Chapter One

Uchiha Itachi is a prodigy.

Rising to the rank of ANBU Captain by the time he was thirteen, Itachi has handed situations that would leave lesser ninja stuck in a traumatized state for the rest of their lives. Taking note of these facts, it wasn’t a surprise that the teen was a pacifist.

Itachi loves his otouto though, so he strives to make the world as safe as he is able. It was the reason he took the assassination mission with the target registered as his own father. Konohagakure would not survive as one of the Five Great Nations if they dissolved into a civil war. The coup d’état was eradicated in its forming stages. When Itachi was sworn in as the next clan leader, he made the most satisfying and controversial decisions of his young life – he eradicated the patriarchal system the Uchiha had established and gave the headship to his mother.

Since then, life in the village was better. It was peaceful, the Uchiha were less secretive, less suspicious. Itachi’s home life wasn’t filled with stiff formalities and strict behavior expectations. Sasuke was experiencing the childhood Itachi never had.

It left the eighteen year old happy, if slightly envious.

Pulling him away from his thoughts, Itachi glanced up curiously at the sound of a familiar shout. Speeding over the rooftops was the number one prankster of Konohagakure, Uzumaki Naruto. A squad of ANBU was on his tail and Itachi chuckled in amusement when he noticed it was his own team that was giving chase.

As Naruto drew near to Itachi’s resting spot, the dark-haired team darted up and caught the rambunctious boy with the finesse of any older sibling. Naruto struggled for several moments before annoyed cerulean eyes darted up towards Itachi’s face. The struggling was immediately cut off as Naruto grinned widely, his arms wrapping around Itachi’s neck tightly.

“Karasu-chan!”

Ignoring the snickering of his squad mates, Itachi peered down at Naruto curiously. “I’m not a female, Naruto-kun.”

“How would I know that, Karasu-chan?” Naruto enquired curiously, still snuggling against Itachi’s lean frame. “Your hair’s long and pretty like Sakura-chan’s and you could be using a genjutsu on your voice.”

“I don’t have breasts.”

Itachi’s monotone voice cut through his team’s giggling as they watched the exchange more intently, wondering at Naruto’s response. The blond turned towards the only female of their squad, observing the incline of her armor before turning back to Itachi’s own chest plate and studying it.

“Then you’re flat like Sakura-chan.” Nodding decisively, Naruto once again tightened his arms and rubbed his whiskered cheeks against Itachi’s pale neck.

The eighteen year old could only sigh as his team once again dissolved into giggles. This had started years ago, when Itachi’s first ANBU assignment was to watch over the blond Jinchūriki. He had immediately stuck to Itachi’s side, initially accepting the fact that Itachi just kept his hair long and that he was actually male. As the years passed, Naruto’s curious nature came into play again and again as he tried to see what Itachi actually looked like beneath the mask. His recent attempts – which had been going on for several months now – were to annoy Itachi by claiming he was female.

It wasn’t working, but Itachi would allow the twelve year old to try.

“I believe you have a limpet, Karasu-kun.”

Itachi glanced up at the smooth voice, smirking at the sight of Hatake Kakashi covered in dripping hot pink paint. The Jonin was his former ANBU Captain, and apparently the victim of one of Naruto’s most current pranks.

“Oh shit.” Naruto murmured against his neck and Itachi blinked at the feel of the blond’s lips against his neck, wondering when that had happened. Ignoring it, Itachi turned to regard the falsely cheerful man.

“Is there something you need, Kakashi-senpai?”

“Just the blond clinging to you, if it wouldn’t be a bother.”

Itachi shrugged nonchalantly, loosening his arms from where they had been wrapped around Naruto’s waist. The blond had locked his legs around Itachi’s own waist, resembling a chimp. Naruto, however, took the opportunity to Kawarimi with a bucket from the road the building they were standing on was next to. There was a call of ‘bye, Karasu-chan!’ before an orange blur darted through the crowd.

“Damn.” Kakashi sighed before disappearing in a Shunshin.

Turning to glance at his chuckling teammates, Itachi tilted his head to the side for a moment before speaking. “Wasn’t it time for training?”

The three ANBU were instantly silenced, a nervous air permeating the rooftop. Itachi let a slightly sadistic smile to appear underneath his crow mask before he motioned for the three to move. “To the training grounds, then.”

Meanwhile, Naruto was dodging around civilians, ignoring their indignant yells. Turning back with a scowl, Naruto stuck his tongue out at the pursuing Jonin. “Go to hell, Kaka-baka!”

“You’re paying me back for my Icha Icha!” Kakashi responded, only to be ignored as Naruto cut down another alley.

____

Itachi let out a long sigh as he saw the painted state of the Hokage Mountain. Naruto, most likely. Turning to glance at his otouto, Itachi raised an eyebrow at Sasuke’s expression of contempt as he looked at the rock face.

“Otouto?”

“The dobe did another stupid prank.” The preteen muttered in annoyance, dark eyes flickering between the painted symbols and words decorating the Hokage’s faces.

“Yes, Naruto is rather…ingenious in his pranks.”

“They’re stupid.”

“His ability to pull them off is rather impressive.” Itachi observed, his head tilted to the side in thought – much like a curious kitten.

“Itachi-nii?”

Looking down, Itachi caught sight of his brother’s confused expression. Chuckling lightly, Itachi tapped the boy’s forehead with two fingers while letting a gentle smile flit across his features. “Nothing, otouto. Are you ready for your graduation?”

“Hn. It’ll be next Friday. You’ll be there, right?”

“Of course, otouto.”

____

Uzumaki Naruto was scared.

Letting out a stream of curses, the blond darted through the alleys of Konohagakure’s Red Light District.

He had gone home after training for three hours after the Academy. The graduation exam was tomorrow, but he still couldn’t do the Bunshin Jutsu. Disappointed, he had headed home to sulk and indulge in some ramen. Unfortunately, when he got near the building he found that it was once again vandalized. It wasn’t uncommon for villagers to come into his apartment building and to start destroying things. He was the only resident, after all, so only he would be affected.

What was worse though was the fact that when Naruto had opened his slightly ajar door in preparation for cleaning and saving any salvageable items, the culprit was still there. It was a burly man with two of his friends, both shorter but equal in weight. The leader had a nasty sneer on his features and it wasn’t long before the trio was chasing the blond through the building, yelling about demons and ungrateful brats.

So Naruto was scared, and he continued to run. He took alley after alley, knowing every path throughout the village. It wasn’t long until he was able to shake his followers off, but by then he realized his mistake. He had headed towards the market district. The market district where all of the upper class shopped. At least, the middle class if Naruto could remember correctly. It was still upper class compared to him and the blond gulped at the thought of any of the merchants seeing him.

Striving not to be pursued again, Naruto slipped into the shadows of the alley, cerulean eyes peering around warily.

“What are you doing?”

Naruto flinched, his head snapping around to peer at the dark haired man who had noticed him. He was several inches taller than Naruto, which wasn’t surprising considering the fact that Naruto was underfed at best or running solely on ramen seeing as it was cheap. He was a Uchiha, that much was obvious given the clan marking on his black, high collared shirt. Darting his eyes around warily instead of meeting the man’s gaze – it would be a stupid mistake to, after all – Naruto struggled for an answer. “Um, nothing. I’m just leaving. I didn’t even mean to be here, I got lost. Sorry Uchiha-san, sorry.”

Naruto was edging backwards, away from the entrance to the alley and deeper into the shadows. He paused at a sudden, familiar voice and narrowed his eyes.

“Itachi-nii! What are you staring at?”

Uchiha Sasuke, Naruto’s sworn rival and the Top Rookie of his Academy class appeared at the man’s elbow. Cerulean eyes narrowing in anger, Naruto didn’t notice Itachi’s curious expression before he turned to answer Sasuke. “Otouto, weren’t you with kaa-san?”

Seeing his chance, Naruto slipped away, quickly moving from shadow to shadow despite his bright orange jumpsuit. Naruto embodied stealth when he needed to – he’d be murdered during the Kyūbi Festival every year otherwise.

When Itachi turned his head back to stare at the place Naruto had been occupying, he was only mildly surprised to find it empty. He knew Naruto could be sneaky. What was surprising was the fact that Itachi had been focusing on the Jinchūriki, so it should have been next to impossible for the blond to sneak away. He had, however, and now Itachi was left to wonder just why Naruto was around this district anyway. Itachi knew all the merchants here refused the blond service so why…?

“Sasuke, go back to kaa-san, I have to check on something.”

“But aniki!”

“Sasuke.”

The twelve year old departed with a pout and Itachi let out an exasperated sigh before stepping into the alley. When he was away from the main sight of the shopping district he took to the rooftops, following after Naruto’s chakra signature. It was strangely depleted, making Itachi wonder whether or not the blond knew how to mask his chakra yet. When he came upon the Jinchūriki, Naruto was muttering to himself as he sifted through a dumpster. Raising an eyebrow, the Uchiha heir moved chakra to his ear drums to enhance his hearing and listened in.

“…damn villagers, what the fuck did I ever do…need to get new stuff, do I have any money? No, I paid Ichiraku two days ago…need to talk to Iruka-sensei and get some free ramen…maybe if I paint the monument again? No, that was a sendoff, a promise, dattebayo! Can’t do it again so…”

Itachi was amused, but also worried. Why was Naruto picking through the dumpster?

His internal question was answer when Naruto held up a molded piece of bread in success. Humming triumphantly, the blond shimmied out of the dumpster and back onto the ground. Itachi’s stomach rolled at the thought of what Naruto would do. He wouldn’t seriously…would he?

The answer came when Naruto opened his mouth, ready to take a bite of the disgusting loaf when Itachi snatched the spoiled item away from his grasp. Tossing it back in the direction of the dumpster, Itachi frowned down at the blond in amazement and horror. Naruto was hungry enough to eat that. It was black in certain spots, clearly covered in mold, and Naruto was going to eat it.

“Hey! What the hell, dattebayo?” Naruto glared up into his eyes angrily before biting back a gasp and hurriedly glancing down towards his collarbone. “Why are you following me, stalker?”

“You were going to eat that. You were actually going to eat that.” Itachi may be a seasoned ninja. He may be the prodigy of the Uchiha clan. He may have eaten slightly expired food.

Uchiha Itachi had never felt so disgusted by an act of eating in his life.

“So? I’ve done it before.” Naruto shrugged nonchalantly, as if it were normal to eat blackened bread. Not burnt bread, but blackened by mold bread.

“You’ve…” Itachi could feel bile in the back of his throat. Swallowing thickly, Itachi shook his head. “No, come with me, we’re getting actual food.”

Naruto jumped away as Itachi reached out, causing the Uchiha heir to frown in confusion. Naruto never jumped away from him. Or, rather, he never jumped away from Karasu.

“Naruto…” Itachi sighed.

Narrowing his eyes once again, Naruto looked up at the strange Uchiha in irritation and guarded suspicion. “Just leave me alone, dattebayo. I don’t feel like fighting off any poison again.”

Itachi scowled at the memory from a few months ago. One of the food booths had snuck arsenic into Naruto’s burger. Naruto had been fine after a night of vomiting and fever, while the perpetrator had been brought to Morino Ibiki in the Interrogation unit.

Itachi wondered how to convince the boy that he wasn’t going to poison him. He didn’t want Naruto to go back and rummage for more expired food. He could always invite him to dinner, but after his reaction to Sasuke…

Letting out a faint huff of annoyance, the mild-mannered Itachi rubbed the bridge of his nose in exasperation. His mother and Sasuke already knew about his ANBU persona. Naruto already had information on several ANBU and who they actually were, Kakashi as a prime example. Deciding that it wouldn’t be too harmful – the boy had been trying to find out Itachi’s identity for months and the Sandaime had only appeared amused – Itachi decided he would just divulge his identity.

“I’m surprised you haven’t recognized me, Naruto.”

“Why the hell would I recognize you? I’ve never seen you before in my—what?” Naruto had been taking discreet whiffs of Itachi’s scent when the match for that unique scent entered his mind. Frowning in confusion, Naruto took a larger sniff, his frown melting into an expression of shock and mischievous glee.

“Karasu-chan!” Naruto cooed out each syllable, much to Itachi’s increasing exasperation.

The blond had divulged precaution in the face of curiosity as he intently studied Itachi’s features. From the deadpan expression to the defined tear troughs that marred Itachi’s cheeks. The fact that his eyelashes were rather feminine along with most of his features. He looked aristocratic, as much of the Uchiha did, but more. He was taller than the blond, as Naruto had already observed and sulked about. It was odd to see him in casual clothing though, seeing as Naruto had only witnessed the man wear his ANBU uniform. Black pants, standard black ninja shoes, a black v-neck with a fishnet shirt underneath, and weapon holsters around his right thigh. In all honesty, he looked good. Familiar though, almost like…

“Itachi-nii! What are you staring at?”

Naruto’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped. “You’re Sasuke-teme’s brother!”

Itachi rose an eyebrow at the finger Naruto had poking into the center of his chest. Looking into the Jinchūriki’s eye, Itachi nodded his head. “So I am.”

“How—but you’re—and he’s—you can’t be—“

“I am…?” Itachi let a curious look drift onto his features and Naruto blushed, scratching the back of his head nervously.

“Hehe…I mean, you’re…you’re Karasu! You’re badass, you’re awesome, and—and Sasuke-teme, he’s such an arrogant little shit but you…” Naruto cut himself off as he realized what he was saying and slapped his hands over his mouth in horror. “Shit, sorry, no, he’s your brother so—fuck.”

“And here I thought Neko had washed your mouth out with soap years ago.” Itachi observed in amusement.

“Karasu-chan, now is not a moment for your sense of humor.” Naruto snapped quickly before gulping in realization. “Shit if you’re Sasuke’s brother then…then you’re Uchiha Itachi and you—the Uchiha clan and the shit storm you had Jiji deal with because you eradicated the Uchiha’s traditions and—holy shit you’re awesome Karasu-chan!”

Itachi was slightly disconcerted by the gleam in Naruto’s eyes. It was similar to when he discovered a particularly evil prank he could accomplish. Then his words register and Itachi couldn’t stop the snort that sneaked through his usual composed demeanor. “I didn’t mean to cause such uproar with my actions.”

“That makes it even better, dattebayo! Indirect pranking! Kicking old asses and making history!” Naruto was pacing back and forth in an excited manner before pausing, his eyes narrowed in thought before a foxlike smirk crossed his features.

“Karasu-chan, why were you so panicked about the bread?”

Disgust immediately crossed Itachi’s features and Naruto blinked in surprise for a moment before he snorted, slowly morphing into gut-wrenching laughter.

Itachi wasn’t amused, as evident by his deadpan glare. “You shouldn’t eat anything that looks like that. Do you know how sick you’ll get?”

“Nah, I’ve eaten worse than that. Like this one time I found some pork outside the butchers and it was kinda green but it tasted fine, I swear. The dirt was kind of disgusting but after I washed it off it was fine.” Rolling his eyes, Naruto peered up at Itachi curiously only to snicker at the sick look the elder had.

“How—why…” Itachi knew the answer. He didn’t like the answer, nor did he particularly like the fact that Naruto treated and intake of rotten food as normal.

Growling silently, Itachi decided that both Sasuke and Naruto would have to deal. Grabbing the blond by both shoulders, Itachi leaned down until they were nose to nose. “You’re eating at my house tonight. No buts, no arguments. Got it?”

Scrunching up his nose, the bewhiskered boy whined. “But don’t you live with the teme?”

“Yes.”

“Karasu-chan!”

Itachi ignored Naruto, rising to his full height and steering him in the direction of the Uchiha district. Naruto complained about Sasuke for several minutes before falling silent as his eyes darted around. Itachi now had a light hold on his wrist, ensuring that the boy wouldn’t bolt.

Naruto was more focused on his surroundings, though. He was steadily growing nervous the farther east that they went. The eastern sections of the village were the better off. They had money, they had the clan districts, they had roads that weren’t littered with trash or drunken forms. Naruto had lived in the western section for all his life and he only passively knew the ins and outs of the easterner’s lives. He knew how to avoid and sneak and disappear here. He didn’t know how to walk down the street like it was normal to be dragged here unless he was in trouble. That was when the Konoha Military Police actually caught him though, and that wasn’t a common occurrence.

“Hey, Itachi-chan,” Naruto knew better than to call an ANBU by their codename in a populated place, “you really don’t have to do this. I’ll just go back home and—and…”

“No.” Itachi could feel his eye twitch at the variation of his name, but he was thankful Naruto hadn’t mentioned his ANBU name. They were already attracting attention considering he was the Uchiha heir and Naruto was the village pariah.

Naruto remained silent from then on, but Itachi could hear the steady stream of near-silent curses filtering from the blond’s mouth. It was surprising how many words the preteen knew, and Itachi could only dread the thought that Sasuke knew them as well. Then again, Naruto’s life was strikingly different compared to Sasuke’s. Naruto knew how to evade ANBU capture, Naruto knew how to survive on the streets and live relatively harm-free within the Red Light District. Sasuke knew how to be a clan heir, Sasuke knew how to do several Uchiha Katon jutsu. Sasuke knew how to be a model student that didn’t cause problems. Naruto knew how to draw attention and scrape by in the Academy.

“We’re here.” Itachi announced as he tugged Naruto through the gate on the left of the path. Cerulean eyes bugged out at the sight of the clan head’s manor before sending a cautious glance towards the older man.

“Itachi-chan…”

“Itachi-nii!”

Naruto flinched, drifting behind Itachi with his head bowed and his fists clenched. Itachi was curious by that reaction and he glanced down to see Naruto’s nails indenting the flesh of his palm. Letting his hand slide from the boy’s wrist to his fist, Itachi loosened the grip before the blond started drawing blood. Turning his attention to Sasuke, Itachi didn’t see the widened eyes staring at the back of his head, or the way that Naruto had to forcefully tear his gaze away to stare at Sasuke with annoyance.

Sasuke had drawn to a stop on the porch of the large house, his feet bare and his features displaying actual shock. “Itachi-nii, why the hell is the dobe with you?”

“Teme.” Naruto growled darkly, eyes narrowed to slits and teeth bared in a silent snarl. Sasuke’s eyes darted to his for a moment before a flash of arrogant contempt crossed his features. Turning back to his older brother, Sasuke raised a curious eyebrow.

Itachi was watching the exchange curiously, wondering how his next sentence would pan out. “He’s staying for dinner.”

“What?” Sasuke questioned while Naruto tugged futilely in his grasp once again. Itachi ignored the blond’s struggle, his hand once again clenched firmly around his wrist.

“Where’s kaa-san?”

“Itachi? Are you home? What happened?” A pretty woman opened the front door of the house and Naruto blinked for several moments at the striking similarities between her and her sons. He ignored it after a moment, just as he ignored the fleeting memories of the woman giving him a cookie whenever he was waiting in the KMPF’s cell until his ANBU guard or the Hokage showed up.

“Would you mind if Naruto-kun had dinner with us?” Itachi questioned, tilting his head in the direction of the blond.

Naruto was scowling up at the Uchiha, his eyes narrowed in annoyance. An idea forming in his mind, Naruto turned to Itachi and Sasuke-teme’s mother and bowed formally as he tugged futilely against Itachi’s grip. “I would hate to intrude, Uchiha-sama. If you would have your son release me, I can leave immediately.”

Sasuke nodded in agreement, turning beseechingly towards his mother and ignoring his shock at Naruto of all people displaying manners.

Uchiha Mikoto, head of the Uchiha family, was staring at her elder son though and ignored the pleading look Sasuke was sending her. They were silently speaking in a collection of subtle facial changes. After a few seconds Mikoto smiled beautifully down at the blond Jinchūriki. “It’s no bother, Naruto-kun. I’m Mikoto and I’m always honored to dine with one of my son’s friends.”

She ignored the indignant squawk from Sasuke, the pleased silence of Itachi, and the muttered ‘captive, not friend, dattebayo’ from Naruto. Heading back inside and approaching the kitchen, Mikoto began fixing dinner for four. Pushing aside the memories of the last time she had done such a thing, Mikoto pulled out some rice and set to work.

Meanwhile, Naruto was gaping up at Itachi much like Sasuke was. Pulling himself together, Naruto let out a long hiss of breath. “Karasu.”

Amused at the fuming blond, Itachi patted his head comfortably before looking at his brother. “Careful, otouto. Don’t want to catch flies, do you?”

With a click, Sasuke shut his mouth and huffed out a short ‘Hn’ before disappearing into the house. When the door slide shut with a click, Itachi suddenly had a handful of annoyed Jinchūriki.

“What the hell, Karasu?”

Blinking slowly, Itachi shifted his gaze from the darkening sky that suddenly filled his gaze to look at where Naruto had a grip of his shirt, his short form balanced over his stomach. Cerulean eyes were narrowed and sparkling in annoyance, a drastic change from the bright sparkle they held a weak ago when he last had the blond this close.

Lifting a curious eyebrow, Itachi let a small smile appear on his lips. “What do you mean, Naruto-kun?”

Itachi chuckled quietly at the annoyed growl Naruto let out. A situation like this had only happened once before, when he had a more frequent rotation as Naruto’s guard. He had banned the boy from ramen for a week before the boy had snapped and attacked him. Itachi had then conceded and let the boy devour at least twenty large bowls of Ichiraku ramen before trying to give the boy a balanced diet. It hadn’t lasted for long, considering that was when he was issued to assassination order for his father. It had taken two years for the whole fiasco to settle down and now Itachi was just another normal ANBU Captain. Mostly, anyway.

Thinking for a moment, Itachi composed his features before peering up at the blond flatly. “Why were you scavenging in the dumpster, Naruto?”

The blond stared for several seconds before releasing his hold on Itachi’s shirt, sitting back. He seemed oblivious to the fact that he was sitting on Uchiha Itachi’s well-muscled stomach, as well as the fact that any number of Itachi’s fan club would kill to be in a similar position. Scratching the back of his head nervously, Naruto pursed his lips and let out a jumbled mess of a sentence.

“Hn?”

“I said my apartment got trashed again, dammit.” Naruto growled.

Eyes narrowing, Itachi adopted a serious air seamlessly. “And where exactly was your ANBU guard?”

“Dunno, they haven’t really been around recently.” Naruto shrugged easily, not really caring if the four were around. The Captain of that squad was an asshole, and Naruto would rather they stayed away.

Itachi was annoyed. Taking mental note to speak to the Hokage about changing Naruto’s protection detail, Itachi noticed Naruto’s dejected look and let out a sigh. “You were chased again?”

“Yeah. I’m gonna get the bastards back, though. Believe it.”

Itachi didn’t doubt him. He did however doubt his safety tonight. Thinking it over for a few seconds, Itachi decided he would ask his mother during dinner. Naruto wouldn’t leave in the middle of eating, his stomach wouldn’t allow it. Dismissing his thoughts, Itachi wondered what to speak of with the blond. He had a few questions, so that was probably the best place to start.

“So, why are you and otouto so hostile?”

“Sasuke-teme is a douche and I don’t understand how you two are related.” Naruto declared hotly, lips pursed in a pout and arms crossed defiantly.

“Yes, because that explains everything.”

Naruto stuck out his tongue teasingly before frowning in thought and shifting to get comfortable. Itachi didn’t know how he had still failed to realize their position, but he had a suspicion it was both due to his obliviousness and Itachi’s own nonchalance. The boy was twelve after all, what could happen?

“I guess I started it. Sasuke-teme is always good at the things we learn at the Academy. They call him a prodigy but I know he isn’t because I know when Kaka-baka graduated and that he became a Jonin by the time he was thirteen. If I remember right, you even became an ANBU Captain at thirteen. Meaning that Sasuke-teme needs to take the stick out of his ass ‘cause he ain’t that great. He has Ino and Sakura-chan falling all over him though along with the rest of his fan club.” Naruto looked disgusted at the mere thought and Itachi could share the sentiment.

“Is that all? He’s too arrogant?”

“And a jerk. He picks fight with me, dammit! Then when he beats me he acts all smug but I bet you if I could use my Sexy Jutsu without Iruka-sensei killing me then I would kick teme’s ass.”

“I’ll bet. Did you ever finish the Bunshin jutsu?”

A scowl instantly appeared on Naruto’s face, erasing the broad grin that had previously been featured. “No. They always end up looking like mush.”

Frowning at the comparison, Itachi pushed himself up without thinking, causing the blond to fall into his lap with a yelp. Blinking, Itachi stared down at the Jinchūriki nestled between his crossed legs for a few seconds. Naruto abruptly bounced away, his face aflame while Itachi watched him observantly for a few seconds before speaking. “Do the jutsu for me.”

“Huh?”

“The Bunshin. Do it.” Itachi’s Sharingan flickered to life and Naruto lit up at the thought of getting some help. Iruka tried to help but he just got exasperated most of the time and then one of his classmates would grab the Chunin’s attention.

Running through the handsigns with concentration, Naruto gathered the blue stuff like Iruka-sensei told him to do. With a cry of ‘Bunshin Jutsu!’ there was a puff of smoke on either side of him before two copies of him wavered where they stood before falling to the ground with a wet plop.

Wincing in embarrassment, Naruto looked up at Itachi sheepishly and scratched the back of his head. “Um, so, yeah.”

“I think I know what your problem is.” Itachi stated as he pushed himself to his feet.

Blinking in surprise, Naruto bounced in place excitedly. “Really? What is it? What, what, what?”

“You’re putting too much chakra into the jutsu.”

Itachi watched in surprise as Naruto’s face morphed into one of incomprehension. “Chakra?”

“Chakra…the energy that allows jutsu to work.” Itachi tried explaining simplistically.

“Oh, the blue stuff! I’m putting too much in the jutsu?” Naruto tilted his head in though before shrugging. “I just put the normal amount.”

If by normal amount he meant enough chakra to fuel three Suiton: Suiryūdan Jutsu, then Itachi wasn’t impressed. How much chakra was the boy actively wasting?

Letting out a slow breath, Itachi focused on the blond intently. “Naruto, do you have any chakra control?”

“Chakra control? What’s that?”

Withholding a groan, Itachi rubbed the bridge of his nose for a few seconds before sighing. “How many times do you actually pay attention in class?”

“Whenever Iruka-sensei talks about the Hokage or jutsu, dattebayo. When he starts writing the squiggles on the board I start zoning out though.”

“…squiggles?”

“Ya know, like this one. He always has it up.” Naruto squatted down in the dirt beside the walkway, quickly copying down the kanji for ‘shinobi’.

Itachi blinked for a few moments before releasing a slow breath that was both anger and incredulousness. The boy didn’t even know how to properly read?

“You can write your name can’t you?”

“Oh yeah, that’s easy. See?” Naruto once again drew in the dirt, sloppily writing down the characters for his own name. Itachi regarded the Jinchūriki for a several second before deciding to just ask.

“Naruto-kun, did anyone teach you how to write properly?”

“Nope. I had to copy everyone around me, but a lot of it’s difficult.”

The ‘what can you do?’ shrug that followed that statement put Itachi’s teeth on edge. Uncharacteristically violent thoughts were filtering through the prodigy’s mind before he took a calmly breath and tried to rationalize what he could do. There were many options, though Itachi disregarded most of them. Those that were left were either time consuming or unreliable. He could simply report this information to whoever is assigned as Naruto’s Jonin-sensei after graduation, or he could correct the problem himself.

In all honesty, Itachi’s faith in his fellow ninja was at an all time low in regards to the blond. He would be most comfortable personally teaching Naruto, but that could bring up several problems. First, he’d have to retire from ANBU – at least for a few months – and join the regular Jonin forces. Second, he’d have to deal with the disapproval of most of his clan members. Kaa-san would most likely support him, as she had little prejudice against the Jinchūriki – as evident by her casual acceptance of him joining them for dinner.

Most importantly though would be convincing the Hokage to approve Naruto’s apprenticeship. Knowing the old man, Itachi had a high chance of being saddled with an actual squad in return for the favor. However, there was a chance of succeeding without the added presence of two other Genin. Naruto was far, far behind – highly likely to sabotage towards his education – and that would take time to rectify.

Peering down at the blue-eyed boy who was looking up at him proudly for his limited knowledge, Itachi knew that he was trapped. Letting out a silent sigh, Itachi crouched by Naruto’s side and smudged the kanji he had drawn. Beginning his instruction, Itachi absently noted the completely focused expression of the blond. It seemed that Naruto would actually pay attention to someone who both had his respect and treated him like a normal citizen of Konohagakure.

It further cemented Itachi’s decision to become Naruto’s Jonin-sensei, even if that meant interfering with Kakashi-senpai’s well-known plans.

Translations

Suiton: Suiryūdan Jutsu – Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu

Konoha Military Police Force (KMPF)