It was another Friday and as the weekend came up and another lesson on the History of the Leaf was finished, Iruka gave the newest batch of students a written examination.

Tap, tap, tap.

Iruka looked towards the source of the silent noise, ready to scold if he found out that it was a secret code for cheating.

Tap, tap, tap.

It came from the far upper part of the room and there, a blond little boy was reaching and playfully tapping his left hand on the outstretched, palm-facing-upwards, right hand of his seatmate. He was obviously having difficulties with his quiz as his brows were furrowed in concentration.

The right hand he was making contact with belonged to a raven-haired little girl. She didn't seem to mind the noise and touch as she wrote on her test paper with her other hand.

Iruka sighed. The two have been doing this for the past few weeks every time they had a test or seat work or even just a discussion in class. It seems that it has become a habit.

'Naruto,' Iruka remembered that one time when he reprimanded them before an exam. 'Exchange seats with him,' he continued, pointing at another boy sitting up front.

That time, both Sasuki and Naruto got the a point or two less than their usual scores. Not that the two ever got failing marks. They were actually both on the top ten percent of the class with their current standings.

But it seems the action of Naruto tapping Sasuki's hand lightly gave them both a sense of relaxation rather than a form of cheating.

It didn't help Iruka, that the two children looked really adorable doing what they were doing.

At that exact moment, Naruto chuckled out a 'Yes,' as he seems to have figured out the answer to an item. Sasuki glanced at him and let out what could only be described as a small, subtle smile.

Iruka let his own smile grace his face as he diverted his attention back on the lesson plan for next week.

Later that day, Naruto reached for Sasuki's hand again. This time, it was something Mikoto told them to do.

"Sasuki, Naruto," the woman said after picking them up one day. It had been their last class for their first week at the academy. "From now on, you will have to go home by yourselves,"

"I want you to hold hands. Like the way I hold both your hands when I pick you up. This way, you don't lose each other on the way home, okay?"

Sasuki knew that her mother didn't mean anything else by that but she couldn't help feeling a bit awkward.

Naruto was her friend but unlike all the other seven-year olds who only thought of it as a way to not get lost, Sasuki already knew a bit of older people holding hands because of certain feelings.

Sasuki told herself that they were young and that meant that holding hands didn't mean the same thing if they were older. Besides, she didn't like Naruto in 'that' way.

She let Naruto hold her hand and did her best to ignore it as always.

"So, did you get all the questions in the test?" Sasuki asked.

"Yeah," Naruto held his other hand up and made a thumbs up. "I studied hard like Kaa-san always tells me to, dattebayo!"

It was both sad and joyful to see Naruto happy after what had just happened not too long ago. How he could mention his parents and their pasts with such euphoria, Sasuki didn't know.

"Did you get everything?" Naruto returned the question to her.

"Yes," Sasuki answered and let out a smirk. "And I didn't study at all."

"Boo," Naruto stuck out his tongue. "Someday, you're gonna need to study for something and you can't because you don't know how. That's the day when I'll be better than you!"

"Wait until that day, then," Sasuki said and turned her head dismissively away. She didn't release her hand from Naruto's grasp, though. And Naruto didn't let go either.

"It's real soon, dattebayo!" Naruto turned his own head away.

"Hn," Sasuki grunted in response as another smirk formed on her face.

They continued walking on towards the Uchiha compound. Naruto saying and asking random things and Sasuki answering some like they were very obvious and the others with very random things as well.

"Ne," Naruto started on one of his question, tugging on Sasuki's hand. "Why do you think the clouds turn pink at sunset?" he said while looking straight ahead and sure enough, they sun was setting, sending warm, mellow colors throughout the sky.

"It's because they're blushing," Sasuki answered without much thought as she stared straight into the sunset. It felt right saying that they were blushing. It certainly looked like it.

"Why would they be blushing, dattebayo?" Naruto asked.

"Because I'm walking," Sasuki told him, making no sense at all and perfect sense at the same time.

"If it was Itachi-nii I asked," Naruto stated grumpily. "He would answer correctly."

'And it wouldn't be half as much fun,' Sasuki though as she grunted.

Unknown to both, this would be the last time they would ever joke around for a very long time.

Before the two even reached the gates to the compound, they were met by Itachi.

"Sasuki, Naruto," Itachi gestured for them to follow him shortly after appearing before them. "I'll treat you to ramen?"

His face was void of any emotion and it was unsettling to both seven-year olds. They only usually saw this when he came back from another more dangerous ANBU mission.

Unknown to the two, what he had just learnt was worse than any of the missions he came back from.


Flashback~


"Itachi," Shisui showed himself. He had told Itachi to meet him by this river days ago and as expected here they were.

"Shisui," Itachi replied. Shisui was tense. And Itachi knew why. "What did they say?"

"I was ordered to kill the whole clan,"

"What did you say?"

"As you have told me to, I did not reveal my mangekyo,"

Itachi released the breathe he didn't know he was holding.

Shisui had just acquired the rarer, evolved version of the sharingan lately. He would be in grave danger if someone found out about it. Especially the Sandaime Hokage's councilors. There was just something off about those three. Itachi could feel it.

"What did you say?" Itachi repeated. His friend had not answered the question yet.

"I tried to refuse," Shisui looked down. "Danzo threatened me."

Itachi knew that was coming.

"Itachi," Shisui broke the sudden silence. "On the night I carry out my mission, exactly seven days from now, right before the planned coup d'état, I want you to leave Konoha."

"Shisui," Itachi was puzzled. If anyone knew that he valued the village more than his life, it would have to be his only friend. Why would Shisui tell him to abandon it?

"They do not care for how much you care for our village," Shisui answered. "To them, you are an Uchiha who will revolt if not taken down."

Itachi looked at him. He wanted to tell Shisui that he would rather die than leave. But he also felt conflicted.

Itachi wanted nothing more than for his sister, Sasuki and Naruto and the baby to grow up and grow strong and be happy. They were so innocent and clueless.

"Itachi, you could take your sister. You could take the Uzumaki children. Give them lives that Konoha never could."

Itachi was loyal to the village. But he also knew that Shisui spoke the truth about that. At best, the seven-year olds would be left to fend for their own and the baby would be put up for adoption.

"What about everybody else?" Itachi asked. "Kaa-san, she didn't want to partake in the coup. The innocent children."

"Itachi, she had her chances. And if those innocent children now, they would grow up and revolt from the village who killed their parents off. Sasuki, she would listen to you."

"What about you?"

"My whole life from now on is a big mission. I will become a missing-nin but I will be a spy for Jiraiya of the Sannin, for Konoha."

Itachi thought about everything. He knew something like this would happen. He was just frustrated that he couldn't stop it from happening.

Itachi nodded at his friend, knowing that this was the best they could do. Shisui nodded back and shunshined away.

Itachi stayed for a little while more. He let everything sink in.

Seven days.

He just had to make the most out of the remaining seven days that he could live as he always had.


End of Flashback~


"Sasuki," Itachi suddenly held the little girl by the back of her collar, keeping her from running ahead into the house. "Greet Kaa-san properly."

"Itachi-kun," Mikoto smiled at her son. "You can let her be."

"Go on, Sasuki,"

Sasuki grunted before bowing to her mother. Mikoto then opened her arms and the little girl hugged her.

"You, too, Naruto," Itachi ruffled the blond hair on the boy's head.

After both of the seven-year olds were done with hugging Mikoto, Itachi did the same.

He held on for a second too long. Or so Sasuki thought.

'Why the sudden formalities?'

To Itachi, he wished he could have stayed this way forever. He wished he never grew up and that Mikoto would always hug him tight. He wished they hadn't planned a coup d'état. He wished Konoha wouldn't have to extinguish them all. He wished they weren't born Uchiha.

"Itachi?" Mikoto questioned.

"There was a family in my last mission," Itachi quickly thought of an excuse. "The enemy got to them before we could. The child is an orphan now."

"Well, that's a sad thing to hear about," Mikoto said. "I'm sorry, Itachi."

"It is fine now," Itachi replied before releasing his hold on Mikoto. "The child was taken in."

With that, he left the room and locked himself up in his own room to try and prepare himself mentally.


The next few days passed by too quickly in Itachi's perspective. It was almost like he was caught in a whirlwind that was threatening to take away everything from him with every turn. He was not yet ready. He had not said what he wanted to say to his mother, to his father, to everyone.

Perhaps its all just fate deciding to make a laugh out of him. For being so involved, so knowing, and so loyal to his village more than his family. For choosing water over his own blood.

Seven days after his meeting with Shisui, the dreaded event happened. Shisui once again showed himself to Itachi early morning and told him to leave before nightfall and not come back. At least until the next daybreak. Itachi took Sasuki, Naruto and the baby into town just before dusk, claiming that he wanted to treat them outside. No one questioned this after all his unusual actions for the past few days.

"Come back home soon, Itachi," Mikoto said before they left. It almost broke Itachi's heart knowing that his mother wouldn't be there to welcome him home if he did come back. Not that he would even have a home to go back to.

Hours after leaving, Itachi had to restrain himself from rushing back to the compound to save his clan. He had to try his hardest not to break down as he walked slowly around the village. He bore the guilt of knowing what was about to happen and not going there to stop it.

"How about you stay at Hatake-san's tonight?" Itachi said as the conversation between the Sasuki and Naruto died down. It was obvious that they were starting to get tired. The stars have been up for three hours.

"Yeah," Naruto replied while yawning. "We haven't seen him in a while, dattebayo!"

"Then, it is settled," Itachi repressed his sigh. He took a look at the sleeping baby in his arms and thought of how much has been happening since the Yondaime had died. "I will bring you there. I'm sure he will be more than pleasured to have you as his guests for tonight."

"What about Kaa-san?" Sasuki asked. She never missed a detail and it hurt Itachi to lie to her.

"Do not worry about it," he started. "I will tell her."

Itachi brought the children to his ANBU captain's house and as expected they were welcomed in and as soon as Itachi turned his back on the door, the children fell asleep. Itachi told them that he'd tell Mikoto but he knew in his heart that even if he did try, she would never hear him.

Itachi leaped from roof to roof until he was near enough to see the outskirts of his home but far enough so as to not hear any cry of pain if anyone was even able to scream out before their unexpected death.


Ok... so that was a sad chapter... :((( idk mahn. anyway, this chapter was short because... well because it is. im sorry :((

so i was invited to attend a journalism workshop in my school today and i just hate writing sports news. and also i was told that i was a part of our school newspaper. that was how eventful my today was. i just wanted to share. :3

please please please review! :)