Third person pov

Kakashi and the Hokage watched Naruto as he climbed atop the small mountain of boxes that had been compiled in the corner, laughing happily as he let himself tumble down in a way that seemed quite painful. "Doesn't that hurt him?" Kakashi, still undercover as Inu, questioned. The boy seemed unaffected by each fall, but it still looked painful. Kakashi knew he hadn't done that when he was five... was this normal? Sure, Naruto wasn't all that normal, nor was his childhood thus far, but this was pretty out there. 

"Ah, it probably should, but this is Naruto we're talking about." Hiruzen scratched his beard thoughtfully. Holding the Kyuubi, Naruto had much faster healing. Plus, he had Uzumaki blood in his veins, as well as the blood of one of the greatest men ever to live. The Third wasn't surprised. Naruto had shown many signs that showed he was pain resistant, and unable to get sick or harmed. So far, the boy had never gotten sick, and he'd never broken a bone despite the various risky stunts he performed during his pranks. Ah, his pranks. Only in the last month had he picked that up. He truly was taking after Kushina, it seemed. 

"Hm, I suppose you're right." Kakashi observed, watching as Naruto rolled down the boxes again, cackling in an almost maniac sort of way as he landed on his back with a thump. He seemed to be easily amused, which was a rare trait in most children his age. Kakashi wondered what the Hokage was planning to do with the boy. Clearly, Naruto wasn't going to be living... well, wherever he lived before. The orphanage, Kakashi supposed it was. The Hatake wasn't sure why he was being removed, but he guessed it was because of poor treatment. 

Kakashi knew he should have been checking up on him.

"Inu, how good are you with children?" The Third glanced at him hopefully. "Horrible." Kakashi immediately answered, not even turning to look at the Hokage. He knew what the sly old man was getting at, and he didn't like it. "Ah, it was worth a shot, was it not?" The Third said with a hint of amusement. He knew he'd be shot down quit, but he had to try. "Of course." Kakashi's tone was dry. Hiruzen let out a light chuckle in response, placing his pipe in his mouth as he watched Naruto take another tumble down the pile of small boxes, still laughing.

~

"Sasuke, I'm going to open the door." Itachi heard Shikamaru say. The statement was accompanied by shuffling. The Uchiha prodigy lit up considerably in response, watching the door impatiently. He couldn't stop fidgeting, which was odd for Itachi, who was always so composed. But the news from earlier had shaken him greatly. It wasn't expected at all, and it was scary. 

Fugaku's foot tapped as he waited for the young Nara heir to unlock the door so he could retrieve his own son. Shikaku was simply curious as to what had actually happened. Fugaku had tried to start explaining the incident, but clearly wasn't sure where to start, or how to word it. Itachi had looked nauseous just thinking about it. Clearly, it had been something pretty drastic. To gain such a reaction from two of the most stoic males Shikaku had ever met. 

"Don't!" Sasuke cried, and they heard a crash. He'd tackled him. "Hey, let go! That's my foot!" Shikamaru screeched loudly. "And this is my arm! Deal with it!" Sasuke responded, and there was another crash. Shikaku winced slightly. He really hoped nothing was broken. Dealing with whatever was going on was enough; he didn't need an angry wife on him too. "Don't kick me!" Shikamaru's voice sounded whiny, like a five year old's typically would. If not for the situation, Shikaku would have been amused. "Then don't try and open the door!" Sasuke responded loudly and vehemently. 

"They're just going to break it down if I don't." Shikamaru was closer to the door now. Itachi and Fugaku both leaned in closer in attempts to hear better, and Shikaku curiously joined them. "You have a window." Sasuke responded wittily, and Itachi wondered if they'd locked that too. Popping window latches wasn't too hard. Surely Itachi could look in and just teleport.

"They're sitting by the door." Shikaku breathed to the pair of Uchiha's so they wouldn't get impatient and try and set something on fire. That seemed to be their way of solving issues. Or at least it was Shisui's. Shikaku would never forget watching the teen run screaming from a cart of flaming corn. 

"If you open the door, you have to tell your dad." Sasuke threatened after a second of silence. "Yeah, well, it... it didn't really happen to me." They strained to hear Shikamaru's quiet words. Shikaku swallowed thickly. He didn't like where this was heading. "But you were there. They made you watch. A-And your leg." Sasuke's voice got fearful again. "What about it?" Shikamaru scoffed as though it was no big deal, although he was clearly defensive about it. "He's on edge now." Fugaku noted pertaining to Shikamaru. Shikaku nodded in agreement to the observation.

"They kept... healing it. Over and over again." Sasuke shifted. "It didn't hurt that bad after a while." Shikamaru tried to sound nonchalant, but his voice shook. He sounded so much older now. Had the events of the night before really changed him that much? What had happened? "And all because I fucking tripped." Sasuke hissed. "We all tripped." Shikamaru said. "But I did first! It was my fault!" Sasuke's fist banged against the clearly thin door, shaking it. Shikamaru hissed.

"Turn that off! What if someone sees? Can't your clan sense that or something?" Shikamaru knew they could be heard, but that was the point. They needed to lay this out carefully. "I don't think they can... but they are suspicious." Sasuke's voice had gotten so much smaller, reminding Fugaku that he was still a child. The Uchiha head grit his teeth. His son. His poor son. "Sasuke, please open the door!" Itachi pleaded, making sure to step back slightly before he did so so he didn't seem too close to the door. He was answered with silence. 

"Sasuke, I'm opening it." Shikamaru hissed. "Then show your dad your legs!" Sasuke ordered. "Fine! Will that make you let go of me?" Sasuke had a firm grip on the Nara's wrist. The Uchiha heir grunted, winking at Shikamaru sneakily. The Nara offered a single finger gun. What they were doing, this elaborate lie, was really horrible. But necessary. In fact, if this failed, Shikamaru was pretty sure everything else would too. They needed to do this, and they needed to make it solid. 

Shikamaru stood up and unlocked the door.