Naruto biked home as hard as he could. He had to get home.

He had to talk to his dog.

"Hey! Watch out!"

Naruto instinctively braked and turned his bike, using his leg to stop himself from falling. The sudden stop did something, however, because he still struggled to keep his balance –

A hand grabbed his shoulder, steadying him. "Woah there! That was one hell of a youthful ride! And an excellent braking technique! Very impressive!" Boomed a loud voice, cheery and bright. "Still, you need to pay attention to the road, young grasshopper." The man behind him finally released his shoulder to point toward the horizon. "Look at the mud! Your bike can't – oh."

Naruto, his breaths still labored, followed the stranger's eyes and – "Fuck!" He put down the bike and stared at the dented front wheel. Fuckfuckfuckfuck –

He scanned the ground, found a rock, and ran to grab it. He ran back and began to beat the stupid wheel.

"Oi, kid, what are you doing?" asked the too-loud voice above his head. "This is dangerous!"

"I know what I'm doing," Naruto hissed. "I've done it before."

"I can tell." Suddenly, a hand grabbed Naruto's, stopping his hectic hammering. "But this is dangerous. You – "

"Fuck off! Don't touch me!" Naruto growled, freeing his arm. He finally looked up and met the man's black eyes; noticed his stupid bowl haircut. He picked up the rock again. "I need to fix it," he muttered stubbornly. "Leave me a- "

"I'll fix it," the booming voice interrupted him. The man picked up his bike and balanced it on his ridiculously muscular shoulder. "It's my fault the wheel is dented, after all." He started to walk toward the nearby garage.

Naruto got up hurriedly and chased after him. "Wait! I don't – I left my wallet at home," he lied. "I can't – "

The man turned around and smiled at him, giving a thumbs up. "Don't you worry about that, young grasshopper! The spirit of youth must be preserved! You need to celebrate the springtime of your life! Not worry about money!" His teeth were… absurdly white. His smile was practically blinding.

Naruto stared, dumbfounded, and then ran after the man. He followed him into the garage, blinking curiously at the giant machinery, the insane collection of differently sized wheels… and a boxing ring? Now that he got a good look, he noticed the army of punching bags, the wall covered with swords and nun-chucks, and the cabinet full of medals and trophies.

Huh.

He always assumed the place was just a rusty old garage, but perhaps it was also a gym?

He had so many questions. Naruto ran to the man – who, he just noticed, wore a green tracksuit that looked like a relic from the eighties, with leg warmers – and watched as he set the bike on the floor and unscrewed the wheel.

He walked to the wall covered with wheels and picked up a shiny new one.

Naruto edged closer. "You sure it's okay? Maybe we need to wait for the owner or something."

The man gave him another blinding smile. "Then your wait is over because I'm the owner!" He pointed his thumb at his chest, puffing with pride. "My name is Gai, also known as Might Gai, the Green Beast!" the man shouted, clearly enjoying the echo that followed.

Naruto stared. "Right." His eyes flickered toward the ring. "That's your… boxing name?"

The man nodded as he quickly repaired his bike. "So it is. You're interested?"

Naruto shrugged. "I've been in fights before," he muttered. "I can throw a mean punch."

"Oh?" the man looked up, scanning him – then jumped up and grabbed his shoulders. "I knew it! That biking was something special! It had the smell of determination and grit! You have the soul of a fighter!" Gai declared, tightening his hold on Naruto's shoulders. "Join my dojo!"

A screeching sound, a loud thud, and a muted yell that grew rapidly into a loud shout, "I'm here!"

A sweaty teen entered the garage, running toward Gai as quickly as he could, and then stopped and bowed sharply. "I'm sorry I'm late, Gai-sensei!" He wore the same green trainers and sported the same bowl and seemed about as intense.

Gai released him and grabbed Lee's shoulders instead.

"Lee! Being late is dangerous! You can miss out on your springtime of youth!"

"I will not be late again, Gai-sensei!"

"Drop and give me one hundred pushups! And if you can't – "

"I'll do two hundred sit-ups!"

"Go!"

The shouting match ended as the teen dropped to the floor and performed the exercise incredibly fast. "By the way, who is he, Gai-sensei?" he asked, somehow still capable of retaining his breath.

Gai smirked and, once again, laid a heavy hand on Naruto's shoulder. "This newbie is about to join us, Lee! We're expanding our family!"

Naruto stared, eyes wide, "No, wait –"

"Really?!" cried Lee. "That's amazing!" He got up and gave Naruto a sweaty hug. "Gai-sensei is the best! He's the world boxing champion! And he builds amazing cars! You should see the eight in the back. They are insane, they – "

"Lee!" Gai shouted. He crossed his arms and scowled.

The teen's eyes widened as he dropped again to the floor. "I'm sorry, Gai-sensei! I was just excited to have another teammate!" Lee began to push harder. "Gai-sensei has an eye for talent! He only trains those with a fighter's soul! It means you are special!"

Right. This started to feel like a scam. Naruto grabbed his bike. "Yeah, like I said, I can throw a pretty good punch, so…." He took a step back. "Nice getting to know ya, but – "

Gai rubbed his chin. "I see. You want proof. You are very wise, young grasshopper." He nodded to himself. "Lee!"

Lee, somehow, jumped from a push-up to a fighting position. "Yes, Gai-sensei!"

"Let's show him how it's done!"

Lee's eyes sparkled. "Yes! Gai-sensei!"

These two must be crazy. Naruto edged toward the door. "Um – "

Lee grabbed his arm and led him to the boxing. "Give Gai-sensei a chance," he whispered. "He's the kindest man I know."

Naruto thought of Hatake and said nothing. Still, the man saved him from a nasty tumble and fixed his bike, so he supposed he could stay to watch their match.

The two bowed to each other and began to fight.

Lee rushed in first, shouting as he kicked and punched so quickly Naruto barely managed to follow the attacks. He went for a low kick, smacking Gai's sheen, and then shot himself into a flying kick, aiming at Gai's face.

Gai moved – avoiding the kick – and returned fire. And if Naruto thought Lee was fast, Gai was even faster. The gym echoed with the sound of their strikes and blocks, some of which Naruto recognized and some of which he didn't, until the fight abruptly ended when Gai lifted his hand.

Lee stopped in his tracks, his posture hesitant, and bowed.

Naruto frowned, stepping closer to the ring, and then realized why Gai had stopped the match. Lee clearly favored his right leg. His hand massaged his left thigh.

Gai stepped closer. "This was incredible, Lee! You got so much better!"

Lee looked up, eyes wide. "I… I did?"

"Yes!" the man boomed, pumping his fists in the air. "You executed the combo I taught you a week ago perfectly! You worked so hard," Gai said as he grabbed Lee's shoulders. "It brings tears of joy to my eyes!"

His eyes really did shine, Naruto noted, stepping closer. If he could learn how to do that…

Lee wiped his eyes and turned to gaze at him. His face brightened with hope. "So, you're going to join us?"

Naruto flinched and stepped backward. "Um. It looks cool n' all, but I don't think I can afford it, so – "

"You can work at the garage. That's what I do," Lee interrupted, beaming at him. "I've been working here for three years, and Gai-sensei is a great boss and sensei! We also get lunch, so you don't have to bring extra food!"

Naruto stepped closer again. "Yeah? What kind?" please say ramen please say ramen please

"The curry of life!" Gai declared, pumping his fist in the air. "It will fill you with energy, vitality, and strength!"

"It's also delicious! Tenten said it's too spicy, but it's not that bad if you add rice!""

Naruto frowned. "'Ten…te-'"

"She used to be a student here before leaving us for Konoha. She got an impressive scholarship because of all the tournaments she won!" Lee continued excitedly. "Neji left too, but…."

"What's your name, young grasshopper?"" Gai asked, exiting the ring.

"Naruto," Naruto answered. "Um." He remembered someone saying that in a job interview, one should mention relevant experience or something like that. This was a job interview, right? He took a deep breath and blurted, "I have experience lifting heavy stuff from working for a construction company – "

Gai's eyes narrowed. "Which construction company? Akatsuki?" His demeanor suddenly darkened.

Fuck. Naruto's heart sank as the realization he messed up boiled into lead in his stomach. He stepped back. "Um, yeah, but," he added hurriedly, trying to salvage the situation, "I didn't really have a choice, n' now I'm out, so I need a job and – "

Lee gazed at him curiously; Gai's expression did not change.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid! Naruto's fists tightened. He should not have said anything. "Never mind, thanks for fixing my bike, um…." He had nothing left to say, so he walked as quickly as he could to his bike, kicking the kickstand. He should've known better. Stupid.

"Wait! Wait, Naruto," Gai called as he rushed after him. "I'm sorry. I had a run-in with one of their loan sharks earlier today, so I thought maybe this was one of their tricks –"

"No!" Naruto protested, the cry perhaps too raw and desperate, but he didn't care. "No I swear I don't want anything to do with them – "

Gai grabbed his shoulders and – surprisingly – smiled. "I understand that now. I am sorry for judging you harshly. The offer still stands if you are still interested."

Naruto swallowed, his throat clicking as he tried to calm himself, and noticed Lee standing behind Gai and giving him a thumbs up and a blinding smile.

He nodded.

Gai beamed. "Yes! Excellent! Lee!"

"Yes, Gai-sensei!"

"Show Naruto the ropes while I get the paperwork ready!"

Naruto flinched. ""Um. I don't have a bank account, though, so…."

"So bring your ID tomorrow, and we'll go together and get you one," Gai promised. "You are going to be an excellent addition to our team, kid! And if you work hard enough, I might let you build your own car!"

Naruto blinked. He stared at his miserable bike. Now, a car… was too good to be true. "Wait, really?"

"Yes! Lee is currently working on his sixth!" Gai nodded. "All right! Start training, the two of you! We'll eat in an hour, so make sure to work a lot of sweat!" He clapped Naruto's shoulder. "Welcome to the family, Naruto! Now, Lee, get him a tracksuit!"


"Lee! Naruto! It's curry time!" shouted Gai, waving to them from the back door. Lee's eyes lit up. "Coming, Gai-sensei!" he replied just as loudly. "Come, Naruto!" and ran to the back.

Naruto took a moment to steady himself and wipe his brow and followed. Were all jobs like this? Guess the boss was a bigger dick than I thought. He never made us lunch.

He lingered near the threshold, staring at Gai as he donned a pink apron, and stumbled to sit next to Lee when the teen excitedly patted the nearest chair.

Gai placed an enormous rice pot in the middle of the table and two steaming bowls in front of them. "Freshly made and filled with everything a young warrior needs! Don't be shy, now," added Gai as he sat next to Naruto and clapped his back. "Eat up! If it's too spicy for you, just add some rice.""

Naruto sniffed the dish; it vaguely resembled a very dense soup and smelled good. He mimicked Lee, sipping carefully on a spoonful, and – it was delicious. He ate quickly, chewing hastily, then tilted the bowl and drank the curry, savoring every drop.

Then it hit him. "Spicy!" he choked, trying to cool the burning in his chest by panting it out, but it seemed to have the opposite effect.

"What a youthful appetite!" boomed Gai. He filled his bowl with rice and offered it to him. "Here, this should help."

Naruto gulped down the rice, trying to alleviate the searing sensation, and then froze. His heart drummed hollow in his chest. He glanced up, observing Gai and Lee cautiously, but the two did not seem to mind his actions.

Lee even grinned at him. "It's great, isn't it? It takes a while to get used to the spiciness, but it really is a warrior's meal!"

Gai hmmed, nodding his head wisely. "And the two of you are growing warriors! You need to eat the curry to enflame your youthful fighting spirit!"

More like burn it, Naruto thought, still working on his bowl of rice.

Lee, apparently, disagreed. "Yes, Sensei!" He gulped the curry down, much like Naruto did, and got up to refill it. "I feel like a youthful warrior already!"

"That's because you are one, Lee!"

Lee looked up, eyes sparkling. "You really think so, Gai-sensei?"

"Of course! It is not youthful to lie!" He smacked Naruto's shoulder. "Don't lose to Lee, now!"

Naruto gazed up, surprised, but Gai seemed genuine. The burn subsided, so he got up, feeling slightly awkward, and refilled his bowl. He added rice, just to be on the safe side, and somehow, the curry tasted even better. He started to devour that bowl, too. "This is amazing, Gai!" He looked up, grinning –

And the ridiculously muscular man wiped a tear from his eye. "You are too kind, Naruto. I knew you were one of us!" He offered him another blinding smile. "Eat as much as you like! The rest goes home with you, after all, so don't feel shy!"

Naruto swallowed with difficulty. "Home?"

Lee nodded enthusiastically. "Gai-sensei always makes the curry and the rice fresh from scratch, so we split the leftovers between us." He smiled sheepishly. "We usually finish the curry, though, but you can use the rice to make onigiri or something."

Gai nodded. "Rice is important!"

"I agree, Gai-sensei!"

Naruto leaned back slightly in his chair. He felt warm and buzzing with energy. Perhaps the curry of life did have some magic powers. He couldn't wait to tell his dog about everything that had happened today. About Gai and Lee and Sensei…

He gazed at the rice, chewing thoughtfully. It gave him an idea.


Naruto biked to school. It was early, and he was tired, but he could not stay still any longer.

He was dying to talk to someone who would listen without judgment, but the dog did not come. He spent last night alone, waiting by the window and counting the hours. He fell asleep with his head resting on the windowsill, waiting and waiting and waiting.

Maybe Sensei would know what to do.

Naruto biked harder. He tied his bike and ran to class, holding his bag in his hands.

His heart started drumming a little faster, but he assumed it was because of the exercise. It had to be, right?

He opened the door and burst into the classroom. "Sensei – "

And stared because he was quite certain the man was sleeping. He leaned back in his chair, long legs resting on his desk, his book covering his face. His chest did not appear to be moving.

Huh. Naruto cleared his throat cautiously. "Um. Are you dead?" he asked.

The man did not move. "What a curious thing to ask, Uzumaki." His voice sounded muffled. "The dead do not have the habit of answering the living."

Naruto lingering near the threshold. He held his bag in his hands and did not know what to do. "Didn't see your chest move," he mumbled.

"Well, thank you for your concern," the man deadpanned. He sighed, sat up – his long limbs elegant in their retreat – and put down his book. He rubbed his face and met his gaze.

Naruto gulped. Despite the man's evident exhaustion, his eye lost none of its potency.

"You look tired," he pointed out.

"Says you," Naruto snapped. He scowled when he felt his cheeks heat up. "Why are you here?"

"You already asked me that. I would have expected a senior to understand how school works."

Naruto's scowl deepened. He shuffled his feet and frowned when he noticed. "I meant, instead of sleeping at home."

"I could ask you the same thing." When Naruto did not answer, he elaborated, "Why did you not sleep, and why are you here, Uzumaki?"

Naruto met his eye and immediately looked away. Sensei looked… concerned. Fuck. "I waited for my dog," he mumbled. "Didn't come home last night, so I got worried."

Hatake sighed. "He's a big dog. He'll be fine, Uzumaki."

"Easy for you to say. He's not your dog," Naruto snapped. "Your advice didn't work."

Sensei clenched his jaw and looked away, just for a moment, before meeting his eyes again. The single moment of almost vulnerability took Naruto's breath away. His anger evaporated.

"Tell you what. If he does not come back today as well, I will help you search for him. Is that okay with you?"

Naruto swallowed and managed a curt nod. He looked up again, observing Sensei from underneath his unruly hair. "Didn't say why you're here," he managed.

"Well, I had a feeling I might get a visit from a student." Sensei smiled.

Naruto blushed. Damn it. "Oh. Well – " he turned away.

"I meant you, Uzumaki."

Naruto turned around, surprised, heart hammering and eyes wide.

Sensei's smile softened. He leaned his head on his hand, fingers curling near his lips and framing his cheek. He was… gorgeous. "Come here. Tell me what's on your mind."

Naruto's cheeks flushed again. He walked toward him, as if in a trance, and could not quite look away. Damn it. He sat down, feverish and lost, and took out Sensei's bento, now stuffed with his homemade onigiri, and placed it on the desk between them.

Sensei blinked, and Naruto managed to look away. "Um. Sakura said it's a common courtesy to give stuff back. Like, lunch trade, or something." He felt heat bubbling and flooding his body, so he rubbed the back of his neck and cursed himself and everyone else. "S'not – I'm not a cook, or, um. S'not pretty, but I think the taste's uh. Fine. Um." The heat dried up his words and left him breathless. He scowled and crossed his arms.

He tensed when he heard the man open the box.

Fuck. Just fuck it. Fuck it. He got up –

"It's pretty good." Sensei's voice stopped him in his tracks. "Very good for a first attempt. Did you try it?"

Naruto looked down – and stared at his teacher as the man ate his giant, ball-shaped onigiri as if it was meant for human consumption.

"Y-yeah. Um." He was too flustered to think. "But s'not as good as the ones you made."

"Well, I do have years of experience. Don't be so hard on yourself." He finished the onigiri – and inexplicably – picked another one. "Thank you. I did not have time to cook yesterday."

Naruto stumbled back into his seat. "Um," he managed. "Thanks, for the food," he mumbled, the words jumbled and ill-pronounced, "and, for, standing up for me. I thought…." Fuck. Once he started, he could not stop. "I thought Iruka's gonna kick me out. He said he will if I vandalize the school again. He said it's gonna be marked in my permanent record n' no one will accept me to anything and I'll end up serving fast food or something and it freaked me out so I stopped – honest! I stopped doing all that stuff and I only missed school cuz of work but no one believes me anymore even Iruka thinks I'm a delinquent and a smoker and I'm not I'm just trying…."

Fuck.

Naruto's breath shattered against his lips, which he pursed as tightly as he could. He could not cry. Not in front of Sensei.

"To get out of here. I know." Sensei's voice was soft and soothing. A water bottle materialized in front of Naruto, offered by a pale hand with long and elegant fingers. "We have a year, but we will get there. Don't worry, Uzumaki. No one in Konoha cares about your permanent record, and Iruka will not kick you out."

Naruto held on to every word he said. He sounded so gentle, like he actually cared about him, and the very notion sent his heart fluttering. He accepted the water bottle. "How'd you know?" he choked.

"We had a chat. He wanted to apologize."

Naruto scoffed and drank. Anger helped repress his storming emotions. Great – Iruka knew him since he was seven but never saw him – never tried to understand – until a hot teacher came about and told him… something. He glared at the man.

Hatake blinked. "You are angry with me," he asserted quietly.

Naruto crossed his arms. "Am not."

"You glared at me yesterday, as well, and did not follow the lesson – "

"I wasn't glaring," he objected hotly.

"It's all right if you are angry, Uzumaki," the man continued, "I just wish you had told me – "

"I said I wasn't!" Naruto snapped. He got up and smacked his hands against the desk, leaning close – almost too close – to his sensei. "No one defended me before! I didn't know what to do!"

Hatake stared at him.

Naruto could see himself reflected in the bottomless black eye. His ears burned. He sat down and looked away. "It's just pissing me off that everyone listens to you, not me. You're so weird," he added, embarrassed.

Hatake sat silently for a while. "Oh. Am I?"

"Yeah."

The man looked at him while Naruto looked away. "I see." He ate another onigiri.

Naruto clenched his jaw. This was getting… not where he wanted it to get. He looked up, stubborn and defiant, and deflated when he encountered no resistance. "Help me with bio homework," he blurted.

Hatake stared – and smiled. "Show me the problem."

So the man explained, and Naruto listened as things – finally – made sense. He finished the problems quickly and efficiently, baffled by his own understanding. It didn't make sense, but whenever he looked up at Hatake, unsure of himself and uncertain of the answer, the man's stoic calm and warm gaze made him feel better.

Sensei made everything better.


Kakashi sighed as he observed his students battling with a relatively simple concept and thought of Naruto.

The kid managed to keep his promise and feed him. The notion almost broke through his tired expression and made him smile. He opened up to him, really opened up, and then stayed and asked for help. He must have really needed someone to talk to. Someone to see him. Someone to…

Well, now wasn't the time to proceed to the next step in his plan, which was to visit Naruto at his home. He had to take care of Sasuke first.

The boy managed to sleep perhaps for an hour, maybe less, and yet, refused to stay home. His fighting spirit, while illogical, was admirable.

Kakashi spent the night by his student's bed, watching and waiting and wiping his forehead. The kid was furious and raging against his condition and the pain and his brother and, sometimes, Kakashi as well. Still, Kakashi remained by his side, holding his hand.

He spent most of his life as a lone wolf, and now he got two pups – both needed him desperately, and both refused to admit that.

He hoped Sasuke would not experience another attack during school hours. He hoped Naruto's presence would calm him down. Perhaps, if the two of them paired together, they could help each other and would no longer need his constant attention, and he could return to his old life of wandering from place to place, collecting contracts and favors.

The thought, for some reason, was oddly displeasing.

The bell rang, and new students entered the class.

Kakashi read his book and observed the trio as they entered. Haruno, bright and happy, dragging both Naruto – confused and distracted – and Sasuke – pale and disgruntled.

Naruto kept aiming shot, cautious glances in Sasuke's direction while Haruno almost actively pushed the two together.

Naruto blushed, and Sasuke looked annoyed, but Naruto's looks were no longer shy. Rather, he seemed worried. Did he sense Sasuke's pain? Knowing Naruto, his concern was going to be a problem.

Kakashi started teaching, reading his notes almost mechanically. He kept his nose trained on Sasuke; the kid was stubborn, and it was unlikely that he would leave the classroom on his own, even if he did recognize the signs.

This time, Naruto was not a calming presence. His agitation and constant glaring worsened Sasuke's symptoms.

The scent of blood hit his nose.

Kakashi kept his eye trained on his book. "Uchiha; Infirmary. Now, Haruno, how about you try the next proof?"

Haruno tried, confused, to solve the problem and assess Sasuke's situation simultaneously; her eyes were worried and clever. Naruto's scowl darkened, as did his glaring. Sasuke clenched his fists and gritted his teeth and refused to move.

Well, that's great. 'Leave now, while you can still walk,' he hissed.

Sasuke glowered, furious – and his eyes, just for a moment, flickered red.

Naruto dropped his pencil.

Sasuke got up. He walked stiffly toward the door – staggered – fell –

Kakashi caught the kid in his arms. 'Keep your eyes closed. I've got you.' He picked him up, ignoring the coos, the gasps, and the general hormone-fueled commotion. "Excuse me for a minute," he said calmly and left the classroom.

'I can….' Even in his mind, Sasuke's voice was muffled and weathered by pain. ''Walk.''

'You need to recognize the signs. I told you, you cannot stop the process once it starts. You must repress it beforehand by keeping a calm mind and – '

'Fuck. You.' Sasuke writhed in his arms, clawing at his neck. 'Can't. Stay. Calm.'

'I can see that.' He sighed and walked faster. 'Don't be so hard on yourself. It takes time. You need that time.'

Sasuke could no longer think coherently, at least not enough to talk. His skin glistened with sweat.

"Oi, Sensei!"

Fuck. Kakashi opened the door of the infirmary. "Not now, Uzumaki." And closed it in Naruto's anxious face. Great.

He put Sasuke on the bed in the back room and closed the door, then rushed to help the kid take off his shirt –

Too late.

Wings burst through the fabric, tearing it to shreds. A giant eagle, pained and ashamed, cawed at him furiously.

Kakashi closed his beak shut with his hand. "You're still in school, and Uzumaki's behind this door. Don't act like an idiot," he said dryly.

The eagle glowered back, clearly thinking very highly of himself. He flapped his wings awkwardly.

Kakashi exhaled and released him. 'Did you bring extra clothes?'

'Yes.' The eagle practiced his walk and waddled to the farthest part of the bed. 'I need my bag.'

'Not a problem." He placed his spare key on the bed. 'For the room. How're your pain levels?'

The eagle looked away. 'I can do it,' he muttered.

'Take a few minutes to calm down. You can practice your flying while at it.' Kakashi sniffed. 'I'll ask Uzumaki to get you your bag before he tries to scale the building.' He closed the curtain to hide the bird from view and opened the door.

He closed it behind him as fast as he could, but Uzumaki still tried to peek behind his back. Kakashi pushed his hands into his pockets and leaned against the door. "Privacy, Uzumaki, is not a bad word."

The kid scowled. "I wanna see him," he demanded.

"I realize that," Kakashi said dryly. "But Uchiha needs time to recover; let him rest."

"But – "

"You could bring him his bag, if you want to be helpful," Kakashi offered offhandedly.

Naruto glanced at the door behind him. "It's that bad?" he asked in a small voice.

Kakashi sighed. "No. He is just tired. He will be fine."

Naruto still glared. His eyes were defiant and unyielding. "I can stay with him."

"Uzumaki – "

"You don't know Sasuke. He would never fall like that if it wasn't something serious. He's the most stubborn person I know," Naruto objected.

Those eyes… those eyes were impossible to refuse. Kakashi resisted the urge to run his fingers through his hair. "Tell you what. Bring him his bag, and if he wants company, I will allow you to stay. How's that?"

Naruto frowned, suspicious, but nodded and – after glaring at him one more time – ran out of the infirmary.

Great. Everything was going so well today.

Kakashi returned to Sasuke's side. "Can you transform back?" he asked quietly.

The eagle bobbed his head. 'I heard everything as if you were right here.' He looked up at him.

Kakashi could sense his hesitation. His fear. He lifted a blanket and sat on the bed next to him. "You know how to do this. Reach with all your being – find your human self, and don't let go. You must use every ounce of your willpower and determination and stubbornness. Do not let something like pain defeat you, Sasuke."

The eagle closed his eyes – and transformed.

This time, the act was faster – but still not fast enough. Kakashi could almost sense the pain in the slow retraction of the feathers and the clumsy transformation of the beak, but the kid was resilient. He did not cry out loud, this time.

Kakashi covered him with the blanket. "Good job. That was much better, Sasuke."

The boy managed a choked scoff. His eyes brimmed with tears, and his forehead glistened with sweat.

And Kakashi smelled Naruto getting closer.

"You must get dressed. Now." He got up from the bed and turned around. "I know your body hurts, but you can't afford the luxury of taking your time."

Sasuke groaned but did as he was told. "Tell… Naruto, to fuck off."

Kakashi gazed at the ceiling. "I will make sure to pass on your words; do not blame me when he tries to enter through the window."

Sasuke scoffed. "This is the third floor."

He could smell the kid approaching. "Did not stop him before." And exited mere seconds before Naruto burst in, a bag in hand – and his own on his back. "That was quick," he said kindly, trying to buy Sasuke more time.

Naruto did not fall for it. "How's Sasuke?" He did not offer him the bag.

"Better." Kakashi. "He - "

"I wanna see him," Naruto demanded, glaring at him. His body shifted as his left leg moved back, supporting his weight, and his shoulders tensed up.

Kakashi blinked, surprised, then scrutinized the teen. A Muay Thai fighting stance, perhaps? Did he want to fight him? Kakashi furrowed his brow. Did the teen know how to fight? Was he taught, or was he simply mimicking something he saw?

Naruto suddenly looked away, his expression flustered, and the tension left his body.

Perhaps he wasn't even conscious of it; he did, however, feel the weight of Kakashi's gaze. And considering his past of rejection, denying him now would mean throwing away all the hard work he already invested in their relationship.

Kakashi turned around and knocked on the kid's door. "Uchiha, you have a visitor."

'Fine,' Sasuke grumbled. 'Don't babysit me.'

Kakashi nodded at Naruto. "Don't stay too long." He glanced at the watch on his wrist. He still had an hour to go. "If he gets worse, come get me."

Naruto frowned. "Shouldn't I get the nurse?"

His eyes were mistrustful, and his voice had a strangely restrained quality.

He had to show him he still valued him. Kakashi lowered his head, just slightly, and muttered in the boy's ear, "Don't tell anyone I said this, but she's not very competent." He straightened his head and smiled at the flustered kid as if he had just shared a very important secret. "Tell Uchiha to join you tomorrow for a makeup lesson."

And left.

It seemed Naruto's trust in him evaporated the moment he stood between him and Sasuke, and Sasuke refused to depend on him. Perhaps it was his fault, however, for thinking he would manage to erase their trust issues so easily.

Kakashi entered the classroom and ignored the curious questions and gossipy murmurs. Patience, he reminded himself.


Notes:


Finally got to write Gai! Can you tell I love Gai? I adore him – he solves all my problems haha that's why I can't have him around too much.

Meanwhile, Kakashi's struggling to be around at all, a fact both kids will quickly notice, which will force Kakashi to take a drastic step… but that's in chapter 12, first we have go through chapter 11, which will be a little sad.

Anyways, that's it for today! Thanks for reading – please tell me what you think! And I'll see ya next Friday!