v. Shinobi
Naruto is being peculiarly quiet. Kakashi, though thankful that he could prepare dinner of his most favourite dish in peace, he still couldn't help but wonder how awfully eerie this whole thing is.
For once, he knows Naruto doesn't just simply keep quiet.
His back is facing Naruto who did nothing but sat there on top of the table. He tried not to think too much of the blonde as he fixes their dinner. Yet, by the mere fact of Naruto observing him cooking really does make him feel uneasy.
He sighs as he set aside the broiled saury at the clean plate and turning the cooker off. He could already feel his stomach jumping in delight smelling the best combination of the salted seasonal fish and the eggplant miso soup –definitely his favourite combo.
He swiftly went to check his boiled rice and glad that it's almost finish. Give it five more minutes and it should be perfectly ready.
Transferring the miso soup to a medium dish, he suddenly felt Naruto jumping off the table and stood beside him. Naruto has his noise crutch up, a distaste in his face. "What, now…" Kakashi eyed the young man in a hostile manner. No one judges his cooking and get away with it.
"We will never get along with our foods." Naruto murmured.
Kakashi problematically sighs, "As I thought." He agreed. "Ramen is not everything, Naruto. Vegetables…"
"…are boring, sensei." Naruto whined but accepted the bowl of miso soup that Kakashi handed him anyway. He twirled around and set it on the table, back again on Kakashi's side to take the fish and sat on the other chair.
Kakashi placed each plates for him and his guest on the table before returning to the counter to scoop rice for their bowls. "Remember you promised Minato-sensei that you would eat vegetables. Don't think I wasn't there that I wouldn't know such about it."
With this, Naruto huffs. "Yes, you're right but that doesn't mean I have to eat the same thing every time I call over for dinner. Sensei, do you only know how to cook the same?"
Kakashi laughs at this. True, it wasn't the first time Naruto has come over for dinner. After the war, like Gai said, if situation allows it, Kakashi and Naruto are indeed inseparable. "Maa, Naruto. A free food is a free food. You're a free-loader so you don't get to say anything."
"Iruka sensei makes better dinner."
"Well, too bad I'm not your Iruka sensei." Kakashi eyed Naruto and huffs. Man, Kakashi, you should stop being a child. Sounding like you're jealous ain't gonna make everything else easy.
Naruto eyed him back, wide eyes and mouth-gaping, a laugh dangerously wanting to escape his throat. "Maa, Kakashi sensei. You're not jealous, are you?"
Kakashi was more than shock to hear this. He wasn't expecting for a dumb man like Naruto could actually figure this one out. He could feel his heart beating fast as his blood slowly comes up to his shoulder, neck and please make it stop.
"You cook a lot better than Sakura-chan," Naruto giggled, "If that will make you feel better." He added.
Kakashi sat at the other chair next to Naruto. He cleared his throat, not trying to make a big deal out of the cute compliment, "Well, staring at that fish won't turn it to a grilled pork."
"Itadakimasu~" Naruto made his gesture, a huge grinned on his face.
Kakashi looked pleased to see the young man despite his whining had managed to ravish all the food he was given. Kakashi himself didn't waste time and ate quickly. Man, he's the only one who can make his own favourite dish the way he likes it.
He bowed to himself as he put back his mask. He eyed his student who just finished his last share. He was then met with those judging eyes which keep on widening each second. "What. What did I do now?"
Naruto groaned, "Maaa…sensei! When did you eat?" Naruto eyed the empty plates in front of the older man.
Kakashi looked at him confusedly, "What do you mean?"
"This time too you didn't take your mask off!" Naruto annoyingly huffed.
"Yes I did." Kakashi simply replied as he stood up to clean after them. He certainly isn't expecting Naruto to clean up anyway. Rather, he wouldn't let Naruto do it. The last time he did, he was forced to buy a new set of dishes the next day. Who would have guessed, Naruto could be clumsy at times.
"No, you didn't sensei!" Naruto defiantly argued.
Kakashi gave him his eye-smile, "How else could I have ate?"
Naruto pondered over this for a long time while Kakashi is cleaning up by the sink. Yet, Naruto couldn't think of anything else. Finally he blurted out, "It's some sort of genjutsu…you are using your sharingan— oh wait, you don't have it anymore." He mumbled. "Sorry… sensei…"
Kakashi turned around, drying his hand with the towel. He walked pass Naruto and sat himself on the floor. He patted on the space beside him and watched how the young man's face lit up, jumping towards him and occupied the spot offered. "The sharingan has served its purpose. It has returned to where it truly belongs." He muttered, "There's no need to be sorry, Naruto."
Naruto smiled, relieved that Kakashi had once again looked pass through his idiocy. "But sensei…"
Kakashi stared back to the blonde, slightly worried how the spaces between their faces are only a breath away. He consciously jerked back. "Yeah, Naruto." He looked at the floor instead, extending his legs forward flat on the floor. Stretches could cause pain and pain could distract him from doing something unthinkable.
"Kurama confessed to me…" Naruto as well diverted his gaze away from his sensei.
Kakashi worried on his lower lip. So, Kurama finally talked. He realized. Of course, Naruto isn't so stupid to not realize that somehow Kurama knew what happened last night that has caused the young man waking up on Kakashi's bed this morning.
Hearing no response from Kakashi, Naruto continued, "I didn't want you worried…"
"I know…you don't have explain, Naruto."
Naruto eyed his sensei this time, seeking those eyes but only realized that most time, Kakashi only lets people see his right eye. "Why didn't you confront me after the first night you found out I'm… I'm doing this…"
"You're stubborn, Naruto, even you know that. I just wasn't so sure how to tell you that I know…without upsetting you."
Naruto groaned, more to himself than what the other had said. "So, I believe you know about the nightmares too?"
Kakashi nodded, "Yes. Kurama mentioned."
"Ugh…"
"I know how it feels, Naruto. I get nightmares too…" Kakashi couldn't help himself saying. Maybe after all what happened, in the purpose of making Naruto better, he could finally talk about his own ordeal. "After I killed Rin with my chidori… nightmares keep crawling to my sleep every night without fail…" He retold his so often nightmares from that day Rin died even until he was in ANBU.
Naruto stares at his sensei, those huge blue eyes bearing the reflection of sadness his sensei. He could feel it, relating to all of those images of someone dying while feeling helpless. He placed a palm on his sensei's arm. "Sensei…are you still having nightmares?"
"Sometimes… not as much now but sometimes…you just can't control them." Kakashi honestly said.
Naruto smiled brightly as an idea hit him, "Sensei! Now that you know my secret… I hope it's alright if I sleep on your bed from now on? You know, maybe you would get nightmares too, it'll be fine if I'm around."
Kakashi's eyes widened. Flailing his hands worriedly, "I don't think that's a good idea, Naruto!" Damn it, Naruto. You don't just propose that casually.
"I'm kidding, sensei." Naruto laughs loudly. "Besides, starting tomorrow I will be in Sunagakure again for a week or two. Kazekage is trying to finish rounding up some rogue ninjas. Said my talent on convincing people is crucial on this one. Then I will head straight to Iwagakure, the old geezer had some job lined up for me there. Later this year as well, the Mizukage asked me if I can do some secret investigation for her. It has got to do with the Amegakure, seeing how sage mode can only infiltrate that village."
Kakashi didn't know if his aging has got to do with it all that he wasn't so sure if he heard him well. But he knows one thing though, Naruto had successfully made himself acknowledged not only by Konoha but the whole Shinobi world. You did great, kid. He mentally said, proud being the sensei of once used to be an invisible, if not despised, child.
Yet now that he backtracks what the young man had said, his shoulder slumped. He hoped he wasn't as transparent.
So, Naruto won't be around too much. He realized. "You don't mind doing all that?" Kakashi asked.
Naruto grinned widely. "Why would I? After experiencing the war, I'd be stupid to let conflict rise again. Hopping between villages make it easier for me to monitor everybody. Besides, it make me feel happy."
"As long as you're okay with it." Kakashi only said.
Naruto nodded to himself as he hugged his folded legs onto his chest. A silence then embraced the two of them for a long while until Naruto stood up and bowed to his sensei. "Thank you for the food, sensei."
Kakashi as well stood up and just smiled back, even though that is unnecessary seeing how the other wouldn't see it anyway.
"I won't see you for about two months….give or take… I'm not too sure—" Naruto wasn't able to finish his words when he realized his sensei had pulled him for a hug. It was warm, welcoming and also promising— a promise that the same set of arms will be just right there to wait for his return.
Naruto smiled onto the embrace as he stayed there, relaxed. He could stay like this forever if he can. Kakashi has just that touch that could make him want to stay and think that everything will be alright now and those nightmares will never come back to haunt him.
He isn't too sure what he feels about this. He has a lot of friends he slowly gathered for years, all of them made him feel welcomed and cared for but with Kakashi, it's always different and he couldn't name it.
It sometimes worries him to realize that it was only to Kakashi he felt this way and he doesn't know if he should discuss it with the man or not. Truly, he intended to but not until he has a definite explanation why he's feeling this way.
Confusing his sensei could cause a rift between them and that's the last thing he would want to happen.
He could just be contended with these arms embracing him. This is the closest to the warmth he secretly craved.
Kakashi wasn't surprised to learn that Naruto is alone in this mission to Sunakagure seeing that Yamato is pairing up with him to Sound Village to follow up his own mission a week ago.
Kakashi nodded to the Hokage, readying himself to leave with Yamato in tow.
"Ah, Kakashi…" Tsunade called and watched as the man eyed her, "I have sent a few jonins near Sunagakure. If I wasn't too tied with this matter in Sound Village, I would have liked to have you two oversee this yourselves."
"Is it that bad, Hokage-sama?" Yamato asked.
"Only yesterday we got a report that some ANBU of Sunagakure were found dead just at the border. There were no traces whatsoever of who the culprits might be."
"Would you like me to go instead?" Kakashi asked. It's closer to where Naruto is too. I could pay him a visit. He added mentally.
Tsunade was silent and by the look on her face, it looks like she's debating this thoroughly. She then heaved a sigh as she shook her head, "No, it's fine. I'll ask the other villages to handle this one. We are really short of jonin and some of the jonins capable were given genins this year. They cannot easily be taken to A-class mission. I know the other villages would understand. After the Akatsuki's invasion, Konoha was the most affected."
Kakashi wanted to argue but kept it to himself. He just nodded and head out to the door. He caught Tsunade telling Iruka and Genma to free up Sai's future schedules just in case Konoha ended up sending reinforcement.
Kakashi can't help to think that this mere strife requires ANBU level shinobi.
It was already night time by the time Yamato and Kakashi reached the rendezvous point to where they would meet the shinobi of Kumogakure as it was clear that this mission is a joint one.
While waiting for the other village's shinobi, Yamato made himself welcomed by making his infamous wooden house for them to camp in. Sometimes, he just like to show. After all, he's the only living person who knows how to do Wood Style jutsu.
Outside the house, Kakashi made tiny fire using his fire jutsu. Even though the sharingan has been taken from him during the 4th Shinobi War, it didn't make him a lesser capable shinobi. The sharingan had allowed him thousands of jutsu over the years and he can use them just as perfectly as he can while he was with a sharingan. Though a few weren't really possible without the eye, he thinks he can do well without it.
Yamato joined his senpai and they talked casually about random things. Everything is peaceful all around the shinobi nations and if there some threats, they were easily dealt with. Konoha isn't alone anymore. It seemed like the five nations are a whole huge one nation.
"Naruto Nation." Yamato chuckled. "Can't believe that boy can actually unite nations with history of long unending bitter wars."
"Leave it to Naruto." Kakashi only mused, a short tug of admiration made him smile underneath his mask.
It didn't go by unnoticed with Yamato staring at Kakashi directly like that. Yamato was about to mention something when they noticed that there was a three-man cell group hastily coming to their way.
Without stressing over it, both Kakashi and Yamato hovered their hands on their own stash of kunai. The unknown group is getting closer and closer until they were joined in the clearing, stopping in front of the fire Kakashi made.
"Leader Kakashi," One of the three addressed, bowing to the jounin.
Kakashi's eye surveyed the men silently and nodded back as he looked at the forehead protector of all three of them. It says one word of 'Shinobi'.
Kakashi understood how the alliance works and one of the ongoing rules under it is when a certain shinobi undergoing a mission crosses the border of not his own has to replace his village forehead protector with the authentic one that belongs to the Alliance –the same head protector all the five nations shinobi wore during the 4th Shinobi War.
It was to easily identify any of the shinobi of different villages belonging to the five nations cross path during their mission the possibility of engaging into a fight could be avoided.
It is also advised to wear 'Shinobi' head protector under joint alliance mission.
It was a step forward into solidifying the unity of the five nations.
Just like the other three shinobi of the Cloud Village, both Kakashi and Yamato had replaced their Konoha head protector the moment they crossed the border of the Sound Village. They cannot risk the fact that they might come across shinobi from the other village.
Even though the Sound Village has officially been given attention and help from the neighbouring great country of Fire, Earth and Lightning, it still wasn't easy to defeat some notorious habits of shinobis in there. It still takes a lot of changing in this place before the small Country of Rice can stand on its own.
Of course, Orochimaru is in the picture as well as the man himself founded the village. The man is still under strict surveillance despite his limited bestowed freedom. However, it seemed so unlikely of him to actually, even so slightly, help out with some changes in the village. After all, he officially resides in the village now.
Yamato and the other three Cloud shinobi discussed the plans for the next few days as Kakashi laid flat on the grass, resuming his Icha Icha book he was reading earlier.
He knows the plans already as he laid them himself he knows for sure that if the Cloud shinobis do their part well, then, nothing will go wrong.
Kakashi was once again lured in the magnificence of the book as he only noticed the short meeting ended when he heard one of the Cloud mentioned the name 'Naruto'.
He paused and listened it because he's quite sure he didn't like the sound and choice of words the others were using when referring his blonde.
"Whenever he goes to Kumogakure…it was getting harder to keep everybody in check." One of the guys told Yamato. "Everybody just want to have a piece of him."
He doesn't mean Naruto, does he? Kakashi curiously asked, still feigning reading the book but he was long distracted already.
"Well, I was in a mission with him once to Sunakagure and it's fairly the same situation there. Man, the guy's a celebrity." The other man added.
Well, that's kinda sound like him alright. Even in Konoha, it's the same.
"If it wasn't for the Kazekage, there would have been killings between admirers." The man said and laughs, "Naruto-kun looks like he doesn't even know what's going on."
Yup, definitely sounds like him. Forever dense… Kakashi thought. Had to remember to thank Gaara the next time he sees him. What would have gone down if the Kazekage wasn't there?
Yamato laughs, "I wasn't too sure what really happened during the war as everybody knows I was highly sedated that time. But by the sound of it, Naruto swooned everybody."
"He was awesome. Dude, I can still slightly feel his chakra on me from during the war… the way it pulses sometimes when I'm in near danger…Truly, Naruto-kun still doesn't abandon us."
Kakashi nodded to himself. He knew exactly the feeling. He also was gifted the same way and everybody on the battlefield that day knew what they are all talking about. This is where everybody's mere admiration towards Naruto turned into affection.
They have this special thing tied with Naruto that they cannot just oversee. It was also one of the reason why it was easy to just trust Naruto as at the same manner that the blonde trusted all of them with something of his own.
"And I think everybody is just in love with him." The third guy added, a soft hue of blush creeping on his face.
No way. Kakashi growled to himself. There is no way he can have the Five Nations become his rival towards Naruto's heart. Yeah, Kakashi, as if you'd ever get a chance anyway. He reminded himself.
For the longest two minutes, he tried to drown the enthusiasm of the other Cloud shinobis while talking about Naruto. When he couldn't take it anymore, he instantly rose up from the ground and marched towards the wooden house Yamato made earlier.
It's making him so furious! Everybody is eyeing his blonde and Kami knows if some are actually harbouring not-so-innocent admiration to the blonde already. Argh, this is so frustrating! It's so frustrating that he doesn't feel like reading his Icha Icha series anymore. That has got to say something.