A New Week Starts with New Friends

Early in the morning, Hui felt a slight tightness in his chest. He opened his eyes abruptly, only to find Amber curled up into a ball on top of his quilt.

Why was this creature so clingy today? Usually, if he didn't make her beloved grilled fish, she wouldn't even deign to rub against him.

Hui didn't find it strange, though; perhaps she was just waiting for him to get up and make her that grilled fish. But it was Monday, and he didn't have the time for such a troublesome task.

With a guilty conscience, he slowly crawled out from under the quilt, leaving Amber fast asleep on the empty bedding.

"Hui, your bento is on the table. Sasuke is waiting for you outside. Don't take too long," Chuanhe's voice drifted in.

"Oh, got it!"

Sasuke? Why was he waiting for me today? Hui quickly packed his things and noticed two bentos on the table.

Sasuke? Two bentos?

I see. Father is quite thoughtful. He casually shoved the bento into his bag.

"I'm heading out."

"Stay safe on your way."

A moment later, Amber emerged from Hui's room. "Meow~, that was such a comfortable nap."

She jumped onto the table, where the scent of grilled fish still lingered. Unfortunately, there was nothing there.

"Master Chuanhe, did you take away my grilled fish?" Amber rushed into the workshop, sounding quite anxious. Even her usual speech patterns were forgotten in her panic.

Chuanhe paused and said to Amber, "Amber, your grilled fish is gone. You'll have to wait until next time."

"Meow!" A mournful cry from Amber echoed through the Chuanhe Residence.

"Hui, there's something my brother asked me to tell you," Sasuke said on the way.

He then mysteriously gestured for Hui to lean in and whispered the confidential information to him.

After hearing it, Hui said helplessly, "Father just told me yesterday to try not to use the Flame Explosion Technique, and now you're saying this today, Sasuke. Did you two conspire together? Don't worry, I'll definitely keep the secret."

The two walked side by side toward the school, exchanging words. Along the way, many female students were whispering to each other.

"Is that Sasuke-kun? He really is handsome."

"The one next to him is, too," her companion chimed in.

"They're both from the Uchiha clan, the number one noble family in Konoha," another companion added, playing the role of the expert.

Hui and Sasuke ignored it all. They had to go through this every day, and even Hui had learned to mimic Sasuke's cool demeanor.

"Sasuke? Good morning. And you are... Uchiha Hui? Good morning!" A voice Hui found somewhat familiar called out.

With golden hair and six whisker-like marks on his cheeks, it was none other than Naruto Uzumaki.

"Good morning, Naruto Uzumaki. Sasuke, is this your friend? He sounded quite familiar with you," Hui replied first.

"Who's friends with this guy! x2"

"Stop copying what I say! x2"

Hui stared, dumbfounded. Were these two brothers from different parents? Their reactions were identical.

Hui teased, "You two are so in sync, did you know each other from a long time ago?"

The two were currently glaring at each other; having just entered school, they were barely even acquaintances. Being this synchronized made both of them feel it must be the other person's fault.

With a simultaneous "Hmph," they both walked into the classroom on their own. Left behind, Hui was now absolutely certain they were brothers in all but blood.

"Sasuke, I think you two get along quite well. Why not try being friends?" Hui sat at his desk and teased the boy beside him.

"Tch, he's just a dead last. Who would want to be friends with him?"

Hui smiled without a word. "By the way, do you know where he lives? I don't know much about Naruto. Father was the one teaching me before enrollment."

Sasuke didn't answer because he didn't know how to. Naruto's situation was known to the whole class; how could Hui not know?

After Hui asked this, the noisy chatter in the classroom died down significantly.

"He doesn't have a home," Sasuke replied, then fell silent.

Hui went quiet. He looked at Naruto in the corner and suddenly felt an indescribable sense of loneliness.

He remembered how he used to be called a fatherless bastard by the other children in his clan. Perhaps he had felt similar to Naruto in that moment. But at least he still had his father, while Naruto had nothing at all.

"Sorry, that was a stupid question."

At noon, on the rooftop.

"Sasuke, Father prepared two bentos today. Let's eat together."

"My brother prepared one for me, too."

"Ah, I see. I can't finish this extra one on my own. Shall we share?"

Sasuke didn't answer, staring blankly at the swing set downstairs.

Hui followed Sasuke's gaze and saw Naruto on the swing. He sat there with his head bowed, people passing by, yet no one paid him any mind.

Hui watched with a sour feeling in his heart. Handing his lunchbox to Sasuke, Hui jumped straight down from the rooftop.

"Sasuke, wait for me."

Hui's leap from the rooftop didn't attract anyone's attention. He walked straight toward Naruto. Hearing the sound, Naruto looked up.

Hui crouched down slightly to bring himself level with Naruto and asked, "Naruto, did you bring lunch?"

"Hui?" Naruto was truly surprised. Aside from the Third Hokage, everyone called him a demon fox. This was the first person who had ever been willing to speak to him voluntarily. No, wait—there was also Uncle Teuchi and big sister Ayame.

"My... teacher said that if you don't eat properly, you won't grow tall. As it happens, I brought an extra portion today, so let's eat together!"

A spark of life gradually returned to Naruto's eyes, and the corners of his mouth curled upward. "Really? Then I won't stand on ceremony."

Naruto followed Hui to the rooftop, where he and Sasuke stared at each other with wide eyes. "Hui, why didn't you tell me that stinky Sasuke was here too?" Naruto pointed at Sasuke while speaking to Hui.

However, the familiar retort did not come this time. Sensing something was wrong, Naruto turned to look at Sasuke.

He saw Sasuke gritting his teeth as he said, "U-zu-ma-ki Na-ru-to, let's eat together."

The world felt strange today, giving off a sense of unreality. Am I dreaming? Even Sasuke, the person I hate the most, is inviting me to eat.

"Okay!"

Under Naruto's expectant gaze, Hui opened the lunchbox. A golden-brown grilled fish lay inside.

The three of them looked at one another, at a loss for what to do.

"Alright, that settles it. Naruto, this portion is yours, and Sasuke, this one is yours."

Hui and Sasuke ultimately decided to divide their two bento boxes and the fish into three portions.

Naruto took the lunchbox and said with some embarrassment, "Hui, Sasuke, thank you very much. I'm digging in!"

"Haha, you're welcome. You should thank Sasuke; after all, this is a bento made by his brother."

"Really? Thanks, Sasuke."

"Shut up and eat your food."

In just a few minutes, they had finished their meal.

Naruto pressed his palms together: "Thanks for the meal. Hui, your grilled fish was delicious. Sasuke, your fried egg was also very tasty."

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Naruto Uzumaki, just call me Naruto. I like Ichiraku Ramen, grilled fish, and fried eggs. My dream is to become Hokage so that everyone will acknowledge me!"