----
"It's not entirely wrong to say that," Naruto began, explaining to Kakashi about the mission Minato had assigned him. Of course, the surveillance task conveniently aligned with his concern for Kakashi's reckless training habits.
"So you managed to hide for nearly half an hour, and I didn't notice?" Kakashi sounded genuinely surprised. "I've gotten less vigilant in the village, but that's still impressive. You've grown a lot."
Naruto sighed. "Yeah, but it all fell apart in the end. Why did you have to push yourself with that move when you were already running on fumes?"
Kakashi gave a sheepish laugh. "Sorry. I just wanted to test my limits. I didn't mean to ruin your test."
As Naruto carried him down the mountain path, he jostled Kakashi slightly. "That's too reckless. Running out of chakra can kill you."
Kakashi squinted, smirking faintly. "You're the last person in Konoha qualified to lecture me about recklessness. You're the guy who trains with hundreds of shadow clones all day."
Naruto frowned. "Hey! I might push myself, but I've never run out of chakra."
Kakashi groaned internally. Technically true, but only because his chakra reserves are ridiculous. His problem is more about passing out from feedback overload after dispelling all those clones.
Feeling a bit guilty, Naruto quickly shifted gears. "You know, there's a way to fix this. How about we go on a C-rank mission and steal the Samehada? That thing's basically a giant chakra power bank. You could charge it up and use it whenever you need."
"C-rank mission? Stealing a legendary weapon? Do you even hear yourself?" Kakashi sighed. "Besides, we're all Jōnin now. Taking a C-rank mission would be ridiculous."
Naruto mimicked the Third Hokage's tone. "Ah, the youth of today. So irresponsible. You really don't make things easy for me."
Kakashi chuckled weakly. "I'm supposed to be the teacher here. Since when do you get to worry about me like I'm your wayward student?"
Naruto smirked. "Next time, you can carry me home and see how tough these mountain roads are."
"Yes, yes," Kakashi replied, his voice heavy with mock resignation. Years of sparring verbally with Gai had made him an expert at brushing off banter.
Despite having Flying Thunder God at his disposal, Naruto chose to walk back step by step, carrying Kakashi through the quiet forest trails. He found himself enjoying the peaceful pace, reflecting on moments he'd rushed through in the past.
I always use Flying Thunder God to save time, like every second matters. But maybe Jiraiya had a point when he insisted I walk everywhere during my training. Life isn't just about rushing from one goal to the next. There's value in the quiet moments, like this one.
---
A Lighthearted Scuffle
"Naruto…" Kakashi's voice broke Naruto's reverie.
"Hmm? What's up, Kakashi-sensei?"
Kakashi's tone was exasperated. "What's up with you? You've been smiling like an idiot, and I've been hit in the face by branches seven times because you're not paying attention."
Naruto blinked. "Oh, uh… sorry about that." A mischievous grin spread across his face. "Did you say seven times?"
Kakashi's instincts flared. "Yes, and—"
Snap! Naruto deliberately let another branch slap Kakashi in the face.
"What are you doing?!" Kakashi groaned.
"I figured we should make it eight. You seem to like that number," Naruto quipped, smirking. "Seriously though, where did you buy this mask? It's been hit eight times, and it's still intact."
Kakashi rolled his eyes, silently praying to Minato. 'Sensei, your son is a menace'
---
By the time they reached the base of the mountain, Naruto had a choice to make. The paths before him led to Kakashi's home, the hospital, or the Hokage Tower.
Kakashi weakly suggested, "Just take me home. I'll rest there."
Naruto wasn't having it. "No way. You're not Uzumaki. You need proper rest. I'm taking you to the hospital."
Kakashi sighed but lacked the strength to argue. "Fine, but let's skip the dramatics. I don't need some big fuss."
As they arrived at the hospital, Naruto sensed Tsunade's chakra in the distance likely near the izakaya. 'Good. No chance of her ambushing me.'
He carried Kakashi straight to the director's office, where Shizune and Sakura were reviewing some paperwork.
"Sensei?" Sakura exclaimed, rushing over. "Naruto? What happened to Kakashi-sensei?"
Shizune glanced up, her expression shifting to one of mild concern. "What happened? Chakra exhaustion?"
"Yeah," Naruto confirmed, setting Kakashi down gently. "He overdid it with some training, so I brought him here to make sure there's no lasting damage."
Shizune activated her healing jutsu, green light bathing Kakashi as she scanned him. "It doesn't seem too serious, but…" Her expression grew serious. "Kakashi, has your vision been affected? Particularly in your Sharingan?"
Kakashi hesitated before nodding. "A little. It's a side effect of using Kamui."
Shizune frowned. "You need to be careful. Overusing abilities like that could cause irreversible damage. Let me set you up with a room to rest."
Kakashi sighed. "I'll be fine at home. There's no need for all this."
Shizune, uncharacteristically firm, replied, "You're staying here. I'm the medical professional, and you're my patient."
Sakura giggled at Kakashi's predicament. "She's right, sensei."
Naruto piled on. "Yeah, Sakura is totally right. You need to take care of yourself."
Defeated, Kakashi let himself be escorted to a private ward. Thanks to Shizune's high status and the hospital's current low occupancy, she arranged a comfortable single room for him.
Naruto, watching Shizune fluff the pillows and fuss over the bedding, felt something was… off. Her care seemed a little too attentive.
'Hmm… there's definitely something going on here. Guess I'll have to do some investigating later. I'm not letting this mystery go'
----
Don't forget to drop some Power Stones!
For early access to advanced chapters on p@treon.
P@treon/iamxeno
Thank you so much for your support and for reading!