Title: Anomalous Hero
Summary: Courage, honor, and assertiveness were what his father and older brother wanted him to learn growing up. And he did, just not in the way expected of an Uchiha.
Rating: K
Prompt: Younger
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. For SasuSaku Month 2012.
The adults were too preoccupied in their conversations and in the festivities to notice a group of girls huddled together in giggles. Together in their bright colored dresses, they concealed a little pink-haired girl sitting on the ground as they taunted her with a song.
A child is sensitive to the pain of others – to his mother's hint of sadness, to his older brother's injured bird, and to the victims that come for his father's help– so when he saw her mouth starting to twitch and quiver, it was all that he could focus on.
"Big forehead, big forehead!"
He did not want to see this girl cry.
Yes, her forehead was huge, but his mommy told him that everyone should be treated equally, and be loved for their differences.
Everyone resembled a flower bud– or a plant taking root, his mother quickly added at Sasuke's impending look of disgust of being compared to a girly object– and each person deserved the opportunities to thrive in order to become a breathtaking part of nature.
Sasuke had to be brief in thinking of a plan. What would his older brother do?
Perhaps Itachi would act like other parents, remind the girls to behave nicely, and console the girl. Sasuke did not feel comfortable in walking up to those girls and telling them to stop. He knew two of the girls in the group, and they were 6 year-olds. They were much taller than he was.
He had to do something though.
While his four year-old mind was stalling, he could see her face redden and tears already falling.
On an impulse, he puffed his tiny chest out, and pulled his shorts down.
The first to notice were the girls bullying the sitting girl. They gasped, and one screamed, "Eww!"
The rest of the girls started to scream and run as far away as they could from him. It caught the attention of other kids, and they ran to see what the excitement was about.
"Naruto! I think those girls saw a lizard!" yelled Kiba. Both boys were unsuccessful in their search for snakes, frogs, or anything they thought was cool to catch for their pet store.
"Let's catch it before it gets away!" exclaimed Naruto as he moved away from the worms under the rock he picked up.
Soon, they froze upon seeing Sasuke running across the grass without any shorts or underpants on.
Gaping, they remained in their spot as Sasuke ran past them.
"Uchiha, why is your boy running around naked? My daughter is too young to see this! She is a young lady!"
"Uchiha-san, please tell your son to be respectful around the guests."
Fugaku responded to the parents, "What can you expect of children?"
Sasuke began to feel embarrassed at some of the adults' reactions to the scene. He looked back at the pink-haired girl to find her also shocked at the sight.
It wasn't long before his older brother appeared with a coat, and placed it on Sasuke's shoulders. Itachi led him away from the crowd, so Sasuke can put his clothes back on.
"Don't worry," said Itachi, "Father and mother aren't angry despite the fuss from the other parents."
"Okay."
Still, the boy asked quietly, "Really? Father is not angry?"
"No, he isn't," answered Itachi. Sasuke wanted to be treated older than his age, but would worry when he did something a child like him was expected to do. "Why the surprise, little brother?"
Sasuke looked to the girl from earlier. She was on her feet, her hand in her father's, as she was asked if she fell due to the redness on her face. Slowly, she shook her head in response and walked alongside him to find a place to clean her up.
"Because I didn't want to see her cry."
Itachi, unsure of whom Sasuke was referring to, did not question him further. Instead, he smiled. Usually, Sasuke would imitate him to please their father and the clan, however, this bit of mischief was a relief. His younger brother was no Uchiha robot, but a hero to someone in his own way, finally.