~Chapter 3~

After their introductions, Yoru sighed as he followed Kakashi home. He couldn't believe he lost his cool in front of a girl. Kakashi glanced over his shoulder as Yoru sighed again. He returned to his book, "Thinking about the girl?"

Yoru jolted, his crimson eyes widened as he blushed. "N-No!"

Kakashi chuckled and Yoru looked away, placing his hand behind his head. After a few minutes of silence, Yoru glanced over at his legal guardian and raised an eyebrow.

"I'm surprised you haven't run into anything or tripped yet." He said as he walked along side Kakashi now.

"A shinobi is greatly talented to be able to multi-!"

WHAM! Yoru stopped and turned around. The sight he saw nearly made him laugh. Kakashi stepped out to the side of the door and touched his nose gingerly.

"Oh! I didn't see you there," the shop-clerk apologized.

"It's all right." Kakashi rubbed the back of his neck.

Yoru snickered as they started off again. "Yeah, sure. A shinobi of your caliber can multi-task."

Kakashi sighed and put away his book. He wrapped his arm around the boy's shoulders in a side hug. "Just remember this for tomorrow: A shinobi can read the hidden meaning within the hidden meaning."

Just as Kakashi was saying this, Yoru recited with him and rolled his eyes. "I know, I know... now let's go, I'm starving!" Kakashi simply chuckled and ignored the throbbing pain in his nose when he touched it again.

At the Ichiraku ramen shop, Yoru pushed back the curtain flaps and paused. "Naruto?"

Naruto stopped in the middle of his orderig and chat with the head chef. He looked over to his name being spoken and he grinned once he saw Yoru.

"Hey, Ru-Ru! I didn't know you liked ramen too?"

Yoru sat down next to Naruto and tilted his head, frowning a little. "Ru-Ru?"

Kakashi stepped in a little after Yoru and Naruto noticed him, "Ah? Kakashi-sensei too?"

"Hello again, Naruto. Looking forward to tomorrow's training session." Kakashi lifted a hand in greeting and sat down beside Yoru.

"Expect me to be the best!" Naruto gloated and Yoru rolled his eyes.

"Just don't forget to not eat breakfast... you'll make yourself sick." Yoru reminded him.

Naruto looked at him and turned his head away, but kept his eye on the white-haired boy. "I-I knew that..."

You forgot... Yoru sighed and waved the head chef.

"Hello, Yoru! You've sure grown and not only that you have your own headband. Congratulations!"

"Thanks. Naruto's also part of my team. We're celebrating tonight, right?" Yoru glanced at Naruto, who squirmed beneath his crimson gaze. "Teammate?"

Naruto sweated and tugged at his jacket collar, "R-Right!" He had a feeling Yoru wasn't happy with the nicknam he came up with.

Yoru closed his eyes and grinned beneath his mask. "Kakashi's treat."

Naruto lit up real quick and he grinned ear-to-ear. He cheered and called for a big bowl of miso pork ramen. Kakashi lifted his hea from the menu, blinking and not really paying the young genin any attention until now. "Wh-What? I'm paying for all of us?"

"We made a deal, remember?" Yoru hooked a finger underneath his mask, Naruto watching him again. "Dad?"

Naruto's eyes widened as Yoru grinned.

"T-teeth.. sharp teeth..."

Yoru picked up his chopsticks and pointed them right at Naruto, "Don't say anthing to the others, agreed?"

Naruto nodded his head vigorously and went to wolf down his food. Kakahi sighed and shook his head. It was true, Yoru had teeth like a cat. They went about eating their ramen, the two boys warming up to each other more so than earlier that same day. Kakashi watched the two briefly and softly smile beneath his own mask.

He may not know it now, but I believe he just made a new friend... Kakashi thought to himself.

"See ya tomorrow, Yoru!" Naruto waved the two goodbye and ran home.

Yoru waved and both he and Kakashi headed home. Once there, Yoru kicked off his closed-toe boots and headed upstairs after saying goodnight. Kakashi took off his vest and shoes, then headed into the kitchen. He checked their calendar, marked down a few important dates and headed to bed himself. He checked on Yoru for a quick minute, finding the boy fast asleep. He chuckled and walked into Yoru's room. He sat on the edge of the bed, pulled the covers up more and bid a fathertly goodnight. Kakashi yawned and headed to his own room, pulling off his shirt and mask, tossing them into the diry laundry bin.

Tomorrow's going to be a long day. Especially since Yoru is in this team... Kakashi laid down in his bed, turned out the lamp light and soon fell asleep himself.

The next morning, Yoru was up before Kakashi. He gathered his clothes for the day and headed for the shower. He felt excited and nervous again, mostly having to do with working with a team. You could say he dreaded it at the same time as he was curious about it. Once he ws done in the shower, he dried off and dressed then headed back to his room to gather his ninja tools and supplies. Yoru went over to his dresser for his headband, stopped when he saw the two old trinkets that once belonged to his parents. With a soft sigh, he pickedvthem up and traced over them with his fingers.

One of the trinkets was a long silver thread, about the length of his hand, that had two emerald beads and a round ruby stone a bit larger bewteen the two beads. The other wa a bit shorter and held a silver dragon curled over a saphire setted stone in its claws. Yoru looked over them once more and decided to braid them into his hair. He picked up his headband then and put it on. Once finished, he left his bedroom and went to wake up Kakahi.

"Hey, it's almost time to meet the others. Get up!" He headed downstairs then once Kakashi acknowledged.

He watered the plants on their kitchen windowsill then quickly swept the kitchen and living room. Kakashi came down moments after, tugging on a clean shirt and yawned. As Kakashi was waking up, Yoru went to the calendar and marked out yesturday. He counted the days that were left and grinned. Only ten more days until my thirteenth birthday...

"Have everything you need for today?" Kakashi asked him.

Yoru put the marker back on the counter and smiled. "Yep. Everything is in check and all we're waiting for is you."

Kakadhi chuckled and yawned again, making a pot of coffee. "We have three hours before then."

Yoru stopped and looked at him. "No we don't..."

Kakashi leaned against the kitchen counter after he poured his cup. He pointed up to the clock ad he took a sip of the bitter liquid. Yoru looked up then groaned. Kakashi chuckled and srt his cup down on the table. "Go out and kill some time. I'll meet you there."

Yoru sighed, nodding his head and left the house. He wasn't sure what to do for three hours, maybe he'd go find Naruto or see if he could get Sakura alone and away from Sasuke. Just long enough to get to know her more and what she liked and such... he blushed at the thought and shook hi head. Bad idea since she seemed glued to the Uchiha boy. A heavy sigh escaped Yoru and he put his hands behind his head as he looked up to the clear blue sky. He ignored the looks he was gettung from most people, even the whispering and murmuring. He wasn't going to let them ruin his day this time. He was in a good mood and wanted to keep it at that... but what to do for three hours?