Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Well here is chapter two, my beloved fans. I have completed it. It's much larger than the first, almost double in size.
I realized that a hundred points is quite unreasonable to ask, so I have changed it to thirty points. Come on everyone! Thirty points and you'll get three of you questions answered about this story!
I opened my eyes to find myself in big soft bed. I groggily rubbed my head, trying to remember how I got there. I remembered a fight. Older children had been hurting me. Something about a stolen lunch. I blinked. Uchiha Itachi!
I winced. My chest was covered in bandages and I hurt very badly. My arm was also wrapped tightly up in a cast. I wondered why Itachi had saved me.
At that moment the paper door to the rooms slid open. A boy, about my age stared in at me. His hair was black and he had huge black eyes. He was Uchiha Sasuke. He had started at the academy about the same time as I had.
"What are you doing in big brother's bed?" he asked quietly.
I blinked. "Dunno." I said, faking toughness. "He just picked me up."
He cocked his head and looked at me with his big eyes. "I know you. The kids are mean to you."
"Well you're not exactly my best friend either." I snorted.
He cocked his head the other way. "But I'm not mean to you." he stated monotonously.
"But you're not nice." I pouted.
"Sorry." he said shortly.
He stepped the rest of the way out from behind the screen door.
"Are you going to come in? There's a draft." I said, trying to sound like an adult.
He stepped in and closed the door behind him. Hesitantly, he walked over to the bed next to me. He looked at me as if asking permission to get on. I stared back at him as he jumped up next to me.
"Your name is Naruto, right?" he asked timidly.
"And you're Sasuke?" I replied.
He grinned. "Yeah!"
We both looked at the door as we hear it slide open again.
"Nii-san!" he exclaimed as we recognized who it was.
Itachi blinked while looking at Sasuke.
"You're not supposed to be in here, Sasuke."
He pouted. "I was looking for my shuriken and I found Naruto-kun."
When his big brother came in it was like Sasuke's personality changed. Before he was a quiet and shy boy, now he was a spoiled pouty kid. Kind of annoying.
He looked at me then back at Sasuke.
"You are not to tell Okaa-san or Tou-san that he is here." he ordered.
Sasuke smirked. He knew when the cards were in his favor.
"On one condition."
Itachi's mouth curled up into an amused smile.
"What is your condition, little brother?"
"You have to let me come play with Naruto-kun any time I want!"
Itachi bent down to look Sasuke in the eye.
"Agreed."
"Thank you Nii-san!!"
He turned around and jumped up onto the bed next to me.
"How are you feeling, Naruto-kun?" Itachi asked.
"Fine, Itachi-sama." I said grudgingly. This man did save my life.
His mouth twitched and he said: "I brought you some lunch. I'm sure you're hungry. Do boiled leeks sound good, with melted butter?"
I gagged. Leeks.
"Leeks are disgusting! I much prefer ramen."
His mouth twitched again. "Ramen is extremely fatty and has quite a bit of sodium in it. As long as you are staying under my care you will eat food that will do good things for your health, not damage it."
"Then I don't want to stay here anymore!"
"Don't go, Naruto-kun! Please stay and play with me!" Sasuke begged.
I grumbled but answered: "Fine."
"Since we have come to an agreement you will eat your leeks." And with that Itachi slammed a tray down on my lap with a plate of the horrid vegetable and a bowl of rice. I took my chopsticks and hurriedly shoved the leeks down my throat. Might as well get it over with as soon as possible.
"Don't eat so fast. You'll choke." Itachi said monotonously.
I glared at him but slowed down. Why were adults so bossy?
"I have to go and run some errands. Stay in this room, Naruto-kun, and my family won't bother you. I might not be back till late tomorrow night, Sasuke, so take him some food. And make sure mother and father stay out of here. They should, but just in case watch them carefully."
"Yes, Nii-san!" Sasuke said, grinning.
I stared out into the darkness of the room I was staying in. It was the night of Itachi return but he still hadn't arrived. I grudgingly admitted I was worried for the welfare of my guardian.
I jumped at the scratching noise of the door opening. Sasuke stood there in his light blue pajamas.
"Is Nii-san back?" he asked.
"Obviously not." I sniffed.
"Let's wait together then!" he said.
He ran across the wood floor and jumped up next me. The silk of his pajamas rubbed against my arm. It was much different than the rough fabric of mine pajamas that Itachi had brought from my home.
I looked at him and realized how very different we were. How far apart our worlds were. And how we could never truly be friends. He was a rich pampered boy, and I was a ward of the village. An outcast. Unwanted by everyone, including my own parents.
"Naruto-kun, what is your favorite color?" Sasuke asked.
"Orange!" I said without a second thought.
"That's what I thought since all you wear is orange." he giggled. "You can tell a lot about a person's personality by what their favorite color is. My favorite color is red."
"Really? I always took you for a blue person."
"Blue's okay, I guess."
"I see."
He blushed and reached behind him. He had been hiding a brown, stuffed teddy bear.
"I trust you, Naruto-kun, that's why I can show Taiki-chan. My father wants me to get rid of it. He tells me it's unbecoming for a man to have such toys. I don't play with him but I could never get rid of Taiki-chan."
I blinked. "I have a bear too. I never play with him. It was the only thing I have of my parents. His name is Oppa-san."
He cocked his head. "Where is Oppa-san?"
"He's back at my house."
"Well, so you don't get lonely, I'll get you Nii-san's bear. He has had him stuffed up in a closet since before I was born, but I think poor Zumi gets lonely. I'm sure Zumi would be happy to be with you."
I grinned. Though I wouldn't admit it, I missed the comfort that Oppa-san gave me.
Sasuke hopped off the bed and ran over to the closet. He crawled into the back behind stained, ripped, and heavily worn ninja uniforms. They must have been some of Itachi's. A few minutes later I heard a muffled "Ah ha!" He crawled out, bringing with him a very worn white bear.
"Here you go, Naruto-kun."
I took the worn, falling apart bear.
"Nii-san put him in there once he graduated the Academy. He thought he was too old for things like this."
I hugged Zumi tightly while Sasuke clutched Taiki-chan. We sat there in companionable silence, waiting for Itachi.
Itachi
I silently slipped into the window of my room. No need for me to wake Naruto-kun. I glanced over at the bed and smiled. Naruto and Sasuke were leaning on each other, fast asleep. I rolled my eyes at what Naruto was holding. It was a white teddy bear that I thought I had gotten rid of. Ten years ago, when I was six, I graduated from the academy. Father told me I was too old for it. So I tried to throw it away. I couldn't part with my lifelong companion so I stuffed it in the back of my closet. Apparently Sasuke found it.
I quietly undressed. I took the spare blanket out of the closet and curled up on the floor at the end of the bed. There was no need to wake them, while they were sleeping so peacefully.
And thus Naruto and Sasuke grew closer, while Itachi silently watched over them. Weeks passed and soon the two were inseparable. But, Sasuke had to go to the academy every day, and Itachi had missions. During these times of being alone, Naruto would hide in Itachi's closet and play with his friend Zumi. Itachi's parents rarely entered his room, as they respected their children's privacy.
After about six weeks, Naruto's arm was well enough for him to remove the cast; but as Sasuke had grown so close to his friend living in his brother's closet, he refused to let Naruto return. Itachi also had his objections to the departure of the little boy, though his reasons were unknown.
But sadly these happy times had to draw to a close.
Preview
In a time of great need and decision, who will Naruto choose, his best friend, Sasuke-kun? Or his precious Itachi-sama, the first to ever accept him, the man who saved his life?
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