Kakashi finished yet another phone call with Tanzo and stifled a sigh.
At least they were getting somewhere. Tanzo said he found the leader's hideout. He was good at those sorts of things. His unassuming looks and wooden gaze hid sharp intelligence and cunning, observant eyes.
Even those eyes, however, could not uncover the scheming Uchiha.
The men Tanzo observed were dull looking, foolish, and unimposing. They had an odd sense of humor, brutish yet marked with child-like malice. Not what he would have expected.
And he found no wolf nor dog, only an empty metal cage. That worried Kakashi the most because that detail did not fit any theory he managed to form.
He still spent every night with Naruto, guarded and wary, constantly waiting. He wanted to think that, snuggled in his paws, the teen was safe. Soft and naïve and trusting, entirely unaware of the power of his blood or the fierce, hidden battle fought over him.
They would have to strike soon. They had no time to gather more intelligence, to wait and risk letting the other side be the first to make a move.
He entered his apartment – and sighed again.
Naruto and Sakura were talking about a movie assignment, but Sasuke glared at him from the shadows.
'What's going on.'
'My, my, Sasuke. Don't tell me phone calls scare you.' He walked casually to the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water.
'Don't lie! You've been distracted for the past week. It's them, isn't it? The people that attacked Naruto.'
Kakashi looked away as he drank. 'Nothing for you to worry about.' He started cutting lemons and squeezing them to make lemonade. 'Let the grownups do the worrying.'
'Don't treat me like a kid,' Sasuke snarled at him. 'You already failed, remember? So don't talk shit about grownups and – '
"Sasuke, what are you doing?"
Kakashi's hand twitched at the sound of Sakura's curious, semi-teasing tone.
The girl giggled, so Sasuke must have blushed. "You were glowering at Sensei since he came back. Are you trying to learn telepathy or something?"
Naruto snickered as well. "You looked like you were trying to take a dump."
"Shut up, asshole," Sasuke grumbled in response. "What the fuck is wrong with you two."
"What the fuck is wrong with you," responded Naruto. "You've been ignoring us!"
"We were trying to decide where to watch the movie. For the assignment," Sakura clarified. "It's either here or at your place."
The last part sounded suggestive. Kakashi added sugar and mint and wondered why the hell did he bother. He wanted them out and yet made them lemonade. No wonder Naruto was confused by him. No wonder –
"S'not fair," Naruto grumbled. "Why do I have to watch it alone? It's not like it's a romantic movie or something."
"You have Sensei," Sakura suggested, too cheery for his liking. "And I think I should take Sasuke away anyway before he glowers Sensei out of town, not just his apartment."
Sasuke bristled. "I wasn't – "
"Let's go! Bye, Naruto! Bye, Sensei! I left popcorn!"
'We're not done,' Sasuke thought, taking care to glower at the floor instead. 'I – '
'You can't communicate properly. What makes you think you can fight?' Kakashi stirred the drink he made for no one, apparently. 'Fighting means killing. Don't rush to take a life, Sasuke. Those memories will haunt you for the rest of your life.'
Sasuke looked up, his face twisted in rage, but Sakura grabbed his hand and dragged him out, giggling. Her eyes were too knowing.
Naruto, surprisingly, was unhappy as well. He looked at the door with his blue eyes wide and hurt. Abandoned. No one's first choice.
I can fix that, he thought suddenly. I can –
But Naruto turned to look at him and Kakashi knew he had to turn him down as well. The way Naruto's adam's apple shivered, just slightly, when their eyes met was all the proof he needed that he allowed himself to get too close.
Kakashi poured him a glass of lemonade since it gave him an excuse to look away. "You know how to attach the computer to the TV, right?" he managed.
Naruto closed the distance between them. He stood too close. "So I'll take care of that, you take care of the popcorn?"
The slightest inflation in his voice, the hint of hope… Kakashi looked away as he accepted the popcorn packet. "You don't need me to watch a movie, Uzumaki," he said, aiming for a light, teasing tone. He did not know if he was successful.
Naruto flinched. "Yeah, I do. It's all in Shakespeare! I don't get what they're saying," he complained.
Kakashi huffed. "So I must have imagined your Shakespearean argument with Haruno, not an hour ago? The two of you were practically fluent."
"We made up everything!" Naruto protested unconvincingly. "Besides, they'll probably talk all fast n' stuff."
"You know the play. Nothing they'd say, no matter how fast – "
"I don't wanna watch it alone!"
Kakashi froze. His eye darted away from the microwave and to Naruto's own. The teen's chest heaved, but his eyes refused to look up. His fists were locked, white-knuckled and tense.
Kakashi's heart clenched in a way he did not like. "I'm busy," he muttered, pained by every word he said. "I can't sit and do nothing for three hours – "
Naruto finally looked up, and Kakashi hated what he saw. "But – "
"You don't need me anymore, Uzumaki," Kakashi interrupted quietly. "You are very capable, you know that."
Naruto swallowed. "That's not what I meant," he whispered.
He put down the glass Kakashi gave him – still full – and left the apartment.
Fuck.
Kakashi sat down and raked his fingers through his hair. Fuck.
He kept himself busy. He did what he had to do. He kept working until early afternoon became late evening, collecting intel and coming up with an infiltration strategy, getting the building plans and ordering weapons and calling contacts and –
And he could not stop thinking about Naruto's hurt eyes. He could not stop thinking about the teen's silent plea – and his callous response to it.
Naruto was so lonely. He refused to rely on others because being abandoned hurt more than being alone. And now, after Kakashi had slowly and patiently broken down his walls, there he was, shattering that very trust he had worked so hard to build.
He knew his pain. He knew what it meant to lose everyone, to be unloved, surrounded by uncaring eyes and colder hearts – and yet he found himself running away from the teen with his tail between his legs, terrified by the slightest notion of attachment.
A sharp pain shot through his fist to his arm and shoulder. Kakashi glared at his fist that, at some point, connected with the wall and left a small crater in its wake.
Excellent. Now he'd have to fix that, somehow, and…
He whistled absentmindedly and only then noticed his dogs were barking, running around him. He was entirely out of it, wasn't he? He was –
A hand knocked on his door – the first knock was weak, the second slightly stronger. Naruto, hesitant.
Kakashi brushed the white powder that was once a part of the wall from his knuckles and reattached one of Naruto's drawings to hide the hole his punch made. He walked to the door, opened it, and gazed down at the teen he hurt.
Naruto took a small step back. "Um, I came to walk the dogs," he mumbled. "I heard a loud noise."
His eyes were jumpy, meeting his and then glancing away. His hesitance pierced Kakashi's chest like a sharpened shard of ice. His breath caught in his throat. "Don't worry about it." He unclenched his fist when he realized what he was doing and allowed Naruto inside. "Did you watch the movie?"
Naruto attached the leashes to the excited dogs. "Um. No. Didn't take your laptop." The teen looked away, refusing his attempt at bridging the gap between them. Clearly, he was still too sensitive after his rejection; even the slightest hint of Kakashi pulling away had him closing up and on the run.
Kakashi swallowed.
He opened the fridge's doors and started taking out ingredients, trying to distract himself. "Well, I am not busy now," he lied. "I can watch it with you if you want, after you walk the dogs."
He did not know why he said it. He leaned into the fridge, trying to cool his head. Looking at anything but the teen. And he used to think he was so clever.
Naruto tugged on Bull's leash. "S'okay. I'll just copy what Sakura wrote," he uttered.
Kakashi blinked. The teen also avoided looking at him. "I don't think you're supposed to tell that to a teacher, Uzumaki," he teased. Just slightly.
"Yeah? What'll you do, rat on me?" Naruto challenged. He glared at him from the entrance. His eyes were large and furious and unforgiving. "Didn't think so." And left, closing the door behind him.
Kakashi stared at the door and then at the ingredients he retrieved from the fridge. He took out two milk bottles – for no reason he could think of.
He put them back and started cooking Naruto's favorite, cursing himself for his weakness and hating himself even more for refusing the teen in the first place. He prepared a mug of hot chocolate – just to be on the safe side.
Naruto was late, and Tanzo called.
They'd have to make a move soon; if this moment with Naruto were to be his last, he wanted to part with him on good terms. That way, it would be easier to die.
Naruto sat down on the grass, ignoring the dogs who were trying their best to cheer him up, and thought of Sensei.
He was really distracted lately. Always on his phone, holding secretive conversations he refused to comment on, disappearing the moment Naruto wasn't looking. He kept hearing the names Gai and Tanzu – which, oddly enough, caused Sasuke to glare at Sensei for hours. But that only confirmed his suspicion that something was wrong.
He hoped he'd get a chance to convince Sensei to talk, to tell him what was going on, to…
But the man constantly, gently and craftily, pushed him away. He always had an excuse. He always had something to do, someone to call, a matter to check.
It was like he was already fading away.
Naruto grumbled as he took his time with the dogs. A part of him hoped Sensei would be worried, or annoyed, or… anything. Anything that meant that he cared and –
The dogs barked, running toward something behind him.
Naruto jumped up, confused and dejected, when he saw Sensei, and his heart immediately started beating faster.
The man held a mug in his hand, which he somehow managed to keep balanced, despite the army of dogs jumping up and down to get his attention. He patted each head and shoved them away as he approached him. He looked at him silently, his black eye as undecipherable as always, and offered him the mug.
Naruto could not look away. His hands rose to accept the mug – all on their own – and held it close. He blinked and glanced down when the scent of hot chocolate hit his nostrils and then back up, lips parted and cheeks slightly red, because Sensei…
Sensei's eye observed him, unrelenting and penetrating, and Naruto suddenly realized he looked conflicted.
The teen decided to appease him. He lifted the mug, his eyes still gazing into the black abyss, and brought it to his lips. He drank slowly at first, but soon the drink bought him over, and he gulped down the whole thing greedily.
He licked his lips, savoring the taste, and then remembered Sensei was there, still looking at him – his eyes shot up, curious more than anything else, and his cheeks heated up when he realized Sensei had yet to speak.
His eye was warm – almost burning, and –
But the man quickly composed himself; the warmth disappeared, and the sardonic, disinterested gaze returned. "You went out for an hour," he said dryly. "I thought you were trying to kidnap my dogs."
Naruto wiped his mouth self-consciously in case he had a chocolate milk mustache. "Too much effort," he countered. "I was only holding them hostage."
Said dogs were quick to nuzzle at his hands and bump into him and Naruto could not help but grin in response. He wanted to be mad. He wanted to throw a tantrum and tell him he broke his promise and ignored him and –
But Sensei managed a small, hesitant smile in response – more of a twitch of his lips, really, and Naruto breathed shakily as his anger evaporated from his limbs.
"Watch the movie with me."
Naruto blinked and his cheeks burned red when he realized what he just said. Still, he glared at the man, more in defiance than an actual invitation, and clenched his jaw.
Sensei sighed in defeat. "No popcorn, then," he said, his voice almost too casual, and started to leash the dogs.
Naruto stumbled, shoulders slumped, and tried to help. "But it's a movie tradition," he countered, confused. "Is this like a health thing?"
Sensei chuckled. "No. I can't stand the smell."
Naruto pulled four of the dogs and urged them to follow him, though they clearly preferred to try and lick his now bright red ears. "Um, was this… what this was all about?" he asked, his voice cautious. "'Cause I don't care about popcorn that much, y'know."
He gazed at Sensei's back, but despite the fact that the fabric was thin and the sleeves were short, the broad shoulders revealed nothing in response. "I truly was busy, Uzumaki."
Naruto waited, but the man did not elaborate. "Doing what?" he demanded.
Sensei hummed. "Things."
Naruto rolled his eyes. "What kind of things?"
The man still did not look at him. "Mostly phone calls."
Naruto glowered at his back and groaned. "You're so frustrating sometimes," he grumbled.
That, at least, got him a response. Sensei's back twitched. The man took out his key and unlocked the apartment. He glanced at him, then looked away. "I apologize for causing you so much trouble, Uzumaki."
His voice was quiet and, for some reason, oddly serious.
Naruto swallowed and tried to grin. "Heh, I didn't mean it like that," he managed, his heart racing unevenly. "I can help, y'know. If you tell me."
"That's quite all right, Uzumaki. It's nothing serious."
Sensei urged the dogs inside. He heated something in the microwave and connected the laptop to the TV. He did not look at him.
Naruto followed him, feeling like a lost puppy. "So… so that means you'll come to chaperone tomorrow?" he asked, trying to sound casual. "I heard Iruka asked for you specifically."
A beeping sound urged the man back to the kitchen. He retrieved two plates and placed them on the table near the TV. Naruto followed the scent and blinked when he realized Sensei had prepared his favorite meal. He sat down, hesitant, and looked up.
The man swallowed and sat next to him. "You mean Haruno asked for me specifically." He glanced at him, his one eye too knowing for Naruto's liking, and started the film.
Naruto lifted the plate and hesitated. "So… that's a yes?"
Sensei drank his tea. He was looking at the movie, but his eye looked oddly unfocused. "I'll try. Don't you need to take notes?"
Naruto shrugged. "I'll remember."
Sensei hmmed, unconvinced.
Naruto jabbed the food, but even though it smelled amazing and looked great and he was hungry, his stomach turned and his hand faltered on its way to his mouth.
"What's wrong?"
Naruto jolted upright and turned to gaze at the man, but Sensei still looked away. Only when Naruto still stared did he angled his head and met his eyes.
He was so close. And he was so pretty – Naruto blushed. "Um. I need a ride," he blurted.
Sensei's lips twitched, just slightly, upward. "Right now?"
Naruto winced as his face heated up, definitely burning redder. "To prom. If you're going – "
"Don't worry, Uzumaki, I won't leave you stranded," he said. His voice was surprisingly gentle – perhaps even Sensei was surprised because he blinked and looked away. "You are missing the movie you so desperately wanted to watch."
Naruto scowled as his shoulders slumped. "I wasn't desperate," he mumbled. Still, he managed to take a bite and eat it, feeling, for some reason, awkward. "Thank you," he said, so quietly a part of him hoped Sensei would not hear –
But the man must have had sharp ears because he lifted his hand and brushed his hair. His fingers were gentle and soothing as they tangled in the unruly locks and caressed them, and Naruto closed his eyes and breathed weakly as he savored his touch.
Sensei's hand lingered for a long while, warm and oddly poignant, before it finally faded away.
Naruto blinked and glanced at the man sitting beside him, whose eye was still stubbornly glued to the screen. "That…" he whispered, his voice too raw for his liking. He cleared his throat. "That wasn't goodbye, right?" His voice still faltered.
Sensei clenched his jaw as his chest moved abruptly. "No," he murmured. He swallowed. "Watch the movie."
Naruto tried. That particular rendition of Hamlet was long and boring; all he could think about was Sensei. How warm he must be because Naruto felt hotter just from sitting next to him. How gentle were his fingers. How he always made sure to sit to his left so that he was always within sight of his one, black eye. His mind was a mess just from how good he smelled, driven mad by the few inches separating them.
Everything he did for him, everything he said…
It definitely felt like a goodbye.
Naruto's breaths were shallow. He could not focus on the movie even if he tried.
He tried – and failed, yet again, to tie his tie.
Stupid, useless, pointless things. Naruto stuck out his tongue and tried to mimic what Sakura showed him earlier today but couldn't remember which part was up and which was down.
He sighed, annoyed and yet hopeful, and brushed his hair to the side, glared at the mirror, and shook his head. He tried again and pushed his hair back, gazing at his reflection and trying to look confident, but the teen that stared back looked young and foolish, not the dashing adult he hoped to be.
Naruto swallowed and grinned instead. Sakura said he had a beautiful smile, and that was something, too. Maybe Sensei –
He experimented with his collar – pushing it up, fixing it above his jacket, and finally, pushing it back to where it was. He unbuttoned the jacket, buttoned it, unbuttoned it, and then just growled, took a deep breath, and half skipped half stomped his way to the door.
Sensei could help him fix his tie. It was a proper excuse. And besides, he managed to cajole him yesterday into giving him a ride, and…
Naruto unlocked the door and, with a steadying breath, moved to knock on Sensei's door –
"Naruto!"
Naruto jumped, caught in the act, and glared at the car that was parked below him.
"It's you, isn't it?" The friendly, bright voice got on Naruto's nerves. "It's me, Gai!" Gai yelled unhelpfully. "Do you want a ride?"
Naruto scowled and shielded his eyes from the bright car lights. "Sensei's my ride," he grumbled. He turned again to knock on the door –
"Kakashi's gone on some business," Gai said suddenly. "I know! Very un-youthful of him! But still, consider yourself lucky to have such a youthful, brightly colored ride!" He showed off the bright green monstrosity he was currently driving. "What do you think of my green beast? It is my best one yet!"
Naruto huffed to mask the sudden ache that exploded in his chest. He leaned on Sensei's door, plastering his ear against the pale wood and… and heard nothing. No claws scraping against the smooth tiles, no huffs or barks or even the tarnished vibration of a large body rubbing against the door.
The dogs were gone, and Sensei was too.
Did he take them on a run? No. No, I would've heard something. I would – that's impossible –
"Oi, Naruto!" Gai waved from below, leaning out of the window and almost falling over. "You are going to be late and make a beautiful lady very sad indeed! That is not the way a man should behave! A man should keep his promise!"
Naruto glared at Sensei's door, knowing no one was waiting on the other side. Yeah, right.
Annoyed, his heart racing and breaking, he stomped to Gai's car.
"Why so glum, Naruto? That's not – "
"Youthful, I know." The blond sank into the seat next to Gai, glaring at nothing. "I feel old."
"Now, now, that can't be true," Gai said, his voice not as booming as before. He reversed, glancing in every direction, and shifted gears. He offered Naruto his trademark grin. "You are going to have a magical night, Naruto! Keep up your spirits!"
Naruto scoffed and glared at the changing view. Gai was oddly jumpy, but Naruto was too miserable to care. Sensei promised. He promised. He said he'd give him a ride and even stay and chaperone… and then disappeared.
And took the fucking dogs with him, too.
A hand shook his shoulder. Naruto blinked and stirred up – and noticed Gai parked in front of the school entrance.
"You all right, kiddo?"
Naruto's lips twitched, but he managed a grin nonetheless. "Yeah. Thanks, Gai! I'll definitely… I'll definitely keep my promise." He looked down and noticed his still untied tie. "Um. Can you help me with that?"
"Of course!" Gai boomed, his smile broad and warm. He fixed his tie within seconds. "I'll park over there and wait for you, so you make sure you have a good time, yeah?"
Naruto nodded. His grin was softer. "Yeah. Thanks, Gai." And walked out.
He met Sakura and Sasuke, who spent their time in the shadows and danced only when they thought no one was looking. He danced with Ino, who said she was willing to forgive him since she got herself a 'more popular date,' who turned out to be the exchange student with the creepy smile Naruto tended to avoid.
And he danced with Hinata. He made sure to do everything right – compliment her and give her the corsage and bring drinks and every single thing he remembered Sakura mentioning.
It was easy to remember since he spent days imagining he performed all those small acts with –
Ino was declared queen and her boyfriend – king. They danced together, smiling and smug, and Naruto cheered them on.
It was almost too easy to forget, to pretend, to –
Sasuke leaned close to him. "Hatake's not here. Nor Yamato."
Naruto swallowed. "So?" he asked defensively. He found it hard to admit that Sensei had disappeared, so he made up some nonsense. "Bet they pissed off Iruka, or something like that."
Sasuke glared at him but did not comment. "Who gave you a ride?" he asked instead.
"Gai." Naruto stared at nothing. "He's my ride back, too."
"So he's still here."
"Well, I don't have a phone, so…." Naruto rubbed the back of his neck. "You think I'm being selfish?"
Sasuke's scowl deepened. "Something's off."
Naruto looked up, surprised, but Hinata approached him, shy and blushing, and Naruto immediately asked her to dance.
He knew how to play his part; he knew his lines and he performed them well, even when he could not get Sasuke's words out of his head.
Gai dropped him off, saying some encouraging things Naruto could not decipher.
He mumbled his thanks and climbed the stairs, his legs tired and heavy, and approached his apartment. He took out his key, shoved it in, and… and listened.
It was still quiet.
Sensei wasn't back.
Naruto turned back, jumpy, and breathed in relief when he noticed Gai's car did not move an inch.
It's a stakeout. He's – Naruto's eyes widened in understanding. And fury.
He ran back, jumping the last four stairs, and rushed back to Gai's car.
Gai rolled down the window. "What is it, kiddo?"
And now Naruto saw it. The tense vigilance hidden within the blinding smile. "Um, can I borrow your phone? To make a call," he added an unnecessary clarification.
Gai blinked, suspicious for a moment, but his face soon brightened with a smile. "Of course! Who are you calling?"
"Sasuke," Naruto blurted, grabbed the phone, and put a safe distance between them.
He called Sensei.
His fingers trembled as he waited. Each patient beep tore his heart asunder. He waited, weak and desperate, until he reached voicemail. Fuck.
Something really was off. Something was off for so long. Something –
Naruto hung up, deleted his last call, and called Sasuke this time.
The teen was quick to answer. "Something is off," he muttered as a matter of fact.
Naruto nodded, gulping. "He's gone. The dogs are gone." He glanced at Gai – who was watching him intently – and looked away. "Gai is keeping watch." His heart beat so hard, he feared it would explode. "What if he's in trouble?" he choked. "What – "
"Don't do anything. We're coming." And hung up.
Naruto stared at the phone, his heart rushing and his mind a mess. He stumbled back to the car and offered the phone back. "Thanks. Sasuke and Sakura are coming for a sleepover," he managed, saying the first thing that came to his mind.
But Gai's unease disappeared entirely. "A sleepover party! Yes! You are too young to sleep so early!"
Naruto nodded, grinning as he agreed, and ran back upstairs, pretending he was waiting for his friends.
And not pacing, fingers pulling his hair and cold sweat staining his shirt.
He pulled the tie off with a growl and nearly tore a button in his urgency to undo his collar's choking hold. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck –
A knock on his door, impatient and – "Naruto!" annoyed.
Naruto rushed to open – and ushered them inside. Sasuke looked grave while Sakura pouted, clearly displeased. Both changed from their prom attires to black tracksuits that were undoubtedly Sasuke's
"He's gone," was all he managed. "He's gone. He just – "
"He picked today on purpose," Sasuke muttered, his eyes furious. "Something's been brewing for weeks, now."
Sakura stared at them as if they were mad. "Guys, he's a teacher, not some – "
Sasuke crouched and fished something from around his ankle – and Sakura paled as she fell silent, eyes wide with disbelief.
Sasuke showed them his gun. "Hatake taught me to use it. He drives, according to you, a rubbish car that can go two hundred fifty per hour. He has a contract that can control the traffic flow and the police. He dove into a raging ocean and managed to survive and rescue Naruto at the same time. He arranged for Naruto to learn how to fight from one of the best fighters in the country, who is parked outside this apartment right now, keeping watch." Sasuke scoffed, his eyes burning. "This man is not a teacher. He's been protecting Naruto since he got here. What do you think he's doing right now?"
Sakura shook her head. "B-but – "
"He killed for me."
His two friends turned to stare at him, eyes wide and faces pale, and Naruto realized there was no going back. His breath shattered. "Um. Five men broke into my apartment, the old one, and… and threatened me," he confessed. "He – he saved me."
Sakura grabbed his arms, her eyes brimmed with tears. "What?! When?! Why didn't you say – "
"I was in a bad place," Naruto confessed. His chest heaved. "That… that wasn't the last time." He freed himself from Sakura's grasp. "I'm not doing that again. I'm not going to sit here and wait for him to rescue me. I'm not gonna let him risk his life for me. I'm – "
"But what can we do?" cried Sakura. "If – if what both of you say is true, what can we do?" She shook her head. "Even if he isn't a teacher, we are just kids! We – "
"I'm not a kid," Naruto snapped. "I've been fighting just to stay alive for most of my life. I've never had anyone who cared, who'd be willing to – to do this much for me." He paced around the apartment, his rage and fear roaring in his mind. "I'm not scared of fighting again. So if you're not gonna help – "
"I'll help," Sasuke intervened. His eyes blazed. "This is not just your fight, Naruto. Whatever's going on – it concerns me too."
"Are the two of you," interrupted Sakura, her voice vibrating, "fucking insane?!"
"I did some reading; and some thinking," Sasuke muttered darkly. "My family was murdered, and so was yours. Hatake was your father's student and my brother's friend. Don't you think it's weird that he showed up out of nowhere exactly when things turned to shit?" He paced around the apartment, his jaw clenched and eyes flickering red.
Naruto blinked. It must have been the light.
"That group that targets you… they will one day target me too. I'm sure of it. Just as I'm sure that that's what Hatake's trying to prevent." He stopped pacing and glared at Sakura. "If he fails, you can be certain Naruto and I will be dead by morning." His eyes met Naruto's. "We need to go. Now."
Sakura grabbed his wrist with both hands, tears shimmering in her eyes. "What," she choked. "What can we do? I-I mean," she breathed shakily, trying to compose herself. "Gai's right there, and we don't know where they are – "
Naruto tore off his jacket and his white shirt and pulled a long-sleeved, black shirt from the closet that could hide him in the dark. "Doesn't matter. We climb down the balcony and – "
"I can turn into an eagle."
Naruto's head got stuck in the long sleeve. He had to fight to free himself. "Wh-what?" he demanded.
Sakura's mouth hung open. The shock dried her eyes from tears.
Sasuke's ears burned red. "My family could turn into animals. That's why they were murdered," he muttered quietly, then took off his shirt. Unlike Naruto, he removed it slowly, fingers shaking. "Hatake told me to keep it a secret, but I… I trust you." He stood before them, shirtless, face twisted into a pained grimace. "I can find where… where he went. My eyes are sharp. If you take my bike and follow me – "
"We will." Naruto met his gaze, eyes blazing. "We'll keep your secret, Sasuke."
The teen nodded. He closed his eyes, face twisted in pain, and – with a shuddered groan – folded over. His skin blackened as the pale, unmarred skin grew coarse – and sprouted feathers. His elegant face twisted and turned sharp and narrow. His mouth became a beak; his legs sharpened into claws.
His eyes burned bright red.
Naruto stared, eyes wide and breathless, at the giant bird that stood where his best friend did just a moment ago. The eyes. He knew those eyes. He –
He picked up Sasuke's gun and the pair of sweatpants. "Go," he managed, his voice raw. "Sakura and I will follow."
The eagle cawed, flapped his giant wings, and flew into the night.
Sakura stared, eyes wide and helpless, mouth gaping. "Did. Did – "
Naruto checked the gun's safety and tucked it into his pants. "We'll figure it out later," he grumbled. "Are you coming?"
Sakura stared breathlessly and nodded shakily. She grabbed his hand.
Naruto smiled at her, trying to offer a semblance of reassurance he probably had no right to promise, and led her to the balcony.
The structure had a small ladder attached, which, when unlocked, stretched all the way to the ground. A fire escape, Sensei told him. Naruto never thought –
He helped Sakura, who was still shaking, climb down.
The eagle landed on a branch right above them and cawed again.
Naruto gazed up. "Did you find him?" he cried.
The eagle bobbed his head awkwardly and flew again. Naruto, heart racing and hands trembling with adrenalin, ran to the communal bike stand behind the complex. He jumped on Sasuke's bike. "Get on, Sakura. We're wasting time."
Sasuke's bird form was as black as the night around them and hard to spot. Still, Naruto pedaled as fast as he could, keeping one eye on the road and another on Sasuke. The teen led them away from the road and into the forest, but Naruto was used to taking paths not meant for biking.
He used to flee into the forest, hoping the bumpy, unexpected ground would offer him protection.
It was the first time he entered willingly, chasing others.
Chasing Sensei.
Sakura hugged his waist, gasping with each bump, but Naruto did not slow down. He had to hurry. He had to get there in time. He had to save Sensei. He had to.
He was tired of hiding in the shadows. And he could not afford to lose him.
He could not –
Sasuke flapped his wings, blocking his way, so Naruto braked – hard – and stopped the bike with his foot.
Sakura's head crashed into his shoulders. She cried and hugged his waist, trying to break her fall.
The eagle flinched, head twisting, and Naruto watched – mesmerized – as the black faded back and the pale skin returned. Feathers melted away and became skin, claws became toes, and the burning red eyes extinguished into black.
Naruto threw the sweatpants at him, but the teen ignored them.
Sasuke crouched, naked and shivering, and angled his head. "Their hideout is close. Hand me the gun."
Sakura flinched. "B-but – "
Naruto handed him the gun. "It will be loud," he said quietly. "It will attract attention."
"Do you have a better idea?"
Naruto frowned. "No," he admitted. "Is this the best entrance?"
Sasuke shrugged. "It is the back door." He glanced behind him. "Sakura, wait here and be our backup. We – "
"No way," Sakura snapped. "I'm the only one here with medical knowledge. I'm coming."
Naruto winced. "You just studied for a test, you – "
Sakura elbowed his head. "I'm coming!" she growled.
Sasuke hissed, "Be quiet, the two of you." He looked ahead and pointed his gun. "I'm gonna shoot. When I give you the sign, you burst in. I'll fly ahead and be your eyes. Naruto – you punch. Sakura – you take care of the gun. Always stay behind Naruto."
The two nodded.
Sasuke glared ahead and his eyes, once again, burned red.
Naruto had so many questions about the eyes. He was certain that they were identical to that of his dog, and that meant – no, that could not have meant –
Sasuke clenched his jaw, aimed the gun, and shot twice.
Naruto flinched, bracing himself against the sound, but Sakura whelped and grabbed his wrist. He held her hand instead and squeezed, trying to calm her. She was not used to violence – not like him and Sasuke, and –
But Sasuke looked pale, eyes wide, and for a moment, Naruto thought he might faint.
The teen shook his head, blinking furiously, and handed the gun to Sakura. The moment her shaking hand grabbed the handle, he transformed back and flew away.
Naruto grabbed Sakura's hand and followed Sasuke. He ran to the entrance, jumped over the two bodies, and picked up their guns. He tucked one into his pants and held the other in his hand.
Sakura released yet another shuddered whimper, quiet and frightened, but when Naruto turned back, the girl wiped her eyes and nodded.
Naruto nodded back and ran inside, following Sasuke's black shadow.
He had to find Sensei. He had to. He had to –
"Drop the gun."
Kakashi turned and stiffened. He glared at the new threat, resisting the urge to snarl.
The man before him wore a mask, but Kakashi could smell his glee. He pointed a gun at Tanzo's head while choking the man with his elbow.
Tanzo's eyes fluttered. His cheeks burned red as his veins swelled against his skin. His hands grabbed the man's forearm, trying and failing to free him from the crushing hold. His lips parted, gasping for air.
Whoever the man was, he was strong. Stronger than what his skinny frame suggested. Which meant…
Kakashi lowered his gun to the floor slowly.
He found the wolf, didn't he. That superhuman strength could have no other explanation. It fit every theory he had formed. It meant that both of his students were in danger.
The man's mask hid his eyes, but Kakashi could feel his glare scorching his skin.
The man's hate was intense, almost palpable. His hold of Tanzo's neck tightened.
Kakashi's muscles tensed. Was he trying to break the bone? "Let him go," he said, keeping his voice low and calm. "Unconscious men can't fight."
The man did not release him. "Dead men can't fight either, Kakashi."
Kakashi did not flinch. He narrowed his eye. "Who are you? What do you want?" He tensed, reading his muscles. "Why are you targeting Naruto?"
The man had yet to release Tanzo. If he did not stop him soon, the damage would be irrevocable. He had to think. He had to –
"You have quite a nerve. Breaking into my place, killing my men, and then daring to ask me questions. You always were so entitled. So. Fucking. Cocky." The man's voice was hooded and rough, but something about it, something about the intonation, felt…
"Let him go," Kakashi repeated. He kept his voice calm and level. "Your problem is with me, isn't it?" He moved his foot forward, just slightly. "We've met before."
Slowly, he removed his own mask, then glared at the stupid mask of the man before him. He did not bother to pay him in kind.
No matter. He moved his other leg backward, shifting his balance.
"Did we?" drawled the man. "Why? I cannot possibly think – "
Kakashi lunged. His body became a wolf, tearing through his clothes, large and ferocious and ready to fight. He unhinged his jaw, ready to rip into the man's soft neck –
The man moved – far too fast – and drew a taser gun –
Blinding pain – and then nothing.
The world went dark.
Naruto shouted, fury burning through his veins, and punched the man facing him. He felt something shatter – something that might have been his knuckle – but the man collapsed, unconscious.
That was the third room they entered, and Sensei wasn't there. Sensei –
"N-Naruto!"
Naruto, chest heaving, turned –
A man grabbed Sakura by the hair, pulling her back –
Sasuke screeched. He flew, claws stretched, and cut the man's face, tearing his eyes and jaw to shreds.
The man screamed and released Sakura's hair, his fear and horror echoing –
Naruto's punch connected with his jaw, or what was left of it, and the man fell, silenced.
Sakura, pink hair dyed red, stumbled away from the body. "This isn't," she gulped. "This isn't normal." Her breath echoed around the room. "I-is it?"
"No," Naruto grunted, his voice raw. "The gang never had so many men, or – "
But all he wanted to say died on his lips when ten men burst into the room, carrying bats and crowbars –
And he knew, at that moment, they had walked into a trap. He shouted, fury laced with raw anger and fear drumming through his heart – and dodged the first crowbar, shoved his gun into the man's stomach, and –
And all he saw was black.
Notes:
Hey y'all! Happy Passover to those who celebrate!
So… ehh… yep. Team seven to the rescue! Which isn't saying much because they're just a bunch of kids, but they are doing their best.
Naruto, meanwhile, is doing his best to remain oblivious. And distract Kakashi at the same time. Poor guy can't even plan an ambush in peace haha
Also, Sasuke's first kill! IDK I thought it was worth mentioning.
Anyways, more of that next time (got some bad things coming… you've been warned!)
So what did you guys think? I'd love to hear from you! See ya next Friday!
