This is my first AU, but please review honestly.

Prologue

The sound of feet thumping against the ground of the forest floor was soft, yet quick. Even the padding sound of a large black wolf running alongside him was soft, but yet quick too. Trees and bushes of such seemed to be a blur around the two as they continued to speed through. There was no panting of the wolf or of the person next to the creature, though they had been running for more than half the day. The only sound was the warm wind blowing around the pine trees. Summer was coming to an end and a certain raven, pale skinned, stubborn teenager couldn't help but think of the time he defected his village and why.

His family was murdered in cold blood by no other than the leader of Akatsuki, though he wasn't at the time. His friends, dead. His family, dead. His beloved parents...dead. Why? For what? Uchiha Sasuke did not know, but intended to find out.

The only family member he had left was his older brother, Uchiha Itachi. Who, in all eyes of the village, is the most perfect shinobi...until he failed to protect his family, but Sasuke. Sasuke use to look up to him, wanting to beat him at something so he could be the top. Itachi was his role model and he, Sasuke, use to admire him so much. But after those tragic events, that admiration was lost. Sasuke couldn't understand that, at the age of eight when it happened, the most advanced shinobi there is in the Uchiha clan, couldn't kill a single enemy. Why were they spared? Why didn't Itachi fight to protect them?

Itachi had tried to explain, tried to make him understand that it was too late to save anyone but him. But the walls of denial and pride were up and holding strong in Sasuke at a very young age. The bond he had with his once so-called brother was torn to pieces and burned to ash. Itachi was no Uchiha if he chose not to go after their parents murderer. Sasuke hated his brother and refused to even acknowledge him like some bratty kid.

Until a certain blonde, blue eyed, loud mouth, annoying...amazing kid pushed himself into his life. Sasuke had never seen someone with such characteristics. Someone who was a dobe, a class fool, couldn't even make a single clone to save his life...had so much determination to get into the academy...had actually gotten in. Uzumaki Naruto.

At first, Sasuke hated everyone and had a single goal in mind: Revenge for his clan. Seeing as no one, not even his brother, cared enough to go after this monster. No one but Sasuke. So, naturally he pushed everyone to the side and only focused on getting stronger to avenge his clan. But, Naruto had pushed back and continued to annoy him, to pester about him...to know who he was...and he did.

Naruto was the first person to see him as, well him. Not his brother's copy or below him. Not even the sad kid that lost his family but his brother. No, he saw Sasuke for him and everyday he tried to get Sasuke to open up and smile at least a few times. And it had worked.

Those two years around him made him feel as if it was okay to feel again. To allow someone into your life again. Not to push people away like he was doing for a long while now. One day, the change in Sasuke happened. The warmth he felt every time he was around his blonde...made him feel lighter. Perhaps he even loved the boy.

But wasn't a boy liking another...well a boy wrong? Wasn't he suppose to like girls as a normal boy would? Sasuke watched Naruto flirt countless times with their female teammate, Haruno Sakura. Though Sasuke never really took an interest to girls before because he viewed them as weak. So, why was he feeling like this towards his blonde friend?

For days he pondered why he liked him as a friend only. Putting up facts together in his mind. Sure, Naruto might not be the brightest kid in the world...and tends to jump into battle with no plan at all (more like every time). Also, he was a friend that Sasuke allowed to be around him. Not very many people could say that. Actually only Naruto could say that really. Besides, the only reason why he allowed such a thing was because Naruto knew him and accepted him for him. And that one thing made him feel... happy. This feeling slowly made the ice around his heart melt and Fate turned the tables around.

Itachi had been walking to his brother's room to check on him, as he did every morning, when the door was pulled opened so fast, he didn't even feel his brother's arms around his waist for the first few seconds. And when he did, the shock was major. Sasuke hadn't spoken to him since he was nine, after claiming he was too weak to even go after the murderer and that he wished he would have died with the family. It hurt so badly to Itachi, that he had driven himself into nothing but silence and acting if he wasn't there to begin with, accommodating to his brother's wishes. Those words could never be taken back, but he hoped that Sasuke would see the truth and eventually go back to his little brother.

Itachi of course kept watch on him, something Sasuke hated, and when he first took notice of the blonde boy he knew when Naruto was five, coming into Sasuke's life and Sasuke was seeming like a small part of himself...a small smile cracked his stoic face.

But the day Sasuke hugged him so tight, started to cry and sputtering out apologies about how he was wrong to do what he did and that Itachi had every right not to forgive him, did the mask and walls crack and crumble to nothing. Itachi fell to his knees and pulled his brother to his chest and hugged him in a tight embrace, promising to never let him go. Sasuke sniffled and promised the same.

"I love you, Itachi..." he whispered in his ear after the crying had stopped.

"I love you more, little brother..." Itachi responded with a smile and silent tears of love and happiness slipped free.

The brotherly bond was coming back and forming even stronger than the first. They were a family once more and life seemed easier with the burden of the massacre lifting. Even Naruto was invited to stay with them and not live in his crummy old apartment. Naruto was so ecstatic that he jumped into Sasuke's arms and kissed him. Actually kissed him! And not by accident like the first day of school.

Naruto pulled back and looked down in embarrassment as the shocked raven seemed like he was about to kill the blonde. "I'm sorry! I-I...umm...I don't ahhh!" Naruto screamed when he was pulled forward roughly and got a soft pair of lips tapping his cheek. Sasuke had not gotten mad, but kissed his cheek in acceptance of what it was. Sasuke had thought it over and over as why he shouldn't like a boy period. But his heart won out when the blonde kissed him.

This sent Naruto into shock, which Sasuke broke with a soft laughter. Though that didn't really help. Uchiha Sasuke, laughing like a normal person, even kissing someone! A boy at that! But Naruto smiled and kissed his cheek back. Two months they were happy. Two months Sasuke slowly returned to himself. It stunned everyone that this was happening and the fact that Sasuke "seemed" to be dating (technically they were but no one knew, but Itachi) the idiot, a few of his fan girls (more like all) tried to gang up on Naruto, but of course Sasuke defended him, which lead to Naruto defending himself about Sasuke defending him. Ah, young love is a beautiful thing. Life seemed beautiful.

Until, Itachi was found nearly dead in the living room by Sasuke.

Sasuke was in horror and the hatred that was once going away...came back in boiling rage. His brother was attacked. He was nearly killed. The Hokage said she would find who did this and make them pay for it, but he knew who it was. Who else could have done something like this in broad daylight?

Someone who has done in it in the middle of the night.

Sasuke didn't leave the his brother's side for a week. Refusing to eat or sleep or even talk to his boyfriend. He took in every detail on Itachi's beaten body. The cuts on his face suggest the attacker aimed for his eyes. The bloodied lip says the intruder did a quick hit to throw him off. The lacerations on his arms, stomach, legs and chest say that the attacker aimed low and when he was down, he teased him with his sword. And the hole two inches from his heart was the final blow. Itachi was in the hospital for two weeks recovering, but only a week before he woke up did Sasuke decide his path. Touching his cursed seal that the damn snake gave him after he attempted with Itachi, his mind made up.

Uchiha Sasuke was going to get stronger to avenge his family and his brother. Nothing and no one would stop him. He would follow through with defecting his village. What good was it to him? What training was helping him? Nothing! He lost sight of his goal. Let his guard down...all because of some blonde dobe! All because of Naruto! Well, he wouldn't let that happen ever again.

"Fate is a cruel thing. It never gives you the choice. What would you know about losing your family?" Sasuke shouted when Naruto had pinned him. "You've been alone all your life! You wouldn't know the pain of losing them before your eyes!" Sasuke spat.

Seeing his brother lying in a pool of his own blood was like reliving that night all over again. He couldn't bare it and he would put an end to it. To all of it. Even if it meant leaving to go to some creep to get stronger. Even if he leaves his brother.

Even if it meant leaving...the one he loves.

Because Fate is cruel, but not as cruel as everyone thinks. Some things are meant to happen.

Some things are not. It doesn't mean to give up

Sasuke shook his head of the memories free and focused on the trail ahead of him. They had a lot of travelling to do, but not as much as three years ago. Or even six years ago from the time he was thirteen and left.

A low growl caught his attention quick and stopped to see his wolf friend with her shiny black head raised in the air, sniffing for something. Sasuke paid close attention to her body movement and language. Body standing proudly at six foot seven, muscles tense and lips slightly raised to show the tip of her sharp teeth with ears perked up. She was sensing something or someone near.

Midnight is her name for obvious reasons. She has pure black fur and even black eyes, covering the whites in her eyes. Though the fur part wasn't why he named her Midnight. It was her eyes. Eyes that are nothing but black, though she can see just fine (better than a normal human or trained ninja). Eyes that are darker and deeper than his own. Eyes that holds so much pain, yet hard to tell what she is thinking, much like himself. This wasn't your average wolf if the height didn't give it away. No, Midnight is extraordinary and reminded him of his blonde that he pushed away. Was Naruto even considered still his? Probably not.

Midnight lowered her head and scratched at the Earth below her massive paw three times, then pointed her head to the west. Which translated to: A threat is three miles west of where they stood. So, west they went and though you wonder why, because Sasuke is hunting someone. So every threat or human threat (animals have a tendency to come after Midnight), Sasuke goes to investigate.

But when they're closing in, a burst of chakra hits them and Sasuke knew very damn well who that belongs to.

~End Chapter One~

Alright, well here's chapter one. Please review!

Thank you!

Yours truly, OnceDeadTwiceShy.