A/N: Rewatching Naruto... Sakura's a total jerk. After watching Shippuden, she's totally cool and awesome, but at the beginning, Naruto's an idiot, Sasuke was soo much cooler than in Shippuden, and Sakura... well, I just want to slap her in the face and yell at her: HEY IDIOT! STOP BEING SUCH A JERK!

"I have the eyes of the one you want to love. Therefore, I am the one whom hurts you the most."

Sasuke had experienced pain before. Of course he had.

But the pain of seeing his older brother, Itachi, slaughter the entire clan before his eyes... that was too much. It was even more when he had showed him what had happened, murdering his clan one by one... and Sasuke could feel the deep, burning pain every single time.

It made him want to scream, to shout, to cry all at the same time. It made him hate his brother, even more than ever when he saw all the other kids with their parents. But at least he knew that he wasn't the only one who was alone, and that gave him a small, tiny bit of comfort. The only thing was, that the other boy who was alone was loud, annoying and a total deadlast.

His name was Uzumaki Naruto.

Sometimes, Sasuke just couldn't get the guy. He was all alone, just like Sasuke, so why the heck did he go around smiling all the time? Smiling, for goodness sake. He's not all like me. Sasuke thought, musing it over. He's so loud and annoying... seems like he really likes attention. I guess it's because he was an orphan from the start. And his prankster personality plus his ego... well, that can drive anyone over the edge. No wonder the academy teachers hate him.

He sighed. I just... all I need to do is get stronger! Then, one day, I'll finally be able to defeat Itachi. I'll be able to avenge my clan, and kill my brother. Sasuke thought bitterly. He slowly walked down the streets of Konoha, deep in thought.

"Hello, Sasuke, sweetie!" A thirty or something old woman called out cheerfully, and handed him a manga book that he used to like. "Here you go! Free of charge! It's the newest addition!" She smiled sweetly.

"Hn." Sasuke grunted. He was too deep in thought to give any plausible answer, but as he walked he could hear the woman give a squeal shriller than one of his fangirls. Ouch... she's so loud... Sasuke thought, annoyed.

He continued walking, and stopped to look at the copy of the manga. He liked it, but now he was going to train more. He didn't have time for something as pathetic as manga, no matter how much he liked it. I have to get stronger. He thought grimly. I have to defeat Itachi. And the sullen Uchiha walked on, step by step.

Even without straining his ears, he could hear the whispers.

"Last Uchiha..."

"Whole clan killed..."

"Poor boy..."

"The one and only..."

"Great clan..."

"Dubbed the Rookie of the Year..."

"Genius..."

"...too bad that..."

Sasuke resisted the urge to turn around and yell: "I can hear you!", even if just to startle them. He'd then snicker, because the looks on their faces... but father would never approve of such undignified laughter or yelling. Instead he walked on, and then suddenly, the whispers changed. Shocked, Sasuke actually tried to listen to them. The eight year old concentrated on listening, on his face a look of adorable concentration.

"Look at him."

"Evil..."

"...a demon."

"That horrible little!..."

"Shh..."

"...it's forbidden..."

"What a twerp!"

"All his fault..."

He turned to see Naruto miserably walking on. What are they talking about? Sasuke wondered. Naruto? The eight year old walked on, feeling curious.

He walked over to Naruto. "Naruto..." He said, tapping the boy on the shoulder.

The sad blond looked up. "Yeah, Sasuke?" He asked curiously. "What is it?"

"Do you know what the villagers are talking about?"

The blue eyed boy looked alarmed. "No... probably just a movie or something... gotta go!" And with that he dashed off, only to bump into a tall, muscular man who glared down at him.

"Hey brat." He said in a deep, scary voice. "Watch where you're going."

Naruto took a step back, eyes wide, looking terrified. "I-I-I'm sorry." He stuttered. "I wasn't looking..."

"You know what?" The man asked as Naruto wildly looked around, looking for a way to run. The man cracked his knuckles. "I think that you need to be taught a lesson..." He held Naruto up by the collar and dragged the struggling boy into a nearby alley. To Sasuke's shock, some of the villagers grinned as though this was all great fun, and walked into the alleyway as well. Some held knives.

In fear for the other boy, Sasuke followed, only to see Naruto curled up in a wimpering, weak ball and the villagers jeering at him, spitting at him, and cutting him and basically beating him up. Every time that a knive struck his body, the boy flinched, but every time he got punched and bruised, he didn't seem to care. It was like he was used to it or something.

Feeling anger boiling up in him, Sasuke wanted to do something. But all he could do was stay and watch. He was too small and these guys had knives. The loud mouthed Uzumaki was just laying there and taking it, as though he knew that there was no point in fighting back.

"How do you like it, little demon?" A man asked. "I've had family die because of you, you know. I would love to kill you, but you've twisted the poor Hokage around your little finger, didn't you? Demon fox."

The boy flinched as the man's knive came smashing onto his wrist, and gave a small, tight moan of pain.

Fight back! Sasuke thought angrily. Don't just lie there on the ground! Fight back! You can do it!

...Well, the villagers did have weapons though... and there were an awful lot of them...

The boy just lay there, shaking, until the villagers started kicking him as well. One of the kicks came down on one of the flesh wounds on his neck. The blond haired Uzumaki said nothing, just let out a small moan of pain and flinched as on of the knives scarred his back. Finally, Sasuke just couldn't take it anymore.

"Stop it!" He yelled, running forwards. "STOP IT!"

Kakashi had babysitting duty that day. When it was time to draw lots, as usual, Kakashi had drawn watching over the young Jinchuuriki. Actually, the ANBU had a schedule. They had taken the most willing four to watch the boy, and made a schedule. Since today was Tuesday, it was Kakashi's turn.

He warily eyed the demon container. He wasn't an idiot, like the others. Kakashi knew that Naruto was a boy, not the container.

All of the ANBU knew.

How? After about two days of watching the boy... you couldn't help but love his fun, bubbly personality. Also, pity really came in when you saw him get beat up. As soon as Dog saw him bump into the man, he knew that there'd be trouble. But he chose not to stick up for the boy, because of the one other boy who was alone.

Uchiha Sasuke.

Kakashi knew that the boy was only eight, and therefore was stupid and had a soft heart. He wasn't disappointed when he boy ran forwards, screaming 'STOP IT!' at the top of his lungs.

After a lot of cute glaring that would have made Sasuke look deadly had he not been so adorable, they finally left.

The last Uchiha knelt down next to his charge, looking concerned. "Are you okay?" He asked the curled up mass of orange.

Naruto sat up. "I'm fine." He muttered, sounding annoyed.

"Sorry that I didn't stick up for you earlier." The boy said, sounding sad.

"That's okay." The boy replied brightly.

"Your mom and dad are dead, right?" Sasuke asked quietly.

The Jinchuuriki nodded.

"That sucks."

Another nod.

"Mines are dead too. But... I think it's worse than you."

The boy stiffened. "How?" He asked.

"They were all killed. I don't have anyone either."

Naruto stood up, looking ticked off. "Bullshit!" He exclaimed.

Kakashi winced. Where did he learn such language? He mentally moaned. I'm telling the Hokage about this... if he isn't spying on me right now, that is.

Sasuke looked shocked as well. "Excuse me?" He asked, blinking in shock.

"I say that that's bullshit!" Naruto exclaimed. "Why are you so unhappy? Huh?"

The dark haired Uchiha stood up as well, looking annoyed. "Everyone's gone in my life!" He yelled. "I don't have a single person there for me!"

"That's bullshit!" Naruto repeated angrily. "You don't have a single person!? You're an idiot! Everybody likes you!" The boy's eyes narrowed. "The villagers all love you! Girls all are sorry for you! Everyone is sorry, and is nice to you! If you're looking for someone's shoulder to cry on or give you a hug, I see plenty of canda-cadny- people who are willing to do thad for you! Everybody likes you! And you have the nerve to say that nobody's there for you!? That's bullshit! Everybody hates me! You think that I don't notice them glaring at me, beating me up and painting graffiti on my doors!? So shut up and stop feeling so sorry for yourself!"

At a closer look, Kakashi noted that he was blinking back tears.

Angrily, the eight year old turned, climbed a fence, and ran away.

Kakashi raced after the boy, and could have sworn that he saw Uchiha Sasuke note him for a moment, and black eyes widen.

"Naruto!" He yelled. "NARUTO!" But the blond was already gone, and the Uchiha was left alone in a small, tight alleyway.

He felt very alone.

Sasuke felt like screaming. He saved the damn bastard and that was the thanks that he got? A yelling at? The black haired boy pouted and stormed towards his apartment building, not giving a single thought to the idiot.

"Hmph." He said, pouting. "I try to help, and all I get is him yelling at me? What does he know!? He's always been alone anyways!"

He threw the near forgotten manga onto the floor harshly, and it made a loud whap. The furious Uchiha sat down on his luxerious dark navy blue couch.

"What does he know?" Sasuke muttered. He walked into his room, and stared at the family picture. Unknown to himself even, tears had began to run down his cheeks. "He didn't see the person that he loved the most kill his mommy and daddy. He didn't see the Mangekyo. I'll kill brother, even if it's the last thing that I do!"

Tears dripped onto the glass protecting his family photo, and Sasuke wiped the tears from his eyes, practically hearing his father's voice scold him.

"Stop crying like a baby!" Fugaku would cry, slapping Sasuke on the cheek, which the crying boy would accept sadly. "You're not even worthy of the name of our clan, the name of Uchiha!" His voice would be covered in disgust. "Shut up and stop whining! Tears are a weakness, understood?"

"Understood, father." Sasuke said, sniffing a little, and tracing the face of the stern, cruel man whom he used to call father. His black eyes flashed in anger. "That stupid Naruto. He can't ever be strong... he doesn't have hate. Itachi's given me a reason for power, father. I will become strong! I'll avenge you and mother! I will murder your murderer."

He felt angry.

"Wait!" Sasuke yelled. "Why did you do it?"

Itachi turned around, crimson eyes like blood. He had shed so much blood today. "It was to measure my power. To test myself."

As he turned to flee, Sasuke had thrown his kunai at Itachi. It had cut off his hi-ate.

"You are no longer a Shinobi of the Leaf, brother." Sasuke spat in contempt at the picture. "You're a missing-nin. Why won't you admit that!? Argh!" He felt so frustrated and weak, like a pathetic loser.

But Itachi had simply bend down and picked up the dark navy blue band. Slowly, his eyes still on his younger brother, he tied it back onto his forehead.

"Foolish little brother. Hate me. Kill me."

Itachi's voice echoed through Sasuke's head.

Hate me. Hate me. Hate me...

Sasuke hated him. He felt pure anger at his brother for murdering his family.

Kill me. Kill me. Kill me...

Why would his parent's murderer want him to kill him? Why?

Sasuke wracked his mind.

Itachi turned and fled before Sasuke could get a good look at his face. He thought he saw something glimmer... tears? A dark, small wet dot of dirt was on the ground. Was Itachi crying? No... impossible.

But... could he have been? Was his older brother crying? Did he weep for his parents?

AARGH! Everything that I think of makes me have more questions. Just shut up! Itachi killed my parents, and I'm going to kill him!

But... what if Itachi was sorry? What if he felt guilty? But then... why did he kill his parents?

Itachi was evil. And that was that. But still...

Sasuke tore at his hair. And then there was that idiot Naruto. How could he have everyone hate him, be alone, and still wear that stupid smile? It was idiotic! But... was there something Naruto had that Sasuke was missing from his life? What was it? Perhaps it was just because he was used to this kind of life, so he was happy with it?

No way jose! Naruto's hated! No way he can just smile through that!

But there he was, always smiling with is friends, joking around and pranking with the other three dead lasts of the Academy.

You're such an idiot Naruto! So why... why don't I understand you at all?

Why couldn't he, Uchiha Sasuke, figure out one guy? It was frustrating.

"I'm a Uchiha!" The boy exclaimed. "Itachi let me live because he knew that I was the best candidate to kill him. I was the best! I will kill him! But... why did all this have to happen?"

The boy crouched down to his knees and began to cry.

"Mom, why did you have to die?" He whispered sadly. Having your family die is a dull knife in your heart that twists and turns and never goes away. All ninja have this knife. But Sasuke's was ripping his heart to pieces, forcing in pain. And even if he did kill Itachi, Sasuke wondered, would the knife ever go away? Because pain is everlasting. Love is not.