Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Coincidence or Fate? ❯ May I Borrow? ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto! T^T Masashi Kishimoto does!

 

Recap: Kakashi was minding his own business reading when all of a sudden some Cat attacks stealing his book!! He gave chase but lost the cat and spotted a mysterious visitor on the return trip. Who was this kid and why did he turn Kakashi's world upside down? Why is this kid obsessed with Kakashi's book anyway?

 

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“I-I dunno if I can,” The boy finally spoke up giving a slight push. The ninja smiled understandingly and rolled off the boy allowing him some room to breath. He expected the boy to try to get as far away from him as possible but instead the boy curled up against him. Before Kakashi could think better of the action he rolled over to face the boy gently stroking the side of that beautiful face. A growl like purr was his only warning before the claw struck near where he had been laying only moment's before. The large cat climbed up onto the bed receiving a smack on its hind quarters, from a disgruntled boy. It mewed in protest and gave a glare to Kakashi. Kneeling at the end of the bed he waited, ready to fend off the cat should it try another stunt like that.

 

“So I guess you were telling the truth about not being able to control it,” Kakashi mused.

 

“No I wasn't. See, this is only a shadow panther. No matter how real it looks or seems, it can't attack. It can swipe at things but its claws can't hurt anyone. I guess you could say her bark is worse than her bite,” the boy smiled. Kakashi's look softened a bit returning to his usual bored expression. It made more sense as he thought about it. The cat couldn't actually harm him so he wouldn't have noticed the cat trying earlier. He had only moved when he became aware of the attack. “Funny thing is I learned this from my mother at a young age but I can't seem to master it enough to make it bend to my will.”

 

“Hmm,” Kakashi seemed to be thinking quite thoroughly about something. The boy stumbled from the bed, worrying Kakashi a bit. He wondered what was going through the boy's mind at that time. The boy turned suddenly smiling a bit sadly. Is he disappointed? He asked himself. “I might be able to find out something about it for you, to help you a bit.” The smile turned a bit brighter and more hopeful.

 

“Really!?” he asked. At Kakashi's nod the boy leapt at him nearly knocking the ninja over in his excitement and again he found himself in a rather compromising situation. A knock interrupted Kakashi's thoughts and startled the boy causing him to stand and search about frantically. The ninja leapt up at the next sounding knock, calming the boy a bit before walking over to answer the door.

 

Iruka stood waiting as the door slowly opened to show a disgruntled Kakashi. “What are you doing? You are seriously late!” Iruka berated causing the other to back away slightly. Inviting himself in Iruka continued, “Do you have any idea what your students are doing right now?” Before Kakashi could respond the other answered. “They're waiting for you!” Kakashi felt a pang of guilt, he had completely forgotten, something he never does.

 

“I'm sorry?” Kakashi asked looking rather sheepish.

 

“No you're not but they said you will be,” Iruka replied raising an eyebrow. His eyes widened as he spied a piece of paper, “`I promise I'll bring your book back before noon'?” Iruka read aloud. Like a flash, Kakashi sprung to life checking the pouch where he had stowed the book and sure enough it was gone.

 

“Damn,” he muttered. Kakashi sighed, quickly tossed on his equipment and stopped at the door. “I shouldn't keep them waiting, I s'pose. This time, however, I have a real reason for being late.”

 

“Where do you think the culprit went?” Iruka asked.

 

“Uh,” the white haired ninja spun around suddenly waving his hands a bit to ward off Iruka's apparent killer intent. “Don't worry, he didn't steal it, well he did but that was yesterday. I told him it was ok for today but,” he stopped seeing the impatient look Iruka was giving him.

 

“Alright Kakashi what's going on?” he asked, not very happily either. Running a hand through his hair Kakashi began his explanation, not leaving out a single detail in the beginning. As the story progressed to when the boy had entered the room he left out much of the details and fluffed it up a bit to make it sound as though nothing happened. Iruka wasn't buying the last part but could easily see the first part of the story. It seemed much more plausible.

 

“Iruka, do you know anything about shadow panthers?” Kakashi asked.

 

“Depends do you ever intend to tell me `everything' that happened?” Iruka asked. Kakashi sighed as his unseen face flushed quite heatedly and nodded knowing that if he spoke his voice would give away too much.

 

“You don't expect me to train this thief though do you, Kakashi?” Kakashi smiled moving closer, almost too close.

 

“Please?” he begged. Sighing slightly, Iruka nodded and walked toward the door mumbling something incoherent. “Thanks Iruka!” he replied cheerfully before racing off to face the wrath of his team.

 

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Kakashi landed lightly upon the beam as per usual but almost instantly had to leap away avoiding one of Naruto's ferocious attacks. “You seem more, hostile today,” he noted. Landing a ways away he once again had to avoid another attack this one from Sasuke. While dodging the assault from Sasuke, he almost fell directly into Sakura's well prepared attack. He leapt off a tree to land away from the group.

 

“So what's your excuse this time, sensei?” Sasuke demanded angrily. They were all glaring at the white haired ninja. Kakashi put his hands up in hopes that he could either ward off anymore attacks or distract them long enough for him to escape if need be.

 

“Naruto, you remember that boy yesterday, right?” Naruto's glare softened a bit and he nodded. “Well he knows where I stay now. He returned the book but asked for it again this morning. That's why I was late.” Sasuke looked to Naruto in disbelief then back at Kakashi whom was now a bit more relaxed. Sakura was the first to nod accepting the excuse, then Naruto. Sasuke was the only one who couldn't believe it the lame excuse.

 

“I want proof,” Sasuke stated. The white haired male nodded and began walking towards the woods. The three followed silently each wondering if the thief was truly there, only Naruto knew for sure. It wasn't long before Sakura and Naruto began a conversation that lasted most of the trip. She kept asking about what the boy looked like and if he was dangerous. Finally, they reached the edge of the forest where Iruka appeared from quite suddenly, surprising everyone.

 

“I can't seem to find any trace of the boy you spoke of,” he paused upon seeing the entire team gathered. “Eh, sorry Kakashi…”

 

“Its fine, they know,” Kakashi replied, in a somewhat bored fashion. He walked a bit past Iruka before he rounded on them all. “Follow me closely but not close enough to be seen and what ever you do, do not attack him, he's kind of flighty.” They all nodded, Kakashi turned then jumped up into the trees and raced towards the last place he had seen the youth. Unable to sense the boy, Kakashi followed the path blindly. He knew he would never be able to sense him even if he wanted to. Pausing only once during his flight to change direction on a whim. Not long after that he sensed something, surprising him greatly. Kakashi turned and leapt off towards the intensifying atmosphere, almost absolutely certain that the boy was calling someone or something. He smiled as he landed on the branch in front of the boy. Eyes wide the youth looked up from his reading to stare at Kakashi whom sat and watched him.

 

“Uh…Am I late?” the boy asked before looking up only to realize that it wasn't even close to the time yet. “Or do you need it back right now?”

 

“Is that him?” Iruka asked startling the youth. Kakashi wrapped his arms around the boy suddenly calming him.

 

“It's ok, they won't hurt you I promise,” he whispered. The boy nodded and relaxed a bit, his hand placed on the branch just in case. The ninja moved away slightly and was about to introduce everyone starting with himself. “I'm Hatake Kakashi and…” He pointed to Iruka but the other interrupted.

 

“Umino Iruka,” he stuttered in mere shock, interrupting Kakashi. Sakura whispered something to Naruto that Kakashi couldn't hear but Naruto, Iruka and Sasuke gave her an incredulous look for it. Kakashi could only guess what she had said but he almost didn't want to know.

 

“Uzumaki Naruto,” Naruto said deciding to keep it short this time.

 

“Haruna Sakura,” the pink haired female replied.

 

“Uchiha Sasuke,” the last male replied looking away for a brief second. He turned back just in time to see the male dissipate into the tree. Shock covered Sasuke's face and reflected on two of the other's as well. They all stood ready in case the boy decided to attack. The white haired ninja could only shake his head at the sight. Turning just in time, Iruka was the first to see the boy reappear near him.

 

“I'm Tanaroa Hneale,” the boy replied holding one hand out in greeting while the other remained on the tree, just in case. The others turned towards him. Sakura blushed a bit as she moved to get a better view. Like a flash, a giant black cat tackled Iruka as he went to take Hneale's hand in welcome. “Khallia, no, off!” the boy gave the cat a firm smack on it's hindquarters to make her get off of Iruka. “He wasn't going to hurt me,” he then looked to Iruka. “Were you?” The question threw the young Chunin off a bit, Kakashi smiled benignly when Iruka looked to him questioningly.

 

“No, of course not,” he replied as he attempted to stand. Hneale grabbed Iruka's hand and helped him to his feet. “So, I hear you have trouble controlling your cat?”

 

“Shadow panther,” The boy firmly corrected his eyes wide with interest. The white haired ninja sighed suddenly, startling the boy he had appeared beside. Kakashi realized too late that the youth hadn't realized he had moved. The boy issued a startled squeak and disappeared into the tree. The others all stared accusingly at Kakashi whom only offered a sheepish grin. Sakura sighed and walked away from the group heading where she thought the boy had disappeared to. She smiled as not more than fifty paces away from her starting point sat Hneale. Walking up cautiously and being sure to announce herself, Sakura chose to sit beside the youth who seemed not much older than Naruto and her.

 

“Must have slipped his mind to warn you,” she noted attempting to skim the page he was reading. “Is that Kakashi's book?”

 

“Yea, he's letting me borrow it until noon,” he replied turning the page and reading with intense interest. “He'll probably come looking for you, you know that right?”

 

“Sakura!” the far away voice of Naruto called. Standing suddenly, the boy showed his need for flight upon his face. Sakura stood as well wrapping her arms around the boy.

 

“Don't be so afraid of us, we won't hurt you,” she said before releasing him. A blush played lightly across the boys face. It was kind of cute in a way.

 

“I know,” he replied giving a smile before slipping the book into a pouch at his hip. In a blink he was gone causing Sakura to blink a few more times before turning to see that Naruto and the others had finally found her. Kakashi knew from the look on Sakura's face that she had indeed found Hneale but keeping tabs on the elusive boy was another problem all in its own.

 

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Sneak peek: Kakashi tensed every time he saw a movement and had to restrain himself every time he heard even the slightest of sound. He waited unsure of what to do.