Naruto was aware of Sakura and Sasuke's piercing stare. Too aware. Painfully aware. Yet raking through his memories he had no idea why they were looking at him like that. They were sat in a nearby forest, Kakashi having left them there to go back and get his beloved icha icha book.

"Okay spit it out, why are you both looking at me like that," Naruto was getting creeped out now. He swore I had no idea when the last time the pinkette had blinked was. A tear fell from her eye. Naruto panicked and as she wiped it away.

"I can't believe you never told us you had a boyfriend."

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!" Naruto's mouth dropped to the ground. Sasuke shook his head disapprovingly. The blonde had no idea what to say as Sakura began to rant about his apparent relationship with Hiiro what he didn't even know about. "Wait, wait, wait no rewind. WHAT," He interrupted her. She dramatically fell backwards onto the Uchiha, fake crying into his shoulder as Sasuke gave Naruto the infamous 'I can't believe you've done this' side eye.

"You're probably married and didn't even tell us!" Naruto's head was spinning. Sakura let out an exaggerated gasp, "Were you??? Oh Kami, you probably have a house and kids and a retirement plan already." A bright red splashed across his face, and he groaned and buried his head in his hands.

"Sakuraaaaaa, it's not like thaaaaat," He whined, thought let's be for real he wouldn't mind if it was. The dramatics continued, Sakura's stories getting more dramatic and Naruto growing more embarrassed as he tried to rebuttal the claims made by his friend.

And that's what Kakashi came back too.

"Ok guys, enough about Naruto's love life-"

"NOT YOU TOO KAKASHI!"

"-and let's get started on some last-minute training." That damn U-smile, Naruto cursed in his mind.

The streets were eerily barren, Hiiro unconsciously making his footsteps as quiet as possible. He had no clue why Madam Aiya had wanted to scout out this area out of all places. It was a desolate location, although he supposed the construction of the bridge would change that. Not only would it bring more people to the town but loosen the local tyrant's chokehold on the place. 

Kakashi had been hesitant to let the teen travel the village alone when he had told the man he was going out and so a compromise was made, the copycat ninja's shadow clone following closely behind the boy. 

"So," the clone broke the silence, "What's up with you and Naruto." Hiiro stifled a laugh. 

"Why? What do YOU think is up between me and Ruto?" Kakashi, well the clone, looked down at the boy. There it was again, the nickname. "We're just good friends," Hiiro smiled up at the man. 

"Just friends huh?" the shinobi prodded. 

"Sadly." Kakashi didn't say anything for a moment, letting Hiiro's words sink in. 

"Oho." The teen rolled his eyes at Kakashi's teasing tone. That would not work on him like it would with his blonde counterpart. Countering the Jounin, his smile widened into a grin. 

"I'm waiting to see how long it takes him to catch on though." Kakashi didn't say much more after that and the two continued walking. 

It wasn't until the pair had reached the dock after making a journey around the village and sat down for a break did Kakashi ask another question.

"You know who he-" He was interrupted by Hiiro.

"Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze, son of the Red-Hot Habanero and Konoha's Yellow Flash, otherwise known as the fourth hokage of Konohagakure. Yea son of white fang, I know it all." Kakashi was stunned.  Hiiro sighed and turned to face the man, his face was dead serious and there was a look in his eyes that told the Hatake that this wasn't just some kid he was talking to. "I know you're suspicious of me and so is Kushina-san. I may not be a shinobi but I'm more than just some child off the streets," Though he didn't outright say it Kakashi understood the meaning behind his words, don't treat him like a naive child. 

"I apologize, Hiiro," Kakashi thought for a moment before replying, "But you're right. I am suspicious."

"And that's understandable, he's quite an important figure in the village. But you also have to understand that I simply don't care," Hiiro laughed a bit, Kakashi remaining serious. "Ruto is just that to me, Ruto. He's kind and thoughtful though a tad on the naive side and as selfish as it makes me, I want to protect him from whatever threatens that. You should have seen him the first time he wandered into the Red-Light District. Like a kid in a candy shop, his eyes were so bright and full of curiosity." The jounin stayed silent as Hiiro reminisced, turning to look out at the water. "He treats me well, the kids under my care just as well too. Like a little family, makes me giddy just thinking about it. I want to see him grow but also, I want to stay like this with him forever," Hiiro finished and Kakashi understood the feeling. 

It was that moment that Kakashi decided he could trust the boy. Hiiro was okay. Of course, this wasn't an in the moment decision, nights spent tailing Naruto at Kushina's request had given him plenty opportunity to see the two interact and reveal Hiiro's character. Nights Hiiro was apparently just as aware of him as he was of Hiiro. The boy's openness towards him today was the final bit of convincing he needed though, and his suspicions were tucked away. 

The dock was peaceful, ocean growing choppier as clouds rolled in overhead. Perhaps a storm would be their company tonight. No more words were shared but the comfortable silence said enough.