Chapter 12

"If you don't mind, I would like to spar as well." Naruto just nodded with a small grin, feeling slightly confident after beating Shisui again. Like his other opponent, Itachi settled into his Taijutsu stance. Only, this time Naruto was surprised to see him shut his eyes calmly. He concentrated for a flash, opening them again, revealing a single-tomoe Sharingan rotating slowly. Naruto blinked, completely stunned. Only for Itachi to use that to his advantage, rushing forward and going in for a low sweep in order to take out Naruto's speed advantage early.

The redhead flipped back out of the way, using his hands to push off the ground to avoid the low leg only to get a surprise as Itachi spun again, this time pushing off the ground and catching Naruto with a harsh kick in mid-air where he couldn't dodge. Naruto was sent flying back but he caught the ground in time to land in a stable three-point stance, a grin now on his face as he held his ribs. This time he was to one to engage, feinting to the right only to duck down and try to deliver a fast uppercut to the Uchiha's chin.

Itachi pulled his head back at the last minute, flicking out his arm in order to catch Naruto's shirt so he could use his momentum to flip the other boy. However, his hands met only air before he felt Naruto slam into him from behind; this time he was the one to skid across the floor. Both boys stared at one another, one with a grin and the other with a reserved smile as they both straightened up. Shisui was amazed by what he had seen, or hadn't seen due to the speed Naruto was able to move at; he had never seen anybody land a hit on Itachi before.

The two boys traded a few more glancing blows, Itachi using his Sharingan to predict Naruto's fast movements while Naruto just used his speed to evade Itachi's counterattacks. It was fairly clear from an outsider's perspective that the boys were perfectly matched, neither gaining the upper hand on the other. Finally they both stopped, panting from the drawn out spar as they stared across at one another, both smiling from the good fight.

"Very impressive, your style seems to be able to find all the weaknesses in my own." Naruto just nodded as he straightened up, wiping a line of sweat from his forehead.

"Yeah, and your Sharingan's damn hard to get around, I can't wait to fight you when it evolves." Itachi just smirked; he shared that sentiment completely, as did Shisui. They were interrupted by slow clapping form behind them, all three boys turning to see an older man Naruto immediately recognised as the leader of the Uchiha clan. He looked a lot like an older Itachi with a more pronounced jaw and slight wrinkles around his mouth and eyes from age.

"Impressive Itachi, I'm proud that you have already advanced so far with your abilities." The younger Uchiha just bowed politely.

"Thank you father." Fugaku smiled and turned his attention to Naruto, his eyes narrowing slightly even though his smile didn't falter.

"You're Naruto, then. I remember seeing you when you were much younger, cradled in your mother's arms when she would visit my wife. I see a lot of your father in you, especially in your abilities and speed. The two of them wanted you and my son to be friends and it seems that had happened naturally without any intervention. I hope you can keep Itachi on his toes, as future clan heads you two need to be as powerful as you can be." Naruto nodded respectfully in the older man's direction, feeling like there was a more subtle message behind the polite words.

"Thank you Uchiha-san." Fugaku just nodded, turning his attention back to Itachi as he motioned with his hand.

"Come Itachi, I have a clan meeting and your mother needs you to watch Sasuke." Itachi nodded respectfully towards his father, smiling to Naruto and Shisui before following the man out. When the two boys were just alone Naruto heard Shisui let out a deep breath he had been holding.

"Jeez that guy always puts me on edge." Naruto chuckled as he turned back to who he was quickly understanding to be the lighter-hearted of his two new Uchiha friends.

"He seemed alright." Shisui just laughed as he walked back into the sparring ring.

"Try saying that when the guy could have you banished from the clan with your Sharingan sealed." Naruto blinked, wondering why somebody would ever have to have that happen. "Come on, my side feels better now, maybe this time I might be able to land a hit on you." Naruto took one last look in the direction Fugaku and Itachi had walked before turning around with a small smile.

"You can try."