Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Different Paths ❯ Meetings ( Chapter 1 )

A Different Path
AKA: Shisui hijacked my brain, damn him.

AN: This is the first time that I’ve worked with Shisui in anything other than a past reference, so I want to make one thing perfectly clear. I only go off the manga, and in it there is no mention of an age, an appearance or really anything about him, save that he was Itachi’s best friend and that he was called the Mirage. I’m guessing that he was close to Itachi in age, I’m guessing that he became a Jounin, I’m guessing a lot of things. If anyone has a Manga profiles book, or knows of a site that bases their data off of one, I’d be grateful.

I don’t watch the anime save in AMV’s and on Cartoon ‘Hack It’ Network on mute. Yes, I watch dub’s on mute, spares my ears from bleeding at the lack of voice acting. So whatever happens in the anime doesn’t happen in my fan fiction. I don’t like the anime as much as the manga, since the anime is a series director’s interpretation of the manga. Hence the series murderers known as ‘Fillers’. So I don’t know, nor care what the anime holds as gospel, tell me what the manga says and I’ll listen. Anime might be fun for the animated fights and whatnot, which is why I watch the anime on mute, but when it comes to reference, you can’t beat the manga.

~*~*~
(Shisui: 6, Itachi: 3)

“Shisui! Get your ass back here!!” A woman shrieked from a doorway in the Uchiha sector of the village.

“Nyah, no way!” A young, short haired Uchiha brat replied, sticking his tongue out as he raced away. A leap and a jump got him up onto the rooftops, away from his civilian mother, who was now employing very creative language at her son’s behavior. But Shisui had always been like that, too hyper to stay put and do his chores. Chores were boring, what sane boy would ever want to do boring chores when there was random running around and people-watching to be done?

People were fascinating to the young Uchiha, especially the people in charge. How did they get to be in charge? What was their job, really? And what did they do when they weren’t being in charge?

To find that out, Shisui headed over to the Uchiha clan-head household. It was his first time here. Messing with Fugaku could be bad, so the youngster had spied on every other person in charge first, including the Yondaime. That guy had been very indulgent and had asked that Shisui be delivered back to his family in one piece, and upside down. A guy called Kakashi had done just that, handing the youngster over to his parents by his ankle.

Considering all the other things that could have been done to Shisui for spying on the Hokage, being delivered by a laughing Jounin while hang upside down was nothing. What Uchiha Fugaku could and probably would do was probably going to be much worse. Which is why the allure to snoop on him was so irresistible.

The head family’s house was just ahead, time to get stealthy. Shisui jumped down off the roof and slid into the decorative garden near the household. The youngster snuck forward, keeping an ear out for anyone approaching behind him. Nothing, so far so good.

At this point, Shisui wouldn’t care if he didn’t find anybody to watch, so long as he didn’t get caught this time. If he could scout out the area this time, there was a greater chance of him finding good hiding places for the next time. Next time, or the time after that, or after that, he could find someone to watch from the safety of a good hiding spot. Carefully, he crept further into the garden.

~*~*~

Mikoto had been walking her garden when she had sensed a spy. A very particular spy, in the form of a harmless, if mischievous, youngster. She hid herself, curious to see what the spy would do. The youngster had dropped into the garden and had hidden himself, quite well for a child not much older than her Itachi. But then again, Uchiha children were special; her Itachi was showing much talent towards shinobi arts himself, which was a relief. Mikoto didn’t know what she’d do if her first born son hadn’t been such a shinobi born, her husband would have been so upset.

But not to worry, Itachi was showing so much promise, as much promise as this youngster. If Mikoto wasn’t as skilled herself, the youngster would have spotted her. She thought she recognized him, a willful lad that was always getting into trouble. That skill thief Kakashi had had to deliver him at the Yondaime’s instruction for spying.

Harmless trouble though, the youngster’s dark eyes were bright with curiosity and playful mischief. Really, this youngster would make a good playmate for Itachi; her son was too much alone, and far too serious for a three year old. A little harmless mischief every now and then would do her boy good. Not that Fugaku would agree, but he seemed to have forgotten what it was like to be a child himself. She hadn’t, she knew that a young person needed to get into and out of trouble regularly, just so that young person would have memories.

Should she fetch Itachi now, or later? Hmm, best not chance a return visit, she’d get Itachi now. How to get him out though? Well, she’d just tell him to get some air and see if he couldn’t find an earring that she’d ‘dropped’ in the garden. That should be more than enough.

~*~*~

Shisui was in trouble. He had found enough good hiding places for plenty of future people-watching sessions and he was just about to leave when- he’d seen something shiny and, being a young child, he’d been attracted. He’d reached for it, just as someone else had reached for it at the same time. Another young someone, but who’s face was more serious than most adults.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?” The younger boy demanded angrily. Despite the fact that he was much younger than Shisui himself, his tone and enunciation were precise. Not that Shisui noticed that really, he only noticed that the boy even sounded adult despite his youthful treble.

“I was just walking,” Shisui lied quickly, “up there-” he pointed to the fence. He’d seen other young people, older than himself, but still young, walk along the top of the fence. It wasn’t impossible to think that someone like him would walk there as well.

“Then what are you doing down here?” The other boy demanded suspiciously.

“I’m getting to that! Saw something shiny an’ I wanted to see what it was, so I came down to see.” he straightened and lorded his full three inches greater height over the other boy. “An’ I see it’s one of those ear thingies.”

“You were going to keep it?” the other boy asked, still not trusting.

“Course not, what’d I want with it? I just wanted to see.” Shisui blustered, “That’s allowed, right?” He added slyly. Suddenly the younger boy didn’t seem so sure of himself.

“Guess so.” He said, hunching his shoulders. “It’s ‘Kaa-san’s earring. I need to give it to her.”

“’Kay,” Shisui said, suddenly not wanting to let the other boy go, even if they had sort of quarreled. “My name’s Shisui.” He said suddenly. “What’s yours?”

“Itachi.” The younger boy said shyly. Shisui grinned brightly.

“Itachi,” He repeated, “Wanna be friends?” Itachi ducked his head and blushed a little, confused, but not unhappy. He had never had a friend before, but they were supposed to be good things, right? And this other boy hadn’t really tried to bully him as some of the other boys he’d seen who were older, bigger and stronger had.

“’Kay,” He mumbled almost inaudibly.

“Great! What do you wanna play? Do you wanna go exploring? I know this real great spot by the pond in the woods-”

“Gotta give this to ‘Kaa-san first.” Itachi mumbled again, holding out the earring like a shield against Shisui’s enthusiasm.

“Oh, right” Shisui blinked, rubbing his head, and then gestured at Itachi, “Well, hurry up! You don’t wanna just stand there all day, do you?” the younger boy shook his head and then ran off to the house. Shisui followed behind a little, but stayed outside as Itachi rushed in. A few moments later, a stately dignified woman came out to the porch that ran along the back of the house facing the garden.

She smiled down at the boy who was eyeing her small child shyly half hidden behind her skirt. The two had just met, but Mikoto could see the friendship that was already slowly beginning to bud between the two youngsters. And that was how Itachi and Shisui met and first became friends.

~*~*~
(Seven years later. Naruto: 5, Shikamaru: 5)

His parents were gone again, out on a mission. Chouji was busy with his dad doing something, and all the other kids his age that were around were just too stupid, too annoying or too troublesome to bother with to his mind. He was bored and lonely, so lonely…

So why am I walking to the playground? Five-year-old Shikamaru scolded himself, going there will only make me feel lonelier. Shikamaru’s parents were both busy shinobi, always out working for the Hokage, so their son was often left home alone. When he’d become friends with Chouji, his childhood had entered a brighter period. Chouji was so nice and Chouza didn’t mind looking after the Nara kid. Shikamaru’s parents were really happy about this as well, they didn’t like having to leave their kid alone so much, and were both very grateful that Chouza was willing to baby-sit.

So, apparently, making friends was a good thing, and Shikamaru sort of wanted to make more friends. The only problem was no one else wanted to be friends with him. He was too boring, or too annoying, or wasn’t fast enough or strong enough. The other kids would willingly come up with a dozen different nonsense reasons that Shikamaru couldn’t play with them, but what it all came down to was that he wasn’t wanted, so he returned the favor. But it still hurt, and he couldn’t really figure out why he was being rejected.

Later, when he grew older and more knowledgeable, he’d figure out it was one of those random whims children had. The majority had decided that he was to be ostracized and that was that. But still, it hurt and he was so very lonely right now…

Crying. There was someone crying, he could hear it. Coming from the playground? Yes, it was. Someone hurt? The crying sounded like the person, young by the tone, was in mortal pain. It had the dull, monotonous sound of someone who had been crying for a long time without any hope of release from the pain.

Shikamaru couldn’t stand it; he had to go see what was wrong. Even if he couldn’t help, he’d be able to get someone who could if he knew what was wrong. He ran up to the playground and saw another boy close to his age crouched in the sand, sobbing as if his heart had broken into a thousand pieces.

In a way, Shikamaru was relieved; the boy wasn’t injured from what he could see. But now came the hard part, trying to fix what was wrong. How troublesome, but the Nara boy wasn’t the kind to just leave someone who was hurt alone. He approached the blonde boy.

“What’s wrong?” He asked, “Why are you crying?”

The blonde boy looked up at him, stunned that someone was asking him what was wrong in a genuinely concerned tone. No one had done that before, and while he was too young to understand the difference between concern and contempt, he knew the difference in how it sounded: nice, and not so nice.

“Wh-who are you?” The blonde asked. Shikamaru blinked.

“Nara Shikamaru. Who are you, and why are you crying?”

“Na-Naruto, Uzumaki Naruto.” Naruto swallowed and looked down, any moment now, Shikamaru would leave in disgust now that he knew who he was, and Naruto would be alone again, all alone….

A hand rested on his shoulder, Shikamaru was still there, looking confused and growing upset. Why wasn’t this boy answering him? He looked so unhappy, Shikamaru didn’t like that. “Why won’t you tell me what’s wrong? Maybe I can help.”

Naruto stared at him, “Yo- you want to- to help me?”

“Yeah, why not?”

“’Cause, ‘cause no one ever has... before. The-they all tell me to- to just stop cryin’, stop pesterin’ them and annoyin’ them. They- they never cared that I- I just wanted to not be alone…”

Shikamaru cocked his head to the side. “Why would they do that? You don’t seem like a bad person.”

“I don’t know! I don’t know!” Naruto wailed, hugging his skinny, scabbed knees to his chest, “They all say ‘go away you monster, you don’t deserve any help’ and they hit me an’ yell at me an’ I just wanna friend-!” He stopped and sniffled, he was getting upset again. And then he got distracted from his grief, Shikamaru was hugging him and patting his bony shoulders, trying to make him feel better.

“I don’t think you’re a monster, and I’m not leaving you alone.” He didn’t like how upset the blonde boy was getting, and it didn’t make sense to him. Why would someone be so mean to this boy? He wasn’t acting bossy nor was he being a bully. He was just sitting there, hurting and alone. Shikamaru knew how much it hurt to not have any friends to play with.

Naruto looked over at him, his eyes shining and blue, so blue. They were filled with incredulous emotion, but Shikamaru just thought then that they were the most amazing things he’d ever seen.

“Do you want to be friends?” he asked the blonde. Naruto’s face transformed into the very essence of joy and happiness and Shikamaru got tackled to the playground sand as the blonde expressed his happiness in a powerful hug. Translation: yes, Naruto wanted to be friends.

The two spent the rest of the afternoon playing. Naruto confessed shyly that he’d never really played before, only watched others do it, so Shikamaru had to show him how and explain all the rules of the games they played. Naruto was an attentive student, listening eagerly and trying so hard to get everything right.

Finally, as the sun began to set, they parted, Shikamaru saying that his parents didn’t like it if he stayed out late, even if they weren’t there. But he’d be back tomorrow, early, and they could play some more. Naruto hugged him again, and Shikamaru had to ask him to be gentle and not squeeze so hard, although he understood somehow that Naruto was trying to show him how happy he was in that hug.

They parted, Naruto looking back and waving often, Shikamaru waving back. He felt very happy and satisfied; making friends was a very good thing indeed.

~*~*~
(The Next Day)

Shikamaru trotted up to the playground feeling happy and excited. His parents weren’t home yet, and Chouji was still busy, but Shikamaru had a brand new friend to play with. Not only that, but his new friend was so friendly and happy and kind, Naruto would do just about anything that Shikamaru asked him to do. So that meant that he could teach Naruto how to play shougi, and the blonde would play it. Only adults had ever been willing to play Shikamaru’s favorite game with him, the idea of playing that game with someone his own age was exciting to the young Nara

So that was why Shikamaru was up and about so early, for him. It wasn’t even noon yet, he was early! He climbed the stairs to the playground and frowned suddenly. There were a lot of other kids there playing with each other and their parents. And there was Naruto, his blonde hair a beacon in the sunshine, lurking at the edge of the playground. Shikamaru only just wondered why Naruto wasn’t playing with the others when he got his answer.

The young blonde looked up, his face a smiling mask, and one of the parents went over and yelled at him. Naruto shied away from the parent, face still smiling, but it was a bad smile. Maybe his lips were curved into that form, but his eyes were so unhappy. The young Nara suddenly decided that he hated that fake smile. He wanted to see a real one.

The moment he entered Naruto’s field of view, he got it. Naruto’s face transformed again into the incarnation of happiness as he rushed over to his new friend.

“You came!” the blonde cried out happily, “You came, you came, you came!”

“I told you I would, didn’t I?” Shikamaru replied, grinning back at the blonde, “Now come on!” He grabbed Naruto’s hand and ran off. He wanted to get away from all those scowling adults that made his friend wear a fake smile. Besides, there was no place to play shougi there.

“Where are we going?” Naruto said, going along obediently. So long as he wasn’t alone, anything was fine by him. He would just like to know what he was going to do.

“You’ll see.” Shikamaru answered, impishly deciding to keep his plans a secret. Perhaps this was unlike how he normally was, but something about Naruto made him feel more playful and teasing. And so long as no one got hurt, was that bad?

“Ah, c’mon, Shika! Don’t tease me!” Naruto protested, but he still didn’t try and reclaim his hand as they ran down the city streets. Shika? No one had called him that before. Shikamaru decided he liked the nickname after a moment’s contemplation. It was much less troublesome than the full ‘Shikamaru’. But another moment’s contemplation decided him that only Naruto would be allowed to call him that. Why, he couldn’t say, but that’s what he decided and Shikamaru put his whole five-year-old conviction behind it.

“Here we are!” he declared, panting, as they got to the Nara household. He led Naruto up to the porch where there was a game board already set up and ready to be played. “I’m going to teach how to play my favorite game.”

“Okay!” Naruto chirped happily. Whatever Shikamaru wanted, if it meant that he’d let Naruto stay, then that’s what he’d get.

The blonde wasn’t a bad student at learning the basics, but he quickly grew bored of the strategy game and started to make his own variations. By lunch, he had created an entire imaginary world around the little game tiles. It was so creative that Shikamaru couldn’t help but be sucked into it and he was soon as involved as Naruto. Many times they had to pause in their game so that they could recover from laughing so hard at some of the twists that the two came up with.

There was a larger pause as Naruto’s stomach protested its empty state, with Shikamaru’s answering with its own pathetic whine. The Nara youngster went into the kitchen and brought out some of the pre-made sandwiches his parents had left for him.

The blonde became shy and asked many times if it was really okay if he ate some of them. Shikamaru almost became impatient with that, but some inner instinct warned him not to snap at Naruto. Something from that same inner place said that it wasn’t right that Naruto seem so reticent. It also said that the blonde was really much too thin; shouldn’t he be a little chubby the way all five year old boys were?

Lunch was eaten and the game resumed. Shikamaru lost all track of time as a fantasy realm was built on the board, as game pieces became soldiers and castles and mighty lords demanding impossible things. He didn’t come out of that world until the real one intruded again, this time in the form of his mother.

“Shikamaru, what in the world are you doing?!” He heard his mother yell.

“Huh?” He asked, lowering the tile that was no longer a dragon swooping down on Naruto’s tiles that were no longer an army. Yoshino stormed over and grabbed him away from the blonde, yelling and screaming at Naruto, ordering the shrinking, frightened child to get the hell away from her son and her house.

Naruto bolted, tears in his eyes. That was Shikamaru’s last glimpse of him for several days, but that wasn’t important now. What was important now was throwing the finest temper tantrum the Nara compound had seen for several generations. Perhaps he was young, but Shikamaru knew what was really bad, and what really wasn’t bad. Naruto had done absolutely nothing wrong and how dare his mother act as if he had?

Needless to say, Shikamaru got an almighty spanking to suit his almighty tantrum and was then grounded for the rest of the month. He also got a lecture from both parents and many punitive chores, but this only made him more stubborn. Shikamaru thought about his time with Naruto again and again and nothing about the blonde struck him as bad.

Quite the contrary. A lot about the blonde reminded him a little of Chouji, so eager and so happy to see a friend, someone who didn’t think of him as useless and worthless. Only… more so. Naruto seemed more eager, more happy, more pathetically desperate for friendship and an end to the loneliness. Maybe this was a little much to analyze for a five year old, but Shikamaru had always been smart and was usually able to figure things out when he tried.

When both of Shikamaru’s parents were away again on a mission, Shikamaru snuck out and went in search for his missing friend. When he found Naruto, his resolve to keep this friendship hardened. The blonde was so happy to see him, and yet warned Shikamaru that he might get in trouble again if he was seen hanging out with Naruto. Wouldn’t it be better for him if they… weren’t friends?

The way Naruto said that, reluctant, yet determined, really stood out for the Nara youngster. The blonde did not want to be alone and yet also did not want his friend to get into trouble for his sake. Shikamaru declared that Naruto was worth getting into trouble for, but that they should try and keep their friendship secret. The Nara would only be able to play with the blonde when the parents were gone.

Shikamaru got tackle-hugged again, but it was worth the trouble to see the happiness in his new friend’s eyes. Anything was worth that.

~*~*~

A short ways away, several sets of hard, angry eyes watched the blonde haired demon and the Nara kid playing together happily. They’d been right, the demon would taint any child that came near him. The Nara brat was beyond redemption now. His parents had tried to stop him, but the demon’s taint had called him back. They’d have to fix that, get rid of the demon and all those he’d tainted, but not now.

There were Anbu about. The Anbu had been tainted too, but the Anbu were too strong to trifle with. They’d have to wait, wait until the moment came when the demon could be killed without trouble. Maybe the Nara brat could be spared, but it’d be better to kill him too and contain the taint. They’d bide their time, they’d waited this long, they could wait more. Their time would come. And then they’d be free.

~*~*~
(Two Years Later. Naruto and Shikamaru: 7, Itachi: 12, Shisui: 15)

“Itachi! C’mon! We’re going to be late!” An all-too-well known voice yelled from outside. Itachi’s eyebrow began to twitch as he argued with his sandal lacings. Why the hell had he let himself get talked into this? He’d already gone to the festival celebrating Kyuubi’s defeat today. He’d been dutiful and accompanied his mother and kid brother, wasn’t that enough? How the hell had he let himself get talked into going again, and with Shisui of all people?

And how had they talked him into going in traditional get-up as well? Itachi glowered at his Yukata. It wasn’t right, he was Anbu, he shouldn’t be wearing a bloody Yukata. Especially not one as nice as this. Earlier, when he’d played escort to his ‘Kaa-san and Ototo, he’d been wearing an older one that his ‘Kaa-san had forced on him.

Now he was wearing a really nice ebony and silver Yukata that his ‘Kaa-san had bought for him. He’d tried to say ‘no, I’m not wearing that’, when she had used The Look. That sad eyed, wistful, ‘won’t you do this for me’ Look.

So now he was in a fancy, too-nice get-up that would look better on a girl, lacing up his thrice-damned, too fancy, tie-up sandals and if his mother came anywhere near his hair with that ribbon again, by the Nine, he would not be held responsible for his behavior! Damn her and her bloody Look!

“Itachi, are you done preening yet!?”

I’m going to kill him. I’m going to kill him slowly, with much pain. Oh, so much pain! Itachi had to restrain himself from chuckling evilly at the thought of what he would put his personal headache through. He and Shisui had been nearly inseparable since that day nine years ago, but that didn’t mean that Itachi was going to forgive Shisui’s more… annoying traits.

“I-TA-CHI!!” Like impatience, to name one.

“Really, he’s going to disturb the neighbors if he keeps up like that.” Itachi heard his ‘Kaa-san sigh from the bedroom door. She was holding a silver colored ribbon. That’s it! But first he had to yell at his so-called best friend. Itachi stalked over to the window and employed his most colorful and imaginative language in informing Shisui just what he thought about this whole outing.

Damned arrogant young Jounin, he was laughing now! Laughing at him, Itachi! Oh, he’s asking for it now. Soonest chance I get, he’s going to be in so much pain. Ruin his damned good looks, see if those thrice damned, empty-headed females will fawn after him and his over-inflated ego then!

“Now Itachi, will you try and not use such language where your brother can hear?” His ‘Kaa-san asked from behind him. Itachi turn and glowered blackly at her. Mikoto sighed softly and used The Look again. Itachi caved and grumbled an apology.

“Now come over here, I want to put tie your hair up.”

“No.” Itachi dead-panned. Out came a touch of The Look. With all the times she’d used it, you’d think he’d be immune to it by now.

“Oh come now, I’m not going to do anything fancy, I’m just going to tie your hair back.” Mikoto assured.

“No.”

She sighed, time to play dirty

“Of course, I guess I can see where you’d want to leave it down. You have such lovely hair, I bet all the young ladies would just love to play with it-” Itachi’s back was suddenly in front of her, and a brush was being held out helpfully. Mikoto stifled a smirk and quickly brushed her son’s thick, silky hair back into a simple tail, letting the loose ends of the silver ribbon become half hidden in the dark mane. The next thing she had to stifle was the comment about just how beautiful he really was.

“There, you’re all set.” She said, smiling. Itachi glanced at the mirror on his bedroom wall.

“I look like a girl.” He sulked.

“Don’t be silly, of course you don’t.” Mikoto assured.

“Oh, yes you do!” Shisui said, leering. He’d finally gotten fed up with waiting and had gone inside to drag Itachi out. Now he was leaning against the door jam to Itachi’s bedroom, looking too damned handsome for his own damn good and well aware of the fact. He’d grown tall and was still growing muscular, although not too bulky. His hair was still cut short and to Itachi’s critical gaze looked like a jay’s crest. The ladies, both young and suspiciously older, were only too happy to tell him how good it looked for his long angular face.

“Shisui!” Mikoto scolded.

“Shi-sui…” Itachi growled at the same time.

“Are we ready to go now?” He asked, heading out. And, since he was Shisui, he couldn’t resist tossing “Princess?” over his shoulder. Then he had to bolt at full speed as Itachi chased after, eyes murderous. The last thing Mikoto saw were the two dark blurs that were her son and his best friend, Shisui’s cackling filling the air.

I hope that Itachi doesn’t maim Shisui too badly this time. Hokage-sama was furious the last time Itachi trashed Shisui for his teasing.

~*~*~
(Elsewhere in Konoha)

“C’mon Naruto, you’re going to miss the fireworks!” Shikamaru yelled into the doorway of his best friend’s dinky apartment. He was getting frustrated, and a little concerned. This was a highly unusually turn of events; usually it was Naruto yelling at him to hurry up, not the other way around. But Shikamaru had had plenty of opportunities to see that this day, the Anniversary of Kyuubi’s Defeat, which also was Naruto’s birthday, was not a good day for the blonde.

Still, Shikamaru had spent several hours looking for a good place to watch the fireworks from, someplace secluded where the villagers couldn’t harass the blonde, but also with a good view. And Naruto was going to appreciate Shikamaru’s efforts even if he had to bind and gag the boy and then drag him there!

“NA-RU-TO!” Shikamaru growled impatiently. What was it about the blonde pariah that brought out the most unusual characteristics in him?

“I’m comin’, I’m comin’! Hold your horses!” Naruto yelled back from inside. “Or Elk in your case.”

“Ch’e, troublesome.” Shikamaru responded.

“Ain’t I just?” Naruto quipped back, finally emerging. The smile that had been tugging at Shikamaru’s lips died when he saw his friend. Gone was the usual loud, orange jumpsuit and the ever present smile. In their place was a more subdued white shirt and black shorts and an awkward, almost fearful expression.

Naruto had refused to leave his apartment last year for the festival, saying that it was usually best if he didn’t go. The only reason he was willing to come out this year was because Shikamaru said he had found a safe place to watch the festivities from. Still, he felt that this wasn’t the best of ideas, but he couldn’t disappoint his best and only friend. So he decided to dress more normally and hopefully he wouldn’t attract the attention of his usual harassers.

“Follow me.” Shikamaru said quietly, winding his way through the thick crowd with Naruto close on his heels. So far, no body seemed to recognize Naruto out of his trademark orange clothing. Everything seemed safe.

Shikamaru led his friend out of the city proper and up into the unpopulated hills. There was a ledge up there that had a great view, and there was no one else around so it was safe for the blonde. They were almost there, when it happened.

“Well, well, well.” A cruel voice drawled, “What have we here?”

“Looks like a demon child and his tainted spawn if you ask me.” Another cruel voice answered. Shikamaru and Naruto came to a dead stop and stared at the people. There were more than just the two who had spoken, many more. Too many.

“How fortuitous that we should meet this evening.” The first person said.

“Yeah, there ain’t no pesky Anbu around.” A third person sneered.

“Right, no Anbu, no Jounin, nobody but you, and us, and plenty of time…” A forth person all but purred, her ugly face made uglier by her expression. Naruto stared not at her, but the second person who’d spoken, his face radiating unadulterated fear. He stood back to back with Shikamaru, the latter of whom was constantly searching for a way out of this. But there were too many adults, adults with ugly expressions holding weapons as if they knew very well how to use them.

But he and Naruto were Shinobi Academy students; they should be able to fight their way out right?

The first speaker made a hand gesture and the other adults moved in. Shikamaru tried to fight back and, after the first blow that got through to the Nara, Naruto fought viciously as well, trying to protect his friend. But as the next half hour, hour, more passed, both boys had plenty of opportunities to regret not paying better attention in class. Because the people who attacked them weren’t just civilians, but older Genin and Chuunin as well.

~*~*~
(Some Time Later)

“Okay, so where is this grand, miracle spot of yours again?” Itachi growled up at Shisui. After some mingling in the crowd, only thirty minutes, but thirty minutes too many for Itachi, Shisui dragged his younger friend out, proclaiming that he’d found this great spot to watch the fireworks that would be displayed later, a spot clear of all fawning females, and annoying males as well.

Heartily tired of having his hair played with by then, Itachi only too eagerly agreed to leaving for said mystery spot. That was twenty minutes ago, and they were still walking in the hills around the city, Itachi ready to murder the designer of his damned useless, too-fancy sandals. He’d be picking the stickers out of his toes for weeks at this rate. And blame Shisui for it of course, since this was all his fault.

“Itachi, Itachi, you have to say it right,” Shisui said, spinning around to walk backwards and gesture dramatically. “It’s ‘The Grand Miracle Vista, Of Splendid View and Stunning Solitude’.”

“The only thing ‘stunning’ around here is your bullshit.” Itachi growled threateningly.

“Eh? Eh? What was that?” Shisui skipped down to Itachi, clapping his hands on the pre-teen’s shoulders. “Did my baby make a funny?”

“You’re- what?” Itachi’s eyebrow was twitching at an unhealthy rate.

“My baby in jocularity.” Shisui explained, “I’m the only person who’s likely to teach you to joke, you’re ‘Kaa-san’s too polite and you ‘Tou-san doesn’t have a sense of humor.”

Itachi couldn’t help but- silently- agree to that. “I still fail to see who I’m your- your baby.”

“Eh? Oh, that’s ‘cause I say so.” Shisui flashed his ever-cocky grin before heading back up the trail. “We’d better hurry or it’ll get dark and we’ll miss the fireworks.”

“And whose fault do you think that is?” Itachi groused under his breath. Shisui glanced back, but Itachi shook his head. The older shinobi shrugged and continued climbing. The younger one stared at the back of his best friend, thoughts whirring. He’d been introduced to the forbidden doujutsu by his ’Tou-san the other day and he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it.

The power of that was promised was so tempting, especially as his ’Tou-san made greater and greater demands of him. Itachi couldn’t keep up with all that was being demanded of him. The city, his Anbu captain, the Hokage, the clan and especially his ’Tou-san expected- commanded the impossible from him. Itachi couldn’t keep up; he was only human, and only a twelve year old human at that. His strength was limited, but everyone else expected him to perform like a full grown adult with all the strength and endurance that adults had in their larger bodies.

The doujutsu might just be what he needed to keep up, and then maybe his ‘Tou-san would look at him, Itachi, not him, that genius Itachi. And maybe Fugaku would really acknowledge him, as a person, not a tool.

But the price…The price made him hesitate as nothing else would. To kill his best friend? Maybe others would not hesitate, but to Itachi, Shisui was not only his best friend, but his first and only friend. Nothing, not power, not the promise of his ‘Tou-san’s real acknowledgement was worth that. But-

But- the promise was still there. But- the temptation still existed. No. No, nothing is worth it. Nothing. And yet… No. No and no and no and NO! It’s not worth it, not now, not ever. How can I even be toying with the idea of really killing Shisui. Thrashing him yes, maiming him yes, hurting him severely, of course. But killing him? Really killing him? No, never.

Shaking his head in the vain hope that it would chase such thoughts from his mind, Itachi climbed up what he hoped was the last slope to this special secret spot. Ahead of him Shisui topped the ridge and came to a stop with a dismayed hiss, eyes flashing red in the sunset gloom. The young Anbu ran up beside him and faced his worse nightmare.

In all his years of active service as one of Konoha’s elite, there was only one type of mission he absolutely refused to do: the assassination of children. He wouldn’t do it, he couldn’t, it was beyond wrong and he refused to even think about it.

Oh, he’d threaten to assassinate a child, sure, that was easy. Some bladeless daggers tossed into the crib, shuriken through the head’s of stuffed animals, a slim knife or arrow bolt through the heart of a doll, the message was clear: ‘Cross us, or else…’.

The Hokage and few senior Anbu captains fully respected Itachi’s refusal to kill a child, although few others did, or understood. Itachi just couldn’t kill or even seriously hurt a child, not since Sasuke was born. The little mite was one of the few who really looked at him and tried to understand him. Each time that Itachi was sent against a child, Sasuke’s face became super-imposed over his targets. And ever since Sasuke had been beaten that one time for being ‘inferior’, aka: not the genius that Itachi was, the sight of an injured child made the elder brother physically ill.

So the sight that greeted him at the top of the ridge really was straight out of his worst nightmares. Not one, but two young children beaten and bloody and so still-

“Itachi. Itachi!” Shisui voice and rough shake jarred him out of his horrified trance. “Keep it together, stay with me, I need you!” The teenager scolded. Itachi swallowed and nodded. Satisfied, Shisui crouched by the too-still bodies, placing his fingers on the dark haired boy’s neck to check for a pulse.

“This one-” He checked the blonde, “-and this one too! They’re alive! They’re both alive!”

“And they’re going to stay that way!” Itachi stated fiercely, crouching beside the boys as well. All Anbu had to learn at least a little medical jutsu, and all shinobi had to learn some first aid. The two youths employed every bit of their knowledge to field-dress the young boys’ wounds. Itachi’s Yukata was the first casualty, being torn up to make bandages. Then Shisui scooped up the dark haired boy, Itachi holding the smaller blonde and both took off at top speed.

Over head, the fireworks went off unheeded in spectacular display.

~*~*~

Terms: Yukata- fancy kimono that people wear to festivals. Both male and female festival goers wear them. They have a tendency to make pretty-boys look like girls, hence Itachi’s utter hatred of them.
A.S.: Shi-sui… Kisama….

Shisui: Huh? Wha-? Is something wrong?

A.S.: Yes there’s something wrong! I can’t afford to start another fic but you wouldn’t leave me alone! It’s all your fault that I’m neglecting my other stories and- arg! Itachi! Hurt him for me!

Itachi: Why should I do what you want me to do?

A.S.: Because it’s Shisui’s fault that you haven’t gotten your H with Shikamaru yet in the other fics.

Itachi: Hn. Gomen Shisui, but I’m afraid you have to die now.

Shisui: (holds up photoalbum) (sing-song voice) Harm one hair on my head and all the world will see these adorable baby pictures….

Itachi: (frozen in horror)

Shisui: (evil chuckle)