Sasuke Uchiha grew into a very intelligent, but excessively spoiled child. He wanted to learn about every single thing or person that he saw, and if after learning what it was he had some desire for it, he then wanted it for himself. At four years old, it was very common for children to go through a phase where they were against sharing on general principle – and proclaimed anything interesting or pleasing to the eye to be theirs with a shout of the word "Mine!" and a desperate glance to their parent or guardian.

During Sasuke's four years of life, everything that he had ever asked for truly was his. At a year old, when he saw his elder cousin Tekka's favorite gun, he decided he wanted it. Madara had emptied out all of the bullets, and detached the trigger so that even if it were to be re-loaded it couldn't harm the child; then given it to him. This did not bode well with Tekka, but he knew better than to complain or suggest that he doubted Madara's judgment. At two, when Sasuke still hadn't outgrown his endearing habit of sitting on Madara's lap and playing in his hair; he'd demanded that his uncle never cut it again. Thus, Madara's hair grew to become the long, twisted, intricacy that it was now. At three, the toddler grew agitated with being read to out of his storybooks, and a theater troop was called in each night to perform them for him, instead.

Now, at four years of age, he had quieted down some. He still refused to leave his uncle's arms for any extended period of time, even though he'd once heard people whispering their opinion that he was too big to be carried around. Uncle Mada didn't mind, though – so that meant it was okay. Sasuke's world needn't revolve around anything but his uncle's approval. That was something that had always been apparent to him; and he knew that his uncle's approval was something that he'd always have – so basically, he thought himself to be doing everything right all of the time.

Even now, he was sprawled lazily across Madara's lap, delicately making loopy shapes in the man's hair as some person babbled on about something or another.

"Uchiha-Sama, you have to understand; we don't have enough men working at the south-western location to safely ship in a package that large."

Sasuke giggled lightly to himself. He wasn't following the conversation, but he could feel the body he was resting against tense up in annoyance. Funny things happened when Uncle Mada was annoyed. Sometimes, men got taken apart and re-made into silly looking creatures that were barely identifiable as human beings. Once or twice, Uncle Setsuna would take out the big sword and a man's head might fly clear across the room, or the big gun that was much like Sasuke's toy would make a loud bang sound, and the man would fall asleep on the floor right away. Sasuke had tried pointing his toy at someone once, but it didn't make them sleepy the way Uncle Mada's did, so Uncle Mada had pointed his at that man instead, and Sasuke had laughed, which had made Uncle Mada and Uncle Setsuna laugh as well.

"Is it not your job to staff the workers in your district? What do I look like sitting here in the north-east district, attempting to send you southern men? Honestly, does that sound sensible to you?"

"Well, no sir, but…. Perhaps if you could spare just a few for the next month until we get more recruits? I mean, your security is so tight up here that there isn't even enough room to let everyone sleep in separate rooms."

"There is more to protect here, so there are more people to protect it. Still, I do understand the importance of your territory as well. I'll send over whoever I can spare, but only until you get enough new men."

"Thank you, sir." The man bowed deeply, and exited.

Sasuke sighed disappointedly, realizing that this man hadn't annoyed anyone enough to be entertaining. Madara was aware of his malcontent and smirked down at him, cupping his face gently, and staring into his eyes in that way that told Sasuke no one else in the world mattered.

"Were you hoping for a show, little one?" He asked, his tone clearly amused.

Sasuke leaned into his uncle's hand, loving the feeling of the callused, rough fingers on his delicate skin. The hand was bigger than his whole face, and felt so strong and capable. It made Sasuke feel so safe. Knowing that those hands would never harm him. Knowing that those hands would harm anyone who ever disrespected him. He nuzzled into the hand more, and smiled; but didn't answer the question. Madara didn't mind his words being ignored, though. He was happy just to watch Sasuke rubbing that soft face against him.

"Are you sleepy?" Madara asked, running his free hand through Sasuke's silky hair, and petting his head with practiced sensitivity, as if the child might break any moment.

"A little, but I'll just sleep right here if I get too tired." Sasuke said, curling himself up in his uncle's lap, pulling tighter against the man's chest and resting his head on him. "Who's that?" Sasuke asked. In his new position, he was able to see a boy who looker moderately older than him lurking over in the corner. He knew he'd seen this kid before a few times, but hadn't ever had real contact with him. This was normal though, Sasuke wasn't around anyone unless they were around Madara.

The crime lord looked over to where Sasuke's eyes were directed and smiled lightly. "That's your brother. Itachi-Kun, come here."

"What happened to your face?" Sasuke asked the boy, looking curiously at the scars that ran under his eyes.

"I don't remember." Itachi answered honestly. He looked particularly annoyed by the question, but that was quite understandable, considering the fact that those scars were the only reason he wasn't the one being adored and doted on by the most powerful man in the country.

"That looks ugly, I don't like it." Sasuke said plainly, hearing Setsuna snort in amusement, somewhere to Madara's right.

"I can't help it. They've been here for longer than I can remember." Itachi said quietly, looking at his elder cousin in annoyance as the man sniggered.

"Uncle Mada, if he didn't have those marks, would he be perfect, like me?" Sasuke asked, looking worriedly up at his uncle, as if he feared that Itachi would lose the scars and take his place in the man's lap.

"Probably," Was Madara's calm answer. "But he does have the scars, so it doesn't matter."

Sasuke smiled smugly, then suddenly twisted around and looked at Madara in distress. "But, Uncle Mada! What if I get scars one day?"

Madara kissed Sasuke's cheeks caringly, lovingly, adoringly. "Dearest child, no one will ever touch your beautiful skin but me." He emphasized this with another kiss, this time on Sasuke's forehead. "And even if you were scarred and marked and flawed beyond repair, you'd still be my nephew, and I'd love you just the same."

Sasuke was again, quite smug and pleased with the answer – only to frown a moment later. "But wait, if he's my brother… doesn't that make him your nephew too?" Sasuke's brow crinkled in confusion. He'd only learned about family members very recently, and the information was still fresh and foreign in his young mind.

Madara nodded, and shot a glare at Setsuna who was going into a near-silent fit of chuckles over Sasuke's distress at the concept that he wasn't his uncle's only nephew.

"I don't want a brother, then!" Sasuke screamed angrily, burying his face in Madara's neck, as he tended to do when he was extremely upset. Madara stood up and coddled the child, rubbing his back softly and carrying him out of the room, since Itachi's presence was clearly making the issue worse. Setsuna, Yashiro, Yakumi, and Kagami trailed behind him, as usual. They were his most trusted bodyguards, and Madara went nowhere without at least Setsuna and Kagami.

He brought Sasuke up to their shared bedroom suite. The child did, technically, have his own sleeping chambers, but they were unused. Sasuke liked sleeping beside his uncle just fine, thank-you-very-much; and on the one occasion that Madara had insisted the boy at least try to sleep in his own bed, it had resulted in much crying, and many unbroken promises that he'd never have to do it again if he wasn't ready.

Gently, Madara laid down, and held Sasuke close, shushing him sweetly, and cooing at him as if he were still a babe, rather than a growing boy. Setsuna walked unaffectedly through the room, standing outside on the balcony, and Kagami took his usual post in front of the door. Madara knew that the other guards were on the other side of it.

Sasuke's sobs came to a slow end as he was rocked, and listened to his uncle's words of praise. He loved when Uncle Mada held him like this, always petting him softly, and telling him about how he was beautiful, and perfect, and mustn't cry because it hurt those who loved him when he was sad. The child sniffled, and looked up at his uncle with tear-stained eyes, and salty cheeks.

"Do I really have to have a brother, Uncle Mada?" He asked sadly.

"I'm afraid so, Sweetheart. Itachi-Kun is an Uchiha like us, and you know what that means."

"He can never betray, and neither can we." Sasuke recited automatically, having heard that said of his family for as long as he could remember, but never understanding it. "So we can't kill him, then?"

Kagami's mirth was visible, and Setsuna could be heard chortling to himself on the balcony. Sasuke frowned when even his beloved uncle chuckled, not understanding what was funny.

"No, baby. We can't kill him." Madara said affectionately; pinching Sasuke's cheeks as the boy scowled. "Nor will I ever deny him any priveledge that comes with being my blood." The scowl deepened. "However, he will never ever be you. No one could ever replace you, and no one will ever have even half of the amount of my love that's yours and yours alone. Do you understand that?"

Sasuke nodded.

"What about you, Uncle Mada?"

"What about me?"

"Do you have a brother?"

The atmosphere in the room shifted as Kagami and Setsuna's amusement in the conversation ended, but Madara's mood was contemplative, not aggressive. "I had one, yes. And a sister, too."

"My mommy, right?"

Madara nodded, rubbing circles on Sasuke's back as they laid in peace. The conversation had taken an uncomfortable turn, but at least the child wasn't crying any more. "Yes, Mikoto and Izuna Uchiha. Your mother was my sister, and your uncle Izuna was… well, he was the sun and the ocean, and everything in-between."

"Did you love your brother more than I like mine?"

At that, Madara laughed heartily. "Oh yes. I loved Izuna much more than you like Itachi."

"Did you love him… More than you love me?" Sasuke asked quietly.

"Yes, I did." Madara answered with ease, refusing to lie to the child even if it risked his happiness. "But he's dead, and he and I loved each other in more ways than we should have anyway, so don't let yourself be upset by that."

Sasuke nodded. If there was one thing that he understood – it was that once something was gone, it was gone forever. If Uncle Mada said his brother was gone, then Sasuke had no reason to be threatened by him.

"Did you cry when he died?" The child asked, feeling suddenly insecure that he got so emotional so easily, and perhaps everyone wasn't like that.

"Yes, little one. I cried for days and days, and I held you tight in my arms, and I killed a lot of people."

Sasuke smiled, glad to know that he was in some way involved, even if he couldn't remember. "You killed the guy who killed your brother, Uncle Mada?"

"Technically yes, but not really. It's much more complicated than that, and the man who really killed him is, regrettably, very much alive and well."

Sasuke frowned angrily. "Why didn't you kill him?"

Madara chuckled, adoring the child's early sadistic rationality and kissing his nose. "He also killed your parents, and he also put those nasty scars on your brother's face. I wouldn't want to deny you the pleasure of dealing with him yourself when you're ready."

"Oh." Sasuke said, biting his lip as he thought to himself. "I dunno if I really wanna kill anybody, though, Uncle Mada… what if I'm never as strong as you?"

"Precious child," Madara hummed lightly, stroking Sasuke's face and smiling reassuringly at him. "You will never in your life have to do a single thing that you don't want to, but I have a very strong feeling – that one day you'll want to."

"Well… Can I see him now?"

"You want to meet him?" Madara asked with genuine curiosity.

Sasuke blushed and nodded. Madara shrugged. "Setsuna, Kagami, gather up the rest of our guard. We're going to the police station."

XxBxExLxOxVxExDxX

The day would go down in history. Never, in all of his years, had Jiraiya ever seen anything like it. It was strangely beautiful, undeniably menacing, and exceedingly mind-boggling. This, was the day when not one, but eight Uchihas could be seen sauntering down the street, as if none of them had a care in the world. Or – perhaps the proper head count would be eight and a half.

Jiraiya knew them all by name, having interrogated most of them relentlessly, although they never quite could manage to pin a case on a direct bloodline member of the organization. Sure, they'd imprisoned several footmen, even one man by the name of Orochimaru who was said to have been one of Madara's personal favorites – but never once had a true Uchiha been behind jail bars. The judges were too afraid of them. This wasn't fair, since the Uchihas were the ones doing the real crime. Lesser members of Madara's gang could be caught on drug possession, prostitution, assault, and various other crimes that could get them locked up, but when there was a murder to be done, it was almost always handled by one of the actual family members. More specifically, one of the eight people who were now standing politely in the lobby of the police station.

Jiraiya walked out and frowned, addressing them all by name in a hope that they'd be intimidated. It didn't work, of course, but it was still worth a try.

"Inabi, Hikaku, Yakumi, Yashiro," He was deliberately going backwards in order of importance, trying to show that he had their entire formation figured out. "Tekka, Kagami, Setsuna," He paused cruelly. "I see you've brought your nephew, Madara."

The man's responding smile was cruel. "Of course. He doesn't leave my side, but I'm sure you already knew that – since you clearly know so much."

Jiraiya smirked. "I only know of rumors that you've gone soft and lost the respect of half of your men over a mere child. Sasuke, is it?"

"So sad to hear about Detective Asuma. I was letting the children play with him and things got a little out of hand…"

Never had Jiraiya been more thankful for the restraining hands of two of his officers. Asuma's death the month before had been a cruel tale of foul-play. It was common knowledge by now that Madara happened to be in possession of several murderous children ranging from twelve to seventeen. The eldest two were apparently considered old enough to be considered his employees, and had also apparently proven this fact at Asuma's expense.

"If you're here to make a confession, I'll gladly accept it." Jiraiya said cordially, trying not to let the venom that laced his voice travel too far through his veins, lest he make the unwise decision to attack Madara Uchiha right here. Obviously, Madara would claim self-defense, and therein would lie the end of Jiraiya's life.

"Don't be silly, Chief. If I ever planned on giving you an excuse to shove me or any of my family in a holding cell, I'd have done it already. No, no. My darling little nephew here wanted to meet the savage responsible for his orphanage."

Jiraiya couldn't help but feel sympathetic. He knew Madara talked big, but this was actually quite understandable. He wasn't being a threat. The child must have been four or five now, and asking about his dead relatives was natural – it was the truth that Danzo was one hundred and ten percent at fault for that, and if Sasuke wanted to meet him, then of course Madara wouldn't escort him here alone. After all, Sasuke had been the intended target on that mission. Who'd be stupid enough to let him into enemy territory without so many guards?

Still, Jiraiya knew who he was working for, and as wicked as Danzo was, he was still on the right side of the proverbial railroad tracks, and Jiraiya wouldn't put him in a dangerous situation so easily. "I have no idea who you're talking about, and if I did, then I wouldn't let you in to see him with so many people."

And then the silent war began, with Madara glaring icily at Jiraiya, and Jiraiya glaring furiously back at him.

"Uncle Mada?"

Jiraiya was shocked to hear how sweet and untainted the little boy's voice was, and he felt guilty for his previous opinion that Uchiha's were probably a species that never quite grasped the concept of childhood. More than that, he was shocked at the way Madara's face softened, and he immediately lifted the child into his arms and smiled softly down at him.

"Yes, dearest?"

"Is that the guy who killed your brother?"

Jiraiya winced visibly at the conviction, thanking every god he could name that he'd never attempted something as idiotic and masochistic as that. He could still imagine it now, that sinful closeness between Madara and Izuna. How Danzo had wiggled his way out of that one un-castrated was one of the world's greatest mysteries; but Jiraiya had an aching itch that when the man finally did die, it would be as a eunuch, and it would not be of old age.

"No, little one. This is merely his doorman."

Part of him wanted to be insulted, but part of him was still just monumentally elated that Madara realized his lack of involvement in Izuna's death. It still gave Jiraiya gooseflesh at night when he thought about what they'd done. It was for the greater good, obviously. It couldn't be denied that with four of the Uchihas major members killed off in one night, their organization had decreased significantly in power; especially with the complete freeze of all criminal movement while Madara was still actively grieving. Even after the man had finished licking his wounds and knocked out a fair chunk of the police force, things had still changed. Where the Uchiha once towered over japan intimidatingly, they now stood as equals in office with the police force, and that was major progress; even if it had cost four people their lives. It wasn't as if those people were innocent, and it wasn't as if they'd ever have paid for their crimes if they'd lived. So maybe they'd deserved it … but killing Izuna was pretty much the same as killing yourself, your parents, your siblings, your children, your grandchildren, your best friends, your lover, and your dog – all at once. It Just. Shouldn't. Be. Done.

"I'll let you see Danzo, but you go in with Inabi and Hikaku."

Madara flat refused. "Nonsense, I go in with Setsuna, and Kagami. If you're telling me I have two men, you don't get to choose them."

This was unwise, but painfully fair, and Jiraiya worked for the "good guys" because he was supposed to be the fair one, so he allowed Madara and Sasuke into Danzo's office with his two most trusted swordsmen, although the notion disturbed him greatly. He then took Sargent Kakashi and Detective Guy along with him as he, too entered the office, and shut the door.

The amused smirk on Madara's face was impossible not to read. They all knew that Jiraiya, Kakashi, Guy, and Danzo were absolutely no match for Setsuna and Kagami alone – much less if Madara chose to involve himself. No matter, he didn't attack, and that's what was important.

"Danny boy, how nice to see you again." Madara said with a mocking grin, plopping himself down on one of the barely comfortable seats in front of Danzo's desk.

He kicked his feet up atop some paperwork and Danzo looked at him in disgust.

"Jiraiya, why are these men in my office… With that sword? Are you trying to have me killed?"

Jiraiya sighed, stressfully. "My apologies, Sir. Legally they do have a right to see you, and I'm afraid we've already taken Mr. Setsuna Uchiha to court about his weapon. It's been declared a family heirloom and he – unfortunately – is lawfully permitted to carry it wherever he chooses."

"Are you insane? That thing's enormous, it could hack my head off in three blows!"

"One," a tiny voice revised, bringing a grin to the three elder Uchiha's faces. "It could send a head clear across the room with just one." Sasuke continued shyly, noting that Setsuna was trying very desperately to hold in a laugh and hoping that he hadn't said anything stupid. He crawled into his uncle's lap nervously, and Madara petted him, looking oddly like an Italian gangster in a huge chair with a kitten. Actually, now that Jiraiya thought about it, that would not be so far off-the-mark were Sasuke to be endowed with a tail and ears…

"I suppose that now you're supposed to tell me that this kid is aware of that swords decapitation skills based off of pure hypothetical speculation?" Kakashi drawled, raising an eyebrow.

"Of course," Kagami said with a light grin that didn't quite meet his eyes.

It was an easy lie to see through, and Jiraiya went back to his theory that Uchiha youngsters were anything but ignorant children.

"I think a formal introduction is in order," Madara said cheerfully. "Sasuke-Chan, this is the man who hypothetically, killed everyone I ever loved in cold blood. Danzo-San, this is the boy that will one day hypothetically kill you in cold blood. So glad you two have finally met up like this, it's a moment that I'll cherish for many years to come."

Ah, so that was it, then. Madara wanted Sasuke to do it. It explained a lot, really. It was the only way that it made sense for Danzo to have lasted this long after what happened to Izuna. Jiraiya found himself feeling oddly uncaring about his bosses life – or the lack of. Perhaps it was because he couldn't be sure if Danzo was any better than Madara. Perhaps it was the cold unfeelingness in those eyes as he'd talked about the Uchihas, in comparison to the fire that danced behind Madara's. Jiraiya would never know which of these men had done worse to each other, but it was certainly clear who was worst affected by it, and that was Madara. Hands down.

"Mr. Danzo, why did you make those men kill everybody?"

Danzo's glare was hard and cold, and Jiraiya knew before he spoke that he was going to put his foot in his mouth and say something that may earn another toe chopped off of his foot before he unavoidably met his demise at an Uchiha's hands.

"My apologies, Sasuke-Kun. They were aiming for you. Stick around longer next time, and perhaps they won't miss."

A normal child may have felt guilty from hearing those words. A normal child may not have understood what they meant. A normal child wouldn't have laughed in the face of a man who'd just threatened their life, but that's exactly what Sasuke Uchiha did.

"You can't touch me, silly!" The boy said, giggling as if this was a fact that everyone in the universe knew, and Danzo was the biggest ignoramus in the world for being unaware of it.

Kagami snorted, while Setsuna and Madara looked very proud of the kid's confidence. Jiraiya saw it then, in Madara's eyes. It was that same adoration – no. It was more. It wasn't that secretive, loving, protective stare that the criminal emperor had saved only for his brother. It was something much, much more dangerous than that. It was devotion. It was dedication. It was possession. It was the visible fact that at that moment in time, Madara lived for nothing but the child on his lap, and suddenly Jiraiya agreed that Danzo must have been a fool.

For when Madara Uchiha cherished your life more than his own – perhaps you were truly untouchable.

A/N: This chapter is so full of tiny-Sasuke that I might just make myself dizzy from Sasu-overload. What can I say? I love the kid. Now, as you start getting ready to bitch at me for updating this again instead of my other fics – please also take the time to stop by my profile and do other nonsense with your life while you're over here in my yaoi-corner. And as a reminder, no this is NOT shota. Also, no this is NOT going to be a SasuNaru in ANY WAY, although you'll find that Naruto will become very involved later on, just not in a romantic way with any of our Uchiha boys.

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Love you!

-Beloved

P.S. Why the hell is Microsoft telling me I can't spell Yaoi? I feel as if I've sinned against Kami-Sama for not having that word in my custom dictionary already…