C.M.D: Wow...another update after, what, two days? This has got to be my fastest update ever. Now on to the thanks. Thanks for reviewing: kellyQ, Cross- The Damned Alchemist, Broken Sexed Up Bloody Kitten, qurie, Great Karyee-Sama XD, Maximum, JuMiKu, The Only Love For Soujiro Seta, catkittyneko, cluelessninja65, -siafaerie-101-miss, NaTsUkO-ChAn. Thanks for all your comments, and thanks to everyone whose added this fic to their favorites/alert lists. And thanks to people who might review or add me in the future.

Ci, Ci, my playmate,
Come out and play with me,
Bring your dollies,
Climb up my apple tree...

It had been two weeks now since school started, and Sasuke was easily slipping back into the daily routine that he had grown accustomed to. The raven worked quickly and efficiently, but the teachers noticed that there was a slight difference to the boy. He seemed almost ...happy. And indeed the Uchiha was, because there was a certain blonde child in the school.

Now in the beginning, Sasuke was upset that Naruto was in the same school as him. Then the black-haired child realized something. Because of the difference in their ages, Sasuke wouldn't have to see the Uzumaki at lunch recess. Even better, he wouldn't need to worry about Naruto coming to his classroom, because none of the teachers would let the blonde wander about. It was this knowledge that had Sasuke unnoticably beaming for the past couple weeks. So, he spent his day working diligently, revelling in the fact that he wouldn't have to see the blonde dobe at all.

Sasuke had just finished solving a problem on the worksheet Iruka-sensei had handed out, when he was lightly poked in the arm. He ignored the touch, moving on to the next question. Two more pokes followed, but the raven refused to acknowledge them. Sighing, Sakura turned away from him, facing Kiba on her left.

"There's some weird boy at the window," she whispered to the Inuzuka. There was a shuffle of movement as the brunette looked to the window.

"Oh, that kid....," Kiba deadpanned.

"You know him?," Sakura asked.

"No," Kiba whispered back, "He just came to the jungle gym one day before school ended. Talks all funny and stuff."

Sasuke's eyebrow twitched. That sounded very familiar... He was just turning to the window himself, when a man yelled out from beyond the glass.

"UZUMAKI!!"

A flash of gold disappeared out of the corner of his eye, and Mizuki-sensei came into view, looking very disheveled. Iruka opened the window, poking his head out. "Mizuki? What happened?," he calmly asked.

The silver-haired man huffed, his face flushed with anger. "Uzumaki happened!," he growled, before disappearing.

Iruka blinked, closing the window with a sigh. "I'll be back," he told them, slipping out of the classroom. Immediately, the students broke out into conversation, speculating as to why Mizuki-sensei was so upset. 'So much for my good day,' Sasuke thought, huffing silently to himself.

'This is boring,' Naruto thought.

He was standing all by himself in the hallway, while the rest of his class went outside for recess. A chunnin down the hall was keeping an eye on the boy, so that he wouldn't be able to do anything. This was his punishment for making Mizuki-sensei's chalk explode. An image of his teacher's angry face popped in his head, and Naruto kicked at the floor as he continued to sulk.

'Mizuki-sensei deserved it,' he concluded. He only wanted to see Sasuke but that big meanie kept him from going anywhere and forced him to do work. Who cared about numbers and stuff anyway? Heat filmed over cerulean orbs, and Naruto had to shut his eyes to keep from crying. School wasn't how he'd thought it'd be. It was boring and they didn't get to play alot. No one wanted to be his friend, except for Hinata, and though he liked playing with the Hyuuga, it wasn't enough. She wasn't Sasuke.

Naruto really wanted to see Sasuke.

"What's wrong?"

The Uzumaki gasped, blue eyes snapping open. An much older boy stood infront of him, black eyes peering at him questionly. He had never even heard him approach. The blonde swallowed, bowing his head, suddenly shy.

"N-nuttin'...," he replied.

The teen continued to look at him, before he crouched until he was eye level with the boy. "You're Naruto," the stranger said. Naruto nodded his head in response, his nervousness had yet to leave him. At this level, the Uzumaki was able to study the other male better. Black eyes, black hair that was in a loose ponytail... He kind of looked like Sasuke a little, the blonde noted, and shyly he told the teen that. Pale lips quirked into a small smile.

"Is that so," the teen hummed. Again, Naruto nodded, unsure of how else to act around this person.

"I hear your lollipop was broken," the older boy said after a moment, "By Sasuke."

The child frowned a little, tucking his arms behind his back. "I 'unno why he do it," the Uzumaki confessed. His tone revealed how hurt he was, "'Aybe he 'ates me."

The raven reached out and gently patted the blonde's head. The boy looked at the other, surprised by the contact. "Many people have probably told you this already," the teen began, "But Sasuke doesn't hate you. He just doesn't like sweets."

"He no like lolli?," Naruto questioned, astounded by that fact. "What do he like?"

The teen smiled again. "He likes rice crackers," he answered.

"I got 'ice 'racker!," Naruto exclaimed. Excitedly, the boy reached into the front pocket of his shorts, pulling out an individual packet of five rice crackers. Kakashi had given it to the kid that morning, on his way to school, but Naruto couldn't figure out why. He didn't like rice crackers.

Holding it out, the Uzumaki gestured for the teen to take it. "You 'ive to 'Suke?"

The stranger chuckled under his breath, accepting the offered item. "Yes. I'll give it to him." Straightening up, the raven looked at Naruto. "I must be going now. Try not to get into any more trouble."

"'Kay!," the blonde promised.

The older male turned around, walking forward two steps before Naruto realized something. "Wh-wait! What you name?," he shouted.

The teen paused, looking over his shoulder at the boy. "Itachi. Goodbye Naruto."

It was lunchtime now for their class. Sasuke tidied up his spot, reaching down beside him to grab his backpack. His other classmates were already eating, the smell of Sakura's stirfry making him even hungrier. Anticipating the food his mother had made for him, the raven thrust a hand into black bag. He swished it back and forth, but his hand came in contact with only paper and his kunai kit. Nothing else.

Slowly, the Uchiha pulled his hand out and dropped his bag back to the side. 'I...I forgot my lunch.' Cold-hard realization hit the boy, as he clearly remembered back to this morning when he had run out the door, his lunch left behind on the counter. Cursing himself for his stupidity, Sasuke leaned forward on his desk, resting his chin on the desk behind his folded arms.

"Sasuke, are you hungry?," Sakura asked. She leaned over in her seat, a pretty blush on her cheeks. "I don't mind sharing," she giggled.

Sasuke made a face, which the girl didn't see. "No," he replied quickly. His stomach growled a little, and the Haruno's smile brightened.

"Sas-"

"No," he repeated, glaring at her from the corner of his eye. 'She better get a clue soon...'

The green eyes dimmed and her smile fell, as Sakura turned back around in her seat. "O-okay...," she murmured.

Sasuke mentally sighed, glad that he was able to fend off one fangirl this time, even if it was the most pathetic one. Maybe now he'd be able to angst in peace this lunch. There was a knock at the door and Iruka-sensei got up to see who it was. He was gone for a moment, before the chunnin stepped back inside. "Sasuke, come here please," he ordered.

It suddenly got quiet in the classroom as the raven rose to his feet and walked toward the door at the front of the room. Iruka stepped out of the way and ushered the boy out into the hall. "No need to look so grim Sasuke. You're not in any trouble," the brunette assured.

Sasuke turned to his left, his eyes widening in shock. "Aniki?!"

Itachi gave a tiny smirk to the younger Uchiha, before holding out a cherry-wood bento box. "Your lunch, otouto-kun." Sasuke took his lunch without a word, a small blush of embarrasment colouring his white cheeks.

"And here...," Itachi continued, reaching into his pocket. He held out a packet of rice crackers, his smirk growing a little more as his little brother snatched for the package, the only show of the boy's delight. Popping the packet open, Sasuke grabbed one of the crackers, chomping on it immediately. It was, afterall, his favourite treat.

"Thank you nii-san," he mumbled, trying to suppress the grin that threatened to break his face. "And thank you for the rice crackers."

Itachi lovingly flicked his younger sibling on the forehead, watching amused as Sasuke only gave him a feeble glare, before returning to his treat. "I'm not the one who got the rice crackers for you, otouto-kun," Itachi said.

Sasuke paused to lick his finger. "Oh, then kaa-san did," the tiny raven replied. "Be sure to thank her for me, please?"

The older male merely rolled his eyes, before turning away. "I'll be sure to tell Naruto you said 'thanks'," he called over his shoulder, turning around the corner.

Sasuke's jaw froze, the first half of his final cracker almost chewed to mulch in his mouth. The black-haired head snapped up, but his brother was already gone. Slowly, he lowered his head. Itachi had said.... that dobe had... gave him the rice crackers? The Uchiha swallowed, wincing when jagged pieces of the unchewed cracker scratched at the inside of his throat. He gazed at the empty packet and the rice cracker he had yet to finish.

Quietly, he went back inside the classroom.

Kakashi was heading down the hall, on the way to talk to Minato about this evening. He had been asked to babysit Naruto again that evening, this time until ten. Apparently, paperwork had stacked up recently and it was keeping his sensei very busy. Now he just needed to get the details on what he was supposed to do. His eyes caught movement up at the end of the hall, and looking up he saw it be one Uchiha prodigy.

He began to grin as he approached the teen. "Well?," he asked.

A smirk tugged at the stoic Itachi's lips. "He says thanks," came the discrete reply.

Kakashi's grin grew as he marched on past the teen. "Good to hear."

C.M.D: The plot thickens! hehe, kidding. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. It's amazing that I was even able to write the next chapter so fast. But seriously, don't expect another update for a little while, cause I have no clue as to what I'm going to write next as of the moment. Alright... so remember to review and share with me your thoughts!
Kaa-san: mother