(Falls into giant plot hole) Um, um, so Itachi graduated at seven, right? But Sasuke was in the academy by like five. Ok, I think I’ve found a way out of this plot hole… Correct me if I’m wrong, Itachi graduated at seven and was a chuunin by nine.

Remember, 7 month time skip!

Chapter 2- First Day

I’ll admit it. I was excited. Today I would start my formal education at the Academy. So of course I’d been ready for the last two hours.

But I wasn’t the only one who seemed more cheerful than usual.

My father had what I would describe as an aura of pride surrounding him. I had noticed this before he’d left for his mission earlier this morning. Which meant he wouldn't come with me to the Academy today.

My mother seemed happy as well. Possibly this was because I was acting more like a child of my age for a change.

I entered the lounge and approached my now seven-month-old brother who was lying on a rug. I nuzzled his cheek. “Are you going to come to the Academy with me?” I whispered.

I knew talking to him a lot would help him to pick up speech quicker. So I talked to him whenever I could, whether he understood or not.

“Ani!” he giggled and squirmed slightly. I wasn’t sure if he meant ‘ani’ as in older brother or if it was just another random sound.

Whatever it meant, he soon had my fringe hair in his grip and was laughing some more.

“Hey, I have to go.” I said as I tried to gently release his grip.

“Ani!” he cried again. I stroked his recent growth of thin, dark hair. This seemed to settle him down a bit.

I smiled at him, got up and turned to leave. “Hey, are you feeling alright Itachi chan?” My mother asked, putting a hand on my head. “You’ve been smiling more than me lately!” she laughed.

Other people had noticed that? I’d have to tone down on expressing my emotions a bit then.

I shrugged, “I just have to… adjust.”

Her smile changed and she walked past me to pick up Sasuke. What was that look? Sadness? Contempt? I couldn’t tell.

Did she want me to smile more? …Most likely.

“Well, are you ready to go? We are!” she said, as she snuggled Sasuke.

I picked my previously discarded bag up and slung it over my shoulder. “Ready.” I replied.

When we arrived at the Academy I saw Shisui right away. He was putting his bag down outside of a classroom, probably his own.

“Hey Itachi.” He greeted.

I nodded in response, taking in my surroundings. I was in a hallway which was lined with windows on one side and classroom doors on the other. This part of the school’s colour scheme was a plain blue and brown.

Thankfully it didn’t stand out like the Hokage’s building. Bright red…

“We’re in different classes, so I won’t see you at all. We can still walk home together though.” He said as he moved off in the direction of his own classroom.

“See you.” I replied. He smiled and waved.

“Would the new students please come this way?” an older and more authoritative voice asked. I looked to the source of this voice, seeing it to be a chunin man. He would probably be the sensei of my class.

All of the students and their relatives crowded around. I was surprised to see students here who would have to be younger than myself. Surely my father would have sent me to the Academy as soon as I was old enough.

I looked to my mother with question in my eyes. I wasn’t really expecting an answer but she did anyway.

“Us Uchiha prefer to train our own youngsters.” She said quietly, putting a hand on my shoulder. “You’ll do fine here.”

I nodded. It made sense our clan would do such a thing. Eighty-four percent of my clan were conceited enough to compete with the Hyuuga clan. This kind of patriotism towards one’s family… I still couldn’t figure it out.

“Welcome to the Konohagakure Academy new students.” The sensei began.

Sorry about the shortness. I’m not much for ideas at the moment, plus I have a lot of homework. Please be patient.