Naruto was back at Red's Playground, playing a combat game. Grunting in frustration, he narrowly missed a knife thrown at him. "What the hell, Kiba…you're supposed to be on my team!"
The brown haired teen next to Naruto just grunted back, "I am on your team. What the hell are you talking about?"
"Don't act like you don't know about the knife you just threw." Naruto fell to the ground, rolled and then slid on one knee, shooting a sniper that belied his position because of the glint of sunlight off his watch.
"I didn't throw a damn knife!" Kiba grumbled as a third voice interrupted the conversation.
"He didn't throw the knife. I did." Naruto recognized that voice. Stopping, shocked, he was shot in the chest with the words "Game Over—Fatality" flashing in his goggles. Taking the glasses off, he looked over at the bearded man with the cigarette clamped in his teeth. Taking off his goggles, Asuma nodded at the teens. "I need to talk to you Naruto. Now."
Nodding, Naruto walked over, setting down at a table. "Hey Asuma, how's it going?"
"Not here…private." Asuma walked out and Naruto dutifully followed him. Once they walked to a park about a block away, Asuma jumped up on the picnic table, sitting there, his cigarette in his hand. Naruto just rather looked at him…waiting for him to say whatever it was he wanted to tell Naruto.
"Naruto…I…you're in danger around Kakashi. You need to stay away from him." Asuma said finally, kind brown eyes looking up at the teen.
Naruto stiffened. "I don't know what you're talking about. Just because he's a hooker, doesn't mean I am in danger."
Asuma laughed aloud, laughing so hard tears came to his eyes. Smiling at Naruto, he kept chuckling. "A hooker? Damn kid, you have a wild imagination. He's not a hooker…maybe a whore, but not a hooker." Wiping his eyes, he studied Naruto. "See? This is why I came here to warn you. You are so damn naïve…and likeable. I just don't want you to get hurt."
"I think I can handle myself." Naruto pouted, looking at Asuma as he crossed his arms.
Asuma shook his head. "Fine, kid…if I have to lay it out for you, I'll lay it out for you. However, you need to keep your mouth shut or the Akatsuki will come after you. Kakashi's an assassin, kid. He'll kill anyone for any reason. If Danzou says jump, Kakashi's already three feet in the air." Stubbing out the cigarette, Asuma looked up at Naruto. "Don't you get it? Kakashi's a killer. But more than that…he likes it."
Naruto didn't believe Asuma. Kakashi was too nice to be a killer. "Yea, right…whatever. Even if I believed you, why would you risk yourself telling me this?" Naruto glared at Asuma.
"Simple. You are a nice kid. You're from the Leaf…I was too. My dad was the Third Hokage. Your father was my friend." Getting up, he patted Naruto's shoulder. "I get it, Naruto. He's charming, but he has fucked half of Japan. I get how it could be hard to stay away, but you need to."
Asuma started to walk off. Turning, Naruto called after him, "Hey…how do you know all this?"
Asuma turned around, "I know because I'm his Cleaner."
Naruto thought about what Asuma had said. In truth, he was scared….if it was true. Nevertheless, he would not know if it was true until he talked to Kakashi. So, he texted Kakashi. Can I see you tonight?
Sure. Where? Came the reply a few minutes later.
Probably Himitsu no Hoteru. Seven? Naruto didn't know anywhere else where Kakashi probably wouldn't be seen but the cheap hotel halfway between Naruto's house and Tenzou Towers.
See you then.
Naruto grabbed his wallet and headed out. Approaching the hotel, he went to the attendant and checked in under the name Kushato Uzunami. It was the fake name on his ID he used, too. A mish of his mother and father…it made sense. Once he got the room number, he texted it to Kakashi.
About twenty minutes later, there was a knock on the door…Naruto sighed in relief. It was 7:15. Naruto had almost convinced himself Kakashi wasn't coming. Peeking out the hole in the door, he confirmed it was Kakashi. Opening it, Kakashi walked in. "Hey Naruto. What's up that you wanted to see me in a nondescript hotel?" His bangs were still covering his left eye.
Naruto bit his lip. "Well, uh…I got a visit today…and I needed to verify some stuff with you." Naruto was suddenly very nervous. What if what Asuma said was true? What if Kakashi killed him? Suddenly, his palms got sweaty.
"Oh?" Kakashi asked, sitting down. He was in dress pants with a grey vee neck on. Pulling out a pack of cigarettes, he looked at Naruto. "Do you mind?"
Naruto shook his head no. "Um, first…Jiraiya knows where I am, as does Kiba. So if I don't come back, they'll know. And I told them both who I was meeting here…so they know it's you." Kakashi studied the blonde as he rambled. "A…are you really an assassin for the Akatsuki?" Naruto blurted out.
Kakashi stilled at that question. He studied Naruto carefully. "And what if I was?" he asked, voice neutral.
"Then I want to know if it's your job to kill me." Naruto said simply, with more courage than he felt. He actually felt like he was going to piss himself. Moreover, the fact that Kakashi did not act outraged, or scared, or…anything was cementing Naruto's fears.
"I am Lord Danzou's highest adjutant. I am an assassin with the ability to use chakra. I work for the Akatsuki. But it is not my job to kill you." Kakashi kept Naruto's gaze, impressed with Naruto's courage when the kid had to be terrified. He hid it fairly well. "I am also excellent at reading people. I know that no one knows you are here, or whom you are with. You don't lie well."
Naruto gulped, his eyes growing huge. "Then how can I know you are telling the truth? Maybe you are going to kill me."
Kakashi stood, smashing the cigarette out underfoot as he walked over to Naruto. "Naruto, if it was my job to kill you, you'd already be dead. I am very good at my job." Sighing, he went over, sitting on the bed.
Naruto shivered. "I liked it better when I thought you were a hooker." He mumbled.
Kakashi looked up at that and laughed. "A hooker? You thought I was a prostitute?"
Naruto looked indignant. "Well, you said we couldn't be exclusive…how many jobs are there where someone can't be exclusive?"
Kakashi smiled softly. "Naruto, please…come sit by me." He patted the bed. Naruto begrudgingly did so. Letting out a huge puff of air, Kakashi ran his hand through his hair. "Naruto, your father was a great man. He was my sensei. I loved him; very much…he was like a second father to me. When he died, he made me vow to protect you. I vowed that to him." Kakashi's eyes misted over with memories of the past. Naruto sat, looking at Kakashi.
Shaking his head, Kakashi snapped back to the present. "I was sent on a mission, and by the time I got back…you were gone. I tried to find you, but then I was sent on another mission…and once I found out you were with Jiraiya, I knew you were safe." Kakashi said.
"How did you go from ANBU, an honorable shinobi, to assassin, a dishonorable profession?" Naruto asked.
Kakashi studied Naruto, "I'm not answering that."
Naruto frowned. "Why can't you be exclusive?"
Kakashi gave a very unimpressed look at Naruto. "People talk more easily when they are in a bed." Standing up from the bed, he gave a look as if to say See? Pulling out his phone, he frowned. "I have to go. If, after digesting all of this information, you still want to pursue something with me, be at Tenzou Towers tomorrow at five p.m. in the café." Starting to lean over, he stopped, straightened up, and walked out the door.
