"I'm starting to worry; he hasn't done anything but look at the ground. He hasn't said anything yet, either." Mikoto's pretty face looked worried. "You don't think there's something wrong with him, do you?"

Fukagu suppressed a snort and tried to console his wife. "It's okay. He's just like his brother. Remember, Itachi was exactly like this, too."

Mikoto thought guiltily, That's why I'm worried. Goodness, we don't need two Itachis. She loved her first son dearly, but she couldn't deny something about him was off. He didn't...quite fit in with the kids his age. He never smiled once and never laughed. He analyzed everything efficiently, and the only emotion that could be discerned from his neutral features was calculation.

At this, the boy raised his head. He stared at the two people before him, a somewhat blank expression on his pale face. Sure, he knew who they were. They were called 'mommy' and 'daddy.' What he didn't understand was why she kept repeating herself.

"Say 'mommy', okay? Say 'mommy'?" She mouthed the words and he thought she looked silly.

They were naming themselves, identifying themselves. He sort of envied them; if only he could identify himself. There was another name, too, that he was familiar with. Itachi. This name was spoken with reverence and pride. And often. So often was this Itachi mentioned that he was beginning to wonder if that was not his name.

He tilted his head to the side, a gesture that was innocent and adorable. 'Mommy' and 'Daddy' smiled. He didn't smile back, only looked back at the floor. He heard them sigh.

And suddenly, he felt it. A presence so familiar and so strong. It radiated confidence and his world, so dreary and bleak, was flooded with color. He picked his head up immediately to look upon this wondrous spectacle.

A young boy had slid the door open and entered with, Fugaku mentally noted with pride, no one noticing his chakra signals.

This boy was short but held himself high and seemed to look down upon everything and everyone. Ivory skin seemingly untouched by the sun was offset by inky hair that pooled around his shoulders and all knowing eyes that glinted.

"Good morning. Has It said anything yet?" The epitome of elegance crossed its arms.

Mikoto sighed, but she couldn't bring herself to be upset with him. "No, he hasn't. Why don't you say hello to your brother?"

They were related? He was thrilled and stared enthralled as the dark beauty shrugged, making the careless motion into an art form.

"Hn, I suppose." The raven prince glided to where his younger brother sat, staring at him with adulation.

He remembered his parents trying to get him to say 'mommy' and 'daddy'. It had been a painful experience and hadn't worked; he had kept stonily silent. The first time he said anything, it had been his own name. Even if he didn't care for his new brother, he felt obligated to save anyone from this torture.

"Itachi," the young boy said at once. He was trying to tell this stunning boy what his name was.

To his dismay, his idol frowned. His carefully cultivated mask slipped and his confusion and interest was on display for him to see. He decided he liked it and his new goal was to make this stoic person smile.

His new reason for living turned back to his parents. "How does he know my name?"

The boy blinked. This was Itachi? Okay, well that made sense. But then, who was he, if not Itachi?

Mikoto clapped her hands together in obvious joy. "Oh, Fugaku, Sasuke spoke." She was a bit disappointed that he hadn't said 'mommy' but she supposed it didn't really matter. In fact, it was rather cute.

Sasuke. It was his turn to frown. Sasuke. It wasn't as nice sounding as Itachi but…at least he had a name now to introduce himself by.

"Sasuke," he said, or tried to. It came out as something else entirely. Funny, he hadn't any problems saying Itachi's name.

"Sasuke," Itachi said, rolling the name on his tongue and Sasuke's eyes positively danced.