Naruto's POV

After yelling at the villagers, I ran off as I could feel the villagers cold stares and frowns on me. Tears began to fill the brim of my eyes, making me close my eyes tightly and run faster until I bumped into someone, sending both of us back on our sides.

"Ow..." I moaned in pain as I sat up while rubbing my head, my eyes still closed. "My, my... Aren't we in a hurry?"

"Huh?" I opened his eyes to see I had bumped into a woman. She had long green hair with a flower pattern headband, green eyes, and looked pretty young for her age. She wore a yellowish-tan dress with yellow shoes, white socks, and a brown bag with a flower design on it was draped over her body.

"You really should be aware of your surroundings, little boy," The woman stood to her feet and dusted the dirt off her dress. "You're not harmed, are you? Any injuries?" She asked, holding her hand out to me.

"Uh..." I stared at her as I couldn't find my words. I think the woman noticed because she started to giggle softly. "What's the matter? Cat got your tongue? Come on now. Stand up. You don't want to sit there in that dirt all day now, do you?" She asked, gently taking my hand.

She helped me to my feet and crouched down to dust the dirt off my clothes. "Well, you don't seem to have any injuries. Just some dirt." The woman informed me. I stared at her with a small frown, but blushed at her kindness.

"...Thank you..." I mumbled. "You're very welcome." She replied with a kind smile. When she was finished dusting me off, she rose to her feet. "Well, see you around." She said before walking off. As she did, she hummed a soft tune.

'She's... really nice.' I thought to myself before walking away with my hands in my pockets.

*****

Later that day, I laid in my bed as I stared up at my ceiling. It felt so boring in here with nothing to do. I sat up when my stomach growled. "I'm hungry." I mumbled to myself. I got off the bed and left my house to find something to eat.

I came across the ramen shop and took out some money to see how much I had, but it wasn't enough. I sighed and shoved the money back in my pocket. 'Now what?' I thought as my stomach growled again. "You sound hungry,"

"Huh?" I looked to my side and lifted my head as someone stood beside me. 'It's that woman again. The one I bumped into. What's she doing here?' I thought. "The ramen definitely smells good from this distance, wouldn't you agree?" The woman asked.

"I guess..." I mumbled. She looked at me and smiled. "Come on. Let's go eat." She said, leading the way inside. I watched her go and she stopped to look back at me. "Well? Aren't you coming?" She asked.

"Well..." I looked down, too embarrassed to tell her I didn't have the money to eat. "What's the matter? Aren't you hungry?" The woman asked as she stood in front of me in a crouching position. "I... don't have any money." I said with a blush.

The woman stared at me and giggled. "Silly boy, I'm going to pay for you. You didn't really think I was gonna let you pay for the food, did you?" She asked with a closed-eye smile. "Come on, let's go." She rose to her feet and took my hand before leading me inside the ramen shop.

After we ordered, I began to happily eat my ramen. "This ramen is delicious!" I cheered as I ate. "Amusing. Ramen must be your favorite food, huh?" The woman asked with a smile. "Mm-hm! It's the best!" I said with my mouth full of ramen.

The woman giggled. "Silly boy, you've gotten your face all dirty," She said. She grabbed a napkin and began to clean my face. "There. All clean." She smiled. I grinned at her and continued to eat my ramen.

I glanced at her and noticed she was smiling softly at me. "What's the matter, Lady? You're staring at me." I said. "Oh, it's nothing. I just noticed how cute you are." She commented. "Cute?" I repeated.

"Mm-hm. You're cute." She repeated. I blushed and looked down at my bowl of ramen. 'Cute?' I thought. "Ah, that's right," I looked at the woman as she began to speak. "We don't even know each other's names yet." She mentioned.

"Oh, yeah! My name is Naruto Uzumaki!" I introduced. She smiled warmly at me. "Naruto, huh? That's a nice name," She said. "What about you? What's your name?" I asked. "My name's Haru no Hana." She said. "Haru no Hana?" I repeated.

"Mm-hm. It means 'spring flower', but you can call me 'Haru'. Okay?" She said, closing her eyes with a smile. "Sure!" I gave nod while smiling at her.

When I was finished with my ramen, I felt satisfied and stuffed. "Thank you. Please come again." The old man at the ramen shop said after Haru paid.

"Thanks for lunch, Miss Haru!" I thanked her. "You're very welcome. I was happy to spend this time with you, Naruto." She replied. "Really?" I asked. "Of course. You're fun to be around. I hope we can hang out again sometime,"

Haru gently petted my head and smiled. "Bye-bye, now. Take care." She said before leaving. I smiled as she left, then went home, hoping to see her again someday.

*****

A week later, I got what I hoped for. I had painted graffiti all over the walls of the Leaf Village and I was proud of it. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki, and I'm going to be Hokage!" I called to everyone. I leaped from rooftop to rooftop while splashing paint everywhere.

I looked back to find myself being chased by some jonin. I quickly hid behind a wall and let them pass by. "Phew, that was a close one." I said to myself. I poked my head out in the open to make sure the coast was clear.

"Looks like you had a wild time." I heard someone say from behind me. I turned around and saw that it was Haru. "Miss Haru!" I cheered as I hugged her waist, happy to see her. "Greetings to you as well," She giggled as she placed her hands on my head and shoulders.

"Look at you. You've gotten yourself dirty."

"Huh?" I looked at myself, realizing I was covered in paint. "Oh, yeah. I was just doing some painting." I said. "On yourself?" Haru asked, giggling again. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up."

We went to her house so I could get cleaned up. "You have a nice house, Haru." I commented. "Oh, this isn't my house. I'm only staying here temporarily." Haru mentioned. "Temporarily?" I repeated.

"Yes. I'm a traveler, you see. I'm only staying here for a while. Come, the bathroom is this way."

She led me into the bathroom and I took off my clothes as she ran the bath water. "Upsy-daisy." Haru picked me up and placed me in the tub. She got on her knees and began to bathe me. "Hehehe... That tickles!" I laughed as Haru scrubbed behind my ear.

She giggled as I squirmed around. "Stay still, silly! You're splashing water everywhere!" Haru laughed. I tried to stay still for her as she continued to bathe me, but it was hard to because I was ticklish.

"How did you manage to get so much paint on you?" Haru asked as she scrubbed my back. "Hehe... I don't know." I said, smiling. She giggled and began to wash my hair. When she was finished, she pulled me out of the tub and had me sit in her lap so she could dry me off.

I smiled as Haru began to dry my hair. "You seem to be in a happy mood today." Haru mentioned. "It's because you're so nice. I've never had anyone so kind to me before." I admitted. "Well, they should. You're a very cute boy." She mentioned with a kind smile.

I blushed at her, then shyly looked at the floor. I stood on my feet as Haru stood to her feet as well. "Your clothes are dirty from the paint. I think I have some clothes for you. Come with me." She said. "She's has clothes for me?" I whispered before following her.

When we got to her room, she went into her closet and shuffled through some clothes until she found some. "Here, let's try these." Haru said. She began to dress me while humming to herself. "Wonderful! They fit you perfectly!" Haru cheered, happily as she clapped her hands together.

"Why do you have children clothes? Do you have any kids?" I asked. "No, no children. When I just see something I like, I buy it." She explained with a smile.

"You're really kind, Miss Haru." I said. She smiled at me again, but it faded shortly. "Naruto... There's something... that I must tell you," Haru said, sounding side. "I... have to go away for a while."

My heart chipped when she said that. "But why? Why do you have to go away?" I asked. "It's... complicated. But I promise we'll se each other." Haru said. "When will you come back?" I asked.

"I don't know. But I promise the moment I come back, I will find you." She vowed. "Promise?" I asked, holding out my pinkie finger. Haru smiled and entwined her pinkie with mine. "I promise." She said.

After my clothes were clean and we had lunch together, I walked with Haru to the gates. When we got there, Haru took a few steps outside the village, then stopped to turn and look at me. She gave me a smile as she waved me and I waved back.

She turned back around and walked away until she was out of sight.

After that, I never saw her again...