Summary: AU - Going against Itachi, the legendary Kyubi guardian takes human form as Uzumaki Naruto, in order to protect his former master's vengeful little brother... whether he likes it or not. (sasuke x naruto / sasunaru)
Disclaimer: I sadly don't own Naruto - if I did there would have been more 'accidental' kisses in the anime
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PROLOGUE
"Naruto, come."
The small nine-tailed fox opened one unnatural blue eye to look up at his approaching master, before lowering his head. The morning sunlight that filtered in the through sliding paper doors was just too nice and warm to leave. Closing his eye he attempted to go back to napping until a hand reached out to pet him, rather than scold.
"Stubborn as always," Uchiha Itachi commented fondly as he rubbed the sensitive area around the ears. Eagerly, Naruto purred softly as those gentle fingers descended to scratch underneath his chin. Another hand was already caressing his fiery red fur coat. "What am I going to do with you?"
Naruto was too busy enjoying his master's attention until his ears caught the sound of hurried footsteps heading this way. Inwardly the fox sighed as he sensed his younger master coming from his room to catch up with Itachi. It was the same every morning, just like the fish Lady Uchiha prepared for his breakfast.
"Niisan!"
Itachi lifted his head after placing his shoes on, and turned to regard his eight year old brother standing behind him. There was an anxious look on the boy's young face as he met his gaze. It could only mean one thing. Already knowing what his little brother wanted, the teenager inwardly sighed and decided to ask anyway.
"What is it, Sasuke?"
The fox was rather disappointed as the older brother turned his attention away from him. The warm sensation of sunbathing had paled in comparison to Itachi's touch that seemed to reduce his muscles into jelly. Well for a short time anyway, the pleasant aroma of breakfast wafted in the air and Naruto happily trotted toward the kitchen.
"Will you teach me how to throw a shuriken after school?" young Sasuke asked hopefully. There was a slight pause before the older Uchiha shook his head. Stretching a little, the fox resisted the urge to sigh out loud; it was always the same request and response between the two sons of the Uchiha clan.
"I'm sorry, but I don't have time today."
A half eaten fish in his mouth, Naruto returned to see Sasuke being pushed back as Itachi stood. The younger boy was looking up - cross-eyed to look at the slightly reddened mark on his forehead. The small raven haired boy turned slightly toward the family pet - was his mind playing tricks on him or was that fox snickering? - before back to Itachi.
"You never have time, and you're always sorry. Am I nuisance to you, niisan?"
The fox looked between the two siblings as he swallowed the rest of his breakfast.
"Forgive me, Sasuke," Itachi replied quietly, "Some other time."
With that Itachi opened the door and left. Still standing there, Sasuke watched his brother go - hurt and disappointment was suddenly replaced with pride. He was lucky he had Itachi for an older brother at all ... someone to look up to, and hopefully follow in his footsteps someday.
Of course he needed to graduate and become a Genin and then take the Chuunin exam. But before that he needed to get to school early and train. Now... where the heck was his left shoe...?!
Looking around wildly, his large obsidian eyes caught sight of the nine-tailed bandit and frowned. "Stupid fox, give that back!"
And so the morning chase through the Uchiha mansion began.
He didn't seem to care at the insults the small boy shouted to him - he got his exercise and a little amusement watching Sasuke awkwardly run with one shoe on. The mischievous fox holding the shoe in his jaws; bounded from room to room with Sasuke hot on his tails. Naruto had to admit to himself that the little brat's speed was getting better. Then again it was an indoor chase and had they been outside, Naruto would have easily lost him and -
"Got you!"
Lady Uchiha who was currently putting her youngest son's bento together, looked up as she heard Naruto yelp. Blinking she stood and glanced out into the hall to see Sasuke triumphantly standing on one of the nine tails that belonged to a very pissed looking fox. The scene stunned her, but she resisted the urge to yell at her child, and instead offered him his lunch.
"Let him go, Sasuke, you shouldn't step on his tails.."
Wrestling with Naruto and getting his shoe back, the raven haired boy stepped away and frowned a little. It was the same thing almost everyday. When the fox chose not to go off with his brother, he would end up causing some mischief from him. If he didn't know better, the small animal was feigning a look of innocence before his mother.
"Kyubi started it."
Watching the brat putting the bento into his backpack and putting on, Naruto couldn't help but follow him outside for a little while. Sasuke had stopped for a moment to talk to an older Uchiha from a branch house. His ears perked at the mention of his master's name. Itachi.
Itachi was a genius.
Itachi was strong.
Itachi was 'special'.
Itachi was the pride of the Uchiha clan.
Naruto frowned inwardly as he watched Sasuke try to smile proudly as the old woman went on. He assumed it would have been difficult to the brat, to live his great big brother's shadow. It wasn't to long ago that he remembered, Itachi had already accomplished many things when he had been Sasuke's age.
'Itachi is everything you'll never be' was what it sounded like the older woman was saying to the boy. For some reason it made the nine-tailed fox angry. However, lucky for her - her husband had come out and promptly cheered Sasuke up, saying someday he would surpass his older brother with hard work and determination.
Sasuke turned his head slightly and caught a glimpse of a red blur shooting across the rooftops. A startled cry escaped his throat as he momentarily was caught off balance. Something pounced at him from the side and a light weight settled on his shoulder when he righted himself. His eyes narrowed annoyance as he caught sight of those crimson nine tails fanned across his face.
"Ah! Naruto-sama!" the elder couple greeted with a deep bow as the fox set his blue stare on them. "Good morning!"
Rolling his eyes behind the animal's deep red coat, Sasuke fathom why everyone in the clan had to spoil the creature just because he was a pet of the main house. More like Itachi's pet. But it still surprised him a little, why was the Kyubi with him rather than with his brother?
"Oi, get off," the boy hissed irritably as he tried to shake the fox off his shoulder. "I'm going to be late."
The weight off his shoulder was suddenly gone and the young boy blinked and looked around. The fox was nowhere in sight. Where did he...? Shaking his head, he waved to his elders and was off.
Waving back, the seniors turned to regard the small figure standing on the rooftop of their house. Those blue eyes watched the boy running further and further away as an unpleasant wind brushed against his fur. He twitched slightly and glanced down and the two humans.
"Naruto-sama?"
"Hmmm.. he saw me coming at him at that speed this time," the Kyubi smirked and spoke aloud for the first time all morning, as he planned to follow Sasuke to school. He was going to need a lot of training if he ever planned to surpass his older brother.
"Perhaps someday he'll be a worthy master, Naruto-sama?"
'Heh,' The fox snorted outloud, 'the day that happens, is the day I become the Hokage of this village.'
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I apologize for any grammar or spelling mistakes. This is a rough draft and an experiment I'm trying, so please bear with me and review.