The best way to enter our business is to be born into it.

__________

20 YEARS AGO

There were 5 families that ruled Konoha.

Sasuke Uchiha was born in the most powerful one of them.

The Uchiha were the alpha and omega of Konoha's existence- both the ruination and the thriving. They were among the founding families of the city along with the Senjus, although they had lasted longer. They had long been involved in less-than-legal enterprises but they were most well-known for smuggling weapons of all kind across borders and into cities that were impenetrable by most.

Sasuke grew up in the Uchiha district, which was a vast part of the upper side of Konoha, almost fortress like in its structure with high walls, guards everywhere and a close knit neighborhood of people who knew their way around weapons.

His father was the heir to the Uchiha mob, passed down from the first Uchiha, Madara, who had claimed Konoha as his. The rest of the family was indoctrinated into the mob, willingly or unwillingly.

Very early on in life, Sasuke learned that as an Uchiha, there were 2 ways you could contribute to the family. Either you had the physical strength that came with joining the direct ranks and manpower, or you could help intellectually by studying Law or joining the police force.

Along with an impressive amount of manpower at their back and call, almost the entire police force of Konoha was comprised of Uchihas when Sasuke was a child and they had a vast array of lawyers at their disposal anytime they ran into some legal troubles.

Sasuke, although more privileged than most by being the son of the Mafia Boss, was expected to do his duty to the family. He wasn't the heir...just the spare, so there was no use training him as such and adding him to the manpower would be beneath the son of the Boss.

That left him with two options: police force or law. He opted for the latter when his cousin Shisui presented him with the choice at the age of 8.

"Why do you want to study law?" he'd asked his cousin Shisui once. Shisui's father had been Fugaku's first cousin. He had died in a gang scuffle. Shisui had been raised like their brother ever since.

"Because I'm great at arguing and excellent at lying," the 16 year old had grinned back, his eyes shining with amusement.

"What if I'm good at neither?" Sasuke asked a waver to his voice.

"That's because you haven't had to do either of the above yet," Shisui had said, his voice dimming slightly as he leaned down and ruffled Sasuke's hair. "Don't worry kiddo, this family has a way of breaking everyone in,"

___________

Aside from the occasional violence, daddy issues and the obsessive security detail around him, Sasuke had a good childhood.

He grew up in a large family, cousins and relatives and family acquaintances. They all babied him since he was the youngest Uchiha there had been in a while.

People were always coming and going and there were always guards following whenever he was allowed to venture out of the Uchiha district unless he was with Itachi and Shisui.

Eventually he started primary school. He still remembered his first day. Itachi and Shisui had gone to drop him off. He had been sullen throughout the car ride.

"Hey, cheer up," Shisui tried, looking at him in the backseat through the mirror while driving "You're always on our case for not taking you outside the district. This will be fun,"

"You can make friends," Itachi offered.

"I don't want friends," he grumbled. "I have you two,"

They shared an amused look. "We're your brothers," Shisui said. "It doesn't count,"

The car came to a stop but Sasuke made no moves to get out, or reach for the Spiderman bag he had picked out excitedly while school shopping. He felt the nervous flutters of going somewhere without any of his family members or familiar people being present.

Itachi seemed to sense his anxiety as he turned around in his seat and faced Sasuke. "You'll do great Sasuke," he assured.

"What if I don't?" he asked, letting some of the nervousness creep into his voice.

"You can't do worse than Shisui," Itachi smirked, pointing a thumb at their cousin. "He threw up all over a junior on his first day of high school,"

"Hey fu-I mean dude!" Shisui shoved Itachi's shoulder even as he laughed. "That was out of line,"

Sasuke felt himself laugh in delight. "You threw up on a junior? That's sick,"

"And he's never going to respect me again," Shisui groaned.

"See? You can't do much worse," Itachi assured him.

Sasuke sighed. "I'll see you when school ends?" he asked tentatively. Itachi and Shisui had their own high school to attend. Itachi had skipped a grade and was a freshman in high school at the age of 13.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world buddy," Shisui assured him. "Now go and make everyone curse the Gods for another Uchiha offspring coming to this school,"

Sasuke laughed as he got out of the car.

He had always been told that family was above everything. Family grounded you. As long as you had family, you were okay.

And at that moment, he felt truly the warmth that came with the love of family. He would be okay.

Sasuke protested something along the lines of embarrassment when Shisui got out of the driver's seat and walked him to the school gates. He crouched down to give Sasuke a hug, which he told Shisui he was too old for.

Shisui simply laughed with that usual sparkle in his eyes as he stood up straight. He didn't say anything else as he turned to go.

Sasuke pretended not to see the glint of metal in his Shisui's back pocket as he watched him leave.

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