Because I care {Fatherly Kakashi}

The clearing is eerily silent.

It's the first thing the sunshine blonde truly acknowledges as the remaining occupants of Team 7 glide through the trees. Naruto breezes past Kakashi with ease choosing to ignore Sakura's scolding as his stomach clenches in uneasiness.

The silence bothers him immensely as the eeriness settles around him. It's the nothingness that has him feeling oddly empty. Has him wanting to fill the uncomfortable silence with his boisterous voice.

There's just nothing

There's no sound of the wind dancing across the canopy of trees creating the music of rustling leaves. No creatures noisily wreaking havoc upon the beautiful scenery. There's not a single movement around them not even the trickle of water within the creek. There's no sounds of shuffling against the grass it's simply just disturbingly quiet.

It really should've been a good enough reason to carry on with caution. It truly was a great reason to be skeptical but he'd brushed it aside pushing it within the back of his mind and labeling it as his paranoia. Naruto assured himself that's all that it was.

After all the clearing was gleaming with so much sunlight that it was beginning to make his azure blue eyes strain against the powerful rays. Nonetheless, the clearing was open and inviting who cares if it was silent.

''Naruto,'' The call of his name had his eyes widening in surprise at the suddenness of it. The distraction almost sent him spiraling into a nearby tree. Kakashi's onyx eye met his warily although he could've sworn he saw the slightest hint of alarm swirling within the depths. ''I'd advise that you slow down.''

As much as Naruto had wanted to argue something about Kakashi's cautious tone had him merely nodding firmly before stopping a few feet away from his former sensei. A wide grin takes over his face as they wait for Sakura to finish catching up.

Before long pink tresses are glinting behind them in the sunlight. Taking that as his queue Naruto gets ready to glide once more through the trees. Only for an arm to come in contact with his chest ceasing his movement. And pulling him closer a moment later.

''Kashi Sensei?'' Blonde brows arch in question. Why'd Kakashi stop him in the first place? And why hadn't Sensei let go of him by now?

''Sensei?'' Sakura's voice inquires.

''Quite down,'' Naruto watches as the silver-haired man glances further into the clearing high on alert. To which is an area shadowed by thickets of trees and bushes. For a moment he thinks that Kakashi might've finally lost it. Only to veer his head in the same direction at the sound of shuffling. Expectantly his azure eyes gaze upon Kakashi once more waiting for answers only to see gray eyebrows raised in shock. ''An ambush.''

Kakashi's normally composed voice sounds nothing less than shell-shocked. It's so unlike the sensei that he's used to, that he'd grown up around that it has a bout of protectiveness welling up deep inside of him as the little self-preservation he has flies out the window.
That's all it takes before he prepares himself for combat.

''Sakura, Naruto run NOW!'' Kakashi's guttural voice commands.

''Hell no!'' He'd be damned before he ever thought of leaving Kakashi behind. Naruto finds his only response a wild gaze.

''Naruto's right what about you? We won't just leave you behind. '' Sakura's voice is shrill and he detects the slightest bit of a waver to it. Sakura's voice only faltered when she was truly scared.

''We don't have time for this. You need to go now,'' Kakashi bites out voice firm if not a bit harsh even. '' I'll hold them off but I need you to go. It's no longer safe here for you''

Naruto watches as Sakura's eyes water in frustration watches as she takes a moment to process the request before quickly complying turning on her heel and sprinting in the opposite direction most likely to find help.

He'd be lying if he said his heart didn't hurt for her at the moment. Although he doesn't have time to think of it as he flings himself into combat. Kakashi's shouts of protest went unheard.

Naruto pushes himself to his limits tirelessly taking down men. Body on autopilot he launches himself into battle slender body as agile as ever while he dodges attacks. His kunai and agility are a dangerous combo. Something that's proven as his glinting kunai slashes at the enemy.

A grin quirks his whiskered cheeks upwards as the battle continues taking down a man aiming an attack at Kakashi. Naruto finds that his back touches against Kakashi's as the Sharingan wielder furiously looks at him.

''Naruto? What do you think you're still doing here? I told you to run!'' The pure panic and absolute desperation take him off guard. The famous grin slips away instantly.

''Aww Kashi since when have I ever done what I've been told? ''

''Staying wasn't optional Naruto. I told you to leave and I expect you to do so.'' a kunai was sent soaring into the air almost plunging into Kakashi's hip. Naruto swiftly took out one of his own and aimed it at the attacker, successfully pinning him to the tree as well as knocking the weapon down rendering it useless.

''Oh yeah? Wasn't it you who once said that those who abandon their friends are worse than scum? '' Naruto pauses slightly more than slightly taken aback by Kakashi's furiousness. ''Does that suddenly just not apply here?''

''I'm directly telling - no I'm directly demanding that you leave. Why is it so damned hard for you to follow orders like Sakura has''

The comment cuts Naruto deeper than he'd like to admit as hurt wells at the comparison.

''And this is me directly telling you no. '' He and Kakashi's attacks are in sync with one another as they watch each others back. Naruto's voice softens while blonde hair plasters against his forehead with sweat. ''I just don't want you hurt Sensei. ''

Apparently, it's the wrong thing to say as Kakashi's head snaps immediately towards him.

'' And you think I want you hurt?'' The man growls out before giving the undivided attention to the last of the enemies.

'' Er-..I mean you've never particularly liked me. But I wouldn't go as far as saying that you'd want me hurt.''

He'd never seen the older man look so destroyed and wonders why the onyx-eyed man suddenly seems unable to look at him.

''N-not like you? What the hell are you talking about!?'' Kakashi's voice wavers in a way he's never heard before. Naruto despises the sound and hates himself for putting his Sensei through so much '' That's absurd you think that I don't like you?''

It's too much to deal with at that moment. He'd only been trying to be helpful and he'd somehow screwed even that up. Naruto can't handle it anymore and feels the desperate need to get away. So he does finding himself striding away from Kakashi away from the clearing that had become a battlefield and away from the conversation.

''Naruto get back here! We aren't done talking about this''

''Whatever,'' He mutters ''Just forget that I even said anything. '' Naruto walks away briskly tears refusing to fall unknowingly walking headfirst into more danger.

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