Disclaimer: Yes. I also own Wal-Mart, and the moon.

AN: Yay! I finished one of the extra one-shots. This one focuses on the first time "Senji" and Naruto met, from Senji's POV. I'll probably start another one soon, but we'll see how it works out. With the idea now, it would be kinda long...

WARNING! SHAMELESS PLUG! I would love it if you guys would go check out And the Aftermath as well, which has more Senji one-shots.

oOo

Close eyes.

Nothing is ever simple, Sasuke, remember that. Nothing is ever simple.

It was all bright leaves and golden rays and fast clouds that day. There had been a ladybug on a tree, but I couldn't remember expressions and clothes and voices—all of that had faded into a whirlwind and been dipped in black tar to run away into other memories.

Why do I need to know that, Nii-san?

Because all ninja know that.

Oh. Okay.

Open eyes.

I turned my face up to dark clouds and spotty half-rainbows, letting go of fuzzy half-memories from days that hadn't—had—hadn't—yes, had, happened yet. I scuffed my feet against the dirt road, letting them carry me down familiar paths and over not-quite-so-worn flagstones. Konoha had changed so much from my last memory. (Burning rooftops and screaming infants and glowing green eyes and chakra that hurt as I pushed it out) Even Academy had changed, in its own small ways. The sign was still painted green, the new dojo hadn't been added on yet, Iruka was just beginning his teaching career.

Gods. I used to think Iruka was old.

I trailed one hand across the scarred and discolored academy fence. I had left a scorch mark on it in my second year. I had been so proud. Finally, I was producing a flame worthy of the Uchiha name… Of course, that wouldn't be there yet.

Tap, tap, tap, went my umbrella against me leg. It would be a useless waste to have carried it all this way if He wasn't there today. I had memorized his schedule and patterns over the last several weeks, but what if he wasn't there today and-?

When did I begin to worry so much? Stick to the plan, Sasuke.

Shaking my head I opened my umbrella, and the drop of rain that would have landed on my shoulder hit the black canvas with a plop and rolled down the canvas, turning the ground dark.

There's the tree, I thought, stopping at the edge of the fence. The swing, and… there he is.

Blond hair hung down around a thin face with whisker marks and blue eyes. Baggy clothes hung off a too-thin frame, light for the weather. He sat under the old oak, swing ropes creaking as he swung slowly.

It began to drizzle in earnest.

He—Naruto, I must get used to calling him Naruto—slowly began to pull the swing to a stop, reluctant to go even though fat drops were starting to flow from the sky.

I knew—knew- that today might be my only chance to run into Naruto without drawing suspicion, and my window of opportunity was narrowing with every second that the swing slowed.

My feet seemed glued to the ground, and my arms stayed frozen. I couldn't move.

I'm nervous, I realized. Amateru and Amateratsu, how long has it been since I've been nervous? What am I worried about? That he'll remember I ran a sword through his chest and try to boil my brain?

…He can't remember, can he?

The swing was almost at a standstill, little heels dragging in the sand.

I'm being ridiculous, I thought, irritated (but my heart was still beating fast). I should just do it.

…But what if he hates me?

The swing stopped, and a few drops of moisture broke through the scanty protection of half-formed leaves and aged branches. Naruto shivered when a drop landed on his arm.

If he hates me, I've only gotten what I deserve.

I was behind the little boy in an instant, and he leaned back in the swing to stare up at me. I worried suddenly that I looked scary to him, alien, flat, and frightening.

Naruto waved, hand still pudgy with baby fat.

Before I could think about it, I waved back, and his eyes went wide. Not in fear, but with something else, some unfathomable emotion that only Naruto understood.

I swallowed. He was a perfect little replica of the Naruto I'd killed, trusting without hesitation, and without remorse.

Stupid, stupid child.

"It's raining," I said, because I could think of nothing else, and Naruto wasn't filling the silence like he should have. "Are you going home soon?"

Naruto nodded, which looked more than a little awkward with his face already tilted back.

"You don't have an umbrella. Want me to walk you?"

Another nod, and Naruto clambered off the swing, reaching out to grasp my hand with his own. I gripped the little fingers, surprised at the lack of callus.

"Who are you?" Naruto asked.

He lets me walk him home with no idea of who I am. Does anyone else see anything wrong with this picture? I'll have to keep watch over him, make sure no one tries anything funny… "Kinazawa Senji." The lie, practiced, rolled off my tongue easily. "I live on the outskirts of the village."

"Oh, really? I've never met anybody from there before. Is Outskirts far away? Like Suna? I heard Suna was very far away. Like forever far, a million, bajillion miles! Have you ever walked a million bajillion miles?"

"It's felt like it."

"I think I did once. I walked all the way to the ramen stand, and then to the Hokage's house, and then to school, and it was really long. I think I walked half the world. The world is very big you know, much bigger than the map on teacher's desk. He says that's the world, but how could we be standing on it if it was on the table? Nope, can't do it, but he says it's just a way to show what the world looks like from people that have traveled it. Wouldn't it be cool to do that? Then you could see the ocean! And volcanoes! And maybe you could even make the volcano explode and then there'd be lava and we could play in it like mud! I like mud. Do you like mud? I ate mud once, it was gross. Hokage sez mud it's gross all the time, but I like mud…"

Senji hung on every word of Naruto's chatter, amazed at his ability to just talk. There were no inhibitions, no thoughts to let the other person speak, just a monologue of information, as if he was frightened he would be interrupted at any moment, and trying to get as much out in one sitting as he could.

When they arrived at the—the—the rat-hole that Naruto exists in. I catch the despairing glance at the box of treats in the trashcan, and swallow bile. What did they expect this child to live on?

I glanced at a rat, and shuddered.

"Why don't you come eat at my house?" I asked gently, and Naruto's eyes went round.

"Are we going to have to walk around the world to get there?"

"No."

"Oh," he looked very disappointed. "How far is it?"

"A few miles," I worried suddenly that he would be tired. It was strange, considering these things, children were very different from adults. It hadn't been something I had, exactly, anticipated. "I'll carry you, if you get tired."

Naruto puffed up. "I can do it! I'm big!"

I stared at him, at that tiny little face, the bright eyes, and for the first time in years felt a smile tug at the corners of my mouth. This was Naruto. Not, perhaps, the Naruto-that-had-been, but Naruto just the same.

"Not yet, you aren't," I said. "But someday. Come on," I held out my hand, and he latched onto my fingers. "Let's go."

"Together," Naruto said with a brilliant smile.

I nodded, breath tight in my chest. "Yeah. Okay. Together."

oOo

AN: I'm gagging on my own fluff.

So, what did you think? Please review!