"I'm dying." It was a statement, said with such bland conviction, that it left the other without a doubt that he was not asking a question. But the other answered anyway.
"No you're not." I won't let you.
The next day, the other found him kneeling in front of the Memorial Stone dressed fully in white and Chrysanthemums in his hair.
He stood before the Hokage with certain stillness that distinctly reminded the old man of one of those cherubs carved from marble that stood watching over the dead at the cemetery. The Hokage felt rather old at that moment, as he peered down at the child. Yet another was going to die too young, much too young.
This one was a genius, much like his elder brother, but also much different. They were both quiet, but Itachi was solemn in his silence, as if he didn't want to disturb what may be there. The child in front of him had no such reservations, but he was quiet with an odd look in his eyes as if he saw things others didn't notice and heard things when there was nothing to hear.
The Hokage was against this. They were not currently having a war so there was no need for children to graduate early. But this child had already learnt all there was to learn at the Academy and not letting him graduate would be holding him back. With a heavy heart, he signed the document and called for Hatake Kakashi.
From this day on, Uchiha Sasuke was the Genin Apprentice of one Hatake Kakashi.
TBC