eclipse n : one celestial body obscures another [syn:

1. occultation] v 1: exceed in importance; outweigh; "This problem overshadows our lives right

now" [syn: overshadow] 2: cause an eclipse of (a celestial body) by intervention; "The Sun

eclipses the moon today"; "Planets and stars often are occulted by other celestial bodies" [syn:

occult] 3: cause an eclipse of; of celestial bodies; "The moon eclipsed the sun"

So sayeth the Fanfiction.net Dictionary.

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Last time, on Eclipse:

"Dammit, Naruto! Not only did you wreck the drug bust, but you arrested Mendoza!"

"I'm telling ya, chief, Mendoza is down with the Seeves Gang!"

Uchiha slammed his fist down on the scarred top of his battered old desk, and the two looked

each other in the eye.

"Uzumaki, I'm telling you, we can't do anything without evidence!"

Uzumaki stood, towering over the sitting Uchiha.

"You want evidence? I'll get you evidence."

(Just kidding, ha ha ha) :)

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Really, last time:

Dazzling yellow hair... easy grin... scrunched eyes... obviously naked...

It seemed Uchiha Sasuke at long last was finally meeting the figure of his interest.

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That's not to say he knew what to say (or do).

The kid waved merrily, stepping out of the bushes.

Sasuke, like Ino, waved back mutely.

(Say something! Anything!) His mind screamed.

"Hi." Sasuke settled.

"Hi." The kid called back, coming closer.

(So he talks! Say something smart!)

"Hi." Sasuke said again.

"Hi." The kid was even closer.

"Hi."

The kid laughed. "You're funny! I like you!"

Sasuke let this soak in. "Hi." He said again.

The Sunshine Boy was right in front of him, in all his blazing nude glory.

"What are you doing?" The boy inquired.

"I'm training to- could you put some clothes on or something, please?" Sasuke turned away.

Sure, it was common for five year-olds to be okay with nudity, but Sasuke had a sense of shame

put into him early on.

"Clothes? What are 'clothes'?" The boy asked.

(You've gotta be kidding me.)

Curious, the boy walked around Sasuke, and stared directly into the dark haired boy's

embarrassed face.

(Argh! Do something!)

Sasuke grabbed the other boy's hand, leading him into the house; into his bedroom, to his closet.

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While the sunny boy bounced on his bed, Sasuke busied himself looking for an outfit that

his parents wouldn't mind him giving away. Probably the biggest problem was that most, if not

all, of his clothes had the Uchiha Clan symbol on them, and he was pretty sure his parents

wouldn't take too kindly to an uncivilized brat sullying their family's pride.

(Unless...)

A bursting sound, and feathers exploded everywhere.

(Nope. Definitely not.)

Sasuke sighed, then spotted an orange sleeve sticking out of a disused toy box. Tugging at it, he

pulled out a one piece orange and blue jump suit that one of his aunts had given him. He had

thought it was tacky, and hid it almost as soon as he received it, just so he wouldn't have to

model it.

"What is that? Ooh-! It's soooo cool!!!" Yelled a voice behind him.

(Looks like I've found the perfect match.)

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Half an hour later, Sasuke found himself still struggling with the hyper kid, it seemed as soon as

he helped the brat into underwear they'd be off as quick as a flash or worn as a hat.

Exasperated, he pulled them off and shoved the kid back into them.

Incorrigible, The Sunshine Boy jumped out of them.

Frustrated, Sasuke let it slip out.

"SUNNY!"

Frankly, the other looked at him like he sprouted a new head.

"Were you talking to me?" He asked, looking around to see if another person had joined him

while they were playing.

Sasuke reddened. So amazed that the kid could talk, it had never occurred to him that he might

have a name as well.

"Ah... ah... ah... I don't know your name..." He blanched.

The Sunshine kid looked fit to burst. Doubling over and shaking, he looked like he was

struggling to keep it in. Finally, he could hold it in no longer.

"Ha ha ha ha! Sunny-?! Where did you get such a stupid name?!"

Sasuke huffed in annoyance. "All the villagers call you 'The Sunshine Boy'. What else would I

call you?"

For once, the kid seemed to have a serious expression on his face. One hand tapped his chin,

which Sasuke noticed had three prominent scars on each side, and the other probed his belly

button, which had a peculiar spiral mark on it.

"Wow. I didn't think anybody ever saw me."

(Wha-? How dumb is this kid?)

"But-but-" He had urinated right in front of Ino! Sat next to a legendary Sennin!

He was putting on the underwear. THE CORRECT WAY.

"So what's the big deal about these underwear things?" The blonde mushed his lips together in

distaste. They were pretty constricting, and unlike anything he was used to. To someone who

was used to a draft, this... non-draft... was pretty unpleasant.

Before Sasuke could respond, the front made its familiar shunting noise as it opened and closed.

His brother's voice called out.

(Oh no! Itachi!)

Quick as a wink, the boy found himself wearing the bright orange garment; Sasuke hurriedly

pulling up the zipper.

"Hey, this is cool!" He squealed joyously, patting at the various pockets and generally getting to

know the feel of the cloth.

Itachi walked in just as Sasuke sprang away.



"Sasuke." The older stated, nodding his head.

"Brother." Sasuke returned the formality.

"So who's you friend?" Itachi looked the other kid up and down. Sasuke knew that look; it was

the one their parents used that meant "WHY is this kid your friend and WHY is he in our home?"

"He's... um... just visiting... to...eh..y'know... help me train...?" Sasuke hemmed and hawed.

"Oh really? He doesn't seem all that familiar to me. And you know mother dislikes strangers in

the house."

Sasuke looked at his feet. "He's-"

"I'm no stranger! We've met before! I'm Naruto, remember?" The Sunshine Boy broke in.

"Huh?" Both siblings gaped.

"I was with my father when you met me, remember?"

Sasuke couldn't help but sheer silently. If there was one thing that Itachi hated, it was having

something he'd forgotten pointed out.

"...Yes... of course... Naruto..." Itachi smiled, eyebrow twitching the tiniest bit. Turning, he

quickly exited the room.

Sasuke let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

"Phew. Why to lie." He smiled.

"I wasn't lying." Naruto smiled, still playing with his new threads. "I really was with my father

when I met him. We were out in the forest."

Sasuke stared. "And you name-?"

"It really is Naruto."

Sasuke wanted to ask more, but Naruto's head suddenly perked up, as if hearing something

completely inaudible to everyone else.

"Oh." His eyes shot open, brilliant blue. "My father is calling me!"

Leaping out the window, Naruto bounded across the yard on all fours, easily scaling the large

brick wall that surrounded the Uchiha Manor property.

Sasuke slumped, at a loss, when the tussled blonde head peeked over the edge.

"WANNA PLAY TOMORROW?!" The boy shouted.

"SURE...NARUTO!" Sasuke called back, adding the name just to get the feel of it.

He stood by his window even as the other boy disappeared again, and in the distance, he could

have sworn he heard the barking calls of two animals.





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Holy guacamole! I've discovered one of the best methods of writing slapstick stories!! The trick

to it is that YOU HAVE TO SMILE while writing it! Seriously, it sends good vibes or

something!!



I get the feeling that writing this story would go by faster if I had just payed more attention in

typing class...