In the end, it was… not as strange as he thought it would be.
It was easy to forget about Sensei and solve the homework problems instead. Sasuke couldn't take his eyes off Sakura as she explained the bio homework, but luckily Sakura didn't seem to notice because her explanations kinda made sense. Sasuke lectured about history (and he only called him stupid twice, so he must have been really distracted). Both, however, were impressed with his English analysis.
Well, Sensei helped him with that, but he still enjoyed their praise.
Math was a piece of cake, naturally. Sakura struggled a little bit, so Sasuke explained – his voice less annoyed and more patient than before – and Naruto tried to doodle with his left hand.
It looked awful.
He looked up and gazed at Sensei. The man sat – surrounded by seven dogs – with Pakkun chilling in his lap and Bull supporting his back, reading a worn-looking book. Naruto petted Bisuke absentmindedly and wondered if that's what he did all day; sat in a dogpile and read books.
He wondered what would have happened had he got up and joined the pile, leaning his shoulder against the man's broad chest and –
Something hit his head.
Sasuke glared at him. "At least close your mouth."
Naruto's ears burned. "Shut up! I didn't interrupt you when you were flirting, did I?"
Sasuke's cheeks reciprocated by turning equally red. "I wouldn't call what you did 'flirting,' you ass."
"Stop it, the both of you," muttered Sakura, utterly oblivious. "I'm trying to order pizza. How many pies do we need? I eat two slices. I assume each of you can finish a box, right? And Sensei –"
"Don't order for me, Haruno." The man stood up and ambled inside, stretching. "I'm taking the dogs, so I'll be back late."
Naruto stared. "So I should come too," he demanded, closing his book.
"I'm taking them for a run, Uzumaki."
"My legs work!"
The man sighed. "Your hand will throw you off balance." He closed the door to his bedroom.
Naruto scowled, and Sakura mumbled, "Guess I need to add a bottle of water for you, Naruto." She grinned at him. "You're thirsty."
Naruto's scowl darkened. "I'm not! And I drink tap water, so don't bother."
Sakura shook her head, and Sasuke glared at him, again. "What was that all about?"
Naruto toyed with his pencil. "We made a deal. I walk the dogs, and he pays for the apartment," he mumbled. "But he doesn't let me do anything 'cause my hand's broken."
"What an awful, awful man," Sakura muttered. "Very inconsiderate of him to wait till you're better. What kind of toppings do you want?"
"Olives," Sasuke replied. "Black."
"But they're the gross ones!"
"The green ones taste like chemicals."
"But that's why they're tasty!"
The bedroom door opened, and Sensei emerged wearing navy blue sweatpants, a shirt, and a green running vest. The shirt was tight around his arms, and the pants actually fit snugly around his thighs.
He looked…
Sasuke's finger flicked his chin, and Naruto closed his mouth. Damn it.
The dogs jumped and ran around the man, sniffing and barking excitedly – even more so after Sensei packed eight bags of food into his backpack.
He stood up and pocketed his key, then turned to look at them – and looked away. He seemed uncomfortable, but Naruto had no idea why.
"Well, behave. Don't make a mess," he instructed dryly. "I'll be back in an hour or so. If the two of you need a ride home – "
"We don't," Sasuke snapped. "We're not dogs."
Sensei shrugged. "If you say so," he replied evenly, annoying the teen with his calm. "Snoop around, and I'm giving all three of you a C." He guided the dogs outside and locked the door.
"Damn it," mumbled Sakura. "That was my plan!" She huffed. "What if we're really careful? Do you think he'll notice?"
"Yeah," Sasuke muttered darkly. "Can you at least be slightly less obvious?" he barked at Naruto, who jumped in response.
Naruto flushed. "I've no idea what you're talking about," he mumbled warily.
Sasuke cocked a brow. "You spent the last minute staring at his ass."
His flush burned bright red. "Did not!"
"You did," Sakura countered, giggling. "Not that I blame you. He's surprisingly muscular, isn't he? I thought he was a twink."
"Sakura!" Naruto protested, lost and still burning red. "Don't talk like that!"
The girl giggled again, ignoring Sasuke's dark glare. "But Sasuke's right, you know? You need to be more subtle. You're making him uncomfortable."
Naruto's mouth dried. "Um. I am?"
She nodded sagely. "Obviously. You need to stare less and… talk to him more. Try to make him laugh, you know? Be someone he wants to be around." She hummed, planting a finger against her cheek. "You need to be confident and reliable and… a bit mysterious." She blushed slightly.
Naruto frowned. "How am I supposed to do that? He knows more about me than I do," he complained. "And then I freak out and snap at him," he admitted quietly. "He probably thinks I have rabies or something."
"Well, don't do that," Sakura replied, then donned a fond smile. She brushed his hair. "Just be yourself and be confident about it. About who you are and what you deserve. Also, you need to smile at him." She poked his cheek. "You have a beautiful smile, Naruto."
Naruto nodded, blushing.
"And you need to shower every day," Sasuke blurted.
"Are you saying I stink?" Naruto bristled, then sniffed himself self-consciously.
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "No, but he's sensitive to scents. The least you can do is not smell."
"How do you know that?" Sakura blinked at him curiously.
The teen shrugged. "I saw Miss Suzume trying to hold a conversation with him in the hallway, and I swear he nearly gagged from her perfume. He covered his nose and mouth with his scarf, like a mask."
"That only proves that she stinks, doesn't it?" Sakura pointed out.
"To the point of gagging?" Sasuke objected and stared at Naruto. "It's a bad move if you make your crush vomit. Don't stink."
Naruto thought of Sensei's scentless soap and nodded. He frowned. "Isn't it illegal, though?"
Sasuke smirked. "Only if he says yes."
"And only if you're found out," Sakura quickly added.
Naruto, to the vast amusement of his two friends, groaned in frustration.
Kakashi sniffed, then entered his apartment.
Empty, but the scents of the three teenagers – and their pheromones – lingered.
Letting Naruto hang out in his place was one thing; the teen smelled like medicine and dogs, and his own scent, of sun and summer storm, was not unappealing. But the addition of cherry and burning fire felt invasive. Too abrupt and overwhelming to be inviting, mainly because, up until recently, everything in the apartment smelled like him.
He had to sit on the balcony and keep his distance. Even the short time he spent in his bedroom changing his clothes felt too much.
His dogs didn't care. They rushed in, sniffing and searching for remains of pizza. They still had quite a bit of energy left, even after he took them for an hour-long, intense run.
He had to clear his mind.
Kakashi locked the door behind him and walked inside, then scanned the entire apartment. It seemed that the teens did as he asked, probably because Sasuke knew he would have found out if they didn't. They left the space clean and orderly – and Sakura even wrote a thank you note. There was another note on the fridge saying they left him some pizza.
He sighed and shook his head. They were good kids, and they meant no harm. It was not their fault he preferred being alone. You can't miss those that were never there.
He winced and walked to the shower, stripped, and washed the sweat off his body. Clearly, the run didn't work. He was growing attached to a bunch of seventeen-year-olds. This was beyond embarrassing.
Kakashi dried off and threw on some sweatpants and a long hoodie. He felt better when the fabric hung loosely on his skin. It did not feel as ensnaring as the tight cuts dictated by fashion.
"Why… are your clothes… so… big…."
The teen held on to his neck as his knees buckled under him, breathless and shivering, clearly in the middle of a panic attack. And he used what little air he had to complain about his clothes.
Kakashi raked his fingers through his hair. Damn it.
A light rapping against his door.
Kakashi sniffed and hurried to the front door, unlocked it as quickly as he could, and opened it – to see Naruto, golden hair wet and dripping, shivering on the other side. His face was not bandaged as it was before.
He held a packet of gauze in one hand and a jar of cream in the other and looked ashamed. He hesitated as he opened his mouth.
Kakashi opened the door wider and ushered him in. "Get in before you catch a cold." He closed the door, marched to his bathroom, and emerged with a towel. "You should not go out in this weather with your hair this wet."
He started, quite unceremoniously, to dry the teen's hair.
Naruto stood stiffly as he accepted Kakashi's attention. A violent shiver tore through him, and he took a small step forward, almost leaning his head against Kakashi's collarbone.
Kakashi took a small step back. "The table is heated. Sit there while I get you a hoodie."
Naruto scowled. "S'not what I came for," he muttered.
Kakashi eyed his fist, in which a bandage was now crushed. "You need to dress your eye," he said slowly. His breath caught in his throat, so he took another step back. "Your hair is still wet."
He walked to his bedroom, his steps hurried, and grabbed the first hoodie he could find. Damn it. Naruto's eye was fine. He made sure of it. He only followed Shizune's orders to avoid suspicion. He was also quite certain he accidentally healed Naruto's broken ribs the night before, and he began to suspect his arm was no longer broken, either.
Still, while no one but Shizune knew about the burns, everyone knew about the broken bones. And those take time to heal.
When he emerged, Naruto sat at the table, hugging its blanket close, and burrowed into the many dogs that surrounded him. He managed a small laugh. "I can see why you keep eight. They're like a moving couch!" His smile, however, hesitated when he saw him.
Kakashi forced himself to calm down and offered a small smile back. "Here."
Naruto shoved himself into the hoodie. It was a struggle, but he did not ask for assistance, so Kakashi did not offer. Instead, he walked away to make tea. "Do you need help with anything else?"
"The rest of the bandages were easy," the teen replied. "I guess I really heal well because most of me is back to normal." He grinned when Kakashi offered him a mug. "That's just my eye that's being difficult."
Kakashi swallowed and nodded. It was strange to be faced with such a bright grin and a firmly closed left eye. He wondered if the teen faked the grin for his sake because the edges of his lips began to falter yet again.
He waited for Naruto to finish his drink, then touched the golden strands again. "I think your hair is dry enough. Give me the bandage and the cream."
Naruto did. He gazed at him, blue eye curious and trusting, as Kakashi opened the jar and dipped his finger in the white cream. His other hand brushed Naruto's hair away from his face, then cupped his cheek and held his head in place. The skin underneath his fingers felt warm and soft, and his hair –
Naruto's eye was wide as he sought him, but he sat still and kept silent. His lips parted, releasing a shaky breath.
Best to get it over with. Kakashi gently spread the ointment over the fragile skin. He had to sit close, and his lungs were filled with the scent of sun and storm.
Naruto's skin was soft, tanned, and unbruised. He traced his finger over the bluish vein that decorated his eyelid –
"Sensei…" Naruto breathed, his voice quiet and breaking. He swallowed when Kakashi met his gaze. "Am I… am I ugly now?" he gasped. His lip trembled.
You're beautiful. "There is no scar tissue," Kakashi said instead, keeping his voice level and quiet. "You can go to the bathroom if – "
"No, I mean," Naruto interrupted, looking away. He parted his lips, hesitated, and leaned, just slightly, into Kakashi's palm. "I trust you," he managed.
Kakashi withdrew his hand. He swallowed again and unfolded the bandage, then wrapped Naruto's head with quick and efficient movements. He had never treated others but had plenty of experience tending to his own eye. The procedure was similar.
His heart drummed too quickly for his liking.
He could feel Naruto's eye on him, brimming with questions, and prayed the teen would hold his tongue.
"Done," he muttered, his voice quieter than he intended. "How does it feel?"
Naruto managed a clumsy nod. "Fine, I think." He faltered. "Sorry, um… I didn't mean to, well, bring back memories or anything." He said the last part quickly, the words rushed and jumbled, and Kakashi suddenly noticed the teen looked guilty.
Kakashi hid his fists in the pockets of his pants. "Don't worry about it," he dismissed him. "Do you want to stay with the dogs?"
Naruto wavered, then shook his head. "No, I'm gonna – " He flinched suddenly and rubbed the back of his head. "I mean. I think I'm fine."
Kakashi furrowed his brow but decided not to pursue the subject. Naruto hid something – but that was something he had to respect. He was only his teacher; he had no right to pry. "Well, if you need anything, don't hesitate to knock," he said amiably.
Naruto nodded and offered another sunny grin. "Good night, Sensei!" He walked to the door, his steps slightly clumsy. "And uh, thanks!" He paused by the door. "Um, can you give me a ride to school tomorrow?"
Kakashi wondered at the blush that threatened to take over the teen's face. "Of course. Good night, Uzumaki."
The teen grinned again and closed the door behind him.
Kakashi sighed and leaned on his dogs. At least his friends managed to make him happy. He never smiled quite like that, so brightly and so often, after spending time with him. No, he just stared, eyes following him everywhere he went, seeking something with an ardent need he did not know how to satisfy. Damn it.
He had to stop thinking about him.
Kakashi growled at himself and stared at the ceiling.
It was then that he noticed that he hadn't heard the teen entering his own apartment.
He sat up, closed his eye, and listened intently. He could hear the faint echo of footsteps trotting down the stairs.
He opened his eye, jumped up, and rushed to the balcony, growling softly when he spotted the teen huddling into his hoodie as he braved the frigid wind and delved deeper into the wilderness.
It was December, and just started to snow. The pajamas he gave him were not enough to ward off that kind of cold.
He's looking for his 'dog.'
Kakashi punched the railing, cursing everything, and stripped. He should have pressed Naruto for answers. He should have made him stay. He should have –
Kakashi transformed and jumped, landing softly on the ground below, and ran. He had to pretend he had arrived from the forest, not the building, and that he was looking for the teen.
He also had to pretend he was happy to see him.
So he ran in a circle, delving deep into the forest and then changing his path and running back, his paws soft and quiet against the fallen snow, back to Naruto.
He barked when he spotted the teen, alerting him to his presence, then landed on him – toppling him to the ground – and licking his face with the thoroughness of an abandoned canine.
Naruto huffed, panting, and tousled his fur. "Hey, hey, buddy. Calm down." He laughed. "Hey. I missed you too. Still, get off," he chuckled, shoving his stomach. "You're heavy, and the snow's seeping into the clothes."
Kakashi did. He sat down, waggling his tail and nosing at Naruto's neck. The teen responded well to the unconditional love of dogs, he noted, because he hugged him with all the strength his body could muster, heart racing and eye shining.
"Come, I'll show you where I live now. It's bigger," Naruto mumbled into his fur, making no attempt to move. "And Sensei's my neighbor! He got eight dogs, so you can have friends." He chuckled mischievously. "And I'm pretty sure you can replace him as the alpha, and then all the dogs will listen to me!" He pumped up his fist, looking oddly determined. "I'll show him I'm not a pup!"
Kakashi licked his exposed eye. There, there, you brat.
Naruto wiped his face, his grin still bright, and led Kakashi to his apartment.
His pants were soaked, so Kakashi shoved him with his nose, urging him up.
Naruto chuckled, hiding a shiver, and let him inside. He turned on the air conditioner, kicked off his shoes, and took off his pants. "They are too long and clumsy," he explained and ran to don his blanket like a cloak.
Kakashi realized, belatedly, that he was staring. His hoodie reached Naruto's mid-thighs and moved up when he ran, revealing tan skin and toned legs –
He snarled at nothing and pawed at Naruto's pants.
The teen misunderstood his actions and put the pants on a chair, stretching them to dry. He crouched next to Kakashi and kissed his forehead. "Come to bed, yeah?" He rubbed his forehead against Kakashi's. "Keep me warm."
A soft whine escaped his lips. Fuck.
Naruto brushed his fur with soft and gentle fingers. "Hey, what's wrong, buddy? You're not hurt again, are you?" His hands traveled along the length of Kakashi's body, digging into his flesh and searching for any kind of injury –
Kakashi grabbed Naruto's hoodie with his teeth and led him to the bedroom. Damn it. He spent one day with the teen at his side, and his mind immediately went haywire. He was not even eighteen.
Naruto did not question his actions. He snuggled into his lap and covered them with the thick blanket, just like he did before. "I missed you," he whispered into Kakashi's fur. "Sensei got lots of dogs, but none of them is as good as you. They are… all kinds of silly." He chuckled and burrowed closer, hiding his frozen legs in Kakashi's tail. "I was wrong about him, by the way. He's amazing. He's nice to me even when I freak out and yell at him." He laughed humorlessly. "I think he got so used to me snapping that he doesn't know what to do when I'm smiling. He looked at me like I hit my head or something." The teen frowned. "Maybe I smile weird."
Kakashi licked his hair, rumbling in response.
The teen gripped his fur and pulled himself – somehow – closer. "Sakura said I have a beautiful smile and that I need to smile more. I thought Sensei would smile back if I did. His smile's really pretty…." The teen yawned, and his voice melted away. "I think he's beautiful," he mumbled.
Naruto closed his eye with a soft sigh, buried his face in Kakashi's chest, and his breaths evened out as he fell asleep.
Kakashi couldn't do the same. He stared at the teen curled in his paws and tried to calm his racing heart.
Don't tell me… He leaned closer and sniffed the teen's neck, smelling sun and summer and… something sweeter. The last scent was soft – a hint, no more – but Kakashi reeled back and placed his head on top of Naruto's, trying to breathe anything but the teen.
Well, that should explain it. His body was reacting to Naruto… and Naruto's feelings. It's just a reaction, chemicals arousing other chemicals, he told himself, growling at nothing. He trusts you with his life. He trusts you.
Still, Kakashi kept his vigil, sniffing and licking the teen when he tensed, wincing and panting, in his paws. It was safer than falling asleep.
When Naruto woke up, he was alone.
Still, his bed was warm, and he had no nightmares, so he got ready as quickly as he could and rushed outside to knock on Sensei's door.
The man looked tired – and not half as excited – as he opened it. He ran his fingers through his hair and managed half a smile in response to Naruto's brightest grin.
"Gonna walk the dogs?" Naruto asked, all but dancing on his toes.
The man's smile widened. "Well, aren't you chipper." He let him in and yawned. "You know what – why won't you take them, and I'll make breakfast." He yawned again. "And coffee. Do you drink coffee?"
Naruto twisted his mouth. "Yuck. Too bitter." He stuck out his tongue out of instinct. Still, his heart was beating wildly for some reason – probably because the dogs all jumped on him, eager to greet him – and he dared to ask. "Do you have hot chocolate?"
Sensei laughed. "I do not." He gave him a humorous look before turning away. "I can make you, however, a very sugary tea."
Naruto's heart beat loudly in his ears. "What's so funny," he grumbled. He could feel himself flushing red, and his scowl darkened.
Sensei strapped a heavy-looking bag to Bull's back. "Each pack has the dog's name written on it. Remember what I told you about – "
"I remember," Naruto cut him off, crossing his arms. "I asked what's so funny." His scowl darkened.
Sensei's opaque, undecipherable eye met his. "Oh, nothing. It's just that, you keep insisting on how grown-up you are, and yet –"
Naruto's flush bled to his cheeks. "It's a grown-up thing to like what you like because you like it and not because someone told you to!" he protested, then paused, frowning, and tried to figure out if what he said made sense.
The man's smile did not change. "True, and still." His voice had a hint of humor, dancing along with its notes.
Naruto's expression soured into an annoyed grumble. "Bet there are lots of adults who like hot chocolate more than coffee."
"Certainly."
"So…." He dared to meet the man's eye and hoped he wasn't pouting. "S'not weird," he hissed.
"Not at all."
Naruto was still torn between anger and embarrassment. "Then stop laughing at me!"
Sensei closed the distance between them and tousled his hair. "You didn't say if you want a very sugary tea instead," he said quietly.
Naruto scoffed and ignored how warm he felt, despite the space separating them. He smelled like snow and freshly ground coffee. "No, I prefer to drink it bitter and gross, like a man."
Sensei laughed again, and the soft, quiet tones soothed Naruto's growing agitation. "I'll take it as a yes, then." He checked his watch and whistled.
Immediately, all the dogs turned to face him, sitting in the same order as before and watching him curiously. Sensei crouched and beat his arm twice – and the dogs immediately focused their attention on him, ears perked up and as their clever eyes followed his every move.
Sensei crossed his arms close to his chest and then showed the dogs two fingers. He waited.
Pakkun barked, and Sensei sighed and stood up.
Naruto blinked at him. "What was that? Do they speak sign language?"
"I told them to listen to you," Sensei said simply. "Come back in half an hour," he instructed.
And Naruto nodded, still baffled, and led the dogs downstairs.
So whistle is probably calm down, or something, and two pats against something meant listen. Ruffling hair meant puppy… what do two fingers mean? The dogs walked at his pace, eyes glued to him. They stopped when he stopped and moved when he moved.
Naruto wondered what they'd do if he showed them more fingers but decided not to test it. Losing Sensei's dogs was not a good way to make him like him.
He made sure they ate – and kept them from stealing each other's food, which was a more difficult task than what it first looked like. Finally, he decided to feed Bull from his hand, but then all the other dogs wanted similar attention. In the end, he was covered in drool, dog hair, and dog food, but the canines looked very excited about the whole ordeal and, if he was honest with himself, he had quite a bit of fun.
He led the dogs back – who still insisted on walking at his pace – and blushed when he brought them back to Sensei's apartment. "Don't laugh," he warned. "S'not my fault they like me. You told them I'm a puppy."
Sensei's one eye scrutinized him. The man stepped closer and ruffled his hair, cleaning it from snow. "They like you because you are kind." He walked away. "Wash your hand and join me. We leave in twenty minutes."
Naruto nodded, cheeks flushed pink, and did as he was told. Sensei's touch blazed his skin. Despite the snowflakes still clinging to his clothes and his skin, he felt warm.
He felt cold, however, when he met Suzume's judgmental, mocking eyes.
"What is that, Uzumaki?" she demanded, waving his essay in front of his face.
"My homework," he grumbled, crossing his arms.
"Is it?" the woman said curtly. "Well, you see, Uzumaki, in my class, I only accept homework done by the students. Not plagiarism."
Naruto's lungs burned. "I didn't copy it! It's mine!" He panted, trying to cool his anger. "My hand is broken," he explained, waving the cast in front of her, "so Mr. Hatake wrote it for me, but I told him what to write." He hated how desperate his voice sounded. "I used my perspective and everything."
"It's true," added Sakura, quick to jump to his aid. "We all studied together. Naruto – "
"Silence! Your perspective, huh?" The woman put on her glasses and read his words out loud, her tone dismissive and mocking. "As if a lazy, good-for-nothing kid like you who had never struggled for anything could write something like this. All you did since you third grade was ditch. Do you really expect me to believe you somehow decided to change?"
She tore his essay with one smooth movement.
"Well, those of you who did not cheat, turn in your homework – "
A ripping sound tore through her words.
Naruto stared, eye wide, his heart raging and his body screaming to punch something or run or both, at Sakura and Sasuke.
The two stood up, their expression cold and mutinous, and tore their essays.
"Mocked by others, he turned into a mockery of himself," quoted Sakura. "That's what Naruto wrote. He sits here with his hand broken and his eye damaged after a fire burned his home, and you dare," she pointed at the woman, her voice vibrating, "and you dare accuse him of knowing nothing of struggle. And you mock him."
"Naruto, don't listen to her," added Sasuke. When Sakura's voice broke, his hardened. "This woman is not worthy." He turned to the rest of the class. "And you? Are you just going to sit?" he spat.
Ino jumped up and tore her essay. "You heard him, guys! This is a walkout." She grabbed her bag. "Now, Choji, Hinata!"
Suzume crossed her arms. "Fine, then. All of you – detention! I will not be lectured – "
Naruto stood up and punched the desk – and the whole class fell silent.
He picked up his torn essay and his bag.
He walked out.
Sakura and Sasuke followed him.
"Text everyone to walk outside. Did you film it?" Sakura asked.
"Obvie," answered Ino. "We still need to go class by class. To have a proper walkout."
Sasuke grabbed his arm, stopping him. "A walkout is a child's game," he muttered. "This is a coup."
Naruto stared.
"We need to make a list of demands."
Naruto nodded. His rage slowly subsided. "We need to break into the teachers' lounge. They have a copy machine."
"I-I can do that," whispered a new voice. Hinata. "Ho-how many?"
"One for each classroom." Sasuke took out his notebook and a pen. "So?" He glared at him. "What do you want to write?"
Kakashi lectured from his notes, but his mind slowly started to wander.
He could feel it – a silent buzz, a restless stirring, the calm before the storm. His students checked their phones and whispered. They seemed excited and jumpy at the same time. He could also hear shouts from the hallway and from the courtyard below. Something was happening.
"All right," he muttered dryly. "What's going on?"
His students stared back, guilty and conspirative, as if hiding a secret.
The classroom door opened abruptly. Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke met his gaze.
Kakashi looked up and tilted his head. "So. You're behind the ruckus." He sighed. "I should have known."
"It's not a ruckus," Naruto protested. "We're holding a coup."
Kakashi blinked. "A coup?" He stifled a chuckle. They all looked very serious.
"Yeah."
That was unexpected. He hmmed. "My, my. Who are you overthrowing?"
"Suzume," Sasuke answered, his voice cold and fierce. "She tore Naruto's homework."
Well, perhaps they had a good reason for it.
He closed his book with a snap. "She what?" He kept his voice calm, but he could tell none of the students were fooled. His reaction only added to their agitation.
His eye, however, was focused on Naruto. The teen met his gaze, lips pierced shut, determined and silent. He did not seem upset like Kakashi expected, which was good. Perhaps Sakura's and Sasuke's quick reaction helped channel his hurt into anger.
"And she read it out loud and mocked it. So, we're holding a school walkout until she's fired," Sakura explained.
"And until our demands are met," Sasuke added.
Naruto crossed the distance to him and handed him a piece of paper. "Y'know, a proper coup," he mumbled. "What do you think?"
Kakashi glanced at him, then read the demands out loud. "Treat every student with the respect every human being deserves. Listen to us and offer help when needed – do not wait to be asked." He paused, calming himself. "Bullying turns a person into a mockery of themselves – and, therefore, is not allowed. Help us see the best in ourselves, and we will be the best we can be."
He looked up and met Naruto's eye, sensing the tension building within him. "We used your words," the teen added self-consciously.
Kakashi smiled. He taped the proclamation to the wall – the only decoration in his classroom – and addressed his students. "Well, I see nothing wrong with it."
"But Sensei," asked one of the students. "Isn't this like, against the process of democracy?"
"It is, but a school is a dictatorship, not a democracy." Kakashi placed his book on the desk and sat down. "And I choose to support the will of the people." He gazed at the kids, but they did not move. "Well, go on then." His smile widened. "Join the revolution."
The kids did not need another word of encouragement. They ran outside, gossiping and giggling and obviously very excited. Much like his dogs at the mention of a walk, he noted.
He could feel Naruto's eye on him. "You're really okay with that, Sensei?" he asked quietly. "You know, we were really angry, so we did some stuff – "
"Uzumaki," Kakashi intervened. "You are holding a coup. I could not be prouder if I initiated it myself." He could no longer contain his smile, so he allowed himself to grin at the blushing teen in front of him. "Go on, lead your revolution. I'll smooth things over with Iruka."
Naruto stared, then grinned back. A wide, shining grin bubbling from deep within him, coloring his cheeks pink and sparkling through his eye.
Sakura was right. He really did have a beautiful smile.
Sasuke scoffed, rolled his eyes, and dragged Naruto out of the classroom.
"Thanks, Sensei!" yelled Sakura as they left.
Well, well. Kakashi finally allowed himself to chuckle. Who would have thought those three would bond so well and lead a coup. He wondered if his actions or words did, in some way, inspire them… and shook his head. That was all them; the only thing he did was outlaw bullying in his class.
"Do not wait to be asked…" he mumbled, reading the words carved into the paper. A fond smile bloomed on his lips. He was just like Kushina in that regard. She did lead one or two protests if he remembered correctly. And Minato made fliers and baked cookies to support her cause.
He would have to tell Naruto that.
He would also have to take on Minato's role and speak to those in power to smooth things over. Minato said that if one wants to have his demands answered, one must show strength but also offer a solution.
Kakashi walked the halls and gazed out the window, noting that Ino – who got a megaphone from gods know where – started yelling catchphrases and guiding chants. Naruto stood beside her, the symbol of the revolution, while Sasuke appeared to be intimidating those who wanted to leave, and Sakura… called her parents, probably, because the two showed up with drinks and pizza.
Good. No revolution can march on an empty stomach.
He reached Iruka's office, opened it, and – without a word uttered – guided the hysterical Suzume out.
He closed the door in the flabbergasted woman's face and locked it.
Iruka – hair disheveled, sweat beading on his forehead – smiled in relief when he saw him. "Oh, Kakashi!" He made an odd move to grab his hand but gave up when Kakashi crossed his arms. "A voice of reason! You must help me diffuse the situation! You can calm Naruto, right? Tell him it was just a mistake and that Suzume is sorry and – "
"I don't think they're wrong," Kakashi cut him off. He held out the list of demands for Iruka to read. "And Yamanaka apparently filmed the incident. You will be getting phone calls from parents." He paused. "You already have."
Iruka sighed, pulling on his hair. "The board is furious. I don't know what to do." He sat down and stood up, clearly unsure what to down with himself. "Suzume has seniority, and finding a teacher in the middle of the year – "
"I can do that," Kakashi suggested immediately. He faked a smile when Iruka looked at him, eyes wide. "I have quite a few friends from my university days. If you want, I'll make the call." He stepped closer, his gaze holding Iruka upright – and probably his breath. "Just say the word, and I'll get you a replacement."
Iruka, finally, remembered to breathe. "Oh, ah… someone qualified, right? To teach high school English – "
"Very qualified. With reasonable salary demands," Kakashi reassured him. "He can start tomorrow."
"He can?" Iruka wheezed weakly.
The man was so easy to control. Naruto would have thrown a chair at him by now, claiming he organized this and whatnot. He smiled, perhaps too fondly, because Iruka's cheeks turned pink. "Whenever you want. I figured tomorrow, naturally, to help calm things down as quickly as possible, but…."
"No! No. No, tomorrow's good! If he." Iruka gulped. "If he can show up for an interview first, for procedure's sake. Not that I don't trust your word," he added hurriedly, "but – "
"Of course. You want to see if he meets your standards, as well," Kakashi continued calmly. He stepped toward the door. "I'll make the call, then. I assume you will need some time alone," he added, "to deliver the news to Suzume."
Iruka paled.
Kakashi smiled. "Well, good luck." And closed the door behind him.
Kakashi fished out his phone and called. He could, if all goes well, remove a useless person and place his own pawn instead.
"Hello?"
"Tanzu," Kakashi said, gazing at the blond hair of the teen who stood at the center of everything, "Got a cover story for you. I need you to follow my instructions very carefully."
Notes:
I'm sorry I didn't publish last week! My great-grandpa passed away so we had a shiva in his memory. He passed away peacefully, and we shared many humorous stories about him, so I'm doing well. I'm actually grateful he managed to live this long for me to have many beautiful memories of him.
And now back to the story haha – so… yes. Kakashi figured it out and used it as another excuse to explain why he can't stop thinking about Naruto. Good for him, I guess.
He also swore to keep protecting Naruto so he's basically decided to keep acting normal, and hopefully Nauto's crush will disappear on its own. It won't, but here's to hoping.
The whole thing with Suzume was inspired by the ninja war haha Kakashi's words managed to inspire a generation of kids to choose friendship over obedience, and they ended up revolutionizing the school (which I really wanted to see in Naruto, TBH. Especially with that old couple that thought Danzo was the goat).
Oh, and as for the signals Kakashi gave to the dogs – I just made stuff up, really, but he told them to protect Naruto and walk at his pace. Nothing about listening, though haha
That's it for today! What did you guys think? Please let me know in the reviews and I'll see you next Friday!
