There's a lot of Sasuke in this chapter so fans of Sasuke will probably (hopefully) like this one! And an important NOTE: I tried my best to keep Sasuke into character, please remember that before the Uchiha massacre Sasuke was a well polite and playful kid, so that's how he is until the end (you'll see).

So I hope everyone enjoys this and doesn't get mad at me - I tried my best, I really did! Oh, and when I uploaded this the line breaks would not work, which was really annoying...

DISCLAIMER: Naruto does not belong to me, only to Masashi Kishimoto!

Chapter 5: Twist of Fate

Report Cards would soon be out as the end of the semester was coming up and Hikari tried extra hard while also trying to keep Naruto in check as he, Choji, Shikamaru, Kiba, and his dog Akamaru, tended to get in trouble and often pull pranks.

It was on one hot sunny day, that Hikari would meet someone who would be not only her's, but Naruto's lifelong friend.

They were all outside working on their shuriken practice, really basic stuff since Iruka-sensei and all of the other teachers were busy with other things. They were going up one at a time while most watched, and others simply stood around talking. Hikari was standing with Sakura and Hinata, Ino was out today sick.

"Guess what!" Sakura whispered in an excited breath to Hikari and Hinata and both looked at her. "You'll never guess, but I have a huuugecrush on someone!" she told them with a beaming grin — she had already announced it to Ino and the rest of her friends earlier but she wanted everyone else to know too.

"Crush? Who?" Hikari asked her, looking over at Naruto and the rest and wondering if it was one of them that caught Sakura's eye.

Sakura then blushed, looking away a bit shyly which piqued Hinata's and Hikari's curiosity. "Sasuke Uchiha," she told them, and both girls' eyes widened and they pictured the raven-haired boy in their heads.

"Oh, wow . . ." Hinata murmured softly, smiling at Sakura.

"Really Sakura?" Hikari asked her enthusiastically, excited about Sakura's new-found love even though she doesn't know the Uchiha boy . . .

Sakura nodded and looked up with a smile, eyes closed. "Yep!"

Then, as if on cue, Sasuke went up to throw shuriken and Hikari noticed that more people were paying attention.

Sakura's attention was entirely focused on him as she marveled at his talent and Hikari saw that a lot of other girls were also staring at him with smiling and blushing faces.

And true to his genius name, Sasuke hit all marks perfectly which left all of his admirers wanting more. And Hikari found herself wanting to know more about him, it was like the light within her was telling her to go talk to him, befriend the loner boy.

So, when it was time for lunch, Hikari told Hinata and Sakura to go on and prepare without her. They figured she just wanted to practice her shuriken more so they went on still smiling and talking.

Hikari stayed back and fell into step with Sasuke.

The surprised Uchiha looked over at the white-haired girl walking slowly beside him. His dark eyes were wide, most of the other kids were too intimidated by his 'genius abilities' to even approach him.

"Hi!" Hikari greeted him with an open and friendly smile, her light radiant as ever around her and it stunned the boy for a second before he quickly recovered.

"Uh . . . hi," Sasuke greeted back with shy hesitance.

"We've never been properly introduced before have we? My name is Hikari Kyoko," she said.

Sasuke looked shocked before quickly recovering and putting a smile on his face. "Nice to meet you, I'm Sasuke Uchiha."

Hikari smiled back, glad to see him opening up but wondered why the boy was never seen hanging around other kids . . . and then a thought struck her. "An Uchiha, huh . . . Is that why you're always training? To live up to your clan's name?" She outwardly voiced, looking up at the clouds and Sasuke's eyes widened but she didn't see.

Sasuke looked down, deep in his thoughts. "Yeah, I want to train so hard that my father will be proud of me . . . So I can surpass my older brother Itachi."

Hikari looked at him thoughtfully. "Training is good and all but . . ." She remembered how hard Sasuke looked after training intensely for hours one day . . . And how lonesome he seemed walking home. She then smiled at him, eyes closed. "But you don't have to be alone — just be your own person!"

Sasuke studied her, taking in what she said before deciding to befriend the understanding girl. He smiled when Hikari reopened her eyes.

The two walked and walked in silence until the other children came into view and Hikari remembered something.

"You know all of those girls have a crush on you, right?" She pointed a finger at a cluster of girls who were cheering Sasuke and admiring him from the sidelines before.

Sasuke looked to where Hikari was pointing and acknowledgment crossed his face. "Oh, yeah." He said, smiling shyly and Hikari figured he would already know by now by his slight fan-club.

Hikari then smiled at him, inclining her head to the side. "Hey, I know!" she suddenly said in an excited voice that caught Sasuke by surprise. "Why don't you eat with my group? It'll be fun!" she told him, hoping to introduce him to all of her friends in hopes of them befriending the lonely boy. Plus, she knew Sakura would love it.

Sasuke seemed shocked at first but then he smiled, accepting her invitation. "Sure," he told her in a quiet voice and Hikari thrilled upon hearing that.

So, when lunchtime rolled around, Hikari caught up with Sasuke and led him to the big tree where the group sat at.

"Oh hey Hikari!" Naruto greeted her upon her arrival like usual but when he caught sight of the raven-haired boy he jumped up. "Who's this?" Naruto closely inspected the boy before recognition dawned on him. "Hey your that kid from shuriken practice who made a perfect score!"

Everyone was staring now, including a certain pink-haired girl whose cheeks were burning red at the sight of her crush a mere few feet away.

Hikari smiled and loudly said, "This is Sasuke, I invited him to have lunch with us if that's okay with all of you."

The group pondered over it before they all accepted him and went on with eating and talking.

Hikari sat down beside Naruto, her usual place of sitting, and Sasuke sat down beside her with Sakura sitting on the other side.

Sasuke looked around at the group of children his age with mild curiosity before he was interrupted by a loud voice belonging to Naruto.

"So, Sasuke, I hear you're a 'genius' or something . . ." Naruto said, clearly not believing it.

"Well, yeah. Considering my last name is Uchiha," Sasuke told him in a sarcastic manner which made Naruto fume.

"I bet I could ya any time, anywhere!" Naruto shot back and Sasuke smiled a confident grin.

"Bring it on," he said in an equally confident tone of voice which had Naruto think he was doubting his skills and he growled.

Sakura giggled at the two from beside Hikari and Sasuke turned his head to look at the girl and Sakura immediately stopped and blushed under Sasuke's gaze.

"Oh, uh, hi . . ." Sakura spoke timidly, she was still a bit shy without Ino by her side.

Sasuke smiled in a friendly manner, oblivious still to Sakura's affections for him. "Hi there," he greeted her and Hikari smiled to herself.

Sakura looked back up at him, nervous about having her crush so close and actually speaking to her . . .

"I-I'm Sakura, it's nice to meet you Sasuke," she said in her shy voice.

Sasuke held out his hand, still smiling. "It's a pleasure," he spoke politely, using the same gesture and words his mother told him to say to a pretty girl.

Sakura was a bit shocked, but quickly recovered with a flushed face and shook his hand with a small giggle.

The two began engaging into small talk and Hikari shared a smile with Naruto, both of them happy that it seems they've gained yet another friend.

Report Cards were passed out as more time passed, and Naruto and Sasuke had developed a bit of a rivalry between them, to which Naruto got Hikari to help him train so he could surpass the Uchiha genius.

Hikari had also become closer to Sakura, since Sakura's crush only kept getting deeper for Sasuke. One day they found out that he liked girls with long hair and Sakura began confiding everything in Hikari and Ino.

One day Sasuke left before everyone and Hikari and Naruto stayed a little afterwards since Iruka-sensei would be taking them out for ramen since the two had been working hard. Of course, the truth was, (though he'd never admit it) Iruka had grown a soft spot for both Naruto and Hikari. Despite their upbringings, they always trained harder than any of the other students and kept a level head . . . Naruto was even considered the class clown with his constant pranks.

Iruka sighed as he walked in the classroom to find Hikari and Naruto sweeping the floor and cleaning the blackboard while keeping idle chit-chat.

"Iruka-sensei!" They both shouted when they caught sight of him and their sensei couldn't help but smile at their excited faces.

"Yep, so are you two ready to eat some Ichiraku ramen?" he asked them and both cheered a "Yes!"

"Just let me get my bag," Hikari said and Iruka nodded and she happily skipped to the back and grabbed her brown bag off her desk.

On her way back to the front, she happened by where Sasuke normally sits and saw that his homework assignments were left on top and knew Sasuke must have forgotten them.

"Iruka-sensei," Hikari said, capturing Iruka's attention. "Sasuke left his homework here, can I take it to him?" she asked politely while also being her bright self.

"Hmm . . . I don't know . . ." Iruka was worried the villagers might harass her if she were alone, but since she knows basic ninja skills she should be able to handle herself . . .

"I'll just swing by and meet you guys at Ichiraku!" she told him, hoping he'd say yes.

Iruka sighed, but agreed. "Sure."

Hikari smiled widely and hopped down to them.

"I don't know Hikari . . . Maybe I should go with you," Naruto said, a bit worried for her safety.

Hikari shook her head at him. "It won't take long, just save me a bowl for when I catch up with you!" she shouted at them as she raced off.

They had looked at a map of the village in class one day, so Hikari knew her way to the great Uchiha compound.

Problem was . . . She didn't know which one was Sasuke's house, as she later realized when she reached the entrance and walked through.

Many people walked by in a friendly atmosphere — all carrying the same traits almost.

Dark hair and dark eyes.

Hikari groaned, thinking she would never be able to find where Sasuke lived in time to meet up with Naruto and Iruka-sensei.

"Well hello there dear, my you look lost." Came an elderly voice and Hikari looked up to see a well-sized woman with brown hair and dark eyes. She was sweeping and cleaning the outside of a bakery and sweets store.

Hikari smiled. "Hello, and yes, I was looking for Sasuke's house. Do you know where it is?" she asked the woman politely.

"Oh, so you're a friend of Sasuke's then?" she asked, and Hikari nodded and the woman continued, looking thoughtful. "He lives that way, just follow this road and . . ."

The woman kindly gave her the address and Hikari sped off after giving her thanks to the kind lady.

When she found the house, she knocked first and heard two voices on the other side before the door slid open, revealing an older-like Sasuke. This must be Sasuke's brother that he told me about, Itachi. Hikari thought to herself while gazing up at the older boy who looked at her in a calming way.

Hikari quickly bowed in respect and greeting. "Um, hello, is Sasuke home?"

"Hikari?" Sasuke replied in a shocked manner, standing behind the older boy who looked back at him.

"Oh, Sasuke, here," she rummaged through her bag and got out his assignment. "You left this by mistake so I thought I'd bring it to you," Hikari told him, handing Sasuke the papers and he took them after rubbing his forehead where his brother had flicked him before.

"Oh . . . thanks." Sasuke told her with a smile, looking up at her from the papers he looked over.

"I should be leaving now Sasuke," Itachi spoke, interrupting the two children and Hikari realized that he wore a bag over his shoulder and armor like he was about to head out for a mission.

"Already? But you just got here!" Sasuke complained, and Itachi didn't say or do anything but simply look down in deep thought.

"I'm sorry Sasuke, but I have to get going," he told his little brother in a disattached voice before he looked to meet Hikari's gaze. "It was nice meeting you Hikari," he said politely, and Hikari blinked.

"Oh, yes," she nodded with a small smile. "It was nice meeting you too."

Itachi nodded and soon disappeared from sight. But Hikari saw something in his dark eyes . . . something wrong . . .

She didn't know what it was, but the feeling deep inside her that she was getting made her heart clench. She didn't like this feeling of dread.

"Sorry about Itachi, he's got an important mission to go to." Sasuke spoke, breaking Hikari out of her thoughts as she turned to face her friend.

Hikari was still worried over the intense feeling she was getting and decided to ask.

"Sasuke . . . if you don't mind me asking . . . but why isn't your brother acting like his normal self?"

Sasuke's eyes widened. he only thought about that before now, he never mentioned it to anybody . . .

But Hikari knew. Just knew, that something was wrong.

Sasuke's shocked eyes returned to normal before he replied, "I'm . . . not sure really. He hasn't been his self ever since . . ." Sasuke mumbled, more to hisself toward the end as he remembered that day when Itachi fought those three in front of their house . . .

"Ever since when?" Hikari asked after a few silent seconds passed, and it broke Sasuke out of his deep thinking.

He put on a smile, not willing to completely open up to her with his clan problems. "It's nothing, just family stuff."

Hikari's eyes became downcast, thinking that he must have thought that she wouldn't understand since she doesn't have a family . . . "Oh, I see . . ."

Sasuke then gazed at her and realized his mistake. "No, I didn't mean —"

"Sasuke?" Came a woman's voice as Sasuke's mother, Mikoto, rounded the corner and came upon the two children.

"Mom?" Sasuke questioned while she gazed over at Hikari and she smiled a bright smile.

"I thought I heard talking, but I didn't know it was you and your friend," she told him, smiling at the two with her eyes closed before she opened them to gaze once more at the pretty little girl with magnificent snow white hair. "And what's your name?"

"Oh, uh, Hikari Kyoko ma'am." Hikari told her with a small smile, slightly blushing that the beautiful woman was showing attention toward her.

"Hikari, huh? Well that's a pretty name," she told her before standing straight up. "Would you like to stay and have dinner with us Hikari?"

Hikari couldn't help but gasp at her kind invitation but knew she had to go and meet Naruto and Iruka-sensei before they began to worry. "O-oh, thank you for inviting me but I have to meet up with my friends at Ichiraku."

"Alright then, but come by at anytime, you're always welcome here!" Mikoto told her and Hikari smiled brightly, her glow stunning the Uchiha mother before she ran off with a cheerful, "Bye!"

I don't get it, why do I still have this feeling inside me that something bad is about to happen? Hikari thought to her self as she walked to class with a hand over her heart and looking down at it. My light is even acting strange . . . Ever since going to Sasuke's that one time and meeting his brother, Itachi . . . She continued to ponder as she entered the classroom for the last lesson today.

It had now been several days since her encounter at the Uchiha residence, and ever since then that same odd feeling deep down hasn't left her. If anything, it's gotten stronger.

Naruto was a little worried about Hikari since she had been acting strange ever since going to Sasuke's house days ago. He asked if something happened, (preferably if Sasuke did anything to upset her so he could beat'em down) but Hikari told him it was nothing and to not worry because she just saw how big of a family Sasuke had, which was reasonable for an orphan to long for. So, in the end, Naruto let it go. But he couldn't keep the nagging thought away that something was wrong.

It was almost like he could feel it through Hikari, which is way crazy.

Geez, I'm losing my mind! he thought to himself, abruptly scratching his head and letting out an exasperated groan.

"Naruto? Is there something wrong with this lesson?" An irritated Iruka questioned since Naruto was still groaning loudly, interrupting his lesson.

"Huh?" Naruto stopped, looking back at the front where everyone else was staring at him. He smiled widely, scratching his cheek in a nervous manner. "Well, you couldmake it a little more exciting . . ." he chided, making the rest of the class laugh, but it made Iruka angry.

"WELL, Naruto, perhaps you should teach this lesson then!" he told him, and some of the students let out a few giggles.

Hikari was smiling, but noticed that Sasuke wasn't having as much fun as the rest of the class . . . he had his head down, he seemed spaced out. And she was concerned, and then whispered to Naruto after the class died down.

As soon as school was over, Hikari and Naruto walked out together.

"Ugh . . . I don't see why we have to do this Hikari . . ." Naruto complained, his arms behind his head.

"Just do it, it's for Sasuke!" Sakura told him as she came up beside them, making Naruto grumble.

"Sakura's right, he's our friend, and he needs cheering up!" Hikari told him, trying to uplift his spirits since Naruto was the most positive and cheerful person she knew.

She had a plan, and decided to tell Naruto and Sakura about it since they were good friends with Sasuke. A plan to spend the most funnest afternoon with Sasuke — in hopes of cheering him up.

"Do you see him anywhere?" Hikari asked as they peered through the crowd of children for the raven-haired, spiky haired boy. Naruto had his hand up over his eyes to shield them from the bright sunlight so he could look better.

"There he is!" Sakura shouted after a while of looking, she pointed to him as as he stood in the crowd, walking slowly out of the academy schoolyard.

"Hey, Sasuke!" Naruto, the loudest of all, shouted as they ran up to him.

Surprised, Sasuke turned around to face his three friends.

"What is it?" he asked them.

"We want you to spend the afternoon with us!" Sakura abruptly said, blushing right afterwards as she caught her excited self.

"What?" Sasuke's eyes widened in shock. "Thanks guys, but I really should be getting home." He told them, starting to turn away.

"Wait!" Hikari shouted, and he halted midstep, looking back at her. "Please come with us! I promise you'll have lots of fun!" she said in a pleading voice, her gray eyes shimmering as she gave the distinct "puppy dog face" without even realizing it.

Sasuke thought it over, but he decided to go with them. "And if I don't have fun?" he challenged in a confident manner.

"Then . . ." Hikari pondered, but Sakura beat her to it.

"Oh, I know! Then we'll all help you practice whatever jutsu you want us to help you with!" she said brightly.

"Hey!" Naruto shot in, not agreeing to this at all. Why should hehave to help Sasuke practice anything?

Hikari nodded her head in agreement with Sakura. "That's a great idea!" she told her, and Sakura smiled.

"Hmm . . . Sure, I guess so," Sasuke told them, and Hikari and Sakura practically jumped for joy while Naruto looked away with a sharp "hmph!"

So the four children walked to the park where the group usually play and have fun. And like a couple of children, they easily began having fun with any game they played.

Whether it was "Ninja" or Tag, they were always laughing and enjoying themselves.

It was definitely a fun-filled afternoon for the four young academy students. A memorable one at that too.

When the sky became dark, they realized how late it had become and so quickly. Hikari summarized it as being because they had so much fun, but the four quickly dispersed into different directions leading home as they all said their goodbye's to one another.

"Today was great Hikari!" Naruto told her as they slowly walked on the path leading up to their apartments.

"Really? I hope so," Hikari said, wondering if Sasuke had truly a great time as the rest of them.

Naruto laughed. "Of course! I've never seen Sasuke laugh so much or even act funlike today! You really outdid yourself with this plan!" Naruto said, meeting her eyes.

"You really think so? Oh thank you Naruto!" she told him gratefully, hugging his neck before running up to the separate path that led to where she lived. "I'll see you tomorrow, bye!"

Naruto waved at her with a big grin on his face as he watched her go into the night before he, too, walked on the path to his house.

I'm running so late! Sasuke thought to himself as he ran to the Uchiha compound as fast as he could into the full moon night. The afternoon was quite enjoyable, and he wouldn't have wanted to spend it any other way. He was actually contemplating spending such an afternoon again with his friends.

But, as he ran through the thick night, a set of powerful eyes watched him as he headed straight into his inescapable fate that would be his scar for the rest of his life.

* • * • *

News spread like wildfire throughout the Hidden Leaf Village and even outside it. That the great, powerful, and elite Uchiha clan was wiped out by one of its own.

Save for one survivor. One small boy who lay in a hospital bed recovering from his own brother's attack.

Sasuke Uchiha.

A week passed before Sasuke returned to school, but of course when Hikari had heard the news she had went deathly still.

No . . . this is my fault. I KNEW something was wrong but I didn't say anything . . . and now look at what's happened. Sasuke's alone like us, but he's already lost so much more than we ever did . . . Hikari had been in tears about it, sitting on the swing — her thinking place.

She didn't know how she would be able to face her friend now. After all, if Sasuke knew about what Hikari had felt, wouldn't he be angry at her for it? Wouldn't he bare a grudge against her and hate her?

Hikari couldn't stand that thought of her friend hating her. She wanted to make it right, but how? Could she really confess to him about what she thought she had known right from the start?

"Hey, Hikari!" Naruto's voice cut the silent air around Hikari but she didn't move, she kept her head down in shame.

Naruto, oblivious, sat down in his usual swing beside her.

It was only when Hikari had stayed in the same position, and hadn't responded to him at all that he finally realized the deep depression his best friend was in.

"Hikari!" he practically jumped from the swing and rushed to stand in front of her slumped form. "Hey, are you okay? What is it?" he asked her anxiously, never having seen this side of her for as long as he's known her.

She silently shook her head, at a loss for words, but the anxious tone to Naruto's voice made her look up.

Tears poured from her shimmering eyes, more tears than Naruto has ever seen her shed.

"N-Naruto, I-I d-don't know wh-what t-to do!" Hikari sobbed out, stuttering so much that her shoulders shook.

Naruto didn't think, he just acted as if on instinct. He held Hikari in his arms as she sobbed uncontrollably. Muttering unintelligible words of sorrow and regret.

Naruto didn't know why exactly Hikari was so upset, but he bet it had something to do with what happened to Sasuke . . .

And, that feeling he got a while back that something was wrong with Hikari . . . because now, it seemed as if that feeling was getting stronger by the day.

When Sasuke returned to school, he was not his self at all. He was little more than a zombie, though his grades were still remarkable. He became colder, less caring, even moving to the back of the classroom on the far end where no one sat. It was like he wanted to isolate himself from the rest of the world, and Hikari couldn't help but think that it was her fault. Her mistake, her blame.

But Naruto was the one that always distracted that nagging part of her mind. But as the years passed by, she watched as the Sasuke she once knew crumbled and faded away into an icy cold, anti-social person that he grew to be.

° ~ ◊ ~ º

And this marks the end of Part 1: Academy Students. Part 2: First-Time Genin will start with the next chapter!