Naruto can't sleep. It's too quiet, even with the window to his new room wide open.

He hates nights when he feels like this. When the silence and the emptiness of his apartment leaves an unbearable ache in his chest.

Only he's not alone, not really. He's not in that run down empty apartment that's crumbling under his feet anymore, he's with Kakashi Sensei.

Instead he's safe and warm in his new room, bundled up in soft bed sheets that aren't ridden with holes. He's in a beautiful, cozy apartment with Kakashi Sensei right down the hall. So, why does he feel so alone?

A part of him, a small childish part, want to go to Kakashi Sensei. He wants to go to his Sensei, he wants Kakashi to comfort him and tell him it was fine, and that it wasn't a dream.

That was the worst part of it all, the fear that Naruto would wake up back in that dreaded apartment all alone again.

Naruto has a feeling that Kakashi Sensei would understand if he went and woke him up in the middle of the night. Still, how much was the jonin willing to put up with before he gets sick of this and throws Naruto out? Naruto likes this. He likes having someone who cares and looks out for him. He doesn't want to ruin that.

So, Naruto just rolls over and tries to fall asleep.

Kakashi's not sure what he was expecting when he'd offered to take Naruto shopping. He's rambling loudly like normal, but it's different somehow. Is he nervous? Excited? Maybe both? Kakashi isn't sure why he'd be nervous, but for some reason that's the impression the blonde is giving him.

Naruto's babbling about some comic, Kakashi's not really sure what it's about, he'd started tuning the kid out a while ago.

It's not like he means to tune the kid out, despite how he acts, he's almost always listening to what his students have to say. It's just Kakashi can't shake the feeling of the numerous eyes on them.

Now, normally Kakashi gets looks wherever he goes, but never this many and certainly not this hostile. He glances at Naruto… is he the reason for all these glares?

"Oh, we're here!"

Kakashi looks over at Naruto's words, frowning. "The second hand store?"

"Well yeah, this is where I get all my stuff!"

Kakashi isn't sure what to say. There's nothing wrong with buying things secondhand. If fact, Kakashi often comes in here when he needs to replace his ninja equipment. He likes how the leather straps and shoes have already been broken in for him, saves him the trouble.

However, Kakashi wanted to get Naruto things that were high quality and would actually last. "Naruto, if this is about you trying to save me money I already told you not to worry about that."

"No, I know! It's just—" Naruto hesitates, looking away from his sensei. "Nevermind. Let's go!"

Kakashi sighs before letting the kid lead him. "Alright. But I do want to get you some more durable things as well."

"Wel— oh." Kakashi watches the store clerk's expression morph into displeasure. "It's you. You know the drill."

Kakashi is appalled at this woman's behavior. She's so cold, and mean that it makes Kakashi mad.

Before Kakashi can comment on her behavior Naruto nods, "yes ma'am."

And just like that, Kakashi is getting pulled to the boy's section.

Kakashi watches Naruto dig through the clothes. This whole thing seems odd to him. "Naruto?"

"Yeah?" Naruto's voice is muffled due to him digging in the clothing rack.

"Is that woman always like that?"

"Well yeah." Naruto holds out a pale orange sweatshirt, "here, hold this."

Kakashi takes the item without question, taking a good look at it. "Naruto, this is too big."

"I know, it'll last longer!"

Kakashi's gaze travels to the clothes Naruto's wearing, noting how his signature orange jumpsuit is bunched up at the sleeves, and his pants are rolled up several times. "Naruto, pick out clothes that actually fit, please."

Naruto whips his head around, he stares at Kakashi with nothing short of pure shock. "But, I'll grow out of them, and then I'll have to buy more!"

"Then I'll buy you more." Kakashi hates how stressed this boy seems to be about money. This is not a problem any kid should be worrying about, and Kakashi really wants to drive home that fact.

The look of shock doesn't go away, instead it mixes with something else Kakashi can't place. "Alright, but that sweatshirt is really soft."

Kakashi nods, "then it stays, but I don't want to see anything else that's bigger than a medium." If he's being honest, medium was probably too big for the boy too, but Naruto is somewhat right, kids do grow fast. Plus, some clothes are better big.

"You got it!"

So, five shirts, two pants and one sweatshirt later they're out and heading to a new store.

Kakashi decides that little department store on the corner will be good. They sell both clothes and room decor. Kakashi was serious when he'd said he wanted to get Naruto things for his room. After all, it's just as much Naruto's home as his now.

Naruto is talking excitedly about his new clothes when they walk into the store. Surprisingly, Kakashi is almost enjoying spoiling the kid.

"You!" Naruto jumps out of his skin at the shrill voice.

Kakashi whips his head in the direction of the voice to find the owner, face pale and eyes wide.

"What are you doing in my store?!" The woman shrieks, her voice garnering the attention of the other people in the store.

"Uhm," Naruto shrinks in on himself, his excitement now gone.

And just like that, Kakashi's calm demeanor is out the window and is instead replaced with a burning hatred he hasn't felt in ages. "He's with me. And I suggest you change your attitude before things get ugly." Kakashi doesn't even try to mask his rage behind a passive aggressive smile like he normally would. He doesn't care how he comes off to this woman, because he can and will hit her if he needs to. With how upset he is right now he is not above it.

"How dare you speak to me that way! Do you not know who this is?!"

"I do. He's my student, and we came to spend money at your store. Seems like we made a mistake." Kakashi turns back around, "come on, Naruto, let's take our business elsewhere."

Luckily, no other shopkeep was foolish enough to yell at them. They glared and kept their interactions brief but they didn't outright tell his student to leave, which he is thankful.

They'd got some posters, a few more outfits, a fuzzy blanket (that Kakashi grabbed after Naruto spent ten minutes feeling the fabric before putting it down at seeing the price), and a small figure of a ninja that Naruto laughed at and said resembled Kakashi.

All in all, it was a successful day, and Kakashi feels better now that his student has a more appropriate amount of items.

Now they're at Ichiraku's. Kakashi deemed the occasion special enough to celebrate with Naruto's favorite food.

He's babbling to Ayame, telling the girl about all the things he got today.

And Ayame, bless her soul, listens to every word, a bright smile on her face. "That sounds like so much fun, Naruto. I'm glad you were able to get yourself something for once."

Teuchi comes over with another bowl. It's amazing how a boy who couldn't handle one bento box the day before is on his fourth bowl of ramen.

"Thanks!"

"Naruto, you may want to slow down so you don't get sick. I can't carry you and all of your stuff back to our apartment."

"Don't worry about it, Sensei! I can eat fifteen bowls of this stuff, believe it!"

Kakashi sighs, he's dreading the bill already. "At this rate, the dinner will cost more than your shopping spree," Kakashi is teasing him, but it still makes Naruto look guilty. That wasn't what he was going for, he better clarify before Naruto feels bad. "I'm kidding, eat as much as you want."

Kakashi can't sleep. He's not sure what, but something is wrong. He can feel it.

Kakashi knows he's being ridiculous, but he can't shake the feeling that settles deep in his gut.

The feeing is only worsened at the sound of Naruto's door opening quietly. Kakashi listens for a moment, hearing Naruto's quiet footsteps fade away.

He should leave it alone, if something really was wrong then surely Naruto would get him.

Despite knowing this, Kakashi gets up anyway and heads towards the main room.

When he gets there he finds Naruto in the kitchen with his back to Kakashi.

Kakashi frowns. Naruto's shaking badly enough that he can see it from here. "Naruto?"

Despite Kakashi speaking softly, Naruto jolts, the glass in his hand falling to the floor and shattering in the process.

Naruto turns to look at him, and nothing short of pure panic overtakes him at the sight of his student bursting into tears.

"I'm sorry," Naruto's arms wrap around him in reflex, and Kakashi recognizes it as a poor attempt to soothe himself. "I-I didn't mean to! It won't happen again! I'll be better! Please, please don't make me leave!"

Between the sobbing and the speed at which Naruto is babbling it makes him difficult to understand, but Kakashi manages to. He's not quite sure what to do, but he does know he has to put a stop to this now.

Kakashi closes the gap between the two, making sure to avoid the glass as he does. He places his hands on Naruto's shoulder. "Naruto, why would I ever kick you out?"

Naruto shakes under Kakashi's hold, he swipes at his face. "I-I don't know. You were nice enough to let me stay, I just figured it was only a matter of time before you got sick of me."

Naruto's voice is small, and he looks away as he speaks. It absolutely crushes Kakashi to think that Naruto has been worried about this the whole time. That he'd been afraid that if he messed up Kakashi would just throw him out.

Kakashi wraps his arms around Naruto, causing the boy to stiffen momentarily before melting into his hold. "Never. I hate to break it to you, Naruto but you're stuck with me."

Kakashi hears Naruto's breath hitch as he returns the hug, burying his face in Kakashi's shirt. "You mean it?"

Kakashi's chest gives an involuntary squeeze. Damn this kid and him pulling at his heart strings. "Of course. You'll never be alone again, Naruto." And he means it with everything he has, Kakashi will be there for Naruto until his dying breath.

"Promise?"

"I promise."