Naruto felt like a wrung out old dish towel after a long, tearful heart to heart with Iruka-sensei and a long, humiliating discussion with the Hokage concerning everything she knew about her landlord (very little), the pictures he took (even less), and what had happened on his previous visits (too much). By the time everything was wrapped up, it was two in the afternoon, she was starving and sad, and people on the street had begun to whisper and point and shoot her awful, pitying looks. Iruka had noticed her noticing the attention she was getting, and tucked her against his side, promising her ramen.

Ichiraku was usually a place she felt safe and happy, but that day, as she and her old sensei ducked under the awning and entered the ramen stand, Ayame nee-chan had immediately wrapped her up in a hug and Naruto knew she knew, and with the way Teuchi looked at her, she knew he knew, too.

Naruto tried really hard to smile as they fussed over her in the empty little restaurant, preparing her a bowl piled high with all her favorite ingredients. She really tried. But nestled between Iruka-sensei and Ayame nee-chan, who was stroking Naruto's mussed braid and telling her how pretty it looked, while Teuchi stood in front of her with his arms crossed, an affectionate smile, and such sad eyes, she broke down. This time, it took a long while for the tears to stop, but she felt strangely better after crying her eyes out onto the older civilian girl's shoulder, and Teuchi insisted on making her another bowl so it would be hot.

She left with a full, warm stomach, red-rimmed eyes, and a homemade sakuramochi in her hands, as Teuchi and his daughter called after her to come back soon. She took a bite of her treat as they walked; it was really, really good, the texture soft and satisfying and the red bean paste pleasantly sweet. Wordlessly, she offered the treat to Iruka-sensei, and he gave her his usual fond, handsome smile as he leaned down and took a small bite.

"I didn't want anybody to know," Naruto told him, matter-of-fact, as he chewed.

Iruka-sensei pulled her against his side with an arm around her shoulders, swallowed, and sighed. He glanced down at her, offered her a sad, what can you do? sort of smile. "I know, Naruto." Then, looking ahead, he continued quietly, "I need to ask you something, but it can wait. Do you want to talk about it now, or later?"

Naruto waved a dismissive hand, took another bite of her sakuramochi, and spoke with her mouth full as she acquiesced, "Might as well be now, while I'm too tired to cry."

Iruka stopped her, looking meaningfully up at the building across the path from them, and it dawned on her that they were outside Kaka-sensei's apartment complex. He set both hands down on her shoulders, and leaned down to her level, which was something she was pretty sure adults did to make her feel less talked down to, but always made her feel nervous and put on the spot and observed. "Naruto," he began seriously. "I don't want you to go back to your apartment. I think it won't be good for you, and I want you to live someplace you feel safe and happy, okay?"

Naruto could only look at him, a little stunned by the direction this conversation had taken, feeling so small and young and like a leaf floating helplessly down a stream.

"Traditionally, it was common for jōnin sensei to move students in situations like yours—those without parents, or with parents who hurt them—in with them, and take care of them until they're old enough to move back out. It's a little strange because you were already living alone, and most genin who did this lived in group or foster homes… and you'd be the only one, since your generation was largely born after the events that created most of Konoha's orphans. But Kakashi-san has agreed to let you live with him—"

"What?" she interrupted, reeling. That couldn't be right. There's no way her sensei wanted her there, wanted a dumb, damaged little girl in his apartment. It was another little bit of pity, like the mochi in her hands, and like how the man had let her sleep next to him in his bed, or how he'd made her pancakes for breakfast and nodded along to everything she was saying as they walked together to training, not even taking his book out.

But Iruka didn't seem to pick up on why she was confused. "You don't have to," he added. "You can come stay with me instead. The only thing is that Kakashi-san has a room for you, and I don't, and I know how important it is for a young lady to have some space of her own—"

Naruto wasn't listening, though. She was too stuck on what she was being offered. A home? A real home, that wasn't lonely, that had someone she trusted in it? An actual dining table to eat at together? "What—what if I want to go back to my apartment?" she asked when she realized the man was looking at her expectantly, dazed, trying to buy time to think.

The chūnin's hands tightened on her shoulders, and his lips tugged into a frown. "Do you?" he asked, sounding surprised, and looked relieved when she shook her head no. "Good, I don't want you to, either. And neither does Kakashi-san. You feel safe in his apartment, don't you?"

Naruto nodded, and tears sprang into her eyes once more. She blinked them back, and rather than answer him directly, said the most practical and immediate thing she could think of: "I'm gonna need clothes."

The man smiled, and brushed her hair back behind her ear. "I already packed them for you, and your Pochi, and your Ichiraku mug, and your journal, and all your notebooks and training supplies. It's all upstairs in your sensei's apartment."

"Pochi is there?" she asked, letting herself sound like the child she'd been made to feel like all day. Pochi was her stuffed animal, a little blue dog that had had spots before she'd petted them off, given to her before she was out of diapers. It had slept with her almost every night since she could remember.

Naruto shut her eyes against the kiss Iruka-sensei placed on her forehead. He was the only person that didn't consistently make her adrenaline spike when he touched her. She trusted him implicitly. "He's there. Do you want to go upstairs and see him?"

She grabbed the hem of his shirt, tugged it just a little. "Hey, Iruka-sensei, do you think it's a good idea, me staying there with Kaka-sensei?" She would trust his answer, no matter what. She knew he wanted the best for her.

Her old teacher straightened back up and smiled down at her. "I do. But if you change your mind, just say the word, and I'll make up my couch for you. Even if it's the middle of the night, Kakashi-san will walk you over, I promise. Sound okay?" He offered Naruto his pinky finger, and she took it, returning his smile best she could and nodding back.

…

Kakashi watched from the window as Iruka and Naruto appeared to be engaged in a serious conversation, the chūnin bent down to her level and speaking very seriously to her. He wanted to know what they were saying, but simultaneously dreaded the further social interaction he would be facing. Every single one of the conversations he'd had with the other jōnin had been difficult, both emotionally and socially. Guy and Kurenai had both cried, the former much more loudly and much more on Kakashi, and Asuma had hugged him, of all things, and promised him to make Ino be very kind and gentle to Naruto for a while.

All three had to be pulled away from training with their students, and all three had looked absolutely devastated when they saw their genin looking at them after, concerned and scared. He'd watched Guy's body language and face relax into that deadly serious form they only took when he knew there was no place for his usual optimism, and it had unexpectedly made his throat feel tight, made it sink in that this was going to affect all of them.

It was only half past three, but Naruto looked exhausted when she and Iruka finally appeared on his doorstep, her eyes red and deeply shadowed, the sparkle gone from the halfhearted smile she offered him. Kakashi restrained himself from doing all the things he wanted to do—hug her, pick her up and cradle her, kiss her on the forehead the way he'd just seen Iruka do—and instead jerked his chin towards the hall, and said, "There's a bath running for you, and clean clothes laid out on the sink. Go soak until you feel better, or whatever it is girls do in the bath."

It was supposed to be a little mean, a little dismissive, but Naruto and Iruka both shot him affectionate smiles, and it made him feel positively transparent. He cleared his throat and refused to make eye contact with either of them until the door shut behind the little blonde, and Iruka said brusquely, "The Sandaime said you can't be on the search team directly, but you can lend one or two of your ninken if you're so inclined. He was developing the photos himself and used a unique fixative, so theoretically, it might be possible to sniff them out. There's a list of potential people to search… people caught on the security camera of the store across the street going into the front office, other known associates. But it's a sizable list, and I've been advised to tell you to expect a long wait."

Kakashi hummed in acknowledgment, trying to choke down the predictable but infuriating news that he wasn't allowed to be involved directly. "Fine. I'll send Pakkun to report first thing in the morning. How is she?" Although he'd meant to come off casual, offhand, just a quick status check, Iruka hit him with another knowing smile and told him about their day, about their chat, Naruto's report to the Hokage, and their trip to Ichiraku, and Kakashi appreciated it even as he pretended to be bored. He liked knowing how her day had been.

"And we talked about her living arrangements," the chūnin concluded, and Kakashi's ears perked up, sending the other man a questioning look. "I think she wants to stay here, if you're sure that's alright."

Kakashi shrugged, avoiding eye contact, trying not to seem too invested. "Well, I've got the space for her. And earplugs. Should be fine."

Iruka laughed, and that was good, he liked Kakashi, they were on the same side. They both wanted what was best for Naruto, after all… it was just that Kakashi wanted—needed—to be the one giving her the best. "You'll probably need them," Iruka laughed. "I told her my door was always open, and that if she changed her mind at any point in time, you'd bring her to me. So, sorry in advance if she wakes you up in the middle of the night."

The memory of Naruto, one shoulder exposed by the collar of his shirt, crawling into his bed the previous night, made him smile, and Iruka obliviously smiled back. "No problem," he answered, flippant. "Are you going to stay to tuck her in?"

Iruka gave an embarrassed laugh, smoothing his hair back from his face and shaking his head. "No, no, she's too old for that, I know it, even if I might want to."I tucked her in last night, Kakashi didn't say, thinking of the way she looked at him as he leaned over her and gently tucked her blankets around her. Like he was a mythical creature, something rare and precious. "I'll leave her to you. No, wait." The man crouched down and dragged her duffel closer, searching briefly through the bag and pulling out the stuffed animal from before. He placed it on the futon on her pillow and smiled, the expression starting off happy and growing sad and tired as he stared down at the little blue dog. "I'll… be by with her plants tomorrow. You don't train on Sundays, do you?"

"Sundays and Mondays," he confirmed, politely leading the chūnin to the door. "We'll be here. Well, I'll probably go out for groceries, but if I'm not here, Naruto will be." She'll be at home, our home. Remembering his manners for once, he bowed shallowly at Iruka, and expressed his gratitude. "Thank you, Iruka-san, for your help today, and your support of my student."

"Just Iruka is fine," the man answered kindly.

Kakashi inclined his head. "Then please call me by my first name as well."

"Sure. Take good care of her, Kakashi."