Brothers Bond

Hey everybody. Decided to write a story that takes place during the actual timeline of Naruto instead of before it. This story features an OC named Okami Tatsu, so if you don't like OC stories then get out while you still can.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. But I am going to take props for Tatsu.

Chapter 1: Training Partners

It was a beautiful summer day in Konohagakure. The breeze was cool, the birds were chirping, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Everything about the day screamed perfect, except to Uchiha Sasuke.

He had woken up early to get in some training before heading to the academy to start his fourth and last year. He was currently using the specially crafted log in his back yard to work on his katas. While doing this he was thinking about how exciting it was going to be finishing up at the academy and being a real shinobi.

Actually, saying he was excited to be done with the school would be an understatement. From the annoying fan girls, to the long boring homework, and especially the way all the instructors were to busy fawning over his last name to help him learn a damn thing. All he heard was 'I'm sorry for your loss' or 'be strong'. It was ridiculous and a complete waist of his time and energy. But, he had to do it if he wanted to be a shinobi and fulfill his goals.

So, he was banging away at the stump concentrating on each and every movement. He didn't just want to know the forms in his head; he wanted his whole body to remember each and every movement that was made. He wanted it to be second nature, and react without a second thought.

However, while he was lost in his concentration, he failed to notice a boy sitting on the wall that surrounded his yard and house.

"Hey what are doing?" The boy on the wall said as he kicked his feet back and forth kicking the wall. Sasuke jumped inwardly at the boy's question, not wanting to let a possible opponent know he was startled.

The last Uchiha stopped his training and turned his head slightly to see who the boy was. He had never seen him before, but he looked to be the same age as Sasuke if not younger. He continued to eye the boy's features, such as his incredibly vivid yellow eyes that seemed to glow when near his dark shoulder length hair with bangs framing his face. It seemed as though the boy attempted to remove his long bangs from his face by pushing it back but only a little cooperated. Although the boy's facial features were odd his clothing was surprisingly simple. He wore a plain black spandex shirt that clung tight to his chest with no sleeves. Over this he wore a white vest with a blue wolf on the back. His pants, like is shirt, were plain black with no other apparent features besides the shuriken holder on his right leg.

"Who are you?" Sasuke asked darkly, letting the boy know that he did not appreciate his intrusion. The boy looked a little stricken by the Sasuke's tone.

"I asked you a question first." The strange boy said staring deep into Sasuke's onyx eyes.

"I was training. Now answer my question." Sasuke snapped.

"Fine." The yellow-eyed boy said before he jumped down of the wall and walked towards Sasuke. The Uchiha stiffened slightly as the boys approached. It was never a good idea to underestimate a potential enemy. The boy got face to face with the tensed Sasuke and moved his arm out quickly causing him to jump.

"Names Okami Tatsu." The boy said as he reached his hand out to shake Sasuke's. To which, Sasuke did not take. Tatsu just moved his hand away after it was apparent that he would not take it.

"Uchiha Sasuke." Was all he said hoping the boy would leave. He didn't.

"Oh! I've heard that name before." Tatsu said and Sasuke thought to himself 'here it comes'.

"Yeah the Sharingan users right? Man I heard you guys are tough as hell in combat." Tatsu said crossing his arms. "Is it right that you can see in a complete 360, or was the Byakugan, I can never remember."

Sasuke had a growing lack of disgust for the mysterious boy. He could always appreciate someone who knows about his clan's Doujutsu. Also, it was pretty obvious that the boy wasn't here to attack or he would have done it already. However, the boy's volume was intolerable. It reminded him of a certain dobe.

"The Byakugan gives the user 360 degree sight." Sasuke answered plainly before he moved on to more pressing matters. "Why are you here?"

At first Tatsu looked a mixture of puzzled and offended by the question. Sasuke supposed he was being a little impolite, but the boy did interrupt him in the middle of training. Not to mention he was trespassing.

"Well I was trying to find the academy, but the village is do damn big I got lost." Tatsu said rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. Then it looked like he came to realization.

"Hey do you go to the academy?" the bright-eyed boy said. Sasuke simply nodded in response. Then, Tatsu clapped his hands together and a huge grin creased his face "Awesome! Mind if we go together?"

Sasuke thought it over in his head for a minute, and couldn't come up with a single reason why not. Tatsu did talk rather loudly, but he didn't seem to be a complete idiot like the other kids in his grade. But, Sasuke was still skeptical.

"Okay, but school doesn't start for another hour." Sasuke said dryly folding his arms across his chest.

"WHAT?! I thought it started at 7?" Tatsu asked once again too loudly. Sasuke just cringed and shook his head slowly.

"No, it starts at 8." Tatsu just sighed heavily and put his hands on his hips. Sasuke was beginning to think he was wrong about Tatsu not being stupid.

"Oh well, want to train?" Tatsu asked excitedly. Sasuke looked wide-eyed and was surprised anyone his age actually wanted to train. Sure, the other kids talked a big game, and most of them wanted to be shinobi. But, none of them really put in the effort that Sasuke did.

"I train alone." Sasuke said after regaining his composure, and walked evenly back to the battered stump.

"But wouldn't it help to practice your Uchiha katas on a moving target." Tatsu said causing Sasuke to stop in his tracks and stare back into those glowing yellow orbs.

"What did you say?" Tatsu chuckled lightly at how taken back the Uchiha was. This only angered Sasuke. He didn't enjoy people making fun at him, and he certainly didn't like that this random boy could recognize his family's signature moves.

"You think I couldn't tell you were using the Uchiha fighting style that relies on odd striking angles to confuse and distract the opponent. However, it is almost necessary to use the Sharingan when using this style because more trained shinobi will see the small wholes you leave open, but they are a feint, and only when using the Sharingan can you slightly predict what opening they will take and when." Tatsu stated with a look of confidence, which was a complete reversal of his attitude prior.

Sasuke couldn't help but stare into Tatsu's eyes, which he just now noticed were not only strangely yellow but his pupils were also slits as though he was an animal. The oddity of the boy continued to confuse and disturb Sasuke.

"How do you know all that?" Sasuke questioned. Tatsu simply closed his eyes smirking and folding his arms across his chest. Then he slowly opened his eyes to have them land on Sasuke but not before his pupil seemed to pulse in excitement. Then, his demeanor changed back to what Sasuke had come to know as typical. Even in the short time he had known the boy.

"My parents had me do a lot of reading while we traveled. Now, more importantly, do you want to spar?" Tatsu retorted with a vicious and excited grin.

"I suppose theirs no harm in showing you the Uchiha taijutsu first hand." Sasuke said lowering himself into the all to familiar form deciding there was no reason for more conversation.

"Bring it on." Tatsu said hoping from foot to foot with excitement. Sasuke was a little confused with what the boy was doing, but quickly brushed it aside and charged at the boy.

He came in low and attempted to time his kick perfectly for when Tatsu was in mid jump, but just as Sasuke got within a few inches of the boy he stopped jumping and perfectly blocked the hard kick with his forearm. Then, Sasuke attempted to make up for it by using his momentum to bring his left knee forward into Tatsu's rib cage. He made contact and Tatsu went falling back, but recovered with a quick round off. He then stared at Sasuke with excitement.

"My turn." Tatsu said before he ran forward and jumped into the air bringing his fist down towars Sasuke's face. Sasuke reacted appropriately by ducking out of the way. But, Tatsu predicted this, and using the momentum from his wiffed punch, brought his right foot up and into Sasuke's left cheek with a crunch.

The Uchiha used the momentum to fall back and recover, but Tatsu wasn't going to give him an inch. The yellow-eyed boy started sprinting forward to deliver another big hit to his opponent, but Sasuke did quick round off to recover and was ready for the punch Tatsu sent at the dark-eyed boys stomach. Sasuke swiped Tatsu's punch away and moved in for the counter but Tatsu was just as fast as Sasuke and was more than ready for the several punch's aimed for his mid-drift and face. Then, Sasuke brought his leg around to hit the boy in the side. Tatsu countered by catching the kick in between his arm and side. Sasuke was taken back a bit by the boy's speed and skill. But, brushed it off as he noticed an opening. The Uchiha pushed off the ground with his left leg and used his trapped right leg as support and aimed is new kick for the bright-eyed boys head. Tatsu docked under the attack, releasing Sasuke's right leg. Then, not wasting any time, Tatsu put his hands on the ground kicked his legs up and into Sasuke's back, sending the boy higher into the air. Tatsu then jumped high into the air and brought his right foot down onto the already elevated Sasuke bring him back down to earth. Sasuke hit the ground hard but at first look nothing seemed broken or fractured. Then Tatsu landed next to the boy and crouched down.

"Now that was an awesome fight." Tatsu said with enthusiasm. "I've got to be honest, I didn't think you were going to be much, but you're good."

Sasuke just stared at the boy with contempt. How could he say he was good after he just bested him so easily? Was he mocking him?

"But I lost." Sasuke said sitting up stiffly from his bruised muscles. He slumped over in defeat. If his parents were alive he knew they would be disappointed in him. Even worse is that he knew that Itachi was way better than this kid, and if he couldn't beat him how could he ever beat his brother.

He was then pulled from his thoughts by a playful slap to his back that ached in response.

"Don't worry to much about it." Tatsu said with a big smile on his face. Sasuke just looked at him with a mixture of shock and confusion. "The only reason I won was because I've had more training."

Sasuke doubted that highly. He had been training everyday at every possible moment. If he wasn't studying, eating, or sleeping he was training. There was no way this boy trained more.

"But I train every minute I can, how can you train more?" Sasuke asked skeptically.

"I didn't say I trained more. I said I had more training. There's a big difference. You're here everyday punching and kicking that log. Why don't you seek out someone to help you learn. Whether it is a seasoned shinobi or someone in your class." Tatsu explained with confidence. Sasuke was finding out that this boy is more intelligent than he leads on. Tatsu then stood up and reached his right hand down to Sasuke.

"Now come on were not done sparring yet." Tatsu said with a smile. Sasuke just stared at the boy in shock for a couple of seconds before he took the yellow-eyed boys hand and rose. Maybe it was time that Sasuke found a training partner. If Tatsu got as strong as he is from such training than surly Sasuke would become twice as strong.

So, with his mind made up, Sasuke lowered himself into his familiar starting position and readied himself for Tatsu's first move.

"Bring it on." Sasuke said with a smirk on his face. Maybe training with Tatsu wouldn't be so bad.