Hiro lay on his back, staring up at the ceiling, taking a deep breath as he reflected, "What a meaningless life."
The room was quiet—too quiet. The faint sound of the night breeze brushing against the window felt distant, almost hollow.
Shadows stretched across the ceiling as the dim light flickered slightly, giving the space a lonely atmosphere.
Memories of his childhood came flooding back, filled with moments of joy spent playing with his mother. Those were the best times of his life.
As a child, Hiro enjoyed countless playful moments with his mother, while his father, though strict in demeanor, had a soft heart. He often surprised Hiro with snacks and toys he brought home from various places.
Hiro could still remember the way his father would pretend to be serious, only to reveal a hidden treat from behind his back. His mother would laugh softly at their antics, her warm eyes always filled with affection.
Family trips were always exciting for Hiro; he loved exploring new places and truly felt happy alongside his parents.
Those days felt bright and endless, like the sun would never set on their happiness.
But everything changed one night.
While they were traveling, a peaceful evening was shattered by a sudden explosion that sent Hiro rushing to hug his mother tightly, fearing for their safety.
His mother's anxiety was palpable, yet she tried to remain strong to reassure him.
The scent of smoke filled the air. The ground trembled violently. Horses neighed in panic, and frightened voices echoed throughout the area.
His father's urgent voice echoed in the chaos as he called out, "Bandits are here!"
The protecting ninjas engaged in a fierce battle, but they were merely chunin and elite genin, easily overpowered by the bandits.
Steel clashed against steel. Flames lit up the dark sky. Screams pierced through the forest.
Watching this unfold, Hiro's father turned pale, his teeth clenched in determination as he grabbed Hiro and his mother, guiding them to a small hiding spot for protection.
Despite his own fear, he forced a smile and, with a deep voice, said a memorable line that Hiro still held onto:
"Hiro, keep living. I hope you live a full life without regrets."
With no regrets of his own, Hiro's father shared one last smile and a thumbs-up before rushing outside, leaving Hiro and his mother in tears.
Inside the cabin, Hiro's father retrieved a box hidden under the bed, filled with detonating talismans. His hands trembled slightly, yet his resolve never wavered.
As he prepared to face the bandits, he opened a locket to gaze at a family photo of happier times—himself, his wife, and their joyful son, Hiro.
He took one last look before dashing forward with the explosives, ultimately sacrificing himself in a massive explosion that shook the forest like an earthquake.
The blast tore through the night. Fire erupted, engulfing the cave and the surrounding woods, causing a frenzy outside.
Hiro and his mother were terrified by the chaos; she held him even tighter and whispered, "Don't be afraid, I'm still here."
Her voice trembled despite her attempt to sound calm.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps echoing in the corridor, sending fear coursing through her.
Gritting her teeth, she resolved, "Hiro, promise me you'll live well. I don't want you to be a hero; I just want you to live."
Hiro, filled with sorrow, vowed, "I will live, Mom, for your sake."
He hugged her tightly one last time before running into the forest, not daring to look back.
Behind him, he heard a scream and then a blast as he kept running.
Branches scratched against his skin. Tears blurred his vision. But he never stopped.
Hiro often reflected on his childhood, a mix of treasured and traumatic memories.
Now, he opened a small box containing his mother's belongings and his father's relics, smiling at a faded family photo from those days.
The edges of the photo were worn. The colors had faded with time. But the smiles remained unchanged.
After preparing a simple meal of plain rice and curry, he finished dinner and stepped outside for a walk.
The night air was cool against his skin, grounding him back to reality.
Passing by Ichiraku Ramen, he spotted Naruto with a happy grin, digging into a bowl of ramen.
Steam rose from the bowl as Naruto slurped noisily, completely immersed in his meal.
Hiro couldn't help but smile at his friend.
When Naruto noticed him and waved, Hiro turned away and walked off, leaving Naruto feeling puzzled and sad, wondering why his first friend was avoiding him.
He returned to his meal in silence.
Naruto had a vivid recollection of that day; it started like any other day.
He often faced mistreatment from the villagers and lacked friends his age.
However, one day, while wandering about, he bumped into Hiro.
Young Naruto was initially frightened, thinking he would be reprimanded.
To his surprise, Hiro responded softly, saying, "It's okay, it's no problem," which astonished Naruto.
Hiro's calm demeanor, free of disgust or anger, made Naruto feel a sense of excitement—finally, he had met someone he could talk to.
Eager to connect, Naruto invited Hiro to Ichiraku Ramen for a meal, shyly offering him half of his ramen with the question, "Can we be friends now?"
Hiro simply answered, "Maybe."
As Naruto introduced Hiro to ramen, he sheepishly admitted, "I don't have enough money for a full meal, just this half."
He looked hopefully at Hiro, who smiled back and enjoyed the ramen, giving a thumbs-up while saying, "It's really delicious, Naruto. Thanks for the treat."
This made Naruto beam with joy, grinning like a fool.
Then Hiro suggested ordering a full ramen set for Naruto, saying, "Hey, Naruto, accept my treat, and then we'll be friends."
Although Naruto considered refusing, his stomach let out a loud growl, causing his face to turn red with embarrassment.
Eventually, he happily devoured the ramen.
Once they finished, they stepped outside the shop.
Hiro reached out his hand and said, "I want to be your friend, Naruto."
Overwhelmed with emotion, Naruto wiped away tears of joy, cleaned his nose, shook Hiro's hand, and exclaimed, "We are friends forever!"
From that day on, Naruto and Hiro spent a lot of time together and became best friends.
They trained together, laughed together, and endured the villagers' cold stares side by side.
Hiro often helped Naruto with daily necessities, as Naruto faced the villagers' disdain, often finding expired goods sold to him at inflated prices.
Reflecting on the past brought a smile to Naruto's face, but he soon felt a wave of sadness, realizing he and Hiro had become strangers.
Noticing his gloom, the owner of Ichiraku Ramen and his daughter, Ayame, approached him.
When asked what was wrong, Naruto gave a foolish grin and replied that it was nothing.
Ayame kindly offered Naruto an extra dish to boost his energy, and he ate happily.
From a distance, Hiro saw Naruto's joy and smiled, hoping,
"I wish you could always smile like that, even if it feels impossible."
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