Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. If I did I would be rich and have minions to do the typing for me.

AN: This chapter I acually came up with just now. I decided to expand upon the one paragraph and include a few new scenes. The AU kicks in with the jiinchuuriki, though it won't be for another couple of chapters. I would give you a list, but I don't want to ruin the surprise. And for those of you wondering, no, sakura is not going to play a major part in this story.

Naruto opened his eyes and immediately shut them again against the bright light. After several attempts he managed to see without the blindness of brightness. He sat up and took in his surroundings. He was in his least favorite place in all of konoha. The hospital.

In the bed on the other side of the room lay Hinata. She had a slight smile her face. Between the two, in a chair, sat Sasuke. He had the look of an emo. He seemed to be asleep.

Naruto got out of his bed quietly and made his way to the bathroom. After he was fiinished relieving himself he went back to the bed only to trip over the little bump that all doors seem to have. He landed with a spectacular "Oof!"

Hinata stirred but remained asleep. Sasuke, however, actually jumped at the sound, he had a light slumber.

"hey. How you holdin up?" Sasuke asked

"I'm fine. You?" Naruto responded.

"You know who it was right?" Sasuke asked. "Who killed them all."

"No. I was out practically before I hit the floor." Naruto told him.

"it was itachi. It was our brother." Sasuke said.

The children were released the next day. They decided to stick together, to help each other. At first Sasuke was a little standoffish with Hinata, her being hyuuga and all, but eventually he found out that she was different from the rest of them. He was still wary of her.

They were informed that the funeral would be held in one week. The hokage was taking over the arrangments as both the boys were still too young to handle that responsibility. While Sasuke and Naruto were disappointed, they were extremely grateful. The week passed quickly as the boys, usually with Hinata, constantly trained to exhaustion.

There was a light drizzle as the funeral started. Only the clan heads and their immediate families were invited, though many people would have gladly shown up to mourn the loss of konoha's police force. Many of the uchihas were friends with a good deal of the villagers.

Naruto and Sasuke stood together, putting up a strong front in front of the other clans. This was as much a test of the new head of the uchiha as much a funeral. So Naruto was supporting Sasuke in his determination not to show the pain of losing so many dear to him.

The priest's eulogy carried on and on. 'he doesn't know anything about them really.' The boys thought. 'he's practically reading a list of their accomplishments.'

It took all of Sasuke's willpower not to yell at the priest. It took all of Naruto's willpower not to punch the offending man square in the face.

After the priest was done and the 'mourners' had left, Sasuke sank to his knees and let the tears fall. "dammmit!" he shouted. "If only we were stronger. Faster. If only we were better, we could have been there to stop him!"

"Or you could have perished with the rest of them," the sandaime said. "Itachi was stronger than every last one of them. He would have finished you off as well. I am surprised he spared you. But then both of you had your place in his heart."

"It's all my fault," Naruto said quietly. "itachi told me to keep quiet that he left, and when he came back he killed them all. I… I -"

Sasuke hit Naruto in the jaw. "Stop blaming yourself. Itachi did have you keep him leaving a secret, but did he tell you he was going to kill everyone?" Naruto shook his head. "Then it wasn't your fault. Now pull it together. We have some training to do."