Okay, I said that I would make all these kiddies about 10 years old, but I have decided just to wing it and make them the best age in their case. Hence, Sasuke is 7 years old, a couple of months before Itachi massacred the entire Uchiha family.

Also, I would like to thank AmeKisame, ANIMEANGEL77, MeeLee, Junsui Kegasu, and mia for your support and my first five reviewers. It makes me feel really appreciated! cries tears of joi. And, for all you Sasuke fans out there, here's the little chibi for you now! Enjoy.

Disclaimer: Hey, if you read the first chapter, you would see that I already "Disclaimer-ed." I DON'T OWN. Please don't sue!

……

A raven-haired boy stood at the far end of the academy's yard, watching the teachers herding up the rest of the students to their parents. He determinedly looked away from them, continuing to throw shuriken at a dummy target. He knew he would have to get home soon, but not until the point where he absolutely had to. His father expected that when he came home that night, he would somehow be an expert shuriken thrower. Just like Itachi…

Once again, Uchiha Sasuke shook his head to clear himself of those troublesome thoughts, and unleashed another barrage on the unsuspecting target. Sasuke smiled as he hear the satisfying thunk as 14 or so of the metal stars embedded themselves into burlap and straw; he looked up, satisfied. However, shock hit him soon. Where was the 15th star? Sasuke looked around until he spotted it, caught in to wall right behind the dummy. He and missed it by a hair's width. Not good enough…

Sasuke grudgingly walked over to the wall and tore the shuriken out, sending small chunks of plaster to fall to the ground. Sasuke stared at the small star in his hand. Not good enough…

The boy then decided to examine the actual target. At least most of that had gone well: three in the heart's region, five in the stomach, two in the head, and one, surprisingly, in the neck. Sadly, to Sasuke, the other three had landed in non-critical areas, two in the upper arms, and one in one of the fake thighs. Sasuke frowned. Not good enough…

Walking over the dummy, Sasuke took the shuriken he held form the wall and stabbed it through the dummy's head. He glared at the straw falling, as if it had caused all his problems. He began to pull out all the other shuriken.

"Not good enough…maybe just one more time…" Sasuke realigned himself at the perfect throwing distance, and began his training again. The shuriken ended up in pretty much the same way, except the neck's throw had decided to end up in the wall with another star. Sasuke yelled and threw himself down to the ground in frustration. Why wasn't he getting any better? Why? He wanted to show his father that he to could be as good as Itachi, but he wasn't getting anywhere.

"Stupid Itachi, why does he have to be so special? I bet if I train hard enough I can do it!" Sasuke fully lay down, trying to catch his breath. "Why doesn't father think I'm special, too?" The boy rolled over. Why wasn't he getting any better at this? Sasuke lay like this for while, just brooding over his father's stubbornness and his life's difficulties. He didn't mean to, but his eyes started drifting shut…maybe, he would shut his eyes for a bit and get back his energy…

……

Sasuke shot awake. No! How long had he been asleep? The sky was a deep burnt-orange color; it was twilight. The boy attempted to jump up, but came face to face with another person. An older person.

"Oi, oi! Watch it! Jumping up like that, you might break your nose (or mine, for that matter!). What are you doing out here still, Sasuke-kun?" The stranger looked Sasuke up and down, maybe to see if he was all right?

Sasuke quizzically looked at the young man, wondering how he knew his name. Oh, wait: he was an Uchiha. Everyone knew him, but he didn't know them. Sasuke looked away with bit of a sour look to his face. The stranger looked puzzled at the gesture, but shook it off.

"Hey, do you mind if I take the shuriken in, now? I was instructed to do that a while ago, but it looked like you were sleeping on most of them. I didn't want to disturb your rest."

Sasuke looked at the man again. Did he know him? The guy acted like they were friends or something. He kind of liked the idea of someone to talk to. "Do you work at my academy?"

"Hm? I didn't know you owned it." The stranger chuckled warmly at his own joke. "I'm sorry; I'm Umino Iruka. I'm becoming a teacher at the academy soon. I was an assistant for a while, so now I'll get a job here. So how about it? Can I get the shuriken for Tobo-sensei now, please?" Iruka looked at Sasuke slightly pleadingly, but Sasuke knew it was all just a ploy. The man was getting a kick out this…he probably though it was really funny he had fallen asleep.

"Fine. You can have them. I'm done practicing now." Sasuke handed the bunch of stars to Iruka. Then, he turned to leave.

"Oi! Would you like to help me get some stuff organized first? I still don't know where everything goes…do you?"

Sasuke sighed. Of course he knew; he used everything everyday. But now, he wouldn't be on time. Oh, well. His parents could wait a few hours. "Fine."

The man smiled. "Thanks."

……

The two were working in Tobo-sensei's office, sorting through all the random scrolls and equipment used by the students that day. That included a bunch of accident reports.

"Wow. You guys are really accident-prone. How do most of you survive the academy and actually make it being a ninja?"

Sasuke flipped through all the pages containing information on all the unfortunate technicalities of the day. Most of them were about that Uzumaki kid. Sasuke suddenly felt very shy as he held up the papers to Iruka, who stared at him with a questioning intensity. "M-most of the troubles are from Naruto." He timidly withdrew from the papers as the man took hold of the flimsy sheets. He guessed this man was all right. And, because he was new, he wouldn't expect too much out of the over-strained child already. Not to mention, he wouldn't know much about Itachi, either.

"I see…" Iruka's face changed - as he read the documents - from a slight frown, to a quizzical look, and finally, ending in a wide grin. He even chuckled once or twice. "I really hope I don't get your class right off the bat. You guys are crazy!"

Sasuke laid his thin arms out on his teacher's desk, resting his chin between them. He gazed up at Iruka, analyzing him. Why would such a spirited and strange person like him become a teacher? There were some things in this world he had yet to understand. As he tilted his raven-decked head, something caught the boy's eye.

"Uh, Iruka…-Sensei?"

"Hm? What is it, Sasuke-kun?"

"Do you," Sasuke leaned closer to the man to verify his suspicions, "have your ears pierced?"

Iruka looked blankly at the boy. Then he slowly reached up to his left ear, thoughtfully rubbing at the lobe. "Yes, that's right. Good eye, there Sasuke-kun. However, I stopped wearing earrings about a month or so ago. The other people who worked here said it looked too unprofessional. I would have thought they would be completely closed by now and already healing." Iruka brought down his hand still staring at Sasuke. "The other teachers all said you seemed different from the other students. I guess they were right. You really are an Uchiha."

Sasuke seemed to huff at the final comment. "Of course I'm an Uchiha! Did you think that I was lying? I have a strong family and a really special older brother! Have you ever heard of Uchiha Itachi? Well, that's him! And, someday, I'm gonna be just as strong, and smart, and special-"

"Oi, oi! I didn't mean it that way, Sasuke-kun!" Iruka waved his hands in front of him in a non-offensive gesture. "I only meant that you are really going to grow up to be something special. It's obvious you got some really good genes from your family, and you are using them to their fullest potential. You don't get that form someone your age quite often."

Sasuke only sulked even more. "That's not true. I'm not doing as well as I could be. Itachi could do all this and he activated his Sharingan when he about my age now. He was better than me at everything…"

Iruka looked at Sasuke, a kind of curious sympathy lingering in his eyes. "So, is all that extra training you were doing earlier just a way to catch you up to your brother?"

"Yes! I really want people to look at me for what I do, not what they want me to be; like Itachi. Everyone I meet smiles at me and then says, 'Oh! You're Itachi-san's brother! Well, I hope you grow up to do great things, just like your older brother,' or 'You should be proud to related to such a great shinobi! I wish all the time that I actually get to meet him someday.' They don't see me as Sasuke, but as another Itachi! Why don't they see that? Why can't they see that? Even my father…" Sasuke became very quiet.

Iruka sighed, trying to find a way to explain this to the boy, and comfort him at the same time. "Well, you see, Sasuke-kun, everyone will always see your brother as a genius, and a lot of people really admire that in the ninja world. That's probably one of the easiest ways to claim fame. I won't lie to you; when I first saw you a couple of weeks ago, I wondered the very same things. But I also decided to try not to expect all these things from you and give you space to grow. It's always hard, living in someone's shadow." Iruka stopped talking, pausing to let a small frown make its way across his face.

Sasuke shifted uncomfortably, wishing he had a chair to sit at, or something. Iruka seemed to pick up on his discomfort, even in his own solemn silence. "Would like me to get you a chair from the teacher's lounge? Sasuke gave a small nod, being his only answer. Iruka gave Sasuke a reassuring smile, then walked out of the room, looking for his inanimate target.

After the other had left the room, Sasuke let out a sigh of relief. This new teacher was playfully intense…just the way he spoke seemed to give clues to other meanings that might be hidden in his words. He also happened to be one of the most emotional ninjas he had ever met. Most shinobi would always wear a blank expression or would be constantly serious. And, when they smiled, they never seemed to mean it…it was a chilling feeling.

However, this Iruka-sensei liked to laugh, and did it often, in a very true and warm manner. Sasuke could also tell what he felt, just by watching his eyes; Sasuke saw shock and admiration at the notice of his piercings, and sorrow in the later bits of the conversation. This show of emotion was a welcome break.

Another thing he enjoyed about this new teacher was that he had already set down the fact that Sasuke was not Itachi. It was something he had been waiting for a long time, this realization. And, he could tell, no matter how much Iruka joked about it, that he was really enthusiastic about having his class. Sasuke made a silent wish right then that he would get to have him as a teacher. He was tired of Tobo-sensei's constant comparisons and expectations.

The boy suddenly looked up when he heard the scraping of the door sliding open. There was Iruka, grinning, as he dragged in his prize.

"I found that they were hiding padded chairs in there! The nerve…Tobo-sensei was probably afraid I'd fall asleep on my job or something…" The teacher deposited the chair near the desk, right next to Sasuke, and took his own seat.

Sasuke looked at the chair, then at the man, back to the chair, and finally, took a seat. He shifted for a bit, attempting to be comfortable and able to see the papers at the same time. When he had settled, he joined Iruka in sorting paper work. It was silent for a bit, with just the sound of writing, fluttering, and stapling to keep the room from being completely dead. However, seven year olds, no matter who, were meant to talk at some point.

"Iruka-sensei? Can I ask you something?"

Iruka held on to the papers he was working on, but allowed his eyes to travel to Sasuke. "Sure."

"Why did you become a teacher? You seem like you should be out in the field." Sasuke' s onyx eyes grew wide with curiosity.

"Ah. So you're still trying to learn about me?" He took Sasuke's embarrassed blush as a yes. "Well, the main reason is I can't stand some of the normal shinobi rules. For example, I can't hide my emotions to save my life. My best friend, Mizuki, could always tell when I was lying or not. People can tell exactly what I have on my mind, no matter what I do to try and cover it up. They say it's my eyes." Iruka raised his eyebrow slightly when Sasuke nodded in agreement. Great. Now even kids noticed that…

"Well, the other reason (yes, Sasuke-kun, I will answer your question in long, boring detail) is I'm 'too soft.' A shinobi is supposed to be given a mission and carry it out without hesitation. I could do most of the assignments, but some involve killing. I couldn't live with myself if I were to kill a child or a civilian if it was for the good of a mission. Shinobi aren't supposed to 'feel,' but I do." Iruka stopped to look at Sasuke, who was staring intensely at the desk. "Did I answer you're your question?"

"Yes, you did. I guess it makes sense. But why would you rather teach children how to kill?"

"I'm not teaching kids how to kill, Sasuke-kun," Iruka's voice grew soft. "I'm going to teach them how to live."

……

It was about 9 o' clock when Sasuke finally decided he should go home. His mother was probably freaking out…

"Thanks again, Sasuke-kun. I got all my work done and have learned where all the best chairs are hidden thanks to you. I'll hopefully be seeing you tomorrow." Iruka smiled at Sasuke from the academy's front entrance. Sasuke smiled back, hiking his school bag higher up onto his shoulder.

"Sure! I'll probably stay late again to train, but definitely not this late. I'm getting better all the time!" Sasuke's grin got bigger.

"I'm sure you are." Iruka smiled proudly, already becoming more connected to his students. "But, before you go, I want to give you something." Iruka stepped towards Sasuke. Sasuke looked up curiously at the man, wondering what he could possibly have.

Iruka kneeled down top about Sasuke's eye level and handed him a loosely wrapped bundle. "It's something I found while cleaning earlier; I think you might like it."

Sasuke looked quizzically at the bundle, and slowly unfolded it. Inside of it were 10 training shuriken, a beginner's scroll of techniques on said weapon, and five practice kunai.

"I thought you might like to be able to train at home more without worrying about returning anything to Tobo-sensei. These were actually extras, so nobody will notice or care if they're gone." Iruka scratched at the bridge of his nose, across his recognizable scar. "I also wanted to tell you something before you left for home. When I said earlier that I would never see you as Itachi, there was another reason for it; Itachi is where he is today because it was given to him. Being a genius means that things come to you naturally, and you don't worry about having to get skill, but perfecting it. In your case, you have had to work for everything you have today, and perfect it. That means you've probably worked harder and with more determination than your brother ever could have. That, Sasuke-kun, is true power. I don't doubt that someday, you will do great things."

Sasuke looked at his new teacher, eyes growing watery. He immediately turned to hide his forming tears, but Iruka had already seen them; he decided not to let on, though.

"Bye, Iruka-sensei!" Sasuke took off down the street, weapons in hand. Iruka watched him, until he was out of view, then slowly, with a satisfied grin on his face, turned and went inside the academy.

……

Present Time

Sasuke diligently tossed handfuls of shuriken and kunai at the scarecrow doll slung up against a tree (much to the dismay of his teacher, Hatake Kakashi). All his hits were perfect. Sasuke looked up at the sky, and quietly sat down. His void-black eyes dropped form the clouds to examine the star he held; stamped across the one of the edges was 'Property of Konoha Nin-Academy.' Sasuke smiled to himself and watched as his other teammates practiced.

:Uchiha Sasuke received the Gift of Acknowledgement from Umino Iruka:

……

Okies, just a few things about this chapter:

1) I couldn't find the name of Sasuke's main academy teacher (the one seen in his flashbacks while he is fighting Naruto 'to the death'), so I named him Tobo-sensei. If anyone knows his real name, please tell me!

2) I give the impression that while in his age group of 17-20, Iruka would be one of those kinds of people who love to joke around, hang with people and basically act like a very attractive social butterfly. Then, he got a job at the academy and had to sober himself up a bit (but that side still lives with him in secret!). Hence, the ear piercings.

3) Did anyone else notice how much I make Iruka have the habit of yelling "Oi!"?