Kabuto adored Itachi. He had never met anyone outside of his family, and this kind new boy was so mature and gentle. Urushi had told him that, while extreme, Nonou's decision to keep him separate from others was a good one-he'd be bullied, mocked, maybe even feared if he went out into the world. But Itachi didn't mention his horns or scales, didn't laugh when he asked questions about the world. They saw each other every day, and Kabuto practically lived for those visits. Nonou had expressly forbidden him from mentioning anything about his "bedroom" to Itachi. "He wouldn't understand, and someone could take you away from me. You don't want that, do you? This is the only place you'll be safe, Kabuto. No one else will take care of you. You're too stupid to take care of yourself. This is all you have. I am all you have." "I know, Mother."
It was a Wednesday afternoon when Itachi found out where Kabuto had spent his life thus far. He'd been distant the whole time they were visiting, and Kabuto was terrified that Itachi didn't like him anymore, that he never had and was just coming over out of pity, that he'd done something horribly wrong or asked one too many stupid questions. "Wh-why are you upset?" Itachi looked over at him and blushed. "Well, I... last night, I wet the bed," he admitted softly, remembering the painful shame that had coursed through his body as he felt the damp sheets and realized what had happened. The horrible, insanely long walk to his parent's room. The pitying, disappointed look on his mother's face when he whispered what he'd done. After breakfast, he pulled his sheets from the washing machine and hung them out to dry, trying to hide the stain that was still obvious if you looked the right way. Sasuke noticed immediately-of course he did-but said nothing.
Somehow, it was even more humiliating during the day, and Kabuto's childish follow-up question didn't help: "Did you forget to go potty before bed?" Itachi stared blankly at him. "Did I... Kabuto, are you making fun of me?" "NO! I mean, n-no, I could never make fun of you! I was just wondering if you went potty before bed, because sometimes I wet the bed when I don't-" Itachi held up a hand to cut him off. "It's just that most people our age don't say 'potty'. It's a word for younger kids." Kabuto adjusted his glasses. "I didn't know that," he muttered. A trembling hand was placed on his shoulder, and Kabuto looked over at his friend. "It's fine, Kabuto. Use whatever words you like." Kabuto nodded, then shyly said, "You shouldn't be embarrassed about having an accident. I have a lot of accidents. It's not a big deal." He held his breath after confessing that, wondering what Itachi's response would be. He was trying to bond with the ill boy, but what if Itachi thought he was a baby?
"Well, that's not your fault. Plenty of people have continence issues." "What's continence?" "The ability to control your bladder. You have nothing to be asha-" Before he could finish, Kabuto shook his head frantically. "No, I can hold it! I'm not a baby. It's just, Mother makes me wait a really long time if I do something bad." Itachi frowned at him. "What do you mean by that? Denying someone basic needs like the toilet or food is abuse." "No, no, it's just punishment. Like, if I wet the bed, or forget to clean my room, or I'm rude, then Mother won't let me go potty for twenty-four hours." He was about to ask what was so special about twenty-four hours, but Itachi's horrified expression stopped him. He looked around to make sure Nonou wasn't in the room, then put a hand on Kabuto's wrist. "Does your mother hurt you?" "She spanks me when I have accidents or cry."
Itachi stared at him for a long, long moment. Then he stood up. "Kabuto, I think you should come home with me. It sounds like your mother is abusing you, and I want you to go somewhere safe until we can figure that out." The boy in question squirmed. "I have to ask her first. I'm not allowed outside." "What?!" "Mother doesn't want normal people to see me. You're my first friend," he added hopefully, looking up at Itachi. "Well-I-thank you, that means a lot, but you can't stay here Kabuto. I'm going to call social services, and until they can talk to your mother, I want you to stay with me."