My new friend.

Sasuke watched as his brother took Naruto into his arms, a small pout on his lips. He didn't want Itachi to carry Naruto. No, he most certainly didn't want that. Just as he didn't want Naruto to put his healthy arm around Itachi's shoulder for support. That wasn't fair!

"Why are you making that face?" Itachi chuckled at him, amusedly, and Sasuke simply glared.

"Hn." He folded his arms on his chest, turned around and started walking out. The other two followed him silently, though he knew his brother was smirking at him. Stupid Itachi. Though, what annoyed him more than his brother right now, were the stares they got from the hospital stuff or other patients or people. Really, they didn't even try to hide their curiosity. Idiots. Even he, being a child, knew perfectly fine to never be that curious, let alone show it.

"What's wrong?" Mikoto greeted them at the exiting doors, eyeing Sasuke with a frown. He only snorted. Why did everyone think something wasn't right with him?

"Nothing." Itachi said and placed a hand on Sasuke's dark hair. "What did the doctor say?"

"Hm? Oh, nothing, really." his mother replied, smiling warmly at Naruto. Sasuke saw Naruto blushing slightly at the smile he was receiving from his mother and grinned, well it was more of a smirk, his anger fading. "It was okay with him that we take Naruto with us."

Of course it was, Sasuke thought evilly. Who would dare to come in their way, anyway? They were Uchihas, after all. They got whatever they wanted – the easy or hard way, didn't matter.

.

.

.

.

The people glanced at them whenever they passed – Naruto could feel their looks burning at the back of his head and shuddered, unintentionally clinging tighter to Itachi. He hated it. He hated the way everyone would look at him. It was nothing but uncomfortable and made him feel as if he had done something terrible, which, of course, he hadn't. Well, at least he kept telling himself exactly that. Though, today, he seemed to get far more attention than usual. Why?

Carefully, Naruto peeked over Itachi's shoulder and just noticed that Sasuke was walking behind them. The young Uchiha caught his gaze and smiled a little bit – it really wasn't much, the corner of his mouths twitched a bit. Yet, Naruto returned the smile, not feeling that uncomfortable any more. And still, there was this question; why? Why did everyone who spotted them stare and start whispering behind their backs? More than usually? As curious as Naruto was, he didn't dare asking. That far, the three Uchihas had been more than nice to him and he wouldn't risk making them mad.

"We're there!" Sasuke's excited voice snapped him out of his thoughts, causing Naruto to follow the direction Sasuke was pointing to – and he gasped at the sight.

The house...it was huge! He took in the whole sight – noting the garden, they were entering now, at first. It was all green (he'd only seen that much green in forests, far away) and he could even make out one large tree at the backside of the house. And the mansion itself...compared to his shabby apartment it was pure luxury. Big, clean from outwards and surely the inside would be clean, as well. Naruto had seen this kind of houses only from a specific distance, but had never been to one. They belonged to rich people, didn't they? He wasn't rich, for sure not. And as people didn't like him around much...he had never had an opportunity to admire those mansions from close.

"You 'kay, Naruto?"

Naruto blinked and shook his head, before he met Sasuke's confused look. Mikoto had already opened the door and vanished into the warmth. "Um...yeah, m'fine."

"He's just not used to all this," Itachi explained to his little brother, motioning towards the corridor they entered. He winked at Naruto and chuckled at the blushing boy.

"How's that?" Sasuke asked, frowning, and Naruto recognised the same tone the other had had when he came to know that Naruto had no parents. He simply couldn't understand it.

"Sasuke, not everyone is like us," was all the elder Uchiha said and it was enough for Sasuke to stop his questioning. But a pout remained on his lips and Naruto couldn't resist to laugh at the expression. He decided that it suited Sasuke very well.

"Under no circumstances!"

An icy voice cut through the air, changing the light atmosphere the three children had been sharing rapidly. Naruto felt Itachi stiffen and Sasuke flinched slightly, uncertainness flickering in his dark eyes. Naruto gulped, fear rising in his little chest. He didn't know that voice, therefore he assumed it to belong to Sasuke's father – Itachi mentioned him back in the hospital, didn't he? And from the sound of it, the man wasn't very happy.

"Don't worry," Itachi whispered gently, while rubbing his back comfortingly. It was then, that Naruto noticed he was trembling. That happened always, when he heard someone speaking in that cold and harsh way – and it did happen quite often in his presence. He didn't like it. Nor did he like the fact, that the Uchiha brothers were walking towards the room from where the voices came, they were quiet now, talking with each other.

.

.

.

Sasuke sat down silently besides Naruto on the couch (where Itachi had put him down) and started to pull at his fingers nervously under the intense look of his father. It was obvious that Fugaku Uchiha was not very pleased with the current situation. His mother had stopped speaking the second they had interrupted the little argument with their presences, and since then, seemed to be worried. Itachi just leaned behind them against the couch, keeping quiet.

"Sasuke, what did I hear?" Fugaku finally broke the tensed silence, his eyes never leaving the face of his youngest son. "Is it true that you want him," he gestured towards Naruto whom Sasuke felt tensing. "to stay with us?"

He glanced to Naruto, only for a second, before he returned his father's gaze with as much courage as he could muster. Never show weakness in front of your father – a rule which was followed by Itachi, as he had observed, and it always worked. "Yes," he replied, determined. "His name's Naruto and I wanna keep him."

The next pause that occurred, Fugaku used to eye the blond boy, a deep frown present on his features. Apparently, he was thinking about something. Well, what Sasuke had told wasn't anything new to him, for his mother had already informed his father about it. Though, Sasuke didn't get what the problem was. It wasn't like Naruto was dangerous or anything, really – a fly would be scarier than the other boy. So, where was the problem?

"No."

Sasuke was taken aback by the sudden answer and confused, as well. Yet, once looking at his father it was clear that Fugaku wouldn't change his mind, no matter what. Sasuke knew him well enough to read his expressions and to understand the different tones he used while speaking. This 'no' was definite and he couldn't do a thing about it. Somehow disappointed, Sasuke looked down to his lap where his fingers were clutching the cloth of his shorts.

At the corner of his eyes, Sasuke could see Naruto – and the lump in his throat tightened. Naruto seemed to be near tears, watery blue eyes fixed on him heart-broken and with a silent plead in them. He riveted on the white cast around Naruto's left arm and leg. How was the other supposed to live all by himself when he couldn't even stand without help? Besides, Sasuke told him that he would keep him and an Uchiha didn't turn on his own words, only cowards did.

"But he's hurt!" Sasuke, to everyone's surprise, protested loudly. "And I promised he could stay. No, he'll stay! I want him to!"

Fugaku quickly got a hold of his surprise, his mouth twitching in anger. "Then, you shouldn't have promised him such a thing, because he can't stay. And don't make me repeat myself, is that clear?"

Sasuke gulped, his heart hammering way too fast in his chest. "B-but," you can do it, you can do it, you can do it. "he's my friend! He can't go!"

"You're testing my patience, Sasuke," Fugaku growled. "You've already wasted nearly the whole day with him, time you could've used for training – you need it." He cringed at the remark. "Besides, you can't make any friend of yours live with us. Where would this lead?"

Biting his bottom-lip, Sasuke thought, thought really hard. There had to be something that could convince his father...there just had to be! He refused to give in so easily. Then noticing the window besides the wooden door that led to the garden, he made out the darkness which had spread rapidly, outwards. "You can't send him away now, it's dark," he stated steadily. "And Naruto's a child, a hurt child. It's not nice to send him away, now."

"Sasuke-"

"He's right, father." It was Itachi who cut off Fugaku's rant, causing everyone's attention to turn to him. "We can't leave Naruto on his own, not now," he shrugged off the matter. "Let him stay, at least tonight."

Fugaku sighed exaggeratedly and massaged his temples in an attempt to calm down. Maybe he was overreacting a little bit. Why else would he be arguing with his seven year old son? Though, he had to admit that he was really surprised at Sasuke's boldness and the way, his son spoke up for the other child. But he had his reasons to react like he did. "If it has to be," he muttered defeated, yet sent Sasuke one warning look. "But only tonight."

Sasuke smirked triumphantly at his victory for the time, his mind already searching for an idea to extend Naruto's stay at their home. "C'mon!" In an instant, he jumped from his seat and grabbed for Naruto's hand, but stopped half-way as he brushed the cast. Naruto looked at him, both surprised and startled. Oops. He totally forgot about that. Embarrassed, he scratched his head, smiling apologetically at the blond, before turning to his brother. "Um, Aniki?"

Itachi simply nodded and reached for Naruto over the couch.

"Itachi," said one paused in his doings, making clear for his father to continue. "I want to see you afterwards."

.

.

.

"You wanted to see me?" Itachi re-entered the living room after he had left the two children in Sasuke's room, meeting his father's back who was staring out of the window, his mother with a still worried expression besides him. He could guess easily what this all was about – it was obvious.

"You two," Fugaku addressed both, Itachi and Mikoto, "do realise who this child is, don't you?"

"Of course." Itachi wasn't one bit afraid of his father, nor the other's anger. Actually, there were just few things Itachi would ever fear.

"But you have to understand," Mikoto interrupted their conversation, her voice soft and pleading. "he was badly injured. How could've we left him? Besides, Sasuke's really fond of him."

"Injured," Fugaku snorted snidely. "And that of course, excuses that you brought this demon into my house? Imagine what'll happen when he turns on us, on Sasuke. Then, our son might be hurt."

"He's just a child, father," Itachi hissed deadly, suppressing the anger which threatened emerge in him. He did understand, that Fugaku was only thinking about his family and their well-being, his father mostly did, but his ways to express that were off. During the whole time they had spent with the blond boy, Itachi realised that he was actually around Sasuke's age but was nothing what a child should be like. Naruto was stunned at the sight of their garden, he was scared of the harsh way his father would speak and he had been fearing to be left alone. Seriously, Naruto was a mere child with an unlucky fate – why punish him further?

"At first, you should remember that he's actually around Sasuke's age," Itachi continued, his father's tensed body telling him that he was listened to. "And most importantly, he for sure has no idea what he is. Look at him, this boy can't do any harm – the only thing he does is lightening Sasuke up. Which, thanks to you, Sasuke really needs." At the end, he had gotten colder, making sure his words would sink in. Then, he turned around, ignoring his mother's hurt look and his father's clenched fists.

.

.

.

"I'm sorry," Naruto mumbled quietly after a long moment of silence in which he had taken in the sight of Sasuke's room. Which was the double size of his own, but seeing the plainness the room was held in Naruto frowned confused. There were a huge bed (he was sitting on, right now), two night tables (several books were laying on those), a cupboard, white walls and window above the bed. No toys, no pictures, no posters...it was weird. He, himself, had not much belongings, yet he always wanted to decorate his shabby room with personal things. That was what one was supposed to do, wasn't it?

After he'd seen enough, Naruto thought it would be best to apologise. He was sorry for what happened downstairs, that Sasuke's father got mad because of him and that he was the reason they even argued. Though, he couldn't deny the fact that he had been really happy when Sasuke had spoken up for him – no one had ever done something like that for him. And he was thankful for that.

"Hn? Why?"

Naruto's head turned to the direction Sasuke's muffled voice came from. His frown deepened. Sasuke was fumbling in the cupboard, searching for something as it seemed. Naruto hardly could see him.

"You didn't do anythin', did ya?" Sasuke said, glancing at him before returning to his doing. "So, Naruto, but you want to stay, right?"

Chewing on his bottom-lip, Naruto thought about the words. Did he want to stay? Well, it was him who had been all hopeful about staying with them, wasn't it? He mused, while stroking the cast on his left arm. He liked Sasuke, he liked Itachi and he liked their mother. They were nice, Sasuke the most. And he enjoyed being with the other boy, so far. But...

"Are we...friends, Sasuke?"

Naruto caught the other boy pausing with his fumbling, and he felt his heart beat fastening. Friends. Where they? It would be too good to be true. For how long had he been wanting to have a friend? His whole life, actually. But no one wanted to befriend him. Never. Yet...

"Sure," Sasuke shrugged, though somehow Naruto knew he was smiling. "Why else would I wanna keep you, dummy?"

"I'm no dummy!" Naruto pouted – Sasuke just chuckled at his outburst. "What are you doing?" By now, Naruto was curious.

"Hn...wait. It's here somewhere, m'sure." A non-stop rustling later, Sasuke got up, whirled around and grinned mischievously at Naruto, showing him what he had been searching for. "With these, I'll make sure, father won't send you away."

.

.

A/N: Well, here was the 2nd chapter. Isn't Sasuke too cute with his stubbornness to keep Naruto? ;) Anyway, thanks for reading – and a special thanks to everyone who reviewed. I enjoyed reading your comments and it really encourages me to continue with this =)