{I don't own Naruto, or anything of any worth. u.u}

The Carving

Ch 9: Pancakes Are Yummy!

"Night-night 'Tachi-san." Naruto yawned into his hand then he rolled onto his side to be cuddled by Sasuke's older brother. Naruto got comfortable and soon found sleep. Itachi felt himself doze but not wanting to sleep now that he had such a cute child sharing his bed. He smiled admiring the sleeping face of peace Naruto held. He finally lost the battle to stay awake. He had no dreams the rest of the night...

...Sasuke stretched and yawned as rays of sunlight peeked in past his curtains. He felt that his bet was missing something. Not the blankets, nor the extra pillow that Mikoto had gotten for Naruto, but the boy himself was gone. Sasuke sat up and looked about the room. He was frantic in his search for the kit.

"Naruto," He called out in barely above a whisper. He crept to the hallway hoping his father had not changed his mind and thrown the little angel out. Sasuke opened his bedroom door and saw the little stuffed bear he had given Naruto. It was lying just out side Itachi's door. Sasuke growled possessively and barged into the room...

"Good morning little angel," Itachi squeezed the little child and kissed his head again.

"G'Mornin' 'Tachi-san," Naruto said as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Itachi found it rather adorable.

"I see you slept well. See, I told you it was less scary in here with me," He smirked as he tightened his hold on the blond enjoying his warmth and the soft scent of his hair. He heard his door creak and sighed.

"Give 'em back!" Sasuke stomped into the room angrily demanding his Naruto's return, "GIVE HIM BACK!"

"Why should I Otuoto?" Itachi taunted planting another peck on the boy this time his cheek. Naruto blushed greatly which made Sasuke even more angry.

"He's Mine Itachi-nii! So, GIVE HIM BACK!" Sasuke grated his teeth in rage.

"Oh, Sasuke-gaki. As I said before I do not see your name on him anywhere," Itachi feigned boredom, but was enjoying tormenting Sasuke. Besides the fact that Naruto held a strange fascination for him that no other person had ever sparked. Itachi picked the boy up and deposited him on his lap. He glared at the boy before him, "Who said you could be in my room anyway."

Sasuke registered the threat but stood his ground. Itachi was not going to play nice anymore. He decided to take Naruto and he would have him. Sasuke pouted, "I-I don't see your name on it anywhere. 'S-sides I'm not moving 'till I get MY Naruto back!" Itachi rested his chin on the blonde's cranium. Naruto was feeling very uncomfortable and the mood in the room had gone from playful to scary very quickly.

"P-please, 'Tachi-san. C-can you let me go? I gotta go to the bathroom," Itachi blushed the faintest of pinks. Sasuke snorted in triumph. The older Uchiha let Naruto down and Sasuke grabbed his hand before either Naruto or Itachi could protest. Sasuke took him to the bathroom to use the potty. Naruto really did have to go after all. Then he and Sasuke washed their faces and brushed their teeth, Sasuke let Naruto borrow his toothbrush (Hey they are only seven and eight). Both boys were relatively clean considering they had just had a bath the day before.

"Come on Naruto lets go get breakfast!" They ran past Itachi on his way to the bathroom to get ready for school. Itachi cursed under his breath, but turned to watch the boys retreat with a fondness in his eyes.

The boys found Mikoto in the kitchen making pancakes.

"Mmmm! Pancakes! My favorite!" Sasuke plopped down at the table bringing Naruto down with him.

"What's a pancake?" Naruto questioned.

"You never had pancakes?" Naruto shook his head, "There good and Okaa-san's are the best." Sasuke smiled.

"Good Morning you two," Mikoto sat a plate stacked with pancakes in front of each child. Sasuke helped Naruto butter his cakes and poured syrup on Naruto's. He preferred his with just butter.

"Yummy!" Naruto squealed as he bit into his fork full of the soft warm hotcakes.

"I'm glad you like them Naruto-kun," Makita chimed from the kitchen before bringing a third plate out.

Itachi joined them shortly afterward, his hair was still damp. He had a towel draped over his shoulders to protect his clothes from getting dampened too much. He took a plate of pancakes and added butter and syrup, "I don't know why you hate sweets so much Sasuke-nii. Syrup's good isn't it Naru-chan." The older boy trailed his finger through the syrup and licked his finger clean in demonstration. Naruto smiled and nodded not wanting to talk with his mouth full, "Oi, you have syrup on your face too Naruto-chan." Itachi cupped his face and wiped the driblet of sticky golden goo with his thumb, then licked it (the thumb not Naruto's face) clean.

Sasuke glared at his brother for dominating Naruto's attention all the time. He always had to take Sasuke's things, and now his first real friend. Why not take those annoying girls. He knew it was because Sasuke didn't want them. Itachi always had to comment on his 'love life.' It was like his own personal source of entertainment and he was sure not to wreck it by making the snotty little girls like him.

One consolation to Sasuke was that Itachi had to go to school soon and he would have Naruto all to himself...well himself and his mother. Okaa-san was fine. She didn't try to take Naruto away from Sasuke and even encouraged his attachment, "Sasuke I want you and Naruto-kun to go get ready."

"Why Okaa-san?"

"We are going shopping this morning, and then I want to fix a big dinner. We will be having some guests over tonight. It is very important that you look your best, You too Naruto-kun. That's why we have to go buy you some new clothes. She took her seat which happened to be closest to where Naruto was sitting. She gently rubbed his head, "My Naruto-kun your hair is so soft and clean today. I am glad to see you can keep clean." She smiled as he leaned into her touch much like a contented cat would, "Itachi-san."

"Yes Okaa-san?"

"I want you to come straight home after school, OK?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Good, I would like your help in getting things ready. We will be introducing Naruto to some important guests tonight." She looked at him hoping he understood the meaning of the dinner and just who the guests were. He nodded. She smiled sweetly, "Thank-you son." She stood and leaned over to kiss his forehead before retreating to the kitchen. Itachi wiped the imagined kiss mark away in slight annoyance.

Makita brought in Fugaku and her breakfast plates. Just as she set out his food the man walked in calmly. He took his seat quietly and opened a scroll he had been carrying. He made a few grunts as he read not sounding too displeased. To Naruto he seemed grumpy. Sasuke and Itachi recognized he was fine and went about their business.

"Please excuse us Otuo-san, Okaa-san told Naruto and I to go get ready. He nodded with out looking away from his scroll. Sasuke grabbed Naruto and ran with him up to his bedroom. Itachi shifted in his seat.

"Father?"

"Yes Itachi-san? What is it?" He asked not sounding to irritated.

"Are we hosting the elders tonight?" The man nodded, "So we will be quite busy today. Should I not stay and help Mother with the preparations?" Itachi wasn't even sure himself if it wasn't just some selfish need to be near the cute little blond boy, but decided he really wanted to help.

"No," His father's voice was flat. Less irritation was detected in his voice, yet Itachi knew the danger in that deception. The calmer his father was the worse it could be, "You go to school, If Mikoto needs help you can after school."

"Yes sir," Itachi decided it was best to finish his plate and get to school rather then face the wrath of his father.

Fugaku took his scroll up again as his son excused himself. A subtle smile crossed his lips. He watched his eldest and the future leader leave the dining room. He was proud of his son. He was seeing a good future leader walk out the door. Sometimes he worried that he put too much pressure on his son, but today he saw a strong young man wanting to do something to help his family, and a small child that had some how wormed his way into all of their hearts.