"So Naruto-Kun, how have you been?" Itachi asked quietly, Naruto looked up in surprise at the question.
"You aren't upset with me for hurting your brother?" Naruto asked, not knowing that Sasuke was far from hurt. Naruto jumped slightly when Itachi snorted at the question. "Foolish little brother hurt you. He wasn't hurting, he was sleeping around with many people and having so many one night stand. Father and mother were very angry with him for it."
"They had liked me? I thought they didn't approve of the relationship." Naruto said quietly as they turned a corner and into their classroom. Itachi sighed and sat down. Does this boy need neon signs to know that his parents never hated him or the relationship for that matter. They were just pretending to see how the two would react. They had stayed together despite their disapproval which the two was somewhat proud of.
The two went through classes together and was partnered together in a project which they were secretly relieve about. They became quick friends and was exchanging contacts when the rest of Itachi's squad came to join them at the table. Konan slung an arm around Naruto as she typed in her phone number in Naruto's phone number and started typing the others phone number in. "So when you feel lonely, call us and we'll all go out together and have fun!" Konan explained.
"I think he'll be calling Itachi more than any of us." Deidara said suggestively. Konan had figured out years ago that Itachi has a crush on Naruto and she spread the word throughout the squad almost immediately, much to Itachi's dismay. Naruto frowned slightly, knowing there was a hidden meaning but couldn't figure out what it was. Naruto was ushered to their table as they went to buy food and to get food for him.
They noticed Naruto was almost cowering behind Itachi as they ate. Naruto must have seen something on the window reflection because he turned abruptly to look at it before he slipped under the table quickly. He crawled past Konan's leg, shaking his head at her as if to tell her to tell the person who would be looking for him that he wasn't here. She quickly yanked Naruto's tray to herself and put it on the space next to her, out of view. Everyone on the table looked confused but Konan gestured that she'll handle it and they improvise.
They seem to understand immediately why Naruto had slipped under the table when a certain raven approached. "Did you guys see Naruto?"
"Why would you ask that?" Konan asked.
"He came to my class but was apparently given the wrong schedule and he is in senior class." Sasuke said.
"And why do we have anything to do with that?" Yahiko asked, absentmindedly playing with his piercings.
"He was in advance Calculus which is what Aniki was having at that time." Sasuke said, hoping they would just tell him were Naruto went.
"Ah. Unfortunately no. I think he left immediately after the classes ended." Kakuzu said in his deep almost an intimidating voice. Sasuke nodded and turned to leave. Naruto peeked out to see if he was gone. "Hey Naru. Just breathe okay? It's okay. He's gone now." Itachi said when he noticed that Naruto went back under the table, almost gasping for air. "It's alright now." Itachi said as he bent under to comfort him. Itachi yanked Naruto's bag towards himself and quickly went through his bag as he slipped under the table to sit with him. He dug out a bag of pills and quickly read the label. "Here." He said as he gave him the pill after fumbling for it. He shoved the packet back into his bag before hugging him to get him to calm down. "Yes. That's right. Breathe in, breathe out. Good. It's alright okay. Don't cry." Itachi said softly, whispering soothing words to Naruto as he rubbed his back. Itachi wiped the lone tear that slipped from Naruto's eye and held his face in a firm yet gentle grip. "You're going to be okay. It's okay. I'm here okay? I won't let you get hurt." Naruto nodded, calming down. Naruto took a deep breath and sighed into his hands. "I feel like I embarrassed myself." Naruto mumbled. Itachi jerked his finger towards somewhere behind Naruto. He turned to see a few of them had slipped under the table grinning at him. Naruto laughed slightly at them as he got up from under the table and everybody resumed eating, knowing not to ask any questions.
The group pulled Itachi aside after Naruto left to go to his art classes. "What the f*ing hell just happened?" Hidan asked, worried about the boy they just met. Itachi looked around quietly before gesturing them to come closer.
"Naruto suffers from depression and anxiety, has been for many many years, way before he met Sasuke. But when he met Sasuke he had gotten a little better, he stopped suffering from those panic attacks."
"So long story short, Sasuke caused those panic attacks to come back." Nagato said. Itachi nodded to confirm the statement. Someone will have to help him.