Naruto biked to the garage. It had been a month since he started training, and Gai said he'll teach him a super cool double kick move to celebrate so –

He braked abruptly, noting the wet mud that, once again, coated the road to Gai's garage. It didn't rain today, even though it was almost November, so…

Fuck. Naruto dumped the bike on the wet ground and ran inside. "Lee! Gai!"

Lee looked up at him and smiled. "Yo, Naruto!"

Gai waved to him and winced when Lee pulled on his other hand. "Stop doing it! It's very difficult to bandage your hand like that!"

Naruto walked closer hesitantly, adrenaline still flooding his veins, and gazed around cautiously.

Gai sat on a chair, beaming, as Lee treated his split knuckles. "You missed quite a fight, Naruto!" the teen declared, smearing cream on the wounds and then wrapping a bandage around them. "Gai-sensei was magnificent! He beat the hell out of that cocky loan shark!"

Gai nodded triumphantly. "That should teach them not to send guys to intimidate me!"

Lee looked up, confused. "But Sensei, it was the same guy from last time."

"Was he?" Gai shrugged. "Well, they all look a bit different after a few punches."

"And kicks!"

"And kicks!" Gai resonated, smiling brightly.

Naruto felt cold. Still, it probably had nothing to do with him, right? They attacked the garage before he joined, so it wasn't his fault, right?

Gai grinned. "Don't you worry, Naruto! I'm fine!" He showed him his bandaged knuckles. "This is why we train with gloves, but when we fight, this is a small price to pay in exchange for victory!" He winked. "And I can still teach you that youthful kick!"

Naruto nodded. Gai and Lee both smiled, looking entirely unbothered, so he figured he probably should be, too. He grinned right back. "Yeah, okay! I'll just go and grab my bike. I kinda left them outside," he admitted, sheepish, and then ran out. Maybe everything really was okay and –

He ran outside, then paused, frowning. He was quite certain he left his bike on the road leading to the entrance, and yet –

A hand covered his mouth. A cold, hard something pressed into his back. "Behave," whispered Zatsu, digging the gun deeper into his spine. "Unless you want me to call my men and take care of your freaky friends?"

Naruto tried to think, frantic. Gai taught him something for that. He had to grab the arm covering his face and twist it, then spin quickly and call Gai and –

The gun dug deeper. "Naughty boy," Zatsu whispered, chuckling. "You really think muscles got anything on bullets? We just want to talk," he added. "If you behave, we'll even give you back your bike. If you piss us off, well…."

Naruto gave a short nod, hating himself and hating Zatsu and hating everything. Shame and fear bled through him, and he hated them too. Fight, he screamed at himself. Fight!

Still, he walked. He let that asshole lead him over to his men. One of them held his bike; the rest had guns.

A good fighter is a fast thinker. Don't panic. Wait for the opportunity to strike. Gai said that during their second training session, and Gai was a good fighter. Gai knew what he was talking about.

"Here we are," Zatsu chuckled. "Now be a good boy-"

His hold of Naruto loosened –

Now. Naruto spun, punched away the gun and kneed Zatsu. He tried to run back –

Hands grabbed him, restraining him. He had to fight –

"Stop it, all of you," muttered a dry, tired voice. "Idiots." The man who held his bike got up and gave them to another, then kicked Zatsu in the stomach. "Freak."

Zatsu groaned in pain, curling in the mud, and the rest of the men obeyed, letting him go.

Naruto stared at him with all the ferociousness he could muster as he tried to slow down his breaths. He did not know that man, but he was clearly part of their organization. "Give me my bike back!" he demanded.

The man cocked his brow. "I will, once you've heard what I had to say."

Naruto spat. "So talk already, asshole."

The man gave him a weathering look. He lit a cigarette. "Everything in life is a matter of price. Doesn't matter what anyone else says; it all comes down to the cost." He took a long drag. "Big boss wants his money back." He blew out smoke. "All of it."

Naruto scowled. "And if I refuse? I can still call my man, y'know," he lied.

The man took another drag. "That's why I said it's all a matter of cost. You do that, and we blow your green friend's garage to smithereens. With him and that little copy of his still inside." He looked at him, his eyes as cold and disinterested as before. "Is that a price you are willing to pay?"

Naruto gritted his teeth. He knew the boss was up to something. He knew that money was a trick. "Whatever," he grunted. He tried to fake some nonchalance but didn't know if it was working. "You must be poor as hell if you're begging," he bit, finally getting a reaction from the man as his hand twitched. "I can make it all back in a month so – "

"I'm not done." The man interrupted, his voice scathing. "Young people are always so rash. This… farce is over." He waved his hand at the garage, turning his nose at the rusty structure. "You can't work for our enemies."

Naruto clenched his fists. And just when he thought he was finally out – his jaw began to hurt. He hated that choking feeling of powerlessness. He hated the boss and his men. He hated –

"We are not unreasonable. You can still work for us. You simply need to convince the boss to take you back." The man continued, emotionless yet again. He took one more drag.

Naruto laughed, the sound cold and strange even to his own ears. "So I'm supposed to thank you for your mercy? Tryin' to get me to me beg?"

"It's not mercy. Like I said, it's a matter of cost." The man threw his cigarette on the ground. "You go back there," he said, nodding at the garage, "or tell anyone about our conversations, and we'll act accordingly. Your choice."

The man left without a second glance. His men followed, helping Zatsu up and taking him with them. He heard the raving of motorcycles, and then he was alone. Alone and cold and stupid and fuck –

"Naruto!" Lee called, waving to him from the entrance to the garage. "Did you find your bike yet? Oi, can you hear me?"

Naruto scoffed. He wiped his eyes, picked up his bike, and rode away from the garage.

"Naruto!"

Everything fucking sucked.

A month had passed. A month during which he barely got a moment to close his eyes. He had to tutor Naruto in the morning, teach, grade assignments, and train Sasuke.

He came to visit Naruto late at night when the boy was too tired to hold conversations. He slept cuddled against his side, and though he managed a smile, Kakashi could smell his misery. He no longer asked him to stay.

It was early November, and the weather grew colder.

While still displeased with his fate, Sasuke begrudgingly began to accept that he must learn to function as a bird – namely, how to fly. It took quite a few attempts – and a lot of hand waving – until the boy was strong enough to soar on his own.

His flights were still short – he got tired very quickly – but Kakashi could sense his enjoyment. A part of him envied the kid for his wings, but that was a part he kept silenced and sealed.

As part of his training, Kakashi encouraged him to swim competitively. And it seemed he was right; the boy's arm and chest muscles grew in power and definition, but his weight dropped. His bones were getting lighter, his eyesight sharpened, and his lungs expanded. The cold no longer seemed to bother him. His other senses, however, despite their initial spike, returned to normal.

But Sasuke, at least, learned to trust him. Their training sessions together did not mellow him, nor did he suddenly become talkative or friendly, but he was, finally, willing to obey. Sometimes, Kakashi suspected the boy looked up to him.

He wished he could say the same thing about Naruto. While the boy attended his tutoring lessons regularly, he no longer opened up to him. It seemed that his last conversation with the kid was more potent than he had imagined. Naruto was too hurt to try and get close to him like he did before. He did not ask for help outside of his studies, even though Kakashi caught him more than once shivering on his way to school or trembling in his bed. Or staring out the window, unnerved and jumpy.

He no longer told his wolf form anything, either. Perhaps even that bond ran its course. Which meant he had to find another way to help him, even if it meant getting others to take care of him instead.

Kakashi drove to the kid's apartment armed with a bag of McDonald's and the hope that the kid would not bolt the moment he saw him; or heard his footsteps. He walked up the stairs and knocked. "Uzumaki?" he called.

Shuffling – and then utter silence on the other side. He prayed the kid did not panic and flee. "Uzumaki? It's me, Hatake. Are you there?"

Still nothing. Kakashi could smell him, however. The boy's initial fear subsided, but perhaps not enough to open the door. He never did seem to get normal visitors.

"I brought McDonald's," he added. "Are you all right?"

The sound of a door being unlocked – and Naruto opened the door – barely ten inches wide. He blocked the entrance with his body and glared. "What do you want?"

Kakashi gazed back. The boy's defiance gave way to hesitation and nervousness. And shame. His shoulders slumped.

"Can I come in?" He lifted the bag with the food. "I didn't know what you liked, so I got an extra burger." He waited.

"You can't buy me with food," Naruto growled.

Kakashi lowered his hand. The kid acted as if he did not know him – as if they did not spend two hours each day wrestling with every topic imaginable for more than a month. "I'm not leaving until you let me in, Uzumaki," he said quietly. Softly. He had to be careful.

Naruto swallowed with difficulty. His eyes shifted toward the food – Kakashi's chest tightened – and he opened the door. "You can have the chair," he mumbled.

Kakashi smiled. "Thank you." He entered yet did not glance around. He knew the space by heart, and he could smell Naruto's anxiety spiking when his secret was displayed so openly before another.

The kid locked the door and led him to the table. He sat on the bed and clenched his fists and could not decide whether to glare at him or look away. His breath quickened, uneven and shallow.

Kakashi fished out the contents of the bag. "So I got a Big Mac, a Quarter Pounder, and a double cheeseburger. What do you like?"

Naruto stared at the burgers, then flickered his eyes toward him, hiding beneath golden strands and dark lashes. He waited, perhaps, for some sort of judgment.

"There's also fries and a coke," Kakashi added. "Go ahead."

Naruto looked away. "What's the catch?" he mumbled. "You want something." His voice wavered, but his eyes never did. The challenge that seethed below was that of a hurt, broken child.

Kakashi clenched his jaw. He did not know how to comfort him. "Let's eat first. You can kick me out afterward if you want."

"I can kick you out now."

Kakashi looked up – the kid met his gaze, defensive and panicked and desperate. "Do you want me to go, Uzumaki?" he asked quietly.

Naruto flinched. He grabbed one of the burgers – Kakashi already forgot which was what – and bit into it in defiance. He looked miserable.

Kakashi ate his share without noticing the taste. The kid said he waited in the orphanage for ten years. His parents died when he was three years old. And yet, the kid said no one wanted him. Something happened when he was thirteen.

He waited until Naruto finished eating. He did not relish the conversation he wanted to have.

Naruto wiped his mouth and looked up. His eyes sought Kakashi's –

Kakashi did not know how to appease them. "I called your parents."

Naruto did not move. He froze, breathing with difficulty. "Why?" he choked.

"I was worried." He offered the kid a coke bottle, but the kid shoved his hand away. "I will not apologize for caring about you, Uzumaki."

Naruto did not meet his eye. He curled into himself. His fingers tangled in his hair and pulled. "I told you, they're busy. They won't answer," he lied colorlessly.

"Someone did answer, actually," he said quietly. "A very rude woman. She said she doesn't keep up appearances without payment."

Naruto paled. "Must be – must be a wrong number – "

"You know it wasn't." Kakashi sighed and squeezed Naruto's wrist, forcing him to release his punishing hold. "She identified you by name."

Naruto withdrew his hand and tried – and failed – to slow down his breaths. "Get out."

"Uzumaki – "

"Get out!" Naruto jumped up, furious and tense and very close to tears. "I said, out!"

Kakashi did not move. "Sit down, Uzumaki."

Naruto heaved. He stared, lost, at Kakashi's calm. "Y-you said that you – "He stopped talking and clenched his fists.

I promised to leave. He wanted to stay, but ignoring the boy's wishes would make him feel helpless in his presence. Perhaps he was too hasty; he approached him too soon. "I did," Kakashi said slowly. "I hoped you'd trust me enough to tell me." He got up, looming over him. "I'm calling child protective services."

Naruto's eyes widened. "No!" he yelled, gripping his wrist. "No, you can't!"

Kakashi gazed down at the trembling kid and wished he could hold him. "Uzumaki…."

"I'm fine! I'm fine! I don't need help!" Naruto now held his wrist with both hands. He stood so close. "It's not – you don't have the right! You can't do this!"

"Uzumaki," he murmured. "You do need help. There's no shame – "

"I don't! I'm fine on my own! I've always – "

The kid released his grip and stumbled back. His eyes were wide and his chest heaved when he realized what he had said.

Kakashi did not move. "How long have you been on your own, Uzumaki?" When Naruto did not answer, he pressed on. "I know you're hungry. I can tell you don't have money. This apartment cannot possibly be warm during the winter. I know you're cold." He stepped closer carefully and placed his hand on the kid's shoulder. "I want to help you," he whispered.

Naruto shivered under his touch. "Then don't… don't say anything. Don't tell 'em." His hand gripped Kakashi's sleeve. "Please." He did not meet his eye.

Kakashi swallowed with difficulty. He squeezed his shoulder and lowered his head. A scent of salt and desperation and fear. "Tell me why," he murmured. "Tell me what happened."

Naruto leaned just a little bit closer. It was almost a hug. "I tricked them into paying me money. I think it's called fraud," he admitted. "Boss helped me make a fake person that pretended to adopt me and – "He fell silent.

Kakashi blinked. "That's… not what I expected." He squeezed the kid's shoulder again. "Why?"

So the boss found the kid and offered him a way – out of the orphanage and into his snare. He must have given him the money to gain his trust and then stole it by making up debts. Kakashi repressed his anger.

Naruto sniffed. "I couldn't do it anymore. I couldn't keep waiting. I hated that," he whispered, his voice weathered and broken. "I hated waiting for someone to choose me, so I decided to leave on my own terms. Everyone said it was hopeless and that I was hopeless and no one would – "

Naruto broke.

And so did Kakashi. He pulled the sobbing kid into his arms – rules and norms be damned – and cradled his head against his chest. He threaded his fingers in his golden hair and wrapped his other arm around him, rubbing his back. He tried to be gentle – but Naruto held on to him, hugging him as if he were drowning – and Kakashi held him closer, tighter, trying to ease the pain from his trembling form.

It was strange to hug the kid as a human. His skinny frame fitted better against his, lithe and cold and shaking with each sob. His hair was soft and yielding beneath his fingers; he could cover his back with his palm.

Naruto surrendered to his touch, seeking more of him – burrowing into his shoulder blades and tightening his hold. "You can't tell them. You can't. They'll take me away and I won't get to go to college and –"A desperate sob tore through his words.

"I won't. I won't." Kakashi caressed his hair. "I promise. I can help you. You don't need to suffer by yourself, Uzumaki. Let me help you," he murmured, his head still lowered.

Naruto looked up. His eyes shone with unshed tears and his hands were still wrapped around Kakashi's chest, fingers digging into his flesh. Kakashi could count the drops, still clinging to his lashes, and follow their path down his cheeks. He could see shards of aqua and silver-blue flickering uncertainly in his eyes.

He stood so close.

Footsteps.

Kakashi stared at the door and tensed –

Naruto's hands traveled up, hugging his neck, pulling him down –

His knee dug into his groin.

Fuck.

Kakashi toppled into Naruto's arms as the teen dragged him into the shower. "J-Just stay there and don't do anything," he begged. "You're my ticket out of here. You can't get hurt." And locked the door.

Kakashi pulled himself up, wincing. Black spots flickered in and out of sight. What the fuck happened when he was away?

Gunshot.

Kakashi tensed. The shower had no windows except for a small porthole through which neither man nor wolf could fit. He took off his tie and wrapped it around his hand.

"Yo, kid," said a gleeful voice – Zatsu, was it? – "We came for the money you owe us."

Too many footsteps. About five – five men against one kid. One of them dragged a weapon against the floor.

"I already gave it all back! I don't have – "

The sound of something shattering. The chair, probably.

"Boss wants the interest you owe him." The man drawled. "Either hand it over or get on your knees and start begging."

"No."

Kakashi eyed the door. He tensed.

Sound of struggle. "No! Lemme go!"

A choked breath – a body hitting a wall – "Open up, bitch."

He rammed the door with his shoulder.

The door swung open, torn off its hinges. Kakashi moved – as fast as he could – and grabbed the hand nearest to Naruto's face, the one holding a dog treat.

He broke it.

The man, Zatsu, cried out and fell to the floor. He dropped his gun.

Two other men pinned Naruto against the wall – clearly struggling to restrain him– while another stood in the back, holding a baseball bat.

Kakashi was an efficient fighter. He moved without giving them time to react. He was not a man of mercy.

He punched the neck of the man choking Naruto, breaking the bone, then ducked underneath the second henchman's punch and broke his jaw with an uppercut. He swung again at the man's neck – and shattered it.

Zatsu crawled toward his gun, so Kakashi stepped on his neck. Human bones were so easy to break.

Something swung at him – Kakashi ducked – a baseball bat rammed into the wall. He used the chance to force his fist into the man's stomach, shattering his ribs, and then grabbed his neck and snapped it.

He did not stop until they all lay at his feet, unmoving.

The sound of a gun cocking –

Kakashi reacted instinctively, moving to face his target – and froze.

He stared at Naruto as the teen stared back at him.

He stared down the barrel. "Are you going to shoot me, Uzumaki?" he asked quietly.

"You liar." The teen did not lower the gun. "You fucking liar."

Kakashi did not move. It took him a moment before he managed to speak. "How did I lie, Uzumaki?"

His heart raced uncontrollably. The way Naruto looked at him felt worse than his kick. He did not know what to do. He did not know how to fix this.

A few moments ago, he held on to him so desperately…

Naruto panted. His hands shook. His resolve did not waver. "You threatened the gang, didn't you? You're not a teacher. Coming here, pretending like you got me all figured out. You want something," he growled.

Kakashi took a step toward him. "Uzumaki – "

Naruto's hold on the gun tightened. "You killed five men," he accused. His breath quickened. "Did you think I'd be thankful?" he spat.

Kakashi clenched his jaw. "I was angry," he muttered. "I didn't think."

"Fuck you!" Naruto's eyes were furious. Furious and raging and betrayed. "You killed before, didn't you? You're a gangster – I'm not dealing with gangsters. I'm done. I'm done!" His finger found the trigger.

Kakashi did not move. He did not look away.

"I don't care what you want. You're not getting it," the teen tried to snarl, but his voice broke. "Get out."

Kakashi swallowed. His heart trembled in his chest. For the first time – in a very long time – he did not know what to do.

Naruto was serious.

Kakashi bent down. He picked up a body.

Naruto stared, eyes wide and fingers trembling. "What are you…."

"Getting rid of the bodies." He threw the corpse from the window, then went and picked up another one. "Cleaning up."

Naruto did not move or offer to help. He did not lower his gun.

Kakashi threw the last one out. He took a step toward the trembling teen.

Naruto growled. "No."

His feet froze entirely on their own. He found it hard to meet the teen's hurt eyes. "Naruto – " he said quietly.

"Don't say my name! I don't need you, and I don't need your help," Naruto fumed, though his voice faltered. His eyes brimmed with tears. "Out." His voice broke.

Kakashi left. He walked past the shattered chair and the scattered dog treats and the fresh blood stains on the wall. He closed the door behind him and walked down the stairs and toward his car.

He parked it underneath Naruto's window and collected the bodies, which he dropped, one by one, into the boss's pool.

He drove back, parked, and undressed.

Fuck.

Notes:

So Kakashi's gamble almost paid off. So close… but then it wouldn't be fun, now would it?

Also, they finally hugged! I had so much fun writing their first hug! Now that they had a taste of physical closeness, neither will be able to go back *evil smile*

What did you think? I love reading your reviews! Next chapter will feature new information about the Sharingan and driving lessons!

PS – Gai and Lee will be back, esp. Gai.

TigrezzTail: thank you so much for your reviews! Regarding your question: I was trying to mimic the anime in the sense that both Sasuke & Naruto are keenly aware of each other but didn't approach each other until circumstances (in this case, Kakashi) nudged them together. Sasuke noticed Naruto's loneliness because it mirrored his own, and Naruto obviously noticed Sasuke (since he was his first crush haha) so I figured they'd click.