{I don't own Naruto, or anything of any worth. u.u}

The Carving

Ch 2: Little Kitsune Love...

...Tiny but delicate fingers lifted the lid. The boy's onyx eyes grew in size as he gently lifted the little kitsune out of the box. He held it as if it were fragile china. He turned it over in his hands. A joyous smile graced his pale pink lips, "Arigato Okaa-san!" He hugged her again not letting go of the cute little fox, "I love him!.."

...Sasuke loved the little Kitsune and it seemed the little figurine never left his sight for a second. Itachi teased him about being a baby and that the Kitsune looked like it should belong to a girl but our little Sasu-chan did not care.

"Okaa-san I love Kitsune, thank you very much," Sasuke kissed his mother's cheek then ran off to show his cousins his new toy. Mikoto walked to her sister-in-law's house to rest and chat for a while her son played with the other Uchiha children. Living in a compound full of your relatives could have it's perks—like a nearly unlimited supply of willing babysitters. This was especially true for her as head matron. Her husband being clan leader meant her children were favored by all. Spoiled might be a better word for it, but Mikoto tried her best to keep her children grounded. She feared it was too late for her eldest. Itachi he was the clan heir and very talented. Frighteningly intelligent and very cold at times. His father was proudly molding that coldness into a shrewdness for the family business. Assassinations, body guards.

The Uchiha Clan provided many of Konohagakure's elite shinobi, and they solely held the secrets of the sharningan (the Uchiha family bloodline limit.) Fugaku was personally over seeing Itachi's training. He was set to graduate from the shinobi academy a full three years early, and his Sharningan had become active just over a year ago. He was only ten yet he was going to be starting this dangerous career before his next birthday. His little brother has not even entered the academy. Fugaku often accused the young mother of making his second son soft. She ignored these accusations. Mikoto knew what kind of life she would lead marrying an Uchiha, but she was not resigned to seeing her sons turned to cold heartless men.

...Itachi came in for dinner. He ruffled his brother's hair earning an annoyed whine, "Stop it Itachi-nii!"

"Itachi, sit," His father commanded, "Eat." Their meal was quiet and impersonal as always. Sasuke excused himself and took his new toy to his room to play. Itachi stayed behind to discuss the family business. Mikoto quietly washed dishes then she and her husband retired to their bedroom...

...Sasuke was engrossed with his kitsune. He failed to feel the angry glare cast his way. "Sasuke, you were in my room," The voice was soft, but Sasuke knew the danger in that quite tone. He instantly shook his head as he turned to see red eyes boring into his forehead. He grabbed his brother by the collar, "You touched my raven." He lifted his still protesting brother. Sasuke's feet dangled as he shook his head violently, "Anaiki, no! I didn't! Promise."

"It's been moved. How is that possible? It certainly didn't move by itself." He dropped the frightened boy, "Stay out of my room gaki-nii." Itachi walked away coldly.

Sasuke didn't want to stay in his room it was going to be getting dark before long, but he hated how mean Itachi had gotten toward him lately. He ran from the compound ignoring the greetings of his cousins, aunts, and uncles. He ran to the academy to play on the swings until sunset the hopefully Itachi will either have forgotten about him or have gone to sleep.

Sasuke was hoping to be alone, well expect for Kitsune-chan. He was disappointed when he came upon a small boy on the swing. He growled irritably, 'I'm starting to sound like anaiki.' The small boy turned to see the other boy. He was smaller then Sasuke. Sasuke gasped when he saw the Kitsune's eyes in this boy. His hair was the same golden yellow that decorated his little figurine. "Kitsune-chan?" The boy flinched at Sasuke's address. Sasuke noted this and the deep fear splashed across the smaller boy's face. Sasuke approached the small blond like one might approach a dangerous animal, "Little boy. Are you okay?"

Naruto jumped out of the swing backing away quietly with his head bowed. Sasuke grunted. He wanted to see those impossibly blue eyes again, "Look at me boy." Naruto shook his head. He tried to run away but Sasuke couldn't just let this boy, this little fox boy leave. He grabbed a fragile wrist and the boy stopped trying to run but was shaking like a leaf. Sasuke felt the skeletally thin arm. He gasped. The boy was wearing a baggy jacket and pants that were at least two sizes too big. He was dirty. His face was so pretty despite the fact that he was painfully thin.

"Please don't," The blond spoke with a soft scratchy voice.

"Don't what?" Sasuke asked curiously.

"Please don't hurt me," The boy begged in an almost inaudible voice.

Sasuke dropped his hand, "Are you hungry." The blond shied away, "Please don't move. I'll-I'll be right back. Don't move." The small boy looked confused and frightened but he nodded. Something told him he could trust this dark haired boy. Naruto took up his swing once again.

Sasuke ran. He was very fast for a child his age. He had built up an unnatural speed and endurance from being chased by amorous little girls, some of them were older then his anaiki. He made it back home in a matter of minutes. The sun was sinking so he had to hurry he would be noticed if he didn't return soon. Sasuke crept into his family's kitchen. He took some rice balls his mother had made. He scooped out some of the leftover stew. There were some apples. He took them and dropped them into a small shopping bag. Then he looked into their pantry. There were a few boxes of instant ramen. He shrugged he never remembered his Okaa-san making them ramen. He personally did not like the stuff. His anaiki didn't like any instant stuff and Otou-san really ate whatever Okaa-san sat down in front of him. He dumped them into the bag, and took the container of stew.

He grabbed a couple bottles of water and quietly closed the door and dashed back to his kitsune boy, "Little fox boy?" Sasuke carried the food over to the blond who shivered noticeably when he heard the boy speak to him. Sasuke held the grocery bag in one hand and offered the cold stew to the little blond.

The blond timidly reached for the bowl as if he expected it to bite him or something.

"Go on, take it," the other nodded and finally grabbed the food. Sasuke had forgotten to bring chopsticks or a spoon but the blond began scooping the food hungrily into his mouth, "Slow down boy, you're going to choke." The blond eyed the boy suspiciously.

"Why you care?" He finished the stew, "Thank you anyway."

Sasuke handed him a bottled water and cracked his own open, "So what's your name anyway little fox boy."

"Uzumaki Naruto," Naruto smiled a small smile when he saw Sasuke was not disturbed at all by his name.

"I'm Uchiha Sasuke," Sasuke smiled, "Oh I brought you some more food for later." He handed over the grocery bag Naruto smiled with tears in his eyes.

"Why are you doing this?" Naruto asked.

"You looked hungry," Sasuke smirked suddenly.

"Don't you hate me?" Naruto frowned.

"Why would I?"

"Cause I'm a monster," Naruto turned away, "The grown ups call me a demon child..."

"What? There's no way you're to cute to be a monster. You look like my toy Kitsune-chan," Sasuke took the carving out of his pocket and showed it to his new friend, "You even got whiskers like a fox." Naruto smiled showing white teeth a few were missing, but Sasuke had also started loosing his baby teeth so he thought nothing of the fact that half of Naruto's front teeth were missing.

"Hey I have to go home, you should too. It's getting dark. You want me to walk you?" Naruto shook his head and took off clutching his groceries to his chest. He turned quickly and waved before leaving Sasuke's sight. Sasuke smiled, "You brought me to him didn't you? Kitsune-chan?"

...Itachi-tossed and turned in a troubled sleep he heard the ruffling of wings. He looked across his room to his new statue. It the dying light he swore the thing's head had turned so it was staring right at him. He would not admit to being frightened he rolled over and pretended to sleep. Sasuke crept into his own room as quietly as possible knowing that his anaiki probably heard him but he did not come out and bother him so Sasuke sighed in relief as he readied himself for sleep.