Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any characters therein.

A/N: Ages: Seven and five. Please enjoy!

Disagreement 1

-;-

"I don't want to be a shinobi."

Shisui blinked, unsure that he had heard right. He glanced at the five-year-old, perplexed. "What? C'mon, you don't mean that."

Itachi gave him a long, hard look, dark eyes grim. "I mean it, Shisui-nii. I don't want to go to the Academy and learn to kill."

Shisui scratched his head uncomfortably. Despite being only seven years old he was perceptive, and had sensed for some time that his cousin was unhappy. He hadn't quite expected this, though. After all, to become a great ninja was what he wanted more than anything; it seemed vaguely strange that someone could be so opposed to the job.

"Itachi," he said after a long silence. "Is this the pacifist thing again?"

Itachi didn't meet his gaze, and that was all the answer Shisui needed. Since the year before, when the war had ended, Itachi had been vehemently opposed to violence of any kind. Youth be damned; the things he'd seen during that horrible wartime had embedded themselves in his mind, giving him a deep hatred for violence in general. This, obviously, presented a problem.

"We've talked about this," Shisui sighed. "The name Uchiha is synonymous with ninja, and we're of the Uchiha clan. Most of us don't have the ability to choose our careers; graduating from the Academy is our duty. It's our birthright. Personal feelings don't matter."

"I know," Itachi replied quietly, staring at a spot on the ground. "I know, Shisui."

Noting the lack of the "-nii" honorific, which usually indicated that his cousin was off in his own world, Shisui ran a hand back through his hair and tried to think of a way he could make this easier.

"I'm sorry you feel so strongly against it," he said. "But you don't have a choice, especially not with your big brain. You'll probably pass your exams with no problem. Whereas I can't wait to be a ninja, but-" he made a face "-I'm guessing my grades won't be all that fantastic."

Itachi looked up to meet Shisui's eyes again, his face impassive as always but his voice more strained than any five-year-olds' should be.

"I don't want to be a killer."

Shisui shook his head. "I'm sorry, Itachi," he repeated. "But think about it this way." He leaned forward, looking uncharacteristically serious. "If we don't have ninja, then who will protect citizens of Konoha that can't fight for themselves? It's kill or be killed out there. You know that. By getting rid of enemies who would kill us, we eliminate threats to innocent people. I guess you have to think about whether it's worth it or not."

A crease appeared between Itachi's eyebrows and he focused straight ahead, thinking hard. The two boys sat in silence afterward. Neither of them could know that that dilemma-kill the few for the many, or take your chances by avoiding death altogether-would stay with and influence Itachi for a long time.

1: Owari