Naruto came back without his team, and I was glad for it. Hopefully it would be easier rebuffing him without their interference. Like tearing off a band-aid.
"Thank you for your service, shinobi." I interrupted his rant about their successful pranks and something about getting photos developed. "Now if that is all, then I may inform you that this store has a policy against loitering."
Naruto stopped dead in his tracks, wide-eyed, and I felt a tiny flash of guilt for raining on his parade. "Uh…what's loit-ing?"
Oh. Of course. I didn't know if I wanted to groan or sigh. I brutally stomped down a wash of fond exasperation. "It means hanging around without purpose."
Naruto brightened. "Oh, that's fine then. My purpose is to hang out with you. Anyway-,"
"That's not a valid purpose." I cut him off again.
"Hah? Since when?" He asked, arms akimbo and a pout on his face. "And a purpose is a purpose valid or not! So I ain't looterin!"
Shit, he had a point, I thought. When did Naruto get good at logic? "Regardless, I'm going to have to ask you to leave now Naruto."
He took a look at my face and cut off what he was about to say. "…Is your boss giving you trouble about me coming around or something?"
It would have been so easy to say yes. His altruistic ways would probably make him stay away on his own if he thought his presence was putting my job at risk or doing me any kind of harm. But I looked into those blue, guileless eyes and couldn't do it. It was my own fault for letting him in; I at least owed him the truth for why I was cutting him out again. If he ended up hating me for it, so be it. "No. I've just realized that you're more trouble than you're worth. Unless you have something to mend or clean, please don't come around anymore."
Naruto was silent for a long time. It was unlike him and took me considerable effort to ignore him.
"I don't understand." He muttered quietly. "You don't look at me like the other villagers do. You still don't but something must have happened. You were fine this morning giving us the mission and then… Aha! Kakashi sensei, he must have said something to you. Oh, I'm gonna- by the time I'm through with him! But, wait… you were also glaring pretty hard at Sasuke teme. Was it something he did?"
I grimaced slightly. He's too perceptive sometimes. "Stop trying to blame things on your teammate Naruto. This doesn't have to do with him. I just don't want you around anymore, plain and simple."
"So it is Kakashi!" Naruto exclaimed. "I'll clear this up right away, don't you worry Kiko-nee!"
I flinched when the door slammed behind him. This might be harder than I thought.
