A/N: looking back at my last disclaimer… How scary would it be if Itachi was hokage? I can see him now… "Ok, now go kill everyone in your clan except your younger sibling." Then the guy behind him says, "What if you have ten baby sisters?" …

"TREASON!" and the poor man dies. --- But whatever. Ok…I have already disclaimed. Get over it.

When We Were Young

Chapter 2: Walking

"Itachi, look out!" Hinata squeaked, pointing in front of them at a fruit cart rolling towards them. They had been talking to each other and not paying attention. Itachi was giving the young heiress a piggy-back ride and as he grinned up at her the fruit-man, as Hinata called him, lost control of his cart, which rolled down the hill they were walking up.

The Chunin quickly removed eight kunai from his pouch and threw four at each front wheel. He moved the girl into his arms and flipped over the cart. When he reached the other side, the fruit cart had stilled. Itachi looked at the girl in his arms. She was curled up into a ball, and clinging onto him for dear life.

Itachi simply walked away as the vendor repeatedly thanked him. He carried the girl to the training grounds and sat her on the ground. She uncurled and looked up at him.

"You know," he said looking away, "You'll never be a good ninja if you close your eyes at the sign of danger."

Her eyes widened at the eleven-year old before her. It had been a year since they had met, and yet he never ceased to amaze her with his character. He was so different. He encouraged her instead of putting her down like her father and cousin.

"I-I'm sorry," she said shyly. He looked down at her and gave a small smile.

"Don't be sorry. Be better, Hinata. I know you can," He said giving an almost invisible smile. Hinata knew this smile. It was the smile reserved for only her. For the first time in their friendship she stood up and gave the Uchiha a hug. He was her friend, and she valued him. She vowed to be better for him.

But the thing that surprised her the most that day was not her sudden courage. It was not the words he had said. It was the fact that Uchiha Itachi hugged her back.

To be continued

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Ok…thanks for reviewing guys… tell me what you think!

Later