Naruto Uzumaki's "Friends"

But...

When Sasuke pushed through the crowd and spotted that mop of messy blond hair, he froze, disbelief written all over his face.

"He..."

Sasuke stared, dumbfounded. "Huh? That can't be right!"

Beside a flower bed.

A few kids were having a "get-together."

Naruto scratched his head sheepishly. "Really? You've actually heard of me?"

Shikamaru Nara, his hair tied up like a pineapple, leaned against a bench and yawned. "Yeah. My dad told me to get along with you at school, Naruto Uzumaki..."

"Huh?"

Naruto was astonished. "But... but I don't know your dad!"

Shikamaru Nara rolled his eyes, too lazy to answer.

He had already talked far too much today. He was exhausted... If only the teacher would let him sleep in class.

Nearby.

A chubby boy clutching a bag of chips held it out when he heard them.

As he shared his snack with Naruto.

He wore a helpless look.

"Yeah... it is pretty weird, but my dad told me to be friends with you too! Are you some legendary ninja prodigy, like Kakashi and the Uchiha Clan Head?"

"Huh?"

Naruto was even more confused.

A pretty blonde girl leaned toward Naruto and studied him suspiciously. "Hey, are you Naruto Uzumaki?"

"Uh, yeah! You're..."

Naruto jumped.

He took a step back, his face flushing bright red.

"I'm Ino Yamanaka!"

The girl waved a hand and pointed at a pink-haired girl who was staring off elsewhere, stars in her eyes. "See? That pink-haired girl with the big forehead is my best friend, Haruno Sakura."

"Sa... Haruno Sakura?" Naruto whipped his head around.

And then...

That was it.

His eyes went wide, his gaze locked on the pink-haired girl as if welded in place. He stood there, utterly spellbound.

Shikamaru Nara saw his reaction.

For once, a hint of puzzlement