CHAPTER 5: A Different Kind Of Life

A/N - Thank you guys for the support! Hiiro is a character some of you may recognise but not by name~ He is scarlet blaze from the Naruto online game, one of the five playable characters that follow along the main characters during the story~

"You look kinda lost, you know?" Naruto found himself growing accustomed to the sudden voice calling out to him and he turned to his right this time. The boy didn't seem to be any younger or older than him, about the same height as Naruto, the boy had a skinny frame that was swallowed up by the ragged clothes he wore and a messy mop of black hair that was knotted and tangled in multiple directions. His eyes were a warm shade of dark brown that made them seem almost red in the light of the red lanterns, only accentuated by the dark bags under his eyes. Naruto stuttered out a reply,

"Uh, I'm not really from here but I'm supposed to deliver this to..um."

"Madam Aiya?" The boy finished for him, stepping beside the blonde and pulling him down the path softly. "Yeah, sorry bout that. I was looking after the rest of the group and was late to the meeting stop. I was meant to take the delivery but I guess the old man just couldn't wait and you had to pick up my slack, eh?" Naruto didn't know how to respond. The casual tone and slang that the other used was so alien to him yet it felt nice. He found himself nodding as the other pulled him along the used dirt paths.

"Um, I'm-" he paused. If he told the other his name and got recognised, would he think differently of him? "I'm Ruto."

"Nice to meet ya, I'm Hiiro, the leader of the street kids down this street," his introduction was odd to Naruto, "what street you from?"

"Oh, I'm from outside the district," the moment Naruto revealed that Hiiro stopped walking.

"The hell are you doing here then?" Hiiro looked genuinely confused at the other, an eyebrow raised as he waited for Naruto's answer.

"I just, I guess I just needed an escape. You see my-"

"-It's fine man, I didn't mean to pry. Let's get this delivered before the Madam gets annoyed," Naruto was grateful for the interruption and the two started walking down the street again eventually reaching a beautifully decorated building with women in loose kimonos around the entrance. "We're here." Hiiro pointed out before waving his hand towards an older woman towards the back of the room and slung his other arm around Naruto's shoulder.

"There you are, Iro-kun," the woman came over to the two boys, her back straight and posture perfect as she held her head high. Despite obvious signs of aging the air around her was sophisticated and she emitted an aura of what Naruto could only describe as nobility. "And who might this be?" She asked, giving the blonde a small nod of acknowledgement.

"This is Ruto. Part of mine so don't go gettin' any ideas, Madam," Hiiro let a sly grin over his face as he handed the older woman the package and pulled Naruto closer towards him. Madam Aiya chuckled as she took the package and nodded slightly, she was so much like what Naruto would imagine a grandmother to act like.

"Of course not, my boy," she gave Naruto a knowing look yet he had no idea what the glint in her eyes meant, "Well it was lovely meeting you, Ruto, and I wish you the best of luck dealing with Iro-kun."

"Oh come on! I'm not that bad!" Madam Aiya let out a chuckle and covered her mouth with the elegantly decorated fan, her face a close eyed smile. "Let's go, Ruto," Naruto gave a slight wave at the woman before being dragged away by the black haired boy. The two walked without talking down the streets of the Red Light District, the chatter and bustle of the busy streets filling in the silence. It took Naruto a moment to realise that Hiiro's arm was still around his shoulder. He shook his shoulder slightly, hoping the other would get the hint only for Hiiro to make his hold stronger. "Just wait a little longer, Ruto," Naruto shivered at Hiiro's low voice as the boy muttered under his breath. He pulled the blonde into an alley then an old decrepit house with blankets strewn across the supposed living room.

Naruto let out a subtle sigh as Hiiro released him from his grip, said boy flopping down into a pile of blankets, gesturing for Naruto to take a seat as he did so.

"You need to be careful, Ruto," he had Naruto's attention, "What do you think about the Red Light District right now?" Naruto for a moment, his brows burrowing.

"It's pretty, the people seem nice to," Hiiro let a dry laugh escape his lips at the blonde's response. "What? Am I wrong?" Naruto seemed offended at the other's dismissal.

"You're so naive, has anyone ever told you that?" Naruto looked stunned. In fact, no. No one had ever dared to say that to him. The words of the villagers were always praise and worship, nothing less. Even Kushina and Minato had never been so blunt with him.

"Excuse me?"

"I said you're naive, Ruto," Hiiro repeated, glaring at the blonde. "You're so trusting it's obvious that you're not from here. From the hope in your eyes to how openly you display your emotions." A chill ran through naruto's spine as Hiiro's tone grew icy. "The people here are bad and they love kids like you."

"What are you talking about?" Naruto flinched as Hiiro sat up abruptly.

"Do you know what ya delivered in that package?"

"...no?"

"Drugs, Ruto. they were drugs." Naruto's jaw slackened and he looked shocked at the other. "This isn't all lanterns and happy people, this is a hub for the illegal businesses of the village and we kids that are trapped here are the eyes of the village," Hiiro shuffled over towards where Naruto sat, the blonde trying to back away only to be trapped by the wall, "and ya know what they do to kids like you?" Naruto let a coarse squeak as he hugged himself. "They-"

"Iro-nii!" A chorus of voices interrupted Hiiro and he leaned back from the frightened blonde. Two brown blobs sped through the door and slammed full force into Hiiro's back, sending him sprawling across Naruto. "I told you he'd be back!" one blur spoke. The two kids were definitely younger than Hiiro and Naruto, around eight years old perhaps?

"Get off me you brats," Hiro scolded them but his tone was still warm, the word only said halfheartedly.

Naruto spent the next few hours watching as the trio interacted, playful yet careful not to overstep boundaries, eventually dragging Naruto into their banter. The blonde found the three to be different to what he was used to and ended up enjoying himself much more than he imagined. The old decrepit house was warm and felt like home, no stifling atmosphere making the air heavy like the one that constantly surrounded Minato and Kushina's home.

"C-can I come back?" the three went silent as Naruto spoke, the words escaping him before he could stop himself.

"You're leavin', Nii-nii?"

"Ah, Ruto had a place he has to go back to and stay," Hiiro explained to the two. The four were laid across the masses of blankets in the living room, Naruto having to share with Hiiro. "But he can come back, on one condition," he turned his gaze to Naruto and looked at his brown-red eyes with the clear blue orbs of Naruto's eyes. "He can only trust me, isn't that right you two?" the two kids looked at Naruto expectantly.

"Definitely! The people here are bad and Ruto-nii would be stupid to trust anyone but Hiiro-nii!" the shorter of the two kids spoke nonchalantly, as if stating the obvious. Naruto felt himself blush in light embarrassment and Hiiro gave him a knowing grin.

"O-of course!" he said matter of factly.

"It's decided then. Welcome, Ruto," Hiiro ruffled Naruto's already messy hair, the blonde whining as he tried to swat the other's hand away. "Speaking of having to go back, the sun is gonna come up soon." Naruto jolted to his feet at the revelation, having not realised how much time had passed.

"Oh, shit!" Hiiro laughed at the other's expense and got up

"You two get some sleep. I'll be back after taking Ruto where he needs to go," the two kids nodded in unison as Hiiro led Naruto outside and a familiar silence fell between the two. Although, the silence isn't awkward this time, rather it was a comforting silence.

"Thank you," Hiiro turned to Naruto as they reached the last street of the Red Light District before the normal streets of the village began. "I mean it and if you're ever in trouble please tell me, I promise i can help." The streets were almost empty, the stray vendor closing shop not paying any mind to the two pre-teens, as the sunlight was just barely visible over the buildings of the village signaling the night's end.

"Just get home safe, Ruto," Hiiro huffed, ruffling the other's hair once more much to Naruto's annoyance. He grumbled out a half hearted 'stop it', finding himself beginning to like Hiiro's habit. "See ya soon maybe." Naruto watched as the boy walked off, offering him a back handed wave before disappearing behind a corner.