Entry 12

Title: They're Done!

Written By: RedHot4

Happy Friday, whores!

Hope y'all all have checked your emails bc boy oh boy; it's an early Christmas gift even better than new Guccis! I am sooooooooo happy that those Sand and Sound freaks will be fugging out of here come Monday. Like, isn't everyone? Talk about disrupting the learning environment.

And, yeah, I know. It mega sucks, yknow, the fact that Zaku and Dosu will PROBABLY be arrested soon, but truth be told, I never liked them anyways.

They smell bad and try to cover that fact up with way too much cheap cologne.

Plus, they did it. So.

RedHot4

Entry 13

Title: ?

Written By: NH73

Hey, yeah. Couple questions.

Why are you writing in this still?

Why would you say that in this?

73

Entry 14

Title: !

Written By: Buns of Steel

It's obviously because she thinks she knows something that we don't, and even more so, she's literally admitted that she thinks someone "has her back". Che. Dummy. Red would literally be the first on the chopping block. If I were half as dumb, I would be ashamed and hide myself away for the hope of maintaining at least part of my family's honor. It really is such a shame that Kami allows people to walk around with half a brain cell.

Anyway. What Shizune-sensei said is right. I don't know what kind of physical evidence convinced Neji's uncle to take this more seriously, but thank Kami they've gotten it. No word on where they're going to pull from, but the Hyuugas and Uchihas are fershure pursuing legal action. The School Board wanted nothing to do with this stuff, as predicted, so it's being handed off to the personal courts.

Good luck, chumps,

Buns

Tsunade sighed contentedly as she bounced onto her back, skin coated in the light film of impassioned sweat. She laughed lightly when Dan landed next to her, wicked teal eyes twinkling. He tickled her nose with a long lock of his silver hair before teasing, "What'd I do this time?"

The woman snickered.

"You know exactly what you did," she hiked her sheets back up where they belonged, covering her chest up all the way to her chin. Dan jokingly tugged at the sheet; she blushed. "God, Dan. Stop it. I was serious when I said I had something to tell you related to the Uchiha's case."

Dan rolled his eyes and kissed her shoulder. "Sure," he hummed. "Lay it on me."

This wasn't his preferred kind of pillow talk, but any time he got to actually spend with Tsunade was time that he would value wholeheartedly. She'd been so busy lately, since being promoted to principal, and he could say the same about his own condition ever since Fugaku deemed him fit to be head legal counsel for Uchiha Corps. Usually, his job consisted of writing up jargon-heavy legal documentation and ledgers, so he was beyond happy to get back to working on personal cases again. Serving the people with justice in mind. It's what drew him to the practice of law in the first place.

He listened intently, only looking at the creamy skin of her breasts once (or thrice) as her grip loosened on her sheet while she talked. She told him a lot – Dan was mostly sure that he was probably the only person she was this open with soberly. Apparently, she'd been immeasurably stressed by some "child's play of a project" created by an old friend and tenured teacher, Jiraiya.

Dan's eyebrows creased at the name.

"The same Jiraiya that–"

Tsunade groaned, then clipped out his name, "Dan. Seriously."

"When are you going to let us be official?"

Tsunade stifled, then gave some excuse about this not being the time to talk about their relationship status. Dan, more than accustomed to Tsunade's little games, rolled out of the bed and went hunting for his underwear. He wasn't mad, he told her this before she even found a way to sassily ask. He just needed to adjust himself and the boundaries he would allow himself to take down until Tsunade was ready for all that he had to offer her. He sat back on the bed, cross-legged, once he found his coverings, and ignored the slight hurt running across the blonde's face, as he urged her onward with her story.

"I'm sorry for interrupting," he apologized. "Tell me more about this notebook thing."

The Notebook | Chapter 32

Entry 15

Title: Wrong

Written By: S_Bastardly

The Uchiha have no intention of persecuting anyone. Yet.

Sasuke crossed his 't' before turning The Notebook over to his girlfriend, who he'd just texted to meet him outside of Jiraiya's classroom as soon as Kakashi let her out of first period. She'd just finished waving goodbye to one classmate that Sasuke recognized from the aforementioned class when she rammed face-first into the notebook. It would be an understatement to call her green eyes bewildered. First Naruto yesterday, and now Sasuke with this crap? She glared at her boyfriend, who only glared at her back. His determination made her throat close, totally lost for words.

Why did–

Why is–

What–

Her face fell. Of course. He knew, too.

Sasuke scoffed when she reached to snatch it away from him, simply tucking the pages into his own bag, keeping narrowed eyes on her the entire time. Sakura stubbornly crossed her arms, a light dusting of pink on her cheeks revealing what her words refused to.

So, Sasuke thought, trying not to smirk, this is what guilt looks like on Haruno Sakura.

"I'm not mad," he admitted as soon as he felt like the heat of his glare was too much for her. He jostled his backpack zipper up, then tapped her hand lightly, asking to hold it. Sakura seemed surprised, but took the hand he offered anyways.

It was the truth. Sasuke wasn't mad, per se. He knew he could've been, but it wasn't like he ever asked Sakura to lie to him, and she never has lied to him. She was dishonest, sure, but not a liar. And that counted for something to him, all things considered. The appropriate emotion, more than anything, that Sasuke felt was disappointment. He was disappointed that it had to have come to this, to him acting behind her back in her best interest, but he was ultimately glad that he did.

His eyes softened when Sakura started pouting and he gave her hand a squeeze before leading them away from the classroom. "I'm not mad," he reiterated. Sakura opened her mouth to contest, but Sasuke hushed her, "We need to get out of here." The last thing either of them needed was to be caught by someone else trying to make a first-thing-in-the-morning entry, knowing that their best bets for finding The Notebook would be at Jiraiya's doorstep. Hopefully, Kakashi would still help them figure this all out during his free period, before the day got too far away from them.

Sakura nodded, dismissing all of her words of apology for a later time. Sasuke was right; things were way hotter now more than ever, especially since it looked like The Notebook may soon be at the center of at least one trial sooner rather than later. She knew that she wasn't guilty of anything punishable by law, but if they didn't get ahead of it, anyone could twist the story toward their own benefit. The couple walked in comfortable, hushed whispers throughout the halls.

"Who told you?" Sakura asked through a grin.

Sasuke smirked, "No one."

"You're telling me you figured it out all on your–"

"Yup."

"I'm asking Itachi."

Sasuke grumbled, despite the humored smile threatening to turn his cheeks. He was grateful that they hadn't crossed anyone that they knew along the way for more reason than one. This girlfriend of his was something else, and he loved every piece of her.

They'd nearly made it to Kakashi's classroom, the class she'd literally just left, when Sakura remembered that Ino had asked a favor of her (them) not too long ago. She covered Sasuke's hand as he reached for the handle, earning a curved ebony brow of confusion from him. She chuckled nervously.

"Did I forget to tell you that we're tripling with Ino and Shikamaru tonight at BDubs?"

Sasuke's nostrils flared.

He loved every annoying-ass piece of her.

Kabuto dismissed his first-period class a few minutes early, plopping into his desk chair exasperatedly. He bit his nails and nervously contemplated what he should do. Within a few clicks, his desktop window would lie open to show a split-screen: one half the email Shizune sent to the entire school at the end of the day yesterday, and the other half on PDF prints of The Notebook that he'd finally transferred.

As soon as he was finally able to connect that phone number to Uchiha Sasuke, he'd had a pit in his stomach. Part of him knew that he should call Orochimaru and update him, but several other parts had a feeling – knew – that Orochimaru saw this coming before he had.

Kabuto knew now that he was the disposable piece of this snake's puzzle.

And, for some reason, figuring this out didn't surprise Kabuto as much as he thought it would.

This was most likely due to the fact that Kabuto was a logical man, for better or for worse. When Orochimaru had called him up for the opportunity to student-teach at Konoha Academy, Kabuto knew that there was, without a doubt, something deeper to it. When the snake started asking him how much he knew about the senior students, insisting that he look deeper into this class, this subject, this friend group, this person...Kabuto rubbed the headache pulsing at his temples.

How could he not have figured it out earlier?

Years ago, when the bespeckled man was still in undergrad, the two had met at a Businesses in Technology expo. Orochimaru had taken a keen interest in a cybersecurity system that Kabuto and a few of his classmates had developed for a class project. Kabuto hadn't been able to stay on this very small team long enough to see it come of anything, but apparently, according to Orochimaru, the security system that he, Kisame, and Obito had put together had found its way all the way up into Uchiha Corps.

"Don't you want what's yours?" Orochimaru had slithered.

Kabuto did. He did want what was his. He couldn't fathom how much money the rest of his group members were swimming in now that Uchiha Corps was using the Akatsuki system. Yes, he had left Computer Science to pursue other, markedly less fruitful opportunities in the Life Sciences, but it was also true that he made the entire framework that the program was founded upon. He needed that money now that his parents' life insurance had run out and his student loans were in repayment. So, when Orochimaru promised that he would find a way for him to get it back into his rightful hands so long as he took over his science classes? Kabuto didn't hesitate.

His fingers drummed on his desk as he thought. He was feeling slighted, yes, a little insecure, definitely. But, neither of these feelings nullified what he was nearly sure was fact.

Orochimaru had something to gain in all of this.

Now, the biggest question that needed answering in Kabuto's mind, was what that thing was, and what it all had to do with Uchiha Sasuke.

Kabuto glanced at the clock in the lower corner of the desktop and sighed. Contemplating all of this further would have to wait until the next passing period. It had to.

From: It

To: Nara Shikamaru

We need to talk

&Yama-Llama&

From: Pineapple

To: Yamanaka Ino

Ok...

From: It

To: Nara Shikamaru

Can we talk?

&Yama-Llama&

From: Pineapple

To: Yamanaka Ino

Not too sure of that lately

From: It

To: Nara Shikamaru

Pls. I'm sorry. I decided if it's not too late to come to dinner with you guys but I really need to talk to you before that.

&Yama-Llama&

From: Pineapple

To: Yamanaka Ino

Fine. Meet the Theater after class.

Ino was a ball of nerves. She was the entire nervous system, balled up. Her endos? Crine? (Get it? Like? Her endocrine system? No? She'd just left AP Bio and, literally, all she could think about was science puns. Sue her.) Ino was nervous, but she was sure that this was the right thing to do. She paced back and forth across the stage, muttering pieces of the speech she had been practicing all night, acting out both parts as she turned.

"Well it's too late for all of that now, blondie, I'm with sand bitch now," Ino said in a deep voice, standing on her tiptoes as she acted out Shikamaru.

She turned into a fairy, "But Shikamaru-kun, you're all I've ever," she cleared her throat and shook her head, wringing her hands. "Nope. That's too much."

"What's too much, princess?"

Ino flipped around to face the rows of theater seats so fast that her ponytail whipped her in the face. Her eyes zeroed in on Temari and Shikamaru's laced fingers, and it took all of her not to growl out, "Temari, wasn't expecting you, too," as she greeted the girl, smiling tightly at Shikamaru. He lackadaisically turned his head to avoid her expression, irritation and some emotion that Ino couldn't place marring his features. "I'll meet you guys halfway," Ino finally said, whispering more to herself. Her entire body felt like it was in a whirlpool, set to the highest setting, as she stepped down the stairs and began shortening the distance between the three of them.

They stopped a healthy distance apart, but Ino couldn't help but feel nauseous this close to them. She would tell herself it was because Temari was that intimidating to her, but, truly, no matter how much the girl jutted her chin and narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms and plastered herself into Shikamaru's side, Ino would never be intimidated by someone that was just a visitor in her territory. She'd be gone, for good, in a matter of days. Ino felt herself reaffirming her confidence just like she used to, in the days of old, meeting Temari's teal eyes and daring her to do something, anything, to try her.

The sound of the bell ringing and the passing period music, something classical that Ino felt like she should know the name of, broke the tension.

"I don't mean to keep you all," Ino sighed, leaving Temari's gaze and resettling her attention on Shikamaru. It wasn't easy to look at him, but it was less hard than looking at Temari. "I just wanted to let you know that I invited Sasuke and Sakura to dinner with us. Kiba and I are obviously still coming."

Shikamaru pursed his lips. "Cool," he said. Careful to watch his tone, he added, "Was that it?"

No.

"Yeah, duh. What else?"

Shikamaru sized up her gloss-lipped smile, pearly teeth not matching all that she hid behind her eyes. He stammered, "Well, you, uh…you made it seem–"

Temari tugged at his arm then, a little more strongly than he would have normally appreciated had it not pulled him away from nearly making more trouble for himself than intended. He fell into her arms, and it was warm. "C'mon," she whispered. She looked up at him and examined his face with a level of care that he didn't think possible from her. Her hand cupped his face, "She said that's it, so let's go. We don't want to be late for class."

Ino watched their little embrace, tears prickling at the back of her throat. It was so much more...intimate than she images she'd maimed in her nightmares. Maybe he did like the way her taller, fuller, stronger figure fit against his. Maybe he did like the sure and sharp way she spoke. Her hands were kind of big, sure, but it looked like he kind of liked the way she–wait. Was that her parents' engagement ring?

Her eyes target locked on Shikamaru, who had followed her gaze to Temari's hand just in time with Ino's.

She could have screamed if she weren't poised.

"Ino–"

Ino's smile turned sick as she hiked her backpack up further on her shoulders. "I will see you both at dinner," she sang sweetly, loudly, overpowering whatever fuck shit Shikamaru was about to say. She tapped Temari's hand three times, well aware of the fact that this meant she was smacking Shikamaru's face at the same time, "Don't. Be. Late."

Then, she sauntered away.

She needed to make-out with Kiba. Stat.

Kakashi was eating his Cheerios, jeering playfully with Jiraiya as they discussed the older's latest disaster trying to flirt with Tsunade, while they waited on Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto to come by.

"My man," Kakashi laughed, "Just do like how you have Toderiki do in Icha Icha! That'll get her for sure."

Jiraiya's mouth fell open, feigning shock, before he bellowed. "Now you know it's not that simple! Especially since Dan has been back in town." The sage couldn't care to hide his disgust at this fact.

"Who's Dan?"

Sasuke and Sakura stepped hand-in-hand into his classroom before Kakashi could learn the answer. Based upon Jiraiya's preparatory theatrics, head rolling and all, Kakashi guessed that the conversation would be best saved for later, anyways. He put away his cereal box and dusted his hands off in the air, standing. "Back so soon, Sakura," Kakashi greeted. The rosette laughed. "Hope you guys don't mind I invited Jiraiya."

"Not at all," Sakura chirped while Sasuke pulled out a chair for her. "Thank you both for agreeing to help, and I'm sorry for being difficult the other day, Kakashi-sensei."

Kakashi waved a hand, "Understood. Don't sweat it." He didn't care. If anything, it was nice to have his suspicions confirmed at all. He had to admit that Sasuke talking to him about anything besides Calc was weird, but it all made sense when he saw it for his own eyes how evident his level of care for her was. Sakura was in over her head now, and everyone in the room knew it. "We'll wait on Naruto to start," Kakashi said. "He's coming from the other side of campus."

Naruto stepped in moments later, apologizing, but explaining that he had to find his way to say goodbye to Gaara while he had the chance. Sakura thought it was sweet that Naruto had such a good relationship with the redhead, even after years of not speaking, but Sasuke was just annoyed. Gaara was weird (and Naruto was his best friend, wtf).

Jiraiya started the meeting straightaway after closing the door and slapping a crudely made 'Testing in Progress' sign on its window.

The three teenagers listened attentively as Jiraiya explained the details of what was going on, as he knew them. Tsunade hadn't given very much in the time that he was able to corner her yesterday, but he was able to glean a few more details than what Shizune had provided in the whole-school email. He wanted to confirm a few things with Sasuke, especially since he had been the only one of them present at the meeting.

"So, is it true that criminal investigations are happening?"

Sasuke nodded, "Aa. By the Hyuugas. They want Dosu tried for assault."

Jiraiya brought his hand to his chin in contemplation while everyone soaked in the information. "And your family?" he asked.

Four pairs of eyes swept over to Sasuke, curious. While the case with Neji was a bit more cut and dry and didn't necessarily find itself improved by details provided by The Notebook, the same could not be as simply said for Sasuke. "For now," the teen answered, voice laden in attitude, "no. Chichiue says it's just a consequence of the sport."

Sakura tried not to sigh in relief. She was glad to be in the clear for now, but it still wasn't fair that Fugaku didn't seem to see the unfairness in all of this. It was like he was punishing Sasuke for playing football to begin with. She reached out to rub Sasuke's back in support.

"Well, we should still try to do what we can to get you some justice, Sasuke-kun," she said.

Naruto pumped a fist behind them, "Believe it, Sasuke! We know BS when we smell it."

"Speaking of," Kakashi chimed in, knocking on Sakura's desk. The three teens looked up at their sensei, expectant. The masked man smiled, "Jiraiya and I have some thoughts on a way to get the truth out if you're down, Sakura."

Sakura stuck a finger to her chest, "Me?"

"Well, Strawberry, yes," he clarified.

The rosette looked at Sasuke, at his pleading eyes that would never beg, and knew she would do just about anything to help him. His dreams had literally been swept from under him in an instant. She thought over this new, impromptu team of hers, these people in addition to all the others that would protect her. Even though it was a scary thought, it was a good one. But – she turned to her teammates, a smile splitting her face – "I've got a better idea," she smirked, thinking of Shikamaru and Ino. There was no way they weren't going to get to the bottom of whatever the hell happened to her man.

Period.

"Well. What is it?" Naruto asked, barely able to contain himself.

Sakura poised herself to answer, but three knocks rapped at the door, sending everyone's necks whipping. There, standing in the crack of the doorway cleaning his glasses, was Kabuto.

"I can be of some assistance," he said with a dipped head. He placed the speckles back on his face. "If you all would allow."

A pin could have dropped.

Entry 16

Title: Bravery/Stupidity

Written By: Strawberry_Shortcakes1

Hi everyone *waves all ten fingers like a toddler while grinning like the clown I am*

So, I've been thinking bout it, seriously thinking about it, and a post from earlier in this week really stood out to me. It also really called me out for a lot of my BS and the way I handled things. I kind of...I don't know. Threw you all out to the wind and demanded you figured it out, like this all technically wasn't my fault. I know already apologized, but actions speak louder than words.

I am actually sorry. And me writing in this again and bringing it back even after Tsunade has made it clear and then clear again that she plans to prosecute tf outta me...I really really really (3000x really) hope is proof that I am recommitting myself to do all that I can to protect you guys. I obviously can't say much, but please believe me when I say that you're safe. If you've already been called to Tsunade's office, there's nothing I can do. What's done has been done as far as that goes, but if it is any consolation, I've been told that all of the people who have already revealed themselves are genuinely okay with being known. This is a humongous favor, but uh.

Guys. It would really help me out if you backed up this claim of mine and came out as who you are here, if you pick up the notebook at all today, that is. I know there is a very very very thin line between bravery and stupidity, but please you guys. You don't understand how important it is for you to walk this line with me. Not for me. With me. Not past it one way or another. But on it.

Anyways, that's all I've got.

*sends Notebook out to the front lines*

Fingers crossed,

Strawberry

Entry 17

Title: I'm Just Here for the Comments Section

Written By: SoundsLikeTeenSpirit

God, Strawberry, I fuckin love the sheer mass size of your fucking cajones. Those motherfuckers SWANG. You're going to go down as an icon for this, just want you to know. Like, legit. My hat is off to you.

Some of y'all may have guessed, but I am proud to announce that it is I: Tayuya, that fine ass pink-haired baddie on the cheer squad that brings all the spice of life to the field. I will pause for applause. Tear swipe.

Truly. Y'all have lit up my days for weeks now. I want to give you all, all of you, the real thanks. I feel like I know some of ya personally but frfr this has given me such a lens into the world of Konoha Academy that I've managed not to appreciate all this time. I don't need you guys to tell me who for me to know you all's worth to me. Y'all are cool, and if anyone from this book ever want to kick it, legit just let me know. I throw a wicked party.

Oh, and Tsunade. I have to assume you have some goof-ass goons in on this, reporting to you like the scum that they are.

All of ya. Suck my tits. I don't give a rat's ass how many mf detentions you send my way for 'foul language' my ass. Haruno fuckin Sakura has my back and you can't do nothing worse to me as long as she's in my corner.

Ha-HA.

Tayuya

Entry 18

Title: Haruno Sakura?

Written By: TheGREENGIANT

Hello, Tayuya! I don't believe we have ever made a personal acquaintance. It is quite nice to meet you. I thought I would be more nervous to make my own announcement, but our mutual friend Sakura has sent newfound courage coursing through my veins as well.

It's me: Rock Lee!

I hope this isn't taken as disrespect to Sasuke-san, really, I respect the two's relationship more deeply can any of you can imagine. I feel so honored to have been a part of their first moments thanks to The Challenge, and comparing then to now is a special gift that I cannot even begin to quantify. Sakura is incredibly beautiful – brave, smart, funny. I know I've said this before, but I've never been brave enough to tell her like this. She's perfect, and perfect for Sasuke-san. It's great that they have each other and I can only hope to have something just as special for myself, one day!

Lee

Entry 19

Title: Yep, That's Me!

Written By: TheFlowerGirl9

Thanks, Tayuya. And thank you so much, too, Lee :)

P.S.: I'll make sure Sasuke-kun doesn't mind haha

Sakura

Ami closed the cover of The Notebook gingerly, thoughts moving a little too fast for her to remain comfortable. It felt like her spine was lighting itself on fire, but the feeling wasn't anger. She knew anger well. She could hear a mouse whisper when she was angry; now, she couldn't pay a piper to hear whatever the hell Kurenai was saying. She'd gone deaf as the fire feeling had swirled its way down her legs, across her arms, and to the very ends of her being – head to toe.

What. Did Sakura. Mean. She was. FlowerGirl?

This did not go according to plan at. all. In fact, it was so against plan that it made a mockery of sense itself. She'd been doing this crap for months, monitoring posts, word choice, actions, tracking behaviors and strings of knowledge. Sakura was not FlowerGirl. FlowerGirl was nobody! She was nobody! Sakura was somebody, okay!

Ami broke her pencil in half in her hand. Since when did she ever consider Haruno Sakura formidable enough to be called a "somebody"?

Something was very wrong here.

"Kurenai-sensei," she said suddenly, shooting out of her desk. The pregnant woman's lecture stuttered to a slow stop, confused at her student's antics. Before she could ask, Ami was already stalking toward the door. "I'm going to the bathroom," Ami snatched the pass. "Girl stuff."

Ami's heels clicked loudly down the empty hall, each click/clack bringing her closer and closer to the edge. The feeling that she couldn't call anger earlier had finally toppled over into fury. Who did this elfin girl think she was, consistently destroying everything that she had ever-so-carefully sewn together like the bull in a china shop she was? Her red vision led her to Orochimaru's classroom, with no regard for whether or not Kabuto was teaching a class. She needed to talk to him. Now.

She swung the door open, startling the freshman class with the trail of fire she had burned behind her. A few boys fainted. Ami scoffed – weaklings – as her eyes darted around the room. Four Eyes was nowhere in sight. She spotted a small frame that she thought looked familiar, kind of like that Hyuuga girl, and, upon further inspection, was definitely that Hyuuga girl, and stomped toward her.

Hanabi looked smoothly up from the conversation she was having with Moegi and blinked twice, pearl eyes impassive. She sighed, completely unafraid and unbothered by Ami's seething. "What do you want, Wonton?" she asked, not caring to edit the nickname given to Ami by the JV Cheer squad from her speech.

Ami didn't seem to notice.

"Where's Four Eyes?" she demanded.

Moegi shrugged, "Beats us. He gave us this packet and said he'd be back in 20."

Ami squinted at both of ingrates, hoping to ooze all of her contempt into her words as she leaned over their desks. The metal bent under her weight. "When you see him," she whispered. "Tell him that I came by."

Hanabi clucked her tongue. "Girl, if you don't get the hell off my desk, you're going to have exactly one more problem than you already have now," a congregation of gasps from the rest of her classmates empowered Hanabi as stood up and forced Ami a step back. The little one didn't know what was taking over her, but she for sure knew she was tired of Ami bossing everyone around. She looked up at Ami only because she was shorter, but she swore she'd never felt bigger. "Get out of my classroom," she warned.

Ami's heart thumped twice. All of the eyes on her, calculating what she could and would do next, felt like beads of sweat on her brow. She smiled. "Fine," two hands shot up, demonstrating her innocence as she walked backward out of the room. "Good luck making Var–"

"I do not care."

With that, Gaara slammed the door on Ami with a snicker that unleashed roars of laughter from the students that Ami heard from the hallway. Her eye twitched. It seemed, perhaps, that she no longer had this under control. With a sharp breath, she adjusted her top and straightened, heels clicking once more.

It was time to call the boss man.

Even though the Uchiha Corps.' offices were contained in all glass doors and Dan knew that Fugaku full well saw him, Dan found himself gently tapping his knuckles against the glass before sticking his head into the corner office. The crisp fall morning sun was lighting the room so brightly that it almost seemed like summer.

"Uchiha-sama," he announced himself.

Fugaku looked up briefly from his computer, a closed-mouth smile curving the tense lines of his face. "Ah, Dan, Dan," he waved him in before standing in respect. "Come on in," he gestured toward a seat.

Dan settled into the chair, unbuttoning his tailored suit jacket before folding his hands in his lap. He hardly ever was granted one-on-one meetings with the CEO, especially at late notice like this one; his performance at Konoha Academy must have impressed the clan head. This did not land lightly upon Dan's shoulders. Fugaku clicked a few more buttons and sent an email or two more before regarding him again.

"To what do I owe the pleasure, Kato-san?"

Dan nodded, "Right," then bent to retrieve his briefcase. He sure wished Tsunade was right about all of this. He clicked open the clasps and gathered the paperwork. He placed the packet on Fugaku's desk and exhaled all the last bits of nervousness that he had left in him. It made sense when he went over it with Tsunade last night. This was worth Fugaku's time.

"When's the last time you reviewed the terms of our agreement with Sound?"

Fugaku's eyebrows shot up.

That was the last thing he was expecting to come out of the lawyer's mouth.

A/N: You guysssssss I am so excited *does happy dance* I love when the mighty fall! I was able to get this done quicker than I thought, too, and really really (in the same spirit of Sakura apologizing) wanted to show how bad I felt by doing a double post.

Ch. 33, like I mentioned last chap, is still already more than halfway done with all of the works, etc. and it really is bringing a tear to my eye to be nearly done. I hope to be able to have it out by Friday.

I have a little wiggle room in how things can go, and wanted to ask you all.

What sorts of things are you all expecting from the end of The Notebook? Anything not happen that you wanted to see come to pass?

Yours truly,

hot