C.M.D: Jeez, last chapter was so much trouble to write, and this one was just as much of as hassle as well. I only hope that you guys like it! And let's over look the fact that this update happened pretty fast, because I know I'm really not a fast updater. Hehehe, a bad thing about my personality, but I can't help but be who I am, even if it means being a procrastinator. Anyways, time for reviews. THANK YOU: gigi, FallenAngel Sayu, Maxium, redrosefox, cluelessninja65, NaTsUkO-ChAn, shobe09, ochibi-chwan, hanakisa, roboguy45, writerlover101, Sutzina Zion, kyothefallenkit, Chaos Dragon-Fox, Great Karyee-Sama XD, Broken Sexed Up Bloody Kitten, -siarafaerie-101-miss, RasalynnLynx, Lethe Albion, Cross- The Damned Alchemist, catkittyneko, hentai18ancilla, tea, and Nayeli. I enjoyed reading you reviews so much! And thanks again to everyone else reading, who hasn't reviewed. Hope you guys enjoy!!

Ci, Ci, my playmate,
Come out and play with me.
Bring your dollies,
Climb up my appletree.
Slide down my rainbow,
And through my cellar door.
And then we'll be best friends....

Noon day sunlight poured freely into a round office, silhouetting around a man seated in a large-back chair like a halo. There was a serene quiet that filled the office, the whispering of paper as sheets were moved from one pile to another. Pen scratched periodically across the documents, and the man would pause entirely to grab ahold of the wood pipe in his mouth, releasing a stream of grey smoke from out of his nose. Placing the pipe back into his mouth, the man smiled in content. This kind of snail-paced, tedious work was most enjoyable to the male.

Just as he was reaching for another sheet to go over, there was a knock at the door. Putting his pen down, the man leaned back in his chair. "Come in," he called. A second passed, before the knob turned and the door was swung open. Standing in the doorway was Minato.

"Sandaime...," the man whispered.

Sarutobi's hands had flown to the chair's arm rests as soon as the door opened, alarmed by the forlorn expression etched across his predecessor's face. Hearing the distraught tone the blonde spoke in, made the old man's fears even worst.

"Minato-kun, there's no need to be so formal. We're friends, and both carriers of the Hokage title. So please, come in, and take a seat," he replied smoothly. He didn't want to express his concern just yet, at least not until his colleague spoke first.

After being invited, the blonde man stepped inside, approaching the desk. The Sandaime watched as the younger male placed his hands in front of him, trembling fingertips just pressing against the desk's edge. Wise eyes stared up into the other's blue orbs, seeing the turmoil that weaved havoc in the once bright eyes of Konoha's Yellow Flash.

Unable to stand it any longer, Sarutobi spoke up. "What's happened?"

Minato looked him straight in the eye. "I-i ...need some time away from the office," he replied slowly, struggling to keep from choking. "I n-need to be with my son."

The Third immediately bolted from his seat, rounding the desk to grasp the blonde by the shoulders. "Naruto? What's happend to Naruto? Minato, tell me," the man urged. The Sandaime felt his heart drop to the pit of his stomach, wild images of the little Uzumaki injured -or worst- running through his head. Something couldn't have happened, it just couldn't! Not after what happened with Kushina....

"Come, sit down." Sarutobi steered the unresponsive man to his empty chair, gently pushing the blonde into the seat. Like a father, the old man placed a hand on top of the gold spikes, hoping to lend some comfort to his fellow Hokage. Whether or not it worked was a question for another day, for when Minato finally opened his mouth all other thoughts left the older male's mind.

"He's not talking," came the simple reply.

Some of the Sandaime's fear melted away, only to be replaced by confusion. "Naruto isn't talking? But, why....," Sarutobi trailed off, unsure of how to word the concern in his heart. Even dazed as he was, the Yondaime was somehow able to piece together some sort of understanding to what the other man was unable to inquire.

"He doesn't talk," Minato elaborated. "He doesn't shout. He doesn't laugh. He doesn't even smile."

The fear was back again. Sarutobi removed his hand from the blonde's shoulder, gripping the back of the high-backed chair so tight that his knuckles turned white. It was like a bad dream, hearing this shining young man explain to him in hushed tones that his son, the most golden child you could possibly meet, had suddenly lost his smile. The world already seemed a little darker.

"When did this happen?," Sarutobi asked. "Who else knows?"

"Last night. Only Kakashi."

Sarutobi sighed softly to himself. "And where is the boy now?"

Minato raised his eyes a little, thrusting his chin toward the door. "He's out in the hallway with Kakashi right now. I couldn't have him leave my presence," he explained. Sarutobi nodded, turning his head to the door.

"You can come in now Hatake-kun. Naruto-kun as well," he called. The door clicked as it was once more opened, the grey-haired jounin leading in a small blonde by the hand. Old eyes crinkled sadly at the boy. The Third knelt a bit, looking at Naruto, before glancing up at Kakashi. "It's alright, Hatake-kun. You can let him go. He's not going anywhere."

The young shinobi hesitated, his one visible eye showing his apprehension, before its lid closed over the orb and Kakashi released the blonde. Naruto looked up at the jounin, turning his head back round to his dad and the Sandaime. Sarutobi was still bent over, smiling warmly at the boy. The vessel's expression was blank.

"Naruto-kun," Sarutobi began gently. "Why not come over here? I haven't seen you for a while now."

The blonde wasted no time, and padded over to the Third, letting the old man pick him up and hold him. The Sandaime grunted a little at the added weight. "My...," he laughed, "How big you've grown. Soon you'll be doing all sorts of grown-up things. Now, won't that be exciting?"

Naruto blinked his blue eyes, but said nothing. Sarutobi felt his own smile begin to fade, when none was returned. He looked at Kakashi, and Minato, shifting the blonde in his arms. "I'm sorry, Minato," Sarutobi sighed, looking straight at Naruto. The boy blinked at him, wrapping his arms around the old man's neck, laying his head on the other's shoulder for a rest. The Fourth's head snapped up at his words, eyes wide open with confusion and a hint of fear.

"I-i.... I... wha-?"

Sarutobi continued, smiling softly as he began to hear gentle snores coming from the little boy in his arms. "I'm sorry. You're the current Hokage. I may be able to attend meetings and handle paperwork from time to time in your stead, but I can't take your place, even for a little while. Only in dire emergencies may former Hokages step back into office, when the current one is unavailable to perform their duties."

"B-but... this is my son we're talking about?!," Minato protested. "This is an emergency!"

The elder shook his head, and Kakashi gripped his hands together tightly in panic. The Yondaime grit his teeth, rising out of the chair. "Wait," the Sandaime said calmly, removing a hand to hold it between him and the suddenly enraged father. "It's not as if I don't understand the situation. I do. But, replacing the current Hokage with someone else isn't my decision. It's the council's, and they will not be kind to your plea, even if it involves your son. Actually... they won't allow you to be replaced, because this problem involves your son."

The words were harsh, but true, and all the occupants in the room knew it too. The blonde man sighed in resignation, falling back into the chair with defeat. Kakashi stared at his sensei, guilty. It was his fault, all of it. If he hadn't intervened, then Naruto would have kept on struggling to become Sasuke's friend from a distance, and then the child's efforts would have simply withered away without any lasting repercussions. But no, he had thought this would be a little fun, and now his teacher and his son were suffering because of it. The jounin bowed his head, eyes clenched shut against tears. The worst part to this whole thing, was that he didn't even have the courage to speak up and admit his part to this awry plan to his sensei. He couldn't stand being hated by the Yondaime, so he selfishly kept silent, all the while grieving over the changes in both blondes.

Sarutobi stepped to Minato's side, using his free hand to give the younger man's shoulder a comforting squeeze. "How about this," he compromised. "Since it's unlikely that you'll be able to take any time off, bring Naruto to work with you. I'll keep him company in the office's library while you work. You'll be nearby, so you won't have to worry, and Kakashi -when he's free- and myself will try to see if we can do anything for Naruto. Maybe... just maybe... we'll get him to talk again."

Hope bloomed in the other man's eyes, and the blonde canted his head to the side, thinking for a moment. The Sandaime shifted Naruto abit, the boy stirring a little but not waking up. Kakashi felt himself itching to smile at the cute scene, but there was still the little fact that they were here because of the child-vessel suddenly becoming mute. Obviously, Minato wasn't thinking about that much, because a small smile slowly made its way across his face; relief reflecting into blue orbs.

"Thank you Sarutobi-san...," he answered.

Itachi quietly shut the door to his room, staring across the nearly empty room to the window, and beyond that, to the trees outside. His expression was neutral, but for people who knew him really well and knew all the raven's little signs, they would have seen just the slightest tightness of the teen's jaw, and the ever so subtle of a furrowed brow. And then there were the black eyes, that were on the border line of bleeding blood red with fury.

With careful precision, the black-haired ANBU removed his shinobi gear, piling them neatly on his desk. His sword clinked against his arm guards, and his kunai jingled in his pack as he dropped it beside the rest of his things. In silence, Itachi changed into his civilian clothes. It was late afternoon, and soon his mother would be calling him for dinner. The teen wouldn't feel up to it... not after what Kakashi had told him this morning.

From down the hall there was the fast pitter-patter of feet, a small individual running toward his room. The Uchiha clamped his jaw tighter, knowing exactly who was racing to his room from their chakra signature. Right on cue, his door was thrown open, and Sasuke stopped in the doorway.

"Nii-san!," the boy chirped. The teen didn't bother to move, and the younger raven immediately glued himself to his brother's side. "I didn't think you'd get back from your mission so soon. Did it go well? How long will you be staying this time? Will you train me then?"

Sasuke looked up at his brother, hoping to see amusement in the other's coal orbs or even that apologetic smile, but what he saw instead made the child flinched. He slowly withdrew his arms, and took a couple steps back. The small raven continued to look up at his brother, similar eyes flicking across his brother's blank visage. "A-aniki.... w-what's wrong?"

Itachi turned his back on his sibling. "Go get washed up, Sasuke. Mom will be calling us for dinner soon, and she'll want you to be clean before you sit at the table," he replied coldly. The young Uchiha boy made a questioning sound, and a hand reached up to touch his brother, but he pulled it back quickly when his older sibling turned to face him.

Itachi was actually glaring at him!

"W-why... why are you being so mean?!," Sasuke hissed, his hand falling to his side before balling into fists. The boy felt fear curl in his gut, and also anger, from his brother's gaze. The little raven had been so excited at seeing his nii-san, but this wasn't what he had been expecting. Itachi continued to look down upon the other male, lips pulled tight with anger.

"Maybe I was wrong, I shouldn't have pushed you to befriend Uzumaki Naruto. But that doesn't mean I have to be kind to you, not after what you've done," the teen answered, his voice frigid.

"What? That stupid blonde!," Sasuke exclaimed. "That's why you're mad at me!?"

Itachi's glare remained firm, and any longer, the boy knew he would end up bawling in front of his brother. Pressing his lips together tightly, the child sniffed in disdain. "Fine," he spat, turning on his heel. He slammed the door behind him as he left, not caring anymore if it would bother his older brother.

The teen watched as his sibling stomped out of the room, fingers pressing against his eyelids after the door had been slammed closed. He was so angry at Sasuke, but more so he was angry at himself. He only wanted his brother to have some friends, some other kids around his age group that his otouto-kun could relate to. Perhaps, he'd been just a little too ambitious.... and forgot Sasuke's feelings in all this.

"Dammit, Sasuke... I wish you weren't so insensitive. Now, we're all tangled up in one big mess."

Naruto picked at the scroll, carefully opening it up and scanning the words written across its white surface. Unfortunately, to the blue eyes, the words were nothing more than mere squiggles of ink. Pouting, the child wrapped the scroll back up as best as his small hands could manage, knotting the scroll's tie tight to make sure that the scroll wouldn't roll open. The blonde looked behind him, and was glad to see that the Sandaime was still fast asleep in the chair. He was in the library, adjoined with the Hokage's office, spending the whole day there like he had been for the past couple days now. At that moment, his father was in the other room, doing paperwork. The Third was supposed to be babysitting him, as the adults had agreed three days ago. Being as quiet as he could be, the boy put the scroll back onto the shelf where he had pulled it down from, before padding over to the window.

Naruto gazed out upon Konoha, cerulean orbs shifting up to Hokage mountain, where his dad's face was etched in stone alongside the three other Hokages. The boy felt a pang of sorrow in his chest, and a hand came up to wipe at any loose tears. The Uzumaki was aware of how upset he made his father, Uncle Kakashi and even Sarutobi-jii-san. They loved him very much, and he loved them too. But...

But, Naruto didn't want to disappoint them. If everyone else started talking about how stupid he was, and he became nothing more than a burden, then his family would be hurt. And he didn't want that. That's why he made a silent vow to himself not to talk, for as long as it took, until he could talk like everyone else. The hardest part was actually not speaking. When his mouth wasn't moving, then his ears were open, and he was more inclined to listen. People could learn alot if they actually listened, the blonde noticed.

The kyuubi-container only learned afterwards that being silent hurt his family alot. And for that, he was really sorry. But he was doing this for them, and himself. He'd show everyone who was unjustly mean, that he wasn't at all stupid or a baby! Naruto glanced over his shoulder again. The Third was snoozing on, slumped in his seat as he had been for the past fifteen minutes. He just wanted his family to be happy and proud of him, that's all.

Turning his head back around, the golden-haired boy stared up at the clear sky. Pink lips opened wide, and with deep concentration forced their way around the ackward shapes of words. "A-aye...i-I wh...will.... mah-mmm-mack-a....m-make it....."

C.M.D: yeah.... not a lot of talking again, and shorter than last chapter, but what can you do? Still, things are starting to take place. Oh, I wonder what shall happen now! Hehehe... Anyways, remember to review guys and tell me your thoughts. REVIEW!!:)