" So… he's in the hospital because of hypothermia

" So… he's in the hospital because of hypothermia?" Kakashi asked when Sakura appeared alone for training the next day. She nodded in reply.

"He got evicted and had to sleep outside. My parents wouldn't stay at my place because he's…" Kakashi nodded in understanding before asking, "How bad is he? I mean, how long is he going to be there?" thinking, the pink haired kunoichi tried to remember what the doctor had told her.

"Well, he hadn't woken up yet when I visited him this morning, and the doctor had told me the hypothermia was severe, so it may be a while… but visiting him this morning, his face looked extremely lonely, even though he was asleep. It got me thinking of how much of a jerk I was to him when Sasuke was still here." She looked almost surprised at herself when she finished talking. Had she said all that aloud?

"Well, does Iruka know? Naruto's always welcome there. Iruka wouldn't mind the company either. By the way Sakura, this training was a team project, so I guess today's lesson is canceled." Kakashi grinned before turning on his heel to leave. Sakura nodded.

"Iruka. Okay me, I guess were going to the academy." She sighed, walking away from the training field too.

"Sure. When he gets out of the hospital, I'll let Naruto stay at my house. As a matter of fact… Sakura, would you mind telling me where all his things are?" Iruka grinned after Sakura explained her friends' situation. Classes had just ended, so her and the teacher had begun casually strolling toward where Naruto had been staying. His boxes and mattress were there, blanket soaking in a puddle close by. Both frown at the sight before grabbing a box each. At Iruka's home, they began picking through their contents, looking for anything dry. His four matching outfits were wet but unharmed, as was his scrolls and dishware. They were all in Sakura's box. In Iruka's box was Naruto's 'team seven' photo, framed, but slightly warped from moisture. That was stacked on top of a spare set of pajamas, his old goggles, a calendar, the stack of papers, which were badly smudged, and lastly, his savings jar. The orange letters ran together, but its contents were fine. Picking the clothing from the pile, Iruka quickly went outside to hang them while Sakura was left with the task of lining the wet papers to dry. She couldn't read a single word on any of the papers from the stack. They had all been reduced to bars of black ink. She instead put them aside for further contemplation later. Her eyes fell upon his team seven picture next. 'Such a shame the picture was wrecked' she thought, staring at it. After a minute, she put that aside too. Iruka rejoined her at that point, stating that there were still two boxes left to grab. She smiled as she got up to follow him outside again.

One of the last two boxes contained Naruto's ramen stock, barely covering the bottom of the cardboard box. Sighing, Sakura pulled it out and stacked it beside her.

"Well at least now we can get some healthy food into him." Iruka stated, opening the last box. Sakura leaned over to take a peek too. Inside was Naruto's wall hanging all rolled up neatly, a couch pillow, and a still deflated froggie wallet.

"He doesn't have much does he? Well, he can have my spare room upstairs, so we should go get him a new mattress. His old one is kinda tatty." The teacher explained before lifting a pile of Naruto's belongings into his long arms and walking toward a nearby flight of stairs. Sakura followed with whatever Iruka had missed. The guest room was small, but cozy. She laid the items in a corner; same as teacher, before following him back downstairs.