Misery Loves Company

"Hey! Stop! What are you doing!? You aren't allowed to hit people!!"

Naruto was just walking home along this path when he saw the scene and immediately rushed over.

He usually didn't care for Sasuke's cold, arrogant attitude, but seeing someone being ganged up on and bullied like this, he charged in without a second thought, trying to pull the attackers away.

But Shiren, a member of the Uchiha clan whose eyes were completely bloodshot, couldn't hear a word. He threw a backhand punch that slammed heavily into Naruto's face, knocking him to the ground as well.

And so, the scene turned into two miserable companions getting beaten up together.

Up in a nearby tree, several ANBU looked at one another.

None of them knew whether they should jump down to save the boys in this situation.

Fortunately, other students called for a teacher, who forcibly dragged the crazed Uchiha away.

Iruka held him down with one hand, quickly checked on Naruto first, then looked at Sasuke. Only after confirming that neither had life-threatening injuries did he let out a sigh of relief.

"You are Shiren Uchiha from the senior class. Do you have any idea what you are doing?"

Iruka looked at Shiren, whose eyes were blood-red, and was furious. If he hadn't happened to be walking by, he truly didn't know if these two might have been beaten to death.

Shiren struggled desperately, but as a mere child, he was no match for an adult.

Iruka held him with one hand, making it impossible for him to reach Sasuke.

A moment later, he sat down on the ground in frustration, his hands clawing hard at the dirt.

"I want to kill him! I want to kill him! I want to make his brother taste the pain of losing a loved one too!"

Shiren's mind remained in a state of hysteria, still reeling from his extreme rage.

Iruka had no choice but to say, "Naruto, Sasuke, you two go on ahead. I'm taking Shiren back to the Uchiha compound."

Naruto clutched his aching jaw and climbed up from the ground.

He looked at Shiren with a hint of pity and didn't cause a scene this time.

He turned to see Sasuke, who was just as bruised and battered.

He hesitated for a moment, then walked over and reached out a hand to help him up, asking in a low voice, "Hey... are, are you okay?"

Sasuke heard Shiren's words, and a look of pain crossed his face.

The anger he had felt just moments ago suddenly vanished.

A sense of helplessness made him feel incredibly uncomfortable.

However, when he looked up and saw Naruto's cautious expression, filled with genuine concern, he didn't respond with his usual cold words.

Still, he didn't take Naruto's hand. He struggled to stand up on his own, turned his head slightly, and muttered a reply:

"I'm fine. Let's get out of here."

Naruto seemed to understand Sasuke's mood. "Let's go."

"Hiss..." Sasuke's legs went weak, and he stumbled.

Naruto quickly reached out to steady him. After Sasuke found his footing, he pulled his arm away with some discomfort, but couldn't break free.

"Lean on me. My butt hurts."

Naruto winced as well; the effort of pulling Sasuke had aggravated the spot where he had been kicked.

Sasuke was silent for a moment, but in the end, he didn't pull his arm away.

The two supported each other, limping their way back.

"You should curl up when you're getting hit, keep your face and stomach tucked inside. It won't hurt as much..."

"How do you know that?"

"I've been beaten up enough to know..."

"..."

"Sasuke, where do you live now?"

"It's in this direction anyway..."

When the two reached the bottom of the apartment building, Naruto was surprised to discover that Sasuke lived right below him.

"Eh?! You... you live here?"

Naruto pointed at the door, unable to hide a look that could only be described as pleasant surprise.

Sasuke was confused. "What is it?"

Naruto pointed happily at the second floor. "I live right above you!"

They had at least been beaten up together, and now that they were neighbors, maybe they could be friends?

"...Yeah." Sasuke still gave only a muffled response.

Seeing Sasuke's low spirits, Naruto scratched his head in embarrassment.

Just then, hearing the commotion, Mikoto opened the door. Seeing her son covered in dust, his face bruised and purple, with blood still dripping from his nose, her heart ached and tears welled up instantly.

"Sasuke, how did you end up like this?"

Sasuke remained silent. Naruto, standing beside him, quickly spoke up:

"Ah, well, ma'am, Sasuke got beaten up."

Only then did Mikoto notice there was someone else there.

The boy was just as bruised and swollen, clearly having been beaten up alongside him.

"You... are you Naruto?" She naturally knew her best friend's son, but hadn't recognized him at first glance.

Naruto wasn't too surprised, as many people in the village knew him.

"Ah, yeah. I'm Naruto Uzumaki. I live right above you."

Having been the wife of the clan head for some time, Mikoto realized almost instantly why the Third Hokage had arranged for them to live here.

"You should go back now," Sasuke said. His pride was strong, and he didn't want to show his vulnerable side in front of his mother to Naruto.

Naruto scratched his head, feeling a bit disappointed. "Then I'll head back..."

"Wait a moment, Naruto. Let me put some medicine on you before you go."

Mikoto stopped Naruto directly; she wasn't the type to stand by while her best friend's son was injured.

"Uh... oh!?"

It was the first time Naruto had ever been cared for like this. He was stunned at first, then a wave of immense emotion and surprise surged in his heart!

By the time he came to his senses, he and Sasuke had already been led into the room by Mikoto, one in each hand.

Mikoto took out the medicine kit she had bought that day and carefully cleaned the wounds for both boys, applying ointment.

Naruto sat there with a goofy grin the whole time, feeling as if he were in a dream.

Someone was actually caring for him; someone was actually applying ointment for him.

Sasuke watched Naruto's silly smile and rolled his eyes.

"There, all done. Take this medicine back with you and eat two pills every day."

"Hehe, thank you, ma'am."

Naruto scratched his head, no longer feeling any pain in his body.

Mikoto looked at Naruto's goofy smile and sighed inwardly. Seeming to think of something, she asked him:

"Do you have anything to eat at home?"

"Ah... this... that..."

Naruto was about to tell a little lie, but seeing Mikoto's gentle gaze, he could only be honest:

"Um... I have instant noodles."

"Then stay and eat here tonight."

"Ah? Is that okay...?" Naruto hesitated.

This was the first time someone had invited him to dinner, and he had no idea how he should react.

Mikoto gently patted Naruto's head and stood up to head toward the kitchen. "You two wait a moment, it won't take long."

"Ah... oh, okay, thank you."

Sasuke stared at Naruto with an unreadable expression, making Naruto feel a bit flustered.

"Ma'am, ah... your mom is really nice."

"Hmph, tell me something I don't know."

Sasuke turned his head away abruptly. He felt a bit awkward that his mother was being so kind to Naruto.

He didn't want to talk to Naruto at all.

But thinking about how Naruto had been beaten up today while trying to save him, he didn't want to say anything harsh either.

He could only sulk in silence.