Sasuke believed in power. He believed that those with power were destined for greatness. He believed that those without power were destined for misery. He held such beliefs because of one unchanging fact.
Itachi Uchiha was amazing.
Itachi could perfectly perform Ninjutsu without breaking a sweat. Itachi was a survivor of the Third Great Ninja War. Itachi was a anbu. Itachi was a prodigy. Itachi was a master of Genjutsu. Itachi was one of the strongest ninja alive in the Hidden Leaf. Itachi was smart in both body and mine.
Simply put, Itachi was amazing.
Sasuke loved and envied his older brother greatly. He wanted to be his brother. He wanted to be as strong and smart as his brother. Surely, his brother was the greatest. The manifestation of pure strength in Human form. That was what Sasuke thought of him as.
Because of his adoration for his brothers greatness, he himself became obsessed with strength. Sasuke believed that strength was all that mattered, he believed the weak deserved to only bow before the strong. He believed the only truth of the world was that the weak suffer and the strong prevail.
One day however, that had all changed.
It was a bright sunny morning in the Uchiha compound. Sasuke woke up, ate breakfast, got changed, and began to walk to school. Along the way, he met up with his childhood friend Naruko, and eventually both had arrived at the academy.
"Hey Sasuke during practice today, can you teach me that great fire thingy, can you?" The blond chatter box asked.
Sasuke sighed.
"How many times do I gotta say no. Besides, it wouldn't work that well for you anyway." Sasuke responded.
"Yeah, yeah because my main element is wind, I get it." Naruko responded with a pout.
They walked into the classroom after navigating the hallway, confronted with the usual people wanting to suck up to the second heir to the Uchiha Clan and the Hokage's daughter.
"Oh hey Sasuke, you look amazing as always!" One girl shouted.
"Hey Naruko, please go out with me!" One guy pleaded.
"No me!" Another shouted.
"Get away from my Sasuke!" One girl screamed.
"Your Sasuke!?" Another yelled.
Naruko smiled awkwardly, declining boys' dating requests and Sasuke smirking at the usual girls flocking near him.
'That's right, admire me. i'm amazing after all' Sasuke thought cockily.
As the usual rabble gathered before them, Sasuke condescendingly pondered how amazing he was. He was in the middle of gloating when, out of no where and completely out of the norm...
"Out of my way."
A sudden curt demand cut through the messy jumble of compliments the two were receiving. Sasuke turned to look at the person who dared to order around THE Sasuke Uchiha.
There stood a pale boy, with a ponytail, two bangs, and a scowl on his face.
Sasuke didn't even have a chance to respond, as he quickly cut through the crowd of people, the strange boy muttering to himself. Sasuke catching a small snippet of his quiet words.
"Oh Naruko and Sasuke, your soooo cool~. Who gives a shit who they are. Privileged assholes." The boy said in a disgruntled whisper.
Sasuke couldn't even comprehend the audacity of the boy. To just spit on the honor of the Uchiha's and the Hokage's daughter with complete disregard, it infuriated Sasuke to no end. That unremarkable boy, lowly weak insect, he dared to act in such a way. He couldn't even fathom such blatant disregard of the strong.
Naruko disregarded the boys remark, having heard it herself. Not really caring and quickly forgetting the whole ordeal. But Sasuke couldn't do the same. The boys words were ingrained in his mind for the entire class lecture. Eventually, the class let out for lunch, kids left the class to eat at near by restaurants or the lunch room. Sasuke and Naruko went to eat at Akimachi Diner, a familiar hang out spot they regularly frequent.
Even as they ate, he couldn't get that boy's scowling visage out of his head, becoming more and more pissed off by the second. They finished their lunch quickly, and set out to class a little earlier then usual. They walked into the academy doors, Naruko making chatter as Sasuke ignored her. They got through the hallway and arrived at their class door.
They swung the door open.
And Sasuke was met with the most satisfying scene in his life.
On the floor, there was the scowling boy from before, being beaten by Kiba Inuzuka. He was black and blue in the face, tears trailing from his eyes. Naruko froze as Sasuke grinned. Kiba looked at them in fear. Naruko scowled, and took a step forward, intending on helping the pale boy, but...
Sasuke grabbed her by the arm, and dragged her away, closing the door behind him.
"H-Hey, what are you doing!? He needs our help!" Naruko nearly yelled in anger.
"Open your eyes idiot. Kiba and that kid were clearly messing around." Sasuke lied nonchalantly.
"W-What!?" Naruko said, flabbergasted.
"They were just rough housing, couldn't you tell?" Sasuke asked her.
"...I guess your right." Naruko relented, yanking her arm from Sasuke's grasp.
As they walked to the roof to relax, Sasuke smiled smugly.
'That's what that weakling deserves.'
The academy finally let out, Sasuke ran out with a smile as Itachi stood with his mother. Naruko ran out with a full blown grin, matching her mothers cheeky smile. Each of them met up with their respective family members. As Sasuke chatted with Itachi on the days events, he saw the pale boy walk from the building. He walked with a limp and was covered in bandages and band aids. Sasuke smirked and looked to see who the pale boys family was.
Sasuke's smug face changed to one of confusion, as the boy merely walked off the Academy grounds. He, his mother, and Itachi began their walk home, as they walked home, Itachi noticed Sasuke gazing at the pale boy walking with a limp on the street from across them. Itachi narrowed his eyes as the boy limped into an alley way.
"Friend of yours?" Itachi asked suspiciously.
Sasuke turned away, as the pale boy disappeared into the alley.
"No, Just a kid from my class." Sasuke replied plainly, their walk resuming.
They arrived at the Uchiha Compound, guards bowing to them. As they walked into the compound, people stopped in respect of the main Uchiha family. Itachi received greetings from fellow ninja, sasuke grinning in response.
'Big brother is the greatest.' Sasuke thought to himself.
Their mother bid the two farewell, off to meet with their father, leaving the two brothers alone.
"So, that boy from earlier, what is your relationship with him?" Itachi questioned.
"I already told you, he's just a classmate." Sasuke said, getting annoyed.
"...I see."
Silence reigned for a long while.
"You should get ready for the festival." Itachi reminded Sasuke of the days importance.
Itachi walked off, ending the conversation, much to Sasuke's confusion. Eventually, dinner came and with it also came night. After eating supper, and watching his beloved brother train, Sasuke left the compound, heading off to the Hokage manor. With the moon hanging high in the sky, and the soft chirping of crickets, night descended upon the Uchiha Compound.
Tonight, was a night the entire village had been looking forward to.
For the night was October tenth.
"Huff...Huff...Ufff..."
The sounds of heavy wheezing filled the alley, a pale boy was heaving while bent over a pile of vomit that he had just spewed from his mouth. The vomit was chunky in texture, red mixed in with the green. The boy grasped at the wall beside him, tears trailing down his face.
"I...I think...I'll have to go without dinner." He said aloud, delirious from the pain of vomiting out his breakfast he had been forced to dig out of the trash the same morning of that day.
He limped to the exit of the alley. Thoughts of bed drifting in his pain addled mind. Suddenly, he heard the sound of popping, causing him to look upwards.
Fireworks.
Cheering.
The sound of happiness and cheer leaked into the small alley way, causing the small boy to narrow his sore eyes. He limped onward to the exit of the alley, wanting to take a peek on what was going on.
Street vendors littered the towns streets, smiling families could be seen cheering as a large moving stage was making its way through the city. The boy squinted his eyes, trying to see what it was all these people where cheering for.
His eyes widened. He took a step back as if confronted with something utterly appalling. His mind coming to the horrific realization of what this day was.
October Tenth.
The day the Nine Tailed Fox was sealed.
The day Naruko Uzumaki Namikaze was born.
The day the Naruko became known as the hero who saved the village by becoming the jailer of the demonic nine tailed beast.
The day his parents died.
The day his parents were killed.
The day he was born.
The day he hated with all of his being.
The pale boy fell to his knees, overcome with shock. His entire body frame was wracked with a case of the shakes, his eyes widen open and mouth agape. Tears trailed endlessly. He sat their among all the cheering, happiness and fanfare. Petrified with terror, he could only shake.
Shake and cry.
As the cheers for the person he detested rang throughout the air.
Among the happiness and love abundant in the air, all the poor boy could do was cry.
And thus, the boy no one cares about or loves, remained in a dirty alley way engulfed in a unfathomable misery none could even bother to care about.
Thus, the festival for Naruko Uzumaki Namikaze ended, as she waved at the crowd, happiness clear on her face.
While the boy sat there alone.
And cried.
Sasuke was walking home with his brother, happy over the nights events. They had gone out and took part in many festival games, enjoying their time as a family. Itachi gave Sasuke a gentle smile, for he loved his brother with all of his heart. As they walked down the now vacant and quiet streets of Konoha, a faint sound became more evident as they got closer to a small alley way. Itachi frowned, recognizing the sound as crying.
A sound he knew well due to his time in the Third Great Ninja War.
"Sasuke, go home without me."
Sasuke looked up at his brother in confusion.
"Why?"
"Do you not hear it? Someone appears to be suffering." Itachi said bluntly.
Sasuke snorted at that.
"Yeah and? Who cares? It isn't our problem. Its theirs for being weak."
Sasuke looked up at his brother with a smile before freezing up completely.
For the first time in Sasuke's life, he was scared of his brother.
Itachi scowled down at Sasuke, a emotion shining through his eyes that terrified Sasuke to no end.
"Listen Sasuke, and listen well. I do not ever want to hear you demean someone in that manner ever again. Being strong does not give you the right to belittle the weak. Am I clear?" Itachi asked, his intense gaze unwavering.
"Y-Yes, I-Itachi." Sasuke stammered, his body shivering.
Itachi's scowl loosened slightly.
"The strong are strong, because they are meant to protect the weak, not rule above them. Without the weak, the world would never have peace. Being a weakling is not bad, being a weakling should be celebrated. That noble weakness is something far more simpler and pure then most people think. Because, at least in my mind..."
Sasuke stood frozen, captivated by Itachi's words.
"Being weak, is in itself, a different kind of strength."
Sasuke stood frozen, as his brothers words sunk in, his perception of the world view he held onto for most of his life, shattered by his brothers wisdom.
Itachi walked into the alley.
And never came out.
Sasuke, sure that his brother was alright, where ever he may have been, proceeded to walk home. Thinking over the words his brother gave him. Once home, he got into his bed, tiredness evident in his sleepy expression. As he drifted into his slumber, one final thought lingered in his mind.
'Protect the weak huh...I see...As I already knew, big brother is...'
so amazing.
A pair of eyes jolted open, a pale body of a young boy sitting upright in a soft bed could be seen beneath the moons soft light. The boy looked around himself in surprise, he quickly got out of the bed, wanting to affirm were he thought he was.
The boys eyes widened in realization.
He was home.
Inside his home.
Wasn't he in a alley way, The boy thought to himself. He looked at himself in the mirror beside himself, noticing his bandages were gone, as well as his injuries. Completely confused as to why he was patched up, and how he had gotten home, he stood in place flabbergasted.
His stomach let loose a loud roar, causing him to clutch his stomach in pain.
He walked to his pantry, to see if he had any cup ramen left. One he opened it, he was met with a surprise.
Actual food, canned vegetables, food mixes, and a book of recipes laid on his kitchen counter. He flipped through the pages, attempting to find any hint as to how or why all these items had gotten into his house. He looked around, waiting for someone to jump out and say "fooled you!", but no such thing happened.
As he stood their, beneath the pale moonlight, a few tears trailed his face, but this time, of happiness.
"T-Thank you, whoever you are..."
And with that, the boy set about cooking himself a proper dinner with the help of the cook book his mysterious savior left behind.
Unbeknownst to the boy, a man stood just out of the boys vision, hidden within the shadows of the small apartment. The man quickly and stealthy slipped out of the apartment room through the window.
"No problem, Yuma Ito." Itachi said with a small smile, content that he was able to help one small child's hellish night, at least a little bit brighter.
A/N: Yo, this be just a mini chapter before the main one coming out later this month. No need to worry, the second chapter of the month is still coming out, just wanted to make a small mini chapter detailing the past events alluded to in the story! Anyways, PEACE!