A/N: Hey guys, just wanted to thank your reviews, I understand that my grammar is not the best but youll have to bare with me as I am just beginning to wrie. Any hints and tips are appreciated. Enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 1: Brothers

The Uchihas had been good to Naruto over the past 18 months. After the incident on his birthday, his jiji -the Hokage- had decided to move the blonde into his own apartment. When Mikoto learned of this she basically demanded Naruto be placed in one of he spare apartments in the Uchiha compound. The old Hokage had little choice in the matter lest he suffer a woman's scorn. The building was nice and Naruto had no complaints as all of his neighbours were ninja so they were rarely home. One of these neighbours was Itachi's friend Uchiha Shisui. Naruto quite liked Shisui, he was a kind and gentle teen, but a ruthless ninja. After watching one of Itachi's and Shisui's spars, he learned that the teen was not to be messed with despite being so young.

Itachi was liked the older brother that Naruto never had, after their first meeting the two got along quite well and while he was not as close to Itachi as he was to Sasuke, he was pretty close.

Along with his new apartment, the Hokage gave Naruto a weekly allowance. Whilst it wasnt a large amount considering Naruto was living in the apartment for free -courtesy of Mikoto- and it was already furnished, he was given enough to get by each week. Although after Mikoto's first visit to his home, he had to cut down on his 'nothing but ramen' diet. One long lecture and a trip to the grocery store later, he was eating healthy and started looking like a boy should at his age. He had gotten taller and was about the same size as Sasuke now, his frame had bulked up a bit and his hair was longer and brighter. His clothing was almost identicle to the Uchiha's only instead of the Uchiha clan symbol it was the Uzumaki swirl that all ninja had on their flack jackets.

Naruto had also enrolled in the Academy along side Sasuke and after only two months all they had learnt was the History of Konoha and basic math and caligraphy. Quite frankly it bored him to no end and he slept through more than one class, which earned him detention, a lot.

The villagers had completely stopped attacking him as well, as the compound had its own general stores he never had to leave and the civilians never entered the compound. It was a win-win situation really. Yes life was definantly looking uo for Naruto.

"Naruto! Pay attention in class! Or do i have to give you detention? Again." called Umino Iruka, his Academy sensei. The man didnt hate Naruto but he really wished the boy wouldn't fall asleep in his classes.

"No! I'll be good!" Naruto called back from his seat in the back of the room.

"You better be or else" Iruka said threateningly, turning back to the rest of the class and continuing the lesson. Something about the Clan Wars Era, Naruto didnt particualry care as it was before his time. he looked around the class only to notice the his classmates were in a similar state as himself, either talking or falling asleep. He looked to his left to see Sasuke with his head back and eyes shut. To his right was the lazy Nara Shikamaru, head on his desk and asleep. Atleast Naruto thought he was sleeping. He never could tell with the Nara. Further down the row on Shikamaru's right was Akamichi Choji, the plump boy was eating a bag of potato chips like always and seeming off in his own world. On Choji's right was Hyuuga Hinata, the shy girl noticed him looking in her direction and red flushed her cheeks and she looked away whilst prodding her fingers together. The last in the row was Inuzuka Kiba who was staring out the window at a squirrel, somewhat like a dog preparing for a chase... In the row in front of him sat Aburame Shino, one of the few in the class who were actually paying attention. Next to him were Haruno Sakura and Yamanaka Ino who seemed to be having a discussion about flowers.

The rest of the class were all civilian kids who avoided him so he didn't personally know any of them. Naruto wasnt impressed with the academy at all. He wanted to learn cool Ninjutsu and Taijutsu but the academy didn't teach any of that until atleast their third year. He would have to ask his jiji if he could teach him something.

In the meantime though. "Hey Sasuke, you awake?"

"I'm always awake in class Naruto, what's up?" he said whilst openning one eye and looking in Naruto's direction.

"I was thinking, the Academy is boring. When we get back to the compound, wanna see if Itachi-nii or Kaa-san well help us unlock our chakra?" Naruto asked peaking Sasuke's interest.

"Why not Tou-san? He's pretty smart."

"Tou-san is always busy with clan matters, I dont really wanna ask him" he said honestly. Sasuke knew that his father would be busy and should they ask him he would likely just push them off to his mother.

"Good point. We'll ask Itachi-nii, he should help us." Itachi usually had no problem helping the two boys, he had been teaching them the academy taijutsu since they joined afterall.

"Sounds like a plan, now wake me when Iruka-sensei is done" and with that Naruto put his head on his desk and passed out. Sasuke returned to his previous position and closed his eye, focusing on Iruka's lesson.

"UZUMAKI NARUTO! WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT SLEEPING IN MY CLASS!?" Iruka yelled and Naruto practically hit the roof. "Stay after class for detention!"

"Looks like Itachi-nii will have to wait" Sasuke said while naruto just sighed. It was going to be a long afternoon.

xxx

Once Iruka had drilled a summary of the days lesson into Naruto's head he let him leave, surprising only after an hour. He rushed home hoping that Sasuke hadn't asked Itachi to help with their chakra yet, its something he wished they could do together. They were rivals afterall.

Once he was back in the clan compound, he sprinted through the streets to get to Sasuke's house, praying they hadnt started without him. He crashed throught the front door and into the living room where Mikoto was sitting, drinking tea and reading a book on cooking. "Hey Kaa-san, is Sasuke around?" he said whilst gasping for air, that run really took it out of him.

Mikoto still wasnt used to having Naruto call her that, it still made her all giddy "Hi Naruto-kun He and Itachi are in the backyard." and with that he was gone. 'Boys' she thought and went back to her book.

Naruto burst into the backyard and saw Sasuke sitting in a medatative position with Itachi sitting in front of him in the same position. "Ah, Naruto, how nice of you to join us. Come and sit, I was just explaining to Sasuke what chakra is." naruto walked over and sat down taking a moment to get into the same position as the other to. He looked to Itachi and nodded, indicating he was ready. "Now, chakra is essential to even the most basic technique. Through various methods, the most common of which is hand seals, chakra can be controlled and manipulated to create an effect that would not be possible otherwise, such as walking on water, exhaling fire or creating illusions." Itachi finished.

"That's so cool!" exclaimed Naruto. Itachi chuckled at the boys reaction.

"Indeed it is Naruto, now i want you to both close your eyes and look deep within yourselves, this takes a lot of concentration so no talking. You should feel a warm pull around your stomach area, once you find it I want you to focus on it and pull it to the surface. Take your time and dont expect to get it on the first go." Itachi watched both boys do as he said and they sat until relative silence for about five minutes before Sasuke spoke up.

"Nii-san, I think I have it." Itachi looked to Sasuke, astonished that he got it so quickly.

"Good Sasuke, now focus and bring it to the surface". At this point naruto had stopped and looked at Sasuke as well, curious as to what it might look like. After another minute, a small burst of energy came from Sasuke and he was surrounded by a blue aura. 'Hmm. Small reserve like me at that age' Itachi thought. "Congradulations Sasuke, you did it." Itachi smiled at his brother who was clearly proud of himself.

"Beat that Naruto" Sasuke said whilst pointing out his tongue at the blonde. Naruto just pouted and shut his eyes, not letting Sasuke get to him. Before Sasuke could disrupt Naruto, Itachi interupted.

"Sasuke, why dont you go and see if Kaa-san needs any help with dinner. I'll stay out here with Naruto, we shouldn't be much longer." and with that Sasuke got up and went inside. Itachi turned his focus to Naruto who had a deep look of concentration on his face.

'A warm pull around my stomach' Naruto thought to himself and after 15 minutes silence he finally felt it. "I got it." Naruto said, slightly surprising Itachi who had never seen the boy so still for so long. 'Now focus and bring it to the surface' and he did just that. The sudden warm feeling that flushed through Naruto was surprising, it felt amazing.

Now Itachi wasn't a sensor, but he had some skill in detecting chakra and what he felt coming from Naruto was simply amazing, his reserves were larger than some of the villages jonin that Itachi knew. They were about three times the size of his own reserves and he knew they would only grow. 'So much potential' Itachi thought. "Congradulations Naruto, you just unlocked your chakra." Naruto looked to Itachi to see a smile on his face. He returned the smile before Itachi had to stop him from hitting his head as he passed out.

Itachi looked down at the boy in his arms who he considered his surrogate brother. He knew if Naruto was trained properly he would easily be one of the most powerful shinobi he ever lived. He picked him up and walked inside, knowing he would wake up relatively soon. As he placed him on the couch and looked down at the boys form he made a vow that he would protect Naruto and Sasuke until his dying breath.

Nothing would harm his brothers.

Chapter end.