Author: Thank you all for the reviews! gives out cookies KakaNaru rocks! And as for how old they are, they are 13 years old. I hope everyone enjoys the second chapter!
Kakashi sensei and the genins took a while to finish scrubbing the Hokage's bathroom. Apparantly it had not been tackled in a while. Naruto made jokes all the way through, which lightened everyone's mood, and so the job got done with no more complaints.
"Allright team, you are free to go home for today. I will see you all bright and early tomorrow at 7:00 a.m."
Sakura lightly laughed and then approached Sasuke, touching his shoulder. "Sasuke kun, I was wondering if you wanted to go out to eat at the barbeque place with me?"
Sasuke just shook his head and brushed her hand away, leaving Sakura with a sour look. She sighed and headed on home.
"Ahhh I'm so tired from cleaning! I will eat a good dinner of ramen tonight!" Naruto said, stretching his arms and grinning.
Kakashi sensei felt somewhat indebted to Naruto for todays encouraging words and so he offered to take him out for ramen.
"Really!" Naruto exclaimed with joy. "That'd be awesome! Usually the only person who treats me to ramen is Iruka sensei….although he has been too busy lately to take me."
Kakashi looked away for a moment at the mention of Iruka's name. Iruka had been distant from him for a while, but Kakashi sensei figured that he was just spending more time with Naruto. If he was not with Naruto, then what was he doing with his time? This just confused and worried Kakashi sensei even more.
Kakashi's thoughts were interrupted by Naruto's voice. "Ne, Kakashi sensei? Are you O.K.? You've been kind of spacey today."
Kakashi sensei put on a smile. "I'm fine. Just a bit tired."
Naruto seemed satisfied with that answer and began walking off towards the ramen place. Kakashi sensei turned behind him. "Well then, Sasuke, will you be coming with us?" He blinked and realized that Sasuke had disappeared. "Hnn…he must have just left. He's a loner, just as I once was.. can't be helped though." Kakashi sensei shrugged and strided over to where Naruto was.
They arrived at the ramen place shortly after. "Naruto, what will you have?"
"Hmm 2 bowls of miso ramen, please!"
Kakashi sensei chuckled. Although I've often brought over fruits and vegetables, you still seem to prefer ramen to everything else. Sometimes you really amaze me, Naruto.
Naruto looked at him quizzically. "What's so amazing?"
Kakashi dodged the question with a shrug and a laugh. "What I really wanted to say to you Naruto, was thank you for earlier today. Everyone was down about the mission, but you were able to lift spirits with your encouraging words. That's always been something I admire in you."
Naruto looked away, blushing a little. "Arigatou..Kakashi sensei."
They heard the clanging of a bowel and looked down at the end of the table where the shadow of a famililar figure sat.
"Eh? Isn't that Sasuke?" Naruto called out.
"Oh, dobe. I didn't see you there." came the calm, collected voice of Uchiha Sasuke.
Naruto glared a bit at Sasuke's insulting nickname, but let is slide. "I didn't even know you liked ramen?"
"There is a lot you don't know about me, Naruto."
Sasuke placed some money beside his bowl and stood up. "Well, later then."
Naruto and Kakashi sensei watched as Sasuke walked off into the distance.
"How strange…I've never seen him here before." Naruto blinked
Kakashi sensei noticed that Sasuke's bowel was still mostly full. Just what was that guy up to?
He turned back to Naruto to find him slurping down the last of his ramen, the encounter with Sasuke forgotten for the moment.
"Well Naruto. I'd better be getting home. Thank you again, and have a good night." Kakashi sensei paid for the ramen and stood up. Naruto smiled and waved. "See you tomorrow Kakashi sensei!"
Kakashi began walking towards his apartment. This had been an enjoyable evening. There was something about Naruto that he was just now noticing. Something that made him feel warm inside. How can one person be so encouraging and full of life? Especially when said person has had such a hard life…..
Approaching his house, he noticed the light was on. "So he's home today…" Kakashi sensei mused. "Truthfully I feel a little strange coming home to him…but I also….really want to see him.."
Kakashi sensei rested his hand on the doorknob, sighed, and then turned the knob, watching the door swing open with a small creak.
"I'm home…"
TO BE CONTINUED
author: sorry I didn't really show any interaction between Kakashi sensei and Iruka this chapter, but next chapter will definitely show some! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and more will come soon. :D
