Quietly chewing his food, Sasuke felt the time pass at a painfully slow rate. The young boy wasn't sure why, but he felt uneasy.

On one hand, it wasn't really that big of a deal. The teachers were just busy preparing for a bunch of new students, so the kids had to hang out in the library for the day. There wasn't anything wrong with that.

Still, Sasuke found himself nervous as he looked down at his slowly disappearing food. Why were a bunch of new students coming? Why had it felt like Iruka wasn't telling them everything? Where would they be coming from? What would they be like? Sasuke had no idea.

Thinking about it now, if there were a bunch of new kids coming, the hokage would probably be busy too. Sasuke could only hope that Tobira was able to talk with the hokage at all today...he really wanted the compound stuff to be finished up soon.

These were the thoughts that lingered in his mind as he began to empty his lunch, the noise around him doing little to ease his mood. Hopefully Tobira would be able to do at least some of the stuff he had wanted to. If not, at least it gave him more time to plan out how they'd be training for today.

Sasuke was really excited to learn how to move as fast as Tobira had the other day. If the man was that fast without the sharingan, Sasuke was sure he'd be able to move like lightning once he got his and combined it with Tobira's teachings. Maybe one day he could even be as fast as Shisui.

The very idea sent a strike of awe down his spine. That'd be amazing. He'd have to work really hard to get as good at them, though. Tobira had said that the training would be hard. He wondered what it would be like? Maybe they'd be using chakra somehow? Sasuke wasn't sure anyone could move as fast as Tobira or Shisui without some sort of extra help.

"Lunchtime is over!" he heard the silver-haired sensei from earlier call, clapping his hands together. Sasuke startled, looking up from his now empty box and up at the teacher. "Remember to bring all your trash inside and throw it away."

With more than a few groans, the students did as they were told. Slowly they began to make their way inside, Sasuke following suit once he was sure he didn't leave anything behind. The last thing he wanted was to get in trouble and have to stay after. The boy had a feeling Tobira wouldn't be in the mood to train with him if that happened.

Following the others inside, they returned to their seats. He could see Naruto trying to slip off to be with Shikamaru's table, but to no avail as the librarian ended up dragging him right back to his seat.

"This is so dumb." Naruto hissed as he was made to sit back down, the two tablemates silently watching the blond as he whisper-ranted, "I don't see why I have to sit here." pouting as he rested his head on the table.

Head tilted, Shino pointed out, "We're supposed to be working, and you probably won't if you're anywhere else." book still open from when they'd left. Sasuke glanced at the librarian who was speaking to Mizuki, the young Uchiha leaning on his arm as they spoke. "You'll probably just talk if you sit by Shikamaru or sneak off if you're with Choji..."

"Besides, don't you have a bunch to do?" Sasuke added, eyeing the messy binder. He didn't even recognize some of the sheets, and found himself wondering mildly if their sensei would even take something that overdue.

Naruto eyed the papers with a sigh as they spoke, "I guess..." the blond admitted, voice quieter than usual as his hand rested in his hair. Sasuke watched as the blue-eyed boy glanced both him and Shino over, his own dark eyes momentarily shifting elsewhere. When Naruto watched them so carefully, it sent a jolt of discomfort down Sasuke's back. How was Naruto so loud and obnoxious one minute only to look like some sort of sad puppy the next?

"It's not like it really matters all that much, though," Naruto whispered, looking down at the paper. "I'll probably end up messing most of it up anyways. Might as well do something I like instead," he argued, his annoyance fading as he watched his friends out of the corner of his eye.

Shikamaru was half asleep, playing tic-tac-toe with an annoyed Ino. Sasuke personally couldn't see the fun in losing over and over again to Shikamaru or sneaking off like Choji and the others tended to do. What was so great about losing and getting in trouble?

Shino cleared his throat, the other silently reminding the two that he was there. "Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly. That's what my uncle always says."

"Why would you do something poorly?" Sasuke's nose scrunched up as he heard this. Shino's uncle didn't sound all that smart. If he was going to do something anyway, why not do it as best as he could?

"I don't know, not exactly. It's just something he says. I guess he means it's better to do a little than nothing at all." the hooded boy shrugged, tapping his pencil to a book.

Naruto seemed to get it, the blond nodding as he swayed idly in his seat. "I guess that sort of makes sense. Giving it your all even if it isn't a whole lot."

Well, they'd lost Sasuke. It sounded like picking up toys and putting them on the end tables instead of in the toy bin...it didn't make much sense. Or wiping up blood that had already stained. Even if it came up a little, it wasn't going to make it go away completely, so what was the point?

"Sounds lazy." the young Uchiha settled on mumbling, "Besides, doing stuff halfway doesn't sound like it'd do you any favours. It'd probably make it a lot harder to get the things you want done, uh, done."

Naruto blinked as he heard this, "Maybe, but there isn't really a whole lot I want to get done." he smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Nothing I can do now anyway. All I really want to do is be with Shikamaru and Choji. Can't really do that if I'm stuck here."

Sasuke deadpanned as the blond spoke, noticing Mizuki and the librarian begin to slow their conversation. The ravenet moved to work on his own practice papers, voice lowering as he muttered, "Just do it after school, then."

He wasn't about to get in trouble for talking of all things. Naruto didn't seem very pleased with the answer, opening his mouth to make some undoubtedly dumb argument. He was cut off by a sharp kick to the shin from under the table, Sasuke narrowing his eyes at the startled blond. "Shut up, idiot. We'll get in trouble if we keep talking."

"Ow! You don't have to be such a jerk about it-" Naruto growled under his breath, leaning into his papers as if he were working. Sasuke ignored the blue-eyed boy's glare, mimicking Shino and returning to quietly completing his work. A sharp pain on his own foot had his leg jerking upwards, the Uchiha hissing quietly at the other.

Seeing Naruto stick his tongue out and scoot his chair back so he was out of Sasuke's reach, the young Uchiha did the same with a huff of annoyance.

The two glared at each other, the steady sound of Shino's writing unnoticed by the two as they made faces of irritation at each other.

Naruto's was the first to dissolve, changing from irritation to a mixture of surprise and apprehension as Mizuki spoke. "Naruto, please come with me." the man standing by the table, words soft as to not disrupt the other students. Sasuke blinked up at the silver-haired man as Naruto startled, the young Uchiha having been so focused on Naruto that he hadn't even noticed the man.

"I didn't do anything!" was the blond's loud response, looking up at the man with furrowed brows. Sasuke frowned as Mizuki set his hand on Naruto's shoulder in an attempt of comfort, the young Uzumaki calming down ever so slightly.

With a shake of his head, Mizuki assured the boy, "I know, I know. Someone just wants to talk to you, okay? Then you can come back, I'm sure." he encouraged, the thin smile on his lips making something in Sasuke twist.

There was always something about Mizuki that made Sasuke feel slightly uncomfortable, though he wasn't sure what it was. Mizuki was nice, sure, but if anything his kindness only made the young Uchiha more uneasy...

Somehow, though, it seemed to comfort Naruto as he was led away. Shino watched alongside Sasuke, the two not speaking as the blond headed off. Had they seen Naruto kick him? As obnoxious as the other was, Sasuke sort of hoped they hadn't. It'd be a...what did his father's work friends use to call it...?

The small boy couldn't recall, no matter how he searched his mind for answers. He hated how that worked. Why did he always remember the things that hurt so much so clearly - almost like a photo - but never the useful things? It was really annoying, he couldn't help but think.

Time passed by even slower once Naruto was gone, Shino and Sasuke left to work in peace. They each went through their own pages, working piece by piece to pass the time. Sasuke in particular found himself shifting as time went on, caught between his eagerness to train with Tobira after the academy and his curiosity as to where Naruto had gone.

Strangely enough, the blond didn't return before the academy day came to an end. Mizuki had returned not long after he'd left, but Naruto was nowhere to be seen during the next few hours. Even as the teachers announced and end of the day, the other was out of sight.

"Alright, that's enough for today everyone." the librarian spoke, standing by the door. "Hopefully you were all able to catch up some today." they idly commented, "We'll leave in order of age, from youngest to oldest. Starting with this table." tapping onto the table where Hinata sat.

Everyone was quick to pack up, Sasuke doing so especially fast in hopes of their table being chosen next. The cleaner the table, the more likely they were to be allowed out, he figured.

As the librarian walked between the tables, glancing them each over, Sasuke held his bag to his side. A thin smile laced his lips as their table was tapped, out of his seat as soon as the words left their mouth. "This group next."

Sasuke paid it no mind as Shino walked behind him, the young Uchiha speed walking towards the exit with his back held close. Up ahead he could see Hinata meeting up with an elder Hyuuga, Sakura doing the same with an older man. He paid no mind to either, walking past an already sitting Kiba and Akamaru. His sights were set near the gate, where a group of men stood.

It didn't take long for Sasuke to recognize them, Choza's soft yet striking laugher ringing in his ears as he got closer. Sasuke could see the light smirks of amusement lining Inoichi and Shikaku's lips, the two's arms crossed alongside Tobira's. Sasuke couldn't help but think it was sort of strange, how stern their stances were despite the apparent amusement. Even Tobira seemed to share in whatever was so funny, the silver-haired man shaking his head back and forth with entertainment.

Whatever it was, it seemed to get funnier as they noticed the young Uchiha, Shikaku running a hand over his face as Inoichi cracked a thin grin at him. "Hey there, long time no see, Sasuke." his soft voice greeted, Choza clearing his throat gently.

"Hey," Sasuke greeted, blinking up at them as he held his bag close. Whatever it was, at least Tobira seemed to be in a slightly better mood today than he had been yesterday.