I'm rewriting chapter 4!

Song: Stage 4 Fear of Trying by Frnkiero andthe Cellabration

If I face my fears

Would my skies be all but clear?

The Academy hadn't really changed all that much since the incident, and the Uchiha were no closer to finding out who did it then they were a few months before. Naruto still had nightmares, almost every night, but the next morning he acted like they never happened.

"How are you sleeping, Naruto?" Itachi asked him over breakfast.

"Okay, I guess," he would mumble. It was an obvious lie, but nobody pushed it.

He didn't scream when he was asleep, so Sasuke assumed it had been a sign of healing. But, when he passed by the door at night, there was no escaping the whimpering coming from inside the room.

Naruto did not like anyone in his room at night. Fugaku said it might give him a sense of security to leave him alone. And as much as Sasuke wanted to protest, there was no denying that Naruto needed space.

But, leaving him alone at school was not an option.

It didn't take long for the youngest Uchiha to realize that his best friend was either well-liked or hated to the fullest extent. The girls of the class would occasionally say nasty things about him to which Sasuke would respond with something of greater power. Hinata would always smile at him.

Hinata Hyuuga was probably the only girl in the class that Sasuke liked. She was fair to Naruto and had always treated him kindly. The three of them would occasionally eat lunch under the tree together and talk to the redhead about trivial things to which he would not and smile at, with the occasional laugh. It wasn't like the laugh he usually gave Sasuke, but it was a laugh. He commended her for that.

Katsumi, however, was another story.

She wasn't rude to Naruto, not in the least, but she was ignorant, blissfully so, and it irritated Sasuke to the point that he almost didn't like her. Katsumi tries to talk to her brother, every now and then, but Sasuke normally drags Naruto (much to his discomfort) away from the area. Sasuke was openly bitter to anyone he didn't like, besides Katsu whom he…tolerated. Most people get his statement, but others just keep trying.

Like Sakura Haruno. The raven knew the first time he spoke to Sakura that she was shallow and selfish. She was always babbling on about things no one cared about. Apparently her mother made her clean her room for the fourth time on the past two weeks, and as discombobulated her thought pattern was, he wouldn't be surprised if she had to clean her room again tomorrow.

Her voice was overbearingly loud and obnoxious, and the fact that her and Ino were always fighting made his headache worse. Sasuke vaguely recalls them being friends, but the only thing that kept them civil was Katsumi. Maybe that's why he tolerated her.

"Look at him, sitting next to be my Sasuke-kun," he heard. Sasuke knew it came from the banshee.

"Look at that ugly demon," she told Ino loudly.

Naruto had his head down, but Sasuke knew he was awake. He saw the shudder that went through his body, despite how hard he tried to suppress it. A soft whimper passed his lips, one he hoped Sasuke hadn't heard.

"No wonder the Yondaime disowned him."

The raven slammed his hands on the table, causing the entire room to go quiet. Sasuke almost burst when a voice beat him to it.

"Don't talk about my brother like that!"

Naruto looked up shocked. His crystals widened as he watched his sister punch the pinkette in the face, a shocked scream escaping the victim's throat. Katsumi's eyes were filled with fury, and Naruto wasn't sure whether he should be proud or scared.

'Cause Sasuke looked a little too excited.

At that moment, the jinchuuriki focused himself out of the situation considering a chuunin instructor entered the room and quickly broke up the fight. He wondered what kind of shinobi Sasuke would become.

From his experience, Uchihas were strong, a little too strong. He always wanted to ask what they would do with all the power they had if they didn't need it. He asked his father once. He didn't give much of a reply. Minato only frowned at him, like he always did and told him he'd know when he was older.

He still didn't know.

But, Sasuke was strong for his age, at least that's what he'd heard. The only person that had been up to par with him was his older brother. Assumed it was an accomplishment, considering his status among the ranks. He was young for a soldier in ANBU. The redhead was glad he had him for a part-time trainer. Albeit, he hadn't been doing much of that lately. The instructor, whose name he didn't know glared at Naruto without a word. At some point, another chuunin entered the classroom. He didn't know when, but he did know that he looked too much like someone he'd rather forget. Naruto couldn't quite place it, but he'd seen that same hunger before.

"Asa-nii!" the classroom exclaimed.

Sasuke sat back down with surprise. He'd never been so excited. He looked at Naruto, who seemed to be a little further back from him than usual. His onyx eyes did a once over on his friend noticed his hands had been shaking.

Asa smiled at the classroom of nine and ten-year-olds as toothy as ever, and far too white. His hair was a little more tame than it's usual, his crystal clear eyes warm and comforting to every future shinobi in the room. It was inviting.

But, for Naruto it had been devilish. His smile was impish and full of mischief. He stared at him with wide eyes, his hands shaking. Until he smirked at Naruto. Memories flooded his mind. He felt dirty and used. He felt something grabbing him and pulling at his clothes, his breath hitching with each voice that projected throughout the room. He couldn't recall being so scared in his short life.

All hell broke loose.

The redhead jumped back with a scream of terror that was quickly silenced by his own hand. The urge to calm down was evident, but his heart rate only quickened until it was pounding in his ears. Sasuke appeared to be the only one that caught the shout and quickly moved to his friend who had fallen out of his seat.

"Naruto!" he exclaimed.

No one had been paying attention to them, surprisingly. Naruto sat on the wooden floor, his knees to his chest and his his hands over his mouth. His blue eyes widened in complete fear, Sasuke had never seen anything like it. Well, other than the night of the festival.

"Asa-nii-san!" a voice squealed.

Katsumi wasted no time in launching herself towards her eldest brother, a cheesy grin taking over half her face. Her short blonde hair bouncing in tight curls as she jumped over the desks and ran towards Asa. The eldest Uzumaki smiled down at the girl in his arms before rubbing his nose against hers. A giggle escaped the younger girl's lip, her eyes closed in glee.

"Come now, let me see your eyes."

"Naru-chan, you could at least look at me."

Scrambling to his feet without a second thought, Naruto's legs were on the desk in front of him, his body shaking.

'Shit,' Kurama thought.

He clawed at the water as these unsealed memories floated away from him. He ran as fast as he could trying to catch them before the seal reinforced itself onto him. Kyuubi's garb ripped and teared as the seal reactivated itself. He felt a collar and leash made of chakra pull him back.

"Fuck!" he roared.

Sasuke used all the force he could in his small body to hold Naruto back, his own hand over the jinchuuriki's mouth, trying to muffle the roar that got caught in Naruto's throat. With an arm across his torso and the other around his neck, Sasuke dragged Naruto under the desk.

"What's gotten into you?" he ground out. Naruto thrashed in his grip, jerking at odd angles. The Uchiha didn't know his brother had been so strong. Sasuke really needed to up his game. He felt his arms about to give out.

"Get him away from her," the Uzumaki ground out, his cornflower blue eyes flashing between amethyst and ruby. "Don't let him touch her."

'What the hell?'

"Idiot, that's your brother, she's safe," he mumbled. Sasuke lifted his head out from under the desk to glance around the room. No one seemed to notice their absence. "It's only Asa-nii-"

"I know that!" the redhead growled lowly. "H-He's not safe," he ground out again. His eyes were closer to blue now, but his nails grew into claws. Naruto scratched at his own arms, nails drawing blood. Sasuke tried to pry Naruto's arms from himself before he did anymore damage. By this point, the jinchuuriki was sweating up a storm, his breath coming out in pants.

He whimpered, "Please, Sasuke. Please, don't let them-"

"Okay," the raven said with a sigh. He raised an eyebrow at the redhead, signaling a 'we'll talk later.'

"Asa-nii!" he called out.

The whole class turned and Asa looked up from his sister and eyed the pale boy in front of him. He set Katsumi down before smirking at the youngest Uchiha. "Sasuke-kun! I haven't seen you in so long!" he exclaimed running.

Sasuke only side stepped him as the long-haired man ran towards him with open arms. The raven didn't hesitate to allow a frown to grace him.

Asa barely noticed it as his eyes landed on his younger brother under the desk, sweating and huddled against the wood. His blue eyes wide in fear. Asa licked his lips before regaining his composure.

"Naru-chan! What are you doing under there?" the grown man exclaimed as he grabbed his brother by the shoulders.

Naruto let out a small yelp and struggled in his grip. "P-Please-"

Asa smirked and whispered into his ear, his hot breath ghosting over Naruto's ear and neck. "Don't you ever hide from me again."

Naruto whimpered before nodding mutely.

Asa smiled brightly. "Now, you missed me, didn't you, little brother?" he asked loudly, just so everyone could hear the question.

"I'm so happy you're home!" Naruto exclaimed with a fake smile and his arms wrapped around his brother's neck.

Sasuke didn't know why, but he felt uneasy — threatened. It was obviously a lie; Naruto was shaking like a bare-skin cat in the middle of winter. Onyx eyes lingered on the two bodies in front of him, ignoring the whispers from the students around them and the little blonde girl that had a pout on her face. The raven just wanted to see Naruto's eyes. That's all he cared about.

The Uzumaki felt tears prick at his eyes and quickly wiped at them with his arm. He felt a hand move from his back to his head.

"I really did miss you," Asa whispered. Naruto heard him sniff his hair and the strong arms tightened around him. Asa squeezed him so tight, he wondered if his ribs would collapse in on themselves, or if one punctured his lungs. He didn't feel like breathing anyway.

Asa put him down and Naruto decided not to look at him anymore and went straight to Sasuke. The raven looked at Asa with a worried expression, the older man only gave him a smile before turning to the rest of the children. "It seems like there won't be a teacher today!" he exclaimed so his voice rang throughout the room. Some of the students cheered while a few, very few, groaned. Asa kept smiling. "So, instead you're gonna get shuriken practice!" he said laughing at the annoyed faces of the future-shinobi.

Sasuke didn't know why, but when Asa started yelling Naruto's entire body shook. The redhead didn't even seem to notice. Without any other choice, Sasuke grabbed his hand tightly, squeezing it for reassurance. Naruto looked at him and tried to force a smile, but only grunted in thanks. Sasuke gave small smile and squeezed his hand again before letting go.

The children walked outside steadily and shivered at the gust of wind that ran through. Asa laughed heartily. "Perfect weather! Alright, gear is on the ground. Give it a go!"

Mumbling about his annoying cheerfulness Asa got from their pain, they all walked towards the circles full of toy kunai and shuriken. Naruto decided then to mix himself in the crowd of students, away from Sasuke who only stood alone and surprised. With a frown, the raven grabbed his own set and tugged on his friend's shirt.

"Tell me later?" Sasuke mouthed when Naruto looked up at him.

The redhead looked away frowning. Sasuke shook his shoulders this time. The other boy looked up with watery oceanic eyes. Naruto nodded.

Sasuke knew he was lying, but he let it go.

Asa saw the little transaction, but decided he would catch Sasuke after class. 'He is a cute little boy.' he thought to himself. Sasuke felt a shiver run down his spine at the set of eyes ogling him. The raven was going to glance behind him when a pair of hands made settled on his shoulders.

"Great work, Sasuke-kun! As expected of an Uchiha!" Asa exclaimed, drawing attention from the rest of the class. Sasuke blushed and struggled in the man's grip. Asa smirked down at him. 'He's a fighter, just like Naruto was.'

The Uchiha didn't take too kindly to the smirk he was given jerked his shoulders away from the man. Naruto had grabbed his hand. "Asa-nii, I'm sorry, I just needed his help with the shuriken," Naruto lied. Sasuke looked at the boy with shock and relief. "Just go along with it," he whispered.

"Oh, yeah, Sensei, I promised him I'd do it."

Asa's ogling gaze shifted to one of anger before quickly changing back to a cheerful smile. He leaned down put one hand on each of their shoulders. "Well, Naruto, Sasuke, maybe you both can stay after class—"

"I don't think that will be necessary, Asa-san."

Naruto almost fainted from pure happiness. The redhead's smile quickly rose itself from it's early grave to greet Itachi. Sasuke smirked at the glare his brother was giving Naruto's. Asa seemed annoyed, but smiled at him nonetheless.

"Ah, no greeting, 'Tachi?" Asa asked with the fakest smile he could muster up at the moment.

"I don't think that will be necessary, either, Asa-san."

The man chuckled at the rudeness to which Itachi replied to. Without another word, Itachi grabbed his younger siblings wrists and pulled them along. The older man glared at his back and Itachi gave a challenging, spiteful smile in return.

Katsumi watched Naruto walk away with a frown.

"Katsumi!"

The orange-haired girl averted her attention back to the task at hand and noticed a panting Ino a few feet away from her. The blonde seemed a bit startled.

"Are you trying to hit me?!"

She chuckled and scratched the back of her head. "Sorry, Ino-chan, I'll do better next time!" Ino only replied with mumbled curses of Hokage's daughters and ignorant redheads.

Itachi was furious in ways he couldn't explain. The only thing filling his head was that long-haired imbecile of a shinobi that dared to call himself the first son of the Hokage. 'I suppose birds of the same mother flock together,' he thought. That blonde-haired blue-eyed monster was the son of the most demonic woman he'd ever met and his father was no better. Thinking about the Hokage's family made his blood so hot he thought he would burst into flames and be called the devil. Surely, he would drag them all down into Hell with him.

"'Tachi?"

The teen shook away his thoughts at the sound of Naruto's voice. He looked down at him with a small smile. "Yes, Naruto?"

"Do you like my brother?"

The question was easy to answer, in fact, it was halfway out of his mouth before he could stop himself. 'No,' he desperately wanted to scream out. But, he wondered what kind of effect telling Naruto would have. Itachi looked down at his other brother who appeared to be just as curious as the other.

"I hate him."

The words flowed so easily from Naruto's mouth Itachi wondered if he heard it correctly. The weasel hated the idea of such a word coming from this boy's lips. Hate. Itachi never expected him to know the definition of the word or even to have it in his vocabulary. Itachi looked at Sasuke, who wasn't shocked at all. In fact, the raven seemed proud.

'I do too,' he wanted to say.

"Why do you hate him?" Itachi asked. Sasuke was just as curious.

Naruto looked down at ground with furrowed eyebrows. He couldn't describe the feeling in his chest or his stomach, but thinking about his elder brother made his stomach lurch in a cruel way. The redhead felt completely awkward and disorganized. There were only bits and pieces of tiny memories floating through his head, just ragged puzzles pieces that don't fit together and look as though they belong to different puzzles, ranging from jigsaws to crosswords. It was a game of scrabble with only four letters and even with those small four pieces he couldn't make out the word.

"I," he started, "I don't—"

He couldn't find the words. There was a reason for him to be so repulsed by the idea of staying after class with his kin. "He's a bad man." It'd have to do for now.

"Yeah, he is."

Naruto was startled by the notion, but felt relieved by the statement. He didn't ask why Itachi thought he was bad. Knowing he wasn't alone was enough to soothe his uneasiness if only a little. He could worry about it later.

"Aniki?" Sasuke spoke up.

The other two boys turned their gaze to him. Sasuke met both sets of eyes. "Why'd you pick us up early?"

Itachi turned forward with a small, barely noticeable frown.

"Hokage-sama wants to see us."

Probably not, then again

I've always held my doubts so close to my heart

That's all I've got for now! I'm debating whether or not I'll include Sakura. I most likely will, but should I kill her? Hm…

Also, I need at least five reviews for this. Constructive criticism is fine. AT LEAST IT WAS 3K THIS TIME WOW

Happy Holidays!

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Thanks!