Youthful Endeavors

At Sakura's pleading stare, Kurenai put up her hands and shook her head. "I already have one kid in my house, I don't think I can deal with two!" She explained..

Yamato cocked his head to the side. "I might be temped to smother him in his sleep depending on what he says while he's awake," he remarked. The pink-haired girl pressed the heal of her hand to her forehead and turned her gaze on Gai.

"I'll happily watch over my ri-"

Kakashi held up a hand-killing the hope blooming on the girl's face while he was at it. "There's no way I'd ever spend the night with Gai under my own volition," He said, causing the sparkle in the green spandex wearing ninja's eye to die. Turning around to face his students, the boy muttered, "What about you three? If I have to stay with someone, why does it need to be a jonin? Don't you all know me well enough by now?"

Sakura frowned as she twisted a strand of pink between her fingers. "I have a night shift at the hospital tonight," she sighed. "I would have spent the night with you otherwise..." Truly looking contrite enough for the little ninja to believe her.

"I'm not even staying in my apartment tonight, it was flooded the other day when a pipe burst..." Sai explained uncomfortably, averting his gaze. He was so lying, the boy bet.

"You can't stay in Naruto's pig-sty!" Sakura objected horrified as the only option became clear.

The blond's eyes widened and he was taking a step back-like he was planning to jump out the hospital room's window before he could be made to keep Kakashi. So, before he could, with eyes curving upward, the boy replied, "He can come stay at my apartment, I have an extra bed."

The pink-haired teenager gnawed at her lip. "If you're sure..." Not at all looking happy with the option as Naruto slumped.

"Mah, you worry too much! It'll be fine, won't it, Naruto?" The little ninja demanded as he shifted his stare to the bewildered teen.

Springing to life once more, Naruto shouted confidently, "Of course! You better believe it!" Though, his face gave away the rouse due to the worry line resting between his brows. Grabbing at one of the sleeves of Naruto's jacket-which was knotted around his waist-Kakashi gave an unnecessarily hard tug.

"Hey!" Naruto yelped, peddling his arms back to get his balance as Kakashi continued to walk toward the room's door-shoving past Gai and Kurenai when the chance arose.

"Let's go then!"

"Make sure he eats something Naruto!" Sakura called after them, her voice coming out muffled from the bodies still hovering in the doorway.

Once on the streets where the shadows were already beginning to stretch from the setting sun did Kakashi release his iron-grip on Naruto.

Sighing as he smoothed out the wrinkles from tiny hands, Naruto turned his gaze on his little teacher. "So, um, do you have dinner food in your house?"

"No."

The blond perked up perceptibly. "We can get-"

"No!" Kakashi snapped. "We'll get some take-out from this place by my apartment."

There was a pause and then, "...Do they have ramen?"

The boy rubbed at his uncovered forehead (and wasn't that just the strangest thing? He missed having Obito with him). "Yes, Naruto," he grumbled.

"Yeah!" The blond cheered, pumping his fist into the air with enthusiasm.

Ducking his head, Kakashi complained. "Kids these days!"

Having heard him, Naruto swept his tiny teacher up from the ground and onto his shoulders. The boy still squawking, the ninja laughed, "You're younger than me Kakashi-sensei!"

Twisting blond tufts none too kindly, the child eventually huffed "Yeah, whatever." Elbows resting on his student's head as he took in the streets around him from his new height (or maybe his old one? Close enough to it, anyway, had he truly forgotten what it was like already?).

Thanks for reading! Also, what do you guys think of this so far? Please review!

To reviewers of last chapter, The Goliath Beetle, Titi's Nemesis, CherryHearts13, Harvestangle99, Yungsun, PixyChick84 and Rosebunse thank you all so much! You're the best :)