A/N: This was written in response to a picture I was drawn at y!Gallery, by vampirekiss. *squees* It was so awesome! Basically the prompt was if Rin had died instead of Obito, and therefor Obito and Kakashi become permanent partners. This particular story comes from the picture, of what would happen if 3 yr old Sasuke met Obito. Go look at the picture! It's awesome!


"Yes Sasuke, that is Uchiha Obito."

Itachi smiled in tolerant amusement, following after his star struck younger brother as Sasuke ran up to Obito and Kakashi. Standing next to him, he shrugged sheepishly when Kakashi looked at him, his brothers mouth going a mile a minute, asking Obito everything from his favorite color to his favorite jutsu. Obito of course, with his legendary carefree attitude, was answering every question, often with a blush, laugh, or huge smile.

Kakashi sidled a little closer to him, and Itachi cocked a cool eyebrow at the one eyed man.

"Sasuke seems to have a bit of hero worship, neh Itachi?" he said, with his weird eye smile.

Smirking a bit, Itachi and Kakashi followed the pair as they walked hand in hand, probably off to go get food. Sasuke had been complaining about being hungry, and the little monster could charm anyone into getting him what he wanted.

"Sasuke had admired Obito for a long time now," he admitted, but withheld the reason for it. Somewhere between the mission that took Kakashi's eye and Rin from them, then the Yondaime dying, Obito had been disowned from the Clan. What really made Sasuke - and even Itachi - admire the man, was that he was perfectly happy living in Konoha proper, and when the verdict was made, simply packed up his stuff and left the compound, never looking back.

Sasuke admired him for his freedom; as did Itachi. Though Itachi was a little more envious then Sasuke was. In fact, they weren't even supposed to be talking to Kakashi and Obito outside of their duties, but Sasuke was a bad influence on Itachi. The younger was a hellion, as independent as Obito was, and Itachi went willingly whenever Sasuke rebelled. Even with something as minor as talking to these two.

Kakashi made an amused hum low in his throat, and Itachi looked at him curiously. He was about to ask what the noise was for, when Sasuke ran up to them, grabbing both of their hands and dragging them to where Obito waited with a smug grin.

"Neh, aniki, Kakashi-san! Hurry up!" he whined, and bounced back over to Obito when he deemed the two were close enough. Obito gave them a sheepish grin, and laughed when Sasuke started talking again, dragging the older Uchiha into the restaurant.

All the adults pointedly ignored the married couple of their Clan that was in the restaurant that were glaring daggers at them, content with keeping Sasuke happily oblivious to the murderous glares.

It was strange…Itachi actually found himself enjoying the company. Kakashi had a dry sense of humor, and often some of the things he said caused Itachi and Obito to snort, even as Sasuke looked at them with the cutest, confused expression on his face. Obito was obviously having the time of his life, entertaining Sasuke with stories of missions, and even got Itachi to tell a few.

The only solemn moment, was when Sasuke asked them about the Yondaime. Kakashi sighed, and Obito gave the younger boy a small, melancholy smile, ruffling his hair.

"I'll let you in on a little secret, Sasuke," Obito said quietly, making the younger boy lean close, black eyes sparkling. "Namikaze Minato was one of the best men I have had the pleasure to know. He was strong and compassionate, and a really great teacher. He was one of the few men I respected as a man, and a shinobi."

Sasuke had taken this seriously, though his eyes were still wide and glittering with awe.

They didn't part until it was almost sundown, and only then because it was time for Sasuke to get cleaned up and go to bed. He was only three after all.

They weren't far from the compound when Obito put a hand on his shoulder, giving Itachi a sincere smile.

"We should hang out more often. You two aren't bad for Uchiha's," he said with a wink, and Itachi responded with a smirk, nodding his head.

Sasuke of course, pouted and whined at the two men, but even with his skills, he couldn't get either to agree to let him spend the night. Slinging Sasuke up onto his shoulders, they waved their goodbyes, and entered the gates.

A little later, after getting Sasuke bathed, Itachi tucked him into bed, when a sleepy voice stopped him at the door.

"Neh, aniki," Sasuke muttered, and then yawned. "I really like 'em. They're not bad people people say they are."

Smiling slightly, Itachi nodded, and an idea popped into his head. It would be good for Sasuke to have other role models besides Itachi…and Itachi wouldn't deny to himself that he wouldn't mind a few more friends.

"Maybe we'll find them tomorrow otouto, and see if they want to go to breakfast. How does that sound?"

"Yay!"

Itachi chuckled softly as Sasuke did a little dance under the covers, and walked over to him, kissing him again on the forehead. "Go to sleep otouto, and tomorrow will come quicker."

"Hai aniki!"

Itachi closed the door, and stood there for a moment. A smile quirked his lips, and he walked across the hallway into his room, shutting the door.

He was rather surprised to find that, like Sasuke, he couldn't wait for tomorrow either.