"What'd you do?" demands Kakashi-Sensei as he drops into the middle of the training field Naruto's running through warm-ups in.
Naruto is satisfied to note he doesn't so much as twitch in surprise. He's long past being caught off guard by this kind of behavior from his teacher. Instead, he sighs and pulls himself out of his lunge. Hopefully, this conversation won't take up too much time. It's weird but Naruto had kinda been looking forward to being able to train alone this morning. He's rarely had more than a quarter of an hour to himself for the last couple of weeks.
"Sorry, Sensei?" he says, bemused. As far as Naruto's aware, he hasn't made any trouble as of late. Nothing new, anyway.
Kakashi-Sensei puffs out his cheeks in what Naruto can only describe as childish vexation. Before Naruto can think more deeply about that, the boy complains, "You got assigned a mission to go confirm the existence of an Iwa outpost with Sarada." He crosses his arms and all but whines, "That's going to take you away from the village for days. Maybe even a week if you can't find it easily or it doesn't actually exist." He narrows his eyes suspiciously at Naruto and demands, "Did you give some bad advice to the sandaime? Piss off somebody and he needs to send you away to give them time to cool down?"
"No and no," Naruto replies. Firmly, he defends himself by telling Kakashi-Sensei, "It's a mission that needed doing and Sarada needs the practice."
His teacher stares at him. His gray eyes are leery as he reminds Naruto, quietly, "This isn't like the missions she'll be taking in the present."
"I know," he says. He is very aware no matter what Kakashi-Sensei might think. It's still not a good reason to keep her from going on it. She is a shinobi now and dangerous missions are a fact of life.
"We're at war, Naruto," the boy says. "She could—"
"She won't," Naruto breaks in before Kakashi-Sensei can finish. He's never been much of a believer in bad luck or jinxes but Naruto's unwilling to chance things. Not here and not in this time. "It's me and her, Sensei. I'll keep her safe," he swears.
"I know," replies Kakashi-Sensei without hesitation.
Naruto sighs. "Sorry," he mumbles. "I'm a little on edge too, you know? When I wanted a more difficult mission for Sarada I didn't think this would be what the old man gave us."
The boy looks him over with consideration. "It seems even without seeing you in action he already thinks highly of you," he remarks.
Naruto warms at these words. "That is kinda nice, gotta admit," he confesses.
Kakashi-Sensei huffs, apparently amused by Naruto. His whole body starts to relax and, in turn, so does Naruto. After a moment, he thinks to say, "Hey, Sensei?"
"Yes, Naruto?"
Smiling, he crouches down to the boy's height and advises, "Try and make the most of this, yeah?" He grins wider when Kakashi-Sensei's silver-gray brows meet each other. "We're finally gonna be out of your hair for a bit. Enjoy getting to spend some uninterrupted downtime with Dad and your teammates."
Kakashi's confused expression flips to unimpressed. "I already spend plenty of time with Rin and Obito," he tells Naruto. "Trust me."
"And Dad?" presses Naruto when Kakashi fails to mention the young shinobi.
"…I guess it will be okay," mutters Kakashi, practically pouting beneath his mask at Naruto's gentle calling-out.
"So enthusiastic," teases Naruto. "As always."
Kakashi rolls his eyes. "You're not as funny as you think you are," he grumbles.
"Ooph," complains Naruto as he presses a hand to his chest and falls back on his butt. "That tongue's gotten sharper since we arrived here, Sensei," he jokes.
Unexpectedly, true regret passes over Kakashi's face. "Sorry," he whispers.
Naruto tenses. "Hey, I was teasing," he replies. Naruto doesn't even think, he just grabs the boy's arm and squeezes it. "You okay?"
He pulls away and turns his back on Naruto. "…When you get back, I think we might need to talk," he says quite ominously.
Naruto studies the boy's back but can't find any hints there. Only guilt in the slump of his shoulders. What's bugging Kakashi-Sensei? Why doesn't he want to share it now? It dawns on Naruto he must be worried it'll distract Naruto during his mission with Sarada.
He feels both touched and irritated at this. It's endearing that his teacher is still trying to protect him. Naruto's decades past needing it. Hell, he's one of the strongest shinobi alive right now. And that's what bugs him. He can take whatever Kakashi-Sensei can throw his way. He's weathered worse than this. His teacher putting it off like this is just going to be a distraction during the coming week.
He doesn't try to argue with Kakashi-Sensei, however. Naruto knows better than to try. The boy is stubborn. Perhaps even more so than Naruto in some ways. If he thinks it's best only to share after he and Sarada return from their mission, it's the only time he's going to talk without a lot of wheedling and convincing.
Whatever it is, it must not be that bad. Or at least it's something that isn't going to impact them too soon. Soothingly, he says, "Sure, Kakashi-Sensei."
The boy's head bobs and, with that, he leaves Naruto. Alone in the training field once again, Naruto collapses onto his back. He doesn't feel like practicing much anymore.
-O-
Knee by knee, Naruto kneels down next to Sarada. The girl is shaking, curled around a scrap of bloody, brown cloth. Tentatively, he places a hand on her back. Sarada spasms beneath his touch, a choking cry breaking past her teeth.
"It's done," Naruto tells her. "They're… They're taken care of."
Sarada cries again. Louder. One of her dirty hands comes to cover her mouth. Naruto grimaces before he gently pries her fingers off her face. "Hey," he scolds lightly, "don't do that."
Her eyes, two perfect Sharingans, pin him with a look of disgruntlement. "Being noisy is how they found us," she says. "Being loud is why that little kid is dead."
Naruto doesn't flinch. Sarada's right. Grim as it is. "Still," he says. "You shouldn't let somebody else's blood get in your mouth if you can help it."
Sarada's gaze returns to the scrap in her hand. Tenderly, she runs a thumb down it. "He was little," she whispers. "Like Kakashi."
He sucks his teeth. "Yeah," agrees Naruto. "I—" he swallows, trying and failing to find words to bring Sarada comfort. Taking the lives of others is a part of being a shinobi. Sometimes, the life will be that of a child. Especially now. In this time. "It was you or him," Naruto settles on. "If you had hesitated, he would have tried to kill you instead."
The girl sniffles. "I know," she whispers. "But," she whimpers, sucking in a breath. "If I'd been more careful before. If I'd not tripped that trap—"
Naruto brings Sarada in for a hug. Crushing the girl to his chest, he says, "Stop. You'll drive yourself crazy thinking like that, you know."
She wails into his shoulder. "He was so scared as he died," she says.
He sighs and runs a hand through her hair. "I know," he mumbles. "I know."
Kid or adult. Those aware of their imminent death are always frightened as it happens. It's a thing a shinobi grows numb to. Something that they have to do if they want to survive.
"It shouldn't be like this!" she rages as she pushes away from Naruto. "Kids shouldn't be fighting in wars! Shinobi or no!"
Naruto's fingers yearn to drag Sarada back in, fold her beneath his chin. He knows she won't accept such an action right now. Sarada would probably try to deck him if he tried. She's like Sasuke in that way. He lashes out too when he's hurt.
"You're not alone," he assures her in an attempt to reach her through words. "I know you like history, Sarada. Who else thought like you?"
The girl stares at him in confusion, sniveling a little into her arm brace. "Senju Hashirama?" she whispers after a time, sounding uncertain as she does.
He smiles. "That's right." He puts out a hand, palm up, for her to take if she wants. Dubiously, she doe so. Naruto stares at their joined hands. Hers is small. But not as small as those of one of the bodies he just dealt with. He wraps his fingers around Sarada's hand, hiding it, protecting it.
It makes Naruto think of his first big mission. Kakashi-Sensei held his hand at one point too. He knows the reason for that was different to Naruto's now yet—
Did he feel the same? Even for a second?
Had Kakashi-Sensei felt grief for Naruto? For what his small hand had done? Would do?
Did his teacher's chest inflate with pride? For his strength? For his passion? For all that he had done? Would do?
"The first Hokage felt the same as you do, Sarada," he murmurs. "He didn't like seeing the deaths of children either. It's in part why Konohagakure exists. He and your ancestors wanted to create a place where children could grow up protected and safe from death." He meets her gaze. "In our time, we do a pretty good job, don't you think?"
"…Yes," she mumbles. "This is—" she stammers, "it's nothing like home."
He nods. "Yeah," Naruto replies.
He'd picked up on that pretty damn quick, surprisingly. The Sandaime's asked for his opinions, his advice even, on the war. Even if Naruto wanted to throw the old man a bone he can't. Naruto's been to war. Fought in it. Never, though, was he a strategist for any. He's out of his depth here.
"I want to go back," says Sarada.
Naruto lets go of her hand. "Sure," he agrees. "We're done here anyway."
"No," says the girl, drawing her hands into fists. "I want to go home."
He winces. "We all do," he assures the girl. Naruto exhales and runs his fingers through his hair. "Maybe Kakashi-Sensei's had a breakthrough while we've been gone."
Her lip wobbles. "I hope so," she says.
Naruto pulls her in for a side embrace. "C'mon," he urges. "Let's go."
She nods. Sarada then looks at the scrap of fabric in her hand. "Should I…?"
"Put it over there," suggests Naruto, gesturing to the final resting place of the Iwa shinobi they had to kill after discovering their outpost.
The girl firms her chin, making a determined expression reminiscent of one Sakura also wore at her age. "Okay," she says.
Respectfully, Naruto hangs back as Sarada places the cloth where he instructed and bows her head in prayer. He hopes it brings her some kind of peace. This won't be the last time her hands end up stained with the blood of children no matter how much he wishes otherwise.
-O-
They are nearly through day three of being back in Konoha and Naruto is going to have some damn kits soon. Sarada, after making their report on their mission, retired to the bedroom of her and Naruto's apartment and has yet to come out. Not in the face of his pleading, nor for any of the kids who've come calling, and not for food.
He's in need of Kakashi-Sensei. Naruto knows the boy already tried talking to Sarada when he visited the first day they were back in the village but that didn't take. Nor has any of Naruto's subsequent talks. It's his teacher's turn to try again.
They can't go on like this.
Naruto wishes, though, he didn't have to go through his dad to talk to Kakashi-Sensei. However, it seems, in Naruto and Sarada's absence he took his advice to heart. He didn't just spend extra time with the young shinobi, he has apparently moved in with him for the time being.
(His teacher might have mentioned something about a burst pipe in his apartment but Naruto wasn't listening that closely).
After finishing his halting and stumbling explanation for why he needs Kakashi-Sensei now, at dinnertime of all things, to Minato, the blond crosses his arms. His stomach drops. Naruto is almost convinced he'll turn him away. That he will tell Naruto to come back tomorrow instead.
"Kakashi wouldn't know what to say," his dad says.
Surprised, Naruto blinks. Then he scoffs. "Sure," he replies in disbelief. During his time here, Naruto's learned quite a lot about his teacher. Such as he's been a shinobi going on three years. That he's been fighting in the war almost as long. He's definitely killed before.
Minato frowns. "No, I'm being serious, Memna, sir," he asserts.
He grimaces at the formal address. Someday (too soon) he's going to be Naruto's dad. Minato should not be the one calling him sir. "Just… Just Menma," he begs. "Please."
The blond purses his lips. "As you say," he demures.
Naruto, who is tired of this overly polite shit, throws up his hands. "You know what?" he snarls, "whatever! Whatever, okay?" Chest heaving, he hisses at the snotty teenager in front of him, "I gotta kid who's struggling and needs help! And you're telling me, your Chūnin-level student wouldn't know what to say?"
His dad doesn't so much as flinch at his anger. If anything, he just clenches his jaw tighter. As Naruto continues to bare his teeth at him, Minato seems to come to some kind of decision. Voice soft, he explains, "Kakashi's never killed anybody younger than himself."
This makes Naruto pull back. "What?" he murmurs.
The blond exhales. "Kakashi's always been the youngest in every battle we've faced," he elaborates. "I'm sure that's soon to change as he grows older but right now…" he trails off, a small frown pulling at the corners of his lips. "Everyone's been older, bigger, scarier-looking than him. My student is many amazing things but being sensitive isn't one of them." Rueful, he tells Naruto, "I know our kids are friends. I respect it even if I hate it."
Naruto is shocked. He's known that Minato doesn't like him or Sarada for quite a while now. Since they first met in this time, if he's being honest. He didn't think it'd been his dad's choice to allow the "friendship" between Sarada and Kakashi-Sensei.
"You do?" he mutters.
Minato rolls his eyes before he forges on talking about the kids. "I believe children should be allowed to make mistakes; fight and disagree with friends, learn how to apologize. However," he pauses and raises a single finger. "This is a very delicate situation," he says to Naruto, "Kakashi seems to value Saraka's friendship highly. To protect it, I am not going to allow him to be the first friend to talk to her about what's happened. It's too risky."
He scowls. "Who do you think she should talk to then? Do you know who's been in her shoes?" he demands. Naruto can't help but slump forward, chin falling to his chest. "I'm not getting through to her," he confesses. "You wouldn't know this but typically talks like this one are my specialty. It's freaking me out that she won't listen to me even a tiny bit."
The young shinobi shifts in the doorframe of his apartment. "…Me," he mumbles and Naruto scrunches his nose, confused. "I've been in her shoes. There was this girl when I was— And—" Minato stops and exhales. "Anyway, let me talk to her. I can help."
Naruto scrunches his nose harder. "You just said you don't like her friendship with Kakashi," he reminds the blond.
Minato thins his lips. "I don't," he agrees. "I know you two are up to something. Doing something. I don't know what but you've roped in my kid and I hate it. The only reason you're still in one piece is because the third's vouching for you."
"Wow," is all Naruto finds himself capable of saying. Minato speaks of him and Sarada with such venom yet his control is amazing. Naruto doesn't think he'd have held himself back from attacking somebody like himself and Sarada if he'd been in his dad's place at his age. It's no wonder the third let him become the Hokage so young.
Eyes shaped in a hard glare, Minato tells Naruto, "For all that I disapprove, it is a relief for me to see Kakashi getting along with another kid. As far as kids go, Saraka is a nice one, in spite of your influence on her. It seems to be rubbing off on Kakashi too. He's getting along with his teammates and the other teams much better these days." His eyes soften at the corners and he runs a hand through his hair as he looks past Naruto and out onto the street his apartment faces. "The last thing I want to do is cause a setback in Kakashi's development. For him, I'll talk to your student."
Naruto swallows. His dad really cares a lot about Kakashi-Sensei, doesn't he? It's just like his mom told him. Minato sees Kakashi-Sensei as a little brother of sorts. Family.
For a half-second Naruto thinks about telling Minato who he really is. Desperate to feel the love Minato holds for his teacher. He shakes himself out of that thought. Even if he tells, even if Minato believes, there's no guarantee he'll just start loving Naruto.
No, it's better to go about this the slow way. If he's going to love Naruto it's going to be because he convinces him to by being himself. The way Sarada, little by little, seems to be doing.
"…You will be kind, right?" he questions, squinting at the blond. Minato doesn't seem like the type to go the hard-ass route but he needs to be sure. Naruto believes that's the last thing Sarada needs right now. "None of that toughen-up shit some people like? Saraka knows this is the life of a shinobi. It's just this aspect she's struggling with."
"Of course," assures the blond with a not quite affronted glower.
He puts up both his hands. "Okay," says Naruto. "Okay." He takes a deep breath. "Will you come with me now?" he pleads. "She's been holed up in our bedroom since we came back and I doubt that's changed since I left." Naruto opens and closes his mouth. "She's not eaten since she killed that Iwa-Shinobi," he murmurs. "I'm worried."
Minato's eyes flash with concern at this confession. "All right," he agrees, stepping out of the threshold of his apartment and closing the door behind him. "I'll see her now."
He hesitates, but in the end, squeezes the young shinobi's shoulder in gratitude. "Minato," Naruto says as he does so. "Thank you."
The blond nods. Naruto, who is delighted to have not been shrugged off, lets his hand linger a second longer. "Let's go," he says before he turns away, hand slipping off the other. He takes a few steps and grins when he hears the sound of Minato following.
His dad may not like them but he sure cares a lot still. He's a good guy. Naruto is so proud of him.
Next update, we'll be back to Sarada's pov. I hope you're all curious to see how her chat with Minato will go :)
Thank you for reading and let me know what you think!