"Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory."

- Dr. Seuss

<>

Sasuke absolutely despised his eighth birthday for multiple reasons. One: Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi and his family were going to make a big deal about it, even though he didn't want a big thing. Two: his life was like a stopwatch, and his birthday was a warning that time was almost up. Three: His eighth year was the year his entire clan was killed, in his past life. Four: Summer is always hot- Sasuke hated being hot.

That was the reason why he was currently laying in bed with his pillow over his face, dreading having to get up. He wished there was nothing special about July 23rd. He wished it wasn't summer break, that he could go to school and try to forget about this whole day. He had pretended he was asleep for three hours now, it must be at least 9:00 AM.

Sasuke hadn't slept in that late a day in his life. He also hadn't gone to sleep early a day in his life. No one knew that, though. 12:00 was the earliest we went to sleep, and 6:00 AM was the normal time he 'officially' woke up. He was normally up and working already by 5:00. At age four. Then the schedule narrowed as his body grew older, he was training himself to be awake. He could stay awake for three days straight before he passed out by the time he was seven.

It wasn't his fault, he COULDN'T sleep. He had to physically shut down his mind by meditating before he could sleep. Then, he had to make sure he wasn't regulating his breathing and measuring the distance between his heartbeats subconsciously. Not to mention the nightmares - he preferred to call them memories - attacked him whenever he DID sleep. In other words, sleeping was a very strenuous thing, and he preferred not to do it. Obviously he knew what he was doing wasn't healthy, but, as I said before, it wasn't really his fault.

He'd felt his mother's feet walk down the hallway twice the morning of his birthday. The other times, he couldn't hear her, and he thought she was using her ninja skills to sneak past him. She stopped in front of his door three times, he heard her head softly sit against his door twice. She was listening, trying to see if he was awake. He evened out his breathing and steadied his heartbeat, knowing she could probably feel it through the wood. Then she was gone.

Then Itachi burst through the door, staring down at Sasuke. He tapped his foot impatiently. "Little brother, it's time to wake up. You're eight now, stop faking, and just get up. Mother is worried sick about you, you never sleep in this late."

Sasuke groaned, throwing his pillow at his elder brother. Itachi caught it, and strode forward, putting the pillow down on the bed and grabbing his little brother's shoulders. Lifting him up, he directed the boy towards the door. "Just go."

Sasuke sighed, but made his way down the hallway, Itachi following close by, holding his shoulders. He ate his amazing breakfast, his mother and brother celebrating him. His father had left early to go to work.

Later that day, Shisui, Obito, Kakashi, Sakura and Naruto showed up with gifts. Sasuke couldn't say he hadn't been expecting them. Itachi's present was that he was (officially) giving Sasuke his green dinosaur stuffed animal that he no longer used. Sasuke always shamelessly stole it to play with it just to spite him.

Shisui and Obito collaborated in giving Sasuke a play kunai set and some cool ninja clothes. Kakashi got Sasuke a notebook, he called it a mission report journal to please the eight year old. Naruto's- (Minato and Kushina's)- gift was an action figure of some new popular person all the kids were obsessed with. Obviously the blonde boy was only there for the food, although his parents were intent on doting on Sasuke. Sakura gave him a hard look and a puzzle box.

The puzzle box was difficult to crack. It was made of wood, and he could break it open easily, but where would be the fun in that? Sasuke was excited at the challenge, his mind working, moving all the gears, trying every solution in his room after the party, until it popped open. Naruto was staying the night, but Sasuke wasn't really paying attention to him.

The minute it popped open, a small, orange bottle fell out of it, along with a piece of paper. Sasuke recognized it as a prescription drug bottle, and saw it was full of tiny white pills. He peered at them for a while, turning away from Naruto, who was laying upside down on his bed and talking his ear off about absolutely nothing. Sasuke eventually looked at the note, unfolding the paper.

These should help you sleep. Take two per night. Come see me for refills.

These are illegal, don't let anyone else see them.

Only take them once every three nights so you don't get addicted, okay? You have to do this by yourself sometimes too. It's part of the recuperation process.

Really, Sasuke, you need to sleep more.

- SH

Sasuke frowned, holding up the bottle and looking inside. The pills were jostled around by the movement. How did she know I don't sleep? I have a genjutsu placed over me all day so people don't notice my appearance. He shook his head. She was Sakura. She probably knew everything and everything's cousin. Sasuke glared at the bottle. Will this really work?

"Ne, Sasuke! I'm tired, I'm gonna go to bed." Naruto said, turning over on his futon to where his back was facing the other boy.

"Okay. Night Naruto." Sasuke said, standing up and walking over to the lights. He blew them out, and used his Sharingan to maneuver the pills into his mouth. He swallowed them quickly, without water. He was always supernaturally good at taking pills. As he thought that, it kind of weirded him out.

Sasuke immediately felt his eyes droop closed. Before he could fully pass out, he broadcasted a telepathic message to his team, Naruto included.

Thank you.

No problem.

Sakura replied. The others also voiced that it wasn't a problem. They all said goodnight, and Sasuke's eyes closed. He was dead to the world all night for the first time. He didn't have any dreams, and his mind shut down automatically that time.

It was the most refreshing night's sleep he'd ever had.

<>

The first day of school was interesting, since Sasuke got to see people he hadn't seen in a long time. The first week of school was repeat. The first month of school was mind numbing. The first three months of school were hell. Sasuke started to wonder how he survived the first time.

Sasuke didn't have friends, per se, aside from Naruto and Sakura, but he worked well with a few other people. Shikamaru, definitely. He wasn't irritating, and was smart. Whenever he did classwork with Shikamaru, it always ended up good. He could tolerate a few others, Shino and Neji Hyuga included.

Sadly, Neji was a grade ahead of Sasuke, so he only got to work with Neji whenever their classes worked together. Sasuke still had those annoying fangirls following him around, but this time, Sakura wasn't a part of them. Sasuke ignored the way it made his heart plummet when she pretended she wasn't aware of his existence when his fangirl tribe was around.

Otherwise, it was the old friend group again. Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto always, always were together, therefore if their friends wanted to hang out with one, they'd get all of them. That's how all of them became friends again. A mixture of Sakura's, Naruto's, and Sasuke's separate friends. Choji, Lee and Kiba for Naruto, Shikamaru, Neji and Shino for Sasuke, and Ino, Hinata and Tenten. They were all brought together separately. Except for Choji and Shikamaru, who already were best friends. And Neji and Hinata already knew each other.

Sakura was a bit antisocial as well, focusing on getting stronger, but she didn't isolate herself like Sasuke did. She remained friends with a few of the girls from Konoha 11, Ino, Tenten and Hinata. Temari, too, when they came around.

Sometimes Gaara and the Sand Siblings came to the village. Naruto had been concerned about Gaara, and checked in on them, asking his dad to go with him on one of his political trips to the Sand. Sure enough, Gaara was lost, scared, and alone. And also mistreated. Naruto related to him, since the villagers still weren't completely friendly with him. Naruto befriended him easily, just like last time. Things came from their friendship. An alliance with the Sand. Rasa and Minato got along well as well, after Minato gave Rasa a stern talking to about the condition of his son.

So Sasuke's first few months of school were interesting. It wasn't the greatest. Frankly, he wasn't sure if he would be able to get through it without breaking down, so many familiar faces all at once, but he made it. It was mostly due to Naruto and Sakura, whose presences were both ridiculously soothing to the Uchiha boy. Sasuke wondered how he was going to do this.

He knew he wasn't the only person going through this, though. All of them were suffering from leftover trauma. For three eight year olds to have it so bad was honestly extremely sad.

Sasuke had seen Sakura almost have an anxiety attack when she saw her friend Ino for the first time. Sasuke wouldn't ever tell her how worried he was for her in that moment. He would've swooped in, grabbed Sakura, and left Ino behind, but Ino was already helping Sakura. Naruto seemed to stop breathing sometimes, when his friends surprised him or caught him off guard sometimes. He would close his eyes, and Sakura and Sasuke would have to provide their friends with a worthy distraction while Naruto recovered.

They were all still hurting.

<>

Itachi Uchiha knew plenty of things. When an old man basically tells him he knows nothing, he remembers. His memory is near perfect anyway. And here he was, being confronted by the old man that told him he knew nothing about life three years ago. He was asking Itachi for a favor, now.

Itachi leaned against the tree he had been standing by when three people approached him. Danzo was in the middle, escorted by two ROOT members. He walked straight up to the heir of the Uchiha clan and started talking to him like they were best pals.

"Uchiha Itachi!" Danzo announced himself, walking slowly up to the boy who was seated under the tree resting from a training match.

Itachi looked up at Danzo, keeping his face blank. "Councilman." He said dismissively. Any normal person could see that Itachi didn't want company at the moment. Danzo was either oblivious, or he decided he wanted to be annoying. "What can I do for you?" Itachi asked, resisting the urge to sigh. He wasn't in the mood to deal with him right now.

"There actually is something I would like you to do for me." Danzo said, looking around, then stepping closer. His ROOT ANBU came closer as well.

Itachi raised an eyebrow. Do I get a choice in the matter, or are you going to try to force me to do something? "What would you like me to do, sir?"

Danzo stood back for a few seconds, then crossed his arms. "I understand you are extremely loyal to this village." He drawled as if it were just himself and Itachi.

"I am." Itachi nodded. A smirk grew on Danzo's face. The two of them stood silently for a minute.

"I see. Excellent. Would you say you're more loyal to this village than you are to your clan?" Danzo asked. If he was trying to make himself sound less suspicious, he failed.

Ah. I see. Itachi's mind whirled. Given the fact that he's bringing up my clan, it can only mean that what he is asking me to do will have something to do with them. Maybe he'll ask me to deliver a message or letter to my father, but I highly doubt that since he doesn't appear to be holding a paper, and both of the ROOT ANBU are slightly behind him. If one was slightly ahead of him, that one could have been the one to hold the letter, but judging from their clothes and position near Danzo, I would say not. Danzo isn't holding it, because if that were the case, he wouldn't be making such a big fuss and go give it to my father himself.

His eyes went to the ROOT ANBU. Normally bodyguards wear normal clothes when wandering the village to blend in. Those two haven't been, nor will be in the village. Therefore his base is either outside the village, or it is in the village and they just changed and left quickly. Highly doubt that last one. These guys are careful. That means it's not a message they want me to deliver, it shows these ROOT members are perfectly capable of delivering a message to my father. Note: the ROOT ANBU aren't facing their six, but that's the direction they're keeping an eye on. Those two are lookouts.

Itachi crossed his arms and rocked back on his heels. That rules out that option. Plus, if he were coming to give a message, why would he come to me? I was out of the village, far away. It would be so much easier to just find a different Uchiha to deliver the message. But no, they wanted ME specifically. Probably for my skillset. Therefore, it's a mission. There are limited options here.

Itachi's outward appearance didn't change once. It could be out of the village, but if that were the case, Danzo's ROOT wouldn't be so nervous. That's right. Nervous. They're both tense, ready to jump in at any minute, but they're not looking at me. They don't think I'm the threat. They're looking to the trees. Itachi smiled evilly. The only threat to them this far in Fire is Minato-jii's ANBU. that means this mission can't be sanctioned by the Hokage. That makes it illegal. Rogue ops, if you will.

From the direction they're facing, the ANBU are coming from the east, from the village. That only further proves they're ANBU. That means they're under a time crunch. Funny. Now, let's see. This part isn't hard. Black ops mission, unsanctioned by Minato. Has something to do with my clan, negative connotations, and ME. A known Konoha loyalist among my clansmen. My skillset is espionage based, assassination tested.

Itachi's eyes widened to keep up appearances. Gotcha.

He wants me to spy on my clan.

Danzo looked him in the eye seriously. Itachi didn't quite know what to do about this situation. He was being approached by a man that had his own assassination squad. Either he could turn down this mission and be killed (or worse, have Sasuke be killed), or he could take it on and become hated by his clan. If not executed for treason.

Oooh this is bad. I have to get out of this situation so I don't have to make this choice.

"You're brilliant, Itachi. You already know what I'm asking you." Danzo stepped forward. "What is your answer?"

Itachi's eyes narrowed. "Say it. Out loud."

"But you know the question," Danzo said innocently. His words were rushed, and Itachi could see his eye twitching from where he was standing. Danzo really was running out of time for this little excursion. If Itachi could buy himself some time, maybe the ANBU that were undoubtedly coming could catch what Danzo was saying.

Itachi scoffed. "I just want to hear you say it out loud. I want you to understand the gravity of what you are asking of me."

Danzo's visible eye narrowed, and he was suddenly extremely tense. A long breath of air left his body, and the older man uncrossed his arms. He could probably tell Itachi wasn't going to budge on this, and was running out of time. "I want you to work for the village in a clandestine effort to keep an eye on the Uchiha clan. It's a matter of national security."

"You're spying on my clan?" Itachi asked once again, waiting for a response. He stood up straight and tilted his head to the side.

"Of course not. You're spying on the Uchiha clan." Danzo said wittily. Itachi scoffed, about to give a reply before he was interrupted.

Itachi's lips thinned. "May I ask why you feel it is necessary to keep tabs on the Uchiha?"

Danzo's face remained blank. "They are a threat to the village. They are conspiring to end us all."

"Mmhmm." Itachi said, a smirk crawling on his face. As clan heir, he was invited to all clan meetings. Especially the secret ones. Even the ones with the Hokage. He'd been to every single one since he was eleven. The Uchiha were no more planning a revolt than the Hyūga were. Danzo was so obviously wrong, that Itachi almost felt bad for him. Whereever he was getting his information was not a reliable source at all. This attempt to turn him was obviously desperate. "Okay." He said flatly, his smirk growing.

"Here's what's going to happen." Two people stepped out from behind Itachi, both heavily armed. The man who spoke stopped at Itachi's side, and brought out his small sword, and brandished it threateningly. The second man leaned against the tree. Both of them were wearing masks, but both were easily recognizable to Itachi and Danzo. The two ROOT ANBU next to Danzo froze in horror. How could they have not sensed them coming? "You, Councilman, are going to call off your mutts. You're going to turn around and walk away, crawl back into the hole you came from, and you're going to leave this boy alone. Forever. No contact. I'm officially issuing a non-official restraining order. You are not to contact any members of the Uchiha clan, especially not the main family."

"Kakashi Hatake." Danzo said, relaxing his body, but he was still visibly tense. There were a lot of dangerous people in the ANBU, but Kakashi was quite possibly more dangerous than the entirety of the ANBU Black Ops combined. He was a machine, a born killer. Of course, he had emotions and all that, but he could slit someone's throat from the other side of the room under a seven second time limit. Rumor has it, he's cut lightning with his Chidori blade. Kakashi Hatake is most definitely a man to be feared.

"The unofficial restraining order begins now." Kakashi said, slicing the air with his sword. Beside him, Tenzo-senpai leaned on the tree Itachi was leaning on earlier. Itachi also recognized him easily.

"What makes you think I'll just agree to those terms?" Danzo asked, obviously trying to defend himself, but not really doing well.

Kakashi nodded at Tenzo, who brought his arm up. He had a pocket sized device in his hand, and pressed a button on it. There were a few sounds that sounded like rewinding sounds, then Tenzo pressed another button.

"I want you to work for the village in a clandestine effort to keep an eye on the Uchiha clan. It's a matter of national security." Danzo's voice played through, and the old man's visible eye widened slightly, then he narrowed it again.

"You're spying on my clan?"

"Of course not. You're spying on the Uchiha clan."

Then there was a click, and the recording was over. Itachi felt a grin growing on his face. He knew getting Danzo to say it out loud was a good idea. And Tenzo and Kakashi clearly knew how his mind worked, because they'd done what he was subtly asking for easily. Danzo was stuck.

"This could easily make it's way into the hands of the Hokage. We have a witness, we have a recording... You wouldn't get out unscathed, Councilman. You know how Hokage-sama feels about people plotting against a clan in his village." Kakashi said, and Tenzo put the recording device away. "But I'm willing to let you slide under one condition."

Itachi's smirk widened. Kakashi was so talented. Truly amazing. Kakashi had told Danzo exactly what was going to happen. He had warned him, and Danzo questioned him... now he had no choice.

Kakashi stood up straight, crossing his arms, his sword pointing the direction opposite Itachi. "You won't so much as look in Uchiha Itachi's direction. You will not talk to him, or about him. You won't speak to any members of his family aside from Uchiha Fugaku, and only on business matters. If you violate any of those terms, I, personally, will kill you, your little posse, and your entire organization. Any contacts you have. And all the snakes you call friends. Your entire breed will be killed within three weeks. Am I making myself perfectly clear?" Itachi nearly laughed out loud. Danzo had played right into Kakashi's hands. "No one will know what happened to you, and I will expose you and all your secrets. Even if you were alive, you'd be going to prison."

Danzo glared, and said nothing, but his supposedly elite ROOT member bodyguards were subtly shaking in their boots. Or, as well as emotionless worms could. They absolutely terrified, even though they made no outward appearance of being so. Itachi put a hand over his mouth, trying to contain his massive smile, but it was too late, a few chuckles slipped out. Danzo's face was priceless.

"Itachi Uchiha and his family are under my protection." Kakashi said, nodding his head at Itachi. "I'm more than willing to ruin your entire existence for him. Are we perfectly clear?" Kakashi asked again. He was making a fool out of Danzo.

"As glass." Danzo said through gritted teeth. He turned around, and gestured for his bodyguards to follow. The three of them disappeared, shunshinning out of the area.

Itachi turned around, facing Tenzo and Kakashi. "That was amazing, Kakashi-senpai, Tenzo-senpai. Thank you for getting me out of that."

Kakashi slid his mask up, and Tenzo did the same. Tenzo had a smile on his face, but Kakashi looked thoughtful. "That won't hold him for long. But I may have bought us some time."

"Us?" Itachi asked, looking from Tenzo and Kakashi.

"Shisui, Tenzo and I made an agreement that we weren't going to let Danzo near you. You are too young to be coerced into something you can't get out of." Kakashi said, finally looking at Itachi. "I had a friend who lost everything to this man. He killed his entire clan to save his little brother because of Danzo. He is the scum of the earth. If he ever comes near you again, you find one of us, and you tell us. Okay, Itachi?" Itachi nodded. How had the three of them known he had wanted to join the ROOT to spy on Danzo?

Tenzo nodded. "I'm lucky Kakashi-senpai got me out of there when he did, I probably would be one of Danzo's ANBU too. It's not a good life, Itachi. Danzo is going to pay for his crimes one day."

Kakashi nodded. "Damn right he will. And when that day comes, I'm going to be there, spitting on his shoes as he's dragged away in a straitjacket." He said. "C'mon, Itachi, let's go get something to eat." He and Tenzo started walking away, and Itachi had no choice but to follow.

"Where do you want to go this time, Kakashi-senpai?" Tenzo asked as they walked, the village appearing in sight. They walked down the hill, preparing to walk in.

"Wherever you and Itachi do, Tenzo."

"Kakashi-senpai," Itachi asked. Kakashi looked at him as they walked. "Why did you threaten him? It's very dangerous to threaten someone that powerful. He could make life hell for you and all the people you care about."

Kakashi smiled slightly, closing his eyes. When he opened them, they were gleaming. "I let Danzo go once, and I lost everything, Itachi. I'm not going to let that happen again. Not to you, not to your little brother, not to Minato and Kushina. Not to Obito, Naruto, Tenzo or Guy, not to Sakura-chan, not to any of my other friends."

"Why am I included in that list?" Itachi asked. He stopped walking. Kakashi and Tenzo stopped as well.

"Because, Itachi," Kakashi cracked a smile, looking a bit like his happy old self that used to be late for practices with Team 7, "you're my friend."

A smile grew on Itachi's face as they went into the village. Itachi looked around, happy, at the people wandering around and living. They didn't know all the baggage the ninja life came with, and it was good they didn't. Everything was for them, after all. Allies in the ninja world were worth more than any currency. Friends, however, were priceless. Friends... that sounds nice.