Disclaimer: Not mine.

Beta: featherstofly.

Beta: silverseed

Edit: 1/1/2018

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

I was moving quietly through the streets, my mind wandering to places unknown. I was heading back to Naruto's apartment from home. I had returned home the following morning and Momma had been quick to pack everything we would need, informing me that she would stop by herself—along with the other clan matriarchs from the Ino-Shika-Cho trio—in a while.

As I passed the school grounds, I caught sight of a (vaguely) familiar girl.

I paused, unable to resist moving towards her. She was a year older than Ino, if I remembered correctly. I had seen her a few times before around the academy, but never bothered to truly interact with her. I stopped myself short of actually calling out to her, remembering myself and feeling a faint flush of embarrassment at my previous sudden urge to greet her.

However, before I could make my unnoticed escape, the girl paused, turning to face me. She smiled brightly. "Oh, hi there. I'm Tenten, what's your name?"

I blushed, my hands burying themselves in my hoodie pocket. "N-Nao. Yamanaka Nao, umm."

Tenten nodded. "I've seen you around. You're something of a prodigy, aren't you? That's cool. Not a lot of girls in my class take their training seriously, you know?"

I thought of Sakura and (wince) my sister, Ino. I nodded. "Y-Yeah."

Tenten smiled brightly. "But I saw you practicing the other day and you looked really into it. Wish you were in my class."

I giggled nervously, fidgeting under her surprisingly warm and thoughtful gaze. Tenten nodded. "Mm. Well, actually, I wanted to approach you earlier, but it never really seemed like the right time. Say, how would you like to be my sparring partner? Please? I really need a moving target and Mina-sensei mentioned that you could use help in evasion, right? So it's a win-win! What do you say?"

My cheeks were on fire, both at the fact that she had asked about me, and that she was actually inviting me to train. I could only nod in response. "Um, y-yes, please. I look forward to training with you, Tenten-senpai!"

Tenten nodded again, smiling. "Cool. Meet me here after school every other day, 'kay?"

"O-Okay. I-I don't know if I'll be able to this week, but I'll try."

"It's cool. See you around, Nao-chan!"

I nodded again before making my escape.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

We were given a week off from school. At least Sasuke and I were, I was unsure if Naruto was, but either way he ended up skipping. Shikamaru and Chōji skipped the majority of those days, as well. We mostly stayed in Naruto's apartment, where Sasuke refused to leave. So we stayed there and in all blunt honesty, we took care of him. Sasuke was catatonic for the majority of the day, merely going through the process of caring for himself—eating, drinking, bathing, etc—but never revealing his emotions. Only when night came around did he allow himself to show us how he really was.

No words were exchanged about that night, no words were needed. Naruto and I merely held him as he cried silently. Even in sleep, with him tucked in between us and all of us curled up tightly, he awoke screaming from his nightmares, and Naruto and I had to console him back to reality. On the nights that Shikamaru or Chōji stayed, it was equally as bad and Chōji even started singing a lullaby for him.

But reality was cruel.

Only at the end of the week, did he begin show some emotion, however limited it was.

As I set down the plate of basic breakfast (for it was my turn to cook)—eggs and toast, one of the few dishes I knew how to make from Momma—in front of both Naruto, Sasuke and I, he spoke.

"I'm going to kill him."

Naruto and I looked up from our meal, and towards Sasuke. There was not a hint of sadness on his face; no, instead there was grim determination.

I blinked. "Are you certain?"

"Are you saying I'm weak?" Sasuke asked, his eyes flashing.

"At the moment you are," Naruto put in mildly.

Sasuke glowered at Naruto.

"That's not what I'm saying," I said soothingly, attempting to diffuse the situation because I really wasn't in the mood for a morning fight. "I'm merely questioning your motivation for doing this. He is your brother, and I know you love him."

"He murdered our family," Sasuke said, his eyes flashing again. "He's no longer my brother, and I don't love him."

"You don't mean that," I said softly. "Even if Ino killed my clan, I would still love her. She's my sister and always will be. But what I meant was, do you want to kill him or does your father want to kill him?"

Sasuke's eyes widened.

Even in the few encounters I've had with Sasuke's father, I knew he was an unbending man. Sasuke constantly strived for his attention—for his recognition at anything Sasuke had done—but was constantly shoved aside for Itachi instead. He might have been a great leader, but he was a terrible father.

Not that I blamed him. The Uchiha upbringing was a harsh thing and he had to adapt to it himself. I doubt he meant to hurt his son, to constantly drive a wedge between himself and him, but it became painfully clear to me that he simply did not know how to deal with Sasuke. He was awkward at fatherhood at best.

It did not entirely excuse his actions.

Vengeance for the clan would have been the first thing he would have demanded. It was all for the clan name, for the glory of the Uchiha Clan; but, none of that was Sasuke at the moment.

At the moment Sasuke was only a little boy who lost his entire family in one night.

"I do," Sasuke whispered, but his resolve sounded less firm.

"Are you certain?" I asked gently. Some part of me didn't want him to go down that path. Itched and screamed at me to lead him away, manipulate him away if needed be. That if he went down that path, something horrible would happen. The instinct of it was so fierce I could do little but go along with it and trust it.

"No," Sasuke whispered, his eyes trailing downcast as he slowly prepared to lock himself back up again.

"I think," I said carefully, "that maybe instead you should work on finding out why Itachi did it."

Yes, yes, why, why. That question echoed in the back of my mind and for some reason I felt as if I could answer it. It was silly and stupid and preposterous, but nevertheless it was what I felt. And I felt as if I had to bring Sasuke to question this. To answer it.

"He already told me," Sasuke said. "To test himself. To pit me against him. He wants me to hate him."

"That doesn't sound like Itachi," Naruto snorted dubiously.

I cocked my head. "I agree with Naruto. It's seems a little impossible anyway. I knew Itachi was a prodigy, but to be able to kill the entire Uchiha Clan in only a few hours... It doesn't seem right."

Naruto nodded his head. "Yeah, yeah. I mean, aren't they some really kick-ass ANBU from the Uchiha Clan? So wouldn't that put them at least on the same level as Itachi?"

Sasuke frowned, his eyes lifting back up, and flickering between the two of us. "Yeah... that's right."

I nodded my head, my instinct seeming to guide my words.

"So doesn't that mean he had help?" I guessed.

"It does," Sasuke whispered, his eyes wide.

"Probably from some stranger," Naruto added. "Or strangers. They must have snuck off right before Itachi finished up, that way they wouldn't get caught."

"And the entire massacre would be blamed on Itachi, and no one would be the wiser," I finished. "They would be getting away with it too. Most likely only Itachi knows who they are."

"Then I'll make him tell me," Sasuke said fiercely, his eyes flashing again, but this time with only determination.

"You aren't going to kill Itachi?" Naruto asked, frowning slightly.

Sasuke looked away and pursed his lips. "I don't know. If I have to, then I will. But I want to take care of these unknown bastards first. To think they can hide away and get away with this: I won't let that happen. At least Br—Ita—the bastard—isn't afraid to claim what he's done."

Naruto nodded his head, smiling with ease. "Yeah, yeah. That way you won't even have to kill your own brother either."

Sasuke hesitated. "I said I didn't know, and I meant it. What Brother did—I don't know what to think of it."

Naruto and I exchanged a glance. "Whatever your choice is, we're with you all the way."

Sasuke looked at us before a small smile graced his lips. "I know."

Naruto nodded firmly. "Good, bastard. Nice to have you back, by the way."

Sasuke snorted. "Idiot." He paused. "I want to move back in the compound."

I gave him an alarmed look, worry mixed with fear written across my face. He caught my look and continued, "But I want you two to move in with me."

Naruto gaped. "What?! Are you serious?"

"I don't—I mean I—What I'm trying to say is—" Sasuke struggled for a moment before I placed a small hand over his own. I gave him a small smile.

"We know," I said. "I'll stay with you for as long as you need me, Sasuke-san. I'll move in with you." So long as it's okay with Papa and Momma.

Sasuke nodded. "And Shikamaru and Chōji too, maybe. I don't know. I—I don't want to be— I don't want to go back there—"

Alone.

Naruto frowned. "You know I'll always be there for a friend and all, but I kind of like this place..."

"We can make it into a hide out?" I suggested shyly. "You know, a small place for the three of us to hide away from the world. Ino and I used to have a small den in the bushes of our training ground. Then one of our cousins burnt all the bushes down in a training accident."

Naruto chortled, and Sasuke allowed another small smile.

Naruto nodded his head, grinning widely. "I like that idea! Alright, jerk-butt, I guess I'll grace you with the magnificence of my presence."

"Your vocabulary has improved, ignoramus cretin," Sasuke said, a smirk forming on his face.

Naruto's face screwed up as he tried to think through the words. I leaned over the table and whispered their meaning to him and his face flushed. "You bastard!"

And for the first time in a while, Uchiha Sasuke laughed.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

We had fallen into a routine within the first three weeks of moving into the newly refurbished Uchiha compound with Sasuke. Shikamaru and Chōji didn't officially move in with us, but they both had rooms nonetheless and stayed some (most) nights. I didn't 'officially' live at the compound either, but I rarely ever went home. That same instinctual part of me from before seemed to be screaming at me to not give the Uchiha boy a second to be alone. We had gone back to school, the following day of 'moving in' and found that Sasuke's fan club had grown in numbers exponentially.

Finding it increasingly harder to find a safe place to eat at school, the five of us decided it would be better if we simply ate at Naruto's previous home, now currently our secret base. It was close enough to get there within five minutes of our hour long lunch/recess break, so we had plenty of time. Best of all, no fan girls tried to follow us off school, and the few that did we were able to lose fairly quickly through short cuts and alleyways.

We only 'lived in' a small portion of the Uchiha compound: the main house. Sasuke kept his old room, the seven year old temporarily sharing it with Naruto and I on those nights. I took the old study, keeping all of the old books and scrolls but replacing the actual furniture with my old bed and desk from home. Naruto took the spare guest room, happily filling it with newly paid furniture and small potted plants. Shikamaru took the second guest room and Chōji the previously known as storage room.

We left Sasuke's parents' room and Itachi's room alone, using them only for storage.

Upon returning home from school, the three of us would work in a small group for homework. Though Sasuke and I finished early. Sasuke would then either train, or help me assist Naruto in the school work. By the time Naruto was done we had usually an hour to spare before dinner.

Sasuke and I trained during that hour, while Naruto preferred to leave to do his pranks. Shikamaru would vary between napping and cloud watching on the roof. Chōji was rather content with relaxing or even making us meals: the boy could cook.

When the hour was up, the three of us ate dinner, then all three of us trained in the Uchiha training grounds for another two hours before we took turns bathing and headed off to bed.

Of course, it wasn't constantly the five of us. Papa or Momma would visit me frequently, usually right after we finished homework to help me train before staying for dinner. It wasn't too often as they both still had jobs, but still. The same applied for Shikamaru and Chōji's mother. And after a couple weeks of training with Tenten, I had slowly brought her over and introduced her to everyone. She seemed to be readily accepted enough, which was good as I quite liked her.

We had fallen into a routine that suited the all of us well.

However, during those three weeks whenever I visited the stone...

... Kakashi wasn't there.

But on the fourth week, he was.

And much to my surprise, he was no longer wearing his ANBU outfit, but instead decked out in the Jōnin uniform. I gave a startled shout upon seeing him and before I could reign in my emotions, I dropped my flowers and barreled into his leg.

A small shout of surprise came from him and he looked down at me. His only visible eye crinkled. "Something wrong, Nao-chan?"

"You were gone," I mumbled, my cheeks quickly flaming upon realization of what I had done. With great reluctance I pried myself off him. "I was worried."

"I'm sorry," Kakashi said surprisingly gently. "I was caught up in an investigation and was limited on time to come here."

"It's okay," I said quietly. "I was—I was just worried, 'sall."

Kakashi patted my head, ruffling my hair slightly. My eyes trailed down to the goggles around my neck before looking back up at Kakashi. "How come you're not dressed like ANBU anymore?"

Kakashi gave a quiet snort. "The Hokage wants me to take on my own team now. He actually believes I'd be good at mentoring."

"I think you'll do amazing," I said honestly.

Kakashi snorted again. "When will you be graduating?"

"Four years," I said. "I'm going to wait and graduate with my friends. That way we might be able to be on the same team together."

Kakashi nodded his head quietly. "Well then, who knows, I might wait for you."

I smiled at that.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

"So where exactly have you been staying, Nao-chan?" Ino asked me curiously one late weekend afternoon.

I blinked up at her, tearing my gaze away from the scroll I had currently been reading. It was the weekend and as such I had come over for clan training with Papa and occasionally the elders. Ino had finished her training and was sitting across from me on outside walkway, breathing heavily and red faced.

I thought carefully on how to respond to her question.

I had never informed my beloved sister of my newest living arrangement and neither had anyone else. That was because I was worried about her reaction. On one hand she could be most displeased with me and play a jealous sibling. Even though I meant no harm to her, ah, pursuit of Sasuke, he was my friend and as such I would stand by his side. However that might not deter her wrath, something which I was disinclined to risk.

On the other hand she could use it to her advantage, which might be worse. For the moment, Sasuke was still recovering. It was a slow process, but it was still happening, so long as he was able to focus himself on empowering or positive things. Those things did not include my sister or her frenzied friends. In fact, they would have a negative influence on him, much as I was reluctant to admit.

Ino would more than likely use me as an excuse to visit frequently and disturb Sasuke, something he would be not too pleased with. Not that I blamed him of course, but the fact of the matter remained the same.

Absently, I wondered what excuse Papa and Momma had given her and why she was only now questioning me.

"What did Papa and Momma tell you?" I asked her.

"Papa only said you were staying with a friend," Ino said, her nose crinkling.

"I am," I said.

"How come?"

"They need my help," I answered. "Wouldn't you stay with one of your friends if they were hurt, Sissy?"

Ino smiled. "'Course I would. I miss you, is all."

"I miss you too," I told her sincerely. "At least I'm not totally gone."

Ino nodded her head. "At least there's that. Ne, ne, did you study for the exam? I can't seem to focus, think you can help me?"

I giggled and nodded my head, because that was something I could do.

Something the two of us could do.

Together.

Like the old times.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

Extra:

It was raining.

Even with my hood pulled up and my hands stuffed in my pocket of my hoodie, I was still shivering from the cold. The flowers I had set down at the stone already seemed to be falling apart from the harsh onslaught of the rain. I had only arrived at the stone a handful of minutes ago, and already I was ready to leave. I normally stayed for half an hour, sometimes a bit longer if I really lost myself in my thoughts, but today it would have to be cut short, lest I get sick and miss a day at school.

I fumbled a bit with the goggles that covered my eyes, thankful that I had them, as it made seeing in the rain a bit easier. Not much, but it was enough. I glanced up at Kakashi.

He had been here before me, and seemed unbothered of the rain. He didn't appear like he would be moving anywhere.

My fingers twitched inside my hoodie, and I fought down my growing sense of shyness, trying to instead muster up some courage.

I wasn't overly familiar with Kakashi, he was a friendly presence beside me when I came here. We talked, sure, but it was only idle chatter. He wasn't a precious friend, or anything of the sort, so I really had no right—I had no right to be worried for him. No right to ask anything of him, either. Yet even with that in mind, I couldn't help, but reach out towards him. My fingers grasped on the edge of his sleeve and I pulled gently.

Slowly, Kakashi turned his head towards me, his eyes were unusually devoid of light.

"I-It's raining," I whispered, shivering.

Kakashi gave a slow blink. "Yes."

"Y-You're gonna c-catch a cold," I continued, my teeth now chattering.

He didn't respond.

I tugged on his arm again. "C-Come on. L-Let's go someplace w-warm."

He didn't respond for a long while, and I had to tug a couple more times before he moved. He didn't say a word, instead he allowed me to guide him out of the grounds and towards the nearest tea shop. We entered the nearly deserted shop, before taking a seat at a booth. I curled up in myself, wrapping my arms around my legs and resisting the urge to sneeze.

Kakashi shifted as he sat beside me, glancing down at me.

"How do the goggles fit?"

I glanced up at him, surprised he was the one to instigate a conversation. I gave him a shy smile. "Well. Th-Thank you."

"Don't mention it. While we're here, are you hungry? Did you have breakfast?"

"I-I am a little hungry; and n-no, I didn't," I responded, sniffling. "D-Did you? Are you?"

"Mn. I didn't have breakfast, but I'm not hungry."

"B-Big dinner?"

"No."

I frowned, peering up at him in blatant disbelief. "Then you m-must be hungry."

"I'm fine."

I scowled at him, starting to realize something.

He would have stayed out there in the rain, had I not dragged him here. I gave an annoyed sigh, glancing over at a nearby waitress.

"Excuse me, M-Miss, but can we p-please have some izanagi with sweet tea and—" There was a slight hitch in my words, as my response flew out naturally, before I could stop or even think about it. "—miso soup with eggplants and black t-tea, please"

She gave me a bright smile before nodding and heading away. I rummaged through my pants pocket, pulling out the cash that Mommy and Papa insisted I carried with me at all times.

"You must be quite hungry," Kakashi observed quietly, his tone as flat as his eyes.

"Not all of it is for me," I muttered irritably. "You're going to be eating, too."

"I do believe I mentioned I wasn't hungry."

I turned towards him, then, and shot him a glare. "You're a lying liar who lies."

Kakashi blinked in surprise.

I pointed outside, where it was still raining heavily. "You would h-have stayed out th-there all day, wouldn't you? You would have stayed out there and gotten sick and not care, wouldn't you?!"

Kakashi seemed mildly annoyed at my words, his eyes narrowing. "So?"

I glowered at him, standing up in my seat so I could meet him eye to eye. "That's selfish! You need to take care of yourself, t-too, you know! What about your friends? Family? You'll just end up worrying them sick if you don't take care of yourself. That's why—That's why you have to, and that's why you're going to sit here, wait out the rain, and eat. Because you need to."

"You're incorrect on two accounts," Kakashi said smoothly, a cold edge in his voice. "One, I don't need to do anything. Two, I don't have any living friends or family."

I faltered, my eyes widening as I stared at him, immediately I felt chastised and shameful of my rather blunt demands, losing all of my courage.

It only lasted for a moment, though, when I remembered what I was wearing.

I then scowled, pointing directly at the goggles. "You're wrong! You gave me these goggles—so—so—that makes us friends! You trusted something as special as a memento to one of your precious people, so that means you're my friend, now. O-Okay? So I'll worry about you if you don't care of yourself. So that's why—that's why—"

I trailed off, losing nerve as I continued to stare at his impassive face. I lost it entirely at the end and blushing brightly, I sat back down in my seat. Mutely, I stared down at my lap, and the two of us settled into silence. No words were spoken or actions performed until the food and drinks had arrived.

Kakashi gave a small sigh, staring at his meal. "Mouii... You're rather troublesome."

I glanced away, flushing.

Kakashi gave a small humorless chuckle before I felt his hand rest on the top of my head. He patted it. "I guess I better eat, then, huh? It wouldn't do to needlessly worry a friend, after all."

My eyes widened and I glanced up sharply at him. I felt my cheeks warm as I caught Kakashi smiling at me through his eyes.

I smiled shyly back. "Mn!"

"Say, how'd you know I liked eggplants?"

I shrugged. "It just came to me."

"Mn... is that so?"

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

Question: The most awkward situation you've ever been in?

Reviews are love!