I ran.

It was all I could do at the time. Furious shouts surrounded me. Glares and insults thrown toward me. I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing back tears.

Now was not the time to cry. Now was time to run.

"Naruto."

'What, Kurama? What do you want?'

"To help you." said the fox. "Now, an angry mob is following you so don't turn into that alley. It's a dead end."

'K. Thanks.'

I veered left, shooting down the empty streets. A majority of the mob was composed of civilians, so getting away was easy. 

The shinobi, on the other hand, were much harder to shake off.

I noticed that the handful of ninjas that liked to join in on the chase had taken to the rooftops. Of course.

They were so eager today. I was guessing it's because today was my birthday. The day Kurama was sealed inside me. The day my parents died. 

"They think we're demons..." Kurama's voice echoed in my head. "Nothing but monsters in their eyes. Tch. Typical humans."

'Talk about ignorant.' I answered, dashing out of the safety of the shadows. I only had to get to that one busy street, then they wouldn't dare bother me. I learned that years ago, as a five year old having to escape the same crowd chasing me today. The street I was aiming for was busy, bustling with shinobi and dangerously close to some of the high level clans. It was also relatively near the Hokage tower, so ANBU were often nearby. 

As foolish as these villagers were, they would cower at the wrath of the Third Hokage. 

I knew those persistent assholes were on to me as soon as I was in the open. They got close a few times, enough to make my heart pound out of my chest, but I was fast for someone only ten years old. I needed to be.

"Naruto."

"I know." I growled out loud, ducking away from the kunai thrown in my direction.

"You're still too far. I'll lend you a little chakra, just enough to make you pick up the pace."

'Thanks, Kurama.' I said as I sensed the newfound surge of power Kurama lent me. It wasn't much, but I was suddenly a hell lot faster than I was before.

At last, I made it. I breathed out a sigh of relief, though never letting my guard down. This area may have protected me from a beating, but it never protected me from the glares, the whispers. Getting tossed out of almost all the shops and cafes. My stomach felt hollow at the scent of barbecue wafting from the restaurants.

"Ichiraku again, eh?"

'Yep.' I smiled softly. Ramen was the best, and Teuchi and Ayame were kind. That's all I needed. Considering how I was normally treated, just being able to eat there without having to worry about being seen as an animal was a blessing I was grateful for. Just seeing my two favorite people, the ones who fed me when no one else did, filled me with a sort of happiness I thought had abandoned me.

'Honestly, without Ichiraku's, and you, Kurama, I'd probably never have a happy moment in my life.'

"We really having this conversation again."

'It's not your fault...'

"It really isn't my fault. I know that. But you also know that I'm the reason I'm one of your only friends, right?"

'Well...'

"Anyways, I've really taken a liking to those ramen people. Can't exactly say the same for Sandaime, though."

'If this is about the fact that he hasn't been of any help with the mobs-'

"It is. He should pay closer attention to you."

I sighed. 'You're right. We shouldn't be having this conversation. It's pointless, anyways. What am I going to do about it?'

Kurama stayed silent at this, which was unusual. I brushed it off and made my way to Ichiraku's, where I was once again greeted with friendly smiles and a steaming bowl of ramen. The only place I could ever be greeted like this. It made me so happy. So. Fucking. Happy.