Title: Anarchy
Author: holmesfreak1412
Fandom: Naruto- Slight Alternate Universe
Pairing: Uchiha Sasuke & Hyuuga Hinata
Genre: Drama, Romance
Rating: T
Language: English
Summary: Of years in the shinobi world. They are just children after all. In which Uchiha Sasuke does what his nii-san could never hope to do. And Hyuuga Hinata accepts what, in another lifetime; she wouldn't have a chance to [Nonmassacre-AU]
Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Naruto franchise.
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Anarchy
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Part One
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The strong one doesn't win, they say, but it is paradoxically true nevertheless as in fact at a more shrewd contemplation, the one who wins in fact is strong. Drilled mentality since forever, strength should not be merely a predetermined destiny set to predict the outcome of a battle yet to begin. The Uchiha clan, wielder as they are of a superior birthright, should know this better than most— as their prided Sharingan leaves them sightless most of the time as their advantage wears on in battle. And yet, with their inherent complacence and a forgotten history of their own almost-extinction, they place themselves on a pedestal, believing themselves invincible and placing those they deem with merit as purely their tools. Itachi is their prodigy— because yes, he was born that. And merely hardworking Sasuke is but second best— just because he still has to work his sweat to be nearly as good. They never let the brothers spar— the latter is too young in any case— but they pronounce without a doubt and much thought the victor already. They don't take into account the things the future holds— that he might be able to kill him in a death match if needed!—, only the fact that at eight. Uchiha Itachi has activated the Sharingan and Sasuke is yet to show any genius from his part. The Uchiha values strength. But the glaring truth is that, in reality they don't see it for what it is.
Uchiha Itachi: ANBU Captain at thirteen, sharingan extraordinaire, revered genius of the clan. The supposed embodiment of what strength and power is. And yet as he doggedly follows orders from those above him, he likewise labels himself a killer and acts like one. Uchiha Itachi. The name is already synonymous to Death itself. Who at eight killed his first man. Who at thirteen kills more at a daily basis. Itachi, who never lost sleep over this. Itachi, who is a shinobi first of all. Ironically enough, these otherwise admirable traits for the mainstream are what that makes strong, prodigy, ANBU captain Uchiha Itachi-oniisan all the weaker in Sasuke's eyes.
When that morning, he fails to poke Sasuke between the eyes like he used to when the (intentional) whines get too far, the little, disgruntled but unerringly observant otouto realizes that his beloved oniisan, with those dark pool of empty eyes and a scarred, stressed countenance, might just be gone for good.
Itachi is fourteen. Sasuke is seven.
They practically are just children.
But then again between them lies, the line of superiority where the strong and the weak are forced to coexist and compete. In this, as the merely talented, unaccelerated Academy student who couldn't even wield the Sharingan just yet, Uchiha Sasuke is deemed to have not a hope of ever surpassing his big brother. In their eyes, Itachi is and will always be the strong one, the future of this accursed shinobi world. To Sasuke's unparalled insight, he is certain that with all their coveted visual prowess, they must be blind.
Sasuke is strong too, he is certain. Just in the most unexpected way Itachi could never hope to be. And so, the younger Uchiha finds himself in a very headstrong resolve.
Enter Hyuuga Hinata from the Academy who unknowingly becomes more than just an odd, taciturn, white-eyed she-freak from his class when she bumps into him while in town, looking distraught and in tears. Her pale, thin arms are marred with what his sharp eye recognizes as training bruises, knees trembling as she begs apology and her eyes glazed with a look he knows he used to sport when shrouded in his inferiority complex, he didn't know any better just yet.
He knows that look well.
She stares up at him and there is undisguised fear in the way she regards him with her big, doe-like eyes. She is just a child too and yet without a care to the deplorable wince of pain she futilely tries to hide, they still make her bleed.
He heard once that the Hyuuga is a family of all-seeing, white-eyed bastards.
But like the Uchiha Clan, they might just as well be blind too. With her slight frame and rather timid demeanor, can't they see that this girl is just…
Pathetic, he huffs with forced disdain. Not for her though. After all, who is she but merely a misunderstood child just like him? Judging her wouldn't make him any better than those who he criticize after all. And you tell me you are training to be a kunoichi? Tch. Maybe you should just reconsider another career. You are too…
Her sobs come back with a vengeance but with such sufficient stifling that Sasuke is inclined to wonder whether she has already prepared herself of this. Perhaps, this kind of demeaning is no longer old news for her and although it doesn't get any easier than the first disappointing heartbreak, those choked expression of her grief is her way to cope. This reduction of her as the stuttering…. pathetic (limited kid vocabulary can only provide as much) mess before him irks him. And yet he finds himself understanding. She is just like him but so different at the same time. For the first time in his life, Sasuke feels like finally there is someone who can understand his pain.
Tomorrow is shuriken practice, he reminds her tad too civilly nevertheless because he is an Uchiha and he should be all business. Just be good and prove yourself. With your ocular advantage, surely you can manage eh?
Because as far as he can tell with them being classmates, Hyuuga Hinata is more capable than they dare give her credit for.
She looks up at him in surprise.
You're good, he reassures her shortly and walks away.
And she is.
The next day, she hits every target right on the mark. Their classmates gasp. The onlookers applaud. Iruka fervently nods his head approvingly.
But her exhilarated expression tells the contrary of her achievement. Sasuke can easily tell why. Her movements, while precise and the textbook example of perfect marksmanship, is too calculated and lacked the fluid grace a real shinobi is defined as. Each shot has dependently bordered on minute calculation, a luxury one may not have during a battle of reflexes. An apprehensive glance is cast towards him… HIM! And as pale, almost-lavender eyes hold his obsidian ones, Sasuke knows. Yes. He knows.
Coming in second to him in today's activity will not spare her pretty face from the beating he knows she inevitably receives when she fails to be good enough— which is the best.
Maybe she also has a genius, older brother as well?
He deliberately misses all the targets during his laughably, most anticipated turn. One of them even straying as far as to graze Iruka's ponytail. This time the collective gasps is more audible. The dobe laughs. Iruka looks confusedly dazed, his eyebrows twitching.
Hinata's eyes are wide with a mixed expression of relief and shock. The temerity of this girl… manipulating him with that puppy-dog look to do what she wished him to. Uncanny. Surprisingly enough, he finds himself not minding.
When the next day he sees her glowing more than usual (prettier too but he shall never admit that), he has the growing inkling that he did save her.
And that is when he came into an epiphany.
Itachi was eight when he killed his first man.
But Sasuke is seven when he first saved a life.
From her seat at the corner, Hinata smiles. Sasuke… smiles back,
(TBC)
AN: Written after re-watching Naruto Season Three after seven years, I have started to wonder (like most) what it would be like if the Uchiha were not slaughtered because face it… I don't think it will be entirely unicorns and rainbows. Sasuke is insecure of Itachi, a fact that the latter acknowledged himself so I am taking liberty of expanding it and including in the mix my current favorite couple, SasuHina! Be warned though that I am incorporating some of the most overused plot device in the next chapters, namely the Hyuuga Massacre wherein I assure you that the plot thickens enough you can see it. This focuses however more in Sasuke's growing feelings about Hinata and why even with their roles reversed, they are perfect for each other. Too introspective it could be a little too much though.
As merely an aspiring writer with sub-par skills, I apologize for mistakes. This is UNBETAED.
This will have six chapters.
Please review.