The lights were cut off and all that was heard was the opening solo from a lead guitarist. An intrusion from the snare drums added itself to the solo then fog arose from the apron of the stage and into the audience. An eery blue light creeped its way onstage and illuminated the fog. The crowd was about to start screaming but remained calm for a few more moments to see who was opening the show. Bolts of light raced through the house then flashes of colorful shapes ran across the crowd. The curtain rose and a man with long perfect hair, some covering his eyes, creeped his way downstage with his opening guitar solo. He lightly touched his small microphone near his mouth then made a small hissing sound. This started an eerie yet seductive noise as he strummed a chord of his guitar and continued the hissing. He began to play a full opening solo. The lights immediately changed from blues and greens to reds and oranges, introducing the opening act.

"ITACHI!" the women shouted.

The man moved his hair, winked then performed his first song. The rest of his group appeared from opening backdrops on the large thrust stage of Ao Stadium. A man with long blonde hair playing bass, and a man with short red hair playing the drums. Each player had their eyes closed, doing naturally what they were made for: music.

It's gettin' near dawn

When lights close their tired eyes.

I'll soon be with you my love,

To give you my dawn surprise.

I'll be with you darling soon,

I'll be with you when the stars start falling.

~~~Sunshine of Your Love made famous by Cream, sung by Itachi Uchiha

Boy, I tell ya. That guy Itachi knew how to perform. He had the right amount of power and used the right the amount of aesthetics to increase the pleasure of his audience's ears, especially the women. Well, that guy Itachi was my mentor. I love him to death, you know. Sorry for interrupting your take on the show again, but he'll come back with the rest of his band. He went through so many trials and tribulations it's not even funny. He was a serious guy; the dude was a beautiful man. Before you go stomping your feet for me disturbing your dreamboat, I stopped the performance again to tell my story. Everything has a purpose; Itachi's purpose is to explain how I became a musician and how he became my mentor.

Now, to start off, Itachi Uchiha is Sasuke's older brother. During the time of the brawl, which I've been explaining to you unappreciative people, Itachi was seventeen years young and just a regular high school student graduating the year after. Itachi and I used to talk to each other about how I wanted to learn from him so bad, and I did. He told me I actually handcuffed him to the bench in the park and said he couldn't leave until he taught me how to play instruments. Convinced I was crazy and determined, he agreed to teach me. He only charged my dad ten bucks a class, and he only came about twice a week. When his classes began to reach once a month, Iruka came up with this idea to use him as punishment against me. Here's how he did it...

In the Uchiha manor, the eldest son would normally be studying in his room for exams or conducting research for massive projects. Although he excelled at academics, his heart was elsewhere. Itachi Uchiha defined perfection; he was the ultimate child prodigy. Everyone has their flaws though, and his was falling for one blonde-haired boy who just so happened to be his first student. He marveled Naruto for many things, but he hasn't been able to see him very often as he used to. However, Itachi had recently gotten a phone call from Umino Iruka, the father of his only music apprentice, Uzumaki Naruto. He seemed concerned about Naruto's behavior in school and was asked to see to it that he spoke to the darling blonde. From Naruto's perspective, it seemed like he wanted Itachi to stop by and hear a song he wrote like a regular instructional day. Oh, how wrong is the poor child! In about another hour, which is after he finishes his school work and collects all of his textbooks, Itachi will go and see the boy but not for some picnic.

"Itachi!"

Itachi looks at his open door, wondering who is calling him. He realizes it's his little brother, Sasuke, because he always trips over the wooden block down the hallway. That block lets him know who is coming and he can easily identify the person coming. For instance, his father stubs his toe when he is about to enter his room; his mother steps on the thing and loses her shoe in the process due to the hot glue capturing it, and poor Sasuke always trips over it. Maybe it would help if he made the block bigger. Sasuke did sound like he needed help from his deliberate screams and calls for him, so he might as well listen to his stress-filled brother.

"I'm in my room, Sasuke."

Sasuke sounded a bit distressed from his beckoning. It wasn't like him to be stress-filled. Angry, yes, but not stressed. Sasuke burst through Itachi's door, panting and tearing up in the eyes. He stomped near Itachi, who was still writing, then yanked the rubberband out of his long hair to gain his attention by force.

"What have you done to that kid, Itachi?" Sasuke questions, yelling.

"What the hell are you muttering about?" Itachi asks, glaring.

"I had to look for a guy in school today named Naruto, who seems to know you, and he sounds like you when he's depressed," Sasuke informs, tossing the rubberband. "Have you been touching him? Answer me, molester!"

"Could you knock off that insensitive, ridiculous yelling?" Itachi questioned, turning slowly. "Now, why are you calling me a molester?" Itachi asks, putting his pencil on his desk.

"Because he acts like he's your younger brother and I'm not!" Sasuke argues.

Itachi's eyes widen from the statement as he looks at Sasuke. He then notices something odd about his younger brother. His lips weren't as thin or pale as they normally were. He remembered Sasuke saying once that he'd never allow someone to touch without his permission. Unless he had been raped today, there was definitely something questionable about the chap.

"Did someone kiss you?" Itachi asks. "Your lips are puffier and...pinker than usual."

Sasuke blushed. Abruptly, Itachi was caught in an embrace by Sasuke and his tears. Not fully knowing what had happened to his younger brother, Itachi slightly tilted his head awaiting his brother's response to his question. Internally, he was beginning to pray. What if someone had raped him? They did inherit refined features, so it isn't difficult to notice the boy's appeal. If someone did, though, he was intent on killing them by any means.

"I don't want you to hurt him anymore. I don't want you to hurt yourself either, Nii-san."

Itachi closes his eyes and sighs, "Foolish little brother. You act like I've been cutting him open for years."

Sasuke faced Itachi with innocent eyes, "Then what have you done?"

"Your face looks like a pear drenched in rainwater," Itachi says, poetically.

"I'm asking a serious question! Humor me and give me a good response, will ya!" Sasuke shouted, blushing.

"Well, if it helps, I haven't tortured him. I haven't spoken with him none this week because of matters in school."

Sasuke hushed. He drooped his head and relaxed his grip on Itachi's neck. Itachi smiled then started another conversation with his sweet, little brother.

"You don't have to worry about me, Sasuke. You mean more to me than any other family member could ever imagine. Haven't I always been there for you like an older brother should be for his younger sibling?"

"Yes," Sasuke hiccupped.

"Then don't think I am ever replacing you for someone else. It just can't be done," Itachi whispered, patting Sasuke's hair to comfort him.

His brother's words were gentle but his own curiosity wouldn't let gentleness fool him. He just had to know why Naruto wasn't moved by any threat he gave him concerning his older brother. Why did he really want to speak to him? How did he know about him? Anything. Itachi saw it in his eyes, those feral eyes. And like a light went off in his head, he came to a sudden thought.

That blonde kid better not have touched my brother! Itachi angrily thought, readying to open a can whoop-ass.

"Then what do you do with Uzumaki? He seems to like the appraisal you give him," Sasuke mutters, irritated.

"I teach him how to play instruments. The same way I use instruments to calm down, I use my skills to train him how to gain self-control. You don't necessarily have that problem, so it is not needed for you; however, I'll teach you regularly for the summer if you want," Itachi answered.

"Really?" Sasuke asks, shocked.

Itachi nodded then decided to use this moment for a little teasing. "So, I take it my student kissed you with your permission?"

Sasuke violently shook his head, "No! He caught me off guard! And he's not a girl! And he was very depressed at the moment! And why are we talking about this?"

"I was only curious, Sasuke. I figured you would be able to talk about it, seeing as though you're already frustrated. Now, whether this is sexual frustration, of course - "

"Ew, don't say that!" Sasuke defended, moving away from Itachi.

"Well, did you take offense?" Itachi asked.

"Can I close the door?" Sasuke asks, drooping his head in embarrassment.

Itachi nods. Sasuke walks to the door, gently closes the door, runs to Itachi, slides on the floor pillow, and sits Indian-style on the pillow blushing.

"Okay, you promise not to tell anyone I said this, right?"

"Depends on how my mood is when you get to it."

"Itachi!"

"Fine, I won't say anything."

"Well, I, um...liked it, and now I think I've gone senile because I'm falling for a guy! Help me, nii-san!"

"That good, huh?" Itachi smiled teasingly.

"That's why I asked what did you do to him," Sasuke intelligently remarked.

"That was his own doing, I believe. I couldn't tell you where he learned to do that, but, if it helps, I'll talk to him about it."

"No, forget it. It'd be too late to start something. He's already on the verge of expulsion and we're graduating soon. Oh, I forget to mention!" Sasuke shouts, jumping out of his cushion and running to his room.

Itachi watched the unexpected movements then turned back to his desk to continue writing. Moments later, Sasuke returned with a folder in his hand and a small bag in his arm.

"Itachi-nii-san?"

"Yes, darling little brother," Itachi remarks, annoyed. "What is it now?"

"I got accepted to Apprentice Institution on full scholarship!" Sasuke declared, proud and excited.

"That's good!" Itachi gently congratulated, proud of his brother. "Plan on being an actual detective?"

"Yep! I'm trying to be a homicide detective someday," Sasuke said, brightly smiling.

"Homicide? Jesus, Sasuke! You're not a necrophilic are you?"

"NO! I just wanted to do something I haven't heard anyone else in the family do. Homicide detective is one of them," Sasuke said, pulling out some papers. "I heard high school was tough, so I'm gonna work just as hard as you without having my head explode. I hope I get dissection in biology and anatomy classes. I want to become as skilled as I can in my line of work, you know!"

"Well, I'm proud of you nonetheless," Itachi says, taking pictures from Sasuke's hands. "Be sure to tell me all about your experiences, okay? I'm sure you'll enjoy it."

"Thanks, nii-san. I will!" Sasuke says, nodding. His smile gradually falls in thought. He changes his sitting position by holding his knees then asks Itachi another question, "Nii-san? Are you going to college after high school?" Itachi nodded. Sasuke accepted his answer then said, little above a whisper, "I want to help you find an apartment or a house."

"Why?" Itachi asked, even though he already knew the answer.

"Because...I don't want to stay here alone. I want to be with you. I'll find a job once I'm old enough to get a permit and stuff, so I can help pay the rent or the bills, but I don't wanna stay here..."

"When do you want to start looking...?" Itachi whispered.

"Naruto, it's almost seven o'clock! You got everything together?"

Naruto, Kiba, Chouji, and Shikamaru were sitting in the den, enjoying each other's company. They had been watching the news, but the channel was interrupted by commercial breaks so they switched back and forth to music videos. The four friends agreed to switch through about four channels if all of them were in someone's house. For Naruto, the selections of choice were music videos, movies, cartoons and political stations; although, there was the occassional reality show like elimiDATE (A/N: this is an actual show that used to air in the early 2000s but went off-air in 2006. Sometimes, it got ridiculous but it was funny back in the day) Everyone else had their choices in their own homes. Naruto looked into the kitchen, grumbling at Iruka's back.

"What's Iruka talking about, Naruto?" Kiba asks, staring at a choreographer with high shorts.

"Oh, we're inviting my piano teacher over," Naruto answers, regretfully. "Iruka says that my problem with all this fighting is my boredom."

"Makes no sense to me," Chouji comments, chewing on a granola bar.

"Is your piano teacher a woman perchance?" Shikamaru asks logically, looking at Naruto.

"Nope, it's a guy," Naruto drags, sighing. "He's that detective guy's big brother, I think."

"Bummer..." Shikamaru remarks, scratching his forehead.

"Don't rub it in, dipstick!" Naruto complains, drooping his head on the table.

The four boys continued watching the boring music video, exchanging some colorful remarks about the choreographers. Another video followed and that got the boys' attention. A man licked his lips seductively in the screen then tugged on a strange leather collar with a metal snake hanging from the belt buckle like a dog's tag encircling his neck. Ethereal breezes of clever wind effects blew his hair as the music was playing slowly. The man creeped his way across barren ground to find his guitar case. He opened it, pulled out a striking Les Paul guitar, and played chords going into a crescendo. He sung into an estranged microphone hooked between a cluster of rocks, rubbing his lips against the head ever so sensually. A knock on the door made everyone turn around. Iruka turned the heat down on the stove then walked to the door. He opened it and grinned mischievously as he took sight to the person standing before him. Iruka let the man inside then closed the door behind him. It felt like time stopped for Naruto as his breath hitched from the sight of his teacher when his eyes slowly tore away from the guitarist.

"Ah, Naruto, your teacher's here!" Iruka called.

"Konichiwa, Naruto-chan," Itachi greeted, removing his black hoodie.

"Oi, Itachi-sensei," Naruto replied with a bow.

Itachi folded his hoodie then bent down to place the garment in an empty straw basket. He stood again then observed the scene. A boy with short messy hair was holding the couch's pillow was looking at his suspiciously; another one was eating snacks below him; Naruto was lying on the table, looking at him; finally, a ponytailed kid was looking at him, shocked apparently, and was seated next to Naruto. He then looked to the television to see a familiar rock icon performing his new single. Itachi lifted a duffel bag off one of his shoulders then placed it behind the straw basket where his hoodie rested.

"So, Itachi, are you staying the night?"

A long, awkward silence was held until Itachi-sensei responded back.

"Yes, but just for tonight..."