"You really are, aren't you? A bitch like you is in love with Itachi Uchiha? Hah!"
Fugaku blinked and turned his head to a pink-haired female groaning in annoyance and putting her head down on her folded arms, on the table. Everyone had seemingly been caught in interest by this statement. He was surprised to see that this woman apparently knew his younger son as well, seeing as the distinctly annoyed Uchiha in question was sitting across the table from her.
"Leave her alone."
"But Sasuke-kun! This whore doesn't belong to your family! I bet she only likes Itachi-sama because of his drop-dead gorgeous looks, she's probably attracted to you too, Sasuke-kun!!"
Sasuke smirked as she stood up and made herself known, grabbing the other girl by the collar.
"Look. My...lovelife...is none of your business. So get your weak, fangirl ass out of here before I make you unrecognizable to a mirror."
Fugaku stared with peircing eyes as the pink-haired friend of Sasuke huffed and sat back down in her chair angrily.
"I don't see why you don't just punch them, Sakura."
"Believe me, I'd love to. But Shishou would have my head."
"Hn."
"Who the hell started that stupid rumor anyways?"
"...Yamanaka, I believe."
"What?"
Sasuke sighed and looked at her with slight annoyance.
"I believe she saw the...'accident' between the two of you."
"Oh...that..."
Fugaku quirked an eyebrow and stood up, paying the waiter for his drink and walking over to their table. He saw his son immediately tense and look apprehensively into his own eyes as he stood up.
"Father?"
The pink-haired female that he now knew as Sakura, stiffened and bowed her head, hoping to be ignored.
"...Sasuke."
"What are you doing here, Father?"
"...I was getting a drink, just back from a mission."
"...Ah, how did-"
"I expect to see you back tonight early."
"Yes sir."
Fugaku nodded at his son and walked out of the restaraunt, not throwing another glance to the girl.
Sasuke kept his tense posture and sat down dejected. His heart's sister looked to him worried.
"Sasuke?"
He shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest again in his trademark posture.
"Sakura...are you and my brother involved?"
"Hell no. Sasuke, that's a ridiculous question, even for you. What makes you think that's even possible?"
He looked up at Sakura and expected to see her sad or maybe even hopeful. But worry was still all he saw etched onto her soft features.
"Sasuke, you're family to me. Please, let me help. What's wrong?"
He hesitated and stood up.
"Nothing. Let's leave."
Sakura looked at her friend, teamate, and brother sadly.
"...Alright."
As he walked out with Sakura by his side, they walked towards the Uchiha compound. He felt a familiar presence in the trees, but brushed it off as paranoia.
"...I'm worried about you Sasuke. It's getting worse."
"...What is?"
"Your mood. It's been six years since we've become genin together and all this time, you've been this anti-social enigma that nobody can figure out. You look like you're getting worse by the day now. There's something that's wrong with you that you're not telling anyone. I know it's not just me you're refusing help from."
"...I've been alone all this time. I don't need companionship now, or at least...I don't want to."
"Then why bother with me, Naruto, and Kakashi?"
"...You...you all see me as Sasuke. Not just Sasuke Uchiha. It...makes me feel...like I'm finally doing something right."
"You're not alone you know?"
He looked to her as they stopped, her blocking his path and entry into the Uchiha compound. He looked at her thoughtfully.
"...I know. Thank you Sakura."
"Will you meet us for sparring tomorrow?"
"...Aa."
He wondered what the three of them saw in himself that kept them trying as she smiled warmly at him.
"Alright. See you then."
"...Sakura?"
She stopped and turned back to look at him. He had to brush off the paranoid feeling of a familiar presence again.
"Let me know if...you need help as well."
He saw understanding dawn in her eyes and relaxed.
"I will."
Sasuke nodded at her and offered her a small smile that he only shows them. They turned and went their separate ways, himself tensing again as he entered the compound. He felt stares digging into his back as he kept walking towards his home.
"Sasuke-san!"
He looked to a child at his right, looking up at him with wide, onyx eyes.
"...Yes?"
"My mother told me to pay my respects to you or Itachi-san should I ever see you! So hello!"
He could see the innocence reside in her young being, and looked down sadly at her. She was bound to lose that innocent, happy demeanor soon.
"...Hello."
He knelt down to her level and tilted his head slightly. He had to admit, she was adorable.
"Do you have a name, little one?"
"Miko!"
She beamed up at him and then frowned a little.
"...Sasuke-san?"
"Hm?"
"Why do you always look so...cold?"
He could see she was struggling with manners.
"...Well, it's because I always have...a guard up."
"Why is that?"
"Because shinobi need to be alert."
"...But don't you get tired of it?"
He smiled at the child and she instantly relaxed, he noted.
"Yes, I do."
"Then why can't you just appear happy and be alert?"
"...It's hard to explain to one so young."
He quoted his brother, whenever Itachi didn't feel like explaining something he wouldn't understand, which he did a lot. He saddened at that.
"Though I can try if you'd like..."
"Miko!"
A middle-aged man walked up to them and looked disapprovingly at Sasuke.
"Miko, you shouldn't be bothering him."
Sasuke wanted to say it was no trouble, but the look in the man's eyes dared him to.
"I'm sorry father."
He ruffled the child's hair, ignoring the look her father sent him. He couldn't care less. He'd always felt the way she did now.
"It's okay Miko-chan. Take care, alright?"
She smiled brightly at him and nodded, following her father and waving back at him as he stood up.
"Bye Sasuke-san!"
He wondered if she would ever smile like that again.
"Father, I'm home."
"In here, Sasuke."
Sasuke took off his shoes and headed into their meeting room. He remembered all the times he would sit in this room in front of his father and hope he'd finally accept him. He sat down respectfully in front of the clan leader and his wife, his father and mother.
"What is it?"
He saw his father frown at him and noted that this couldn't be good. His father's arms were crossed in front of his chest and he was staring at Sasuke with an angry expression. A quick glance to his mother revealed her nervous, sad form.
"I'm disappointed, Sasuke."
"...About, if I may ask?"
"You."
Sasuke stiffened and looked at his father.
"Have I done something that justifies this disappointment, that I should be aware of?"
He saw his mother glance at him nervously, and then look back to his angry father.
"...You're nothing like your brother."
Sasuke blinked and looked boredly at his father.
"That much is clear."
"Sasuke Uchiha. You are of Jounin rank. You have the abilities and skills neccessary to join the ANBU ranks just as your brother before you. Why have you chosen not to?"
"...It is not in my best interest."
"The hell it isn't. What's going through your mind!?"
He took a deep breath and prepared himself for hell.
"The ANBU, is currently something I do not wish to be a part of. No matter how you wish me to, I will not bend to fit into your perfect-son ideal to suit your lust for power."
He stared at his father as he nearly exploded.
"Excuse me!?"
"If you'll excuse me, I have things I need to attend to."
Sasuke stood up and bowed his head slightly, before walking to the door and sliding it open.
"If you walk out those doors right now, don't bother coming back."
The menacing growl from his father reached his ears and he paused.
"This means you'll disown your disgrace of a second son?"
"It's something I should have done a long time ago."
"Then it appears time to correct your mistake, Fugaku-san."
Sasuke walked out of the room and closed the door behind him, walking to his room after the deep, angry murmur and a quiet sob from his mother.
"It appears so."
There was a knock at the door and he sighed, walking to it with a bag thrown over his shoulder, his room now bare and empty, not anymore holding the few belongings he bothered to cherish that were now pressing against his back.
"...Otouto."
Sasuke looked up at his brother indifferently.
"...Do you need something?"
"I never expected you to provoke him."
Sasuke walked past the man still in ANBU uniform to the front room of the house. Itachi was firmly by his side as they stood in front of the Uchiha clan head, blocking the entrance of the house. Sasuke walked forward to stand in front of him.
"You're a disgrace, Sasuke. A failure as a son, and as an Uchiha."
"Do not expect me to change my mind about this. Your brother has been fighting me about this for a long time. He wants you here. It's really the only reason I haven't done this before."
"...But now it is my choice."
"Yes."
"Then you already know my answer."
"Humor me."
Sasuke looked into the eyes of his blood father and smirked at the bastard.
"Go to hell."
Fugaku scowled and slammed open the door.
"Get out of my sight."
"Gladly."
Sasuke walked out and headed towards the more populated area of the village.
"Damnit, Itachi! Don't you dare-"
"Get the hell out of my way."
Sasuke smirked and kept walking, his brother eventually meeting pace.
"...Itachi."
"What happened to 'Aniki'?"
"...What are you doing here?"
"I don't give a damn what he or the clan thinks about me. You know that."
"...How was your mission, Aniki?"
He looked over at Itachi to meet a sad, but loving smile.
"It was alright, baby brother."
"I'm glad you're safe."
"I'm glad you're out of his evil clutches."
They shared a chuckle and Itachi wrapped an arm around Sasuke's shoulders.
"Otouto. I know how hard that was, but I'm glad you got away from him."
"...Yeah. Somehow I figured you'd still be by my side, regardless."
"You can't know how proud I am of you right now."
"At least someone is."
"...Where were you planning on staying?"
"Probably with Naruto or Sakura."
"...Hm."
Sasuke looked over at his elder brother.
"Why?"
"Just wondering."
"And?"
"...I'm planning to court someone soon. To do that, I'll need to move elsewhere. Fugaku wouldn't approve of her."
"Not an Uchiha?"
"No. And I'll need your help to keep her safe."
"...This isn't just a spur of the moment attraction, is it?"
"No. I've had my eyes on her for some time now. Years, as a matter of fact."
"...You're telling me this because I know her..."
"And as I said, I need your help. I already have the hokage's approval. I've also told Fugaku that I won't be living in the compound much longer. As you can imagine, he's not happy."
"...Aniki...who is that you're...planning to chase after?"
He heard his brother chuckle and looked up at him curiously. Itachi smiled down at him and sighed.
"You'll either hate this or completely approve of it."
"Why?"
"...It's Sakura Haruno."