Shikako and Shikamaru came home surprisingly early. Shika shrugged off the exam it wasn't anything short of 'troublesome'. Kako explained to mom that it had only been a written test, nothing to worry about. The tightness around Kako's eyes told another story. I was sure she knew what was coming up, maybe she hadn't been as avid a reader of manga as I but I was sure she knew. After all she sang tunes from a world neither of us should know.

I felt so helpless. I hovered in front of her door. She could sense me but she was busy. Probably going over her mission pack. Probably preparing for tomorrow. Shikamaru was in his room too, he was preparing too.

I went to Shika's room.

"Don't you have anyone else to pester?" Shika commented, his gaze brushed over me briefly.

"Not really," I replied and sat down on his bed.

Silence stretched out, my brother didn't seem to mind if at all. I was trying to figure out how I could get Shika to keep a close eye on Kako without it being obvious I knew something I shouldn't.

"Don't let anything happen to her," A whisper of a thought that leaked out into words. I quickly folded my arms and sent Shika a glare, "You're not allowed to get hurt either."

Shikamaru scoffed, "As if I would."

As if I would let anything happen to her.

Yes that was a proper reply. It was the best I could do for now. I was so helpless in the matter the most I could do was be a brat about it. I went downstairs and grabbed up the sealing book and my notes. My headache instantly felt like coming back to remind me that no I wasn't ready to go back to this anytime soon.

I ignored it.

"Kako," I called out before entering her room. "I need help."

"Oh yeah?" Her smile seemed a little nervous.

"Not right now, but when you're done with the exams?" I set the things on her desk, "I have questions."

"We've got an hour till dinner," She prompted and looked more like she wanted to distract herself.

This was probably a perfect chance to tell her.

An icy cold grip over my heart stopped the thought right in its tracks.

"I can't, mom's making me help with dinner." Just like she had made me do all of Kako's and Shika's chores. I had a feeling mom had been trying to distract herself all day and part of that was to get me distracted as well.

"Okay." A simple shrug, she smiled and then surprised me with a hug. She let out a grunt when I quickly returned the hug. Yet I was forced to pull away, mom was calling me. Probably because it was obvious I was bugging my older siblings when they had other things to worry about.

Early morning Shikamaru and Shikako left, breakfast had barely been made in time. Time seemed to stretch on as my stomach flopped around. It didn't go unnoticed that I hardly touched my food and that the whole time I had stared at the twins.

Dad decided to stay a little longer after breakfast. He sat me down on the porch and had me practice my shadow possession jutsu. I tried to clear my mind for it, tried to focus on my breathing. My heart was fluttering fast and I tried so hard not to think about it.

I could hardly focus and I had school still.

My shadow went forward, slow as usual, but for once it was steady. My shoulders were tense and my mind felt smushed. The kind of feeling when you pulled an all nighter because anxiety wouldn't let you rest. My body was too young to handle this.

I was going to break.

Instead I counted my breaths. One. In. Two. Out. Three. The shadow slipped forward, straining as only an inch was left. When it actually connected to my dad my heart leapt up in glee. I felt the connection, I forgot to end it in the rat seal I had been too excited. I jumped up, dad started to follow the motion before the connection broke. Dad's lips quirked in a smile as he resettled in his position.

"I did it!" I exclaimed and swiveled my head around to look for any more witnesses. Mom was upstairs busying herself with something. She tried her best to give us space, especially me, when dad was helping us out. I jumped up and down I couldn't contain my joy. "I really did it!"

Joy and pride shone brightly in dad's eyes.

I lunged forward at him in a tackle hug. Shikaku choked out a cough that turned into a laugh. His hand went my back, his other helped hold himself up and balanced. My stomach was fluttering with excited butterflies.

I couldn't wait to tell Shika and Kako!

"Lets do it again!" I declared and scrambled back.

I didn't actually manage it a second time. Dad also had to stop me from doing too much. I couldn't use up all my chakra before the day even started. Yet I had made progress, I had seen it. I had made the connection. His praise, although it was really only a few words, went deep.

I practically bounced with joy all around the house as I did my chores. Dad was still home, I didn't listen in on his and mom's conversation. It seemed like one of those that if I got caught listening to I would be in deep deep trouble.

I was so sure that nothing could ruin my mood, I should've known I would be so seriously wrong. It only took one thought, one reminder.

Orochimaru.

He wanted Sasuke's body because he wanted eternal life. He wanted the sharingan because it was capable of so much. Yet… what would he do if he ever found out about someone reincarnated? He probably wouldn't even jump to that, he would probably assume that it was someone who had successfully done what he was trying to do.

Cold dread climbed up my spine. My stomach dropped and squeezed, flipped. I rushed to the bathroom just in time. It was a good thing that I hadn't eaten much breakfast.

I could sense my mom heading downstairs, probably to check on me. Living with ninja parents meant that they tended to notice when something was wrong. I grabbed my bag for school and ran. I only just managed to call over my shoulder that I was heading off early. I ran like the devil was at my heels.

Shikako was in more danger than I had originally thought.

Heck I was in danger!

I had to get rid of any of my drawing pads that had anything connecting me to another world. I'd get rid of them after school, I'd burn them. No one could know.

"Good morning Nara-kun," Hanabi Hyuuga drew my out of my thoughts, making me realize I was just standing at the school entrance.

"Go-good morning," I was sucking in air. Her eyes narrowed slightly but she didn't prod. I gave her a second glance when she casually walked beside me. I suppose it made more sense then awkwardly walking as if we weren't headed in the same direction.

"Are you alright?" She finally asked as she stopped to open the classroom door.

"Do you think that they'll survive?" I asked, she had a sibling in the chunin exams too. I don't know how close she was with her sister, but it was still her sister. Her cousin was also out there, facing unknown danger. At least Neiji and his team had more experience and time as a team.

"Of course," Hanabi said as if it were obvious, "They didn't get recommendations for nothing."

The door slid open. There weren't very many people inside, wouldn't be until it got much closer to school actually starting. Still some few liked to get here early to claim a certain seat or to get a chance to hang out with friends early.

My heart was still thundering inside my chest. I felt so cold, it hardly seemed like summer was just around the corner. I felt like I was in the middle of a winter storm. I shivered and picked a seat that would be in the sun.

I tried working through a few mental exercises but nothing was sticking.

I could vaguely recall the joy I had felt earlier.

Orochimaru was out there hunting down my sister's team. I prayed to great entities unknown that they would make it out unharmed. I prayed fervently as I paid no attention in class that they would be alive.

AN: Some good things happen... and then some not so great things. Actually the next chapter is a bit... angsty? I don't know how to describe it. You'll just have to read it yourselves when it comes. I might be dragging this out but some important things happen.

Sealing is some complex stuff... and i barely understand it. I hope i don't butcher it but i do have some ideas about sealing, i hope they come out as good ideas. Though i feel like Masa will be stuck until he can pin Shikako down to help him understand a few things... which i don't even know if that'll work out. They both think so differently. Which chapter seven and eight kind of go over some sealing stuff. because even the notes and things he wrote down from Kofuku-oba i can see him looking them back over and not remembering why he wrote it down or thought it important.

I don't know if that answers any questions of just brings up more. I wish i myself had a better understanding of sealing.