Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. I wish I did.

Broken Promises and Shattered Lives

"Arisa-chan, it's your turn," whined Sasuke, tapping his fingers impatiently on the wooden board.

"Wait, I'm thinking!" A little girl sat at the side of the board opposite to him, pigtails bouncing as she shook her head vigorously.

"Ok, ok," sighed Sasuke.

"Sasuke-chan, Arisa-chan, time for breakfast!" called his mother. "Sasuke, finish your Go game after school."

The two children grudgingly entered the small kitchen and sat down at the table. Arisa beamed at her mother, who smiled affectionately back. After diving into his breakfast, Sasuke announced he had to leave for the Ninja Academy, and that he'd be home by 7.

"That's right, Sasuke-chan. Well, off you go. Have fun!"

" Ja ne Sasuke-niisan! Promise we'll keep playing after school?" inquired his little sister, waving energetically.

"I promise," he replied, amused.

She nodded seriously, then broke into a smile and bounced back to the living room laughing. Sasuke grinned at his toddler sister and was amazed she knew how to play a thinking game like Go. Her life seemed so simple and happy. Arisa just didn't seem like the type to be born to a ninja clan. She wasn't serious, or all that strong.

Walking to school, he realized that she was probably the most important person in the world to him. Arisa was more important than his mom, dad, or even his cool older brother Itachi. Sasuke loved Arisa's joyful personality and the way she could turn serious so suddenly. He made a mental note to teach her to play other board games.

The dismissal bell rang, and the students filed out of the building, chattering happily about what dinner would be. Waving goodbye to his friends, Sasuke headed in the direction of his house. As he neared home, however, he saw something that would traumatize him for life.

"NO!"

Sasuke stopped and stared at the sea of bodies around him- his entire clan. Tears poured down his cheeks as he ran inside his house.

"MOMMY! DADDY!" he shouted running to find them. Dead, too.

At last, he spied his older brother. Sasuke was filled with hope. Maybe he knew what happened. However, the scene Sasuke found was not in the least comforting. Itachi was standing over his deceased cousin with a bloody kunai in his hand. Reality dawned on the little boy.

"W-why?" stammered Sasuke, scared, "Even mommy and dad, and A-arisa…"

Itachi answered coldly. "Why?" He laughed bitterly. "To see what I was capable of."

He glared at his little brother- weak, defenseless, and scared. "If you want to kill me, despise me, hate me, and live a loathsome life. Run, run and cling desperately to your life."

And with that, he left. He left the life he had before, left his murdered family, and left his brother with a goal.

Sasuke wandered the house helplessly, until he heard a tiny, strangled cough.

"Arisa-chan! You're alive!" Sasuke raced to her side. "I'll kill him, I swear I will," he whispered softly, being the responsible older brother he was. After all, Itachi hardly counted as family now.

She smiled faintly, and shook her head. Wincing, Arisa turned to face the other side of the room. She stared the toppled board and the broken Go pieces, and her face fell.

Looking mournfully at her 7-year-old brother, she sighed. "You promised."

With that, she closed her eyes and was gone. Sasuke held her tiny body close to him. His entire body shook with sobs.

"You were winning anyway….."

A/N Thanks Carol jie for giving me tips and helping me improve. Everyone needs construtive critisism! Go read the first one, then you know how much the crappy original sucked.