The Academy
They go back to the academy a week after the massacre.Frank is still puzzled about what Itachi said, when he blocked Sasuke. By shoving Sasuke behind him, he blocked out what Sasuke could see and hear. The lectures are interesting for Frank. He absorbs everything, so that he might find a way back home. Chakra is so unbelievable to him. These people can spit fire and hold lighting in their hands. They can control wind and water.
Frank is so out of his league, he's stuck in an eight year olds head that can spit fire at his enemies, villages full of superpowers ninja. They both learn together at the academy. Frank teaches the kid what he knows of his world. What he learned as a scout sniper.One shot, one kill. There is no need to kill civilians. People don't need to die needlessly. Only those that deserve it.
How do I know they deserve it?
Frank is quiet for a few seconds. Sometimes you have to kill for the mission, no matter who it is and it doesn't matter if they deserve it or not. You have your mission and if you don't completed, sometime you die. In war, the other side never really deserves death but they went against our country. Our families could die if we don't kill them on the front lines. I didn't care.
Sasuke doesn't respond as they walk home. The market place is bustling with people. They look at Sasuke with sad eye and both Frank and Sasuke hate it. They are not on display for their tragedy. Sasuke hurry's past their eyes, to where only ghost follow him, into his home.
It goes like this for months before anything changes. It's this ball of sunshine that drops into the market place while Sasuke is walking home. The eyes that follow him, turn to the boy dressed in all orange with malice.
Huh well that's new. Wonder what he did?
He just plays pranks and fails at tests.
Frank turns his head to the side, that level of hate is overblown for some kid pranks. There's definitely something wrong around that kid. Frank has never been one to stick his head where it isn't wanted, but there is something about this orange clad kid. In class all the kid does is seek attention. Sasuke has gotten glimpses of him training his ass off. He tries hard, but something is holding him back.
This is the first time Frank has wanted to know something so bad and he hates it. He is a soldier, they don't ask question, they follow directions.
Sasuke begins to walk away and Frank holds his tongue. It isn't his any of business what that kid is or isn't.
He keeps telling that to himself all of the next week and helps Sasuke finish this school year. They get a few months of break.
You were a scout sniper. Do you think I could make something like that? Maybe you could use it.
Frank chuckes You want to be a scout sniper, eh. Alright kid. You don't have guns here so your gonna have to make something. You could use one of those wind jutsu's.
For the rest of break Sasuke and Frank research and train, going from the library to his own training field. They meet a girl with pink hair, the third day at the library. She's in Sasuke class.
Ain't she the real smart kid. She's always get a hundred on those tests. You could use a friend like that, at least to consult with on our project. It never hurt to be friendly with a potential teammate. Their gonna have your back, you don't want that back exposed. If you don't trust them with your secrets, at least trust them with your life.
I don't want her involved. What if she finds out something about us?
Kid, she ain't never gonna guess this. Hell, I still don't think I believe it either.
Sasuke approaches the pink haired girl. "Hey. Haruno Sakura, right? I'm Uchiha Sasuke, we're in the same class." Sakura startles at his voice and shrinks into her seat. She turns to him, shy.
"U-Uchiha-San, um uh... Do you need something?" Sasuke blinks a little taken back by such formality. Most people haven't talked to him since the massacre.
"Yeah-I, your really smart, so I thought you could help me with something. I'm looking for some wind jutsu that can push small objects really fast. I haven't found much here." Sakura blushes bright red and stands.
"Of course, I can help you. It's hard to find jutsu since we're still academy student and what your looking for might be above us for a while yet. But I'll see what I can find in the Civilian section. I'll let you know in a few days if I find anything. I'm usually in the library."
Sasuke's lips twitch. "Thank you, Haruno-san." Sasuke stays for a while after that, researching how objects move in space. Frank calls it physics. There is more math than Sasuke likes in it, but he needs to learn this for the sniper.
What should I call it when it's done? He asks Frank.
Kid, I'm just a solider. You're the imaginative one.
Alright, how about rocket ball.
Franks snorts Hell No, that's the stupidest name. But Frank can feel the kids mood is light and he wants to laugh. It's not very often that Sasuke's feels this good. He's always in a bad mood, depressed. Frank does't help much with his own feelings in the mix.
Sasuke puts his books away and gathers his notes. Sakura is still intently reading with piles of books next to her.She really doesn't want to disappoint, eh Sasuke. Frank points out with a smirk.
Shut up. Sasuke is out the door not looking back at the pink haired girl again. He's rushing to get home, so he doesn't get mobbed by fangirls. He can still remember their shrieks and Franks laughter at his predicament.
He isn't watching where he going thanks to a new set of laughter from Frank at the memory. He runs straight into the orange blob. They both fall over.
"Damn damn. Hey! Hey! You ruined my prank!" He screams as the orange paint spills onto the path. But then an old man comes out of the house they are both in front of.
"Shit shit, come on, Sasuke." Sasuke bristled at being address so informally by someone he can't even remember the name of. The boy grabs his arm and starts running.
Franks is still laughing and he laughs harder still. The two boys are running into alleys and twisting and turning, people and animals blurr by as the two pass them. They stop in front of the red light district.
"What the hell?" Sasuke yells.
"Sorry, sorry but he was totally gonna blame us and I'm sure you didn't want that. Oh oh I'm Uzumaki Naruto," The orange blob says. The sun is setting and it's casting an orange glow in the sky.
"But it was your fault." Uzumaki scratches his neck awkwardly at the accusation.
"Ehh, yeah. It was but... I didn't want you to get in trouble, too. Well, I'm gonna go now. Sorry about today." He looks at the pavement and starts to walk toward the red light district.
Where's that kid going.
"Hey, where are you going, you're not supposed to go down that way, thats what my-" Sasuke stops himself from saying brother.
Naruto looks up and turns around so fast, he's like a bullet.
"I-I live here." He sheepishly scratches his neck again.
Sasuke blinks "What?! What about your parents?"
"I don't have any parents," He's almost ashamed to say it. "It's the only place I could afford."
What should I do, Frank?Sasuke's voice is so unsure and frighten. He doesn't want to leave Naruto here.
You're not supposed to do anything, but have you seen the way all the adults look at him. If you go to an adult about this it won't get fix. Even if you have a powerful name, you're still just a kid.
Sasuke is torn. He didn't like this trouble maker. He hates him, but he's like Sasuke. He doesn't have any parent or siblings anymore. He wants to help him. Naruto can't live in red light district. If something bad happens and Sasuke could have prevented it, he'll be distraught.
If it pains you that much, you have a lot of space in your compound. He could live there. It's your land you can do what you want with it.
Sasuke is still torn. That's Uchiha land, non-Uchiha are not a allowed to live there. But I'm the last one, so does it really matter. It does he insist, but it's still doesn't help him make a decision.
What if he only stays there for a few days. You can kick him out if you really want to, kid. But you know what happens to kids in the red light district. Remember, you want these people to trust you with their life.
Frank had pulled the memory of what Itachi had said while Sasuke was debating with himself.
Sasuke sighs, "Alright, Uzumaki pack your stuff and meet back here." He can't trust Uzumaki with his life now, if Uzumaki even can't take care of himself.
Uzumaki's eyes bulge out of his face. Frank laughs in the background of Sasuke's head. Uzumaki runs, almost too quiet and quick for just an academy student. Sasuke frowns at that because how is the loser faster than him. He won't let that continue. Uzumaki's back with a big bag in a few minutes. Sasuke just raises his eyebrow.
Uzumaki jumps up and down with excitement "This is so cool, so cool, so cool. So what's gonna happen, are we having a sleep over. I've heard about those from people. I never get invited but that cool. I don't need those losers." Sasuke is already regretting this, but he said he'd do it. He can't back down now. They're almost to compound anyway.
"Uzumaki, you're gonna have the house next to mine most of them are empty. You're gonna have to buy your own food. This isn't permanent just until you get a better apartment. How do you get your money anyway?"
"I have an orphan fund. It's just enough to get by. I don't eat a lot so it's ok."
"What do you mean you don't eat a lot?" Frank has woke from his nap to tune in. Sasuke looks Uzumaki in the eyes.
"Well some shops don't like my pranking so they always shoo me away, when I try to buy something." Sasuke eyes blaze with anger. Franks is just as mad. The fuck kinda village you live in. Frank thinks maybe he should censor himself a bit. He is in the head of an eight year old, after all.
What the fuck are they doing to a future Konoha ninja. Is sasuke's response. Frank thinks to himself that maybe censorship is little too late. Frank recalls the time they first saw the orange mence.
I knew there was more to this kid than normal. I don't think it's normal for someone who hates childish pranks.
Uzumaki hurries to placate Sasuke, "It's only one or two shops. Nothing serious."
Sasuke can't help but snort at that. "You can eat at my house until we figure out a better way to get you food."
They are in front of Sasuke's house now. It stands taller than all the others that are around it. Uzumaki is staring opening mouthed, this is probably the biggest house he's seen. Sasuke smirks at his reaction, then he points to the house to the right of his. "That ones yours, there should be a futon in there, somewhere. It used to be my uncles and his families. You can come over when ever you're done unpacking." Uzumaki sobers up after that, nods and then walks in.
Sasuke goes to his own and starts a tomato sauce with noddles. Frank showed him how to make it and he's loved it ever since. The food is almost done when Uzumaki comes over. "Here set the table will ya, Uzumaki."He smiles bright and goofy. "Alright, but where's the bowls."
Sasuke points to the cabinets to the right of the sink as he stirs the Noddles. The table is set and they dig in.
"Sasuke, this is so good, how did you find this it's almost as good as ramen." Naruto face is covered in red sauce.
Sasuke says sheepishly, " I uhh made it, I really like tomatoes." Naruto laughs at that and keeps eating. After dinner they both help with the dishes.
"Umm I guess, I'll go to my house, uhh see ya tommorrow?" Sasuke nods to the question.
It's the middle of the night when Sasuke hears a sound. Frank woke him up. The door shuts and Sasuke creeps down the stairs in the hallway. There stands a green monster. Sasuke screams and so does the monster.
"I'm sorry I'm sorry." It says and then he knows it Naruto.
"What are you doing here." Sasuke ask nostrils flared.
"It's just such a big house and I...I'm sorry. I know you don't have to do this. I could just go back." Naruto keeps rambling but Sasukes secretly glad. He's not the only one creeped out by the ghost that linger here. For a while, he thought this feeling was shameful that he shouldn't be scared in the Uchiha compound. He should be proud to live here but Frank said it's ok to be scared. Even if he has never been scared himself.
"It's ok, Naruto." Naruto jolts when he hears his first name. Sasuke walks up to his parent room. He won't give him Itachi's room, no way. He can't bring himself to move into the master bedroom. It had always been his parents, but now it's Narutos. "You can sleep here, sorry it's kind of messy, I don't go in here a lot." Naruto just settles down with his frog hat on and falls sleep as Sasuke leaves.
Franks smirks to himself. Looks like these kids found something in common.