Chapter 4: Bonds Forged in Silence
Yuri wiped the sweat from his brow as he walked back to the orphanage after another exhausting training session. His body ached, but it was a satisfying ache—one that told him he was growing stronger. The streets of Konoha were quieter at this hour, the sun casting long shadows over the village. He enjoyed these moments of stillness, moments where he could simply exist without being reminded that he was an outsider in this world.
As he approached the orphanage, his sharp eyes quickly spotted Naruto sitting alone in the corner of the courtyard. The blonde boy sat hunched over, clutching a small bowl of rice, his tiny frame seeming even smaller in the dim light. Other children ran around, playing in their little groups, but none of them approached him. The adults nearby either ignored him or occasionally shot him wary glances.
Yuri sighed.
He understood the villagers' fear of the Nine-Tails, he really did. The destruction from the attack had left deep scars on the village. But what he could never understand was how they thought treating Naruto this way was a good idea. Did they not realize what they were doing? Did they not fear pushing him to the edge? He had thought the same thing while watching Naruto's story unfold in his past life.
Stepping forward, Yuri approached Naruto silently. The boy, too absorbed in his food, didn't notice him at first. It was only when Yuri spoke that Naruto's head snapped up in surprise.
"Hey, Naruto."
The moment Naruto saw him, his face lit up with joy. He dropped his bowl and jumped up, wrapping his small arms tightly around Yuri's waist. "Nii-chan! You're back!"
Yuri, caught off guard by the sudden hug, hesitated for a second before placing a hand on Naruto's head, ruffling his spiky hair. "Yeah, I'm back," he said with a small smile. He then pulled out a wrapped rice ball and handed it to Naruto. "Here. Eat this instead."
Naruto's eyes sparkled as he unwrapped the rice ball. "Thanks, Nii-chan!" he said, stuffing his mouth full. Yuri chuckled at the sight.
"Let's go eat on the rooftop," Yuri suggested. Naruto nodded eagerly.
Before heading up, Yuri turned to the other children in the orphanage and tossed them some snacks as well. He wasn't just kind to Naruto—he treated all the children fairly, and that was part of why they listened to him. It wasn't just fear that kept them from bullying Naruto; it was respect.
The rooftop was quiet, the cool evening air refreshing against their skin. Sitting side by side, Yuri and Naruto ate in comfortable silence.
After a while, Naruto turned to Yuri, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Nii-chan, how was the Ninja Academy today?"
Yuri swallowed a bite of his food and smirked. "It was… so-so. Met a lot of rich kids. And one particular genius."
Naruto's eyes widened. "Better than you, Nii-chan?"
Yuri let out a small laugh and ruffled Naruto's hair again. "Yeah, Naruto. He's better than me. And he carries a much heavier burden than I do."
Naruto tilted his head in confusion but didn't question it further. Instead, he continued talking about his day—how he played by himself, how the orphanage caretaker scolded him for sneaking extra food, how he dreamed of becoming Hokage.
Yuri simply listened.
By the time Naruto finished rambling, his eyelids were drooping. Within minutes, he had dozed off, his small body leaning against Yuri's side. With a small sigh, Yuri picked him up and carried him back to their shared room.
Yuri and Naruto were assigned the same room for one simple reason: no one else wanted to be in the same room with them. The other kids were scared of Yuri—especially his unnerving smile. And no one wanted to be in the same room with Naruto because of what the adults whispered about him.
Laying Naruto down on the futon, Yuri covered him with a blanket before sitting down cross-legged on the floor. As the moonlight streamed through the window, he closed his eyes and began his meditation before he sleeps.
Meditation had always been part of his hobbies in this world with the absence of the internet and gadgets. It helped clear his mind, sharpen his senses, and prepare him for the day ahead. Early in the morning, he stepped outside to train his stamina, running laps and practicing his movement drills before heading back inside to wake Naruto for breakfast.
At the Academy, Yuri dressed in his usual black attire—a black shirt, black cargo pants, and ninja sandals. He also wore a pair of glasses. He didn't need them, but it had become a habit from his past life. Something about wearing glasses while studying just felt right.
He sat at the back of the classroom, listening to the lectures with mild boredom. Occasionally, he noticed glances being thrown his way—mostly from the girls. It didn't take long for rumors to spread, and soon, the class had started calling him and Itachi the 'Dark Duo.'
Months passed, and during that time, Yuri and Itachi grew close. Every evening after classes, Yuri would accompany Itachi to train in shuriken throwing. It was during one of these evenings at the Uchiha compound that Yuri made a suggestion.
"Hey, Itachi. Let's have a short spar."
Itachi looked at him, then gave a small nod. "Alright."
They took their positions.
The moment their spar began, Itachi lunged forward with a punch. Yuri sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the strike, then countered with an axe kick. Itachi rolled away, regaining his footing with a cartwheel. Before he could fully stand, Yuri was already on him, striking from above. Itachi barely dodged, retaliating with a swift counterattack. Yuri twisted his body mid-air to evade, then sent a hook kick towards Itachi's side. Itachi barely blocked it in time.
Both of them stepped back, breathing slightly heavier.
Then, at the same time, they moved again. Itachi aimed a front kick, but Yuri leaped back to minimize the damage. They continued exchanging blows for what felt like hours, each move calculated, each attack countered.
By the time they stopped, the sun was beginning to set.
Yuri stretched his arms and sighed. "I'm heading out, Itachi."
Itachi gave a small nod. "See you tomorrow."
Leaving the compound, Yuri made his way to Teuchi's ramen stand, where he found Naruto happily slurping down a bowl of ramen.
Naruto looked up and grinned. "Nii-chan!"
Yuri smiled as he ruffled Naruto's hair.
Over time, Naruto had become friends with Teuchi and Ayame, and so had Yuri. He had even started helping out at the stand occasionally, earning a bit of pocket money in the process.
As he sat down beside Naruto, listening to him ramble excitedly about his day, Yuri felt something he hadn't in a long time.
Chapter End.