"Shit, it's already 8, the academy starts in a half hour!" The soon to be 7 year old yelled. Normally this would mean nothing to Naruto, ad ever since he started the academy two years ago, he had easily and readily excelled in classes. In fact, he had excelled so much, that they, as in the higher ups at the academy, decided that he was allowed to take the graduation test only after one year of attending the academy. Naruto sighed, knowing that today would be a day where people could exploit his status and make things harder on him then they needed to be. Getting up, Naruto looked into the rapidly declining shadows of his room, trying to decipher wether or not a person was actually standing there.

"I can't believe you were almost late," Itachi said with a mirthful grin.

Naruto yelled,"Damn it Itachi! Nearly gave me a heart attack! How the hell did you get in my house?"

Itachi gave Naruto an blank stare that was the quintessential Uchiha look simply stating "You literally gave me a key like three months ago just for something like this, how could you actually forgot something like this?"

Naruto sent a glare at his friend "how could you actually forgot to not look like you have a stick up your butt when you are saying something sarcastic you asshat, I think I would've remembered giving you a key to my house!" Naruto yelled sending an accusatory glare at Itachi, and pointing his finger in a very childlike manner...even for a six year old.

Itachi's faced quickly lost all rigidity and laughed, saying "you caught me, you blonde idiot...but what's this?" Itachi pulled out a key that was obviously to Naruto's single room apartment.

"...I just hate you more than anything else," Naruto said, quickly getting dressed.

"About time you started getting ready we only have 20 minutes before the exam starts," Itachi said leaning on Naruto's bedroom doorframe.

"Hey how about you telling me something I obviously know, how about you do something useful with you life and go grab me an apple from the refrigerator and then if you don't annoy me anymore maybe I'll be ready to go," Naruto said pulling on a navy blue shirt. Itachi just grinned and walked away towards the kitchen.

Itachi knew that this wasn't how things should have been. He also knew that he was probably one of the more mature 7 year olds out there. He couldn't help but always feel like Naruto got cheated out of a good life. Ever since the death of his parents and the Kyubi attack, Naruto has been trying his best to not let others show how much he was struggling. No six year old should have to live alone. No six year old should have to be afraid to walk around in his own village. No six year old should flinch when someone touches them by surprise. Itachi sighed, hoping that he would be able to help Naruto. He walked into the kitchen and grabbed an apple. Maybe things weren't so bad. The Hokage certainly was looking out for Naruto. Itachi let a small smile grace his face as he remembered how angry his dad had gotten over the news about who the new Hokage was. Itachi sighed, remembering how much his friendship with Naruto had strained his clans relationship with the village as a whole. Itachi turned as he heard a door slam shut and Naruto run past, yelling "let's go!" and running out the front door.

Itachi laughed, putting down the apple that the knucklehead had forgotten, and rushed out the door, looking forward to the rest of his life as a ninja.

AN: first chapter of this new story, I feel like I should make a few things clear. First, Naruto is five years older than he is in the manga, as this is always how I envisioned this story going. Second, I will keep the use of OC's down to only one character who is integral to the first part of this story. Third, and most important, thank all of you for reading! If you have any questions that aren't spoilers, I'll gladly answer them! This chapter is much shorter than my usual writing style, I'm shooting for around 5000 words a chapter, and this story will be a long one. Thank you! -A