Author's Note

Anyone who has been around long enough probably remembers this story when I initially posted it around a year ago, but I took it down cause I didn't want to write it anymore. But I got inspired to try it again, but with a few changes.

Uploaded

11/12/2023

LEGEND BELOW

"This day couldn't get any worse..." = Normal speech.

''O-Oh gosh, this is too embarrassing!'' = Normal thoughts.

"Don't lie, you're really bad at it." = Bujuu talking.

Chapter 1

Rated-M

For adult themes, nudity, mentions of sex and other adult themes.

Kakashi Hatake had a problem.

And that was putting it lightly, in his own opinion.

He was only moments ago busying himself with reading a good book, a familiar looking yellow hardcover copy of Icha Icha Tactics, while the sound of the storming rain outside filled the otherwise silent house of Konoha's resident copy ninja.

After the war's end, and Madara's defeat, peace had practically hit the entire elemental nations for the first time in history. Unlike before, this peace wasn't due to a fragile treaty or truce, but was based on the solid foundations built up during the last great war.

Of course, with no war, and any current threat from opposing forces, ninja like Kakashi had nothing better to do than relax. Sure, Tsunade had bounced the idea off of his head that he could take up a second Genin team now that his own was all grown up…

He scoffed at the idea…

"Grown up…" He muttered to himself in the darkness, his voice drowned out by the rain.

In his head they were still his little minions, his kids, the ones he'd raised and the ones that had depended on him for support…

Mostly…

But, nowadays they rarely ever got together anymore. Sasuke Uchiha, bastard as he was, had been brought back to village courtesy of one purple eyed Jinchuriki, and due to his assistance in ending the last great war, the council had lessened his punishment for the crimes committed beforehand.

That could also be related to the same girl begging them that he be spared, despite all that he'd done. Tsunade could never turn down those sparkling purple eyes, and he'd be a liar if he said he was any better in that regard.

That being said, months after his return, the last Uchiha found himself under a mandatory probation, and was barred from leaving the village for any reason until they deemed him worthy of such an action. In the meantime, the young man had been given the honorable responsibility of restoring the Military Police Force, with him acting as the head member.

Unsurprisingly, the last Uchiha wasn't the most pleased with such a task, but with the threat of physical harm from one blond pigtail wearing Hokage, he was understandably cowed into submission.

It was still funny finding the young man cursing his fate every once in a while. That was, if you could even find him outside of the office he'd constantly found himself locked in, mountains of paperwork drowning the man.

With Sasuke so caught up in his mountain of work, Sakura was fortunately, or unfortunately if you asked her, unable to work on gaining the man's attention for herself, and so she'd busied herself with furthering her expertise in the medical profession.

It had been a month since Kakashi had even seen the pink haired girl, seeing as most of the time she spent was at the hospital or with Tsunade-Sama at the Hokage tower.

The last time the man had seen her she had black bags underneath her eyes, hair tied up in a messy ponytail, and she was cradling a steaming cup of coffee. He swore she was going to go grey at a young age with how hard she worked, but he could hardly afford to tell her off for working so diligently. He only wished she had that mentality when she was younger, that way she wouldn't have had to play catch-up so much after falling so far behind her other teammates.

Talking about her other teammates, Kakashi's mind was drawn to the final member of Team 7.

Uzumaki Naruto was a strange girl. The once nearly useless girl, loud and obnoxious had risen so unbelievably far to the top that she'd been the one responsible for ending the last Shinobi world war. That wasn't to say he hadn't had faith in her, quite the opposite. He knew from the moment he lay his eyes on her that morning all those years ago, when she and the young brooding Uchiha stumbled into the training ground looking for their Sensei, that she was going to shake the very foundations of the world one day.

That was one reason he hadn't decided to fail the team immediately like he's done with all the other potential teams he'd been given. She was a blistering spitfire when she was younger, but now that she'd grown up, he couldn't help but notice how much she looked like her mother.

That is, if Kushina had taken after the Legendary Tsunade, then yes, Uzumaki Naruto definitely looked like she was related to the Legendary Red hot Habanero. Only, instead of being terrifying, and demanding, she was cute and small, standing at an adorable height of five foot three inches, a resounding difference compared to his five foot eleven or Sasuke's six feet.

For the girl in question, she'd been unbelievable busy after the wars end. While Sakura and Sasuke were busy with their own duties, the redhead had been thrown headfirst into mission after mission, almost nonstop. He actually admired how well she was holding up, having to accomplish such tasks by herself, knowing that he wasn't there to help her.

Sure, the war had brought every nation together in their time of need, joining forces to stop Madara once and for all, but that wasn't to say everything was just peachy with each other. Many in Iwa still held a serious grudge against Konoha.

Kumo was still seen as not the most trustworthy village of people, especially with their long history of attempted theft of other village's bloodlines.

Some in Konoha still held Suna at a distance for the war they'd waged against them alongside Orochimaru and his village.

Ame was overly cautious against every village in general, but that was to be expected, seeing as most of their lives were all a lie they were forced to live under from their esteemed leader Pain.

Taki-

Well, Takigakure wasn't actually a village that held any opposing village in contempt.

Kiri was in a strange situation. Even though the war had ended, they were still in a dire financial situation, and the land they owned wasn't the most desirable place to live. It was only due to Naruto's connection with the Mizukage that inspired an increased trade between them and the swampy lands.

Speaking of Naruto, that is actually what she'd been up to after the war. She'd busied herself with building relations with the other nations, hoping to help build up a solid foundation for the future. Tsunade had been a massive help in that department. Naruto was boisterous and lovable, dependable, and was seemingly blessed with the ability to see the best of every situation, and had the uncanny ability to make enemies into friends, but she still needed help from someone experienced like Tsunade.

Especially if she planned on being Hokage one day herself.

And like the others, he hadn't even seen her in a month.

He wasn't sad…

He refuted the statements that the psychiatrist all Jonin were required check in with had on his personal life and mental health. Tsunade had ordered him to check in with the irritable man, and he'd diagnosed Kakashi as one suffering from…

Well…

Depression…

Naturally, Kakashi refuted the statement, claiming otherwise. Nevertheless, the doctor had implored that he take some time off to himself, relax, turn his attention away from missions and anything remotely stressful.

Tsunade had agreed, and thus he'd found himself splayed out on his futon in his living room, half dressed with nothing but a gray tank top, black sweatpants, and his face mask and headband to cover the Sharingan.

The village hidden in the leaves was currently being assaulted with a heavy rainstorm, one that had been going on for over a day and a half now, and had shone no signs of slowing at all. With his adorable little minions all busy with lives of their own, he was left by himself.

But that's fine, he told himself.

After all, now that he didn't have a team to look after, he was finally given his free time that he loved so much. He could finally accomplish all those things he'd been slacking on for years…

His expression fell when he realized that those kids were his everything. Before taking on the role of Sensei to Team 7, he'd been in Anbu, doing mission after mission, the years flying by on their own, feeling just the same as the last.

His entire adult life felt like a blur, nothing of mind coming off noteworthy as to have been remembered.

That was, until he became their Sensei.

As the leader of Team 7, he realized with a start that when he tried to remember his past, the only time he felt worthy enough to be remembered in such a manner was his time as Sensei.

Like, for instance, that one time during the Chunin exams, when Naruto had blown through the competition, turning her adorable smiling face to him as if for approval.

Then there was that time where after failing to rescue Sasuke after she'd returned from her training trip, she'd run to him for consolation, crying into his chest about how it wasn't fair. She could've picked anyone, but she'd come to him.

Then that time where she'd caught him peeking on the hot springs. Jiraiya had tricked him into doing so, something he swore he'd never do again, and Naruto had caught him. He'd seen her get angry over catching others do such a thing, and naturally expected righteous punishment to befall him when she caught him doing just the same…

Only, instead of turning an adorable, and maybe terrifying shade of red, she instead looked, dare he say, jealous.

Naturally he was confused. Those women in the hot springs, beautiful as they may have been, had absolutely nothing on Naruto.

Not that he'd been checking her out or anything, obviously. He just noticed how pretty she was, naturally of course.

He noticed how she was short for her age, especially compared to the women around her, only coming up to his chest. He noticed how the shirts she wore were never the right size, always just a tad too small, which did nothing to hide her assets that made Hinata's look small by comparison. Nor how he often found himself teasing her, just so he could see her cute whiskered cheeks turn that adorable shade of red, really bringing out the purple of her eyes.

He wouldn't say that he found her long red locks unattractive, because he'd be lying. He was definitely a supporter of her keeping her hair on the longer side, her ocean of red hair extending all the way down to the underside of the curve of her cute rear end, getting lost within her nine golden furry tails.

He wouldn't say that he definitely enjoyed when she wore those short and tight fitted black shorts Sakura got her, nor would he say that he found the way her chest seemed to grow every time she crossed her arms underneath them, nor how when she cheered and threw her arms up in joy how her shirt always rode up, exposing her defined belly and the smallest hint of her waistline and the muscles connecting to her thighs.

And he wouldn't say that he didn't like the look she had on her face every time he showed up late to a meeting and he voiced the first half assed excuse that popped up into his head, usually inciting a furious pink haired woman's wrath, and a red eyed young man's silent fuming anger. But lately she'd smirk, holding back a small girlish giggle that he'd not associated with her when she was younger.

And he'd be insane if he admitted that he had sometimes found himself staring at her cute light pink lips, doing his best, which wasn't very much, to make those lips shift up into a smile.

And those times where her hair would fall in front of her eyes, he wanted to be the one to brush them out of the way, just so he could see those almost luminescent purple eyes..

And he…

And…

H-He…

His book fell from his hands, clapping against the ground below with a firm flop. His hand twitched, eyes wide as he found himself unable to breathe.

Suddenly the sound of the rain outside was deafening, the world around him melting away as he retreated into the confines of his mind.

No…

No no no…

This wasn't happening, this couldn't be happening!

That was impossible!

It didn't make sense!

She was…! H-He was!

A-And the age gap…?!

And the…

"Oh Kami…" He bemoaned, eyes closing as he drug his hands across his face. It hadn't dawned on him until now, yet now that he thought about it, he had begun viewing the young woman differently at some point.

It had gone from seeing her as his adorable little murder monster, typically called a ninja in his village, to something more…

…

Well...

More…

"I can't breathe…" He sat up sharply, sliding to the side of the futon, legs hanging off the side. He held his head in his hands, staring blankly at the floor.

How long had this been going on? When did he….?

When did he start seeing her differently?

"Kami…" He breathed harshly, exhaling the air as if it had done something to offend him deeply. He suddenly felt dirty, like he was some old grimy pervert…

He shivered.

If anyone found out about this they'd kill him for sure…

And he wasn't sure he'd blame them for it…

"I'm going to hell for sure…" He muttered, rolling to lay face down on his bed…

For all of one long arduous hour, before a faint knocking could be heard from outside his apartment.

He blinked, sitting up slowly. With the rain pouring outside, he couldn't actually tell if it was something knocking on his door, or his neighbors door…

He sniffed, trying to pin down the person, but the rain had made such an action nearly impossible, especially with the turmoil his mind was going through.

Nevertheless, he wasn't going to answer it. Whoever it was would probably realize that he wasn't going to open it, even if they knew he was here…

However, depending on who it was, if they knew he was here, then they wouldn't leave at all…

Unfortunately, the incessant knocking didn't slow, and only began growing louder the longer he waited. He strained his ears, struggling to pick up the words being shouted at him through his door.

"Kakashi! Open the door! I know you're here! I can smell you!" The voice screamed, tone barely audible above the torrent of rain likely buffeting their form.

He felt his heart sink as he realized just who it was outside his door, banging so aggressively.

He swallowed thickly, calming his suddenly racing heart.

He was not expecting, nor was he ready mentally to face and talk to Naruto, especially after the realization he'd just experienced not an hour ago.

"Kakashi!" She yelled again, voice seemingly cracking. He grasped the door handle, opening it before this particular visitor decided to blow it down via a Rasengan. "Ka-Ka-Shi-" The knocking would've continued had he not opened the door so suddenly, the girl's hand raised, poised for another knock.

She blinked up at the Jonin, purple eyes shining in the night.

Kakashi coughed, the sound nearly undetectable with the sound of rain coming from all sides. "Naruto…? What's going on? What's wrong?" He asked.

Naruto just continued to stare up at him, taking a deep shuddering breath as she struggled to contain a sensation that had suddenly overcome her.

She was soaked to the bone, her improperly placed outfit of black shorts and a red sleeveless shirt similar to what Sakura wore, were so thoroughly drenched that the water simply bounced off of her violently shivering form. Her furry ears were matted down by the rain, leaving her looking like a recently drowned fox.

A very sad, and upset drowned fox…

And then she sneezed, and he struggled not pretend that he didn't find it adorable. Probably would've if the situation was different…

"Naruto…?" The man tried again, attempting to break her out of her trance that she had fallen into. She glanced up to him, her sad purple eyes locking gazes with his own. He saw tears begin welling up in her eyes, as if she was holding back from falling apart.

And he was struck with the realization that she was about to, and anything he said or did would push her over that edge.

"C-Can I s-stay…" She started, a hiccup stopping her abruptly. "C-C-Can I s-stay with you t-tonight..?" She asked, the chill she was clearly suffering from giving a stutter to her words. That seemed to be the last straw, however, as she broke down in front of him and she started crying.

And the tears didn't stop, and they wouldn't stop!

And now he was worried, afraid something terrible had happened! He had the sudden urge to rush out and kill whoever had made his student cry.

He hadn't much skill in the comforting department, but that'd never stopped him before.

He was Kakashi, legendary ninja for a reason. And this adorable little crying student of his was in need of help.

"Man, this sucks!" Her usually vibrant voice was drowned out by the thunder crack in the skies above, an addition to the intense storm that had been raging above Konoha for hours. She'd just returned from a long and dreadfully tiring solo mission, only to be greeted with a storm hitting her on the long run back.

Naturally, her Sensei's words about always being prepared seemed to mock her now, because she hadn't expected a rainstorm upon her arrival, and thus, hadn't prepared rain gear for the journey back.

She also wasn't prepared for this weather at all, seeing as she passed the gate guards in nothing more then black shorts and a red sleeveless shirt. Her kunai pouch tied to her left leg was absolutely drenched, and it felt heavier than she wanted it to be.

Her tails were drenched, only serving to weigh her down as they soaked up the rainfall like sponges.

As bad as this was, she knew so long as she made a beeline for home that she'd forget this whole mess as she relaxed into her bath. She loved doing that after such long boring missions.

The streets of the hidden village were practically abandoned, no one dumb enough to get caught out in the freezing rain.

She blitzed across the rooftops of the village, flashing forwards with speeds worthy of a Kage level ninja.

Naturally…

She reached her home in roughly ten minutes, but she slowed to a stop just outside of he front of the building. Yellow tape blocked off the front door to the building, multiple warnings written across it in black.

She blinked exhausted eyes in surprise, heart sinking as the reality of the situation dawned on her.

Her place was gone?

"Hey! There you are!"

She nearly jumped at the sound of the gruff voice snapping at her. She turned to the side of the building, watching as a black haired older man stepped out of a back door to the apartment tower. In his hands was a hastily thrown together duffel bag, although was was inside of it, she didn't know.

"Thought you'd never return." The old man grumbled, tossing her a bag. She caught it out of reflex, staring at the man with a puzzled expression on her face.

"What's this? What's going on?" Naruto asked, holding back the shiver that went through her system.

"Your clothes, what else?" The man responded shortly, before sighing. "I'm sorry, I don't intend to be rude. But this storm's ruined a few of the old supports in the building. Until we get everything fixed and checked out, it's not safe to stay here. More than half the residents had to leave, and you are one of them." He explained, pulling out a cigarette.

"W-What are you saying?" Naruto asked, eyes widening. "M-My house is gone?" She asked, tails falling to the ground like she'd just received news that her favorite ramen shop had been shut down.

"No, no! But until they fix all this old shit, you aren't allowed in. Safety regulations and all that bull." He grunted, tossing up his hands to try and calm her growing worries. "Your boyfriend went ahead and gathered together some stuff from your space before everything got shut down. He wasn't too pleased with the notion, crazy red eyed guy that he was…" The man sighed.

She didn't notice the once or twice over he gave her, noticing her appearance and the situation her soaked clothes had left her in. It had left very little to the imagination, but he wasn't a horn dog, glancing away before his wandering eyes would get him in trouble.

He coughed, averting his gaze.

The words boyfriend went right over her head, her mind more focused on the reality that she was suddenly without a house.

"W-Where am I supposed to go?" She asked in distress, black bags underneath her eyes so much more apparent in her distress. The man shrugged his shoulders.

"I dunno, but you can't stay here. You've got to have friends right? Go crash at their place or something, it's what I'd do if I were you." He muttered, turning away as he walked down the street, umbrella in hand.

Naruto simply stared at him in shock, blinking the rain out of her eyes.

What was she supposed to do now?

"Go find one of your damn friends. I'm sure the monkeys wouldn't turn you away, might even invite you to their den. I've been waiting for you to make some kits-"

"S-Shut up, Kurama!" Naruto squealed tiredly, face turning a lovely shade of red. She heard the sound of deep laughter echoing from within her head, gaining the distinct impression that the fox had rolled over to go back to sleep. She was too tired to listen to his insane ramblings at this hour…

She sighed, turning away from the building. By now she was absolutely soaked, and if she didn't find somewhere to stay fast, her bag was going to be as well…

She took off, making her way towards the Hyuuga estate. She hated to be a bother, but Hinata-Chan wouldn't turn her down in her time of need?

Would she?

"Just flash the pretty purple haired monkey the goods and you're probably fine. She won't say no then. You know she'll want to cop a feel of your large flesh pillows." Kurama added helpfully.

Naruto slid to a stop in the street, face turning beet red at the implications the fox gave her.

She swallowed thickly, turning on a dime as she thoughtfully decided to not bother the Heiress of the Hyuuga.

Hinata was a great person, don't get her wrong.

But she was a bit of a…

Well, she was head over heels for the red haired Uzumaki girl, and had more than once confessed her blatant attraction to the girl.

It had made joining her at the local hot springs uncomfortable after a while, knowing that there was always an alternative motive behind inviting her to such an occasion…

The motive being that she wanted to see the redhead naked in her bath…

Unfortunately for the beautiful Hyuuga, Naruto wasn't interested in girls that way. That knowledge, unfortunately, did little to deter the other woman's feelings on the matter.

"Come on, one night won't hurt…" The fox grumbled absentmindedly in the back of her mind. Naruto blushed, looking indignant. "Couldn't you imagine it? Her pretty lavender eyes staring up at you as she parted your legs, dipping down between your-" The chakra beast continued unabashedly.

"Would you be quiet, you damn perverted fox!" The young woman hissed, changing course for the Hokage Tower. She knew that Kurama had other reasons for suggesting that she sleep at the Hyuuga's, and he wasn't all that subtle about it either…

Never had been…

You'd think living around and being raised by all these perverts that she'd be one herself. No so…

Well…

Actually…

"Is the Granny in?" Naruto burst into the lobby of the Hokage tower, nearly scaring the woman behind the desk to death. Once she realized that it was just Naruto, she settled down a bit, brushing off the insulting nickname the girl had the leader of the village.

"Unfortunately, no. She left for home a few hours ago." The woman explained, looking like she was trying to be helpful.

Naruto's shoulders slumped, her expression falling.

There went getting the old lady's help…

She was running out of options, and her lack of sleep was really gaining on her mentally.

"Okay…" She muttered, turning about and walking back out the door. She stopped as she stood in the rain, starting to feel seriously cold. Hinata was out of the question, Tsunade wasn't here and she had no idea where she lived, her two teammates were probably far too busy to help, and that narrowed down her list to practically just one.

"Iruka-Sensei!" She exclaimed, running towards the housing district her old teacher lived in. By now the storm had progressed greatly, and she almost couldn't hear herself think as she scrambled to the opposite side of the village.

She began knocking on the man's door as soon as she arrived, banging against it almost frantically. "Iruka-Sensei! Open the door, please!" She shouted over the rain, her voice on the verge of hysterics.

She was running out of choices, and if Iruka wasn't here…

Then she didn't know where else she could go. She bit back a hiccup of distress as she continued banging, but after minutes passed, and there was no sign of life within the building, she realized that he must not have been home.

She sneezed, shivering in the frigid weather. She was starting to panic, and she had to fight back the tears that had threatened to burst forth at the panic that had started to take hold.

She's never been left outside before, always having a home to return to, a safe place to relax and wind down. Even when on a mission, during extreme weather, she always had a place to stay, or someone to stand by her side.

The amount of missions she'd gone on where she was less then comfortable, she had always found solace in the comforting presence of…

The presence of…

Her eyes widened as she stood up, the final option she had available to her just now hitting her brain.

"Kakashi…" She breathed, on the verge of tears. She knew where her Sensei lived, she knew how to get there, and she'd heard that he was supposed to be off of missions for the time being.

He'd help her right? He wouldn't leave her out in the rain? Freezing to death like an abandoned kitten?

She bit her lip, unsure of herself. She didn't know why, but when she thought of going back on him for help, she was afraid he'd see her as a burden…

She couldn't imagine his face, what he'd think if she did…

She hiccuped again, the tears moments away from bursting forth with righteous fury. She supposed she didn't have a choice, everyone else was either out of the question, or simply wasn't home.

She dragged herself to her feet, her energy sapped as she felt emotionally and physically exhausted from the mission prior, and the deplorable situation she'd found herself in now.

A while later saw her approaching the older man's front door, having scaled the apartment complex. She raised her hand to knock, hesitant for but a moment, before she began knocking in earnest.

And before she knew it she was pounding on his door, calling his name frantically.

"Kakashi! I know you're home! Open the door!" She screamed, voiced practically drowned out from the rain. Her voice felt raw, after having been shouting so much, and her throat hurt and she wanted to cry and she was cold, and her house was gone and no one would help her and she just wanted to go home…

"Naruto…?" She didn't even notice when the door finally opened, hand raised poised for another strike. Slowly, her eyes trailed up the half dressed form of her Sensei, lips quivering with barely repressed emotions. "Naruto, what's going on? What's wrong?"

She hiccuped, the dam that had given the good fight of holding back her tears had finally begun to fall, and once they began falling they didn't stop falling.

"C-Can I s-stay…" She started, a hiccup stopping her abruptly.

"C-C-Can I s-stay with you t-tonight..?" She asked, the chill she was clearly suffering from giving a stutter to her words. The dam finally broke, and she started bawling in front of him. "B-B-Because I-I can't go home, and m-my landlord said my house I-Is off limits because o-of r-rain-" She hiccuped again. "Because of rain d-damage and he w-won't let me in and no one e-else was available and Iruka-Sensei wasn't h-home and I don't know where Gra-Granny lives a-a-a-and I didn't want to b-bother Sasuke because h-he's so busy and Sakura-Chan is crazy tired f-from her studies and I don't know what to d-do, and I-I-I miss Jiraiya and I'm cold-" She hiccuped, tears openly streaming down her face with such ferociousness that she couldn't even see any longer, the world becoming a blur.

She stopped, gasping for breath after the massive tearful word barf. And then she began wailing, crying like an abandoned kitten in an alleyway. She'd dropped her bag, trying in an increasingly failing attempt to wipe away her tears, but they just wouldn't stop.

So caught up in her emotional breakdown, she didn't see the worry on the older man's face, nor did she notice when the man hastily pulled her inside his house, shielding her from the rain.

She couldn't contain nor slow the hiccups, standing in his doorway, soaking wet so thoroughly that she was leaving a new wet puddle in his front doorway. She didn't know where he went, or when he'd left her standing there, but she allowed herself to be dragged to his bathroom, a dry towel thrown around her shoulders.

She knew she was a big girl, and big girls didn't cry, but she couldn't stop herself. She wasn't aware of when he'd pulled her into a hug, his body probably getting soaked from contact with hers, but the warmth and the reassurance from his presence was enough to finally slow the waterfalls of tears. She hiccuped pathetically into his shirt, not nearly tall enough to reach any higher.

She knew that she had probably flashed him, seeing as her clothes were so thoroughly wet that they'd practically become see through, but she couldn't bring herself to care in that moment. She was on the verge of breaking way into a second wind of tears when he scooped her up off the ground, setting her on the sink counter, nine drenched golden tails splattered all over his sink and bathroom, causing quite the mess.

She wiped pitifully at her eyes in a failed attempt to clear them, her cries smoothing from hysterical to something a bit less heart wrenching.

"Here, let's get you out of that shirt. You're freezing." She didn't fight him when he pulled at the fabric of her shirt, gently tugging it up over her head, where he subsequently tossed it to the ground in a wet loud plop. She didn't have the emotional energy to blush at the fact that she was wearing nothing but her wet ruined bra in front of him, calmed by his comforting tone.

He covered her shoulders with a towel quickly afterwards, before moving onto her feet. He quickly and efficiently removed her dirty tattered ninja sandals, tossing them atop her shirt before he moved for her waist. She squeaked so quietly that he probably didn't hear her over the blaring sound of rain in the background, his fingers deftly undoing the buttons to her shorts before sliding them down over her long, slender legs.

She blinked, cheeks warm for multiple reasons, as she found her gaze drawn to his. His eyes were closed, not using this moment to look upon her less than dressed form.

The moment he had her shorts off he covered her legs with a hot dry towel, where he'd gained one so fast, she wasn't all there enough to dwell on.

She squeaked when he pulled her into a hug suddenly, her tears staining his dark shirt. He pressed her head to his chest with his hand, the other wrapping around her, offering her that support pillar she so desperately needed in that moment.

"Of course you can stay here." He muttered, not letting her go. He stayed there with her for however long it'd take for her to settle down and feel somewhat better. Eventually her tears slowed to a crawl, and she was left hiccuping gently, now feeling tired and completely worn out.

"I want you to take a shower. I'll… get something hot going for you." He said gently, only pulling away from her once he was sure she wouldn't immediately break into tears again. The tear stained look on her face was heart-wrenching to him, the large black bags underneath her eyes almost unnatural on her usually unblemished face.

She sniffed, wiping at her nose. "Okay…" She muttered quietly, going to stand up.

Once he was sure she was fine by herself, he left the bathroom, lest his perfect facade break and she see how hard he'd been blushing.

The door shut behind him with a click, the man resting his back to the door. Slowly he slid down to the ground, emotionally drained by the abrupt situation he'd found himself in.

He sighed…

He couldn't tell if Kami was mocking him, or was teasing him with having her show up on his doorstep so soon after he'd made his revelation…

"K-Kakashi… I-I don't have any clothes…" Naruto whispered through the door, sounding in that moment so unbelievably tired.

He swallowed thickly…

No, Kami was definitely mocking him.

Chapter

1

End