Give me the Words

Thanks to Nikana, Astrid and mimi-chan for reviewing! ^__^ I really, really appreciate it. I've got two drabbles in a row for you now, and though it may not be obvious, they go together. Maybe you'll see what I mean, maybe not, but I hope you'll like them either way.



Shiruy



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Summary: Just a little misunderstanding.



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Kakashi looks at the Uchiha, the Haruno, and Naruto, and wonders what the fuck the Hokage was thinking.



The Uchiha is leaning back in his seat with crossed arms, and while he's obviously trying to glare it looks more like a pout to the jounin. The pink-haired girl is sitting in the next seat, all her attention fixed on the sulking clan heir, and if her blush and her besotted smile are any indication, becoming a good kunoichi is the furthest thing from her mind right now.



Naruto is sitting on a desk in the middle of the classroom, with his back to the wall and positioned in such a way that with a single jump, he can be out the open window two rows further down. His expression is a careful mix between neutral politeness and a cheerful smile, and if it weren't for the way he's tapping his foot, Kakashi would have thought the teen was completely at ease. The way it is, the jounin knows that Naruto has no idea how to deal with the other two children.



"Alright," the man claps his hands, immediately causing three pairs of eyes to snap to him. The girl opens her mouth, most likely to complain about him being late, but he talks right over her. "Tomorrow morning we'll do some survival training, but for now I want to know more about you. Tell me... hmm...no. I've got a better idea. Each of you gets to ask his teammates five questions, and I want the answers to be truthful."



There's a mischivous glint in the blond boy's eyes and Kakashi hurries to add,"Also, no embarrassing questions. I just want us to get to know each other."



Naruto deflates a little, but the Haruno seems quite happy with the whole arrangement, and launches righ in. "Alright. Uhm, Sasuke-kun, who do you... uhm, a-are you in love with someone?"



It's a little pathetic, watching her blush deep red, but at least she can't see the Uchiha's annoyed glare, since she averted her eyes in embarrassment. Naruto cocks his head to the side, unsure whether to get involved or just stay out of the conversation for now.



"No."



There are several seconds of silence, in which Sakura sinks into her chair, a cloud of depression almost visible hanging over her head, and then the blond decides that this is just too awkward.



"What's your favourite drink, Sakura?"



She flinches, as if she has forgotten that there's a fourth member on their team, and turns around to give Naruto an owlish look. Kakashi is not impressed.



"Uh, lemon tea, I guess. Yours?"



The teen grins brightly, proud that he's done something right, and answers enthusiastically, "Apple juice! What about you, Sasuke?"



At first, the dark-haired boy looks a little surprised to be included, then he shrugs uncomfortably and stares out the window. "Milk."



Kakashi smiles a little under his mask, happy that they've managed to break the ice. He doesn't want to fail Naruto tomorrow, but that doesn't mean he'll hand him his promotion to genin on a silver platter. If the team shows no teamwork, he won't accept them.



"So who do you like, Naruto?"



Sakura is grinning teasingly and Sasuke looks a little smug, and Kakashi wonders what he has missed while his mind was off thinking. But Naruto looks entirely undisturbed, swinging his legs back and forth, and so the silver-haired man feels no need to step in. Besides, he's kind of curious about the answer.



"My father."



A moment of shocked silence; then: "What?! Idiot! I meant like like! Geez."



Sakura is blushing in embarrassment and shaking her head, while Sasuke's rolling his eyes. Naruto just cocks his head to the side and shrugs. "But it's true. He's the most important person in my life."



"Maybe, but you don't want to hold your father's hand and kiss him and go on dates and stuff!" Sakura explains impatiently.



For a second, it seems Naruto wants to answer, his lips forming the word 'but' and an earnestly confused expression on his face, but then the girl sighs in exasperation and talks right over him, asking Sasuke one of her two remaining questions. The blond falls silent, his features twisted into a pensive frown, and the jounin can't help but wonder what the teen wanted to say.



Hours later he notices that Naruto never renounced his initial statement. He writes it off as the teen just forgetting to do so.



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