A Most Beautiful Mind

Hi, guys. Another Fic here. I wanted this to be different as well. It is still Narusasu, of course, but Itachi is a very major supporting character in this fic. Naruto may seem different, but he's still the kind-hearted, bright-spirited, bundle of joy we know. In this fic, I wanted to tackle mental stigmas I see around me and express the way I feel about those with mental disabilities, hence the title. No you don't have to watch A Beautiful Mind to read this. However, there are two completely different minds that will help us understand the beauty of life. A Beautiful Mind isn't what inspired me to write this. I was actually watching a movie with my grandmother on lifetime (*Please tell me you know this if you're American*): What's Eating Gilbert Grape? That movie inspired me to write this fic.

PS. Naruto is not attracted to everyone in this fic. He just has this certain ability to him. You'll see. *Silent giggles*

Prologue

Naruto bit his lip harshly as he explored some more of his new home. Konoha wasn't the best choice, but the man knew that the town had a reputation of judging things which were not understood.

Of course he wouldn't fit in perfectly, but standing alone and righteous was something he'd been famous for. For a long time too.

The man stared out his window with a soft smile; how contrasting it was to the darkness that upheld the town.

The gloom of the fall day crept into him like the damp into bare timber. It seeped into his pores, travelling to his heart which beat more morosely. Even the bird song came to him as if from a deep well rather than high in the trees. Then from under the steady blanket of grey cloud came a steady rain that moved like a mist in chaotic directions but was thick enough to soak an old man's cloth cap and the newspaper under his arm.

Even so while the gloom slumped over him, as if to protect him from the good of the world, Naruto's mood did not dwindle. It was almost as if the sun kept shining in his mind. "Of course." He muttered in wonderment, biting his fingernail and attempting to find the smallest drop of sunlight behind the grey clouds.

"The infinite universe, observed to be 13.8 billion years old, expands light travelled from all those years ago. And yet, it still infinitely expands. That's only part of the universe we've known. But, my mood is brightened on a day research shows dwindles a man's mood. Could it be that what is stated is true; does it instead set its radius at about 46 billion light-years?"

Naruto smiled brightly, his face shining in pure delight. "Than that means that light…." The man gasped and turned from the window, still lost in his own world. "I have to write this down."

"So you're the genius, un?" A sly voice muttered.

Naruto looked up, strawn and a long way from his creative thoughts. The man leaning against the door before him was a neighbor who, immediately after scanning Naruto's frame, had offered a hand in moving the blond's belongings in the home.

His eyes, the same color as Naruto's, were slanted and exotic; some kind of void galaxy. His hair, the same color as Naruto's, was half pulled into a high ponytail while a long bang covered one of his eyes. Even as someone who looked so mischievous, Naruto perceived the man to be simply beautiful; it was wonderful how there were so many different kinds of people in the world, all who seemed wonderful.

"I wouldn't say genius." The blond proposed, rubbing his neck. "I'm just an ordinary man with a lot to lose is all."

The exotic man's eyes widened. "Are you kidding? It's the gossip of the town. You've written twelve best-selling books and have a Doctor of Philosophy in both Astrophysics and Psychology, un." The man smirked. "Not to mention they say that you have the power to bring out the best in people. Which makes me wonder, why the hell a town like this?"

Naruto's own eyes lit up. "Hold on." The man nearly skipped over toward a whiteboard. Grabbing a marker, he signalled the unknown man over. "What's your name?"

"Deidara."

Naruto looked away from the board to smile at the shorter man. "A beautiful name." He muttered.

Deidara's cheeks turned a bright red. "You're really blunt, aren't you? I see why they say you're odd."

"Well look here, Deidara. What you're about to see will amaze you. I've solved hundreds of equations and helped countless people, but there was something missing. And that was the human."

"The human?" Deidara questioned in confusion.

"Not just the human, but his or her beauty. What makes a human so beautiful? What's different about us, you know? I've come here to research and observe the town's people."

Deidara smiled and laughed a little. "Don't you think that you took a wrong turn to Konoha?"

"What do you mean?"

Deidara smirked and his eyes trailed over Naruto's athletic build and handsome face. "So I guess there is some 'dumb athlete' in that genius brain of yours. What I mean, genius, Konoha isn't the place you want to find the beauty in people. It's dark and creepy and secluded. Not to mention your neighbors are the hunchbacks of the village."

"My neighbors?"

"Un. You'll find that out real soon. The main thing is, you should be careful. Konoha isn't some town that has beauty."

Naruto smiled softly and genuinely. "Well, Deidara. I need to believe that something extraordinary is possible."

If you want beauty here, you'd have to do something amazing, like change people's hearts. You can only do that by learning about them."

Naruto gasped once more. Bluntly, the 22-year-old reached forward and touched Deidara's face so softly. "You're a genius." he whispered in awe. "I have to finish unpacking so that I can start."

With that, he ran from the room, writing swiftly in the air with his finger.

Sasuke yawned as he arose to a loud knock on their front door. "Ugh. Could you get tha-" He cut himself off with a small sigh. "Of course" He muttered in disappointment. Only he was stable, capable, and able to do anything around the house.

Just as he stood and slipped out of bed, a raspy voice, once soft like an angel he could hardly remember, groaned and spoke in its drunken haze. A thrown bottle of alcohol crashing against the wall in frustration followed. "One of you get the fucking door."

Sasuke cringed at his mother's words, hoping and praying to the Gods that Itachi didn't hear them.

When he sighed, his bottom lip jutted out, redirecting the airflow to his long bangs. For that brief moment, his black hair fanned upwards before resettling just over his eyes.

His sigh was of a softly deflating; it was as if a tension had lifted yet left him with melancholy instead of relief.

Pulling on some loose shorts, the teen walked out of his small room, staring into the eyes of his small home. Another loud knock broke him out of his demeaning gaze and he grumbled.

Just as he reached the door, a searing pain went through his big toe and the raven tripped. A louder knock and Sasuke's dark eyes darted to the only object that desired his demise.

Itachi's Omnibot, Charmy Baku.

With a sigh, the 19-year-old grabbed the toy and stood. "Aniki…" he mumbled softly.

Walking to the door, the man opened it with a hard glare. "What is it?"

"Uchiha-san. It's your brother!"

The Uchiha attempted to ignore how his heart rate increased at Gaara's shocked claim. "What? What happened?"

Gaara inhaled and exhaled. "He's climbed the water tower all by himself. Some people are throwing small pebbles. They think he'll come down."

"What?!" Without stopping to put on his shoes or a coat, the teen left the home.

He glanced next door to his home, finding a young man moving things from his truck, muttering to himself. Although his words were faint, the man's excitement got the better of him at one moment and he nearly screamed. "Of course! The vector fields were never rational. My solution is elegant, but ultimately incorrect."

With that, Sasuke watched as Deidara, a former friend of Itachi's, entered the front door. "Hey, genius, you gonna keep muttering solutions about light, or are you going to bring that table in?"

The man looked up in sudden fright, caught Sasuke's eyes, blushed and looked away.

Careful to avoid any attention from the nasty Deidara, Sasuke continued to stride and follow Gaara.

The water tower was only around the corner, and while it had been rusty, old, and moldy, Sasuke and Itachi's best memories dangled on each leg of that tower. Even before the accident, the water tower was their haven.

Sasuke nearly grumbled when he saw about seven to twelve people around the tower, staring up at Itachi as he climbed the tower and sang lightly.

"Sasuke come and find me! Sasuke you'll never find me!"

Some people began to laugh and mutter to themselves. "He's so fucking dumb. Like, how does he-"

"You're making me sick." Sasuke told the woman, cutting her off. "I'm going to throw up. Now, why don't you go and find your own fucking business."

The woman gasped and covered her child's ear. "I have no reason to deserve this." With that she pulled her son along and away, the other onlookers following suit.

Gaara had been the last man standing, looking on nervously up at the singing 24 year old. Sasuke smiled at his childhood friend. "Gaara, don't worry. I can take it from here."

The redhead nodded and walked off, now believing that Sasuke had everything under control.

When the raven stood alone, he took the time to observe his older brother. His pants were now dirty, maybe from the mud the rain created.

Itachi laughed in delight as he climbed even more. "Sasuke you'll never find me!"

The younger Uchiha covered his mouth to contain his giggle. "So cute." He whispered.

What the town deemed stupid, Sasuke deemed his brother's illness to be misunderstood. No matter the accident three years prior, Itachi was still intelligent and wonderful, sometimes seeing things normal people couldn't.

"Match in the gas tank, boom boom!" Sasuke yelled.

He immediately regretted it as Itachi grew excited, almost letting go of the tower as he turned excitedly. "Match in the gas tank, boom boom. Sasuke, you found me!"

The 19 year old laughed. "Of course I would! Now come on down so I can take you a bath!"

Itachi shook his head and shoulders crazily. "You have to reach me first, Sasuke!"

The younger of the two began climbing the water tower. Once he reached Itachi, he grabbed a large pale hand. "Now will you come down?"

Itachi absentmindedly nodded and let Sasuke drag him down the tower. Once they reached the ground, Sasuke dusted the older man's pants off, and closed his jacket.

Despite the sheer fact that Itachi suffered from both Dependent Personality Disorder and Severe Developmental Disorder, Sasuke stood proud that the man had dressed himself and climbed the tower alone.

It was duly noted that Itachi's shirt was inside-out and backward, but it was the principle that counted.

The Uchiha put an arm around his brother's shoulders. "It's the last time, alright?" He questioned referring to the water tower.

Itachi picked his nose and nodded, staring off into space. "Yeah."

"Hn. Come on, let's go." He began dragging his brother back around the corner.

"But I wanna go back up there again." Itachi whined. Still, he let Sasuke drag him back to the house.

When they reached their home, the blond man Sasuke saw earlier was closing his moving truck. He once again glanced at Sasuke and Itachi, smiling oddly, as if he didn't know human contact was a real thing.

"Oh...uh...hello again."

Itachi turned at the sound of his voice and waved drastically. "Hi. My name's Itachi and this is my brother, Sasuke!"

Instead of the eye-narrowing Sasuke grew used to; Instead of the look of surprise or even the laugh, the man smiled even brighter.

"Oh really? My name's Naruto. I'm new in town. Doing a project…" He trailed off and Sasuke took it as a sign to move along.

"Come on Tachi." He muttered.

But the older man wouldn't budge; he stood still, his eyes squinted in wonderment at Naruto and his fingers between his teeth. "What kind of project?"

Naruto smiled. "Nothing big. It's just I'm attempting to find the beauty of life in the human. My equations are tremendous."

His eyes trailed over to Sasuke, who had been glaring the whole time. "You should go into your home now. Since you only have shorts on. Although you hold absolute advantage in knowing that colds can only be spread through germs, your comparative advantage does not suit well. In fact, nature is winning if you do get sick."

Sasuke understood nothing that came out of the blond man's mouth. "What?"

Naruto smiled. "I mean that your feet has stepped on mud and ground. They should be thoroughly cleaned."

Sasuke rolled his eyes and dragged Itachi along into their home, missing the flash of embarrassment in Naruto's eyes.

"Go take off your clothes, Tachi. You need a bath."

Itachi nodded and ran to his room. Sasuke walked into the bathroom and began running the water.

Walking back out, the teen began to pick up things on the living room floor. Itachi's toys; their mother's beer bottles; and some miscellaneous trash items.

He sighed softly. The sigh was resigned and weary. It signaled the end of deliberate effort and the beginning of passive deterioration. It was a sigh so quiet that it went unnoticed, it's sound and it's movement dissipated out into the vastness of the world and made no effect at all. It was not the start of any butterfly effect. But in the young man's life it was a pivotal turning point. It was the moment he gave up.

So many years ago, life was great. But after the accident, everything had changed.

Sasuke grumbled as he watched Itachi stand on his toes to kiss his longtime boyfriend, Kisame. He and his father were the only two within the car as of now.

Both silently waited on Mikoto, who was still fixing her makeup in the house and Itachi who was giving an awfully long goodbye to Kisame.

The Uchiha family were attending a high end restaurant on this night, celebrating Itachi's third year of college. The 21 year old would only be in town for the next two weeks. After that, he would leave again. Which was why Sasuke only held belief to the man sitting in the car with him; his father. His father was his hero. He wasn't an alcoholic like their mother. And he wasn't always gone like Itachi.

The sixteen year old turned to his father. "How come Tachi gets to have a boyfriend or girlfriend?"

Fugaku turned with a bright smile to his younger son. "Because he's older. When you turn eighteen, you can have a girlfriend...or boyfriend."

Sasuke blushed in embarrassment when his father turned back around. "But tousan, that doesn't make any sense. Tachi dated Kisame since they were in their eighth year of school. What's the real reason I can't date anyone?"

Fugaku said nothing, making his son inch closer from his seat toward the front. "Tousan?"

"Tousan!?"

Fugaku laughed and turned back. "Okay, you caught me. The real reason I don't want you dating anyone is that I want to keep you innocent for a long as possible. You're the innocent one, alright?"

"But why?" Sasuke whined.

Fugaku tickled Sasuke's stomach, making the teen laugh and yank away. "So that I can continue to smother you with undenying love."

"Haha, tousan, stop." When he calmed down, he smiled at his father. "You mean it?"

Fugaku rubbed his head. "I mean it, kid. You're the innocent one. Never forget that. Fugaku's little bundle of innocence. But you have to be quiet about. Unless your brother will get jealous."

Sasuke nodded and put a finger to his lips as Mikoto and Itachi got into the car.

Fugaku winked at his youngest and turned to his wife. "That everything?"

Mikoto huffed and pulled a small alcohol bottle from her purse. Taking a sip of it, she nodded. Fugaku sighed in pity and then turned to his oldest son. "Kiss your boyfriend enough, kid?"

Itachi blushed and lowered in his seat. "Tousan." He whined just as Sasuke had earlier.

Fugaku laughed and turned to start up the car. "Alright. Aren't you all excited for this family dinner?"

Mikoto grumbled softly and Itachi gave a soft smile; Sasuke laughed. "I am tousan."

"That's the spirit, small duck. Itachi, take tips from your brother." Fugaku joked. He did not say anything to Mikoto because the man did not expect anything from his alcoholic wife. "He's always happy. Even when he was younger. When you gave him a pickle, he was so happy. The kid disappeared for five minutes."

Fugaku laughed very hard. "He came back and showed me a fly and he says 'daddy, I killed a fly.' I'm watching him eat his pickle and I say 'how did you kill it all by yourself.' He smiles at me in between bites and he says 'I hit it with my pickle.'"

Itachi began laughing haphazardly.

"Maybe because he has a boyfriend. That's why he's always happy." Itachi smirked.

Sasuke blushed and glared hard. "I do not."

Fugaku laughed heartily. "Sasuke, please don't say it's one of those dorky boys at school. If you're going to marry someone, marry someone smart...like that Neji kid or Ino."

Sasuke laughed. "No...Ino and Neji are wimpy tousan."

"Look who's picky."

"Speaking of my friends, today Gaara and I were sitting at the table. And we were sitting next to aniki's old friend, Hidan."

"The really religious one?" his father questioned.

"Hai. So Gaara's nose started bleeding and I tried to give him napkins, but he turned to Hidan and said 'hail satan.' Hidan completely spazzed out, tousan. He hit his head on the ground and went home for the rest of the day."

Itachi laughed and Fugaku shook his head. "That's odd, small duck."

"Tousan?"

"Hn?"

"Can we turn up some music?"

"Sure, kid."

The clan head leaned foward to turn up the dial.

"Fugaku, pay at-"

In that instant, he lost the opportunity to evade a newly broken-down car without its lights on. Even if he'd been paying attention, he would have been hard pressed to make the manoeuvre. As it was, Mikoto barely had time to scream before the air bags knocked her back and sideways.

At the last second, Sasuke jumped. His body hit the hood of the car and he screamed. His bones and muscles and joints and organs felt like they were being crumbled and smashed into a tiny box. His lungs contracted with such force that he was afraid they would fold into themselves. His torso and head smashed up against the windshield while his arms and legs were flailing, searching for somewhere to hold and stop the forward movement his body was going. The world must have kept flickering its figurative light switch because his vision kept flashing from bitter darkness to blinding white light. The only sound that filled his ears was the crushing of glass mixed with the distinct crackles of bones. Then suddenly, everything became light. He was flying through the air, his broken body almost limp from the impact that occurred nanoseconds before.

The doctors had called it a miracle. Sasuke was the only one to fly out of the car, but he lived. Lived in the hospital for four weeks, wondering where his family was and why they hadn't come to see him.

It was only after he was released had they told him he needed to pick up his brother. Only after when they told him Fugaku, his father, his best friend, his hero, did not survive the crash. Only after when his mother had been lying at home all those weeks.

But what hurt the most was having to pick Itachi up and wondering so hard what had happened to his brother. Once going to college with a full ride, Itachi had become childlike three years ago.

The doctors said that the car had flipped so many times that Itachi had become disorientated before he even sustained the concussion that had him drifting in and out of consciousness.

Sasuke inhaled sharply and stood, wiping his hands clean and leaving his solitude. "Tachi? You ready?"

He opened Itachi's door, finding the man running around his room in only his underwear. He'd been singing his favorite song, Cherry Blossom, as he jumped all over the bed.

"How happy, spring has come over the Sumida,

Rowing up, rowing down in the warm sunbeams,

Drops from the boatmen's oars look like cherry blooms,

How can I describe for you the view o'er the streams?"

He looked up and smiled at Sasuke. "Brother, did you see me singing?"

"I heard you." Sasuke stated, satisfying his older brother. "Now come on so you can be clean."

Sasuke grabbed his brother's hand and led him to the bathroom, stripping him down and placing him into the bathtub.

Tsunade had told him well that Itachi wasn't able to clean by himself, eat by himself, or even live by himself. So Sasuke had grown the hands for him. Sasuke had learned to walk for him. Sasuke became Itachi's mind.

He smiled as Itachi shook water from his head, creating splatters over him as well. "Haha. Calm down, Tachi. You'll get clean soon."

"If I did this alone, do you think I coulda drownded, Sasuke." Sasuke did not answer quickly enough because Itachi out his thumb to his chest. "Nuh-uh. 'Cause I'm a big boy, right, Sasuke?"

"You're a big boy." The nineteen year old confirmed.

Just as he lathered up his brother's soft hair, there was a soft knock on the door. Presuming that his mother had now sobered, the teen nodded. "Come in."

But as the newcomer spoke, Sasuke shook his head. Kisame's voice was a baritone. A comforting power, Itachi once described it before the incident. Before he knew it, Kisame let out a yelp of embarrassment from seeing Itachi in the bathtub. Looking away, he blushed as his own eyes met Sasuke's.

"Sorry." He mumbled.

Of all people, Sasuke felt mostly sorry to Kisame. The Marine Biologist had dated his brother when the two were only 13. Mikoto called it puppy love, Fugaku continued to give Kisame the talk, but Sasuke knew it was love. Since he was younger, he knew what Itachi and Kisame used to have was real. Since he was only eight, he knew.

To love was to live, and all Itachi did was love.

Sasuke stood by his dresser, touching his face and staring into the mirror. Poking his cheekbones, the raven wished they were higher. His dull eyes travelled to his stomach, watching as it sucked in.

"You." He whispered, not looking into the eyes of his enemy. "You are beautiful."

Just as he looked into his own eyes, they filled with tears and Suigetsu's words bit out at him. With his visage contorted, the valedictorian jumped onto his bed, covering his face in agony.

A soft knock on the door silenced his sobs. "Yes?" He muttered. He shifted as someone laid next to him. Glancing over, he found Itachi resting his head as well.

"You're eyes are red." The twenty year old observed.

"They're not." Sasuke argued, turning away. Although, after a millisecond, the teen turned back to his brother. "Aniki?"

Itachi began to wipe his brother's eyes and softly remove hair from his face. "Yes, Sasuke?"

"Do you love Kisame?"

Itachi tensed slightly and then relaxed, as if he'd debriefed the question. With a soft smile of silk, the man laughed. "Yes. I do. I do love Kisame."

"What is that?"

"What is what?"

"Love, brother."

They sat in utter silence for awhile, soft breathing filling their senses. Itachi closed his eyes and gave energy to his smile. "Love is meeting someone that makes you more you. Love is completely opening yourself up to someone, showing off all your weirdness. And them loving you despite all that. They might not agree with you on everything, but they still think you are the most amazing thing to ever happen to this crappy planet. You make the world less crappy for them, and they make it less crappy for you. They make your weird not seem so weird. They make your mess seem less messy.

It's complex, otouto. Love is work. Love is dirty. But love is also beautiful. Incredible. Good. Love is something that everyone strives for, not matter how much it may hurt to finally get there. Kami, love hurts, but it hurts so damn good."

Itachi blushed deeply after his speech as Sasuke blinked multiple times at him. "Well. That's what I feel when I'm with Kisame. What brought this on, brother?"

Sasuke looked ahead. "Today, this guy was trying to ask me out in the dining hall. But he spilled his lunch on me. Let's just say it didn't end well. Suigetsu told me that the only thing I actually have going for me is my valedictorian spot. Otherwise I'm an ugly heartless bitch and no one will ever love me."

Itachi shook his head. "I love you." He muttered.

The fifteen year old shook his head. "I know. It's just I don't only want that love. I want the love that you and Kisame have. And after today, I don't think-"

"Don't say that. Sasuke, one day you will find someone who appreciates your gorgeous face and frightening attitude. Besides, who the hell is Suigetsu anyway? Don't trust people like him.'

Sasuke gave a confused look.

Itachi shrugged. "He called you ugly. If he can lie that easily, what the hell else is he capable of?"

The teen's face turned a sweet red and his lips nearly cracked as he smiled wide at his brother.

After the crash, Itachi remembered Kisame and their friendship. He knew no more. It hurt the man, more than it ever would.

And when the village began to notice Itachi was different, it was just him and Sasuke fighting the world. Kisame had been busy fighting his broken heart.

Eventually, the man had given up his desires for Itachi and continued to help. "I brought the newspaper."

"Shark man!" Itachi yelled, throwing his hands in the air and causing his ex lover to shield the paper.

"Hi, Ita. You look very clean."

Instead of spazzing in excitement, Itachi blushed and brought his knees to his chest.

Sasuke raised a brow and grabbed the newspaper, reading it as Itachi played with the water and Kisame picked his sharp teeth in the mirror.

To his own surprise, he'd found their new next door neighbor shaking the hands of the hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Who's this guy?"

Kisame looked back and smiled, crossing his arms. "That's why I showed you. Sasuke, That's Naruto Uzumaki."

Sasuke remembered the man from this morning; how awkward and rare he seemed. And then he remembered reading the books of Naruto Uzumaki; how intelligent, surprising, and focused the man seemed. He had books by Naruto Uzumaki littered in his home, displaying his fascination with the man's mind.

"That's not him."

"Sasuke, it really is. The kid's a genius. I met him this morning. He's nice. I'd admit, he puts an equation in every sentence and his perspective on life makes things awkward, but he's so damn nice, Sasuke."

"What is he here for?" the Uchiha asked, grabbing a towel and standing his brother up.

"A project...something about the beauty of humans."

Sasuke snorted as he, Itachi, and Kisame left the bathroom. "Wrong village then. Why not Gaara's old village, Suna?"

"I thought that too. There are few intelligent minds in this town. Take it this way….he'll sit alone outside one night, maybe reading or thinking. Maybe he'll start thinking and he's got no one to tell him what's so and what isn't. Not here, at least. Maybe if he sees something, he doesn't know if it's right or not. He can't turn to anyone here and ask if they see it too. They won't know. They've got nothing to measure by."

Sasuke nodded as he dressed Itachi. "There. All clean."

"When's kaasan waking up, Sasuke?"

"When she's sober."

"From that juice stuff she drinks?"

"Yeah."

"Well I'm hungry." Itachi whined.

"Come on. I'll make you something. You hungry, Kis?"

The marine biologist nodded. "I'll hang around today. I've got nothing better to do, anyway."

Itachi sat down at the table. "Where are we going?"

"We're not going anywhere." Sasuke muttered.

Itachi laughed. "We're not going anywhere. We're not going anywhere."

Sasuke looked into the fridge and cursed, grabbing his jacket off the counter.

"We're not go- huh? Where are you going?" Itachi questioned, almost pouting.

"We." the raven emphasized. "Are going to buy food for the house."

"A trip, brother?"

"Yes."

"Yay!"

Sasuke bit his lip as he observed the vegetables. Nodding or refusing some that Itachi pointed to.

Itachi sighed, almost growing bored. "These, brother?" he drawled.

Before teen answered, a new voice came along.

"I wouldn't recommend those. After my study, I found th-"

"Get them, Itachi." Sasuke muttered, cutting Naruto off. He turned to the man with a scrutinizing gaze. "Your logic won't change my mind."

The Uzumaki sheepishly smiled and rubbed his neck. "Oh...sorry. I'm not attempting to. I'm just attempting to make friends with everyone for my project."

"I heard." Sasuke muttered, wondering how the man's body didn't match his intelligence. "So what are you here for?"

"Oh...uh. Well, being new in town, I needed some food for my home and-"

"-I get that. I mean why'd you come speak with us? We met you this morning."

If Kami would ever get embarrassed, Naruto's cheeks were a perfect exemplar. The red was so vivid and conquering, it took over all his visage, opting that the cheeks were too small for it.

"Oh...uh. I wanted to apologize for my awkward conversation with you both this morning. I simply find you very attractive and beautiful. Studies show that when you are around someone who you find attractive, you tend to blush, mix up words, and dwindle your intelligence. That's my reasoning. I apologize."

Sasuke stared in disbelief at the blond man. His own thoughts were now jumbled and the only thing that escaped his lips was "You have a ton of awkward moments back home, don't you?"

Naruto smiled and shook his head. "I never have awkward moments. I have an awkward life, occasionally interrupted by normalcy."

Itachi came close to Naruto, his eyes squinted. "How come your hair is so yellow?"

Naruto shook his head. "I've been told that my father was an American general who fell in love with my mother. She was a servant in Iwagakure most years of her life."

Itachi stared blankly at the man and then smiled. "You're weird."

Naruto laughed and put his head down. "I know. I've been told that as well."

Itachi laughed too. "Do you like my brother?"

Naruto glanced at Sasuke, who stood with a raised brow. "Uh...sure. I do suppose your brother is interesting. It's just me, however. I'm very bad in conversations with other humans."

"So you must be an alien." Itachi concluded, as if it were the most logical thing.

"Yes." Naruto smiled. "In fact. I have six fingers on my toes and hands."

To Sasuke's astonishment, Itachi and Naruto looked at one another and began laughing together. In fact, it was the first time Itachi had ever laughed so hard.

When they were finished, Itachi grabbed hold of Sasuke. "Sasuke. Sasuke. Tell Naruto that my birthday party is coming up. Naruto, my birthday party is coming up. You're not invited, but you can come if you want."

Naruto nodded swiftly and Sasuke pursed his lips. "Tachi. We have to go. Kisame is waiting on us."

Itachi nodded and waved to Naruto. "Bye, new friend." With that, the 24 year old skipped ahead.

Sasuke turned to Naruto, staring blankly at the 'Genius.' "You shouldn't speak to him...or me. In Konoha, we aren't someone you'd like to speak to or get to know."

Naruto remained confused. "Really? In the …" The man trailed off, his eyes going to the sky. "Uhuh. 60 minutes in an hour...60 seconds in a minute.." He looked back to Sasuke. "In the 14,400 seconds, I've known you, I can say I really enjoy your personality and visage."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "Are you stupid or something?"

A finger touched tan lips. "I don't think so. In fact, in middle school, I was named-"

'Stop that." Sasuke hissed. Did the blond man always have a reasoning and explanation for everything? "You don't need to reason everything. Have you ever just...just simply known something?"

"Constantly." The blond stated, now inwardly tormented. "Sorry." The Uzumaki looked away. "Do you think I can get to know you and your brother better...for my project I suppose?"

"My brother's not one of your experiments. He's human. Everyone is."

"Which is why I'd like to know him more."

Sasuke crossed his arms. "Why me as well? Why do you want to observe me?"

Naruto blushed for the umpteenth time and rubbed his neck for twice as much. "Uh...do you want to know what's on my mind?"

The Uchiha nodded.

"I find you exceedingly attractive. Your aggressive moves toward me indicate that you feel the same way. But still, ritual requires that we continue with a number of platonic activities... before we have sex. I am proceeding with these activities, but in point of actual fact, all I really want to do is have intercourse with you as soon as possible."

Naruto paused and stared over Sasuke's head. "Are you going to slap me now?"

The pain that seared through Naruto's cheek increased in waves, small lulls giving false hope of an end. Each peak robbed his ability to speak. The genius let out a whimper as Sasuke cursed him and stormed away.

Naruto sighed in utter embarrassment as he wiped the bruise on his face. It had begun as a purple stain under his eye, but now it had the appearance of a sweltering creature, devouring the entirety of the left side of his face.

"Magnificent." The man muttered. "The blood from the ruptured capillaries near my skin's surface escaped by leaking out under the skin. With no place to go, the blood got trapped, forming this purplish mark that's tender when I touch it."

Naruto leaned even closer to the mirror. "Based on the power of the kid's slap, This will heal in nearly two weeks. And by it forming so quickly, I can tell that his hand was going approximately eleven meters per sec-"

The man was cut off by his phone ringing. Grabbing it, he answered. "Konnichiwa."

"I haven't been able to stop thinking about you."

It was the comforting voice of Kakashi Hatake, the Japanese army Veteran who had been discharged honourably in order to take care of his general's son. He had raised Naruto for as long as the blond could remember.

Naruto leaned upon the edge of the sink and let the happiness soak right into his bones. He wanted the feeling to still be there when he was old. He closed his eyes and savoured the moment, but never released his grip on the seemingly inconsequential cell phone in his hands. For the first time since he'd arrived in Konoha, his body and mind relaxed. In that moment there were no expectations upon him, no deadlines and no schedules to meet. Just him and his father again.

"Hi, tousan." He mumbled quietly, a sign that he was happy.

"Are you feeling alright?"

"I am now."

"What's wrong?"

Naruto laughed. "Nothing. I've tried speaking with people today."

"There it is." Kakashi mused into the phone.

"What?"

"I know how awkward you are, Musuko. Did you say something to anyone, smarty-pants?"

The Uzumaki blushed. "I was only expressing my thoughts."

"Please don't tell me you hit on someone."

"Tousan." Naruto whined. "Okay...Okay. I think I did. I don't know. I was talking about….sex."

There was a snort on the phone. "If you offended someone, I want you to apologize. I know it's hard for you, love."

"Tousan, do you think I'm weird?"

"You're not weird. You're just smart. Always have been."

Kakashi laughed slightly as he checked Naruto's schoolwork. The teacher's note had stated that Naruto needed to be more 'in' with children of his age.

In other words, the teacher wanted Naruto to not particularly umb himself down, but stop his growing mind.

The paper done by the six year old was simple. The students were asked to draw what they would look like in one hundred years.

According to Iruka, other children drew themselves as doctors, lawyers, even teachers. But, Naruto's note was bad enough to send home.

In his picture space, the boy had drawn a coffin with the number 108 on it. Exactly how old Naruto would be in 100 years time.

Iruka's note was sharp and scrutinizing and Kakashi found himself reading it aloud again. "Naruto, with his charismatic personality and free spirit, is wonderful to have in class. He's charming, smart, not to mention how many of the kids love him. However, there is a small problem. Naruto tends to think too much. In these childlike activities, he tends to use more reasoning and logic than fun and games. Sometimes it creeps me out. Please have a talk with him about the importance of childhood."

"Daddy?"

The man looked up at his son who sat at the table playing an online Shogi game while eating his dinner.

"Yes, baby?"

"Is there something wrong with me?"

Kakashi smiled softy. "Absolutely not. You're beautiful and wonderful and there's no one who can tell you different. You're extremely intelligent and cute. And you see the world as it forget that. In fact, I'm going to tell Iruka-Sensei just how I feel."

Naruto smiled with a blush and went back to eating. To him, his father was something magical. He just loved everything Naruto did, praised him and made jovial conversation. They had the kind of bond a civilization could be forged on, just by following their example

"Musuko." The boy looked up at his father's raised brow. "You know that device isn't allowed in the kitchen."

The boy nodded. Grabbing the tablet and his plate, he left. Just as his foot touched the living room carpet, his father called once more. "And food isn't allowed in the kitchen."

Kakashi watched as the boy began calculating his next steps. To his lack of surprise, the solution was found quickly.

Without thought, Naruto sat his device upon the living room floor, right at the border. He sat his plate upon the kitchen floor as he laid upon his stomach. "Now I can use both right, daddy?"

Kakashi laughed. "Smartass." he mumbled.

Standing, the young man walked to his son and rubbed his hair softly. "I love you, you know that?"

Naruto looked up as his Shogi game flashed winner in blue and yellow lights. "I know daddy. You tell me eighteen times a day. One when you wake me up, when I eat breakfast, two when I go to school, once when you see me again, after you check my schoolwork, again when you take me a bath, once when we play around, and when you tuck me in."

"That's only nine times, love." Kakashi reasoned.

"Yeah, but in actuality, I realize that in the five seconds you stare at me before saying it, you think it in your head. That doubles the amount, daddy."

Both man and child laughed heartily.

"Maybe I should come on down there with you. It would only take two weeks to get packed."

Naruto bit his lip. "Really tousan?" He wanted to scream. He wanted to shout. But, it seemed to seven at night. In most countries, he figured everyone slept when it became dark, which was odd.

"Yes."

Naruto smiled. "In actuality...if you start packing now, you'll be here in just take one week." THe blond reasoned, writing in the air unconsciously.

Kakashi laughed, letting his son give a small shy smile. "There's my baby. It's two in the morning where I am, so I should let you go. Don't stay up too late, and I'll be calling tomorrow to check up on you. Aishite Imasu, Musuko. So very much."

Naruto sighed inwardly. "I love you too, tousan."

The phone clicked and the man sighed, going back to examine the forming of his bruise. "By Kami." He muttered. It was as if he'd manifested it to grow and smold more. In the five minutes he was on the phone, the bruise had grew. Now the man looked as if he'd actually gotten into a fight.

Laughing sheepishly, the man got off the counter and walked out, staring around the home. It looked comfortable enough. "I just need to get my study and lab together." He muttered his thoughts.

His doorbell must have a new battery. The sound was harsher than the morning alarm wake-ups in a head-ache inducing kind of way. It snapped him out of his stupor, making the genius jump like the button was hardwired to his brain, and stride off to the door.

In his five steps to the door, Naruto hoped and prayed that it wasn't Deidara. Just because he was a socially awkward genius didn't mean he knew nothing about sexual desires and infatuation when he saw them.

He knew that love was an unquantifiable force of attraction between any two living entities; He knew it needed no reason at all to exist and was not bound by time, space or any laws of nature.

And that was not something the man felt when near Deidara.

Opening the door softly, his blue orbs took two seconds to identify the onyx eyes and pale face of his neighbor, Sasuke Uchiha. Without thought, he spoke first.

"I realize now that normal humans don't say such indecent things in public. Of course my father says only if you are my true partner, then I can say such things. Before you speak, I would first like to regretfully acknowledge my offense."

Sasuke raised a brow and lowered the plate Sakuramochi in his hands. "Did you just apologize?"

Naruto looked up and then nodded. "I believe so."

They stood quiet for a moment. Eventually, Sasuke raised the sweets. "Here's my form of an apology, I guess."

Naruto jumped and moved out of the way. "Of course. Where has chivalry gone? I think my initial shock of seeing you is still within."

Sasuke smirked faintly. "Who'd you expect?"

Naruto grabbed the plate of sweets gently and placed it on the dining table. "Frankly, I was expecting Deidara. Keeping this between you and I, I didn't want to expect him. This morning, I think he'd tried touching me in several places I now have to do research on."

Instead of his eyes narrowing at the mention of his brother's former friend, Sasuke actually laughed; rather loudly.

"Please...sit." The Uzumaki sat down and hesitantly, the raven did as well. He offered Sasuke a Sakuramochi, and it was gladly taken.

Biting into the pink rice cake wrapped in the pickled Sakura leaf, Naruto held in his excitement. "These were always my favorite desserts growing up."

"You don't say?"

"Hai. My father used to make the really tiny ones and I was rewarded with one everytime I made an accomplishment."

Sasuke laughed softly. "It didn't end well, did it?"

"I threw up fifty of them after winning my fourth year spelling contest."

Both laughed together and continued eating in silence. After about ten minutes of small talk, Sasuke stood. "I should go. My brother needs to see me at least once at night to function properly."

Naruto nodded and stood. "I'll walk you to the door. Your brother is amazing, Sasuke-san. He has a great sense of humor, which I lack."

"When are you starting your research?" The Uchiha asked as they reached the door.

Naruto smiled. "First thing tomorrow. If I'm still allowed."

"Sure. Just...just don't hurt my brother. I don't care what you do or say about me, you just can't hurt my brother."

"I couldn't if I tried." Naruto muttered. "Despite my lack of social skills, I'm very nice."

"I know. Kisame told me."

"He's an exceptionally intelligent man. I for one had no idea studying sea animals was so facsinating." the blond mused.

"Will you be researching others?"

Naruto bit his lip. "Yes. Yes, of course."

"The mind and beauty of humans?"

Another nod of agreement.

"Well….Naruto." Sasuke paused after the mutter. It was his first time saying the genius' name. "A word of advice."

"It's rare of me to take advice, but I suppose yours won't hurt."

Sasuke stepped out of the door. "Perhaps it's good to have find a beautiful mind. But…." He paused, smiling very softly. "It's an even greater gift to discover a beautiful heart."

Naruto mirrored the man's face. "That is truly an original idea. Goodnight, Sasuke-san."

It wasn't until Sasuke began walking away, did Naruto close the door softly. He didn't know why he felt hot and embarrassed, but the man leaned his back against the door.

"Infatuation?" He muttered quietly in the dead of his home. Jumping up, the man grabbed his phone once more and dialed a number.

Waiting in anxiety, he tapped his foot continuously, wondering why his heart and brain would not work together or function at all.

"Hello?" Came the tired voice.

Naruto bit his lip. "Tousan. You will never believe what happened to me ju- well actually you will believe it, it will only shock you."

Kakashi groaned, thinking back either to the nights he stayed up helping Naruto finish a project or waking up to his frightened son's cries. "Musuko….baby….go ahead."

So that's the first chapter. Let me give you all some info on the characters.

Naruto Uzumaki (22): Son of Kakashi Hatake. He is simply a genius in this fic. I know that sounds crazy, but it'll all make sense soon. He has studied both astrophysics and physcology. He is researching the beauty of a human. Naruto is awkward and too aware of the world around him. He is blunt and tends to use reasoning and logical more than his heart and gut. Most of all, he tends to say what's on his mind. More about his past will be learned soon.

Itachi (24): Itachi suffers from Dependent Personality Disorder and Severe Developmental Disorder. This came from a car crash just three years ago. He is being taken care of by his younger brother and his mother….when she isn't drunk. More will be learned.

Sasuke (19): Sasuke, so far, is the most emotional of our characters. We have seen more of his emotions, such as his depressions of never being loved. There are more depressions he has caused by his past.

Kisame (24): Kisame was the boyfriend of Itachi since they were around 13. After the accident, it would have been considered odd for him to continue going out with Itachi. In the flashbacks and present, it is clear that he and Itachi loved one another. However, is it still possible.

Mikoto: Mother of Sasuke and Itachi. Mikoto and Sasuke do not have a good relationship. You'll all see why soon. Mikoto is very harsh and crude when she drinks and her alcoholism gets the best of her. Other than such, she babies Itachi when she's sober.

Kakashi Hatake: As we see, Kakashi cares deeply for Naruto. I'll tell you now, there will be no one in this fic who supports, loves, and cherishes Naruto as much a Kakashi. Kakashi has a habit of praising and spoiling Naruto unconsciously. He feels that he needs to protect Naruto from the world and he makes sure Naruto knows he is special. On another note, it's hard for him to say no to the blond. I don't want to spoil so much because there is more, but you'll see.

Did you guys figure out who the two with the beautiful minds are?