akatsuki attacked the village by now. What could Naruto about it if he is not there for them. Their probably wondering where he is at by now. Naruto thought for a moment but then something else came to mind. Will they miss him , will they worry , would Sakura want him back ? Naruto thought hard but then felt a sharp pain in his head. It was so painful that Naruto clutched his head. He fell into the ground  unconscious.


Flash back:


Land of Fire/ Konoha A.K.A Village Hidden in Leaf

Naruto was 4 years old when he was living at the orphanage. Back than he wasn't a trouble  maker but that all changed when he started to live on his own.

"Naruto," Fukami, the owner of the orphanage called from down in her office. Naruto quickly scurried down from his bedroom and made his way down to her, as she never liked when he wouldn't be fast enough. He had learned that on many occasions and he didn't want to get hurt again.

"Yes, Fukami," he questioned as soon as he entered the room. Now, she was a very plump woman, and she was middle-aged and single, but she looked older as she was starting to get gray hair entwining with the dark brown color it had originally been. The older kids had said it was that way from all the stress she's been through, at least, that's what Naruto had heard from the sidelines. She had nice blue eyes though to go with it that were very enchanting, and she would have been an excellent escort for any man if they would have chosen her when she was younger.

She turned around as soon as she heard his voice. "Now, Naruto," she smiled at him, and he didn't like it at all. It was always meant for Naruto if he didn't do what she wanted, and then he'd be getting a beating from her if he did it wrong. None of the other children ever received this sinister smile of Fukami's. "Today, we are having a special guest coming here. You know what to do, right?"

"Yes, ma'am," Naruto said as he looked down at his feet.

"Repeat it to me," she ordered.
"I am not to leave my room. I am not to contact with the guest. If he or she were to enter my room, I was to hide. I wouldn't make a sound when I am up in my room either," he recited, his voice blank of emotion.

"Very good," she replied. "Now, are there any questions?" She glared at him, her eyes saying that if he did, he wouldn't get an answer anyway; he shook his head. "Now, go to your room before he gets here." Naruto then started running up to his room, and Naruto sighed when he entered it. He was going to be very lonely up in his room. He had no friends, as the owner of the orphanage wouldn't allow him to have any, and he didn't have any kind of toys up here since all of them went to the other children first. There never was enough for him when she came to the end of the line, as Fukami would always say. He also didn't have anything to color on, as that was his favorite activity because he loved art. It was one of the times that he was liable to escape the world he was in. He didn't have any learning materials either, meaning he couldn't read or write, unlike some of the other kids in the orphanage. The others around his age were starting to learn, and it always made him sad that he couldn't learn also.

"Welcome," Fukami's voice carried throughout the orphanage, and Naruto heard as all of the other children started to run towards the new person, as not many people come, only a few a year at the best. There was a chorus of greetings, and he was sure that Fukami was making them look their best for the guest. Naruto just sighed as he listened to all the action that was happening for a little while before he crawled into his bed, thinking he'd be able to have a nap as the visitors never come up to his room. Fukami would always steer them away from it before they even got the chance to think about it. None of them were ever stubborn enough even to defy her. Naruto had always thought that was a stupid rule, but he had to say it in front of her, or she would hurt him. She had had him memorize the rules when he was only two, and now he was four.

Naruto had fallen asleep by the time that the man and Fukami had made it to the third floor of the orphanage. The man saw the door and he was instantly curious, as she had never informed him of any more children or rooms than the ones she had already. "What is up there," he questioned then he stopped, looking as if he could see through the door with his own eyes.

"There is nothing just a dumb cat we keep locked up," Fukami smiled sweetly at him, but in the inside, she was worried. This was the first time that the demon had ever really obeyed her and had actually stayed in his room. She wasn't about to let it slip now when she was so close to being able to actually get a buy from this stranger. All of the others were able to actually see Naruto when they were taking a tour of the living environments. She was worried that this would spoil her chances of having one of the little girls being adopted as this man said that his wife had an interest in having a little girl, and he had wanted to see them before she was told about them, just to see if he'd actually like having this girl around in his house since his wife wasn't able to bare any children of her own.

"I'd just like to check and make sure though because you never know when you come to these kinds of places," the man started. "Besides, I had heard rumors and I would like to see for myself if they were actually true."

"What are these rumors, if I may ask," Fukami questioned, concerned that this rumor would be about Naruto, the demon in her mind, that was staying here. She didn't want any bad business because of him, but he always seemed to come into the loop somehow.
"It's just like squats out in the streets," he waved it off as he started walking up the stairs towards the room.

"Let me just check if it's locked," the owner suggested. "You never know with the attic really; I mean, I usually keep it locked just in case the children would be running around. I wouldn't want anything to happen to them. They are all sweethearts, and it would just break my heart if it were to happen, especially to Aiko. She's the cutest little thing." Fukami had noticed that the man had lingered when Aiko came in concern. She was only three, but every villager that came here loved her. It was always the demon brat that got in the way of her being adopted though. It was such a shame in Fukumi's eyes.

Fukami wrapped the doorknob a couple of times, just to make a show that the door was locked (when it truly wasn't). "You see," Fukami smiled before she started walking down the stairs again, expecting the visitor to follow her. "The door is locked. Trust me when I say that you have nothing to see. She turned when she heard a noise behind her, and she watched as the man walked into the room. "Sir!" But it was too late.

"The Demon boy," he yelled as he quickly scurried down the stairs. She hustled up the stairs to find Naruto rubbing his eyes and looking confused as he lie in bed. She glared at him before she quickly ran after the visitor.
a minute later.
Naruto quickly tried to run down the stairs to escape the fury of the owner, but he was too late. Fukami came charging at him from the other end of the hallway, and he tried to get to his room as quickly as possible, but Fukami caught his leg as soon as he was going to enter the room.

"Get down here you little BRAT !!!" she yelled as she flung him behind her. He cried out in pain as soon as he hit his head. Tears started streaming down his face. "Don't you dare act like you can cry because I know that demons can't." She slapped him in the face, but that only increased his sobbing state. "Go."

"Wha-What," he sobbed his question, looking up at her with confusion and tears in his eyes. Fukami had trouble not believing the tears were real, but she kept thinking to herself that this was the demon of Konoha, and it had to get away from here.

"Leave this place, and never come back here again," she growled, shoving him towards the stairs that led downstairs. He quickly scurried off the floor and he started running toward the exit of the building, crying the whole way. The other children looked on him with pity as they saw him leave, and they all wished him the best of luck in the outside world, as this had never happened before to any of them.
"Wait please ! , I-I'm sorry I didn't mean to just don't leave me alone !" little Naruto begged for her to not kick him out.
"Don't worry , the hokage will find out what to do with you !" said Fukami then she slammed the door shut leaving the poor boy in the rain.



Flash back ended:



Naruto felt a hand on chest shaking him. Naruto slowly open his eyes and heard a female voice calling his name. Naruto's vision was fussy but when it cleared he saw Raven.

"Naruto are you okay ?" asked Raven.

Naruto slowly got up not knowing what just happened. Raven helped him up on his feet and she helped walk him inside.

Naruto and Raven walked down the stares heading to the main room. Naruto was disturbed about the memory he just remembered. He had forgotten that day when he was left alone . Naruto looked at Raven and it turns out she is the only one who truly understands him.

"Raven have you ever been left alone before when you were a child ?" said Naruto.

Raven nodded no. "No but my mother did abandon me once."

Naruto was shocked at the response. "Why ?"

Raven had a sad look in her face and only said one thing." My father !"

Naruto didn't understand the full story about Raven and her father but he knew it was a sensitive subject for her.

When Naruto and Raven got the main room they both gasped at what they saw. The Titans were on the floor ether dead or unconscious they couldn't tell.

All of a sudden Naruto and Raven felt a dart hit them and they clasped on the floor unconscious.



??????:



Naruto slowly opened his eyes his vision was fussy at but then he realized he was strapped to a chair. He looked around and saw his new friends strapped to chairs just like he is. Naruto tried to struggle to get free but then he heard a voice.


"I wouldn't do that if I were you Mate !" said a unknown british voice.


Naruto looked up and saw a man with a fancy Cane with red hair with small fancy glasses. The man was at least in his 30's or 40's  Naruto couldn't tell. The wore a blue suit with a black tie with fancy new shoes.  To Naruto this man seemed very strange.

The Titans slowly woke up and they noticed that they were captured. Robin looked up and saw a familiar face. "Mad Mod ?" said Robin.


"Hello again duckes ! As you can see your back in school !" said Mad Mod with a grin on his face. "And I see we also have a new student !" Made Made point the can at Naruto.

"Who the hell are you ?" said in raged Naruto.

"The names Mad Mod new student !" said Mad Mod then he pressed the button on his cane and chair started to electrocute Naruto. "AAAAAAAAAAATHHHH !!!"


"NARUTO !!" yield Robin and Raven.

"Now things have changed since the last time you wankas came here so now things will more deferent then last time !" said The crazy red headed teacher.


"How are things deferent ? This is like a replay as last time ?" said Robin trying to get out.


" Oh you'll see !" said Mad Mod.

"Yo come on this is getting old !" said Cyborg.

" WHEN I GET OUT OF HERE I"M GUNNA HANG YOU BY YOUR UNDERWEAR ON A FLAG POLL !!!" scream Naruto shaking the chair left and right.


"I would love to you see you try !" said Mad Mod but then thought bout it. "Uh scratch that I don't want to see you try !"


"ring !" ring !"


"Ah time to get to class duckes !!" said Mad Mod while he press the button on his cane that open the trap doors then everybody fell in.


"EEEEEEEHHHH !" Starfire.

"GAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!" Cyborg

"WAAAAAAAAAHHHHH !!!" Beastboy

"OOOooooooww !!!!" Raven.

"AAAAAAAAHHHH" Robin.

"I'M GUNNA GET YOUUUUUUUUUUuuuuuuuuuuu !!!!!!!!" Naruto.


Naruto woke up and he was still setting on a chair. He noticed he was in a plain white room. He looked down and saw that he was on one plat form and the rest of the floor was cover in water and also infested with sharks.


"Alright Naruto Uzumaki class is now in sensation." said Mad Mod. Naruto looked around and didn't see Mad Mod anywhere.

"Now let see what makes you tick !" said Mad mod. The walls turned into some kind of weird twirlz.


Wha- what is this ? Is this some kind of Gen-jutsu ?" Naruto didn't pay atection and tried to get lose but he didn't want to tip over the chair because of the sharks. A kuni fell from his sleeves and landed on his hand and Naruto began to cut the rope. Naruto finally got free and saw a big air vent above him and it was big enough for him to fit in. He jumped high and busted the vent open than jump the second time got inside the vent.


"Oh Bollocks , I knew I should've covered that !" yield Mad Mod.

Naruto crawled around the air tunnel and final got found a way out. He saw light so he kicked the air vent and jumped out. Naruto looked around and notice that he was in the place that him and his friends were held in.

"Well Naruto I guess I underestimated you ! said Mad Mod who is nowhere to be found it was like his voice was in the air.

"WHERE ARE MY FRIENDS !!!" yield Naruto.


"Your friends are in class where you should be !" said Mad Mod. A big T.V screen came down from the ceiling turned on than Naruto saw Raven being strapped to a metal table with two round saws slowly coming down at her.

Raven tried to get free but for some reason she couldn't use her magic it was like this room she was in was mute to all magic.

"Let her go Mad Mod !" yield Naruto.

"If you want her so bad than come and get her." Mad mod said than Five door randomly appeared before Naruto.

"What the hell ? , How can I tell which one she's in ?" asked Naruto.

"Its up to you to find out ninja boy !"

Naruto had to follow his gut on this one in order to save Raven from getting her head sliced off. Naruto turned the nob from one of the doors and slowly open it. Naruto saw another door across the hallway so he walked towards the other door but than …..something happened.

Naruto started to feel very woozy and started to fell that sharp pain in his head again. Naruto fell on the floor unconscious again.


??????:

(Warning this scene is a bit disturbing.)

Naruto woke up in a dark place and saw a spot light of Sakura and the rookie nine stareing at Naruto.

"S-Sakura ? , Kiba ? , Tenten ? , Choji ? said Naruto not believing what he was seeing. Naruto got up and walk toward his old friends. "Hinata , Shikamaru , Ino its me Naruto !" Naruto smiled with such joy but little did he know what he was seeing.  Sakura stared at Naruto blankly and as matter of fact they all did.

"I'm glad you guys are here , I need your help a friend of mine named Raven is in trouble." The rookie nine just stood there and said nothing.


"Whats a matter with you guys its me Naruto your friend." Sakura graved Naruto's caller and stabbed Naruto in the gut. Naruto saw a lot blood coming out and Sakura pushed the glad deeper inside Naruto and took two hands and opened the cut wide open showing his organs.

"Su-Suk-er……..ga… rug ……W-why ? Naruto couldn't believe what was happening Sakura just used her super strength to open his body.

"Sorry you had to find out this way Naruto but we were never your friends and no matter how much you tried to win our friendship it couldn't erase the memories of our loved ones who died fifteen years ago." said Sakura not feeling any pitty of what she just did.

"Hig…..ga….ger….I'm……s-so……sorr-…..Huh."  Naruto couldn't talk with the river of blood coming out of his mouth and the pain he just experience.


"Naruto you do realize that you are a slave to the leaf village wright ?" said Sakura. Thats what jinuriki are Naruto they are slaves to there village and its in possible for them to become hokage however Gaara from the hidden Sand was lucky but you on the other hand its not likely." said Sakura.

"N-No….co-…….please." Naruto tried to speak but it was too much pain and blood and he felt very cold like death himself was about to touch him.

"I think it would be better for you to be put down right away." said Sakura than she punched Naruto through his chest and pulled his heart out.

"GAAAA ! , uh………….!" those were Naruto's last words before he died.

Flash back:

"Are you sure I can't convince you to reconsider and did you have to kick out Naruto and leaving him all alone?" Sarutobi sighed into his hands as he stared at the young, and obviously fuming, woman in front of him. In all his years as Hokage, that boy was hands down the greatest challenge of his career.

"Absolutely not! Either he goes, or I do!" Fukami eyes flicked over her face, analyzing every last detail, from the slight blush that was just barely visible on her cheeks, to the look of violation and sheer rage in her eyes. The better part of five decades of ninja training told him that the boy had seriously over-stepped the line this time.

"What, exactly, has he done wrong this time?"

"What did he do? He didn't have to do anything its just because of the demon the other children can't get adopted !" The woman screamed back at him before her hands clamped swiftly over her mouth in realization of what she had just yelled out loud.
"Fukami, I've told you before not to call Naruto a demon in my presence."

"Forgive me Hokage but if you will not do something about this, then I have to resign."

"I don't think we need to be that hasty. I'll deal with the situation first thing in the morning. Now for the time being, please return to the orphanage. It's not safe to leave the children unsupervised like this after all."

"Of course, Hokage." Fukami bowed low and hurried out of his office.

An hour later the hokage found Naruto outside of the orphanage curled up like a ball trying to keep warm from last night's rain.
"Naruto ?"

"Old man !" Naruto literally flung himself out of the corner he was huddled in and wrapped his arms around Hiruzen with an almost frightening speed. The boy had amazing talent, if only he could learn to control it...

"Hello, Naruto." He wrapped one hand around the boy and ruffled his unruly hair with the other. He really did look exactly like his father... It was such a shame that he couldn't put everyone in their place by revealing his heritage.

"Naruto, how would you like to leave here and live on your own?" He had to repress a grimace when he watched Naruto's eyes brighten at the prospect of getting out of the orphanage. No four year old boy should feel that living on his own is an improvement.

"Really? That would be AWESOME!" Naruto shouted and jumped into the air, much to Hiruzen's delight at seeing the boy bounce back from whatever had happened the night before.

"Alright then let's go get you an apartment." He smiled down at the boy as he led him to the way.
And hour later they got their."This is amazing! You mean I really get to stay here? I don't have to ever go back to the orphanage?" Naruto shouted excitedly as he bounced around the modest apartment. It wasn't much, it certainly wasn't anything spectacular, but it was a roof over his head and everything inside at least functioned.

"That's right, Naruto. This can be your apartment if you want, but you'll need to take care of it, alright?" He gave the boy a small smile as he watched his head bob up and down.

"I want to be a ninja just like you, old man" Naruto smiled as he ran around his new apartment. He still couldn't believe he didn't have to spend any more time in that filthy orphanage where everyone hated him. Things were finally looking up.
"Of course, Naruto. I'll see to it that you're on the roaster for the next class at the academy."
"Hey old man? Does this mean I can do what I want now?" asked Naruto.

"To a degree Naruto, but I'll have people checking in on you from time to time. You won't see them, but we'll be watching you, so try not to get into trouble, okay?" He gave the boy a small smile.

"Bye Naruto and I hope you have a better live for now on."

"Um old man , who were my parents ?" asked Naruto.
The hokage said nothing but walked away.

Naruto was hungry. It had been a week since he got his apartment, and the food that the Hokage and he had gotten was gone, and the old man wasn't supposed to visit again for another three days. Left with no other option, Naruto had to venture out and go shopping on his own. Thankfully, the Hokage had thought to leave him his allowance for the month, so he at least had a little bit of money he could use to buy groceries with.

After making sure the door to his apartment was securely closed and locked, Naruto began making his way toward the market district. He smiled at everyone he met; sometimes he even waved at them as he passed. To him life could not get any better, but he completely failed to notice all of the glares he was getting in return.

The first stall Naruto decided to stop at was a small fruit stand. He always did love apples; at least he loved the few he had managed to get from the other kid's lunches when they weren't looking. Naruto spotted a bright red juicy looking one and picked it up.
"Excuse me miss, how much does this apple cost?" Naruto had to repeat himself a few times before the elderly woman running the stall heard him and turned around.

"They're not for sale!" The women gave him a cold stare and snatched the apple out of his hands.
"What? But you just sold one a few minutes ago!" His confusion was written across his face as he tried to figure out what was wrong with this crazy old lady.

"They're not for sale, to you." The woman repeated herself, putting extra emphasis on the last couple words.

"Why? I just wanted to buy an apple..." Naruto couldn't figure out why she just wouldn't sell him an apple.

"Get lost!" In the time that he had spent thinking, the woman had come around her stall and was brandishing a broom. Naruto had to duck a few times to avoid it as he made a hasty exit, the yells of the crazy lady following him the entire way.

"Jeez... I just wanted an apple. Maybe the other stores will be better." At least he hoped they would be.

Sadly, luck was not on Naruto's side, and every place he went, he received similar treatment. One person even threw rotten vegetables at him! He was starting to think that everyone just hated him, but he had finally found a stand that was willing to sell him some food. It cost him his entire month's worth of allowance, but he was now happily strolling back to his new apartment with a large bag under each arm.

Naruto was so happy to have some real food that he wasn't paying attention at all to where he was going, and walked right into someone's leg, dropping his bags in the process.

"Hey! Watch where you're going!"

"I'm sorry... I wasn't looking in front of me. I didn't mean to bump into you mister." The man stared down at the boy who had just knocked into him. He knew the boy looked familiar, but he wasn't able to place him until he noticed the whisker shaped scars on his cheeks.

"Sorry? I don't think you're sorry enough, Demon!" The man shouted as he walked over to Naruto's groceries and stomped on them.

"My food! Now what am I supposed to eat?" Naruto watched with tears in his eyes as the man ground his entire month's worth of money and food into the dusty street.
"You should have thought about that before you slammed into me. Maybe this will teach you some damn manners!" The man laughed and gave the bags one last kick for good measure before strolling down the street as if nothing had happened, leaving Naruto to salvage whatever was left.

All of his food in the bags was ruined, and the few things that had rolled out of the way were muddy and getting kicked around by the heavy foot traffic. In the end, he wasn't even able to salvage a single item that he had bought. Hungry and broke, Naruto ran towards his apartment complex, tears streaming down his face as he tried to put as much distance between him and the street his food was now laying in. He was so upset that he completely missed the intersection his street was on, and kept on running. Now hopelessly lost, he finally collapsed in the alley next to some sort of food stand.

"Ayame ? Could you go take out the garbage for me please?"

"Sure thing Dad!"

Naruto had heard the voices, but they didn't really register with him. The only word he had really heard was 'dad' and that had just sent him into another fit of crying. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't even see the teenage girl throw a bag of garbage over his head and into the barrel next to him.

"Oh my! Daddy, there's a boy back here, and he's crying!"

"What? Better bring him inside dear, no sense in him crying out in some dirty old alley when he can do it in here and at least be up off of the ground!" The older voice from before called back out to his daughter.

"Alright!" The girl yelled back in response before turning back to the sobbing mass of blond hair in front of her. "Hey, you alright?" She gently nudged the boy, who seemed to not even notice she was there.

"I'm talking to you, ya know! The least you could do is respond!" Ayame shook the boy's shoulder a little harder to try and get a response from him. She was hoping to get him to look up at her, but instead he just flinched away from her hand and curled up even tighter.
"Fine! Be that way, but I'm not just going to let you sit out here in the dirt. You're coming inside whether you like it or not!" She reached out and gently tried to pick the boy up. He resisted at first, but when he realized he had nowhere to go he gave up and let the girl carry him inside.
"Here he is dad... I don't know what's wrong with him though. He wouldn't even look at me when I talked to him. He didn't even respond. I had to pick him up just to get him to move at all." She gently placed the curled up boy onto the stool in the corner and sat down next to him, amazed at how he managed to balance on the stool yet stay curled up at the same time.
"Come on now, can you tell us what's wrong?" The older man asked from across the counter as he looked down at the obviously upset child.

"I like your shirt. Is that a frog?" Ayame rubbed his back gently in an attempt to cheer him up. She was absolutely delighted to see his head nod slightly in response to her question.
"My name's Ayame. What's yours?"

"Na...Naruto" Naruto sniffled, his head still buried in his arms.

"That's such a pretty name. Can you tell us why you're so upset, Naruto-chan?"

Naruto shook his head violently, almost slipping off of the stool in the process.
"Naruto, no one here is going to be mad at you. I promise." Naruto immediately looked up into the eyes of the older man.
"You... You promise?"

"I do. My name is Teuchi." The man nodded. He looked nice enough. His short brown hair was just starting to streak with gray, and his eyes were warm and welcoming, unlike the usual cold stares that he normally got.

"Some... Some guy... ruined all of my food... and now... now I don't have anything to eat." The boy managed to choke out between sobs.
"That's horrible!" Ayame commented as she tried to comfort the blond.

"No one should treat a child like that..." Teuchi knew the reason of course, but that wasn't an excuse to heap abuse onto an innocent child. "Tell you what... How about I cook you up my super-special ramen?"

"I... I don't have any money... I spent... spent it all on that food..."

"Don't worry about it, Naruto. This one is on the house." Teuchi's heart almost broke at the look of sheer relief that spread over the boy's face.

"Thank you, Teuchi" Naruto bowed low in his seat, his forehead almost touching the counter. He usually hated having to 'be polite', but Teuchi was the first person to show him any kindness at all outside of the old man, so he felt that he deserved it.

"Now now, enough of that. Teuchi is just fine." The man laughed. "Just give me a few minutes and I'll have your ramen ready." The man added as he turned around to begin work.

"Are you feeling better now, Naruto ?" Ayame asked as she got her first good look at the boy. He would have been extremely cute if it weren't for the weird whisker shaped scars on his face and the fact that his clothes were way too large for his malnourished frame.
"A little..." Naruto nodded.

"That's good. Why don't you come in back with me, and we'll get you cleaned up while Dad works on your lunch, okay?" Ayame quickly glanced at her father to make sure it was alright before grabbing Naruto's hand and dragging him back into the small house that was attached to the back of the stand.

"Here we go. Why don't you go wash up while I clean these for you?" Ayame asked as she opened the door to their bathroom. Naruto nodded, and handed her his torn shirt and his muddy pants before closing the door.

"Dad... His clothes are all torn up and ripped... like more than a little street fight would get them."
"I think we still have some of your little cousin's clothes in those boxes in the closet. Why don't you see if you can find something that will fit him? No one should have to walk around in ripped clothing."

"Sure thing, Dad." Ayame nodded and ran off in search of a decent set of clothes for the boy.

Naruto was in heaven. He never got to have a hot bath. The orphanage always made him rinse off outside, and the water in his apartment was always ice cold. He considered staying in there longer than was necessary, but he didn't want to overstep the hospitality of the first people that didn't seem to hate him, so he decided to hurry and clean up as fast as possible.

After he finished drying off, he found two piles of clothes sitting just outside of the bathtub.
"Are you done already, Naruto ?" Ayame's voice called from behind the door.

"Uh-huh."

"I washed your clothes for you, but you should put on the other set in there. They're some of my cousin's extra clothes, and they'll probably fit you better than what you were wearing." Naruto looked down at the second set of clothes next to his before putting them on and walking back out to the front of the stand.

"You look so much better now, Naruto !" Ayame smiled as she looked the boy over. He was wearing a plain navy blue t-shirt, and a pair of tan shorts. They weren't much, but they were clean and free of holes.
"Your hair is sticking up though..." Ayame commented as she tried to flatten his unusually spiky hair, only to have it stick right back up again. "It just doesn't stay flat does it?" Naruto shook his head as Teuchi set a large steaming bowl of ramen down in front of him.
Naruto stared down at the bowl in front of him; the smell alone was driving his senses wild. It was like something out of one of his dreams, the way the meat and vegetables floated lazily in the rich broth and the noodles glistened in the early afternoon sun, it was absolutely perfect.

"Thank you so much." The ramen looked so appetizing he had almost forgotten to thank the man for the meal.
Formalities out of the way, Naruto looked around in search of something to eat it with. They certainly wouldn't appreciate him inhaling it like some sort of wild animal. To his dismay, he could only find chopsticks, something he had precious little practice in using as the orphanage had always made him use his hands instead.

Shakily, Naruto lifted a pile of noodles to his mouth, only to have them slip out of his chopsticks at the last second. His second try was only marginally better than his first, but this time he at least managed to get a bite of some of it.

"Naruto... Do you want some help?" Ayame had noticed the awkward way he was holding his chopsticks and the look of frustration on his face as yet another mouthful of noodles slipped back into the bowl. Naruto, however, just shook his head as he tried once again to eat his meal.

"Dad... do we have a fork, or something? Maybe that would be easier for him..." Ayame asked her father as she watched the boy try again.
"No! I'm going to do this!" Naruto shouted as he speared a piece of meat with one of his chopsticks.

"Here, at least let me show you how to hold them properly." Ayame slipped behind the young blond and adjusted the thin pieces of wood in his hand, showing him how to move them so he wouldn't drop everything.

"See? Isn't that better?" Naruto nodded enthusiastically, having finally gotten the hang of it, and dug into the remainder of his meal with gusto.

"That was the best food I've ever tasted!" Naruto exclaimed as he set the, now empty, bowl back onto the counter.
"Well I'm glad you liked it." Teuchi smiled at him.

"I sure did! Hey... Umm... Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure thing, Naruto . What can I help you with?"

"Umm... Well... I'm kind of lost. I don't know how to get back to my apartment from here."

"Of course! Ayame , why don't you show him how to get back home?" Teuchi waited for his daughter to nod in agreement.

"There! That's settled then. Oh, I almost forgot, you said you were out of food right?" Naruto nodded.

"Then take this. I can't let my newest customer walk out of my stand knowing that he's walking home to an empty fridge!" Teuchi smiled as he put a pair of plastic bags full of food on the counter.

"I... Thank you." Naruto nodded as he left with Ayame to find his apartment.

Flash back ended:

Naruto got up and herd a Raven calling for help. Naruto open the door and saw Raven still strapped to the table.

"Don't worry I'll get you out of here !" said Naruto. Naruto pulled switch that tuned off the saws coming at Raven.

Naruto used his kuni to cut the straps and Raven was free. Raven lunched a hug at Naruto who was glad Raven was safe and sound. "Thanks for saving me Naruto !"

"Don't thank me yet. Its not over Raven and we need to save the others and find a way out of here." said Naruto as he and Raven hurried out to save their friends.