Little boys are made of starlight

Summary: They all knew Naruto's childhood was less than ideal but when something goes wrong, Team 7 are shocked and appalled at exactly how bad it was. SasuNaru, shounen ai
Warnings: AU-Ninja world. Some het. Shounen ai (meaning boy love/emotions. Considering what happens I didn't want to make it an official yaoi fic) Language that may offend. Violence. This could easily be classed as "T" but have upped the rating due to the some situations that are suited to mature readers. (Nothing graphic, but worth a warning nonetheless.)Un'beta'd!
I have warned you. If you are uncomfortable with any of this, then turn back now.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction, written purely to entertain myself and (hopefully) whoever else stumbles upon this and finds it amusing.
Main pairings: Sasuke/Naruto.

サスケxナルト

I

The accident

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It all started with an argument.

A ridiculously, childish argument. Sasuke couldn't even remember what it was about—what had started it—the fight had been that stupid but the next thing he knew, Naruto and himself were in an all out brawl. Fists and feet flying. Curses being hurled back and forth. Then they had descended into using jutsu and everything turned to shit thereafter.

He vaguely recalled Sakura shrieking at them to stop and Kakashi saying something; he hadn't caught what, being much too intent on teaching his moronic, blonde teammate a lesson in humility.

One moment he had a seventeen year-old Naruto pinned beneath him—squirming, hissing and cursing him to hell and back—next there was a poof and this crying, wriggling bundle of soft pink baby trapped between his arms and the hard, grassy ground.

Dark eyes narrowed in annoyance. "Nice try, moron," he sneered. "But that won't work on me. Hurry up and change back or I'll take this as a forfeit."

Climbing to his feet, he glared down at the squirming toddler. Tempted to kick.

The noise that erupted from the creature's tiny lungs was horrendous. Forcing himself not to wince at the level of decibels, he felt himself growing steadily more angry. As far as practical jokes went, this was the worst.

"I'm not joking, dead last."

The screaming rose higher in level and Sasuke felt the beginnings of doubt and a migraine start to form. Over the many years that the team had been together, he'd grown used to the mannerisms of each and that last insult should have provoked Naruto into action by now; it never failed. The blonde's buttons were just too easy to press.

Nothing happened.

No enraged outburst. No finger pointed rudely in his face. No change whatsoever. All that happened was that the Naruto-baby-thing screeched higher, it's little face crumpled and soaked in fat streams of tears.

The teenage boy hesitated, frowned. Maybe he was wrong?

He didn't bother to move as Sakura stepped closer tentatively, peering down at the bundle of shrieking child. "Naruto?" she asked, uncertainly.

The baby stopped crying and stared at her with watery blue eyes, face still pink. For some reason, Sasuke wasn't surprised by the act. Though it did prove to heighten his annoyance some more. The baby lifted a tiny hand for his pink-haired teammate who instantly melted and cooed at it.

"You know," she began softly as she lifted the baby in her arms, using the oversized clothing to wrap him in. "He's actually really cute. Aren't you, Naru-chan? Yes you are. You're adorable!"

The baby just kept staring at her, a tremulous smile forming on his tiny face.

Sasuke scoffed. Ink dark eyes surveyed the child. Small, round pink face, startling blue eyes that ate up most of its surface, wisps of feathery gold that sat on top. Naruto was tiny. Beyond tiny. If this wasn't some prank and part of Sasuke was still certain it was. Even if he couldn't quite work out what Naruto would accomplish from it. Besides having Sakura holding and cooing over him, of course. The blonde idiot would sure enjoy that.

Turning his head away, Sasuke let out an indifferent grunt.

"Hmmm," Kakashi murmured, also looking down at the baby settled in Sakura's grasp. His expression still bored looking for the most part. "This might be a problem. We had best let the Hokage know."

Still, Sasuke waited for Naruto to react. He didn't. Now he had his little hands curled around strands of Sakura's pink hair, oblivious to everything else as the girl smiled softly back at him. The scene was... disturbingly domestic.

With a glare fitted to his face, Sasuke turned and shot off toward the Hokage tower, leaving Kakashi, Sakura and the too small Naruto long behind him.

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Team seven—three quarters of it—stared back at Tsunade as she frowned down at the child seated on her desk, awaiting the verdict.

It had taken over an hour to explain the situation to her. Re-explain it then wait for her to settle down after which, she went about giving Naruto a physical examination. If that didn't secure in their minds that something was terribly wrong and Naruto had indeed somehow reverted in age to that of a baby, then the fact that he didn't put up any resistance when she concluded he'd need to be hospitalised for a day of observation certainly did.

"Based on his medical records on file, there is nothing wrong with him," Tsunade informed them at length.

On the contrary, Sasuke could see plenty wrong.

He stared at the stain on the wall where Tsunade had hurled her bottle of sake not ten minutes previous. The bottle still lay in fragments on the ground.

"This isn't a gen-jutsu," Tsunade went on. "Although, you are probably already aware of this and I doubt the brat's skills have increased in that area. Nor is it any form of henge. For all intents and purposes Naruto is a child of two years."

"Two years?" Sakura gasped, frowning down at the silent baby that was sucking on his thumb, oblivious to the discussion going on about him. "He doesn't look much older than a year!"

The blonde woman nodded. "That is one of the main reasons that I wanted him to be supervised. Despite the fact that his examination results were identical to those we have on file for him, he's much too underweight and undersized for a child of his age group. His general knowledge is also much lower than average. I've ruled out that it has nothing to do with whatever jutsu he performed."

"He was mistreated," Sasuke intoned darkly and observed carefully as Tsunade gave a tight nod and Sakura let out another gasp.

Sasuke wasn't sure why he was so surprised by this knowledge. Part of him had known, or suspected as much. Naruto always had been smaller than everyone else. Always wanting attention. Always hungry and he supposed it explained a great deal as to why the boy ate so much now; obviously making up for the lack he received as a child. It also explained Naruto's bond with Iruka.

"I believe so," Tsunade agreed.

"But Naruto was in the village orphanage at this age!" Sakura exclaimed in outrage. "All the caretakers go through a rigorous process and multiple screenings before they're accepted for even the smallest job. How could something like this happen!"

"Sakura," Kakashi intervened, placing a hand on her shoulder. Gone was his usual indifference, instead it was replaced with the same grim one that Tsunade wore. "I understand and share your views on this but nothing can be done for it now. All we can do is help him as he is and continue supporting him as a team in whichever way is deemed necessary."

"Yes," Tsunade sighed. "Which is why I want each of you to keep a close eye on him while he's in hospital. Shizune and I will be with him on and off through the day to monitor him but I do not want him left alone at any costs. He is much too important and even though the prejudice of his younger years has dwindled, I would rather not tempt anyone who may still hold a grudge."

Burying his hands deep into the pocket of his black pants, Sasuke exhaled a snort. He had a feeling something of the nature was bound to be thrust upon them and had already resigned himself to the duty.

"I'm hoping through observation we'll be able to better understand this jutsu he has unknowingly performed. Uchiha," Tsunade snapped abruptly, staring almost accusingly at Sasuke. "You said that he was attempting to do his shadow clone technique."

Sasuke stared back evenly, unconcerned at the open hostility. There was no love lost between them, despite the fact he'd willingly returned to the village after all the failed attempts to bring him back against his wishes. Tsunade still hated him for it and blamed everything that happened to Naruto on him. It was well known that she was just itching to punish him further. Apparently one year probation and a restriction of D-rank tasks wasn't enough. That last had only just recently been lifted.

"I did."

"Do you still?" Tsunade pressed.

Not rising to the bait, Sasuke continued to stare back impassively. "Yes."

"Tsunade-shishou," Sakura intruded uncomfortably, "what about Naruto?"

The Hokage just stared back at Sasuke for another long moment before leaning back in her seat, to gaze down at the baby that was now staring up at her.

"Naruto isn't in any pain at the moment and there doesn't appear to be any strain on his body or seal from the regression," the woman advised, slowly. "If not for the fact he is grossly underweight and lacking somewhat in communication skills I'd say he was a perfectly normal two year-old. If what Uchiha claims is true, I have a hunch as to which jutsu this is and aren't too concerned with what has transpired."

"Then you do have an idea how to fix this?" Sasuke questioned, gesturing to Naruto. The baby glanced at him and waved a drool covered fist.

Tsunade's eyes flickered down to the baby before lifting to address Sasuke. "This situation isn't something that can simply be fixed," she informed him. "If it is the jutsu I believe it to be, then there is nothing I can do for him."

"What!"

Sasuke didn't spare a glance for the girl who'd spoken his thoughts aloud. Instead, he stared hard at the baby that suddenly looked on the verge of crying and wondered if, perhaps, part of the older Naruto was still in there somewhere.

"What do you mean, Tsunade-shishou?"

Tsunade sighed heavily. "I mean exactly what I said, Sakura. If it's the jutsu I believe it to be, there is nothing I can do to change him back. Not unless I want to cause him serious physical and psychological harm. You know what he's suffered over the years," she paused, allowing the information to sink in and take root. "Would you want me to force all of that upon a small child's mind?"

"So..." Sakura began, "he's going to stay this way?"

"Of course not," Tsunade snorted and Sasuke peered at the blonde woman to find her giving Naruto a fond glance. "He'll return to normal gradually."

"Tsunade-shishou, what will happen to him once he's released?" Sakura pondered, aloud.

Curious, Sasuke stared at the Hokage. He'd wondered that himself, although he also had a suspicion.

"You three will take care of him," Tsunade decided.

Sasuke watched as Sakura's mouth fell open in shock. He'd foreseen such a declaration, although he was surprised that Tsunade trusted him enough with a baby Naruto. However, he supposed that the reason she was even including him on this mission was due to the fact he had the most room available so maybe he shouldn't have been that surprised.

"I'll prepare the rooms," he said and turned to go.

"Sasuke-kun?"

He spared a brief look over his shoulder at his bemused teammate. "I doubt your parents would want a baby in their home. Kakashi's place wouldn't be suitable for a child and Naruto's is too small to fit all of us comfortably. My house is the best option."

"So you do have a brain after all," Tsunade commented, dryly.

Sasuke ignored her and vanished out the door.

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Hello my ducklings I'm back! Been working on HSC and Sanctuary. (Rewriting the next chap of HSC as I'm not entirely happy with it. Hopefully that should be out next weekend.) For this fic, I wanted to focus more on the friendship aspect of the boys. Short chapter, I know. This is more or less a feeling to see whether I should continue or not. So let me know. Should I, shan't I?

Anyway, adios for now. Hope you liked :)