I do not own Naruto Shippuden or any of the characters.

Acting Strange

Ryuu stared up at the sky, watching the birds drift about, a few simply hovering in place as the sun warmed them. Sasuke glanced over at him then up at the birds.

"Why are you so obsessed with birds?" Sasuke asked.

"I want to fly," Ryuu said just as he looked toward the park's gate, seeing Shisui walking toward them. He sat up, smiling widely and ran over, hugging him.

"Time to head home, Ryuu," Shisui smiled.

As they walked, Ryuu glanced at Shisui. He was quiet, unusually so. And he wasn't smiling as much. The smile was there, but there was something off about it.

"Is everything okay Big Brother?" Ryuu asked.

"Absolutely," Shisui smiled down at him. "Everything's going to be fine."

Ryuu fell silent and soon they were home. Shisui led him to the living room where their parents were waiting.

"Happy birthday!" both said, smiling.

Ryuu grinned widely. He had forgotten that it was his birthday. He really didn't care much about it. It was just a day that he didn't have to train to fight. He liked having a day off, but he got them at other times too, so it didn't matter much. He sat down at the table, staring at the three presents on it. He didn't usually get presents. Only if he had done something very good, like the time he successfully used the Fireball Jutsu for the first time. He had passed out immediately afterward, but they had been impressed enough for him to be rewarded with presents. He wasn't sure why he was getting them now.

"Go ahead and open them," Shisui smiled.

Ryuu picked up the one from his father, a small box about the size of a kunai pouch. He saw why when he pulled out a trench knife from it. The knife was about seven inches in total length with four holes for his fingers in the back, the blade a straight curve extending up over the finger holes. There was a small slit in the back of the knife on either side of the finger holes, though he wasn't sure why. It also came with a kunai pouch. He grinned widely.

"Thank you father!" Ryuu beamed, hugging his father.

"You're welcome," he chuckled. "The blade's made of Chakra Metal, so it can absorb the properties of your chakra to enhance its power and killing potential."

Ryuu's smile faded slightly as he stared at it. He hadn't thought about it as a weapon. Knives were tools. If he had to cut rope or wire, or block a blade. He hadn't thought of using it to hurt someone.

"Open the next one," Shisui urged, seeing what Ryuu was thinking all over his face.

Ryuu nodded, opening his mother's next. It was a larger box, big enough for a soccer ball to fit in. When he opened it, however, he found clothes and a pendant with the Uchiha crest on one side and the kanji for "family" on the other. He pulled the necklace on, holding the pendant in his hand. It was small, barely larger than a coin. Then, he pulled the clothes out, laying them out. They different than he was used to. Usually he wore the standard outfit of an Uchiha. A plain dark blue shirt with the Uchiha clan crest on the back and dark blue pants. These were slightly different. There was a short-sleeved black shirt with a strip of white up the sides and over the shoulders, black pants reaching about mid-calf, black sandals with the toes exposed and everything else covered that reached to the bottom of his pants, and a pair of black gloves with thick leather knuckles. He grinned as he inspected the outfit.

"Thank you mother," Ryuu smiled.

"You're welcome," she smiled. "Now your brother's."

Ryuu opened the last box, one about the same size as the one from his mother, and pulled out a tanto and harness. It was just a straight, single-edged tanto with no tsuba but Ryuu instantly recognized it. He looked up at his brother, clutching his brother's tanto as though it might break.

"You're giving me your tanto, Big Brother?" Ryuu asked.

"You'll probably put it to more use than I will," Shisui smiled. "Besides, tantos can block a sword's blade more reliably than a knife can."

Ryuu smiled widely at the explanation and nodded. He hugged his brother, Shisui smiling and hugging him back. Then, after a few moments, he pushed him back, smiling.

"Alright, I have to go and see the Hokage for a minute. Why don't you have Father teach you how to wield that while I'm away?"

Ryuu looked to their father who chuckled and nodded. Ryuu cheered running into the training room and turning to wait. After a minute, his father stepped into the room, now holding a tanto of his own.

"Now, the tanto is a very useful weapon. It can be used in a wide range of styles and battles, as well as in confined spaces. It's easily concealed compared to a sword, and has more range than a knife."

Ryuu nodded, listening to his father speak, then as his father explained the basics. He followed his father through countless basic techniques, working to memorize them before moving on to more advanced ones. Then, finally, his father turned to him.

"Alright, it's time for me to go to the clan meeting," his father said. "You stay here and keep practicing."

"Why can't I come to the meetings?" Ryuu asked.

"It's just a bunch of boring political stuff," his father smiled. "Nothing that would interest you. Maybe when you're older. For now, keep practicing. That way when your brother gets back you can impress him."

Ryuu smiled, nodding and returning to his training. He trained for several hours before heading to the front door. The Uchiha district was still completely deserted. He sighed, heading to bed. Within a few minutes, he was asleep.

"Ryuu, It's going to be okay."

"Big Brother?"

"It's alright, Ryuu. Everything's going to be fine. Things may not seem to make sense, and a lot of things are going to change. But it's going to be okay. Whatever happens, just stay true to yourself and you'll be alright."

"Big Brother, I don't understand."

"You will. Now, it's time to wake up."

Ryuu's eyes slowly creaked open and he looked around. He could hear muffled sobbing from the kitchen. He climbed out of bed, walking down the hallway to the kitchen, staring at his mother and father, his mother sobbing and his father holding her.

"Mother?" Ryuu said, both looking at him. "What's wrong?"

"That bastard Itachi...killed your brother!" Ryuu's father said.

"What?" Ryuu blinked. "Big Brother? Where's Big Brother?"

"He's dead, Ryuu," his father said. "That bastard Itachi crushed his eyes with a rock and threw him off a waterfall. He murdered him."

"He's...dead?" Ryuu repeated, staring at his parents, uncomprehendingly. "What do you mean?"

"YOUR BROTHER IS DEAD! ! !" his father thundered, standing. "HE'S GONE! ! ! AND HE'S NOT COMING BACK! ! ! AND IT'S ALL ITACHI'S FAULT! ! !"

Ryuu stared at him before lowering his head, staring at his feet. That couldn't be right. His brother was invincible. And Itachi was a friend. He never would have killed Shisui. He couldn't have.

Ryuu turned and walked back to bed, lying down and staring at the ceiling. Time dragged by before light began to seep through his window. Finally, he jumped out of bed. Shisui had to be home by now. He could make them understand. He'd show them he was alright and their father could stop yelling. Their mother could stop crying. He slid the door opened and stopped. The bed was empty and unused. Everything was exactly as it had been. Ryuu walked to the desk, finding a piece of paper with writing on it. He picked it up, reading it, then walked out to the kitchen where his mother was making breakfast, an empty expression on her face.

"Mother, what does this mean?" he asked, holding out the note.

She turned, taking it and promptly began to sob. Ryuu's father stepped into the room after a minute and took the paper reading it before rage blossomed on his face.

"That bastard! He used his Sharingan to forge a suicide note! I'll see him hanged for this!"

He stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him and Ryuu turned back to his mother.

"What does suicide mean?" Ryuu asked.

"Don't you ever say that word again!" his mother shrieked. "Go to your room!"

Ryuu's brow furrowed in confusion but he did as he was told.

Ryuu stared at the coffin as it was lowered into the hole. He didn't understand. He tugged his father's sleeve.

"Father, why are they putting Big Brother in the ground?" Ryuu asked. "He's just sleeping."

"No, he's dead!" his father snapped, keeping his voice quiet.

Ryuu looked back at the others and soon, the hole was filled in and people began to tell his parents how sorry they felt. Sasuke walked over to stand in front of him.

"Why did they bury Big Brother?" Ryuu said.

"He's dead," Sasuke said simply. "He's going to see God."

Ryuu stared at the recently filled hole again. As he was, a hand settled on his shoulder. He looked, finding the Hokage standing before him.

"I'm sorry," Hiruzen said. "I know this must be hard."

Ryuu simply nodded and Hiruzen walked away. As he did, Ryuu looked past him, spotting Itachi. He was standing apart from the rest of the clan, keeping his distance. Ryuu walked over to him, staring up at him.

"Big Brother Itachi," Ryuu said before hugging him.

Itachi hugged him back, sighing.

"How come all the adults think you hurt Big Brother?" Ryuu asked.

"Because they don't trust me," Itachi said. "I'm sorry that he's gone, Ryuu. I couldn't protect him."

Ryuu sniffed and Itachi sighed, hugging him again as Ryuu finally began to cry.

Leave a review. Oh, and two things. Firstly, please recommend this story to people. Secondly, leave a review with ideas for different summoning animals. Not all for Ryuu, I have his chosen already, but for others. Can be any animal/creature and any character to go with them.