Sasuke stared at his family from across the room, pouting. He had been given a 'time out' and extra chores due to him being past his curfew.
Was it really his fault that Naruto had the lungs of an elephant?
It didn't matter anyway, Sasuke could sneak past his mother and Itachi easily, both of his family members thought he was too sweet and cute to do anything wrong. Just because Sasuke was ten, that didn't mean he was still innocent and pure.
Now Fugaku was an issue.
Nothing could get past that man.
The whole reason Sasuke was sitting here, moping, was due to his father's strictness.
Okay, maybe it was a good thing at least one the Uchiha in this dysfunctional family was a little more rigid than the others. But that didn't mean Sasuke wanted an overly disciplinary father.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes and scanned the area. His mother was humming while sweeping in the kitchen. Itachi, his brother, was outside the compound training. Sasuke didn't know exactly what on, but if the older sibling was practicing the Sharingan, then he would have to be extra careful.
Sasuke knew his father was in a meeting with the Uchiha superiors, even so, it was possible the man could hear him sliding against the wall to get past the office.
Determined to get out of punishment, Sasuke slowly crouched down and crawled behind the kitchen table, the opposite side of his mother.
It was difficult to get to the door, for the living room only consisted of a dining table and pillows.
The young Uchiha winced as the wood under him creaked when he tip-toed past his father and the Uchiha heads. Sasuke sighed in relief when he realized Fugaku hadn't heard anything and continued his journey to freedom.
The moment Sasuke's feet touched the grass he smiled. Only one more to go.
Sasuke hid behind a tree and threw a rock on the other side of Itachi.
Itachi stopped throwing kunai and studied the area. "Sasuke? Shisui?"
The younger child saw Itachi was coming his way and panicked, throwing another stone through the air.
"Oh, hey Itachi. How are y-itai!" Shisui rubbed his head and groaned.
"For once, I would like to visit my best friends home, and not be emotionally, or physically attacked."
Itachi walked over to where his companion was standing and started a conversation. "Did you see where that came from?"
Shisui shrugged and shook his head 'no'. "Sorry Itachi, no idea."
Itachi sighed and let it go. "Very well, would you like to train?"
"No, I was just stopping by. I have a mission to pursue."
"ah."
While the two were distracted, Sasuke fled the scene. He sprinted onto Konoha's paths and laughed once he believed he was in the clear.
Sasuke smirked and skid to a stop once he reached the center of the village. Because Sasuke was part of not only a prestigious clan but also a family that is head of the said clan, he was barely (if never) let out of the walls of his compound.
Sasuke ran through the village square, grinning to his heart's content. Freedom was beautiful, and he'd a fool to not appreciate what little freedom he had.
The wind rushed past Sasuke's face, the cool air nipping at his ears, the breeze in harmony with the familiar tune of the sunset.
His fun came to an abrupt stop when he slammed into a hard figure. Sasuke landed on his behind and looked up at a shadowy contour of a person; with broad shoulders, bandages, a cane, and something like a sling, though it seemed to be part of he or she's attire.
The person raised their head, slightly tilting it in what was seemingly curiosity.
"An Uchiha should carry much more pride than this, child, epically an Uchiha part of the head family."
Come, as this is the turning point of Uchiha Sasuke's life, the rat that will whisper in Sasuke's ear for an eternity.
Enter; Shimura Danzō.
Sasuke returned home silently, practically ignoring his family's concern over his absence and his father's speech on responsibilities and accepting your consequences to your actions.
"I have taught you better than to disobey orders."
"I know, father."
"There are rules and regulations in this house. It is not some kind of game, Sasuke. You can't change the way things work to accent your own wants."
"I know, father."
"Do you understand the role you play in this clan, Sasuke?"
"Yes, father."
"I don't believe you do, Sasuke. Though you will never carry the burden Itachi will have as heir to the main Uchiha head, you still very well have a burden. A weight on your back, though considerably smaller compared to your brother's. You are weak, Sasuke. These foolish games must cease at once. I refuse for the clan, for Konoha to see my second born as a retarded, ignorant, buffoon."
Sasuke pierced his palms with the edges of his fingernails as the pressure increased within his fists.
"Very well, father."
"Go to your room. No dinner. I don't want to see your face until tomorrow morning for training."
"Yes. Father." Sasuke tried his absolute hardest to not spit the fraternal word from his mouth. But he couldn't help but sound a little bitter.
As Sasuke dragged himself up the stairs, blood seeped from his hands. The miniature droplets of thick red stained the wood without mercy.
"Don't disappoint me, Sasuke."
Silence was Fugaku's only answer.
Sasuke laid in his bed, facing the wall. His hands had already been cleaned by his mother when she came to check on him after the conversation with his father. Sasuke's mother didn't ask how Sasuke was wounded, Sasuke was grateful.
Could he really be more than a second born? Sasuke wonders as he lays there.
A disappointment to his father?
A useless lifeform?
A backup plan if all fails, the next best choice?
Is that all he is?
Who is Sasuke?
Shimura-san claimed Sasuke could be a hero, make his village proud. Make his clan proud. Make his father proud. Has he made anyone proud, Sasuke wonders. What has he done that has made a wonderful impact? What has he done that is worth something?
So many questions.and no answers, he said there will be answers he promised! Evil eyes evil faces so much evil but he can't see it, so, so blind. Plans, plans not true false so many plans and lies and empty promises and LIES!
Sasuke's father believes he is worth nothing, Shimura-san believes he could be worth something, anything, everything.
Yes, yes, he is worth everything. If not, why does Shimura-san believe so?
Shimura-san told Sasuke himself. So, it must be true. Shimura-san is powerful, he has servants and workers. Shimura-san thinks Sasuke can be powerful too!
Shimura-san said so!
Shimura-san doesn't lie, no, no. Shimura-san only tells the truth. His father will be proud, he will be a hero, he will be loved. Yes, it is true. Shimura wants nothing bad, Right? Yes. Yes. No. Yes…right? Right.
Danzō held his hand out to Sasuke, his arm had scars written in its flesh, some appeared to be new, others older.
Sasuke took his hand carefully, staring at the man while doing so. Danzō watched Sasuke with lusting eyes and anxious feelings. "Ah, I'm very sorry…," seeing the child's awkward posture, Danzō smiled and stated his name," Shimura Danzō, a pleasure to be in your presence Uchiha-san."
Danzō lowered his head slightly. "I apologize if I overstepped my boundaries in reprimanding you, it certainly isn't my job to do so."
Sasuke's eyes widened at the show of respect. "No, no don't apologize Shimura-san, there is no need. It's my fault because I ran into you."
Danzō's eyes shined. "I see."
Danzō continued to walk, waving his cane in a gesture to follow. "Well, Uchiha-san, what are you doing out of Fugaku's grasps?" The older male questioned.
Sasuke, only just realizing they were now moving, jogged to catch up with the man. Sasuke winced at the question and quietly shrugged.
Danzō hummed in response and raised his head in thought. "For the better either way. The longer you are under his care the worse you will be."
Sasuke furrowed his eyebrows and looked at Danzō in confusion. All Sasuke could sputter out was a sophisticated 'wah?'.
Danzō laughed and continued his flow of words. "Your father sees you as nothing but a waste of air. An unnecessary consumption of resources. A, what's the word? Disappointment."
Sasuke deflated at the words.
"But the truth is young, little, Sasuke," Danzō stopped and bent down to whisper in Sasuke's ear, "Your 'strong', 'admirable', father is a
fraud. He is a weak fool."
Offended and defensive Sasuke pushed Danzō away and glared.
Danzō chuckled and again, walked forward. "Glaring will do nothing Sasuke, except maybe damage my feelings." Danzō teased.
Sasuke huffed and stopped following Danzō.
"Oh, poor Sasuke. Are you offended? Hmph. I suppose I were wrong about you."
Danzō sighed exaggeratively.
That caught Sasuke's attention.
"You can be more than what you think you are Sasuke." Danzō started. "Genetics run through you, powerful ones. Genes and traits, the foundation of your physic. Just think of what you could do with that power!"
"What do you want from me anyway, Shimura-san?" Sasuke questioned.
"All I need from you, Uchiha-san, is to just do me a favor every now and then. In return, I will take you under my wing, train, and teach you, so that you can grasp the fire within you." Danzō spoke.
Sasuke got defensive. "What makes you think I need your help anyway?!"
"Your father is never there for you, is he? Always with Itachi. Your mother is retired, and she'll probably be too passive with you either way. Your brother doesn't have the time to play with you, let alone teach you how to basically throw a kunai. And yes, your cousin is out of the question also, he's always on missions or training, similar to Itachi."
It was the cold, hard truth.
"I can help you, Sasuke."
Sasuke was at a war within himself, he wanted to seem nonchalant, but the words being created by Danzō's vocal cords were intriguing.
No.
Sasuke would not fall for this.
"Why should I trust you? The words you spit out your mouth are lies. You accused my father of being a fool!"
Danzō scoffed, stopped walking, and turned his slightly to stare Sasuke in the eyes.
"Now, I admit to calling your father weak and a fraud. But don't twist my words. Never did I call him a fool. Uchiha-san is far from an idiot. Though," Danzō paused and smirked slightly, "The man does have his moments."
Sasuke crossed his arms and huffed. This time, Danzō turned fully around to face the boy.
"Sasuke you must recognize the power you possess, all you need to do is simply…release it."
"
Don't you want power?" It was almost condescending tone.
Sasuke lowered his head.
He will not fall for this.
He won't.
He
won't.
But…maybe…
"Wi-will it make my family proud? Will it be hard? Will Itachi spend time with me again? Will father…will father love me again?"
"Of course, Sasuke."
Sasuke's eyes blurred, he knew he couldn't trust this man, but he wanted what Shimura-san could give his
so badly.
"I'll help you."
When Sasuke looked up, there was nothing there but the shadow of the compound, a whispering breeze, and an echoing laugh.
"Sasuke." Sasuke looked up towards the voice and turned to see his mother. She stalked quietly toward him, sitting on the bed next to him. Her hands held bandages and alcohol. Mikoto silently took his hands in hers and cleaned them the green liquid. Sasuke hissed softly and tensed.
Mikoto looked him in the eye. "Sorry." She started to wrap his hands. Sasuke's mother bit her lip as she stared at his hand. Sasuke hoped she wouldn't say anything, he had appreciated the silence she offered when she walked in.
"I know you think your father has lost…interest, in you." She started.
Sasuke wanted to moan.
"But…" She continued but paused, searching for the right words.
Sasuke noticed her struggle and tried to guess what she was trying to say. "But…he still loves me. But doesn't have the time for me. Mom, I've heard Itachi say it many times, I don't really feel like hearing it from you."
Mikoto narrowed her eyes and stopped wrapping her son's hands. "You will treat me, and your father, with respect. We both love you Sasuke, stop taking that for granted and reading in-between the lines."
Nag, nag, and nag. That was what described Sasuke's mother. Some worry there, a little guilt-trip here and, boom, you created an exact replica of Mikoto.
Mikoto's eyes softened and she returned to her usual expression of warmth and calm. "I know you want to impress your father, you want more than his attention." She said softly.
"I was once like that... until I realized that whether or not my father was proud of me, somewhere in his heart, he loved me deeply."
Sasuke knew his mother was talking at him, but he felt she wasn't talking to him.
"But it wasn't the kind of love I wanted."
"My father was…shunned," Mikoto looked away. "He wanted his name back, his respect. The only way to achieve that, was through his children."
Mikoto glared at her son. "My brother tried getting the family name back by going on an S-rank mission, he died in the process. And the only thing my father said was 'what a failure of a son, I will deny he was ever my product, but you my little hollyhock, have not failed me. Nor will you ever do so, understood?' It was at that moment that I knew, I had to forget my family, and my pride, because through it all, my father would never be able to provide the love I needed."
Mikoto's smile was hollow and empty. "Your father can provide the love you need, if only you would just stop Sasuke. Stop provoking him. Remember when you were a child? Only fun and laughter. Don't you miss those days? Give him what he wants and stop fighting it."
Mikoto inhaled. "I fought him, but I still love him. Itachi is- he has-… I cannot leave, I am stuck, either way, there's nothing-," She paused and stared at the little dark-haired boy she'd created. "I have something."
Sasuke's mother became silent once again and finally continued wrapping his hands. She giggled and glanced at her son through her eyelashes. "A little too dark for your age, huh? I came here to pep-talk you not depress you with boring stories of your mother. I apologize." Mikoto bit her lip a second time, it was a bad habit she had.
"Don't mind this old hag, Sasuke. Just know that your father and I will always love you." Mikoto stated as she stood up and walked towards the exit of the room.
She narrowed her eyes. Just let him love you the way you want him to.
Sasuke slumped his shoulders. As long I don't fight back.
Satisfied, Mikoto smiled and started towards the stairs, when suddenly, a force held her back.
Sasuke was hugging her from behind, by the waist. "I'll always love you." He whispered.
Mikoto sighed and turned to crouch and face him. She said nothing and made no actions other than tucking a stray strand of hair behind Sasuke's ear and escaping out of his grasp, leaving the room.
Water. So peaceful, so calming. Sasuke could understand why Shikamaru loved clouds so much if he felt like this when watching them.
The water flowed gracefully, delicately, cool and ever-changing. Sasuke was sitting on the deck, and slack off all day while staring at his reflection if it meant feeling like this.
Which is exactly what he is doing now.
Sasuke studied his round, tomato-shaped face. His slanted coal colored eyes, midnight blue, almost black hair, weirdly resembling a duck's…whatever. Naruto always made fun of his hair, he was just jealous. But either way, Sasuke just couldn't see it. His hair was normal. If anything, Shikamaru hair was what's weird, there's probably a pineapple hidden under that thing.
Speaking of Naruto, the yellow reflection of the sun reminded Sasuke of him. Though the sun was oddly shaped. Since when was the sun a triangle? Why are there two suns? And why is the triangularly shaped sun laughing?!
Suddenly…
Splashes and wet, cold, cold, cold, cold, cold, cold.
Sasuke's peace is now
ShatTerED.
"Haha! That was priceless! You should'a saw your face, dattebayo!" Naruto stood grinning, goggles slanted on his forehead and dried paint on his T-shirt.
Sasuke scowled and attempted to pull himself out of the water with his hands, he failed.
"You were all like, 'ahh! I'm fallin'!'. Then you were like 'Oh no! I'm all wet, I'll ruin my perfect hair and clothes!' !" Naruto was rolling on the ground now, body shaking with laughter.
"Oh Kami! You gonna cry? I'd like to see that! I'd even steal one off your face and keep it in a secret jar. Already got some hair, even shared it with the girls." Naruto said absentmindedly.
Sasuke stopped struggling and stared at Naruto cautiously, his distressed expression turning into a disgusted one. Sasuke unconsciously swiped a hand through hair.
Naruto then busted out into laughter once again and wiped tears from his eyes.
"Just messin' with ya' teme!"
Sasuke, at last, lifted himself onto solid ground and glared at the blonde-haired, blue-eyed child. "Dobe." He said simply and busied himself with wringing his clothes out. How pathetic am I? Can't I even sense him? That's why Shimura-san's going to help me.
Naruto frowned and sat next to the Uchiha. "Look, if you're mad about me pushin' you into the lake, I'm sorry, it was just'a joke."
Sasuke grumbled and didn't spare Naruto a glance. "I'm fine."
"Oh, good. Cause I was lyin' before, I'm actually not sorry. It was funny."
Sasuke remained silent.
"Teme?" Naruto waved a hand in front of Sasuke's face. "Earth to teme? Why're so quiet, thought you'd pound me into the ground by now. You didn't even call me a baka!"
Sasuke finally glanced at the other male.
"Hn." The infamous words of Sasuke Uchiha.
Naruto gave a small grin. "How bout we go get some Ramen. To make it up to you. You can even add tomatoes!"
Sasuke smirked. "Whatever."
Hi! Well, this is pretty long so I'll just underline the important things. This is an AU! I cannot stress it enough! Now, there really aren't any changes when it comes to the rest of the Naruto storyline (other than Sasuke and the massacre), other than how Sasuke and Naruto's friendship works. But it's only slightly different so that it fits with the story. I know this chapter is short, but it's only because I've itching to write and post some Naruto after years of watching it and never writing anything. Feels good. So, next chapter (and others) will most likely be longer. I am very sorry for typos and grammar, I know there are a lot of mistakes and for me, that can be irritating when reading a potentially good story. Last thing for last, if you don't like don't read. Please, do not leave reviews if you're just going to be rude and hurtful, it's unbecoming. The back button is on the left, top corner, click it. I don't want to be the bad guy, I hope you don't want to be the bad guy, so let's just be mature people. All done! I think that's everything...
Thank you for reading, I love feedback and tips (most of you guys are so nice),
Love, R.A.
