Calm before the storm: "a period of quiet that comes before a time of activity, excitement, violence, etc."

___________

"He's annoying," Sasuke snapped again, even as it spurred on Itachi and Shisui's laughter more and more. "Always going on about that believe it crap,"

"Hey, mind your language," Shisui reprimanded even as he roared with laughter.

"Like I don't see everyone in the compound curse all the time," Sasuke rolled his eyes at his cousin while trying to write his homework. He was learning the names of the capitals of various countries but Shisui and Itachi had thought it the best time to harass him and have fun.

"So that's what annoys you about the Uzumaki kid? That he says believe it all the time?" Itachi re-affirmed.

"And the fact that he says he's going to be Mayor of Konoha one day," Sasuke added, furrowing his brow as he recalled the blond classmate's annoyingly high pitched voice.

"And he could be, one day," Shisui shrugged, grinning.

"If that happens, this city's doomed," Sasuke shuddered, thinking about the hyperactive blonde who insisted on chattering his ear off with all his dreams and aspirations. Even when Sasuke really didn't need to know.

"God, you're so easily annoyed Sasuke," Itachi told his brother. "Relax a little,"

"I don't like annoying people,"

"The world is full of em kiddo," Shisui said. "We can't all be Uchihas with a sti-,"

"Shisui," Itachi cut him off.

"-with a serious attitude all the time," Shisui finished, raising his hands in front of him in a pacifying gesture. They were both lounging on the carpet of Sasuke's room, in front of him as he perched his notebook on his lap and wrote his homework in a choppy handwriting.

"Why are you both here again?" he groaned.

"To help you with homework," "To amuse ourselves, duh,"

Itachi and Shisui said at the same time.

Sasuke glared at them, but inside he was happy to have them there. Ever since he'd joined school, he had so much homework to do. Konoha Academy of Science and Arts was the best Konoha had to offer in terms of primary and middle school education. Only the rich could really afford it.

And apart from him being busy, he had noticed Itachi and Shisui get more and more busy too. They never seemed to be around.

They were either always at school or in meetings with Fugaku if they were at home. He was always sending them on tasks nowadays.

"You could amuse yourselves like normal teenagers? Ever heard of going out?" he asked.

"Going out?" Shisui laughed. "Don't tell me you picked that up from school,"

Sasuke averted his gaze. He had in fact picked it up from school, particularly the girls who were always fantasizing about being in high school and then going out.

"Anyhow, this is much better than going out, don't you think?" Itachi asked, even as his phone pinged with a text.

And another.

And another.

"Who is it?" Sasuke asked curiously as Itachi's attention turned from him to the phone, where he formed a half smile and then tried and failed to suppress it.

"Ah," Shisui's grin turned predatory. "That must be his girlfriend,"

"Girlfriend?!" Sasuke shrieked, throwing aside his copy.

"I don't have a girlfriend," Itachi glared at Shisui, even as his cheeks turned red.

"Then why do you smile like that whenever Izumi texts you?"

"Izumi," Sasuke repeated and then smiled smugly. "Ohh, wait till mom hears about this,"

"Sasuke, don't you dare," Itachi groaned. "She's never going to forget if you feed her one morsel about my life,"

"Which is exactly why we should tell her. You're never going to get anything done by yourse-,"

It was at that instance that the door opened, interrupting Shisui. Jaeha, one of the guards of the main house, stood partially obscured by the door. His face was always grim and serious, his characteristic Uchiha eyes always set in sobriety.

"Itachi, Shisui, Fugaku-sama wants an audience with you,"

Sasuke watched the amused sparkle dim in Shisui's eyes as he and Itachi exchanged a look. Itachi had locked his phone immediately at the sight of Jaeha, as if Jaeha could tell what was on there.

"Well...looks like we'll have to catch you later kiddo," Shisui said, trying to smile for Sasuke's benefit as he ruffled his hair before getting up to leave. Jaeha didn't move- he wouldn't go without the teenagers by his side.

"Finish your homework," Itachi instructed.

Sasuke nodded, feeling left out but not really that sorry about it.

He watched his older brother and cousin disappear without another word. Even at 8 years old, he could feel as if they were both sand, slipping through his fingers.

_________

The whirl of activity going on around the compound for the next few months was something to behold. Things had always been tense around the compound- hushed and secretive and only discussed among the men. But now, even the women and children seemed on edge. The nervous energy of the men and their impatience seemed to be affecting everyone.

There were always people and vehicles coming in and out of the gates of the district. The Police Chief, an Uchiha Ikara, seemed to be called for meetings more and more often.

The convoy of top Uchiha lawyers were always coming and staying for longer in the compounds. Fugaku, Itachi and Shisui were almost never around.

Then one day, Sasuke's mother told him they were having a special guest for dinner. There were preparations going on and she was really enthusiastic about cooking. She seemed to be happy to have something to do again.

Sasuke might have still been a child, but he could always sense a certain air of sadness around his mother. So, seeing her so enthusiastic made him happy. He tried to help out.

But as usual, he was told to go to his room and finish his homework instead of getting in the way.

He got dressed in the formal wear his mother left out for him. He snuck into Itachi's room and liberally used the gel to style his hair. He wanted to make his father and mother proud of how he was able to take care of himself.

He was rummaging the drawers quickly, trying to look for something cool to steal. He knew Itachi would kill him if he found him here. His room was strictly off limits. He opened the second drawer and froze at the sight of the gun that was stashed in there.

Despite his family's attempts to keep him out, he knew what his family's fortune and reputation was built on: blood. He found himself reaching out for the gun-

"Sasuke!"

He jumped when his mother's voice called for him from faraway. He quickly shut the drawer and stepped away, breathing hard. He looked in the mirror, where a boy with guilt in his eyes was looking back at him.

"Sasuke come downstairs, they're here," his mother called.

Sasuke ignored his thundering heart and stumbled downstairs.

By the time he reached the foyer, his father was almost there, accompanied by a few men. The most prominent of them was a man who was wearing a crisp blue suit, looking intimidating and strong. He had long brown hair, tied at his back, but what struck Sasuke the most were his eyes when he cast a look towards Sasuke and his family.

"Hyuga-san," his mother, looking beautiful in an evening dress, stepped forward and breathed out his name, "Welcome to the Uchiha compounds,"

"We've known each other a long time, Mikoto-san, you can call me Hiashi," the man answered, taking her offered hand and dropping a chaste kiss on it.

"Hiashi," Fugaku stepped up next to him, "These are my children,"

"Good evening Hyuga-san," Itachi greeted his tone calm and collected. Hiashi looked at him with interest before moving his gaze to Sasuke.

"Ah, your youngest," he noted. Sasuke felt his heart beat faster when he realized he was supposed to greet the man.

"I-good evening," he stuttered, "Hyuga san," he added as an afterthought.

"Sasuke Uchiha, I presume?" Hiashi asked. Sasuke nodded.

"My daughter is in your class. I saw your name on the class list," he told them.

He had a daughter? And she was in his class? Sasuke had no idea who he was talking about. Everyone's eyes were on him, expecting him to know.

"I'm afraid I don't know who you're talking about,"

The man sighed, as if he had expected it. "Hinata, my oldest daughter," he explained, even as Fugaku gestured for them all to keep walking instead of standing at the foyer. "She's a- wallflower I'm afraid,"

Hiashi didn't sound pleased about it.

"You have already met Shisui," Fugaku added, impatient to move on from Sasuke.

Sasuke didn't pay attention to the rest of the conversation. He sat at the dinner table, surrounded by conversation and food. He spoke when he was spoken to and didn't care for anything else.

He watched when the men got up after dinner, Fugaku instructing Mikoto to bring them beverages. She nodded complacently.

Sasuke watched the men- both Hyuga and Uchiha, disappear into his father's study as if disappearing into another world. He just watched his brother and Shisui disappear with them.

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