The Other Side

Chapter 1

 On a nice sunny day, near the main house, two boys were playing hide and seek in the backyard of their forest until their mother called out.

"Sasuke, Itachi! It is time for lunch!" She reminded her boys, "if you two don't wash your hands, you're not getting dinner!"

Sasuke snorted through his nose and pouted as he crossed his arms. "Not fair, you win again, nii-san!" He ran out of the clearing and into the open wide meadow that connected to their home. He spotted his brother coming out from the left side of the clearing which made the young Uchiha pout more. If only I can sense chakra like nii-san then I can find him easier! Just then his brother motioned him to come over, all of Sasuke's frustration went away like melted butter. Once he got closer, Itachi poked him in the forehead. Sasuke exclaimed, rubbing his forehead. He glared at his brother then smiled because he couldn't hate his brother.

"Next time, Otouto. You can do better." Itachi smiled gently, he walked over to the gate and opened it, allowing his little brother to go first and then he entered and closed the gate.

Both boys removed their shoes and entered the bathroom to wash their hands as their mother instructed. They greeted their mother, Sasuke hugged her legs while Itachi gave his mother a kiss on the cheek.

Mikoto sniffled. "Itachi you're growing up too fast!" She looked at Sasuke as he removed himself and sat at his designed spot on the table. "You won't do that to me, will you Sasuke?"

In response, Sasuke shook his head several times. "No way, I have to grow up to be big and strong, like nii-san. I can't stay little forever!" This made Mikoto give her son a sad face and Sasuke grew uncomfortable then he felt guilty. "Okay, Kaa-san. Maybe I'll stay little for some time, but just for you only!" He blushed and looked away.

Mikoto giggled and served his food with a side of cooked tomatoes, then she kisses him on the forehead. "You're so sweet, Sasuke. Thank you!" She then tackles his faces with a flurry of kisses with Sasuke failing badly to deflect them.

"Kaa-san!" Sasuke said in between in laughs until his mother stops and ruffles his head.

Once Mikoto served Itachi his lunch, his sad eyes meet hers and Mikoto flinched. Not those eyes again... She could not help herself whenever Itachi wanted dessert with his lunch. She then complies and takes a plate of dango out of the fridge. "Itachi, you cannot keep eating like this. You know it's not good manners." She set the plate next to his food. Mikoto then thought of the consequences if she continues to succumb to his puppy dog eyes. A tic mark appeared on her head. "If you keep doing this trick to your poor defenseless mother, I will be forced to lower your allowance which means less dango."

Itachi looked at his mother in panic in the midst of still eating. He swallowed the remains of his fish. "Yes, Kaa-san. I promise." Meanwhile, Sasuke snickered as he ate his tomatoes, watching the whole scene play out in amusement. Itachi glared softly at his brother as if he were saying, 'you will experience it too.' Sasuke quickly looked away and ate his tomatoes without care.

Mikoto ate with her children and once they were all done, it was the children's job to clean the dishes. She had a rule, 'If you make the food, the other person cleans it. If they make the food, we clean it.' It was also a good learning habit for Itachi who now washes the dishes each time his mother cooks, except on academy mornings. Sasuke, on the other hand, despises washing the dishes because he cannot stop thinking of how nasty the dishes are. Once the boys completed their work, they both received kisses from their mother.

"Nii-san, take me to the park today!" Sasuke bounced as he pulled Itachi's sleeve in excitement.

Itachi ruffles his hair in an apologetic manner. "Sorry, Sasuke, I have homework and training after that. Maybe some other time?" He poked Sasuke's forehead who sulked as he watched his brother walk into the hallway leading to Itachi's room.