Naruto always felt weird inside the office. Like he was somewhere he shouldn't be. Right now, though, he's exactly where he's supposed to be. Kakashi called him here himself.

He hopes he's not getting fired. He just bought a used futon and it's definitely not gonna be enough to help cover his rent this time if he has to sell it.

Kakashi's late for his own meeting he set up. Naruto has heard that it's quite common, but it's still unnerving. He taps his hands on his thighs, trying to calm his heart beat. He takes a deep breath.

'Everything will be... fine?' It's probably the first time in a long while that he's actually believed that sentiment.

Everything... probably will be... fine. He can get another job, somewhere, doing something. He has things he could still sell. If he gets evicted... there's share houses all over the city. He could rent the top bunk of a bunk bed just living off of Teuchi's tips.

Not ideal - but Naruto has never really got to play around with ideal conditions in the first place, now has he.

"Uzumaki!"

Naruto's head shoots up, his nerves for the meeting coming back a little.

Kakashi walks down the hallway with an easy, relaxed gait towards Naruto and his empty office.

"How are you?" He asks. He sounds like he's just making polite, work conversations

Naruto tries to swallow his nerves. "I'm doing pretty good. You, sir?"

"Eh," Kakashi shrugs his shoulders, flippantly. "Nearing the end, aren't we?"

Naruto's throat closes. Fuck -

"You're registered to vote right?" Kakashi follows up.

Oh, right. The election.

"Yeah."

"Good. Heard about that fight."

Is he getting fired for that? He specifically asked Shikamaru! That pineapple headed fuck can get nine move combo-ed for all he fucking care, getting him fired.

"You won, right?" Kakashi follows up.

Naruto nods.

"Well, an invite would be appreciated next time. I swear, you kids never invite me to anything cool."

Naruto licks his lips, trying to calm his beating heart. Okay. He's not getting fired for that.

Maybe for yelling at Konohamaru and unloading his checkered past onto him.

"There's a big, banquet, party, whatever they call it on election night. Interns aren't usually invited but Sarutobi's family is a big donor, and it feels wrong to let one intern come and not their partner. Especially when you redid our canvassing map for North Bronx, so-"

"Wait, what?" Naruto asked.

"Don't worry, you'll get the actual invitation in the mail. But I just wanted to extend the invitation myself. You've done a helluva job here kid, and if I'm being honest, just between you and me, I wasn't expecting a lot."

Naruto laughs and shrugs his shoulders. He did call him a "cocksucker" at first meeting so he can't really hold it against him.

"But you saved our ass that day. Fixed up our mapping system and stepped up with the Sarutobi problem and canvassed the fuck out of Queens. You did good. You deserve to come to the banquet. Or whatever the hell they called it."

Naruto tried to hold down his smile. Really, he was biting on his lip and everything. "Thanks so much Mr. Hatake-"

"Ugh, no. Don't call me Mr. Hatake. That's - no."

"Sorry," Naruto ruffled the back of his hair. "Well, I should get going, got a busy day. Konohamaru's probably waiting."

"Yeah, yeah, get out there. Make people vote for me. All that jazz." Kakashi waved him out, absentmindedly shuffling through some folders on his desk.

"Um, see ya." Naruto was not up to speed on how to say goodbye to your boss.

"Shut my door on the way out. And invite me to your next fight!"

Naruto shook his head a little, laughing. "You got it."