Izuna (Naruto Fanfiction)

Chapter Four

If anything, he was starting to feel annoyed by the new baby. It seemed to soak up all of Itachi's time when he was out of training. Fugaku didn't pay it much mind but Izuna couldn't care less about the man. His mother, the only person other than Itachi he'd made any effort to grow close to, was far too tired with raising the newborn to tend the garden with him or continue with their afternoon light training sessions.

He helped with what he could, for Mikoto and Itachi of course more than any desire to get attached to the baby, Sasuke. He didn't think he'd ever even referred to him as Sasuke, just as 'the baby'.

Night after night of the crying toddler and he'd had enough. Izuna walked into the streets of Konoha. The sun had long set but the streets were still busy, market stalls and people decorating the streets.

"It's a bit late for you to be out, don't you think, kid?" He looked up, his face still a neutral expression, and locked eyes with coal iris similar to his.

"Shisui," He greeted the older boy. He was familiar with him by now, his older cousin from whatever side. The two kept pace, walking side by side through the lit streets. "The baby was annoying me."

The older Uchiha laughed at that.

"I can't imagine, you and Itachi were both such quiet babies." Izuna hummed at that. Shisui pulled them into a ramen stand. He only shrugged before waving at the stand owner as Izuna raised an eyebrow at his choice.

"What can I do for you two? I don't believe we've met yet," The stall owner smiled at him. Izuna let his expression soften a bit, eased by the atmosphere and lack of shrill baby cries. "My name's Teuchi," The man finished.

"Izuna," He greeted simply before turning to Shisui, "I'll just get what you get."

"Just two miso then please, Teuchi-san!" Shisui ordered for them.

"Coming right up!" He got started on their orders.

Shisui looked over at the calendar and froze. The younger Uchiha frowned at that, growing serious.

"Is something wrong?" He questioned.

"It's your birthday, Izuna," The boy in question blinked at him before replying,

"Oh. October ninth is today, isn't it"

"Did I miss the celebration or something? I swear I wasn't told there was anything on today," He turned back to the younger boy, now four. Izuna shrugged at him. It did sting a bit.

"Everyone is busy with the baby, he's a handful." Shisui sighed at him.

"The day's almost over too, it's like what? 11 already?" Izuna nodded.

Teuchi placed two steaming bowls in front of them.

"It's never too late to celebrate, this one is on the house," He grinned down at the Uchiha who blinked at the sheer amount of ramen in his bowl. He let a laugh slip out at an absurd amount. Shisui turned, stunned for a moment before he joined Izuna as he saw the bowl.

"Thanks, Teuchi-san," Izuna said. Teuchi's grin remained steady and he shuffled further back into the kitchen.