A/N: Written quite some times ago. Still working on the 3rd ch. draft.
- I don't own 'Naruto' characters and the world. Note that I have created some other fictional characters, only them belongs to me.
The war was cruel. Many countries tried to defend themselves, forgetting the small villages around them. Losing some village was nothing compared to losing one country. That was the fate fell upon one small village at the outskirt of Fire Country. Forgotten, abandoned and fell as a victim. Thousands of people died.
The Uchiha brothers lost their parents overnight. And Naruto too, he stayed with the brothers. Uchiha Itachi as the eldest had to carry the responsibility as a mother and father for Sasuke and Naruto. He was just 13 years old and is very young himself. Itachi had to quit school and worked to support them. Naruto and Sasuke were just 7 years old and they only know how to cry, whine and fight with each other.
"Sasuke, Naruto... dinner is ready" Itachi called out for the boys. He just came back from the main city, Konoha, where he sold his crops there. The two boys ran as fast as they could as they compete to get to the kitchen first. "Nahh...haha... I win!" exclaimed Naruto as he arrived first at the dining table. Little Sasuke pouted a little. It's just that he hated it to compete with Naruto but the blondie would not quit it. "Don't run around. You'll hurt yourself" said Itachi while he handed the rice bowl to the boys.
"I hope next time we can have a pork ramen... no, a table full of nice food will do" said Naruto suddenly as he observed the very simple meal on the table. Itachi felt terrible at this but he could do nothing as he could not afford more than that. "No, I want umebashi. I used to eat that a lot... when mom and dad are still here..." said Sasuke. Itachi felt hurt inside, listening to the boys. "Let us eat our dinner now. It's getting colder" said Itachi. Then they eat in silence.
The next day, Itachi had his day off; he went to his little vegetable garden. The garden was at their backyard. He was busy pulling off the weed when someone approached him. "Itachi-kun..." a girl came from behind. Itachi smiled to the young lady. "I want to give this. I cooked it myself" said the girl while she handed over the bowl. It was a bowl of chicken curry. "Thanks Yuki. I don't have anything to give you" said Itachi as he stood up and wiped his hands with his shirt before he received the bowl.
"It's okay. I purposely cook extra to give you guys. You told me last time that Naruto loves this" she chuckled. Itachi smiled to the girl. She was a daughter of a farmer at the end of the road but now she lived with her grandmother only as she too became orphan because of the war.
"The boys sure are happy to see this. I'm sorry I've always burdening you. With the babysitting, and now even cooking for us" said Itachi. "It's fine with me... I'm glad I can help you with this many things, Itachi-kun" the girl blushed. She did have a soft spot for the guy. They then walked back home, to Itachi's home. Sasuke and Naruto were thrilled to see their brother.
"Nii-san... you're home" greeted Sasuke with his usual coy smile, while Naruto gave him a big grin. "Yes, and Yuki nee-san here brought you guys some chicken curry" he told the boys, making them jumped of joy. "Thanks for the curry nee-san" said Naruto as he took his seat at the dinner table. "Have lunch with us here, Yuki" said Itachi as he served the lunch to his little brothers. "Ah, thank you. But I've had my lunch. I think I'll leave now" said Yuki.
Itachi went to send the girl off. "Umm... If you're free this evening, you can come at my garden. We can... like, chat or something" said Itachi as he put a smile on his lips. Yuki blushed and nodded slightly before she left. "I want that nee-san to be my mother" said Naruto. Itachi was rather shocked by his statement but simply smiled. "She's too young to be your mother" answered Sasuke. "I'm just saying. I like her..." said Naruto.
Later that evening, Yuki watched Itachi as he worked on his garden. "You can rest awhile and have this tea" said Yuki as she brought some tea with her. Itachi cleaned himself a bit with a small towel before he took a seat next to Yuki. "Thanks" he said as he took a sip of the hot tea. "You work so hard at this age. When you're older, I bet you'll have all this back pain" teased Yuki. Itachi smiled at her. "Then I'll need you to plough the soil for me and take care of my garden" he said. Yuki pouted. "I won't do this work. Not this one" muttered Yuki. "Why not? You like seeing me working at my garden though" said Itachi, eyeing the blushing girl. Yuki did not answer.
"I feel sad seeing you like this" said Yuki suddenly. Itachi turned to her. "You can have better future and not work yourself hard like this, if not because of the war" said the girl, her eyebrows furrowed deeply. Itachi sighed. "It's not like I could choose. This is all I can do now" said Itachi, looking far away across the land. The wind blew as they stayed silence for awhile.
"I... I like you, Itachi-kun. That's why my heart aches when I see you. I could not..." Yuki did not finish her words. Her tears dropped. The guy next to her just kept silent and stared at the girl. "I know. But I can't help you with this feeling of yours. Not now" he simply said. Yuki bit her lip. She kept getting the same answer from the guy. "I have a lot of things to do for now. Maybe someday I'll be able to erase the pain in your heart" said Itachi as he softly touched the girl's hand. Yuki nodded.