Mikoto Uchiha was ecstatic. Fugaku was happy too, but he wasn't as energetic as his wife. He knew that he had to prepare dinner that night, but he didn't complain. He folded the newspaper and placed it on the table and grumbled something which only he could hear. Mikoto was bouncing with joy and then it struck her. She had to share the news with her son, Itachi.

Itachi was four and a half, and he was already considered to be a prodigy among the Uchiha clan. His parents were proud of him, and so were the entire Uchiha clan. The village had high expectations from the son of the Uchiha clan head. Fugaku held his son, who was asleep in his arms. And with the commotion Mikoto was causing, he woke. And at first, he couldn't quite register what she was saying. She seemed too excited, and Itachi smiled at that.

"Mother? What happened?" He asked, unable to contain his curiosity.

"Oh Itachi!" She pulled him away from her husband and hugged her son, and Itachi giggled. "You're going to become a brother!" Itachi's eyes grew wide and he pulled away from his mother.

He blinked.

Mikoto chuckled, and kissed his forehead and nodded.

Itachi smiled widely and bellowed, "I'm going to look after him or her! I'll be the greatest brother ever!" Mikoto wailed, and hugged him even tighter.

There was one more thing Mikoto needed to do.

Tell everyone else.

She told Kushina already, as even she was pregnant. There was one more woman she knew who was carrying a child, more like twins, and Mikoto smiled at the thought of her. Trisha Ryuuga. Her best friend.

Trisha had a daughter who was around Itachi's age, and it was quite astonishing that the two children haven't met yet. Mikoto would change that.

She was going to invite Trisha and family over to the Uchiha's.

Trisha was shocked when Mikoto told her the news. Mikoto was an energetic woman, and Trisha couldn't help but laugh at her childishness. Mikoto carried Trisha's daughter, and kissed the girl's forehead. "You're going to meet Itachi, my son today, and you both will become the best of friends okay?" The young girl didn't know what else to do, so she just smiled.

That was probably enough for Mikoto.

"You're carrying twins aren't you Trisha?" Trisha sighed. "I don't know how I'm going to look after them, it's quite scary actually." Trisha admitted.

"Looking after them is nothing. Wait till you push them out." Mikoto winked and that sent a shiver down Trisha's spine. "Don't remind me." She grumbled.

Trisha's daughter was Kai, who Mikoto usually called 'Angel'. Kai was a shy, soft spoken and meek little girl, with green eyes and soft brown hair. She had naturally pink lips and there was always a soft pink hue on her cheeks.

"Kai is growing more beautiful each day, Trisha. I'm telling you, she's going to be quite a catch someday." Mikoto said, as she saw Kai eat her bowl of rice. Trisha smiled at her friend, and agreed quietly. "Say, let's make a deal?" Mikoto offered, and Trisha cocked an eye brow.

"Oh?"

"Your daughter marries my son. What say?" Trisha was speechless. She knew what pregnancy did to a woman, but this was insane. They were just four year olds.

"Mikoto, are you insane?" Trisha chuckled nervously.

"No! Itachi and Kai look perfect together! Just picture it Trisha! Itachi returns back from a day's work and Kai greets him with a kiss and their little kids running around hugging their father! Aw, it's just adorable!" Mikoto bellowed, and Trisha sighed. Trisha knew Mikoto was a future planner. Ever since they were kids, Mikoto would dream of weddings and having kids. The day she saw Fugaku, she dreamt of how they would marry, and look at them now. Trisha smiled.

That night, Trisha and Kai go to the Uchiha clan house. They're greeted by Mikoto and Fugaku and two little boys inside. Trisha recognized one to be Itachi and the other, Shisui, Itachi's cousin. They were just little boys and they were already inseparable. Kai held on to her mother's skirt, and looked nervous. "Aw! Kai, you don't have to be scared!" Mikoto said, pulling the little girl away from her mother and, "Itachi, Shisui, I want you to meet Kai Ryuuga. She's going to be your new friend." Mikoto winked at Trisha who sighed. Fugaku had no clue of what was happening.

"Hi! I'm Shisui, this is Itachi." The boy with the curly dark hair said. "I'm Kai." Kai smiled at them, and they smiled back. She looked at Itachi, and he said, "Nice to meet you."

Mikoto wailed, and Fugaku almost dropped his glass of water.

"You should stop yelling, or our child will turn into something we can't handle." Fugaku grumbled.

"Just imagine! In twenty years from now, Kai and Itachi will be married!" Mikoto said, giggled like a school girl.

Kai's face turned red immediately, and Shisui snickered.

Itachi, looked at Kai and looked away. He frowned.

Itachi Uchiha was the prodigy of the Uchiha clan. Even at a young age, he knew what burdens were upon him. He was constantly ushered by his father to become stronger, to become better. He was trying to convert Itachi from a boy directly to a man, with no strings attached. And Itachi couldn't complain. He trained hard each day, when boys and girls his age played around. He would sometimes see them laughing and running around, and he wondered what it was like to play ninja.

Itachi never played ninja. He was a ninja. He was the youngest student in his classroom.

Shisui was three years older than he was, and he too was his classmate.

Although his cousin didn't face the same burdens that Itachi faced.

Itachi was a child, and he knew that no child deserved such a lifestyle like his own.

Itachi was a child, and he knew he wasn't happy.

And he also knew, that he never could be.

He turned to see the girl next to him, and she smiled at her mother. Itachi frowned yet again. He didn't like it. He didn't like that the girl could be so happy, and here he was, failing to hold a smile for more than five seconds.

She seemed so happy, so carefree. As if she had no obligations she had to face. No pains or training she was put through. She wasn't forced into doing something she detested.

Itachi didn't like it one bit.

Didn't he too deserve a child's life? The one in which fun and frolic were involved? He had loving parents too didn't he? So why was his life any different from hers?

Shisui saw his cousin's face.

And he knew what Itachi was thinking. Shisui smiled to himself. Itachi might seem like he hates Kai, even though he just met her. But in reality, he wants to be happy. Just like her.