Standard disclaimers apply.

Forgotten

Chapter 4: Protective streaks a mile too close

"So you've transferred to Shinobi High?" A somber voice sounded over the phone.

"'ai!" Naruto chirped into the receiver.

"Is everything alright there?" His friend asked, worriedly.

"Aa."

"Friends?" The voice asked, immediately, right after hearing his reply.

Sigh. "No one seems to want my friendship." Naruto twirled the phone's cord around his finger, slouched as he was against the wall.

"Do you want us to come and visit?"

Hearing this, Naruto dropped the cord and visibly brightened, bouncing up and grinning at nothing. "Honto?"

He heard sweet laughter spill from the handset, before a teasing voice whispered, "You miss us that much? It's only the first day and you already miss us . . ."

Pouting, Naruto pleaded. "Mou . . . Please?"

He heard a brief tug-of-war for the handset before another voice replied. ". . . Okay. Ja."

"Ja ne!" Click. Shoving his hands down his pockets, Naruto sighed before turning to stroll out of the school garden.

"Who were you talking to?" Gaara asked, popping up behind Naruto.

"Gyaah!"

Seeing his aniki, Naruto pouted and whined. "Onii-san, stop popping up behind me! . . . it's creepy!"

About to reply, Gaara paused as his two friends entered the edges of his perception. Turning to Naruto, he introduced them, "Naruto, this is Uchiha Sasuke," pointing to the one with shorter hair.

"And this is Hyuuga Neji," He motioned in the direction of the other, the one with the longer hair.

"Yoroshiku. " Naruto answered in an uncertain but hopeful voice. He sweatdropped when the two just continued to stare.

Blinking in response to the staring, he was surprised when Gaara suddenly whipped out a large mallet to whack them both on the head.

"Ne, onii-san, are they alright?"

"Hai," Gaara replied. Turning to his friends, he glared. "That's my baby brother you're staring at."

Without another word, he pulled Naruto away from the two, mumbling about torture techniques that he'd employ if other people did the same thing as Sasuke and Neji had.

---o---

"Are you sure?" Haku asked as they pulled out random outfits from his extensive wardrobe.

". . . " Turning to him, Shino gave a brief nod before meticulously folding the clothes before stuffing them inside Haku's suitcases.

"Are we being too protective?" Haku mumbled, biting his fingernails worriedly.

Giving his a brief glance, Shino muttered. "No."

"Are we really going to do this?"

"Hn."

"See you tomorrow then." Walking Shino to the door, Haku smiled. 'Typical Shino response…'

"Ja."

---o---

Kakashi was gracefully sipping his morning tea when it happened.

It was the second day of their stay and he was fairly confident that everything would go smoothly from then on.

He should have remembered that where Naruto is involved, nothing is ever easy.

Thoroughly drenched in his own tea, he lost his cool for the second time. "HAKU! SHINO! GET BACK HERE!"

Hours later, we see the two culprits bound to adjacent chairs by several ropes and chains.

Blinking owlishly, Haku addressed Kakashi, "Don't you think you're overreacting, Hatake-san?"

". . . " Shino quietly nodded in agreement.

Cough. "What are the two of you doing here?"

Shrugging, Haku replied, "Naruto missed us so we came."

"Hmm . . . I see. What I don't understand is why you have these, " Kakashi indicated the multiple luggage the two had brought, "with you."

Immediately, the young teen transformed into a chibified Haku with huge, teary, puppy eyes. "Nii-san, can we please stay? Pwease!"

". . . "

Seeing Haku plead pathetically, Shino shrugged before staring venomously at the older man, willing him to agree to their plan.

" . . . Fine." Kakashi finally mumbled as he felt himself shudder as the Aburame's stare transformed to a glare.

"Yay! We're staying!" Confetti began to fall from the ceiling as the chibi began to jump around the room excitedly.

Returning to the kitchen for another cup of much needed, calming, stress-relieving tea, Kakashi sighed. And if you were close enough, you would hear him mumbling. " . . . money for hospital bills. I just hope we have enough. Advil . . . I need Advil. Lots and lots of Advil."

Tsuzuku