Little Sakura raised her hand to knock on the door, but stopped midway when Sasuke pushed open the door with a bit more force than necessary. She raised her eyebrows when she saw the scowl already plastered his face.

Seriously, what's his deal? He'd get premature wrinkles on his face soon if he continues to be like this.

Sasuke looked beside Sakura and his scowl deepened even more. Naruto was standing there with his hands pulled back behind his head, a smug expression smeared his face. Even the tomatoes that he just ate weren't enough to brighten his mood up, now that Naruto was truly here.

"Good morning, Saku-chan!" Shisui called out from behind Sasuke.

Sakura looked up and smiled at the two older boys, "Good morning, Shisui-nii, Itachi-nii!"

Shisui eyed her and Naruto, "I thought you said you were going to bring two friends?"

She shook her head, "Ino can't come because she has her own training on weekends."

"Oh, that's alright," Shisui waved his hand then looked at Naruto.

Naruto put his hands down and grinned at them, "Hi! I'm Uzumaki Naruto! I'm going to be Hokage one day! Nice to meet you all!"

Shisui and Itachi looked at each other then smiled amusedly at Naruto.

"Alright, future Hokage. I'm Shisui, Sasu-chan's cousin. And this is Itachi, Sasu-chan's nii-chan." Shisui said while pointing at Itachi.

Naruto's eyes widened and he let out a boisterous laugh while clutching at his stomach, "Sasu-chan? Sasu-chan! He called you Sasu-chan! Hahahaha!"

Sasuke narrowed his eyes at him then turned around to face Shisui. His gaze said it all. Shisui probably just won the award for the most annoying person alive.

Shisui raised both of his hands in surrender. He didn't think it was such a big deal, but apparently Sasuke didn't share his opinion.

"Hn. Whatever," Sasuke said while walking away.

Sakura and Naruto looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. Shisui walked closer to them and whispered, "Don't mind him. He always has a stick up his ass in the morning."

They arrived at the Uchiha's training ground and found it to be empty. Apparently other Uchihas had decided to enjoy their weekend inside instead. Sasuke ran to the shuriken-throwing side of the training ground and started practicing his skill.

Sakura was amazed to see his movements and precision. Even Naruto was secretly impressed, though he would never admit it out loud.

"The kid has been eager to practice hard ever since he followed Itachi to the training ground," Shisui said while observing Sasuke's movement.

He then turned towards the two kids on his side and smiled, "Now, shall we see where you're at with your skills?"

Naruto stepped to the front and exclaimed, "I'll be better than Teme, believe it!"

He started to practice, but his aim was still off. His shuriken never reached the target's center, and Sasuke saw that. Naruto turned his head to the left and found Sasuke already showing him a smug expression. Oh, how the tables had turned.

Shisui just shook his head at the apparent rivalry between the two little kids. He turned his head towards Sakura and nodded his head to the empty spot between the two boys.

Sakura took the challenge and came forward. She eyed the target in front of her while spinning the shuriken in her hand.

Shoot!

She threw the shuriken and everyone's head turned towards her. Even she herself was shocked to see what she had done. The shuriken was embedded right in the middle of the target and her posture while throwing the shuriken was perfect. Not just kid-level perfect, but adult-level perfect.

It was as if her body remembered something that she herself didn't remember and acted on instinct instead. She didn't know she could throw shuriken that well. For all she knew, she should have been the less advanced among the three of them.

Itachi eyed her curiously and Shisui whistled at the scene.

"It looks like Sakura is the best among you three," Shisui said.

"Woah, Sakura-chan! That was so cool! Way cooler than Teme!" Naruto shouted excitedly.

Sasuke frowned at the sudden turn of events. He didn't know the pink girl would be a worthy opponent. She looked way too soft and fragile for her own good. Who knew she held such power and skill in her.

Sakura just smiled hesitantly. She knew her own skill and it shouldn't be this good, at least not yet. But she simply kept the thought in her mind and continued to practice.

The three of them continued to practice throwing the shuriken for some more time and changed the weapon to kunai. Again, Sakura excelled at it and again, Sakura was left speechless at her own skill.

There's something wrong. I shouldn't be able to be this good. Or is it a good thing instead? But, since when-...

Sakura's thought was interrupted by the clapping of Shisui's hands.

"Alright, alright! Enough for today! Let's head back and rest before we have lunch."

"No! We can train a bit more!" Naruto refused.

"Hn!" Sasuke joined in the refusal.

The both of them were trying hard to exceed Sakura. After witnessing her skills, Naruto became motivated to follow in his best friend's footsteps, and Sasuke became motivated to prove to his older brother that he could also be that good, or even better.

"You can't forge ahead if you're burnt out," Shisui suddenly threw in random wisdom.

The two boys panted and dropped to the ground. They indeed had reached their limit. Sakura also sat on the ground and Naruto turned his head towards her.

"I'll be as good as you in no time, Sakura-chan! Believe it!"

Sakura grinned at Naruto's determined look and replied, "I always believe in you, Naruto."

Sasuke rolled his eyes at Sakura's words. She spoiled the Dobe too much in his opinion.

Shisui and Itachi walked closer to the three kids and told them to move along. They all walked back to the Uchiha's main house, with Naruto leading the way. Sakura walked beside Shisui, and Itachi fell into step with Sasuke at the rear of their little group.

"Good job today, otouto," Itachi said while eyeing his little brother.

Sasuke gasped and looked at his older brother, a happy smile presented itself on his little face. Today turned out to be not that bad, after all.

Or maybe, it was indeed a bad day.

Their little group arrived at Uchiha's main house and Naruto was so excited to see what the inside of the house would look like. Shisui took that chance as a way to sharpen his tour-guide skill and offered to show the two little guests around the house.

Of course Naruto agreed animatedly, while Sasuke disagreed vehemently. The two were just the total opposites, like day and night.

In the end Shisui still did his tour-guide job and Sasuke ran to his room to lock on his door and prevented anyone, especially the Dobe, from coming and seeing his room. Itachi just shook his head at the scene and went to the kitchen to help his mother make lunch, and steal some desserts if he were lucky.

Soon, they were finished with the little tour around Uchiha's main house, and they decided to rest and enjoy the passing wind at the engawa. Sasuke chose that time to reach the kitchen and grab some tomatoes.

Little Sasuke eyed his two classmates laughing and running around the garden in front of the engawa and felt a twinge of jealousy. He also wanted to play around like that, but his pride prevented himself from doing so.

An Uchiha had to be serious at all times and attracted respect wherever they went. At least that was the assumption he got from seeing his father, older brother, and elders of the clan. Shisui was an anomaly in his eyes, and his mother was… a mother, so she was excluded from his own invented rules.

Sakura's eyes slid to Sasuke's form and she quickly went inside the house. Sasuke seemed to be in deep thought while chewing his tomatoes and he was startled when he felt a hand on his arm.

"Let's play together," Sakura told him with bright eyes.

Sasuke quirked his eyebrow and shook his head, "I don't play."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm an Uchiha."

"So?" Sakura tilted her little head to the side.

Sasuke huffed, "So I can't be involved with childish activities such as playing around."

"But... you're still a child too."

Sasuke jerked his head back in thought. It seemed like the pink girl had a point after all.

"You can be all serious and brooding when you're an adult! Right now you're still a child, so you're allowed to play and be happy with us!" Sakura tried to convince him with her logic.

Sasuke stared at her, then looked at Naruto, who was now observing them.

"But I don't like Naruto," Sasuke tried to reason again.

"Why?"

"What do you mean why? He's so boisterous, it's annoying!"

"Then don't focus on his boisterousness. He's a good kid if you get to know him, I promise!"

Sasuke raised his eyebrows at Sakura's determined face. He thought a bit more before finally deciding to give in.

"Okay. But you have to get him off my back if he becomes too bothersome," Sasuke gave her a pointed look.

"I promise!" Sakura smiled happily.

She pulled him towards the garden and started to run after Naruto together with Sasuke. The three of them moved around each other happily, and their laughter could be heard from the inside of the house.

Mikoto and Itachi came to the engawa and witnessed their happy faces.

"I think they will be the best of friends for each other," Shisui said while observing the kids.

Mikoto smiled, "I think so too."