Day One

"Faster!" Naruto shrieked as he waved his arms eagerly. "Faster, 'Tachi!"

Itachi smirked before moving faster. The seven year old listened to the giggling of the five year old in the washing basket behind him as he dragged the basket around the lawn. Naruto flapped his arms again, shrieking in delight.

Itachi finally stopped and whirled to face Naruto. Naruto scrambled to his feet and launched himself out of the basket into Itachi's arms. Itachi went flying back to the ground, tightening his grip on the tiny blond boy.

"Thank you, 'Tachi," Naruto said seriously. "You my best fwiend."

"You too, Naru, you too."

Day Two

"No fair!" Naruto wailed. "I'uka-sensei! No fair!"

"Oh, hush, Naruto," the man scolded as he gave him a slight push towards the other students. "I can't control how fast you grow!"

"But I don' wanna be short!" Naruto cried. "S'not fair!"

Naruto stomped back to stand beside the other students, ignoring their giggles. He pouted, arms crossed over his chest.

An arm wrapped around his shoulders suddenly, and Naruto was drawn in close to a warm chest. He leant against the other child, hiding his face in his best friend's neck.

"I like that you're short, dobe," a voice whispered in his ear. "You fit perfectly in my arms."

Day Three

Naruto couldn't suppress the soft whimpers that slipped from his lips. He clutched his blanket tighter as his eyes screwed up, trying to shut out the oppressive darkness that was pouring in around him, suffocating him.

"Naruto?"

Naruto almost sobbed in relief when a light came on. He looked up from his mattress on the floor to his friend who was peering over the edge of the bed.

Gaara took one look at the tears on his best friend's face before he dropped off the bed and slipped into Naruto's sleeping bag with him. He held him close as Naruto clutched him tight.

"It's so dark!" Naruto sobbed. "I don' like it!"

Gaara turned over and dug under his bed until he found a torch. He flipped it on and reached up to turn off the lamp before slipping back down into Naruto's embrace.

"There," he mumbled as he set the torch down. "Better?"

"Thank you, Gaara," Naruto whispered as he cuddled closer to Gaara. "Thank you."

Day Four

Kiba peeked over the edge of the bed. Wrapped up in blankets, face fevered and red, Shino looked miserable. He didn't even have his glasses on.

"Hi," Kiba whispered. Shino groaned.

"'Lo, Kiba," he mumbled. "Why are you here?"

"To see you," Kiba said and tilted his head to the side. "How you feeling?"

"Terrible," Shino croaked. "Cold."

Kiba didn't hesitate. He scrambled up onto the bed and crawled in with Shino. He held his friend close, even as Shino tried to push him away.

"'m sick," he mumbled. Kiba hugged him harder.

"Don't care," Kiba whispered fiercely. "I don't care."

Day Five

Sasuke had been associated with lots of colours in his life. The white of his skin; pale and unblemished as porcelain. The black of his eyes; as deep as a bottomless pit. The blue sheen of his hair, that appeared to be a trick of the light; there one second and gone the next. Lots of colours.

"Red!" Naruto chirped happily after Sasuke asked him what his favourite colour was. "I like red!"

"Why?" Sasuke asked with a frown. "Why red?"

Naruto grabbed Sasuke's head and pulled him close until they were only inches apart. "Because you're eyes have red in them."

Sasuke blushed Naruto's favourite colour.

Day Six

Neji frowned when he saw a redhead duck around a corner. He knew who it was, of course. His best friend, who had been avoiding him for the last week.

Neji was sick of it. Gaara was his best and only friend. Gaara was his. His adorable little friend. Gaara couldn't leave him, couldn't make new friends! He was Neji's!

Neji took off after the other child, and managed to find him hiding in a secluded area. By the time Gaara realized he was there it was too late for him to run.

"Neji," he mumbled, staring at his feet.

Neji scowled. "Gaara, why are you hiding?" he demanded. "Don't you want to be my friend anymore?"

Gaara's head shot up and his eyes widened. "Course I do," he whispered. "But... every time I'm near you, I hurt..."

"Hurt?" Neji wrapped his arms around his friend, concerned. "How?"

"My heart," Gaara hid his face in Neji's neck. "My heart thumps so much until it hurts."

Neji smiled into Gaara's hair as he clutched him tight.

"Me too," he whispered. "But I can make it better."

Gaara's head tilted up and Neji smiled again and leaned in to press a kiss to Gaara's soft lips.

Day Seven

"Meow! ...Meow!"

Sasuke's eye twitched as he watched his moronic best friend smile up at him. Someone had given Naruto a headband with a pair of cat's ears on it, along with a fake tail. Now he was pretending to be a cat.

"Go away," Sasuke muttered as he shuffled away from his friend. Naruto followed with another small mew. "Stop it, dobe!"

"Meow!" Naruto butted his head against Sasuke's hand until the other boy gave in with a sigh. He rubbed Naruto's head, scratching him lightly on the scalp.

To his great surprise, Naruto began to purr. Startled, Sasuke scratched harder, and couldn't help but smile as Naruto collapsed into a boneless heap at his feet, pushing against the hand. Sasuke's other hand drifted down to rub Naruto's stomach, which made the purr even louder.

Sasuke decided he would ask his parents for some cat's ears and a tail, so that whenever Naruto came over they could play his new favourite game.

Day Eight

"'Tachi..."

Itachi looked down at the small child tugging on his hand. Bright blue eyes gazed up at him in confusion as the child held out a tube to him.

"What's lube?" Naruto asked innocently. Itachi's eyes widened as he stared at the tube in Naruto's hand. "It says it's st'awbewwy flavoured!"

"Give me that!" the older boy snatched the lube away from the child, ignoring the hurt look on Naruto's face. He tossed it into a passing trolley, glad it went unnoticed by the frazzled housewife pushing it.

"But 'Tachi!" Naruto whined as Itachi began to drag him away. "I like st'awbewwies!"

"Come on," Itachi growled as he dragged Naruto off in search of his mother. "I'll get mother to buy you some."

"Yay! Thanks, 'tachi!"

Day Nine

At a small table at the very back of the kindergarten, a tiny redhead child happily played with his finger-paints. His happiness was not obvious on his face, in fact, only a scowl was visible, but his eyes were alight with joy as he splashed his various colours all over the page.

He always played alone. No one wanted to sit near the odd boy who would glare at you if you spilt paint. No one wanted to be near him, when he hissed at anyone who wasted paint.

A chair scraped next to Gaara, and he looked up to see a pale black-haired child sitting down next to him. He blinked at the other boy – Sai, if he remembered correctly – and watched as he dipped his fingers carefully into the pink paint. Sai didn't say a word, he just began to paint.

Gaara went back to his own work. Neither of them spoke as they painted, until one of the carers called them in for lunch. Sai smiled at Gaara and handed over his painting before heading off. Gaara stared after him before looking down at the paper.

It was Sai and him, sitting together at the table, painting.

Gaara smiled.

Day Ten

The little blond boy cried softly as people continued to pass him by. Parents drew their children away from the scruffy child. Sensing their parents dislike, the children looked down their noses at the boy. This made Naruto cry harder.

"Why are you crying?"

Naruto peeked up at the older boy standing in front of him. He had dark blue hair and skin of almost the same shade.

"No one likes me," Naruto whispered as he stared down at his hands. "I has no friends."

The other boy sat behind him and watched the people go past. "Neither do I."

Naruto stared at the odd boy before he smiled widely.

"Will you be my friend?" Naruto whispered. "My name's Naruto."

The boy grinned, sharp teeth flashing. "My name's Kisame."

"Friends then, Kisame!"

Day Eleven

"Ne, Sasuke! You're really giving this to me?"

Sasuke ran a hand down the smooth silk that covered Naruto's back. The small boy tugged the robe tighter around him as he grinned up at his friend.

"Yes," Sasuke murmured as his hand danced down Naruto's arm until it reached his skin. "Silk feels nice. I like to touch it."

"Me too!" Naruto chirped. "So nice!"

"Yes," Sasuke whispered as he pulled Naruto close, burying his face into soft gold hair. "So soft."

"It is," Naruto agreed as he touched the silk. Sasuke pressed a quick kiss to Naruto's head.

"I wasn't talking about the silk, dobe."

Day Twelve

Iruka smiled as he watched his students paint and decorate their plain white masks. He watched as they stuck glitter and feathers all over them. They were all so happy and quiet.

"Sasuke! Give it back!"

Maybe not all of them.

Iruka moved through the classroom to the back table where Sasuke Uchiha was clutching an obnoxious red and orange mask that was clearly not his. In front of him, making grabby hands at the taller boy, was Naruto Uzumaki, classic troublemaker.

"I'uka-sensei!" Naruto shouted. "Make him give it back!"

"Sasuke," Iruka sighed. "Why did you take Naruto's mask?"

"He can't wear it," Sasuke said with a frown. Naruto stomped his foot.

"Why not?" he shouted. "I made it!"

"Because," Sasuke snapped. "I don't like it when you cover your face!"

Naruto stared at his friend for a moment before he grinned and launched forward, hugging Sasuke around the waist.

"Ne, Sasuke! I like your face too!"

Iruka shook his head before retreating to the front of the classroom again.

Day Thirteen

Naruto buried his face in his pillow as the thunder crashed outside his window again. Sobbing softly, he curled up into a tighter ball, wishing the sounds would just stop!

"Naruto?"

Naruto sat up with a light gasp as his door burst over. His Papa stood in the door, dressing gown wrapped tightly around his body. Naruto's chin trembled as Kyuubi made his way across the room, and at the next clap of thunder Naruto cried out, standing up on his bed and leaping into Kyuubi's arms.

"Shh, baby, I got you," Kyuubi whispered as he sunk down onto the bed. "I'll protect you from the thunder."

"Papa always protects me," Naruto whispered. Kyuubi simply held him tighter.

Day Fourteen

Bright hair that fell in spikes. Beautiful, jewel coloured eyes. Short stature.

Naruto and Gaara matched.

They were best friends. Always together. People began to think they were related. They took one look at the messy hair and bright eyes and assume they had to at least be cousins.

Gaara didn't mind. He liked thinking of Naruto as his brother. And Naruto didn't mind, because he liked thinking of Gaara as his brother.

However, it began to get annoying when people would not approach Naruto out of fear of his brother's death glare. Or when people refused to speak to Gaara because of Naruto's loud obnoxious behaviour.

Sasuke and Neji weren't afraid to get close. And both children accepted the others counterparts.

Sasuke and Neji were often considered cousins. They understood.

Day Fifteen

Naruto giggled as he bounced up and down on the bed. Sasuke didn't giggle – but he did smile in happiness. The bed was large enough for the two children to bounce around on without hitting each other.

"Naruto!"

Naruto winced and stopped bouncing as his father glared at them from the door.

"Papa!" Naruto cowered behind Sasuke. "I... Papa..."

"What have we told you about bouncing on the bed?" Kyuubi asked with a scowl. Naruto opened his mouth to reply, but a loud bang cut him off as the bathroom door flew open and Minato rushed into the room.

"Ok, Naruto!" he grinned. "Now, if you put- oh shi- damn."

"Minato! What did I tell you about corrupting the children!"

Day Sixteen

Kakashi frowned at the sweets Obito was waving eagerly in his face.

"No," he said and looked away. "I already told you I don't like sweets."

"But Kakashi!"

"No," Kakashi turned and began to walk towards the park. "I'm going to see Iruka."

The silver-haired boy still had a slight frown on his face as he reached his younger friend.

"Kakashi!" Iruka smiled sweetly up at him. The smile faded as soon as he saw Kakashi's face. "What's wrong?"

"Obito," Kakashi said with a slight shrug. "He's trying to force sweets on me."

"And you don't like sweets?" Iruka asked with another smile. Kakashi shook his head. "All sweets?"

"All the sweets I've tried," Kakashi shrugged. Iruka's smile grew wider.

Iruka reached up and rested his hands on Kakashi's shoulders before leaning up to peck him lightly on the lips. Kakashi's eyes widened and Iruka moved back.

"There," he said with a smile. "Was that too sweet?"

"No," Kakashi whispered with his own smile. "Just sweet enough."

Day Seventeen

Itachi watched as the other students were kicked out of the library for being so noisy. It served them right, in his opinion. It was lunchtime, and he didn't want to have to listen to morons the whole time.

He looked around his empty table with a slight sigh and closed his eyes briefly. Yes, he was grateful that he was so smart, but it was lonely being a genius sometimes.

"Excuse me..."

The small voice came from a very young child who stood beside Itachi's table. He had a large book in his arms, one that looked beyond his years. He gazed up at Itachi through grey-tinged white eyes.

"Can I sit here?"

Itachi nodded, and the boy sat next to him, opening his book up and beginning to read. Itachi eyed him for a moment before returning to his own book.

After lunch was over, Itachi closed his book and looked at the child. The boy smiled at him.

"I'm Neji," he whispered.

"Itachi."

"Same time tomorrow?" Neji asked hopefully. Itachi nodded and Neji smiled before leaving.

Itachi was looking forward to tomorrow.

Day Eighteen

Minato wasn't a weakling, not by a long short. But he was rather short, with chubby tan cheeks and short stubby legs. He had a bright, easy-going attitude and a wide smile to match. His shining blue eyes always looked up each new day with hope and anticipation.

He wasn't a weakling. But when you're severely outnumbered, anyone's a weakling.

It was the second time that week the bullies had found him. Minato stared at them all with wide, confused eyes. He had no idea why they kept picking on him.

"Hey! Get away from him!"

Minato's smile was back, and had increased tenfold. The bullies, willing to pick on one short, sweet child, did not want to face Minato's best friend.

Kyuubi wrapped an arm around Minato's shoulders, drawing him close against his side. Minato snuggled up to him happily, grateful for the protection and extra body warmth on the cold day.

"Thanks, Kyuu!" he chirped as the bullies vanished. Kyuubi glared after them with ruby red eyes and pressed a kiss to Minato's forehead.

"No problem."

Day Nineteen

"Arr!"

Sasuke rolled his eyes once more as Naruto leapt past him, waving his cardboard sword as he chased an invisible pirate across the room. The little blond continued to attack his unseen foe, leaping and dodging dramatically. At last he 'killed' his enemy, and with a running start, leapt up onto the bed with Sasuke.

"Did ya see?" Naruto asked, eyes sparkling. "I won!"

"Hn," Sasuke flipped to the next page in his book, bored. "Well done."

"Sasuke!" Naruto whined as he shook Sasuke's shoulders. "You gots ta play with me!"

"Why?"

"Because you're the damsel in distress I have to save!"

Sasuke glared up at Naruto before rolling over to show him his back. Naruto plastered himself to Sasuke's back, hugging him tight.

"Please, Sasuke!" he begged. "I wanna play with you!"

"I'm not a girl," Sasuke muttered. Naruto held him tight for a moment before he sat up, grinning.

"Ok! You can be the Prince I have ta save!"

"...Hn?"

"Yeah, and I has to save you from the bad pirates!"

"Hn... ok, dobe," Sasuke spun around and pinned Naruto to the bed. "And when the pirate rescues the Prince he receives the prince's hand in marriage."

"Ok!"

Day Twenty

Sasuke had grown up behind bubble-wrap.

It wasn't made of plastic; it was made of glares and bottled up feelings. It was maintained by his Uchiha façade, trained from birth. He kept everyone away from him, not liking to socialize with other people.

Until Naruto Uzumaki came along.

Naruto was bright, happy and lovable. He was beloved by all he met him, but he chose to latch onto the dark, gloomy Uchiha child that hated everyone. Sasuke had been annoyed and cruel at first, but eventually, Naruto kept popping Sasuke's bubble-wrap until the child was exposed.

And Sasuke couldn't be happier.

Day Twenty One

From teddy bears to race cars. From board games to video games. Sasuke Uchiha always received his brother's old toys. He had a huge box filled with them, along with the new ones his parent's bought him.

But there was one thing Sasuke was never allowed to have. Never allowed to touch. Barely allowed to look at.

Naruto Uzumaki.

Soft golden hair, peachy tan skin, sapphire eyes. Naruto was adorable and beautiful.

And Sasuke wasn't allowed to touch him.

Naruto was his big brother's best friend. The short blond was always with Itachi, wrapped up in his arms or holding his hand. Everyone had become used to the sight of the little Uzumaki curled up in Itachi's lap, sometimes sleeping, sometimes playing with Itachi's hair.

He was the one toy Itachi never gave up.

Day Twenty Two

"No!"

Gaara glared up at his older sister, who stared back down at him in exasperation.

"Come on, Gaara," she cooed. "Swimming is fun!"

"No!" Gaara shouted again. "Gonna drown!"

"I won't let you drown!" Temari promised. "Now, come on."

"No!"

Temari groaned in frustration as Gaara stared out across the swimming pool. He wasn't going to learn how to swim. He would drown if he got in the water.

Something to the left caught his eye, and Gaara stared in wonder as he watched a child a couple of years older than him cut through the water. He moved effortlessly, his long dark hair floating around him like a cloud. He paused when he saw Gaara and angled towards him. As he got closer, Gaara couldn't look away from his pale eyes.

"Hi," the other boy said with a small smile. "Are you coming in? Wanna play together?"

Gaara nodded quickly and without thinking jumped straight into the water. He wanted to be closer to the other child.

All at once, the water closed in on him. He waved his arms wildly, screwing his eyes closed. This was why he didn't want to get in!

Arms wrapped around him, dragging him to the surface. Gaara gasped in air, clutching to the person holding him.

"That was stupid," the boy observed as he dragged Gaara into the shallow water. "You can't swim, can you?"

"No," Gaara muttered. The boy smiled at him, arms still holding him tight.

"I'll teach you," he said. "I'm Neij."

"G-Gaara..."

Day Twenty Three

"Penis!"

Sasuke's eyes widened and he whirled to stare at his cousin, who gave him a creepy smile.

"What did you say, Sai?" he asked. Sai's smile grew.

"Penis!" he repeated. Sasuke's eye twitched.

"You learnt a new word?"

"Yes," he said. "Penis!"

"Penis?"

Sasuke's head whipped down to where his best friend sat on the ground. Naruto smiled sweetly up at him.

"No," Sasuke said firmly. "You can't say that."

"No?" Naruto asked. "Why?"

"Because!" Sasuke snapped as he sat down next to Naruto and covered his ears. He glared at Sai. "Don't corrupt him!"

Sai just smiled down at them.

Day Twenty Four

Naruto was so excited. He was at a magic show his Daddy had taken him to, and there were lots of people there.

And the magician had picked him to come up on stage!

Naruto hurried as fast as his little legs could carry him, without running. Daddy said never run.

The magician smiled at him and pulled out a hat. He handed it to Naruto.

"So, what's your name, son?" the man asked. Naruto grinned.

"Naruto!" he chirped. He looked into the hat. "Hey... s'empty!"

"Yes, it is!" The man said. He held the microphone out to Naruto. "Now, Naruto, if I tap my wand against the hat, will you say the magic words?"

"Sure," Naruto grinned and stared at the hat. The magician tapped the hat twice, and looked at Naruto, who leaned forward to the microphone.

"Please and thank you."

As the audience laughed, Naruto sought out his father's face. Minato was beaming up at him, which made Naruto beam back.

His Daddy was proud. That's all that mattered.

Day Twenty Five

It hurt. It hurt a lot.

Tears rolled down chubby cheeks as the small blond child sitting on the ground clutching his knee wailed. He had been hurrying on his way to see his best friend, and he had been running. Daddy always said he shouldn't run, but Naruto had been so excited to see Sasuke that he couldn't resist running.

But then he fell.

And skinned his knee.

And it hurt. A lot.

Naruto rubbed one eye as he sniffled. He was all alone, with a bleeding knee. Naruto felt so scared.

Warm arms wrapped around his shoulders, and Naruto was drawn into a firm chest. He cuddled up to Sasuke, wailing louder as the other child rocked him back and forth.

"I've got you, dobe," Sasuke whispered. "Shh, I've got you."

Naruto's tears were now of relief.