Author's Notes

Yes, I'm already releasing another chapter. It's a short one. To be completely honest I just wanted to quickly finish these chapters up so I can get into the next arc which, if you couldn't tell from my (not so subtle) hints, is about the chunin exams.

I also wanted to say that I didn't know that about the different clone jutsu's so thank you for letting me know (you know who you are) and I'll keep that in mind for any future encounters.

Feedback is always welcome.

I don't own Naruto.

Please enjoy.

Chapter 10

The Konoha book store. One of Kakashi's favorite places to visit. It had everything he loved, silence, books, adult books, it gave him a nice break from the constant stress of missions and served as a nice distraction from his other, more personal, issues.

Kakashi had noticed recently that his new mission partner, Kei, also seemed to enjoy the book store. Kei would mostly keep to the more 'tame' areas, action stories, milder romance novels, and mystery novels that are far too obvious for a shinobi. Although every once in a while Kakashi could see Kei looking over the areas for more 'mature' books as if he's looking for something.

Sometimes Kei would approach Kakashi and they'd talk about books for a while, usually the normal books. Kakashi might be able to brutally torcher someone in front of Kei but he wasn't about to talk about his adult novels to a 10 year old, even if he has shared those same novels with the boy on missions. Meh, he probably doesn't understand most of those scenes anyways.

Kei had come into the store about an hour ago. He kept to the mild side today. But every once in a while Kakashi would catch Kei looking in his direction only to look away when Kakashi met his gaze. Odd, what could that be about? He's got nothing better to do so why not?

Kakashi made his way over to his teammate with a shunshin and looked at what he was reading, 'Tales of a Gutsy Ninja'. Kakashi had read it before, not his type of book but it's definitely well written.

Kei glanced up from his reading, not that he needed to, Kakashi knew his teammate was always aware of his surroundings, hard not to be with eyes like his, but he did anyways, must be a habit, or he's doing it on purpose.

"Kakashi," Kei greeted. That's another thing Kakashi's noticed, Kei doesn't use honorifics for anybody, unless it's someone in a high position, or if he's acting.

"Kei-san. How's the book?" Kakashi spoke casually, as if talking about the weather.

"It's great! I can't believe this isn't more popular," He said enthusiastically. Too enthusiastically. Kei's hiding something.

"Really? Cause I haven't seen you turn a page in the last 20 minutes."

Kei looked away. Definitely hiding something. Although he's not trying too hard to hide it, as a member of Anbu he has much better acting skills than that. Kakashi narrowed his eye.

"Kei-san, what are you hiding,"

"I wonder what today's special is at Ichiraku," Kei diverted. Kakashi gave him a dry look at the poor attempt.

"Kei-"

"Kakashi!" Kakashi turned his head at the familiar voice, as did the rest of the customers at the bookstore. "I've come to renew the fires of our youthful rivalry once again!"

Kakashi looked back to Kei who was trying to bury his face into his book once again. So this is what he was hiding huh? He somehow got Gai to challenge him to one of their 'contests of skill', which admittedly wasn't hard to do. But why?

Before he got a chance to ask, he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked back to see Gai flashing one of his signature grins with a thumbs up.

"Let's go Kakashi! I have just the thing to reignite our eternal rivalry!" and before Kakashi could protest he was suddenly dragged away by Gai, leaving Kei alone in the book store.

'I hope this helps a bit with Kakashi's depression. If not, at least I got to pull one over on the scarecrow," He thought to himself as he moved to the checkout. He placed the book in front of the shopkeeper as he dug around his wallet for money.

"'Tales of a Gutsy Ninja' huh? Good choice, a shame it's not more popular," the man said, "You know, I heard the author's planning on releasing another book next year."

Kei looked up from his coin searching at that, "Really?" The shopkeeper nodded, "You think you could reserve one for me when it comes out?"

"I don't see why not."

Kei left soon after that, thanking the shopkeeper as he did so. It was around lunch time so he made his way to Ichiraku's.

As he walked he noticed that the streets were busier than usual. He heard the chunin exams were coming up soon, maybe he'd go and watch if he doesn't have a mission. Outside of Anbu he was already a chunin, having passed the test before Orochimaru's experiments.

When Kei finally arrived at Ichiraku's he noticed, with far more than a little amusement, that Gai and Kakashi were also there. He laughed. Gai challenged Kakashi to an eating contest.

'Well, why not,' Kei thought, "Hey, you guys got room for one more?"