CHAPTER TEN

At the end of the school day, Sasuke waited for Naruto so they could go home together as he usually did. The car ride was silent, neither of the boy saying anything the whole way home. But the moment they pulled into the parking lot for their building, Sasuke said,

"Naruto…"

Naruto, who had been right about to open his door and get out of the car, stopped, retracting his hand and looking over at his friend. "Yeah, Sasuke?"

"I… I know about you and Kakashi."

Naruto took a moment to respond before asking, "Are you… upset?"

"I just…" Sasuke looked out his window, away from Naruto. "I don't think he's right for you. You can do better."

"What's so bad about him?"

"Well, I mean, there's the age-difference."

"I'm almost a legal adult."

"He's your teacher."

"Substitute. He probably won't even be at our school much longer." 'And thank God for that,' Sasuke thought.

"He's just using you!" Sasuke's head had whipped to the side to face Naruto as he got fed up with his friend's stubbornness.

"What are you talking about?" Naruto asked, looking confused. Sasuke couldn't believe how oblivious this kid could be.

"Naruto…" Sasuke sighed, dropping his gaze to his own knees. "I don't think you understand his true intentions. He doesn't love you. He only wants-"

"Are you trying to tell me he only wants me for… sex?" Sasuke was glad he didn't have to say it himself.

"Naruto, he's-"

"Do you honestly think I'm going to believe that?" Naruto gave Sasuke an incredulous look. "I know that's not true. Kakashi cares about me, he really does. He doesn't just want me for that."

Sasuke sighed again, glancing toward the boy in the passenger seat with a somewhat downtrodden expression. "I knew you wouldn't believe me… But I figured I should at least try anyway. I'm sorry for bringing this up, Naruto. But you… You're just not seeing it. You're so oblivious to so many things, like how Kakashi just wants you for pleasure, and how I need you for completion. You complete me, but you're nothing to him. I just wish you'd realize it for yourself."

Naruto was about to respond, about to say some other naïve comment defending Kakashi, but stayed silent when Sasuke opened the driver-side door and got out, leaving the blonde behind. Naruto soon followed after him, making his way up the steps to their apartment door.

He wanted to believe Sasuke because his friend was generally never wrong, and had the ability to perceive many things Naruto himself never would. But he couldn't.

He was too blinded by his love.

/\/\/\/\/\

At the end of the day the next day, Naruto went to the Anatomy classroom to speak with Kakashi. When he stepped through the open door, he knocked on the wall timidly.

"Um, Kakashi?" he called.

Kakashi looked up from the papers he was grading. "Hello, Naruto-kun. What's up?"

"Um… I have something to ask you… But it's kind of… awkward."

Kakashi stood up and walked over to close the door, before going back to his desk chair. "You know you can ask me anything, Naruto-kun. What is it?" he asked the boy, silently motioning for him to come closer.

Naruto took a few steps forward to stand a foot or two in front of Kakashi's desk. "It's just… Sasuke was trying to tell me something yesterday, and I'm not sure whether or not to believe him."

"What was he saying?"

"Well… He was saying that you… that you only want me for… sex, and you don't really care about me… I mean, I didn't really believe him, but I don't know… I just…"

"Naruto, honey, relax." Kakashi motioned for his student to come and sit on his lap. When the boy obliged, Kakashi wrapped his muscular arms around him, saying softly, "I would never play you like that. Of course I care about you, Naruto. I love you." He pulled down his mask and kissed Naruto's forehead.

"R-really?" Naruto squeaked.

"Yes, of course I do. How could I not?"

"I'm sorry I doubted you." Naruto smiled up at his teacher. "I love you, too."

Kakashi turned the boy in his arms around and kissed him full on the lips. When they parted, he said,

"If Sasuke is waiting for you again, you might want to get going."

"Yeah, I probably should," Naruto agreed, standing and taking a few steps forward. "I'll see you tomorrow!"

"Yes. Tomorrow." Kakashi smiled at him, earning a grin in return. Naruto then turned and took his leave. Kakashi relax back in his seat, a voracious smirk replacing the previous gentle smile.

"You've gotten too good at lying," a new voice said from the doorway.

"Yamato," Kakashi greeted. "Whoever said I was lying?"

"Knowing you, you'd never really love anyone. You're too big a fan of the game."

Kakashi chuckled at his old friend's comment. "Am I wrong in doing this?" he asked.

Yamato might have been surprised by the sudden inquiry, but didn't let it slip through his usual emotionless expression. "Do you actually care if what you're doing is wrong?"

"I suppose not."

"Then don't ask." Yamato had a faint look of disappointment in his eyes as he continued to gaze blankly at his fellow teacher. Naruto had always been one of his favorite students, and he was surprised to say the least when Kakashi had informed him of his latest conquest. He knew Kakashi had a tendency to get around, but he never would've thought he'd go for one of his students.

"Alright. I won't next time," Kakashi responded, seemingly no longer interested in the current conversation.

Yamato turned around. "It is wrong," he said, leaving directly after.

Kakashi watched his back as he walked out.

He smirked. "But it's fun."

END CHAPTER TEN.