A/N: And now the plot begins! Honestly, the response to my update... ah, it's been overwhelming. I have no words! Everyone has been so generous in their compliments, it really does make me smile. Thank you all so much for your support! And don't worry about Sasuke getting cut out of last chapter. A lot of this chapter was intended for the last one, but was cut out. Some of the things you guys have said – man. You've all got high expectations, so I refuse to let you down! This story is going to be a pretty epic length.
I'm sorry this is out late! Stupid "manage stories" feature was down for a day. This was due out yesterday... sorry. :( Thanks so much for all your support, enjoy the chapter!

"What human dares summon me?"

"What God dares call me human?"

Booming laughter. "Oh, ho, ho! You're far from a God, but not human indeed. More of a snake, or a rat, crawling and writhing like scum as you evade death. Pathetic."

"If I may, I require your help."

There was a deep, thick silence. "We Shinigami are not slaves."

"I'd ask nothing of the sort. Rather, I am under the impression there is something rather valuable in that stomach of yours, and I'll certainly make it worth your while."

The walking back and forth had really, really made Naruto's legs ache.

But as he and Itachi walked that path, back and forth, he had walked past that pier. And that child had not moved a muscle. The black haired boy Naruto had often seen, though he couldn't quite recall his name – was on that pier, quietly, unmoving.

The blond and Itachi had talked animatedly – well, Naruto had spoke and Itachi had listened intently – for the whole day of moving possessions and furniture, and yet that boy had settled there before they had began, and Naruto suspected that he was still there now that they were done.

So he was going to ask.

"Itachi-nii-san..."

The Uchiha smiled at him gently. "What is it, Naruto?" He was changing the bedcovers on Naruto's bed; they were orange, a colour he'd bought Naruto at the boy's request.

"Did you see that boy?"

Itachi nodded. Naruto knew he had, because as he'd learned, Itachi-nii-san was really, really clever.

The blond shrugged, hands fumbling behind his back as he shuffled his feet. He felt nervous, and he didn't really know why, but-

"Do you want to go see him?"

"Well, yeah..." Naruto said, beginning to babble. "I dunno, Itachi-nii-san, he looked sad and he didn't leave the whole day, so- uh, could we ask him to come around? We could play, or something-"

The older boy nodded, smiling slightly as he ruffled Naruto's hair. "Don't worry, Naruto. We'll ask. Come on."

Naruto nodded, and felt an anxious feeling in the pit of his stomach that made him feel like he shouldn't have asked at all.

They were approaching the pier, and the sun had set a while ago; the sky was still bright, illuminating the far ends of the water, but it had lost any sort of romantic look. Though, Itachi was sure that Sasuke had not been there to gaze at the beauty. The raven had sympathised with Sasuke through his trauma, but he was detached. Itachi had to detach himself; it was not done by option or anything that could be confused with choice. It was necessity.

Sasuke knew that, and Itachi had briefly explained to the boy that there was trouble with Itachi and the family, and that he had to move out. The young boy had not taken it well, taking on a both sullen and tearful look. The elder Uchiha had offered his guidance if Sasuke ever needed it, though Itachi knew very well that Sasuke needed to mourn. And so Itachi had let him sit, thinking, for as long as he would need.

The night had grown colder the moment the sun had disappeared, and now the empty scope of the water and the blistering winds that came with open space were sure to daunt the young Sasuke. Itachi decided it was time to speak to him.

Sasuke didn't even turn when Itachi approached, but jerked in surprise when Naruto swung his legs over the edge of the pier to sit beside him. The blond looked cautious as he tried to force out words. "Uh... why've you sat here all day?"

The younger Uchiha didn't say anything, but Itachi noticed his hands clenching on the edge of the pier.

Naruto said nothing, and Itachi felt faintly surprised by the level of understanding in the small boy. He felt a pang of guilt for having judged the boy so quickly; the blond knew the depth of sorrow that was weighing Sasuke down just by a silence.

After a minute of quiet, Itachi sat down to Sasuke's right. "Otouto, this is Naruto. He's staying with me."

Sasuke closed his eyes, staring straight down into the dark, murky water. "A replacement?"

"Never, Sasuke. In fact, I was about to ask you if you want to come over to my new house. I think Mother is staying over with our relatives."

There was a long silence, and Sasuke exhaled deeply and looked up. "That'd be nice."

"Yeah! Sleepover! Do you like ramen?! Itachi-nii-san, can we make ramen?!"

Itachi felt his ears ringing at the blond's outburst, and whereas he had a grand amount of tolerance, he saw Sasuke's jaw tighten as he gritted his teeth.

"Wha- whaa!"

Sasuke grabbed Naruto's shoulders faster than the blond could react, and pushed him harshly into the water below. The blond surfaced, hair stuck to his skin as he spluttered angrily.

"What did I do?! It's freezing!"

For a moment, the Uzumaki waited for a hand to help him up. With a huff, he reached up to haul himself onto the pier- but instead grabbed Sasuke's ankle, pulling with a force that caused the raven to wind himself on the pier before being dragged into the cold water.

Itachi found himself laughing.

Sasuke surfaced like a drowned rat, turning an angry gaze to Naruto. The younger Uchiha swam to the side of the pier before pulling himself up, ringing out his hair and keeping his arms straight by his sides as he began walking. Naruto tried to walk beside him, and eventually Sasuke relented, walking at a regular pace. Nonetheless, the raven folded his arms and looked scornfully at the blond.

"Just so you know, I hate ramen. So we're not having any."

"Whaaat?!"

"Anpan?"

"Anpan."

"You want anpan?"

"Anpan."

"Anpan? What's anpan?"

"You don't know what anpan is?"

"No! What's anpan?!"

Sasuke turned away from Naruto with a disdainful look, and Itachi sighed.

"Anpan is a sweet roll, with red bean paste in the middle."

Naruto gasped. "I love red bean! Can we have red bean soup, too? Pleaaase?"

"Are you that hungry?" Itachi said. He inhaled that ramen I made him earlier. Of course he's that hungry...

Naruto nodded vigorously, rocking back and forth on his crossed legs. Sasuke looked disgusted at the fact that the blond hadn't had anpan before. I didn't know anpan was such a serious subject here...

Itachi stood up, heading to the kitchen to prepare the food, and there was a prolonged silence as the raven looked blankly ahead, and Naruto stared curiously at Sasuke.

"So, what's your name?"

"I told you."

"Well... I forgot."

"Too bad."

Naruto clenched his hands by his sides, fuming with rage. "I'll just call you bastard then!"

"I'll call you moron, moron."

"Asshole!"

"Dead last."

"Fuck you!"

"Is that all, usuratonkachi?"

The blond leaned forward, quiet and cold-

"Teme!"

-and swiftly punched the raven in the face.

For a moment, Sasuke reeled in shock, before kicking the blond in the stomach. They became a violent blur of swung fists and kicking, and as Itachi came in to see what the fuss was all about, he was truly surprised by what he saw. The eldest Uchiha had seen through Sasuke's gaze the life had lived before – and then, it had seemed, by the emotions tinting those memories, that it was only Naruto that had ever managed to get beneath his skin. Nothing seemed to have changed; though Itachi knew his little brother to have a sweet, childish exterior around him, he was generally calm. But this little blond boy had sent his younger brother into a rage; as Itachi deduced the fight, he noted that his little brother wasn't employing any of his taijutsu, choosing to lash out violently and angrily.

Itachi was quite impressed at how little Naruto had well and truly riled up his younger brother.

"Otouto. Naruto. What are you doing?"

Sasuke froze, allowing Naruto to land a clean punch in his gut. The blond noticed Itachi a second too late, slowly pulling back his hand from the heaving Sasuke's stomach and giving the eldest Uchiha sibling a hesitant smile.

"Ehehe... sorry?"

Itachi walked over slowly, his footsteps echoing and ominous in the half-decorated room. "Naruto. Stand up."

The blond stood up, fidgeting all the while. "Nee, Itachi-nii-san..."

"Don't call him that."

Naruto looked at Sasuke in surprise. The boy's tone was positively venomous.

"Sasuke, you stand up too."

The raven gave Itachi a fierce glare, and Naruto felt some slight killing intent. What the hell?!

Itachi looked at them, gaze cold and reprimanding. "Stand next to each other."

They did, Naruto looking mildly annoyed about the situation, but Sasuke looking murderous. Itachi had no doubt that if he'd have given him the chance, he'd have attacked Naruto with an intent to maim or kill.

"Why were you two fighting?"

Sasuke had no intention of responding at all, but Naruto 'hmm'ed for a moment before shrugging and rubbing the back of his head with one hand sheepishly. "Dunno... think I asked him his name but he wouldn't tell me, because he's a bastard." The blond pulled tongues at Sasuke at the end of the sentence, proceeding to fold his arms and lift his jaw flippantly away from the raven.

Itachi sighed. "All this, over that?"

Sasuke bowed his head slightly, hands fisted at his sides. The strength in that motion was not clear, but his knuckles were so white they were almost translucent on his pallid skin.

"It was his fault!"

"Don't even lie," Sasuke bit out abruptly, the harsh, cold tone of his words making Naruto flinch.

"Yeah, yeah, but you wouldn't tell me your name!"

"You forgot it!"

"But- but I can't help that!" Naruto spluttered. Itachi took a note of his mannerisms and voice; there was a faint attempt to reconcile in his actions, and for a moment the Uchiha felt sorry for him. There was very little chance Sasuke would give an outright sorry to anyone but Itachi even if he was genuinely sorry – let alone in a situation where he was in no way remorseful.

"Be more intelligent then, usuratonkachi."

"Stop calling me that!"

"Sasuke. Naruto."

The two boys looked up guiltily, and Itachi kept a stern look on his face. "Sasuke, I had an offer for you. I was going to suggest that you begin training with me of a morning, but..."

"Nii-san!" Sasuke whined. "Please! I want to train with you!"

"...this behaviour is unacceptable. No matter whether you like Naruto or not, I'm going to be training you both, and there can be no such fighting. Do you understand?"

They both nodded silently.

"Good. In order to resolve this matter, and to give me an idea of your abilities... outside. Now. I want you two to have a quick taijutsu spar." Itachi motioned to the door, and the two began walking, Sasuke in front.

"Hn."

Itachi could hear a tone of pleasure in that voice, and had no doubt Sasuke was sure he'd defeat Naruto. The eldest Uchiha could not say that he liked Sasuke's attitude towards Naruto at the moment. In their past lives, he'd seen a bond of friendship, no – a bond that signified one soul in two bodies. They were, in all respects, entirely different, and yet there was always a tone of understanding. Naruto always understood Sasuke, and Sasuke always understood Naruto. And though Naruto adored Sasuke, Sasuke was reluctant to admit anything of the sort. But in this time, Itachi noted Naruto's curiosity for Sasuke – and Sasuke's consequential rejection and hatred for such an annoyance. It was unpleasant to realise his brother could be so cruel.

As they made their way out, Sasuke stopped and stood, his posture slouched and his hands in his pockets. Itachi patiently waited for him to take on a fighting stance, but soon realised he was freely expressing his arrogance about just how easy this battle would be. Otouto...

Naruto had realised the same. "Oi, asshole! What are you doing?! Get ready!"

Sasuke shrugged. "It won't be necessary."

The blond's eyes flared with anger, a momentary splash of red- and then he ran forward, fists first, swinging one to the side of the Uchiha's head – Sasuke caught it by the wrist, pulling it down and throwing Naruto off balance. He then brought his knee up casually into Naruto's solar plexus, knocking the wind out of the blond, before bringing his forearm forcefully into the side of Naruto's head. The Uzumaki has knocked cleanly off Sasuke's knee and onto the floor, but after coughing harshly for a moment, he swung his legs to meet the Uchiha's ankles.

Although Sasuke had not expected it, he leapt back appropriately. Naruto got up quickly and launched a roundhouse kick at Sasuke, parried by Sasuke's arm. He repeated with the other leg, before Sasuke grabbed his ankle and yanked it so hard Naruto felt as though it'd been dislocated; he fell onto his tail bone, and the raven pressed his foot onto Naruto's ribcage. Though the blond struggled all he could, both hands on his foot, the pressure was on the verge of cracking his ribs. With fire in his eyes, he let go of Sasuke's ankle in forfeit.

He felt humiliated; in front of his brother, who Naruto had been so desperate to impress, he'd been completely wiped out in a minute and a half. But instead of laughing, or looking disappointed, Itachi looked like he was... thinking. Hard.

"Well done, Otouto. But never underestimate your opponent. In a real battle, they will use ninjutsu, and you never know what techniques someone may have up their sleeve. No matter how weak you perceive them to be... people will surprise you. Your speed was great, but Naruto surprised you back there. Stay on your guard, no matter who the opponent is." Despite his somewhat reprimanding tone, Itachi fondly ruffled his younger brother's hair, and Naruto saw a rare blushing smile from Sasuke. The blond watched him carefully; Sasuke's eyes were full of admiration, drinking in Itachi's every word and movement.

Itachi turned to Naruto, and Naruto flinched at the mere movement. The elder Uchiha simply smiled, crouching down to look the blond in the eyes. "Naruto, you're strong. You've got some good force in your kicks, but you need to be more aware of your movements. You left several openings back there; Sasuke only took a couple. Your speed and accuracy needs work, but you've got potential. I can see you're trying your best, and that's important."

The blond felt flush with happiness as he realised Itachi was praising him. Though he'd made some mistakes, he was trying to help him! Naruto smiled at the elder Uchiha, grin wide as Itachi smiled gently back.

"Alright," Itachi said, folding his arms. "Training, tomorrow. Here. At... 6AM."

Naruto let out a whale cry of distress.

"Hn."

"What do you mean, hn!? I can't be up and ready for 6!"

"Can't even wake up on time, usuratonkachi?"

"Hah! I bet I can be here an hour, no, 2 hours early!"

As the two children began arguing loudly, Itachi got the strangest feeling that it wasn't an argument at all.

Sasuke stared with a look of disgust at his anpan. "Nii-san, the anpan are too crispy."

"Be glad I didn't burn them. I almost forgot about them, because of you two."

The younger Uchiha didn't break his gaze with the sweet roll. The stare was malicious and deductive, and Naruto wondered what exactly Sasuke was trying to do.

"Oi, Sasuke-"

"No."

Sasuke hadn't even blinked yet.

"How do you know what I'm going to ask?!"

"I don't know. But I know it'd be a no."

"How?"

"Because you're asking."

"Wha-"

Itachi had really gotten sick of the arguing, and it had been one day. In fact, it hadn't even been a day; it was the evening, and Sasuke'd only been there a couple hours. But their arguing had drove him absolutely mad. Itachi had never, ever met anyone who could rile Sasuke up at all, and Naruto managed to do it in a matter of seconds.

"When will the red bean soup be ready, Itachi-nii-san?"

Sasuke looked angered by the use of the name. "Shut up, usuratonkachi."

"Stop calling me that, asshole!"

Itachi walked into the kitchen and closed the door. All he could hear now was muffled shouting, but it was better than the incessant arguing right in his ear. Itachi considered himself very, very patient. But... those two are something else.

"So, you're Sasuke."

He didn't respond.

"And Itachi-nii-san is your brother?"

Sasuke was not going to respond.

"What about your parents?"

No matter how much that boy pissed him off, he was not going to respond.

"Sasuke?"

"Why do you need to know!? Just shut up!"

Naruto looked away, expression downcast as he put his hands in his lap. He pouted. "Fine. Was just askin'."

Sasuke felt a slight twinge of guilt.

"Usuratonkachi. You're Naruto, right?"

The blond perked up immediately, eyes bright and grin wide.

"Yep! The #1 Uzumaki Naruto! I'm going to be Hokage one day!"

Sasuke no longer felt guilty. He is so loud. And obnoxious. And annoying. Definitely annoying.

There was a long silence, and Sasuke thought about his victory over Naruto. It had felt good; he wasn't generally someone who enjoyed making other people feel bad, per se- but Naruto annoyed him so much. He'd never met someone who angered him like that. Sasuke even considered himself patient; when someone wasn't as clever as him, he was patient and tolerant. But there was something about this whiskered blond kid that made him want to rip his hair out.

The raven only aspired to be a great shinobi, to work in the Konoha Police Force and take up his father's position – and he was respectful. Mikoto often received praise for her youngest son's wonderful behaviour, good manners and pleasant disposition with other children.

Sasuke felt ashamed. Whenever he spoke to Naruto, an unbridled annoyance just formed in his chest, something that made him feel like this parasite of a child had clung to him and irritated him for a whole lifetime. It turned him into a cold and short tempered shell of himself; he felt pleasure in beating Naruto. And for the life of him, Sasuke could not figure out why.

"Sasuke?"

He felt the urge to say no again, but pushed it down. "What?"

Naruto paused, looking tranquil and somewhat sad. "Today... did someone you love... die?"

The raven felt his breath hitch.

That was right; he'd forgotten. Sasuke had forgotten, and the pain- how could he have- for a moment, with this stupid kid- he'd forgotten all about his father. His mother's grief, it'd all been gone- for a moment, he'd just completely forgotten about his father, and his death. His murder, how someone had killed him with no warning, no explanation, nothing at all-

-and he had forgotten about him, forgotten about his father, for some stupid kid who could barely walk without tripping up.

"My father." Sasuke tightened his fists, feeling his blunt nails leaving crescent rips in the flesh of his palm. "He was murdered."

Naruto was quiet, and Sasuke was glad for it. If the boy had spoken a word, he would have flown into a rage and beaten the everliving shit out of him.

A few minutes passed, and Sasuke felt calmer, but no less sad; as though he was a reservoir filled with cold, still water. It felt like he was underwater, and drowning; everyone's voices sounded strange, everything felt cold and distant, and the world was dull, empty, repetitive.

The blond opened his mouth, but closed it straight afterwards; he shot Sasuke a glance, and he knew that was a silent question. Can I... speak?

Sasuke said nothing, closing his eyes in unspoken submission to the request.

"I... I'm sure your father would want you to become an amazing and cool ninja. So... when we start training, let's try our best!"

The raven turned, and saw the child's fist outstretched, with a wide grin. Sasuke knew it for what it really was; a truce.

"Usuratonkachi."

He pressed his fist against Naruto's. Sasuke wasn't smiling of his own volition, but... all he could ever have said on the subject was that the blond had a very, very infectious (and annoying!) smile. So maybe he smiled back.

"Oi, dobe."

Mmf...

"Dobe."

Ugh.

"Usuratonkachi."

"Don't..."

"Get up."

"Don't call me usuratonkachi..."

"Then get up."

Naruto sat up, stretching and yawning. "Like it'd make a difference."

They'd slept close together, their two futons placed directly next to each other, and Naruto noted with a grimace that he'd been intruding on Sasuke's futon somewhat. He wish he'd woken up early enough to see what Sasuke had slept like.

"You didn't beat me by two hours. Or even one."

Naruto poked him, hard. Sasuke didn't even retaliate, instead rubbing his eyes. "Yeah, well, whatever. Sleep is more important than you."

The blond stumbled to his feet, walking across the sparsely furnished room to push open the sliding door and go into the hall. Sasuke followed suit, and they both noticed that Itachi was already up, in the kitchen, preparing supplies and putting them into a large black bag. The boy looked up to see them for just a moment, smiling before returning to his preparation. "Good morning, you two. Are you prepared for a gruelling training session?"

Naruto groaned. "Itachi-nii-san... why are we up this early?"

"When you're a shinobi, no one will wait to kill you so you can have a sufficient amount of sleep." Itachi held a perpetually positive tone all throughout the morbid explanation.

Mm. Positive outlook to start the day. "Thanks." The word dripped with sarcasm.

"I've prepared bentos for us, so go get dressed and we'll start."

Naruto felt a sinking feeling. "What, no breakfast?"

"No one will wait to kill you so you can eat your-"

"Yeah, okay, okay, I get it," Naruto interrupted, crestfallen as he returned to his room to get his clothes.

"Naruto, what are the rules of being a ninja?"

"Uh... be Hokage."

"No."

Naruto looked very sad.

Itachi poked him in the forehead, setting down his bag. "Well, if I'm honest with you Naruto, there is a whole book of rules, that you'll be assigned to read at some point – the shinobi code of conduct. An important rule is – a shinobi must always put the mission first. Do you know what I mean by that, Naruto?"

Naruto shook his head.

"It means the mission comes before your life and the lives of your team mates."

The blond's eyebrows knotted. Itachi continued.

"Sometimes that means risking your life in a dangerous situation. Other times, it means retreating. In the shinobi code of conduct, the mission comes first. Another rule, is that you must always follow the commander's instructions."

"What if they're wrong?" Sasuke intercepted. "Are we not allowed to make choices?"

The elder Uchiha stood before the two, and put his hands on both of their heads. "I'm going to tell you now – the shinobi code of conduct is a load of bullshit."

Sasuke blinked. Itachi never swears.

"The rule of being a shinobi? Find it out yourself. Some of the rules are useful." Itachi walked on over to his bag. "The rule of following the commander's instructions, implies that you should always obey, whether they're wrong or not. Don't. The true meaning is – don't disobey your superiors for the sake of it, because you could get you, and your team mates killed. Causing friction between the other members will only lead to failure, or death.

"The life of a shinobi is not honourable. My friend Shisui once told me that the most respectable shinobi are those who protect peace from within it's shadow. The village may send you on dishonourable missions, you may do dishonourable things – but shinobi were born to bring about, and protect peace. That is what I hope you two will do in your future."

"Like what, Itachi-nii-san?"

Itachi smiled ruefully at Naruto. "I don't know now – but when the time comes, you'll know. Develop your own ninja way, and become pioneers of peace."

Both Sasuke and Naruto felt as though they were in the presence of someone with far superior intelligence, but drank in every word.

"However, friction between two shinobi, no matter how small, can cause problems on the battlefield." Itachi's expression was serious. "Something as stupid as a dispute can cause death for the whole team. So..."

Naruto's stomach sank. Something was very, very wrong.

Itachi reached into his bag, bringing out two small, square seals. They were both very intricately done, and he put one onto the back of Naruto's wrist, and the other onto the back of Sasuke's, and brought them both up and pressed them cleanly against each other.

Naruto and Sasuke stood in perfect symmetry with their arms up with identical expressions of confusion, until Itachi gleefully watched Sasuke realise. His expression turned into an expression of horror, his jaw dropping.

"...you're going to be stuck together for one week!"

Naruto took a moment to realise, looking at his wrist and back to Itachi until the brick in his chest hit the bottom of his stomach with a resounding bang.

"Oh fuck, you are not doing this to me!"

The first day was the worst.

Itachi had given them their bentos, as he'd promised – and now it was the matter of trying to eat them. It was fine, since Naruto wasn't left handed, but it ended up so much worse than Sasuke had thought was possible. Sasuke naturally took priority of the joined arm in order to eat his food, allowing him his left arm to hold the box properly – but Naruto was required to keep the bento on his lap to keep it still, and when he lost his takoyaki to the grass, Sasuke genuinely thought the blond was going to cry.

"My takoyaki!"

He was wailing, and Sasuke couldn't move away from the goddamn noise. Why is he wailing?!

Eventually, after feeling his eardrums slowly die, Sasuke glared at the blond. "Do you want my tomatoes? Just- just take them!" PLEASE STOP CRYING!

"I hate tomatoes! They taste like crap!"

Sasuke brought his arms up to cover his ears from the shrieking, watching balefully as his arm movement caused Naruto's lunch to spill all over the ground. The blond looked at him, eyes full of angry tears. The look turned into a glare, and then a mourning expression.

Sasuke really, really wanted to die.

Then came the act of doing pretty much anything.

Walking turned out to be a problem in itself. They had to keep pace, and Sasuke enjoyed putting his hands in his pockets. Which he could no longer do, without putting Naruto's hand in his pocket, or just outside of it, on his thigh. He was not sure which was weirder, but he wasn't going to find out.

Naruto also seemed to have an irritating habit of putting his hands behind his head as he walked, which lead to Sasuke touching the back of the head, which was fucking weird, and awkward, so that was not an option. In short, the two had to resist any of their normal habits for fear of touching the other strangely.

Even keeping the swinging momentum while walking was a problem. Sasuke cursed the day Itachi suggested they train, and Sasuke cursed himself for having accepted.

A small annoyance as well was having to explain the situation to everyone they met. Sasuke didn't even want to. Well, uh, as a training exercise, my brother stuck me to some idiot, and now he's crying, now I'm deaf, why, why, why?!He hated this, and by the minute, he got more and more convinced he hated Naruto, too. Even without the weird hatred that cropped up every time they spoke.

Itachi had tried to explain that the exercise was to do with understanding, or some shit, but they'd both been two indignant to listen. Sasuke tried to remember, and was sure that it had been to do with co-ordinating movements, but Itachi had also mentioned something along the lines with understanding each other.

Sasuke wasn't exactly sure what one learned about someone else by being in close range whilst they pissed.

That said, he'd noticed something... strange.

While they walked around, Naruto got... looks. Not just any looks; really, really hateful looks. Some of them just looked mildly disgusted, but others looked like they wanted him well and truly dead. Sasuke studied Naruto's expression, which was as happy-go-lucky as it ever was. Has he really managed not to notice?

When a well aimed rock hit Naruto in the eye, Sasuke had his doubts.

But the boy didn't get mad, cry out, or really... do anything. He just doubled over for a second, clutching his eye with his free hand, his jaw clenching with the pain. He hissed slightly when Sasuke turned his body and pried his hand from the wound. It looked... painful. It was more blunt than acute, but the flesh had broken, and it was bleeding freely. Sasuke could tell it hurt.

"Let's... go home, Sasuke. I don't need to buy any kunai today."

Sasuke reeled from that response. "But who would-"

"Let's just go home!"

Naruto began running, and Sasuke found himself being dragged by their connected wrist, almost tripping over with the speed the blond was running at.

Sasuke wasn't sure – not at all – but he could swear Naruto was crying.

They'd got home quickly, with Naruto's pace slowing once they'd passed the village gates. The two chuunin at the gate tried to start a conversation with Naruto, but the blond walked past without a word. Although Sasuke had begged for silence... it didn't feel right at all.

They'd reached the house, and Itachi had been outside training. When they arrived, Itachi saw the blood that had dripped down Naruto's cheek and gone in to fetch bandages and antiseptic. Naruto had let Itachi see to the wound, the elder Uchiha's hands tender and careful as they cleaned the blood out. The blond winced when Itachi cleaned the wound of blood directly on the cut, and Itachi placed a square bandage on it carefully, applying the tape securely.

Sasuke directed a look at Itachi, asking him silently about why anyone would do this, why everyone was so horrible to Naruto-

but Itachi merely shook his head.

"Be careful of it Naruto," Itachi said gently. "It's going to bruise. Do you want an icepack to bring the swelling down?"

The blond shook his head, and Sasuke suddenly felt terrible. He wasn't all that sure as to why- he just-

Maybe Naruto's an annoying moron for a reason.

Maybe that's the only way he copes.

Evening came, and Itachi made Naruto nutritionally sufficient ramen once again.

Naruto had dreaded this, for the sake that he and Sasuke would surely end up fucking it up again, but Sasuke had not started eating. He turned to the raven with a confused look.

"Aren't you gonna eat...?"

Sasuke closed his eyes, scoffing. "Usuratonkachi. I can eat my food cold."

"Wha-?"

But then Naruto got it. He was allowing Naruto full use of his arms by waiting until he was done to eat. The blond felt a wide smile cross his face. Ah... he's still an asshole, but-

"Aa! Thanks, Sasuke!"

He's still a moron, but-

"...it's fine."

-maybe I can tolerate him.

A/N: How cute. I've sort of had to adapt with Sasuke's character, because this is kid Sasuke, and he's quite a bit nicer than the Sasuke we know of. However, Sasuke still clashes with Naruto a lot- that's not going to change. Thank you so much for all the encouragement I've received! Constructive criticism is always welcome. It'll make the next chapter much better if you tell me what you didn't like! So please review. Also, in my efforts to repair my sleeping pattern... I appear to have ruined it even more. :'(

I'm gonna bring in the source of the conflict soon, so enjoy cute Naruto and Sasuke while you can!