Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. If I did, I wouldn't be writing fanfiction, I'd be traveling around the world and enjoying the luxuries of being rich. Maybe.

AN: It might seem a little fast at some points. I got stuck in some spots and couldn't figure out what to write, sorry.

Warnings: Language, violence, child ninjas etc.

Chapter 2-

Word count- 3600

A Myriad of Lightning

7 months after Time Jump

It was glorious. This power, this utter strength. It wasn't the prime of it, only half of what had been, yet Sasuke had missed it dearly nonetheless. His limbs felt freer and the world was opened to new light. The return of chakra to his system cleared his senses and enhanced them. He was no longer blind to the shadows around him. He felt the presence of those previously unseen. It helped him think. He was more alert to the problems of the Uchiha clan, and more specifically, his family.

His father avoided him mostly. His mother was no different, though slightly subdued. She stayed in the house the most and was the one he saw the most. Itachi was becoming more distant around their parents. The relationship he had with his older brother remained. It was colder, yes, like his brother was a world away. But it was much, much better than before. They spoke to each other. Though they were aware of the secrets between them, the two always spoke the truth of their feelings and troubles. It relieved Sasuke's stress and he learned more about Itachi than he ever knew.

Sasuke breathed in deeply, taking in the fresh and breezy air. The day was lively. He was running atop the buildings, hidden by his Genjutsu and getting hit by the wind. It carried on it the scent of leaves, of Konohagakure. It felt like home again.

He raced past oblivious Shinobi and stared down below at the crowds of the market. Almost there. He continued on, leaping across lengthy gaps between buildings and flitting over lines of lanterns hung above the roads. The Hokage Mountain stood in all its immense power, protecting the villagers below. Sasuke let his eyes rest for a moment on the face of the Yondaime Hokage, Namikaze Minato, and Naruto's father. It wasn't much of a shock when he found out. The two looked alike, from what he remembered of the reanimated Yellow Flash.

He arrived at the apartments and glanced at an open window. His destination. He turned through the air and landed on his feet. Dusting himself off, Sasuke spotted Naruto sitting at the low table with two clones and playing cards. He rolled his eyes and left for the kitchen. There was a pop as the clones dispersed and Naruto came beside him. Sasuke emptied his bag of fresh food and pre-made meals into the fridge and cupboard. It was a weekly thing for Sasuke to deliver food he and Itachi prepared in secret. There was no point for Naruto to deal with the civilians' crap and get overcharged for rotten cabbage. His blond friend nodded appreciatively.

Sasuke took in the relatively normal appearance of the Jinchuuriki. His malnourishment was slowly edging away. He sighed and they went back to the table, spreading out some scrolls. Naruto, as usual, raised a brow.

"What about the wildlife?" By that, he meant the ANBU, and by wildlife, he was referring to their code names and animal inspired masks. Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"No point hiding so much. We would never live a free day if we remained low," Sasuke stated, sending a pointed glare at the invisible ANBU stationed outside the window. He watched it flicker away and a replacement arrive not a second after. Probably reporting to its superiors, Sasuke thought in exasperation. Maybe then they will be allowed early admittance to the Academy and a very early, by today's standards, graduation. He scrunched up his nose. The thought of going to pointless lessons with a bunch of snot-nosed brats made him gag.

Naruto glanced up from a suiton scroll and shook with amusement. "What's up?"

"Academy," he muttered in reply. The one word was laced with horror and dread. Naruto groaned and banged his head against the table. His hair, growing out to something more like the Yondaime's, was flying around like grass in the wind. Sasuke scoffed at that connection.

"Never. Never going near that place," he swore. Then his head shot up from the desk, blue eyes holding a very familiar glint. Oh no, where is he going with this... "If all goes well, I'm sure we'll never have to set foot in that place, ever." Sasuke leaned forward, all ears for a plan he couldn't like in the slightest. Naruto lost himself reminiscing his plan and coming up with amazing, extravagant plans.

"All we need is to show our spectacular talent that the Old Man cannot ignore, make a large commotion and nag a lot. I'm sure we can manage." Sasuke nodded and payed attention as his friend got into detail about the prank. Anything to get out of going back to Academy.

The ANBU didn't catch a single word exchanged between them and sweat dripped down his face in worry. Uzumaki's aura screamed 'Prank Master'. The Hokage needed to be warned immediately. Right after Boar got back from reporting on the anomaly of the boys.

Kakashi had spent six long months on missions and guard duty. He used the rest of his time up in the Hokage Tower trying to get the Sandaime to accept his request. Or more appropriately put, demand. No matter what he said or what arguments he presented, he always received the same answer in return. A quiet, stern, no.

This time though, Kakashi of the Sharingan wouldn't take no for an answer. He had a small paper as back up, which contained a long list of why there was nothing wrong with his suggestion.

He kicked open the door to the Hokage's Office for the fourth time that week and ignored the giggles from the ANBU on duty. The Sandaime spared him a glance before tackling his immortal enemy, paperwork, once again. He dropped into the chair and settled his elbows on a desk in a professional, business-like manner. Before any word could escape his mouth...

"No."

Kakashi cleared his throat and prepared to speak again, undeterred by Hiruzen's blunt answer.

"No."

He remained unfazed by the countless interruptions and before anyone could move or present a rebuttal, spoke harsh words.

"Not once have you given me a reason for your abhorrent urge to dismiss my suggestion, Hokage-sama." Kakashi had never been so passionate about anything since his young-self's worshipping of Shinobi rules. But this was something that he couldn't give up on, and was one of the most important decisions in his sorry life. "I see no need to say no or disregard all the benefits of this plan.

"Have you considered the consequences?" Sarutobi inquired, looking up from a report. Kakashi nodded, hope lighting a small flame inside him. The Hokage looked like he had aged a decade. He stared into Kakashi's eye, trying to discern lie from truth and seemed satisfied. "Since you're so intent on interrupting my batt- work... I will let up on this," he granted. "But. Should anything happen..."

Kakashi simply grinned under his mask as Sarutobi finalised the paperwork and gave his approval.

Uzumaki Naruto was going to be his little brother.

Naruto and Sasuke had scouted out the best locations to set up their prank. Right outside the Jounin Lounge. Naruto held the clipboard for Sasuke to write the necessary ingredients on. They hid their chakra signatures from the ANBU hidden inside and pressed their faces against the glass.

The room held innumerable stacks of paperwork and scrolls. The Jounins were holed in at the sofas and desks. Gathering information quickly, the boys then went to spy on the Hokage's office. They felt Kakashi leave the office, flaring in excitement and bellowing in manic laughter. The boys glanced at each other with confusion. Naruto hoped it hadn't anything to do with them.

They dotted down a few more notes and dropped from the window. Before the ANBU could be alerted to their presence they were streets away.

Sasuke collapsed on the bed and read over the clipboard. It was acquirable and cheap, and innocent enough that sellers wouldn't get too suspicious. Maybe. Naruto pulled out some onigiri for snacks and sat on the kitchen bench.

"The Shinobi probably know of our talents by now," the Jinchuuriki commented. Sasuke hummed in agreement. The ANBU outside shuffled uncomfortably. They ate in silence and eyed the ANBU. The hidden ninja shivered under their light gazes. He crossed his fingers and hoped for his comrade to hurry up and take over the shift.

The Next Morning

Screams sounded from the gloomy Jounin Lounge. A shadow clone let out a snicker and popped, a small veil of smoke coming around the place it had just occupied. The large room was covered in pinks, bright oranges and blues, ranging from destructive, shiny glitter bombs and cascades of paint all over the walls. The shinobi inside were cloaked in colour, hair messed up and matted, clothes completely dyed. They all had shocked expressions. The ANBU with them were no longer hidden, having not been spared from the horrible attack.

There had been no warning, no sudden burst of chakra or tag in the room to announce the blast. One moment, silence and soft chatter, the next, colourful chaos. A cat-masked ANBU shunshinned away to the Hokage's office to warn him and report the incident.

By then, it was already too late. The entire Hokage Tower received the same treatment. Only the paperwork was spared. The Sandaime was trying to remain dignified as he ordered Genin teams to begin cleaning, naming it a D-ranked mission. He suspected who was behind it. Only one person was able to pull a prank of this scale off. Konoha's resident Jinchuuriki, Uzumaki Naruto.

Said kid was currently evading a group of ANBU and Jounin, who had discovered him outside the Lounge. He glanced behind and erupted into laughter. The shinobi were not intimidating at all. Despite their obvious anger and irritation, the paint really minimised their scare tactics.

His pursuers persisted in the chase for the next hour, Naruto waiting for their guard to come down. As he crossed the gap between buildings, he brought forth a mass of a dozen shadow clones. The smoke hid him from view, and a clone took his place. The others settled for splitting up, with the real Naruto sneaking off to the rendezvous point to meet Sasuke.

Sasuke was his usual, composed self when Naruto found him behind Ichiraku's. There was an air of satisfaction about him though.

"How was it at the Tower?" Naruto asked, settling beside his friend on the wall. He heard the shouts of villagers and saw bright shinobi passing in another street.

The Uchiha smirked, "Exactly as planned. I evaded the shinobi with shadow clones, and they are all split up and stirring up attention in the market district. And you?"

"They are yet to find out just how much of the building got a makeover. The Jounin only noticed what's in the lounge. The rooms and exterior? Not yet," Naruto grinned.

Dust came up as a shinobi appeared before them. He looked down at the boys with an indifferent smile on his face. Sasuke looked away and Naruto pouted. The game was drawing to a close. The older Uchiha in front of them merely patted their shoulders.

"Ohayo, Otouto, Naru-kun," Itachi said. Naruto muttered back, embarrassed by the name, whilst Sasuke met his brother's warm eyes and pouted. "The Hokage would very much like to speak with you two." They were enveloped by a swirl of leaves and appeared in the Sandaime renovated office. He was seated at his desk, smoking his pipe and pretending not to be coated in atrocious paint. He nodded at Itachi and turned his gaze to the wrong-doers.

"You are aware of the situation, I take?"

Sasuke nodded. Naruto laughed, "Every detail." He received a slap upside the head from his friend and cut off. Sarutobi let out a long-suffering sigh, eyebrow twitching. The paperwork on his desk remained untouched by the paint, making the Hokage even more annoyed.

"You mean to tell me, you know the layout of both the Hokage Tower and Jounin Headquarters enough to pull off a prank of this scale, avoid detection before setting it off, and somehow escaping from two elite squads of shinobi out for revenge?" he said in disbelief.

"You have all the evidence, Jiji. And anyways, it was so easy. You should step up the security," Naruto said.

"I plan on it," the Sandaime muttered.

After a long moment of uncomfortable silence, Sasuke stepped forward. "I request that Naruto and I take part in an advanced graduation test."

Itachi's eyes widened, as did the Hokage's. They were only young children. If they graduated, their childhood would be no more. The Sandaime did not want that, and yet there was some sense in trying; the boys had pulled off a large scale prank and evaded detection for the most part. They had the potential, and capability of shinobi.

Unsure if they would succeed, and leaving a sick feeling in his throat, Sarutobi granted their request. "It will take place tomorrow. I will be your examiner." Naruto cheered. "That aside," the Hokage warned, "I hope you know what you are getting yourself into should you graduate." They nodded and he drew out another long breath. "Now I have an announcement. Or more like, Kakashi-kun does."

The door was kicked open by none other than a gravity-defying, silver-haired shinobi. He came right up to Naruto and crouched beside him. The Jinchuuriki tilted his head in confusion.

"I am your new brother, Hatake Kakashi," he declared in a soft voice. Naruto froze, words sinking in. He looked into Kakashi's eye and tears slipped out. Family. He smiled, and squeezed his brother in a hug.

Examination Day- Hokage's Training Grounds

Naruto was first to arrive. It was the crack of dawn, and he felt refreshed from the best sleep he'd had in years. It had been his first night with Kakashi. The new brothers had moved into a three-bedroom house. The house was new and nothing was broken, much unlike Naruto's old apartment. There was so much space in his room, which had a proper mattress and soft pillow. Naruto was for once, glad about going home after a long day's work.

He looked over the large clearing, perhaps three times the size of Team Seven's first ground. The trees around it were ancient, trunks stretching up higher than any other part of the forest surrounding Konoha. There was a formation of boulders beside the river that ran through the center of the clearing. He climbed over the rocks and settled on the top, basking on its cool surface.

He watched the sunrise, eye narrowing against the light. Naruto adjusted the cloth over his face, tightening it with a struggle, one strand in his mouth, arm pulling the other to keep it against his head.

Sasuke was next to arrive, heading right for him after giving a quick scan over the training ground. He dropped beside him and closed his eyes, dropping into a light sleep. Naruto stayed up, observing the waking world with a small smile on his face.

He sat like that for a while, until finally, three new arrivals filed into the grounds. It was the Hokage, followed by Kakashi and Itachi. The ANBUs were donning their uniform, sans masks. Sasuke awoke and together, the boys went down to the river to meet the shinobi.

The Sandaime had ditched his robes for his battle attire. Naruto glanced at Sasuke to see a similar expression to his own. It seemed like they would be pitted against the God of Shinobi for this exam. Their brothers backed off to the edge of the clearing. They stood firm, facing the Hokage and standing in defensive stances. Sarutobi stared down at their forms, searching for holes and settling into his own position.

Silence shifted over the clearing, forming heavy and slipping with tension. They stood still and quiet in a competition for patience. It drifted on, time slowing down more and more, stretching out into eternity.

A slight tensing of the muscle. Naruto twitched a finger in a silent signal. Sarutobi leapt, and the three met above the swirling river.

Sasuke gingerly held the leaf hitai-ate in his hand. The navy cloth fell over his fingers. He took a shuddering breath and tried to focus on the metal plate, his eyes going misty as he stared. He remembered the last time he had worn a hitai-ate. It had been when he defected from Konoha and Naruto had come after him. And then they had fought in the Valley of the End. He remembered the feeling of flesh and bone when his Chidori tore through Naruto's chest.

"No. Don't think about that," he berated himself. He clenched his fist around the hitai-ate and closed his eyes. He snapped them open again when Itachi's signature rocked into the room without warning. He looked at his brother, a soft smile on the elder Uchiha's face.

"Congratulations, Otouto." Itachi came over and gently eased the hitai-ate from his hand. Sasuke looked up questioningly. A weight pressed against his forehead and he flinched, before realising. Itachi tied the cloth and stood back. Sasuke felt with a hand at the plate around his head and felt a smile at the corner of his mouth. It twitched up unconsciously and he let it. His brother's eyes were of mixed emotions. Pride… and sadness. He wrapped his arm around Itachi's waist and pressed his face into the other's shoulder.

"I know what a ninja does… and what could happen. You don't have to worry so much all the time Nii-san. Let me help you, please," Sasuke whispered. Itachi stiffened the slightest bit against him. His older brother hesitantly brought his arms around Sasuke. Sasuke breathed in deeply, losing himself in the comfort of the embrace. He would do whatever it took to help his brother through his troubles. He would make sure that Itachi could stay in the village after the massacre and help him recover.

Itachi relaxed and sighed. "You really are a mystery, Sasuke. Thank you," he smiled and a chuckle escaped him. Sasuke pulled back and grasped his brother's hand, dragging him out the house and through the compound. The elder Uchiha didn't comment, trusting that wherever they were going would be worth it in the end.

They didn't stop at the calls and greetings of the other Uchiha, quickly nodding their heads in return and moving on. Sasuke felt his emotions rise as they crossed through the streets of Konoha.

Residents of the village worked on their wares, setting up and getting to work. Crafting, smithing, cooking occurred on all sides, stalls alight with movement and a positive air. Commoners went on their way, stopping at shops and starting conversation. It was a happy place, untouched by the world their shinobi protected them from. The village was filled with life, just like it always was.

Sasuke spotted his target, pushing through the cloaks of Ichiraku Ramen. He smiled as he saw Kakashi follow, porn in hand. Itachi raised his head ever so slightly in understanding. The brothers entered seconds later. They joined the two atop the stools, Itachi to Kakashi's left and Sasuke to Naruto's right. The knucklehead was already calling out his orders Teuchi-san. His voice rang in Sasuke's ears, disorienting him. He shook his head to clear it, and by then, Kakashi and his brother had already ordered.

The owner turned to him. "One pork ramen please, Teuchi-san," he decided. The old man nodded and went to the kitchen. He and Ayame expertly began their task.

"'Kashi-nii asked me, what's our dream?" Sasuke looked at Naruto, who was deep in thought. "My first response would have been to protect our precious people. But how? Being a ninja opens a lot of opportunities, sure. But something else could open more, right?" he finished. Sasuke hummed.

"Maybe we should become ANBU? Not now, we just became Genin. Later? Definitely. And we should try to join as soon as possible," he answered. Naruto nodded his assent. The blond twisted around and tapped Kakashi on the shoulder.

"I know now," he said. Kakashi raised a brow, clearly saying 'what?' Naruto tilted his head back. "Our dream," he clarified, "is to become ANBU and go through the ranks. After that, maybe I'll go for Hokage and Sasuke can be my right-hand man. Literally."

"Ah, damn. I dread the day a brat like you becomes my superior." Naruto squeaked in outrage, raising his fist for good measure.

That reminds me, Sasuke mused. Naruto and I haven't been interrogated about our handicaps. A good thing too. If the Hokage found out we came from the future, we'd find ourselves knee-deep in shit. It was bad enough he kept inquiring about it. Though I suppose on the streets, our cloaks keep us hidden.

He was brought back to the present when a bowl of steaming ramen was placed in front of him. He gave a thank you and began to eat, watching with amusement as Naruto and Kakashi bickered. His friend ceased immediately when he received his ramen. He inhaled it down, and Sasuke held back a laugh. Just like old times.