Best Served Cold

I'm so embarrassed by the lateness of this chapter, but I like this story and don't want to give it up. I hope this chapter is entertaining.
akume- As to your question: The horn the bride hides is a japanese tradition. She is hiding her 'horns' of jealous from her mother-in-law. The mother-in-law still has a lot of say in the family as an elder.


_______________________
The fire ball grew and spread over the lake making the water glimmer and shine with a sunset hue. Sasuke allowed a small smile to appear on his face as he leaned against the tree observing his son on the pier. The eight year old had preformed a gukakyuu no jutsu suitable of an Uchiha, and tomorrow he would finally let him enter the ninja academy. Not that he couldn’t have let the boy join the academy at the normal age of six, but he had his reasons. Officially he blamed it on the fact that Ino’s genes affected the boy’s speed of attaining jutsu, really it was the fact that the Hokage’s son also had yet to enter the academy.

The frail boy had survived but had yet to be seen outside of the mansion. Rumor had it that the Hokage was so terrified of anything happening to the boy that he would not let him venture out of the complex he had built and attached behind the mansion. Tsunade was one of the only people who had been in personal contact with the boy. She no longer worked with the public and solely served the health of the Uzumaki family. His personal tutors and nannies were also confined to the mansion.

Sasuke had heard that the Hokage was finally going to let his son join the academy, so now he could enroll his own boy. When their boys were compared, as he knew they would be, he didn’t want to hear the excuse that his boy had had two more years of school before the Uzumaki kid. His boy would be superior, and it would be because he was an Uchiha.

The eight year old turned with a wide grin on his face and Sasuke quickly hid his own. “Okibi, come here,” Sasuke called as he waved the boy over. Okibi jogged over to stand before his father, pride for his accomplishment shone on his face as he tried to school his features to a more Uchiha-like expression. Sasuke looked over the boy as he tried to gain control of his facial muscles. He was a perfect duplicate of his younger self, pale skin, black hair, dark slanted eyes. It was almost as if Ino had had no part in his making and he was a slice off the older Uchiha.

“Yes, Father?” the small Uchiha questioned after winning the battle with his face.

“You’ve improved on your Katon Jutsu. I enrolled you in the academy today.” Sasuke was left winded and shocked as his once stoic son tackled his midsection and squealed in glee. Sasuke regained his breath and patted the boy’s back awkwardly.

Okibi raise wide onyx eyes and released Sasuke’s waist when he realized what he was doing. Backing up a few steps he bowed low. “I’m sorry.” He looked up with cautious eyes, “Thank you, Father.”

Sasuke looked down at the boy for a second before allowing a small smile to set on his lips. He rubbed the boys hair affectionately and said, “Let’s go tell your mother.”

----------------------

Sasuke strolled up to the academy with a confident smirk. Talk around the village had confirmed that the Hokage’s son had enrolled in the academy today. He couldn’t wait to hear from his son how weak the boy was. He knew his own son would not stay in the beginning class long, they would be evaluated and moved to the appropriate levels. What level that would be still depended on Okibi, he hoped the boy had more of himself and less of Ino.

Sasuke looked around the mess of kids that crowded outside the school. He almost expected to see a blond idiot running around that would be the duplicate of the Uzumaki. Seeing none he, remembered that the Hokage’s bride had had dark hair and it had probably been passed to their offspring. He noticed his own doppelganger facing the building and quickened over to him, eager to get his news.

“Okibi,” he called, placing his hand on the boy shoulder and turning him around. His hand dropped and he stepped back as his own face stared back at him with blue eyes.

--------------------------

The teacher looked around as the class filled with children. She glanced at the roll sheet, she had two eight year olds enrolled and neither of them were repeat students. One Uchiha and one son of the Hokage, she didn’t understand why they had both waited two year to enroll their children but who was she to question such influential men. Uchiha had expanded his influence on the village by becoming the head of the Konoha Military Corps, a position which most villager believe belong to the Uchiha even before he had procured it.

“Okay, class. My name is Yasu and I’ll be one of your instructors,” she called out over the excited squeals. “I would like everyone to take your seats according to age. Seven and eight year olds, front row. Six year olds, fill in the middle rows. Early enrollees, back row please.”

The children piled in and Yasu-sensei looked down at the roll and back up at the class in confusion. In the front row sat a definite Uchiha. His hand crossed under his chin, he sat with an arrogant aura, not even bothering to open his eyes and look at the teacher. Sitting directly beside him was a mirror image. Looking back at the roll and back at the boys she still did not see what he was looking for, there was no mention of twin on the sheet or any conversations that she had had with the other teachers.

“Uchiha?” she questioned. Two sets of eyes blinked at her question, one black and one blue. “Who is Uchiha Okibi?” The onyx eyed boy raised his hand, still looking directly at the teacher. Yasu looked toward the blue eyed raven, “Then, I don’t believe I have your name.”

“No Sensei, I’m sure you do. Uzumaki Ryuu,” the boy answered with polite smile. The teacher again looked bewildered as she glanced back and forth between the boys.

Uzumaki? Okibi stiffened upon hearing the name. The boy that his father and told him to keep an eye on, and was to be his future rival by the wish of his father, was sitting directly beside him? He turned slowly as to look unconcerned. His attempted at a passive face was completely ruined as he took in the features of the Uzumaki boy. He had seen that face before; he had seen it many times in the mirror, the lake, and old pictures of his father. Same cheek bones, same nose, same chin, even the same hair. The only think that was different was the color of the piercing blue eyes, and even though there was a smile on those lips, those eyes were not friendly.

“Okibi-kun, you’re staring. I don’t know what your father taught you, but staring is not polite,” the blue eyed boy smirked, as his eyes remained cruel. Okibi’s own onyx eyes crinkled into a glare and he was getting ready to retaliate when Yasu spoke again.

“Uzumaki-sama, I assume that is not a Henge to work up your classmate?” she edged, Ryuu shook his head no. It could just be a coincidence, genetics were strange. Maybe the Hokage’s wife had been a distant relative of the Uchiha, most had been in this village too long and never got any new blood. Anyway, like she had thought before, who was she to question such powerful men, so she continued.

“Well, then. Time to begin,” she abruptly changed subjects and marked off the role. “As I only have a couple returning students and a lot of new, today we will be assessing your abilities. First we will split off into groups so I need everyone to stand. Those who have no prior knowledge of shinobi arts, practical or theory, please remain seated. Those of you who believe your book knowledge exceeds a beginning class stand to the right with Daichi-sensei. Those who can preform simple jutsu and rope tricks, move to the left with Osamu-sensei.” The students moved to their designated areas and she was not surprised to see a five year old scamper down from the back of the class to stand with the simple jutsu group, that would be why they were early enrollees. She looked to see Okibi and Ryuu still standing in the seating. “Are you boys having a hard time determining which group you should be joining?”

“I don’t believe I fit any of these group sensei,” the young Uchiha commented, trying not to look at the Uzumaki boy.

Ryuu moved his hand to the back of his black hair to mimic his father’s signature gesture and rubbed the back of his neck with a wide grin. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to agree with Okibi-kun.” Okibi turned and glared at the boy who dare to continue and speak of him so familiarly.

Yasu looked straight at the boys but in her mind she was shaking her head furiously. What in the world was she thinking agreeing to teach when their was an Uchiha and an Uzumaki enrolled at the same time. She had heard the rumors of the last time it had happened, and Head Master Iruka already got her to agree to take the boys under her wind as they had been enrolled so late.

“Okay,” she said, to catch their attention before the Uchiha jumped the Hokage’s boy, like his eyes were promising. “We’ll go outside with Osamu-sensei and his group to test out your abilities. Michi-sensei, I’ll leave the beginning group with you,” she said as she followed the two other groups out of the room.

“We’ll start with weapons,” Yasu stated as they reached the clearing outside. “Hit the targets with kunai and shuriken.”

Both boys moved for their weapons pouches and extracted the items. One by one they tosses their weapons at the targets. Metal clinked repeatedly as the weapons scraped each other to hit closely to the center of the targets. Ryuu’s last kunai hit outside the inner ring, Ryuu frowned and Okibi’s face broke out into a smug grin.

“Basic weapons are good, now simple ninjutsu. You first Uzumaki-sama, can you henge?” Yasu asked after they turned around.

Ryuu smirked at Okibi as he moved forward and placed his hands together, “ No problem. Henge!” The smoke cleared and Ryuu stood perfectly reflecting Yasu-sensei. Okibi sniffed and duplicated the technique.

“Good, now bunshin no jutsu.”

Both boys crossed their hands at the same time for the technique. Four Okibis crossed their arms over their chests and smirked at Ryuu and his one clone. Ryuu scratched the back of his neck again and laughed.

“My dad didn’t know how to teach me that jutsu,” he explained sheepishly. While he was talking his clone had walked next to Okibi and his clones. “But he did teach us this,” the clone said, as he walked through Okibi’s clones and lightly punched Okibi on his shoulder. Okibi stepped back, shocked. “Kage bunshin no jutsu,” Ryuu smirked as he dispelled the clone.

Yasu smile appreciatively, it was to be expected that the Hokage’s son would know some more advanced techniques than other school aged kids, but Kage bunshin no jutsu? That was a bit impressive, he did not belong in a beginning class. “Any elemental jutsu?” she asked. She knew the Uchiha would want a chance to shine, and every Uchiha knew fire jutsu.

Okibi smiled and stepped forward. His hands carefully made the signs and he bought his right hand close to his face and called out, “Katon, goukakyuu no jutsu.” Okibi exhaled and a fire ball engulfed the area. Completing the jutsu, he smiled and stepped back next to his sensei. Surely that was better than a clone technique.

Ryuu let his own smile show as he stepped forward with a bounce. “I know an elemental jutsu too,” he smiled at Yasu while waving his hand. She looked a bit surprised and nodded for him to continue. Okibi glared as he watched Ryuu’s hands fly threw signs until he called out, “Goukakyuu no jutsu!”

Okibi forceable stopped his jaw from dropping as a fire ball large enough to singe the trees filled the area. Ryuu turned and grinned widely at the gaping Uchiha. Yasu cringed internally as she noticed Okibi begin to shake. She wanted to be able to stop her next request but nothing was left to evaluate. “Ahem,” she cleared her throat, “I need to see your taijutsu now. To the middle for a light spar.” She stepped back uneasily as a smug Ryuu and steaming Okibi moved up to face each other.

-----------------------

Sasuke stepped back and stopped himself from stumbling, “Wha... Oh,” he said with a slight frown as he looked down at the kid. “Your henge is a bit off, your eyes are blue,” he said as he turned to look for his son.

The kid smiled up into his stoic face, “It’s not a henge, Uchiha-san.” Ryuu turned and started to walk away.

Sasuke’s face scrunched in confusion. “Wait... What?” he said as he stepped after the boy.

“FATHER!”

Sasuke turned as Okibi ran up. He looked back to where the other kid had been but he was already rounding the corner.

“Father, I saw you talking with the Uzumaki kid. Why does he look like me?” Sasuke’s eyes widened then narrowed as he looked in the direction said boy had gone.

______________________

Thanks for reading, let me know if it was any good.