The Stars Welcome Him with Open Arms

Time Is

Ever since Naruto could remember, he has had a family.

The people of the village may taunt and whisper to themselves that he was an orphan, some monster who had nobody but himself, but it didn't matter because they didn't know what he did. They whispered behind hands that did nothing to shield him from hateful words and poisonous glares. But when he escaped to his own special clearing of the Hidden Leaf's forests, away from the oppressive weight he unwillingly carried within the village, he could feel free.

Between the tangled branches of giant trees, underneath bushes, and through holes sized perfectly for him to fit through, he'd find himself somewhere now familiar and safe.

The room he finds himself in after tumbling rather roughly onto the wooden floor is spacious and warm. He no longer pays any attention to the large TV he fell from, his wonder with the device having faded away long after he first started coming here. He's not alone in the room either, across the couch and into the next room he sees two smiling faces waiting for him at a table.

"Good morning, Naruto!" The boy with braids Naruto had never seen before he arrived in this strange place greeted him with a playful smile, waving a small blue controller in his hand. An invitation.

Naturally, Naruto automatically flashes the both of them a megawatt grin and bounds over to them, the tendrils of sadness that were attached to him finally being washed away in the face of such a welcoming atmosphere.

"Morning! What's for breakfast?"

It's routine now, his joining them for breakfast and staying over a while before leaving, maybe returning for lunch. He wished he could stay the whole day, but Aunt Tania always convinced him to return to the village lest someone notice his absence. He wanted her to understand that nobody would care if he disappeared, however, knowing that he might not be allowed to come back to her and her little brother if he got in trouble was enough to make him drop the argument.

Now he had people who would miss him so what's a few hours without them? He's willing to brave the hostility of stupid, mean villagers until he can prove himself to everybody. Especially with two people who already like him! Believe it!