Kakashi gazed at the teen, holding on to his hand with all his strength even in his sleep, and suddenly found it difficult to breathe.
He used his blood to treat his wounds, but near-death experiences leave deeper scars that may never heal. He, of all people, should have known this.
He remembered Minato sitting day and night by his bed, holding his hand and waiting for him to wake up. He remembered how he picked him up in his arms and held him close, even when Kakashi insisted he was fine. Both of them knew that he wasn't, but Minato never contradicted him. He hugged him all the time, even in his sleep, and took an early sabbatical just so he could stay with him and support him and help him recover.
He got him his first dog to watch over him when he couldn't.
Kakashi wondered what his life could have been like had Minato and Kushina never died.
He and Naruto would have grown as brothers. Naruto would have flourished, admired and loved instead of shunned and ridiculed. He would have gotten his first degree by now, and they could have been partners, expanding and exploring Minato's theories. Kushina would have reached a groundbreaking discovery in protein-building, probably, and Minato would have finished his theory and changed the world of math today.
He could have been happy.
Both of us, he thought as he gazed at the golden strands peeking from underneath the table.
Naruto's face crumbled, his breath quickened, and his hand trembled. "Sensei…" he mumbled, sweat beading on his forehead.
Kakashi reached with his free hand and caressed his hair. "I'm here," he whispered back. "You're safe. You're safe." He wiped his sweat with his thumb, then cradled his cheek in his palm. "I'll stay with you. As long as you need me. You're safe, Naruto."
Naruto's expression eased. The teen leaned into his touch, burying his face in Kakashi's palm. He also hugged his hand closer to his chest, curling around it.
Kakashi winced. This was uncomfortable, which meant another night he had to keep vigil. He was surprised to find out he did not mind. If sleeping while holding his hand meant curing Naruto of his nightmares, Kakashi was more than willing to comply. He would have given everything –
Well, perhaps not everything. Despite Naruto's constant attempts to learn more about him, he still could not share his story. Now, he wanted him to call him by his name.
"What am I going to do with you, Naruto?" he whispered. "First, you push me away; now you ask me for more than I can give." He brushed his thumb along the teen's cheekbone. "Do you distrust me still?"
He was quiet during the ride and only opened up after meeting his dogs. He snooped around his bath but was nervous in his bedroom. He did not want the apartment but ran around, jumping and exploring, when he got it.
He had to strain his ear against the wall to hear that – and though he felt foolish for doing so, Naruto's obvious excitement was a worthy prize. He's just a kid. He was denied that for so long… he deserves to be happy.
A soft nose nuzzled at his arm. Kakashi smiled when Bull sat behind him, supporting his back, as Pakkun climbed into his lap. The rest of the dogs huddled around him and Naruto, offering comfort and warmth and company. He wondered if Pakkun remembered Naruto, but it was Bisuke who seemed to have developed a particular fondness for the teen.
The teen who fell into his arms, weightless and shivering, gasping and bleeding from the deep scratches that tore his neck, and clung to him like he was drowning – in a way, he was. He almost burned alive. Sasuke did not see how terrible his wounds were; he would have been forever scarred, half-blind and hideous to look upon, and that was the good scenario. In that scenario, he woke up.
Naruto pulled him closer, and Kakashi relented.
He lay on the floor, curling around his head, and surrendered both hands. His dogs followed suit, shifting around him and offering comfort and warmth. Bull lay close, so Kakashi rested his head on the dog's belly while Akino covered him with the blanket and supported his back.
Before he trained his dogs to fight, he trained them to help; to hold him when he could not support himself; to save him from memories he could not put to rest.
His eye, ever so disobedient, kept closing all on its own.
Kakashi, despite his decision to remain awake, fell asleep.
He was warm and comfortable, but he wanted to be warmer.
Something warm hugged his cheek, twitching slightly underneath him. Something warm and hard yielded to his touch, soft underneath his searching fingers.
Naruto shuffled closer.
Something smelled… nice. Warm and slightly musky. Tainted with ashes.
Naruto opened his eye.
A pale angle, shifting and rising within a repeated cycle, like a stretched sine function, taking its time.
No, managed Naruto hazily, blinking drowsily. It's a collarbone.
Sensei's collarbone.
Naruto tensed, his breath quickening – and he came to his senses. He still lay under the table, surrounded by dogs. He still held Sensei's hand. That much didn't change. The only thing that changed was where he held him; instead of his palm, he hugged his arm against his chest and buried his face in the crook of the man's shoulder. His head rested on his other arm.
He gazed up – and stared at the man's sleeping face.
His face changed when he was asleep. The sardonic expression melted away, the tired, bored tilt of his eyebrow was gone, and his lips were slightly parted. He looked… young, unbruised, almost gentle. His silver hair danced around his face, shining in the early morning light, soft and unassuming. His eyes looked calm.
Both eyes.
He did not wear the eye patch.
Slow and hesitant, Naruto lifted his hand, and, shivering and shy, his fingers brushed away the man's silver strands. Featherlight and breathless, they reached down and caressed his scar.
Sensei opened his one eye.
Naruto blinked and jumped up, smashing his shoulder into the table. The table screeched as it was pushed back and the room immediately shook with the rowdy barks of eight dogs. But even that deafening mess was quieter than the pounding of his heart. He felt dizzy.
Sensei whistled.
Naruto's breath shivered when the eight immediately calmed down. The dogs trotted around them, licking and wagging their tails. He winced when one of them licked his eye and stared at his teacher.
The man slept on the floor, curled around Naruto's pillow. Since he moved the sofa, his legs were cramped against the table in a position that looked highly uncomfortable. It almost looked like Naruto pulled him down in his sleep.
He winced. "Sorry about that." Sensei blinked, so he added, "the table."
"It survived mightier bumps," Sensei dismissed him. He looked amused. "Did you forget where you were?"
Naruto's cheeks reddened. He glowered. "Did not. You wake up weird."
Sensei's smile disappeared as he tilted his head. "Do I?"
"Yeah." Naruto petted the nearest dog and somehow managed to sit, fighting with the long pants that tangled with the blanket while he slept. "You just opened your eye and bam – awake. S'weird."
The man sat up. "Is that so?"
Naruto nodded. "Usually, there's… fluttering," he tried to think. "Like, an in-between." His voice was distracted. It took him a moment to realize he just complained to his sensei about how he woke up and flushed in embarrassment.
Sensei gazed at him, his eye as opaque as before. "You stare at unconscious people often, I gather."
His ears burned. "I do not!" he bristled. "I just – It's something that everyone knows!"
"Do they." He yawned. "So you did not stare at my face while I was sleeping."
Naruto's heart beat so loudly that he was pretty sure all the dogs around him could hear. "No," he lied.
Sensei hmmed. "How are you feeling, Uzumaki?" His voice softened when he changed the subject.
And Naruto's heart stumbled with a sudden ache he could not explain. He shook his head to push all his thoughts away. "Fine. My chest doesn't hurt anymore, so I guess my ribs are better."
The man blinked. "Good," he commented, a moment too late. "Help me make breakfast."
He got up, and Naruto immediately followed, tripping over the long pants. "Wait, but what about school? I thought Shizune said – "
"You can take another day off," Sensei dismissed him. He looked back – and smiled. A soft, fond, and yet barely there twitch of his lips. He stepped closer – setting Naruto's cheeks on fire – and grabbed his sleeve. And started to fold it.
Naruto's breath shivered. Sensei stood so close. His eye followed the line of his collarbone, dancing underneath the fabric of his shirt.
Something flicked his wrist. He blinked – and looked up.
Sensei met his gaze with a cocked brow. "I asked, do you need help with the pants?" His voice was soft and gentle.
Naruto reached down and tried to fix them – before he stepped on the pantlegs and tripped – but one hand wasn't enough. He sat down, cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and tried again, but the hem kept falling apart. The folding was messy and did not last. He gritted his teeth.
Sensei crouched down and undid the mess he had made. He folded the fabric up using both hands – his fingers quick and efficient, and fixed the odd length. When he finished, he moved on to his second leg and folded it too. His thumb, just for a moment, brushed Naruto's ankle.
Naruto jumped and retreated, legs against his chest, just before the man finished folding.
Sensei swallowed and looked up. His eye stared, but his jaw was clenched, as if he did not know what to say. His fingers twitched, then closed against his palms.
Naruto fixed the last fold quickly and looked away, cheeks still red. "I can do that," he mumbled. "Thanks."
Sensei nodded, but his jaw was still clenched. He got up –
And Naruto did not want him to walk away. "Oi, at least give me a hand." He reached up, his gaze defiant and stubborn.
Sensei took his hand. He helped him up, pulling him as if he weighed nothing, and turned away. He released him as soon as he could. "What do you want to eat?"
Naruto followed, his eye glued to the man's hand. "Um, whatever. I don't usually eat breakfast." He reached for the cabinet, distracted, grabbed a cup, and filled it with water from the sink. Then, he walked to the sad plant, pulled it from its dark hiding, and moved across the counter to the spot shining with light. He poured the water slowly and rubbed one of the leaves. It was thicker from yesterday, so that had to be a good thing.
He turned around – and froze when he saw Sensei gazing at him. He blushed. "It needed water."
Sensei tilted his head. If Naruto had to guess, he was something between sad and curious. "You like plants, Uzumaki?"
Naruto shrugged. "They're all right. I like those that smell nice," he stopped to think, "and flowers."
He felt the back of his neck grow hot, but Sensei's expression did not change. "This one is neither," he pointed out.
"So?" Naruto crossed his arms. "Can't pour its own water."
Sensei looked away. He walked to the fridge. "I'll make Tamagoyaki. Is that all right?"
Naruto thought of Sakura's dish and nodded. "Yeah! What can I do?"
Sensei started cooking – and sent him to make the tea. Naruto grumbled, but he could immediately tell his skills did not match Sensei's – not when he had two hands, and especially not now when he had one. Every move Sensei made was calculated and perfect. All he could do was watch.
He was so hungry. He slid down against the counter until he reached the floor and tried to will his stomach to be quiet. He did not want the man to know –
A plate materialized in front of him, filled with apple slices dipped in honey.
Naruto looked up, surprised, and swallowed when his eye met Sensei's gentle smile. His hand accepted the plate, and Sensei returned to his cooking.
Naruto swallowed again and stared at the contents. "Um," he tried, but his voice faltered. He had to swallow again.
"An appetizer before breakfast. Eat up."
Naruto's hand rose almost immediately, eager to grab one of the slices – but that same eagerness held him back. How did he know I was hungry? He always knows – how did he know everything about me before we even spoke?
His heart drummed against his throat, which tightened in response. He could not eat, even if he wanted to. He put the plate on the floor in defiance.
"Why do you live in a rental?"
Sensei kept chopping, his movement uninterrupted. "Well, because I don't intend on staying. You asked me that yesterday." His voice was calm, but something tense lurked beneath it.
Naruto scowled. "That's not what I meant. Sakura said you went to our high school, so your parents lived here. They probably had a house."
Sensei's hand still did not falter. His fingers, however, paled as they gripped the knife just a little bit tighter. "It was sold, long ago."
Naruto persisted. "So you did live here," he accused. "You told me you didn't."
"I was a child," Sensei muttered back. "If you gave me an address, I would not have known where it was."
"Seven, right? That's old enough to know the different neighborhoods."
Sensei said nothing. He started to whisk the eggs.
Naruto's temper flared. The silence was the same as admission. He knew how shitty his situation was before he even stepped into his now burned apartment. "How did you know where I lived?"
Sensei turned around and met his gaze. "I followed you."
Naruto stared back. His mouth dried. "Why?"
"To make sure you got home safe." And the man looked away. He washed his hands. "What's with the questions, Uzumaki?"
Naruto's breath quickened again. "I need to know." He hesitated and buried his fingers in the soft fur of the dog near him, seeking comfort. "How'd you know I was an orphan? When we met. No one knew – I'm dead certain none of the adults knew – "
"I did not know, either." Sensei dried his hands and crouched down. "I suspected – "
Naruto's breath shook. "Why?! Why did you – "
Sensei caressed his hair. His fingers soothed his agitated thoughts and brushed his golden hair. When he spoke, his voice was soft. "Because you almost fainted from hunger, Uzumaki, on your first day of school. Because you reacted to the offer to call them like one would to a threat. It wasn't hard to tell something was wrong."
Naruto shook his head free of the man's touch. His heart raced faster. "That – no, but how'd you know –" His voice melted away. He could not admit to being hungry, so he looked down. "The… sandwiches thing. You could not have known that then." He fell silent and hugged the dog closer.
The dog licked his eye. He barked.
Sensei did not try to touch him again. "That was your mother's teaching," he said – Naruto glanced up – but it was Sensei's turn to look away. His eye was soft and a tad too bright. "She always ensured her classes served food, no matter the size. She said a person's life story is private; therefore, we should always be prepared to offer help. We should not wait to be asked."
Naruto swallowed with difficulty. "Sh-she said that?"
The man managed a small smile. "Your mother was incredibly kind. Your father, as well. I did not mean to frighten you by being taciturn," he added and met his gaze. "I did not want to make you feel uncomfortable." His voice was soft – and sad. Naruto could have sworn he sounded sad.
He shook his head – and reached for the man's hand. "No, I mean, I just wanted to know, because no one – " He flinched. "I mean, um, I probably would've, um, started a fight. If you… if you told me that you knew." His hold tightened. "Don't be mad," he whispered.
Sensei's slim fingers felt cool against his own. His palm was bigger than his, calloused and rough to the touch. It was covered, he noted, in small cuts. Naruto traced his thumb over the torn, jagged skin.
Sensei sighed. "I'm not." He squeezed his hand, picked the plate from the floor, and pulled him up. "Let's eat."
His fingers, just for a moment, brushed his hair.
Kakashi observed the teen as he ate, surrounded by dogs and apparently delighted by their constant attention. They were playful, and he slowly learned to be playful with them, too.
His eye flickered toward him when he thought he wasn't looking, shy and hesitant, hiding underneath dark lashes and unruly blond hair. Kakashi wondered if he was still embarrassed by his attempt to interrogate him, not ten minutes ago.
The teen's mood constantly shifted – from daring and playful to shy and awkward to combative and furious. As if he did not know where the boundaries were; he wanted to be cared for, but not how to get said care or what to do with it once he got it. And if he was offered help, he distrusted the person offering it.
So Kakashi observed him and waited for the tell-tale signs that Naruto, once again, started to doubt him. A missing piece of the story or a careless touch was enough to set him on edge, knuckles raised and eyes flashing.
Didn't stop him from sleeping in his arms or touching his scar when he thought Kakashi was asleep.
He wondered if he really did wake up in a strange fashion or if it was simply the result of being awoken by an unexpected touch, too soft and gentle to be his dogs and too intimate to be any of his acquaintances. He teased the teen and calmed his racing heart.
He could almost remember the weight of Naruto's head on his arm and the way his breaths caressed his skin, like the touch of a ghost –
Kakashi got up – too abruptly, if the dogs' reaction was an indication – and picked up the plates.
Naruto rushed after him. "Um, I can do that! I know how to wash dishes n' dry 'em n' stuff."
Kakashi glanced at him. "With two hands, maybe," he dismissed him.
"Don't treat me like an invalid!" Naruto protested.
"You can clean the table," he offered, trying to appease him. When the teen still glowered, he added, "It's a worthy task. I only allow the very skilled to clean my furniture."
Naruto still tried to glare at him, but the edges of his mouth kept curling up – the combination of which ended up as a somewhat ridiculous expression. "Now you're treating me like a kid," he managed, fighting both a smile and a blush.
"A kid?" Kakashi scoffed. "I would never trust a kid with such an important task."
"Sensei!" Naruto protested, still battling his own face. He gave up when Kakashi laughed softly. Instead, he stared at him, eye wide and nose slightly red, and for a moment, Kakashi wondered if he was going to tell him his laughter was strange, as well. The thought sobered him up.
"Fine," he said, faking nonchalance. "I'll clean the table."
Naruto grumbled, grabbed a towel – which he shoved unceremoniously under the stream and interrupted Kakashi's work – wrung it, and stomped to the table.
The dogs thought it was all great fun. They jumped around him, trying to grab the towel half-heartedly, and barked to get his attention.
Kakashi dared a glance – to find Naruto laughing, fighting for the towel while being licked by two other dogs. He managed to get a hold of the fabric and shove the excited canines away, but his smile did not wither.
His grin was like the sun, shining with light and warmth all of its own.
Kakashi tore his eye away from the teen, finished washing the dishes, and grabbed a set of leashes.
The dogs ran up to him and sat down in an orderly fashion, batting their tails against the floor almost as rapidly as his heart.
He attached each leash and gave each dog a pat. Habits were good things to maintain around dogs. They behaved better when they knew what to expect.
He could hear Naruto shuffling closer. "You said I'll do it," he mumbled. "We had an agreement."
Kakashi glanced up. "Not even Hercules could handle eight dogs with one hand, Uzumaki. Don't try to push yourself."
Naruto's scowl deepened. His nails tore into his palm. "Dunno who that guy is, but I can definitely handle three with one."
This glare was unlike that from before. Kakashi had an odd feeling that, should he continue to reject his offers, Naruto would just pack the little he had and flee. I should not crush his independence, he thought, nomatter how much I want him to relyon me.
So, keeping his expression blank, he said flatly. "One."
Naruto blinked. He hesitated, then rose to the challenge and bartered, "Two."
Kakashi stared. Naruto stared back.
He relented with an exaggerated sigh. "Fine. You drive a hard bargain, Uzumaki."
He took Pakkun and sat him on top of Bull, then offered Naruto the leash.
The teen blinked at him, torn between confusion and amusement. "S'that a joke?" he managed, holding the leash.
"Pakkun is very old," Kakashi explained, opening the door and leading his excited pack outside. "He likes to ride Bull during our walks."
"But we agreed on two dogs!"
"How rude. Pakkun is still a dog, no matter his age."
"I meant, like a real dog! That walks n' stuff."
Kakashi threw him the key. "Lock the door, Uzumaki." He tilted his head. "Do you want to get changed?"
Naruto's cheeks flushed when he noticed he was still barefoot, wearing Kakashi's oversized clothes. "Um," he managed.
"I'll wait for you downstairs," Kakashi offered. "Take your time."
Naruto's cheeks turned redder. He looked oddly uncomfortable. "Don't have the key," he mumbled. He winced, ashamed by his admission.
Kakashi suddenly remembered why. "I left it on the counter," he said conversationally, whistled – and the dogs got up, excited yet again, and led him downstairs.
He sat and waited as the dogs jumped around him, more energetic than usual.
He hmmed. "You like him?" he asked, brushing Bisuke's fur. "You have to be gentle."
The dogs pushed each other, leaning into his touch and licking his fingers. It was unusual to see them so accepting and at ease after a stranger invaded their living space and monopolized their alpha's attention. He wondered what caused the change – was it his reaction to Naruto? Naruto's reaction to them? Or perhaps it was his scent; he could smell himself all over the teen, hovering over him like a cloak.
Naruto smelled like he was his.
The dogs stood up and wagged their tails, barking and jumping – so Naruto must have returned.
The teen ran to catch up with him, offering back the keys and grabbing Bull's leash almost religiously.
Kakashi got up and smiled at him. "Let's go." He tore his eye from the shining blue.
He led the teen and his pack to a small clearing in the forest behind them and unleashed them. "You can release Bull and Pakkun," he instructed the teen.
Naruto did with a frown. "I thought we're walking them?"
Kakashi leaned against a nearby tree. "Usually, I run with them," he said. "They have more fun being free. The leashes get in the way." He turned to smile at the teen. "Also, that way, we don't have to pick after them."
Naruto slowly leaned closer. "So that's it? I need to walk them one hundred feet and then just set them loose?"
"And feed them." Kakashi opened his bag and started pouring dog food into eight uneven piles. "Bull is very gentle but very large. You need to make sure he gets enough to eat. Don't let the other dogs steal from his pile."
Naruto nodded. "What about Pakkun?"
"He can handle himself. The other dogs learned not to mess with him," he said, stifling a smile. "He does get special food, however, so you need to make sure he doesn't steal from the others."
Kakashi sat down and observed his dogs. He kept his posture open and relaxed.
Naruto still stood, playing with the hem of his shirt. "Whose clothes are those?" he finally asked, breaking the silence.
"I believe Haruno asked Uchiha to bring a spare outfit." He glanced at the teen. "I can give you a ride to the mall – "
"Don't parent me," Naruto bristled. He shifted away from him, stiff and conflicted. "I can take care of myself. I don't need your constant attention. I don't need a father," he snapped, getting angrier by the moment. "I can – "
Kakashi stared, eye wide, as Naruto's rage burned through every muscle, stiffening his body and preparing it for either a fight or a run – he had to calm him down. "It was just an offer, Uzumaki," he said quickly, lifting his hand, palm open. "Whether you accept it or not is your choice." When the teen stared back, still caught in his anger, he added, "And I am too young to parent you. Stop aging me before my time."
His tone was humorous, but Naruto sniffed and looked down. He did not run away, but he also did not move forward. He stayed distant, lost and uncertain, torn between fury and guilt.
Kakashi wondered how this could be the same teen who begged to hold his hand yesterday night. He sighed. "I'm not mad," he said softly.
Naruto reeled back. "You should be," he snarled, glowering at him to hide his hesitation. He crossed his arms and stared at his shoes. "Do you… never get mad?" His voice was soft and barely heard.
Perhaps kids need stability and habits, just like dogs. His chest ached when he realized how easily and thoughtlessly Naruto expected him to reject him, toss him aside. He pushed him away and then feared he'd lost him. His fierce scowl did little to hide his boyish, hurt eye.
"I do when I believe someone is doing something I consider fundamentally wrong," he said gently.
"I was rude," Naruto pointed out, his voice bitter and ashamed.
"Which means that I did something wrong, doesn't it?" Kakashi said, keeping his voice as gentle and level as before.
Naruto scoffed. He said nothing as he kicked the ground, then marched and stumbled into a sitting position by his side. He glared, but Kakashi looked away and waited patiently for him to relax.
"My wallet burned," he said suddenly. "N' I don't go to the mall anyway. S'expensive."
Kakashi did not move. He could feel how skittish Naruto acted – sniffing him out, teeth bared and tail tucked between his legs.
"I can order a new credit card and do all that stuff in the library, so that's fine."
Kakashi hmmed. "Don't you need your library card for that?" he asked quietly.
Naruto tore a bit of grass. "Sasuke can sneak me in."
Kakashi nodded. "You can use my laptop if you want," he said. His voice was slow and careful. He hoped Naruto could hear it.
The teen's hand jerked, but he did not explode like before. "I can steal the exams, y'know," he mumbled, trying to tease but too agitated to pull it off.
Kakashi aimed a short smile at him and masked his surprise when he realized Naruto was already looking at him. "I'll create a different user for you, then."
Naruto scoffed. "That's cheating."
"Said the one who wanted to steal the exams."
"Bet I can guess your password."
"Is that so?"
Naruto nodded. "Bet it's dog-related." His eye looked almost excited. He clearly tried to win his affection back. Yet, there was still fear lurking behind the sudden playfulness.
Kakashi huffed and ruffled the teen's hair. "Lock me out of my own account, and I'll make you rue the day."
His touch was rougher than he intended, but Naruto aimed a small, cautious grin at him. "So it is dog-related."
Kakashi cocked a brow at him. "I never said that."
"You never said it wasn't!" the teen cried triumphantly. He leaned closer, cornering Kakashi against the tree. "I'm gonna guess it."
Kakashi leaned back against the bark. "My password cannot be guessed," he said slowly. "It must be calculated."
Naruto's eye gleamed with determination. "I can do that."
"You don't know the algorithm."
"You can teach me."
Kakashi couldn't help it. He laughed. "And why would I do that, Uzumaki? The password's purpose is to keep nosy brats like you out."
Naruto sat back down, his expression an odd mix of red cheeks and a sullen eye.
He kept looking at him, even when his hand tore every grass blade it could find. "You can teach me the stuff I missed," he blurted. "N' write my assignments."
Kakashi did not need to look to know Naruto stiffened with every word uttered, visibly preparing himself for a rejection. He offered a fond smile and tugged on the teen's hair. "That I can do."
Naruto turned bright red. He leaned against the tree, looking at anything but Kakashi, and bumped his shoulder against his. "Thanks," he whispered.
Kakashi breathed deeply and did not move. His heart, for some reason, drummed just a tiny bit faster.
"So… In such dark settings, man has no choice but to find his own light, or drown in the shadows," Naruto muttered, pondering. "Um. S'that good?" He flushed.
"Sure," Sensei replied as he transcribed. "The comma is unnecessary. What are you trying to say?"
Naruto shrugged. "Dunno. The teacher said the closing has to be poetic, n' stuff."
Sensei tapped his pencil against the paper. "Even poetry has a point, Uzumaki."
Naruto scowled. He reread the essay question for what must have been the ten thousand time. "That… Um. Finding the light is a challenge? And how the character rose to that challenge?"
"Are you asking me?" Sensei gazed at him. "It's your argument. Rely on your perspective."
Naruto hesitated. He started petting the nearest dog, who quickly climbed into his lap. "I think people choose evil, regardless of if they are facing adversity or not," he muttered. "S' easier to be kind when they got lots to spare, but that also makes 'em selfish. Sometimes, it's easier to share when you got nothing."
Sensei looked away. "So, if I may paraphrase a little… people choose evil, regardless of if they are facing adversity or not. While it is easier to be kind when one is flourishing…." Sensei looked up.
"Flourishment breeds selfishness?"
"Sure." He wrote down his words. "Other times, it is easier to share when one has nothing –"
"But then one has nothing to share," Naruto mumbled, ears still red.
Sensei hummed. "Did you change your argument?"
Naruto shrugged. "No." He swallowed. "Since others are unpredictable, one's gotta – I mean, must find within himself his own light." His cheeks reddened. "I don't mean you," he whispered. "S'just.…"
Sensei ruffled his hair. "Focus on the assignment, Uzumaki. I promise not to be offended," his voice sounded kind and slightly humorous.
Naruto nodded, still hesitant –
A strong vibration tore through the silence.
Sensei picked up his phone immediately, his face dark and tense, and got up. "I'm listening."
Naruto's eye followed him, agitated, when Sensei suddenly blinked.
"Yes," he said slowly. "Do you want to talk to him?"
Naruto perked up. He stared at Sensei's outstretched hand as the man handed him his phone, reached for it – and, for a short and flickering moment, managed to touch his fingers. He looked down and held the phone to his ear. "Hello?" His heart raced. Who would call Sensei but ask to speak with him? Was it that pervy-math dude? Or maybe –
"Didn't show up to school."
Sasuke. Naruto smiled. "Yeah, well." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Sensei said I can skip. What's up?"
"Sakura and I are coming to see you," the teen stated, his voice dark and resolute. "Where are you?"
"Um." He glanced up at the man who sat on the sofa behind him.
Sensei opened his book. "We can continue later if you want to," he said casually.
Naruto nodded and gave Sasuke the address. "We'll be there in ten," Sasuke said and hung up.
Naruto stared at the phone. "Rude," he commented and handed it back to his sensei.
The man accepted the phone without touching him, which was unfair. "You can keep the notebook and the rest," he said. "And borrow the computer. The WIFI network is the same as the one here."
Naruto's ears burned, so he rubbed his hair, trying to distract himself. "You really don't mind?"
"If I did, I would not have offered." He turned a page. "Well, as long as you return it in the same condition – "
"I'll be careful," Naruto interrupted, scowling.
Sensei looked away from his book and offered a small, lopsided smile. "I know."
Naruto flushed, picked up the notebook, the writing utensils, and the laptop, and – ears still red – all but marched to the other apartment. He had never felt so embarrassed and awkward in his life – and Sensei did not even look up. He paused by the door. "Thanks," he muttered as he fled.
Damn his heart for beating so loudly for thanking him. This was annoying.
He entered the apartment – which he still had trouble thinking of as his – and waited. Agitation spasmed through him, so he got up, found a broom, and cleaned aggressively. Damn it. He swept the dust from the balcony and hoped it was enough.
A knock on his door.
Naruto jumped, palms sweaty, leaned the broom against the wall, and ran to the door.
He had no reason to be ashamed this time, but his heart still raced, barely contained by his ribcage. He opened the door.
Sakura jumped on him, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly. "Naruto! It's so good to see you back on your feet!" She grabbed his shoulders. "How're you feeling? How's your hand? Did you check your eye? How's – "
"Let him answer," Sasuke's annoyed voice interrupted her. "Move. I'm stuck in the doorway."
Naruto grinned. "I'm feeling lots better. Come in."
Sakura released him and stared at the space, eyes wide. "Eh? Sensei got you one hell of a living space, Naruto! You even have a TV!"
"And a balcony," he added shyly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I still don't have lots of stuff, but it's a start, y'know?"
"Told you to ask him," Sasuke commented, running his finger on the counter. "You need to clean it."
Sakura rolled her eyes. "He just moved in, and he's injured! Seriously." She turned to grin at Naruto. "I'll clean for you! I also brought notes from the last three days. And homework." She opened her backpack and handed them to him. "Oh! Is that new?"
Naruto followed her gaze. His discomfort increased. "Um, no. That's Sensei's laptop. He let me borrow it for homework and stuff."
As if on cue, the broom he abandoned in the balcony fell, and the sharp noise caused a ruckus of barks – which was immediately silenced.
Sakura jumped and stared at the nearest wall. "Your neighbor's got lots of dogs," she commented.
Naruto's discomfort increased. "Um, yeah. That's Sensei. He got eight strays."
"Eight?" Sakura turned to look at him. "Why eight?"
"Don't you mean nine?"
Naruto and Sakura turned to stare at Sasuke, who smirked.
Naruto flushed red. "Fuck you, Sasuke."
Sakura punched the teen's shoulder. "So rude," she added, ignoring Sasuke's surprised blink. Her eyes lit up. "Let's go say hi!"
Naruto's blush deepened. "Um, we shouldn't bother him – "
"Oh, come on! It will be fun!" Sakura dragged him to the door. "Besides, I'm dying to see what his apartment looks like." She giggled and knocked on Sensei's door. "Oh! And meet the dogs!"
Sasuke followed darkly behind them, so Naruto was caught in between.
A part of him, however, was happy because that meant he got to see more of Sensei. A smaller, more insistent part of him hoped that Sensei would not let them in, that his home was something only Naruto was allowed to see…
The door opened. Sensei stared at his book. "Haruno. Uchiha. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Sasuke scoffed, but Sakura lit up even more. "Can we pleaseee meet your dogs? Naruto said you have eight!" She clasped her hands in front of her and did her best to look cute.
Sensei sighed. His eye flickered to glance at him before immediately returning to the written word. He whistled.
Naruto was disappointed. He hmphed and glared at nothing as Sakura crouched and petted each of the eight dogs, cooing excitedly.
Then Sensei introduced her back and – for a short moment – patted her hair.
Sakura didn't mind. She was too busy petting the dogs.
Then Sasuke stepped forward, glowering, and petted Bull. And again, Sensei introduced him and patted his hair – despite Sasuke's grumble.
The dogs jumped on him, excited and energetic.
And then it clicked. Naruto gritted his teeth and rotated quickly, just like Gai taught him, and sent his hand directly toward Sensei's silver hair –
A hand grabbed his face and kept it at arm's length. "What are you doing, Uzumaki?" He pushed him away.
Naruto stumbled back and assumed his fighting stance. Sensei was not impressed.
He licked his lips and tried to come up with a strategy. "The hair thing – That's how you tell the dogs we're pups!" He pointed his finger accusatorily. "I'ma make you a pup!"
He moved – changed his position – and attacked –
Sensei blocked him again, this time by shoving his book at Naruto's face. "You can try, but I'm still the alpha." He sounded amused. "Touching my hair won't change that."
"We'll see about that – "
"Naruto!" yelled Sakura, causing him to freeze mid-kick. "Why are you attacking Sensei?!"
"He introduced us as pups!" Naruto accused. "To his dogs!"
Sasuke rolled his eyes and earned a lick for his troubles, but Sakura cooed. "Aw! They think I'm a puppy?" She grabbed the nearest dog and hugged it – and was immediately surrounded by four others seeking the same attention. "That's so cute! Do you think of all of your students as puppies, Sensei?"
"That's not cute at all!" Naruto objected. "We're… we're adults, y'know," he added, cheeks red.
Sakura rolled her eyes. "Yes, Naruto. Exactly what an adult would do. Complain about their puppy statue in the eyes of another person's dogs." She grabbed one of the dogs and pointed at Naruto. "Jump on him!"
The dog licked her face instead.
"See? Why would another person's dogs listen to a puppy?" Naruto grumbled. Still, he sat next to Bisuke and cuddled the excited dog. "How am I supposed to walk them?"
Sensei stood by the open door, looking discomfited. "I'll tell them to listen," he said flatly.
Sasuke scowled as he continued to ruffle Bull's fur. "Oi, Sakura, Naruto. Stop petting the dogs, and let's start studying."
"Let's study here!" cried Sakura, excited. "Sensei could help us if we get stuck. Right, Sensei?"
Sensei blinked.
Sasuke tsked. "Sakura, this is –"
"Oh, come on! We can order pizza! It'll be great! Besides, what else you've got to do, Sensei?" She grinned at him.
"I was reading a book, actually," he said, holding up the worn cover.
Sakura rolled her eyes. "Boring! Besides, you like us. You wouldn't have tutored us otherwise."
Naruto looked up, gazing at the man. His lips were slightly parted, weighted by everything he did not know how to say. He wanted to stay.
Sasuke, he noted absentmindedly, was also suspiciously quiet.
Sensei sighed. "Fine." He closed the door behind him and walked past them to the balcony. "I'll be here if you need anything."
"Awesome!" Sakura jumped up. "Thanks, Sensei!" She dragged Naruto up. "Let's get our stuff! We got a pile of homework questions in Bio!"
When they were outside, she leaned closer and whispered in his ear. "You're welcome."
Naruto flushed and froze, lingering in the doorway. "Wh-what? For what?"
Sakura picked up her backpack and her notes. "You wanted to spend more time with him, didn't you?" She smirked. "I know; I'm the best. Help me with math, yeah?"
And brushed past him.
Naruto stumbled forward and picked up his stuff. He wanted to be with Sensei, alone. He raked his fingers through his hair. Fuck.
Notes:
As some of you pointed out, both Kakashi and Naruto need a bit of an adjustment period. Kakashi because he's so used to taking care of things behind the scenes that he finds it difficult to stop, and Naruto because he's used to doing everything by himself and finds it difficult to accept that much help.
Also, he really wants Kakashi to see him as an adult, so he feels really frustrated when Kakashi treats him like a kid.
And yes, that's team seven working together to help Naruto flirt with Kakashi hahaha I feel like their presence would help diffuse the tension between them.
What did you guys think? Please let me know!
See ya next Friday!
