Orders

Life settled down for a bit after that. Rin and Kakashi made an appointment with the municipal office and drew up the rikon todoke. Within thirty days they had submitted the rikon todoke and were divorced...right before Naruto's birthday. Both were thankful. Kurenai still wouldn't speak to Kakashi and he felt saddened by that. He had thought of her as a good friend, but, due to the circumstances, he couldn't get angry. She had helped him in a way.

Asuma hung out with Kakashi more. He still wasn't very keen on the idea of Naruto and Kakashi as a couple, so Kakashi didn't have Naruto over when Asuma was there. Kakashi hadn't heard from Guy at all, and that saddened him greatly. While not approving, Kakashi thought Guy would at least not disappear.

Naruto and Kakashi kept it very low key. They usually met at Sasuke's pool house on the weekends. Kakashi thought it best not to have a student over to his house, since others knew where Kakashi lived; whereas Naruto going to Sasuke's house wouldn't be unusual at all. Kakashi could get over there stealthily...he had been a top shinobi after all.

It had been blissful, this past month with Naruto. For every day that went by, Kakashi loved the boy more. They spent much time together; just being able to touch each other in platonic ways without guilt weighing them down was wonderful. Rinni had grown to love him too. She was happy when she got to go over on her weekends with Daddy to see "Nuto" as she called him. Suddenly, Kakashi's phone rang him out of his thoughts. Frowning, he didn't know the number. "Hello." He stated.

"Hatake, Kakashi, Kopi Ninja no Kakashi." Kakashi winced at the title, "you have been activated. Return to headquarters this Friday. Orders have already been sent to the school." The phone clicked silent. Dark eyes regarded the phone. Shit. It was Wednesday. Well, they wouldn't activate him if it wasn't important. Of course he wouldn't have much time. At least he got this much time...probably because of his job and Rinni.

Rinni. Frowning, he picked up the phone to call Rin. Explaining the situation, Rin assured him she would take good care of Rinni and he could call whenever he wanted to video chat with her. He could hear fear in her voice. He was glad that they had ended it well. He was glad that he didn't have that issue of Rin not wanting Rinni to see Naruto.

Naruto. Kakashi sighed. He wanted to tell Naruto, but it had to be face to face. However, with Jiriaya there at home, since it was so close to Naruto's birthday, it was difficult. He guess he'd have to wait til tomorrow.

\/\/\/

"Hey, Kakashi-sensei." Naruto said, smiling at him. "So, uh, Saturday is my birthday..." His eyes shown with happiness. Kakashi frowned.

"I'm sorry, Naruto, but I can't meet you this weekend." Kakashi started.

"You can bring Rinni, too. I'll be 18, so I'm not having a party...it'll just be Sasuke and Oreo." Naruto looked up, eyes pleading.

"Naruto, I can't. I'm being activated back into service of the shinobi. I leave tomorrow."

Naruto paled. "W...what do you mean?"

Kakashi came over, wrapping his arms around the teen. "I mean, I being drafted." He kissed Naruto's forehead.

"No...y..you can't. You have to teach and everything."

Kakashi looked at Naruto. "I have to. On my honor. I gave my word."

Anger sliced through Naruto then, white hot and blazing. Angrily, Naruto pushed him away. "What about me? I'm not as important as your precious word?" Naruto snarled.

Kakashi looked at him, very unimpressed. He knew the stages of deployment anger...but it still hurt to see Naruto so upset with him. However, becoming emotional wouldn't work well either. Kakashi was surprised at how quickly he could fall back into the shinobi mindset. "Naruto, I do not have a choice. I gave my word to make this land safe. And I will uphold my word. This will protect Rinni, and you."

"Fuck you." Naruto spat, running out of the classroom.

"Naruto..." Kakashi called, but the blonde was gone.

\/\/\/

Kakashi made the announcement in class. He noticed that Orochimaru looked at Naruto out of the corner of his eye, and Naruto just sat, arms crossed, looking out the window, bored. When class let for lunch, Naruto got some food, sitting down inside by Sasuke and Orochimaru as the rain poured down. He said nothing. Sasuke just looked at Oro. Suddenly, Sasuke sighed. "You can't let him leave when you guys are in a fight."

Naruto looked up. "Why? He obviously doesn't give a shit about me." Sullen eyes looked at the two.

Sasuke just scoffed. "Dobe, you are fucked up if you think that. He's risked everything for you. Stop having a pity party. He probably isn't thrilled going back either...otherwise he would have stayed in." Shaking his head at Naruto's denseness, he grabbed his tray and got up, Oro following him.

Naruto slammed his fist on the table. He was pissed that Kakashi was leaving, and he was pissed that Sasuke was right. Shoving his tray across the table, he got up, going to the restroom. How fucking fair is any of this? I fall in love with a married man, he is my teacher, and when he gets divorced and can be with me, we still can't because he might lose his job. Then, at 18, when I can make my own damn choices, he goes out to play soldier. The bitter taste was in his mouth. Stomping out, he went back to class. Keeping his arms crossed, he looked sullenly out the window the rest of the day.

\/\/\/

When the last bell rang, the students all headed out. Naruto picked up his stuff, hoping to get out of the classroom quickly. However, for some reason, Orochimaru tripped over Naruto's desk, spilling all the contents as the desk upended. Cursing, Naruto bent over, picking everything up. "Ass." he growled; Orochimaru didn't even stay to help. When Naruto got finished, he looked up. Everyone else was gone. Swallowing, he looked at the front of the room. Kakashi was there. Averting his eyes, Naruto headed for the door.

"Naruto." Kakashi's voice was soft. Naruto stopped, his back to Kakashi. "C...can I write to you?" The pain and fear in his voice was real...but Naruto had to protect himself, not Kakashi.

"I don't care, but don't expect me to answer. I hate your fucking guts." And he left in a huff, not seeing the pain in Kakashi's eye.

\/\/\/

Naruto threw his bookbag on the floor in the corner of his bedroom. Heading down to dinner, he didn't speak much. Jiraiya didn't know why, but figured it was just the teen years. He kept quiet, eating silently. At the end of the meal, right before Naruto could leave, Jiraiya asked what he had to ask. "Is it a girl?"

Naruto looked up, shocked. Looking away, he frowned. "No." Jiraiya thought it might be different, but he also thought it best to not push it. Nodding, he kept quiet. After dinner, Naruto went upstairs and just went to bed. Fuck the homework, he'd do it tomorrow morning, since he didn't have tutoring now.

\/\/\/

Getting up in the morning, Naruto frowned at his bookbag as if that was the cause of all his problems. Grabbing his bag, he sat down at his desk and pulled out his book. Suddenly he spied a small blue box with a ribbon around it that came out when the book came out. Pulling it out, Naruto saw the tag on it: To: Naruto, Happy 18th birthday. Unable to ignore his curiosity, Naruto undid the ribbon and opened it. Laying on the white cotton of the box was a small, silver, metallic card that was the size of a credit card. There were words engraved on it which read:

My love, When I tell you I love you, I don't say it out of habit. I say it to remind you that you are the best thing that ever happened to me. Know that wherever you are, a piece of me will always be with you. I pray to always be safe and come home to you.

Naruto felt a large lump in his throat. Turning it over, there was more engraving. I love you Naruto, more than myself. When I am with you, it feels like home. -Kakashi.

Tears fell from his eyes. Kakashi had left, thinking Naruto hated him. Falling to his knees, Naruto wept. What if he never comes back?