A/N: Here it is, my first story. I'm not going to be an airhead and say this is going to come out as a success right off. Actually, I'm expecting quite a bit a flames (though that doesn't mean I want them). So I ask that you don't be too hard on me for this. I will want constructive criticism, however, so that will be appreciated. Let me know how I did, what you liked, what I should work on, etc. Well, I should let you get to the story. So, without further ado, Forever Brothers everyone.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Naruto franchise or any recognizable content herein. That honor goes to Masashi Kishimoto. This fan fiction is written purely for enjoyment of the audience and no monetary gain is expected to result.

Chapter 0:

Prologue: Let the Stage be Set

October 10. A night that will go down in infamy.

Both the Shinobi Council and Civilian Council have gathered into the Hokage's office, waiting with baited breath as the Sandaime prepared mentally to speak. Sarutobi looked out to the gathered faces with a grim look. "Tonight, is a night we shall not forget. The legendary Kyuubi no Youko has attacked our village, and many ninja and kunoichi were lost in the fight. One of the casualties is the Yondaime Hokage, who gave his life to seal the beast in a newborn infant."

As the uproars started, with most demanding that the child be killed or exiled to keep the beast out of Konoha, Sarutobi rose his hands authoritatively, and the gathered individuals quieted and sat down, except for one. He had ebony hair, spiking at the bottom, that reached to his shoulders, was clad in a dark blue robe with the Uchiha crest on the back, and had an air of arrogance. "Hokage-sama, I request that the demon be killed now, while it is weakened. We must finish what the Yondaime started; we can not let him die in vain!"

"Sit down, Fugaku," the Hokage ordered, and the Uchiha head relented. "The child will not be killed; he shall be placed in an orphanage." Before anyone could protest the statement, he continued. "I will make this formal decree: to give Uzumaki Naruto, container of the Nine-Tails Fox Demon, a chance at a normal life; all that has been spoken of here here today in this office shall not be spoken of to anyone; that includes your own children. Anyone who breaks this order shall be sentenced to death. You may leave," Sarutobi finished decisively.

As the Councils filed out to return to their homes, Hiruzen sighed, and sank back into his chair, turning to look at a photo of a young man, with his hair bright blonde, and eyes, deep blue. I only hope that you can forgive me, Minato, for leaving your son with out any care.

Uchiha Fugaku snarled as he made his way back to the Uchiha compound, where he caught sight of his young and beautiful wife, Mikoto, cradling their newborn son, Sasuke. The Uchiha matriarch looked up at her approaching husband, and frowned worryingly as she caught sight of his scowl. "What happened at the meeting?" she asked gently, hoping to placate Fugaku's anger, yet all he did was scowl more than before. "That old man has gone senile!" he roared, clenching his fists. "He made a decision that will surely kill us all. And as much as I would like to share this decision of his, he forbade everyone who was present at the meeting from speaking of it to anyone, including children, under penalty of death."

He looked up at his wife, and seeing her scared expression, sighed. "I'm sorry, Mikoto, I should not have snapped like I did. It has been a stressful night." Mikoto herself sighed as well. "It's alright." She said, and gestured to the open door. "Come in; I have some tea made."

As the young couple went inside, Itachi looked towards the closed door, from where he was practicing shuriken throwing, with a curious expression. I wonder what it could be that has Father as wound up as he is, the young boy thought to himself, before resuming the task before him.

It was late October, at around 9 PM; well after the sun had set. 7 year old Sasuke was running from the Academy to his home, late due to an extended assignment he had to complete. He knew his father would not be happy. As he approached the compound, he froze in his tracks; the unmistakable, coppery scent of blood burning his nose. He slowly walked up to the gates, stopping as he saw a figure atop a telephone pole within the compound's walls. Who it was, and why it seemed so familiar, Sasuke could not discern.

At the first sight of a corpse, the young boy's mind went into overdrive, as he panicked. "Mother? Father?" he called out, but no answer. "Itachi-niisan, mother, father, where are you!" he continued to call as he ran for his parents' house within the district. As he slid the door open and looked inside, his eyes widened in fear. "M-Mother, F-Father... n-no...!" he ran up to them, falling on his knees as he saw the blank look in their eyes. Whether they were alive or not, he could not tell. "Please... wake up, please!" he pleaded, looking around while he shook them. He stopped as his eyes landed on the Sharingan that could only belong to Itachi. "Brother! Please, you have to help; mother and father, they--" the stench of blood reached his nose once more, and his eyes fell on Itachi's sword, before widening in fear as he began to crawl away. "Itachi... w-why?"

Itachi's answer was not one Sasuke was expecting. "To measure the height of my capacity," the young ANBU captain answered his younger brother, while he, as far as Sasuke could tell, drove his katana into the backs of their parents, killing them. He looked back to his brother to see the young 7 year old grab some spare shuriken off the ground, and hurl them at his armor protected chest with amazing accuracy. They were easily deflected. He looked back to Sasuke, who stared into the Sharingan angrily.

"I will not kill you," the young man spoke, catching his brother's attention. "I want you to listen to me: cling. Cling onto your wretched life; hate me, despise me with all of your being. Only when you have enough hatred, can you claim the honor of the Uchiha clan." And with those parting words, Itachi fled the scene, and the village, to be labeled as a Missing-Nin the next day.

Huh, that's not too bad, I guess. Nearly 1,000 words in the actual chapter alone. So, anyway, that was the prologue. Mostly canon events: The Kyuubi attack, the Uchiha Massacre, those things. I'll begin to truly branch off the main line next chapter, and Naruto will be formally introduced, as will the rest of the Rookie 9.

So leave a review, stating where I need to put more work in, so I can make it better. After all, how can I fix my mistakes if I don't know them? Constructive criticism is encouraged, flaming is discouraged, as I've said before. Thanks!

(Beta Read by Chosha Kurenai)

EDIT: I had this chapter beta'd, and was suggested to that I split some of the longer chapters at points where focus shifts to someone else. Looking back, I find it's a good idea. So I separated the paragraphs into easier-to-read sections. Chapter 1 is currently being worked on, and I'll post it when it's finished and I have a few more reviews saying how I did. For now, though, ja ne!