Summary: The success of the Uchiha clan began with the Kyuubi and it will end with the Kyuubi.
Pairings: Sasu/Naru, Itachi/Naruto, Uchiha(s)/Naruto
Warnings: Yaoi, shouta for now.
Disclaimer: Don't own anything.
AN: A huge thank you to my two lovely editors: KYS (for short =P) and SleepyPanda! You guys are the best!
Prologue
"Happy Birthday, Sasuke-kun!"
The newly turned five-years-old looked at the happy faces surrounding him and couldn't help but smile.
"Make a wish, Otouto," said a voice from across the birthday boy.
Sasuke grinned and nodded at his Aniki. What should he wish for? After all, everything he wanted this year, he pretty much already unwrapped half an hour ago. Round eyes stared at the five candles burning brightly on his cake, before they closed and a huge breath of air blew out all the candles on the first try.
"Okay, let's cut the cake before the ice cream melts." His mother brought over a knife, and with her hand over his little one, they carefully made the first cut. Knowing his dislike of sweet things, she made sure to cut a small piece of the sherbet cake for Sasuke, before larger pieces were handed out to the servants of the Uchiha household.
"Did you have fun today, Sasuke?"
Her serious little boy looked up from a spoonful of sherbet and nodded happily. Remembering his manners, he swallowed the treat before he answered. "Hai; Aniki took me to the amusement park today! We even went on the roller coaster. Wasn't it fun, Aniki?" Little feet kicked the chair excitedly as he remembered the thrill of hanging upside down in the midair.
Mikoto smiled gratefully at her older son with a sigh of relief.
"But I still wish that Otou-sama and Okaa-san were there too." The second sulky comment squeezed her heart. "He's not even here now."
"Oh, Sasuke. Otou-san wouldn't miss your birthday for the world, but you know he's a very important man, and many important people around the world need to see him," a troubled Mikoto tried to explain to the five-year-old.
Like all other Uchiha, Sasuke was unusually perceptive for his age, and even though he tried not to show it, he was extremely sensitive about his father's attention. No matter how much he tried to hide it, she could always see the disappointment in his eyes when Fugaku missed his kendo competition or violin recital.
"Tell you what, Sasuke-chan. It's almost your bedtime, but I promise that when you wake up, Otou-san and Okaa-san will have a surprise for you, okay?"
Black eyes, identical to her own, looked up at her hopefully. "Will Otou-sama be there too when I wake up?"
"I promise that he will." Mikoto smiled and bent down to place a kiss on the unruly black hair. "Now run along to bed. The sooner you sleep, the sooner you'll wake up."
She giggled as the little boy bounced over to Itachi and practically dragged the older boy away. Shaking her head at Sasuke's antics, she set down her fork next to her plate of unfinished sherbet.
"Iruka-san."
"Hai." The young man bowed before the mistress of the house.
"I have to join my husband at the ambassador's dinner party. Please watch over Itachi and Sasuke while we are gone."
"Of course, Mikoto-sama."
~*~*~*~
"Do you really think Otou-sama will be here when I wake up Aniki?" an excited Sasuke asked as he pulled on his pyjamas.
"Silly Otouto. If Okaa-san promised, I'm sure he'll be home when you wake up." Itachi smirked as Sasuke yelled out indignantly as he received another flick to the forehead. "What did you wish for this year, Sasuke?"
"I wished for..." the little boy began eagerly, before he looked up suspiciously. "I can't tell you. Kakashi said that if you tell someone your wish, it'll never come true."
He watched in amusement as Sasuke purposefully turned his back on him, climbed to the middle of the huge bed and sank into fluffy pillows. No matter how serious the five-year-old tried to act, he was still a kid at heart. Reaching down, Itachi pulled the comforter up and reached out to turn off the bedside lamp before a small hand prevented him from moving.
"Yes Otouto?"
"Aniki, can you tell me a bedtime story please?" Sasuke murmured into his comforter in embarrassment.
He was a big boy now, and big boys shouldn't ask for bedtime stories like babies, but it was so long since Itachi had spent time with him like this.
Black eyes stared down at the little boy who refused to look at him. Sighing, he flicked the unprotected forehead and smirked when Sasuke rubbed the mark indignantly.
"I really shouldn't spoil you like this, but since it's your birthday..."
He wasn't prepared as the little boy lunged at him and settled in his lap with a big hug. If he had been anyone else, Itachi would have laughed as a look of dread suddenly made its way onto Sasuke's face before his little brother gingerly looked up at him for any signs of displeasure.
"Which story do you want to hear today?"
A big grin lit up Sasuke's face as the tense little shoulders relaxed, and he rested against Itachi, who leaned back against the headboards. "I want to hear about the Kyuubi no Yoko!"
A black eyebrow raised in surprise. "Aren't you tired of hearing about the Kyuubi?" The habit had developed when Sasuke was still in the crib; for an Uchiha baby he had been unusually vocal, and the only thing that could quiet him down were stories of the Kyuubi. Out of all the Japanese and Chinese folklores, the legends of the Kyuubi no Kitsune fascinated him the most.
"Nope! Never! Please Aniki," big black eyes looked at the older boy pleadingly in a rare moment of emotional display from the littlest Uchiha. Cold black eyes softened at the look, and a larger hand rubbed Sasuke's trademark black spikes.
"Fine, but you must promise to sleep afterwards."
"Hai!" The little boy promised as he snuggled back into the blankets and found a comfortable position where he could lie back and look at his Itachi at the same time.
"Once upon a time, hundreds of years ago, Tokyo was nothing more than a little village named Konoha. Back then, Konoha was made up of the Senju clan and the Uchiha clan. Uchiha Madara was the leader of the Uchiha clan. Life was very simple, hundreds of years ago. The men protected their homes and farmed and hunted for food while the women tended to the children and looked after their families. One year, the weather was particularly harsh, and the crops failed leaving many hungry in the village. To make sure their wives and children had enough to eat, the men went deeper and deeper into the forest looking for food. As the leader of the Uchiha, Madara felt it was his responsibility to take care of his clan. He was very worried about the hungry faces he saw everywhere, so one day, he decided to get up before anyone else in the village, and he went into the mountains by himself to look for food. In Japan, hundreds of years ago, the forests was home of many spirits and demons, and many brave men disappeared in the forest when they ventured in by themselves.
"Madara took his long katana. He also brought along his great bow and a quiver full of arrows. He bid his family farewell and passed his authority onto his younger twin brother, just in case he did not return. He entered the forest while the stars still dotted the sky, and he walked along the familiar path until the sun chased away the moon. On and on he walked until the sun was almost setting and he no longer recognized his surroundings, and still he did not encounter any animal he could kill for food. Just when we was about to give up and rest for the night, he heard a small cry." Itachi paused dramatically, and here Sasuke leaned closer in anticipation.
"He used all his skills as a shinobi and hunter, and made his way silently into deep foliage. Taking out his bow, he strung a long arrow and pulled until the bow and wire was taut, before he jumped into the clearing. However, the arrow was never released as he stumbled upon the most beautiful animal he had ever encountered. It was a fox the color of newly fallen snow; the thick pelt of the fox shimmered in the last rays of the sun and the rays painted slashes of fire across the soft fur. Even a seasoned hunter like Madara could not release the arrow that would take the life of such a stunning creature. He relaxed and set his weapons aside as he approached the fox, who looked at him with wary red eyes. He held out his hand to the fox as he slowly approached it, but the animal only growled deeply, yet it did not move away. Just when his fingers were able to pet the fox, it jerked away with a pained whine."
"Oh, what happened, Aniki?" Sasuke asked breathlessly as Itachi paused to take a drink. "Did Madara kill the Kyuubi?"
Itachi glared teasingly at his Otouto for interrupting, and the younger boy wisely closed his mouth.
"It was then that Madara noticed that one of the fox's legs was caught in nook created by the numerous tree roots. Sticky blood covered the slender leg and the bones were bent at an odd angle. In a sudden act of kindness, even though the fur from the fox could buy grain to feed the entire clan for a whole year, Madara took out his katana, and, in a single strike, cut off the roots that had trapped the beautiful snowy fox. Using his own drinking water, he washed away the blood on the fox's leg, and didn't even lift a hand to strike the fox as sharp teeth dug into his arm. Instead, he ripped a piece off of his own clothes and used it to tie the fox's leg after he set the bones together.
"Noticing that the human had no desire to hurt him, the fox slowly released his bite on Madara's arm and limped away from the hunter. Intelligent red eyes stared quizzically at Madara, and it was then that Madara noticed that it was no ordinary fox that he just saved. There, waving behind the fox, was not one tail, but nine great tails that fanned out. His eyes widened as he recalled the stories of the great fox youki from the Mainland. Powerful and beautiful, these playful spirits could take on shapes of humans and often passed their days playing tricks on their chosen humans.
"Not wishing to anger the youkai, Madara took out the last two onigiri he had and left them in front of the fox before he bowed towards the great fox. Picking up his bow and arrow he left the clearing, and decided to find a safe place where he could spend his night.
"Finally, he found an abandoned cave. Using sweet smelling grass, he made his bed, and he built a fire from the dried grass and twigs. Huddling close to the fire in the cold night, he sat down and tried to meditate. All this time, he was aware of the pair of red eyes that had followed him from the clearing. The fox had limped after the hunter and, when the fire was built, it stayed outside and peeked in curiously. The time passed slowly, and even a man like Madara could not keep his eyes open all through the night. Without him noticing, the hunter closed his eyes and drifted to sleep."
"And what happened to him, Aniki? Did the fox eat him?" Sasuke asked anxiously.
"When Madara finally opened his eyes again, he was shocked to find that he was sleeping right in front of Konoha, and the sun was just about to rise. What surprised him even more, was the large deer and ten sacks of rice that were piled close to his body. He was so shocked by the sudden gift, that he never noticed the pair of red eyes that was spying on him from off the road. When the villagers found it, they proclaimed Madara as their saviour for bringing home the much needed food. That evening, everyone in the village feasted on the food that Madara had brought back. There was lots of dancing and singing as the villagers gathered together; no one noticed the white fox that snuck in and watched the humans curiously as they celebrated."
"And then?" Sasuke queried eagerly, now even more awake than before.
"You'll have to wait till next time to find out what happened." Itachi smirked at the downcast look on Sasuke's face. "Now, go to sleep and maybe I'll consider telling you the rest of the story later."
He had never seen Sasuke pull up the covers and close his eyes so fast in his life.
"Happy birthday, Otouto."
In a move uncharacteristic of him, the older boy bent down and gently touched the child's forehead with his thick carpet muffled his steps as he made his way out.
"Aniki?"
"Yes, Sasuke?"
"Do you still want to know what I wished for my birthday?" Sasuke asked, sleepily from bed.
"No, it won't come true if you tell someone, right Otouto?" The darkness hid his smile as he closed the door, just barely catching the "thank you" as the door clicked shut.
~*~*~*~
The house was dark and silent as a lone figure slipped into Fugaku's personal study. No one, not even the mistress of the house was allowed into this room. It was the only room in the entire manor that was not cleaned by the maids. The only time anyone was allowed in was in the company of the master. But tonight, was the perfect opportunity. It had been more than a month since both Mikoto and Fugaku were called away from the main Uchiha compound. No matter how busy the Prime Minister was, he always made sure that either he or Mikoto remained at the manor with the boys to prevent something like this from happening.
He didn't need the light to find his way across the floor. Kneeling down next to the third tatami from the left wall, he carefully placed the tray on the ground and felt for the small, discreet latch he knew was hidden in the tight crack. A tiny press of the cleverly hidden lever, and the tatami rose from the ground smoothly and silently. It was a well maintained trap door, despite how rarely it was used. A set of stairs were uncovered one by one; the candles on the way lit and shone a weak pool of orange on the stone stairs. Picking up his tray, the figure took one last look around the study before he took the first step down.
As his head cleared the ground level, the tatami lowered automatically erasing all evidence of any presence in the study.
The stone walls echoed with each step he took. For an underground pathway that had existed for as long as the Uchiha clan, it was surprisingly clean and dry. He continued on the way down to the bottom, where a plain shoji screen door blocked his way.
"Itachi-sama." The door opened and Iruka walked out with an empty tray. "I did not expect to see you here."
"Indeed."
"Your father will be very angry if he finds out."
"Then I must take every precaution to make sure he doesn't, right Iruka-san?"
Cold, blank eyes stared up at the butler. Even though Iruka was at least ten years older, he couldn't help the shiver of fear that ran down his spine.
"Yes, Itachi-sama."
Bowing respectfully to the young master, Iruka left the room and closed the shoji doors after Itachi went in.
The room was originally an underground cave beneath the Uchiha compound. Centuries ago, it was used for secret clan meetings, but it had been converted long ago to a single large room for the purpose of containing one being. Traditional brush paintings decorated the shoji screens along all four walls. Art from famous ancient masters lined the screens; pictures depicting the legend of the Kyuubi no Kitsune in all its forms; from the fearsome nine-tailed fox demon to the beautiful red headed goddess, to the enchanting blond child. His socked feet made no noise as they padded quietly across the intricately carved wooden floors towards the center, where a lump was covered by blankets made from the luxurious black furs.
"Time to get up, Naruto-kun," Itachi said softly, placing the tray on the floor.
The form under the cover shifted slightly, but otherwise stayed the same.
"I brought your favourite, miso ramen..."
The words were barely out of his mouth before the furs were shoved off to the side and a small body covered in a white silk yukata lunged itself at Itachi. Soft blond spikes tickled his chin as a child, no older than Sasuke, rubbed his cheek against Itachi's chest.
"Ramen!"
A skinny arm shot out to grab the bowl, but blue eyes frowned in disappointment as strong arms pulled him back against a hard chest. "Itachi, please?" Wide eyes looked up pleadingly into the unmoving face.
"Aren't you forgetting something Naruto?"
Dark, smouldering eyes looked down at the young face, as blue eyes widened in realization. Blond eyelashes caressed smooth, round cheeks as the blue eyes lowered shyly. A hint of sapphire looked up at him beneath a fringe of gold, and a pink tongue peeked out between petal-soft lips. The wide sleeves of the yukata slid off as arms wound around Itachi's body and the soft silken skin rubbed against his neck. A hint of warm wetness caressed his pulse before the mischievous tongue followed the pale column until it reached up to corner of his mouth. A butterfly kiss was pressed against his own lips, and Itachi couldn't help but lean forward even as the boy moved back after giving Itachi one last lick.
"Arigatou, Itachi-sama." Warm breath caressed his skin as the last reminder of the kiss.
The small body settled into his lap and the quick little hands grabbed the bowl of warm ramen before Itachi could recover, and Naruto was happily slurping the ramen when the older boy finally noticed that the warm, enticing body was no longer pressed against his own.
"What's the special occasion?" Naruto asked between flying pieces of soup and noodle.
"It's Sasuke's fifth birthday today." Dark eyes closed as he gathered Naruto close to his body as the slurping slowed.
"So, it's been another year already."
The almost empty bowl was placed on the floor gently, all appetite gone.
"Will I be meeting him then?"
"Do you want to meet him?"
The arm tightened possessively around him and Naruto sighed at the Uchiha behaviour.
"When did it ever matter what I want? No one has cared about that for centuries."
"He asked for you today."
"Did he now?" Naruto stared at the paintings blankly, his hands playing with the jade bracelets around his wrists. "And what did you tell him?"
"I told him the story of how you saved the Uchiha clan."
"Ah, and did you tell him the rest of the story?" the blond-haired child asked bitterly.
"No..."
"I should have let you all die. I should never have saved that man."
The Uchiha gathered the small trembling body close; a pale hand reached down and combed through the blond spikes, gently massaging the tense body he held in his arms, trying to chase away the acrimonious memories. His hands moved from the soft spikes and travelled down to the slim neck, rubbing away the tense muscles. It was then that he finally noticed the bruise marring the perfect tanned skin.
Naruto was forcefully brought out of his own thoughts as his yukata was roughly jerked off his shoulder, exposing his upper body to furious black eyes.
"He was here again, wasn't he?"
"So he was," the wide, innocent eyes narrowed. The childlike expression morphed as Naruto lay down bonelessly over his thighs. Arching his back, he gently exhaled through his mouth, the seductive eyes looking up into obsidian eyes in challenge.
"You're mine!"
In one graceful move, Itachi swept up the boy into his arms. The sash was loosened and the white yukata was removed until the child was naked in his arms. Nothing, he wanted nothing that reminded him of the other man, yet, the newly uncovered skin was still tarnished by bruises made from lips and fingers belonging to another.
The blond child tucked his face in the older boy's neck as he was carried away. He giggled softly as Itachi shivered when he breathed enticingly into the other boy's ear.
"That's what Fugaku said too."