THE BLANK CANVAS

It's pure.

It's white.

They said babies are born like a pure white canvas and as they grow up, they will be coloured with how their surrounding influences them.

Did you believe that?

Naruto certainly not.

This gold haired boy with eyes as beautiful as a deep ocean and sun-kissed skin with three pairs of lines as the birthmark on his cheeks think different. He believed every one born with the colour of their own on their canvas. Even maybe their canvas shape is different, it might be rectangle, square, circle, triangle, or maybe hexagon, or even octagon if you may. Because everyone is born with their unique talent.

Oh, how he wished he was born like that. But, unfortunately, he was born as a blank canvas. His twin brother Menma on the other side was born with all the talents their parents wish the sibling has. Smart, strong, do well in school, and successful in every subject that involves brain calculation. His deep obsidian haired brother became the golden child of the family. They have the same feature, but their parent favours Menma more than Naruto. Naruto do just enough at school, he hates math or any subject that makes him have to count, at least he did not cause any trouble. While Menma on the other hand attends an international school, you can see how smart he is, smart enough to put a smug on his face. This is how their parents, Kushina and Minato, compare their two sons.

They believe that Menma is more suitable to be the heir of the Namikaze-Uzumaki Company. Naruto didn't care, his brother can take the company for all his care. But, should their parents forget about his existence? Forgot that they have the same birthday? Or when there are parties for celebrating the company success, why is he the only one that left at home?

He sat at the dinner table eating silently while his parents ask his brother how his school was today? How did his algebra competition go? How his test score was?

He left there watching how warm his parents were to his brother, while no one asked him how his day was today. Is it good? Is there anyone bothering him? Does he have any trouble with his studies? How is that painting go?

Yes, Naruto does have a talent. He is a blank canvas, the blank canvas that he can shape and colour on his wish. He loves painting, he paints when he is sad, he paints when he is happy, he paints when he is angry, he paints to pour all of his feelings. He keeps this a secret, he knows his parents won't take this nice and his brother will belittle him.

Only his best friends Gaara and Sasuke know about this. These two have similar personalities, stoic, cold, and man with few words. Sasuke with his dark cold gaze and Gaara with his sharp stare. They are drawn to Naruto sunshine personality. A weird trio, one will do all the talk while the other two will calmly listen to whatever the blonde has to say.

They are now in their third year of high school, they will graduate in a few months. Black, blonde, and red hair dancing in the wind from the AC. They are now sitting in Sasuke's bedroom. Sasuke, Gaara and Naruto discuss their future, what will they do after they are graduate?

"I will go to Konoha University", Sasuke said. "Business major" he continued.

"I will go back to Suna and study fine art there. As you know my father is the chancellor of the Suna University", Gaara look at Naruto. "How about you, Naruto?".

Naruto pondered for a while. "I don't know", he shakes his head softly. "I don't think my parents will let me go to art school. And I don't think I will pass the exam for any major with the business course".

Gaara and Sasuke looked at each other. They know their blonde family situation. With Menma shining so brightly in his parent's eyes, they were probably blind to Naruto's dim light.