Through the Darkness To You (Sasuke x Reader)

After my very first day at the Academy, I hung back long after everyone else poured out of the building. Most kids left in noisy, cheerful clusters, comparing notes or waving to parents who waited patiently outside the gates. I on the other hand, had no one to greet me. That quiet ache of knowing I'd go home to an empty house felt like a weight pressing on my chest.

I was about to slip away into the late afternoon light when I noticed a boy on a creaky swing near an old tree. He wore an orange jumpsuit—way too bright to miss—and his blond hair stuck out in every direction, like he hadn't bothered with a comb in weeks. Even so, no one seemed to pay real attention to him. A few students glanced over, whispered, maybe chuckled under their breath but otherwise hurried past. He kept his head down, feet dragging lines in the dirt, shoulders slumped in a way that told me he felt just as alone as I did.

Something about that loneliness tugged at my heart. It reminded me of all the times I'd felt invisible, shuffling from place to place without anyone noticing. A memory of my mother's final words washed over me, as if she were standing by my side again:
"Y/N... protect others... live with a kind heart."
If only someone had reached out to me earlier, maybe the world would've felt a little less harsh. Gathering my courage I walked over to him, each step making my stomach twist with nerves. What if he told me to leave him alone?

He glanced up when I approached, his bright blue eyes sharp with suspicion. "Oi, what do you want dattebayo?" He snapped. The way he spat out the words told me he was used to being taunted.

My heart pounded. "I'm Y/N," I said softly, almost stumbling over my own name. "I, uh... saw you sitting by yourself and wanted to say hi." My voice sounded smaller than I intended.

He paused, frown still pinching his forehead. "Usually people just ignore me, so... yeah." He shrugged trying to sound indifferent but there was a flicker of hurt in his expression.

I swallowed my throat tight. "I don't want to ignore you." I murmured. My gaze drifted to a battered notebook on his lap. It had a swirl design that reminded me of the Uzumaki clan's symbol. The swirl made me think of my mother's keepsakes—old seals and patterns she once showed me. "You're Uzumaki Naruto, right?"

He blinked in surprise. "Uh, yeah. That's me. What's it to ya, dattebayo?"

I hesitated, cheeks warming. "My mom was an Uzumaki too, so...that makes me half Uzumaki" I let out a breath, the confession more vulnerable than I expected.

His eyes grew wide. "No way! Seriously?" He hopped off the swing so quickly he nearly fell on his face. After righting himself he stared at me with a mixture of disbelief and excitement. "So we're kinda...related or something huh?"

I felt a laugh bubble up in my chest—my first real laugh in what felt like ages. "Yeah, guess so." My mother's face fluttered through my memory, and a gentle warmth spread through me. "It's... kind of nice knowing there's someone else out there like me."

Naruto grinned, rubbing the back of his head. "Same here! Nobody's ever said that to me before, dattebayo." He hesitated clearing his throat. "But, I mean... you're not just messing with me, right?"

He seemed genuinely concerned I might be teasing him. I shook my head firmly. "I promise, I'm not joking. Honestly, it's a relief for me too."

We stood there a moment, the air thick with unspoken stories. Finally, I blurted out, "Would you, um... maybe want to be friends? We could hang out after class, or eat lunch together... I know we don't really know each other, but..."

The hopeful light in his eyes made my heart twist. "Friends?" he repeated, voice a little cracked. "For real?"

I nodded, forcing a smile even though I felt on the edge of tears. "For real."

A grin spread across his face, so bright it was almost blinding. "Yes! Let's do it! Dattebayo!" He punched the air in excitement, then paused as if catching himself being too loud. "I mean, that'd be awesome."

Even though we'd just met, something relaxed in my chest. No longer did I feel like I was carrying my mother's entire legacy alone. Here was someone else with Uzumaki blood, someone who might understand even a fraction of what I'd gone through. In turn, maybe I could be the person who understood him too.

[The Next Day]

When lessons ended, Naruto bounded over to me with a grin plastered on his face. "Hey, Y/N!" he shouted, ignoring the students who shot him weird looks. "C'mon, let's go practice throwing kunai or something! One day I'm gonna be Hokage, and I gotta start somewhere, dattebayo!"

I stifled a giggle. His energy radiated like the sun. "All right, let's do it," I agreed, swinging my small pack over my shoulder. "Just try not to hit me, okay?"

He rolled his eyes dramatically. "Ah, come on, have a little faith! If I do hit you, it's just a sign I need more training, that's all."

We stepped into the courtyard, weaving between other students. Naruto babbled about how he'd paint the Hokage faces in bright orange someday so everyone would know his name. The mental image of giant orange heads overlooking the village made me laugh in earnest. For a fleeting moment, I forgot about the empty house that waited for me, the memories of my mother's final moments, and the ache of being alone.