Brothers
Sasuke trotted beside Itachi in an effort to keep up with his brother's long strides. It was rare when Itachi had the time to walk him to school, he didn't mind that he would be getting there an hour before anyone else. He chattered away merrily about the things he was learning in class as his brother she smiled and nodded. All too soon they reached the school grounds and Sasuke tried to persuade Itachi into staying with him just a little longer. But for all his efforts he received a light jab to the forehead and an apology, saying he'd make it up to him later.
He watched Itachi walk back down the road and into the dim light of dawn. He absolutely hated it when Itachi would poke him in the forehead; it made him feel like a little kid and the pout he currently wore aside, he was not a little kid anymore. Well, at least he could get some practice in before the screaming banshees who liked to proclaim their love for him showed up. He turned around as he lost sight of his brother only to see Naruto looking at him curiously from where he sat on the swing.
Naruto was a loud and obnoxious kid who was always challenging him and failing miserably. His lack of any ninja talent along with his unnerving desire to wear bright orange meant that he would probably have a very short life span as a shinobi. Though he did have to hand it to Naruto, he never saw him give up in anything he did and this was the first time he had ever seen the boy frown and frankly it was creeping him out.
"What?" he asked harshly.
Instead of indigence like he expected, Naruto maintained his thoughtful frown. "What's it like having a brother?" he asked so quietly that Sasuke almost didn't hear him.
Sasuke snorted, Naruto just kept reaching new levels of stupidity. He shook his head and walked away without answering the boy. He didn't take a second to remember that Naruto didn't have a family and never had. He didn't wonder why Naruto was at the academy so early before everyone else or how often he did get to school so early. He didn't stop to think about how in a few months' time he would be just as lonely as Naruto had been his whole life.
