Disclaimer: not mine

Blahblah (botched-up-summoning-verse)

blahblah (Naruto-home-verse)

Itachi's age: 13

Sasuke's age: 7

Minato's age: 25 (he was the youngest Hokage in the Naruto-home-verse, so I guess he made Hokage around 18 and Naruto is a year younger than Sasuke, so I guess it would make him around 25)

Chapter 1

"It is settled then."

"Hai, we will provide you with the necessary sacrifice and in return you will give us more power."

Orochimaru smiled, his yellow eyes gleaming hungrily at the thought of gaining a living Uchiha specimen to do with as he pleased. It had been a long, drawn out process, but finally the Uchiha council and he had come to an agreement.

Five years ago Orochimaru had found an ancient scroll, hidden in a cave in the middle of nowhere. The scroll told of a being with near limitless power, a being of pure charka and how it could be summoned.

Many fruitless attempts later Orochimaru had realized he would need to put more thought, research and preparation into the summoning. And there was only one clan in Konoha as power hungry and corrupted as himself.

His gaze wandered to the current Head of the Uchiha main house, Uchiha Fugaku, the man, who was willing to sell his youngest child to Orochimaru in order to gain power.

Nodding in thanks to one of the councilmen that poured him a cup of sake, he raised the cup in the man's direction and said: "To the Chuunin exam and that it will take place in Suna."

The men echoed his toast. A white haired elder called the next toast: "To the last exam and that Yondaime will attend it to encourage our Genin."

Laughter rang out and Orochimaru basked in the obvious distaste the Uchiha harboured for the current Hokage. Back when the blond had been a simple Jounin instructor he had clashed heads with the Uchiha council about his student Obito countless times. Apparently the Uchiha council had not forgotten nor forgiven the affront it had suffered.

One of the youngest attending men raised his cup and said: "To Itachi-san's prolonged absence."

This time the toast wasn't echoed and there was no laughter. It was an interesting thing to witness. Uchiha Itachi was a frighteningly efficient shinobi, a true prodigy. He was feared by many, in- and outside Fire country. Others before him had been feared just as much, but that even those he lived with, those that had seen him off duty feared him with an intensity that left a room filled with merry men silent and cold, was an unusual feat.

"Will there be a problem with Itachi-san, Uchiha-san?" he asked Fugaku lightly, his voice pleasant and soft.

The other man's face hardened and he scoffed contemptuously. "My heir seems to have an unsightly attachment to Sasuke. We will tell him that enemy-nin killed him after a failed abduction, when he returns from Suna. He will have no reason to become a problem. Even if he tried to become one, we will be able to handle him after your summoning, Orochimaru-sama."

Orochimaru licked his lips at the thought of the younger Uchiha brother. Even at seven years of age the boy was simply marvellous in his beauty. It would be a true delight to break him in, so to speak.

Setting his cup carefully down, Orochimaru stood up. "Then we will meet in the cave one week from now."

Leaving the council room, he stepped out into the adjourning garden. Since his presence at the meeting needed to be kept secret from certain parties, he couldn't take the main exit of the house. After all, it was in the middle of the Uchiha district and he would stick out like a sour thumb, even at this late hour, simply because he didn't wear the Uchiha symbol on his clothing.

He couldn't even sneak into Sasuke-kun's bedroom and look at his prize, the chance of getting caught by Itachi was simply too high. It was annoying, but necessary. Waiting for another week was nothing at all, compared to what he would get as rewards for his patience: a beautiful boy to play with and Konoha on a silver tablet.

Quickly forming the signs for a transportation jutsu, Orochimaru vanished into the earth, leaving no tracks of his presence.

Itachi was just preparing to leave the house, when a small whirlwind barrelled into him, thin arms clutching his waist, a small head burrowing into his shirt.

"Don't leave, Nii-san." the small boy begged.

Softly stroking the bluish black hair of his younger brother, Itachi chided: "I told you that I will guard Yondaime during the Chuunin tournament."

Still the child wouldn't let go of his clothes. Worry started to creep into Itachi's dark grey eyes. Sasuke seemed terrified.

Taking the quietly crying child into his arms, Itachi buried his head in his brother's hair, taking a deep breath of his unique scent.

"Sasuke, what is it?" he whispered into the child's ear.

"Don't leave me, Nii-san."

"Did something happen? Did you have a bad dream last night?"

The bundle in his arms shook its head. "No, but I don't like how they look at me." Sasuke tried to explain.

Itachi narrowed his eyes. "Who looks at you strangely?"

"Everyone!" the younger boy exclaimed. "All the uncles and cousins and even Tou-san."

"Did anyone say anything to you? Threaten or touch you?" Itachi inquired further, red starting to seep into his eyes.

"No, but I…Nii-san their looks frighten me."

Itachi closed his eyes. Sasuke didn't like to admit to weaknesses and for him to tell Itachi about his worries meant that he was really, truly frightened. Yet what was he supposed to do? If they had threatened or touched his younger brother, he would have been able to deal with them. As it was, he would have to postpone the problem.

"Listen, Outoto. If anything happens, anything at all, I want you to run to either Hatake Kakashi or Sarutobi-sama. Simply tell Hatake-san that you invoke his debt for your protection, Sarutobi-sama won't turn a child in need away."

Giving Sasuke one last warm look and a soft kiss on the forehead, Itachi left.

When Itachi reached Konoha's gate, his blond haired leader and a squad of Jounin were already waiting for him.

"Itachi-san, there you are." The blond said warmth in his voice.

Itachi bowed quickly in apology. "Forgive me, Minato-sama, my brother brought something up and I had to give him last minute instructions."

Minato's smile diminished and a worried frown marred his face.

"Is Sasuke-kun in trouble?"

Itachi shook his head, once again wondering at the true caring Yondaime showed for his people. This man was worthy of his service, this man could be trusted not to abuse the power he gained by it. Only a kind heart, strong mind and stronger determination could wield a tool as deadly as him justly.

Itachi shuddered to think what would have become of him if Namikaze Minato hadn't taken him under his wing when Itachi first entered the ANBU. His clan would have driven him insane with their meaningless lust for more and more power. Besides Sasuke all the Uchiha seemed to suffer a disease of the mind and soul, they were like vampires, sucking the life and power out of everything they touched.

"I'm not sure. He is troubled by the looks he's been receiving. Sasuke has a good intuition, so I told him just in case where to run to if he needs sanctuary."

Minato nodded his head. "There's not much you can do about looks. I'm sure he will follow your advice should it be needed, Itachi-kun. We will be back in a week. Let's go."

Itachi followed the command, but he couldn't help the shiver of premonition that went through his frame. He had a really bad feeling.

TBC