"That's what it takes to be a hero, a little gem of innocence inside you that makes you want to believe that there still exists a right and wrong, that decency will somehow triumph in the end." ~ Lise Hand

5 year old Naruto entered the academy with his older brother Sasuke. Normally, children entered the Academy at 7 or 8, but Naruto was an exception. Sasuke was entered the academy as well, but Sasuke was 7.

Naruto nervously clinged onto Sasuke's arm as they entered the classroom and quickly took a seat. They were about 5 minutes early, so the classroom wasn't completely full yet.

"Sasuke-chan, are you sure I'm strong enough to be here? Aniki said I was too young…Is that true? Chichiue said that too."

"No, it's okay. I think you'll do just fine. And so does okasan! And Shisui too! And you know how right Shisui always is!" Sasuke said as he patted his little brother on the head.

"Okay Sasuke-chan!" Naruto said happily as he glanced around the room. In this large classroom, were the people that were going to eventually be to become his friends. He was so excited!

His eyes fell on a girl with green eyes and pink hair. He blushed slightly. This girl was Naruto's first crush.

"Okay children. Welcome to Konoha academy! I'm your sensei, Umino Iruka. You'll learn how to become ninja here. And in only a few years time, you'll be able to take your Genin test. If you pass, you'll be on your on path to life! Now, what are your names?" There new sensei said. Iruka had brown hair, tied back into a ponytail. And he had a scar across his nose, most likely received from a dangerous mission.

"Sasuke-chan! That was so much fun! I can't wait to go back!" Naruto said as he talked on and on about the Academy. He loved it so much!

"Sasuke-chan…I want people to acknowledge me!" Naruto stopped walking.

"Huh? But people do acknowledge you."

"No, only mom and dad do…and you, and Itachi…But everyone else in the village hates me. Sasuke-chan, I want to become Hokage! It's my dream! And I won't ever give it up." Sasuke smiled at this. People should always follow their dreams, so he was going to encourage Naruto.

"Good Naruto, don't ever give that up!" Sasuke encouraged. He was going to help his little brother follow on his dream no matter what!

"Nothing less from my son. Congratulations." Fugaku said. Itachi was only 12 years old, and he was already an ANBU captain.

"Okasan, chichiue, what's going on?" Naruto asked as he and Sasuke walked into the kitchen.

"You're big brother is now an ANBU captain, and he's only 12! That's an amazing thing children. You can learn from this. He graduated the academy when he was 7, and mastered the sharingan when he was 8." Fugaku said proudly,

"Sharingan? What's that?" Naruto asked, and everyone went quiet. Naruto realized this, and spoke up again.

"Aniki? What is that?" Naruto asked, calling to his eldest brother.

"Don't worry about it Naruto." Itachi said as he ruffled the younger boy's hair, who groaned playfully in response.

"Naruto, Sasuke, come. I'll take you to get some sweets." Itachi said as he led the two young children out the door. He knew his parents needed to talk about Naruto, so he wanted them to be alone.

"Okay, come on Sasuke-chan, let's go!" Naruto said as he took Sasuke's hand and pulled him out the door.

"Mikoto, he does understand that he was adopted. I know he remembers. When he learns about advanced bloodlines in class, he'll understand why he doesn't have the sharingan." Fugaku said.

"Yes, but I suppose we can handle it when he asks us about it."

"A…aniki?" Naruto called out as he entered his older brother's room. It was dark, due to the fact that it was 3 in the morning. Naruto starred at the random blob under the covers, and called out again.

"Aniki?"

"Hmm, what is it Naruto?" Itachi said as he sat up.

"I had a bad dream; can I sleep with you, please?" Naruto put on a pouting face, and Itachi sighed, pulling the covers off.

"Sure, come here."

"Yay! Thank you aniki!" Naruto said as he cuddled up to his brother. Itachi pulled the covers over them and ran his fingers through the boy's hair.

Such innocence can't last too long. And I'll be the one to take it away.

Sasuke was walking home alone from the academy. Naruto hadn't gone because he had a fever in the morning, and Mikoto wouldn't let him leave the house.

Sasuke understood though. Normal children got sick a few times a year. It was unstoppable. But since Naruto had lived with the Uchiha's, he had never even shown any signs of being sick. It made Sasuke wonder sometimes.

As he walked the path to his house, he could hear whispers of his family members.

'I wonder if he'll graduate as soon as Itachi did.'

'He's no where near as strong as his older brother.'

'His brother is already an ANBU captain!'

Sasuke covered his ears as he ran towards his house. He opened the door, walked inside, and slammed the door behind him.

"Sasuke-chan what's wrong?" Naruto asked as he walked up to the older boy. Naruto had a blanket draped around him. He sounded sickly.

"Nothing Naruto, how are you feeling?" Sasuke asked as he slowly made his way towards his room, followed closely by Naruto.

"I feel yucky. But kaasan gave me medicine, so I feel a lot better than I did before!" Naruto said cheerfully.

"That's good Naruto." Sasuke smiled despite what he heard earlier.

"Sasuke-chan…I know you're hurting but I don't know why. But just…be happy okay? Because I love you!" Naruto said as he reached over and wrapped his arms around Sasuke's neck. Sasuke sat there for a few moments in shock, before returning the hug.

Naruto had been with them for 2 years already, and he never told anyone that he loved them. The Uchiha's knew Naruto loved them, but this was the first time an Uchiha actually heard the words come out of Naruto's mouth.

"I love you too Naruto."

"Aniki, what are you doing!" Naruto asked as he watched the older boy search through his stuff. Naruto had come home to find his room a mess, and some of his things were broken.

Naruto had a stuffed fox that he had gotten on his 4th birthday. It was his most precious possession. He also had a bed cap that he got from Sasuke on his 5th birthday.

"Naruto, welcome home." Itachi said as he grabbed the stuffed fox. He walked up to Naruto and threw him onto the bed. Naruto's eyes widened in fear.

"Aniki! Give me my fox!" Naruto whined as he reached out for the toy.

"Your innocence Naruto…you can't keep it if you want to become a ninja."

"My…innocence?" Naruto asked.

"Yes…" Itachi said as he ripped the fox in half, and threw it to the floor. He looked at Naruto before leaving the room, and leaving Naruto alone to cry.

Naruto was an innocent child, more so then Sasuke. Sasuke knew about some cruel things in the world. But Naruto knew only of the good. Itachi was trying so hard to get rid of Naruto's innocence, because he believed the child would be powerful if he knew how horrible the world was. But try as he would, Itachi could not break Naruto's innocence.