Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, Persona 4, or anything from the Shin Megami Tensei, Megami Tensei, and Persona series.

Author's Note-Man, I had a lot on my plate during the end of Spring Term. Well, my summer is free, so I will be trying to update the stories on both my accounts. However, I might have a new story up either on this account or my other depending on the rating. Oh, thanks Gamerteen13 for proofreading this chapter! However, enjoy the latest chapter!


Ch.2 "Murders and Midnight Channel"

"-GASP!-" WHACK!

"Ow…" Sasuke groaned as Naruto just sleepily blinked from the weird dream both of them had. "…You don't need a Konoha headband… Your head is hard enough to probably deflect a kunai!" Sasuke groaned, tears in his eyes from the pain his forehead was in.

"…What was that strange dream?" Naruto mumbled, playing with his pajama top which Ryotaro had gotten him.

"So, we had the same dream in that foggy place and fighting a figure in the fog who kept talking about seeking the truth." Sasuke got up and noticed it was morning. "Man… This is just getting weirder and weirder in this world." Sasuke looked at the door when he heard a knock.

"Breakfast is ready!" Nanako shouted as both boys looked at each other.

"We best get dressed." Sasuke groaned before sweating to see Naruto was almost done getting dress already. After getting dressed, they went down stairs to find Nanako finishing setting the table.

"Good morning." Nanako greeted as she put the last plate at the large table and all three sat down. "Okay. Let's eat." Nanako chimed as Sasuke noticed Ryotaro not there.

"Did your father go to work?" Sasuke asked to notice Nanako frown a little.

"There was some kind of trouble. He won't be back." Nanako sighed before changing the subject. "You're starting school today, right? My school's on the way, so let's go together." Nanako smiled at both of the boys.

"Sure… We don't know the streets well anyways, so that will help." Sasuke sighed, before softly smiling. "But, you're a good cook, Nanako." Nanako blushed in embarrassment only for both to be shocked to see Naruto had finished his breakfast already and stole the last of the extra toast. "Naruto! I know you got enough hungry for an entire city, but don't eat everything!"

"…Sowwy." Naruto said through munching on the toast. After breakfast, they all walked through the rain towards school with Nanako walking with them half way.

"Huh? Wow… You liking orange must be genetic…" Sasuke sighed noticing Naruto was wearing an orange button up shirt not tucked into his pants instead of a white button up shirt as was suggested for the uniform with his black uniform coat open and his black pants being held up by a belt, especially since he accidentally popped the button off of it. On his feet were wooden cog sandals as Naruto became fond of walking around barefoot, but Ryotaro wouldn't let Naruto do that, though Naruto had thin chains hanging off the back of his belt. Sasuke was wearing a similar outfit, but he was wearing a navy blue shirt underneath and had a band of fabric tied around his right upper arm with the Uchiha symbol on it as his shirt was shredded, so he managed to salvage the crest part. He had no chains on his belt, but had hidden his kunai and shuriken pouch inside his uniform jacket's right sleeve just in case as he gotten it back from the police.

"…I just like the color…" Naruto mumbled shyly, still trying to understand normal behavior. "Huh?" Naruto looked to his side as Sasuke and heard a strange low squeaking sound to see another student riding a two wheel device while trying to hold and umbrella.

"Whoaaaa!" –Crash!- Sasuke flinched as they both watch the older boy crash and was now leaning over and covering his family jewels. "Ngh… Urrrahhhh." The boy moaned.

"Ouch… That had to hurt… Let's leave him be." Sasuke whiskered, pulling Naruto along as the blond kept staring at the light brown hair boy. "We need to go find the teacher lounge to find our homeroom teacher.

-Television-

The classroom of class 2-2 was full of people talking and chatting of the new school year. Some greeting classmates from last year and other talking gossip.

"Ah… Talk about bad luck… The homeroom teacher here is Morooka, isn't it?" A student moaned.

"Yeah, it's King Moron alright… We get to enjoy his long-ass sermons every day for a whole year…" The student's friend sighed.

"Hey, you guys, I heard there's going to be two transfer students from the city in this class." A female girl gossiped to the two boys.

"Huh? Really? A guy or a girl? Hope two girls." One of the boys asked.

"Two transfer students from the city…" A short brown hair girl wearing a green jacket smirked. "Just like you, huh, Yosuke?" The girl said to the boy in the seat behind her, but the boy had his head on the table. "…Huh? You look dead today."

"Yeah, um… I don't wanna talk about it…" The boy groaned, adjusting his red-orange headphones around his neck for some comfort even though he was still in pain.

"What's with him?" The girl asked the girl in front of her wearing a red uniform sweater and had long black hair.

"Who knows?" The other girl sighed before the door opened and a man with a dark blue suit with light blue thin stripes, a yellow checker board tie, a bad short hair do, and, to top it off, horrible teeth walked in with two short students following him.

"Awright, shut your traps!" The teacher growled as the students quiet down and sat down. "I'm Morooka Kinshiro, your homeroom teacher from today forward! First things first! Just 'cause it's spring doesn't mean you can swoon over each other like love-struck baboons. Long as I'm around, you students are going to be pure as the driven snow!" Everyone in the class sweated at the man. "Now I hate wasting my time, but I'd better introduce these transfer students. These sad sacks' been thrown from the big city out to the middle of nowhere like yesterday's garbage. And they are just as much of a loser here as they were there, so you girls better not get any ideas about hitting on them! Tell 'em your names, kids, and make it quick."

A vein popped up on Sasuke's forehead as Naruto and he looked at him.

"You calling us losers?...Tch./…Why are you calling us losers when we just met you?" Both spoke in unison towards the teacher. However, the effect was the same. The class was quite shock as the teacher glared at them both.

"Hrnh… That's it, you're on my shit list, effective immediately." Morooka growled. "Now listen up! This town is miles away from your big city of perverts and assholes, in more ways than one. You better not even think of getting involved with the girls here, let alone abusing them! But, what do I know… It's not like the old days. Even here, kids grow up so damn fast. Every time I turn my back, you're fooling around on those damn phones, checking your life-journals and your my-places…" A vein pops up on Sasuke's forehead as the stupid teacher went on and on.

"Excuse me! Is it okay if the transfer students sit here?" The short hair girl interrupted.

"Huh? Yeah, sure. Hear that? Your seats over there." Mooroka snapped out of lecture mode. "So, hurry up and sit down already!" Sasuke dragged Naruto over to the two seats fear next to the short hair girl and the black hair girl. He sat next to the short hair girl, keeping Naruto in front of him to tell Naruto when he needed to do something or how.

"He's the worst, huh?" The green jacket wearing girl whispered to Sasuke. "Rotten luck for you to get stuck in this class… Well, we'll just have to hang in there for a year." Sasuke nodded in understanding, just hoping this annoying teacher known as Mooroka was the more "action" type like Iruka… He still remember that since it was hard to be suspended or expelled at Konoha's Ninja Academy, the punishments were pretty harsh to get the trouble makers to stop… Not that it stopped Naruto and some others.

"Sucks to be the transfer students, ending up in King Moron's class on the first morning here…" Sasuke's ears picked up the rumors being whispered around.

"Yeah, he won't think twice about suspending you if you get on his bad side. Then again, we're all in the same boat."

"Shut your traps!" Morooka shouted for everyone to shut their mouths. "I'm taking roll, and I damn well expect you to respond in an orderly manner!"

'Man… This might be worse than the academy.' Sasuke sighed in annoyance. 'Well, I won't be complaining anymore about the academy after this…' Sasuke sighed, wondering how two ninja would blend into a civilian school.

-Television-

"…That's all for today. Normal lectures will start tomorrow." Morooka growled as the students began to get and talk while he headed for the door only for a bell tone to come from the school intercom.

"Attention, all teachers. Please report immediately to the Faculty Office for a brief staff meeting. All students must return to their classrooms and are not to leave the school until further notice."

"Hrnh." Morooka growled in annoyance. "You heard the announcement. Don't go anywhere until you hear otherwise." Morooka stamped out of the room.

"He's seriously getting on my nerves…" A girl sighed in annoyance which seemed to be coming off several students. However, the sounds of sirens quickly ended it and several students ran to the window.

"Did something happen? Don't those sirens sound really close?" One excited student chimed.

"Ugh, I can't see a damn thing. Frickin' fog…" Another student groaned.

"Yeah, like every time it rains lately, it gets all foggy."

"Hey, did you hear? I hear the paparazzi's looking all over for that announcer."

"Oh yeah. You mean Yamano Mayumi, right? I heard some guys spotted her at the shopping district." A student chimed.

"Actually, I heard that…"

"Are you serious?" The student who loved rumors gasped before walking over to the red sweater wearing girl sitting next to Naruto. "H-Hey, Yukiko-san. Mind if I ask you something…? Is it true that announcer's staying at your family's inn?"

"I can't discuss such things." The black hair girl sighed as Naruto stared at her.

"Y-Yeah, I guess not." The student sighed before running back to the window.

The green jacket wearing girl sighed. "Sheesh, how much longer is this gonna to take?"

"There's no telling." The black hair girl smiled.

"I shoulda left before the announcement came on…" The short hair girl sighed again before smiling. "By the way, didja try what I told you the other day?" The black hair girl looked at her friend confusedly. "You know… That thing about rainy nights…"

"Oh… No, not yet. Sorry." The girl apologized.

"Ahhh, that's okay." The other girl chimed. "Well… It's just, I heard a guy in the class next door yell something like, 'My soulmate is Yamano, the announcer!'" Just then, the intercom made the bell tone again.

"Attention, all students. There has been an incident inside the school district. Police officers have been dispatched around the School Zone. Please stay calm and contact your parents or guardians as soon as possible, and quickly leave the school grounds. Do not disturb the police officers. Head directly home. I repeat…"

"'Incident?'" A excited student chimed happily.

"What, something actually happened?"

"C'mon, let's go take a look!" Two female students ran off. Sasuke just got up with a sigh and Naruto got up to follow Sasuke.

"Hey, are you going home by yourself?" Sasuke looked up to see the girl he was sitting next to him in class talking to him. "Why don't you two come with us? Oh, nearly forgot! I'm Satonaka Chie. You know I sit next to you, right?"

"Pretty obvious…" Sasuke sighed, wondering what this older girl wanted. Most girls his age wanted to date him, but now this was another age range.

"Well, nice to meet you!" Chie looked at her dark hair friend. "Oh, and this is Amagi Yukiko."

"Oh, nice to meet you… I'm sorry that this is so sudden…" Yukiko looked down.

"C'mon, don't apologize like that. It makes me look like I got no upbringing." Chie sheepishly smiled. "I just wanted to ask some stuff. Really, that's all."

"Sure… Why not… Come on, Naruto." Sasuke sighed as his friend nodded and all four headed for the door for Sasuke and Naruto to blink at the boy they saw that crashed this morning in front of them.

"Uh, umm, Satonaka-san…?" The boy reached into his bag, looking pretty bleak and pulled out a plastic case. "This was really awesome. Like, the way they moved was just amazing to see…" The boy bowed, holding the case to Chie. "And… I'm really sorry! It was an accident! Please just have mercy until my next paycheck!" Chie tooked back the case. "Seeya thanks!" The boy tried to rush out.

"Stop right there! What did you do to my DVD?" Sasuke flinched as the boy got another hit below the belt for the day. The group walked over to Chie who opened the case for her eyes to widen. "What the? I can't believe this! It is completely cracked… My 'Trail of the Dragon'…!"

"I think mine's cracked too…" The bleak boy moaned, looking like he was about to pass out from pain. "C-Critical hit to the nads…"

"A-Are you all right?" Yukiko asked in worry for the boy's health.

"Oh, Yukiko-san… Are you worried about me?" The boy moaned, a little happier.

"He's fine, Yukiko." Chie growled. "Let's ditch him and go home."

"Come on… He sort of deserved that… I think…" Sasuke sighed as Naruto and he followed Chie and Yukiko. It didn't take the group of four to each the gate outside, but Naruto looked up, alert, as a dark hair student wearing a different high school uniform ran up.

"You're Yuki, right? Y-You want to hang out somewhere?" The strange student asked.

"What…? Wh-Who are you?" Yukiko asked, confused.

"What's up with him? What school's he from?" A student watching from afar said.

"Never mind that, he's going for Yukiko-san? Man, you'd think he's at least wait until she's alone to make his move…" Another student sighed.

"I bet you a can of TaP he gets knocked out." The other student chimed.

"No bet. Haven't you heard how difficult the Amagi Challenge is?"

"Um, s-so… are you coming or not?" The strange student asked.

"I-I'm not going…" Yukiko looked down.

"…Fine!" The student shouted before running off.

"Wh-What did he want from me?" Yukiko asked in shock.

"What did he want…? Obviously, he was asking you out on a date." Chie pointed out for her friend.

"Huh? Really…? Yukiko asked, seeming confused.

"You really had no clue? Sheesh…" Chie sighed at her friends antics. "But, then again, that was way over the time. It was creepy how he called you Yuki all of a sudden."

"Yo, Yukiko-san," The student from before chimed while walking up with his strange wheeled device, "Turned down another lovelorn fool, huh? Man, you're cruel… You got me the same way last year."

"I don't recall doing that." Yukiko sighed.

"Whoa, you serious?" The student smiled. "So, then, you wanna hang out sometime?"

"… I'd rather not." Yukiko shot down the boy.

"That'll teach me to get my hopes up…" The boy sighed before smiling. "Anyways, you two better not pick on the transfer students too much." The boy rode off before getting hurt again.

"We're just curious, is all!" Chie roared as Sasuke found this girl reminded him of two of his fangirls who were loud…

"U-Um, I'm sorry for dragging you two into this…" Yukiko apologized as Sasuke noticed Naruto getting stiff and realized other students were staring at them.

Chie noticed this as well. "C'mon, let's go. Everybody is staring." They all left the school gate, not liking being the center of attention. They were soon walking down the street to head home.

"Ah… So you are both orphans and were taken in as they have no idea where you guys came from. That's a pretty interesting thing." Chie sighed. "There really is nothing here, huh? That is what makes it nice, but there's nothing much we can show to people from outside. Oh! Though, there is something from … I think out dyed clothes or pottery or something is kinda famous. Oh wait, there's the Amagi Inn! Yukiko's family runs it. It's the pride of Inaba!" Chie chimed.

"Huh?" Yukiko sweated. "It's… just an old inn."

"Oh, no way, it's been in all sorta magazines as a hidden treasure." Chie smiled happily. "It's a great inn! It's been going for generations, and Yukiko here is going to take over someday. The inn actually attracts a lot of visitors to Inaba. It pretty much keeps this town going."

"…I don't think that's entirely true." Yukiko sighed tiredly.

"So, tell me. You think Yukiko's cute, huh?" Chie chimed as Yukiko panicked.

"Actually, any girl wearing decent clothes is cute to me. Agh... In fact, this is the first time I have actually managed to talk to a girl without them going 'Go out with me, Sasuke-kun' or something like that…" Sasuke sighed. "…Well, I guess it's official, my type will forever be girls several years older than me. So, yeah, she is cute to me."

"I knew it…" Chie chimed as what all Sasuke had said had set in.

"Come on… Don't start this again…" Yukiko sighed.

"She's really popular at school, but she's never had a boyfriend. Kinda weird, huh?" Chie asked.

"C-Come on, stop it." Yukiko blushed in embarrassment. "Y-You shouldn't believe that, okay? It's not true that I'm popular or that I've never had a boyfriend!" Yukiko stuttered. "Wait, no! Wh-What I meant to say was, I don't need a boyfriend! Geez… Chie!"

"Hahaha!" Chie laughed. "Sorry, sorry. But this is our chance to talk to somebody from the big city, and you barely said a word!" Chie noticed Naruto looking forward, not saying a word and looked where Naruto was looking at. "Hey, what's that?" They walked up to a street corner where a crowd had formed.

"So that high schooler left early and as she came down this street…"

"Wow. Who could imagine THAT hanging from an antenna?"

"I wanted to see it too." Two housewives were talking to each other.

"Uh, you got here too late… The police and fire department took it down just a moment ago."

"Well, I think it's terrifying. I can't believe a dead body showed up around here…" Chie, Yukiko, and Sasuke were shocked while Naruto stared at where the crowd was surrounded.

"Wait… What did she just say? A dead body?" Chie gasped in shock. However, the three realized Naruto was watching Ryotaro walking towards them.

"Hey, what're you two doing here?" Ryotaro asked, not looking happy.

"We were heading back to your home." Sasuke answered. "Did something happen?"

"Well… You could say that." Ryotaro groaned. "That damn principal. We told him not to let them through here…"

"…You two know this guy?" Chie looked down at Sasuke and Naruto.

"I'm Detective Dojima, their guardian. Uhh… Well, how should I say this… I hope you get along with them both." Ryotaro quickly frowned. "But you four really ought to stop wandering around and head straight home." Ryotaro began to walk away only to stop and watch a man run pass him and the group to puke in a trash can. This, however, made Ryataro mad. "Adachi! How long are you going to act like a rookie? You want to be sent back to the central office?

"I'm sorry… Nngh…" The young detective in a dark suit and had short, somewhat shaggy dark brown hair sighed.

Ryotaro sighed. "Go wash your face. We're gonna go around and gather information!" Both detectives went back to work.

'…Man, I saw all of my clan dead and that detective just puked seeing one dead body… What a loser…' Sasuke thought while noticing Chie and Yukiko were pale.

"Was this what that announcement was about?" Chie asked in horror.

"What do they mean… it was hanging from the antenna?" Yukiko asked, pale and looking ill.

"Hey, Yukiko…? Why don't we go to Junes some other time?" Chie frowned.

"Good idea…" Yukiko sighed, not feeling like hanging out now.

"Alright them. We're taking off. Starting tomorrow, neighbor, let's do our best!" Chie chimed, trying to hide her fear at the moment. Sasuke only nodded and watched the girls leave.

"… Naruto, you haven't spoke a lot today. You alright?" Sasuke asked, looking at Naruto.

"…I… I don't know how I should 'converse.'" Sasuke sweated as Naruto looked down. "Also… The scent here… Is the same there…"

"Huh?" Sasuke blinked as Naruto shook his head.

"Nothing… My nose must be playing tricks on me." Naruto sighed while heading towards the Dojima residence.

-Television-

Sasuke and Naruto sat with Nanako in the living room, watching the television.

"I wonder if Dad's not coming home again tonight…" Nanako sighed

"Our top story this evening concerns a bizarre case in a quiet suburb. Around noon today, a woman was found dead near the Samegawa River in Inaba." Sasuke was shocked seeing the area the high school was at being shown on the news.

'Why do I have a feeling this was that dead body I heard about?' Sasuke thought as the news continued.

"The deceased has been identified as Ms. Yamano Mayumi, a twenty-seven old announcer at the local television station. The initial results of the Inaba Police Department's investigation have revealed…"

"Ah! The Inaba Police Department! Th-That's where Dad works!" Nanako yelped in surprise. "…" Nanako frowned.

"He'll be alright. We meet him on the way home and he was fine." Sasuke said, trying to cheer Nanako up.

"… I know. That's his job, so this stuff happens." Nanako sighed as they focused back on the news.

"The body was found hanging from a large television antenna atop a local resident's roof. Authorities are uncertain as to why the body was in such a state. With the cause of death also uncertain, police continue to investigate whether the death is an accident or a homicide. A thick fog common to the area has slowed their progress, and plans to fully canvas the area are delayed until tomorrow."

'So, it was that announcer who was on the news yesterday. She was having an affair with a political person. I wonder though why someone would hang a dead body off an antenna… Some sicko probably.' Sasuke let out a small sigh.

"They found her on the roof? That's scary…" Nanako sighed, shivering a little. However, she quickly was distracted by a commercial. "Oh, it's Junes!"

"At Junes, every day is Customer Appreciation Day. Come see for yourself, and get in touch with our products! Every day's great at your Junes!"

"Every day's great at your Junes!" Nanako sang happily.

"Do you like that song?" Sasuke asked as Naruto hummed the tune.

"Yep. It's popular at school too." Nanako chimed before singing the song over and over again with Naruto joining in, helping her to forget about the news story.

-Television-

"Man… Naruto, you sleep like a corpse. It took me a good fifteen minutes to wake you up." Sasuke groaned as Naruto and he walked to high school the next morning.

"…Sorry…" Naruto frowned while looking down.

"Hn… Don't worry about it… Just, we might need to buy a very loud alarm clock to make sure you don't oversleep." Sasuke sighed before he heard pedaling behind him as now he knew what a bicycle is. Naruto and he watched as a yellow bike zoom by and crash into a garbage area and the rider got stuck rolling around in a trash can.

"S-Someone…" The rolling student yelped.

"Naruto, help me out." Sasuke sighed, grabbed the guy's legs only for Naruto to brutally crush the end of the trash can with his grip and yank the student up and ultimately getting the trash can off as well. "Uh, Naruto, that was a bit rough."

"Sorry…" Naruto sighed as Sasuke frowned at the fact Naruto was apologizing a lot lately.

"Whew, you two saved me. Thanks! Umm…" Sasuke sweated, wondering if the student noticed the now crushed end of the trash can. "Oh yeah, that's right. You two are those transfer students, Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto. I'm Hanamura Yosuke. Nice to meet ya." Yosuke chimed while smiling.

"Are you alright?" Sasuke asked, wondering how the guy managed to land in the trash.

"Oh, yeah, yeah, I'm fine." Yosuke sighed. "Say, did you hear about the incident from yesterday? They found that announcer lady hanging from an antenna! You think it was some kinda warning? There's no way something that weird could've been an accident."

"…You might be right." Sasuke shivered, remembering some of the demon that nearly ate Naruto and him.

"Dangling a dead body over a roof like that… That's just messed up." Yosuke frowned. "Then again, it's pretty messed up to kill someone in the first place." Yosuke looked at his watch and panicked. "Oh crap, we're late! You wanna ride? It's a little squeaky, but it should be fine since you two are small and seem light." Naruto cocked his head as Sasuke sweated at that comment.

-Television-

'Wow… And I thought the lectures at the academy were boring.' Sasuke thought as the last bell rung and he was finishing packing his bag.

"So, you getting used to this place?" Sasuke looked up to see Yosuke standing next to him.

"Surprisingly, yeah…" Sasuke sighed, finding it easier to relax in this town… But, then again, there were no worries of ninja attacking him for his Sharingan eyes.

"Wow, that was fast. Same with your pal?" Yosuke looked at Naruto only to sweat as it seemed Naruto was staring at him, yet he couldn't tell with the bangs.

"Naruto… Not really… He has… social issues." Sasuke sighed as Yosuke nodded in understanding.

"Well, there isn't much to do here compared to the big city, but there is that certain… something you can't get anywhere else. The air's clean, the food's great… Oh, you know about the local delicacy? It's grilled steak, man! Like that's anything special, huh? I know a place where you can get it cheap. Wanna come? You help me out this morning, so it's on me."

"What about me, huh? No apologies?" Chie came up pouting. "My 'Trail of the Dragon.'"

"Urgh…" Yosuke groaned. "You always come around when I'm talking about food…"

Chie smiled at Yukiko. "How about it, Yukiko? Don't you think he should treat us, too?" Yukiko got up and frowned.

"I'll pass… I don't want to gain any more weight. I need to help out at the inn today, anyway." Yukiko let out a tired sigh.

"Wow, Yukiko-san! You started training to take over the business?" Yosuke chimed.

"It's not like that! I'm just helping out when it gets busy." Yukiko looked down. "Well, I should be on my way." Yukiko left the room as Chie sighed.

"Oh well. We should get going too." Chie chimed.

"Huh? Do I seriously have to treat three people…?" Yosuke groaned.

"I'll pay for Naruto's and mine." Sasuke offered for Yosuke to shake his head.

"I made a promise to treat you guys for saving me, so I will." Sasuke sweated, knowing this would not end well… They all went to Junes once leaving the school.

"THIS is the cheap place you were talking about…? They don't have grilled steak here." Chie groaned, quite unhappy.

"Yeah, well, once you hopped on to the freeloader train, I had to change my plans." Yosuke sighed.

"Still, that's no reason to take us to your place." Chie growled in anger as Sasuke mimicked Naruto in his head tilting.

"Dude, this isn't my place or anything." Yosuke then noticed the confused-well as much as he could tell from what looked like a stoic blond known as Naruto-looks on Sasuke and Naruto's faces. "Oh, right. I haven't told you yet, huh? I moved here from another city about six months back. This location just opened up, and my dad was assigned to manage it. So our entire family came out here." Yosuke picked up his drink from the tray of fast food he brought out that was ordered. "Here, this is to welcome you to town." Sasuke and Chie got their drinks as Naruto got his last as it took him a second to realize he was supposed to get his drink.

"Satonaka, yours is on me too." Yosuke chimed.

"Yeah, I know." Chie chimed before they did a toast and drank which the conversation went into some small talk, though mainly to try and get Naruto talking.

"It's only been half a year since this place opened up, but I haven't been to the local shopping district much since." Chie sighed. "A lot of stores there started closing and… Oh, uh…"

"… You can't blame it all on Junes, can you?" Yosuke sighed sadly. Sasuke just raised an eyebrow when he noticed Naruto staring at something. He looked to see Naruto staring at a very platinum blond, wavy hair woman would sat at one of the other tables.

"Hey… It's Saki-senpai!" Yosuke chimed. "Sorry, be right back."

"Who's that?" Sasuke asked as Yosuke went over to the woman.

"Oh, that's Konishi Saki. Her family runs a liquor store in the shopping district." Chie explained, realizing both didn't know who the woman was. "… I think she's working here part-time, though."

"I see…" Sasuke sighed. "Well, she seems pretty tired…" Sasuke pointed out, noticing the young woman had signs of something stressful happening to her… He knew because he looked a similar way after the Uchiha Massarce.

"…Her scent… From yesterday…" Naruto mumbled for both Sasuke and Chie to look at him with confusion.

"Huh?" Chie asked for Naruto to shake his head.

"It's nothing…" Naruto sighed.

"Dude… What's with you? You sure like to be quiet." Chie sheepishly laughed before seeing the young woman Yosuke was talking to walk over with Yosuke.

"Are you two the transfer students? Oh, did you hear about me already? It must be nice to have someone else from the big city to talk to, huh?" Saki chimed.

'… The police must have told everyone we came from a big city…What a bunch of lairs.' Sasuke thought in annoyance.

"I don't see Hana-chan hanging out with the other guys much."

"N-Not necessarily…" Yosuke stuttered while looking down.

"He doesn't have too many friends, so I hope you three get along good." Saki sighed. "Hana-chan's a good guy, but he can get nosy sometimes. You gotta tell him right to his face when he starts to annoy you."

"That's not true… If you knew what Naruto was like before the… accident, then Yosuke here is like an angel of pureness." Naruto looked down as Sasuke sweated. "Ah, Naruto, you weren't not bad, it's just back then you just knew which buttons to push to really get on people's nerves."

"Ahaha, I know… I'm just kidding." Saki chimed, though Yosuke and Chie looked at Naruto with a raised eyebrow.

"C-C'mon, Senpai. There's no need to worry about something like that." Yosuke whined.

"Well, my break's just about over. Back to work I go…" Saki chimed. "Laters!" Saki walked off.

"Oh, uh, Senpai!" Yosuke sighed, only to sit down to see Saki was gone. However, he then chuckled. "Hahah, Saki-senpai says I'm annoying, but she's even nosier than me. She has a younger brother, and she treats me pretty much the same way…"

"Ohhh, you don't want her treating you like a brother, huh? Oh, I get it… So that's how it is…" Chie chimed with a smirk. "The daughter of a local family-run liquor store and the scion of the invading chain… The flame of forbidden love!" Yosuke did a double take which made Sasuke wonder how the dude didn't snap his neck.

"Wha-? Dude, it's not like that." A light blush was on Yosuke's cheeks.

"Oh reaaally… Well, I know just the thing to cheer up that lovesick heart." Chie chuckled. "You ever hear of the Midnight Channel? You're supposed to look into a TV that's switched off, alone, exactly at midnight on a rainy night. While you're staring at your own image, another person will appear on the screen and they say that person's your soulmate."

"What? For a second, I thought you were actually going to say something useful. How can you get all excited over such a childish urban legend like that?" Yosuke yawned though Sasuke raised an eyebrow.

"Chidlish, huh?" Chie asked in an enraged tone. "You don't believe it, do you?"

"Of course I don't!" Yosuke frowned.

"Well, it's raining tonight! Let's all try it out-then you'll see!" Chie snorted in anger.

"Try it out…?" Yosuke asked with interest before realizing it. "Wait. You haven't even tried it yourself?" Yosuke let lose a tired sigh. "Wow, I'm trying to remember the last time I heard something this stupid…" Naruto looked down. "All that aside… You know that 'incident' yesterday? You guys think it was murder? Ooh, what if the culprit behind it was still lurking around…? Heehee…" Yosuke joked.

"Sheesh, you shouldn't joke about stuff like that. Now who's the childish one…?" Chie grunted in disgust. "All I am saying is, you guys better try it out tonight."

'Midnight Channel… But… Didn't that television turn on late at night when we were pulled in?' Sasuke thought, trying to remember as the time in that strange world was sort of blurry to him. 'This… This could be connected to that world and that means a way to find Naruto's memory!' Sasuke nodded, deciding to have Naruto and he would watch the Midnight Channel tonight.

-Television-

Sasuke noticed Nanako looked sort of sad while the three of them were eating during… Having extra for Naruto as Sasuke discovered Naruto may eat all ramen just to eat enough to keep his hunger under control. "Did your father call, Nanako?" Sasuke asked, not wanting to see her frown. 'Is this what he felt being my brother?'

"No. He always says he will." Nanako sighed before hearing the door opened. "Oh! He's home!" Nanako chimed happily. Ryotaro walked into the living room and flopped onto the couch.

"What a day." Ryotaro sighed tiredly. "I'm back. Did anything happen while I was out?"

"No. You're late again." Nanako pouted in anger.

"I'm sorry… Been busy at work. Can you put the news on for me?" Ryotaro asked and Nanako did what she was told though a bit annoyed at her father.

"Next, more details in the developing story on the incident in foggy Inaba. Announcer Yamano Mayumi's dead body was found hanging above a house in this rural town. It is confirmed that Ms. Yamano had been involved in an affair with Namatame Taro, husband of enka singer Hiiragi Misuzu. The police plan to investigate this relationship and question any personnel involved with them. In addition, we now bring you an exclusive interview with the local student who found Ms. Yamano's body."

Ryotaro sighed. "An interview with the kid? Where the hell did they find her?

"What went through your mind when you saw it? Could you tell she was dead? Did you see her face?" The reporter asked a girl on the television, but the girl's face was blurred.

"U-Umm…" The girl's voiced was indistinct, but even with the distortions, Sasuke could tell he saw the person before..

"Don't you think it's scary that someone was killed on a foggy day?"

"Huh…? She was killed?"

"Oh, errr… So did you see anyone suspicious around here?"

"No, not really…"

"We heard that you found it when you left school early. Did you have some personal business to take care of?"

"Huh? That's…"

'Stupid reporter… To be so hyped up that he is confusing her… Wait, now I realized who it is! It's Konishi Saki!' Sasuke thought, realizing who the girl was.

"—A tragedy that occurred near the local shopping district. Many storeowners are raising concerns about losing customers as a result…"

"Hmph. If they lose more customers, it'll be because you're making such a stink about it…" Ryotaro snorted in annoyance.

"It really is a bizarre case, isn't it? I mean, hanging someone upside down from an antenna. I'd have to say it's a warning or a sign from the culprit."

"Yes, but so far, no one has come forward to take credit for the crime."

"Loads of prank calls, though…" Ryotaro yawned tiredly.

"So the cause of death is still unknown? And they don't have a single suspect yet? Taxpayers' funds are going to a police force who can't even figure out if this is an accident or a homicide?"

"We'll be right back after these messages."

"At Junes, every day is Customer Appreciation Day. Come see for yourself and get in touch with our products! Every day's great at your Junes!"

"Every day's great at your Junes!" Naruto and Nanako happily sang in unison. "Hey, Dad… Can we go to Junes together sometime? Nanako chimed only for all three to hear light snoring and look at Ryotaro. "No?" It was then Nanako realized her father was asleep. She just sighed, annoyed. "Geez…"

"Naruto and I will get him into bed." Sasuke sighed.

"Oh, wait I'll-" Nanako and Sasuke watched in sock as Naruto lifted the man up with just one arm and carried him over his head to Ryotaro's room. "…Wow! He's strong!"

"…Heh heh… Yeah… He's strong…" Sasuke sheepishly laughed, wondering if the new found strength was thanks to becoming a demon. After dinner, Sasuke and Naruto stayed up in the room, waiting for midnight.

"It's still raining…" Naruto sighed as the clocking was inching closer to midnight. "… Your soulmate appears if you look into a TV on a rainy night... Do you believe this, Sasuke?" Naruto asked as both of them stood before the small television set in the room.

"…I don't know… But… It could relate to how we got here." Sasuke sighed when suddenly the television turned on. The image went in and out, but it showed some girl dancing around some kind of place with coolers for drinks for sale.

"What the…" Naruto gasped before both gripped their heads.

I am thou… Thou am I… Thou are the one… Open thy door…

"Ugh…" A ringing noised filled both Naruto and Sasuke's hearing. However, it suddenly stopped and they saw the screen go blank. "That hurt…" Sasuke sighed before both Naruto and he touched the screen to see if there was any static to see if it did came on. Much to their shock, the screen moved like water. "Woah! Weird!" Sasuke gasped as they both stuck their arm inside only for them both to be dragged. "Ack!"

-WHACK-

"Ow…" Both moaned as they were such with their heads mushed to each other side to side. Both managed to get out of the screen… But, hit their heads against the table behind them. "Ow!"

"Are you okay?" Nanako shouted.

"We're okay! Just tripped and knocked something over!" Sasuke shouted back.

"Okay…Well, good night…" Nanako left, heading back to her room to sleep.

"… Naruto… Could this mean…" Sasuke sighed, shaking his head. "We'll tell Chie and Yosuke about this tomorrow… Let's go to bed."

"…" Naruto sniffed his hand, confusing Sasuke.

"Are you alright, Naruto?"

"…Yes… But… This scent." Naruto just let out a sigh. "Nevermind… Let's go to bed." Naruto sighed before crawling all the way to his futon and under the covers.

"… I guess you were just as spooked as me about that…" Sasuke sighed, also going to his futon and laying down.

-Television-

"What's up with the body being hung upside-down? That's so freaky!" Sasuke listened to some girls talking after school.

"Is it supposed to be like, mimicking an execution? It's messed up…"

"My senpai told me it was a third-year named Saki who found the body."

Sasuke turned around, hearing footsteps to see Yosuke. "Y-yo, um…It's, uh, it's not really that important, but…Well, yesterday on TV, I…" Yosuke groaned while scratching his head. "Oh, uhh… Never mind. Look, I'll tell you later. Ahaha…" Yosuke sheepishly laughed as Chie walked up.

"Yosuke, did you hear the rumor? Saki-senpai's supposedly the one who discovered that body." Chie sighed as Yosuke looked down.

"…I wonder if that's why she looked so down… She doesn't seem to be at school today either." Yosuke sighed with worry.

Chie noticed Yukiko getting up. "Huh? Hey Yukiko, are you helping out at the inn today too?"

"Things are really out of hand right now… I'm sorry." Yukiko sighed, looking pretty tired before she left.

"Is it just me, or does Yukiko-san seems way stressed out today?" Yosuke asked in a whisper.

Chie sighed while shaking her head. "I guess they're running her ragged." But, then, Chie changed the subject, "By the way, did you see… it… last night?"

"Huh?" Yosuke paled. "Uh, well… What about you?"

"I did! I seriously saw a girl!" Chie said in shock. But… My soulmate's a girl? What's that supposed to mean? I couldn't quite tell who it was, but it was a girl for sure… Her hair was brown, about shoulder length. She was wearing our school uniform, and…"

"Her hair was pale blond hair…" Chie and Yosuke nearly jumped out of their socks when Naruto spoke. "Though, in the lighting… It looked brown."

"H-Hey… I think that's the same person I saw… And Naruto-san from what he said… Dude… I didn't think you could speak." Yosuke sheepishly chuckled. "I couldn't make out much detail, though. The image I saw was much blurrier…"

"Wait, so you both saw it too?" Chie gasped. "And we saw the same girl…? Does that mean… we have the same soulmate?"

"How should I know?" Yosuke sighed. "I mean, Naruto also saw the person. How 'bout you, Sasuke? Did you see it?"

"Yes. I was with Naruto. However… Something freaky happen last night. We both saw the same girl… But… Then, we both heard weird voices in our heads… They were familiar… But not… And then when we touch the television screen, we get one of our arms suck in… Luckily, we got stuck thanks to being too big as well as our heads pushed against each other and we were able to pull ourselves out." Sasuke sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "So, confusing…"

"It sounds like we all saw the same person…" Yosuke sighed. "But, weird voices aside, what was that about getting sucked into your TV?" Yosuke chuckled. "Were you that tired last night? You must've just fallen asleep in front of your TV."

"That'd be one interesting dream, though. I like the part where you two got stuck 'cause your TV was too small and you both hit your heads thanks to it. That's pretty realistic… With some comic humor." Chie chimed. "Well, if it had been bigger, the— Ohhh, that reminds me. Our family's been talking about buying a bigger TV."

"Oh yeah?" Yosuke smirked. "We'll, flatscreen TVs are definitely in these days. Wanna go check 'em out on the way back? We're beefing up our electronics department this month."

Chie smiled with joy beaming in her eyes. "Oh, definitely! My parents don't know anything about electronics, and I've just gotta see my kung-fu movies on the big screen! Hwa-taaaa!" Chie did a fighting pose which Sasuke raised an eyebrow at.

'Is kung-fu some kind of taijutsu?' Sasuke thought before noticing Yosuke looking at him.

"We've got some pretty big ones in stock. I bet they'd be big enough for you to fit into, hehe." Yosuke joked as Sasuke only let out a sigh.

'I am not shocked they don't believe me…It seems to be sci-fi to me ,too.' Sasuke frowned in thought while Naruto stared at him, a frown on his own face as well.

Chie, Yosuke, Sasuke, and Naruto went to the electronics section of Junes after talking at the school.

"Wow, this is huge!" Sasuke sweated, swearing in his mind he was losing his hearing from Chie's shouts. "And… Holy crap, it's expensive! Who buys something like this?"

"I dunno…" Yosuke shrugged. "Rich folks? Honestly, not many people shop for TVs here. That's why we don't have clerks around."

"Huh… Not worth trying then, I guess. Well, at least looking's free." Chie sighed before Yosuke and she went up to the screen and touched it, yet nothing happened.

"… Nope, can't get in. Figures." Yosuke sighed.

"Haha. This proves it." Chie chimed. "It was all just a dream."

"Besides, these flat-screen TVs are so thin, you'd just end up on the other side. Argh, what am I saying?" Yosuke groaned before changing the subject. "So, Chie. What kind of TV are you guys in the market for?"

"O-Oh, they said they wanted one that's cheap. You got any suggestions?" Chie asked, not noticing Sasuke was annoyed as they walked over to some other televisions.

Yosuke cleared his throat. "Well, Miss, might I suggest this one over here? It's the newest model, just released this spring." Yosuke said in his best salesman's voice.

"Wha-that's not cheap at all! There's way too many zeroes!" Chie growled in anger.

Yosuke only sweated with a sigh. "I should've asked what you meant by 'cheap' right off the bat."

"You've got connections, right?" Chie chimed. "C'mon, hook me up!"

"You know I can't do that…" Yosuke groaned. "Hey, how about this one over here. It's a display unit and it's a little old…"

'Man… How can I-' Sasuke was shocked to see Naruto had his hand inside the television. "So, it wasn't a dream!" Sasuke gasped and put his hand on the television for his hand to go through as well.

"Oh yeah, Sasuke, Naruto, what kind of TV do you-" Yosuke just gapped and stared at Sasuke and Naruto.

"Huh? Something wrong, Yosuke?" Chie turned around and also panicked.

"A-Are their arms… in the TV…?" Yosuke stuttered in shock.

"Whoa…" Chie said, pale as a ghost. "Uhhh… Is that some kinda… new model? L-Like with a new function?"

"Hell no!" Yosuke shouted before they both ran over to the two pre-teens.

"You gotta be kidding me… Did you two really stick our hand through the screen?" Chie gasped in horror.

"Oh man… This is for real… That's some magic trick, man!" Yosuke shouted. "So how's it work, huh? What's the magician's secret?"

"…" Naruto stuck his head inside as Sasuke was still noticing how astonished the others were.

"H-Hey, don't do that! What're you doing?" Yosuke shouted for Sasuke to noticed what Naruto did and he did the same thing.

"Oh my Kami!" Chie gasped.

"Hmm… It's empty space inside here." Sasuke sighed, annoyed at the fog.

"Wh-What do you mean, 'inside?'" Yosuke shouted in a panic.

"Wh-What do you mean, 'empty space'?" Chie was on the verge of freaking out.

"…It's spacious in here…" Naruto said calmly.

"Wh-What do you mean, 'spacious'?" Yosuke shouted.

"I mean, what's going on?" Chie finally said what both of them were trying to ask while Yosuke began to do the potty dance.

"Holy crap… I-I think this is all too much for my bladder."

"What the-? Are you gonna pee you pants?" Chie shouted in shock.

"I've been holding it in all day!" Yosuke grunted. "I-I haven't had a chance to go… Aaargh! Can't… hold it… anymore…!" Yosuke ran off only to run back. Shit! Customers! They're coming!"

"What?" Chie gasped in shock. "But we've got two guys half stuck in a TV here! Wh-What're we gonna do?" Chie shouted in panic as both began to run around trying to figure out what to do.

"Uh, we're not stuck…" Sasuke sighed while getting out only for Yosuke and Chie to trip on each other and hit the two ninja students and they all fell inside the television screen.

"What the? W-Wai-WHOA!" Yosuke shouted before they all landed hard on a floor. "Ow…I landed right on my wallet."

"Man… Where the heck are we?" Chie asked, looking at the fog filled area they were at. "What is this place? Some place inside Junes?"

"Hell no, it isn't." Yosuke sighed as Sasuke, Chie, and he got up. "I mean, we fell through a TV… Actually, ah… What is going on here?" Sasuke looked around and noticed it seemed like some kind of studio.

"Haa… So… uh… We're still alive… right?" Chie asked, fright still on her face.

"Is everyone alright?" Sasuke asked, wanting to make sure there was no one without serious injury.

"I think my butt's cracked now…" Yosuke grunted.

"Of course it is!" Chie angrily shouted.

"Whoa!" Yosuke shouted in shock as he looked around.

"Wh-What now? Did you wet your pants?" Chie asked in horror.

"No, stupid! Look around!" Yosuke shouted for Sasuke and Chie to look around more and see it was a studio, but not in a building and the floor seemed like a bull's eye with people chalkings on the ground which brought back some painful memories for Sasuke.

"Is this… a studio?" Chie asked, confused beyond belief. "All this fog… Or is it smoke? There's no place like this in Inaba, is there?"

"Hell no…" Yosuke whispered, also in shock. "But man, this place is huge…"

"What're we gonna do?" Chie asked.

"…Let's look around." Sasuke sighed.

"Huh? B-But…" Chie stuttered. "Look, we need to get home and-!" Chie looked around. "H-Huh? Wait a minute… Which way did we come in from? I don't see a way in… or out!"

"That's why I said we are going to look around… If this feeling I have is the same, then we need to find a television to get out." Sasuke sighed as both Chie and Yosuke looked at Sasuke with shock.

"Dude… You were in here before?" Yosuke gasped in shock.

"Yeah, though it's mostly a blur in my memory, so I don't remember much… Naruto… Oh, crap…" Sasuke frowned as Chie and Yosuke took noticed that Naruto was missing.

"Oh, what are we going to do? He must be lost somewhere in here!"

"How should I know? Man, this is out of hand!"

"I want to go home!"

"Shut up and calm down!" Chie and Yosuke looked at Sasuke who was glaring at them. "If you panic, then you don't solve anything. Naruto is alright. He may be a klutz, but he can handle himself."

"…Yeah… We need to calm down and take a breather…" Yosuke sighed.

"But, what about Naruto?" Chie frowned as she was worried.

"Trust me… He can handle whateve-" All three of them froze as they heard footsteps.

"What is that?" Yosuke whispered as the steps got closer.

"They're coming from other there." Chie pointed at one of the walkways to the side which looks rusty and old.

"Agh! Whatever you are!" Yosuke shouted, charging as Sasuke noticed a figure in the fog.

"Wait! That's-"

"WOAH!" Yosuke shouted when his wrist was caught when he tried to punch the figure and he was quickly spun to where he was on the ground with said caught arm behind his back. "Owowowowow! Okay! I give! Uncle! UNCLE!" Chie and Sasuke ran up to see Naruto had pinned Yosuke down.

"Uh, Naruto, that's Yosuke." Sasuke sighed as Naruto let Yosuke go who hopped away, rubbing his arm.

"…I'm sorry…" Naruto looked down with a frown.

"Sorry my ass! You almost broke my arm!" Yosuke whined, his arm very sore. However, then he noticed something. "Whoa, dude, where those tattoos come from?" Yosuke said, seeing the strange tattoos all over Naruto's body that was not clothed.

"…Then this proves it… Naruto and I have been in here before…" Chie and Yosuke looked at Naruto with shock. "However, I will explain later. We need to get out of here. Naruto, did you see any other there like a television?"

"…No… I looked for you and the others… However, it is best we don't go over there as I sense something where I was at that might have attacked." Naruto sighed as Chie and Yosuke sweated.

"W-What?" Chie was paled.

"All the more to get out soon..." Sasuke sighed. "This place isn't really safe."

"Actually, for some reason, just right around here… I don't sense anything…" Yosuke and Chie looked at Naruto. However, they as well as Sasuke raised an eyebrow at Naruto sniffed the air. "This scent… This way!" Naruto ran pass the group.

"Whoa! Where you going?" Yosuke shouted as Sasuke and he chased after Naruto.

"Wait up for me!" Chie shouted, chasing after the boys. They all stopped when they gotten to a strange place with a door that had red and black spinning in it. "What is this place? It feels different from where we were before."

"It looks like we're in some kinda building, but… Damn, this fog's so thick, I can hardly see." Yosuke sighed. "How the hell do you know where you're going dude?"

"Are you sure we're not wandering farther away?" Chie sighed.

"…" Naruto just looked at them and frowned.

"I can't be positive from that, but we've gotta trust our instinct a little… Or a lot with Naruto." Yosuke said with some annoyance in his tone.

"I know, but…" Chie sighed with discontent.

"Just follow Naruto's nose… Though, I am beginning to wonder if possibly his dad was an Inuzuka." Sasuke sighed as Yosuke and he followed Naruto through the doorway with Chie following them with worry all over her face. Once inside, they found themselves in a bedroom.

"Hey, is it me or is the fog lighter here?" Yosuke asked with a raised eyebrow. He then got an idea and pulled out his cell phone only to frown. "No service. What a surprise…"

"Can't you guys slow down a little? It's hard enough to see where you're going..." Chie noticed the shock on Sasuke and Yosuke's faces and turned around to see what they were looking at. "Huh? What the?" They all stared at the posters on the wall where there was red splatter which Sasuke really hoped was not blood.

"It's a dead end! There's no exit!" Chie shouted, probably trying to keep off the subject of which they just found.

"It keeps getting creepier and creepier the further we go." However, Yosuke began to do the potty dance again. "Aargh! I can't hold it any longer. My bladder's gonna explode!" Yosuke ran to the far side of the room.

"Yosuke? What're you doing?" Chie shouted in shock as well as being grossed out.

"I gotta let it out before I piss my pants!" Yosuke shouted in a panic.

"You're going here? Oh, you have got to be kidding…" Chie groaned in anger.

"Turn around! I can't go if everyone's watching!" Yosuke groaned. "Aaaaargh… I can't do it! It's all your fault if my bladder bursts!"

"Like I care." Chie sighed as Sasuke sweated at hearing Yosuke zip his pants back up. "Anyways… What's with this room? Check out these posters… Their faces are all cut out… Somebody must really hate this person…"

Yosuke walked over, only to pale at what he discovered. "Dude… This chair and rope… That kind of arrangement is never good… It's tied in a noose… Is this a scarf?"

Chie sheepishly laughed. "C'mon… Let's go back to where we came from, and look somewhere else for an exit."

"… That announcer was in here." Naruto mumbled as the group was leaving. However, Yosuke stopped at the door and looking at the posters near him.

"Hey… I think I've seen that poster before." Yosuke said, though Chie instantly got mad.

"Who CARES? Let's go! I am sick of this place!" Chie shouted, wanting to get away from the room. "And I'm not feeling so good…" Chie moaned.

"Now that you mention it, me too…" Yosuke moaned as well.

"…It's fatigue… This place is stressful on our bodies…" Sasuke sighed, his own body starting to feel heavy.

"Alright, let's go back. I'm seriously starting to feel sick…" Yosuke sighed as Chie, Sasuke, and he left the room. Naruto saw them leaving and ran after them. It didn't take them long to get back to the studio looking area.

"Whew… We finally made it back here…" Chie sighed with relief before seeing something. "Wait… What's that?"

Sasuke and Yosuke were shocked as they also saw a silhouette in the fog. "Th-There's something over there!"

"Nonthreatening…" Naruto mumbled as the group sweated when they heard squeaking and then came into their view was a large mascot costume of a blue bear in a red and white space suit looking outfit.

"What is this thing? A monkey? A bear?" Chie asked, pretty shocked.

"What in the world?" Yosuke looked pretty pale.

"Th-That's what I wanna know! Who are you guys?" The bear asked.

Chie recoiled in shock. "It talked! Uhh… What are you? Y-You wanna fight?"

However, the bear cowered in fear. "D-Don't yell at me like that…" Naruto walked forward.

"What is this place?" Naruto asked, shocking the group. "…I know some, but I want to know if you know more."

"This place is what it is. It doesn't have a name." The bear sighed. "It's where I live."

"You… live here?" Yosuke asked with a raised eyebrow.

"If I was you guys, I'd hurry back to the other side." The bear said with some worry. "Someone's been throwing people in here. It's a big headache."

"Huh? Throwing people in? What're you talking about?" Yosuke asked in confusion.

"The announcer is this person you are referring to as one of the people being thrown in here?" Yosuke, Chie, and Sasuke looked at Naruto with shock. "That area we were in had her scent all over it and the scent of that place stank around where that woman was found dead."

"Wait, you're saying that… that announcer was in here?" Chie asked, but the bear went on a tantrum.

"I dunno who's doing it! I just want them to think before they go doing things like that!" The bear growled.

"Hey, what's your problem? What gives YOU the right to yell at us like that ?" Chie shouted back as her fear began to set in big time. "What ARE you? Where are we? What the heck's going on here?" The bear ran and hid behind Naruto.

"I already told you… A-Anyways, you should hurry back." The bear sighed weakly.

"What it comes down to is, you want us to get outta here, right? Yosuke sighed. "Well, so do we! We just don't know how, dammit!"

"Urrrrgh! That's why I'm saying I'll let you out!" The bear roared in anger.

"Like I keep saying, we don't know where the frickin' exit-Wait… What?" Yosuke asked in shock. The bear stamped his foot on the ground for three televisions to appear before the group.

"What the hell?" Yosuke gasped.

"Wh-Where did these TVs come from?" Chie shouted in shock as all four got in front of the television to look at them.

"Okay, now go, go, get outta here! I'm a busy bear!" The bear pushed them all towards the televisions.

"What's going on now? Whoa! Hey, what're you doing?" Chie gasped.

"S-Stop pushing!" Yosuke shouted before they all went through the televisions and crash landed somewhere else. They all looked around and were shocked to see they were in in the electronics apartment again.

"Huh? Is this?" Chia asked, shocked.

"Did we make it back?" Yosuke asked, a bit confused. As they stood up, an announcement went over the speakers of Junes.

"Attention, shoppers. Our daily limited-time sale will now begin at the side dish area on the first floor. Why not try the delicious, fresh produce Junes picked for you this morning as your side dish for dinner tonight? All ages are invited to take advantage of this incredible bargain!"

"Crap, it's already that late?" Yosuke cursed.

"Looks like we were in there for quite a while…" Chie sighed.

"…Well, it's a lot better than six months passing." Chie and Yosuke looked at Sasuke with shock. "…I'll explain tomorrow since it is getting late. Let's just say it's the reason Naruto and I am in Inaba."

"Alright." Yosuke sighed before noticing something. "That's right… Now I remember where I saw that poster before. Look over there! That's the poster we saw!"

"What's up now?" Chie asked before they all looked to the side to see the same poster, but with its face on from the room. "Hey, you're right, they're the same. I couldn't tell before without the face, but it was Hiiragi Misuze. She's been all over the news lately. Something about…her husband having an affair with that announcer lady who died the other day… Wait…"

"Hey, so does that mean? That weird room we saw… Could it be related to that Yamano lady's death?" Yosuke asked. "Now that I think about it… there was that creepy noose hanging from the ceiling…"

"Her scent was all over that room, but I didn't smell anything else in there so all I can tell you is that she was at least in there some time before her death." Naruto sighed as Yosuke and Chie looked at Naruto with fear. "If it was what dragged Sasuke and me into that world… I don't think there would have been a body… Or at least enough of it to identify who-"

"Yaaargh, stop! No more! We gotta stop talking about this!" Yosuke covered his ears. "I'm gonna wipe what happened today from my brain. I don't think my poor heart can take anymore."

"I'm feeling a chill too." Chie shivered. "Let's go home. I wanna lie down and rest."

"Yeah… I passed out when I was in there last time… We all best go and rest…" Sasuke sighed before everyone said their goodbyes and went home.

-Television-

Sasuke and Naruto entered the Dojima Residence to see Ryotaro and his daughter already sitting at the living room table and watching television. "Hey, welcome home." Ryotaro greeted as both walk into the living room and sat down. Sasuke's head was down as he sort of felt sluggish from the experience earlier even though Naruto seemed completely fine.

"Uh-Hmm… Well, I doubt you'd know… But have you heard anything about a student named Konishi Saki?" Ryotaro asked as Naruto looked at him.

"She was the one who found the announcer's body… Her scent was slightly on Saki's body…" Naruto mumbled the last part to where it was barely audible and this made Ryotaro raise an eyebrow, but he just shook his head and let it go.

"Yeah, it's true… To be honest… we got a call from her family. She's disappeared." Ryotaro sighed. "We've got people looking for her, but she hasn't been found yet…" Sasuke looked up with shock. "Work just keeps piling up." The news was on, but it was still going on about the murder case, but with the extra piece that the announcer was staying at the Amagi Inn.

'Isn't that the inn that girl Yukiko said her family runs?' Sasuke thought with a raised eyebrow. The news continued on with how Yukiko would be taking over the in before going to the weather.

Sasuke sighed as the news continued. 'So, that lady was staying at the Amagi Inn which is run by Yukiko's family… And now Konishi Saki who discovered the body is missing…'

"Is the ramen ready now?" Nanako asked, snapping Sasuke out of his thoughts.

"Give it some more time." Ryotaro sighed before hearing a loud growl. "Huh?"

"I'm hungry…" Naruto sighed before Sasuke sneezed.

"Huh? Are you sick? You're probably still adjusting to the new environment. Nanako, could you get Sasuke some cold medicine?" Nanako nodded and got up. "Well, Naruto, I heard from Nanako you got quite a stomach. Lucky for me, the social services gave me some extra cash to take care of you both. Go and get some ramen to eat."

"…Thank you…" Naruto mumbled while getting up to get some ramen cups so he can eat.

"However, you should get to bed after you take it." Ryotaro frowned at Sasuke who just nodded. After taking the medicine, Sasuke went to bed… But, Naruto stayed up.

-Television-

Sasuke woke up only to be confused to not see Naruto in the room. He got dressed and walked down stairs to see where Naruto went, but saw Ryotaro walking out. "Ah, you're up. Well, I'm off." Ryotaro left the house, making Sasuke sweat. Sure, when his own father was alive, he was a very busy person… But, this Ryotaro person sure was a workaholic compared to the chief of the Konoha Military Police.

"Dad has to go do something. He got a call, so he left… But, do you know what happen to Naruto last night." Sasuke raised an eyebrow before looking up to see Naruto sitting at the table. Naruto's forehead was wrapped in bandages and some band-aids on his face.

"Woah… What happened?" Sasuke gapped at Naruto.

"…I tripped… Nanako saw me bleeding, but this was a bit overboard…" Naruto sighed as Nanako glared at Naruto.

"Overboard? Yourface was covered in blood and scratches! Dad almost went and took you to the hospital!" Nanako frowned, worried.

"I'm fine…" Naruto sighed while getting up. "Let's go to school, Sasuke." Sasuke nodded, knowing Naruto wanted to tell him the truth of what really happened. However, both were quiet while walking. Both stopped when they heard two female students gossiping.

"When I looked, I saw three police cars zooming by."

"You live by the police station, don't you? Did you hear anything?"

"I heard some yelling, but nothing more. Total disappointment."

"Geez, you need to pay more attention to stuff like that. How else are we supposed to get the juicy stories?" Sasuke and Naruto then heard sirens and headed to school as they had a bad feeling. Later that morning, they had an assembly in the gym.

"Hey… Did you see it yesterday?" A girl asked as Sasuke and Naruto stood sliently.

"Of course not… What, is that rumor for real?"

"I dunno, but it seems like a lot of people have seen it."

Chie sighed, putting her cell phone up. "Yukiko said she'd be here after lunch…" Chie turned around to face Sasuke, Naruto, and Yosuke who were standing in the same line. "I wonder why they're holding a school assembly all of a sudden… Hey, what's wrong, Yosuke? "…Oh, it's nothing…" Yosuke looked down as the history teacher known as began speaking.

"Everyone, please settle down. The school assembly I about to begin. First, the principal has something to say." got out of the way and let the old man that was the principal take the stand.

"I… regret to say that I have a terrible announcement for all of you. One of our third-year students, Ms. Konishi Saki of Class 3 has passed away." The principal sighed.

"Passed away?" Chie gasped.

"…" Yosuke painfully grunted.

"… Knew it…" Naruto mumbled, looking down.

"Ms. Konishi was found deceased early this morning. The reasons behind her passing are currently under investigation by the police. If they ask you for your cooperation, I urge you as students of this school to provide only the facts." Talk began to fill the room about the death. "All right, please quiet down. I have been assured by the faculty that there's been no evidence that bullying was involved in the incident. So mind what you say, not only to the police but to anyone who asks…"

"Found dead? How could this happen?" Chie was pale on shock as Sasuke noticed the look on Yosuke's face as the principal's addressed continued on. Once the assembly was over, everyone headed back to their classes. Chie, Sasuke, and Naruto stopped when hearing too students talking in the hall.

"She died the same way as that announcer, right? That's so creepy."

"Well, last time, it was from an antenna, but this time she was hanging from a telephone pole. It's gotta be a serial murder case."

"Someone said the cause of death was some unknown poison."

"Unknown? C'mon, this isn't some sci-fi drama."

"Oh, by the way, did you hear? Someone saw a girl that looked like Saki on that Midnight Channel thingie. They said she totally looked like she was in pain. Isn't that scary?"

"Haha, sounds like someone had a nightmare. The media's been broadcasting their interviews with her nonstop, so maybe they just had Saki on the brain." The two gossiping girls left, but Chie, Sasuke, and Naruto stay there standing.

"Sheesh, it's easy to toss around theories if you're not personally involved." Chie sighed as Yosuke walked up to them.

"Hey… Did you guys check out the TV last night?" Yosuke asked, looking pale.

"Yosuke! Not you too!" Chie angrily groaned.

"Just listen for a sec! Something kept bothering me, so… I watched it again, and… I think the girl on the screen… was Saki-senpai…" Sasuke and Chie looked at Yosuke with shock. "There's no mistaking it… She looked like… she was writhing in pain…And then… she disappeared from the screen."

"What…?" Chie gasped in shock.

"You heard Senpai's body was found in a similar situation as that announcer's right?" Yosuke sighed. "Well, remember that guy you told us about? How he was all excited that his soulmate was the announcer? Maybe… Just maybe, but… Ms. Yamano might've been on that Midnight Channel before she died, too."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Chie asked before her eyes widen. "Hold on. Are you saying…? People who appear on that TV… die?"

"I can't say for sure. But something tells me… I just can't dismiss it as coincidence." Yosuke sighed. "Plus, remember what that bear thing said? How that place was dangerous, and we should leave before the fog clears? It also said that someone's been throwing people in there… And that room with posters on the wall… It has to have something to do with the announcer's death. I mean… Don't you think there's some kind of connection there? Couldn't that world in the TV have something to do with Senpai and the announcer's death?… Well? What do you think?" Yosuke looked at Sasuke and Naruto.

"You are correct." Now the group looked at Naruto. "I saw her as well on the television last night. I saw her in pain and tried to get to her through the television in Sasuke and my room. I got stuck again, pretty bad this time, but I did sense her inside the TV." This shocked all three. "However, the fog lifted and almost instantly her presence was gone and several things attacked my head. I was able to get out in time, but I woke Dojima-san and his daughter as I hit the table again and knocked over some glass that broke. I gave them a heart attack because of the wounds I gotten and it took all I had to convince them not to take me to the hospital."

"Woah! Your face is a wreck!" Chie gasped, just noticing Naruto's bandaged up face.

"Don't worry, I just gotten a bunch of light scratches and they are almost healed up." Naruto sighed.

"So, it's not just me, huh? But you literally experienced it." Yosuke sighed. "If there is a connection, then it's a good bet that the two of them went inside that world which Naruto at least confirms Saki-senpai being in there. That would also explain the posters in that room. Which means… if we look around, we might find a place that has something to do with Senpai, too."

"Yosuke, don't tell me…" Chie sighed.

"Yeah. I'm thinking about going in again. I want to find out for myself."

"D-Don't do this… You should just let the police handle this and-"

"You think we can rely on the police? They haven't made any progress on the announcer's case." Yosuke shouted. "Besides, even if we told them about the world inside the TV, there's no way they're gonna believe us! If I'm completely off-base with this, that's fine… It's just… I need to know why Senpai had to die like this…"

"Oh, Yosuke."

"He's right." Chie looked at Sasuke. "The police didn't believe Naruto and me when we told them about the TV world when we ended up here in Inaba. If this world is connected with the murders... Then there's something going on…"

"Oh, that's right, you said your friend and you were in there before." Chie sighed.

"Well, after what I've seen and what I've put together, there's no way I can ignore it now… Sorry, but you three are the only people who can help me. I'm gonna go get ready. I'll be waiting for you at Junes." Yosuke ran off as sweated.

"I can kind understand how he feels… But we can't be sure we'll be able to get out safely again. What should we do?" Chie said with worry.

"…We will be going anyways. I was planning to go back into that world anyways." Chie looked at Sasuke with shock.

"Y-You serious?"

"Even though I believe what is going on the murder cases and what happened to Naruto and me is different… That world is the key to getting back the things taken away from Naruto… Plus, the cases and what happened to Naruto and me could possibly be connected and I won't allow any more people to get hurt."

"…Uh… Anyways, let's go to Junes. We can't leave Yosuke alone…" Chie said before running off.

"Didn't I just say something like that?" Sasuke sighed as Naruto and he chased after Chie.

-To be continued-

Endnote-Hoped you all enjoyed this. I been delayed on fixing this chapter up since I got it proofread by a friend of mind. Well, review if ya want me to keep going!