A/N:
Neko-chan: This is my first fan fiction. So please be gentle. I appreciate all reviews. I also don't shy away from constructive criticism. ^.^ And this is my wolf-counterpart, Ookami-chan.
Ookami-chan: Yo. Sup Guys!
Neko-chan: Hey Ookami-chan?
Ookami-chan: Yes Neko-chan?
Neko-chan: Can you please do the disclaimer for me?
Ookami-chan: Sure Neko-chan. Naruto is expressly owned by Masashi Kishimoto. Neko-chan does not own the rights to Naruto. She does, however, totally own adorable and friendly Sasuke and this is whole ninjaless world.
Neko-chan: Arigatou Ookami-chan. You did a great job. Here's a cookie for your efforts.
Ookami-chan: Yay! Arigatou Neko-chan! *munches on cookie with a blissful expression*
Neko-chan: Thanks everybody! Now please enjoy! ^.^
Sky blue eyes drifted uneasily from face to face as the crowd of angry people closed in on him. The people closest to him reached out to yank his spikey, blonde, unkempt hair in an attempt to bring him closer to their bats and knives. The frantic blonde leaped back and pulled his hair and clothes from their vice-like grips. He jumped up and grabbed the ladder of the balcony to make his escape.
As he was about to swing his legs up and over the metal railing, two meaty hands grabbed his foot and slammed him back to the dirty alley floor. His head bashed against the ground and he groaned in pain. He tried to get up, but the dizziness from the crash forced him to his knees. The same meaty hands that pulled him back down to earth, reached for him again. The man slammed the blonde into the brick wall behind him. The giant bulk of a person pinned him to the wall and the mob converged upon him. The first guy cocked his fist and pummeled it into the nine-year-old's gut. The small blonde convulsed against the wall and blood was forced from his mouth.
The next attack came from his next-door neighbors. With a mad gleam in her eye, Mrs. Grey glared at the blue-eyed boy and sliced his arm from elbow to wrist. Her next slice started at his throat and ended at his abdomen. She smirked as he whimpered in agony and silent tears flowed down his cheeks. Her final cuts carved three lines on each of his cheeks. Her husband took his turn with less finesse than his wife. He took his bat and repeatedly beat the blue-eyed boy's right leg. His eyesight began to blur as the blood loss became too much. The boy fought to stay conscious. He knew the moment he gave up, the mob would be worked into an even more violent frenzy.
20 minutes later…
Most of the mob had backed up to the entrance of the alley. While they were no longer part of the violence taking place, that didn't stop them from glaring and screaming profanities at the boy still pinned to the wall. The meaty-handed man finally released his hold on the hated child. The boy slumped to the ground, his breathing shallow. The bulky man glared at the quivering child and with a voice that barely concealed his rage and contempt for the blonde child said, "You're lucky we decided to let you live through this year. Next year, you won't be as lucky Demon Monster."
The blonde boy attempted to lift his head. Unable to do more than that, the boy stared at the man. One overzealous member of the mob took one look at the small child and hated the defiant look in his eyes. He yelled, "Die Demon Monster of Konoha!" He threw the knife in his hand blade first towards the blue-eyed child. The defiant look never left the boy's eyes even with his impending death flying straight at him. There was a flash of navy blue and the knife veered off course. The blonde lifted his head a little higher to see what happened. His eyes widened as he saw a small black-haired boy standing in front of him with his arms spread wide. The meaty-man looked surprised at the boy's sudden appearance. The man who threw the knife yelled, "Get out of the way boy. We need to finish teaching this demon a lesson!"
The new boy glared at the man and said calmly, "Leave now or you will have to answer to Sasuke Uchiha." The mob backed away, shocked. The stupidly brave man, who had thrown the knife, stepped forward and sneered at the newcomer. He said, "Who cares who you are? What makes you so special?" Sasuke looked at the man and smirked. "What makes me so special?" he questioned, "I am not special. But Fugaku Uchiha, mayor of this town and my father and Itachi Uchiha, Chief of Police and my brother, might have something to say about you people killing a boy who happens to be the same age as their son and brother, don't you think?" The man backed away slowly to join the rest of the once angry mob. "Now leave this boy alone!" commanded the youngest Uchiha. With a final glare from Sasuke, the mob took off running back to their respective homes.
With a sigh, Sasuke turned toward the beaten boy. He gasped loudly when he saw the blonde boy standing up and leaning against the wall. Sasuke could see the pain and mistrust in the nearly-dead boy's eyes. Uchiha flinched at the boy's look and wondered why the boy's wariness hurt him so much. "Please. I won't hurt you. Tell me your name," Sasuke said softly. The blonde stared at the Uchiha for a good minute. He pushed himself off the wall and started to walk out of the alleyway. He managed seven steps before his eyesight blurred once more and he pitched forward. Sasuke ran towards the boy and caught him before he hit the ground.
The Uchiha looked at the boy and was shocked to see tears of joy, sadness, and pain in the blonde's eyes. Sasuke noticed the blue-eyed boy's lips moving and moved closer to his mouth. His eyes widened as he heard the blonde's whispered words. "My name is Naruto Uzumaki and I thank you for saving my life." Naruto closed his eyes and gave into the sweet, blissful darkness of oblivion. Sasuke checked for Naruto's heartbeat to ensure he was still breathing and pulled his cellphone from his back pocket. He dialed a number and waited patiently for someone to pick up. He heard a single click, and someone said, "Hello?" Sasuke frantically breathed, "Come to the alleyway between those two really old apartment buildings on the bad side of town. Please hurry!" The next question sounded confused as the man on the phone asked, "Sasuke? What are you…?" The Uchiha boy didn't hear the rest of the question before he hung up.
He continued to hold Naruto in his arms, adjusting only slightly to make himself more comfortable for the long wait. He reached his arm around and pushed the blonde's blood-stained hair out of the way and brushed his lips across the unconscious boy's forehead. Sasuke jerked back in shock. Naruto was burning up. Sasuke took off his backpack and pulled out a half-empty water bottle. He looked around to see if he could spot any fabric he could wet and use as a cold compress. When he didn't see anything, he ripped off a large chunk of fabric from his shorts and soaked it with the water. He gently placed the cool cloth on Naruto's forehead. He heard Naruto give a quick intake of breath before sighing as the cold compress began to relieve his pain-ridden head. The blue-eyed boy's breathing became less shallow and he fell into a deeper state of sleep. Sasuke sighed in relief that one crisis had been averted.
He maneuvered Naruto into a more comfortable position with his own lap becoming the blonde's pillow. The Uchiha, bored with waiting and still more than worried about his new friend, reached into his backpack once more and found a couple of wet naps. Using the sodden mini-napkins, he carefully and gently began cleaning the blood from Naruto's body. When the job was done to the best of his ability, he leaned back on his arms and watched the darkening sky.
A few more minutes passed, and the sound of a car engine could be heard coming closer. Sasuke looked towards the entryway of the alley and saw a police car pull up with its lights flashing. The Uchiha watched as a man who looked like an older version of him stepped out of the car. The black-haired boy called out, "Itachi! Please help me! We need to get this boy to a hospital fast!" Itachi sprinted towards Sasuke and looked apprehensively down at the small, pale blonde. A mixture of shock and recognition passed hurriedly across his face, but was covered up by the worry he held for the severely injured boy. Itachi looked at his little brother and saw tears welling up in the nine-year-olds' eyes.
Calm and collected on the outside, but semi-freaking out on the inside, Itachi said, "Ok, let's hurry. We'll get him the medical help he needs." Sasuke nodded sharply and helped lift Naruto into his brother's waiting arms. Itachi walked carefully to the car in an attempt to avoid aggravating the blonde's injuries further. He gently placed Naruto onto the backseat and padded him with towels and various blankets to keep him comfortable. Itachi said, "Sasuke, ride in the back and hold him steady." The youngest Uchiha nodded determinedly and climbed into the back seat. He arranged Naruto's head back onto his lap and pushed the reddened hair away from the boy's paling face with a gentle brush of his fingers.
Itachi sat in the driver's seat with a soft smile. He glanced at the back seat and noticed the gentle and caring look on his little brother's face as his small fingers caressed the blonde's cheeks. He had never seen Sasuke act so caring towards someone not in the Uchiha family. Itachi diverted his eyes back to the windshield and closed his door. He turned on the siren and the flashing lights and sped off the nearest hospital in the hopes that when they finally arrived, it wouldn't be too late.