I do not own Naruto! :D Honestly, the way I'm going, you guys are gonna get a chapter a day haha!

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Team Hound remained at the scene of the crime for nearly two hours. They were technically not allowed to have anything to do with the interrogations, but damn if they weren't interrogated themselves. They way the interrogation squad talked to Tenzou made him think they suspected him, and to be honest, half way through their questioning he started to suspect himself.

"So, you're saying you knew NOTHING of the attack until you exited the shower?"

"I told you, I heard someone knock something over."

"And you didn't investigate...?"

"Green and Spike are always fighting, and-"

"-I'm sorry, who?"

Tenzou had to think for a moment. He scowled. "Gai and Genma"

"Ah, yes, continue."

Not for the first time, the mokuton user wondered why they even had code names.

"Anyway...they're always fighting -not in a bad way- so I didn't think anything of it."

"As a shinobi, it never occurred to you to check the situation out?"

"While I was naked? Not really."

"You'd rather your friends died than someone see a bit of your skin?"

"What? Did you not see me fighting in a towel? Look down, I'm STILL half naked."

"You're dodging the question."

"I'm not DODGING the question! NO, I would MUCH rather someone saw me naked than have any of my friends get injured, which is EXACTLY why I went running down the hall to look for them despite the fact that I was seconds away from exposing myself to the entire building!"

"Why are you getting mad? That's suspicious."

"WHA-"

"That will do for now, Juibe."

Both Tenzou and the ANBU called (codenamed? Tenzou had no idea anymore) Juibe spun around in shock at the kindly voice. The Hokage smiled politely at both of them, and after they had both bowed, gently waved the interrogation ANBU off with a few flicks of his wrist. "I will take it from here."

With another crisp bow Juibe spun on his heel and wandered off to find the next person to mentally deconstruct.

Hiruzen laughed gruffly at the flustered state the mokuton user was in. "Interrogation tends to get under peoples skin. It's their specialty."

Tenzou huffed maturely and crossed his arms over his bare chest. "I don't understand, we were clearly the ones being attacked. What is the point of cross-examining me for an hour?"

The Hokage stood next to Tenzou, his expression so serious that the young shinobi quickly felt his anger evaporate. He hung his arms at his sides and bowed his head slightly. "I'm sorry for what happened, Hokage-sama. I feel very deeply for my team as well. I understand that Kakashi-senpai knows at least one of them."

"Hmm." Hiruzen answered, tapping his pipe against his chin. "Yes. Well, we shall figure it all out soon enough. Do not be too cross with the other ANBU, Tenzou. They are just as flustered as you and your friends. I am certain they, too, know some of the culprits."

Effectively cowed, Tenzou decided not to say another word. Despite the fact that he was directly tied to the entire incident, he felt like a bit of an outsider. He hadn't even been with ANBU for a week...he didn't really belong yet. Although he felt slightly betrayed, and definitely worried, it was nothing compared to how the others must have been feeling. Or not, who really knows? Those ANBU who attacked them couldn't have been too chummy with everyone else, or they wouldn't have betrayed them.

"Do you have any idea what may have happened, Hiruzen-sama?" Tenzou asked, despite his hesitance.

The Hokage seemed to pause in a way that made Tenzou suspect he definitely had an idea, but didn't know if he should voice it. Or, perhaps, it was information that was top secret from even the most trusted of the ANBU. "There is always a motive, my boy. Perhaps they were unsatisfied with their lot. Unfortunately, many people decide to take the violent road to solve their problems. It always ends this way, however. Yet no one seems to learn."

Tenzou nodded in understanding, but couldn't shake the feeling that the Hokage was giving him a bottled answer and knew more than he was letting on. Not that he was in ANY WAY worthy of being privy to such information, but it made the wheels in his head turn all the harder just the same.

"Hokage-sama."

The two turned to see Kakashi approach them, looking rather somber. Tenzou felt a little pang in his heart at the way his captain's eye drooped just a little more than usual.

"Ah, Kakashi. There you are. Please, come this way, and bring Fox with you."

The copy-nin turned and waved to someone behind him. An ANBU with, surprise surprise, a fox-like mask stepped away from a small crowd and approached with a slight limp. Tenzou got the impression he was a very senior shinobi from his posture and build. He looked like he'd seen an unimaginable amount of rough battles.

Tenzou found it interesting how some ANBU decided to use their code names and masks, while others didn't. Did some people join ANBU to erase themselves? To become someone completely different? He did not have to think very hard to understand why a shinobi would want to do that. He had met some pretty intense characters who had all of their emotions basically sand blasted by grueling experiences. It wouldn't have surprised Tenzou if many of them ended up with a mask.

Kakashi, the Hokage and Fox exited the building walking side by side, obviously sharing thoughts that were not to be presented to the rest of their peers. It made Tenzou feel slightly giddy to think that his captain was one of the most trusted and sought after members of their organization. Despite his rather...unorthodox behavior, Tenzou was obviously extremely fortunate to have Kakashi as his mentor. He would try to do his best to remember that.

When the team (minus Kakashi) got back to their room, they stood at the door for a full minute in misery. Naturally, the place was trashed. Most of the furniture was smashed, the floor was completely distorted due to Tenzou's mokuton, the beds were flipped over and one of them had a kunai sticking out of it.

"Who's bed is that?" Tenzou asked in astonishment, pointing at the impaled object.

"Ah. That would be mine." Gai chimed, looking serious. "He came in through the window and tried to pin me to my mattress."

Gai laughed at Tenzou's horrified expression and clapped him on the back. "I was far too fast for that pathetic amateur, my friend! Do not worry yourself!"

"By 'far too fast' he means I yelled "GAI WATCH OUT" and he moved his ass out of the way."

Gai cleared his throat loudly. "WELL. I had a bit of help."

Tenzou shook his head in disbelief. He actually could not believe his friends had nearly died while he was berating himself over something as stupid as an accidental boner. He never would have let himself live it down.

Wait.

"You yelled? I didn't hear anything..."

Genma and Gai both seemed to snap to some sort of attention at Tenzou's question. "Right! We were actually terrified someone had already gotten to you in the bathroom because it took you so long to show yourself. You seriously heard nothing?"

"Well, the only thing I heard, right before I came out, was the sound of something falling over. It may have been my dresser, from the looks of things."

Genma and Gai exchanged thoughtful glances. "They must have cast some sort of genjutsu over the bathroom..." Genma mused, tapping his chin.

"So...they knew I was in there. They were watching us. I still don't understand why they targeted our team. Do you two remember what happened right around the time when the dresser fell?"

A moment of silence, then Gai spoke up. "Nothing out of the ordinary. We had been smashing furniture and jumping around the entire time. I did not even tie the dresser into your appearance."

Tenzou blanched. "Wait a second...you were in the room when I came out?"

Gai stared at Tenzou with a mixture of shock and dawning understanding. "Yes, Tenzou...I knocked over the shinobi who threw the kunai at you."

"I...I couldn't see anyone, and I only heard Kakashi-senpai's voice."

A feeling of distinct dread filled his heart at the expressions on his friends faces.

"Kakashi cried out to you, but we were all there. They didn't cast the genjutsu over the bathroom, they cast it over you."

Silence. Tenzou gulped. "When did you guys leave?"

"When you cast your mokuton, the other shinobi ran, so we chased them. Kakashi only left when he saw that you had your adversary under control."

Tenzou's jaw dropped. He had a clear view of the room, and he did NOT see Kakashi anywhere.

"Why me...?"

Genma and Gai were silent. Their lips were pursed, their brows were furrowed, and they did not look pleased.

"No idea, buddy."

Oooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Tenzou is not an idiot. If he heard anything he thought was suspicious, he would have come out. No questions."

Juibe laughed, crossing his legs as he leaned lazily against the Hokage's desk. "I swear, that kid was going to punch me out. He was totally incredulous that I thought there was something suspicious about him. I honestly think him hearing nothing was not his fault."

"Genjutsu." Kakashi concluded.

"Was he alone at all today?" Fox asked in his deep, baritone rumble.

"No. Not at all."

"But, he did hear something, didn't he?" Hiruzen asked, flipping through the report. "Shortly before he emerged, he heard a dresser fall over. His reasoning for not being suspicious was that he thought it was his teammates. Why would he only hear that one object, and not everything else?"

"Two possibilities." Kakashi answered. He held up two fingers. "One; the caster became weak and distracted after fighting us, and the jutsu was dispelled. Two; it is a specialized genjutsu that applies only to Tenzou, and Tenzou's belongings. The dresser was his, I remember. He heard it because it was his dresser and was filled with his possessions. His bed was the only one not flipped over, and neither was his nightstand. That's all he heard because that's all that belonged to him."

"What kind of weird ass jutsu is that?" Juibe sneered.

"It's extremely useful for assassinations, actually. I've seen it used."

"You're one to say anything about a jutsu, Juibe. When is the last time you even went on a mission?"

The interrogation ANBU glared heatedly at Fox. "Missions are NOT my job."

"Alright, everyone." Hiruzen cut in quietly. "We need a motive. Who are the ANBU responsible?"

Juibe cleared his throat and pulled out a little black book from his rear pouch. "Jackal, Mikasu, ReeRee, Frontfoot and Leopard."

"Leopard..." Fox sighed, shaking his head. "Can't believe it."

Hiruzen gave Fox a moment to grieve, then continued. "Leopard and Jackal are senior. Mikasu has only been here for a year, ReeRee was about to be promoted to captain, and I am not entirely sure about Frontfoot."

"He was alright." Fox grumbled. "Not terribly talented. I forgot what squad he was in, but I doubt he would have progressed much. It's been maybe three years."

"Squad Taiju." Kakashi supplied. "Taiju is an excellent shinobi, who I'm sure is humiliated right now."

"Hmm..." Hiruzen clasped his hands behind him, pacing his office slowly. "It seems entirely random, at least from our end. Some senior, some intermediate, some new..."

"We will get answers from them, Hokage-sama. No need to worry about that." Juibe assured, tilting his head slightly in pride. "The only thing we need to worry about is a potential repeat performance. I suggest moving team Hound to a new, undisclosed location. Perhaps take them off the mission roster. Or, better yet...send them on a mission with absolutely no paper trail, and no one else to know about it."

"I like the undisclosed location; I do not like sending us on a mission. Anything can happen out there, an ambush of any size. I think someone has been watching us, or at least, watching Tenzou. They could easily find out where we are." Kakashi finished and turned to Hiruzen then, leveling him with an even stare. "Hiruzen-sama...do you think its about his mokuton?"

Fox and Juibe glanced at the Hokage with interest. Hiruzen sighed loudly.

"I do not know for sure, Kakashi. Keep everything normal with your squad for now. Use the indoor training arena, and we shall move you to the west wing. No one else is to know, except for us and your subordinates. Juibe, please go to the missions department and tell them to list team Hound as currently on a mission. It will not do much, but perhaps it will deter someone at some point."

Juibe nodded and shoved himself off the desk, taking that as his cue to leave. He bowed low to the Hokage, nodded to his comrades, then disappeared.

Hiruzen let out a long, shaky breath.

"Danzo cannot find out about this. He has been after Tenzou forever."

Kakashi and Fox both started, hard, at the Hokage's sudden statement.

"What do you mean, he's been after him...?" Kakashi asked, his voice low.

"Danzo thinks Tenzou is a threat to the village. He doesn't want Hashirama's cells 'walking around and going on missions where he could fall into the wrong hands.' Danzo sees things a lot differently than I do. He sees Tenzou as platter of valuable DNA."

Kakashi clenched his fists. Fox coughed gruffly.

"Danzo is a bit of a psycho asshole, so this does not surprise me much."

Hiruzen looked like he tried really hard not to laugh at Fox's insult, but Kakashi did not put forth the same effort. He snorted loudly and held out his open palm. Fox 'low-fived' him with vigor.

The Hokage had to clear his throat several times before he was fit to continue. "I have a theory..." He started, pausing for dramatic affect. Kakashi and Fox dutifully leaned in, looking interested.

"I believe Danzo wants Tenzou in 'Root'. I would not put it past him to stage an abduction attempt in order to fuel the belief that Tenzou is high risk and should be kept where no one else can find him. Root is the only option other than actually locking him away."

"Danzo would stoop so low as to pit ANBU members against each other?" Kakashi asked, aghast. His anger was mounting quickly.

"Unfortunately, yes."

"Is there anything tying the people we arrested to Danzo?" The copy-nin continued.

"No, nothing. But, Juibe and Ibiki are very good at their jobs. I have faith."

"Danzo is only one of the council, what power does he really have over Tenzou?" Fox asked, sensing Kakashi's fury.

"Danzo can be very...convincing. Unfortunately, the council have known him all of their lives. So have the Feudal Lords. They trust him. They know he loves the village. If he can give them enough reason, they will agree. Especially since some of them actually knew Hashirama."

Kakashi was almost white with anger. Fox sighed, rubbing at his thinning hair. "Well, damn. What are we to do, then?"

"Lay low, just as Kakashi and Juibe suggested. If we stay one step ahead, Danzo will not win. There is only so much he can get away with, and he just played a very big hand."

"If it's even him..." Kakashi murmured.

"Yes. We will find out soon enough."

ooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

When Kakashi appeared, Tenzou had already begun to repair their room. Kakashi smiled affectionately and put a gentle hand on his shoulder. The mokuton user spun, surprised, then his face brightened.

"Senpai! What happened? Any news?"

"Yes, there's news. To start, don't waste your chakra. We're moving."

"Moving? Not a surprise." Gai chimed in from his position against the wall. His arms were full of his scattered clothing. "Is it top secret?"

"Yes. I'll have to teleport with Tenzou, as he won't know where it is. Gather all of your things and we'll go."

It only took them about fifteen minutes to pack up, as the entire team had few possessions. Most of the work came from finding wherever their things had fallen to in the scuffle. Once they'd rescued their meager belongings, Kakashi whispered to Gai and Genma where their new home would be. Instantly, they were gone. Kakashi gestured for Tenzou to approach him, and the mokuton user did so with mounting anxiety.

"Is it because of me?"

Kakashi merely smiled his usual friendly smile and lightly closed his hand around Tenzou's wrist. In the next moment, they were in between two doors. Gai and Genma were standing before the one on the right. Tenzou blinked in confusion.

"Which one is for our team?"

"They both are. We're splitting up."

Everyone, save Kakashi, did not react well to this.

"Wait, what? Dude, shouldn't we all be together for backup?" Genma bellowed. "We were almost outnumbered last time!"

"We'll be right beside each other, that is close enough. This is the best way for everyone, unfortunately. I will be with Tenzou to watch over him. If he is, indeed, the target, then splitting up will give our enemies the option of choosing the wrong room. It will also lessen the chance of people being involved, and hurt, who do not need to be."

Knowing he was referring to them, Gai and Genma both stepped forward to protest. Kakashi put his hand up.

"I understand. Trust me, I do. But this is the best option we have until we can figure out what is really going on."

The two shinobi had the utmost trust in Kakashi, so it did not take much for them to look defeated. They nodded lightly to acknowledge their captain.

"I want to room alone."

Everyone spun around to face Tenzou. The only one who did not look surprised was Kakashi.

"That is not an option."

"You said we should lessen the chances of people getting hurt, didn't you? Why should you be in danger, too? I should be isolated."

Kakashi reacted immediately to Tenzou's idea of isolation. He sauntered right up to the young ninja and stood toe to toe with him. His eyes were hard, but they were burning with warmth.

"We're a team. There is no such thing as isolation in a team. Thank you for your selflessness, but you are not to bring that up again. It's not happening."

Tenzou's entire face burst into the radiant redness of a glorious summer sunset. His chest felt like a sunset, too. Warm and fuzzy, in a way he rarely felt. Kakashi and the rest of his team had hardly any attachment to him, and yet they were willing to risk their lives to protect him. He was touched to the core of his being and he had no idea how to articulate that to his comrades without looking like a giant vagina.

"...Thanks..." he croaked, then inwardly slapped himself. Real eloquent.

Kakashi seemed to understand him completely, however. The second genuine smile Tenzou had ever seen on his face drifted across his features like warm butter, apparent even under his mask. It made the mokuton user heat up just a little bit more.

"Go inside and get set up; I need to speak to your teammates."

OooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Tenzou had just plopped down into bed when Kakashi entered their apartment. Instantly, the mokuton user was up and at attention. He so desperately wanted to know what was going on, and he knew Kakashi had information that would set him at least partially on the path of understanding.

"What's happening, Senpai?"

Kakashi tossed his bag of belongings onto his bed without a word, bending slightly to sort through his things without acknowledging Tenzou. The mokuton user assumed his captain was being dramatic and would address him sometime soon, and in the next moment, Kakashi produced his little orange book. He took the few steps needed to reach Tenzou's bed and sat down next to him. Slowly, he peeled off his mask, his face gently contorted in concentration.

"I'll tell you what I am allowed to divulge, but only on the promise that you'll stay calm and lay absolutely no blame on anyone, especially yourself."

Tenzou nodded slowly, his anxiety mounting.

Kakashi turned to him, his sharp eyes boring into Tenzou's. It was only with knowledge of his prior reactions that Tenzou managed to school his features and control himself when confronted with Kakashi's impeccable visage. Not to mention the wealth of heat he felt emanating from his captain towards him.

"The assumption is that yes, you are the target. No one is trying to hurt you, per say. No one wants to hurt us. We think this is a political power play, and unfortunately, it involves human lives. That's all I can tell you for now. It is NOT your fault, or anyone else except whoever potentially initiated this. It is absolutely imperative that you stick close to us and go nowhere on your own. We are no longer using the outdoor arenas, and we will have to get different ANBU masks. No one knows where our new rooms are, and no one is ever to know. It is strictly teleportation from now on when you travel to and from the room. Any questions?"

For a moment, all Tenzou could do was take it in. He couldn't believe he was being targeted barely a week into ANBU. Kakashi had said it was a political power play...well, Tenzou wasn't stupid. He knew exactly how some people felt about him training and becoming a shinobi. Perhaps some of the higher ups had decided to be a little more forceful in their opinions. Apparently they felt so strongly about it that they would involve others, and potentially harm talented, dedicated shinobi like his team in the process. The mokuton user felt his insides twist so forcefully that he worried he'd upturn his dinner all over Kakashi. Perhaps there really was something inherently evil about him that made the elders want to put him away.

Kakashi could see Tenzou's face transforming. He could almost read his mind, see his thoughts through his eyes. His brain seemed to reel as he put two and two together, as Kakashi expected. The more he seemed to think, the more his face fell. Kakashi felt his heart twist painfully at the sliver of loathing he could sense in his kouhai's features. He wasn't blaming himself, he was simply realizing the truth. No wonder he was fearful of his mokuton.

"Tenzou..."

Slowly, he turned his head to face his captain. His mouth was set into a hard line, and his eyes looked tired and hopeless.

"Would it have been better if I'd never come at all?"

"No." Kakashi answered, quick and sharp. Their eyes seemed to lock together, Kakashi's determined, Tenzou's frustrated. They stayed that way for so long the mokuton user could feel his eyes start to water. He didn't understand why Kakashi placed so much value in him if all he brought was trouble.

"When will this be over?"

Tenzou sounded so exhausted that Kakashi felt himself reel back slightly, his kouhai's feelings were so palpable. The copy-nin truly felt for Tenzou, and the injustice of the situation burned him down to his gut. He hated this kind of bullshit. He hated how it was always the brave, the loyal and the kind who were stepped on. It made him think of his father, and how he had only ever tried to do good. Sometimes, Kakashi didn't know what he was fighting for.

But then, he thought about Hiruzen, he thought about his Sensei, and he realized that there was more good in this village than bad. It relaxed him.

"I don't know, but it WILL end, Tenzou. I promise you that." he seethed, his voice heated and wavering slightly with the power of his promise.

Tenzou felt as if he'd never be cold again. He realized he must have been blushing down to his chest, but he was too mesmerized to be embarrassed. Kakashi had never impressed him as much as he did now. His kindness, his warm heart and his unwavering sense of justice and loyalty was almost overwhelming. Tenzou felt as if he'd done nothing to deserve it.

"You..." he started, but choked with emotion. Clearing his throat lightly, he continued. "You don't have to be so kind..."

"I don't have to, but I want to. We all do."

Tenzou ducked his head, the weight of his emotions pressing down on him. It scared him, how much he felt right now. It was probably just the intensity of the moment, the power of his dread, and the way Kakashi comforted him, but he seriously felt like he was going to melt. If Kakashi touched him in any way, he had no idea what he would do. He was terrified he'd jump into his lap. He desperately wanted his captain to put his mask back on, because his face was not helping. But it wasn't just his looks, Tenzou could feel the strength of Kakashi's heart burning into his arm. He had never been so close to such a powerful individual. And Kakashi was powerful, so powerful Tenzou was afraid of him. Afraid of the hold he had on him with the strength of his character. The goodness of his soul.

"I don't...I mean, thank you..."

He took a deep breath and continued.

"I meant...what I said, before." Slowly, slowly, Tenzou raised his head. Kakashi looked right at him, his own eyes full of emotion. Tenzou wanted him to see into his heart, it was the only way he could think of to express how strongly he felt. "I will do everything I can to never let you down, Senpai. Never. That's my promise."

Kakashi's eyes widened and he seemed to pull back. Tenzou would have been horrified if it wasn't for the way his captain's eyes shone. He was surprised, but not in a bad way. Tenzou sucked in a sharp breath when he suddenly felt Kakashi's hand in his hair. With all of his willpower, he kept his eyes open and his body straight, when all he wanted to do was close his eyes and lean into the touch.

"You don't have to promise me anything, Tenzou."

"I don't have to, but I want to."

The reversed sentiment was not lost on Kakashi. Tenzou felt the hold in his hair tighten, and he was horrified to realize he nearly moaned. The expression on Kakashi's face was unreadable even to Tenzou, who was good at deciphering peoples emotions. The only thing that told the mokuton user that Kakashi was not displeased was the way his captains eyes lingered on his lips. That was when Tenzou realized that his mouth was slightly open, his lips parted. He shut them, frustrated that he'd shown how he felt even in that small gesture. He felt Kakashi's hand slip out of his hair, but his fingers gently grazed his skull, and he was unable to stop the small shudder from passing through his body.

"I have something else to discuss with Gai and Genma. Please, get some rest." Kakashi whispered, then stood slowly and pulled his mask back on. He seemed to remember something and picked the orange book up off of the bed where he'd placed it. "I figured you might need a mental distraction. This always helps me."

Tenzou blinked rapidly in surprise and accepted the book with a smile of thanks. Kakashi lingered for a moment longer, then turned and left the room. When the door clicked shut, Tenzou waited just another moment before exhaling loudly and flopping back onto the bed so hard he bounced up and down a couple of times.

"Holy. Shit."

Cursing himself, he grasped the book in both hands and smashed it into his forehead. What the almighty fuck was wrong with him.

It was just the moment. It was intense, Kakashi-senpai is intense. He is doing something ridiculously nice for me and it makes complete sense that it affects me strongly. Complete. Sense.

Oh God. But what if I'm hard?

Tenzou had never been so frightened of his own body in his life. He dared not look down. There was a tiny voice in his head telling him he knew damn well what he was going to see because it was PAINFULLY obvious in a PAINFUL way, but he refused to listen. There was still a chance. ANBU uniforms could feel snug sometimes, it happens.

He looked down.

"I'm doomed..."

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Tenzou tried to fall asleep on his own, but it was pointless. His mind was absolutely reeling about everything from the attack, to himself and his own value, and of course, Kakashi. Frustrated, he spun around on his bed and nearly lobbed the book across the room. That's when he remembered; the book. Tenzou lay on his back and held the little orange object aloft. He felt slightly touched that Kakashi would lend him the one thing he was never seen without. He figured he should honor him and at least read the first couple of chapters.

He cracked it open and began to read slowly. It was written fairly well, if not a little flowery. Obviously, it was a romance, and Tenzou felt a little smile play at his lips at the idea of his intimidating captain being a hopeless romantic. The characters were kind of cliche, but he found himself enjoying the distraction, just as Kakashi said. Around the second chapter, the characters started to get a little unrealistically close, and soon Tenzou found himself snickering at the turn the novel had taken.

"I can't believe Kakashi-senpai reads this stuff." The mokuton user laughed to himself, flipping the page. He expected the romance between the characters to cut off at some point, and for the next scene to be them smoking together in bed, but it most certainly did not. Things just got more and more heated. Tenzou's brow furrowed as he flipped page after page of unnecessarily graphic sex.

"What the..."

Just for fun, Tenzou tilted the book and let at least ten more pages fly by before he cracked it open again. It seemed to be back to the 'story line', so he read on with curiosity. Only two more pages passed of actual dialogue before the characters were back at it again. Tenzou flipped, and flipped, and flipped, and came up with half an inch worth of pages just of intense 'romantic' canoodling.

His jaw fell open.

Kakashi spent all of his time reading porn?

The captain of an ANBU squad? The man the Hokage trusted with the most top secret information of the organization? The man who had selflessly dedicated his time to protecting Tenzou despite barely knowing him?

...Was a PERV?

As if his thoughts penetrated the walls, Kakashi appeared in their room a second later. He smiled brightly at Tenzou when he saw his Icha Icha book open in his lap.

"Ah, I see you indulged. Did you like it?"

The only thing Tenzou could do was gape in astonishment. No matter how long he leveled Kakashi with his wide eyed, mind-boggled expression, Kakashi continued to meet it with his cheerful smile. Tenzou realized Kakashi had asked him a question and still expected an answer. Perhaps he was used to Tenzou's long pauses when he randomly decided to release his mind into the vast expanses of space for an undetermined amount of time.

He felt his shoulders pull up into a shrug, his hands held up in surrender, the book dangling limply from his hand.

"I...don't know what to say." he admitted in defeat. His shoulders hitched up again, his face animated. "I just really don't. Nope. No idea."

Kakashi merely continued to smile as he stepped forward and plucked the book from Tenzou's slack fingers. "Well, it worked, didn't it?"

The mokuton user blinked. "Come again? I MEAN...pardon?"

Kakashi seemed to see right into his soul with his knowing grin. "It took your mind off of things, as I thought it would."

Tenzou could but gape at his captain. "...Kakashi-senpai...do you...do you really..."

"Goodnight, Tenzou." His captain chuckled, gracefully climbing into his bed with absolutely zero shame. "You should really sleep."

Somehow, Kakashi managed to click the lights off from his position under the covers. Tenzou sat on his bed staring in shock at his captain even as the other man rolled over and presumably went to sleep. Only when the room had been engulfed in silence and darkness for around five minutes did Tenzou's mind slow down enough for him to slip under the sheets and close his eyes as well.

He was never going to understand Kakashi. Ever.

But he would still serve him with all of his heart.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

HOPE YA'LL ENJOYED! I love writing this pairing, it is so much fun. I'm going to aim to finish this fic while I'm on holidays, because I will have ZERO time at school. Please let me know what you think! Muaaaah.