Warnings: Okay, so this is yaoi. For anyone who doesn't know what that means, this is boy/boy. This is a very angsty story. Oh yes, and there will be substance abuse… I think that covers it.
Chapter One: Showdown! Naruto Vs. Sasuke- How they met"Take it back!!!"
"I'm only speaking the truth, Dobe!"
"Don't call me that, Teme!!!" A feral growl escaped Naruto's throat as he lunged at his dark-haired teammate. Like usual, Sasuke easily dodged Naruto's attack and effortlessly sent him flying.
"You're such a loser."
"Will you too pleeeaaase knock it off!?!" Sakura whined. "Kakashi-sensei will be here any minute!"
Team Seven had spent the past two and a half hours waiting for their teacher at the bridge where they normally met. And like usual, a fight had broken out between the two male members of the team.
"I'm gonna kick your ass, Teme!!!"
"Feh! Like you could."
Sakura rolled her eyes as the two boys continued fighting, completely ignoring her words altogether. And as they were too busy fighting, only Sakura noticed Kakashi's arrival.
"Hmm… So, Sakura. How long have they been going at it this time?"
Sakura crossed her arms. "Over an hour! You know this would happen if you were actually on time."
"Ahh, yes. Please forgive me. There was an old lady that needed help crossing the road."
Sakura rolled her eyes again.
Kakashi approached the boys, who were now wrestling on the ground. Sasuke had Naruto in a rather vicious headlock, and Naruto was elbowing Sasuke harshly in the ribs. They were both getting covered in dirt.
"Alright you too! That's enough!" Both boys froze. Kakashi was always threatening them about what would happen if he caught them fighting. How could they have not even noticed he was there?
Sasuke let go of Naruto's head and they both scrambled to their feet.
"What do I have to do to make you guys at least get along?"
Neither of them answered.
"Are you ready to tell me exactly why you hate each other so much?"
"I just hate him!" Came both boy's venomous reply, and they shot each other almost identical glares.
Kakashi sighed. "Why can't you guys see that you would make great friends if you would just give it a shot?"
This time their glares were directed at him.
Kakashi decided not to push the matter further. "Well, since both of you are so unwilling to cooperate with each other, we will be doing independent speed and agility training. As you probably know, this is practically useless when it comes to honing your skills, but until you two reach some sort of truce, we can't move past this level."
Sasuke scowled. "Damnit Dobe! You're holding me back!"
"Fuck you, Uchiha! It takes two to Tengo!!"
And in a matter of second's both boys were wrestling on the ground again.
Kakashi just shook his head. "Hopeless."
7 ½ Years Earlier
The people walking in the street ignored the little blond boy that went running by. They ignored the fact that he was crying. They ignored the fact that he was bruised and obviously beaten. They ignored the blood that was running down his face from the cut on his forehead.
It happened almost everyday. The five year old would emerge from the house he lived in, running as fast as he could from the screaming and swinging fists. No one thought much of the situation. The boy had a demon in him, so he had it coming. He deserved whatever abuse he earned from the people that were good enough to take care of him. And besides, by the next day the old cuts would be healed, even if only so that new ones could take their place.
Few people even knew that this little blond haired, blue eyed boy's name was Naruto. Nor did they care. All that mattered was the obvious tale-tell signs of the ever present Nine Tailed Fox in the boy. Yes. He was the Kyuubi vessel, and therefore, they didn't see him as a human.
A few people had occasionally ventured to feel sorry for Uzumaki Naruto. After all, he was a cute little kid, and to the untrained eye he could be absolutely adorable. But those sympathetic souls had quickly been put right, quickly informed of all the evil the boy had in him.
So no one cared that he cried, that he bled, that he existed at all.
Naruto had long since become accustomed to his life. The beatings he got for no reason other than he was breathing too loud, or the ever present excuse of what he would do if he wasn't kept in line. And they were getting harsher.
It had been happening for as long as he could remember. When he tried to play with another kid's toy in the play pen, it had been snatched away and given back to the other kid, who hadn't even been showing interest in the little stuffed dog, and he had been smacked hard on the back, leaving a big welt that was hand shaped.
After that, if he so much as looked at one of the other kid's toys, he was smacked, sometimes more than once. When he didn't look at the other kid's or their toys anymore, he was hit even harder for being rude.
No matter what he did, he was beat. And once his foster parents had discovered that he healed really quickly, the beatings had gotten almost unbearable.
But he didn't start running until he was almost five.
The pain hurt a lot. But there was something even more wrong with what his foster father started doing, something that Naruto could feel in the depths of his soul was wrong. And it terrified him when the grown man's hands went to places that the boy had always been told to hide in public.
So he had run. And he still ran. Not to any place in particular. He had no place to go. But he still had to run away.
There was a park, not very far from his house, but not very close either. Other kids would play there sometimes, with their parents. There were slides, and monkey bars, and jungle gyms, and tunnels. And, Sir and Ma'am never looked for him there.
His foster father was called Sir, and his wife was called Ma'am. He wasn't allowed to call them anything else. He always had to just say two words to them. "Yes Sir," or "Yes Ma'am."
There weren't many people in the park today. It was a little chilly out. And it was a little later in the afternoon. There wasn't anyone playing as far as Naruto could see. Just some teenager kid sitting on one of the picnic tables. He had long black hair, and really dark eyes. But Naruto ignored him.
Instead, he sat on the bottom of the curling, tunnel slide. He was still crying, and nursing his bruised jaw, as well as his bruised ribs. He had tripped and skinned both his knees when he was running, and more blood was running down his shins.
It hurt. Not because it happened, but because he didn't know why it happened. Why was he always getting "punished" for absolutely nothing when the other kids could get away with murder without so much as a slap on the wrist? Why would he get "punished" when one of the other kids broke something?
The blond sniffed loudly, wiping at his face with his sleeves, trying and failing to stop crying. He couldn't stay gone too long. If he did, he would get "punished" again.
Naruto heard the sound of something bumping, and felt the vibrations in the slide he was sitting on. Someone was sliding down, but before he could move out of the way he was slammed into. It took a few seconds for him and the other kid to untangle themselves from each other and then they sat there looking at each other.
The other kid looked like he was going to be mad at first. He had short black hair that was spiked in the back, and long, uneven bangs that hung in his face. Naruto thought it looked like he had taken a pair of scissors to his own hair (which he did). The kid had unnaturally dark eyes, that were clever, bright, and calculating. He was wearing a dark blue shirt, and white shorts.
Sasuke had been glaring at this little blond kid for a minute, and started to say something to him. He was trying to sound angry and mean and cool. "Dobe! Watch where…" Those dark eyes widened much more than they were ever meant to, and Sasuke forgot everything, even forgot that he was supposed to be mean. "You're bleeding!"
Naruto didn't say anything. He never talked, unless he absolutely had to. He had always just been told to shut up and then been hit really hard. So he just didn't talk.
Sasuke frowned. This little blond boy had obviously been crying, and tears were still leaking from his eyes. There was blood on the side of his face, obviously from some cut on his head. One cheek was bruised and swollen, and he had a split lip, and his knees were scraped up too.
"Where's your mommy and daddy? They need to fix you." Sasuke said knowingly. His own parents were never there when he was hurt. Only his brother was. But he knew that normal kids were watched after by their mom's and dad's.
"I don't have a mommy or daddy." Naruto said quietly.
"Oh." Sasuke furrowed his brow in confusion. "Do you have a 'Tachi then?"
"What's a 'Tachi?"
"Well, I have a mommy and a daddy, but they're hardly never around, but 'Tachi is. He's my big, big brother." Sasuke explained.
Naruto shook his head. "I only have a Sir and a Ma'am."
"What's a Sir and a Ma'am?"
"I don't know. They're the grown ups in charge of Foster's home."
"Who's Foster?"
"I don't know."
"Oh." Sasuke thought for a minute. "Well, since you don't have a mommy or a daddy or a 'Tachi then I'll just have to lend you my 'Tachi." Sasuke said decisively, getting to his feet. "Come on! He's really, really cool!"
Naruto slowly got to his feet and Sasuke grabbed his hand, dragging him over to where
the clothed in all black, dark haired, dark eyed teenager kid named 'Tachi was still sitting on a picnic table.
Itachi wasn't in the greatest mood. True, he never was in a great mood, but today he felt absolutely miserable. But then again, what 13 year old wouldn't be absolutely miserable taking his 5 year old brother to the park?
But that wasn't why Itachi was miserable. No. He had gotten in another fight with his parents. You'd think that they would treat him like an adult, being as he was one of the youngest ninja to become a member of the ANBU. And not just a member. He was the captain. He was elite, he was strong, and his skills would be better suited on missions, not baby-sitting.
It wasn't his fault that his parents had a kid when their first son was eight years old. It wasn't his fault they realized just how much trouble having a baby around would be. So why was he stuck dealing with the consequences that come with having an energetic miniature Uchiha running around.
Out of his whole family, no one wanted any part in raising the kid. No one wanted the responsibility of looking after him. After all, his aunts and uncles had their own kids, and their own lives both inside and outside the Uchiha compound. So, since Itachi wasn't an adult yet, he was stuck with the unpleasant task of watching the little snot-rag on a daily basis.
In truth, Itachi had to add that he was a little fond of his own personal mini-me. As far as little kids went, he was about as cool as they came. Naturally, he took after Itachi, in looks, personality, style. He was attracted to dark colors, had the same eyes, the same smirk, and he would even have the same hair if Itachi hadn't tricked him into cutting it. It was a little mean, but Itachi had mentioned how much he hated it when people copied him. Sasuke, who had been trying to get his hair to grow as long as Itachi's, had cut his own hair that night.
Itachi thought the look on his parent's faces when they saw their youngest son with such a ridiculous hairdo was priceless. And Sasuke had flat out refused to let them "fix" it. He was stubborn, just like his brother.
Another way Sasuke resembled Itachi was his loner tendencies. Itachi had no friends. Not really. It might be in part because he was so much more advanced than everyone his age, or because he never had time for a social life, but he didn't want friends. And Sasuke was the same way. He was perfectly content to play by himself, and could send another child off crying without flinching and without laying a hand on them.
So, when Itachi saw Sasuke come running up to him, dragging a little blond kid by the hand, he was more than a little surprised.
"Tachi-sama, I want to loan you to him!" Sasuke said, pulling Naruto closer. The blond had been trying to hide behind him.
"You want to loan me to him?" Itachi asked, arching an eyebrow in amusement.
"Yes. He's hurt, and I asked him where his mommy and daddy are and he said he didn't have one so I asked him if he had a 'Tachi and he doesn't have one so I told him I'd loan him you!" Sasuke explained as quickly as he could, finally pausing to take a breath. Naruto just shifted and looked at the ground nervously. He wasn't crying anymore at least.
"I see." Itachi paused for a brief second. He knew exactly who- or rather what this kid was. Now the only question was to help the poor kid out, or just ignore him. Sasuke obviously wanted to help, but his little brother didn't know exactly what he was holding.
Still prolonging his decision, he looked the kid over, and immediately recognized the pity he felt growing in the pit of his stomach. You would be hard pressed to find a ninja that comes home from an A-ranked mission looking as bad as this little kid looked at that moment. Even his clothes screamed out "abuse", with frayed, and very baggy khaki shorts, and stained t-shirt that was several sizes too big. It was no wonder that Sasuke hadn't ignored him.
"What's your name?" Itachi asked, reaching out for the kids chin so he could get a better look at the cut on his head. Naruto winced heavily and shied away from his hand. Itachi frowned. "I'm not going to hurt you. What's your name?"
"N-Naruto." The blonde stuttered, standing still this time as Itachi gently held his chin and examined his head, carefully shifting some of the hair aside to get a better view.
"Well, Naruto, lets go get you cleaned up a bit."
Naruto paled significantly, but nodded. It had never been a pleasant experience when Sir or Ma'am had cleaned him up. It was scary when they pushed him into the bathtub. But it was still scarier when they cleaned up his act, whatever that meant.
Sasuke beamed for a second, before quickly setting an impassive look on his face and grabbed Itachi's hand, still holding Naruto's. Itachi smirked and started walking, Sasuke trying not to look too pleased and Naruto looking around nervously at everyone they passed.
Itachi would have been annoyed, if he didn't find Naruto so pathetic. The kid was absolutely terrified, and Itachi was having a hell of a time trying to get him to take off his clothes so he could take a bath. Sasuke was watching the whole scene with wonder.
"Come on kid! I'm not gonna hurt you!" Itachi told the little blond as gently as he could. The blond was crouched in the corner of the bathroom and had his arms wrapped around his waist protectively.
He shook his head. "I- I- I don't w-want t-t-to…" He mumbled. Itachi had managed to wipe most of the blood off his face and knees, but it was dried in his hair, and he was pretty dirty anyways.
Itachi sighed, forcing himself not to get frustrated and scare the kid even more. Why did this have to happen to him? Oh yeah, because he was too nice.
Sasuke suddenly came forward and leaned over Naruto. "Taking a bath is a good thing! Come on, I'll take one with you!"
Sasuke energetically stripped off his clothes and climbed into the warm bath water, looking at Naruto expectedly. Naruto hesitantly got up and stepped closer to the tub, slowly and hesitatingly taking off his clothes, revealing a great number of semi-healed cuts on his back as well as many fresh welts and many bruises. Itachi scowled as he noticed the marks. Naruto folded his clothes neatly before climbing into the bathtub with Sasuke. Sasuke smiled, splashing him playfully. Naruto just blinked at him, confusion finding its way onto his face.
"It's not that bad, is it?" Itachi asked as he gathered up the clothes and put them in the hamper. Naruto shook his head, fidgeting nervously with the shower curtain.
"Here! I'll wash your hair like 'Tachi washes my hair!" Sasuke gave Naruto a huge smile, snatching up the big cup that was always in the tub for just that purpose. "Lean your head back."
Itachi smiled as Naruto obediently leaned his head back and Sasuke poured water through his hair, careful not to let any fall into his face. Sasuke continued with the shampoo, pouring far too much into Naruto's hair and working up a lather, laughing as the suds ran down his arms.
Sasuke proceeded to continue with the whole "big brother bath routine", carefully washing Naruto's face and not getting any soap in his eyes, scrubbing his back for him, and all the while he was smiling proudly.
Itachi got two really big, fluffy towels out from the cabinet just outside the bathroom door. Sasuke jumped out of the water much too energetically, sending a wave of water splashing onto the floor. Giggling, he ran out of the bathroom, ignoring the towel Itachi tried to give him. There was a yell as Sasuke went streaking by one of the many family members that lived in the household.
Itachi rolled his eyes and instead draped a towel around the shoulders of the shivering blond. Naruto flinched a little, but allowed Itachi to dry his hair.
Sasuke appeared in the doorway again, still as naked as the day he was born. "Come on Naru-chan! I'll show you my room!" He tried to grab Naruto's hand and drag him back into the hallway, but Itachi caught him up in a towel.
"Tachi!" Sasuke whined as Itachi forcibly dried his hair.
"You can't just go running around naked." Itachi told him. "I get in trouble when you do that."
Sasuke pouted and wrapped the towel around his shoulders. "Fine! Come on Naru-chan!!"
He grabbed Naruto's hand and dragged him down the hallway, squeezing past one of his aunts and slipping into his room. Naruto looked around nervously. Sasuke's room was huge. He had shelves and shelves of toys and a bed that was even bigger than Sir and Ma'am's bed.
Itachi wasn't in the room yet, and Sasuke threw the towel to the ground, cackling as he climbed up onto the bed and started jumping around. Naruto watched with wide eyes.
"Do you want to jump too Naru-chan?" Sasuke asked, ignoring Itachi as he walked into the room.
Naruto shook his head. "S-sir and M-ma'am get m-mad if I do."
Itachi looked sadly down at the little blond. Naruto was still looking around uncertainly, nervously. "I'll tell you what, Naruto." Itachi kneeled down so that he was eye level with him. "You can jump on this bed, okay? It will be our little secret." He playfully messed up the kid's hair as he stood up. "But first, lets get you both dressed."
"Awwww!!! But 'Tachi!!" Sasuke whined, stopping his jumping and pouting at his brother.
"Don't but 'Tachi me! Get some clothes on! And find some for Naruto too."
Sasuke obediently jumped off the bed and ran to his chest of drawers, pulling out an armful of clothes. He dumped them on the bed, sifting through them and taking Naruto a pair of his favorite underwear, and one of the many pairs of white shorts he had.
"Here! Put these on!" Sasuke said excitedly, thrusting the clothing into Naruto's hands before pulling on matching shorts over another pair of his underwear. "We'll match!"
Itachi could help but laugh at how thrilled Sasuke looked compared to how confused Naruto looked. The blond obediently did everything Sasuke told him, dropping the towel to put on the clothes.
Next, Sasuke grabbed two t-shirts, both of them dark blue with a red and white fan on the back. He handed one to Naruto, smiling when Naruto pulled it over his head.
"We match!" Sasuke repeated, looking first at Naruto, then down at himself. "Can we go get ice cream, 'Tachi-sama? Please!?"
Itachi shook his head. "It's too late for ice cream. We have to take Naruto home before his family gets worried about him."
"But he doesn't have a family!" Sasuke argued. "Can't we keep him!?!"
Naruto was fidgeting with the hem of the shirt, and looked up hopefully at Itachi. "I c-can be a dog." He said quietly. "S-sir and Ma'am s-say I am one."
"Hmm. I see." Itachi said thoughtfully. "We can't keep you, but I'll talk to Sir and Ma'am and you can come over and play with Sasuke tomorrow."
Sasuke stopped pouting and cheered up a bit, and started dancing around.
A small smile crept its way onto Naruto's face and he nodded. Itachi smiled. The difference that little smile made was incredible.