Thank you for not judging me.

Choji's words replayed in his mind, whilst Naruto now sat alone in his apartment. He looked at the wall next to him that lead to his neighbor and he clenched his fists.

Dependence. He hated dependence because there was no one to depend on, but eversince he met Kakashi, that feeling of there being someone to depend on, plagued Naruto's mind. Worse of all he didn't even know Kakashi. Sure, the man had sat with him and had an inclination of wanting to be close to him, but he'd been quiet since then, so clearly he had his own problems and wouldn't need an addition Naruto problem on him, and yet even with that in mind, Naruto's heart was full of hope, small, but hope nevertheless that Kakashi wouldn't mind at all. And he hadn't had hope, in a while.

He clenched his fists in frustration as he looked at his door. He hadn't gone out in months, he hadn't even tried to and he surely didn't miss it. He was fine on his own and he was genuinely happy. But, now, now he wanted to go outside to speak to the man next door. Naruto wanted to talk to the other person because he needed to. He needed the man. He needed Kakashi and as much as he hated dependence on anything, on anyone, Naruto knew that...with Kakashi he wouldn't hate it all.

He looked at the night sky and he looked at the time, it was almost midnight, by this time, Kakashi should have been asleep, by this time Naruto should be snoring away and in dream land...But yet, here he was.

The toddler looked down and felt his breath shorten. He gulped and opened his door. His stomach dropped at the silence, and he released a shaky breath, then he closed his door and his heart beat anxiously against his chest, as Naruto positioned his knuckles to knock

He inhaled and exhaled, then he knocked and waited. And waited. And waited.

One second

Two seconds

Click.

The door was opened.

Naruto looked at Kakashi who was dressed in his formal wear, and he wanted nothing more than to leave and crawl under his bed and hide, seeing as the man had just arrived from a mission or was about to go to a mission. Nevertheless, Kakashi should have been..Naruto shouldn't hav-

"I'm sorry i-i-i shouldn't hav-" Gasp. Why was his voice rising up? Why couldn't he breathe properly? Why was his chest stuffy and why were his eyes stinging. Oh. Oh. He couldn't. He couldn't cry, not infront of Kakashi. Not Infront of anyone, not in public! He couldn't, he couldn'-

"-breathe"

Kakashi comforted softly as he kneeled down to Naruto's level and rubbed the boy's back in comfort.

Naruto looked at Kakashi almost in surprise as his chest dropped and he exhaled reigning in his emotions. Kakashi seeing this gave a brief smile and pointed towards his apartment, "would you like to, uh come in" Naruto shook his head and Kakashi nodded, unsurprised and closed his door, as he took Naruto's hand and walked in Naruto's apartment. The blonde was surprised for a brief moment, but let Kakashi guide him as he sat down on his mat.

Kakashi opened his fridge then placed a glass of warm milk on Naruto's table and the blonde gave Kakashi a look, "I'm not a child" he whispered softly and Kakashi only gave him a look and Naruto drank it reluctantly. He wiped his cheeks and exhaled. It was quiet for a moment, and Naruto's cheeks grew pink, feeling mortified that he had done this. It was an out of nowhere behaviour for him, but he just wanted to. He just wanted t-

Thank you for not judging me.

And the tears cascaded down Naruto's cheeks once again, and they rolled down to the floor whilst Naruto's heart clenched tightly, his emotions pouring out unwillingly.

Kakashi scooped him up in a tight hug, which broke the dam, as a sob forcefully tore Naruto's throat. The tears continued to overflow and he hiccuped, whilst Kakashi held him tighter as Naruto continued to fall apart. His hands clutched desperately onto Kakashi who held him even tighter, whispering soft words of comfort as Naruto sobbed his heart out.

Kami...He had been wrong. Naruto did feel indifference, but now, all he felt was exhaustion. Why couldn't people just be kind? Weren't they all human? He looked at Kakashi and he felt unreconciled, why "neighbor-san?" Kakashi blinked and gave a soft smile, only reserved for those dear to him as Naruto stared at him with his beautiful baby blue eyes that were shrouded in exhaustion.

"..Why is the world like this?" Why? Why is it like this?

Kakashi's heart quaked and a myriad of flashbacks forcefully seeped into his mind.

"RIN!!"

"OBITO!!"

"Look at him, the friend killer"

"..Minato-sensei.."

"Don't leave me.. again"

"I don't know.." Kakashi whispered, as he felt his heart break, whilst he gazed on the eyes that were so full of fatigue and weight, and Kakashi knew right then, he had made a horrible mistake. "I'm sorry kid. I'm so sorry.." Kakashi whispered as he hugged the blonde and Naruto felt his heart beat furiously, whilst tears rolled down on his face. And the small blonde felt relief that it wasn't only him. Kakashi's eyes were wet and his hands were trembling as he hugged the toddler.

He should have never left Naruto alone.