Brush Strokes

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I do not own Naruto I just have a slight obsession with him...tehehehe XD

Chapter One: Surprise, Surprise?

(Kakashi)

People are predictable. It's a simple concept, that's scary in the multitude it appears in society nowadays. It was really very simple to find a hiding place in the room. In the back right corner conveniently behind a painting. Highly obvious, but as stated humans are predictable. So predictably most (cough, cough all) people only glance at the painting; admire it for a few sparse seconds before continuing on their merry way.

No one would look any deeper than the vanity, which for the sensei lying in wait means they wouldn't notice that his hair isn't known for staying in hiding. The silver haired man crouched down, grinning beneath his mask as he flipped through Jiraiya-sama's newest addition to his masterpiece series "Icha Icha Paradise". As the class began to get rowdier the man, Kakashi to his friends (never Kashi unless that person has a death wish) mused on ways to trick the old perv…eh hem masterful writer, into releasing the next addition to him in advance.

Kakashi knew the older man through his own master, who in turn had been a student to the artist turned writer. Not that his master indulged in the little delicacies that the old man set to paper. He was much too straight laced for such a hobby. On top of the fact, he had a kid. The man's eyebrow curved upwards as he paused in his reading. Yes, the little tyke certainly changed Minato whenever they were in the same room, in a good way of course. Ever since his masterwork had become more in depth and had earned him international respect. The man made note to call the kid when he had a moment. They had not talked in a few weeks. They had always up with each other, though their personalities are and have always been very different. Kind of like the Sun and the Moon actually, even still they shared a bond through a deep enthusiasm for painting and a common love of manipulating their sensei/father into embarrassing situations.

They had met when Kakashi was 16 and the boy 10. Kakashi had been tracking Minato for weeks, pestering him to teach him the trade. Minato had been kind but deterrent, with a beautiful and hyperactive pair of a son and mother at home, a rising painting career, and a promotion in his grandfathers publishing company the sunny blonde had enough on his plate. Too much to add a withdrawn apprentice to the list. Still the teenaged Kakashi refused to give in. One night after following the man as far as his door disaster struck in the form of Minato's wife falling from the 5 foot of the ground balcony. How she had managed it, Kakashi still didn't know 7 years later. Minato had been torn between his hysterical son and his injured wife. To this day Kakshi still didn't know why he did it but he shooed Minato off from his son to his wife and calmed the little blonde tyke. It ended up with Kakashi spending the night watching the blonde while Minato stayed at the hospital with Kushina. For an unknown reason the pair bonded immediately. With the added support of the Minato's son's persuasion Kakshi was a regular fixture in the Namikaze household, and the newest (and only) apprentice of the international painter of the generation.

Kakashi cocked his head to listen to annoyingly high pitched voice announce her leaving.

"Ah, so the first begin to fall…I wonder in anyone will even pass the first test this time around." kakashi ginned to himself somewhat hopeful that he would be able to kick back and read his…precious everyday this summer and still get paid for it. He still didn't know why he allowed himself to be goaded into participating in LEAP when he had perfectly nice occupations to distract himself with. Deciding after another 15 minutes his legs were properly numb Kakashi stood abruptly and allowed the canvas to fall to the ground. It wasn't like it was that important, he had been going through a angry faze and had thrown whole paint buckets at the canvas. A waste of money, but completely worth it.

Kakashi surveyed the class calmly pretending to be absorbed in the neon orange book. Smiling to himself at the shocked expressions. It took a lot of practice to pull this off…well unless you happen to be Kakashi Hatake. '11 stand huh? Interesting group' Deciding that they were worth the effort of at least trying to appear respectful…well a smidge. Kakashi slapped his book closed completely unembarrassed by the keening sound he made at the moment.

"Well, children congrats on passing your first lesson. An artist must be patient, with themselves and the idiot's that they are forced to deal with. I will be your beloved sensei. Kakashi-sensei to you ankle biters."

"EHEH?" The class exploded together. Kakashi's amusement triples for a moment.

"Maa, maa can we get started now. I have some reading to catch up on." Kakashi sauntered lazily to the front of the class turning to face his newest batch of victims, How many would make it even as far as the third test? Kakashi was delighted at the prospect of long hours all to himself.

"How many of you have ever picked up a brush?" Kakashi asked abruptly, laziness rolling through his calm voice. Everyone in the class froze and then stared in shock at their new sensei. To get into LEAP you had to complete a portfolio with 20 independent works. Competition to get in the program was high so only the best or of the best were allowed in. So any possibility of someone being a newbie was at a negative 200%. Kakashi smiled to himself again, though careful not to crinkle is eyebrow so not as to give away his amusement. Hesitantly everyone in the class raised their hands. Even the boys in the back which remained hidden behind the easel, only a tuft of blonde hair the only indication that an actual person sat there.

"Good, good. I am NOT here to hold your hands. Mostly I'm here as an adviser into the inner workings of your art. I don't grade, and only assign when the program insist. I'll be up and about to make sure your not goofing off and actually know what your doing If you have question…don't ask it unless your sure it's not stupid… anyways for today just give me something…anything. A few squiggles just make me feel your art. You have an hour." With that, Kakashi turned preparing to delve back into the neon orange cover before an outraged voice calls irritably.

"So basically your not going to teach us anything…your just going to be a babysitter." When Kakashi turned around he immediately saw a girl with bubblegum pink hair bristling. He didn't know why but he was somewhat fearful of the way her hands curled into fist, and her emerald eyes blazed. Before he could answer the girl a boy with red arrows from the back spoke up as well.

"Are you even who you say you are. Fuck you'd think a big time artist would have little pride." Kakashi kept his calm reining in his urge to lay the brunette out. Wordlessly he turned and moved the easel propped against the door, just a painting he had started that morning. A gasp sounded as the victims eh hem…students gazed at the delicate play on pastel colors and the harsh low lights creating a chaotic image that soothed yet disgruntled those that looked at it. Kakashi after seeing the red arrowed boy about to make another comment, cuts him off lazily.

"Before you accuse me of anything, this is my work." Kakashi pointed to the paint streaking his arms, the exact colors of those on the canvas. Even though the boy and some of the other in class seemed to still doubt they stay quiet about it. That is until a boy in a green spandex jumped up on his stool.

"My youthful friends, sparkling with youthful dreams. We must continue on into the distance and live our youthful dreams for the youth of the future…." And on and on. When the boy FINALLY stops Kakashi looks about to strangle him, luckily the mask stopped any and all feral looks, his eyebrow curved just as if he was smiling. Internally he thought. 'That must be the Lee that Gai keeps raving about." Kakshi winces internally cursing the luck that landed him the bushy browed boy. Rubbing his ear Kakashi sighs.

"I'm not guaranteeing your going to like this class. But if you stay and work hard…I promise you will be well on your way to being the best artist you can be, Now while you children get going on that painting which you now have 45 minutes left on, I will be reading." Unceremoniously Kakshi unloads himself into the plush teachers chair his nose shoved back into the precious, precious pages.

"Leave it on the table to dry. You can go when your finished, if you come back tomorrow is your problem." Kakashi adds as an after thought not looking up from his book as the group of students started to busily sketch or instantly lay paint to canvas. The 45 minutes passed quickly, some students worked very quickly, others took longer. Until only the blonde in the corner sat working steadfastly. Kakashi half listened as the arrow boy and raven haired boy got waved off ahead of the blonde. 2 minutes before the time was up the boy slipped soundlessly up carefully holding his canvas. Kakashi was absorbed in a good part of his book so he hardly noticed when the blonde came up beside him and stood with his arms crossed. A smirk playing across tanned cheeks.

"Still scary as usual Kashi." The boys voice joked. Kakashi jerked his head up immediately intending murder to the person had called him the cursed name. Only one person could call him that a survive. Kakashi froze as he actually looked at boy head on.

"Naruto?"

A/N~ How do you like it? Is it horrible? Do tell me =) REVIEW