Sasuke couldn't pay attention to sensei's lesson. It was almost unnecessary, the amount of school Sasuke had found himself in. Thanks to Iruka-sensei's after school classes, he already learned some of the new reading material. Sasuke took his notes like he usually did but every word buzzed in his ears.

Yamanaka Ino could see ghosts.

From the sound of it, it was new. She hadn't always seen them. Or maybe she had? Did her 'sickness' lead to her seeing ghosts? What could have started it?

It was still too coincidental. Ino missed over a month of school, like him. She must have been somewhat sick. Did an illness cause her to see ghosts? No, that couldn't have been it—or could it? Maybe she caught something that made her see ghosts.

Maybe Sasuke had been reading too many of Fusao's books, lately. In any case, it wouldn't explain her discomfort…with…the…

Sharingan.

Sasuke dropped his pencil. It rolled off his foot to his right, towards Ino.

Ino's father had said Ino returned to school the same day he did. Ino hated eye contact. She asked him if he had gotten the Sharingan. She only looked at him when she believed he didn't. Ino and Shisui had to have met, somehow, in order for Shisui to know. More than once, judging by the way Shisui had looked at her during recess. Judging from how accurately she drew Shisui's eye.

Would Itachi use his sharingan on a random person? A classmate he barely talked to? What would be the reason? Itachi told him to murder his best friend, after murdering his best friend. Maybe there was none.

Maybe Itachi didn't have a reason for hurting her. Maybe he just wanted to hurt someone else. Did he even know what his eyes could do to someone?

The small things over the past three months began to fall into place. If Itachi made Ino see something with his sharingan, it would explain part of why she was out for so long. Why Ino's father came to the compound. Why Shisui said Ino was also having trouble. Of course; Shisui would blame himself for Ino as well.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Sasuke refocused on Ino's confused face, holding out his pencil. Should he ask? He wasn't sure how he'd respond if someone asked him if he'd been tortured. Sasuke barely wanted to talk about Tsukuyomi as it was.

"Can we talk later?" he whispered.

"We have class after school today."

"No," Sasuke stressed. There wouldn't be enough time to actually discuss anything, and Iruka-sensei would be there. Naruto as well, now that he thought of it. "What about—"

"I didn't want to do this," a voice interrupted. Sasuke looked up to see Sensei's frown, directed right at him. "But you two have left me no choice. Sasuke, can you switch places with Kiba?"

He could feel the heat from Ino's glare. From the back, Kiba shouted, "But I didn't do anything!"

"Kiba, don't think I haven't seen you throwing paper balls at Ichiko all class. Please come to the front."

"That was Naruto!"

Sasuke trudged towards Kiba's former seat. Kiba's shoulder roughly jostled him as he passed.

"Jerk," the boy muttered, walking towards the front of the class. Sasuke didn't respond, too busy glaring at the scene to his left: three grinning Uzumaki, around Naruto, as always. The only living Uzumaki in the class glared back. If only he knew he was defending his relatives, Sasuke thought.

"We all saw the little scene outside, kid." Benjiro said as he sat. The bells in his hair rang cheerfully today, like birdsong. Privately, Sasuke thought bells would be perfect for a Fire Dance. "Didn't know the Yamanaka could have the ability as well."

"I mean, it makes sense," Aito said. "If anyone else was going to have the ability, I'd bet on the Yamanaka. Remember the first war?" he shuddered. "Those mind techniques are creepy."

"Aito! She might hear you." Nanami said, gesturing towards the front. Still, she smiled down at Sasuke. From this close up, Nanami's smile looked a lot like Naruto's. "It was adorable, Sasuke. I'm glad have a friend your age to talk to about—" She waved a hand, as if to describe the way Sasuke's world flipped on its head.

"Hey, why are you looking at me like that?"

It took everything in Sasuke not to jolt. Sasuke blinked, looking up, and Naruto was still craning his neck to see Sasuke. Naruto didn't even have his book out, but Sasuke knew he had it— Sasuke had snuck it into the vegetables bag to Naruto's door last week.

"I'm not looking at you," He lied, and turned his attention towards the front, where Ino was furiously scribbling.

Except, where Sasuke did expect Ino to turn around, or have some reaction, she didn't. Instead, she continued to write as hurriedly as possible as Iruka-sensei collected the homework.

…Could she not hear them? She was able to talk to Shisui somehow. But when did they have time to talk? If Ino was in school, just like him, he couldn't have talked to her during the day. Sasuke would have seen. And Shisui looked for ghosts at night, but Ino would be asleep. It also didn't explain the bracelets wrapped around her wrist, every day.

Sasuke groaned inwardly. None of it made sense.

Wait a minute.

Amaterasu help me.

Yuko was Ino's clan member. If Ino told anyone, if the Hokage ended up finding out he could see, it couldn't mean anything good. Maybe they'd assume he completely lost it. But if they believed him…if they really believed he could see ghosts…they wouldn't leave him alone. Maybe they'd use him, the way they used Shisui.

The way they used Itachi.

He couldn't let it happen, either way.

As soon as the bell rang, Sasuke was back, standing in front of Ino's desk. The wonder had disappeared, exchanged for what looked like anxiety. His hands kept drumming his notebook. He leaned closer, and Ino fought the urge to lean back. She turned her gaze to the door.

"You can't tell anyone," he whispered quickly in her ear. "You can't. Not your family. Not anyone in your clan."

Why would she tell anyone? Telling would mean admitting she had gone behind her parents back to take off the bracelets. It would mean letting them know that she wasn't as alive as she thought she was. Ino wasn't sure how to handle that herself.

They'd never let her go out again. She'd be back in the hospital, or even worse bracelets, and that couldn't happen. "I didn't plan on it," she whispered back. "You can't tell anyone either."

Sasuke made a face. As their staring classmates filed out the door, Sasuke started to relax, taking the seat next to her.

"I was going to tell my mother." He paused. "And my friends."

Right, Sasuke would still be able to talk to his family. Yashiro and Masae and Kato and Ryu and Asumi and—

She shook her head to clear her thoughts, but Sasuke misunderstood. His scowl was back.

"It's fine," she clarified. "I just thought of something."

Shikari said no one should know she was an ikiryo. It wouldn't end well for her. But Sasuke wasn't dead, as far as Ino could tell.

Sasuke looked confused, but nodded anyway.

"Alright you two," they both turned to Iruka-sensei, who looked like he was trying to be mad, but he kept fighting a smile. "I'm glad you guys are becoming friends, but you can't keep disrupting class to talk. If you keep talking during class, I'll have to move you permanently."

Sasuke made a face. "Yes, Sensei."

Ino nodded.

They had worked through most of the math that they had missed, and moved towards History. It wasn't that Ino didn't like reading, it was fine, but it wasn't as easy as math was. Annoyingly, Sasuke seemed to pull ahead in reading and history where Ino did better at math and language. Strangely, Sasuke started messing up once they reached the questions on the Fourth Hokage.

"How many years did the Fourth Hokage rule?"

"Three," she responded.

Sasuke stayed quiet. He was probably looking at something or someone by the window, someone Ino couldn't see with her bracelets on. No, she'd have to watch Sasuke make faces at the window.

"Is that your final answer?" When Ino turned back, Iruka-sensei didn't have that crooked smile. Instead, it was replaced by a certain sadness, something that dragged his face down.

"A year and a half," Sasuke said suddenly, still looking towards the window. Ino wished they weren't in the front, so she could take off her bracelets and see. "He made it through the Third War but died almost two years after."

"Correct, Sasuke. The Fourth Hokage died a hero after defeating the nine-tailed fox." Iruka-sensei began erasing the board. "The Day of Remembrance, October 10th, honors all those who passed in the attack. We also use the day to honor his sacrifice and legacy."

Sasuke suddenly winced, shoulders hiking to his ears, still staring at the window. Whoever was there must not have been happy. Ino would have to ask later.

"I'm gonna be just like Lord Fourth when I become Hokage!" Naruto crowed from the back. If Sasuke looked uncomfortable before, he looked pained now.

Ino stared at Sasuke, confused, until her classmate must have felt her look, because he turned. He glanced at her, the window, then back. Ino shrugged slightly, which didn't help Sasuke's confusion. If only she could use the Yin Link. This would be so much easier.

"Why not the Third Hokage, Naruto?" Iruka-sensei asked, and if you asked Ino, he sounded like he was pleading. "He's been the Hokage longer than anyone else, and he knows almost every jutsu in the village."

She looked at Sasuke, but her classmate looked like he smelled something bad.

"Jiji didn't defeat the fox and save everyone!"

"Hokage-sama, Naruto." Iruka-sensei corrected. "Not 'Jiji.'"

"But he answers to it!"

"It's not respectful!"

While they bickered, Ino turned to Sasuke. "What?" she whispered.

Sasuke glanced quickly at the window, then back to her. He leaned closer. "The Fourth Hokage is Naruto's father."

Her first instinct was to laugh, because it couldn't be true. Ino gripped her sides, giggling. Sasuke's first joke, and it didn't make any sense.

The Fourth Hokage was one of Daddy's friends. They went to school together, with Uncle Choza and Uncle Shikaku. They even fought the Third War together, but Daddy didn't like talking about that. Uncle Shikaku had never mentioned the Fourth Hokage having a son in his stories, only a scarecrow that followed him everywhere.

Ino would have continued laughing, but Sasuke's expression hadn't changed. Instead, it had a sort of frustration, now. The same frustrated look he got when Naruto wasn't listening to something Iruka-sensei already repeated twice. Ino could feel her jaw drop. She stared, wide eyed, into Sasuke's black eyes, and for once, she couldn't even feel an ounce of fear.

There was no way. It just…wasn't possible.

Except…wasn't Naruto born around the same time as the nine tails attack? The same day the Fourth died. But…that still wouldn't make sense. How would Naruto get such a bad reputation as a kage's son, bad enough for Mama to tell Ino to stay away?

"You're not serious."

"Why would I lie?" Sasuke responded quietly. That spurred her into action.

She eased one bracelet off, and was just about to get the other when Iruka-sensei took his spot at the front of the classroom. She stuck her hands under her desk immediately. Ino glared at the spot Sasuke was looking at, half convinced the Fourth Hokage himself was staring back.

"Let's move onto chakra exercises!"

—

When Iruka-sensei finally let them out that day, she waited for Naruto to fly out the door. Before Sasuke could run, Ino whirled on him on the front steps. "Who was there?"

Sasuke gave her a little frown. "How did you not see them?"

Ino looked at her mother, waiting close by, chatting with Iruka-sensei. She held up her wrist, where an annoying gray bracelet dangled. She could see the moment where it connected for Sasuke.

"I can't see them while I have these on," she said quietly. It felt odd, talking about it with someone. Not bad, Ino thought, but…different. It made her feel a little lighter. "Even if they're off, I have to focus to see them."

"…You have times where you don't see them?"

It wasn't a question, really. There was an odd emotion there. Sasuke shifted his feet, not meeting her eye. But she thought she could understand. When the ghosts screamed and it shook her body. Their injuries. Their words. Sasuke returned to a compound of ghosts every day. Ino didn't think she'd be able to take it. She nodded wordlessly.

"Do you always see them?" she whispered.

Sasuke swallowed, before nodding.

There wouldn't be enough time to discuss everything they needed to talk about. Not in the open, where Iruka-sensei and Mama could hear. If only they had a good enough reason to talk without being interrupted…

When it hit Ino, she gasped. She grasped Sasuke's arm, bouncing excitedly. The boy hissed.

"Let's have a sleepover!"

"A sleepover?" Sasuke couldn't have sounded less excited. He took an unconscious step back, nearly tripping on a step.

"You wanted to talk, didn't you?" Ino asked. It was perfect. "You can come over to my house Friday after school, and we'll be able to talk!" There was an added benefit of asking Sasuke for help on the history homework, but Sasuke didn't have to know that.

Now that she thought of it, it had been months since she had a sleepover. The last one she had, before the ghosts, was with her cousins. They painted each other's nails while telling stories through the Yin Link.

"….I have to ask my mother." Sasuke turned a little, looking off towards one direction. Ino glanced at her own mother, still chatting with Iruka-sensei. slowly slipped the bracelets off. She closed her eyes, pushing yin chakra towards them. Then opened.

Sasuke looked just like his mother, from the eyes to his hair. His mother's hair was long and dark, drifting past her shoulders. She wore an apron that flashed with blood. Ino looked at Sasuke, who wore same smile from before. Tiny, but a smile nonetheless. He tightened his hand on his books with one hand, and gave a small, near invisible wave with the other.

His mother tilted his head, and Ino could feel her gaze. With a lack of anything else to do, Ino gave a small wave as well. Hopefully Sasuke's mother wasn't one of the angry yurei Shikari talked about.

Sasuke's mother's body flashed with shock, with blood. She slowly raised a hand—

and waved back.

"I think she'll say yes," Ino said, grinning and waving.

His mother's smile hadn't dimmed since they left the school. "I'm glad you've made a new friend, Sasuke. And with your ability, too!"

Sasuke didn't pause as he bought food at the market. He eyed the potatoes, taking a few extra, but not too many. Naruto most likely didn't know how to cook. Out of the corner of his eye, his mother's smile dimmed a little. "I hope Ino wasn't hurt," she added.

He winced. His mother caught on, as always, and for a moment, didn't speak.

Her eyes flashed. "It couldn't have been…"

"Are you going to buy the potatoes or not, Uchiha-san?" A thinly polite voice said. He startled, looking into irritated brown eyes. Ignoring his mother's screech, Sasuke quickly paid, turning away from the stalls.

"I don't know," Sasuke said under his breath as he walked. His mother's eyes hadn't stopped flashing. But he could find out.

If he truly was to have a sleepover with Ino, maybe he could ask about how she got her sight. Mother thought his sight was due to Itachi's Mangekyou reacting to his sharingan, but how could Ino have it if she wasn't from the clan?

"He wouldn't," she said. It sounded weak, even to Sasuke's ears.

The trip to Naruto's apartment was quickly becoming familiar. Sasuke ignored the looks, as always, as he headed up to Naruto's floor. The railing was going to fall off any day, and chipping brown paint flaked off Sasuke's fingers as he walked.

The fifth floor was filled with Naruto's chatter, as always. Sasuke didn't know if anyone else lived on the floor, but if they did, they definitely got a daily tirade of how Naruto would become Hokage. Sasuke laid the groceries down. He went to pound the door once, as always, and—

The door swung open.

"Aha!" came a triumphant voice. He looked into the wide, confused eyes of Naruto.

Sasuke should have switched his days up more, but he'd forgotten. Maybe then he could have avoided this conversation.

Behind him, Nanami stood smiling. Benjiro relaxed from what looked like a battle stance.

"Huh," Nanami said behind the unknowing jinchuriki. "I didn't think Naruto would catch on. Hello again, Uchiha-kun."

Sasuke could feel his mother's look on his face. He didn't look at her.

Benjiro shrugged, gray eyes amused. "You must have noticed his nose is way too good, thanks to his furry friend."

"—lo? Hello?" Tanned hands waved in front of Sasuke's face. He blinked, scowling back at Naruto.

Sasuke took a step back, nearly banging into the beige wall. (Was it supposed to be white? He wasn't sure.)

"What?" He said finally. Sasuke hadn't ever planned for Naruto to find him. Then again, he never planned to drop off groceries after that first time. But if he couldn't tell Naruto the truth about his parents or his clan, he could do this. He kept telling himself he'd stop the next time, he just…. never did.

Blue eyes narrowed. Thinking about it, Sasuke realized Naruto looked like Nanami—far more than any other Uzumaki Sasuke had seen. It was in their shape of their noses, their eyes.

"What are you leaving food at my door for? I thought you were one of Jiji's creepy mask dudes." Nanami busted out laughing, long red hair swiping through Naruto's face.

"By 'Jiji's creepy mask dudes' does he mean ANBU—"

"Why are you so spacey? It's kinda weird, 'ttebayo." Naruto commented, and Sasuke frowned. Nanami gestured to come in, and the three ghosts drifted inside Naruto's apartment.

"Whatever, I'll stop." This would be the last time he did this, so it didn't matter. Sasuke turned on his heel, hoping his blush would disappear.

Before he got to the stairway, Naruto cried out. "Wait!"

A hand pulled him back. His classmate looked hesitant, scratching his nose. "I wasn't making fun of you, I just… I dunno." he swallowed, and for a moment, Naruto looked painfully confused. "Why are you leaving food here?"

Your clan watches over you every day. My mother looks at you like she's about to cry. I'm sorry I can't tell you the truth.

"They charged you more for those apples in the market," Sasuke said instead. "I was there." Naruto's nose wrinkled immediately, and maybe, Sasuke thought, he'd forgotten all about that incident in the market. It didn't make Sasuke feel any better—how many 'incidents' did Naruto have on a day-to-day basis with the villagers?

His expression cleared, and for a moment, Naruto's eyes watered dangerously. "They always do that. Why now?"

Always? "I didn't know," Sasuke said quietly. "That was the first time I saw."

Naruto blinked at him, and this was the quietest Sasuke had ever seen him. He rubbed a rough hand over his eyes. "Thank you," the boy said hesitantly, like the words were new to him. "I, uh, don't have money to pay you back."

Sasuke shrugged. "I didn't ask you to."

Another moment of thick silence. Naruto began foraging through the bag. He crowed when he saw the celery. "I like these!"

"You're supposed to cook with them," Sasuke couldn't help saying. "Not dip them in ramen." Naruto squinted at him.

"Are you watching me? That's creepy."

Sasuke's cheeks felt hot. "It wasn't on purpose!"

"You are watching me! I thought you were too busy kissing Ino to do anything." The boy made kissing faces at him, and Sasuke wanted to wipe it right off. Kissing Ino? Is that really what Naruto thought?

Ino was…a classmate. One that Sasuke spent a good deal of time with and around. She was annoyingly good at math, spent most of her time drawing, and ate cherry tomatoes during their after school breaks.

Also, she may or may not have been tortured by his older brother.

"Shut up, moron."

"Sasuke and Ino, sitting in a tree."

"Idiot."

"K-I-S-S-I—"

In his defense, he was provoked. Sasuke launched at Naruto over the threshold.

He may have been quicker, rolling and pushing, knocking into a rickety table. Naruto, however, was stronger.

"Boys!" Sasuke looked up at Benjiro's voice. It was enough of a distraction for Naruto to gain the upper hand, rolling them over.

Sasuke realized his mouth was burning from his smile. Naruto had a similar grin on his face, one that faded as soon as Sasuke elbowed him to stand up, covered in dust. Did Naruto ever sweep his apartment?

He looked around. The Hokage gave Naruto an apartment on the highest floor—maybe for ANBU to be able to watch him, like they watched Sasuke? The apartment itself was a hurricane of clothes, old milk, and ramen containers in different states of decomposition. Nanami and his mother were talking around Naruto's couch.

"—ushio?" he caught his mother saying.

"Best place I can think of, if not here." Nanami turned her head away. "I can't go back, not after I failed...but maybe she's there."

His mother bowed her head, putting a hand on the Uzumaki's. "You don't give yourself enough credit for being queen during war. Thank you, Uzumaki-san."

"Our kids are playing together, call me Nanami."

A object hit him in the head—A beige threadbare pillow. Sasuke looked over at Naruto.

"What?" he snapped.

"I called your name for a while, then I got bored."

It was then he decided it was past time to leave. Sasuke dusted himself off the best he could. "Whatever. I'm leaving." he walked himself to the door.

"Wait!"

Sasuke hovered at the doorway. Naruto smiled at him, but it was different from the wide smiles Sasuke had seen before. This one was smaller, but no less real.

"Thank you."

And Sasuke couldn't help but return it. He waved once as he left, his mother a cold comfort at his side.

"You're welcome."