One month later it was White Day. Most of the boys came into class carrying at least one small gift with them. Sasuke came in with a number of pocket combs, all of them identical though of very high quality. Each girl (except Ayako) was thrilled at receiving a gift from 'Sasuke-kun.' When he arrived in class Naruto went up to Ayako and gave her a small pocket mirror, for which she duly thanked him. He then nervously went up to Chichi and took out a little box that was gift wrapped and had a red bow on it.

"Ha… happy White day Chichi-chan."

She took the gift from him and managed a smile. "You know you really didn't have to get me anything gaki."

"It's okay! I really wanted to!"

Somehow his over eagerness only made her feel guilty. She quickly unwrapped his present. What she found was a doll still in its plastic case. It was a familiar blonde figure with a tiara and a pink evening gown. On the package was stamped, 'Haruka-hime in pink.' She noticed the price was still on it too, this had cost him 3,000 ryu. The chocolates she had bought him had only cost her 500 ryu. Compared to the combs, mirrors, and other gifts being handed out this was easily the most expensive.

"You didn't have to get me something this expensive gaki! This is worth a whole lot more than the chocolates!"

"I don't mind!" He said with one of his huge grins. "You mean a lot to me Chichi and the chocolates you gave me made me really, really happy! I just wanted to give you something you'd like! Now you have two dolls, it's a real collection now right?"

"Heh, yeah I suppose it is." She honestly didn't want the thing. But seeing the joy on his face she knew there was no way she could refuse the gift. :"Thanks gaki, I… I really love it."

Ayako smiled and leaned over. "And all I got was a mirror?"

Naruto looked at her and blushed like mad. "I'm sorry Ayako-chan! I'll get you one too, I just…"

She stared laughing and waved him off. "I'm just teasing Naruto-kun; I know how special Chichi is to you."

Special? Chichi thought nervously. Special how exactly?

Before she could give it any more thought Sakura wandered over. "Hey! Is that a Haruka-hime doll? Can I see?" She reached for it eagerly.

On instinct Chichi clutched it close to her fishnet chest. "Mine!" She said sharply.

Sakura frowned at the other girl. "I just wanted to look at it for a second."

Ino came over as well; in her hands was the comb Sasuke had given her. "So Naruto gave you a Haruka-hime doll? Well I guess you win for best present. Though of course getting a gift from Sasuke is much better than getting anything else from Naruto or any other boy."

"It's just because he doesn't have any one else to get a present for," Sakura said dismissively.

"That's not true pinky," Chichi rapped out. "Naruto got chocolates from Ayako too."

That's right," Ayako nodded.

"So what?" Sakura asked. "Sasuke-kun got them from all the girls in class." She deliberately sent Chichi an amused look. "Well from almost all the girls."

"What can I say?" Chichi replied with a snakelike twist of her lips. "I guess I'm just more selective than some." She grabbed Naruto's arm with one hand while continuing to hold the doll tight in the other. "Come on gaki, let's get our seats."

Sakura glared at her back. "What a weirdo," she muttered.

Ino simply chuckled. "Well what do you expect? He's her partner in crime after all."

XXXXXXXXXX

That afternoon the four of them had lunch together as they always did.

"Hey Sasuke," Ayako spoke with a curious look in her eye. "Is there any girl in class that you like best?"

He took a bite from his rice ball and gave her an innocent smile. "Not really, like everyone the same."

"What about you Naruto?" Ayako said teasingly. "There any girl in class that you like the best?"

The boy instantly turned a deep red. "Uh, I… I…"

"Oh stop teasing the poor gaki," Chichi said sounding annoyed. "Of course we're close, there's nothing wrong with that."

Naruto swiftly nodded. "That's right! Chichi is my first and best friend!"

"So she's just a friend to you?" Ayako hinted.

"Of course we're just friends what the hell else would we be?" Chichi snapped.

"Oh I don't know," Ayako said too innocently. She glanced at Naruto. "What would you like her to be?"

Naruto stared back at her blankly. "What do you mean? What more could she be than my best friend?"

Ayako sweat dropped. I guess he hasn't gotten the concept of a girlfriend yet. She sighed. Oh well, I guess I'll have to wait to get these two love birds together.

XXXXXXXXXX

That night she went home after having dinner with Naruto again. She placed her new doll on a table next to the one Ayako had originally given her. She grimaced when she thought about what Kakashi would say if he saw this. The one eyed perv had been teasing her incessantly about giving the gaki chocolate. No matter how many times she told him it meant nothing Kakashi continued to bring it up.

"I really ought to feed him to my snakes," she muttered.

She picked up the second doll; the one Naruto had given her, and looked closely at it. It certainly was kawai, and expensive for a White day gift. It was probably the nicest thing anyone had ever given her. What the hell does that say about my life? That the nicest present I can remember getting came from a seven year old? She set the doll back down on her table. Looking at the pair of Haruka-hime dolls she had the oddest sense they looked kind of lonely. Hmmm, a few more of them might make a cute display.

Her telephone suddenly rang.

Who the hell would be calling me right now? If it's Kakashi feeling lonely that's too bad for him. I'm not in the mood tonight.

But when she answered it wasn't Kakashi. It was one of the Hokage's secretaries telling her to report immediately to the Uchiha compound. Something had happened there and all available Chunin and Jonin were being called to emergency duty. She wasn't given any details before the line went dead. She grabbed her trench coat and headed out the door.

I hope whatever this is doesn't involve Sasuke.

XXXXXXXXXX

The next morning as Naruto left his apartment Chichi was out there waiting for him. Her expression was grim. Like it had been the first time she'd gone shopping with him.

"Is something wrong Chichi?"

"We're going to be late for school today," she informed him.

"Huh? Why?" A grin sprouted on his lips. "Are we playing a prank in Iruka again?"

"Not today gaki," she told him seriously. "Today we're going to the hospital."

"The hospital? Are you hurt Chichi?"

"Not me, Sasuke."

XXXXXXXXXX

When they got to the hospital hey found lots of ANBU guarding the place and his room especially.

Ayako was there already as was a worried looking Sarutobi who asked the three of them to go into the room.

Inside there was Sasuke lying on a hospital bed, wide awake and staring up at the ceiling.

"Hey Sasuke! You okay?" Naruto called and rushed to his bedside. Sasuke did not acknowledge him or the girls. He just continued to stare up at the ceiling. "Hey! Hey Sasuke what's wrong?" Naruto snapped his fingers in front of Sasuke's face, again without getting a response.

Looking scared Naruto turned to the Hokage who had also come into the room with them. "Old ma what's wrong with Sasuke?"

"He is in shock Naruto," the Hokage explained calmly. "Something… very bad happened last night and it seems to have been more than his mind could bear. When that happens the mind will sometimes shut itself down."

"So… so he got turned off?" Naruto asked.

"That is one way to think of it, and accurate enough."

At Ayako's shoulder Homaru whimpered. The little dog leapt down tot eh bed and gently began to lick Sasuke's face. The boy did not respond.

"Hokage-sama, what happened to him?" Ayako asked. "What could have been so bad as to do this?"

"I am afraid I cannot tell any of you that," Sarutobi replied. He knew there was no hope of keeping this a secret long. But he would keep the Uchiha Massacre hidden for as long as possible. He also meant to try and keep the other children from finding out. That would be a small mercy for the boy.

Looking at the comatose boy Sarutobi couldn't help but feel guilt. He had been the one to sign the order after all. His advisors had convinced him but he had been the one to make the final decision, the responsibility rested with him. Sasuke should not have been alive; the order had been for Itachi to kill everyone in the compound. The ninja and the civilian, the elderly and the children, the guilty and the innocent, all the Uchiha except for Itachi had been marked for death. Sasuke was only alive because his brother had chosen to defy his orders and become a missing nin.

"Don't worry too much about him," the Hokage said with a kindly smile. "He should recover within a week or two. I had just hoped that seeing his friends might help him."

"Is there anything I can do for him?" Naruto asked hopefully.

Sarutobi slowly shook his head. "No, not right now. But when he eventually returns to school he will need all of you and your support. Continue to be his friends, that is the best way you can help him."

The three of them all nodded.

"Get to school now, and please tell anyone who asks that he has a fever and will be in the hospital for a week or two."

As they walked from the hospital tot eh academy they were all consumed in a heartfelt silence. Even Chichi.

I never thought much of the Uchiha, just considered them a bunch of elitist bastards. But damn it, they didn't deserve that! She sympathized with Sasuke. When her sensei had abandoned her she had been left in a similar state. Even after all these years there were gaps in her memory, things she sensed were there, important things that were always just beyond her reach even with the help of a Yamanaka. She hoped Sasuke didn't have to endure the sort of things she had.

XXXXXXXXXX

Two weeks later Sasuke returned to class. People in the village now knew about the massacre, but the children had been deliberately shielded. They were simply told Sasuke had suffered from a severe and highly contagious flu and was now fully recovered.

The girls in class had been going out of their mind because they had not been allowed to visit him. They'd had to settle for sending him flowers. So when he finally came trudging back the girls had assembled to greet him. Ino and Sakura were at the head of them and called out their greetings… only to have him slouch past without even acknowledging their words.

"Hey Sasuke! It's great to see you! How are you feeling?" Naruto spoke with one of his huge smiles.

Sasuke stopped and eyed him and his happy smile. "Hn." He bumped him as he walked past to take a seat all the way in the back.

"Huh? What was that?" Naruto asked feeling a little angry. "Hey Sasuke I'm your friend aren't you even going to say hi to me?"

Already seated Sasuke paid him no mind at all.

Chichi saw this and frowned. She knew what he was doing; he was trying to cut himself off from the rest of the world. She'd done the same damn thing when she'd first recovered from her own trauma. Hopefully he would eventually learn he needed to be at least a little social with people.

She took a hold of Naruto's arm. "Leave him alone for now Naruto. He'll need some time to sort things out."

"But…"

"Trust me," she said. "He's going to have to decide for himself if he wants to talk and be friends."

Naruto took on a hurt and defeated look. "But… but I miss my friend."

Chichi nodded, that seemed all she could do for now. "I know," she told him.

That day Sasuke did not eat lunch with them despite several invitations to do so.

He preferred to be alone.