A year later, laughter could be heard within the huge Uchiha backyard. Naruto had quickly grown to love his new family and vice versa. His new parents cared very deeply for him. But they had let Naruto keep his last name. For some reason, they thought it would be safer for him. Although they all strived to protect him, they knew he couldn't protect him from the hatred in the village forever. One day, they'd tell him about Kyuubi, but for now Mikoto and Fugaku enjoyed watching him play outside with Sasuke. They enjoyed watching Naruto be so happy. And they didn't want to ruin that happiness right now.

Sasuke and Naruto got along so well. It actually amazed Fugaku and Mikoto. Brothers did normally fight, because the older brother was usually jealous of the younger brother, or vice-versa. But Sasuke only wanted to make Naruto happy. And he wanted to protect him more then anything.

"Wow Sasuke! It's so huge back here! I can get lost!" Little 4-year old Naruto said as he looked around the huge backyard. 6 year old Sasuke stood behind him, smiling.

Sasuke glanced to his left and saw something shining. He walked over and picking up the shining object. It was an orange stone, almost like a rock, except it was shaped like a large diamond. He raised it up high and watched as it shimmered in the sun.

'Hmm, Naruto likes orange, maybe he'll like this.'

"Here Naruto, I found this. Maybe you'll like it."

"Wow! It's so nice! Thanks Sasuke-niisan!" Naruto hugged Sasuke tightly and let the pretty stone shine in the sun. It was a weird shade of orange, and it was something he'd never seen before.

"It's weird though. I wonder what it is." Sasuke pondered. It wasn't an ordinary stone, nor was it a diamond.

"It doesn't matter, because I'll treasure it forever, no matter what! Because you gave it to me! And Sasuke-chan is one of my precious people."

Sasuke smiled. He loved making Naruto happy.

"Sasuke-chan! Come on, let's play tag! You're it! Come catch me now, come on come on!" Naruto said cheerfully as he ran away from the older boy.

"Heh, you think you can get away from me Naruto? Think again!" Naruto ran faster as Sasuke ran to catch him.

"Aniki, look! It's so pretty!" Naruto said as he chased after a large butterfly, attempting to catch it. Sasuke was still sleeping, while Itachi and Naruto were currently relaxing in the backyard. Itachi sat quietly, watching his littlest brother try to catch the butterfly.

At this point, the pretty butterfly landed on Itachi's knee. Both boys froze.

"Aniki! Stay still!" Naruto said as he slowly walked up to Itachi, who, grabbed the butterfly by the wings.

"Look Naruto, it's not that hard to catch." Itachi said as he held the insect by its wings, it was moving around, trying it's hardest to get away.

"A...aniki, you're hurting it! Let go! Please let go!" Naruto whined as he watched the butterfly struggle, tears slowly slipping out of his eyes.

"Beauty is a wonderful thing isn't it Naruto? But beauty blinds people. They fail to see other things in life." Itachi said as he crushed the insect, Naruto's eyes widened and he started to sob. Itachi dropped the thing and walked over to Naruto. He picked up the crying boy and brought him inside, leaving the dead butterfly to rot and get picked up by ants.

"Why is crying Itachi?" Mikoto asked as Itachi placed Naruto on a chair. He took a paper towel a dried Naruto's eyes. Naruto stopped crying, but every now and then there was a small sniffing sound coming from the boy.

"He fell." Itachi lied.

"Oh, Naruto, are you okay?" Mikoto asked as she bent down to look him over.

Naruto looked up to Itachi, and said boy glared at him, silently telling him not to say a word.

"Yeah, I'm okay Okasan!" Naruto said happily and hopped off the chair, with the intention of waking Sasuke up.

"Hey Sasuke, what do you think aniki would want for his birthday?" Naruto asked as the two were eating lunch.

"I don't know Naruto, want to go ask him?" Sasuke asked as he took a bite out of an onigiri.

"No! That'll ruin the surprise!" Naruto said as he waved his hands up and down.

"What are you two talking about?" Itachi asked as he walked into the room.

"NOTHING!" Both boys yelled quickly, causing Itachi to cock an eyebrow.

"Sasuke, look! That necklace, it looks like aniki would like it right? (1)" Naruto pointed to a necklace. Mikoto, Sasuke, and Naruto were currently in a jewelry store. Mikoto was looking for a new gold necklace. She had a heart-shaped locket. Within it were two pictures. On one side, was a picture, on the other side, was a picture of her three sons.

"Yeah! I think he'll like it. Let's ask okasan!"

"Ask me what Sasuke?"

"Look, Naruto and I want to get that for aniki. Can we?" Sasuke asked as he pressed his face against the glass, but the man behind the counter shooed him away.

"Okay, if you two think he'll like it…I'll take this necklace and the one in that case." The last part was directed at the sales man.

"Alright, would you like any of them wrapped?" The man asked lazily.

"Yes, this necklace here. Thank you!"

"Happy birthday aniki!" Naruto and Sasuke said together as they handed him the box. He opened it slowly, and stared at the necklace in silence for a few moments.

"Do you like it?" Sasuke asked, breaking the silence.

"Yes, yes I do." Itachi said as he put it on.

"It looks nice on you aniki!" Naruto said. Itachi smiled and ruffled Naruto's hair, before hugging them both.

"Shisui!" Naruto called out to his cousin. Shisui was another extraordinary Uchiha. He had spiked up black hair, that looked a lot like Naruto's, and he had black eyes, just like the rest of the Uchiha clan. He was a bit older than Itachi, and he was also Itachi's best friend. He was actually a lot like Itachi, but at the same time, a complete opposite. It was like Itachi was the dark part, and Shisui was the light.

"Hello there Naruto-chan, how are you today?" Shisui asked as he swung his legs into the water. His sandals lay sloppily to the side, and he was wearing shorts.

"Good! What are you doing?" Naruto asked as he sat next to the boy. Naruto attempted to do the same as Shisui was, but he was too small, Shisui laughed lightly at this.

"Just relaxing a bit. I just came back from a mission. Where's Sasuke today?" Shisui asked.

"He's coming right now, look, see? Here he comes." Naruto said as the two turned around to see Sasuke running down the bank.

"Hello Shisui." Sasuke said as he sat on the other side of the boy.

"Hey, do you two want to go get some food? It's almost lunch time." Shisui offered.

"Yeah!" Both boys chimed happily.

The Uchiha's were such precious people to him. He had been there a year, and they were his family. Neither the Uchiha's nor Naruto cared that he was adopted; they were his family no matter what. He already had so many happy memories to think back on when he grew up.

Naruto remembered what it was like to be an orphan. He was always so sad, but masked it. And he knew now…You need a reason to be sad, death could make you sad, being ignored could make you sad…but you never needed a reason to be happy.

And Naruto was happy

(1) – You know the necklace Itachi wears? Yeah, that's the one Sasuke and Naruto got for him.