Their friendship started odd. Sasuke had been sitting at the bottom of a small hill, just thinking. It was half way through the Academy year, and winter had just passed. The snow on the roads were still melting and everything was rather slippery.

Sasuke was feeling rather lonely, having noticed that, despite being so popular, he did not have a single person he could call friend. Him and that blond brat everyone hated. And the Hyuuga girl, but she was weird.

Just as he had that thought, something rolled down the hill, colliding with his back and sending them both tumbling.

"Hey, watch where you're going!" Sasuke yelled.

"Sorry," Naruto said hastily, getting up.

Naruto turned, ready to run, but there were already a couple of adult civilians coming down the hill. Naruto frantically looked around, then started backing away, knowing he could not run.

"First ruining our shop then hurting the Uchiha heir, you outta be ashamed! You'll pay for this," one of the guys said.

Naruto kept backing away, fear evident in his eyes. Sasuke watched, curious, as the men inched forward and was shocked at what they did next.

Picking Naruto up by the shirt, the one that hadn't spoken shook the boy violently. Naruto's teeth clattered at the force of it.

"Hey!" Sasuke shouted, "Stop it!"

"Stay out of this, you pampered brat," the first one snapped.

In a flash, Sasuke moved, pulling out his kunai and throwing it at the man's feet. The kunai landed with a soft thud, sticking itself well into the ground. Sasuke was correct in his assumption that the men were not Shinobi.

"I may be a brat, but I am a ninja," Sasuke growled, "and an Uchiha,"

The second man put Naruto down, growled and turned to leave. The first did the same, throwing a disgusted look at the blond and wiping his hands on his jacket like he touched something disgusting.

Naruto turned to Sasuke with a grin, "Thanks!"

Sasuke shrugged, "Just don't bump into me like that again. You're Naruto, right?"

"Uh, yeah, and you're Sasuke! We're in the same class!"

Sasuke rolled his eyes, "Obviously,"

And so, a rivalry type brotherhood was born.

Sasuke didn't tell his family, as requested by Naruto. Naruto was worried that the Uchiha's wouldn't like him and Sasuke didn't bother to correct him. He heard his family members talking about the "demon brat" and decided it was best to keep Naruto away from the compound.

Sasuke knew that he'd have to tell his family sometime, and what better way to start with his two most loved ones? He had not planned to meet Naruto while he was out on a walk with his brother and mother, but he couldn't say he minded.

As Sasuke predicted, Itachi liked Naruto right away, though his mother had been a little weird.

After his mother agreed that they could have lunch together, Sasuke had been jumping with joy. So far, so good.

School dragged on as per usual. Mizuki Sensei greeted the class and Sasuke listened, despite already knowing everything. Beside him, Naruto had fallen asleep.

"Uzumaki!" Mizuki snapped, jerking Naruto awake, "Could you please not cause trouble on your first day back to school?"

"He wasn't causing trouble," Sasuke defended, "He was merely sleeping,"

Mizuki snarled, "Which means he obviously knows everything!"

"Yeah I do!" Naruto agreed, not thinking before saying it.

"Great then. Tell me then, what is Chakra?"

Sasuke would have whispered the answer to him, but Naruto didn't want them both in trouble. Instead, Naruto shouted, "Who needs to know was Catra is,"

Mizuki's eyebrow twitched, "It's called Chakra you idiot!"

"Who cares?" Naruto burst out again.

"Detention! Both of you!"

Sasuke tried not to look completely horrified at the prospect. Naruto glanced at Sasuke and said, "Oh well, looks like we won't be having lunch with your mother,"

Sasuke's eye twitched, already forming a plan. Did Naruto honestly think Sasuke would let up such a chance? Sasuke was just as stubborn as Naruto, and he was downright spoilt too. The pampered Uchiha Prince was having his way and that imbecilic (Sasuke learned that one from Itachi) was not getting in his way!

As the end of the day rolled around, Naruto started walking towards Mizuki's classroom when Sasuke grabbed his shirt, "C'mon, we have a lunch to get to,"

"Then you'll get in more trouble," Naruto protested.

"You say it like you haven't done it before,"

Naruto clamped his mouth shut knowing Sasuke was right. He didn't have a good excuse anymore.

"I don't think your mother likes me," Naruto blurted out.

"Nonsense," Sasuke waved away Naruto's concern, "She's just a little weird,"

Naruto wasn't quite sure he wanted Sasuke to come to his house. Sasuke had been there before, sure, but this time his mother was tagging along.

Sasuke's mother - Aunt Mikoto was odd, Naruto decided. She looked uncomfortable around the stares but ended up scaring more than half of them away. She kept saying "no" but changing her mind. And she had not complained once when Naruto ate three bowls of Ramen versus Sasuke's one. She had not particularly showed she liked Naruto, but she definitely didn't dislike him either.

Glancing back at Mikoto, Naruto saw a look of disgust on her face. Not directed to him, but towards the neighbourhood. Natuto bit his lips, a little worried about first impressions. He remembered just then that he had not cleaned his apartment at all. Ever.

"You guys really don't have to come. I'm sure you dad's worried, Sasuke," Naruto insisted.

Mikoto's face turned impassive as she said, "Don't worry about it, Naruto,"

Mikoto could easily tell that Naruto was hiding something. He looked embarrassed to be following Sasuke through the broken down neighbourhood. Which was odd in itself, because how did Sasuke know where to go?

Mikoto looked around, trying not to sneer this time. No one would ever catch someone like Mikoto there on her own will. Never. Ever. It was no place for an Uchiha, but she would bare through it.

Steeling herself, Mikoto trudged forward, determined to help Naruto, no matter what the cost. She knew she'd be in the Hokage's office soon, and Danzou would be against this, not to mention every single Clan and their memebers protesting loudly. She knew getting close to Naruto would not be easy. Not when Mikoto held herself back out of guilt and pain. Not when the boy had been alone for so long. Not when the elders were still council members.

But Mikoto Uchiha never backed down from a promise.

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