Feeling deeply hurt inside, Jiraiya didn't stay for long. After saying goodbye to Naruto, he set off in search of some comfort.
Hikari closed the door and, in the process, "invited" Kakashi and Naruto out as well.
Thoroughly exhausted, he really didn't want to think about too many things right now.
Terumi Mei?
Who was that?
Could she possibly be more important than his sleep right now?
---
"Kakashi-sensei, how's Sasuke been lately?" Seeing Kakashi's silence, Naruto took the initiative to steer the conversation.
"He's fine. Lately, he's been training really hard. You'd better step up your game, Naruto. Don't let Sasuke leave you too far behind!" Kakashi answered, his gaze softening as he looked at Naruto's sunny smile.
This kind of genuine, heartfelt warmth... he truly was his sensei's son.
(Minato: Kakashi, if you're bad with words, just shut up. Of course Naruto is my son! Are you doubting Kushina...?)
(Kushina: Minato! I can't believe you! How dare you doubt me?!)
(Minato: Honey, it's not me! It's Kakashi, that damn brat!)
"Don't worry, Kakashi-sensei! Ero-sennin might be a bit perverted, but he's really strong! During this time, I've managed to learn how to summon Gamabunta properly and use the Rasengan!"
"Really? That's very impressive."
Faced with Naruto alone, Kakashi found himself at a loss for words.
"Kakashi-sensei, you're acting weird today. Don't tell me you want me to use the Sexy Jutsu on you?" Naruto jumped back a step after saying this, looking at Kakashi nervously.
"You little—!"
Kakashi gave a helpless chuckle, reached out, and ruffled Naruto's soft blond hair into a messy bird's nest.
"I'm not that pervy. And listen—if anyone ever asks you to use the Sexy Jutsu, you make sure to give them a good beating, alright?"
"Hehe!"
Feeling Kakashi's unusual tenderness, Naruto laughed foolishly.
"Actually, Ero-sennin is pretty good to me. Sure, he steals my allowance sometimes, but he teaches me jutsu, he teaches me about life, and he shows me how to train properly. I've learned a lot while being with him."
"I see... that's good to hear. You know, I'm supposed to be your squad's jōnin instructor. Normally, it should have been my job to teach you those things."
"Really? I never noticed!" Naruto fixed his messy blond hair, then flashed a mischievous grin at Kakashi. "Anyway, to us, Kakashi-sensei, you're just an unreliable jōnin who's always late. It's no big deal!"
"Is that so? Then I really am a scumbag, huh." Kakashi laughed self-deprecatingly before once again reaching for Naruto's head.
"You little brat, so that's how you see me? Time to pay for that!"
"Nooo, Kakashi-sensei, I was wrong! I have to meet Sakura-chan soon—if you mess up my hair, I'll lose all my dignity!"
"What's a brat like you need dignity for? I'm correcting your wrong mindset right now, so change it properly!" Kakashi retorted.
"No way!" Naruto yelped. "Kakashi-sensei is always unreliable! I won't give in!"
"How about I treat you to Ichiraku Ramen then?" Kakashi grinned.
Naruto scoffed, "Hmph, a single bowl of ramen won't buy me off!"
"Oh? So Naruto is actually a man of principle, huh?" Kakashi said, sounding like he was praising him.
Naruto puffed up proudly: "Of course! I'm the future Hokage of Konoha. Of course I need to have principles!"
Kakashi nodded approvingly, then asked, "In that case, what if I treat you to two bowls of ramen? Would that change how you see me?"
Naruto shook his head firmly. "Nope. At least three bowls!"
"You greedy little... fine, deal!"
"Long live Kakashi-sensei! Let's go eat now, I'm starving already!" Naruto cheered, grabbing Kakashi and dragging him toward Ichiraku.
Kakashi, being pulled along, did his best to maintain his composure and not let his cool factor drop.
"Hey, old man Teuchi! Three bowls of your special tonkotsu ramen with egg and shredded meat, hurry it up!" Naruto called out.
Since it wasn't mealtime yet, there were no other customers around—just Naruto and Kakashi.
"Ah, Naruto!" Teuchi greeted warmly, smiling at the lively boy and the dead-fish-eyed Kakashi beside him. "Hungry already?"
"Old man, you don't get it!" Naruto said seriously.
"For me, normal food goes to one stomach. But ramen? Ramen has its own special stomach!" He rubbed his belly with anticipation. "Hurry up, old man! My stomach's been waiting for this!"
"Haha, alright, Naruto, hold on! I'm gonna show off my skills today!" For a chef, what could be better than seeing a customer's happiness?
For Teuchi, having a loyal customer like Naruto was his greatest joy.
---
*Creaaak—*
The sound of the door opening startled Hikari awake. His voice was thick with annoyance.
"Who is it? Kakashi?"
The person didn't answer, just walked straight to the bed, lifted the blanket, and lay down.
Hikari blinked in surprise, then spread his arms and pulled the person into his embrace.
"Why're you here? Don't you have work?"
"Says the one who ditched work! Why didn't you come back to the office after going out? You left me there handling everything alone while you snuck home to sleep. I'm docking your pay for this!"
"Fine, fine," Hikari chuckled. "Just make sure you add it to your paycheck, or it'll go to the village treasury, and I'll be the one losing out."
"Oh? So if I take it, you don't lose out?" came the retort.
"Of course not. Between us, what's the difference?"
"Heh... I doubt I'm the only one you've said that to."
"No way! I'm a pure and innocent guy."
"Pure and innocent? With all that knowledge you have? Don't think I don't notice."
"Knowing things doesn't mean I've done them all. And hey, you're scolding me for skipping work, but right now you're lying here in my arms, aren't you?"
"You just don't get it. I can use Wood Clone, you know. It's sitting back in the office as a stand-in mascot. No one will notice... most of the time..."
"A Wood Clone, hmm? Even the Byakugan can't see through that. But aren't you ashamed to use the Senju name like that? Doesn't it make you feel guilty about your heritage?"
"You're... right. So... mmm... maybe I should just... go back right now?"
"Too late to run now. Let's talk about work tomorrow."
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