Title: Façade
Author: Illuma
Fandom: Naruto
Feedback: Feedback is always welcome!
Summary: Uchiha Sasuke was eight, and Uchiha Itachi was thirteen the day it happened. The Uchiha family supposedly murdered by a trusted family friend. Eight years later, Sasuke and Itachi return to Konoha after having lived somewhere else after the massacre, the woman who adopted them having gone to Russia for some time. Unforeseen events will take place and change certain things very rapidly. All is not as it seems when their mother returns from Russia, bearing a gift for Sasuke and something else no one ever knew about. She has lied to protect them, and she will continue to do so; for the lives of her precious people depend on her being able to hide what she does from them and ultimately keeping them safe from the evil that is known as Orochimaru.

Itachi: Wh-
Dream: Don't. Ask.
Itachi: I just-
Dream: No.
Itachi: You don't even know what I was going to say.
Dream: Is it about this story?
Itachi: Uh...
Dream: That's what I thought.
Naruto: Why'd you make a high school fic?
Dream: God damn it you little bastard. I said not to ask.
Naruto: I didn't know!
Dream: Fucking whatever. If it'll make you shut up I'll tell you.
Naruto: Okay!
Itachi: So why?
Dream: Because I can. -Walks away-
Itachi: What the hell?
Sasuke: She's an idiot. I swear.
Itachi: -Looks at Sasuke- Idiot. You don't even know what you're like in this story.
Sasuke: And you do?
Itachi: Yes. Unlike you I already read it. Anyways. Warnings and disclaimer.

Warnings: OOC-ness will be a natural occurrence throughout the story. Deal with it. n-n
Disclaimer: You should be glad I don't own it. o.o Seriously. I could think of some really stupid shit to do with the characters.

Chapter 1
- - - - - - - - - -

Sasuke muttered something under his breath, dark eyes shifting back and forth from his brother to staring outside at the passing buildings. The day had finally come. They were returning to Konoha. He didn't want to be here. There were to many bad memories.

Itachi had told him they wouldn't be living in the old mansion. His aniki had had enough insight to know that it would cause a relapse in his ototo. He wanted to avoid that. He had seen his parents murdered before his eyes. The boy himself had been injured and would have died had Itachi not gotten home only moments before, finding the killer attacking his brother. He had managed to knock the man out and call the police, holding his crying brother as they waited.

The man was serving a life sentence in prison with no chance of parole. They had left Konoha three months later with their guardian. A half Russian half Japanese woman named Sakaye Usami. She had been a long time friend of the family.

Sasuke had been eight at the time, and Itachi thirteen.

That day Itachi had been out with one of his friends. The authorities commented that what he had done to a man nearly twice his size was amazing. The older Uchiha had smiled vaguely, but said nothing in return. Three hours later, Sakaye had arrived. Sakaye had turned twenty three that year. At the reading of the Uchiha's will, it had been requested that she be made their legal guardian. The request had gone through and it had become official. She and Itachi had agreed it would be good to get Sasuke away from the city they had called home their entire lives.

She had taken them to Yuki, the city they had lived in for the past eight years. Sasuke was sixteen now, and Sakaye had had to return to Russia to take care of certain matters. She couldn't take Sasuke with her, so she and Itachi decided that the sixteen year old would live with his twenty one year old brother who was currently attending Konoha's most prestigious college. He had a big enough apartment for them to share, and he had no roommate. The older Uchiha preferred being alone.

Itachi and Sakaye knew he didn't want to be here, but it couldn't be helped. Sakaye wouldn't be returning for at least four months and he couldn't continue his education in country where he didn't understand the language. He had never asked his guardian to teach him. She would have had he been willing to learn like Itachi had. But as it went, it would have been hard to find a tutor for the young Uchiha, and Sakaye wasn't trusting enough to leave him alone for long periods of time with a stranger. She wouldn't have ever allowed that. She knew he would be safe with Itachi. Itachi would ensure nothing would happen to him.

She had promised to return in about four months. Sasuke was holding her to that promise. She had laughed and hugged him before hugging Itachi, kissing them both on the cheek and grabbing her carry on bags and heading off to board her plane.

Over the years, Sakaye had become his surrogate mother. It had only been a few days and he desperately wanted her back. When Itachi had left for college, she was the only one he had left, excluding the times Itachi came to visit and the few times they went to Russia to see Sakaye's Nana. He loved the old Russian woman like she was his own grandmother. She was funny when she wanted to be, and she always gave him presents when he went to see her.

"Itachi," Sasuke said quietly, staring out the window.

"What is it?" he asked, not taking his eyes off the road.

"Why couldn't I go with okasan?"

Itachi sighed. "You know well enough she would have if she could, but it wasn't an option. She wouldn't have been able to find a tutor she could trust, and she doesn't like leaving you alone with strangers. We both know how you are."

"I know," he muttered. "But I miss her."

"I do too, but we can't change things."

"Why'd she go anyways?"

Itachi shrugged. "Not sure," he replied honestly. "She wouldn't tell me anything. Said we'd talk about it when she got back."

"Oh. Okay then."

He looked down at his lap as Itachi pulled up to the gates of Konoha High School.

"Want me to come in with you?" he asked, shifting the gear into park.

Sasuke nodded. He didn't like going to new places without someone he could trust. This is why he never had friends. He couldn't trust easily. The man that had murdered his parents had been a friend of the family as well. He'd known him his entire life. He never would have expected a man he could trust so much to turn on them like he had.

Itachi turned off the car, opened his door and got out, Sasuke following suit, grabbing his backpack from the back seat. Itachi came around the side and smiled at his brother, walking with him through the gates and towards the main building.

Sasuke watched the ground as he walked. He didn't have to look up to know they were being watched by the other students. But it didn't matter. He wouldn't associate with anyone. He never did. Back in Yuki, he had never even tried to make friends. He pushed everyone way. Sakaye and Itachi had tried, but their attempts were fruitless. Sasuke simply did not want to be around other people. He couldn't trust him.

"By the way, how's that drawing coming along?"

"Huh? Oh. I finished it yesterday."

"Really? Can I see it later."

"Um. Yeah. Okay," Sasuke mumbled his reply.

Itachi simply smiled. Drawing had become his thing after the incident. It helped him show Sakaye and Itachi how he was feeling when he couldn't get it out through words. He was good.

"Ah, excuse me," Itachi said, stopping a passing student. "Could you tell me where the main office is?"

"Yeah. If you go straight ahead into this building and go right, it's the first door on the left I think. There's a sign on the door. You can't miss it," the boy replied.

"Thank you," Itachi replied, resuming the walk to the building, Sasuke at his side.

Itachi entered the building, Sasuke following and the two went right, Itachi looking for the correct door. The boy had been right. The first door on the left had the words Main Office printed on the glass. He opened the door and ushered Sasuke inside. The younger brunet hesitantly entered, eyes taking in everything he could see. He didn't say anything as his brother approached a secretary, a smile on his face.

"Hello," he said politely. "My name is Uchiha Itachi, and this is my brother Uchiha Sasuke. He's start school here today."

"Oh! It's very nice to meet you, Uchiha-san,"the woman said, smiling up at him. "Let me get Shizune. She'll get him his schedule."

Itachi nodded and watched as the woman hurried away. He turned and knelt in front of Sasuke who had by then taken a seat in one of the hard plastic chairs.

"Sasuke," he said softly. "Sasuke look at me."

Sasuke did, dark eyes meeting equally dark eyes.

"I want you to promise me you won't say anything mean to anyone. If you have to, just don't talk to anyone. I'll speak to your teachers if you want me to. Do you understand?"

"Yes, aniki," he said quietly, nodding his head. He when to obey his brother. He would get in trouble with the older Uchiha if he found out, and Sasuke knew he would. He and Sakaye always found out.

"Do you want me to speak to your teachers?"

Sasuke nodded again.

"Alright."

"Ah! You must be Uchiha-san," a young black haired woman said, approaching them with a smile on her face. "I was expecting to see Usami-san, but I guess she's busy today?"

"She's in Russia," Itachi said. "I came instead. If I might ask, can I get an additional copy of Sasuke's schedule? I need to speak with all of his teachers about a few issues before I go."

"What might that be?"

Itachi pulled her away from Sasuke.

"You know about what happened eight years ago right?"

Shizune nodded.

"Since then, all he's done is push people away. He gets in trouble when he does certain things. I made him promise not to, and I know he will. But I feel his teachers need to know if they try and call on him. I'm going to assume he won't speak or allow anyone to speak top him today."

"Oh my," she said. "I understand. I'll get you one. Is there anything else I need to know?"

"Nothing else really. That's all. If you need to, you may tell the principal as well. She might want to know."

Shizune nodded. "I'll do that. Do you want me to show you both to his first class? I believe the teacher is there already."

"That would be nice," he said.

"Alright," she said. "I'll be right back with the schedules. I won't be but a moment!" She hurried away to print them off.

Itachi returned to his brother's side, watching as the pencil flew across the paper, small parts becoming more detailed as he added to them. A few minutes later, Shizune reappeared, schedules in hand. She handed one to Itachi, and one to Sasuke.

"Come along then," she said, watching as Sasuke hurriedly closed his sketchbook and packed it away, standing to follow the other two out back into the hallway.

"Shizune-san, do you have a last name?"

Shizune laughed. "Yes. I suppose you wouldn't know it since Suzume-san never calls me by it. I'm Hanakazari Shizune. Everyone calls me Shizune though."

"Ah," Itachi replied, nodding as followed her around a corner going left.

"Here it is. Class One A. This will be his homeroom," she said, sliding the door open. "Umino-san, are you in here? Oh good lord Kakashi. Stop that and get out. I need to speak with Iruka. Go back to your own classroom."

They heard someone grumbling before a silver haired man passed them and walked away, heading further down the hallway.

"Hatake Kakashi," she said with a sigh. "He'll be Sasuke's literature teacher."

Itachi nodded, following the woman into the room.

"Good morning, Shizune," the brunet said cheerfully, rising from his seat behind a desk in the corner. "Ah is that the new student I was told about?"

"Yes," Shizune replied.

"If you want, you can take the seat in the back by the window. It's the only one not taken."

Sasuke nodded and headed back, taking a seat and pulling his sketchbook back out.

"Umino Iruka," Itachi said. "My name is Itachi. I'm Sasuke's older brother."

"Nice to meet you," Iruka replied, shaking the offered hand.

"There are a few things I need to tell you before I go. You remember the incident eight years ago correct?"

Iruka nodded, much like Shizune had.

"I'll tell you the same thing I told Shizune-san. He pushes people away. He's been known to cause trouble when he people he doesn't know or like start bothering him. If that happens, I need to be informed immediately. I'd like to also ask you not to force him to speak or call on him to. When he doesn't speak, he draws. I advise you also to please let him do it. It's the only way he can get out what he can't say himself."

"I see," Iruka said. "Thank you for telling me. I'll try and make sure no one bothers him then. I wouldn't want something happening."

Itachi smiled. "Thank you," he replied. "I must get going. I have to speak with his other teachers."

"I could do that for you," Iruka offered.

"Oh, no I don't want to trouble you with it."

"It's no problem. You're attending KU right? Sakaye told me."

"You know her?"

"Yes. We went to high school together. She never told me anything about either of you. Only that eight years ago she was moving away."

Itachi nodded. "Are there any other teachers here she knows?"

"Quite a few actually. The man who was just here also knows her, as well as Asuma-sensei, Kurenai-sensei, Gai-sensei, and Anko-sensei."

"You know what's creepy?" Itachi said with a smirk, looking down at the paper in his hand.

"Huh? What?"

"He has all five of them as teachers. I get the feeling she arranged for this to happen. I suppose she trusts all of you enough to watch over him for us since we can't exactly be here and go to school with him."

"Maybe," Iruka said with a small laugh.

"You were all friends in high school?"

"Yes. Kind of figured. You know, I think I heard her once, talking on the phone with Hatake a few years ago. She never mentioned anyone though."

Iruka laughed. "I guess she wouldn't. She never even told her parents she was friends with us. Never found out why. Where is she anyways?"

"Russia."

"Ah. Any reason why?"

"She never said, only that we'd talk when she got back."

Iruka nodded. "Oh. School is about to start. The students will start piling in soon."

As if on queue, students started walking through the open door, occupying empty seats. Several stared at the silent Uchiha in the back corner, hand flying across the paper once more to continue whatever it was he was drawing. He paid no one any attention.

"I need to get going," Itachi said. "My class starts in an hour."

Iruka nodded. "Goodbye."

Itachi nodded. "I need to tell Sasuke something first before I go. Goodbye."

Itachi turned and made his way to the back of the classroom, students getting out of his way as he passed. He crouched down beside the Sasuke, the boys pencil dropping onto the book as he listened to his brother.

"I won't ask you to, but you can trust your teachers. Okasan knows all of them and trusts them very much. Umino-sensei told me all of them were friends back in high school. So if you ever need help, I want you to go to them. Do you understand?"

"Yes, aniki," Sasuke replied, not looking at his brother as the older Uchiha rose to his feet.

"I'll see you when you get home. Be good, ototo," he said, ruffling his dark hair before turning and walking through the door at the back of the classroom, joining Shizune as the pair made their way back to main entrance.

"I'll keep an eye on him as well if you like," Shizune offered.

"Thank you. It would be appreciated," Itachi said, smiling at the woman and bowing slightly. He turned and left, pulling his keys from his pocket as he approached his car. Sasuke was in good hands now. His teachers could be trusted if Sakaye trusted them. He knew she had good judgment.

TBC...