Chapter 3 is here. Sorry it took a while. But I warned you.

This chapter covers a little Sasuke and Naruto's life before the massacre, which will happen next. For know enjoy cute little desperate-for-fun Naruto and desperate-for-approval Sasuke. This is also when Sasuke learned the fireball technique from his father.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Sasuke grinned happily as he ran from the academy. He was clutching his report card in his hand.

I can't wait to show father! He thought to himself gleefully.

"Wait! Sasuke-nii-san! Stop running!" A breathless and obnoxious voice came from behind him.

Sasuke sighed and slowed down. He turned to see his annoying little brother Naruto racing behind him with a grin of his own, "what do you want Naruto?" Sasuke snapped, "I'm trying to get home!"

Naruto frowned at his brothers angry tone, "But Sasuke-nii!" Naruto whined, "I wanted to play with you! You promised you'd play with me after school today! Remember!"

Sasuke rolled his eyes. He did promise that, but that was before he knew that they were getting their report cards today, "I can't today Naruto. I'm going to go home and show father my report card." He said.

And father's going to be so proud of me! He's going to say that's my boy! Just like he does with Itachi.

Naruto paled. His mind wandered to the crumpled piece of paper in the bottom of his pocket. He reached in and clutched it in his hand. The last thing he wanted was to show that to Fugaku.

Suddenly Naruto smiled mischievously as an idea came to him. Quickly he reached out a snatched Sasuke's report card and took off in the opposite direction.

"Naruto!" Sasuke screamed in anger, "What do you think you're doing!"

"You have to catch me first loser!" Naruto shouted back, a huge grin on his face. There's no way he'll catch me, he thought to himself.

A little while later both Naruto and Sasuke sat in front of Fugaku as he looked over Sasuke's now mud-covered report card.

Naruto sat there with a scowl on his face and he sported a fresh black eye. Sasuke had caught him in less than ten minutes. God I'm pathetic. He thought to himself.

Fugaku continued to look at the report card silently as Sasuke leaned toward him, eagerly anticipating his response.

Finally Fugaku held out his hand, "and yours, Naruto."

Naruto paled, "um… I didn't get one." He said quickly.

"Yes you did loser," Sasuke said, scowling. His father hadn't said anything.

Fugaku looked at Naruto, his sharingan flaring, "Do not lie to me son." Fugaku said calmly. But despite his even tone, there was a clear threat in his voice.

Naruto nervously reached into his pocket and handed Fugaku the crumpled paper. Fugaku smoothed it out and looked it over.

"Naruto, this is pathetic," he said finally, "I know you can do better."

Naruto swallowed, "I'm trying!" he said in a desperate voice, "I swear I'm trying!"

Fugaku looked down at the blond boy, "You clearly need to try harder, go to your room and study."

Naruto nodded, tears slowly making their way down the corners of his eyes. He turned to leave and Sasuke turned to leave with him, believing that he too was dismissed.

"And Sasuke," Fugaku said as they were about to leave the room, "Good job, this is what is expected from the Uchiha."

Sasuke smiled, it wasn't what he wanted, but a least it was praise.

"It's not fair!" Naruto shouted as he punched the wall of his room.

He looked at his now bruised knuckles in frustration. "I try! I swear I try!" His eyes were welling up with tears. And he did; he did try. He tried as hard as he could. But unlike everyone else, for some reason nothing came easily. No matter how much effort he put into everything, he was never quite able to keep up.

"May I come in?" Came a calm voice from the door.

Naruto looked up, "big brother," he said in a small voice, "did you hear?"

"Yes." Itachi said in his typical even and unemotional voice.

Naruto's eyes welled with tears again, "Damn it! Damn it!" he shouted as he cried, "You must think I'm so pathetic. And now I'm here crying, like a god damn baby!"

"It's ok to cry sometimes Naruto," Itachi said, a small smile on his face.

"Really?" Naruto asked.

"Of course little brother, sometimes we cry when we're sad. That's kind of crying everyone knows. But the one's that are less known, like crying from anger, or frustration, or happiness; all that crying is necessary too."

Naruto looked up at Itachi, "Why?" He said quietly, "Why can't I be as good as you or Sasuke?"

Itachi sighed and sat down on the bed next to Naruto. He looked up at Naruto's messy room, an extreme contrast to his and Sasuke's military neatness. "Because Naruto, you are different from us, but we all have our own skills."

"Tell me then big brother." Naruto said in a frustrated voice, "What skills do I have? Because right now it feels as though I'm nothing."

"You Naruto, have the natural ability to always see the best in people. To always find the fun in everything. And you have the ability to find happiness and smile; no matter what. And that, Naruto, is a skill that both Sasuke and I sorely lack."

Naruto scowled, "No offense big brother, but it just sounds like you are trying to make me feel better."

Itachi laughed, "I am trying to make you feel better Naruto!" He said, patting the boy on his back, "But I'm also serious. These skills of yours, someday, they will make you and invaluable asset to village. I know it."

Naruto looked up, "seriously?" he asked.

Itachi smiled, "believe it," he said, mirroring Naruto's catchphrase, "and now that my big brotherly duties are complete, I have some ANBU business to attend to."

Naruto wrinkled his nose, "I still can't believe you're a an ANBU Black Op."

Itachi smiled, "You know Naruto, neither can I." He patted his brothers head one last time and headed out the door.

Naruto sighed and turned to the window. I don't know if Itachi's telling the truth but I'm going to keep making him proud. I'm going to show everyone what an amazing ninja I can be. Believe it!

In the distance he saw Sasuke and Fugaku walking together, heading towards the small lake just off of the compound.

Hmm, I wonder what their up to.

Two days later;

Sasuke ran through the hand signs for what must have been the thousandth time that day. "Fireball jutsu!" He shouted and blew with all his might; a small puff of flame burst from his mouth.

"Damn it!" He shouted. No matter how many times I practice the result is the same.

"Hey Sasuke-nii," came a voice from behind him.

Sasuke spun to see Naruto standing at the end off the dock. His black eye had already completely healed even though it had only been two days.

Jeez, he heals fast. Sasuke rubbed the sore bandages covering the burns around his mouth. Possibly the only thing I wish I had from Naruto.

"What do you want Naruto?" Sasuke snapped, "Can't you see I'm busy?"

"I just thought you might want to play ninja!" Naruto said with a grin.

"I'm busy training to be a REAL ninja Naruto. Don't you think you should be doing the same thing? Loser."

Naruto's face changed to one of anger, "What did you just call me bastard?"

"I called you a loser! You heard me!" Sasuke shouted back.

"I just wanted to play with you asshole! No need to be so mean. You've been training for forever now. I just thought you should have a break is all!" Naruto yelled.

"It's only been two days idiot. And of course I've been training. Now go away." Sasuke spun to continue his practice.

"No way!" Naruto shouted.

Sasuke could hear Naruto's footsteps rushing up the dock. Without thinking, he spun around and rushed through the hand signs, "Fireball Justu!" He shouted.

Naruto shrieked and jumped back as a huge ball of flame burst out of Sasuke's mouth straight at him. "Hot! Hot!" he shouted, jumping up and down, and then jumping into the water to cool off.

Sasuke laughed as Naruto resurfaced, "Sorry Naruto, I didn't think it would be so big."

Naruto glared at Sasuke from the water, not sharing in his amusement, "Fine bastard! If you don't want to play with me I'll find someone else!" And he leapt from the water and ran away.

Sasuke sighed; I'll make it up to him later. He thought to himself. Because without meaning to, Naruto, his idiot little brother, had helped him to complete the justsu.

Sasuke sat at the dinner table with his mother and father. Two member of the family were noticeably missing. Itachi was out doing who-knows-what for the ANBU and Naruto was no where to be found.

"Are you sure you haven't seen him Sasuke?" Mikoto asked worriedly.

"Not since he interrupted my training," Sasuke mumbled.

"Clearly you didn't let him. That training really paid off." Fugaku said, placing a hand on Sasuke's head.

Sasuke grinned. His father was finally acknowledging him and it felt great.

"Oh Sasuke," Mikoto said quietly, "You weren't too mean were you?" She asked, "he's your brother."

Sasuke frowned and thought back to Naruto's miserable face as he surfaced from the water. Maybe he was a little harsh. He looked at his mother's worried face, "I'll get him mother, don't worry."

He stood up and turned to go out the door, "I think I know exactly where he is."

Naruto swung quietly on the swing in the playground; the last child left as the sun went down. He had tried to find another playmate, but everyone had refused. There were a few children who expressed interest, but their parents immediately pulled them away.

He pressed his forehead against the cool chain of the swing. What is it about me that's so repulsive? He thought to himself.

He heard someone sit down next to him and looked up to see Sausske.

"What do you want?" He asked quietly.

Sasuke was silent for a moment. He sighed, "Sorry." He said finally.

"For what?"

"You know," Sasuke said, looking at his brother guiltily, "shooting a fireball at you."

"Oh, that."

"I didn't mean to, it just happened."

Naruto shrugged, "it's fine."

Sasuke looked at him confused, "Then why are you still sad?" He asked.

"Nobody ever wants to play with me." Naruto said quietly.

"I want to play now." Sasuke said with a small smile.

Naruto's face immediately brightened, "Really?" He asked excitedly.

"Yeah!" Sasuke said, his smile growing. "Let's race home, last one there has to do the other's chores for a week!"

Naruto smiled, "Ok!" he said, and without warning, he took off.

"Hey!" Sasuke shouted, taking off behind him, "that's cheating!"

"See you at home loser!" Naruto shouted back towards him.

"In your dreams!" Sasuke shouted and picked up speed.

Naruto grinned as he ran, because little did Sasuke know, for him, just this was a dream come true.

Ah poor Naruto just wants to play.

I hope you all enjoyed this installment. I thought I'd add a little more to Itachi and Naruto's relationship before the massacre. This way the plan I have for Naruto's reaction to massacre will make more sense.

Here's a small hint: his reaction is going to be quite different from Sasuke's.