Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Prologue

Mako decided early on he did not like Konoha.

For a village with healthy children running around, and Shinobi to protect it, they certainly forgot about the orphans. Especially after the Kyuubi attacked, a giant beast whose dark chakra still haunted his dreams. Everyone got busy rebuilding, mourning and learning their loved ones died. The Fourth Hokage sacrificed himself for Konoha, the Yellow Flash Namikaze Minato. Student of Jiraiya, one of the three Sannin. Minato’s death hit them all hard, as many still had fond memories of his bright presence and gentle blue eyes. At least Mako heard they did, by listening to people talk on the streets.

No one had anytime to do anything but gather the orphans and stuff them somewhere. Nor the resources. Money was spent on rebuilding stores and buying caskets. Mako only had two sets of clothes, all donated, and a pair of sneakers to consider his own. None of the other Orphans had much else. 

However that was not why Mako held Konoha in very little regard. 

Konoha, or rather the people who lived in it, treated a small child with such hate that Mako was unable to comprehend it. 

He watched from the rooftops as the blond child raced through the streets, with actual adults sending him glares. Shop keepers kicking him out of stores, refusing him food. Even the matron treated the kid less then dirt. Better then the last one sadly.

Mako tried to learn why, by listening to the whispers and conversations from the shadows. Hidden carefully away. Civilians never spotted him. Or when he lingered nearby they never considered he actually was eavesdropping. Or if they really cared no one said anything to him. Most of the village freely stated their opinions but never explained why they called a child the devil.

Monster. They called the blonde orphan. Murderer.

How could a child of five be such a thing? And why, when actual child soldiers were sent to the battlefield and considered heroes, did that particular orphan get singled out? 

If it weren’t for the guardians of the child, Anbu he learned they were called, who wore animal masks, the kid would be dead. Their past matron literally tried to kill Naruto when they were three years old. 

Mako knew she did, he saw it. Anbu could make themselves undetectable but a woman falling down to the ground spurting blood was hard to hide. He woke up initially to her heavy footsteps, played a sleeping child in his bed as he listened to her approach. When she raised a hand with a sharp Kunai in hand, not a moment later she fell to the ground. Dead. 

Hound. As Mako liked to call him because of the animal on his mask. Killed her. Mako froze in shock when he heard the cut off scream. Automatically trying to appear as unthreatening as possible. Thankfully he lived another night, as the Anbu simply took her body and disappeared. Mako sat up and stared at the blood stain for a few hours before he could finally fall back asleep.

Another woman came the next morning, an immediate hire. “Your last Matron moved, so I’ll be replacing her.” She had said. Mako only stared. The blood stain had vanished.

He learned from the furious villagers who spat curses at the boy what his name was. It was hard not to learn it, since every single person seemed to know it. 

Uzumaki Naruto.

A small but loud kid, with whiskers blue eyes, an obsession with orange and spiky blonde hair. 

Besides a small clan in Konoha, no one else had blonde hair in the village. Mako highly doubted the Yamanaka Clan would allow a child of theirs to be treated in such a way. So that left only one conclusion, in his humble opinion.

Uzumaki Naruto was related, somehow, to Namikaze Minato.

The only evidence Mako had of his theory, was the physical. Namikaze also had blonde hair and blue eyes. Controversly he proceeded to marry Uzumaki Kushina, the event was very small and only a few were invited to attend. Many did not agree with Namikaze marrying an outsider. But the two fell in love, no child was reported though Kushina was seen pregnant in the streets.

Naruto remained the only one with Uzumaki as a last name.

All of this Mako learned from listening. People talked a lot when they thought no one was around. Especially for a village used to Shinobi running along the roof tops. He figured some of them just thought he was a particularly young Shinobi and paid him no mind.

Mako could not use Chakra yet, since his core was still developing. Instead he climbed up the buildings by using any leverage available. Pipes, window sills, misplaced bricks, anything. His past life as a rock climber and parkour enthusiast helped him immensely.

Ah yes, and he was once again alive. 

Mako had very little to say about that matter, since nothing changed the reality he now lived. A few months into his new life he realized what happened, freaked out and then accepted it. 

Now Uzumaki Naruto held his attention. 

A strange child. Though many considered Mako strange too. They could never look into his eyes. 

He sat on the edge of building, feet dangling, and watched Naruto slip away from a furious villager. Said man was covered in paint, pink actually. A horrid color, nearly radioactive. 

“Haha that’s what you get!” Naruto shouted back, and turned down an alley. Mako lost track of him soon after. 

Indeed, the villager did in fact earn that particular prank. Mako agreed. The man had refused to let Naruto buy from his store. He swung his feet and watched the man huff and puff before he headed back inside. Presumably to wash off. 

Mako really disliked this village. And the hateful villagers. 

He climbed his way back down from the roof and jumped the last few feet down. Their orphanage was a few blocks away. He stopped to look at a particularly sharp katana hung in a window on the way back.

His reflection stared back. A boy with spiked brown hair and red eyes, not the Sharingan. The Uchiha sent to check him ensured Mako was not a bastard of some sort. Since the Uchiha felt very protective of their special eye magic. He could still hear the slightly relieved tone as the man said his eyes were normal. 

Mako broke away from his own reflection and imagined himself for a moment, wielding the sword. Cutting through his enemies with the grace of a trained killer. 

This world was far more dangerous then his last. They may not have military equipment like machine guns and bombs, but what they did have was much worse. Trained men and woman ready to die for their village. Some raised since age six to be child soldiers. Hatake Kakashi became a Jōnin around age 13.

Absolutely flabbergasting to him at first. Not so much anymore. These people simply wanted to survive, who was to blame them?

He resumed his walk and went back to the orphanage. A few children looked at him as he passed and said nothing. His room was in the furthest corner, away from everyone else. 

Naruto perked up when he entered.

“Mako!”

He offered Naruto a small smile and sat on his bed. Naruto had his own across the room. All the beds in the orphanage had the same thin mattress set on a metal bed frame. Mako was certain they purposely gave Naruto the most rusted one.

“I haven’t seen you all day, where have you been?”

“Around.” Mako replied. He pulled out a book from under his bed and opened it to where he left off.

Naruto huffed in annoyance. “No kidding, but where? I swear you’re invisible!”

“On the rooftops.” Mako replied.

“What?”

Mako pointed upward toward the roof, Naruto titled his head to stare at the ceiling.

“Roof.”

Naruto gaped at him. “Huh?! No way! How’d you do that?”

“I climbed up.”

“That’s so cool!” 

“I guess.”

Naruto bounced up and down on his bed, the frame squeaked threateningly. “Teach me how to do that!”

Mako peered at him over the top of his book. “Why?”

“Because! I want to be a Shinobi, I’ll need to learn eventually!”

“Maybe.”

Naruto widened his eyes, making them seem impossibly larger. “Please.” He whined. 

Mako looked back at his book and didn’t reply. The steadily growing pressure of Naruto’s gaze laid heavily on him. He tried to focus back on the words, but his mind refused. 

Unwillingly his eyes flicked back to Naruto.

The blonde pouted and leaned forward. “Mako, please.” He said, drawing out the ‘o’ in Mako’s name. 

Mako sighed. 

With a whoop Naruto punched the air and grinned at him brightly. Transforming back into the confident child he was. “Yeah I’m so excited! I told you Mako, we’re going to be Shinobi together!”

“I don’t know if I want to be one.” Mako replied. 

“You have to!” Naruto retorted hotly. “You’re my best friend!”

“I don’t think becoming a Shinobi is a requirement for be to continue to be friends with you Naruto.”

Naruto’s brows furrowed. “What re-re-requ- ugh! What does that word mean Mako?”

“A thing that is needed or wanted.”

“Oh! Then it’s a re-re”

“Requirement.”

“Requirement.” Naruto corrected. “It’s my requirement for you! I want you to become Shinobi with me!”

“Becoming one isn’t a simple task Naruto, and it’s very dangerous. Most Shinobi don’t live passed thirty, and that’s old.”

“But the old man is ancient!”

Mako tried to scan his brain for said old man, the only old Shinobi he could think of was-“Naruto the Third Hokage does not count.”

“He’s super strong though, and old! I just need to be strong like him and I’ll live forever!”

“That’s not an incorrect statement, just a very bold comparison. The Third Hokage is considered the ‘God of Shinobi’ Naruto. His teacher was literally the second Hokage. You cannot use him as reliable evidence for how long you will live.”

“What does comparison mean?”

“A consideration or estimate of the similarities or dissimilarities between two things or people.”

Naruto’s face scrunched up in confusion. “What does d-dissimilarities mean?”

“Difference, variance.”

“What does variance mean?”

“The fact or quality of being different, divergent or inconsistent.”

Naruto groaned and fell onto his bed. “Mako you make my head hurt, why are you so smart?”

“I like to read.”

Naruto grunted and stared at him with narrowed eyes. “Can you teach me how to read?”

Mako blinked, and then focused his full attention on Naruto. “You want to learn?”

“Kinda? I mean you know how to, and no one seems to want to teach me.”

His heart softened slightly. “I can do that, if you want.”

Naruto sent him a grin. “Really? Will I be as smart as you are?”

“You can be whatever you want to be.”

Naruto stared at him for a moment, blue eyes unusually intense and then turned away. “Thanks.” His voice sounded a bit gruff and Mako wondered if he was getting a cold.

“Are you okay Naruto?”

“Yea!” Naruto sniffed. “Just getting a cold.”

“I thought so.” Mako replied. “Let me know if you get worse, I’ll try to help you.”

Naruto’s voice was quiet as he responded. “Thanks.”

—-

Their friendship was created by many things. The past matron put them together, because they were both odd. Though Mako never realized that until he finally saw his own reflection at age three. As he looked out the dirty window of their room to see the oustide and saw himself for the first time. 

Mako with his red eyes and Naruto with his…well whatever made the villagers think he was a demon. 

Human nature really could explain their behavior though. At least when it came to isolating he and Naruto from the rest of the children. Odd things stood out, were out of the norm in society. So Naruto and he were outsiders. Mako accepted it, with the experience of one who lived another life before his current one. 

He did not think Naruto would ever accept it. Naruto could live a hundred lives and still remain the same stubborn and cheerful self he was. 

As children they grew up together, shared the same room. Mako saw everything. How the matron spat and cursed at Naruto as a babe. When she let Naruto sit in his crib and cry with a dirty diaper for hours. How she left Naruto for dead last when she began bottle feeding all the babies in the orphanage. 

Mako learned how to resent someone for the first time then. Truly dislike a person for merely existing. 

How could someone be so cruel to a babe that could not even walk?

Mako climbed out of his crib at eight months and into Naruto’s. As Naruto wailed in his crib in the dead of the night. He knew no one would come to soothe him. Naruto stopped crying as soon as Mako put a hand on his head. 

Naruto was just lonely, babies needed love. The matron put Mako back in his crib all of three times before she gave up. 

Sometimes Mako would wake to Hound watching them. The moonlight turned his hair a brilliant silver, and lit up his surprisingly youthful body. Mako blinked and Hound was gone, he never talked to either of them. Hound was a silent guardian. Why specifically for Naruto Mako could only guess at. Maybe because of his relation to the Fourth Hokage.

Since the matron refused to, Mako taught Naruto how to speak. Simultaneously while remembering how to speak himself. And crawl, walk, count to five and above. Raising a child wasn’t hard. 

They became official friends when Naruto decided it so. Not that Mako found it in himself to disagree. 

When the festivals hit, and the villagers chose to remember the day Kyuubi attacked, Naruto was hurt for the first time. At age four he finally started to roam around the village by himself, Mako never thought much of it. 

Then his friend came back with a massive bruise on his face.

Mako learned to hate for the first time. Not the sort of hate a child would throw at a parent in a time of anger. No, that feeling started to build inside of him as the years passed. Dark and angry, furious.

A child. He raged internally. Naruto was a child.

Naruto insisted on continuing to approach the villagers, force them to acknowledge his existence. Nothing good came of it. 

But Mako long since accepted that side of Naruto. Ordering his friend to do what came natural would never end well. So he could only support him, care for his wounds and watch. 

Always from the shadows, learning and considering the situation. His small body was incapable of protecting Naruto, as young as he was. So he just was there for Naruto. In ways no one else bothered to be.

Because Naruto had a beautiful soul, like the sun. No one could diminish it, not even the villagers. 

They became friends initially because of their close proximity, Mako would never regret it.

——

“The g-girl c-co-cou-“

“Could.”

“The girl could not be-be-“

“Believe.”

“Belive her eyes.”

Mako smiled. “Good job Naruto.”

Naruto huffed and set the book down. “Mako reading is hard.”

“I know, you’re doing well.”

Naruto sent him a suspicious look. “Really?”

“Yes, I don’t lie.”

“Yeah you don’t. Will I really learn how to read like this?”

“Eventually, just give it time.”

Mako accepted the children’s book from Naruto and put it under his bed with his other books. Mako was not a teacher, he had no idea how to really teach someone to read. Guiding Naruto while he read a book was the only way he could come up with to teach Naruto. Their orphanage had very little supplies to be ‘wasted’ on activities including Naruto. 

No one else wanted to teach him. The Matron held classes for the orphans daily, Naruto was never allowed. Mako could, if he wanted to, go to them. She didn’t hate him nearly as much. 

Mako would rather eat dirt then have anything to do with her.

Naruto got up and stretched. “Can we go play now? My brain feels all sluggish.”

“You’re the one who wanted to learn Naruto, you don’t have to.”

“Yeah but you do, a lot. I want to do that too.”

Mako stood up with him and ruffled Naruto’s hair, Naruto whined in complaint but allowed him to. “Let’s go play then.”

Honestly Naruto was too cute. 

Naruto grinned brightly and lead them out, the Park was only a few blocks away. A couple of kids played on the play set and Naruto visibly perked up.

Mako resisted the urge to tell Naruto to stay. His friend bolted off and instantly started to engage the kids in a conversation.

He stayed a few feet back and stared at the slide. Utterly uninterested. He knew how this would end.

“Hey do you guys want to play with us?” Naruto asked excitedly. “Mako and I were going to play Ninja!”

The group of kids exchanged looks, the bravest answered. 

“Mommy told me I should stay away from you.”

Naruto froze. 

“Yeah, my daddy would get angry if he knew I played with you.” Another said, awkwardly looking away. 

“Mommy says you’re dangerous, I don’t want to play with someone scary.” The third commented.

Naruto scratched the back of his head and laughed. His fake one he used when people treated him like shit. “Oh! Well okay! Mako and I can just play with each other then.”

The three kids exhanged looks. One slid to the side and walked away, the others followed silently. Leaving them to have the playground to themselves. 

A bird chirped in a tree, and Mako closed his eyes as the wind brushed against his face. 

He really hated this village.  

“I don’t understand.” Naruto said quietly. “Why don’t they ever want to play?”

Mako opened his eyes when Naruto sniffed. “I’m sorry Naruto.”

Naruto stared at him with melancholy eyes. Holding back tears that threatened to fall. Harshly he rubbed his face with his arm and straightened up. “Whatever! You’re more fun anyway!”

Mako wanted to say more, offer emotional support. Make things easier maybe. But what did you say to someone in this situation? That things would get better?

Mako had no evidence to support that statement. So he’d be lying to his friend. 

Instead he played with Naruto, running around the park and listening to what Naruto wanted. Together they went on imaginary missions and defeated enemy nin. Naruto always ended up the victor, and slowly became more cheerful as the day went on. The children were nearly erased from his mind.

After a few hours they laid on the ground together, and stared at the clouds. No one bothered them, a plus side to Naruto being repulsive to the whole of Konoha.

“When I become a Shinobi I’ll become one strong enough that everyone will have to see me,” Naruto said loudly. “I’ll be so strong that other Shinobi will run away on sight, my enemies will not even last three seconds against me.”

Mako turned to look at Naruto. Naruto had a determination etched in his face, his words sounded like an oath.

Sensing his attention Naruto met Mako’s eyes. 

“You’ll be my right hand man Mako! Together we will protect Konoha, no matter what!”

Mako sent him a small smile. “I haven’t even said I’ll be a Shinobi Naruto.”

Naruto stared at him intently, if he could his eyes could be little balls of fire Naruto was so determined. The sunlight made his hair turn into a blond halo around his face. “You have to be Mako, you’re my best friend.”

“You make it sound so simple.”

I don’t want to protect this place.

“It is!” Naruto insisted hotly.

However-. 

Mako gave in, he looked back at the sky. Naruto was always his biggest weakness. 

“I’ll be become a Shinobi with you Naruto, simply to make sure you don’t die.”

Naruto’s lips spit into a beaming grin.

“Then we’ll watch each other backs, no matter what. I’ll be the strongest Hokage, and you’ll be my right hand man!”

“Suddenly the prospect became so much more intimidating Naruto. Hokage is a hard position to achieve.”

I hate this village. Why would I protect it?

“I’ll be Hokage no matter what, believe it!”

Mako sighed. 

“I do. I believe in you Naruto.”

I will however protect you.

Chapter Text

“Look at this leaf Mako! Isn’t it cool?”

Mako looked at the leaf, one of the many that covered the ground, and smiled. “Yes Naruto, it is.” 

Naruto grinned back in delight, placed the leaf in the steadily growing pile next to Mako and returned back to his leaf hunting. Naruto had very specific qualifications for acceptable leaves. Yellow was okay, green was ugly, and orange. Orange was the best. Only a bright and pure orange though. If any other color tainted it Naruto threw it back on the ground. 

“This one looks like your eyes Mako!”

Proudly Naruto held up a crimson leaf and held it next to Mako’s head. Obediently Mako stayed in one place, sitting on the ground, as Naruto’s gaze switched between him and the leaf. 

“I’ll keep this one too.” 

Atop the orange piles of leaves Naruto set the bright red one down, and went back to his fun activity.

“Hey Mako?”

“Yeah?”

“When’s my birthday?”

Mako paused and stared at Naruto.

Naruto was on his knees, brushing through brightly colored leaves with a look of concentration on his face. The question asked felt like one a person would use for small talk. Nice weather isn’t it? How are you? 

When is my birthday?

“I-“

Mako opened his mouth and found no answer. 

Because, he had no clue about his own birthday. The Orphanage kept a record of all the kids in the building, most birthdays, when not known beforehand, were decided to be the ‘gotcha’ day. Or when the day the orphan arrived at the orphanage.

Belatedly he realized they never really celebrated either of their birthdays. Mako was too focused on the world around him to be worried about small things like that, and Naruto…

Naruto had no idea what a birthday was. 

“I don’t know.” Mako admitted. 

Naruto hummed and brought up a leaf to examine it, then tossed it away. 

“Are birthdays important?”

“Uh, maybe?” 

“You don’t know?”

“No, not really. It all depends on your perception of the day. Most people celebrate their day of birth by throwing a party.”

Naruto nodded. 

“Okay.”

Mako stared for a moment, a bit concerned about Naruto’s apparent serious episode.

“Are you okay Naruto?”

“You don’t know your birthday either, do you?”

Mako shook his head.

Naruto sent him a grin and held up a bright orange leaf. “Then I don’t care about birthdays, sounds silly.”

“Yeah.” Mako said quietly. 

He felt a bit like a failure. All he did for Naruto, teaching him to walk, talk, and now to read and he forgot to learn Naruto’s birthday. He stared at the crimson leaf atop Naruto’s special pile of leaves and contemplated. 

The sun was sinking low in the sky when they headed back to the orphanage. Without any way to keep track of time Mako learned how to read the sky. Everyone did, he realized, though clocks did exist. Shinobi certainly never seemed to wear a watch that he noticed, neither did any of the civilians. 

They woke up the next day to the matron harshly calling out to Naruto.

“Uzumaki!”

Mako sat upright in alarm immediately, his eyes locked in on the woman at their door. Her face was set in an annoyed expression, as always. Like waking Naruto up was the hardest thing she ever did.

Naruto only rolled over in his bed and continued to snore.

“Uzu-“

“What do you want?”

She started and looked at Mako in surprise, her eyes look everywhere but his own. “Oh, Mori-kun, I didn’t realize you were awake.”

He resisted the scowl that threatened to form on his face in reaction to his last name. Mori was an ambiguous surname name given to the Orphans who had none. It literally meant forest. Mori Mako felt like a silly name for anyone to say out loud, so he avoided using it. At least five other children had the same last name in the orphanage.

“I can wake him up, but what do you need?” He asked tightly. 

This woman lost any respect he had for her the day she started and treated Naruto like dirt. Now years later he felt no different. 

She huffed. “Watch your tone young man, someone very important is here to see the Uzumaki brat. Make sure he wakes up and washes up in a timely manner.”

“Fine.”

She left without another word and Mako relaxed. 

He slid off the bed and wandered over to Naruto. It took a bit but the blonde eventually woke up, not without complaining.

Mako hushed him. “That woman says someone is here to talk to you, so get ready.”

Naruto perked up instantly. “Really?! Who?”

“I don’t know, get ready fast so you can figure it out.”

Naruto instantly complied and raced around the room, picking up the stray pieces of clothing he left on the floor. They’d need to use the washer again soon, Naruto’s clothes were pretty dirty. 

Mako trailed after him as Naruto jogged down the hall, his friend paused at the entry way to the main living room and stared.

Mako slid behind him and peered at what made his friend act like he did. 

An old man dressed in white robes stood at the door, the black kanji for Fire on his triangular shaped hat. 

The matron shuffled nervously by the Kage and instantly lit up when she noticed them. Suspiciously she even smiled at them, at Naruto, who gaped at the old man. 

“Hello Naruto.”

In an instant Naruto was tackling Sarutobi with an excited shout. “Old man!”

“Naruto!” The matron admonished. " Hokage-sama should not-“

“It’s okay.” Sarutobi said softly and laid a hand on Naruto’s head. “It’s nice to see you Naruto, how are you?”

“Great! I’ve been learning all sorts of things recently! Oh have you seen the leaves? Aren’t they pretty? Do you think it’s going to snow soon? I love the snow. Maybe you could build a snowman with us!”

Patiently Sarutobi listened to Naruto ramble, Mako kept his distance and watched them silently.

The Third Hokage visited Naruto at least once a year, enough that Mako noticed the trend. Near fall, when the village was getting ready to celebrate the day the Kyuubi was defeated. A lot of people used the day to mourn their loved ones, or wandered around to look at the vendors and eat sweets they sold.

Mako never really met the old man himself, since Sarutobi seemed focused on Naruto. Probably because he was the son of Namikaze Minato.

Mako still was trying to figure out why Sarutobi allowed Naruto to stay in the orphanage at all. If the old man had a connection with Naruto’s parents Mako figured he’d want to take care of him. Maybe to avoid favoritism?

Sarutobi lead Naruto out of the orphanage without another word to the matron, while Naruto chatted to him excitedly. Mako hung back for a moment, then slowly started to follow. 

Just to make sure Naruto would be safe. 

Obviously the Hokage knew he was there, but he never said a word against Mako’s presence. Eventually he brought them to a empty field a few blocks down, drawing the attention of a few passerby’s. 

“Naruto I’m here to offer you a gift.” Sarutobi said, once Naruto ran out of information to tell him. 

Naruto jumped up and down in excitement. “Really?! What is it?” Impatiently he reached eager fingers toward the Hokage. 

Sarutobi laughed and place a set of keys in Naruto’s hands. 

Mako stared. Appalled. Happy for his friend of course, but mostly appalled.

Naruto narrowed his eyes in confusion at the keys. “What’s this?”

“Keys to your new apartment, I bought one for you Naruto. You can start living in it today.”

Naruto gaped at Sarutobi. 

“Really?!”

Yes, really? Mako wanted to shout. Naruto was just learning to read, shoving him into a place of his own was great and all-but Naruto didn’t even know how to cook. A well of frustration rose up in him at the idea of any child living alone at five. However, this opportunity allowed Naruto to escape. Maybe the Hokage was doing all he could to help Naruto. If the villagers saw Naruto receiving an apartment from the Hokage, who knew what would happen. Naruto would be able to have his own space away from the prying eyes of the public. 

"Until you're able to provide for yourself I have an account established for you with money available." Sarutobi said with kind smile. "With a weekly allowance, your parents asked it to be given to you before they passed."

Naruto stilled, with rounded eyes wide and shining. "My parents?" He whispered, near reverently."

Sarutobi nodded. "I'm sorry Naruto, I still can't tell you who they are. But know they loved you very much."

For someone so impulsive, Naruto understood the need for secrecy. Each year he'd either ask about his parents, or the Hokage mentioned them. The answer always was 'it's a secret'. Rather then shouting at Sarutobi for answers, Naruto instead turned to Mako with the keys held up.

“Mako look! We have a place now!”

Finally the Hokage’s eyes landed on his form, after Naruto consumed his attention like a moth to the flame. Sarutobi’s gaze felt heavy, like a physical weight pressed on his shoulders. He tried to keep his composure and appear unaffected.

The God of Shinobi, the Professor, teacher of the three legendary Sannin, and student of the Second Hokage. Naruto had no idea who he called ‘old man’ so carelessly. Though that was one of Naruto’s best qualities. He shared himself genuinely with everyone the same way. No matter who they happened to be.

Sarutobi’s gaze remained unreadable to him, though Mako noticed how his eyes fell down slightly to look at his jaw. He resisted the urge to cover it. No one else had noted them, Mako barely did until a few years ago. When they were only small and odd birthmarks. 

“I think Hokage-sama intended for you to live in it alone.” Mako said quietly. “But I’ll visit you.”

Naruto furrowed his brow. “Alone? What, why?!”

"Aren't you excited though Naruto?" He offered, to try and change the topic. "You have money now, so you can buy food. Haven't you been wanting to be able to pay for your food at the ramen place you like so much?"

The tactic worked. Naruto's true weakness would always been ramen. Hopefully whenever he became a legendary shinobi, and Mako had no question his friend would not be one, the word would not get out. Imagining a enemy trying to lure his friend with Ramen was hysterically comical, since Naruto would probably fall for it. 

"Oh! You're right!" Naruto chirped. 

Mako turned back to the Hokage, and his penetrating eyes. Undoubtedly Sarutobi knew of their friendship, with Hound lurking constantly at their window. Mako saw the ANBU all of two times in person, but ANBU were not prone to keeping watch over random children for fun. The only one who could order them to would be the Hokage and no secrets would be hidden between him and the ANBU.

Sarutobi instructed them, well Naruto, how to access the money and the apartment. Mako kept all the information in his mind, where to go, what to say, so Naruto would not have to. 

Right after the Hokage left Mako and Naruto headed to the bank. Naruto nearly vibrating as he chatted loudly about how excited he felt. 

The clerk treated Naruto with a little less distain then the other villagers. Mako allowed Naruto to take charge and quietly reminded him how to get the money. Once Naruto repeated the exchange enough Mako had hopes Naruto would be able to do it himself. Naruto was allowed 5 thousand ryo per two weeks, and ten thousand per month. Mako had to stop himself from showing the shock he felt at the amount they allowed Naruto. His parents had bank.

As to be expected though. The Uzumaki Clan was nearly wiped out but they surely still had money, and Minato undoubtedly saved his own. Thankfully the Hokage had enough foresight to keep a restriction on how much Naruto could spend. 

They tried to enter a shop, and were promptly kicked out. Immediately erasing Naruto's good mood, and pissing Mako off.

Child. He hissed in his mind, and grabbed Naruto by the hand to lead him away. Naruto is a child. 

"Why do they treat me like that?" Naruto asked quietly. 

A few people whipped their heads around to stare at them. On the right a mother ushered her children from their path with a burning gaze of hatred sent toward Naruto, and on the left a man purposely left his shop to stand in front of the door with his arms crossed. 

"Because they're fools." Mako snapped. A familiar rage stirred inside of him, like a spinning whirl pool of pure emotion starting to form in his chest. I hate this village. 

He sent a glare at an old woman who opened her mouth, perhaps to shoot vile words at Naruto. He didn't know. Whatever the reason she would be silent. Her wrinkled face paled slightly, she stumbled back and whispered something to herself instead. 

Mako stopped at the next grocery store a few blocks away and faced Naruto. The blond was looking at the ground, one hand still attached to Mako's while the other held his envelop in a tight enough grasp it wrinkled. Mako reached forward and touched it. 

"Forget them Naruto." 

Naruto pursed his lips and nodded. 

"I'll get you food." Mako said. "Just follow me inside and let me deal with the cashier, think of this like a stealth mission. Stay as quiet as you can." When a familiar spark of interest lit up Naruto's face, Mako knew he said the right thing.

"Okay."

Mako stepped confidently in the store, and walked to the first isle. Naruto stayed close beside him, a quiet shadow. When the owner looked up to greet them, he paused and his face contorted-Mako stepped purposely in front of Naruto so his friend was blocked and glared. Hands threatening to shake from how strong his anger felt.

The man balked, but still spoke. "H-he's not allowed-"

"You are a grocery correct?"

A nod.

"You accept money, correct?"

"Y-yes but-"

Mako curled a lip. "I have money, I'm just going to buy food and leave. Nothing else." Mako waved the thick envelop in the air, watching as the owner's eyes followed greedily. 

"Fine. But be quick about it."

Mako wished he could say more, truly threaten the owner. Maybe with his life. How dare he try and stop a child from getting food. Honestly, Naruto saw too much good in this village. Mako would never understand how. 

Under the hard gaze of the owner they picked out the food Naruto wanted, and brought the items to the counter. Mako dealt with the transaction, held back the instictive urge to cuss the man out when they got over charged and quickly left the building. Stuffing the envelope and left over money in the grocery bag, with a hand still holding onto Naruto. People stared as they walked to their next destination. 

"Demon..."

Within his mind a layout of the town spread before him mentally. Carefully memorized during his years of exploring on the rooftops. Only certain areas like the major Clans were unknown to him. Those compounds remained heavily guarded and far to difficult for someone of his age to snoop around.

Naruto's new apartment was actually pleasantly close to the village, but high enough Naruto was separate from everyone else. Mako counted three flights of stairs to reach his door.

He took a step back and motioned his head, Naruto offered a small smile with blue eyes already brighter with excitement, and opened the door.

"Wow this place looks nice!"

Truly it did. Mako watched Naruto wander around in amazement as he put away the groceries. Ramen if course, but veggies and breakfast items as well Naruto would eat. Nothing required any sort of skill with the oven or knives to make.

"Mako, look!"

He followed Naruto's voice and found him lying in a four poster bed with a blissed out expression. The whole house was already furnished. With a couch and bookcase in the living room, a dining table with chairs in the kitchen, and a bed with storage for clothes in the bed room. 

"That's great Naruto." Mako said, eyes flicking around the room. He'd been noting everything since the moment they arrived in the apartment. The place felt odd, not empty like a new apartment usually did. Just clean. No personal touches to make the house seem lived in. Still a keen sensation someone used to live here lingered. As if they cleaned up and left with no intention to come back. No evidence could prove his theory, so he kept quiet about it.

Sarutobi mentioned the money being from Naruto's parents, was it a stretch to assume the apartment was too?

"Looks like there's only one bedroom and bed," Naruto said. "So we'll have to share for now. Man am I happy the old man gave us this place! The orphanage was so lame!"

"I can stay here to help you settle in Naruto," Mako replied. "But I need to go back to the orphanage eventually. Your parents gave this place to you."

Naruto sat up with a frown and stared at Mako with disapproval. "So what? They didn't say you couldn't stay here. If they lived they'd be fine with you staying anyway. You're my best friend."

"I don't know if the Hokage would enjoy that Naruto."

"Huh? What's he have to do with anything?"

Everything. Mako wanted to say. He has eyes and ears everywhere.

"I'll help you learn how to cook, and figure out a financial budget so you don't blow all your money. We'll talk about where I'm going to stay after you're done learning."

Naruto scowled. "Fine, but you're going to live with me-ttebayo."

Mako forced himself to smile a little bit.

Did he hate the idea of living with Naruto? Of course not. However, he did feel uncomfortable living in a place primarily meant for Naruto. Like a freeloader or something. 

In the evening he showed Naruto how to cook ramen. Boiling water, when to put the ramen in it, where not to touch and when it was finished. Every small detail he went over. Naruto attempted to listen, with the way his brain worked the poor kid really struggled. So Mako promised to write the instructions down as well, and they ate dinner together. Afterwards, he showed Naruto how to use the shower and they took our own turns washing off. Being under a hot shower without fearing it turning ice cold was a luxury he fully appreciated. 

The house was slightly despite our small conversations. Usually the orphanage was always making some sort of noise. Children fighting or crying, conversations in the dead of the night and the ever present fear of the Matron trying to kill Naruto. Here Naruto was safer, and Mako felt a part of him settle at the realization.

Konoha treated him different because of his eyes, but Mako was still just an orphan. So when not around Naruto the villagers left him alone. Sometimes the older ones would stare at him oddly, with the same strange look Sarutobi did. Otherwise Mako was free to do as he pleased. If he used that to his advantage so Naruto built a solid foundation for himself things would run much more smoothly. 

At bedtime they shared Naruto’s bed together, and for the first time Naruto got to sleep on a real mattress. As he sat against the wall, Naruto curled at his hip drowsily Mako considered his next steps.

Naruto knew nothing about his family, and the Hokage was unwilling to tell him. Mako never received such an order though. In his mind anyone could connect the dots, so why purposely keep it from Naruto? His friend was from a clan that used to be allied with Konoha, they literally married into the Senju family. Naruto would only benefit from the information. 

Maybe if he pushed him in the right direction, one toward learning about the Uzumaki Clan Naruto could figure it out himself. If Sarutobi truly intended for Naruto to be naive to his family history the Hokage should have changed his last name. 

Mako ran his hands through Naruto’s hair and watched with a small smile as he instinctively pushed closer. 

No one could stop Mako from going to the library like he always did to read books. Surely they had information on the Uzumaki Clan for the public. They were a big part of Konoha history after all.

Chapter Text

The Library in its entirety was rather impressive for a world that had Feudal elements of the pre-Tokugawa period. With multiple book shelves full of well-kept literature and scrolls with no sign of age on them. He easily slipped inside without anyone making a huge fuss. Civilians and Shinobi alike seemed to share the same space, though he had no doubt certain documents and information was kept safely guarded in another location. He browsed the first floor for a bit to get an idea where certain topics were found, and then made a more purposeful effort to find his intended target. 

Konoha history.

Sarutobi may try to keep certain information from Naruto, but the Hokage would not stop the Village of Konoha from accessing their history.

Mako grabbed one of the books and flipped through the contents, scanning the information curiously. Naruto would undoubtedly be bored learning about history, but he had hopes once he brought up the topic of the shared last names between his friend and the rest of the Uzumaki, Naruto would listen. Listening was not his strong point, however teaching was Mako's.

Mako knew though, the issue of actually checking out the book remained. 

He glanced at the receptionist, an older woman with greying hair that sat at the desk near the entryway. She looked unassuming, at first glance. All the residents of Konoha did. Naruto seemed to trigger something in all of them that changed their behavior, so Mako knew to never assume kindness from any of them. If Naruto insisted on coming to the Library one day then they could try and see how she reacted to him. 

Mako grabbed the books he felt most reliable and set them on the desk the Librarian sat at. She paused her typing, looking at him over her oval spectacles. Rather obviously her eyes widened in surprise when they met his, then quickly looked away.

"Hello there, how may I help you young Uchiha?"

Mako paused. Then said, "I would like to sign up for a library card and check out these books please."

"These are rather big books for a child your age, though not very uncommon in our village. Especially for children from the Clans here. Are your parents here to sign some documents for you?"

"No, I'm an orphan."

She snapped her attention back to him, taking him in with more detail. "Oh my, I'm so sorry! I just saw the red eyes and assumed."

He remained unamused and motioned toward the books. "May I get a card for the library to check out these books?"

"I'm sorry dear, but you'll need a guardian's signature to receive one. You can ask your matron to come with you to sign a few papers for us though."

Mako nodded and picked up the pile of books. “I’ll just read then.” He set up at a table in the furthest corner where he could watch people coming and going and opened the first book. 

From time to time various different people left and entered the library. The Shinobi were the most interesting to him though, and he watched them over the top of his book. Keeping a sharp eye on the way they held themselves and walked. Shinobi would keep their footsteps silent by first stepping on the balls of their feet and slowly rolling them down so the heel touched gently. Assumedly using chakra as well to ensure no one but the most experienced noticed them. 

A technique Mako felt important to teach both himself and Naruto.

He noted a few members of Konoha’s clans were also in the library. Two Yamanka with their blonde hair, pupil-less green eyes and symbol on their clothes. In addition a young Nara browsed the scrolls on Chakra techniques and in the history section an Uchiha was picking his own book. With long dark hair tied into a low pony tail and the Uchiwa fan on the back of his shirt. 

Mako wondered if any of them would be open to training him, then quickly pushed the thought away. 

No one would train an orphan in the techniques of their clan. 

So he burrowed into the books, and started to read about the Senju and Uchiha, who first built Konoha together. Not much was revealed though, besides the names Hashirama and Madara. How they came to meet and eventually agree on founding the village was left out. Mako found that odd, as another book he had, one that talked about Konoha Clan history in general, said the Senju and Uchiha used to be enemies. 

So how did two extremely powerful figures and heads of each Clan reach a point where they wanted Konoha to be built? When a few years later they fought to the death, literally altering the landscape with the sheer power each Shinobi wielded. Maybe a difference in opinion? Or someone turned traitor? 

Many of the books tended to lean toward the Senju perspective, and nearly villainized the Uchiha. Labeling Madara as the one who caused the last battle with no explanation or details. Out of all the Clans the Uchiha seemed to be the ones most looked down upon and feared by Konoha, he set that information aside in his head. Uchiha were powerful yes, however any of the Clans had potential to be ‘evil’ in his opinion. 

Yamanaka were able to literally take over your body, Nara were not only extremely intelligent but also controlled shadows. If they entrapped your shadow with their technique you’d become immobile. Hyuuga could literally destroy a Shinobi’s Chakra disruption and were one of the best sensors the land of Fire offered. 

So no, Mako felt little more then interest as the books tried to sway him to one side. Only an in depth book specifically from each Clan could potentially tell him more. Mako had no such privilege to access that information.

The Uzumaki were mentioned in a few of the books, briefly. Known for their red hair, durability, Chakra, and fuinjutsu. Originally from Uzushiogakure they agreed on an alliance with the Senju and married Hashirama to Mito Uzumaki. That agreement was further symbolized by the integration of the Uzumaki Clan emblem into the very symbol on every Shinobi’s jacket, headband and even the official Villages own emblem. 

If the Uzumaki Clan held such an important part in Konoha history, why was the whole village blind to Uzumaki Naruto? Did the marriage of Hashirama and Mito mean more Senju and Uzumaki married as well? 

Was Naruto a Senju? At least distantly? 

Wait. 

He paused and scanned the information in his mind. Senju Tsunade was Hashirama’s granddaughter. Hashirama married Uzumaki Mito.

Tsunade was related to Naruto, because she too had Uzumaki blood in her veins. 

Mako stared into space for a moment as he processed the information. Tsunade left the village a long time ago, only saved from being a missing-nin because of her position in the village and perhaps a bit of weakness by Sarutobi himself. Really she had no attachment toward Naruto, not one he would consider being a good motivation to come back. Maybe even adopt Naruto so he had a parental figure. 

But that brought up another question in his mind. Were there any other Uzumaki in the Village? No matter how distant the relation. Probably. 

How would he find them though, and then talk them into ignoring the hatred toward Naruto so his friend could have a family? 

Desperately he wished to be fully grown, with money and independence. Being a Shinobi held very little temptation for him, perhaps though if he rose high enough others would listen to him. Or at least he’d be allowed to learn more about, well…everything. The history he found was missing very important parts and it infuriated him. 

Mako used that frustration to read the next book, one on the Chakra system and control. 

Education meant power for him, with no access to a teacher he needed to soak in what he could and bring it to Naruto. 

The Librarian had to remind him of the closing time Mako remained so immersed in his studies. Reluctantly he listened and meandered back to Naruto’s apartment. 

“Mako!”

A small body slammed into him and Mako staggered a bit to keep the both of them upright. He patted the spiky locks near his face in greeting. “Hello Naruto.”

Naruto looked up at him with a scowl, a few new bruises dotted his face. “Where were you? I was so bored today!”

“Well it looks like you got up to something despite me not being there, what happened to your face Naruto?”

Naruto huffed and stepped back. “Nothin’.”

Mako raised a brow.

“Fine! Some kids were being jerks and said nasty things, so I beat them up.”

“Naruto…”

“I know! I couldn’t just not do anything! They said you were a b-bastard!”

Mako sighed. “Oh, well that’s not the first time I’ve been called that. I’m sorry Naruto, did you get in trouble?”

Naruto shook his head. “No, I ran away before any adults could catch me. But Mako!” He whined. “Why did they call you that?”

“Are you implying that you attacked someone without understanding what they said?”

“What does implying mean?”

“Strongly suggest the truth or existence of something not expressly said.”

“Oh! Then yes!”

He rubbed at the bridge of his nose. “Naruto, please next time just ignore them. People aren’t going to stop saying nonsense about either of us unfortunately. I know it’s hard to, but I don’t want you to endanger yourself.”

Naruto scowled and crossed his arms. “No way, I won’t let anyone talk bad about my best friend. Besides what does that word even mean? I know it’s not good.”

“Most likely they assumed I was an accident between an Uchiha and a random woman.” Mako replied as he slid off his shoes at the entry way and walked into the apartment. “Because of my red eyes a lot of the villagers instantly think I have my sharingan activated without actually considering how silly that sounds.”

“What’s the S-sharongon?”

“Sharingan.” He corrected kindly. “Is a Dojutsu only used by the Uchiha, a Clan in Konoha. Primarily used for genjutsu, however they can also copy techniques and track movements not usually perceivable by the human eye.”

“Ohh that’s cool!”

Mako sent his friend a small smile and looked around the apartment. Empty ramen cups sat on the kitchen counter and he spotted a few new pieces of clothes scattered on the floor. “Did you go shopping today Naruto?”

Naruto perked up and grinned, he darted forward and raised an orange t-shirt proudly. “Yep! Isn’t this one cool? I got it for when school starts!”

“Very, I’m proud of you Naruto.” Mako said, nearly every piece of clothing was a bright orange. Not very indiscreet for a future Shinobi to wear but Naruto was no normal person. “How did the trip go?”

“Well the guy was a jerk too.” Naruto replied. “But once I made your face he listened!”

Mako blinked at his friend rapidly. “My face?”

“Yeah!” Naruto grinned. “This one!”

Rather abruptly Naruto’s face fell into an emotionless mask, so very uncharacteristic of his friend Mako felt shock reverberate across his body. Naruto’s eyes narrowed into a dark glare that stared into Mako’s eyes with very little space to breathe it felt like. A heavy weight of pure distaste and anger reflected in Naruto’s eyes, turning him far more mature and almost dangerous looking. 

Mako inhaled, blinked and then Naruto’s face was back to normal. 

The blonde grinned, completely unaware of how Mako felt. “The man instantly listened to me! He was so scared I found it kinda funny.”

“I look like that?” Mako asked quietly.

Naruto cocked his head then nodded. “Yep! Though your eyes make you look much more intimidating! I like them though! They’re really pretty!”

“Right.”

Mako took a deep breath and patted Naruto on the head. “Naruto you did a good job, try not to use that face too much though. Only for special occasions okay?”

Naruto nodded eagerly. “Sure! Oh and look I got you something!” 

Naruto grabbed up two pieces of clothing, one was a red shirt with a Uzumaki spiral on it and the other a pair of loose black pants. “So we match when we go to school!” He chirped, waving the shirt in the air so Mako could see the spiral. “I was gonna pick orange but that’s my color so red is yours.”

Mako let out a laugh, smiled at his friend gently. “Naruto, thank you.”

Konoha Shinobi Academy, Mako and Naruto joined soon after Naruto started to live in his own apartment. Compared to the library that required an adults signature, the Academy accepted nearly everyone. A general test would be placed for all the new students to gauge their chakra levels and skill but besides that most were accepted. War was not on the horizon but after the Kyuubi attack Konoha lost a lot of their ranks. So the village sought to fill them back up. 

Rather obnoxiously Mako’s stomach growled, and he flushed when Naruto stared. 

“Mako have you eaten today?”

“Well..”

Blue eyes narrowed suspiciously. “You just read all day, didn’t you?”

Mako nodded sheepishly. “Yeah.”

Naruto raised his hands in the air in exasperation. “Eat something! You’re such a nerd Mako, I don’t know how you forget to eat! Food is so good!”

“I just found some really interesting information.” He replied but listened to his friend and took out a premade onigiri from the fridge. “About the Uzumaki.”

Naruto froze.

“The Uzumaki?”

“Yep, wanna hear about it?”

“Y-yes!”

Mako sat at the dining room table and motioned Naruto over. “Come here then, there’s a lot to say.”

Naruto complied with wide eyes. 

For the next hour or so Mako explained all that he learned, and the additional tidbits he caught onto himself. Who the Uzumaki were, their traits and relation to Konoha, Naruto’s own relevance to them. Carefully he avoided naming Naruto’s parents, not keen to say them out loud as the ANBU were probably still watching them. 

When he was done they sat in silence for a bit, as he finished up his food and Naruto contemplated the information. 

Finally Naruto spoke up, his voice quiet. “So I have-had a Clan?”

“Yes.”

“But you don’t know if there’s any members left, besides Senju Tsunade.”

Mako nodded. 

“I could have family somewhere out there then, besides her.”

“Very likely.” Mako agreed. “They may not have your last name though, the Uzumaki were wiped out a while ago. You’d have to rely on their own knowledge, and your intuition on wether or not they’re your family.”

“Because we have unique Chakra.”

“Correct.” Mako replied, he looked at Naruto from the corner of his eye. Naruto gazed at the table, lost in thought.

“How come the old man never said anything, if the Uzumaki were so important?”

Mako shrugged. “I don’t know Naruto. Maybe he wanted to keep you safe, since many enemy Shinobi are keen to try and steal children from important clans to keep the bloodline for themselves.”

“People would do that?”

“Yes.” Mako said firmly, and caught Naruto’s eyes purposefully. “Naruto you have to understand for whatever reason this information is not well-known in the village. I only came to the conclusion myself after studying for hours and listening to the villagers talk. You can’t just start proclaiming you’re from the Uzumaki Clan. I know it sounds silly, but if the wrong person heard you could die or be kidnapped.”

Naruto nodded. “Okay.”

“That doesn’t mean you can’t be motivated to do something about it though.” Mako continued. “Become the Shinobi you want to be, train hard and become powerful. Learn more about the world, about your Clan. Then act.”

Mako in no way expected Naruto to come up with any solid plans at the moment. His friend was only five and constantly struggled to find his place in the world. He only hoped by sharing the information he learned Naruto would be more educated in general. Since everyone else seemed keen to withhold who he was from him. 

Mako drew the line at telling Naruto who his parents were, since that involved a level of secrecy he felt unwise to share in general. The information was there for his friend though, so was Namikaze Minato and his legacy. Uzumaki Kushina may be more mysterious but how could the fourth Hokage not be known?

Time would only tell how his effort to help Naruto out affected the future. 

——

The Academy opened up around the middle of fall, when the leaves started to fall and the days grew darker. Mako helped Naruto prepare by instructing him, building up his reading and writing confidence, showing Naruto how to climb up walls like he did and talking to him about chakra. 

Naruto proved himself to be a diligent but easily distracted student. Mako planned their ‘class’ sessions around breaks to allow Naruto to do as he pleased. For whatever reason Naruto insisted on interacting with the villagers and children of Konoha so Mako let him. Naruto always came back, and when night fell and Mako attempted to go back to the Orphanage Naruto would plead for him to stay. 

Most nights he’d stay. Others when he calmed Naruto down and went back to his own ‘room’. He’d lie on the thin bed and stare at the ceiling. Contemplating his new life and the danger it held. What he wanted to do and how soon the life of a Shinobi would kill him.

The Matron couldn’t careless about most of the orphans, some of them would disappear without a trace, others Mako spotted finding their own ways to make money. Mako was just one of the many, so she never questioned his habits. Nor did he ever ask her to sign the document from the library to allow him to check the books out.

When not with Naruto he stuck to the rooftops or in the library. Always seeking out knowledge, listening and watching.  

His new world was fascinating, with what seemed like endless amounts of information available. Untold history and opinions long lost in time. 

However the only problem he ran into was his face. 

Red eyes was one thing, many Shinobi had weird eyes. Konoha was just a bit unfortunate for him to be born in because of the Uchiha. Most people automatically assumed he was one, which he figured kept them away for the most part. 

Mako felt a distaste grow for the…marks. Mostly because he knew that they signified, and if they continued to grow others would start to connect the dots. He refused to be put into the spotlight, not in the very village that treated Naruto like shit. 

So he, rather begrudgingly, asked Naruto if they could buy him a face mask. 

Naruto sent him a weird look but agreed, and the next day Mako bough a black cloth face mask. Many of the Shinobi stores had them, since Shinobi valued discreetness. For a while he found it a bit annoying but light enough to breath through. It certainly worked though, the older people of Konoha stopped sending him weird looks. 

Soon he hoped to disappear from their thoughts entirely.

The morning of the entrance exam was one of chaos. 

Naruto raced around in anxiety and excitement, screaming about everything, while Mako tried to ensure they both got ready. Naruto with his new clothes, a orange shirt and spiral with cargo shorts, and Mako with matching shirt but red, long black pants and mask firmly on his face. 

They arrived with fifteen minutes to spare. A small crowd of people remained, most he identified as members of a Clan dropping their children off for the first time. It seem many of the major clans had heirs attending school the same time Naruto and he did. Interesting, perhaps a bit unfortunate since it would set the bar high for children without clan heritage. 

He eyed the Uchiha that drew his attention, the head of the Clan Uchiha Fugaku stood with his wife and their child. A boy Naruto’s age with raven black hair spiked in the back. When Fugaku’s eyes became drawn to both he and Naruto, Mako quickly looked away. 

People murmured around them, glancing at Naruto with eyes of hatred and loathing. Adults mostly, who then subconsciously influenced their children to act the same way. 

“Look it’s him…”

“I can’t believe the hokage allowed that to attend the academy.”

Stick and stones as the quote went, the fact remained that no one would handle the hatred of Konoha well. Mako felt a familiar anger rolling in his gut, like a storm brewing over an ocean. Naruto shuffled under their glares, and Mako grabbed his hand in tight hold. Blue eyes shot a glance at him and Mako squeezed Naruto’s hand. 

It’s okay, I’m with you. 

Naruto’s eyes firmed silently with his support and he watched as Naruto stood a bit taller. 

Good. Stand tall, show them who you are.

Once the time arrived for the exam to start a teacher stepped out, one with a scar across his face. He scanned the crowd holding a clipboard in one hand. 

“Hello I am Umino Iruka, an Academy instructor.” Iruka greeted cheerfully. “As you all know an entrance exam is required for every prospective Academy student to enter. We don’t expect any flashy tricks of course, the exam is simply a way to gauge where each student stands and who will fit into the course the best. It will be cut into two parts, the first is a written one where the student will be tested to see what knowledge they have and the next will be physical.” Iruka motioned toward the large yard next to them and the few dummies standing along the tree line. “Things like durability, chakra control and their reserves in general will be tested. A quick spar will also take place between the students. Tomorrow the result will be posted on the board to my right with the students number I will hand out to them in the list of accepted students.”

Mako exchanged glances with Naruto, lips pursed. 

Already the Clan children would have a massive advantage. At least he had been helping Naruto learn and helping him gain strength as they climbed around Konoha. Naruto would have to use his own genius, which Mako was certain he had, and sheer luck to pass.

Mako would try his hardest to actually try hard. Not that he was very good at fighting, but only a small amount of motivation currently propelled him to do this. One purely driven to be able to access more information about their village and to better help Naruto.

Naruto nervously smiled and Mako felt a sympathetic twinge. 

He leaned closer to Naruto to whisper. “You can do it Naruto, I believe in you. We’re going to be Shinobi together, remember?”

Naruto’s eyes wavered and for an alarming moment Mako thought he was going to cry. But Naruto held them back and a genuine grin spread across his face. 

“Yeah, together-ttebayo.”

“Now can I please have the children form a line to enter the building, the written exam will start shortly.”

Chapter Text

“Since being spread by Hagromo, better known as the sage of six paths, Chakra has become a form of life energy that all individuals produce to some degree; those who run out of Chakra will die. Produced within the ‘Charkra coils’ that mainly surround and connect to each chakra-producing organ, the energy circulates throughout the body in a network called the ‘Chakra Pathway System’, which is similar to the cardiovascular system.”

Rubbing his head which felt like it was about to be split open thanks to the massive headache he had, Naruto started to slightly regret his decision.

Naruto was not the best at smart things anyway. Not like Mako whose words spilled out like a dictionary and held such a vast amount of knowledge Naruto struggled to grasp where it all came from. 

He fiddled with the pencil in his hand as he attempted to force his brain to listen. So many other things held his interest. Like planning to prank the Academy for putting him dead last in the scores for the written test. Why did Shinobi need to take tests anyway? He won a lot of spars during the physical test, and accidentally destroyed the leaf they gave him to put his Chakra into. Naruto felt cheated that a piece of paper made him end up so low ranking on the list of accepted students.

“Shinobi have learned to generate more Chakra and release it outside their bodies through pressure points called tenketsu-”

Granted Mako was pretty low on the list too. His friend apparently aced the exam, landing in second place behind some kid with the last name Nara. People acted like that was a big deal. However Mako did really terrible during the spar, Naruto at one point just ended up feeling bad for his friend. 

“-and a big purple bear arrived and started to sing sweet songs to all his neighbors. Are you listening Naruto?”

Naruto looked up from the scribbles on his paper. “Yeah, the purple bear started to sing sweet songs-” He paused and furrowed his brow. “Wait, what?!”

Mako lips turned up in amusement, now that he had the stupid mask off his face Naruto could see his expressions. For whatever reason Mako wanted to hide those red marks on his cheek and chin, Naruto thought they looked cool.

Kinda like his whiskers, if Naruto hadn’t been told otherwise he would have sworn they were related somehow. 

“Is something on your mind Naruto?” Mako asked gently. 

Naruto sighed and slumped against the kitchen table. “Learning is hard Mako, are you sure I have to do it?”

“Unfortunately yes, especially if you want to be Hokage one day Naruto. Hokage-sama learned this information around your age as well, if not younger.”

“But it’s boring!” Naruto whined. 

“Would you like to take a break?”

He perked up, grin blooming on his face. “Yes! Hey, are we going to go to the Kyuubi festival next week?"

A dark look crossed Mako’s face, one that meant he was thinking bad things about the villagers again. Naruto knew the adults were mean, and the children never wanted to play with him but he still liked everyone. Though sometimes he got sad since no one would explain why they hated him so much. 

Mako just felt very strongly about certain things. A lot of good things too, like learning and taking care of people. The villagers were a bad thing for him. Most people would never notice he cared for others, since he always had a glare on his face while in public. 

Also since Mako told him about the Uzumaki, Naruto felt a curiosity grow inside of him. Apparently the Uzumaki were important, important like the Uchiha and Hyuuga. 

Thinking about the Uchiha made him remember that kid with the black hair who beat him in a spar during the physical test. Mako told him the weird fan on the back of his shirt meant the jerk was from an important clan. Just like the spiral on theirs symbolized the Uzumaki, but no one acknowledged Naruto for being one. 

Why not? Naruto promised to not make a big deal about it so they wouldn’t draw too much attention. But still.

Naruto wanted to know. Maybe he’d ask the old man Hokage when he visited next year. 

“If you really want to go to the festival we can.” Mako finally said. Naruto jumped out of his inner monologue to pay attention to him. “But you have to promise to stay close to me.”

“Yeah I will.”

Mako probably still remembered last year, when Naruto went for the first time and got a black eye. Honestly Naruto felt a bit more safe with a friend coming with him, people seemed to leave him alone more. Especially when Mako scared them off. 

He shuffled a bit in his chair, fighting with his mind and emotions. 

Because he did want to learn, Mako was the only one who seemed willing to teach him. At the same time, going outside and running around sounded a lot more fun. Maybe Mako would help him train a bit so they could both get better at being Shinobi.

“You can leave Naruto, this isn’t school.” Mako commented lightly. “If at any point you feel bored with this just let me know and we’ll take a break.”

Naruto grinned at him. “And you’ll train with me?”

Mako blinked, then nodded his head. 

“If that’s what you want.”

“I do! You’re kinda bad at fighting Mako, no offense. I can show you a few of my own tricks!”

“I was pretty pathetic during the test wasn’t I?”

Naruto laughed. 

“Yeah! But that’s okay! I know of a training ground we could go to, come on!”

He darted out of the chair and left the apartment. Glee filling him enough that the glares of the villagers didn’t bother him as much. Not when he could hear the sound of footsteps following him. 

Mako made a lot of things better. Naruto had no idea what he’d do without him.

They both ended up a panting mess when they arrived, Naruto may have overestimated how far away the location was from them. Mako even laid on the ground for a bit to catch his breath, his mask was hastily shoved over his face so a red mark peeked out of the corner. 

“Naruto you need to slow down a bit.” Mako huffed, his fingers fixed his mask without needing to be told out loud. “I’m not as physically fit as you are.”

“You crawl around the roofs all the time Mako!” Naruto chirped. 

“Strength and cardiovascular fitness are very different things Naruto.”

“What’s card-cardio-“

“Cardiovascular Fitness is a measure of how well the heart, lungs, and blood vessels can transport oxygen to the muscles during exercise. Basically I don’t run very much, so I’m slow.”

“Ohh. I run all the time!”

From the villagers when they got mad, away from those people who caught him in a prank. A man chased him down the street one day because Naruto looked his direction. Mako kept to the rooftops like some sort of bird, so most people barely even noticed him. Thankfully once Naruto got a hang of the weird wall crawling his friend learned, escaping became much easier. 

Mako eventually got up and dusted himself off. Naruto thought he looked pretty cool wearing the new clothes, the red shirt was nearly the same color of Makos eyes. 

“So how do you want to go about sparing anyway?” Mako asked.

Naruto held his chin thoughtfully. “Maybe we can just attack each other?”

Mako deadpanned. “Naruto that sounds like a horrible idea, we should create a plan specifically to ensure we become more skilled. I could go to the library and read a few of the Taijutsu scrolls they offer so we know what forms to use.”

He waved his hand. “Nah, you’re super smart Mako but sometimes you over think things. I just fight instinctually and it works out eventually.”

“Naruto I don’t know how logical that sounds-“

“Just trust me-ttebayo.”

Mako hesitated, then nodded. 

“Okay.”

Perhaps learning specific techniques would help them in the future. But Naruto survived the streets, and bullies, with his brawling style fine. Besides, Mako really just needed to know how to fight in general. Naruto could help him with that. 

Naruto fell into a solid stance and smiled. 

“Go ahead and try to attack me.”

Really he had no idea what to do. But that was what made it so fun!

—-

The next day they went to school, officially for the first time. 

Mako had to remind him about this lunch three times, and his shoes two but they made it out of the house eventually. Naruto with a piece of toast in his mouth from the breakfast they had, and Mako who jogged next to him still zipping his backpack up.

A familiar surge of excitement welled up inside of him. Because, they were really going to Shinobi school! For a few years Naruto knew he wanted to be one. Since looking at the four Hokage’s faces and learning about how everyone respected them Naruto knew that was his destiny. He even looked like one of them. 

Mako took a bit longer to agree to being a Shinobi, but Naruto knew he’d be a great one. If they ended up on the same team, and he really hoped they did, Mako could be like Tobirama Senju. A man his brother talked to him about a bit ago, who was known for his genius. The whole story of the First and Second Hokage had been so interesting. Hashirama especially sounded really awesome to him. Being able to use his special Chakra to grow trees and help build Konoha. Naruto could already see them being like Hashirama and Tobriama when they got old enough, though Mako didn’t have to be the Hokage.

Brothers. They could be brothers too, no matter what blood they had.

He skidded to a stop at the gates, a few kids cast him looks and the parents dropping them off started to glare. 

He straightened and focused on the school. No one would be able to ruin his first day. 

Mako was a calming presence next to him as they walked to class, and listened as Naruto talked about nearly everything.

Their classroom was set up with multiple long desks facing a big black board, the students that already arrived glanced up when they arrived. 

“I’m Uzumaki Naruto!” Naruto declared loudly. “And I’m going to the next Hokage!”

The teachers face contorted as the children started laughing. Naruto wasn’t certain what they found funny but he grinned anyway. 

Mako sighed and walked into the classroom. A few girls swung their heads to watch him as he passed. 

“Oh that’s that one boy, the cute one with the mask!”

“I heard he almost beat Nara Shikamaru in the written exam.”

“He sounds so dreamy and smart.”

Naruto furrowed his brows and looked at Mako, trying to figure out what about him seemed dreamy. Mako’s eyes were pretty but he was no Prince Charming. Naruto still felt sore from their training session yesterday, Mako was brutal during their spar. Naruto may still have won but his friend was fast. 

How did he learn so fast anyway?! Not fair!

Mako sat in the back by the window and Naruto took a seat next to him. As the rest of the students filed in Naruto watched them all curiously.

A pretty girl with Pink hair and bangs that covered her eyes walked in, followed by a boy with a short spiked ponytail and his rather chubby friend who had a bag of chips in his hand. They sat in the chairs next to where Mako and Naruto’s table was. Another boy with weird triangles on his cheeks had a dog on his head sat down, and started to chat with a shy looking girl with odd milky colored eyes. 

When the boy who beat him at the spar showed up, Naruto felt himself bristle. 

Girls in their class started to instantly call out to him with cheerful voices, far louder then they were with Mako. Like the jerk was the most amazing person they ever met. 

Right, Uchiha Sasuke. He reminded himself. Mako said his name was Uchiha Sasuke. 

Sasuke did have a pretty face, Naruto would never admit that out loud. However beating him with that smug look completely destroyed any attractiveness Sasuke could possibly have. 

Sasuke glanced at him and then deliberately looked away. Not in the usual way the villagers would, but in an obvious manner that spoke words on what he thought about Naruto.

Naruto growled. 

“Jerk! I’ll beat you next time!”

Everyone turned to stare at him, but he didn’t care. 

Sasuke just ignored him and sat in the opposite side of the classroom. One of the girls nearby him turned a weird shade of red. 

Naruto huffed and sat back down, he glanced at Mako to check in on how he was doing.

As always Mako just was watching everyone, taking in the whole environment with sharp eyes. The mask was back on his face so Naruto had a hard time seeing his face, but the look in his eyes usually meant he was learning.

About what, Naruto didn’t know. Mako could learn about anything. 

“Alright settle down everyone!” Their teacher shouted. The classroom quieted for a bit, and Naruto eagerly waited to hear what the man was going to say. 

Because surely they were going to learn something super awesome, like how to defeat enemy Shinobi or use a cool technique-

“I know it’s your first day so I’ll take it easy on you guys by going over Chakra and how to use it, next week we’ll be learning how to actually utilize Chakra in a Jutsu-“

Naruto slumped and covered his head with his arms.

More things about Chakra? He looked at his friend from the protection of his arms.

“Mako can you see the future?” He whispered loudly.

He could see Mako’s lips twitching under the mask. 

Naruto really hoped the jutsu they would learn was going to be interesting. Because school was already sounding like a chore. 

Because a lot of what the teacher said was boring, Naruto ended up zoning out entirely. Thinking of badass Shinobi adventures and finding more of the Uzumaki Clan as he got older. Finally when he almost fell asleep they were let out for lunch and Naruto eagerly grabbed up the lunch box Mako offered him.

The school yard was big enough that the class was able to spread out as they ate without being too bunched in. Though the air was slightly chilly because of the fall weather most of them chose to eat outside. 

Mako sat himself next to the swing Naruto sat on, as Naruto watched all the kids chat with each other. 

A sharp longing tugged at his chest as they all laughed, some seemed to have just met and already were becoming good friends. Though the pretty pink-haired girl was alone, and Sasuke was nowhere to be seen. 

None so much as approached him. 

“Naruto.”

Naruto broke out of his thoughts to look at Mako.

“Are you okay?”

Naruto forced a smile on his face. “Yeah! Just wanna make friends but I’m not really sure…”

How to. He wanted to say. Or if they want to even be my friends. 

Nervousness was not usually a hurdle he had to overcome. A new environment full of children he’d be spending years learning with was a big jump. Most of their parents probably hated him already. 

“You should talk to Nara Shikamaru and Akimichi Choji.”

Naruto blinked, and cocked his head. “Who?”

Mako’s eyes curved in amusement, and his friend motioned to the left. 

In the furthest corner sat the boy with the spiked ponytail and his chubby friend. The ponytail kid, Shikamaru apparently, wasn’t even eating. He just stared at the sky while his friend Choji stuffed his face. 

“Why?” Naruto asked, genuinely curious. Both boys seemed rather…boring? 

“Nara-san is intelligent enough to not allow society to influence his opinions without gaining evidence himself,” Mako replied. “And Akimichi-san in general seems to be a kind person.”

“How do you know so much about them?”

“Nara-san is from a very important Clan here, you can tell by his last name, clothes and appearance. Besides, he beat me at the exam so of course I needed to learn more about him.” Mako’s tone turned a bit annoyed at the end, like Shikamaru beating him was enough of a reason to stalk him. 

Naruto tried to imagine his friend lurking on the rooftops gathering information about Shikamaru and could clearly envision it. Mako would definitely do that. 

“So they’re nice?”

Mako shrugged.

“They will be the least likely to cast immediate judgement, of course you will need to actually befriend them like you would any normal person.”

“The way you describe them is so…”

“Informative?”

“I guess?” Naruto replied. “You sure do gather information fast Mako.”

“I have to, I hate being surprised. Also bring your lunch with you.”

“Right.”

Naruto decided to listen to his friend. He got up from his swing with lunch in hand and hesitantly walked over to Choji and Shikamaru. The distance between them seemed so large now as he walked across the lawn. Surely everyone was watching him with suspicious eyes.

But Naruto was brave. So he pushed onward, and forced the hesitation aside. 

Choji peered up at him as he stopped a few feet away from where they sat.

“M-my name is Uzumaki Naruto.” Naruto said, and straightened out his shoulders. “Do you want to be my friends?”

Shikamaru cracked open a dark eye. “Sounds troublesome.”

Naruto deflated instantly. Mako was wrong, as odd as that sounded. These two wanted nothing to do with him just like-

“Come on Shikamaru.” Choji urged. “Look at his food.”

Naruto glanced down at the Bento Mako had made. A few pieces were missing because Naruto ate them but the whole things still looked really good. Perfect even. Two Onigiri sat in it with smiles on their faces. Around the Onigiri, thinly chopped veggies and a few tiny hot dogs cut to look like they were grinning were placed delicately. 

Choji was nearly drooling at how eager he was. 

Shikamaru groaned. “You and your food, fine, but no yelling.”

“I definitely won’t yell-ttebayo.” Naruto proclaimed loudly, and sat on the ground. He offered the food to Choji. “Here wanna try?”

Choji nodded enthusiastically and grabbed up an Onigiri. As soon as the rice was in his mouth the boy’s eyes started to sparkle. 

“This is good!” Choji said, though with the food in his mouth Naruto could barely understand him. 

Shikamaru sighed and closed his eyes. 

Happiness bouncing like a rubber ball in his body Naruto laughed. 

Friends, he was making friends. 

—-

The next week Naruto reminded Mako of his promise to go to the Kyuubi festival. Since Mako was trying to avoid it. Mako accepted eventually and followed Naruto out to the streets. 

Naruto’s head was filled with school, because the teacher was trying to teach them hand signs for Bushin no Jutsu, and filled with the festival. 

Beautiful orange lanterns hung between the buildings as the vendors called out to the crowds. People dressed in nice kimonos walked through the streets, some wearing masks on the sides of their heads or carrying food that smelled really good. 

Naruto bought him and Mako kimono as well, Mako of course got a red one and Naruto wore the best one. A bright orange one. Mako cautioned him to not spend too much money since the budget was limited but Naruto wasn’t too worried. 

If they ran into an issue Mako would figure it out. He always did. 

Because of the crowds he was left unnoticed for a while. With the ease of a small child who was used to slipping around unnoticed he wove through the crowd. Stopping to admire a few trinkets, or the food he saw so many people buying.

He tried to buy some Taiyaki but the jerk started to cuss at him so he left before people started to stare. 

A stand with masks was interesting as well, so he tried to buy one. 

Once the owners eyes met his own he recognized the hatred. His smile slipped off of his face, replaced by a dark glower. 

“Get out of here!”

Naruto stayed put, and offered the man some money. 

“I wanna buy a mask!”

“No way brat, go bother someone else!”

Naruto scowled. “No! I have money, just give me one and I’ll leave.”

The man snarled, it contorted his face to make him look evil. Like a demon. He reached up a hand and tore down one one of the masks. 

Naruto opened his mouth to object, because he didn’t want that one. No he wanted-

But the mask hit his face and he tumbled down, a few people scattered around him to avoid tripping and eyes landed on his form.

So many eyes.

Whispers started to spread across the street, women pushed their children away and a baby started to cry. Naruto’s face stung from where the mask hit it. He stared blankly at the mask, and the fox-like face grinned back.

“Go away demon!” The shop owner shouted. “That mask fits you best, I don’t want your money!”

“God he really is out and about on this day, I can’t believe it.”

“Ssh remember we’re not supposed to say anything, that owner is really pushing his luck being so loud.”

“Demon…”

“He’s dangerous…”

Naruto felt his eyes start to sting and he grabbed the mask, blindly taking off. The world blurred around him, someone complained as he bumped into them and turned into an alley.

When the darkness finally hid him from sight Naruto stopped. He stared at the mask that hung limply in his hands. 

Why a fox? The Kyuubi killed all those people right? Why did the owner make him take it?

Abruptly he realized he was utterly alone. He stood up straight and looked around. Mako was nowhere to be seen.

Actually he couldn’t remember the last time he saw Mako. They probably lost each other once Naruto got immersed in all the festivities.

He let out a loud sigh and wiped his eyes, refusing to let them fall. 

Whatever, none of those people would bother him. He was Uzumaki Naruto. 

“There you are.”

Instantly the hair on the back of his neck stood up. Naruto gulped as his blood turned cold and he looked toward the voice. 

Three men stood at the end of the alley, all with glares on their faces. Vividly he recalled last year, when someone had cornered him just like they did now. Raised their fist and-

Naruto gripped the mask tightly and forced down the fear. “What do you guys want?! Leave me alone!”

One man sneered. “Shut up monster, you have no right to talk.”

“Yeah you killed my mother!”

“And my sister!”

Naruto glared back. “I have no idea what you’re talking about!”

The leader stepped forward, Naruto looked around for any foothold to try and climb the wall with. Nothing was in arms reach. 

“Just what a demon would say to lie about who they are.” The man snarled. “It’s best we take care of you so you don’t bother us again.”

Naruto had no choice he realized, and the feeling settled in his guts. Where he tried to hide all the dark things that tried to whisper to him. He had to fight back or these men were going to hurt him.

“Please, leave me alone.” He whispered, already haven given up. No one saved him in these situations.

They did hurt him. Naruto got a few good hits on them, since none were Shinobi trained. He knew how to fight, his fists swung wildly and he was able to trip a few of them. Use his small size to avoid their reaching hands, and slam his fists into their stomachs. 

However someone grabbed the back of his collar, and Naruto was yanked back. He tumbled to the ground with a whimper, and a food kicked at him harshly. 

Naruto wheezed as it felt like his whole body flew through the air. In reality he only slid back a few feet. 

Then their fists started to fall upon him. He could do nothing but cover his face. Fear made his hands tremble and turned his blood ice cold.

Why.

Why do you hate me so much?

For a minute he blacked out, his mind detached so the cold would go away. 

He imagined living freely with Mako. Being looked up to by the villagers as a hero. Smiling with a huge group of friend and being hugged by his parents. 

Then someone screamed.

“Shit, that hurt! What the hell!”

Feet started to shuffle, the pain receded slightly. Naruto still floated out of his body.

“He has a Kunai!”

Another scream, a body slammed against the wall as people scrambled around him.

“He’s just a kid!”

“Must be one of those geniuses and graduated early! Get out of here!”

Two people ran away, a man whimpered close beside him.

“Please, don’t hurt me.”

“You deserve worse, for hurting a child. Naruto asked for mercy and you ignored him.”

The voice that spoke with such venom it made shivers dance across his arms sounded familiar. 

Who?

Someone stepped closer and the man whimpered. 

“P-please.”

Who is so desperate to save me?

“No, I’m not going to forgive you for hurting him. All of you fools, every single one of you need to answer for what you’ve been doing.” The voice was near animalistic now, Naruto could image large fangs being bared. His savior was terrifying.

A shrill scream and then-

“Stop.”

A softer voice, like the feathers of a bird. More mature, and calm. Naruto instantly felt better, protected almost. He floated back to his body, everything hurt ten times worse. He dug his fingers into the cold hard ground and  cracked open a heavy eye to finally see who was around him.

The head of Spiked brown hair was facing away from him. In the darkness he could see darker red spots creating large shadows in the already red kimono. Mako, he realized belatedly. He bought that same kimono for Mako.

Facing Naruto but talking to the child an older boy with long dark hair tied in a low ponytail stood. He wore an all black outfit and the metal of his head band caught the light for a moment. 

A Shinobi. 

The Shinobi spoke again. Just as soft. They completely ignored the terrified man crumbled into a ball at Naruto’s feet. “Take a few deep breaths, in and out.”

Mako clone did as he was told, though Naruto could see his body shaking and hear the breath cut out sharply. Mako clone was not scared though, he gripped his Kunai so tightly his fist turned white. 

“It’s going to be okay.” The Shinobi murmured. “He’s safe.”

Who? Naruto wanted to ask, his eyes got more heavy and he started to fall into oblivion.

“You protected him, everything will be okay.”

Who was protected?

Then black.

Chapter Text

"His ribs were bruised but they healed nicely, besides that it looks like Uzumaki-kun recovers very fast. I wouldn't be surprised if he was perfectly fine within the next few days."

"Thank you."

"Would you like me to examine Mori-kun as well Uchiha-san?"

Itachi sent a glance toward the small child. Sitting curled up on the seat, with cinnabar-red eyes watching the unconscious form of Uzumaki Naruto. He felt the Shinobi's gaze on his form, but only had eyes for Naruto. 

"No, I will talk to him myself."

"Very well, Hokage-sama has been notified and will be here momentarily to check up on Uzumaki-kun." With a last small but sympathetic smile sent toward the two children in the room, the medic-nin walked out. Leaving a heavy silence only broken by the steady sound of a heart monitor and the soft murmur of the hospital staff in the background. 

Mako could feel the places his kimono had torn, and the sting of the small but deep cut on his fingers where the Kunai slipped in his grip. Bringing the weapon with him was impulsive as they left to go the Kyuubi festival. Naruto insisted to buy the weapons from one of the overpriced stores nearby when they started school. Though the Academy offered their own, ones dulled especially for new students so they could focus on technique first, Naruto bought them ones for active Shinobi. Back then Naruto had been all bright smiles and bubbly energy as he chatted about how cool they looked. How he and Mako would be the best at throwing Kunai. 

Now with his friend unconscious and heavily bruised, Mako decided to keep one on him permanently. Blood still stained his fingers from the wounds he gave the drunk civilians. A harsh slap to his face as a reminder for what world he was in now.

A cruel one.

A standard procedure for certain when one wanted to be a Shinobi. However in ones own village, specifically arming yourself with a weapon to protect against civilians was not usually the goal. Though Kiri was known for their rather bloody graduation exam, so perhaps practicing caution was not entirely unusual. He imagined they also needed to watch their backs if they had children slaughtering each other. 

When Naruto disappeared into the crowds, he experienced a severe sensation of anxiety. Because the ones he feared were not the Shinobi, but the normal people who filled the streets they walked on. 

Mako tried desperately to allow his friend freedom within their relationship. When all he wanted to do was protect Naruto. Knowing Naruto was allowed to be his own person, he constantly fought with himself on how to handle the situation. Naruto had no one else to protect him, besides Hound who obviously wasn’t on shift 24/7. Mako had to be that back up. 

However Mako knew he shouldn’t be Naruto’s sole guardian. Being a child himself in an adults body was a constant struggle for him. He died. The memories of his death still haunted his dreams-

-gun fire and death, a sharp pain in his chest. A man yelling at him dressed in camouflage and bullet proof armor-

-yet who else would do his job? Mako literally raised Naruto. 

“We have dealt with the civilians who initiated the fight in the alley way. They will be questioned by senior Shinobi about their actions.” A voice said. Mako pulled himself out of his inner thoughts to look at the Uchiha. The one who intervened before Mako truly committed to his decision. 

“Thank you.” Mako said quietly, he looked the teenager up and down. Noting the way he held himself. Poised like a large cat, seemingly peaceful if not for the twitching of the tail. Said tail in the metaphor was Uchiha Itachi’s eyes. 

Piercing. Aware. 

Undoubtedly this man, had seen death. By his own hand even, considering his Shinobi Headband. Itachi’s eyes were sharp, searching as they stared at each other. No emotion filtered across his face that Itachi did not allow. The stress lines and slightly dark shadows under his eyes indicated he worked hard, hadn’t stopped for years.

No, this teenager was certainly older mentally then he looked outwardly. The Shinobi world ensured he was an adult. 

Mako looked away and watched Naruto. Itachi held no threat toward them, if he decided to attack, Mako would loose. No use even trying to protect them if that was the case.“You stopped me from killing that man. I appreciate that. I…lost control of myself.”

And he had. Seeing those adults standing over Naruto. Someone Mako knew as a baby and watched walk for the first time triggered him deeply. He liked to think himself controlled, mature and reasonable. 

His little episode in the alley proved that assumption false.

Perhaps being a child altered him more then he assumed. In all actuality his brain was not fully developed and wouldn’t be until around 25. Though his experiences and inner monologue fooled even him into thinking he was still an adult. Mako was a child. 

“A completely reasonable reaction to what you saw.” Itachi replied softly. For a hardened Shinobi Mako found his voice soothing, parental almost. “The villager’s emotions are unpredictable during the Kyuubi festival, and many shops don’t pay attention to how much alcohol their customers drink during the festival. Usually Hokage-sama has specific Shinobi on duty in evening to stop what happened to Uzumaki-san tonight. I’m sorry help didn’t arrive sooner.”

“Does Hokage-sama post Shinobi to protect the villagers from Naruto or is it to protect Naruto from the villagers?”

Itachi paused. 

Mako continued. “Based off of what I have seen, the villagers have a collective trauma they blame Naruto for. They call him demon and murderer, yet I have never seen him be either of those things. I can only theorize why he’s treated like an outcast.”

“It is not my place to say anything on the matter.” Itachi replied with a tone that allowed no argument on the subject. Honest at least, Mako mused and helpful.

Whatever association the villagers had with Naruto was a secret. Mako had a few ideas, he’d not share them with someone he barely knew. Who obviously was a loyal Shinobi of Konoha.

The door slid open and they turned to watch as Sarutobi walked in. He still had his Hokage cloak on but not the hat. Surely working on paperwork late into the evening when they summoned him.

Politely Mako stood up and bowed. “Hokage-sama.”

Itachi bowed as well, Sarutobi nodded to them but only had eyes for Naruto. 

His face seemed to age as he saw Naruto’s form on the hospital bed. A large purple bruise had appeared on Naruto’s face and stood out for all of them to see against the tan skin and young features. 

“It seems the Shinobi I posted did not do their duty.” Sarutobi rumbled. “Itachi, find out who they are and bring them in for questioning as well.”

“Yes Hokage-sama.” Itachi replied, he bowed low once more before disappearing in a flurry of leaved silently.

For once Mako was left alone with the Hokage, Naruto was asleep and unable to act as a buffer between them. Thankfully he wore his mask so when the Hokage turned to look at him, the markings were hidden. 

“I heard what happened Mori-kun, as the Hokage I deeply apologize.”

“I’m not the one you should apologize to.”

Sarutobi sighed and nodded. “You are right. When Naruto wakes up I’ll make sure to talk to him. Are you unharmed?”

Mako shrugged. “I’ll be fine.”

A silence spread out between them. Mako felt no inclination to get to know Sarutobi, as fascinated as he felt about the First and Second Hokage. 

“I was told you protected Naruto tonight Mori-kun. Thank you.”

“I would prefer if you called me Mako Hokage-sama, I never felt much attachment toward my last name.”

“Very well Mori-Kun.”

Mako pulled his knees up to his chest and said nothing else for the rest of the night. A lot was on his mind, most of it would never be said out loud to a man like Hiruzen Sarutobi. In the morning, when Naruto’s eyes finally twitched Mako was there to greet him.

Naruto blinked at him sleepily, then said. “I’m hungry, can we get ramen?”

Mako laughed. 

They spent the next couple of days recuperating. As the medic-nin said Naruto healed very fast, by the next day the bruise on his face was gone and Naruto returned back to his daily life. Under Mako’s suggestion they waited one more day before returning back to school. Just to see if Naruto truly felt fine. 

Naruto did, and they resumed school and started to learn the hand signs for the Bushin no Jutsu.

Healing, hatred from the village relating to the Kyuubi, whisker marks.

Ram, Tiger, Snake. At first his hands felt clumsy forcing them into the various hand signs. Enough so that if he tried to fight with the technique, his enemy would kill him before he finished the second hand sign. So Mako practiced, he sat outside while at lunch or on break going over the signs in his head and with his hands. Over and over again.

He’d get it perfect. Then he’d figure out how to mold his chakra.

The children around him were more of background noise, Naruto started to befriend the Nara, Akimichi and even the Inzuka. Girls followed Mako around like cawing crows to the point where he started to escape from the window rather than leave the room, and hide while eating lunch. For such young humans they remained stubborn. 

Once the class realized he could scale the building without Chakra others tried to befriend him, talk about inane subject he had no interest in. Power was tempting in the Shinobi world, and his skill was considered ‘powerful’, useful for their future careers. No other children knew how to climb things like he did.

Mako didn’t try to befriend them back, because he was there to learn. Practice. Get better and watch over Naruto. 

A few people caught his eye as he went to school. Hyuuga Hinata, Nara Shikamaru, Haruno Sakura, and Uchiha Sasuke. 

For various different reasons. Some motivation laid in his curiosity about their clans, while others in their body language. Hinata was devastatingly shy, she flinched at loud noises and spoke softly for the heir of the Hyuuga Clan. Odd. Especially in comparison to Uchiha Sasuke who remained very confident, skilled but a bit aloof. More of what he expected a child of such an important clan to act like. 

However the Hyuuga were known to be strict, more so then the Uchiha. Traditional even in their appearance and attitude.

The Uchiha Clan hid it well, but they were fire. Full of passion that reflected in the color of their sharingan. Red. Red like blood. Like the heart. Love. 

Haruno Sakura and Nara Shikamaru were very intelligent, Sakura almost interested him the most out of all of them. She came from no Shinobi background yet continued to persist, why? What was her drive? Obviously her mind was very sharp and able to memorize things almost on par with him and Shikamaru. 

Interesting.

If only one of the members would sit down with him so he could ask them questions. 

What is the Sharingan? How do you activate it? How does it evolve and to what level? Does it stop? What are the negative side effects to such a strong Dojutsu?

What did it look like to see the Chakra pathways with the Byakugan? Did you have to activate it like the Sharingan or was the ability just there since birth? What side effects were there for the user? 

Which Dojutsu was better?

School progressed well, he remained ahead in most subjects- history, math, writing, reading- to the point he started to fall asleep. Since the library would not allow him to check books out, his brain lacked the challenge he desired. All the books the teachers leant them he read already. Learning became a bit dull, though he always had an opportunity to teach Naruto afterwards. At least that offered some challenge. The teachers gave him little slack about his naps, since he didn’t disrupt the class. Shikmaru held the same privilege as well, outside of physical activity like Taijutsu they both could do as they pleased. 

Naruto and Kiba ended up with three or four detentions a week being as loud as they both were. Either yelling, fighting or just messing around. Neither had the ability to self regulate. Naruto at least had Mako to ease his impulses with logic or distraction via games. Like who could answer the most questions in class, or get the best score in a test. 

Naruto still struggled to grasp subjects, Mako spent the rest of his free time clarifying them to him when Naruto felt able to listen. His test scored reflected all the work wasn’t a complete waste, Naruto no longer remained at the bottom of the class score wise. 

Physically Mako had the most difficulty. Scaling buildings was one thing, actively sparing with another person who was not Naruto was another. Daily the teacher had them spar using Taijtusu. Over the weeks they learned the various different positions and followed specific training regimens to get the whole class in shape. Running, push-ups, pull-ups, daily stretches. He continued to be frustrated more and more each time someone beat him in a spar. Because he knew technique, memorized the Taijutsu stances and could keep up to an extent. Yet they always seemed faster and stronger. Six weeks later he realized, rather belatedly, that most of the children used Chakra to enhance their bodies.

He felt like an idiot.

They could no more control it than their own blood flow. But like blood, exercise increased the amount of Chakra flowing in their muscles. Mako never really tried to use his own. During the entrance exam he summoned it for the first time purposely. The ease in which he did had been exhilarating. Like taking three shots of coffee directly to the brain.The children around him were not aware of their Chakra, so they subconsciously used it. 

But unlike everyone else Mako used to never have Chakra. His mind never automatically tried to use it, as unconscious as the rest seemed to. 

Mako had to learn how to use it. Change the way he thought about Chakra in general. 

He started to go to the training ground by himself to solve the issue. Mediation was his main plan. Since he successfully cut the leaf in half before, Mako knew he could teach himself how to use Chakra until it became natural.

Snow fell on the ground, yet he sat on a rock cross legged and just listened. To the animals around him, the branches that bent in the wind and his own body. Chakra was part of him, once he focused hard enough Mako pinpointed the location. Like a live wire entangled within his very soul that originated in his gut. 

He started first by simply moving it thought his body, like a flowing river with intention. His skin tingled pleasantly the more he played with his Chakra. Mako stopped after an hour, took a deep breath and then started to go over his Taijtusu stances, then the hand signs for Bushin no Jutsu. 

He went back the next day, repeated the exercise but longer. His body could handle it, he wanted to get it perfect. During school he either slept or sparred, while keeping an eye on Naruto and avoiding the fangirls. 

Then back to the training grounds. 

Again, and again and again.

A few weeks later he finally tried to summon his chakra and enhance his muscles naturally. There was no real way to explain it out loud, controlling his Chakra was like breathing once he set his mind to it. He ran for the first time, with Chakra flowing through his entire body. 

The whole world blurred around him, wind tore through his hair. Like a superhero he was nearly flying over the ground, he leapt up and grabbed onto a tree branch. Hauled himself up, and leapt over to another one. His toes landed very briefly on a branch and then he shot off. Exhilarated he laughed in delight. 

If he could do this with his body, what else could he do?

So Mako dove into the library as well after training, his whole body feeling like a massive bruise. Picked up a book about the Chakra system and immersed himself.

If he increased his endurance Mako knew he could do more, Chakra relied on the user practicing over and over again for it to become easier. The two components of Chakra were Spiritual and Physical Energy. Spiritual energy was derived from the mind's consciousness and could be increased through studying, meditation, and experience. Those two energies becoming more powerful would in turn make the created chakra more powerful.

Each Shinobi had their own maximum amount of Chakra they could use. With practice the maximum could be increased, but to a certain extent, as the Shinobi was limited to the quantity and strength of chakra that their genetics granted them.

Mako had no idea who his parents were, or where his maximum laid so he played it safe. 

He successfully performed the Bushin no Jutsu a week before they officially started to have the students try it out at school. 

A clone stood before him, formed from chakra to be to be his exact replica.

Mako stared. 

The Bushin stared back.

Actually this felt a bit creepy, having stare off with a thing that looked like him. He couldn’t spot any differences between them. Down to even the color of his eyes and the length of hair. 

Mako never really saw himself from this perspective. No wonder people reacted so strangely to him. He looked pissed. 

He dispersed the clone before he could think about his own self too deeply. Then grinned. 

Under the darkening sky, with the chilled air numbing his ears and nose Mako leapt up in joy. 

Finally, he did it.

Then he tried again, and again and again. 

—-

When the teacher tested them for the Bushin no Jutsu that week, Mako waited his turn impatiently. The Academy really made sure they all were properly prepared before the teacher had them try and use their Chakra for a Jutsu. Understandable, since his class was all six year old children. Some just learning how to use Chakra for the first time like Haruno Sakura. 

Most of the class succeeded in the Jutsu. Uchiha Sasuke was one of the best by the time Mako was called to the front of the class. 

Dozens of eyes fell on his form, a few girls giggled. Mako ignored them all and bowed to the teacher. 

“Mori Mako of class 1 A.”

Iruka Sensei smiled at him. “Hello Mori-kun, please show me your Bushin no Jutsu.”

Mako nodded, then raised his hands. Smoothly his fingers followed the speed his brain wanted them to. Chakra surged through his body like lightning, he molded it instinctually and loudly declared. 

“Bushin no Jutsu!”

In a puff of smoke three identical copies of him appeared, each standing perfectly at ease to mirror his own stance. People started to clap around him, a few girls cooed at him.

But Mako only cared what the teacher thought. 

Iruka nodded and wrote on his clip board. “Very good Mori-kun that was perfect, you passed. You may go back to your desk.”

Mako did as he instructed, and sat down back over by Naruto. His friend instantly scooted closer as Iruka called up another student. 

“Mako!” He whispered loudly. “How did you do that?! That was so cool!”

“I practiced a lot.” Mako replied softly, watching as Yamanaka Ino proceeded to summon her own Bushin. “Did you?”

Naruto laughed awkwardly and scratched his cheek. “Well…”

Mako eyed him, since he’d been so hyper focused on perfecting his technique and learning how to use his Chakra he had less time to spend with Naruto. They still had mini class sessions to go over what Naruto failed to grasp during school, but actual hands on practice was little. 

A bit guiltily Mako realized he forgot to help Naruto like he usually did.

“Naruto, if you have trouble today we can work together.” He offered. “On making sure you pass next time.”

Naruto grinned. “Thanks! But I’ll pass for sure-ttebayo!”

Ino passed the test as well, unsurprisingly, and so did Sakura. Then Naruto was called up.

Iruka’s tone of voice changed when he called Naruto up, and Mako’s eyes narrowed. Iruka felt a bit safer then some adults, but he still was just as judgmental as all the other ones. However the Chunin did not seem to be the one to purposely fail Naruto. 

Naruto seemingly unaware of how Iruka looked at him bounced up to the desk. “Uzumaki Naruto, class uh…”

“1 A.” Iruka said. 

“Yeah! That!”

Kiba snickered in the background and Naruto turned his head to stick his tongue out at him. 

“Uzumaki-kun please focus on the test.” Iruka said sternly. “And Inzukua-kun do not disrupt his test.”

“Sorry Sensei.” They both replied sheepishly. 

Mako held back a snort at their antics and scanned the room as Naruto started to set up to summon his Bushin. 

Hinata’s face was suspiciously pink as she looked at Naruto, and Shikamaru was asleep, already having passed his own test. Mako passed over Sakura who watched Naruto with a bored look on her face, moved his gaze up the rows of students to look at-

Dark eyes that stared him down. Meeting his own with a surprising amount of ire.

Mako kept his reaction under control as he stared back at the Uchiha. Sasuke and he never really talked much, the Uchiha kept to himself and usually vanished when lunch started. 

Mako had no idea where the obviously strong emotions came from that Sasuke directed toward himself. 

Did he do something wrong? Accidentally insult the Uchiha Clan?

“Since you were unable to perform the Bushin no Jutsu I will have to fail you Uzumaki-kun. Try and practice more next time.”

Mako snapped his eyes back to the front of the room. Naruto’s shoulders slumped and he sighed. 

“Okay.”

A few children whispered and stared as Naruto walked back up the stairs. Mako tried to figure out what exactly went wrong as Naruto sat heavily back down next to him.

“Naruto what happened?” Mako asked, as Iruka called someone else up.

Naruto shrugged. “I don’t know, they just looked like lifeless dolls. I did practice though, Bushin no Jutsu is hard.”

The Bushin no Jutsu required moderate control of your Chakra to perform correctly. Ranked level E in the Ninjutsu book the teacher had them read, most Shinobi children could use it no problem. From the looks of it, some of the Clan children knew how to use the technique before school started. 

Mako hummed thoughtfully and stared out at the snow as the test finished up.

Uzumaki were known for their vast amount of Chakra, so assuming Naruto inherited that trait was not too bold of a notion. If he remembered correctly Naruto literally destroyed his leaf during the Entrance exam. Too much Chakra was likely the reason. 

Practice was the only true solution to Naruto’s problem. Mako would have to bring Naruto to the training grounds specifically to train him. 

How did you train someone with too much Chakra to use less? Especially a child.

Mako mused about the possible solutions for a bit, and blindly followed along with the motions of the rest of the day. 

Iruka had them spar as usual. This time Mako purposely enhanced his muscles with Chakra, though the extra effort took a toll on him. Being distracted left him at a disadvantage. But his training paid off, his spars lasted longer and his partners needed to work harder. Images of the Taijutsu stances he memorized flashed through his mind rapidly. 

His body was starting to catch up with how fast his mind could go. Perfect. Still, he needed to train more.

Where and when to place his feet, how to twist his body just so. Watching as the other student shifted their weight and reacting in time to avoid the attack. Balancing on his toes to remain light feet while also remaining steady so not to be pushed over. All of that information swiftly swept through him, created only by hours of hard work and research.

After they all finished the teacher finally dismissed them for the day. Mako separated from the crowd of students streaming out of the building to wait for Naruto, who got distracted by Kiba. 

Accidentally while scanning all the bodies and keeping an eye out for the familiar spiked blonde hair, Mako’s eyes met Sasuke’s once again. 

Sasuke stood beside who Mako realized was Uchiha Itachi. Sasuke stared him down. Then with a purposeful toss of his head looked away and started to happily chat to Itachi. From the looks of it, he’d guess the two were brothers. Sasuke never smiled that kindly to anyone in the school.

Mako furrowed his brow. What was Sasuke’s problem?

Itachi sent him a partially amused glance as they left, further confusing him. 

“Mako!”

Naruto ran up to him with an apologetic smile. “Sorry Mako! Kiba was being a jerk, lets go home!”

Mako nodded. “We need to talk about your test and how to ensure you pass next time. I have a few ideas.”

Naruto sighed. “Yeah.”

“Don’t worry though, no more learning. I’ll be helping you learn how to control your Chakra.”

The blonde visibly perked up. “Yay!”

Mako’s lips turned up to a smile at his obvious excitement. A familiar anticipation grew inside of him at the prospect of teaching Naruto. Besides learning how to use his own Chakra, watching Naruto grow as a Shinobi was one of his favorite things. 

Chapter Text

Mako browsed through the array of books before him, fingers lightly touching the bindings as he read the titles. The library was empty today due to the snow that covered the ground, some stores are even closed. Only the Shinobi jumping from rooftop to rooftop remained the same. Now dressed in the thicker winter gear. Mako wore his own dark red jacket over otherwise black clothes, with his mask firmly in place that helped keep his face warm in the biting cold. 

Naruto was off doing whatever he did best, running around trying to make friends or pranking villagers. 

The library had a lot of information available for him to use, though the downfalls were obvious. All materials were geared toward uplifting Konoha and painting the other nations in a bad light. Still, he would accept any sort of education to further challenge himself, since the Academy curriculum had yet to spark an interest in his brain. Right now, he browsed the history as usual, glossing over the titles he either already read or felt no interest in.

"I'd recommend reading My will of fire, written by Senju Hashirama himself."

Mako jumped. He couldn't help the reaction, when no other sound indicated a person so close to him. He turned wary eyes toward the intruder of his space and met a dark gaze. 

Uchiha Itachi stood before him, composed as ever and dressed in what looked like more casual clothes. Mostly all dark colors with the typical high collared shirt Uchiha liked to wear. 

Mako scanned him up and down, instantly suspicious. Why would Uchiha Fugaku's son want anything to do with him? Maybe an attachment, no matter how small, had sparked after Itachi stopped the drunken fight? Hard to believe a hardened Shinobi of his caliber would fall to such emotions. Especially being the head of the Uchiha Clan's son. 

"Why?" Mako asked.

"Not many know of this book because they published it so long ago. I found My will of fire enlightening at your age during my search for answers. It offers a look into the First Hokage’s mind many forget about currently, that may be a bit controversial."

"What do you mean?"

Itachi did not smile, he never seemed to. His eyes expressed his amusement though. "Try it, you'll understand what I mean."

Mako scowled and opened his mouth to object. Being lured into reading a book with no real reason felt silly. Especially when the book had been written, he assumed, to paint Konoha in a good light. Hashirama literally created the village, why would Mako want to hear how much he loved it?

Itachi didn't wait for him to reply, he turned on his heel elegantly and walked off without a word. Steps so light that Mako felt a spike of jealousy surge.

I want to be like that. 

Mako paused and stared at the books blindly. A bit shocked. 

He wanted to be like Itachi? Why? How? Becoming a Shinobi was mostly motivated by Naruto's insistence. Though as time progressed, he did find himself becoming more immersed in the world around him. Studying and training for hours to perfect the techniques the Academy asked of him. Perhaps the time spent doing all those things was starting to influence him more then he realized. 

Mako grabbed the book Itachi suggested, falling victim to his own curiosity. Itachi's purpose in recommending the book felt shady, but Mako was not one to rebuff a suggestion made by anyone. Keeping an open mind while learning was key to being able to continue to grow as a person. 

The book felt old yet used. Leather bound compared to the newer items in the library, who were primarily hardcover books or scrolls. He flipped to the first page where the names of the previous renters were written. 

Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui.

Well, Mako never really expected to see those two names. Uchiha in general seemed a bit distant, though perhaps because their Clan was so far away from the main hub of the village. He rarely ran across one while venturing around Konoha, when he did they never talked to him.

Mako glanced at the librarian who wasn’t paying attention to him, then slipped the book under his shirt. 

If he was going to read this book, it would be at home.

——

"Mako let’s play outside!"

"One moment, let me finish this."

"Mako." Naruto whined, drawing out the o miserably. His lips drew into a pout. "You've been reading forever."

Mako peered over the top of the book. Dramatically Naruto was sprawled across the floor, with his arms spread wide. Mako preferred to be curled up on the couch, his eyes felt heavy from the amount of time he spent reading but he didn’t want to stop. Not when Hashirama's book offered so much insight into a perspective Mako never considered. The possibility of someone heavily editing the book remained, the village wouldn’t just allow information they disapproved of to be available. So, he kept himself a bit detached when it came to accepting what information he read. For all he knew the editor may have rewritten everything. 

Or nothing.

Despite the age, the book was untouched. Like since the day it was shelved no one touched it. Strange to think about considering Hashirama was perhaps one of the most popular figures in Konoha history. Maybe no one knew of this book. Or very few felt inclined to see what Hashirama had to say. Either way, two Uchiha reading it out of the whole village felt very ironic to him.

Hashirama was a bright soul, who loved his village dearly. Perhaps love was not the proper word to describe the words written in this book though. 

I want to create a peaceful place for children to grow after seeing so much death, where they never have to kill each other again. With a Academy, teachers and headquarters so they get assigned missions better fit for their skill set. Rather then throwing them in the midst of battle like we have been for years. So many lives have been lost due to the long lived mentality of raising children to be Shinobi. That anger is what fuels our war to begin with, taking revenge on each other for years of pain and suffering caused by each side.

“Mako!”

Mako closed the book to fully take in Naruto. Who stared at him with round, pleading blue eyes. 

“Fine.”

Leaping up so high he practically touched the ceiling Naruto let out a loud whoop. They got dressed together, Naruto wearing his eye searing orange winter coat while Mako slipped his mask on. Their winter boots were from one of the used stores in Konoha, but still worked fine to keep most of the cold out. 

Mako locked the door behind them as Naruto sprinted down the stairs. It’s mid-afternoon now, with clouds covering the sky in a thick blanket much like the snow on the ground. He walked at a slower pace, watching with amusement as Naruto immediately started to throw snow up in the air. 

“Mako! Come build a snow man!”

Mako complied. Together they rolled a large ball across the field, then Mako started to compact it, so the base was secure. In the background Naruto started on the midsection. 

“After this we should have a snowball fight! I saw some kids the other day throwing snowballs at each other, and it looked like fun! No one wanted to play with me though, so it’s going to be you verses me!”

Mako nodded, and accepted the midsection from Naruto, patted it to ensure the snow would not fall apart and hefted it up. 

“You’re going to have to watch out then Naruto.” He teased. “I’ve been training to be a Shinobi so I won’t be easy to beat!”

Naruto stuck his tongue out. “No way are you going to beat me! I’m the best-ttebayo!”

“Yeah, that’s obvious considering your Kunai throwing grade in school.”

“Hey no fair!” Naruto whined. “Hitting that target is hard Mako, I don’t know how that jerk gets the bullseye each time!”

“Who? Nara?”

“What? No! That Sasuke guy!”

Oh right. The Uchiha. Mako padded the cracks in the snow, his cheeks and ears felt cold. How Naruto could stand being out in this weather was hard to comprehend. Reading a book while curled up under blanket sounded much warmer.

“You two sure have been going at each other.” He replied. “Why do you dislike him so much?”

Naruto huffed, stopping for a moment in his rolling of the head for their snowman. “Because he acts like a jerk, he barely talks to anyone and passes the tests with flying colors! He always has this look on his face too! Especially when he’s glaring at you! I hate it!”

“What look?”

“You know! The Jerkish one!” Naruto shouted, waving his hands in the air. “Like he knows everything and those who don’t are trash! He called me Dobe the other day!”

Mako snorted, he couldn’t help himself. Naruto paused and narrowed his eyes at him suspiciously.

In fact, Mako had barely noticed the Uchiha at all. Well, that was a lie. He noticed everything. But Uchiha Sasuke was low on his list of priorities. Studying, learning, training and helping Naruto were the things he most worried about. Sasuke obviously felt some sort of angry emotion toward him, and Naruto. Mako caught his eyes more and more as the year progressed. But children were complex. Who knew what Sasuke had on his mind.

“What’s so funny?” Naruto asked. 

“Sorry, the nickname was just kinda amusing.” Mako replied. “You’re not the dead last though, Kiba is. So, the name really doesn’t fit.”

“I know!” Naruto replied hotly. Cheeks red with anger. “I think he’s doing it to make me mad!”

“Then train harder and beat him at sparing. That will shut him up.”

Naruto nodded vigorously. “Yeah! I will-ttebayo!” With an excited shout he started to roll the ball of snow beside him, like the faster he rolled it the more likely he’d be to beat Sasuke. 

Sasuke was very talented. Mako would admit that. But so were a lot of the Clan children. Hinata seemed like the only one who didn’t fight well. She remained high on the list despite her misgivings. Which most likely was because the small girl was so shy, and obviously traumatized somehow. He highly doubted how she acted at school reflected her true talent. 

Naruto pushed the last ball of snow toward him, Mako stood on his tiptoes to place it on top. He brushed his hands to remove the excess snow, pushing aside the uncomfortable feeling of wet cloth and frigid cold. Naruto chatted at him randomly, completely oblivious to the weather. 

They found a few stones to make a face and then sticks to symbolize his arms. Mako sacrificed his red scarf to make sure the snowman wasn’t too cold, as Naruto wondered about his health. Afterwards Naruto and he stood proudly in front of their masterpiece for a few moments. Naruto with a grin wide enough his cheeks were sure to feel sore the next day. Blonde hair standing out end as usual, with flecks of snow dotted in like tiny diamonds, and blue eyes glimmering with happiness.  

Mako took in the near picturesque moment with a soft smile on his face. Moments like these was what motivated him to continue the next day. If not for Naruto’s gentle soul Mako would have left the village a long time ago.

He indulged Naruto in a snowball fight after, Naruto’s laughter filling the otherwise quiet air with piece of his own joy. 

Finally, Mako stopped, nearly freezing to death and out of energy to spend playing childish games. Making Naruto happy would always bring him happiness, but such pursuits started to get a bit boring when he didn’t have the childish naivety Naruto did. 

Naruto pouted a bit but accepted his retreat, and Mako split ways with him. Eager to go back inside where the warmth and his books were. 

He studied a few of the schools’ books recently given to them for the next Jutsu they were going to learn, then started to formulate a plan for training Naruto. Specifically in Chakra control. A few of the Academy books were surprisingly helpful with tips, and the other ones he read in the library as well as his own theories assisted in the plan. 

Naruto would never have perfect Chakra control, but he could be better. With enough practice at his age after a few years Naruto would be able to at least pass the Bushin test, Mako promised that much. 

When the daylight started to fade and Naruto failed to come back, Mako became distracted. 

On one hand Naruto was probably out doing his usual thing. Maybe even playing with the three boys, Kiba, Shikamaru, and Chōji. So going out to search for him may come off as controlling. 

On the other, a very real anxiety ate at his gut. 

Did the Villagers catch him alone? Or maybe a Shinobi this time? They had yet to run across a Shinobi with a grudge. Maybe it happened just now, and Naruto was helpless. Or maybe he was stuck somewhere. 

Or maybe even dead. In the cold, freezing to death. 

Mako stood up from the table in a jerking motion and scrambled to get his shoes on. Nearly tripping on himself as his heart threatened to implode. 

Then the door opened, and he froze with one boot on and jerked his head up.

Naruto shuffled in; a bruise was on his face that Mako instantly zoned in on. His eyes quickly flicked out the wet hair, ruffled clothes and a missing glove. Naruto got in a fight; his eyes still shone with that look he got when he finished a spar with someone.

Naruto paused and stared at him. “Mako? Are you going somewhere?”

“Ah.” Mako slipped his shoe off and stood straight. Trying to rearrange his face into a calmer expression. “No, I just, well… What happened?”

Naruto blinked at him, then placed a hand on his face. “Oh this? Some jerks were making fun of that weird girl, so I beat them up.”

“Which girl?”

Naruto scratched his cheek and furrowed his brow. “Uhh the one with the weird eyes? Really quiet?”

“Hyuuga Hinata?”

“Yeah!”

Mako pressed his lips together, suspiciously. Why would someone like Hinata need help beating bullies? Her skill set in school proved she was capable of fighting. No matter how reluctant she seemed. Besides she always had an older Hyuuga with her as an escort. The only reason she would need help, in Mako’s eyes, was-

“How many people were there?”

Naruto shrugged. “Like three maybe?”

“How old?”

“I don’t know, older than me I guess?”

Mako curled his fingers into a fist. “So you fought three older boys to help Hyuuga-san in the freezing cold. Did an adult come at all to help?”

“Eventually, but he was acting super scared. Like she wandered off or something. The jerks were making fun of her because of her eyes though, so I couldn’t just not help her.”

“Of course not.” Mako replied. He knew his friend. Naruto would step in for anyone to help, even an heir of one of Konoha’s major clans. Strange a group of boys thought it smart to bully someone like her. “They were fools to try and mess with her in the first place though. Are you okay?”

Naruto nodded and started to take off his jacket. Placing it on the coat rack and then carelessly throwing his shoes off. “Yeah! But I’m kinda cold now, so I’m going to take a bath.”

Mako called out to him before he left the room entirely. “Did you win?”

Naruto turned. “Huh?”

“The fight, did you win?”

A triumphant grin spread on Naruto’s face. “Of course, I’m the best-ttebayo! All our training together really made it easy to fight them off!”

“Good.”

—-

It’s hard sometimes. To think back to a time when he and I were children. Throwing rocks across the river together. We didn’t even know each other’s surnames. Yet our friendship grew as our likeminded mindsets aligned. For the first time I met someone who also wanted the fighting to stop. Unlike father who only saw children as future Shinobi in need of training. Tobirama even followed that belief to some extent. Fighting was all they knew. But I wanted something different. We didn’t have to be weapons; children were not meant to kill each other in the name of a family feud none could even remember the reason for. 

He wanted to create that safe place with me. We decided in that same forest we met, after climbing up a massive cliff, where the village would be. He came up with the name, and I decided what the leader would be called. 

We both desired peace.

“You sure do come here a lot.”

An ungraceful squeaking noise left his mouth, one Mako had never heard before. Body jerking in shock he toppled over his rock and onto the packed snow. Feet high in the air as his breath left his lungs. 

A head popped into his vision. The Shinobi grinned at him, dark eyes crinkling. “Sorry, my bad.”

Mako stared at the boy, obviously an Uchiha with annoyance. His lips pulling into a frown. “Who are you, and what do you want?”

The Uchiha kept the smile on despite his tone. “Uchiha Shisui, and I will admit this is not my first time seeing you here. But Itachi is the one who finally made me want to engage with you.”

“Uchiha Itachi?” Mako asked, staring at Shisui with growing confusion and a spark of mistrust. “Why?”

Shisui shrugged. “He found you interesting, and anyone who catches his notice is someone I want to know.”

Mako sighed and finally slid his feet down from the rock to stand himself up. Brushing the snow from his clothes. His mediation was almost done so that at least was not completely ruined, sadly Shisui was not likely to run off unless he decided to on his own. So his training would have to be paused. 

Annoying. His Taijtusu and Chakra control was getting better each time he trained. Hopefully after this one interaction the Uchiha would never come back. Mako wanted to resume his daily habit without strangers invading his free time. 

“Well, here I am.” Mako said dryly, spread out his arms for dramatic effect. 

Shisui cocked his head. “Here you are.”

When silence spread out between them Mako lowered his arms and viewed Shisui as hard as the Uchiha stared at him. Though Shisui’s demeanor seemed a bit more friendly than Itachi’s, the intensity remained. The Uchiha wore his headband and a green Jonin jacket over black clothes, indicating his rank. Young, probably just in his teenage years if Mako were to guess. 

They sure did start them young in the past. He mused. Probably due to the last war that only ended ten years or so ago. Many children were pushed through the Academy early to provide Konoha with the bodies to send on missions back then. 

“You’re pretty grumpy for a kid, aren’t you?”

Mako blinked. “Yes.”

He got a laugh in response. “Man, I thought maybe my eyes were tricking me but you’re like a mini-Itachi. So serious. The mask just makes you look like a weird mix between him and Hatake.”

“The Copy-cat Ninja?”

“Yeah, you’re a fan, right? That’s why you wear the same mask.”

“No.” Mako replied. “Though I suppose now that you mention it many others probably assume the same.”

“Oh? Then you’re shy, don’t want others to see your face?”

“Sure.”

Shisui hummed and peered at Mako, then scanned the training ground they stood at. “You come here a lot, don’t you?”

Mako followed his line of sight. The ground was littered with footsteps, perhaps from other Shiobi as well but certainly from himself. Some of the training poles were still clean since he wiped of the snow from them yesterday. 

No reason to lie. Since the evidence was obvious. “Yes.”

“Such a hard worker, how old are you?” 

“Six”

“Six and already using your Chakra to jump through the trees huh? You must be pretty smart.”

Mako faltered, then quickly tried to recover from the unexpected statement. “My Chakra, you can sense it still. In the trees.”

Shisui nodded. “Yep! You’re pretty young so the Academy hasn’t taught you to hide or detect Chakra have they? Man they definitely slowed down the curriculum since I graduated.”

Mako perked up. “Hide and detect Chakra?”

“Oh I caught your interest didn’t I?” Shisui laughed, his tone was still light though. Mako had a hard time figuring out what the Uchiha was thinking behind his smile. A mask for sure, maybe not a complete lie, but one nonetheless. 

Mako nodded, opened his mouth then closed it.

Please train me. I want to know how to do those things. Lingered on his tongue. Nearly left his mouth if not for him closing it. 

Uchiha Itachi may have found him interesting, that did not mean anyone else would. Nor should Mako assume they wanted anything to do with him. Besides ask a few questions to realize he was utterly normal was rather characteristic of a Shinobi. Naturally they strived to expose the truth of a subject hidden to them.

“Well, I need to go. Just wanted to pop in.” Shisui raised a hand. “Oh, and I hope you enjoy that book, it took Itachi a long time to find it.”

Then he disappeared in a blink of any eye. 

Mako stared at where he used to be, considered the book Itachi apparently found, then sighed. 

Time to train. 

The next day, while he was training in Taijtusu, Shinsui appeared again. 

He paused mid-kick as Shisui literally materialized. Heart rate jumping for a moment in shock. “What do you want?”

“Maa so grumpy already.” Shinsui laughed. “I just wanted to say you need to loosen your body up a bit. Your form is literally too perfect.”

Mako furrowed his brow. “What? How is that possible?”

“You learned from the Taijutsu scroll from the library, right? Might Gai uses it too, but without proper guidance you may get a bit lost. You should find one meant for speed instead.”

“Like what?”

"You should ask him; he usually is pretty obvious once you know where to look. Wake up at the crack of dawn and he'll probably be walking on his hands around the village five hundred times or something."

Mako balked. An image of a Shinobi with a green jumpsuit and a bowl cut appeared in his mind. Mako saw him, of course he did. Might Gai, as he apparently was named, attracted a lot of attention. With his loud shouts and displays of strength as well as appearance. Mako never felt inclined to initiate contact, since the man was scary.

Shisui laughed. "Your face is hilarious. I promise you he's better once you get to know him. Gai-san is perhaps the best Taijutsu specialist you'll ever meet."

"And he'll be willing to teach me?"

"Oh yeah. Gai-san will never turn down a potential pupil."

Somehow those words felt like ones that would lead him to his doom.

---

In all of his many lives, Mako never once met someone like Might Gai. Really.

The Shinobi was in near tears when Mako approached him early in the morning a few days later. In the sky the sun was barely risen, turning the snow into sparking crystals around them. Mako stayed up in his usual perch on the rooftops until he spotted Gai, who indeed had been walking on his hands around Konoha. Shouting loud affirmations to himself about youth and fire. 

Mako hesitated for a moment, considered not talking to the Jonin. Keeping his life normal, peaceful even.

But the fact of the matter was, training by himself would lead to nothing. Sure, he could memorize facts and positions, explore his Chakra. However, becoming better would involve him interacting with other people, especially because one day they'd put him on a team when he graduated. So eventually he would need to go out of his comfort zone and learn how to work in a team.

Besides, Shisui was not one to be taken lightly. If the Uchiha referred to Might Gai as the best Taijutsu specialist around Mako felt inclined to believe him.

"The power of youth is strong in you young one!" Gai sobbed before him. "To come to me searching for help with your training is indeed a beautiful glimpse into your future as a Shinobi! I am honored!"

Mako stared, he couldn't help it. Almost all Shinobi he met were cut off from the world emotionally. Might Gai had no such problem with showing how he felt. In fact, if Mako watched him long enough, nearly visible scenes were created around the man to add to his dramatics. Perhaps Gai also specialized in Genjutsu as well.

"So, you will help me train?"

"Yes!" Gai shouted. Surely waking up the other half of the neighborhood that hadn't woken yet before Mako started to talk to him. "Though I will have missions, and the Hokage intends for me to take my own Genin team when the time comes. I would be more than happy to assist you!"

A fresh wave of tears rolled down Gai's face. Mako shifted uncomfortably at the display.

"Thanks."

"We will start right now! Come do five hundred laps with me!"

Mako's face paled. He drew in a shaky breath. Five hundred was a lot, he wasn't even certain if he could stand on his hands at all. He shared that with Gai hesitantly, since his body would surely be hurt if he pushed it too far.

Gai appeared unbothered by that statement. "Yosh! Then come to the training grounds with me, we will start on strength and speed first. Build you up to one day accompany me in my ventures!"

"Right."

Mako followed Gai as the Jonin walked on his hands toward the training grounds he wanted to use, while reminding himself why he wanted to do this in the first place.

I want to learn and get stronger.

Gai proceeded to be consistently a very excitable and enthusiastic teacher. Most days they'd meet up before the Academy started and Mako would get his eardrums blown out by the exuberant 'good morning my young pupil' by Gai. Most of the training consisted of testing his body in different ways. Seeing what he was best at and exercising what he was not. Speed seemed to be his best ally, as Mako was a bit too slight to focus on pure strength. Gai shifted their training accordingly to fit him, with the experience of one who spent years doing the same thing.

Then Mako would walk back to Naruto’s apartment to ensure he left on time and remembered to bring his lunch. School was spent mostly falling asleep in class and sparing in the afternoons, before escaping the stead group of fangirls following him around.

He thought perhaps the cold weather would deter them. Sadly, they remained insistent, so he climbed up on the roof to eat his lunch peacefully.

Only to come upon Uchiha Sasuke.

They stared at each other for a moment, Sasuke with his chop sticks frozen mid bite and Mako leveraging himself up with only arm strength.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. “What do you want?”

Mako pulled his body up all the way and sat cross legged on the roof. The Academy’s design was very similar to all the ones in Konoha. Made of red stone with slightly angled wooden slats dispersed on each level of the building. At the top the roof where he, and apparently Sasuke, met was flat.

“To each lunch and get away from the girls.”

For a small child Sasuke was an angry one. Especially considering how he looked when Itachi was around.

“Same.” Sasuke said with a small sigh. Part of him relaxed, his eyes were not as guarded now that he knew Mako was in a similar position. “You’re Naruto’s brother, aren’t you?”

Mako paused, then nodded his head. The assumption was a bit strange considering they had different last names, but he and Naruto usually stuck together. He could see why some people assumed a relation since they did have similarly shaped hair and Naruto usually only listened to him.

“My Aniki talked about you a while ago. He asked how you were doing in the Academy.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know, Aniki usually doesn’t pay other people much attention.” Sasuke replied. His tone was more matter of fact then really insulting. But still soft with his young age. “How did you two meet?”

“He helped me and Naruto one day, then suggested a book to me.”

“What book?”

“One by the First Hokage. We seem to have similar reading preferences.”

Silence spread out between them, Mako turned his gaze downward to watch the children playing. Naruto was running around with his usual group of friends, and Sakura was separate from everyone as usual. Since the first day she tended to be a bit of a loner and kept her bangs over her eyes.

Still, she was the smartest Kunoichi in their class. Maybe as time progressed, she’d start to grow more confident.

They stayed on the rooftop together in a companionable silence. One that surprised him slightly since Sasuke appeared to have some sort of vendetta against him. Maybe his assumption was wrong though.

When the bell rang to signify they return to class, Mako stood up and headed toward the door on the roof rather than scale down the wall. His body was far too tired after training with Gai to climb up and down multiple times.

“Who trains you?”

Mako glanced at Sasuke who walked beside him. Side by side Mako was a little bit taller and tanner. “I recently started to learn under Might Gai, but a lot of what I know is self-taught.”

“How?”

“How?” Mako repeated. “I just like to learn I guess.”

Sasuke huffed. Apparently not happy with the answer. He didn’t continue to question Mako about his training habits though. Not that Mako would be able to elaborate much more. His brain just caught onto things quickly.

When they arrived at class the same time, everyone turned to watch them. Starting with a girl who instantly nudged her friend, who caught another kids’ attention. Then around a dozen eyes settled on the both of them.

Sasuke’s face pinkened slightly under the attention but he proceeded inside and sat in the front. Mako paid no mind to the children and their whispers and sat at the top of the row as usual, so he could stare outside the window.

Naruto barged in with his friends five minutes late, grinning unapologetically at the teacher as he reprimanded him.

Mako turned his gaze once toward the backside of Sasuke’s head then laid his head down.

Why were all the Uchiha so interested in him?

After class he rounded up Naruto and lead him to the training field, where Naruto was already bouncing on the tips of his toes in excitement.

“So, I decided the most basic way to help with your Chakra control is the leaf exercise.” Mako started, he held up a normal piece of paper. “However, since all the leaves are covered in snow you’ll have to use this paper instead.”

Naruto wilted. “Mako the teachers make me do this as punishment.”

“For good reason.” Mako replied. “It will help you learn to concentrate and control your Chakra better. You may not see the effect immediately, but once we start integrating it into you training exercise, you’ll be surprised how much it helps.”

“And I’ll be able to do the Bushin?”

“Maybe.” Mako said. “I have hopes that is the case, since you have too much Chakra which is causing the issue in the first place. If we hone your control, you’ll at least be able to summon an acceptable Bushin so you can pass the test.”

“Fine.” Naruto sighed.

Mako huffed out a laugh. “Naruto you don’t have to do this.”

“Yeah, but your ideas are usually really good because you’re a genius.” Naruto replied, accepting the piece of paper. “You’ve helped me a lot already with my Taijtutsu and schoolwork so this will probably help too.”

“Genius?”

“That’s what the kids say, Shikamaru say’s you’re one.”

“Well, I wouldn’t go that far.”

Naruto shrugged. “The both of you are smart, so I figure you both know best. But let’s do this!”

Mako nodded and stepped back, then stood back to watch Naruto try to stick the paper to his head. Offering his own tips and tricks. 

Chapter Text

The loss laid heavy in his eyes as he mentioned his brothers, who they lost in the war. Children barely even ten years old. He blamed his lack of power as the reason they died, hinted at a bloodline that my mind refused to acknowledge. His dark hair and eyes, the pale skin...no I wanted to continue our secret life away from the complexities of my family. Away from both of our responsibilities. At that time, I could still vividly recall what my younger brother looked like, skewered by an Uchiha blade who we found in the forest. How father's rage only doubled, and Tobirama placated him. Father hit me that day, not for the first nor the last time.

Since I can remember my father trained me to be a Shinobi. As soon as our hands could hold a Kunai and legs walk, he started the process. Emotions were seen as a weakness, even the child-like ones that would come very naturally to us. Tobirama killed for the first time at age four. I didn't see him cry again until our brothers started to die, and even that was away from the public eye. I only knew he shed tears because his eyes were rimmed with the lightest of reds. Only I noticed that small change in his appearance. Life was a constant battle, especially after mother got killed by an Uchiha the day after she gave birth to my youngest brother.

I'm certain he experienced the same life and death. We both each only had one younger brother left then, the other killed by Shinobi years older than them.

"I'm going to protect my younger brother no matter what!"

The way his eyes hardened at that proclamation; no promise spoke of an inner fire in his soul. I witnessed that drive and decided right then we would do something spectacular together.

Training with Gai was perhaps the simultaneously worst and best choice in his life. 

"Come my youthful student, let us run around Konoha together one hundred times! If we cannot, then we will have to run another hundred!"

Mako wanted to cry, his body ached in new ways every day. Sometimes getting out of bed was so challenging Naruto would compare him to an old man trying to stand up. However, the results in his training with Gai were obvious. He could run faster longer, and his body reacted quicker. Gai seemed to prioritize teaching him speed based techniques, so they usually ran reps up and down hills or raced each other. Mako always got left in the dust, the distant sounds of Gai's support echoing through the village. 

In their practice attention was drawn. Shinobi and civilians alike watched as he ran after Gai, appearing to run at a snail pace compared to his teacher. 

Despite his...eccentricities...Gai taught well. Perhaps a bit too loud for his tastes, but skilled, nonetheless. 

Mako constantly needed to refuse the offer of a matching jumpsuit and the allegation that he was secretly Kakashi pretending to be a child. Since the mask apparently reminded Gai of his lifetime rivalry with the copy-cat ninja. Mako wished that to be true, so that he'd not have to go through puberty all over again. As it was, he and Naruto were both currently going through growth spurts. Mako still remained taller than him much to the blonde’s annoyance. 

At one point, completely covered in sweat, Mako asked Gai what training plan he came up with. Where it originated and how Gai decided it fit him best. 

"I knew the Fourth Hokage well enough to see how he fought, particularly in Taijutsu. Though not his strongest skill, Hokage-sama learned how to adapt Taijtusu to fit his immense speed. He knew he'd never be like Tsunade-sama with her enormous strength, so instead he focused on other aspects. In many ways his sheer speed was superior, as it left most of his enemies lashing out far too late for anything to hit. I could tell from a glance that you'd be fit for his fighting style as well."

"So, he has a specific one? You made it sound like he completely made one up."

Gai laughed. "Oh, it has no name. I simply only used what knowledge I had of what I saw and then filled the rest with my own experience. Do not worry my youthful pupil, I will ensure you end up becoming just as much as a legend as he was-no an even larger one! With your youthful spirit and mind the Shinobi world will not be able to see what hit them, literally!"

Flames rose in his dark, wide eyes. Full of the spirit Mako associated with well, Gai. Konoha talked a lot about the will of fire, and Mako wondered if perhaps they meant that. Whatever fueled Gai to continue on with his life, being who he was. 

Gai showed him parts of Konoha he had yet to explore in their training sessions. They raced past the Hyuuga compound, and then the Uchiha, through the forests where Nara deer grazed peacefully and to a large cliff. Where a river cut through the land. Gai introduced him to rock climbing there, well reintroduced Mako to it. Grasping a hold of ledges, using only his arm and leg strength to climb was second nature to Mako. He thrived in the thrill of scaling the cliff without rope to soften his fall. At the top he stopped for a moment, out of breath and sweaty.

At this height, he could see all of Konoha. A massive forest surrounded the village, of trees born from Senju themselves who once were many. Now only one remained, and she would most likely not come back. He imagined the view was even more spectacular when the trees still had their leaves. 

This part of his new life he enjoyed. Where pollution and overpopulation had not yet ruined the earth. Trading for a world of war was not very fair. However, Mako appreciated the pure untouched wilderness. If he truly wanted a life of hermit would be possible. All he had to do was just keep walking, no one would miss him. Since no family claimed him and his parents continued to be unknown Mako had the ability to disappear. 

The village seemed so small from where he stood. Faces of the Hokages towered over Konoha, carved to their likeness with frozen expressions. With the mountain they chose he wondered what would happen once Konoha ran out space. Would they simply have a Shinobi summon a mountain out of the ground? Or did the tradition end?

Wind brushed through his hair, and Mako took a deep inhale of fresh air and closed his eyes as he let it out. Silence, Gai sat at the base of the cliff. Probably wondering where he ran off to. Silence rung out around him, for once Mako felt truly alone. Branches rustled around him; the river raced through rocks below. With the snow melting and small sprouts of flowers starting to grow the snow would be gone within the month.

In this very forest, atop this cliff perhaps, Hashirama ran around with his friend. Uchiha Madara. And they were friends, if not more. Sometimes Mako wondered what remained unsaid within the writing of the First Hokage. Why the knowledge of their bond before the massive fight stayed unknown to most. Hashirama never named the boy in his book, perhaps the editor removed it or maybe Hashirama did. The description alone was enough for Mako to come to his own conclusion. Dark eyes, a heart wrenching devotion to his youngest and last brother. Hashirama's friend had to be Madara. 

“My youthful student! Not time to waste brooding, we must continue to our next training routine!”

With all the ‘youthful’ vigor of the green beast of Konoha Gai appeared spontaneously. Mako nearly shrieked out loud.

As spring started to take over, Mako continued training under him. Flowers started to grow out of the ground, and the air warmed. He and Naruto ended up buying new clothes for the season, Naruto bought himself a short-sleeved hoodie with blue sleeves and a pair of green cargo pants. While Mako ended up with a similar hoodie only red and black, with longer pants. To keep his pants from getting in the way he used white wraps around his ankles and decided to protect his wrists with the same thing. Gai soon bought him a small couple of weights he instructed Mako to wear on his ankles, to ensure even when he was not actively training his body would be. So they easily slipped under his ankle wrappings as they wrapped around his leg without being too obtrusive.

Eventually though, as he got used to running more than ten laps around Konoha, pushing nearly fifty pushups and sparing- or more like Gai throwing him around- with Gai, his teacher ended up at their house.  Inevitably Mako knew the situation was bound to happen. A part of him still feared Gai’s reaction to Naruto. That the Jonin’s true colors showed in the face of the blonde child the villagers and Shinobi hated.

Gai arrived at their house with Mako hung over his shoulders, as the new training regimen left him unable to move.

“Hello young one!” He shouted, as Naruto stared at him with mouth agape. “I have come to drop off my student home! He has been very youthful today and needs rest!”

“Uh.” Naruto replied. “Okay.”

Gai sauntered in, Mako met Naruto’s eyes silently. Unable to move his body hurt so much and thus Gai was introduced to their lives. Naruto rubbed his eyes to make sure he was seeing things correctly. Gai took one look around their house, clean because of Mako but with some dirty dishes in the sink and then at Naruto. Who stood still in his pj’s with a strange expression on his face.

“Who are you?” He asked.

Gai grinned and offered him a thumbs up. “Might Gai! The green beast of Konoha and your brother’s sensei! A pleasure to meet you young Uzumaki!”

“Y-you know my name?”

“Of course! Mako talks about you all the time.”

Mako’s cheeks heated. “No, I don’t.”

“So,” Gai continued. “Where are your parents?”

Neither he nor Naruto said a word. Mako assumed the question was aimed in his direction. Since mostly everyone knew who Naruto was. Finally, Mako answered.

“Dead, I assume. At least definitely dead in Naruto’s case.”

Gai set Mako on the ground gently, switched his gaze between the two of them with a serious expression. Then he sobbed.

“How tragic, yet beautiful! Two brothers working hard to become Shinobi alone! Your youthfulness knows no bounds!”

Naruto shifted, uncomfortable and awkward. Obviously not knowing how to interact with the Shinobi who suddenly appeared carrying his brother.

“You two must have such a hard time, the fire remains strong despite that! Why it will only be honorable for me to assist, as I could never leave two children alone knowing about this situation.”

“No need.” Mako replied quickly, trying to spew out the words fast enough that they interrupted what Gai was going to say. He could see the cogs in Gai’s brain clicking into place. “We will be-”

“Yosh!” Fire roared in Gai’s eyes. “It is decided! When I have free time, I will help take care of you two as if you were my own! As a Shinobi of Konoha my duty demands I protect those who cannot do it themselves!”

He swept both Mako and Naruto in a hug. “Perhaps one day you will both call me papa! For now, Gai-sensei will work! Together we will all grow as people in our youth!”

Mako met Naruto’s eyes, who were wide with shock. His earlier sleepiness eradicated.

We’re doomed.

Gai stayed true to his word and Naruto adapted. After the initial trauma Gai created in every person who met him due to his sheer personality, Naruto got into it. Though they were different people the fact remained the two were not that different.

Gai never showed a hint of judgement toward Naruto, and Naruto realized that very quickly. The signs of aggression and hatred never appeared, within the week Naruto started to enjoy Gai being around. He settled under Gai’s influence as only a child could when faced with the first adult in their life.

Missions kept Gai away the most, but he always returned. Early at the crack of dawn to wake Mako, and soon Naruto as well, to train. If the evening permitted it Gai also visited then, to talk to them and shout about youth. Sometimes he’d ask about the Academy, or who they befriended in class.

On the days he didn’t show, a bag of food and a freshly washed green jumpsuit and horrid orange leggings ended up on their doorstep. Mako sadly had to talk Naruto out of wearing it.

Unsurprisingly Naruto absolutely excelled at Taijutsu, especially under the tutelage of Gai. Once Naruto’s brain clicked as he noticed the Academy standard was less superior, he started to go all out. Gai relished in Naruto’s drive, one far louder than Mako would ever be. The two fed into each other like gasoline to a fire. More times than not Mako ended up out of breath as they sparred, since the Uzumaki genes gave Naruto atrocious stamina.

Mako accepted then, that Naruto would always be better. A sense of jealousy whispered in his mind, because Mako worked so hard to be good. However, pride overwhelmed that by leaps and bounds.

Because Naruto was good. Sure, he failed school and hated sitting still, but Naruto was born to be a Shinobi. In modern standards Naruto surely was the poster child for ADHD. His mind and body were built for fighting and war rather than mindless activities.

Gai may have been a huge, and intimidating, change to their lives. Mako failed to see how the relationship would end badly and didn't regret a thing.

                                                                ------

“Okay everyone, settle down.” Iruka commanded, as the children around them chatted excitedly. A clipboard held in one hand he scanned the group. Mako stood a bit further away from the rest, just as Sasuke did who caught his eye for a second before looking away.

“I’m going to call everyone up in pairs to spar.” He continued. “Whoever gets the first hit in wins-“

A few of the children started to complain. “That’s boring-”

“Yeah the spars are going to end way too fast!”

“I wanna fight longer!”

Iruka sent a glower in their direction and they sheepishly grinned. “-Enough! First hit wins, half of you still need to grasp the basics of Taijtusu much less actually winning a fight. So, no complaining!”

Someone snickered in the crowd.

“Ohh burn!”

Mako watched the spars with slight interest as they began. Some of the children really did need to train more. Haruno Sakura still seemed far too skinny and one of the boys, Fujimoto Takano, barely lasted a second in his spar.

Some of the girls snickered when Sakura got beat, and he eyed them. Cliques were being formed in their class. Yamanka Ino was a part of them but also set herself distant from the main one, mostly made of daughters from normal Shinobi. She seemed to be a bit too confident for their liking to want to befriend, and fairly intimidating because of her Clan heritage.

Compared to Ino, Haruno Sakura was the lowest ranking socially in their eyes. Along with every other civilian born child in the Academy. Their lack of training made them easy to spot out since most of the time their parents had no idea how to even prepare their children for the Academy. Much less support their chosen career. You couldn’t just pay a Jonin or a Chunin to train your child in Konoha. If they wanted to be a Shinobi, hard work and pure luck was required. Just like how Mako gained attention and then eventually ended up under Gai’s tutelage Sakura would need to do the same.

If you didn’t stand out, you could easily be forgotten.

“Mori Mako and Uchiha Sasuke.”

Mako halted, glanced at Sasuke who sent him a determined stare and then started forward.

Their pairing made sense, to a degree. Mako was consistently winning spars now thanks to Gai. Sasuke being the top of the class in general, Iruka seemed to think they paired well together. Since the last thing the Academy wanted was to set children up for failure.

Mako settled into his stance, and Sasuke did as well. Not much different from the one in the Academy, since they based their own Taijutsu off of the Uchiha Taijutsu.

“Start!”

Mako darted back as Sasuke swung, just barely dodging. He skipped back, and blocked another hit with his arm. Sasuke retaliated with a knee up toward his solar plexus and Mako pushed and then turned. Feet meeting the ground for only a second before he was off again.

“Focus on dodging and tiring your opponent out, speed is your greatest asset. They can’t hurt what they can’t touch. Remember to breathe.”

Sasuke sent a fury of attacks, faster than Naruto could ever manage. Lighter too, Mako’s hands and arms only slightly ached. Absolutely nothing compared to Gai’s that nearly made his bone shake with the pure power. The Uchiha also relied on speed to fight, as well as grapples and throws that Mako narrowly avoided.

They met at a standstill once, Mako with his leg pressed against Sasuke’s arm. Their eyes met.

Sasuke frowned, scrutinizing Mako with an strange emotion Mako could not identify.

Together they pushed off of each other’s bodies and slid away. Both panting.

“Kyaa Mako-kun! Sasuke-kun! So cool!”

“Damn, how are they so fast? I know Uchiha trains all the time with his Clan, but someone like Mori-san keeping up with him? Isn’t he an orphan?”

“Shut-up!” Naruto shouted toward the boy who spoke. “Mako has been training every day! He doesn’t need a stupid clan to teach him-ttebayo!”

Mako blocked them out, crouched slightly, then swung again.

Uchiha Sasuke was very talented. He relied on many of the same things Mako did in a fight. When he tried to trip Mako up, Mako was already jumping away. When Mako attempted to fake him out Sasuke saw through it.

Two people trying to outsmart the other.

Mako felt a smile start to form on his lips. He focused heavier on Sasuke, memorized the tells of each move as he went to perform them. Certain muscles would twitch, or Sasuke’s lips turned down slightly, the simple fact he preferred his left arm to his right. Mako learned, he could keep up. Though Sasuke was stronger physically, just enough Mako had to watch out. If Sasuke trapped him the fight would be over.

Finally, though Sasuke won, Mako knew he would. Mako laid on the ground after being swung up and over his body and panted.

Sasuke looked down at him, dark hair falling forward to hang from his head like a veil.

“Winner, Uchiha Sasuke!”

The crowd clapped, Mako accepted Sasuke’s hand and dusted the dirt off of his clothes.

“That was awesome!” Naruto shouted, above the noise of shrieking girls and applause. “Mako you beat his ass!”

“Language!” Iruka snapped. Naruto paid him no mind though, Mako only smiled.

Sasuke snorted. “I don’t know if you forgot already or not, but I won Dobe.”

Naruto stiffened. “What did ya say jerk?! I’m not dead last! Maybe you should double check your eyes or something, aren’t Uchiha’s supposed to have great vision?!”

Mako slapped his hand over his mouth to stop the laugh that threatened to escape.

Sasuke was not as amused. He curled a fist and stomped over to Naruto with gaze hot in anger. His hand lashed out to grab Naruto by the collar. Lighting seemed to flash between their gazes.

“Say that again, dobe. I dare you.”

Naruto opened his mouth obligingly.

“Naruto.” Mako spoke, loud enough his friend could hear him but not quiet at normal volume. Naruto visibly sighed and relaxed slightly though his eyes didn’t stray from Sasuke’s form.

“Enough!” Iruka shouted. “Uchiha, Uzumaki if you don’t behave, you’ll both get detention for a week! Stand down!”

Sasuke tched and let Naruto go. Without a second glance he stalked off and then leaned against the tree he chose as his spot.

Naruto rubbed the back of his neck and looked at Mako.

Mako raised a brow.

“Yeah, I know, he’s just trying to get me angry. Still doesn’t mean I want to stand there and take it, no one else stands up to him.”

Mako huffed out a laugh. “Indeed. Just don’t get too badly hurt in the process.”

“Me? Never. Gai-sensei’s training will be enough to kick the Jerks ass any day.”

“Fair enough.”

Mako did wonder how Naruto would fair against Sasuke now. Since he started training with Gai Naruto improved dramatically. If one were to pay close attention to the class ranking, they’d see Naruto slowly start raising up. Besides his child-like maturity and tendency to become bored, Naruto worked hard to get stronger. 

After they finished sparring, Mako walked home by himself. Naruto and his friend group decided to hang out more while Mako headed toward his regular training spot. He halted mid step though, as he came upon Haruno Sakura who sat curled up on the ground wiping her eyes. Curled into a small ball, her small form reminded him of Naruto so much it made his heart hurt. 

“Are you okay?”

She snuffled and peered up at him through her pink bangs.

“Y-yeah.”

Obviously, she was not. Though Mako doubted any child felt comfortable to open to a practical stranger. So, he crouched down to her level.

“The girls in class are making life hard for you, aren’t they?”

Sakura hunched further into herself. Then half-whispered. “They make fun of my forehead and say I’ll never be a Shinobi.”

Mako resisted rolling his eyes, a bit frustrated. Konoha really needed to try and support their future generations more. Especially the ones without Shinobi background.

“Do you believe them?”

Sakura sniffed. “I never win against my opponents when we spar, if I’m not strong how will I ever be able to be a Shinobi?”

“Well, you do have to be strong.” Mako agreed. “But your parents are civilians, right? You have at least six years to become better. Don’t worry about what everyone else thinks and just focus on what you want to do as a Shinobi.”

Sakura’s eyes looked at him, her tears had stopped at least. “H-how do you know my parents are civilians?”

“I pay attention.” Mako replied. “But plenty of Shinobi have started with little to no Shinobi background and become strong. The Fourth Hokage and Jiriay were orphans and look what they accomplished.”

“I-I guess you’re right.”

“As far as your forehead goes, does what others think truly matter? If you’re concerned about your forehead, I will say I’ve never really paid much attention to it myself. So, I think those girls just were being catty with you, and probably feel a bit jealous.”

“Of me?” She squeaked.

“Yeah, I mean you are the smartest Kunoichi in our class. Right under Nara Shikamaru, and I’m sure you know how smart the Nara tend to be.”

Sakura nodded. “And you’re the top of the class.”

“Well,” Mako paused then shrugged. “Yeah, but this isn’t about me.”

Sakura seemed to be in a better mood, he could tell by her tone of voice. So, he got stood up. “If you really feel sore about your forehead just show it off and don’t let it bother you anymore. When those girls see you proudly exposing it, they won’t have anything to pick on you about.”

“He’s right you know.”

They both turned to look at the blonde-haired girl who stood a few feet away. Her pale green eyes full of approval as she smiled at them. “Make that weakness of yours a strength and prove to them that appearance doesn’t matter. Not when we should focus on school and training.”

Sakura offered her own smile and finally stood up. “Okay.”

Mako took a few steps back to allow Ino to approach Sakura. She took the ribbon in her hair out and offered it up. “Here, use this to pull back your bangs. It will look cute.”

Sakura accepted the present. “Thanks.”

“No problem!” Ino chirped.

Well, looked like the start of a friendship if he ever saw one. Ino would probably be a good influence on Sakura, and hopefully introduce her to the Shinobi world some. When both started to chat more, he walked away silently, neither of them so much as noticing he left.

                                                                                --- --

Brother has little faith in our two clans coexisting. The brutality he was exposed to as a child clouds his judgement of our present day. I do not agree with his accusations regarding the Uchiha. We may have been feuding for years but with him there to lead the Uchiha and me the village things can work out. As the generations grow the past will fade, and new ideals will be formed. We can teach the children to work together as a team, the village will be the safe spot for them all to grow up in together.

I hope to one day see friendships form between the Senju and Uchiha. Perhaps even love. I know it is possible, because I experienced it myself. If not for our father’s intervening, we would have been normal friends. If I live to see a marriage between Uchiha and a Senju, I will rest easy knowing a part of my dream has been achieved.

“Did it ever happen? A marriage between an Uchiha and a Senju?”

Itachi shook his head. “As far as I know, no.”

“I find it strange that so many Uchiha live, and the Senju are practically extinct.” Mako commented. “In fact, I don’t even see place where the Senju could have lived in Konoha.”

“It was destroyed in the Kyuubi attack along with the Uzumaki compound. Some remains still can be found if you look. As a child I was fascinated with finding any sort of evidence of the history of Konoha. You can find bits and pieces in the forest of the Senju many over look or never even think of.”

Mako hummed thoughtfully. The library was silent around them, he and Itachi found each other in the history section as usual. A habit slowly forming as their interests drew them together. “I find Hashirama’s perception a bit naïve to be honest, but in parts of the book what he says is rather inspiring. He truly went against everything his father taught him to build Konoha.”

Itachi nodded. Dark eyes unreadable as always but interested in their conversation. He had barely looked away from Mako the whole time. “He wanted to create peace during war. By becoming the strongest others had no choice but to follow him, some drawn in by his power and leadership, others by fear.”

“Many things he hoped for still exist though.” Mako said. “Children are set out to the battlefield and tension exists in the village. I still haven’t seen some of the orphans who disappeared come back, so something behind the scenes must be going on.”

Though no noticeable change in his expression was visible, Mako could feel the air shift around Itachi. The Uchiha stood straighter, appeared protective almost as he blocked Mako from the view of the public.

“Do not look further into those cases Mako. Or you will regret it. I will talk to you about Konoha history all day, but you have to promise me to leave that alone.”

Caught off guard Mako shivered. The air seemed a bit cooler almost. “Okay.”

“Promise.”

“I promise.”

Itachi relaxed, then reached out a hand. Mako stiffened automatically, unsure how to react.

But Itachi only ruffled his hair. So very gently Mako’s eyes widened at the gesture.

“You’re a smart boy Mako, you should look around where the Kyuubi attacked with Uzumaki-kun. I bet you two could find parts off his clan history the clean up missed.”

Mako nodded.

Itachi walked away after that, and Mako watched him keenly.

Something about the orphans disappearing set Itachi off enough that he lost his composure. Not enough for anyone to notice around them. But Mako surely did.

Why did Itachi seem almost scared? Was Konoha selling children to neighboring villages? Or maybe using them as test subjects?

Could something worse be going on?

Mako hated being left in the dark, so he decided then to silently pursue the mystery. Itachi may think it would be dangerous, but Mako needed to know.

Chapter Text

Madara and Tobirama hated each other. The first few times they shared the same vicinity a war broke out between them. I thought my office would have to be rebuilt. Finally, they settled for glaring at each other across the table.

Both there to help our shared dream come to life. The Uchiha and Senju trying to coexist in the same place.  I still can recall the thrill it gave me. I just wanted people to have a safe place to live peacefully.

Konoha slowly grew into something, beautiful. We started to build houses, and the Uchiha helped. More than a few fights broke out and Tobirama took over as I ruled the political side of things. Sending letters to the other clans like the Hyuuga and of course the Uzumaki. We would need all of them to complete my dream.

One house turned to two which turned to ten and onward. Tobirama dictated who went where, of course with Madara ensuring my brother never got a moment of silence. It seemed my old friend felt very keen to help plan Konoha’s layout.

At least they were working together now.

“Come on Naruto, we need to go!”

Eyes half-lidded Naruto rubbed them and watched Mako run around the house. He wore a wrinkled set of clothes to go to school in, at least one of them being orange of course. Mako darted back and forth like a crazed cat trying to get free of a cage.

Academy started in twenty minutes; he knew a short cut via rooftops to get them there in time. If they waited any longer no amount of fast travel would get them to school on time.

Mako was mostly at fault though. Being the only one capable of waking up to begin with so early in the morning, Mako was the designated leader of their morning routine.

This time however, he stayed up far too late and slept through the alarm. Spending time reading and studying rather than sleeping like he should. Gai-sensei would admonish him if he knew.

Thankfully Gai-sensei was out on a mission, Mako could get away with his bad routine.

He grabbed Naruto’s bag and shoved it to him. Naruto took it and yawned.

“Mako are you okay?”

“No, we need to leave, or we’ll be late.”

“So?”

“They dock points off your grade for being late Naruto. I don’t want that to affect your standing in the academy.”

“Oh, okay.”

Mako held back a sigh at Naruto’s less than eager response. Hopefully the blonde would wake up more, otherwise he’d probably fall asleep during class. In no world would Naruto ever be a morning person, what was he thinking staying up so late?

He grabbed Naruto’s lunchbox, slipped his shinobi sandals on and opened the door. Naruto copied his actions, though more slowly. At least he moved faster than when he first woke up.

Mako stood up and started to stretch his arms, his backpack didn’t move. Good, meant it was strapped on well.

“We’re taking the roofs today, Naruto. If that doesn’t wake you up I don’t know what will.”

Naruto let out a long whine.

“Man…”

Mako locked the door behind them and then leapt up to the railing on light feet. Then pushed a little extra chakra into his feet. It traveled up to his caves like a slow river, he crouched and leapt across the gap. His feet landed solidly on a red tiled roof.

He turned around and looked at Naruto.

Because of how many stories above their apartment stood above the surrounding buildings, jumping down usually was the best option rather than taking the stairs. Who wanted to walk down four flights anyways?

Naruto stood on the rail higher above, the sun turned his hair a brilliant gold color as the rays of the rising sun peeked above Konoha.

Mako could see various shinobi jumping along the roofs, Jōnin, Chūnin and even Genin going to their destinations. Avoiding any traffic the civilians caused on the ground would allow them to move faster.

Naruto landed beside him and squinted at the sun with a sullen expression.

“It’s so bright Mako.”

Mako snorted.

“The sun does tend to do that.”

Naruto’s lips twitched; his eyes looked a bit more awake. He grinned at Mako.

“Wow no wonder they call you a genius Mako.”

“Do they though? I don’t think they do.”

Together they ran across the rooftops, taking great leaps sometimes to the next one. With spring now having fully taken over, the air felt warmer. Rather than frost or even ice, dew coated the tiles they ran over. A fine layer of Chakra along the sole of their feet ensured they could avoid slipping and falling to their deaths.

Naruto kept up for the most part. Near the end his chakra control started to waver, and they jumped down to the streets to run the rest of the way to school. Mako’s training with the paper, now a leaf thanks to the season change, already proved to work well. A few months ago, Naruto barely had control of his chakra at all.

Mako felt a bit less stressed when he noticed they weren’t the only stragglers. In the courtyard a group of children had all grouped up. No teacher was in sight so Mako stopped Naruto and made them come to a halt a few feet away.

“Mako, I wanna know what’s going on.”

Mako frowned at the arm that held Naruto in place and dropped it.

“Right, sorry.”

He hated that side of him, that felt the need to take care of Naruto. They were nearly six-year old’s training to be Shinobi, Naruto shouldn’t be coddled. So, curious as he was, Naruto strayed further to the crowd. A few children sent him looks, then were drawn back to the loud voices.

Two girls, young, Mako noted. Probably part of their class. Shikamaru, Choiji and Kiba were all part of the crowd as well.

“You’re telling me, this entire time you’ve had a crush on Sasuke?!”

Mako blinked.

“I’m in love with him! Are you implying you have a crush on Sasuke?!”

Certainly, no danger, Mako mused. He stepped closer, being taller than a lot of the kids his age gave him the advantage of seeing what was going on. Unlike Naruto, who seemed to have forced his way to the front.

In the middle of the circle of children was Yamanka Ino and…Haruno Sakura?

Well, the girl looked like Haruno Sakura. The new hair style she sported with her bangs framing her face changed her appearance entirely. Clover green eyes matched with soft pink hair, making the small girl look like a cherry blossom tree personified.

She was pretty. Would probably be beautiful when older.

Ino crossed her arms and turned up her nose.

“I’m in love with him and have been since I met him. What are you going to do about that?”

Sakura paused, she looked shocked. Then her face smoothed and she placed her hands on her hips.

“Certainly not share him, Sasuke-kun is mine.”

A few people in the crowd giggled, Mako heard a few girls in the crowd snort in disagreement. The whole class knew almost every girl crushed on Uchiha Sasuke, Mako couldn’t figure out why they took this crush so seriously. A few weeks ago, Sakura finally got out of her shell and became friends with Ino. How did this get so bad so fast?

Mako turned and headed into school. He had no time for children being dramatic.

He paused mid-stride when he ran across Sasuke leaning against the hallway wall of the school. Placed directly before the door to hear and see what was happening, but hidden enough to not be spotted.

They met eyes.

Mako looked toward the distant group and thought of the scene he first witnessed, then looked back at Sasuke.

Sasuke’s dark eyes only showed annoyance.

Mako huffed out a laugh.

“You have gathered quite a crowd of admirers. I’m fairly certain those girls are going to swear to be love rivals in your name.”

Sasuke tossed his head.

“Whatever. They can do what they want. I’m not the only one with fans.”

“I suppose Naruto does have that strange Hyuuga girl who follows him all the time.”

“No not the dobe.” Sasuke snapped, amusedly annoyed at the mere mention of Naruto’s name. You.”

Mako blinked rapidly, looked around then pointed to himself.

“Me?”

“Yes, they’re just too scared of you to be loud about it like mine are.”

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not, it’s probably because of that mask you have. If you took it off they wouldn’t find you so mysterious, they’d probably stop following you around school.”

Mako tapped his chin.

“I guess I did notice a group of girls tailing me, I never thought they were fans. Regardless the mask stays on, so I guess I’ll just have to deal with it.”

Sasuke rolled his eyes, and pushed off from the wall. Mako hesitantly took a step toward their classroom and Uchiha walked beside him. Hands stuck in his pockets casually. Mako glanced back at the group of children, and when he couldn’t spot Naruto proceeded onward.

“Why do you wear it?”

“Because I want to?”

Sasuke side-eyed him.

“That’s it?”

“What else did you expect?”

“An explanation? Half of the class thinks you’re the copy-cat ninja’s orphaned son and the other half think you’re his obsessed fan.”

Mako couldn’t help but snort.

“I’m none of those things.”

“Obviously.” Sasuke drawled so sarcastically Mako felt his brows furrow in annoyance. “I think you just have a scar you’re trying to hide. Or you know, just prefer to keep your identity hidden. Lots of Shinobi cover their faces in public.”

Mako’s annoyance disappeared. Sasuke was offering a different side of him, Mako hurried mentally to adapt to the change.

“Let’s just say I have a scar.”

Sasuke shrugged. He tried to be nonchalant and cool as always, but Mako could spot the curiosity burning in his gaze. Sasuke did not push it. Perhaps being Clan raised exposed children to more then he thought. Most children would continue to press him.

After school, Naruto ventured off with his friends and Mako headed to the library. The soft hum of silence greeted him, the Libarian raised a hand in greeting.

He waved back and meandered to the history section. Closer to the history focused on Konha, Uchiha Itachi turned his head at the sound of his arrival. Though Mako felt certain Uchiha knew of his presence far before he decided to react to it.

“Itachi-san.”

“Hello Mako.”

“I don’t understand.”

Itachi turned gracefully to face him.

“What?”

“Hashirama’s book. It’s very interesting, don’t get me wrong. I know far more than the academy would ever reveal, but Hashirama…he’s obsessed.”

“With what?”

“With Konoha.”

Itachi stayed silent and Mako took it as his sign to continue.

“I know this town holds innocent lives they tell us to protect, I just don’t feel the same way Hokage-sama does. Not even close. Hashirama talks about Konoha with such naivety I’m shocked. For a Shinobi like him, who watched so many people die. How is he so blind?”

“What is he not seeing?”

Mako carefully kept his voice from getting louder. While at the same time his mind slowly scanned through the various ways he wanted to explain himself. Uchiha Itachi was a shinobi of Konoha, if his reply was too crass Itachi could have reason to turn him into the Hokage.

“There’s bad things that happen here, you even said-“

Itachi twitched.

Mako hurried to speak before Itachi moved to stop him.

“-so yourself. Hashirama, he changed a lot and was a good person. But he never saw anyone outside of himself and Uchiha Madara.”

“What do you mean?”

“He had no insight into how people are treated, the lives lost, orphans made or drugs being delt in Konoha. Never once did he mention any of those things. You’d think a leader would write about that, how they dealt with those problems.”

“Just because he didn’t write about them doesn’t mean he didn’t notice them Mako.”

“I know. But not once?” Mako replied with an edge to his voice. “How about his brother? Why doesn’t Hashirama go into detail about his only living brother?”

“I can’t say, not much is printed about him.”

Mako motioned in the air. “That’s what I mean, he’s literally called the Red-eyed Ghost! Why does he even have that nickname to begin with?!”

“I can see why you may be curious about him.” Itachi replied softly. “I felt similar ways when I first started my research. I can lend you one of my books that mentions him, if you’d like.”

Surprised by the offer Mako didn’t know what to say. He stared at Itachi curiously.

“Really?”

“Of course. Hopefully it will answer some of your questions, afterwards I will talk to you more of Konoha.”

Mako nodded in agreement.

“Okay.”

He left the library within the hour and went to go train. Naruto preferred to train a few days a week rather than everyday, so he had to training grounds to himself. He meditated and focused his mind for around thirty minutes, then started his exercise. Gai wanted him to do a set number of exercises daily. One hundred pushups and sit ups, a 10k run and then start using the training posts as a sparing partner.

The wrapped bandages Gai gave him fit nicely around his fists and arms that both ached afterwards. Above him, the sky started to darken as a cool brush of air ran across his sweat soaked skin.

Mako took a moment to rest, drank water and then started on his chakra exercises. Focusing on pooling his chakra under the soles of his feet. This time though, his goal was to not run across roofs. No, his goal was tree climbing.

First, he’d figure it out, and then he’d teach Naruto. What Shinobi didn’t know how to use chakra to climb up trees? After that, they’d focus on running on top of water.

He took a deep breath and took a step toward the nearest tree. As always, his chakra followed his will, pooled at his feet and stayed there. A calm ocean in his mind’s eye. He raised a foot and then set it on the stump of the tree.

Immediately the wood splintered, he covered his face to block the wood chips. Then let out a sharp exhale.

He dropped his food down.

Why did the wood keep doing that?

Nothing in the books talked about Chakra acting like that. The academy certainly would not go over it either considering their current curriculum.

Mako wished he could be better, faster, smarter. Why was he struggling so much?

Now restless with simmering anger at himself, Mako forced himself to stretch and then headed home. At that point the sky was completely dark and lights on the streets and in stores illuminated his journey.

Crossing one alleyway made him pause, Mako turned to look at the group of people in the shadows. Uchiha’s from the looks of it, dressed in dark clothes as usual. No one he recognized though, mostly older men with nasty scowls.

Seeing any Uchiha so close to the inner workings of the city felt a bit odd. Though he ran into them from time to time while shopping, spotting Uchiha hanging out was out of the norm. They liked to stay near their compound.

If he tried to go any closer, they’d surely notice his intent to eavesdrop. So instead, he took note of the faces in his mind and continued on his way.

Whatever they were up to was nothing good.

“Mako can I talk to you for a second?”

Mako paused, Naruto stopped a few feet ahead and they turned curious eyes to their teacher. Iruka offered a polite smile. Around them kids chatted amongst each other as they left. Excited to finally be let out and enjoy the rest of the day.

“Alone preferably.” Iruka said kindly.

Mako exchanged glances with Naruto, the blonde shrugged.

“Sure thing. See you at the training grounds Mako.”

“Bye.”

One everyone was out of the classroom but the two of them Iruka began to speak.

“I’ve noticed that you fall asleep in class a lot.”

“…I do.”

“Don’t worry I’m not mad or anything.” Iruka said, Mako raised a brow in surprise. “I mean obviously I don’t want my students to do that. But considering your test scores, I bet I know why you’re falling asleep. Boredom, right?”

Mako nodded. Not finding any use in trying to lie. “Yes.”

“All of the teachers have noticed how smart you are Mori-san. Besides physical education, you’re the top of your class. If you wanted to be more challenged, I could send Hokage-sama a letter of recommendation for you to skip a grade.”

Mako stilled. He stared at Iruka with wide eyes. “What?”

“We offered this to Nara-san as well, but as you can imagine he declined.” Iruka said, he smiled as he thought about his student. “Not that I was very surprised. You can say no too Mori-san, but I’d suggest you think about it first.”

“Why?”

“I think you’d thrive as a Shinobi if you were properly challenged.”

Though he appreciated the words of praise, proof that the ‘genius’ rumors Naruto mentioned were shoved right in his face. Being called out for his intelligence while trying to be unnoticed felt like a slap in the face.

Accepting the offer would be even worse for Naruto.

“No thanks.”

Iruka hesitated. Mako had never seen him so careful before. Usually, he controlled the class with an iron fist and gave Naruto the cold shoulder.

“Why not think about it like I said? Being smart is a good thing Mori-san, especially in the Shinobi world.”

Mako shook his head. He stared Iruka down for a moment, until his teacher started to shift uncomfortably.

“No thank you. I will try not to fall asleep as much in the future sensei, sorry.”

Iruka opened his mouth but Mako wasn’t keen to listen to him anymore. In perhaps a bold and rude gesture he turned on his heel and left without asking for permission to leave. Nearly running out of the class in his haste.

He’d have to start getting answers wrong on the tests so the teachers would calm down.

Mako left the building and looked around the empty school yard and went to meet up with Naruto at the training grounds. A group of boys caught his attention, older students in the Academy. Three boys with sneers on their faces and too-loud voices.

“My mom says you’re a freak!”

“Yeah, and mine says you’re a demon!”

Naruto’s fists clenched. Mako could see his temper visibly in his blue eyes that seemed to simmer in rage. Mako jogged forward as Naruto raised a fist and let out a loud yell.

“Shut up you idiots, leave me alone!”

One boy went down under Naruto’s fist, and his friends took a step forward. Without a sound he crossed the rest of the distance. Grabbed the closest boy in his range and swung him around. The kid stared at him with wide- frightened eyes and Mako loomed over him.

“You heard him, fuck off.”

Then he swung.

The group of boys ran away like terrified rats within minutes.

Naruto glared at their retreating figures.

“Why do they always have to bother me? I don’t understand what I did wrong.”

Mako looked him up and down for wounds and found none. Good. He settled next to Naruto and considered his question.

“Life is going to be hard for us Naruto, we’re orphans.”

“Yeah.”

Unfortunately for them they ended up in Konoha, which just happened to love picking on orphans.

To try and get over the little confrontation they started to spar together. Naruto always hit heavy and had no pattern to his fighting like most people did. So Mako stayed light on his feet and paid close attention to him. One hit would knock the breath out of him if he wasn’t careful, Naruto had no sense of self control.

A good trait for a Shinobi, at least better than having no strength at all.

He turned and ducked and weaved his way through Naruto’s punches. Focused on keeping his breath steady and being mindful of his body’s energy levels. Naruto could literally fight forever if he truly wanted to.

Mako’s stamina paled in comparison to Naruto’s. It felt like a joke sometimes.

Their spar lasted for a while, longer than Mako expected. Naruto won in the end but both of them ended on the forest floor, panting. Naruto laid spread eagle on his stomach, and Mako on his back.

“You’re getting stronger Mako.”

Chest still rising up and down rapidly Mako peered at Naruto without turning his face from the sky.

“I am?”

“Yeah, you can last longer. Gai-sensei really knows what he’s talking about!”

Mako snorted.

“He’s a famous Shinobi Naruto, of course he does. Gai is literally the only person who can access and open the eight inner gates.”

“What’s that?”

“Eight specific tenketsu along the chakra pathway system. Gai-sensei can open those points to give himself more access to his chakra and physical abilities. With each opened gate his speed and strength become better and better.”

Naruto’s eyes widened in awe.

“Gai-sensei is awesome!”

Mako nodded. He turned to fully look at Naruto.

“You don’t even know.”

At least they had someone looking over them. Gai was supposed to come back tomorrow so hopefully his presence would scare away any other bullies. Knowing Naruto, his brother was going to ask to go to the flower festival-

“Can we go to the flower festival next week?”

Mako couldn’t help but sigh. Naruto stared at him with worry.

“I know that last time the festival turned out bad, but this time will be different! Come on Mako, the flowers will be so pretty!”

Naruto was a child, Mako reminded himself. The naivety in Naruto’s worldview made his chest twist. Because of course Naruto wanted to go to the festival and see the cherry blossoms. The Yamanaka planted them in a long semi-circle for people to walk through during the summer.

Mako offered the best smile he could.

“Sure Naruto.”

He’d just bring his Kunai this time.

When they got home, he found a book sitting one of their tables. A leather-bound journal of sorts with neat handwriting. Mako flipped through the pages and a note fell out.

                                                Enjoy

In the corner a crow was drawn. Mako stared at it for a moment and tried to imagine Itachi solely focused on drawing such a thing.

He raised a hand to the note and placed it in one of his notebooks from school.

Typical Shinobi behavior, sneaking into someone’s house to gift them a book rather than give it to them in person. Itachi obviously felt the need to keep Mako’s acquisition of the book a secret.

He flipped to the first page of the book.

Madara Izuna was written in the upper right corner.

What in the world?

Chapter Text

Spring, the time of flowers, of birds building nests and lying eggs. Plants finally growing from the ground in the form of small sprouts and trees beginning to bloom. For most, Spring was a greatly appreciated reprieve from the icy cold mornings in winter, and hours spent cutting wood to stoke the fire.

In Konoha, Spring belonged to the Yamanaka. To the Shinobi, the Yamanaka provided a secure and reliable source of plant-based poisons. For civilians a shop was open to those who wanted to buy bouquets for loved ones, or starters for their gardens.

The flower festival offered Konoha both of those things in plenty once a year.

Mako wandered through the crowd of Shinobi and Civilians alike. Dressed in a short-sleeved red jacket and black cargo pants. Kunai holster firmly in place on his outer right thigh.

“This is great Mako! Look at all the flowers!” Naruto chirped.

“I will admit they are beautiful.”

Not only were the streets of Konoha full of Yamanaka vendors with vibrant flowers, the buildings themselves were adorned with flora of all kinds. Creeping vines where white blossoms reached toward the sun and finely grafted pink and purple bouquets.

Even the air smelled like flowers. Not the overwhelming kind, but a soft fragrance of wisteria and other flowers he couldn’t identify.

Naruto sent him a bright grin.

“See I told you this Festival was worth it!”

Perhaps, Mako admitted silently. He scanned the faces of the crowds, everyone was smiling. A girl chatted to a Yamanaka at one of the carts as she gestured to the flowers, a shinobi bartered with another Yamanaka at a separate cart.

A few looks were cast toward Naruto, but they never progressed to violence.

“Ohh Mako can we get Dango? Please?” Naruto whined, widening his blue eyes pleadingly.

Mako huffed and motioned toward the cart that Naruto had in mind.

“It’s your money Naruto, do as you wish.”

Naruto beamed and ran off to the cart, Mako watched him point at a few stick of Dango and then wave money around. The vendor eyed him for a moment with crossed arms.

Mako stared the man down.

As if feeling his gaze the stranger looked up and met his eyes.

He paled dramatically and suddenly was leaping to Naruto’s request. A few sticks were shoved into a bag that he practically tossed to Naruto. Naruto took them eagerly and gave the man the money before scampering back to Mako.

The blonde reached into the bag and stuffed his mouth with the Dango.

“This is delicious, I’m so happy that man allowed me to buy from him! Do you think the other vendors will act the same way?”

Mako shrugged. Naruto didn’t need to know the transaction was motivated by fear.

“Maybe, but let’s try and save money Naruto, you only have a set amount remember?”

Naruto wrinkled his nose.

“Yeah, but we have plenty left! It will be fine Mako, I promise!”

Mako conceded silently.

Naruto did not have to listen to his advice whatsoever. No matter how much it pained him to see Naruto spend money so carelessly. The fact remained, the money was Naruto’s. Mako felt appreciative his friend was so open to using it for the both of them in the first place.

Hopefully when he got old enough, he could have his own apartment, and Naruto wouldn’t have to pay for things for him anymore.

Naruto led him to another cart where tiny pots holding various different plants were offered.

“Welcome!” The man said, with his long blonde hair and green eyes Mako assumed he was a Yamanaka. “Find anything you like?”

Mako took in his body language and Naruto scanned the plants. Yamanaka showed no intent to bodily harm Naruto, and he still sported a friendly smile. For whatever reason the old man treated Naruto like any normal client.

Naruto picked up a cactus with a small flower on it and showed Mako.

Mako stared at the tiny thing, then looked at Naruto.

“You want a plant?”

Naruto nodded, blue eyes glowing.

“The apartment looks really boring so I figured some plants might help! I heard Sakura-chan talking about cacti the other day, apparently they’re really easy to take care of!”

Mako chuckled.

“Sakura-chan huh?”

Naruto’s cheeks reddened.

“Yeah! She’s really pretty and smart, there’s nothing wrong with having a crush on her!-ttebayo!”

“I didn’t think there was Naruto.” Mako couldn’t take the grin off his face. “I just think you are acting really cute buying a plant because a girl said to.”

Naruto turned even more red and then stuck out his tongue.

“Whatever! Don’t call me cute Mako, it makes me sound like a baby!”

Naruto hurried and bought the cactus, Mako took it willingly as his still flustered friend started to head further down the street. At the moment a couple dozen people roamed with them, the streets slowly filled more as the day progressed.

Mako looked down at the plant and smiled.

Such a tiny thing, adorable. Naruto was right, this would be a good addition to the apartment.

Obediently he tailed Naruto, and they fell in step with each other. Naruto started to chat about all the things he could see, the color of the flowers, how the Yamanaka displayed them, Dango and how much he loved it.

Mako felt light, mentally. For the first time in months. Maybe the sunlight was doing him some good, Naruto even seemed in higher spirits as well.

He stopped their journey himself when they passed the town’s favorite bookstore and motioned Naruto to follow with an incline of his head. The blonde sighed and did as asked, pretending to be more annoyed then he actually was. Mako could see Naruto was actually looking for something in the bookstore, despite his initial reaction.

Inside he noticed a handful of civilians and one shinobi still dressed in their Jonin uniform. A man with gravity defying grey hair, standing by the…romance section?

Mako knew what Hatake Kakashi looked like thanks to the bingo book. Kakashi rarely showed face in public for longer than a few moments, for being such a legendary shinobi the man acted like a ghost.

Growing curious about what the Copy-Cat Ninja was looking for so intently, Mako slipped into the row of books a few yards down from where Kakashi was. He could hear the man humming to himself.

Kakshi showed no signs of noticing his lurking, Mako knew better. Still, he browsed what looked to be the mystery section and waited. Naruto’s voice suddenly rose up in the store.

“Mako look, there’s a book on Fun-Fun.” Naruto rounded the corner. “Fūinjutsu?”

He raised the book in his hands and squinted at the title. Trying to sound it out. Mako turned his head desperately to where Kakakshi had been.

No one was there now.

Mako slumped.

“Yeah, it’s Fūinjutsu.”

Naruto cocked his head at him.

“You okay Mako?”

“Don’t worry about it. Did you want to try and learn FūinjutsuNaruto?”

Naruto scratched his head and looked away, then sent a hesitant glance toward Mako.

“Maybe.”

Mako’s heart softened. “That sounds like a great idea.”

“Really?!” Naruto exclaimed, he stood straighter, and a smile formed on his face. “I was thinking I could learn since the Uzumaki used to specialize in it. They did, right? I think I remember you mentioning that.”

Before Naruto could doubt himself too much Mako replied.

“That’s correct Naruto, I’m sure you could learn if you worked hard. You’re very smart.”

“Thanks.” Naruto said quieter than normal.

 He rushed forward and wrapped Mako in a hug. Mako accepted the gesture without complaint.

Before they left the bookstore he wandered over to where Kakashi had been standing and read the titles of the books nearby. All of it really was Romance. He took a random one from the shelf and flipped through the pages. Nothing special, maybe Kakashi was on a special mission or something?

He put the book away and settled his eyes on the newest book written by Jiraiya.

Probably not that one either. From the rumors Icha Icha Paradise was porn in written word. Just thinking about such a strong Shinobi like Kakashi reading the series felt awkward.

So, Naruto took the lead once more after buying his book, and Mako followed him deeper into the maze of Konoha. Music started to play around them and the streets slowly began to get filled as lanterns were lit against the darkening sky.

Mako stared at the sinking sun and grabbed Naruto’s arm.

“Let’s go home.”

Naruto stopped and looked back at him.

“Why?”

“It’s getting dark. I don’t want to stay out too late.”

Naruto looked at the sky and frowned. Then sent pleading eyes toward Mako.

“But we don’t even have school tomorrow Mako. Can we stay a bit longer please?”

Mako hesitated. Naruto’s plea came from a genuine place, what child would want to leave so soon?

Did he want to risk their safety and allow Naruto to indulge in his childish side? When a very real threat loomed around them on all sides. Mako considered the whole village a danger to Naruto, who was to say what type of person wanted to hurt Naruto next.

He had to stop trying to be in control of the situation though. Naruto would surely start disliking him if he kept him away from too many opportunities to have fun.

Mako dropped Naruto’s arm, and he brushed his Kunai holster with the tips of his fingers.

“Okay.”

The sun officially sank after that, bars opened, and families left. Naruto was drawn in by the performers who danced along the streets, and the music playing. Mako kept him in sight at all times.

It took one drunk tripping in front of Naruto to draw attention, the unwanted kind. A group of men stared at their friend who sprawled at the ground in front of Naruto. Mako tensed.

The drunk man clambered to his feet and groaned. Naruto took a few uneasy steps away from him as the smell of alcohol filled the air. The man turned to look at them, his eyes locked on Naruto.

Tension prickled Mako’s skin. Sheer adrenaline, thrummed in his ears. He grabbed Naruto’s arm, swung his other hand toward his Kunai pouch, they needed to get out-

“It’s the demon!”

The man’s friends staggered toward them, middle aged men who while alone held no real threat, together made Mako uneasy. Many more eyes turned to them, the other festival goers.

Naruto looked up at them with wide eyes, he trembled in place. Fear had frozen him. Mako wondered if the Kyuubi festival last year also flashed in his mind.

Mako shifted his weight to the soles of his feet, squared himself and swung Naruto around then behind him. Naruto weighed around fifty or sixty pounds, Mako had the surprise and height advantage.

The adults paused, then stared at Mako. Who squared himself up with all four of them, Naruto shook behind him.

This wasn’t right. Adults should not be creating so much fear in a six-year-old.

Nothing in Konha was right though, and that harsh reality slapped him right back in the face.

He recalled Hashirama’s journal. How positive the man had been despite his loss. The will of fire. A Storm raged in his chest, a hurricane of increasing anger-no Fury. Suddenly the crystal-clear image of Iruka grabbing his Kunai from the pouch appeared in his mind.

--Second finger hooked into the hole, pull your fingers back as you pull it out, it falls to the left, allow gravity to spin the sharp edge. One, two, three times.

Now the handle lay firmly in his hand, he tightened his fists and raised the blade high.

Mako sent them all a poisonous glare. “Back off.”

The men stared at him with a dumbstruck expression. A couple turned to look at each other.

Too many people stared at him.

No one came to help.

This god forsaken village-

Naruto. He reminded himself. Naruto. The blond held onto the back of his shirt and had his face hidden. Good. No six-year-old should see what he planned to do.

“Who the hell are you?!” The leader finally shouted, who fell in front of Naruto in the beginning. “Some academy brat?”

Mako narrowed his eyes, their words were slurred with the alcohol in their system.

“I could be a Shinobi.”

The man snorted.

“Ha, as if! Move out of the way brat, or you’ll get some too.”

“Wait. The kid could be telling the truth, didn’t an Uchiha graduate around his age a while ago? Maybe we should leave them alone.”

Surprising logic for a brain addled. Mako watched the group over the edge of his Kunai keenly. The leader turned to respond to his friend.

“Really? Nah that was totally a hoax. They run the police force you know, a total joke if you ask me. If one of their brats graduated that young, it was because of his bloodline. Everyone knows that.”

“Oh, well…Maybe you’re right.”

Mako rolled his eyes. Idiots. He didn’t move, idiots could still hurt others.

“He’s referring to my son, Uchiha Itachi who graduated at age 7.”

Her voice was soothing and commanding at the same time. While the sudden appearance of an obvious Kunoichi made him flinch, the woman he spotted caused an entirely different reaction.

Uchiha Mikoto was a sight. She looked like a porcelain doll with her flawless skin, but walked like a tiger. She approached them all, dark eyes locked on the men who stood like frozen deer before her.

“Y-you are-“

“Uchiha Mikoto, wife of Uchiha Fugaku, Head of the Police force.”

Watching the men become cowed by her words fulfilled a need in Mako. Mikoto stood between both the groups, her words made it obvious which side she supported.

She rose a brow and the group of men. “Well, don’t you have questions about Itachi? I swear I heard his name from your mouth just now.”

“Our apologizes Uchiha-san.”

One bowed to her then left, another whimpered out an apology and offered a bow of his own.

Mako gripped the handle of his Kunai tightly.

Apologies were only for the powerful. That much was apparent. Uchiha Mikoto turned and sent them a smile, she held a bag full of flowers in one of her hands.

“Are you two okay?”

Mako nodded dully, stuffed his Kunai back into his pouch. Shot a glance behind his shoulder to peer at Naruto. His friend was on his tiptoes watching Mikoto with curious eyes.

“Thank you.” Mako said, he bowed at his waist. “For helping us.”

“Oh, my. How polite, please no need to be that formal with me Mori-kun.”

Mako looked up at her through his bangs and straightened.

“You know me?”

“Of course, I sent the person to the Orphanage who you talked to when they reached out to my Clan.”

“Right.”

He remembered the random Uchiha vaguely. Mostly he recalled how many civilians used to think his eyes were the Sharingan. A strange assumption. Maybe caused by the tension the civilians felt toward the Uchiha he sensed earlier.

She leaned forward a bit, and met Naruto’s eyes.

“You must be Uzumaki Naruto.”

Naruto flinched and sent Mako a confused glance. Mako blinked at him purposely. The blonde stepped out from behind him and then bowed.

“Thank you for saving us Uchiha-san.”

This time Mikoto seemed genuinely taken aback. “You’re very polite as well Uzumaki-san, someone must be teaching you both very well.”

Mako thought back to the only adult in their life.

Gai certainly never taught them manners. Naruto learned this from Mako.

But no one needed to know that.

“We should go.” Mako said. “I hope you aren’t offended Uchiha-san, it’s been a long day.”

Mikoto nodded. “Of course, do you want me to walk you two home?”

“No, we’re okay.”

Mako hurried both he and Naruto away from the festival, purposely walked along the river rather then in streets of Konoha.

“Wow she sure was pretty!” Naruto commented, already recovered from what they just witnessed.

Mako thought of the look of hatred that crossed the man’s face as soon as he saw Naruto. His nails curled into his palm until it hurt. A storm surged in his chest.

Nothing had happened. However, the implications on what could have happened made his blood boil. Why was Konoha like this? Hashirama talked so highly about the village in his book. Where was the peace he ranted about?

Uchiha Mikoto saved them so effortlessly. Watching her shoved a very real reality into his face.

Privilege.

Granted from the sounds of it the Uchiha Clan was not the most popular. Mikoto sending their would-be attackers away successfully and being bowed to by all of them spoke words.

They even apologized.

Mako turned to look at Naruto.

“Are you okay Naruto?”

Naruto shrugged, Mako had a hard time seeing the expression on his face because of the darkness.

“Mako am I a demon?”

Mako paused. His brain even halted in shock. Naruto avoided eye contact with him and continued.

“Because that’s what they call me all the time. Maybe I really am a demon, and I don’t know it? I don’t know why else they would be so mad at me about.”

“No Naruto.” Mako breathed out. “You are not a demon.”

“Then why do they hate me?”

“I don’t know.”

Mako stared at the dark water to his left as it churned over the rocks underneath.

 Over the months he made small notes mentally of how people treated Naruto. Their behavior was far passed a mere rumor, these people truly believed Naruto was a demon.

It all made sense to him, Sarutobi visiting them in the fall, people going after Naruto especially hard during the Kyuubi festival. That one vendor throwing a fox mask at his brother. Naruto’s healing speed and stamina, the whiskers.

Naruto was the nine-tailed demon, wasn’t he? Maybe Konoha somehow locked the spirit in Naruto’s body. Namikaze Minato was a sealing expert after all and married to an Uzumaki.

Mako felt anger trickle hot down his spine. He glared at the river.

“Naruto, we should leave.”

“What?”

Mako heard the true confusion in Naruto’s voice and firmed his resolve. He stopped and Naruto followed suit a few feet ahead.

“Let’s leave Konoha, life isn’t going to get better Naruto. We can live somewhere else, where people aren’t trying to hurt you.”

Naruto said nothing. The blonde had a serious look in his eyes, Mako felt something in him drop.

“No way, I love Konoha. Why would I want to leave?”

Why would Naruto want to leave? He could list a hundred different reasons if Naruto wanted. Or was his friend truly that blind?

No Naruto was silly, not stupid. He knew what Konoha did was wrong.

“To maybe be able to live life without the villagers on your tail?” Mako said softly. “I don’t know.”

Going out to survive in the wilds of a Shinobi world at six years old was a death wish. Shinobi were trained to take down even children if necessary. If Naruto truly was the nine-tailed fox, then Mako would not be able to hide him for long.

Still…

“No, I want to stay Mako.” Naruto replied. “Once I prove myself a strong Shinobi and become Hokage the villagers will treat me better. I don’t go back on my promise.”

Who did you make the promise to? Mako wanted to ask. He already knew the answer.

To Konoha.

“I want to be a hero like Hashirama!” Naruto continued. He became livelier now, Mako watched him silently. “He built Konoha to protect those he loved. I want to continue that legacy. If I stay in Konoha I can find other Uzumaki and bring them here, maybe I can even restart my clan. You’ll be my bodyguard when I become Hokage so you can’t leave either! I won’t let you!”

Mako forced out a soft laugh.

Maybe Naruto was too young to truly understand, how wrong Konoha treated him. In a few years would he change his mind?

“Don’t worry I’m not going anywhere. Forget I said anything.”

I want to leave this place, but I will stay for you.

Maybe he should specialize in medical ninjutsu to prepare for Naruto being hurt in the future.

…

.

.

Itachi told him not look into the children disappearing.

But-well how could he not?

Upon closer examination of the Orphans living in the Orphanage, Mako realized a few were gone. While keeping track of them had never been a goal, he still could clearly visual each and every one in his mind.

The boy with blue hair and dark eyes, Shin was gone. So was the girl with brown hair and eyes, Yuki.

Adoption maybe? No way to be sure, he’d have to start watching for the two of them. If a family adopted them then he’d see them. The other scenario they died, highly unlikely yet not impossible.

Kidnapped maybe?

Mako left the Orphanage, walked the closest wall and started to climb it. He got to the top faster than usual, Gai’s training really paid off. He reached the roof and swung himself over, then walked to the crest.

Below on the other side of the building, people milled, going in and out shops. He crouched on the roof and stared at them.

How likely would a kidnapping be? This world was full of Shinobi, surely, they’d be able to stop any invaders from slipping in. Multiple guards ran the perimeter of Konoha, others sat at the gates or patrolled the city itself.

Chances were low but not zero for that either. Cloud nearly got to Hinata Hyuuga during the winter.

How about inside?

Mako tapped his fingers in the air and fell deeper into his mind.

Shinobi were child soldiers grown up after all. Who was to say a Shinobi of Konoha didn’t just steal Shin and Yuki? How far did a Shinobi’s loyalty lie with their employer? Maybe the Village had a traitor stealing kids for someone?

Why though? Slavery? Sex?

Orochimaru could have influence here still, even after being banished.

“You’re going to give yourself wrinkles.”

Mako nearly fell off the rooftop he startled so hard. Suddenly having a voice directly in his ear felt jarring. He backed away a few good feet from the invader of his space.

And scowled.

Uchiha. Another Uchiha. Why did they keep popping up like daisies?

Shisui laughed.

“Man you should have seen your face, I didn’t realize someone could be so focused unless they were Nara. What were you thinking about?”

Mako crossed his arms.

“Nothing. Why are you bothering me?”

Shisui snorted. “Man, grumpy as always, I wanted to say hi! I’m not bothering you. Sounds like something Itachi would say.”

“Hi. Did you want something?”

“Maybe.”

Mako waited. Grew increasingly frustrated as Shisui stayed silent. “Well?” He finally said, unable to hold back anymore.

“I honestly don’t remember!”

Mako inhaled sharply then let it out.

Shisui is a Jonin, if I attack I will not win.

Shisui laughed again, his smile was bright. Reminded Mako a bit of Naruto. “I saw, you know.”

“Saw what?”

“You climb that wall, you can use your Chakra to walk on surfaces, can’t you?”

Surprised and alarmed, Mako tensed, Shisui watched his reaction with sharp eyes.

“Thought so.”

“So? I have been practicing; stone is easier then wood.”

“So, nothing. Just something I noted.” Shisui replied calmly. “Thought it was cool.”

“Cool?” Mako repeated.

Shisui laughed. “Yeah! Itachi was right, you are kinda smart.”

Mako felt a rush of warmth at the mention of Itachi, that he talked to Shisui at all about Mako. He wondered if that meant Itachi also enjoyed their conversations in the library.

“Thanks.” Mako replied.

“We should train together sometime, you and me.”

Mako shook his head.

“Really?”

“Sure!”

Saying no felt wrong and a missed learning opportunity. Shisui surely had other things to do with his time, and chose to offer it to him. How many times did a Shinobi of Shisui’s level offer to train with an Orphan? No way could he decline. Maybe Shisui could even teach him a little bit about Fūinjutsu that Mako could then teach Naruto.

“How about in three days? 6 AM at the training field you like to train in.”

Mako nodded eagerly, butterflies in his stomach.

Three days, 6am.

They split ways and he ran the rest of the way home, unable to stop smiling. He leapt up from the roof below Naruto’s apartment to the rail outside the door. Raised a fist to knock-

“My youthful student!” Gai shouted. Mako stumbled back at the sheer volume and intensity Gai opened the door.

“Gai-sensei?”

“Weclome! We have been eagerly awaiting your arrival!”

Mako decided to just go with whatever Gai had planned and followed him in. He spotted Naruto sitting on their couch with a kid he never met before. He stopped in the middle of the living room and stared.

Did Gai have a son? They looked eerily alike, Gai’s hair was just shorter and more of a bowl-cut.

The new kid perked up instantly, followed by Naruto who swung his body toward Mako. They both brightened.

“Mako!”

“Good Morning Mori-san!”

Two small yet incredibly fast and loud children ran toward him. One wearing an all-green jumpsuit and orange leg warmers, the other a bright orange t-shirt and shorts. Suddenly, making him wonder how so many people with such bad clothing preferences gathered in the same place.

“Hello?”

Too many surprises in one day. Mako struggled to keep up with all the people thrown his way.

Gai swooped in and stood behind the two children, with a grin and hands on his hips. As always dressed in his own jumpsuit and leg warmers. Looking at the people in front of him didn’t feel real.

“Mako this is Rock Lee, I found him in the woods. He’s going to train with us!”

“My name is Rock Lee, it is a pleasure to meet you Mori-san. Naruto-san has many good things to say about you!”

“He doesn’t have Chakra Mako! Can you believe it?!”

Gai laughed above all the noise.

“More little ducklings are gathering! The universe must be challenging me with all of these wonderful new students! I can’t wait!”

Mako sighed as they all talked at once.

Well, this was his life now. Being surrounded by a bunch of quirky but loyal people wasn’t too bad. Konoha certainly needed more of them.

Chapter Text

Mako woke well before his training session the day Shiusi and he planned to meet. A thrill of excitement kept him up for most of the night but he didn’t feel the least bit tired. At five thirty he slipped his sandals on and slipped out of the apartment. Careful not to awaken either of the two boys that slept inside.

Both Rock Lee and Naruto needed as much sleep as they could get.

He jumped on the rail around their patio and jumped off to a roof. The sun just started to peek above the treetops, for a moment he stopped to stare at the Hokage monument as the sunlight erased the nighttime shadows.  His eyes lingered on Hashirama, then he turned away and started off toward the gate.

Izuna’s book, or rather journal still sat unread on his desk. Despite Itachi gifting it himself Mako feared the book somehow held information not usually available to the public. Certainly not in the bookstores or Library at least. Intense curiosity was the only thing keeping him from throwing it away.

Shisui waved to him as he arrived at the training grounds, beside him a small black-haired boy with a frown on his face.

Sasuke?

Mako paused.

“Morning Mako!” Shisui called out, a big smile on his face. “Looks like you’re more of a morning person then Sasuke here! I had to drag him out of the room myself!”

“Sasuke is training too?”

Shisui opened his mouth to reply, but Sasuke beat him to it. His spiked hair seemed to raise up in defense as he glared at Shisui.

“Too? You invited him to train with us?”

Shisui laughed and rubbed the back of his head. “Yeah! I figured you two would work great together to try and beat me! I guess I just forgot to tell either of you about it.”

Sasuke let out a huff and Mako rolled his eyes.

“Man you two really are cute, look at how grumpy you guys are. Maybe you’re both not morning people.”

Mako in fact trained early mornings all the time, if not with Gai then with himself or Naruto. His eyebrow twitched at Shisui’s assumption but kept his mouth closed. No one needed to know the details about how a Shinobi trained, that information could be used against them.

“I don’t mind working with you Sasuke-san.” Mako said. “I do think Shisui-san is right about our teamwork though, considering where we’re both ranked in the Academy.”

Sasuke peered at him with a doubtful face. “I guess.”

“Is there any particular reason you may not want to work with me?”

“No…I just haven’t worked in a team before.”

Oh. Mako offered a kind smile. “That’s fine, I have a couple of times. Let’s at least try to beat Shisui-san.”

Sasuke’s cheeks turned red, he tossed his head to the side. “Fine.”

“See?” Shishui gushed, suddenly in both of their faces as he wrapped his long arms around them. “Adorable, I can’t stand it. Look at you two, being so grown up. Please be best friends one day.”

Mako shoved away from Shisui’s body. “Hey, let go!”

Sasuke was in a similar state of discontent and forced himself back a few steps from Shisui’s grabbing hands. “No hugging in public Shisui, it’s embarrassing!”

Shisui laughed and winked at Sasuke.

“Prepare yourselves!”

Then he disappeared.

Mako stilled, instantaneously focusing on his surroundings. It seemed they had begun.

“There’s no way we will be able to defeat him.” Mako said quietly. “But let’s try our best.”

Sasuke sent him a look, then nodded. It seemed he’d listen for the time being, Mako wouldn’t be surprised if he tried to do his own thing later on.

Now though, what to do. Shisui could defeat them at any moment, so this was all on the Uchiha’s terms. He and Sasuke ran to the woods and Mako led him to a few bushes where they laid under the shrubs together.

“What do you feel most confident in?” Mako asked in a hushed whisper as he scanned the forest. “Taijutsu? Ninjutsu? Throwing Kunai?”

“Taijutsu and Kunai.” Sasuke said. “…I’m still working on the fireball Jutsu.”

Mako glanced at him.

“Impressive.”

And it was. Clan children sure were different compared to anyone else. Would it be safe to assume Sasuke learned how to fight as soon as he could walk? What sort of training did he receive? Who trained him?

Itachi? Uchiha Fugaku? Both?

Mako ignored the sour taste of jealousy at the thought. “I’m best at Taijutsu as well, but I know some chakra techniques to get around faster.”

Sasuke raised a brow.

“I’ll explain it to you later.”

Now they had that out of the way teamwork might be a bit easier, Mako wanted to avoid either of them making assumptions about the others fighting style. A kunai cut through the air and embedded into the ground in between them. Mako rolled to the right, raised his body into a running position and darted away.

He ran for a good few moments and then scaled the nearest tree. Pressing his body to the trunk as he looked for Sasuke. A flash of black caught his attention, he leapt down toward it then caught a glimpse of a Kunai coming his way.

Mako swung his body around and flipped to the left, his feet pressed into a tree, and he attached himself to it with his chakra. Just as the Kunai hit the tree not inches away from his head, the wood cracked harshly under his feet.

Shit. Too much Chakra, he needed to calm down.

He swung his eyes around the forest, crouched close to the tree. Nothing in sight, Shisui had yet to reveal himself at all. Mako titled his head downward toward Sasuke on the ground, who still hid in the shrubbery. Sasuke had a Kunai in his hand.

Their eyes met, Mako nodded his head then sung it upright.

In a burst of adrenaline Mako pushed off the tree and hurtled himself in the air. He reached out a hand and swung his body around it once. Then neatly landed on the branch in a crouch.

“Not going to fight me hand to hand Shisui-san?” Mako called out loudly. “Afraid we might be able to beat you?”

Leaves rustled in the forest, and scattered rays of sunlight showered through the treetops. No birds were singing as the fight scared them off, rather silence laid heavy in the air.

“I’m definitely not afraid of you two.” A voice murmured in his ear, deceivingly soft. Goosebumps rose along his skin. “Maybe you should be the one to be afraid.”

Mako died.

He took a deep breath and focused his mind with a sharp mental tug of his willpower. If this were a mission Mako died, the sheer difference in their strength made his heart race. He hadn’t even heard Shisui until the moment the Uchiha wanted to be heard.

A kunai shone in the sunlight, nowhere near his neck but haunting nonetheless. Shisui’s message was clear.

I win.

Not so easily. Mako wanted to say. He grabbed Shisui’s kunai arm and flooded Chakra into his arms. The skin in his fingers tingled. Then he kicked his foot out and lifted Shisui’s body over his smaller one.

Shisui let out a delighted laugh as Mako sent him flying and flipped neatly in the air. The Uchiha pressed against a tree and pushed off with a grin on his face. Recovering so fast Mako barely had a moment to prepare another attack.

He ducked and then leapt in the air and lashed a leg out at Shisui as Shisui’s came at him again. Shisui stopped his leg with a single hand, stalling Mako effortlessly.

Shisui met his gaze purposefully and his smile turned bit mischievous.

“Did you recently teach yourself how to enhance your strength with chakra?”

“No, this was the first time I thought about it.”

Shisui snorted.

“Figures.”

Then he tossed Mako like a rag doll and sent him tumbling through the air. The world blurred and spun as he tried to regain control of his body. Gracelessly he landed on the ground and rolled to try and lessen the damage. Rocks dug into his hands and an arm twisted painfully, he forced himself to push past the pain and onto his feet.

Shisui grinned at him as the sun cast a halo over his hair. Mako blinked at the image.

How was Shisui so different then any other Uchiha he met? Sasuke nor Itachi and shared a single smile with him since they met.

Shisui tilted his head as a Kunai flew past, and turned to look at Sasuke. Who had stepped out of the shadows with a determined look on his face.

Mako acted. If the arms worked, the same technique could be used for his legs, right? A peculiar sensation of tiny trails of fire coursed through his chakra in his legs. Channeling it to coat his foot was far easier then trying to strengthen his legs. Chakra needed to be purposely sent through tiny channels in his legs to simultaneously protect and strengthen.

He pushed off the ground and lunged at Shisui once the Uchiha’s gaze settled on Sasuke. Spun his body, and then lashed a leg out deliberately to slam into Shisui’s head.

A hand rose and held his foot in place, Shisui’s eye smoothly slid to the corner as the Uchiha sent him a sly look.

“Nice, leaf hurricane, huh? Good idea, trying to distract me. Still you’re a bit too weak to do anything.”

Mako got sent back down to the ground and hit it with solid thump. Groaned as his shoulder twinged and stared at the ground panting heavily. Sasuke shouted something, Shisui laughed and then disappeared. Then a shriek of surprise echoed across the forest.

Shisui seemed to take training a bit more seriously then Mako initially assumed. At least compared to Gai who held back enough to not hurt them.

Mako pushed himself up and rubbed his head. Then sighed and leaned against a tree. Definitely dead.

After about ten minutes Shisui flashed over and dropped a destitute Sasuke on the ground in front of him. For some reason Sasuke was covered in mud. Sasuke snarled something into the ground then sat up.

“Not too shabby you two. Who knows maybe you both really will be powerful Shinobi one day.”

“Shisui.”

Itachi appeared suddenly from the shadows, Mako could vaguely see the expression on his face. Whatever happened, Itachi was furious.

Shisui squeaked.

“Itachi, fancy seeing you here!”

“You kidnapped Sasuke.”

“For good reasons I promise! Besides he’s been whining about training forever, I thought I’d give him what he wanted.”

“I wanted to train with Aniki!” Sasuke snapped. “Not be taken from my room and shoved into a training lesson.”

He imagined sleepy Sasuke getting whisked away by Shisui. Mako snorted.

Sasuke swung his head to glare at him. “It’s not funny!”

“You kidnapped my brother.” Itachi growled. A thin screech of metal cut through the air as he dragged out his sword. “And I spent two hours following your fake Chakra trail through the whole forest. Die.”

Mako barely saw what happened, one moment Itachi dove toward Shisui and then next they both vanished. Not a sound to be heard. Mako strained his ears to try and hear any footsteps or voices.

He looked at Sasuke.

“Is this what it’s like living in the Uchiha Clan?”

“When Shisui is around? Yes.”

Not too different from the spontaneous ideas Gai-sensei forced them into. Shisui seemed to enjoy causing chaos and acting at the last minute.

Mako wondered if their little training match was part of Shisui’s prank on Itachi. If the whole time Shisui had been actually training with the other Uchiha, and just played around with them until Itachi arrived.

He fell onto his back with a sigh.

“How did you learn how to fight like that?”

He opened an eye to look at Sasuke. Who still sat on the ground a few feet away but seemed to have settled a bit.

“My Taijutsu? I learn from a private teacher along with Naruto.”

“And the Chakra technique that Shisui mentioned?”

Mako shrugged as much as the ground allowed him to.

“I just made it up.”

Sasuke blinked, then narrowed his eyes.

“You did? Then what? Just did it without knowing it would work?”

“Technically I knew it would work.” Mako replied. “If you know anything about Chakra techniques and the chakra system. Tsunade-hime uses a similar method in her attacks, mine is just not as refined.”

In fact, the skin on his forearms burned, he forced too much chakra through and it showed. Next time he’d have to try and control his emotions better so that his Chakra would be calmer.

“Do you want to be a Medic-nin then?”

“I don’t know, certainly seems like I may have a knack for it.”

Sasuke nodded and crossed his arms. “Mother used to be a Medic-nin, she had the Sharingan of course, but she preferred to heal others. Father says she saved his life multiple times during the shinobi war.”

“Thats impressive.”

“Yeah.”

“And what do you want to be?” Mako asked, genuinely curious.

Sasuke sat up straighter and visibly brightened. “Stronger than Itachi.”

Mako blinked. Then waited. Sasuke said nothing.

“That’s it?”

He got a sharp glare for the response but Mako couldn’t stop himself. “Sorry. I guess I don’t understand. What do you want to be stronger at then Itachi?”

“Everything.” Sasuke replied. “If I can get stronger then Itachi maybe father and mother will start praising me as well.”

His heart softened at Sasuke’s confession. Childlike, what you expected from a six-year-old.

“Is it hard being his brother when he’s so talented?”

Sasuke shrugged.

“I just need to train to be stronger than him, and to do that I need to train hard.”

Mako rolled on his side and winced when his shoulder ached, looks like he got a little hurt. Oh well.

“Make sure to do what you want as well.”

“What?”

Mako met Sasuke’s confused gaze and smiled.

“Like beat other people, sure Itachi can be a goal but choose others. If you want to fight people to get stronger, then start doing that, there’s lots of Shinobi out there to want to beat. How about Orochimaru, or Hatake Kakashi? Maybe even the Cloud Kage, I heard he’s fast.”

“I… guess you’re right.”

“Itachi is one of many strong Shinobi, have you met Might Gai? He’s the best Taijutsu specialist the world has to offer.”

Sasuke’s perked up at that.

“Really?”

“Yeah, he and Kakashi are rivals you know, the Copy-cat Ninja.”

“…That’s pretty cool.”

Mako nodded. “Agreed. Heck have you even thought about trying to be stronger then Madara Uchiha?”

“What are we talking about here?”

Shisui loudly shouted, bursting from the forest and into the clearing they talked in. A few stray leaves stuck out of his hair. Mako’s eyes narrowed at a small red line on his wrist, what a weird shape. Itachi followed soon after, far more peaceful with not a hair out of place.

“What we want to be in the future.” Sasuke said, as he pushed himself up to a stand.

Shisui glanced between them. “So, what did you decide?”

“I said maybe medical ninjutsu.” Mako offered, and forced himself up onto his own feet. He raised a hand to hold his hurt shoulder. “Which sounds better and better the longer I live.”

“I want to beat Aniki, but also…” Sasuke shot a glance at Mako. “Defeat more Shinobi! Like maybe one of the Kage.”

Shisui’s brow raised at that. Itachi even seemed a bit concerned.

“That’s a big dream Sasuke.”

Sasuke faltered for a second.

“He can do it.” Mako replied confidently. “Sasuke’s strong.”

All three stared at him for a moment. Shisui laughed and broke the silence.

“See, aren’t they cute?!”

 Itachi’s brow twitched and he flicked Shisui’s head. Shisui yelped in pain and sent him a tear-filled stare of betrayal.

“Itachi that hurt.”

Itachi rolled his eyes and stepped forward a bit, Mako felt the butterflies appear back in his stomach. Itachi was composed as always, his rage earlier felt like a fever dream.

“Medical Ninjutsu is a good choice for someone with your chakra control. If you decide to proceed with it, the Academy offers a special program for potential candidates. Rather then a Genin team, you’d train with the medical staff and get promoted within the hospital.”

“I had no idea such a thing existed.”

“Tsunade-sama introduced it but the program has lost most of the funding now that she’s gone. Still a few graduates per year are chosen that expressed interest, after that they have to prove to everyone they can heal others and deal with the stress.”

“I see.”

“With someone of your…chakra type and control, learning Medical Ninjutsu should be a breeze.” Shisui said.

Mako felt the hair on the back of his arms stand on end, his fingers twitched toward his kunai. A tidal wave of insecurity rose in him. They know. They know.

No. I’ve tried so hard to hide it.

Of course they know.

Mako offered them a mask of confusion and shoved all those thoughts away.

“What do you mean?”

Shisui and Itachi traded glances, Sasuke looked utterly lost.

Mako closed his eyes and smiled. Thankful for the mask covering his face.

“You probably should head to school.” Itachi said after a moment. “It’s going to start soon.”

“Right, see you later!” Mako shouted, and shamelessly took Itach’s less than subtle offered out. Verbally processing his potential lineage with Itachi of all people was the last thing on his list. The Uchiha probably found his attempts of secrecy a joke.

He raced to school in a bit of a haze, and tried to clear his mind. Sasuke trailed after and soon a companiable silence settled between them. Besides a few careful glances Sasuke left him to his own thoughts.

When they turned a corner Mako spotted Naruto heading to school with Kiba. The blond raised his head to them, his smile turned into a frown when he saw Sasuke. Naruto shouted something to Kiba then jogged over to them.

“Where have you been Mako? Why are you with Sasuke?”

“Training.”

“None of your business.” Sasuke snarked.

Naruto bristled.

“It too is my business! Jerk! Mako is…Mako lives with me!”

“That has nothing to do with me.”

“What?! You’re walking to school with him!”

“So? I do what I want.”

“That’s not-!”

Mako fast walked away from them and into the building. A few girls shot him starry eyes looks but he focused on one girl in particular. When Sakura spotted him walking her way a dusting of pink rose up on her cheeks.”

“Mako-san.”

Mako titled his head in greeting. “Good morning Sakura-san, how are you?”

“Doing well, you?”

“I just came from training so I’m much more awake then usual.” He replied.

“I can see you trained for a while.” Sakura giggled. “You’re covered in dirt.”

Mako glanced at the now very obvious stains of dirt on his coat and winced when his shoulder twinged. Right a strained muscle of some sort, he needed to be careful.

“Are you okay?”

Mako nodded. “Yeah, though honestly I feel like the world keeps pushing me to Medical Ninjustu.”

Could he use his chakra to heal like Shisui said? Mako of course knew he could, but Shisui hinted at Mako having an affinity with it. Which logically made sense considering the marks on his face he kept carefully hidden.

Tsunade was from the same clan, did she too have an ‘affinity’ to Medical Ninjutsu and then decide to pursue it? Or did her Clan and grandfather influence her actions?

“Like Tsunade-sama?” Sakura asked, her voice growing a bit louder. “I always thought she was so cool.”

They entered the classroom and Mako trailed after her, and decided to take the seat beside Sakura. Rather than sit in the back with Naruto. A few other students filed in as well but he had yet to hear the blonde enter.

“Something like that.” Mako said. “You sound like a fan though.”

“I am!” She said. “She’s the first person to introduce combat medics to the front lines! After the Senju’s all either passed away, or integrated with Konoha, less people learned their special healing techniques. If not for her, an entire generation of healing methods would have died with her grandfather.”

“Too bad she left before she could teach others.”

Sakura nodded and shuffled her books, Mako spotted a test with a 100 percent stamp on the top right. A past test of theirs he realized, the math one actually. Nice, Sakura really was smart.

“Good job on the math test.”

Sakura blushed and pushed the paper back into her folders. “It’s nothing, sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, you’re the top Kunoichi of the class.  Why are you embarrassed?”

She looked away and started to brush her hair with her hands. “Most of the girls besides Ino dislike me because of my grades. They say I’ll never make it as a Kunoichi even with good grades.”

“They’re still bothering you about that?”

She nodded.

Mako wanted to roll his eyes. Children, honestly.

“Well have you been training yourself physically to prove them wrong?” Mako asked. “If I remember correctly you’re pretty low in the ranking in physical education.”

“I’ve been trying, it’s just hard to know what to do when no one is there to teach you.” Sakura replied softly.

“…You’re right.”

At one-point Mako had been in her position, desperate to find a teacher. Gai fell upon him like a gift and curse from the heavens thanks to Shisui. Sakura had not been so lucky it seemed. With her family being normal civilians Mako was not surprised she lacked in shinobi training.

“Want to have a competition?”

Sakura stared at him strangely. He didn’t blame her. “What?”

“Like with paper tests and a something of our choosing. I think I’ll try my hand at Medical Ninjutsu.”

“I see.” Sakura hesitated for a moment, and he thought she’d decline. Then her green eyes hardened and she straightened.

“Tests and Medical Ninjutsu it is. Let’s see who learns it the fastest.”

Mako raised his brows in surprise, then scanned Sakura up and down. For a moment the little girl turned into a Kunoichi in his mind, with the same determined look on her face. He felt himself smile.

Ah, there it was. No wonder Naruto had a crush on her so hard.

“Feeling brave then? I accept.” Mako replied.

Sakura beamed.

School started as the teacher sat up in front of the class, Naruto took a seat by Mako up at the front. Mako surveyed him for a moment out of the corner of his eye. Naruto looked a bit roughened up.

A peek at Sasuke hinted at the same…or rather Sasuke looked even more dirty. The poor young Uchiha was a picture of exhaustion as he stared at their teacher. Who talked about a part of Konoha history Mako already read about. Naruto unsurprisingly fell asleep within moments.

The teacher threw a few erasers at Naruto and a few of the other sleeping students, finished his lecture, and then moved to talking about Fuinjtusu. Who created it and how certain Shinobi used it to help them in battle.

Not a topic for a normal six-year-old, Mako wondered how many students understood anything the teacher said. At least the Clan children, who were awake, had a clear look on their faces.

Naruto stopped drowsing when the conversation turned to Namikaze Minato and his technique.

“I’m going to learn Fuinjutsu just like the fourth Hokage and become even stronger!” He shouted. At least half the class jumped, even the teacher. Everyone stared at the blonde for a moment.

Then someone laughed. Another kid joined in. Before he knew it the whole class laughed at Naruto. Who, bless his heart, still smiled brightly and laughed along. His friend had no idea that most of the class mocked him.

Mako curled his fists and sent Naruto a supportive smile when Naruto sat back down.

The teacher rolled his eyes.

“Right Uzumaki. Now back to class-“

The end of in-person class finally arrived and Mako found Sakura following him and Naruto out to lunch. Naruto cast a glance at her, then at Mako and grinned. He slowed down to match her pace.

“Hi Sakura-chan, are you hanging out with Mako too?”

Sakura nodded, she sent Naruto a narrowed eyed look. Not entirely hostile though, just edging on it. As most children their age tended to be thanks to the rumors they heard from parents and other kids in school.

“Yeah.”

“That’s cool! What sort of things have you guys been talking about?”

“Medical Ninjutsu.”

“Oh, Hashirama Senju was really good at that wasn’t he?”

Sakura face relaxed a bit. Her eyes brightened.

“Yes! You’re right.”

“I think it’s pretty amazing what he could do. Especially since he had special powers to regenerate wounds on his body without any hand signs.”

“I agree, how did you know that? Most people barely know anything about him.”

Naruto motioned to Mako.

“Mako makes everything easier to understand.”

Sakura sent Mako a considering look.

“Hey, look it’s the number one idiot!”

The three of them stopped when a group of kids stepped in front of them. Ones Mako recognized at past bullies who seemed to never give up. Naruto tensed as well and squared his shoulders.

Sakura curled her books to her chest and sent all of them hesitant looks.

“What did you just call me?” Naruto snapped.

“An idiot.” The leader drawled. “You’re in the bottom ten after all! And you want to learn Fuinjutsu, in your dreams!”

His friends snickered in the back, Mako’s eyebrow twitched. Four of them, five including the leader. Naruto really had the worst of luck.

“Shut up!” Sakura shouted. Mako and Naruto jumped. “Don’t talk to him like that!”

The leader frowned.

“Who the hell are you? Aren’t you that forehead girl? Stay out of this.”

“No, she’s right.” Mako snarled. He cracked his fingers a took a step forward. “Don’t talk to Naruto like that.”

He woke up way too early and got his ass kicked too strongly to deal with this crap right now. Mako dared them to try and say anything about either of the people next to him again.

Naruto took a step forward as well. “Don’t talk to Sakura-chan like that.”

They had a stare off, kids started to gather around them in hushed whispers. Then suddenly, triggered by nothing Mako noticed, fists started to fly. Mako twisted, dodged and kicked at whatever he could reach. Naruto shouted profanities as well, Mako could barely see him.

For a moment he spotted Sakura with a rageful expression on her face wrestling with a boy and bit back a smile.

She was starting to grow on him.

Eventually a teacher broke them up. Mako and Naruto scampered away before anyone could stop them, and ran up the closest building to the roof tops. Naruto laughed out loud beside him as they raced across the buildings.

“That was awesome! Did you see Sakura-chan join us? I told you she was cool!”

Mako huffed out his own laugh.

“She’s not bad.”

They reached home and settled in. Mako took a shower, then Naruto did and they started homework together. About an hour later Rock Lee came barging in, wearing his new green leggings.

Mako eyed his apparel then started to cook dinner for all of them. Lee and Naruto were both banned from touching the oven after they both set fire to multiple things. Naruto and Lee sat on the couch together and chatted.

“You really like that don’t you?” Naruto asked.

“I do!” Lee replied. “Gai-sensei’s sense of style is top tier. You should ask him for your own pair.”

“No thanks.”

Thank Kami for small mercies, Mako mused. Hopefully Naruto would continue to refuse the outfit for both of their sakes.

Mako finished dinner and set it on the table, Lee and Naruto cheerfully ran up and sat in their seats. Conversation going from one topic to another. Through all the talking Mako got to be completely silent, and watched them with a soft heart.

Both Lee and Naruto had such bright smiles on their faces, it was good to see people so happy.

If Naruto never spotted Rock Lee in school and decided to talk to him who knows what could have happened. Rock Lee admitted to them how he failed the Genin exams but still got in the academy with sheer will. Apparently, his drive alone was enough for the teachers to allow him in.

Drive Mako slowly got to experience himself as Rock lee showed up more often. Gai-sensei was a good mentor for the kid, and Naruto gained a new friend.

Once dinner was finished Rock Lee decided to try and do a hundred pushups and Mako lured Naruto into a short training session. He waved the Fuinjutsu book at the blonde and his friend perked up.

“Wanna read this together?”

Naruto nodded with excitement.

“Yeah!”

Who cared what anyone else thought? Mako would teach Naruto anything he wanted and watch him conquer it. Naruto had the same drive Rock Lee did, that helped him learn Taijutsu so fast and keep up with Mako’s lectures.

Despite what people thought, Naruto was not an idiot. He just needed special care.

“Fuinjutsu is a type of Jutsu that seals objects, living beings, chakra, along with a wide variety of other things within another object. Fūinjutsu can also be used to restrict movement or unseal objects either from within something or someone…”

…

..

.

“Good morning my beautiful students!”

Mako shot up as a green blur burst into their room, in the pile they made on the bed both Naruto and Lee groaned. Naruto nearly hung off the bed they barely fit, but sleeping with each other provided warmth and comfort.

“What a beautiful display of family bonding!” Gai sobbed, literal tears cascaded down his face like a waterfall. “My children are so precious! Come students! Let us run five hundred laps around Konoha!”

Mako was the one who groaned this time, Rock Lee sprung up like an excited puppy.

“Yosh! Sounds like a great plan Gai-sensei!”

Naruto covered his face with a pillow.

“You guys are too loud in the morning.”

Mako agreed, but in the end they all crawled out of bed and put on their shinobi gear. Gai made sure they ate a small breakfast to help provide energy, and then lead the race. Lee followed close behind, in matching clothes, as they ran toward the steadily rising sun.

Mako got left in the dust by all three when Naruto got pumped enough to actually try. Not that he cared, running twenty laps around Konoha was his goal. Naruto, Gai and Rock Lee could run 500 if they wished.

Long ago he realized comparing himself was never going to help anything. Though he was smart, physically he would always be challenged as a Shinobi. All he could do was work hard to get stronger while not destroying his body in the process.

Still twenty laps was no joke. When Mako stopped he still had energy with left him with a feeling of success. His body got stronger each day, before he could barely run one lap around Konoha.

Step by step.

He stretched and then fell into the kata Gai taught him. In the background he’d hear Gai, Naruto and Lee approach then leave as they circled. Gai shouted the loudest, clear enough that Mako heard him even at the training grounds.

His voice made Mako smile.

Whether or not they actually ran 500 laps, Gain, Lee and Naruto all arrived at the same training grounds. Naruto and Lee absolutely drenched in sweat. Mako paused to look at them with a bit of pity.

Gai’s eye sparkled, Mako thought there might be a drop of sweat on his brow.

“So much energy! I’m so proud of you all! Such youthful vigor! Let’s spar to celebrate our victory!”

Lee’s eyes turned into balls of fire.

“Yosh! I will gladly spar with you Gai-sensei!”

“Mee too!” Naruto shouted. “We’ll beat you this time-dattebayo!”

Both Naruto and Rock Lee turned to look at Mako expectantly. Mako sighed.

“Fine I’ll join.”

Sparing with Gai may be not as brutal as with Shisui, but it still remained difficult. Gai remained in a constant state of positive hyper awareness. The smallest bits of sound he reacted to. At one point Mako realized the Jonin barely even looked at their faces at all.

No, he watched their feet, and only sometimes. Due to their lack of experience Gai didn’t need to put much effort at all into wining. He treated them a bit more gently than Shisui though, and told them how to fix their forms as they attacked. Afterwards he ran them through a few different exercises to tone their muscles, and then handed Mako and Lee a heavier set of weights.

Naruto eyed them as Mako and Rock Lee exchanged the weights on their legs.

“How come they get to wear weights?”

“Because their bodies need the extra challenge.” Gai replied brightly. “Lee has no Chakra to enhance his legs or arms, so the weights are absolutely necessary. Mako’s body is built for speed rather than strength, the weights slow him down to build more muscle and resistance. Don’t worry Naruto, neither of them trains the way you do.”

“Really?”

Gai nodded. “Everyone’s body is different. With your immense chakra reserves and gift with all things physical, your body needs to learn a different way.”

“Gift with all things physical?”

“Yes! You learn faster while doing then learning via word. I was the same way as a kid. With your natural ability to try as hard as you can, you physically already push your body to it’s limits.”

Naruto gained a thoughtful expression on his face. “Sounds pretty cool!”

“It is!” Gai replied loudly. “In fact all of my students are very motivated to train. It makes me proud to see you all grow up so fast!”

Lee sniffed and wiped his eyes. Mako walked over to him.

“Are you okay?”

Lee nodded.

“Yeah, I’m just not used to feeling like I belong. I’m very glad Naruto-san met me when he did.”

Mako offered him a smile.

“I’m glad you’re here too Lee.”

Naruto swung to look at them, spotted Lee crying and ran over. “I am too Lee-dattebayo! Even though you just joined us, it feels like-like we’re family!”

Rock Lee’s lips trembled. Then he started to wail.

Gai joined him.

“Such poetry from your mouth Naruto! I can’t take it! I accept! As of today we are a family, I will be your doting father and teacher!”

Mako sighed and watched Naruto start to tear up as well. Still a small ball of happiness grew inside of him that he cherished. He stared at all three and took a mental picture of them all smiling and crying together.

Family huh?

…

..

.

First off I want to say that my brother is an idiot.

A huge one.

Today he got in another fight with Tobirama Senju over the construction. Apparently the pipe was a bit to far to the left. They destroyed a wall that took us a week to build, I want to kill Madara. Hashirama is no help since the man is always stuck in his office or in a meeting. Who assigned Tobirama to help the Uchiha anyway? He hates us.

The village is going better then I expected, but I don’t think it’s going to last. Madara is too focused on the village and Hashirama. Sometimes I feel like he’s forgotten about me and the other Uchiha.

In fact Tobirama is also around far more than Madara, despite his hatred of us. I watched him give food away to some families in need the other day. Who knew the Red-eyed ghost was such a softy? Point is, Madara is getting too caught up.

The Senju will never allow us to keep our power. First they denied Madara the Hokage position, and now they’re building the Uchiha Compound in the corner of the village. We’ll have to walk at least a half a mile to get to any grocery stores.

I should have expected it though. These talks of peace of alliances are all just words.

But it seems I’ll have to keep a close eye on Tobirama myself. Surely he seeks the Uchiha secrets to use for his own gain. Everyone always wants to know about our eyes.

Only the Uchiha are allowed that privilege, for good reason too. If the world knew what we could do, they’d hunt us down even more. That’s why I’m going to ensure the Uchiha techniques are kept in the basement locked away. No one will be able to enter without an Uchiha’s permission.

…

..

.

“Happy Birthday Mako!”

Confetti rained down from the ceiling as Gai, Lee and Naruto all jumped from various locations in the house. Perched on each of their heads was a triangular party hat held on by a single rubber band.

Mako stared at the giant, and very handmade, sign hanging on the door. Happy Birthday had been written by someone with terrible handwriting and drawing skills. Mako glanced at Naruto and Lee and smiled.

It was cute.

“You’re seven today! Congrats Mako!” Naruto chirped. “The Orphanage Matron said so.”

Mako raised a brow.

“You talked to her?”

Gai rose his hand. “I did! But all of us was there! I youthfully announced my adoption of the three of you and got all of your birthdays! I am so proud to see you turn a year older!”

Well, a good use of his shinobi skills. Mako would have loved to see Gai shout at the matron and her reaction. If Gai really did adopt all of them, surely the whole village would hear. Then leave Naruto alone.

“I certainly wasn’t expecting this.” Mako said softly. “But thank you.”

The Orphanage had no record of his birthday so the day they celebrated was Mako’s arrival to the orphanage. Not that he minded, at this point the Orphanage felt like a dream now that he had so many other things to deal with.

“Let’s have cake and then open presents!” Naruto shouted.

Lee jumped alongside him with shining eyes.

“Sounds like a fantastic plan Naruto!”

Mako allowed them to run the party, happy to watch all three chat amongst each other. The cake was crudely drawn on by both Naruto and Lee, Mako laughed at it with the slowly budding happiness in his chest.

After they ate their fill, the presents were handed to him. Mako opened a new set of Kunai from Naruto and a book on the basics of human anatomy. Mako sent him a meaningful look.

“Thank you, Naruto.”

“Of course!” Naruto chirped. “I know you like reading and talked about learning Medical Ninjutsu, so I figured you’d like the book. Gai-sensei helped me find it.”

“A very confusing store!” Gai said. “But I expected nothing less from my genius son Mako! Soon you’ll be the strongest Medic-nin in the Shinobi nation!”

Rock Lee’s eyes turned into small balls of fire.

“I can see that! Yosh! I will help you as best as I can Mako! To achieve your dream!”

Mako internally sweat dropped. He never said being a Medical Shinobi was his dream, but oh well. “Thank you.”

Rock Lee offered him a present. Mako opened it slowly. A new set of bandages for himself. “Thank you, Lee, I needed more of these.”

“Indeed! Do not worry, I have your back Mako!”

He smiled.

Gai set down his own present and Mako stared at the box hesitantly.

“You got something for me as well?”

Gai nodded enthusiastically.

“Of course! You are my dear son! What sort of father would I be if I didn’t give you a present!?”

Mako nodded and didn’t meet his eyes. If Gai kept calling himself father, Mako might believe their teacher was telling the truth. Surely Gai was only riding a high and one day would stop proclaiming them all as family.

Gai’s present was a few rolls of what Mako realized was Medical Ninjutsu techniques. Step by step instructions on how to start gathering chakra in his hand and healing people with it. Well fish to begin with it seemed. He stared at the images for a moment and scanned the words. These scrolls were not cheap, only professionals with money bought things like this.

He peered over the scroll to look at Gai.

Gai beamed down at him with his hands on his hips.

“What do you think?”

“…it’s perfect.”

Gai cried out and held his chest, then slumped onto the couch. Both Rock Lee and Naruto jumped up in alarm.

“My normally distant student is expressing his happiness! I’m so happy! Alright! Tonight, I will run around Konoha on my hands 500 times to celebrate the moment!”

Lee brightened.

“I will join you Gai-sensei!”

“Lee!”

Like magnets the two latched onto each other. In stunned shock Mako swore their resonating happiness seemed to create a strange background behind them. He rubbed his eyes and the image was gone.

…Whatever that was, he hoped it never came back.

Mako set down the scroll as the room filled with conversation. Naruto started shooting questions to Gai and Lee about the strange image he saw as well. Mako settled into the couch and pulled his gifts close to himself.

Maybe this wasn’t so bad.

A few days later he went to find Itachi, this time running across the Uchiha as Itachi left one of the more popular bars that offered Dango.

Mako raised a hand and Itachi titled his head in greeting.

For a moment the shine and silken like texture of Itachi’s hair caught Mako’s attention.

What did his hair feel like?

Mako waited until they were closer to the Uchiha compound to start asking Itachi questions.

“I don’t understand why you gave me that book.”

“Why?”

“It just seems important, the first few pages it talks about…things.”

Mako decided trying to elaborate would be a bad idea. Too many possible spies in a village of Shinobi. If his instincts were right and Itachi did give him an important book, he was certain the Uchiha Clan would dislike that.

For some reason Itachi gave it to Mako, and not knowing why drove him crazy.

“You’re the right person for that book Mako, I know you are.”

Mako sent Itachi a searching look but Itachi’s face was the perfect image of serene. “How do you know that?”

Itachi stayed silent for a moment, long enough Mako wondered if he was going to reply. Finally, he did.

“I saw something in your eyes that told me you’d be important. That you were going to stay around for a while.”

Mako stared at him. His mind drew blanks. “What?”

 An eerie sensation came over him, like a cloud covering the sky. Mako had so much information but none at the same time. Itachi was alluding to something, but what?

“Fancy meeting you here!”

Mako jumped as Shisui appeared in front of him. The Uchiha didn’t offer much explanation before he scooped Mako up and then spirited him away. Slung over Shisui’s shoulder like a sack of potatoes Mako could only stare at the retreating figure of Itachi.

Then the world contorted, a sharp nausea twisted his stomach. Their world changed into a forest Mako could barely make out over the intense dizziness. Could someone please stop the world from spinning so fast please?

“Oh sorry, I forget the first time is always hard.” Shisui said.

Gently he set Mako to stand on the ground, Mako held his face in his hand for a moment.

“Did you just kidnap Mako?”

Mako turned towards Sasuke’s voice. The small Uchiha looked at him with a frown, at least Mako’s eyes were clearing up.

Shisui laughed.

“No, I just borrowed him from Itachi.”

Sasuke sent a suspicious glare at Mako.

“Why were you with Aniki?”

Mako shrugged. “Just having a conversation.”

Sasuke rolled his eyes and then turned around. Mako watched him start to chain a set of hand signs he’d never seen before. Sasuke inhaled deep, enough so Mako quickly realized he was about to attempt a Ninjutsu.

Mako had never seen someone their age do a fireball. Wasn’t that an advanced technique? If Sasuke could do that, it meant he had a far superior knowledge than Mako of Chakra molding.

A tiny trail of fire spit out of Sasuke’s mouth and turned into a ball of fire no bigger than a beach ball. The flames spiraled in a tight circle in the air for a moment, then vanished. Sasuke sighed and slumped his shoulders.

“It’s still too weak.”

“You just need to exercise your Chakra a bit more, don’t expect too much out of your body at this age.” Mako said. “Most children can barely even summon their own Chakra to make a Bushin much less a fireball.”

Sasuke shrugged.

“It’s still not enough, Father has to be impressed with my fireball. Last time he barely reacted.”

This again. Looked like growing up in a Shinobi Clan caused a bit of self criticism and expectations. Mako wasn’t very surprised though, the Uchiha tended be powerful Shinobi. Naturally they’d try to become even stronger thanks to the talents they received from their blood line.

“I think it looks great.” Shisui said. “Mako why don’t you try it?”

Mako shook his head.

“I don’t even know what my Charka type is, I probably shouldn’t try to spit out fire until then.”

“You don’t?” Sasuke asked curiously. “Father had me do the paper test when I was five.”

“Paper test?”

A piece of paper appeared in front of his face. Mako followed it to Shisui who had bent over slightly to hand him the paper.

“This.” Shisui said brightly. “Grab it and push your chakra into like you would a leaf. I’m curious now to see what your elements are.”

Mako took the paper and flipped it over. Vaguely he recognized it from one of the many Shinobi stores in town. He did as Shisui said, then flinched when the paper crumpled loudly.

Shisui hummed and Mako shot him a look.

“Interesting.”

“What is?”

“I just didn’t expect it, but honestly I should have. Considering Chakra types can be passed down onto children. Still, I don’t see a lot of non-Uchiha Lighting types here. Besides the Hatake Clan, and we all know who they’re descendants of.”

The paper suddenly turned soggy in his fingers like he dipped into water. He dropped it, surprised, and watched the ground soak up the water.

“Water too? Wow you really do take after him.”

Mako flinched.

Sasuke looked between them both with a frown.

“What are talking about Shisui? Who does Mako take after?”

“No one.” Mako said firmly. “He was just joking around.”

Shisui shook his head and straightened. “Your choice kid.” Then he perked up. “Hey, let’s play a game!”

Mako and Sasuke sent him suspicious looks. Shisui raised a bag he pulled spontaneously from the air. Dango wafted into Mako’s nose, surprisingly similar to the type Itachi bought at the store.

Wait.

Shisui shoved the bag into Mako’s hands and he clumsily took it. Close enough their noses almost touched. Shisui winked at Mako, then disappeared.

Not a moment later Itachi slid around the corner, a veil of dark energy around him. Mako swallowed nervously. Itachi stared at him with dead eyes and cocked his head.

“You stole my Dango.”

A small hand grabbed his arm, Mako allowed himself to be pulled away at top speed by Sasuke whose face had paled.

“We need to get out of here! Drop the Dango! Itachi would kill for his Dango.”

Mako felt a smile twitching on his face.

“Alright.”

Uchiha were strange creatures that was for sure.

He escaped with his life and returned to Naruto and Lee. Focusing on training with their small group and practicing his own Chakra control. In the evenings he went over the scrolls Gai gave him while Izuna’s book laid on the desk behind him. The book was a slow read because he sensed each page brought him closer to a revelation he wasn’t ready to hear. Along with Itach’'s weird energy when they talked, Mako felt like the whole situation was sketchy.

Shisui didn’t show up after that, and Mako assumed he went on a mission. The absence of the cheerful Uchiha was a bit of a sore one, but Mako dealt with it. As time went on, he couldn’t find Itachi anywhere.

People started to stir in the streets, at night the tension was near visible. Mako began to have stress dreams due to the upset his body felt. Small pocket of people dying in front of him that he couldn’t protect.

Maybe feeling too many happy emotions upset his body. Mako had been smiling more recently.

One night he came home after training, said good night to Naruto who dozed on the couch and went to bed. Lee was already sound asleep, so he stayed as quiet as he could, but stopped when something caught his eyes.

A thin but long scroll leaned on the wall, one he’d never seen before. A note was taped to it.

                ’2:00AM. Take care of him.’

Who? The writing was really familiar, but he couldn’t place it. Mako took the sticky note and hesitantly took Izuna’s book from the desk in the corner. He flipped to the page where the last note he got was, the crow drawing seemed to watch him.

What was Itachi up to? This was definitely his handwriting.

Mako looked at the clock, then pressed his lips together. No instructions to clarify the cryptic message. Did he ignore it?

Itachi was not one to play games like this though.

Mako fell into an uneasy sleep, and woke up a few hours later to a shriek in the night. Unlike anything he had ever heard. Mako sat up and looked out the window of their apartment. Dark outlines of bodies raced across the rooftops toward the Uchiha compound.

Mako jumped out of the window before he realized what he was doing.

Images of Itachi, Sasuke and Shisui raced through his head. The slick tile of under his feet threatened to make him fall but he willed his Chakra to keep him steady. Now was not the time for mistakes.

He didn’t know where he was going, only that people were in danger.

Mako paused on a building directly across from the large wall that separated Konoha and the Uchiha clan, and looked around. Everything was eerily quiet.

A child sobbed in the distance. He followed the noise and then stopped.

Curled up on the ground, twitching and whimpering was Sasuke. A full moon lit up the entire town with her natural light. Mako only had eyes for Sasuke. Two ANBU in animal masks turned to look at him, who hovered over Sasuke.

Mako jumped down to the ground and walked closer.

“Halt!” One of them shouted. “Not a step closer!”

Mako raised his hands. “I just want to help.”

Sasuke. Sasuke. Sasuke.

Sasuke hadn’t so much as responded to his voice, he stayed curled up in a tight ball. Mako could see his fingers were stained in blood. The two ANBU exchanged glances.

Then one nodded, though the other continued to heal Sasuke Mako got to crouch next to him. Mako watched with slowly growing anxiety that made his hands shake. The ANBU healers hands were over Sasuke’s head but he saw no wound. Was it internal?

“The Uchiha Clan was slaughtered tonight in front of Uchiha Sasuke.” The healer murmured. She wore a cat mask. “We’re providing aid until the emergency team can safely transport Uchiha-san to the hospital.”

“What-“ Mako breathed, he darted his eyes back and forth between the two ANBU. Then stared down at Sasuke.

None of what they just said made sense, how could something like that happen? Who was strong enough to slaughter the entire Uchiha Clan?”

“Did you by chance see Uchiha Itachi on your way over here?”

Mako shook his head. Then dread twisted his stomach. “Itachi? Is he dead too? What about Shisui, I haven’t seen him for days.”

“Uchiha Itachi is the one who killed the Uchiha Clan. We're currently hunting him down to answer for his crimes"

Chapter Text

A chill seeped from the walls around him, sinking deep into his bones. His teeth wanted to chatter, each step forward he took was like wading through tar. On either side two ANBU wearing animal masks escorted him through the maze of halls. Deeper and deeper.

The harsh scent of clinical cleaning products and a hint of blood wafted in his nose, but no patients stayed within these walls. At least not the ones they intended to let back out.

Would he be allowed to leave?

 The ANBU in front of him stopped to open a thick metal door, and Mako walked inside a room with a single metal table and two sets of metal chairs. A man with a white cloth attached to the side of his face already sat in one chair, his dark eyes settled onto Mako with enough intensity a shiver rolled down his spine.

“You are dismissed.”

With a slight tilt of the waist the ANBU bowed then walked out. A heavy thud echoed through the room as a bolt slid into place.

“Sit.”

Mako blindly listened, the fuzz in his brain made every thought process at a snail’s pace.

“My name is Morino Ibiki with the Konoha interrogation unit.” Ibiki said. “Do you want to explain how you found Uchiha Sasuke on the streets of Konoha tonight?”

He stared at the metal table.

Sasuke.

“I…don’t know.”

And he didn’t. The process of waking up, leaving his apartment and coming upon Sasuke felt like a distant memory. While at the same time he could clearly see Sasuke’s trembling form curled up on the ground.

…Interrogation unit?

“I see.” Ibiki replied. He stood up and the motion caused his white veil to flutter. Mako raised his eyes to watch it, and for a moment caught a glimpse of heavily scarred flesh. “What do you remember then?”

Oh.

He reached a hand up and placed it on his face, finding only flesh. He forgot his mask.

“I went to sleep and woke up to a scream.” Mako said softly. “Then I saw people passing by my window, so I left and found Sasuke.”

“Why did you feel the need to find him?”

“…I don’t know.”

Take care of him.

Ibiki hummed and started to pace back and forth. Mako watched him through his brown bangs with heavy eyes. For a second his heartbeat skyrocketed, Mako forced himself to inhale and exhale slowly.

He was in the interrogation unit, being questioned… because he found Sasuke?

“Tell me, what is your relationship with Uchiha Itachi?”

“…He wanted to create peace during war. By becoming the strongest others had no choice but to follow him…”

“…I have a feeling you’ll be around for a while.”

“…You protected him, everything will be okay…”

“…I saw something in your eyes that told me you’d be important...”

“There isn’t much of one.” Mako replied as the images of their past interactions manifested in his mind. “Besides mutual interests in history.”

Which was the truth. That much he could recall with his lagging thoughts. Itachi had been a distant figure, though more of a significant one than any of the other Shinobi of Konoha, besides Gai.

For a moment his chest clenched painfully like a Kunai impaled him. Mako’s fingers twitched with the effort he took to stay completely still. Morino Ibiki could probably read his body language, and Mako decided to try and control himself as much as possible.

Why? He didn’t have anything to hide. Though could anyone be trusted in this village of Shinobi?

Ibiki turned to face him. Since he started to move Mako hadn’t heard a single sound. Not of his feet hitting the floor or his clothes brushing against each other.

“What about Uchiha Shisui?”

“I had even fewer interactions with him. We trained together once.”

“With Uchiha Sasuke. Rather unusual I’d say, considering the Uchiha are a very private clan.”

“Are?” Mako echoed. “Aren’t they…”

“…Uchiha Itachi slaughtered the Uchiha clan.”

A heavy bang of two hands slamming into metal caused Mako to jump. Suddenly Ibiki was so close Mako could see the way his eyes were dark brown rather than black. The Shinobi’s muscles of his shoulders made him look all that much bigger. Like Mako faced a bear rather than a man.

Mako stilled, from both fear and the instinctual urge to defend himself against the threat. His hand twitched down to touch his Kunai holster and only met soft pajama pants.

He…was wearing Pajamas?

“So, you do know something then. No one in the village besides the ANBU and a select few have been notified of the event.” Ibiki growled. “What do you know about the Uchiha Massacre?”

“The ANBU told me-”

-“You have no excuse Itachi! This sort of thing-I can’t-you-! I don’t understand how you could do this! All the conversations we had, your undying loyalty to Konoha, was that all just a lie?!”

“I need more power. They were in the way, just like you are now.”

“I don’t believe you!”

-He sharply inhaled and choked. Mako bent over in his chair from the sheer strength as his eyes teared up. A pool of blood grew underneath his feet and as he raised his shaking hands, blood stained his fingers.

The walls were tilting around him, he couldn’t breathe. A steady drumbeat of pain thrummed behind his eyes.

“- a healer and Yamanka in here now!-”

Bodies swarmed around him, so many hands and voices he didn’t know. Through his blurred eyes and cloudy brain, he barely processed the porcelain faces of ANBU and a man with a long blonde ponytail.

Then his world turned black.

.

He slipped out of the window and automatically headed to the Uchiha compound. Envisioning the note left on the mysterious scroll, which he hid in the closet upon finding. Naruto’s curious fingers would undoubtedly be far too tempted to open it, and Mako wanted to ensure the scroll was safe before that happened.

Itachi had never been a danger to him, at least not an immediate one. Though all shinobi in a sense were, despite their allegiance toward Konoha. Any human trained to the extent they were considered hirable to kill others always had potential to be dangerous.

Still, Mako didn’t have a good feeling about this. Though he found himself racing across the rooftops in his pajamas, a Kunai was held in his hand.

Going into this situation blind and barely armed was stupid.

He finally came to a halt on one of the buildings directly across from the Uchiha compound. Where a tall wall separated Konoha and the Uchiha Clan. He could see the Uchiwa fan chiseled into the stone thanks to the full moon that lit up the entire village.

Mako leapt from the roof to the top of the wall and peered down at the Uchiha grounds. Then he waited.

No patrol came to intercept him.

Mako narrowed his eyes and considered turning back, maybe even trying to find someone to check out what was going on.

‘Take care of him’ the note said.

“I knew you’d come.”

Mako swung around, the familiar voice was edged with a sharp intent that made the hair on his arms stand on end.

And stared directly into Sharingan-red eyes.

..

.

Two children unconscious, a whole clan slaughtered in one night and a Shinobi, a teenager no a child gone rouge.

Sarutobi rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed.

And he was the reason.

The image of Uchiha Itachi flashed in his mind.

“All that I ask, is for Sasuke to be safe here in Konoha. I am ready for his hatred to be aimed toward me.”

“Third, how would you like to approach this?”

He opened his eyes to peer at Morino Ibiki and Yamanka Inoichi. “Very carefully, a tragedy has struck Konoha in ways I have not witnessed in years. Uchiha and Mori-san are lucky to be alive after what Uchiha Itachi put them through. Any reports back from the ANBU team who trailed him?”

“No.” Hound’s clone replied. He stood in a dark corner, a shard of moonlight turned his spiked hair a lighter shade of silver. “Uchiha Itachi is proving to live up to his reputation, at this rate I cannot guarantee the team can capture and bring him back.”

“Very well.” Sarutobi replied. “Keep sending teams out to find any trace of him left, did you notice anything weird at the Uchiha Compound?”

“My team has not notified me of anything, they’re carefully looking over the corpses as we speak. If they do find something their instructions is to send a clone immediately to both you and I.”

“Thank you Hound.”

“Of course, Hokage-sama.”

“I can’t believe Uchiha Itachi could kill the entire Uchiha Clan by himself.” Inoichi murmured. “I know he is-was one of our strongest, but the Uchiha would not just allow themselves to be killed without fight. If there was one thing they felt strongly about, it was protecting their own, especially children.”

“Which explains but also further confuses me as to why he left Uchiha Sasuke alive.” Ibiki said. “Uchiha Itachi received a few sessions of therapy but none of the therapists ever noted instability. Not to this extent at least. They know what to look for in Uchiha. A cold-blooded killer would not stop at a sibling just because of their attachment to each other. Itachi is trained better then that.”

“Nor does it explain why Mori Mako is still alive.” Hound’s clone murmured.

Mori Mako.

Sarutobi leaned back and rested against his office chair. He turned his eyes down at the array of folders spread out on the desk, and landed on a single picture of Mako.

Senju Mako.

His gut clenched at the sheer resemblance Mako had to Tobirama. Down to the red facial markings and calculating eyes. If not for his brown hair and mask, the entire shinobi world could figure out who he was related to. Perhaps the response would be even bigger of one compared to Naruto’s parents.

Why Orochimaru? After everything you’ve done to this village and your team.

“We can conclude why he went after Mori-san at least.” Ibiki said. “Considering the Uchiha vendetta against the Senju, he could have been after the last male Senju to wipe out the clan for good. I never pegged Uchiha Itachi to be spiteful like that, but neither did I expect him to kill his whole clan.”

“Mori-san has done a surprisingly good job at hiding his lineage from most of Konoha from the civilians and even some shinobi. If anyone could figure it out Uchiha Itachi would.” Inoichi commented. “We only speculated until tonight about whether he truly was of Senju blood. Do you think maybe Itachi wanted to wipe out the possibility of Mako’s bloodline being triggered by eliminating the source?”

“Mokuton?”

Inoichi nodded.

“Considering the fact that Hashirama could conquer a tailed beast in combat, I’d say absolutely. What better a way to weaken a village then to wipe out the potential of what Senju Mako can do?” Ibiki replied.

“I think rather than the wood release, Mako may have inherited more of Tobirama-sama’s genes then we first thought.”

They all turned to look at Hounds clone as he walked across the room to stand closer to Sarutobi’s desk.

“What are you implying?” Ibiki asked.

“Think. Who was Tombirama-sama’s mother?”

Both Inoichi and Ibiki stilled.

Sarutobi spoke softly as he answered. “Hatake Shizuka.”

Sarutobi glanced down at the picture of Mako.

 Since the first moment he first held Mako in his arms and saw the color of his eyes Sarutobi knew. Orochimaru always obsessed over the Senju and their healing techniques. After his student got kicked out of Konoha for testing on children, Sarutobi had hoped that ended Konoha’s involvement in the matter. But as the infant stared at him with those narrowed red eyes, uncomfortable acceptance fell upon him like a ton of bricks.

What did you do Orochimaru?

How did you do it?

Why?

“Senju Mako’s lineage will be treated as an S-class secret.” Sarutobi’s voice rung out in the room and his three shinobi all straightened automatically at the tone. “Along with who his mother is. She has been very adamant about not being part of Mako’s life, unless we want to face her wrath he will follow her wishes.”

The three nodded solemnly.

“Whatever Itachi did to both of them, the damage seems to be permanent. No seven-year-old child could survive a Genjustu of the magnitude without repercussions.” He continued. “I want an ANBU guard on the both of them indefinitely. The possibility of Uchiha Itachi coming back to finish the deed is far too high to risk either of them being hurt. Send out a few men to ask around on the streets if anyone noticed anything tonight.”

“Yes sir.”

“You are all dismissed.”

The three bowed and filed out, Sarutobi watched as Hound disappeared in a puff of smoke silently. Then he sighed. Only the ANBU hidden in the shadows of his office lingered, ones he knew without a doubt kept their mouths shut about anything they heard.

Konoha had one of the last Uchiha and Senju in their midst. After everything he learned about the Uchiha-Senju relationship from the First, a sense of foreboding made him feel 100 hundred years older.

Both of them being born in the same year had to signify something significant to Konoha’s future. Konoha had been founded by an Uchiha and a Senju, so what did a pair showing up again mean his village prospered?

…Or fell?

For all his planning, Sarutobi found himself at loss for what to do. Itachi never told him about his plans for Mako, outside of considering the boy a promising Shinobi. Coming from Itachi, such praise was to be taken seriously. Yet Mako proved to be unwilling to skip a grade when Sarutobi suggested it to the teachers. Most children his age loved the idea of rising above their peers.

Tobirama had been humble about his own abilities as well.

He’d keep the secret of Mako’s true conception to himself, even if he died no one would know how truly despicable his student ended up becoming.

If Tsunade knew…

He was afraid it would push her off the edge she already wandered far too close to.

…

..

.

Mako opened his eyes to see a plan ceiling above him and listened to the steady beep of a heart monitor. The room smelled like a combination of hand sanitizer, sterile packaging, coffee and floor cleaner.

Sasuke.

He wished it had all been a dream, every single moment since he got reborn nothing but his own imagination.

If only.

He sat up though his body ached and stared out at the dark village. A big black hole turned all his thoughts into a confusing spiral of recent events. A note from Itachi, coming across Sasuke, the ANBU telling him the Uchiha were slaughtered.

Being interrogated and fainting.

Morino Ibiki had every right to question him, Mako realized. When, now after resting for however long, Mako found himself questioning what actually happened. The way his body ached was telltale signs he pushed himself physically.

“Touch him again and I’ll kill you!”

“I won’t bother, he’s not worth my time.”

Mako glanced around the empty room, artificial light shone undeath the crack of his door. If he listened hard enough, he could hear one of the Nurses talking on the phone.

Where was Sasuke?

Take care of him.

The heart monitor started to beep faster, Mako attempted to refocus his mind to calmness. Desperate for the familiar comfort of his usual personality. But somehow no matter how slow he breathed, or hard he tried to command his mind to settle, nothing worked.

His hands started to shake.

“Oh my, I wondered if you had woken up. Mori-san try and calm down.” A nurse said as she walked in and toward him. A Shinobi one as indicated by the headband she wore around her upper arm.

He was trying!!

Mako tightened his hands into fists, they refused to stop shaking.

Take care of him.

Sasuke.

Sasuke. Sasuke.

“Mori-san-“

“Where is he?!” Mako snapped, he swung his head to glare at her. She visibly faltered a step. “Where is Sasuke?!”

She pressed her lips. “I need back up here! The patient is showing signs of instability!”

What?

More Shinobi rushed in, all with kunai holsters they rested their hands too close to. No, they wanted to hurt him, he wasn’t in the hospital, he was still in the interrogation unit! They wanted to lull him into a sense of calm, so he’d answer their questions!

He lashed out at the closest body.

Then everything went black.

…

..

.

This time Mako woke up to the sounds of two heart monitors.

His mind felt…clear.

Calm.

A wave of relief washed through him at the stillness he could sense in his mind. Experimentally he raised a hand and allowed a small smile to form when it didn’t shake.

Mako let out a long breath, then finally turned to look at the bed next to him.

The staff moved them into the same room. Despite the way Sasuke’s body was dwarfed by the pillows of the hospital bed, Mako could make out his form clearly. A furrow wrinkled Sasuke’s face and a single small hand tightly held onto the sheets of the bed. His heart monitor showed a faster than usual heart rate.

Mako reached over into the air as far as he could toward Sasuke.

Mako…could remember most of what happened now. He felt more certain of the situation though fog still lingered in certain parts of his memory.

The Uchiha were all killed by Itachi.

He closed his eyes to erase the burning tears that threatened to flow. Only to get taunted by the clear image of Itachi standing in the history section of the library. His dark eyes softened at the edges and tone lighter as they talked about books. A single piece of his dark hair shifted out of place with the slight movement of his head.

Mako opened his eyes and for the first time, hated how his mind worked.

He couldn’t get away from the memories of Itachi. Their last interaction played like a personal movie across his vision for a moment.

..

..

.

“I knew you’d come.”

Mako swung around, the familiar voice was edged with a sharp intent that made the hair on his arms stand on end.

And stared directly into Sharingan-red eyes.

Cold blooded alarm caused goosebumps to rise along his forearms at the sight of the other Shinobi. His eyes couldn’t stop staring at the blood that dripped off of Itachi’s sword and stained his fingers. Against the large full moon Itachi appeared like a Shinigami, approaching Mako with an eerie fluidity to his step and intensity of his eyes.

How could anyone confused Mako’s eyes with the Sharingan? When the Sharingan lit up like magma burning through the cracks of an active volcano?

“Itachi? I don’t understand, what is happening?” Mako near whispered. He took a step back along the top of the wall in response to Itachi’s own approach. No alarms had been blared into the night to signal the village being under attack, which meant the danger he felt coming from Itachi was targeted on himself.

Itachi…

Mako gripped his kunai tightly.

“What do you think Mako?” Itachi asked. “I just finished off killing my clan and brother. I figured tricking you into meeting me here would make this entire process so much easier.”

“What do you mean? You killed Sasuke and your entire Clan? Itachi that’s…”

Crazy. Itachi had to be lying.

“You’re next on my list Mako. Someone like you shouldn’t even exist.”

Mako faltered.

…

..

.

Mako focused on the present and ran his hands through his hair.

“Looks like you’re awake.”

A different nurse this time walked in, also a Shinobi medic, who sent him a small smile. She approached slowly as if not to spook him.

“How are you feeling Mori-san?”

“Confused. Is Sasuke okay?”

The nurse paused then nodded. “Of course, Uchiha-san just needs to rest for a while longer. Your friend will be okay.”

Oh.

She was lying to him. Perhaps to try and save him from whatever true state Sasuke was in. In her eyes Mako was a seven-year-old who just experienced a traumatic experience.

“That’s good.” He said, instead of snapping at her.

Rather than potentially be put back under into a forced slumber, Mako needed her to trust him not to snap. Controlling himself was a lot easier than last time he woke up.

At least they put him and Sasuke in the same room.

“What happened?” Mako asked, curious to see what she’d tell him.

The Nurse started to play around with the machine attached to him and check on his vitals.

“I know you’re scared Mori-san, but it will be okay. Yamanka-san will be coming by to explain everything to you and Sasuke.”

“Sasuke’s not even awake.”

“When he wakes up Yamanaka-san will come to the both of you.”

“So, Sasuke will wake up soon then.”

“Of course! Have faith in your friend!”

She smiled at him and then grabbed his clipboard and started to write some notes.

Nearly everything out of her mouth was a veiled truth. Her leadership must have ordered her to not say anything until given express permission, Mako guessed silently. Which made sense.

When she left with promises to bring food Mako sat up and made the head of his bed angle slightly so he didn’t have to be stuck lying down the whole time.

Itachi never showed signs of being a mass murderer, but then again, he did graduate the academy and get shoved into war before he turned eight. No child should ever have had gone through that.

Though he understood and empathized with Itachi, he couldn’t condone what he did.

An entire clan was wiped out. Countless lives lost for what? A chance to be stronger?

“I don’t expect an orphan like you to grasp what I’m saying. Uchiha are driven by a completely different motivation than anyone could ever comprehend. To gain power we must experience extreme loss or love. Uchiha Madara first found that out personally when his brother died in his arms. That is why I am doing this, to ensure my own rise to power and defeat anyone who dare stand in my way.”

-“You have no excuse Itachi! This sort of thing-I can’t-you-! I don’t understand how you could do this! All the conversations we had, your undying loyalty to Konoha, was that all just a lie?!”

“I need more power. They were in the way, just like you are now.”

“I don’t believe you!”

“Then you are a fool.”

Mako curled his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them.

Perhaps his previous attachment to Itachi had been stupid. This world was run by Shinobi, since he was born he experienced the cruelty first hand as his friend suffered by the villagers hands.

No one was safe to trust. Not when they turned on you at the last moment.

But at least Sasuke was alive.

At least Itachi lied about that.

Mako peered at Sasuke from the corner of his eye. Then he flicked his gaze to the doorway. Two guards still stood posted as watch, he could see their shadows.

To keep them in, or others out? Maybe both.

Mako slipped off his bed and set his bare foot on the cold ground. At some point one of the staff dressed him in hospital attire. A loose shirt that hung off his shoulders and pants that brushed the ground. His feet made slight thumping sounds as he walked over to Sasuke. Making sure to drag the IV and heart monitor with him.

Sasuke wasn’t very far so both followed him no problem. Mako stopped for a moment and watched Sasuke’s chest rise and fall, his face was still twisted in pain.

Mako planted his hands on the bed and pushed himself up, then slipped his body right beside Sasuke. This close Sasuke looked incredibly young, his gut twisted at the thought.

Sasuke had no one now, just like Naruto. Yet at the same time their situations were extremely different.

Alone was alone though.

Take care of him.

He scooted up and leaned against the wall by Sasuke’s head. Careful to give the other kid as much space as he could, even if that meant making himself uncomfortable. Sasuke muttered under his breath but otherwise did not react.

The only thing Mako could do at this moment, until someone explained the situation better, was ensure Sasuke did not wake up alone.

So he did, sinking into his mind as he fully started to analyze what just happened.

Itachi was a murderer.

Something else was going on though, no matter how long it took Mako would figure it out. Sasuke deserved better than just the lies his brother spouted.